I13: Test 00003 - NOTHING TO FEAR HERE

by **Narrator** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:12 am

The XI kids would head into a corridor, roughly ten feet high, which continued for forty feet or so, before turning to the right.

About a quarter of the way down the corridor, a pendulum blade hangs, motionless, from the ceiling. Just beyond that, the walls are blackened and singed, and at the edge of the singe marks, a scyth blade protrudes from the wall.

by **Haley Crusek** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:27 am

"Well...at least the blade thing isn't moving."

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:29 am

"And... the question that comes to mind is 'what's the catch,'" Cal mused, scanning for exactly that.

by **Narrator** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:37 am

Cal would note what, at first blush, appeared to be blood--fresh blood--on the pendulum blade. The scorch marks seemed to have been produced by some sort of liquid napalm-powered flamethrowers, set in the opposite wall.

These all are definitely traps, but they all seem to have already triggered.

by **Brigid Plunder** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:36 pm

"They're trying to psych us out."

by **Calvin Strong** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 2:02 pm

"Yeah, but don't start thinking that this wasn't legit," Cal said. "I'm not finding any more traps, but be careful anyway."

by **Sidney Young** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 2:23 pm

"Go right ahead then, Mister Expert."

by **Narrator** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 6:47 pm

The crew carefully made their way past the stationary blades--maybe a tight squeeze for those who found themselves doublewide, but nothing too major.

Just around the corner, however, an open pit dropped down into the darkness. And just before the path turned right again, there were yet more scorch marks on the wall.

by **Cecil Langdon** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 9:45 pm

Cecil looks at the pit then takes a few steps over it with his powers.

"Anyone need help getting across?"

by **Steve Jones** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 9:57 pm

"Nope," Steve said, taking a running jump. Athletic feats were not among his fears.

by **Alex Carpenter** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 10:47 pm

Alex looked at the hole, then knelt down by it, turning back to iron. "All right, this... should make it easier," he said. The iron chains he'd formed and kept wrapped around him seemed to liquefy and flow off of him. He let it flow across, letting it take a few forms that he rejected as they formed, finally forming it into a thin grating like what you'd see covering a sewer access on the street in order to keep it structurally sound while making it across the gap.

by **Haley Crusek** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 11:51 pm

Haley was ready to throw up a shield as she tried to hobble with Sid across the Alex grate.

by **Sidney Young** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 12:20 am

Sid is uncharacteristically quiet as they carefully shimmy their way across the gap.

by **Mariuset** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 5:14 am

"I believe things have become more difficult." Mariuset remarked.

by **Narrator** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 4:17 pm

With careful concentration, they would be able to make it across the gap, and proceed.

The next turn brought with it a period of no apparent damage, followed by yet another pit, this one with spikes across the bottom. Crossing it in the same manner, they would approach yet ANOTHER turn as the corridor spiraled inwards, A 15-foot long section there was studded with round blades, protruding up from the floor--and the sickening smell of burnt flesh came from around one final corner.

by **Steve Jones** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 4:51 pm

Steve gagged, "Ugh, sick... it smells like the time my dad tried to barbecue something."

by **Brigid Plunder** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 5:58 pm

"Just... don't think too hard on what might have been burned."

by **Narrator** » Wed Jan 29, 2014 6:42 pm

Around the last corner lay a body--dead, but freshly so. He had the same cybernetic enhancements as Calvin Strong.

"This is what happens if you fail the tests. Leave Calvin here in the center, and the rest of you may walk out, unharmed now. You have no other option."

by **Haley Crusek** » Wed Jan 29, 2014 9:58 pm

Haley gasped at the sight. She scowled more as the voice announced the conditions for winning. "How about you let us all go and show yourself so we can show you what we're really capable of in person you sack of shit?"

by **Narrator** » Wed Jan 29, 2014 10:04 pm

"You're not good enough for me. Leave Calvin here, and go."

by **Haley Crusek** » Wed Jan 29, 2014 10:12 pm

"I'm gonna find you and make your brain dribble out of your fucking ears!"

by **Mariuset** » Wed Jan 29, 2014 10:34 pm

"No, I do not believe we shall."

by **Sidney Young** » Wed Jan 29, 2014 11:37 pm

"Yeah good fucking luck with that." Sid adds.

by **Narrator** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 12:42 am

"You MUST. You MUST give us back Calvin. You do not understand. He's the one who works."

by **Haley Crusek** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 12:56 am

"He's mine and you can't have him you son of a bitch."

by **Narrator** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 1:04 am

"He was mine before he was yours."

by **Sidney Young** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 2:09 am

"Can we at least trade him for a newer model?" Sid just can't keep her mouth shut.

by **Steve Jones** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 10:08 am

"While I don't always like Cal... I don't care if he's the cure for whatever fucked up brain disease you have, you aren't getting shit. Besides, I'm done being bossed around by bullies."

by **Narrator** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 1:26 pm

"Calvin, what do you have to say about this?"

by **Brigid Plunder** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 3:13 pm

"Haley, how much of what's on the wall can you get loose for me?"

by **Haley Crusek** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:09 pm

"How much do you need?" she growled, already reaching out and applying considerable force to the wall.

by **Brigid Plunder** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:27 pm

"Enough to jam what's left," she said, looking the mechanisms over.

by **Narrator** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 6:17 pm

The mechanisms were well designed--they weren't intended for anyone to be able to smash through that way.

That being said, they WERE still there--and, with just the right amount of force and pressure, Brigid could break the whole thing--maybe even take one of the movable walls out, too...

by **Calvin Strong** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 6:39 pm

"Guys, just... just go," Cal said, hollowly, as he looked at the body. And that could be any one of them... "I made it through this place once... I can do it again."

by **Alex Carpenter** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 6:40 pm

Alex swore quietly, then turned back to iron, trying (clumsily with his ankle-partner) to get over to help his girlfriend do the smashing thing.

by **Brigid Plunder** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 7:40 pm

"Yeah, I don't think I want to give them the satisfaction..."

by **Steve Jones** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 7:46 pm

"Seriously dude, fuck that."

by **Haley Crusek** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 8:18 pm

Haley stopped trying to rip down the wall and glared at Cal. "Calvin strong, don't you dare think I'd let you do that!"

by **Mariuset** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 10:16 pm

"We will not leave you behind."

by **Narrator** » Sat Feb 01, 2014 2:52 am

As Brigid and Alex worked on the wall, and the rest worked on Cal's self-esteem, a pounding noise could be heard from a far wall.

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