I1: Once Upon A Time In Madripoor

by **John Hino** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 9:02 pm

He decided to poke around for alternatives before risking a big confrontation with Melpomene's goons.

by **Narrator** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 9:45 pm

A couple more rooms seem to be rigged up the same way that John's room had been, judging by the look of the doors and the unusual access panels.

by **John Hino** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 9:49 am

John knocked twice on a door.

by **Narrator** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 10:06 am

"For a moment nothing happens. It's hard to hear anything through the thick door, but after a bit of silence he can make out an almost confused "C-come in?"

by **John Hino** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 10:11 am

"Silly question. Are you a prisoner here?" he asked.

by **Narrator** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 10:16 am

After a brief pause the next time the voice can be heard it's a bit clearer, presumably the person inside has moved closer to the door.

"I-is that a trick question, sir?" With the voice being a bit clearer it becomes obvious that English is not their native language. Could be Japanese, possibly Chinese judging by the accent. It's hard to tell through the door.

by **John Hino** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 10:28 am

"I'll be right back, hold on," he said, hurrying to his cell to bring back the TV remote and few other odds and ends.

<"Do you speak Japanese?"> he asked in Japanese.

It probably wasn't fine enough, but his first course of action was to blow a handful of the dust he created when smashing the wall, and done his best to ground further, over the keypad.

by **Narrator** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 10:37 am

Dust ends up all over the keypad, but some careful blowing gets rid of the larger particles and actually sticks to five of the keys. Of course that doesn't really reveal the order. At least thinking back on when Rail escorted him into his own room he might recall her hitting six buttons, which would mean either the dust missed a key or one number is used twice.

<"Yes! What is going on? Who are you?">

by **John Hino** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 10:54 am

He looked closer to see if there was extra dust on a key.

<"Your ticket out of here.">

by **Narrator** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 10:59 am

There's bit of a pause and what sounds like a hushed conversation on the other side of the door.

<"We're supposed to wait here.">

by **John Hino** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 11:19 am

<"They told you they were smuggling you to a better life?">

by **Narrator** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 12:03 pm

<"Some of us. The ones from Madripoor. Kumo-Sama said she'd help me make a name for myself outside of Japan, but I haven't had a single concert yet. When we asked Muse-Sama about it she said she didn't have time for that right now. I thought that was strange and started asking around what was going on and then they send me here. There's two other girls in here, they don't speak a lot of English and no Japanese and what they do say doesn't make much sense. They keep insisting that everything is fine and that I should be patient and that they're being smuggled out of the country.">

by **John Hino** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 1:59 pm

<"They probably are, but I'm afraid it's not to the freedom they've been told. I'm sorry to say Kumo lied to you as well.">

He decided to cobble together a tool to help reduce the possible codes, using the remote and the television's computer components.

by **Narrator** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 2:15 pm

Knowing some numbers cuts down on the possible combinations significantly, but the makeshift hacking tool is still taking a while to cycle through them, trying to unlock the door.

<"What is going on here? What's going to happen to us?">

by **John Hino** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 2:33 pm

<"I'm still figuring it out myself to be honest, but if I have any say in it your getting out even if I have to smuggle you out myself. It'll be dangerous so you have a choice whether to come with me or not.">

by **Narrator** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 2:47 pm

<"I'd rather just go home...">

by **Rail** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 2:48 pm

While John is working he's suddenly interrupted by someone clearing their throat loudly behind him.

by **John Hino** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 3:00 pm

John whirled around, armor forming.

Well shit.

by **Rail** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 3:35 pm

"How did you manage to get out? And why the hell would you stop to break into another room?"

by **John Hino** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 3:47 pm

"I'm far smarter than I look. And I wasn't going to just leave them to be Muse's merchandise."

by **Rail** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 5:10 pm

The door decides this is the right moment to slide open, revealing a young Japanese woman and two Chinese kids, one boy and one girl.

"Who are you?" Rail asks them.

by **Narrator** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 5:15 pm

The three almost stumble over each other when the door opens to reveal a giant black lizard and a masked woman and the two kids hide behind the woman, who manages to squeak out a "My name is Saki Arihara. I'm... was a member of Dream5." John may or may not remember that name as one of the bands under contract with Yui Kumo's record label in Japan.

by **John Hino** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 7:06 pm

"Tell me, Rail, if these people are being helped by Muse, then why are they being locked in holding cells?"

by **Narrator** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 12:27 am

"To... keep them safe. From..." she says, grabbing her forehead with both hands. "They're safe... in there. It's better because... they just are!" she shouts, making the three people flinch.

by **John Hino** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 9:38 am

John moved between Rail and the captives.

"Focus on who you are. I can tell it's in your nature to help people. Even master telepaths have trouble making someone go against their nature. That's your weapon against her."

by **Rail** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 10:05 am

Rail is breathing heavily, almost hyperventilating for a moment until she begins to calm herself down. "Who are those three. Who is she?" she says, pointing at the Japanese woman, seeming to calm down by somewhat side-stepping the contradicting thoughts in her head.

by **John Hino** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 10:38 am

"No! Fight through it! They're being held by your employers, not as guests but as product. They're the very people you desire to help."

by **Rail** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 10:49 am

"They are, but why is she here? She's not even from here."

by **John Hino** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 11:02 am

"Yui Kumo. She promises Japanese singers a shot at overseas fame to lure them here, presumably so Muse can turn them into obedient workers for her clubs... or something worse I haven't figured out yet. Honestly, Muse's involvement was a surprise to me."

by **Rail** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 11:13 am

"That... no... Oh my god... 我要吐了" she mumbles, looking like all color just drained from her face. "Can... can you prove that?"

by **John Hino** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 11:24 am

"If you can get online, I can prove Muse is a monster."

by **Rail** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 11:37 am

"There's computers on the first floor near the lobby. And all of the executive suites on the 30th floor have one."

by **John Hino** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 1:47 pm

"Are the suites occupied at this time of night?"

by **Rail** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 1:55 pm

"Some. I can get a key for an empty one from the reception and also the things we took from you in the security room. You're asking me to trust you and I'm not sure if I can. Will you trust me and let me lock you in this room until I get back?"

by **John Hino** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 2:10 pm

"I will," he said, de-armoring to reinforce the point. "And I'll stay in this time," he smirked.

by **Rail** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 2:25 pm

She shoots him a glare at that, but seems otherwise satisfied with his answer. "I will be back shortly." she says before locking the door behind him.

by **John Hino** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 2:45 pm

He looked the Japanese woman.

<"I apologize if I frightened you Miss Arihara. I'm John, by the way. John Hino.">

by **Narrator** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 2:55 pm

<"That's... that's quite alright, Hino-san."> she says while the little boy whispers something to the slightly older girl, who nervously looks at John and asks "He wants to know if you're a real dragon. Sir."

by **John Hino** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 3:01 pm

He laughed. "I wish, but no I'm just a mutant."

by **Narrator** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 3:10 pm

She says something in Chinese and the boys eyes light up. She may have slightly misrepresented what John said.

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