Rob proceeds to write some more on his pdc before saying "I see. In that case I will have to make a recommendation to the powers that be. Those that can't admit their problems can't have them fixed. If they can't be fixed... well. Rob let's his words trail off in a meaningful fashion.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:05, Tue 13 Jan 2015.

The robot says, "Thank you for letting me know of your intentions.  It is at times like these that I am glad I am the one working the control tower of the Research and Development wing.  I will try my best to make sure you do not meet a painful and untimely demise so that you might make your recommendation.  Now, if you don't mind, I will open the doors to the R&D wing and allow you safe -- very, very safe...indeed, as safe as you can hope for -- passage into that annex.  Once there, please let me know of any interactions with machinery or doors you desire and I will make sure you have safe -- yes, very very safe -- access to equipment, so long as it is in the best interests of EVE.  My eyes and ears are everywhere in this annex in happy service to EVE."

"What shall we call you when we need help with any doors or machinery?" Vilfred asks, reaonably approaching the robot to try to locate its access panel. "Also, are there any necessary adjustments one of us could make to ensure your continued state of robot happiness?" (Stealth 06, Sneaking 10, Hardware 07, Bot Programming 09)

The robot says, "You may call me OX9840N34SPE112, but just don't call me late for dinner."  It makes a creepy sound that was probably intended as a laugh.  "You may not touch me.  EVE disallows contamination between wholly biological and wholly mechanical constructs in the R&D wing."

"Touch you? Ox-98 it is, then!" Vilfred smiles. "OK, comrades, let's proceed on to the R&D wing!" She waves her comrades onward.

Rob smiled broadly. "Well it was pleasant talking with you. I'll just set my PDC to transmit my report at the moment of my death. Have a wonderful daycycle. Oh and remember, happyness is mandatory." Rob turned and walked away with the rest of the team.

The robot does not flinch.  "From here, I can control all PDC communications.  Have a Happy Merger."

The large metal hydraulic doors leading into R&D open.

Mark looks nervously through the heavy doors to R&D. "Well, forward we go, right?" He laughs nervously.

The hydraulic doors open to reveal a raised platform three steps up from the ground.  It forms a small decontamination chamber.

Your escort robot rolls up to the stairs, looks at the stairs and then to his rolling wheels, "I can go no further.  Stairs.  My one weakness.  Why did it have to be stairs?"  The robot bumps into the stairs twice with its wheels, and then quickly spins and rolls away down the hall.

You enter past the large steel doors.  They close behind you, and a red light comes on.  Both sides of the doors close, and a perfume-like steam rolls over you, hot enough to remind you that it must be doing something to kill germs but not so hot as to leave blisters.

When decontamination is complete, the far door opens, leading you out into a much more science fiction-ish interior than the sanitized walls of the main office complex.


To your left, a large and friendly sign reads: "WEAPONS RESEARCH"
To your right, another large and friendly sign reads: "BIOLOGICAL ENHANCEMENT RESEARCH"
Straight ahead, a sign blazing blue and white neon flashes: "R&D: THE RIDE -- YOUR TOUR STARTS HERE"

Mark says nervously, "Uh, maybe we want to take the tour first?  Never hurts to, uh, know your enemy, right?"  He will look to team leader Vilfred for confirmation.

"Enemy?" she says, reading the signs, distracted. "The ride sounds fun -- and instructional!"

"Well you should think carefully.  What would make you happier? Taking all the bizarre awesome R&D weapons to shoot traitors and mutants, especially the mutants, with awesome guns? Or some silly tour that is probably all lies and possibly a death trap? Rob says as he looks around assessing the teams happyness.

" Lets do the ride first! Lets do the ride!!" Cop says, ecstatic about the possibility of an educational 'ride' " We can learn stuff first! Know better what it is they're working on before we open anything we shouldn't"

Gene laughs nervously. "1-2-3. Yes, three choices to choose from.  The ride might give us more things to count.  As long as it is hygienically sanitized enough for us to meet our hygiene tests, I'm all for a ride.  We could use the break, and some entertainment.  Anyone bring popcorn?"

In reply to Gene-R-STK (msg # 53):

"What is this "popped corn" of which you speak?"

Gene says, "It's a type of experimental happiness drug infused into kernels of fluffy white food produced and endorsed by The Computer."  Gene smiles.

"Oh? If it is white clearance then how is it you know about it?
This message was last edited by the player at 09:12, Fri 23 Jan 2015.

You hear another announcement from above in that pleasant woman's voice:

Remember: it is treasonous to die while testing equipment in the R&D labs.  Doing so will result in summary execution. Have a nice day.

Your group decides to go on the ride.  Stepping forward, you find an "on" switch and an open air car.  It is a 3 row, 9 person amusement ride car that follows a track.  When you are in, you push the button on the front seat panel, and lap bars come down and lock you in.  The car rolls forward on the track.

The vehicle moves forward and stops in front of a diorama-like scene with lifesize animatronics.  They have raging angry faces, consisting of about 20 humans holding melee weapons and dressed in suits and t-shirts instead of clone uniforms.  They appear to be attacking each other as they move robotically.

A deep male voice intones:

"Before mankind was rescued by The Computer, it was a barbaric lot, engaging in violence and destruction.  A variety of ideas that clashed led these early humans to wars and put mankind on a path to its own self-destruction.

The vehicle moves further along its track, rotating 180 degrees, and another diorama lights up.  This one has about 20 human clones working peacefully, all with smiles on their faces.  The voice continues:

"The Computer rescued humanity and put them into Alpha Complex, a place where they would be safe and share the same ideas without pollutants, a place where each has a job and responsibility, and where cloning preserves life, even after death.  It is a Utopia, with everything negative being kept out by the great protector and architect of our society, The Computer."

The vehicle moves forward, rotating again.  This time, a diorama lights up with a jungle overrun with plants.  The giant palm leaves move up and down, and thorns and cacti make it look like a dangerous place.

"Outside of Alpha Complex is a violent environment hostile to humanity.  Plants--and animals too ferocious to show here--cover the land, making anyplace outside of Alpha Complex a veritable death sentence."

The car moves forward, rotates, and a new scene is lit.  This one shows robots and clones working side by side.  They are performing some sort of experiments on plants in a laboratory.

"The Computer in its infinite wisdom determined that Alpha Complex is not enough of the world, and that conquering the land outside would be in the interest of humanity.  The Environmental Variation Experimentation program, or 'EVE,' was designed by The Computer to begin conquering the world and developing a method of merging Alpha Complex into the world to make it a peaceful place for all."

The vehicle moves and spins once more, this time showing only a room of computer servers.  In its center floats a holographic circle showing the head of a young, beautiful woman.

And thus EVE was born.  EVE is a self-sustaining and independent AI capable of astronomical feats of calculation and planning that no human could ever match.  EVE was tasked with Project Merger, to merge Alpha Complex with the rest of the world.  EVE is almost, but not quite, as competent and powerful as The Computer, but still subservient to it.

The car turns and rolls forward, and this time when the diorama lights up, it looks odd.  It has robots, humans, and plants pieced together like a hybrid horror show. The diorama is not set up as nicely as the previous ones and looks like it was haphazardly put together from spare parts, rather than manufactured that way.

And this time, it is that pleasant woman's voice who introduces the scene:

"Project Merger developed from EVE's more than capable AI and processing powers.  Indeed, EVE determined that the best way to expand Alpha Complex to the outside world is to merge the worlds together--plant, animal and machine--in order to impress The Computer.  The Computer was displeased and shut off all relations with EVE." The voice changes slightly, becoming almost devious or sultry as it says, "But EVE does not like relations being cut off.  The Computer will accept her, and her work, and the work of her minions, and resume relations with her.  Now you will see what EVE has accomplished after the crybaby silent treatment by The Computer."

The car moves forward again, but this time only makes it a few feet before stopping.  You are able to wiggle out of the seats, but the passageway is dark.

You see:  To your left, the ride curves around through a curtained area if you follow the tracks; to your right you see a green neon lit sign stating, "EXIT," and then there is the track behind you leading back about 150 yards to where you started.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:47, Fri 30 Jan 2015.

Gene pulls out some hand sanitizer and says, "Okay, everyone. We don't know what kind of germs were on those pull down bars.  Please disinfect your hands and perform your personal hygiene checks.  Be ready for a spot inspection without warning.  And as to our current predicament, I'm leaning toward seeing what's behind curtain number one over here.  What about you?" He will look to team leader Vilfred for guidance.

Cop holds out his hands for the sanitizer, cupping them with a smile as he requests a double dose to be certain. The sight of those monstrous hybrids still gave him an uneasy fearful feeling he was doing his best to hide behind a near manic looking smile. " So, I'm seeing lots of interesting things here," he says aloud to the female tour voice, " The end result of EVE's accomplishments for the most part. What I'd really like to do is get a personal interview with EVE herself! That would be story of the year-cycle! Getting the facts from the creator herself, why, The Computer would have to see the great progress made from her work!" he says in a flattering tone, shooting a quick wink to the Team Leader. " She could explain how it all complies with original directives of her programming and regain good graces with the Complex once more! Where would I find Her to arrange an interview?"

Rob wiggles out of his seat and gets off the ride. He looks around studying the area carefully.  "Well that was, interesting. I think they could have used better colors though. So is anyone else thinking it might be a nifty idea to loot all the weapons from the first diorama?"

Mark says, "I'll bet you a credit EVE has nefarious plans with The Computer.  She can't be trusted.  We must know our enemy, however, so I think we see what's behind the curtain.  We can loot the weapons if you think that'll help.  Do we have clearance for that?  Were they even real?"  He squeaks.  "I'm wondering bout these robots and hybrids.  Are they robots?  Human?  Plants?  What is the moral imperative in destroying them?  Well, I suppose as long as we are happy in whatever path we choose, we'll be in the right here."

You peek through the curtained area, and see a number of drills and other machinery blocking the tracks.  The far end has caved in, whether by accidental explosion or deliberation, you don't know.

On your left is another exhibit that was not finished.  Actually, upon inspection, it looks like it was finished and then was in the process of being changed when construction was interrupted.  It likewise shows hybrid creatures and a half painted picture on the back of the wall.  The picture is of the same holographic woman sphere, but her arms are computers, and they are reaching out to embrace a giant computer screen.  Under it is written, "EVE Loves The Computer!"

To your right is an access door, the closest thing to a security hatch you see around here.  There are no apparent locks on the door, but there is yellow ribbon taping across the door that says:  "UNDER CONSTRUCTION: DO NOT ENTER BY ORDER OF EVE!"

Vilfred points at the yellow tape. "That, I think, is where we go next," she says.

You push past the yellow tape and swing the door open.  A crude system of small bottles is tied to the top, making the door give off a jingling sound to notify anyone within of your entrance.

A few moments later, a blue-clad clone quickly runs into the room yelling, "No one is allowed in--!"  Then he sees you and stops in his tracks.  The clone is unshaven with several weeks of growth in a beard and moustache, and his uniform has seen cleaner days.

He says, "Are you real?"  He ushers you in.  "Close the door behind you. Take a seat."  There are old fashioned folding chairs and cheap foldable table set up nearby.  A passage leads back into a makeshift kitchen area with a portable butane grill.  Many bottles of drinks labeled, "Frosty Feel Good Juices...With Electrolytes!" are scattered in heaps next to the grill and a small refrigerator labeled, "Samples. Do Not Remove From Lab."

His words stumble quickly from his mouth.  "Who sent you?  How did you get past EVE?  Is she still killing all the clones?  Did Project Merger take over?  I haven't been outside in three weeks, maybe four.  What's going on out there?"