Final Investigation

[bathymetric]

Good morning, New Rapture. You may yet see the sun today.

But before that, there's work to be done. The Mayor has sent you some sort of ultimatum, though as usual was reluctant to explain herself. You're going to meet her, to some end? It's unclear. But one way or another, you're aware that things are ending today. Spirits may be low, but at least there's that. After a night of bowling, you're probably ready for this.

As you wake in the morning, though, each suite will find something unexpected in the common area, something that absolutely wasn't there last night: an envelope, addressed to the surviving members. An attached note on the outside reads as follows:

Good morning, citizens of New Rapture. In accordance with new directives from Designations: Misfire, Space Dandy, et al. I have been asked to deliver this. Please use the included to lift your spirits, and feel free to use your new bathysphere access to gain what information you can before you face the Mayor. You know what the key does, I gather, and the card will grant you access to Fontaine Futuristics Headquarters, where the Mayor currently resides. If you do not gather information properly, you will be unable to do what she is about to ask of you. Your friends will be watching.

Included in each envelope is a silver key, a limited Hall of the Founders bathysphere access card, and a copy of this letter. Your friends are counting on you. Go rally in the Hall of the Founders and get ready.

It's time for one last investigation.

Comments

[capreelcious]

...who's Plato and why's he stuck in a cave?

[ Also a no! ]

[inaclearing]

It's a...thought experiment?

[capreelcious]

Go ooooon. But like, as simple as you can make it.

[ He doesn't like long, smartypants explanations, but! He's going to try! ]

[inaclearing]

[Let him take a moment to think about this.]

I'm a little concerned that what we've been perceiving as reality here, isn't actually objectively real. Because of the dead people not being dead. Even though they looked...extremely dead.

1/2

[capreelcious]

...

[ Processing... ]

[sastruga]

He means it's possible all of this has just been a hyper realistic illusion.

[to dumb it down, a bunch]

2/2

[capreelcious]

...I'm gonna squeeze Water Fountain lady, I swear to the Sea Witch.

[ What the HECK!!! ]

[inaclearing]

[Vague memories of The Little Mermaid activating........no, nevermind, he's got nothing.]

I think that's the idea. They're actually very optimistic?

[capreelcious]

So I guess we gotta figure out how to break the system? I'm not the best with technomancy, but I guess we'll figure somethin' out.

[ Where's Idia when you need him, honestly. ]

[inaclearing]

I'll use my..."relative normalcy".

[like he gets it but okay thanks guys....]

[capreelcious]

Hmmm... how about "keen observation skills?" You're pretty good at notes and stuff!

[inaclearing]

Hey, I'm just quoting. [But...that's still something he kinda needed to hear.] Thanks, though.

[sastruga]

Being normal is underrated.

[inaclearing]

...yeah. If I ever get out of here, this is the thing that makes me not normal anymore.

[gesturing to All of This. it'd be cool if he had anything to contribute here and now, but he'll...maybe be helpful in the next horrifically traumatic experience?]

[sastruga]

You should probably start saying "when", instead... It's kept you alive this long. You must be doing something right.

[inaclearing]

I'm just lucky, I think. For a...given value, of course.

[Though he says it in a light enough tone. It doesn't feel like quite such a sin anymore, now that they've heard from the dead. The survivor's guilt hasn't quite evaporated immediately, but it's hard to maintain when maybe everyone else also just survived.]

But sure - "when".

1/2

[honeyedtea]

[ slowly processing... ]

[honeyedtea]

Oh, does that mean we'll need to cut your hair again?

[ SHE JUST ACCEPTS IT?? ]

[sastruga]

Oh...

[She twirls a strand of hair through her fingers.]

I guess we might have to. I like it like this, though.

[honeyedtea]

It does suit you. Perhaps we'll let Zinda handle it next time, should it come to that.

[ Even Mielle can't pretend her own attempt was anything but bad........ ]