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Jessica Mihoshi Moore
White-collar worker
0 · 363 views · located in 
Zeta Complex
a character in “The Superpower Lottery”, as played by Kesteven
Description
At 26 years old, Jessica is the second daughter of an American father and Japanese mother, with dark eyes, a skinny frame, and self-admitted average looks. She habitually tucks her medium-length black hair behind her left ear, which is small and slightly pointed. Her limbs are slim and delicate, a fact she often conceals by wearing starched or ruffled blouses and long skirts. She is somewhat short-sighted, and favours small, rectangular glasses.
Personality
A shy child, Jessica has had to overcome this trait to succeed in her career, and now sometimes borders on boisterousness, although she still enjoys moments of quiet contemplation. Compassionate and open-hearted in her private life, she'll always help out a friend in need, and has a love of baby animals that she tries to conceal from her workmates. Despite this however she's still very dutiful at her job and can be somewhat ruthless when she's determined to meet her goals. She doesn't consider herself a leader or very adventurous, but she works hard to win the respect of her co-workers, and sometimes, she feels unsatisfied, and wonders about other paths her life could have taken.
History
Jessica's mother moved to America with her parents in the late 70s, and married shortly after to an up-and-coming businessman, who went on to hold an executive-level position in one of the world's largest telecommunications companies. Their first child followed soon after, and Jessica soon after that. She had a relatively easy childhood, but suffered some bullying as a result of being one of the only Asian students in her school. Despite this, she achieved good grades and went on to study business and psychology at a good university, helped in no small part by the considerable monetary 'gifts' from her father, which she found somewhat embarrassing. When she graduated, Jessica was determined to follow in her father's footsteps and become successful on her own merits, a fact which delighted him, but concerned her mother, who wanted her to have a more traditional domestic life. She eventually relented though, and Jessica went on to join her father's company, though in a different branch to avoid accusations of favouritism. Since then she's risen to a respectable level in human resources, although she finds the work somewhat unsatisfying and believes she is often passed over for promotion on account of her sex and diminutive stature.
So begins...
Jessica Mihoshi Moore's Story
- Seen 21 Times • Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2
Carson followed Aaron into the pod, and saw his and Aaron's sillouettes light up on the wall. Suddenly, the pillar in the middle of the room lit up and a small globe appeared above it. Carson moved forward and read the message that appeared on the globe.
PLACE YOUR HAND ON THE GLOBE TO CONFIRM TEAM
He looked up at the rest of the group, "Should we go?" At the conformation of the others, he placed his hand on the globe, followed by the other three of the group. The message on the globe vanished and was replaced by another.
TEAM CONFIRMED
The door to the pod shut, and Carson felt it begin to move. He pulled his hand back, and looked at the others. "Well, here we go."
PLACE YOUR HAND ON THE GLOBE TO CONFIRM TEAM
He looked up at the rest of the group, "Should we go?" At the conformation of the others, he placed his hand on the globe, followed by the other three of the group. The message on the globe vanished and was replaced by another.
TEAM CONFIRMED
The door to the pod shut, and Carson felt it begin to move. He pulled his hand back, and looked at the others. "Well, here we go."
The setting changes from Zeta Complex to Arena 12
[Reposting Roselyn's bit, looks like it was posted in the main thread by accident. Really starting to dislike this 'places' system :/]
Looking away from the orbs Roselyn caught her breath as she listened to Jessica's suggestion, "That sounds like a good plan to me," she tried to smile but it was only a half-smile because she was still breathing heavily, "Speaking of which, how are we going to deal with that? Besides having Aaron risk himself for it..."
"I know," said Jessica, grimacing. "Part of me wants to just leave it to him since he's so eager, but... I don't think I can do it." She glanced up at the spire again - now Aarón was closer she could see the scale more clearly; the monster was at least twice as long as a human. Aarón looked all too vulnerable in comparison. "Damn it. We have to go help him, don't we? Either that or talk him out of trying to take it on alone. Ugh." She sighed. "I really wish I did have some kind of superpower right now because I sure as hell don't want to take it on without one. Perhaps... what if it's not any brighter than the spiders? We might be able to use more or less the same plan - some of us distract it long enough for the other one to disable it? I just hope it stops working if we break the orb, otherwise we'll just have to hack the thing apart piece by piece. Or," she brightened up, "maybe it's all some kind of bluff to scare us and it's just a statue? That sure would be a relief."
Looking away from the orbs Roselyn caught her breath as she listened to Jessica's suggestion, "That sounds like a good plan to me," she tried to smile but it was only a half-smile because she was still breathing heavily, "Speaking of which, how are we going to deal with that? Besides having Aaron risk himself for it..."
"I know," said Jessica, grimacing. "Part of me wants to just leave it to him since he's so eager, but... I don't think I can do it." She glanced up at the spire again - now Aarón was closer she could see the scale more clearly; the monster was at least twice as long as a human. Aarón looked all too vulnerable in comparison. "Damn it. We have to go help him, don't we? Either that or talk him out of trying to take it on alone. Ugh." She sighed. "I really wish I did have some kind of superpower right now because I sure as hell don't want to take it on without one. Perhaps... what if it's not any brighter than the spiders? We might be able to use more or less the same plan - some of us distract it long enough for the other one to disable it? I just hope it stops working if we break the orb, otherwise we'll just have to hack the thing apart piece by piece. Or," she brightened up, "maybe it's all some kind of bluff to scare us and it's just a statue? That sure would be a relief."
Jessica swung her bat, but shook her head. "Even if I could get enough force, I'd be lucky just to hit the snake, let along the thing in its head, although you guys are probably better shots than me. I might be just about able to annoy it - assuming giant robot snakes can even get annoyed."
"Oh damn," she said, realising while they'd been talking Aarón had almost reached the lake. "Excuse me. Aarón! Come back!" she yelled, running after him as fast as her footwear permitted. "If you have to take that thing on, at least let us help!"
"Oh damn," she said, realising while they'd been talking Aarón had almost reached the lake. "Excuse me. Aarón! Come back!" she yelled, running after him as fast as her footwear permitted. "If you have to take that thing on, at least let us help!"
Jessica narrowed her eyes, briefly wondering whether she should be going to all this effort to save the man after all; as one of the few women in the office she'd had to put up with a number of unwanted and tactless advances from some very obnoxious men, the last of which had ended in an embarrassing and protracted lawsuit, and she didn't much care to repeat the experience.
"Yes, I'm afraid a distraction was the best plan we could come up with," she replied, stony-faced. "That or throwing rocks at it. If you want to be the decoy that simplifies things a bit, but we still need to decide who goes on the attack - it's probably the most dangerous job. Personally I think it would be better to just ignore the damn thing."
"By the way," she added, "I'd appreciate you dropping it with the clumsy flirting. I know you probably don't mean anything by it, but we have a job to do here and I'd rather just get on with it."
Even god knew how many miles from home, she could still hear her mother badgering her - Jessy, you won't get a husband if you're so cold all the time! Everyone will think you don't like men! Timeless parental wisdom, she thought sardonically.
She noticed that a large board at one end of the room appeared to be showing the 'scores', although it wasn't entirely clear. It read:
A: 100
B: 40
C: 44
P: 6
The voice spoke out over the field again. "My my, a lot of talking going on here, you'd think you had all the time in the world! You don't, by the way. Hmm... 20 minutes past. 40 minutes to go!"
"Yes, I'm afraid a distraction was the best plan we could come up with," she replied, stony-faced. "That or throwing rocks at it. If you want to be the decoy that simplifies things a bit, but we still need to decide who goes on the attack - it's probably the most dangerous job. Personally I think it would be better to just ignore the damn thing."
"By the way," she added, "I'd appreciate you dropping it with the clumsy flirting. I know you probably don't mean anything by it, but we have a job to do here and I'd rather just get on with it."
Even god knew how many miles from home, she could still hear her mother badgering her - Jessy, you won't get a husband if you're so cold all the time! Everyone will think you don't like men! Timeless parental wisdom, she thought sardonically.
She noticed that a large board at one end of the room appeared to be showing the 'scores', although it wasn't entirely clear. It read:
A: 100
B: 40
C: 44
P: 6
The voice spoke out over the field again. "My my, a lot of talking going on here, you'd think you had all the time in the world! You don't, by the way. Hmm... 20 minutes past. 40 minutes to go!"
The setting changes from Zeta Complex to Arena 12
Hearing the time limit prompt Aarón became more convinced that the blue orb was a necessity. The danger was an unknown quantity, but that was what made it so intriguing... His mind made up he turned to Jessica again,"I meant no disrespect" Aarón said in a tone which contained a thinly veiled sense of amusement. "Well i might just agree with all of you, but it's just too boring without the blue one, and it seems as though someone in another room has already gotten that one...". at this point Aarón removed his brass knuckles and offered them to Jessica as he bowed to one knee. "I'll trade you", he said " what do you say? Give me the bat and I'll take on the snake while you get the orb".
Jessica didn't seem impressed, but reluctantly took the knuckles, handing over the bat.
"Alright, but I don't think we should put ourselves in unnecessary danger. See if you can smash the orb without waking the thing up, first - if that fails, try and lure it down. I'll hide over there," she said, indicating a large tree next to a boulder near the lake. "If you can get it to go past that tree, I'll ambush it. If I can't get it first time though, I'm getting out of there as fast as I can, you understand?"
"Oh," she added, turning to Roselyn and Carson, "and if either of you want to do the ambush, or set up ambushes of your own, that's fine by me, believe me."
"Alright, but I don't think we should put ourselves in unnecessary danger. See if you can smash the orb without waking the thing up, first - if that fails, try and lure it down. I'll hide over there," she said, indicating a large tree next to a boulder near the lake. "If you can get it to go past that tree, I'll ambush it. If I can't get it first time though, I'm getting out of there as fast as I can, you understand?"
"Oh," she added, turning to Roselyn and Carson, "and if either of you want to do the ambush, or set up ambushes of your own, that's fine by me, believe me."
"Now don't go taking any other guys brass knuckles, when I propose I'm in it for the long haul"
Jessica cringed. The idea of this guy getting eaten by a snake was seeming more appealing every minute. Still, she'd made a deal - she headed for the tree she'd indicated. Now, if the snake came past here, and she was here...
She slid a finger around her heel and kicked off her pumps, stowing them safely beside the boulder. After that she set about climbing the tree - there was a thick branch overhanging the path she though the snake was most likely to take, with clusters of heavy foliage that she hoped would be enough to mask her presence, although the thing could have x-ray vision for all she knew. Once she had made her way up the rough trunk and onto the branch (just as well she wasn't one to complain about splinters or ripped tights, although it didn't do much to improve her mood), she slipped on the knuckle duster; it was awkward and a bit too large for her, but taking an experimental swing she could feel the extra weight in her punch. Adjusting her balance, she glanced up at the rock spire through the branches - if Aarón was as good at charming mechanical snakes as he was at charming women, she wouldn't need to worry. It would be much too infuriated by him to even notice her.
Jessica cringed. The idea of this guy getting eaten by a snake was seeming more appealing every minute. Still, she'd made a deal - she headed for the tree she'd indicated. Now, if the snake came past here, and she was here...
She slid a finger around her heel and kicked off her pumps, stowing them safely beside the boulder. After that she set about climbing the tree - there was a thick branch overhanging the path she though the snake was most likely to take, with clusters of heavy foliage that she hoped would be enough to mask her presence, although the thing could have x-ray vision for all she knew. Once she had made her way up the rough trunk and onto the branch (just as well she wasn't one to complain about splinters or ripped tights, although it didn't do much to improve her mood), she slipped on the knuckle duster; it was awkward and a bit too large for her, but taking an experimental swing she could feel the extra weight in her punch. Adjusting her balance, she glanced up at the rock spire through the branches - if Aarón was as good at charming mechanical snakes as he was at charming women, she wouldn't need to worry. It would be much too infuriated by him to even notice her.
The snake's eyes flared as its head reared up and it lunged forwards, mouth agape. In one swift movement it wrapped its jaws tightly around Aarón as it leapt, carrying him from the spire and driving him roughly down into the lake below in a tumult of spray and bubbles. Down they sank through the water to the lake's murky bed, where slime and weeds caught at Aaron's body as he struggled, but the snake's crushing grip was inescapable.
Jessica tensed as she saw the snake leap, but when she that Aaron had vanished from the spire along with it, she realised something was wrong. She struggled down from the tree and dashed towards the lake, skidding on the marshy grass where the waves from the fall had washed over the lake's edge.
Jessica tensed as she saw the snake leap, but when she that Aaron had vanished from the spire along with it, she realised something was wrong. She struggled down from the tree and dashed towards the lake, skidding on the marshy grass where the waves from the fall had washed over the lake's edge.
At Aarón's touch, the snake's CPU was opened to a vastness of behavioural complexity that its programming had never before permitted it to consider, suddenly becoming aware of its own existence and the infinite complexity of the universe in which it existed. The monster's eyes flared crimson... then winked out. Without the power distribution core in the orb on its head, eventual shutdown had been inevitable; the sudden surge of activity had simply exhausted what was left.
Unfortunately for Aarón however, the thing's jaws remained firmly locked, if anything even less pliant than before. Beast or lifeless anchor, if he didn't escape its grasp soon, he'd begin to choke on the muddy, fetid water, and a painful death by asphyxiation would follow within seconds.
Jessica threw her jacket in the mud and fumbled with the zip on her skirt, cursing under her breath. She peeled it off and half-leapt, half-tumbled into the water after Carson, taking one last breath before she sank into the murky waters, heavy with the mud the struggle had stirred up. Half-blind, she swam down as far as she could, until at last she caught sight of the gleam of metal in the gloom. Following the snake's tail to its head, she swung around to position herself across from Carson, bracing her legs against the thing's upper jaw and heaving as hard as she could. Inch by painful inch, the jaws began to creak open.
Unfortunately for Aarón however, the thing's jaws remained firmly locked, if anything even less pliant than before. Beast or lifeless anchor, if he didn't escape its grasp soon, he'd begin to choke on the muddy, fetid water, and a painful death by asphyxiation would follow within seconds.
Jessica threw her jacket in the mud and fumbled with the zip on her skirt, cursing under her breath. She peeled it off and half-leapt, half-tumbled into the water after Carson, taking one last breath before she sank into the murky waters, heavy with the mud the struggle had stirred up. Half-blind, she swam down as far as she could, until at last she caught sight of the gleam of metal in the gloom. Following the snake's tail to its head, she swung around to position herself across from Carson, bracing her legs against the thing's upper jaw and heaving as hard as she could. Inch by painful inch, the jaws began to creak open.
As his teammates worked to part the snakes jaw, Aarón was finally able to to wriggle out. He gave a sort of wave to both Carson and Jessica to signal that he could still swim, and made his way up to the surface. It was slow going for the young man as every stroke on his right side was somewhat painful, and it appeared that while nothing was broken, he had been badly bruised, partly by the vice-like grip of the snake and partly by his own thrashing.
His lungs fit to burst, Aarón reached the surface after what seemed like an eternity and he began gasping for air . For a moment he just lay there at the shore of the lake, wondering how much it would hurt when he decided to get up. "Thanks for saving me", he croaked, "I'll try to be a little less eager next time". As he said the words however, he couldn't help but smile. Killing giant robotic snakes beat drug running by a long shot.
His lungs fit to burst, Aarón reached the surface after what seemed like an eternity and he began gasping for air . For a moment he just lay there at the shore of the lake, wondering how much it would hurt when he decided to get up. "Thanks for saving me", he croaked, "I'll try to be a little less eager next time". As he said the words however, he couldn't help but smile. Killing giant robotic snakes beat drug running by a long shot.
Jessica broke the surface with a gasp, paddling dizzily for the shore, before collapsing onto the welcome solid ground.
"I'm... I'm f- fine. Just let... me catch my... breath." She groped around for her dress, and finding it, held it up in front of her. It was caked in mud, but at least it wasn't soaking wet, as the rest of her clothes now were.
"Shit." She groaned and sagged back to the ground. "Aarón... if this place has a laundromat, I am SO taking the fee out of your bonus."
She groggily got to her feet and struggled to pull the skirt back on, staggering a little. She glanced up at the scoreboard, and relaxed a little.
A: 0
B: 40
C: 39
P: 111
"Looks like you were right, Carson. A hundred points. Totally worth almost drowning three people for," she said, glaring at Aarón. She sighed and picked up her jacket. "You guys can go after the spiders if you like, I think I've had enough excitement for one day. I'm going to go find some more reds."
She began to walk off, then paused and picked something else out of the mud. "Oh yeah," she said, tossing the brass knuckles at Aarón. "I'll be having my bat back now, too."
"I'm... I'm f- fine. Just let... me catch my... breath." She groped around for her dress, and finding it, held it up in front of her. It was caked in mud, but at least it wasn't soaking wet, as the rest of her clothes now were.
"Shit." She groaned and sagged back to the ground. "Aarón... if this place has a laundromat, I am SO taking the fee out of your bonus."
She groggily got to her feet and struggled to pull the skirt back on, staggering a little. She glanced up at the scoreboard, and relaxed a little.
A: 0
B: 40
C: 39
P: 111
"Looks like you were right, Carson. A hundred points. Totally worth almost drowning three people for," she said, glaring at Aarón. She sighed and picked up her jacket. "You guys can go after the spiders if you like, I think I've had enough excitement for one day. I'm going to go find some more reds."
She began to walk off, then paused and picked something else out of the mud. "Oh yeah," she said, tossing the brass knuckles at Aarón. "I'll be having my bat back now, too."
"The top 3 numbers are points left on the field," Jessica interjected. "The bottom number is the points we've collected. Our score took a leap thanks to this idiot smashing the blue orb," she jerked a thumb at Aarón, "but if a cup of coffee is one token, a hundred tokens is what, five hundred bucks? We almost died, for god's sake! And it would have been a lot worse if the snake hadn't suddenly shut down for some reason. At least, that's what it looked like." She glanced fearfully at the water. "I suppose it might just be waiting for us to drop our guard..." She shook herself. "I've had enough of this, I'm going back to reds. Away from the lake." She turned and marched off towards the weapon room, muttering to herself.
"I'm charging you for the bat, too!" she yelled back over her shoulder at Aarón. "I liked that bat!"
"I'm charging you for the bat, too!" she yelled back over her shoulder at Aarón. "I liked that bat!"
Jessica glanced over the weapons- her gaze paused briefly on the hammers, but she grimaced and moved on. She ended up picking an ornamented tanto, reasoning that the orbs seemed as vulnerable to bladed weapons as blunt ones, and you never knew when a knife could come in handy. Although, if she was honest, it was mostly because she liked the decoration.
After that, she set out to break some more red orbs in the last few minutes, wondering if the others would do the same or try for another orange. There were 4 left, after all. And there was still the matter of those weird symbols on them...
After that, she set out to break some more red orbs in the last few minutes, wondering if the others would do the same or try for another orange. There were 4 left, after all. And there was still the matter of those weird symbols on them...
The setting changes from Arena 12 to Zeta Complex
At Aarón's touch the contraption in front of him lit up and all too eagerly began to relay data relating to his questions on another holo-display - it wasn't clear what this machine was for so it might well be some kind of public information terminal. It was in about the place you might expect one, had this been a real mall, and not some kind of science-fiction bastardization of one.
"Trading of tokens or other items in your cydex is possible through the use of Exchange rings. No Exchange rings are available at this time." Well, that was a load of help. "However, there is no limitation on the exchange of services or physical goods." So if someone wanted something, he could buy it for them? Well, that would have to do for now.
"Basic information about the user's current bio-configuration can be accessed from any terminal. For in-depth information, modification options and practice scenarios, use of a Biotron is required. Biotrons are located in every personal room, and some public rooms."
The tanto sheath sat uncomfortably in the waist of Jessica's skirt. She had considered leaving it behind but... well, you never knew when you might need to peel an orange or something. She was glad it was concealed, however - no sense in adding to the hostility in the air.
It was strange... it was impossible to be sure through the haze of mud and adrenaline, but when when they were fighting the snake she could have sworn she'd seen, or felt... something from Aarón. A flash. It might have just been the snake's circuits shorting out in the water but, well, who knew? She shivered, and picked some more mud off her jacket. Right now she had more pressing concerns.
"Congratulations on passing round 2!" came the booming from on high. Jessica sagged even further. She'd be happy if she never heard that voice again until the day she died. "You're probably noticing the round 2 bonus in your accounts! However, this was a team exercise, remember. Therefore, while you all profited according to your contribution, a separate account has ALSO been credited with tokens equal to your final score! But not just anyone can access this account! It can only be used by the LEADER of the team."
All across the plaza, pillars began to rise from the ground. Atop each one was a metal circlet - a crown. Jessica examined the one closest to her - it bore the number 12, emblazoned on a small jewel at the front.
"In order to become a team leader, all members of the team must touch the crown while you are wearing it. The decision must be unanimous! Like any position of leadership, being leader comes with advantages, such as the ability to use the team account. But it also comes with responsibilities! Those wishing to become leaders should be prepared to take... responsibility."
"Trading of tokens or other items in your cydex is possible through the use of Exchange rings. No Exchange rings are available at this time." Well, that was a load of help. "However, there is no limitation on the exchange of services or physical goods." So if someone wanted something, he could buy it for them? Well, that would have to do for now.
"Basic information about the user's current bio-configuration can be accessed from any terminal. For in-depth information, modification options and practice scenarios, use of a Biotron is required. Biotrons are located in every personal room, and some public rooms."
The tanto sheath sat uncomfortably in the waist of Jessica's skirt. She had considered leaving it behind but... well, you never knew when you might need to peel an orange or something. She was glad it was concealed, however - no sense in adding to the hostility in the air.
It was strange... it was impossible to be sure through the haze of mud and adrenaline, but when when they were fighting the snake she could have sworn she'd seen, or felt... something from Aarón. A flash. It might have just been the snake's circuits shorting out in the water but, well, who knew? She shivered, and picked some more mud off her jacket. Right now she had more pressing concerns.
"Congratulations on passing round 2!" came the booming from on high. Jessica sagged even further. She'd be happy if she never heard that voice again until the day she died. "You're probably noticing the round 2 bonus in your accounts! However, this was a team exercise, remember. Therefore, while you all profited according to your contribution, a separate account has ALSO been credited with tokens equal to your final score! But not just anyone can access this account! It can only be used by the LEADER of the team."
All across the plaza, pillars began to rise from the ground. Atop each one was a metal circlet - a crown. Jessica examined the one closest to her - it bore the number 12, emblazoned on a small jewel at the front.
"In order to become a team leader, all members of the team must touch the crown while you are wearing it. The decision must be unanimous! Like any position of leadership, being leader comes with advantages, such as the ability to use the team account. But it also comes with responsibilities! Those wishing to become leaders should be prepared to take... responsibility."
"Maybe we should be thinking this over a bit more?" said Jessica. "I mean who knows what kind of consequences this could have, maybe we shouldn't pick a leader at all, or at least wait a bit and see how it works for other groups. It's not like we'd be losing anything by-"
"Any groups still leaderless in one hour's time will be disbanded and their credit balance annulled!"
"Oh, for-!" She clenched her fists, but took a deep breath and continued. "All right, then. Look, if this were a human-resourcing operation I'd be happy to take over, but I'm completely out of my depth here, and besides, if I can't find a cigarette soon I think I might just murder someone. A role like this needs someone level-headed, brave, adaptable," she shot a glare at Aarón, "and not a complete horse's ass. Carson figured out the scoreboard and was the first in to save Aarón... from what I've seen so far, I'd say he's the best candidate. Although," she added, "I wouldn't want to force him into something he didn't want to do."
"Wait, is that-" She spotted Misha stumbling out of the pod. "Hey," she said, hurrying over and crouching down to take his pulse. "Are you alright? Did your team have a run-in with a mechanical snake, too?"
"Any groups still leaderless in one hour's time will be disbanded and their credit balance annulled!"
"Oh, for-!" She clenched her fists, but took a deep breath and continued. "All right, then. Look, if this were a human-resourcing operation I'd be happy to take over, but I'm completely out of my depth here, and besides, if I can't find a cigarette soon I think I might just murder someone. A role like this needs someone level-headed, brave, adaptable," she shot a glare at Aarón, "and not a complete horse's ass. Carson figured out the scoreboard and was the first in to save Aarón... from what I've seen so far, I'd say he's the best candidate. Although," she added, "I wouldn't want to force him into something he didn't want to do."
"Wait, is that-" She spotted Misha stumbling out of the pod. "Hey," she said, hurrying over and crouching down to take his pulse. "Are you alright? Did your team have a run-in with a mechanical snake, too?"
Jessica stood up, gently lowering Misha's arm to the ground.
"Be my guest," she told Carson. "I don't think he's in any immediate danger though, it seems to be mostly just surface cuts. And this," she said, holding up the drained bottle of spirits. "I realised he was breathing about the same time I smelled it on his breath, the sot. Just to be sure though, I'll go and see if there's anyone around with medical experience. Or a 'healing power'."
"Be my guest," she told Carson. "I don't think he's in any immediate danger though, it seems to be mostly just surface cuts. And this," she said, holding up the drained bottle of spirits. "I realised he was breathing about the same time I smelled it on his breath, the sot. Just to be sure though, I'll go and see if there's anyone around with medical experience. Or a 'healing power'."
"Well now missy, that was very kind of you" said Maxfield, carefully packing everything back into his bag and smiling toothily at Roselyn. "You helped a friendly old doctor get his bag back, that's worth a big discount in my books. Just look me up if you ever get yourself hurt, I'll fix you right up. You, on the other hand," he said, glaring at Misha, "should thank the nice lady, boy, 'cos she just saved your worthless hide. You better watch yourself from now on, cos if you want help it ain't comin' from me! Pah! Honestly, try and help folks, this is what you get." He wheeled off, grumbling to himself.
"Oh, piece of advice," he said, turning back. "Ivan here might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he's catching on. Ain't no law here but what we make ourselves. Pretty soon people are gonna start to twig, and it ain't gonna be pretty. You might wanna think about that." With that, he disappeared into the crowd.
"Five minutes remaining!"
"Oh!" exclaimed Jessica, who'd been watching in bemused silence. "That's right! I almost forgot about the leader thing." She picked up the circlet. "Carson?"
"Oh, piece of advice," he said, turning back. "Ivan here might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he's catching on. Ain't no law here but what we make ourselves. Pretty soon people are gonna start to twig, and it ain't gonna be pretty. You might wanna think about that." With that, he disappeared into the crowd.
"Five minutes remaining!"
"Oh!" exclaimed Jessica, who'd been watching in bemused silence. "That's right! I almost forgot about the leader thing." She picked up the circlet. "Carson?"
Jessica smirked at Carson. "No, it suits you," she lied.
They gathered around and touched the circlet, feeling a little unsure of what this was supposed to achieve. Suddenly though a sharp tone emanated from the crown and Carson felt a momentary pressure from it. "Leader Selected for Group Twelve", spoke a bright, emotionless female voice, similar to the one the vending machines sometimes used.
Various screens briefly flicked on around Carson showing all kinds of information about the team such as their current health, balance and location, amongst other things - presumably he could recall them at will, the same way most of the other devices worked. He soon realised, however, that he couldn't take the circlet off - it was fixed firmly to his head, although apparently not by any adhesive. Amongst the controls on the screens were options to change the circlet's appearance, or turn it invisible- presumably by the same kind of holographic wizardry that made the screens possible, but while projections such as masks were possible, the system wouldn't allow realistic faces or anything beyond the vicinity of the head, so the holograms weren't much use for disguise.
Jessica withdrew her hand. "I guess you're the leader now. Now what?"
"Time's up!" spoke the Voice. "That was the end of Round 3, the first Voting round! Congratulations to those of you who could decide on a leader- you are eligible to participate in Round 4! Those who couldn't... I'm afraid you'll have to find other ways to amuse yourselves for now, although you will be able to re-join the competition later."
"Round 4," it continued, "is a Trading round. You see, Round 2 left a number of participants... disqualified, which means their powers have been returned to the mainframe. Likewise, a number of groups failed to choose a leader, which means their team balance has been confiscated. However, their loss can become your gain! Simply proceed to a team departure pod, and further details will be explained."
They gathered around and touched the circlet, feeling a little unsure of what this was supposed to achieve. Suddenly though a sharp tone emanated from the crown and Carson felt a momentary pressure from it. "Leader Selected for Group Twelve", spoke a bright, emotionless female voice, similar to the one the vending machines sometimes used.
Various screens briefly flicked on around Carson showing all kinds of information about the team such as their current health, balance and location, amongst other things - presumably he could recall them at will, the same way most of the other devices worked. He soon realised, however, that he couldn't take the circlet off - it was fixed firmly to his head, although apparently not by any adhesive. Amongst the controls on the screens were options to change the circlet's appearance, or turn it invisible- presumably by the same kind of holographic wizardry that made the screens possible, but while projections such as masks were possible, the system wouldn't allow realistic faces or anything beyond the vicinity of the head, so the holograms weren't much use for disguise.
Jessica withdrew her hand. "I guess you're the leader now. Now what?"
"Time's up!" spoke the Voice. "That was the end of Round 3, the first Voting round! Congratulations to those of you who could decide on a leader- you are eligible to participate in Round 4! Those who couldn't... I'm afraid you'll have to find other ways to amuse yourselves for now, although you will be able to re-join the competition later."
"Round 4," it continued, "is a Trading round. You see, Round 2 left a number of participants... disqualified, which means their powers have been returned to the mainframe. Likewise, a number of groups failed to choose a leader, which means their team balance has been confiscated. However, their loss can become your gain! Simply proceed to a team departure pod, and further details will be explained."
"Well," began Jessica. "if we're going to be on the same team, I suppose we'll have to find some way to get along one way or another, won't we?" She reached out and shook the proffered hand, smiling bemusedly. "You're probably the strangest person I've ever worked with, Aarón. But I can't truthfully say you're the most unpleasant, so maybe there's hope for you yet. Don't let it go to your head though, a rabid raccoon would probably make for better company than some of my colleagues."
Meanwhile, Carson was browsing the powers section of the crown interface. He'd succeeded in finding information about his own power, though it didn't seem to have instructions on how to use it. Aside from what he'd discovered though, a surprising quantity of his teammates information seemed to be restricted, even things like age and sex. He did succeed in finding a list however, of what he assumed were the names of the powers - some seemed to be pretty descriptive, while others were a little cryptic. No further details were provided - he supposed he'd have to ask them to look up their powers and tell him if he wanted more information.
Aarón Giron Nieto: Dysnomia's Deed
Roselyn Shault: Super Hacker
Jessica Moore: Fractal Crystalline Body
[By the way, team 37 players (LeNarcissus, TaniaSoulEater and 4ndy5ixx and AliceHearts if they're still around), you can say your team chose a leader before the deadline and participate in round 4 if you want. Otherwise, you could have your characters explore the complex or mingle a bit, maybe try to escape, it's up to you.
If Aphrodite and Azzix don't show up, to simplify things I might arrange for Misha and Lily to be reassigned to team 12 after the next round.]
Meanwhile, Carson was browsing the powers section of the crown interface. He'd succeeded in finding information about his own power, though it didn't seem to have instructions on how to use it. Aside from what he'd discovered though, a surprising quantity of his teammates information seemed to be restricted, even things like age and sex. He did succeed in finding a list however, of what he assumed were the names of the powers - some seemed to be pretty descriptive, while others were a little cryptic. No further details were provided - he supposed he'd have to ask them to look up their powers and tell him if he wanted more information.
Aarón Giron Nieto: Dysnomia's Deed
Roselyn Shault: Super Hacker
Jessica Moore: Fractal Crystalline Body
[By the way, team 37 players (LeNarcissus, TaniaSoulEater and 4ndy5ixx and AliceHearts if they're still around), you can say your team chose a leader before the deadline and participate in round 4 if you want. Otherwise, you could have your characters explore the complex or mingle a bit, maybe try to escape, it's up to you.
If Aphrodite and Azzix don't show up, to simplify things I might arrange for Misha and Lily to be reassigned to team 12 after the next round.]
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