tearable | ( day 5 )

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game: 62

( day 5 )

[ As soon as Elizabeth could, the morning of Day 5, she is out looking for Angel. Her room? The lounge? The bathrooms? No, no, no. She's hurrying as much as she can because there's only a limited amount of time she can catch her without onlookers.

There's some insistence, an urgency in the way she's hobbling sorely around. Elizabeth has some important things to discuss and it's not until she gets the notion to check into areas where Angel may be: the tech lab.

Lucky her, she gets what she's looking for. Upon approaching...? Her eyes are wide at the sight she sees, the girl laying on the floor. Her heart sinks and she thinks... she thinks she discovered a dead body. Rushing forward, she carefully drops to her knees, touching at the girl with a firmness of a shake - and soon trying to find a pulse. ]

Miss!? Miss! Wake up! Angel -

[ She's a little frantic. RIP Liz's week. ]

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[ Elizabeth does the best she can do, trying to understand how far she can help the girl up with one arm. She hisses as she tries to, well, wrap her arms around her to help her up. The pressure on her wrist hurts like a bitch and she flinches, but for the most part - they succeed. Albeit a few stumbles along the way. ]

Well, whatever happened, you took a punch to the face, I'd say. That's the third one since we arrived... Ugh.

[ And they're officially up! And Elizabeth steadies her in case: ]

What - huh?

[Once they're up, Angel immediately pulls away to take a couple of clumsy and uncoordinated steps towards one of the terminals. If Elizabeth remembers the morning of day 3 well enough, she might recognize it as the one that had been stained with blood. Perhaps it's been cleaned up by now, but whatever the case — Angel quickly begins to fiddle around with the machine.]

I didn't. I was rendered unconscious by my monitor. [And boy, does Angel sound peeved about it.] Judy caught on to what I was doing, and then she—

[She... what? Elizabeth may have to wait to hear the rest of that statement, because Angel sighs in relief as the terminal successfully boots up.]

Oh, goodness. It still works.

[ Elizabeth doesn't impose on her, keeping her distance for her own sake and the woman's. Of course, with how hard she pushed the technological aspect for suspects, she was familiar with the bloody terminal. ]

You're kidding. That - [ Points down, then up towards her nose. ] Did that?

[ They're grossly underestimating the monitors. When Angel continues, she eyes the terminal then the girl carefully. ]

I need for you to explain a little bit more. You were knocked out, bloody, and you're worried about a terminal? [ But... she has suspicions. ] What were you doing on this machine?

[With the terminal alive for the foreseeable future, Angel turns to face her... rescuer? Or something far more nefarious. There's a sense of paranoia lurking in the back of her head, imploring her to consider that perhaps Judy alerted one of the staff members to her meddling, but she does her best to keep a straight face.]

Yes. [To Elizabeth's disbelief:] It seems we're greatly underestimating what the monitors are capable of. I imagine it could play into why the staff is keen on collecting them.

[But enough of that. She gingerly leans back on whatever surface the terminals are propped up on, presumably a table, and begins to rub at her bloodied face.]

I was... attempting access data hidden from the public eye. [A beat, and then—] I succeeded, but Judy wasn't too happy about it. She booted me off the system before I could get too far, and then rendered me unconscious.

[She's skimming over details, but she still feels odd and disorientated. It's better if she deals with one thing at a time.]

[ Don't worry, Liz keeps her distance a fair amount. Despite how calculative those blue eyes have been and how those lips spat poison if she was crossed, there was concern in the way she hovered near Angel only briefly. ]

My theory was some power source. Rhys suggested it's for opening a door, possibly? Or perhaps it's for something much more... well, horrible.

[ And then they're back to the terminal. Elizabeth eyes the terminal carefully, cautiously. ]

Do you really think there are - [ She's cut off when Angel actually says she got through. There's a perked brow of interest. ] So... you got in, Judy had some secrets, and then somehow she knocked you out. Okay, do you remember what was on the screen? Anything that could be helpful -

[ Because, Liz is about to do something pretty stupid and wants to minimize that. :) ]

A power source... [Contemplatively. It's a good theory, she thinks. But.] Veronica and I, err — retrieved Lara and Luke's monitors after the execution. I spent the rest of the evening studying them, but there was little to suggest a power source. Or for that matter, anything that sets a staff member's monitor apart from that of the rest of us.

[So, you know. R.I.P. Lara's foot for basically nothing. Unless they find a way to block the network connection, there's little they can do. It may be a good project for later, once she does a further analysis of what she found, but...

For now, she nods at Elizabeth.]

I recall there were four documents stored in the computer. Their titles were vague, however, but I do remember their numeration.

["You've got a brain the size of a planet," her father once said. She doesn't feel like that's true as the days drag on. Still, said brain does retain quite a bit of information... and she reaches for a small slab of wood and a screwdriver to start scratching the names in.]

The last one, the one I was able to access before Judy's intervention, was corrupted. But some of the data was still recognizable. It spoke of memories, concepts such as organic and partially organic, oversight, increased capacity for reasoning... and Judy, herself.

[And as she finishes scratching the surface of the slab with the screwdriver, Elizabeth will see the following information: RCVTVP 3.0.51 -6227, RCVTCOMM 1.0.4 -6227 R65edc, RCVTWE 0.0.2, RCORB JDY029283.

And as a final note:

RB3928-JDY029283 = JUDY?]

I admit, I don't know what to make of most of the information I found. [She sets the screwdriver down, frowning... Now, she moves onto conjecture.] ... Based on the contents, I have reason to believe Judy may be an Artificial Intelligence. That, or perhaps another artificially created life form. RC and VT are also recurring elements. Luke's staff ID included the letters VT as well, didn't it?

That strikes out one theory then.

[ Maybe Rhys was full of shit, but that's all anyone really tried to pair with the monitors.

Angel's admittance was a relief - at least something came from it. She would question the girl's reasoning for finding an answer, but ... with the information Elizabeth had, she can only assume it was for good reasoning.

She's moving a bit closer when she begins to scratch the equation out. When the woman said numeration, she assumed it was around 5 numbers... but no, the detail was incredible and she feels intrigued.

Her eyes scan over the information, looking for any code that may be repeating. ]

An artificial intelligence...? I'm not too familiar with the term but - do you believe this is a hoax? Like the Wizard from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz..?

[ That's immediately where she draws her attention. ]

It did... RC and VT...? Look - 6227 is a repetition as well.

[ Elizabeth was engrossed in that conversation, chewing on her bottom lip that she nearly forgot that she came here with a purpose. ]

Wait... before we go any further... I looked all over for you, you know. [ She shakes her head, half annoyed it took her so long to find her. ] I need to talk to you about... those people revealed during the execution - the six not included in the staff.

The... Wonderful Wizard of Oz? [She quirks an eyebrow, but it's obvious from her tone alone that she has no idea what Elizabeth is referencing. Ah, the wonders of coming from different worlds.] I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with "the Wizard," but an artificial intelligence is a program capable of analyzing its environment and taking actions geared towards a goal. If I'm not misinterpreting what I found, Judy could have been created as an overseer.

[It would make sense, considering the data she found. While Angel called herself an Artificial Intelligence despite being human, Judy called herself human despite being an Artificial Intelligence.

But at Elizabeth's interjection, she puts a pause on her musings.]

Forgive me— I wouldn't have made myself so scarce if I knew someone was looking for me. [Except, yeah. She would. Or at least, she feels like she would have now that she took a nice nap on the ground.] Go on, then. I'm listening.

[ It's still a slight distance from understanding truly - the technological aspect a bit lost on her. Elizabeth only understands that Angel believes Judy is not real - fake. She equates it to a wizard, not an overseer. ]

You couldn't have helped it - you nearly scared the color off my skin when I found you. [ But, right. Elizabeth is softer now, looking down. ] ...I know you're not staff. I have utter confirmation that you're not working against us. Not an ounce of doubt remains there and -

I need you, Angel. I need you to help me.

[Being told she's needed is fine and dandy, but it doesn't stop her skepticism from coming forward. Elizabeth sounds so certain that Angel isn't staff, and while Angel herself knows that to be true, she has to wonder how Elizabeth could have confirmed that. After all, it's not like she knew Luke was staff and Lara wasn't.

What makes this different, then?]

Pardon my skepticism, but how would you have confirmed that? We barely knew who to trust last night.

[ Elizabeth hoped blind trust, but she had to be a realist here: the girl needed answers. ]

...I'm one of the six. [ She says dryly. ] Call me a Think Tank.

[ Jesus Christ, this is the biggest leap of faith she can ever tank and it figures - it's to an angel. ]

I confirmed for you in my last meeting to be innocent, miss. Judy - ... Judy wants to help, I think? I'm not for certain what her agenda is, but she's giving me the power to sniff out people.

[ So, a wag of her finger - ]

I need you and I need others like you. Finding one of four works against us, but there's far more innocents than staff members. If we're able to unite, we can succeed far quicker.

["Think tank." Really. Really. Whoever came up with these titles is lacking in creativity, but she'll refrain from commenting on it. Instead, she scoffs lightly when Judy is brought up.]

I'm more inclined to believe Judy only wants to entertain herself. These aren't the actions of someone who genuinely wishes to lend a helping hand.

[Angel says, hypocritically. She's salty over being knocked out and getting a nosebleed, okay. That said—]

I'm happy to assist, but... My talents lie in computers, and it seems Judy is intent on not letting me do even that.

[ RIP me. ]

I have no doubt there's a reason for all of this, but I'm not going to play part in some - some play. I'm going to do what was assigned to me so we can find the staff. It's not about finding who's guilty now, it's about finding my allies.

And luckily, miss, you fall into that category.

[ Elizabeth crosses her arms carefully, trying to muse how to word this: ]

...You and Alice are the only two confirmed innocents. If anything happens to me, I need you to keep going with my work. I've been making notes and have been gaining suspicions. I have a few more conversations to have before I am ready to hand the information over, but - I want to pass my work off to you as a contingency plan.

If we have another death, hopefully I can increase your numbers or take a damn staff member out myself.

[So Alice is innocent, as well... That's almost a relief, considering how helpful the girl has been so far during trials. But with nearly 30 other individuals inside this complex, is it really a good thing? There's no telling which "innocent" will be the next corpse, after all.]

I see. I'll do my best to continue your work should anything happen to you. Until then — please take care to not paint a target on your back. You don't need to be reminded of something so obvious, but if the staff determine you to be a threat, I'm sure they'll waste no time shoving you into the operating theater...

[Which would be Bad, obviously. Angel doesn't have Nancy Drew powers. Not here, anyway.]

... And we need every advantage we can get, if we're to overpower them when they can remove their monitors and order Judy to do as they please.

[Like, say, shocking them all to death? She wouldn't put it past them.]

I fear as the innocents become killed, the staff members - no, scientists - will begin to sway the general population easier. They have numbers because we don't think we have numbers. The inability to unite our votes will play to their advantage.

[ Elizabeth can't do this alone. As much as her gut tells her it's okay to do this alone - something ... changed. She has more to risk. More things remaining locked away that she needs to release. ]

Which is why I'm not the one being the loudest. I'll rally the troops, but they think I'm just some... I don't know? Stuck up doll.

[ With her fading make up, it's very much obvious that's not the case. ]

I'm going to try and get close to Alice - maybe her entire room. Bigby is... - um... proven to give a damn more than he's let on. [ God???? ] Alfendi has bounced theories that aligned with mine and Shijima has helped me tend to my wounds. So...

[ Apartment 7, god Damn what the fuck happened how did you assholes become trustworthy??? ]

Scientists?

[The term is a little jarring, memories of events long past coming to mind — but she refuses to linger on them for too long. She shouldn't be surprised. Even before Luke was revealed as staff, she had already talked about the possibility of all of this being one big experiment with the other residents. And now, knowing Elizabeth's particular skill... Perhaps the bit about "organic and partially organic" in the files she had uncovered makes more sense.]

If I could offer a word of advice, be careful when placing your trust in a unit. We know now there's a 50/50 chance of an apartment having one member of the staff. [Four staff members left, eight apartments still in use.] And I'm sure you're a good judge of character, but even if Bigby, Alfendi and Shijima have shown a willingness to help... Such intent could easily be faked.

[Don't yiff the mafia, Liz. Don't do it. (Alternatively: Do it and win me this bet.)

That said:]

Should you discover one of the staff, do you have the means to reveal their identity without showing your hand?

Unfortunately, so. Those types only see research - an end goal filled with data. Judy gave me the down and dirty on that.

[ It seems like one big experiment. Elizabeth's seen it before- experienced it. They were cruel to keep that memory so neatly packaged in her brain, she thinks. Elizabeth doesn't like this, but this is how it has to play. She has to take these risks and at the very least? Angel and Alice are confirmed innocent. ]

I know, but there's a reward that comes with it. I'm trying to be calculative... to make the right choices but if that was the case, I wouldn't act.

[ Implying she's not going to yiff Bigby to hell and back. :( ]

I ... I don't. They're playing the subtle game and the only thing to do is push the discussion. If we have a net of people - we can blanket the 'blame' so no one is targeted. If our "medical team" had some brains, they'd protect the most viable for being targeted by mafia...

[ She smiles a bit, as if coming to terms with her own realization. ]

It just takes finding one and then they're down to three. We can outnumber them - we have to.

[Well. It seems they're both remembering the same sort of events. Being seen as a test subject. Having their "data" collected, information about their abilities and growth neatly jotted down and organized for the benefit of a man who only wished to empower himself. It's far too similar to what she's experienced over the last nine years, and she finds herself speaking impulsively.]

I refuse to be seen as a... a subject. If they want to collect my data, they'll have to do it on my terms.

[During the first two days, she felt like she was free. Like she had somehow, miraculously, escaped her prison. Escaped her father. But that's not the case. Not really. It's more like she's been given a bigger "throne;" she's still locked, she just has more leg room now.]

Use me to keep attention off yourself. My life is expendable, but your role — it may be the key to helping us escape this place. If you discover one, allow me to reveal their identity. There may be more of us than there are of them, but they don't operate by the same rules we do. We can't take any unnecessary risks.

[ TW: prisoners is this ship name.

As Angel speaks up, Elizabeth will nod in satisfaction. That's the kind of thing she likes to hear - the will to fight. Selfishly, she has to wonder if the girl was similar to her... imprisoned like she had been, but she won't comment. ]

And we won't let them. The second you accept that status, the circle will never be unbroken.

[ Elizabeth does seem shocked at Angel's comment - it's.. no.. she waves her hand dismissively. ]

No way. I didn't ask for this, but I'm not going to let someone take the fall for me. This is a cross I have to bear.

[ Elizabeth sighs heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose. ]

We just need a mob - a face they can't single out. If it comes down to it, I'd like to avoid dying as much as anyone else... but no - if there's no fighting it. I can't ask that of you.

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( day 5 )

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