Okay, everyone should have received a PM about their character. We'll get started now.
Please post in the order Zenthor, Hal, Excal, Trunkyboy. You don't need to wait for me to respond to each post, but I'll try to keep up. Anything you see in ALL CAPS is the Computer speaking through a nearby monitor. It's generally a good idea to do what the Computer says immediately. The Computer is always watching! (but not always paying attention, so you may be able to get away with things)
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After some searching, you locate the sector where you were supposed to go. After entering, you find yourself in a hallway. There are three other clones in black Infrared-clearance uniforms. Everyone looks confused as to what to do now.
There are three doors in the hallway, a Red door, a Yellow door, and a Blue door.
John Sm-R-ITH glanced around. "So, you're the other troubleshooters, correct?" he asked, talking to the three near him. "Hail Friend Computer, to you, then" he said without waiting for a response. Of course they were the other troubleshooters, why else would they be in this sector?
Hal Lap-R-INE glanced up at the newcomer, nodding. He raised his hand in greeting, then caught himself. "Hail, friend. Friend computer called me here, yes indeed." He seems rather excited about the prospect. "I've always wanted the chance to become a Troubleshooter."
A sandy blond with a cleft chin looks around him and flashes a grin at his new companions. "Greetings, friend troubleshooters. Name's Burg, Clearance R, from Sector Kayengee. And just from lookin at us I can tell we're gonna be the best damned group of Troubleshooters Friend Computer ever sent ta shoot trouble!"
"My name's Ded-R-Wee-1, and I am just super excited about becoming a troubleshooter! I am so glad Friend Computer has deemed me worthy of such a honor!"
The tall and slim clone chokes with emotion while subtely checking his companions out. Commies could be everywhere you know.
The yellow door opens, and a clone in a yellow jumpsuit steps out.
"Oh, you're all here. My name's Mister-Y-MAN. Let's go in here and get you outfitted."
Mister pushes open the red door and ushers you inside. He then hands you red shirts to put on over your black coveralls. "Can't have anyone confuse you with Infrared drones, can we?"
After putting on the poorly-sized shirts, Mister hands each of you a laser pistol. "Standard issue for Troubleshooters. Needless to say, if you see trouble, you should shoot it. This includes clones who use unregistered mutant powers, are members of Secret Societies, clones who violate their security clearance, and anybody else the Computer tells you to shoot."
"Now then, let me look at your psyche evaluations." Mister reads some printouts and then says, "Okay, John Sm-R-ITH, you're going to be the Team Leader. You get to boss these other guys around, and you get blamed if they screw up."
"Burg-R-KNG, you're the Morale Officer. Your job is to keep everyone else in the team happy." He hands Burg a case of Happy Pills for the purpose."
"Hal Lap-R-INE, you're Equipment Guy. Better make sure everyone's pistols function accuractely, because you never know when you'll need them."
"And Ded-R-WEE, you're going to be the Hygiene Officer. Make sure everyone stays clean at all times. To assist you in this task, you'll have your own personal scrubbot." A small trashcan-sized bot rolls out from the corner of the room and speaks in a grating mechanical voice, "Greetings, Citizen Ded-R-WEE! I am Scrubbot 986K7, but you can call me Scrubby if it pleases you to do so. I love to clean, and I enjoy helping out clones whenever I can."
Mister looks at everyone. "Does anyone have any questions before we head to R&D for the rest of your equipment?"
"I have no questions," John responded, smiling at the thought of being the team leader. Sure, he wondered how he became the team leader, but some things are just better left unasked.
At least he didn't get stuck with hygene work.
"I get to be the Equipment Guy? Awesome!" Hal exults, proceeding to make a thorough examination of his pistol - able to identify the trigger after only two guesses.
Burg looks at his newly acquired jar of Happy Tyme Fun Pills and quietly shakes the bottle before popping it open and flipping a pill expertly into his mouth and down the gullet.
"Oh yeah... me and these puppies are gonna make sure that this is the happiest group o' Troubleshooters you ever did see!" he said as a dopey grin slowly spread over his face.
Ded looks at his bot and smiles widely, although with a slight twitch...
"I will carry out my FC given duties to the very best of my abilities! Oh! I have a question! Will I recieve other tools to aid me in my duties as the Hgiene Officer? In case Scrubby malfunctions?"
He then squats down and proceeds to examine his bot intently, no doubt marvelling in FC's generosity.
Mister-Y-MAN smiles, "Oh, I don't think that bot will malfunction. We supply our hygiene officers with only the finest equipment. Now then, let's head to R&D."
After a short walk, you arrive at Research and Development. There is nobody there when you arrive, but there is a note on the table, next to four devices.
Mister reads the note out loud, "I'm sorry, but we had urgent business that takes us far, far away from this room. Please distribute these items to the new troubleshooters."
"Well then, that's it. There are four R&D items here, and four of you, so everybody take one. Team Leader, you get first choice."
The items on the table are a fist-sized object shaped like an egg, a very large thing that looks like a gun, a vial filled with blue liquid, and a thin length of sharpened material that is black on one end.
John Sm-R-ITH glanced at the items on the table. After thinking for a moment, running his fingers over the objects, he reached over for the egg shaped... thing.
"This seems more my forte," he muttered to himself.
Upon picking up the egg, it quickly unfolds in John's hand, revealing an array of saws and blades inside. The egg spins around quickly and eviscerates John, to the shock of all present.
"Um, guess that was the bad egg," says Mister. "I'll have his replacement clone sent here right away. Now, who's next? Come on, don't be shy. Things like that almost never happen... twice... in a row..."
Hal seems a bit shaken up at poor John's fate, but true to form, he picks up the large gun-like object - careful to keep the ends of it pointing somewhere other than at him.
Burg's smile falters for a few seconds before he pops a pill, to bolster his morale if no one elses, and high on happy, gleefully picks up the vial with the blue goo. Inquisitively, he pops it open and gives the contents a quick sniff.
"Well, at least he died while in the service of Friend Computer," Ded says semi-cheerfully. Seeing as it was the only object left, he reached out for the stick thingy...
Actually, "Scrubby, would you mind picking up that particular object and insuring that it is clean? Dirt and germs are treason after all!" Ded sounds a lot more cheerful now as he takes a couple of steps back.
Hal is fairly sure that this is a gun. It has a barrel and a trigger like your laser guns. It looks like it could do some serious damage when fired. However, it is very heavy! You can barely lift it. After wrestling with it awhile, you manage to sling it over your back, in a position that is sure to cause back pain during your sleepcycle.
Burg looks at the vial. It looks like Bouncy Bubbly Beverage, except it's not Bouncy or Bubbly. After taking a sniff, the burning in your nostrils tells you this is not something to drink. It's some sort of acid!
Scrubby pauses in its cheerful cleaning of John's corpse to pick up the sharp implement and give it to Ded. "Anything to be of service!" squeals the bot. It then resumes scrubbing the blood off the floor.
Ded examines the object. It doesn't appear to be a weapon, although you could probably put it through someone's eye. Touching the sharp end, Ded is surprised to see some of the black part rub off on his fingers. Hmm, you could probably make a mark with this thing on a wall or something.
John Sm-R-ITH-2 arrives and walks through the door.
EDIT: THE COMPUTER DOES NOT GO OFFLINE OR REQUIRE MAINTENANCE, FOOLISH GAMEMASTER.
John notices a nearby monitor blip some words of the corner of his eye, but makes no note of it. Routine... things, more than likely. He then looks toward Mister and then at his Team. Specifically Burg.
"You. Burg. The druggy. Mind handing me one of those pills? Nothing deserves a morale booster more than getting killed and having to be respawned, y'know. Especially when said death involves eggs."
Hal looks on a bit nervously as John requests the pills. Were these things what they were supposed to be troubleshooting?
*The Computer is rather busy at work (exterminating traitors, of course), so we'll pick up tomorrow evening*
"Sure thing, friend commander!" Burg beemed at John as he deftly popped a pill out of the jar and held it out for the recently recloned Smith.
"And, if you want a special pick me up, I got this here vial o' beverage from Friend Computer that might just work wonders!"
Ded carefully packs away the stick thingy before getting a pensive look on his face, no doubt contemplating the many wonders of FC.
John readily took the pill, put his cupped hand to his mouth, swallowed, and crossed his arms, hands clenched. A smile grew on his face; looking forced at first but more natural within seconds.
"I'll pass on the beverage," he responded. "So... now what?"
WHY ARE YOU TROUBLESHOOTERS SLACKING? PROCEED IMMEDIATELY TO SECTOR KZK! THERE IS A COMMUNIST DEMONSTRATION IN PROGRESS. EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!
Mister-Y-MAN waves goodbye to you. "Good luck, and shoot a few stinking Commies for me!"
Hal grimaces under the weight of the enormous weapon slung across his back. "Of course, Friend Computer - we're on our way!"
When you arrive at sector KZK, you see a man in a fuzzy hat with a mustache. He is standing on a box and talking to several clones that have assembled there. "The Computer is a borg-waz-e that wants to keep the workers trampled underfoot! You should work for the good of the common clone, not because a machine tells you to!"
The other clones seem enraptured by his propaganda.
Burg had, over his years, he wasn't sure how many years, but he was certain it was more than one at least, as a clone, come to a certain conclusion about the workings of the world. One of which was the Law of Hapiness which stated that the more happiness was around you, the more you wanted to be happy. And that, conversly, the more negativity there was, then there'd be more and more unhappyness until the whole universe was a suckhole of angry. And this dude was one paragon of negativity.
And so, even though he would have done it anyways (well, he wouldn't have until Friend Computer made him a troubleshooter because then he'd have lacked a nifty laser gun) he aimed with Friend Computer's blessing and shot his laser at the guy speaking.
In the aftermath of his shot he spoke out loud.
"Dudes of Alpha complex! Listen not to such negativity, and be happy to one another! Free Happy Fun Tyme pills for all!"
Ded, having gotten seperated from the group, rushes with upmost haste toward the site of communist activity. He was going to shoot commies, oh joy!
John went up next to Burg, quickly silencing him and raising his laser pistol.
"You all have been charged with listening to Communist propaganda." He stated. "You have two options. Re-pledge your allegience to Friend Computer and returning to the life style of an upstanding clone, and treating yourself to some of my cohorts pills, or continue as you have been and join your leader here at our feet."
He nodded to Hal to aim that giant gun of his into the crowd. He then aimed his own laser pistol at the crowd, stared down at the Communists' body, then back at the crowd. "So what do you decide?"
The Communist reaches up and shoves a piece of paper into John's hand before dying.
The crowd of clones shrug their shoulders and take some Happy Pills, seriously depleting Burg's supply.
A couple of minutes after Ded arrives, Scrubby appears. It appears to be badly damaged - there are huge pieces missing from its body. They look like... bite marks? The bot rolls forward slowly and haphazardly, sputtering, "must... clean... must... clean."
"What happened to him?" Hal says, setting down his Big Frickin' Gun to check out the damaged robot.
After the mass of clones had finished grabbing their pills, Burg looked mournfully at his now almost empty bottle of happy. However, realising that soon he'd be the cause of his own negativity suckhole, he quickly took action. Namely, he reached deep into his jar and pulled out a couple of pills, which he sucked down eagrely.
Soon, he realised that Friend Computer knew the importance of avoiding undue negativity, and in a happy, happy frame of mind, he set about testing the blue substance on a nearby patch of floor, to see what it did to metal before he tried anything more... permanent.
As the clones started to go back to their business, Burg looked mournfully at his now mostly empty bottle of pills. At this rate, soon they'd be out of instant happy. Realising that this thought was threatening to make him a suckhole of negativity, Burg scraped deep into the bottle and flipped a pill down his gullet before slumping to the ground.
Soon enough, the pill worked its happy magic, and he knew for a fact that Friend Computer, a wise and great sage in the field of knowing that folks need to be happy, and therefore, Friend Computer would know his plight, and have a new bottle of pills at the ready when he needed it.
That dialemma solved, Burg's grin lit up and he went off in search of some scrap metal to test his vial of blue stuff to ensure it wasn't too corrosive for further testing.
Ded stomps around pouting, as he didn't get to shoot any commies. He wasn't able to try out his nifty new laser gun! At Hal's question he turns. A suprised look comes over his face as he sees the mutilated robot.
"Scrubby! What happened!?" Ded rushes over to the robot and starts to frantically inspect it.
John glanced that the note briefly, a look of disgust passing his face. He pocketed the letter. "Hmph. Can't let this Pinko-Commie propaganda pollute the complex any longer. Best keep it contained."
He then turned to his cohorts gathered around Scrubby and joined them. "Wow. Can you fix it, Hal? You are our equipment guy. You should be able to do it."
"I canna do it, Captain - I need more time!" Hal mutters. "I might, but we'd need to get him back to someplace with parts and tools - I don't think I can fix him HERE."
As Hal ponders the situation, Ded continues to inspect the robot. His inspection however seems to be doing more damage! He plucks out several wires. Scrubby moans, "no... stop... no more..."
At that point, Scrubby explodes. As everyone was gathered around the bot, you all take damage. Everyone is painfully maimed by the shrapnel. But hey, you're not dead!
"This is most unfortunatly bogus," Burg said as he started to pick little bits of Scrubby out of his uniform, hair, and fleshy bits. As he did this, he popped another Happy Tyme Fun Pill and stuck the jar out where all could have some if they wanted.
As he was doing this, he took a quick look at his gun to make sure it looked like it still ought to be working, and then concentrated as hard as he could down where Scrubby was to see if he could possibly see or hear something the others couldn't.
The pain of having little robot bits embedded into his flesh has caused Ded's face to have a grin-like grimace, although more happy than grimace. Perhaps he is glad that he is alive and still able to serve Friend Computer. As he soon as he gets patched up. Yeah.
"Medic!"
Hmm, the Computer really shouldn't supply you with a medic since you take such poor care of its property. But Friend Computer is a most generous ruler...
A large bot with iron claws rolls into the room. "Hello. I am Ah-nuld bot 2000. I am here to provide medical assistance." The bot rolls up to Ded and grabs him between the legs. As Ded's face wrinkles up in agony, Ah-nuld says, "Turn your head and cough, girly-clone. My analysis indicates that you have chunks of metal imbedded in your flesh. Be still while I remove them."
Ah-nuld grabs Ded around the neck with one claw to keep him from moving, then proceeds to remove the shards of Scrubby from Ded's skin with his other claw. Unfortunately, Ah-nuld's claws are so huge that he removes large chunks of Ded's skin and some vital organs as well.
After finishing, Ah-nuld tosses Ded's lifeless corpse to the floor and turns to face the rest of you. "Does anyone else require medical assistance?"
(EDIT: OOC note, I didn't see Captain K's post when I posted this. Why? Because I'm a bloody idiot.)
John winced as the shrapnel swiped across his face. As bad as it felt, it looked much worse for his cohorts who had been closer than he.
"You should all return stay here and get patched up. Or return to base. Whichever. I'm fine. I will remain here to destroy any remaining propaganda and kill any communists still lingering around. I'm the team leader, I should be the one to do this dangerous cleanup work. 'Sides, I'm less injured than any of you are, so I need the medical attention less."
A thoughtful look crossed John's face a for a moment. More than likely thinking how dangerous running into a group of commies would be if he didn't have backup. So, he added, "However, if one of you feels well enough to help me, I would not be adverse. But only one of you; the other two should go seek medical attention."
"He's dead, Jim," Hal says briefly before passing out from the sheer pain. While unconsciousness does have the unfortunate side effect of making him less able to help Friend Computer, it DOES at least take away some of the unfortunate side effects of being the closest one to an exploding robot - namely, agonizing pain.
Having been somewhat farther away, looking for some scrap medal to test his vial of acid (which seemed to have miraculously not been hit), Burg soon finishes pulling out the important scraps of metal and lets the healbot know that Friend Computer needn't worry about him just yet.
Then Burg went over to the team leader.
"Well Friend John, much as ah'd like to stay and help shoot commies, it seems Friend Ded is, well... dead. And Friend Hal is outta comish for a little while. So, I'll just take Friend Hal and mosey down to the good ol' infirmary while you finish up here."
That said, Burg went over to Hal, slung Hal's gun onto his back, and lifted Hal up and over his shoulder, and then went off to the infirmary, or where he believed the infirmary to be at least, trying to keep a hand free for his gun just in case the tretcherous mutant commie that hurt Scrubby was still out there.
"Very well," says Ah-nuld the medbot. It rolls away, then turns and says, "I'll be back."
Ded-R-WEE-2 arrives, still cringing in pain from the memory of his death.
"It's good to be back in the service of FC. So, what does FC want us to do now? Shoot more commies?"
"Well, since you're well enough, being, you know, recently cloned, you can inspect the area for any more commie bastards lingering around the area. I'll start removing and destroying the rest of this Communist propaganda. Just make sure I don't get shot in the back," he winked after finishing. He then pointed out where Ded should start watching for Commies and set about tearing down flags, posters, podiums, and anything else that Commie set up. With his laser.
Burg wandered into the local infirmary, there he took a quick look about him to see if there were any medical staff around. Placing Hal on a handy surface, Burg then went to hail anyone he might find, and see if perhaps he could find some supplies he could potentially use later on to boost morale.
"Sure thing Team Leader!" Ded went off in search of commies, being extra careful not to get caught in John's crossfire.
"Do-de-do-do-do..." John hummed to himself as he blasted away at the fliers, podiums, and flags. Every once in a while he would look over his shoulder to make sure Ded was doing what he ordered, and to make sure that he wasn't under any attack by Commie scum. Soon enough, everything related to communism in the area was blasted to smithereens.
Yep, that Communist propaganda is really destroyed.
Burg finds some syringes with unidentified liquids in them. Could be groovy... but who to test it on, yourself or Hal?
Burg did indeed have a quandry. He had all of this nifty stuff to try out, but should he pursue enlightenement, or did he try and help his injured buddy? Of course, the solution lay right before his eyes! He had more than one syringe, therefore, he'd give one to Hal, and one to himself. And so, after carefully emptying one into Hal's arm, Burg got comfy, then plunged the second one into his own arm and injected it.
Seeing no more commies in the area, Ded awaits further orders from FC.
After shooting up, Burg becomes awash in a world of psychedelic colors. What a groovy trip, man. He does get rather thirsty however. Grabbing the first thing he can find to drink with his distorted vision, Burg quaffs it heartily. Unfortunately it was the flask of acid he had been carrying. Burg is melted from the inside out, but at least he dies happy.
Hal wakes up with a dry mouth and a severe hangover, but is otherwise fully healed. He does have this nagging sense that he's gotten lucky so far in some regard, but is not sure why.
Burg-R-KNG-2 arrives back with John and Zed, as does Hal. The Computer has given you no further instructions, so perhaps the Team Leader has a suggestion for what you can do.
John tore up-slash-blasted the last remaining piece of paper from the communists. As he was about to blast the last of the paper, he looked at it and arched a brow. He re-joined Ded, Burg, and Hal, holstering his laser, glancing down at the piece of paper.
"Our job isn't over yet, fellows. In my destruction of this pinko-bastard propaganda, I've found this... it appears to be a map to some room in the complex." He glanced up at his team. "Unless I'm greviously mistaken, this can only be the map to the communist headquarters! If we go to this room, we can shut down the operations of those bastards. Think of how we will be rewarded by Friend Computer, for destroying this threat. Since we've recieved no other orders, I think we should go to this room and shut down the last of the communist operations. Unless any of you have qualms about that. But of course you don't, destroying Commies is in the interests of the Friend Computer, and the interests of Friend Computer are the interests of the rest of us."
Hal reclaimed his Big Gun O' Blastin' from John upon his return, still a bit woozy from the near-death experience. "Sounds okay to me... I mean, Friend Computer says that we're supposed to shoot all the commies anyway, so why not?"
Burg merely nodded his head and mouthed something jibing with whatever Friend Team Leader was saying. After all, shooting commies was good and all, but all he could think about right now was that he had found something that had opened his mind to a whole new level of thought, he was on the verge of a profound discovery that would change the world, a slight tug of his body, reminding himself of his bodies needs, carelessly just letting it do what it needed, and then when it all came so clear, white hot heat. As though the idea was so profound it melted his very head from the inside out. And now, all there was was a blue afterimage of his glory.
And now, Burg plotted, for this revelation would be his. He would merely have to find some other key to nirvana.
Ded nods happily. His shiny new laser was still untested, and as of yet no commie blood had been split on his account.
"Sure thing Friend Citizen! We all strive to please FC in any way we can!"
Following John through Alpha Complex, the team finds itself in a remote area. You haven't seen any other clones for some time. Consulting the paper in his pocket, John leads you to a solid door. After taking a breath, John opens the door.
"It's about time!" cries a voice. An elderly clone stumbles out of the room. "I thought my relief would never get here! Look, come in here!" The old clone pushes you into the room. There is nothing except a round table with some chairs around it. In the center of the table is a single red button with a glass cover over it.
"Sit here and guard that button with your life! And whatever you do, don't push it!" The clone whistles happily and scampers off down the corridor.
"Who... was that?" John blinks, not having caught a look at the clone as they were shoved into a room. "A commie? Yes, that must be it. Shall we push the button, then, since he was obviously a communist? Otherwise why would he be hanging around this place believed to be a ground for those pinko bastards?"
"I.... GUESS he was a commie," Hal replies. He takes a peek under the table to see if the button is connected to anything. "But do we really want to press the button if we don't know what it does?"
I'll get your next clones warmed up while you decide what to do. >:)
Burg took a quick look around and decided that, although the button was shiny, it was excessiely so, and therefore probably communist and therefore bad for his health, and so he thought of a reason to leave the room.
"Friend Leader, I'll stand guard outside the door, to let all know that in here, the business of Friend computer is being done."
And with that, Burg left, to stand guard outside the room of course.
Ded frowns. Friend Burg couldn't be expected to guard against commies all by himself! As he also heads toward the door he calls over his shoulder, "Friend Leader, I trust your judgement in this matter. I will help Friend Burg defend us against any Pinky activities."
John rubbed his chin. "Well, we're here, and we have no evidence otherwise that this isn't a communist base... Hell, even the button's red. Come on. So, let's push the button and hope that it destroys this damn threat to Friend Computer." He started to the button, but paused. "No. Friend Hal, I believe you should have the honor of helping Friend Computer in this way." He nodded for him to go over and push the button.
*and the buck gets passed along*
Hal swallows, cautiously approaching the button. "Yes, sir," he says in a dejected tone, closing his eyes as he presses the button. 'I wonder if you remember if it hurts...'
Burg looked around. Not much here, and something inside him was calling out for enlightenment with nary a font of wisdom to be found. However, there was Ded, and an excuse.
"Friend Ded, I reckon that there may be more Communist Propaganda around here, and other such clues that'll tell us what we need to go. So, I'm gonna go and reconnoiter and see what's what round these here parts. You stay here and watch that door for them traitor commies!"
And with that, Burg wandered off into the hallways, looking and listening to the best of his ability for anything he could find.
Hal finds himself unable to push the button, due to the glass dome covering it. There doesn't seem to be any catch or anything to release the dome. It's sealed to the top of the table.
Ded starts whistling a popular anti-commie diddy as he watches for any commies and/or mutants.
John sighed. "Yeah," he said, tapping the glass covering the button. "There's glass there. Might be a good idea to uncover the button before trying to push it." He walked over to where the glass dome would open. "Here, I'll open it." He placed his hand to flip open the glass, but paused.
"Ah, it may be boobytrapped. Might be for the best to duck as soon as I flip it open. When it's clear, you get up and push the button. Okay?" John nodded to Hal, then opened the dome.
And hit the deck.
And yet, John can find no way to open the glass dome. It's completely solid, with no apparent trigger to open it.
Hal sighs. "It figures. If we're going to do this, we might as well do it all the way." Taking out his Big Frickin' Gun, Hal holds it over the glass button for a moment, before swinging it into the protective glass shield to smash the glass and press the button in one swift motion.
Burg wandered the halls, but apparently there was nothing worth noting in the area. Somewhat dissapointed, he started heading back to the room.
Ded admires his shiny new laser, still unfired. Maybe he should go seek commies and/or mutants on his own? FC must surely trust them (what a honor!) if it hasn't given them further directions.
Ah, that's one way to use a BFG!
Hal smashes the glass successfully and presses the button swiftly. He gets a cut on his index finger from the glass shards.
A portion of the wall slides away. Revealed there is a monitor and a strange flat board with raised bumps. The bumps have letters and numbers on them.
John pulled himself up off the ground. "Huh, no traps?" He walked over to the console that was uncovered and began examining it. "Lessee here..."
Hal slings the BFG back across his back, sucking on his injured finger as he follows John in to inspect the dazzling array of shiny buttons.
Burg wandered through the halls, soon finding his way back.
"Ah, Friend Ded! Any Commies pop up while I was gone?"
"I feat not Friend Burg, perhaps we might go back inside in assist Friend Leader and Hal?" He then opens the door and peeks in.
Hal's sucking of his finger causes the wound to get infected. He dies a slow, painful death a week later.