They're coming to take me away, ha-ha...

[Brian]

Dr. Peterson blinks at you, looking up from the machine he's at.  "Your bracelet is in there," he says patiently.  "The cards are for T-series testing, which will be tomorow.  We're begining with D-series, at the moment."

From where you are, you can see the interior of this space is mostly concrete, except for where it's glass cubes.  The interior has been at some point, somewhat molten, and the door does appear to be ceramic from here.   Judging by the faint dual smells of both scorched carbon and bleach, it's not just an appearance, either.  A small aluminum folding table sits near the back of the chamber, next to the cement wall.  There's a ceramic hatchway in the ceiling, with two burnt out points that you guess may have once been warning lights.  The silver bracelet is clearly visible on the table, illuminating a barely impercetable glow.

"Reaction's increased by about sixty percent with proximity," one of the aides says aloud, prompting a sharp stare from Dr. Peterson.

"Yes, well," the doctor says.  "This is for our safety, you must understand.  We don't know exactly what you will do once you have that device, and without proper control, you could easily hurt someone if you aren't careful."

[Bjorn]

"That does not, in fact, answer my question."  Bjorn looks directly at Dr. Peterson, with his face blank.  "The test in question is, I step in there, pick up the bracelet, and...?"

[Brian]

"We monitor the reaction, of course," Dr. Peterson says, as though to a child.

[Bjorn]

"Yes," Bjorn says darkly, "but the reaction to what?

"The only thing you know about my alleged power, Dr. Peterson, is that you think it protected me from fire.  And now you want to lock me into a room that looks slightly more well-done than Hell's own hamburger.  Since I don't think I have a power, and, to be frank, the Workshop hasn't real done a great deal to convince me that they have my welfare at heart, do you understand that while I want to be cooperative, I'd appreciate it if you were a little more forthcoming?

"I am a research scientist, Dr. Peterson.  Please, take the time to tell me about your experimental set-up."

As he delivers this speech, Bjorn stares Dr. Peterson straight in the eyes, projecting his ki and his confidence, in an effort to cow the man.  At the same time, though, with his periphial vision, he searches for anything -- a pen, a pipette, a ruler, that he could use as a weapon (or futile gesture, more likely).

[Brian]

The most feasible weapons that come to mind might be some of the machinery or lab equipment, assuming you were able to get to it before the guards got to you.  Of course, with them between you and it....

The next likely possibility would be the weapons of the guards themselves.  The batons of the lightly armored duo look familiar, and worked decently the last time you tried them.  The blocky pistol of the S.W.A.T. armored guard makes that a questionable possibility, however, and he's holding another tazer.

Code Select Expand

Roll for presence attack:
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Bjorn ... :3d6 --> {8}

The doctor is entirely unimpressed with your stance.  Perhaps he's seen freakier things in his life while working in this place.  Perhaps it's because his goons outnumber you six to one.  Perhaps it's because really, he's just a tough nut to crack.

Either way, he sighs, and reaches into his coat pocket, pulling out a cigarette case.  He snaps it open, and pulls out a stick of bubble-gum.  "Really, Mr. Christianson, try to be reasonable.  We have work to do here."  He pops the gum into his mouth, and pockets the case right after.

[Bjorn]

"Reasonable."  Bjorn considers.  "Whatever you say."

With that, he breaks into a full sprint, aiming right between the center and the leftmost guard.

But only two steps in, just as everyone is starting to react to his sudden movement, he wheels about, and charges directly in the vault.  Grabbing the bracelet from the table, he grunts, heaves the table up, and starts to run back toward the door, throwing the aluminum contraption into the doorway as he goes.

Jesus H. Longshot Christ, I hope this works....

[Brian]

Code Select Expand

Presence attack -1d6 second attack, +2 surprise modifier, +1 ingenuity bonus
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Bjorn ... : 5d6 --> {16}
The guards instinctively, leap backwards, readying their weapons, and the aides squeal like frightened pigs, dropping to the floor.  Dr. Peterson is still entirely unphased; he pops his chewing gum into his mouth as you turn around, and rush back towards the vault.

You clear the sill of the doorway and run across the semi-sticky surface of the chamber floor.

Code Select Expand

Dex check:
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Bjorn ... : 3d6 --> {17}
You're just reaching for the bracelet when the sticky surface gives way to an unexpected patch of grit, and you unexpectedly careen into the wall.

Code Select Expand

Dex check:
Them bones was tossed for Bjorn ... : 3d6 --> {9}
Catching your self against the wall, you push off, turning and grabbing the table in the same motion -- the bracelet goes sliding off and you barely snag it with your left hand while heaving the table ahead of you.  The door is already swinging shut -- and fast.

Code Select Expand

To throw table as placed object:
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Bjorn ... :3d6 --> {12}
The table flies end-over-end, and bounces off the center of the door.  Its legs catch in the groove of the doorway, between the lip of the entrance and the actual door itself with a dull 'clang', and the door swings shut on the leg-strut.

Code Select Expand

Crushing damage of door vs. table:
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Brian ... :12#1d6 normal damage --> {1}{1}{1}{1}{2}{2}{4}{4}{4}{5}{6}{6}
Improbably, the frail little aluminum table stops the ceramic door, though it's bending, and the door is still trying to cloase.  You can hear straining machinery through the glass, and you're running low on time (even running) before the door shuts entirely -- that table can't hold out much longer than a second or two.

[Bjorn]

Running full speed at the gap between door and doorway, Bjorn utters a quick prayer (who to? Wish I sorted that out) and the second he's within range, throws himself into a forward roll through whatever space remains.

[Brian]

Code Select Expand

Dexterity check:
<Chibi-Suu> Them bones was tossed for Bjorn ... : 3d6 --> {7}
The table gives one alarming slow-motion creak, accompanied with a buckling motion, about the same time you leap -- consequences be damned.

It's no clumsy-escape, you manage to slip through the rapidly closing gap in a dive above the collapsing table, twisting your body to the side as you do so.  You feel certain that your toes brush the door before it completely slams shut, obliterating the table.

You're now lying on the floor, and the guards rush you.  They are stayed, within weapons' range, by Dr. Peterson, "Hold on," he says.  "Most impressive.  Now tell me, Mr. Christianson, how you accomplished that?" he says calmly, punctuating his question with a loud snap of his bubble gum.

[Bjorn]

"Seven fucking years of martial arts," Bjorn grunts, bounding to his feet.  "Gimme another three and I wouldn't have had to run."

Settling himself in the no-stance of his art (arms hanging loosely in a circle before him, feet apart), he says, "Now, doctor, this seems like a reasonable way for you to measure the bracelet's reaction.  Shall we proceed?"

[Brian]

"No, I think we're done with that," he says, staring at your wrist for a moment, then scribbling on his clipboard, and mumbling aloud.  "C class, 2."  The guards are watching you warily.

"I think we're done for the rest of today, matter-of-factly," the doctor says pleasantly.  "We haven't been able to cut it, so I imagine that ends our tests ... unless, of course, you're willing to give up the wrist and relinquish that bracelet?"

[Bjorn]

What the hell?

In utter confusion, Bjorn glances down at his wrists.

[Brian]

The bracelet, which you cannot slip over your hand, is on your left wrist, comfortably loosely, but too tight to remove.  The glow has also faded back to its previously imperceptable level.

"I think you can return to your room now," Dr. Peterson adds, turning to inspect one of the machines that was apparently monitoring the event.  "Fascinating," he breathes, already apparently even forgetting you're there.

[Bjorn]

More than a bit confused, coming down off an aldrenaline high, and starting to get rather worried, Bjorn seeks some simple pleasure in pacing off back to the playground, leaving the guards to scurry after him.

Okay.  The bright side is... whatever this bracelet can do (or I can do with this bracelet), they can't take away from me now....

Which means I might have a weapon.

[Brian]

All three of the guards escort you back to the commons, though it gives you pause when you enter.  It's now 'night' in the playroom.  The sun-lamps have been extinguished in favor of a large, silver spherical lamp, which appears to be on a track leading from one edge of the playroom to the other, even higher than the guard's walkways.  It's half black light, and half low-light, granting the area something of a 'night' quality, while not actually being that dark.  Tiny pinpoint lights simulate stars, and someone even bothered to put a humidifier in the ventilation ducts that provide the breeze, so it's vaguely damp, as well.

A few of the regulars, and likely a number of different people are outside, glancing your way when you enter the room, but quickly away.  The tunnel decorated with animals is still brightly lit, and you can see the brute cowering just inside the pool of light, staring at the light-shedding 'moon' fearfully.  Your own rainbow-capped tunnel is somewhat darker, but still easily navigable, and the fountain has been turned low.