[color=gray][indent][indent]Observing the completed Trial structure from a small hill amidst the plateau, Robert allowed himself a small smile of pride before turning towards the five-kilometre walk back to the main campus. The large man made a good pace as he left the blowing grass behind and entered the forest that separated the campus and the rolling plains. His nostrils suddenly flared at a smell foreign to the forest. Subtle through the smell of fir, hemlock and pine but there, beneath the natural aromas of the forest was the distinct pollutant odour of leather and neoprene. [color=#ffffff]“The winds are blowing.”[/color] Robert spoke loudly, listening through the trees. The hoot of a great horned owl in the distance replied before it too was swept away by the whistling winds singing their haunting song along the cliffs of the Southern Plateau. His keen green eyes danced between the trees. He was likely just being paranoid, perhaps something that Thaddeuas had mentioned about Banjo’s penchant for retaliation had gotten to him. The source of the smells were more than likely a pair of students seeking some privacy from their campsite. He chuckled to himself while resuming his walk. It wasn’t so long ago that he too had snuck off into these words with a pair of fellow students during his Homecoming Trials. After all, as the kids say, the [i]Eiffel Tower[/i] is beautiful this time of year. A groan suddenly found its ways from between his lips as a sharp prick tickled the back of his neck. Another pierced the thick skin as the dark forest began to spin. The third downed the elephant of a man, his hands barely able to react in time before he hit the forest floor. His eyes were rapidly closing but not before he saw a pair of heels amidst several pairs of boots. An authoritative voice cut through the haze. [color=#ffffff]“Get him out of site and prep the table for the procedure. This sub-class will make an excellent test subject.”[/color] And then Robert lost consciousness.[/INDENT][COLOR=dimgray][SUP][sub]__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR] [INDENT]Thunder loomed over the Southern Plateau as rain began to pelt the tents and sheets of lightning illuminated the night sky. All had quieted across the camp sites and fires had long been extinguished as midnight had come and gone bringing about the witching hour that it was now. A lone zipper was lost in the din of pouring rain as the sole figure stole away in the shadows of the wee hours, hiding between the rows of tents before making a dash for the Trial build site. There, disguised as a simple hedge maze stood the Homecoming Trial in all its biotechnological glory. A combination of mundane construction and Hyperhuman wizardry enabled the ‘hedge’ to rival even the A.R.C. in simulated environments. But it was not impervious to tampering. Like every year prior, Robert and his cohorts had already performed their inspection of the students workmanship and rejiggered any required programming. From both theirs and the faculty’s standpoint, the Trial had been deemed safe to run. A redundant check would be performed in the morning, and another before the trial went live. All the more reason why sabotage needed to be intelligent. Every student carried their student card, it’s what allowed them to check into training facilities and check out equipment. Creating a sequence triggered by the swipe of a specific student’s card would allow it to remain indistinguishable in the morning checks but activate in time for Blackjack to experience a modified version of the Trial. One void of safeties. The shrouded figure smiled as they produced said student card, swiped during Blackjack’s shared campfire with Firebird. Even if they had noticed it missing, the card’s owner would have assumed it was lost within the central processing area of the Trial. They did after all help program this year’s theme. What no one would anticipate though was the projected power-dampening field that would prevent anyone from getting in and those inside from getting out. The Harbinger had planned out every detail. Though some had to be left in the dark lest they be compromised, but it was a sacrifice that had to be made and every member of House Orcinus was ready to be towards the glory of Hyperion's inevitable return.[/indent][/indent][CENTER][COLOR=dimgray] [sup]________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sup][/COLOR][img]https://i.imgur.com/uA98Dc2.png[/img][/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=silver][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]The Southern Plateau[/I] - [I]Dundas Islands, Pacific Ocean[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=silver][b]Welcome Home #1.108:[/b][/COLOR] [I]Sabotage[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][COLOR=dimgray][SUP][sub]____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR][INDENT][sub][color=silver][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR] [I]None[/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=silver][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR] [I]S'moregasboard[/I][/right][/SUP] [INDENT]Morning came faster than most of Blackjack appreciated. The melodic sounds of songbirds and seabirds alike had started at approximately five in the morning and continued well past the time the campus wide trumpet had blown. As each stumbled out of their tents, some better for wear than others, they found Tad waiting for a breakfast consisting of bagels, muffins, fruit, juice, water and coffee or tea as per their preference. From the neighboring campsite approached Jess waving a student ID card in hand before handing it to Tad who was sitting beside the breakfast spread. [color=#ffffff]“Hey, Lover, Noah found this in the fire circle, it’s still a little damp from last night’s storm but looks like it’s good otherwise. Might want to ensure Harper has it back. You'll definitely need her to beat Firebird today.”[/color] Tad smiled as he took the student card from Jess’ hand. It was true, for a student's trial run to be counted, they had to swipe their card upon entry. [color=#ffffff]“I’ll be sure she gets it back, even if I know we could beat you even with a man down.”[/color] He retorted only for his wife-to-be to roll her eyes. [color=#ffffff]“Sure you can, Finch. Try not to make the target time too easy for us.”[/color] As the various members of Blackjack gathered around for breakfast, Tad turned to address the group proper. In his hands he held another piece of paper while the Team’s eyes were drawn to a collapsed tent beside him. [color=#ffffff]"I, uh, found this note, looks like Mei left in the middle of the night. Something about in the air force you can’t hear Haven scream?."[/color] [color=#ffffff]"Yeah,”[/color] Jess interjected with a playful smirk, turning around to tease both Tad and the pair of lovebirds. [color=#ffffff]”According to my guys, all anyone could hear last night over the rain was Barnes and Tyler.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“Ahem,”[/color] Tad cleared his throat while his ears turned red. Moving his head, he indicated for Jess to leave before turning back to the group. [color=#ffffff]“Since our girls programmed the Trial, Blackjack has been elected first to run the course. Hopefully, with our insider knowledge, you don’t set [i]too[/i] good of a time.”[/color] He gave a taunting smirk towards Jess who rolled her eyes at her fiancé before walking away. [color=#ffffff]“I’ve brought some A.R. Suits over for you all to change into, no need to explain them as you’re all surely used to the suits by now. Don’t forget your neural links.”[/color] Tad added tapping his temple to indicate the proper placement of the device. [color=#ffffff]“For those who have never done this, get some food into you, then suit up. We’ll regroup in front of the Trial before officially entering.”[/color] He explained before grabbing an apple along with his bagel and coffee. [color=#ffffff]“Don’t overeat and I’ll see you over there.”[/color][/INDENT][COLOR=dimgray][SUP][sub]__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR] [INDENT]Tad counted the heads of the ten remaining Blackjack members. He couldn't blame Mei or Pallyx for leaving with the shake up caused by the Foundation, but he was grateful for the remaining members. Most of them he had been mentoring since they came to P.R.C.U. [color=#ffffff]“Alright, you guys put this together, I know you can set a great time, but also try to have fun. For some of you it’s a first run, but for all of you, it’s the last time you’ll get to do this. Savour it, work together and I know you’ll do great.”[/color] The various members of Blackjack filed into the towering hedge one by one, each swiping their student card as they entered which brought their A.R. suit to life, establishing a connection with the neural link that brought the maze in front of them to life. Suddenly pulling Harper out of line, Tad moved her to the back of the group before holding out his arm. [color=#ffffff]“Sorry, I just remembered Jess gave this to me this morning. You must have dropped this yesterday.”[/color] He explained handing her student card back to her [color=#ffffff]“Give ‘em hell, Baxter,”[/color] Tad encouraged sending the girl through last. As the Trial came alive, the programming glimmered to life as the doors shut behind Blackjack with a sharp sibilation. As soon as the doors locked, the visual constructs began to flicker. The entire simulation began to shut down in a flash of scrolling, corrupted red code. The area went black, submerging Blackjack in darkness before flaring back to life in a blinding flash of white. Winding, sterile halls replaced the stone maze and jungle of the previously programmed simulation. [i][color=#d9d9d9]Tiamat[/color][/i] [i][color=#d9d9d9]Tiamat[/color][/i] [i][color=#d9d9d9]Tiamat [/color][/i] A chorus of hushed whispers echoed around the collective team. A cold fog hung to the room's walls and floor while an indiscernible hissing echoed through the spotless maze of corridors. The exterior walls of the Trial hummed, the familiar nausea of an EBI field washing over those standing too close to the doors. Empty classrooms lined the corridors, each occupied with abandoned desks. Within several of the rooms were a buzzing, damaged smart board, its screen covered in static beneath the cracked glass. The other rooms were filled with gurneys lined with busted restraints. Vials filled with vibrantly coloured liquids were scattered through the hospital-like rooms, while half-empty syringes lay around the abandoned gurney, their points stained with the familiar rust-tinged vermillion of dried blood. The chorus of voices returned, words echoing again through the winding labyrinth. [indent][indent][indent][color=#d9d9d9]“Tiamat.”[/color] [right][color=#d9d9d9]“Welcome home.”[/color][/right][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/COLOR]