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File 167556227977.png - (2.55MB , 1311x1037 , GATITLE.png )
1055221 No. 1055221 ID: 1015ea

Life is dull.
There’s no other way around it.
You’ve worked hard - you’ve contributed to society. But at the end of the day, all you come back to is that same old TV in your livingroom.

An acrid scent lingers in your hovel. You’d say its the same sight you’ve known for years now, but the truth is that the bits of plaster in the back seem to be peeling off more and more every day.

At least you still had your television set.

You had set the damn thing up a while back - a radio transceiver, typically made for logistical workers hauling goods over long distances. Jury-rigging a spare set to act as a television antennae was difficult, but it was better than nothing.
Still, the microphone dangled off the side, the cord twisting and untwisting as you try to navigate to the mildly interesting soap opera you caught the tail-end of last night.
Turning the knob, a picture starts to form, blanketed under a layer of static. For once, it doesn’t sound like a pre-recorded show.
114 posts omitted. Last 50 shown. Expand all images
>>
No. 1091663 ID: 5ebd37

Can't dismiss any possible escape routes. At least have him try to open it and look around what's on the other side.
>>
No. 1091664 ID: 273c18

Hmm, my first thought was that some kind of drilling vehicle is causing the earthquakes and that's one of its hatches, but that would've been very audible. Maybe there's some kind of underground facility beyond the hatch that's responsible for the quakes?

Well, to open that hatch he's going to need leverage and/or rust remover. Some kind of long iron bar should work, or that wrench he used earlier.
>>
No. 1092361 ID: 172604

No guts, no glory. Let's try to oil up that door with whatever we have at hand pry it open.
>>
No. 1100292 ID: 20eb0f
File 173240678911.png - (2.24MB , 1382x1037 , GA45.png )
1100292

He may as well try to open the thing up and take a look on the other side.
“There’s nothing against looking into these kind of things, right Davey? Especially when it’s your own home.”

He nods,his dusty fur dislodging some dirt in a visible cloud as he shakes himself clean.
“I’ve got some rust remover somewhere in my home, so I can take a look.”
Not bad, but with those arms and his constitution? Davey’s going to need a bit of extra help.

“Try some leverage. Get a pole, tie it to one of the spokes in the lever and then apply force. It’ll make it easier.”

Good thing he still had some of those fortification supplies left - soon, Davey comes scurrying back to the camera with a decent-sized pole and some scrap cloth which he uses to bind the lever to the handwheel.

“I got the supplies! Going to try opening the door now.”
Tying the pole to the wheel, Davey finagles it so that it’s well and firmly stuck between the spokes. He raises a little spray can of the rust remover onto the door’s frame and the core of the wheel, an audible hiss crackling through your speakers.

Finally, he grabs onto his makeshift lever, pushing with his whole body, pushing as his feet scrape against the ground.

Even through the camera, you can hear the groaning and strain, coming from both the door, and one ragged mouse.
Soon, with flakes of rust chipping off from the door, it slowly, gradually swings open, like the mouth of a monster.
>>
No. 1100293 ID: 20eb0f
File 173240681828.png - (2.11MB , 1328x1037 , GA46.png )
1100293

Even with the light coming from Davey’s room, you can barely see anything in the dark. Looks like the camera’s barely able to capture much video.


A part of you worries that by opening the door up, you’ll be inviting further trouble for Davey. But having an additional escape route investigated can’t hurt.
After all, there’s no guarantee that help is coming, even with all the promises being thrown around.

“Davey, while I wouldn’t tell you to abandon your life’s work, it is probably for the best to take a quick look through what’s on the other side now that you’ve opened the door. We’ll be able to make a better informed choice afterward.”


“Ah… yeah, I agree. But I’m going to see if there’s a light source I can get first… my eyes weren’t great to begin with, and it’s very dark in there.”
Once again, he runs off.
>>
No. 1100296 ID: 20eb0f
File 173240707338.png - (2.20MB , 1382x1037 , GA47.png )
1100296

It takes a while before he’s able to return. Maybe all that running around and weathering natural disasters has winded him.
He’s carrying a small bundle, which he spills out onto a table.

“Okay, here’s what I found.”

A beaten torch, and what seems to be a chain of tubes, linked together by thin fibers. Flares?

“Um, the torch isn’t as good as it may sound… It’s pretty dodgy. I don’t have more batteries for it, so I don’t know if I should rely on it.”

“Can’t you take both of them?”, you ask.

Davey peers back towards the door, wrinkling his nose.
“Well… if I wanted to leave through the tunnels and see if I could get external help, I probably should conserve my light if I can.”

Was there any other additions Davey could make to his arsenal of lighting options?


Suddenly, Davey picks up the camera, carrying it with him as he picks up the torch, clicking it on.
A beam of light cuts through the gloom, illuminating a murky, metal-lined wall on the other side.

“I could barely make it out from before, but the tunnel goes in two directions as well. I’m not sure which direction to look in, either.”

“Can you hear anything from it, Davey?”
He turns his head, ears twitching as he tries
“On the left… I can hear something that sounds like clanking. Maybe it’s machines?

Machines could imply civilization - assistance. Or something that people like Davey shouldn’t be involved in.

“And on the right… I can hear something like flowing water?”

Curious. Is the city that close to groundwater?
“Do you think you’d be able to make a trip back to your home after investigating one of these directions?”

Davey clicks the flashlight back off.
“Well… I could, but I’d exhaust the remainder of the flares or battery, regardless of which one I used first. And… if that’s the case, I’d end up right back here, waiting…”

So, two options then. Davey will have to work with what lighting he currently has, unless there were options he had overlooked.
And the question is which direction you should recommend he explore in.
>>
No. 1100312 ID: 6c233e

stick with the flashlight, only use the flares if you know you'll be in the dark for a long time.
Investigate the water sound, might be leaking in from somewhere you can escape to.
>>
No. 1100313 ID: eb0a9c

Nothing for it. You'll just have to look for maintenance crews and their supplies while you're down there.
>>
No. 1100528 ID: 71fafc

Uuhhh.. maybe some of the lights from the greenhouse survived the flooding? See if you can salvage that.

The water noises are probably a flooded area. I'd say the sound of machinery will be either more promising or more exciting.
>>
No. 1101248 ID: 24bc66
File 173423120765.png - (1.20MB , 1224x977 , GA48.png )
1101248

“Head towards the mechanical noises, Davey. It’s safer than trying to go around flowing water in the dark. ”

Exploring in the dark towards the sound of flowing water? Dangerous. You don’t know what’s over there, and if Davey were to fall in, drop the camera…
Well, let’s not think about that too much.

Davey takes the flashlight with him, bundling up the flares into a little bundle tied to his clothes. Hopefully, he wouldn’t exhaust his light too quickly.

I also took the pole from before with me… I can use it like a crowbar if necessary.”
And hopefully not for self-defense purposes.


The occasional rumble of machinery can be heard off in the distance - not loud enough to peak the camera’s microphone, but still audible regardless.
After a brief distance, Davey speaks up again, the camera’s feed showing a clear divide in the tunnels.

“The path splits into three here, Rory. And there’s a door going into a room on the right!”

“What’s in the room?”
Davey ducks into it quickly. Shelves, cabinets and control panels. It seems organized, but covered in dust. What prompted all the people to leave all these supplies here?

“Seems kinda like… a control room? There’s a lot of panels and buttons with latches, too many to count. There may be supplies lying around, but I would have to take the time to look through all of them. Using a flare here would make sense, if we wanted to.”

Not a bad thought - even if Davey isn’t able to find a way out, or if it’s too unfeasibly long to explore, there may be something of use hidden inside.


“Let’s keep going for now, Davey, check out the left tunnel first.”
>>
No. 1101249 ID: 24bc66
File 173423123615.png - (1.57MB , 1280x1037 , GA49.png )
1101249

Metal. Piping. These tunnels clearly were used in the past, but the wear and tear makes it apparent that it’s been a long while since people have maintained it. Though, you don’t see much of the pneumatic piping that was used in Davey’s home - are those maintained elsewhere?

Davey comes to a stop, a safe distance away from a black void: A collapsed section of the tunnels.
“Oh. Um. That’s… a big hole. It just keeps going.”
Davey angles the camera down toward it, and he’s right. Even with the flashlight shining down it, you can’t see the bottom.

“A-ah… I guess the earthquakes from before messed up these maintenance tunnels as well.”
You’re not so sure about that assessment - it seems a little odd that the metal floor has caved in like this.
“It looks like something used to be above the hole - like a checkpoint or something but then the floor under it broke and it fell through?”
He tosses a stone into it - and you can’t hear anything.
“I… heard a splash at the end. Can’t tell more than that.”
Guess the camera can’t pick up everything about it.

Davey seems to be craning his head forward, as the camera’s view shifts slightly.
“I can still hear machines in the distance - it’s pretty loud, but I think the tunnels are making it echo.”

He pauses, and the rumble of machines fades, before re-emerging.
“Seems to be turning on and off…”

Davey steps back from the precarious hole.
“I think the people on the other side may be a rescue team! I don’t think criminals could have such a large operation going on… but given that we haven’t gotten any notice as to estimated times, maybe they’re having trouble finding a way in?”

Well, that’s a strong reason for trying to find a way over at least.
“Head back and check out another path, Davey. If we can get the Rescue Team to your home… then things will get a lot safer.”
He nods, turning back toward the intersection.
>>
No. 1101250 ID: 24bc66
File 173423126759.png - (1.49MB , 1278x1037 , GA50.png )
1101250

“I’ll try the middle branch this time.”

Davey continues forward for a short amount of time, heading up the inclined path.

Then, he’s stopped short in front of a thick slab of metal.
“Oh… another rusted door. These tunnels musn’t have been used in quite some time.”
Like the walls of this place, it seems quite weathered.
“I don’t know if we can use the same strategy on this door or not… it seems different to the last one and the sides of it have been sealed fairly tightly by its mechanism.”

Davey leans in closer, the camera going askew briefly.
“There’s an indent for a key in here….”

He looks around nearby, but naturally, things aren’t that convenient. No keys to be found.
However…

“Oh, um. There’s something in the wall nearby too. It looks like one of those little dumbwaiter things, but it’s kinda small. I’d have to crouch to get in it. There’s a button on the side and a green light beside it.”

True enough, there’s a faint glow coming from the wall - you can’t tell the colour, but you’ll take Davey’s word for it.

“Well, there’s still the last branch for me to check out. I’ll head back.”
>>
No. 1101251 ID: 24bc66
File 173423129654.png - (1.67MB , 1237x1004 , GA51.png )
1101251

Pitter patter, pitter patter. In the gloom, all you can hear is Davey’s footsteps inside the tunnels.
After hours of spending time with Davey in front of the camera, it feels surreal seeing things from his perspective. It’s not long before Davey skids to a stop, jumping back a bit.

“Yeep!”
Davey gasps, the sound of crackling electricity audible through the camera’s microphone.
Still water - and the glowing edges of rotten electrical wire.
Even you can see the arcing of electricity above the water, where some of the wiring isn’t fully submerged.

“The floor’s electrified… I’m lucky that the ground near me’s insulated, but there’s been a leak… I can see water dripping from the ceiling near the panel.”

“What’s the panel look like?”
He turns the camera over toward it. It looks rough.
“It’s corroded… even if it still worked, I don’t think I can touch it without some kind of insulation. And there’s enough water that it would go up to my ankles, which is still enough to zap me.”

Davey stops for a moment, the camera on his shoulder swaying a little.

“Uh, maybe I could turn it off somehow? We did see that control room, but I wouldn’t know how to operate it… I could try looking for an instruction manual, but that’ll take time, and I can’t read if I’m in the dark. “

It does seem odd that these tunnels are so dark, despite being man-made. Perhaps the emergency lights are off?

“I’m going to head back to the intersection for now. But we’ve checked all the pathways.”
>>
No. 1101252 ID: 24bc66
File 173423132555.png - (1.51MB , 1147x929 , GA52.png )
1101252

Davey returns to the intersection, breathing out a sigh as he slumps against the wall.

“Phew… at least we’re making progress. This place is a little concerning, but I can still hear the machines in the distance. I guess they won’t be leaving for some time yet. This is really getting my heart pumping!”

The camera shifts, placed low to the ground as Davey faces you again, his whiskers glinting in the cone of light his torch provides.
“We’re so close… if we can get through to the other side in one of these places, I think we could get saved!”

He leans forward, fingers tracing lines through the dirt.
Soon, a crude map forms, scribbling quick symbols about what each of the rooms are, and the obstacles blocking specific areas.

“When you’re here too, Rory? I think we can figure out a way through this.”
He trusts you. Best not let him down.
“We’ve got time to think, I can just leave the flashlight off while we’re deciding a plan.”
The implicit thing is that he’d be sitting completely in the dark while you think of a plan.

“If it’s too risky or you’re running low on supplies, it’s still better to head back”.
Davey assents to the suggestion.

Whatever the plan is though, it will take time.
Neither of you know when the flashlight’s going to burn out, especially since he’s made use of it to scope out the tunnels a bit.


A few straightforward options present themselves:
Attempt to figure out what the control panels do.
Search the room for supplies or documentation.
Investigate the dumb-waiter, potentially sending Davey down to investigate.
Bring supplies back from Davey’s home to try and bridge the gap in the caved-in-floor area.
Finding insulation to deal with the electrified area.

More options may present themselves as Davey works through them. But he only has so much light left on him. What seems to be the most promising options?
>>
No. 1101270 ID: 6c233e

Bridging that gap is the most straightforward plan, and safer than messing with electricity.

It would be worth spending a flare to fully investigate the supplies in the small room. We want long planks, ropes, and maybe a hammer and nails. If you can't find any of those then some insulation to try and deal with the electricity. You might be able to just push the wires out of the water with a long pole, although padding his feet might be enough if we're desperate.
>>
No. 1101309 ID: 3df1ab

Yeah, light a flare in this room.

If you can find a second pole, preferably a hooked one, you could possibly pull the electric wire out of the water.
>>
No. 1103172 ID: 24bc66
File 173853769166.png - (1.20MB , 1233x995 , GA53.png )
1103172

The most pertinent plan is to investigate what’s in the small room first. Messing with electricity in a low-light environment sounds like a bad idea.

“Davey, I think it’s time to use one of the flares. Search the control room.”
He leans away from the flare as it bursts to life, temporarily rendering the screen white. Moments later, it calms, fizzing with blazing intensity as Davey sheepishly places it onto a table nearby.

“Agh… it’s so red in here… my eyes kinda hurt…”

Of course, since your television can’t pick up any colours from Davey’s camera, it’s still black and white.
Uncovered by the flare’s light, more of the room takes shape - control panels, dust and debris, untouched for who knows how long.
Across the room, rows of lockers loom, casting shadows against the walls.

“O-ok, time to get going! These flares won’t last forever!”

Davey begins to search the room, leaving the camera on a table as you catch him scurrying around in the back.
An issue occurs to you as Davey searches the control room for supplies. Even if he was able to find supplies to bridge across the gap from before, how would he build it, and how would he carry it over? He’s far from the most physically proficient mouseman around, from his escapades earlier in the day. Bridging across the gap alone may prove difficult.


“Hey, Rory!”, he calls out, an excited quaver in his voice. “I think I found something interesting!”

He holds it up to the camera. A key?

“Wait, Davey, do you think that’s the key for the big door?”

He shakes his head, his whiskers glinting under the flare’s light.

“Umm, no, I don’t think so… it’s really small! Almost like it’s a key to a lockbox instead. Maybe it’s for the lockers in the back?
I’m going to keep looking. The cabinets are all locked, so I’m going to focus on combing through the room for now.”

He vanishes off-screen, leaving you alone with the crackling sounds left behind by the camera.
>>
No. 1103174 ID: 24bc66
File 173853781555.png - (1.80MB , 1233x985 , GA54.png )
1103174

Soon, Davey returns with the dimming flare, its once-bright flare now dwindled down to a fainter glow.

Davey arranges his findings in a haphazard pile, mulling it over as the flare light begins to dim further. Outside of old rotten paper that’s not even good for kindling, it’s a bit of a meager pile.

- A metal pole
- What appears to be three pieces of rusted metal sheeting about as tall as Davey
- A box of nails (no hammer)
- A hand-cranked drill
- A saw
- The key (not for the big door or lockers, for something smaller)

“Seems like there used to be some construction work down here, Rory. But it’s a little strange - I couldn’t really figure out what these control panels do, and I’ve cleared out the shelves.

Overall, it proves disappointing, but Davey had only searched through the closest area around him. The lockers remain unopened, though it would take some effort to pry open.

The flare dims around Davey as he sits, thinking.

Looks like there’s a few options from what to do from here:

- Continue searching the control room, expending another flare in the process.
- Head down the dumbwaiter to look for more possible routes forward.
- Think of a plan for bridging the gap despite Davey’s physical limitations, using the materials he’s discovered and what could be lying around in his house. (You will be given a chance to decide if he should go ahead with the plan or not after deliberation.)
>>
No. 1103500 ID: 3df1ab

Let's try this dumbwaiter.
>>
No. 1103502 ID: 6c233e

None of this looks like enough to deal with the gap, so dumbwaiter.

Although, it was hard to gauge the width of the pit from our view. Does the table look like it would be long enough to bridge? Also, are the shelves attached to the wall, or is it a freestanding unit?
>>
No. 1103734 ID: 5e1281

It's going to have to be the dumbwaiter.

Unless you want to use the metal pole as an impromptu hammer to nail the sheets together and bridge the gap. Unlikely to succeed, but it's an option.
>>
No. 1106079 ID: 24bc66
File 174432731344.png - (1.71MB , 1258x1007 , GA55.png )
1106079

Considering the options, going down the dumbwaiter has to be the best one.
You tell Davey what the plan is, and he gathers up his tools as the flare continues to dim further.

“Okay! The dumbwaiter isn’t really big, but I can take some of the smaller things with me.”

“Why not take the pole? Could be more things you need to pry down there.”

You think for a moment.
“Oh, and Davey, take the key with you - what if it can unlock something down there?”

“Ahh… good thinking.”

The camera tilts as he shoves the key into his pocket.

He navigates back over to the dumbwaiter next to the locked door, and a thought occurs to you.
“Wait, there’s water here. Maybe it’s best to test it out first in case the end location’s submerged.”
Davey is quick to oblige, pushing buttons on the elevator’s interface.

The little dumbwaiter door closes, mechanical rumbling filling your room as it goes down. A while later, the noises cease, and a light changes on the panel.
Davey pushes it, and the dumbwaiter climbs back up.
When it finally arrives and opens, it’s left in the same condition as before.


“I guess that’s safe enough… Well… down I go!”
Davey climbs into the small compartment - the key and the pole brought along for the ride.

He clicks the flashlight off, and your screen is bathed in darkness.
>>
No. 1106080 ID: 24bc66
File 174432734413.png - (2.27MB , 1303x1037 , GA56.png )
1106080

Davey keeps quiet for a moment, surrounded by the whirring mechanical noises.
It’s probably pertinent to check on his wellbeing.
“How are you doing so far, Davey? Not feeling too tired?”

You assume he nods, as there’s a faint scuffling noise. He realizes you can’t see him do it, and instead confirms that he is.
“Are you sure you’re fine in the dark?”

“Yes, with you around! Besides, I think I’m getting the hang of this! Though it’s nice to be able to sit down for a bit.”

Finally, the camera jolts, the dumbwaiter coming to a stop.
“Oh! I’ll take a look outside’.
>>
No. 1106081 ID: 24bc66
File 174432738829.png - (2.00MB , 1252x1002 , GA57.png )
1106081

Davey clicks the flashlight back on, and a sprawl of corridors casts shadows in all directions.
Compared to the floor above, this is in far worse shape - though some parts of it almost resemble a factory of sorts.

As Davey’s flashlight sweeps across the walls, you catch glimpses of rusted pipes and puddled floors, but thankfully, no sign of excess leakage or water flow that could threaten Davey.

There’s even a collapsed staircase that seems relatively fresh - maybe it was caused by the earthquake from before?

Some doors are embedded in the water-damaged walls, though no signs of leakage is visible under any of them.
Davey sets the camera down near the dumbwaiter while he goes to try the door handles.


“Nnngrh… I think I can move these doors a bit! But I think I’m going to have to use some leverage on these. They’re all rusted shut!”

He raps on the doors with a knuckle, which you hear echo back into the camera.
“More importantly, these doors have little plates on them, but it’s all corroded…”


“Can you make anything out?”


“Well…”
>>
No. 1106082 ID: 24bc66
File 174432743134.png - (2.13MB , 1255x1037 , GA58.png )
1106082

“One says A...I… N…. E…”.
>>
No. 1106083 ID: 24bc66
File 174432745836.png - (2.20MB , 1267x1037 , GA59.png )
1106083

He scurries around to another plate, shining the flashlight on it.

“Another says ‘I…R…L…L”,
>>
No. 1106084 ID: 24bc66
File 174432750168.png - (2.16MB , 1285x1037 , GA60.png )
1106084

Once again, he moves to the last door in sight.

“And the last one that’s in this place says ‘O, N, O.”


“The other parts of it have all been rusted away.”


“What should we do? We could also explore deeper, but I don’t know how long the flashlight is going to hold out.”



Exploring these specific rooms sound promising, but Davey will have to put more time into opening them up due to the rust.
He’ll probably be able to find his way back home fine if he runs out if we stick to this area, but it may be prudent to focus on which of these options seem the most promising.



There are three flares left. Davey will likely have enough time to investigate the inside of the rooms after using one of the flares and opening the doors.
>>
No. 1106085 ID: d30887

>_ON__O_
Sounds like CONTROL. This might be a control room... or it could be the control group of an experiment. Should be safe to explore.
>>
No. 1106106 ID: e04cc7

First two could be DRAINAGE and STAIRWELL. The latter sounds promising.
>>
No. 1106148 ID: 6c233e

assuming that says Control, that room would be the most likely to have something useful.
>>
No. 1110146 ID: 5bde9e
File 175072392133.png - (2.01MB , 1382x1037 , GA61.png )
1110146

“Davey, check out the O N O room, it’s likely that that’s a Control Room.”

He assents, cracking another flare to replace the previous one's dimming light. Taking a crowbar to the door, thankfully, proves effective.
With some effort, the rusty doors crack open, and Davey pushes forwards into the gloom.
Even before the glaring light from the flares illuminate the room, you can spy the flickers of glowing buttons on each of the panels.


True to its name, the Control Center is surprisingly large, Davey’s flare and camera unable to see all the way to the other center of the room. While it’s as humid as the rest of the maintenance tunnels, with puddles of rusty water accumulated on the corners of the room you can see, it’s also not as badly damaged as some other parts of the complex.

Davey sets down the camera on top of one of the panels, looking over the largest one. There seems to be displays of the different maintenance tunnels, though some of the panels have cracked from years of disrepair.

He pushes a button on the largest panel experimentally, but there’s no response.
“Uh, hm. I’m not sure how I’m going to operate this.”


“Try the little key?”
Davey nods. He looks around the panel for a moment before shoving the key into a small slot near the top-right. With a twist, the panel flickers to life, some screens beyond the panel come to life.
While some of the panels display flood warnings, some screens don’t light up at all.


He tries to push a button again, but a red warning flashes on screen instead.
“Huh. Flooding lockdown in effect. Input override codes in order to redirect flooding.”

“I can see three separate keypads, but what are the codes going to be?”
>>
No. 1110147 ID: 5bde9e
File 175072406856.png - (1.63MB , 1273x1037 , ga62.png )
1110147

No choice but to look around. But it’s probably best to start with the obvious.


“What’s in that box over there?”
Davey cracks the rusted toolcase open, but outside of a ruined handbook, there’s only a little… card inside?
He picks it up, and it turns out to be a laminated, wrinkled note.

“Oh, seems to be a maintenance note of some kind… it’s readable at least.”

Davey begins to read.
“Klaus… if you forget the code again like the… oh, whoever wrote this is pretty colourful with his language… ahem.
“If you forget the code again, dot dot dot, I wrote out some coded reminders based on the training manual examples. Won’t stop someone determined, but it’ll buy enough time for the guards to come around. And if you still can’t work out the damn thing, then I hope you’ve got enough, dot dot dot… just go and put in all the numbers one after another, even if it takes your whole shift.”

He reaches into the box again, and three separate cards glimmer in the light.
“Okay… um, it seems there’s three different panels here, with their own number code override. And the previous engineer left three cards with what the codes would be on them.”

The first sheet is helpfully labelled 1.

"Decode the sequence:
2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?
What’s the next number?”


Then the next.

"I am a two-digit number.
I am twice the sum of my digits.
What number am I?"


And the last.
"Sequence: 8, 16, 21, 12, 15, ?
What’s next? Hint: Positions matter."



He lowers the question cards and turns his attention back to the control panel and the number pad. The flare still burns bright for now.


“That’s all three of them. The three answers all seem to be two-digit codes.
I’m sure I could figure it out with enough time, but I’d need time to think, and this place is far from comfortable.”

“And if all else fails… I guess I could sit here and put in the numbers one after another until I eventually figure all of them out?”

Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.


If we’re unable to solve the codes successfully, each one unable to be solved will drain Davey’s time.
He’s smart enough to figure it out eventually - but it would be in his best interests to solve them all as soon as possible.
>>
No. 1110157 ID: 5bde9e

(Only one person actually needs to get a question right for it to count, so feel free to attempt all three.)
>>
No. 1110158 ID: b256e4

The first one is 42,the second is 18, and I think the third might be 23, but I am less sure on that one.
>>
No. 1110160 ID: 273c18

>>1110147
42, 18... 13?
I think "position" refers to the position of each digit on the keypad. There's... sortof a pattern if you look at it like that, but only if the sequence is presented in pairs. 08->16, 21->12, 15->13. The second digit tries to move down and right, whereas the first digit always becomes 1.
>>
No. 1110442 ID: b71e93

Hm, so in the last one, it was 8, then 8 plus the sum of its digits, then 16 plus a number vertically adjacent in the keypad to the previous number that got added, which was 8.

Then the digits of the resulting 21 got flipped around into 12, then it was 12 plus the sum of its digits, so now would be 15 plus a number in the keypad vertically adjacent to the previous number that got added, which was 3.

15 + 6 = 21

..Or maybe type 15, because first it was +8, then +(8-3), so now it might be +3, then +(3-3)?
>>
No. 1111392 ID: 5bde9e
File 175305457551.png - (2.03MB , 1382x1037 , GA63.png )
1111392

After some deliberation, a couple solutions come to mind.
“Try 42 for the first code.”
Davey punches the number in. It works.
“Then… 18 for the second one.”
Another light turns on on the dashboard.
“Go for 23 on the next one.”
An error flashes on the screen.

“Ah… that one didn’t work.”

“13?“
Once again, an error.
“21 or 15?”
Davey tries again, waiting each time for the password lockout.
“None of those codes worked, Rory.”


You try to rack your brain for more numbers, but they all come off as pure guesses.
“Do you have any ideas then?”, you ask.


“Give me a minute to think…”
Davey sits himself down, the flare a safe distance away. Its light dims and dims, until you can only really make out the impression of his shadowed face.
Through the camera, you can hear Davey muttering ideas to himself, though its difficult to tell what. You keep quiet to avoid distracting him.

Then, all of a sudden, he cracks another flare, wincing and facing away from the light.
One Flare’s left, after he had used the first one to get into the Control Center.
“Oh! Alright, I think I’ve got it.
The hint mentioned positions, but I think we’re overthinking it. It’s not about the keypad, it’s about the numbers in the sequence!”

He punches two numbers in. ‘36’.
“8 times 1 is 8, then you add both the digits. This adds up to 9, so 9 in position two is 18. You continue along, until the sixth position. 1 and 5 add up to 6, so 6 times 6 is 36.”

Finally, the last panel on the console lights up. It seems Davey’s answer was correct.

“Alright, let’s see here…”

“Redirect floodwater to…”

His fingers move across the panel with some hesitation, squinting at the labels underneath some of them.
You ask Davey if this is going to be safe.
“Well, from what I can tell, this feeds into the same system as the Undercity’s plumbing, so we wouldn’t have to worry about us causing another disaster. I’m going to go ahead with this.”

He pushes a switch - and a roar erupts around him, ancient infrastructure creaking. You can hear the sound of water rushing away for a few seconds and then… nothing but the quiet crackling of the flare.

“Ah… I guess that’s done with. I’m going to head back up and see if the flooded corridor from earlier’s ready!”
>>
No. 1111393 ID: 5bde9e
File 175305460658.png - (1.66MB , 1382x1037 , GA64.png )
1111393

Up the little elevator, through the dark. Though this time, Davey’s brought the flare with him, held at arm’s length.

Soon enough, Davey returns to the flooded corridor -though much drier than before.
He sets the camera down on a nearby trolley, and you can see him squint at the wires still hanging from the ceiling.

“The wires are still active… I should really be careful around here, even if it’s less deadly.”

“But I think I should be safe crossing over. Seems the floors aren’t fully metal or conductive.”
And to prove that’s the case, Davey retrieves the pole from his supplies.
“The pole I’ve been using as a crowbar… well, it’s not REALLY metal, it’s hardwood. But there was also the metal pole we found earlier.”

He pokes the ground ahead of him like a walking cane, and there’s no telltale sound of buzzing or sparks.

“Either way, I think I can make it across.”

Davey retrieves the camera once more and scoots across the drained corridor, giving the wires a wide berth.
Soon, the tunnel comes to an end, and Davey emerges into what seems to be a brighter area.
>>
No. 1111395 ID: 5bde9e
File 175305468617.png - (1.79MB , 1382x1037 , ga65.png )
1111395

But around the corner, what greets you both is a lot less pleasant.

Rather than the manmade structures you’ve been watching through your TV, the tunnel had led into a larger natural cave formation. A light behind Davey casts a shadow ahead, clearly indicating the entrance to the tunnels he had just emerged from.

A rushing river seems to be flowing through the small cave, cutting off one side from another.
“O-oh… guess it makes sense that flood pipes wouldn’t work if they’re not IN the tunnels…”

His ears twitch. It’s hard to hear anything besides the fast-flowing water.
“Can you hear that, Rory?”
You cannot.
“I can hear people talking in the distance, on the other side! It could be the rescue team!”

“That being said… I’m not sure I can get across a gap like this, even if I tried to jump over… I’m not an athlete!”

Time to look around for other options then.
What stands out first is the gap between the two sides of the cave - a metal outcropping that clearly looks like the beginning of a walkway. Above the gap, what seems to be a sort of maintenance structure dangles, held aloft by rusted bars.
A small ‘island’ is to Davey’s left, connected by a small flimsy-looking bridge. A small control panel can be seen atop the outcropping.

Hesitantly, Davey scoots across and investigates the panel. Despite his efforts however, it remains locked. The camera points back towards the gap where there should have been a bridge - and you notice something tucked beneath the walkway - an extending bridge, perhaps?

You ask if Davey could get the control panel’s lid off.
He scurries over, his fingers reach up to the cover and trace around its rusted edge.
“Hrmmm…. The angle makes it kind of awkward for the pole crowbar. I don’t have a lot of room to maneuver."

The camera dips towards the rapids coursing through the cave.
“And if I slipped, I don’t think that’ll be pleasant…”

He taps on the control panel again.
“I could use a flare to heat up the metal?

A valid, if risky option. That would be Davey’s last flare, and he’d only have the flashlight afterwards.
But there’s also the maintenance structure above. If there was a way to knock it down… it would be possible to cross even without the bridge.


So the options are…
- Finding a way to bridge across the gap yourself.
- Opening up the control box and seeing if you can extend the bridge over.
- Somehow knocking down the ceiling scaffolding as a makeshift bridge.
- Another option, or improvements to the existing options that haven’t been considered yet.
>>
No. 1111499 ID: fd169b

knocking the scaffolding down seems like the safest bet. I'd be worried about the flare melting the circuits if you tried opening the panel with it.

Throw some rocks up to see if it seems solidly attached.
>>
No. 1111554 ID: 91ddad

>9 in position two is 18.

...The second number in the sequence you showed was 16.

INHAAAALE

Boy.

Little boy.

Little sweet Davey boy.

Please approach the panel and use your teeth to open the lock and access the controls. It is common knowledge that maxillars like yours can make openings through metal grates and pipes in situations that require such. You inatentive rat bastard.
>>
No. 1112076 ID: 70f58a

>>1111554
I don't think there's a physical lock.

>>1111395
You gathered some stuff before. Could you use the nails to fashion a bridge out of the pieces of metal sheeting? No hammer, but I imagine you could use any sturdy object to hammer the nails.
Alternatively you could use the nails to pry open the control panel.
>>
No. 1112080 ID: 70f58a

By "pry open with a nail" I mean more like as a hammer and chisel to wedge open the crack.
>>
No. 1116431 ID: 770c7a
File 176239153357.png - (1.61MB , 1334x1037 , GA66.png )
1116431

“Do you think you’d be able to chew through the lock and access the controls that way?”

You can see him raise his paw up to play with his whiskers.
“Umm… they teach us as kids not to chew on wires. Since there’s the chance of electrocution. There’s also a lot of water around…”

“Throw some rocks up towards the scaffolding to see if you can knock it down.”
Standing a safe distance away, Davey places the camera somewhere safe as he tosses a stone towards the suspended scaffold.

He misses. By a long shot.
>>
No. 1116432 ID: 770c7a
File 176239155907.png - (1.44MB , 1233x1015 , GA67.png )
1116432

Plan B, then.

“Try using a nail and something heavy to chisel the edges of the control box open. There doesn’t seem to be a lock on it anyway.”

“Oh! Great idea!”

Once again, Davey adjusts the position of the camera. He retrieves a nail, pressing it up against the side of the control panel. With his other hand, he slams a rock into the nail, then moves around the box, giving the nail a few strikes where the rust seems deepest.

Finally, the door of the control panel swings open.
“Let’s take a look inside.”
>>
No. 1116433 ID: 770c7a
File 176239160892.png - (2.02MB , 1265x1019 , GA68.png )
1116433

Davey pushes a switch, but nothing ends up happening.
“Hrmm…. Power seems out.”

He briefly looks around, turning his attention to the inner side of the control panel’s cover.
“There’s instructions inside.”

“In the event of a power outage, please reset the wire connections inside. Slide off the cover, and push the ‘reset power’ button. Then, ensure that the connector pins have matching colours.”

Davey pokes and prods at the cover, sliding it up and revealing a strange contraption inside. The Undercity’s mechanical engineering looks quite different to anything you’ve seen.

“Oh, well this shouldn’t be too hard. Coloured switches and wires. They make boardgames inspired by this design, I’ve seen it a lot during my school days.”

He points the camera towards the tangle, and…
They’re all grey.
“Davey, I’m not getting any colours from this. My TV’s black and white only.”

“Oh. Umm. That’s a problem, isn’t it?”
He angles the camera around. Nope. Still grey.
“Can you tell from the different kinds of saturation? Probably not… the colours seem a bit faded now.”

“Are you going to have issues solving the puzzle?”

Davey thinks to himself for a moment.
“I don’t think so… but I wouldn’t mind you talking to me while I do it.”

The camera shakes a bit as he seems to crane his head back towards where he came from.
“At least this place has a light source, so I’m not under that much pressure. But being surrounded by this much water is worrying.”
>>
No. 1116434 ID: 770c7a
File 176239164555.png - (1.42MB , 1305x1037 , GA69.png )
1116434

He begins sliding the gizmos inside the box, a determined look in his eyes.
“Gosh. Today’s been… just one surprise after another, hasn’t it?”

Under the roar of the currents, you hear mechanical clatters, pieces sliding into place.

“I was able to talk to someone from a completely different place to me. Someone who just… listened. Helped me with advice. And now I’m exploring tunnels, solving problems… I don’t think I’m used to this kind of adventure. But I’m glad it’s the kind that lets me take breaks and catch my breath, too.”
A thunk, as something slides into place.
“Um, Rory, I’m… really grateful to have had someone like you on my side during this. I’m not cut out for adventures, but you helped save my plants. And that really matters to me.”

“Though… I’m not sure we’ll be able to talk again once everything’s over. Signals come and go in the Undercity. And I’m not sure communicating regularly with surface-dwellers is an option for most of us down here.”

He turns to face the camera.
“I do hope we get to talk again one day though, Rory. I’d… like to get to know more about you. Rather than just making everything about myself. I’m a bit selfish like that… it happens when you’ve been by yourself for so long.”

What should you say to him? You’ve been with him this long on the adventure already. Maybe something comes to mind?
>>
No. 1116437 ID: 70f58a

>>1116434
Tell him your contact information. If he's ever on the surface, he can look you up.
>>
No. 1116460 ID: 06a3f3

Offer living in the surface. Talk about the sun and the meadows and how the Mouse Mafia is at a manageable level of influence.
>>
No. 1118351 ID: bf5b2a

Well Davey, you're an amazing mouse, so at the very least I'm certain I'll see you in the news about a new type of plant that can grow underground.
Surely by then even if the signal's bad we'd be able to send letters, you'd be an important man by then.
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