>>1104555
Tell him you're definitely inspectors, but you are very curious to know why he would think you're here about weird shit. Has he seen anything weird?

"Let's just say not even the conspiracy theorists have theorized us. It'd be better for you if you just explain everything you've seen so we can do our job, and we'll go back to not existing in your life."

Play it coy, like "well if we were we couldn't tell you could we? Wink"

Ask if he's asking because he's seen something strange

He's asking because of the Suit and Tie get up, Gladi's glasses, and your earpiece.
It SCREAMS X-files/Men in Black.

Smile and say "I can neither confirm nor deny that, citizen."
Is a famous phrase used by the CIA. Just as good a yes without inadvertantly collapsing yourselves.

"Why do you ask? Have you seen anything weird lately?"

>>1104550
ANOMALOUSLY cute?
...
..
.
No. Just cute. Dammit.

>>1104555
Oh, you are inspectors, just focused on more the fundamental mechanisms of reality.
Uh.
Maybe just say "you might very well think that, but i couldn't possibly comment." Or something like that.
Then, casually ask seen anything weird, you guys excluded.
I mean, no offense, but you are kinda weird.

>>1104567
Keep it simple, this works.

Silicon 2025/03/30(Sun)13:32 No. 1105593 ID: 6a5191
File 174336672753.png - (495.37KB , 1500x1000 , C01_05_A.png )

> STONER GLADII SWEEP??? wait have they just been fucking folded the whole time. is that why they're so chill. make a note to investigate later
Yes, noted.

> I mean, no offense, but you are kinda weird.
I'll take your word for it, disembodied voice that's speaking to my brain via an earpiece.
Y'know I do wonder what's up with that, now that I'm thinking about it.

> ANOMALOUSLY cute?
> No. Just cute. Dammit.
What would anomalously cute even look like? Would it like... mess me up just looking at it?

> anyway, this is good. he wouldn't be saying that if he didn't think you'd have some reason to be here.
Yeah, good point.

> "Let's just say not even the conspiracy theorists have theorized us. It'd be better for you if you just explain everything you've seen so we can do our job, and we'll go back to not existing in your life."
> Oh, you are inspectors, just focused on more the fundamental mechanisms of reality.
That stuff is so ominous. I don't wanna freak him out!

> Maybe just say "you might very well think that, but i couldn't possibly comment." Or something like that.
Yeah that's probably better.

> Smile and say "I can neither confirm nor deny that, citizen."
> Is a famous phrase used by the CIA. Just as good a yes without inadvertantly collapsing yourselves.
Well if it's famous, he'll probably get the idea. Here goes!

I give him my most mysterious smile.
Fera: "I can neither confirm nor deny that, citizen."
David: "Yeah okay, so that's a yes, then."

Silicon 2025/03/30(Sun)13:32 No. 1105594 ID: 6a5191
File 174336673969.png - (499.50KB , 1500x1000 , C01_05_B.png )

>"Why do you ask? Have you seen anything weird lately?"
Fera: "Why do you ask? Have you seen anything weird lately?"

His smile disappears and the anxiety returns. He takes another long drag from his joint without breaking eye contact. Then he speaks.
David: "Well, not... Not exactly. But uhm... Something's definitely off."

Silicon 2025/03/30(Sun)13:32 No. 1105595 ID: 6a5191
File 174336674836.png - (493.35KB , 1500x1000 , C01_05_C.png )

He looks at me very seriously for several seconds.
David: "Okay before I say any more, you're gonna have to promise me something."
Fera: "Oh?"
David: "Promise me that... if you investigate further, you're not just gonna disappear. Promise that you'll be safe and come back."
Fera: "Uhm..."

That sounds super serious! I dunno. Can I promise that? What do y-

Gladii: "We'll come back. I promise."
Both David and I look at Gladii. They are stuffing their barely smoked joint back in the box.
David: "You mean it?"
Gladii: "Absolutely."

He looks at me, uncertain. I guess I'm not the only one who has trouble reading Gladii's expression and tone. Well, let's go with it. I nod.
Fera: "It's a promise."

David: "... Okay."

Silicon 2025/03/30(Sun)13:32 No. 1105596 ID: 6a5191
File 174336675718.png - (299.62KB , 1500x1000 , C01_05_D.png )

David takes a deep breath.

David: "Three days ago, I hear a car coming down the road and pulling into the gas station. But not by the pumps. On the side of the building. That's unusual enough that I decide to head outside to look. Nice car. Looks expensive."

David: "I also see two people. One's a tall, athletic-looking guy with a backpack. The other is a smaller goth chick who seems to be melting in the harsh sunlight. They're heading straight for the bunker."

Fera: "The bunker?"

He nods.

David: "There is a small bunker a little ways behind the gas station. It's not large. There's a hatch behind that large rock over there. Easy to miss, but also easy to find if you know what you're looking for."

David: "So that's the first weird thing, right? I've never seen these people before, but they know exactly where that bunker is."

Silicon 2025/03/30(Sun)13:32 No. 1105597 ID: 6a5191
File 174336677040.png - (223.18KB , 1500x1000 , C01_05_E.png )

David: "And because that's so weird and because I'm bored out of my mind, I just kinda linger in the shade of the building and wait for them to come back out. I don't know how long. Ten minutes maybe?"

David: "Then I hear something very faint. Sounds like a scream, I think. Probably from the girl. Uh, the woman. I just kinda get up and slowly head towards the bunker on instinct. No idea what I'm gonna do when I get there, because I'm sure as shit not going down there."

David: "There's a second scream, so I go faster. Before I make it all the way there, the goth chick emerges from the hatch."

David: "She's clearly in distress, she stumbles as she tries to get away, falls down flat and immediately scrambles to get back to her feet. I notice she has the other guy's backpack."

Silicon 2025/03/30(Sun)13:32 No. 1105598 ID: 6a5191
File 174336677894.png - (258.91KB , 1500x1000 , C01_05_F.png )

David: "I ask what happened, if she needs help. She just keeps going, nearly bowls me right over! She's dripping with water. Her eyes, uh... the skin around her eyes is all red and she looks like she can barely see, but she heads for the car they came in."

David: "I follow, I beg her to slow down and let me help. All I get from her is a very unconvincing 'I'm fine!' I ask what happened to the other guy and she says nothing to that."

David: "She gets into the car, fumbles with the keys. The car starts with a jump and hits my car's front. I'm stunned. I just watch dumbly as she reverses, barely missing the damn gas pumps, onto the road and then speeds off with screeching tires."

Silicon 2025/03/30(Sun)13:33 No. 1105599 ID: 6a5191
File 174336678731.png - (236.54KB , 1500x1000 , C01_05_G.png )

Here, he pauses and just smokes silently for a bit. Right when I'm about to ask some kind of follow-up question, he continues.

David: "After the shock wears off, I remember the missing guy and go to the bunker hatch. Still not going in there. But I know it's not large, so I call out. I never get a reply. Nothing. Not even so much as a groan or anything. Complete silence."

He tilts his head.

David: "Or maybe not complete silence. There's a strange noise... Like a very quiet kr-chk? May have imagined that."

David: "Anyway I call emergency services and they say I should call the police and I guess that makes sense in a way, but at first they just tell me to have an eye on the situation and see if the guy comes back out or some shit."
David: "They make me call several times. It takes them two days to actually send somebody!"

David takes another drag.

David: "World's coming apart, I tell you."

Silicon 2025/03/30(Sun)13:33 No. 1105600 ID: 6a5191
File 174336680388.png - (226.58KB , 1500x1000 , C01_05_H.png )

David: "So finally, finally the Sheriff comes by. He's clearly not happy to be here, but I explain the situation to him, again. I show him the damage to my car, because the insurance company is gonna want witnesses or whatever. I show him the bunker."

David shudders. He takes a deep breath. When he speaks, his voice is unsteady. His eyes are wet. He's trying to hold it in.

David: "I watch as he climbs down. I hear him mutter some curse. He turns on his flashlight. I can hear the click. I can see the light from below. Then I..."

David gasps for breath once, twice, thrice...

David: "I hear... I don't know what I heard... A thud? A... a... grunt? And then nothing. I call down. I ask if he's okay. I get no response. Nothing. Silence. I- I-"

He presses his elbow crease over his eyes and draws in another deep, shuddering breath.

David: "I called 911 again. And... And they said they'd send someone else. That was yesterday! And I got to thinking... What's the next cop gonna do? Also wander in there and disappear? How-"

Silicon 2025/03/30(Sun)13:33 No. 1105601 ID: 6a5191
File 174336681619.png - (487.65KB , 1500x1000 , C01_05_I.png )

He stares at me, pleading. His eyes are red. The skin around them, that is.

David: "How long is this gonna go on?"

There is a pause. He looks so desperate, so utterly lost. While I'm still processing what he's said, Gladii speaks up.

Gladii: "It ends now."

That's a lot.
Hey Peanut Gallery! Do you have any follow-up questions?
And how do we proceed from here?

>>1105601
Yeah. How long has the bunker been there? Who made it, and why? Has he ever been inside? Had anyone gone inside before the two strangers went in? What did the two strangers look like, and what did the sheriff look like?

Proceed carefully. Also probably let the sword go first.

"Ah. Well, looks like you already know too much. So here's what is going to happen. You're going to close up shop, take a week-long vacation, and when you come back, we'll be done fixing it, and you will forget everything you saw here.
I'm serious. No yapping about this when you grow liver spots and boobs. All the stuff you see on TV about folks disappearing for blabbing? You're going to wish that's what happens if you let yourself become a loose end."

As far as what do... Gladii seems to know a bit about what she's doing? I think we should head to the bunker once all follow ups have been followed upon. Gladii seems ready to sword up whatever anomaly is down there, so send her in first, and maybe follow her down?

I find it odd, he mentioned the skin around the girl's eyes being red, in a way that suggests that's a notably weird symptom, but also, he too has red eye-skin. I don't know what to DO with that information, but.

Has he ever been in the bunker before? Can he draw us a floorplan?

So based on the information we have, it seems likely to be an entity. If it was some kind of trap, or space based effect, the woman wouldn't have needed to run. The sheriff, would have seen the man's body and been able to avoid what killed him if it was fixed to a location.

Oh hey, mirror on a stick would be useful to spy around corners here. See if David has any you could borrow in the store.

>>1105601
Ask him how he learned of the bunker and when.
An unclear or incongruous answer may indicate an anomalous creation rather than being a simple albeit dangerous location in which the target anomoly is located.

>>1105601
Do you have a light source on you? If not you probably want to ask if you can borrow a flashlight.

Hold on a sec... The broken headlight shards were right in front of his car where they should be... But this all happened days ago?
Has this guy not gone home at all?
Even if he parks in the same spot every day, it would be weird to get it perfect on the done like that. Weirder still that the debris hasn't been agitated at all in the days since despite being a public space.
Ask if he's gone home at all since then.

Beyond that, sounds like the girl got pepper sprayed, so acquire eye protection before heading down.

Ask Gladii if she can break into the sheriff's trunk. A shotgun would be nice.

Don't forget to check out the bathroom before diving down the spooky hole.

Uh... what's that on David's shirt? That wasn't there before...

>>1105639
Good eye.

Either he's anomalous or...
Oh crap.
I hope its not a sighting dot for some weapon...

Uhhhh punch him in the targeting reticle, enough to knock him over?? Both hindering a possible threat and moving him out of the way of a possible attack. Maybe shout "GET DOWN" at the same time, for a head start on why you punched him.

...And or follow up with "April Fools!"

Silicon 2025/04/06(Sun)13:22 No. 1105946 ID: be7ff9
File 174397093537.png - (483.62KB , 1500x1000 , C01_06_A.png )

> "Ah. Well, looks like you already know too much. So here's what is going to happen. You're going to close up shop, take a week-long vacation, and when you come back, we'll be done fixing it, and you will forget everything you saw here.
> I'm serious. No yapping about this when you grow liver spots and boobs. All the stuff you see on TV about folks disappearing for blabbing? You're going to wish that's what happens if you let yourself become a loose end."

Okay, look, this seems like exactly what Agent Gladii warned me about. I don't want to traumatize this dude for life. Just thinking about it makes me feel bad! I don't wanna assume you're just being cruel for the heck of it, but maybe you could uh... give me your reasoning when you give me ideas like this? Please?
If what you're getting at is that you want him out of the way, maybe there's a gentler way to make that happen.

> So based on the information we have, it seems likely to be an entity. If it was some kind of trap, or space based effect, the woman wouldn't have needed to run. The sheriff, would have seen the man's body and been able to avoid what killed him if it was fixed to a location.
And by entity, you mean something... alive? Oh dear I hope not.
Interesting observations, though. It's something that can be avoided, because there is at least one survivor or escapee. Though it's possible she only managed to run because her companion got grabbed first? She did get his backpack, though.

> Hold on a sec... The broken headlight shards were right in front of his car where they should be... But this all happened days ago?
> Has this guy not gone home at all?
> Even if he parks in the same spot every day, it would be weird to get it perfect on the done like that. Weirder still that the debris hasn't been agitated at all in the days since despite being a public space.
Seems like a small inconsistency. I'll note that down. Who knows where that leads?

> Uh... what's that on David's shirt? That wasn't there before...
> Good eye.
Oh! Yeah, now that you mention it, there's something sticking out of his... his shirt. That's not normal. Right?

> Either he's anomalous or...
> Oh crap.
> I hope its not a sighting dot for some weapon...
> Uhhhh punch him in the targeting reticle, enough to knock him over?? Both hindering a possible threat and moving him out of the way of a possible attack. Maybe shout "GET DOWN" at the same time, for a head start on why you punched him.
My muscles tense up, but I catch myself. Guys, it's... it's not a reticle. It's a thin... thing... sticking out of his chest for some reason. Let's all calm down and uh... keep an eye on the situation.

He follows my eyes and looks down at his chest, slightly confused. He scratches the point above his heart self-consciously and... His hand slides right through the damn thing like it's intangible! Okay that's WEIRD.
I try to meet his eyes anyway.

So far neither David, nor Agent Gladii seem to have taken notice of the thing at all.
Let's ask questions.

> Yeah. How long has the bunker been there? Who made it, and why? Has he ever been inside? Had anyone gone inside before the two strangers went in?

Fera: "I have a couple questions, if that's okay."
David: "O- of course. Go ahead, Rose."
Fera: "How long has the bunker been here? Do you know?"
David: "Not exactly, no. Longer than I've worked here. Probably much longer by the looks of it."
Fera: "Who made it and why?"
David: "No clue."
Fera: "Had anyone gone inside before the two strangers went in?"
David: "I don't think so. But then, I'm not usually here 24/7."

> Has he ever been in the bunker before? Can he draw us a floorplan?

Fera: "Have you ever been inside?"
He chuckles mirthlessly.
David: "Fuck no. Imagine if the hatch somehow ended up closed and locked or stuck, nobody would find me in time to save me."
Fera: "Is there a floorplan?"
David: "I don't have one. I don't think you'll need one. It can't be that big."
Fera: "How do you know?"
He shrugs.
David: "I dunno, just... feels true? Intuition? Maybe it's the way sound carries in there. Y'know there's a difference between yelling into a little bathroom and yelling into a hallway. That sort of thing. I might be wrong."

> Ask him how he learned of the bunker and when.

Fera: "How did you learn of the bunker and when?"
David: "Like, two years ago? Yeah i think that's right. On my first day, the boss showed me everything and he mentioned it. He told me not to go in there and that he wasn't liable if I got hurt."

That sounds pretty normal so far.

Silicon 2025/04/06(Sun)13:22 No. 1105947 ID: be7ff9
File 174397094720.png - (355.72KB , 1500x1000 , C01_06_B.png )

> What did the two strangers look like, and what did the sheriff look like?

Fera: "Could you describe the two strangers in a bit more detail?"
David: "I didn't really get that good a look of them. When they arrived I never got very close and when the chick ran, everything turned into a bit of a blur. Let's see..."
He squints.
David: "So the dude was wearing cargo pants with big pockets. He had long straight hair. Brown I think? The chick was wearing a black sweater dress. There was some sort of symbol on it. Kinda like a nuclear warning sign but made of four dots. Uuuhhh her hair was bleached white."
Fera: "Thank you. And the Sheriff?"
David: "Well, he wore a uniform. Older guy, pushing at least fifty. Portly. Clean shaven."

> I find it odd, he mentioned the skin around the girl's eyes being red, in a way that suggests that's a notably weird symptom, but also, he too has red eye-skin. I don't know what to DO with that information, but.
> Beyond that, sounds like the girl got pepper sprayed

Hmm. Yeah his eyes are a bit red. Could be a connection?

Fera: "You said the uh... the woman's eyes were red."
David: "Yeah, very red. I don't mean 'went crying in the bathroom' red. Way worse, like 'bad rash' red. She could barely keep them open, too, she was half blind."
Fera: "Could she have been pepper sprayed?"
He blinks a couple times, then nods, slowly.
David: "Hey yeah that could have been it. I've never seen anyone get maced, but... sounds plausible!"
Fera: "All right."

> Ask if he's gone home at all since then.

Fera: "So all this happened over the course of multiple days? Were you here this whole time?"
He deflates a little. he looks even more weary than before.
And that little thing in his chest is getting bigger? Or maybe it's sliding out.
David: "I couldn't leave, could I? What if the guy woke up and needed help? What if... What if the cops arrived and I wasn't there?"
Fera: "Yeah..."
David: "Plus, I didn't want to uh... alter the crash site. I might not be able to afford getting that fixed."
Fera: "But you stayed even after the Sheriff went down."

The thing in his chest stirs again. It looks like... a card?

David: "I'll be honest, I didn't know what to do. I... I thought someone had to do something. But the authorities failed me. And I thought... What if it's on me? What if I have to go down there? But then what if I don't come back up?"
He sobs. He tries so hard to keep it in, but he starts to cry.
David: "What if it's my fault? W-what if I could have saved them if I hadn't been such a- a coward?"

The card looks like it's just about to fall out completely, but it just... hangs there. Awkwardly.
Gladii still hasn't noticed it. Am I imagining things?

>>1105947
It's got your symbol on it. I think it must be related to your special ability- every agent has one I guess. Try taking it?
Also reassure him. This isn't something he should've messed with. He did the right thing by waiting for the professionals.

Put your hands on his shoulders. He needs a little human contact.
Tell him that he did good, he did his best, and that this isn't his fault.
Tell him to lock up and to go home, even if today's shift isn't over he needs rest. He deserves it.
The professionals are here, and we'll take care of it.

Yeah, I think we give the guy some reassurance, and then use the physical contact to retrieve this card. It seems connected to you specifically, I think the reason it doesn’t fall out on its own is it *needs* you to take it from him. Oh! You might not know how we know that symbol is “yours!” Our interface for hearing your thoughts is more of a visual one. When you speak out loud, your dialogue is accompanied by a little blue swirl like the one on the card. Similarly Gladii’s dialogue has a little sword next to it. This seems to just be an agent thing, since David has no symbols. But the swirl is yours and it’s on the card, so! Card get time!

>>1105950
Agreed.
Poor guy...
Just dont think about what it looks like when you put one hand on his shoulder then start touching his chest with the other.
Looks kinda... flirty.
Mumble about ash from his cig or something.

Anyone taking bets on feras special ability?
Is this chest thing a psionic iconograph representing some inner truth shes extracting feom dave or is it the tag that keeps his heart beating?

OK so anomaly in the bunker. Everything was normal (according to this guy) outside of it, but while inside, something strange happened. Is the bunker itself the anomaly? You're not equipped to destroy a bunker! Those are specifically designed to be destroy resistant!

Still, how to find out about whatever's in the bunker, without getting... forcefully made unable to destroy it?

Silicon 2025/05/05(Mon)00:26 No. 1107540 ID: acb8e2
File 174643000848.png - (480.06KB , 1500x1000 , C01_07_A.png )

> It's got your symbol on it. I think it must be related to your special ability- every agent has one I guess.

You mentioned that before. The symbol thing. It's this swirl?

> It seems connected to you specifically, I think the reason it doesn’t fall out on its own is it *needs* you to take it from him. Oh! You might not know how we know that symbol is “yours!” Our interface for hearing your thoughts is more of a visual one. When you speak out loud, your dialogue is accompanied by a little blue swirl like the one on the card. Similarly Gladii’s dialogue has a little sword next to it. This seems to just be an agent thing, since David has no symbols. But the swirl is yours and it’s on the card, so! Card get time!

I'm not sure I get it, but I'll just roll with it. The swirl is my symbol. Gladii has a sword, that makes sense. Let's see about this card, then.

> Also reassure him. This isn't something he should've messed with. He did the right thing by waiting for the professionals.

> Put your hands on his shoulders. He needs a little human contact.
> Tell him that he did good, he did his best, and that this isn't his fault.

> Yeah, I think we give the guy some reassurance, and then use the physical contact to retrieve this card.

Yes, he's clearly hurting, the poor sod.
I approach him and put both hands on his shoulders.

Fera: "No, you didn't do anything wrong. This isn't something you should have messed with. You did good and none of this is your fault."
He avoids eye contact.
David: "Th-thank you, Rose, but... I dunno about that. If they're dead I don't know if I can ever..."
And he breaks out into sobbing again. Oh boy.

> Just dont think about what it looks like when you put one hand on his shoulder then start touching his chest with the other.
> Looks kinda... flirty.
> Mumble about ash from his cig or something.

Yeah I'll do it real casual.

Fera: "Th-there there, man... Uh I think you got ash on you..."

Silicon 2025/05/05(Mon)00:27 No. 1107541 ID: acb8e2
File 174643002842.gif - (1.92MB , 1500x1000 , C01_07_B.gif )

I reach for the card and pull. There's... some resistance, but...
POP!

Silicon 2025/05/05(Mon)00:27 No. 1107542 ID: acb8e2
File 174643006627.png - (423.26KB , 1500x1000 , C01_07_C.png )

Hmmm...

Silicon 2025/05/05(Mon)00:27 No. 1107543 ID: acb8e2
File 174643007512.png - (399.99KB , 1500x1000 , C01_07_D.png )

> Anyone taking bets on feras special ability?
> Is this chest thing a psionic iconograph representing some inner truth shes extracting feom dave or is it the tag that keeps his heart beating?

Keeps his heart doing WHAT?!

David: "Woah, what was I..."
His eyes kinda glaze over. He frowns groggily.
David: "What was I so upset about?"
Okay he doesn't seem to be dying.

I look over to Gladii. They return my gaze in that usual very neutral fashion. Does nothing faze them?

David eventually focuses on the card.
David: "Hey I think that's mine."
Fera: "Uuuuhhhh"
David: "That's okay, you can keep it, I think. Damn, I guess the uh... the thing finally kicked. Where is- Oh I think I dropped it."
As he is about to awkwardly crouch down to pick up his joint, Gladii thrusts the pack of cigarettes at him.
Gladii: "Take them. Go back inside and rest."
David: "Oh... Yeah, that sounds good. Thanks, Gladys."
Gladii scowls for just a moment.
Gladii: "Mh Hmm."

We watch him return to the gas station.

Silicon 2025/05/05(Mon)00:28 No. 1107544 ID: acb8e2
File 174643008479.png - (271.05KB , 1500x1000 , C01_07_E.png )

Eventually Gladii turns to me.
Gladii: "Can I see that?"
I realize I still have the card in my hand. I hold it out to them and they take it to inspect it closely.
Gladii: "Nine of Swords. Hmm."
Fera: "What does it mean?"
They shake their head and hand the card back to me.
Gladii: "Always with the questions. I'll not put ideas in your head. It's your augury, you figure it out."
The words are harsh but delivered without any sort of malice. I look at the card. Well. It looks straight-forward enough. What do you guys think?

Fera: "Can all agents do this?"
Gladii: "Not this, no. But every one I've met so far has been a diviner of some kind."
Fera: "How does it work for you?"
There is a pause.
Gladii: "Pointless to talk about. I do not do that anymore."
Fera: "Why?"
They sigh and completely ignore my question.
Gladii: "What's next, lead investigor?"

I'm not sure how I can tell what with the lack of facial expression, but I think there's pain there. They're avoiding the question to avoid something that hurts.
I let it go for now and gently stick the card in my pocket. it seems pretty sturdy, but I'll still try to be careful with it.

Silicon 2025/05/05(Mon)00:28 No. 1107545 ID: acb8e2
File 174643009456.png - (308.61KB , 1500x1000 , C01_07_F.png )

> OK so anomaly in the bunker. Everything was normal (according to this guy) outside of it, but while inside, something strange happened. Is the bunker itself the anomaly? You're not equipped to destroy a bunker! Those are specifically designed to be destroy resistant!

Okay, gonna hope it's not the bunker, then. otherwise we're gonna have to get real creative.

> Still, how to find out about whatever's in the bunker, without getting... forcefully made unable to destroy it?

You're asking me? I don't know... Oh right, I can ask...
Fera: "How do we find out about whatever's in the bunker, without getting... forcefully made unable to destroy it?"
Gladii: "There's nothing for it, Agent Fera. We'll have to go down there. Don't be overly worried. I'm sure it's not that dangerous as long as we play this smart."

> Proceed carefully. Also probably let the sword go first.

> As far as what do... Gladii seems to know a bit about what she's doing? I think we should head to the bunker once all follow ups have been followed upon. Gladii seems ready to sword up whatever anomaly is down there, so send her in first, and maybe follow her down?

Fera: "Would you mind taking point?"
Gladii: "Not at all."

Oh good, that makes me feel better about sending them into a dangerous situation first.

> Ask Gladii if she can break into the sheriff's trunk. A shotgun would be nice.

Fera: "Can you break into the Sheriff's trunk? A shotgun would be nice."
Gladii: "While the Agency does sometimes expect us to acquire equipment on site, it usually provides weapons when appropriate. I don't have one. I presume neither do you."
I frown at the comment. They don't have a weapon? Huh?
Gladii: "If you'd feel safer with a gun, I won't stop you, but I cannot think of a way to get at it."
Fera: "What about the sword?"
Another pause. They grip the sword's haft. It's a protective gesture, rather than an aggressive one.
Gladii: "Would you use a scalpel as a can opener, Agent Fera?"
Fera: "I guess not."
Gladii: "This is probably a good time to make a few things clear. One: The sword is a precision instrument that must not be misued. Two: It is rarely worth using at all. Three: It is mine to use and mine alone. Is this understood?"
Fera: "Y-yes?"
Gladii: "Very good."

> Oh hey, mirror on a stick would be useful to spy around corners here. See if David has any you could borrow in the store.

Already got a mirror. Not sure what good a stick is gonna do, but I'll keep my eyes open for something we can use.

> Do you have a light source on you? If not you probably want to ask if you can borrow a flashlight.

I think Gladii pocketed David's lighter earlier. That's probably not great for illumination. I'll check the gas station.

> Beyond that, sounds like the girl got pepper sprayed, so acquire eye protection before heading down.

Oooh yeah that makes a ton of sense.

> Don't forget to check out the bathroom before diving down the spooky hole.

Right! Still got the key for that!
I turn to head to the gas station, but Gladii sets off towards the large rock.

Gladii: "Let's at least have a quick look from outside before we go break into any cars."

I follow.

Silicon 2025/05/05(Mon)01:16 No. 1107548 ID: acb8e2
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We quickly reach the bunker's hatch. It is wide open. Though the glare off the bright dirt around it makes it hard to see... There's light down there. That's... unexpected. Looks like someone dropped a flashlight inside. That should solve the light problem.

It's an ominous feeling, looking down this shaft.

Gladii: "I believe this is a good time to determine our resources."
They reach into their right pants pocket and pull out... a sleep mask?
Gladii: "... Fuck you."
Fera: "What was that?"
Gladii: "Hm? What was what?"
They hold the mask out to me.
Gladii: "This is a sleep mask, I believe."

...

Okay, let's see what we have...

- mission orders
- Agency requisition form
- a small hand mirror
- a pack of tissues
- the bathroom key
- the Nine of Swords
- a lighter
- a sleep mask

I think that's everything.

Things I'll search at the gas station:
- bathroom
- cop car trunk
- a stick for the mirror?
- some kind of eye protection (for pepper spray)

Anything else?

>>1107544
>What do you guys think?
Nine of Swords. A tarot card, minor arcana. It's a highly negative card, relating to worry, guilt, anguish, depression, that sort of thing. So I'm guessing you literally took his bad feelings away. Perhaps you can use the card to imbue a target with those bad feelings? Useful as a way to debilitate an opponent, perhaps.

>>1107545
Hmm. I'm guessing the sword doesn't work like a weapon. It's probably used for a more... metaphorical cutting or severing purpose. Might have some sort of backlash involved which is why they don't like using it.

>>1107546
>sleep mask
That's not completely useless? If the anomaly in there is more dangerous when looked at, then it could work as a blindfold. If the anomaly has a gaze attack then the sleep mask could be used to disable it, especially if the anomaly has no hands.

>stick for the mirror
Eh, well, a selfie stick could work for that but also you could just not try to attach a stick and instead use a hand mirror that already has a handle.
Um, if we're trying to get supplies from the gas station then I hope someone's pockets has money in it. If not, then... would using the requisition form be worthwhile? Or maybe the clerk will let us borrow items without paying.

Breaking into the truck doesn't seem worth it. Yes, there could be weapons in there, but since we didn't arrive with weapons we won't need them. Oh wait, maybe there could be a first aid kit? Still, we could get that from the gas station.
Mirror, eye goggles, first aid kit. That'll do. Huh, I just realized Gladii has eye protection already, of a sort.

Sleep mask is eye protection! Mirror probably is as well, if the anomaly has some sort of don’t look at me effect. DEAR GOD, THIS CASE IS CALLED PEEKABOO IT’S ALL COMING TOGETHER!!! Okay yeah, mirror is DEFINITELY to avoid looking at things directly while still being able to see what’s going on. Sleep mask seems inhibiting as a trade off for not being able to see the anomaly, but maybe the anomaly makes a lot of noise? Gladii’s sword reluctance is odd but probably stems from it being a tarot suit. Ask her if she’s ever had 9 swords before, just to be silly. (You know, cuz of the card)

Speaking of the card… no idea how it works. Seems like it contains the intense emotion David was just feeling? Not sure how we’d use that, but it’s good to have on hand~

>>1107543
>the card
Well, damn. Id have lost 5 peanuts if anyone had taken my bet.
>its a dave card
Oh!
Ok, i know what it is.
So, now youve collected him, you need to find five other cards from this set, then you can combine them to form Davodia the forbidden one,
>>1107545
>would you use a scalpel to open a can
Ah dammit, you missed a chance to be a smartass.
"Depends if i was starving or not. Or if i really fancied beans on toast."
Nhhh, shes got a point though.
Chances are a gun would end up being more risk to us than the anomaly.
Lets leave it be.
>>1107548
Mmm.
Just peek in the window to see how dave is doing. Dont let him see you.
All other things to check are good.

Wait.
Hold on.
Taro... 9 of swords... Gladii has a sword... It's similar to the swords on the card. She does not consider her sword a weapon. Her sword has been held upside down this entire time and she's consistently been obtuse, difficult to communicate with, and refuses to communicate with us...

HOLY CRAP! Gladii is THE Ace of Swords! Here! In the flesh! That sword is The Sword of Truth, and is probably as much a part of her as her flesh and bones.
It is both supremely useful and supremely dangerous given the situation... Yeah... Best leave it to her...
Try addressing her as such, I want to see how she reacts.
Don't bother asking too many questions while it's sheathed though. She wont be forthcoming unless she's wielding it.

It's rude to pry into things Gladii isn't interested in talking about. Just assure her that the Agency must know that the Anomaly is just a little grumpy wumpypuss and is cranky from staying up past bedtime. The mask will be the perfect solution!

> Not sure what good a stick is gonna do

The stick is so when you use the mirror to peek around a corner and there is a monster, you are one stick's length away from it.

from Gladii's reaction I'd wager the sleep mask reminder of something upsetting, that someone sent to them purposefully. Nothing they need to explain to you, but they could be less patronizing about it.

But maybe the mask would indicate that whatever is down there can affect you through vision. Like a medusa, or a symbol of pain.