[004]

[docinawall]

[the silence on the 12th floor is broken by a man screaming]

It's here! It's here it's here it's here IT'S GOING TO KILL US!

[there's the crash of a door, and a man in a full suit of purple body armor comes running into--and down--the hallway. he's quite fast, as it turns out. also, still screaming]

I don't want to die! I'm too young to die! I don't even know how old I am, but it has to be too young!

[he throws open the stairwell door with a crash and goes running down that, too]

This is an evacuation! There's a thing I can't remember, and IT'S GOING TO KILL US! HELP ME-eeeee!

[his cry turns into a yelp as he trips and starts rolling down the stairs. yes, rolling. watch out, that's some heavy armor he's wearing, and he seems to be having difficulty stopping...]

Comments

[inhumanity]

[WHUMPH and now Christopher is part of this horrible messy tumbling pile oh god ow]

[docinawall]

[thankfully, they only roll for a flight or so of flailing limbs before inertia ceases to overcome friction and they end up in a heap on the landing]

Owww..... [Doc stares up the stairs visible above him, just lying for the moment, dazed] Did it get me? Tell me it didn't. Ouch...

[inhumanity]

It did get you! [that was dramatic and is followed by] Did what get you?

[docinawall]

What!? [Doc sits up in alarm] Am I dead? Is this heaven? Or... [his voice goes shrill] Wait, don't tell me! Is that why it hurts? Please let this be heaven...

[he stops abruptly, though, finally seeming to really notice Christopher--and the question he asked. he blinks at him] You know! The thing that left its helmet and weapon in my room! [because clearly anything that leaves its weapon behind is out to get you] Did it get you, too?

[inhumanity]

It can't have, I'm too good for that. [He manages to untangle himself a little bit.] Perhaps I'm communicating with a ghost!

[docinawall]

Really? [Doc tries to scoot away from him now] Wait, a ghost? Me? [he laughs] That's kind of cool! Wait until I tell--uh. Other people. I mean, I'm nothing like any of the other ghosts I've met! I think I've even got bruises.

[inhumanity]

You could be a new kind of ghost!

[docinawall]

[he's relaxing again now] Yeah! Wow, that's great. I wonder if I can go through walls. I'll be like Casper! [and he pulls himself to his feet, stepping over to the door to that floor--and walks right into the wall next to it] ...ow. Maybe not.

[inhumanity]

[Thoughtfully he scratches his chin.] You are not a very good ghost, are you? How sad! To be a ghost but be unlike ghosts!

[docinawall]

Yeah, I don't know. Maybe I'm not a ghost... [he pokes one armored arm with the other] Oh, wait! Maybe I am and I just haven't figured out how to get out of my body yet. Ghosts do that, you know.

[inhumanity]

I had no idea! [He also pokes Doc.] I will help you learn!

[docinawall]

Really? [his happy surprise is obvious--but he gives Christopher a questioning look] Wait...does that mean you're a ghost? Is that why your eyes look like that?

[inhumanity]

[Oh my God]

Maybe it is! Is it?

[docinawall]

[he's getting interested now] Maybe. Oh, I know! See if you can leave your body. If you can, you're definitely a ghost!

[inhumanity]

How do I see?

[docinawall]

[he scoffs] I don't know. I've never been a ghost before!

[considering] Maybe tell yourself to leave your body and see what happens? After all, minds are really powerful! That's why mental health is so important.

[inhumanity]

Mind, I command you! Leave this bodily form!

[.....]

It didn't work.

[docinawall]

[Doc is quiet for a moment because he's actually concentrating really hard in an attempt to get out of his body through the use of mental energy]

Wow, that's harder than I thought! I wonder how other ghosts do it.

[inhumanity]

They must have other ghost mentors to guide their way.

[docinawall]

Oh, yeah! I bet they do. [an idea strikes him] Hey, maybe if we remember who we are, we'll remember which of us is supposed to be the ghost mentor! And then we'll know how to get out of our bodies.

[inhumanity]

Wonderful!

[YES]

[wait]

How do we remember?

[docinawall]

I don't know! I don't remember. [duh]

Maybe we could find an AI to remember for us! Or something.

[inhumanity]

An 'A.I.'?

[docinawall]

Yeah. You know, the things the military uses to run computers. I bet they would know!

[inhumanity]

What's the military doing with computers? [1930s confusion? he only knows about computers--why does he know? He isn't sure about that information but he doesn't worry about it]

[docinawall]

[he doesn't entirely understand the question (for good reason for once)]

Probably killing people. And making evil computer programs to kill people. Why?

[inhumanity]

[He thinks about it for a second, and then:] Makes sense!

[docinawall]

Yeah! So where do you think we could find one? [he looks around the stairwell as though expecting an answer]

[inhumanity]

We should find the military. [Yes this is some logic.]

[docinawall]

[at that, Doc gapes at him, stiffening with fear] Uh...I don't want to.

[inhumanity]

[He doesn't seem to notice] I can do it for you!

[docinawall]

[Doc isn't actually thrilled by that prospect either] You mean you're gonna leave me here? B-but what if that thing comes back? It could kill me! Again!

[inhumanity]

Hm, well if it's to defend a friend, I suppose I can stay.

[docinawall]

Good. [he sighs in relief] So uh...not to sound ungrateful, but what do we do now?

[inhumanity]

I was going to go ask the military about AIs, but you ruined that. So it's your turn!

[docinawall]

Uh... [he thinks for a moment] We could always look for AIs that have escaped from the military. Or we could find a kitchen! And make, like, organic pancakes. Or a nice salad. What do you think?

[he might be leaning toward the safer options]

[inhumanity]

I can bake! [He is happy about this.]

[docinawall]

Great! Let's find a kitchen. This is going to be exciting!

[and he turns and starts down the stairs, on a mission now]

[inhumanity]

[Christopher, of course, starts singing, an aimless song about flowers and food and probably fatal deadliness. A usual Christopher song as they head to the kitchen.]