Edited by KungFuCutBug on Nov 26th 2020 at 7:30:20 AM

THANK GOD, it's MUCH simpler than Awe's.

Cool

“Computer Keyboard”?

it sticks out a bit from the wall

so are we just starting day 1?

[Several recently-recruited crew members are chatting in the lounge. Some are a little twitchier than others, but it's not noticeable. Suddenly, the Admin appears from the basement stairs and addresses them.]

   "Ladies, gentlemen, and..."    [The Admin looks at the octopus.]    "...whatever else have you..."    [They reset their gaze to the rest of the crew.]    "I know you're new here, but we've got a bit of a situation. Some sort of virus's gotten into our supercomputer, and all our data's corrupted. But... the error message was weird."    [They mime scratching their head.]    "It mentioned 'unknown entities'. The computer's inaccessible for outsiders, so that means the unknown entities are here. Someone here has uploaded a virus into our mainframe. That, obviously, isn't good."    [They turn around, crossing their arms and looking at the crewmembers from over their shoulder.]    "I can't contact HQ since the computer's compromised. You've gotta figure out who did this on your own. Think you can handle it?"   

   "If you need help, you can ask me any questions in private, and I'll be happy to answer them within reason, obviously. For now, I'll leave you to your own devices until... let's say October 12th, 12 PM, Eastern time."   

You are now free to talk to each other and explore the complex!

Edited by KungFuCutBug on Oct 10th 2020 at 10:03:10 AM

Let me check the computer. Just to understand what's happenin'. I've wrangled more'n a few bugs back in my heyday.

   "Listen, kid, I've been a techno wizard since I was a kid. If I couldn't fix it, there's a slim chance you could either."   

Ikei has his legs up on the lounge table when he hears the news from the Admin.    "An intruder? Don't worry! I've got this! I'll take down those intruders with my own two fists!"   

   "Now...do we have any security cameras here? Maybe in one of those offices. The unknown forces or whatever were in the building! Maybe they were caught on camera?"   

Most of us have some experience, some a little more exotic than the rest. Maybe we see what the error message is? All of us.

Strange how I get to fix this here machine for another fella named the Admin. I knew someone who called themselves that. Let me tell ya, I couldn't trust her farther'n I could throw 'er.

   An intruder? Who would possibly have or want any business here of all places?   

[The Admin thinks for a moment.]    "Security cameras would've been a good idea in hindsight. Gotta dock the construction crew's pay for forgetting that..."   

   "And the error message just said 'UNKNOWN ENTITIES DETECTED'. Not very helpful."   

   "You guys don't have security cameras? Are you sure? I'm pretty sure there's one over there!"    Ikei points at a potted plant in the lounge.    "Don't we have any other stuff? Like motion detectors or something?"   

oh

wow that sucks

why am i even here anyways

i swear to god these pizza chasing efforts land me into some crazy places

Yer right. I can't make heads or tails a'this nonsense. Granted, I've spent more'a my time buildin' fightin' machines, not buildin' a... Supercomputer, ya call it?

Engineer grabs a pencil and notepad from his satchel.

This may take a little time... It just seems like a bunch'a nonsense jumbled t'gether. And what in God's name does "entity" mean here? Most of the time it's used in tech lingo, it doesn't mean any'a this mumbo jumbo.

[The Admin picks up the plant and shakes it. A couple specks of dirt fall out, but no cameras.]    "Nope, nothing here."    [They put the potted plant back down.]    "We don't have motion detectors or anything either."   

[They then turn their attention to the Engineer.]    "Sir, do you think I know what 'entity' means in this context? I've never had this happen before either."   

I'm just tryin' to help, Miss. Y'don't havta get cranky. Just give me a 'lil time and I might find somethin' out.

   Oh no, if we don't find the traitors, we run the risk of the traitors winning, and that would be a bad thing because that would be terrible!   

The triple-inverted Dan Quale clone, who no one invited but came along anyway straightens his upside-down tie.

   And no doubt they are Anti-American, that is, they hate America! We cannot allow people who want to destroy America to destroy America, because if they destroy America, America will be destroyed!   

Ikei raises his hand again.    "Uh, Admin? Two things. One, what title should I put for you? Mr. Admin? Mrs. Admin? Mx. Admin? Dr. Admin? Second thing! What if we just hit the computer really really hard? Would that help?"   

what

why is this man upside down

   "And I appreciate the effort. It's just... I don't know if there's anything we can do about it at present."   

[The Admin turns to Ikei and laughs.]    "You can just call me the Admin, but Dr. Admin works too I guess. And hitting the electronics is strictly prohibited in the institute."   

Edited by KungFuCutBug on Oct 10th 2020 at 10:19:20 AM

   I'm not upside down, everyone else is upside down, as you are all inverted!   

[red: Hittin' the computer hard might work. It's worked for me.]]