Rata Mall - The Office 2 - Phase 8

[Talitha]

turns the light switch on!

[Talitha]

I saw a small amount of smoke coming from the bathrooms

gestures at the CCTV wall

so I wondered if the explosion was Carla with her dynamite and matches. Relieved to hear she's OK.

[Talitha]

Yeah I think Casey replaced the manhold cover. I have a small crowbar, which would *probably* budge it, but it's untested. I like the tunnel plan!

[Talitha]

There also is (was?) a monitor in the secret lab. Green Crayons threw it down the laundry chute from the fashion store to see how far down it was.
That PC also lacks a keyboard and mouse, apparently, but I have those on me!

[Talitha]

I was wondering about trying to force the EXIT open in here. What could possibly go wrong?

Examine ceiling

[Talitha]

I still have Carla's torch....
I think I'm the first person in this room. There are a couple of things on the hat stand that might be of interest. A hard hat and a carbon fibre jacket.

I was late getting here due to a room mixup.

I've looked at the filing cabinet, found a security file and a contract. I think the file has the code for the safe in the fashion store... and it has a computer password.

Found a secret cupboard with

kinky

confiscated items.

[Talitha]

The desks where the minions worked has whiteboard markers, a stapler and paper

[Talitha]

The contract is a lease to a Carl Hinvey, signed with an X. He appears to have leased some rooms here in the mall.

[Talitha]

There was a phone on the reception desk but no jack to plug it into. So I picked up the phone, and am in search of a jack.

Actually

push reception desk a metre or so, and check underneath and around for anything interesting

[Talitha]

No - nothing about granpa yet.

I guess it's possible that Carl Hinvey is the mad scientist...

[Talitha]

Oh I am clever

amb likes anagrams

Xavier Lynch =...... Carl X Hinvey

[Talitha]

So, Xavier leased some rooms in the mall. And is probably the mad scientist

[Talitha]

I've got no-one to call right now. I wondered if I took the phone I might be able to phone someone in the Office here later. But there isn't an obvious phone number for the Wall phone

Should I try calling 111?

[Talitha]

We must avenge Mark....


I thought we *were* in NZ? I remember amb said what the time was once, and it was NZST. And it's *Rata* Mall

[Talitha]

I'll wait for amb to catch up with my other actions then try calling the police

[Talitha]

Oh good thinking! Yes let's do it. The malfunctioning photocopier has been pushed to where it is though, and there are no power points there. And it's screen is broken. But we could still try clearing jams, using parts and supplies from the other machine, etc.

The secret cupboard was behind the malfunctioning copier. It had waterproof matches, handcuffs, and a knuckleduster. Could come in handy.

[Talitha]

push malfunctioning copier to nearest power point and plug in

[Talitha]

Once plugged in...

open up all the flaps on the copier and clear any paper jams
replace all the toner cartridges with cartridges from the other copier
replace the waste cartridge with cartridge from the other machine
fill with paper from the other machine
replace any other parts that are replaceable with the corresponding part from the other machine

[Talitha]

Wow, what a weird note.

check photocopier for any original documents on the glass or in the document feeder

search working copier's job history to see who sent the last print job

[Talitha]

check the underside of the wall phone

check the underside of the phone I picked up

[Talitha]

I like how you save your time, and mine

[Talitha]

Just thinking about the explosion, and Xavier. He told me he was going to the secret lab this rotation. His cover story is that he's trying to get the time machine going (or maybe it's not a cover story, maybe it's true).

[Talitha]

I think Jia went to secret lab / fashion store too.

[Talitha]

I didn't see anything obviously explodey in there. There was also a non-working teleporter in need or a part and/or some expertise to get it going. The unfinished time machine.
A tool bench. Pipes along the walls. A floor drain. I probably missed stuff I should've found down there, I was quite preoccupied with handling the Green Crayons situation and watching the CCTVs.

[Talitha]

I also find Cindy suspicious. From what Sir Leo (RIP) said to me in the fashion store when he thought I was a bad guy, I think the other bad character here is a Sorceror.
It could make sense that a sorceror is looking for books of spells maybe...

[Talitha]

Regarding Leo, Johannes had an interesting theory that he explained to me...

According to the book I found, Leo's interest was to impede others. Johannes thought Leo's goal was probably just trying to get in everyone else’s way. His theory was that Leo had some sort of knowledge of the other player's objectives or roles, but he didn't know which person was trying to achieve what.

...Consider some of his actions:
- He claimed to own the mall (Carla is trying to find information about her mall-owning family)
- He quickly took a stand against drug use (Terry was searching for brewery/substances)
- He was on the lookout for thieves almost immediately (Me)
- He made a comment to... someone... about “are you also looking for the young man that appears old?”
- The odd ritual, no clue what that was.

I think Johannes' theory makes a lot of sense. And if Leo wasn't the sorcerer, he might've been trying to smoke out the real one or somehow thwart them.

[Talitha]

And to Carla - no, sorry. The contract didn't specify which rooms in the mall he was renting.

[Talitha]

By the way, I'ma have to pickpocket Xavier for my wincon. Also we highly suspect he has a weapon. I might try specifically for the knife so he can't lash out with it once he finds out we're on to him. What do you think? Any help would be greatly appreciated....

[Talitha]

Cool good advice, thank you. I'll go for a random pickpocket when I get a chance.

The chainmail will "undo the effects of most bonus weapons used against me". So I guess it'd only be Xavier's base strength I'd be up against, unless he has some weapon that chainmail can't protect against.

Maybe I could give you the handcuffs? So if I end up in a fight with him, you can slip in and handcuff him if I am otherwise preoccupied.

I do think Johannes would support us, if we explain to him what we've learned.

[Talitha]

I think we need probably need to end him, one way or another. I suspect him being alive and continuing with whatever he is scheming will be bad for the rest of us.

[Talitha]

And he's shown absolutely no hesitation to murder whoever is in his way

[Talitha]

Oh fair enough, not without the anti-radiation pills!

And you make good points about Xavier. We have proof he's the mad scientist - but do we have any solid proof he's bad? I would argue his actions around killing Mark secretly in the darkness were not the actions of someone whose intentions are only self-preservation. If it was purely just fear of an evil clone surely he would've asked for help.
He pretends he's young and says "like" a lot, but he's actually old, as Carla's photo proves. He says someone is after him to try and "steal his youth"... well who did Xavier steal it from? It all adds up to a not-good person. Short of reading his mind, a confession, or finding something even more incriminating, I don't know how we could ever prove it 100%. I wish we still had the lie detector.

Speaking of detectors, I wonder if that metal detector in the phone shop could be useful for something...

[Talitha]

I have to survive to the end game In order to win. Do you as well?

I have no idea what triggers the end of the game though.

[Talitha]

Yeah, I reckon we will need to solve it!

Hey so how's this for a plan (mostly proposed by you already):

You give me the syringe. I give you the handcuffs. I stick Xavier with the syringe at first opportunity. You handcuff him. Then we tell everyone what we know and let the group decide what to do.

[Talitha]

I made a copy of the contract and put it in my inventory. (You could grab the original if you wanted). I wonder if we should announce what we found, i.e. the contract - show everyone, but don't let on about the name anagram that points to Xavier. Then we could say, "does anyone know anything about this"? And if he says nothing, then we give him the jab & cuff treatment. It gives him a chance to explain first if he chooses to.... what you think? Someone else might figure the anagram out too... we'd have to be ready to act if he attacks or bolts. And doing it this way might give him too much warning to be ready for a confrontation.... I'm just not sure.

[Talitha]

Regarding Sir Leo... I had a lightbulb moment that he probably thought Xavier was the Sorceror. And If he had guessed right, I think something would've happened from the blood ritual. We were just lucky that Xavier wasn't the Sorceror.

And regarding Jia - you said she beat the lie detector. What exactly happened there?

[Talitha]

I don't want to try stealing or taking things from Carla anymore, unless we have good reason to believe she's dodgy or compromised. She's a good ally and I think we can mend the damage that I did in the Eatery. But if I did it again she might not be so forgiving.

[Talitha]

put on the hard hat

[Talitha]

examine piece of paper written in strange language that I stole from Jia

[Talitha]

leave wireless keyboard and mouse in the secret cupboard behind the malfunctioning copier
then move the malfunctioning copier back in front of the cupboard

[Talitha]

Carla told me she needed to find a ghost. That's interesting her goal has changed.

Jia's piece of paper is legit - the number on it changes when the freezer code changes. I've 'seen' it change with my own eyes when I was the one who changed the PIN code.

[Talitha]

OKay cool, let's try the ignorance strategy initially.

[Talitha]

Re: stuff we can take. Go for it, the jacket is yours.

There is also stationery I haven't grabbed: Stapler, Whiteboard markers, some paper if that's of any interest

[Talitha]

The clue in the cafe was "Remember her that created that which you are trying to do - It's nonsensical."

Hmm, this seems like a cryptic clue, eh?

[Talitha]

swap syringe for handcuffs

[Talitha]

points remote control at CCTV wall and presses buttons

just in case it does something

[Talitha]

Hmm, no I don't have a key.....
Well I have the key to my padlock, doubt that would work.

test padlock key on handcuffs

[Talitha]

Dang

Hmmm

point remote at CCTV wall and press buttons some more

[Talitha]

Looks like it's a universal remote

[Talitha]

If we found a bobby pin or a paperclip, I reckon I could jimmy open the cuffs if indeed we need to.

search minion working area floor and desks for a bobby pin or a paperclip

[Talitha]

Do you wanna do the flashlight searching? I'll stand by the switch and flick the lights off if you want. I'm happy to give you the flashlight if you promise to give it back to Carla at next opportunity. I'm pretty much at my inventory limit I think, so I'm happy to get rid of an item.

[Talitha]

Give torch to Dr Lacey

Go to lightswitch, and once Lacey is ready I turn off the light

[Talitha]

turn lights on!

[Talitha]

What's the book?

test paperclip on the handcuffs that Lacey is holding, click them shut then see if I can jimmy them open.

[Talitha]

eep. It's a lottery

[Talitha]

Why don't you try and speed read it first? You might gain a skill

[Talitha]

What happens if I roll a 3 when trying to open the cuffs??

[Talitha]

Sweet! Now we're a pickpocket team.

[Talitha]

Let's burn the book

lights a match and hands it to Lacey

[Talitha]

DOH

[Talitha]

I don't want to have to explain to the crew why we were burning books.....

[Talitha]

watchs CCTV

[Talitha]

I have a gas mask.... just one gas mask

[Talitha]

We could take turns wearing it. 30 seconds each turn, hold breath while other person wears it

[Talitha]

And we're still here for a bit longer anyway. Hopefully the smoke will have died down some by the time we need to travel down to the Eatery.

[Talitha]

How can you sleep at a time like this!!

[Talitha]

puts gas mask on

share mask with Lacey and hold breath whenever she needs it.

Which plan do you think is better? Lift up with us in it, or down without us?

[Talitha]

Smother?

[Talitha]

Send lift up and empty water cooler into shaft????

[Talitha]

crawls away from elevator shaft
while sharing gas mask

[Talitha]

Was just about to post: If we don't make it out of this, I guess we share the Darwin award with Terry & Casey.

PHEW PHEW PHEW

Lucky you are able to make calm decisions in a crisis, Lacey.

[Talitha]

Goodnight mod and I hope you have sweet smokey dreams.

[Talitha]

Where is the brewery for something to calm my nerves when I need it

[Talitha]

Oh my gosh. That would have been very bad. Well if nothing else, I have learned something here.

[Talitha]

Use remote control to change channels until the room we are looking at is the secret lab

[Talitha]

press the rewind button and see how far back I can go

[Talitha]

Holy moly

I've been wondering if Terry and Casey were actually dead or just... different, somehow. Because last I checked only Sir Leo was on the Dead list, and Terry and Casey were listed as Missing.

Need to warn Johannes asap also to have the blaster at the ready. I wonder if we should see if we can travel up to the cinema??

[Talitha]

I have the knuckleduster. Was thinking of using it on Xavier if necessary.....

Yeah, check the first post in the Eatery thread

[Talitha]

Oh - Mark is on there too now as well. Of course.

[Talitha]

OK!

Call elevator back up here

[Talitha]

Is the elevator here?

[Talitha]

The cinema is definitely up eh?

[Talitha]

take elevator to cinema