[X] If you and the other adults are the hunters, then what were the wolves? And just what were the wolves running from?
[X] Given how wolves tend to be the top predators in their environment, probably more hunters. Why do you assume that whatever scared off the scary thing you saw running away is itself hostile? I assume there's something, because you seem very sure that the world faces doom.
[X] Lucy- congratulate Mari on not blowing us up and ask if any of this sounds familiar
[X] Owen- Ask how turning us to space children helps the problem we're not super heroes.
"Alright, so in this metaphor, you're the hunters," you say.
"Correct," Dr. Geneva replies over the intercom.
"And the wolves?"
"The wolves are the symbiotes."
"What's the forest," Owen whispers, and Mari elbows him.
You decide to pretend you know what SYMBIOTE means, but from context clues you can only assume it means SCARY CRYSTAL SERUM THAT GIVES CHILDREN SUPERNATURAL POWERS.
"And what are the wolves running from?" you ask.
"Total annihilation. Although I suppose the wolves are not simply running... ah, but dear Melody understood that better than I did. She understood it all better than anyone did, which made it such a terrible shame when she died. My condolences, Marinette. We are not playing guessing games in the dark, children. We had a lot of information to work with."
"How is doing any of this to us meant to help!" Owen says, voice indignant. "I'm not gonna-- not gonna stop any kinda annihi-thingy! I'm just a kid!"
"Well, for now, yes, you are. But you're also more than that, are you not?"
A silence lingers in his air as you all consider how human you really are.
[X] LUCY: Bust down the door for a dramatic entrance!
[X] Owen: Shut the door
[X] Owen: Bust down the door for a dramatic entrance!
With the PIPEDAD no longer posing a direct danger, there's nothing stopping you from entering the MEDICAL WING. Looking over at Owen's injuries, it seems like the best course of action, even if it means coming face to face with a DASTARDLY, MALEVOLENT DOCTOR. You turn to whisper to Owen and Mari. "Alright, we're going in on the count of three," you begin,
"Wait, so we go in
on three, or after three?" Owen whispers back, "And can I be the one that busts the door down, all dramatic-like?"
You stop to consider both these questions very carefully. As a JUNIOR SLEUTH, you really feel like you should be the one busting doors down, but whether to go on three or after three is a much more serious matter that merits your EXTENSIVE CONSIDERATION. It is while you are thinking over these TRICKY CONUNDRUMS that Mari quickly says "Onetwothree!" and shoves the door open herself, stepping forward with her typical brand of EXTREME CONFIDENCE. Well, that works too, you suppose.
As you and Owen step in after her, you're confronted with the sight of a TALL, LANKY MAN in a BLOODSTAINED DOCTOR'S COAT laying back with his feet up at a desk, a variety of PUZZLES sitting on the desk, most of them solved. You can appreciate a WELL-SOLVED PUZZLE, but not enough to discount the fact that putting your feet up on your desk is unforgivably rude, not to mention the fact that he's been a part of CHILD KIDNAPPING AND EXPERIMENTATION, which, while you're not sure most social etiquette guidelines account for this possibility, is something you're more than happy to decide is quite possibly the rudest thing one can do.
"Oh," DR. GENEVA says in that peculiar accent of his, grinning lopsidedly, "You solved my explosive puzzle. Very well done."
You're about to say something CUTTING and CONFIDENT when you're interrupted by Marinette walking directly up to the doctor's desk and jabbing him pointedly in the chest with her index finger, a gesture that seems to leave him a little taken aback.
[x] What happened to the rest of the children injected with the serum?
[x] What does Dr. Geneva know of Gaia?
[x] How do we get to wherever Gaia is kept before Sol does?
[X] Is there anyway of helping the kids who went "crazy"? There must be something we can do right?
[X] Do you have any potential theories as to why it didn't work? Maybe, that might help.
"Where's the rest of them," Mari says, "Sol and Venus and Gaia?"
You furrow your brow a little. It seems like Mari might have known more than she was letting on.
"Venus is somewhere in the west wing, and the reason that the other entrance to this wing," he gestures vaguely through a door on the opposite side of this room, "Is also trapped. Sol and Gaia are on the top floors. Along with what I can only presume will be your next topic of inquiry, your father and his brother. As far as I know."
Mari closes her mouth halfway through what was clearly intended to be the exact question that just got pre-empted. You take this opportunity to step up with your arms crossed confidently, standing next to Marinette so that the two of you are collectively STRIKING A COOL POSE as a TEAM. After slouching with his hands in his pockets for a few moments, Owen realizes what's going on and hurriedly stumbles forward, trying a few different poses before deciding they look silly and just crossing his arms slightly less decisively.
"I hope you don't mind me asking this," you begin before rethinking it and amending, "Actually, you're a thoroughly nasty man, so I don't really think it's important if you mind, but what happened to everyone else? Other than myself, and Owen, and Mari, and Kala? All the ones you injected with the serum?"
"What happened," Owen specifies anxiously, "to Moth?"
"Ah, yes. Mars. Well, that's an unfortunate case. You see, as the symbiote establishes itself more and more firmly, its nature can take hold in ways where, ah... the software conflicts with the hardware. Mars in particular is... combative, belligerent, destructive, aggressive. Despite the compatibility, this did not lead to the healthiest of bonds."
"Can we help him?" Owen asks, tugging at the end of one of his bloodsoaked sleeves.
Dr. Geneva shrugs. "I'm going to be perfectly honest, I do not know. Reversing or minimizing the effects of the serum was never one of our priorities."
"Well, go to hell," Mari says with surprising force. "Why shouldn't it be!!
Dr. Geneva gives another limp shrug, before tilting his head to one side, grin expanding ever so slightly. "Now, now, as much as I'd love to spend all day arguing, your young friend there is losing quite a lot of blood. Allow me to treat him, then perhaps I can answer some more questions." His eyes are unblinking, his grin taut. You look at Owen, who
is starting to look progressively paler and woozier, and then back at Dr. Geneva.
[] Accept Dr. Geneva's medical help.
[] Refuse Dr. Geneva's medical help.
