03

[pkeccentric]

[Action → 1127 Taylor Road]

[in the immortal words of one Linus Van Pelt, Halloween has come and gone. as such, Ray is more than a little bit saddened by this; it was his favorite holiday after all, the one night of the year where it's justifiable to run around dressed like an idiot and eat mountains of candy - things he would have been doing if

Comments

[Phone]

[drspengler]

Sure did, Ray. I think we're about to become a danger to the town. [He packs as much sarcasm into his tone as he can.]

[pkeccentric]

Please. Even without the packs, we're still dangerous. The town should count itself lucky that it hasn't done anything to really get us angry.

[drspengler]

Just wait. It'll happen sooner than you think.

Have you tested yours yet?

[pkeccentric]

Well, I'm not angry. Just a little letdown and in need of a good shower. My clothes still smell like plant fertilizer.

Nope. I'm going to later. [pause.] There's something that bothers me about this, though.

[drspengler]

[Nods, even though Ray can't see it, thinking he knows where Ray is going with this.] That someone who seems to want us imprisoned would return our potentially dangerous possessions to us?

[pkeccentric]

Exactly. That completely ruins the point of it being a prison. What do they get out of this?

[drspengler]

Think about it. When we die here it's not permanent. We wake up the next morning in our beds as if it never happened, but we still retain the memories from the incident, including what it felt like and who did it.

By allowing us to continue maiming and killing each other without a way to escape we're forced into an endless loop of torture, both physical and psychological.

It's clear that whoever or whatever is doing this to us is a sadistic wackjob.

[pkeccentric]

[and so are you for suggesting it, Spengs. jeeze. JEEEEEEZE.]

The town does a good enough job of that by itself. They don't need us to kill ourselves when they can do it far more efficiently and creatively.

Consider the amount of people in Mayfield with special abilities and superhuman characteristics. I know it hasn't worked because we're still here, but imagine all of that raw energy combined and what it could do to the people in charge here. It needs to be organized to work, but the potential is still there.

[drspengler]

I've had to kill people myself, Ray. You'd be surprised what you're driven to do when the circumstances are right.

... You have a point, though.

Maybe they want us to figure out a way to escape. Maybe it's some bizarre kind of test.

[pkeccentric]

...You did? [news to him. and now you'll notice that he's much less eager to continue this conversation. but he can't help it now that the flood gates are open.]

For it to be a test, there has to be something higher at stake than escape. The fate of a world, maybe - or worlds.

[drspengler]

[Sigh. He sounds maybe a little guilty.] Yes. It was an infection that could only be stopped by destroying the brain. I'm not proud of it but I didn't have a choice.

I don't think we have enough information yet to know why we're here. For all we know, there might not even be a reason.

[He's just now realizing how depressing this conversation is. That's happened a lot recently. Not even logically depressing as is usual for him. Just depressing. His tone changes slightly.]

Ray, I hope I'm not losing my mind already, but if I am I wouldn't be offended if you were ashamed of me.

[pkeccentric]

[he's already shaking his head, knowing full well where this is leading. and when Egon actually goes right out and says it, he responds immediately and sharply.]

No. Don't ever say that. As astute as you can be, you sure are dense sometimes. You did what you had to do. Suffice to say, you've done some pretty strange stuff in the past before and I've never seen any reason to be ashamed of you. Why should that change now?

[drspengler]

[A short pause. He knows Ray means business.]

We've handled a lot over the years. This should have been a piece of cake.

[A beat or two and then his tone suddenly becomes harsher and flatter.]

I'll come by later this afternoon and we can start converting the chargers on our packs.

[pkeccentric]

It stops being that way as soon as you get cocky.

[he's lucky Egon can't see his face right now. any traces of brightness immediately fall flat the moment that emotionless tone registers.]

You can come by now, if you want. I wouldn't mind.

[drspengler]

Alright. I have some things to take care of first. Give me half an hour.

[Click.]

ACTION AWWW YEAH

[pkeccentric]

[that gives Ray more than enough time to ready himself by going to the garage and clearing off his work table, setting toaster components and circuit boards aside so he can lay his Proton Pack out. then he goes to look for his tool kit, which he'll still be doing by the time Egon arrives.

very frustrating work, okay?]