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> ENTRY FOUR

> Steam in the freezing desert...

> >>>

> Genesis: Pack up

You're done with the emergency project, just in time.
Synth's not gonna take it well...

> >>>

Oh god, where even is he?

> Genesis: Find Synth

> >>>

GENESIS: Hey...

> [V] Synth: Move

> >>>

CODEBREAKER: You're not going to run.

> Synth: don't have a panic attack

YOU'RE ABOUT TO HAVE A PANIC ATTACK.

> >>>

POLYBIUS: CHALLENGE 4! GET RID OF THE RATS JUST DON'T MAKE TASK UPSET AND KILL THEM NOW GET OUT

> I WARNED YOU ABOUT THE RATS BRO

goddamnit.

> Synth: get up

No thanks. Polybius' sudden announcement snapped you out of your panic but you still need a moment to rest.
Codebreaker is saying something at you. You can't hear anything.

> >>>

Suddenly your hearing comes back.
Your head feels crowded.

> Synthesis: Get up

CODEBREAKER: Better?
SYNTH: ugh, sorry about that, man, just. everything happened at once

> >>>

SYNTH: where'd the rest of our team go
CODEBREAKER: Flash and Hivemind are gone already. Seems like everyone's running now!

> Synth: Ask whereabouts of fifth teammate

SYNTH: wait, where's Heldy? are you saying-
CODEBREAKER: Where else would ae be? This has something to do with Radon's sudden death. We can't let this happen again, or else who knows who she's gonna take next?

> Synth: Observe surroundings

You're in the arcade. Most of the place is emptied out by now, aside from Task Manager and Polybius.
You've been avoiding this place. You thought you'd have a worse reaction having to be back here, honestly.

What are you to do about the rat problem?

> FUCK the challenge! check hunger first

OH MY GOD YOU ONLY DRANK SODA IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.

> Synth: Drink gingy ale to soothe upset stomach

What? You feel like shit but you don't need more-

> >>>

Oh god they weren't kidding about the rats.
You're glad you're not allowed to kill them. It's gross.
Still no idea how you're gonna deal with this. Genesis told you about rats, they're fucking everywhere. And don't leave.
There's no way you can get all of them yourself, which means you two have to get the most... Even then it's a daunting task.

> Synth: Get gingy ale

You already said, you're not-

> >>>

LOVE: Well what if I want gingy ale

SYNTH: goddamnit i knew it

> >>>

LOVE: okayokay how about this

LOVE: we get gingy ale and on the way we look for ideas. yes? I'll be so sad if you say no.

SYNTH: uuugh fine

LOVE: FUCK YES

> Synth: Find gingy ale

As far as you remember the vending machines didn't really have ginger ale. Or anything, actually, everything good was nabbed by the last challenge and probably rats.

SYNTH: i don't think we're getting that gingy ale dude

LOVE: LIKE HELL WE'RE NOT THERE'S GOTTA BE SOMETHING

> >>>

Sigh. Okay, you can go to BED BATH & BEYOND, HOT TOPIC, and WHATEVER THE FUCK THAT MUSIC STORE IS CALLED. Why the fuck would you go in any of these for soda???

> Hot Topic

Hot topic it is then.

LOVE: hey her name is Codebreaker right

SYNTH: uh, yeah? why do y-

> >>>

SYNTH: so, you have any ideas for the challenge Codebreaker?

SYNTH: STOP POSSESSING ME AUUUGH

CODEBREAKER: I think I may be onto something- still planning it out, though! You seem like you have something on your mind.
SYNTH: uhhh- I'll just be in and out of here, need to check if there's something there.
CODEBREAKER: Got it! I'll keep watch.

> Synth: Enter Hot Topic

Lots of clothes here.
Yep.
This is exactly what you need. Clothes.
Anything else of interest?

> Synth: catch rats with the trash can it's really cool

That thing's huge, but with some team effort it could...
No, oh my god, they can just crawl out. Fuck that. Goddamnit.

> Synth: ask cass for GINGY ALE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SYNTH: uhhh.
CASSIUS: heyyyy man
SYNTH: hi... do you have like
SYNTH: ginger ale

> >>>

CASSIUS: oh well uhhh
CASSIUS: you can take that can over there that's probably something
SYNTH: cool thank you dude!

> Synth: Take a sip

FINALLYYYYYYYYYYYYY-

> >>>

YYYyyyy oh this is not gingy ale what is this

> Synth: Check label

It's worn off.
Oh well.

> Synth: buy some spiky bracelets

SYNTH: hey can I take those bracelets too
CASSIUS: hell yeah man they're all yours

> >>>

FUCK YEAAAAAAAAAAH

> Synth: Ask Cassius to play some sick beats and play dress-up

SYNTH: Can you play something cool too??
CASSIUS: lol i'll turn it up

SONG: capoxxo monster nightcore

This is great. This is awesome. You definitely don't have someone waiting for you and a challenge to do or anything.

> >>>

Ok you're bored and it smells like weed it's time to go

> >>>

OH FUCK OH FUCK OH FUCK OH FUCK

> Synth: RUN !!

> >>>

You have died. Badly.

> >>>

CODEBREAKER: What's the rush for??
SYNTH: don't wanna be around ATM

> >>>

CODEBREAKER: What? Why???
SYNTH: haaaaa lets not talk about it right now ahahaha

> >>>

CODEBREAKER: You don't seem alright.
SYNTH: i cant feel my arms
CODEBREAKER: Did you not eat again?
SYNTH: i think im dying

> >>>

ATM: HELLO USER:[SYNTHESIS], I heard you are [starving] to death!!!
SYNTH: whh wuhuh

> >>>

ATM: Here! Take this [jerky] lest the rats get you!

> >>>

ATM: BYE

> >>>

You'd question what just happened but you're about to freak out over everything and opt to shove the jerky in your mouth.

> >>>

CODEBREAKER: Something's off. I don't remember daem being like... whatever that was.
SYNTH: i mean, uh. maybe daer just stressed? it uhh it happens to me too like i get different
CODEBREAKER: To that extreme?
SYNTH: ...

> >>>

CODEBREAKER: ... We should hurry.
SYNTH: right

> >>>

CODEBREAKER: I've got a plan that should work out, as long as we find some headphones and working instruments...
SYNTH: what? why?
CODEBREAKER: You'll see, come on.

> Synth: Enter Uitar Center

Seriously why is it named that.
Codebreaker is testing a bunch of guitars on the wall.

> >>>

SYNTH: are we using these?
CODEBREAKER: Nope! They're broken.

> Synth: SMASH A GUITAR!

You're starting to get so jittery that you grab and smash one of the broken guitars without a second thought.

> >>>

CODEBREAKER: Strong! That's good.
SYNTH: hah...

> Synth: pied piper those freaking rats

You entertain the thought of putting the rats in those frosting bags.
If they weren't covered in things that would kill you it'd be a lot of fun to grab them like this. Just walk up to Polybius and be like "Whoop, look at this, it's all of those rats you asked for unharmed! Every single one of them is in a bag!"
Too bad it seems like she doesn't enjoy a good bit.

You next wonder what a "pied piper" is. Surely has nothing to do with music.

> [S] ask Codebreaker about the plan