@lazarus | video

[benhargreeves]

[ The video opens on Ben's face. He is looking particularly grim, filming in one of the rooms in the residential section. No greetings or build-up, he just cuts right to the chase, holding up a tiny device between forefinger and thumb. Visible is a tiny lens, and what looks like a small antennae to transmit. ]

PSA. There are surveillance cameras hidden in the lighting fixtures of the bedrooms. I found a creepy tunnel leading to a creepy lair where some fucking creep has been spying on us. Still trying to figure out who is behind it and what they want, but the feeds only show occupied rooms and no empty ones so it's not a coincidence, unfortunately.

[ Ben turns the frame to face the spot where the small camera had obviously been ripped out of an overhead light. From offscreen he says, voice clipped and angry: ]

Anyway. Wanted you guys to know. Hit me up if you need help ripping the suckers out. I'll post again when I know more.

Comments

[audio | @SCARAMOUCHE]

[numerouno]

[As a bot on a never-ending mission who doesn't crave shut-eye or a sense of privacy, Scaramouche is among the few here without a room. This announcement doesn't bother him at all.]

Where's the entrance?

@lazarus | video

[benhargreeves]

No offense, but I don't know you, and I'm not about to give out that information to anyone, much less a complete stranger, while we're still trying to figure things out.

[ But, to show he's not just saying he'll handle it and the person on the other end can't ask questions: ]

Why do you want to know?

[numerouno]

[This time, the message is set to private video. An amiable expression flickers into view. The phone is held at arm's length from Scaramouche's face.]

Because, babe, I'm good at finding people who don't want to be found. So why don't we work together and catch this heel?

[He beams at the camera, all teeth. In actual fact, he wants to check out the tunnel for himself; if he finds the rat, he'll ask them a quick question or two.]

[benhargreeves]

[ Okay, so. A robot. That's cool. Ben's mom was a robot, he's not gonna judge. But this guy's vibe is just way off and he's coming in really hot, here. On another day Ben might be more tolerant but today has been a day of secret cameras and bullshit and his patience is thin. ]

So, first of all, don't call me babe. Second, even if you're a stranger with skills, you're still a stranger, and I've already got people I trust that I'm working with. You gotta see it from my perspective. For all I know, you're working for the people who set them up in the first place. So, just - thanks, but no thanks, and I'll still keep everybody posted with whatever info we uncover.

[numerouno]

[The feed is switched back to public audio.]

Hey, don't be like that. You might have forgotten, but we're all strangers here.

Give me a call if things become too hot to handle. And, keep the rest of us in the loop; make sure there aren't other tunnels connected to that one.