Gene watches Vilfred and says, "Ten million.  Yep, that's the number of potential combinations in that lock.  Ten million. It's going to take us a long time if you plan on trying out each one.  Let's start with 00000001, then 00000002, then 00000003, and then, let's see, how about 00000004.  I can go on if you want.  I don't think your way will work, but as long as you're doing it that way, you may want to sanitize those hands.  That briefcase has been in the hands of a corpse, and we all know what kinds of germs are on rotting corpses.  As hygiene officer..."  He stops and takes a step away from the briefcase as he considers all those germs.

Vilfred tries to pick the lock but fails.  (Skill failure.)

Just then, you turn around, hearing the approach of feet.  Your guns are raised, lasers pointed at the doorway.  Suddenly you are feeling accustomed to fighting and violence.  It's a good thing The Computer (generally speaking) is not opposed to such things.

Three figures round the corner, and you open fire.  Luckily, your shots all go wide, because you see Rob, Johnny and Fletch standing in front of you.  Your three former companions have somehow made it past the robots, entered the building, and caught up with you.

As they round the corner, Johnny takes the pen that he had been using to mark their directions in his notebook and puts it into his mouth, chewing on the end thoughtfully.

As the blaster bolts fly high and wide, he ducks.  He then stands back up and says "Hrm, whawa th fo?"

Gene says, "Well, I'm glad we didn't wait to try all ten million combinations.  That would take the lifetime of all my clones."  When they narrowly miss the newcomers, he says, "Well, there we have it.  One, two, three members of our party are back.  And not even their clones  Sorry we left you back there, but as you know, the needs of the Computer outweigh the needs of the clone.  And next time, announce if you're getting close.  Wasn't there a saying about traitors always sneaking up on their friends?"

He holsters his weapon and goes out to the hall, waiting for the team leaders to show him which way to go as he faces north.

As soon as he finds himself under fire, Fletch cries out in panic ''Bot attack! More of EVE's malfunctioning robots ahead!''
He dives out of the doorway again.

Only when things have calmed down he crawls forward again.
''Praise the Computer you are safe, Team Leader!'' Strange enough he seems to be adressing the guide bot.
''Shall I dismantle the head plate of one of the bots and look for the error in the bot software, Team Leader?''

He approaches Gene and reaches for his toolkit.

Doing his very best to hide behind the ducking form of Johnny, Rob yells out

Shield me for friend computer! It's the loyal thing to do.

Your guide robot wheels on out to the hallway.  "We must be on to EVE, if you will.  You have destroyed a robot and EVE projects.  There must be a reckoning.  You have each earned three demerits.  EVE will not be pleased."  The robot is ready to move north down the hall.

The five doors along the hall are numbered "LAB 1" through "LAB 5," respectively, starting from the bottom and going up left to right.

LAB 1 says "Indigo Access Only"
LAB 2 and LAB 3 say "Blue Access Only"
LAB 4 says "Green Access Only" and
LAB 5 says "Yellow Access Only"

The hall T's off at the end, with a sign pointing left that says "BARRACKS" and a sign pointing right that says "R&D"

Fletch trails after Gene-R-STK, trying to inspect the latter's forehead and stymied by the lack of a detachable access plate.
''This is somewhat uncommon for a robot. I might have to fall back on more basic methods...''

He searches in his tool box for something - most likely a welding laser.

Gene says, "Maybe we should try going into Lab 5 first.  We're yellow clearance level now, after all.  That's not a violation."  He looks to the team leaders for approval.

Mark says, "As long as you do it happily, I agree.  Let's see what's going on in these labs, but I bet you a credit these scientists were up to no good."  He will proceed to Lab 5 if the team leader agrees.

Carrying the briefcase, considering the number of combinations possible, Vilfred examines the metal tube as the group moves down the hall. She pauses, looking at its ends, determining how to open it, then looks up at the mention of yellow clearance. "Yes," she says. "Lab 5 or R&D."

Poking into Gene-R-STK's side, Fletch is surprised by its apparent squishiness. He squints distrustful at Gene.
''Say, are you a robot at all?''

I'm fine with going anywhere just as long as everyone is happy about it. If you might not be feeling as happy as you should I can help.

Rob finished with his cowering started to stand next to Vilfred and smile right next to his head with a big toothy smile.

"Hey team leader, let's sing a song. How about we sing the theme from the vid show Gilligan's Sector in the style of Who's treason is it anyways. That way we can all get a chance to be happy and singing and all sing together. You should all be happy singing.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:26, Mon 13 Oct 2014.

You enter the YELLOW clearance lab.  Inside, you see shelves over three of the four walls.  These shelves are crowded with objects, and by crowded, I mean that two of the wall shelves are weighed down with jars all pressed together so there is not any space left to put anything else, not even a book.

The jars filling these shelves are of various sizes and contain various parts of the human anatomy (on one wall), parts of plants and other flora (on another wall), and on the third wall, though not in jars, are a number of robotic and machinery parts.

In the center of the room is a large operating table with very bright lights above it.  Though the operating table is empty at the moment, you see dark reddish spots on the table and the nearby floor that indicate it was not thoroughly cleaned.

On the fourth wall, there is a countertop with some beakers and small tools, and a computer interface.  The computer is turned off at the moment.

Another announcement comes over the intercom in that pleasant woman's voice:  "At the sound of the Red Clone screaming for his life, it will be 3 p.m."  Just after that, you hear a man's voice say, "What?  Why?  No!  NOOO!  For the love of the Computer...WHYYYYY!"  His screams stop abruptly, and you hear a chime mark the time, followed by that woman's voice saying:  "Enjoy the rest of your day and remember that it is not the size of the treason that counts, except when it is, which is always and never.  Good day."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:07, Mon 13 Oct 2014.

Fletch looks from Gene-R-STK to the various part shelves to the operating table and back again to Gene-R-STK. ''I GET IT!'', he yells.

''You are some new kind of human-guise robot, eh? I knew it! Highly illegal, I guess, huh? Your creator being borderline traitorous, yes? No worry. Your secret is safe with me, for now. We will see what you can do for me later.'' He pats Gene-R-STK on the back.

Then Fletch shuffles forward to take a look at the machine part shelves, as is his righteous duty as Equipment Officer.

Gene says, eyes darting from side to side, "I am a clone, just like you.  It would be treason to pretend to be a clone if you are a robot.  If robots can even commit treason, that is.  Which is not the point because I am most definitely not a robot  But maybe it is treason to accuse someone of being a robot when they are a loyal clone in service to The Computer."

At seeing the jars, Gene starts counting.  "1...5...15...how many per row?  Let's verify the total."  He continues counting but then stops and sees the bloodstains.  "Now that is definitely not hygenic and must be a violation of at least a dozen code provisions.  How can people work with such filthy stains?  Surely there are demerits involved with this installation."

Finally, he calms down and resumes counting the jars.  "Shall we also count how many of each body part there are?" he says rhetorically.

He will also search for any cleaning supplies, including soap, that might be in the room.

In reply to Gene-R-STK (msg # 18):

Gene you don't seem happy. I know health code violations can be bad but you must always be happy. I can't allow any SSM in this squad. Our mission is too important. Here take one of these and we can be happy together. Rob offers you a mood stabalizer.

Vilfred, too, counts the items on the shelves. She cannot help herself; there are so many. She counts the body parts, the plant parts, and the machine parts in turn, voicing the total after each section.

As she does this, she continues to fiddle with the metal tube she picked up. She examines the ends to determine how to open it.

Mark says, "I can't believe we walked into this chop shop.  I'll bet you a credit we're going to end up in jars just like those.  But Rob is right, we must be happy."  He squeaks nervously -- hic.

He goes to the computer and tries to turn it on.  (Electonics engineering 10.)

While the others are counting, Johnny takes the pen out of his mouth long enough to start writing down what he sees on the shelves.  He takes particular notes of the machinery parts.  He lets the others figure out this room.

Mark successfully turns on the computer while the others are counting and writing.  (Good job, Mark, you successfully pushed a button!)

Vilfred can't figure out at the moment how the metal object opens exactly, though it might be meant to be placed in some machinery that would open it up.  Or maybe she could just twist the top and it would open.  Only by trying will she ever know for sure.  She does see the words INDIGO ACCESS ONLY written in large letters across its side.

The computer boots up quickly.  Words across the front read:

COMPUTER LOCKED
BIOMETRIC SCAN TO UNLOCK
PLACE RIGHT INDEX FINGER HERE

Then there is a touch box where you can put your finger to scan it.

In the bottom right corner of the screen is a box with the word OVERRIDE.

Over the intercom, the pleasant woman's voice announces:  Remember that The Computer has determined that littering is treason, punishable by summary execution.  EVE has expanded that rule so that complaining about littering is verbal littering, also punishable by summary execution.  Have a pleasant litter free day.

Eve stows the cylinder away for now, to return to later. She examines the plant parts (Outdoor Life 11) to see whether there's any unifying characteristics.

Vilfred examines the plant specimens.  (Success!)  Vilfred realizes that the parts are essentially spare parts being preserved to be later attached to whatever poor soul becomes the next hybrid animal-robot-plant thing.

An announcement overhead says: Workers, it is now time for your mandatory lunch break.  Please start now.  Your lunch break ends in 5...4...3...2...1.  Your break is now over.  Please get back to work.

''Sure, you are not a robot.'' Fletch smiles and winks demonstratively with one eye at Gene, signaling he understands.

His search of the machine parts shelve does not seem to bear any results. ''Bah,'' he says.
''This is all rubbish. Just robot limbs - nothing we could use as equipment or weaponry.''
Actually Fletch is somewhat relieved. Experimental weapons are not really his forte and tend to make him feel insecure.

''Hey, you, the robot with the suitcase.'' He is adressing no one less than team leader Vilfred.
''I see there's a number lock on it. Hand it to me, will you?''

Mark will see if his finger works in unlocking the computer, and invites the others to try if his doesn't.