Jade ignores the transient.  "I say we go in with a low profile and scope out the situation.  You with me?"  If so, she goes in the building.

Cistron calmly places her hand on Jade's shoulder, and moves her out of earshot of the transient ."... I think it would be sensible to do a little perimeter recon first, before we walk into a building we aren't certain we can exit easily ..One of us on each side of the building.., Cistron suggests, "Just as a set up..take note of every exit and security patrol..We'll want someone on standby in the parking lot if things get hairy, someone in the Lobby in case we get outside problems. We can admit one of us as a patient, and once I get to know the staff, I can use my 'doppleganger' talent to fit myself into the doctor role. -Unless someone has another plan..We also need to be wary of metal detectors."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:37, Tue 19 June 2007.

Screed nods, "I can head over invisibly, or possibly ask that bum really nicely if he knows anything interesting going also."

"Zero-one has eyes everywhere, be careful who you talk to.  I can keep an eye out front with my bang-bang."  Shadow pats his bulging duffel bag.

"Or I just go in and ask for the Oracle... I mean... if she can see the future, she knows were coming and will have let someone know, right? You guys can stay out or in different areas until I signal you..."

Screed nods, "Let's go with Dracos' plan, but no one should go anywhere alone.  Pick the backup you want Dracos, someone silent and unseen, or someone silent and immediately deadly."

He nods, "Silent and Unseen..."

And with that, he heads towards the hospital doors.

Screed nods, "Okay, Cistron, looks like you're up with your silent, unseen, and or blending in with your doppleganger ability.  Otherwise, I can go invisibly.  The rest of us can do the other suggestions and come in on a moment's notice, or after you've given the pseudo-all-clear."

Cistron rolls her eyes. "..Do you really think she calls herself "The Oracle", we are looking for an AI blending in as a human, not a Superhero with ego issues." Cistron remarks, already realizing that Dracos has already crossed the road with his innane plan. Let me go in, I'll try to blend in as a receptionist. -Looking at all the recent admittants should give us a good bead on which to check out, Come along if you like Screed, but I suggest that you hold off on the subterfuge til you really need it..

Screed shrugs, "I was just going with the partof the plan of stationing outside the building on either side to get a decent look at things.  I don't particularly want to use up my invisiblity right now either."

"I'm about as sneaky as a bazooka, so I'm probably not the one to go with him.  Besides Zero-One isn't really interested in 'The Oracle', but might get cranky if we are here, so any action will likely come from the outside."  Shadow shrugs his shoulders and watches Dracos cross the street.

Before Dracos makes it all the way across the street, the double doors to the clinic open, and a man stands there and says, "Welcome.  We've been expecting you."  He nods to where the others are across the street.  "All of you," he says.  He holds the door open for the entire group to enter the building.

He turns and smirks, "Told ya," he sticks out his tounge. Then he turns and holds out his hand to the man in greeting, bowing his head slightly.

As Shadow crosses the street he wonders out loud, "I wonder if X can code a water balloon right about now?"  Once across the street, he gives a quick nod to those at the door.

Despite Dracos' rather childlike sneer, Cistron remains still, and folds her arms watching the man skeptically. 'Idiots the lot of them, a few uttered greetings and they all begin acting like tamed lapdogs scrambling for thrown scraps. -It's a wonder how they survived in the Matrix this long.' "..Is that right? ...There might be a lot of people expecting us. What makes you think I'm expecting you?!"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:22, Wed 20 June 2007.

Screed smiles, "Cool, that makes it easy."  He opens up the duffel and puts everything on and carries his rifle as he heads across the street.

The man seems to ignore questions, his eyes darting like a rabbit's as though he is concentrating on things far distant.

"The Oracle awaits," he says.  "You may choose your own destiny, of course, but the Oracle knows already what you will choose."

Screed nods as he finishes getting ready, "Excellent, then he knows I like my steak medium rare and my baked potato loaded."  He licks his lips in anticipation even though he's joking, mostly.

Your guide, you can't help but notice, has a strange mechanical device attached to his head with small surgical mirrors, a tiny screen, and wires that connect around to the back of his head.

He leads you past the reception area.  The receptionist is staring ahead as if hypnotized and takes no notice.

You walk down a hallway past many closed doors.  "The infirm," your guide explains, indicating the doors.  "We each suffer in our own way.  The only question is whether the suffering is caused by us or by another, whether it is in our mind or in our body."

He stops at the end of the hall, where you see painted on the floor and walls, "Authorized Personnel Only."  A set of double doors leads beyond the marked spot.

"You can call me Zen," your guide says as he reaches down and grabs a security card attached to a chain on his belt.  He swipes the card, and the doors swing open.

You follow him into a large room probably 150 feet across and 50 feet from side to side.  On the far end of the room is a set of stairs leading to another set of double doors.

And all around this room you see hospital beds, each with a patient.  All patients appear to be attached to medical monitoring devices and IV's.  The rhythmic beeping of a hundred heart monitors is a bit disconcerting, but the volumes are turned low.

After you step into the room and the doors close behind you, Zen turns to you and says in a soft and conspiratorial tone, "Before we continue, tell me what you know about the Oracle."

Screed introduces himself when Zen does, "You may call me Screed, but you already know that."  He chuckles, still not quite being able to wrap his mind around the idea of the 'oracle'.

When he's asked about what he knows about the oracle, he tries to be a bit more serious, "Well, we know the Oracle is neutral in relations to all and therefore may wish to retain a balance in all things.  Since that balance is now threatened, the Oracle may wish to intercede in some small way."

Zen says, "I am not the Oracle, so I do not know--or have access to--all that information.  Good to meet you Screed.  Let me see what the Oracle has to say about your words."

He touches the device at his head, as if listening to a headset.

"The Oracle says that desire must be defined before balance can be ascertained."

Screed nods, "Certainly, we wish to protect ourselves and our home from the aggression of Zero One, once and for all."  He does not come out and say that the only way to achieve that in his mind is to destroy the computing monstrocity, but he cannot see any other way.

He listens for a moment and then says, "But do you know what it is you are saving?  Do you understand what consequences this mission will have?  Do you understand what enemies you will make?"

He listens some more and then says, "The human mind can only handle so much.  If you free the humans from their Matrix wombs, most will die.  Even those who live will find resources scarce.  They will fight and kill each other.  Wars will be born.  Are you better than Zero-One for killing off your race?  If these people are happy in their Matrix lives, will you take away all options for them except death--or perhaps disease and poverty and a life without the blissful illusion?"

Screed raises an eyebrow at the answer to unsaid statements.  He decides to pursue his argument based on what was said instead of thinking that the oracle can read his mind.  He was becoming wary about it thought, "I never said I wanted to destroy the Matrix.  I said I wanted to protect ourselves and our home once and for all.  Are you saying this is only possible by the death of those who have been freed and those who wish to be freed when Zero-1 succeeds in wiping us all out?  Are you saying that it is better to enslave those who do not wish to be enslaved for the supposed good of those who do wish to be enslaved?"  He still doesn't see how to get through to a neutral Oracle when it is obviously clear to Screed that one side or the other has to win, and thus, the other must be destroyed.

A voice nearby speaks.  It is one of the patients.  Zen looks over with raised eyebrow.

"You assume they do not wish to be enslaved.  We are all enslaved, if not by computers, than by our frail bodies.  The question you should ask yourself is when should such enslavement be ended, and by whose authority?"