Broadcasting Rooms - GNN Central

       

 On this level of the GNN building, one can find all the manner of equipment and stages to allow the GNN to deliver its fine quality programming. The main area here is dominated by a singular yet curved green desk with a blue screen behind it. That area makes up the set where the general news broadcasts to the public are made. Off to another side one can find a small set used for the ever-popular interviews. This area can be configured to simply have two modern contoured chairs with the flag of the country involved freeze framed as flowing in the wind, or can be done with a smaller, more home style feeling with simple wooden chairs, desk, or table and a nice country house background. This area is also used to house the various GNN field equipment, from the cameraman’s light powerful camera, and the small anti-gravity cameras used for emergencies, to the odd looking microphones with the "Capcom" logo on them.

 

 Contents:                               Contents:                     

 

 

 Floor 2 <F2>:             GNN Central - Offices

 Lobby <G>:                San Angeles - GNN Central

 

Gate arrives from the GNN Central.

Gate has arrived.

 

Chest paces back and forth, much to the chagrin of the butterfly makeup Reploid that's trying to make sure that Chest looks just so for this interview. "You're going to have to hold still, Mr. Chest sir," the butterfly squeaks in a fluttery voice. Chest snorts and does his best to hold still, "Hey, this isn't just something I can stay calm about. It isn't every interview that I interview a complete and utter nutjob." Chest thinks back to his previous interviews. He hesitates as the butterfly mech dabs his face with some sort of powder. "Well..." he admits, "Ok, so maybe it /is/ every interview that I interview a complete and utter nutjob."

        Chest is currently on the normal interviewing set that he prefers to use. It's a calm atmosphere, with two comfortable chairs (one being the incredible indigo interviewin' chair of justice, and the other being the pitiful purple perjury chair of villainy). Behind the chairs are either a calming fake fern or a wooden bookshelf filled with thick books that nobody's ever read. Chest squirms as the butterfly makeup continues her work. "Is Gate here yet?" he snaps at a passing stagehand. Chest is a nervous boy.

 

Gate is as close to being fashionably late as one can be before being actually late. The Professor calmly steps his way through the GNN building, no stranger to it. All the same, he's led by an intern whom has already fetched the professor a cup of coffee.

 

The butterfly Reploid just giggles softly and continues powdering Chest's nose. It's more complex than it looks... "Course, /this/ nutjob has been even nuttier than /most/ nutjobs..." Chest rambles, wishing that he had one of his cigars right now. But noooo, he has to go through make-up first. The stagehand, meanwhile, shrugs, "I dunno," he says. The human stagehand is a bit of a slacker, it seems. "Oh... there he is!"

        Chest turns away from the make-up butterfly just in time to see Gate make his way to the set with the help of the intern. The make-up Reploid squeaks again. "All done!" she exclaims before fluttering over to Gate. If the scientist allows, the Reploid will powder his nose and otherwise make sure he looks perfect for the big interview.

        Chest forces a smile, "Professor Gate. Great to have you back here. It's been too long. I'd like to thank you for taking time out of your schedule-" what schedule? Shut up. "-to meet with us." Chest scoots over to the indigo chair of justice and takes a seat, producing his box of cigars. "Cigar?" he offers Gate even as he pulls one out for himself. Tradition states that he offers one to his subject.

 

        Gate passes the half-finished coffee off to the intern, smiling at Chest. "It's a pleasure to be back." There will be no grilling this time. Gate is ready to satisfy his limited feelings of vindictiveness at Chest in a safe way. His nose is powdered, et all. Not something he understands, so he freely trusts the butterfly to do her job.

        Taking a seat on the purple chair of villainy, Gate waves off the cigar politely. "No, thank you... well..." After a moment's thought, Gate reconsiders. "Actually, let me tuck one of those in my pocket. Something in lieu of a victory dance, if you will."

 

"You look simply smashing, Mr. Gate Professor sir!" the butterfly Reploid squeaks, smiling as she backs up to get a better look at her canvas that is Gate. The Reploid then flutters off stage, humming to herself. Chest, now seated upon the indigo chair of justice, holds out a cigar for Gate to take. A victory dance? Ahhh, save it for a few minutes, Chest tells himself. Smiling he gestures to the purple perjury chair of villainy.

        "Have a seat, Professor." The intern'll stick around in case Gate wants water or something. Chest has one himself on the low, discreet coffee table just in front of the chairs. "Two minutes!" the director shouts, waving a clipboard around. People rush to get to their places. Chest calmly lights up his cigar. Ahhhh, that's the stuff.

(New BB message (14/51) posted to 'Repliforce' by General: The Valkyrie)

        "Thank you, Chest." Gate intones, smoothing out his trademark labcoat. "Oh, I do have one quick question before we get ourselves started. You /do/ have Sigma Virus scanners on hand, yes? I will require one for a demonstration of sorts. I assure you, it's no more dangerous then walking down the street."

 

Chest frowns. Cossackdamnit. Demonstrations are never good. NEVER. "Well, uh... yes, I suppose it could be arranged," Chest says, glancing over at the human stagehand, who slowly moseys on out to fetch the scanner. Chest's curiosity fights a brief battle with his desire to wait and ask the questions on the air. "Exactly what kind of demonstr-" "Twenty seconds!" the director shouts again. "Places, people!" One can see the virus scanner just off stage at Gate's convenience. It looks something like a blood pressure machine. Damnit, time wins. Chest waves his own question off. "Five, four, three..." lights go dark, there's a double beat, the music starts, annnnnd...

 

GNN Prototype Camera v2.0 has arrived.

You drop GNN Prototype Camera v2.0.

 

Chest turns the GNN Prototype Camera v2.0 on.

 

"Chest here, live and on the scene at GNN Central, here in beautiful San Angeles!" The lights raise, the ditty that has been changed from the Javelin Whitetail composed one a /long/ time ago plays, and we see the interviewing set. Chest is seated on the left in a comfortable chair, with a lit cigar resting in his left hand. Across and to his left is another chair. This one holds none other than- "We're here tonight with Professor Gate - brilliant scientist, controversial subject, and an all around enigmatic fellow." Chest turns towards Gate, "Welcome to San Angeles, Professor." The camera focuses on the mech of the hour.

 

        "Thank you, Chest. It's always a pleasure to visit such a lovely city." Intones Gate. He too has a cigar, but his is tucked away in the pocket of his lab coat, freshly cleaned and pressed. He looks well prepared, condifent, and secure. A far cry from how he ended his last interview.

 

Chest for one is glad that Gate is looking better. Who knows, maybe he's come back from the land of the nutjobs. Regardless, as the pleasantries is over, Chest's expression turns grim. "Many people have termed the last several months of your life to be a downfall from grace, Professor. You were serving in Interpol and seemingly doing well. But then a long string of problems, ranging from calls of improper action due to your relationship with Director Fairchild, the discovery that you had kept information from her regarding Ms. Whitetail, and the revelation that you had hidden the fact that the Repliforce squadron known as Red Alert had been infected with the Maverick Virus came to light." Chest can take direct credit for those last two. "This appeared to be the beginning of the problems. Could you tell us a bit about them, and what you were feeling through it all?"

 

        Gate takes a moment to think about it, as any man would. After an acceptable amount of time, Gate answers. "Well, Chest, I do feel hurt. And quite a bit betrayed. My biggest regret, however, is that my children had to suffer because of my mistakes... my weakness." Gate folds his legs, leaning back a bit. "Such oppression... it wieghs on a man. It grows hard, a heavy burden to bear. But through it all, I have always had faith."

 

"About your children," Chest says, leaning forward, "Couldn't you save them an awful lot of trouble by letting them know that they don't have to jump every time you twitch? As it is, people are starting to wonder just who's side the various Gatebots out there are on - their faction's, or /yours/."

        Chest watches Gate carefully here. "It doesn't seem to me that the suffering that they've been forced to endure is because of your mistakes, per se. But rather to their reaction to their mistake. For their sake, Professor, have you told them that they can go about their lives and not ruin their own due to, as you put it, mistakes and weakness?"

        Chest also adds, "You mentioned that you felt betrayed. And you mentioned the burden of oppression. By who? Who betrayed you? What oppression are you referring to?"

 

        Gate's brows furrow for a moment. Damn that Chest, he's slick with his tounge. This isn't going to be as easy as he'd planned. Ah well, such is life. "I have spoken to both Doctor Light and the General and I must say that I, too, an shocked by their behavior. I will be the first to admit that it is both out of line and inexcusible. So in lieu of that, allow me to make an announcement to them on live television, in front of the world." Gate pauses to collect himself, then looks to the camera. His face is absolutely dead serious, not a single tone of lightness in it.

        "I will disown any of my children that either recieve a dishonorable discharge from the Repliforce, or are removed from the Maverick Hunters." The Professor shakes his finger at the camera sternly. "I suggest that none of you test this as several of you are close to being removed from your respective factions as it is. One of you is so far gone towards being removed that staying in your faction is in the hands of the almighty and the benevolence of an old man."

        Gate lets this bold declaration hit and hang for a moment. Then he leans back in his chair and goes for his complimentary mug of water. He starts to gulp, leaving the last questions unanswered. That took a lot out of him.

 

Chest leans back in his chair slightly. The camera's focused on Gate for his speech, so it isn't caught on the air, but Chest is surprised (pleasantly? Tough to tell, but it appears to be so) at Gate's declaration. "When you say an old man... just so we're clear for the viewers at home, you're referring to Dr. Light of the Maverick Hunters?" Chest thinks to himself. How many Gatebots are in the Hunters? Blizzard Wolf and Blaze Heatnix? Are there any others? No matter. Chest's previous hope that Gate has taken a few steps away from the land of the nutjobs edges up a few notches. Chest is also expecting that Gate will get to the other questions he had afterwards. If not, Chest'll ask again.

 

        Placing the (now empty) mug back on the table, Gate nods. "Yes... yes I do mean Doctor Light." He looks and sounds just a little shaken by the fact that he, Gate, /actually/ threatened to disown one or more of his children. He seems unwilling to take /that/ particular subject any further then that, however.

        "As for the betrayals, the oppression... is it not easy to see? I have dedicated my life to the eradication of the Mavericks and that which they stand for... and yet I've been fired from numerous jobs, I have half of the world suspecting that I'll go Maverick tomorrow and the other half thinking I've already turned. Do you know how that wears on a man, Chest? The endless jokes, the snide remarks, the frightened glances, the outright sneers..." Gate's voice has been getting louder. "AND ON TOP OF THAT, DAMNED ELPIZO KILLED ME SON!" Gate's fist slams onto the table... but the Professor calms down.

        "I'm... sorry, Chest. The pain is still fresh, I'm... still trying to deal with it."

 

Chest, for a moment, feels pity for Gate. Poor guy, he just had to tell off all of his children while mourning the loss of another, as well as trying to put his crippled career back into order. Chest finds himself nodding even while 'but what abouts?' creep into his mind. Chest for one has always been quick with the Gate jokes. And the Interpol jokes. Half a dozen such jokes already spring into Chest'd mind, but he tucks them away for later.

        At Gate's outburst, however, Chest looks genuinely shocked and startled, jolting back slightly in his incredible indigo interviewin' chair of justice. Chest hesitates as Gate calms back down, and spares a glance at the struck coffee to make sure it wasn't damaged (those things don't come cheap!).

        "Ah, not a problem, Professor. We all mourn the loss of Bossa Nova." he says, recovering himself even as Gate does. In a softer tone, he says, "Some might argue that a lot of this has been brought on by earlier mistakes. Again, the problem with Ms. Whitetail and the revelation of Red Alert. Any comment to that?" Chest doesn't mention the obvious - that Chest himself has been among the 'some' that 'might argue' this.

 

        Gate only gives /those/ sore points a succinct "No comment."

 

Chest can't argue with 'no comment', unfortunately. Not until he manages to get those bylaws passed where everyone will have no choice but to obey Chest's whim. The Screw You Act of 2218. "Moving on, then," Chest says with a forced smile. "Lets go back to the beginning of the recent ordeal. Starting from when you had been discharged from teaching at the University of Eurasia, what happened to you? A lot of our viewers have only been privy to rumours and speculation, so this serves as a good chance to set the record straight." And prove you're not a damn dirty Maverick sympathizer.

 

        Gate answers this. This is a large part of the reason that he came here. "I accepted a commission from the University of Alaska, given a sizable support staff, and all the funds that a researcher could hope for. In my zest to complete the Dream Protocol mk. 3, I failed to notice that one of the staff was a Maverick spy. My four latest creations, Dark Mantis, Avalanche Yeti, Gigabolt Man-o-war, and Earthrock Trilobite were all infected with the Sigma Virus by the spy secretly, after their activation. At that point, the newest Dream Protocol had not yet been finished and they succumbed quickly to the Virus. At this point, if they are still alive, then they are most certainly totally infected beyond all hope of cure." Gate's right hand clentches, his face darkens a bit. "The spy I have dealt with personally."

 

Chest nods slowly, "Tell us a bit about this spy." And, ah, his fate. "Will you be continuing your work, given the evidence that the Coalition has clearly proven itself capable of spying on your progress? Also tell us a bit about this new Dream Protocol. In what way does it differ from the immunity currently shown in the Red Alert squadron of Repliforce? Do you have any evidence that it will be successful?" Gate's a tricky one to pin down, but there's always that lingering hope that maybe he's going to cure the Sigma Virus and thus destroy the Coalition. It worked with the Maverick virus... sort of... not really...

 

        "Sigma himself could not keep me away from my research." Gate states, proudly and with a bit of a hauty manner. "This time, next to no one knows the location of my lab. Not even my own children."

        Gate puffs out his chest just a little. "The Dream Protocol is dead. It did not work, it does not work, and, most likely, it will never work. However, I have recently experimented with new techniques, involving Force Metal. I do not yet know the results but tonight, I fully intend to find out, and share it with the world." Gate smiles, nervously.

 

Chest blinks at this, "The Dream Protocol is dead? Including the one that you had been working on before your four latest children were secretly infected? The mark 3? If it was not finished, is it still viable?" Chest has trouble programming his own VCR at home, let alone knowing how the Sigma Virus works. "Or would the spy have ruined any chance of that? Perhaps you could explain to us how that works?" Read: Tell me how the virus works, Dr. Science!

        "As well, you mentioned working with Force Metal... Now I've just got to ask," Chest says with a sly smile, "Who's your supplier? Seems like everyone and their brother is after the stuff."

        "No, it simply will not work. It is my theory now that we have been going about Viral research in the entirely wrong way. Instead of attempting to cure the Virus, my new method... as of yet unnamed, relies instead on the unique radioactive properties to innoculate and immunize a reploid against the Virus."

 

        Gate holds up one hand. "My source of Force Metal I shant reveal... there are far, far too many unsavory types out there watching to reveal it. Unfortunately, there is only one way to test such a theory."

Chest is quite shocked to hear that Gate's getting his hands on Force Metal. Who could it be that's giving it to him? Seems like nobody has it. How'd /Gate/ get his hands on it? He wasn't expecting an answer, mind you. It'll be a topic of great speculation later.

        The real surprising thing, however, is Gate's new method of fighting the virus. "Inoculate? You mean like a vaccination? I have to say, Professor," Chest says, shifting in his seat slightly, "That sounds a little dangerous... what happens if all these inoculations... wind up getting the better of people?"

 

        Gate pointedly ignores Chest's fairly blatently loaded question. No safe way to answer that. "As I said, Chest, there is only way to really tell. That being to test it out in a real world situation."

Chest looks at the camera and winks, "You'll have to pardon me if I don't volunteer to be the test subject," he chuckles at his own joke. Heh... volunteer to be the test subject. Heh heh. "Going back to our previous line of thought regarding what happened to you after leaving Eurasia, perhaps you'd care to continue. Who was this spy in your midst? What happened to you after your four children, secretly infected with the virus, vanished?"

        "The spy was a man from the college, by the moniker of Lexicon Rabbit. He was in charge of overseeing expendatures and making sure things ran smoothing, financially. He is currently dead. As for what happened to me... I'm unsure if I am allowed to say, I'm afraid that some of it may have been classified by the Repliforce. Though rest assured, Chest, that I was treated fairly, and that I recieved full medical attention as well as a Viral Scan and Decon."

        Gate chuckles and says something that will likely derail the conversation's direction. "No fear about being chosen as a volunteer, Chest. I'm not looking for any. I already have a brave soul to 'experiment' on as it where."

 

Chest nods, "So you were picked up, evidently by the Repliforce." He makes a mental note to kick General in the shins. Shame on him for keeping the world in suspense regarding Gate's whereabouts! "So Lexicon Rabbit..." Chest furrows his mechanical brow, but the name doesn't ring a bell. "Now given that you no doubt scanned your employees on a regular basis, I guess it makes sense that Lexicon was not infected when he was working on Sigma's behalf." Chest pauses, realizing what he just said. The GNN boss man coughs politely. He doesn't need to ask what resulted in Lexicon's death.

        "Now about this volunteer, of course I have only one question: Who?" Chest asks with a smile.

 

        "The only man that would do it right now, Chest." Gate replies. "I am running short on funds, on friends, on credibility... on time. I have told many that this may be my last chance to beat this... I believe it is time to find out if that is true or not."

        Gate looks to the camera. "Three days ago, I equipped myself with my latest method of combating the Sigma Virus. I then..." Gate pauses, hesitant to speak. "...I then injected myself with a liter of infected mechifluid."

        Dead silence reigns on the set.

        Gate continues. "Chest, knowing you, you've got top notch scanners on hand, best that can be bought. Bring one of them... no, all of them out here. If I pass every scan, then I shall sit here, smile, and smoke this cigar with you." Gate pats the stogie in his breast-pocket.

        "But if I fail even one, then I shall wait here for the Repliforce, or the Interpol, or the Maverick Hunters to come, whichever arrives first or has jurisdiction, or... what-have-you. When whomever arrives, then I shall surrender myself peacibly and without a struggle to whatever fate awaits me."

 

Chest's smile remains on for a few seconds, but with each word that Gate says, that smile takes a hit, fading from Chest's face. *my last chance to beat this* There is hint of alarm in Chest's optics behind his green shades. *I then injected myself with a litre of infected mechifluid* Chest's optics bulge outward, and for a moment he looks dizzy in his chair.

        The camera is focused on Gate, however, and the cameraman and program directors are too stunned to change the view. Dead. Silence.

        After an awkward amount of time, Chest opens his mouth slowly as if to say something, but Gate continues. As Gate pats his cigar, Chest's own drops from his grip onto the set's floor. Thankfully, with modern flooring, it doesn't catch fire or anything.

        *but if I fail* The view finally switches back to Chest, who still looks stunned. "Wel- I... perhaps... perhaps this isn't the sort of thing that should be done... done on live television," he glances nervously at the camera. "Perhaps at San Angeles General, or..." he tries to think.

 

        Making a motion with his arm, Gate seems to have found his courage again. "Posh, Chest! If I am Viral, then I am hopelessly so and you will need that equipment anyway to preform scans." Or perhaps it is the bravado of a paranoid man that has backed himself into a corner with no way out.

        Thankfully, the boy with the golden bat haunts Neo-Tokyo, not San-An.

        "Come now!" He's motioning to crew off the set in the wings. "Bring out five... no, ten scanners! If it will suit you, bring every scanner in the city!"

 

Gate's logic is not the sort of logic Chest wants to be hearing right now. Sure it makes sense, but Chest doesn't hear 'yes, either way, the scans are important'. He hears 'I might be an infected Maverick, and I might be planning to rip your head off'. Slinking as far back into the incredible indigo interviewin' chair of justice as he can go, Chest hesitates again.

        "Well... I'm not so sure... this is-" Chest didn't expect /this/ to happen. See? See? he chides himself. THIS is what happens when people ask to do 'demonstrations'. It NEVER winds up being a good thing. NEVER. Not ONCE has it been 'check out these pictures of unharmed baby kitties, puppies, and bunnies'. Nooo, it's always something terrifying.

        The stage crew, meanwhile, are just as stunned and shocked. Without orders from Chest or the production director, they're unsure of what to do. Oh, they figured the scanner was going to be put into use for the demonstration, but not like this. Hesitatingly, the crew of three appear on the screen, wheeling out a portable scanner. It looks something like a blood pressure machine, but more complicated and intrusive.

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Dr. Sarah Fairchild says, "I'm coming up there to try and make him stop being stupid. Please hold all questions about stupid decisions I've made in the past until /after/ I've saved you from being utterly stupefied on camera. Deal?"

 

        "Come now, Chest. Only one? This is /science/, we need multiple results. I am serious about this!" Gate intones. And then he /demands/. "Bring out at least four more scanners. I am serious, I want to false readings. The more scans that are taken, the lower the margin of error. I would rather be wrong and know it now then blissfully ignorant to start with."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Dr. Sarah Fairchild: You say, "Wh... what?"

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Dr. Sarah Fairchild says, "I am /coming up there/ - to your studio - in order to make Gate - my ex-boyfriend - stop being an /idiot/ - a person of limited intelligence."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Dr. Sarah Fairchild: You say, "...oh."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Dr. Sarah Fairchild: You say, "Uh... an intern can show you the way..."

 

Chest awkwardly stands up from his comfortable looking chair, just in case he has no choice but to run away from Gate. "Ah... ok..." Chest says, holding his head slightly. This has a real chance of blowing up. The GNN boss man fights to reclaim /some/ measure of control in these proceedings. Damnit, Gate. Another volley between the Chest vs Team Sarah/Gate/Deer has been launched, it seems. He also receives several transmissions, to which he hesitatingly replies.

        "Ah... we'll see about getting some more scanners. But, in the meantime..." The crew nervously begin hooking Gate up to the machine. As they nervously work, Chest asks, "So, ah... how do you feel right now, Professor? Do you notice anything... different?"

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Dr. Sarah Fairchild says, "Appreciated."

 

Dr. Sarah Fairchild arrives from the GNN Central.

Dr. Sarah Fairchild has arrived.

 

        "Oh, I feel a good deal nervous, Chest." Gate admits. "I do think that I have a bit more at stake here then anyone else in the room. Anxious, for sure. But expectant. Much the same way I feel whenever one of my children is activated for the first time. It's... exciting, isn't it?" Likely not the way that Chest would describe it, no. But Gate does.

        Gate is hooked up, the techs are nervous, understandibly so. Gate actually tells them to check their work, one of the hookups feels loose. Sure enough, it is. The techs start the machine and get the hell out of Dodge. The process will take a few minutes and leave the world in suspence.

        Figuring he just might have nothing to lose at this point, Gate decides to shoot the breeze with Chest. "So, Chest. Let's continue, shall we? Let me think... ah, yes. You were ready to pry into my personal life, right? Well, I've broken up with Sarah, I'm sorry to say."

 

"Doesn't stop me from wanting to stop him from being an idiot, however," a voice announces from off-camera. The camera crew, stupified even more by the sudden entrance, takes a good five seconds to realize what's happening and swivel around, to show the frowning face of Sarah Fairchild, dressed in her Interpol uniform, to the world. The Director of Interpol steps forward, her (in?)famous drones forming a halo formation behind her. She steps closer to the stage area, and demands, sharply, "I hope I'm not interrupting, Chest, but I thought I should step in around this point. Gate, what the /hell/ do you think you're doing?" From her bearing, she does not particularly seem to care that the cameras are there.

 

"Exciting? Likely not the way I would describe it, no." Chest murmurs in a reply. If Gate is a good deal nervous, Chest is moreso. He doesn't look like he wants to shoot the breeze right now. "Ah, yes, I wasn't prying, per se," Chest says, looking up at the taller Reploid Scientist. "But I was merely ask-"

        When Sarah suddenly announces her presence, Chest blinks and stares in her direction. "This day cannot get any crazier," he mutters. Summoning up his courage, the God of all media turns towards the camera, "Ladies and gentlemen, Director Sarah Fairchild of Interpol," it's a hasty greeting.

        Throughout all of this, the testing machine plugs along like the ticking time bomb it might be.

 

        Gate smiles, /smiles/, at Sarah. "Well hello there, Director. You really should have sent someone else to arrest me, you know. It will look bad if you do it yourself. People will accuse you of letting our relationship getting in the way of your job... which /certainly/ isn't true." Gate sighs. "But, you're here now, so... have a seat. No doubt Chest wishes to discuss Miss Whitetail with you, hmm?"

 

Dr. Sarah Fairchild's frown is by now a veritable rictus of unhappy directorlady. "I'm not here to arrest you unless you've earned it, Gate. I'm here to talk some /sense/ into you. Doing this on live television? Are you insane?" She takes a step forward, shooting a glance at Chest before returning her gaze to Gate. "I'd ask you if you know the risks except I know you /do/, so why are you doing something this ridiculous?" She, perhaps intentionally, totally refuses to acknowledge the topic of Javelin Whitetail.

 

Chest scoots back a few feet, letting the former item take center stage. Chest isn't the news here, after all. Gate, and now to a lesser extent, Fairchild, are the news. At Gate's (hilarious) crack about Chest wanting to speak to Sarah about Javelin, the GNN boss man blinks and smirks. "Ahh... I think that can wait, Professor..." he glances at Sarah, hoping she isn't just about to slap him one.

        "So, Professor Gate, after you were taken into custody, apparently by the Repliforce, what happened next? Did they release you? And if so, why? Furthermore, what happened after you decid-"

        ~DING!~

        Chest stops in his tracks. Everyone stops in his or her tracks. The Sigma Viris testing machine has beeped, signaling that it has finished its full scan. The light on the top of the machine is visible to everyone here on the set, as well as to the viewers at home. Red or green - Virus or clean. There is complete and utter silence as everyone turns and stares at that single light just in time to see it flash the colour...

        Shrugging, Gate says, "Well, Sarah, I've been working with Force Metal. It's entirely possible that I'm not in my right mind. However, I do believe Chest has something to say, now, so do be a dear and have a seat. We'll call you if you're needed." Gate then turns and listens to Chest's coming questions. He's about to answer, when the light on the scanner changes color to...

 

        Green. Clean scan.

        Gate lets out one long, slow sigh of relief. "Well... according to this particular scanner, I am not infected." He smiles, reaching for the cigar in his pocket.

 

Dr. Sarah Fairchild very briefly gives very serious thought to throwing Gate out a window, but decides she's not in the mood for making herself a laughingstock again. "Mmm," she hums, irritated. Rather than open up a fight on live television, she moves to a nearby chair, but holds off from sitting right now. "Congratulations," she says. "You've once again dodged a bullet you made yourself. Now may I request that we stop this test now? You know as well as I do this is entirely sensational; tests not done on a secured, stationary virus scan terminal are notoriously unreliable. You know that."

 

Chest winces as the light changes colour. He expected red. Hardly a shadow of a doubt. Maybe it was just fearing the worst, but when that light changed to green, Chest lets out a sigh as well. The technicians let out a sigh. Hell, the entire building lets out a sigh of relief. "Whew." Chest says out loud.

        The GNN boss man now has /new/ questions, "So... does this mean you have a cure for the Sigma Virus?" He asks carefully, "Will this immunization eventually be overcome by the virus, or is the virus defeated?" Chest, again, cannot program his VCR. This is why he has technicians perform scans like these. He isn't particularly fond of the way Gate is treating his ex, but he's just too damn excited/scared to mention it right now.

        As Gate reaches for his cigar, Chest's own is still on the floor. The media mogul pauses and then reaches up to his ear, as if hearing something. He frowns and mutters, "Apparently there's some sort of commotion down in the lobby." One of the stagehands gasps, "Lets all go to the lobby!"

 

        "Yes, I know, Sarah." Admits Gate. "Why do you think I've been calling for as many scanners as possible? I will submit to any Virus Scans that the Hunters, the Repliforce, or Interpol wishes, of course." Gate, having lit the cigar somehow, looks over to Chest.

        "...commotion?"

 

Dr. Sarah Fairchild would probably say her previous sentence again, only with explanations for hard words like 'secured' and 'stationary', since obviously Gate didn't get that part - but the commotion part worries her, too. She looks over at Chest, quirking an eyebrow in concern. Behind her, slightly out of any close-up framing but in view of longer shots, when the cameras turn to her, the drones shift, as if uncomfortable. "Perhaps the rest of this interview is best left for another time, then."

 

Chest doesn't have any more scanners to bring in, unfortunately, so we can only hope that the universe wasn't playing a cosmic joke on the world and causing that sensor to malfunction. "Yes," he murmers in agreement with Fairchild (bet you never thought you'd see that), "That might be for the best. We can at least find out what's going on. I'm not getting any details or useful information about the situation."

        Chest pauses, evidently talking on the radio to someone. Finally, "Well, seems like any cameras down there have been cut off..." He looks around, and then comes up with an idea. "Camera! Get your lazy <bleep!> over here!" That was Chest censoring himself, by the way. Not GNN.

        The drone rolls into view, and suddenly the live feed is switched from the stationary view to Camera's link-up, giving people a first person view of what the drone is seeing. "Director Fairchild? Should we figure out what the hell's going on in my building?" Gate, Chest figures, is going to do the smart thing and stay here. WE CAN ONLY HOPE.

        The Professor has already proven himself capable of doing very stupid things. "I'll come along, too." Oh, there Gate goes again.

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Red says, "Please don't go into the lobby. Sigma doesn't need more airtime. Also, I think your door is broken."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Red: You say, "You mean my elevator and stairs?"

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Red says, "...You have stairs? Oh damnit."

 

Chest's radio crackles, audible. One can hear Red's voice from it: "Please don't go into the lobby. Sigma doesn't need more airtime. Also, I think your door is broken." Chest frowns, but at this point nothing can surprise him anymore. "You mean my elevator and stairs?" he replies to Red out loud. Red's voice is heard again, "...You have stairs? Oh damnit."

        Chest looks around nervously, "Just what the hell are they doing to my building?!"

You have earned 104 cookies! Only -4 more until you can get @poll!

 

Dr. Sarah Fairchild frowns. "Delightful. May I recommend we turn the cameras off?" She gives Chest the look of someone who thinks this would be a very good idea, and might go do it herself if he says no. "At least until this is all sorted out?"

 

        Gate blinks nervously. "Sigma is... here?" Well, the city /is/ the second safest place on Earth, right behind Disney, but...

        "Yes, turning the cameras off would be a good idea, I think."

 

 

Gabriel arrives from the GNN Central.

Gabriel has arrived.

 

"Duly noted," Chest says, "But the fact is, this is something important, and I don't have any other feed available right now." One of the stagehands calls out that the door to the elevator has been fused shut. Thankfully, there are the stairs. Chest is heading there along with his drone. Are Doom and Gate following?

        Camera beeps a quick question at Chest in its unintelligible language. Chest snorts and replies out loud, "No, I don't think that was a standard mating ritual for humans /or/ Reploids," he jerks a thumb towards Gate and Sarah in regards to their earlier bickering. Camera beeps something back, sounding disappointed.

 

Dr. Sarah Fairchild sighs. Stupid newscasters. "Fine," she says. "/I/ am calling for a lift out of here. Please, /please/ tell me there are windows somewhere around here." She then throws a look at Gate, and says, "I think you shouldn't go down there, Gate. There's absolutely no need for it."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Sigma: You say, "Sir, Chest here, Global News Network - I'm, ah, I'm upstairs. Do you have a moment of time?"

 

Chest, meanwhile, has taken another approach. The direct approach. The CHEST approach! Flipping on his radio, "Lets go directly to the source," he mutters, "Lets see what Sigma has to say for himself." Out loud, he says into his radio, "Sir, Chest here, Global News Network - I'm, ah, I'm upstairs. Do you have a moment of time?"

Gabriel deactivates her stealth mode.

        Gate sighs and shakes his head. "Very well, Sarah. Would you like to bring me along to Checkpoint Charlie so that a more full Virus Scan can be preformed? I'm eager to find out the results."

 

Gabriel had to lower her Stealth Field in order to Blink through the Walls of Destiny and...RIGHT BEHIND Sarah Fairchild. She appears in a field of static, and then says, "No, we're not taking you to our most secure facility to scan you." Gabriel says as she takes form, "Another facility, sure, but not CC. Thanks." She looks to Chest and adds, "Oh! Chest! Hello there." She smiles.

 

Chest's radio crackles again. Sigma's voice can be heard, "Certainly. Shall I meet you up there?" Chest frowns, "No, that's quite alright, sir," Chest replies hastily, looking a touch nervous. Sigma can probably see Chest, but Chest can't see Sigma. "I can ask my questions from here. First, what's going on down there? Second, why are you in my building? And third, why are parts of my building being fused together?"

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Sigma: You say, "No, that's quite alright, sir. I can ask my questions from here. First, what's going on down there? Second, why are you in my building? And third, why are parts of my building being fused together?"

 

At Gabriel's sudden arrival, Chest chokes and whirls around. He's stopped his attempt to get to the stairs. The idea that maybe, just maybe, staying up here is a good idea comes to mind. "Geez, one simple interview and the whole world suddenly wants to drop by," Chest mutters. "Don't suppose you're here to get Gate out of here?" he asks Gabriel.

        Camera beeps something, seemingly laughing at Chest. Camera enjoys watching Chest suffer. This is why Camera has always liked Fairchild.

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Sigma says, "We heard there were free doughnuts. It seems Commander Red ate them all, but he's buying more and has promised to make an appology. As for your building, I really don't know, none of my entourage have that capability. The San Angeles Police Department should be on their way to solve the mystery, I hear they're quite good."

Dr. Sarah Fairchild very carefully does not jump into the ceiling as Gabriel appears behind her. She, instead, merely half-turns to face the Commissioner. "Gabriel's got a point, Gate. Several people have volunteered to offer you scans and a place to have them, so for now let's just focus on getting out of here." She looks at the new arrival. "I assume you have a way out of here for us?"

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Sigma: You say, "I see. That's lovely. Hate to say it, but there's no free doughnuts. I don't give them to my employees and I won't give them to other people, either. Respectfully, Sigma, please get off my property. *long, hopeful pause*"

 

Chest's radio crackles to life again with Sigma's voice: "We heard there were free doughnuts. It seems Commander Red ate them all, but he's buying more and has promised to make an appology. As for your building, I really don't know, none of my entourage have that capability. The San Angeles Police Department should be on their way to solve the mystery, I hear they're quite good."

        Chest's reply is careful and concerned, "I see. That's lovely. Hate to say it, but there's no free doughnuts. I don't give them to my employees and I won't give them to other people, either. Respectfully, Sigma, please get off my property." Chest pauses hopefully.

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Sigma says, "Certainly you're not calling Commander Red a liar, sir? I'm afraid he's already sent for them, we'll be on our way just as soon as they arrive, if that's agreeable with you."

 

        Gate twirls around at Gabby's sudden exsistence. "Oh my." He stares at her mutely a second. "Hmmm. I suppose... that would be for the best, yes. Hmm."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Sigma: Chest grits his teeth. "Well Red doesn't own this building. I do. Please do not trespass. Please leave the premises."

 

Chest begins shooing at Gate, Gabriel, and Fairchild, trying to motion for them to get the hell out of here before people start busting down the door to get to Gate. He likes their plan. NOW LEAVE. His radio crackles again with Sigma's voice: "Certainly you're not calling Commander Red a liar, sir? I'm afraid he's already sent for them, we'll be on our way just as soon as they arrive, if that's agreeable with you." Chest gives it another go: "Well Red doesn't own this building. I do. Please do not trespass. Please leave the premises."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Sigma says, "Oh, as you wish, sir. You may help yourself to our doughnuts when they arrive, I'm sure Commander Red is already quite full."

 

Gabriel smiles, "Oh, no, I have no idea how to get Gate out without him interacting with the Mavericks at all, sort of jumping out a window or, perhaps, roof access if you've got it, or maybe breaking -down- a wall leading outside, but I don't think we should do that last one, but it's your property, Chest."

            A pause. "But I came here because you seemed nervous for some reason, so I came to help ease your troubled mind.", a pause, "Do you not want my protection then, Chest?"

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission: Io, a female SAPD officer's voice. "We apologize for our delay, Mr. Chest."

 

Chest replies to Gabriel, "I don't think Sigma will hurt me." He /hopes/ Sigma won't hurt him. Sure Sigma's acting all nice as usual, but what does that mean? "But Gate's better off not being her-" Chest's radio crackles again with Sigma's voice: "Oh, as you wish, sir. You may help yourself to our doughnuts when they arrive, I'm sure Commander Red is already quite full." Chest sighs, "Thank you, Sigma."

        The next voice on the radio is that of a female San Angeles Police Department officer, "We apologize for our delay, Mr. Chest." Chest smirks and replies, "Less chat, more sending of people who use joke attacks to hell."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Sigma: You say, "Thank you, Sigma."

 

[Radio] Tightbeam transmission to Io: You say, "Less chat, more sending of people who use joke attacks to hell."

 

Gabriel picks at her teeth, "Oh no," She says, flicking imaginary gunk away. "So you feel better? It's dreadful that Sigma wants to steal all your doughnuts, isn't it? But then again, so did Repliforce. What barbarians...", she glances at Chest thoughtfully, "Yes, please send those behind the joke attack to hell. They should know better."

 

        "The window, yes. Well. I can manage that." Hmm. He /could/ leave via the window. Yes, in fact, that sounds like a plan. "Ah-hem.... Chest? Bill me for the window."

        A dramatic flash of light leaves Gate in his golden (flight capable armor). Gate runs for the window, leaping through with ease. His armor's flight systems take off and he's away. Unfortantely, he didn't hear the bit about Sigma leaving. Or maybe he didn't care.

 

Dr. Sarah Fairchild stares as Gate goes flying out the window. Then she heaves a heavy sigh. She mutters something, but it's hard to hear, then looks to Gabriel. "Follow him so he doesn't do something dumb, like get blown up by Sigma again. I think I'll use the front door, if the Mavericks are gone." She looks at Chest. "Interview concluded?"

Dr. Sarah Fairchild mutters to Dr. Sarah Fairchild: 'Someone needs to ... him ... ... /leash/.'.

 

Chest grunts and nods at Gabriel, "You know what the worst part is? That -wasn't- the stupidest thing I've heard this month. Not even close." Chest gets a few brief flashbacks of Tornado Onion and Mirror Orange ransacking his office by accident. Then he recalls something Tornado said. Something about how SARAH sent them (not really true). That dastardly woman!

        But before Chest can start pestering her with accusations, Gate has made a beeline for it. He winces at the window. Oh he'll be getting the bill, just you wait. Finally, to Doom, Chest grumbles, "Fine... interview concluded. For now."

Gabriel reaches and attempts to tickle Chest's chin. "Of course, you hear stupid things all the time at GNN, right?" She winks and then looks to Sarah Fairchild, "Yes ma'am. Your wish is my command," and with that she vanishes again as she follows Gate out the window.

 

Dr. Sarah Fairchild nods at Chest as he grudgingly concedes that mayhem has at last defeated the mighty GNN director. She also very carefully does not laugh uproariously as Gabriel moves to tickle him. "Many thanks, then. I apologize for barging in. Good day." And with that, Sarah moves to head down the stairs and out, no matter what mayhem may still brew in the lobby.

 

Chest flails his arms as Gabriel tries to tickle his chin. "What?" he stammers, unsure for a moment whether that's an insult. But before he can react further, Gabriel has bolted out of the window after Gate. He turns towards Doom, "Well what ab-" But alas, she's gone also, and Chest is now alone on camera.

        "Damn menaces to society," he mutters loudly. Camera begins laughing, and then with an audible -BEEP-, the feed goes dead. The next bazillion hours will be devoted to analysis, speculation, and interviewing people that probably don't know anything.

 

Chest turns the GNN Prototype Camera v2.0 off.