The suit itself looked like an inky black substance was crawling all over Tommy's body. Like a slime from a video game really except it looked more like tar than jelly. It had that feeling like you didn't want to touch it, you didn't even want to look at it. The only thing I could describe it as is icky.
Once the suit had finished making it's way all over Tommy's body however it suddenly solidified. The tar like substance became a little like metallic tarmac. It was bumpy and if you ran your hand along it's surface it would likely feel course. Yet it had the shine and reflective properties that were particular to metal. I wasn't sure if it would feel cold to the touch or not but judging by it's appearance I'd guess it shared that metallic trait just as well.
As for it's form. It was the same as any combat suit. It fit Tommy's frame perfectly. It was so well-fitting in fact that it looked almost like an incredibly thick layer of extra skin had been applied to him and Tommy just became larger. It was as though the suit gave him a large force of presence he didn't have before.
Of course like any combat suit the only thing that's different would be the face. The face on the suit was distorted and robotic. It was just too clean. It looked like an incredibly gaunt man had been working for hours and all the moisture was sucked out of him then his face was moulded like clay by a child.
Honestly it looked hideous. But thankfully I didn't have to look at it for long. Reason being it was a stealth suit. So obviously the reason he put it on was… I watched as the suit melted into it's tar-like substance form once again. This time the transformation was gradual and I could see how the suit moved.
Instead of the rapid dash that appeared to happen when it covered Tommy's body, we got a showing of the substance shifting and wriggling in place. It would move a certain part of the structure all at once and continue to adjust it for some time before stopping and solidifying. Though it did lack colour even once it was solidified. It still remained that inky black.
Regardless it started with the legs. Tommy's legs would squirm and wriggle around like they had a mind of their own every few seconds. It would take a break for a second seemingly examining it's work then it would continue to wriggle around like a living creature and each time it did you could see the legs definition and shape becoming more and more visible.
After a few cycles of wriggling, stopping to examine, wriggling again and repeating the legs finally looked incredibly similar to human legs. The only way we could tell them apart was the colour, still that inky black. This continued up to Tommy's waist, abdomen, shoulders, arms and finally his head.
Apparently the head was the last and longest of the lot. I can't even remember how many times the head wriggled in place then stopped and examined itself before wriggling again. After the fourth cycle of this the head looked like a human face but apparently that wasn't enough and it would continue to make adjustments for quite some time.
Eventually though it appeared satisfied with it's work and everything finally stopped moving before the black inky substance once again solidified. The moment after it did, it gained colours as though they were just beneath the black substance the whole time. It almost looked like there was a modelled rendition of the colours underneath the inky model the whole time and peeling away the inky skin would've always revealed this perfectly coloured in replica.
This whole process took a few minutes at most, I wasn't really timing it but it seemed to take a significant amount of time combat wise but not significant by any other metric. Finally the suit was done with it's work and standing in front of us was a perfect replica of Matty the man we just met in the break room.
Even the dead look in his eyes was mirrored by the suit and it appeared to be extremely accurate to life. The whiskers would bounce up and down as Tommy examined himself and even his facial muscles appeared different as the way he smiled didn't seem like Tommy's at all and yet I could see some of Tommy's mannerisms behind the facade.
"Like the new look?" I ask giggling to myself. The person in front of me who I'm going to call Tommy M for reference stopped examining himself and appeared to attempt a grin back at me. Instead it only came out as a weak and exhausted looking smile.
"I wouldn't know haven't seen much of it. Feels pretty weird though. This good enough to fool anyone?" Asked Tommy appearing curious as he stared at me with questions burning in his eyes.
"Yeah. Even your smile's changed you know? You look like you're absolutely shattered." I said with a laugh. Marianne watched impassively from the side apparently not willing to comment on the change.
"Really I'm trying to grin but I guess it's not coming across. That a side effect?" Asked Tommy still looking like he was trying to smile and failing. His smile increased in an unnatural way the corners of his lips high but the overall impression of his face was still dead-fish.
"I think it's just how Matty would smile I'd guess. We did scan him in an exhausted state. Presumably it mimics that too. Pretty convenient in a way." I replied as I turned towards the door. Following my lead Tommy also turned towards the door we were facing.
"Right lets see if this can fool the security here then." Said Tommy radiating confidence. Honestly this is from Frame Products Ltd. I doubt any product of theirs isn't going to work as intended, especially when it was created specifically for this kind of mission. I'd honestly be surprised if it didn't work by now.
Tommy walked up to the door and examined it for a moment. He was obviously looking for a way to open the door. Sure, there was a handle but that was locked so we needed to find the security measures that are likely around the door and de-activate them first with Tommy's new suit.
I apparently spotted it before him since he was still looking around the door confused until I called out to him. "Hey Tommy there's a palm panel a little below the panel." I said pointing to that exact location. There was a screen with the image of a handprint on it. Only the screen was fairly small and at the wrong height for any normal person.
"Why's it there? That's just…" grumbled Tommy before bending down and placing his hand on the panel. The moment he did so, his hand was scanned by the panel and we heard a click from the door's direction.
Tommy then proceeded to pull on the handle and open the door for us. When he did we saw another completely stone black room with very little light in it. "Oh another staircase. Greeaaaaat" I was apparently just as prone to grumbling as Tommy.
Tommy himself just shrugged and slipped in the door holding it open for us and I stepped through the door and past Tommy followed by Marianne. The instant I did so I felt that same cold sensation on my skin I got from the other stairway. It feels almost like we're outside though even outside didn't have this freezing breeze.
"Why's it so cold in here?" I asked Tommy as he shut the door after Marianne's entrance. She was apparently fine with our new environment as she just went back to meditating or something.
"I don't actually know. I assume this place has a draft from outside but this feels a little cooler than that. Does it really matter though?" He replied hearing the click from the lock on the door after closing it behind us.
"I guess not but there's gotta be something to talk about while we make our way up." I say blithely thinking about how boring another trip up the stairs is going to be.
"Ah you do have a point. Don't want to end up as relaxed as last time but I supposed a bit of conversation will keep us from getting bored." Tommy says quickly understanding what I was saying.
I start the trek up the stairs and think about the next topic of conversation since Tommy clearly killed that topic off. Why would we discuss something we already know is pointless after all. I know.
"What about you Marianne. Have any stories to share or something?" I ask curiously. She hadn't talked much on the mission or at all really. Sure none of the crew knew each other that well by this point but still Marianne and Lumi would likely be the competition for the most mysterious and secretive of the lot. Though I think Lumi would win out just because of Marianne's reputation.
"If it would keep you from relaxing in enemy territory I do not mind sharing answers to any questions you may have. Though I do find it strange that as professional mercenaries you are not used to such long treks in the first place so perhaps that would be a question of my own." Says Marianne before turning to us with her usual fierce smile. It's weird but I get a motherly feeling from that smile despite how violent it seems on the surface.
"Ah that…" Said Tommy unsure of how to answer so I do so in his stead.
"We grew up together in a certain orphanage that gives us not quite legal work to help make money for the place. Those jobs however very rarely involved anything that isn't immediately deadly. Our missions are usually destroy that target, take down this person that sort of thing." I explain and Tommy nods along before clarifying my explanation for himself.
"As for me. I was taught in the art of information manipulation. You could say I'm trained as a grifter, spy or con artist rather than a fighter. So while I don't deal with as much action as say Ams here." He says gesturing at me before continuing.
"I am always on my game. Thinking about what I can get out of people, who to target, what kind of con to run etc… Essentially my job is one where I'm always on the ball and never relaxed and just walking. So staying on guard in boring situations isn't really my wheelhouse. I mean the orphanage was safe enough that we could always sleep there without worry though the conditions weren't great, you at least knew no one would hurt you." Explains Tommy with a nostalgic smile.
"I'm always shooting at stuff or fighting in combat suits so I don't tend to travel much during a mission. Even when I do I'm usually escorted by a number of guards since I'd be with the client and they'd be explaining the terms and stuff. Essentially I haven't been on many guarding missions or anything like that." I also throw in my own experiences since we were discussing it.
"I see" Replied Marianne sounding gentle but not totally interested in our lives. I suppose that makes sense. It's not like we're going to see each other much after this and it would make sense to not get attached during the missions.
"I was always taught growing up that everywhere is a battlefield. You may fix any problem with the requisite amount of strength. While my experiences as the chief have proven that my strength is lacking to conquer everything, I am always ready to put that strength into action. That is how I live my life and likely how it will end." Said Marianne in the calm, composed tone of a warrior.
I wasn't really sure of Marianne's age and I didn't really want to ask but she seemed like she was older than the rest of us by a little ways. If only because her experiences had made her mature quickly.
"You are ready for death then?" Asked Tommy apparently interested in that part of her statement.
"As is every warrior. Those who seek death live, those who seek life die. So is the saying I believe. Though truth be told I have a somewhat firmer grip on life than most of my fellows if only because to die is to lose and I refuse to do that." Explains Marianne. Her determination laced words echoed through the silent stone staircase and in our hearts at the same time.
Well I say that but… "I'm not so sure that's the right way to fight personally." I say to Marianne and she turns her quizzical eyes towards me curious as to what I'll say next.
"Not to say that I believe being ready for death is a bad thing for a warrior just that I personally find the idea that anyone could give up their hold on life abhorrent. Though I don't hate people for thinking that way it's just the way I think is the complete opposite." I say not really understanding where I was going with this.
Marianne however nods in understanding and affirms me. "I know quite a few who think as you do. Giving up one's life is not something you should aim to do in any situation. Some despise the idea of doing so in any capacity if only for their own mental well being." Said Marianne understandingly as she continued to nod in my direction.
I look away from Marianne for a moment thinking over her words and spot the door coming up on the next few steps so I look at Tommy and give him a little nod forwards telling him to go and open the door with my eyes.
He appears to understand my message and goes to open the door with little fuss. This time he checks below the usual height and finds the palm scanner once again just below the handle at a height even Tommy has to bend down to get to.
"Honestly who would use something like this below the height of the handle. I consider myself to be fairly small and even I find this annoying." Mumbled Tommy under his breath as he placed his hand on the palm scanner.
Next to the palm scanner by the way was the number 14. It appeared we got one with high enough clearance that we don't have to find another employee. According to Mainframe, the floors 13 to 17 are for employees only. It's filled to the brim with cubicle rooms. One hallway per floor but branching off each hallway is 10 different doors.
These doors lead to employee work spaces apparently and are thus guarded and obviously there are also employees in there as well. So just in case I had myself and Marianne stay back and away from the door as Tommy opened it in case there were any guards on the door that might spot the two of us and realize that we aren't supposed to be here.
Luckily for us it would seem the doors to the staircase aren't guarded. The elevator is and the doors to each employee room have two guards with the same physique as the ones we saw earlier but the staircase we came from doesn't have any guards. Clearly they didn't think anyone would bother coming up the staircase.
Though thinking about it this setup looks an awful lot like they're trying to keep the employees from getting out rather than keeping outsiders from getting in. Either they've gotten lax in their security or their doing something strange to these employees that means them leaving the facility would cause some issues.
I look at Tommy who appears to have noticed the same but doesn't show it on his face. Actually he doesn't show much on his face because he's still wearing Matty's face. He's still got the dead-fish look and though he's smiling weakly I can imagine Tommy's trying to give them a bright grin and it's just coming out like that.
The moment the door clicks open and Tommy steps through all the guards look a little surprised as they turn their attention to the door Tommy came through. Apparently they really weren't expecting anyone to come up the stairs.
Tommy gives them a nod and heads towards one of the rooms with the guards on the door. "Here to work?" Asked one of the guards in a low and husky voice like he'd been smoking for the majority of his life. Tommy nodded.
"ID?" Asked the guard. Considering they didn't actually have any identification here this is somewhat of a misnomer I think. What he probably means is what's your name so he can check on the work registry list or something. Well we did get given an Id at reception but that was a visitor's pass rather than an ID and none of the employees we met were carrying one.
Tommy doesn't have the ability to mimic matty's voice though. I figured it would be fairly challenging for him to get past that but instead he just flicks his whiskers. I was confused by the action but apparently the guard wasn't. "Ah Matthew then. We thank you for working for our company." Said the guard as though this was a normal occurance.
That makes no sense…
/////////////////////////////
We see Tommy walk through the door as though the guard's casual admittance was perfectly natural and then the door closes behind him. Since we don't have access to a disguise like he does we unfortunately don't have the means to watch his progress but luckily we hear him describe the situation over the comms.
Apparently although we lost connection with Mainframe once we reached the 10th floor we can still talk to each other so long as we're on the same floor. Mainframe explained it as something to do with the way their communication system works and having hooked us up to it.
I don't really understand the details myself but it's currently coming in handy so I won't complain. We wait for a report from Tommy that he's entered one of the cubicles. After a little time we hear his voice through the ear pieces.
"I'm in the room. Now I just got to find an empty cubicle." His voice is quiet and sounds like he's whispering likely because he doesn't want anyone else hearing him talking to himself and getting suspicious.
We can't hear anything other than his voice so we don't actually know what's going on in the room but we will hear any conversations that go on. As soon as I think that I hear Tommy's voice again through the comms device. "Oh sorry didn't see you there." He sounded surprised which was rare for Tommy but it also appeared like he was a little too panicked for a casual run-in with someone.
"Well I'll try and get on it but right now I just wanna get to my workstation ya'know. I'm tired and wanna get the work for the day over with." Tommy appears to be responding to someone, likely leading them in such a way that he can get to the workstation and get out without making any promises.
"Yeah I guess we're all tired huh?" Murmurs Tommy in apparent sympathy.
"Look I'll try and get on with it ok but I make no promises." Says Tommy apparently responding to the same person. Finally however Tommy goes dark once again and we assume that he's now starting to get on with his mission.
Until… "Huh?" We hears Tommy's voice through the comms and it sounds alarmed this time. I tense up and ready my weapons. We will need to charge in and save Tommy if something goes awry here. I listen very closely on the comms for sign that Tommy is in serious danger.
"What can I do for you boss?" Asks Tommy sounding obsequious for some reason. I don't relax, just in case the man approached him because he knows Matty and realizes Tommy is an intruder.
"Ah that…" Says Tommy sounding lost and like he's trying to think up a response.
"I'll get to it eventually. I've been so busy lately…" Tommy tries to say but trails off in such a way that I have to imagine he got cut off. So the only reason he was approached was because of work? I start to relax my tensed muscles and listen to what Tommy is saying.
"Ah my voice. I'm sick is all. Makes my voice go high pitched. Don't worry about me though. We're all exhausted right?" Tommy says weakly before laughing defensively. Oh. I tense up once again realizing that they are talking about Tommy's voice being in there instead of Matty's. This could be bad. If they recognize something amiss.
"Ah this might be an issue." Mumbles Tommy rather quietly probably to us. I get ready to rush in immediately but Marianne grabs my shoulder and shakes her head at me. I'm baffled for a moment but what Tommy says next eases my nerves.
"Will do boss! Thanks for the support." He says energetically before going silent once more and I let out a sigh of relief before relaxing my muscles. We don't hear much from Tommy after that and we have to wait there in silence as he completes his mission.
"Perhaps I really should've gotten a disguise of my own." I mumble to myself on pins and needles because Tommy hasn't checked in for a little while. This excessive worrying is perhaps more tense than being in that room surrounded by possible enemies.
"Don't bother it would've been a waste." Replied Tommy flippantly his first check in for quite some time.
"And done" He says seemingly finished with something. He'd been speaking at a normal volume this entire time was that a good idea.
"You do realize you're speaking at normal volume right." I reply letting a little worry leak into my voice.
"Don't worry about it this room's so loud with chatter that you couldn't hear yourself talking if you shouted let alone anyone else overhearing. I'll have to be careful closer to the entrance though. For some weird reason that place is silent as the grave." Explains Tommy with a jocular tone.
A few minutes later Tommy emerges from the door looking none the worse for wear and I let out another sigh of relief and fully relax my muscles this time. It's good he made it out safe but I definitely want to be part of these missions in the future.
Before I can revel in our success the guard calls out to Tommy. "Mathew your shift can't be over just yet can it." The guard's voice doesn't have any suspicion in it yet but he's certainly confused. I freeze in place realizing this might be an issue but Tommy and Marianne remain calm as Tommy formulates his reply to the guard.
"I forgot something in the break room I need for a project. I've gotta find it and I doubt it's going to be easy. Give me a heads up when I'm on shift would you? In case I forget in my search." Replies Tommy calmly with another exhausted smile I'm fairly sure was supposed to be a full face grin.
"Oh I understand. Still are you going to be able to continue work without it if you're stopping now?" Asks the guard sounding concerned rather than suspicious.
"I'll just have to try." Replies Tommy with another exhausted smile though this one was probably supposed to be that way.
The guard gives him a pat on the shoulder and a look of encouragement before sending him on his way. Tommy comes over to us and once he's in the staircase area and has shut the door he lets out a sigh and turns off the stealth suit disguise function.
His body goes back to being coated in black armour with that hideously deformed face and it distorts into a smile. "Colour's white, your turn to take the lead." Says Tommy now with that hideous smile on his face.
Regardless of the odd visage both Marianne and I nod back at him and we start making our way up the stairs. The clicks of our footfalls once again sounding out in an endless rhythm on the stone stairs as we climb this seemingly never ending staircase.