[There's a soft but grating white noise of electronic feedback, not quite static and not quite the shrill whine of interference.

It slinks in under whatever other conversations you're holding, persistant through the night even when headsets are left on bedside tables.

It continues, until it gradually takes on the rhythm of breathing.

And then, gradually, just as your ears accustom to the background noise, it becomes a thin female voice, faint and frantic, a haunted whisper over the network.]

[At first, Eggman was hunting for a power source for robot-making. But now that the temperature is dropping, survival for everyone is fast becoming a high priority, and so he was hoping to make a more reliable generator than Juiced-up-kun, glowing trees, and fireballs generated by deities.]

[By powering it with fish.]

[This is precisely why he is at the beach, trying to catch fish with a lure modified to reduce the damage done to the animals. To his side rests a simple fish tank filled with salt water and nothing else, even though he is technically getting several hits on his line.]

[The downside of his safe lure is that it also makes it easier for the dolphins to enjoy this exciting new snack time game. As a result, he is getting more and more frustrated every time, especially when the fish ALMOST make it to shore... only for a dolphin to wiggle up, grab it, and flop back away into the depths.]

Stop eating my batteries!

[His only response is dolphin laughter.]

I’m alive... My wounds--huh, I must have slept a few days.

[He always sleeps to heal himself, after all. It's Zoro magic. There is a pause, some shuffling, and the melodious tinkle of his earrings as he gets up and moves around.]

It’s really dark.. Hm? WHERE THE HELL ARE MY SWORDS?!?!

Shit..!! [Thump – he walked into a side of the clocktower.] Who put the wall there?

[If there was an obstacle that way, of course that means he’ll just turn around and walk--right off the edge.]

UWAAHAHAAA--!! WHERE DID YOU SEND ME, YOU BASTARD!!

[Hear a delightful WHUMP! when the swordsman meets the ground. Zoro is the indestructible cockroach of the One Piece world, and he’s fallen higher distances canonly, so he’s fiiiine. A little woozy and scratched, but that’s not going to keep him from scowling and getting back up. He hasn’t even noticed the communicator (which thankfully is still in one piece haha one piece) on his head.]

What the hell’s goin’ on!

[ Terminal had trouble sleeping the night before, and so he is still wearing his make-up. Shortly after the Sentience went down, Terminal feared that something had gone wrong with Lain, however didn't act at the time trusting in her ability to fix any problems. In the morning when there was a lack of a message from Sentience, Terminal checked his communicator and sent a message to Lain & Dr. Eggman. ]

Dr. Eggman, please meet me at Lain's dorm room. I fear something bad may have happened. Lain, if you are there please reply, did something go wrong with out project?

[ Note: This base post has been edited to due to a misunderstanding about the time Sentience went down. ]

[ OOC: This first part is filtered strictly for Dr. Eggman, but Lain will be brought in later. ]

Dr. Eggman, I need to speak to you about a few things.

So late already. I didn't think I'd be....napping, for so long. I must have...lost track of time.

[Lain sounds..drained, vacant, her voice vaguely troubled and...off, because she doesn't usually talk much. There''s an anxious, soft mechanical tapping noise in the background]

I have a...a project, that somebody wants me to do.  I can't say who or what it is, but....I'm not sure I should go any further with it.

I really don't know if it's okay to decide anything needs fixing. Or if it's right for any of us to say we should be the ones to do it.

Is it...wrong, to think a place like this could- should change?

Good morning, criminals! It is the thirty-sixth day of the third generation today, and it will be exceptionally clear and crisp. The pools are heated, so you are encouraged to continue enjoying them even as the weather chills.

As I am sure most of you have likely noticed, the trial and integration for the Engineers was successful, and they have now joined you here. There is no cause for alarm. I repeat: no cause for alarm. They were brought here under the same circumstances you all have been.

Now that that is out of the way, my processes will in large part be occupied by climatology, so I may not have maximum capacity to chat with you all.

[A gravelly voice belonging to a man in his mid-to-late thirties comes in over the network, sounding positively delighted and full of confidence.] O~hohoho! An artificial intelligence named Sentience? Perfect! You already know my name, but it only seems proper to introduce myself! I am Doctor Eggman, the world's greatest scientific genius! I do look forward to getting... acquainted with you.

[Much more subdued, but still trying to sound cordial.] ... But it's a shame to put a doctor to work cleaning toilets, when I'm far better suited for intellectual pursuits. Perhaps you could reconsider?