[Video]

[forgetbeam]

Alright, everyone! There has been a lot of talk about statues beneath the school and this recent infestation, so listen to this! I believe the two are connected!

[That's presumptuous...]

After that small earthquake the other week, Hajime Tanaka and I both fell into underground caverns, and we saw those same strange bugs bring a statue to life! It attacked us, but we made it out in one piece! But now the bugs are up here... they seem harmless on their own, but don't let your guard down!

There you have it. Is that information useful to anybody at all?

[Useful for making it clear who pissed the bugs off enough for them to come to the surface, maybe.]

Comments

[princessninja]

No, it isn't your fault. I led a team down to the bunkers sometime at the end of March. It's possible we disturbed them.

[forgetbeam]

Of course it--

[...Oh shit. IT'S TOTALLY THEIR FAULT. Probably.]

H..Hmm...

What were you doing down there in the first place?

[princessninja]

Looking for the room of figurines.

[trustycrowbar]

Those bugs bring the statues to LIFE?

[What in the slimy purple-hued hell, son?!]

How? Can you describe the process beyond that?

[forgetbeam]

They swarmed and covered it, and pulled away to form a moving, hostile version of whoever it was the statue was meant to be of. It could create fireballs and jump incredibly high! That can't be normal!

[trustycrowbar]

Well ah, technically THAT depends on who the statue was modeled after.

[Fireballs and high-jumping are the norm rather than the exception around here.]

But if those bugs are capable of imparting something into these statues, then we have to figure out what the hell--

Wait. Why are these bugs up HERE then? If, on the remote chance these things have collective sentience, then they would be driven to adopt the statues to increase their capabilities. If they're running on instinct, then they obviously have an impulse to do it for defense, if you saw it happen! Either way, they benefit from being near the statues... why aren't the bugs down below? What the hell's making them migrate?

[video]

[hawkhearsyou]

Yes. The bit about them animating statues... That is new information. Do you know anything further on that subject?

[forgetbeam]

Well, they were able to shoot fire and jump high... And fighting back enough made them lose the form and go back into hiding! That's all I know!

[hawkhearsyou]

...So this was demonstrated strictly through the possession of the statue?

[thereyouare]

[ Vivian pops in. ]

Taka. [ She smiles. ]

You've met my friends?

[ oh jesus here we go ]

[forgetbeam]

Vivi! You... befriended them?

[thereyouare]

Sometimes they would light my way in my old room. Uhm, and I sing them to sleep sometimes. They're nice.

Voice

[inspirethefire]

If they are feeding off electricity, perhaps they are trying to gather power for something.

vidya on his end, HAJEEMAY

[forgetbeam]

Ah! I get it now! It's so obvious!

We just tired them out, and they're just recovering from that. when they feel fine again, they'll go right back underground! It's nothing to worry about after all, ha ha ha!

Hiding his gross lavaface

[inspirethefire]

That... could be it.

Or, since they prefer darkness, they could be trying to take out our sources of light to allow further infestation.

[pitticus]

So these purple puffbugs can possess things?

[forgetbeam]

As far as I know, it's only the statues! But they could take over other things! That's right! That's why we need to be careful!

[HE WONDERS ABOUT THE FOUNTAIN...]

[text]

[voltecpower]

Bugs. Do you mean those glowing purple things that won't leave me alone?

I understand the bugs absorb electricity. Are they transferring that energy to the statue when it starts to move on its own? Is it possible that the statue was actually some kind of highly advanced automaton?

And why do we have such deep bunkers under this school? Is this a high risk area for tornadoes or nuclear attack?

[forgetbeam]

I don't think that was the case. It dissolved when we fought it! A regular machine wouldn't do that!

I don't know what those bunkers are for, but they seem ancient and one with the earth itself! It would be good to do some research into the school's history to see what we can find!

[totheno1]

Do we know who placed the statues there?

[forgetbeam]

Not at all! It's disturbing, especially if they're of people who were here not long ago!

[generallyfussy]

Statues?! To life?! What was the statue of?

[forgetbeam]

It was a high-jumping short man with a mustache! But nobody seems to know who he is!

[SURELY GENNY COULD NOT FIND THAT FAMILIAR.]

[punchvolcanoes]

For things in the ground, they sure burn reeeeal nice. It's kinda pretty satisfyin'.

So we keep them away from the statues then, is that it?

[forgetbeam]

Statues and sources of electricity! Is it really right to be killing them, though? If they're sentient...