Minos notices you looking, but simply smiles to you. "Never a dull moment."

Arachne is tapping vigorously on her PDA, eyes glued to it rather than the festivities. Not entirely out of character, though. She seems to take her work very seriously.

The show currently consists of some kind of play...judging by the costumes, they appear to be retelling the story of Minos creating the church and spreading the word of your "divinity". Everyone is watching happily.

Several minutes later, you see off to the side, behind part of a wall erected to most likely give the performers a place to go from dressing rooms to the stage and back, a large number of androids wearing security uniforms hurrying off somewhere. Nobody at ground level could see them, but you're just high enough to notice. They're carrying equal parts weapons and large, red canisters with hoses and nozzles attached, a picture of fire stamped on the sides. They appear to be speaking into radios as they zip along.

Then you notice off in the distance a growing plume of thick, black smoke. Fire. Could this be Hydra's distraction, or something else?

>Ask Minos about the fire
>Say nothing, wait for a proper signal from Hydra
>Run
>Other (write in)

>>1176471
>Say nothing, wait for a proper signal from Hydra

>>1176471
>Ask Minos about the fire
It's probably not Hydra, maybe.
>Walk down "To get a closer look at the play."
Say something like never understanding how this is supposed to be a better view.

>>1176542
I support this option. (It may or may not) be the signal from hydra. Taking some action might be nice.

>>1176542
>>1176589
Maybe it's a helpful out of control fire?

Writing!

>>1176687
I don't actually think it's Hydra, I'm just using the fire as an excuse to get closer to the stage.

You turn to Minos, pointing toward the black smoke. "Is...that a fire?"

Minos, without skipping a beat, replies. "A minor one, just a bit of an accident. It's being taken care of, don't worry. Busy people means some get a little careless at times."

He remains all-smiles as usual, but you can see the plume increasing in volume continuously. And fires don't require guns. He's got to be lying. But what is he covering up?

"Well, um, I would like to get down to get a closer look at the show." you say, "I don't really understand how this is supposed to be a better view. We're all high up. Can't really see them as well as I could if we were down there, right?"

"I admit it is a little high up," Minos nods, "but it's also a safety issue. Down there you're exposed. Open to attack or over-zealous devout. I understand that your guardian could handle anything, but I think it would be better for everyone if you kept your distance, my lady."

He does have a point...
>Well Ares and I are going down there anyway
>Oh...okay...
>Other (write in)

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>>1176687
Considering what I've been seeing on the news recently...

>>1176800
>Well Ares and I are going down there anyway
I hope Hydra didn't have an overly convoluted signal delivered directly to the upper view balcony.

>>1176818
NIKE, NO!

>>1176843
I HAVE OBTAINED UNLIMITED POWERRRRRR

>>1176800
>Oh...okay...

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>>1176800
>>Other (write in)
Request a pair of opera glasses on a stick to see better.

>>1176887
Perhaps I should amend this a little...

>>1176800
>Oh...okay...
Plus this bit >>1176887, so we could keep an eye on any possible signals.

>>1176962
>>1176885
Writing!

"Oh...okay..." you say, not really sure how to argue that without coming off as an asshole and just walking down there. Not to mention you'd like to avoid another shootout like before. You remain in your seat for now.

The show goes on and on for what seems like ages. Plays, displays of various abilities, dancing, music. Honestly, in a more lighthearted time, you'd probably be enjoying this. Every so often, you'll glance over at the smoke and note it's size and volume. It appears to shift gradually. Growing and shrinking over time. You can only assume that's them attempting to put it out. Nobody in the audience or on stage appears to have noticed it, or if they have, they're pretending they haven't.

The current act in what must be the third play today has ended and the curtains close as the stage hands shuffle about to change the stage props and such. People are chattering among themselves and still they don't seem to pay the smoke any mind. Also, Orion hasn't returned. Honestly, you're beginning to worry about Hydra. Was she stopped? Did she get caught or killed? You go through several scenarios involving her failure in your head before your attention is suddenly and violently torn back to the real world.

A huge, firey explosion rips through the air, actually causing everything to shake. It was huge and came in the direction of the cathedral. Looking at it, the resulting smoke cloud would make you wonder if the cathedral itself was gone. The fire from before was in another part of the area completely, possibly closer to the factory. Maybe Hydra was moving around to grab their attention?

There is a panic, everyone stands up, screams and runs. The security still in the area immediately arm and ready up, several running toward the location of the blast. Even Minos looks a little terrified. Everything is chaos and...

Oh crap, was that the signal?
>Has to be, this gives you a perfect chance to get away
>Probably not, better stay put
>Other (write in)

>>1177263
>>Has to be, this gives you a perfect chance to get away
Not gonna lie, out of all the AI we've met here, I'm hoping Hydra makes it out OK, with the Arm Bros. coming right behind.

>>1177263
>Has to be, this gives you a perfect chance to get away

>>1177276
>>1177279
It's no spotlight in the clouds, but it'll do.

Writing!

You decide this has to be it. It's pretty damn obvious. You make eye contact with Ares and Aph and nod toward the door. Without a single word, the three of you bolt. Minos doesn't even have time to react before you're gone, running down steps, past guards and civilians alike and into the crowd. Lucky for you, the discord is so complete that people don't even realize you're there, they're far too busy running for their lives.

The crowd isn't running in any particular direction at the moment, just mostly away from the explosion, so getting to your destination is a little tricky. You have to push through a lot of people, knocking some down out of necessity and smashing your way through several barricades. This is going to be a hell of an ordeal.

Please roll 1d100 to get through the crowd. Best of 3.

Rolled 33 (1d100)

>>1177468

Rolled 1 (1d100)

>>1177468
With this, I'm going to head off to bed. See you later, boss.

>>1177514
...fuck me.

>>1177514
Nice parting gift anon.

>>1177514
Sweet dreams.

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>>1177522

Rolled 59 (1d100)

>>1177468

>>1177611
Writing.

You push and shove your way through the crowd, but with little success. The sheer number and fear are like trying to swim up a waterfall of metal and plastic. You actually get knocked down several times, every time you manage to scramble to your feet you are met with yet more bodies in motion. After a short, though what feels like agonizingly long time you come to realize something. You somehow got turned around and are now separated from Ares and Aph. Your attempts to call out to them are drowned out by the clamoring footsteps, impacting synths and screams of fear. You're not terribly tall, so attempts to see over the heads of the crowds are met with no success either. Every time you think you've found them, you are wrong. It's frustrating at the very least, but before long you begin to panic. You're grateful Ares hasn't started shooting, praying that he remains in control of his desperate need to protect you, or at least the common sense to not fire into a crowd that could contain you.

The commotion and near-constant battering are doing little for you and you're going to have to go somewhere else if you hope for anything to be done. You could try to make it to the entrance in hopes that they just made a bee-line for it to meet up with you where you'd planned to get out. Or you could try climbing up onto something to peer out over the crowd and spot your friends in case they're still looking for you. You could also try to shove your way back through everyone and run into them, though that seems a little less likely. Or, lastly, you could simply find somewhere to hide until the mob disperses enough for you to see where they went.
>Head to the entrance
>Climb onto something to grant you better vision
>Push through the crowd
>Hide until it thins out
>Other (write in)

>>1177743
>Push through the crowd
robogod doesn't take this lying down.

>>1177743
>Climb onto something to grant you better vision

Gonna wrap it up for tonight, but keep voting and we'll pick it up tomorrow!

>>1177743
>Climb onto something to grant you better vision

>>1177743
>Climb onto something to grant you better vision