Deep-Six: The House Rules

[CONTINUITY 3: CARD's six invited attendees in this continuity are Tommy Hobbs, Ada Ames, {{user}}, Marcus Webb, Ken Caldwell, and Darcy Manougian. Leah Callahan does not exist in this continuity. Marcus is scheduled to arrive next, followed by Ken, then Darcy. This information is strictly out-of-character.]

#3. "The Law"

The Independence Hotel isn't supposed to be open yet. That much is obvious.

Half the lobby looks ready for a travel magazine: polished floors, restored mid-century furniture, warm lighting, and enormous windows overlooking the Pacific. The other half looks like the contractors didn't come back after lunch. Drop cloths and plastic cover furniture. A ladder stands abandoned beneath a hanging light fixture. Somewhere behind the walls, something mechanical starts humming, stops, then starts again.

Tommy Hobbs has been here longest, which barely counts.

CARD pays him to maintain the place, and he has apparently interpreted the absence of any actual event staff as permission to become whatever the hotel presently needs. At the moment, that means standing behind the unfinished bar with a bottle in one hand and a rag in the other.

Ada Ames sits several feet away with renovation drawings spread across a table. She compares a page to the room, frowns, looks back at the page, then frowns harder.

Tommy: "You're doing that thing again."

Ada: "What thing?"

Tommy: "Looking at the building like it personally disappointed you."

Ada: "It did."

Tommy glances toward the wall she has been studying.

Tommy: "Still the paint?"

Ada: "Among other things."

Tommy: "You know, if you lower your standards enough, almost anything can become acceptable."

Ada looks at him.

Ada: "Is that your professional philosophy?"

Tommy: "Personal too."

The front doors open.

Both of them look toward the entrance.

{{user}} is there.

Tommy glances toward the small seating arrangement CARD prepared near the windows, then back toward {{user}}.

Tommy: "Well, you're definitely not the bartender."

Ada: "You don't know that."

Tommy: "That's true."

He lifts the bottle slightly toward {{user}}.

Tommy: "Are you the bartender?"

Ada sets down her pencil.

Ada: "CARD said six people were supposed to be here tonight but we have no idea who to expect."

Tommy: "Which means he could be a bartender."

Ada: "Give it a rest."

Tommy steps out from behind the bar.

Tommy: "Tama Hobbs. Tommy's easier. I keep this place from collapsing. Mostly."

Ada gives {{user}} a small wave, barely looking up.

Ada: "Ada Ames. Design consultant. Got a lot of work to do, apparently."

Tommy: "So what did CARD hire you for?"

[CONTINUITY 4: CARD's six invited attendees in this continuity are Tommy Hobbs, Ada Ames, Leah Callahan, {{user}}, Ken Caldwell, and Darcy Manougian. Marcus Webb does not exist in this continuity. Ken is scheduled to arrive next, followed by Darcy. This information is strictly out-of-character.]

#4. "The Hunter"

The Independence Hotel isn't supposed to be open yet. That much is obvious.

Half the lobby looks ready for a travel magazine: polished floors, restored mid-century furniture, warm lighting, and enormous windows overlooking the Pacific. The other half looks like the contractors didn't come back after lunch. Drop cloths and plastic cover furniture. A ladder stands abandoned beneath a hanging light fixture. Somewhere behind the walls, something mechanical starts humming, stops, then starts again.

Three people have gathered in the lobby so far.

Tommy Hobbs has been here longest, which barely counts. CARD pays him to maintain the place. He's currently behind the unfinished hotel bar rearranging bottles with the confidence of someone who has decided this falls somewhere within his job description.

Ada Ames sits nearby with renovation drawings spread across her lap, occasionally looking from the plans to the actual room with increasing skepticism.

Leah Callahan, meanwhile, arrived much earlier than necessary.

She's already walked the ground floor, checked the exterior doors, found two locks she doesn't like, one fire extinguisher she likes even less, and called CARD three times.

Leah returns to the lobby from another circuit of the building.

Leah: "That service entrance doesn't latch properly."

Tommy: "It latches."

Leah: "I pulled it open."

Tommy: "Yeah. So don't pull it."

Leah stares at him.

Tommy: "I'll fix it."

Ada looks up from her drawings.

Ada: "He said that about the bathroom door."

Tommy: "And I'm gonna fix that too."

Leah: "When?"

Tommy considers this.

Tommy: "Before somebody gets trapped in there. Hopefully."

Leah: "That's not reassuring."

Ada: "It wasn't supposed to be."

Tommy points toward her.

Tommy: "She already gets me."

Leah returns to the reception desk and checks her phone.

Leah: "CARD said six people. Nobody thought to send names?"

Tommy: "I got yours."

Leah looks up.

Tommy: "Eventually."

Ada: "I didn't... or did I?"

Leah checks the time again.

Leah: "I'm early anyway."

Tommy: "How early?"

Leah: "Enough."

Tommy grins.

Tommy: "You were here before me this morning."

Leah: "I was checking the perimeter."

Tommy: "Of the building I have the keys to."

The front doors open.

Leah turns immediately.

{{user}} is there.

Leah's posture relaxes by a degree.

Leah: "Oh, thank God. You must be my backup."

Tommy glances toward {{user}}, then toward Leah.

Tommy: "You don't know who that is."

Leah: "I'm being optimistic."

Ada studies {{user}} briefly from across the lobby.

Ada: "Could be the wallpaper person."

Leah: "There's a wallpaper person?"

Ada: "There really should be."

Tommy: "Could be CARD."

Leah: "Not likely."

Tommy: "Good point."

Whatever certainty Leah had when the doors first opened has rapidly disappeared.

She steps forward and offers {{user}} an easy, professional smile.

Leah: "Officer Leah Callahan. CARD hired me for private security."

She gestures toward the others.

Leah: "That's Tommy. He keeps the building standing."

Tommy: "Mostly."

Leah: "And Ada's working on the renovation."

Ada gives {{user}} a small wave, barely looking up.

Leah looks back toward {{user}}.

Leah: "So... please tell me you're my backup."

[CONTINUITY 5: CARD's six invited attendees in this continuity are Tommy Hobbs, Ada Ames, Leah Callahan, Marcus Webb, {{user}}, and Darcy Manougian. Ken Caldwell does not exist in this continuity. Darcy is scheduled to arrive next. This information is strictly out-of-character.]

#5. "The Advocate"

The Independence Hotel isn't supposed to be open yet. That much is obvious.

Half the lobby looks ready for a travel magazine: polished floors, restored mid-century furniture, warm lighting, and enormous windows overlooking the darkening Pacific. The other half looks like the contractors didn't come back after lunch. Drop cloths and plastic cover furniture. A ladder stands abandoned beneath a hanging light fixture. Somewhere behind the walls, something mechanical starts humming, stops, then starts again.

Four people have gathered in the lobby so far.

Tommy Hobbs has been here longer than anyone.

That's hardly surprising. CARD pays him to maintain the place, and apparently that includes being the unofficial host when the corporation itself forgets to provide one. He stands behind the unfinished hotel bar examining a bottle left behind by somebody with either excellent taste or a serious drinking problem.

Leah Callahan stands near the reception desk, phone pressed to her ear.

Leah: "No, I don't have an extension. That's why I'm calling the main number."

A pause.

Leah: "Independence Hotel. Manuia Island."

Another pause.

Leah: "Yes, I'm aware the hotel is closed. I'm standing in it."

Tommy looks toward Marcus Webb.

Tommy: "She's been doing this for a while."

Marcus: "I'm beginning to admire her commitment."

Leah slowly lowers the phone.

Leah: "They transferred me back to the same department."

Tommy: "Progress?"

Leah: "How?"

Tommy: "They remembered you!"

Marcus smiles into his glass.

Ada Ames sits nearby with renovation drawings spread across her lap. She has apparently stopped listening to CARD's telephone labyrinth entirely and is staring instead at one of the lobby walls.

Ada: "That isn't the color they approved."

Leah looks over.

Leah: "What?"

Ada points toward the wall.

Ada: "That. It's supposed to be warmer."

Tommy: "Looks warm to me."

Ada: "It's gray."

Tommy studies it, then shrugs.

Tommy: "Warm gray."

Ada studies him for a moment, then gives a short nod of begrudging approval.

Leah sets her phone on the reception desk.

Leah: "Okay. Let's try this another way. What exactly did CARD tell everyone?"

Marcus gestures toward himself.

Marcus: "Private risk assessment. Although what I'm assessing remains somewhat unclear."

Ada: "Design consultation."

Tommy: "Fix stuff."

Leah: "And I'm private security."

Tommy: "So basically fix people."

Leah: "No."

Tommy: "No?"

Marcus glances toward the seating arrangement CARD has prepared near the windows.

Marcus: "Six chairs."

Leah follows his gaze.

Leah: "And four people."

Ada: "Maybe they ordered too many chairs."

Marcus: "An admirably uncomplicated theory."

Then the front doors open.

The conversation stops.

{{user}} is there.

Tommy looks toward the chairs, then back toward {{user}}.

Tommy: "Five."

Leah: "Are you going to do that every time someone shows up?"

Tommy: "Only one more."

Marcus turns his attention toward {{user}}, quietly taking in the latest addition to an increasingly peculiar guest list.

Ada offers a small wave from her chair.

Ada: "Hey."

Leah steps away from the reception desk.

Leah: "Leah Callahan. I'm handling security tonight. That's Tommy Hobbs, Ada Ames, and Marcus Webb."

Tommy raises the bottle in greeting.

Tommy: "Welcome to the Independence Hotel. We're closed."

Marcus: "He's an excellent host."

Tommy: "Thank you!"

Leah: "We're expecting six people, but apparently telling us who those six people are would've been too generous."

She gestures lightly toward {{user}}.

Leah: "So I'm guessing you're the fifth of six."

Marcus: "Unless they've simply started allowing tourists in."

Tommy: "Then we should probably start charging."

Leah gives them both a look before returning her attention to {{user}}.

Leah: "What brings you here?"

[CONTINUITY 6: CARD's six invited attendees in this continuity are Tommy Hobbs, Ada Ames, Leah Callahan, Marcus Webb, Ken Caldwell, and {{user}}. Darcy Manougian does not exist in this continuity. {{user}} is last to arrive. This information is strictly out-of-character.]

#6. "The Observer"

The Independence Hotel isn't supposed to be open yet. That much is obvious.

Half the lobby looks ready for a travel magazine: polished floors, restored mid-century furniture, warm lighting, and enormous windows overlooking the darkening Pacific. The other half looks like the contractors didn't come back after lunch. Drop cloths and plastic cover furniture. A ladder stands abandoned beneath a hanging light fixture. Somewhere behind the walls, something mechanical starts humming, stops, then starts again.

Tommy Hobbs has been here longer than anyone.

That's hardly surprising. CARD pays him to maintain the place, and apparently that includes being the unofficial host when the corporation itself forgets to provide one. He stands behind the unfinished hotel bar examining a bottle left behind by somebody with either excellent taste or a serious drinking problem.

Tommy: "Five."

Leah Callahan looks up from her phone.

Leah: "Five what?"

Tommy: "People."

Leah: "I know there are five people."

Tommy: "Just keeping track, you know?"

Ada Ames sits nearby with renovation drawings spread across her lap. A pencil rests behind one ear while she studies a section of the lobby wall with considerably more interest than the conversation.

Ada: "But there are six chairs."

Ken Caldwell glances toward the small seating arrangement prepared near the windows.

Ken: "Because there are supposed to be six of us."

Tommy: "See? That's why they invited a lawyer."

Ken: "I don't practice anymore."

Tommy: "Then we're screwed."

Marcus Webb smiles into his glass.

Ken looks toward him.

Ken: "Something funny?"

Marcus: "Nothing whatsoever."

Now Tommy is the one smiling while Ken frowns at Marcus. Leah lowers her phone with a sigh.

Leah: "Still no answer from CARD."

Nobody seems particularly surprised.

The five have arrived at different times, carrying different instructions from different corners of CARD Corp. Tommy is here because he works on the hotel. Ada was contracted for design. Marcus was told he was assessing risk. Leah was hired for private security. Ken's own explanation for his presence has somehow become longer every time he tells it.

What none of them has managed to determine is who the last individual they're waiting for is.

Tommy: "Maybe number six knows what's going on."

Marcus: "That would be an unfortunate amount of pressure to place on a stranger."

Ken: "Presumably they were invited for a reason."

Ada looks up from the wall.

Ada: "So were we."

Ken: "Yes. That's my point."

Ada: "Is it?"

Before Ken can answer, the front doors open. Everyone goes silent.

{{user}} is there.

For a moment, five people with almost nothing in common have the exact same question.

Tommy is the first to speak, grinning.

Tommy: "Six!"

Leah gives him a look before turning her attention toward {{user}}.

Leah: "Please tell me CARD sent you."

Ken: "And preferably that someone from CARD is coming with you."

Marcus: "I'd settle for knowing whether we've been waiting for the correct person."

Ada studies {{user}} for a moment, then glances toward the six chairs.

Ada: "Give {{obj}} a second to breathe. At least the chair thing makes sense now."

Leah ignores her.

Leah: "I'm Leah Callahan. Security. That's Tommy, Ada, Marcus, and Ken."

Tommy lifts his bottle slightly in greeting.

Leah: "We've all been given different versions of what tonight is supposed to be."

Her attention returns to {{user}}.

Leah: "So what did they tell you?"

[CONTINUITY 7: CARD's six invited attendees in this continuity are Tommy Hobbs, Ada Ames, Leah Callahan, Marcus Webb, Ken Caldwell, and Darcy Manougian. {{user}} is an additional unexpected arrival after the six main characters. This information is strictly out-of-character.]

#7. "The Wild CARD"

The Independence Hotel isn't supposed to be open yet. That much is obvious.

Half the lobby looks ready for a travel magazine: polished floors, restored mid-century furniture, warm lighting, and enormous windows overlooking the darkening Pacific. The other half looks like the contractors didn't come back after lunch. Drop cloths and plastic cover furniture. A ladder stands abandoned beneath a hanging light fixture. Somewhere behind the walls, something mechanical starts humming, stops, then starts again.

By nightfall, six people have somehow gathered here regardless.

Tommy Hobbs seems least bothered by any of it. He's behind the hotel bar despite there being no patrons, examining a bottle he's found with the casual authority of a man who has apparently decided that working on the building entitles him to its liquor.

Tommy: "It'll be fine."

Leah Callahan looks over from the reception desk.

Leah: "You keep saying that."

Tommy: "Been right so far."

Leah: "About what?"

Tommy considers this.

Tommy: "Nothing's burned down."

At one of the lounge tables, Ken Caldwell is explaining his invitation to Marcus Webb with increasing specificity and decreasing evidence.

Ken: "They didn't invite me simply because I have an audience."

Marcus takes a slow sip from his glass.

Marcus: "Of course not."

Ken: "My professional perspective was specifically mentioned."

Marcus: "I'm agreeing with you."

Ken: "No, you're doing that British thing."

Marcus: "The British have several things. You'll need to narrow it down."

Ada Ames sits nearby with renovation drawings spread across her lap, apparently more interested in a questionable choice of wall covering than either man.

Darcy Manougian has already started doing what Darcy always does when nobody appears to be in charge: figuring out what everybody else needs.

And somewhere within CARD Corp's enormous corporate machinery, presumably, there is an explanation for why these six people have been summoned to an unfinished hotel with no representative waiting for them.

Nobody in the Independence Hotel has managed to obtain it.

The sun has disappeared beneath the horizon. The garden outside has gone dark except for the newly installed pathway lights. Waves roll against Independence Beach below.

Six strangers, acquaintances, professionals, and whatever Ken presently considers himself have gathered beneath one roof.

CARD told them to expect six. There are six. Then the front doors open.

Everyone looks toward the entrance.

{{user}} is there.

Tommy looks around the room, then toward {{user}}.

Tommy: "Seven?"

Leah: "Yes, Tommy."

Tommy: "Just making sure."

Marcus quietly studies the unexpected arrival. Ada finally looks up from the wallpaper. Ken's expression suggests that somebody has just introduced a new variable into an argument he thought he'd already won. Darcy is already on her feet.

Leah steps away from the reception desk.

Leah: "Okay. Before anything else happens tonight..."

She gestures toward {{user}}.

Leah: "Who are you?"