⇨ POLARIS 2.0

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: Days 110 - 114
Where: Polaris
What: After a mysterious explosion shakes the station, the staff of Polaris struggle to maintain order while the test subjects fight for freedom with the aid of hidden allies. Productivity info is here.
Warnings: More graphic experimentation.

THEORY & CONCLUSION↴ At the midnight between Day 109 and Day 110, something happens. For most people, it won't be clear what - yet, they are shaken by it just the same. Violent tremors appear out of nowhere, rattling the entirety of the Polar station, violent enough to throw sleeping test subjects off their bunks. The source is unclear, but there is a sudden flurry of activity from staff as power flickers and is lost in various parts of the facility. Subjects, for the most part, will be left to their cells while they try to sort things out. The next morning, the staff are late picking people up. It's more like 6:30AM than the usual 6AM when they arrive to take people to the farm, which is a bit of tardiness that is entirely without precedent. Any questions about the incident the previous night will be waved off with the explanation of 'technical difficulties' that have been 'resolved.' ► DELTA: The three new Deltas will be left in their cells for even longer, waiting to be picked up, instructed that they would be escorted elsewhere instead of to the farm. Around 6:45AM some unfamiliar technicians will arrive and tell them that they are here to begin their processing into Delta. They are led into a previously untouched section of the station, where they are invited into a somewhat more intimate medical room to be asked some cursory questions and given a check up. Then, their suits will be removed, and they will be provided with their new uniforms, which they can apply like normal clothes. Delta life begins there. There will be a top level for the initial parts of their processing to be played out. Ultimately, however, they will end up being given a tour of the new Delta facilities, which amounts to a waterfront area that borders the new apartments they'll be staying in, as well a small supply shop where they can pick up an allotted amount of 'amenities' per day, based on their level of productivity and other achievements. This includes luxury items like food, pleasant smelling soaps, or other hygiene related tools. There are even small things like decorations or pictures of other places available, though they are fairly expensive. The first day will mostly involve the processing, a tour, and some basic training regarding the new tools they will be using, such as the mandatory visors and basic computer access. The next day, observation shifts in the farm will start, as will participation in trials. ► FARMING: The Farm will continue as normal, though it seems like there are fewer staff observing it at the moment. The ones that are there seem a little bit more tense than usual. Power is still down in some places, but the Farm is thankfully still active. Sometimes the productivity turn-in scanners might be a bit glitchy, so try not to panic if it measures fewer points than you're due. ► TRIALS: Trials are continuing as projected, though with the most broad of experiments already under way, they may be more selective. If you have an idea for a trial you can be sure to share it with the staff, and they will take it under advisement! Any information you want to provide is encouraged, they will say, especially if it involves notable traits about you or your fellow test subjects - or perhaps behavioral patterns you've noticed. You might even be rewarded!

Comments

[chronosynthesis]

He nods once. It's better than nothing. "Can you, perhaps, send it out before they lock you into your cell for the night? We need some idea of the layout before we go running off into it. If we can find where they are keeping out confiscated equipment, my bloodstone is among it... and of course there is the matter of finding Ignatius."

Is this maybe a tall order? Sure, but sometimes you have to reach high and catch whatever branch you manage on the way down.

He looks up suddenly. "The dimension the Ringmaster created, for the revival eggs... can you access it now?"

[atouts]

Childermass does not to the scouting plan. He can do that much simply enough but when Syrlya asks about the dimension, well, it gives him pause. He looks uncertain, though what else can they do? Not try to retrieve their supplies?

"It may be too obvious of spell to try with," he points out, cautioning him, "But I can indeed try. Stand back some. Get ready to run if it triggers anything."

And so he'll hold his hand out and, again, focus on a spell, muttering it under his breath as he tries to bring the egg dimension's door open.

[atouts]

What about the egg dimension portal spell?

[npcarnival]

Before the machine proceeds, the technician will come over and remove Yukio's glasses. Through the visor, he won't need them. Then, the procedure commences.

"You will spend part of each day observing Test Group 700 in the Farm, but it is expected that you will not fraternize with them. Talking with subjects about anything that isn't absolutely required is against protocol. Do not accept bargains or deals offered by subjects. If a subject comes to you with an offer, listen to what is said, and then leave to report to a Beta immediately."

"Do not taunt, insult, or needlessly agitate subjects. It is not your purpose to stimulate them. Interfering with the subject socially adds undesired variables to data acquisition. Once your initiation is complete, you will be sharing new living spaces with each other. Delta-701 and Delta-703 will be together. Delta-702 and Delta-704 will be together. Delta-701 and 702 will be trained with a focus on research. Delta-703 and 704 will be trained with a focus on security."

Finally, Yukio's visor will be implanted, and he will be signaled to stand.

[npcarnival]

Yes, that will work, but only for those with 30% magical return. Also, nobody will be able to stay inside of the dimension.

[atouts]

Got it. EDIT: but can the people with 30% can retrieve items?

[npcarnival]

Yeah, they just can't hang out inside of the egg dimension for long, so they have to grab the thing and get out. Basically the key factor is you can't hide people in there (which I already suggested people shouldn't, but this is just more of a no-no than before, even.)

[bananaspeedrider]

Hm... well even if they found it, they'd have to get the whatever's in there back to the rest of us if they can't use it themselves right?

[The entire situation is a challenging conundrum as far as he can see.]

[chronosynthesis]

Well, no risk no reward. Luckily, it does work--at least until Syrlya tries to stick his hand in like he's going to enter, and finds that he can't.

Hm. "... Does it respond to you attempting to enter it at all?" Maybe since it's small amounts of magic, only the person opening it can get in?

[atouts]

Childermass watches Syrlya try, then shrugs and moves to stick his own hand in. It passes through the portal with some small effort needed but it does go through, which is the important part.

"Hm. That would seem to be the way of it," he confirms Syrlya's guess, glancing back over at him. "I should be able to retrieve items from it, sure enough, but here and now likely isn't the best time for that, not unless you know you can hide something in the farm safely."

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya's going to assume that hypothesis is right. He leans back a little, hand to his chin as he regards it.

"No, not now--you can close it, before they have reason to notice." Mentally he reviews what he remembers to be in there, besides eggs. Nothing that would immediately break them out, but--there's still equipment they could use when the time is right.

"But it is good to know it works, even that much." He glances aside. "Be careful not to drop in rank yourself, Childermass. I don't know what's happened to Lambert, but we cannot lose what little mobility we have before we can act."

[atouts]

He'll dismiss the portal with a wave of his hand, the gate closing immediately. It's when Syrlya brings up a name directly that Childermass seems to hesitate again, brow furrowing as he thinks, searching his scattered memories for some meaning to attach to it.

"I'll... try," he says, slowly, before adding, "Which one is Lambert again? I feel as though I should know."

[prazerbutterfly]

It takes every ounce of his control not to reach up and touch anything. He can do that later, with light poking instead of intense grabbing, when he's mostly alone. Having it somewhat explained on its use and abilities does soothe his agitated nerves. Like this, it is a little easier to hide his emotions and he'll straighten himself out and lower his hands back to his sides.

Listening attentively to the rules, he takes them all in. Already he can see himself developing a migraine by the time this is over. The carnival was a reckless bunch and Tyki would be the first to turn someone in because they had just of a reckless plans or arrived at Delta without a real plan. He makes mental notes to stay away from Strange and anyone else in that category.

"Understood," he finally speaks, confirming he understands and acknowledges the instruction. He's found his voice, at least for a little while, and complies as calmly as he can. He might not like it but he has a job to do.

[whattaprick]

“They’re keeping me in a holding cell off the medical bay. Makes it easier to keep an eye on me after surgery,” Lambert explains. “Nowhere new, and as far as I know I’m the only Theta they’re keeping there right now. Though I did see...”

He looks around. But not with the air of someone worrying about surveillance, but someone looking for someone else to demonstrate it with. He finds it when he sees more fallen vegetables and some discarded tools, and he ... starts trying to arrange them in the dirt?

[hippocarnival]

Yeah. [Yuya wrinkles his nose.] But when we get out of here, we won't leave any of it behind anyway.

[So now it's 'when' they get out of here, and not 'if'. That's a little more hopeful than many other times.]

[chronosynthesis]

"... Lambert. The Nightrider." The fuck. "Tall, gold eyes, horns like a ram. Do you remember?"

He thought it was just the past week missing. He remembered the dimension. Did he forget people, too?

[atouts]

The Nightrider seems to ring a bell since Childermass shows a much more immediate understanding of that name and the description both.

"I remember a man like that, yes. We spent most of our time together back in bathhouses..." Which makes him seem important, somehow, some way, but he won't dwell upon it. "I'm sorry. Names have been tricky. I know you're a part of the militia and that we've spoken enough times before but I can't pin a name down."

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya stops as Lambert does, drifting his gaze down as he works to... arrange the vegetables.

He doesn't ask what he's doing, but once he stops Syrlya just proceeds to stare at him expectantly for an explanation.

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya's expression twists with concern. Just what the hell happened to Childermass?

"I am Syrlya. Does hearing that bring anything back to mind?"

[whattaprick]

Lambert shrugs, smiling wryly.

“My plans always mess up,” he says, simply. “Yours don’t. You just never tell me about them. But you always have one.”

He pauses, continuing— “You’ve seen the ranks in this place, right? You’re an Eta, like I was. Theta’s the level under that. Have you been working?”

[atouts]

OKAY. The night of 110, he'll be sending a little construct — tiny and mouse-like this time — out into the wilds that is their sector in between leaving the farm and lockdown. It can hide in the shadows and wait until he's settled and able to project his senses out to it and begin scouting.

[hippocarnival]

General status check: from the farm, to hallways, to trial rooms, to cells, how many travel-sized reflections are visible or available? Either in liquid or solid forms.

[whattaprick]

Lambert manages not to swear out loud, but he sure is thinking it.

“And Gongenzaka isn’t doing anything about this?” he grumbles. Does she even know who Gon is? He assumes she must, since anyone who spends time with Yuya can’t avoid it.

[whattaprick]

“This was on one of the screens.” Lambert plops a roundish fae apple in the middle of everything, pointing at it. “This was blinking red, in the center ... and there was a green dot here that wasn’t moving.” He’ll use a leaf to mark the spot, then look up at Syrlya.

[bananaspeedrider]

Course not.

[At this moment it's a reasonable guess that Yugo is thinking about his own dragon, for obvious reasons that don't need to be spoken aloud.]

So if you have some kind of idea or something else up your sleeve...

[Or someone else to bring into their plotting because there's no way a couple barely-powered teenagers could think their way through this by themselves.]