⇨ 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

[hippocarnival]

Sort of. He looks at Rita with purpose, navigating around her with the box--and then trying to swing around her back.

"Don't mind me! I'm just taking this in." By the long way, but he hopes she gets the intention to not look at him.

[kingsroads]

Part of Strange just wants to tell Yuya to focus on Gongenzaka or on Lambert, focus on someone else weaker than he is with a lower chance of getting out. But he knows that would end up with a very intense conversation and Strange honestly doesn't want to air out all his issues right now, while he's in Theta, and while they're probably being magically monitored.

"Thank you," Strange simply says. There's honest sincerity in his voice because this is nice. Having someone who cares about you like this is nice. Strange can probably count the number of actual, true friends he has on one hand (maybe two), so hearing this verbal confirmation is just plain nice.

He doesn't want to let the moment get too sappy though, so he starts to tease Yuya a little. "I'd still rather you worry more about others than me, though. I've survived worse than this. And I don't think the Technicians have realized exactly how I managed to escape from the farm."

Does Yuya know that Strange actually succeeded in his vent plans? Well surprise, he does now.

[kingsroads]

Before Syrlya can leave, however, Strange wants to get a few words in. This is just Syrlya using him as an information dispenser: something which he's come to hate during his time at the carnival. Gingerly, he starts to set down the box he's carrying while also trying to get Syr's attention.

"I know you're planning something," said loud enough for Syrlya to hear and hopefully get him to stop moving. Because of course Syrlya is. Why else would he ask all these questions? He also has a feeling that Syrlya's dislike of him is what's stopping Syr from actually telling Strange what he's planning. Idiot. Now how to phrase this in a way that the people who are probably scrying on them might not understand...

"Don't overlook a valuable resource out of simple spite."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya smiles a little. "I have enough worrying to go around for everyone, trust me."

He's in an almost constant state of stress because of it. But Strange is a close friend, and so of course to Yuya he's among those he always worried the most about. Like Gongenzaka, Lambert... Rita actually doesn't usually cause him a lot of worrying, but when she does her too. "And surviving doesn't change that it hurts."

He's hurt, isn't he? That's why he's closing in on himself, so that's why Yuya's going to push a little harder.

"Is that why you're in Theta now?"

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya does stop, although he keeps his back firmly to Strange while he talks. Lets the silence linger between them as he considers how he's going to answer. He knows what he wants to say, and honestly that's 'blow up on Strange about his attitude', but also that's super not a good idea right now.

Finally he looks over his shoulder. "I'm not."

And then his expression twists into some rueful smirk. "But when have you ever wanted to be part of anything I've planned to begin with? You'll do what seems best to you, Strange, and nobody will ever be able to stop that."

He's sure it'll be the same now, and that's why he doesn't want to try and depend on Strange for any sort of special task. He can go rogue where he can, in Syrlya's opinion, do the least damage.

[osteothropy]

Sans isn't in the mood to eat, really, so he leaves the rest of it alone as Tyki takes his selection. Maybe he'll try something later.

"Cozy. Yeah," Sans says, sounding a bit numb. "Wonder how many loyalty points it takes to get a proper dream house." He keeps thumbing through the tablet, but there's less focus to it now, like he's just doing it to entertain his hands and not really reading anything.

[ringleaders]

This trial ends up happening on day 112 after being delayed for mysterious reasons. The overall observation period will last until the same time on day 113.

Everything will proceed as usual, up to the point where the subjects are bound to chairs. They are all being handled in the same room, and suddenly one of those weird magical drones show up.

It is explained by the drone, in a robotic lilt, that all three of them will be required to surrender their True Name to the Mother of Invention for the duration of this experiment. If they do not comply, the exchange of name will be forced via grueling sessions of torture. They will not explain what a True Name is in detail, only that they have to verbally and spiritually swear it over to the Mother.

Does Beau comply?

[ringleaders]

This trial ends up happening on day 112 after being delayed for mysterious reasons. The overall observation period will last until the same time on day 113.

Everything will proceed as usual, up to the point where the subjects are bound to chairs. They are all being handled in the same room, and suddenly one of those weird magical drones show up.

It is explained by the drone, in a robotic lilt, that all three of them will be required to surrender their True Name to the Mother of Invention for the duration of this experiment. If they do not comply, the exchange of name will be forced via grueling sessions of torture. They will not explain what a True Name is in detail, only that they have to verbally and spiritually swear it over to the Mother.

Does Hanamaru comply?

[ringleaders]

This trial ends up happening on day 112 after being delayed for mysterious reasons. The overall observation period will last until the same time on day 113.

Everything will proceed as usual, up to the point where the subjects are bound to chairs. They are all being handled in the same room, and suddenly one of those weird magical drones show up.

It is explained by the drone, in a robotic lilt, that all three of them will be required to surrender their True Name to the Mother of Invention for the duration of this experiment. If they do not comply, the exchange of name will be forced via grueling sessions of torture. They will not explain what a True Name is in detail, only that they have to verbally and spiritually swear it over to the Mother.

Does Yuusei comply?

[anti_nonsense]

Rita’s gaze doesn’t linger for long, and she soon goes back to watching someone else as they work. But as Yuya steers himself behind her, she tucks her wings in close and holds a hand out just a little bit behind herself, making it easier for him to reach.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya glances sideways, stopping to adjust the box in his hands. And then he reaches with his tail, curling it around her wrist toward the end, which is probably not exactly how she anticipated Yuya to grab hold of her but it's what he's doing.

And he's trying to be quick, so he focuses on the mark he carries and the desire to pass it on to Rita. On her end, it'll be like her will is being asked a question, not unlike how Creation did it. Does she accept, or deny?

Silently, Yuya's hoping she accepts.

[alphudo]

He remains quiet at first as he debates his options, given the weight the drone sets in this True Name, but ultimately he complies.

[kingsroads]

Strange matches Syrlya's smirk with an ironic little one of his own.

"How petty you're being! Hardly befitting someone who puts so much emphasis on being the Nightrider's back-up." He's trying to keep calm and keep his expression neutral but Strange's hair flares up in irritation, the flames burning brighter and stronger for the first time since they arrived in Polaris.

And then, Strange takes a wild guess at what Syrlya's planning: mostly because this is what he's trying to desperately plan.

"What will you do if you manage to find him? He's given his power up: you'll need someone to give it back."

[anti_nonsense]

This isn't quite what Rita expected, but she can't afford to show any outward reaction, so she remains standing still, expression unchanged.

A question...?

As much as Rita would rather talk this out and ensure she has the full context before agreeing to anything... she trusts Yuya, and they don't have much time, so she doesn't hesitate for long. She accepts.

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya turns around fully just to give Strange the most unimpressed look. "I'm not rising to your bait, Strange. There has not been one time where I have suggested a course of action to you, or advised against it, where you have actually listened. We both know that isn't going to change now, and whatever I say to you you will simply determine that your own path is better and pursue that instead."

He states his very matter of factly, since to him it basically is fact. "Your mind is only on what you want to accomplish, but I didn't say anything about what I was doing."

Which is going to include getting him, he's not planning on leaving Ignatius behind here at all. But it's also one piece of a much larger plan they need to put together, for something that they aren't even close to ready to enact. They need an escape, transportation, a time to move... there's a lot. His mind is in a buzz trying to put the pieces together.

[hippocarnival]

She'll probably feel the mark move to her, although without looking she won't see the golden slight that shines up her arm as she does so.

He releases her wrist and bounces forward, stumbling a little as he turns with the basket and starts walking backwards. "Make sure you get lots of rest tonight, okay? And... don't forget what you learned about archery."

He winks... and then trips over a rock going backwards, flailing as he topples over with a yell and sends the contents of the basket flying out. Whoops.

[verbaltic]

Considering that her options are 'just tell it to them' or 'get tortured a lot,' Hanamaru complies.

[prazerbutterfly]

It helps that they still don't have to worry about hunger that prevents him from flooding all his points into food. He looks towards the nearest place to sit that looks 'cozy' and folds right into it, taking a bite from that apple.

"Not much use for a house without a family to fill it," he replies, at least with enough decency to chew before talking. Not that he'd want his family here or any of his friends at the carnival. He eyes up that tablet Sans is working on and finds that he doesn't know what it is exactly. He's seen a lot of people using it. "How monitored do you think we are in these rooms? Not that I'm going to go parading around naked or anything..." Immediately backing up a suspicious question with a plausible reason.

[osteothropy]

Well, that's a depressingly true thought. Sans's eyes fall half lidded.

"Dunno," he says. "I get the impression there's a lot of recording going on... but whether anybody's checking the tapes, that's another question." He's not sure if Tyki will get what 'checking the tapes' means, but here we are.

"Pretty sure naked people are no longer a novel concept for most of our coworkers."

[prazerbutterfly]

He takes another bite and looks towards the visors, chewing while considering exactly their use. He knows what they do for him but he's not sure what they do for them. Could they monitor what he sees more closely? Is it to track his location? What are the ramifications of having it removed later? There's a lot of thoughts he doesn't want to think about right now and yet here he was, doing it.

"Security doesn't sound that bad of a position. We seem to be mostly in the same place for now. I'm willing to play along as much as I need to," pending how unwise the carnival might be with their choices. He doesn't fully understand 'tapes' but the relayed concept is at least something he understands. Tyki enjoyed the small freedom that came with this new implant and didn't want to do anything to compromise that at least right away.

[anti_nonsense]

Yuya did tell her he could give the mark to others. So this is what he decided... Rita will have to make good use of it.

She turns to look when he falls over... then sighs and goes back to observing the others. Sorry Yuya, she can't help you there.

[verbaltic]

Hanamaru tenses a little when Hinawa places her hand on her shoulder. She can't help it: it's just a reaction of how tense she is. There's a pause before she relaxes just a little bit more.

"Thanks," Hanamaru murmurs. She pauses for a moment before asking, "How're you doing yourself?"

[verbaltic]

Whereas Hanamaru is shocked and surprised that Reira isn't hungry.

"I've been hungry for the past few days," she remarks, with a little frown. "And I wasn't hungry at the start, so I dunno what happened." There's an awkward pause before she admits, "The nightmares are recent, zura."

[reflash]

Yukio's curious about True Names and the numbering system used here! Would there have been any obvious name weirdness when it comes to calling people by their names or designations (prior to the 112 true name trials)?

[kingsroads]

"It is," Strange admits. "It was a good idea." Strange will be further validated that it was a good idea when/if he learns that other people did exploring via the ventilation shafts as well. "The problem is simply that I got caught."

Strange is still trying to keep up his strategy of lightening the mood. Theta's awful, there's no doubt about it, and his arms still hurt from the experiment. But when Yuya says that he's got enough worrying to go around, Strange makes the quick and solid decision that from now on, he's going to try and make it so he isn't one of the people Yuya worries about in the first place.

"Though the main problem was how many damn fire extinguishers this place has." His tone is lightening a bit: Strange is obviously bitching for the sake of bitching. He picks up the box and starts to move towards a different area of the farm, wincing slightly as he does so. "And some of them are mobile! The Mother of Invention has magic, use that to put out a fire instead of some stupid mobile robot thing!"

Because seriously: fuck roombas.