⇨ 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

[betheman]

Gongenzaka's ears merely pin back, and he stares downward- briefly there is a flick, as if listening to another, but he does not speak except to Yuuya.

"...I, the man Gongenzaka, should have been more careful. I should have read the details...it stated 'implementation', but I did not think..."

Evidently he still blames himself.

[kingsroads]

"Well, that's all the confirmation I need," Strange remarks, with a small little smile. "We talked around that time as well."

As much as you can talk when your communication is pretty much just shooting feelings at each other. Strange is feeling a little bit more confident about this plan that he still knows in all likelihood will get him captured. But hey, he's got a few ideas on how he can work on things from that angle as well.

"If you can get in contact with that someone before you see me again, tell them that I'm trying to help. Who knows, they might appreciate the news!"

Watch in amazement as Strange just casually forgets that he's going to bully Eruka into helping and she should probably be part of this conversation as well.

[hippocarnival]

"I will," he says with a faint smile. And then something occurs to him.

"Uh, can you tell me what you're going to do?" It sounds like he has some sort of plan going on. And a plan, a chance, that's so much better than the lingering pain and fear of the trial, and his hunger and weariness and nightmares...

[hippocarnival]

Yuya pushes himself up, crossing the short distance in the cell to Gongenzaka and looking up at him.

"It was the last day, and we don't have a choice," his voice breaks a little when he has to acknowledge what Strange told him earlier. There's no choice. That doesn't make it less haunting, just numb.

"You just showed it to me, I decided to go through with it," he mumbles.

[betheman]

The grimace only worsens, and one can almost hear what would typically come next. 'even so,'-

But instead Gongenzaka flinches, glancing to the side and sighing as Yuuya comes to him. "...I, the man Gongenzaka, should think you would not wish to speak of what you remember from it... ...I suppose to hope that the involvement of Creation would make things less damaging in the long run as well is..."

And Gon flinches again- and sighs, reaching to try and hold Yuuya close. "...Even without choice...I, the man Gongenzaka, must apologize."

[whattaprick]

“Isn’t that a good thing?” Lambert chimes in, though hoarsely. His unease at seeing the schematics is firmly tamped down. “I thought the whole point of this place was getting promotions. Doesn’t get much higher than working with the Mother of Invention herself.”

[hippocarnival]

Yuya's not sure if he wants to talk about it, yet, but he's certain he doesn't want Gongenzaka holding it against himself, either.

He reaches for Gongenzaka's hand with both of his. "It... I don't really know what they did, but I'm not upset with you." His voice is a little imploring, for him to not be upset with himself.

[betheman]

"...Alright." Alright. Yuuya will talk when he is ready to talk, and as someone is reminding him, it could have been worse.

Even if Yuuya dropped rank regardless.

"...Then...let us speak of other things, aah? ...perhaps of what began last night?"

[hippocarnival]

"Last night?" Yuya blinks slowly. "You mean the explosion? It was Ignatius. He--was trying to get free, I think. I didn't speak to him, but..."

Yuya rests one of his hands on his chest. "I feel something from him."

[betheman]

"Aaauh, that. It is the same for myself. I, the man Gongenzaka, thought it odd initially...I have not been in contact with him since arriving after all but..."

He pauses, as if to let another speak. "...but, it occurs to me...we did make a contract, at least. ...You have been unable to contact him since?" He asks, finding he already 'knows' the answer.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya shakes his head. "No. I don't know if he can."

Sadly, Yuya really doesn't have much in the way of answers, here. Strange said he was going to go look for him, but even lugging a watering can around contact is difficult.

"It has to be a good sign, right? If he can get free, we all can." And then this nightmare can end. No more trials, or pain. His posture sags forward a little with the weight of it.

[betheman]

"Hmmn... ...that was not likely unintentional on his behalf then..." He mutters, leaning back as he holds the other. "...I... ...Yuuya. I do not think this means he is necessarily free. However," he adds firmly, "...It does mean that he has put immeasurable faith in us..!"

A pause...and he adds-"... I, the man Gongenzaka, wish we had been able to notify him of our 'friend'... ...it seems we must notify our friend of this instead however."

[hippocarnival]

It is faith? Yuya wonders if he really deserves it right now. He's slipping, feeling way beyond his control and like he's fragile. Like he can be more easily broken than he realized.

Gongenzaka doesn't seem to have this problem. Strange doesn't. Rita's pushing past it. Can't he be a little stronger?

"Yeah. We should tell them. Both of us." No point chancing it on one or the other. Absently, he squeezes Gon's hand. "I want this to work."

[betheman]

It must be, surely. And if that is the case, well... "Then we shall make it so. If we cannot get this information from our friend to Ignatius, then we shall at least pass it onto Rita and the others ahead or beneath us, aaah? If we move quickly, and with a plan... ....It shall work out," he determines, awkwardly pausing mid sentence before going on. Squeezing back, he continues. "...Shall we organize what we will tell them?" Better to go into the dream with a plan after all.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya draws his hand back to rub his face, pulling a little to fend off how tired he is. It's weird that for once he's the one struggling to keep up with Gongenzaka's energy. He's trying, though, because Gongenzaka has a plan and an initiative.

He nods. "I don't know what happened to Ignatius after. But I wanted to tell them about Rita and Strange. They'll definitely help."

[betheman]

Honestly, Gongenzaka wishes he had the strength to summon Marishi proper, or even soul connect right now. He could offer more support than a tight hug then.

...Instead he is left to listen to his daemon's reassurances and push on...hoping his friend can keep up. "We can share our theory, at the least, yes? Ignatius did...something. Whatever it is likely affects all of those with a contract."

He nods at Yuuya's suggestion as well. "The more we can share the better...though we seem to have limited time to do so each evening..." Hmm.

"...You know more of Strange and Rita than I," he determines quickly. "It may be best if you handle that matter."

[periphrasing]

That's totally legit, I kind of had a feeling the hole size would be an issue but pushed forward anyway lol. So scratch all that! She's gonna clean up the mess from her modifications and store them back in the gauntlet for now.

How about this: Can she clamber under the bunk beds and use the vorpal sword to cut a hole big enough to cast the beam from the pokeball outside the cell?

[hippocarnival]

Whatever it is that happened. "Mr. Strange said he felt power. His magic, I think? So, if we felt that, then we probably do too."

If only Yuya had half as useful powers for that. But it's fine, because he's got something else. "Maybe they can reach Mr. Strange and Rita directly. She's in Delta now, so they're in a place they can do more."

And not on threw verge of disappearing, like Yuya.

[betheman]

"Auuh. ...I suspect contacting Rita will prove troublesome if they cannot manage it on their own for that same reason..." That Delta rank, that is. He didn't try, but he can't imagine they're 'allowed' chatter.

... "...Yuuya..." He starts, only to stop short. The topic of delta after all has his thoughts rest on his own goals. ...not to mention Yuuya's failings. "About 'Delta'..."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya glances up, pausing. "Oh--you're still trying to get up there with her, right?"

He assumes that's where Gon's going with that, since he'd expressed that intention before. Maybe he just plans to affirm it, and that means... they might be separated. He hasn't seen anyone on Delta since they were promoted.

He purses his lips, trying to shove how much that bothers him deep in his chest.

[betheman]

Cool-

Related, as it just came up in a thread... Distance based skills are obviously a crapshoot, but would it be feasible to try soul chatter within a 15-20 foot range (and proper focus)?

[ringleaders]

I'd say no - the only reason you'd want to do that is for tactical reasons, which is not allowed when the daemon is invisible,since that turns being invisible into an advantage.

[betheman]

I should clarify this would be person to person, and is unrelated to the daemon itself, re: soul chatter. I simply stuck to this thread since it's concerning Gongenzaka's abilities.

[verbaltic]

"I just fell..." Hanamaru says, with a sheepish little smile. That's gotta be the reason why she's on the ground, right? Because truth be told, Hanamaru doesn't have the slightest damn clue why she fell on the ground like this. She was standing up and then everything went black for a moment and then she was on the ground.

Since Reira's fairly close, she can see the signs of discomfort and pain on Hanamaru's face as well as those feelings that are just blazing out to 10% of an empath. "I'll be fine, zura. Just gotta get back up on my feet—"

And, slightly shakily, Hanamaru actually does so.

[kingsroads]

Strange pauses a little before he vocalizes his plan. It's a really shitty plan but again, he's got no idea how long Ignatius's power will last. If he's going to do anything, it'll have to happen fast.

"I'm going to turn into smoke, slip into one of the ventilation shafts, and try to see if I can eventually find Ignatius." It's a shitty plan but hey, it's a plan. "I think he's below us somewhere: those tremors didn't feel like they were coming from above. If I go deep enough and concentrate on our bond, I should be able to find him."

He hopes.