lostcarnival | ⇨ POLARIS 2.0

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⇨ POLARIS 2.0

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!

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"Not like I have," Strange clarifies, shaking his head. Because of course Syrlya wouldn't feel Ignatius's power like Strange does. Strange hasn't gotten to explore the full limits of his new firey form yet, but he's downright certain that form has made him closer to Ignatius than almost anyone else in the carnival (with Rita obviously being closer than he is. He's arrogant, not stupid.)

As for the trip, Strange frowns a little.

"He's stored somewhere else—possibly the core, possibly not there because it's damaged. This whole section of the facility is looped in a circle. Other areas can be accessed by...these teleport device things."

Unfortunately, Strange's knowledge of future tech comes from absolutely loathing computers and a few weeks doing the olympics in space. He gives Syrlya a look that plainly states he's got no idea what the hell the teleport device things are before he continues talking.

"You probably need proper clearance to use one."

Syrlya doesn't bother to address that assessment odd what they felt from Ignatius, even though he normally would. Instead he squints at his hand, flexing his fingers before he looks back up at Strange. Damn, it really does feel stronger when he's nearby, like the energy is bouncing off another source.

"Right. It looks to be sectioned, I suppose to keep experiments trapped where they're supposed to be." He lowers his arm. "Did you see anyone use them?"

"I did," Strange nods. "There were two technicians. The teleport device was blocked with a locked gateway. I managed to sneak in when two of them left the area."

So if any plan involves the teleport whatever, they'll need someone with a key. Hopefully Delta is high enough clearance, otherwise Strange has a sneaky suspicion they might need to mug someone.

"Another thing. The room that I took the teleport whatever into shut down after I arrived. A voice said something about a security breach, then something forced me solid before gassing me."

"Hm. So they also have security monitors for infiltration... that figures." Of course they would, on top of everything else. However long Polaris has been around, they've got measures against rogue changelings.

"That would have to be disabled. What did you see in the room you ended up in?"

"Nothing," Strange admits, with a frown. "Or at least, nothing of note. There were these airlock type doors and that large teleport device thing in the middle. Where I ended up looked almost exactly the same as where I started: just with fewer technicians."

Based on Strange's frown, he obviously thinks that's a little dumb. What's the use of all the airlocks and teleport whatevers to begin with anyway? If you want or don't want someone to go somewhere, just use pure magic!

"Perhaps what you found was the central transfer hub." To borrow the words of the Asura for a moment. "Where they can move to other sectors."

Like Ignatius'. "Where was the teleporter in our section?" North? South? The middle?

Strange gives Syrlya a direction that he would icly know but I straight up oocly don't know.

"At least, I think that's where it was. Things got turned around a little in the vents."

Well, maybe those in Delta can confirm. They'll need to know where they're going before they can go there.

"I see." There's a pause as he shifts back. "Thank you, Strange. We'll see what we can do with that." Hopefully a lot.

And then he turns to go.

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."

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.

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."

Edited 2018-10-24 18:23 (UTC)

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.

"But you are going to save him." Not just because half the carnival is still under contract to Ignatius: but because it's the right thing to do. There's a pause as Strange very visibly weighs options. And fuck it: saving Ignatius's life takes priority over his pride or goading Syrlya some more (though he REALLY WANTS to just goad Syrlya some more, god how he hates this guy.) Strange takes a few steps closer to Syrlya, closing the distance between them as he frantically whispers under his breath.

"Ignatius gave his power to the carnival members. Some of it is to me, but some of it might be in others. I don't care if it's me or not, but he sounded like he's close to dying. Someone should give him his power back at least to stabilize him."

This is a bit of a lie: in an ideal world, Strange would want to be the one to gift his power to Ignatius. But if someone else gifting the power means that Ignatius is alive, then let someone else do it.

Edited 2018-10-24 22:42 (UTC)

Syrlya stays stiffly in place, shoulder's squared like he's ready for Strange to haul off on him (and he is) with his eyes narrowed. He tilts his head, deliberating whether he should admit it... but it won't make him more obvious, he supposes.

"I told you I felt it, didn't I?" He lowers his voice to match Strange's whisper. "I am carrying it too. So are others. And we'll get him out of here alive with all of us."

Because it the the right thing to do, and Syrlya is obligated to follow through with it. He lets out a breath, his posture sinking just a little.

"But I can't trust you, Strange. We have one chance to make it work, and it will cost us everything if we don't succeed."

They can't afford to act recklessly.

He can't help but recoil a little when Syrlya bluntly says he doesn't trust him. It makes sense. But considering that Strange trusts Syrlya to act in a certain way, the fact that Syrlya's so blunt about not trusting him at all kind of stings.

"Then trust me to act as I always do: loud and obnoxious and without any form of subtlety. I just need to know when."

Strange knows his strengths. And he knows that even if he can feel only a fraction of his magic, he's still obnoxious and over-powered and not very good at doing things in a delicate manner. That could be useful. And if Syrlya doesn't tell him when...well, that's what bothering other people are for. Childermass might. Childermass always has a plan.

Syrlya sighs in exasperation. "The last I need is for you to act like you always do!"

That's the whole damn problem, but by this point Syrlya's resigned to the fact that it's all Strange will ever be.

"Just try not to slip any further. The more separated we become, the more risky any sort of escape will be."

It's obvious that these two have completely different ideas as to how to do a plan, because it's Strange's turn to sigh in exasperation. He pinches his nose with his free hand. If this were any other situation, he'd happily mansplain to Syrlya just how wrong he is and probably also mansplain what little bit of strategy he knows. But they literally do not have the time, so that'll just have to be a potential 'if we all survive this thing' sort of talk.

"I know you have no faith in me in general, but at least have faith that I'll get out of this. No matter if what you're planning succeeds or fails, I refuse to let myself stay here."

Syrlya stares at Strange for a moment, and then just shakes his head.

"Then have faith I have no intention of leaving you behind in whatever I do." He straightens himself, letting the frustration roll off him as he carries strength and confidence in his posture

"My duty upon making my contract was to protect the other members of the carnival from harm, and I count being kidnapped and tortured for eternity among that. You will here when we're ready to move."

He's confident. It's an impossible situation and yet Syrlya's tone is genuine. "We're getting out of here, Strange."

He has to be able to do that much. How will he save a world if he can't save a company of thirty?

There's a mean little part of Strange that wants to point out that his duty to the carnival doesn't exist any more, the carnival isn't here...but he wrote an entire book on a possibly-dead figure of English magic. He can't talk. He also can't talk considering that Strange is just as bound and determined to get people out by any means necessary...it's just that by 'people' he means 'himself and now Ignatius and maybe some others.' So Strange's bitterness softens for a moment as he ponders what exactly to say next.

"You'd better keep to your word," Strange says, with a little frown. Even though he's frowning, there's more of a resigned tone in Strange's voice. It's not like he's empathizing with you a little bit or anything! "I'd hate to show you up by escaping on my own if you fail."

This is a goddamn lie, he'd adore to show Syrlya up, but now isn't the time for that.

He could say that, but Syrlya doesn't care because he knows that it would be reasonable, without the Ringmaster, to assume dismantlement of their fragile organization. He's just not that kind of person, though, when these people are still in front of him and the number of them likely won't be able to escape on their own.

He'll bury himself in that duty every time.

He snorts, because he doesn't believe that second part for a second either. "I'm sure you would. Keep an ear out, Strange."

He waves his hand, dismissing the conversation as he turns to go again.

And Strange gives Syrlya a little nod before he goes back to his work of heavy lifting and literally trying not to break his arms.

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⇨ POLARIS 2.0

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