lucetilocked | [Locked Transmission to Residents]

[Locked Transmission to Residents]

[On the evening of September 1st, the following transmission is both dictated and typed.]

Hey, Luceti. This is Nara Shikamaru, and I'm transmitting this over a secure network that, unlike the one our personal journals operate on, is hidden from the Malnosso. Before I get to the point of this briefing, I wanted to touch on some things I heard out in the field concerning recent events. All there is are tidbits here and there.

Some of you might know CJ from the MARS program. It seems he's been promoted to head of Region 6 - that's the region Luceti and Kin'cora fall under. Something about "barrier incompatibilities" too, as the Malnosso try to fix those. I can confirm Carol's reports that Luceti wasn't the only enclosure targeted by Zompano's invasion. Vaskoth is lost. Pagoda, Quell, and Zompania haven't recovered yet, or at least no one's seen them since. Other than us, the only enclosure that was able to overcome the illusions on their own was Tyrus.

If we get the chance, we need to do what we can to help these people. I don't know why, but we're not very popular with the other enclosures right now - more so than usual, anyways. Thing is, however they might act and do, we don't need more enemies right now. We're all in the same boat, and we should be working together. It's a tall order, but we have no excuse not to try.

[Silence follows for a good minute. Not a lot of people are going to be thinking about this after the rest of the news he has to share, he knows, but he stills wants them thinking about it.]

To get back to what I came on here for... Last night, the decryption program that was working on the keycard cracked its first code. We've opened the door labeled "Classified", and if you wish to see it for yourself you may do so at this time. I wouldn't recommend that for everyone, but that's getting ahead of things.

As it happens, Classified did yield results, including notes from the personal journal of a Doctor Sallis Kal. I'll transcribe them now.

[The following is typed only, with dictation continuing once more following the notes.]

Cycle: 1553.040
Finally the organization has recognized my talents and transferred me to the Luceti project. It’s a strange name, but it seems only fitting. Luceti began it all, it is only fitting Luceti ends it as well. Our goal is the most ambitious of them all. We will defeat the cycle of death and rebirth.

Cycle: 1553.046
We’ve received new test subjects for our experimentation. They have been tagged so that the first wave of executions begin. For the first group, we have chosen a group that are as similar as possible, all of them with small filial wings. The second group is a diverse set. All will be executed humanely via injection. They are expected to revive within seven days, at which point we will conduct tests to determine what loss they have gained.

Cycle: 1553.060
As we feared, no correlation between the individual’s original world, age, gender, wing size, cause of death or any other factor can be found to explain the types of losses received. We have discharged the test subjects. Perhaps refined procedures with the next two groups will prove more fortuitous.

Cycle: 1553.090
An entire month wasted. The head researcher becomes increasingly erratic in his decisions. I believe he is receiving pressure from the organization to show results, which only makes work harder for the rest of us.

Cycle: 1553.095
They sacked the entire upper staff. Illegal experimentation is what they called it. We all know its bullshit. We weren’t getting the results they wanted, so they call our work inhumane. Now we have to deal with a new lead researcher. Horace Brandt.

Cycle: 1553.122
New arrivals from Region Six are being brought down here daily now. Even it may mean I risk my mind to the madness of this world, I find myself grateful that I was born here instead of being spat out into this world to be herded like cattle. Kotar was sacked for complaining about their living conditions. Whatever problems we have with it, it’s far better to keep it to ourselves.

Cycle: 1553.129
Brandt claims the key to Shifting is in the Filial wings. It’s hardly surprising, but its always been the province of the insane.

Cycle: 1553.130
Brandt is insane. I can still hear the screaming, even in my own mind when I’ve left the facility. He won’t rest until he finds a way to give himself true Filial wings. No matter how many of the test subjects he has to kill to do it.

Cycle: 1553.160
He’s locked it all down until the test subjects are contained. The last I heard from the comms, the Commandant was on his way. Gods have mercy on us if he finds out what we’re doing.

Cycle: 1553.170
Imprisoned for ten life sentences for crimes against humanity. Good riddance to Brandt, but we all know it was only to pacify the Commandant’s fury. I can hardly blame them. I’d heard stories of him, but he’s even more incredible to see in person. Tyr the Hero. Afterwards, he smiled at me. I don’t think he would have if he ever got past the lobby of the facility.

Cycle: 1553.200
A new lead researcher, a new subject to study. So far, Doctor Zompano has proven to be far more humane than the last two. Though he has taken to calling our subjects his ‘little mice’, he treats them kindly enough. At least until one of them tried to attack. I thought the Commandant had been terrifying, but I watched Zompano break the man’s neck with only a flicker of his eyes.

Cycle: 1553.204
Doctor Zompano may be kinder to his test subjects, but it’s been worse for those working for him. Most of the senior staff has already been fired for ‘incompetence’. I’ve been promoted because of it. And to think, I actually used to want this position.

Cycle: 1553.210
Test subjects who have lost one of the five senses to a loss are the most beneficial for experimentation. A new group was brought in with these losses. I’ve been assigned to find the mathematical formula to emulate the sense of taste.

Cycle: 1553.330
After four grueling months, we finally did it. Our test subjects are claiming to experience a diminished form of taste. With more advancements, we may be able to begin producing implants to replace control over loss senses. In time, we should be able to do the same for other losses as well.

Cycle: 1554.010
This world mocks our efforts.

Cycle: 1554.015
The simulations predicted a five percent chance of failure with the implants. But now all but two of the test subjects have suffered a complete overload of bodily functions, resulting in their death. We removed the implants from the remaining two, but it may be too late for them. And to think, we thought we could conquer these losses with science.

Cycle: 1554.060
I’ve seen pictures of ‘Shift Hunters’ in books before, but they are so much more hideous in person. Doctor Zompano has brought them in for testing with an ambitious new project. We’re going to splice them with people. The best of both worlds.

Cycle: 1554.075
Operation: Hunter. What kind of a ridiculous name is that?

Cycle: 1554.099
One of the Shift Hunters killed a researcher today, right in front of me. So much blood...

Cycle: 1554.140
Our first test seems like a success. It’s not perfect, but this ‘Hunter’ seems unstoppable. Doctor Zompano smiled when he saw the numbers. I should’ve been happy, but there was something chilling about his eyes.

Cycle: 1554.174
The organization is pleased with our work. It looks like Doctor Zompano is leaving us to head Project: Hunter under the scrutiny of the MSF. Good riddance to both him and those ugly beasts. Maybe we’ll have someone sane in charge of here now.

Cycle: 1554.183
The new boss is Cora. She seems nice enough, at least. Our new field of study is Shifts in relation to superhuman abilities. Apparently a cultist found a way to block the Commandant’s powers and kill him a few months ago. It will be nice doing honest work again.

Cycle: 154.305
I’m dreaming in numbers now. The boss is such a hard ass.

Cycle: 1555.025
The diggers have found an ancient city, but where did it come from? The organization has fallen and risen from the ashes before, but this does not seem to be the work of our predecessors. I find myself wishing I was working down there and instead of up here. At least they’re getting somewhere.

Cycle: 1555.032
I think I’m going crazy.

Cycle: 1555.033
I’m hearing something in my head. Is this what happens when people become cultists?

Cycle: 1555.051
I wonder if this is what Cora was really after? The remains of a lost world. I wish I could get out from under all this number crunching. All the interesting stuff is coming out of the city.

Cycle: 1555.106
I caught one of my coworkers lighting up a cigarette with a snap of his fingers. I knew other people were learning from them. That explains why Rebecca’s garden looks so good. I knew she was cheating, somehow.

Cycle: 1555.251
Joss is still locked up in his apartment and won’t come out into the light. He says it burns his skin. Well, that’s what you get for learning to create shadows. What on earth made him think that was a good idea?

Cycle: 1555.303
Maybe learning this ‘magic’ wasn’t such a good idea. Cora is making us test our new power dampening Shift on them. This would be so much less frustrating if it actually worked. Back to the number crunching...

Cycle: 1555.351
I swear, if I have to correct Jason’s formulas one more time...

Cycle: 1556.064
And now we can’t use our powers in the compound. As nice as it is to finally succeed at one of our projects, I can’t help but be disappointed. At least the facility will be safer now that no one can use special abilities in here.

Cycle: 1556.140
Finally recognized for my successes. Second in command. Who would have thought I’d make it this far after two years? I wish I could take all the credit, though. Doctor Zompano thinned the competition a lot.

Cycle: 1556.212
Cora has departed back to the organization. I’ve been handed down a new project. Project: Hybrid.

Cycle: 1569.012
The things I have seen and the things I have done... if there are any monsters in this world, they are not the ones that wear leather and raid cities. It’s us, those of us who claim to be people of science. My dreams are plagued by the memories of the people I have cut open, whose wings I have severed, and their eyes. Always their eyes.

The knowledge that I can never escape this world haunts me. I used to take pride in being a so-called ‘Lucy’, but now I realize that I am without hope for the future. Two years ago, Horace Brandt avoided his life sentences by being sent back to his own world. Many of the people I experimented on were returned to their world even as their wounds were still being healed. But I won’t. I’ll be here forever.

Maybe that’s why the call of the General is so strong. Some say our only way to escape the futility of this world is through sacrifice. Life and death, life and death.

A month ago I saw my parents as infants. It will be years before they’ll be allowed to remember me.

I won’t be around for that. I refuse to be a part of this cycle any longer. If my science has gotten anywhere, it is that I have learned the secret of sacrifice for myself. I have placed this room into a Shifted field that will prevent my resurrection. I surrender myself to this planet. You won, you hideous demented rock.

If you are reading this and feel any pity for me at all, please let my bones remain where they are. I do not wish to be a part of this world again. If there is any justice at all, I can spend the rest of existence in oblivion.

- Doctor Sallis Kal

You probably noticed the jump in the dates between her final two entries. Everything in her journal besides that was ripped out. Most of the room itself was gutted. Chunks of machines have been removed, and all of the filing cabinets have been cleaned out with the exception of one. It contains the files on the research subjects the Malnosso used for their experiments, including the death penalty research mentioned in the doctor's notes.

Besides that, there's nothing else but human remains: Sallis Kal herself. If you can't handle it, don't come poking around. Keep the kids back while you're at it.

To end things on a more positive level, thanks to her presence we found more than we thought we would in Classified. We have plans to open another door soon, so watch out for that. As always, feel free to discuss among yourselves, but absolutely do not speak of anything you heard here off of this channel. It might only be a formality at this point, but this can only stay a secure network so long as the Malnosso don't catch wind of it.

[/end transmission]

((ooc: As usual, this is an open discussion post! Start your own threads and threadjack away. And the IC place for exploring the room is here!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Your sentimentality is sickening. That kind of attitude is only going to get yourself and everyone else killed, or worse.

If it were going to get me killed, it would've done so a long time ago. Those who can't adapt and survive don't last long in this world or any other.

It's clear you've never been in a real fight before.

Anyway. I'd say if it were possible to get to her when she revived before either of those fools could? It would benefit us much more than leaving her dead. That and that 'antique' is currently doing something very game changing, don't you think?

And what makes you think she would want to cooperate with us instead of killing us all on sight? If we ended up having to kill her again to stop her, we'd just be right back where we started, and we wouldn't have anything to show for it.

Only a fool wouldn't realize that the machine was either left there on purpose or because it was useless to them. Suppose we break it in the process. What then? Do really you think they'd be so kind as to supply us with spare parts to fix it?

You think I don't already know all that? If we were able to get to her in time, it would be foolish not to try. And if she doesn't feel like sharing with the class? Well, there are ways of getting her to talk. And then if she still desires death, I'll be more than happy to grant it to her myself. [Because at the end of the day, in a war, this man gives no fucks and will do what it takes to win.]

And to set your facts straight, since you're so inclined to put words in my mouth, I don't want that machine turned off. I don't want it messed with until we are absolutely certain of what we have in front of us. Records that might have been overlooked, blueprints that give us some sort of idea. Because we can't afford that woman falling into the wrong hands first of all, assuming that is what that machine is doing.

So you'd stoop to their level and torture her in the hope of getting information.

[There's an icy edge to Gai's tone now. He agrees with looking for more information about the machine elsewhere, but that's a lesser concern at the moment.]

I don't see the problem with a few broken bones here and there to get a point across. I don't have time to fool around or play any games. But don't worry, I'd give her whatever fate she wanted after I was done. If she'd prefer to live, then fine. If not, then as I said, I'd end it for her.

If she was willing to die permanently as retribution for her actions, something tells me a few broken bones aren't going to be enough to influence her to tell us anything. She'd probably think she deserved it.

Well, then I'll just take an arm and see how that goes over if I have to! [Unless someone stops him, then he'd back off; dat anger.]

And if she still refused to talk? How far would you go in your attempt to pry information out of her?

Let's just say someone best stop me before I show you how far I would go. [His tone is low and harsh. He means business and he's not hiding it.]

Then you are no better than her.

[He smirks and chuckles quietly, though loud enough to hear. No, he's not any better.

If anything, he's much, much worse. And he won't deny it.]

Listen. I've said it before and I'll say it again now so you can hear it as well. There's no honor in this, it's kill or be killed. There are no rules on the battlefield. Take every advantage provided, let nothing stand in your way. What would you prefer? That our enemy continuously hold the upper hand just because it goes against your little pathetic ideals? You'd risk the lives of everyone here, and in the other prisons for your own sense of morality? Hah. You'll lie in a grave with the rest then.

[It's not that Vegeta doesn't care about everyone. He'll just do what it takes to protect them, even if it's that.]

[Gai almost, almost wants to laugh at the irony of being told that he's being too idealistic and naive. He learned long ago that both of those things will only lead to pain and dismal failure, so to be accused of that just strikes him as being funny.]

That's a pretty big assumption that you're making there. You're already wrong on all counts. Then again, I wouldn't expect much from someone who can't even tell who's been on a battlefield and who hasn't.

Big words from a mere boy who doesn't know what it is to face a real opponent. If you knew you'd of never opened your mouth. [But if Gai was just looking to ruffle his feathers, he certainly succeeded.]

Don't talk to me about battle. Why don't you put your money where your mouth is one day, fighting with that soft heart of yours. Then we'll see who truly knows how to handle even the fiercest enemies. [The only person he trusts to do that is Goku, and Gai does not look like Goku to him.]

I already have, and I'll keep on doing it as long as they'll let us fight here. Might as well make myself useful if I'm going to be trapped in a cage.

[And because he's not done poking yet:] I'll even give you a live demonstration if you're that interested.

[See, he doesn't know if live demonstration means Gai wants to fight him, or if Gai wants to literally just demonstrate. He is hoping for the former.]

Alright then. Why don't you go ahead and show me what you've got.

Meet me at the Battle Dome and I will.

[He could use the chance to let out some frustration, anyway. This whole subject is rubbing him the wrong way for multiple reasons.]

Have it your way. [He'll meet him there, and find himself a chamber for them to use most likely before Gai even gets there.]

[Just as he'd promised, Gai will show up in full Funeral Parlor uniform, his Luger holstered on his hip. From his appearance alone, it's pretty clear that he's no amateur.]

I'm surprised. I wasn't sure you'd take me up on it.

[Vegeta just shows up in his leather jacket and pants. No need for his Saiyan armor, he thinks.]

There's not much else to do in this dump, now is there? Call it morbid curiosity. [He doesn't bat an eyelash at Gai. However, he does note that Gai's outfit is a lot cooler than the uniforms he used to wear, though he feels his armor would be more effective.]

So why don't we see what you've got, boy.

You've got that much right. This place whole be a whole lot more boring if it weren't for this Battle Dome.

[Which would be exactly why he spends so much of his own time here training-- lack of anything else to do, plus a desire to stay in peak condition.

But if Vegeta thinks Gai was planning on fighting him, he'd be wrong. Instead, he just heads right over to the simulator to start programming in a scenario; after a few moments, eight generic thug-like opponents appear in front of them, one armed with a handgun and the rest either bare-handed or with knives.]

Sorry, but I prefer facing off with more than one opponent at a time.

Heh. [Well darn. No fun for the Saiyan, but he can get over it.] By all means.

[He leans up against the wall, arms folded and looking on. The floor is yours, Gai.]

[Gai has also been in Luceti long enough to learn that lots of people here have magical powers or super strength, and while he may be skilled, he's definitely outclassed in those two departments. He'd be a fool to challenge someone without knowing what they were capable of.

But average human opponents? Bring it on.]

Hope I don't disappoint.

[He goes for the one with the gun first, taking him down with a flurry of swift strikes before he can do more than get off a lone shot in Gai's direction; that accomplished, he turns his attention to the two closest to him before dispatching them in a similar fashion.

One of the others comes up from behind him with a knife and is felled by a vicious roundhouse. With half their number down, the simulations look a bit hesitant for a moment, then rally themselves and charge at him. Gai responds by picking up the gun from the fallen fighter and taking aim at them.

Four shots, four kills. And he just turns back to where Vegeta is watching him, a smirk on his face.]

Edited (What is HTML, baby don't hurt me) 2013-09-22 03:44 (UTC)

I've seen eight year olds fight better than that. [He kicks off of the wall, scowling like he'd been cheated of a real show.] Is that really all you've got? Or am I to be impressed with some simple back alley street fighting skills? Please.

[Because taking out targets with one bullet per person is totally street fighting skills, Vegeta....]

[Locked Transmission to Residents]

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[ voice ] apologies for being slow, stupid wedding. BUT IT'S OVER NOW WHEEW.

[ voice ] No worries!

[ voice ] <333!!!

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