COMMENCE EXPERIMENT

[bathymetric]

Fun fact: Did you know that the Pacific Ocean has a surface area of 62.46 million miles? That's not even accounting for depth.

You awaken to a sharp jolt, like you've just hit the drop on a roller coaster. Then it passes, and you're in a bed, suddenly very clearly awake. Is that right? Were you asleep? Your memory is a little fuzzy as you come down off the adrenaline, but it puts itself into place soon enough. This is not, as one might say, your beautiful house. If you have a beautiful wife, she sure isn't here.

The positioning of the bed inside your new room gives you a very clear indication of where you are - or at least, where the building is. Above you is a decent-sized window looking out on... well, the ocean. But not in a fun beachside resort way, to say the least. Fish swim by pretty frequently, here to keep you company - but they cannot hear your screams, and do not seem particularly bothered if you tap on the glass unless they're right by it. It's thick, man.

On the bedside table, you'll find two things: a key card with a number between 1 and 25 on it (no points for guessing which one is on whose, unfortunately), and a small handheld device, a little like a smartphone but mostly like a blackberry? Remember those? Anyway, accessing it will reveal only a scarce few functions: a list of profiles, a map of the building, and a very ominous set of rules. You might try to ignore that last one! Unfortunately, you'll find them in a frame by your door. And in a frame somewhere in every room of the place, if you go out exploring at all. The tablet also has a message for you when you open it:

Greetings. Please take an hour to become accustomed to the facilities, then proceed to the meeting room north of your dormitories. Attendance is mandatory. - The Professor

But hey, it... it also lets you play Snake! Who doesn't love Snake, huh?

Anyway, head out into the halls! Make some new friends - or maybe enemies, wouldn't that be exciting? Look around a little! Just make sure to be back for whatever this meeting is - after all, you want a chance to face off with your captor, right?

Comments

[fivestagegod]

Well, it might be good to get some idea of what we all have in common, if anything. I haven't met everyone yet; becoming accustomed to the place seemed prudent, so that's what I've been doing.

[ladygeryon]

I took a glance at the profiles. There weren't any particular common threads I could find there, though.

[fivestagegod]

I haven't taken a look at them yet; that was the next thing, after making sure nothing in this place seems imminently designed to destroy all of us if we look at it strangely.

[That's entirely straightforward; he has apparently Seen Some Bullshit before.]

Until I can do that, you would be...?

[ladygeryon]

Nira Tyr, but just Nira will do. And you would be William Birkin, I believe?

[fivestagegod]

That's me.

[Nira, then. Got it.]

I'm primarily a virologist, but I am a doctor and I've got a lot of experience with taking care of people medically and keeping them alive. So if you guys need anything, I'm not opposed.

[ladygeryon]

Oh, that's definitely good. [She sounds quite relieved about that.] My usual healing powers seem to have been blocked somehow, so having you here to help with the actual medical part would be greatly appreciated.

[fivestagegod]

Yeah, it's all pretty straightforward where I'm from. No magic or anything involved. I've been doing it since I was a kid.

[So at least there's that.]

I'd show you my credentials, but I didn't think I'd be dragged to weird underwater hell today so I don't have them on me.

[ladygeryon]

[...that last part gets a slight raised eyebrow from her, but she nods anyways.]

I suppose I'll trust you on that, for now.

[fivestagegod]

Hopefully my services won't be too required. They don't seem too thrilled about offering me supplies here, and frankly, the less injured everyone renders themselves the better when we don't have any accessible way out of the building.

[ladygeryon]

[A nod.] That would be for the best. [A pause as she considers.] I suppose that anyone with preexisting conditions of some sort should inform you as well?

[fivestagegod]

...It'd be appreciated. I'm guessing you're asking because it's relevant?

[ladygeryon]

[A nod.] I can...collapse easily, if I overexert myself. Aria is sensitive enough to my body that she can usually warn me if it's about to happen so I can sit down and catch my breath. I do have medication for that, and it's in my room, though I don't know how often I'll need to take it here. Usually my powers can supplement it, but they feel...closed off, right now. If I do go unresponsive at some point, you have permission to access my room for my medications. [Well. That's a lot she usually doesn't explain, but with her powers locked off and an actual doctor here...] Otherwise, I can handle myself day to day fine.

[fivestagegod]

All right, good to know.

[He seems pretty easy about it, at least.]

Don't worry, I'm not going to pry into your business or treat you like you're made of glass or anything. If you tell me you can handle things, I believe you.

[ladygeryon]

[That gets a sigh of relief out of her, at least.] Good. That's definitely how I prefer it. [It's part of why she doesn't like the local hospital back home, which seems determined to coddle her each time she ends up there.]

[fivestagegod]

It's how most people prefer it, I'm pretty sure. Besides, I'm not anybody's babysitter. Neither of us will like that and it'll just frustrate everyone involved.

[ladygeryon]

[You say that like she's not applying her mom instincts anyways. Though at least she's keeping it low-key for now.]

Pretty much. Maybe you should talk to some of the doctors I know back home, see if you can get them to back off.

[fivestagegod]

Actual practitioners? I have a hard enough time getting them to listen to me already, and I'm one of the few people over their heads. You know what they say, they tend to think MD is shorthand for G-O-D.

[It's pretty good-natured, though, not truly derogatory.]

But then, most of my work involves microscopes and waiting for samples to mature. So I'll take it as a compliment that you think I'm at all good with patients, it's been a while since I've had any.

[ladygeryon]

[Nira chuckles a little at his comment, but leaves it at lot. Doctors are good at patching people (who aren't her) up, and she doesn't want to insult them too much.]

To be fair, my preference for doctors is for them to be as hands-off as possible. And it does sound like your kind of work involves a lot of keeping your hands off. [Yeah, that's a pun. Her husband is a bad influence.]