Introductions are in order...

[bathymetric]

When the hour has passed, and everyone is gathered into the Meeting Room, the door shuts and locks with an unassuming soft click. The overhead lights darken, though there's still some light in the room - complete darkness is hard to get with the windows there, even if the ones in here are a little more tinted than the ones in the rest of the facility.

The video screen taking up the wall in the back also turns on, displaying a fairly simplistic design, static and unmoving. A voice, male, clears its throat over the speakers.

"Greetings to you all, and welcome."

His voice is methodical and even, and even through the slight distortion filter it's been put through, those of you with a Europe can recognize his accent as some kind of European. German, maybe?

"You may call me The Professor, and I will be overseeing this experiment. Do not be mistaken - you are not currently my students, you are my test subjects. Lab rats."

Well, that answers that, at least.

"In order to reduce contact, I will personally be monitoring you from a secondary facility. Do not worry, there are members of staff on-site to take care of any immediate needs or wants you may have."

Not that you've seen any, of course, but...

"By now I imagine you're familiar with your situation, at least somewhat. If you have not yet, please read the rules, and... well, I will go ahead and open the floor to questions. I'd ask for you to be orderly about it, but... having observed some of you, that seems like a foolish hope."

Comments

[philoxenia]

[ yeah she super hates this. ]

These... members of staff. Have they just been waiting somewhere we can't see?

[bathymetric]

My assistant will be available for any immediate business following this meeting. But no, you haven't seen her about yet.

[onefuture]

[Lab rats, huh.

...Well, this is about what Lif should've expected. Needless to say, he's got a pretty pressing question that he's got to ask, and while he's standing off to the side like some hideous wraith, he'll speak up.]

I have one question for you, Professor. Did you modify any of our bodies?

[Like, he was already pretty screwed up, but this has been wigging him out all day long.]

[bathymetric]

Could you elaborate on what you mean, Blood of Askr?

[drladysounds]

What's the scientific reasoning behind this study? Do you have a control group? What's the theory you're testing? This isn't going to stand to peer review, sir.

[bathymetric]

I'm afraid this is not the sort of study that ends up particularly thoroughly peer reviewed. As for my intent, it is mostly informed by aspects of the exercise that must remain veiled from you for the time being.

[thieviusraccoonus]

[Huh, interesting accent. Hard to nail down though.]

Yeah, I'd like to submit a formal complaint. This place is a bit too wet for my tastes. Got anything at a ground level instead?

[bathymetric]

What, a state-of-the-art living facility built at great expense on a guyot in the middle of the ocean isn't luxurious enough for you?

[fivestagegod]

A request for clarification regarding Rule Seven, if you will. It's mentioned that we have to kill and not be discovered. Is there anything preventing someone from getting overexcited and killing everyone, is that frowned upon or is it fair game? You can't be found out if everyone's dead.

And before everyone jumps on me, I know a guy who would interpret the rules exactly like that and we'd all be dead within a day or two, and if he'd think of it then I know better than to think he's the only one.

[bathymetric]

Ah, I knew I could count on you to ask the hard-hitting questions. Let us just say that if one of you showed the ability to perform such an act, it would be well within the bounds of acceptable results for the study. A bit dull to cut it so short, of course, but within parameters.

[gangrene]

--Ditto on knowing a guy that would do that.

[emberserker]

[As soon as the Professor comes on, Anna bursts forward from the crowd and screams.]

You took me from my victory! How did you even reach there? Especially in a place with no magic?

[bathymetric]

Ah, there you are, Icy-Hot. Almost a whole second of quiet from my speakers. Rest assured, I have my ways. Magic or no magic.

[mouflon]

[ This is about what she expected, but the unnecessary emphasis on their status as lab rats still gets under her skin. ]

Oh, so the name isn't just for show? Do you have students watching with you, or is it just you over there?

[bathymetric]

I have members of my staff on this end as well, and I do have students. They're just elsewhere - this is a research project... on the side, you might say.

[shieldsister]

[This might as well happen, she supposes.]

Why did you take our weapons if the point of this "experiment" seems to be for us to kill one another?

[just gonna come right out and ask that in front of everyone, i guess]

[bathymetric]

I wish to foster an air of camaraderie, of course! Which is mostly to say I wish to see what you all can accomplish with an even playing field at the start.

[baitless]

[yeah, um, hey.]

What do you even hope to accomplish with this? I know nothing I will say will likely dissuade you from continuing this experiment, but it seems to be nothing more than pointless cruelty.

[bathymetric]

[ hey ;) ]

There is an end goal to all this greater than cruelty, I can promise you that. However, letting you know it might muddy the results of the experiment.

[nothingcanstop]

[ Della approaches this with a light and easy attitude. ]

I'd ask what gives you the right to think you can just snatch a bunch of people from their beds, but the whole evil scientist air's answering that pretty well, so.

[ And then it turns serious. ]

I'm going to say this once: I better be the only person from Duckburg here. If you've laid a hand on any of my boys' heads, I'll make you regret it.

[bathymetric]

I can assure you, Moon-Chaser, that the only captured souls are the ones in this building. If they are not in this room, they are not a test subject in this experiment.

[pimpplan]

[ Well, this couldn't be any worse. From the back of the Meeting Room, he raises his gloved hand to ask his question. ]

How long is this exactly supposed to go on? I see the rule about killing someone, but that's only if you want to leave early, right? Or is that actually the whole point of this?

[bathymetric]

It's interesting that so many of you have jumped to that conclusion, but yes. Unless the volcano that formed the platform this facility rests on migrates backwards, that is the only way to terminate the experiment early.

[hardnosed]

Tell me — what do I have to do to get you to crawl out of your little hideaway and face me?

[bathymetric]

I will face you down in whatever capacity you like after the experiment ends.

[gangrene]

[ "but who was fone"

no... don't do it brian ]

Got an end date in mind?

[bathymetric]

I suppose that "indefinite" is a hard word to use with so many long-lived among you... let's say there's nothing set in stone, then.

[obstagoodboy]

[After hearing that Marnie is, in theory, not here- though of course, this guy could be lying- he pipes up]

So you're just a nutter then. A really rich nutter.

[emberserker]

I resent that remark.

[lovelikeyou]

[Well, she's actually read all the rules and stuff now, and]

Why did you choose these people for this?

[she's one thing, but]

[bathymetric]

No one element in particular. There's no grand secret connection between you all, if that's what you're asking.

CLOSING COMMENTS, 1/2

[bathymetric]

[ Well, after a whole lot of talking in circles and a few maybe-useful pieces of information, the door out from the meeting room clicks open! ]

And with that, I think all I have to say to you for today has been exhausted. You are free to go-

[ There's another click, though, from the other door, and it slides open. ]

What, don't I get a turn?

Ah, of course. You may want to stay for a moment to meet my lovely Assistant. I was informed by one of my colleagues, who will go unnamed, that my... disposition might lead to encouragement towards specific results in the experiment, and so I brought her in to account for that. Just remember that all rules are still in effect, and good luck to all of you in the coming weeks!

[ The screen flicks off, and... ]

2/2

[didntgetdadslooks]

[ The door to the right of the video screen slides open, and out walks… well, whoever you were expecting the assistant to this guy to be, this probably wasn’t it. She’s small and thin, dressed in a full lab coat and gloves and holding a device not unlike the ones you all woke up here with, but a little fancier and in a bright purple case. ]

Hello, everyone! I’m the Professor’s Assistant, but you can just call me Angel. Um… what he just said was basically right, I’m here to manage things day to day and try to keep you all alive and healthy! If you have any questions or comments or... anything, come on over to my office! I love to talk.

[ And before any of you have a chance to try to question or try to refute that... ]

I really hate to cut and run, but I’m spinning a lot of plates here, so I need to stick to my office. Doors are open during daylight hours, I can only see one of you at a time, uh… anyway, come say hi when you get a chance! I don't know how much more you'll get out of me in terms of answers, but I'll do my best! As... weird as that probably sounds right now. Uh. Yeah. Bye!

[ And she? Goes back into her office? Well, now you know about her, at least! ]