2112: Project Epsilon

[Khadgar]

Galin Firstorn

Galin nodded. "okay, so i will assume i don't really have a say in whether i'm here or not. well, put the bands on, so i won't float, and then put me through the tests. i guess i'm ready."

He watched as she straped him into the chair. suddenly a thought came to him. "is this similar to what you went through when you came here? and what exactly IS your power?"

 

[Zircon]

Cassandra K. Holden

Cassandra quietly munched on the oat bar that Thompson had earlier handed to her. She had almost forgotten how ravenous she was.

The door made no noise when it slid open to reveal ‘Dr. Freud’ sitting on comfortable chair. The room was much like the others, metallic, but this one had monitors and sparse furnishings. More color to this room, than in any other.

Cassandra stood in front of the Doctor, unsure about who should speak first. So she fell back on her manners and waited.

 

[Lady_J]

Fields

Fields placed the visor over Galin's eyes and his world went dark. The small pads placed over his temples became sticky with sweat in the eternity that seemed to pass in just a few seconds. With his hands bound he couldn't reach up to remove the visor, and his heart began to beat faster as he heard the *shck* of the door closing behind Fields. He was alone.

Suddenly he felt a prick coming from the armband, and a slow drip of hallucengentic drugs began to enter his veins. The blackenss of the visor seemed to deepen, a sense of falling into a never ending abyss, a cold dread passed through his system as the visions began.

In the office nearby, a computer began tracking the energy shooting through Galin's brain.

 

[Lady_J]

The Doc

She is a pretty young thing, he couldn't help but notice as she walked in. "Sit down, " he indicated a plush silver chair in front of his desk.

"That was a very impressive display. Mr. Thompson was quite taken aback by your... thorns." He leaned in over his desk and gave her a conspiratorial wink.

"I knew you were powerful, we've had our eye on you for some time. Quite impressive indeed. Now, I want to know if you have ever projected that strongly before, and if so, what were the circumstances. You see, if we can figure out how to stimulate your ability, it will be the first step in learning to control your ability."

 

[Zircon]

Cassandra K. Holden

Taking the offered chair, Cassandra’s mind was whirling with thoughts. Powers. Illusions…

The Doctor’s questions jerked Cassandra out her reverie.

‘I don’t know what to say. This, all of this, have been frightening for me.’

She got more comfortable in the chair before adding, ‘I don’t know if I’d ever projected anything at all before today, Doctor. I’m not sure how or what I did it just now either. I’m not sure if I can explain it, but I’ll try.’

‘When the pain started, I couldn’t get away from it. So I just fell back to the safe corner of my mind, trying hard to ignore the pain. Whenever I encounter similar situations, well not similar, since this is the first time that it has happened to me. But you understand what I mean don’t you?’

‘Anyway, I’ve always shut myself back in the corner when nasty things happen. I usually shut my eyes when I do that. I didn’t want to see the horrors, you see.’

‘I guess I could be persuaded to open my eyes when bad things happen. But Doctor, I don’t see how this could help. I’m just a normal citizen, even when you said that I’ve powers. I don’t see how I can help in the fight against the enemies of the state.’

She looked at the smiling Doctor, hoping but not expecting any straight answers. She just hoped that the days ahead are going to get better, not worse.

 

[Lady_J]

The Doctor

He put on his most comforting 'grandfather' face and walked around the desk to sit on the corner beside her.
"Cassandra dear, you have been given the opportunity to help your nation. Those illusions you just created were very powerful, and very real for Mr. Thompson. Imagine all the good you could do with such an ability. You could project peaceful images, like you rose garden, onto unruly crowds, you could bring soothing oceans to poor people with no hope, you could even stop criminals in their tracks by projecting their mother's face onto their would be victims. Can't you see all the good you can do, if you just practice a little?" He knew he was laying it ona bit thick, but it was easier to have them eating out of his hand then trying to bite it off.

"Tomorrow I will have you work with Ms Fields, she is capable of producing very similar projections and she can help you bring your ability out. Until till then, unless you have a question, Thompson will show you to the barracks where you will sleep, perhaps you can get to know a few of the other recruits."

 

[Kelson]

"You were brought here to aid in protecting America from those who would harm it. Obviously, I am not at liberty to discuss the issue of forcing you to attend to this great need of our great country, however, it is my job to ensure you do as required."

Kelson thought for a few moments, still looking at Lauren.

"This isn't about you...your parents...or even me. This is about America and ensuring that those who want to destroy it...who want to kill people like your parents simply for trying to live in freedom...do not succeed."

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Lauren H. Byrnes

"Yes, yes, all that talk is very convenient" Lauren started "but the truth is your talking in circles! I was kidnapped, brought to God knows where, God knows why to do God knows what, and I'm still to have a straight answer from anyone in here! What the hell am I doing here? What could you possibly want me for? Don't we have an army and police and such?"

She was genuinely confused. The minutes were flying by and nothing was happening. Lauren was beginning to wander if she was ever going to have any answers and not knowing what was going on was actually more stressful then being held a prisoner. She had never handled well stressful situations. She took a deep breath, trying to cool off, and said, in a controlled voice. "Why don't you begin by telling me what 'abilities', or whatever it was you called it, are you talking about and what do I have to do with it?

 

[Lady_J]

Fields

After twenty minutes of intense reactions to the lights and sounds being hurled at Galin's conciousness the room began to shake. In the Doctor's office a buzzer went off as the EEG went through the roof.

All around Galin the medical instruments as furniture were swirling faster and faster.

Suddenly and invisible hand streaked out and ripped the visior from his face revealing the light once more.

Everything dropped to the ground in a great clatter.

"Well Galin, that was quite impressive." Fields strode through the door. She unbuckled his armbands and helped his shaking form to his feet. "Come on, that's enough for today, I'm going to take you back to the barracks to lie down. I might even bring you a snack if you're a good boy. Would you like that?"

ooc: You can meet up with Cassandra and chat in the barracks, or get into a fist fight for all I care.

 

[Khadgar]

Galin Firstorn

Galin responded, letting his mind stretch out. this went on for some time untill suddenly the visor was pulled off and the bindings were undone. the light was blinding and the extensive mental exartion left him a little tired, and hungry. fields suggested he go to the barracks, this was obviously amilitary instalment.

he would have snapped back somethign witty about the being a good little boy remark, but he decided to let it pass but for a withering look to Ms Fields. "Impressive hmm? you just saying that? or do you mean it?"

Galin didn't care, he probably would just keep going if she didn't answer him, but he liked things out straight. no BS.

 

[Zircon]

Cassandra K. Holden

The barracks was near the end of the floor. Cassandra could see the other examination rooms, but the doors had no portholes. Besides, Cassandra did not really want to what was going on in those rooms. She had bigger problems to worry about.

The room in which she found herself in was just as colorless as the others. It had a common room lined with bunk beds on each side. Not much privacy to be had here, thought Cassandra.

She could also see the mess hall through another in the bunk room. But the first place she headed for was the bathroom. She quickly closed the door shut, sat down on the floor and cried.

She has never been this afraid before. She had a life, but now apparently, this simple and uneventful life had been cruelly taken away. She had power, or so the Doctor said. Her life will never be the same again, even if they eventually let her go.
Cassandra got up, washed her face in the basin, and looked for a long time at herself in the mirror.

‘Who, what are you, Cassandra?’

Suddenly, she got a shock of her young life when she saw the reflection of another person in the bathroom with her. The yell could be heard quite clearly in the bunk room.

Cassandra turned around to face this new person, ‘GET OUT OF HERE. I WAS HERE FIRST!’

She nearly fainted when she came face to face with herself, and her back was to the mirror too. Cassandra slowly stuck her hand out to touch the other person. But her hand just slide through, although a bit like sliding through treacle.

‘I wonder who would go through the trouble of putting a 3-D projector in the bathroom.’

Suddenly, the figure vanished, to be replaced by a small square black box sitting on the table top.

‘I must be going out of my mind…’

Then the black box vanished also, leaving Cassandra all alone, frightened and angry at the same time. She once again looked at herself in the mirror, and said, ‘At least my hair is not too bad.’

 

[PmTick]

Aria Ray

I still was having trouble seeing but I could finally move around a bit. I couldn't stand though, my muscles felt like Jello. As I crawled around the room a chill went down my spine. What have I gotten myself into?

 

[Khadgar]

Galin Firstorn

Galin walked down the hall slowly starting to feel beter. down at the end of the hall the fine print on the door read Barracks. Galin figured he would explore what he could later. right not he wanted to sit and think. opening the door and slumping down on a made unrumpled bed he let the events of the day flow through his mind. he was about to drift off to sleep when he heard a scream "GET OUT OF HERE. I WAS HERE FIRST!"

Galin bolted up in bed and moved to the door the noice was comming from. he knocked four times and asked "hey, is everything okay in there?"

he wasn't sure what to expect, but screaming people was new.

 

[PmTick]

Aria Ray

Finally I had regained use of my muscles and voicebox. My fellow "enlistee" had more or less asked all the questions I had. I figured I better add something, "Why were we practically kidnapped? I thought our government was against such treatment!"

 

[Lady_J]

The Doctor

He had been watching Cassandra in the bathroom for a few minutes, she seemed to be halluncinating, interesting but suddenly other things began to precedence.

"Code Red, Code Red, all agents report to level 3, I repeat Code Red." He used the intercom system to send the warning to everyone within the entire complex.

"All handlers secure the recruits in the barracks and then proceed to level 3 immediately." The lights on level 6 dimmed and a glowing path lit up on the floor directing the recruits towards to barracks.

The Doctor turned his attention to the outside security camera at the group assembled there. "How in the hell did they find us?"

Just then the gun fire turned into terror among the guards as one of the attackers threw a grenade past the security gate killing several men. The assaliants rushed past the stunned and dying men and entered the ground floor of the complex.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Lauren saw the fear in agent Eversilver's face when the alarms sounded. Someone came to rescue us! passed through her head and as Eversilver unlocked the doors and told them to get to the barracks, Lauren took advantage of the suddenly set state of general confusion under the dimmed lights. Running past her would-be-trainer out into Level 6 main corridor, she started to look for a way out of this nightmare.

Never stopping to see if she was being followed, Lauren just kept trying to open doors. Behind some of those doors there were rooms like the one she had just fled from, test and research rooms of some kind, but none offered a way out. She saw the door of barracks, where the lights were directing her to. She just kept going, though. She entered a large gymnasium, some sort of physical training facility with weird equipment. This room also didn't have any exit, but when Lauren backtracked to the corridor she found there waiting for her one of the other training officers that were there on the room when she had awaken some minutes before.

"Go to the barracks, Ms. Byrnes, don't make me hurt you" said the woman with the Dr. J. Fields, PhD. name tag. Lauren looked around, trying to evaluate her current status. She had to get out of this loony farm, but how?

Seeing that Lauren wasn't moving, agent Fields tried to grab her right arm, but that just caused Lauren to scream "Don't touch me!" at her. And at that moment, something happened. Agent Fields froze for some reason, and Lauren saw the confusion in her eyes. Stricken by a sudden rush of confidence, Lauren saw in this a sign that maybe her earlier conclusions were right after all. Maybe she had some hidden ability to control other people. Both women were unsure of what to do next, and Lauren, calming down, regaining her poise, continued: "There is no reason for that. I won't run. I want to help. Just let me go upstairs with you. I know that would be the best thing to do."

Dr. Fields couldn't help but think Yes, she's right, we could use her in battle upstairs... we're going to need all the help we can get and keeping her on the barracks would be a waist in a time like this. "You're right, Ms. Byrnes, we need you. Please follow me. We should warn The Doctor first, though"

"There is no time for that. This is an emergency, you should get me up there as fast as possible."

"There is no time for that. I must get you up there as fast as possible. The Doctor would agree"

Dr. Fields led the way to the elevators and punched in the access code, quickly rushing inside. But when Lauren was entering, she felt a hand grabbing her shoulder. It was the other handler, Thompson. Before she could say a word, an excruciating pain arose from well within her, like if all of her internal organs had suddenly burst into flames. She could do nothing but scream and slide out of consciousness.

Several hours later, when she woke up, Lauren was back in the cold metallic cell, this time alone.

(OOC: thank you Ewan McGregor)

 

[Kelson]

Kelson looked down the hall as the one named Lauren tried to find her way out...no matter, the other handlers would get her.

Confident, but apprehensive of the threat several of his past comrades might pose to the facility, Kelson quickly made his way to The Doctor, his pistol securely in his hand.

 

[Zircon]

Cassandra K. Holden

Cassandra came out of her reverie when she heard knocking on the bathroom door.

She shouted again, ‘I’m alright. Just leave me alone.’

Suddenly, it seemed like all hell had broken loose, when lights started flashing and a booming voice announcing, ‘Code Red, Code Red, all agents report to level 3, I repeat Code Red.’

She opened the bathroom door, just to see that Firstorn was standing with his ear to the door. He was so big that he nearly blocked the door. Cassandra was glad that Firstorn was all right, after all the rough treatment that he received earlier.

She asked, ‘Do you mind, Firstorn…’

Adding, ‘What is going on around here? First, we are detained without our permission, and now this? Firstorn, are you listening? Or did they hurt you very bad?’

 

[PmTick]

Aria Ray

Both the doctor and the other prisoner had run out of the room. I decided to make a break for it, but headed in the opposite direction. Running down the hall I came to a stairwell with a staircase leading both up and down. I ran down and immediatly hid under the staircase, waiting to hear security go past me to the next floor.

 

[Khadgar]

Galin Firstorn

Galin looked down at Cassandra and smiled. she seemed to be okay. "No, no, i wasn't hurt. I donno why we're being detained, but if you want to find out, i could get us out. it would get us in alot of shit though." he walked to the dorr and started pushing at it lightly with his fingertips. "what do you say?"

 

[Lady_J]

Lauren in her cell
Aria hiding under the stairs
Kelson in the Doctor's office
Galin and Cassandra in the Barracks

______________________________________________

On the ground level a group of black clad men and women set charges around the security doors as others laid down covering fire. A huge explosion rocked through the above ground stories as the entire wall in seemed to shatter and a hidden elevator door appeared in the smoke. Out of the group, one woman ran up and entered a series of numbers into the control panel. The elevator doors opened, and the attackers got in for the long ride down.

In his office, the Doctor watched as the group sailed past the security in the lobby. He turned to Kelson, "They got in, they must be here for the research. Eversilver, round up all the recruits and take them down to the level 7 lab, We'll try to hold them off upstairs, but if they get down there, don't let them get there, don't let them have the prototype or the recruits, use whatever means necessary." With that, the Doctor grabbed a firearm from his desk and rushed out the door.

In the elevator the woman directed them to stop between the 2 and 3rd sub basements. "Cut out the floor, from here we repell down." They attached their harnesses to the elevator cab and cut out the floor with a portable laser saw. Once a hole had been kicked out of the bottom, the group began the long descent.

Two floors down, the door above them was pried open and shots rained down upon the group. Four bodies fell an unknown distance to the bottom of the shaft becoming unrecognisable upon impact. "Go go! Don't stop till 7!" She yelled, and the remaining men and women went into free fall.

 

[PmTick]

Aria Ray

Aira heard the elevator "ding" signalling it had just passed a floor. *Ding* "What floor am I on?" *Ding* "Only one way to play it safe I guess." *Ding*

Aria hopped out from under the staircase and ran down to the next level, hoping she wouldn't be seen. As soon as she was able to, she hid under that staircase as well.

 

[Kelson]

Seemingly unhurried, Kelson walked down the hall after Aria...she wouldn't be too hard to catch, perhaps still comatose. Speaking quickly into a radio at his belt, he instructed the other handlers to put all the recruits within the barracks and lock it.

Dropped down a stair level, Kelson peeked under the staircase at Aria.

"Want to come out of there little girl?"

 

[PmTick]

Aria Ray

I crept out from under the stairs, my hands in the air. I was 3 feet away from Kelson before I knew what I had to do, he was alone now but not for long. I brought my left foot up, delivering a swift kick to his crotch and bolted to the next stair case.Figuring I'll take my chances with gravity I held onto the rail and flipped down two flights.

Years of aerobics taught me exaclty how to land correclty but something was wrong, I lost my footing and sleeped down the steps. "Aaaaaaah." I think I twisted my ankle, can't tell though, christ not only did I screw up my escape but I probably pissed Kelson off.

 

[Zircon]

Cassandra K. Holden

‘What do you say?’ asked Firstorn.

Cassandra bit her lower lip before answering, ‘Sure, why not. I don’t expect us to get out of here alive anyway.’

She helped Firstorn push the door ajar. She stuck her head out a little bit to see if anyone else was in the hallway. It was empty, although there were shouts and angry retorts heard, but in the distance.

Then Cassandra saw Thompson carried on his broad shoulders, Ms. High & Mighty Pants back to the metal cell, the one in which they had all woke up to. She appeared to be unconscious. Cassandra took a deep breath, and sneaked out, staying close to the walls.

She got to the metal cell just in time for Thompson to announce that he had accomplished his task of incarcerating Ms. Lauren. Cassandra quickly melted into the shadows, hoping that Thompson had not spotted either Firstorn or herself. He did not by the resoluteness of his steps in heading back to the Doctor’s office.

Cassandra had managed to glimpse only a part of the procedures in getting the door opened. She stood up, with her nose nearly touching the control panel. The buttons and codes required to opened it were alien to her. She searched the catacombs of her memory, looking for the key that will open the door. Then she found it. Cassandra stepped back and delivered a mighty kick at the control panel. The control panel broke, and spluttered electrical sparks.

The door, as silently as before, slid open. Cassandra did a little jig of victory, as she peered into the cold room once again. She walked to the unconscious Ms. Lauren.

‘Miss…Miss…Miss…please wake up,’ Cassandra said as she tried to shake Ms. Lauren back up to the world of the conscious.