Days 8-11 - Test 1: Aptitude

[14_cun4]

Who: All Initiates
What: LACUNA begins her testing phases
When: Days 8-11
Where: Area 2 - Testing Grounds
Warnings: To be updated, but as this is a testing regimen, it will most likely contain language, violence, mentions of sensitive topics (up to and including pondering the murder of children)

At 06:00 hours on the morning of Day 8, every terminal, be it the one in the living quarters or one of the personal terminals within the rooms, begins broadcasting the sound of a klaxon. This sound, loud enough to reverberate, continues for 30 seconds before it ends as abruptly as it began. The lights raise and after they are fully illuminating whatever area your character may have been rudely awoken in, LACUNA's cold voice fills the silence.

"Good Morning, Initiates. Today will begin Testing. Our first Test Round will be for Aptitude measurement only. As such, blows that would otherwise be fatal will spare you. You have one hour to prepare. Afterwards, proceed to the cryopod chamber for further instruction. Thank you."

As incredibly forthcoming as she's been previously, any attempts to question her further are met with cold silence.

(OOC: The Test will be divided by day and function, and for more information, check out the sweet prompts below, also organized by date! You're not required to use this post, but it may be easier if you haven't found a partner! Feel free to make your own posts, either as actions or network posts as well! Remember, it isn't 100% necessary to obey her commands...)

Comments

[hard_decisions]

(I: Morning, before the tests:)

There's a new face in the common areas, and he is a bit confused.

Wesley's awakening was rude enough, but he very quickly determined that the artificial voice on the intercom, this LACUNA, was in control. He did as suggested, complied with her orders, got dressed as quickly as possible, and began trying to orient himself. He's having minimal luck, and he looks like he's less frightened or angry and more... distracted by his thoughts.

(II: After the tests:)

Having been informed that the testing was Not Required for new arrivals, Wesley took the hint an decided not to try to push the matter. However, he is still intrigued by the testing process, so he can be found haunting the outer hall of the testing grounds, trying to see and hear as much as he can get away with while avoiding the displeasure of their AI host.

He's definitely examining his fellow... guests... as they emerge from the tests, since actually examining the testing process for himself seems likely to earn reprisal.

[movesahead]

Since their arrival and the rather abrupt end to the information from LACUNA, Darius had been constantly moving around and tinkering. He'd been looking for flaws in the system, ways to bypass the door locks and anything else that could be useful.

There hadn't been much in the end, but he did manage to memorize the faces of the other six initiates. Something that was coming in handy now.

The man sitting in the common area was one he didn't remember from those initial days of orientation. Which only meant that he was a new face for, whatever reason. There were two possibilities to this. The first, that the man was a plant. That he was put in this situation to gather information that LACUNA's tests couldn't. It was a viable and likely scenario, but one that couldn't be confirmed unless the man somehow slipped up and offered some form of information that no one but someone working with LACUNA could.

The second option was far more likely, but also a bit terrifying. That this man was a new addition. That those running this facility could bring people in here at their own will; that they might have unknowing people waiting in the wings that they didn't wake up yet. That they could put any one of them into a deep freeze at any time.

He made his way over, sitting across from the man with his hands linked, staying silent for a few moments before speaking. "You look, pensive." Non-committal, not judgemental, just observant.

[hard_decisions]

Wesley has assumed that the other people here are all fellow prisoners, but he was the only one spared the testing- the newest, it would seem. Lucky him.

He could only guess at how long the others had been here, but it was probably not too long, if they were only now being tested for... aptitude, was it? Which means they may still be off-balance. Suspicious. Might regard newcomers as threats.

And wouldn't that be a fun psychological experience.

The other man's approach gets a slightly awkward smile from Wesley, but he doesn't directly acknowledge Darius until he's addressed.

"Sorry. Trying to get my bearings."

After a moment of looking over his new conversation partner, he manages a more genuine chuckle.

"I suppose I can at least be reassured of one thing; you don't look like a lawyer."

[movesahead]

The first answer is expected and doesn't really require any sort of response. Of course, he was trying to get his bearings if he were truly new, anyone would be. Unless they'd been through this sort of thing before or were quick to downshift to a new reality. Darius was thankful that he was of the second variety.

The comment elicits a soft puff of a chuckle from him. After the politician debacle on the written portion of the test, lawyer seemed a step up; if still incorrect.

"A scientist, actually." Which was probably giving something away, but it wasn't as if LACUNA couldn't discern that much from his actions. She could do that for quite a bit of him, which was upsetting, but couldn't be helped. "I assume you've had quite a bit of experience with lawyers then?" After all, it seemed an odd comment to make upon first meeting.

[hard_decisions]

A scientist.

Wesley actually frowns a bit at that, though he catches himself quickly and reverts to a politely pleasant face.

He's had some, ah, baggage. With scientists. Being imprisoned in what appeared to be some sort of experimental laboratory setting hadn't done much to help him suss that out, either.

"You might say that. I initially suspected that a law firm might be responsible for this, which sounds a bit extreme when I say it out loud."

He laughs quietly again at his own observation and extends a hand.

"Wesley. Or, Initiate Wyndam-Pryce, I suppose. It's good to meet you."

[movesahead]

Darius noticed the frown and cover. While it wasn't specific as to which specific part of his comment seemed to upset him, it seemed likely it was the profession, which made no sense to him; then again, Darius Tanz was often referred to as insane.

The concept of a law firm is responsible for something like this, a testing ground isolated from the outside world that could bring people in from other realities ... that seemed like an odd law firm indeed, and it made Darius wonder just what kind of law firms Wesley was used to. He, however, chose not to comment on it for now.

"Darius Tanz, and I'd prefer not to be referred to as an initiate." He offered Wesley his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Westley."

[hard_decisions]

Wesley took the handshake. This entire thing had him on edge, but there was certainly no call to be uncivil toward the others. Even if they were in on it, which seemed doubtful, it was only likely to make him enemies he didn't want.

"To be honest, I quite agree."

He lets the slight mispronunciation go. Not worth bothering over.

"Which actually brings me to a question. Those... tests. I assume I'll be subjected to them sooner or later. What did they entail?"

Darnit! Typed too fast!

[movesahead]

"For the present, they're benign. Aptitude, practical application - basically all the things you'd expect to be tested for when someone is attempting to get baseline data." It made sense; testing for intelligence, strength, all the things you'd need to know before you started testing to see how far you could go before someone would break. It was that last bit that worried him the most.

"I'm more worried about what comes next. Especially now that it seems that her test pool is unlimited."

OH PFFFFT. I thought it was intentional. You shouldn't have said anything, I'd never have known.

[hard_decisions]

That wasn't as much of a relief as he thought it would be, and Darius was right about one thing: This was too much trouble to go to just to collect academic information on what random people are capable of.

"I'm not certain it's unlimited, but-"

Actually, that led to another question.

"This may sound... odd..."

He pauses. Considers. Sighs. No. There's no way to ask this where he doesn't sound like a lunatic.

"You didn't happen to, erm. Die, right before you arrived here?"

[floweroftheslums]

Aerith steps into the common rooms, rubbing her arm where she hit the floor from the fight. It's obvious to her that it will bruise, but she doesn't want to waste her powers on herself, not when she's not sure if she'll need it for any of the others. She looks over and pauses when she sees someone new to the facility. "Oh, did you just get here?"

[hard_decisions]

"I'm afraid I did. Hello."

He's not quite startled by her approach, but he wasn't expecting anybody to pay him much mind. Then again, there seemed to be relatively few people here- few enough that a newcomer would stand out.

And he couldn't help but notice the rubbing of her arm.

"... are you injured?"

[floweroftheslums]

"Hello. I wish I could say welcome, but it wouldn't be very honest."

So far, she's found it cold, sterile and dangerous. The people are a mixed bag. The only upside is that she's alive. If that can be counted, which it does in her book.

At the question, she blinks before she looks down at her arm and shrugs.

"I fell during one of the tests. It's not a big thing."

[hard_decisions]

That gives him a moment's pause.

Many people, including most of his former colleagues, would brush off an injury because they regarded their own safety as a secondary concern. Wesley might conceal its severity because he was suspicious of the people around him and doesn't wish to broadcast weakness or give anybody leverage over him. And of course it was always possible that it was as trivial as she suggested.

Still. She was being forthright about one thing, and he could at least return the favor.

"If it's any consolation, this place is probably preferable to my alternative."

[floweroftheslums]

Well, he missed the very obvious scar through her back and stomach from a katana that should be illegal everywhere. A simple bruise isn't enough to really rustle her jimmies anymore. It hurts, but she'll live.

"Hm, I suppose that could be true for some of the others here too." She's not sure if she feels that way about herself just yet. "Aerith Gainsborough," she holds out her hand for him to shake if he wants. "Have you explored the facility yet?"

Wesley wouldn't know about being impaled with a ridiculously large blade.

[hard_decisions]

"Wesley Wyndam-Pryce." He accepts the handshake. No sense in being disagreeable, even if the circumstances did make him wary.

"I'm afraid I have not. I was a bit preoccupied with the prospect of the tests, since I suspect I'll be subjected to them myself in the near future."

He gestures vaguely at the ceiling of the common room.

"Besides, I get the impression that our charming hostess might frown on... snooping."

Of course he wouldn't!

[floweroftheslums]

"Well, we can explore a bit. She doesn't really get very pushy about it, unless we go further than the light and heat traverse. I wouldn't suggest going down the corridor where are rooms are. The temperature drops very quickly."

Frostbite is going to be an issue here, she thinks.

"Besides, I guess with the name of the place, that shouldn't be too surprising. And there are some blast doors that lead out to another area, but they have yet to move so we can't tell what's behind them."

[hard_decisions]

Effective at neutralizing biological prisoners but not detrimental to most machines. Efficient.

Also frustrating.

"I'm sure we'll find out what's behind them in due time. And by due time, I mean the most inconvenient possible time."

I. Morning

[infelicis]

[Until he stepped from his room into the common area and found this newcomer, it hadn't actually occurred to Felix that people may be pulled here again. He stops short, blinking for a moment, before approaching.]

...Have you just arrived?

[hard_decisions]

[Wesley lets out a quiet chuckle at that.]

"Is it that obvious?"

[He opens his arms a bit, as if he had been caught sneaking around, then offers a hand to the other man.]

"Wesley Wyndam-Pryce. You have good timing, if you'd come in twenty minutes ago, we'd be rather better acquainted than I'd prefer."

[He seems oddly not-freaked-out considering his circumstances, but then again, this doesn't even make a top ten in the traumatic experiences of Wesley's life.]

[infelicis]

[Felix returns his chuckle with one of his own, shrugging slightly.]

There are few of us and I don't recognize you.

[By way of explanation. He takes Wesley's hand when it's offered.]

Felix Alexius, and I fear we'll all be rather more acquainted than we'd like before this is over. [Still, he does notice the man's calm, but he doesn't comment on it. It's fairly innocuous in the list oft hings Felix has experienced as well, at least thus far.]

Have you found the rations yet?

[hard_decisions]

"I hadn't had the opportunity yet. I'd only just found my..."

[Ugly, uncomfortable prison-jumpsuit-esque uniform]

"attire and returned to the common area here when you arrived."

[Something Felix says stands out to him, actually.]

"How few of you- of us, I guess- are here? It seems an extensive compound."

[infelicis]

If you're hungry, I can show you where to find them, but I warn you, they leave much to be desired; filling, but not satisfying.

[He nods at Wesley's question, though.]

You increase our numbers to ten, I believe.

[hard_decisions]

[Ten people, in all this space. What on Earth for? Were there plans to abduct more prisoners? Or perhaps the entire point was to create feelings of isolation. Wesley can't help but notice already just how many details of this place seemed calculated to create discomfort and unease, right down to this horrendously awkward jumpsuit he was forced to wear]

"It would be good to know where the food is, yes. Thank you."

[Even if they were as dreadful as everything else was.]

[infelicis]

It passes for sustenance if not food, in any case.

[He turns and begins this short trek to the kitchen, where there are cupboards, yes, but only freeze-dried rations.]

I've been told they're field rations, and that some militaries use them.

I DIDN'T DIE. HONEST.

[hard_decisions]

"Mm. Charming."

He examines one of the rations with a grimace. Well, he once had to gulp down human blood while pretending to be Angel. He could handle some dreadful-

He opens the package just to take a look.

... drywall cakes. He could handle eating some drywall. Surely.

How bad could it taste?

"Well, as long as they provide adequate nutrition then we can simply choke them down and try not to think about it."

Some inappropriate jokes about thinking of England flash through his brain. He decides now wouldn't be the time.

He takes a small bite. Chews. Grimaces. Chews. Chews some more. Chews some *more.*

Swallows, with no small amount of effort.

Forces a smile.

"Not so bad." He manages to choke out. Oh, he needed some water.