towerofanimus | Endgame: This is the Way the World Ends

[Two more options appear. The first is a file, the second a folder. The folder is currently locked.]

DAY ZERO
REPORTS

[Let's open the file first, then.]

Ruana...

[His expression has gone somewhat flat, and depressed.]

If you would let me speak to you... hm...

[A video begins to play. DAY 000 is displayed in the bottom right corner. Many scientists buzz about the very machine room the residents are currently standing in. Ruana and a boy who looks like Zo are standing uncertainly in the center of it all. The boy is hoisted up to the back of the machine--it's where the Zo the residents know today sits in the machine. Ruana calls out to him--tells him to be careful--and he grins at her. She's left alone as the scientists hook the boy up. Then, with the press of a few buttons, the machine opens up to reveal the empty throne at the center.

A man--the Jason of many thousands of years ago--takes Ruana's hand and leads her into the center, hooking up wires and electrodes with care. The man asks if Ruana is ready, and she nods, but seems so nervous it's doubtful she would have said no even if she wasn't.

The scientists begin typing away at various terminals. After a few moments of silence, the machine whirs frighteningly to life. Ruana begins to scream, and the boy a few moments later.

Ruana's soul is removed, pulled out of her mouth in a process that will feel nostalgically familiar to every resident watching. At that very moment, there's a bright flash of light, and every other person in the room has their insides pulled violently out through their mouths. Their souls escape and twist and warp, turning into frightening but familiar monsters. Ruana's soul is left the only one unharmed.

Of course it was always the very process of soul extraction that ruined everyone's worlds in the first place.

The reports folder is unlocked.]

[He opens the reports folder. He's not stopping for the others now - he has to find out. He has to figure out how to help, not only for his sake, but for hers.]

[The reports folder opens to a short list.]

REPORT 001
REPORT 002
REPORT 003

[He opens the first report, trying to keep his breathing normal.]

SUBJECT 037 (RUANA)

Subject is young female possessing the ability to manipulate ambient psionic energy and absorb the abilities and memories of others through consumption of their soul and body. Given subject's high level of abilities and their direct relation to the soul, this subject is the most promising candidate for the project. Subject is mostly compliant; when she misbehaves, isolation punishment has been shown to be most effective.

[It's probably for the best Naoya's not really waiting. All Diarmuid can get out passed his shock as he waits for what will be revealed next is a barely whispered phrase.]

She doesn't want to be alone.

[He knows that feeling.]

Edited 2014-08-25 18:33 (UTC)

[If one thought Waver was simultaneously turning pale and radiating a very quiet aura of absolute rage, they would not be mistaken.]

Why...fucking why did any of this even-...What was this supposed to accomplish, I don't...

...no idea. It's sick.

[Very few words, but that's her style. It's easier to be quiet in the middle of this than it is to say what she's actually feeling, which is a mix of shock and horror.]

I don't know. I don't know, but I do know that if I find their souls I will tear them apart.

[On to the second report.]

At its heart, immortality is the preservation of the soul on this plane. It is our duty to study the limits of the soul's potential. With the psionic abilities of children whose souls are still growing, it may be possible to separate a soul from its container and in doing so create effective immortality. The personality and memories would be preserved, and a powerful psionic such as these children would even be able to project a body outward without the aid of the glamour systems, though raising the children in such an environment does make their souls more used to the idea of such projections.

If it can be done with a powerful psionic child, it may be possible to work the technology toward making it available even to those without manifested abilities.

[Naoya is shaking. It's difficult for him to stop at this point. He has to pause at the terminal to catch his breath, but he doesn't say anything. He just moves on to the last report.]

[He will destroy them. He has to. There's no other answer. If any shred of them remains in any universe he will stamp them out until they're ground into dust. And then he'll laugh, until he can't laugh anymore.]

[Diarmuid eyes dart off in the direction that he guesses the fight with Ruana is taking place.]

Immortality. Of course...

[He almost spits the word.]

Congratulations. Your experiments worked. It's not so great as you all thought, is it?

... Lancer.

[Naoya's voice is very quiet as he opens the last report.]

Do me a favor, please. Shut up.

1369's abilities, that of barrier manipulation, are a perfect compliment to those of 37. With 1369 even the barriers between points of time can be manipulated, so he's the best option for balancing out 37 when placed in the machine. If something goes wrong, he could work as a failsafe in that manner, specifically by

[The rest of the report appears to have been deleted. There is nothing else.]

[He lets out a quiet breath, and takes a look to see if he can find any more hidden files.]

[There's nothing.]

[Naoya takes a few steps backwards once he closes things out, and looks somewhat dazed. He turns towards where Zo and Aria are.]

... I have to go.

What--wait, where are you going?

Isn't it... haa... isn't it obvious? I need to speak to her! She knows... she must know, but maybe... there's a way...

[He's not entirely coherent right now, nope.]

Naoya, focus.

[Sometimes it was useful that Waver was an expert at emotional repression. Now was one of those times.]

You can't run off like this. Even you have to know how suicidal that is.

[He turns and reaches out to grab Waver by the shirt, his eyes glimmering with madness.]

And out of all people, you think that matters to me exactly... why? I can't die either. Physically, yes. But I'll come back. I... I have been around for well over five thousand years. Death holds no fear, no punishment for me anymore.

She is the only person who might... might somehow understand.

Yeah, I kind of figured that out.

[Waver hardly even blinked at the sudden reaction or implied threat of violence.]

But you really think that shit's going to apply here? You'll end up dying and probably fucking stay that way. If you're out to kill yourself permanently, fine. But it'd be pretty fucking pathetic if all those years ended because you let your temper get to your head and did something goddamn insane.

You really think there's anything left of her that can 'understand' much of anything? It's a crying goddamn shame, but she's probably still going to rip us all apart given the chance.

[He's right. He knows Waver's right, but it's so difficult to keep himself calm. Slowly, very slowly, he uncurls his fingers and steps away.]

Then what... then what am I supposed to do about this?

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