▶ 003. TEST DRIVE & SIMULATION #3

[synfluxmods]

TEST DRIVE & SIMULATION #3

CONTENT WARNINGS: forced scenarios, partial nudity, full nudity, alcohol & drug use, violence & action scenarios, simulation mindfucking, bees/hornets, parasites.

▶ 001. ARRIVAL / CAFETERIA.

It happens in the blink of an eye -- a dash of time. You're taken from where you were. What you were doing.. it isn't important anymore, and slowly, you give up to desire your normal life. When you awake, figures are looking down on you from a surgical table.

"Yeah, this one will do; let's take them to the rest," That's all you see before losing consciousness again, only to wake up in a pod with many others.

"Your questions will be answered soon enough as I'm sure you will have many," a female, robotic voice says.

Just then, your pod opens in a dim corridor with many others. Your new life is about to begin... whether you like it or not.

The pods drain their stasis fluid which wakens each Outsider. When Outsiders emerge from their pod in only their undergarments which have been supplied to them and head to a locker room in the medical bay, to find a towel to dry off with, a set of gray loungewear to wear as LILITH makes the final decision in organizing the Outsider to their rightful teams. If a character has any accessibility needs, they will be found here. It's about then they will feel a sharp pain at the back of their eyes, almost like there’s a foreign body lodged on the inside of their head. This pain will subside quickly as their body adapts to the changes, but there will always be a sensation of something being not quite right. That their bodies have been changed forever. They would be correct in thinking that. In the pod, all Outsiders have been surgically fitted with ocular and brain implants that will enable them to communicate with LILITH and the rest of the crew, and feed them the information they require. Almost like a computer screen has been loaded into their brains, they will see a loading screen as the implant completes its download. A questionnaire will then pop up, waiting for their answer. A voice, robotic and feminine, will also read along in their brain for them.

█ █ █ LOADING COMPLETE … BEGIN ORIENTATION …

Name:
Username:
Civilian Identity:
Age:
Species:
Origin:

If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be and why?

<raw code><table width="80%"><br><div align="center"><img src="IMAGE_URL" style="width: 200px; border-radius: 15px; border: 1px solid #7F7F7F; box-shadow: #8D8D8D 1px 1px 1px;"> <!-- CARD --> <div style="width:230px;padding:20px 0 0;border:1px solid #f2f2f2;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:center;align-items:right;gap:5px;background:#fff;"> <!-- CHAR INFO: start --> <div style="width:150px;font-family:courier;font-weight:bold;font-size: clamp(14px, 1vw, 10px);letter-spacing:1px;line-height:1;color:#000;"></lj-raw><font color="#00686E">NAME</font> <lj-raw></div> <!-- CHAR INFO: end --> <!-- COLLAPSIBLE START --> <div style="width:230px;background:#eee;"><details><summary style="cursor:pointer;text-align:center;font-family:arial, sans serif;font-weight:bold;text-align:left;display:flex;justify-content:center;align-items:center;background:#ccc;color:#000;">+</summary> <!-- COLLAPSIBLE: content --> <div style="width:190px;margin:0 auto;padding:7px 0;font-family:arial, sans serif;font-size:11px;text-align:left;color:#000;"> </lj-raw><b>Username:</b> !!ANSWER HERE!! <br> <b>Civilian Identity:</b> !!ANSWER HERE OR SAY UNDECIDED!! <br> <b>Age:</b> !!AGE HERE!! <br> <b>Species:</b> !!SPECIES HERE!! <br> <b>Origin:</b> !!ORIGIN HERE!! <br></br> <b>If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be and why?</b></br> </br>!! ANSWER HERE !!<lj-raw> </div></details></div> <!-- COLLAPSIBLE: content end --> <!-- COLLAPSIBLE END --> </div></div> <!-- CARD name: END --> <!-- CREDIT --> <div style="width:100%;margin-top:-15px;font-size:10px;color:#ddd; text-align:center;"><a title="code credit!" href="http://10billionghosts.dreamwidth.org" style="text-decoration:none;color:#ddd;">credit</a></div></center></table></raw code>

The system will give Outsiders one chance to provide a truthful answer and choose their username and civilian identity. Should they refuse to cooperate, the implant will download the answer directly from their brain (and give them a username or civilian name against their will). This questionnaire will then be posted on the network for all to view and reply to. Almost like an ice-breaker, if you will. LILITH wants all their newest recruits to learn about each other!

Outsiders will receive a quick brief about their situation: They will be told that the year is 2278, and they have been taken to Neo Tokyo, one of the last bastions of mankind in a world terrorized by various Kaiju and monsters. Only a third of the population remains, and LILITH has gathered talented people from other dimensions here as a last ditch effort to save humanity. Outsiders are free to continue asking LILITH questions through their implant, but there’s no guarantee they will provide them with a straight answer …

Outsiders will also notice an implant in their dominant wrist. This implant has a barcode in it that will enable them to purchase goods from the local stores in Neo Tokyo. They will receive a starting balance of 10,000 KRYPTOS (about USD 66), which is barely enough for a few good meals, groceries and supplies. They can view their current balance through a hologram window projected by their ocular implant.

Once they leave the medical bay, they’ll be able to grab a quick meal in the cafeteria and mingle with the other Outsiders just waking up. Today’s menu is oniku sashimi, miso soup, and ginger salad, all packed neatly in a food ration tray. Oniku is whale tail meat. Huh. There's been a whale theme going around here lately. Must be a coincidence... right?

That familiar, robotic voice is heard again:

"Greetings, my name is SYNTHIA and I will be taking care of you today while the rest of the crew is busy handling a recent issue. Worry not, my children. You are in safe hands. Please enjoy your complimentary meal which LILITH has carefully procured for you all. You may then head to your quarters are explore our BASE using the map provided. This meal is a delicacy in some parts, so feel free to express your undying gratitude."

▶ 002. SUBJECT NOT FOUND.

Early in the morning on March 2nd, the power suddenly goes out. Outsiders may wake up to find that wake-up alarms never went off, the coffee machines don't work, and breakfast isn't ready in the cafeteria because of the sudden outage. Early risers may find themselves trapped in their team wings when automatic doors refuse to budge and those who are particularly unlucky may find themselves stuck in an elevator.

Within the hour, the power boots back up again and life on base returns mostly to normal. The only inconvenience seems to be a haphazardly thrown-together breakfast consisting of whatever could be made without power quickly. As the day goes on, observant characters may notice something amiss. They can catch some LILITH workers whispering to each other and there seem to be more agents in fancy suits roaming around.

If they find themselves in the right place, Outsiders may find that one of the many research labs on base is locked down and they won't be allowed to enter. If they ask one of the guards keeping watch, they will simply be told to move along. Asking some of the researchers or other workers in the area will reveal "something" happened during the power outage in the morning.

By evening, everyone's ocular implants will flash a quick notice:

|| MISSING PERSON

Name: Dr. Tanaka Junichiro
Role: LILITH Researcher.
Specialty: Genetic Research (Native Species and Kaiju)
Details: Latest available security footage depicts Dr. Tanaka stationed in their lab at LILITH Research Base. At 0735hrs on the morning of 2 March, a power disturbance struck all LILITH networks, resulting in all security monitoring systems within the area going offline briefly. After this disturbance was resolved, Dr. Tanaka was reported missing from their designated station under mysterious circumstances. Other resources missing from the base include: Research files and various live and deceased specimens.

Any clues on Dr. Tanaka's whereabouts are to be surrendered to LILITH immediately. Dr. Tanaka's primary research involved DNA splicing and induced evolution. Any information or clues regarding them or their work is highly valued. It is our top objective to ensure the safe return of our valuable staff members. ||

▶ 003. CLAWS FOR CONCERN.

Shortly after the disappearance of Dr. Tanaka, Outsiders who wander the back alleys and keep an ear open will hear whispers of exotic animals and chimera being traded for meat, entertainment and pet ownership. Most of this talk will be heard near the biggest black market in Shinjuku, "Starlight X". It's a novelty within Neo Tokyo and word gets out quick, even if the residents are hush-hush about where they got their sources from. Photos of these hybrids show up on social media to the astonishment and skepticism of the citizens. To find Starlight X, Outsiders will have to travel underground, taking the term underground market quite literally. There is an entrance way in a nearby alley without too much security; with the lack of policemen, now, people might as well sell their illegal substances on the surface.

Once there, Outsiders will be able to discover a plethora of suspicious things for purchase: such as recreational drugs, performance-enhancing nanobots, assorted weapons (some legal and some not), unlabeled meats, the … services of suspicious people, and a whole lot of junk. While visiting Starlight X, some of these creature hybrids even get loose and need to be captured before they draw too much attention. LILITH advises Outsiders to turn in any such specimens, live or dead, or put in a report immediately upon seeing them. Withholding such information or keeping a specimen for yourself may result in unwanted consequences if LILITH comes to find out.

These hybrids are generally small and mostly harmless, no doubt being traded for companionship and novelty. Cats that look like small lions or tigers, canaries with peacock feathers, frogs with wings, and so on (players may use their imagination).

Any further questions regarding Starlight X can be asked below.

▶ 004. THE SAPPHIRE ROOM.

It becomes such a problem that LILITH can no longer ignore it. It's clear that someone - or a group of someones - have gotten their hands on LILITH's priceless specimens and data, and are testing the waters on what they can get away with. Allowing the public to get their hands on the smaller hybrids is one thing. According to word around the street, there's going to be an auction on the night of the 5th, and that's where the larger, more dangerous hybrids will be sold. Some even say you'll be able to find man-made monsters.

Closer to that date, LILITH decides to strike back to avoid further humiliation. With the help of their skilled informants, they've managed to secure the location, but ordering the Outsiders to storm the place like a military strike team just isn't an option. Said location is in a popular, bustling part of town, where the locals wine and dine. That would only cause panic and distrust amongst the people. The approach that's needed today ... is something more clandestine.

|| MISSION: Infiltration of The Sapphire Room
LOCATION: The Sapphire Room, in Roppongi. A popular and exclusive nightclub serving a lavish experience to those who can afford it.
DETAILS: Sources reveal that The Sapphire Room, while a fully functioning club, has also been playing host to suspicious activities and trading in their exclusive underground rooms. An illegal auction is currently being held at the end of this week, which happens to be their Couples' Night. To gain access into this auction, Outsiders are to pair up and maintain appropriate cover. Information about your disguises have been downloaded into your chips.

OBJECTIVE:
✖ Infiltrate the secret auction occurring in The Sapphire Room as a pair.
✖ Disrupt the auction using any means possible.
✖ Capture hybrid specimens and surrender them to LILITH.
✖ Capture the perpetrators for questioning.
✖ Obtain any research data available and surrender it to LILITH. ||

Outsiders will be briefed on the disguise and cover identity provided to them by LILITH, and temporarily granted a Style Upgrade to their chip to enable them to dress the part. (Players may make up their own cover identity for this mission. )

Hybrids within the auction include larger, more dangerous chimeras such as lion snapping-turtles, alligator-hippos, and snapping bears (among others). Smaller chimeras such as winged rabbits and seven-headed-snakes can also be found.

At the center of it all … the main event: An actual Kaiju hybrid. At the center of the stage is a miniature version of the Shachimon whales that had sewn chaos across the sea just a month before. She’s much smaller than her full sized counterparts, only about as large as a dog. It’s likely she’s been bred down with native marine life to make her more tameable and less able to completely topple a boat with her strength.

This is what the auction-goers had come to see and hopefully purchase today. What they want a half-Kaiju for remains to be seen, but LILITH is not about to let just anyone get their hands on their specimens.

Outsiders undertaking this mission may wrangle and capture the hybrid creatures (most of which will be aggressive) and fight off or capture the auction staff. Most of the staff will be armed with guns and cybernetic enhancements (e.g. bionic arms with lasers attached). They can be questioned but not all of them are happy to answer. Unfortunately, the ringleaders will slip away in the chaos before anyone can capture them. A message from Captain Yamakawa projects into the implant late into the night (and if you were sleeping by this hour of 2 a.m, you're about to be woken up.)

"This is unacceptable. Angels of LILITH, please be on the lookout for the organizers of this crime. This kind of theft is unforgivable. We are investigating their identities, but any further information regarding those that got away is appreciated."

▶ 005. SIMULATION.

While Outsider are given some time to rest and recover from their battle in February, it doesn't take long for their training to kick back up again. Outsiders will be summoned to the simulation room and instructed to put on their LILITH-issued plugsuits. They will be paired or put into groups for another battle simulation. After being ushed into the training grounds, the room will turn pitch black and a briefing sheet will be projected from their eye implant.

They will be able to access the briefing sheet at any time during the simulation by simply asking to see it. After each Outsider has read the mission brief, the simulation will begin, and they will find themselves in Singapore. The city is lively and all seems well and ordinary with civilians going about their daily lives. The weather is warm and sunny and it's a beautiful day.

Suddenly, screams break out from a nearby Hawker centre. A small group of civilians go on a rampage and begin chasing after the crowds. They move quickly but awkwardly as if they aren't in total control of their bodies. They try to attack other people in any way possible and cannot listen to reason. Rendering the disturbed civilians dead or unconscious will result in a large hornet emerging from a melted hole somewhere on the victim's body. The hornets must be destroyed before they possess another host. It isn't just the humans that can be taken over: Some of the suzume-bachi will infect the local animal life as well.

If you look around, there are still many people running around and curious onlookers trying to catch a peek inside. With so many hosts milling around, the suzume-bachi could be anywhere among us.

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET:
NAME: SUZUME-BACHI
HEIGHT: 7.6-12 in.
WEIGHT: 2 kg
CLASS: UNKNOWN, CANNOT BE CLASSED.
THREAT LEVEL: MODERATE-SEVERE
LOCATION: Tropical climates with high humidity
ABILITIES: Parasitic and will enter a “host body” and try to gain control. Capable of entering other wildlife.
WEAKNESS: Ice (they cannot operate in cold climate), physical attacks.
EXTRA NOTES: Once they gain control over a lifeform, only rendering the host body unconscious will allow them to expose themselves. It is advised to kill them prior to have the entering ones body. The process of them latching on to take control is extremely invasive as they melt through skin to gain access to a body. Possessed bodies will behave aggressively and will try to lure others into areas of nesting for the SUZUME-BACHI. Highly protective of their hive and their “QUEEN”— please approach hives with caution and do not approach alone.

█ █ █ MISSION OBJECTIVE:
✖ Identify humans and creatures being controlled by the SUZUME-BACHI.
✖ Rescue civilians and clear all wildlife of being possessed by the SUZUME-BACHI.
✖ Help move civilians to underground safety bunker.
✖ Protect safe zones from SUZUME-BACHI.
EXTRA NOTES: Every SUZUME-BACHI killed equals 1 KILL point, freeing those who are under its control is 1 ASSIST point, and getting civilians to the shelter will give 1 RESCUE point.

█ █ █ ATTACHED PHOTO:

▶ 006. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our third TDM! All TDM threads are game canon; characters who don't app will be glitched out of this world. As TDM will act as the event, existing characters are heavily encouraged to participate. We encourage this format for top levels: CHARACTER | CANON | CURRENT / NEW CHARACTER. '

There are currently 23 available player slots. New players are welcome to use this TDM to get samples for when APPLICATIONS open.

None of the prompts suit your fancy? Feel free to check out our main base and locations page and make up your own prompts!

Use the code provided in the ARRIVAL prompt if you'd like to participate in the ice breaker and place it in your top level along with your other prompts. Anything such as civilian name or username can be marked as UNDECIDED if you're unsure of what you'd like your character to have for now. Though it says 'Orientation', existing characters can still participate in the ice-breaker.

Please note that all tags in this log will count for 2 reward points each and will count towards March AC.

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Comments

[eyescar]

[ Yuji senses something - he's not sure how to explain it - when he wakes up that morning, as if something inside of him has shifted. He gets himself out of bed, adjusts his style chip to dress in his usual casual outfit and then makes his way out, as if he can follow the feeling out to some kind of conclusion. It leads him to the cafeteria, and when he gets there, suddenly everything makes sense.

Choso. Eyes widening, he rushes forward, reaching out to grab the man by his arm and hold on gently, turning to look him in the face, just to make sure it's really him. It is! ]

Hey! Choso, you're here! I didn't know - you should've come to find me!

[ Why is the younger brother scolding the eldest... ]

1/2

[gimu]

[ what sort of older brother acts in a way to earn a scolding from the youngest? the thought hits him first before all the others, a glass-bright shard of clarity in the maelstrom, stuns him so entirely that when he whips around at the touch, the snarl dies on his tongue, the expression crumbles like sand. the stare he levels on Itadori Yuji is wide-eyed and stricken, pulse stuttering over an emotion he can't tell is fear or not. ]

[gimu]

[ yuji lived. ]

I--

[ yuji lives. ]

-had been going--

[ hands frozen, body frozen midway through the motion of, of jerking away, maybe, or clapping his hands, maybe. to what end? ]

-to find you.

[eyescar]

Great! Now you don’t have to worry about that.

[ There’s something weird, though - well, weirder than usual for Choso, and Yuji tilts his head as he watches the other guy. He’s clearly processing something, so Yuji just beams and reaches out to pat his shoulder gently. ]

Have you been here long? If not, I can show you around? It’ll be cool to tell everyone my big brother is here.

[gimu]

[ a gentle pat, a bright smile, mouth forming the words he’s only heard in his damning little dream and for a moment, the horrors of waking to LILITH are forgotten, swept aside like so much detritus to make way for this, this, this this this.

’my big brother is here’. ]

I arrived only [ hours ago minutes ago heartbeats ago each tick of the second more inconsequential than the last ] recently.

[ his hands drop to his sides, earlier reflex abandoned in favour of turning fully toward yuji.

choso, he’s trying, isn’t he? the wrangling of something as strange as a face is a surprising effort, a daunting task to a novice of the art so when he tries to smooth his face, it’s still a little crooked, his eyes still wide and staring. ]

Itadori Yuji, you know…?

[eyescar]

Yeah? I probably would've noticed you sooner if it had been longer, so it's good we found each other right away!

[ Yuji might not get the depth of their bond just yet - he's calling Choso big brother because the guy likes it, and because there is something he can't really name between them, an odd feeling - but he is genuinely happy to see Choso again. It's a relief to see the familiar, and the weight of his own sadness can abate for a moment.

He hopes that his 'big brother' is happy to see him too. ]

I know... That you're 'big brother'? You said it, so... If you don't like it now I can stop?

[ Did he mess up straight away? Damn... ]

[gimu]

[ ah, fuck, wait, no. ]

No, don’t stop. This is good. This is—

[ actually really good, but far ahead of his current projections. readjust, quickly. ]

-unexpected. I was not ready for your acceptance so soon.

[eyescar]

Really? It’s been a few weeks, so…

[ Unless… This might be like Fushiguro, huh? Well, this makes this a little awkward.

Yuji rubs the back of his neck. Wow. ]

What do you remember?

[gimu]

[ a few weeks. since when? since what?

what do you remember, choso? ]

I nearly killed you.

[eyescar]

Oh... Shibuya? It's been a while since then.

[ No wonder this is so awkward for the guy. ]

Sorry?

[gimu]

[ a while, what does he mean, “a while”!?

but he is alive. he is alive and he knows and he accepts and really, at this point in this fucked up little day, there’s not much more choso wants than to have this, this lone kernel of familiarity in a screaming new world. ]

There is nothing for you to be sorry for.

[eyescar]

[ Lifting his hand, Yuji pats Choso's arm gently. ]

It still must be a bit weird, for me to remember things that you don't. It's okay if it takes a while for you to adjust to it all.

1/3

[gimu]

[ what has yuji seen since choso last saw him? where has his path led him? has he walked it alone?

at the pat, choso looks down, arrested by this simple thing, this warm palm on his jittering arm, and the soft pressure of it kills the rising agitation in his chest, crushes it to shudder to a stop, the painful slam of his heart in his chest ceasing at last to deafen him from the inside out. ]

[gimu]

[ to remember things you don’t.

like choso was there, in shibuya’s aftermath. like he’s been there all this time at yuji’s side, walking with him wherever they needed to go.

choso sucks in a breath that rattles, uneven and unsteady. ]

[gimu]

[ it’s okay, yuji says, and something in choso gives, a fist around his organs letting go at last. ]

I’m glad. [ it tumbles out, as thick as a sob, and with it the mark bisecting his face begins to bead up, oozing blood slow and viscous. there is no room here for such paltry concepts as embarrassment or self-consciousness;

here in the middle of the cafeteria, stood over itadori yuji with his hands curling and uncurling in turns, choso weeps in relief. ]

I’m so glad. Thank you.

[eyescar]

[ Yuji’s eyes widen briefly in panic - what did he do? Did he say something wrong? He knew that Choso was a little bit weird and he was still figuring the guy out, but this was something else! He flails for a moment before he breathes in and out once.

He can handle this, right? ]

Y-Yeah, me too… It’s really good to see you, Choso?

[ What does he say? ]

Shall we go for a walk or something?

[gimu]

[ the day isn’t quite so horrifying and alien anymore. though the air around choso seems to have lightened somewhat, his tears and the blood from his mark makes a ghastly mask of the lower half of his face; a walk away from the cafeteria and possible food-safety breaches seems prudent. ]

Anywhere you want. [ snurfle. ]

[eyescar]

Right. Let’s go walk around the base and I can show you where my room is.

[ That seems like the kind of place Choso would like to see. Yuji feels a little awkward as he guides him out, leading him off towards the main area of the Everlight housing. People are definitely staring at them now…

Anyway… ]

I meant what I said before. It’s good to see you.

[gimu]

[ to ascend, one must first fall to the lowest of pits. choso had fallen real far down some kind of rabbit hole indeed, but now yuji was here to javelin-pitch him out and into orbit. choso is in orbit. ]

I'm relieved to see you in good health. [ it's sounding like he's collecting himself in good order, at least. ] I didn't expect anything so fortuitous to come out of this LILITH business.

[eyescar]

There’s a few of us here, actually. Me, Kugisaki, Fushiguro, Nanamin and Gojo-sensei… Though I guess you don’t know who those guys are?

[ Kugisaki was there with his brothers, but Choso had said he’d forgiven Yuji for that ‘misunderstanding’… Maybe he’ll forgive her too, all things considered? ]

I’ll introduce you to them. They might call it weird, but you can ignore that.

[gimu]

I intend to. [ he’s good at that, ignoring what anyone else might have to think about him. but it’s yuji’s friends and peers. he’s going to have to care. ]

Gojo Satoru? He’s freed?

[eyescar]

Oh... Apparently he has been, to get here? LILITH are powerful like that.

[ Gojo-sensei hasn't given any indication that anything is amiss, so Yuji is trying to be optimistic. Key word being trying. ]

[gimu]

[ breaking the bearer of six eyes out of that suffocating cube of a prison to transfer him across, what? across time, across worlds? it’s power. it’s an alarming amount of power, sparking a heavy disquiet in choso’s heavy chest. ]

… We may not get along. [ as a warning, y’know. ]

[eyescar]

[ Apparently... Yuji would like to pin him down and get Gojo-sensei to say what's going on in his mind, but it's not that easy. His teacher is pretty lax with talking about himself on the best of days, and now... Well, he looks a little different, but Yuji can't place why.

Instead, he frowns, sighing. ]

It's okay. If he knows you're important to me then he'll be nice.

[gimu]

I tried to kill him, Yuji.

[ brotherly bonds are one thing, but being a member of the very curse-heavy strike team sent to attack and distract gojo for the singular purpose of boxing him up is another entirely.

choso does not have yuji’s confidence on the matter. ]