dappledleaves | THE WORLD: PSL LIFE

[ Arvel and the secretary watch the whole thing, neither with horror, but with a pensive look on their faces. The latter jots notes down on his clipboard.

"The vegans would absolutely abhor this."

It's said with a neutral, factual tone. He's not a vegan though.

"It's said there are about 14 billion chickens in the world and the number only continues to grow. We have no shortage of them. Moreover, regarding food, it would have to pass FDA's standards unless you're willing to bribe them."

Which, obvious to say, is something that Arvel will not be doing. And with how Kayser Corp seems to be needing funding, he doubts they can do it, or at least as they are now.

"While it's true that we do kill animals and consume them for food, people have been debating the use of slaughterhouses for years due to the unnecessary amount of pain and fear it brings to the animals before converted into food. For your sake, I will assume that this is in the preliminary stages with lots of tweaks to be made." ]

["Ah, Mr. Severine, we don't intend on any further pain to be inflicted on these creatures. On the contrary, our plan is to develop a solution to avoid pain altogether." Dongrang doesn't seem to be perturbed, at all despite the visible concern in his audience.

"Mr. Samjo, shall we take them up to the next level? I think we ought to review our research with them."

Faust assesses them all coolly. "Yes. Your...methodology is lacking. You seem to be unaware on how to best utilise your resources."

There's a smile, unflinching.

"Ms. Faust. Your research into alternate universes and possibilities has been phenomenal. The work your company has been building towards allowing humanity to surpass its limits--I'm sure you understand where our research is going."

They're taken up again, away from the conveyor belt and Sinclair has to ask because all of it was so unnecessarily...sadistic]

What was the point of the conveyor belt?

["Oh, that was our CEO's wish. Her oddities, you can imagine."]

[ "Oddities". Yeah, sure. It very much reminds Arvel and the secretary about the hung meat usually seen in butcher shops. Neither of them will sing morals about how each and every life should be treasured, but damn.

The secretary jots more things on the clipboard.

"Will the CEO make an appearance?"

The secretary raises his gaze from the clipboard to stare at Dongrang even though it was Arvel who asked, seemingly so unassuming. It's a very stern stare. Better answer that carefully. ]

["Ms. Alfonso unfortunately was delayed in her arrival today. She has briefed me on company matters, and will arrive around 1400." That's Samjo speaking. Sinclair who hadn't taken his eyes off Dongrang the entire time...is it his imagination he sees displeasure?

Maybe he's looking into things.

The room they're taken to this time seems to be a proper laboratory, with something sealed off inside a vault.

...

He doesn't like this.

"Unfortunately, due to the nature of this, we can only show you footage captured from the cameras outside. Mr. Samjo, if you will..."]

[ Arvel keeps the professional smile on his face, while the secretary is more of a lineface behind him. He doesn't need to express his words nor talk out of turn.

Their expectations is seeing some "creature" as mentioned earlier. It was brought into submission by the Zwei Team, right in front of them. That would speak volumes for their experience themselves.

But it's time for the unveiling. ]

[What Oria had dreamt of wasn't real.

But Kayser Corp did have something strange, discovered and subdued with the twelve people no one would miss, but had a certain 'resonance' with such creatures. The creature that appears on screen couldn't be created through imagination. It's flesh twisted into something else; remnants of a humanity that no longer existed. Sinclair's gaze fixes on the screen. He knows the other reason they're here - it was certain proof this was no farce.

He also knows that's the creature in the footage that had been in his father's laboratory.

It's all.

So.]

[ They stare at the footage for a while and Arvel is the one to speak up as usual:

"This is the core part of your research? This creature?"

Hm.

Much to think about.

Meanwhile, the secretary has a normal reaction for once. What the fuck is that--is pretty much written all over his face. ]

["Its cells regenerate at an astounding rate. We have been using test runs to try and induce its effects in others." Dongrang looks proud. "With more funding, we could potentially revolutionalise the medical industry entirely. What's most interesting is that it seems to create some sort of energy that may be harnessed--ah, but Limbus Company already has made some progress on that, I imagine."

No mention of the chickens this time. Sinclair squeezes his arms tightly, and Faust speaks.

"Mr. Dongrang, your CEO understands...the nature of this Abnormality, yes?"

Sinclair stares at the vault, imagining what lay behind it...

Would the vault truly hold it?]

Edited 2023-12-21 03:34 (UTC)

[ The thing about being normal despite rich is that you're still very much used to a world that isn't full of monsters. Arvel still keeps his calm though and the secretary also eventually regains his calm. Jesus christ.

"Could you explain for those who don't know, Ms. Faust?"

Is this man afraid of nothing? No. But he sure is keeping up that facade. ]

["Abnormalities were formed by researching the limits of human potential," Faust says, her voice calm and unaffected. "This one in particular is known for its regeneration capabilities. Of course, it is recommended we don't study it directly. Unless you have certain...genetic capabilities...you may be driven into madness. "

Sinclair quietly thinks it wouldn't take that much. For some...He squeezes his wrist.]

[ The reason for the footage now makes a lot more sense. Arvel can't say that he's comfortable looking at the thing already by the footage alone. And now he's concerned about something else, but he turns to the Zwei team.

"Do you think the vault can hold it?" ]

[ There's a pregnant pause, as Faust looks for a delicate way to appease everyone. But Sinclair keeps staring flatly at the vault ]

...not for long. Maybe a month. But at some point, it will lure someone in. And then that person will open it.

[He had seen this footage far too many times. And that vault seems too accessible. It was designed at the height of pride.]

Edited 2023-12-21 04:18 (UTC)

[ Arvel looks at Dongrang after Sinclair speaks up. Well, he's had enough of this for maybe a lifetime.

"Well, Mr. Dongrang. It was a pleasure to be here. I will be heading back, because this is as far as my schedule will allow. However, my secretary here can act in my stead. Isn't that right?"

The fact that the CEO didn't come to greet them personally was already insulting. Arvel seems to be on the refusing side, but this would also happen to be a great experience for someone who's still learning.

So the secretary steps up as Arvel is now accompanied by several of his own bodyguards as he leaves. ]

Honestly, you suck at appealing for your own case. Maybe you should hire someone to do the talking for you.

[ The secretary with the long sandy brown hair into a low bun and green eyes speaks with a voice that is extremely familiar to some members of the team. ]

Then maybe you could have had a chance at persuading him. Let researchers do what they do best and let the people who know how to talk handle negotiations. And now you want to use this creature to realize your goals when you don't even have a good way of securing it? You really called the Severines with this? No wonder he's insulted.

[ hello he's been here all along ]

Edited 2023-12-21 04:39 (UTC)

[Sinclair stares. He had assumed--but--how?? What?? Dongrang's smile becomes very fixed, as if it was clear to him it had been a test on every level. And he failed miserably. Sinclair wonders though...

Why have the lead researcher do this? What was the plan?

"I'm not sure what Limbus Company means of this - this vault has the optimum security features - you must be sorely mistaken if you believe it could crack this vault."

Sinclair shakes his head and Faust looks disinterested.

"Security is only as strong as its weakness. And I'm afraid there are many weaknesses in your staffing."

Sinclair knew what that meant - it only took one individual to find the creature appealing. One individual overcome with hubris, and then...]

...we can't leave it here.

[ Oria doesn't think Sinclair's team can just take it back when they helped secure it, but that isn't his problem right now. It could be later, but not right now. ]

Putting aside that you must know what it means to reveal this creature to us, they're the ones who actually secured it, so if anything, they're the ones who know its power better than anyone else. I'm pretty sure that wouldn't even take a month for it to be added to a list of workplace hazards under "strictly avoided under every circumstance".

["Indeed. Mr. Dongrang, when we assisted in its original capture and subjugation, protocols had been laid out clearly on how to manage this abnormality. A facility that could contain it, staff had to be assessed..." Faust says, her gaze calm and assessing.

"Now, see here--our CEO had great visions and faith in this and Mr. Dongrang," Samjo says, perhaps erroneously. Sinclair feels a headache come on, throbbing and aching. Just like last time...

"Your vision is too short sighted," Dongrang says, finally with a thin smile. "Our CEO's vision truly is grand and to support us will allow you to transform the world in a way it hasn't seen before. Surely, CCCorp's technology hadn't been formed on its own. No, it had one of its own, hadn't it? An 'abnormality'."

Dante looks aggrieved - how Sinclair knew that when Dante never removed his mask, was beyond him but......he's not translating all of that (that is too rude, Dante???), but

He's beginning to angry now too]

People died because of it. Like they will with this one--

Edited 2023-12-21 11:51 (UTC)

You can say the vision is grand and world changing all you want, but you're already clashing with your two possible benefactors. Not only are you blatantly disregarding the protocols that were specifically laid out for you, you're pretty much spitting on Limbus Company and trying to bring up an example that had ended in failure.

[ He crosses his arms. Oria understands what Sinclair is trying to appeal for (blatant disregard of human life), but Oria already has a feeling that Dongrang doesn't give two shits about that with how he presented the conveyor belt chickens. He has to target what Dongrang would actually care about. ]

I don't see what the Severines or Limbus Company will be getting out of this deal if you continue to carelessly throw your words out. I'd suggest you actually hire a negotiator before you dig yourselves into a deeper pit before you kiss your chances goodbye.

[ "It is as you say. I'm not very good at negotiating," Dongrang laughs easily. "It's not a position that suits me, yet, we were left with no choice when the threats came in."

"Threats?" Ishmael asks this time.

Sinclair wonders if Dongrang had been set up himself. Even now, surely, he should realise what had gone wrong.

Then the earpiece on Dongrang begins to hiss.

"Dongrang, there is a disturbance on level 15 that requires your assistance immediately ."

Dongrang pauses, murmurs something and then gestures Samjo to escort them out.

"I shall take your words into consideration. For now, please wait here. It seems there is a matter I must attend to. Mr. Samjo, if you could please escort them to a safer area--"

Safe?

There's barely a moment to register anything before explosions go off in the distance.]

[ Oria's head jerks up when the explosions are heard and looks at Dongrang— ]

Hey, what the fuck is going on—

[ "A certain number of ex-employees with a grudge against our company had stolen equipment from us," Dongrang explains as he hurries down the hall. "Of course, we had contracted Limbus originally to retrieve it some months ago, but other issues arose during that time." The mass coma event, basically.

"Although the equipment was retrieved, the data was not, and so we find ourselves in a situation where we had to create counter measures. Mr. Samjo--"

And the rest of them are lead down the opposite path, presumably to the emergency exits, when Sinclair looks up]

...is it just me or are those drones acting oddly?

... You know there's something terrible about to happen when machines stop acting the way they're supposed to. Let's hurry.

[ He wonders about his bodyguards. They must be frantically searching for him right now, but he presses the emergency button in his pocket but in a "I'm alive" sort of notice and that they don't come to look for him and uselessly lose their lives. ]

[ "Manager, I don't believe allowing us to be funnelled into a narrow corridor with winding stairs is optimal for our survi-" The drone drops down lower and then charges straight towards Sinclair.

Ah.

There's only a second before Sinclair jumps out of the way, dragging Oria with him to avoid the glass that shatters everywhere.

More drones appear, taking advantage of the opening created.

A silence falls before Faust hums and agrees.

"Splitting into multiple groups to access all exit points seems most optimal to avoid the drones." And now there sure were more drones drifting in. Sinclair stays ducked behind a desk, reaching for his baton. Did he charge it up again? He's sure he did. Ughh

To Oria]

...are you okay?

[ He was sort of expecting this, but not to this extent. Oof. ]

... Yeah, thanks.

[ He's free of glass cuts thanks to Sinclair's efforts. ]

Splitting up to avoid the drones is a good idea. I don't see why we can't at least go in pairs from how big your team is.

[ If there is anything else in the way, he's pretty sure they prepared themselves for that too.

He would have brought an electronic disrupter if he thought machines were going to be a part of this instead of only live humans. Alas. ]

Edited 2023-12-21 14:48 (UTC)

[ There's a flurry of signs but it seemed that everyone was in agreement. Split up and get out alive. Then more drones come in, this time armed and Sinclair nearly
jumps when he receives a buzz from his phone ]

--oh. They got the maps to us.

[ Time to follow it and get out of here?]

Lead the way.

[ Good thing he's wearing shoes he can run in. Once everyone separates, Oria looks over at Sinclair. ]

When we get low enough, do you wanna jump out a window if we can't get down otherwise?

[ He has something like a grenade. Don't test him. ]

The attackers might be weird.

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