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alphalogs2016-11-27 03:10 pm
Daycycle 117 [ November 27 - December 3 ]
daycycle 117
[Nov 27 - Dec 3]
[OOC Plotting for this Dacycle can be found here.]
Early, Early Morning [0500 - 0800]
Room 1103 will be woken up at 0500 when a squadron of Internal Security Gray Ops come to arrest Felicity Smoak for treason. She will be led away at gun point and her roommates, Isabelle Lightwood and Zatanna Zatara will be immediately taken into IntSec for questioning. They will be questioned separately and intently about the activities of their former roommate, especially since this is the second roommate in three days to be arrested. They will not be released until mid afternoon.
During prisoner check at 0700 this morning, it will be discovered that Parker is among the prisoners being detained. Officials are unsure how she arrived as she was never formally checked into lock up. No one steps forward to claim the prize for her capture.
Early Morning [0800 - 0900] — All Troubleshooters Report for Duty
Buffy Summers and Clint Barton, have been selected for today’s mission. Details are below:
‘The Charity Ball made the higher ups realize how shabby the jumpsuits are in comparison. A complex wide initiative to polish up jumpsuits has been initiated. Citizens will bring you their jumpsuits throughout the day. Check clothing for stains, rips and holes and repair damaged clothing onsite.’
Please debrief the computer on the status of your mission by the end of the Daycycle here.
Morning & Afternoon [0900 - 1600] — Service Firm Positions
All Troubleshooters not assigned a mission should report to their Service Firm for their daily duties, unless specifically assigned a different shift.
At 1300 the trial for Oliver Queen, Peggy Carter, Parker and Julianne Holtzmann will be held and presided over by honorable VIOLET judge Bethany Abbott. Matt Murdock will be representing those accused of being traitors. The trial is closed, but those Specials wanting to pass information to those on trial may do so through their lawyer. Matt will not discover until the trial that if found guilty, those accused will have their clone immediately terminated. If found innocent, they will be released into Alpha Complex in the morning of the next daycycle. To date, no Special accused of treason has ever been found innocent.
Evening [1600 - 2200] — Citizen Improvement
All Alpha citizens are encouraged to better themselves through Alpha’s wide variety of educational, entertainment and cultural opportunities offered each evening. Attending these sanctioned events are not mandatory, but is highly encouraged by The Computer. Citizens choosing not to take advantage of these opportunities, have a growing number of other options available to them in how to spend their hard earned credits and free time.
Tonight’s event will be at 1900 in Meeting Room B, Wagon Wheel, Floor 25 and will be hosted by the Monsters & Aliens Club. Come by to witness the longest running roleplaying game in Alpha history and possibly the only true remnant of Alpha creativity.
Alternatively, there will be a wrap party for those that assisted with the Charity Ball behind the scenes. Arrangements for the party have been made by Jack Harkness under Teela O'Malley's supervision. It will be held in the Teela O'Malley studio at 1800.
Alpha Curfew Restrictions
All Alpha citizens should be in their quarters within the Wagon Wheel by 2200, unless they’ve been given permission from a GREEN or higher clearance level citizen. Sleeping Aid gas is dispelled each night in the Wagon Wheel at 2200 to assist citizens in getting a productive sleeping period.
Confession Booths
There are hundreds of confession booths available around Alpha Complex if a citizen would like to communicate directly with the computer. Please use these confession booths to report mission statuses, report treason or terrorist acts, unregistered mutants, confess your trespasses against Alpha Complex, request propaganda or speak with Your Friend, The Computer, at any time.
no subject
"I talked to Friend Computer a couple of days ago," he says and there's a twitch at the corner of his eye when he says it which suggests how much he hates that: Friend Computer. Some friend. "I'm sure you noticed this in your Alphas, too, but the lower clearance level Alphas in my group tend to perform much more poorly than, say, my YELLOWs do. So, I thought, the only real difference between my REDs and my YELLOWs from a fitness standpoint is their nutrition levels, right?"
He looks around a little and, seeing some of their colleagues milling around, sighs and continues with the sugar coated version. "So anyway, I suggested that adding fruits and vegetables to the diet would improve fitness assessments because their bodies would be better nourished with natural food than with fortified...soylent," Derek has to force himself not to call it slop or shit, which if nothing else, should be a clue to Katniss that he's wording himself very, very carefully. "So now, I've got some of my Alphas chosen, who are maybe a little above par," (translation: his fucking best of the best) "for sort of a control group. Now I'm wondering if you have any, maybe a little lower performing Alphas I could borrow for the week so I have a...well-rounded study to support my theory," he continues, giving her a significant look. Translation: fuck well-rounded, give him the worst of your worst. "Basically, if I can prove that the Alphas with food perform better than those without, I might be able to get some traction here, and Computer has given me permission to do the experiment with a piece of fruit a day for a small group."
Derek has his own temporary food source, so he and Katniss and his roommates can share that without taking away from this experiment which he fully intends to rig in his favor. "You don't have to give me names right now, we can discuss in more detail when we go to lunch," he says with another significant look that he hopes translates to I'll explain later.
no subject
Especially if Derek's talking about real food.
Having that attention and fully understanding what Derek has to say are two different matters though. She gets that he (reluctantly) talked to the Computer recently. That's not something she even thought possible. And she understands the trend that he's describing. That's something she's seen herself. But she doesn't understand how he can correlate that to their nutrition levels. There could be other factors involved. Apathy among the lower levels, for one.
There are a lot of questions that Katniss wants to ask him. But she does understand that he's being careful with his words right now. They might have a few minutes to themselves right now, but someone might easily overhear. She nods to let him know that she is paying attention and, to some degree, even following what he has to say. He wants names. He wants to discuss matters in more detail but he doesn't want to do it here.
"Do you want to have an early lunch?" She looks around the room, taking in the dwindling numbers of clients. "While things are still quiet?"
no subject
If they can get away, maybe not even to the Commissary but, rather, maybe to the warehouse he and Stiles found a couple of weeks ago, then he can speak freely to her and explain in more detail. It's important that she actually understands what he's getting at, he thinks, because then maybe he can have another person to bounce the ideas he's got off of. The more input he's got, the better chances he's got at doing a decent job at this and making it actually work. The odds aren't exactly in his favor for success, but he's going to try his ass off, that's for damn sure, and having someone like Katniss, who works with him, to gently and silently help him along by giving him terrible performers to weigh against his best ones so he can skew the results will certainly help.
Derek leads the way out of their work space and down the hall, careful to keep mostly quiet. He can't exactly launch into explanation while they're still in IntSec. "Did you want to go for a walk or just straight to the Commissary?" he asks, a gentle way of questioning whether she'd be all right with trust him for a moment to find them somewhere more private that isn't also under camera surveillance, like their bedrooms.
no subject
Besides, she owes him for everything that he's done for her. How he's helped her through those first few days even though he didn't have to. The question of helping him now isn't a question at all.
"We can go for a walk," she says quietly, hesitantly slipping her hand in his. It's something that she wants to do but it's not just that. The kiss they had shared yesterday at the dance had been public. And public enough that anyone watching could easily assume this walk is a short date. She's played the game before. "It could be nice to have a little time alone."
no subject
"Yeah, all right, let's do that then," he agrees and it isn't without the awareness of suddenly being casually watched by several others that he leads Katniss out into the hall and then down it. He's mostly quiet until they get into the elevator. "Also, I didn't want to say it at work," he says and even though they're alone, he doesn't let go of her hand as the elevator doors close and, after pressing the button with his free hand, it starts to move. Okay, yes. He likes holding hands with her. "But the reason I had put myself up on that stupid auction block was because I was offered meal tickets for real food for doing it. So...maybe you might want to share dinner with me tonight? I'm going to use one tonight, either way, but I thought I'd offer..."
That sounds like the lamest attempt to ask her on a date, now that he thinks about it, but he supposes that's kind of the point of offering. Plus, it's not like there's anything worth a damn to ask her to do with him if he was going to be more obvious about the date thing, anyway.
no subject
Truth is, she really, really likes the way his hand feels in hers. And she's very happy that Derek doesn't let go when they're in the elevator together. Katniss doesn't know where they're going on this walk and she doesn't ask. Extending her trust isn't easy and given how much Derek is like her, she thinks that he must know that.
"Okay," she says quickly, as soon as Derek pauses long enough to let her get a word in. Katniss isn't good with recognizing a boy's interest; Derek had to pretty much spell it out to her at the dance last night. That he's willing to share such a precious commodity means a lot. In a similar position, Katniss doesn't know if she'd do the same. He's still looking out for her and after last night, she thinks she understands why. "You don't have to but okay. I... I'd like that."
Just in case her words are as confusing and awful as they sound to her own ears, she squeezes his hand reassuringly. This isn't what the walk is about - that's still about the demonstration he mentioned he mentioned at work - but Katniss is happy he asked anyway.
no subject
He smiles a little when she jumps in to respond to his offer. She spits it out quickly, almost like she's afraid he might rescind the offer if she doesn't answer right away. "I know I don't have to," he points out. There's a meal he'll have to share with Natasha, too, he knows; she shared the fruit from the Running of the Halls and he ought to return the favor. He should also share with Allison and Stiles. Alcide is taking care of Buffy with his raffle win. But this first meal, he's interested in sharing with who he wants to, rather than who he's obligated to share with and that means Katniss.
"I'd like that, too," he says when she gives his hand a squeeze. Derek returns the gesture as he leads the way toward the warehouse he and Stiles had found. They reach it sooner than later and he looks surreptitiously around, making sure they're not being watched before he pulls the door open and guides Katniss inside with him. It still looks as abandoned and neglected as it did the night Stiles showed it to him. Good. That means they're still not using it.
"I asked the Computer to give the lower clearance levels real food and told It that if there was more natural nutrition, then the fitness results would generally be better. People are weaker because they're hungry. Of course, the Computer, being a useless lump of metal, suggested just adding more shit to the soylent, so I had to meet It in the middle. It's letting me do a research study. I'm allowed to pick a small group of people and reward good results with a piece of fruit a day."
Derek looks back at Katniss and pauses to make sure that she's following so far. He's talking a little fast because he's trying to make sure that he gets all the information out there before they get caught. It's always only a matter of time, after all, and he'd rather be safe than sorry. "Anyway, so I'm looking to stack the deck and rig the study. I have five of my best performers and I'm going to tell them what they're working toward," he explains. "They'll perform better knowing that they'll get real food as a reward. Now I want five of your worst and I'm not going to tell them. My five will continue to improve and perform well. Yours will continue to fail to do so and they won't get fruit. When the study concludes, it'll look like ten random people, half of which were getting real food and performing better for it, half of which continued to be weak and malnourished and poor performing. That'll prove my point that we need real food on a regular basis. The Computer wants proof, I'm going to give it, but I need to make sure that there's no other way for the results to be read. You follow?"
no subject
Besides, that smile on his face is nice. It’s made even nicer by knowing that she’s responsible for it. Derek is happy she said yes. Maybe, just maybe, this might be something that she doesn’t screw up after all.
As soon as they reach the abandoned warehouse though, the smile on her own face fades. She hadn’t known this was here and it makes her wonder how many other unknown facilities and tunnels might exist. She never really thought to explore the Alpha Complex all that much. She has no idea how extensive this underground structure might be. The realization is almost enough to make her scowl. She shouldn’t have continued to give in to her grief when she arrived. How can she survive any future catastrophe if she doesn’t at least have a basic working knowledge of this place?
She lets go of Derek’s hand a few seconds after they enter the warehouse and she walks away from him. This building is unlike any other place she’s been in in her short time in the Complex and on some level, that fascinates her. A few steps away from him, she begins to turn slowly to look around. She stops her investigations as soon as Derek starts explaining his plan. Katniss turns back to face him, attention now entirely focused on him.
It’s not bad, as ideas go. At least by the ideas she’s heard in the past. Katniss particularly likes that he’s trying the best he can to make a difference for the people here. There aren’t many people who are willing to take a chance like that. And food is important. If anything, growing up in the Seam had taught her that. But growing up in the Seam had taught her something else: if the Computer is anything like President Snow, It just won’t care. No research study will ever convince It otherwise.
“I follow,” she says. “And I- I can help.” There’s no harm in that. There’s no harm at all in providing him five of her worse clients and trying to rig the odds in their favor. But her look remains doubtful. Katniss can’t help it. If good nutrition meant better workers, there would be far more provided in those tesserae than grain and oil. Especially in the Districts like 11 and 12, where so many of the resources sent to the Capitol were dependent upon manual labor. “But do you really think the Computer will care? Even if you have your proof? If It’s anything like President Snow, It won’t. We’re expandable. And people can be too dumb to realize they should just stop putting children in a world where they’re little more than replaceable pawns.”
no subject
Shaking his head, Derek shrugs a little. "Not really," he replies honestly. "I don't think the Computer will care...except that I also think it will. It's hard to explain what I'm thinking but…"
His voice trails off while he tries to put his thoughts into words that'll make sense to someone who isn't him. "From what I can tell, it's like the Computer cares about specific things. Hygiene is one, which is probably why Lydia managed to get that shop up and running rather than getting her ass thrown in jail or worse. It cares about happiness, hence all the goddamn happy pills it keep shoving down our throats. It cares about loyalty, and it cares about the Alphas' ability to protect it, assuming that they want to, which the Computer does, right?
"Well, if we take that into account, I'm focusing on happiness and the ability of the Alphas to protect the Computer and Its ideals. I've positioned it to the Computer, so far, that I believe some of the Alphas to be weak in the absence of actual food. When I finish the study and prove that they're stronger with it, however rigged I might be making it, the results will speak for themselves. The Computer will want stronger Alphas.
"In addition, I went straight to the Computer, feigned a concern about the well-being of Its soldiers, and asked for Its expertise and help. I pretended I wasn't sure how to fix the problem and let the Computer make suggestions counter my own so that the Computer still felt in charge. That way It still thinks It has the power and I'm showing It loyalty, at least that's what it looks like."
He runs a hand through his hair. Yeah, he's being pretty optimistic here, but what else can he do? He has to try. "So I think that while the Computer won't really give a damn about the test results in themselves, I think that the process I use and the implications of the results will be important to It, if that makes sense, because if It indulges the results then It gets what It wants out of Its Citizens."
no subject
When he trails off, she reaches out for his hand again. Her grasp on his is a little awkward at first. What if he doesn't like the steps she's trying to take? Admitting that there's a thing developing between them remains different from actually wanting to take the steps to let it blossom. There's still a part of her that remains a little reluctant about that part; surely, given their similarities, Derek must have similar doubts. But she tries to ignore them and move forward, squeezing his hand reassuringly.
The logic is sound. She's seen Lydia's shop and even (damn those happy pills) volunteered to help with a commercial. And the Computer isn't human. She doesn't exactly know what to make of It, but that has to separate it from Snow on some level. Right?
"As long as you're making the Computer happy," she murmurs in agreement. And then scowls. Derek's heart is in the right place and his actions are for the better of the Computer's subjects, not the Computer itself. But her statement still makes her feel sick. "You probably shouldn't have me around when you reveal your results. I'm not exactly the best when it comes to appeasing authority figures."
To say the least.
no subject
He doesn't like it any more than she does, that's for sure, but he wants food. If he wants to get it consistently, then he needs to make sure the Computer has a reason to give it to him and as Derek has zero interest in being promoted into the next ugly ass jumpsuit, making the Computer believe everyone in RED needs food daily is the only way to achieve that result. So he has to try. It's a selfish reason to do something for the greater good, but nobody ever said Derek Hale was selfless, least of all Derek himself.
"Don't worry," he tells her, shaking his head. "I'll just turn in my results in a confession booth like I did the proposition and hope for the best. I won't make you endure it with me," he says, a little grin tugging at the corners of his mouth before he nudges her shoulder with his own.
no subject
His humorless laugh is met with one of her own. She can suspect how he must feel towards that idea. It reminds her of every time she ever had to appease President Snow. There had been nothing about her actions that had been selfless, though most of Panem thought otherwise. They considered her someone acting for others. For the greater good of Panem. What it had come down to is her inability to live without certain people in her life.
"It's not a matter of enduring," she murmurs, but the dour tone she starts with is lost when he grins and nudges her shoulder. She nudges him in return, unable to stop a small smile from crossing her face. "I really meant what I said. Authority figures don't like me."