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Daycycle 104 [ August 21-27 ]

daycycle 104

[Aug 21 - Aug 27]

Early Morning [0800 - 0900] — All Troubleshooters Report for Duty
There is no Mission assigned to any Specials today.

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 approximately 1400 today all power within the Wagon Wheel will shut down as part of a Nameless Secret Society Demonstration. The backup generators will be disabled. All citizens within the Wagon Wheel at that time will be stuck. Locked doors will remain locked. Elevators will stop. Lights will go out. Many opportunists will use this to create pure chaos. This demonstration will go on for the next five hours.

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 2000 in Meeting Room B, Wagon Wheel Floor 25 and will be hosted by the Spontaneous Loyaly Demonstration Organizers. Learn how to put on a spontaneous demonstration in order to show your loyalty to the computer and Alpha Complex in an effective and memorable way.

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Steve stands just inside the doors of the cloning facility with his hands folded in front of him, waiting patiently for — well, he doesn't actually know who exactly, but he knows a Special will be waking up tonight. Technical Services had alerted him, per the Computer's recent approval, that a new clone was about to be ready.

As he waits for the new Special to complete the video orientation and sign his or her paperwork, Steve glances around the room. He hasn't returned to Technical Services since he woke up in Alpha over three months ago.

When he finally does see her, Steve gives her his full attention. The GREEN bureaucrat on duty is handing over her standard Troubleshooter equipment and he gives her a polite nod from across the room.

Alec isn't real. Jace isn't real. Nobody that Izzy remembers is real...at least according to everything that she's heard thus far. The young woman can't quite manage to pinpoint what emotion to settle on because she's beyond overwhelmed at the moment. How can such vivid memories be false? How can they just be a glitch? The thought keeps coming back into Izzy's mind despite the number of times that she was forced to watch that damned video.

She can almost feel the remnant of the bracelet that was her whip on her wrist, as if she wore it so often that she isn't complete without it. That's not real either. It isn't easy for the young woman to decide on what actually is real at the moment.

What does Isabelle know for sure?

Honestly, she can't trust much of anything automatically other than the fact that there was no way in hell that she was going to be able to watch that damned video anymore. Her head hurts and she sort of feels like she's flitting through some sort of dream. Izzy barely remembers what she did after she was released from the room with the video. Her movements are more of a shuffle than what she feels is normal and Izzy can't help but feel a distinct distaste for her footwear as she moves, just sort of letting whoever is in charge guide her along in her confused state.

The new face that Izzy notices, only because of the nod that he gives her, really...is more friendly than the others she's seen....it stands out from the others that have sort of blurred together at this point. Taking the items given to her, and not feeling a sense of familiarity or ownership over any of it, Izzy walks carefully toward the friendly face pausing only once she's in front of the taller man. She can feel a familiar urge to put forth what feels like a normal confidence, but everything she's just been through...she doesn't quite muster it up as she looks up at him. "I'm going to assume you were waiting on me....I'm Izzy." She shifts the items she was given so that she can offer her hand for a shake.

"Nice to meet you m'am," he says as he shakes her hand. "I'm Steve." There's an old-timey twang to his voice.

Normally Steve would give his full name, but right now, it felt right to keep things on a first-name basis. He wants to keep it casual and comfortable for Izzy's transition, but frankly, Steve needs all the help he can get in that department. Nothing about their environment is going to feel that way.

"A little over three months ago, I went through the same orientation video and received the same instructions about who I am and why I'm here. I'm sure you have questions, I certainly did."

Steve glances behind Izzy for a moment. It's clear that the other employees aren't used to having someone like him here, and he doesn't particularly want to talk in front of them either. He takes a step to the side and gestures towards the door.

"I'd like to give you a tour of the Complex, if you're amenable, and as we walk, perhaps I can try to answer as many questions as I know the answers to."

Given her recent awakening, the most interesting thing about Steve might be that he's actually giving her an option, unlike any of the previous parts of orientation. She was required to watch the video, to sign the forms, to pick up her equipment. Steve on the other hand, isn't telling her that she must go with him. He's asking.

"Likewise, but....Izzy, please, I'm definitely not old enough to be a ma'am yet." The response is automatic and Izzy fights the urge to do something to show him that she doesn't deserve that particular moniker yet. Her handshake is firm, confident, like she...thinks she normally has been. She remembers being a strong woman, in every sense of the word, but doesn't know if that's just a flaw...or what. If her memories are all a glitch, though, did she really dress the way that she remembers? Was she really a Shadowhunter? Where do the basis of the memories come from? There are too many questions.

Izzy can't help but feel....really confused with the start of a headache setting in.

Focusing, instead, on the present and what she can see, hear, and even touch. Iz figures that's a better way not to give herself an aneurysm and releases Steve's hand. She's not sure if Steve's words are comforting, though. How much can he know if he's only been here a little over three months? "I have so many questions I'm not even sure I'd know where to start, Steve." She admits before moving toward the door, more than ready to get the hell out of there.

She knows she can muster up enough questions to, probably, overwhelm him. However, as she steps out she can't help but wonder if his option is more of an unspoken order. It probably doesn't matter, considering everything she's learned about this place. "But a tour, all of it, sounds great. Far better than watching the video...again. So, lead the way?"

Edited 2016-08-24 02:16 (UTC)

"Izzy," he repeats, a gentle grin on his face. He wondered if he looked this conflicted when he first came out of the cloning chamber — the answer was probably yes. There just wasn't someone else here to see him go through it.

He also knows what she means when Izzy says she doesn't even know where to start. He wants to tell her that her memories of herself are most probably real, but he can't. Not here, while they're still under surveillance.

When they're out the door of the cloning services, she'll notice that the landscape doesn't change much, and they haven't actual gone outdoors. Instead, they're in a large, septic white complex. "Welcome to the Technical Services Section," he says, though this time, his expression lacks the casual smiles and grins he's been wearing before.

"This is where cloning and medical services take place. This also happens to be where the automobile garages are."

As they walk, he explains Alpha's geography. "The Alpha Complex is made out of four main sectors and the Wagon Wheel. Technical Services, where we are currently, is on the western edge. On the northern edge is the Armed Services Sector, which houses Alpha's armory, training facilities and well ... as the name says, armed forced. That's also where I work, during the day." Though, for now, Steve doesn't really specify what he does. "In the eastern edge is Research and Development. I don't know much about them, and finally, to the south, is the Power Services sector. It houses the machinery that keeps this place running and I hear there's also a nightclub there, though I've never been."

Which brings Steve to the last main building of interest.

"In the center of it all, and where we're headed now, is the Wagon Wheel. It's where most of us live and where your room will be. It's also where the Commissary is, which is where you'll be eating your meals. Tomorrow morning, that's also when you'll find out what job the Computer has assigned you."

By the time he's done, they've walked down one of the main halls and out onto what actually feels like a street. Though if Izzy looked up and paid close enough attention, she'd be able to tell that the night sky wasn't quite real.

"Subsectors like this are between each of the main sectors. Come, we'll walk this way."

The street is a lot busier and there are a lot more people here in the evening. It feels a lot like New York or Hong Kong with how much bustle is going on. Bright lights are flashing off buildings, advertising Bouncy Bubble Beverages. Even one or two posters for Alpha Complex's Most Eligible Bachelor's. If she catches sight of one with Steve on it, he doesn't notice. There's so many posters around that he barely sees them anymore.

Izzy isn't really thinking about the way that she's coming across; normally she's much better at...emotions and being social, but right now she's experiencing more than a little bit of brain-fry. The idea that everything that she recalls is a false, is just a glitch, is like a clamp on everything. That's probably why it had taken her so much time to get through the orientation.

Despite having given in...it still didn't seem right. Isabelle still didn't have the slightest clue about how she was going to move forward with all of this. How was she going to get rid of the memories? Dealing with the memories weighing on her wouldn't work out well....because all Izzy could think about was her family...and the vast differences between her memory and her reality here.

Reaching up to rub the side of her neck (over the rune, but it couldn't really be a rune if she wasn't a shadowhunter, really), Izzy bobbed her head in acknowledgement of what Steve was sharing with her. It all looked so different from what she was accustomed to. The young woman moves behind her tour guide, trying to file away what she's hearing for later when she needs it. She mostly manages to hold onto the fact that there is, apparently, a nightclub here. "You're not big on dancing, then?" Izzy throws the question out, finding that a little bit easier than everything else (the logistics).

Izzy continues to walk, hating her footwear more and more by the moment. She feels like she's slumping, which is something that she can remember ever being an issue before. Frump. Frump really is the only way to put it that she can think of. The tiny frown on Izzy's face is the only sign of her thoughts, but her eyes go between her surroundings and her tour guide. The layout seems to make sense, sort of, anyway. "I think I've got the layout." Izzy nods, thinking that this place is complicated, but she sort of gets it, anyway.

Her mind starts to wander a little bit, though, looking up at the....faux sky and the general not-quite-real aesthetic of the entire place. Izzy hopes that she won't get lost in this place, but she gets the premise of all of the over-arching sections of this place, and then broken down into sections within that. Izzy walks, confidently in the direction Steve guides her, taking in the people....all of the people. A part of her feels like this isn't quite....right. That's mostly, because her memories.

She's used to a relatively big city, but this is just....different.

The petite woman fights the overwhelming nature of everything trying to assault her at once, instead realizing she should probably just take in one thing at a time. That thing just so happens to be Steve's face...on a poster. She skids to a stop in her boots, brows furrowing at the words. "So, were you going to mention that you're a celebrity around here at any point?" Izzy raises her voice a bit, just to be sure that he hears her despite not having pulled him to a stop before doing so herself. "Or did you think you'd manage to hide that with posters scattered around?"

Izzy lifts her hand up to point at the poster, that grin tugging at the corners of her mouth again.

Of all the things he thought she'd ask about, the night club wouldn't have been Steve's first guess. Though, maybe it should have been. It was the only place he brought up that wasn't some sector or another.

But when she asks whether or not he's big on dancing, Steve gives her a slightly embarrassed smile and glances away for a second before answering. "I uh," A breathy laugh as he looks back at her. "I don't know how to dance."

The entire tone of this orientation, really, was starting to turn towards the embarrassing. It's not that Steve had forgotten about the posters — that was nearly impossible to do given how they were plastered everywhere in the SubSectors. He'd just unfortunately forgotten that of course, new arrivals have never seen them before.

"That happened two days ago," he says, walking back towards where Izzy stopped. If his face was at all red, Steve's hoping that the fake nighttime lighting would help him hide it. "And ... there are so many other posters to see." He gestures up towards the wall, at the the 49 other eligible bachelor's on display. There could have been a chance right, that she wouldn't have noticed his?

Izzy's always been someone that has enjoyred the fun things in life. Of course, the list of what she considers fun probably differs from most others. She's pretty sure solving mysteries in the form of autopsies and the extended tests don't fall in the category for most. And maybe fun isn't the right word, but it's what she's good at. She's always been more than willing to be the frivolous one, the distraction, when the time comes and one is needed, though. So, knowing this place even has a nightclub....that's pretty big for her.

That is, if the nightclub actually lives up to the image that is invoked by the word. Everything else ,so far, in this place has fallen just a tad short of the real thing. Plus, the whole glitch thing has just made everything completely confusing.

Either way, Izzy can't help herself. She's majorly in need of lightening things up a little bit, of not strangling that part of herself that loves heels, smiling, social interactions, and all of that. And it's impossible for the young woman to actually shut her training, and her habits off. So, she can't help the smile that she gives Steve. "Well, if you ever decide you want to learn how to dance I'm sure I could help you out there. It's not hard, I promise." Izzy offers, definitely unable to help but notice his embarrassment.

It reminds her of Alec, of her brother. He'd be embarrassed too, by the dancing thing and by the bachelor thing. It makes Izzy miss him more. That's got to be real; she can't help but focus on that fact. Something that she feels so sure about, like the existence of her brother, has to be real. And if that's real....then a whole lot else should be, considering the fact that he's connected with everything else that Izzy remembers (for the most part, anyway).

Brothers, memories, and glitches aside, though, Izzy stands by the poster. It was impossible for her not to zero in on details; that was sort of her job, her jam. So, she looked back and forth between the man in person and the man on the poster, that smile still in place. "I'm good at spotting details, Steve. And you're one of the few familiar faces." Izzy reaches up, tapping the poster lightly with her sadly un-manicured finger. "I couldn't help but notice you....I think you deserved to go a little lower on the list, though, personally." Izzy offers, noticing a few of the other faces weren't quite as attractive, at least in her opinion, before she drops her hand and turns toward her current companion.

"So, two days and you're still getting used to all of this, then?" Izzy jerks her head toward the wall, to make it obvious what she's talking about. It's much easier to focus on this than it is the crap in her head. That's for damn sure.

Edited 2016-08-30 20:27 (UTC)

"I..." He looks down and then back up, smiling. "...will be sure to let you know Izzy. Though, fair warning. Someone has been trying to teach me for awhile now, and I still haven't gone out dancing."

He watches her tap her fingers on the poster, a little anxious for what she's going to say after 'I couldn't help by notice', until she tells him he should have been ranked higher and he laughs again.

"Come on, let me show you the Wagon Wheel. It'll be worth it, I promise." He nods back towards the direction they were headed. Izzy seemed like a genuinely nice person and the sooner they get to the Wagon Wheel, the more certain Steve will be of the status of each of the cameras and listening devices, and the more able he'll be to say things directly.

But they still have a good chunk of walking to do before they get there. And after a minute or two, he looks over at Izzy. His complexion has recovered from any previous rosy glows. "That picture of me. I keep wondering when they could have taken it and I can't even remember."

For the first time in this place, Izzy's grin grows to something near it's full-force. All thanks to Steve and the silly subject of dancing. She can't help it. A good challenge, plus dancing, plus an adorable guy to push into doing things....just like she used to with her brother....it's a nice reminder of who she actually is, and the way that she deals with things. "I think that I'm up for the challenge, personally. And I'm all too happy to team up, afterall, teamwork makes the dream work."

Izzy just barely holds in the laugh that wants to bubble up as that actually comes out of her mouth. Alec would have leveled her with one of his famous 'you're ridiculous' glares. Jace probably would have been tempted to laugh. Even thinking about her brothers wasn't going to drag Izzy back down.

She was the most adaptable, and the best at fitting in wherever she needed to, of the Lightwood children.

"Well, if you promise then I won't drag my feet. Even in these boots." Izzy jokes, moving to head in the direction that Steve nods. He seems like a good, genuine guy. His embarrassment at being pointed out for his 'fame' was just adorable. So, it was hard not to like the guy...even in a mood. Izzy could understand why he'd been chosen, or allowed, whichever it was...to greet people. Izzy was already feeling slightly better.

Quiet, the petite woman takes in her surroundings, not seeing much of anything that feels familiar, but....she never expected to either. She doesn't see anything, though, no runes...no demons, nothing. Even though it's stupid, she feels a bit of disappointment that she knows she can't focus on. Steve's words break her from her subdued state (though the smile had yet to melt away) and Izzy can't help the laugh that escapes now. "Someone is, apparently, very good at snapping candids in just the right moment, when you're not paying attention." Izzy shrugs, not sure that her guess is what actually happened, but it seems the most likely out of everything.

When she really smiles, Steve can’t help but feel it too. The tension breaks and he feels comfortable with her in a way that wasn’t true a minute ago.

“I’ll make sure to introduce you to Morgana. You’d like her.”

A ghost of a smirk appears on his face when she mentions her boots. Steve knows that Lydia, another Special, has been upset about their fashion options since her first day, even if Steve himself is slightly relieved he doesn’t have to pick out acceptable 21st century clothes anymore. Not that he preferred jumpsuits, but back home, Steve lived his life dreaming about wearing the uniform. Back when being a good soldier meant something. Things were different here, but he was already used to wearing the same clothes everyday.

Finally, they arrive at the Wagon Wheel, which, despite its name, was a group of buildings clustered tightly together. Steve leads Izzy straight into the center. People are walking all around them but he finds a spot on the floor and points for her to look up, making sure no one bumps into them. It was both disturbing and mesmerizing — countless floors circling into a central elevator bank. Like the bones of a rib cage attaching to a spinal cord. And yet, there was also a certain grandeur, created by the sheer scale of it all.

“Izzy, welcome to the Wagon Wheel.”

"Well, from what I know so far I'm going to go ahead and agree." Izzy nods, trying to hold onto something hopeful here. She might not be able to prove anything, right now, about the memories (glitches, whatever), but she can focus on not being miserable, at least. That seems like the smartest course of action that she can take right now.

Izzy's never been anywhere without a support system. So, it definitely seems like she's got to create her own while she's here, while she's figuring things out. This place, absolutely, seems like it's the sort of place where she's going to need to not be alone. And so far...so good, even without her favorite clothing, makeup, and everyday items that she normally takes comfort in.

Izzy takes her surroundings in stride, to the best of her ability, up until the moment that Steve stops them in the center of the Wagon Wheel. Standing there with all of the different floors and people....all of it, Izzy can't help the fact that her jaw drops. "Whoa...." That was all she could manage for the moment, eyes scanning the place. In comparison to what she had seen already this place was definitely more impactful.

"I can definitely say this was not quite what I was expecting." Izzy admits, turning very slowly in a circle before stopping so that her eyes land on Steve. She's not sure how she feels about all of this, but the Wagon Wheel...definitely memorable. "Second most memorable part of the tour, Steve." She admits with a little smile. "And that's only second because the poster. That's pretty unforgettable." Izzy comments, expanding on her meaning before giving the place another once over...not seeing anything...out of the ordinary. As a shadowhunter...if there were something there she would have seen it, but...maybe she wasn't actually one. God, this was all still kind of confusing and difficult to wrap her head around.

"Is this the end of the tour or do I get to follow you around for a little longer?"

"I would tell you that from here on out, I'll start taking new Specials on a path without those posters, but..." He smiles back. "...I'm not quite sure one exists."

Steve knew going in that being the welcoming committee meant he'd be smiling a lot, but over the past few minutes with Izzy, he felt himself doing it more spontaneously and more often than he expected to tonight. Izzy was charming and friendly in a way that felt ... resilient, perhaps.

"Two more stops, actually, before I get out of your way and just let you explore."

The first was the Commissary on the 15th floor, which meant they got to ride those incredible elevators nearly to the top of the building. Steve doesn't stop them in the main room for long, but it's important that she know where it is. "You're expected to be here by 08:00 tomorrow morning. Don't forget. Plus, it'll be where literally everyone else is going. This is also where meals are served."

It was still early enough that if she wanted to grab something to eat, she could. While there was a platform at the front of the Commissary, there were food-serving stations with Troubleshooters behind them in the back. In the middle were a lot of tables and benches.

But before they get back to the elevators to go to their next stop, Steve takes a turn to the right instead of the left, leading her down a pretty wide hallway. It looks like going this way might lead to the kitchen that cooks the meals, but Steve stops about halfway down the hall, right beneath a surveillance camera.

"Izzy, if you have other questions, now is the time to ask." His tone is more serious than before. "Everyone in the Alpha Complex is being watched, especially the Specials, like you and me. But some of us have learned that not every surveillance camera is functional. Like this one." He points up. "The red light is on, but there's no tape and no recording. That isn't the case most of the time, but right now, no one else can hear us."

Edited 2016-09-03 20:38 (UTC)

Izzy doesn't bother to hold back the laugh. She can't help it that Steve has his amusing moments, maybe even bordering adorable, actually. How someone who looks as good as he does can manage to be so sheepish, she doesn't know, but it definitely makes him endearing. "Oh, good, they won't be missing out, then." She winks at him, obviously joking around.

The tour might have started out semi-uncomfortable, mainly because of where she'd come from, but now Izzy felt at least a little bit comforted. After all, Steve didn't have the same manner as the people who had ushered her along, making their obvious lack of personalities more than obvious. Steve had a personality, and felt like a person who actually cared, and that was definitely a step in a better direction for the whole welcome-wagon. She just needed that little bit of a sign that not everyone here was robotic to loosen up like this. She'd be okay, though, because she had to be. She didn't have another option. Izzy was always okay, even when she wasn't.

"Sounds like a plan to me." The young woman nodded, reaching up to tuck her hair behind her ears so that it was out of the way, the tattoo on her neck standing out more with her hair back like this. Runes. They were runes, but were they really? That was still up in the air. And she doesn't know that she can actually ask anything about glitches without getting herself into a world of trouble, once the time for questions actually arrives.

Dutifully, Isabelle followed after Steve, taking in everything as she walks along as best she can. This place was definitely huge, the Wagon Wheel in particular. "Aye, aye, Captain." Izzy gives a playful salute, to show that she definitely understands when and where she is supposed to be in the morning. She's following along well so far, at least. A curious look crosses her face as Steve makes a detour on the way back to the elevators, her heat tilting a bit as they come to a stop, taking in everything around her in this spot.

It's definitely interesting, and not a stop she was expecting on the tour. Studying Steve for a long moment, Izzy contemplates what, if anything, she thinks that she is okay to ask in this situation. He's been nice, and a comforting presence once she broke through to his personality, but....she's sure as hell not trying to get herself slapped with a charge of treason already. Studying the camera for a moment, Izzy wets her lips and then crosses her arms, in thought for only a moment. "You're different from the others that were in green." Izzy nods toward his jumpsuit. "Why? And how did you get to the level you're at?" Izzy tries to keep her tone respectful and yet...careful, not trying to actually get herself into any trouble.

"And how closely are we being watched, should I be treading carefully at all times...even now?" She poses tentatively, one manicured eyebrow lifting, her own tone definitely more serious.

His eyebrows go up, surprised actually at what her first question was. In retrospect, it makes sense. Why should she trust him, and believe that this isn't some deliberate trap laid down by the Computer to catch traitorous thoughts on her first day? There wasn't much that Steve could do to prove otherwise, honestly, other than by sheer force of his personality. Even if he says something traitorous, it could have been approved by the Computer as a bait.

Step one was answering her truthfully, though.

"My first week here, there was a terrorist attack during a parade. One of the secret societies started shooting Troubleshooters, and didn't care if anyone else got in the way. My training, back home, before all of this-" Yes, he was referring to his glitchy memories as if they were real, for the first time that night. "-was in military combat. So I started establishing a line of defense, got civilians out of the way. Shortly after that, I got my first promotion."

He takes a breath and just looks at Izzy for a moment before continuing. "The Computer is ... crazy, there's no doubt about that. But there are people in this place who are crazier, more brutal, and don't care about anyone's safety. Every time I take them on, the Computer seems to appreciate it. I don't know what that says about a ... well, Computer, but it's something."

As for how closely they're being watched, that's easy. It's been something Steve has been trying to figure out since he got here. "We're constantly being watched, and listened to. Your room, which I'll show you soon, will have a camera inside of it. Every square inch of this place is covered, but not every camera works. The safest way to communicate is by writing things down and then ripping them up. Or-" Steve pulls out his PDC from his pocket. "You should have gotten one of these from Technical Services before we left. Can I see it?"

Izzy's not sure exactly what she was expecting Steve to say. Maybe she was starting to channel the normal paranoia that she doesn't give into on a regular basis, but everything about the way that he talks about his first week here seems legitimate. Isabelle Lightwood has had some experience with manipulation, and she's good at judging, and seeing people. Steve doesn't act like someone who is sharing a rehearsed story. Of course, part of that is due to the earnest...quality that he has about him.

He seems a lot like the sort of person that genuinely cares, which was her first assessment. After all, he was the first friendly face that Iz saw in this place. So, it's not hard for her to relax and to settle back on that opinion of the man.

It also doesn't escape her notice that he references memories, and not in a way that indicates that he believes them false. If he believes they're glitches, he's really bad at the way he phrases things, Izzy notes. So, that's another tick in the box for Izzy's own memories being true, which is slightly comforting, actually. Her dark curls move slightly as she nods, understanding that Steve proved himself useful and capable. "So you went into hero-mode." Izzy summarized what she heard, a bit of that smile back. "And you saved people, so you were rewarded for your quick thinking and action. Got it."

Izzy wasn't going to hope for a repeat, but if she was going to be stuck here...moving upward (to figure more out and to do more) didn't seem like a bad option. Back home she was able to do more in control of the institute than not. Of course, that was just a thought right now. She wasn't sure what she thought of anything here yet. From what she was hearing, though, Iz wasn't sure about this place. He made it sound like it was a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils.

"So, the lesser of two crazies, then. The Computer isn't perfect, but...." She gave a shrug before adding on another nod of understanding. Izzy had protected people back home. She would do the same here....even if it weren't from demons. This was definitely a lot to digest, to process, but she felt as if she were doing a good job. The Computer might not actually be her friend, or trustworthy, but....people willing to kill whoever to meet their end goal....definitely worse in the long run.

"Well, that's comforting. Good thing I'm not shy." Izzy mutters before giving a nod at Steve's request, moving to pull out the PDC that she'd been given. She doesn't remember when she tucked it away, but she was focusing much more on the tour. Holding the device out to him, Izzy's all ears. "So pen and paper or...I'm assuming encryption software, or something?" She asks, knowing just enough about technology to ask that question, considering he's talking about safe ways to communicate.

If Izzy asks around, any Troubleshooter here (not just the Specials) will be able to tell her part two of how Steve rose so quickly to the top. Early on, one of the Specials was locked in a room and beaten so badly she had to be sent straight to Medical Services. Not everyone would remember it was Lydia, but they would remember that it had been a young girl. After that, Steve had gotten up on stage in front of every Troubleshooter and given a rousing speech — denouncing those who would beat a defenseless girl, and telling everyone that Specials were not their enemy.

Well, the speech worked. A bit later, he was promoted again.

"Izzy, I know I'm not painting the most ... appealing picture." A breathy laugh, as Steve eyes flicker to the floor and back up to her. "But it's the reality we woke up in."

When she holds the device out to him, he takes it, and moves so that he's standing shoulder-to-shoulder to her. He wants to make sure she can see everything he's doing as he talks. "There's an encrypted network, just for Specials- People like us." Normally, Steve wouldn't know a thing about how to work a device like this, but early on, he'd been given a mission that involved training everyone how to use a PDC. So he'd finally learned through repetition.

"So far, there are nearly two dozen of us here. Not everyone knows each other, but I've seen people stick together when it counts. Your roommates, they should all be Specials as well. But if you ever need anything and you want to contact me, you can use this filter. I trust it."

Izzy's decided one thing for sure in this place. She likes Steve, and she trusts him too. So, somehow it just makes sense that he rose, considering that's the attitude that he has. Whether he means to, or not, he's got a presence about him and it's something that Izzy can't help but notice and feel somewhat drawn to. So, even with the moments of uncertainty...she gets him more than she initially realized.

Giving Steve a nod, mainly because he wasn't wrong about the picture that he was painting, Izzy has to acknowledge that....she hasn't given the place a shot yet. "You're right, and I'm nothing if not optimistic...usually." Izzy concedes, knowing that a part of it was definitely just how many times she'd watched that video initially. The effects have lingered even though she's still fighting against them.

She's just got to be optimistic here....while pushing aside the glitches that she's battling against and the difficulties that come with the whole...process of coming to here. So, Izzy focuses on what Steve is saying easily. She wants to know whatever he has to offer, especially when it comes to communicating. It seems simple enough to use the encryption, and the filter. "So, I can communicate with all of the other specials like us through this safely, my roommates will be like us, and in general we're all in the same boat so we're like a...growing community." She's sure that she's got everything thus far, so she nods to show that to Steve.

"And the glitches? Any tips or...comments on them?" This is probably the question that Iz is most concerned about, and she's not sure that Steve can actually answer all of her questions. She's not sure that anybody around here really can other than those of a much higher rank, and they probably won't. She's got to try, though.

Waking up in the Complex isn't a walk in the park, but Steve can see that Izzy isn't breaking down. She's holding steady, taking in his answers, and trying to figure this out while maintaining the right type of appearances for the Computer, and the right amount of caution to protect herself. He knows the feeling when it comes — trust.

After she summarized everything he's told her, Steve nods again, just once, to confirm that she's got it right. When she asks about the glitches, Steve knows what he wants to say. He'd just given his opinion of what's going on to Tony last night.

"I'm afraid I don't have the real answer to that question, but I can tell you what I believe." A small pause, as he strings what he's about to say all together. "I believe our memories are real. Whatever you remember, those things happened, and they probably happened sometime before you woke up here — days, weeks, maybe even years in the past."

"But what I have come to realize, is that more likely than not, our bodies are manufactured. I don't think they're lying about that part." Which he has a little bit of evidence for. But he pauses again, just to prepare her. "I've seen a man blow himself up, in a way that surviving was not possible, and he came back the next day completely unscathed."

This is what Izzy is struggling with the most....the glitches. It's what she wants to know about, wants to talk about, and needs to figure out pretty badly. If Alec, Jace, Clary, Max, and everybody else that she remembers aren't really real she's got to find a way to deal with that. The unfortunate thing is that she isn't sure that she actually can because they feel real. Steve doesn't know everything, though, and this is a harsh reminder of that.

No matter the fact that he's moved up in ran, and that she gets the sense that he wants what is best for everyone here like them, he's still not in charge here. He's just like her, or any other person that was brought in. He's just got a slightly higher clearance, which means that he doesn't have all the answers....even if he'd probably like them and Izzy wouldn't mind him having them.

"I'll take what you believe." Izzy nods, understanding that she'll have to develop her own beliefs, and work through the information herself, ultimately. She's pretty sure that she can still trust her own mind...for the most part. Though, first waking up hadn't given her that exact impression she was feeling a little bit more like herself...the self that she remembers. Studying Steve, Izzy takes in what he's saying very carefully. Steve's verdict is real. Izzy wants to believe him, badly. Is he right, though, is the question? The Computer, and those closest to it, have a clear reason to lie: control. So, it's not impossible for Izzy to think that it's a tactic to try and confuse, control, and maybe even indoctrinate the people here.

The how doesn't matter so much right now. Other things do. Why haven't they just gotten rid of the memories, Izzy wonders. Though, she supposes that even if their science has taken some leaps and bounds they aren't to the point of perfection....yet and for her and everyone else here that's a good thing. Memories, not glitches, make people what they are after all.

"My memories seem real. They're vivid, so...I had to ask." Izzy agrees, reaching up to much her hair behind her ears, exposing the rune on one side of her neck while she zeroes back in on Steve, so that she can pay attention to everything that he has to say. And damned if he doesn't still make sense, on some levels, anyway, especially with the story that Steve shares. Izzy takes a beat, working the information over in her head for a moment. Steve was sure about what he's seen, so Izzy is too for now. "Nobody survives literally blowing themselves up, there wouldn't even be anything to autopsy." She murmurs, giving Steve yet another nod. "So, they start with the truth, but don't give the whole truth to us, ultimately. That could be for a lot of reasons." Izzy tacks her own comment on before sighing. She wasn't going to figure this all out in a day, unfortunately.

There was no way out. Izzy was here. That meant that she had to work within the parameters given; Alec would manage it more successfully, but she'd definitely do her best.

"I think those are all my serious questions for today." Izzy admits, definitely feeling more of an overwhelming weight from the information than she thought she would feel. "I appreciate your honesty, Steve." Izzy speaks, earnestly. She's not got everything, but this....well, it's definitely a start.

Steve would have been blind not to see the rune. It caught his eye once before, but both then and now, he chooses not to say anything. For all Steve knows, it was just a tattoo. When they get to know each other a little better, he might bring it up. But right now, it wasn’t the right time.

He smiles, eyes momentarily glancing away and returning to her, when Izzy starts working the nuances out of what he’s told her.

“This isn’t concrete, but if it helps- someone I remember, someone from before I woke up here- “ Steve shakes his head just once. “- showed up yesterday. From what I can tell, he and I have the same memories."

It wasn’t concrete, because shared memories could be fabricated, but it was something.

When she’s admits to being done for the day, he can’t blame her. They’ve covered a lot of ground over the past half hour or so, and with everything she was adjusting to, this was probably all overwhelming.

“Anytime.” He gives her a good, hard look before adding, “Then it’s time for the last time. Let me show you what floor you’ll be staying on.” He gestures back down the hall, towards where they should have gone a few minutes ago.

Izzy smiles, even if it's a small one it's something. She can't help but find some comfort in even something that isn't concrete. If someone that Steve remembers from before can show up here then someone that she knows, and remembers, can show up. Maybe her brother, maybe someone else that she's familiar with. Though, she's not sure that she can really hope for that, considering this place is more than a little confusing. "It does help, Steve, thank you."

Izzy gives a nods. Nothing here really seems concrete. The lies make it hard to actually figure out what's real, what isn't, and everything in between. She suspects that's part of the plan that they've got. They don't want the clones, them, to become dangerous. It seemed all the more real. And that was comforting, even if she didn't have any real proof.

Izzy wants to believe though. She's going to focus on that over everything else. She's going to manage here just fine because she's got to.

"I'll hold you to that." Izzy jokes, lightly, before nodding. She's not sure what to think about where she's going to be staying, but getting there means the end of the tour. It means that she's going to have some time to digest after the influx of information and she'll take it. "Thanks, Steve." Izzy says, not sure that she's really thanked him for the tour, for the help, enough as she moves to head back down the hall so that she can see where she's going to be during her time here.

She's certainly been welcomed to Alpha Complex, now she's just got to thrive here and figure things out.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Daycycle 104 [ August 21-27 ]

daycycle 104

[Aug 21 - Aug 27]

Technical Services Section - Orientation for Izzy

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