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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.

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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.

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Daycycle 104 [ August 21-27 ]

daycycle 104

[Aug 21 - Aug 27]

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