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First Session, 9 January (part one, waking up, meeting the nurses, meeting the doctor)
Koprulu Sector, Katella Five, Sub-Oceanic Lab 00013, Project “Harmony.” 19 September 2500. Project Log: All subjects in cell sector B have been fitted with the spinal chip to ensure compliance. It is unfortunate for these prisoners that they chose to work against the UED… but now perhaps they can serve a greater purpose, helping us to understand the Zerg.
Test subjects include Amelia, a colonial scientist, desig B1; Valeriya, a Dominion tank operator and marine, desig B2; Kana, a colonial mechanic, desig B3; Kendra, a colonial farmer, desig B4; and Sari, a Dominion transport pilot, desig B5. Subject B1 seems to be a suitable candidate for breeding with species Z09, the “defiler.” We have altered her mate, actually reducing his breeding capacity to an extent, due to the extreme hazard the creature presents not only to Terrans but even to other Zerg. Nurse Tayla will be taking care of her physical well-being, conditioning, and personal needs. Subject B2 showed high compatibility with Z12, the “lurker,” but is also a powerful marine; I’ve assigned Rebecca to help condition her and look to her needs. Subject B3 is a strong candidate for breeding with Z01, the “zergling,” and Nurse Maria will be working with her. Subject B4… is interesting. Very rebellious, with a strong force-of-will, though the spinal chip will keep her tame if need be. She seems to have the fortitude for a genetic splice with Z02, the “hydralisk.” I’ve assigned Nurse Sheila to her; the submissive little thing should help keep B4 under our control, if not completely happy. And we have Subject B5. The quiet one. An excellent candidate for merging with Z05, the “mutalisk.” Nurse Claire will be assigned to B5.
At any rate… the patients are coming online now. I’ll give them a few moments to get oriented, then I’ll brief them on what’s to come. Some of them might argue, but it’s not as though they have the means to actively resist. A bit worrisome, from an ethical standpoint, if one thinks about it… but we’re trying to save the species. Extreme measures are acceptable, in such a situation.
End log.
For all three of you, your day begins in the same manner. You become aware of a dim but steadily brightening light. Then you awaken in a small but comfortable medical bed, with the smell of fresh linens. Your body is naked, but covered with the fresh white bedsheets. Two guards wearing full body armor are standing next to an exit hatch, each of them with a side-arm holstered securely on their hips. A female nurse is watching your reactions, taking a few notes, and checking instruments. "Don't try to sit up yet. You've been unconscious for a while. Your body will need time to adjust to consciousness."
Amelia inhales as she wakes up, squinting her eyes and gently turning her head as she comes to, her long, red hair mostly hidden underneath her, as she slowly takes in the room. "The...Where am I?"
Valeriya grunts, eyes opening. This was... Hm... She looks over at the woman levelly, observing quietly over her surroundings for a minute. Finally she speaks up quietly, voice accented. "What is happening?"
Kana woke with a sniff, taking in the scent of laundry, and trying to remember just how she got here in the first place. The feeling of the blanket on her bare skin made her wake up a bit faster than then even the normally excitable girl would and she cracked open her eyes. Noticing the guards she was about to stand up before the scientist spoke to her. "Did I drink too much last night? Or do I just need some coffee. I don't really remember signing up for science."
The blonde nurse shakes her head. "Just focus on waking up. The doctor will be contacting you via vidcon in a few moments. She'll be able to answer all of your questions." The nurse checks Amelia's vitals, including pulse and blood pressure, noting results in a datapad. Valeriya and Kana each receive an identical response. A few moments later, there's a beeping sound from the large mirror on the wall across from each of you. Then the mirror goes black for a moment, and is filled with the image of a young redheaded Terran female, wearing a white labcoat and sitting at a desk. She smiles at each of you through the screen. "Good morning. My name is Doctor Ciera Smythe, with the United Earth Directorate. We're communicating via video teleconference. I can see all of you, but I've disabled your microphone for the moment--I'd like to explain where you are and what we're trying to accomplish here, and then you'll have a chance to ask any questions you might have." She gives a polite, if somewhat distant, smile.
Kana nods, not like she could do anything else with the microphone off. She wasn't exactly going to be getting past those guards, and for all she knew she signed on to this willingly at some point and just forgot. She just hoped it was for something benign, like a better tasting coffee or something. Not like that was likely at all but she could hope.
Valeriya looks, watching quietly. United Earth Directorate? The Earth? She'd only vaguely recalled that part of history class. It didn't really seem to matter that much. A planet that tossed all the folks they didn't want into space, and left them to fend for themselves. What the hell were they doing here? Or was she there now? Did it matter?
Amelia sits still as her vitals are taken, noting how the nurse jots them in the datapad, her own scientific curiosity getting the better of her as she studies the room, until the mirror becomes a transmitter, giving her a view of a similarly redheaded scientist. "Fascinating. I didn't think Earth still cared about this sector."
The redheaded doctor continues. "Unfortunately, each of you took up arms against the UED, and each of you faces possible death for high treason. The good news is that your DNA made you eligible for a special program that would guarantee your complete pardon. You've each been fitted with a small spinal chip that will ensure your cooperation. It does have the capacity to cause some short-term memory loss, so I'm putting your individual contract up on your view-screen now." Each of the patients is treated to a full view of a long legal contract, but with their signature at the bottom. "Still, this is an exciting opportunity for you to help us contain and defeat the Zerg once and for all."
Amelia: “What? I don't remember signing that!" Amelia says as she struggles to try and sit up, one hand coming across her chest to hold the sheet over her body.
Valeriya: Great, a re-soc special. Either it didn't take or they didn't want to erase them outright yet. She somehow doubted those were acquired validly. Not that it mattered. Given the armed guard, they didn't even need the flimsy excuse.
Kana: 'Wait what. When did I do that.' Kana thought to herself. 'I just did some maintenance work for those armed guys that came by. I didn't think that counted as taking up arms myself...' Looking at the legal document that came up before her she had a different thought. 'Or maybe I got drunk and punched someone important, that'd probably count too. Seriously though I wonder what they are talking about with us containing the zerg. I hope that doesn't mean weapons testing...'
The nurse gently presses Amelia back down, and the Terran scientist finds that she feels unable to resist the nurse's gentle touch. "Over the next few days, we're going to be adjusting your... threshold for pleasure and reproduction. We've administered certain agents to each of you, which will make you a bit... easier to change. Your body will adapt quickly... and you'll probably enjoy it. At any rate, I promised to answer your questions." She presses a few buttons on her own datapad, and a small, blinking red light appears at the bottom left corner of the viewing screen. "Now I can hear you, and you can all hear each other. Let's be civilized and respectful, and we can have an open discussion." She smiles again.
Valeriya: “...So you're trying to turn me into some sort of breeding tool. Why?," asks Valeriya quietly, staring at the woman unceasingly.
Amelia: “Just...Answer me one question. How does turning us into breeding machines help us stop the Zerg?" the scientist asks as she lays back down.
Kana: “Why are you mutating us? I thought you guys could already like...clone people or something." Kana asked
"Not breeding, necessarily, so much as control. We've been studying the Zerg problem for a long time. Longer than you know. We've studied battle statistics, tactics, and individual anecdotes. A LOT of data. An odd little anomaly came up. Zerg take ten percent longer, on average, to kill human females in battle. Further study found that it wasn't a general rule--most women died about as fast as their male counterparts in similar situations. But in about ten percent of these cases, the zerg creature would take twice as long to kill their adversary. They hesitated. We suspect that there may have been a certain level of breeding compatibility between them. Then, of course, the female attacked and became a threat, and mating was no longer an option."
"Also, we have backup genetic material from each of you. If we DO need to make clones... we have the material on hand."
Valeriya: “...So I'm alive... Because you want me to act sexy for a critter. And you don't see a problem with this...?"
Kana: “Wait. So your planning to breed us /with/ the Zerg?" Kana said with a blush on her face. "T-That is certainly a weird science experiment..."
Amelia: “A fascinating hypothesis. If I could see the data for myself and confirm this, I'd gladly partake in this experiment." Amelia says, a look of contemplation on her face as she theorizes and considers the possibilities
"I think this is a wonderful alternative to what normally happens to Terran traitors and terrorists. Normally you'd be publicly whipped, sodomized, and executed. Our faction defends us all... but it is often rather draconian in its methods. This will provide us with valuable data about the Zerg, and permit you to redeem yourselves by playing a part in the salvation of humanity. As for breeding... there are still a few tests to be run. And we need to see how well the agents took--your reproductive systems will need some adjustments, before we'd even consider permitting such a mating to occur." She smiles. "As for sharing the data... I'm transmitting some of the summary data to you now." A small statistical readout shows up on Amelia's viewscreen.
Kana breathed a sigh of relief. What she had seen of the zerg from people that passed through made her think getting up close and personal with them was a very good recipe to be cut to ribbons. "Well...don't really have a choice then...Though what's going to happen to us when the experiment is all said and done?"
Amelia: “Fascinating." Amelia says as she begins to go over the data. "Imagine if we could find a way to control the infestation process in its entirety. We could give humans all the benefits without losing their control." Amelia says, already theorizing about what kind of experiments and tests she could run with this knowledge.
Valeriya: “...I see Earth was better forgotten then, if that's what you do." She elft it at that. No point in complaining or dying over nothing and dooming a copy of herself to the same. If that wasn't much better. Still, she'd find a way to blow this popsicle stand soon enough. Blow it up perhaps even. She didn't want to think what could happen to her if some critter got in her... She'd seen what they do to people. Made her stomach lurch just thinking about those poor souls.
"Now, now. You consented to this experiment willingly, as I understand it." She makes a note in her datapad. "If the project is successful, we might be on the verge of peaceful coexistence with the Zerg. If that happens, you'll be free to relocate to any of a number of Terran colonial worlds, though you'll be restricted to those that already have Zerg inhabitants. Peace or no, we've no intention of permitting Zerg contamination of new worlds."
Amelia: “Understandable, really."
"Also, not all of you have been selected as breeding candidates. Some of you were picked up for genetic splicing. You'll also be an important part of this project, some day acting as ambassadors to the Zerg on our behalf."
Kana: “Well...I just hope the experiment's a success then?" Kana said, confused as to whether she should be happy she'd get to go free when all was said and done at the expense of becoming a zerg mutant, or terrified at the possibility.
Valeriya: “One can claim anything when the witness has no memories.," says Valeriya simply. Peace. With the critters? They had a better chance with the protoss, who destroyed worlds just as easily as the zerg did. They were intelligent at least. But no. The zerg were cogs, bugs, all acting to the same beat. They'd be as peaceful and friendly as a rabid dog. Maybe it wouldn't bite you immediatly. But teaching it a new way to spread it's disease wasn't helping anyone.
Kendra: Silent so far, Kendra skimmed the data and listened, brows furrowed deeply as the others spoke and the doctor on the screen prattled on. She spat into the corner, wishing she was back on her farm. Her hand idly slid down her stomach, over a scar that marred the skin, navel to side. "They should be destroyed, no bargained with."
Amelia: “Good, empirical science is what separates us from them. If we can find a way to coexist without the need for extermination, that is far preferable." Amelia says simply as she continues to look through the data.
Test subjects include Amelia, a colonial scientist, desig B1; Valeriya, a Dominion tank operator and marine, desig B2; Kana, a colonial mechanic, desig B3; Kendra, a colonial farmer, desig B4; and Sari, a Dominion transport pilot, desig B5. Subject B1 seems to be a suitable candidate for breeding with species Z09, the “defiler.” We have altered her mate, actually reducing his breeding capacity to an extent, due to the extreme hazard the creature presents not only to Terrans but even to other Zerg. Nurse Tayla will be taking care of her physical well-being, conditioning, and personal needs. Subject B2 showed high compatibility with Z12, the “lurker,” but is also a powerful marine; I’ve assigned Rebecca to help condition her and look to her needs. Subject B3 is a strong candidate for breeding with Z01, the “zergling,” and Nurse Maria will be working with her. Subject B4… is interesting. Very rebellious, with a strong force-of-will, though the spinal chip will keep her tame if need be. She seems to have the fortitude for a genetic splice with Z02, the “hydralisk.” I’ve assigned Nurse Sheila to her; the submissive little thing should help keep B4 under our control, if not completely happy. And we have Subject B5. The quiet one. An excellent candidate for merging with Z05, the “mutalisk.” Nurse Claire will be assigned to B5.
At any rate… the patients are coming online now. I’ll give them a few moments to get oriented, then I’ll brief them on what’s to come. Some of them might argue, but it’s not as though they have the means to actively resist. A bit worrisome, from an ethical standpoint, if one thinks about it… but we’re trying to save the species. Extreme measures are acceptable, in such a situation.
End log.
For all three of you, your day begins in the same manner. You become aware of a dim but steadily brightening light. Then you awaken in a small but comfortable medical bed, with the smell of fresh linens. Your body is naked, but covered with the fresh white bedsheets. Two guards wearing full body armor are standing next to an exit hatch, each of them with a side-arm holstered securely on their hips. A female nurse is watching your reactions, taking a few notes, and checking instruments. "Don't try to sit up yet. You've been unconscious for a while. Your body will need time to adjust to consciousness."
Amelia inhales as she wakes up, squinting her eyes and gently turning her head as she comes to, her long, red hair mostly hidden underneath her, as she slowly takes in the room. "The...Where am I?"
Valeriya grunts, eyes opening. This was... Hm... She looks over at the woman levelly, observing quietly over her surroundings for a minute. Finally she speaks up quietly, voice accented. "What is happening?"
Kana woke with a sniff, taking in the scent of laundry, and trying to remember just how she got here in the first place. The feeling of the blanket on her bare skin made her wake up a bit faster than then even the normally excitable girl would and she cracked open her eyes. Noticing the guards she was about to stand up before the scientist spoke to her. "Did I drink too much last night? Or do I just need some coffee. I don't really remember signing up for science."
The blonde nurse shakes her head. "Just focus on waking up. The doctor will be contacting you via vidcon in a few moments. She'll be able to answer all of your questions." The nurse checks Amelia's vitals, including pulse and blood pressure, noting results in a datapad. Valeriya and Kana each receive an identical response. A few moments later, there's a beeping sound from the large mirror on the wall across from each of you. Then the mirror goes black for a moment, and is filled with the image of a young redheaded Terran female, wearing a white labcoat and sitting at a desk. She smiles at each of you through the screen. "Good morning. My name is Doctor Ciera Smythe, with the United Earth Directorate. We're communicating via video teleconference. I can see all of you, but I've disabled your microphone for the moment--I'd like to explain where you are and what we're trying to accomplish here, and then you'll have a chance to ask any questions you might have." She gives a polite, if somewhat distant, smile.
Kana nods, not like she could do anything else with the microphone off. She wasn't exactly going to be getting past those guards, and for all she knew she signed on to this willingly at some point and just forgot. She just hoped it was for something benign, like a better tasting coffee or something. Not like that was likely at all but she could hope.
Valeriya looks, watching quietly. United Earth Directorate? The Earth? She'd only vaguely recalled that part of history class. It didn't really seem to matter that much. A planet that tossed all the folks they didn't want into space, and left them to fend for themselves. What the hell were they doing here? Or was she there now? Did it matter?
Amelia sits still as her vitals are taken, noting how the nurse jots them in the datapad, her own scientific curiosity getting the better of her as she studies the room, until the mirror becomes a transmitter, giving her a view of a similarly redheaded scientist. "Fascinating. I didn't think Earth still cared about this sector."
The redheaded doctor continues. "Unfortunately, each of you took up arms against the UED, and each of you faces possible death for high treason. The good news is that your DNA made you eligible for a special program that would guarantee your complete pardon. You've each been fitted with a small spinal chip that will ensure your cooperation. It does have the capacity to cause some short-term memory loss, so I'm putting your individual contract up on your view-screen now." Each of the patients is treated to a full view of a long legal contract, but with their signature at the bottom. "Still, this is an exciting opportunity for you to help us contain and defeat the Zerg once and for all."
Amelia: “What? I don't remember signing that!" Amelia says as she struggles to try and sit up, one hand coming across her chest to hold the sheet over her body.
Valeriya: Great, a re-soc special. Either it didn't take or they didn't want to erase them outright yet. She somehow doubted those were acquired validly. Not that it mattered. Given the armed guard, they didn't even need the flimsy excuse.
Kana: 'Wait what. When did I do that.' Kana thought to herself. 'I just did some maintenance work for those armed guys that came by. I didn't think that counted as taking up arms myself...' Looking at the legal document that came up before her she had a different thought. 'Or maybe I got drunk and punched someone important, that'd probably count too. Seriously though I wonder what they are talking about with us containing the zerg. I hope that doesn't mean weapons testing...'
The nurse gently presses Amelia back down, and the Terran scientist finds that she feels unable to resist the nurse's gentle touch. "Over the next few days, we're going to be adjusting your... threshold for pleasure and reproduction. We've administered certain agents to each of you, which will make you a bit... easier to change. Your body will adapt quickly... and you'll probably enjoy it. At any rate, I promised to answer your questions." She presses a few buttons on her own datapad, and a small, blinking red light appears at the bottom left corner of the viewing screen. "Now I can hear you, and you can all hear each other. Let's be civilized and respectful, and we can have an open discussion." She smiles again.
Valeriya: “...So you're trying to turn me into some sort of breeding tool. Why?," asks Valeriya quietly, staring at the woman unceasingly.
Amelia: “Just...Answer me one question. How does turning us into breeding machines help us stop the Zerg?" the scientist asks as she lays back down.
Kana: “Why are you mutating us? I thought you guys could already like...clone people or something." Kana asked
"Not breeding, necessarily, so much as control. We've been studying the Zerg problem for a long time. Longer than you know. We've studied battle statistics, tactics, and individual anecdotes. A LOT of data. An odd little anomaly came up. Zerg take ten percent longer, on average, to kill human females in battle. Further study found that it wasn't a general rule--most women died about as fast as their male counterparts in similar situations. But in about ten percent of these cases, the zerg creature would take twice as long to kill their adversary. They hesitated. We suspect that there may have been a certain level of breeding compatibility between them. Then, of course, the female attacked and became a threat, and mating was no longer an option."
"Also, we have backup genetic material from each of you. If we DO need to make clones... we have the material on hand."
Valeriya: “...So I'm alive... Because you want me to act sexy for a critter. And you don't see a problem with this...?"
Kana: “Wait. So your planning to breed us /with/ the Zerg?" Kana said with a blush on her face. "T-That is certainly a weird science experiment..."
Amelia: “A fascinating hypothesis. If I could see the data for myself and confirm this, I'd gladly partake in this experiment." Amelia says, a look of contemplation on her face as she theorizes and considers the possibilities
"I think this is a wonderful alternative to what normally happens to Terran traitors and terrorists. Normally you'd be publicly whipped, sodomized, and executed. Our faction defends us all... but it is often rather draconian in its methods. This will provide us with valuable data about the Zerg, and permit you to redeem yourselves by playing a part in the salvation of humanity. As for breeding... there are still a few tests to be run. And we need to see how well the agents took--your reproductive systems will need some adjustments, before we'd even consider permitting such a mating to occur." She smiles. "As for sharing the data... I'm transmitting some of the summary data to you now." A small statistical readout shows up on Amelia's viewscreen.
Kana breathed a sigh of relief. What she had seen of the zerg from people that passed through made her think getting up close and personal with them was a very good recipe to be cut to ribbons. "Well...don't really have a choice then...Though what's going to happen to us when the experiment is all said and done?"
Amelia: “Fascinating." Amelia says as she begins to go over the data. "Imagine if we could find a way to control the infestation process in its entirety. We could give humans all the benefits without losing their control." Amelia says, already theorizing about what kind of experiments and tests she could run with this knowledge.
Valeriya: “...I see Earth was better forgotten then, if that's what you do." She elft it at that. No point in complaining or dying over nothing and dooming a copy of herself to the same. If that wasn't much better. Still, she'd find a way to blow this popsicle stand soon enough. Blow it up perhaps even. She didn't want to think what could happen to her if some critter got in her... She'd seen what they do to people. Made her stomach lurch just thinking about those poor souls.
"Now, now. You consented to this experiment willingly, as I understand it." She makes a note in her datapad. "If the project is successful, we might be on the verge of peaceful coexistence with the Zerg. If that happens, you'll be free to relocate to any of a number of Terran colonial worlds, though you'll be restricted to those that already have Zerg inhabitants. Peace or no, we've no intention of permitting Zerg contamination of new worlds."
Amelia: “Understandable, really."
"Also, not all of you have been selected as breeding candidates. Some of you were picked up for genetic splicing. You'll also be an important part of this project, some day acting as ambassadors to the Zerg on our behalf."
Kana: “Well...I just hope the experiment's a success then?" Kana said, confused as to whether she should be happy she'd get to go free when all was said and done at the expense of becoming a zerg mutant, or terrified at the possibility.
Valeriya: “One can claim anything when the witness has no memories.," says Valeriya simply. Peace. With the critters? They had a better chance with the protoss, who destroyed worlds just as easily as the zerg did. They were intelligent at least. But no. The zerg were cogs, bugs, all acting to the same beat. They'd be as peaceful and friendly as a rabid dog. Maybe it wouldn't bite you immediatly. But teaching it a new way to spread it's disease wasn't helping anyone.
Kendra: Silent so far, Kendra skimmed the data and listened, brows furrowed deeply as the others spoke and the doctor on the screen prattled on. She spat into the corner, wishing she was back on her farm. Her hand idly slid down her stomach, over a scar that marred the skin, navel to side. "They should be destroyed, no bargained with."
Amelia: “Good, empirical science is what separates us from them. If we can find a way to coexist without the need for extermination, that is far preferable." Amelia says simply as she continues to look through the data.