5th Test // Video // Backdated to morning of the 25th, after the Masquerade dream

[heal_or_execute]

[The upbeat Salarian scientist looks a lot less upbeat on the video today, head bowed as he stands behind a lab counter. Actually, he looks downright embarrassed.]

Hello. Need to report... mishap with research. May have affected ImPorts. Possibly natives as well. Trying to determine scope of impact.

Was conducting stress testing on Evoker device. Partly responsible for previous event involving “Shadows.” [Air quotes!] Trying to determine the cause, prevent recurrence. May have inadvertently created new event.

[Mordin reaches off camera to pick up the culprit and show it to the Network. He’s holding a silvery gun-shaped device: Minako Arisato’s Evoker.]

Power surge during testing, resulted in massive Evoker energy discharge. Appears to have spread beyond lab, could have reached into the City. Evoker affects target’s subconscious. Summons images and powers from user’s own psyche. Can involve repressed fears, personality aspects. Effect described as... uncomfortable.

[Mordin sets down the Evoker.]

Difficult to say what might have happened. Anything from worst fears manifesting to disturbing dreams. Need to know if anyone experienced anything odd on night of the 24th. Could be related to accident. Will attempt to counter any harmful effects.

Abandoning research for now. Clearly risky, counterproductive, haven’t gained any useful data. Returning Evoker to owner, with apologies. Won’t risk further incidents.

Will be available if anyone needs assistance.

Comments

[incywincyhero]

Nothing over here. How does this Evoker device work exactly, under normal circumstances? And are you all right?

[heal_or_execute]

Difficult to describe. Haven't been able to determine function from technical standpoint, only practical. User fires energy discharge at own head, mimicking suicide. 'Evokes' subconscious, summons 'Persona' entity- [More air quotes] - to provide combat support.

Doesn't work on me. Tried it before- no result. No negative effects to report.

[incywincyhero]

... That sounds convoluted and creepy. What a combination. And you thought it'd be a good idea to mess around with this tech? [That possibly sounds less incredulous and more accusatory than he meant it to.]

[heal_or_execute]

Tests necessary! Tech created danger to City earlier. Evoker's own user didn't understand how it worked or how incident was caused. Needed to gain more information, needed to study.

[Pause, inhale.]

Results... Unintended, unfortunate. Doesn't appear to have caused much damage, at least.

[incywincyhero]

Okay, I guess... that's fair. Sorry, I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions like that.

[Beat.] Are you all right, then?

[heal_or_execute]

Accepted. Fine, personally. Evoker seems to have no effect on own mind. Didn't feel anything when discharge occurred.

[incywincyhero]

'Cause you're immune as a Salarian, you think, or something about being at the epicenter?

[heal_or_execute]

Can't tell. Theorizing it's due to differences in Salarian neurology compared to human brain structure. No way to be sure without further tests.

[Frustrated inhale.]

Same tests that can't be run. Unfortunate.

[incywincyhero]

I know it must be frustrating, Mordin. But hey, we're not exactly short on scientific mysteries to solve here.