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

voice

[heal_or_execute]

Ah. Lucky you missed it. Unpleasant experience. Dealing with physical manifestations of psychological stresses... problematic.

Glad this accident didn't lead to a recurrence. Could have been disastrous.

voice

[gevurah]

And I think we can all use a break from the disastrous. [ Who experiments with crazy weapons like that? Mordin!! ]

voice

[heal_or_execute]

[It was for the greater good okay geez!!!]

Unfortunately, can't promise that danger has passed. Evoker might malfunction again, even back in users' hands. Don't have data to make solid predictions.

voice

[gevurah]

It can be permanently shut off?

voice (hope a threadjack is okay?)

[xxii_thefool]

That isn't necessary.

voice (it's fine and that should have been "can't")

[gevurah]

[ A beat. ]

Oh?

voice (got it!)

[xxii_thefool]

Even if someone tried, I'm not sure what it would take to destroy it. You'd be more likely to cause another incident that way.

But in any case, it's not dangerous so long as it's used properly.

voice

[gevurah]

You're the owner. [ She realizes immediately. ]

voice

[xxii_thefool]

[Slightly sheepish:] Yes.

voice

[gevurah]

It doesn't work in anyone else's hands?

voice

[xxii_thefool]

It's not that it doesn't work for anyone else... but even if someone else tried to use it, unless they have the same power that I do, they wouldn't get anything out of it.

It would make them a bit uncomfortable for a little while, but that's all. It isn't a weapon.

voice

[gevurah]

But it can be weaponized?

voice

[xxii_thefool]

What happened in February was a freak accident. It got stuck in the 'Porter along with - with another imPort. Their powers interacted.

Up until now, that's the only time it's ever done anything but what it was made to do.

voice

[gevurah]

I've heard of the Porter messing with people's abilities before. [ She pauses. ] At least everything's relatively normal again.

voice

[xxii_thefool]

Yeah.

[She sighs quietly.]

I'm very sorry that people were troubled. But there won't be any more experiments... and it's not very likely to get stuck in the 'Porter a second time.

voice

[gevurah]

You don't sound like the kind of person to do it on purpose, so don't worry about it.

voice

[xxii_thefool]

...Thank you. I definitely wouldn't ever want things like this to happen to anyone. I do feel a little responsible, though, since it was because of something that belongs to me.

In any case, I'll make sure that it doesn't happen again.

voice

[gevurah]

Can I ask what you do use it for?

voice

[xxii_thefool]

It's how I use my power.

Rather than a weapon, it's more like... what's the word in English...? --a catalyst.

voice

[gevurah]

A catalyst for your subconscious?

voice

[xxii_thefool]

Haha, I guess you could think of it that way.

The way it was explained to me, my Persona is a part of my psyche. An aspect of myself that I can summon to protect me.

voice

[gevurah]

[ Huh. ]

A mask?

voice

[xxii_thefool]

Something like that.

voice

[gevurah]

I've never heard of anything like it, even here.

voice

[xxii_thefool]

Considering how many different worlds the 'Porter brings people from, I think there are probably a lot of things here that it's possible to say that about.

I guess it is pretty strange, though. There's a lot that I still don't understand about it myself.