capeandcowllogs | If I shiver, please give me a blanket

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If I shiver, please give me a blanket

WHO: Mordin and Minako. And the Evoker as special guest star.
WHERE: ImPort Clinic lab
WHEN: Tuesday afternoon
WARNINGS: None
SUMMARY: In the wake of the Shadow-Witch incident, Minako has Mordin take a look at the Evoker used in her Persona power, since no one seems to know how it actually works.
FORMAT: Quicklog

[The Evoker has been laid out on the lab’s sterile white counter and Mordin has just about wrapped up his first round of tinkering with it, which mainly consisted of prodding it with his omni-tool and making ‘hm’ noises to himself, then checking some instrument readings and shaking his head.]

Preliminary results disprove initial theory. Evoker did not explode. [Mordin inhales.] Disappointing. Undermines some core assumptions. Will have to re-examine premises, start from scratch.

[He bends over the gun-shaped summoner again, waving his omni-tool over it. He keeps talking to Minako as he does though, not looking up.]

Would be helpful to have more information. Anything else you can tell me? Device functions, limits, origins perhaps? Need more details for tests.

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Please don't try to make it explode, Professor? I don't have a backup any more if it gets broken. [She's smiling as she says it - just mentioning! In case.] Although I've never actually seen that happen... one breaking, I mean, and we've put them through some pretty rough treatment.

[A moment's pause, and then she ducks her head a little.] I'm sorry I don't know more. My seniors were already using them before I got involved, so... [She takes a moment to think about it, brow furrowing a little.] I don't really know much about how it was developed. The Kirijo group made them. They were doing a lot of research and experiments involving Shadows, going pretty far back... at least ten years.

[By the time she finishes, she's looking fixedly at the floor in front of her feet.]

Edited (I can grammar!) 2013-03-27 02:38 (UTC)

Never seen one fail? Interesting. Weapons usually much more temperamental, require constant maintenance.

[Mordin looks up and blinks thoughtfully, deactivating the omni-tool for the moment.]

Research on Shadows preceded weapon to combat them. Makes sense. Who were the Kirjo group? And how were Shadows discovered? Inferring they weren't always known to your world.

[Minako glances up, looking momentarily thoughtful.] I don't know if it's right to call it a weapon, though, even if it does look like a gun.

...Ah, the Kirijo Group is a corporation. They're involved in a lot of things. They built my high school, and the artificial island that it's on as well, and they have influence with the police and the hospital. [Basically: yakuza.] One of my seniors is Mitsuru Kirijo-senpai... it's her family's company.

[She looks down at her feet again.] Mitsuru-senpai would be able to tell you when they first found out about Shadows, but I don't know how it happened, or for how long her grandfather's experiments had been running. I only know that it was at least ten years.

Artificial island? Group with enormous financial influence, then.

[He starts to pace a bit, Evoker forgotten for the moment.]

If not how, then do you know why? Why was Kirijo Group experimenting with Shadows? Clearly extremely dangerous. Must have involved risks. Wonder if that's why Evoker was created in the first place.

That's... well...

[She hesitates, draws in a deep breath.]

..."Nihilism" was what Kirijo-san called it. I'm not sure that's how they started, but... at some point, senpai's grandfather came to believe that humanity was beyond saving, and should be destroyed. So, that was why.

[Still staring at the floor.]

That project ended ten years ago - ah, well, it's almost eleven years now, I guess. There was an accident. After that, senpai's father took over, and changed the focus of the research... in order to clean up the mess that had been made.

Most of the anti-Shadow weapons they had were destroyed during the incident. So, if I had to say... that might have been when they started developing the Evokers.

Edited (Whoops, corrections!) 2013-03-29 12:47 (UTC)

[Mordin inhales, taking in the implications.]

Nihilism. Foolish philosophy. Life precious, should be fought for. Can't always be saved, doesn't excuse failing to try.

[The Professor goes back to the table and the Evoker, shaking his head. He considers as he looks down at the gun.]

Evoker fights Shadows by summoning Personas from user's mind. Specialized weapon for specialized enemy. Personas discovered during same experiments as Shadows? Do you know how they were discovered?

[Minako thinks back, brow creasing.] I don't know the specific details. It's... not really something that senpai liked to talk about very much. I haven't heard about any natural Persona-users appearing before Mitsuru-senpai, though, so it must have started with her.

The power of a Persona is the only thing that works reliably on Shadows, so they tried a few methods of creating them artificially, but... none of it really worked out very well.

[Mordin's brow creases reciprocally.]

Wish she was here. Seems she was the one with all the answers.

[Since sciencing the Evoker doesn't seem to be working for the moment, Mordin picks it up instead, holding it by the barrel.]

Using this- mimicking suicide. How does it feel? Any pain, fear, discomfort when summoning Personas?

I'm sorry. [A regretful and very self-deprecating smile has come over her face when she finally looks up.] For a long while, it just didn't seem very important... and then by the time we realized how much of what we knew was lies, there were too many other things going on.

[The smile gives way to a trace of a frown.] How it feels... that's a little hard to describe. It doesn't hurt, and I've done it so many times by now I can't say it scares me any more, but - maybe "uncomfortable" is a good way to put it. There's something about it that even after so much time, I don't feel like I can get used to.

Edited 2013-03-30 23:30 (UTC)

Perfectly understandable. [Mordin nods, encouraging, showing that she doesn't need to apologize.] Thrown into combat situation at young age, needed to prioritize for survival. No time to ask questions.

[He frowns down at the Evoker again.]

Summoning process seems almost inhumane. Especially considering youth of users- was everyone with an Evoker your age? Mentioned artificial Persona experiments- could be reason for them. Too bad they didn't work. Might have been a better option.

Better--? [Minako blinks, as though suddenly realizing that she's overlooked an important detail, and shakes her head.] No. Maybe they felt like they didn't have a choice, since they didn't have anyone else who had the potential naturally, but what they did was still wrong.

Wrong? How? [Mordin thinks, then deduces, then inhales.]

Personas invoked from human consciousness. Experiments in creating them artificially... involved human subjects?

[If the answer is yes Minako can expect a miniature fit imminent from the Professor.]

It's like you said. A Persona can only come from someone's mind, after all.

[Judging from the way the corners of her mouth tighten, she's still angry over it herself.]

To try to create Persona-users, they brought in kids from the streets - or at least, that's what I was told.

[Mordin's reaction is immediate. He sets down the Evoker, then starts pacing and gesturing while talking even faster than usual.]

What? Why? Why children? Experiments on sentients unforgivable to start with. Sloppy science, complete lack of ethics, always inflicts enormous harm- physical and psychological! Targeting youth inconceivable. Betrays total absence of morality. Possible legacy of 'nihilism' involved in original Shadow research? Doesn't matter. Wrong no matter where it came from.

[Mordin stops, takes a breath.]

Hope they were stopped. Mentioned that the experiments failed?

[Minako nods slowly, very unhappily.]

The project was able to create Personas, but because it had to be forced out, the power wasn't stable. They had to take suppressants to keep their own Personas from killing them. [No "that's what I was told" qualifiers here. This part, she knows for sure is true.] There were side effects.

[At her sides, her hands have clenched into tight fists.]

The experiment was canceled after most of the kids died.

[There's a pause. Then Mordin closes his eyes and bows his head deeply.]

Misspoke. Evoker far preferable to artificial Persona options. My apologies. Didn't realize the context.

[He straightens up, opens his eyes again.]

People behind the experiments. Any consequences? Brought to justice?

...It's okay. There's no way that you could know something like that without being told.

[Minako breathes in, and makes herself unclench her hands.]

I don't know for sure who was responsible for... for that project. [She looks down again, this time to regard the red crescent marks her fingernails have left on her palms, as though vaguely surprised by their presence.] Thinking back, it could have been Ikutsuki-san. [For a moment a pained look flickers across her face.] He's dead already.

[A brief pause, and then a little shake of her head.] Even if it wasn't him, Mitsuru-senpai is in charge of the Kirijo Group now. If there's anybody still around who was involved, it's not something she'll overlook.

Good.

[Mordin's eyes flick to the marks on Minako's palms, then back to her face, then he decides to change the subject. He goes back to the table, and to the Evoker.]

Can't find way to examine Evoker mechanically. Not without dismantling it, and can't guarantee full function afterward. Tech doesn't seem to function according to familiar principles.

[He touches his chin, rubbing.]

One possibility could be running neurological scan of user before, during, after firing- observe effects of Evoker on brain. Not comfortable with that option, though. Sensation described as unsettling...

[An idea strikes him. He pauses.]

What would happen if Evoker use was attempted by someone other than intended user? Myself, for instance?

Eh? [She's rubbing her hands absently on the fabric of her skirt when his question distracts her, and she looks up, brows lifting in inquiry.] I... don't know. I've never seen anyone try it before.

[She takes a moment to think about it, an anxious frown coming to her face as she does.] I'm not sure if anything would happen or not. I don't know if it'd be a good idea to try it, though. If it comes to that, it'd be better for you to scan me while I use it.

Never? Really? Interesting.

[Well that settles it he just has to try this out now.]

Willing to scan you first- if you're sure you want to volunteer. Intend to test Evoker regardless. Important question: weapon that can be used by anyone, like a gun, or personalized device meant for specific mind? Much to learn.

They're interchangeable, as far as I know. I used someone else's the first time myself. [Although she hesitates to say that nothing went wrong, she is pretty sure the Evoker had nothing to do with that.]

They had to custom-make one when Koro-chan joined us, but that was because he wasn't able to use the normal kind. [A beat passes before she realizes that's going to require some further explanation:] Koromaru is a dog. They made an Evoker into a collar for him.

I see. More evidence for idea of- one moment.

[Wait. Stop. Back the fuck up.]

Canine Persona user? [Blink blink.]

[She can't quite hold back a laugh.] We were surprised, too. But he fought off a Shadow all on his own.

He's a very smart dog.

[Mordin chuckles in return.]

Amazing. Also very useful. Confirms that non-humans can use Evoker safely and effectively. Will definitely have to try now. Just need to set up scan-

[His omni-tool appears again, and he starts doing something on it.]

[Minako watches that omni-tool very curiously indeed. She's still none too sure letting Mordin use her Evoker on himself is that great an idea, but since he's clearly determined to try it, there's no sense in saying anything else about it.

She sits tight instead, waiting for Mordin to finish doing whatever he's doing.]

[It's not long before Mordin's ready to announce:]

Neural scan prepared. Omni-tool will observe and record effect of Evoker's firing on brainwave patterns and neurological activity. Calibrated to focus on my brain and yours. Would like to go first. Can always test on you later, if willing.

[There's that uncertain and faintly anxious look again.]

Are you sure? I mean... it's not fun, but it's something I've done thousands of times, so it's not like one more time will hurt me. But I don't know what it'll do to someone who doesn't have the potential.

[Mordin frowns a moment, caught between enthusiasm and logic. Then he hands the Evoker to Minako.]

Sound point. Will let you test it first. Observe results on your brain, predict influence on my own.

[She lets out an embarrassed little laugh as she accepts the Evoker from him.]

Sorry. I'm not trying to tell you what to do or anything. [As if she could.] It just seems a little safer this way.

[Once the Evoker is settled comfortably into her grip, she looks up at Mordin.] Just tell me when.

Understood. [Mordin points the omni-tool at her head.] All right... ready n- Wait wait wait! Idea!

[Frantic tapping at the omni-tool. Mordin shakes his head.]

Wait, no, would cause cerebrovascular complications. Scratch that. Forget I said anything.

[Mordin raises it again and takes a breath.]

All right. Ready now!

[Minako makes pretty much exactly the face you'd expect someone to make upon hearing an as yet unexplained idea pre-emptively scrapped due to the likelihood of cerebrovascular complications - surprised, a little dubious, and a bit incredulous too. It's a look Mordin probably gets from humans fairly often.

But then she smiles and lets it go as requested, and when he says that he's ready she raises her Evoker to her temple - waits a beat, just to make sure no further inspiration strikes him - and, when it doesn't, she draws in a deep breath.]

Orpheus Telos.

[And fires.

He's seen Messiah already; the Persona that manifests out of thin air in response to the Evoker's report looks rather similar, like a different variation of the same entity in red and gold and white and bearing an oversized lyre. Orpheus materializes in the lab in the usual shimmer of bluish light and then just hangs there, hovering in the air slightly above the floor, awaiting Minako's mental guidance.]

[Yes. Yes he does. Anyway:]

Hello again, Orpheus.

[Mordin addresses the Persona even though he knows it's not a sentient being- it's part of Minako's psyche, and resembles a sentient being enough to merit a greeting. He frowns at the readings flickering above his omni-tool.]

Results- odd. Persona summoning definitely affected your brain activity. Not sure how to describe it though. Could be something omni-tool was never programmed to recognize. [Inhale.] Fascinating.

I'm not sure how I feel hearing that. [Minako says it with a little laugh.] I'd wonder if it's maybe something that can't be entirely analyzed by technology... but they were able to make Persona-using robots, so that can't be entirely true...

Ah, are you still scanning, or should I put Orpheus away again?

Scan completed. Will continue to observe de-summoning process. Might be more data there.

[Pause.]

Synthetic Persona users?

[Minako nods, and dismisses Orpheus with a little gesture of her hand (not entirely unlike a swipe of a motion-controlled "touchscreen," somehow). The Persona shimmers and dissipates without a sound, returning to her mind until called upon again.]

Right - the Anti-Shadow weapons I mentioned before. They were robots that were human enough to summon a Persona.

Only one of them survived the incident ten years ago, though... and she was out of commission from then up until after our team had been fighting for a while. It was only by chance that she reactivated and was able to join us.

Must have been a valuable source of information on those years, then. Example encouraging. Confirms wide applicability of Evoker tech.

[Mordin holds out his hand for the device.]

Higher probability it will be safe for me to try.

Not as much as you'd think. Her memory was pretty badly damaged. [She hesitates a moment.] Or disabled, maybe.

[Then she shakes her head quickly as though shaking off that thought.]

She didn't have to use an Evoker, either - or, well, hers might have been built in. I'm not sure.

[She reaches to place the Evoker in Mordin's extended hand, with a sheepish smile.]

Another one of those things it never seemed important to ask about.

Edited 2013-04-14 01:06 (UTC)

Making up for lost time, now. Chance to get answers.

[Mordin is smiling much to calmly for someone pointing a gun at his head right now. He doesn't really know if there's more to the process, though.]

Simply pull trigger?

Right. [She nods, and keeps her smile up in spite of her lingering misgivings about this experiment.] There's nothing complicated you need to do. Normally I'd be thinking of which Persona I was going to summon, but since you don't have one...

Understood. Be ready. Might need healing if something unexpected happens.

[Mordin takes a breath.]

Testing now.

[And he pulls the trigger.

Energy strikes his skull, passes through his brain, finds no familiar anatomy or psyche to work its effect on, and continues onward through the other side of his head, dissipating without consequence. Mordin shudders for a moment, feeling his mind touched by something, stirring the deepest parts of him. Uncomfortable, Minako called it. That's certainly an applicable word. But that's all it is.

Mordin lowers the Evoker and looks down at it, disappointed.]

Test... failure. No effect. [He checks the readings on his omni-tool, shakes his head.] No useful data. Still don't understand how it works.

Are you okay? [She's still watching him anxiously, not quite poised to grab the Evoker back in order to summon Messiah if need be, but the possibility is certainly close in mind.] That looked a little bad.

[Mordin keeps frowning as he hands the Evoker back to her.]

Distressing experience. Don't envy you, having to use this in combat. No lasting effects, however. Will be fine. Simply- [Sniff]- unpleasant.

At least nothing very bad happened.

[Accepting the Evoker back, Minako curls both hands around it and holds it up close to her chest.]

I'm sorry that you didn't get the kind of result you were hoping for.

True. Small chance my head could have exploded. Pleased that didn't happen.

Still, sorry not to have found any new answers for you. Might think of new tests later, but for now...

[Inhale]

No way to advance research.

Edited 2013-04-18 00:33 (UTC)

[Minako huffs out a breath and almost pouts for a moment there.] Honestly, Professor, what were you expecting me to do if your head had exploded?

[She can't keep that face up for very long, though. Soon she's smiling again.]

...It's okay. I'm all right with not knowing.

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If I shiver, please give me a blanket

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