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pinesnet2017-06-22 01:57 pm
officialnotice) wrote in pinesnet2017-06-22 01:57 pm
( channel 0 + message board ) the sheriff, status update ; dr. rousseau, public address
( shortly after the last of the intruders are finished off, an exhausted-sounding sheriff danny griffith sounds off on the official broadcast channel. )
Well, we did it. Giving the woods one last sweep, but it looks like we wiped them out. Should be safe out, no matter what hour.
Now, we just clean up and rebuild. Get in touch if you can lend us a hand. ( a pause, and then: ) Wish I had more I could tell you.
(and then he hangs up.
it's utterly anti-climactic, possibly even infuriating. people died, and that's all the town gets? you might be about ready to march down to the police station and give him a piece of your mind... )
( ...but five minutes later, a second announcement comes. this one is a less familiar voice to most, though not to all. if she's anything close to as tired as the sheriff, she disguises it expertly. )
Hello, Wayward Pines. My name is Dr. Charlotte Rousseau. Some of you have visited me for counseling, to help you reach a peace of mind about unfortunate ambiguity surrounding the town we live in.
Today, I hope to offer you more than that.
For close to four years now, we've done everything in our power to give this town and its citizens everything they need to live a happy, peaceful life. In order to do so, the decision was reached to keep all but a few of you in the dark. We haven't told you what lies outside the walls. We haven't told you of the dangers that threaten your lives each day.
We did this for your peace of mind, and it was a mistake. One that we want to amend as best we can by offering our utmost honesty and cooperation from this point onward.
(a pause, and then:)
I've composed this next segment to appear on the message boards, to allow you to take in the information at your own pace. I'll read it aloud to you here, but should you prefer, you're welcome to hang up the phone and read it there instead.
(sure enough, a condensed version of the introduction + the following message are now live on the message board. while it's presented here in text, assume that dr. rousseau reads it aloud, word for word, with all of the appropriate inflection and emphasis.)
► What is Wayward Pines?
Wayward Pines is, in essence, an ark intended to preserve humankind from extinction. Beyond that, it's a town in which residents can, in theory, live peaceful lives and form meaningful long-term connections with others.
► Why does Wayward Pines exist?
In the early 1980's, scientists employed by a company with the deceptively innocuous name of 'Futuracare' came to the conclusion that the world we lived in was degrading far too quickly for humanity's innate microevolution to keep up. It was predicted that the century to follow would mark a point at which our planet would become entirely uninhabitable to life as we currently knew it.
Their solution was to craft a mutagen capable of forcing the evolution that neither man nor animal were able to manage alone. If we could not adapt, they planned to manually force that adaptation.
They planned, as far as we can tell, to undergo all mandatory and ethical testing procedures. Based on our understanding, they had no intention of exposing the mutagen unwillingly to the population at large. However, the mutagen itself (classified as "MVX2022") was designed to evolve and survive, and the first method by which it 'thought' to do so was to become abruptly and devastatingly contagious. This allowed it to unleash itself into the unsuspecting population, where it appears to have played havoc on the world at large.
► How long have I lived here, really? Where was I before?
Each of you recalls an 'accident' in your near or distant past. Waking up from that accident was, in fact, your first day here in the newly-rebuilt Wayward Pines. Prior to that, you were in cryogenic stasis for approximately a thousand years. Prior to that, you were in or within 20 miles of the town of Wayward Pines. We can't account for anything prior to that.
► Who is in charge?
We are what's left of Orphosis Biotechnologies ("Ortech"). The founders of Ortech defaulted from Futuracare during the early discussion of 'mutagens' as a foreseeable concept, in anticipation of the disaster that line of research might unleash.
Ortech was comprised almost entirely of laboratory research, with just enough of a business front to achieve sufficient funding and support. We claimed to be researching longevity. In truth, our lines of research were varied — genetics, cryogenics, and agricultural biotechnology, to name a few — but they all contributed to a common goal: To carry the human race through the flood of whatever MVX2022 had in store.
Not everyone living and working in our current facility worked for Ortech before cryo. I (Rousseau) was hired specifically to assist with your integration into the new world. Many of my colleagues were hired similarly.
► Why did you lie to us?
We lied to you because we felt at the time that it was necessary.
Initially, those who woke up were told the truth. Perhaps not right away, but within a couple of weeks of their integration into Wayward Pines. This truth, unfortunately, led to a much greater tragedy than we had anticipated. While our long-term goal was for citizens to settle into this town and eventually take the first steps toward the gradual repopulation of what Earth has become, citizens were listless, depressed, even afraid. Far too many experienced total mental breakdown. Many, unfortunately, chose to end their lives. Even more scaled the fence and were killed by the beings you've just met, many of which lurk just outside to this very day awaiting similar 'hand-outs'. This was all before the town fell to anarchy. Of the 250 people in the first wave of citizens, 83 were dead within three months. The rest spent each day in fear of their lives. Some are still here, reading this post. You won't remember it. We had no intention of letting you sustain long-term trauma based on our mistakes.
Because of this failure, each subsequent integration was given the lingering impression that this was their home. That they had been here all along, and that this is where they would like to stay. It was deeply unethical and it didn't quite sit well with any of us, but the longer it seemed to keep people alive and at peace, the more able we were to justify the necessity of it, to ourselves and to each other.
As I said: This was a mistake. We recognize that now.
► What lies outside the fence?
Death.
You've already met one of the largest threats to the continued survival of mankind. The aberrations. We call them "abbies". They're brilliant, lethal, and impossible to engage in negotiation despite their apparent near-sapience. They are also the most relatable example of MVX2022 at work. The aberrations are what remains of the human race. They are you and I, after a thousand years of exposure to a mutagen built to ensure your capability to survive.
Our manpower is limited, and so has been our ability to venture forth and explore the world we've woken into. We know precious little about what we cannot see from the tops of these surrounding peaks. However, even that much has shown us a world that does not want us to live in it, and wildlife which has evolved to survive despite that.
► I am "from another world". How did I get to this world, and how do I return?
We don't know. Honestly, we initially just assumed that these notions of coming from somewhere other than this Earth were delusions — side effects of the cryogenic preservation and of the measures we had taken to create an imagined life for you here in Wayward Pines. This theory was discarded quickly once you began to display otherworldly powers and abilities, not to mention those of you who are distinctly nonhuman in appearance.
We've begun the initial steps to research what might have occurred in order to bring you here. Once we figure that out, we'll be on our way to figuring out how to get you back where you belong.
► How do we proceed from here?
Ideally, we work together. Ortech's highest priority is to keep both you and ourselves safe — ideally, we'll be relatively happy as well. In our experience so far, this is a goal which we all share. One which will hopefully help us reach some sort of mutually beneficial arrangement.
On your part, you cooperate with our efforts to keep you safe and ultimately begin to trust in our general leadership. You additionally cease to riot or attempt to wound the individuals we've put into place to protect you.
On our part, we:
- Continue to be upfront with the truth of our shared situation, however unsavory it might sometimes be.
- Remove all surveillance enacted for the purposes of maintaining the illusion of normalcy. This covers any surveillance equipment not reasonably necessary for the location in question, including all surveillance within your own homes. The cameras which remain will be turned over to our local businesses and police force to utilize in the prevention of theft and other crime.
- Remove all restrictions pertaining to topics of conversation. You may talk about where you're from. You may talk about the memories that you've rapidly discovered aren't entirely real. We will not simply allow this — we'll welcome it.
- Continue to uphold the standard of living within the town of Wayward Pines. We will supply your food and materials; we will celebrate your holidays and festivals. The town will continue to be, for all intents and purposes, a 'normal town'. It will almost entirely reflect pre-apocalyptic life, because we find that this sort of "safe zone" is necessary for the sustained sanity of the population at large.
- Begin to allow qualified individuals to exit the safety of the fence on approved expeditions. Our top priority remains to keep you safe, so you will need to demonstrate your survival skills in order to to gain clearance, but this is something we know is important to you and we would like to work with you to allow it.
We're aware that the best case scenario for many of you would be to send you back to your homes. Unfortunately, this continues to be outside of our realm of capability. Please, consider working with us in making the best of what we have.
We understand that this has likely brought up as many questions as it has answered. We also understand that the situation at large is a matter of controversy, in which emotions are certainly running high. As such, we will not be responding to any questions or comments posed here. We will instead be allowing time for this information to sink in and be discussed amongst yourselves.
On Sunday the 25th, we will open up a discussion in which we can answer any questions you may have and hopefully reach some form of agreement.MOD NOTESThis is the public address mentioned in the latter part of the Who's That Pokemon infopost!
On an IC level, both posts are currently available on Channel 0, one after the other, like two parts of a single post. On the message board, you'll find only Dr. Rousseau's post.
You are welcome to use this post to thread amongst yourselves, but Dr. Rousseau will not be responding directly. A follow-up post will go up on the 25th in which Rousseau will address any lingering questions and concerns.
If your character wants to help the police force with their clean-up and rebuild efforts, there will be a top-level below in which to ICly volunteer.
volunteers: clean-up and rebuild efforts
- for poe dameron
It's Griffith. Promised you a sit-down as soon as I could. I'll be in my office.
no subject
Poe walks through the battlefield of town in a state of shock. There's a thought coming to him, underneath the dead metal feeling, the trapped-in-a-dead-ship-floating-in-space feeling.
There's something coming to him, quickening as they pass blood stains and gutted buildings and bodies that haven't been moved.
Cassian can probably feel the way Poe's attitude changes just as they reach the station. He blows past the front desk, into Griffith's office, and if Danny isn't on his feet when Poe comes in then Poe will put his foot against the desk and shove it hard into the man and his chair.
If Danny is on his feet, Poe... punches him. Or at the very least takes a very hard swing. ]
no subject
Nah, he's gonna stand over here by the door. ]
no subject
If you're about done with that, I can get to answering some actual questions.
no subject
But as soon as they're one-on-one, inches from each other, he loses the will for it.
All he sees is a man who's probably lost everything, too.
Poe lets go with a shove and turns away. ]
no subject
Since you called this meeting I hope you're fine with beginning the conversation.
no subject
I told Mr. Dameron here that I'd have us a sit-down and answer any questions he's got, just as soon I was able. Now I'm able. So start asking, and I'll do my absolute best to give you the answers you're lookin' for.
no subject
Get your shit together, Poe. ]
Did you know when you came here?
[ And then, with a fresh flash of anger: ] Which of your men shot Caroline Forbes?
no subject
I'll ask my guys, but we didn't see hide nor hair of Caroline Forbes. Is she alright? What do you have on the shooter? ( because shooting civilians was not a part of the deal. )
( and, because that may be the more immediately pressing matter but far from the only one presented: ) I knew enough. I was never a science guy. I signed on to protect this town from whatever the hell kind of world we were waking up into.
I didn't sign on for this. Lying to the folks that should at least be able to trust their own Sheriff. It wasn't how any of this was supposed to go.
( he swallows, shaking his head and holding up a hand a little. ) Know that I'm not asking for pardon. I took my part in this, and I'll own it.
no subject
[ He can feel his temper mounting, the urge for a fight returning, and he tells himself to keep it cool. The spiteful, small part of him wants to let the sheriff find out his own damn self whether or not Caroline is okay. Let him go see her in the hospital, unmoving, pale as a corpse--]
She's stable. Hospitalized. Hasn't woken up.
[ Poe's expression doesn't gentle in the least. ] What happened to people like that janitor?
+1 VOLUNTEER ( call ).
Hey. I'll pitch in however I can.
no subject
Hello there! Might I ask your name, sir?
no subject
[ oh ]
-- I stopped by for one of the guns that actually did some damage, do I have to return it?
phone call.
Sounds like no one even asked us about this before dumping us in cryo. Otherwise you could have just kept me awake to help out.
phone;
no subject
The process of freezing a body in order to preserve it with intent of revival at a later date. Say, a thousand years.
no subject
[And then, a solid half-minute later:]
What? What the fuck?
no subject
phone.
[I-It's not like he's worried about the last, absent member of his meme team or anything.
Robin has one last thing to communicate to the people behind the announcement, though:]
You're all seriously screwed up.
phone;
When she does, she keeps it short. ]
Things still don't add up.
Also, neither of them said anything about the trackers.
phone;
phone;
no subject
no subject
But there's a wide margin between trusting them completely and rejecting what they have.
listening;
Right now, that's kind of the problem.
He won't be calling the volunteer line. But contrary to Ross's accusations or what the Accords would've had people believe (back when there would've been anyone left to care—), they stick around in the aftermath, digging through the rubble and blood and soot. His people will be out there. ]
( phone )
How could I have been frozen? [ there are a million other questions, believe us, but that one is - that's a doozy. ] I don't think I fully understand ...