>>365340
You're misunderstanding here. The boy was calling the girl by the name Pandora (and she was calling him by the name Adam).

For name: Sasha might do.

>>365341
No misunderstanding. First thing we heard. That's all. We can wait for another name.

Tell her that we don't have a name, as far as we know, nor any memories. We should ask her what an umbilical cord is. And what sort of research was done here.

sasha is a nice name, go with that. and ask where you are.

>>365333
we are her thoughts, describing her thoughts is like narrating in third person. you may think it's fancy but it gets really dull really fast.

>>365364
I understand.

I'll go with this "no name, no memories (aside from picked-but-we-won't-tell-them-that) plan.

“I don’t know.”

I answered the black-haired girl.

“My memories are muddy and murky; it’s a mess.”

“Hmm... Now that’s a problem.”

The girl replied with a sigh.

“Fortunately, we’ve found a solution to solve one of your problems, and I’m holding onto it on my hands. Could you try to exit the capsule that you’re in?”

I obeyed as I sluggishly climbed out of the capsule that I was held. My first few paces forward from the capsule felt awfully awkward. The girl giggled at my first attempt to walk.

“Hey! At least you can remember how to sort-of walk. My name is Pandora, and I’ll soon introduce you to my partner-in-crime in a bit.”

Pandora walked around the desk and stood a little in front of me. Her head was tilted a little up as she stared into my face.

“You’re about as tall as Adam; who’s about 5’11” I believe. You’re pretty tall for a girl. Could you please raise your arms up for a bit? I’m going to wrap this linen around you, and I’m going to hold it in place with a few hairpins that I have in my hair.”

I followed her instructions as I observe her begin to work. She pressed a warm, bare hand onto a corner of the linen square against my right side. She used her other hand to guide the sheet around my slender body.

“Wow! You’re as cold as a corpse! Yet your skin feels so soft and eerily living... Okay. Could you please hold onto the ends of the linen for a moment please?”

I obliged by lowering my right arm to its side, and I held the linen’s ends together between the long fingers of my right hand. Pandora let go of the linen, and she proceeded to remove thick hairpins from her straight hair. She strategically placed each hairpin around the ends and seams of the sheet. The crude dress felt firm, but I knew that any exaggerated movement would break it apart.

“We’re not done yet.”

Pandora removed a leather belt from her waist that held her worn denim overalls tight to her rectangular figure. She then tightly wrapped it around my waist and buckled it.

“There, that should hold it together better. I don’t have any spare boots on me, so try to be careful where you step; there’s broken glass just about everywhere in this room.”

The girl turned her head to a side, facing the room’s door.

“Adam! We’re finished! You can come back in now.”

“Pandora! I’ve found the good doctor. We were wrong; he didn’t abandon this lab.”

Pandora looked grave when she heard Adam’s last comment.

“Wait! What?! Is he alive?”

“Come take a look for yourself.”

The masculine voice replied with a solemn tone.

“Oh no... I don’t like that tone! I’m coming!”

Pandora left me without any hesitation, headed toward the origin of the boy’s voice. The flashlight is still on, left on top of the table. I’m thinking of burrowing it for a moment to explore my surroundings. Maybe I’ll be able to pick up a couple of clues on what happened here? Perhaps even find something about us?

Do you have any suggestions where to go and what to do?

use the flashlight and examine all around the pod you were in, maybe there is something written down about you.

Yeah, let's have a look around. But do watch out for that broken glass.

Id say grab the Flashlight and follow Pandora, I wouldn't want to get lost in the lab and the doctor might have some answers in his room, assuming that hes dead and we cant ask him any questions. But maybe you should also take a quick look around in this room before you go.

Borrow flashlight. Examine computer terminal. Examine capsule. Examine pages of paper. Be attentive to what happens outside. Carefully follow Pandora.

I carefully tread toward the flashlight that Pandora left on the table, and I picked it up steadily with my right hand. Turning back to face the pod I’d occupied, I directed the light to the egg-shaped contraption. There is a console panel on the bottom of the pod, and on the panel it had a large display with a few graphs on it. I took a moment to study the graphs, but there isn’t anything measured on it. Bellow the graphs I read the words in bold, “HOPE ACTIVATED.”

Should I closely look inside of the capsule? I didn’t get the chance to ask Pandora about the umbilical cord, so maybe we should find out about it now together? Or should I move on to another suggested point of interest? Such as the computer that’s on top of the table or even look through some of the binders and folders scattered about?

We should start with the computer then look at the folders if there is nothing to be found on the computer.

Could you put something in the subject field so your posts are easier to tell apart from the commenter posts?

>>365534
Go after Pandora. Go see the good doctor. He's probably dying.

Seconding going after Pandora. We have a name now, and what's happening with the Good Doctor might me more pressing, where files and computers will wait. Remember to watch your feet for glass.

>>365539
Seconding this. Either have a title or a related picture, or else it gets visually buried in the comments.

>>365541
By name you mean... Hope?

yeah that computer seems important. but you can multi task. grab the laptop and the folders and take them with you to the room the doctor is in.

Using Pandora’s flashlight on hand, I navigate myself to the computer that was sitting on top of the tall desk. The suggestion to take it with me isn’t possible as the computer isn’t of the portable variety. Nonetheless, I take a minute to absorb the contents from the computer’s illuminated screen. The majority of the information presented is recorded health vitals for a Subject Hope, but there’s also a few typed evaluations from a Doctor Thoroughgood at the end of the analysis. The context of his evaluation is a summary of what the vitals meant. In his conclusion he has recommended that Subject Hope is ready for activation; however, he adds a disturbing warning to the intended reader in the end.

“...but do you really intend to release another abomination out into the world?”

Right bellow Doctor Thoroughgood’s evaluation, there’s an opened command prompt with a previous command recorded onto it.

“activate ‘Subject Hope’”

We can assume who activated Subject Hope.

I would like to delve into the computer more thoroughly, but the others are right that I should follow Pandora through this ruined lab-yrinth. But along the way out of this room, I made sure to acquire any binders and folders that were around my passing proximity. As I exit the room, I’m carrying quite a bit of future reading material.

I’ve entered a long hallway that has a flight of stairs at its end. Throughout the passageway, there are numerous opened doors that lead into other rooms. I doubt I’ll get lost on this floor, and I’m pretty sure that Pandora and her comrade are in one of these rooms.

Should I skim through every room till I find them? Or should I explore each room a bit more thoroughly? I could cry out to Pandora to see where she could be too.

Exploring is a tempting option, since Pandora and her comrades attentions are focused at the good doctor - we don't know if such oportunity will arise in the future. However, his condition seems critical enough to leave us without supervision.

Let's skim through every room. If the good doctor and Doctor Thoroughgood are the same, we must be careful when approaching. He considers us an aberration. We should observe the conversation between Pandora's group and the doctor. We will intrude when most opportune.

I say if were going we should get all the papers off the floor and in a bag or hell even a desks drawer, because there's no telling if we can come back later, and take them with us.

I entered the room on my right, and I see two rows of tall lockers in the center of the room. Against each wall and between the two lockers were long and narrow wooden benches; its obvious to me that this is the locker room. Most of the individual lockers were opened wide and empty. The reminder of the lockers contained broken personal items, such as a crushed compact mirror or a smashed wristwatch. I continued to briefly search each opened locker until I come across an opened briefcase in a locker. There was nothing inside of the briefcase, and I immediately thought that I could use it to carry my belongings. I took the briefcase and placed my gathered paperwork in it. I left the room carrying the briefcase on one hand and Pandora’s flashlight with the other.

The room across the locker room had flipped over desks and cubical panels either lying on top of a furnishing, such as a chair, or on the floor. There was quite a bit of shredded paper thrown everywhere as well. The most startling thing I’ve discovered about this room were the bullet holes scattered on the walls. I doubt that I’ll find anything of value here, so I left it to move on to the next room.

As I walk closer to the next pair of doors, I begin to hear voices coming from the right room.

“Adam! What happened to Dr. Thoroughgood?!”

“I don’t know. But he looks like a ghost doesn’t he?”

Curious, I entered the room to see Pandora and Adam standing in front of a tall white apparition. The room itself looked fairly odd to me; it looked untouched and unharmed compared to the other rooms that I’ve visited. The room occupied an executive desk that had a computer monitor on top of it. There was quite a bit of stationary on top of the desk, and as well as other personal mementos, such as photograph frames.

“Huh?!”

Adam turned his head to see me.

“Oh! It’s Jane Doe!”

Exclaimed Pandora, turning her attention to me as well.

“Jane what? Are you serious?!”

Pandora shook her head.

“No. That isn’t her real name, but she doesn’t remember it either; I think she has amnesia.”

“Hence ‘Jane Doe’, right?”

Pandora nodded.

“Uh-huh.”

The blond-haired boy smiled at me.

“My name is Adam. And I hope your memories will return to you soon.”

“Here’s hoping too!”

Pandora added cheerfully.

“Gabriel, if you’re listening to this, then that means that you’ve activated Subject Hope.”

The apparition began to speak to us, and we all paid attention to it.

“In this time and space, we’re being overwhelmed by Garden’s forces; they’ve found my hidden laboratory somehow, and I have my suspicions on who ratted us out. I’m sure you do as well. Nonetheless, that isn’t important any more.”

“Do you think Big Boy ratted them out?”

Pandora pondered out loud.

“Shh! I haven’t listen to this part yet so be quiet!”

Adam demanded.

“What is important is explaining the abomination that you released into the world. Subject Hope isn’t like the other homunculi, nor should you use it like any other ordinary weapon. It has sentience; it’s aware of its actions along the actions of others. To make matters worse, it hasn’t mentally matured yet due to your irritating request of conceiving it hastily; it’s as innocent as a new born baby. So it is of utmost importance that you raise it like a child. If you don’t, you’ve doomed us all.”

“Pandora... what have you released to all of mankind?”

Adam asked, looking ill.

“Oh, shut up! Jane’s just an ordinary girl. Right?”

Pandora turned to me, looking ill herself.

“Oh! How I wish I could take a look at your irritated face right now! Hehe! I know how you hate kids! But let me assure you that these negatives doesn’t outweigh the positives! Subject Hope is a third generation homunculus, and it’s the only one of its kind. It’s twice as powerful as the second generation homunculi that I’ve developed in the past, and she has powers that are out of this world thanks to Professor Hilbert.”

Professor Hilbert... I recognized that name! It’s the name of the scientist who has unlocked the secrets of the universe; the memories of the scientist that we’ve decided to take along with us.

The sound of gunfire echoed down the hallway.

“What was that?”

Pandora asked out loud, startled.

“Don’t worry about that, it’s part of the recorded message.”

Adam calmly answered.

“It sounds as though my time is up. This recorded message that I left for you is all thanks to Professor Hilbert; it’s a message that’s etched in time, wondrous isn’t it? I’m going to be leaving now from this reality with Professor Hilbert in his device. I will begin to atone for my sins of creating these dwarves in the bottle, and I doubt that you’ll ever see me again.”

The ghostly doctor heavily sighed.

“I never intended for the world to be in this sorry state. My idealism and naivety caused the world to be in ruins, and I gave power to the ones who shouldn’t have it in the first place. Please don’t make the same mistakes that I have, Gabriel. Good bye and good luck.”

The apparition vanished but it soon reappeared. Adam and Pandora turn their heads to stare at me. They both look scared. Should I say something that will calm them down? Let them know that I’m not as dangerous as Doctor Thoroughgood made me?

>>366066

"I dont know if I am Hope, but I do know that Im no blank slate. I have memories, and a sence of right and wrong."

"if i'm a monster then i'm a friendly monster who protects their friends"

"Boo!"
but really
"So, is there some kinda plan, objectives, etc. or are we just going to stand around gawking at each other?"

We might as well paraphrase Robert E. Howard.

"But human flesh was too frail, too paltry to hold the terrific essence that was Jane Doe. So she stood up in the shape and aspect of a woman, but her flesh was not flesh; nor the bone, bone; nor blood, blood. She became a blasphemy against all nature, for she caused to live and think and act a basic substance that before had never known the pulse and stir of animate being."

Fear. It's a useful tool until we conquer their love. Keep it. Let's be ambiguous.

We must express our gratitude, anyway. For the name, for the clothes. And recognize them.

"Thank you, Pandora."
"Thank you, Adam."
"Who is Gabriel?"

>>366157
Seconding.

>>366169
they are kids, fear results in running away. they are too impulsive for fear to be a controller rather then something that makes them flip.

>>366182
Never said to scare them. Impose ourselves. Assume direct control.

>>366190
>Fear. It's a useful tool until we conquer their love. Keep it. Let's be ambiguous.

you very blatantly said you want them to fear us. that ain't kosher.

Humor is a much more effective tool for gaining their trust, as it makes them seem like less of a threat.

>>366194
yes, and if they trust us then they will trust IN us when we tell them to do things. meaning they will follow orders even if they don't understand it.

>>366191
Why, scaring and managing fear are completely different things. Let's be ambiguous, I said.
Anyway, no need to act so defensively. I am but one. I decide nothing, but I have the right to voice my ideas.

>>366194
Indeed, humour. It seems a good route. However, getting attached to them is a huge responsibility. Perhaps, a step too big for now.

>>366201
>getting attached to them is a huge responsibility
>too big
I honestly have no idea what you're talking about. We were born five minutes ago, we have zero connections and very little idea about whats going on. We have nothing to lose by letting these kids think we're friendly but we do have info and allies to lose if we freak them out.
Remember just because we act friendly doesn't mean we won't abandon them if the situation calls for it but it does mean that one of them might risk their life to save us, might confide in us secrets, might keep OUR secret and so on.
Thats why its better to be loved than feared, you gain more with fewer of the drawbacks, drawbacks like getting stabbed in the back and ratted out because they think you're a crazy talking psychopath who could kill them at any moment.

Say, "So... I guess I have superpowers? Awesome!"

Pump your fist into the air energetically as you say "awesome". The intention is to compromise the integrity of your garments to distract them from the gravity of this revelation. Also, it iwll make you look silly.

>>366222
I will not repeat myself. Anyway, just thought it would be a more interesting route, maybe even fun. Now, acting artificially humorous, deceiving the feelings of children who until now were so kind to us... Aren't you sadistic? I'd rather be honest and evaluate the situation.

If we give us the work of earning their trust, it would be the correct thing to rely on them too. If we want their love, we need to sincerely and appropriately reciprocate this feeling. At present, we fear them. Let's share this fear, but just a little. Why, aren't we just another child in this world? A clueless and timid one?

Hey! Don't give so much credit to me! Certainly, I'm not on the sane side of this mind!

>>366228
this

Hmm... Honestly, I don’t want to lie or manipulate them. I genuinely feel grateful to them for activating us. I agree that scaring them further wouldn’t benefit us; however, I understand why we should keep our nature ambiguous. Humor? I feel like it would be awkward in this tense situation, but I am giving it some thought. How about a compromise between each other’s ideas?

“Adam and Pandora, thank you for the generosity that you’ve given me.”

They remained anxious but attentive to me.

“I might be Subject Hope, but I don’t feel as though I am the monster that Doctor Thoroughgood is talking about.”

I gave them a sincere frown.

“So please don’t look at me with those eyes. I am not going to eat you.”

I snapped my teeth at them playfully after I said my last comment.

Adam turned to Pandora.

“Well? You’re the one that’s good at judging a stranger’s character; what do you think?”

Pandora eased her frighten expression.

“I... I feel that we can trust her.”

Adam remained tense.

“Fine... But what are we going to do now with the doc’ missing?”

Pandora shook her head.

“I don’t know... But everyone back at the village is going to hate this.”

Adam relaxed as he let out a heavy sigh.

“I know that... We might as well bring Jane along. Prepare her for the real world at least.”

Pandora nodded as she turned to me.

“There’s not much here for you or for any of us now. I think you should come along with us.”

This is a little too sudden... I feel as though I should remain here and search for any further clues about us. But it is tempting to leave with them. What should I do?

explain you need to find some answers. and they are here somewhere. they can leave and do other things and when they come back in a few hours and if we have run out of leads we will leave. we may be nice but if we have a secret power don't want it going off by accident.

Know thyself, child of insolence and science.

In fact, Doctor Thoroughgood words are far more frightening to us. Not satisfied with a mind pervaded by chaos and suffering, what wonders and abominations that lurk in our vessel? We must know.

One moment, however. Questions must be asked. Why are Adam and Pandora here? How they managed to wake us up?

>>366465
Well they woke us up by pressing the button.
What their (and their village's) relationship with the doctor is another matter.

>>366466
Why, yes. They succeeded in something that whatever-messed-up-this-laboratory failed.

Anyway, what arouses fear and anger in the village? What do they mean by "the real world"? What are these beings mentioned by the doctor?

I shook my head to their invitation.

“I feel that I should stay here longer to find out more about myself. However, Is there anyway for you two to come back for me later?”

Pandora gave me a wide grin.

“Of course! You’re holding onto the perfect excuse for us to come back here!”

The cheerful girl turned her attention to Adam, who looked a little ill.

“We can tell Nathan in our next scavenging spot that we ‘lost’ our flashlight here. We’ll HAVE to come back to search for it!”

It was obvious that Adam didn’t like the girl’s idea due to his pained expression on his face.

“Besides us getting an earful from Nathan later on. It’ll give you two hours to search for clues around here, Jane. But I doubt that you’ll find anything new amongst the scraps left here.”

Adam added.

The black-haired girl looked back to the phantom Doctor Thoroughgood; who’s beginning to repeat his message to Gabriel.

“Garden really nailed this place hard. Poor Doctor Thoroughgood.”

Pandora said in a sadden tone.

“Who’s Garden?”

I asked bluntly.

“Garden... Garden took our happiness away from us.”

Adam answered with an angry tone.

“They killed his family.”

Pandora revealed, showing me a frown on her diminutive face.

“Just about everyone from our village has a similar story. I lost my family when we became separated in our escape from a sanctuary.”

“After the ‘Rapture,’ Garden gathered everyone who survived the calamity into a ‘sanctuary.’ There, they began to kill the ones who they deem were unfit to live in the new world.”

Adam explained bitterly.

“I’m sorry of bringing up the subject.”

I told them sincerely.

“No worries, Jane. We were going to tell you about them soon. They hardly make any trips around here, so I wouldn’t worry about them. They’re just a small part of our world anyhow.”

Adam concluded.

“Who’s Gabriel?”

I asked.

The both of them shrugged.

“We don’t know.”

Adam answered.

“What did Garden want with Doctor Thoroughgood?”

I asked them next.

“I don’t know.”

Adam said, shrugging his shoulders.

“They were probably after you, Jane. I guess they didn’t find you since you were still in your pod.”

Pandora answered.

“Then how come they didn’t take the pod with them?”

The blond boy questioned.

“Dunno. Stupidity?”

The brunette immediately replied.

“So... why are you guys here?”

I asked either of them.

“Haiku made a bet with Pandora that she wouldn’t enter the ‘Haunted Warehouse’ and bring back some proof that she was here. I was against the idea from the beginning, so I tried to stop her from running off when we landed nearby.”

Adam answered, looking irritated at the short girl beside him.

“Too bad I’m quicker than you, Adam.”

Pandora replied, grinning mischievously.

“Oh, shut up.”

Adam sneered!

“Hehe! I’m so going to prove her wrong when we take you with us, Jane!”

Pandora chuckled.

“How did you know how to activate me?”

I directed this question to Pandora.

“Oh?! You can say that I’m a computer enthusiast. I’m the only one in the village that can fix them up and operate them as well. The computer was already on when I arrived to the room that you were in, and the option to activate you was already typed in. I simply pressed ‘Enter’ due to pure curiosity and here you are now, Jane!”

“That sounds odd, doesn’t it?”

I answered her.

“It does... That’s pretty creepy.”

Adam replied, looking anxiously around him.

“Are you sure you want to stay here on your own, Jane?”

Adam asked me with a slight frighten tone in his voice.

I’m pretty sure of myself that I’d like to stay here a little while longer; how about the rest of you? Nonetheless, do you guys have any further questions to ask them before they leave?

>>366572
Sorry. The title should say, 'Interrogation Time.' I'm blaming this on my lack of sleep.

ask if being shown around would be a good idea at all. wouldn't garden wonder where a new person came form out of nowhere? she could use tons of things around here as proof. then after they leave start with the folders you have. then go back to the computer.

I'm really worried about Pandora and Adam. I know that we should distance ourselves, but I have a bad feeling about our awakening...

Ask them to wait a few minutes? No more than necessary. We need to check the computer. Mainly, we need to know when the computer was activated. Maybe Pandora can help us with that. That's all. If I'm wrong, we can come back on another occasion. Otherwise, we must leave.

Anyway, we need to know if we'll be a problem for the village.

I don't like the fact that the computer was already on and ready to activate us when the kids got here.

It looks like someone else was here looking for us and they may still be around. So probably it's not a good idea to stay here on our own.

I say we go with the children. We can probably come back another time to look for information about Subject Hope and the homunculi.

unless the computer was set to a motion sensor or timer. or it could simply be a very robust future computer and was left on the whole time.

I think going with them is a better idea than staying here alone. we can always come back later. though taking the hardrive from the computer and any files we can carry might be a good idea.

With all due respect, we're an "abomination with unique powers". I fear for the safety of the children and the village. We're a great risk to those around us. However, I dislike the idea of leaving them alone now that they're related to us. Maybe they're pawns of something bigger. Should we watch over them? I'm compelled to do so...