>>1133398
You're an Assistant Researcher. So you've got some experience working in a lab, but mostly just following along with others' projects.
Remember this is a weapons and medical research complex, so the subject of your thesis should be at least tangentally related... but also, expect to be quizzed on it. It sounded like you have military background so how about we pick the weapons angle? Maybe something like you made a prototype amphibious weapon that could be used both underwater and on dry land. Those are usually small weapons... maybe you decided to try something heavier? Like a machinegun? Using standardized bolt ammo of course.

>>1133398
>Originally I tried to get into the navy seals but, just. Couldn’t quite make the cut..
Perhaps they thought your giant hulking frame and chubby belly wouldn't be a good fit for the navy seals?

>Phone voice
Even though it's easy to assume this is Doctor Mabel, she didn't actually confirm that is her identity. Don't slip up and call her by name before she confirms her identity.

>Field of research? Lab experience? Graduate thesis?
Maybe you can get her to open up by claiming to have an interest in something similar to Mabel's research into cures for chronic wasting disease? Just don't have it be the exact same thing as Mabel, since that might get her to think she's being replaced by someone else.

Best to answer something you can prove knowing or doing later, or fake being too flustered by fear about if you mess up later. E.g. don't claim advanced chemistry knowledge, you might have to use a chemistry set to assist her then.

What skills in covert ops translate to the sciences directly? Something naval? Jungle or forest stuff? Outdoors survival? Psychology? Anatomy? Hydraulics? Ship/submarine stuff?

On the other hand, producing a prototype gun would be a gunsmith's job, not a lab-based researcher. So maybe it should be something related like materials research. Like, a paper researching the current state of body armor technology and maybe a few experiments with your own materials.

As covert ops your skills include survival, scuba, emergency medical stuff (trauma) and a lot of technical espionage stuff (bugs, surveilance devices).

If she's as paranoid as suggested, the moment she gets outside comms/internet access, she might try to fact check your education (all theses get published online).

Potential thesis:
- A seaweed or aquatic-based ration/food bar.
- Better heat packs or heat suits (like stillsuits but for the arctic) for cold-blooded species.
- Some boring aquadynamic research for a better submarine drone to explore underwater with.
- Research into how certain underwater exercises affect muscle growth compared to land exercises.

Hmm. Wonder if Miss Mabel is having a sort of split personality situation. Keeping her in shy researcher mode will certainly help, or keep her distracted from paranoia.

>>1133406
>fact check
Well, if Gertrude went to grad school, then she could give her real thesis. Ultimately it doesn't matter what it is, since if it's a non-science degree, Gertrude could just claim she got to her current position through a series of related jobs. Career shifts happen.

>>1133398
Could we claim to be an intern? Nothing published yet.

"Th-thesis?! B-but I only have Masters' Degrees in Geophysics, Computer Engineering, Acoustics, Maritime Archaeology, Puppetry, Cartography and Geoinformation Science, Brewing and Distilling, Folklore, Astrobiology..."
RAMBLE like a new aristocrat. Make it clear that you're not supposed to be here but someone sapient and cruel threw you here for politics and feuds.

Buckwheat 2026/10/26(Mon)05:20 No. 1133430 ID: da477c
File 179299200745.png - (700.54KB , 1020x750 , 26.png )

>If she's as paranoid as suggested, the moment she gets outside comms/internet access, she might try to fact check your education
>Well, if Gertrude went to grad school, then she could give her real thesis.
Unfortunately in my case, I never went to a grad school. Can’t provide her anything real on that part. As far as her fact checking any of it, didn’t sound like this place has any kind of outside communication access. Maybe I can test that intel better if I find a computer login.

>tell them your name (again)
>you've got some experience working in a lab, but mostly just following along with others' projects.
>>This is your first time being out in a field environment.
Gertrude: “Oh…my name’s Gertrude. I-uh, I have some experience helping out in the labs. J-just following instructions and helping with other’s projects. This is m-my first time being put in a field environment.”

Her tone gets a bit aggressive,
???: “A code red situation is the first thing they’re throwing you into?!”
I can hear her sigh and mutter something to herself, though can’t understand any of it.
???: “Let’s-ugh. Never mind. Look, things are pretty bad here, you’ve seen the state this place is in.”

Gertrude: “Yeah. I saw the one hallway-”

I stop mid sentence, some heavy breathing starts crackling through the phone speaker. I just stay quiet and let her ride out whatever’s going on. Eventually she picks things up again,
???: “S-something more pleasant… Uh, tell me about your thesis. Yeah. Even, just. What did you research and write about. Anything.”

>Better heat packs or heat suits (like stillsuits but for the arctic) for cold-blooded species.
Gertrude: “Well, I tried to do mine on better heat suits for cold-blooded species like myself. I’ve always been kinda stuck in colder environments. Heat packs aren’t cheap and they don’t allow things like heat lamps or even electric blankets in most lab settings.”

???: “Oh…shit. Uhm… How’s the temperature in here for you? Is-is this part of why they sent out here?”

>>1133430
Tell her it's tolerable inside. You wouldn't want to walk around outside for long though.
At this point you might want to ask who she is exactly? She never said.

Hmm, her reaction to mentioning the hallway is interesting. If she did it out of anger, then it wouldn't be like that, would it? So maybe you don't have to worry much about the guns... unless someone else has control of them. Ok, let's keep worrying about the guns. Heck, if someone else has control, maybe SHE's afraid of the guns.

"I've worked in worse. Colder, I mean. Not that any of them had secret trapdoors or acid vats, just normal, non spy-flick ass conditions.

Okay why the hell do you have a turret kill room? This isn't Leaf Fortress 2, I thought this place in-the-middle-of-nowhere was for studying dangerous diseases where they couldn't spread!"

>Why did you come here?
"...I have a friend who... well, I hoped you'd have found something by now. It's a new-ish form of brain disease. Kills slowly, easy to burn out with a medical fever if caught early, but... they didn't catch it early. If they heat her up now, she'll die. And whoop-de-doo, there's a cure, there's a bunch of cures, but they're still in testing phases. About a year of testing give or take six goddamn months. I agreed to come out here because I'd hoped that... well, maybe the team could grease the wheels of medical bureaucracy if I washed your feet?"

I’d say keep playing up the clueless intern act. Just say you don’t know why they sent you here, maybe it had to do with your research but you weren’t really told anything beside to come here, report to someone, and do what they say while trying to keep the place clean. You didn’t ask to many questions since you thought this would be your first step to getting some real experience in a proper lab.

Might be time to ask her name. If she confirms herself as Dr. Mabel, sound relieved as she's someone in charge that you are assigned to, who can tell you what to do (putting pressure on her to lead an intern will distract her from paranoia, hopefully). And likely ask elaborate on the code red situation. Besides the obvious 'everyone is missing'.

Given your heat resistance / cold vulnerability and Mabel being interested in why that might be why you were sent, ask if there's some kind of temperature issue behind the code red. Is there some area that's frozen or superheated or something?

See if Mabel can suggest better ways to communicate than this static phone - any computers of video screens, or 'walkie talkies'? For obvious reasons don't suggest the panic room itseld.

Could play further on her dislike of your superiors by making it seem like they sent you as a 'Canary'. Someone out of the loop who's expendable.

I think things would be much more calm if you spent some time cleaning out that cafeteria. If there is no dumpster, you can build a refuse heap outside where it will presumably freeze and not smell as much. It's no good for anybody's nerves to have the lab in such a sorry state of affairs. Maybe then you can ask her for that clearance you need, making sure to tell her that you should be entirely immune to any CWD that got spilled around. Hopefully you can carefully clean that up, making it safe for Dr. Mabel to leave the safe room.

Of course by "clean up" that means putting everything in an autoclave after immersing it in lye, but this facility studies CWD so it should have an autoclave on site.

Buckwheat 2026/10/29(Thu)22:24 No. 1133547 ID: da477c
File 179331264131.png - (322.53KB , 1020x750 , 27.png )

>Tell her it's tolerable inside. You wouldn't want to walk around outside for long though.
>I've worked in worse. Colder, I mean.
Gertrude: “It’s uh, fine. I’ve had to work in colder conditions.”

???: “Please. If it’s too cold, don’t try and tough it out. Say something right away. With everything being in the state it is, I'd rather act sooner than later.”

Gertrude: “O-okay. I promise I’ll say something.”

>At this point you might want to ask who she is exactly? She never said.
>Might be time to ask her name. If she confirms herself as Dr. Mabel, sound relieved as she's someone in charge that you are assigned to, who can tell you what to do
Gertrude: “By the way. D-do you mind if I ask who you are or…get your name?”

Things get real quiet for a moment. Eventually she replies,
Mabel: “Doctor Mabel, unfortunately.”

I let out a sigh of relief.

>likely ask elaborate on the code red situation. Besides the obvious 'everyone is missing'.
Gertrude: “Unfortunately? Th-that’s good news to me. Can you…what caused the code red? Where is everyone?”

The phone crackles as she snaps back at me.
Mabel: “That’s- just slow down please!”

I whimper out,
Gertrude: “S-sorry.”

Mabel: “It’s… a lots happened here. I don’t want to think about it. I- can I just send over a briefing or write up? You’ll… things will be okay as long as you don’t venture off past the labs and maybe the kitchen.”

Gertrude: “Sure. H-how do I get on the computer?”

Mabel: “I’ll…ah shoot. Forgot, you probably don’t have an account setup on the computers here.”

I can hear her flipping through papers.
Mabel: “Guest account…guest account… Might take me a moment to come up with a solution here. Did they at least give you a security bade?”

Gertrude: “No. They said you could make me one.”

Mabel: “Oh great, wonderful. I can, but the card printer is stored in the lobby guard station. I can print to it remotely, the LAN is still online for us at least. You’ll have to apply some external force on the window to get in without a badge. Do you feel comfortable trying that?”

Eh, so long as you won't get in trouble, you're big enough to handle breaking down a door.
Also tell her the papers say you need a Level One badge.

Ask if there are heavy tools anywhere. Otherwise its going to be difficult to break a security window

as long as you won't get in trouble for forcing your way in you guess you could give it a try.

>>1133547
Keep playing the confused innocent thrown into the deep end, sympathy is a great cover for suspicion. As for the window say you'll be ok, mention playing a sport to explain your level of physical fitness

You can probably use a chair from the mess hall, a mop, or something similarly sturdy / cudgel-like to try break the window without hurting yourself. Make sure its wooden, just in case there's electric measures in the window. Getting cloth wraps for your hands to not cut yourself is also a good idea.

Your physical strength is easy to justify - You swim a lot and are a naturally strong species.

Say you're comfortable (you hung out with the wrong crowd in your school days, an ex cheating on you, or similar punk youth you're embarassed about), though double-check that breaking a security window won't trigger some kind of inconvenient-to-you-both alarm.

Jokingly comment on her saying 'apply external force' instead of 'break it' to try ease the pressure a bit. You ain't judging her thesis.

1/3 Buckwheat 2026/11/01(Sun)06:28 No. 1133624 ID: da477c
File 179351451122.png - (761.05KB , 1020x750 , 28.png )

>Jokingly comment on her saying 'apply external force'
Gertrude: “Applying external force? Guess I can test your thesis and see if that’ll get me in.”

>Your physical strength is easy to justify - You swim a lot and are a naturally strong species.
>mention playing a sport to explain your level of physical fitness
Gertrude: “I-I might not look that strong, but I’ll have you know I was on my college’s swim team.”

She chuckles a bit.
Mabel: “Gertrude, I think we’re going to make a decent team here. Just don’t go pulling any heroics and try smashing a fist through the window.”

Gertrude: “Oh! No, don’t worry. I won’t do anything drastic like that.”

I totally could though.
>See if Mabel can suggest better ways to communicate than this static phone - any computers of video screens, or 'walkie talkies'?
Gertrude: “Is there a better way I can reach out to you though? Like maybe video chat on the computers or walkie talkies? This phone is-”

Mabel: “An ancient piece of junk? Yeah. If you find a walkie talkie tune it to channel three. Either that use the monitor by my door. Laser sights are on auto target, but I’ve got control over firing them.”

Gertrude: “I-okay. Yeah, I will keep that in mind.”

>tell her the papers say you need a Level One badge.
Gertrude: “B-by the way. My papers said I need a level one badge.”

Mabel: “Yeah, I figured as much. Report back to me once you’ve got your badge. After that I should have my briefing and a priority list for you ready.”

Gertrude: “Understood!”

With that, she hangs up on me.

2/3 Buckwheat 2026/11/01(Sun)06:28 No. 1133625 ID: da477c
File 179351453306.png - (665.46KB , 1020x750 , 29.png )

Just a moments worth of looking around the lab, I find a hammer. That should let me apply more than enough ‘external force’ to the window as Mabel called it. Kinda small, but I’m able to keep a good grip on it. I take out to the lobby and SMASH that window and the stupid wire shit out of the way.

3/3 Buckwheat 2026/11/01(Sun)06:29 No. 1133626 ID: da477c
File 179351457986.png - (351.11KB , 1020x750 , 30.png )

I can hear the printer whirring and clunking away. Guess it takes a moment to print those out.

Looking around the station there’s an odd assortment of items laying around.
A TV with a sticky note, “NO RECEPTION! NO GAME! NO WORK!” Thing is ancient, has dials and an antenna. Whoever wrote that needs to lower their expectations.

There’s a cluttered whiteboard. List of schedules for the most part. Humorously, days since last accident: zero. No shit, you don't say mister whiteboard?

Some papers, a pocket knife that makes me wish these damn pants had pockets!

Anything I should take or mess with while I’m waiting for my badge to come out?

>>1133626
Hmm. Have you seen any bags? If you have no pockets (except the ones in your lab coat you're not meant to have) then it's probably a good idea to scavenge something that can carry things. It's not like anyone else is using the stuff you're finding lying around. Even a bucket would be handy for storage. If you can get something, then keeping the pocket knife and hammer in it would be a good idea. Leave your transfer papers in here, you won't need them anymore.

Scan through the papers to see what they say.

there any drawers in the room? Hell I'll take a lost and found. Just wondering if you might be able to find a walkie talkie in here is all.

But yeah I guess grab the paper and see what they say. Then hopefully you can work on getting a badge.

A security station might have keys, buttons for opening other doors (or silent alarms, careful with those), walkies/intercoms, or actual weapons, unless those have been looted/taken already.

The TV could be used to contact Dr. Mabel if she knows how to tune to it, or salvaged for parts later, put a pin on that. You could turn it on and see what it was tuned to last and see if it works at all.

Check the schedule and see where Dr. Mabel shows up in it. Learn names of other employees/roles/tasks and maybe get an idea of what was happening right before the incident occured (i.e. who was doing what when shit hit the fan). Also should tell you who manned this security room.

That would also help you make sure dr. Mabel isn't lying to you - e.g. her statement/report on what happened, what you were told, and the schedule directly conflicting, or identifying someone else doing something unusual.

When you can contact Dr. Mabel again, ask where uniforms or clothes lockers are, since you need (more) pockets, insulation layers (warmth/chems/blunt trauma), and a bag or toolbelt to carry things. Also ask if you need protective clothes for the 'unsafe' areas.

The pocket knife could be used to make a temporary sling or hobo bindle for items out of cloth (curtains, tablecloth, clothing).

Speaking of pocket knives, ask Mabel if there is a Multitool / 'Swiss' Army Knife (or equivalent) anywhere. It's multiple tools you can conveniently carry and wouldn't threaten her as much as the pocket knife would, should paranoia flare up.

Don't suppose those papers have a useful and relevant account of the final moments of the guards here

1/3 Buckwheat 2026/11/02(Mon)03:00 No. 1133655 ID: da477c
File 179358842242.png - (697.92KB , 1020x750 , 31.png )

>Hmm. Have you seen any bags?
Normal bags? No. There’s a whole box of trash bags in the cleaning closet. Speaking of, I need to remember to ask Mabel where the trash disposal or incinerator is.

>probably a good idea to scavenge something that can carry things. It's not like anyone else is using the stuff you're finding lying around. Even a bucket would be handy for storage.
I’ll grab one of the buckets out of the closet on my way back to Mabel.

>The TV could be used to contact Dr. Mabel if she knows how to tune to it, or salvaged for parts later
I turn the TV on, but it’s nothing but static. Switching the dials and messing with the ears doesn’t give me any better picture.

>Check the schedule and see where Dr. Mabel shows up in it.
I glance through the names on the schedule again, and notice there’s a lot high ranking folks being paired up with Mabel. All sixth shift. No dates written on the board.

Monday: Senior Officer Smithhorn to Doctor Mabel.
Tuesday: Colonel Brasshoof to Doctor Mabel
Wednesday: Head Nurse Cottontail to Doctor Mabel
Thursday: Head Nurse Cottontail to Doctor Mabel. Submit Report.
Friday: Admiral Hornsplit to Doctor Mabel.
Saturday: OFF
Sunday: Colonel Brasshoof to Admiral Hornsplit.

I check to see if any other shifts focus on a specific staff member like that, none do.

>there any drawers in the room? Hell I'll take a lost and found. Just wondering if you might be able to find a walkie talkie in here is all.
No, not a lost and found or even a junk box to be seen. The guard station is honestly a bit too clean and empty here. Not even plain radio or anything. Feels more like a reception desk that got a fancy promotion more than anything else.

>Scan through the papers to see what they say.
>grab the papers and see what they say. Then hopefully you can work on getting a badge.
Looking them over, I raise a brow. It’s printed out on fax paper.

Attention Colonel Brasshoof: Direct orders. Get those lab rats in the medical sector straightened out. Five incident reports in a week is utterly inexcusable. I don’t care if it’s a training on lab safety, enforcing full safety gear on at all times, and or punishments for not following proper protocol. Permission granted to demote as needed. We can’t be tossing money and resources away on incompetent researchers that can’t remember to put on a pair of gloves and burn themselves. H.N. Cottontail will be focusing on our recluse, reschedule yourself as needed and start whipping that department into shape! Signed, Lieutenant Fangmire.

I try to look over the paper to find when it was sent, but there’s no timestamp? If it was a fax, there should be at some kind of date on it. Looks like it might tie in with this schedule, but it’d be great to know if this was before or after the lockdown.

I look over at the other paper, it’s a hastily written letter.
“Trying this was a bad idea.”

I look back down on the table and notice there’s a syringe filled with a clear liquid.

2/3 Buckwheat 2026/11/02(Mon)03:00 No. 1133656 ID: da477c
File 179358845424.png - (789.99KB , 1020x750 , 32.png )

A click and a clack catch my attention, I turn around and see my badge has been printed out. There’s a hole for a lanyard, but surprise. Can’t even find one of those around here.
I sigh and try to recollect myself. Got a few things to decide on here.

I’m planning on filling a bucket from the storage closet up with some stuff. Pocket knife, hammer, keycard, my papers and my badge. Is there anything else I should grab or put in it?

Mabel wanted me to report back to her once I got this. That means either going back to the phone and calling her again, or walking down the gun filled hallway and using the monitor there.

If I’m going down the hallway and using the monitor to talk with her, should I take my bucket with me or stash it in the cleaning closet?

3/3 Buckwheat 2026/11/02(Mon)03:01 No. 1133657 ID: da477c
File 179358847728.png - (75.12KB , 757x490 , 33.png )

MAP INFO: 0- Enterance 1- Guard Station [Current Location] 2 & 3- Bathrooms 4- Cleaning closet 5- Break Room 6- Kitchen 7- Research Wing 1 8- Lab 201 9- Lab 202 10- Shelter Hallway

>>1133656
>any other items?
Flashlight if you can get one. Duct tape. Gloves; anything heavy duty for handling dangerous chemicals would be best. Pen or pencil; your transfer papers work fine as stationary but an actual journal or notepad would be optimal.
Food and water stays out of the lab, that's basic lab safety. You can bring it into a less stinky area to eat or drink, though.
Actually, if you can find a full set of lab safety gear that'd be great. Goggles and gloves are the bare minimum.

I wonder what the syringe has in it. Kindof useless to carry around without knowing, unfortunately... but this is a *medical* research facility so it's probably medicine of some sort? You also don't have a safe way to carry it.

>bring bucket to hallway?
Eh, leave it at the entrance to the hallway. Bringing a hammer close to the door could be seen as a threat, as unrealistic as that is... but if she can see it, she'll know you're improvising and planning ahead, and that'd be reassuring in her position.

Now that you have your badge, I suppose next is to ask her what needs to be done. You cleaned up the kitchen a little but it needs a lot of heavy attention before it'd be usable again. Mention the syringe.

Leave the bucket, it would only slow you down if you need to get out of the hallway because the weapons go off. Comforting thoughts and all that.

The syringe is concerning. Besides the fact it has an unknown liquid, there's no telling if its a dirty needle with narcotics, some chemical/drug, or something 'novel' One would need to sterilize the needle with a flame first to make it even remotely safe to try.

The other question is whether we want to inform Dr. Mabel about the syringe (we claim 'whoever was stationed here might be a junkie or something, I found a syringe with clear liquid'). We might be able to hand it off to her and let her test/examine it, or it might lead to her... Misusing it, or panicking over it. Definently don't bring it to the gun hallway unless she asks to.

Either way, best not to use it ourselves or take it without sterilizing its needle, finding a needle-cap to carry it safely, or being desperate (e.g. injured or needing a emergency weapon). We might be able to 'test' its effects ourselves if we find any living lab animal.

The schedule suggests Dr. Mabel is the 'recluse' and has had frequent interactions with a medic (cottontail, a rabbit?) - psychiatric treatment, drugs, or direct medical care?

The researchers being undisciplined suggests either actual inexperience, something affecting their judgement, or the lack of discipline being a result of working under horrible conditions. Worst case theory: The work being done here was under duress / unethical / indentured servitude (and would explain Mabels paranoia).

For the handwritten note, try to memorise the writing style in case you encounter it again. Maybe compare with the schedule. Knowing who was stationed here (the colonel, senior officer, admiral, etc) will help clue you in on things.

Thank doctor Mabel for promoting you to your dream job of 'ass researcher'.

Ask dr. Mabel if she can connect to the fax machine in the security room. Or if we can/should send messages back through it.

If we can get access to something that can print documents for us, request a better facility map from Mabel. She should know where everything is and mark any... Dangerous areas.

>>1133661
That won't happen. Mabel said that the laser sights are on auto target, but she's got control over if the guns fire.

We can safely walk down the hallway without worrying about getting shot, as long as we don't give Mabel a reason to fire the guns.

1/3 Buckwheat 2026/11/02(Mon)20:01 No. 1133681 ID: da477c
File 179364966762.png - (529.06KB , 1020x750 , 34.png )

>The syringe is concerning. Besides the fact it has an unknown liquid, there's no telling if its a dirty needle with narcotics, some chemical/drug, or something 'novel' One would need to sterilize the needle with a flame first to make it even remotely safe to try.
>You also don't have a safe way to carry it.
Sounding like too much trouble to bother with right now. I’ll leave it here.

>The other question is whether we want to inform Dr. Mabel about the syringe. We might be able to hand it off to her and let her test/examine it, or it might lead to her... Misusing it, or panicking over it.
>(we claim 'whoever was stationed here might be a junkie or something, I found a syringe with clear liquid').
>Mention the syringe.
Seems like a safe way to bring it up to her. I’m a bit hesitant to try giving it to her though. Don’t like the idea she could misuse or even lie to me about what it is.

>The schedule suggests Dr. Mabel is the 'recluse' and has had frequent interactions with a medic (cottontail, a rabbit?) - psychiatric treatment, drugs, or direct medical care?
Not exactly sure what kind of doctor Mabel is herself, but it’s possible the two might have been collaborating as well. Being scheduled with her twice though, I should try to look into this Cottontail some more. Maybe I could try asking Mabel who she is?

>For the handwritten note, try to memorize the writing style in case you encounter it again. Maybe compare with the schedule.
Pretty distinct looking writing style. It’s very different from the schedule.

2/3 Buckwheat 2026/11/02(Mon)20:01 No. 1133682 ID: da477c
File 179364970307.png - (585.33KB , 1020x750 , 35.png )

I start to make my way for the cleaning closet now, can’t stand around thinking too much. Might make me seem like I’m planning something.
I look around a little more and put the following items in a bucket:

Pocket knife
Box of rubber cleaning gloves
Box of trash Bags
Box of face masks
Pack of disinfectant wipes
Hammer
Flat head screwdriver
Flashlight
My transfer papers

>Eh, leave it
>Leave the bucket
I’ll leave it behind then.

3/3 Buckwheat 2026/11/02(Mon)20:04 No. 1133683 ID: da477c
File 179364986009.png - (56.71KB , 1020x750 , 36.png )

With that I make my way down the gun hallway. Sure enough, every single gun aims a laser or turns towards at me. I make it to the monitor without any bullet holes in me. There’s a call button on the side, pressing it turns it on and she answers instantly. Seems Mabel here is a skunk.

Mabel: “Something happen? I don’t see you wearing your badge Gertrude.”

Surprised she can tell, she isn’t even looking at me? I try to hold it up to the monitor,
Gertrude: “No I’ve got it. There wasn’t any lanyards in the station though."

>Thank doctor Mabel for promoting you to your dream job of 'ass researcher'.
Gertrude: “Thanks for promoting me up to ass researcher though.”

She groans,
Mabel: “That’s… I can only fit so many characters on to the cards okay? Dig around in two-oh-one after, you might be able to find a lanyard there. Even some string to get a make shift one made. Tape it to your coat even, I don’t care. Just try to keep it on and visible please.”

Gertrude: “O-okay. Um… there was something concerning in the station I found as-”

She snaps and cuts me off,
Mabel: “Did you touch it, what was it!”

Gertrude: “I-it was a syringe! Filled with a clear liquid. W-was some drug junkie stationed here or-?”

Mabel: “No idea. There’s a biohazard waste bin in two-oh-two. Glove up, cap it, and dispose of it in there. Otherwise, don’t mess around with or touch dirty needles!”

Gertrude: “U-understood!”

She sighs and seems to ease up a bit.

Mabel: “Still working on trying to get you setup on the computers as well. Not having the best of luck figuring out how to get on a guest account. Did you have any other questions before I send you off with a to do list?”

I almost want to ask what she’s working on right now, she hasn’t so much as given a glance over at me.
I’ve got a lot of questions here, but it sounds like she’s ready to put me to work. Might be best if I keep it brief and stick to asking her three questions.

>>1133683
"What the fuck actually happened here?"
Both potentially useful info for our mission and an entirely realistic question for our cover identity to be asking.

Oh shit she's not an even toed ungulate. Did they figure out how to get the prion for chronic wasting disease to affect everything up to mammalian carnivore brains? From deer to rodents to mustelids??

You might still be safe, since you're not a mammal. That is a world ending catastrophe though. Fancy a return to the Age of the Dinosaurs?

>>1133684
She was hesitant to answer that even before we were in a gun hallway. Lets not tempt fate.

Her not turning to watch means whatever monitor she is watching/worling on already has the camera feed, and/or the camera on her and her monitor are facing different directions.

Unless that's not an accurate live feed...

1) "Anyone else left or stuck here who could help or needs help?"
2) "Give it to me straight, what's out there that can or will harm me?"
3) "Can I get a general gist of the facility layout, or a map?"

Her insistance on the card being visible at all times is... Odd. It's not like there's any other gator wit your appearance out there...

Right?

ask where you're suppose to sleep and put your things.

Do not ask about the incident yet. Maybe next time you interact. Focus on the current state of things.
1, what's next? Does she have any tasks for you, or should you just start cleaning up the place on your own?
2, Is there anything dangerous in the facility right now?
3, Are there any more people hiding somewhere? (we've been told she's the only survivor, but we shouldn't know that)

There's no urgent questions. show you're a good reliable worker.

once she gives us the list, if any of our questions are relevant to the tasks we can ask them.

Ask her if there are any other ballistic turrets or similar measures in the facility. So you don't get shot, incinerated or exploded by something left on 'autopilot'.

Make a private assesment of Dr. Mabel thus far: Smash, or pass? Cutie, or not your type / incompatible?

>>1133683
>“Thanks for promoting me up to ass researcher though.”
>That’s… I can only fit so many characters on to the cards okay?
Doesn't look like she understood that was a joke. You might want to explain that it was a joke because you were attempting to lighten the mood. And it's also a way for you to try and not think about how freaked out you are to be in this situation.