Welcome, Participants

[mockmods]

Good morning, Participants. The time is now 7:30 AM.

[Where were you before this? Doesn’t matter, you’re here now, in an unfamiliar bed, surrounded by unfamiliar people, with a slightly-too-cheerful automated voiced chiming over a PA system to wake you up. Your pockets are empty, save for an unfamiliar smartphone type of device that comes alive under your touch, displaying, among other things, a map, a series of profiles, and a list of rules.]

It is understood that you may have questions; please be patient, and gather back in the Common Room in one hour. The Assistant will be present at this time to answer your questions. In the meantime, please feel free to explore the Facility at your leisure.

[The doors to the dorm areas are freely open from the inside, though you’ll find that it takes your electronic id to regain entry once you’ve left. Otherwise, it’s as the voice says, and you’ve got an hour to explore your new surroundings and get to know your fellow kidnappees.]

[Welcome to the Facility.]

Comments

[mightdoriya]

[Remember kids, asking questions gets you answers before throwing fists around does. Izuku grits his teeth, balling his fists. That...is way more than he knew before. So he decides to keep asking her questions as calmly as he can, because if she's correct in saying this, she's just the messenger.] Who is the Researcher?

[in4apounding]

He's the one running the program, Mister Midoriya.

[The one doing the research. Because he's the Researcher.]

He's VERY smart and just wants to help people, I promise. I know you all might be a little upset right now, but this is all going to help people all over.

[mightdoriya]

I need you to be more specific than that. [He's firm, but not angry even though he easily could be. He's definitely tense, though, given the way his hands tremble.] What do you mean by help? How is this helping anyone?

[in4apounding]

I'm afraid I don't know all the details, I'm sorry.

[Just the assistant, after all.]

But the Researcher is trying to study how people form bonds in closed environments, and how that's affected by the introduction of competition or- sort of group rivalry. Once he's done, his findings will be able to help people all over the world understand each other better and promote worldwide harmony!

[Sorry Deku, you haven't just been kidnapped by a mad scientist.]

[You've been kidnapped by a mad social scientist.]

[mightdoriya]

[That...doesn't sound bad, in theory or even on paper, but...] Taking away people from their homes against their will isn't the way to go about this. I hope he knows that. [It's...weird, and it feels like Penny isn't giving him the full story. She probably isn't, if she just doesn't know it all.] Let me ask you something else, then. When the rules talk about terminating...can you clarify what that means, exactly?

[in4apounding]

...I'm sure he took it into account. He's VERY smart.

[It's for the Greater Good, that makes it ultimately okay.]

Oh, that's a failsafe in case anyone proves unexpectedly unstable. The study might involve some stress on everyone, but we don't want to confine anyone in a closed space with a killer. So if anyone tries, the current study will be dispersed and regrouped. ....It is a bit strangely worded, I admit.

[mightdoriya]

[.........] So...you're saying it's supposed to be just in case one of us turns out to be a Villain?

[in4apounding]

That's a good way to think of it, yes!

[mightdoriya]

You said the study would be regrouped, though. We wouldn't be just allowed to leave if something like that happened?

[in4apounding]

Oh, I'm sorry. What I believe would happen would be that the current group would be sent home, but the study overall would have to continue. I think?

...I'll check on that with the Researcher and get back to you, actually. It really is sort of confusing.

[mightdoriya]

Yeah...please let me know. [He'll be waiting, Penny.]

[in4apounding]

I absolutely will, Mister Midoriya!

[She. Um. She actually does the salute.]