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[bit_impossible]

[when the Sphere turns on, it shows him sitting in an office somewhere on Level 12, hands covering his face and muffling his mutterings. his knuckles are bloody and the two fingers on his left hand still move with an odd detachment like they're simply along for the ride and not being controlled by him. he's not showing it, but those nerve endings in his burnt hand have started to come back--something he hoped wouldn't come around until much later.]

[when he finally does remove his hands, he doesn't look all that different than he did a few days ago. no dark circles, yawning, or even hand tremors even with his recent assault on the wall behind him; his hands are as steady as ever. it's the dark, acerbic look in his eyes that tell a different story. he might not need the sleep, but that doesn't mean he isn't frustrated as hell.]

There has to be a way of helping them. I'm just not finding it. Medications, hypnosis, meditation, not even--! None of it! And if they don't get some sleep soon, they'll... [he trails off, not wishing to think of the people he knows and cares for dying from something so easily preventable.]

If only there were some way to get to that man! [he's aware of the Sphere being on now.] Say what you will, Orion. You talk of saving "them", well my friend, talk can only get you so far! And that's saying nothing about the riddles and endless games you and Ganymede force us to play! For all your talk about him and blaming the man for what's happened, you two are terribly alike. Perhaps his madness had grabbed hold of you before you evacuated the ship, I wonder.

[laughs bitterly] How foolish of me. It's not like you're going to respond to this or anything else we say to you, is there Orion? If I could only get to you...

Comments

[bit_impossible]

I won't let them harm me. I promise.

[hisoldgirl]

No, you will not. Because they will be locked away.

[note how she ignores how sleeplessness might affect her eventually]

[bit_impossible]

[oh, he's ignoring the same thing. out of sight, out of mind.]

Though...we do have to think about how we're going to take care of them all. At least where most of them are now on 15, they have access to food and water to at least keep those systems of their bodies going.

[hisoldgirl]

Is it possible to section off Level 15 entirely? Can we disable the doors and leave them to themselves?

[bit_impossible]

I doubt many of them have the energy to leave the level as is, much less try to escape.

However...I wouldn't want to underestimate how much damage they could do if they were panicked. And being locked in with no way out would certainly incite something like that.

[hisoldgirl]

But if they have a way off the level, they can injure us. Does it matter what they do to themselves?

[bit_impossible]

Of course it matters! If it didn't matter, I wouldn't be trying to think of a way to help them.

[hisoldgirl]

I do not care so much about helping them as keeping them from harming you.

[bit_impossible]

I know, old girl, but I'm trying to find the best of both worlds here.

[hisoldgirl]

It is wasted effort. You should concern yourself only with your own safety.

[bit_impossible]

I am. Why do you think I've come here? At least here I can think a little in peace.

[hisoldgirl]

I suppose.