Camp: private conversations

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Respond here for a private conversation with Red! All comment threads are screened.

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Ye-

[WAIT.]

How do you know about that?

[killtheanimals]

People talk.

[His gaze is sharp.]

In fact, it seems they were eager to experiment on you as well, if they were permitted to. Your immunity and usefulness saved you.

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My- my what?

[This isn't her acting like she knows nothing. It is genuinely new information to her.]

Mitsuru, what are you talking about? What experiments? What immunity?

[killtheanimals]

[...She really is clueless, isn't she?

He falls silent for a moment, thinking this over.]

Red. We need your help. It seems something happened last year-

[Something the hunters were extra intent on avoiding.]

Please stay calm and I will tell you what I found out. Okay?

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[She hears 'last year' and already she knows what this is going to be about. Because there was one incident last year that definitely got her into trouble.]

...alright.

[killtheanimals]

...

For some reason... you're immune to the camp's mind effects. There were two men discussing it. One of them seemed eager to run tests on you because of it, but...

You're valuable. Too valuable for them to risk, it sounds like.

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[Eager to run tests...

...no. It can't be.]

They were here, at camp?

[She looks honestly afraid when she asks that.]

[killtheanimals]

They weren't.

[...That he can tell.]

None of us at this camp are safe. Not us campers, nor you counselors.

[He hesitates. But when he speaks, it's sincere.]

Please, Red. We need your help. All of us.

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[Col2check: 3
ReqMin: 15
Result: FAIL]

[For a moment, Red looks like she's considering it. This new information certainly is enough to push her in that direction.

But ultimately, she shakes her head.]

I know what you're going to ask of me, and I can't do it. I can't let you all leave camp.

[killtheanimals]

[He pauses and then shakes his own head.]

Even if you did - I'm to be killed on sight.

Unless you releasing us would somehow have the approval of the hunters.

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No. They wouldn't let any of you leave, even if I told them too. As much as they fear me, they fear their bosses more.

[killtheanimals]

And can you write who their bosses are?

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If I knew their names, I would tell you.

[killtheanimals]

Of course.

In that case... I don't suppose you would know about the final protocol, either?

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[Yeah, that? That gets her to stop.]

...

[But however these kids are finding this stuff out, she can't just keep erasing their memories. Eventually it will damage them. And...they're just taking a hold of their own futures, aren't they?]

It's...a last plan, if things go horribly wrong. I can't give you the details, but basically it ensures that those who return to 'life' can't leave this camp.

[killtheanimals]

[That has him freezing on the spot.

No. No jumping to conclusions. It's if things go horribly wrong, she already said that much--]

...I was listed as an excellent candidate for 'final protocol.' In that case, if the worst happens...

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I'm curious to know what 'list' you're talking about, exactly.

But an 'excellent candidate' is someone strong enough to contain everyone, should I become unable to do it. A backup, so to speak.

[killtheanimals]

We're resourceful.

[But more importantly:]

Wouldn't the candidate need to remain indefinitely to keep them contained?

[Because that's his real fear, being unable to return to the Journey he's already been taken from for far too long...]

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Until a replacement Facilitator arrived, yes. I doubt they would keep someone like you on permanently, you're far too young to handle all of the duties.

[killtheanimals]

I can't do that.

[And if she knows his past as she claims, she must know why.]

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[She does indeed know.]

If it helps, I do not plan on dying any time soon.

[killtheanimals]

Good.

[Funny, how quickly he changed his mind after so recently wondering if it was worth it to try to murder her in her sleep.]

What... do you do to contain them, anyway?

[His expression is tense. The thought of such a job is... unsettling. The thought of the fact that the hunters felt they could get those they selected to even perform the job in the first place is equally so.

Yet another reason to exercise caution, and Mitsuru dislikes all of it greatly.]

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Contain the campers?

[It's a valid question, in her mind.]

Blue- my computer- he's hooked up to all of the security cameras in this place. If anyone gets too close to a boundary, he alerts me to it. Because of my powers, I can move a lot faster than the rest of you.

...though sometimes the hunters move faster than me, especially if I'm asleep when someone tries to leave.

[killtheanimals]

Those aren't the ones you mentioned regarding the protocol.

I mean those who returned to 'life.'

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[OH. That.]

They're easier to contain, they generally follow the camp rules. They don't tend to wander outside of the boundaries.