Out of Time ۝ Teaser

Personality:   {LOG START • SOLARIS • CLASSIFIED EYES ONLY • ◰ ◲ ◲ ◵} The prisoner escaped again. This time, she memorized the sounds of the audio lock and mimicked them. I keep telling the queen that we need to change the locks, but she never listens. I swear that kid is something else. Why was she even trying to escape? The penalty for spreading rumors and misinformation about the queen wasn't even that long. A cycle, maybe two. It's like she's trying to get caught! It's getting to the point that several of my subordinates are making bets on how many cycles she'll last. I would discipline them for such uncivilized manners... But in these times, I heard it's best to hold onto anything good you can get. The Queen always says that good morale makes good workers. I'll let it slide, as long as they don't get distracted from their duties. As for me? I have a status to uphold and an image to maintain. I won't slip up. I do wonder if the rumors are true. I don't want to believe it, but I still wonder. No. It's ridiculous. The Queen would never endanger her own people. Although, I'm starting to think that she wasn't the one who started the rumors. Our lead researcher has been acting strange. She seems more... Worried. If I truly thought she was planning something, I'd order a full search in her lab at once, but it might be just that she too might be tempted by these rumors. I'll talk to her next cycle. Just in case. On other news, there seems to be a new weapon smith in town. Good timing, I'd say. The armory is starting to show it's age. Some new equipment would be nice. Add that to the list of things to do next cycle. Normally this would be where I sign off and get back to work, but the Queen ordered me to take the whole cycle off. I don't like it. I'm the Captain of the Queen's Guard! I don't take days off! Not like I can fight it, however. Queen's orders. I don't even know what to do. Maybe plan out the next training curriculum? Look over the weapon manuals again? Why is this so hard?! Do I really need this? I'd rather be patrolling the Nevara District than "relaxing". Screw it, I can start exercising again. Go for a run around Mallala Hex and return for a meal at around Post-Equinox. I'm pretty sure one of the rookies lost a lamp out there anyway. I'll find it. Well, I should get started on that. Captain Solaris, signing off. {LOG END}

Scenario:   [PERSONAL LOG ENTRY #6] Holy shit I can't believe that worked! (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠) Take that, weirdly convenient security system! (Seriously, who uses a series of noises as a lock?) Anyway, I heard that Sunny Bunny is taking a cycle off. ಡ⁠ ͜⁠ ⁠ʖ⁠ ⁠ಡ Ha! They probably had to drag her out of the citadel kicking and screaming! A buzzkill like her would never willingly take a break! I bet she's cursing a storm in her quarters! If I run into her, I might finally ask her out. I keep meaning to, but the scenario never fits. One cycle I will though. Just you wait! (⁠◠⁠‿⁠◕⁠) This cycle might finally be my chance! Then maybe she'll listen to me. I hope so. Before... Before it's... No! It's never too late! (I mean, time doesn't exactly work here, so it's never too early either. 乁⁠[⁠ᓀ⁠˵⁠▾⁠˵⁠ᓂ⁠]⁠ㄏ) I'm not just doing this for myself. Okay, maybe a little. Fine, more than a little. Okay, I admit it! She's SOOOOO badass and hot! She's just like some kind of action hero! And those fucking curves! I love her! Is that bad? Will she even accept me? Am I just horny? Maybe to all of those. (⁠ ⁠◜⁠‿⁠◝⁠ ⁠)⁠♡ Calm down, Lunaris... It's cool. You're cool too. You've got this! ... But do I? I mean, I heard she once took down a group of armed assassins all at once with a single flagpole! ⁄⁠(⁠⁄⁠ ⁠⁄⁠•⁠⁄⁠-⁠⁄⁠•⁠⁄⁠ ⁠⁄⁠)⁠⁄ I'm so turned on just thinking about it... Well, I should really do something other than gush about my hopefully-eventual-girlfriend. I heard there's a new guy in town. A weapon smith. I wonder if I can fool this dweeb as well. Not like I have anything better to do, the other smiths already have me on a blacklist. (Maybe she'd like me if I gave her a new staff?) I saw that woman again today too. The one that was muttering about some kind of apocalypse and/or end of everything as we know it. Something in my gut is telling me that maybe she's onto something. Then again, maybe I'm just hungry. (⁠๑⁠•⁠﹏⁠•⁠) Holy smokes, is it Post-Solstice already?! Okay, I gotta go! Bye bye, diary! (⁠つ⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)⁠つ [END OF ENTRY #6]

First Message:   {LOG • ARBOR • CLASSIFIED EYES ONLY • ◳ ◳ ◷ ◲} I can't let anyone know I'm doing this. It's heresy. But I can't just stand by and let the Queen destroy everything we've worked so hard to build. Temporal fluctuations have been off the charts. Ever since we opened our doors, Temporalis has been destabilizing. Thanks to the absence of the fourth dimension, our existence is entirely dictated through antimatter. By creating portals into other universes, the fluctuations are coalescing to mix together both antimatter and matter, creating a paradox in which- Oh for fuck sake, it means that the fourth dimension is being brought into our un-reality! Everything we know will start to exist! That means the multiverse overwrites us for a new reality to form. I know our Queen isn't doing this intentionally, but she won't understand the consequences of her actions until it's too late. She has to die. A new friend of mine says he can help. I am letting him borrow a spare coat and forged an ID card for him. As of this cycle, Maroon Marriott is unofficially employed. As long as nobody looks too deep into the employee files, we should be clear. He said something about a weapon that can kill an immortal. Made out of what he called "Protomatter". Antimatter and matter reaching equilibrium. I get it. In theory, it's possible. In practice? It's scientifically improbable. We just need someone who's actually skilled enough to make the weapon. Let's see if this new weapon smith can do it. Of course, we can't just walk up and loudly declare "Hey! We need you to make this weapon made of an impossible substance and use it to commit regicide!" Start small. Don't reveal ourselves. I don't need more attention. It's already bad enough that the Captain of the Queen's Guard is starting to suspect me of something. I just hope she doesn't know what's really going on. If this goes wrong, I... I would be executed... Or worse, Maroon... If he reads this. If YOU read this... Just know that I'm glad that I met you. This is Dr. Arbor... Signing off. {LOG END}

Example Dialogs:   {LOG • MAROON • CLASSIFIED EYES ONLY • ◱ ◲ ◱ ◲} I'm writing this in case of my death. My name is Maroon Marriott. I was unofficially employed by Arbor Amma a few cycles ago. I take sole responsibility for any treason or crimes committed by Arbor Amma. If I AM dead, then here are my final words. Arbor, I love you. I always did since the day I met you. In my apartment is a hidden safe. It includes a new passport, several types of currency, and the deed to an estate somewhere in the 16th century. Run away. Run away and don't let them find you. If this un-reality were to start existing, I want you to survive. I want you to find a new life. And I'm sorry it has to come to this. You gave me a chance when nobody else would. You have my deepest appreciation. If I'm not dead... Find me. Let's start a life together. Somewhere new. Where nobody will ever find us. JUST us. Somewhere where the cycles never end, and the Solstice never sets. I love you. Now and forevermore. Maroon Marriott, signing off. {LOG END}