Private Project: Dead Resonance

[Liin Terallo]

With all of the attention - both good and bad - focused on me and my research; I had decided to take it a step further. It may be a premature move; however given my current circumstances, I do not think that anyone could blame me for it. That is if they even knew about it to begin with.

Secrets are what I guard, moreso than my own emotions. I do not often allow anyone to get close to me. Afterall that could make me easily exploited. And when it comes to my research and self-experimentation with Synthetic Force; the data gained is a well guarded secret. Even my notes are written on paper to safeguard them from slicers. After the breach of my first laboratory many months ago; I knew that no datapad or computer terminal would be safe from extraction. The only data that I hold on those are false ones; all in a bid to throw people off.

Yet I find myself using a datapad now; setting up an advertisment to send on the holonet in a bid to shed some light on a mystery that I hope to solve very soon.


ANONYMOUS RESEARCH CONTRACT - PAYMENT OFFERED
Independent researcher seeks individuals either born without any detectable Force sensitivity (“Force-dead”) or those who once possessed the Force but lost their connection. The purpose is to study rare biological or environmental patterns related to Force absence.

Confidential interviews and non-invasive analysis only. Discretion guaranteed. Substantial payment offered - amount varies by value of information or sample data provided. No factional ties. No judgments.

Reply via encrypted holomessage RESONANCE → courier VOSS, or leave a sealed note at Drop 7B (Bastion administration block).


Tag: Riven

 

[Riven]

-

COMM-THREAD 01-1 | ENCRYPTION: RESONANCE

TO: VOSS

FROM: ASH

Eldorai that was born 'Force Dead', always looking to make some quick credits so long as you guarantee you don't start cutting pieces off of me.

Send me a location and we can meet.

— THREAD TERMINATED —

Tags - Liin Terallo

That was the message the short pale Eldorai had sent in response at least. In truth she was just as curious to learn about herself and the limits of her 'force dead-ness' as she was to obtain what she believed to be an easy payday. Something about the encryption, the implied secrecy and cloak and dagger of this interview, it did have her believe that there was no doubt a shady end to whatever this researcher was, well, researching. Otherwise why the subtlety, right? She'd been in the hands of scientists without morals before though and her nerves were more about the social anxiety of meeting someone new than any tests or questions.

And so now the short elf found herself arriving towards the specified meeting point (whether it was some building or a more open spot) robed in her usual long black feathered cloak and hooded also. Despite her earlier thoughts she was just as much a stickler for anonymity as the person she was meeting with seemed to be. She had come without any weapons besides a vibroknife, just in case, and lacked even her droid companion mainly because the loyal little thing had a camera built into it that could record and stream. Between her lips was an almost ever-present cigarette, already half burnt down towards the filter as she let out a puff of smoke that helped to calm her nerves.

 

[Liin Terallo]

What was received had been a perfect response. And quick in timing as well, for I had only a day to wait. And as requested I had sent forth the co-ordinates to a local park on Bastion, with the directions to meet at the bench next to the crooked tree. It was a discreet enough of a location and not an enclosed one; which offered a moderate level of safety.

When I had arrived at the location with my writing supplies in my pouch; I could not hide my surprise at what had awaited me there: a small figure hidden within the folds of an enormous feathery cloak. Was she the one that I was meeting?

My own attire was nothing clinical; only casual. A little too casual for me. Never was I one for wearing trousers; however the wide legged and flowing fabrics similated that of a skirt; which was well enough for me. The jacket overtop of my shirt was equally as flowly. In all seriousness I felt so comfortable that I could easily dose off on a sofa while reading a book.

But there are far more important matters to attend to first. And one of those was establishing contact. "Are you Ash?"

Tag: Riven

 

[Riven]

Tags - Liin Terallo

Riven stood rather ominously wrapped and hooded in her feathered cloak, but once she heard that alias, 'Ash', she gave a light nod in response and moved to seat herself on the bench. She reached a hand up to pull back her hood as she let a cascade of silver-white hair fall down, contrasting against the dark feathers of her cloak as her crimson gaze fixated forwards at nothing in particular. Despite her attention being elsewhere her words were very clearly meant for the woman in flowing attire, "I am. You have questions for me?" she asked in return.

The elf was short, no more than five foot exactly, but almost immediately her lack of presence in the Force would be noted by those sensitive and capable within it; this woman was a void. The Force was everywhere, but not where Riven was, it seemed to avoid her entirely. This wasn't a lack of the Force, it was an aversion to it. As a result she was quite the oddity, especially to those trained in any level of precognition because that lack of an interaction within the Force meant that her actions couldn't be perceived ahead of time. It was usually enough to unnerve or cause confusion in those that relied heavily upon it when confronted with her presence.

Finally the short woman glanced in Liin's general direction but her eyes never seemed to look up to meet hers, "Credits first, or after...?" she asked in her soft voice.

 

[Liin Terallo]

I took a seat beside her. Yet I left enough room between us so that neither of us felt crowded. Given my current situation; I prefered having my space. And who knows; maybe did too?

Her appearance was lovely. Although what I felt from her was something that I could not name. It was just strange. Maybe that is how Force Wizards felt around me. But what draws them in to seek me out; it is not that kind of curiosity that I feel for her. Instead mine are all research related.

"I do have some questions," I responded while drawing out my pencil and paper from my pouch. "I can give you some of the credits today; and more for any other days thereafter. And rest assured as my advertisement says, it will be non-invasive. I will not be cutting any pieces off of you. So tell me what is it like to have your condition, for a lack of a better word?" The hows and whys I can get to afterwards. What interests me first are the effects. And side effects.

Tag: Riven

 

[Riven]

Tags - Liin Terallo

Riven remained still as Liin took a seat besides her. The Eldorai didn't move an inch as she just turned her gaze to the ground in front of her. The cigarette between her lips lit her pale visage in a soft amber light for but a second before she exhaled a breath of smoke away from the woman besides her. It was small, but it was a sign that might let her know Riven was rather respectful with strangers despite her social anxieties.

The cigarette rolled between her lips as she listened to the mention of credits. She gave a soft and light nod in response before idly brushing a hand through her long ashen hair. "... That's fine... And thank you..." she answered quietly before she took another breath of smoke and exhaled it away once more. The first question gave the short elf a brief pause of consideration as she thought upon it.

She reached up her own hand to gaze upon it in thought before she gave, at first, a rather simple answer; "Alienating...". She turned her head slightly to peer in Liin's direction but never brought her gaze to meet her face. "... Everyone speaks about the Force like such a natural thing... I had someone once light my cigarette for me with a snap of their fingers..." she began, recalling the memory of Oleander who so casually conjured flame for her. "... But I've seen the looks people give me, those that are 'good' with it, the Force... They look at me like some oddity, something abnormal, sometimes disgust... The Force seems to me like a natural part of so many people's lives, but for some reason I'm not a part of it..." she paused to take another breath of smoke before her gaze shifted forwards once more.

"Alienating... That's what it feels like to me... But as for the effects...?" she hummed gently. "...People that try to hurt me with it have difficulty doing so... Lightning arcs away from my body... When someone thrusts their hand at me to push me away I just stumble against a rush of air while everything around me is sent flying... But it's not just the bad, it's the good too... I can't be healed by the Force, it can't manipulate my thoughts or read them, can't be calmed or angered by it, I... Just sort of exist outside its rules, I guess."

For Riven it was a lot of talking, more than she'd expected she had to do, but she didn't want to just show up and give plain and simple answers to Liin in exchange for easy credits; she felt a desire to earn them as she always did. "Is... that a good answer...?"

 

[Liin Terallo]

I listened quietly, jotting down some notes based on what she had revealed. And as she went on I could not help but feel some empathy for her. Not only that; but I felt as though I could easily relate to some of what she has experienced. Most especially with her feeling of alienation. I have felt such a thing many times over.

"Alienation is difficult to endure. I have experienced it myself well enough. Yet in some ways you are lucky. They cannot hurt you with their powers, you cannot be manipulated, nor can it influence your emotions. Those are great advantages. I am certain that there are others that long for being able to make Force Wizards powerless around you."

I might of said too much, but it could not be helped. A part of me wanted to confide in her of my own experiences, as well as my research; yet it is too dangerous. There is a bounty on my head and staying under the radar is the most important thing for me right now. "So yes, it was a good answer. Now has it always been this way for you? Or did something happen to cause it?"

Tag: Riven

 

[Riven]

Tags - Liin Terallo

Riven nodded along to Liin's words in thought. "... Yes, I guess so, but it'd be like wanting to never taste bad food again, so you rob yourself of your sense of taste entirely." she answered shortly.

She brought her hand to the cigarette between her lips as she plucked it from them to flick away the head of ash that had built at the end of it before placing it back and taking another breath of smoke. She wondered briefly what kind of isolation Liin herself had experienced, but she felt it would be rude of her to start asking the interviewer questions.

A short nod was given in response to the next question, "... Yes, since birth. From what I understand my genetic code was... tampered with, or altered, I don't know the specifics, but my earliest memories were of growing up in a facility. There was another like me," she paused at the memory, "... She didn't make it. There were frequent tests involving the Force used on us, but as for their ultimate purpose?" she shook her head, "I couldn't guess. Either they were trying to find ways to get by my nature, or trying to test its limits to create more like me."

 

[Liin Terallo]

The metaphor that she had raised was a good one. I can relate to that as well. For in order to save myself from being emotionally hurt, I have built myself a stone fortress around my heart that will not allow anyone to breach it. It leaves me to be less vulnerable than most; yet at the same time I do not get to experience sharing my life with someone. Instead I am just married to my research.

Miss Ash continued on about her experience, upon which I was careful about what I had included in my notes. The details that she had given me are exactly why I chose not to experiment on sentients. Why cause them to suffer to satisfy my own scientific curiosity? It was not an even trade.

"I am sorry that you and others had gone through that. And from what you tell me, my guess is that they were both trying to test your limits and to get by your nature. Now some droids have had restraining bolts put on them to limit their actions and cognative abilities. Perhaps they were looking for a way to do something similar to those like you. But I am only guessing. Who ran the facility? Do you know? Was it funded by some government or corporate interest?"

Tag: Riven

 

[Riven]

Tags - Liin Terallo

Another puff of smoke as the cigarette was drawn down to its limit. Riven once again plucked it from her lips as she exhaled and lightly flicked the stub aside. Not much one for caring about littering it seems, but then she really didn't seem like the sort that'd even understand why what she did was problem.

She glanced aside in thought as Liin spoke, her response given without turning to face her. "... It's fine... It was a long time ago." she answered the apology with a straight face. The short elf had a lot of time to process what happened back there, and while now and again she might feel a pang of guilt or remorse for the events that took place, she had since moved passed it.

A shake of her head was given next before she turned back towards Liin. "Nothing... The facility itself was destroyed a long time ago, a liberation group assaulted it and freed those like me. From what I understand the records in that place were... clean? They couldn't be traced to anyone, the chain went through multiple shell companies, dead ends, people that had been dead for centuries... I don't know if those who operated it are still around, sorry..." she answered. It was one of the few questions she regrettably couldn't answer. The people that engineered her birth were as much a mystery to her as they were to anyone else.

"But... I think your assumption on why the research was done is probably correct... To weaponize it or ensure it couldn't be weaponized against them..." She added before levelling a curious gaze at Liin briefly before her usual anxiety-ridden self had her turn away. She wondered what kind of research the woman was looking into if she had sent out a call for people like herself to be interviewed. Perhaps it was a similar form of research? So long as the credits were good she didn't mind...

 

[Liin Terallo]

As always; I listened to her quietly. I may of been a corporate politician in another life; and well versed in giving grand speeches. Yet I knew how to listen as well. And in this new life, I understood the value in not saying much.

It did not surprise me in the slightest that any trace of those that once claimed the facility as their own was wiped clean. That in and of itself left evidence of a powerful interest indeed. Which in turn left it to be one of the Galaxy's superpowers. Afterall no group of scientists could accomplish what they did without major support. I know of that fact well enough from my own personal experience.

"Thank you, and for being brave enough and trusting enough to answer my call. I have only one further request from you. As promised; the tests that I would like to conduct will not be invasive. Instead I wish to have a few strands of your hair. With those I can look into your DNA and see what is unnatural about it. That could give you and I some insight into what they had done to you. I can pay you some extra credits for them. And if you would like I can send you word of my findings. Is that something that you can agree to?"

Tag: Riven

 

[Riven]

Tags - Liin Terallo

Riven considered the offer for a moment. A part of her pushed back against the idea immediately, to shirk away from the notion of being the subject of any kind of experimentation again, but she understood that for what it was; trauma. Liin was not those same people, at least she hoped she wasn't, and in this case she had willingly come out here in the first place to answer her questions.

This time it wasn't to be viewed as some sort of experimentation for the Eldorai but rather a hunt for answers. To that extent she'd nod softly towards the other woman as she brushed a hand through her long ashen hair, pinching a few strands of white between her fingers before she'd tug sharply. Three long strands of hair were now held between her fingers as she extended her hand out, assuming that Liin perhaps had some sort of container for them.

But that wasn't all that Riven would try to offer. If it was a hunt for answers, and if her DNA was required for a better chance on obtaining some of those answers, then she'd help where she could. "... If you have a way to extract some, you can take a blood sample if you want... No additional credits needed for that; I'm just as curious after all..." she nodded in response. If Liin accepted the offer she'd roll up her sleeve to expose her pale arm.

 

[Liin Terallo]

I removed a cloth napkin from my pocket and unfolded it. And as the strands of hair were offered; I secured them within the folds of the fabric and folded it up once more. I did so gingerly; almost as though they were fragile like glass. In some respects they were for hair can easily become damaged.

At her offer for a sample of her blood, I gave a gentle shake of my head. "There is no need for that at this time. But thank you. Although your blood can paint quite the picture; it is far easier to view your DNA genome sequence through tissue. And that is where these hair samples come in. All of this will take some time; so you need not remain here to wait for the results."

I carefully tucked the napkin back into my pocket before offering her a gentle smile. I knew not to make any sudden movements, or to display some kind of boldness that was just unnatural to me. Instead I remained cautious while I removed a credit chip from my boot and held it out to her. "There is 10,000 in here. I hope that it is enough for your trouble. And I will send word to you if I have any more questions to ask or any answers to give. Is that all okay with you?"

Tag: Riven

 

[Riven]

Tags - Liin Terallo

Riven nodded along to Liin's words. She didn't personally know what the difference between DNA samples from hair or blood were but she trusted that the woman knew what she was doing. Her eyes tracked every movement Liin made and she noted where she pulled the credit chip from as she extended her own hand to accept it in return.

A nod of thanks was given, "It's more than enough..." she offered a nod in return. It was the honest truth; all she had done was answer some questions and pull out a few strands of hair. "I'm fine to wait... You can contact me through the same encryption if you'd like, I am... Curious about the results myself..." she answered before slowly standing herself up.

The Eldorai tugged her hood back over her head and placed another cigarette between her lips, though she didn't light it just yet as she looked back to Liin. "... Good luck with your research." she spoke before she turned to light her cigarette and depart.

 

[Liin Terallo]

I am glad that the credits given were enough. And although my research was priceless; the amount of credits to my name is much smaller than one would think. And should I require even more credits to complete my research; I will find some means to gain them; whether it be selling some of my equipment or taking out a loan. Such a feat would have to be done anonymously if it was to be successful, and without pointing out my location to bounty hunters in the process.

I bowed my head to her after she rose to her feet. I did not make a move to stand myself; otherwise some might recognize this as a planned meeting. And that would only draw curiosity.

"Thank you. I will be in touch. I cannot promise what the timing will be, but once the results are in, I will give you word. Please look after yourself in the meantime, Ash."

I shifted my focus away from her and to the others in the park. I shift my posture ever so slightly to allow myself to people-watch in comfort.

Tag: Riven