[ He does want to help people. The thing is, he's seen the consequences of his own good intentions. It's so easy to make things worse. Pom and Northly have every right to be distrustful of someone like him. ]
Hopefully, we can do both. [ Help people by getting them safely out of Patho-Gen's reach. They're a long, long way from that, but maybe with more time... ]
I do think it's safer to keep Northly away from the lab for the time being. And you, if it's going to cause her more distress. With how many imprints are out there, we're bound to find more like you.
Unfortunately, it's impossible to say until we have more data. It really could be anything: Natural Soul compatibility, the amount of time spent together - and there's even more variables within that. The types of experiences you've had together could factor in as well, the intensity of them...
[ It's a big question mark right now. A pause. ]
You were with Mel and Hubert in the tunnels beneath Kelesis? Do you remember the piece of the Augmenter that was retrieved? [ Killing that feral Terra in the process... ] I had someone else examine it. They were able to tell that the device had been in close contact with Katalyth at some point, enough to leave behind a weak trace of it.
[ He doesn't know if this detail is specific to the feral Augmented down there, or if the same can be said for their own Augmenters. ]
[Well, at least that's more information that he had to start with. It could be any one of those things when it comes to him and Northly - proximity, Soul compatibility, time spend together during duress...
The rest is unnerving, though. Yeah, he remembers that Augmenter part, recalls all too well helping Hubert get it.]
What's that say for those of us who've been in close contact with it? You folks at the cabin, or someone trying to use it for magic and whatnot?
[Because if they have any chance of turning out like the Augmented under Kelesis... well. He doesn't like what he'll have to do, but he knows he has to do it.]
[ Jayce pulls in a deep breath, then sighs, shaking his head. ]
Truthfully? I have no idea. The last time I asked Patho-Gen for medical records of the previous Augmented, they denied my request. And without previous records, or any data to compare, we're running blind.
[ That's been the case for a year. He frowns again. ]
But - there's some similarities between Katalyth itself and the imprinting process. The overlap is a desire to connect, to be understood... [ he holds up a hand ] I'm not saying that it's something to be worried about - [ yet ] - but... whatever is wrong with this world, that seems to be an aligning force.
[Pom hmms on his end of the line, making a mental note about those records, should there ever be another opportunity to wander the halls of Patho-Gen. One never knows.]
Makes me wonder if the world really is trying to reach out to us in some way, with whatever's in our Augmenters drawing us toward one another. Had a thought like that with Mel a while back.
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Hopefully, we can do both. [ Help people by getting them safely out of Patho-Gen's reach. They're a long, long way from that, but maybe with more time... ]
I do think it's safer to keep Northly away from the lab for the time being. And you, if it's going to cause her more distress. With how many imprints are out there, we're bound to find more like you.
[ Those with energy readings off the charts. ]
no subject
[If he's going to be used, might as well be for something worthwhile. He'd better not say that where Mel might overhear, though.]
Any idea why some Imprints are stronger than others? It some combination of Souls, or just the people themselves?
no subject
[ He sounds grateful for it.
As for the question - ]
Unfortunately, it's impossible to say until we have more data. It really could be anything: Natural Soul compatibility, the amount of time spent together - and there's even more variables within that. The types of experiences you've had together could factor in as well, the intensity of them...
[ It's a big question mark right now. A pause. ]
You were with Mel and Hubert in the tunnels beneath Kelesis? Do you remember the piece of the Augmenter that was retrieved? [ Killing that feral Terra in the process... ] I had someone else examine it. They were able to tell that the device had been in close contact with Katalyth at some point, enough to leave behind a weak trace of it.
[ He doesn't know if this detail is specific to the feral Augmented down there, or if the same can be said for their own Augmenters. ]
no subject
The rest is unnerving, though. Yeah, he remembers that Augmenter part, recalls all too well helping Hubert get it.]
What's that say for those of us who've been in close contact with it? You folks at the cabin, or someone trying to use it for magic and whatnot?
[Because if they have any chance of turning out like the Augmented under Kelesis... well. He doesn't like what he'll have to do, but he knows he has to do it.]
no subject
Truthfully? I have no idea. The last time I asked Patho-Gen for medical records of the previous Augmented, they denied my request. And without previous records, or any data to compare, we're running blind.
[ That's been the case for a year. He frowns again. ]
But - there's some similarities between Katalyth itself and the imprinting process. The overlap is a desire to connect, to be understood... [ he holds up a hand ] I'm not saying that it's something to be worried about - [ yet ] - but... whatever is wrong with this world, that seems to be an aligning force.
no subject
Makes me wonder if the world really is trying to reach out to us in some way, with whatever's in our Augmenters drawing us toward one another. Had a thought like that with Mel a while back.