### -> [[Elevator]] ``` --[Begin Document Readout...]-- ``` Subject name: Era Cyclone Subject ID Information: - Parents: Mazki Cyclone (Mother), Father Unknown - Origin: The Human Residence, The Plane - Species: Human, Male - Position: Head Strategist Subject's Physical Description: - Green hair, always short - Pasty skin, occasionally littered by pimples and spots - Clothing - black combat outfit, laced; padded suit underneath; traditional platform shoes Subject's Mental Description: - Usually keeps to himself, never wavering from The Light - Answers strictly to The Lady - Noted extreme combat capabilities, primary method of attack is encircle and eliminate ## History - Subject born to Mazki Cyclone and Unknown Father (Deceased) - Subject given up to The City as per local law (children left unattended at the border gate are considered property of The City) - Subject is raised in orphanage specializing in combats training - Subject is given the name "Era" on a whim of The Lady - Subject shows expert proficiency in combat, assigned own personal tutor (codename "Sensei", known for being brutal yet fair). - Sensei and Subject bond, and Subject is given a weapon much earlier than expected - Subject is passed to The Lady as personal side guard - Subject is promoted to Lead Tactics Offer, and exposed to The Light, along with The Lady - Subject is given orders to correctly lead armies into battle against Cybers, and to "turn the outskirts into a desert, or you will be lost." - Subject promoted to Head Strategist to assist with desertification process - Over aeons, the outskirts are dwindled, and the houses are burned into propulsion ash, tainted purple, Occasional ruins remain, which are deemed acceptable and aesthetically pleasing. By now, they are considered "of age" (can legally live on their own) - Subject is considered MIA, only having been temporarily registered at Aether Labs before being hastily scrubbed from their systems. ``` --[End Document Readout...]-- ``` ... You understand it now. Your past, war torn as it was, you finally understand - it was *not* your fault. It was gruesome, but it was *not* your fault. You feel like you can stop blaming yourself for what happened all those Aeons ago... You acted not out of your self interest, but in defense of your life. And yet, you also gain another new understanding. One of your *reality*. You have finally been able to separate out the fake memories from the real ones. For the fake ones are tinged with the static of the Rift, and the real ones are not. You tell your team that you need a minute to yourself. They understand, waiting patiently in the elevator. You reach out a hand, through an unseen wall, and speak. `JE: unseen wall?` "I can hear you now.", you quietly announce. `YOU: Wait, what?!` `YOU: But how?` You flap your hand in dismissal. "Never mind that. I think I could use your help, though." `JE: hold on this is a little confusing` `JE: let me...` `--[Alter!]-- | Switching story to Third Person, Changing YOU's username to Yalvol...` `Yalvol: That's better. Anyways, Ika, how can we help?` "I'm not sure.", she says, running a bent finger on her chin. "I'm acutely aware of more than I should know, to be quite honest." `JE: like what` Ika gives it pause, for a moment. "You guys, for example. I might have an idea, though I'll have to cryptic, if you don't mind." `Yalvol: I do like a good puzzle.` Ika considered how she should carefully craft her next words. It had to be done in a way as not mess up some barrier of some sort... whatever it was. `Yalvol: Oh, I know that. It's the "Veil". Keeps ACTs from bleeding into reality by accident.` `JE: interesting. nerd` `Yalvol: Hey, I do this for a living!` "Hey, calm down you two.", Ika says. "Look. Just meet me in the dome, but instead of taking, give. That's really all I can tell you without breaking the Veil." `Yalvol: I might have an idea as to what you mean...` `JE: feels like we've run out of options at this point though` "You never know!", Ika retorts. "I should return to my group. Goodbye." ``` --[Notice!]-- Puzzle Element introducted into Act 5. Clue: "Meet me in the dome, but instead of taking, give." Reccomendation: Search through all documents; use guess and check as needed. ```