Welcome to Gaia! ::

The text was sent out to all trainees and intermediates, this time the briefing was held in the Life labs conference room. A definite step up, with a large table, comfortable seating, real coffee and even some donuts. Clarice, Killzone, and Dwight were all there, though the doctor himself was missing. The blonde assistant was looking better since the labs were cleared out, still tired, but the smile she greeted them was genuine, showing none of the earlier strain. "First off, thank you for clearing out the building. You guys did amazingly in such a short period of time, and it'll definitely help us move several things forward. One of them being an upcoming set of non-violent missions, which a few of you may end up on, especially those in the Life, Death, and Mist divisions. Now take a seat and get comfortable, because before I get to the mission, there's a few things that all of you need to understand the creatures we fight and what we call Insanity."

The lights dimmed slightly, and soft light began to glow at the center of the table. Off to the side, Dwight was busy with a laptop, only glancing at Clarice from time to time to look for cues. "I'll start with the basics, that some of you might know, particularly if you've gone through the recommended read list in the library. The creatures of Halloween are made of something called FEAR. FEAR is a sort of energy produced by human beings when they feel certain negative emotions," On the table, a three-dimensional photo of a little boy appeared, s frightened look on his face. Slowly a wispy orange aura formed around the boy and began to float away in thin strands. "You actually need special filters to see it in its raw form, but this is the gist of how it's produced. When enough FEAR gathers, it can condense into matter. Such matter makes up their entire world, and even sentient creatures such as minipets."

The image shifted to a kitsune minipet; beside it a larger kitsune also appeared, looking more fully formed, with odd special details. "Now both of these creatures, at a glance, would be considered the same thing. However, the larger one is actually what we consider a citizen of the other world. A person, if you consider them as such. It's one of the creatures we fight, and sometimes capture. What's the difference between the two?"

The minipet disappeared leaving the real kitsune, who suddenly burst into particles, the familiar sight of dissipation was in front of them, slowed and eventually frozen. The small pieces of light that once made up the kitsune burst outward, all of them radiating from a single. "What makes them different is at the center. Dwight, zoom into the thousandth degree." The particles rapidly grew large and disappeared altogether as the image zoom into...nothing. "This is their core, what they would consider their soul. It's just an idea really, powered by enough focused thought and FEAR that it too takes form. It then gathers and collects more of that focused FEAR which condenses and forms around the core. That core dictates the creature's shape, race, subspecies, and abilities. It’s a bit like what out DNA is to us, only more so, and singular." Clarice waved to the still empty air above the table, "Unfortunately it's not something we can just remove from them. As you can tell, it not something we can even correctly see under normal circumstances. Up until the last eight years just knowing what it looked like it was still beyond us."

A light blue grid suddenly appeared covering the table, and wrapped around the nothing that had been hovering over the center. The grid tightened, allowing them to see a shape full of odd spikes and curves and angles. "Of course, that's just until eight years ago. We have to apply runic filters based around insight, observation, spiritual awareness, FEAR, and imagination, just to name a few, but we were able to finally get the shape, and from there, refine it." The grid tightened and tightened, until a solid shape was slowly rotating above the table. The odd plains and angles created an alien cityscape. Moments later, as glowing lines, shapes, and patterns began to trace along its surface, the feeling would only intensify. It was beautiful in an odd, terribly alien way. This was a soul, or as close to it as any of them had ever seen. "The form is much simpler when they first form; personality, life experiences, environment, and simple growth from child to adult cause it to become more a much more complicated structure. It's difficult to manipulate this structure directly, or with predictable results."

A ring or runes lit up, surrounding the core, and second ring appeared within it. "We have gotten better at it though." The rings began to spin, slowly at first but rapidly increasing in speed until they created a glowing, blurred sphere around the core. The speed increased even further until something snapped into place and the rings came to an immediate stop. What was an object of eccentric shapes and angles has become stream-lined, compacted into a simple series of fine, precise angles. The glowing patterns and symbols had condensed into several brightly glowing runes, their form clear and sharp against the surface. "This is what weaponization is, the core can still shift and change and grow, but its form is stronger, more whole. Refined. When it works. When it doesn't work, the core becomes damaged, and eventually is destroyed through the stress of the process." The image shifted back to the core, pre-weaponization.

A sudden crack appeared along one large spike, and Clarice continued, "Extreme damage of the physical, mental, or emotional variety can cause damage to a creature's core, affecting the FEAR that forms and reforms around it. Given time, the core will change and adapt to the damage." Slowly, the rotating object's shape shifted, its structure growing and shrinking in places until the crack appeared to be an intentional, natural part of it, rather than damage. "Of course, if it's not given that time..." Another crack appeared, and another, the first one grew and suddenly sections were crumbling, "The creature can still take shape around the damaged core, but becoming permanently crippled in a number of ways would result. And if the damage continues even more..." the image of the core gained more fissures, cracking and crumbling until at last if fell apart, "The core is destroyed. But the being it once belonged to doesn't die. Dwight, zoom back out."

Once again the sight of FEAR particles, frozen as they burst out, filled the table. "They reform..." Clarice began, as the particles were once again in motion, all of them condensing into the form of the kitsune, "...but there's no longer an organizing principle. This creature is sentient, and unlike a minipet, it has a very profound void." The kitsune's form wavered and shifted into fog. "Prior to these past few months, this is what a destroyed core resulted in. Chaotic, emotion-based energy that looked like creepy fog, had an interesting effect on other emotion-based creatures, and just made this island fairly gloomy. We called it Insanity, a name picked up from Halloween itself. Unpleasant, but something we could deal with."

The fog shifted and once again reformed into the kitsune. Its entire body was made of washed out greys, portions appearing to be cracked where others remained slightly fog-like. Brightly glowing blue eyes stared balefully out at the hunters. "But not anymore, something...quite possibly the mixing of FEAR-based Insanity with JOY, caused it to mutate. Not only are these creatures reforming and becoming a nuisance, now, but it's also been spreading within Halloween, among those without destroyed cores. That was bad, but since the Phoenix escaped, things are much worse."

The image disappeared and the lights grew brighter, "Prior to this, it was more their problem, than ours. Our weapons are both protected by their stream-lines cores and our bonds, and studying the fog was relegated to more of a hobbyist pursuit. But with the Insanity changing, becoming able to affect even human minds, we need to get a better grasp on it, and how we can deal with it before our weapons become vulnerable to it as well."

Clarice's smile was a bit bitter, "Before you start with the regrets, the Phoenix is preferable to what would have happened if the Clans were left unchecked. It was worth it. Unfortunately, that doesn't make this any less of a problem. Now, in a couple days, myself and a few other hunters will begin long term golem missions to study Insanity. You guys will likely get one or two day trips via golems to help us out. Like I said, this will not be a combat mission, all we're doing is conducting, for the most part, voluntary tests and interviews. We'll be working with a section of the local authorities, the Boogeymen, that's familiar and on non-hostile terms with Deus. They'll both be guarding us, should someone recognize us by voice or mannerisms, lending us a certain amount of authenticity, and watching us to make sure we're toeing their line. No attempted abductions. No fighting. None of that. This is important, and our largest immediate threat has always been the clans."

The blonde clapped her hands together, "Well, that's about it. This is a mission you'll be able to sign up for, and may be a nice break from fighting creatures in the fog. I'll be gone for a while, but in my absence Killzone..." the large black man crossed his arms and gave them all a stern nod, "...will be acting as Life assistant should you need that sort of help. If you need him, he'll be in his office. Just follow the motivational posters and mood music."

The blonde's eyes scanned the room and landed on one particular Intermediate. "You're all dismissed for the time being. I know this may be a lot to take in for some of you, so if there's anything too confusing, I'll go over it again with you. Reine, if you have a moment I'd like to have a talk with you."

The blonde gave the Intermediate a slow once over, eyes scanning her over with critical thoroughness. "You look well enough," she gave a small nod, "...good." She met Reine's eyes and continued, "You spent most of your time as a trainee involved with the Death division, and tried to transfer over on promotion." It wasn't a question, and while Clarice's tone wasn't accusatory, neither was it very comforting. "Do you still feel you're better fit for another division, or would you like to begin doing Life work?"

Finally some damn answers. Otto had been hoping for an information meeting like this for a while. He was glad to hear that the next few missions would be less intense for now, and had moved to leave.

Until Reine got called out.

Otto smirked, and as he passed the pair, uttered "Someone's in trooouble~." In a sing song voice before making his exit.

It had been a while since he teased her. Felt good.

Clarice's almost stern expression melted away into a smile, "Well I have just the chance for you. Like I said earlier, myself and a few other hunters are going to be doing this mission long-term over the course of several months. I'd like you to be one of them." Considering the younger woman's background, Clarice felt she'd be a valuable asset if given the chance. There was also the Intermediate's sparring record which was both...impressive and concerning, on top of what was reported to be a fairly traumatic, and disappointing, transfer mission.

All in all, she felt Reine Walker needed some time doing serious, productive work, off the battlefield. She had a useful background and good fighting skills, but that wouldn't mean much if she ended up broken.

Crossing his arms, the Life hunter have Jerry a thorough once-over, "Jerry, I'm sorry haven't been around to support you like you need me to, leaving you to regress to this point. Once we get the dorms cleared I'll be able to give you more personal attention, my little Jewbro." He placed a large hand on Jerry's shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Until then, though, I want you to visit the mediation room at least twice a day, you understand me. I don't want you losing the way to your Jerry Place."

He was quiet for a long moment and then continued, face serious, "If you think that Insanity is lingering too long, you come to me. If you start turning all grey and s**t, you come to me right away. But so far, it hasn't been shown to be permanent. Maybe, if this thing gets too out of control, or if you spend too much time around it, maybe then you gotta worry. But for now, just work on meditation and in fact..."

Killzone reached into his leotard and pulled out a small notebook featuring a dolphin leaping over a violently neon ocean on the cover, "Here, you take this. I only experience that s**t for a few days, but I found keeping a journal really helped me order my thoughts. On an emotional level, my zen was all out of whack, you know? But when I'd write it out and go over things some, I could better deal with it on a logical level." He reached back into the leotard and pulled out an orange pen with a fluffy, feathered top and shoved them both at Jerry.

"Aw man, bro," Killzone pulled Jerry in for a hug, "...you just take those feels and put them on paper. If they get to be too much to handle, you come talk with me." He began to gently rock the other man back and forth, "This here Killzone's one zen ******** and he's got your back."

Killzone finally let go and gave him an encouraging slap on the back, "You can pull through this, Jerry. Believe in the me that believes in you."

Ofelia listened to everything that was being said, watching the screen with rapt attention and interest. She really did have no idea about much of it and even with an explanation she was still a bit at a loss. There was so much about Deus she didn't know and a whole lot more about it she wasn't sure she wanted to know but in the end the choice really wasn't hers - she was here for the long run. Only dying or getting herself stuck back into a pod were the ways out, so someone had told her, and the teen touched the bruise on her lip from where the bite was still healing. It was a good reminder to her not to speak out of turn, not to think too hard about things.

Instead she waited and looked around, listening to the conversations others were having. Eventually she'd chime in about something but for now it was best to stay quiet, stay out of sight, and not do anything stupid.