TINY CAT PEOPLE: THE MAZE TRIALS

[skinstealer]

You think over what to ask for...you definitely need guidance in terms of what things even exist...and on top of that, the fact that people can get hurt here is still really unsettling you. Your ability makes you wonder if you can focus on helping people, and if you can, what you could possibly use to achieve that.

 
SEE: I’d like something that shows me a lot of things, ones I can get in here as rewards.
INTERCOM: Would a shopping catalogue suit your purposes?
SEE: A...what?
INTERCOM: A shopping catalogue book full of objects “for sale”, typically available for different stores.
INTERCOM: The only price you would have to pay is our standard exchange rate for impressions, however.
 

Pretty much all of these words completely go over your head.

 
SEE: ...yeah, let’s go with that. 
INTERCOM: Do you want to redeem your second reward as well?
SEE: Yeah...
SEE: I’d also like something that helps me take care of people, and help them when they get hurt.
INTERCOM: Would a first aid kit suit your purposes?
INTERCOM: Or perhaps a first aid skill?
 

Uh...skill or item...you don’t really know the meaning of first aid either, but aid is a good thing, right?

 
SEE: I’ll take the skill.
INTERCOM: Both rewards are available now. Dispensing...
 

 

The sound of something thick and heavy tumbling down the chute startles you, and opening it reveals a thick book, along with a new skill note. 

 
INTERCOM: Rewards given. Cycle reset.
INTERCOM: You have not earned any other rewards yet. 
INTERCOM: Please make an impression to earn a reward.
 

Opening the catalogue reveals what feels like a million new things, barraging you with information. There’s clothes like your jumpsuit (except way better and less itchy looking), colorful objects you wish you could touch, and even...boxes of what looks like your typing? You don’t know how to feel about that one.

Looks like it’ll be pretty useful, in any case. It’d be a good idea to read through it later.

[You may now suggest ANY GOODS FOUND IN A STANDARD DEPARTMENT STORE SHOPPING CATALOGUE when asking for rewards. You may also suggest looking at a specific section to see a preview of potential items, though you are not limited to those for rewards.]

 

 

You pick up the skill note and look it over, getting bombarded with knowledge on what first aid is, when it’s necessary, and how to perform it (both successfully and unsuccessfully). It’s a lot to take in and you feel disoriented for a moment, still woozy from even just skimming that catalogue.

You really need to stop picking things that’ll blast your mind like that.

Once you get a grip on reality and your situation again, a sense of unease settles in. You’re uneasy about your...overseers, and what their goals are. Learning about first aid both reassured you in your ability to help others and made you more concerned, seeing as, well…

Learning how to treat wounds meant learning about wounds themselves, and you are now acutely aware of how badly people can be injured. TCPs especially seemed so fragile, and while you think you’d need more information and experience to become a proper medic, even just this starting knowledge is enough to shake you.

You press the button on the wall.

 
SEE: I can ask my two questions, right?
INTERCOM: Correct.
SEE: Why are you doing this to us? People...people are getting hurt!
 

 

There’s a moment of hesitation before the voice over the intercom responds.

 
INTERCOM: We are in search of knowledge.
INTERCOM: Studying you and the other test subjects will teach us about your species.
INTERCOM: Information is all we seek, and information on violence and combat helps us learn.
INTERCOM: However, it is worth noting that we do not actively harm test subjects.
INTERCOM: Placing dangers in the test chambers that can be avoided is not active harm. Whether people get injured on these dangers is up to them and their decisions.
INTERCOM: Should you act calmly and not aggrieve others, you should go without any damage done to yourself.
INTERCOM: Though, we cannot say the same of your fellow test subjects. It is on them whether they choose to attack you, not us.
INTERCOM: We would recommend treading carefully, and approaching danger with both caution and a drive to survive. You may have unintended consequences otherwise, for both yourself and others.
INTERCOM: We will learn more from you either way.
 

You don’t think you like these people very much.

 
INTERCOM: You have one question remaining in this trial cycle.
SEE: ...fine.
SEE: How long will it take for me to heal?
 

This response comes much faster.

 
INTERCOM: Our initial studies on your typing say that the injury you’ve sustained will take two hours to heal.
INTERCOM: As a snack food based typing, you seem to have a faster regeneration rate.
INTERCOM: Very lucky. 
   

Somehow, this doesn’t reassure you. 

 

 

You flop back onto your bed and grab your journal and pen, having tossed them up with you when you clambered up to mess with the button. You’re not going to bother putting any of the other stuff away yet, or handling the confetti mess...right now you should document the recent cycle with Suzanne.

As you write about the chimera fish type, you’re not sure what to think of everything- a feeling you’re getting used to more and more. This Monroe person seems like somebody you don’t want to tangle with, considering they’re some kind of dangerous individual...but surely there must be some kind of reason they’re doing this, right? You don’t know a whole lot about how people operate yet, but the idea of someone hurting others just to appease the voices coming from the walls just doesn’t feel right to you. You know, at the very least, that you could never do something like that.

After a bit of writing, the door to your room opens. 

 
INTERCOM: You may also now leave your room.
INTERCOM: Please enjoy your time outside.