Universal Constants Episode 1: First Blood

<img src="./panels/1-cover.png" alt=" a cover image for the project, titled: Universal Constants Episode 1: First Blood on the cover image itself is a desk covered in different objects, split between two colors. red objects include: a strange, railway track-like weapon, a split heart pin, and a photo of abstract shapes that while hard to parse, resemble an eye. green objects include: a surgeon's scalpel, a folder with a strange heart insignia, and a photo of 3 anthro cat children, doing their best to support each other in a nervous embrace. a lime green image exists as well, underneath the other objects- a photo of a canine shadow, featuring frightening teeth and a pearl necklace."> [(text-style:"shadow")[UNIVERSAL CONSTANTS] [EPISODE 1: FIRST BLOOD] [[CONTENT WARNINGS]] (you can use the arrow keys to go backwards and forwards through the twine!) [[START->p1]]]

<img src="./panels/1-1-1.png" alt=""a reddish brown canine furry takes up most of the frame, sitting down in a waiting room chair. his black hair is covering most of his face in a curly mess. large, round glasses obscure his eyes, and his expression is calm and stoic- a singular canine fang sticking out of his mouth. he's wearing a red turtleneck sweater, maroon high waisted pants, and a reddish purple cape with a holographic, starry print. there's pins on his shoulder, where the cape hangs off of his body- a no-entry sign and a heart split down the middle. the room itself is simple in what we can see in-frame, a door off to the side with a distinctly alien handle compared to what we have on earth- with a smaller upper grip laid horizontally, and a much larger lower grip angled vertically. there is alien writing on the door's sign, indicating who works there, and arrow-like patterning on the door's surface. color-wise, the room is a rather sterile white and gray, made to feel warmer by the piece's overall cozy lighting. shiny particles hover around the dog's cape, leading to a dream-like feel.> Charon rubs his fingers against the edges of the folder in his lap, his documents kept nice and neat inside. He'd be meeting up with the head honcho of the Menagerie, a facility staple on this continent for its medical importance. A renovation job for someone with a very specific skillset, that's what the guild explained when he took a look at the contract. The waiting room is clean, almost too clean to be inviting- the entire facility felt clinical and cold, and this area is no different. The only audible noise is the hum of the lights up above him and the unintelligible discussion in the office ahead. No one else is left, all other people having gone through the office before him, and a sense of unease begins to settle in. He tries to see if he can get any sort of sound or look at whatever was going on inside, just to know what he's exactly about to deal with. This lab had many stories behind it, stories that spread and snowballed into the thing of myth and fables. He couldn't say his family would approve of him taking a job with the reputation the previous owner had, but he was assured things were... mostly different. As if to confirm his worries, the voices inside escalate in volume, someone bursting out of the door and scrambling to get out of there as quickly as possible. The dog tries not to mind it too much, probably just an anomaly. At the very least it means that he’s about to be called up. He gets to his feet and gets a quick stretch in...he'd been in that lobby too long. His whole body starts clanking and clattering as he does so, a mix of his metal limbs and his fluffy tail, adorned with porcelain plates, making a racket. ????: Next. Charon shuffles over into the next room as [[quickly->p2]] as possible.

The office is tidy, everything clearly having its own place- though a little sparse, with no decorations or knick knacks to be found anywhere. The karacel at the desk sits with straight posture, her hands clasped in front of her and a stoic expression on her face. Her brown fur contrasts with her green accents on her nose, ear tufts, and eyelids- the latter currently half lidded over what looked to be black prosthetic eyes. It’s an exasperated expression on her face, barely turning to acknowledge him in her exhaustion. ????: Sit. The dog creeps on over to his chair. CHARON: I take it you're in charge? ????: You'd be correct. She doesn't react much, keeping her posture steady. ????: Maes Artag, I run this facility and act as its head surgeon. CHARON: Mm. I'm here for the job regarding renovation of the lab, you certainly have some... interesting requisites for it. MAES: You're the contractor that Synna hired, then. CHARON: Mmhmm. I'm not entirely sure why you need a knight for this but I take it you have bigger issues than roaches in the basement. MAES: You could say that. MAES: Synna says that your resume holds up well, but I wanted to see it myself. MAES: You see, Mr...? CHARON: Judgment. He slides over a file. CHARON: All my documents are in there... I heard that touch script copies were ideal in this office, so I brought those too. MAES: ...Thank you. She seems a little impressed at the touch script inclusion, opening up the folder with [[care->p3]].

MAES: You see, Mr. Judgment, I have immensely high standards for the kind of work we do here at this lab, and your work will be especially difficult. CHARON: I've been through the worst work of my career, it's all uphill from here. MAES: I highly doubt that. She grimaces, just enough to be noticed. MAES: What kind of job do you think this is, from the requirements and briefing alone? CHARON: I'd say you want me to dip my toes into hell and clean up some old regrets. MAES: Regrets? CHARON: Failed projects that need more than a mop and a dustpan to get rid of. MAES: And what gives you that impression? CHARON: The application mentioned the job requires an immunity or heavy resistance to horror and experience in security. MAES: Facilities are built on horror vents all the time, any kind of building can be- especially in this area. MAES: What makes you think there's regrets involved? CHARON: Because this lab has a bit of a reputation, one that uttering it may be distressful to any staff within ear shot. MAES: Mm. Her grimace [[worsens->p4]]. MAES: Go on.

CHARON: This lab built too far into a horror vent, farther than most are willing to go. CHARON: Now you need someone who can deal with them when they eventually leak and give trouble to your construction crew... and off the record, the stories around this place make it plausible those vents were used for more than basements. MAES: Every major facility has stories around it. Do you believe these? CHARON: I'm prepared for the worst should any of it be true, but I rather they be exaggerations. MAES: The reasons why the underground needs renovations do not concern you. Getting the job done and done effectively does. CHARON: I do need to be aware of all safety hazards that may come out of this. I don't want to have anyone injured on my watch, if I'm frank. MAES: The only people who will join you in the cleanup are people who are similarly equipped. MAES: I don't risk lives if I can help it, Judgment. CHARON: That's good to hear, I'd refuse if I heard anything otherwise. She runs her hand over the first paper, taking a proper look. The resume itself features a mention of involvement in a relatively well known investigation involving sensitives, users of scraps, those who can supposedly connect to spirits and remnants…. Maes’ frown twitches. CHARON: Is... something wrong? MAES: You believe in magic. CHARON: Pardon? MAES: It says here you've worked with...spirits. CHARON: I've worked with sensitives in the past, yes. MAES: And you believe in it. CHARON: Is there an issue here? MAES: [[We'll see.->p5]]

She continues reading, her brows just the slightest bit raised now. CHARON: It should not impact my ability to work if you are worried. MAES: It better not. CHARON: It won't. MAES: I suppose I'll have to take your word for it. It comes out cold- possibly more than she intended, by the look on her face- and she hurriedly gets back to her reading. MAES: Are there any other problems I should worry about, Judgment? CHARON: Define problems. MAES: I simply don't want to hear that you're looking for ghosts in our underground levels. MAES: It concerns me. She flashes the slightest bit of teeth as she says it. Charon just barely catches a glimpse, his heart rate speeding up and a little intake of breath at the sight of it. //[[Shit.->p6]]//

CHARON: I don't plan to. Maes pauses, ear twitching almost too subtly to be seen. //Shit, she noticed.// She reads more of his file, but there’s something about the way she speaks that makes Charon feel…scrutinized. MAES: You seem tense, Judgment. MAES: Do I have to worry about you cracking under pressure? She makes sure to almost snarl the last word. CHARON: Please, an interview doesn't scare me. Charon focuses- he’s grateful to be blessed with the ability to gauge subtle elements and emotions, an aspect of his family line. He tries to see what he can find in Maes, [[nervous->p7]] about what he might discover.

<img src="./panels/1-1-2.png" alt="a dutch angle shot over charon's caped shoulder, showing maes at her desk. her face looks tired, but has a difficult to discern intent. she's a brown-furred cat furry with large, horizontally positioned ears tipped in green tufts, long, fluffy black hair, and an hourglass build. her outfit is a black tight dress with green accents, featuring sleeves with cutouts at the shoulder and a much looser green scarf. her prosthetic eyes are portrayed as black filled in shapes, her eyelids green and half lidded over them. maes' posture is upright, and it's clear she means business. even with all of the gravity of her pose and expression, the atmosphere of the image and textures on maes are warm, as if charon's emotions are tinting the situation. on the desk, charon's folder sits."> She’s curious, testing him. Something about him’s off, and she can't quite place it yet...and more than anything, she wants to see more. She flashes her teeth quickly as she exhales, too fast to be read as intentional...to anyone but him. Charon’s tail flicks in a half-wag, anything but a fear response- the porcelain plates on it clattering just loud enough to be audible. The karacel in front of him’s ear [[twitches->p8]] again, but she continues.

MAES: Your file...says you boast exceptional pain tolerance. CHARON: It's the peak threshold for any non-synthetic being. MAES: And how has this been tested? I assume to know such a thing, you'd have to have survived some incidents. CHARON: I've endured electrocution and varying slash and bite based injuries without passing out, screaming, or going into shock. It's in my medical records. She drums her claws on the desk, her expression purposefully flat- as if she’s trying to hold a straight face and not let anything slip. A soft noise of her own escapes, barely perceptible. Charon’s ears perk up. MAES: That...should come in handy. She tries to veer things back on course. MAES: Such durability will hopefully be unneeded, but it's definitely interes- a perk. CHARON: A perk? MAES: It's better that you're more well prepared, that's all. That was clearly [[not->p9]] all.

CHARON: Prepared for what exactly if I may ask? MAES: It's an old lab, many parts of it untouched for over a decade- like I mentioned prior, I refuse to send anyone down there that isn't ready for the potential risks. She keeps her voice even. CHARON: I'm more than prepared for something like this, I'm not too worried. MAES: I suppose that makes up for the occult interest, then... She flips to the next page, studying its contents. MAES: It also says you have an expertise in old technology. Am I to expect difficulty with operating modern equipment? Even with her attempts to remain straight-faced, her teeth seem to show more and more when she talks, or at the very least, Charon’s attention keeps getting drawn more and more to them. CHARON: I should be absolutely fine with modern equipment, and anything I'm not familiar with can be explained with ease. The dog tries his best not to make a sound but he’s fidgeting more than a little, and audibly. MAES: Is [[something the matter->p10]], Judgment?

CHARON: Nothing, why do you ask? MAES: Nothing. MAES: Perhaps I'm just reading you wrong. She closes his file, sliding it across the table. MAES: You're coming off rather...agitated. CHARON: I've been sitting quite a bit today, so it's a little difficult. The dog takes his file back. MAES: You seem like a fit for the job, at least... though we'll have to see how you perform. MAES: I have big expectations for you, Judgment. She rests her hands in her lap, clearly trying to ignore how tense the room had become. MAES: And quite the first impression. CHARON: Oh? The dog [[leans forward->p11]] in his chair.

CHARON: I'd assume they're quite good ones based on what you've read for the most part. MAES: We'll see if you live up to your records. She leans in just as much, without realizing. MAES: Don't get cocky before you've even had a chance to show what you can do. CHARON: I don't underperform, I have too much reputation at stake. MAES: So you've [[told me->p12]].

She sits up straight once more, trying to get back to her professional posture from earlier. MAES: You should go discuss lodging and your duties with Synna, she's a few departments down. MAES: I'm sure she can get you up to speed on how we do things here. CHARON: Mm, room number? The dog gets to his feet and brushes himself off. CHARON: I'm not familiar with this place so I need a point of reference. MAES: 173. It'll have her name on the door. Oh, and, Judgment? CHARON: Yes? MAES: There's a single occupancy restroom just outside the waiting room. MAES: I would personally recommend you...compose yourself, before meeting with Synna. She keeps her tone clinical, the slightest bit of [[blush->p13]] crossing her cheeks.

CHARON: Excuse me? He raises a brow in response. MAES: Just a suggestion...I have work to get back to. CHARON: I think I'll manage fine. Thank you for your time. MAES: [[Don't fail me->p14]], Judgment. CHARON: I do not plan to.

<img src="./panels/1-1-3.png" alt=" a close up shot of charon leaning against the wall, his expression tense and strained. he's sweating and gritting his teeth as he attempts to calm down. his glasses are fogged up to the point of just barely showing his red eyes- portrayed in a cute cartoony style in this panel. he's holding his cape around himself, almost protectively. around him float little red sparkles, as if he's still in a daze."> He makes his way toward the hall quickly. Maes gets up to shut the door behind him just as fast, sliding back against the door. Charon leans against the waiting room wall, trying to catch his breath. She caught onto him, hopefully that doesn't deduct. He can't help but worry that this is all a setup to catch him screwing up. That was too tense for his own good. He’s a little tempted to take her offer to use the restroom. Fuck. Not right now. He takes the time to breathe deeply and relax himself. Whatever just went on during that interview was more than he was expecting. Nothing that can't be managed though...[[hopefully->p15]].

[[.......->p16]]

<img src="./panels/1-2-1.png" alt="synna, a warm brown marsupial furry with floppy ears, stands in front of charon, a few feet shorter than him. she has darker markings on her muzzle and ears, wiry fluff for her hair and neck ruff, and a casual expression. her outfit is simple yet sporty- a pair of blue and white athletic shorts and a yellow and blue crop top revealing the top edge of a belly pouch. her eyes are a reddish pink, and have no pupils. charon looks curious, but not sure what to make of this new figure. he has cute dot-styled eyes again, adding to the friendly-yet-cautious vibe of the scene."> This is taking forever, and Synna feels like she’s about to go nuts from the waiting. She’d organized the files on her desktop already, watched a few episodes of her favorite cartoon, browsed the news at least three times over by now, and nobody had bothered to knock on the door or call her up. She shouldn’t have even taken a day off for this, but noooo, she wanted to make sure that Maes had someone on standby in case someone actually passed her ridiculous interviews. How many people even applied for this job? She had made it sound as scary as possible in order to weed out people who couldn’t hack it, but she wouldn’t be surprised if people tried to go for it anyway, with the kind of pay and housing the lab was offering. Synna flops back into her chair, exhaling hard. When is Maes going to be done grilling people? She just wants to get it over with and hear the inevitable "no, they all sucked, why would you put me up to this Synna, I'm mad now." Before she can get comfortable, there’s a knock on the door. She nearly falls out of her chair, completely startled as she scrambles to her feet. SYNNA: ‘Bout fucking time you got done, I was starting to think you'd [[actually->p17]] consider someo-

She opens the door, only to reveal a dog she doesn’t recognize in the office doorway. CHARON: It seems you were anticipating someone else. SYNNA: ...looks like it. She looks up at him with a squint. SYNNA: Who the hell are you? CHARON: Charon Judgment, traveling knight and engineer of oddities. CHARON: I've just been contracted to work here and was given the suggestion to talk to you. She stares at him for a moment before peeking around the doorway. SYNNA: This isn't a prank? She actually picked somebody? CHARON: Yes? CHARON: That reaction has me a little concerned.. SYNNA: Yooou shooouldn't have a single worry about that! She tries to correct her tone mid sentence, snapping back upright. SYNNA: I'm just a little surprised. Maes has pretty high standards. CHARON: Seemed rather intense, I'll take it as a compliment. SYNNA: Yeah, well...[[we'll see->p18]] whether you can hold up.

She opens the door and gestures for him to step inside. SYNNA: I'm a little underprepared, but I should be able to get you set up. He walks into the office, taking a look around as subtly as he can. CHARON: No pressure, I appreciate the assistance. Her office is smaller than Maes' by a significant amount, stacks of folders, drink mugs, strange chunks of electronics, and CD cases piled up everywhere. The only chair available for him to sit in looks kind of rickety, swiveling around as Synna turns it to face him. SYNNA: Take a seat. We'll go over your forms- I hope you filled those out in advance, or we'll be here for like, an hour- and then I'll show you around. CHARON: Mm, I acquired everything required in advance. He scoots into the chair and pulls out a couple of folders from his coat. Synna flops into her own chair, doing a lazy little spin before leaning forward onto her desk. SYNNA: Hand 'em over, I'll skim and make sure it's all in order. Charon slides them onto the desk. CHARON: It should all be in there. Let me know if there’s any [[issue->p19]].

She picks up the first one carefully, flicking through the papers there. SYNNA: So Charon Judgment, huh? SYNNA: That's a hell of a name. People here just call me Synna. CHARON: Any last name? SYNNA: Nope. No family or organization ties, no need for it. SYNNA: I mean, aside from the lab I guess, but I'd rather be my own person outside of that. SYNNA: No offense to yourself intended. CHARON: None taken. How's it all looking? SYNNA: Looks like everything's in order at a glance- good, you included touch script. She sighs in relief. SYNNA: I can see how that got you points with her. SYNNA: From what Maes has been telling me about the interviews so far, people haven’t been bothering to cover their bases- even though it’s in the fucking ad. SYNNA: …pardon the language. Can’t help it. CHARON: I try to do a little homework before applying for any job, long term or temporary. SYNNA: And what drew you to this one in particular? SYNNA: I mean, probably sounds pretty [[scary->p20]], right?

CHARON: I'm a knight and a little more, I'm about as equipped as it gets for this. SYNNA: I thought knights were more a 'protect the town from devastation' kinda deal. CHARON: This lab is big enough to qualify as a town as far as I've heard, and worker safety is a priority of its own. SYNNA: Point taken, works for me...I'll try not to grill you too much. SYNNA: Guessing she really tore into you, huh? CHARON: Define. SYNNA: If you actually got the job, that means she must have interrogated the hell out of you. CHARON: Perhaps, but it seems I've passed unscathed. SYNNA: You're setting my expectations high- do you prefer first name or last? CHARON: Up to your preference, know some like to keep things formal. SYNNA: We'll do Judgment for now, I'm not one of those stuffy types, but it'll make me feel cool to go around calling for some prestigious knight bloodline. She can’t help but grin. CHARON: A noble cause, I admire and approve of this. SYNNA: Trust me, it should turn some [[heads->p21]].

She goes for the next folder, skimming this one even faster. SYNNA: We have a lot of high profile people both coming to us for work and working with us, but knights are definitely a new one. CHARON: I imagine most of them are scared off by the stories. SYNNA: Stories? She raises a brow. SYNNA: Tell me one. SYNNA: Just one, and then we'll go look around, show you the sights. CHARON: Hmm... there's quite the absurd one. Supposedly the lab is secretly run by a fire breathing dragon from the depths of hell. SYNNA: Well, I can debunk that one- I've never seen Maes breathe fire, and as far as I know, she doesn't have any scales or wings to speak of. SYNNA: The "from hell" part isn't too wrong, though. CHARON: Is there some sort of truth to it…? She holds her hands up. SYNNA: That's all I can say, classified information. CHARON: Noted. Mildly concerning, possibly important one day, but kept in mind nonetheless.. SYNNA: Don't think too much of it, yeah? SYNNA: Just a little dark humor. She shrugs, setting his folders down and getting up. SYNNA: We have a lot to see, so let's get moving. The dog follows suit. CHARON: [[Of course->p22]].

<img src="./panels/1-3-1.png" alt="Synna and Charon visible through the little window of a subway-like tram, seated comfortably as they converse within the tram speeding from location to location within the lab...the colors are warm and inviting, but distinctly metal and artificial."> SYNNA: You didn't get carsick on the trams getting around to this sector, did you? CHARON: ...There were trams? SYNNA: ...did you walk? CHARON: I flew. SYNNA: No, not to the lab itself- She chooses to ignore the flight comment, not wanting to open that can of worms. This guy’s weird enough as is. SYNNA: We use a tram system to get around the lab sectors, to help speed things up. SYNNA: It's a big place, and walking everywhere isn't too efficient. SYNNA: You must have been bushed to get all the way out here to the staff areas. CHARON: It wasn't all that hard... though I’ll gladly consider faster methods. SYNNA: I'll show you how they work. SYNNA: Both patients and staff can use them, but there are special cars for things like transporting critical patients- think of it like an ambulance, just in the actual hospital. SYNNA: There's also some just for staff members looking for some privacy, but you need ID to enter either of those. SYNNA: You probably won't have to deal with the former, but the latter I can hook you up with tomorrow. CHARON: It's much appreciated. CHARON: I should be able to handle the motion just fine, so [[no issue->p23]] there.

SYNNA: Well, we'll start here- this is one of two staff areas. SYNNA: They've got offices for the most part, but there's a reception area on the far end. SYNNA: The other one's towards where you probably came in, facing Mockery- that's the one most people use, and it's a lot busier, and close to the emergency sector as well. SYNNA: We don't see a lot of people coming in this way, so it's way quieter. CHARON: What kind of staff tend to make up the bulk of this sector? SYNNA: Bit of everything, considering people have to have somewhere to do paperwork. SYNNA: Administrative folks like me and Maes as well- though both of us like to get our hands dirty with more tactile work. SYNNA: Maes does surgery, I do robotics engineering, and we both handle massive amounts of paperwork in our spare time. CHARON: You have a robotics department? SYNNA: I //run// the robotics department. SYNNA: People come from all over Taverne to get body modifications here, and I make sure that robotic ones are top of the line. She pats her own left leg, showing off its pink prosthetic material. It's sturdy, and from what Charon can make out- impeccably well made. SYNNA: I work with a lot of engineers in Hearth as well, some even responsible for the creation of construct species. SYNNA: Keeps me pretty busy, but I took the day off to handle the possibility of someone actually making it through an interview with Maes. CHARON: Which it would appear I [[have->p24]].

CHARON: I'm curious, are you any familiar at all with older prosthetic tech? CHARON: I may have to come to you if you do. She glances over at his hands. SYNNA: Noticed that. I haven't seen work that old fashioned in ages. CHARON: Mm. It's a blend of lost tech and a little extra. CHARON: There's certain design principles and a level of durability that still make this sort of thing viable in a field like knighting. Makes it difficult for me to be willing to upgrade. SYNNA: Guess I could take a crack at it, though I may need to do some research beforehand… She leads him over to what appeared to be the entrance to the trams, passing by some lab coated staff. SYNNA: Keep close. SYNNA: Gets a little crowded this time of day. CHARON: Noted, I'll try not to lose track of you while we're here. CHARON: What goes on around this hour that makes people so busy in particular? SYNNA: Well, it's getting to be close to evening in an hour or two, and you've got a lot of people trying to get last minute work in before switching shifts. SYNNA: People trying to make it home in time for dinner, you know? SYNNA: Well..if they don't live here anyway. CHARON: Mm. I've heard of the large living spaces to accommodate the staff... CHARON: I suppose I will be allowed to stay here too while I am working, yes? SYNNA: Yep, just as it says in the application. SYNNA: We'll make your apartment the last stop, so get excited for that...or don't, they're not that special. CHARON: I'd never complain about a job that includes housing. She taps her ID at a turnstyle, tapping a button on her way through. SYNNA: Should let you through, but [[hurry up->p25]].

Charon does his best to keep up the pace. CHARON: So I must ask, why is the 'boss' so picky with employment? CHARON: It sounds like it's been a hard process. SYNNA: Oh, simple. She doesn't trust anyone, and only wants the best for the lab. SYNNA: And I mean the best. SYNNA: So...you must have shown some serious stuff to actually win her over. CHARON: Better not underperform then…. SYNNA: Eh, if you do, she'll just eat you. CHARON: She can't legally do that, can she? SYNNA: I'm kidding, kidding! SYNNA: She's a tough boss, but not like that. CHARON: What's she like, then? SYNNA: You want the short description or the long one? CHARON: Both. SYNNA: Short description, she's a grump who needs to lighten up but has her reasons to be the way she is, so don't treat her too harshly. SYNNA: I mean, call her out on her shit if you can, honestly- but do it gentle, you know? CHARON: I'll do my best. CHARON: Seems like she's had a hard time. SYNNA: You can pick up on that already, huh? She smirks as she takes her seat, a distinct trace of bitterness to it. SYNNA: Smart dog. SYNNA: She'll either like you or hate you. CHARON: Feel like it'll be a bit of both. SYNNA: Yeah, [[probably->p26]].

SYNNA: As for the long description...I've known Maes a long time, longer than I can really go into comfortably to a guy I just met. SYNNA: She's not the happiest person, and I think I could probably count how many times I've seen her smile on my hands. SYNNA: She's not a bad person, but she's tired and overworked and sick of dealing with people giving her hell- and to her, anybody on the planet is someone who's likely to give her that. SYNNA: You included. The dog ponders this info for a moment. CHARON: Do you think... there's anything that would help her feel more comfortable? CHARON: I'd rather stay on people’s good side for a long job like this. SYNNA: Uhhhh....shit, I'm honestly not sure. If I knew, I'd be doing it myself. CHARON: Mm. I'll put some time into figuring that out then. SYNNA: My best guess is like...don't be offended when she doesn't do stuff like laugh at your jokes, and don't have weird expectations of her being friendly or fake smiling or whatever. SYNNA: She's pretty blunt, and absolutely hates it when people want her to fit their mold of what she should be like. CHARON: I suppose the priority for now is doing my work efficiently, but there certainly will come an opportunity to ease some tension that may come from working with others. SYNNA: Yeah? You really think you can do that for her? CHARON: I'd like to think I have a good shot. SYNNA: Good luck, man. You're gonna [[need->p27]] it.

Synna pats him on the back, getting up off of the tram seat. SYNNA: This is our stop. Charon follows along, getting up from his own seat. CHARON: Are the others around here any easier to work with? SYNNA: Oh, yeah. Some are difficult in their own ways, but you'll [[manage just fine->p28]].

<img src="./panels/1-4-1.png" alt="a close up of a surgical instrument tray, with a slight view of an X-ray image, tile walls, and a curtain. the image is tinted blue, and has a cool feeling."> SYNNA: This is the main surgical wing. It's what it says on the tin. Someone passes by with a rather mutated looking person on a gurney. CHARON: That... isn't an in-house incident is it? SYNNA: No, we treat a lot of irradiated people. SYNNA: The nearby city, Mockery, has a rep for a high monster population, and a lot of casual horror radiation to cause it. SYNNA: Sometimes people’s mutations take them off guard or go in ways they aren't prepped for, and we're here to help with that. CHARON: And success rates? Overall pretty good? SYNNA: Oh, yeah. For sure. SYNNA: We're one of the best facilities in Taverne and we have [i]earned[/i] that title. CHARON: [[Noted.->p29]]

<img src="./panels/1-4-2.png" alt="another panel overlaid on top of the previous one, like a stack of photos. this one is warmly tinted orange, and features a nurse tending to a patient. the nurse is a canine furry with a cute round nose, a bob cut, glasses, and patterned scrubs, and the patient is a rabbit furry with a singular large eye and fangs."> SYNNA: Here's the patient rooms- keep your voice down. SYNNA: You're not gonna be over here much considering you're working under the lab, but I figure hey, it's worth showing you around. CHARON: They seem quite nicely accommodated for. SYNNA: We've got tons of room for them, and a lot of little areas for physical therapy- we've even got a pool. CHARON: Do wish them the best, know the process myself… SYNNA: Feel free to sign up to help visit and cheer some of them up on your off days- I come in and show them my new gear sometimes, bring them trinkets. SYNNA: They love it. The dog manages a tiny smile at that, full of a subtle warmth. CHARON: I may do that. SYNNA: Any questions before we move on? CHARON: None at the moment, let's [[keep the pace.->p30]]

The adjacent area is full of people running around, people carrying clipboards, folders and trolleys. SYNNA: Research wing. Don't touch anything. CHARON: What are they researching here? SYNNA: Body mods, typically. SYNNA: I spend a lot of time out here working on my inventions, got a little workshop on the other end. SYNNA: There's also a lot of looking into organic modification, and even some horror based stuff. SYNNA: Top notch, and a lot of it is top secret, so don't go nosing around too hard. CHARON: I'm curious if anything here could help me. SYNNA: Yeah? With what? CHARON: Anything, updating technology is very useful as a knight. SYNNA: Could look into it, as long as you call somebody in advance and make an appointment. SYNNA: We have enough sudden interruptions to the schedule here as is, we don't need people getting even crankier. CHARON: Fair enough, if you can fill me in on some details I can get a bit of research ahead. Avoid stepping on too many toes. SYNNA: Easy, I can get you that by the end of the week. [[Remind me->p31]] if I forget. CHARON: Will do.

<img src="./panels/1-4-3.png" alt="another panel laid on top of the pile, this one depicting a colorful cafeteria tray closeup. there's a stylized meal with lots of spices and vibrant colors, resembling meat and beans on top of some kind of dough. also on the tray are a bottle of pink juice and a yellow fruit with a bite taken out of it."> SYNNA: Starting to loop around back to where we started...this is the cafeteria where you'll probably be eating. It's the closest to the main lower lab entrance. CHARON: Off the record, what's the food like here? SYNNA: Not half bad, actually. We've got pretty good chefs- it's not like, restaurant quality or anything, but it's a varied menu suitable for any kind of person, and they make accommodations for patients and staff with specific diets all the time. CHARON: Do they accept volunteers? CHARON: I'd love to assist from time to time. SYNNA: You cook? CHARON: A decent amount. SYNNA: I'd have to ask, but I'm sure they wouldn't mind. SYNNA: All hands on deck, right? CHARON: Absolutely. SYNNA: You're really getting into everything around here, huh? CHARON: As much as I can contribute. SYNNA: You're showing potential, man. SYNNA: [[Keep it up.->p32]]

<img src="./panels/1-4-4.png" alt="another panel laid on top of the pile, this one depicting a closeup of a massive metal door, rivets and paneling all over it. there's a triangular hazard sign on the door itself, depicting a monster face with an X behind it, and an exclamation mark on the front."> SYNNA: Last stop before I show you your new place. Synna leans against the heavy metal door, thunking it with her knuckles. SYNNA: You see this bad motherfucker? This big ass door? CHARON: Mm. What's the deal? SYNNA: That's the entrance to the lower lab. SYNNA: You're going to get real familiar with this. CHARON: Take it this is where the bulk of my work will be? SYNNA: Yep. You're gonna be doing a lot of up and down here. SYNNA: Our main renovations guy, JB, will help you out getting through it, and as far as I know, Maes wants to oversee a lot of the work done personally. SYNNA: She's taking a lot of time off her usual surgery jobs and passing them off to others- equally qualified of course- to do it. CHARON: Is she usually this personally invested into reconstruction projects? SYNNA: That'd be classified information. She shrugs. SYNNA: I can't tell you everything. CHARON: Fair enough, I know that this project is particularly important. SYNNA: And for right now and possibly ever, that's all you need to know. SYNNA: And if you know what's good for you, you won't talk conspiracy theories with Maes either. SYNNA: She hates them. CHARON: Conspiracy theories about her or in general? SYNNA: Both, but especially the former. CHARON: There a lot of them? SYNNA: More than she likes to hear, that's [[for sure.->p33]]

<img src="./panels/1-4-5.png" alt="a final illustration panel on top of the pile, this one depicting a close up of a bedside, including a cozy-looking pillow and blanket and a potted plant on a nightstand. the atmosphere is warm and inviting, and tinted in pink."> SYNNA: Hohkay....last stop. You holding up okay from all this walking and tram riding? CHARON: Mm. Just a little tired. SYNNA: Good news for you, you've got a brand new bed with your name on it. CHARON: I could use that right now. CHARON: When will I be able to go and retrieve the rest of my personal belongings? SYNNA: Tomorrow'd probably be best, after you pick up your ID from my office. SYNNA: You'll need it to get into staff-only areas, which should make getting around a lot easier, especially if you've got stuff to move in- how much are we talking, anyway? CHARON: A couple travel bags and a toolbox. SYNNA: Easy. How far away are they? CHARON: They're in town, at the hotel I was staying. I can go pick them up tomorrow morning if you'd allow me. SYNNA: Yeah, of course. I'll try to get your ID ready by then. She steps forward and unlocks the door, tapping the number on the door plate. SYNNA: Memorize this. It's your new home now. CHARON: I'll have it figured out. She opens the door up, stepping in with a goofy grand gesture. The apartment itself is simple but tidy, with a fairly large bed, kitchenette, table, desk, and presumably a bathroom door to the side. It isn't fancy or anything, but it’s spacious for a studio setup. CHARON: ...Is everyone equipped like this? SYNNA: Yep. My apartment's the same layout, so's Maes'. Nobody gets [[special treatment.->p34]]

He sits himself down on the bed, getting a feel for it. CHARON: It's nice... SYNNA: Yeah? You dig it? CHARON: Mm. This is excellent. SYNNA: It's your space, so feel free to accessorize- just don't like, paint the walls or anything. SYNNA: Bathroom's nice, got one of those shower tub combos, a sink, toilet, the works. Should come with towels too, so don't worry about that much. CHARON: I don't know how you manage to set everyone up this well but... I really appreciate it. SYNNA: Basic rights, you know? SYNNA: Everybody deserves a place to eat and sleep. SYNNA: We don't want anybody to go without here. CHARON: That's a good mindset, gives me a lot of confidence about working here. SYNNA: Yeah, well...I can't take credit. SYNNA: Maes' idea to make sure everyone was set up like this. CHARON: This is the best living situation I've had in awhile, so I may have to thank her personally. SYNNA: I think she'd [[appreciate that->p35]], honestly.

She starts heading towards the door, looking over her shoulder. SYNNA: I left my number by the phone, on the nightstand. SYNNA: Call if you need anything, okay? CHARON: I will if something comes up. CHARON: Thank you for taking the time to show me around. SYNNA: No prob- I'm glad to see Maes actually took the plunge on somebody. SYNNA: We really need the help, and I've got a good feeling about you. She shoots a finger gun at him before heading out. SYNNA: Don't trash the place too hard. With that, she closes the door and leaves him to his own devices. Charon lays himself down on the bed, soaking it all in. CHARON: Things are [[looking up…->p36]]

''CREDITS'' Vasco "Comorant" Rivera- Charon writing, illustration work Mortis Velasquez- Maes and Synna writing, background asset Vyn- CSS and scripting and a huge thank you to everyone on our (link:"Forums") [(goto-url: 'https://homebrewdeviants.com/forum/')] and (link: "Discord")[(goto-url: 'https://discord.gg/gZVx7Zu')] for the support while publishing this! this project is a huge deal to us after so many years of being in development, and it's finally here! stay tuned for more!!!

''Overall project content warnings'' This project contains major themes of ableism, cannibalism, sexuality, abuse of all kinds including but not limited to child abuse/death, parental, relationship, and sexual abuse, and graphic horror elements such as gore. Please tread carefully and take breaks as needed. This project also contains explicit sex and kink material, namely relating to biting, weird monster anatomy, hard vore, and BDSM. ''Episode 1 warnings'' Highly suggestive content and the world's most sexually tense interview. [[back to cover|start]]