First, your theory that the Enodia rift is slowing down mutations. I've been looking into what makes our rift unique, and I'll admit, we have disappointingly few concrete answers after five years of study.
My best lead: the February pulse and the June storm are events that had never-before-seen effects, and both registered a secondary source of radiation different from the standard radiation from the rift. At first I thought this was a short-lived phenomena exclusive to massive events like the pulse and the storm. But... that same type of radiation is emitting from Ernestine.
The rifts are extradimensional fissures that repeatedly defy the known laws of physics. That we know as much as we do is a minor miracle.
Yes. None of them emitted radiation like Ernestine. No one's ever emitted rift radiation like Ernestine. I think she came into contact with something we haven't seen before.
My hunch is that it's something more than a creature. The radiation emitting from Ernestine isn't dangerous, but it's too unusual to be just contact with yet another Liminal beastie. Unfortunately, I'll need something less vague if I want to ask the explorers to go looking.
Fourteen. And I've been studying the rifts since I was nine. [...] I know you're just teasing, but this question is honestly vexing me. If anyone is the foremost expert on the Enodia rift, it's me.
Really. Has our local mole developed any new powers?
Edited (no humility whatsoever) 2023-07-26 03:13 (UTC)
Usually I'd say it's a good thing to have hobbies, but I guess I shouldn't try to talk you out of cyberstalking people and creating disturbing tableaus to startle me.
I'm sure they'll catch the rest of them eventually.
First, I can fit a disturbing tableau in the span of a coffee break. Second, sometimes my cyberstalking is relevant. Ernestine's condition makes her an important part of my research. Looking into her family history is justified.
Hopefully before the entire Explorer Division disappears down a mysterious hole.
Jack Jung's possible criminal background. Who among us hasn't flirted with a federal offense? Everything else [...] I can monitor while clearing my current slate of research projects.
I'm still not happy about it. [...] But I guess it's none of our business.
No, I don't think we should spend multiple days on a potentially hazardous attempt to get to the bottom of a hole just because it's there, but that's just me.
Explorers aren't happy unless they're risking their lives for foolish reasons. But few of them have ever died from it. [...] Do you want to know what Ernest Waters' powers were, or do you still object to my cyberstalking?
If she knows and she still wants to marry him, then it really is none of our business. I leave the closing of this side project to you.
Something even better. Liminal sense and power mimicry. [Text copied directly from Ernest's IRIS registration file.] He must have had contact with other Liminals in the area. Did you know that Lily didn't even know what powers her husband had?
Surprisingly restrained of you. You really must be busy.
I didn't know that. [...] But the family isn't very friendly to liminals in general. Maybe none of them talked about it. [...] You'd think someone who could sense every liminal in ten miles would know better than to wander right into the Riftlands.
I've been [...] unfocused. Usually I don't let my list get this long. How are Willy and Eden?
Exactly. He could sense Liminal creatures and discern their abilities. At the time of assessment, he had enough control that he could use up to three power sets for hours at a time. He was quite capable of defending himself in the Riftlands. Whatever he was doing at the time of his disappearance, it was more than just some tragic accident.
A lot's been going on. I haven't been my most productive either. [...] Eden seems sort of depressed. Neither of them have been talking to me much. And generally the less Willy talks to me, the worse he's doing.
But if he was investigating something specific, why not enlist the help of the station?
Yet you still volunteered to run the clinic during[...] Are things worsening with their body sharing situation? Or is this more of an interpersonal issue?
Lily told Annie that he didn't trust IRIS. Pure speculation, but with his powers, he could've easily found other Liminals who didn't want anything to do with IRIS.
[...] They came apart after the storm, just for a minute. Eden was asleep and Willy didn't tell her about it. Maybe still hasn't told her? I don't know. But I think they're fighting.
Ah. Both. [...] Them coming apart is a good sign. We now know it's possible, and that they're unlikely to suffer serious damage from being separated, which gives us a lot more leeway when it comes to experiments.
I don't know. The articles about Ernest make it sound like an isolated incident, but it's worth looking into. I'm currently investigating if any known Liminals in Colchester might have had contact with Ernest before he disappeared.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
DM, 7/25
My best lead: the February pulse and the June storm are events that had never-before-seen effects, and both registered a secondary source of radiation different from the standard radiation from the rift. At first I thought this was a short-lived phenomena exclusive to massive events like the pulse and the storm. But... that same type of radiation is emitting from Ernestine.
DM, 7/25
Interesting. [...] Have you tried to get readings off of anyone who was exposed to the storm?
DM, 7/25
Yes. None of them emitted radiation like Ernestine. No one's ever emitted rift radiation like Ernestine. I think she came into contact with something we haven't seen before.
DM, 7/25
The creature? Or something else?
DM, 7/25
My hunch is that it's something more than a creature. The radiation emitting from Ernestine isn't dangerous, but it's too unusual to be just contact with yet another Liminal beastie. Unfortunately, I'll need something less vague if I want to ask the explorers to go looking.
DM, 7/25
I'll think about it, but I honestly have no idea what else could be out there. [...] The moles we sent to the reserve stopped mutating.
DM, 7/25
Really. Has our local mole developed any new powers?
DM, 7/25
Not yet.
DM, 7/25
Interesting. So we don't know if it's because the moles have been separated from each other, or because they've left the Enodia Riftlands.
DM, 7/25
I'm sure they'll catch the rest of them eventually.
DM, 7/25
Hopefully before the entire Explorer Division disappears down a mysterious hole.
DM, 7/25
They are going to be so disappointed when they get to the bottom of that hole and there's nothing interesting there.
DM, 7/25
Not a fan of Annie's multi-day descent theory?
DM, 7/25
No, I don't think we should spend multiple days on a potentially hazardous attempt to get to the bottom of a hole just because it's there, but that's just me.
DM, 7/25
Explorers aren't happy unless they're risking their lives for foolish reasons. But few of them have ever died from it. [...] Do you want to know what Ernest Waters' powers were, or do you still object to my cyberstalking?
DM, 7/25
[...] Well, you wouldn't have brought it up unless it was interesting or relevant. Could he spontaneously generate really deep holes?
DM, 7/25
Something even better. Liminal sense and power mimicry. [Text copied directly from Ernest's IRIS registration file.] He must have had contact with other Liminals in the area. Did you know that Lily didn't even know what powers her husband had?
DM, 7/25
I didn't know that. [...] But the family isn't very friendly to liminals in general. Maybe none of them talked about it. [...] You'd think someone who could sense every liminal in ten miles would know better than to wander right into the Riftlands.
DM, 7/25
Exactly. He could sense Liminal creatures and discern their abilities. At the time of assessment, he had enough control that he could use up to three power sets for hours at a time. He was quite capable of defending himself in the Riftlands. Whatever he was doing at the time of his disappearance, it was more than just some tragic accident.
DM, 7/25
But if he was investigating something specific, why not enlist the help of the station?
DM, 7/25
Yet you still volunteered to run the clinic during[...] Are things worsening with their body sharing situation? Or is this more of an interpersonal issue?Lily told Annie that he didn't trust IRIS. Pure speculation, but with his powers, he could've easily found other Liminals who didn't want anything to do with IRIS.
DM, 7/25
Did anyone else go missing?
DM, 7/25
I don't know. The articles about Ernest make it sound like an isolated incident, but it's worth looking into. I'm currently investigating if any known Liminals in Colchester might have had contact with Ernest before he disappeared.
DM, 7/25
Well, thank you for keeping me posted on your side projects, even if they are distracting you from discovering the secrets of the universe.