#thread.matrix

[mc-adarsh]

CLOSED STARTER for @darcyxpalmer location: CRUISE SHIP timestamp: EVENT 01 PART 02

Adarsh stared at the water as if it had personally insulted him, as if with a single look he could force it to part before him, split like that one guy from... was it Christianity? Clearly whomever he was had little interest to retain information regarding religion. He could barely recall a thing even if he wanted to. No impressions or rules or rituals or words to live by.

Or perhaps religion was so deeply tied to his memories that those were lost to him forever.

Could that be? That everything that retained some intense connection to him was muddled and vague and thus not within the waters of knowledge he seemed to have.

Some of it was useful information, but what if nothing would lead him to any answers.

He could swim.

But he doubted he was a strong enough swimmer to make it to the cruise ship and back onto it.

So instead he stared at the water and blamed its tide for his inability to get his answers. For good measure he hit it with rocks. It only made a small splash, but the exercise of throwing stones at least made him feel a bit better. As he yelled 'Take that!' in the language he didn't know the name of.

Clearly he hadn't been someone who played Baseball when he was younger.

He cursed at the ground as he looked for more rocks.

He touched the wakeboard shirt he was wearing. Had he grown up near the beach? Or been near a beach when the island had been taken? Or was the whole population of the island lying to him and had they actually all been on the cruise ship.

But he wasn't wearing swimming trunks? So it had to be an aesthetic choice. Or he burned quickly.

He waved at the first figure to cross near the beach. "Hey you! Is my face burned?" he asked with a thick accent.

[little-baski]

CLOSED STARTER for @darcyxpalmer location: THE BEACH timestamp: DAY 2 AFTER MARIEXPLOSION

The last thing they remembered was their father’s face, his lips moving, to form the question that had haunted Baskar for years. For almost half their life. And they hadn’t been able to step back from it, hadn’t been able to turn away. 

Fear had filled every corner of their mind. 

And then suddenly he was on a beach. Sand below him, the temperature suddenly a good twenty degrees warmer, a chill breeze hitting him from the side. 

His first thought was that his father had gotten to him, that this was where he’d wanted him to go. Back to Indonesia. Only this wasn’t Indonesia, he realised that instantly. 

He skipped around, no ghost. Nothing. No ghosts. Just sand, a beach, the ocean… a ship… a ship? A Tower? Very far away. A tower. 

We’re not in Kansas anymore.

They felt instant relief, battling the remaining terror. Was this freedom? Finally? They saw another person on the beach, and waved towards them, waved excitedly, slightly jumping on the balls of their feet. “Hey? Hey! Where are we? What is this place?” 

[mc-adarsh]

CLOSED STARTER for @darcyxpalmer location: AT THE HUB timestamp: POST-EVENT02

Adarsh had a hard time accepting that people didn't get injured left and right. It felt like with the danger of the island, he'd have plenty of work. Instead, he found himself wishing for another hornet attack. He made sure to trade his time and energy for some word on what was going on outside.

When he'd heard about Darcy and Tej - someone he could finally put a name to - battling and defeating the robot hornet with the hundred screens, he dropped his work and went to look for Darcy. He told himself that he just wanted to be there to heal any possibly injuries, but that wasn't true.

He spotted her easily, it was obvious that Darcy had not made herself a beloved part of the growing community. And that bothered him, so he glowered at anyone that looked at him oddly.

"Hey!" Him coming to find Darcy wasn't new at this point, his observant and intent gaze might be however, as he scanned her for any signs of injury. "I heard you fought the giant robot hornet," he said. "Are you injured?" He sounded a little too eager to have the answer be 'yes'.

[mc-adarsh]

CLOSED STARTER for @darcyxpalmer location: WHO KNOWS AFTER ROAMING AROUND FOR 2 HOURS? timestamp: WEEK 2 DAY 1

Adarsh still had his journal, his list of things he wished to complete, wished to know - well that was everything but specifically - and with no power and no skill that seemed in any way useful, the fact that ‘checking up on Darcy’ was anywhere near on his mind jarred him. He’d supposed he wasn’t a good guy, quick to anger, always frustrated, barking at people. He had the ability to follow orders and apologise, but that did little to stop the self image. It also didn’t help that he was dressed like a homeless person and nothing seemed to bring any good memories back. He was vain as well, concerned about his hair and beard more than about getting enough food. 

And yet, he’d spend the past two hours looking all over the beach searching for Darcy. 

Which he’d give more thought too once he’d actually been able to check up on her. Because he certainly didn’t need to deal with even more confusing feelings. 

When he finally found her, he stopped in his tracks for a moment realising that he didn’t exactly know what to do. He bit the inside of his mouth and stared at her. Then took a deep breath. “Hey Darcy,” he said, cringing at his own inability to find normal words. “How are you?” That seemed like a perfectly normal way for someone to start a conversation but it felt almost disturbingly weird. 

[mc-adarsh]

He smiled. It wasn’t judgy exactly when Darcy said it, but he found that: yes, he would do that. He wanted to figure out his own limitations as well. Was he good at this? Could he save people from the brink of death? Probably a good idea to not tell Darcy about Florida man. “I’ll do that,” he said. “If you promise me you’ll try not to get hurt. Nothing bad at least.”

Once again her conviction and confidence convinced him. Though it was also his belief, there had to be an end goal in mind. He just feared it would get worse and worse before they even got here. Perhaps people had to be taken out, had to be eliminated, like they already had been. He was planning on making it through as far as possible, to the very end. So he could find out if his amnesia was his own fault or that of some scientist. If he’d agreed to this, or if this had been done to him. “There has to be,” he agreed. “Would be nice if we can clear this level quickly.” 

He nodded in agreement. She did have a basis for it, and she could be bossy all she wanted within the scope of her knowledge, but he wasn’t going to like it. Okay, maybe he did like it a bit, but he’d never admit that. The raised eyebrow was met with a slight grin. “I don’t like most people,” he said. “I can count the people I do like on a single hand.” And even among those he had some doubts. “I respect her… I think.” Or at least her knowledge. Maybe not her as a person… no, he definitely respected her. They barely differed ten years, yet Adarsh could not help thinking of Akhila as an auntie. 

“For my reputation,” he corrected himself. It was for himself, of course he healed people and it would be nice for them too, but they all were a means to an end. 

He frowned, then bit his bottom lip when she asked him not to get pissed off - see this was how people saw him. This was why it was so hard. This was why he needed his healing ability. Of course it wouldn’t magically change his personality, but it gave him a way to prove himself useful. It might even help people to look beyond it. 

“No, because I like you,” he noted. But of course he understood what she was trying to say, maybe it did piss him off a little. However, since it was coming from Darcy, he kept himself from sneering. “I am… trying. And you’re right, I don’t like it. Also I have never punched anyone right out of the gate,” he corrected. He had yelled at people, so he couldn’t deny that.

He swallowed. “And then there is the fact that people already have an opinion. I want to change it, but when they express it, that’s when I get angry.” And most of them were also idiots. 

“You’re the first one I’ve told,” he admitted. “I haven’t really found the need to speak about these secrets to anyone. Mine is probably about my past as well, and I don’t think I’d even recognise it’s about me. Unless it says I punched a lot of people, that I can believe.” He gritted his teeth. “What’s yours?” 

"Can't really blame her for it, those hornets were terrifying." It was the kind of catch-22 effect on Adarsh's powers - he needed more practice to get better, to figure out his powers better and know how they worked, but the only way he could actually practice was the one thing nobody actually wanted. "Next time we get attacked and people get hurt, try to pay attention to how you're doing things, what kind of wounds you heal. The more we know, the better, really."

Darcy nodded lightly. "I do believe there is an ending in sight, we are just not aware of it currenlty. It was probably all there, told to us when we signed up, it's was all just taken away and now we gotta actually figure it all out for ourselves. But there is no way there isn't an end in sight for all of this." She sounded as convicted and certain of her words as if she was talking about something so simple as the sky being blue or the sun always rising in the morning.

Darcy couldn't help the small chuckle. "Yeah, not going to even try to deny that she's bossy, but in a way I don't mind. She has basis for it and has the best intentions of everyone. She can be bossy all she wants, as far as I am concerned." And okay, maybe she was into it a little bit, she couldn't help but think, but she pushed the thoughts and that one time away from her mind. That was really not something to think about now. "But yeah, I get along well with Akhila, I respect her immensely, and everything she tries to do for all of us." A raised eyebrow. "Do you not like her?"

She tilted her head, confusion written all over her face, trying to wrap her head around the words Adarsh just said. Doing the healing for himself. "How can you heal people for yourself? That just doesn't make sense to me."

What he said after made it maybe a bit more clear what he meant before, but still, Darcy just could not understand Adarsh sometimes. "Okay, I'm going to ask you something and I need you to not get pissed off about it, but-- you are not like that with me. You were at the beginning when we met, but not for most of the time we've known each other. And as much as I believe I am great and right and all that, I doubt it's my stellar personality solely the reason for it. Be with others like you are with me and they will see the difference.

"Not to mention, you make it clear that you don't like that you are figuring out that you're selfish or easily frustrated and angerable. The latter two is harder to control, I am aware of that, but why not just try to be different? It's not easy to override instinct, trust me I know, but if you don't like who you think you were before, you could just try to change it. Be nice to others, don't yell at them, don't punch people right out of the gate."

She frowned, listening to the secret Adarsh got. "As far as I know, it's a person who is influential in their field, but that just-- That just sounds weird. Spotting? Forced retirement? Illuminaty? All of it together makes absolutely no sense." She looked up at him. "And I'm guessing nobody raised their hand that it's about them, right?"

[mc-adarsh]

And Darcy wasn’t wrong thinking he’d been direct and rude - and smug. He wouldn’t want to be healed by himself either if no explanation was offered up to begin with. But there was self-reflection, and then there was Adarsh’s tendency to think people thought the same way he did: meaning in his mind it had to be because he had already established himself as the violent on. “She was probably scared as well, with all the hornets around,” he suggested, the closets he would come to saying something in favour of the young woman. “I do, not necessarily on the wound however, I think it goes faster when I do, but I haven’t been able to test out that theory yet.” 

The worst was yet to come. For someone who believed this to be the real world, and had the cheesy notion of them all working together, her outlook on the future was much more grim. But it was the one thing Adarsh could fundamentally agree with. It would only get harder. And with so many powers in play, so many new people on the beach, it could only get more complicated. Of course they’d be tested for that. “If it’s a test… you’d think there would be an ending in sight. I do hope it all becomes a bit clearer the more challenges we overcome.” 

He raised an eyebrow. Saying shit about people wasn’t new to him, and he’d mouthed off a lot of people so far, he couldn’t even keep count. It felt almost normal. Who was he if he didn’t express his judgement of others? 

He wanted to say something rude, but caught himself. Character growth or something connected to the way he felt about Darcy. Almost as if he practiced more patience with her than he did with others. He hummed in response. “Hmm, you’re right. I stand by that she’s bossy, but in the beginning… she’d be much better at noting down what has and hasn’t been healed by my power.” He narrowed his eyes a little, perhaps in jest. “I suppose she’s someone you’ve gotten along with?”

Adarsh blushed, hard to see on his skin, but still present. “I–” He wanted to backtrack and explain, to push through what he was feeling and attempt to rectify it. He hated this feeling of disappointing her by shooting down her idea. He bit the inside of his mouth. “I think…” he couldn’t ignore the need to explain, yet at the same time the constant question of why he found all these conflicting emotions when in the company of Darcy. “... I struggle with the idea of doing this for other people, and not for myself.” Inherently selfish. And horribly stubborn. 

“Hmm, the hornets probably because they are insects who dig and hide within the ground. Clearly they were made to dig up what they dug up. A little push to help us along to get to the next challenge.” He paused. “Also definitely to scare the shit out of us.” Either by their very existence, or the mass grave they’d uncovered, leading to tunnels. Whatever was in those tunnels must be the next challenge. He wondered if they were being pushed into uncovering a mystery, or if they were simply pushed to discover the next challenge.

Adarsh’ heart felt a lot lighter at Darcy’s chuckle. He swallowed at the sudden feeling, trying to determine why. Why? Someone in his former life reminded him of Darcy, but he couldn’t remember that person, just the feeling he had around them. He decided to focus on the question, to be the main character in this conversation, even if it meant uncovering feelings that weren’t all too great. “I punched two people within the first few days that I got here, I get frustrated without knowing why… I think I’m more of a loose canon than anything close to helpful, also I don’t feel the need to help. Not most people at least. Now that I can heal… it’s much easier to throw myself into the narrative and push myself to playing some kind of hero. It feels good, it doesn’t feel as frustrating as finding out time and time again that I’m too selfish to be bothered to help other people.” 

He produced the slip of paper and read it out loud to Darcy. “HERE IS A SECRET: Safety and camaraderie is everything to me! Except for that time that I kept quiet when I should've been spotting, resulting in the forced retirement of an illuminary after he'd broken his back. Who am I?” He frowned at the paper. “I don’t know what an illuminary is.”

Darcy listened to Adarsh’s words. “We all gotta learn about each other’s powers, she probably wasn’t really sure what you were capable or if you actually could help or not.” Adarsh did have the tendency to be direct and rude, so if he was when he tried to help, it wouldn’t be totally surprising if the woman wasn’t sure what he’d wanna do with the touching. “So you need to touch people to heal them?”

Darcy gave a nod. “I agree, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. I’m pretty sure the worst is yet to come, who knows how long we’ll actually be here, right? And yeah, I think all of the powers could result in injuries while we’re still trying to learn them, figure out their kinks.” Her little adventure with Calamity certainly turned out dangerous to the point she’d not be trying to take somebody with her for a long, long time for sure. Not until she could be certain that she wouldn’t endanger either of them.

She gave a look to Adarsh. “Come on, she just wants to make sure everyone is doing okay. Can’t even imagine what kind of responsibility it must feel like, to be the doctor on the island to whom everyone looks at. And there’s no harm in her seeing the people you healed, especially in the beginning. You are not a doctor, you wouldn’t be able to see signs of, say, internal bleeding, that she might notice. But yeah, obviously it would be best if you could help her in not be completely overworked.”

A raised eyebrow. “So you don’t like the idea of the list. Got it.” It didn’t even cross her mind that he wouldn’t want people to come to him for this kind of help, especially considering just how proud he seemed that he could heal people, but apparently she misread the situation.

“Yeah, I definitely agree that they had to have a reason. I’m pretty sure they have to have a reason for everything they are doing, even if it’s not necessarily obvious or clear at the beginning. Like, the giant hornets – why. What is the point, aside from scaring the shit out of us. I keep wondering and I cannot come up with a proper, logical reason, but I am certain there is one.” Darcy wondered just how much they knew when they signed up – if they knew that attack would hit, or the secret messages would show up, if any of what was waiting for them, they’d known and they signed up with their eyes open or all they knew was that there would be tests. Either way, not knowing now felt like she was going a little mental.

She let out a small chuckle at Adarsh confirming that yeah, she probably sounded a little cheesy, but really, Darcy couldn’t help it. She did fully believe that one of the goals they’d have to work for was to find a way to cohesively work together, live together and build a community together from scratch. What Adarsh said next, though, that kind of caught Darcy’s ears. “Do you feel like you can only help now, that you know you can heal? Not without it?”

“Yeah, that is definitely a possibility,” Darcy nodded and then tilted her head as she looked at Adarsh. “What do you mean you bearly understand the one you got? What did you get?”

[mc-adarsh]

Adarsh hadn’t considered that. Personally he’d believed that it was part of his power because people were dumb and would fight what they didn’t understand. Or that they thought he was a violent man, and healing felt like an odd pick. 

He hummed. “That’s an interesting thought.” He paused. “Whatever it is, it is rather handy in some situations. I had one girl who tried to fight me for touching her who became very calm after.” And who had wanted another dose. If he had been less of a shallow man, he would’ve thought that worrisome. Instead he felt like it signified how amazing his ability was.

He nodded gravely - though he didn’t necessarily share the thought. He found it rather disappointing that the tiger creature was dead already, he would’ve loved to test bringing another person back from the edge like he’d done Chance. He was begging all the gods he knew - since he had no idea which one he might have once believed in - for just a papercut at this point. If he could heal himself… he probably would’ve already tested out the possibilities. 

“I fear the beach will give me plenty of opportunities. If not robots and animals, then certainly powers. I know there are some out there that could seriously hurt another person.” Like Tej’s.

He frowned. It was the kind of community thinking that Adarsh found he was lacking. He felt like people could come to him if he was at the medicentre. Otherwise they’d best leave him alone unless he offered. Keeping a list sounded troublesome. And he hated how selfish it made him feel that he had very little interest in doing it. “Akhila is a control freak,” he said. “I think it’s more likely that she’ll want to see everybody and then maybe will let me have a go at it if she’s overworked.” If at all. “Maybe she’ll like the list idea.” And then he wouldn’t have to do it. 

Maybe he was the control freak. Or having power was already going to his head.

Adarsh nodded. “Big brother,” he agreed. Had he read 1984? He could say who the author was, so maybe. “Could be it depends on the person. It feels like they do have some… goal when they show those images. Why else would they show them?” 

He offered a grin. “A little cheesy,” he said. But strangely enough it warmed his heart. If only he could figure out why his reaction to Darcy was like this, when others made him frustrated or irritated. “There was a whole lot of helping going on.” He remembered Selin suggesting they head back to the beach to warn the others. Akhila helping the girl. “I’m glad I can help now too, with my ability.” 

Instead of being a burden, since he had no idea how he might react.

“Maybe that’s why our wardens came up with this whole secret trouble, we were getting too buddy-buddy.” He shrugged. “Though I barely understand the one I got, and I don’t feel like I have a foot to stand on to judge others. For all we know I am the biggest dickhead out there.” A violent angry man, selfish and impulsive. Yet, he also wanted to protect Darcy, Lindi, Selin. 

He also was judgemental. Despite feeling he didn’t have the right.

Adarsh was already helping Akhila in the medicenter, that was definitely good. Darcy was listening as he explained what he could and couldn't do so far, nodding along - he seemed smug, yes, but also visibly relieved, that he kept talking and for a moment Darcy wondered just what it must have been like, going this long without truly knowing what he was capable of. Watching others get their own powers and wondering if he was the outlier in this situation too and wouldn't get one. Something she didn't consider much since hers showed so early.

"It makes sense that the more you heal, the more exhausted you are, but it's interesting how it potentially makes the one who gets healed doopy and docile as well. Maybe something to balance out the fast healing in the body and make it easier on the body in general," she pondered.

"I do hope the more you use it, thought, the more you can actually heal things - but it's not something we can truly test or get you to practice, you learn as we go. And please don't misunderstand me, but I hope we never have to truly test your power and push you to your edge about it."

They would all need to know, though, what is the level that Adarsh could still handle and they could go to him with and what would be a level where they were better off seeking out Akhila's help with. "We should put out some sort of notification somewhere where we list the things you can actually do and continuously update it so everyone knows."

She tilted her head for a second and then shook her head. "The beach is full of cameras - and those are just the ones we can see. I am certain there are even more that we can't even see. So seeing other people didn't really make me wary of them or more suspicious of them. It felt more creepy than anything. The whole 1984, we're constantly watching you, situation."

The screens didn't show her anyone whom she trusted any less, but then Adarsh asked if anything was shown to her that made her trust somebody more and she immediately thought of Benji and Tej knowing him. It shouldn't be something that made her trust him more - just because he knew Benji, it meant nothing. But-- it still did. But it wasn't something she wanted to talk about with Adarsh, or really, anyone for that matter, so she shook her head, nothing showing on her face.

"No, nothing that made me trust stronger either. Just-- I guess everyone being there for the others, everything trying to help each other and working to make sure we all get out of it in general. That made me trust everyone better overall." A pause and she chuckled. "That sounded way too cheesy, I know."

[mc-adarsh]

Adarsh hummed. She was correct though, he’d run out of steam. He was still angry and hurt and scared and frustrated, but she was also interesting to listen to and had offered to take him along to get back to the cruise ship. And she’d been honest, not in the judgemental way others had been - a little bit maybe. Honest in what she could give him, and everything she knew. And there hadn’t been any questions he couldn’t answer anyway. Just once he felt solid he could.

“We’ll have to see then, when we get back to the cruise ship,” he suggested. Not aware he was actually stating he would help her. But he was. And he meant it.

The answer to his second question gave him pause. He’d closed his eyes for a moment until she’d stated everyone thought her crazy, looking at him with a challenge in her eyes. He rose to it, unsure why, unsure if his own answer would be satisfactory to her. “I don’t believe you… not blindly at least, but I don’t think you’re crazy. I have nothing that can prove you’re wrong, meaning you can be right about it all. And if we find anything that supports your theory, I’d rather not be the one who looked dumb.” Any dumber than he felt already.

“Also you’re fucking convincing.” He grinned a little, though it lacked any actual amusement. 

“I hope for both of us it becomes an adventure story and not a horror one.” But he had to appreciate her answers, finding his eyelids once more closed. He wasn’t just lying down because he’d in part given up, but because he enjoyed listening to her. She didn’t just say yes or no, she thought about it. He wanted to be like that, if he could be a new person. Someone who came off genuine and honest. 

He didn’t comment on the idea of working together, all of them. He knew she was right, but there was something had been logged so firmly in his brain that made him pass judgement on others, on the population of the beach as a whole, working together with just a few already seemed like a huge ask. Even if he felt like their goals could overlap. 

High hopes. Though maybe much more achievable for her than he thought it would be for himself. He couldn’t explain it, could only act upon his own feelings, even if those lacked memories to solidify them. 

When Darcy moved to stand, Adarsh considered staying in the sand, despite her offer, to just remain where he was and wait for something to happen in his brain. But the idea of being all by himself with his thoughts and worries scared him more, so he got to his feet too, dusting off his cargo pants. “I think you’re well on your way to become what you want to be,” he said. And he was only more confused and conflicted. 

Considering Adarsh started out yelling at her for everything, Darcy almost expected worse reactions for some of the things she's told him, but at this point, it seemed like the man ran out of steam, and nothing proved that more than the way he slumped down onto the sand, looking like a little kid who lost his favorite toy.

Or in this case, a man without any of his memories.

Still, he was open to her simulation truths, so she wasn't being picky.

"Yeah, that crossed my mind too," Darcy said, settling down next to Adarsh. "I haven't seen anything on the ship that could suggest it was actually the machine for the simulation, but I also haven't really looked through every single nook and cranny on that cruise ship and that place is giant. So there is a chance that it is somewhere up there. Potentially on lower levels, since they are harder to reach and people would be more likely distracted by shinier, fancier stuff further up, not to mention it's harder to get down, considering the state of the ship. Or yeah, it's somewhere on this island. Or somewhere we can't even think about, like in a ship underwater, or somewhere completely seperate.

"Mainly cause we don't actually know how long we were out before all of us woke up on the ship. We assume it wasn't too long, but we are talking about machines and simulation that can make you feel like you're living your actual life - keeping us unconscious for up to 24 hours, maybe even 48, I don't think that should be impossible."

His second point was more interesting. "It would be good to know, though, whether I was intentionally given something more to be able to figure it out or if it was their mistake. That would tell a lot about their intentions, if I am being honest. That being said, if I'm a mistake, they don't have much to worry about. I might be telling a lot of people, but most of them don't believe me one bit. They just think I'm crazy." She looked over at Adarsh with a question on her expression, almost like a dare - do you think I'm crazy, too?

He laid down and Darcy pulled her legs up to her chest, rested her chin on her knees and stared out into the ocean. The ship felt both close and far at the same time and Darcy just let the silence sit, her words hanging between them for a moment before he thanked her for her honestly. He would still punch himself, though, if he asked for all of it.

But what would she do, in his place? "I don't know. I feel like-- it would be quite selfish, not to do it, no? Especially if you can help get a cure for something so horrible for so many people. It's something one would say yes to, right? And if there are benefits at the end. If I know in the end I will remember it all... But I don't know. I did sign up for most of the same, though, and I have to believe - whatever the goal is, it also just feels like an adventure. Something that can be a once in a lifetime experience. I feel like I would have signed up just for that. But I also don't know, truly, how your kind of amnesia would have changed the game, if I knew that in advance."

She gave him a smile over her shoulder at his offer, "Thanks, I'll appreciate any update. And again, I promise, I am not trying to make you into a science experiment. We are all-- we all gotta figure this out together. And I do believe, if we work together, we can be that much better and faster in putting the pieces together."

Figuring out what kind of person he wanted to be being the scariest surprised her, though. "I think I'm quite the opposite. I'd love to be able to say - this is a whole new start, this is who I want to be. To some degree, I guess we can all do that, but not the same way you can." Who would she want to be, though? "I think-- I think I'd want to be somebody good. Somebody people can rely on, somebody who shows up and makes things better. Somebody people can laugh and smile with. Somebody people would want to spend time with."

She looked back out onto the horizon, where the water disappeared, and then pushed herself back onto her feet. "Come on. There is a bunch of food further down the beach and I think we should check it out, get something to eat. See if they have coffee, maybe. Enjoy the fact that we made it here, right?"

[mc-adarsh]

Adarsh offered a smile. He looked forward to an attempt to run, to do some exercise that might take his mind off of things. And more than that, which he felt odd expressing and thus didn't, he wouldn't mind hanging out more with Darcy. At least she didn't treat him like he was either a schoolboy who needed pity or a broken man who needed to be told what to do. He needed someone who told him the truth. Even if it sucked.

He nodded. It was the alternative he'd like to believe in. There someone would come eventually who would reveal something about him, who would give him at least a glimpse of the man he'd been. Or maybe could make sense of his sometimes intense reactions. "Late arrivals? In that case, yes." He'd clearly not been paying attention. As he thought of the people who were there, he figured they'd all been there as long as he had. Probably.

At his self-pity, she placed a hand on his forearm, the squeeze transfixing him as much as it surprised him. There was an odd feeling in his chest, some feeling he couldn't place or compare, more than just sorrow and frustration. He bit the inside of his mouth. "Thank you."

He wasn't sure about anything, except that he had a big role to play in all of this, but there was enough about the beach to be worried about. People turning into sand, creatures in the forest, unknown powers, that one who turned into a wolf. He took a deep breath. "I hope it's just that they don't know, and not that they're scared to admit it. If it is someone's power."

He laughed again, struggling to keep the fish from escaping, as she admitted to not having brought anything. "Good idea, I'm not carrying this slippery thing back to the hub in my arms," he said in response, shaking his head as he leaned forward and pushed the fish away, it jumped out of his lap and disappeared back into the water. "We're fishing for sport now," he suggested. "Do you want another try at it or come back later to actually catch dinner?"

"Sounds like a good plan," she gave a small nod. Adarsh could join if he wanted to, it didn't matter, she'd do her running anyway. It had been a lot harder on the sand (an intentional choice) than normal, but she's enjoyed the challenge and enjoyed being able to just turn off her mind during those sessions. She kept pushing and pushing herself to do better, do more, do longer runs, see just how much she was able to do.

(Not at all because during those times was the only time she could truly turn off her brain and not think about everything that happened around here and the simulation before they all arrived and part of her craved it - it was one thing to know the simulation was all just in their heads, a whole other to completely leave it behind.)

The idea that somebody could be around who knew Adarsh and just refused to say something about it clearly didn't sit too well with the man, but it was technically a reality - especially if their past connection wasn't too positive. There was still another option, though, that Darcy brought up, "Or your connection could still be in the simulation. We had a couple of late arrivals already, maybe there is somebody who is still in there and going to show up in a bit who is connected to you and will reveal some stuff later."

Darcy gave a small, grateful smile at Adarsh saying he wasn't one to gossip. She didn't want Zaid or Tej to get the idea she was running around just spilling their baggages. Then he brought up not having even a phone, and Darcy reached out and gave him a (hopefully) comforting squeeze of his forearm. "I know it's hard, but you'll get through it. It's hopefully just time until you find something or realize something is actually yours."

Darcy gave a small shrug. "I am not actually sure it was somebody else, but it's a possibility we can't really outrule until we know for sure everyone's powers. Some of them take time to manifest themselves. Hopefully if it's somebody still among us, though, it won't require more casualties before we can figure it all out."

All of it was momentarily forgotten, though, as the fish plopped down in Adarsh's arms and Darcy couldn't help the laugh that bubbled out of her. "Honestly, didn't even bring anything with me to put the fish into - I was just certain this couldn't happen. We can just let them back into the water and try again. See if it was a fluke or not."

[mc-adarsh]

He smiled. “I think you can still be a scientist without having a fancy paper,” he decided. Though he wasn’t sure, and there was probably a better word for that, but he didn’t have the vocabulary in English to find that word. “You still sound like one.” And continued to sound like one. And continued to address a certain nerve in his head that suggested he take all the words to heart, not like two adults having a conversation, but as if Darcy was a teacher and presenting interesting facts on a subject that Adrash knew too little about. And he felt the need to take up as much of that information as possible. 

Adarsh nodded, which he should stop doing because obviously the more he nodded the more he was buying into this idea that Darcy presented. He didn’t believe it… he thought he didn’t believe it. But maybe he did a bit. Because there was nothing else he had to believe in. He didn’t have memories to prove to him that the simulation was real. 

He hummed, and then sat down in the sand because the weight of it all came crashing down on him and he couldn’t both keep standing and use his brain. “Sorry… I just need to have a rest while I process all of this,” he muttered, distracted by all the further questions the theory Darcy had flung at him. 

“So… two things I’m wondering. If we were in some kind of simulation, that probably meant we were in some way connected to a computer, if this is real life, then this is where our physical forms were, and the simulation was run through our brain. Because if there was a life before… I guess everyone has memories of being a child.” Everyone but him. “But we all woke up on a ship, so they must’ve taken us off of whatever computer we were connected to and moved us to the ship. They can’t be far from here.” They might even be close enough to find. Either on the beach, in the jungle, or on an island that wasn’t visible from the beach. He wondered if there was anything they could do to force the scientists to shut down the whole operation, force them to show themselves. 

“Secondly, it seems like a rather dangerous…” he tried to find the English translation for the word that showed up in his mind in his own language, but failed, so he went for a simpler word, despite how it made him feel inferior. “... thing, that you should know all this and spread it around to everyone else… at least, unless I'm the first person you’re telling it to.” He didn’t think she was, she seemed far too enthusiastic about the whole thing to practise a good amount of suspicion. “Or you were intentional as well. Or we were both mistakes. Which… one mistake among thirty seems… normal. Two?” 

He allowed himself the space to just lay down. He was exhausted. Not exhausted enough to sleep, but enough to give himself the permission to rest his head on the sand. 

He listened to her explain what she did know about amnesia and attempted to push down the frustration, the anger, the doubt, the constant feeling of wanting to cry. He managed somewhat, if only because he knew it had no merit to get angry at your doctor when they told you you were dying. 

And there is a chance it never comes back, either

He closed his eyes, didn’t react to the statement. No, it wasn’t good to hear, but at least it was honest. And it was a possibility. Though he wouldn’t entertain it for now. He’d much rather entertain his search for his memories, and afterwards the possibility that it was intentional. He hummed. “Thank you for being honest,” he said, absent-mindedly, as he mentally discarded the possibility for now. 

Opening his eyes he hummed in agreement. It would seem that they all had that in common, though it failed to make him feel any better about his own predicament. If everyone was feeling scared and alone, nobody would have the emotional room for anyone else. He scoffed in laughter then. “It wouldn’t be my only option, but I think if I did sign up for this, I really didn’t think it through properly, so I’d still punch myself for thinking it was worth it. Even if I’d help discover the cure for alzheimer.” Which he noticed brought him little feeling of pride. Maybe any other person would think self-sacrifice was the right route, but he sensed he wouldn’t be so quick to be selfish in any way. “Would you do it for any of those reasons? Not just the tests, but the amnesia too.”

Despite his overarching distrust of the theories Darcy had, he had to admit he appreciated the conversation. It was unsettling, but it wasn’t any more unsettling than not knowing who he was. Two negatives making a false positive. Would it really be that much worse if it turned out none of what he’d experienced before now was all a simulation? Not more than ending up never remembering it at all. It might be more frustrating, as he already noticed the way he handled situations seemed based on feelings and non-existent memories rather than common sense. But despite how he felt he was probably an aggressive person, he didn’t feel the need to punch Darcy for telling her truth. It was absolutely ridiculous of course, which helped. But it also wasn’t meant badly. She truly believed this. He could only admire her for believing something so intensely when she did have all her memories from before. It was also rather sickening, but both could be true. 

He rubbed his forehead. Even if her simulation theory wasn’t true, they were clearly all still science experiments, the cameras said as much. 

He huffed. “I’ll gladly keep you up to date on how that’s going,” he said, both in jest and in a genuine attempt to ensure he’d get another chance to pick her brain on that later. “As a not-science experiment.” 

Despite how clear it was that she was genuinely attempting to give him a more positive option, the option did not at all sound positive to him. So he let out a laugh. “If anything, that scares me more than anything else you’ve said.” Though he couldn’t explain why. To start over, to be someone he wanted to be. He had no idea who he wanted to be, he just knew he wanted to know who he was. And he wasn’t so sure he would easily give up on solving that puzzle. But letting go, giving up, it filled him with such dread that it almost rendered him unable to move. 

“If you could start over, forget everything you’ve ever experienced, what kind of person would you like to be?” he asked. 

Darcy let out a small chuckle and shook her head. "I am definitely not a scientist, I can promise you that." A pause, and then she added, "Well, not to my knowledge, at least. I don't remember anything before the simulation, so technically I could be, but really, I just like reading about things." In her mind, most of the people who signed up for the simulation were just normal people. Why would a scientist sign up themselves - unless they wanted to test their own hypothesis.

But no, she just had a feeling that wasn't her. She definitely didn't have that kind of deep knowledge about anything.

Adarsh did ask about what she expected to come next, and okay, whether she was a scientist or not, she still got excited talking about it. "Yeah, yeah, I definitely think there will be more tests coming. So, the way I think it all works: there was the simulation, that was phase one. That gave them certain kind of data - not fully sure what they were trying to understand and what the focus was, but it hasn't even been 24 hours since we're out, so you know, gotta talk to people, put the connections and the similarities together to find out.

"And then this, this is phase two. We get out of the simulation, we readjust to real life - or, well, what they gave us as a readjustment place. I do think this is real life, but I also think it's something controlled where they can keep an eye on us, continue to collect data." Darcy pointed to the closest camera that was near them on the beach. "Hence all of those. And yeah, I think this phase will have a bunch of challenges, first of which was the cruise ship and that initial waking up and getting off of it. But I am not quite sure what other challenges we'll be thrown. That's the whole point, though, right? If we knew, it wouldn't actually be real, we could prepare for it and it would mess up the results."

Darcy shook her head. "Yes and no. Movies make everything more-- movie-like. There are two main types of amnesia, one is where you basically draw a line and from that point, you don't remember anything. Like, say, the last whole year is gone, including any kind of knowledge you learned, any place you've been, languages you learned, basically everything.

"The other type is when you can't shift new stuff from your short-term memory to long-term memory. So, say, you have an accident, and then suddenly you can remember everything before, but you just simply cannot for long-term memories going forward. But these are just the two main types, there is so much in between and that doesn't factor the possibility that it was intentionally done to you into any of it. And my knowledge is mostly surface level, too. Like I said, I like reading about stuff." And she had an amnesia phase in the simulation where she read way too much about the phenomenon. It's been a couple of years, though, so most of the knowledge was gone by now, but the basics she could still remember.

Which also brought her to his last comment, about nothing working to bring back those memories. "We've been here for less than a single day. It might take some time, to get anything back. It's not as easy as just hearing the right word or finding a hobby you used to do and then suddenly it all comes back. And..."

Darcy hesitated for a moment - Adarsh seemed so worked up over this, she wasn't sure it was a good idea to tell him soemthing he'd not take too well to. But at the same time, it was the kind of thing she'd want to know, if she was in his place. "And there is a chance it never comes back, either." Fun prospects. "But hey, if it really is an intentional memory loss, there must be a reason for it. And none of us can remember anything from before the simulation, so maybe you might not get stuff back from your time in the simulation, but you will probably get your real memories back with all of us, when that happens," she tried to be a bit more encouraging.

Did she have any physical reactions to waking up on the ship? Darcy shook her head. "Sorry, no, not the kind you're looking for, nothing similar to your experience. I was just-- confused and scared and wanted answers. But I am pretty sure that's kinda universal between all of us."

Darcy raised her eyebrows again at Adarsh declaring that he'd punch himself. "What if the reason you signed up for this was because it would result in so much money, it would make you a king? Or because it would end up giving the kind of data that could lead to the cure of Alzheimer? Or this was the only way and you really wanted to know what you're made of? I don't think punching yourself is the only option."

When his voice broke, Darcy felt really bad for him. She couldn't even imagine what this must have been like, having absolutely no idea who you are, no memories and nothing to give a roadblock to the kind of person you are. "You know, what happened in the simulation-- none of it was real. So probably part of what this entire thing is even to figure out what you asked, whether something you experienced but wasn't real could have an impact on you or not. And with you-- maybe it's kind of the inverted version of it. Who are we as human - how much are we influenced by our own memories and the events we went through, and how much of our personality remains unchanged no matter what?" Sounded like an interesting study she'd read, really, but Adarsh would probably not feel the same.

"And I get that it's scary, not knowing anything about yourself. But you could also look at it as a clean slate," Darcy suggested, trying to give him a somewhat positive options. "No matter what happened before, you could figure out what kind of man you want to be and just become that."

[mc-adarsh]

Adarsh was starting to realise how dangerous it was to have any type of discussion with the other, she was rather convincing, he caught himself nodding along with her. He wondered why that was, he wondered why it was easy for him to listen to fancy words and think: that makes sense. He hated not knowing, but he worried about accepting it point blank even more. It was once again as if there was this ghost of a person in him that made decisions for him before he had the time to question them. 

“You do sound like a scientist,” he suggested. “So, would that mean there are more tests to come? If the boat was a part of something bigger, then I can’t imagine they’ll just leave us here to eat food from the warehouse and sleep in comfortable beds.” Not that he’d seen the beds yet, he’d just heard the bungalows mentioned. He was exhausted, but too frantic and anxious to actually have a lay down. Not even on the beach, not even in a place where he thought the sounds might help him drift away. 

Perhaps he thought far more dramatically, more like this was a movie or a reality show he’d never seen than real life. Maybe he didn’t actually know what scientists did. 

He frowned, but not because he didn’t believe her, but because he did, and because she spoke far too fast and he couldn’t completely follow her. But he also didn’t know the right questions to ask to make it clearer. “Luckily,” he said. “So… it’s more like in the movies.” That both did and didn’t make sense. “I’m constantly looking for a trigger, but there is nothing.” He didn’t think she could help, yet he couldn’t help wanting to sprout his meagre ideas in her company. 

He nodded. “Did you have a headache? Or any kind of… physical…” he paused, not being able to come up with an English word quickly enough, it didn’t frustrate him however, not in a way he thought it would. “Reaction to waking up on the ship?” He was almost going to say ‘waking up from the simulation’ but he managed to just catch himself. If he said the word out loud, he might start to believe it. 

Adarsh scoffed. “I’d punch myself,” he said, so quickly he barely thought about its implications. “If I did really sign up for this, I really deserve to be punched.” But he had to admit that this was the first he’d thought about the people behind it, and not about getting his memory back, realising his comment might’ve been harsh enough to conjure that idea. “At this moment, I don’t care who is behind it, I just want my memories back… I just… I just want to know who I am.” His voice broke a little, and he instantly regretted having said that out loud. “Even if it was all a simulation like you think, at least you can still feel like a whole person, right? Or does nothing you went through in that simulation matter anymore?”

Darcy tilted her head, pondering Adarsh's words before she shook her head. "People don't get thrown out of experiences and different studies just because they don't act the way they are assumed to. That is the whole point. You do the trials and experiences and then what happens either proves the hypothesis or it contradicts it, but the whole point is to get results, not to mish-mash them with eliminating the ones who don't fit a certain criteria or don't act the way they would have assumed them to."

She didn't even think that weeding anyone out would be the goal. If it was the case, the ship would have been a lot more dangerous and sure, there were some injuries, but they were just fine. They would be just fine in the end.

Darcy wished she actually had some kind of notebook with herself suddenly, so she could take everything down that Adarsh told her. If he was as important as she thought he'd be - and why would he be the only one without memories if he wasn't -, then she'd want to remember everything. But alas, she'd have to rely on her memories.

"I don't know, it's not really as cut and dry as you just not remembering everything and then your brain is empty of any kind of facts. Sure, one of the main types of amnesia really is that like, you just blank and don't retain information on anything for the last x amount of time, but so often it's not as cut and dry and oftentimes people still retain information like languages and general knowledge they gathered during the time period when they have amnesia. And since you don't actually remember anything from your life, that multiplies by tenfold, I am guess.

"If you really think about it, if you literally forgot everything you've ever known, you wouldn't know how to walk, how to communicate, stuff like that. Which is just not how it all works." Thankfully for Adarsh, really.

No head injury, just a headache. "That I guess could be from an intentional taking of your memories. But it could have easily been from us just getting out of the simulation and you having to adjust to the new reality. Or dehydration. Or plenty of other reasons, to be frank. But hey, at least it's not an actual injury."

Darcy's eyebrows shot up in surprise at the last few words of the man. Could she understand the sentiment that you'd want to give back some of the pain you recieved from somebody who hurt you? Sure, without a doubt. But Adarsh didn't know anyone actually hurt him, he could have signed up for this just as easily, not to mention it could have still easily come from an injury without any of them actually realizing it. "I don't really think that should be the first option. What if you are the one who signed up for this? You're just going to punch yourself? Not to mention, getting stuck on who did it sounds more like you might miss out of triggers that will result in you getting some of those memories back. Not that pointing that out helps that much, I also understand that."

[little-baski]

Baskar nodded, though they were less worried about arriving later, and more focussed on the fact that everyone else had already been there for a bit. They were clearly a bit late to all of it, maybe people had already established connections and friendships. And that meant that they had a lot to catch up on. But Darcy was helping, allowing them along with a tour that would maybe allow them to meet a friend or two. 

“Oh.” They figured they were lucky that English was such a well-spoken language, and they wondered if there were more people who didn’t know how to speak it. To explode after being in a place with nobody else to understand you. They shuddered slightly, but didn’t comment on it further. 

They nodded happily, ready to follow. Even if it wasn’t far, it was better than roaming an unknown place themself. “I still really appreciate it!” they said, their hands behind their back as they studied the place while walking. This was freedom. 

"Not too long," Darcy shook her head. "It's only been a little bit of time for us too. We all landed over there, on the cruise ship," Darcy pointed it out. "All of us waking up around the same-ish time and then having to figure out how to get over here. That's why it's so surprising that you have only just arrived now, and on the beach of all places, not there. It's a whole new element and a new puzzle piece to figure out."

Yeah, she definitely should not have mentioned the blowing up bit. "She woke up with us on the cruise ship too, so in a way. As far as I know, nobody had closer relationship with her and nobody knew her before waking on the ship, but yeah, some people talked with her. Or tried to, she only spoke Portugesee, so communicating with her was an issue."

It was strange, just how easily Baski seemed to be taking all of this - most people after waking up on the cruise ship were freaking out and spiraling, even she did originally. But then another thought came to her - this might be how others see her calmness now, the way she so easily accepted all of them being here and not having a way out, not even really looking for one. "Yeah, sure, let's go. Like I said, it's not really far," she nodded and turned around, started leading the way back to where most people spent their time.

[mc-adarsh]

He offered a slight frown, he definitely didn’t see Darcy as the running away type. “I didn’t think you were.” Which suggested he didn’t understand her power very well. Not as well as he could, if he actually asked about it. But that consideration soon ceased when his ability became the one in the spotlight. He felt a rush of excitement and a small realisation of how selfish he was. Before it was swept away.

“I did,” he said proudly and silently agreed that it could be very useful. Not just for the people of this place facing whatever the beach might throw at them next, but also for his own gain. What better way to secure his reputation than by being the benevolent healer. “I’m already helping Akhila out at the med centre,” he announced, needing to cement this new status.

“I healed Selin,” he began, welcoming the questions and Darcy’s keen interest. The way it settled some part of the frustration he’d been feeling. That he now had room to feel like he wasn’t just surviving. Even as an amnesiac he could have something perfectly his own.

“We got attacked by a hornet and she tripped, I saw she had some cuts and scrapes but they were gone after I touched her.” He instantly considered the further questions, as he’d been given them thought himself the past days. “So far, it doesn’t seem like I can heal myself. But I’ve healed a lot of surface level wounds; cuts, bruises, scrapes, etc. The bigger they are, the more they leave me exhausted. And there is a second component to it, in some cases the energy I pour into people makes them docile and easy to handle.”

He felt far too smug about it. Thinking of the people he’d healed so far, of how badly Akhila wanted his help in the medi centre. For a moment, he wasn’t even thinking about how he didn’t know anything about himself other than what language he spoke. 

Adarsh nodded in agreement, scare tactic was perhaps not the best word to describe it. He paused for a moment as he listened to Darcy. “When Selin and I faced the hornet, it showed her for a moment on its tv screen. I didn’t even question why, I just instantly felt wary of her,” he explained. “The fact that those robots had screens to begin with… you’re right about that. I do feel it too, the way this is all set up, the way we’re all outliners one way or another, something is trying to divide us. Maybe not scaring us, but certainly testing our limitations and our morals.” 

“Did you see anything on those screens? Anything that for a moment made no sense and made you question another person?” He paused. “Or even made you trust another person more than before…” If it was divide and conquer, the beach might even want them to team up. His healing power might be a way to set him up with Akhila, not necessarily because it matched his personality or was good for his reputation.

Darcy shook her head, "Not in that situation, no. I didn't want to get away and leave Tej behind or make him think I was trying to leave him behind." Tej even suggested that she should leave, but even if it all went wrong, she wouldn't have regretted staying, she just knew that. But thankfully it all worked out and they at least didn't have to worry about the mega-hornet anymore. The rest of the hornets were worrisome still, but Darcy was trying to be hopeful that they wouldn't see it anymore, or at least for a long, long while.

She looked over at Adarsh as she asked if he figured out his powers yet and she could see that the answer was yes on his face before he said anything. "Wait, did you really?" she said, excited, curious about what it could be and when Adarsh confirmed it, she said, "That's amazing, Adarsh! Just looking at the hornets alone, healing is going to be extremely useful, no matter what or when." Maybe it could take a bit of stress off of Akhila's load as well - Darcy doubted it could fully replace the woman, not her knowledge and experience, but if she could at least get a bit of a respite and not all of the worst after something like a hornet attack would fall onto her, that would be great alltogether.

"How did you figure it out? Did you heal yourself? Or did you have to heal somebody else?" she asked. "Have you started figuring out how it works? What kind of scars and ailments you can heal? What it doesn't work on, if there is anything it doesn't work on?"

It was so interesting, to learn about everyone else's powers. What made somebody get the one they did? Did it have to do with their personalities? Or was it not related to anything and it was just pure chance? She didn't really see any correlations between powers and people, but all of it being just chance and random luck felt too easy as well. For now, Darcy just tried to keep a list and learn more and more of people's powers, try to see it for herself.

"Hmmm. I don't know if I would call it scare tactic. Which, yeah, considering the cruise and how we got here, Maria, the hornets, the grave, it would make sense if it was a scare tactic. But I think all of these things are just tests to see how we react, how we get through it, how we solve problems. And in situations like this, most tests would not be easy, not be able hugging people."

She gave a small nod, though. "But I do agree that we have to stick together. I think we're strongest if we can work together - both with the powers but in general too. There is a reason so many different kind of people are here and not all of us are doctors or pilots or teachers. But I do think that it's going to be one of the hardest thing for us to do, too. So many different opinions, different personalities. I think it's going to be harder and harder with time for all of us to stick together." Darcy hoped she would be wrong, though.

[mc-adarsh]

Adarsh allowed himself to hear her out. Even if to him the explanation sounded dubious at best, like trying to make sense of something that was a complete coincidence. He frowned. “Hmm.” He tried to make sense of it the way she was trying to do, but came up short. “So they throw us into a new environment, scare us a little, and then provide a feast of food? As a test? To weed out… some people. What happens next, the ones who didn’t act according to their expectations will get weeded out?” It sounded like one of those reality shows. Though he realised quickly he hadn’t ever seen more than commercials for them, or maybe a few minutes of it as he skipped through channels. Not his type of program?

Adarsh wanted to scoff, but given how Bollywood-esque his amnesia was… she might not be wrong. “I remember facts, languages, movie plots, geography, some survival skills… things I gather someone with amnesia might not remember. Intentional seems more likely to me than a mistake.” 

He touched the back of his head. “*I don’t have any injuries, nothing to suggest brain trauma.” 

Though perhaps it was actual trauma, stress-induced amnesia. Another favourite Bollywood trope. He swallowed. “I did have a headache when I woke up,” he admitted. “But I don’t remember if it was because of the light of the sun after being below deck or if that happened earlier,” he admitted. With some frustration, because it would fit much better if it was in fact because of some scientist’s intention. 

He huffed. “Not at all comforting,” he agreed. “Makes me want to find whomever is behind this thing and fuck them up.” Crush their little scientist brains until they didn’t know who they were either.

He was a violent person, after all. 

"That's a good question," Darcy nodded, eager that the man didn't just flat out dismiss her and tell her she was wrong. She's been getting that already and to get that from somebody who had absolutely no memories of anyone and anything before this island and the ship would have been a bit much for Darcy.

"But hear me out - I think everything we have to do here is also part of the experiment. It's not just what we did in the simulation, it's how we adapt to situations once we got out, how we handle danger, the unknown, the confusion, everything, you know? They are still providing food, place to sleep, place where we can be safe, things just started off a bit high-strung."

Okay, so maybe that incredible comment wasn't the most tactful, Darcy realized when he showed frustration - for the first time understandably, if you asked Darcy. "Sorry, I just meant-- it's really interesting, how everyone at least remembers what happened to them in the simulation, while you have absolutely no memories at all. Wonder if something went wrong or if it was something completely intentional, you know?"

Adarsh was his name. Darcy nodded along at he explained what was around him when he woke up. "So nothing really out of the ordinary, okay. You're no different in that, just the lack of memory." It had to mean something, Darcy was certain of it. "And no headaches? No visible wounds or anything that would suggest you actually suffered some kind of head trauma?"

Her eyebrows jumped up towards the sky at his last words. Did she say he was a science experience? Did she treat him as such? She didn't think so. Surely, he must wonder why he didn't have any of his memories as well. "Yeah, of course you're not a science experience." A pause and then she added, "Well, in a way, if you think about it, we kind of all are. But it's not because of your memory loss or anything, it's the simulation and everything else. I guess that might still not be too comforting, though." Well, at least Darcy realized that one thing.

[little-baski]

Baskar nodded, though the knowledge didn’t give them any kind of feeling. It didn’t make them nervous or sad or confused. If this was an unknown place, then their father couldn’t find them here. What were the odds that he’d send them here? He hadn’t come close, he hadn’t touched them. Something had whisked them away before they could be taken. This was better however, to be zapped away from danger. Into the unknown. Like some Disney story. “How long has everyone been here?” they asked. 

“Oh?” The part about being on an unknown island was one thing… the exploding person. That was scary. That was… unnerving. But Darcy said nobody else had exploded since, so maybe it was a one-time deal. It was still sad though. “That’s… I’m sorry, that’s horrible. Did you know the person who exploded?” Did anyone know anyone on the island? Question for later. 

He beamed, as he did whenever someone accepted the nickname and used it. Making friends quickly was how they dealt with new situations, but just their nickname wasn’t always enough. With this stranger, with Darcy, they felt a little more solid about it. They could make friends here. “Like a tour?” They nodded. “I wouldn’t mind a tour, or to be dropped off somewhere with other people,” they attempted to joke. They felt like they were taking this all really well. So either they were in denial or this meant they would handle this new situation rather well. 

Darcy shook her head. "No, not as far as I can tell. I don't think I've spoken to every single person yet, didn't have the chance just yet, we haven't been here for too long, but I feel like if anyone had an inkling of where we are, it would have spread around like wildfire. Nobody has any knowledge and so far, no indication yet found anywhere either."

Okay, so maybe bringing up the exploding wasn't the best idea to somebody who haven't witnessed it or even known Maria while she was still here. To somebody so completely new to this place. "Yeah, it happened on the first morning. We-- well, we don't really know what happened, but I think since nothing like that has been happening since, we're good." She did not want to point out that Baski didn't have his first morning on this island yet, so they couldn't be technically fully sure, but she didn't want to stress them out more.

"Baski it is then," Darcy nodded with a smile, didn't even blink and eye over the fact that they just met so calling herself their friend, if they offered, she was going to take it. "I was going on a run, but would you like me to show you to the Hub and the rest of the community areas? Not that hard to find, but I'm assuming a little help right after finding yourself here couldn't hurt."

[mc-adarsh]

Adarsh smiled, while not his situation of choice, she was right. He had something to work towards. He had a mission, he wasn’t just lost on a mysterious beach with a tower, other people, and superpowers. Everyone else had only so much they could do, but his journey was much more interesting. Her comments settled nicely within this idea of himself as someone who was important, whether to the overall situation, or as the key to a small mystery. 

He made a face and shrugged. “I have… I haven’t thought about running though.” Though he did find within his mind there was some judgement about running, a formed opinion that he couldn’t exactly formulate nor place. “If feeling frustration and anger whenever difficult situations arise is a part of me and who I was, then I figure that person also had a way to get that out of their system.” His system. “Because all of these negative feelings are exhausting.” He paused, not sure if her comments were in any way an invitation, but she’d been honest enough with him so far that he thought she wouldn’t just humour him for his sake but also take her own needs in account. “If you wouldn’t mind another runner on your route, I could try that out. I don’t know if I have good stamina so you can just leave me if I’m slowing you down.”

Zaid and Tej. He knew who Zaid was, the chef. But he hadn’t heard the name Tej before. He frowned slightly. “Together? That’s far bigger,” he agreed. “Perhaps there are more of those, maybe we’re all in some way connected, through each other.” He couldn’t say if there were any siblings, he still felt like there were plenty of people on the beach he’d never talked to. “Or if it’s part of the simulation, perhaps all of us were participants and bound to touch within it. One way or another.” He found that he did believe in that sort of thing, of lives being entwined through generations, through reincarnations. Hey, maybe he was a Hindu after all. 

He nodded in agreement. He didn’t exactly understand why some choose to live out in the wild when the bungalows offered comforts. “It would’ve been nice if they had a television,” he said. 

His mind had gone other ways. Though at first he’d thought Maria was intentional, a sacrifice to see what their reactions might be. Someone who could just be discarded. But that had only made him feel sad, lonely, and nauseous. She’d been the first one to extend a hand in help towards him. Now she was gone. It had felt like she’d been ripped out of his life, even if he’d barely known anyone. And it didn’t feel right that her loss was intentional. “What if… she got her powers and didn’t know how to control them? So she just blew up?” It was a theory he’d been nursing whenever thinking about his own life got too much. 

Adarsh had not spoken about the tiger creature to anyone but Chance, he hadn’t wanted to, he’d found the image of the other bleeding out to be conjured back every single time, vividly. Even if the outcome had been alright, the stress of watching someone die had almost rendered him immobile. But he found that out of everyone on the beach, he’d decided Darcy was the one person he could tell. Even if it felt like the answers had to be pulled out of him. He looked out at the ocean, certain his appearance looked as scared as he felt. “I don’t think it was a tiger,” he said. “It looked like a big cat and behaved like one, but its appearance was all wrong. Or maybe it had been a tiger and the fear just played tricks on my mind,” he added. “I… I managed to chase it off, but not before it… mauled Chance to pieces. He would’ve died if he hadn’t been able to heal himself. And then we just… slowly walked back to the beach.” He swallowed. “Probably we should be worried.” 

It felt personally taken away from them. Could it have been something lingering memory from the back of Adarsh's mind and that was why he felt like that, or was that just naturally something that somebody would feel after losing their memories? Darcy couldn't tell, and really there was no solution, not when they clearly had some kind of messing with their memories, all of them - it could have so easily been intentional or even a mistake.

"I'm sorry you gotta feel like that, it really sucks," she tried to give him an encouraging smile. "And I know this isn't that helpful or will solve your current situation, but at least you have something to work towards. Getting your memories back, learning about yourself. It can give some meaning to you being here, which could be the different between going fully losing it from not knowing anything and making it through all of this.

"But specifically for the frustration and feeling like you wanna punch people-- have you thought about maybe getting that out of your system?" she added, her voice trying not to sound judgemental, more helpful. "I usually run - I found some runner shoes no the cruise ship too and have been going for laps in the morning -, and it helps immensely. Gets pent up stuff out, clears out my head, helps me think." Really, it was better for her than anything else. Running and coffee were what probably kept her sane, but now she tried to limit her coffee intake, so she started running longer distances, maybe it would help.

"Yeah, it's very strange for sure. And oh, oh, I almost forgot - Zaid and Tej, they also knew each other before all of this," Darcy added. "They were together for a while at some point. Which is even more connection. So maybe it's not always the same kind of connection levels. As far as I know, i don't think there are any siblings or relatives around here, but maybe some people just knew each other in passing. Maybe exchanged emails or something. I am definitely keeping my eyes for more, though." She was already thinking about maybe making a chart just to keep up with all the kinds of webs that might come out of this one.

"The showers are so nice. And I really like that we all have a place for ourselves where we can get away from everyone, if that is what we want." She was the type who hated being alone like that for long, she just couldn't help her thoughts at that time, but still, it was nice to know that she had a chance to pull back if she wanted to.

At the mention of Maria, she did remain silent for a moment, though. "A mistake, maybe. That could have been it. Or-- or it was intentional." There were different reactions from people as she brought it up, she was curious how Adarsh would react to it. "I am not actually sure anymore - at first I was sure she was just placed to get a reaction out of us, now... I don't know. I am more hesitant, but I am still leaning towards her being placed here."

Her eyebrows shot up the mention of some kind of tiger creature, even though Adarsh brushed over it like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Wait, hold up. You can't just-- let's get back for a moment. What do you mean tiger creature? You can't just move past that so fast, you gotta explain more. Was it not a tiger? Just something similar? Where did it go? How did you guys get away? Do we need to worry it'll show back up again? You need to elaborate more."