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OOC: Just as an explanation, since we're now covering flashback material & 'present moment' material with two different groups of characters, I may vary the way I post a little depending on how it goes. I'll be taking the unfashionable 'double-post' approach here, by posting in the 'Gem' alt for Aurora & the 'Wildthorn' alt for Heather. If this doesn't work for me, then I'll probably settle for covering both characters with the same alt. Now you've been fairly warned, on with the RP!


IC: Aurora wondered how best she could explain what she had in mind. It seemed that, in spite of her eforts, she still wasn't making herself clear. Pondering how best she could elaborate upon her favoured course of action, Aurora tried again. "I'd hesitate to call what I have in mind either 'mind-control' or 'hypnosis'," she said, "since both of those terms tend- in general- to have mystical connotations attached to them & I don't, as a rule of thumb, involve myself in mysticism. Think, if you will, more along the lines of mental manipulation by sensory stimulation. What I would like to do- given the opportunity- is repay the agent for her services by a particular means of psychological warfare. If executed correctly, relevant sensory stimulus can be used to cause the mind of an intended target- in this case the agent- to construct its own scenario & to accept that scenario as reality. With a little outside aid," Aurora explained, "whatever scenario the mind may construct can be made to seem like part of our ongoing experience- something that's happening in the here and now as a logical progression of recent events- and not a wild, unconnected, nightmarish fantasy. Which is part of what makes it so powerful. Also, in aiding the mind's construction of such a scenario, you can deliver subliminal suggestions to said target if you wish, to the effect that they may be much less troublesome," Aurora concluded. Then, as a further thought seemed to strike her, she added, "as I said before, that kind of thing is best done over time, but it can certainly be done quickly as well, and with about the same efficiency as when done slowly". Having said this, Aurora looked to Jerin & Dirac, to see what response either of them might yield to her latest remarks.

Aurora remained silent for a moment after Dirac had finished speaking, as though scrutinizing every word he'd just said & examining it in minute detail for some vital feature. Then she bowed her head ever so slightly to Dirac. "It seems," she remarked, "that though I've become established in my profession, having been a lone operative for such a sustained period has caused me to overlook the teamwork angle entirely. For that," she said, with her gaze locked on Dirac, "I apolgise. I shall try to answer your questions as you voiced them, and in so doing hopefully clarify my intentions". Having said this Aurora was again momentarily silent as she decided which question to answer first. "You asked how I was going to do as I intended," she began, "and about the first three questions after that were basically extensions of the same question. So I'll answer that one first: I intend to do it with this". On the word this, Aurora removed a strange device from one of the compartments on her belt. It fitted easily into the palm of her hand, and looked like nothing so much as a Rubiks Cube turned spherical. Holding the strange object up briefly Aurora continued. "My showing you this," she said, "answers one further question you asked: Does the process require special equipment? Yes, namely this device, but no other equipment besides. Do I need to touch her? No, but this does- although the latter may involve the former. Does she need to be distracted, or can I confront her directly? Either approach can work, although ideally, it would be better if she was distracted".

Having said all this, Aurora addressed the other questions Dirac had asked. "In regard to how many times I've done this," she informed Dirac & the others, "I've done this five times before now. Twice slowly- using less specialised equipment less often- over a period of several months, and the other three times using the quick method I intend to employ this time, the effects of which are immediate. As for the remaining questions," Aurora commented, "In order to answer them I believe it is necessary to shed a little light on what this gizmo is and does. It has no official name, because very few legitimate bodies can justify the need- or want- of such a device. It works- once in contact with an individual- by picking up the messages the senses send to the brain, and also by picking up the activity taking place within the brain. It then goes to work," Aurora revealed, "by subtly manipulating the incoming messages from the senses. In so doing, it creates within the mind- by use of the body's own senses- a 'virtual' scenario if you will. Effectively, every sense the body has is telling the brain what the device wishes the brain to be told, and the brain constructs a percieved reality based upon that information. And as I already mentioned, it ensures that what the subject percieves seems like a logical progression from recent past events, and not an abrupt shift from one thing to another. Further to that, as I also mentioned, it can implant certain subliminal messages or suggestions if you so wish. And by scanning the activity of the brain, it can determine how best to direct the scenario constructed- without giving away the fact that it is an illusion and not reality, obviously".


With the explanation out of the way, Aurora returned to Dirac's remaining questions. "You asked how difficult it is to break out of," she said, "the simplest answer to that is that it depends on the individual. In order to gain release from the mental scenario- once constructed- all the subject has to do is realise that it is a scenario apart from reality. However, I haven't known a subject yet to break free from the illusion in less than a week-and yes, that was when the quick method was used. With the slow method subjects have been known to- stay under- for months, or even years. In regard to whether or not there are side-effects that will negatively affect our progress later- not exactly. By that I mean," Aurora elaborated, "that the process of constructing a mental scenario has no side-effects upon the subject. Unless you want it to. For example, if you want to implant subliminal suggestions, it will do that. Once the subject is released- or gains release- from the scenario however, you have a 48 hour period in which to either shut down the suggestions (if you used the device to activate them), or to activate them (if you used the device simply to implant them). After that, the subliminal suggestions tend to fade- or vanish altogether if you never activated them. Simply put," Aurora said, "the only negative side-effect would be the agent gaining release from the scenario- which will happen sooner or later anyway. And for your final question- what you have to do if anything- I may not require any assistance at all. But as I said, ideally the agent should be distracted if this device is used on her, and one- or all- of you could provide some help with that. But as to how you'd do that," Aurora concluded, "well I think that only becomes valid if we go for the course of action I propose. Now that you've heard my answers," she said addressing Dirac mainly, "do they satisfy your curiosity?"


OOC: Will probably put in Heather's episode sometime tomorrow.