Day 54: Intercom, Dawn
The sun rose steadily across the sky, as it always did, but what seemed to move with even more clock-like rigidness were the uniformed personnel who marched alongside the Institute's usual staff as they made their morning rounds. The nurses and even the burliest of the orderlies seemed nervous at the uncharacteristic additions, shooting glances at the black-garbed officials, who seemed undoubtedly military in their demeanor and speech even though they weren't issuing direct commands.
One of the nurses, however, an elderly, matronly woman who was generally assigned to some of the toughest patients, didn't seem so intimidated.
"Will you at least tell us what you're inspecting for, sir?" she asked with a huff, clearly adding the title out of professional courtesy rather than respect. "I don't very much appreciate your following us around if-"
"Orders, ma'am," said one of the uniforms, looking over her shoulder and observing the movements of other staffmembers further down the hallway. "I apologize if you feel we pose an inconvenience."
"What orders?" she shot back, holding her arms akimbo.
"The General," he replied, impassive. "That's all I know."
Suddenly, the nurse seemed to pale. She sputtered, then shouted at another nurse who seemed to have been waiting on the older one to knock some sense into the soldiers.
"What are you waiting for? Go wake them up!"
Although patients might have been oblivious to the hustling and bustling outside their doors, as well as the group of military-grade vehicles that had parked directly in front of the Institute's entrance, they certainly became aware that something was different from the sound of the Head Doctor's subsequent announcement:
"Rise and shine, patients! I hope that the test trials you experienced last night weren't too disorienting and that your Condensed Sleep Cycles were satisfactory. That said, please understand that today's announcements and happenings might seem a bit different from usual - this is deliberate and we hope that it doesn't diminish your enrichment through our extended selection process. Our nurses have been briefed only on necessary details and screened from these specialized announcements, so do not attempt to direct any questions to them during this process.
"Thank you for your cooperation."
The intercom clicked off. After a few minutes, it came on again.
"Breakfast is English muffins. All the usual ingredients, toppings, sides, and drinks. Delicious stuff."
The intercom clicked off again.
[ ALL NEWLY ACCEPTED CHARACTERS MAY POST TO THIS SHIFT. All character introduction should be made in response to this post. Please have your character wake up in a random room, as we have not yet assigned them. Thank you! ]
One of the nurses, however, an elderly, matronly woman who was generally assigned to some of the toughest patients, didn't seem so intimidated.
"Will you at least tell us what you're inspecting for, sir?" she asked with a huff, clearly adding the title out of professional courtesy rather than respect. "I don't very much appreciate your following us around if-"
"Orders, ma'am," said one of the uniforms, looking over her shoulder and observing the movements of other staffmembers further down the hallway. "I apologize if you feel we pose an inconvenience."
"What orders?" she shot back, holding her arms akimbo.
"The General," he replied, impassive. "That's all I know."
Suddenly, the nurse seemed to pale. She sputtered, then shouted at another nurse who seemed to have been waiting on the older one to knock some sense into the soldiers.
"What are you waiting for? Go wake them up!"
Although patients might have been oblivious to the hustling and bustling outside their doors, as well as the group of military-grade vehicles that had parked directly in front of the Institute's entrance, they certainly became aware that something was different from the sound of the Head Doctor's subsequent announcement:
"Rise and shine, patients! I hope that the test trials you experienced last night weren't too disorienting and that your Condensed Sleep Cycles were satisfactory. That said, please understand that today's announcements and happenings might seem a bit different from usual - this is deliberate and we hope that it doesn't diminish your enrichment through our extended selection process. Our nurses have been briefed only on necessary details and screened from these specialized announcements, so do not attempt to direct any questions to them during this process.
"Thank you for your cooperation."
The intercom clicked off. After a few minutes, it came on again.
"Breakfast is English muffins. All the usual ingredients, toppings, sides, and drinks. Delicious stuff."
The intercom clicked off again.
[ ALL NEWLY ACCEPTED CHARACTERS MAY POST TO THIS SHIFT. All character introduction should be made in response to this post. Please have your character wake up in a random room, as we have not yet assigned them. Thank you! ]