★★★8

[didorothy]

Right, so. Has anyone else noticed any changes to their homes? Other than the random shop and the sudden appearance of the astral plane, that is.

For example, I have a big chunk of 2006 sitting in the middle of my 1973. Yuyuko and Fumie have both noticed differences in how someone they know behaves. [and Gene Hunt now has sparkly blood, but we're just not going to mention that]

[Incidentally, he is speaking a bit thickly, as he has a broken nose.]

Comments

[contract_star]

...[sighs]

I'm used to strange things happening, but I'll keep an eye out for anything that's too...out of the ordinary.

Does this mean that the Twins and that woman have control over our homes as well?

[didorothy]

I don't know. They haven't told us much.

[contract_star]

Yeah, I've noticed that about them. What is known about this "experiment", though? I'm new here, I suppose.

[didorothy]

Other than the fact that there is one.... Nothing, really. Seems to have something to dow ith reality. And a machine.

[contract_star]

Another man here told me that some people had been here for a month--but it doesn't look like much has been learned. This "machine" though...[shakes head.]

Can I ask what has happened here up until now?

[didorothy]

It has been about a month. It's hard to tell; time is as relative as everything else.

Not much, short of the monster attack.

[contract_star]

I understand.

...

...Monster attack?

[didorothy]

The Twins said that one of their other experiments got out of hand. Monsters came out - vicious things, one of them about the size of Godzilla. We had to... get these jewels that were on them and put them in jars. And when they ate something, it just got... removed from existence. Not that I know what that means, but that's how the Twins explained it.

[contract_star]

...

...

Damn.

[Muttering to himself,] Monsters, huh...there were never any monsters in the Gate...that I know of.

Were there any casualties?

[didorothy]

[raises his eyebrows]

No reports of any permenant casualties. A boy was eaten, but he returned after the monsters all were killed.

[contract_star]

Permanent...oh. Someone else here--Mu, I think?--said that the Twins could bring people back to life. [Shakes head, not knowing what to make of all this.]

Ah, sorry. I never introduced myself. I'm Li Shengshun.

[didorothy]

[darkly] They can. They did.

DI Sam Tyler. [warrant flash, go!] Good to meet you.

[contract_star]

...

[Looks away. Doesn't like this at all.]

That sounds...worrisome. Power like that shouldn't exist.

[Raises eyebrows at the warrant. Ah heh heh heh, oh dear, cops on the Astral Plane. Though Mr. Tyler sounds British, and the Astral Plane is probably well outside his jurisdiction. Still, Hei now knows who not to use his powers around.]

Nice to meet you too, Mr. Tyler. Do you keep the peace around here, then?

[didorothy]

[snorts] Not really. It's just an habit.

[contract_star]

[Chuckles.] I can understand that.

[Looks around the Astral Plane.] Though with monsters around and such, I suppose someone needs to keep an eye on things.

[didorothy]

We all try to help out. Well, most of us.

[contract_star]

Yeah, I've noticed that some of the people are...hm, less than helpful.

[didorothy]

Just have to try not to deal with them.

[contract_star]

[Sighs.] I'm used to dealing with unsavory people, anyway.

And if the purpose of this experiment--or part of it, anyway--is to study how we interact with others, then dealing with them might be unavoidable. From what I've heard of the Twins, they seem the type to...well, mess around in order to see how people react.