#experimenter.

[break-between-the-walls]

Yyyyeeeah, please don’t do that. It was hard enough getting Chase out. I think he might actually kill you if you did that.

Jackie laughs. “Yeah… I’m not actually going to do it. I just… I think about the people still stuck there, you know? And I… I wish I could help.” He sighs. “What’s the use of gaining superpowers if you can’t rescue people?”

Another car drives past. Jackie ducks back into the alleyway, staring at it as it passes… and his eyes widen. “Hold on. Is that… Okay I’ve never really seen her up close but is that the Ayer woman driving?”

[break-between-the-walls]

I don’t know. Prior is decent at keeping secrets, and I think he knows Henrik has been rescued. I asked about her because I was wondering if Ramona has connected the dots between Anti, the consciousness theory, and Phoebe disappearing.

Chase inhales sharply. “It’s possible. She seems like a smart lady. But if she has figured it out…on the one hand, it would be good to have another ally. On the other, I don’t think she’ll just…stop doing all her DR shit. Even after taking care of the Anti thing.” He pauses. “Also, of course Prior knows Henrik has been rescued. Hen was okay with him knowing that, so we told him. He just doesn’t want to see Prior yet.”

[break-between-the-walls]

[Before I can retort at Ayer, I get yoinked! Can I see if she follows the movement?]

Ayer doesn't notice as the presence she was talking to gets pulled away, but she frowns a bit at her screen. The numbers on the monitor rapidly drop from double digits to single with decimals.

[break-between-the-walls]

Look, I don’t- that’s all I know. They stopped talking. [Another pause.] Like a machine? I don’t know what to call it!

"Um...Dr. Ayer?" One of the blue-coated experimenters hesitantly starts to speak. "Are you sure that this is the best—"

"Shhh." Ayer doesn't even turn to look at him. She takes a cord out of her pocket and plugs one end into the smartphone-sized device, then puts the other into a socket at the bottom of a control panel. One of the monitors starts showing a different setup, with many numbers scrolling past.

"But..." Another one pipes up. "This could be a distraction. A false reading. There could be...microphones, a-and speakers."

"Oh, it's a distraction," Ayer agrees. "But not a false reading." And she doesn't elaborate beyond that.

[break-between-the-walls]

I- Shut UP, it's hard to think and talk all at once! Okay, they're waving a machine at me, and talking and stuff- [a calculated pause] I don't know, because SOME-one was messing with my concentration!

Dr. Ayer nods slowly. The way she understands it, this invisible person is talking to someone else, who can't be seen or heard. She waves for all the others to go quiet, which happens slowly, and then walks over to one of the control panels and starts fiddling with it.

[break-between-the-walls]

Ah-AH! Okay okay fine! Uh, it’s a uh… there’s a room, and you’re there, and everyone looks really scared- fuck off, I’m thinking!

Everyone is talking over each other in response to the strange disembodied voice. “Quiet!” Ayer suddenly snaps. Everyone instantly falls silent. She gestures towards the guards and they take off after Chase. “Can you hear me?” She asks.

[break-between-the-walls]

{The door. One stayed in the room, I could distract them, but what if they don't get the door? I can't do both I can't- I have to pick one-} [I move to behind the bluecoats and start acting like I'm in pain.] Gah! Agh, just-just turn it off already! [A pause] Who fucking cares what I see, it hurts!

The results are instantaneous. Every one of the experimenters turns around, some crying out in surprise, others too shocked to say anything. The guards turn as well, and the three that were in the room rush out into the hall. But, despite what their ears are telling them, there is no one there. Ayer looks the most confused, but also strangely intrigued. She takes something out of her pocket, about the size of a smart phone.

Chase hesitates for a split second. Then he remembers what he said to them, and runs.

No one is expecting it. The experimenters gasp and shout, but do nothing. The guards react faster, but not fast enough. Chase manages to turn the corner.

And Dr. Ayer is staring at the screen of the device in her hands with wide, wide eyes.