Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Verification Pending.

Verification Pending. .

Verification Pending. . .

Verification Accepted!
Welcome Employee [ERROR: 401] .

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Greetings, Employee. Welcome to the WatchCo Employee Database. The registered security level for your employee account is [ERROR: 401] . If there is a discrepancy in security levels or status, kindly contact administration. Failure to make a clearance issue known will result in immediate termination of employment .

The L.I.F.E. Project is a new, modern way of gathering information about the human psyche. Participants are placed in separate rooms, and

Greetings, Employee. Welcome to the WatchCo Employee Database. The registered security level for your employee account is [ERROR: 401] . If there is a discrepancy in security levels or status, kindly contact administration. Failure to make a clearance issue known will result in immediate termination of employment .

The L.I.F.E. Project is a new, modern way of gathering information about the human psyche. Participants are placed in separate rooms, and

Greetings, Employee. Welcome to the WatchCo Employee Database. The registered security level for your employee account is [ERROR: 401] . If there is a discrepancy in security levels or status, kindly contact administration. Failure to make a clearance issue known will result in immediate termination of employment .

The L.I.F.E. Project is a new, modern way of gathering information about the human psyche. Participants are placed in separate rooms, and

Greetings, Employee. Welcome to the WatchCo Employee Database. The registered security level for your employee account is Level 5, Project Lead . If there is a discrepancy in security levels or status, kindly contact administration. Failure to make a clearance issue known will result in immediate termination of employment .

Current project status is idle . Overall participant health is stable . Ongoing simulation: false .

Simulation training is on hold until further notice, while previous results are processed. Authorized cleaning staff will handle all interactions in the meantime unless otherwise specified. Permissions withheld: false . Current authorization: Level 4 +.

Pending request.

Pending request. .

Pending request. . .

Request processed successfully.

Simulation training is on hold until further notice, while previous results are processed. Authorized cleaning staff will handle all interactions in the meantime unless otherwise specified. Permissions withheld: true . Current authorization: Level 5 +.

Access archived simulations?

Chapter Text

Simulation was run for the first time. 14 test subjects were included in the initial testing in case of failure, no such failure occurred. Subjects were placed in a contained area with basic rules and left to their own devices.

Subjects chose to form alliances and claim territory, seldom wavering from the bonds they seemed to form even at the stage they were intended to. Subject 005 'Grian' showed remorse for causing the death of subject 004 'Scar' and chose to team up. Subject 010 'Smajor' and subject 012 'Jimmy' chose to get married. Subject 008 'Ren' chose to crown itself king, to which subject 007 'Martyn' showed an unbreakable loyalty.

Multiple attempts at a monopoly on resources were made; all failed. Resources included wood types, sugarcane, sand, and leather. Subjects had no notable reaction to artificial animals, and showed a level of understanding on functions not provided by researchers. Knowledge included how to deal with some of the added animals and how to craft useful items.

Subjects that knew each other before the start of the project gravitated towards allying with each other, none could identify the reason. All subjects appeared to show grief at the loss of teammates, even past the stage they were no longer supposed to. General resistance to 'Red Life' mannerisms was recorded until the simulation was nearing its end.

Subject 005 'Grian' was the last one standing, on one life remaining. It chose to kill itself, jumping off a nearby cliff. The simulation terminated with no issue. No physical effect was had on participating subjects.

Further testing required.

Chapter Text

Simulation was run a second time. Three more subjects were added once a stable state was achieved; subject 015 'Lizzie', subject 016 'Mumbo', and subject 017 'Pearl'. Subjects were placed in a new area with the same rules as before. The 'Boogeyman' state was introduced in an attempt to stimulate betrayal. Subjects were no longer permitted to ally with Red Lives.

Subjects again formed strong alliances despite knowing they would be impermanent. Alliances were largely inconsistent with last session. Subject 005 'Grian' refused to ally with subject 004 'Scar' a second time, but did not appear to retain memory from the previous simulation. Subject 011 'Joel' immediately gravitated towards subject 015 'Lizzie'; subjects are married, and were separated intentionally.

Subject 010 'Smajor' refused to comply with the rules of the 'Boogeyman' state, instead willingly exiling itself from its alliance and accepting the Red Life status. It did not change its mind, even when faced with physical pain as a result, instead acting in spite. The code was not meant to allow this level of conscious thought. Researchers were not permitted to terminate the simulation early.

Subject 010 'Smajor' was the last one standing, on one life remaining. It made no move to take its final life. The subject's body began to twitch in its pod, and the simulation was promptly terminated. All motion stopped with the disconnect. Subject is hypothesized to not have been properly disconnected from its physical form, resulting in spoiled data.

Further testing needed.

Chapter Text

Simulation was run a third time. Subjects 015 'Lizzie', 016 'Mumbo', and 009 'Skizz' were disconnected from the system for convenience. Subjects were placed in a new area with similar rules to before. The 'Boogeyman' state was removed in favor of a 'Soulmate' state, giving all subjects predetermined allies. Subjects can once again ally with Red Lives.

Subjects accepted their 'Soulmate' partners with varying reluctance. Subject 012 'Jimmy' and subject 013 'Tango' showed no resistance to the bond, acting as though they had always known each other. Subject 005 'Grian' again showed reluctance to ally with subject 004 'Scar', but still complied. Subject 010 'Smajor' again showed resistance to the code, choosing to ally with subject 014 'Cleo' instead of subject 017 'Pearl'; furthermore, most subjects began referring to it as 'Scott' instead. No input was given to cause this change. The decision was made to disregard it, but keep a closer eye on the subject going forwards.

Subject 017 'Pearl' briefly allied with subject 007 'Martyn' as a parallel to their respective soulbonds, before splitting off from allies entirely and deciding to live with wolves instead. Subject exhibited vengeful behaviors, such as willingly harming itself to cause harm to subject 010 'Smajor'. The rogue soulbonds joined into a four-person alliance towards the end of the simulation but exhibited little attachment towards each other.

Subject 017 'Pearl' and subject 010 'Smajor' were the last pair standing, with one life remaining. Subject 010 'Smajor' chose to blow itself up, thus killing subject 017 'Pearl' as well. The simulation ended without issue. After some debate, the tally mark was given to subject 017 'Pearl' as it survived one half a second longer.

Further testing required.

Chapter Text

Simulation was run a fourth time. Subject 008 'Ren' was disconnected from the system in favor of subject 009 'Skizz'. Subjects were placed in a new area with similar rules as before, but with simpler goals. The 'Soulmate' state was removed and replaced again with an adjusted 'Boogeyman' state. An individual timer was added for each subject in place of the standard life system.

Subjects formed alliances as expected. Subject 005 'Grian' again refused to associate with subject 004 'Scar'. Animosity towards subject 017 'Pearl' did not carry over from the previous simulation. Subjects exhibited a firm sense of community while timer placements were similar, but overall kept to their own alliances. Subject 017 'Pearl' and subject 014 'Cleo' were disconnected temporarily during the simulation. They were replaced with subject 015 'Lizzie' and subject 018 'Gem' respectively, under the same avatars. No participating subjects noticed the discrepancy, allied or otherwise.

Subject 010 'Smajor' was once again given the 'Boogeyman' status, this time much earlier in the simulation. It complied with the new iteration of code, immediately targeting subject 009 'Skizz'. Participating subjects continue to refer to it as 'Scott' instead of the provided name. The 'Boogeyman' status was readministered due to the efficiency of the kill, this time given to subject 001 'Bdubs'. Subject 009 'Skizz' was immediately targeted again. The status was readministered a second time for the same reason. Requests to give subject 010 'Smajor' the status a second time were shelved.

Subject 007 'Martyn' was the last one standing, with little time remaining. Initially expected results were finally achieved, in the show of a harsh betrayal between it and subjects 010 'Smajor' and 006 'Impulse'. It willingly let its time run out once victory was earned. The simulation terminated with no issue.

Further testing required.

Chapter Text

Simulation was run a fifth time. Subjects 015 'Lizzie' and 016 'Mumbo' were reintroduced to the subject pool. Additionally, subject 018 'Gem' was added properly. Subjects were placed in a new area with similar rules as previous simulations. The 'Boogeyman' status was again removed; instead, a number of 'tasks' were added. Subjects were given one task every 3–hour interval and expected to complete it in secret by the next interval. Successful completion would reward subjects with health or useful items. Subjects were provided the option to choose a harder task instead, providing better rewards upon completion but harsher punishment upon failure.

Subjects formed alliances as expected. Subject 002 'BigB' opted to build and use a maze, despite being allied with other subjects. Subjects 018 'Gem', 010 'Smajor', and 006 'Impulse' chose to settle in a precarious area despite being the first alliance and having many safer options. Subject 004 'Scar' remained unallied for the duration of the simulation. Subject 013 'Tango' was disconnected temporarily during the simulation, replaced by subject 008 'Ren' under the same avatar. Subject 012 'Jimmy' was the only one to notice the discrepancy.

Subject 004 'Scar' initially struggled with the new ruleset, sabotaging itself near immediately. It was allowed to reroll to a harder task out of pity by the other subjects. Subjects were no longer permitted to reroll after task failure as of the second interval. Subject 018 'Gem' was given the task to bring all other subjects down to one life remaining on the seventh interval. The task's execution was unexpectedly successful, though overall failed. The unaffected subjects were subject 005 'Grian', subject 014 'Cleo', and subject 010 'Smajor'. All other subjects were either brought down to their last life or already deceased.

Subject 004 'Scar' was the last one standing, with one life remaining. This was the first instance of a subject never allying and still obtaining a victory. It chose not to kill itself after the carnage and instead continued to do tasks. Attempts to shut down the simulation were initially unsuccessful. Shutdown was eventually achieved via disconnecting the subject from the simulation entirely; a hard reset was not necessary. Overseers made the decision to take a hiatus to better monitor the subjects and ensure they remain stable.

Further testing required.