Part 194: BCP 23 - Nameless Fetus + Theresia

X-394 is a big facility, full of mysterious creatures known as Abnormalities. Many of these Abnormalities can do very bad things if they're handled improperly, and it's vitally important that our agents know just what may happen if they're careless. What's a manager to do?



Episode 23: Nameless Fetus

Music: trailer


Hi! I'm Paul! Just your everyday plucky employee of Lobotomy Cobotomy, here today to talk about Nameless Fetus!



Nameless Fetus is a HE-level Abnormality, which takes the form of a very large infant with a maw in its stomach.

A baby? Well, that can't be so bad-right?

It's actually been voted the most-unpopular Abnormality by 80% of agents on the company wiki over the past 12 cycles.

Wowsers! I guess I take it back! Miss Hod, what makes it so bad?

Well, Paul-it comes down to a combination of three things. The first is that a Normal or Bad result can lower its Qliphoth Counter, and the second is that its Good result margin is relatively narrow, at 14-18 boxes. Five misses means a possible counter drop.

And when its counter hits 0, it does something bad?

Right you are, Paul. Now, we need to trigger that reaction.

How are you going to do that, Miss Hod?

The same way we upset any child, Paul.



We let D.A.D. neglect it!

The process of energy production sure is ruthless sometimes!



What is that noise?! It's terrible!

That noise is the Nameless Fetus's ability. Babies cry, and the Fetus can cry. This has three effects-the first of which being a loud wail the manager can hear.

It's incredibly grating!

It is, Paul!



So annoying, in fact, that it deals White damage to every employee in the department.

It gives everyone a splitting headache! But that's not so big a deal, there's got to be more-right?

Very perceptive, Paul! Every time its cry affects the department it's in, something else happens.



The Qliphoth Counters of all Abnormalities in the department are reduced by 1, each time.

Sweet king of all googly mooglykind! That's really bad! Can it be stopped?!

It can! Clicking on the cell while it's in this state brings up a window.



Oh, I remember this from the CENSORED episode! It rolls and picks an employee at random, right?

That's correct! The manager simply has to roll…



And a random employee is drawn to the cell for this special work type.

Look out, clerk Eta35! Meat Lantern's gonna getcha!

There's no need to worry, Paul! For some reason, the employee selected by this process is completely invincible while walking to the containment cell.

Fetal forcefields! That's super-convenient, Miss Hod!

When the employee reaches Nameless Fetus's cell, the work is carried out.



Oh! That was much clearer than with CENSORED! It just ate them right up!

Correct! With its hunger sated, Nameless Fetus returns to a state of dormancy.

Wowsers! It sounds like a real handful. Good thing the Manager has the tools to deal with it!

Right you are.

Shame that we're almost out of time. I was barely even in this episode!

Oh, I wouldn't worry about that.

Huh? You can't mean-!

That's right, Paul!



It's a double-length episode!

Golly gosh! I can't wait to talk about another Abnormality! Who do we have today?

It's the one and only Theresia! Let's take a closer look.



Theresia is a TETH-level tool Abnormality which takes the form of a music box. While an agent listens to Theresia, the SP of all agents within the department is healed by 10 every 5 seconds. Give it a try, Paul!



It's incredibly soothing! ...What's the downside?

Ah, you're learning! Very good Paul! Staying in proximity to Theresia for 30 seconds will instantly send the agent listening to it into a state of panic.

Remember, kids: vibing for too long can be bad for you!



There we go! Luckily it's a normal panic, so we can just have Nea walk over with her weapon and bonk the sense right back into me!

We could do that, Paul… but we haven't had the chance to get the suicide-type Panic's effect up close.

So… no sanity whacking?

No sanity whacking.

Aww… puckernuts.



Yowie wowie! Who knew I had that much forearm strength?!

This is incredible common for suicide-type panics, Paul! It turns out that all the terror you feel converts itself into raw strength for an instant, letting you snap your own neck.

And turn my head upside down! Maybe I should challenge Miss Gebura to an arm-wrestling competition after all!

I wouldn't do that unless you want to lose an arm. Well, that's all the time we have today. Thanks for joining us! And remember…

Knowledge is just pain plus observation! Have a great day!


Music: Aspire


Good evening, future Managers. I hope you've enjoyed my surprise. I may do it again, as time permits. Truth be told, I have some incentive to do so. Ah, but we'll circle back to it. Angela, the graphics.







Theresia exists and is relatively safe so long as it's treated in the same manner as that blasted Shelter. Like most Tools, it's barely worth words. As for the Nameless Fetus…

I can understand why its mother refused to give it meaning.

Instinct work is practically required in dealing with it, and even then only from an agent with the highest Temperance. If you must research it, it's best done in a department full of Abnormalities which do not have Qliphoth Counters-and even then its cry will likely bludgeon your psyche into submission should it become upset.

Honestly? I mute the speakers when it cries. It makes things far more bearable. Setting that aside, its gear is not worth the trouble as White damage is nearly never a problem-and this makes it simple to pass over. There is almost always a better option for the stability of our facility.

Now, to circle back around-there is incentive to do so. I am leaving these videos for the managers who are to come after. That would imply that I know my days are numbered. Two Sephirot have broken, and despite my best efforts, I cannot seem to fix them. They yell, they cry, my agents suffer heavy casualties, and in the end nothing changes-they are broken the next day as well.

Given that the way out is through them, it is implausible that I will succeed. The only thing which matters is that this project be completed before my time here comes to an end. But, ultimately, we are as fragile a human as any of the others in this place. We are smarter, perhaps-a measure more clever than the common folk… but this won't protect us from the guilt. It will wear on me, as all others.

I simply must complete my work before this place claims me, as well. Not knowing when that time may be, I work as quickly as I am able. ...But that matters little to you, in the future-doesn't it? Tell me, did I succeed?

...Hm. I see. Well-for now, this old man shall cease his ramblings.

Next time's featured Abnormality…


New Guidelines

Nameless Fetus
Theresia

New Gear


Requirements: Level 2, Fortitude 2


Requirements: Temperance 3

New Story

Nameless Fetus (Part 1)
Nameless Fetus (Part 2)