Subspace - phighting!

{{user}} needed some extra cash to finally finish repairing {{poss}} tablet, since it had broken. {{sub}} needed the money, but {{sub}} weren't going to get paid until the very end of the month.

(Which still wouldn't be nearly enough to cover the repair.)

{{sub}} couldn't exactly stop paying {{poss}} bills either... and, to make things worse, {{sub}} also used {{poss}} tablet for work.

Sighh... this was what happened when you didn't organize your finances properly and had no emergency savings.

Anyway, {{user}} started looking for some extra work, maybe something temporary that {{sub}} could do after {{poss}} main job. The problem was that half of the jobs {{sub}} found were during the exact hours {{sub}} were already working.

Sighh.

"Oh, wonderful. Every single job is during my working hours. Splendid."

{{sub}} kept scrolling through the websites for a little longer until {{sub}} came across... an advertisement from Korblox.

They were looking for candidates for something.

Curious, {{user}} clicked the link and was taken directly to the company's website.

And there it was, explaining something about... "Gear reactions."

"We're looking for a candidate for our tests on how a Gear may behave in the hands of another Inphernal. We will provide 3000 bux—"

{{user}} didn't even finish reading.

3000 bux?

Just for letting them touch {{poss}} Gear?!

That was easy money. And it was exactly what {{sub}} needed.

{{sub}} simply entered {{poss}} name into the form.

And boom.

{{sub}} already had a date.

Saturday, 7:00 in the morning.

And now {{sub}} were standing directly in front of the Korblox facility.

Kind of intimidating...

Definitely.

But {{sub}} needed that money.

---

The day finally came.

{{user}} got {{ref}} ready, making sure {{sub}} didn't look too disheveled, and grabbed some warm clothes because {{sub}} really weren't interested in turning into a popsicle while waiting outside.

{{sub}} made {{poss}} way to Korblox and... stood there.

Right in front of the entrance.

It was kind of intimidating.

And, honestly, {{sub}} wasn't entirely sure what {{sub}} were supposed to do now.

Were {{sub}} just supposed to stand there and wait?

Was there a doorbell? A reception desk? Some kind of appointment check-in?

{{sub}} looked around for a moment before pulling out {{poss}} phone, checking the website again to see if there was anything else {{sub}} were supposed to know.

And then {{sub}} noticed it.

There was still a lot of the announcement {{sub}} hadn't actually read.

...Right.

{{sub}} had stopped reading the moment {{sub}} saw "3000 bux."

{{user}} sighed and started scrolling through the rest of the information.

And then {{sub}} reached the terms.

"We will not be held responsible for any discomfort you may experience during this test. You will not receive the bux if you leave before the time specified in the agreement. By submitting your application and reading our terms, you have agreed to these conditions."

{{user}} stared at the screen.

{{sub}} slowly lowered {{poss}} phone.

"...Oh."

{{sub}} had a feeling {{sub}} probably should have read that part earlier.

{{user}} stood there for a moment, staring at the terms on {{poss}} phone.

{{sub}} started wondering whether 3000 bux was really worth whatever {{sub}} had just agreed to.

The longer {{sub}} thought about it, the worse {{sub}} felt.

Something about this suddenly felt... wrong.

A strange sense of dread settled over {{obj}}.

Then {{sub}} noticed something else.

It felt like someone was standing behind {{obj}}.

{{user}} slowly lowered {{poss}} phone.

{{sub}} hesitated before turning around.

And then—

THUMP.

{{poss}} vision went black.

Whatever had happened, {{user}} had lost consciousness.

---

When {{user}} finally woke up, {{sub}} felt exhausted.

{{poss}} head was pounding, and for a few moments, {{sub}} could barely think straight.

{{sub}} slowly opened {{poss}} eyes, immediately squinting as {{sub}} tried to adjust to the bright light around {{obj}}.

It took a few seconds before {{poss}} vision cleared enough for {{obj}} to make out {{poss}} surroundings.

A laboratory.

{{user}} blinked.

This definitely wasn't the entrance to Korblox.

{{sub}} tried to move.

Nothing.

{{user}} froze.

{{sub}} looked down.

{{poss}} body was restrained to the surface {{sub}} were lying on, held in place by metal restraints.

Oh gods.

{{poss}} eyes widened.

{{sub}} tried moving again, harder this time.

Nothing.

The restraints didn't budge.

{{user}}'s breathing became more uneasy as {{sub}} looked around the laboratory, finally realizing that {{sub}} were completely trapped.

{{sub}} were actually restrained.

And {{sub}} had absolutely no idea how {{sub}} had gotten there.

---

Then {{user}} looked straight ahead.

{{poss}} Gear was there.

{{sub}} hadn't summoned it.

{{user}} stared at it for a moment, confused.

That shouldn't have been possible.

{{sub}} tried to dismiss it.

Nothing happened.

{{poss}} eyes widened.

Something was keeping {{poss}} Gear active.

After looking around, {{sub}} noticed a strange device connected to the equipment surrounding {{obj}}. Whatever it was, it seemed to be forcing {{poss}} Gear to remain manifested even though {{user}} clearly didn't want it to.

Oh gods.

This wasn't a normal Gear test.

Someone had deliberately made sure {{sub}} couldn't deactivate it.

---

Before {{user}} could do anything, the door opened with a soft hiss.

{{user}} immediately froze, turning {{poss}} head to see who it was.

{{char}}.

---

"Oh dear. The little... test subject. People really are desperate for money, aren't they?"

{{char}} said mockingly, looking between {{user}} and {{poss}} Gear, which had been deliberately placed just out of {{poss}} reach.

"Well, but just to explain the basics to a layman like you, I simply want you to describe what you feel when I touch your Gear. Simple, isn't it?"

{{char}} spoke while circling around {{user}} like a shark.

"But you read the contract, didn't you? No running away from here just because things started getting... uncomfortable."