Oh, right, I never explained that. Here's how the Focus Classification works. There's a lot of stuff that actually goes into classifying a Focus, but I'll try to keep it simple.
Class-0 is the weakest Focus. They were usually a rookie when they were removed from the Island, no Drive Kills under their belt, and usually the Probability Breakdown Manifestations (PBM) around them are minor, something like... well, like 'All Oranges Within Two Feet Of Focus Spontaneously Taste Like Banannas'. Nothing to worry about, usually. There's probably a fair number of Class-0 Focuses walking around now, undetected, because whatever PBM they're doing is so minor it's gone undetected by us, or the focus. Often, Class-0 Focuses bring themselves to our attention. They'll go into a doctor's office and ask "Is it odd that whenever I urinate, theme music starts playing?" "Well, in your head?" "No, audible. My wife is getting annoyed." Usually the physician refers them directly to us, and we can send a man down with a vaccine to set them right.
Class-1 through Class-6 are the middle-of-the-road Focuses. Usually these people were Contestants, with one to twelve Drive Kills. They've got a variety of strengths, and the PBM's around them are equivalent to mid-level Improbable Events. Sometimes these are harmless, and sometimes not. It depends, and it also varies wildly from person to person. A good example of this was a Class-3 Focus that could make an origami ANYTHING. Analysis discovered that while some of it was simply talent, there were many things that were physically impossible to fold with a single piece of paper. We figured it out pretty quick when she managed to fold a small-scale exact replica of the Eiffel tower out of one three by five card. And I mean it when I say 'exact replica'. Down to the bolts on the cross braces. The big, important point is that these people usually didn't display any Joker-like abilities.
Class-7 is the first of what we call Joker-Class Focuses, which include Class-8 and Class-9 Focuses as well. Class-7 Focuses were usually Contestants that reached between thirteen and twenty Drive Kills, and they exhibited weak Joker-like control over probability. Class-7 is usually the most dangerous, because while they have the power, they don't have the control like Class-8 and Class-9.
Class-8 Focuses were usually Contestants that reached twenty to fifty Drive Kills. They exhibit moderate to strong Joker-like control over probability, and a modicum of control over their power, usually. Around Class-8, we've run into what we call 'Jokers Wild' scenarios, where a Focus has no control over their ability. It's usually terrifying for everyone involved, Focus included. It's also around Class-8 Focuses where we have the most Improbable Vaccine-related fatalities, but it is still a very rare occurrence.
Class-9 Focuses were usually Contestants that reached fifty to over one-hundred Drive Kills. They exhibit extremely powerful PBMs, and have a high level of control over their power, equivalent to an extremely powerful, extremely old Joker. The most dangerous Focuses, and also the rarest. We've only had three in the history of IMPCOM's missions, and that's out of some seven-hundred odd Focuses.
Class-10 doesn't exist, as far as we're concerned, because it's patently impossible. The idea here is a Focus that exhibits probability control beyond anything even an on-island Joker can achieve. We're talking equivalent ability and reality-bending power as some kind of demi-god. We've dubbed Class-10 "Drive-Class", because that's basically what a Class-10 Focus would be - a walking manifestation of the Improbability Drive. If something like this ever happened, god help us all, because we have no countermeasure, and we've seen how effective attacks against the Improbability Drive have been. There's people in the Island that have simply stopped counting how many times they've tried killing the damn thing. So, yes, Class-10 is a thing, but the only one that exists is the Improbability Drive on Improbable Island.
...
My assistant just brought me some more paperwork. Damn.
Oh, and it's triplicate forms, too. Eben would be jealous.
Speaking of people on the island, I've been keeping tabs on a certain somebody as of late. Looks like my dear sister, Devon, is up to something. I'll be watching her a bit more carefully, if time allows.
I wonder how everyone is doing. There's so many people to check in on, and usually I barely have time to peek at more than one or two people a week. I think about that a lot. QQQ, DICE, ICEE... TYPES. WATCH, even, and the rest of the clans I knew, like SRS and TW. Are they even all around? Alive? Maybe on my day off I'll try to peek in on them. See how they're all doing. Just for peace of mind...
Also, discovered something interesting. Video archive footage that's being uploaded from the island, via something called a "CLOG unit". Interesting, indeed. A little eye on the ground! Most of the archive footage I've seen from the cameras, but there's some new stuff that's been exciting to look at. It looks like the CLOG belongs to 'Monkey' Rosemoo, too, so there's some footage there of Kolojang, Devon, Rose, and even the rare appearance of my middle daughter, Felidae. Good times.
I miss them.
I'll post again during my day off, or perhaps when I get back.
No comments:
Post a Comment