Checking in [Mathew]

[Delilah A. Black]

Delilah raised an eyebrow as Mathew sniggered on his way out of the room, having no idea what was going on in that head of his. What he found funny was beyond her, but these things usually revealed themselves in time.

Attention turned back to Barker for the moment and she leaned back, folding her arms across her chest, though she spoke mostly to herself. "So all of this has been a sick test of his...turning us into tools for him to use. Against his 'Creators'?"

She kneaded her eyes with the palms of her hands, lifting her eyes back to Barker.

"He did seem to regard Qi as an 'inferior' aspect of humans. Have you studied side-effects of using the masks?"

[Mathew Amtrum]

Mathew was still there, just in the doorway as he composed himself. Creators, qi being inferior in humans. It's like the guy didn't look at people as they were. It was clearly an advantage to have it rather than not have it. It felt good to laugh, he hadn't done so in far to long.

"Doesn't matter because I'm going to kill him."

Not for Barker, not for branding them terrorists, not even because his war against God or whatever. They were reasons, but not the big one. No, it was personal. This man walked into his friend's home, murdered him, and stole something that belonged to Mathew. It was his plan, his battle, his fight. He didn't care if Strike swooped in stealing the kill. It was his trophy.

[Mr. Kaar]

Barker would look to Mathew.

"Of that, there is some doubt. Though your chances are probably the highest."

Barker would answer the question asked.

"No side effects I've seen. The strong willed remain in control, the weak willed get taken by the mask. The mask is an entity of its own, though they can not speak, more exude emotions to communicate."

This came from his own experience with the mask he had.