A Scripta

Eule pulled out the memory and slipped into a trance.

A tall, lanky man in a jarhead haircut, cleanshaven, with bright blue eyes that he can see easily from the front row, stands calmly in front of the students in the classroom. "Good morning. I am Light-shine, recently joined with the Kheldian Lightling. I had been known as Breakman." He walks around the desk as he speaks. "In the winter of 2004, I was captured by Arachnos in Sharkhead Isle, and was a prisoner for just over a year before escaping. This class will give you the rudementary methods of resisting interrogation, indoctrination, and exploitation should you become a prisoner. And, ladies and gentlemen, you should always expect to become a prisoner.

"First, remember this. If you are captured, you are still a member of Hero Corps. You are still bound by its rules and regulations, even if your captors are not. We follow the Geneva Convention requirements due to prisoners of war, and you should demand the same treatment of your captors. However, they may not be of the same belief. If that's the case, then hold true to your mission, regardless of what they do to you. No, it won't be fair. Yes, it will seem like the Corps forgot about you. It's most important if you keep the faith, that we are doing everything in our power to find you.

"Also, you need to do everything in your power to make sure we find you. If you get nothing else out of this class, think of these things first and foremost if you're ever captured: Resist and escape...You will tell them your super hero name, never your real name. Your age, and that you are affiliated with Hero Corps. In some circles, that may make them let you go. In others, that may make things worse. Repeat that constantly, regardless of what they ask. If they ask you if you're all right, repeat that. It will be a mantra, and will guide you through your interrogation.

"Do not be surprised if they suddenly have information on you. Hero Corps keeps public files, but many of these types of captors have hackers that can find out information on you no matter how small your footprint on the Net is. Again, what do you say to them?"

The class repeats: "Name, Age, Affiliation."

"Good...

The scene changes, and Light-shine is dressed slightly differently. "If captured you will resist. You will help others to resist. You will strive to escape and help others to escape. Never accept presents directly from the enemy, no matter how small. DO NOT work with them. DO NOT cooperate...."

It changes again. "You may slip. This happens to the best of us. You may be faced with information from them that you know is an outright lie. You may be accused of doing or saying something and you want to rectify it. You may feel tired and your guard is down. Don't beat yourself up over it. It happened once - make sure it doesn't happen again. Forgive others who do the same. Remember: Resist and escape...

"The best times to escape are very early in your captivity or when you are being moved, provided there are more prisoners than guards, and that is usually the case. Do everything you can to manipulate the situation so that you can escape. If that's not possible, watch constantly for opportunities - coffee breaks, distractions, areas you can hide among. Always think when you escape that you will succeed in doing so. The class on Urban and Wilderness Evasion will be helpful here...

"Keep your mind active. Do not dwell on what is happening. If necessary, rehash memories. Tell yourself stories, but don't make them too realistic. The more fantastic, the more imaginative the better...

"Torture. Under the Geneva Convention, this is not allowed. However, Arachnos and the Isles doesn't follow that. You will be tortured. You will be hurt, maimed, or killed. You will be psychologically put to the test. They may give you drugs, either directly or without you knowing. You must do what?"

The class: "Resist."

"Yes. Fight through the drugs as best you can. Put yourself in a different mindset when the torture begins, and repeat the name, age, affiliation. This will help you remember who you are and what you are doing. Your captors will try and strip that from you, calling you everything from a number to the generic 'prisoner'. You are a hero, remember that. Be proud - they will try to humble you. Be defiant, but don't antagonize them. Don't look for fights. Set them up in your mind to be less than they are. Ridicule them. Give them nasty nicknames.

"Always, always keep busy, in mind and body. Continue with your personal hygiene, keep your area clean."

"Resist and escape."

Eule opened his eyes, and looked out at the lab full of technicians. He unfocused, and reached out through the force field.

And if she doesn't want to go there, I guess I can take her to the Infront, but that place is always crowded at night, and I really don't feel like waiting 20 minutes for a table...

He did it again to the other researcher.

In order to redefine the mannitol pathway in the necrotrophic plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea, we need a targeted deletion strategy of genes encoding two proteins of mannitol metabolism, a mannitol dehydrogenase (BcMTDH), and a mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase (BcMPD). Mobilization of mannitol and quantification of Bcmpd and Bcmtdh gene transcripts during development and osmotic stress should confirm a role for mannitol as temporary and disposable carbon storage compound...

He found he could touch many minds without being noticed. He could easily skim the surface thoughts. He detected the General - angry. He detected others that were blocked and he left them alone. He remembered the mind of his mentor at Hero Corps, and tried to reach for him. He couldn't seem to.

Eule came back to himself and rested. He'd try again later. In the meantime, he built up a "loop" in his mind so that the MindLord telepath would see those thoughts primarily, and he underneath it all would be his plans for resistance and escape.

((With information from: http://freelandtools.com/downloads/index.php?file=POW_Resistance_FM_21-78.pdf))