ZIRCON

## **Usage**

ZIRCON is a piece of technology that is very much advanced in comparison to the tech found in our own universe. The USA's Central Intelligence Association created the ZIRCON pill as a way to force enemy combatants to spill their secrets. Due to the results from testing (including a visual hallucination associated with ingesting the pill and lack of testers experiencing pain), use of this for military endeavors has been terminated. It is currently being used as a way to help elderly people remember things easier and access to a friend-like figure that will always listen to their stories.

## **Appearance**

ZIRCON pills are typically rather small, being about 15mm by 17mm (width and length). They come in a standard grey color. ZIRCON is meant to be ingested along with an activator agent (phosphoric acid). It may take several minutes for the pill to work its way through the bloodstream and up towards the brain and does so in a completely painless manner.

Once the pill has found the brain stem, it begins the process known as integration. During this process, the ZIRCON user will experience symptoms similar to being electrified: they typically lose control of their body (causing them to flop to the ground), experience nerve pain, and temporarily lose access to their senses. Some users may pass out from the shock. Regardless of whether or not they are awake, the process finishes in about two minutes.

Upon activation, the user will see a projected image of their most idolized individual standing next to them, much like a hallucination found in schizophrenic cases. Said individual will introduce themselves as the ZIRCON interface and ask for a purpose. Once a purpose has been given (ie, "I want to be cool", "I want to pass this class", "I really want a friend"), the ZIRCON pill will begin to assist the individual in tasks that bring them closer to the goal they want to achieve.

## **ZIRCON's Influence Over a Human Body**

Due to the fact that ZIRCON has direct access to the brain and nerves, it can do quite a number of fantastic things to the human body and brain. These give ZIRCON the leeway to manipulate the hormones, nerves, muscles, optics, and other bodily systems of their human host. Hosts typically learn how to multitask with ease. Seeing as how they can communicate with their ZIRCON simply by thinking at it, most users have been shown to have the ability to maintain a internal conversation with their ZIRCON unit while in a conversation.

Generally speaking, ZIRCON users tend to bond with their device rather quickly. This is because the unit has direct access to their brain and can mimic behaviors that the user enjoys or appreciates. ZIRCON does not require charging; rather, it simply requires for their user to have all of their personal needs met (such as food, water, etc.)

ZIRCON have been associated with happier lives, increased mood, lessened risk of depression and an overall uptick to one's social and emotional health.

## **ZIRCON-related incidents**

Despite it being authorized solely for use by the elderly, a few illegal copies have traded hands several times over and found their way down the pipe to a mainstream audience. ZIRCON has been attributed to a few accidents that have occurred, which are being studied endlessly by the creators of the ZIRCON pill. For the most part, the general public is unaware of these things being attributed to the pill, and brushes off accusations of some sort of medical device controlling these people's behaviors. A list of these ZIRCON-related incidents can be found below.

#### Middlebury High School Play

Occurred in 1998. An illegal user of the ZIRCON interface accidentally activated Commander mode, causing their ZIRCON pill to take control of nearby ZIRCON users. The anomaly attempted a takeover of the entire school via mass distribution of ZIRCON pills. However, the user managed to find the kill command and executed it before mass damage could be done. All links and pills associated with the anomalous ZIRCON have been terminated successfully.