Conversation 182: CHURCH / SOONA

Soona the Palediver.

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This is a listing of every "entry" in a given game conversation as scraped from the game files. Entries often contain written dialogue, as well as conditional logic governing their appearance to the player. They also link to other entries, sometimes automatically and sometimes through player action. This page is best used to search for a specific word or phrase, as following the links in this format can be difficult. For an experience that better accommodates the branching structure of these conversations, see the corresponding interactive page.

Column definitions:
  • ID: a numerical index for the entry within this conversation.
  • Character: the character speaking or acting.
  • Dialogue: prose containing spoken dialogue and other description.
  • Conditions: logical checks governing this entry appearing or occurring.
  • Links: entries that might follow this one, depending on conditions and player choice. Most links are internal to this conversation, external links to other conversations are marked with the format (conversation ID, entry ID).
ID Character Dialogue Conditions Links
0 None
  • 1
1 None
  • 416
2 Soona, the Programmer "What is it?" The woman is still hunched over the keyboard, gently illuminated by the purring machine.
  • 406
3 None
  • 1200
  • 1198
  • 1135
  • 1132
  • 766
  • 6
  • 761
  • 4
  • 131
  • 236
  • 1094
  • 61
  • 8
  • 789
  • 140
  • 491
  • 143
  • 7
  • 32
  • 650
  • 60
  • 23
  • 497
  • 101
  • 1356
  • 1096
  • 1095
  • 1355
  • 5
4 You "How's the project going? I see that your neighbours have moved in, but all I hear is anodic dance music." IsTaskActive("TASK.check_on_soona") and Variable["church.ravers_inside_church"]
  • 692
5 You "Right, I'll let you work in peace now." [Leave.]
6 You "Alright, I talked to Egg Head, he plugged in the cable. You can now *unmute* your speakers." IsTaskActive("TASK.report_to_soona_unmute")--[[ Variable[ ]]
  • 341
7 You "How do you feel about *anodic dance music*?" IsTaskActive("TASK.establish_church_dance_club") and Variable["church.soona_said_church_plan_already"] == false
  • 44
8 You "Have you seen the man living up in the rafters?"
  • 27
9 Soona, the Programmer "What?" She snorts with disdain. "I'm not going anywhere. This is a public space and I am free to bend the circuit as I find necessary. Besides..."
  • 63
10 Soona, the Programmer
  • 11
  • 12
11 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 192
12 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 9
13 Kim Kitsuragi "Oh, I see," the lieutenant says, raising a finger, "this is connected to the drug manufacturing thing."
  • 195
  • 196
  • 197
14 Soona, the Programmer
  • 15
  • 16
15 Soona, the Programmer Variable["tc.wayfarer_act"]
  • 201
16 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["tc.wayfarer_act"]) == false
  • 65
17 You "It's really hard to be a *cop* with all these *laws*!"
  • 19
18 Kim Kitsuragi "It's the Wayfarer Act again," the lieutenant says, nodding. "You can't just throw citizens out of public spaces, at least not legally."
  • 202
19 Soona, the Programmer
  • 20
  • 21
20 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 18
21 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 68
22 Kim Kitsuragi "And she's not. Disrupting any order, I mean."
  • 207
23 You Evict her. IsTaskActive("TASK.convince_or_evict_soona") and Variable["church.soona_asked_her_to_leave"]
  • 24
24 Soona, the Programmer
  • 25
  • 26
25 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_redcheck_half_light"]
  • 34
26 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_redcheck_half_light"]) == false
  • 35
27 Soona, the Programmer "No."
  • 28
28 You "But you know he's around?"
  • 29
29 Soona, the Programmer "Yes."
  • 36
  • 427
  • 50
30 None
  • 3
31 Soona, the Programmer The lead programmer sighs. "I can't believe they got you so easily. Go have another talk with those up-and-coming entrepreneurs, will you? Thanks."
  • 1036
32 You "How do you feel about manufacturing large quantities of drugs?" IsTaskActive("TASK.establish_church_dance_club") and Variable["ice.andre_logic_done"] == true and Variable["church.soona_discussed_drug_lab"] == false and Variable["church.soona_said_dance_drug_lab_plan"] == false and Variable["ice.andre_logic_notlab"] == false and Variable["XP.arrested_or_evicted_ravers"] == false
  • 159
33 You "Sorry, but... who *are* you? What are you doing here?"
  • 410
34 Half Light All you hear is the accelerated heart rate in your ears, pounding at 100bpm. Beat by beat, your blood readies for conflict.
  • 78
35 Half Light You're not really feeling it, but you should try to force it, anyway. Maybe she won't be able to tell?
  • 208
36 You "He's seen *you*." Variable["church.tiago_asked_about_soona"]
  • 37
37 Soona, the Programmer "And?"
  • 38
  • 412
38 You "And? *The crab-man* has seen you!" Variable["tc.crab_man"]
  • 39
39 Soona, the Programmer "I don't care, I don't care about crab men." She barely looks up, now tinkering with the machine's printer.
  • 1030
40 Soona, the Programmer "Exactly, what *does* it mean?" There's something frantic about her as she locks her gaze with you, eyes shining like pearls. "Up to now it has been impossible to say what it is, because it's impossible to measure *nothing*."
  • 41
41 Soona, the Programmer "What do *you* think it is? What qualities does *nothing* have? How do you measure something that does not exist?" She's suddenly absorbed in the conversation, waiting for your answer.
  • 42
42 Logic Easy, you measure it by the world around it.
  • 478
43 None
  • 755
  • 54
  • 58
  • 53
44 Soona, the Programmer "What?" She squints her eyes. "I hate it."
  • 1013
45 You "A youth centre would be nice."
  • 31
46 You "A petting zoo, a place for animals!"
  • 31
47 You "Maybe some community space to help the elderly?"
  • 31
48 You "I'm still convinced they want to establish a nightclub for anodic dance music -- they said it's their *dream*."
  • 31
49 Soona, the Programmer "But honestly, it's not progressing very well." She grows silent, staring at her circle of basins -- it looks like some ancient ritual.
  • 441
50 You "It sounds like you're not worried about him at all."
  • 51
51 Soona, the Programmer "No, you're right, I'm not..." Her voice trails off, as she bends over to tinker with the machine's printer.
  • 52
52 None
  • 3
53 You "I don't know, I'm not here for some science, I just want to solve a murder so I can go home."
  • 59
54 You "You measure it by collecting data on its surroundings, on that which exists." Variable["church.soona_logic_measuring_nothing"] == true
  • 55
55 Soona, the Programmer "Exactly," she nods, "very true! That's what I've been aiming for, that's why I have those basins. I've tried using hydrotransducers to record the silence -- to find out where it *begins*."
  • 1035
56 You "Isn't your Rehm Prefect radiocomputer made exclusively for the government-use?" Variable["church.mainframe_encyclo_ream_models_difference"] == true and Variable["church.soona_asked_about_antenna"] and Variable["church.soona_asked_about_radiocomputer"]
  • 57
57 Soona, the Programmer "So you do know *something* about computers." She looks up, almost proud of you. "You're right, Prefect *is* used mostly by the government peeps."
  • 458
  • 457
58 You "I can't even understand how we're talking about something that doesn't exist, let alone measure it."
  • 59
59 Soona, the Programmer "You measure it by its surroundings -- by that which does exist," she replies, "which is what I've been trying to do. I've tried using hydrotransducers to record the silence -- to find out where it *begins*."
  • 1035
60 You "What if you *didn't* have to leave? I talked to Andre, he wants to make it work." Variable["church.soona_said_church_plan_already"] == true and IsTaskActive("TASK.convince_or_evict_soona") and Variable["church.soona_asked_her_to_cooperate"] == false
  • 99
61 You "Those ravers won't be bothering you anymore -- I arrested them because they were planning a drug trade." Variable["church.andre_arrest_order_given"] == true
  • 62
62 Soona, the Programmer "You arrested them..." She looks up, surprised. "Didn't think the cops in this place had it in them," she murmurs.
  • 107
63 Perception (Sight) A small satisfied smile breaks free on her face, infuriatingly triumphant.
  • 64
64 Soona, the Programmer "I'm protected by the Wayfarer Act."
  • 14
65 None
  • 66
  • 67
66 You "What's the Wayfarer Act?"
  • 68
67 You (Cross your arms.) "There is no Wayfarer Act."
  • 69
68 Soona, the Programmer "The Wayfarer Act states that citizens have the right to gather in public spaces unless they're disrupting the public order."
  • 203
69 Soona, the Programmer "Ah, but there *is* and it *protects* me!"
  • 68
70 Logic Did she say *over 16 years of experience*? She must have started programming when she was still a teenager.
  • 411
71 Half Light Look at how pleased she is with herself, playing with her 'important science machines'. Academics!!
  • 652
72 You "Wait, I have my... I have my..." (Take out your gun.) CheckItem("gun_villiers") or CheckItem("gun_ruby")
  • 77
73 You "You're right. The Wayfarer Act is the foundation of our legal order. I can't cross it on a whim. You're welcome to stay."
  • 98
74 Soona, the Programmer "Have some dignity," the woman sighs, turning back to her radiocomputer.
  • 745
75 You "You're leaving this church..." (Take out your gun.) "...one way or another." CheckItem("gun_villiers") or CheckItem("gun_ruby")
  • 85
76 None
  • 72
  • 97
  • 73
77 Half Light But you don't take out your gun -- instead you fumble with the holster, desperately trying to free the weapon from its pouch... It looks pathetic.
  • 74
78 None
  • 75
  • 81
79 Soona, the Programmer "God..." The girl immediately steps back and raises her hands. "Easy now, I'll go, it's not an issue! Can I pack my things first?"
  • 89
80 You (Nod once.) "Just make sure you're gone by the time I get back."
  • 433
81 You "You better start going if you don't want to be frogmarched to the jail." (Roll up your sleeves.)
  • 82
82 Soona, the Programmer "God..." She immediately steps back and raises her hands, sensing the aggression. "Easy now, I'll go. It's not an issue. Can I pack my things first?"
  • 80
  • 430
83 Soona, the Programmer She turns off her computer and leaves.
84 You "Miss, I need you to be gone from this church when I come back." (Put away your gun.)
  • 1020
85 Soona, the Programmer
  • 86
  • 87
86 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 88
87 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 79
88 Kim Kitsuragi "Detective..."
  • 314
89 Soona, the Programmer
  • 90
  • 91
90 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 92
91 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 84
92 Kim Kitsuragi "Put the gun down, detective." The lieutenant's voice is low and firm.
  • 93
  • 84
93 You "I'm not putting down my gun unless she promises to be gone when I come back."
  • 94
94 Soona, the Programmer "I promise, I promise!" she exclaims, words echoing below the ceiling rafters.
  • 315
95 You "Good." (Put away your gun.)
  • 1020
96 None
  • 3
97 You "Please just go, will you? Please... Pretty please, I don't want to fight. Fighting is scary, and gives me breathing difficulties."
  • 74
98 Soona, the Programmer "Of course I can stay. It wasn't even a question."
  • 745
99 Soona, the Programmer "I don't want to make anything work," she replies, her expression unchanged.
  • 214
  • 552
100 None
  • 3
101 You Put on the headphones. Variable["church.soona_reveal_whitecheck"] == true and IsTaskActive("TASK.soona_headphones_subtask")
  • 102
102 Soona, the Programmer
  • 103
  • 104
103 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_whitecheck_perc"]
  • 636
104 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_whitecheck_perc"]) == false
  • 654
105 Perception (Hearing) And then the pressure changes.
  • 309
  • 310
106 Perception (Hearing) All you hear is your own breathing, heavy and hoarse from all the nights spent drinking... It's the breath of an old man.
  • 306
107 None
  • 3
108 Soona, the Programmer "A chance to cook some speed, you mean?" she asks sourly, crossing her arms.
  • 109
  • 224
109 You "They *promised* they'll do it clean."
  • 110
110 Soona, the Programmer "Uh, *did they*?" she asks, clicking her tongue. A moment passes.
  • 111
111 Soona, the Programmer "Alright, this is all very good and sad, but I have my research to finish. Trust me, this is far more important than the fate of some local speedfreaks and their dance music."
  • 813
112 You "What if I helped you *finish* your project? Then you could leave -- and they could come in."
  • 513
113 Soona, the Programmer "Well?" Soona asks as soon as you take off the headphones. "Did you hear anything?"
  • 114
  • 653
114 You "No, nothing. It's just silence."
  • 115
115 Soona, the Programmer "Yeah..." Her voice is bitter with disappointment.
  • 752
116 None
  • 248
  • 126
  • 246
  • 244
  • 124
  • 117
  • 793
  • 120
  • 118
  • 232
  • 678
117 You "Why can't you go and get the filament yourself?" Variable["church.soona_copy_in_fridge"]
  • 227
118 You "Where is your old workspace?" Variable["doomed.radiocomputer_repeater_station_called_once"] == false and Variable["doomed.doorbell_clicked_fortress_accident"] == false
  • 226
119 Rhetoric Hold on... If it's called an off-site copy, then why is it still *on*-site?
  • 796
120 You "If it's called an off-site copy, then why is it still on-site?" Variable["church.soona_rhetoric_why_is_off_site_copy_on_site"] == true
  • 121
121 Soona, the Programmer "Oh god, not *this* again..." She takes a deep breath, before letting it all out: "It is not *on-site*, it is *in the basement*, perfectly safe and not connected to the front *at all*."
  • 1017
122 You "And where exactly is the off-site copy?"
  • 818
123 Soona, the Programmer "There's this giant ice bear fridge in the building's cellar -- it's there."
  • 518
124 You "I found a note from the ice bear fridge. It said the off-site copy had been moved to 'a safer place'." Variable["doomed.icebear_read_the_note"] == true and Variable["church.soona_copy_in_fridge"] == true
  • 524
125 Soona, the Programmer "Zawisza, of course..." She relaxes. "Our project lead Sulisław Zawisza. God, he was always so hell-bent on keeping the copy somewhere 'safe'. And feature creep..." she mutters, "and the Valley of the Heads..."
  • 316
126 You "Is this the filament you're looking for?" (Show her the production schedule.) CheckItem("filament_memory_production_schedule")
  • 249
127 Inland Empire Wait, no! That's dangerous, she shouldn't do it!
  • 258
128 You "Don't waste your time printing it out, there's nothing but ink there. It's broken." Variable["doomed.radiocomputer_perc_redcheck_success"] == false and Variable["doomed.radiocomputer_printed_out_offsite_copy_once"] == true
  • 254
129 Logic What an interesting proposition! Truly a task for the intellectuals -- solving the puzzle of water bowls.
  • 283
130 Interfacing Yes, but you like moving things around. Moving things around is calming.
  • 291
  • 292
131 You "I moved the water bowls to the right position, just like you asked. What's next?" Variable["church.waterbowls_moved"] and IsTaskActive("TASK.move_the_waterbowls")
  • 594
132 Soona, the Programmer "Because it reminds us of death. And we humans tend to think that death is pretty scary."
  • 1081
133 You "It's scary, but we just have to face it."
  • 609
134 Empathy Despite her fear she was hoping for something extraordinary to take place.
  • 624
135 Egg Head "MAXIMUM!" shouts Egg Head, a great smile still adorning his face, larger than a red dwarf star.
  • 334
136 None
  • 56
  • 137
  • 139
  • 138
  • 382
137 You "Why do you need an antenna?" (Point to it.) Variable["church.orb_antenna_clicked"] == true
  • 385
138 You "What about those bowls of water over there?" Variable["church.orb_waterbasins_clicked"] == true
  • 394
139 You "What are you doing with your radiocomputer?"
  • 398
140 You "Why are there so many machines in this place?"
  • 141
141 Soona, the Programmer "I brought them here. These are my machines. Please don't touch anything."
  • 136
142 None
  • 477
  • 443
  • 145
  • 144
  • 626
  • 445
143 You "What are you doing in an abandoned church?" Variable["church.soona_two_mm_hole_known"] == false
  • 466
144 You "Do you have any idea where this hole might be located?" Variable["church.soona_said_research_not_going_well"] == true
  • 386
145 You "A hole in the world... What does that mean exactly?"
  • 40
146 You "Okay. Wow. That was quick. Why do you hate it?"
  • 147
147 Soona, the Programmer "Maybe I'd have to be *on drugs* to get it, but to a sober mind it just sounds like uninspired rug whipping. No idea what it has to do with either dancing or music."
  • 148
148 You "Right, right... but how do you feel about a *club* for anodic dance music?"
  • 149
149 Soona, the Programmer "This is about those speedfreaks in the tent, isn't it?" She looks up, shaking her head. "I've got some news for you, it's not a *nightclub* they want to build here..."
  • 150
150 You "What do they want to build then?"
  • 151
151 Soona, the Programmer "Take a guess, why don't you?"
  • 152
152 None
  • 153
  • 45
  • 46
  • 47
  • 48
153 You "I heard they're also planning on building a drug lab." Variable["ice.andre_logic_done"] == true and Variable["ice.andre_logic_notlab"] == false
  • 154
154 Soona, the Programmer "Bingo." She snaps her fingers. "That's exactly what they're up to."
  • 155
155 Soona, the Programmer
  • 156
  • 157
156 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 158
157 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 428
158 Kim Kitsuragi "Wonderful," the lieutenant whispers, admiring the embellished pillars and the spectacular architecture in the church.
  • 494
159 Soona, the Programmer
  • 160
  • 161
160 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_said_church_plan_already"]
  • 167
161 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_said_church_plan_already"]) == false
  • 165
162 Soona, the Programmer "Good."
  • 1049
163 You "Really?"
  • 164
164 Soona, the Programmer "No, of course not." She turns her tired, sardonic eyes to face you. "I feel even worse about drugs than I feel about nightclubs."
  • 495
165 Soona, the Programmer "I feel that's illegal."
  • 1047
166 Soona, the Programmer "I see you've talked to them, good. Drugs are illegal, and I'm not leaving this church -- especially because of some corrupt drug lab idea you've cooked up in that tent."
  • 185
167 Soona, the Programmer
  • 168
  • 169
168 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_andre_logic_hint"]
  • 166
169 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_andre_logic_hint"]) == false
  • 162
170 You "Right, isn't that what makes it fun?"
  • 172
171 You "Your feeling is right, manufacturing drugs is a little illegal."
  • 173
172 Soona, the Programmer "No, certainly not. I've got a citizen's investigation to run and I want nothing to do with local vices."
  • 174
173 Soona, the Programmer "Yes, I know that."
  • 188
174 None
  • 3
175 You "They're just encouraging an active *youth culture* here, nothing wrong with that."
  • 179
176 You "Mind-altering substances are a vital part of anodic club scene, it helps to bring the community together."
  • 179
177 You Say nothing.
  • 178
178 Soona, the Programmer "So that's settled, great." She supports her chin on her hand, visibly pleased: "No nightclubs in the church then."
  • 649
179 Soona, the Programmer "Yeah, what I said before... Not possible to appreciate that kind of music without being high as a kite."
  • 178
180 You "I'm just encouraging an active *youth culture*, nothing wrong with that."
  • 184
181 Kim Kitsuragi "Wonderful," the lieutenant whispers. "Now this place is also going to be a drug lab. Always something fascinating happening in tents."
  • 1040
182 You "Mind-altering substances are a vital part of anodic club scene. It helps to bring the community together."
  • 184
183 You Say nothing.
  • 184
184 Kim Kitsuragi "No, don't mind me, go on with your little project. I'm sure you can spin it as an under-cover op. Many cops do."
  • 496
185 Soona, the Programmer
  • 186
  • 187
186 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 181
187 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 174
188 Soona, the Programmer
  • 189
  • 190
189 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 191
190 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 174
191 Kim Kitsuragi "It is, yes. It's against the law. We're cops -- the law is *important* to us."
  • 174
192 Soona, the Programmer
  • 193
  • 194
193 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_said_dance_drug_lab_plan"]
  • 13
194 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_said_dance_drug_lab_plan"]) == false
  • 198
195 You "Gotcha. It's almost party time!"
  • 9
196 You "How could you? This is a completely separate issue!"
  • 199
197 You (Ignore him and address the lead programmer) "I want you to take your belongings and leave within an hour."
  • 9
198 Kim Kitsuragi "Interesting, a police officer trying to evict a citizen from a public space despite the Wayfarer Act."
  • 14
199 Kim Kitsuragi "Apologies, I was just thinking out loud. Go on."
  • 9
200 You "No, please, not the Wayfarer Act again..." (Close your eyes.)
  • 19
201 None
  • 17
  • 200
202 Soona, the Programmer "Yes, thank you. Now, if you'd only let me work..."
  • 651
203 Soona, the Programmer
  • 204
  • 205
204 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 22
205 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 206
206 Soona, the Programmer "And before you go on, I am *not* disrupting any order here, I'm a circuit bender and no one has anything against circuit benders."
  • 71
207 Soona, the Programmer "I'm a circuit bender and no one ever has anything against circuit benders."
  • 71
208 None
  • 209
  • 210
209 You "I don't *care* about the Wayfarer Act! Get out of here!" (Stomp your feet.)
  • 211
210 You I can't do it. I don't *feel* scary.
  • 212
211 Soona, the Programmer "No, but you see, it doesn't matter whether you care about it or not. It's the law," she explains to you without even sparing a look, "I'm not going anywhere."
  • 76
212 Soona, the Programmer She's still typing behind the radiocomputer, her sweater-clad frame hunched over the machine.
  • 429
213 None
  • 3
214 You "Hold on, you don't want to make *anything* work?"
  • 215
215 Soona, the Programmer "Yes, *anything*. I don't want to make anything work."
  • 217
216 Empathy It's not the anodic dance music that's made her bitter... it's the failure of Fortress Accident.
  • 561
217 Soona, the Programmer
  • 218
  • 219
218 Soona, the Programmer Variable["doomed.dicemaker_fortress_explained"]
  • 216
219 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["doomed.dicemaker_fortress_explained"]) == false
  • 552
220 You "Are you bitter because your radio game project failed?"
  • 221
221 Soona, the Programmer "That's right." Something strange shines in her eyes. "If we couldn't get our *welkins* to happen, I don't want anything to happen. Ever again."
  • 222
222 Empathy There's not a trace of irony in her voice. She means it.
  • 553
223 You Don't bring it up.
  • 239
224 You "This is Martinaise, what can you expect? They're the product of their surroundings."
  • 225
225 Soona, the Programmer "Very cool, but I don't want any part of those 'surroundings' myself, good or bad."
  • 814
226 Soona, the Programmer "On Rue de Saint-Ghislaine in the East Delta Commerce Centre." She wipes some hair off her face and sighs.
  • 519
227 Soona, the Programmer "The bookstore lady hates me -- says I'm part of the *curse*, whatever that means."
  • 797
  • 230
228 You "Wait -- bookstore lady -- you mean Plaisance?" Variable["doomed.plais_greeting_done"] == true
  • 229
229 Soona, the Programmer "That's her name, I believe."
  • 800
  • 122
230 You "Why does she think you're part of the curse?"
  • 231
231 Soona, the Programmer "Because she's from Martinaise and people from Martinaise have never ever seen a radiocomputer. She thinks it emits elemental *evil*."
  • 515
  • 520
  • 522
  • 815
232 You "By your old workspace do you mean the studio of Fortress Accident in the Doomed Commercial Area?" (Variable["doomed.radiocomputer_repeater_station_called_once"] == true or Variable["doomed.doorbell_clicked_fortress_accident"] == true) and Variable["church.soona_copy_in_fridge"] == false
  • 233
233 Soona, the Programmer "Yeah, that's the one. You can get in through the bookshop. You just have to do some explaining to the bookstore lady."
  • 228
  • 800
  • 122
234 None
  • 116
235 None
  • 116
236 You "About the off-site copy you asked me to bring..." Variable["church.soona_quest_hub_reached"] == true and Variable["TASK.bring_off_site_copy_to_soona_done"] == false and IsTaskActive("TASK.help_soona_with_her_project")
  • 237
237 Soona, the Programmer "Yes?"
  • 238
238 None
  • 116
239 Soona, the Programmer She gets back to work.
  • 553
240 None
  • 116
241 Soona, the Programmer "And no, taking it outside the building *wouldn't* have protected it from the data loss. There's nothing wrong with keeping the backup in the basement. What happened was a freak accident that has nothing to do with how the backup was stored."
  • 634
242 Empathy This is clearly a painful topic for her. She must have had to explain herself numerous times.
  • 235
243 Soona, the Programmer "No, that's the production schedule you stole and accessed without authorization." She's tapping the table in a badly concealed impatience. "I don't need it."
  • 737
244 You "By the way, we put a dead body in that fridge." Variable["TASK.fridge_victims_body_done"] and Variable["church.soona_told_her_about_the_fridge_note"] == true
  • 527
245 Soona, the Programmer "You put it there..." She leans back, massaging her eyelids. "You put a dead body inside the ice bear fridge..."
  • 531
  • 532
  • 533
246 You "I found the ice cream maker, but couldn't get it open -- it's completely frozen." Variable["doomed.icecreammaker_greeting_hub_done"] and Variable["TASK.get_frozen_ice_cream_maker_open_done"] == false and Variable["church.soona_told_her_about_the_fridge_note"]
  • 537
247 None
  • 116
248 You "I brought you the filament." (Give her the off-site copy.) CheckItem("filament_memory_off_site_copy")
  • 538
249 Soona, the Programmer
  • 250
  • 251
250 Soona, the Programmer Variable["doomed.radiocomputer_guessed_parole_wrong_and_got_reported_dev_schedule"]
  • 243
251 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["doomed.radiocomputer_guessed_parole_wrong_and_got_reported_dev_schedule"]) == false
  • 252
252 Soona, the Programmer "No, that's the production schedule, I don't need it. The right filament memory has 'OFF-SITE COPY' written on silver tape."
  • 1056
253 You "Wait! Don't put it in yet, it might be dangerous!" Variable["church.soona_inland_offsite_copy_dangerous_to_insert"] == true
  • 541
254 Soona, the Programmer "I know it's just ink," she replies, as the filament clicks into place, "but Lintel was somehow able to divine the location of the anomaly from this broken copy. I want to repeat their calculation, only this time with better equipment."
  • 546
255 You "Don't waste your time printing it out, there's nothing but a speck of white in a sea of ink. It's broken." Variable["doomed.radiocomputer_perc_redcheck_success"] == true
  • 256
256 Soona, the Programmer "A speck of white?" She sounds excited, as the filament clicks into place. "That's exactly what I'm hoping to find."
  • 547
257 You "What are you even hoping to find?"
  • 262
258 None
  • 253
  • 128
  • 255
  • 257
259 Soona, the Programmer
  • 260
  • 261
260 Soona, the Programmer Variable["doomed.radiocomputer_printed_out_offsite_copy_once"]
  • 258
261 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["doomed.radiocomputer_printed_out_offsite_copy_once"]) == false
  • 127
262 Soona, the Programmer "I have a theory," she says, as the filament clicks into place. "Lintel was able to divine the location of the anomaly from this broken copy. I want to repeat their calculation, only this time with better equipment."
  • 263
263 Soona, the Programmer "Watch," she says and presses PRINT on the machine's keyboard, "what an intricate display of failure..."
  • 550
264 Soona, the Programmer "Lintel was able to divine the location of the anomaly from this broken copy. I want to repeat their calculation, only this time with better equipment."
  • 549
265 You (Play it cool.) "Now what?"
  • 280
266 You "Something's very wrong with that filament memory."
  • 280
267 Interfacing This is wrong, machines shouldn't behave like that.
  • 271
268 Conceptualization It's the abyss staring back at you.
  • 270
269 You (Step back.) "Please just... stop. Stop playing with this thing!"
  • 272
270 None
  • 265
  • 266
  • 269
271 Half Light Cold sweat trickles down your spine... This is spooky as hell.
  • 268
272 Soona, the Programmer "Huh?" She looks up, puzzled.
  • 273
273 Soona, the Programmer
  • 274
  • 275
274 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 276
275 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 584
276 Kim Kitsuragi "You okay?"
  • 584
277 You "I'm okay, just please be careful. Trying to locate a *hole in the world* might be dangerous."
  • 279
278 You "Nothing, khm, please... continue."
  • 280
279 Soona, the Programmer "I *am* being careful. Treat it as a mere technical anomaly, makes it easier to bear." She runs her hands over the printout, searching for something...
  • 281
280 Soona, the Programmer Soona doesn't reply, her hands running over the printout. She's looking for something -- for her morning star -- eyes scouring the millimetres.
  • 281
281 Soona, the Programmer "Here," she suddenly says, rising her ink-stained fingertip, "I found it."
  • 565
282 None
  • 3
283 Soona, the Programmer
  • 284
  • 285
284 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_logic_excited_about_waterbowls"]
  • 286
285 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_logic_excited_about_waterbowls"]) == false
  • 290
286 You "Right, I'll go figure it out, I'm good at intellectual puzzles."
  • 287
287 Soona, the Programmer "Figure it out?" She shakes her head, grinning. "No, I don't need you to figure anything out, I've got a computer for that." She pats the mainframe.
  • 592
288 Logic What? She only wants you to follow instructions, nothing *intellectually stimulating* in this task... A child could do it!
  • 130
289 Soona, the Programmer "Just walk over to the circle and follow my instructions: Move the third bowl two centimetres to the left and the fourth bowl five centimetres to the right. This should do the trick."
  • 292
290 Interfacing You like moving things around. Moving things around is calming.
  • 289
291 You "What, you don't trust my intellectual capabilities to solve this problem on my own?"
  • 294
292 You "Sure, no problem."
  • 293
293 Soona, the Programmer "Thanks." She smiles.
  • 1073
294 Soona, the Programmer "Eh?" She frowns. "Come on, it's not about your brain -- even I couldn't figure it out on my own."
  • 593
295 You "Wait, why did you have your headphones on mute in the first place?"
  • 297
296 You "Isn't it going to be just silence and nothing else?"
  • 298
297 Soona, the Programmer "Honestly..." She's avoiding your gaze. "Honestly, I'm a little scared."
  • 296
298 Soona, the Programmer "I don't know." She stares at the heart of her computer. "That's what I'm scared of: I don't know. It could be *anything*."
  • 601
299 Soona, the Programmer "I don't know, I'm just scared. Maybe it's going to be something terrifying. Maybe it's going to tear the world apart."
  • 301
300 Soona, the Programmer And then nothing.
  • 612
301 Conceptualization Like that evil ink that filled the printout, erasing coherence and meaning.
  • 604
  • 605
302 Kim Kitsuragi The lieutenant takes a step back...
  • 300
303 Soona, the Programmer
  • 304
  • 305
304 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 302
305 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 300
306 Perception (Hearing) But there's something else...
  • 307
307 Perception (Hearing) There *has* to be. Something big, something unexpected... something *new*, yet to be discovered.
  • 635
308 Conceptualization When was the last time this world had anything new to say?
  • 113
309 You What does it mean?
  • 311
310 You Yes, but can I *hear* anything?
  • 311
311 Perception (Hearing) It feels like flying on an aerostatic, or when your ears pop, or like a subtle difference in the atmosphere, a weather change hanging in the air...
  • 312
312 Perception (Hearing) What if the sound you're looking for is too low for you to hear it?
  • 637
313 Perception (Sight) Her lower lip is quivering.
  • 95
314 Empathy There's caution in his voice.
  • 79
315 Authority Finally, compliance.
  • 313
316 Soona, the Programmer "Like it would have made a difference -- the off-site copy was perfectly safe when the data loss happened. That data loss was *anomalous*." She crosses her arms defiantly.
  • 526
317 You "From your neighbours, of course."
  • 319
318 Perception (Hearing) Suddenly a rhythmic beat permeates the walls, causing a small patch of decorative stucco to crumble onto the wooden floor.
  • 330
319 Soona, the Programmer "You mean the *speedfreaks*?" She closes her eyes, as more dance music invades the holy silence of the sanctuary.
  • 639
320 You "Sure, if you agree to let them build their drug lab." Variable["ice.andre_logic_cut"] or Variable["ice.ice_andre_drugs_undecided"] or Variable["ice.andre_ok_drug_lab"]
  • 322
321 You "They *would* if you wouldn't mind them moving in with you."
  • 326
322 Soona, the Programmer "No, officer, I don't *agree* to anything."
  • 327
323 Soona, the Programmer "But most of the time I'm fully absorbed in my work with the radiocomputer," she then goes on, "and there are still parts of the church I haven't had time to explore, so..."
  • 640
324 You "Great, I'll go talk to them then."
  • 325
325 Soona, the Programmer "Sure, let me know how it goes." She lingers for a moment, before adding: "Thanks, officer."
  • 328
326 Soona, the Programmer "I guess I could live through a week or two of peaceful coexistence."
  • 1092
327 Soona, the Programmer She pauses, looking you in the eye.
  • 1093
328 None
  • 3
329 Kim Kitsuragi "They should really allocate some renovation funds to this place..." murmurs the lieutenant, inspecting the damage done to the arabesques.
  • 361
330 Soona, the Programmer
  • 331
  • 332
331 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 329
332 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 317
333 Soona, the Programmer "I know, I know it is, but... could you *please* turn it down just this instance? Just *this* one time -- maximum is *not* the only way, okay?"
  • 335
334 Egg Head "MAXIMUM IS THE ONLY WAY!"
  • 333
335 Egg Head "Pump it to the brick, pump it to the hard master! There is no other way. Glue-style."
  • 826
336 You "I think what Egg Head is trying to say here is that the volume button is *stuck* on maximum."
  • 339
337 Soona, the Programmer "See?" She turns to face you, ready to give up. "He *pumps it to the hard master*. It's hopeless..."
  • 345
  • 336
338 Egg Head "YEAGHHH! PERMANENT ENLIGHTENMENT. RAY OF SOUND."
  • 340
339 Soona, the Programmer "Of course it is." She shrugs, consigned to her fate.
  • 338
340 Soona, the Programmer "Never mind then, let's get on with our project... I am going to unmute the speakers on a count of five. Everyone ready?" She looks around the church.
  • 664
341 Soona, the Programmer "Okay, but..." She seems hesitant, her eyes still fixed on Egg Head. "Think you can ask him to turn the volume down a bit, just in case?"
  • 135
342 You "Okay. Ready." (Proceed.)
  • 829
343 You "Uh, hold on for a moment..."
  • 344
344 Soona, the Programmer "What?"
  • 660
  • 350
345 You "Why do you want to turn down the volume?"
  • 346
346 Soona, the Programmer "Because I'm afraid that something might happen. It's an unknown phenomenon..." She turns to Egg Head. "We can always turn it back up if there's a need."
  • 347
347 Egg Head "CAN'T TURN DOWN THE HARD CORE!"
  • 336
348 Soona, the Programmer "No, we should definitely do this. I *am* going to do this. Ready?" She pauses, looking around the church -- everyone stares at her hand on the keyboard.
  • 828
349 Half Light There's tightness in your chest; anxiety.
  • 343
  • 342
350 You "Never mind, let's do this. I'm ready. Whooh..." (Proceed.)
  • 829
351 Soona, the Programmer In the silence, a low hum starts creeping up your spine. It's a song inside you -- not in the speakers, not in the room. A great bass sigh in the basement of your mind. Slowly it builds, until the air around you starts to vibrate.
  • 836
352 Andre "Guys, what's going on?" There's alarm in the man's voice, as he steps back to scan the surroundings. A slight rattle like crystal clattering in the cupboard fills the air, joining the chorus.
  • 839
353 Egg Head "HOSIANNAH! MOTHER OF MEGA!" You hear Egg Head yell -- then something else, but his voice is growing faint...
  • 375
354 Egg Head "COME DOWN TO US! LOVE!"
  • 373
355 You "Everybody, don't panic, it's beautiful!"
  • 357
356 You "Yeah, we should stop. Soona, mute it!"
  • 358
357 Egg Head "BEAUTIFUL CORE, BEAUTIFUL LIFE!"
  • 358
358 Soona, the Programmer "Shit, it doesn't stop!" The woman is furiously pressing down on her keyboard -- but the sound doesn't stop. "Acele, have you...?"
  • 360
359 Andre "Fuck..." Andre frantically smashes buttons. "I can't shut it up, the signal's passed... It's not *in* here! It's..."
  • 845
360 Acele "Yes, I've turned it off!" She yells, holding the contact mic in her hand.
  • 843
361 Soona, the Programmer "No, what they *really* should do is shut down the discomen for disturbing neighbourhood peace."
  • 362
362 You "Yes, but they could help with the speakers..."
  • 319
363 Noid "It's getting louder..." says Noid, his eyes riveted on the strange circle of water basins.
  • 840
364 You "Hey, uh, what's that weird rattling sound...?"
  • 367
365 You "I've never heard anything this hard core in my life!"
  • 367
366 Soona, the Programmer "The window is going to come down. NO, THE ROOF..." She looks up. A screech fills the air, a scream of wood and nails -- the pillars of the church twist and creak above and around you.
  • 842
367 Egg Head "The BEAUTY AND THE BEAT! The future of dance, PLANETARY!"
  • 372
368 Soona, the Programmer
  • 369
  • 370
369 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 371
370 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 366
371 Kim Kitsuragi In the corner of your eye, the lieutenant steps aside cautiously, his eyes searching for a possible evacuation route.
  • 366
372 Acele "No, Egg! It's the window." The glass shards around Dolores Dei's vacant heart appear to be vibrating from the sound. It almost looks as if she's alive.
  • 368
373 Pain Threshold Below it all the bass grows, like the jaws of a giant compressor gnawing on metal and wood. It does not sound benevolent *at all*.
  • 641
374 Composure A great PULSE arises in your flesh...
  • 846
375 Empathy In his mind, a tidal wave approaching from afar, swallowing entire coastlines on its way... salvation.
  • 1028
376 You "OH, I WANT TO DANCE WITH SOMEBODY!" (Start tapping your foot.) Variable["church.soona_composure_wants_to_dance"] == true
  • 377
377 Egg Head "OH, I WANT TO FEEL THE HEAT WITH SOMEBODY!"
  • 358
378 Egg Head And then it stops. Totally and utterly -- as if there never was a sound. Only your ears still ring from the shock. Everybody is staring at Egg Head -- holding a dangling cable in his hand. A black three-pin connector.
  • 379
379 Acele "Egg..."
  • 380
380 Egg Head "I pulled the plug," he says, calmly. "It was getting *too* hard core."
  • 381
381 Andre "You did good, Egg..." Andre breathes a sigh of relief and inspects the window. "Most of the place seems to be intact. Fucking L... Programmer-lady, tell me you were recording that!"
  • 853
382 You "Right, I'll try not to touch anything. Next question..."
  • 384
383 None
  • 3
384 Soona, the Programmer "Great." She dwells back into the glowing terminal.
  • 383
385 Soona, the Programmer "I use the AR-1 as my Rehm Prefect's processing unit."
  • 388
  • 389
  • 392
386 Soona, the Programmer "Somewhere underneath those roof beams, I assume." She looks up, eyes trying to pierce the pitch-black heights above, but without much success.
  • 405
387 None
  • 142
388 You "Wait, what?" Variable["church.mainframe_interfacing_ream_prefect"] == false
  • 390
389 You "I don't understand." Variable["church.mainframe_interfacing_ream_prefect"] == false
  • 1031
390 Soona, the Programmer "Rehm Prefect, my radiocomputer," she explains.
  • 447
391 None
  • 136
392 You "Rehm Prefect, that's your radiocomputer, right?" Variable["church.mainframe_interfacing_ream_prefect"] == true
  • 393
393 Soona, the Programmer "Mhmh."
  • 447
394 Soona, the Programmer "They are connected to my Rehm Prefect." She looks up. "Whatever you do, just please don't move them, okay? Thanks."
  • 1033
395 You "How did you get your hands on it?"
  • 396
396 Soona, the Programmer "I know a friend of a friend who used to freelance for the Coalition," she says nonchalantly, scratching her ear. "I was actually aiming for the military-grade Rehm Rational series, but couldn't find one."
  • 462
397 Interfacing No, actually it *is* kind of a big deal. You don't see Rehm Prefects in every police department for example.
  • 395
  • 463
398 Soona, the Programmer "I'm working."
  • 1016
399 You "Working on what?"
  • 400
400 Soona, the Programmer "Could you..." She closes her eyes. "Could you just... *shh* for a moment? Or get to the point -- I really need to focus on something."
  • 401
401 Volition It's not *just* rudeness. It really is hard to concentrate on whatever she needs to do. And you're not helping.
  • 648
402 None
  • 136
403 None
  • 136
404 Inland Empire Strange things may flourish in the dark...
  • 482
405 Perception (Sight) Only a faint criss-cross of rafters can be made out from the dark, most of the tower disappearing into the shade.
  • 404
406 None
  • 419
  • 408
  • 33
  • 407
407 You "Nothing, I'll let you work." [Leave.]
408 You "Hey, are you the lead programmer of 'Wirrâl Untethered' by any chance?" Variable["doomed.fortress_accident_kim_switch_done"] or Variable["doomed.dicemaker_fortress_explained"]
  • 409
409 Soona, the Programmer "Yes." She thinks to herself. "Or no, not anymore. That project is dead."
  • 414
410 Soona, the Programmer "I am Soona Luukanen-Kilde, the former lead programmer of Fortress Accident and RSA Radios. I have over 16 years of programming experience and I'm proficient in both Vox and Orbis languages..."
  • 413
411 Reaction Speed That still doesn't answer what she's doing in an abandoned church.
  • 3
412 You "Okay, it's probably not a big deal then."
  • 51
413 Soona, the Programmer "If you're not here to hire me, I don't really know how can I help you." She turns back to the terminal.
  • 70
414 Empathy She doesn't seem surprised to be recognized, rather sad. Something passes over her face before she straightens her back.
  • 1046
415 Soona, the Programmer "Yes, what is it?" She doesn't look up from the keyboard.
  • 406
416 Soona, the Programmer
  • 417
  • 418
417 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_pregreeting_hub_reached"]
  • 422
418 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_pregreeting_hub_reached"]) == false
  • 2
419 You "I didn't break anything, did I?"
  • 420
420 Soona, the Programmer "No, you just printed out my personal log and wasted some paper." It does not look like a big loss to her.
  • 421
421 None
  • 406
422 Soona, the Programmer
  • 423
  • 424
423 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_greeting_done"]
  • 425
424 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_greeting_done"]) == false
  • 415
425 Soona, the Programmer "Yes, what is it?" She doesn't look up from the keyboard.
  • 426
426 None
  • 3
427 You "He must have seen you."
  • 37
428 None
  • 175
  • 176
  • 177
429 Authority You don't *feel* scary? What are you, some kind of *diva*?
  • 213
430 You "Fuck your things. Get out now."
  • 436
431 Soona, the Programmer She turns off her computer and leaves.
432 Kim Kitsuragi The lieutenant sighs, but says nothing.
  • 1020
433 Soona, the Programmer
  • 434
  • 435
434 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 432
435 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 1020
436 Soona, the Programmer
  • 437
  • 438
437 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 439
438 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 1024
439 Kim Kitsuragi "Is that *really* necessary, detective?"
  • 1024
440 Logic Wait, what?
  • 442
441 Inland Empire But does it have anything to do with necroplasmic life forms? 'Ghosts' in everyday parlance.
  • 792
442 Interfacing She's looking for a disruption in the *radio waves*. That's what her personal log said.
  • 713
443 You "Is the hole connected to the data loss in your journal?"
  • 444
444 Soona, the Programmer "Yes, that's what led me here..." She stares at the burnished antenna on a nearby table. "But I suspect it might be something a bit more complicated than that."
  • 446
445 You "That's all I wanted to know about the scary two-millimetre hole in the world... for now." (Conclude.) Variable["church.soona_said_research_not_going_well"]
  • 489
446 None
  • 142
447 You "And that antenna is its... processing unit?"
  • 448
448 Soona, the Programmer "Yes." She sighs. "You really don't know anything about radiocomputers, do you?" She has stopped working now.
  • 642
  • 449
  • 450
  • 453
449 You "Not really."
  • 451
450 You "I know *a little*."
  • 451
451 Soona, the Programmer "Alright, well... All radiocomputers perform operations up on air, so in order to gain more processing power you need to invest in a *good antenna*."
  • 646
452 Soona, the Programmer "I guess it is…" She stops to think. "So far I've been quite satisfied with it. Martinaise is an unstable region with bad coverage and the operation has been surprisingly stable."
  • 455
453 You "I don't really know much about *anything* in this world, to be honest."
  • 451
454 You "And the AR-1? Is it a 'good antenna'?"
  • 452
455 Soona, the Programmer "But it's not the cheapest one on the market, so I wouldn't recommend it for your regular red tape operations. Fraser 1000 is a foolproof line for civilians."
  • 456
456 Soona, the Programmer "Anyway..." She turns back to her terminal. "You should do some research before you decide to buy anything. Ask around, compare the prices. There are many milieus dedicated to that sort of thing."
  • 1032
457 You "So why do you have it?"
  • 460
458 You "And you work for the government?"
  • 459
459 Soona, the Programmer "No, I don't."
  • 457
460 Soona, the Programmer She inhales sharply, before answering in a single breath: "Because I needed something *good* for my investigation and Rehm Civic is widely agreed to be below all standards, so I had to upgrade."
  • 461
461 Soona, the Programmer "Besides, owning a Rehm Prefect isn't such a big deal anymore."
  • 397
462 Soona, the Programmer She pats her glowing machine. "Prefect is mainly based on the same technology as Rehm Civic, so it's kind of a rip-off, but it does have better compatibility with newer antenna models, so I won't complain."
  • 402
463 You "Did you *steal it*?"
  • 464
464 Soona, the Programmer "No!" She looks up, disturbed. "No, of course not. I know a friend of a friend who used to freelance for the Coalition. I bought it from her."
  • 465
465 Soona, the Programmer "I was actually aiming for the military-grade Rehm Rational series, but couldn't find one." She pats her machine: "Prefect is mainly based on the same technology as the Civic, but it does work better with newer antenna models, so I'm not complaining."
  • 402
466 Soona, the Programmer "You really like those questions, don't you?" There's a hint of amusement in her tired eyes.
  • 469
467 You "I'm a police officer, it's my job to ask questions."
  • 474
468 You "You're occupying a public space. I need to know what you're doing here."
  • 474
469 Endurance They're bloodshot. She really hasn't been getting much sleep lately, has she?
  • 471
  • 467
  • 468
  • 470
  • 1057
470 You "There have been complaints from your neighbours." Variable["TASK.help_soona_with_her_project"] == false
  • 474
471 You "I need to make sure you're not hiding anyone here." Variable["TASK.ask_about_ruby_in_village"] == true and Variable["TASK.locate_ruby_on_the_coast_done"] == false
  • 1002
472 Soona, the Programmer "No, I'm not, it's just me and the..." She looks up at the ceiling before murmuring: "...*the crab-man*. I'm just doing some research. That's all."
  • 1034
473 Soona, the Programmer "I'm looking for the location of a two-millimetre hole in the world."
  • 440
474 Soona, the Programmer "I am conducting scientific research here. You can't throw me out," she says, ready to stand her ground.
  • 475
475 You "What research?"
  • 476
476 Soona, the Programmer "I'm looking for the location of a two-millimetre hole in the world."
  • 440
477 You "Does it have anything to do with *ghosts*?" Variable["church.soona_inland_swallow_ghosts"] == true
  • 479
478 Logic That's a little above your pay grade at the moment.
  • 43
479 Soona, the Programmer "*Ghosts?*" she repeats. "No, I don't think so, I don't believe in ghosts."
  • 480
  • 1006
480 You "What about other supra-natural entities?"
  • 481
481 Soona, the Programmer "I don't believe in them either."
  • 484
  • 485
482 You "Why there?"
  • 483
483 Soona, the Programmer "There's this place at the back of the church, a place where all audible vibrations seem to decease -- I've named it 'the swallow'. And the higher you go, the less you record."
  • 716
484 You "What not many know is: necroplasma *exists*."
  • 486
485 You (Nod.) "That's probably wise. Not believing in them."
  • 486
486 Soona, the Programmer "Great. What are we talking about? And *why*?" She gets back to work -- a clear signal that this branch of the conversation is over.
  • 487
487 None
  • 142
488 None
  • 721
489 Soona, the Programmer "Great." Her hands are a whirl on the keyboard. "Thanks."
  • 490
490 None
  • 3
491 You "Hey, about that two-millimetre hole again..." Variable["church.soona_two_mm_hole_known"] == true
  • 492
492 Soona, the Programmer "The swallow, you mean." She looks up, slightly irked. "What about it?"
  • 493
493 None
  • 142
494 Kim Kitsuragi "Now this house of worship is also going to be a drug lab... Always something fascinating happening in tents."
  • 428
495 Soona, the Programmer "Just to be completely clear: I am here to conduct a citizen's investigation into a radio anomaly and I want nothing to do with the local vices of Martinaise. Okay? Thanks."
  • 174
496 Soona, the Programmer "Just to be completely clear: I am here to conduct a citizen's investigation into a radio anomaly and I want nothing to do with the local vices of Martinaise. Got it? Thanks." She turns back to work.
  • 174
497 You Convince her to cooperate with the ravers. IsTaskActive("TASK.convince_or_evict_soona") and Variable["church.soona_asked_her_to_cooperate"]
  • 498
498 Soona, the Programmer
  • 499
  • 500
499 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_suggestion_whitecheck"]
  • 502
500 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_suggestion_whitecheck"]) == false
  • 556
501 Suggestion Just tell her about Egg Head's defence speech.
  • 506
502 Soona, the Programmer
  • 503
  • 504
503 Soona, the Programmer Variable["tc.heard_egg_defence_speech"]
  • 501
504 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["tc.heard_egg_defence_speech"]) == false
  • 505
505 Suggestion Easy -- when her research is done, she can move out.
  • 630
506 You "Listen, about that nightclub..."
  • 507
507 Soona, the Programmer "I already told you -- I'm not interested."
  • 508
508 You "Those kids really need a win. We all do. Give this club a chance -- give them a chance."
  • 108
509 You "Listen, about your research... Maybe I can help with anything? Help you refill those water basins or something..."
  • 510
510 Soona, the Programmer "What?" She looks up from her work, disoriented. "No, I don't really need any help with the project."
  • 511
511 You "But if I could help you finish the project then you wouldn't have to live in a church next to the boom-boom anymore -- just think about it."
  • 513
512 Soona, the Programmer "Alright," she finally says, blinking twice. "Bring me the game's off-site copy from my old workspace if you really want to help. It's stored on a filament memory and I'm unable to go and fetch it myself."
  • 116
513 Soona, the Programmer She thinks about it, a glassy look in her eyes. A gust of wind brings more snow in from the broken gallery. It touches her hair.
  • 512
514 You "What if I helped you *finish* your project? Then you could leave -- and they could come in."
  • 513
515 You "That's a bit biased, don't you think?"
  • 516
516 Soona, the Programmer "No." She stares at you with droopy eyes. "She literally started praying for the higher powers when she first saw my Rehm Civic. I'm not making this up."
  • 741
517 Soona, the Programmer "Once I came in one morning only to find that my terminal was full of those strange... trinkets and amulets. *Wards*. It looked like some Semenine magic."
  • 802
518 Soona, the Programmer "Don't worry, you can't miss the bear." She gives you a rueful smile. "It's hideous."
  • 822
519 Soona, the Programmer "You might be more familiar with the name *Doomed Commercial Area*. You can get in through the bookshop on plaza. You just have to do some explaining to the bookstore lady."
  • 228
  • 800
  • 122
520 You "Yeah, people in Martinaise don't really like to *get with the times*."
  • 521
521 Soona, the Programmer "She literally started praying for the higher powers when she first saw my Rehm Civic. I'm not making this up."
  • 741
522 You "Don't be too harsh. That's only because of their *socio-economic* situation."
  • 523
523 Soona, the Programmer "Yes, but she *literally* started praying for the higher powers when she first saw my Rehm Civic. I'm not making this up."
  • 741
524 Soona, the Programmer "Wait, a note from *whom*?" She freezes. "Did it specify where they took the filament memory?"
  • 525
525 You "It said the off-site copy had been taken to a nearby ice cream maker. The note was signed by someone named Sulisław."
  • 125
526 Soona, the Programmer "And the Heads -- I won't even get *into* the Heads, millions of them..." She stops. "Go find that copy from that ice cream maker, will you? Thanks."
  • 1042
527 Soona, the Programmer "Wait, what?" She looks up, alarmed. "*Whose* dead body?"
  • 726
528 You "It's the body of the hanged man."
  • 530
529 You "Don't worry, I put it there -- temporarily. It's all part of an official police investigation."
  • 245
530 Soona, the Programmer "*And what is it doing in the fridge?!*"
  • 731
531 You "Just wanted to let you know."
  • 534
532 You "Yeah, that's what I said in the first place."
  • 534
533 You "The investigation warranted it."
  • 534
534 Soona, the Programmer "Okay," she says, pressing fingers into her eyebrow ridge. "Very cool, thanks for keeping me in the loop."
  • 732
535 None
  • 116
536 None
  • 116
537 Soona, the Programmer "This is getting ridiculous. Can't you just defrost it? Or I don't know, I don't know about the ice cream maker... just figure something out."
  • 999
538 Soona, the Programmer "Thanks." She takes the filament, inspecting the metallic tape on its side. "Looks like it's the one."
  • 539
539 You "What's going to happen now?"
  • 540
540 Soona, the Programmer "Now I'm going to print it out to see what's left of it." She's already inserted the filament into the radiocomputer's core, ready to close the door.
  • 259
541 Soona, the Programmer She starts laughing, but stops almost immediately, her voice oddly humourless: "No, it's not dangerous, just depressing."
  • 543
  • 542
542 You "What are you even hoping to find?"
  • 544
543 You "How do you know?"
  • 544
544 Soona, the Programmer "I have a theory," she says, as the filament clicks into place, "Lintel was able to divine the anomaly's location from this broken copy. I want to repeat their calculation, only this time with better equipment."
  • 545
545 Soona, the Programmer "Watch," she says and presses PRINT on the machine's keyboard, "what an intricate display of failure."
  • 551
546 Soona, the Programmer "Watch," she presses PRINT on the machine's keyboard, "what an intricate display of failure."
  • 548
547 You "What do you mean?"
  • 264
548 Soona, the Programmer The paper gets soaked in ink again, its evil blackness shining in the light of the mainframe. It looks eerie.
  • 267
549 Soona, the Programmer "Watch," she presses PRINT on the machine's keyboard, "what an intricate display of failure."
  • 548
550 Soona, the Programmer The paper starts filling out with ink, soaking it in a gleaming blackness. Not a single line of data stands out.
  • 267
551 Soona, the Programmer The paper starts filling out with ink, soaking it in a gleaming darkness. Not a single line of data stands out.
  • 267
552 You "Alright, got your message."
  • 559
553 None
  • 3
554 Soona, the Programmer "Nope, not interested in your degenerate money schemes."
  • 808
555 You "Listen, how about we offer you part of the profit?"
  • 554
556 Suggestion Hey, what makes the world go round?
  • 555
  • 557
557 You No, that's a bad idea -- don't say anything.
  • 558
558 Soona, the Programmer She stares at the terminal, completely oblivious to her surroundings.
  • 808
559 Soona, the Programmer "Good." She gets back to work.
  • 560
560 None
  • 3
561 Soona, the Programmer
  • 562
  • 563
562 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_empathy_fail"]
  • 564
563 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_empathy_fail"]) == false
  • 560
564 None
  • 220
  • 223
565 None
  • 566
  • 567
  • 585
566 You "Where?" (Lean closer.)
  • 568
567 You "I can't see anything." Variable["doomed.radiocomputer_perc_redcheck_success"] == false
  • 568
568 Soona, the Programmer "Hold on." She's behind the keyboard now, typing in some numbers that only she understands. The terminal beeps, and the light inside starts pulsing like a glowing heart.
  • 569
  • 570
  • 571
569 You "Can I do anything?"
  • 572
570 You "I'm still not sure it's a good idea -- tinkering with the unknown..."
  • 572
571 You (Say nothing.)
  • 578
572 Soona, the Programmer "Shh... just give me a second, I'm almost..." She clocks up her typing speed.
  • 573
573 Soona, the Programmer
  • 574
  • 575
574 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 576
575 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 577
576 Kim Kitsuragi The lieutenant leans closer to whisper: "I've never witnessed a programmer work before..."
  • 577
577 Soona, the Programmer "Done!" Soona jumps up from the keyboard like a spring. "I've got it, I've found the location of the anomaly!" There's joy in her voice as she bumps her fist into air.
  • 579
578 Soona, the Programmer "Just give me a second," she murmurs, "I'm almost..." She clocks up her typing speed.
  • 573
579 None
  • 580
  • 581
  • 582
580 You "You did it? You found the coordinates?!"
  • 583
581 You "Oh my god, congratulations!"
  • 586
582 You "So -- where is it? Where is your two-millimetre hole in the world?" (Proceed.)
  • 587
583 Soona, the Programmer "I found the coordinates!" She lets out a celebratory laugh.
  • 1068
584 Half Light This is embarrassing...
  • 278
  • 277
585 You "It's that white dot! In the same place I saw it before when I printed it out." Variable["doomed.radiocomputer_perc_redcheck_success"] and Variable["doomed.radiocomputer_printed_out_offsite_copy_once"] == true
  • 568
586 Soona, the Programmer "Thank you!" she yells back with a grin.
  • 1070
587 Soona, the Programmer "There. In the swallow." She points at the other end of the church where a group of water bowls forms a ritualistic arch.
  • 588
588 Soona, the Programmer "Think you can help me again?" She tilts her head, eyes sparkling.
  • 589
  • 590
589 You "Sure."
  • 591
590 You "Do I have a choice?"
  • 591
591 Soona, the Programmer "I need you to go move those water bowls for me, I need to double-check my calculations."
  • 129
592 Soona, the Programmer "Just walk over to the circle and follow my instructions: Move the third bowl two centimetres to the left and the fourth bowl five centimetres to the right. This should do the trick."
  • 288
593 Soona, the Programmer "Can you please just go and move the water bowls for me? Thanks."
  • 1073
594 Soona, the Programmer "Great, everything should be aligned now..." She stops, biting into her chapped lip.
  • 595
595 Empathy Miss Know-It-All is hesitating.
  • 596
  • 597
596 You "What's wrong?"
  • 598
597 You "Okay, let's get this party started!"
  • 599
598 Soona, the Programmer "Yeah," she snaps out of the lull. "Nothing. Now the only thing left to do is to unmute the headphones."
  • 600
599 Soona, the Programmer "Yeah," she snaps out of the lull. "Let's do it. Now the only thing left to do is to unmute the headphones."
  • 600
600 Soona, the Programmer "If we've got the location right, we should then be able to hear whatever sound this anomaly makes."
  • 295
  • 296
601 Soona, the Programmer "I mean, what sound does the nothing make? How can you even listen to something that doesn't exist?" She turns to face you, the mainframe throwing shadows on her chin.
  • 602
602 Soona, the Programmer "What if silence is only what surrounds it, but the swallow itself is..." She grows silent, her face very pale in the cold light of electricity.
  • 603
  • 604
  • 605
603 You "What?"
  • 299
604 You "You're overthinking this."
  • 606
605 You "You're right, we should be cautious -- we don't know what we're dealing with here."
  • 606
606 Soona, the Programmer "Maybe." She rubs her face. "Maybe I'm just tired."
  • 1050
607 None
  • 608
  • 133
  • 610
608 You "Why assume that something that has no presence, existence or qualities has to be terrifying?" Variable["church.soona_logic_why_nothing_terrifying"]
  • 132
609 Soona, the Programmer "Yeah..." She breathes in. "You're right, let's do it." She puts on her oversized headphones, ready to press UNMUTE on the keyboard...
  • 303
610 You "Hey, I don't think I want to do it anymore... seems too *dangerous*." (Slowly start to back off.)
  • 611
611 Soona, the Programmer "No..." She breathes in, determined. "We *have* to do it." She puts on her oversized headphones, ready to press UNMUTE on the keyboard...
  • 303
612 Soona, the Programmer Nothing happens as Soona Luukanen-Kilde presses unmute on her keyboard. Nothing but silence.
  • 711
613 You "Can you hear anything?"
  • 615
614 You (Say nothing.)
  • 617
615 Soona, the Programmer She doesn't answer, her eyes closed and brows knitted together in a state of deep focus, one hand cupping the headphone.
  • 616
616 You "Well?"
  • 618
617 Soona, the Programmer She doesn't talk, her eyes closed and brows knitted together in a state of deep focus, one hand cupping the headphone.
  • 616
618 Soona, the Programmer "Damnit." She lets out a loud sigh, before tearing off her headphones; she's still avoiding your gaze.
  • 619
  • 620
619 You "Come on, did you hear anything?"
  • 622
620 You "Well, at least the world seems to be still alright." (Look around.)
  • 621
621 Soona, the Programmer "Yeah, yeah," she says, disappointed. "Nothing happened, let's move on."
  • 134
622 Soona, the Programmer "No, of course not," she says, clearly disappointed. "Nothing happened, let's move on."
  • 134
623 You "What do you mean 'nothing happened'? Did you find the swallow?"
  • 625
624 None
  • 623
625 Soona, the Programmer "No." She rests her face on her hands, massaging the forehead.
  • 757
626 You "You said that the research isn't going well. Why not?" Variable["church.soona_said_research_not_going_well"] == true
  • 627
627 Soona, the Programmer "Because it's just trial and error, trying to locate the swallow -- the exact point in space."
  • 1062
628 Soona, the Programmer "And I don't have a..." She stops mid-sentence. "You know what, it would be really helpful if you could just stop talking and let me work."
  • 629
629 None
  • 142
630 Soona, the Programmer
  • 631
  • 632
631 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_said_research_not_going_well"]
  • 633
632 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_said_research_not_going_well"]) == false
  • 509
633 You "Listen, about your research... You mentioned earlier that it's not going very well. Maybe I can help with something?"
  • 510
634 Soona, the Programmer "We clear?" She stares at you with pleading, furious eyes.
  • 242
635 Inland Empire Ghosts, speak to me!
  • 308
636 Perception (Hearing) Everything disappears. You are draped in silence like a drowning man staring into his puny little headspace.
  • 105
637 You "Soona..." (Take off the headphones.) "What if we just need a better sound system?"
  • 638
638 Soona, the Programmer "A better sound system?" she repeats. "Alright... But where would we get one?"
  • 318
639 Soona, the Programmer "Of course, the speedfreaks... They have a *fantastic* sound system. And you think they would help me?"
  • 321
  • 320
640 Rhetoric What she means is that she's ready to turn a blind eye if the need arises.
  • 324
641 Visual Calculus It's shaking the building's foundation. The floor twists...
  • 374
642 You "No, I'm a master circuit-bender, I know *everything*." Variable["church.mainframe_interfacing_circutbender"] == true
  • 643
643 Soona, the Programmer "Then you *certainly* know that all radiocomputers perform operations on air, so in order to gain more processing power you need to invest in a good antenna."
  • 646
644 You "Wait, what's 'on air'`?"
  • 645
645 Soona, the Programmer "On the *front*. The unified front of radiowaves, licensed and controlled by Lintel in the East-Insulindic region."
  • 647
646 None
  • 644
  • 454
647 Soona, the Programmer "It's all around us," she waves her hand, "that's what 'on air' means."
  • 710
648 None
  • 136
649 None
  • 3
650 You "What if I'd just force you to leave? I'm a police officer. You have to do what I say." Variable["church.soona_said_church_plan_already"] == true and IsTaskActive("TASK.convince_or_evict_soona") and Variable["church.soona_asked_her_to_leave"] == false
  • 10
651 None
  • 3
652 None
  • 3
653 You "I'm not sure... There seems to be something there, but I couldn't really make it out."
  • 1018
654 Soona, the Programmer
  • 655
  • 656
655 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_perc_wc_failed_once"]
  • 657
656 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_perc_wc_failed_once"]) == false
  • 106
657 Perception (Hearing) Still nothing. Soona isn't even looking at you this time.
  • 689
658 Soona, the Programmer "You told them to leave..." She looks up, surprised. "Didn't think the cops in this place had it in them," she murmurs.
  • 659
659 None
  • 3
660 You "Maybe we shouldn't do this. It's too dangerous. On maximum volume too..."
  • 348
661 Soona, the Programmer The woman looks around. In the silence, you see dust move on the floorboards. The driver of the speaker vibrates in the air and then stops. Plasterwork begins to crumble down the walls...
  • 351
662 Andre "Born ready," says Andre.
  • 663
663 Noid "Ready!" yells Noid.
  • 666
664 Egg Head Egg Head pumps his hand up in the air, waiting for the beat to drop.
  • 662
665 Acele "I'm ready if you are, detective."
  • 671
666 Soona, the Programmer
  • 667
  • 668
667 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 669
668 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 665
669 Acele "I'm ready if you two are, detectives."
  • 670
670 Kim Kitsuragi The lieutenant nods stoically.
  • 827
671 Inland Empire Suddenly your palms are sweaty. The church seems cold and large, somehow...
  • 349
672 Soona, the Programmer
  • 673
  • 674
673 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_told_her_about_the_fridge_note"]
  • 685
674 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_told_her_about_the_fridge_note"]) == false
  • 686
675 Soona, the Programmer
  • 676
  • 677
676 Soona, the Programmer Variable["doomed.icecreammaker_greeting_hub_done"]
  • 684
677 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["doomed.icecreammaker_greeting_hub_done"]) == false
  • 672
678 You "Alright, I'll go look for the off-site copy." (Proceed.) Variable["church.soona_copy_in_fridge"] == true
  • 679
679 Soona, the Programmer
  • 680
  • 681
680 Soona, the Programmer Variable["TASK.help_soona_with_her_project"]
  • 682
681 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["TASK.help_soona_with_her_project"]) == false
  • 675
682 Soona, the Programmer "Thanks."
  • 683
683 None
  • 3
684 Soona, the Programmer "Thanks." She thinks for a moment, then reaches behind the radiocomputer and hands you what looks like an oversized prybar.
  • 996
685 Soona, the Programmer "Thanks." She thinks for a moment, then reaches behind the radiocomputer and hands you what looks like an oversized prybar.
  • 996
686 Soona, the Programmer "Thanks." She thinks for a moment, then reaches behind the radiocomputer and hands you what looks like an oversized prybar.
  • 996
687 None
  • 3
688 None
  • 3
689 None
  • 3
690 Soona, the Programmer "Okay, I'm going. You can tell the ravers that they can move in."
  • 431
691 Soona, the Programmer "Okay." She lets out a relieved sigh. "I'll go make a phone call outside and then return for my things. You can tell the ravers that they can move in."
  • 83
692 Soona, the Programmer "What?" She leans closer, eyes knitted together in a puzzled expression. "What-did-you-say?!" You can barely hear her over the thumping bass of anodic dance music.
  • 693
693 You "I said -- HOW'S THE PROJECT GOING?"
  • 695
694 Soona, the Programmer "OH, THE PROJECT!" Her face lights up for a second, before she gives you an exaggerated headshake. "IT'S NOT GOING WELL!"
  • 698
695 Soona, the Programmer "I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" she shouts, pointing at the enormous speaker that's churning out the sound. "THE MUSIC IS TOO LOUD!"
  • 696
  • 697
696 You "THE PROJECT. HOW IS IT GOING?"
  • 694
697 You Give up trying to communicate in a nightclub.
  • 709
698 You "WHY?"
  • 699
699 Soona, the Programmer "There's that guy." She points at Egg Head, who's raving behind his turntables on a brightly lit stage, "I need him to plug a 3.5 cable into the auxiliary input, so that I can route the audio signal through the mixer into the speakers."
  • 700
  • 702
700 You "SORRY, CAN YOU REPEAT THAT?"
  • 701
701 Soona, the Programmer "EGG HEAD. A 3.5 CABLE!" She rises a black cable. "INTO THE AUXILIARY INPUT! OKAY?"
  • 702
702 You "Why don't you just ask him?"
  • 703
703 Soona, the Programmer "He doesn't listen to me. He only ever seems to care about *hard core* and *Yekokataa*, 'a place to be' apparently."
  • 704
704 You "I'll speak to him, see what I can do."
  • 705
705 Soona, the Programmer "Thanks! Maybe you can get through his *magic rhymes*!" She does jazz hands to mock him.
  • 707
706 None
  • 3
707 Soona, the Programmer "Let me know how it goes!"
  • 706
708 None
  • 3
709 Soona, the Programmer She shrugs and turns back to her radiocomputer.
  • 708
710 Conceptualization Like love.
  • 454
711 Perception (Hearing) You can hear some small animal cross the floor in the chancel -- it's that quiet in the sanctuary.
  • 613
  • 614
712 Kim Kitsuragi The lieutenant raises his brows, but doesn't say anything.
  • 142
713 Soona, the Programmer
  • 714
  • 715
714 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 712
715 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 142
716 Soona, the Programmer
  • 717
  • 718
717 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 719
718 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 488
719 Kim Kitsuragi "The pillar of silence? Are you sure it's not just an architectural quirk?"
  • 720
720 Soona, the Programmer "Maybe. But it's oddly close to the physical coordinates of the data loss that led me to this place."
  • 488
721 You "This is where the crab-man lives."
  • 722
722 Soona, the Programmer "I know."
  • 723
723 You "You don't think crab-man might be somehow responsible here?"
  • 724
724 Soona, the Programmer "No, I don't."
  • 812
725 Kim Kitsuragi "You know, we don't actually have to tell the entire world about the fridge," the lieutenant says, looking at you.
  • 729
726 Soona, the Programmer
  • 727
  • 728
727 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 725
728 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 730
729 Soona, the Programmer "Whose body is it?" she demands again, staring first at you, then back at the lieutenant.
  • 730
730 None
  • 528
  • 529
731 Empathy It's almost as if she feels some sort of ownership of the fridge.
  • 529
732 Soona, the Programmer
  • 733
  • 734
733 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 735
734 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 536
735 Kim Kitsuragi "We would appreciate it if you kept this knowledge to yourself, miss."
  • 736
736 Soona, the Programmer "Who would I tell, my mother?" She shakes her frizzy head. "I don't have anyone to tell -- and if I did, I wouldn't. I don't care."
  • 536
737 Soona, the Programmer
  • 738
  • 739
738 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 740
739 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 247
740 Kim Kitsuragi "In his defence, it was simply lying in the desk drawer of an abandoned cubicle."
  • 1041
741 Soona, the Programmer
  • 742
  • 743
742 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 744
743 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 517
744 Kim Kitsuragi The lieutenant coughs like he's amused.
  • 517
745 Soona, the Programmer
  • 746
  • 747
746 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 748
747 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 96
748 Kim Kitsuragi The lieutenant pretends he didn't see your little temper tantrum, preferring to inspect the golden stained glass window instead.
  • 96
749 You "What are you, *forty*? It's the future of dance music!"
  • 147
750 You "Same here, it just doesn't *connect* here..." (Tap on your heart.) "Not like disco does, anyway."
  • 147
751 Kim Kitsuragi The lieutenant looks down at the floor, as if to say you're wasting time here.
  • 1019
752 Soona, the Programmer
  • 753
  • 754
753 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 751
754 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 1019
755 You "Hold on a moment -- does it mean we're now living in a world that has *holes in it*?!"
  • 756
756 Soona, the Programmer "I don't know, are we? That's what I'm trying to figure out here. But how *do* I figure it out?"
  • 54
  • 58
  • 53
757 Soona, the Programmer "No, my hypothesis was wrong. According to this, I should have *heard* something if I got the coordinates right. Like I said: silence is only what surrounds it."
  • 758
758 Soona, the Programmer "But this..." She raises her head, staring at all the machines that litter the church, cables coiling up on the floor like pests. "This is just another failure. Silence sounds like silence. That's all it is."
  • 759
759 Soona, the Programmer "You can try on the headphones, see if you can hear anything, but don't get your hopes up."
  • 890
760 None
  • 3
761 You Form a theory on the two-millimetre hole in the world. Variable["TASK.help_soona_with_her_project_done"]
  • 762
762 Soona, the Programmer
  • 763
  • 764
763 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_logic_pale_whitecheck"]
  • 899
764 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_logic_pale_whitecheck"]) == false
  • 898
765 You "Bingo."
766 You "I do have one mystery that still needs solving... the radio ghost in the Doomed Commercial Area's electronic doorbell." Variable["doomed.doorbell_whitecheck_success"] == true and Variable["church.soona_talked_about_pale"] == true and Variable["XP.figured_out_radio_ghost"] == false
  • 767
767 Soona, the Programmer "The creepy woman!" She slaps her forehead. "We were wondering about that when we worked there... but I had completely forgotten about it ever since!"
  • 768
768 Soona, the Programmer "It must be entroponetic crosstalk. The one you get in radios and long-distance calls... Now it makes sense, with the pale right on the doorstep."
  • 784
769 You "Entroponetic crosstalk?"
  • 770
770 Soona, the Programmer "It's quite common actually. When the signal gets routed through pale, all kinds of irregularities take place. You may hear snippets of someone else's conversation, or the voice of your former lover, or an echo of an event that took place 100 years ago."
  • 771
771 Soona, the Programmer "Pale is a shroud of memories and it doesn't really distinguish to whom those memories belong to. You could hear anything."
  • 773
772 You "I should let people still working in there know about this. They might be affected."
  • 774
773 You "That makes sense. Thanks for explaining that to me."
  • 775
774 Soona, the Programmer "You mean... Plaisance and the dicemaker? There was almost no one left when we packed up."
  • 777
  • 778
  • 780
775 Soona, the Programmer "Anytime." She smiles.
  • 776
776 None
  • 3
777 You "No, just the dicemaker. I don't think Plaisance would survive this knowledge."
  • 782
778 You "No, just Plaisance. I don't think Neha is playing fair in this game."
  • 781
779 Soona, the Programmer "Then go tell them." She smiles, suddenly encouraging.
  • 1051
780 You "Yes, both of them deserve to know."
  • 779
781 Soona, the Programmer "Then go tell her." She smiles broadly.
  • 1051
782 Soona, the Programmer "Then go tell her." She smiles broadly.
  • 1051
783 Kim Kitsuragi "Incredible..." the lieutenant murmurs. "This would also explain why we get it on the police radio all the time."
  • 769
784 Soona, the Programmer
  • 785
  • 786
785 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 783
786 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 769
787 None
788 None
  • 787
789 You "Have you seen anyone suspicious -- say, a woman named Ruby?" Variable["TASK.ask_about_ruby_in_village"] and Variable["TASK.locate_ruby_on_the_coast_done"] == false
  • 790
790 Soona, the Programmer "What? No. No one suspicious around here."
  • 1029
791 None
  • 3
792 None
  • 142
793 You "What is an off-site copy and why do you need it?"
  • 794
794 Soona, the Programmer "It's a back-up of my former employer's project -- the radio game we were working on. It's stored on a *filament memory* just like the one inside this radiocomputer." She points to the glowing cube inside the machine.
  • 817
795 Soona, the Programmer "The backup itself is destroyed now, but I'm hoping to use what's left of it to pinpoint the exact location of the anomaly. You just have to go to my old workspace and get the filament."
  • 119
796 None
  • 116
797 You "Wait. Are you -- part of the curse?"
  • 798
798 Soona, the Programmer "Of course not." She crosses her arms. "Anyway, I don't have my keys anymore and she won't let me in."
  • 230
799 Soona, the Programmer "So what I need you to do here is -- go have a talk with her, say that you're a policeman and need to get to the building's basement. Then bring me the off-site copy. Alright?"
  • 240
800 You "Actually, I've already been inside the Doomed Commercial Area." Variable["XP.got_into_doomed_commercial_area"]
  • 801
801 Soona, the Programmer "Good -- then you might know the giant ice bear fridge in the building's cellar. The filament is inside the fridge -- just go and get it."
  • 122
802 Soona, the Programmer
  • 803
  • 804
803 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_said_already_have_been_inside_DCA"]
  • 240
804 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_said_already_have_been_inside_DCA"]) == false
  • 799
805 Soona, the Programmer
  • 806
  • 807
806 Soona, the Programmer Variable["doomed.dicemaker_fortress_explained"]
  • 100
807 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["doomed.dicemaker_fortress_explained"]) == false
  • 811
808 Soona, the Programmer
  • 809
  • 810
809 Soona, the Programmer Variable["doomed.fortress_accident_kim_switch_done"]
  • 805
810 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["doomed.fortress_accident_kim_switch_done"]) == false
  • 811
811 Suggestion Hey, maybe if you were to find out more about her previous company, Fortress Accident, you'd have something new to say...
  • 100
812 Empathy She sounds mildly annoyed by this line of questioning, her hands typing hundreds of commands into the machine.
  • 387
813 Suggestion Wait! she doesn't want to share the space with them -- help her finish the research, then she won't have to! Offer to help.
  • 112
814 Suggestion Wait! She doesn't want to share the space with them -- you can help her finish the research, then she won't have to! Offer to help.
  • 514
815 You "What if it *does* emit elemental evil?" (Narrow your eyes.)
  • 816
816 Soona, the Programmer "It doesn't *emit*, it receives..." She stops explaining. "You sound just like her. She started praying when she first saw my Rehm. Turned to higher powers."
  • 741
817 Interfacing She's making it *extra simple* for you.
  • 795
818 Soona, the Programmer
  • 819
  • 820
819 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_said_already_have_been_inside_DCA"]
  • 821
820 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_said_already_have_been_inside_DCA"]) == false
  • 123
821 Soona, the Programmer "In the giant ice bear fridge -- I just told you. It has red glowing eyes, it's impossible to miss. You just need to get the off-site copy from the ice bear."
  • 822
822 Soona, the Programmer
  • 823
  • 824
823 Soona, the Programmer Variable["doomed.icebear_read_the_note"]
  • 825
824 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["doomed.icebear_read_the_note"]) == false
  • 234
825 Reaction Speed But... you've been to the fridge and it wasn't there. There was a note saying...
  • 234
826 Interfacing Glue-style? Okay, there *literally* is no other way. The mixing desk is glued to maximum.
  • 337
827 Reaction Speed Not so stoically -- his hand moves to the gun holster.
  • 671
828 Composure Her hand is trembling slightly...
  • 350
829 Soona, the Programmer "Five..."
  • 830
830 Soona, the Programmer "Four..."
  • 831
831 Soona, the Programmer "Three..."
  • 832
832 Soona, the Programmer "Two..."
  • 833
833 Soona, the Programmer "One..."
  • 834
834 Soona, the Programmer "Mute disengaged." She lifts her hand from the keyboard. Complete silence fills the room.
  • 835
835 Perception (Hearing) No wind outside. No waves. No floorboards creaking. Total, continuous silence. This is... unnatural.
  • 661
836 Physical Instrument It's out there now. In the world. Made manifest.
  • 837
837 Half Light It will devour everything.
  • 838
838 Inland Empire The floorboards. The glass. The streets and the people. Nothing will remain.
  • 352
839 Interfacing This fragile world is about to break.
  • 363
840 Perception (Sight) In the basins -- the water looks like it's *boiling*.
  • 353
841 You "It was... it was *in* me at first..."
  • 367
842 Perception (Sight) Cracks appear on the stained glass window. Cracks run up the wooden pillars in the dark...
  • 354
843 Shivers THE MIC IS NOTHING. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MIC.
  • 844
844 Acele "Andre, pull the compressor! The place is gonna come down..."
  • 359
845 Logic In the mixing desk now. Building into a positive feedback loop.
  • 851
846 Soona, the Programmer "That's it, I'm muting it!" She reaches for the keyboard...
  • 376
  • 356
  • 355
847 None
  • 848
  • 849
  • 850
848 You "Egg Head! It's in the desk!" Variable["church.soona_logic_in_the_desk"]
  • 378
849 You "Egg Head?! Can you stop it?" Variable["church.soona_logic_in_the_desk"] == false
  • 378
850 You "Egg Head -- whatever you do, don't stop it!"
  • 852
851 Perception (Hearing) THIS IS IT. A great roar, the vault of the roof twists above you, glass shatters somewhere near the door... it's coming down.
  • 847
852 Egg Head But then it stops. Totally and utterly -- as if there never was a sound. Only your ears still ring from the shock. Everybody is staring at Egg Head -- holding a dangling cable in his hand. A black three-pin connector.
  • 379
853 Soona, the Programmer "Four years..." the woman whispers. "Twenty two people, millions of reáls... All that time *this* is what we were up against? Just erased it..." Her lip trembles. "Sulisław isn't gonna believe this."
  • 854
854 Andre "Yeah, but did you record it though? It was dope, I think we can use it."
  • 855
855 Soona, the Programmer "Yes, Andre." She composes herself -- wipes the dust off her sweater and rests her hands on the keyboard. "I recorded it. Damn, I need to send some letters now..."
  • 856
856 Soona, the Programmer "Thank you all for doing this. Egg Man, you too. And you, officer." She turns to you. "I don't know *what* we've discovered, but I know what it sounds like now. That's a start."
  • 857
857 None
  • 878
  • 858
  • 859
  • 860
858 You "What *was* that? I've never heard anything like that."
  • 861
859 You "You're going to write Sulisław?"
  • 864
860 You "What happens now. Are you going to..." (Conclude.)
  • 867
861 Soona, the Programmer "It was mathematical information -- from the anomaly -- presented as a waveform. That's what it was *technically* -- theoretically..." She shakes her head.
  • 862
862 Soona, the Programmer "I have no idea. I've never even heard of anything like this."
  • 871
863 None
  • 857
864 Soona, the Programmer "Yes. Our lead designer. And maybe some of the producers too. And some of the writers, if they're sober enough to open a transmission. They need to hear..."
  • 865
865 Empathy That it wasn't her fault. Or theirs.
  • 866
866 Soona, the Programmer "They need to hear about this. Don't worry, I won't send the recording -- although I doubt they have the speakers to produce the frequency anyway..."
  • 863
867 Soona, the Programmer "Stay here," she cuts you off, her deft fingers already on the keyboard. "I am going to stay here with these lunatics, send letters, maybe meet Sulisław... Also devise further measurements."
  • 868
868 Andre "I want you to know that's totally chill with us."
  • 869
869 Soona, the Programmer "I don't care," she blurts, then reconsiders: "But thank you anyway."
  • 870
870 Volition That's the best she can manage for Andre. It's quite a lot, in truth. For her, at least.
  • 877
871 Perception (Hearing) Her voice seems muffled in the silent church. It's your ears adjusting after the exposure.
  • 863
872 Physical Instrument Some tiny hard thing lets go in your stomach. You're still alive.
  • 883
873 Soona, the Programmer
  • 874
  • 875
874 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 876
875 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 872
876 Kim Kitsuragi "Yes. And we have to get back to stabilizing Martinaise..." He breathes out, trying to shake off tension. "Instead of demolishing it with loud bass noise of unknown origins."
  • 872
877 Soona, the Programmer "Now..." Her hands move on the keyboard. "I have a theory to come up with. *Some* kind of preliminary explanation to all this, or the letter will sound like I've lost my mind..."
  • 873
878 You "Kim, did *you* hear that?" IsKimHere()
  • 879
879 Kim Kitsuragi "It was *very* hard not to. I think you're right," he turns to the woman. "There *is* something going on here -- and you need to be *very* careful with it."
  • 881
880 None
  • 857
881 Soona, the Programmer "I promise, officer. We will *not* play it again."
  • 880
882 None
  • 3
883 Soona, the Programmer
  • 884
  • 885
884 Soona, the Programmer Variable["tc.pale"]
  • 889
885 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["tc.pale"]) == false
  • 886
886 Soona, the Programmer
  • 887
  • 888
887 Soona, the Programmer Variable["TASK.report_to_the_tribunal_done"] == false and Variable["TASK.get_reality_lowdown"]
  • 892
888 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["TASK.report_to_the_tribunal_done"] == false and Variable["TASK.get_reality_lowdown"]) == false
  • 882
889 Inland Empire You have an explanation for all this. Somewhere deep in you -- you *know*. The person you *were* knows.
  • 882
890 Inland Empire Silence is silence? You're sure there's more to it...
  • 891
891 Logic This can't be it. You should have a listen.
  • 1088
892 Inland Empire You *have* an explanation for all this. Somewhere deep in you -- you just don't have the pieces yet.
  • 894
893 Encyclopedia You don't know enough about the world. But that *Joyce* -- if you knew all she knows, could put it together...
  • 882
894 Soona, the Programmer
  • 895
  • 896
895 Soona, the Programmer Variable["pier.joyce_met"]
  • 893
896 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["pier.joyce_met"]) == false
  • 882
897 Soona, the Programmer "But..." She looks up, and there's fear in her eyes as she considers the possibility. "But pale isn't here. We're thousands of kilometres from the edge."
  • 907
898 Logic All you hear is silence in your head.
  • 934
899 Logic You don't have to. You already *have*. A long time ago.
  • 901
  • 900
900 You "Soona, it is the origin point of the pale."
  • 905
901 You Wait... *how*?
  • 902
902 Logic These thoughts formed in you somewhere, in a long forgotten discussion. Behind a kitchen table, in the evening light.
  • 903
903 Inland Empire Drinking coffee and smoking. With a friend.
  • 904
904 Electrochemistry And a woman, she was there too. Her hair smelled of shampoo and she was smoking.
  • 900
905 Soona, the Programmer "What?"
  • 906
906 You "The swallow -- it's how it starts. It's baby pale."
  • 897
907 Half Light That comforts her.
  • 908
  • 909
908 You "No." (Look up first.) "We are twenty metres from the *very* edge."
  • 910
909 You "The pale is only an effect. A transition between the world -- and *that*."
  • 920
910 Soona, the Programmer She looks up into the darkness under the nave, then back at you.
  • 911
911 Rhetoric You have her full, undivided attention.
  • 916
912 Soona, the Programmer
  • 913
  • 914
913 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 915
914 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 919
915 Kim Kitsuragi The lieutenant's too. He takes his glasses off.
  • 919
916 Soona, the Programmer
  • 917
  • 918
917 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_rhetoric_undivided_attention"]
  • 912
918 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_rhetoric_undivided_attention"]) == false
  • 919
919 None
  • 909
920 Soona, the Programmer "Then... what *is* that?"
  • 922
921 You "It's *less than less than nothing*. The final rest state for reality. Imagine if all this..." (Spread your hands.) "*Never was.*"
  • 923
922 Logic It's nothing. No... it's *less* than nothing. No...
  • 921
923 Soona, the Programmer "Then the pale is..."
  • 925
  • 924
924 You "Simply... *curdling milk*."
  • 926
925 You "Simply a gradient."
  • 927
926 Soona, the Programmer "But the milk -- it clearly hasn't started curdling yet. We're here and the pale is not."
  • 928
927 Soona, the Programmer "But the gradient -- it clearly hasn't started yet. We're here and the pale is not."
  • 928
928 You "One day, when it's larger, it will be."
  • 929
929 Soona, the Programmer "I understand..." She closes her eyes. "A theory of the pale where instead of an *outer ocean* it metastasises -- like a cancer or a mould -- erupting in points *inside* the world."
  • 930
930 You (Nod.) "*This* is one of those places."
  • 931
931 Soona, the Programmer She's silent for a second. Then she opens her mouth. "According to this -- how long..."
  • 932
932 None
  • 933
933 You "...until it starts *swallowing*? It's already started. Starting with sound."
  • 935
934 None
  • 3
935 Soona, the Programmer "And information," she nods. "Causing data losses in the East-Insulindian front. Have you considered why it's formed in a church? And, also, *when* or *how* it might start growing? Or -- if it has other effects? In addition to sound and data..."
  • 939
936 None
  • 937
  • 952
  • 958
  • 969
  • 966
937 You "It didn't form in a church, the church formed around it."
  • 938
938 Soona, the Programmer "Of course! A pinewood sarcophagus, or a..." She looks for words. "A containment facility of some kind, built by the first settlers."
  • 945
  • 946
939 Empathy An intellectual hunger fills her now, casting fear aside.
  • 940
940 Soona, the Programmer
  • 941
  • 942
941 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 943
942 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 936
943 Kim Kitsuragi "I also have a question -- since we're piling them on. How do *you* know this? I'm not doubting you," he explains, "I'm simply curious as to how a detective of the RCM..."
  • 944
944 Esprit de Corps ... knows how to think this?
  • 936
945 You "Yes. Acting on an instinctual level. Or religious practices we've forgotten."
  • 948
946 You "*Or* it can be a coincidence."
  • 947
947 Soona, the Programmer "Yes. But still -- I have considered the same. And the bad news is -- there were *seven* such pinewood churches built in the first decade of Revachol's settlement."
  • 949
948 Soona, the Programmer "I have considered the same. The bad news is -- there were *seven* pinewood churches built in the first decade of Revachol's settlement."
  • 949
949 Soona, the Programmer "Most of them were burnt down during the Revolution, or re-purposed before, during the Suzerain. I'm not saying *all* of them have one in them, but.."
  • 950
950 Half Light Some of them might. A black grain, hanging in the air...
  • 951
951 None
  • 936
952 You "All the failed businesses in the Doomed Commercial Area. All the failure in Martinaise..." Variable["tc.doomed_commercial_area"]
  • 953
953 Soona, the Programmer "You think the presence of that *puncture* has somehow... influenced the outcome of events here? Even, say, software development?"
  • 963
954 None
  • 955
  • 956
  • 957
955 You "Yes. Even the Revolution was defeated here. I mean a kind of... entroponetic history."
  • 959
956 You "All the failed businesses and ideologies -- there's something *wrong* here."
  • 959
957 You "No. We're reaching. People fail on their own."
  • 962
958 You "Tiago -- under the roof -- he said he's circling the spot, like a saeraff. He seemed to have lost his mind." Variable["church.tiago_asked_about_saeraffic"]
  • 964
959 Soona, the Programmer "I told the producers we need to go and move to a normal office building, with amenities. But no -- the artists like the *milieu*. The writers like the *history*..." She shakes her head. "I told them."
  • 772
  • 960
960 You No -- It's better they don't know.
  • 961
961 Soona, the Programmer "I told them, but no -- normal office buildings are *bourgeois*..."
  • 1052
962 Soona, the Programmer "True, we never should have upgraded to Vox '50. And the spec kept changing. And those damn *Heads*... but still, the anomaly caused a massive data loss. So -- it had a part to play. It does *something*."
  • 1053
963 Empathy She already made up her mind when she heard it. Some kind of great and uncaring force had to play a part... it wasn't *only* them.
  • 954
964 Soona, the Programmer "The crab-man... From what I've heard, his state could be reminiscent of pale over-exposure. Time-perception related illnesses, memory malfunctions, thought insertion."
  • 965
965 Suggestion She's agreeing more and more. Partially because she *wants* to.
  • 967
966 You (Conclude.) "One day all the world will be like that two-millimetre hole."
  • 968
967 Inland Empire And then there is you. And what happened to *your* mind. Are you not a saeraff in worship too?
  • 1054
968 Soona, the Programmer She falls silent. The wind blows in through the hole in the stained glass window. Cold and moist.
  • 975
969 You "I think I've had this thought before. That's how I know."
  • 970
970 Soona, the Programmer
  • 971
  • 972
971 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 973
972 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 974
973 Kim Kitsuragi "An amateur-entroponetic police officer... I'd like to say I've heard stranger things, but I'm not sure. This is a hell of a guess, however. Well worded I might add..."
  • 974
974 Soona, the Programmer "Yes, it is *very* interesting, but I wouldn't say you *know*. This is a guess. One that's going to have to be *proved* -- by entroponetic scientists."
  • 1055
975 Soona, the Programmer "I'm going to leave that out -- but the rest... some of this I can use to *start* to explain this to the rest of the team. Maybe I'll sound mad, but..."
  • 976
976 Soona, the Programmer
  • 977
  • 978
977 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 979
978 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 981
979 Kim Kitsuragi "Ma'am, you will *certainly* sound mad."
  • 980
980 Soona, the Programmer She shrugs. "One more thing -- maybe a club for anodic music isn't the *worst* thing you can erect around this particular... *point in space*?"
  • 982
981 Soona, the Programmer She shrugs. "You know -- maybe a club for anodic music isn't the *worst* thing you can erect around this particular... *point in space*?"
  • 982
982 None
  • 983
  • 984
  • 985
  • 986
983 You "Perhaps not."
  • 988
984 You "Yeah, that's still insane, but then again -- so am I."
  • 988
985 You "The club is the only thing keeping this place -- and the rest of reality -- together."
  • 987
986 You "Actually, now that I think of it, maybe it's dangerous?"
  • 989
987 Soona, the Programmer "I wouldn't go so far as to..."
  • 988
988 Egg Head "YEAAAGHHH! ONCE THE LIGHT IS ON IN THE UNIVERSE -- IT WILL NEVER GO OUT!"
  • 990
989 Soona, the Programmer "Maybe, but..."
  • 988
990 Soona, the Programmer
  • 991
  • 992
991 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 993
992 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 994
993 Kim Kitsuragi "Thank you, Egg Head. Let's leave it at that, shall we? We have un-entroponetic detection to perform in this district."
  • 995
994 Soona, the Programmer "What is there to add to that? Nothing."
  • 995
995 None
  • 3
996 Soona, the Programmer "And here's my Kvalsund multitool. You might need it to hack loose some ice. It opens everything. If you get me the off-site copy, then you can keep the Kvalsund."
  • 1001
997 Interfacing The *legendary* Kvalsund multitool! This is prybar version 2.0 -- for *professionals*, like you.
  • 998
998 Physical Instrument This glorious multitool makes a regular prybar completely OBSOLETE.
  • 687
999 Empathy There's a solution, but she doesn't want to hand it over to you yet. It's a *thing*, something she holds dear.
  • 1000
1000 None
  • 116
1001 Empathy It hurts a bit for her to say this -- she's not too happy to be parting with the Kvalsund.
  • 997
1002 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1003
  • 1004
1003 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_discussed_crab_man"] and Variable["tc.crab_man"]
  • 472
1004 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_discussed_crab_man"] and Variable["tc.crab_man"]) == false
  • 1005
1005 Soona, the Programmer "No, I'm not, it's just me and the..." She looks up at the ceiling without finishing her sentence. "I'm just doing some research. That's all."
  • 1034
1006 You "Right, nothing to do with ghosts..."
  • 1007
1007 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1008
  • 1009
1008 Soona, the Programmer (CheckItem("lecger_damaged") or CheckItem("ledger_of_failure_and_hatred") or CheckItem("ledger_oblivion")) and IsKimHere()
  • 1010
1009 Soona, the Programmer ((CheckItem("lecger_damaged") or CheckItem("ledger_of_failure_and_hatred") or CheckItem("ledger_oblivion")) and IsKimHere()) == false
  • 1011
1010 Kim Kitsuragi "You do know there's no need to officially document this information, right?" the lieutenant whispers to you.
  • 1011
1011 Soona, the Programmer She has already turned back to her keyboard.
  • 1012
1012 None
  • 142
1013 Conceptualization I bet she hasn't even heard it.
  • 1014
  • 749
  • 750
  • 146
1014 You "Have you even *listened* to it? Like *actually* listened?" Variable["church.soona_concept_have_you_listened_to_anodic_music"] == true
  • 1015
1015 Soona, the Programmer "Yeah, like all the time. My tent-neighbours don't really ease up with their partying, do they?" She pulls a face that looks absolutely scathing.
  • 147
1016 Perception (Sight) The machine seems almost alien with its pulsing core, the light casting her face in a strange shadow.
  • 399
1017 Rhetoric Basement? Sounds like it's *technically* still on-site...
  • 241
1018 Soona, the Programmer "Yeah... No, I don't think there's anything there." Her voice is bitter with disappointment.
  • 752
1019 Suggestion Maybe the speedfreaks can help you with this? Go talk with Andre.
  • 688
1020 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1021
  • 1022
1021 Soona, the Programmer Variable["TASK.find_egg_beat"]
  • 1023
1022 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["TASK.find_egg_beat"]) == false
  • 691
1023 Soona, the Programmer "Okay." She lets out a relieved sigh. "I'll go make a phone call outside and then return for my things. You can tell the ravers that they can move in."
  • 83
1024 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1025
  • 1026
1025 Soona, the Programmer Variable["TASK.find_egg_beat"]
  • 690
1026 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["TASK.find_egg_beat"]) == false
  • 1027
1027 Soona, the Programmer "Okay, I'm going. You can tell the ravers that they can move in."
  • 431
1028 Electrochemistry He's peaking -- the worst high he's ever been on.
  • 364
  • 841
  • 365
1029 Drama She hast not seen her, sire. 'Tis true.
  • 791
1030 Half Light Wow. She really doesn't. Not afraid, this one.
  • 30
1031 Soona, the Programmer "Rehm Prefect is my radiocomputer," she explains.
  • 447
1032 Empathy She liked telling you this. It calmed her nerves.
  • 391
1033 Rhetoric Short and terse -- there you have it. Whatever she's using them for, they're hers.
  • 403
1034 You "What research?"
  • 473
1035 Encyclopedia Hah! Hydrotransducers. So that's what those water basins are -- devices for recording sound through water.
  • 49
1036 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1037
  • 1038
1037 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 1039
1038 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 649
1039 Kim Kitsuragi "Good luck," the lieutenant notes. "I'm *not* coming in there."
  • 649
1040 Volition His way to deal with this is -- at this point -- not to care. Do what you want.
  • 1043
1041 Soona, the Programmer "Okay -- but still."
  • 247
1042 Conceptualization Valley of the Thousand Heads? You like the sound of that.
  • 535
1043 Rhetoric Wait! No-no-no. You can't say things like that when the lieutenant is present. Say it's a joke!
  • 180
  • 182
  • 183
  • 1044
1044 You "Whoa, guys! I was just messing with you." (Wave your hands around your head.)
  • 1045
1045 Soona, the Programmer "Just 'messing with us'. Right. Well..."
  • 496
1046 None
  • 406
1047 Suggestion Hey, hey, what are you doing -- laying everything out like that?!
  • 1048
1048 Electrochemistry She's a radiocomputer wizard. Radiocomputer wizards don't care. She probably thinks it's illegal -- *and* fun.
  • 170
  • 171
1049 Electrochemistry Oh yeah, told you -- radiocomputer wizards don't care.
  • 163
1050 Logic Let's think about this -- logically. Why would *nothing* be terrifying if it's, well, *nothing*?
  • 607
1051 None
  • 936
1052 None
  • 936
1053 None
  • 936
1054 None
  • 936
1055 None
  • 936
1056 Savoir Faire She doesn't care how you got your hands on that thing.
  • 247
1057 You "I'd really like to know more about your research." Variable["TASK.help_soona_with_her_project"]
  • 1058
1058 Soona, the Programmer "Well. Since you're asking then..."
  • 473
1059 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1060
  • 1061
1060 Soona, the Programmer Variable["TASK.bring_off_site_copy_to_soona_done"]
  • 1066
1061 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["TASK.bring_off_site_copy_to_soona_done"]) == false
  • 1065
1062 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1063
  • 1064
1063 Soona, the Programmer Variable["TASK.help_soona_with_her_project"]
  • 1059
1064 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["TASK.help_soona_with_her_project"]) == false
  • 628
1065 Soona, the Programmer "If you could bring me the off-site copy then it would help -- a lot."
  • 629
1066 Soona, the Programmer "The off-site copy you brought me helps, but..." She stops mid-sentence. "You know what, it would be great if you could just stop talking and let me work."
  • 629
1067 Interfacing *Great* job!
  • 581
  • 582
1068 Empathy She's beaming -- you can feel it in your heart.
  • 1067
1069 Electrochemistry Time for a celebratory drink perhaps...? Just a thought!
  • 582
1070 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1071
  • 1072
1071 Soona, the Programmer SubstanceUsedOnce("alcohol")
  • 1069
1072 Soona, the Programmer (SubstanceUsedOnce("alcohol")) == false
  • 582
1073 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1074
  • 1075
1074 Soona, the Programmer IsTaskActive("TASK.investigate_sea_fortress")--[[ Variable[ ]]
  • 1077
1075 Soona, the Programmer (IsTaskActive("TASK.investigate_sea_fortress")--[[ Variable[ ]]) == false
  • 282
1076 Kim Kitsuragi "Great -- after we've done this, we can finally get to the island," the lieutenant says, satisfied.
  • 282
1077 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1078
  • 1079
1078 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 1076
1079 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 1080
1080 Volition Great -- after you've done this, you can finally get to the island. Let's wrap this up!
  • 282
1081 Endurance Death *is* scary. You can't just start over again. Or can you?
  • 133
  • 610
1082 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1083
  • 1084
1083 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 1086
1084 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 1085
1085 Volition Great -- you *do know* that we can just abandon this mission and go to the island? Let's close this case!
  • 1091
1086 Kim Kitsuragi "Great -- and here I thought we were finally going to the island..." the lieutenant murmurs to himself.
  • 1087
1087 Esprit de Corps 'But I *am* interested,' you read from his face.
  • 760
1088 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1089
  • 1090
1089 Soona, the Programmer IsTaskActive("TASK.investigate_sea_fortress")--[[ Variable[ ]]
  • 1082
1090 Soona, the Programmer (IsTaskActive("TASK.investigate_sea_fortress")--[[ Variable[ ]]) == false
  • 760
1091 Esprit de Corps Cuno must be already on the island, wondering where the hell you are... or maybe he doesn't care. Yeah, he probably doesn't care.
  • 760
1092 Suggestion Brilliant negotiating there, detective -- as always!
  • 324
1093 Electrochemistry That's a bummer. A *big* bummer.
  • 323
1094 You "Those ravers won't be bothering you anymore -- I told them to leave because they were planning a drug trade." Variable["church.andre_told_to_leave"] == true
  • 658
1095 You "It's not a *paying* job, but could you help me contact Coalition Warship Archer?" IsTaskActive("TASK.find_technical_expertise") and Variable["church.soona_asked_help_before"] == false and Variable["church.soona_said_no_help"] == false and Variable["church.mainframe_cybernetic_god"] == false
  • 1097
1096 You "Now that your project is finished, can you help me contact Coalition Warship Archer?" IsTaskActive("TASK.find_technical_expertise") and Variable["church.soona_asked_help_before"] == true and Variable["TASK.help_soona_with_her_project_done"] == true and Variable["church.soona_said_no_help"] == false
  • 1100
1097 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1098
  • 1099
1098 Soona, the Programmer Variable["TASK.help_soona_with_her_project_done"]
  • 1100
1099 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["TASK.help_soona_with_her_project_done"]) == false
  • 1101
1100 Soona, the Programmer She looks up from her monitor. "You're asking me to circuit-bend onto Coalition radio frequencies. You want to know is it possible? Probably. But is it a good idea? I'm not so sure..."
  • 1104
1101 Soona, the Programmer "Do I look like someone who has time for *side projects* at this moment?" She doesn't even look up from her computer.
  • 1102
1102 Empathy If you want her help, maybe you should help *her* first...
  • 1103
1103 None
  • 3
1104 Soona, the Programmer "The main difficulty will be finding an antenna powerful enough to reach those frequencies. Unfortunately you can't exactly buy mega-longwave antennas off the shelf."
  • 1105
1105 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1106
  • 1107
1106 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 1111
1107 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 1108
1108 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1109
  • 1110
1109 Soona, the Programmer Variable["auto.visited_landsend"]
  • 1116
1110 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["auto.visited_landsend"]) == false
  • 1112
1111 Kim Kitsuragi "She's not joking. Even the RCM has to receive special approval from the Coalition to access that kind of equipment."
  • 1108
1112 Soona, the Programmer "There is an old radio relay tower at the very end of the peninsula. It's mostly used to coordinate boat traffic in the harbour, but it's possible that it's equipped to handle mega-low frequencies as well..."
  • 1113
1113 Soona, the Programmer "Assuming the relay isn't too badly damaged, that is. I have work to do here, but I recommend you examine the relay tower and return once you have determined its condition."
  • 1118
  • 1119
1114 Soona, the Programmer "I highly doubt it. That tower is barely able to transmit short-wave signals across the bay. To generate mega-low frequencies, we're going to need a *much* larger antenna..."
  • 1117
1115 Soona, the Programmer "I don't see any alternative. We're just going to have to build the antenna ourselves."
  • 1123
  • 1124
  • 1125
  • 1126
1116 You "The radio relay tower at Land's End... could that work?"
  • 1114
1117 Logic She has an idea, though. You can see the tiny signal lights firing inside her brain...
  • 1115
1118 You "Where is this relay tower exactly?"
  • 1120
1119 You "Alright, I'll check out the tower and report back."
  • 1121
1120 Soona, the Programmer "North of here. Follow the coastline. I do not know how to explain it more simply."
  • 1119
1121 Soona, the Programmer "Very good. I'll be here when you are finished."
  • 1122
1122 None
  • 3
1123 You "Why don't we just use your AR-1?" Variable["church.soona_asked_about_antenna"] == true
  • 1130
1124 You "Wait, we can just *build* an antenna?"
  • 1129
1125 You "That sounds hard. Can't we just get one from someplace else?"
  • 1128
1126 You "Now we're talking! What do we have to do?"
  • 1127
1127 Soona, the Programmer "We need metal. A lot of it. The taller the structure, the better. Something that is both prominent and easily accessible. If it's near a power source, even better."
  • 1131
1128 Soona, the Programmer "Not the sort of antenna we require. The Coalition has a near-monopoly on mega-low-frequency radio equipment. Fortunately, they do not have a monopoly on physics."
  • 1127
1129 Soona, the Programmer "Yes. From a technical view, it's not even difficult. The difficult part will be finding the *right* location."
  • 1127
1130 Soona, the Programmer "Because it's a completely different class of antenna. It would be like using a high-end racing carriage where a long-distance lorry is required."
  • 1127
1131 None
  • 3
1132 You "The radio relay tower is in bad shape. I don't think we can use it to reach the Archer." IsTaskActive("TASK.visit_landsend") and Variable["coast.lands_end_empathy_tower"] == true and Variable["church.soona_archer_working_soona"] == true
  • 1133
1133 Soona, the Programmer "That is not good. In case you have not noticed, Martinaise is not exactly a hub for high-powered radio antennas..."
  • 1134
1134 None
  • 1117
1135 You "I found a radio transceiver." IsTaskActive("TASK.find_working_transceiver") and (CheckItem("highly_advanced_transceiver") or CheckItem("highly_expensive_transceiver") or CheckItem("perfectly_adequate_transceiver")) and Variable["church.soona_archer_working_soona"] == true
  • 1136
1136 Soona, the Programmer "Ah, very good. Let's see what you have."
  • 1143
  • 1144
  • 1146
1137 Soona, the Programmer "Not the most advanced model." She turns a few dials and then sets the transceiver aside. "But at least everything appears to be in order. Yes, this should serve our purposes."
  • 1150
1138 Soona, the Programmer "Ah, you 'found' the transceiver from my old Rehm Civic. Did you think I wouldn't recognise it? No matter. It should work for our purposes..."
  • 1149
1139 Soona, the Programmer "Interesting," she says as examines the transceiver, "an Esterhaz EH-4, heavily customised. This is an advanced model, highly capable. I'll need to replace the frequency dial, but it should certainly work for our purposes."
  • 1148
1140 Soona, the Programmer "Is this... a Kristallsprach?" She looks up at you as she gently opens the case. "The Model 9 is an excellent piece of equipment. I don't know what you had to pay for it, but it should work very nicely."
  • 1147
1141 Soona, the Programmer "I believe that means we're ready to get started. I should warn you, once we begin setting up this antenna, we'll need to see the whole process through. There won't be any second chances, any 'do-overs,' you understand?"
  • 1142
1142 Soona, the Programmer "So if there's anything you'd like to get in order before we depart, I suggest you do it now."
  • 1151
1143 You "I got this beauty down at the pawnshop." (Use the highly expensive transceiver.) CheckItem("highly_expensive_transceiver")
  • 1140
1144 You "Someone was using this to coordinate a drug smuggling operation." (Use the highly advanced transceiver.) CheckItem("highly_advanced_transceiver")
  • 1139
1145 You "I found this in the Doomed Commercial Area." (Use the perfectly adequate transceiver.) CheckItem("perfectly_adequate_transceiver") and Variable["doomed.radiocomputer_took_transceiver"] == true
  • 1138
1146 You "I found this in an office by the harbour." (Use the perfectly adequate transceiver.) CheckItem("perfectly_adequate_transceiver")
  • 1137
1147 Interfacing It's not often that she allows herself to be awed, but the way she holds the Kristallsprach reminds you of someone receiving a precious gift.
  • 1141
1148 Interfacing She's impressed by your resourcefulness as much as by the equipment itself.
  • 1141
1149 Interfacing She's not upset. More bemused. This particular transceiver brings back memories, not that she is one to indulge in superstitions.
1150 Interfacing No further comment necessary.
  • 1141
1151 None
  • 1152
  • 1153
  • 1154
  • 1155
1152 You "Wait, didn't you say we need some kind of power supply?"
  • 1161
1153 You "What kind of stuff should I 'get in order'?"
  • 1158
1154 You "I'm ready. Let's do this."
  • 1156
1155 You "Hang on, I need some time to prepare."
  • 1157
1156 Soona, the Programmer "Very good. If you'll help me with some of this equipment, then..."
  • 1192
1157 Soona, the Programmer "That's fine. Return to me when you are ready to go."
  • 1196
1158 Soona, the Programmer "That's up to you. At a minimum, I would make sure you are physically *and* mentally prepared for an intense and difficult process. Once we begin, there can be no interruptions."
  • 1159
1159 Interfacing At the very least, you should make sure you're wearing a good pair of gloves.
  • 1160
1160 Soona, the Programmer "Radio-engineers typically carry over-priced solvent sprays to clean the antenna connections, but in a pinch some common ammonia works just fine..."
  • 1179
1161 Soona, the Programmer "Ah, yes. I wasn't sure what to do about that, but then I discovered an abandoned power source down by the edge of the bay."
  • 1163
1162 Soona, the Programmer "Finally, there's the question of *stimulants*. Some people prefer to keep illegal amphetamines on-hand to help with their work. I am not one of them, but they do exist."
  • 1180
1163 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1164
  • 1165
1164 Soona, the Programmer Variable["coast.sunken_dialogue_done"]
  • 1166
1165 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["coast.sunken_dialogue_done"]) == false
  • 1167
1166 Logic It's obvious she's referring to your half-sunken Coupris 40.
  • 1168
1167 Logic An 'abandoned power source'? What could she be referring to?
  • 1169
1168 None
  • 1170
  • 1171
  • 1172
1169 Inland Empire Whatever it is, it was abandoned for *good* reason. Best to leave some stones unturned...
  • 1168
1170 You "You mean the motor carriage that I crashed into the bay?" Variable["coast.sunken_dialogue_done"] == true
  • 1173
1171 You "What do you mean an *abandoned* power source?" Variable["coast.sunken_dialogue_done"] == false
  • 1174
1172 You "Ah, well as long as it works, I don't need to know the details."
  • 1175
1173 Soona, the Programmer "Ah. Yes, I did notice that it was covered in police livery. Then you already know that the carriage itself is irreparable, but the rear-mounted engine seems to be in fine working order..."
  • 1176
1174 Soona, the Programmer "Someone, I don't know how, appears to have driven a perfectly good Coupris motor carriage into the bay. The carriage itself is a loss, but the rear-mounted engine is still perfectly functional..."
  • 1361
1175 Soona, the Programmer "In that case, let's move on."
  • 1177
1176 Soona, the Programmer "My intention is to run a power cable from the engine up to the antenna. It won't last forever, but it should give us enough time to establish a connection with Coalition Warship Archer."
  • 1178
1177 None
  • 1151
1178 None
  • 1151
1179 Electrochemistry Pssst, it's the alcohol *in* the ammonia doing the real work, kinda like with you.
  • 1162
1180 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1181
  • 1182
1181 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.andre_arrest_order_given"] == true or Variable["church.andre_told_to_leave"] == true
  • 1183
1182 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.andre_arrest_order_given"] == true or Variable["church.andre_told_to_leave"] == true) == false
  • 1184
  • 1185
1183 You "Isn't it a little ironic that you're recommending amphetamines after what happened with the speedfreaks?"
  • 1186
1184 You "I try to avoid drugs. Abusing stimulants is *highly* irresponsible."
  • 1187
1185 You "So this isn't the first time you've hung around speedfreaks, is it?"
  • 1188
1186 Soona, the Programmer "I'm not interested in irony. I leave that to more *conceptual* types."
  • 1189
1187 Soona, the Programmer "I don't take them because they make me nauseous, but everyone has their reasons. I don't judge."
  • 1190
1188 Soona, the Programmer "It is possible that technical fields attract a certain kind of personality. I haven't given it much thought."
  • 1191
1189 None
  • 1151
1190 None
  • 1151
1191 None
  • 1151
1192 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1193
  • 1194
1193 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 1195
1194 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 1197
1195 Kim Kitsuragi "Back across the waterlock. At least we're getting our *exercise* in today."
  • 1362
1196 None
  • 3
1197 Soona, the Programmer "If you'll please carry that amplifier and cables, officer. We have quite a lot to carry..."
  • 1364
1198 You "I'm ready now. Let's contact Archer." IsTaskActive("TASK.contact_warship_archer") and Variable["church.soona_archer_working_soona"] == true
  • 1199
1199 None
  • 1156
1200 You Come up with a site for a mega-longwave radio antenna. Variable["church.soona_concept_white_check_open"] == true and IsTaskActive("TASK.find_antenna_location")
  • 1201
1201 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1202
  • 1203
1202 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_concept_wc_success"]
  • 1253
1203 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_concept_wc_success"]) == false
  • 1204
1204 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1205
  • 1206
1205 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_wc_fail_counter"] >2
  • 1217
1206 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_wc_fail_counter"] >2) == false
  • 1207
1207 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1208
  • 1209
1208 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_wc_fail_counter"] >1
  • 1216
1209 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_wc_fail_counter"] >1) == false
  • 1210
1210 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1211
  • 1212
1211 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_wc_fail_counter"] ==1
  • 1215
1212 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_wc_fail_counter"] ==1) == false
  • 1213
1213 Conceptualization That's easy! Antennas are basically just tall things, right?
  • 1214
1214 You "We could use the steeple of *this* church." (Point up.)
  • 1219
1215 Conceptualization Alright, brainstorming time. Remember, this is just the ideation phase. There are no *bad* ideas.
  • 1222
  • 1223
1216 Conceptualization Your thinking about this has gotten way too rigid. Time to flip the whole *antenna paradigm* on its head.
  • 1244
1217 Conceptualization Nope, nothing. The idea factory is closed until further notice.
  • 1354
1218 None
  • 3
1219 Soona, the Programmer "No, we could not. This church is made from wood. I am not sure you understand how radios work."
  • 1221
1220 Conceptualization Okay, that's a fair point. But don't worry, your next idea will be better.
1221 None
  • 3
1222 You "I've got it. Why don't we use the mast of a giant *boat*?"
  • 1224
1223 You "Here's an idea: Maybe there's an antenna in the harbour we could use?"
  • 1225
1224 Soona, the Programmer "Do you have access to a giant boat?"
  • 1226
  • 1227
1225 Soona, the Programmer "Don't you think the Union would object to that?"
  • 1235
  • 1236
1226 You "I could ask the representative from the Wild Pines. She's a friend of mine."
  • 1228
1227 You "No."
  • 1234
1228 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1229
  • 1230
1229 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 1231
1230 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 1232
1231 Kim Kitsuragi "Something tells me Ms. Messier would be *less than thrilled* to hear you plan to commandeer her boat so you can talk to a Coalition warship."
  • 1233
1232 Soona, the Programmer "I very much doubt anyone from the Wild Pines would allow us to turn their boat into a giant radio transmitter."
  • 1243
1233 Soona, the Programmer "Yes, it is not a very likely scenario."
  • 1243
1234 Soona, the Programmer "That is why we don't use it, then."
  • 1243
1235 You "No way, me and Evrart are tight."
  • 1237
1236 You "Hmmm, maybe."
  • 1313
1237 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1238
  • 1239
1238 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 1240
1239 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 1241
1240 Kim Kitsuragi "Problematically so, one might even argue."
  • 1242
1241 Soona, the Programmer "I do not think that the boss of the Union would like us using his equipment to contact the Coalition."
  • 1243
1242 Soona, the Programmer "I don't know about your relationship to the Union, but I do not think they would appreciate us using their equipment to contact the Coalition."
  • 1243
1243 None
  • 3
1244 You "Hear me out: What if we built the antenna *underground*?"
  • 1245
1245 Soona, the Programmer "Then it would be very difficult to propagate the signal through the air... which would defeat the purpose."
  • 1246
1246 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1247
  • 1248
1247 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 1250
1248 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 1249
1249 Soona, the Programmer "To be perfectly frank, I'm not sure your ideas are really helping."
  • 1252
1250 Kim Kitsuragi "Detective, does the 41st not require its officers to pass Elementary Radio Operations? I thought it was an RCM-wide policy."
  • 1249
1251 Conceptualization Okay, wow, that's some harsh feedback.
1252 None
  • 3
1253 Conceptualization Close your eyes. Unfold your mental map of Martinaise. It's morning. You're standing on the plaza before the Whirling-in-Rags.
  • 1348
1254 None
  • 1255
  • 1256
  • 1257
1255 You Turn to face the bay.
  • 1258
1256 You Turn to face the apartments.
  • 1259
1257 You Turn to face the roundabout.
  • 1266
1258 Conceptualization Your eye follows the tiles west. You see a bench and a few twisted, pitiful trees. Then, just water...
  • 1260
1259 Conceptualization Beyond the unkempt backyard rises a monstrous assemblage of concrete, plaster, and corrugated sheet metal...
  • 1260
1260 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1261
  • 1262
1261 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_concept_success_counter"] == 2
  • 1309
1262 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_concept_success_counter"] == 2) == false
  • 1349
1263 Shivers The voice again, more urgent now: 'Nay!'
  • 1264
1264 Inland Empire Just a moment. That voice isn't human, and it's not saying 'Nay!' -- It's saying 'N-n-n-neigh!'
  • 1312
1265 None
  • 1254
1266 Conceptualization You turn around. The morning sun is blinding. You bring your hand to your brow and a great shadow materialises before you. A towering beast, frozen in mid-air...
  • 1267
1267 You "The horseback monument."
  • 1268
1268 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1269
  • 1270
1269 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_wc_fail_counter"] >1
  • 1271
1270 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_wc_fail_counter"] >1) == false
  • 1272
1271 Soona, the Programmer "Come on, that's..." She was about to dismiss your latest idea out of hand, but something gives her pause.
  • 1273
1272 Soona, the Programmer "The dead king and his horse. It could work..."
  • 1277
1273 Soona, the Programmer "... not the worst idea..."
  • 1277
1274 Soona, the Programmer "We'll need an adequate power supply, and a great quantity of cable. If we connect the cables to some of the stranded lorries, we could theoretically increase the antenna's wavelength *exponentially*..."
  • 1278
1275 Soona, the Programmer "Quiet, I'm doing maths... Yes, assuming we can find just a few pieces of equipment..."
  • 1276
1276 Soona, the Programmer "It's completely ridiculous, but I believe we could transform the entire roundabout into one solid, *fractal antenna*."
  • 1281
1277 Inland Empire It may work, you think, but why do you feel like there may be a terrible cost?
  • 1274
1278 Interfacing Whatever ambivalence she had about your project before, she's now fully engaged in solving this technical puzzle.
  • 1279
  • 1280
1279 You "So you're saying..."
  • 1275
1280 You Let her think.
  • 1276
1281 Conceptualization A note of awe in her voice. She's shocked and pleased by her own audacity...
  • 1282
  • 1283
  • 1284
  • 1285
  • 1286
1282 You "About time, those other antennas were cramping my style." IsTHCPresent("superstar_cop")
  • 1291
1283 You "We shall call it: The Herald of Destruction." IsTHCPresent("apocalypse_cop")
  • 1287
1284 You "As long as it gets the job done, I'm not interested in the details." IsTHCPresent("boring_cop")
  • 1288
1285 You "Are you sure that's legal? I feel like I'm going to need to apologise to someone." IsTHCPresent("sorry_cop")
  • 1289
1286 You "That's... a very big antenna."
  • 1290
1287 Soona, the Programmer "What you choose to call it isn't my concern. I'm only here to tell you what's feasible or not from a technical viewpoint."
  • 1292
1288 Soona, the Programmer "Very well. I will get straight to the point, then." She nods, seeming to appreciate your cold practicality.
  • 1292
1289 Soona, the Programmer "If you would like to apologise, that is your business. I am only here to tell you what's feasible or not from a technical viewpoint."
  • 1292
1290 Soona, the Programmer "Yes, very likely the largest private antenna in Revachol."
  • 1292
1291 Soona, the Programmer "Your sense of style isn't my concern. I'm only here to tell you what's feasible or not from a technical viewpoint."
  • 1292
1292 Soona, the Programmer "I have plenty of cables and amplifiers on hand. The power supply I will secure on my own. All we require now is the radio transceiver itself."
  • 1314
  • 1340
1293 Soona, the Programmer "In any event, just leave that equipment here. I'll put it away later. If you'd like, you can take one of the extra headsets. I don't need so many spares."
  • 1302
1294 Soona, the Programmer "Well, this was an *interesting collaboration*."
  • 1295
  • 1296
1295 You "We make a pretty good team, Soona."
  • 1303
1296 You "What do you think? Could I make it as a radio engineer?"
  • 1297
1297 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1298
  • 1299
1298 Soona, the Programmer Variable["jam.warship_interfacing_rc_success"]
  • 1300
1299 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["jam.warship_interfacing_rc_success"]) == false
  • 1301
1300 Soona, the Programmer "Perhaps. You're certainly resourceful. That is a good trait in an engineer..."
  • 1293
1301 Soona, the Programmer "You decapitated our antenna. No, I do not think it's a good idea for you..."
  • 1293
1302 Soona, the Programmer "Now you'll excuse me. I have to get back to my own work."
1303 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1304
  • 1305
1304 Soona, the Programmer Variable["jam.warship_empathy_rc_success"]
  • 1306
1305 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["jam.warship_empathy_rc_success"]) == false
  • 1307
1306 Soona, the Programmer "Perhaps. You're more reliable than the writers I used to work with, though that is not a difficult bar to clear..."
  • 1293
1307 Soona, the Programmer "Really? I do not think we were all that successful. But maybe the RCM has a different definition of success..."
  • 1293
1308 None
External:
  • (426, 2)
1309 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1310
  • 1311
1310 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_wc_shivers_nay"]
  • 1263
1311 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_wc_shivers_nay"]) == false
  • 1312
1312 None
  • 1254
1313 Soona, the Programmer "That is why we don't use it, then."
  • 1243
1314 You "Where am I supposed to find a radio transceiver?"
  • 1343
1315 You "Alright, I guess I need to find one of these transceivers then." (Conclude.)
  • 1316
1316 Soona, the Programmer "In the meantime, I will gather the rest of the materials. We will meet back here when you have it."
  • 1347
1317 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1318
  • 1319
1318 Soona, the Programmer IsKimHere()
  • 1320
1319 Soona, the Programmer (IsKimHere()) == false
  • 1325
1320 Kim Kitsuragi "And before you ask: No, you can't have the radio from my Kineema."
  • 1325
1321 Soona, the Programmer "That sounds like a perfectly adequate radio." She nods.
  • 1339
1322 Soona, the Programmer "There is no need to go out of your way to find a *top-shelf* radio for this purpose. As long as it's functional, that is what counts."
  • 1327
1323 Soona, the Programmer "That will be fine. As long as the radio is *functional*, that is what counts."
  • 1353
1324 You "You know what, Kim? I'll find an even *better* radio on my own." IsKimHere()
  • 1330
1325 None
  • 1324
  • 1345
  • 1337
  • 1335
  • 1341
  • 1315
1326 Soona, the Programmer "Certainly, though it requires a fair amount of technical finesse to remove them. Frankly, it's not worth the bother. Just find a regular radio."
  • 1339
1327 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1328
  • 1329
1328 Soona, the Programmer Variable["jam.abandoned_cabin_accessed"]
  • 1331
1329 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["jam.abandoned_cabin_accessed"]) == false
  • 1353
1330 Kim Kitsuragi "I highly doubt that. When I crank the volume on my DynaWave, it's like you're in the front row at the National Concert Hall."
  • 1332
  • 1333
  • 1334
1331 Reaction Speed Wasn't there a *highly functional* radio in that abandoned lorry by the roundabout?
  • 1353
1332 You "I didn't know *Speedfreaks FM* had a concert series." Variable["plaza.kineema_radio_speedfreaks"] == true
  • 1338
1333 You "Alright, Kim, challenge accepted."
  • 1322
1334 You "On second thought, this is childish. I'm just going to look for a regular radio."
  • 1323
1335 You "I think I saw a radio in that office near the harbour..." Variable["gates.orb_office_radio_buzzing"]
  • 1321
1336 Soona, the Programmer "Possibly. It's worth a look, at the least."
  • 1339
1337 You "Do radiocomputers have transceivers in them?" Variable["tc.radiocomputer"]
  • 1326
1338 Kim Kitsuragi "Joke all you want, detective. Whatever radio you manage to scrounge up won't lay a *finger* on my set-up."
  • 1333
  • 1334
1339 None
  • 1325
1340 You "A radio transceiver. Cool. I've got this. I've seen *plenty* of those lying around."
  • 1342
1341 You "Do you think the pawnshop will have one?" Variable["tc.pawnshop"]
  • 1336
1342 Soona, the Programmer "Of course you have. They aren't exactly rare."
  • 1317
1343 Soona, the Programmer "I cannot answer that for you, but I don't expect it to be *that* difficult. There's no shortage of radios around here."
  • 1344
1344 Soona, the Programmer "If you have reál to spare, you might even be able to *buy* one. But it doesn't really matter where it comes from, so long as it works."
  • 1317
1345 You "Can't we just use your radiocomputer?" Variable["church.soona_asked_about_antenna"]
  • 1346
1346 Soona, the Programmer "Absolutely not. My Rehm Prefect is my livelihood. If something were to go wrong, it would be a disaster."
  • 1339
1347 None
  • 3
1348 Shivers The wind pushes a piece of tare across the cracked tiles. From the north comes the malicious laughter of two children...
  • 1254
1349 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1350
  • 1351
1350 Soona, the Programmer Variable["church.soona_wc_shivers_nay"]
  • 1352
1351 Soona, the Programmer (Variable["church.soona_wc_shivers_nay"]) == false
  • 1265
1352 Shivers From behind you, a low, spectral voice whispers: 'Nay.'
  • 1265
1353 None
  • 1325
1354 Soona, the Programmer The programmer gives you an impatient look before returning to her radiocomputer.
  • 1218
1355 You "I wasn't kidding earlier about contacting Coalition Warship Archer. Can you help me?" IsTaskActive("TASK.find_technical_expertise") and Variable["church.soona_asked_help_before"] == false and Variable["church.soona_said_no_help"] == false and Variable["church.mainframe_cybernetic_god"] == true
  • 1097
1356 You "Now that the ravers are settled in, can you help me contact Coalition Warship Archer?" IsTaskActive("TASK.find_technical_expertise") and Variable["church.soona_asked_help_before"] == true and (Variable["church.ravers_inside_church"] == true or Variable["church.ravers_inside_church_with_lab"] == true) and Variable["TASK.help_soona_with_her_project_done"] == false
  • 1357
1357 Soona, the Programmer "It's true, the drug fiends have made themselves quite comfortable. But *I* still have a great deal of work to do..."
  • 1358
1358 Empathy This project is immensely important to her. She's not going to help you until it's finished.
  • 1359
1359 Soona, the Programmer "If you're desperate for collaborators now, I suggest you ask your new friends. They seem to have plenty of time for side projects."
  • 1360
1360 None
  • 3
1361 Interfacing You really should look into this totalled MC when you have a chance. Seems important...
  • 1176
1362 Soona, the Programmer "If you'll please carry that amplifier and cables, officer. We have quite a lot to carry..."
  • 1363
1363 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1308
1364 Soona, the Programmer
  • 1308