Conversation · 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.

Her hand is trembling slightly...

"Never mind, let's do this. I'm ready. Whooh..." (Proceed.)

"I'm ready if you are, detective."

"How do you feel about manufacturing large quantities of drugs?"

"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."

"Wonderful," the lieutenant whispers. "Now this place is also going to be a drug lab. Always something fascinating happening in tents."

His way to deal with this is -- at this point -- not to care. Do what you want.

Wait! No-no-no. You can't say things like that when the lieutenant is present. Say it's a joke!

"I'm just encouraging an active youth culture, nothing wrong with that."

"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."

"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.

Say nothing.

"Whoa, guys! I was just messing with you." (Wave your hands around your head.)

"Just 'messing with us'. Right. Well..."

"Mind-altering substances are a vital part of anodic club scene. It helps to bring the community together."

"Good."

Oh yeah, told you -- radiocomputer wizards don't care.

"Really?"

"No, of course not." She turns her tired, sardonic eyes to face you. "I feel even worse about drugs than I feel about nightclubs."

"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."

"I feel that's illegal."

Hey, hey, what are you doing -- laying everything out like that?!

She's a radiocomputer wizard. Radiocomputer wizards don't care. She probably thinks it's illegal -- and fun.

"Your feeling is right, manufacturing drugs is a little illegal."

"Yes, I know that."

"It is, yes. It's against the law. We're cops -- the law is important to us."

"Right, isn't that what makes it fun?"

"No, certainly not. I've got a citizen's investigation to run and I want nothing to do with local vices."

Convince her to cooperate with the ravers.

Just tell her about Egg Head's defence speech.

"Listen, about that nightclub..."

"I already told you -- I'm not interested."

"Those kids really need a win. We all do. Give this club a chance -- give them a chance."

"A chance to cook some speed, you mean?" she asks sourly, crossing her arms.

"This is Martinaise, what can you expect? They're the product of their surroundings."

"Very cool, but I don't want any part of those 'surroundings' myself, good or bad."

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.

"What if I helped you finish your project? Then you could leave -- and they could come in."

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.

"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."

"They promised they'll do it clean."

"Uh, did they?" she asks, clicking her tongue. A moment passes.

"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."

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.

"What if I helped you finish your project? Then you could leave -- and they could come in."

Easy -- when her research is done, she can move out.

"Listen, about your research... You mentioned earlier that it's not going very well. Maybe I can help with something?"

"What?" She looks up from her work, disoriented. "No, I don't really need any help with the project."

"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."

"Listen, about your research... Maybe I can help with anything? Help you refill those water basins or something..."

Hey, what makes the world go round?

No, that's a bad idea -- don't say anything.

She stares at the terminal, completely oblivious to her surroundings.

Hey, maybe if you were to find out more about her previous company, Fortress Accident, you'd have something new to say...

"Listen, how about we offer you part of the profit?"

"Nope, not interested in your degenerate money schemes."

"What if I'd just force you to leave? I'm a police officer. You have to do what I say."

"Oh, I see," the lieutenant says, raising a finger, "this is connected to the drug manufacturing thing."

"How could you? This is a completely separate issue!"