Conversation · Soona, the Programmer

"Hear me out: What if we built the antenna underground?"

"Then it would be very difficult to propagate the signal through the air... which would defeat the purpose."

"Detective, does the 41st not require its officers to pass Elementary Radio Operations? I thought it was an RCM-wide policy."

"To be perfectly frank, I'm not sure your ideas are really helping."

Alright, brainstorming time. Remember, this is just the ideation phase. There are no bad ideas.

"I've got it. Why don't we use the mast of a giant boat?"

"Do you have access to a giant boat?"

"No."

"That is why we don't use it, then."

"I could ask the representative from the Wild Pines. She's a friend of mine."

"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."

"Yes, it is not a very likely scenario."

"I very much doubt anyone from the Wild Pines would allow us to turn their boat into a giant radio transmitter."

"Here's an idea: Maybe there's an antenna in the harbour we could use?"

"Don't you think the Union would object to that?"

"Hmmm, maybe."

"That is why we don't use it, then."

"No way, me and Evrart are tight."

"Problematically so, one might even argue."

"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."

"I do not think that the boss of the Union would like us using his equipment to contact the Coalition."

That's easy! Antennas are basically just tall things, right?

"We could use the steeple of this church." (Point up.)

"No, we could not. This church is made from wood. I am not sure you understand how radios work."

Put on the headphones.

Everything disappears. You are draped in silence like a drowning man staring into his puny little headspace.

And then the pressure changes.

Yes, but can I hear anything?

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...

What if the sound you're looking for is too low for you to hear it?

"Soona..." (Take off the headphones.) "What if we just need a better sound system?"

"A better sound system?" she repeats. "Alright... But where would we get one?"

Suddenly a rhythmic beat permeates the walls, causing a small patch of decorative stucco to crumble onto the wooden floor.

"They should really allocate some renovation funds to this place..." murmurs the lieutenant, inspecting the damage done to the arabesques.

"No, what they really should do is shut down the discomen for disturbing neighbourhood peace."

"Yes, but they could help with the speakers..."

"You mean the speedfreaks?" She closes her eyes, as more dance music invades the holy silence of the sanctuary.

"Of course, the speedfreaks... They have a fantastic sound system. And you think they would help me?"

"Sure, if you agree to let them build their drug lab."

"No, officer, I don't agree to anything."

She pauses, looking you in the eye.

That's a bummer. A big bummer.

"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..."

What she means is that she's ready to turn a blind eye if the need arises.

"Great, I'll go talk to them then."

"Sure, let me know how it goes." She lingers for a moment, before adding: "Thanks, officer."

"They would if you wouldn't mind them moving in with you."

"I guess I could live through a week or two of peaceful coexistence."

Brilliant negotiating there, detective -- as always!

"From your neighbours, of course."

What does it mean?

Still nothing. Soona isn't even looking at you this time.

All you hear is your own breathing, heavy and hoarse from all the nights spent drinking... It's the breath of an old man.

But there's something else...

There has to be. Something big, something unexpected... something new, yet to be discovered.

Ghosts, speak to me!

When was the last time this world had anything new to say?

"Well?" Soona asks as soon as you take off the headphones. "Did you hear anything?"

"No, nothing. It's just silence."

"Yeah..." Her voice is bitter with disappointment.