Conversation · Soona, the Programmer

The lieutenant looks down at the floor, as if to say you're wasting time here.

Maybe the speedfreaks can help you with this? Go talk with Andre.

"I'm not sure... There seems to be something there, but I couldn't really make it out."

"Yeah... No, I don't think there's anything there." Her voice is bitter with disappointment.

"What are you doing in an abandoned church?"

"You really like those questions, don't you?" There's a hint of amusement in her tired eyes.

They're bloodshot. She really hasn't been getting much sleep lately, has she?

"I need to make sure you're not hiding anyone here."

"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."

"What research?"

"I'm looking for the location of a two-millimetre hole in the world."

Wait, what?

She's looking for a disruption in the radio waves. That's what her personal log said.

The lieutenant raises his brows, but doesn't say anything.

"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."

"I'm a police officer, it's my job to ask questions."

"I am conducting scientific research here. You can't throw me out," she says, ready to stand her ground.

"What research?"

"I'm looking for the location of a two-millimetre hole in the world."

"I'd really like to know more about your research."

"Well. Since you're asking then..."

"You're occupying a public space. I need to know what you're doing here."

"There have been complaints from your neighbours."

"Have you seen the man living up in the rafters?"

"No."

"But you know he's around?"

"Yes."

"He's seen you."

"And?"

"Okay, it's probably not a big deal then."

"No, you're right, I'm not..." Her voice trails off, as she bends over to tinker with the machine's printer.

"And? The crab-man has seen you!"

"I don't care, I don't care about crab men." She barely looks up, now tinkering with the machine's printer.

Wow. She really doesn't. Not afraid, this one.

"He must have seen you."

"It sounds like you're not worried about him at all."

"Yes, what is it?" She doesn't look up from the keyboard.

"Nothing, I'll let you work." [Leave.]

"Sorry, but... who are you? What are you doing here?"

"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..."

"If you're not here to hire me, I don't really know how can I help you." She turns back to the terminal.

Did she say over 16 years of experience? She must have started programming when she was still a teenager.

That still doesn't answer what she's doing in an abandoned church.

"I didn't break anything, did I?"

"No, you just printed out my personal log and wasted some paper." It does not look like a big loss to her.

"Hey, are you the lead programmer of 'Wirrâl Untethered' by any chance?"

"Yes." She thinks to herself. "Or no, not anymore. That project is dead."

She doesn't seem surprised to be recognized, rather sad. Something passes over her face before she straightens her back.

"What is it?" The woman is still hunched over the keyboard, gently illuminated by the purring machine.

"Bingo."

"I found this in the Doomed Commercial Area." (Use the perfectly adequate transceiver.)

"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..."

She's not upset. More bemused. This particular transceiver brings back memories, not that she is one to indulge in superstitions.

Okay, wow, that's some harsh feedback.

"Well, this was an interesting collaboration."

"What do you think? Could I make it as a radio engineer?"

"Perhaps. You're certainly resourceful. That is a good trait in an engineer..."

"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."

"Now you'll excuse me. I have to get back to my own work."

"You decapitated our antenna. No, I do not think it's a good idea for you..."