Conversation · Soona, the Programmer

She shrugs and turns back to her radiocomputer.

"What if you didn't have to leave? I talked to Andre, he wants to make it work."

"I don't want to make anything work," she replies, her expression unchanged.

"Hold on, you don't want to make anything work?"

"Yes, anything. I don't want to make anything work."

It's not the anodic dance music that's made her bitter... it's the failure of Fortress Accident.

"Are you bitter because your radio game project failed?"

"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."

There's not a trace of irony in her voice. She means it.

Don't bring it up.

She gets back to work.

"Alright, got your message."

"Good." She gets back to work.

"How do you feel about anodic dance music?"

"What?" She squints her eyes. "I hate it."

I bet she hasn't even heard it.

"What are you, forty? It's the future of dance music!"

"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."

"Right, right... but how do you feel about a club for anodic dance music?"

"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..."

"What do they want to build then?"

"Take a guess, why don't you?"

"I'm still convinced they want to establish a nightclub for anodic dance music -- they said it's their dream."

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."

"Good luck," the lieutenant notes. "I'm not coming in there."

"I heard they're also planning on building a drug lab."

"Bingo." She snaps her fingers. "That's exactly what they're up to."

"Wonderful," the lieutenant whispers, admiring the embellished pillars and the spectacular architecture in the church.

"Now this house of worship is also going to be a drug lab... Always something fascinating happening in tents."

"They're just encouraging an active youth culture here, nothing wrong with that."

"Yeah, what I said before... Not possible to appreciate that kind of music without being high as a kite."

"So that's settled, great." She supports her chin on her hand, visibly pleased: "No nightclubs in the church then."

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

Say nothing.

"A youth centre would be nice."

"A petting zoo, a place for animals!"

"Maybe some community space to help the elderly?"

"Okay. Wow. That was quick. Why do you hate it?"

"Have you even listened to it? Like actually listened?"

"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.

"Same here, it just doesn't connect here..." (Tap on your heart.) "Not like disco does, anyway."

"Those ravers won't be bothering you anymore -- I arrested them because they were planning a drug trade."

"You arrested them..." She looks up, surprised. "Didn't think the cops in this place had it in them," she murmurs.

"Those ravers won't be bothering you anymore -- I told them to leave because they were planning a drug trade."

"You told them to leave..." She looks up, surprised. "Didn't think the cops in this place had it in them," she murmurs.

"I found a radio transceiver."

"Ah, very good. Let's see what you have."

"Someone was using this to coordinate a drug smuggling operation." (Use the highly advanced transceiver.)

"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."

She's impressed by your resourcefulness as much as by the equipment itself.

"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?"

"So if there's anything you'd like to get in order before we depart, I suggest you do it now."

"Wait, didn't you say we need some kind of power supply?"

"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."

It's obvious she's referring to your half-sunken Coupris 40.

"You mean the motor carriage that I crashed into the bay?"

"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..."

"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."

"What do you mean an abandoned power source?"

"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..."