Conversation · Mainframe

Right, what happened?

The paper is soaked with ink, its monochrome darkness spanning from margin to margin... It's not possible to make out any information.

Tear off the printout.

"What happened? It's just covered in ink."

"Odd." The lieutenant runs his hand over the ink-soaked paper, staining his fingertips. "Something is obviously broken here."

Examine the printout again.

A single speck of white shines out from the shade -- for some reason the printer decided to spare this one tiny dot of paper.

Marked by the devil itself!

Looks like gibberish. Better get running again.

This must be the information Soona is looking for -- she knows how to make sense of it.

It's just black upon black, nothing to see here.

It's blank. The lower edge of the paper has been torn off.

Insert THE PRODUCTION SCHEDULE.

Like a smooth drawer, the filament slides into place. On the keyboard, the PLAY key starts blinking.

Remove THE PRODUCTION SCHEDULE.

The filament slides out of its glowing nest.

[Leave.]

Insert THE OFF-SITE COPY.

Like a smooth drawer, the filament slides into place. On the keyboard, the PLAY key starts blinking.

Remove THE OFF-SITE COPY.

Press PLAY again.

The speaker comes to life, static seeps through the machine's planar magnetic driver. An old lady greets you, her voice sounds a hundred years old...

"Good morning, Fortress Accident on Rue de Saint-Ghislaine, this is East-Insulindian Repeater Station 1."

"Please repeat -- is this the production schedule?"

"Let's try the password for the production schedule."

"Good. Please repeat the password."

"Is it my birthday?"

"Still no."

"No."

A hint system is not part of the protocol for repeater stations.

"I don't know the password."

"Received. I will register this log-in attempt."

Don't worry. Passwords have a way of turning up sooner or later.

"Fortress Accident, is there anything else I can do for you today?"

Don't worry. Passwords have a way of turning up sooner or later.

That sounds bad -- a log-in attempt. Something a criminal would do.

"Received. I will register this log-in attempt."

Say: "After death -- life again."

"Good, I've unlocked the off-site copy. After ending the call, please press PRINT to access the filament."

Ka-ching!

"No, that's not it."

Unbelievable!!! Who came up with those stupid passwords!

"This is the police. Please open this thing."

The voice recites: "I am contractually obliged to protect the privacy of the filament holder Fortress Accident. Without filing a warrant with Lintel, I cannot give you access to this filament."

"I'm afraid we're not doing that. Unless we want to wait for a month."

"Now, can you please repeat the password?" the voice in the machine asks again. She sounds cold in the damp air.

Say: "After life -- death."

"Good, I've unlocked the production schedule. After ending the call, please press PRINT to access the filament."

"Really? She just used the same password?" The lieutenant seems almost disappointed to discover that, as he murmurs: "Maybe those radiocomputer guys aren't that paranoid after all..."

"Really? She just used the same password?" The lieutenant seems almost disappointed to discover that.

Her answer is short and sharp: "No, that's not it."

What does she mean that's not it?! What's the password then???

Maybe it's the second part of the leitmotiv you saw on the stained glass window.

"A password? I'm really bad at passwords. Can you give me a hint?"

Password. Of course it would have a password. That's why there's a human administrator involved.

You should ask her for a hint.

"Yvonne, it's me again! How are you?"

"Good, thank you." It's not clear whether she recognizes your voice. "Please repeat, how can I help you?"

"Good, thank you." It's not clear whether she recognizes your voice. "Please repeat, is this the production schedule?"

"Good, thank you." It's not clear whether she recognizes your voice. "Please repeat, is this the off-site copy?"