Conversation · Door (Unopenable)

An old door, worn by elements, guards the depot. The wind has blown a sand dune in front of it. The door hasn't been opened in a long while. You see a handle.

"Could this structure have been used to take the shot?"

"From here to the Whirling? I can't see how..." He looks southeast and blows on his fingers: "The church is in the way."

Open the door.

There is no success. You didn't succeed here. It's impossible. The door does not open. It is not only locked, it is jammed shut.

"Whatever, door." [Leave.]

Yes. Better that way. You can't even fathom the rabbit hole you might find yourself in otherwise.

Huh... I wonder what's inside. How can I get in there?

The lieutenant shrugs. "We don't get in there."

"Come on, we even got in the Light Bending Guy's container, but you're saying we can't get in here?"

"Frankly, you're just going to have to accept the fact that you can't get in through every single door."

No-no, we've gotten into every door thus far. That's what we do -- we open doors. We're cops, that's our perk. Even Evrart knew that's a part of our M.O.

"I'm not gonna accept this. The door could be part of the investigation."

"Relax. No one's hiding in there. If we can't open it, others can't either -- and thus they can't get in." He looks at the door with a rueful smile.

At least you can think about opening it. About doors in general -- they are, after all, fundamental to your life. Perhaps something useful will come from this?

"But that's who I am. Who we are."

"Yeah, I understand you, I like opening doors as much as the next guy, but this one is simply beyond repair and we don't have the resources needed to open it."

"Okay. I can live with this." (Accept it.)

"What else is there to do? Not accepting isn't gonna bring the fire brigade in..." He looks at the door with a rueful smile.

Relax, he thinks. There's no one in there. If we can't open it, neither can anyone else.

No-no, we've absolutely gotten into everywhere thus far. That's what we do -- we open doors and go through them. We're cops, that's our perk.

"What do you mean? We get into... like... everywhere."

You can't. This door cannot be opened...

EVER.

At least you can think about opening it. About doors in general -- they are, after all, fundamental to your life. Perhaps something useful will come from this?

You rattle the handle a bit, then push on the door with all your weight -- it does not budge. Not only is it locked, it's also jammed shut.

Walk away. [Leave.]

What is this thing anyway?

"It's military -- a service depot of some sort."

"Used to service what?"

"Probably something that is no longer there." The lieutenant looks at the hunching, concrete toad in front of him.

It may have been used to service an aerostatic battleship in the atmosphere? Or a fortification, like a seafort in the bay.

The concrete structure looks military in origin. Over half a century old at least, but sturdily built.

For servicing an aerostatic battleship in the atmosphere? Or a fortification, like a seafort in the bay?