The Captain

You walk down a hallway at the end of the universe. The snow presses against the clear tube, frost winding up the sides, and you are alone. Well, mostly alone. "You'll find the pantry down the hall to the left, and should you start feeling antsy, there's an exercise room marked in yellow near the end of the left wing as well." The woman in red smiles at you, her lips- oddly one of the few things [[not-red]] about her- peel back into a bright sunshine-filled smile. "Doctor Harlowe recommends at least a one-hour workout each day, but without work that's basically a pipe dream, eh?" (set: $envelope to "false")

Orange. Bright, sunflower orange. Almost too orange, they hurt your eyes to stare at for too long. But she doesn't seem to mind, she doesn't even seem to notice. Still, there's something almost comforting about the orange. It reminds of your hometown, of [[lights]] and [[fields.]]

(set: $hometown to "Colony") You came from the city- a city filled with thin tubes of neon interlinking above your head instead of stars. You grew up here, watching people pass by with heavy coats to fight against the seemingly ever-growing chill. In a way this entire place reminds you of home. Nothing but a spiderweb of domes nestled into the snow. You came here to escape, didn't you? How did you end up trapped by the ice once more...? Ah, well, maybe it'll help with the homesickness. (link:"Did you hear me?")[(show:?heard)] |heard)[The orange-lipped woman pouts at you, pulling her large red coat over her shoulders even more- the bulky, puffy thing looks to be swallowing her whole, more and more disappearing underneath it's maw. "You spaced out for a while there." "Oh, did I?" You stutter back to the present, laughing away the embarrassment, "Sorry, I was just... reminiscing." Her eyes light up happily, face splitting into a grin, "You came from the new Colony, yeah?" A friendly nudge to your side, "Guess you're used to the whole 'trapped-in-a-dome' experience then, albeit a bit more crowded I suppose." You smile tightly, that's certainly one way to describe the Colony. You've also heard the phrase 'Ant Hill' tossed around a few times whenever people speak about your home. Most marvel at it- why would someone choose to trap themselves on a desolate planet? You suppose the same could be said about your new job... You should probably stop making a habit out of this. "Well" She brushes away the conversation with a flick of the wrist, "I suppose it's all as well, either way. [[This is your home now!"]]]

(set: $hometown to "Earth") If you so much as close your eyes you can still see them, the rolling hills of your home. An endless sky unobscured by the domes of outer-planets, but still distinctly rounded over your head. You remember sprinting down fields with grass scratching against your legs, there was a ravine at the bottom of the flower-lined hill and it was a right-of-passage for each kid in the neighborhood to jump off The Rock into the deepest part, where the waters ran fastest. Some would slip and fall in too early, off balance with arms swinging out to the sides as the flailed and screamed and clawed towards the surface- fear of drowning making it impossible to breath... Only to wash up a couple of feet away where the river thinned out again and came up only to your thighs. You could always tell who panicked by the burning, bright red flush of embarrassment, and the titters of others failing to hold in their laughter- forgetting how they, too, had panicked at the river's grasp. (link:"Did you hear me?")[(show:?heard)] |heard)[The orange-lipped woman pouts at you, pulling her large red coat over her shoulders even more- the bulky, puffy thing looks to be swallowing her whole, more and more disappearing underneath it's maw. "You spaced out for a while there." "Oh, did I?" You stutter back to the present, laughing away the embarrassment, "Sorry, I was just... reminiscing." She takes a moment to stare at you quizzically, slowly and carefully producing a board from that gargantuan coat of hers as she flips through a couple of pages, eyes flickering to and from the clipboard as if you were a suspect in a crime. She seems to hesitate on a page, hand lifted with a paper in the air as she presses those orange-painted lips together. Finally, she smiles- it's a slight smile, with all the hesitation that a smile could conceivably have, but a lot less hostile then the skepticism she used before. "Ah, so you're..." She trips and stumbles over the words. Is that what this is all about? "An Earthling, yes." Her face flushes about as red as the coat in embarrassment, "Sorry, it's just- you hear these things about people from Earth. And what with the disease and all-" "Not everyone from Earth is infected." You keep your voice measured and careful. "We have quarantines too... Only ours are for the sick." "Right..." She scratches the back of her head with a gloved hand, the awkwardness, an eager nod and she's happy to get back to business. "Well, no matter! [[This is your home now!"]]]

(set: $temperature to "cold")You catch a glimpse outside the halls as you walk- the layout of the base is confusing... but you'd garnered as much when you received the hiring letter and noticed that it came with three maps and a small pamphlet describing how to read the maps. There's still some method to the madness, from what you can tell. Each room appears to be a dome with pull-back shades, and each dome is connected by tube-tunnels made of a some kind of... glass fiber or something. You doubt they'd use actual glass, though, considering some of the storms in this area. Or at least... you hope they would. "So you see," The woman produces a small black electronic watch with a flourish, she stops suddenly in the middle of one such tube and gestures out to the landscape visible before you, "Pretty neat view, ain't it?" She smiles happily at you, and maybe if she were showing off some grand waterfall or even a giant glacier you'd be more inclined to agree, but as is... all you see is endless white snow, smooth and unbroken far as the eye can see. There's not even a bout of wind to kick it up in dancing swirls. No, it's as if you live on a blank piece of paper. Alone. In the middle of nowhere. Of nothing. "Uhh, yeah, sure." She seems pleased with your half-hearted answer, and presses the watch into your hand, "Now, as pretty as it is it can get kinda bright during the summer-time... or, what passes for summertime around here," She giggles at her own joke, "So now might be a good time to practice transparency settings so that you don't go blind on the job!" You look down at the watch in your hand, it a tiny screen lights up in front of you with small symbols dotting along the screen. "Go on," the woman urges you, "try it out!" There are six symbols- they seem fairly self explanatory, there's a [[thermometer]], a [[phone]], a [[globe]], a [[medical cross]], an [[envelope]], and [[some curtains]].

(set: $temperature to "warm") You lightly tap the thermometer and a number takes over the screen- 25F with two arrows pointing up and down. "Twenty-five!" The woman exclaims, peeping over your shoulder, she tugs the coat around her body even more, "No wonder it was so cold in here! I told them to turn on the heat before you came but..." She passes you an apologetic stare, "I'm very sorry for this, I'll be sure to have a stiff word with management about our preparations committee." "Oh, uh, is it okay if I...?" You point to the upper arrow, more than a little grateful that you won't have to spend all your working hours in at least one heavy winter coat. "Yes, yes, //please// do." She nods about as eagerly as you feel. You set the temperature to something a little more comfortable. Then press the back button to go to the homepage once more. There's the [[phone]], the [[globe]], the [[medical cross]], the [[envelope]], and [[some curtains]]. Or if you feel you've done everything you could just ask her to [[continue on]].

You tap on the phone icon and, predictably, a number pad comes up. "Ah, right, that." The woman shakes her head, a sad smile on her face. "You won't be able to use that." "What? Then why is it here?" She twists her gloved hands together nervously, "Well, a while ago, we used to let our operators talk to others outside, so long as the numbers had been pre-approved and they only used our secure lines. Our mental health professionals said that it would help stave off the isolation of the job and perhaps extend the amount of time we could go before switching operators..." She falls into a melancholic silence, eyes drifting towards the floor. "What happened?" The woman shrugs, a gesture mostly lost among the puffs of her jacket, "Well, someone abused the system and went rogue, another got hacked and... it just didn't work out very well." She laughs, a strained and unhappy sound, "But that's all in the past. The towers are down now and we've yet to receive a shipment of new watches without the useless icon on them. Anyway, why don't you check the others out, too?" There's the [[thermometer]], the [[globe]], the [[medical cross]], the [[envelope]], and [[some curtains]]. Or if you feel you've done everything you could just ask her to [[continue on]].

The globe opens up a small, topographical map with a plus and minus sign on the side, you spot a bunch of tiny red dots scattered haphazardly about, and one that seems to blinking in the center, right over another. It's the base, you realize, by the fact that it's one of the few actually lined spaces among a sea of blankness- save for a few nearby... is that the tower? It must be, what with how tall it appears to be on the map. "Ah, right, good!" The woman chirps, "You found the map! Though you'll not be leaving, mostly, if something should happen to the base and you need to get to civilization quickly then this is the way to find out how. Or if you wander out there for a walk and get lost, though... I don't think this is the most pleasant area for walking..." She squints out towards the snow. "That feature is mostly for our operates in more... pleasant areas. Sorry." She flashes you a bashful, grin, "But, hey! None of them can make snowmen! Or have snowball fights! With... yourself... uh, right, anyway, there's more to the watch than a map!" There's the [[phone]], the [[thermometer]], the [[medical cross]], the [[envelope]], and [[some curtains]]. Or if you feel you've done everything you could just ask her to [[continue on]].

You go to tap on the cross when her hand snatches onto your wrist, a rapid "Don't!" Bubbling up from her lips. Shocked, you jerk back, pulling your arm from her gloves. "Sorry!" She squeaks, shaking her head, "But you really shouldn't touch that one. It's for emergencies only, it automatically calls our search and rescue team. They'll track the watch to your location and get you out and to the city nearby if you're in any immediate danger but..." She shuffles back and forth, "Best not to press it accidentally, yeah? Anyway, why don't you try out something else? Something less... disaster paperwork-inducing." There's the [[phone]], the [[globe]], the [[thermometer]], the [[envelope]], and [[some curtains]]. Or if you feel you've done everything you could just ask her to [[continue on]].

(set: $envelope to "true") You tap the envelope, immediately your name is displayed at the top... Well, not your name, your codename. (either: "Coyote", "Eagle", "Phoenix", "Fox")... Well, wait, no, that's not what you were given in the envelope you got at home. "Was my name changed?" You ask, pointing to the top of the empty mailbox. "I thought I was supposed to be Phouka." Though, granted, 'Phouka' is a little bit more... out there than the name here. "Hm? Oh, yes, you are." She examines the mailbox with pressed lips, eyebrows scrunched together in concentration, "Oh, that's very odd. That was the codename of an operator here before you came along- but I thought everything had been wiped? Their mail is certainly gone... Hmm... I hope it hasn't been like this for long..." She shakes her head, "Probably just a glitch. I'll have IT look into it, you'll probably get a temporary replacement watch sometime soon, then. Don't worry, it'll have all the same features as this one. Just won't have synced up to the base yet. Until that comes along, though, why don't we check out the rest of the features, hm?" There's the [[phone]], the [[globe]], the [[medical cross]], the [[thermometer]], and [[some curtains]]. Or if you feel you've done everything you could just ask her to [[continue on]].

She wanted you to try lowering the transparency, right? Well, you should probably go to the curtains to do just that. Sure enough, as soon as you open them you see the words 'Hall 1B' in bold white letters at the top, with 'Transparency' just below it, followed by a slider. You toy with it a bit, sliding it all the way up- Immediately, the overhead LED lights flicker on, and the glass outside covers with what appears to be almost a thick fog, that grows larger and more opaque until it almost seems as if you were standing in the middle of a marble tunnel instead of a glass one. The woman claps her hands together, "Fantastic! You did it!" She taps the watch lightly, "It'll automatically adjust to whatever room it is you're currently in, the domes use sliding curtains instead of opacity, but don't worry, it's simple so I'm sure you'll figure it out quickly." She gestures down the hall, "Now, if there's anything else you haven't figured out about the watch yet, now would be the time to do so. Otherwise, we can continue on if you're ready to [[continue on]] to your workspace?" There's the [[phone]], the [[globe]], the [[medical cross]], the [[envelope]], and [[some curtains]].

"Let's keep moving." You go to hand the watch back, but she just shakes her head and folds your fingers around it. "It's yours now." She explains, before turning happily and trotting down the hallway. You (link: "snap the watch onto your wrist")[(show:?watch)] |watch)[snap the watch onto your wrist, it's heavy and bulky. It reminds you of those old antiques your father kept locked away, safely out of reach from grubby child hands. He occasionally lectured you on how the best way to preserve the family past was through the time they wore on their wrist. It was funny, and weird, seeing those things that relied on gears and metal- even the ones that used electronics looked like ancient dinosaurs to your modern eyes. Now, looking down on this weight, heavy thing, you know you'll have to give it back but... maybe it's a bit of your father getting into your head, but you can't help but be a little sad that nobody else will know about the time you carried with you wherever you go. Still, you shake your head] and (link: "follow her down the hall.")[(show:?tower)]|tower)[follow her down the hall. ... And then down another hall, and another hall, and into a dome with couches piled in circles as if expecting a big party and a theater-sized screen, and through a dome dressed up like a gourmet chef's kitchen, with the kind of cooking utensils you couldn't even try to name. And then she reaches the longest hall, one that stretches so far your vision starts to bend and twist the end of the hall into but a tiny circle. The entire thing is filled with nothing- just a blank, empty walking space and a small moving automatic path. Your guide steps purposefully onto the walking path, and begins striding briskly down this long, long hall. Even with the aided speed, it seems to take forever. But you can see it- you can see it through the roof of the hall, towering over all of you. Far, far up, past where the clouds ring it's throat- a fluffy necklace of mist. It looks thin from here, almost too thin to balance the weighty, spherical head atop the Tower.... Your Tower. The walkway stumbles to an end but the travel isn't done yet. An elevator- made of smooth, unblemished steel encased by the white windpipe of the Tower. There's only two buttons, one going up and one going down, and the woman smiles at you to press them with all the excitement of a grand opening. Your hand is shaking. She must be getting to you. Or maybe it's the height. You can't see yourself moving upwards, but the thought of scaling past the clouds held by naught but a single steel string and a metal box manages to keep your fingers quivering even as you dig them into the fabric of your gloves. You're half tempted to think that the Tower is swaying in the breeze, just a delicate flower that grew a bit too tall. Waiting to topple. No, no, no, you can't think like that. Especially not if you're going to be coming up here, every day, all day... For at least the next five years... (link: "Oh god")[(show:?regret)] |regret)[Oh god. What did you //[[do]]//?]]

"Now, then, I'm sure you already know how the Tower operates." She's already talking, even before the doors let out a slight 'ding' and slide open to reveal your office- at the top of the Tower. "So I'll spare you the ugly details, but just as a quick run-over," She gestures around the room- with sleek blue tiling, surrounded on all sides by one, long viewing window, with a console filled with buttons and screens and several microphones jutting out of one side. "That's your main workstation, you've got basic comm functions, status checks, printers, scanners, shredders, all the good stuff. That's where you'll receive the codes from HQ, and, of course, I'm sure you've already memorized how to decode them and send the decoded instructions off to the Captain. Oh! I can't forget my favorite part of it! The coffee machine!" She grins jabbing a finger to the far left corner of the room where a tiny grey brewer sits, "It also does hot cocoa, for those really dreary days." "Now, (if: $envelope is 'true')[as soon as you get your replacement watch,] be sure to contact me by the mail functionality." She smiles, "I'll be at HQ, of course, so I can't come down here personally, but I'm pretty good at making broken things work from a distance- that //is// my job, after all!" She releases a hearty laugh, already walking towards the elevator. "W-Wait! I don't have your name- how can I contact you?" She grins, "Oh, we don't work in names here, remember, //Phouka//? Just ask for 'Clementine', it should end up somewhere my way." She smiles, "Now, you've got the rest of the day to yourself, I suggest exploring the comms and making sure everything is tip-top." 'Clementine' hesitates just by the door, "Day one is always odd. Just remember, you might be nervous meeting your captain, but they're as nervous meeting their new operator. The Captain's been doing this for years so just... let them take the lead at first, okay?" You nod, and Clementine steps into the elevator with a bright smile. "Fantastic! Now then, Phouka, [[good luck]]!"

//''Day One 12:02 Location: Alpha 013 The Tower''// The view is spectacularly empty. If you had felt in the middle of nowhere on the ground, you may as well not exist up here. The only thing breaking up the white monotony of ice and snow is a mountain jutting up on the very brink of the horizon- just a small cap no larger than your thumbnail at this distance. A quick glance at the (link: "globe")[(show:?map)]|map)[globe shows little that can be quickly distinguished by your untrained eye, but you remember from the letter you received that it mentioned a far off city, from the looks of it, that's to the east, while the mountain lies to the west. It seems to look deceptively small from this distance, as the many bundled lines on the map gives it the appearance of perhaps even being as tall as the Tower. Meanwhile, (link: "the city")[(show:?city)]|city)[The city Ijiraq, a social hub in the middle of deserted wasteland- you've never been, but it's one of the earliest Colonies... One of the first paragons of hope... You're supposed to be transferred there once your term is over. But that's a long way away, for now you just watch as Ijiraq is] surrounded on all sides by the same flat, unlined plane of snow. Making it stand out even on your inaccurate topographical map. The map] makes everything that sticks up out of snow really... well, stick out. A shrill cry fills the air, you jolt back from the window and look wildly about until your eyes are drawn by a dim red blinking light on the center console. Isn't that...? Yes, that's the comm panel. Which can only mean... The Captain must be calling you. You need to [[answer]].

You sprint towards the little red light, but once you get there your finger hesitates above the button. Your hand is shaking again, fingers quivering just above the button- just [[Breathe]]. You need to [[press it already]].

(set: $captain to + 0) (set: $firstinteraction to "nervous") You keep one hand latched painfully onto your wrist as you jam the button down, perhaps with too much force. "He..." The radio pops and crackles and fills with static. No, no, no no no it's supposed to be working- why isn't it working? You scramble until you remember- of course! Adjust the frequency! There should be a knob around here? Where's the knob? "H...ll...H...o..?" "One moment!" You chirp, a bit too shrill to your ears, wincing before you remember that you have to press the second button if you want your voice to go through to the other side. Remember that? "o...? Hel... Hello? He..." Wait wait wait- you //almost// had it- go back- one? Was it one click away? You think it was one click away- "Hello?" It was one click away. You breathe a sigh of relief and (link: "press the button.")[(show:?hellohello)]|hellohello)[press the button. "H-Hello!" You squeeze down the red button to transfer your voice over the line, the blank screen beside you flickers to life- information already filling the green-tinted space, you see your location, your alias, and... "Captain... Captain Sigbin?" "Yes, hello, you must Operator Phouka?" Good, so that was their name. "Yes, that's me." "Pleasure to meet you, Phouka." You couldn't say whether their voice was deep or high-pitched, whether it was lilting or steady, for it seems to be all of them and none of them at once- it pitches up and down and crackles and pops with the computer-filter. It sounds like... Like a thousand different voices were haphazardly stitched together. Then again, they warned you of this- of masking the Captain's and, on their end, your voice... to prevent any prying ears. You can only imagine you must sound the same, a discordant melody of a thousand different electronic-tinted tones. Still, there are some things you can just barely make out through the pop of the filter. "Now, I suppose you know the code?" You can tell that Sigbin's voice is calm. Even as it rises into a shrill pitch or dips into a gravelly low there's a certain steadiness to it, a bastion of stability that just pokes it's shining face through the rest of this raucous extremity. "T-the code...?" Right! You're supposed to sign in each time with a specific code so that Sigbin knows it's you. What... what was it again? Oh you //know// you memorized it but when your mind scrambles to find it all you come up with is empty space. "I- uh- well..." "Phouka..." You can't tell through the electronic filter if the name is meant to be reprimanding or sympathetic, "Are you nervous?" "I- I'm..." "You don't have to be nervous." "I know-" "Do you want some help, Phouka?" You hesitate, finger lifting from the button for just a moment as the room fills with the sound of static. You don't want to admit it but... you've lost the code in your nerves. "Yes." You sigh. "Alright, I'll lead this time, and you check if I'm correct. Maybe it'll come back to you then?" Sigbin takes a deep breath in the form of a cackling, cracking sound through the radio, "Alpha." That... sounds correct, "Check." "Gamma." Also familiar, "Check." And if you're right then the next one should be... "Foxtrot." "Check." Bingo. You lean against the console, a heavy sigh escaping your lips, "All correct. Right." "You'll get it next time. Day One is always the hardest." Sigbin assures you calmly, "But I hope it hasn't been too rough?" Too rough? No, between the several minor panic attacks you've gone through and the already creeping in feeling of isolation now coupled with a steaming pile of embarrassment it's been //wonderful//. [[You tell the truth.]] [[You lie.]]]

(set: $captain to + 1) (set: $firstinteraction to "calm") Breathe You just need to take a minute and breathe first. You retract your hand, gripping your wrist tightly, until your knuckles turn white and your fingers dig into the soft underside of your arm. You take a deep breath in, and out, and then in, and out. Measured, careful. You can't afford to lose this job. Just remember: The Captain is just a person, like you. They've probably been through operators worse than you- because you won't be a bad one. You can't. Considerably steadier than you were before, you need to (link: "press the button.")[(show:?hellohello)]|hellohello)[press the button. "He..." The computer pops and crackles, static fills the air along with a high-pitched radio whine that lasts for some time as you scramble with the knob, searching for the clearest frequency, "He...llo? Hello?" There! "Hello!" You squeeze down the red button to transfer your voice over the line, the blank screen beside you flickers to life- information already filling the green-tinted space, you see your location, your alias, and... "Captain... Captain Sigbin?" "Yes, hello, you must Operator Phouka?" Good, so that was their name. "Yes, that's me." "Pleasure to meet you, Phouka." You couldn't say whether their voice was deep or high-pitched, whether it was lilting or steady, for it seems to be all of them and none of them at once- it pitches up and down and crackles and pops with the computer-filter. It sounds like... Like a thousand different voices were haphazardly stitched together. Then again, they warned you of this- of masking the Captain's and, on their end, your voice... to prevent any prying ears. You can only imagine you must sound the same, a discordant melody of a thousand different electronic-tinted tones. Still, there are some things you can just barely make out through the pop of the filter. "Now, I suppose you know the code?" You can tell that Sigbin's voice is calm. Even as it rises into a shrill pitch or dips into a gravelly low there's a certain steadiness to it, a bastion of stability that just pokes it's shining face through the rest of this raucous extremity. You smile calmly to yourself, you'd made sure to memorize your affirmation code beforehand, and with a mind clear of any remaining nerves, plus the casual tone with which Sigbin seems to go about this routine, it's easy to dig it out of your memory. "Alpha." You pause, as instructed, to wait for confirmation from Captain Sigbin. "Check." "Gamma." "Check." "Foxtrot." "Check. Glad to see you made it there alright, Phouka." Secondly, Sigbin's files speak of their many grand accomplishments, and somehow... you believe it. When they speak, each word seems purposeful, nothing is placed frivolously or without meaning. Everything is calculated. "How is your first day going so far, Phouka? Adjusting alright?" Things have been... odd... [[You tell the truth.]] [[You lie.]]]

(set: $lie to "false") (set: $captain to $captain + 1) "I was told the first day would be the hardest," You give a shaky laugh, "But is it always this... difficult?" You lift your finger from the button, waiting silently for Sigbin to (link: "reply.")[(show:?reply)]|reply)[reply. "I suppose so." They sound almost... amused? You're still getting used to (link: "reading the tones")[(show:?tone)]|tone)[reading the tones... tones that seem mangled and messed up by filter. You know it's for safety's sake, the same way that they don't know anything about you and you know (link:"almost nothing about them.")[(show:?accomplishments)]|accomplishments)[almost nothing about them- nothing save for their accomplishments, of course. Those are displayed proudly in an almost grocery-list frankness on the screen next to you. Really, that's all it is, a checklist of completed missions. But there must be fifty on here- at the very least!] But what you do know hasn't done a lot to help you with reading into their tone. It's... weird, it almost feels like you're speaking to something... inhuman] through the microphone. Of course, you're sure you'll get used to it with time. "Though it's technically confidential... the person before you was nervous as well, on their first day." "Really?" Even that tiniest scrap of knowledge makes you feel marginally better. "Glad to know I won't be the first to screw up, then." "You think you're the //first//?" Well, now, not even the vocal distortion can take away their barking laughter, "Phouka, you should'a seen me when I was starting out- I had //no// idea what I was doing and was all but assured that I was gonna run my crew into an asteroid belt first thing." "What? You're kidding me. You're a Captain! Captains are..." Captains are what? You barely know much about them besides (link:"what you've seen in the cinemas.")[(show:?moviestar)]|moviestar)[what you've seen in the cinemas. You can remember those days clearly, movies about ISP Captains were the hot new things- the new Bournes and Bonds who'd taken to the stars. Even when the program was in its earliest stages, when all that the public knew was of some shadowy organization supposedly looking for places free of the Disease. Of course, it was because so little was known that directors felt free to romanticize as much as possible. Summer blockbusters became hero-flicks about space captains infiltrating the homes of aliens with mangled, twisting limbs and powers beyond human comprehension- underdog stories of meager humans utilizing their wits and species-specific ingenious to overcome whatever dastardly, otherworldly foe they happened to face on a conquest to humanity. It... hasn't really changed all that much, has it? Your less-than-romantic view of the ISP is still a rare one... Though the application process has become much more public, and it's not like they needed to advertise much before a wash of starry-eyed candidates came rushing in, papers in hand, wearing their best suits and almost all lying through their teeth when they said that anything other than the ISP's complimentary Hollywood propaganda made them want to work there. ]"Well, Captains have to be picked, don't they? I doubt they'd go offering a job to just anyone in the ISF." (if: $captain is 2)["Well, you'd be right, I never worked for the International Space Fleet." Sigbin purrs with the kind of pride that, were this one of said movies, would most likely be accompanied by a lopsided smile and a smug wink to the audience. All you're left with, however, is the blank snow before you and the tiny black microphone in front. "Wait- you never worked for the ISF? How did you get picked, then?" There's... no reply. "Sigbin?" "I apologize, Phouka, I misspoke." That Hollywood pride is gone, replaced with a quick, nervous tittering, "That's classified information." "Oh..." You mask your disappointment, then realize that perhaps masking it isn't necessary, the vocal distorter would do that for you. "Right... Well, that's fine!" You try to sound a bit more chipper- this is still your first impression, you can't afford to make a bad one. ] (if: $captain is 1)["I suppose so." Sigbin remarks casually. ] "How long have you worked for the ISP, anyway?" (if: $captain is 2)[Sigbin hesitates, ]"Classified information." Just like everything else then, eh? "Right, of course. Well, I guess that's enough of the getting-to-know-each-other bit... or... at least as much as we're //allowed// to know. Let's get down to [[work]]."]

(set: $lie to "true") "Everything is... going fine." Why would you tell the truth to Sigbin? You barely know them! Not to mention, they're essentially your boss now. Your boss... that you know nothing about. One report from them and you could be taken off the site immediately, that's not exactly something you're willing to risk on the first day. Or... any day for that matter. No, the best thing to do is just to remain calm and appear fine. That way Sigbin will have nothing to worry about, and you get to keep your job. Your isolated, lonely little job. "If you're... sure." Sigbin hesitates before speaking once more, "You know, Phouka, we'll be working together for a long time now- just you and me- for maybe even five years... I can assure you from previous experiences that this works best if we're honest with one another." "You [[don't have to worry]], Captain Sigbin, I'm[[...]]"

"Right," Sigbin agrees, "I assume you read the manual sent to you?" "Of course." You practically memorized it, propelled by a mixture of anticipation towards your new job and fear of messing it up. Even so, you still brought it with you, just... as a contingency plan should anything go wrong. "Good, but I'm still //technically// required to give you the 'New Operator Speech', boring as it is." They laugh again- they seem to laugh a lot, or maybe it's just the distortion once more, adding that bouncing chuckle-tone to the end of each word. "As of now, Phouka, you are an official Operator on the Interstellar Salvation Project, our mission is to find habitable planets to move those unaffected by Camazotz's Plague, and to research a cure for the plague as well. You've been assigned to the ship Aquarius 45B, Captained by, myself, Captain Sigbin. Your work consists of handling our remote communications at the Alpha 13 Tower on Kepler-1458, and decoding mission information from ISP headquarters before feeding it back to Aquarius 45B. Do you understand?" (link:"Yes.")[(show:?yes)]|yes)["Yes." "Good. In light of recent events the Towers have also been equipped with scanners, which you will use to scour this assigned area of the galaxy for any signs of raiders or-" "Wait-" Sigbin stumbles into a stop midsentence, "//Raiders//? This isn't- I didn't- I didn't sign up for a space opera, Sigbin(if: $firstinteraction is "nervous")[-I mean... Captain. Captain Sigbin..]. I wasn't told about of this. What raiders? I thought I was just a comms personnel!" "Calm down, Phouka," The mic pops and crackles with their sigh, "You haven't heard because the information hasn't been... brought to the public's attention, yet. It's a minor threat, and not one you need concern yourself with too much. Do you see that blue button to your left?" Sigbin's right, it looks as if a new plate has been drilled into the old communications desk, the metal around it shiny and new. "Yes." "(link:"Press it.")[(show:?button)]|button)["Press it." You gingerly tap the bright blue button, and the room immediately darkens, a screen slowly slides down the middle third of the long looping window around you, lighting up with what looks to be a rudimentary map- mostly blank save for the green lines running down and along the sides in a grid-like fashion, a tiny, helpful key in the corner lets you know that a single square is equal to ten kilometers. A small, almost invisible lime dot blinks in and out in the middle, above it are the blocky, bold, words ''AQUARIUS 45B''. "Do you see the map?" "I do." "Good. You see, the ship's secondary sensors are... rudimentary, at best. Most of our electronic capacity is funneled towards, well, finding and scanning planets for possible materials to be used in a cure. This has left us open to unseen attacks from ships we didn't catch. That's where you come in, Phouka, the secondary sensors on our ship will be funneled to your Tower, so you'll receive better imaging of the space around us than we could ever hope to have. All you need to do is warn us when you see something odd. We'll deal with whatever that is. So you needn't worry about raiders, alright? You're safe, Phouka." "Right." You... can't help but feel a little silly for freaking out like that. Surely if there were any personal danger to you there'd be more defenses here, wouldn't there? There would... have to be. Besides, something in Sigbin's voice makes you believe them- an assurance that comes with experience, you suppose. "Just remember- there's a delay in communications- K-1458 might be the closest hospitable zone to our search zone but that doesn't mean there's zero distance between us. Depending on where we are by the time you even see the objects several precious seconds may have past, so be sure to let me know //right when// you see something suspicious. Even if it turns out to be nothing- Do. Not. Hesitate." "Of course... But you sound so clear now?" You turn to the map as well- but there's no tiny iceball of a planet in sight, "How close are you, Sigbin?" "Our specific location is-" "Classified information, right." You sigh- is this how it's going to be for the next five years? With them knowing everything and you knowing... nothing? "Well, you've gotta at least be close to this planet..." You try to count the beats between Sigbin's answer, but they're either messing with you by staying silent or they don't know how to respond. "You're... clever, Phouka." Is that... is that approval in their voice? You can't rightly tell... "Keep that cleverness, it will help with your job." You consider [[reminding Sigbin]] that you're no more than a glorified messenger- albeit with an upgrade. But perhaps it's best to [[remain silent->back to work]].]]

"You don't have to worry, Captain," Is straining your voice to sound cheery really even necessary? You assume that Sigbin must be used to the electronic distortions by now, so maybe they could see through to your tone? It seems... almost impossible to do so, however, by what you've heard. "I'm fine." "Alright, Phouka, your call." Though, there is some difference in the fluctuations that you can read. Like there, there Sigbin seemed disappointed... maybe. It's still extraordinarily hard to read. "Though, even if it is unnecessary, I wish to reassure you that this will get easier. The first day is always hardest, as I'm sure you've heard, it's a slow process but... You get used to the strange situation, eventually." You would hope so. Sigbin certainly seems comfortable operating through this... odd non-interaction, just how many times have they done this? "Right. Say, Captain, how long have you worked for the ISP, anyway?" "Classified information." Ah, of course. Then again, you can't really blame them for not telling you anything- you haven't exactly been the most open of personnel either. "Right, well, I guess it's time to get to [[work]] then?"

(set: $captain to $captain + 1) "I'm..." The words stick to the roof of your mouth- it should be easy to say you're fine. It's just first-day nerves is all, first-day nerves that are only exemplified but your... strange situation. But it's nothing new, right? Nothing you can't sleep off and be fine in the morning, right? Right... But... "I'm just a little overwhelmed, I suppose." "Ah, of course." Sigbin sounds... pleased? About as pleased as an artificially distorted voice can sound, at least. (if: $hometown is "Colony")["You're from a Colony, correct? The loneliness must seem... odd." "Well, it certainly was more crowded, yes." You admit, "Fahrenheit 5 is especially known for its... (link:"population")[(show:?population)]|population)[population." You remember the news stories about Fahrenheit 5- your mother kept them stowed away in a cupboard above the kitchen pantry, far too high for your wobbly little legs to reach when you were younger... but as you grew older, you grew curious, curious about the things she read and told you 'pay no mind to, darling,' that they were 'nothing you should worry your little head about'. Even at a young age you questioned why she would act as if they were something to be hidden away yet when she pulled them down to look at in those moments when she thought you weren't around a smile would light her face and a glimmer of hope in her eyes. Then you grew older, and taller, and wiser, and the combination of those three deadly things led to a stool propped against the sink and a clipped newspaper in your hand. ''The Largest Colony Yet'' it read in loud, emboldened font. It went on to talk about a mass movement, one of the last, perhaps, of people to be shuttled directly out of Earth before a cure was found. Fahrenheit 5, the last refuge at the end of the visible universe.] "Though maybe this will be a nice change of pace. "One can only hope." Sigbin agrees, with a... you think a laugh? It's hard to discern between the other electronic pops and crackles of the radio, "Just don't forget you're not entirely alone out there. You've got myself and the Agency. "Of course."] (if: $hometown is "Earth")["You're from Earth, yes? This must be... quite the adjustment." A dry laugh scrapes through your lips, "I mean, that's one way to put it, yeah." "Did you have snow where you lived before? Or perhaps that's at least somewhat normal?" "We had snow." You smile a little at the (link: "memories of snowy afternoons.")[(show:?snow)]|snow)[memories of sliding down steep hills, skidding across the iced-over raving, and skating on the lake it led to. The adults would always throw heavy objects onto the lake first to make sure it had frozen through enough for you to skate on it. Of course, some of the more adventurous- or, as your mother would say, 'less sharp'- parents would just hop out on skates themselves. You... had to drag more than one out of the icy waters, before they were quickly shuffled away in vans with worried family members wrapping them in blankets and berating these daredevils for their reckless nature.] "Though it was never quite //this// intense. "That's fair." You... you think that's a laugh? It sounds like they're laughing, at least, but it's hard to tell between the other poppings of the microphone.] "I wouldn't worry, Phouka, you get used to everything after a year or two." Sigbin reassures you confidently-... maybe... You're starting to get used to the electronic fluctuations, though they still mask most everything about their voice. "How long have you worked for the ISP, anyway?" (if: $captain is 2)[Sigbin hesitates, ]"Classified information." "Right... of course, sorry." It seems almost everything is classified information sometimes- from their name to how long they've worked with the ISP. "Well, I guess that's enough chit-chat, we should probably get down to [[work]], right?"

"You know, Captain, I'm flattered and all... but I don't think 'being clever' is gonna be of any help to just a middleman like myself." "You shouldn't say such things about yourself, Phouka." Sigbin chastises. "You play a very important role in the ISP." Well, now that's [[flattering]] but, still, you might [[disagree]].

"Well, I... thank you, Sigbin." "I'm only speaking the truth, Phouka. I may be the Captain but without an Operator I'm just floating through space all on my own." Sigbin laughs, "Your company, and help, is greatly appreciated." All on their own? (link:"What about Sigbin's crew?")[(show:?crew)]|crew)["Captain Sigbin..." You hesitate before continuing- will they just declare 'classified' and move on with it? Is it even (link:"worth asking?")[(show:?ask)] Perhaps not... Maybe if you do then they'll just reprimand you, too. Could it... Could stepping out of line and asking a classified questions be grounds for firing? You should just get [[back to work]] and ignore it, right?]|ask)[ No, no you can't just give in like that. If nothing else you can always play the newbie card and claim to not have realized that you're doing something bad. Besides, it's your first day on the job! You probably won't be fired on your first day... probably. No, no, no. Enough doubting. Just ask- "Captain Sigbin," It's just a question- "What about your crew?" What's the worst that can happen? "My crew?" "You said you were all on your own... don't you have a crew as well?" You laugh nervously- "I mean, certainly you're having a better time than being stuck on one li'l planet all on your own." Play it off as a joke, maybe they won't be as mad. Maybe you won't get in trouble. Maybe- (if: $captain is 2)["The size of my crew is technically classified," Maybe the response will be the same as always. And nothing will change. "However, ISP crews are usually... miniscule, per say. We've delegated most of the menial tasks to AI-units." "Oh- oh!" Sigbin actually gave you an answer? "Okay, I guess- that makes sense. Well, thank you, Sigbin." AI-units... Those are still relatively new, (if: $hometown is "Earth")[and Earth has always had a pretty strict policy against most outer-world tech... Something about 'preserving the purity of the homeplanet' or some other political garbble like that.](if: $hometown is "Colony")[though Farenheit did have its fair share of cleaning-bots roaming about the street on their own, picking up trash and whatever else happens to fall down onto the street when you squish millions of people into a too-small space.] You'd bet that ISP has even more advanced tech, though... You wonder what kinds have been developed but kept away from public eye?](if: $captain is 1)["That's classified, Phouka." Maybe you really will get in trouble. Is that anger? Are they angry? They don't //sound// angry but... you've learned by now that reading their tone isn't exactly a viable method of figuring out what Sigbin means.](if: $captain is 0)["Classified." Of course it is... Again.]]You don't have time to worry too much about that, though, you need to [[get back to work->back to work]].

"Well, thanks, Captain... I... I guess." You don't want to be impolite, especially not to a superior officer on your first real day of the job, but in the end there's still not much you do for the ISP. Then again... that's (link:"why you took this job, isn't it?")[(show:?job)]|job)[why you took this job, isn't it? Casey is- Nope. No, no, no no no. No. You can't think about that now. You can't. You just have to make it through the day. Just get [[back to work]] and focus.]

The day goes by... surprisingly slowly. You knew it was going to be boring, and grueling. Heck, that was one of the very first things they greeted you with in the application. ''Warning'' it said, ''many of our operators find themselves struggling in such solitary environments. Take caution when applying.'' It seemed like such an odd thing to point out at the time but now...? Now you (link: "understand.")[(show:?understand)]|understand)[understand. Press the red button, check the screen, type a message word for word from Sigbin- which, really, the electronic filter can make it rather hard to understand them sometimes, and asking five or six times just for them to repeat a word got old, fast- send the message. Get a reply, oh, an hour later and send the reply to Sigbin. Talking becomes even more awkward, too. As Sigbin had said before the ship was close enough that the radio-pause as your voice travelled through space to the ship's comms was minimal when the two of you met, but you can practically hear them getting further and further away. At first you weren't even sure in the message had reached them or if there was just a three-second delay, and it was only through sheer will that you restrained from sending the message again. Then it became eight seconds, then ten, then twenty, and soon you found yourself tapping your feet for a full two minutes before a crackling, hard-to-hear reply came wavering through the microphone. At least you were able to find a (link: "chair.")[(show:?chair)]|chair)[chair. Though it wasn't much- shoved away in the back corner... probably by whoever sat in it last. The black leather seats were torn and re-patched together multiple times over with silver duct tape, and it looks like someone carved a name into the side of the arm before trying to cover that with duct-tape too. It's uncomfortable and creaky and though technically supposed-to-roll one of the wheels is obviously badly broken, leaving you with this weird sideways drift unless you grab the center console and stay grounded in front of the microphone.] (link: "Sigbin also tries to help where they can.")[(show:?sigbin)]|sigbin)[Sigbin also tries to help where they can. Despite their formal, business-professional nature.... you find that they make a lot of jokes. Not necessarily good ones, either. But the kind that most likely came out of a book they took onboard with them. Whenever things are slow you'll hear a little crackle over the intercom and strike up a pause-filled conversation, if you express any boredom at all then they'll supply you with a riveting rendition of 'Why did the chicken cross the road?' Or, your favorite, "Why didn't the chicken jaywalk?" "Why?" "It would've been a fowl proceeding." "Where do you even //get// all of these?" "That one came from a magazine." "A publisher thought this was a good idea?" "It was the 1890s, lots of things seemed like a good idea back then." "Like how reading magazines from over a thousand years ago seems like a good idea?" "I enjoy the pursuit of knowledge," Sigbin's thousand voices all somehow managed to coordinate into a mock offense, "The humor of a time period can tell you a lot, Phouka." Somehow... not what you expecting an ISP officer to be like. You're not sure if it's [[good]] or [[bad]]...]]

(set: $captain to $captain + 1) You think you prefer it. It makes the entire day a little easier and, despite the occaisonal period where a minute seems to drag on for hours, you find yourself mildly surprised when Sigbin declares that it's time for the two of you to part ways. "How was your first day on the job, Phouka?" They ask, a good five minutes after you confirmed the final, parting code. Tango, Gamma, Beta. (if: $firstinteraction is "nervous")[Luckily, you didn't forget that one, too.] "Isn't that supposed to be classified information?" You tease- and immediately trail off into a slight cord of panic- did you... did you //really// just //speak back// to a //commanding officer//? Oh god. You'd already become so friendly with Sigbin you hardly even noticed but now they're probably going to report you for stepping out of line and you wish they'd say something but they probably already have and now your just left here waiting for the response and you can't even apologize now because what if it interrupts them speaking you can't tell when they're speaking and you don't want to make it worse and- And Sigbin laughs. "It certainly does seem like everything's classified sometimes, huh?" "Oh, ha ha... ha... ha..." You wheeze, one hand gripping at your heart as its jackrabbit-pace slows back down, "Funny... isn't it...?" A pause, one that's marginally too long to just be because of travel time, (if: $captain is 3)["Phouka... are you... alright?" "I'm fine," Now you are, at least. "It's nothing." "Are you sure?" "I'm sure." "Well, alright, I won't press it. But don't forget- if something is wrong then it's best you tell me- or at least use the facilities medical features. If you must go offline because you don't feel well that's entirely fine, Phouka, alright? Don't hesitate when it comes to your health." "Captain, I promise I'm fine." "I know, I'm just... making sure, I suppose." "Well, thank you for your concern, Captain Sigbin." "Of course! What else am I going to do? Let my operator keel over on the job?" A popping snort distorts through the filter, "Because that's exactly how you get reinstated, Phouka." "Hey, I'm the one new to the ISP, maybe they do things weird here- I dunno." "Right, well, of course as you know there's full detailings on page 35 of the handbook on how to make sure life is miserable for absolutely everyone involved in this project. Because //thats// really our goal here, of course." Listening to Sigbin now, you almost wonder why you were so scared before. So far they've been nothing but patient and kind, so unlike the cold, suave, calculating, professional depictions of ISP captains that you're used to. "Ah, yeah, I think I remember that. Right under 'how to crash into every asteroid possible, right?" You lift your finger off of the red button with a smile on your face now. Maybe... maybe this job won't be so bad with Sigbin around. "Exactly." You wonder if they think the same? Then again, Sigbin is probably used to this kind of banter.](if: $captain is 2)["You seemed a little off there, Phouka, are you alright?" "I'm fine Captain." "You sure?" "Yes." It is much easier to breathe now. Your worry seems a little more silly than serious now that you've relaxed. Sigbin, while still professional, hasn't been unkind. It's a relief to know, though, that they'll disregard your more... accidental slipups. "Alright, good." You don't know what you would've done if Sigbin was more strict or severe.](if: $captain is 1)["Phouka, you alright?" "I'm good Captain." "Good to hear." Just as it's good to hear that Sigbin really isn't mad at you. It's a good thing they've proven to be a more forgiving Captain.]"Say, Phouka, you never answered my question." "Oh, my day?" You repeat, "Well... it was good. I think. It went better than I expected, all things considered.(if: $captain is 3)[ I think it'll be nice working with you, Captain Sigbin." "Well, I'm flattered to hear that." Even through the thousand different voices belonging to a thousand different people, you think you can hear a hint of a smile in their voice. "I'm looking forward to working with you, too, Phouka.]" "Well, then, we'll pick up tomorrow." Sigbin is, once more, all professionalism. It's a minute shift in the voices, like a breeze changing from south to south-west, barely noticeable, but there all the same. They become stiffer, more serious and... more coordinated? The last part must be you hallucinating it but it almost seems as if the filter's many setting sync up just the tiniest bit more when Sigbin returns to that professional tone. "Have a nice night, Phouka." "[[You too, Captain->end of day 1]]"

You almost wish that Sigbin was a little less... friendly. It's weird- everytime you try to visualize their face you come up with something different. The voices make it hard to figure out what it is they really mean, and at least when the two of you are talking professionally you don't have to worry about reading into their tone. Honestly? The friendliness has turned into little more than a setback for your work. A setback that you... really don't want. And can't afford. "Ready to sign off, Phouka?" You grit your teeth and nod- remembering quickly that they can't see it if you nod. "Ready." Just repeat the code(if: $firstinteraction is "nervous")[, and don't mess it up this time around,] and you can go home... Well... 'home', at least. "Tango." "Check." "Gamma." "Check." "Beta." "Fantastic." Even now you can't really picture what it is their doing. In one or two of the tones it almost sounds like the word is said with a grimace- that downbeaten, monotonous melody that comes out of a downturned mouth. But in most others it sounds like a smile- light and happy and lilting. In some it just sounds... robotic, filled with jolting vowels mashed together in uncoordinated manners, with a voice that pitches up and down at odd and irregular moments. All speaking at the exact same time. All... slightly creepy, if you're honest. "I'll see you tomorrow, then?" "Right. Signing off." You're quick to mash down the orange switch to your left- not bothering to wait if they've any last 'amiable' goodbye to give you. You heave a sigh of relief as the console shuts down, the purr of an engine slowly dying out as the black screen with the little green dot goes blank, rolling slowly up until it tucks itself away in the curved ceiling of the Tower. Finally. Day one down. One thousand... eight hundred... and twenty-five to go... [[Oh god.->end of day 1]]

The first thing you're greeted with as you step out into the tube once more is the a pitch black blanket of sky littered with a million different unfamiliar stars. (if: $hometown is "Earth")[For a moment you're half tempted to seek out the Big Dipper- as is most Earthlings reactions to the stars, but then you remember that there's no way you would ever be able to see it from here. Somehow... that makes the snow outside seem a little colder.](if: $hometown is "Colony")[Part of the downside of living in a Farenheight Colony is that you never get to see the stars. The dome and the city lights and pollution tend to block it all out. Sometimes there'd be Starry Night Festivals, when people would flock out with space suits in little rovers that reminded you on a mini-dome on wheels- though your mother called them 'ridiculous little hamster balls'. They'd venture into the pitch black emptiness of the planet you lived on- a grey, rocky thing you //think// was called K-1242... but nobody really bothered with the planet's name. It was just a temporary home for Farenheight colonists until they could move somewhere better- somewhere like Eden. You were told that in Eden there were stars. You were told that in Eden there were even more stars than there were on Earth. Not that anyone ever really knows, of course. Only those who worked for the ISP go to Eden... Of course, you've never seen Earth's stars, tourist travel to-and-from was all but nonexistent by the time you were born, but you wonder- is this place, this Tower and base and all its stars- more like Earth? Or Eden? Well... you suppose you might know, soon, if these stars are anything like the tales of Eden.] (if: $temperature is "warm")[You brought your coat down but it appears as if the heating has really kicked in by now. It feels good to be free of that restraint, though now it is folded a little awkwardly- too big for your arms as you fumble with it down the moving walkway.] (if: $temperature is "cold") [You can't help but shiver- it barely feels warm in here! Even the cold is seeping through your little jacket. You... your watch should have something for this... right? Oh, why didn't you adjust it earlier? You fumble and stumble around the small controls, struggling to keep your fingers straight as they freeze inside your 'warm' gloves. It takes some trial and error but you finally find the thermometer and turn the temperature back to a //much// more livable degree. One that //doesn't// require a bulky winter coat.] (set: $temperature to "warm") Finally you reach the end of the tube-hall. The doors open as if expecting your presence and you stride into one of the many, many large dome-like rooms in this sprawling base. You stifle a yawn as you walk towards the end of the dome, where three more doors lead to the rest of this spider-web contrunstruction... Now... which way is it to your living quarters...? Uh... is it... the [[left->wrong way]]? Or... to the [[right]]...? Or was it...? [[Straight ahead->wrong way]]? You... maybe should've asked for a map.

You take the right hallway, somehow you've a strong feeling that's the right direction- did Clementine point it out earlier? Maybe so. Either way, the doors slide open easily as you approach them and- "Oh!" Your knee bonks into something- hard. You stagger back with awkward hops, jerking your knee away from the ground instinctively as you yelp. Similarly- what it is you just bonked into seems to stagger- or rather, roll- backwards, wobbling on one unsteady wheel before it falls over with a loud clattering sound. What the heck was tha...? Is that a (link:"robot?")[(show:?peatime)]|peatime)[robot? It is. It's a robot. A tiny little... robot. About half the height of your calf, with a single wheel on the bottom that it seems to unsteadily teeter on when its short, stubby little limbs push it back upright using its... (link:"palms?")[(show:?peapalms)]|peapalms)[there's really no other way to describe them. They're like a mix of palms and paws, a three-pronged metal thing modeled after human fingers but attached to what almost looks like a ball-based pawpad in the middle.] It's palms are up to the sides as it steadies itself once more. Four large, blue LED-based eyes stare up at you, the left two half closed with metal sliding lids squinted over them as if it were wincing. It's body is pea-shaped and littered with tiny, miniscule dents, as is it's head and two long verticle stripes down the sides like a tennis ball... or suspenders- did someone try to paint suspenders on the robot? With the skinny, stick-like arms attached it almost reminds you of a small, roller-blading snowman with four blue-button eyes... and suspenders. "Are... are you okay?" "No need to worry about me, Operator Phouka! I'm just fine and dandy! Yes indeed!" The tiny robot wobbles back onto its hands, it mumbles a quiet 'One-two-and-!' and then shoves itself off of the ground, arms wiggling in cirlces out beside it before it finally steadies once more on an unbalanced wheel. "Alrighty then! Not my most graceful entrance but-!" The tiny robot turns to you with... a smile? The bottom halves of its eyes close upwards, and that combined with the speaker give it the appearence of smiling, "Howdy-do, Operator Phouka?" It rolls slowly up towards you, "My names PEA-" "Pea?" "Yep!" It extends a hand towards you, which involves quite a bit of reaching up as its head rolls back to stare you in the eyes, "I'm your Personal Electronic Assitant- PEA! Here to help you with all your needs and wants while working with us at the ISP Tower base on Kepler-1458!" "Your name is Pea." And it looks like a pea. Well... two peas. Stacked ontop of each other... but still... "That is... correct. Why?" It's head tilts ever so slightly, turning smoothly on a neck joint too small to see. "Uh, it's nothing." Someone had a field day in the naming department. You look at it's hand. [[Shaking hands]] with a robot seems... [[too weird]].]

You turn down the passage, hoping that maybe this is the right way to go- it's shorter so it's easy to come to the end and you find that it leads to- (either: "A grand ballroom, all grand and orante- with curtains draped along the top of the dome elegantly and entirely uselessly. Tables lined around a wooden dance floor and what appears to be a raised stage with intrustuments poking out of the curtains barring it- everything is set up as if expecting some party. What kind of party could be hosted in a lonely ISP communications base with only one operator inside it?", "The movie theater you noticed before, with the screen that spans half the dome and curves around, impressive and gargantuan. A series of seats lined up with what seems to be a popcorn machine in the back, along with a couple of candybars and a drink fountain. You wonder why they went through the trouble of setting up... so much... when there's only you in here.", "What seems to be an exercise room. You think you remember Clementine mentioning a gym but you didn't think it was over here? Nonetheless, there's no doubt in your mind that this is a gym- fit with weights and treadmills and folding walls and things you couldn't name for muscles you didn't know you had.", "A pool. A gargantuan, humungous swimming pool in the middle of an arctic planet. Who woulda thought? There's a hot tub too, from the looks of it, tucked off into the corner and laughably small compared to the ocean of water before you.", "What looks to be a kitchen, with pots and pans all dangling above cupboards that smell strongly of spices. A high-tech looking stove, oven, and fridge are all squished to the side, with rows of knives tucked into a wooden holder and silverware locked up in a fancy glass cuppboard. There's gotta be enough here to feed an entire colony! Why is there so much for just one person?") Weird... but also not your bedroom. You're about to turn around and exit the room when you hear a frantic 'Oh dear oh dear oh dear' repeating over and over from... from the hall you walked down? What? There's... not supposed to be anyone else here. Your mind immediately flashes back to what Sigbin said about raiders. They said you were safe but how could you be safe if it's gotten so bad that even the operators have to get involved? You shouldn't have been so complacent, you should've expected this- You freeze, and look around wildly for some kinda self-defense weapon or place to hide. The watch! There's a thing to press on the watch if you're in an emergency, right? You... you remember reading about it- did Clementine mention it, too? Right! The medical cross, they'll come rescue you if you're in any danger at all. Then the door opens. And a scream of "Stay back!" is torn from your voice. And stay back //it// does. It's... it's a (link: "robot.")[(show:?PEA)]|PEA)[robot. A tiny little... robot. About half the height of your calf, with a single wheel on the bottom that it seems to unsteadily teeter on, short, rubbery, pump-like arms swinging out beside it as it struggles to stay standing, hands in the air and... (link:"palms?")[(show:?peapalms)]|peapalms)[there's really no other way to describe them. They're like a mix of palms and paws, a three-pronged metal thing modeled after human fingers but attached to what almost looks like a ball-based pawpad in the middle.] It's palms are up in the air almost in a 'don't shoot' gesture. Four large, blue LED-based eyes stare up at you, the left two half closed with metal sliding lids squinted over them as if it were wincing. It's body is pea-shaped and littered with tiny, miniscule dents, as is it's head and two long verticle stripes down the sides like a tennis ball... or suspenders- did someone try to paint suspenders on the robot? With the skinny, stick-like arms attached it almost reminds you of a small, roller-blading snowman with four blue-button eyes... and suspenders. Then this thing loses balance and a high-pitched, "Woah!" Escapes from what you assume is the 'mouth'- a speaker that wraps around the bottom of the head in a cartoon smile-shape- and the entire thing topples over. "Are... are you okay?" "No need to worry about me, Operator Phouka! I'm just fine and dandy! Yes indeed!" The tiny robot wobbles back onto its hands, it mumbles a quiet 'One-two-and-!' and then shoves itself off of the ground, arms wiggling in cirlces out beside it before it finally steadies once more on an unbalanced wheel. "Alrighty then! Not my most graceful entrance but-!" The tiny robot turns to you with... a smile? The bottom halves of its eyes close upwards, and that combined with the speaker give it the appearence of smiling, "Howdy-do, Operator Phouka?" It rolls slowly up towards you, "My names PEA-" "Pea?" "Yep!" It extends a hand towards you, which involves quite a bit of reaching up as its head rolls back to stare you in the eyes, "I'm your Personal Electronic Assitant- PEA! Here to help you with all your needs and wants while working with us at the ISP Tower base on Kepler-1458!" "Your name is Pea." And it looks like a pea. Well... two peas. Stacked ontop of each other... but still... "That is... correct. Why?" It's head tilts ever so slightly, turning smoothly on a neck joint too small to see. "Uh, it's nothing." Someone had a field day in the naming department. You look at it's hand. [[Shaking hands]] with a robot seems... [[too weird]].]

"Nice to meet you, Pea." Still it feels... impolite to not shake hands with this tiny... thing. Its three, thin little... 'fingers'... wrap around your hand and shake back, eyelids moving up in that faux-'smile' once more. "Fantastic, Operator Phouka!" Pea's electronic voice pitches upwards, as if happy, "Oh, it's been so long since we've had an Operator around once more! It's so lovely to see someone here! Pleasure to meet you! Pleasure to greet you!" "Uh, yeah, definitely." You jerk your hand out of Pea's grasp. Giving it an odd look, "So... Pea... You said your my assistant?" "Personal Electronic Assistant! Yes!" "What do you... assist me with?" It's not like there's much to do around here. And work-wise all you have to do is read a bunch of letters and send them to and from Captain Sigbin's ship. "Oh! All sorts of things!" Pea nods excitedly, head bobbing back and forth so rapidly you're half scared it's going to just plop right off, "I clean, I cook- I'm told I make 'a mean Baked Alaska', and I'm always here if you get lost! Like now!" It extends a hand once more, "Now then, Operator Phouka! Where do you want to go?" "Oh, well, I was- I was looking for my bedroom?" You wonder if you should [[take its hand]] so it can guide you... still, it feels a bit [[too odd]] to go letting this robot lead you around.

You keep your hand firmly placed at your side. Pea hesitates, before quickly retracting it's... limb. If it's at all hurt by the gesture you can't tell- could it even be hurt? No, of course not, that's a silly thought. It's just a robot. "Oh, it's been so long since we've had an Operator around once more! It's so lovely to see someone here! Pleasure to meet you! Pleasure to greet you!" A robot that was programed to be... wierdly friendly. "Uh... right..." You take a quick step back. Giving it an odd look, "So... Pea... You said your my assistant?" "Personal Electronic Assistant! Yes!" "What do you... assist me with?" It's not like there's much to do around here. And work-wise all you have to do is read a bunch of letters and send them to and from Captain Sigbin's ship. "Oh! All sorts of things!" Pea nods excitedly, head bobbing back and forth so rapidly you're half scared it's going to just plop right off, "I clean, I cook- I'm told I make 'a mean Baked Alaska', and I'm always here if you get lost! Like now!" It extends a hand once more- apparently it didn't get the message the first time "Now then, Operator Phouka! Where do you want to go?" "Oh, well, I was- I was looking for my bedroom?" Then again, you do need it to [[lead you->take its hand]] there... but taking it's hand still seems [[too odd]]

You grasp onto Pea's hand, and it almost immediately turns around, tugging you back down the hall you came from. Despite its size Pea appears to have quite a bit of strength, easily pulling you this way and that through the tangled mess of tubes and domes. Ever so often Pea will rattle on about the room you're walking through - (either: "This is the garden, it was originally designed to grow fresh fruit but some of the Operators enjoy relaxing in the greenhouse among all the lovely plants! I've been keeping the flowers that one of the previous Operators planted quite a while ago", "This is the dining hall. It was established back when it was more frequent for the Director to visit our little Tower here! Which is why there are so many chairs. Luckily, everything's been running smoothly for quite a while now- so no more direction needed! Well... at least for now.", "Ah, here's one of our research labs! Sometimes we receive samples or we've had Operators who want to continue their own research that they had to abandon before coming here. I'm not sure how much you'll have to worry about that, though, Operator Phouka. I can take care of any samples sent our way!")- or it'll start humming... which is weird to hear coming from a robot with an electronic voice. Until, finally, thankfully you come to the [[bedroom]]

You keep your hands to yourself, and Pea swings around almost immediately- still entirely unfazed by whatever it is you do. "Righty-o, then! Be sure to stick close to me Operator Phouka! Wouldn't want you getting lost in these halls!" It chimes. Ever so often Pea will rattle on about the room you're walking through - (either: "This is the garden, it was originally designed to grow fresh fruit but some of the Operators enjoy relaxing in the greenhouse among all the lovely plants! I've been keeping the flowers that one of the previous Operators planted quite a while ago", "This is the dining hall. It was established back when it was more frequent for the Director to visit our little Tower here! Which is why there are so many chairs. Luckily, everything's been running smoothly for quite a while now- so no more direction needed! Well... at least for now.", "Ah, here's one of our research labs! Sometimes we receive samples or we've had Operators who want to continue their own research that they had to abandon before coming here. I'm not sure how much you'll have to worry about that, though, Operator Phouka. I can take care of any samples sent our way!")- or it'll start humming... which is weird to hear coming from a robot with an electronic voice. Until, finally, thankfully you come to the [[bedroom]]

It's... surprisingly old-fashioned, with wooden archs following the curve of the dome ceiling and a gargantuan bed that reminds you of a children's fairy-tale king or queen's room. Everything seems lavish and warm, even the stars glittering above the galss dome almost seem to have been rearranged by its reflections into a kind of winter-themed wallpaper. All in all it's rather... (either: "beautiful", "extravagant", "ornate", "gaudy", "fancy"), for lack of a better word. "Now, then!" Pea turns to you once more, "Should you have any questions, Operator Phouka, I'll be stationed just outside your door! Please- don't hesitate to call! Have a nice night!" And with that, the tiny robot wheels its way out of your new room. And you're left, once more, all alone. Good thing, too, because you're just about ready to collapse into that mammoth bed and pass out into a (if: $hometown is "Colony")[[[dreamless sleep->colony dream]]](if: $hometown is "Earth")[[[dreamless sleep->earth dream]]].

You were supposed to safe. //Farenheight// was supposed to be safe. That was the point- wasn't it? To stay healthy? To escape it all? To be //safe//? But you weren't. And if you weren't safe here then what was the point of leaving? Of spending your life trapped in a human-ant farm three sizes too small for the amount of people they decided would be //safe// to cram in there. You grew up envious of the Earth you were told through stories. Of how your mother and father would picnic on green fields under a blue sky with soft white clouds rolling over, of fresh air that didn't smell constantly of metal and sweat, of a world where you weren't constantly fighting just for a place to stand in the crowd, where you only sporadically had to avoid being trampled over by eager adults not paying attention to where they were going. But those stories- they always ended witht he same moral, the same lesson that made the days of waking up to a sunless, grey-dome sky, and made the nights of struggling to patch together sleep between the noise of a million different tenants parading about in the apartments above and beside you all worth it. "It wasn't safe." They'd say. "It was never safe on Earth." They made it sound like Camaztoz's dead were shuffling through the grocery stores with the healthy. Buying the same fruit and infecting the same vegetables they all ate. Farenheight is safe. That was what you woke up to everyday- displayed in bright red-and-yellow posters, 'Farenheight is safe'. It was what you saw as you walked down the streets, illuminated in neon suns rising over the head of a red-lit man, 'Farenheight, the newest, safest sanctuary.' Farenheight was safe- Safety was a lie. It had to be. There was... there was no other way to explain it. Not 'unlucky misfortune' like those hacks with a medical degree told you. Misfortune wasn't supposed to //happen// in Farenheight- Farenheight was already the //result// of it. But no, Farenheight wasn't safe. It wasn't safe for you, and it wasn't (link:"safe for Casey.")[(show:?safeagain)]|safeagain)[safe for Casey. And that's why they took her away. That's why they shipped her off to who-knows-where. Some dingy Camazotz 'healing' facility on the edge of the world. You were only allowed to visit once a year. Otherwise it was 'too expensive' to expend the resources required to take the trip just to see her wither away for a day behind a glass wall. (link: "But how could someone else put a price on your little sister...?")[(show:?camazotztime)]|camazotztime)[But how could someone else put a price on your little sister...? You've been told how Camazotz got it's name. An old god of a dead religion- then again religions were- who took the form of a bat. Who stole the head of a boy and decided to hang it up as a ball for a game played by gods. And it was true that they took the heads first- the skin turned a pallid, ashy grey, peeling like a rash- itching, she always complained about it itching- the whites of the eyes turned a yellowing-brown, the pupils contracted and the eyes themselves seemed to bug out giving the patient a perpetually surprised look- as if they were always astonished by their own condition. The lips would go a dark grey and the patient would lose weight fast- mostly through sweat they said- until they became a gaunt, fractured form of what they were before. It was true that they took the heads first- and it was true that the heads reminded you of those of a bat. Casey should never have gotten sick. She was... is... your little sister. You're supposed to protect her, aren't you? You're supposed to... You can. You could. You knew how to as soon as you saw the (link: "flyer.")[(show:?flier)]|flier)[flyer. They were looking for recruits- operators who had no family ties. People who could... disappear for a year, or two, or three or four or... perhaps even five, if you could stand the extreme isolation. There were benefits. Medical. Benefits. So long as you were employed you were searching for a cure- you were //doing something//... and Casey would be one of the first to //get// that something, once you could actually find it. It was all you needed to hear. You signed up, eagerly, terrifyingly. Unsure of yourself and your qualifications or even if you could handle the work. You'd heard (link: "horror stories.")[(show:?horror)]|horror)[horror stories- tales of people dying alone in worlds nobody had even heard of. Of operators going insane in the isolation, destroying their own towers in self-destructive feats of the human mind... those who were saved from the wreck they caused were taken in for questioning and... and that was it. But you'd already spent your life with too many people in one place. And some morbid, less-recognizable part of you said that too little would be just fine.... Still, sometimes... Well...] You tried not to let them get to you but more than once you would wake in a cold sweat, you would rush to the computer with a pounding heart and would even compose a message starting with 'I'm sorry to have wasted your time but...' But then you (link: "remember Casey.")[(show:?casey)]|casey)[remember Casey. Casey... Casey who was always smiling. Casey who always had a joke on the tip of her tongue like a loaded gun waiting for a target, always ready to shoot. Casey, who insisted on baking cookies during Christmas even if she never really believed in Santa. Casey who never really cared about the fact that half your life was spent skin-skin with someone else even if you were just trying to cross the street. Casey who would even revel in this fact, making jokes about the people next to her and then batting her eyes and playing the 'oh, but I'm just a sweet little girl' card. Casey who was... Casey who would drag you to the movies you didn't want to see solely because you didn't want to see them, Casey who would cling to the back of your legs when scared all the while shouting challenges at whatever it was that scared her, Casey who cried when you left for college- despite only moving a few blocks away-, Casey who greeted you again by divebombing you as soon as you opened up your home-apartment, Casey who would steal food from your plate because 'you've already grown too big, and she's just a blossoming li'l child' with batting eyes and a wide grin... Casey who you could only see once a year- trapped behind the glass box, with skin an unnatural pallid, ashy grey, peeling like a rash in the places she's itched even though she's been told not to, with eyes rimmed a gory yellow-brown- the surprise in them isn't just from the tiny pupils, and quivering sickly greyed lips. Casey who cried when you tell her that you're moving away. Far away. Casey who makes you [[promise that you'll see her again.]] Even if [[the words get stuck in your throat]].]]]]

You sit behind a glass window. Well, no, that's not right. You sit //outside// a glass window, but you feel like you're inside it. Despite the warm sun against your skin and the clear blue sky above you you feel like you're inside an ever-shrinking hamster ball. Then again- that's all the atmosphere is, isn't it? A hamster ball. You're inside, others have gotten out but you didn't. You didn't take your chance when you should've and maybe... maybe that's not your fault. Some small, smart part of you reminds you that you were only a child. Only a child. You were only a child. She's only a child. She's only a child and like how you were then she is now. Unable to make decisions for herself, subject to the whim of others. But this time instead of your father and mother deciding to abandon the hope of the stars you're the one sealing her away from the rest of the world. You don't have a choice- you say. You never had a choice in any of this. Even now, if you didn't put her away she'd only get you and who knows how many others sick. Sick... You've already spent days by her side, wiping away sweat and snot and tears, taking temperatures and as she's grown and flourished into a bright, happy young thing. Bright... Happy... You've been told how Camazotz got it's name. An old god of a dead religion- then again religions were- who took the form of a bat. Who stole the head of a boy and decided to hang it up as a ball for a game played by gods. And it was true that they took the heads first- the skin turned a pallid, ashy grey, peeling like a rash- itching, she always complained about it itching- the whites of the eyes turned a yellowing-brown, the pupils contracted and the eyes themselves seemed to bug out giving the patient a perpetually surprised look- as if they were always astonished by their own condition. The lips would go a dark grey and the patient would lose weight fast- mostly through sweat they said- until they became a gaunt, fractured form of what they were before. It was true that they took the heads first- and it was true that the heads reminded you of those of a bat. Casey should never have gotten sick. She was... is... your little sister. You're supposed to protect her, aren't you? You're supposed to... You can. You could. You knew how to as soon as you saw the (link: "flyer.")[(show:?flier)]|flier)[flyer. They were looking for recruits- operators who had no family ties. People who could... disappear for a year, or two, or three or four or... perhaps even five, if you could stand the extreme isolation. There were benefits. Medical. Benefits. So long as you were employed you were searching for a cure- you were //doing something//... and Casey would be one of the first to //get// that something, once you could actually find it. It was all you needed to hear. You signed up, eagerly, terrifyingly. Unsure of yourself and your qualifications or even if you could handle the work. You'd heard (link: "horror stories.")[(show:?horror)]|horror)[horror stories- tales of people dying alone in worlds nobody had even heard of. Of operators going insane in the isolation, destroying their own towers in self-destructive feats of the human mind... those who were saved from the wreck they caused were taken in for questioning and... and that was it.] You tried not to let them get to you but more than once you would wake in a cold sweat, you would rush to the computer with a pounding heart and would even compose a message starting with 'I'm sorry to have wasted your time but...' But then you (link: "remember Casey.")[(show:?casey)]|casey)[remember Casey. Casey... Casey who was always smiling. Casey who always had a joke on the tip of her tongue like a loaded gun waiting for a target, always ready to shoot. Casey, who insisted on baking cookies during Christmas even if she never really believed in Santa. Casey who was one of the few who didn't drown in the river, but leapt right on into the deepest part and tried to cling to the bottom of the ravine as a challenge to see how long she could hold her breath and fight against the weak tides. Casey who was... Casey who would drag you to the movies you didn't want to see solely because you didn't want to see them, Casey who would cling to the back of your legs when scared all the while shouting challenges at whatever it was that scared her, Casey who cried when you left for college, Casey who greeted you again by divebombing you from the stairs, Casey who would steal food from your plate because 'you've already grown too big, and she's just a blossoming li'l child' with batting eyes and a wide grin... Casey who sits behind the glass box, with skin an unnatural pallid, ashy grey, peeling like a rash in the places she's itched even though she's been told not to, with eyes rimmed a gory yellow-brown- the surprise in them isn't just from the tiny pupils, and quivering sickly greyed lips. Casey who cries when you tell her that you're moving away Far away. Casey who makes you [[promise that you'll see her again.]] Even if [[the words get stuck in your throat]].]]

(set: $promise to "true") So you promised her. And though she didn't look like she really believed you she at least seemed... appeased. And she told you she loved you. She told you, crying, that you had better keep your promise. Otherwise she'd hunt you down herself- didn't matter if she'd have to break out of this glass-facility and hijack a rocket herself- you'd made the promise now. You'd better keep it. You'd better not leave her forever. But that was right before you left. (link:"Right before you walked up a metal platform with fifty others going to fifty different planets.")[(show:?rightbefore1)]|rightbefore1)[Right before you walked up a metal platform with fifty others going to fifty different planets. (link:"Right before you rocketed through the empty void between stars only to get to an office building so similar to those back home you could swear you'd never even left.")[(show:?rightbefore2)]|rightbefore2)[Right before you rocketed through the empty void between stars only to get to an office building so similar to those back home you could swear you'd never even left.(link: "Right before you were handed a small piece of paper describing your location- and a thick manual the size of an especially wordy novel and about as heavy as a boulder that you were told to read.")[(show:?rightbefore3)]|rightbefore3)[Right before you were handed a small piece of paper describing your location- and a thick manual the size of an especially wordy novel and about as heavy as a boulder that you were told to read.(link:"Right before you were shoved into a terminal on a planet filled with ice and only one city.")[(show:?rightbefore4)]|rightbefore4)[Right before you were shoved into a terminal on a planet filled with ice and only one city. (link: "Right before you met a woman")[(show:?rb5)]|rb5)[Right before you met a woman (link: "with bright orange lipstick")[(show:?rb6)]|rb6)[with bright orange lipstick (link:"and heavy downcoat")[(show:?rb7)]|rb7)[ with bright orange lipstick (link:"who didn't introduce herself to you")[(show:?rb8)]|rb8)[ but instead smiled and dragged you onto a motorized, covered sled (link: "that toted you")[(show:?rb9)]|rb9)[that toted you, (link: "for hours")[(show:?rb10)]|rb10)[for hours, (link:"across a blank and empty plane")[(show:?rb11)]|rb11)[across a blank and empty plane of carbon-monoxide snow and ice. (link:"And")[(show:?and)]|and)[And (link:"right")[(show:?right)]|right)[right (link:"before")[(show:?before)]|before)[before (link:"you")[(show:?you)]|you)[you (link:"wake")[(show:?wake)]|wake)[wake [[up->wake up]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

(set: $promise to "false") But you... you couldn't say it. You couldn't even grant her that one bit of solace. Because the truth was... The truth was you didn't know if you could keep that promise. If //she// could keep that promise. But what was all the more reason you had to try. All the more reason you had to leave. So you left her, and the last thing you could hear her saying was her pleading and crying for you to make that promise, that you would see her again. You didn't even have to keep it, she said, just please, don't leave her alone. Don't leave her alone. Don't leave her. But that was right before you left. (link:"Right before you walked up a metal platform with fifty others going to fifty different planets.")[(show:?rightbefore1)]|rightbefore1)[Right before you walked up a metal platform with fifty others going to fifty different planets. (link:"Right before you rocketed through the empty void between stars only to get to an office building so similar to those back home you could swear you'd never even left.")[(show:?rightbefore2)]|rightbefore2)[Right before you rocketed through the empty void between stars only to get to an office building so similar to those back home you could swear you'd never even left.(link: "Right before you were handed a small piece of paper describing your location- and a thick manual the size of an especially wordy novel and about as heavy as a boulder that you were told to read.")[(show:?rightbefore3)]|rightbefore3)[Right before you were handed a small piece of paper describing your location- and a thick manual the size of an especially wordy novel and about as heavy as a boulder that you were told to read.(link:"Right before you were shoved into a terminal on a planet filled with ice and only one city.")[(show:?rightbefore4)]|rightbefore4)[Right before you were shoved into a terminal on a planet filled with ice and only one city. (link: "Right before you met a woman")[(show:?rb5)]|rb5)[Right before you met a woman (link: "with bright orange lipstick")[(show:?rb6)]|rb6)[with bright orange lipstick (link:"and heavy downcoat")[(show:?rb7)]|rb7)[ with bright orange lipstick (link:"who didn't introduce herself to you")[(show:?rb8)]|rb8)[ but instead smiled and dragged you onto a motorized, covered sled (link: "that toted you")[(show:?rb9)]|rb9)[that toted you, (link: "for hours")[(show:?rb10)]|rb10)[for hours, (link:"across a blank and empty plane")[(show:?rb11)]|rb11)[across a blank and empty plane of carbon-monoxide snow and ice. (link:"And")[(show:?and)]|and)[And (link:"right")[(show:?right)]|right)[right (link:"before")[(show:?before)]|before)[before (link:"you")[(show:?you)]|you)[you (link:"wake")[(show:?wake)]|wake)[wake [[up->wake up]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

''//Day 2 8:45 Location: Alpha 13 Bedroom//'' Someone is screaming at you. Wait- no... no that's just the alarm. You roll over towards the tiny alarm clock- it looks almost like a funny antique among the rest of this extraordinarily high-tech dome. You've just barely sat up with a yawn when a small, tiny silver snowman rolls up beside you- Oh no, wait, that's just Pea. "Good morning, Operator Phouka!" It carries with a small tray- all wobbling uncertaintly as it rolls back and forth, a glass of orange juice and a mug of coffee looking especially precarious in Pea's unbalanced hands. "I made you breakfast! If you have any future requests for meals, be sure to let me know beforehand!" You snatch the tray away before Pea loses its balance entirely and everything falls apart. "Well, uh, thank you, Pea." Pancakes. Warm, fluffy, syrup-covered pancakes. Somehow you weren't expecting everything to be so... So... "Is something wrong?" Pea looks expectantly at you, "If this meal is not to your requirements than I am more than happy to-" "No, I mean- it's fine it's just..." Just what? That you expected some kinda freeze-dried mush? Well... yes, yes it was exactly like that. You didn't... With all the talk of how horrible ISP Operator conditions are you didn't really expect to be eating //pancakes//. "How did you get this food, anyway?" "Oh, that!" Pea chirps happily, clapping its metallic hands together, "Well, you see, Operator Phouka, the ISP has recently undergone some changes as per request of our health management department, at the small expense of some security, we get special shipments from Ijiraq to refill our supplies with fresh, healthy food! The newly-installed garden also keeps our vegetable stock wonderfully full!" "Right... of course." Pea rolls backwards, "Once your finished with your food, you'd best get ready for the day, Operator Phouka. We wouldn't want to keep Captain Sigbin waiting!" "Sigbin? Right... the... the Tower." "Ex-act-ly!" The doors slide open behind Pea, who continues to slide backwards while facing you, confident that it won't run into anything, "Remember, Operator Phouka, Day 1 was always the hardest day! [[Day 2]] should be much, much easier!"

Day 2 is easier... Well, if there's one thing that's backing that up it's that you feel //marginally// less like you're walking into a death-trap when you step into the rickety elevator. But while Pea sticks behind, ("I have duties to do down here, Operator Phouka! Good luck!"), you're busy jumping at each supposed-sway of this steel deathtrap. The second easier thing is that now, at least, you know who Sigbin is. It takes a moment for the call to go through- how far away are they? You count the seconds. One, two, three... Sixty-one, sixty-two, sixtry-three... One-hundred-six, one-hundred-seven... Four-hundred-and- "Hello?" a patchworked, crackling voice slowly rises through the speaker. "Captain Sigbin!" Four-hundred sixty-seven seconds, almost eight minutes between call-and-response. "Hello!" "Ah, Operator Phouka.(if: $captain is 1)[S](if: $captain is 2)[Glad to see you back for day two." Are they... was that a joke? "Do... most people... //not// make it to day two?" "You'd be surprised." Sigbin says in a purring laugh, "Anyway, we should probably s](if: $captain is 3)[Glad to see you back for day two." Are they... was that a joke? "Do... most people... //not// make it to day two?" "You'd be surprised." Sigbin says in a purring laugh, "Anyway, we should probably s]tate your call code?" "Right- yes, of course!" (if: $firstinteraction is "nervous")[And you're not about to mess it up this time around.] (if: $firstinteraction is "calm")[It's even easier now then it was before to remember the short series of words.] "Alpha." "Check." "Gamma." "Check." "Foxtrot." "Very nice to hear from you, Operator Phouka." You think you're getting better at reading their tones- there's a smile in there. You know it. There has to be. "Shall we [[get to work?]]"

"... Alright, according to HQ there should be an asteroid field forty-five clicks to your right, it says to generally avoid it but the next stop is directly through there so if you want to risk the short route then you could always attmept your way around it..." You release the button, and wait, one minute, (link:"two minutes...")[(show:?minute1)]|minute1)[two minutes... (link:"Five...")[(show:?minute2)]|minute2)[Five... (link:"Seven...")[(show:?minute3)]|minute3)[Seven- the reply should be coming any time now... (link:"Nine...")[(show:?minute4)]|minute4)[Nine- are they debating what to do...? (link:"Eleven...")[(show:?minute5)]|minute5)[Eleven, "Sigbin? Do you read me Captain Sigbin?" (link:"...")[(show:?minute6)]|minute6)[... You're in the middle of directing Sigbin to their next project, one that you should reach by the end of the day, but they don't seem to be responding. You meddle with the dial, but it's definitely tuned to the correct frequency, and fiddle with a couple of the 'reset' buttons on the console. But there's no reply. Worriedly, your eyes flicker to the screen- the tiny green dot that Sigbin and their crew are on- but there's nothing else there to indicate any kind of threat. "Captain Sigbin? Hello? Are you alright?" What do you do when your captain isn't responding? There wasn't anything in the manual for this. There wasn't anything //anywhere// for this. Should you... Should you press the emergency call button on your watch? No, no that's just if //you're// in trouble. Maybe you should ask Pea- Pea should know what to do. Right? Pea's a robot- no doubt they're programmed in case of- "Phouka, do you know where your name is from?" You nearly fall off your chair, jolting backwards as it rolls a considerably distance away- enough that you have to awkwardly scoot back towards the console, scrambling to reply. "M-my name?" "Yes. Well, not your real name, of course. I'm... not quite sure what that is. But 'Phouka', do you know where 'Phouka' is from?" What... what are they doing? This isn't like Sigbin at all- or at least... what you've gathered from them. Are they being serious? [[This isn't the time for joking.]] Do they really want you to [[answer them?]]]]]]]]

(set: $knowphouka to "false") "Captain Sigbin." You begin with a sternness that surprises even yourself- they're your commanding officer, so perhaps you should use a bit more discretion? Still, it's //because// they're your commanding officer that they need to take this more seriously. "Now isn't the time for joking, Captain. We need to get back to work." "Joking..." Sigbin repeats, as if catalouging your response, "Well, I suppose it isn't... Very well, Operator Phouka, if that's how you feel, then why don't we [[just get back to work]], hm?"

(set: $knowphouka to "true") (set: $captain to $captain + 1) Well, there's... no harm in playing along, right? "I'm... not familiar with it, no.(if: $envelope is "true")[" The mailbox you got from Clementine had the previous Operator's alias on it- an animal, right? Perhaps... is Phouka an animal too? Certainly, not one you've ever heard of. "]What is it?" "Phouka... well, it's one to way to spell it, but it's a creature from mythology- Celtic mythology." The many voices of Sigbin take on an almost wistful tone, somehow all of them coalescing in an odd display of unity- until they almost become one singular voice... well, //almost// "They say that it mostly haunted towns far away from civilization- be it by the waters or in rural villages. But the fascinating thing about it is that nobody could agree whether Phouka's were good or... malevolent." "Is... is that so?" You still can't see a point to them telling you all this. What is Sigbin getting at?" "Hm... Well, some stories talk about Phouka's helping farmers- doing work for them and when thanked for their work granting them gifts that would ensure an everlasting happiness... Similarly they're said to guide others from harm or danger... Yet there are other stories- stories that speak of Phouka's terrifying travellers, confusing, harming, and striking fear into the hearts of the innocent purely for their own amusement. They even said that phoukas would turn blackberries foul and overripe." Sigbin pauses, more than the normal in-between time,- the radio fills with static to substitute silence. "Well, that's all I've heard, of course. And I'm simply giving you word-of-mouth information- who knows how true it is? If you could even call fairytales 'true' to begin with..." "Right..." Is that all they wanted to talk about? That's it? Just... tell you a fairytale about your namesake? Should you [[ask why]] or [[just get back to work]]? (if: $captain is 4 or $captain is 3)["(link: "Phouka... I have one more thing to ask you.")[(show:?sigbin)]|sigbin)[Phouka... I have one more thing to ask you." "O-Oh, I mean, sure. What is it, Captain Sigbin?" "Sigbin..." They trail off for a moment, "Do you know what 'Sigbin' means, Phouka?" "Well... No." Captain Sigbin laughs, and the voices scatter until one laugh rumbles with an amused baritone, and the other titters with a soprano envy, while another one entirely seems to giggle in a heavy alto sadness. "It's from a different mythology, believe it or not." "Which one?" "Philippine mythology." The electronic filter's pops puncuate the 'p's. "It's a rather... horrific creature- walks backwards, makes necklaces decorated with the hearts of children, drinks the blood of others- and to top it all off it's told to //smell// absolutely dreadful." "Well then looks like you've got a lot to live up to." You wait awkwardly in that seven-minute silence to learn whether or not your joke was well-placed. Sigbin doesn't laugh. Well, maybe there's a chuckle or two in there but honestly you're not sure if thats just from the static crackling along in the background. You'd like to think it's a laugh- for your own sake. "You know, Phouka, none of this is technically classified information... And yet, we're not really supposed to speak about anything else other than the mission. Yet I... well... I don't rightly know why I asked you all this. I suppose I just wanted to know... something. Your thoughts. You seem... You seem like you'd have somet thoughts on this." Thoughts about...? "Are you asking... if I like my alias?" "Yes? No? I don't... I don't rightly know, Phouka." Sigbin sighs, "Well, no, that's a lie. I do know. I wanted to know if you think it fits. Does your name fit you, Phouka?" Well, you're not exactly a mythological creature from Celtic folklore who runs around souring blackberries, if that's what Sigbin means. Does your name fit you? [[Maybe->phoukname1]]? [[Maybe not->phoukaname2]]? [[You don't really //know//...->phoukaname3]]]]

"Captain... Captain Sigbin?" You feel a little nervous questioning a //commanding officer// about why it is they chose this very moment to ask you about... about whether or not you knew what a 'phouka' was. But if you don't try and ask now then you may never learn why it is they wanted to know. "Yes, Phouka?" "Well- I wanted to know why it was you asked me this?" Sigbin laughs through the microphone- and it's noises like that odd, crackling, thousand-voiced laugh that can't help but make you wonder what it is you must sound like as well? Do you sound the same? No doubt your voice would be lost among that massive sea of tones? ... You wonder, is Sigbin's real voice somewhere among the muck, then? "Oh, no reason- curioisity, I suppose. Nothing you should worry about, Phouka." Sigbin reassures you, "Now then, enough of my curiosity. I've wasted enough of our time. Why don't we [[get back to work->just get back to work]], eh, Phouka?"

Work passes by as slowly, and as monotonously, as the day before. Soon enough, it's time to sign off, and with a quick 'Tango Gamma Beta' you find yourself saying goodbye to Sigbin and their odd line of questioning.(if: $captain is 3 or 4)[ "Before you go, Phouka." Your hand stops, just above the power button for this entire console. "I wanted to... thank you, for answering my questions today. I realize that work here can be daunting at times, but you've truly proven to be a wonderful Operator to work with. So I wanted to express my gratitude." "W-well, uh, thank you, Sigbin." That was... unexpected, "You're, uh, a good captain to work with, too?" Sigbin chuckles, "I'm glad to hear it. I suppose I'll speak with you tomorrow, then?" "R-right, of course. Goodbye."] Everything slowly slides inward with a metallic hiss, slowly and surely the screen retracts and the snow spreads out once more before you. You're about to turn towards the elevator when your [[watch begins to blink]].

Does your name fit you? "Well, I mean- I suppose so?" You stutter over your response, "I'm... not //really// a phouka, of course, but... I guess I am, kinda? I mean- you said they helped people, right? Led them away from danger?" You glance around you, at this cold, sterile Tower on a mostly-uninhabited planet with no one else around you for... miles and miles. You look at the screen in front of you, that blocks out so much of the snow and ice, with the tiny green dot in the middle that contains the life of Sigbin and who-knows how many others? "Leading you away from danger is kinda-sorta my job so... I guess it that would, somewhat, make me a phouka? And I did come here to help people," Or at least one person, "So that's another point there. I guess?" "That makes sense." Sigbin sounds happy once more, "You'd certainly fit into the more benevolent myths, either way, Phouka." "Well, thank you." "Now... then... do you think my name fits me?" A child-heart-stealing, blood-sucking monster? Is... Is Sigbin expecting a [[serious answer]] or are they actually [[joking]]?

"I mean, I don't //think// so? You said they were evil, right?" "In some variations, I suppose so..." "Well, I'd like to at least //think// that I'm not evil?" "Most people would..." Sigbin replies, "It's curious, though, you focus all on the evil parts- what of the good? Of those who protect others? Well... It's all folklore in the end, I suppose. And I... I have one more question for you, Phouka." "What is it?" "Do you think my name fits me?" A child-heart-stealing, blood-sucking monster? Is... Is Sigbin expecting a [[serious answer]] or are they actually [[joking]]?

"Maybe...? I dunno, it seems like it'd be hard to say whether or not I'm like a 'phouka' when a 'phouka' doesn't even know what it's like." You laugh lightly, "I mean, I definitely don't go around making blackberries overripe, but I'm not sure 'protector of the innocent' would really fit me either." "Hmm... Fair point." Sigbin acquiesces, "Though, I must confess, I... have something else to ask you. In truth it's what I really wanted to know." "Okay...? What is it?" "Do you think my name fits me?" A child-heart-stealing, blood-sucking monster? Is... Is Sigbin expecting a [[serious answer]] or are they actually [[joking]]?

They don't sound like they're joking- then again they never //sound// like much of anything- er, rather, too much of everything... either way, this is Sigbin asking- your Captain- and maybe there's a reason beyond just... casual chatter that makes this question more important than you might think. Besides, it'd be rude to mock a superior officer... So you don't really have all that much of a choice. "Well, to be honest Sigbin- I don't. I mean, I don't really //know// you, but you seem... alright...?" They're a Captain for the ISP- risking their lives in search of a cure for billions of people... including your sister... If nothing else, that at least gives a good first impression. "So, no, I don't think that the name fits you." "I... I see..." Sigbin sighs, "Well, thank you, Phouka, for entertaining my curioisity." "Of course..." So there really was no reason? Well 'curiosity' but...?(if: $captain is 4)[ "And Phouka," Your head snaps up towards the microphone, "I can't help but wonder, does your real name fit you?" "That..." You're about to call it 'classified information', the same way Sigbin always does whenever you ask a question... and yet... while your //name// is certainly classified whether or not it fits you isn't... exactly...? Does that count as classified? It shouldn't, right? "I don't... I'm not sure?" "Ah, alright." Sigbin hesitates, "Well, I don't think mine fits me very well."" "Really...?" At least you know that it's not classified, not if Sigbin's telling you freely. "No... No, sometimes I wonder which one fits me better." They murmur absent-mindedly, "I mean, sigbins are, technically, invisible, and I you can't very well see me, can you? Just a voice floating in the air..." "I don't think being //invisible// makes you a monster, Captain." "Well, no." They laugh once more, "Say, Phouka, perhaps I won't be invisible one day. Once all this is over- once the cure is found and the secrecy falls away- who knows? Maybe we'll meet again on that day." A day when the cure is found? Well, by then you'll no doubt be on Eden- the planet specifically open for ISP-retirees, a place safe from Camazotz... maybe you'd even meet Sigbin then? Before the cure? "Maybe so." "I'll be sure to introduce myself then... properly, of course." "I'll... look forward to it then." "Right."] Sigbin takes a deep breath, and with that, the conversation ends- and it's [[back to work->just get back to work]] like nothing happened.

"Well, that depends- do you eat the hearts of children, Captain?" There's no way Sigbin is serious with this. The question is far too ridiculous to even be //considered// important, right? "... I see." But then... then why do they sound so... disappointed? Or, about as disappointed a thousand different people talking about different things in a tiny room could sound. They didn't actually expect a serious answer, did they? "Well, Phouka, thank you for that... enlightening answer. Shall we [[get back to work->just get back to work]], then?"

The watch is... blinking? It appears as if there's a tiny red dot over the envelope on the home screen- you have mail?(if: $envelope is "true")[ But... this isn't supposed to be your mailbox. It's supposed to be deactivated? ]You wonder what it could possibly be...? (if: $envelope is "false")[ Wait a second- the name at the top there, that's not Phouka. It says that this belongs to (either: "Coyote", "Eagle", "Pheonix", "Fox"). This isn't... this isn't your mailbox? Did they not update the watch before you came here?] There's a letter entitled 'Tower Statuses' resting as the sole occupant of your mail. It looks like it's from someone named... Wisp? You go to click on it but- hold on, this letter isn't for you- it wasn't sent //to// you. Right? It must be addressed to whoever it was that had this watch before you. You shouldn't open it. But what if its important? You might have to forward it onto Clementine, or someone else at the ISP HQ. Well, that is, technically, what you do as an operator, right? But if it's not anything important than you probably shouldn't waste their time... They should understand if you open it. After all, you'd be doing them a favor by forwarding it... right? Curiosity nudges your finger towards the letter, and before you know it- [[you open the letter]].

''Tower Status Report #457'' //Alpha 01: Deactivated Alpha 02: Deactivated Alpha 03: Trial one complete, Trial two failed, Deactivated Alpha 04: Trial one failed, Deactivated Alpha 05: Deactivated Alpha 06: Deactivated Alpha 07: Deactivated Alpha 08: Tower compromised before completion Alpha 09: Deactivated Alpha 10: Trial one complete, Trial two under progress Alpha 11: Deactivated Alpha 12: Trial one failed, Deactivated Alpha 13: Trial one under progress Alpha 14: Deactivated Alpha 15: Deactivated Alpha 16: Tower compromised Alpha 17: Trial one complete, Trial two complete, Trial three under progress Alpha 18: Deactivated Alpha 19: Deactivated Alpha 20: Deactivated Beta 01: Deactivated Beta 02: Trial one failed, Deactivated Beta 03: Trial one failed, Deactivated Beta 04: Trial one complete, Trial two complete, Died on site - Cause of death: Cardiac arrest, Awaiting instruction on deactivation or reinitiation Beta 05: Trial one under progress Beta 06: Deactivated Beta 07: Deactivated Beta 08: Tower compromised Beta 09: Deactivated Beta 10: Deactivated Beta 11: Deactivated Beta 12: Deactivated Beta 13: Trial one complete, Trial two complete, Trial three complete, Final trial failed, Deactivated Beta 14: Trial one complete, Trial two failed, Deactivated Beta 15: Trial one failed, Deactivated Beta 16: Deactivated Beta 17: Deactivated Beta 18: Deactivated Beta 19: Deactivated Beta 20: Trial one failed, Deactivated All Gamma Towers: Deactivated All Delta Towers: Deactivated Epsilon 01: Deactivated Epsilon 02: Trial one failed, Deactivated Epsilon 03: Trial one failed, Deactivated Epsilon 04: Tower compromised Epsilon 05: Deactivated// (link:"...")[(show:?afterreading)]|afterreading)[... There's... there's so much more. You keep scrolling and scrolling but it almost blurrs into a pattern, trial failed, deactivated, trail failed, trail failed, deactivated, deactivated, deactivated, //deactivated, deactivated, deactivated//... What is going //on//? What does it mean 'Trail one', or 'Deactivated'- are none of these towers working anymore? If so than... there's only four, total, that you can find still listed with any indication that they're operating- and all of them have that same message 'trial under progress'... Alpha 13 is one of them. You're one of them. Maybe by 'trial' they just mean whether or not the operators are following the rules? Is that... is that why Sigbin was acting so strange today? Were they testing you? Is this //all// just a test to see whether or not you're capable of ISP work? That has to be it, right? It's the only thing that makes sense- searching for a cure to Camazotz isn't just some kind of //trial//. But what about all those deactivated towers? The ISP is supposed to scrounging //every last corner of the universe// for a cure! They can't be... giving up. No, no maybe by 'deactivated' they just don't have an Operator right now... But then what about Beta 04? 'Died on site'. The words send a sickening chill rattling down your spine. 'Awaiting instruction on deactivation or reinitiation.' So deactivation really is... just that. An end to the Tower? To the search? No. No no no no no, you have to be reading into this too much. You were never even supposed to get this email! Why would you know what any of this means? You should just [[send it off to Clementine]]... right? You can't help but feel a little sick. Something in your gut grabs your wrist and won't let go- you feel like you know too little to send it off just like that... maybe it would be best to [[do some digging before you give it up?]] Nobody knows you have this.. Nobody would come to looking for it... But if you keep this information secret, and if it really is necessary to the ISP... you might be risking losing your job... You might be hurting their search for the cure- their search to help Casey... What should you do?]

(set: $senditoff to "true") You can't keep this secret. If it's important information then you could be keeping billions of lives at risk just by holding onto it and not trusting the ISP. Not to mention- your own job, which would mean any hope of getting Casey a cure as soon as possible would be out the window as well. So you type in the ISP address, write a little note to Clementine explaining that you got this in "your" inbox and weren't sure what to do with it, and press send. Hopefully whoever this "Wisp" is they don't get in too much trouble. Hopefully neither do you. You've washed your hands of that, at least. Now, it's time [[to go back]] to... Well, it's not really your home. Doesn't quite feel like it... not yet, at least. Perhaps... Perhaps sometime it will. Ah, well, you shouldn't really worry about stuff like that, right? You've got five years to adjust, it'd be weird if you were fully comfortable on Day 2 of this isolated job, right? Right.

(set: $senditoff to "false") Something doesn't smell quite right here and it's not just the odd mix of air freshener and polished metal. You don't know what it is but some part of you screams that perhaps it'd be a good idea to hold onto this letter until you know a bit more. If for no other reason than your own peace of mind. The tricky part is going to be hiding it, but nobody knows you've received it, so as long as this 'Wisp' doesn't realize that they've sent it off to the wrong person anytime soon. And you can't exactly ask Pea about the letter, they're still an ISP robot... Well, you'll figure out what to do with it later. Right now you need to [[get going->to go back]] before Pea starts to question where you are.

"Howdy!" You jump back against the elevator- there's Pea, waiting right for you, almost creepily, at the bottom of the elevator, "Good evening, Operator Phouka!" Evening? Right, the stars. A quick glance outside shows that same light-freckled night sky. Sometimes you forget how late your job goes. "Uh, hello, Pea." "How was your day, Operator Phouka?" "It was... fine, thank you." "Fantastic!" Pea claps its rubbery-metal hands together and slips onto the moving walkway, with you trailing just behind it. (if: $senditoff is "true")["I got a message from Miss Clementine- she wanted to express her gratitude at forwarding that message! And also send an apology for not being able to get you your replacement watch sooner!" She... she already received it? That was... fast. "Oh, uh, it's no problem. I'm... glad she got it?" "Miss Clementine also wanted me to tell you that she's going to get you your new watch as soon as possible! And apologizes once more for the delay." Pea whirls around on its one wheel, wobbling unsteadily as it's head rotates up to 'smile' at you with its eyes. "If you want, Operator Phouka, Miss Clementine suggested that until you receive your new watch, I can manage the old one for you!" "Wait- what about all the functions? The heat and windows?" "I am perfectly capable of keeping your stay here at Alpha 13 more than comfortable, Operator Phouka!" "And the emergency contact system?" "Alpha 13 is one of our safest Towers, Operator Phouka! There's nothing to worry about there!" Pea extends one of its tiny hands up towards you. The words 'Tower compromised' flash through the back of your eyes, and you find yourself holding the watch just a tiny bit closer to you. "I-I think I'd like to keep it on me, Pea... for my own peace of mind." Pea 'frowns', which is more its upper eyelids lowering over the bright LED lightbulbs that make up its eyes as its head turns down, arm slumping to the ground disappointedly. "Oh... alright..."] (if: $senditoff is "false")["Oh, also, Operator Phouka, I recently received a message from Miss Clementine, but have been unable to forward it to you until now!" Pea chirps happily, but you can't help the cold sweat that pools at the bottom of your neck. It's just a coincidence, you tell yourself, that Clementine calls as soon as you decide to hide something from her. Besides, Pea stated that it got the message a while ago- and she couldn't have known that you'd get a message by now, right? 'Trial one, failed'. No, stop thinking like that. You'll drive yourself crazy if you become paranoid. "Oh- uh, right- well... go ahead, I guess?" Pea nods excitedly, "Miss Clementine wanted to express her sincerest apologies at not being able to get you a new watch by now! She realizes that your old one is defunct due to misuse by the previous Operator, and wishes she could get you a better one faster! She also wanted me to forward that she spoke with the IT experts at the ISP headquarters, and learned from them that there might be some odd glitches you encounter whilst handling the older watch. Miss Clementine wanted me to pass along instructions to ignore whatever it is the watch does, and that should anything concerning happen, to not hesitate to contact her, and that she'll fix whatever she can for you! Isn't Miss Clementine so nice?" Trial one, failed. Deactivated. "Oh, yeah, definitely. One of the nicest...?" You nervously laugh, which only becomes awkward and strained when Pea stares blankly at you. "Miss Clementine also stressed, Operator Phouka, that should the watch's functionality trouble you too much, you are more than welcome to hand it over to me!" Pea 'smiles' once more at you, "Afterall, I //am// here to help!" "I'll... keep that in mind. Thank you, Pea." You hold the watch a little closer, "But I'd... like to keep it with me for right now."] Pea continues to stare at you, as if waiting for you to continue or say something else. But the two of you come to the end of the walkway soon enough and then Pea is back to its cheery, childish, almost... eerily human way. "Well, that's enough of that, Operator Phouka!" Pea bounces over towards the door, "Tell me, what is it you wish to have for dinner tonight, Operator Phouka? I can make just about anything, so long as we have the ingredients!" You hesitate at the end of the walkway- it's such an abrupt shift from before but Pea's acting once more like everything is normal... And, you guess, it is now. At least, your stomach is hoping it is- because even the mere mention of food makes it growl. "Well, Pea, why don't we [[see what there is?]]"

Weirdly, Pea sits at the dinner table too. Granted, it doesn't eat anything, but there's a small chair next to you that- with some struggling and electronic huffs, it manages to pull itself up into, swinging its little wheel off of the edge as if it were a child, and, once again, 'smiling' at you. You chew slowly, watching Pea and waiting for it to do... something. Or at least explain why it watching you eat is a necessary function of your Personal Electronic Assistant. But Pea says nothing- well, not 'nothing', entirely. At one point it scoots forward, chair scraping against the floor as it wiggles excitedly up to you, asking, enthusastically, "Is it good?" "Uh... yes... yes it is... good. Thank you." "Oh, yay!" Pea sits back happily, "I'm so happy you enjoy it! One of the other Operators taught me that recipe! Operator Fox was a very, very good cook! Or so they told me, of course- I could never try the food myself but I always wanted to!" "You... wanted to?" Can a robot... 'want' to taste something? "Why, yes, of course!" Pea nods excitedly, "Operator Fox always went on about how much they cooked back at home. So they must have been a good cook! Well, except for that one time- I had to close down the dome because of how much smoke there was but-" Pea cuts off immediately when you raise a hand. "Pea... can you... //want// things?" Pea's metal eyelids flap over rapidly once, twice, in a confused blink. You drop your fork, rubbing the back of your neck, "Well, uh... I mean... You're... a robot, right?" "Your Personal Electronic Assistant! That's right!" "Do ISP robots have... wants and wishes?" Emotions? Sentience? The thought seems ridiculous but... "Oh- oh you're asking if I'm an Advanced Artificial Intelligence!" Pea... laughs? It's more of a series of repeatative beeps but the effect is the same. "You see, Operator Phouka, the ISP hasn't just been searching for a cure- but also developing the tools necessary to better human society! And, of course, better their abilities to search for a cure! Personal Electronic Assistants like me are part of a larger experiment surrounding artificial intelligence in an effort to keep our Operators from feeling too lonely! You see, Operator Phouka, I am a //learning// robot, what you might call my 'personality' is derived from what manner of speech and action I've perceived made previous Operators happy- and a little less lonely on Alpha 13! I've learned from observation and interaction with all my past Operators! Which I guess, Operator Phouka, makes you lucky! You've already had previous Operators help me figure out what it is that will make your stay here the most comfortable!" Suddenly Pea's voice goes blank, montonous, and even more electronic then before. "Should you not be satisfied with this personality mode for your Personal Electronic Assistant, simply state 'PEA Reset' and your Personal Electronic Assistant will revert to its original state, and relearn the correct behavior for your stay here on Alpha 13. Warning: Reseting the Personal Electronic Assistant will require a half-hour period of rebooting, during which the Personal Electronic Assistant will not be responsive." Then Pea blinks, and smiles at you once more, "So you see, Operator Phouka- Operator Fox was very happy when I said I wanted to eat their food! Therefore, I must want to eat their food! Are you... are you not happy with me?" It's head lowers, as if ashamed of itself, "I'm so sorry, Operator Phouka- I never meant to make you uncomfortable! Luckily- you can just reset me! And I'll be sure to relearn however it is you want me to be!" "N-No, that's not... not necessary, Pea, thank you, though." Coded or not the thought of //completly getting rid// of Pea's personality seems... wrong. Even if you know that it's just a series of learned mannerisms its... its too weird. At least right now. Still it does give you something to sleep on, at least. "Oh! I see you've finished your dinner!" Before you can blink, Pea's swiped the plate from underneath you, hopped off of the chair, and is already wheeling towards the dish washer, "Fantastic! I'm so, so happy that you enjoyed it, Operator Phouka! Now then, you'd best get ready for sleep, don't want to be tired on [[Day Three!]]"

This time, you slept soundly, with no dreams to disturb- in fact, nothing could really disturb you, not even the alarm clock screaming into your ear. It took Pea hurriedly nudging your arm, rocking you back and forth frantically for you to finally drag yourself out of bed and get dressed and ready for the day. You had to slam down breakfast, which leaves you with a nasty weight in your stomach from indigestion, and then practically run to the Tower if you want to make it on time. Which, despite the elevators unending slowness, you actually manage to do. (link:"Just barely reaching the button in time.")[(show:?day3)]|day3)[Just barely reaching the button in time. "H-hello?" You wheeze into the microphone. "Captain Sigbin?" With each passing moment you twist your hands more and more worrying that maybe you didn't make it on time and they've reported you missing or something silly like that. But of course not- it's just the radio waves taking their usual lethargic time to pass between the vastness of space, and, ten minutes later, you hear the radio pop and crackle to life. (if: $captain is 3 or 4)["He...llo? Phouka? Are you alright, you sound... out of breath. Did something happen?" You breath a sigh of relief, "N-No, sorry, I'm fine- I just... I slept in today, I guess." A nervous, relieved laughter bubbles up, ending in a happier sigh. "Sorry." "Oh, no," Sigbin's voices pitch upwards in amusement, "I should be the one apologizing. I didn't realize you were so exhausted. I'm sorry to have woken you." "What? No, no, Captain Sigbin, this is my job!" You smile to yourself, they're not angry- not even in the slightest... But somehow that's stopped surprising you. You guess... it makes sense, that an ISP officer would be so kind- after all, they're sacrificing everything just to go out and find a cure for others. That takes at least some modicum of genorsity. (if: $senditoff is "true")[I'm happy to be here." ] (if: $senditoff is "false")[I'm... happy... to be here..."]](if: $captain is 2 or 1)["He...llo? Phouka? You sound out of breath." "Oh, do I?" You inahle deeply, trying to calm your panting and catch your breath, "Sorry, I... I missed my alarm. Had to run here." "Ah, I see." Captain Sigbin's voice crackles back towards you, "Well, good to see that you made it on time." "Yeah, me too." ](if: $captain is 0)["Phou...ka. Hello, Phouka. You sound out of breath." "Oh, yeah, just ran a little late, sorry about that." "Ah," Is that disapproval? You really hope that's not disapproval, you can't exactly afford being marked up by your superior.] "Well, I suppose we should get right into work then, eh, Phouka? Your code?" "Right, Captain." It feels almost natural to give your call-code and settle into work- perhaps you really are starting to get used to this job[[...->next]]]

This is your second time repeating the command, and it's a simple command, really, all you have to do is ask Sigbin to turn around and look at a different planet than was originally intended. It's not the first time you've had to do such a thing, even in the few days you've been working you've learned that no matter how vast and empty space seems to be there's always something that manages to get in your way. Be it a detour around an oncoming asteroid to an unexpected solar or otherwise debris-related apparition that means a sudden change of course. Either the ISP has horrible luck or... they need a better plan when it comes from getting to point A to point B. Usually, though, these commands are simple, you tell Sigbin that there just-so-happened to be X in their way and the ship reroutes and bam! Everything is fine again. (link: "Usually")[(show:?usually)]|usually)[Usually. But usually Sigbin isn't approaching a previously undetected asteroid belt that you've now repeated the presence of twice and, when counting the transit time for the third message you're sending, you're not entirely sure if it'll reach them in time when you haven't even gotten an acknowledging response saying that they've received- "Ph..." The microphone crackles, spitting out broken-up words as a disjointed message lethargically trickles through the low-quality speakers, "...ou...ka... Ph...ouk..a d...o... you... re...ad... me...?" It almost sounds like they've changed frequencies. "Captain Sigbin! I read you." "Pho...uka... I... h...ea...r-" "-I think something is wrong with the radio here. Let me fiddle around with it- you- you're breaking up." Of course the connection might be low quality but everything else seems almost ridiculously high-tech, the console is filled with buttons and knobs that you've not got the slightest of clues what purpose they serve. Everything seems a mangled mess and as you twist one and turn the other you get a variety of high-pitched and low-pitched electronic whines and whizzes, with the occaisonal staccato pop for good measure. All the while Sigbin continues to speak, their many thousands of voices seeming even more scattered and disorganized than usual, seemingly getting more so as you turn the dials- until any semblance of actual words turns into little more than a mangled mess of 'oo's and 'aa's and other such sounds. Something- //something// has to work! You keep fiddling, twisting and turning and pressing and pulling- and Sigbin's voice becomes higher and lower and smoother and rougher, the black screen with the little green dot that holds Sigbin's life and who knows how many other crewmembers goes blue, and the field becomes briefly filled with a bunch of tiny speckles smaller and dimmer than the ship itself- like (if: $hometown is "Earth")[the Milky Way against a dark sky](if: $hometown is "Colony")[the diagrams of stars plastered against the walls in your old highschool's science classroom], then it goes red and, inching slowly in from the far corner, a gargantuan red circle swallows up the screen, and then- black, completely dark as the screen turns off. Which was... not what you wanted. You press the button again, and the green dot-and-grid returns once more. Okay, one problem down... (link:"still one to go.")[(show:?go)]|go)[still one to go. There's little more you can do but continue to fiddle and press the console- and somehow, through luck or sheer exhaustion of all other options, you think it starts to work. You can at least hear what Sigbin is saying now, as sharp and cut-up as their words sound. "Don't- press- any- thing- Phouka- we- can- just- ask- your- Personal- Electronic- Assistant-." Oh, well, uh, too late for that. "Hang on, Captain Sigbin, we're almost there! Can you hear me now?" The crackling static sounds normal, at least, "Captain Sigbin?" "Yes," Their voice comes through as a bit more of an airy sigh than it did before, and somehow it appears as if you've made the voices all a little more... similar- there's less of an echo to each one, at least, and it seems as if a few of them have disappeared. It's weird, you've almost gotten used to their thousand voices, having, well, less than that sounds like Sigbin's become someone else entirely. "Yes I can hear you. Nothing... nothing broke on your end, correct?" "I... uh... don't think so?" You really hope you didn't break anything. That'd be an easy ticket out of the ISP. "You all good?" "Yes, I think so... Sadly our intercomm went down briefly, technical glitch... Forward a message to the HQ that the ship is in need of repair, Phouka?" "You got it, Captain Sigbin!" "Good, thank you..." They pause, "I'm... impressed you were able to fix it so quickly, Phouka(if: $captain is 4)[, though not very surprised seeing how you've handled yourself insofar...](if: $captain is 3 or 2 or 1 or 0)[...] Tell me, are you [[used to working with this kind of technology]]?" Is Sigbin asking you what you [[did for a living]] before the ISP?]]

"Well, yes, I used to work with this kind of technology all the time." You laugh slightly, "Okay, not quite ISP-level advanced but... the same basic kinds, yes." It was one of the things you believed might've given you an edge when you applied to be an Operator- though experience wasn't necessary, you're sure it helped you somewhere along the line. "Ah, I see- is that why you wished to become an Operator, Phouka? To study and continue your work?" You falter slightly- should you really [[tell Sigbin about Casey? -> CaseySigbin]] Is that even allowed? It seems like the kind of thing that would lie under five layers of red-tape and classified stampings. Maybe you should just [[lie]].

"Oh, well, I- no, no I worked... elsewhere." You stare down at this alien landscape before you- separate entirely from the icy desert outside, no... no the console is much more of a manmade planet, and arguably even more unfamiliar, than any snow-covered space-rock that you drift upon. "I'm... kind of amazed I didn't break it, actually..." A nervous laugh bubbles upwards. "I see... if you don't mind me asking then, Phouka, why //did// you apply to become an Operator? If it wasn't for the chance to work with ISP-technology then surely there must be some other reason...?" Some other reason... Can you really tell Sigbin about Casey? Not only is it deeply personal but also seems like the kinda thing that would maybe-kinda-definitely be classified under ISP regulations. Do you really [[trust them-> CaseySigbin]] that much? Or should you just [[lie-> lie2]]?

"Ah... y-yes, that's right." You stammer, thankful for the fact that Sigbin at the very least won't be able to see you sweat and fidget with the hem of your clothes. "I was... interested in the kind of technology the ISP had that my old lab didn't." (if: $captain is 4 or 3)["Phouka..." Sigbin trails off, "If you don't wish to tell me the truth, then I won't pressure you, but you don't have to lie to me." You feel a [[twinge of guilt-> CaseySigbin]]] but perhaps it'd be best if you just kept [[Casey a secret for now]].](if: $captain is 2 or 1)["Is that... right?" Sigbin's tone, or at least the majority of their tones, betrays their suspicion. "And that's... the only reason?" You [[consider telling them the truth-> CaseySigbin]] but perhaps it'd be best if you just kept [[Casey a secret for now]]](if: $captain is 0)["I don't appreciate your lying, Phouka. I had hoped that we'd moved beyond such things." Is it really safe to [[keep lying to them->Casey a secret for now]]? They seem to already know, so perhaps you should just [[tell Sigbin the truth-> CaseySigbin]]]

(set: $captain to $captain + 1) "I... It's for my sister." You breathe out one long, almost defeated sigh, and begin to talk about Casey. Sure, you end up rambling a bit here and there, not always staying on the subject of her disease and how it led you to apply to the ISP, sure those ramblings take you a bit down memory lane and you may or may not end up bragging on your sister's behalf about the time she won that ridiculous costume competition in fourth grade or about how well she was doing in school when she was forced to leave or... well, all the contextually meaningless things that somehow end up making their way forward because they seem more important than the very reason that brought you to the end of the universe. Sigbin says nothing while you speak, and you can only assume that they're listening on the other side- then again, maybe they've put you on mute once you started rambling- do these things even have a way to mute them? You have no idea, but eventually you realize just how long you've been talking, and how much of it Sigbin probably doesn't care about, and you trail off into a quiet, somewhat awkward silence. "So... uh... yeah, that's Casey... she's... the reason why I'm here, you know?" "Thank you for telling me that, Phouka." Sigbin's voice seems softer than before, and... happier? It's hard to tell- it's always hard to tell. "Oh, uh, you're welcome? Sorry for, um, going off on a tangent." "It's obvious your sister is very important to you." "Yeah, well," You shrug, and belatedly realize that the gesture was entirely lost on them, "Uh... wouldn't be here if she wasn't." "Of course." Sigbin pauses, (if: $promise is "true")["And... Phouka?" "Yes, Sigbin?" "I swear, I'll do everything I can to help you keep your promise to Casey." "M-My promise?" Sigbin laughs lightly, "Of course, you've got to go back to her one day, right? You promised. So, why don't we find this cure as fast as we can... and be sure to tell Casey 'hi' for me, will you? Tell her that she's got a wonderful older sibling who helped save humanity." You feel a smile tugging at the corners of your lips, "[[Aye-aye, Captain Sigbin.-> day 3 end]]"](if: $promise is "false")[(if: $captain is 5 or 4)["Phouka... I promise that I'll do the best I can to find a cure- for your sister, and for humanity." You breath a sigh of relief, somehow hearing Sigbin say it- with such a level tone, with such assurance and confidence, fills you with a kind of relief, "Glad to hear it." "Besides, with your help, Phouka, I'm sure we can move faster than ever before." "Well, thank you Captain Sigbin." "Now, then, why don't we get back to [[saving your sister-> day 3 end]], then?"](if: $captain is 3 or 2 or 1)["Phouka, I know that this must be hard now but know that what you're doing here is helping her- saving her, in fact. I believe that with your help and the ISP's resources, finding a cure is possible." "Right, Captain Sigbin." "So then, why don't we get back to [[finding a cure, together.-> day 3 end]]."](if: $captain is 0)["Well, then, we should most likely [[get back to work, then.-> day 3 end]]]](if: $captain is 5)[ "Ah, but... Phouka-" Sigbin's voice quickly cuts in once more, "Before you go I wanted to, should you wish to hear it... return the favor? Ah, well, I'm not quite sure how to word this." Sigbin's the one laughing out of nerves now, the electronic pops making the worried, awkward giggling and clearing of the throat even more inhuman than it does their normal words. "What do you... mean...?" "Well I- I wanted to, should you want to hear it, [[tell you why I joined the ISP.-> Sigbinspast]]]

"Yes, that's right, that's the only reason." You stick to your guns- not only would you be risking your job by telling them most-likely classified information but sharing such personal information with someone you barely even know seems a little... odd. (if: $captain is 4)["I... see..." Still, it hurts slightly when you hear Sigbin's disappointment. "Well, would you like to hear [[why I joined-> Sigbinspast]] the ISP?" "You can really tell me that?" Sigbin laughs, "Technically, I suppose I shouldn't but... so long as you don't report me to Clementine I'm sure it should be fine, eh, Phouka?"](if: $captain is 3)["Well... Alright, then." Still, Sigbin's audible disappointment cuts deep through the electronic filter. "Thank you again for fixing the radio, shall we [[return to work, then?-> day 3 end]]"](if: $captain is 2 or 1 or 0)["... Fine." Sigbin acquiesces, "Good work fixing the radio, by the way, Phouka. We should most likely stop [[delaying our work-> day 3 end]], hm?"]

(set: $backstory to "true") "Why you... joined the ISP?" You repeat slowly, tentatively, as if speaking any louder could scare Sigbin away from telling you this. "O-kay... So... why did you join?" "Well," Sigbin chuckles at first, but it's not the comfortable, smooth kind of laugh. Instead it seems stilted, awkward, and a little... shy? "It's rather ridiculous looking back on it now, but I found it to be some kind of... gateway to... rehabilitation, almost." "Rehabilitation?" You echo quietly. "Yes, I was quite the... rebel, before I joined the ISP, Phouka. I took cargo across the galaxy, going from Colony to Colony transporting goods- and, because I wasn't registered under ISP trade regulations to keep contamination from spreading too far, it was... very much illegal. But I had good skill in captaining a ship, so I got away with it... for a while. But the ISP caught me- of course- so I did the only thing I could think of- I asked for a job..." Another one of those self-concious laughs, "I just wanted to get out of punishment at first but... I came to like my job, very much so that I stayed on, in fact, after they told me my contract was up." That certainly explains how they were able to pull off so many of the feats described in their fairly sparse personal profile, at least. "I'm surprised- you never struck me as the... rebellious type, Sigbin." "I suppose good work has turned me into a good person, Phouka..." Sigbin clears their throat again, coughing into the microphone, "Now, then, enough about that. Let's get [[back to work-> day 3 end]], alright?"

The rest of the day passes by smoothly. And before you know it, it's one more 'Tango, Gamma, Beta' and you're free again. And your watch beeps again. (if: $senditoff is "true")[Maybe it's Clementine? After you reported the last incident to her she has to do more of a checkup then just asking Pea to say thanks to you... right? But no, there on the page, is that same name as before- Wisp. This time with an email entitled 'Don't Give This One Away, Too'. Now, if you weren't suspicious before... you're definitely suspicious now. At least you know that the last message was supposed to be sent to you but... why? Maybe... maybe this one will explain it a bit more in detail. You glance around the room, your fingers quiver with nerves and you can't shake the feeling that something, somewhere, is watching you. You swallow your nerves and, propelled half by morbid curioisity and half by... something undescribable- fear? That seems to be the only word that remotely fits... you [[open the second message]].](if: $senditoff is "false")[It's... It's Wisp. Again. This time the message is titled 'Do You Want To Know More?'. Which means... that these have to be addressed to you- they //have// to. There's no way that the same person could send you two consecutive messages with the second asking if you, //you// wanted to know more and have them both be missends. Maybe you were right not to tell Pea about the first one... Or maybe you're wrong, and maybe you're still wrong but you can't risk letting it pass by if its going to explain what the last one meant. You just can't. You have to [[open the second message]].]

"Oh, well, you know..." You shrug lightly, "I mean, who wouldn't want to have a hand in saving humanity, yeah? To be able to say that you were one of the heroes who cured Camazotz's Plague? Seems like a... pretty cool job to me...?" (if: $captain is 4 or 3)["Phouka..." Sigbin trails off, "If you don't wish to tell me the truth, then I won't pressure you, but you don't have to lie to me." You feel a [[twinge of guilt-> CaseySigbin]]] but perhaps it'd be best if you just kept [[Casey a secret for now]].](if: $captain is 2 or 1)["Is that... right?" Sigbin's tone, or at least the majority of their tones, betrays their suspicion. "And that's... the only reason?" You [[consider telling them the truth-> CaseySigbin]] but perhaps it'd be best if you just kept [[Casey a secret for now]]](if: $captain is 0)["I don't appreciate your lying, Phouka. I had hoped that we'd moved beyond such things." Is it really safe to [[keep lying to them->Casey a secret for now]]? They seem to already know, so perhaps you should just [[tell Sigbin the truth-> CaseySigbin]]]

Attachted to the message is a small document- dated... two years ago. //''Alpha 13 Captain Test - Trial 014 Written Report'' At first Subject 14 showed apprehension when greeted with Program Alpha 13, however, it appeared that due to previous test runs and thusly-made adjustments, the two adapted quickly to one another and 14 quickly accepted the presence of PA13. However, 14 continued to reserve information from PA13, even when coaxed and given information in turn. Although suspicion was expected from 14, it appears as if we may have misjudged the true extent of 14's distrust, which has made thusly preceeding experiment's results... difficult to maintain accurately. Similarly, 14 appeared off-put by the Home System- however, 14 also refuted the reset process, even after being informed of its existence, so some semblance of security must be present, at least hypothetically, for experiments to continue accurately. The first four tests of Trial One took 14 approximately three weeks to complete, while most of the previous Subjects completed them in a matter of days- two weeks at the most. It can only be surmised that this is due to 14's inherently distrusting nature, however, caution must be taken if this is to set the rate for the rest of the tests. No doubt 14's suspicion might grow should observed cover-progress continue to remain slow. Already 14 has begun to question the display. During the error-test they continued to play with the main console, and stumbled upon a few of the dead buttons. Perhaps measures should be taken to remove many of the decoys from the console unit, or at the very list implement some kind of display change or seemingly useful enviornmental effects. I propose that we cut 14's time short. The Home System has also relayed messages overheard from 14 that they are, perhaps, planning to request an early leave. Denying this could prove detrimental to the experiment. - [[Dr. J. M. Lowry]]//

You... You... What //should// you feel? So much of it makes so little sense and yet there's this growing pit in your stomach that seems to just eat away at everything- everything, you feel... You feel... Not 'numb', no, this is far too uncomfortable to be 'numbness'. Numbness would be relaxing compared to this, it'd be... it'd be... Well, it wouldn't be this. You turn back to the console, and the thought of Sigbin's voice makes you feel sick to your stomach. How much of this, any of this, is even real? Or is this 'Wisp' just playing some cruel... sick joke on you? You have no one to ask. You're alone. Entirely, and utterly alone. No... No maybe... Maybe you could [[talk to Pea about this]]... but... but can you [[really trust it with this information?]] If this is true then... (if: $senditoff is "true")[then what did you already tell them?](if: $senditoff is "false")[then you really //did// do the right thing by keeping the last one a secret.] (set: $notell to "false")(set: $peaglitchcheck to "false")

(set: $senditoff2 to "false") The ride back down is unsetling, each jolting lurch of the elevator as it wobbles its way down the neck of the Tower makes your heart leap into your throat. Is it just you- or does the elevator seem even more unsteady today? Probably just you. Hopefully just you. It's not quite as terrifying as Pea, who stands there in all its less-than-three-feet height, 'smiling' at you in that same, unblinking way it always does. "Howdy-do, Operator Phouka!" It chimes, voice still electronically sweet. "How was your day?" "It was... fine." Pea 'frowns', but when its speaker-mouth is forever stuck in that perpetual smile-shape even the frowning eyelids still retain a feeling of joy, "You hestitated, Operator Phouka? Did something happen?" (if: $senditoff is "true")[For a moment Pea's eyelids flutter open, "You didn't receive another glitch did you?" Now your heart pounds harshly once more, but there's no unsteadily dropping elevator to blame your nerves on. You rub your chest uncomfortably.]"N-no, everything was fine. Sorry I just- uh, the elevator always gets me a little nervous." It sounds like a weak excuse but carries the benefit of being technically true. "And that's... all that went wrong?" Pea rolls forward one unsteady step, wobbling to a halt as you backpeddle, but your foot hits the now-closed elevator door before you can move any further away from the tiny approaching robot. Is it trying to pry the letter out of you? No, maybe it's talking about the glitch you experienced earlier today? How would it know? Well, maybe it's natural Pea would know- isn't it hooked up to all of Alpha 13's systems? You... hope so at least. Either way, maybe [[telling Pea about the glitch-> peaglitch]] would distract it from anything else. Or you could just try to [[move on-> endofday3]] altogether.

(set: $senditoff2 to "true") You can't really tell whether the grumbling is from that uncomfortable sloshing about your stomach, or the elevator's shaking as it slowly slithers down the Tower's neck. As before, Pea is waiting for at the bottom with a bright, welcoming 'smile' and a cheery "Howdy-do, Operator Phouka! How was your third day on the job?" "Pea- I..." You look at the watch- this is your only chance, and whatever risk there is in asking Pea you... don't have any other way to know. There's no one else here to talk to. (if: $senditoff is "true")["I got another message."](if: $senditoff is "false")["My watch... received some mail today. In... the previous Operator's inbox."] Pea's metallic shutters flutter over its LED eyes in what almost seems to be a surprised blink. "Well, now, that's no good now is it! Why don't you give me the watch and I'll be sure to send it in for replacement!" "We talked about this last time, Pea, I can't just hand it over. It has... all of the important functions on here." You draw your wrist away from Pea's tiny outstretched hands. "Oh that's no problem!" Pea wobbles forward a tiny bit, "I'll just come up with you every day until you get a new, working watch! I can preform all the same functions as the watch so-" "I-I'd still like to keep it." You clear your throat, glancing away from Pea's unshakeable, unreadable stare, "I think having you up there would be... um... distracting? Yeah, and I need to focus on my work- of course. So... uh... keeping the watch would really be the best for now. Besides that's- that's not what I wanted to ask you about." "Oh?" Thankfully, it rolls away, hands folded together in front of itself as it teeters to an unsteady stop, "What is it, Operator Phouka?" "I-its what the message said." You steady yourself with a deep breath, gathering up the most commanding a tone you can manage, "Pea, what is the Captain Test?" Pea... goes silent. For a weird moment you get a sense of vertigo, as if you suddenly shot yourself back up to the top of that tall, tall tower, and you stand, looking down over a snowy landscape carrying on a stilted conversation with Sigbin- waiting for a reply. (if: $senditoff is "true")["Operator Phouka, did you receive this from 'Wisp' once more?" Are they [[trying to change the subject?-> don't answer]] Or should you just [[tell the truth-> answer]]](if: $senditoff is "false")["Operator Phouka, who is sent you this message?" Should you [[tell Pea that Wisp sent you the message?-> answer]] Or are they just [[trying to change the subject-> don't answer]]]

(set: $notell to "true") "It doesn't matter who sent it." "But Operator Phouka-" "I asked you a question, Pea." You cross your arms, "You're my Personal Electronic Assistant aren't you? So answer my question. What is the Captain Test?" Pea wheels away from you, wobbling as it comes to a shaky halt. It looks down, metal fingers clanking together as they fiddle slightly, (if: $senditoff is "true")["Operator Phouka, Miss Clementine had thanked you for your cooperation beforehand..." It sounds so sad, electronic voice warbling as if it were a child about to break into tears beyond a scrunched-up brave face... "Why are you being so reluctant now? We just want to help..." It reminds you of Casey whenever hurt herself when younger, she was easy to break into tears but reluctant to do so. Always ended up mock-glaring at whoever tried to help her, hands balled into fists and eyes squinched tightly as she forced whatever water pricked her eyes back to where it came from. You shrug the memory away with a shuddering breath. It's for her that you have to know, not so that you stop asking. "I just want to know what I'm doing, Pea."](if: $senditoff is "false")["Operator Phouka, if this stubborness is at all related to a discomfort or rough transition into your new life at the Tower, then I urge you to trust both myself and Miss Clementine." Pea rolls forward slowly, hands extended as if it were approaching a rabid animal, "I am designed specifically to help you adjust to your new lifestyle here. So I plead for you to trust me and-" "Stop it, Pea. Stop... changing the subject." You shake your head, "I just want to know what it is I'm doing here."] "The ISP's goal is to better humanity as a whole. That is why they've researched extraterrestial domes for colonies, and have sent our Captains into space to search for new planets for life, and, of course, possible cures for Camazotz's plague." Pea's voice loses any emotion, much like when it was explaining the reset function to you, and becomes flat and montonous once more. "Okay- fine- than tell me what the Captain Test is." "I'm sure that whatever message it was that you received," Pea explains, once more sounding as itself- overly happy tones and all, "Was most likely describing the test that Captains go through in order to become a part of the ISP. We don't accept just anyone, you know!" "Then why did it talk about Alpha 13? The 'Home System'? 'Trial One'? What do any of those have to do with this Tower?" "I assure you that it's nothing to worry about!" Pea claps its hands together, "In fact, I'll send an error report to Miss Clementine right away! Perhaps she can provide a more suitable answers if mine don't seem substantial enough for you, Operator Phouka!" "Now then!" It whirls to face the other way, "That's enough of that! I'm sure you're mighty hungry, Operator Phouka! Why don't we proceed to the kitchen? I'll make dinner!" You hesitantly trail after Pea, it's not going to answer any more of your questions, apparently... If it even answered any to begin with. You just step onto the moving walkway when you remember the glitch you encountered today... Should you [[ask Pea about that-> peaglitch]] as well? Maybe it can fix whatever went wrong... but considering how it's responded to you so far, maybe that's [[not the best idea-> endofday3]].

"Wisp sent me the message." You respond simply, "But I don't see why that matters when-" "Ah, well, there //is// no 'Wisp', Operator Phouka." Pea responds simply, tapping its fingers together making quick, rapid little clinking sounds, "Well, not at the ISP, anyway. A quick roster search shows nobody with that as their codename. Thusly, it is only safe to assume that whoever (if: $senditoff is "true")[has been sending you these](if: $senditoff is "false")[sent you this] is outside the ISP. Meaning that they're either pranks or... for something entirely unrelated." Pea 'laughs', "In other words, it'd be safest to just ignore anything sent by Wisp in the future while the ISP tracks down who and why they're bothering you with such silly things!" "//Unrelated//?" You can feel your fingers slowly tensing into a fist, "Pea- this refers to Alpha 13 by //name//. And you can't seriously try to tell me that the ISP- who created an entire, convulted Tower system of codes and messages- didn't catch someone slipping a //prank// through?" "I understand you're upset Operator Phouka, however-" "Just-..." You couldn't handle another Pea-speech about how the ISP is doing its best for you, or, even worse, another case of 'Classified Information'. "Just tell me what I'm doing here, Pea. Please?" "The ISP's goal is to better humanity as a whole. That is why they've researched extraterrestial domes for colonies, and have sent our Captains into space to search for new planets for life, and, of course, possible cures for Camazotz's plague." Pea's voice loses any emotion, much like when it was explaining the reset function to you, and becomes flat and montonous once more. "Yes. That's the ISP's goal, I get it. But what am //I// here for? What's the Captain Test?" Pea wobbles forward, and pats you on the leg comfortingly, "You're an Operator, Operator Phouka. You're a very valuable part of the ISP's security process. Because you and only you know the specific coded language you receive messages in, that prevents others from gaining access to private ISP information. You are saving humanity from Camazotz disease, Phouka. That's what you're here for." "And the Captain Test?" "I'm sure that whatever message it was that you received," Pea explains, once more sounding as itself- overly happy tones and all, "Was most likely describing the test that Captains go through in order to become a part of the ISP. We don't accept just anyone, you know!" "Then why did it talk about Alpha 13? The 'Home System'? 'Trial One'? What do any of those have to do with this Tower? With the search?" "I assure you that it's nothing to worry about!" Pea claps its hands together, "In fact, I'll send an error report to Miss Clementine right away! Perhaps she can provide a more suitable answers if mine don't seem substantial enough for you, Operator Phouka!" "Now then!" It whirls to face the other way, "That's enough of that! I'm sure you're mighty hungry, Operator Phouka! Why don't we proceed to the kitchen? I'll make dinner!" You hesitantly trail after Pea, it's not going to answer any more of your questions, apparently... If it even answered any to begin with. You just step onto the moving walkway when you remember the glitch you encountered today... Should you [[ask Pea about that-> peaglitch]] as well? Maybe it can fix whatever went wrong... but considering how it's responded to you so far, maybe that's [[not the best idea-> endofday3]].

(set: $peaglitch to "true") "Actually, Pea," It pauses, head rolling back until those four bright LED lights stare up at you expectantly, "Um, well, I think there was a glitch today?" "A glitch?" Pea's head rolls to the side slowly, giving it a lopsided stare, "In the Tower?" "Yeah, the radio went down and I couldn't hear Sigbin- er, uh, Captain Sigbin. And it seemed like they couldn't hear me for a while either? It, um..." You scratch the back of your head absent-mindedly, "Well, I think it was an error of some sort. Did you... I dunno, pick anything up that might've caused it? Or maybe can you contact someone to come and fix it?" "The Tower is one of the ISP's greatest technological achievements." Pea nods, almost sagely, with metal eyelids shut closed, "I'm sure that whatever this was, it wasn't an error- or at least not a permanent one. Perhaps a... hiccup, as you might say, a brief interference. I'm sure all will be fine, Operator Phouka!" "Okay, sure, but... can't we make sure?" Your hands fly out to the side as if trying to reenact what you went through today, "I mean, I got it working once more-" "Ah! How very resourceful of you, Operator Phouka!" "But I mean- It wasn't- I don't want that to happen again." "Oh, I'm sure it won't!" Pea pats you on the leg reassuringly, "I'm sure nothing more will happen to upset you, Operator Phouka. I'm very sorry it gave you such a scare!" "It didn't give me a-" Breathing in deeply, you pinch the bridge of your nose. When your hand slides away, your voice is level once more, "Pea, I just want someone to come and make sure the Tower is okay. Surely that's in the ISP's benefit?" Pea's... laughing... Tiny electronic hiccups that you're sure are meant to simulate a laugh. "Operator Phouka," A robot is laughing at you. "I am hooked up to Alpha 13's home system- in fact, we are practically one and the same! If something were majorly wrong, I would feel it." It pats your leg once more, then takes the hem of your pants and begins tugging you lightly towards the moving walkway, "So there's nothing you've to worry about, Operator Phouka! I'm here to keep you safe!" (if: $senditoff is "true" and $senditoff2 is "true" and $notell is "false")[You sigh and let Pea tug you towards the walkway.](if: $senditoff is "false" or $senditoff2 is "false" or $notell is "true")[You tug your leg out of Pea's grasp, and the tiny robot wobbles, tiping dangerously over to the side with arms swinging wildly when your leg is jerked out of its hand. Pea rebalances itself, and looks at you blankly. If a robot could have an accusing stare, you'd pretty sure this would be where Pea gives you one.] "Just... at least send in an error report, Pea. Please?" (if: $senditoff is "true" and $senditoff2 is "true" and $notell is "false")["Oh Operator Phouka..." Pea shakes its head, "I can't bother Miss Clementine with such things- she wouldn't be very pleased with little old me if I did! Or, of course, you as well." "Ah... well... alright..." Pea gives you that eyelid-smile once more. "But don't worry! I'll be extra vigilant from now on! There's nothing for you to worry about with me, Operator Phouka!" "Right... Thank you, Pea..." Pea nods once more and whirls to the edge of the moving walkway, it stops there and stares at you expectantly. [[You step onto the walkway-> endofday3]]](if: $senditoff is "false" or $senditoff2 is "false" or $notell is "true")["Oh Operator Phouka-" Wait- why are //you// begging this robot- this robot who is supposed to listen to //your// commands nonetheless- to do what you want? "No." That's not how it's supposed to be. Even Pea whirls back a tiny bit, almost caught off guard by the severity in your voice. "Pea, this is a command, send an error report. I don't care to who, I don't care if they disregard it. Just send it off. Now." Pea hesitates, tiny metal hands clinking together quietly, "Well..." It looks to the left, then to the right, then the hands drop and it nods, "Alright, Operator Phouka, I'll send it off. But I don't think Miss Clementine will be very-" "Doesn't matter." You cross your arms, "Just send it." "Very well, Operator Phouka." Back to its normal, cheery, unperturbed state, Pea bounces over to the edge of the walkway, "Now, then, it seems like you've had quite the long day, Operator Phouka! Say, why don't you head back and get some rest? I'll cook up dinner!" Arms swinging loosely by your side, you silently step [[onto the walkway-> endofday3]] (set: $peaglitchcheck to "true")]

''//Day 4 8:40 Location: Alpha 13 Bedroom//'' By the time the alarm goes off you can barely remember falling asleep. In fact, the entire day after that conversation with Pea seems to just be a... a blur. (if: $senditoff2 is "true")[First there was Pea's weird dismissal of the message from Wisp, (if: $peaglitch is "true")[not to mention its odd response to the glitch, ]](if: $senditoff2 is "false" and $peaglitch is "true")[There was Pea's weird reaction to mentioning the glitch ]and then... then everything else seems to be just a hazy blur of mismatched thoughts and questions left over from your not-so-helpful conversation with Pea and messages from this 'Wisp'...(if: $senditoff2 is "true")[ Could they really be //just// someone trying to mess with you?] "Howdy, Operator Phouka!" You startle, whipping the sheets away frantically as you sit up in the bed, Pea rolls away to avoid being stepped on but otherwise seems unperturbed. "Go-od morning!" It draws out the word the way a TV-salesman would for some kind of instant breakfast, "Hope your ready for Day 4, Operator Phouka!" Day 4... Hopefully today will bring you some answers... Or at least won't give you anything (if: $peaglitchcheck is "true")[[[new to question-> peacheckin]]](if: $peaglitchcheck is "false")[[[new to question.-> day 4]]]

The morning is a little awkward, it seems like wherever you go Pea follows you, always lingering just a few feet away with that perpetual smile as it awaits your next instruction. "Say, Pea..." You begin in the hopes that some semblance of conversation might make this all a little less weird, "Did you, uh, ever hear back about the glitch?" "Oh! There's no need to worry, Operator Phouka!" Pea chimes happily, "All appears to be functioning as intended!" "Yes but did you hear anything back from Clementine on what might have caused it?" "I'm sure it was nothing!" Pea claps its hands together, "Now, you'd best hurry, Operator Phouka- you wouldn't want to be [[late-> day 4]] after all!

Pea gives you a little wave when you step into the elevator for the fourth time. And, for the fourth time, you can feel your legs wobble as the structure pitches unsteadily upwards, shaking and rattling away as you go higher, higher, higher- the only real indication of your altitude being the popping in your ears and the little luminescent number ticking steadily upwards at the top of the elevator's doors. After yesterday's glitch you find your nails digging even harder into your palms then before. (if: $peaglitchcheck is "true")[Pea said everything is functioning fine. Nothing will happen. You won't fall to your death. You're fine. You're fine.] With agonizing slowness the doors open to that familiar room and familiar console. You reach towards the button to call Sigbin when suddenly your [[watch starts blinking once more-> movie]].

Another message from Wisp. It's titled- 'Before You Talk to It Again'. You hesitate over opening the message. Do you really want to do this? Do you really want to risk everything by opening this message? What if none of this means anything?(if: $senditoff2 is "true")[ What if Pea is right and this is just someone trying to mess with you? Mess with the ISP? ]If so, then you're not just putting yourself and your position at risk here, but Casey as well. This job... this is your one chance to save her. The ISP is the one hope for her and... millions others like her. If they're even helping her at all. No- no you can't think like that. For your sake, for //her// sake, they have to be. You have to be. Searching for a cure- trying to help her... And if they're not... if they're not then you have to know. You have to [[open the message]].

If the ISP is lying then all of this is useless anyway. You need to know- you at least need to know. So you open the message. It's a [[video file]].

''//Day 1, Subject 12 9:50 Location: Alpha 13 Tower//'' //(either: "A blonde woman stands at the center of the control panel, she stands tall, with a willowy, almost fragile figure that otherwise betrays a commanding presence felt even through the screen. Her thin lips twist into a sneer as she stares at the screen.", "A stout, red haired man stands near the edge of the control panel, fingers fidgeting nervously over the many different butons- never quite touching them, always just slightly above them.", "A barrel-chested man with a rumbling voice murmurs softly to himself as his eyes skim over the control pannel in a kind of raw, almost childish fascination. You catch him uttering words like 'fascinating' or 'astounding' or 'I've only ever dreamed-'. He moves from side to side of the panel, agonizing over each new technology with the look of an eager kid who knows exactly what they're about to get for the holidays, and has been looking forward to it for a long time.", "A woman with a round, motherly face twisted into a pout of confusion scratches the side of her cheek near the edge of the console. She seems to be puzzling over each button individually, a pamphlet- one you recognize as the same sent to you when you were accepted as an Operator- clutched in her left hand that she refers to every couple of buttons or so. Her lips move silently as she reads the instruction manual like a book of incantations, fingers wiggling as if she were about to cast a spell.") A voice- a familiar thousand voices, actually- comes through, their many different tones even more distorted than usual from the camera's feedback. "He..." The computer pops and crackles, static fills the air along with a high-pitched radio whine that lasts for some time as you scramble with the knob, searching for the clearest frequency, "He...llo? Hello?" This new person moves to the knob in the center quickly, twisting and turning it just as you did- (either: "and just as clumsily", "only with much more professionalism than you handled it the first time around.") "Hello?" You can only assume this to be an old operator, "Captain Sigbin? Hello? Can you hear me Captain Sigbin?" "Yes, hello, you must be Operator Fox?" (either: "Yes that's correct.", "Yeah, that's me.", "Y-yes, nice to meet you.", "Yep. That'd be me.") "Pleasure to meet you, Fox." (either: "Fox squirms uncomfortably away from the console.", "Fox beams under even just that polite praise.", "Fox sniffs boredly, glancing out the window with an apathetic expression") "Now, I suppose you know the code?" "Alpha." Fox pauses, again, much like you did the first time around. "Check." "Gamma." "Check." "Foxtrot." Wait- Fox's code was the same as yours? You were told it'd change with each operator... "Check. Glad to see you made it there alright, Fox. How is your first day going so far, Fox? Adjusting alright?" The video crackles and (if: $lie is "true")[[[changes-> changeslie]]](if: $lie is "false")[[[changes-> changesnolie]]].//

''//Day 1, Subject 11 9:30 Location: Alpha 13 Tower//'' //(either: "A short man with a balding hair covered by only the thinniest wisps of grey hair fiddles nervously with his fingers, running them one over the other over the other in a series of quick, jittering motions.", "A tall woman leans against the side of the console with one hand, the other reaches up to rub almost irritably at her temple.") "Everything is ok... I suppose. I was told the first day would be the hardest but I didn't entirely expect... this." This new operator glances towards the microphone expectantly, "Is this normal?" "I suppose so." Sigbin laughs amusedly, "Though it's techincally confidential... the person before you was nervous as well, on their first day." (either: "Well, good to know I'm not the first one to mess everything up, then.", "Alright, I guess I won't be the first one to break everything then, eh?") "You think you're the ''first''?" More barking laughter, even deeper and heartier than before "Coyote, you should'a seen me when I was starting out- I had ''no'' idea what I was doing and was all but assured that I was gonna run my crew into an asteroid belt first thing." "What? You've gotta be bluffing me. Aren't Captains supposed to be near-perfect human beings or something like that?" Coyote scoffs- smiling, now. (if: $captain is 5 or 4)["Well, you'd be right, I never worked for the International Space Fleet." Sigbin purrs with pride. "How did you end up as a Captain, then?" "I apologize, Coyote, I misspoke. That's classified information." Coyote sighs, "Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Thanks anyway, Sigbin."](if: $captain is 3 or 2)["I suppose so."] The video crackles and [[changes again]].//

''//Day 1, Subject 13 9:45 Location: Alpha 13 Tower//'' //(either: "A relatively scrawny young man with messy black hair sits in the rolled up chair, he fiddles with a pen in his hand, lips pursed as he stares at the screen with a look of slight apprenhension. As he twirls the pen between his fingers his toes tap against the ground, keeping rhythm to music you can't hear. He talks in a slow, languid manner,", "A long-haired woman paces back and forth in the front of the room, her frame swinging in and out of the camera's sight. The brief glimpses you can catch of her betray a long black braid, broad shoulders, and long-fingered hands tensed into fists folded behind her back. She speaks with terse, curt tones,") "Everything is... going just fine." "If you're... sure." Sigbin's voice again, "You know, Eagle, we'll be working together we'll be working together for a long time now- just you and me- for maybe even five years... I can assure you from previous experiences that this works best if we're honest with one another." "There's nothing to worry about, Captain Sigbin." Eagle pauses, those almost subconcious, fiddling movements slow until Eagle stops moving entirely, slumping over in a heavy sigh. "I'm just a little... ah... I don't know." "Overwhelmed?" "Yeah," Pheonix shrugs, "That." "Ah, of course." Sigbin's voice comes off as something of a pleased purr. (if: $hometown is "Colony")["You're from a Colony, correct? The loneliness must seem... odd." "Meh," Eagle shrugs once more, "It wasn't any Farenheight Colony- those things are practically humand antfarms-" (either: "A strong, steady laugh reverberates through the room.", "A light, airy laugh dances through the space.") "But... yeah, Celsius colonies were still... well, it wasn't like this." Pheonix casts a trepid gaze out the wall-encompassing window, eyes softening into a look of almost longing. "Will you miss it?" "Probably." Eagle smiles, and then seems to realize that Sigbin won't see the smile- so the expression quickly falls, "Who knows? Maybe this will be kinda nice." "One can only hope." Sigbin laughs, "Just don't forget you're not entirely alone out there. You've got myself and the Agency. "Yeah, I'll keep that in mind, Captain... Thanks."](if: $hometown is "Earth")["You're from Earth, yes? This must be... quite the adjustment." "Pff, what are you talking about?" Eagle's voice stretches out into one long, sarcastic drawl, "We have fifty-story towers in the middle of ice planets with no one around ''everywhere'' on Earth!" "Did you have snow where you lived before? Or perhaps that's at least somewhat normal?" (either: "Nah, I lived in a desert area- there's no snow there. Though, we did take a family vacation once or twice to a ski resort. I wasn't the biggest fan of it, admittedly. Give me dry yellow sand and cacti instead of this weird empty snowscape any day.", "Yeah, it snowed pretty often, actually. I loved sledding as a kid but... ahh, I guess this wouldn't be the best place for that, eh? I mean, at least where I came from the snow wasn't... y'know, poisonous.") "That's fair." Sigbin laughs to themself.] "I wouldn't worry, Eagle, you get used to everything after a year or two." The video crackles and [[changes again]].//

''//Day 2, Subject 10 9:55 Location: Alpha 13 Tower//'' //(either: "A timid figure stands in front of the console. They're squished awkwardly into the chair, much taller than the back of the seat should allow. Their fingers seem to shake as they trace the edges of what appears to be the same instruction manual you were sent and told to memorize, and when they speak it is with a kind of silent, nervous titter to their voice.", "A woman shies away from the microphone, she keeps glancing at the screen you normally look at for coded instructions from HQ, she rereads the coded instructions once, twice, three times to make sure she's got it.", "A man nervously looks from the console to the screen where instructions are received to what seems to be the same instruction manual you received before. Each time he reads one sentence he cross-checks it three, four times over with the other two, always adjusting a set of wide-rimmed glasses on his face, even when they're already perfectly adjusted.") "O-okay, so... If I'm reading this message right then you should, uh, reroute. Th-there's a, um, an asteroid field forty-five clicks- which is... how long is a click? Ah, well, you'd probably know- not me- sorry... Anyway, uh, the, um, the next stop is directly through there so... you should... change. Unless- of course- you think you can handle the asteroids. In which case- you should definitely go for it- just- just... uh... be careful, Sigbin- ''Captain'' Sigbin. Sorry." This nervous operator pulls the chair up closer, and flops down in it with a sigh of relief as if having just finished a marathon. The operator waits, one minute, two minutes, face growing ever more lined with deep cresses of worry. Eventually, the operator stands up, the chair whirling slowly away behind. "S-Sigbin? Captain Sigbin?" The operator presses down on the intercomm, "It's me... Pheonix? Uh, are you- are you alright, Captain Sigbin?" No reply, and Pheonix begins to pace nervously, muttering quiet fears under a hushed breath that you can't quite make out in the video feed. And then- "Pheonix, do you know where your name is from?" Pheonix startles, leaping backwards from the console as if it had just come alive and launched an attack. Pheonix quickly scurries back to the radio. "M-my name?" "Yes. Well, not your real name, of course. I'm... not quite sure what that is. But 'Pheonix', do you know where 'Pheonix' is from?" Pheonix's mouth opens to answer, but the [[video goes to static, and changes once more]].//

''//Day 2, Subject 14 9:55 Location: Alpha 13 Tower//'' //(either: "A tall", "A short", "A lanky", "A willowy", "A stocky", "An athletic", "A round", "A bulky", "A wisp of a", "A brawny", "A statueesque", "A slight") (either: "man stands with his", "woman stands with her", "figure stands with their") back to the camera, (either: "short cropped", "long and loose", "tied back") black hair frayed in a wild manner, everything else seems to be fuzzy, or otherwise unseeable. Whoever it is, this operator is rapidly moving from button to button- a broken up voice of Sigbin comes jaggedly through the recording. "...i...sp... W...is..p d...o... you... re...ad... me...?" Wisp? This is... this person is Wisp? "Captain Sigbin!" Wisp flitters about from button to button, twisting nozzles and flipping switches as they go, "Captain Sigbin I'm here! I read you." "W...is..p I... h...ea...r-" "I think something is wrong with the..." Wisp trails off, attention trapped by a series of buttons off to the side. "The radio..." Wisp presses one lightly and looks around, a frown crossing this operator's face. Wisp then flips another switch, and the frown deepens, each time Wisp flits from item to item looking and waiting for something to happen... but nothing does. "Don't- press- any- thing- Wisp- we- can- just- ask- your- Personal- Electronic- Assistant-." Wisp stands still in the center of the room- even takes a step back from the console, shoes squeaking against the well tiled floor as Wisp backs away. Still pressing nothing, Wisp's head tilts to the side as they call out- "Captain Sigbin? Do you read me Captain Sigbin?" What? How could they hear? Wisp isn't even pressing the button to send over- "Yes I can hear you. Nothing... nothing broke on your end, correct?" Wisp's arms cross over their chest, that frown twists into a scowl. "Frankly, Captain, I think everything is a little broken right now." Wisp looks around the room, and for a brief moment you catch an unobscured glance at a face crossed with the look of both horror and epiphany as Wisp stares into the camera's lense. "But I guess you're not programmed to know that, are you- Sigbin?" "Wisp- what are you talking-" The video [[ends]].//

(link: "You")[(show:?next)]|next)[You (link: "...")[(show:?next2)]|next2)[... you (link: "don't")[(show:?3)]|3)[(link: "can't")[(show:?4)]|4)[(link: "won't")[(show:?5)]|5)[(link: "can't...")[(show:?5b)]|5b)[can't... What are you even //supposed// to say with something like (link: "this?")[(show:?6)]|6)[this? What are you supposed to (link: "//think//?")[(show:?7)]|7)[//think?// To (link: "//do//?")[(show:?8)]|8)[//do?// The watch blinks again, and you wince against the light, weak as it is. Your fingers shake as they, almost of their own volition open the message from Wisp. It's empty. Empty save for the title. (link: "'Why are you still here?'")[(show:?9)]|9)['Why are you still here?' Why are you still here? Because Casey has no other options? Because you can't really trust Wisp, this stranger who has done nothing but send you these antagonizing videos and messages? Because you don't even know them? You don't even know Sigbin. Or Pea. Or Clementine. Or... anyone who has told you anything here. Even what you //thought// you knew about them is now up to debate. As if life on a practically uninhabited planet all on your own wasn't hard enough... You need answers. You need to [[call Sigbin.]] ]]]]]]]]]]

"Phouka," Sigbin's thousand voices, which had almost become a familiar comfort over these past few days, now send a cold shiver down your spine. "You're late, I was getting worried. Is everything alright?" "Are you real?"(link: "...")[(show:?1)]|1)[ "I..." Sigbin hesitates, "You caught me off guard there, Phouka. Am I... real?" They laugh, but the pops and crackles seem even more pronounced, their thousands of voices even more artificial than before. Is this just you? "I mean, I'm here, talking to you, aren't I? Well, not 'there', really, but-" "What are we doing?" "... Phouka," The laughter dies down into a quiet whisper of concern, "Is everything alright?" "Wha-What are we doing?" You can feel your arms shaking, one hand running over your head in rapid, nervous jerks, "I mean- are we- are we really even looking for a cure? Or is the ISP just content to ship everyone off to their own tiny little bubbles, Farenheight, Celsius, the colonies- is that- are those a temporary refuge or a new home? Does the ISP even care anymore? What about Pea? Are you- are you real, Sigbin?" "Phouka! Phouka! Slow down..." They sound so real, so alive, you can practically picture them, gently laying a hand on your shoulder, speaking in soft, calming tones to get you to relax. "Are you asking if I'm... a robot? Phouka, what happened?" "Is Wisp right?" "Wisp?" "Pea said Wisp didn't exist- but Wisp was- Wisp was here," You look around the room, "Right here. With you. Wisp was here. Right here." "Are you... are you talking about a previous operator? Phouka, you couldn't know about any of them- their identities are-" "Are there, from... from this." You jerk your head up towards where the camera is- where it... where it should be. If those videos were real then there should be a camera right there- it would match up with all the angles and theres- "Phouka... whoever this is, it sounds serious. Are you in danger?" Sigbin sounds serious now, "If you think that someone hacked into the ISP's system then you need to call Clementine and make sure you're safe." "Not the system." "No?" "My watch. Wisp would..." Your hand subconciously grips your wrist. "I need to- I..." You back towards the elevator, "I need to go." "Phouka-" "I need to leave." "Phouka wait-" You jam the button and the doors slide behind you so fast that your feet slip and you end up hitting the ground in the elevator box. You slam the down button, "Phouka! Are you there? Phouka!" The doors close in front of you. You scoot your way to the corner, and pull your knees up to your chest as the elevator rocks [[back and forth]].

By the time the elevator reaches the bottom, you're just barely able to scrape yourself off of the floor, legs still a little wobbly, hands still unsteady by your sides. Pea stands in front of you, smiling. "You're down very early, Operator Phouka." Pea tilts its head, "Did something happen?" "Move out of my way, Pea." You step out of the elevator- but that's as far as you get before Pea rolls in your way. "I'm leaving." "Oh, now that won't do!" Pea gasps, hands up to its 'mouth', "If you leave then you'll be severely hurting the search for the cure! Finding a new Operator is a long and arduous process- and everyday thousands of people die from Camazotz plague! You can't leave, Operator Phouka! You'd be putting millions of lives at stake!" Including Casey. You sigh, and slump back against the wall, "Is there any chance of saving them, Pea...? Are we even //trying// to save them?" "The ISP's goal is the betterment of humanity-" "That's... not what I asked." You rub the side of your temples, a splitting headache already making it hurt to do so much as keep your eyes open. Pea rolls up to your side, and pats your leg. "You got another message- didn't you, Operator Phouka?" (if: $senditoff is "false" and $senditoff2 is "false")[ "How did you-?" "I'm your Personal Electronic Assistant!" Pea chirps, pointing to your watch, "Therefore it is imperative that I am hooked up to all your electronics!" "So you... you knew..." "Of course I knew, Operator Phouka!" Pea chimes, shaking its head, "I simply respected your decision not to tell me, although... I can't say I wasn't disappointed..." "So you... No," You shake your head, "No, nevermind, it doesn't matter.](if: $senditoff is "true" and $senditoff2 is "true")["]Yes, I got another message... from... from Wisp." "Ah..." Pea's eyelids lower into a frown, "I was afraid of that, Operator Phouka. This Wisp is no good for your health! Which is why," Pea reaches up, its hands moving so quickly that you don't even notice that the watch is gone before Pea's rolling away with it grasp between its three metal fingers. "I'm confiscating your watch, Operator Phouka! For your own mental health, of course." "What? Pea- no!" You chase after Pea- but the robot that had previously seemed so unbalanced and clumsy turns out to be surprisingly quick and nimble. Darting onto the walkway ahead of you and zipping towards the door rapidly. "We'll get you a good replacement soon, Operator Phouka!" It yells, head twisting around to face you, "Top priority!" Then it turns around and keeps zooming off. That watch is your one way out of here. Your one way of communicating with Wisp. It's- It's- "Pea- reset!" [[Pea collapses to the ground]].

All you hear is a harsh thunk as it just folds in on itself. It's so sudden, so blunt a movement that you can't help but wince when the small robot hits the ground, its body moving lifelessly along the walkway like scraps on a conveyor belt about to crushed and repurposed into something new. A quick jog and you're once more by the robot's side. Pea's eyes are lifeless, the LEDs having gone out until they become little more than four mirrors, your own face staring back at you in four different twisted distortions. You snag the watch easily out of Pea's lifeless grip. "Personal Electronic Assistant reset completion- memory wipe at 10%." That electronic, artifical voice floats out of Pea's smiling speakers. It sounds almost unnatural compared to the cheerful, childlike personality you'd grown so used to. You immediately open up to the medical cross- Clementine said that if you press that a search and rescue team will come and get you out, right? That's... that's you're only option right now. As long as they can get you to Ijiraq then you're sure you can handle yourself from there. You'll be able to get home (link:"and...")[(show:?and)]|and)[and... And then what? Hope that you're right? That none of this is real? That Sigbin was just some... some kind of AI test? Is that even what all this was? It's not like Wisp ever really explained to you what it is the ISP really is supposedly trying to do. But between Pea's own functionality and what Wisp said to Sigbin in that video... But what if Wisp really is the liar here? If the ISP really is looking for a cure then... then you're abandoning Casey here. Abandoning her one chance at life- and putting who knows how many at risk? Can you really risk it all on the word of a stranger? Who even //is// the stranger here? "Personal Electronic Assistant reset completion- memory wipe at 90%." You drop back onto your heels, hand hovering above the cross, as you glance between Pea and the watch. You take a deep breath and [[Wait for Pea to wake up.]] [[Press the button and leave.]]]

"Personal Electronic Assistant reset completion - memory wipe at [[100% -> theend]]"

You walk down a hallway at the end of the visible universe. The snow presses against the clear tube, frost winding up the sides, and you are not alone. You are escorted into the ship heading [[home. -> theend]]

The end.