Chapter Text
YOU - “Hey, Kim. Any idea how to turn this thing on?”
KIM KITSURAGI - The Lieutenant, out of respect for his own time, does not bother asking what you’re trying to do or why. He simply steps closer and lets his eyes trail over the dusty equipment before you. Like most of your trespasses, he anticipates it will lead to something.
ESPRIT DE CORPS [Medium: Success] - Whether that “something” is helpful or not is another question entirely.
KIM KITSURAGI - “Hmm… I am no expert, but if I were you, I would start here.”
With a cheeky little simper, he presses the button labeled “ON”.
REACTION SPEED [Easy: Failure] - You knew that! You just… forgot.
COMPOSURE [Easy: Failure] - The back of your neck flushes. You rub it instinctively, and see the Lieutenant’s smile widen just a little. Got you.
ABANDONED TERMINAL - The button clicks—ancient equipment sputters and hums. A rush of air moves through the booth as it activates, like wind let into an open tomb. Nothing happens.
KIM KITSURAGI - “I suppose it wouldn’t work, after god knows how long.”
EMPATHY - Though he tries to mask it with an ineffectual shrug, the Lieutenant seems disappointed.
INTERFACING [Medium: Success] - He absolutely wanted to see the console in action. Maybe you can cheer him up, if you have the right tools-
ABANDONED TERMINAL - The tomb comes alive. Its static ghosts begin to speak, their voices reverberating in the small space and making your ears ring.
REACTION SPEED [Medium: Success] - Your hands dart to cover your ears. You can still hear it clearly, but at least it’s not painful. The Lieutenant does the same.
GVIN 02306821 - "This is Captain Al... the Krysta, GVIN 02306821. Please resp… ess signal.”
ENCYCLOPEDIA [Formidable: Failure] - GVIN? It's not an acronym you recognize.
ELECTROCHEMISTRY - Ooh, did someone say *gin*?
VOLITION - No.
KIM KITSURAGI - "GVIN? Where have I… oh! GVIN stands for Graad Vessel Identification Number,” the Lieutenant says loud enough for you to hear, but not to drown out the transmission. “It refers to the eight digits we just heard. If I heard correctly, the name of the ship is the Krysta."
HALF-LIGHT - Stranded? Out in the middle of god knows where? They're all gonna die.
YOU - "Are we talking an airship, or a boat ship?"
KIM KITSURAGI - "Eight digit identification numbers are for oceanic vessels. Typically, a passenger airship will have six. Aerostatics, five. There are a few exceptions, but-”
GVIN 02306821 - "This will be the tenth SOS I've called in today… is anyone there? Do you copy?”
YOU - “10-4,” you say instinctively. “Loud and clear, Captain.”
GVIN 02306821 - “... the crew… not holding up well. It’s like they're sleeping. Can't wake them up.”
A withering sigh crackles through from the other line.
GVIN 02306821 - "If anyone can hear this call, I’ll tell you what happened. So it doesn’t… ppen to you.”
GVIN 02306821 - “My name is Captain Al… O'Canan. We were thirty strong before… from… now, we're down to sixteen. The others… overboard. All of them at once, like they all had the same idea.”
SHIVERS [Challenging: Success] - Beyond the harbor of Martinaise, dark green cargo freights pass through the fog like algae-slick whales. An attendant of one such ship reads a long list of inventory from a clipboard to his captain. “Birch lumber, steel rivets… and that’s it. Everything accounted for?”
“Yep, that tracks. Go on down to the cabins and get yourself a drink. My treat, on one condition.”
“Yes, Captain?”
“Share it with the rest of the boys, will you?”
VOLITION [Medium: Success] - Fourteen people, all giving up on life simultaneously. Perhaps unity in suffering is better than going it alone. Makes it easier.
INLAND EMPIRE [Challenging: Success] - No. That “unity” was not forged of their own volition.
GVIN 02306821 - “Don’t know how I kept everybody together after that. I don’t know if… I mean... nothing else I could do. But let me give you a warning.”
GVIN 02306821 - "Do not. Do *not* trust Wild Pines Transit Coordinator Jeffr… skimped out on… never should’ve bought into it. No such thing as cost-effective acceleration on these seas. His negligence was bad enough, but mine… should've known. Shouldn't have tried to cut corners. Fourteen of our finest have paid the price."
YOU - "Shit, did you hear that?"
KIM KITSURAGI - "Yes."
GVIN 02306821 - "No one will remember them. No one will… chance to bury them, or say goodbye. If you’re there…”
GVIN 02306821 - “Just promise me you won’t forget us. Even if we forget ourselves."
ABANDONED TERMINAL - The static fades to silence.
YOU - "Hello? Captain, come in!"
KIM KITSURAGI - "It's no good, Detective. This has already happened.” He turns away from the console, sliding his hands into his pockets as if to warm them against an imperceptible chill. “They are long gone."
YOU - Where Kim runs cold, you find yourself running hot—it takes every ounce of your (already paltry) restraint not to punch the blinking equipment into junkyard scraps.
PHYSICAL INSTRUMENT - Easy there, boiadeiro. You *could* punch the shit out of this thing and make an iron pancake. But…
LOGIC [Challenging: Success] - That won’t bring them back. You know this.
CONCEPTUALIZATION - Only the sea can comfort them now, in the one way it knows how.
INLAND EMPIRE [Challenging: Success] - The way tried to comfort you, in the sinking belly of that motor carriage.