Previously on the Adamless.
Azan, he...
Oik, she...
My name is Diriak.
What's up? My name's Skye. Welcome to the patchwork, my dudes.
Welcome to the lower decks.
Do you have something you fancy from Topside?
You can get Topside? They are building.
When they finish, we are in darkness. This smoke is going to cover all of us.
If a shipment of inner working electronics left, it's going to take them a very long time to finish building this plate.
This wasn't what we were offering. I will go drop these drinks off and I will meet you back here.
Where is the shipment right now?
Speak to Tommy.
Is there a new stand anywhere nearby?
I have maybe a small thing that you can help me out with. There is a race going on.
The winners of the race is big money involved. Money that we need. The person who is in charge of this race is a guy named Trapp.
They are part of a group called The Void.
Tommy, I'm your dude. Where and when?
Avesphere floats above the greenery.
Animals roar and are humbled by the sound of walking guards.
The smell of rain and slick mud fills the excited park goers with even more glee than they had before.
A window on the floating sphere is cracked open.
And a small bipedal chihuahua looking creature called a screedreep sits at a table that hovers above the ground, sitting on a chair that levels with his height.
This screedreep has a clean suit jacket that he holds with his hand in a reverence to seem more confident than he actually is about this conversation that is happening.
The logo for the Wild Times theme park floats in a sphere in the middle of the table.
There are other people sat at this clean chrome table and they are holding a holograph of today's paper.
A cashither puts the holopad down, breaking the silence.
Well, we've just opened and we're already getting bad press.
Hey, all press is good press and this isn't even that bad, says an android who is also sat at the other end of the table.
The longer they're gone, the more money we're going to lose.
Yes, but we're keeping up without them.
Keeping up isn't enough, says this screedreep, standing from the table.
I have an idea. They put their hand in the pocket and pull out this small, almost floppy disk USB looking device.
Put it on the table.
We're trying to run a race with someone who is clearly not interested.
They ran off at the first sign of... We can't just keep up.
We have to thrive.
We all look at the news hollow that people at this table are now putting down.
And as we zoom slightly further into the headline, we see a sun, red, warm light coating this same title at a newsstand.
The streets of Saga's upper decks have handfuls of people walking in them. They're chatting joyfully, gripping their belongings tighter as hover cars fly above them.
You do see a headline and a picture of the park that you helped set up. It's not a positive picture. It makes the park seem dilapidated and there's an angry creature roaring in the background.
The headline reads, Co-Owner of Wild Times So Ashamed of Allegations That They Had to Run.
Oh no. That fucking news report. I fucking hate them.
God damn it.
That's it. That's what you see.
So, Firiak is going to immediately just look at that big headline and just be like, what the...
And just grab whatever device that has the hologram.
It's like a small glass screen. There's stacks and stacks of them.
They're all looking just like a front page of a newspaper, but they're all like glass screens. Yeah, you just grab one.
Hey, you have to... If you want to pay for it, if you want to read the news, you've got to pay for it.
One moment. Hold on.
And we'll skim through the article looking for major notes.
It has a lot about the article, although claiming you on its title, or what you can assume is you, you're not necessarily named in it.
It also has less to do with you than it does with these seemingly random accusations that you were asked about when this news reporter came to you on the VA-11.
It mentions, like, although when pressed to comment, they refused, they have also seemingly not reported back to their team and are left without any forethought.
Well, go ahead and purchase this issue from the stand.
Thank you.
How much would it be?
Just like, you could just add like a credit. It's cheap.
Just a credit, okay.
And then we'll go and sit down at like a table, like in like the courtyard sort of area.
And then try and like video call Lin.
Oh, yeah, absolutely. When you flick open your phone, you see that you weirdly don't have any signal.
Is it because we're on Saga?
No, no, no, you would have a universal phone so you could contact, like you, like, having like a planetary to planetary like phone, especially for people that travel is like pretty normal.
You just notice that you don't have any form of signal and able to contact. It's, it's weird.
Like there's this these two different types of signals, should I say. There is an interplanetary one and an external one.
The external one doesn't seem to be working at all.
Would Theriac know that's weird? Should I roll?
That's very, no, no, no, no, that's like purely based on Theriac's like intellectual prowess. It's very bizarre.
Can I like email out anything like beyond Saga? Like if I try, will it say, like if I try and like send an email to Lin and send it out, will it like successfully send or will it say like cannot?
Yeah, you can you can send things via Wi-Fi that that doesn't require the same like signaling. So yeah, you could you could you could email someone. Absolutely.
All right.
In that case, email Lin saying, hope the opening is going well. Would like to discuss with you some things that had been reported to me during this mission.
We'll be returning sometime soon. We'll keep you updated.
Signed theory act and then we'll just sit and feel terrible.
I take an action to feel bad.
You sit in the quite busy upper deck streets.
There's like buildings that like gradually get taller and taller as you like look down this like main main path.
There's a hover cars which like this whole street is for is for pedestrians and hover cars like exclusively fly over people and have designated places where they can stop.
So above you see like 10s and 10s of people flying over and it seems to be very busy.
But now you sit in the middle of in the middle of the city.
Waiting for a response.
Ike.
You left theory act to go and
deliver the drinks.
Correct. Correct. Yeah, I expect that I know quite well where the brewery mining company location is up here at least.
Yeah, you've been here quite a lot. Yeah.
I do.
Take a quick shower first to get the essence of the underground off of me and put back on my fancy my one fancy suit and head.
There you know where this place is you take like some back alleys to like slip in easier and get there quicker. You very much like follow the path down where close enough to where theory act was was was heading.
You see a stretch ahead of you the buildings getting taller and taller. If you would like, you're very welcome to bump in to each other, but if you'd like to be separate and finish off your own business before that you're welcome to do that as well.
Yeah, no, she, she just keeps on going with the drinks. What she's got is she's got like the, the few like actual physical versions of the drink that she was able to get. And then also the recipe like kind of tucked into that box.
And she is scooting as fast as she can.
And so you, you scoot down these streets the buildings like getting taller and taller and more condensed, but still have this like upper, upper city very business feel the buildings here are like all glass fronted and as you as you like walk past news, like, see people
and you hear this do do hello of random like a eyes that are clocking people coming in and reading ID cards and things.
At the end of this very, very long main street.
There is a huge building close enough to towering above the others.
It again is fully glass fronted but but tinted with this yellow brick, all the way up. It comes to its end, and then there are these two large points that face up toward the sky that has this this electrical trickle down it.
It's looking like drills that are pointed towards the sky and in the center floating is a large metal indescript planet.
Below that is a, a large sign saying brewery mining, which all the way down you follow and it says it in large, large font with the brewery mining company logo on in the front doors.
And then on the side are these other two very, very large skyscrapers out the front of them have a large armed guard between each.
As there are these bridges that connect brewery mining to the side buildings.
You've been here for a few years and you know that this is this was not always the case.
But after, after an incident, which is was talked about that happened a few years ago, these, these these bridges were built and this armed guard were consistently placed the brewery mining bought out the two skyscrapers next to them and kicked out all other companies that were there.
And it's what is what is what does I do.
Just to not make eye contact with the guards as much as possible as she walks in.
She will hold out and flash her ID as normal kind of like balancing the box that she has also.
But we'll try to do this as quick as possible still.
And with as little eye contact as possible.
As you enter there is a ding ding.
As you as you as you walk on through.
You you know what floor Quinn works at, as there are these elevators that are consistently in use there's like five or six different ones or consistently moving, as well as some stairs, this main area has almost like all open.
Looking up to about 20 floors, as there is a large, a large statue of a, a large mining mech that has a small plaque that states that it was the first mech that was built for brewery mining its drill also pointed up facing at the sky.
But next to its feet are a series of flowers there's artificial sunlight going in, there are these robotic pollinators that are flying around and then nestling in flowers and flying around just tending to this this artificial garden surrounding it.
There is a large reception as well.
Yes. Yeah, as she's like, she's very like focused on getting there as soon as possible, very clearly a little anxious to just get this done.
But as she is walking through, she does have sort of like a little ritualistic sort of hi hellos to all of the people that work throughout the building.
You know, the receptionist like, hi.
Good morning, Gertrude. Sorry.
Oh, hello.
Meeting with Quinn, I've got to go.
Oh, of course, with every single person that walks by.
Just on first names and trying to get through pleasantries.
Beautiful. Yes, absolutely. Yeah, wonderful.
You you ride to floor 46, which is where which is where Quinn works, you get you get to the top and the noise of the outside dims very, very quickly as the doors open and you and you and you are able to walk on through.
It's what is essentially just a normal office desks, dividers.
Always is like quiet tapping of keys and computers and things.
If you like glass offices which are like little meeting rooms, skirt all along the outside of this of this one floor, you've been to a couple of other floors and you are, you know that every single one of them looks exactly the same, aside from like the last the top five floors look slightly different.
And you see the group of people who you were with on the VA 11 all sat in a in a meeting room, and Quinn is also there.
I kind of just on the wall as I come in.
Hi.
I made it back. Oh, hello. Oh, yes. Oh, wonderful. Oh, I am so sorry for the.
I don't know what happened on the VA we had to get away, we had business that we had to deal with. I apologize. I'm so glad you made it back.
Oh, and I see that you got the.
I did. I did.
Amazing. This is why this is incredible. This is why we get you to do these things. Phenomenal. Yes, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Picks up the takes it takes the tray from you and puts it down, looking through a few things.
Wonderful. What was what was it that I owe you now.
Oh, well, we were there's a meeting and we were going to get a dress.
Oh, a tailor and.
And I was going to be involved in the meeting.
Yes, of course. Yes, the shareholders meeting of yes at the at the ball. I remember. Of course I do. Yes, absolutely. We can do this. That's fine.
Okay, I.
I'm a little busy at the moment, but if I give you if I if I if I if I pay you for this, you're welcome to go with to go with Shannon to go pick out a pick out a dress or find something if that's okay, of course.
Oh, of course I know that you're busy.
Yes, I'm sorry. It's that time of year. We're all getting things prepared. Absolutely. I'll be able to get you. I'll be able to get you tickets. I'm I'm sure I will.
Yes. How much exactly for this amount of drinks.
Would you be able to.
Like 150 I could I could I could give you that should give you a nice dress. I.
Would like to do.
A couple of things.
I would like to.
Try to.
Slight of hand.
The recipe from the box without Quinn seeing.
Okay, yes.
The recipe will be on the it will be on the the drinks thing itself. But you can absolutely like peel the the the recipe off it. Absolutely.
It will be quite high. Will a natural 20 do it.
Yes, and that's what friends you will do it. That's exactly it. Perfect. You you you you peel it off and you have the you have so while she's doing that she sort of like steps in front of the box and then reaches behind her to do that.
It's like. Oh, that's okay. I I didn't really expect you to come dress shopping. I thought it was more metaphorical anyway. Of course, like I'll see you there at the shareholders meeting and we'll you know we'll have a toast together.
Absolutely. Yes, I will. I will. I will. I will tell I'll tell Shannon to to get you the to to send you the tickets and I'll be giving this to to I'll give I'll be giving this to one of the shareholders that that you'll you'll be able to meet.
Hopefully. All right. Well then 150 is fine for this.
Wonderful. Yes, I'll I'll I'll send you that right over. They pull out their phone and he fills with it a little bit.
And then he puts it away and then you feel a like a tingle up your like up the side of your body and then your phone like as you receive 150 credits. I'm so sorry everyone for the interruption but we'll we'll get back soon.
Is there anything. Anything else I.
Anything I should know in the meeting today.
Well,
we are just going through some of the finer details of the of the merger between us and and cert energy.
They have some business that they're dealing with on some planets a group of protesters are slowing down some plans but they've been dealing with that for quite some time now so they'll be fine.
They just wondering if we could.
This this has been in the in the works for a little while so we're just ironing out some of the boring details you know.
Hmm.
Oh, well, I do need any assistance for me.
Quindle like glimpses over everyone briefly and a a sheeran this large insect like person looks a bit like a centipede but with actual arms and legs.
Well, they're a smuggler.
We could use some help.
Yes, maybe.
We are.
We have we have some people that might need help.
We might be delivering something to a this group of protesters that have been a thorn in cert side for a little while they some of them have taken flight and flown in a in a ship and we might need something delivered to them.
If you're comfortable with space travel I know that you know you came all the way here.
Do quite well with space travel I've learned.
That's good.
I mean, that could help. Okay, give me a day.
I am I need to get some affairs in order, especially when it comes to this issue.
But it's good to hear that you're on board. That's that's that's very good. You're always a reliable one.
Can I have I attempt a sense motive.
She's got a plus zero.
I just want to.
Yeah, absolutely.
At 13.
Whenever you are asked to do stuff. Normally, Quinn has come to you with an idea for something. Now this is normally.
It's not a smog wine, which is your main the main thing it's a it's a drink that's made on the lower decks and you ferry it up because they can't make it here.
You've never delivered something from Quinn to someone else before.
It's normally things to to him. So this is a unique request and they do seem a little apprehensive.
Why don't you let me know in a day and I will be ready if you decide.
Yes. OK, that sounds that sounds great.
I'll I'll tell you in a day. I'll text you. I'll text you.
OK, I'm looking forward to that.
And I'll see you later, Quinn.
Bye. Sorry for the interruption.
As the door shuts, Quinn, you hear like a exasperated sigh and is like, well, this might solve a lot of them.
And then the door shuts.
And you're in the middle of the office space.
I what was the the they told me to Samantha.
Is it Samantha Shannon Shannon.
Do I know who Shannon is? I know her.
Yeah, you would have met Shannon a few times.
They're the Queen's assistant.
They're an Android who sits just like next to their desk.
They're who you're normally in correspondence with.
And then you started like meeting with Quinn more personally.
But but it's but a lot of emails are through.
OK, so I already have contact. You have you have.
Yeah, you got it. OK, that's all I wanted to know.
I'm actually going to go straight out and head back home.
And I as soon as I start to get closer back to town,
like like right outside of the city where I know the area was going to get food.
I'm going to try to send theory.
I think the theory act would need to make a perception check to receive it.
OK, perception theory acts pretty fucking good at perception.
Well, this is interesting.
I got an at one, but it's an 11.
OK, status still not good enough.
So I just yells to her own brain.
And that's weird. Is that what messages in this?
I it's a tele it's it's a telepathic message.
So, yeah, I mean, don't we all have phones because I just texted theory act.
Yeah, we do have phones.
That's just I preferred way of communicating.
So I will run back home, back into the house,
and then she will get to the door and she will realize that she gave her keys to theory act and she will sit on the porch.
And she will probably give them a text and just say,
the text will probably say, I hope you're enjoying the local food. See you when I see you.
Smiley face, smiley face, exclamation point.
That's it.
Theory act checks the message and is like, right, I did say I was going to eat
and I will go over to a local food stand and just like try and just find something cheap and kind of local.
Yeah, it's it's it's I mean, everything, everything here is like even though even the like there's like a really nice market that you find.
It's kind of it's it's it's it's more expensive than some places, but you do have the money for it.
So yeah, you pick up a couple of you can have some fucking space hot dogs and space shawarma.
And then, yeah, you take that and then you can just you can just go and go and grab.
I what has theory act been doing over this past little bit?
I think that I took our in a bit to it like going up the stairs and walking to.
It's probably just doing a lot more like not great rabbit hole stuff around wild times.
And then also just like checking up on like the official website and like the like behind the scenes, like like business website that like only employees use and checking like updates there.
Any major news from either of those?
Not not really any. No, like other news sites don't really seem to be focused on on anything.
They haven't. There's been no like no official statements, no news articles.
This by Beck, who is who's this article was signed with, seems to be the only one.
Yeah, there's no other like breaking news things.
It all seems to like if anything, there is like a minor article in like minor papers done by pure independence.
But they have no backing, no pictures, no interviews, just purely theory basing, no like actual stories, just like we have heard.
There's no like expose or deep investigative.
No, nothing yet. You do get an email back, though.
From Lynn saying, Hi, Therriac. Nice to hear from you. Where have you been over the past week?
News is nothing to worry about.
Enjoy the holiday and a little thumbs up emoji and then signed Lynn.
Therriac will respond back.
Like if you check this message and then we'll like hyperlink to like a previous email.
I stated that I would be taking up an offer for another specimen for wild times.
Sorry that that was lost in the shuffle.
Not a holiday, but I will be back soon.
Thank you for keeping everything afloat while I've been away.
I love this like as per my previous email.
As per my previous email. Yeah, right.
Bitch. You just got to drop it. Maybe if you could fucking read.
You wait for a slightly longer time than you did from the previous message.
But after.
After about 45 minutes, you get a Therriac.
I seem to have not have gotten that email.
We'll be interested to talk to you when you arrive. Full stop and then Lynn.
If you click on the hyperlink to the email, it was definitely sent.
The email that you sent previously stating where you were going was definitely sent.
Something funky is going on. I don't like it.
And then your phone buzzes with the text from Ike.
And then they'll go and get the space hot dog.
And head back to the apartment.
As you make your way, our camera passes down through a drain.
And then through another drain, seeing series of pipes and
joins in with the continuous artificial rain of the lower decks.
The the warm bright sun of the uppers does not reach the lower decks at all.
It is permanently shrouded in nighttime and the continuous rain
patterns against a small makeshift roof.
And the sounds of this of the rain hitting this this this tin roof echo through the sewers.
And we see sky and his arm freshly stepped out of this barbers in a black market
that's entirely set in the overflow of the lower deck sewer system.
The quotes and neon colors of all these different shops line this large area.
Sky and his arm have both just left an augmentation based shop
owned by Tommy, who is an android who has recently talked to them about a race
they have agreed to sign up. What is it you'd like to do?
What is the plan? Do we do we tell our buds that this is the thing we're doing now?
Do you think that's a good idea? No, but they're going to find out eventually.
So we should probably tell them. Yeah. Oh, OK.
Not to mention we'll need to find a driver. Oh, we found a driver.
I'll call. I'll call. I'll call. I'll call. Bring bring. Bring bring.
Oh, sorry, you picked up. Hi. I did.
I was very confused. I.
I just had an idea that Sky is just always singing Crazy Frog.
That's my favorite part. I know it's easy for us to calm sky down as
that's where we go. But it's so good anyway.
There's not a lot of minutes on this. It might be a bit of a phone.
Well, I'm glad that we've been so effective with our time then.
So long story short, we did the thing you said you didn't want us to do.
And we're in a death race now.
But we have a shot to make a lot of money in this death race.
And I'm sorry. Where is this death race taking place?
Where is this death race taking place?
It's taking place in a part of the lower decks called the last patch.
It is the it's one of the last patches of sunlight.
Okay, it's taking place in the last patch.
Okay, you've already committed to this.
Yes, fully emotionally and physically.
Also mentally and mentally.
Have you put any money on it yet?
No, but we should. I'm feeling real confident.
That's not what I meant. I just okay.
Just hold on. I'm just waiting for theory act to come back.
And as soon as they do.
Yeah, we already told theory act. I'm so sorry.
Well, they didn't say anything, but that's one sec.
I'll add them to the call.
No, I just they are in there getting some food.
Don't interrupt them.
Let them. Okay.
Hey, so I just filled the eye gate on the plan.
Did I tell you about the death race part?
We're in a death race.
Was this the business opportunity?
It's a very good business opportunity.
You said it was a race.
Yeah, it's a race.
I've heard of this race before and Azam is like,
maybe you shouldn't call it a death race, but I know this race.
It's a death race most of the time.
These are the terms that I would have liked to have known
before you committed to the project.
You've already registered.
Yeah, I'm 17.
I don't fear death.
Of course.
Yeah.
Did I not tell you that?
Oh, dear.
Is that young for humans?
No.
Can we hear Azam?
Yeah, it's like fully muffled.
Yeah, it's muffled, but it's in the background.
Okay.
Where are you at?
What are you eating?
I could get some chow.
What do you think, Azam?
Are you hungry?
I'm good.
I just got a veggie space dog.
Veggie space dog sounds so good right about now.
We can discuss the death race over veggie space dogs
if everybody's on board with that.
Meet at the veggie space dog place.
I was already on my way.
Is there more than one place?
Well...
Unfortunately, that's the chain up here on the top side.
But we can come back to you as soon as Theriat comes back here first.
I know a different space dog place down here, but it's not veggie.
You know what?
I'm not even sure if it's meat.
They don't really...
I don't really know what's in them, but it's a space dog place down here.
Which one, Azky?
Yeah.
They don't answer.
You may have better luck.
I suppose we'll meet you on the lower decks.
I suppose.
Yeah.
Let me think about the name for the space dog place
so I can tell you where we're meeting.
Ah, Jajons!
Jajons?
Oh, Jajons, yes!
Jajons!
Classic Jajons.
All right, see you guys there?
Yes, we'll most certainly be there.
Don't do anything else too drastic before we get there, please.
Okay, bye!
I thought it was best to not tell her I can't make any promises.
This space dog place?
I'm beginning to realize I'm stand out with a mask thing a lot.
Well, you know, you do look a little like a tourist,
but you're also a big buff, intimidating, quite charming tourist,
so I think it balances out a little bit.
Still might as well just bite bullet.
And I take off my mask.
No, oh, I don't...
Give me a Constitution saving throw.
You mean a fortitude.
A fortitude!
Give me a fortitude roll!
We understand the system.
We play Starfinder, baby.
We play Starfinder, baby!
House of 14.
Pretty, pretty good.
You do get a smoke inhalation, like when you smoke a cigarette,
like, wrong or for the first time, and it goes like...
Like, right, like immediately into your throat.
You cough for a little bit, but settle out quite easily.
There is this, like, taste of, like, engine and this thick aura around you.
Understand why the mask was necessary,
but it doesn't seem to be affecting you too bad yet.
Don't wait to throw up later.
I mean, dude, just wear the mask.
I'm assuming you're gonna want to live a long, relatively happy life.
I mean, that's abatable.
It's worth it to look like a tourist for a day or two, I'd say.
That's not the reason why I took it off.
What's the reason you took it off?
Because if I have a sing-on and someone wants to find a weak point,
I hold up the mask again, just wave it.
Okay, but, um, you're gonna be stronger if you're wearing the mask,
meaning you'll have less weak points.
I would rather have a lot of teeny tiny weak points in the big office room.
You do you.
Space dog?
Yeah, I was gonna have to open my mouth.
Can you actually eat through these things?
Wait, what?
These masks, you can't really eat through them, right?
I mean, you, like, take them down and eat and put them back up.
That's just what I've seen.
I haven't really worn one, like, ever.
Yeah, you were born with one.
My lungs are used to the grime, you know?
I mean, my lungs are more used to breathing volcanic ash.
It'll be fine.
Dope.
That's true.
Space dog?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Do-do-do-do.
You two get to...
J-J-Johns?
Is that what it says?
J-Johns.
You get to J-Johns.
J-Johns.
You get to J-Johns.
The Greggs.
Yeah.
They're branded.
Yeah, exactly.
To J-Johns.
You get to J-Johns, like, way quicker.
That is so satisfying to say.
I'm very glad that I had a stutter and I had to...
You get to J-Johns way earlier than anyone else.
Obviously, the other two, because they have to climb down the ladders
or go through Ike's little passageways.
It's a pretty grimy restaurant, but is like an actual eatery,
is a place where you can sit down and eat.
There is a few of these dimly lit tables and a small stage
where there's this, like, ethereal-looking alien
with these, like, six arms playing these, like, beautiful instruments.
Very doesn't fit the lower decks, but definitely sets a vibe for this bar,
even though the clientele would disagree.
There's this gorgeous music being played by this beautiful ethereal figure,
but the clientele are classic lower decks, like, coffin and smoking,
drinking and talking very loudly,
even though this figure is trying to play this music louder than ever.
After a small while, they start to play the music louder.
They're playing the music louder than ever.
After a small while, they stop, stutter and do a small bow
to very, very little applause and any form of reverence at all.
The zunk lapses.
They nod and they give a small smile to you and step off.
It seems to be some form of open mic.
How much would it be for four space dogs?
You walk over to this, like, weird slug,
big, big old slug with arms and these, like, big old eyes.
Hey, what is it you want, you four dogs?
Four dogs.
Four dogs. Hey!
Get your four dogs and do a Scraps voice.
I'm gonna turn it into another one.
Hey, aw, look at that. There you go.
Can I get all the condiments as well?
Hopefully with, you know, not mixed in with each other at all.
You want all the condiments on the side?
I don't know what my buds want.
Yeah, we've got probably not much for meat.
These actually contain meat and veg.
Oh, that theory act's a vegetarian, aren't they?
Well, if you're lucky, then yeah.
Can you make sure one of these dogs are unlucky?
We'll cut it open and we'll have a look before we get it,
but we can give your picky friend some vegetables or something, I'm sure.
I'm sure.
It's a good thing they already ate.
Yep, that'll do.
Alright, go have a seat. I'll remember your faces.
You better not. Take the plates.
Poor drinks of some kind.
Oh, yeah?
This slug you notice has like five different mouths as their accent keeps changing.
The more you speak to them, it switches between which mouth is speaking.
Oh, yeah, which...what drinks would you like?
Alcoholic, non-alcoholic?
Want smog wine?
I'm gonna elbow up on the bit.
Azam, anywhere on the lower decks, I love the confidence.
You're not gonna want to ever say surprise me to anyone working in the culinary industry down here.
Yeah, no, I confirm. Thank you.
Too non-alcoholic, too alcoholic.
That way we can just choose.
Smog wine sounds brilliant.
Alright, as they type up on a small, staticky, like, till,
you see two child's drinks and two adult drinks get popped up,
and then they slide across in just like a...in these two pint glasses,
thick, like thick black, like literally like captured smoke they put in front of you,
and the two other...in the child's drinks,
they push to kind of like murky...more like murky water that they put down.
Right, you go. There you go.
But I pick a table that you can stare at all of the doors at once from.
Good call. If there's people sitting there, I'm just gonna bring our plates over and say,
Scram, get out, go, shoo.
You walk over with the plates and as you say scram,
this like kind of beefy vesc, this lizard-type person,
gives her like a scoff, looks up, and then moves.
See Eric and Ike, we're gonna cut back to the upper decks.
Cut back some...go back a little bit in time.
When the two of you meet up, is there anything that you say to each other?
Are you just getting down the way you came?
While Ike is waiting on the stoop, she takes out the recipe and looks at it
and sends a text message to Quinn.
Good news! Exclamation point.
Turns out I may have access to more of those drinks.
Whenever you want them, feel free to tell your friends.
Smiley face. Sends the text.
That's great! You get sent back.
If you could give that to Shannon when you meet,
then that will be included in the 150 that I gave you for this job.
She starts to draft a message when the area comes up.
Says, hi! Did you enjoy your lunch?
It was fine. Nothing...extraordinary.
The veggie hot dog was adequate.
That's what you got! You got a...you got a space dog.
While you were here on the upper decks,
didn't get stuffed bread or the fried cheese or anything more delicious?
I clearly have made the wrong decision. Are you ready to go?
I am. You still have your mask, right?
Yes. And we'll just quickly go back inside and grab the giant dome.
The giant dome, yep.
Ike goes inside for a minute, realizes she has nothing to do in here,
and just takes back the keys and locks the door.
As Ike leads you back to the kind of tunnel that we can now kind of slide down,
so it's a little bit easier than our climbing before...
before...right before we hop in.
Ike asks, so, um, Doctor, how much would it cost, hypothetically,
to hire you to study a crystal?
Oh, um, you're referring to the crystal on board the patchwork. Um...
Is there another crystal that you're studying?
No, it's...well, there's a...one of the creatures at Wild Times
is more crystallined and organic, but that's not what you're talking about.
Um...
No.
Let me think. It would really depend on if I would be using other equipment
and materials besides ones that I personally carry on me,
such as ones that we might have at Wild Times,
which is what I believe we had discussed before,
perhaps going into the laboratory there.
At the moment, obviously, I need to actually go in and check the actual rates,
but I would estimate around 1,500 credits.
Okay, I might have found an answer.
Then I'll let you know, and, uh, she will kind of hop down into the tunnel.
Alright, and we'll just hop right along, right behind her.
You arrive into Jejean's as Skye and Azam get a plate of food brought to them.
These three of these space dogs have this, like, slightly discoloured,
like, milky pink sausages in them,
condiments of all different types from all these different places,
and this one, which looks just kind of like a slightly cooked cucumber,
is in one of the buns as well.
Hey guys! I picked you up some space dogs,
if for no other purpose than for you to take one bite
and form your own opinions about the culinary adventure
that is the Lower Decks.
Hi!
Hello.
Sorry, one of these dogs just makes your tongue kind of numb.
I am assuming the one that is a burnt cucumber is for me?
Probably, but only you can really decide that.
I'll pick it out.
So, we're in a death race.
You keep calling it a death race, I just want to be sure.
Is death the point of the race?
No, no, no, I mean, like, the point of the race is to win.
Death is more of a side effect if you don't.
Right, right, okay. Sorry, continue.
But that's why so much money is on the line here.
Actually, God, I don't remember the specifics of the death race.
It's not like death, you will die if you don't win,
it's just, there is a...
Very dangerous.
Yeah, it's very, very dangerous.
There is like, very, there's like no rules inside the race
aside from the fact that you have to cross the finish line.
I mean, not even that really.
The first person wins, everyone else, oops, oh well.
And with the price tag on the cup, it is pretty lucrative.
This has actually, like, this race has happened
like a few other times in like previous years,
and you know people that have joined it,
and people have like finished it but not won
and got walked away with like nothing.
There is also a pretty hefty sign-up fee,
but Tommy has seemingly already put that down.
We're there to actually impress someone, right?
Yes, you want to get the interest of Track or Schoolyard
who are two members of the Void,
which is a gang that runs in the lower decks,
and help them, and get them to sign up for Tommy's
little resistance group that they're forming.
So yeah, that's the deal that we're working with here, gang.
I would so much prefer to actually be in the race
and stay as far away from any Void members as possible,
because I like to go fast.
And that wouldn't happen to be about having issues with Void members.
No, just look at me, I'm scrappy.
I feel like Azzan is probably the better talker as well,
like he might be able to actually negotiate with them, you know?
That seems true.
I just want to drive.
I agree.
I've never met a Void member, so I don't know how unmeanable
they are to conversation.
Just picture like a regular person, except super scary.
And if you meet a Void member that has a name, like Track,
or who is the other one?
Schoolyard.
Void members get their name from the location
of the first person they killed.
So you can usually tell the vibe of a Void member from their name.
Track and Schoolyard.
There you go.
So anyway, I'd like to drive, please.
I certainly think that you should drive.
Thank you.
And there's no way to back out of this.
I mean...
No.
Azam and I are really the only people that are like in cahoots with the thing.
We've got to make our own race, before you two are probably quite capable at it.
Or at least make sure what race we get.
I think this technical term is not sucky.
I don't believe that's a technical term, but yes.
Well, for me it is. I haven't raced ever.
It's technically a term.
But I cannot say I have participated in a race either.
I'd be very surprised if you did.
I was thinking, Ike, you seem to know a thing or two about hacking.
And a big thing in this race is sabotage.
That's why it's so exciting.
I was thinking, you could use that cute little brain of yours
and hack our competitors.
What do you think?
Well, I... so I can...
I don't really have like a hacking...
I don't really do that.
But I can...
If you could talk to the other ships, races, pods...
What would they call them?
Well, it really depends. I think the only rule is to go fast.
So I have a couple blueprints going around in my brain,
and I think I want to build like a bike,
but some people might have like trucks or cars.
If you could talk to some of the fast, go-ey things,
and they're convincing to go a bit slower,
I think that's what we're asking.
Oh, so like I could just watch from the sidelines
and sort of ask the other machines to help you out?
The thing is, so in the blueprints in my brain,
I'm thinking I'm going to grab one of the many bikes
that are in that scrap yard where I first met Scrap,
you know, fix it up a little,
make it go as fast as that piece of junk can possibly go.
But the thing about this race is there might be people
jumping on my bike to try and beat the shit out of me.
So I'm hoping to have a little bit of backup with me, you know?
So I was thinking maybe like a sidecar
or like a double-decker bike situation.
And who would you bring along with you?
Well, any volunteers.
Um, could you just, can I just have a moment?
Sure.
I apologize. Just, I have to take this.
Yeah.
So she like does that thing where she like looks as though
she's hearing a ringing sound, but there is no ringing sound.
And then she picks up her phone and says, hello.
And she's going to step away for a minute.
And text Quinn a response to the last message and say,
um, sorry, uh, this will be a whole other job.
So just let me know if you want more and I can get more
anytime that you want.
Um, happy to give you a friendly discount.
Smiley face, exclamation point.
You don't get a text, but you do get a call.
As you look at your phone, Quinn is calling you.
Ike does not walk away from the group.
And lights up like a Christmas tree.
Um, and takes a call.
Hi.
It's nice to get a call from you.
Yes. Um, what was that message about?
Oh, just letting you know that I have the opportunity to get more beverages.
Um, limited beverages, but I have come across that opportunity
and I wanted to make sure that you had a first tips on getting, you know, more from me.
Did you steal that from the shipment that you got for me that I paid you for?
You need to have this job, you know, I'm like, I am doing it off my own back.
No, I did the first job and now I've got a chance to go and get more.
So I'm volunteering to get more.
Okay. Good. And the phone goes dead.
Ike said that you didn't turn away from the group.
Yeah.
Can I roll a perception check to see how much of that I heard from both ends?
Delon, this is your call so you can set DCs and things.
Do you want me to roll just to hear if I heard Ike's part of the conversation?
I think Ike is nearby, so you all definitely would hear Ike's side of the conversation.
30-20.
Okay. Yeah. All right.
So then you would, I mean, through the phone, like receiver, so not like crystal clear or anything like that,
but you might hear like tone and stuff.
Is Ike still lit up like a Christmas tree?
No. No.
Ike looks like one of those Christmas lawn balloon creatures at the end of January
when no one's been filling them up with air anymore.
Yeah, Ike looks concerned, defeated, and nervous.
I thought that you grabbed the recipe from Leviathan's eyes
so that you wouldn't have to go get more of the drinks.
I think the idea is she's going to make more of the drinks.
Why would... I thought you were doing this job for your friends.
Why won't you just give them the recipe so they can make their own drinks?
Well, I also need to make some money, and this is how I make money.
I was going to give them the recipe, but they may or...
Wouldn't know what to do with it, right?
I mean, I... sure. They wouldn't know what to do with it.
Well, I can speak for the rest of the crew, but I would love to have you aboard this death race.
Death race.
You really need to call it something else.
I think it has an actual name. I kind of prefer death race.
It's not marketable, but it's honest.
How far is the race?
The race is in a week. It's in seven days.
It's in a week.
How... sorry. How long...
Distance.
Distance. How much do you have to drive your bike or car or...
Would I actually know that? Would I have attended one of these races or have known about it, heard about it enough to know what the distance is?
I think you would have heard about it, whether or not you've built something for someone who's done a race or you've known people who've done a race.
It's a different question.
I think you would have an understanding that it's pretty long.
It's like the whole race is a few miles.
It's kind of a... you turn up and it's like, obviously you start here and then they tell you where you're going mid-race.
There's no cordoning off of areas or anything like that. It's like get here as quick as possible.
And then everyone goes. But it's normally a few miles.
It's kind of like a fun little surprise every single time, but a couple miles.
Okay. Well, I... truthfully, I really don't want you to die.
I think that you're very...
Aw, thank you.
You're welcome. Also, I still do need someone to teach me how to dance.
So I am hoping you'll be around a bit.
Me?
For... for your... your ball.
Right. It's going to be a bit soon-ish.
We all invited. Just this one.
Well, technically, none of you were invited, but I... I can try.
But I... I am going with my friend and I have never been to one of those things before.
Have you been to any sort of high function... sort of gathering akin to that?
No. Well, I've been to meetings.
But not a celebratory sort of...
No.
I would be able to assist you with that.
In... in what way?
You know, networking and schmoozing and I can... I've... I'm not... I am not an expert choreographer, but I know the basics.
I'm sorry, schmoozing? Basic is a second language to me. What is...
It's the act of small talk.
Networking?
Yeah, you said networking and small talk almost anyone can do.
Conversational combat.
Oh!
Is that what you consider schmoozing?
Down here, yeah.
Oh, I got a bone in my... I got a bone in my dog.
Oh my god.
You scared the shit out of me. I thought I saw you dying live on camera.
I'm sorry.
Act-ting.
Act-ting!
What's hysterical is that you surprised me and then I swallowed wrong.
I'm so sorry.
I'm joking. I was just like...
I believed... I believed you.
I'm so sorry.
No.
Yeah, I did workshops and shit.
Oh god.
Now I do this.
That's... that's good.
I get it. So you're like a... you're a con artist, a grifter.
That is not at all what I do. I will defend my honor before all of you.
Viriak is a doctor.
Well, I know that.
A very serious doctor.
I mean, you can be a doctor and a con artist.
I don't think so. I've never heard of that before. Everybody... that I know.
You're like, everyone's a con artist in some way or another.
True. If you're not lying to someone else, you're lying to yourself.
Didn't you say you like read a... read a rebellion or something?
There must have been a few lies.
No, no, I didn't say that.
What?
I didn't... I didn't say that. No, I would never say that.
A few people like turn their heads on... on tables.
Didn't say that out loud. Ever.
Oh.
Scotty.
I... I must have been thinking of somebody else.
Yeah, like Tommy.
Tommy.
I suddenly have the feeling that we all don't actually know each other.
We met like yesterday. Of course we don't.
Well, don't say that. We know each other a little bit.
I mean, I'd like to get to know you guys better.
Um... okay. Well, so... Sky?
Hm?
Um... if... if the race is more than... a mile, which it sounds like it is,
I... will not be able to help you with the other cars, um, unless I go with you. Is that...?
Co-pilot? You can be my co-pilot?
I can't really drive, but I...
Co-pilot! Yeah! Oh, it's gonna be so fun!
Okay. Um, so, um, if we're going to do this, uh, maybe we should get to know each other a little bit more.
Okay. Uh, what's your favorite color?
I like, awkwardly looks down at like the pink motif of her armor that's literally covering her entire body, and looks back up. I guess it's this.
You're gonna have to explain what color that is, because you're wearing...
Are you colorblind?
I mean, I see heat signatures, not really.
No way, really? That's so cool!
So you see in like the equivalent of infrared.
Yeah!
Is my hand... what color are my hands?
They're not. It's hard to explain.
Am I warm or cold?
How about now?
They're warmer because you just rubbed them with friction. And yes, you look fairly warm, although your armor conceals some of it.
Is Theriac warm? Is Theriac warm? Is Theriac warm? Is Theriac warm?
Theriac gives off a heat signature, probably based upon condensation, and it is collecting in that dome.
That is true. I do think Theriac does have a little terrarium.
Could you like tell if somebody has a crush on you? Because if they walk like over to you and like their cheeks get all red and like warm and stuff when they're talking to you?
Yeah, my people don't do that because we're all this. So we don't really heat up more.
Unless we're really sick.
If one of us ever has a crush on you, then you'll know.
Oh wow! Why did I say that?
I'm 17.
So...
You're a wonderful fella, but you're gonna have to pass.
I'm so confused right now.
You'll get it when you're older.
I do want to circle back to something I learned earlier during that phone call. You are 17 years old?
Me? Yeah. Why is that surprising? What about the everything about me made you think that I would be anything but 17?
There are lots of folks a little bit older than you that have your aesthetic.
Not my attitude.
Are you complimenting yourself based upon your youth, or are you denigrating yourself?
Complimenting myself, why not?
So what's gonna happen when you get older? You're gonna suddenly change dramatically into a...
I don't know. I'll figure that out tomorrow.
I see.
Do you know where you're gonna be in 10 years?
Probably dead.
Why?
Well, I tend to live a really risky life, so...
What are you looking at?
You're just assuming?
Oh, not at all age!
I'm hop-
Come on, I've still got a century in me at least.
But do you see yourself dead in 10 years?
Probably.
I live a very risky life, okay?
Well, as your current and potential future crewmates, I think we have every right to find that concerning.
I don't know. That doesn't seem concerning to me. That's a life worth living.
I think you should maybe think about surviving a little bit longer.
Survival?
You sound like an upper decker.
I...am...an upper decker.
I know.
I'm just realizing something. Hold on. Can I do a culture check?
Yeah!
What are common names for Sheeran?
I know that's a highly specific-
Yeah, give me a culture check. Let's go.
Well, that's a seven.
Interesting.
Also, Sheeran, for dumb bitch listeners like me, are the bug type people.
So, in seven, you don't know a lot of Sheeran, but a lot of them have very...for lack of a better term, bug sounding names.
Hard letters, mandible, being able to speak with mandibles.
No examples, but you know that.
I don't know if you all remember episode one. I was showing off my cellphone and how decrepit it is to I.
And I went through the pictures and I pointed at my friend Hive, the Sheeran, whose name is Hive and decidedly not bug sounding.
Although it's fairly...I just realized something.
Are you saying any of this?
I think the only thing I say out loud, I actually think I might have met a void member before.
I might be friends with them.
Oh, is it your friend?
What's...
Yeah, Hive.
And they're a void member.
Oh, that makes...because that is a location.
Yeah! Yeah, they are!
Yeah, they are.
Oh, um...
A good person.
Oh, I um...I know Hive. I know how they got their name.
I think that someone that does that, you know, could be a good person.
They've got quite a track record to balance out, though.
Is Hive...
Wait, you don't leave...you haven't left Saga much before shipping off with Scrap, right?
Nah.
Is Hive here?
You know what? They might be.
I think I need to make a call.
Yup.
I need to take a big bite of my hot dog.
Space dog.
Whatever the hell it's called.
Yeah, in space, all the space dogs are called.
Space. Every food has space in front of it.
Space Funyun.
Yes. On the menu, you see space ravioli.
Oh, um, if you're gonna call Hive, you know what? Just don't tell him I'm here. Can you do me a solid?
What...what did you do?
Oh, what haven't I done? Asam, could you just please do me this favor? Could you just please tell Hive that you don't know who I am? Can we just...
I won't bring up your name.
Don't bring me up at all. Please. I am like actually begging you, Asam.
I will not.
That's the last thing everyone at this table wants.
Oh, yeah, I've got it.
Thank you so much.
Sky, sorry, I kind of saddles up to the Ariac and like throws a little arm like behind their head encasing.
The collar? Oh no, the terrarium thing.
The terrarium thing. There is an arm around their shoulders.
This is a little more stressful than I imagined it would be, but I'm glad you're not also involved in any crime, at least.
Well...
Is it a crime if it...if there are no laws based around it yet?
No, I've checked. I'm very serious that there are no crimes committed if there's no law to be broken.
Wonderful.
Also, wait, weren't you a smuggler?
I'm...no, I'm a...I am...
She deals in cargo.
Thank you. I move shipments.
From the lower decks to the upper deck.
Right. It's not illegal if you have permission to be on the upper decks.
Does it happen to be because you're taking things from the lower decks?
Matt?
Hello.
I...I am going to say that Ike has literally never considered that in her entire life as a possibility.
So can I make a...
I feel kind of bad. I'm sorry.
Can I make a...
What are we trying to do?
I'm trying to see if I can connect the dots of what Skye just said to what is very clearly reality.
You can give a wisdom...just like a wisdom check.
Just a wisdom? Okay.
Or you can decide if the connection is a wisdom...ah, or an intelligence...you can decide which one.
I might be leaning a tad more to...I mean, I'll take either.
I do think it's wisdom. It makes more sense, yeah. Okay.
Tad.
Can we just say that was an amazing way to describe the difference between wisdom and intelligence right there?
Yeah.
Wow. I am...I swear I am not lying about this, but that is a natural point.
Fucking hell.
I swear.
Good lord.
Thank you, Bard and Barbarian.
That is two nat 20s tonight.
Okay, I shuts up and just fuck shrugs.
Regarding this race of death, as someone who already has a lot of negative publicity about them,
specifically not being in the location that I might...that I have been expected to be,
making myself visible to a public event like a race might not be the smartest idea.
Okay, so you want to go in disguise or be incognito, blend into the crowd?
I had not even considered that as an option.
I got you.
You can do that.
Oh yeah, it's the lower decks. Like, half the people in here are probably disguised. Are you kidding me?
Would my skill set be of any use in a race?
I mean, there's very little rules in this race, so I'm sure you've got one hell of an imagination.
You know, you made an entire wildlife park?
Educational wildlife park.
Wildlife educational facility? What did you want us to call it again?
A park is correct.
I wonder how that call's going.
With?
Oh yes, of course. Azam's call. Azam left.
Azam was going to call Hive.
Did Azam leave to call Hive?
Yeah, yeah. Azam, I think he held back a little bit when he realized they were talking crimes.
And then as soon as the conversation slightly died down, walked off, just in case they were talking about him, you know?
Yeah.
Or their crimes. And then he realized that all of them had probably committed crimes before.
It was a deep breath.
Because how do you call someone who you haven't spoken to in 30 years and the last time you saw them wasn't a firefight?
You just do it.
And he finds Hive's old number, prays to heaven it works, and does not text, but calls.
There's that weirdly elongated silence when you're on a call that you want.
And from between clicking the call to when the ringing starts, it feels like it stretches out for far longer than it should.
And then there is the first...
And that continues for a few more tones.
And then it goes on again for slightly longer than you feel it should.
Does Azam at any point decide that enough tones is enough, or does Azam wait?
He waits.
Leans like precariously against a wall that just groans under his bulk.
A little bit.
It takes a few seconds to just look around.
There's people in old beat-up analogue cars.
People who drive in hover here.
They exclusively... every car has wheels, you've noticed.
Everyone drives something on the ground.
There's a few people off in the distance covering themselves from the rain under a large broken neon sign.
As your mind slightly begins to wander, there's a...
Yeah?
Hive.
It's been a long time, old friend.
Oh, shit.
Um...
I'm on socket.
Oh, shit.
Um... when did you get out?
A couple days back.
Hey, if you want to meet up for a coffee, I'm...
That's good. I can do that.
Yeah.
I can do that, too.
Alright. Hey, it's good to...
It's good to hear from you. I'm...
Yeah, I'm not... I'm just sorry of how I left it.
Not your fault.
Hey, uh, yeah. How did you know I was on saga or are you just here for no reason?
Uh, have you known me for how long, then?
Yeah, a couple years. You know what it takes.
When I really want to find someone, how long does it take me for me to actually find them?
Are you working for the Hats now?
No, I just thought I'd scare you. It's a complete coincidence, but I heard your name as I surround it.
And I figured we should talk.
I'm out of that. I don't... Like, I have a good... I'm set up.
With Void, I know.
Fucking hell.
I just want a chance to talk to an old friend. That's all.
Hey, if you want a drink, I am open.
Let's do it. Whereabouts?
It depends. Do you want to... What do you want? Do you want a place to actually talk or do you want a place where it doesn't really matter who we are?
Up to you.
Yeah, there's a place I know. It's called the Prohibition. It's good. I'll text you the address.
Alright.
Weird hearing from you.
Bound to happen eventually, I guess.
To be honest, I fully did think you were dead. Your old flame told me that you were getting out.
Don't. Don't. Don't.
I'll see you then. Prohibition.
Prohibition. Alright.
And I hang up.
Anyway, Theoryac, what were you thinking?
I am primarily working in life sciences and considering the nature of saga, I don't imagine there will be many animal mounts in this race.
Will there be? God? Space God? Is there a history of there being animal mounts, Space God?
Yeah. People have used mounts and weird creatures before, but an unspoken feature of the race is how well you can augment and build the vehicle.
Because it's used to go fast, and when you have something that's used to go very fast, if it has organic legs and will stop because it's tired is normally regarded as a quite large negative.
So there's been a few animals, but they've never gotten very far in the race.
I mean, yeah, there might be, but they're usually movies, you know?
Well, I had a terrible thought.
What's the terrible thought?
Well, I am able to reconstruct genetic sequencing through biohacking.
Oh, if you're trying to lay low, maybe biohacking the animals, which are most likely not going to be a threat to us, might not be the best way to go about it.
I wasn't thinking about the animals.
Doctor, sorry, what were you thinking?
The other competitor?
Again, terrible thought.
That's fucked. That is fucked. Oh my God.
The process of science indicates that we should consider all options and then disregard the ones that are morally reprehensible.
No, yeah, the process of the death race is pretty much the same thing.
Are they going to have permanent brain damage or something if you mess with them?
We have experienced in the past with wild times a particular hitch in a few of the biohacks.
They are primarily intended to turn an organism's aggressive behavior into complacent behavior.
I've actually got an idea then. Why don't an A team and a B team, A team, me and I, in the race with the sidecar, B team goes to talk to the members of Void.
Having a skill that takes aggressive people and potentially makes them more docile might help a zombie.
I agree, actually, if you're going to be futzing with people, I think I'd rather have it be the Void.
Also, no offense, Theriac, you don't strike me as somebody that has a lot of street smarts, but you do have a way with words, which might come in handy.
That's very true. I'm quite a good diplomat, and I would be more than willing to work alongside Azam if he would be willing to have me.
Have you in what way?
Oh, hey, Azam.
Regarding joining you in meeting with the Void.
Meeting with the Void?
Yeah, the schoolyard and track at the race.
Well, we could meet the Void member now.
Right now?
Well, soon. A place called Prohibition.
Should I work on the biohack implementation now?
Up to you, but I owe a friend a chat.
This was your friend?
This is mine.
If we're going to have a ride ready for the race, I might want to get to work right now.
So I'm going to go ahead and pass on meeting Hive and just go find a bike instead.
I think it would be...
I'm going to come with you.
Well, I was actually going to say it might be a good idea for all you guys to go together because one, you're meeting a Hive member, even one as lovely as Hive, might be a good idea to have more numbers than one.
Secondly, I know you all are new to the lower decks. I have learned far more about Void than I ever wanted to.
Might be a good idea for you to gather some information from Hive.
But everyone here, just do me a solid and not mention me at all.
I don't judge you at all for making your way to the upper decks.
Not a lot of us have that chance.
And I finally have that chance.
Please, do not fuck it up for me.
Well, I absolutely will not mention you.
Thank you.
Hive is a friend. He wouldn't...
That doesn't matter.
They wouldn't.
You can't say that.
We won't mention you.
No, I mean, obviously not. I mean, I'm not sure I need backup. Hive is not going to hurt me.
I... It has been 30 years.
Yeah.
Okay, if Hive were to hurt me, I'd be dead before I walked in the door. He's a sniper.
And honestly, I know the more recent Hive, and I'm not lying, they are as far as Void members go.
They're okay, but Void has a way of learning things from people, no matter how lovely they are.
So I'm saying, out of all the Void members that you could talk to and learn the lower decks ways, Hive actually is a pretty good option.
Assam?
Yeah?
I think this guy knows what she's talking about.
In this... very...
I mean, if you want to go alone, Assam, I understand and respect that as well.
Okay, okay. I approach alone. You two get a table in the same building.
Keep an eye on things, but give me a chance to... Yeah.
You sure you want to go off alone to, well, junkyard?
I've been alone for 17 years in the lower decks. I think I'm going to be okay, but thanks for your concern.
I don't mean if you're going to be okay or not. I mean, do you want to?
Yeah, I work better alone anyway.
Do you?
I just got to find a bike. What, are you going to hand me a wrench? Also, Scrap's going to be there. That's where we landed, right?
Okay, we can just get a table and be nearby for assistance.
And also, I got my phone. You can contact me at any time and I'll be like, not dead, LOL, you know?
That would be comforting.
We'll have a good time. Biking and building.
No, Sky. I just, in the seat, there's a little, for my tail, like a hole or something.
Oh, you got it.
Just so I don't have to squish it in there. Very uncomfortable.
Anything else you want in your little side guy?
That's, that's all.
Any color you want it painted?
Pink, make it pink.
Sure. I, that's fine. If you want to.
Of course. No, what you want.
Okay. All right. I wanted, yeah, that's good.
All right. Everybody, I placed the glasses in front of everybody. Take a shot.
Wait, is that alcoholic one?
Bye everybody.
We follow Sky.
You know your way back to the scrap yard from here.
Do you, are you kicking your, your hoverboard in?
Yeah.
As you like put your goggles on, you feel a pulling against your temple.
One that you are like, you know, of this is a, this is a normal thing.
It's normally how you hack and communicate with things.
You feel a, a pulling as you put your goggles down and your hoverboard like,
almost like you can directly communicate, understand each other in a organic, connected sense.
Board is life.
Board is life. You're, you down the streets. You're doing kickflicks over ramps and you.
Grind on railings.
Exactly. Yeah. Whipping and slipping through.
I'm so sick. I say that out loud.
Through the streets. Yeah.
And you, you arrive to the scrap yard. You see the, a patch of outside.
You can see stars from here as well as a few clouds as more like huge piles of, of rubbish is, is thrown into this, into this hole down.
As you arrive at the front gate, a piece of paper is taped to the, to the front of it.
It says, if you need me, no, you don't.
If it's an emergency, it can wait.
If you are Sky, call this number.
And then it has scrap written underneath.
Beep boop beep boop beep boop.
Yabadee dabadabda babo.
What's going on? On?
Boop baboop ba da doo doo boo.
Da da da da da da da da da da da da da da.
What's up?
I literally never get tired of that song. I fucking love that song so much.
Hey, what's up?
Oh, not much. I'm just back. We entered.
Did you sell the stuff?
Yes. Yes, we did. Right? We did.
Yeah, you did. Yeah. Yeah.
No, we sold it to, yeah, you know, PIL?
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Oh, nice. Oh, good stuff.
Also, we entered the Death Race.
Hmm. Come again?
I also entered the Death Race.
Cool. Uh, what? Why? That, that is...
Because it sounded like it'd be fun.
I know that's not the most responsible answer.
I mean, we're also doing it to like fuck with some upper deckers and make a shit ton of money.
So there are benefits, but mostly it just sounded right as hell.
Stop. Wait. Stop. Stop.
How much money?
Uh, I think the price was like a thousand or something, but I think part of our deal was we have to give it to the cause or something.
I'm gonna be honest, Scrap, I stopped listening as soon as they said Death Race.
Hey, money's money, right?
Uh, and you hear a, um, a like slam at the other end, like a boop-boop, and then the gates open in front of you.
Um, so you can enter the Scrapyard.
Uh, right. What are we looking for, then?
I crack my knuckles and I'm okay to jump to the other scene.
We jump on over to the other scene.
Unless there's any other scenes that you'd like to do in the meantime, we're gonna jump to the, uh, the Prohibition.
These several mannequin-looking robots that are all playing this, uh, jazz music as you, as you enter,
you get let in by a heavy, like these two Han, these like smaller bug creatures, similar to Shirin, but, but way smaller
and are more, more resembling ticks than the Shirin's resembling other insectoids.
These mannequins are all, are all playing this, this jazz music in this very well-lit, think 1940s club.
There's a lot of people all dancing, they're in suits, and, uh, there's like, uh, these robots in flapper dresses on a stage,
which are dancing around, and you see across a bar, drinking out of a almost empty glass, a far older hive.
They used to have this, like, these like vibrant reds and greens all over them.
They've now dulled and dimmed. The greens have taken over the reds more in their face.
Their eyes are just like a little paler than they used to be, and they are wearing a, a messy, attempting-to-be-well-kept suit.
If you end up listening, you're probably going to figure out some things about me that, uh...
That's fine.
Just, uh, okay. I'm going to do a quick, uh, can I do a quick tactics check?
I want to see the likelihood of an ambush being set up here.
Yeah, sure. Yeah, give me a tactics.
Because now it's in my head.
Seventeen.
This is a pretty, this is a pretty public club, but it is down a hall in a basement-type club.
It seems to be very, like, happening, and there's a lot of, uh, a lot of activity going on, but an ambush doesn't seem likely.
You clock a few people who are actually quite well-armed, not guarding the place as they are mingling and talking with customers,
but well-prepared for things in case of something going wrong.
I gently tap Ike on the shoulder, because Theriax is a bit too small, and I nod at the people who I'm recognizing as heavily armed.
Phone yourselves a table. Probably won't take long.
I got it.
How do I look? Old? Look old.
No. You look like a lava dragon. I don't know. You look good.
I don't know what is old for you, but you look fine to me.
I mean, I probably should have, um, shelled a little bit before, but never mind.
Just go, go.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Take a deep breath, nod at Theriax, and head over to Hive.
Um, as he heads over, Ike will very quickly order a couple of drinks. What is Theriax like in a vague way?
Caffeine beverages, hydrating beverages, alcohol beverages.
Oh, hydrating beverages.
Hydrating beverage. Okay. All right, I get a nice, like, electrolyte water for Theriax and hot cocoa for Ike.
She tips well and brings us over to a booth that is near-ish, I would say within like 25 feet of where we see Azam going.
And before we sit down, Ike, um, like, with part of her shirt will, like, clean the dust off of the table to make it a little nicer.
You, when you pull your shirt away, you, you see that it's actually not as dirty as it, as it looks.
It's, it's been through a lot, but is, like, the table has been wiped quite recently. It seems like there is at least some recognition of cleanliness in this place.
Azam, you walk over to Hive.
I, I don't say a word at first. I take my hand and place it on the side of their face, and then I, I, like, hesitate for a split second before kissing them on the forehead and then banging my head very close to theirs.
You've gotten old, friend.
And I see, uh, prison dinners seem to suit you.
It was very bland.
Yeah, I can't imagine the Shadow Realm feeds well.
So you knew where it was?
Yeah. Uh, we all did, a little.
We sent a few hushed messages, but we, most of us came back. I could, I had people to think about.
I know. I don't begrudge you that.
Why are you here? What are you planning to do?
Saga?
Generally, you're out. I genuinely thought you died.
I don't know. Honestly. I'm trying to take it day to day and not think about what I've left behind because I'm terrified.
Erem isn't looking good. It's bled dry. Surt are moving off. Most of them got on a ship the last I heard.
I've been trying to avoid learning that for, uh, seven days now.
Yeah, I thought you might. Without you, we just couldn't.
The hope was dead.
I was one man. I've... one man.
So were all of us, together. All of us made up one of you. We just couldn't. It was, it was done.
They slaughtered everyone. Aside from a handful who could get away.
What are you doing here?
Surviving. Successfully. I've tried to do what I can, but I...
Have you? Honestly. I'm not gonna judge it. Have you?
Yeah. I wasn't in that revolution for you or Erem or any ifrit.
I know.
I, a few years ago, did some stuff, but I've just been trying to keep my head above water.
Heth don't come down here that often.
Let me ask you something. You look around here, you used to bristle at places like this.
Because they showed just how bad things have gotten.
So tell me, what are you doing to stop it? Delay it? Put a pause on it? Anything?
I've done a lot of very bad shit. I've hit them where it hurts a lot, and it's just not worth it. They're unbreakable.
This is a good dream. It was. They took you a whole operation. Just up and went.
And we've tried to do the same to them. It doesn't matter what we throw at them. They will just get right back on the horse.
See, that was the difference between you and me. Me and a lot of other people. I...
I never thought we were gonna win. I never did. But I wanted to buy time.
Asshole. It's easy to be cynical. It's hard to fight through it.
Doesn't matter. I didn't come here to talk to you about...well, that I came to talk to you about Void.
Well, and to check on how you were doing.
Although judging by the fit of that suit, probably not well.
What, you want to join up? Think you're trying to make some money? I can get you a job.
I'm gonna say, everyone but probably your two friends here have done some work for them in the past.
This place is owned by them.
Yeah, I figured that as soon as I walked in. I like, nodded several of the people who are clearly armed.
I'm not that out of touch.
Well, I am, but still got skills. I'm not looking to sign up. I'm looking to...
You know, Tommy?
The...fucking...
Android augmentation in the overflow?
Trying to start a revolution? U2.0? Yeah, I've heard of them.
They want Void on their side. And I want to know what's the likelihood of that happening.
And what's their plan? Voiders don't just randomly do shit.
They want to buy time. Build hope.
Look, you can't just let me...you can't just let them win, Hive.
You do that, you give up on who you are.
I was me way before I met you.
I know, but are you happy with who you are?
I'm happy with the money in my pocket.
I'm happy that my wife and kid are alright.
Void offered me a chance when no one else would, way before you.
But they do things. They did something.
They helped.
Yeah, you bought time, but how's those extra 30 years been treating you?
If I hadn't done...if I hadn't let them take me, you think you'd be alive right now? Honestly asking.
No.
Who would please or anyone else? Because who they wanted was me.
So best idea, buy time. And it worked.
You have a kid now.
Bought time means that you use it to do something with. You don't just sit there...
And what, do you want me to waste all that time?
For what, some dream that we had when...
No, all I want you to do is look around you. Fight for those people.
Eram's gone. I can't save my home.
But you can delay the damage here. As will Maddus.
You're better than this. You've always been better than this.
You're more than just crack shot, you're a...
You're a believer, Hive. More of a believer than I ever was.
You came to my planet. Fought by my side.
Because you believed, and I know that person's still in there.
I can see him right now. You want to believe.
What do you want?
I want to know what it's going to take to get Void onto Hive's side.
That's all.
And I want to see your wife and kid.
One of those is easier than the other.
We can...
I can't promise anything. I've worked for Void for way before I met you.
I took a break for five years, and then I went back to working for them.
But I still don't know any of the big shit.
I can point you in directions of people who do, but Azam, these are bad people.
They will grab you and use you. They have their fucking roots in everything.
Yeah, I know. I told Tommy the same thing.
But they believe with Void's help, actual change can happen.
I've never really been that optimistic, but you know.
I see someone believe in something. Good kid.
I'm not about to let myself be used by the International Crime...
Intergalactic Crime Syndicate.
Well, it's more like intragalactic because you're only one galaxy, I'm assuming.
No, there aren't a few.
Their price isn't monetary.
They will get you to...
To take shit.
I'm talking again. Financial.
They don't do things for people who aren't theirs. Not for anyone else's gain.
If you do this, I will show you. I can show you people in this fucking bar.
But I want you to know what this is.
I would love to say that I'm not going to be a part of it, but the very fact that I introduce you at all would mean that I am.
And I'm happy to join in whatever stupid dream you have.
But I don't know if... I don't know if you fully grasp.
And if you do, then let's do it. For old time's sake.
I said that Tommy wants Void. I might have other plans.
Come to the race.
You're doing the race?
Well, a friend of mine is doing the race.
I need you to meet the wife.
Because it would probably be easier to talk shop.
When we're not here.
Yeah. Be honest with me.
I take a small glance at Eig and Theriax direction.
I stand out like soulfuls.
Do you mean the upper decker and the plant? Yeah. Little bit.
We move on over a little to Eig and Theriax.
Eig and Theriax, what have we been doing in this time?
Ike is going to just listen for a few minutes at least to get the vibe of the conversation and see if it felt hostile.
Cool.
But that did not seem so much hostile.
You can definitely roll me a perception check, though.
Okay. 14.
Great. Theriax, anything you'd like to do in this time or are you just also taking notes?
Just taking notes, I think.
While we're listening?
Well, actually, I guess I should wait and see what my perception check gets me.
You feel a buzz on your phone.
It isn't a text message or a call buzz.
Any form of notification that you know.
I just check it.
Your phone is almost a purely black screen.
You click the lock and it doesn't seem to turn on, but the words hello come up.
And you can feel that familiar connection to technology when it comes up.
Ike. Doctor.
My phone is talking to me.
What?
My phone. It's talking to me.
Could you demonstrate?
Oh, maybe. And I pick the phone up and I put it between us on the table and I say hello.
It writes he's coming and then it backspaces itself.
Who?
Your last called contact.
Oh. Sorry. Who's this?
Do you have a name?
A serial code appears on the screen.
Does Derek have their notepad out? Like that they're usually jotting notes down?
Yeah, the little...
Can you?
Sure. We'll type it in.
It backspaces all of the serial code. I can feel his phone.
Who? It said your last called contact?
Yes. I called my friend Quinn.
So, I mean, that should be fine, right? Isn't that fine?
You did tell him... Okay. You in fact stole the recipe to the drinks that you were giving to this group.
The recipe wasn't part of our deal. Just the drinks. So I figured the recipe was mine to... have.
Did you advertise that you were able to create more drinks?
I did.
That's probably why they are coming. And it's probably not for a good reason.
Well, that's...
The phone makes like a small static crackle, like it's trying to speak.
And then you hear a crowd of people and then...
Sorry, no entry. Do you have an appointment?
Yes, I'm here to meet with Playground. They should be inside. I have a package for them.
Then the phone cuts out and writes, he's outside.
I don't see a problem with this. It's just my friend.
He probably just has... questions. I mean, if he...
Hey, your friend who you just gave cargo to that is now entering an underground club to just bring around.
Do you think that they just are going to be... they just have it on them while they're making a pit stop here?
No. I... no. I... I... um... I don't know. Um... it... but it... it doesn't... it doesn't make sense.
So I think this should be fine. But maybe just you should... you should... um... go.
Ike.
What?
Look at me. You just stay calm, okay?
I'm calm?
If you don't want to be spotted here, we should probably go.
I... I'm gonna... I'm gonna make a sense motive for... Ike for what she's hearing over the phone.
Um, what is it particularly you're trying... are you just trying to suss out like what is happening in the phone?
Yeah, I'm trying to... I'm trying to see... Theiriak is clearly giving the vibe that this is not good.
The phone voice is giving the vibe that this is not good. Uh... but it's not...
Yeah, you get... you get... you get the sense the phone isn't telling you that this isn't good.
It's just informing you, hey, hello, your last known contact is outside.
And is trying to like log something, like tell you some form of information.
You don't get the sense that it's bad. And that is... that has nothing to do with the role at all.
That is just pure basic information. This is... the phone is telling you a factual piece of information.
Like Quinn is within distance of you.
You... you also do understand that you are in a void based bar, like a gang bar.
And Quinn has said that he is outside with some form of package. And you don't know what that is.
Doctor, I think maybe I should stay. Um... and make sure that this is okay.
And maybe... maybe I'll just go and meet him at the door. And you just...
Are you... are you certain?
Yes! I think I am. Uh... and you just stay here and everything's gonna be fine.
I'm just gonna... talk to him. That's okay. Okay?
Alright. I'll stay with Skye, I suppose.
Yeah. I... I'll probably be right back. It's gonna be so fine.
It's just... I don't know why I'm even making a big deal about it. It's just... it's just my friend. That's all.
I'll... I'll keep an eye on you. Just... just in case, alright?
Okay. That's fine.
You, I assume, leave and go up the stairs?
You leave and you go up the stairs. You can hear Quinn now being like,
This is ridiculous. I have an appointment to just go in. I'm not going to take very long at all.
I'm going in and dropping something off and then I'll leave.
As you get to the top of the stairs, you see Quinn, this like quite fancy mask over their face.
But for a breathing apparatus mask. And in their hands they are carrying the Storm's Eye drinks that you got.
Oh. Okay.
Um.
Mathy, may I cast two spells?
Yes, you can. Absolutely. Yes.
What?
Yes.
I...
Ike's about to snap...
Ike... is very upset.
Ike would like to be in her head. She's screaming.
Quite a lot.
And I want to direct those screams to the lights, particularly any lights that are located above and around Quinn's presence in this bar, in this location.
So like right around where Quinn is. And I want to ask the lights to please draw attention to my friend and cast dancing lights.
And I kind of want them to just start flickering around in a circle.
At the same time, or just after I do that, I would like to cast Go sound if I can.
And I want just the sounds of the bar to be like just louder where he is.
So that it's just like the volume is increasing in that area. So that just all attention in the bar is just put directly on him.
Absolutely. Like the... there's like these like old hanging even like some light posts around all that like...
You see that the full light bulbs that should give this full 360 view somehow seem to light specific points.
The speakers seem to like burst into life and begin to echo the natural sound of downstairs being helped from a karaoke microphone that hasn't been used in years behind the bar, which has also turned on to help you out with this.
There is a sarcophony of noise and light directly at Quinn.
People in the queue that are waiting all start like a step back and start looking and whispering to one another.
The bouncer like stops the questioning and starts to like slowly reach for a pistol on their side.
And Quinn is just looking around and staring.
I walk away back to theiriak.
It's fine.
We should go.
Was that you? Did you do that?
Well I asked for them to do that and they did, which is nice.
You would like to leave now?
I would like to leave now. I think Azam has this.
I was worried at first, but they seem to be doing alright.
There's a back way.
Yes.
I will start by Azam and just say like, Azam, we are going to step out for a little bit.
We'll be outside when you're ready.
Anything to do with that light show?
I said it was fine.
Yeah, go off and be safe I guess.
We'll be outside.
As you both leave out the back way, you feel another buzz on your phone.
Looking at it, the black screen is still on and the message, I'm sorry, and then the phone deletes the I'm sorry.
And then says, I love you, and then a little picture of a little love heart emoji comes up.
I love you too!
The heart and all the words mix into a loading screen, and then a download seems to start.
But just like a system reboot update starts as the phone returns back to normal.
Oh, good night!
A little like vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv from the phone, and thanks.
And you leave the prohibition.
Were you communicating with it again?
Yes, that's like how I talk to the Wynet game and...
...to the lights and...
And you... and you know it is not another person manipulating.
Hmm... um...
As you say that, Theriac, you've both stopped in a streetlight, lighting up this part of the road.
The rain still is coming down slightly heavier, but you look around and...
...behind you all of the lights are slightly dimmer than the one you're under now.
And you look up and there seems to be almost mechanical shutters.
Because you haven't really noticed that it's been raining.
And there's mechanical shutters that have half closed over where you stood.
Where you've... where you're standing. As if to guard Ige from the rain.
These shutters have half shut and this light is slightly brighter on where you walk.
I... I suppose that's possible, but I'm...
I'm pretty sure they're just the machines.
Could I try to communicate with it?
I think... I think we could try that.
Alright.
There we go. And then... and then it's where we're going to leave it for today.
Hello beautiful souls. Thanks so much for listening to The Adamless.
Our music today was provided by Alexander Nakarada by subscribing to their Patreon at patreon.com four slash anakarada.
Which is spelled A-N-A-K-A-R-A-D-A.
Now, Ambience was provided by Michael Gelfie under their podcast and content creators for use.
And also by subscribing to their Patreon, which you'd also definitely do.
Because their ambience has taken this podcast to a whole new level. It's so good it makes me want to scream.
That is patreon.com forward slash Michael Gelfie.
Which is M-I-C-H-A-E-L-G-H-E-L-F-I.
The song that you're listening to right now is by Matt Harris.
It's strange stuff. And it is also a thing we have the license for.
Because it's very useful and it's fucking amazing and I love this song very much.
Our players today were Superdillon.
Who plays Ike. They are Superdillon on all social media.
Nodina Lee who plays Azam going by the handle Werewolf Feels.
Andre who plays Thiriaq going by the handle AndreReviewArt.
Momo O'Brien playing Sky who goes by the handle Momo O'Brien. And myself Matthew Egberg who is Captain Krell pretty much everywhere.
And to our hosts the Welcome In.
You can find the Live Plays of the Animus on their Twitch channel every other Wednesday.
Which is the Wednesday where the podcast is not coming out.
As well as Conundrum Company, Off the Rails which are their two major shows.
As well as so many more beautiful things. I cannot speak higher of the team.
They've helped us and me out so much. I love them. I love you. If they've listened this far I love you.
And yeah, thank you so much for being here. I appreciate you so much.
And I hope that the next time that this little crew takes off into the Atomless Sea.
I hope you're there to join us. I hope you have a beautiful rest of your day. Bye bye.