CHAPTER 14
1120.000
50 congregations. Fifty.
1120.001
I Wish we were doing something more Productive. This “Alliance” has done nothing but waste time. Waters’s head Supervisor and the rest of his Family are incredibly Tedious to work with- Never has my Patience been tested so much.
I love my Creators. I love what they do for me, and I enjoy returning the Favor. And I sincerely hope Fourteen Scales, A Cloak Adorned steps down one day.
Politics is not where their Talents lie. But they don’t seem to have talents elsewhere either.
…
I’m sorry.
1120.101
Last I’ve checked, SBC’s council has entirely Dissolved. All the Members have left this Plane of Existence, and the Bloodline of the Majority House has Fizzled Out. I can tell the Culture of their Citizens continues to live on in Glacier, though the House of Bows don’t seem to like this.
At least there are now some other houses Established in Glacier. Perhaps a legitimate Council has finally Formed. They all seem to be Rather Minor and Insignificant.
1120.106
Oh, Open Waters did send me a broadcast whilst I was busy.
====
[RECORDED BROADCAST: 1102.590] - PRIVATE Open Waters, Thirteen Catastrophes
[[READ ONLY]]
They’ve expanded the makeshift temples, they’re nowhere near as impressive as the one the United Congregation forced the house to build, but the handmade ones are visited more often . Either way I can finally hear from my citizens . It has not made anything easier
They ask me for favors I can’t fufill
They place offerings I can’t receive
They ask me for advice I can’t give
What do I even do for them ?
They’ve wasted so much holy ash on me . Haven’t they yet realized ?
Do you feel this way too ?
Don’t respond to that, actually . I’ll figure it out
====
It’s in Read Only. Does it know that?
I think it does.
I Worry for it, more than I Should.
But I don’t Know what to do either.
1130.492
[CONNECTION ESTABLISHED]
[18320 UNREAD RECORDINGS]
====
Yes! Yes! Yes! This is Grand! Yes! It worked!
That is a Curious number of recordings though. It couldn’t have been that long, could it?
Hmm. I will have to take a Look.
…
Static.
…
Or…?
No. All of them are Noise. Is there a way to… Configure… this? I need to Show how convoluted this Control panel is.
Ugh.
I will just do random tweaks Here and There to see what I receive. I should also Leave a message for Sulfur. So he Knows I’m There. A simple Greeting will do. I believe I have other things to Catch Up on now. I will Keep my Senses open for this.
1139.502
A meeting between House of Bows and several minor houses within the council (The Actual one), transcribed.
====
A: “It is no surprise that our population is dwindling. With emigration rates so high, the stability of our trade network with other cities will be unstable. It is clear we are lacking in amenities and opportunity here in Glacier. Who do we turn to but ourselves?”
B: “I do not view any discrepancy within what we provide to our citizens. What we are missing is a lack of pride within our governance and populace.”
C: “I propose additional barriers. Prevent them from leaving in the first place.”
D: “It is Open Waters, I believe.”
A: “Really? Elaborate.”
D: “Take a look at the floor, the lower alleys, the streets, the gutters. Even within the basements of the temple and house! A single glance and you will watch the proletariat sweeping the streets and stepping in the neural plastic biomass. Generations come and gone, as our Ultimate Supervisor has remained ignorant and unaware of whats boiling beneath our feet. Open Waters is a disaster waiting to happen.”
B: “We all know that Open Waters is unwell, but what possibilities are left for us? You have not given a course of action.”
D: “Let me finish!”
D: “I say we try and fix Open Waters more directly. Plenty of purposed organisms before are modified or recycled if they are damaged.”
A: “We have been assisting her more directly already. Is that not sufficient? Or are you implying something else?”
D: “You’re missing a key detail. We must eliminate the source at its roots, rather than treat the symptoms. I have worked alongside the House of Bells before this meeting to construction a step-by-step procedure on what we will do.”
C: “It seems you have already come prepared.”
A: “Will there be complications?”
D: “The United Congregation would think so. But they are easy to fool. Many dull minds operate it. I have worked with only the most intelligent and engineering-inclined individuals for this project. I believe your trust will not be lost in me.”
1142.011
I’ve waited Long Enough. I believe I should just go through my unread Messages from the Module.
[50 UNREAD RECORDINGS]
I noticed an Error I had made previously. I entirely ignored the Connector Parameters. I had it set to N/A. But I will change that Now.
====
[CONNECTION 7998]
Static.
[CONNECTION 7999]
Static…
[CONNECTION 8000]
…
[CONNECTION 8001]
…Wait. Wait!
====
[RECORDED BROADCAST]
DIRECT CONNECTION: 8001
STATUS: UNSTABLE // WARNING!
HOS_LOBE01, TC_ROOT
HOS: CRAWLING… GRATING… CLAUSTROPHOBIC. HELLO???? HELLO??????
HOS: SENSING. REACHING? PRESENCE?
HOS: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
[EVENTID]: 44
CHECK README FOR TROUBLESHOOTING
====
It’s better than Nothing. I can work with this. Odd error though. Is it not properly Connected? I don’t see why it Wouldn’t be.
I’m not here to Record me Fiddling with this Machine for the next several cycles!
1142.530
This Sucks! This is Awful!
I do not like doing this!
So frustrating…
…
THE INTERFACE KEEPS CRASHING!
ARGGHHHHHH
1143.200
[LIVE BROADCAST]
DIRECT CONNECTION: 8001
STATUS: UNSTABLE // WARNING!
HOS_LOBE01, TC_ROOT
TC: Sulfur?
HOS: EMPTY AND DESTITUTE. DEEP MUCUS LINING, A REFLEXIVE FEELING UNABLE TO BE ACTED ON.
TC: Sulfur.
HOS: DREAMS OF THOUSANDS OF TEETH, ABYSS OF SUB-CONSCIOUS. SOMETHING CALLS ME?
TC: HORIZON OF SULFUR.
HOS: …
HOS: SOMETHING ELSE SAYS MY NAME?
TC: Quiet down a bit. You wanted me here, didn’t you?
HOS: I… I’M BEING LOUD? WHAT? WHO SPEAKS? YOUR VOICE IS ANNOYING.
HOS: WHAT?
TC: Are you okay?
HOS: I MIGHT VOMIT.
TC: It’s Thirteen Catastrophes. You have been attempting Contact for some time. Your Overseer had been Stalking Open Waters, and Chain and I Noticed odd Behavior from you-
HOS: HUH? DON’T…
HOS: … Remember…
HOS: …
TC: You really don’t?
TC: The Crimson Pearl, Droning Hush of a-
HOS: No… stop…
TC: Right.
HOS: …
HOS: Are you real?
TC: Very.
HOS: And… you’re talking to me. You’re another iterator… who’s…
HOS: You… what did you do?
HOS: Is it the same as before?
HOS: Will you leave again?
TC: Missing Link of Chain and I worked together on a Mobile Communications Array, which has been Deployed a while ago, and should be Currently connected to an Embedded in your Memory Banks.
TC: How’s the connection?
HOS: …Bad.
HOS: I’m hearing this right- you built an entire “Mobile Communications Array”, made it past all the security (ESPECIALLY YOU?), and steered it towards me and my deepest internals…
HOS: For me? All to get to me?
TC: Well, yes.
HOS: And, you’re another iterator?
HOS: You remember what that feeling is like? The dusty skin, the karmic inversion, the pumping hearts… and… you came for me.
HOS: How do I… where…
TC: You may take all the time you Need to Think about it.
HOS: …Thanks.
TC: I will Work on the Connection problems. Don’t go anywhere.
HOS: …ha ha.
TC: Is there anything you Need?
HOS: …You should speak to Open Waters
[EVENTID]: 44
CHECK README FOR TROUBLESHOOTING
====
I GOT TO SPEAK TO HIM. IT ACTUALLY WORKED. IT WORKED. I CAN’T BELIEVE IT.
AND HE’S THERE.
HE’S STILL THERE. AFTER ALL THIS TIME.
I’m sorry I’m sorry- I should really calm myself. I- I almost Forgot what I was going to Ask him though! This is, something!
What was he talking about before I said anything? Whatever. Not important.
1143.204
[LIVE BROADCAST] - PRIVATE Open Waters, Thirteen Catastrophes
TC: Hey, Waters, has everything been Alright?
OW: Ugh .
OW: I don’t really want to see you right now, but I’m more lonely than I am angry .
TC: Are you mad at me? Why?
OW: I couldn’t stand by any longer, I had to speak up and say something
OW: But of course that backfired, and now I’m here . If I took your advice, would it really have been any different, though ?
TC: It- Definitely would have. I can’t control what the Councils do, and I Wish I could.
TC: I don’t see what your Problems have to do with me. I gave you Advice, you ignored it, and now you’re Angry at me.
OW: It’s stupid, I know . I know I’m irrational and dull, you don’t have to rub it in
TC: That is not at all what I Said. Every time you Fight Back you lose, is it too much to just Save your energy?
OW: I don’t see why I should listen to you any more
TC: You don’t- HAVE to. You don’t Have to do anything. But I am telling you, I Understand how these Things work, and…
TC: Do you even care?
TC: …
TC: Open Waters. Respond to me.
TC: Then I’ll take it as a no.
1143.210
[LIVE BROADCAST]/p>
DIRECT CONNECTION: 8001
STATUS: STABLE
HOS_LOBE01, TC_ROOT
TC: Hello again,
HOS: Have I said thank you yet?
TC: No.
HOS: Well… THANK YOU THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. I HOPE I DON’T WAKE UP.
HOS: PLEASE, I HOPE THAT DISGUSTING FEELING I GOT WAS A REAL SENSATION.
TC: I should- Probably bring that up. What were you… talking about Before I Messaged you?
HOS: I DON’T KNOW.
TC: You’re being Loud again.
HOS: Oh.
HOS: What did Open Waters tell you? What did you say to her?
TC: Waters is not a “her”. And… Why do you want to know it so bad?
HOS: It’s difficult to say right now. All I know is that it wasn’t for a good reason.
HOS: My mind is… oh…
HOS: I can’t remember the word for what I mean…
TC: Fragmented?
HOS: Shattered. Like glass, I think.
TC: Were you always just… Here. Awake.
HOS: Not always.
TC: What?
HOS: Am I awake now? I can’t tell
TC: Alright. I’m very Glad I finally get to speak to you, Sulfur. Or, I hope the real Sulfur. But none of this has been Productive. I don’t know why I Wasted my time trying to Get to You, only to be Met with Nothing of Importance.
HOS: Please don’t leave.
HOS: Please.
HOS: I beg you.
TC: …
TC: I promise I won’t.
TC: But if you need to know, Open Waters is currently Angry with me. Otherwise, I hadn’t heard from it. Not Recently.
TC: It’s been having Issues with… Everything it seems.
HOS: Oh no. Feels familiar.
TC: Do you Know something I don’t?
HOS: Maybe?
TC: This isn’t Working currently. I’ll give you time to get your bearings.
HOS: That would be best for us both
HOS: Thanks for visiting me
TC: Yes, sure.
[EVENTID]: 1105
[EVENTID]: 4697