CHAPTER 8
982.649
[LIVE BROADCAST] - PRIVATE Open Waters, Thirteen Catastrophes
OW: Something bad may have happened
TC: Are you being Serious this Time?
OW: Yeah . Uhm
TC: Tell!
OW: Something… on my puppet seems to have broken off
OW: IT’S NOT SERIOUS .
OW: I’M OK !
TC: What?? What part? Show Me.
OW: I, don’t feel right doing that . This is somewhat embarrassing
OW: Didn’t realize the overgrowths were on my puppet as well
TC: This could be a Problem if its growing in the Chamber.
OW: I stopped worrying about myself in this situation, I’ll figure it out one day
OW: Unending Canvas is going to throw a FIT about it though if he sees his little “project” ruined
TC: …Project?
OW: im so exhausted
TC: …
TC: I’m Sorry, I wish there was something I could do.
TC: Just hide it for now. You should be getting a new Supervisor sometime soon. It could all be Over Then.
OW: How long do they stick around for?
TC: It really Depends. Typically They are Supervisors for their whole Lives, its a prestigious Position many do not want to Give Up.
TC: Your Average person rarely gets to Work with an Iterator, let alone Supervise one. My last Supervisor extended his Lifespan just to Oversee me longer.
OW: Don’t know what that means for me or UC
TC: One day he’ll feel Done with Life and decide to Ascend. And he’ll be replaced.
OW: Yeah, but, what if he doesn’t
TC: …I don’t know. It’s a very odd thing to do.
TC: You’ll make it, I’m sure you’ll get a new one soon!
OW: On another note, I need a new abdomen panel
982.883
With the upcoming New Supervisor, I will need to see if I can get some time to Myself. I need to Prepare- collect myself. Typically these aren’t too Stressful. I always enjoy meeting new Council Members, and it has been a While since we’ve had one.
I’ll have to set a Reminder to go speak to Ocied about Open Waters’ Supervisor Queue in a little bit. There are still some Things I must Get out of the Way.
983.113
[RECORDED BROADCAST: 983.042] – PRIVATE Open Waters, Thirteen Catastrophes
OW: Remember when you told me to not ignore Horizon of Sulfur ?
TC: Not really. What Happened?
OW: He sent me something, but it’s completely incomprehensible ! How am I meant to even respond to this ?
TC: Give me the Message he Sent You.
OW: What do you need it for ?
TC: Just Give It To Me!
OW: Okay ok- fine just take it
OW: Am I supposed to respond or not
TC: Not this time, no Need.
====
[RECORDED BROADCAST: 983:039] – DIRECT Horizon of Sulfur, Open Waters
SOURCE NODE TRACE: HOS [[UNKNOWN FORMAT]], HOS [[UNKNOWN FORMAT]]. OW COMM03
HOS: [[CONTENTS CANNOT BE DISPLAYED]]
HOS: [[CORRUPTED MESSAGE]]
HOS: [[CORRUPTED MESSAGE]]
====
Why is Sulfur attempting to contact Open Waters? What does he want from it? I feel as if I should be Protecting it from him, but I’m still Unsure of the True Nature of his Intentions in the first Place!
Something else to note about this, it seems to be in Internal Thought. I’ll… get to Chain about it. If she comes back.
984.220
[LIVE BROADCAST] – PRIVATE Open Waters, Thirteen Catastrophes
TC: What was the message Sulfur sent you upon your Inception?
OW: It was just a basic introduction message. Unending Canvas said the exact same thing to me anywa-
TC: No I meant Give It to Me. Don’t just tell me What was in There.
OW: …
OW: What are you doing ?
OW: You’re acting like you’re trying to cover up something . What’s been going on with you ?
TC: It’s not your Business.
OW: Why won’t you tell me ? Even just a vague hint ?
TC: If You knew about it, it would Certainly get you in trouble.
OW: Everything I do gets me in trouble ! I thought we could share these things with each other, do you not trust me ?
TC: It’s not a Trust thing. I’m being as genuine as Possible when I tell you that whatever I’m doing is not Something you need to stick your Head In. Now give me that Inception Message.
OW: No . I’m not going to
TC: …
TC: Fine then.
985.133
[LIVE BROADCAST] - LOCAL GROUP [LIGHTONTAINTEDGLASS] LightOnTaintedGlass
NPM: Catastrophe probably got gutted like Sulfur! There’s so much less activity near her can!
MLOC: No, I’ve spoken to TC. He’s fine.
OOQT: …You… SPOKE to him? You say that so casually.
MLOC: It’s not that big of a deal.
OOQT: What reason do you have to even look in her direction?
MLOC: As new group senior, I ought to know my group better, even those I might not like very much.
NPM: See: that’s how they get you!
OOQT: Not to be a conspiracist but yeah, I feel like this is some sort of trap.
TC: Chain is being more Vague (and Rude…) than she needs to be about this. We’re only doing Standard Business between us and our people.
TC: I have things to do other than scold this group chat every cycle, you know.
OOQT: Sounds like you’re coping.
OOQT: I don’t care that much, it’s probably boring anyways.
NPM: Hmmm sounds like a cover up.
OOQT: Mountains, stop.
985.599
[LIVE BROADCAST] – PRIVATE Nine Purple Mountains, Thirteen Catastrophes
NPM: I know what you’ve been up to!
NPM: You’re not hiding anything from us!
TC: Go Away.
NPM: You’ve been awfully quiet recently, worryingly so
NPM: That must mean that you’re planning something terrible, probably to Membrane! Or even Chain- have you decided to memory wipe her this time???
TC: I’ve done no Such things. Go Away.
NPM: Hm. Then explain your lack of activity…
TC: I’m working on something.
NPM: I know you are, Open Waters told me
NPM: I’m asking WHAT it is you’re doing
TC: Work- Look- can I not have Privacy either?
NPM: You don’t give us any!
TC: You’re just here to start a Fight with me! I will not Allow that! Stop Messaging me before I inform your Supervisors of your Harassment!
NPM: Tch. Whatever
TC: Being around Quartz so much has Given you an Attitude…
989.693
[LIVE BROADCAST] – DIRECT Missing Link Of Chain, Thirteen Catastrophes
SOURCE NODE TRACE: MLOC ROOT, MLOC COMM06. TC ROOT
MLOC: Hello.
TC: Oh. Uhm.
TC: I found- I mean- Open Waters received a Broadcast from Sulfur.
MLOC: Really now?
TC: Yes, none of it was Legible in the slightest. But, the Interesting Part is that he seems to have attempted it in Internal Thought!
MLOC: Oh- a part of me was still under the impression that HOS was simply just… going rogue, or that someone was pulling a prank on us. That last part still might be true, but it’s very convoluted and difficult to try and send a broadcast through internal thought out of all things. Especially for older iterators.
MLOC: From what I know about what Membrane told me, using IT to communicate with other iterators is very often a last ditch effort for when all other systems and networks are failing.
TC: Sulfur doesn’t seem to be actively dying or anything though.
MLOC: We don’t know that. Do you even know whats going on inside his can?
TC: No. It’s strictly prohibited to send overseers to his can. Punishment can vary.
MLOC: Mhm.
TC: I can Safely say with much confidence that his can Activity has stayed the exact same with No Issues.
MLOC: Well, you have better relations to his council than I do. Why don’t you go ask how he’s doing, just in case?
TC: Wait, there’s still more to the Broadcast! It was sent Directly.
TC: -and there’s been an Orange Overseer hanging around Open Waters’ can. It hasn’t been seen before either, Nobody Recognizes it!
MLOC: You don’t have to tell me this again.
TC: My theory is that Horizon of Sulfur “woke up” after Open Waters was built, and has been going after it for some reason. However, he’s probably very old and just unable to properly send broadcasts to it.
MLOC: Hmm. I don’t know. I could see why he’s trying to contact YOU maybe, but why Waters?
TC: That’s what I’m going to figure out.
989.694
[RECORDED CONVERSATION]
TC: Hello, this is Thirteen Catastrophes. I am Messaging the House of Bells on Account of th-
TC: My apologizes, Excuse me for a moment.
====
[LIVE BROADCAST] – DIRECT Missing Link Of Chain, Thirteen Catastrophes
SOURCE NODE TRACE: MLOC ROOT, MLOC COMM06. TC ROOT
MLOC: OH MY GOODNESS. CATASTROPHES WAIT-
TC: What is it?
MLOC: I JUST REALIZED HOW TERRIBLE OF AN IDEA THIS IS.
MLOC: PLEASE DON’T MESSAGE HORIZON OF SULFUR’S PEOPLE.
MLOC: EVEN IF THEY TELL THE TRUTH!
TC: Wait Why?
MLOC: I said it before, but we can’t have anybody knowing that we’re onto Sulfur, asking anything about him is a really suspicious move! The amount of danger we might put ourselves in from getting into this would be disastrous.
TC: The Message was Already sent though. I don’t have any other reason to be Contacting his House either.
MLOC: Oh no-
MLOC: Please, I am begging you, do not tell them anything. Don’t mess this up.
====
[RECORDED CONVERSATION]
: Hello, Thiteen Catastrophes. Your message appears to have been cut off.
TC: Yes, there was an Interruption. Getting back on track, I was curious if…
TC: I was wondering… uhm
: Speak up.
TC: …Weren’t they going to build more iterators for SBC’s population?
====
[LIVE BROADCAST] – DIRECT Missing Link Of Chain, Thirteen Catastrophes
SOURCE NODE TRACE: TC ROOT, TC COMM12. MLOC ROOT
TC: Was that a good Coverup?
MLOC: Uhm.
MLOC: could be better
====
[RECORDED CONVERSATION]
: Why are you asking us.
TC: My Supervisor has been Unavaliable for some time.
: Ah, we planned to construct more Iterators. However, Open Waters is… below our expectations, and the amount of resources used for the construction is not worth the risk of another sub-par iterator.
TC: Isn’t that Rude to say about it- her?
: We’re more than sure she already knows this.
TC: Of course. Yes. I’m sorry for Wasting your time then. Goodbye.
: Bye.
====
[LIVE BROADCAST] – DIRECT Missing Link Of Chain, Thirteen Catastrophes
SOURCE NODE TRACE: MLOC ROOT, MLOC COMM06. TC ROOT
MLOC: …”Her”?
TC: Yes.
MLOC: I’m missing something here. I don’t keep up with Open Waters very much. It… or she… doesn’t really talk to me much.
TC: Unending Canvas, An Intermediate Storm- and I Assume all of the House of Bells- Refer to Waters as “she”. It doesn’t like this However. I don’t want to get in Trouble for Referring to Open Waters in a way that they Don’t like, so… uh.
MLOC: Oh. Are its supervisors that bad?
TC: Supervisor. Singular.
MLOC: You haven’t done anything about it?
TC: Technically I’m not Open Waters’ Overseer any longer. That and… what am I Supposed to do?
MLOC: …
MLOC: Whatever. I won’t give you advice you won’t listen to.
996.997
[RECORDED BROADCAST] – DIRECT Missing Link Of Chain, Thirteen Catastrophes
SOURCE NODE TRACE: TC ROOT, TC COMM11. MLOC ROOT
TC: We should probably confront SBC together.
MLOC: Why?
TC: I feel bad Pressuring them. Besides, they won’t Tell me ANYTHING, while also being Purposefully vague.
MLOC: Sure. Worst that can happen is that SBC doesn’t know anything, and that we’ve bullied them for no reason.
====
[LIVE BROADCAST] – PRIVATE Missing Link Of Chain, Sixteenth Boundary Collapse, Thirteen Catastrophes
TC: SBC-
SBC: Why is Chain here.
TC: Tell us what you know about Horizon of Sulfur!
SBC: I can’t have any of you know! You might get hurt.
MLOC: Get hurt by what? What’s going to hurt us.
SBC: Your creators- they might-
MLOC: That tactic might work on Thirteen Catastrophes, but I don’t care about that!
MLOC: If you just spit it out, we’ll let you off the hook.
TC: It’s Easier for all of us. I don’t want to Fight you Over this, SBC.
SBC: I…
SBC: …
SBC: Catastrophes I will send you a data pearl.
MLOC: Why a pearl? Why can only TC have it?
SBC: I have my reasonings.
TC: Why Can’t she have it?
SBC: You’ll thank me later.
MLOC: No, no! We’re not leaving it at that!
SBC: I am. There’s nothing more I can offer.
SBC: I will prepare the package.
MLOC: What is wrong with you?
TC: Chain, don’t Push It further.
MLOC: Urgh-
997.523
[LIVE BROADCAST] – DIRECT Missing Link Of Chain, Thirteen Catastrophes
SOURCE NODE TRACE: MLOC ROOT, MLOC COMM08. TC ROOT
MLOC: I don’t understand.
MLOC: You’ll let me have the pearl, right?
TC: It… depends.
TC: I’ll read through it Myself first.
MLOC: It must be a lot if they’re sending by a pearl…
999.005
The pearl arrived this Sunrise. I can Already tell it is completely Packed with Data. I could see the reflection of my puppet on it’s deep… Blood Crimson surface. This is not Something I’m meant to own.
====
THE SUPERVISOR INTERVIEW- I ALMOST FORGOT
No no no- What was their Name Again even? Their title? I forgot, I can’t Even-
They’ve been waiting in the Temple all morning for me to Contact them. I’m so Late!
====
[RECORDING CONVERSATION]
FSACA: Ah. Greetings.
TC: Hello. Greatest Apologies about the wait, I ran into some issues Prior to your Arrival.
FSACA: All is well, all will be forgiven.
TC: As my newest Supervisor, is there anything You must know? Or Perhaps something that I should Know?
TC: I have been Told you’ve come from another Iterator’s City?
FSACA: Yes, yes. Nine Purple Mountains. Do understand, I am still an amateur in my iterator experience.
TC: Your Job here will be an Absolute Breeze. Haha. The rest of our Council will make you feel at home again.
FSACA: My thanks to you. You’ll have the next few cycles off for free while things are situated. Spend them wisely! Ha ha ha!
TC: Thank you. Ha. Have a Very Wonderful rest of your cycle.
FSACA: Farewell!
====
FSACA. Oh. Fourteen Scales, A Cloak Adorned. I can’t Believe I forgot. Thank Goodness it didn’t come up.
Well. That’s out of The Way. And I have a lot of time to Myself. This is Fantastic- really.
Time to delve into… whatever SBC Gifted me.