Ultra Violeta remains frozen mid-song, trapped within the shimmering projection. Her music plays somewhere behind you.

Ultra Violeta remains frozen mid-song, trapped within the shimmering projection. Her music plays somewhere behind you.

The sweet melody carries you away for a moment.

"I hope you're getting on alright, V."

I am, Hersh, comes the reply on the air. Thank you.

Ethereal gäng forever.

"I'm sorry for trading you off."

Whatever else you find in her gaze, it is not forgiveness.

"Just something I have to live with."

Poor you, Hersh, comes the reply on the air. Imagine being you.

"If I could've done it differently, I would."

You could have, Hersh, comes the reply on the air. Maybe next time round.

"Actually, I'm not sorry. Enjoy the mega successful life I gave you back."

I'm not, Hersh, comes the reply on the air. You've killed a small part of me.

Look at the girl.

Alternative wording

Look at V.

An expression of exquisite emptiness stares back at you.

Strange eyes beneath a crown of foxglove.

The scene feels correctly blocked. You are gazing upwards at her. All is right with the world.

Why so sad, V?

Because sad sells. Everybody's sad.

And because she'd rather be someone else.

Doesn't seem so bad up there.

Try being up there.

Is this a commercial or a shrine?

A little of both. She is the contour of a star.

An indifferent angel, visible by the light she sheds on this planet.

A popular one. This girl's a popstar.

Why is she sad?

She's very compelling.

If she weren't, people wouldn't project her face onto walls.

Too beautiful to fuck. Could stain and tarnish. Unsettling.

One of those girls that wouldn't even bother making nöise. A starer.

Who is she?

'Ultra Violeta', according to the projection text. Below the name, it reads: 'Cover the Moon When I'm Gone.' Artist and song.

The disc that PSEUDOPOD was listening to was Ultra Violeta... but a different track. 'You But From A Dream'.

This is the girl on PSEUDOPOD's disc.

Alternative wording

This is the popstar Petre told me about. The girl on PSEUDOPOD's disc.

Alternative wording

This is the popstar Malen told me about. The girl on PSEUDOPOD's disc.

Alternative wording

This is the popstar the teenage girls are dressed up as. The girl on PSEUDOPOD's disc.

The name now has a face.

It's her, but from a dream.

Different song though...

Devoid of all dream. For now.

Did you take out my double, beautiful projection?

If she did, she's not telling.

Believe the hype.

Someone better cover the moon. She's gone.

She gets bigger posters than most, at least.

I'm with Petre. This 'disappearance' is probably just a publicity stunt.

Maybe. Though she doesn't look like someone in need of cheap tricks.

The red disc... this is Ultra Violeta?

Not the artist you'd immediately pair with a being such as PSEUDOPOD.

Did you take out my double, beautiful projection?

If she did, she's not telling.

Believe the hype.

So maybe somebody gave it to him?

Possibly. That or he was extremely susceptible to dual-sense advertising.

She looks very mainstream... Probably not a mind-effacer.

Whatever her realm, she is clearly the reigning queen of it.

Listen to the music.

The popstar's voice surrounds you. Even though she's singing softly, all other noise collapses into it.

Alternative wording

The popstar's voice sears into the night.

'Cover the moon when I'm gone... I'll make you miss me like a sad song...'

INCOHERENT LYRICS, NOT EVEN A DIRECT QUOTATION FROM THE PARTY. NOTHING HERE BUT GIMMICKS AND SEXUAL INDECENCY.

DECADENT AND SACCHARINE. AN OBSESSION WITH 'REVERB' THAT IS BOUND TO TURN REVISIONIST.

It's a dedicated production choice.

REVOLUTIONARY TRUTHS ECHO IN TIME, NOT ON PROPRIETARY FORMATS.

We should never have gone electric.

THE KANNEL AND THE TALHARPA ARE THE ONLY INSTRUMENTATION REQUIRED TO CARRY THE HUMAN SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE.

A delicate voice weaves through slow chords, then soars over a crescendo.

You smother a twinge of sadness in its crib.

The sadness in it seems meant for you, and you alone. Fragments of old faces begin to reassemble in your subconscious.

Pull your gaze away. [Leave.]

Alternative wording

See you, V. [Leave.]

The girl continues to stare beyond as you turn from the projection.

The girl remains frozen mid-song, trapped within the shimmering projection. Music emanates from a nearby lo-fidelity speaker.

You gaze up at an angel caught mid-song, enshrined in purple. Music emanates from a nearby lo-fidelity speaker.

Alternative wording

You gaze up at Ultra Violeta caught mid-song, enshrined in purple. Music emanates from a nearby lo-fidelity speaker.

Disorientating -- she's both ahead of you and behind you at the same time. Every direction at once.

The sheen of rain across the purple makes her image vivid, alive... realer than you.

The wind shimmers her image, making her vivid, alive... realer than you.