As you press down on the intercom button, a little light comes on.

As you press down on the intercom button, a little light comes on.

"I tried telling them about the two thousand pairs, about the foggy conditions that demand a bamboo weave, but they wouldn't listen!"

This is proving out to be a costly mistake.

"Mhm, right. And where did you say you met CASCADE, again?"

A viper uncurls and presses against the inside of your ribcage.

"What do you mean? I'm here!" He takes a breath. "By the way -- the junior trade agent you sent over is insane -- she thinks that the socks aren't real. How am I supposed to find forgiveness with people like this?"

"Tell him there are no small roles, only small attitudes!" The photo lady whispers at you.

"For your information, she felt it cool to feed me street drugs and molest me while I was asleep!"

"Listen, Melita, before you react, I can explain."

"Get off my dick, CASCADE! You don't know anything. You were late. I never showed up until now -- I mean -- you!"

An interesting slip.

Wow. It almost sounds like he hates üs despite having our füll support.

"CASCADE, you made it. Hopefully you can clear some of this up."

She's seething. This could go very poorly.

"What do you mean? I’ve been here the whole time! Unbelievable, the lack of support and direction I've received on this assignment!"

Remain calm. Stay on target.

"He's hyperventilating! Tell him to focus on his breath."

"Melita? Where are you? You need to come and extract me! Now!"

Alternative wording

"Where are those missiles, Melita? I'm dying out here!"

An animal. Cornered. Lashing out.

"Calm down, PSEUDOPOD. We will get to the bottom of this."

"Tell him, spy mummy."

"Enough, CASCADE. I've got this."

"You hear that, she's got it! Everything's cool now, except by 'cool', I mean 'not cool'!"

DEFEND THE ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE!

"Who are you people, even? What have you done to me?" He starts coughing uncontrollably.

In the background, you hear a steady rhythm of something being hit.

Foot. The bed frame.

"CASCADE! What is going on? You told me that he was zeroed out."

"Melita -- he needs help. Immediately."

"Why didn't you say so in the first place??? PSEUDOPOD. You have prepared for situations like this, please -- "

"Requesting back-up! This is Operant CASCADE. I was dispatched from Novessa. My name is..."

Alternative wording

"Where are those missile strikes? This is Operant CASCADE. I was dispatched from Novessa. My name is..."

"Melita, do you remember my name?"

Your eyes find Constanz's across the counter.

Brother...

Loss. Irreversible and total.

"I've held out for as long as I can. I'm sorry, I'm sorry for everything."

"PSEUDOPOD. Unlock the door. CASCADE will be there in a moment."

The line falls silent.

In a dimly lit ground floor flat in Novessa, a boy no older than eight picks up a toy rocket. 'I'll be like daddy one day,' he tells his mother.

Above you, a flurry of footsteps, then the unmistakable crash of a window shattering.

"Oh no. That wasn't..."

"CASCADE. I heard glass breaking. What is going on?"

"That's the sound of the Opera kicking my shit in, again."

"I don't know what the Opera has to do with it. This smells like a you thing."

Remember -- you tower above all of this.

What have you done, Hershel?

"And another thing: This line isn't secure. Constanz has been listening in via intercom."

"That's completely uncalled for! Don't listen to her, Ms. Melita! I'll be filing an expense for my window as well!"

"It-- what? No -- don't change the subject, CASCADE. Where's PSEUDOPOD?"

"There are two of me now. That was the other one."

Silence.

"Did you hear me? Dos Hershels!"

"Yes, CASCADE. I heard you. Now I'm waiting for you to tell me what that means."

Whatever 'explanation' you offer is only going to result in more questions.

"I used a prototype Luzian imprinting device on him."

Constanz's eyes widen.

"You did what? How? No, forget it, I don't want to know. Why would you do that?"

"You think it's cool. I get it, I did too."

"I do not think it's cool. I am appalled. This is low, even by your standards."

"We'll get twice the espionage done this way."

"No you won't. This is a reckless... shocking misuse of Opera personnel."

"Tell her you were putting the assignment first, like PSEUDOPOD said you would."

"I thought it would help him. That's all."

"Of course it wouldn't help. This is a reckless... shocking misuse of Opera personnel."

"Just imagine... you, me, a second me..."

"Shut up, CASCADE. This is a reckless misuse of Opera personnel."

"Remember the imprinting device I told you about..."

"You know what... forget I said anything."

"How do you expect me to do that when you keep saying such interesting things?"

"I agree with Melita. You can't just leave it like that."

More curious than horrified, interestingly enough.

ASSURE YOUR CONTROLLER YOU'VE 'GOT THIS'.

A GOOD LEADER KNOWS WHEN TO STRIKE, WHEN TO FORGIVE, AND WHEN TO FEIGN IGNORANCE. APPEAL TO HER SENSE OF STRATEGIC INCOMPETENCE.

"I've got this, Mel. But do you really need to know what this is?"

"Of course I do. I'm responsible for both of you..."

"A problem that sorts itself out isn't really a problem."

"I see. You're saying you'll resolve this PSEUDOPOD situation, meaning there's no need for it to rise to the level of an 'official' concern. Is that what I'm hearing?"

You can practically hear her foot lifting off the panic accelerator.

"I'm on it."

"This is in your hands now. PSEUDOPOD has become a liability for you, the assignment, and the entire Opera. Shut him up -- you understand? I'm counting on you."

"Yes, Mel." (Lift your finger from the intercom.)

As you turn from the intercom, Constanz meets your eye.

"That Melita of yours -- a bit dramatic, isn't she?"

"And PSEUDOPOD -- whatever happened there? He's rather different than when we first met. Almost... unpleasant."

"I've invoked secret Luzian techno-witchery to get him back on his feet. Now we must pay the price."

"Well, he'll find his way home eventually. They always do."

"I'll add the window to the Opera's bill. And also the cost of the ladder I'll need to climb up to it. And I suppose I'll unlock the deadbolt while I'm up there, shall I?"

"Please do unlock my door, yes."

"I suppose I can take one worry off your plate, full as it is." She gives you a sly wink.

"Any idea where he went?"

"Only one way he can go from that back window -- Party Alley."

"Sorry I snitched you out back there."

"Consider it forgotten."

"Right. I'll see you later, Constanz." (Leave.)

"Of course. Bring PSEUDOPOD home, operant."

"That information's self-hold, special asset."

"I think I've figured out what's going on here: Typical man in the depths of an ether binge. Not to worry -- he'll find his way home eventually."

"Constanz, I really have to go." [Leave.]

"Understood, CASCADE. Only one way he can go from that back window -- Party Alley. See you."

"One other thing -- Constanz is a damn good special asset!"

"Glad to hear it. I'll make a note of it. Goodbye." She hangs up.

"When have I ever let you down?"

Silence. Conspicuous.

THE PEOPLE'S COFFERS ARE BARE. WHERE WORDS SHOULD BE, THERE ARE ONLY SPENT TRAIN TICKETS.

"Let's be real, Mel. The Opera really fucked PSEUDOPOD over here. And by 'the Opera', I mean 'you'."

"You're not being serious right now."

"Maybe even worse than you fucked me over, which is pretty bad."

"We'll talk about this more later."

She's going to eviscerate you later.

"PSEUDOPOD has become a liability for you, the assignment, and the entire Opera. Shut him up -- you understand? This is part of your assignment now."

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take, Mel."

"Don't 'Mel' me. Fix it." She hangs up.

"PSEUDOPOD. Shut up. Got it."

"Get it done." She hangs up.

"One other thing -- Constanz is a damn good special asset!"

"Glad to hear someone's doing their job properly. I'll make a note of it. Goodbye." She hangs up.

"Before lashing out at your subordinates, try asking yourself: 'How did I contribute to this situation?'"

"This is bold, CASCADE. Even for you."

"I'd like you to think of this as an opportunity for growth."

"An opportunity. That's what you think this is?"

"Bad connection, you're breaking up!" (Release the button.)

"CASCADE!" Her voice, slightly raised as you lift your finger from the button.

"CASCADE. Find PSEUDOPOD and shut him up. This is the assignment now." She raises her voice slightly as you lift your finger from the button.

"I messed up, Mel. Big time."

"Messed up? He thinks he's you -- what have you done?"

"I revived him. PSEUDOPOD has awakened."

"So why does he think he's you all of a sudden?"

"Regular day at the office, how about you?"

"Don't pretend like nothing's wrong. What have you done?"

"I've held out for as long as I can. There are dark forces at work here. Overwhelming."

"I've held out for as long as I can. Fuck it. I'll do it myself. Hardcore."

"I've held out for as long as I can. I feel I never really had a choice at all."

"This is the pilot show to my new media empire."

"Your what? CASCADE, this is completely out of order -- "

"In my defence, you kinda forced me into that designation."

"Don't try to shift responsibility onto me, CASCADE. I'm not having it today. Now let's -- "

"He's on a massive bender. Took every drug known to man. He'll be okay after a nasal rinse."

"This isn't funny, CASCADE. What are we -- "

"Don't worry, kitten."

"CASCADE, this is completely out of order -- "

"Get off the line, Melita, I'll deal with the situation. You're just making it worse.'”

"Cool, cool. Except by 'cool', I mean 'not cool'!" He coughs.

"If you do not cut this shit out right now I will incinerate you, PSEUDOPOD."

"Not helpful, CASCADE."

"Focus on your breathing, PSEUDOPOD!"

Constanz gives you a thumbs up.

"Calm down, PSEUDOPOD, we're all on your side here."

Say nothing.

Your own words in someone else's mouth. Deeply upsetting.

Wow. It almost sounds like he hates üs.

"PSEUDOPOD, hang up the phone."

"Wrong line, wrong line!"

"See this shit, Mel? You call this lead material?"

"Was it cool when she rubbed my head without permission, then rifled through my pockets? Was it cool when she ate my lucky hard candy?!" Hurt.

"My grandmother, rest her soul, gave it to me as a charm for my first assignment. It's been in my pocket ever since. And she decides to just eat it on a whim!"

None of this matters. Keep your focus on the big picture.

It does sound kind of... uncool, when he puts it like that.

"For your information, she felt it cool to rub my head without permission? In what world?!" Astounded.

"She ate my lucky candy. Did you know that?" Violated.

"What do you mean? I'm here!" He takes a breath. "And this junior import agent you sent me. She's completely insane, delirious even. How am I supposed to find forgiveness with people like this?"

"What do you mean? I'm here!" He takes a breath. "And this junior operant you sent me. She's completely insane, delirious even. How am I supposed to find forgiveness with people like this?"

"But that was all supposed to be 'self-hold'. And I shouldn't know what 'self-hold' means. But I do. Self-hold. Why do I know what that means?"

See -- he has a soul.

It appears the manoeuvre was successful, although it likely set his training back by a couple of modules.