OPERANT

Then HOLOCENE is the one who is the intruder, and the operant you've known all these years was in fact a brain parasite.

This never happened, operant.

All past entries pertaining to Operant CASCADE are stamped with the words 'NOT MY FAULT'. Twice.

"Of course. Something else on your mind, Operant?"

"Operant, there's still something waiting for you in the output tray of the fax machine. It seems important."

"Tut tut tut. A bad operant, indeed."

"Excuse me, operant. I don't appreciate where you're going. Is this some sort of psychological game you're playing?"

"I'm no regressionist, operant. I know Portofirans made their choices too." She smiles.

"Forgive me, operant. It was just... lying out in the open. I wasn't deliberately snooping."

"Understood, operant." She flushes.

"You're confused, operant. You've probably just never smelled photographic toner before."

"Operant. Something big is happening, isn't it?"

"Yes, I 'get the picture'. Let me just remind you, operant, that this is still a free city. We have the right to refuse service to anyone."

"No, see, this is why I'm hot operant in-theatre and you're a special asset, ethereal-class."

"No, see, this is why I'm hot operant in-theatre and you're a special asset, liminal-class."

"Operant, there's a fax in the output tray of that accursed machine -- it seems important."

"This is madness, operant. PSEUDOPOD cleared me himself! Bring him down here, he'll clear this up straightaway..."

Another expense she can add to the Operant Bureau's running tab.

"Well, I've already fucked it, but that's no reason to waste a perfectly usable operant."

"It's not me you should be apologising to. Let me just remind you, operant, that this is still a free city. We have the right to refuse service to anyone."

"What do we do, operant?"

"He mentioned 'the Operant Bureau' earlier... but you know how it is with these talk show hosts -- they'll say anything just to get a bit of attention." She smiles.

"Operant, if you're about to imply that I've committed some heinous act..."

Check your map, operant.

"Operant, really." She wrinkles her nose.

"You're a very cruel and foolish woman." She shoves the packet at you. "Let me remind you, operant, that this is still a free city. We have the right to refuse service to anyone."

"Of course, operant."

"Operant. A handsome man wearing very odd headphones left this for you." She holds out a small postcard to you.

"Oh, hello operant."

"Operant, the Subcomandante is at it again."

"Operant, do you know what this is about?"

"Apologies, operant, that's a bit beyond my remit. If you're short on funds, you should speak with your controller directly."

"You're a very cruel and foolish woman." She shoves the packet at you. "Let me remind you, operant, that this is still a free city. We have the right to refuse service to anyone."

"That's an operant-level concern, special asset."

"Good evening, operant."

"No introductions necessary. You're Operant CASCADE." She places her right hand against her heart for a moment. "I'm Constanz, of course."

"Operant, I'm a perfectly representative specimen of the small business owning class. I value thrift, industry, and diligence."

Reports from Operant PROBABLE suggest that 'Proyecto PESCADERA' was aborted in early 78 after one of the study's dolphins developed a violent sexual obsession with his trainer and committed suicide by sinking to the bottom of his tank.

In the Operant Bureau's most fevered dreams, you would move as ghosts, phasing through walls, a mouthless set of ears and eyes. Ungrounded and all-observing.

"But, operant -- I saw you on Bagman's program just recently. Tell me, what was it like, being on television? Were you nervous?" She smiles.

"He's your double, operant."

"It's not me you should be apologising to. Let me just remind you, operant, that this is still a free city. We have the right to refuse service to anyone."

"Yes, I 'get the picture'. Let me just remind you, operant, that this is still a free city. We have the right to refuse service to anyone."

"Operant."

"I'm telling you now, operant. That's what's happening here."

The club hates to see an operant abandoned on the pitch, deadly for morale.

"I can assure you, operant."

"'Special asset, liminal class'," she says with evident pride. "Making my debut with the Operant Bureau."

"Sure, operant." A sigh. "I presume this is about the assignment?"

"I don't smell anything, operant." A look of complete innocence.