THE OPERA

"You mean he reached out to the Opera?"

1) Tempo, cryptonym TAXMAN, your dormant asset, contacts the Opera. INTENT: Unknown. INFORMATION: Unknown. REQUEST: Meeting with Operant CASCADE, only CASCADE.

The Opera should provide a space for when you need to construct vital equipment. Perhaps Constanz knows something about that.

Sock merchant. One of the Opera's most battle-tested covers.

The Opera have a secret camera. Through that camera, they watch you flail in an ocean of miscommunication. As they watch, they laugh.

The Opera have a machine dedicated to this -- if you want to capitulate, just take it to your controller and make it her problem.

Your former network, known to the Opera as:

There were reports of a ghost-site labour colony on Ile-de-Söze that the Opera took seriously.

"The Opera has unfortunate naming conventions."

"The Opera never tires, YOUNGBLOOD."

"The Opera never tires, YO-YO."

"The Opera never tires."

"Good work. I'll make sure the Opera hears about this."

"The Superbloc. Their spy service, the Opera, isn't that how they call it."

"CASCADE, the Opera's greatest spy, will join your party. The assignment calls."

"I thought you were high up in the Opera or something? Tempo said you were top floor, brightest spy in the sky."

"'CASCADE or nothing. Tell her TAXMAN is ready to begin the ritual.' That was Tempo's message to the Opera. What's it mean?"

"So what, the Opera has an ethics division now?"

"The Opera know what you've done. They may come for us. Strength in numbers, we can band together."

"I'm not sure the Opera will pay one person two salaries..." (Proceed.)

"The Opera. He's EMTERR."

A male version of me... What if the Opera prefer him?

"Prove that I'm a good Operant. Establish my own position in the Opera."

"So this is a three-bureau assignment -- the Opera, EMTERR, and M.I.H.O. How will we share credit?"

A male version of me... What if the Opera prefer him?

Don't let her know how little the Opera knew about this.

Here. Now. Then the Opera will wipe all traces of you from this earth. Files and records turned to ash.

"That was... unimpressive. Even for the Opera." She clicks her tongue three times.

"I would have thought the Opera would want to use this opportunity to find information about EMTERR's interest in Facundo Reyes' visit."

Fall back on the Opera's most battle-tested persona -- the sock trader. Your training should hold. Concede nothing, validate less.

"What does the Opera want with the prisoner?"

No. This is going great. So so great, the Opera will forget all about last time.

... or your memory of joining the Opera...

"I know in my heart I am lead. The Opera can do what they must."

"What do you think of the Opera?"

"... of the Opera."

The Opera is losing the shadow contest... to this?

Working for the Opera technically means you don't officially exist. Therefore...

"We're spies, not import agents. We work for the Opera."

"Why do you keep saying that... 'the Opera'. What does it mean? Operation, operable... operant..." His eyebrow start twitching.

"The Opera. You remember."

"My name is Hershel Wilk. I'm a spy for the Opera."

The brief said that she was young, talented, idealistic. Perfect for the Opera to groom her into service.

Or, very occasionally, until fate recalls them to the Opera's service.

Secrets the Opera has elected to keep from itself.

You never even thought she was worth a call when the Opera brought you back to Novessa. You forgot about her, you were too worried about what everyone else was going to think about you.

A.k.a. 'The Freezer'. The Opera's labyrinthine archival complex. Where the old, useless, and discredited are consigned until they're dismissed or die of despair.

THAT IS THE RISK YOU TOOK THE MOMENT YOU LEFT THE SUPERBLOC, AND THE REASON THE OPERA KEEPS A SPECIAL TAB ON YOU.

According to the Opera's Remembrancers, raw facts are the totality of your being.

Obvious. The Opera wanted him to know what sort of spy he'd be working with.