Part 4: 11:40-13:38: Radio Chatter
Chapter 4: 11:40-13:38: Radio ChatterThanks, Kim. I promise not to pawn it to pay for my room tonight.
The call box seems so tantalizing you cannot fight the urge to play with it any longer.
ELECTRONIC DOORBELL: This button looks new, but someone has removed the name card. Nothing happens when you try to ring it.
ELECTRONIC DOORBELL: An off-key melody starts playing after you ring the doorbell Then a woman picks up the receiver
PLAISANCE: Please dont do that! Doorbells are not toys, and this one isnt even working properly. Please dont call us again, thank you.
ELECTRONIC DOORBELL: You ring the doorbell, but no one answers.
TRICENTENNIAL ELECTRICS: Yes, hello, this is Tricentennial Electrics. This is a womans voice, crackling and fragile through the static. Have you come to place an order?
TRICENTENNIAL ELECTRICS: My god
TRICENTENNIAL ELECTRICS: Its you. My god, I didnt think I would hear your voice again
TRICENTENNIAL ELECTRICS: Michel, just please She stops and you can hear her breathe heavily, her breath distorted by ancient static.
TRICENTENNIAL ELECTRICS: Ever since I came to work here its been different as if my minds been wiped clean A spot of static overrides her words; when she speaks again it sounds like shes submerged: Its so nice.
TRICENTENNIAL ELECTRICS: Another seagull passes by Its getting cold standing here, staring at the silent call box.
Lets just go back to playing with the call box for now.
Ice Town Costs Ice Clown His Town Crown
MAIL COLLECTION BOX: The box seems happy.
All right, thats the ammonia down. Lets take care of what we can with Kims motor carriage at the moment.
COUPRIS KINEEMA: Vapour emanates from the large engine on the back of the vehicle. It hasnt had time to cool off yet.
KIM KITSURAGI: This is the Coupris Kineema, my motor carriage. You can use the toolbox and the radio if youd like. He nods at the cabin.
KIM KITSURAGI: The Coupris Motorcorps does provide most of our patrol vehicles, yes.
KIM KITSURAGI: Yes, sorry about that the Coupris Kineema does have a rather distinctive engine sound.
COUPRIS KINEEMA: The frequency tableau lights up and a green button labeled PRIMELINE glows like a feline eye and then you hear something. The soft purr of electrical kittensradio waves cast far and wide over the metropolis. A womans voice greets you through the static:
ALICE: This is officer Alice DeMettrie, Precinct 57. How may I assist you? a voice replies in the radio.
ALICE: Just a second, officer She puts you on hold, the static crackling softly like a bonfire. After a while you hear an old man greet you from the radio. His rattly voice is oddly familiar:
KIM KITSURAGI: The lieutenants eyes go wide. But you said He shakes his head. Never mind.
JULES PIDIEU: 10-4, message received. This is a *very* serious situation. I need to 10-22 the captain. Over.
JEAN VICQUEMARE: Is it *him*? a dry voice asks in the background. What does he want?
JULES PIDIEU: Says he lost his badge and needs to report it.
JULES PIDIEU: You mean your partner? Over.
JEAN VICQUEMARE: What is he saying?
JULES PIDIEU: Hes asking who you are.
JEAN VICQUEMARE: Im his *goddamn* partner!
JULES PIDIEU: Its your partner, Satellite-Officer Vicquemare, sir. Over.
JEAN VICQUEMARE: Did he lose his memory along with his fucking badge? The man in the background sounds like hes losing his patience.
JEAN VICQUEMARE: Dick fucking Mullen, who do you think?
CHESTER MCLAINE: Its officer Dick he tries to speak through laughter, ...Mullen from the bestseller Dick Mullen and the Lost Identity.
JULES PIDIEU: He says this has probably happened to other policemen before him and laughs sarcastically.
JEAN VICQUEMARE: Oh goddammit, is he fucking kidding? The whole Stations gonna be *dicked* for this.
JULES PIDIEU: Satellite-Officer Vicquemare is wondering if you might be joking and adds that this tarnishes the reputation of the entire station. Over.
JULES PIDIEU: He wants to know who you are.
CHESTER MCLAINE: Im the goddamned Hjemdallermann! Yeah, tell him I hail from the north! His laughter is high-pitched and joyous, almost childlike.
JULES PIDIEU: This is Satellite-Officer McLaine, sir. Over.
JULES PIDIEU: Hes asking you to stop. Says this is serious.
JEAN VICQUEMARE: Of course its serious. He lost his fucking badge!
JULES PIDIEU: 10-4, I hear you officer. Im just going to make a note here that you are in pursuit of your *misplaced* badge. Over.
CHESTER MCLAINE: Fuck me! Mack, come here, youve got to hear this! Dick Mullen lost his badge!
CHESTER MCLAINE: Supercop here lost his badge!
MACK TORSON: He lost his *what* now?!
JULES PIDIEU: He asks you to please stop saying he lost his badge.
MACK TORSON: Why, did he find it? The room at the other end of the line erupts in volcanic laughter.
JULES PIDIEU: Sergeant Torson was wondering if you found your badge yet? Over.
JULES PIDIEU: 10-9, come again, I didnt get that. Over. The animated conversation in the back is making it difficult for him to hear you.
CHESTER MCLAINE: ...new heights even for Captain Sober!
MACK TORSON: Ask him... The speaker gasps for air. Ask him if he still has his *gun* too! The room roars with laughter.
JULES PIDIEU: Sergeant Torson wants to know if you lost your gun too. Over.
HALF LIGHT: Okay, its gone. Your gun is most definitely gone.
HORRIFIC NECKTIE: Dont sweat it, *bratan*. You dont need a gun to have fun we can still have fun. Its not all over.
Uh-oh.
JULES PIDIEU: He says he didnt lose his gun*or* his fun, whatever that means.
CHESTER MCLAINE: Ask him to describe it! His gun! Not his *fun*, just the gun will do He laughs.
JULES PIDIEU: Satellite-Officer McLaine requests a description of your weapon. Over.
JULES PIDIEU: Says its a Kiejl 9mm Armistice.
JEAN VICQUEMARE: Armistice? What, is he a fucking ? Clearly he doesnt have his Villiers any more.
MACK TORSON: Dear god, he lost his gun!!! Oh my I cant He The man succumbs to laughter again.
JEAN VICQUEMARE: This isnt really a laughing matter
CHESTER MCLAINE: Mack can face the Giant of Koko Nur by himself, but Disco here made him piss his pants!
MACK TORSON: Oh I I cant Fuuuuuck, he lost his Ask him if he still has his wiener!
JULES PIDIEU: Im not going to
MACK TORSON: Ask him!
JULES PIDIEU: He acknowledges your joke and asks you to lay off.
JEAN VICQUEMARE: Lay off? Lay off?! Tell him well lay off when he retrieves the goddamn police property that he has been entrusted with.
JULES PIDIEU: 10-4, affirmative. Officer is in pursuit of his firearm. Theres static.
MACK TORSON: Oh god, I... The man is fighting back tears.
JULES PIDIEU: Officer, do you need further assistance? Over.
JULES PIDIEU: 10-4, I hear you. I dont heave the authority to grant your request, but
JEAN VICQUEMARE: What does he want now?
JULES PIDIEU: He is asking for money.
JEAN VICQUEMARE: Is he fucking kidding?!
JULES PIDIEU: I dont think he is.
JEAN VICQUEMARE: Dont give that asshole anything, hes just gonna drink it all!
JULES PIDIEU: He says hes in trouble, doesnt have a place to sleep.
JEAN VICQUEMARE: Well, I guess hed better crack the case before sundown then!
JULES PIDIEU: Vicquemare said
JULES PIDIEU: Uh okay, 10-4, sirI hear you, relay your question. Over.
RHETORIC: Youre going to be looking at a straitjacket if you tell everyone you lost your memory. Be smart about this! Ask if hes there alone.
JEAN VICQUEMARE: What? What is it?! Hes still on the line?!
JULES PIDIEU: He wants to verify the information on his badge.
MACK TORSON: But of course, it says Dick MullenHigh General of the Revacholian Cavalry Force.
JEAN VICQUEMARE: Tell him to stop wasting time!
JULES PIDIEU: Uh
JEAN VICQUEMARE: What? What is it? What can he possibly still want from us?!
JULES PIDIEU: He seems intoxicated and keeps asking me to call him by his name.
CHESTER MCLAINE: Mullens drunk and emotionally aggressive. Thats new.
JULES PIDIEU: 10- uh excuse me, sir? Over.
JULES PIDIEU: 10-4, well thats a
JEAN VICQUEMARE: Does he actually want anything or is he hell-bent on disrupting our work?!
JULES PIDIEU: He asked if he ever told me about his days before joining the RCM.
JEAN VICQUEMARE: For gods sake, cut this shit out! Tell him to stop wasting time and be a goddamn policeman for a change!
JULES PIDIEU: Roger that. 10-10. Over and out. The static ends with a loud click, then everything is silent in the cabin.
ESPRIT DE CORPS: The small room is filled with cigarette smoke abuzz with laughter, when officer Judith Minot enters. Her left arm is in bandages and hair trimmed short.
JEAN VICQUEMARE: What happened is my partner made contactits not good. Hes lost his badge *and* his sidearm. He seemed confused, delirious even He stops to think.
MACK TORSON: Mack The Torso Torson is finger-fucking his fist, laughing hoarsely and apparently telling some dirty story to his partner, Chester McLaine, near the entrance. Suddenly he interjects: Yeah, Mullen was fucked alright. Sounded fucking drunk to me.
CHESTER MCLAINE: The tall ginger on his right still has tears of laughter in his eyes. Yeah, Macks right, this was some gnarly shit there. I mean, before he started begging for moneyit was
JEAN VICQUEMARE: Satellite-Officer Vicquemare bites down on his knuckles. Enough! he shouts across the room. The commotion dies down. All eyes turn to him. None of this is funny! Its fucking sad, thats what it is. Hes a cop. Hes one of us, goddamn this
JUDITH MINOT: Minot looks down at her neatly polished black shoes. There is a quiet firmness to her voice, when she speaks: We must help him.
JEAN VICQUEMARE: Yeah? How do you fucking plan to do that, huh?! Get him off the drink?! Go jogging with him in the morning and get him on carrot juice?! Hes a lost man!
JUDITH MINOT: I just know we cant give up on him when hes at his weakest. He wouldnt The crowd in the room has started fidgeting uncomfortably. Someones trying to slip out unnoticed.
JEAN VICQUEMARE: Mack, man the door, he gestures Torson to block the doorway, then turns to Minot. You know what he told me? I dont want to get betterI want to get worse. Those were his words. He sighs heavily and turns to address the room This shit does *not* leave this room! Not a word of this to the captain or anyone else. Well give him a couple of days to pull his shit together!
JULES PIDIEU: Oldboy lights another cigarette and says: I guess I can hold off the report for a few days.
JEAN VICQUEMARE: Good, Vicquemare turns to the others, Okay everybody, nothing but a prank call here. We all got our laughs, now get back to work!
So, yeah. Thats Esprit de Corps. It gives you a psychic link to other cops. Its amazing.
COUPRIS KINEEMA: A metallic drawer slides out from under the seat and clicks into place. The tools inside are neatly organized.
KIM KITSURAGI: Take what you need, officer. Its going to be a long case. Im not *protective* of my tools. Like some men are
COUPRIS KINEEMA: The prybar feels nice and cold in your hand. Heavier than youd think.
COUPRIS KINEEMA: The handles are long and sleek. *Snap-snap* go the cutters in your hand.
COUPRIS KINEEMA: Its robust, weatherproof, and well made. Police issueblue.
COUPRIS KINEEMA: As you tap the gauge, the indicator pin jerks as if startled. Its in the large orange sector, indicating the engine is warm. Next to the gauge is a red switch labeled HEAT.
KIM KITSURAGI: Theres no use pressing the HEAT button, he says and jingles his keys. It wont start without the ignition key.
RHETORIC: [Easy: Success] Translation: Were not going anywhere right now.
ALICE: It will take just a moment, officer Her voice fades out into the familiar radio static.
NIX GOTTLIEB: Even better! Anything else? I wouldnt worry about that. Officers your age have coronary trouble all the time. Alsodeath is a natural part of life.
NIX GOTTLIEB: With all the damage youve been dealing yourself with drugs and alcohol, Im not surprised.
NIX GOTTLIEB: What else? Im not a *brain* doctor. Look on the bright sideyouve got a whole new life now. Use it wisely.
NIX GOTTLIEB: Do that. I need to go. Some idiot has glued his eyelids shut with Cyanoacrylate. It *looks* like Mack Torson, but its hard to say because his eyes are swollen...
Macks having a hell of a day.
NIX GOTTLIEB: Mhphm. The phone clicks. Suddenly you hear the already familiar voice
KIM KITSURAGI: Yes, hold on the lieutenant takes a look at his notes. Her number is 005 1944 298.
ALICE: Received. Hold on, officer.
KIM KITSURAGI: Give it a minute, she might be busy at the moment takes a bit to get to the phone.
VOLITION: [Medium: Success] Just wait. Relax.
ALICE:
SYLVIE: Oh, right She recognizes your voice almost immediately. Hello, officer, what can I do for you?
SYLVIE: You know whom.
SYLVIE: You know she seems to be looking for words. What the Union says, goes. People listen to them and they take care of their own, which is, like, everyone here.
KIM KITSURAGI: Legally, no. In reality, yes. He looks around. Martinaise is *de facto* policed by the Dockworkers Union.
SYLVIE: I I didnt want to get in trouble with the others
AUTHORITY: Push her *further*. Show her the error of her ways.
SYLVIE: No, sorry I dont. She clears her throat. Not a lot of people have phones around here. Copper thieves take the wires People dont have the money to have the cables put in again. They use the Unions phone or the one on the coast.
You see no reason not to ask her where your badge and gun are.
SYLVIE: Oh no, I havent, sorry.
COMPOSURE: Hes in plainclothes. Voluntarily. Its different from not knowing where your uniform is.
SYLVIE: Yes, obviously. You were the worst client Ive ever seen. And I have seen *so many* assholes in this place
SYLVIE: Well You were worse than all of them. Honestly, you were getting borderline aggressive.
SYLVIE: Then there was your room. Your *project*, an experiment to see how bad it can get in there. I tried to send the cleaner, but you wouldnt let me. Threatened to make me understand. I had no idea what you meantand I *dont* want to know.
SYLVIE: And *then* I had to deal with your toilet. The one you clogged with *police documents*, causing water damage downstairs in the kitchen.
SYLVIE: I dammit, I dont remember what I did to your damn papers! I dont remember every little thing I do. Resentment gives way to concern in her voice. Especially when theres a hurricane loose. Its *your* fault for losing them-- not mine.
SYLVIE: The stuffed bird. The great skua. You threw it against the wall, while screaming fuck that bird and laughing like a maniac.
SYLVIE: Yes. Thats the one you liked to sing along to the *most*. The later it got the more *that one* came on.
SYLVIE: You hear a sigh of relief on the other end of the radio. Wordless, the call breaks. Then the already familiar voice:
COUPRIS KINEEMA: AS ALWAYS ITS DJ MESH AND FLACIO AND YOURE LISTENING TO S-S-S-SSS-SSSPEE-EED FREAKS FM, BRINGING YOU THE HOTTEST, THE NASTIEST, THE MOST VULGAR
KIM KITSURAGI: Right away the lieutenant reaches into the cabin and turns off the radio. Hes not looking at you as he says: Someone must have been messing with the radio, or maybe it picked up a random frequency You wanted the primeline, right?
ALICE: 57th over and out. Her voice disappears into void.
We now have our tools, opening up a world of possibilities. Sort of.
Also, we got a skill point a while back for getting 100 experience points, so were going to spend it on Endurance to give ourselves a nice boost in maximum Health. Maybe we wont die immediately now that we have 3 instead of 2.