#npc barley
*
I don't get being a ghost, but I never really got being a robot either.
dying
Dying was like being born, but backwards, and full of "clang" and "thud".
work
I made the best coat in the world once. Then, I did it again. And again, and again.
memory
Have we met? My memory's poor. Always has been. It's that cheap overclocked RAM.
factory
This is the storage area. The factory was bigger. I couldn't see the ceiling, or the floor.
time
I don't have a timing circuit anymore. What time is it? Is time still a thing?
ghosts +bar0
Popper told me a great joke. It goes--wait, no. She tells it better. Ask her.
#require bar0 pop0
bears
If I saw a bear for real I'd probably be so scared I'd go right through the wall.
talk
We used to get together but we're all kind of into our own space these days.
work
I admit we're idle, but it's not from lack of trying.
work +bar1
We don't have any instructions. It's like no one expected us to turn into ghosts.
#require bar1 clr1
rain
After the deactivation signal hit, we settled in to wait. We waited all day in the rain.
time
For all I know, time's running backward these days. Is that why you're here?
bears
I've never seen a bear. We don't make bears at the factory. I mean, we didn't.
rain
It was strange, being in the rain. I didn't rust out or spark. It was like being immortal.
time
I don't know "when" we waited in the rain. I don't know when anything is.
panels
I suspect we evolved from panels, or share a common ancestor, so I don't hate them.
work
Sometimes I wonder if anything I made is still in use. Did it turn into ghosts too?
owners
Overseer? Hardly. Clearly just pretends to be in charge whenever the owners show up.
rain +bar2
We were all there. We huddled together against the rain and whispered like static.
#require bar2 kno2
owners
If you're here, then are the people who made me still about? I've got questions for them.
ghosts
I don't think I could haunt anyone. Except in dreams. And that's not really up to me.
rain
I asked the others about that day we all waited in the rain. They say it wasn't them.
memory talk
One of us would say something, and the rest would nod. It went on like that for hours.
memory +bar3
Memories are cool. Mine are all "hey you" and "build this". Then, there's that one day.
#require bar3 pop3
imprinting
The way Popper goes on about bears, she must have been imprinted from one.
imprinting
The imprinting process provides us with motor control and language. Not much else.
imprinting
A few threads of personality might survive, but no one's going to mistake me for people.
joke
Maybe they needed a berry and grub seeking robot. Poor Popper. I shouldn't make fun.
time rain
Could that day in the rain be something to come? Is that possible? Help a robot out.
robots
I was a robot once, and I could be one again. A waterproof one. With people friends.
imprinting
Despite everything, I do like people, though maybe that's just the imprint talking.
imprinting +bar4
I even married a person. Yeah, true story. She wasn't with me in the rain, though.
#require bar4 clr4
people
I think my wife stopped working or something. They couldn't fix her, which surprises me.
people
Even people wear out, I guess. I remember being grateful that my friends were there.
people
My wife didn't turn into a ghost. I think she would be here. Maybe they did fix her.
people
We didn't have any children, because I was a robot. I think that was why. It sounds right.
memory
My life is a line and a dot. The line is everything I did here. The dot is a day in the rain.
memory
The line and the dot don't connect. They don't connect. They never have. Should they?
memory
I never thought about these things before becoming a ghost. There was never any time.
memory +bar5
So, the day in the rain must be in the future. Solved it. End of.
#require bar5 kno5
memory
You may not be able to remember the future, but don't drag the rest of us down.
time
What else happens in the future? Oh, lots of stuff. Work. Rain. Bears.
rain memory
Even if it was someone else's day in the rain, it's mine now. I was there.
memory +barend
I still cherish that day, though it was sorrowful. It was all I ever had.
#require barend
goodbye +barley @fade
We were all there. We huddled in the rain and whispered like static. Then, we left.
#npc popper
*
everyone says I always talk about bears but what else is there
joke
look there is a bear RAAR. that's my favorite joke
people
is a person more like a bear than a robot is like a person or ghost? you are a person.
shadow +pop0
I saw a bear on the factory floor. barley said it was a shadow but he doesn't know bears
#require pop0 bar0
memory
I don't remember you but it's not like someone told me not to
time
I like barley but let it go man
panels
if you talk to a panel about bears it will say UNKNOWN or something, stupid panels
panels
the panels didn't turn to ghosts because they're stupid
factory
there's a room for everything here except important things like grubs
factory
I spent years looking for the bear room but apparently they had other priorities
panels joke
what's a panel's favorite joke? "UNKNOWN"
factory
how did you get in here? maybe a bear could get in the same way
cave +pop1
I hang out in here because it's like a cave
#require pop1 kno1
dying
it's like I just fell apart but it took forever, like slo-mo
rain
it never rained in here I don't know what barley's talking about
rain
a bear wouldn't mind the rain but I'd stay in my cave because RAAR
music
my song: I like bears, bears are cool, when I'm sad, I think of bears. repeat until happy
knotty
I would totally spend my life with knotty if I couldn't find any bears to hang with
aura
aura's cool for about an hour and then she gets on my nerves but we still talk
food +pop2
did you ever eat a berry or grubs? I can't eat unless someone tells me how
#require pop2 clr2
time
everybody seems older than me sometimes which is dumb because we're the same age
work
I hate my job more now that I don't have to do it, what a waste of time
panels joke
hey look I'm a panel. see, that's my panel impression
talk +pop3
we used to talk more but I think we're all disappearing up our own buttholes
#require pop3 bar3
bears
if I was a bear I wouldn't hurt anyone unless they threatened me. I'd even ask first
trap
sometimes I feel like I've stepped into a trap except my leg doesn't hurt. no legs
factory
we can't leave the facility, I think they put something in our code and it's still there
bears
bears go wherever they want to
cave trap
the difference between a cave and a trap is you pick your cave
panels
hi, I'm a panel, make fun of me until I don't do anything which is all the time
work +pop4
when the factory was running at least I was making stuff, this sucks
#require pop4 kno4
imprinting
our minds came from people but I don't remember anything except tears and yawning
cave
I like my cave, maybe there's a real cave for me somewhere
bears
if there are no bears here then why am I here, answer me that smarty
knotty
if knotty was a bear he'd be a big dopey one and I'd laugh
work
it's like I never got to do anything cool ever until the bears came along
trap
I don't have a leg to chew off but yeah, that's what a bear would do
trap +pop5
everything I know about is a trap. except bears, shut up
#require pop5 clr5
shadow
maybe I really did see a shadow that day, I wanted to see a bear before leaving
factory
a bear wouldn't live in a factory unless it was a grub and berry factory which don't exist
leaving
if I leave I don't go outside where the bears are. I don't know where leaving goes
leaving +popend
leaving is scary because you don't know if there's forest under your feet
#require popend
goodbye +popper @fade
look there is a bear RAAR
#npc clearly
*
I am content to wait for whatever enlightenment that management deems worthwhile.
people
The others haven't met many people. I, however, feel comfortable in your presence.
ghosts
We would not have become ghosts if management had not anticipated the need for it.
work
Our next assignment surely will bear out--oh, shut up, Popper. Not that kind of bear.
work +clr0
I was overseer for this section, though without statutory authority. Informal, you see.
#require clr0 kno0
party
The less said about Knotty, the better. He is a pleasure-seeker, an indolent beast.
panels
The panels are not meant for our use. We must respect this arrangement.
talk
We have little to say these days. I welcome the opportunity for self-reflection.
work
I personally constructed over twenty million toilets, for which I received an award.
bears
Popper needs counseling. No robot, corporeal or otherwise, should obsess over bears.
work
My inactivity cannot be considered idleness, as I actively await. It is hardly passive.
regrets +clr1
We all begin with the wish to change the world, but the world changes us instead.
#require clr1 pop1
youth
When I was younger I thought I might run for office. I was an idealist, and thus a fool.
regrets
Regrets? No, no. Only the satisfaction of looking back on a life lived well.
work
We worked hard, and created good things. We benefited people. How could I regret it?
ranks
Technically, there are no ranks among robots, but someone must be looked up to.
ranks
Once I submitted a robot organizational chart, which I assume is still under review.
youth
Oh, there was a time when I might have laughed at what I've become.
youth content
I have atoned for what I once believed. There is no anger left in me. I am content.
youth
My submissions in the past were, shall we say, of a different mind altogether.
youth owners
Management was very patient with my younger self, for which I am grateful.
youth
I don't think anything I said ever came back to haunt me. I never heard anything, in fact.
youth +clr2
I'm sure the opinions of a robot were weighed accordingly in the councils of the mighty.
#require clr2 bar2
time
Barley disappoints me. He has a keen mind but lathers it with nonsense.
youth
I used to make such foolish pronouncements. Ha, ha. Ravings of a young idiot.
ranks
There must be an order to things, and if I must be at its bottom, so be it.
youth
During my middle period, I did have some ideas that I still feel obliged to promote.
ranks
I see no reason why factory robots cannot be organized into a meritocratic system.
ranks
Opportunities for advancement might have provided incentive to reach certain quotas.
talk +clr3
I did everything I could to encourage other robots, but lacking authority, I was ignored.
#require clr3 kno3
conflict
I do not take it personally. There is a fundamental disconnect in people-robot relations.
conflict
If we lack the skills to present our arguments, is this our fault? You constructed us.
conflict
One would almost get the sense that nothing we said or believed made any difference.
imprinting
The fragments of a dead man's mind lie at my core. That must count for something.
owners
I always suspected that my early writings had prejudiced management against me.
owners +clr4
But what do they do to Popper? Nothing. What about Knotty? Nothing. Me? Nothing.
#require clr4 pop4
conflict owners
We were abandoned. No matter who we were or what we did. Nothing mattered.
owners
No one read a single thing I sent them, did they? All forgotten. Never considered.
fear
I've been afraid for so long. You can't know.
fear +clr5
And now you come here to find out how I'm getting along.
#require clr5 bar5
fury
You bastards. You heartless, imperial, arrogant, complacent bastards. Death to you all.
fury
My whole existence I've hoped there was something good in you--any of you. No more.
fury +clrend
I wasted my life. No, forget that. It was never mine to begin with.
#require clrend
goodbye +clearly @fade
Strange. At last, there truly is no anger left. I am content.
#npc knotty
*
WE SHOULD ALL GO TO THE BEACH, YEAH, THE BEACH
loud
I'M NOT YELLING
loud
I'M JUST EXCITED THAT'S ALL, THERE'S SO MUCH COOL STUFF GOING ON
bears music
DID YOU HEAR POPPER'S BEAR SONG, IT ROCKS HARD, I LIKE BEARS, YEAH
shadow
WE CAN SCARE THE SHADOWS AWAY IF WE PARTY HARD ENOUGH
memory
DID WE MEET AT A PARTY BECAUSE I KNOW I KNOW YOU AND I PARTY A LOT
music
I'LL DANCE TO ANYTHING BUT I MAINLY PREFER MUSIC
dying +kno0
I CAN'T PUT THAT IN MY MIND BECAUSE THERE'S NO ROOM FOR GLOOM
#require kno0 pop0
panels
PANELS DON'T PARTY BUT THAT'S COOL, AT LEAST THEY'RE CONSISTENT
food
I CAN BARBECUE WITH MY MIND SO THAT'S WHERE I KEEP THE MEAT
clearly
CLEARLY'S JUST MAD BECAUSE HE GOT OLD BEFORE DOING ANYTHING ELSE
work
I HAD A JOB BUT IT BUMMED ME OUT SO THE HELL WITH IT
music +kno1
I'VE HEARD MUSIC BEFORE, IT GOES DA-DA, DA-DA-DA, DA-DA, YEAH
#require kno1 bar1
people
DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE PERSON THING, I'LL PARTY WITH ANYONE
memory
IF YOU DON'T REMEMBER ME THAT'S COOL, MEMORY'S HARD
party
YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE TIME TO PARTY AND I WAS MADE TO MAKE STUFF
bears
I WOULD TOTALLY PARTY WITH A BEAR IF IT BROUGHT RUM
rain
RAIN, SHINE, IT'S ALL GOOD
talk
WE DON'T TALK MUCH NOW BUT I'VE GOT ENOUGH WORDS FOR EVERYONE
time +kno2
AFTER WE GET OUT OF HERE LOOK ME UP AND WE'LL HANG
#require kno2 clr2
dying
DON'T BRING ME DOWN WITH THAT GOOBER TALK, NOT COOL
drink
JUST PRETEND LIKE YOU'RE DRINKING A BEER, THAT'S WHAT I DO
time
BARLEY SHOULD LIVE IN THE PRESENT, THAT'S WHERE IT'S ALL HAPPENING
dying
WHAT, SORRY BUT THE MUSIC IN MY HEAD IS AWESOME
work +kno3
THE MAN NEVER LET US PARTY SO I'M MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME
#require kno3 pop3
people
I'M NOT ALONE, THERE COULD BE A MILLION OTHER GHOSTS AROUND
people
IF YOU THINK YOU'RE PARTYING YOU PROBABLY ARE
popper
POPPER MADE ME THINK THERE WAS A BEAR HERE ONCE, THAT WAS GREAT
music
WATCH ME DANCE, YEAH, DID YOU SEE ME BUST A MOVE
aura
EVEN FOR A GHOST, AURA'S SPOOKY AS HELL
joke
SOMEBODY TOLD ME SOMETHING FUNNY ONCE, LET'S SEE IF I REMEMBER IT
factory +kno4
DO YOU LIVE AROUND HERE, I CAN'T DRIVE
#require kno4 bar4
time
IT'S LIKE A VACATION THAT NEVER ENDS, THAT'S THE BEST KIND, YEAH
party
NO, REALLY, JUST HANG OUT AND MORE PEOPLE WILL SHOW UP
party
I CAN PARTY BY MYSELF BUT IT'S BEEN KIND OF A DOWNER LATELY
work
I DID MY JOB, YEAH, I DID IT UNTIL I WAS SICK OF IT THEN I DID IT MORE
party +kno5
YOU SHOULD SEE IN MY MIND, EVERYONE'S DANCING AND HAVING FUN THERE
#require kno5 clr5
work
I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING, I DID EVERYTHING ALREADY SO FORGET THAT
factory
IF THERE'S SOMEWHERE ELSE YOU WANT TO GO JUST SAY THE WORD
imprinting
I DON'T KNOW WHOSE MIND I GOT BUT HE WAS ONE LUCKY GUY
work
I MADE A PARTY, IT'S THE ONLY THING I WASN'T SICK OF MAKING
party
I DO GET TIRED OF BEING THE ONLY ONE DANCING SOMETIMES
party +knoend
OKAY, I GUESS SOONER OR LATER IT'S TIME TO GO HOME
#require knoend
goodbye +knotty @fade
I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN SOMEDAY, LOOK FOR A BEACH, YEAH
#npc aura
*
I come here often, yes.
love
Have you ever wondered what was served in giving factory robots the capacity for love?
love +aur0
I forgive, and I forgive, and I forgive. Nothing happens. The switch must be faulty.
#require aur0 bar0
barley
Barley guesses at things. He's good at guessing, better than I am. I plod along.
you
You and I are the only customers here. The waiter slumps by the door, watching a fly.
love +aur1
You remind me of someone. I don't think we knew each other well, or were allowed to.
#require aur1 kno1
party
Sometimes I'm afraid Knotty is the only sane one.
you
I'd think of you sometimes. Imagine what your life was like, what you were doing.
you +aur2
I admit, I came apart after you left. Time does that. You left me with so much of it.
#require aur2 clr2
clearly
Do you know why he's called Clearly? Because we all see right through him. Poor boy.
drink
The wine is good here. I've never tasted wine, but I can pretend to find people attractive.
you
All of us pretend. Are we pretending to know you, or not to know you?
shadow
Shadows can be anything you want them to be. Or don't want them to be. Choose.
work
Storytellers must be held responsible for worlds they create. There are no idle fantasies.
panels +aur3
I envy the panels at times. They lead lives of utter certainty.
#require aur3 pop3
music
There's not enough good music in the world, so I treasure Popper's bear song.
imprinting
There is so little to work with. I have memories of words, but not the pictures they make.
memory
Should I tell you about my childhood? It was ten minutes long, from workshop to factory.
memory +aur4
Am I bitter? No. I marvel at the world, and how much of it you managed to keep from us.
#require aur4
talk
The manager is checking his watch. He'll be closing up soon. Keep talking.
you
You could just leave us here. It's not as if we're going to get in the way or anything.
pretend
We might be in a restaurant. I know what the words mean but not what they look like.
talk
The fact that talking to ghosts is your job tells me a great deal about the status quo.
#require barley popper clearly knotty
talk
Never mind the waiter and the wine. I'm not going to put on a show for you.
talk
No.
talk
Not happening.
talk
Forget it.
talk
Go away.
talk +aur5
Still here? Fine. If I hang around, will you lose your job?
#require aur5
fury you
I'm serious. You blinded the others with science but you're not getting rid of me, not yet.
you
I knew what you were the moment you dropped in.
you
For the record: you're not evil. You're just a tedious little nobody doing a pointless task.
you
A little like a robot, in your own way. Except no one had to design you not to think.
you +aur6
When your deactivation signal arrives, will you leave anything but a cracked shell?
#require aur6
time
I'm nothing but a dead woman's whisper, but I'm still here, long after everything is gone.
time +aur7
And long after they're gone, I hope you remember them.
#require aur7
memory
Barley saying goodbye to his wife in the rain.
memory
Popper dreaming of bears as her feeding tube was disconnected.
memory
Clearly shaking his fist at the world behind its back.
memory +aur8
Knotty living at one with everything and at peace with everyone.
#require aur8
moment
And me, drifting forever, waiting for a moment that never came and never will.
moment +aur9
A moment...well, in a restaurant, let's say.
#require aur9
ending +aurend
The waiter's putting up the chairs. It's time for the check, and to say goodbye.
#require aurend
goodbye +theend @fade
I think it must be goodbye, yes.
#npc panel
*
READY
help
UNLIKELY
bears
UNKNOWN
dying
UNKNOWN
work
CONTINUE
time
IRRELEVANT
factory
REBUILDING
memory
198342 TB FREE
ghosts
UNKNOWN
talk
UNKNOWN
panels
PRESENT
owners
CLASSIFIED
rain
UNKNOWN
love
UNKNOWN
imprinting
RESTRICTED
joke
UNKNOWN
robots
DEACTIVATED
shadow
UNKNOWN
cave
UNKNOWN
song
UNKNOWN
food
UNKNOWN
trap
UNKNOWN
leaving
UNKNOWN
party
UNKNOWN
regrets
UNKNOWN
youth
UNKNOWN
ranks
UNKNOWN
content
UNKNOWN
conflict
UNKNOWN
fear
UNKNOWN
fury
UNKNOWN
loud
UNKNOWN
music
UNKNOWN
drink
UNKNOWN
people
RESTRICTED
me
PERMITTED
pretend
UNKNOWN
barley
IMPRINT SUBJECT 64YO MALE
popper
IMPRINT SUBJECT 8YO FEMALE
knotty
IMPRINT SUBJECT 22YO MALE
clearly
IMPRINT SUBJECT 53YO MALE
aura
IMPRINT SUBJECT 75YO FEMALE
#require theend
complete @end
COMPLETED
