learn sum Fuk

Records of the Vanguard, OS-6I 3

ZAV: All Guardians are observing the prohibition on City visits. Ikora reports that appropriate crisis protocols are in place in the Owl Sector.

CY6: A watch-and-wait operation? You know I'd rather be shooting something. Can we sprinkle some of this stuff on the Fallen?

IR: Be careful what you wish for, Cayde.

ZAV: The Bypass Authority's researches have borne some fruit, I hear?

IR: It's slow going. I'm offering backup computational and decryption support, but she's fiercely self-sufficient, like most of the Owl Sector.

CY6: You mean she isn't asking you for help.

IR: I think she likes having secrets.

CY6: That doesn't sound familiar at all.

IR: In spite of my reservations, she's earned my commendation, Cayde. It's high-risk work for a civilian.

ZAV: Speaking of civilians, this Dr. Shirazi troubles me.

IR: Her choice of passphrase is interesting. As is her decision to lock each separate entry, a security precaution disproportionate to her project's classification as Level 2.

Records of the Vanguard, OS-6I 2

CY6: All right, what's the next option?

IR: If you're so brilliant, you tell me.

ZAV: I suppose we should have known better than to tell Guardians to stand still.

CY6: It's not their strong suit. They’re not good at staying off my table, either. Stinkers.

IR: Focus, Cayde. This is an emergency.

CY6: You mean opportunity.

ZAV: Cayde—

CY6: I'd like some of that Splendor that I'm seeing on Guardians. I look good in yellow, and I'm due for an upgrade.

ZAV: I am going to forbid you, Cayde.

CY6: Always the life of the party.

IR: We need you as you are. Healthy and in sound mind.

Records of the Vanguard, OS-I6 1

CY6: I don't see the harm in it. A little mysterious fun, some ka-ching to our usual pew-pew. Didn't you take candy from strangers, when you were newborn in the Light? 

ZAV: No. I did not. 

IR: This isn't candy, Cayde. The Owl Sector reports a highly contagious armor systems override. If you'd stop clowning for a moment and think— 

ZAV: What protocols are the Owl Sector implementing? 

IR: The Liaison asked me what to do. 

CY6: That's a new one. 

IR: Both the Owl Sector and my Hidden have been unable to gain control of these overrides. I suggest quarantine as a stopgap. 

CY6: Lodging an objection, based on previous experience. 

ZAV: She's right, though. It's the best option at the moment. 

Owl Sector Debrief to Ikora Rey, OS-I6 8

Z. SHIRAZI CB-PZ-8.5 I said, "You must understand. I'm trying. I wanted to see us among the stars. I ran this study because I dreamed of exploring the unknown and making new places home. I dreamed of the whole universe becoming our home." Jun said, "You don't even have a home here. They treat you with suspicion. You're not a Bray. Why did you come to Mars? Do you have no home on Earth?" "I don't," I said.

Owl Sector Debrief to Ikora Rey, OS-I6 7

IR: Any change? RAM: None.

Owl Sector Debrief to Ikora Rey, OS-I6 6

IR: Welcome to the Underwatch, Acting Liaison Ramos. How is Shun? Why are you laughing?

RAM: We had a bet. He said that'd be the first thing you'd ask. He’s still unconscious.

IR: My Hidden are at your command. We’ll do whatever’s necessary. Have you any idea what a cure might look like?

RAM: Not yet. Shun asked me to call this entry to your attention.

Z. SHIRAZI CB-PZ-4.5

Jun has refused to perform required strength and intelligence tests. He has accused me, Willa Bray, and the Clovis Bray corporation of nefarious purposes thirty-two times since injection.

"Clovis Bray destroys the world to remake it in their own image. That's their goal. Look at me—the first step to your perfect colonist. But I'm just a prototype. You know what happens to prototypes, Dr. Shirazi."

I am not sure how this subject passed the psychological screen.

Owl Sector Debrief to Ikora Rey, OS-I6 5

IR: Restricted leave? What did you do?

SHU: Forgot to put on part of the isolation rig. Too tired. I can't remember yesterday at all. Ramos will take over the duties of Liaison to the Vanguard. You treat her nice, okay? She's nervous.

IR: You—rest well.

Owl Sector Debrief to Ikora Rey, OS-I6 4

SHU: Have you seen this?

Z. SHIRAZI CB-PZ-1.5

Patient E, Jun, has been uncooperative. Laughed unpleasantly when I told him he would receive Glory 2.1.

"You're running prototypes in parallel because it's cheaper and faster," he said. "No ethics board on Earth would approve. But I don't have a choice. I’m neck-deep in debt to Clovis Bray."

I wish we had tweaked these elixirs to modify disposition.

IR: You wished to introduce me to your Golden Age analogue?

SHU: Ha. Ha. No, I thought you'd be interested in Jun. This kind of coercion isn't a known Clovis Bray practice.

IR: Not in the books you read, perhaps.

SHU: But it's in the record?

Owl Sector Debrief to Ikora Rey, OS-I6 3

IR: Your team is observing strict sterilization, firewall, and decontamination procedures, I hope.

SHU: It's touching to know you still care.

IR: The effects on ordinary humans, Awoken, and EXOs are unknown, and I'd rather not experiment.

SHU: The great Ikora Rey doesn’t want to know?

IR: There are higher priorities in this situation.

SHU: You'd be worried sick if I caught the mite.

IR: The suffering of any lessens us all.

SHU: C'mon, Korrie.

IR: Liaison Shun, please confirm your operating procedures.

SHU: Standard Amber 6 protocol, no deviations.

Owl Sector Debrief to Ikora Rey, OS-I6 2

SHU: We are in agreement, then.

Owl Sector Debrief to Ikora Rey, OS-I6 1

IR: So what you're telling me is that an unknown substance or virus or curse is spreading among our Guardians.

SHU: I wouldn't put it that way, but yes.

IR: What are you doing about it?

SHU: We thought we'd ask you. It's not like anything we've seen before. We thought you or the Hidden might know.

IR: Nothing in my experience resembles this.

SHU: For what it's worth, our Guardians aren't worried. It's a carnival out there.

IR: But you and I know—

Owl Sector Internal, OS-I6 7

Z. SHIRAZI CB-PZ-6.2

Owl Sector Internal, OS-I6 6

QUI: He's been transferred to the hospital wing. Stable for the moment. RAM: We’ll have to be more careful. What's Berriole's latest?

Z. SHIRAZI CB-PZ-5.2

Yesterday, with a wild yell, Patient B sat up, then started singing and dancing. Tried to calm him but was unsuccessful. He has not stopped since regaining consciousness. I have heard all the songs of his childhood, half the pop hits of the past century, and improvised ballads about his life. He's owned two dogs and six cats and I know all their names.

RAM: There's hope, then.

Owl Sector Internal, OS-I6 5

QUI: I’d forgotten how heavy and sweaty these were.

RAM: Truth be told, I’m braver with the suits on.

QUI: A hundred separate pieces, requiring buckling and zipping, though?

RAM: We’ll improve the design. Eventually. But they work. Berriole’s got the most delicate tasks, and she manages.

SHU: Speaking of our codebreaker. She sent a sample scraped off the sand. And this log.

Z. SHIRAZI CB-PZ-3.2

This is the second day that Patient B continues comatose. Hydration and nutrition support have been enabled. Vital signs are good. Green particles appear to be accumulating on his lips and nostrils. I have not observed similar consequences for other patients and am wondering if this was an idiosyncratic reaction.

Owl Sector Internal, OS-I6 4

QUI: Did you see this dispatch of Berriole’s?

Z. SHIRAZI CB-PZ-1.2

Regrettably, Patient B entered a coma minutes after injection with Brilliance 3.2. Vital signs remain normal. Homeostasis preserved. While cause for concern, I do not think it necessary to table this study and will proceed.

RAM: If that's the effect on civilians—

QUI: It might have been temporary. But—

RAM: The decision to lock down the City was wise.