FUNCTION-L₃ #35

“Maybe you have a point... We’re not part of this scene and we don’t know what introducing an element like Vix could do to delicate balance of power for the artists who work here,” you sign.

“Yeah, I guess we didn’t really think this through...” Akiko signs.

The trio look to one another. “That was easy. Too easy even...” Senka signs.

“They’re just kids after all, they can be surprisingly sincere,” Satori signs.

“Oh well, lesson learned I guess,” Kujo signs.

“How about this, if you want a real taste of the music scene, take down those ads you put up and come to our show tonight, we’ll let you in for free,” Satori signs.

“We’re playing the Starquake bar on level 4, opening for Æther Panic,” Kujo signs.

“They’re also a technopath band, you’ll like them,” Satori signs.

“I don’t know...” Akiko signs.

“Hey, this venue, the PA system is crazy, Kujo’s bass vibrates the walls, the floor, you can even feel it from the street outside. One time Colony Engineering got called on us for a structural threat. It’s so stimmy, you’ll like it, I guarantee,” Satori signs.

Akiko touches your shoulder and slides their hand down your arm, catching your hand in listening position to speak privately to you in tactile signs.

“What do you think?” she signs.

Switching roles, you answer. “I’m down if you are. Maybe we can learn how the scene actually works and re-evaluate our strategy here.”

“Getting vibrated to dangerous levels sounds fun, let’s go!” she signs.

“Okay, we’re in,” you say.

“Great! Doors at 2100, I’ll give you the key to the technopath entrance in the back,” Satori signs.

“Cryptographically locked,” Senko signs.

“What is this, a bar for technopaths?” you sign.

“I wish. We used to have a spot of our own. But the labels bought it out and shut it down,” Senko signs.

Reaching out into the network, you locate all the displays you modified. With a kill signal, you put an end to the program.

“Good girls,” Satori signs.

[data packet received]

“There, that will get you in,” Satori signs.

“Thanks!” you sign.

“See you there!” Kujo says, turning away from you and mounting his bike. The three of them leave you, the motors of their vehicles resonating in a harmonic pattern.

“Your world is so cool Akiko!” you sign.

“It has its moments for sure,” she signs.

“I guess we need to tell Vix and ÆON what happened though...” You open the group chat to think a message.

2255-01-17 13:21:11 Aydan > calling exopaths! change of plans

2255-01-17 13:21:12 ÆON > What is it, Aydan?

2255-01-17 13:21:14 ヴィクズ > Vix reporting, nya!

2255-01-17 13:21:20 Aydan > we ran into some trouble with a local band... they really don’t like interlopers trying to disrupt their scene

2255-01-17 13:21:21 ÆON > I see, the local æther tells all. They were prepared for a fight.

2255-01-17 13:21:23 ヴィクズ > but disrupting the scene was our entire plan-nya!

2255-01-17 13:21:27 明子 > we need to stop and reconsider our strategy. we don’t really know how this underground music thing works, the technopath approach here is caution and patience. fact is, we need to learn more

2255-01-17 13:21:30 Aydan > she’s right. just hold off on your self-promotion until we get a better sense of how things work here.

2255-01-17 13:21:31 ÆON > Aydan, based on my reading of that interaction, I do not think they will consider compromise on their position. No matter how we try to approach this, they will oppose us.

2255-01-17 13:21:33 ヴィクズ > ohh this is absolutely Devastating! my own agents and best friends making such a heartless decision! and after we were doing so well and several new fans already downloaded my demo! do we really have to stop so soon? can’t I release just a few more tracks today??