[audio; locked to the Sleepers]

[antecedent]

George Kardos has opened communication!

All right, I need you to sound off so I know who you are and if you're not a ghost. Getting annoying mixing the two up after this long.

Comments

[antecedent]

Been called worse things. Name's Ken, by the way.

Know how that is. Better half's been trying to run through walls when he thinks I'm not looking.

[deshabille]

Name, or name name?

Now there's an idea I haven't tried yet.

[antecedent]

Actual one, not the bullshit one they claim is mine.

Not as fun as it looks. Unless you're the one watching someone run into a wall.

[deshabille]

Well, Actual Ken, my 'bullshit' name is Milena, which I hope will do for now.

Between running into a wall and just staring at it, I'll take the former. For a mysteriously empty city, this place is surprisingly boring.

[antecedent]

Works for me. Don't use they name they gave me because they messed with my husband's memories.

Not so empty and boring for me. I can see everyone that's died in the city. Makes it a bit livelier.

[deshabille]

. . . A good reason. Permanently?

That's got to be thousands of people.

[antecedent]

The old memories come back, but the new ones are still there as if they're supposed to be there.

More like hundreds of thousands.

[deshabille]

I see. [ brief pause ] Sounds like magic.

Really? That many?

[antecedent]

Sounds like nothing good.

It's a big city.

[deshabille]

Yes, well, I thought that went without saying.

I don't have much experience with them.

[antecedent]

Felt the need to say it anyway.

Depends on what they're planning on with us and this place, you might get some experience.

[deshabille]

Experience I'm fine with. Menacing pause . . . experience, not as much.