RadioMartinaise [none/use name]

INLAND EMPIRE - After life, death. After death, life again.

ONE DAY I WILL RETURN TO YOUR SIDE - The fuel oil catches fire immediately with an ominous hiss – a bright orange flash across the surface of the letters. Black smoke rises from the burning message.

INLAND EMPIRE - What if the words are not directed at the people of Martinaise, or even the Coalition aerostatics above the city – they’re meant for something above even those…

YOU - “Okay, I’ll ask – who are the Semenese?”

MEASUREHEAD - “THE SOUTH ISLAND RACE, HAPLOGROUP A4A. WE ARE THE RIGHTFUL MASTERS OF THE INSULINDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. WE DESCEND FROM THE AREOPAGITES OF ANCIENT PERIKARNASSIS AND ARRIVED HERE 4000 YEARS AGO. MILLENNIA BEFORE YOU.”

MEASUREHEAD - “WE ARE THE FUTURE. THAT IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW.”

YOU - “So you were born and raised on the islands, before you moved to Revachol?”

MEASUREHEAD - “I AM A DESCENDANT. THE NARROW STREETS OF ULUNBUIR ARE WITH ME IN MY GENETIC DREAMS, I SEE YOUNG SEMENESE WOMEN WALK INTO THE GREY MASS ON ILE DU FANTÔME, WAITING ON IMMACULATE CONCEPTION FROM THE PALE.”

YOU - “So… you did not come from the islands?”

MEASUREHEAD - “NO.” He cranes his head. “I HAVE HEARD ABOUT IT. ON THE RADIO.”

Moralists don’t really have beliefs. Sometimes they stumble on one, like on a child’s toy left on the carpet. The toy must be put away immediately. And the child reprimanded. Centrism isn’t change – not even incremental change. It is control. Over yourself and the world. Exercise it. Look up at the sky, at the dark shapes of Coalition airships hanging there. Ask yourself: is there something sinister in moralism? And then answer: no. God is in his heaven. Everything is normal on Earth.

LEOPARD-PATTERNED BODYSUIT - This is a men’s size L leopard-patterned unitard with short sleeves. There are bits of seaweed stuck to it. It speaks to the animal inside you.

YOU - What should I… do with it?! (Continue.)

ELECTROCHEMISTRY - There’s only one thing left to do – see how it fits.

COMPOSURE - Just know that once the leotard goes on, it never comes off. You will change, irrevocably.

ELECTROCHEMISTRY - But don’t you want to feel different? It can be a secret that only you know.

YOU - “You should invest in a youth centre.”

MEGA RICH LIGHT-BENDING GUY - “A youth centre, huh? What kind of youth centre?”

CONCEPTUALIZATION - Come on. Tell him what he wants to hear.

YOU - “One dedicated to instilling liberal economic values in children from low-net-worth families.”

MEGA RICH LIGHT-BENDING GUY - “Brilliant! Without children who’ll be there to buy stuff in the future?”

YOU - “Yes. And if it doesn’t work out, we can always re-purpose the centre as a shopping mall or private equity firm.”

MEGA RICH LIGHT-BENDING GUY - “When life closes a door, it opens a window, yes? What’s the expected return on this?”

YOU - “Highly educated, work-ready, human capital ready to be directed toward any number of your vast interests.”

MEGA RICH LIGHT-BENDING GUY - “Very impressive. You’ve got a natural eye for unusual investment opportunities.”