Prologue
An icy wind blasts you in the face, and a mist fogs up your eyes.
You don't know where you are, but with leaden steps you press on.
You can vaguely feel yourself moving to a higher place. You can't stay here. You definitely have to get away.
Look! A thick rope is thrown down from above. Strong and sturdy, it waves at you as it swings in the wind.
Your legs are trembling, your eyes are losing focus, and your blood is running cold. You stop and you hesitate.
An escape. Reach for it?
Sadly, it's not as sturdy as it looks. CRACK! You hear the snap of a fishing line.
Kaalaa Baunaa: ——!
Late at night in the research institute, all is quiet as usual.
The documents and proposals under your arms have been there for too long. They were probably the cause of the nightmare.
Kaalaa Baunaa: 04:15... I slept for almost 4 hours?!
Kaalaa Baunaa: It was supposed to be a quick nap...
You hear faint snoring from all around—the rest of the staff is sound asleep.
Kaalaa Baunaa: *deep breath* Wake up, Kaalaa. The deadline is coming sooner than I thought ...
Gnawed Cereal Bar
Half a cereal bar lies on the table, dry, stale, and half exposed. It doesn't look very appetizing.
Kaalaa Baunaa: It's from the day before yesterday... Well, beggars can't be choosers.
Kaalaa Baunaa: chews Hmm, it tastes...
Kaalaa Baunaa: Much better than I thought ... Lucky.
You examine the cereal bar and notice that something's a bit...off...
Researcher Daksha: Gaurav! Now the whole team has to pay for your screw up!
Researcher Daksha: You can't even distinguish a single star from a binary star?! What academy in its right mind ever let you in? Cowbridge?
Intern Gaurav: S-Sorry!
Researcher Himani: And we're working in an institution, not a pet store. Remember to tie it to the door ...
Even the smallest mistake can result in a sleepless night for everyone.
Intern Gaurav: Ms. Kaalaa Baunaa...
You take the coffee with both hands.
The overly enthusiastic puppy is still at your knees, oblivious to the unpleasant state of affairs.
Kaalaa Baunaa: These telescopes are our eyes, using thousands of years of observational data to guide us as we peer into the depths of the universe.
Kaalaa Baunaa: Well, we have never seen it with our "own eyes", though.
Intern Gaurav: But I'm sure I—
Kaalaa Baunaa: —Again, please do NOT forget to conduct analysis on the changes in the spectral lines. They should be treated like your second pair of eyes.
Intern Gaurav: Yes, miss...
Gaurav lowers his head and pulls a cereal bar out of his pocket, drawing the friendly puppy's attention.
He absent-mindedly feeds the puppy until researchers call him away.
Kaalaa Baunaa: Wait a minute—
Kaalaa Baunaa: You turn the cereal bar over and see jagged, gnawing marks on it...
The Comatose Person
A researcher is fast asleep on the floor. She is breathing steadily like a baby, only her adult size makes the scene not so adorable or...appropriate.
Rubbing her eyes, Daksha doesn't seem to realize where she is.
After finally figuring it out, she jumps to her feet in great surprise.
Researcher Daksha: Oh gosh... Did I fall asleep on the floor?
Kaalaa Baunaa: Why don't you go home? I thought you already finished the report.
Researcher Daksha: No, Kumar gave me some new "suggestions" for my research direction ... I have to start all over again.
Kaalaa Baunaa: ... She did that again?!
Researcher Daksha: This is going to be my last project here ... That's right ... I should've done this earlier ...
With that, she buries herself in research, ignoring you. You take a deep breath and walk away.
White Paper Ball
These crumpled drafts are research waste. They are now in the trash.
A yellowed piece of paper catches your attention. Something you threw away, what was it again?
You snort disdainfully, crumple it into a ball, and throw it back in the trash.
Epilogue
Now that you're fully awake, it's time to get back to work.
We could always use a little inspiration, my friend. Focusing too much on work will only scare the muse away.
You are already outside the gates when you come to your senses. You are greeted by something that transcends work—the limitless universe.
Kaalaa Baunaa: ...How long has it been since I came here?
The countless days and nights observing the stars within the confines of the institute...
Kaalaa Baunaa: I forgot how much I have to crane my neck to see the stars.
But when I bury my head in data, I can discover so much more.
Kaalaa Baunaa: I should come here more often.
But, there's always something pressing at hand.
Kaalaa Baunaa: Such a rare opportunity...
The urgent proposals are—
Kaalaa Baunaa: I should be able to find all those stars again.
"Thud." You collapse, and all your worries fade into the background.
But simply ignoring and dodging problems won't help you get rid of that terrible monster...
Inside the institution, the proposals you ignored are starting to groan ...
They can no longer stand this deliberate neglect. Driven by hunger, they grow larger and larger as they search for the one to blame ...
Until finally, they break the restraints of their vessel and come after you with ravenous intent...