Among the tedium of their daily work, the not-so-happy birthday party is gradually forgotten.
Research Assistant: The investigators' analysis reports on unknown incantations have been sorted.
Dora places a stack of paper forms on the desk and retrieves a floppy disk from her pocket.
Research Assistant: This disk contains known incantations similar to the ones the investigators reported. We can use it as a reference during our deciphering.
Ulrich: Very helpful indeed, Dora.
Ulrich takes the report from the top of the pile and gives it a quick look over.
Ulrich: These incantations seem rather common. I'll process the information as soon as possible.
Ulrich: As for the time needed to decode them ... I can't give an estimate, as always.
Research Assistant: We'll take it one step at a time.
Ulrich stands in his usual spot by the workbench, a steaming cup of coffee nearby.
The oscilloscope lies quietly in the corner of the room. Only the cryptography team knows that this device isn't part of the lab's computing systems.
After eight hours of hard work, Ulrich puts down the paper and hits the "Save" shortcut on the keyboard.
Ulrich: Let's call it a day.
Ulrich writes a few notes on a pad and sticks it on the base of the monitor—a long-standing end-of-day ritual.
Dora, who has been quietly waiting nearby, suddenly squats down as if responding to a signal.
Research Assistant: Impressive, Lead. You've clocked out on time for 47 consecutive days.
Ulrich: It's my duty to prioritize the health of my team members, and, of course, I need rest too.
He plugs the "brown noise channel" into his neck, and calming "music" designed for his kind reverberates inside the glass tank.
Rejuvenated, Ulrich glances at the oscilloscope in the corner of the room.
Ulrich: You can head out for the day. I'm going to reorganize the oscilloscope's historical data.
Research Assistant: It hasn't emitted any new signals since the last "Storm." You'll just be cycling through the same old data.
Ulrich: Maybe there's still something of value to be found, though, of course, I don't expect to find much.
Research Assistant: Do you need help?
Ulrich unplugs the music cable to ensure he heard her correctly.
Ulrich: You want to stay?
Research Assistant: Yes.
Ulrich: I've removed the work on oscilloscope cryptography from the team calendar. It's my personal problem now. No need to spend your time on it.
Research Assistant: Go on ahead. I'll stay a little longer.
Ulrich: You won't get any overtime pay.
Research Assistant: I know. But until you figure out what's going on with that little thing, you'll never be able to rest.
Research Assistant: For the sake of the whole team, let's just get this "personal problem" over with, shall we?
Oscilloscope: Beep-beep ...
GAMEPLAY
But both Ulrich and Dora have grown accustomed to the fruitlessness of this work.
Ulrich: Let's call it a day. Don't waste any more of our time.
Research Assistant: See you tomorrow, Lead.
Ulrich: Hmm ...
Dora packs up her belongings as she prepares to leave.
Ulrich pours the remainder of the coffee from the team's shared pot and drinks it, grit and all.
They each carry out their usual end-of-day routines, just like any ordinary day.
Dora opens the lab door to reveal an unexpected visitor.
Lucy: Very well. You are both here.
Clearly, today isn't an ordinary day. The alarms blare alongside the whining of machines.
Ulrich & Research Assistant: Madam Lucy?
Lucy: We are in an emergency situation. Foundation investigator Marcus has sent back information from Vienna about the leader of Manus Vindictae's immunity to the "Storm."
Lucy: The entire cryptography team is to focus on decoding the incantation. Effective immediately.