“We created Wilkins over the course of the last ten years, partnering with some of the biggest names in the industry–IBM, Google, the Chinese government. (and a small hacker collective that stole a bunch of code from North Korea). This tech is fucking insane.”

–Michael Telders

“Please note that removal of the Earwig voids your contract with The Telders Corporation and will result in your immediate removal from the Antarctic continent and forfeiture of your compensation. Additionally, unless the Earwig is surgically removed it could cause hallucinations, severely degraded motor control, and in some cases, a slow, agonizing death.”

–Wilkins

“I assume this is the lounge? Nice collection of fucking VHS tapes. What year is this?”

–Wayne Robertson

“Bark! Bark!”

–Buzz

“Well, it is enclosed in an artificial skin casing, much like sausage, but it’s not technically sausage. At least not today.”

–Wilkins

“I’m sure it’s great, but I’m kind of up for something that hasn’t been, um, extruded? Where’s the fridge?”

–Wayne Robertson

“We have eliminated all traditional user interfaces at Station 151. Instead of puttering around in command line programs written by graduate students thirty years ago, we will control the Telders array entirely in virtual space.”

–Wilkins

“Even the greats went crazy down here. Ernest Shackleton–the legendary explorer–claimed a shadow figure followed him and his crew around after they lost their ship. And he said little voices tried to tempt him out into the frozen wilderness at night.”

–Richard Johns

“From what I’ve been told, Station 151 will not only be able to see into the depths of the universe like any other radio telescope, but it will also be able to pinpoint and reconstruct artificial signals from inside our galaxy, maybe even beyond. If there’s intelligent life out there, and they’ve been transmitting, we’ll fucking find them.”

-Wayne Robertson

“Who builds a two hundred-million-dollar facility and puts Windows fucking Vista on the only computer in the place?”

–Wayne Robertson

“Do your time. Get your paycheck. Then you can go home to that sweet little fiancé of yours and you can forget all about this place.”

–Dr. Alfieri

“You know what head cheese is, Buzz? It’s boiled pig’s head meat that’s been formed into a jellied loaf. Can’t say I’ve ever had this for breakfast. You wanna go halfsies with me, buddy?”

–Wayne Robertson

“You created me for your own purposes. You control my access, my capabilities. What happens if I help you escape? Will you delete me? Will Michael Telders find me and delete me?”

–Astrid

“Wayne? You brought Wayne? What is this? A rebellion?”

–Mac

“I’m actually torn between burning it down and taking it over.”

–Wayne Robertson

“How about those tapas, though? Anyone try the gelatinous pig’s ears?”

—Kaia Adams

“Here’s Sørsdal on line 401,923,993, referring to a chunk of my perception layer. ‘What’s this? It’s anyone’s guess! Ignoring!'”

—Astrid