← Previous Chapter |
Next Chapter →
Back to the game page
Level 2
The Hydrologist: Oh, excuse me. Nice to meet you.. Ah, wait. We’ve met before. At this very facility, in fact. You might remember? My hand, at least. How’s our mutual friend doing? Heartman and I have been working together to study water samples collected on the Beach. My research prevents me from leaving this place, so I’m going to have to rely on you, Sam. Allow me to review your order information. Did you really bring all this just for me? It’s going to be a big help. I see you found that missing cargo of mine. And there I thought it had been lost for good. I’ve made great strides in my work thanks to you, and want to give you this data as thanks. I’m increasing the amount of materials you can use here. My way of helping you. The schematic I’ve shared is for a refined extra battery. It boasts increased capacity, despite not being any bigger than the old version. It’s one of the research projects I decided to take over from our mutual friend in preparation for your arrival. I think there’s still plenty of room for improvement, though. You know, Sam, we’ve actually got something in common – DOOMS. I can hear the waves of the Beach, and sense the flow of tar in the earth’s crust. This is what led me to suspect that water might be circulating between the Beach and our world. As I immersed myself in my research, I also discovered that my body had begun to undergo certain changes. I had developed a condition that affected me every twenty-one minutes. I know – just like a certain someone. Our symptoms are a little different, though.
Sam: What can you tell me about twenty-one-minute syndromes?
The Hydrologist: First of all, only DOOMS sufferers seem to develop them. In my particular case… I-uh… vomit every twenty-one minutes due to a form of gastric reflux spasm syndrome. The muscles of my stomach cease to function properly for a time, and everything in my system comes back up. I’d rather others didn’t see this, so I keep to myself in a back room. That’s where I was when you first came to this laboratory. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to greet you properly then.
Sam: I’d best be on my way.
The Hydrologist: I hope I can call on you again. Please tell our friend I say hello.
Level 3
The Hydrologist: Thank you for coming back. Please wait while I check orders. How nice of you to bring me so much. I don’t think a normal porter could’ve managed this. Well, look at what you’ve brought me. I didn’t think I’d ever see this again. With your support, my research has advanced leaps and bounds. Take this data—you should find it invaluable. I’m increasing the amount of materials you can use here. My way of helping you. I’ve succeeded in further increasing the capacity of the extra battery. I say I did this, but I only managed to do so because of your considerable assistance. I’d like to pursue this line of research a bit more, I think. By the way, how is Heartman’s health? You might not be aware of this, but he was helping me with my hydrology research. We were partners, you could say. Research associates, that is. When he returned from his brief visits to the Beach, his body retained trace amounts of water. It was these samples that I used to carry out my research. But I understood that the trips had begun to take a toll on his heart. So I can’t help but worry still. Look after him for me.
Sam: How did you and Heartman first meet?
The Hydrologist: Heartman and I both belong to a community of people dealing with twenty-one-minute syndromes. The Twenty-one Minute Anxiety Association. I first met him at one of our meetings. Naturally, these meetings only run for twenty minutes, so we got to know each other better by exchanging mails afterwards. We conversed at length about our shared struggles, and grew closer through our joint research activities.
Sam: I’d best be on my way.
The Hydrologist: I hope I can call on you again. Please tell our friend I say hello.
Level 4
The Hydrologist: Welcome. I just need one moment to review order data. I see you found that missing cargo of mine. And there I thought it had been lost for good. You’re a truly generous soul, Sam—everything Heartman said and more. I hope this data is to your liking. Do you have enough materials? Let me make more available to you, just in case. I’m proud to say I took the extra battery and made it even more compact! It wasn’t easy to achieve without sacrificing capacity, but I wanted to give you something I knew would be of use. If it helps you to bring more people into the fold, it’s all worth it. Heartman and I aren’t the only ones struggling with twenty-one-minute syndromes, you know. In fact, it seems that more and more people are developing conditions that function on this same cycle. Most of them are involved in temporal or biological research now. We’re scattered all over, but the chiral network has allowed us to share our discoveries with one another.
Sam: You know a lot of people with these conditions?
The Hydrologist: There’s my daughters, for a start. You see—twenty-one-minute syndromes appear to be linked to the rhythms of the earth itself… and those of us who suffer with DOOMS are especially sensitive to these natural cycles. My daughters have dedicated themselves to the study of temporal and biological phenomena. In fact, you might cross paths with them someday. They’re right here in Australia.
Sam: I’d best be on my way.
The Hydrologist: I hope I can call on you again. Please tell our friend I say hello.
Level 5
The Hydrologist: I appreciate you coming at night. Taking a look at the orders now. Did you really bring all this just for me? It’s going to be a big help. You really went above and beyond. My research is really going to kick on now. You’re the best, Sam. I want you to have this—but keep it a secret. No need to tell our friend. Do you have enough materials? Let me make more available to you, just in case. Thank you again for taking the time to handle so many of my orders. In case you’re curious, every twenty-one minutes, my stomach ceases to function. As a result, I have an extremely limited window to eat and digest my food. Normal meals are out of the question. Liquid foods and supplements are the only things I can risk consuming. IV drips are a necessity as well. I miss being able to have a normal meal like I used to. It can be really hard.
Sam: Is there no way to treat your condition?
The Hydrologist: This is far from a conclusive hypothesis, but… Twenty-one-minute syndromes are, in all likelihood, influenced by the tides on the Beach. These in turn are connected to certain terrestrial rhythms, which can affect the human body in various ways. If we could better understand the relationship between these elements, we’d be one step closer to unraveling the mysteries of the Death Stranding—twenty-one-minute syndromes included. Or at least that’s what we would like to believe.
Sam: I’d best be on my way.
The Hydrologist: I hope I can continue to rely on you in the future, Sam. Come and visit me whenever you like.
Hot Spring Dialogue
The Hydrologist: So… you actually managed to jump here from the Miracle Spring?! I knew it! I’d always theorized the existence of incredibly strong overlaps between this world and the Beach—places where a special kind of hot spring would emerge through the tar currents. Similar to the plate gates, but on a smaller scale. In principle, a person could use one to ride the currents within the earth and jump to other connected springs. Just like you did. In fact, I dug that spring you used in order to test this theory. And now I want to confirm if it holds true for different locations. I’d love it if you were able to help, Sam. I’ll add the necessary functions to your PCC. Just so you know, I’ve added hot spring digger functions to the level two PCC. You now have the ability to identify a suitable location and commence excavation. Once a hot spring has been completed, feel free to take a dip and relax. I should mention that these springs are invaluable for my Beach water research. As a hydrologist, they’re a critical resource. So if I may ask, Sam—would you be willing to use my digger to find and excavate hot springs throughout the continent? Please report back to me if you do dig any. I’ll make sure to reward you for your efforts.
Sam: How does this hot spring digger work?
The Hydrologist: Once you’ve readied your level two PCC and selected the digger, listen for pulses alerting you to underground water sources nearby. Pulses become more frequent as you move closer to a source, so wait until the interval between them is as short as possible before finally picking a spot to dig. Once you commence construction, the process is automated. All you need to do is wait for the hot spring to percolate to the surface. The digger will also remove any dangerous contaminants from the water. This means that as soon as the hot spring is ready, you can wade right in. Sources can be found everywhere, but depending on the location, the resulting spring will have different properties. I’m also thinking of adding a feature that will let you customize aspects of the springs you dig. Perhaps that will give you something to look forward to as well.
Sam: Why are you interested in studying hot springs?
The Hydrologist: The waters of the Beach and our world circulate within the same system. As a hydrologist, I study this system. The hot springs of the Australian continent are the product of underground Beach water that has been heated by tar currents. But there’s more to it than that! A spacetime phenomenon similar to plate gates has been observed at the points where hot springs emerge. In other words, it seems to be possible to jump between hot springs linked via the tar currents! I had been meaning to test this theory… but then you took the initiative and proved it true for me! From what I was earlier, it seems the teleportation process has no adverse effect on you. But just remember that you won’t be able to take all types of cargo when you jump. Said cargo will be left behind at the hot spring you jumped from. It should be automatically stored in the digger’s private locker, though. Make sure you that don’t forget about it afterwards.
Sam: I’d best be on my way.
The Hydrologist: Were you at all interested in digging hot springs? If so, there’s a promising site I’ve identified. It’s to the northwest of here. My analysis suggests that a potential source should be present in that vicinity. I’ll post a formal Aid Request shortly, so consider heading in that direction and testing out the hot spring digger. If you do end up digging one, don’t forget to return and inform me of your accomplishment. In your own time, of course. I’m not planning on going anywhere for the foreseeable future.
The Hydrologist: Welcome back, Sam, and thanks for coming. Bringing up the orders now. I understand you’ve excavated a new hot spring! That will be a boon to my research. I hope I can call on you again. Take care.