(Untitled)

[notcodemonkey]

>run they.exe

Comments

[just_a_surface]

So we now know the ultimate answer. The next thing is: what's the ultimate question?

[notcodemonkey]

--hold on, let me--

...

Hello?

...I'd say the ultimate question is why the hell did this just work, but forty-two doesn't fit.

[just_a_surface]

You never know. I mean, 42 could be the magic number. If anyone attempts to try that many times.

Hiya! I'm Ren.

[notcodemonkey]

Well, it-- maybe it is, then. To be honest, I wouldn't put it past this place.

Right. I'm Jamie. And not James.

[sorrow_nor_fire]

Oh goody!

You're just in time to meet the squid.

[notcodemonkey]

I'm ever so thankful; maybe I'll unplug everything again and wait that one out.

[sorrow_nor_fire]

Awwwww, but he's so friendly!

And it took at least forty-two tries to get a giant anthropomorphically-personified squid (subclass sapiens, no less!) that lived in sand instead of water.

[mabit]

...Plato, please don't tell me you've been breeding desert squid behind my back.

[mabit]

Jamie!

This week gets better and better. You must be at least the third stranded agent reporting in.

Apparently 42, in addition to the meaning of life, is your lucky number. You appear to have gotten through to us.

[notcodemonkey]

... third? So it wasn't just me it locked out?

Finally, yes. I really didn't expect it to work. First time I've bothered trying in a couple months.

[mabit]

...Yes. If I say "we've been having technical difficulties" I don't even begin to cover it.

Status? Would you like to be recalled now?

[notcodemonkey]

... Is this the sort of report I'm going to regret asking for?

I-- don't know. I'm working for a department here at the moment -- might be a lot of questions if I disappear.

...

Do I get a year's worth of backpay?

[justwingit]

"I find your lack of pants disturbing" really does make everything better, man.

[notcodemonkey]

Truly. Especially when considered from the British point of view.

[justwingit]

It's not just disturbing enough on its own?

[notcodemonkey]

Well, it can be. But then you picture Vader saying it, and you laugh, and the whole effect's ruined.

[pae]

... well, according to my computers, of which there are in fact four, it really is your forty-second.

Also, I love you for using != as a word. Back when I used to do that more people kept getting confused, so I had to start typing out 'is not,' which is frankly a chore.

[notcodemonkey]

Maybe forty-two is my lucky number, then. For a given value of 'lucky'.

It really is. Using != gets rid of a lot of pesky grammar complications, too. It's great.

[pae]

It's also much easier to explain complicated procedures with different possible outcomes using if statements, but I can't do that either unless it's just with the techs.

You were probably here before me, so I should introduce myself. Pae Greenley, resident cryptologist and also Kai's lackey when it comes to mainframe repairs.

[notcodemonkey]

More people should know at least basic code. Everything would be a hell of a lot simpler. (But then, I wouldn't really have a job in this world. Hmm.)

Well, nice to meet you, then. I'm Jamie, software engineer. (Ha! Code monkey.) General IT Tech right now, though. Are there still a lot of problems with the mainframe, then?