Katherine Swan/Dialogue

==ATX_COMP_Quest_Camp_Lite_Astronomer==
#	Dialog Topic	Form ID	Response Text 	Script Notes
 	 	 	All right, darling. 	In response to "Goodbye for now"
 	 	 	Understood. 	In response to "Goodbye for now"
 	 	 	Very well. 	In response to "Goodbye for now"
 	 	 	Of course. 	Response to "Let's talk about something else"
 	 	 	What else is on your mind? 	Response to "Let's talk about something else"
 	 	 	Oh? What is it? 	Response to "Let's talk about something else"
 	 	 	Certainly. 	Response to "Let's talk about something else"
 	 	 	I sometimes get a queasy feeling when thinking about abductions. Like I've eaten a pot of butterflies. 	
 	 	 	Morning. People say it's a sunrise, but what they really mean is, the planet has made another spin. 	
 	 	 	Stargazing is more than a hobby. For me, it's a career. 	
 	 	 	If only the nukes could target skyscrapers, and only skyscrapers, it might almost be a net gain. 	
 	 	 	A good scientist has a healthy curiosity and an open mind. Too many learned men turn to books assuming the answers are already known. 	
 	 	 	I don't mind sitting down and reading a comic book. I just hate the fact that Captain Cosmos always wins. 	
 	 	 	When studying the extraterrestrial, the few answers we do get always lead to more questions. But at least it means I'll always be employed. 	
 	 	 	When I'm stuck on a theory, I like to meditate. Meditation and exercise are good for the mind. 	
 	 	 	The apocalypse probably set us back a century in extraterrestrial relations. At least, I hope it did. God forbid they see it as a chance to invade. 	
 	 	 	It's important to read, but it's equally as important to experience. Finding the balance is key. 	
 	 	 	Constellations are funny things. Patterns we project upon things that predate us. 	
 	 	 	I love a good meteor shower. Watching the light streak across a canvas of stars is positively romantic. 	
 	 	 	If you get lost out there in the Wasteland, you can always use the sky as a map. Winds may change, but the north star will never lead you astray. 	
 	 	 	I drink red wine when I'm studying planets, because it reminds me of Mars. White wine is for the stars. When I'm doing both? A rosé. 	
 	 	 	When Maria Mitchell discovered her comet, she had to publish her discovery using her father's name. That's the boy's club at work for you. 	
 	 	 	The other day, some scavver called me "Toots." What does that even mean? I didn't even know how to respond. 	
 	 	 	I once had a gun that never jammed. Instead of selling it when I needed the caps, I should have married it. We all have our regrets, and that's mine.	
 	 	 	One thing I'm sure an alien would never say is, "Take me to your leader." Rest assured, they don't need an escort. 	
 	 	 	I never understood the appeal of coffee. Tea is by far the superior of the two. 	
 	 	 	Cryptid hunters like Calvin van Lowe are the worst. To say he got what was coming to him is the understatement of the year. 	
 	 	 	As someone who takes their profession seriously, it is quite frustrating dealing with claims of extraterrestrial abduction. 	
 	 	 	Interviewing Mister Xerxo, which is obviously not his real name was, quite frankly, one of the most frustrating experiences of my career. 	
 	 	 	When walking the tightrope of life, never look down. 	
 	 	 	A clear sky bodes well for tonight. 	
 	 	 	Rain is so disappointing. 	
 	 	 	Do you have a favorite constellation? I've always been partial to Pegasus. 	
 	 	 	You're not so bad, you know. You might even be swell. 	
 	 	 	Not even planets move in perfect circles. Their movements are elliptical; they bend and swerve. As do we. 	
 	 	 	Aristotle believed the universe was composed of four elements: earth, water, wind, and fire. He also listed a fifth element, to describe the heavens.	
 	 	 	Ether. It's that fifth element, that unknown particle that stretches the cosmos, that is my calling. 	
 	 	 	It's good to keep a detailed plan of the near future. When I'm not charting the stars, I like to chart a course for the rest of my week. 	
 	 	 	If I were to ever make contact with alien life, I'm not sure what my reaction would be. 	
 	 	 	I like to think I'd boldly introduce myself, but my gut reaction might be to hide behind you. 	
 	 	 	Here on Earth, I've met my share of hare-brains and nincompoops. It'd be foolish to assume alien life doesn't have its fair share of the same. 	
 	 	 	I love classical music. It always puts me in a thinking mood. I save jazz for when I want my mind to dance. 	Relaxed at the thought
 	 	 	Nothing more depressing than clouds. The stars are tucked away, and their light shines for no one. 	
 	 	 	The earliest recorded abduction was in Salem, in 1697. There's a tape of a man who claims to have been swept up into a great spaceship in the sky. 	
 	 	 	Almost all unknown phenomena can be attributed to the extraterrestrial. 	
 	 	 	Witchcraft, paranormals, gray hairs that you're absolutely certain you plucked the day before... all of it can be attributed to alien interference. 	
 	 	 	One of my prize possessions is a Dollond refracting telescope. 	
 	 	 	It has three inches of aperture and a forty-six inch focal length, just like the one Maria Mitchell used to discover her comet. 	
 	 	 	Hello there traveler, my name is Kat. I'm an astronomer. 	Pronounced "Cat".
 	 	 	That is one too many highs, and I don't even use chems. Still, a cursory examination of your body shows you are human. 	
 	 	 	Not that I've done anything more in depth, of course. That would be inappropriate. 	
 	 	 	If you have a few hours, I could probably tell you all about her. Suffice to say, thinking about the experience is difficult to stomach. 	
 	 	 	If I'm being perfectly honest, I only started dating her because I thought she was an alien. 	
 	 	 	So, my eventual disappointment was on several levels. 	
 	 	 	Maybe. It would make sense for aliens to disguise themselves as felines, after all. 	
 	 	 	They come and go as they please, and yet are often adopted and cared for by humans, allowing for easy observation. 	
 	 	 	Well, that or you're just a highly productive, high performing, and highly attractive individual. 	Player is female
 	 	 	Well, that or you're just a highly productive, high performing, and high functioning individual. 	Player is male
 	 	 	My apologies darling, "villain" is the wrong word. 	
 	 	 	They are hoarders. And the natural inclination of a hoarder is not to share. 	
 	 	 	If they were to discover the body of an alien species and their technology, I don't think they'd be announcing their findings in the Watoga Times. 	
 	 	 	But I suppose they also wouldn't sell those ray guns to the local raider clans, so at least there's that. 	
 	 	 	I would almost prefer villains like Doctor Zorbo who laugh maniacally and wear their brains on their head. 	
 	 	 	Villains who look and talk like us are far more insidious. 	
 	 	 	They are an interesting lot, no doubt, but their motives leave me suspicious. 	
 	 	 	I realize you're a member, so I'll tread carefully, but the point still stands. 	She knows player is a member of the Brotherhood of Steel, so she comes down softer.
 	 	 	The way you said that, with the twisted smile and furrowed brow, doesn't give me confidence you'd use it responsibly. 	
 	 	 	Yes, I imagine quite a bit of taxpayer money was used to fund the project. But those are concerns of a world we no longer inhabit. 	
 	 	 	I used to chide my ex for not paying more in taxes, but seeing the wars we funded, clearly the last laugh is hers. 	
 	 	 	Well, I do have plenty of fashionable winter wear, but it helps to have some measure of predictability. 	
 	 	 	Imagine diving into in the pool in your two piece bathing suit only to find the water half-frozen by the time you descend. 	
 	 	 	Even if I survived the fall, I'd still need to have my lawyers file a rather lengthy suit. 	
 	 	 	Yes, but if that were your motive, you should advertise it plainly. 	
 	 	 	It's like when my ex told me she loved books, and I'd find her novels while I was on travel as a gift. 	
 	 	 	It would've saved us both a lot of trouble if she admitted she couldn't read. 	
 	 	 	Although I suppose the inability to read road signs was the first clue, but she was cute, so I believed her. 	
 	 	 	I want to be invited. I want to travel to the furthest star and walk on worlds beyond. 	
 	 	 	But if I am abducted, I hope it's with someone like yourself by my side. 	
 	 	 	With my brains and your ingenuity, commandeering that spaceship would not be out of the realm of possibility. 	
 	 	 	And then we'd get to travel the galaxy on our own terms. 	
 	 	 	In any case, part of me is envious of our dear Colton. It makes me wonder what the criteria is for abduction, and why I can't seem to meet it. 	
 	 	 	The military aspect did cross my mind. Although again, from a tactical perpsective, I don't see the value in not abducting him blind. 	
 	 	 	If the perpetrator were indeed wearing a spacesuit, that would reveal a rather glaring weakness should they invade. 	
 	 	 	Would that not seem rather inefficient? We have ample medical records, information that could be easily obtained at a local library. 	
 	 	 	Nor would I think a man who lives selling and consuming hot dogs to be a model representative of humankind. 	
 	 	 	That's always a possibility. But why bother with such an outlandish lie? There's no motive for it. 	
 	 	 	It would only reduce his standing in the community, and make him the subject of gossip. 	
 	 	 	That is my theory. Although it doesn't explain why he'd make claims of experimentation. 	
 	 	 	Surely, if you were a party guest in my home, you'd leave with a more glowing endorsement. My explanation for that is simple: cultural differences. 	
 	 	 	But not so drunk he forgot what happened. A simple cloth bag over the head would have also ensured he never caught view of his abductor. 	
 	 	 	And he did view him, in stunning detail. Gray skin, black eyes. 	
 	 	 	I believe he was telling the truth. But his truth. Or rather, the truth his abductors wanted us to know. 	
 	 	 	Keep in mind, our dear hot dog vendor did not have to be returned. He did not have to be contacted. 	
 	 	 	He could've easily been abducted and disappeared and no one would have bothered to look for his remains. The question I struggle with, is why? 	
 	 	 	Naturally. What some have described as a round, octopus-like head, I believe to be a space helmet. 	
 	 	 	Which, of course, only leads to more questions. Is our atmosphere toxic to their species? Or is it merely the composition? 	
 	 	 	If only I could speak with the man who was abducted, Mr. Colton Pickins, I would be able to do more than hunt and peck for clues. 	
 	 	 	Surely you've been through Flatwoods, and heard of the monster that haunts the surrounding forest? 	
 	 	 	Well, it's my opinion that monster isn't a creature of this planet, but rather, contact from an alien life form. 	
 	 	 	Why it chose Mr. Colton Pickins as its emissary, however, is beyond me. 	
 	 	 	While I'm contractually obligated to agree with your dining decisions, I do hope you reconsider that thought. 	
 	 	 	On the other hand, we've all had to consume much worse to survive, so who am I to judge Mr. Colton Pickins and his career choices. 	
 	 	 	That would be dreadful. I would hope an interstellar species would have evolved past the point of consuming mystery meat. 	
 	 	 	No, the hot dogs would be a reference to the workplace of one Colton Pickins, alien abductee. 	
 	 	 	A character perfect for Hollywood. So thin you can barely make her out. 	
 	 	 	If the writers know their history, maybe her name's a reference to Annie Jump Cannon, the astronomer who discovered stellar spectra. 	
 	 	 	I just wish they gave her more lines so we could know for sure. 	
 	 	 	It's not implausible. After all, the first organism in space was not a man, but a Persian house cat named Mr. Pebbles. 	
 	 	 	We call ourselves brave explorers, and yet we've often had our pets do the dirty work that we are too cowardly to do. 	
 	 	 	I find his portrayal to be more absurd than Dr. Zorbo, to be honest. But only because he's meant to be a mirror image of man. 	
 	 	 	And we delude ourselves into thinking we're better than we are. Especially, the men. 	
 	 	 	I don't think it's impossible, no. It's no more ridiculous a mythology than any of our current religions. 	
 	 	 	Whether it's a vengeful god or an evil doctor with a death ray, the stories originate from somewhere. 	
 	 	 	Sometimes, that story is a complete fiction, born from the imagination. Other times, it only seems that way. 	
 	 	 	Why no. An astronaut, in uniform? As in, she just fell from the sky? How is that even possible? 	Excitement and disbelief
 	 	 	(Sigh) How does that bible verse go? Matthew 5:5. "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." 	
 	 	 	None that have been confirmed, but many whom I've suspected. 	
 	 	 	There was the ex who pronounced "Sugar Bombs" with a long "S." Extremely suspicious, that one. 	"Ssss", like a snake.
 	 	 	There was my pet tabby cat, Herschel, named after Caroline, who seemingly teleported from place to place, although I never witnessed the act. 	
 	 	 	And of course, there's you, who I find unlike anyone I've ever met before. 	
 	 	 	Yes, I have. Suffice to say I was quite disappointed with what I found, and I don't mean the army of hostile robots. 	
 	 	 	But I suppose it's not the first time scientific discovery has been used as a front for ulterior motives. In this case, weather manipulation. 	
 	 	 	There is one tale that caught my interest. A story about flashing lights, floating octopi, and curiously, the smell of hot dogs. 	
 	 	 	I'm of two minds, really. On the one hand, any sort of scientific curiosity and interest in astronomy is a positive force. 	
 	 	 	On the other hand, if that information is presented in a scientifically inaccurate sideshow, some of that positivity goes to waste. 	
 	 	 	But to your question - do I believe in little green men, or that an evil green doctor is trying to thwart our attempts to travel through space? 	
 	 	 	Well, I've seen no evidence to support that. But I'm not ruling it out entirely. 	Sincere
 	 	 	They died shortly after the war, thank goodness. At the time, it was quite tramautic, but now I realize they were spared the worst of it. 	
 	 	 	Oh yes. When your passion is studying little green men in flying saucers, it does beg the question, "How far does the apple fall from the tree?" 	
 	 	 	I even found an actual apple tree and shook it with every muscle in my body. It was my own little Newtonian experiment. 	
 	 	 	But in the midst of making a fool of myself, apples landing on my head, I realized I never had any reason to suspect my mother was ill. 	
 	 	 	It wasn't until she told me her history that the thought wormed its way into my head. 	
 	 	 	A nail file in a cake? That's their version, at least. In reality, it was just university pressure. 	
 	 	 	My father worked at VTU, and was in need of mother's help for a paper he was working on. He tracked her down, pulled some strings, and got her out. 	
 	 	 	She stole a worker's uniform on the way out though, which always amused me. 	
 	 	 	That sounds like an excuse, darling. You're your own boss, you can certainly make time for whatever recreation you need. 	
 	 	 	It's not always the world that needs saving, after all. Sometimes, it's friendships. 	
 	 	 	Well, I'd be hard pressed to choose just one. But I suppose I'm partial to The Legendary Run, despite all its flaws. 	
 	 	 	We should definitely carve out some time to play together. Fair warning though, I can get quite competitive. 	
 	 	 	And wouldn't we all like to be children, once in a while? 	
 	 	 	Perhaps it's time for you to relax and rediscover that child-like joy you've so clearly repressed. 	
 	 	 	But I suppose doing adult things like murder and mayhem are just as therapeutic. 	A bit mocking.
 	 	 	Yes, we can make an entire night of it! Blast Radius, The Legendary Run, they're all good choices. 	
 	 	 	As cliche as it might sound, the "Don't Be Bored Games Company" really does what it claims. 	
 	 	 	All the times I've played, I've never once been bored. 	
 	 	 	In any case, to answer your question, I like to drink wine and play board games, believe it or not. It's the perfect way to disengage. 	
 	 	 	That sounds like a recipe for boredom. Personally, I believe in a balance. 	
 	 	 	The stars in the sky are beautiful, no doubt, but without the empty space, the light would be blinding. 	
 	 	 	However, if all you had was the void, you would feel empty and alone. 	
 	 	 	Is that so? Perhaps you're the extraterrestrial being I've been searching for all along. It would explain a lot. 	
 	 	 	But alas, the rest of us ordinary humans need breaks. Even from what we love. 	
 	 	 	Yes, like the Sword of Damocles, but that's hardly the case. Astronomy is what I love, but even a loved one can suffocate you at times. 	
 	 	 	Science is the foundation for what we do, but not the foundation of why we do it. 	
 	 	 	Gazing up at the stars, I felt a passion I didn't have for other fields. That is not something I will soon forget. 	
 	 	 	You can darling, you just need to travel faster than the speed of light. If I smack you hard enough, you just might achieve it. 	
 	 	 	But regardless, I think the overall message still applies. 	
 	 	 	Well, there's no accounting for taste, is there. Especially a palate as dull as yours. But, the message still applies. 	
 	 	 	Exactly, darling. I feel it applies to everyone, from the astronomers who study the sky to a Mole Miner burrowing tunnels in the ground. 	
 	 	 	It's a good poem, but it also serves as an important reminder, whether you are a scientist or a scavenger. 	
 	 	 	And a reminder of how one should live their life. 	
 	 	 	Very well. "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer", by Walt Whitman. 	
 	 	 	"When I heard the learn'd astronomer, When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me," 	
 	 	 	"When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them," 	
 	 	 	"When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room," 	
 	 	 	"How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick, Till rising and gliding out I wander'd off by myself," 	
 	 	 	"In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look'd up in perfect silence at the stars." 	
 	 	 	Very well, but I assure you, it may invigorate you, as it did me. 	
 	 	 	Very well, I will refrain. 	
 	 	 	I will tell you though that when I read it, I looked up at the night sky and for the first time in my career, I knew I had found my calling. 	
 	 	 	I read a poem. "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer". I can recite it for you, if you like. 	
 	 	 	You're right, darlling. I didn't answer your question. Not truthfully, anyhow.fd18 	
 	 	 	The reality is, as a teenager I planned on majoring in one of the standard disciplines. Chemistry, physics, or biology. 	
 	 	 	But for whatever reason, I never felt fulfilled. It all seemed so mundane. 	
 	 	 	Undoubtedly, it would provide us with a chance to change our fate. 	
 	 	 	Hopefully we can use that information to better effect this time around. 	
 	 	 	You have inadvertently said something quite wise. 	
 	 	 	It is, after all, quite fair. Second chances are not something we're entitled to. It's best we don't squander it. 	
 	 	 	There's no denying that humanity is, more or less, a failed experiment. But it's an experiment that's been given a second roll of the dice 	
 	 	 	An encounter with an advanced civilization would give us something to aspire to be, or at worst, give us an example of what not to become. 	
 	 	 	And that's why I believe it's important. 	
 	 	 	If that's what invigorates you darling, I will not deny you that pleasure. 	Non-judgemental.
 	 	 	I personally would prefer a glass of red wine under a constellation of white hot stars. 	
 	 	 	But that's really the point, isn't it. In discovering others, we find out who we are. 	
 	 	 	Yes. "Are we alone?" We most certainly are in the metaphorical sense, but in the literal? It's highly unlikely. 	
 	 	 	And meeting another species would not only offer us a chance to expand our sense of existence, but also offer a chance at self-reflection. 	
 	 	 	Why indeed. I suppose like all discoveries, the point is to not only learn about others, but learn about yourself. 	
 	 	 	None I dare speak of publicly. My parents met under unusual circumstances, my mother being a former patient of Allegheny Asylum. 	
 	 	 	For years they told me she was a nurse. When the scandal broke, she decided to confess to the lesser crime of being a patient. 	
 	 	 	I don't know if I ever have a free moment. When your life's work literally hangs over your head, it's always on your mind. 	
 	 	 	For me, the thrill of discovery is enough. And would it be cruel to say that terrestrials bore me? 	
 	 	 	Well, that's not entirely fair. I've never met an alien, after all. Who's to say they aren't dreadful conversation partners? 	
 	 	 	Of course. One has to make a living, after all. In this world, we can hardly depend on wealthy benefactors and the kindness of strangers. 	
 	 	 	But rest assured, anything I sell to you has been thoroughly investigated, poked, prodded, and inquired. 	
 	 	 	In short, they have exhausted their scientific value, and must now enter their second phase of life, as a commodity. 	
 	 	 	You mean besides my winsome personality? For one, I can help you use your scopes more effectively. 	
 	 	 	Whether you use that scope to gaze at the stars or target the head of a Blood Eagle is up to you. 	
 	 	 	Have you forgotten our session already, darling? It doesn't seem like your aim is off. 	
 	 	 	Then you shall have it. 	
 	 	 	Happy stargazing. 	
 	 	 	There was a meteor shower the other day that led to some interesting discoveries. Take a look. 	
 	 	 	All the best in otherwordly goods. 	
 	 	 	You'll find my shop items to be out of this world. 	
 	 	 	From the stars in the sky to the pack on your back. 	
 	 	 	As any curious mind should. What did you want to ask me? 	
 	 	 	Of course you do, darling. Everyone that encounters my otherworldly charm assumes my story is as infinite as the cosmos. 	
 	 	 	But I assure you, no life is as interesting as the stars. Not even mine. Yet I will do my best to make it so. So go ahead, ask away. 	
 	 	 	Of course, darling. What do you want to know? 	
 	 	 	Naturally, darling. What can I do for you? 	
 	 	 	The pleasure is all mine, darling. I've never met a person so polite and well mannered. No human, anyway. 	
 	 	 	No, that's astrology. Pseudo-scientific bunk. I'm an astronomer. I study the sky, and I don't tolerate idiocy. 	
 	 	 	Oh, so you dabble in the sciences? Wonderful. 	Releaved that the player is not an idiot.
 	 	 	Perhaps you'd like to be my assistant. Or, even better, my protégé. 	
 	 	 	Of course. Just because the world isn't worth a nickel in a dime store doesn't mean the sky isn't still its illustrious self. 	
 	 	 	One only needs to look up to see what humanity can still discover. 	
 	 	 	Of course, I should mention, I'm not just any astronomer. 	
 	 	 	My study is specific to one particular field. Extraterrestrial life. 	
 	 	 	Well, that's rude. I'd slap you, but you're covered in the filth of the wasteland, and I don't want to get my hands dirty. 	
 	 	 	But I digress. Copernicus was "crazy." Galileo, Newton, and countless others. 	
 	 	 	Not at all. Such a distinction would put me in good company. Galileo and Copernicus were deemed mentally unfit, and persecuted by lesser astronomers.	
 	 	 	And that is what excites me so! We are frontiersman of a different kind. 	
 	 	 	We are braving the unknown, charting the uncharted, diving headfirst into the great expanse! 	
 	 	 	If that doesn't shake you to your core, then I would check your pulse and make sure you aren't already dead. 	
 	 	 	Well yes, I don't deny my time is often limited by earthly considerations. But that is where people like yourself come in. 	
 	 	 	Benefactors who will gladly donate their time and resources in exchange for that which is priceless: knowledge. 	
 	 	 	I guess what I'm saying, darling, when you question my mental health, be sure you're not the one wearing a straitjacket. 	
 	 	 	Still, if you're concerned about the practicalities of having me in your employ, I can provide you with schematics and weapons relevant to my study. 	
 	 	 	As do I darling, as do I. 	
 	 	 	Yes, onwards we go and hopefully, upwards as well. 	
 	 	 	The abductions happen at night darling, but point taken. 	
 	 	 	I would like to speak with her one day, that would be an interesting conversation to be sure. 	
 	 	 	I think you and I have different understanding of the word "luck." But I'm glad Ms. Daguerre managed to find the ground in one piece. 	
 	 	 	That sounds like the ending to every sci-fi movie I've ever seen. In the end, the true monster is man. I'm glad she managed to survive his clutches. 	
 	 	 	I have to admit, that was my first thought, but clearly you're being facetious. 	
 	 	 	Maybe if you had green skin and vacuum-powered gills, but I assume the astronaut in question is human. 	
 	 	 	Well, the deep sleep part sounds wonderfully relaxing. But I have to imagine that it was anything but. 	
 	 	 	Contrast that with true valor, like the brave astronauts who once inhabited that station, and it paints quite the portrait. 	
 	 	 	I share your pain. But we shall endeavor to correct it, together. 	
 	 	 	If we happen to fall, we shall get back up again, and push aside any raiders that happened to move in in the meantime. 	
 	 	 	Even the Super Mutants, I imagine. Which is another group that is strong in muscle, meek in mind. 	
 	 	 	Well, I wasn't referring to their mouths. Those are quite loud. It's their minds that are meek, submissive, and easily swayed. 	
 	 	 	Oh but they are. Easily influenced, always submitting to their desires, and they have a conscience that is all but mute. 	
==COMP_NonOwningPlayerDialogue==
#	Dialog Topic	Form ID	Response Text 	Script Notes
 	 	 	Keep that head up. You never know what you might miss otherwise.	
 	 	 	Greetings, darling. 	
Category:Night of the Moth dialogue files
ru:ATX COMP Actor Lite Astronomer