Welcome back to #mothershipmonth. Every week day this month I’m producing part of a supplement for Mothership, set on Callaway Falls, an abandoned (mostly…) luxury resort turned mining colony. This week we’re looking at major locations at the ruined resort, and the wild life that’s moved in as well as some plot hooks for what really led to the downfall of Callaway Reef. Today, bring your loose change because we’re off to the Arcade!
The Arcade on Callaway Reef was never finished. The idea was that, once the Helium 3 money had come in, the resort would open a second tier for guests with families. Market research was done, games bought and Louis L. Lemur and Franklin Delano Fox chosen as the mascots. Then the money run out.
The Arcade is still active, and far enough out that it doesn’t get hit with the same dust storm as main Reception. Most of the machines were installed, and the food printers work. It’s an almost place in an empty place though and no one ever stays here long.
Points of Interest
The Mercury Cabinet
The Mercury Cabinet is everyone’s favourite arcade game. It uses proprietary technology to scan the memories and files of whoever uses it and constructs a bespoke experience for them. Marketed as ‘the last game console you’ll need’ it bankrupted it’s original company and only one survives. Bought by Polonius Callway and dropped here.
Louis L. Lemur
The hologram glitches a little but the suave Louis L. Lemur will still greet guests at the door with a smile and a joke. Louis is all too aware he’s an A.I. on an abandoned world, and has decided not to worry about it. He still has power, still has a job and he and Franklin rule fairly and equally.
Louis is desperately bored. He’s begun working on holo projectors elsewhere in the resort and has recently found his way to Lodge 30. The lemurs were amazed by him and now, Louis realises, he may have found himself an army…
Franklin Delano Fox
Louis’ partner in crime, Franklin Delano Fox wants off world. Another AI, but one programmed to feel artistic yearning and creativity, Franklin is a sensitive digital soul who wants to be seen for what they can do. They want to get off world and devour any news and art they can get their hands on. On Louis’ suggestion they’ve also begun communicating witht the fox colony. It’s early days but as Franklin learns their language, he’s also noting down his findings. The lemurs and foxes on Callaway Reef are much, much more intelligent than anyone thought. Now the only question is what the two AIs will do about that.