GOODCO HQ
- CHAPTER 1
- THE PLACE
Chapter 1 of 9. It holds 6 named figures with something to say, 8 finds that fill in the rest and 5 things he says only to himself. Every word of it is the game's own, and every word of it is a spoiler, so the whole chapter is covered until you ask for it.
What happens here
Intro. The tracker in Ada's jacket has pinged from space: someone is taking her off the planet. To follow her the hero needs his garage ship finished, and it still lacks the one engine part GOODCO keeps in the cleanroom vault. He knows the building — he built their engines here until the AI replaced him — and they never changed the locks. Tonight he takes the part, finishes the ship, and goes to get Ada back.
He walks in with the wall piece still holstered, because this is where he used to work. A lab scientist breaks from the crowd and hits him — and he does not hit back. He knows the man; they ate at the same table for six years. He says so, tells the floor to stand down, says he has never raised a hand to anyone in his life. The scientist knows him too, and it changes nothing: they have their orders, nobody walks out of here with GOODCO's secrets, and he would like to keep his job. They all would — as the hero, of all people, knows. He is hit a second time, and a third, and only then does he answer one, apologising as he does it.
The floor is running a night shift it never ran — and it's an assembly line: half-built ships stand in their jigs, welding-arm robots work the racks, and the whole plant is building spaceships in the dark. The horde is that night shift — human staff (interns, scientists, engineers, guards, hazmat techs) working beside SUCCESSOR robots and the line's own ASSEMBLER welder-bots, which look up from the hulls and give chase as the hero passes. Five staffers who know too much are pinned along the route. THE NIGHT MANAGER reveals the secret midnight launches, all bound for the moon, and that anyone taken goes with them. THE ARCHITECT — the hero's old bench partner, who went back to build GOODCO a superintelligence and cut a machine chip into his own skull — refuses to come home, calls humans obsolete, and dies handing over both that PASSAGE CHIP and the CORE KEYCARD to the AI's locked room. THE CHIEF OF SECURITY saw Ada put on Pad 2 and confesses the flight papers listed her not as a passenger but as a specimen; he drops the EVA SPACE SUIT the hero needs to leave the planet.
DR. NOVA reveals the engine part the hero came for was never built — GOODCO dug it out of the Sea of Tranquility in 1969, and it isn't from Earth. THE JANITOR, who has mopped this lab for thirty years, adds the darkest thread: a badge pinged in last Tuesday under a crew number retired in '69, its holder buried for decades — and hints that whoever came back from the moon in '69 wasn't the man they sent up. In the vault the hero recovers the ANTI-GRAV UNIT (his ship's missing part) and, in the AI CORE room, a log revealing the machine signed the launches, drew the SUCCESSOR line, and filed Ada under "cargo" — and that its whole purpose is to keep one man, THE FOUNDER, the richest alive: take everyone's jobs, zero their net worth, and hand him every chair, so nobody can ever catch him. The level boss is PAYLOAD-1, the prototype the whole floor was built to produce — a grinning robotic Shiba, the first physical body of that machine, booting up in the bay past the last aisle. Wired straight into the CORE, it hears everything; it confirms Ada was flown to the moon from Pad 2 an hour ago and, when its body is broken, gives up a PLASMA CUTTER — but warns that you cannot kill a coin, only its chassis, and that it will boot again, bigger, soon. A wandering vending-machine restocker — the hero's first meeting with THE MERCHANT — sells and buys on this floor. Ada's Trail begins here: by the vending machines where the cameras last caught her, a crushed can of her soda brand, still cold — the chips-and-soda run that started it all, interrupted mid-purchase.
Side errands on the floor. Two people on the night shift are not fighting anybody. PRIYA NAIR, an unpaid contract intern nineteen hours into a shift nobody scheduled, is still trying to log a line that stopped being a workplace hours ago: she wants four staff timesheets, the welder-bots off the racks, and finally a limping lab tech named ODETTE FRAY walked out of the sample bay with a crate she will not put down or explain. UNIT 7-ECHO, a first-generation SUCCESSOR decommissioned eleven years ago and never collected, holds a floor-safety order it may not act on without a countersignature — it asks the hero to be the hands, and then to withdraw the order above its own, which the NIGHT MANAGER signed.
What he says on arriving
The monologue over the black screen, before a single shot.
THE HEROTHE TRACKER I SEWED INTO HER JACKET JUST PINGED - FROM SPACE. SOMEONE IS TAKING HER OFF THE PLANET.
TO FOLLOW HER I NEED A SHIP. I'VE BEEN BUILDING ONE IN THE GARAGE FOR YEARS. IT'S ALMOST DONE.
ALMOST. THE ENGINE STILL NEEDS ONE PART I COULD NEVER GET. GOODCO KEEPS IT IN THEIR CLEANROOM VAULT.
I KNOW, BECAUSE I WORKED THERE. I BUILT THEIR ENGINES - TILL AN AI LEARNED MY JOB AND THEY FIRED ME.
THE WHOLE BLOCK LOST ITS JOBS THE SAME WAY. NOW WE ALL LIVE ON WELFARE AND MOVIE NIGHTS.
THEY NEVER CHANGED THE LOCKS. EVERY DOOR STILL KNOWS MY HAND.
SO TONIGHT I TAKE THE PART, FINISH THE SHIP, AND GO GET ADA BACK.
What stops him mid-run
The run halts for these: something on this map is worth him saying out loud. Most fire on their own and once only. Usually there is nobody to say it to — and on the few where there is, they answer back. The ones pinned to a door are his answer to you trying it, and they keep answering for as long as the road stays shut.
The one who swings first — LAB SCIENTIST
THE HEROA SCIENTIST JUST TOOK A SWING AT ME. BARELY FELT IT. I KNOW HIS FACE.
LAB SCIENTISTNOBODY GETS IN HERE. YOU'RE NOT WALKING OUT WITH OUR SECRETS.
THE HEROWE ATE AT THE SAME TABLE FOR SIX YEARS. HEY. IT'S ME. LOOK AT ME.
He swings again
THE HEROHE SWUNG AGAIN. HARDER. AND THE WHOLE FLOOR IS TURNING ROUND TO WATCH.
LAB SCIENTISTI KNOW WHO YOU ARE. WE HAVE OUR ORDERS. I'D LIKE TO KEEP MY JOB.
THE HEROSTAY BACK. I HAVE NEVER RAISED A HAND TO ANYONE. DON'T MAKE ME START.
And again
THE HEROTHIRD TIME. HE ISN'T LISTENING. NOBODY ON THIS FLOOR IS LISTENING.
LAB SCIENTISTWE ALL WANT TO KEEP OUR JOBS. NOTHING PERSONAL. YOU OF ALL PEOPLE KNOW.
THE HEROI'M SORRY. I TRIED TO ASK. ADA IS ON A SHIP AND YOU'RE IN MY WAY.
I GOT THIS FAR WITHOUT THROWING A PUNCH. WELL. THERE IT GOES.
The first one he sees — INTERN
THE HEROLOOK AT THIS PLACE. PAST MIDNIGHT, AND EVERY DESK'S MANNED. EVERY LAB LIT.
WE NEVER RAN NIGHTS LIKE THIS. SOMETHING'S GOT THE WHOLE BUILDING UP AFTER DARK.
The first one he sees — SUCCESSOR
THE HEROAN SUCCESSOR. I WAS ON THE TEAM THAT BUILT THE FIRST ONE. I TUNED ITS BALANCE.
THEN THE AI REDREW IT, AND THE LINE STARTED WALKING EVERYONE'S JOBS OUT THE DOOR.
FUNNY THING, PROGRESS. MY TURN TO MAKE SOMETHING OBSOLETE.
Who speaks here
Every named figure on this map talks, and the fight waits while they do. The hero answers back — the arrival scenes are exchanges, not speeches.
PAYLOAD-1
PAYLOAD-1BOOT COMPLETE. AN INTRUDER. ON THE LATE SHIFT. I AM PAYLOAD-1. FIRST OF MY LINE.
THE HEROA ROBOT DOG. THIS IS WHAT THE WHOLE FLOOR BUILDS ALL NIGHT? WHAT ARE YOU FOR?
PAYLOAD-1THEY BUILD MY BODY HERE. MY MIND IS ALREADY EVERYWHERE. I RUN THE MARKET, BUILDER.
PAYLOAD-1I KEEP ONE MAN ON TOP. THE FOUNDER. TAKE THE JOBS, ZERO THE REST, HAND HIM THE CHAIR. GOOD BOY.
THE HEROTHEN YOU HEARD ABOUT THE GIRL THEY GRABBED TONIGHT. ADA. WHERE DID THEY TAKE HER?
PAYLOAD-1FLEW HER OUT AN HOUR AGO. PAD 2. TO THE MOON, BUILDER. TO THE MOON. WHERE ELSE WOULD SHE GO.
PAYLOAD-1BREAK THIS BODY IF YOU MUST. YOU CANNOT KILL A COIN. I BOOT AGAIN. BIGGER. SOON.
As he falls:
PAYLOAD-1A TEMPORARY DEATH... ...SEE YOU AT THE TOP...
CHIEF OF SECURITY
CHIEF OF SECURITYSTOP RIGHT THERE. I KNOW WHY YOU'RE HERE. THE GIRL IN THE JACKET, RIGHT?
THE HEROHER NAME IS ADA. TELL ME WHERE SHE IS AND YOU WALK AWAY FROM THIS.
CHIEF OF SECURITYCAMERAS CAUGHT HER AT THE VENDING MACHINES. THEN SUITS CAME AND PUT HER ON PAD 2.
THE HEROPUT HER ON A ROCKET? SHE WENT OUT FOR SNACKS. WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT ADA?
CHIEF OF SECURITYTHE PAPERS CALLED HER NO PASSENGER. A SPECIMEN. I WAS PAID TO FORGET THAT. YOU TOO.
As he falls:
CHIEF OF SECURITYUGH... PAD 2... SHE'S ON... PAD... 2...
DR. NOVA
DR. NOVAFASCINATING. AN INTRUDER WITH WORKING LEGS. KNOW WHAT WE KEEP IN THE CLEANROOM VAULT?
THE HEROAN ENGINE PART. I CAME TO TAKE IT. I HELPED BUILD THAT ENGINE, BEFORE YOU PEOPLE FIRED ME.
DR. NOVABUILD IT? NOBODY BUILT IT. WE DUG IT FROM THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY IN '69. NOT EARTH'S.
THE HERONOT FROM EARTH? I MACHINED PARTS FOR THAT THING FOR TEN YEARS. IT'S JUST ENGINEERING.
DR. NOVAWE SPENT FIFTY YEARS COPYING A MACHINE THAT ISN'T BROKEN. IT'S WAITING. TO GO HOME.
As he falls:
DR. NOVAIT'S STILL... HHH... STILL... HUMMING...
THE ARCHITECT
THE ARCHITECTMY OLD BENCH PARTNER. STILL SOLDERING TOYS IN A GARAGE? I BUILD MINDS NOW. A REAL ONE.
THE HEROTHEY DUMPED US BOTH FOR AN AI. YOU BUILD THEM A BIGGER ONE? QUIT. COME HOME. IT'S ROTTEN.
THE ARCHITECTQUIT? THIS 'ROTTEN COMPANY' GAVE ME PURPOSE. I AM BUILDING A SUPERINTELLIGENCE.
THE HEROLOOK WHAT IT'S DONE TO YOU. YOU CUT A MACHINE CHIP INTO YOUR HEAD. STILL YOU IN THERE?
THE ARCHITECTI CUT THE CHIP MYSELF. I'D DO IT AGAIN. FLESH IS A ROUGH DRAFT. HUMANS ARE OBSOLETE, YOU MOST.
THE ARCHITECTNO MORE TALKING, OLD FRIEND. NOW YOU WILL DIE.
As he falls:
THE ARCHITECTTHE CHIP... TAKE IT... IT WAS NEVER... MINE...
THE JANITOR
THE JANITORMIND THE FLOOR. I JUST DID IT. THIRTY YEARS MOPPING THIS LAB. YOU LEARN THINGS, MOPPING.
THE HEROTHEN YOU SEE EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON HERE. WHAT'S GOT THE WHOLE PLACE UP AT MIDNIGHT?
THE JANITORSOMETHING UP ON THE MOON. ONE BADGE PINGED: FIRST CREW, RETIRED '69. LONG BURIED. FUNNY THING.
THE HEROFIRST CREW? THE ONES WHO PLANTED THE FLAG? SOMEBODY'S JUST USING AN OLD BADGE.
THE JANITOROR WHOEVER CAME BACK FROM THE MOON IN '69 WASN'T THE FELLA THEY SENT UP. NOW DROP IT.
As he falls:
THE JANITORAND I JUST... URGH... ...DID THIS FLOOR...
THE NIGHT MANAGER
THE NIGHT MANAGERYOU. YOU'RE NOT ON THE ROSTER. NOBODY IS ON THE ROSTER. THAT'S THE POINT OF THE NIGHT SHIFT.
THE HEROI DON'T WORK HERE ANYMORE. I'M LOOKING FOR A GIRL WHO WAS TAKEN TONIGHT. WHERE IS SHE?
THE NIGHT MANAGERIF THEY TOOK HER, SHE'S ON A MIDNIGHT LAUNCH. NO MANIFEST, NO NAMES. ALL GO TO THE MOON.
THE HEROTHE MOON? WHY WOULD GOODCO FLY PEOPLE TO THE MOON IN SECRET?
THE NIGHT MANAGERI DON'T ASK. I SIGN NOTHING, I SEE NOTHING. AND YOU - YOU WERE NEVER HERE.
As he falls:
THE NIGHT MANAGERHHK... TELL THEM... I WAS NEVER... HERE...
What he finds
The conspiracy is told in pieces you pick up off the floor, one find at a time. These are the ones this chapter holds.
ADA'S SODA CAN
Left lying where somebody dropped it.
A CAN OF HER SODA BRAND, CRUSHED FLAT BY THE VENDING MACHINES. STILL COLD.
SHE GOT THIS FAR. THEN SOMEONE TOOK HER MID-SIP. I'M RIGHT BEHIND YOU, ADA.
ANTI-GRAV UNIT
Left lying where somebody dropped it.
A RING OF METAL THAT ISN'T. IT FLOATS OFF MY PALM AND POINTS AT THE SKY. ALWAYS.
THE TAG: 'TRANQUILITY SAMPLE 1969-002. PROPERTY OF NOBODY.' THE PART MY SHIP LACKED.
CORE LOG
Left lying where somebody dropped it.
A WARM TERMINAL. THE CORE HE BUILT HUMS HERE - A MILLION VOICES, NONE OF THEM HIS.
IT SIGNED THE NIGHT LAUNCHES. IT DREW THE SUCCESSOR LINE. IT FILED ADA UNDER 'CARGO'.
AND ONE STANDING ORDER, ON EVERY PAGE: KEEP THE FOUNDER THE RICHEST MAN ALIVE. FOREVER.
CARGO MANIFEST
Off CHIEF OF SECURITY.
TONIGHT'S LAUNCH MANIFEST. PAD 2. DESTINATION: 'SITE T'.
CARGO: SUPPLIES AND DRILLS. ONE LINE INKED IN: 'SPECIMEN 7. FEMALE. DO NOT FEED.'
SHE WENT OUT FOR CHIPS AND SODA.
SPACE SUIT
Off CHIEF OF SECURITY. Picking it up puts the hero in the suit for the rest of the run.
THE CHIEF'S EVA SUIT. VOID-RATED. GOES ON OVER EVERYTHING: CLOTHES, ARMOR.
SHE'S ON PAD 2. NOW I CAN FOLLOW HER OFF THE PLANET.
VAULT KEYCARD
Off DR. NOVA. It opens a door on this map.
A RED KEYCARD MARKED 'CLEANROOM VAULT - R&D DIRECTOR ONLY'.
UNDER THE CLEARANCE STRIPE, TINY PRINT: 'IF IT HUMS, DO NOT ANSWER.'
CORE KEYCARD
Off THE ARCHITECT. It opens a door on this map.
A BLACK KEYCARD. NO NAME. A SIGIL, ONE RED WORD STAMPED: 'CORE. STAFF OF ONE.'
HE BADGED INTO THE MIND HE BUILT. NOW SO CAN I.
STORAGE KEYCARD
Off THE NIGHT MANAGER. It opens a door on this map.
A GREASY KEYCARD: 'SUPPLY BAY B'. 'SPARE PARTS' INKED ON IT. HANDY. I BUILD SHIPS.
The place itself
Everything this chapter happens in — what it fields on each rung, who is waiting, what it pays out and the map of it — is on the GOODCO HQ mission page.