The religion of Reasonablism started as a cult when a failed scientist named Franz Kunst moved from his home country of Latvia to the then United Socialist States Of America. According to him every truth about this reality is reachable by clever deduction and reasoning and science with its empirical methods is useful but ultimately misguided in terms of resource management. When he tried to prove one of his trains of “reason”, he was mocked by the public which led to him suffering a psychotic break and getting arrested for public nudity. After this, he decided its time to try his luck in America.


    Thanks to the name of his religion, the true nature of its contents is not investigated by curious members of the public. In his mind, books like the Bible weren’t necessarily historical texts but texts describing the future in an ancient setting. Using these texts it is supposedly possible to reveal all kinds of truths about the future and human nature – so in fact Reasonablism doesn’t subscribe to only one religious text like most other religions but to all of them and at the center stands the hysterical rambling in writing, the mindless utterances of Kunst to one of his mindless followers, which tries and fails to reconcile these vastly different ideologies. His cult gathered enough followers to become a major religion in the 2100s. Its sexual exploitation of its members, its pay-to-pray business model and aggressive lobbying in the government are well kept public secrets. Around 3% of all religious people in the Solar Empire subscribe to Reasonablism.


    The conclave in Papülonis is built on top of a residential tower, and it runs the entirety of the top 5 floors. It has its own religious schools and everything one might expect to find from a brain-washing organization. It’s architecture is a mixture between the sukiya architecture and functionalism. The five floors have outreaching ornaments but at the same time its walls and hallways are very strict and reminiscent of the schools and hospitals of the 20th century, which according to Kunst was the peak of human civilization in all aspects.


    The police detectives arrive at the Conclave and park their car. They go inside and admire the obvious effort that went into hiding the cold brutalist undertones of the interior design of the building. As its still business hours, the hallways are mostly empty. The floors are covered with fish-tailing hardwood floors which get cleaned by its lower members and bots daily. As agreed with Dr. Mendel on the behalf of Bob Voyage, they go into the lounge area of the first floor of five and wait for his arrival to the agreed upon table as they themselves move to a sofa area further away. A droid lets them order two beers which arrive shortly as well. This area is devoid of inhabitants as well. On purpose they had chosen to arrive half an hour early in order to get a glimpse of him on the off-chance he tries to escape.


    Taking a few good sips from their glasses Paskal says: “Ah... The reasonablists like beer more bitter than I expected. Interesting aftertaste.”


    Anderson: “Mmhm... like a poppy seed bun a little.”


    After waiting for some time, they see a man entering the lounge. He is towering at almost 7 feet tall and he isn’t skinny or over-weight like the officers had expected from a scientist. He is hunched over and would likely be even taller and as he enters he sees the two officers but doesn’t make much of them. His face is a little droopy as if he’d suffered a stroke and slightly scarred from an unknown cause. He’s also wearing an ear-piece. He walks to the spot where Dr. Mendel was supposed to sit. The officers take out their money chips, and pay for their drinks through the terminal near one of the sofas and walk towards their mark. He sees them approach and sits up.


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    “Dr. Mendel?” asks Paskal when he is near the man’s table.


    “Yes,” says Dr. Mendel.


    “May we have a moment of your time?”


    “I’m supposed to meet someone here actually, so perhaps another time?” he says.


    “We know. We’re the ones who arranged this meeting. This is detective Paskal and I’m detective Anderson. We’re with the Papülonis City Police deparment. We’d like to ask you a few questions, if you don’t mind.”


    “Oh?” says Dr. Mendel, “I was under the impression that I was supposed to meet with Mr. Voyage, the actor? Is he not coming?”


    “No, sir,” says Anderson, “We were wondering what you might be able to tell us about Kalopsia Chromo? As we understand, you had contact with her?”


    “Is there something wrong? She was just curious about her past, nothing more.”


    “Yes, as you might know, she’s gone missing. We were charged with finding her,” says Paskal, “We were wondering if she said anything to you about her intentions?”


    “She said she would go to Earth to get to the bottom of her origins. She wanted to visit the Vakkar Institute in Poland, near Krakow. They might have more information on her than I might.”


    “When was this?” Paskal asks.


    “It was several weeks ago. She must be there by now.”


    Paskal and Anderson look at each other. When beginning the investigation into her disappearance, they had looked into flight dossiers and contacted several smugglers to see if they knew about something or someone matching her description going off planet. They didn’t. Therefore the more possibilities they rule out for her to get off-planet the more likely it becomes she’s still on Mars. Their suspicion is that Dr. Mendel is lying.


    “Dr. Mendel. We have information that you told her about her past. You know that she is the creation of Dr. Vakkar. Do you think that might give a person like some value?” Anderson asks.


    “Yes,” says Mendel.


    “To the best of your knowledge, do you think Ultra as an organization might be interested in this value as well?” Paskal asks. He then yawns. So does Anderson.s


    “As an entire organization? I’m afraid I don’t have the adequate information nor authority to answer that. Furthermore, what are you suggesting?”


    The officers begin to get annoyed. Dr. Mendel obviously knows more than he lets on but he’s clearly hoping his demeanor of naivite works on the pair.


    “We’re suggesting that since you’re a high-ranking biotech scientist at Ultra, you might be aware of this? Right now we’re not hearing a clear “no”, which is leading us to assume that you think Ultra might in principle be interested in her,” says Paskal. He yawns more and starts to feel tired. Anderson as well.


    “In principle, anything’s possible. And to answer your question directly, officers,” says Mendel, while the men begin to breathe slower and their eyelids get heavier, “Ultra might not be interested in her. But on the other hand… I certainly am. You know what she is… But I’m sad to inform, that though you won’t be harmed… You simply cannot be allowed to continue.”


    The men pass out.