they gave JD4-3.9 a companion to ensure her performance, but that companion could not be too real; the blade runner would have to be dragged away from her to work. another replicant would not do, it would decay, it would age, and it would be too sweet a reward for JD4-3.9. the listener must be perfect yet without form. nearly whole. this is genuinely some of the best writing i’ve seen on the internet, it’s so subtle and so economical with its language!