A. Cahn
Dr. A. Cahn is a scientist who seems to have locked himself in a cell in Containment Block Baird. He offers to assist the player in escaping the facility if they free him by resetting the security system.
Dialogue
Containment Cell
| Beckon | Is it safe yet?
A friendly face! Could you help me, do you think? |
| Initial | Thank the stars! All I wanted was a place to rest for a few hours without getting shot or minced.. but I accidentally locked myself in! Two PhDs but you'd never know it! I'd very much prefer not to rot in here, so if you can help me out I'd be extremely grateful.. and I can help! You see, I'm confident that I can get us through the Vacuum Chamber to the Surface Elevator, in fact, I'm sure of it - if you can just get this door open. Resetting the system in the Control Center should open the cells and reprogram the guns out there. And, if I'm right, it should give us access to the rest of the Containment Block, too. You just have to get there, to the Control Center... in one peice. |
| Return | I can get us through the Vacuum Chamber, I'm sure of it. But you need to find a way to the control center and reset the Security System.
There's no getting past those cannons out there until you reset the security system. Perhaps you can find a way across the chasm out there without plunging to your death in a dank abyss. The portal system's gone berserk, but I wonder - could that be just the shortcut we need? There's entries and exits grounding all over the place. Just.. don't do anything crazy. I know I'm asking a lot, but working together is our best chance. It's our only chance, don't you agree? I've been working in this facility for almost fifteen years. I honestly can't believe it's come to this. |
Control Center
| Beckon | You did it!
I thought I was going to be stuck there forever. I am in your debt. |
| Initial | You reset the system AND turned the guns on those apes! Bravo! We may yet get out of here with our skins. Now we just need to get that odious gunk off the Vacuum Chamber door. But this isn't the first time we've had this problem! That goo was a curse until they opened a portal to the Mycofields in Anteverse 2 and the TR teams discovered a substance that could remove that awful stuff. The test chamber portal may even still be open, but with the state of things, who's to say? I suppose we just have to go and find out. |
| Idle | I see why they call it the Control Center.
You're really doing rather well. |
| Return | I can get us to the Surface Elevator, if we can just get the Vacuum Chamber open. I'm certain of it. But someone needs to retrieve that substance from the Mycofields. Now, I'm not necessarily saying that's 'you', but you do seem rather well suited to this kind of thing.
The portal chamber is on the top level of the atrium ... or it was last time I looked. With the guns are deactivated, we've got a clear run through Containment Block. But I hate to think about what else might be on the loose on there ... I'll just wait here, shall I? |
Security Lounge
| Beckon | (Humming) |
| Initial | You know ... There are surely beings in this universe far stranger than anything this Facility has locked away - or accidentally unleashed. Things we can't even imagine. Anyway, good luck in there. If you can get to the surface elevator in the centre of the sector, we may actually have a way out of here. I know you'll figure it out. |
| Return | It's almost peaceful here.
There's worse places than this, but if you're lucky you'll never see them. We've gone out searching for new realms and other entities, only to lock them away like some cosmic zoo. Is anyone really surprised that it's come to this? I'll be here, alright? |
Hydroplant Entrance
| Beckon | There you are!
Water, water everywhere What ... is that? |
| Initial | I'm not entirely sure how this happened, but it looks like the way into the Hydroplant is blocked by a rather large volume of water. But not to panic - if you just activate the pumps, I ... think it should drain ... somewhere. And whatever that is ... in the water ... I wouldn't worry about it ... we've got bigger fish to fry. |
| Return | Try the pump - I mean, how could things get any worse?
Whatever that is, in the water, it's not our problem. I really am in your debt. I'm not just saying that. I'll be here, alright? |
After activating the pump:
| Initial | After you. |
| Return | Well, it looks like the way is clear, for now.
I'll be along soon. If you find a way out of here, tell me. If I tried to help, I'd just get in the way, wouldn't I? We're not out of the woods yet, but I'm starting to think we've got a chance. If we can just get through the Hyrdoplant [sic], perhaps we can even get to the Residences - so close to the surface, comparatively speaking, anyway. |
Reactor Observation
| Beckon | It's you!
Come here, my friend. I wasn't sure you were still alive. |
| Initial | I'm not going lie to you - this is worse than I expected. Much worse. This sector is swarming with Gatekeepers, which can only mean one thing: GATE is cleaning house ... and we are the dirt. They were using a waygate in the center to come and go from this facility. But now those scoundrels have shut down the nuclear reactors that power it. I presume, to prevent the invaders from using it. However, we rather need that portal to ... not be closed. Therefore ... we should look into bringing it all back online. But no need to get ahead of ourselves. Let's start simple - with Dusk Reactor. That seems sensible? It just needs a little fuel, I imagine. I'm going to look around, maybe poke my nose into a few spots, and try to figure out this place a little more. I'll let you know what I dig up. |
| Return | It's all older perforation technology down here. Tremendously energy hungry, as I'm sure you're aware. I can't possibly imagine what they would need FOUR nuclear reactors to power. Maybe we can get away with just the one for now.
The waygate, the one they closed, I'm not sure where it leads ... another GATE facility perhaps ... but as long as it gets us out of here, I'm really not too fussy. Imagine the most savage mercenaries on Earth, add paranoia, black magic, a technicolor rainbow of cruelty ... and Gatekeepers would eat them alive. They're human cruise missiles, if 'human' is even the right word. This place is a maze - I won't bore you with how I got down here, but it wasn't easy. You have no idea how thick the concrete is around here. Gatekeepers? I'd call them single-minded, but that barely begins to cover it. Let's just say, in terms of their thinking, black and white would be an improvement. As far as they care, it's just black. All the way down. The Gatekeepers want to keep us out of the Reactors entirely. Maybe they overestimate us ... maybe not. But I've seen what happens when something gets in the way of their missions. Well ... I've seen the remains. |
Dusk Reactor
| Initial | Well done, my terrifically tatterdemalion friend. I continue to be impressed with your acumen and derring-do. It's really rather a silver lining to all this chaos. And we're one step closer to escaping it, thanks to you - Now... I've had a look around and ... It's as diabolical as I had feared. The scientists down here have a central Fusion reactor powering the waygate. In other words, we do need all four reactors. I noticed a gate activated near the original station, leading to Cloud Reactor. I thought I heard some yelling, but it's hard to tell with all this acoustic anathema. The gate is not far from here at all, just back the way we came ... on the Tram ... of course. |
| Return | Did I mention how extremely capable you are? Activating a few more reactors, well, I wouldn't say it will be a breeze, but your track record at this stage is rather impressive. If I didn't know you better, I would say you should be studied when all is said and done. We're all very glad to have your help.
You seem to be dealing with those Gatekeepers rather well, which is no mean feat. I wish I could be of more help, but you see, I'm really not cut out for that kind of killing. I'd be intrigued to know where the waygate in the central fusion reactor leads. The Gatekeepers have been using it with impunity, which suggests they have a degree of control over its destination - nice to know we won't end up at the bottom of the ocean, or thrust into the heart of a star, I suppose. We've come a long way together, haven't we? We're not in the clear just yet - not by a long way - but it's not looking as hopeless as it was for a time there. I'm actually starting to feel optimistic. At least, I think that's what this feeling is. |
Shadowgate Forest
| Beckon | My lord.
I wasn't expecting ... this. The shield, oh no ... |
| Initial | I've heard of this place ... Intrados. Makes you shudder, doesn't it? They call it Shadowgate, because of course they would. A GATE containment facility run by those esoteric brutes. This is what happens when you're given too long a leash. It would appear they've surrounded these woods with some kind of containment field... I wonder if that related to... Hmm. Friend, it probably goes without saying... a frontal assault would be ... particularly unstrategic. |
| Return | Even though they're harnessing ethereal forces from the darkest reaches of an unspeakable abyss, it doesn't mean they're invincible. You've proved that much already. [What it does mean, is that we're just going to have to dig a little deeper. Maybe take a walk around the woods and see what we find. [Because there's no getting around it - we need to access that facility. And they're not going to be happy to see us.
We don't really have a lot of choice here: We're hundreds of miles from ... anywhere ... and there's no way we're getting through their ... sky shield ... thing ... so it's inside or nothing. I really can't tell you how much I detest some of the people in GATE's employ. We call them "contractors" but... where's the line, really? I can't tell if it's a force field ... or some kind of ... hex? But it certainly seems that the Gatekeepers have covered this whole area in a sort of shield. Whether it's to make sure nothing gets in, or stop something escaping ... I have no idea. I suppose we'll know soon enough. Be careful, won't you - but if you think you're ready, let them have it. I'll meet you inside when a path is clear. It's actually rather lovely here, in a way ... A dark, sinister, occult kind of way ... but a way all the same. |
Shadowgate Facility
| Beckon | My god.
No, no, no. Help us. |
| Initial | I can't believe this - I'm ... I'm speechless. The Gatekeepers! ... They're trying to bring this thing into our world - to harness its power for ... well ... only the gods know what! These mana-hungry maniacs! Surely you can see this has gone too far - they're a threat to the entire world! As scientists, we must do something. If we destroy the various fetters, the creature will surely return to whatever limbo it came from. And if that resets the rift, we may even be able to use it to get out of here - if you can unshackle this ... thing. |
| Return | If you can force the creature back to its realm, the rift should reground itself locally - and provide a way out of this purgatory they've created for it.
I had no idea they'd gone this far. It looks like it's ... in pain. Once, these fiends were human, but when you dwell in the abyss for long enough, a part of you remains there. And then you must feed it, endlessly ... or so I'm told. I just hope we won't share in the cost they've incurred. Or maybe, by freeing this thing, we can repay a little of our debt. This was the last thing I expected, but now that we're here, we must. Do. Something. I hate to think what would happen if we fail. |
Appearance
| Head | Hubert |
| Hair | Clean Cut |
| Hair Color | White |
| Top | GATE Labcoat/GATE Labcoat Rolled Sleeves |
| Shirt | Mauve/Orange/Cyan |
| Fabric | GATE Standard |
| Accessory | Rectangles |
| Bottom | Beige Khaki/Lab Pants |
| Belt | Standard |
| Shoes | Black Boots |
| ID Card | Research Division/Containment |
Trivia
- In the introduction, Bruce mentions that the player is supposed to report to Dr. Cahn.
- Dr. Cahn, as met in-game, is IS-0012, a shapeshifter entity pretending to be him. The real Cahn is indirectly mentioned as having died over two years prior by Derek Manse, stating he'd rather be "cruel than wrong" when it comes to containing the entity that resembles the man he once knew.
- There is a popular theory that Cahn is from a parallel universe type of anteverse, where he did not die. However, the main flaw in this theory is that the game hints that something is off about Cahn, pointing out his inhuman ability to teleport behind the player the instant that security is reset in a quest description. Furthermore, IS-0012's Immurement Registry designations include Camouflaged and Aggressive, indicating that GATE has reason to believe that Cahn is not truly human and is right in containing him.
- Cahn shows a suspicious amount of sympathy for IS-0117, suggesting that the two entities are allied in some way.
- Additionally, after "banishing" the creature, the portal leads to Far Garden. This, combined with a Hologram where Manse considered releasing the shapeshifter into Anteverse 2, suggests that Cahn manipulated the player into letting the creature loose in Anteverse 2.
Media
Cahn after resetting the Security in Cascade Laboratories
Cahn in the Security Sector
Cahn near the entrance to the Hydroplant
