You are standing in the apartment living room. There's nothing there but a (link-reveal:"control panel")[ for the room-wide virtual reality system], a comfy armchair, and a (link-reveal:"plastic multi-controller")[, a peripheral for holding verious objects in virtual reality].
(if: $carkeys is true)[[[Head out->CarConfirm]]](else:)[~~''Head out''~~ You need your car to get anywhere and your car keys to use it.]
[[Go to the bedroom->Apartment Bedroom]]
[[Go to the kitchen->Apartment Kitchen]]The Lynx Highrunner, the official car of government officials, you included. While yes, "normal people" have it, you got one for free.
[[Go for a joyride->Joyride]]
(if: $briefed is false)[[[Go to the bureau->Outside Bureau]]]\
(else:)[[[Go to the starport->Outside Starport]]] A large, imposing, brutalist building stands before you. If the sun were out, this would block it. A large fountain surrounded by ferns stands in the center of a roundabout. You park in your usual spot and exit your car.
You ascend the ugly gray stairs and stand before the entrance, whose doors are about twice your height.
(if: $briefed is false)[[[Go inside->Bureau Hall]]]\
(else:)[[[Get in your car->Car]]] (if: $bureaufirsttime is false)[As you enter, a receptionist, clearly a bit bored, jolts to attention upon seeing you.
"Good to see you, the armoury is down to your left and the briefing rooms are to your right. You're needed in room 415."
You're not sure why he always tells you where the important rooms are, considering you've been here dozens of times.]
\
\(else:)[The receptionist is looking at something on his (link-reveal:"computer screen")[, which, upon closer inspection (without being suspicious), is some sort of game]. Important-looking officials in suits occassionally enter and exit the hall.]
\
(set: $bureaufirsttime = true)\
[[Go to the armoury->Armoury]]
[[Go to the briefing room->Bureau 4F]]
(if: $briefed is true)[[[Leave->Outside Bureau]]] (if: $briefed is false)[You enter the briefing room. Your boss, Diina, is looking at her laptop.
She sees you enter and give you a warm smile. She presses a button and the windows darken to become completely opaque.
\
(if: $washed is false)[
"Didja wake up 10 minutes ago?"
]
"Come, sit! We have much to discuss."
[[Sit->briefing1]]]\
(else:)[Diina is busy looking at something important on her laptop.
[[Leave->Bureau 4F]]]The armoury is split between rows and rows of lockers and a workshop where people in goggles tinker with weapons and gadgets that you're not really familiar with.
You go to your locker and position your eyes in front of the identification lock. It clicks and opens.
You don't really have much of import here, just the standard issue (link-reveal: "phaser")[ (you have no idea how it works, but you know it's non-lethal unless wildly misused)] and a (link-reveal: "handgun")[ (an old-fashioned firearm using combustion to propel a bullet at very fast speeds)].
No reason not to have both...probably.
[[Return to the hall->Bureau Hall]]
(if: $handgun is false)[(link-reveal: "''Take the handgun''")[ Done(set: $handgun = true)]]
(if: $phaser is false)[(link-reveal: "''Take the phaser''")[ Done(set: $phaser = true)]]A tremendous structure, one you're forced to look at every time you leave your apartment, towers over everything else. It resembles a pine tree, with platforms extending from a central spire where shuttles and small starships dock and depart.
Gate 12 is one of the bottom platforms, with a parking garage that leads directly up to the platforms.
[[Drive to Gate 12's parking lot->Port 12 Parking Lot]]On the platform is a moderately small starship (still quite a bit larger than your car, though). A group of people are being swarmed by people with microphones and cameras. You see what is probably the crew loitering around the ship's entrance.
[[Go to the ship->Outside Ship Entrance]] You're in the bedroom. Your twin-sized bed is quite comfy but you're able to resist going back. You have a very minimalist desk and official-looking chair. Other than a lamp and your PUD, the desk is quite empty.
[[Check PUD->PUD]]
[[Go to the bathroom->Apartment Bathroom]]
[[Go to the living room->Apartment Living Room]]
(if: $carkeys is false)[(link-reveal:"''Grab car keys''")[ Done(set: $carkeys = true)]]You are standing in the bathroom, a moderately small room that has everything you'd expect in the bathroom. The government gave you fancy self-cleaning appliances that shine a dull yet bright white.
[[Take care of personal matters->Personal Matters]]
[[Go to the bedroom->Apartment Bedroom]]You are standing in a warmly lit kitchen. Fancy self-cleaning appliances lie unused. Really, the only thing you use is the (link-reveal: "CCU")[, the Consumable Creation Unit, a super nifty device so convenient as to have its name explain it all].
(if: $ate is false)[[[Use CCU->CCU]]]
[[Go to the Living Room->Apartment Living Room]]You park your car in the lot, parking is sparse but you manage to find a space. You see no Highrunners like your own.
[[Go to Port 12->Gate to Port 12]]The crew are grumbling amongst themselves, apparently impatient with the whole ordeal.
Someone not in more plain clothes is leaning against the landing gear. The badge reads :
H. Marshall
Security Officer
[[Wait for the press to leave and enter the ship->to airlock]]
[[Talk with Marshall->Marshall]] Yes?
(if: $marshallWho is false)[[["Who are you?"->marshallWho]]
]\
(if: $marshallWhat is false)[[["What're you up to?"->marshallWhatUp]]
]\
(if: $marshallHuh is false)[[["What're we supposed to do?"->marshallBriefing]]
]\
[["Er-nothing."->Outside Ship Entrance]] (set: $shipTime -= 1)\
You are standing in the ship's airlock. Seats line the walls, but not many. There's a door that leads to the ship's central hall and obviously a giant, intimidating door that leads outside.
(if: $shipTime > 0)[[[Go to the ship's antechamber->Ship Central Antechamber]]](elseif: $shipTime is 0)[You hear a loud thud and the ship shakes a little. A crew member enters and presses some buttons on a keypad next to the big giant door.
"This is your captain speaking. We have arrived at Parnassus Central, all security personnel and patients please make your way to the airlock and out of the ship."
[[Exit the ship->checkin]]](else:)[[[Exit the ship->checkin]]](set: $shipTime -= 1)\
Several crew members are lounging about beds and chairs. None of them seem to care that you've walked in here.
There are tables and chairs and really, it kind of looks like a log cabin interior, just replace the wood with alloys that can handle the vacuum of space.\
\
\(if: $shipTime is 0)[
''**You hear a loud thud and the ship shakes a little.
"This is your captain speaking. We have arrived at Parnassus Central, all security personnel and patients please make your way to the airlock and out of the ship."**'']
(link-reveal:"''\"What do you guys do?\"''")[ "Meh"]
(link-reveal:"''\"How do you guys get used to warp travel?\"''")[ "Meh"]
(link-reveal:"''\"So...what's up?\"''")[ "Meh"]
[[Go to the ship's antechamber->Ship Central Antechamber]] (set: $shipTime -= 1)\
There are tables and chairs and really, it kind of looks like a log cabin interior, just replace the wood with alloys that can handle the vacuum of space. There are beds too.
No one's in here, nor is there really anything to suggest this room gets used at all.\
\
\(if: $shipTime is 0)[
''**You hear a loud thud and the ship shakes a little.
"This is your captain speaking. We have arrived at Parnassus Central, all security personnel and patients please make your way to the airlock and out of the ship."**'']
(if: $shipTime is not 0)[[[Take a nap->naptime]]]
[[Go to the ship's antechamber->Ship Central Antechamber]] (set: $shipTime -= 1)\
There are plenty of crates, lockers, and glass cannisters with some (link-reveal:"weird looking things in them.")[ Whatever it is, it's most definitely body parts.]
There's a manifest on the ground. Naturally, you take a peek. All you can see is "PARNASSUS" in big, future looking font before a crew member hastily picks it up and proceeds to look busy looking at boxes.
This crew member apparently works for Parnassus, considering the word is writ across the back of their coat.
They seem eager to not talk to you.\
\
\(if: $shipTime is 0)[
''**You hear a loud thud and the ship shakes a little.
"This is your captain speaking. We have arrived at Parnassus Central, all security personnel and patients please make your way to the airlock and out of the ship."**'']
[[Go to the ship's antechamber->Ship Central Antechamber]] (set: $shipTime -= 1)\
You are in a long rectangular hallway, wide enough to fit the length of your decently long car.
At the end of one hall is the engine bay, which has a (link-reveal:"hand pad")[ (the thing you put your hand on to identify yourself)] next to it. Safe to say you won't be going in there.
Across the airlock is the cargo bay, whose doors are quite large.
Next to both the cargo bay and airlock doors are crew quarters.
Next to those is the passenger quarters and the mess hall. Both of these are locked. The passenger quarters for reasons you can only hypothesize, the mess hall probably because the trip was so short.
The bridge's door is on the opposite side of the engine bay. A crew member is standing there, making sure no one comes in, you included.\
\
\(if: $shipTime is 0)[
''**You hear a loud thud and the ship shakes a little.
"This is your captain speaking. We have arrived at Parnassus Central, all security personnel and patients please make your way to the airlock and out of the ship."**'']
[[Go to the ship's airlock->Ship Airlock]]
[[Go to the ship's cargo bay->Ship Cargo Bay]]
[[Go to the ship's port quarters->Ship Crew Port Quarters]]
[[Go to the ship's starboard quarters->Ship Crew Starboard Quarters]] (if: $gameover is true)[[[Restart game->First Awaken]]]\
\(set: $washed = false)
\(set: $ate = false)
\
\(set: $carkeys = false)
\(set: $phaser = false)
\(set: $handgun = false)
\
\(set: $briefed = false)
\(set: $bureaufirsttime = false)
\
\(set: $marshallWho = false)
\(set: $marshallWhat = false)
\(set: $marshallHuh = false)
\
\(set: $shipTime = 10)
\
\(set: $security = true)
\(set: $silentAssassin = false)
\(set: $hunted = false)
\(set: $huntEscape = false)
\(set: $genTime = 7)
\(set: $genOn = false)
\(set: $genEscape = false)
\(set: $marshallAlive = true)
\(set: $gameover = false)(if: $briefed is false)[You decide to spend some time on the highway, driving as fast as the law would allow. The pale gray sky sleepily shines upon you.
You exit off to a less-travelled road that runs through one of the few forests left on the planet. The flurry of colors fills your eyes, so unattuned to the sights of anything not gray or white.
You pull off to a dirt patch off the side of the road and get out.
The air is fresh, aromatic, pleasant.
Unfortunately, you don't have time to enjoy this for much longer. [[Get to work.->Outside Bureau]]]\
(else:)[You decide to spend some time on the highway, driving marginally slower than everyone else. The pale gray sky looms over you.
You exit off to a less-travelled road that runs through one of the few forests left on the planet. The flurry of colors overwhelms your eyes, which are busy with other things in your head.
You pull off to a dirt patch off the side of the road and open your window.
It's silent, there is no wind to rustle leaves or birds to chirp.
[[Get to work.->Outside Starport]]](set: $washed = true)\
\
\Of course, it wouldn't be good to roll out of bed and immediately proceed with your day.
You use the toilet, wash your hands, wash your face, brush your teeth. Nothing eventful happens.
[[Dry off->Apartment Bathroom]](link: "Check messages")[A message from the IUID :
You are required at the bureau briefing room by noon today.
It's still pretty early in the morning, you have time.
]
~~Surf the Internet~~ Probably not a good idea to do this when you have a job to do.
[[Turn off the PUD->Apartment Bedroom]]You will not be able to return once you head out, you've got a lot ahead of you.
[[Go back->Apartment Living Room]]
[[Leave->Car]] (set: $ate = true)
What'd be a nice thing to have\
{ {(live: 2s)
[.]}
{(live: 2.5s)
[.]}
{(live: 3s)
[.]}
{(live: 3.5s)
[perhaps a blueberry waffle and]}
{(live: 5s)
[.]}
{(live: 5.5s)
[.]}
{(live: 6s)
[.]}
{(live: 6.5s)
[a few sausages.]}
{(live: 8s)
[(print:"
")You use the console and insert a plate into the CCU and wait.]}
{(live: 9s)
[(print:"
")//Whirrrrrrr//]}
{(live: 12s)
[.]}
{(live: 12.5s)
[.]}
{(live: 13s)
[.]}
{(live: 15s)
[(print:"
")//Hummmmmmmm//]}
{(live: 17s)
[.]}
{(live: 17.5s)
[.]}
{(live: 18s)
[.]}
{(live: 21s)
[(print:"
")^^Ding^^]}
{(live: 23s)[(print:"
")(link:"Have breakfast")[Warm...sweet...savoury...moist...(print:"
")[[Let out a satisfied //"ahhhhh"//->Apartment Kitchen]]]]}
}It's a cloudy morning. The sky as a whole treats you to a barrage of dull light through your (link-reveal: "barred windows")[, government issued].
You work with the local branch of the Interstellar Union Investigation Department. It's nice that they provide you an apartment and such amenities for (link-reveal: "free")[ (for the duration of your services and 1 year after)], though the "barred windows" and "don't allow anyone to come into your apartment" isn't so.
You dress yourself in unassuming attire.
Yesterday, you received a message to come to the bureau. Your (link-reveal: "PUD's")[ (Personal Utility Device, a sort of military-grade desktop computer given to all government workers)] light flashes an orange light, indicating you have an urgent message.
[[Stretch->Apartment Bedroom]]You're standing at the dock. The scientist lady is long gone. It's basically a giant flat platform where shuttles come and go. Robots carry crates and cannisters from the dock into a giant room that resembles a hangar. There's a smaller door for non-robots.\
(if: $huntEscape is true)[
Marshall is standing guard by the ship. He hasn't seen you yet.
](if: $huntEscape is false)[
[[Proceed out to cargo processing->Complex Cargo Bay]]]
(else:)[[[Flank Marshall and subdue him from behind->end4a]]\
(if: $handgun is true)[[[Shoot Marshall with the handgun->end4b]]
]
(if: $phaser is true)[[[Shoot Marshall with the phaser->end4c]]
]](if: $genEscape is true)[[[Bolt inside the ship->end2.0]]]
(if: $silentAssassin is true)[[[Enter the ship and wait->end1.0]]](if: $hunted is false)[You're in a giant warehouse where robots frequently move or deposit large boxes and cannisters. (if: $huntEscape is false)[Several scientists are diligently writing down what's probably the goings on here. Once in a while, another scientist will enter from a door across from the door leading outside and pick up something from a crate.](else:)[At least the robots don't care.]
[[Go back outside to the dock->Complex Dock]]
[[Head into the hallway->3F]]]\
(else:)[(set: $gameover = true)Marshall sees you and suddenly, everything's black.
[[Marshall shot you in the head.->startup]]]The office is surprisingly unguarded. You see your target in front of you, typing away at your computer.
"Quick questions only, please."
(if: $genEscape is true)[You hear a rumbling noise.
[["I'll see you in Hell"->end3]]](else:)[
[[Head into the hallway->3F]]
[[Approach the target]]
(if: $handgun is true)[[[Shoot her in the head with the handgun->targetGun1]]
](if: $phaser is true)[[[Shoot her with the phaser->targetPhas1]]
]]A long, wide, crossing hallway, painfully full of white light, is (if: $huntEscape is true or $hunted is true)[no longer] bustling with people in lab coats. (if: $huntEscape is false or $hunted is false)[It's almost unsanitary.](if: $hunted is true)[ You hear guards yelling from all directions except the hospital ward, they'll crash on this position in a moment.]
\
(if: $genTime < 2)[[[You hear a rumbling noise.->end3]]](else:)[
[[Enter Cargo Processing->Complex Cargo Bay]]
(if: $huntEscape is false and $silentAssassin is false)[[[Enter Executive's Office->Executive's Office]]
[[Enter Laboratory->3F Lab]]
[[Enter Hospital Ward->3F Hospital Ward]]
(if: $huntEscape is false)[[[Go down to the 2nd floor->2F]]]]](if: $hunted is false)[A long, wide, crossing hallway, painfully full of white light, is almost identical to the 3rd floor, though a scientist stands in front of the door which leads to the other floors, barring your entry.
"This floor is under renovation and will be unaccessible to anyone but construction crew."
You may or may not be an assassin but you sure are not a construction worker.
[[Head up to the 3rd floor->3F]]
[[Head down to the 1st floor->G]]]\
(else:)[(set: $gameover = true)You aren't able to reach the door to either the elevator or the staircase before you're surrounded by guards.
[[They waste no time filling you full of bullets->startup]]]
(if: $genEscape is true)[(set: $genTime -= 1)]A long, wide, crossing hallway, painfully full of white light, just like the other halls. This one looks a bit more fancy and cleaner since it seems everyone who enters eventually sees this hallway.
[[Head up to the 2nd floor->2F]]
[[Enter Reception->Complex Reception]]
[[Enter Hospital Ward->1F Hospital Ward]]
[[Head down to the basement->B]]
(if: $genEscape is true)[(set: $genTime -= 1)]This hallway doesn't assault your eyes like the previous halls, in fact it almost reminds you of the perpetually gray sky back home.
There are three doors here, each labelled. Marshall is sitting against the wall next to the Security Room, seemingly asleep.
There is a door to the Generator Room.
There is a door to the Morgue, which has 3 heavily armed guards that watch your every move. Safe to say they won't let you in.
[[Head up to the 1st floor->G]]
[[Enter the Security Room->Security Room]]
[[Enter the Generator Room->Generator]]
(if: $genEscape is true)[(set: $genTime -= 1)](if: $hunted is false)[Scientists do what you could only describe as "sciency stuff". Beakers with bright liquids, chunks of meat, bits of metal components, and a cages full of live, dead, and half-dead mice pack the counters here.
You see a person get carted into the room, clearly writhing and probably trying to escape. They're wheeled into a comparment, shut off from prying eyes. Muffled screams and loud, sharp drilling noises can be heard.
Someone in a hazmat suit approaches you.
"We don't really do our jobs well if someone with a gun is watching us work, so please leave."
(if: $genEscape is true)[[[You hear a rumbling noise.->end3]]](else:)[
[[Head into the hallway->3F]]]\
(else:)[(set: $gameover = true)Before you're able to enter the laboratory, a guard exits out of it and, panicked, shoots you in the leg.
You fall over, screaming in pain.
Another guard shows up and wastes no time putting you down.
The last thing you saw was the panicked guard mouth [["I'm sorry."->startup]]]]A very long hallway, lined with doors, stretch out for a long while. Most of the doors are closed but a few are open. The closest open door is marked "313". You reckon each room is identical save the occupants.
(if: $huntEscape is true)[You see a corpse in a puddle of blood down the hall.
There are no guards here.]
(if: $genEscape is true)[[[You hear a rumbling noise.->end3]]](else:)[
[[Enter room 313->313]]
[[Head into the hallway->3F]]]You're in a grand room with a long counter with several receptionists. This place almost looks like a hotel, though the people waiting look miserable on account of probably having a life-threatening illness.
You have a nagging feeling of not belonging here, which is confirmed by one of the receptionists shoo-ing you back into the hall.
[[Head into the hallway->G]]
(if: $genEscape is true)[(set: $genTime -= 1)]The hospital ward here is massive, people are wheeled in and out of it every few seconds and no room seems to be needed for longer than a couple minutes. This ward is far too busy to really have a chance to sneak in somewhere.
[[Head into the hallway->G]]
(if: $genEscape is true)[(set: $genTime -= 1)](if: $security is true)[There are consoles and screens all over the place with armed guards watching intently on all of them. No one pays you any mind. There's a secure door to the Armoury, though it's ajar and seemingly anyone can enter at will.
From what you can see, there are biometric scanners and cameras in basically every room in the hospital.](else:)[All the guards seem to have just up and left, except for a few trying to figure out why everything shut off.]
[[Enter the Armoury->Complex Armoury]]
[[Head back into the Hall->B]]
(if: $genEscape is true)[(set: $genTime -= 1)]Gun racks, ammunition boxes, phaser recharging stations, and other such things are littered everywhere. One thing that does grab your attention is a panel labelled "FUSEBOX" with countless wires leading to the security office.
[[Head back to the Security Room->Security Room]]
(if: $security is true)[(link-reveal:"''Sabotage the fuse box''")[(set: $security = false) It's really rather easy, you unplug everything you can while no one's looking. The guards in the security office sound annoyed.]]
(if: $genEscape is true)[(set: $genTime -= 1)](if: $genOn is false and $genEscape is false)[There's a large reactor in this room. Someone in a lab coat beckons you to come closer.
"Ah, finally, someone shows up. Could you do me a favor and press the Initiate button on that panel over there?"
They seem far too busy tinkering with the reactor to do it themselves.
[[Look at the panel->genPanel]]](else:)[The scientist grumbles to themselves and seems to have forgotten you're even there.]
[[Head back into the Hall->B]]
(if: $genEscape is true)[(set: $genTime -= 1)](set: $gameover = true)\
A brilliant flash and a loud noise precedes nothingness.
[[You, and several hundred others, have been completely vaporized by a catastrophic explosion->startup]] (set: $gameover = true)\
You drive to your new apartment. Besides the location being different, really nothing has changed.
[[Maybe you have, though.->startup]]You enter the elevator and proceed to the fourth floor. A long hallway of many doors and windows stretch for quite a while. Each room is identical, though the glass wall between the hall and most of the rooms are opaque, meaning some sensitive information is being discussed.
Not every meeting is secretive, you walk past a room where a group of people in tuxedos and party hats are merrily eating some cake.
There are rooms that are vacant, though those are few and far between.
[[Enter Room 415->Briefing Room]]
[[Return to the hall->Bureau Hall]] Her smile fades as you sit.
"We've gotten reports of some gruesome murders committed by seemingly perfectly fine folk. We ain't talkin' plain stabbin' either...the details of that aren't important."
Despite the gravity of the situation, her voice is still relatively light and jovial. Her face is grim, the contrast is almost comedic.
"The important thing though, is that every single person who'd commit these murders had a neurological chip inserted within the past half decade. The chips have been identified as the prototype for the upcoming Parnassus chip."
You don't have any implants, nor can you really afford one. You declined an offer from the government to get some implants after hearing rumors of exploding trackers which, naturally, they'd declared as false.
"This chip is apparently supposed to act as a pain nullifier and adrenaline modulator. Naturally, such a chip is dangerous when misused. Our agents in the field have determined that they've intentionally programmed some sort of mode that turns people into sociopathic killers."
[["Where do I fit in?"->briefing3]]
[["Parnassus?"->briefing2]]"So, where you fit in all this..."
She clicks around her laptop for a second.
"We've signed you up as a private security officer under the department's fake security company. No one is even making conspiracy theories about the company yet, so don't worry.
There's a shuttle going to Welnitz 4 carrying a bunch of patients. Some of them are popular so Parnassus comissioned us to provide a security detail. There's currently a press event happening at the starport at gate 12.
The press will be there a while, you know how it is. You have plenty of time.
Oh, and there is another security officer already on site that will probably be joining you, but they're from a separate company and have no relation to us."
[["What do I do?"->briefing4]]"Oh, yeah, so, Parnassus is this sort of medical company. They make cybernetic implants, primarily, but they are basically a chain of hospitals. Now, we have a lot of reports that lead us to believe that this is a front for an illegal medical research group."
Judging from the look on your face, she elaborates a little further.
"Live human experiments illegal. Modulation of the brain and the free will of people illegal."
[["I see."->briefing3]][["You are to assassinate the executive of Parnassus."->briefing5]]\
(set: $briefed = true)You are no assassin, sure you've worked security but you've never actually had to kill anyone. Shot people, yes, kill, no.
\(set: $briefed = true)
[["Alright."->Briefing Room]]
[["What?"->briefing6]]She looks away from you, almost ashamed.
"I-
We really had no choice. All of our agents who are tasked with doing stuff like this have government implants. You don't.
Parnassus have scanners that would detect a government implant and they have a knack for making people with government implants disappear.
You're one of the few people in the department with no implants and any sort of experience. All the people we could've asked are office workers severely unsuited for this or other security personnel."
[["Surely I'm not the //only// one"->briefing7]]
[["I see."->Briefing Room]]"The only one who has yet to decline."
[["I see."->briefing8]]She looks genuinely sad.
"If you haven't already, head to your locker in the armoury and pick up your gear. [[You may depart at any time."->Briefing Room]](set: $marshallWho = true)\
"Just another security officer trying to make a living."
(if: $phaser is true and $handgun is true)[He sees your hardware.
"Someone packing as much heat as you should know."]\
(if: $phaser is true or $handgun is true)[He sees your hardware.
"I see you're in a similar spot."]\
"Name's Marshall, I work for the Concord security firm."
[["Concord?"->who2]]
[["..."->Marshall]](set: $marshallWhat = true)\
"Just waiting for these damn press people to kindly shove off."
"Why, think I oughta be doin' somethin'?"
His tone is more sarcastic than hostile.->Marshall
[["Nah"->Marshall]]
[["What's the press for?"->what2]]"Surely you've heard of Concord before?"
You have, in fact you worked for them before joining the government. Most of your assignments were quite boring, but considering you got paid to stand there and look intimidating, it was a good situation, at least when people weren't shooting at you.
\
(if: $washed is false)[
He notices your ungainly appearance.
"You clearly slept in."]
[["Yea, just reminiscing."->who3]]
[["..."->Marshall]]"Yea, thought so. I feel like there's more security officers than there are anyone else. Just me?"
\
(if: $handgun is false and $phaser is false)[
"So you prefer to go unarmed? Ballsy."]
[["Yea..."->Marshall]]
[["I 'unno"->Marshall]]"Some celebrities here aboutta get some implants. You know how the press be, they just wanna know anything and everything about em."
[["Makes sense"->Marshall]](set: $marshallHuh = true)\
"Well, I assume we're supposed to make sure no one dies."
Makes sense.
"Really, most of our work is gonna be here and at Parnassus, you know they always ask the hired hands with random chores."
[["Well alright then."->Marshall]]You don't need to wait too long before the press swarms to their vans and rush away.
The crew boredly boards, Marshall follows.
[[Finally enter the airlock->Ship Launch]]The ship rumbles and you feel heavy for a while.
"This is your captain speaking, please brace yourself for warping."
You sit down on a comfy looking seat that has a separator between it and the adjacent seats.
The ship makes quite a loud noise and you're pulled extremely uncomfortably and moderately painfully back into the seat.
(link-reveal:"This really is not something you could get used to.")[ Or really anyone, for that matter. Most ship crews only work for a year before taking a year off, and this cycle really only repeats for, at most, 30 years.]
The sensation stops after about what feels like a year of rapid onset arthritis and a milder version of your personal hell.
"We have arrived at Welnitz 4, we will be arriving at Parnassus soon."
[[Get up->Ship Airlock]](set: $shipTime = 0)\
No better time for a little snooze before assassinating someone.
Your sleep is troubled, partially by the ship making loud noises as it descends upon the atmosphere, partially by turbulence, and partially because your task is on your mind.
Before you know it, you hear a loud thud and the ship shakes a little.
"This is your captain speaking. We have arrived at Parnassus Central, all security personnel and patients please make your way to the airlock and out of the ship."
[[Time to go->Ship Airlock]]As you leave the ship, a bored looking woman in a lab coat busily writes in her clipboard, recording the patients that walk in. She sees you.
"Right, security detail. Look, it's gonna be a while before you get to go home. Stand here and stare or go down to the basement and find something to do. We could always use another pair of eyes here or there."
Marshall heads inside.
[[Stand here and stare]]
[["I'll see myself inside."->Complex Dock]]You stand there and stare.
(link-reveal:"You turn your head to the left.")[ Over the railings is a large forest. The trees are tall, full, and sway peacefully in the breeze. The sea of green rises and falls over an endless landscape unmolested by civilization, besides this giant hospital you're standing on top of.]
(link-reveal:"You turn your head to the right.")[ Over the railings is a large structure where cars come and very occassionally go. Theres a long, winding road that leads behind a hill. Small buildings surround the hospital.]
(link-reveal:"You turn your head back forward, looking directly at the scientist.")[ Her eyes are a rich brown, sort of like a milk chocolate candy you had once. Her hair is, likewise, a healthy brown. Her hair reaches down to her shoulders and she moves a rogue strand of hair to behind her ear. Her glasses are round, yet sharp looking.
She looks at you.
"Not at me, I'm married."]
[[...->Complex Dock]] This room has a single bed surrounded with complex machinery.
There are tables with tools presumably for surgery, though the presense of power drills and hammers make you question what's really done here.
There's a tall storage cabinet with its doors ajar. It's quite spacey, it could fit a few people inside. The blood stains would imply that is indeed what this cabinet is used for.
[[Get out->3F Hospital Ward]]
(if: $hunted is true)[[[Hide in cabinet->hiding]]](set: $hunted = false)\
(set: $huntEscape = true)\
You fit yourself into the cabinet and gently close the doors.
You wait{(live: 1.5s)[.](live: 2s)[.](live: 2.5s)[.]}
(live: 3s)[You hear footsteps running past this room.]
(live: 5s)[You hear yelling.]
(live: 6s)["GET HER!"]
(live: 7s)[(align:"==>")+(box:"=X")["//WHAT!?// WHY ME?"]]
(live: 8s)["DO NOT RESIST!"]
(live: 9s)[(align:"==>")+(box:"=X")["NO, GET OFF M-"]]
(live: 9.5s)[(align:"<==")+(box:"=XX=")[//**BANG**//]]
(live: 12s)["KEEP SEARCHING, ROUND UP ANYONE YOU CAN!"]
(live: 15s)[
You hear footsteps run into this room.]
(live: 20s)[It leaves.]
(live: 22s)[[[Get out->313]]]You sneak up behind Marshall and punch the back of his head with [[all your strength.->end4.2]](set: $marshallAlive = false)\
He sees you but you shoot him square in the head before he's able to point his gun at [[you.->end4.2]]He sees you but you shoot him before he's able to point his gun at [[you.->end4.2]]He hits the ground with a loud [[thud.->end4.3]]You get in the ship, surprising several crew members. (if: $marshallAlive is true)[You carry in Marshall's unconscious body.]
"What's happening?"
[["The guards..."->end4.4]]"What about 'em?"
You feign catching your breath, thinking of a lie.
(if: $marshallAlive is true)[[["They just...started shooting people..."->end4.5]]](else:)[[["They just...started shooting people..."->end4.45]]]"What? Nevermind, prepare for launch, we're getting the hell outta here."
[[Brace yourself->end4.6]]The ship rumbles and takes off.
You hear clanging below you, presumably gunshots. Naturally, small arms fire really doesn't do anything to a space ship.
You're mind's far too occupied to worry about the unpleasantries of [[warping.->end4.7]]"So that's why Marshall ain't in here?"
[["Y-yea..."->end4.5]]Eventually, you're back on the world you're so familiar with. The ship lands, you get up.
\
(if: $marshallAlive is true)[
The crew tells you that they'll take care of Marshall.
]
[[No point sticking around here.->end4.8]]You get in your car and drive straight to the [[bureau->end4.9]]Diina is waiting for you outside, standing in front of the bureau.
You step out of your car.
She hands you a suitcase.
"Congratulations on a job well done. Here is your payment, 20 million credits."
You're taken aback. That's enough to retire, probably, at least for a little bit. Most houses go for several hundred thousand.
[["What?"->ending 4.10]]
[["Thank you."->ending 4.10]]"There's also a set of keys for another apartment, we're relocating you and you gotta lay low for a while. There's already a crew moving your stuff to the new location. We'll contact you on your PUD when we need you back at work."
She lets out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you, really."
[[Turn back and get in your car without saying anything->end4]]
[["Just doing my job"->end4]]
[["Just don't make me you guys' hitman"->end4]](if: $security is true)[(set: $gameover = true)You pull out your gun and aim down the sights. Before you know it, the door opens from behind you and you hear loud bangs.
[[You die before you hit the ground.->startup]]](else:)[You pull out your gun and aim down the sights. She's unphased for a few seconds before realizing that no one knows what you're doing. She opens her mouth and screams, promptly followed by a loud gunshot and her head being split asunder.
[[Everyone heard that->3F]](set: $hunted = true)](if: $security is true)[(set: $gameover = true)You pull out your phaser and aim down the sights. Before you know it, the door opens from behind you and you hear loud bangs.
[[You die before you hit the ground.->startup]]](else:)[Knowing full well your phaser is non-lethal, you shoot her with it immediately before she makes a noise. At her desk is a button marked "Do not disturb" which you press immediately. You overload your phaser and aim it towards her head.
[[Shoot->targetPhas2]]
[[Close your eyes before shooting->targetPhas2]]]Before any of the surprised crew members can even say anything, you yell:
[["THE ENTIRE PLACE IS GOING TO EXPLODE"->end2.1]]They don't even have time to question it, your franticness was, thankfully for everyone in the ship, genuine enough to be instantly believable.
[[Brace yourself->end2.2]]The ship wastes no time launching and warping out.
Your body is still too full of adrenaline to comprehend the unpleasantries of [[warping.->end2.3]]The ship lands and you exit. You get in your car and head to the bureau. Everything passes by in a rush, you're quite glad to have made it out [[until...->end2.35]]"YOU ARE UNDER ARREST FOR TERRORISM, [[DISARM AND SUBMIT->end2a]]"
(if: $handgun is true or $phaser is true)[[[Go down fighting->end2b]]](set: $gameover = true)\
You submit to the authorities and are knocked unconscious.
When you wake up, you're in a [[prison cell.->startup]]Desperate, you draw a weapon and shoot. It doesn't matter, it pings off their armor and they eviscerate you with a [[hellfire of bullets.->startup]](set: $silentAssassin = true)\
Her head makes a disgusting, wet sound as it ruptures.
[[Get out->3F]]You enter the ship's starboard crew quarters and lay down.
You are far too troubled to sleep.
[[Time passes.->end1.1]]"Not another step forward"
(if: $security is true)[[[Approach anyways->approachFail]]](else:)[[[Approach anyways->approach]]](set: $gameover = true)\
A guard bursts in behind you and guns you down.
[[You die before you slam your head against her desk.->startup]]"Hey that's eno-"
//''THWACK''//
You knock her out with a swift punch. There's a button on her desk marked "Do not disturb" which you hit immediately.
Now what?
[[Toss her out the window]]
[[Snap her neck]](set: $hunted = true)\
You open the window and dump her body out of it.
You hear crunching noises followed by screaming. You subsequently hear yelling everywhere.
[[Leave->3F]](set: $silentAssassin = true)\
You grip the sides of her head and twist as hard as you can.
The snap and crunch of her spine sends chills down your own. How fragile the human body.
[[Leave ->3F]]Eventually, you do fall asleep, though you're awoken suddenly by the ship [[warping->end1.2]]. Thankfully these beds were made to prevent you from being flung about.You arrive back home, completely sore.
Everyone leaves the ship unceremoniously, you included.
You sit in your car and fruitlessly massage every sore muscle in your body before giving up and head [[back to the bureau->end4.9]].[[INITIATE]]
[[SELF-DESTRUCT]]
[[Back out->Generator]](set: $genEscape = true)\
You press the button, nothing happens except there is bright flashing text counting down from 180. Seems like you have 3 minutes to [[get out of here->Generator]].
''[You have very few chances to move from location to location before the reactor explodes.]''You are greeted by a large amount of fully armored soldiers.
[["EXIT THE VEHICLE!"->end2.4]](set: $genOn = true)\
The reactor whirrs and springs to life. The scientist is pretty happy.
"Ah, much obliged, I hate bein' the only person here willin' to fiddle with the generator. Gotta do //everything// myself."
[["No problem"->Generator]]