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<<set $hastag to false>>
<<set $hitpoints to 10>>
-------------------------------
This game has multiple endings
-------------------------------
You awaken in a nearly lightless room. A cell.
Rain falls outside.
Water spits on you, emerging from a window beaming in faint moonlight. From your view on the concrete ground of the room, you find it difficult to see any further out the window, and your eyes are filled with mucus - you feel half blind. Your neck throbs.
You struggle to remember your name... what was it again?
<<textbox "$name" "">>
There is some kind of black marking on the right side of the small room. Your eyes are filled with silt, and you can't see any further than in front of you. In front of you though, is a cheaply made,[[thin carpet]].
Moonlight shines through [[the window]], the only thing illuminating your foul room. You can hear what vaguely sounds like a machine outside of it.
Forming the [[4th wall]] of your room is a screen of pulsating white energy that beats, synchronous with your own heart, it seems.
Looking at the carpet, you begin to remember some details of your existence here in this hard cold quarter in your cold, lonely, standard life. The top right corner of the thin mat is coated with [[dried blood]], still smelling somewhat of iron.
The mat is reminiscent of some recent history - you examine [[the tag]] attached to the cheaply made rug that barely cushions you against the hard cold concrete floor.
You survey the rest of [[the room]].
Blood. Blood. Recently you've had your share of that. Bringing your hand up to your nose, it comes back covered in red, and your nose feels utterly shattered. You can remember a fist flying towards your face as the CRIMESTOPPERS broke through your reinforced door, the whine of your dog as they were flattened under the feet of the soldiers, with no regard for life.
Shaking your head, you continue to [[examine the carpet->thin carpet]].Rubbing and squinting your eyes, the energy needed to lift your arms to your head almost too hard to bear, you read the tag. It says "Property of [[THE BUREAU]]" on it, golden lettering handsewn into the tag. It appears to have an adhesive on it.
<<if $hastag is false>>You have a strange desire to [[tear off the tag]]...
<<elseif $hastag is true>>
<</if>>
Seeing this tag reminds you of clothing for some reason, and you look at your own - you don't recognize it. You wear a light brown torn tunic which smells of fish and pants in surprisingly good condition - remembering, you realize these are the same pants you had on in your apartment when you were apprehended by the CRIMESTOPPERS. They are black and you do not see a single tear or rip on these pants.
You gaze back at the [[rug->thin carpet]].
The window has plainstone bars as thick as baby's heads. You can feel the [[water]] dripping down onto you, a small puddle forming in the floor beneath the window. It is obviously raining outside, and you can hear the thunder.
You hear what sounded like a machine more closely now - you can actually hear the noise of engines, fans, and other noises of urbanity. Do you investigate the noises and [[look through]] the window, or do you return to your survey of [[the room]].The Bureau - everything was really coming back to you now, of course. The Bureau was the body that held modern, civilised society together, the entire reason you and so many others had such a wonderful existence. Everybody was a part of the Bureau in some layer of the gigantic office of law and society that governed the country. The Bureau practiced isolationism in foreign policy.
It wasn't on purpose, but it just took so long for any foreign event or policy outside the country to get to the people who could actually do something about it that by the time it was finally able to be taken action upon, the event was over. This was masterful foreign policy, oh yes.
Naturally, they also ran the CRIMESTOPPERS, who you believe have detained you here. Looking away from [[the tag]], you gaze back to the rest of the [[thin carpet]].
Some of the water pouring outside spits through the bars about a foot above your head onto you, and you begin to salivate with the thought of a drink. You are extremely thirsty... if only you could get [[a drink]]...<<set $hastag to true>>
You rip off the tag, $name, and it comes off with no real problem, even with your malnourished arms. Unfortunately, the adhesive used on the tag is extremely strong, and you are unable to detach the tag from your hand.
Do you continue looking at the [[tag->the tag]], or look back to the [[carpet->thin carpet]]?
You look through the window, discovering a word bathed in blue. Tall buildings bedeck the skyline laid out before you as rain falls. Buildings hold gigantic screens lit up with the emblem of the CRIMESTOPPERS, and advertisements for jobs at the Bureau. You can see the sides of the gigantic building you are in. You are at least 67 stories off of the ground, which you can hardly see.
[[Continue investigating->the window]] You put your open mouth besides the rain spat through the thick iron bars of your window, and drink deeply. As soon as the fluid enters your mouth or touches your face, you immediately realize...
<<set $hitpoints to 9>>
This isn't normal rain. As it rolls down your throat, your eyes tear up and your throat feels like ripping apart - your mouth and face is on fire. You attempt to spit out the acid, and it sizzles on the wall in front of you. You are still thirsty, but now your throat is torn apart, or at least feels that way. You realize how loud your coughing, gagging, and spitting was...
You [[look behind yourself]] to the screen of white energy that forms the 4th wall of the room.As you turn around, the wall has disappeared and melded into something more - before you forms an enormous amalgamation of pulsating multicolored energies.
It is a behemoth, a colossus of energy, its flames licking the floor and empty gate behind it, carrying two massive flaills of amorphous energy, the heads of which are the size of your own. It laughs, a robotic sound - like a computer starting up mixed with the rustling of kindling as it burns, as the guardian swings its left flail towards you!
[[Dodge Left]]
[[Dodge Right]]
You approach closer to the beating wall, and you now notice that it is not just white, but it seems to change colors with every "heartbeat". Looking closer, you can see now that the sides of the screen carry spikes of jagged energy, and you can already feel the heat radiating from what appears to be a wall.
Do you look closer, and reach out to [[the energy]]?
Or do you back up, and continue searching [[the room]]?You reach out, your scrawny right arm desperate to touch the shiny, shiny light... and just as you are about to reach it, the shield retracts, and before you forms an enormous amalgamation of pulsating multicolored energies.
It is a behemoth, a colossus of energy, its flames licking the floor and empty gate behind it, carrying two massive flaills of amorphous energy, the heads of which are the size of your own. It laughs, a robotic sound - like a computer starting up mixed with the rustling of kindling as it burns, as the guardian swings its left flail towards you!
[[Dodge Left]]
[[Dodge Right]]
You spin to the side, your uncommonly used legs attempting to find hold on the cold ground as the spiked energy flashes towards you. You are hit in the head with one of the spiked balls, and you feel your nose break, the vague smell of iron wafting through the broken thing as red seeps through your face. You are hurt, but it isn't over yet.
Surprised that you are not dead, the behemoth resets itself and prepares for another swing... takes aim...
<<if $hastag is true>> With the behemoth holding its flails and readying its next attempt to end your life, you notice something on the side of the flail - a sort of insignia, displayed holographically near the hilt of the flail that reads "Property of the Bureau" - an exact match to your own tag!
[[Show the guardian the tag!]]
<<elseif $hastag is false>>
<</if>>
<<set $hitpoints to 5>>
[[Roll Forward!]]
[[Dodge Left ->X]]You successfully dodge out of the way of the left flail as it impacts the ground, creating miniature fissures streaming out from the now burning ground in that area, the multicolored flames quickly dying. The colossus prepares another attack, with both flails of hot energy spinning around its form.
<<if $hastag is true>> When the flail crashes to the ground, you notice something on the side of the flail - a sort of insignia, displayed holographically near the hilt of the flail that reads "Property of the Bureau" - an exact match to your own tag!
[[Show the guardian the tag!]]
<<elseif $hastag is false>>
<</if>>
[[Roll Forward!]]
[[Dodge Left->X]] You roll, hearing the quick forward stomp of the colossus as both energy flails are brought down upon your head, your skull blasting into fine dust. The last sound you heard was the passing of air past the weapons as they sliced through your brain.
The restraints the helmet has placed on you relax, and the visor retracts from its position over your eyes. Suska, head CRIMESTOPPER stares at you, wearing a suit, and under it, clearly body armor. He carries a gun in a holster, close to his hand. You sit in a leather and fiberglass chair, wearing a tactile, mesh bodysuit. Most of the helmet remains on your head.
"Really, Gertrude? Did you really just die to the first thing you encountered? We can't have those kind of people in the CRIMESTOPPERS, try again, you damn idiot. Restart the thing, Sama."
Suska motions to one of the technicians to return the visor to your eyes.
[[Attack Suska]]
(You can restart the game if you desire)You dodge to the left as the two flails hammer down directly in front of you - it looked like it was trying to predict that you would move forward. As you stumble backwards, amazed by your uncanny ability to get out of the way, you trip and fall, bruising your back as you fall onto the thin carpet covering the tiny floorspace you have.
As the colossus edges closer, you notice a golden tag in the rug that is right in front of you, reading Property of the Bureau. Looking up at the colossus, you notice that it has the same tag! You have a choice to make, and it could well be your last...
[[Show the guardian the tag!]]
[[Roll to the side to avoid its incoming flails!->Roll Forward!]]Cowering in fear and wincing, prepared to die you show the tag to the creature, who immediately pauses, mid-swing and says
"I APOLOGIZE -a quick pause - ROBERT ROBERTSON. IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN, PROPERTY OF THE BUREAU".
The glowing titan collapses after it finishes the sentence, the electric flames still sputtering about its now immobile form. You look closer at your tag - the words Robert Robertson do appear there - reading
ID: ROBERT ROBERTSON BUREAU WORKER ID22388182388 FAVORITE COLOR: Lawn Green
The gate where the shield used to rest is now empty, as that shield now lays, broken in front of you.
Would you like to [[peek out]] and examine the hallway?
Or do you [[wait]] behind the door, and listen closely?Peeking out, you look to the left first --
the hallway is empty of people, and in sharp contrast to the coldness of your cell the floor is carpetted with a luxurious rug, the walls lined with alcolves holding lights, with several leather chairs and tables in the hall. You even see a few doorways through which beds are seen. The prison, or whatever this is must double as a resting area for the guards of this Bureau prison.
[[Look to the right]]
Waiting, your breathing the only thing you can hear besides the rain outside. You hear the pattering of boots upon what sounds like a carpet in the hallway beyond the portal.
[[Confront the walker]]
[[continue to wait]]Looking to the right, you freeze as you see a camera pointed directly at your face and seems to move with every miniscule motion of your head you make. You listen for an alarm, but none sounds. Strange. The other side of the hall contains largely the same thing...
But wait, [[what's that]] over there?A man is walking - no, gaiting, limping, like an old man - down the hall, and is adorned in a uniform not unlike THE CRIMESTOPPERS, the enforcement unit of the Bureau, but has a looser uniform without any body armor. As he continues to walk, you can see now he does indeed have a CRIMESTOPPERS badge on his right upper arm. He appears unarmed besides a small black stick. The man has gray hair and a rather severe face.
Do you [[greet him]]?
Or do you [[continue to wait]]?You step out a little further, the camera following your movement. The man pauses mid-stride, and takes out the stick, not threateningly but simply holding it. His CRIMESTOPPERS badge shines into your eyes off of the lights in the walls. He breaks into a smile.
"You there, what is your name?"
[[Tell him your real name]]
[[Tell him your name is Robert Robertson]]You keep waiting, and eventually the steps get closer, then stop. A man peeks his head in, smiling.
[["Hello!"]]"You... you're supposed to have a death sentence.. No that's not right, you weren't to escape that creature behind you that now lays dead."
"Show me your ID card then, I need proof of your identity. Do not lie to me again, or I will be forced to retaliate.
He smiles, with friendliness.
"Please."
[[Refuse, fight him!]]
[[Show him the ID]]
[[Ask for his ID Card]] "Oh, Robert Robertson?" He checks a clipboard he pulls from some pocket on the back of his uniform.
"Yes, I have you down here for a Trial..."
He looks into your room, recoiling upon seeing the creature.
"Oh my, I am sorry Mr. Robertson, we were moving around some furniture and carpets and such and sometimes these things get mixed up. That creature was meant for another prisoner, not you. He had a death sentence. Your carpet must've been placed in the wrong room."
He suddenly grows quizzical, his eyebrows raising subtly.
"Could I see your ID Card, Mr. Robertson?"
[[Show him the ID]]
[[Refuse, fight him!]]
[[Ask for his ID Card]]You step out from the hallway, seeing A man walking - no, gaiting, limping, like an old man - down the hall, aadorned in a uniform not unlike THE CRIMESTOPPERS, the enforcement unit of the Bureau. As he continues to walk, you can see now he does indeed have a CRIMESTOPPERS badge on his right upper arm. He appears unarmed besides a small black stick. The man has gray hair and a rather severe face.
[[greet him]] You pick up what apparently is your ID and show the man, and he snatches it out of your hand. He examines it, and nods, delighted. "Yes, yes, this is exactly what I was looking for."
"I'm sorry for all the trouble, Mr. Robertson. Your Trial is in 9 minutes exactly, at 13:00. We must start moving now, lest we miss it!"
"Follow me now, to it at once! Oh, and so you know, my name is Gertrude, Gertrude Gevinus".
He begins strolling down the hallway, gesturing for you to follow, his hard boots softened by the carpet on the wooden floor. He goes to the right.
[[Follow the man.]]
Don't follow him, [[run the other way!]]You attempt to kick the man in the shin as hard as you can, hoping to emulate your calculated victory against the energy creature. As your foot makes contact, you can feel your toes cracking on to the hard body armor covering the man's leg. Ouch. The man, shocked at your attempt to fight him, hits you over the head with his stick. [[Everything goes black.]]"What? No, give me your ID Card."
[[Show him the ID]]
[[Refuse, fight him!]] The man is adorned in a uniform not unlike THE CRIMESTOPPERS, the enforcement unit of the Bureau. As he continues to walk, you can see now he does indeed have a CRIMESTOPPERS badge on his right upper arm. He appears unarmed besides a small black stick. The man has gray hair and a rather severe face.
You step out a little from the room, blocking the gate, the camera next to your cell following your movement. The man continues smiling, and takes out the stick, not threateningly but simply holding it. His CRIMESTOPPERS badge shines into your eyes off of the lights in the walls. He breaks into a smile.
"You there, what is your name?"
[[Tell him your real name]]
[[Tell him your name is Robert Robertson]]You follow him through the hallways, passing a few rows of what appear to be barracks, with the CRIMESTOPPERS logo plastered on the walls next to each, with an assigned letter A to Z. The man has some sort of metal thing on his neck, glowing with blue. You think you may be seeing things.
Eventually, you find yourself in a gigantic room filled with pillars, the room almost foggy, and the ceilings mindboggingly high. The whole thing is filled with bookshelves, and to your left and right, lines of filing cabinets and desks, all the landscape adorned with people wearing different uniforms of the Bureau, all working as hard as they can, stamping papers and passing the papers to others, a [[labyrinth]] of filing systems and employees.
The restraints the helmet has placed on you relax, and the visor retracts from its position over your eyes. Suska, head CRIMESTOPPER stares at you, wearing a suit, and under it, clearly body armor. He carries a gun in a holster, close to his hand. You sit in a leather and fiberglass chair, wearing a tactile, mesh bodysuit. Most of the helmet remains on your head.
"Really, Gertrude? Did you really just run away? We can't have those kind of people in the CRIMESTOPPERS, try again, you damn idiot. Restart the thing, Sama."
Suska motions to one of the technicians to return the visor to your eyes.
[[Attack Suska]]
(You can restart the game if you do not wish to attack Suska)You come to on one of the leather chairs you saw earlier, the man - you see his name on his chest, Gertrude Gevinus - looks down on you, laid prostrate on the chair. He yanks you upright and pushes you to the right side of the luxurious hallway.
"Now, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. I think you've seen the hard way, so let's try just being nice to each other."
"And I've seen your identification: Robert Robertson. You're due for a Trial in precisely 13 minutes, at 13:00. Come now, Robertson, we musn't be late to it."
He begins walking, and gestures to you to follow.
[[run the other way!]]
[[Follow the man.]] Gertrude pauses, looks both directions as you come to a fork in the road of the massive temple of desks and filing cabinets. He looks confused.
"I don't know exactly which way to go, Mr Robertson - your ID indicates that you've worked here in the past, so I suppose you know the way to the Court?" Do you tell him:
He doesn't seem to see the sign clearly stating that the Court is to the left. To the right there is no markings.
[[Yes, of course I do, I'm an expert on the directions in the Bureau. Take the right way.]]
[[Yes, I know the way - take the left way.]]
"Okay then. We will," Gertrude says, and he begins his walk through the corridor with you in close tow. You come to another path. Another sign. It says "The Court to the left." There is another passage to the right, going the opposite direction.
[[Go to the Court]]
[[Continue walking the opposite way.]]
"Okay, then, we will," Gertrude says. You continue until you open 2 wooden doors, entering directly into what you presume to be the Court (Gertrude hasn't made any objections). Looking up you are [[floored.]]Well, actually, you are ceilinged. Above you is a tower at least 1000 feet high, with tiers of seats at steep angles that gaze down upon you like circling vultures. You can already see hundreds of Bureau Property wearing black robes and multicolored wigs.
Gertrude looks at you.
"Well this is it, Mr Robertson. Good luck today." Gertrude limps away, bowing to the Bureau Property arraying above you.
You look at the court's [[floor]].Sunk into the floor is a chair with its back flat to the floor, its seat sticking up where its back should be and arms parallel with the seat of the chair.
[[Ask the Bureau members if you should sit in the chair.]]
An old woman looks at you, aghast. "OF COURSE YOU CAN, YOU IDIOTIC MAN! THAT'S THE CHAIR, DON'T YOU KNOW?"
[[Heed her word, sit down in the chair.]]
[[Don't sit down.]]You sit down in the chair, and now notice you are making eye contact with all of the senators, who are looking directly down on you. Suddenly, your body lurches forward, and you feel yourself restrained to the chair, though no cuffs or wraps holding you are visible.
You look to your side, and you see that the chair is being elevated, a piston on its back taking you up to face the Bureau audience.
One of the officials closest to you bangs a gavel on the bannister they sit before. A gravelly voice tells you:
"Order, order, order in this Court at once! Today, we have a Trial discussing the matter of..."
He is holding a document. It is upside down.
"Um.... Oh!"
He flips the document rightside up.
"Mr. Robert Robertson, indicted and subject to this Trial for [[Multiple Dastardly Offenses.]]"
You stay upright, but soon, you feel compelled to sit down, blue energy dispelling from the old woman's hands as you sit down in the seat, your body not your own, your neck throbbing, strangely. The old woman's neck glows blue.
You sit down in the chair, and now notice you are making eye contact with all of the senators, who are looking directly down on you. Suddenly, your body lurches forward, and you feel yourself restrained to the chair, though no cuffs or wraps holding you are visible.
You look to your side, and you see that the chair is being elevated, a piston on its back taking you up to face the Bureau audience.
One of the officials closest to you bangs a gavel on the bannister they sit before. A gravelly voice tells you:
"Order, order, order in this Court at once! Today, we have a Trial discussing the matter of..."
He is holding a document. It is upside down.
"Um.... Oh!"
He flips the document rightside up.
"Mr. Robert Robertson, indicted and subject to this Trial for [[Multiple Dastardly Offenses.]]Multiple Dastardly Offenses? You don't know what that is, but it apparently is bad by the virulent whispering you hear ricocheting around the tiers above you.
"ORDER" The man says.
"As Judge Gropkin, ID 2Q3C7M, I call this Trial to session and I call the accused's attorney."
[[Object - you're not even Robert Robertson!"]]
[[Allow the proceedings to continue.]]"What? Of course you are, Gertrude wouldn't have brought you here if it was otherwise!"
The Judge scrunches up their face and stares down at you.
"Why, of course you're Robert Robertson! That's what your ID says!" She shakes the ID in her hand with fury.
"Again, I call this Trial to order! Mr Robertson, do you have your attorney?"
[[What attorney? I need an attorney?]]
[[Yes, Judge, he'll be here momentarily.]] "Mr. Robertson, I've just called your attorney but he hasn't arrived yet. Is he late?" The judge stares at you, the hundred pairs of eyes all carefully scrutinizing your face.
[[What attorney? I need an attorney?]]
[[Yes, Judge, he'll be here momentarily.]]"Yes, of course you need an attorney - why here he comes now!"
Suddenly, a clicking of boots on stone echoes from above you - well, in front of you and you see a shadowy figure stepping towards you, on the walls, the one side of the tiers of seats not occupied.
"Mr. Robertson, its me - you and I have been through a lot, and I know you'll get out of this."
You have no idea who this is.
He whips out a manila folder, seemingly out of nowhere and flips through it, putting a hand to his mouth and chin in concern. He shakes his head.
"It says here you killed someone, Mr. Robertson. We can dismiss that charge, its total garbage, says so right here."
He points to a blank spot on the paper.
The Judge glares at the lawyer.
"Are you [[prepared]] yet, Mr. Bagiro?"
"Okay then, Mr. Robertson."
Suddenly, a clicking of boots on stone echoes from above you - well, in front of you and you see a shadowy figure stepping towards you, on the walls, the one side of the tiers of seats not occupied.
"Mr. Robertson, its me - you and I have been through a lot, and I know you'll get out of this."
You have no idea who this is.
He whips out a manila folder, seemingly out of nowhere and flips through it, putting a hand to his mouth and chin in concern. He shakes his head.
"It says here you killed someone, Mr. Robertson. We can dismiss that charge, its total garbage, says so right here."
He points to a blank spot on the paper.
The Judge glares at the lawyer.
"Are you [[prepared]] yet, Mr. Bagiro?"
"Almost done, you old bat." He looks back to you.
"Well, unfortunately it looks here like you did something really bad. You have no hope, really, its a pretty dire situation. You're probably going to die or something, not really sure."
[[I'm going to die?]]
[[Aren't you going to try to defend me?]]"No, you won't die. I have many great connections around this place, I have decades of Trial experience, I think I have a fatality rate of 80 percent, pretty good. Most other Trial lawyers have much lower - higher - ones. I am a great lawyer, just act natural on the stand."
He turns around, clears his throat, and faces the audience, circled to most of the circular tiers around him. Something sticks out the back of his neck.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the Bureau - the man here killed hundreds of people."
Gasps abound in the
"But is that so bad? I think in our lives, we've all killed a few people, right? In conclusion, Mr. Robert Robertson is guilty."
A cheer erupts from the faceless seats, as the lawyer comes closer to you [[once more.]]
"Of course I'm going to defend you, I'm your lawyer. The best in the business - I promise. I'd say you have about a 90 percent chance of death here - EXCEPTIONALLY high! You'll do fantastic."
He turns around, clears his throat, and faces the audience, circled to most of the circular tiers around him. Something sticks out the back of his neck.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the Bureau - the man here killed hundreds of people."
Gasps abound in the
"But is that so bad? I think in our lives, we've all killed a few people, right? In conclusion, Mr. Robert Robertson is guilty."
A cheer erupts from the faceless seats, as the lawyer comes closer to you [[once more.]]He looks at the audience, nodding approvingly, then says to you without looking:
"Wow, I think I did a pretty good job out there. Tough crowd, right?"
He looks pleased with himself, grinning from ear to ear.
He claps you on the shoulder, and as he does so his left knee knocks the seat you sit in, loosening your invisible restraints.
"We'll do just fine, just fine.."
[[Slap him]]
[[Jump out of your seat and jump off]]
[[Jump out of your seat and run down the tunnel.]]
[[Let things continue.]]
You slap him, a gasp sussurating throughout the massively tall chamber, and the Lawyer falls over. You look to his body, stuck to the wall, and it isn't breathing. A scream. A yell:
"YOU BASTARD! CRIMESTOPPERS!"
2 guards, CRIMESTOPPERS enter the tiers from the side of the seats, and prepare to jump over the sides, with weapons holding blades of energy not unlike the creature you fought in their hands.
[[Grab the dead Lawyer's manila folder and use it to fight them off!]]
[[Jump out of your seat and run down the tunnel.]]
[[Jump out of your seat and jump off]]
You stand up, desperate for some kind of escape, look down the sides of the sideways chair, and jump off. Your scream is cut short as you hit the cool tile of the Court room, and the last sound you hear is the splattering of your brain upon the floor.
The restraints the helmet has placed on you relax, and the visor retracts from its position over your eyes. Suska, head CRIMESTOPPER stares at you, wearing a suit, and under it, clearly body armor. He carries a gun in a holster, close to his hand. You sit in a leather and fiberglass chair, wearing a tactile, mesh bodysuit. Most of the helmet remains on your head.
"Really, Gertrude? Did you really just jump off the CHAIR? We can't have those kind of people in the CRIMESTOPPERS, try again, you damn idiot. Restart the thing, Sama."
Suska motions to one of the technicians to return the visor to your eyes.
[[Attack Suska]]
(You can restart the game if you desire)You jump out of your seat, too fast for anyone to react, clambering around the Lawyer and onto the stone walls - you are now sideways, the members of the Bureau in the tiers faces distorted by your strange perspective. You continue [[running, running...]]
You tear the Manila folder away from the Lawyer's grasp, and attempt to fight the CRIMESTOPPERS carrying the energy weapons off.
The right one swings at you with a low, conservative thrust at your knees, yelling as he does so.
Almost simultaneously, the left one attempts to stab at you with his weapon.
[[Duck down!]]
[[Attempt to parry the right one's thrust with the folder]]
[[Attempt to parry the left one's thrust with the folder]]Suddenly, the Judge, clearing her throat says:
"Attention Ladies and Gentlemen of this Bureau: - thank you, Lawyer - The accused stands ready to be charged of..."
The Judge looks at their folder.
"A whole bunch of murder and a ton of distasteful actions."
"We shall now vote - All in favor?"
A series of Ayes string across the room. Too many ayes.
"Oh who am I kidding, we don't need to hear the no's! CRIMESTOPPERS, I SENTENCE MR. ROBERT ROBERTSON TO DEATH!"
2 guards, CRIMESTOPPERS enter the tiers from the side of the seats, and prepare to jump over the sides, with weapons holding blades of energy not unlike the creature you fought in their hands.
[[Grab the Lawyer's manila folder and use it to fight them off!|Grab the dead Lawyer's manila folder and use it to fight them off!]]
[[Jump out of your seat and run down the tunnel.]]
[[Jump out of your seat and jump off]]
As you duck down, the right energy weapon grazes your left leg, but the left CRIMESTOPPER points their weapon right into the others' chest, killing him instantly.
The left CRIMESTOPPER growls with fury, and attempts again, a chop over your head.
[[Dodge Left!]]
[[Go for the kill with the folder!]] You successfully parry the slash of the energy weapon, your folder suprisingly resilient, completely stopping the thing. The weapons must not be able to cut through folders.
Your parry allows you to bring the folder to the throat of the CRIMESTOPPER, killing him instantly. The other CRIMESTOPPER growls with fury, and attacks!
[[Dodge Left!]]
[[Go for the kill with the folder!]] You successfully parry the sword, the folder resisting the energy of the weapon, but get your knee sliced with the others' energy weapon.
Your parry allows you to bring the folder to the throat of the CRIMESTOPPER, killing him instantly. The other CRIMESTOPPER growls with fury, and attacks!
[[Dodge Left!]]
[[Go for the kill with the folder!]] The CRIMESTOPPER swings at you, hitting you in the face, the energy cutting through your face. You can feel warm fluids streaming down your cheek. You go to feel your... your ear isn't there anymore. Neither is a lot of that side of your face. He laughs in your face, and prepares another strike.
[[Go for the kill with the folder!]]
[[Attempt to dodge his blow]]You slice at the bastard with the folder, the thing embedding itself into the CRIMESTOPPER's groin, making him squeal. He crumples to the ground. You stare at the Manila folder. Strange, no clear edge but it works like a blade. Almost like a computer glitch in a [[video game.]]
You come across a gate of green energy, flashing with light. It resembles the shield in your cell, but is different somehow - no flames of energy, the thing almost waterlike in its calmness.
[[Test the gate]]
[[Run through it!]]You tear off a piece of your torn up tunic and throw it through. Nothing happens, but you don't hear any burning or explosions.
[[Run through it!]] The restraints the helmet has placed on you relax, and the visor retracts from its position over your eyes. Suska, head CRIMESTOPPER stares at you, wearing a suit, and under it, clearly body armor. He carries a gun in a holster, close to his hand. You sit in a leather and fiberglass chair, wearing a tactile, mesh bodysuit. Most of the helmet remains on your head.
"Really, Gertrude? Did you really just run away? We can't have those kind of people in the CRIMESTOPPERS, try again, you damn idiot. Restart the thing, Sama."
Suska motions to one of the technicians to return the visor to your eyes.
[[Attack Suska]]
(You can restart the game if you desire)"Hmm..."
A suited man stands before you as the visor lifts from your eyes, the rest of your helmet still on. You sit in a fiberglass and leather spherical chair, and wear a mesh body suit of some kind. You can clearly see the CRIMESTOPPERS logo on the man's suit. It's Suska, the head CRIMESTOPPER. A few technicians man some controls next to you. Suska rubs his chin.
"You seem to have passed, - finally - Gertrude Gevinus. You've impressed me, I wouldn't have expected you to even get out of that cell. Still, you have a far way to go. For now, I do accept you into the CRIMESTOPPERS as a full fledged Tier Three Agent for the organisation. Don't disappoint me."
Suska has a gun, and is wearing body armor. You are equipped with a sort of energy blade.
[[Where to now, Sir?]]
[[Attack Suska]]Suska, about to turn away and walk out, raises his eyebrows.
Half looking back at you, he says "Gertrude, I thought I already ordered you to the training bay after this. Go there now, please. On the double."
[[Yes, Mr. Head Crimestopper Sir. At once.]]
As soon as you begin making a motion to attack Suska with your energy weapon, you are shot once in the chest and once in the brain, ending your life. The last sound you hear is the sound of a bullet colliding with the sinew of your chest, then your heart.
"God damn idiot."
As Suska walks away, his neck glows blue.
THE ENDYou jog out of the room, after exiting the chair and the apparatus as you enter a crossroads - two ways to go. The sign directly in front of you reads:
LEFT: TRAINING BAY -- SIMULATION
RIGHT: COLD STORAGE (HUSKS)
[[Take the left way.]]
[[Take the right way.]]You walk the left way, jogging down the hallway, passing several other CRIMESTOPPERS who nod to you. You eventually arrive at a massive bay, a room, of apparati almost identical to the one in the chamber you have just exited. You can see hundreds of people wearing CRIMESTOPPER uniforms in the machines, under the headsets.
A man comes up to you, adorned in a uniform denoting a Tier 4 CRIMESTOPPER. He carries a weapon of flashing energy.
"CRIMESTOPPER - you're a recruit, correct? Proceed to Apparatus 4CX for training immediately. The fiftieth machine on your sixth left."
[[Yes, sir.]]
You begin walking down the other way - the light is lower here, and you immediately feel a chill down your spine, cold mist flooding the lower half of your body, with the lights diffused by the fog. Eventually, you see a gate at the end of the long hallway. You've tried the doors along the way - none of them will open, but they say things like "stacking devices" or "compactors". Storage closets of some sort. You continue jogging forward, your breath visible until you reach it. You keep walking, and you eventually hit some sort of [[bannister.]]The room is very large, and from what you have surmised, you currently are on some sort of overlook for the room. In all of your training for the CRIMESTOPPERS, you'd never been allowed here. You're lucky you were granted permission to take a test. You fumble around below the bannister, looking for something to help you see better (It is pitch dark). You find a switch.
[[Turn it on]]Lights flash across the room, the sound of large machinery moving as the room, the size of at least six football fields opens up before you. All across the floor, mountains of it are dead bodies. A veritable landscape of flesh. They are citizens of the Bureau - children, women, wearing ordinary clothing. In each body, you can see some sort of metal box embedded into their neck, like a microchip.
Far out in the other side of the chamber is some sort of glass box, with a seemingly endless stream of corpses flying out from it and landing in the mountains of bodies. You can see now - people being executed, children who look like they've been pulled out of bed, women, men alike. They each have a metal box, which you can now see glows with blue inserted into their neck before being [[executed.]]
"Clever, isn't it?"
A man steps out from the shadows (you hadn't seen him before). He wears a name tag: Croth. Croth, the President of the Bureau.
"These husks, Gertrude are used for the simulations. We create a training facility of sorts - a real one - and insert your mind into these chips on these bodies, which we can then use as reuseable automatons for CRIMESTOPPERS in training to control. We take these corpses out, and use them in the simulations." Croth clears his throat, and surveys the room, smiling subtly.
"We could have used actual simulations... animated, not real, but using these husks, these corpses is more realistic for training, and provides a way to pacify the population. Of course, you've [[seen too much."]]
The man brings his hand to the back of your neck, and drives a chip, glowing with blue into it, your body writhed with agony as it is forced past sinew and fat. You cannot stop screaming. The president shoots you in the mouth after he inserts the chip - the last sound you hear is your own screaming.
President Croth picked up the body, and threw it over the balcony into the pit. A metal object glows with blue on his neck.
THE ENDHurrying down the path between the apparati, thousands of different CRIMESTOPPERS in training sit in the spherical chairs, visors over thier eyes. You come to a split in the road - one way, left leads to more chairs, the way that the officer told you to go, and the other has another sign labelling it "Cold Storage", apparently leading to the same place as the earlier label.
[[Take the left way that you were ordered to take.]]
[[Go to the cold storage->Take the right way.]] You walk down the path through the machines, and come across the chair - your chair. You sit down, and a technician nearby fits the helmet to your head, before lowering the black-tinted visor.
"Ready to go?"
The technician is looking at you, both hands on the controls. You notice something metal, glowing blue on the back of his neck. In fact, all of the people you have encountered in the center have the metal inserts.
[[Yes. Begin the training.]]
[[No... I have to go.]]Your eyes seem to zoom through the front of your skull, plasma and insubstantial energy flying past you, all of it glowing with blue. Finally, you find yourself in a different body.
In a cell.
Rain falls outside.
THE END
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It is highly recommended that you go to cold storage on your next play through the game."Okay then, sir. The technician relaxes your restraints and the helmet, and allows you to walk away. You begin walking, and once again come across the Cold Storage sign.
[[Go to cold storage->Take the right way.]]
[[Go back to your station->Take the left way that you were ordered to take.]] You roll to the front of the chair, dangling off the side. His blow does not strike true, instead hitting where you just laid. He prepares another strike...
[[Push the CRIMESTOPPER off!]]
[[Go for the kill with the folder!]] You push the man off the platform, his neck flashing blue as he falls. Strange. You look up, and the crowd cheers, their expressions changing from frowns to smiles then visages of terror, not staying in one version of their face at once - their motions almost robotic. Almost like a glitch in a [[video game.]]"Okay, then, this way!," Gertrude says. You continue until you open 2 wooden doors, entering directly into what you presume to be the Court (Gertrude hasn't made any objections). Looking up you are [[floored.]]As you take the path, blue flashes through your mind. You find yourself in another place.
The restraints the helmet has placed on you relax, and the visor retracts from its position over your eyes. Suska, head CRIMESTOPPER stares at you, wearing a suit, and under it, clearly body armor. He carries a gun in a holster, close to his hand. You sit in a leather and fiberglass chair, wearing a tactile, mesh bodysuit. Most of the helmet remains on your head.
"Really, Gertrude? Did you really just walk the wrong way? We can't have those kind of people in the CRIMESTOPPERS, try again, you damn idiot. Restart the thing, Sama."
Suska motions to one of the technicians to return the visor to your eyes.
[[Attack Suska]]
(You can restart the game if you do not wish to attack Suska)Training Program
River Sell
Franklin Regional High School Grade 10
Genre: Science Fiction
[[start|the room]]