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<<silently>>
<<set $crime = "no">>
<<set $job = "no">>
<<endsilently>>It is some year in the future. Humans now walk the earth with their technologically enhanced and augmented brethren. It is common for people to have these augments as they increase your capability to do things or just better certain aspects of your life. Examples of augments include optical augments that allow you to see more clearly and farther without any decrease in quality, muscular augments that allow you to perform more strenuous physical activities such as running, lifting, etc without feeling nearly as tired, and brain augments that make it possible to do much more within your mind such as telepathy.
In this distant future world, anyone who doesn’t have augments is looked down upon. They are seen as being a lesser being that doesn’t have the same skill or level of competence compared to beings that do have augments. The term human now describes a completely unaugmented being, the term cyborg describes anything from partially to near fully augmented beings.
In this new world, people aren’t discriminated against for their race, gender, appearance, etc since that is so easily changed through augments and technology, however, people are discriminated instead for their lack of augments. Even in a world where everyone can be built to be the same there will be something that people find to discriminate against.
In this game you play as a human. You require augments to fit in. You don’t want to be discriminated against anymore.
[[Begin|begin]]
You wake up in your [[apartment|apartment]]. Tired from the long day of work before, you walk over to the cabinet to get some food. You open the curtains out of habit, but no light shines through. You start to wake the others in order to plan your day and maximize efficiency. You’re in charge of augments. Your life revolves around trying to acquire these augments for yourself and everyone else in your apartment. The other people in your apartment have other [[jobs|jobs]]. Once everyone is up and ready for the long day ahead, you wonder what the best course of action is for the day
<<if $job eq "no">>[[Search for a paying job|job search]]<<else>>==Search for a paying job==<<endif>>
[[Go into the city|city]]
<<if $crime eq "no">>[[Resort to crime|crime]]<<else>>==Resort to crime==<<endif>>It's a dinky little thing. Packed to the brim and then some with other unaugmented humans. It's better this way than being out on the streets. It's also too expensive for just a few humans to pay rent, so many of us have to band together to pay for it. You don't really know the other people that live here, but they all treat each other well because no one else will.
[[Back|begin]]None of the jobs are easy. Someone has to watch the young ones back at the apartment. Some are in charge of working odd quick favors to buy some food. No one can really work actual paying jobs since all of the jobs require some level of augmentation.
[[Back|begin]]<<set $job = "yes">> You open one of the newspapers you found while coming home last week. The newspaper is from about a month ago, but you still hope that there will be something in there that you could glean.
Your eyes glance through the [[news, sports, and comics|news]] as you search for the classifieds.
The classifieds are separated into multiple sections based on skill required. You angrily flip through the sections that require high level augments such as the jobs that require you to lift hundreds of pounds. You just can’t match the work output that the job requires.
You finally reach a section that you can maybe visualize yourself doing, but the members of your apartment immediately strike down the idea. They say that no matter how hard you push yourself, you can’t match the efficiency needed to be hired. You realize that you need to do everything you can in order to make it in the world, so you tear out the ad and save it for later.
[[Go to the address for the job|address]]<<set $r to randomFloat(1.0)>><<if $r <= 0.1>>It’s been particularly bad lately. Everyone been eating less and the children’s clothings are becoming threadbare. You decide to risk going to the main street in hopes of obtaining some better things. You keep your eyes cast down and your shoulders hunched, but you hear someone call after you. “Excuse me, can I speak with you.” You brace yourself before turning around. In front of you is someone who looks like a person, but closer examination reveals that they have very expensive modifications to hide the artificial nature of their prosthetics. “If you don’t mind me asking, are you unaugmented?” You stare at them warily before slowly admitting, “Yes…” They smile warmly and extend their hand. “Hello, I’m part of a charity dedicated to helping those who are unaugmented. No offense, but you seem a bit worse for wear. If you want, we can help you get an augment. No string attached. We just believe that everyone, regardless of their prosthetics are still people and deserve a chance. Will you let us help you?” You’re awestruck. After all this time struggling, will you finally be given a chance to make a better life? What’s the chance of that?
<<elseif $r <= 0.3>> It’s been particularly bad lately. Everyone been eating less and the children’s clothings are becoming threadbare. You decide to risk going to the main street in hopes of obtaining some better things. You keep your eyes cast down and your shoulders hunched, but as you pass a flashily modded a cyborg, he comments loudly. “Hey look at this meat bag, walking around like he owns the place.” You try to ignore him, hurrying your pace. Before you can make it more than a couple feet, you feel his carbon fiber hands around your neck. “Aw, ignoring me, aren’t you? Well, it seems like you need to be taught a lesson.” You struggle against his grip, but it’s futile. He’s much stronger than you, especially considering how malnourished you are. Your vision starts to go black, and then there’s a sick crunch.
<<else>> You scavenge around the city, hoping to find enough uneaten food and wasted goods in the dumpsters behind stores to feed and clothe everyone back home. It’s hard though; you can’t walk down major streets without feeling everyone’s eyes on your back, [[picking you apart|judge]], looking for the augment you don’t have. Eventually, after hours of grueling work, the sun begins setting. You look down into your ragged sack. It’s not much, but it’ll have to do for today.
[[Go home|begin]]
<<endif>><<set $crime = "yes">> You shudder at the thought, but you can’t deal with [[this life|life]] anymore. You need a way out and it seems that crime is your only option. You don’t think that bringing this up to anyone is a good idea. You’re doing for them, it shouldn’t involve them though.
You see yourself attempting to steal either from the people in the surrounding apartments, or from someone higher up in the city. One sounds safer while one seems more lucrative.
[[Steal from humans|humans]]
[[Steal from cyborgs|cyborgs]]
The news consists of the usual. Political scandals, new augments, celebrity divorces, and other tripe.
The sports aren't what they used to be. Augments have been recently allowed in sports and numbers are now astronomically high. This doesn't make you feel better.
The comics consist of the same old comics that have always littered the newspaper. You chuckle at a few of them, but most poke fun at the unaugmented, so you shut it before it gets to you.
[[Back|job search]] You leave your humble abode with one intention in mind: to try and get a job. This isn’t your [[first attempt|attempt]] at trying to get a job, and if it fails it won’t be your last attempt. You slowly head to the address listed on the ad. You’re not even sure if the job offer is still available, or if it’s even possible to do what they ask of you, but you’re determined.
The building you reach is nothing remarkable, but the air and atmosphere surrounding it exudes something intimidating. You just get a sense that you’ll be met with rejection and disappointment. However, you muster up the courage and head up the steps.
After talking to some people there, you find out that the job is still available and they point you in the direction of the office of the person you need to talk to.
[[Head into the office|office]]
You've tried before, but all jobs require something you don't have. Augments. However, you can't really get them unless if you have a job.
You've tried to exit this vicious cycle, but it isn't easy.
[[Back|address]]The person looks at you [[weirdly|weird]] as you enter the office and you immediately regret your decision to walk in. After a quick introduction, you sit down uneasily in front of the person. They ask you about your work history and experience, and you have to stop yourself from stammering as you tell them you have none. They stare down their nose at you, before asking “Do you have any augments?”
[[“No…”|no1]]
[[“No, but I hope to use this job to pay for an augment”|no2]]This life. What is this life.
This life consists of discrimination. It consists of lack of opportunity. You didn't choose this life, you were shoved into it because of an unfortunate start.
Each day blurs together, each week blurs together. It feels as if you're just surviving and not living. Something has to change.
[[Back|crime]]You come to terms with the concept of taking from someone in a situation similar to yours. You know exactly [[who|ppl]] to take from too.
You leave the apartment as you do everyday, but instead of turning left and going into the city, you turn right and head towards the other apartment complexes. You know their schedule. Everyone leaves as early as possible to make use of the entire day. It’s as easy as walking in and taking what you want
[[Think about it some more|think]]
[[Go into the apartment|human appartment]]
You only quickly think about this idea, but you strike it down. The [[danger|danger]] associated with breaking and entering into a cyborgs house and attempting to steal augments is absurd. This also doesn’t solve anything. If best comes to best, you only make your life better, but worsen the view that cyborgs have of humans. This means that all of the people that are depending on you would then have to lead a worse life while you went on your merry way.
You realize that you can’t combat this through hatred and make impulse decisions. You need to show that there is nothing to hate by working your way up. Even though it may be difficult, some will [[support|spt]] you through your journey just through your sheer determination and willpower. You shake away the initial thought of crime and try to think of another way to approach this.
[[Search for a paying job|job search]]
[[Go into the city|city]]The group of humans in the apartment next door is your prime target. They've been known to steal from the most needy and just take for themselves. No one likes them, so why should you feel bad if you take things from them?
[[Back|humans]] No one will care. No one will care. No one will care. You keep repeating this to yourself. Why should they get away with taking from us and the other humans around without being punished for their actions?
[[Think about it even more|think more]]
[[Go into the apartment|human appartment]] You walk in and the place is in shambles. It looks even worse than your apartment and that’s saying something. Your guess was correct; there is no one in the building.
You peer around aimlessly at first, a little hesitant, but you start finding things of value and you begin to collect them. However, throughout your search you realize that you haven’t really found much. These people have much less than you.
Even though you have a negative view of these people, you can’t bring yourself to go through with this. Working [[together|together]] to solve your problem seems like a much better approach compared to dividing yourselves even more. You drop everything you have and head back to the apartment.
<<if $job eq "no">>[[Search for a paying job|job search]]<<else>>==Search for a paying job==<<endif>>
[[Go into the city|city]]This time the thought of it makes you cry. You can’t handle this sort of thing. Even though they’re humans like you it doesn’t mean that they have to suffer a worse fate than you. A better response would be to approach them about it and talk about it and try to better them and explain the situation. You head back to your apartment with your head down.
<<if $job eq "no">>[[Search for a paying job|job search]]<<else>>==Search for a paying job==<<endif>>
[[Go into the city|city]]After being in their apartment for only a few minutes you realize it's dumb to make even more enemies and make it more difficult to find help when you truly need it.
They understand the situation you're in, so they'll probably understand if you approach them about it another time. In fact, you might even be able to work together.
[[Back|human appartment]] You imagine what would happen if you attempted this. You would have to get past numerous people without being spotted. You would have to break into the house. You would have to make it out without alerting anything. Even then the media would blow up looking for the suspects and you know that they would immediately assume that it was a human. Not a good plan.
[[Back|cyborgs]] Not all cyborgs participate in discrimination. Not even close. However, in this world it certainly feels that everyone is against you.
Cyborgs had to be people first. You knew of a few that made the climb up and are trying to represent humans well, but it's difficult. It's difficult to understand another point of view. It's especially difficult when cyborgs have a bad taste in their mouth due to recent human led riots.
As much as they can't generalize all of us into a single clump, we can't generalize all cyborgs into a single group either.
[[Back|cyborgs]]Did they look at you weirdly? Do you assume this? You can't really tell, but you're left to believe this after experiencing it countless times. It wouldn't have been the first time you've entered a building and someone looked at you weird.
[[Back|office]]“I figured.” the person sneers. “Luckily for you, we’re a bit short on money, so we’re willing to hire a flesh sack like you… for half the offered wage. It’s a pretty good deal considering it’s not like anywhere else will hire someone like you.”
[[You take the offer. It’s better than nothing and you can get a better job once you can afford your augment.|offer]]
[[You refuse the offer. Even if you’re a little bit slower than cyborgs, you’re still worth more than half they are. You’re not just a flesh sack.|begin]]They look you up and down with their enhanced vision before offering a sickly sweet smile. “Well in that case, I guess you won’t mind working without pay for the next couple months in exchange for an augment?”
[[You take the offer. It’s better than nothing and you can get a better job once you get the augment.|offer]]
[[You refuse the offer. It’s an unfair deal and you can’t afford to not bring home any money.|begin]]You wake up before sunrise every morning and you work until your body feels like it’s going to give out. It’s not an easy job and some of your coworkers whisper about you behind your back. Even so, you meet people who are sympathetic, even friendly, and you know that with each day of work you’re getting closer to getting an augment and escaping from this dismal existence.Some people avert their gaze like you’re a diseased animal. There are others that gawk openly as you awkwardly shuffle by. They’re still not as bad as those that jeer at you, calling you “meat bag”, “flesh sack”, or worse.
[[Back|city]]