Sugarcane

You can feel the warmth from the light slowly swinging above your face as you lean back in your chair. The muddled words of others begin to pierce through your train of thought.\n\n"Don't you agree, Nicholas?"\n\nYou lift your head to see Councilman George Elhart facing you with a stern expression on his face. The others sitting around the table seem to be hanging on your response.\n\n[["I'm sorry, George. What were you asking?"|2A]]\n[["Yes, I agree."|2B]]\n[["No, I don't."|2C]]\n

The underground city of Thiros thrives in the year 2261. While its relationship with the surface of Earth has diminished over the years, the city still flourishes on its own.\n\nAnd yet, sometimes things seem better as a whole. Sometimes you need to focus on something a little smaller, a tiny gear inside the framework of something much larger, to understand the true reality of everything. \n\n[[Play|1A]]\n

Elhart places his hands on your shoulders and looks you in the eyes.\n\n"I know that none of this is easy for you. It's not easy for me either, but it's necessary for the greater good." He says sternly.\n\nYou nod lightly.\n\n"Besides, you have nothing to be sorry about. The speech still went great, and I think we have them right where we want them." Elhart says with a grin as he straightens his tie. "Anyway, we should get out of here, we're going to have a lot on our plates soon."\n\n[[Leave the building.|5A5B]]\n

"It's time for expansion," The councilman declares. "We've been scared to expand beyond these walls in fear of what may happen and what we may find, but there are no alternatives." \n\nThe councilman pauses and hangs his head down low before responding.\n\n"We are a city and a community that is evergrowing. We are the first of our kind, and we are extraordinary. We can not be halted by these kinds of problems. We join together and fight through them."\n\nCouncilman Elhart scans the faces of his audience.\n\n"We will expand and this city will enter a new era. It is time for Thiros to move forward into a new frontier."\n\n[[Clap.|4B]]\n

You walk down the city streets and look around as you head back towards your house. The city is still buzzing with life. You look down at the time on your holoband on your wrist. It's well past three in the morning. You adjust your jacket and keep walking.\n\nYou soon arrive home. You press your thumb against the lock. A soft beep emits from the reader and the door slides open. \n\nYour feet instinctively move toward the bedroom, but then you hear a voice from behind you.\n\n"Dad?"\n\n[[Turn around.|7A]]\n[[Keep walking to the bedroom.|7B]]\n[[Grab a drink.|7C]]\n

It's been too much. You think back to the threats against your daugther and why you made this deal in the first place. You think back to the night you made your daughter cry and how you've been a husk of a man since this whole thing started. You decide to let go of it all.\n\nYou run up to the mayor as he starts walking up onto the site.\n\n"Mayor Welkins!"\n\nThe mayor greets you with a smile and a handshake.\n\n"Ah, Nicholas! This is some great work you've done. I'm glad you stayed behind to help break in the new ground."\n\nYou look the mayor dead in the eyes.\n\n"Sir, you can't go through with this expansion. You have to pull the plug right now."\n\nThe mayor looks at you with a concerned look.\n\n"Nick, what are you talking about?"\n\nAs the crowd cheers on the screens behind you and as the councilman gives his speech, you tell the mayor everything. \n\nThe mayor stands in front of you for a moment, completely taken back by everything he had just heard. Suddenly a voice breaks the silence between you two.\n\n"Now, without further ado, I present to you, your mayor, Darryl Welkins!" Elhart announces as he claps.\n\nThe mayor walks away from you and takes his place in front of the cameras. He just stands there for a minute silently. \n\n"Mayor Welkins? Can you hear me?" Councilman Elhart asks.\n\nThe mayor finally lifts his head to speak.\n\n"You arrogant bastard. This expansion is shutdown effective immediately."\n\nThe murmuring from the crowd begins to grow again this time being filled with questions rather than of cheers. Elhart slowly starts to back away from the podium.\n\n"Also, I want someone to place Councilman George Elhart under arrest for conspiring to murder the mayor and thousands of the city's citizens."\n\nYou can hear Elhart yelling your name as you watch him get thrown to the ground and put into handcuffs.\n\nMayor Welkins walks over to you.\n\n"Nicholas, I'm want to thank you for preventing such a tragedy, but you're involvement in this situation can't be overlooked. Things are going to change for you. Please come with me."\n\nThe mayor waves his hand and two officers walk up to you. \n\nYou nod your head and place your hands behind your back, but as you feel the cold metal of the handcuffs wrap around your wrists, everything fades away. The tension in your body releases and all the guilt you've been building up for months vanishes. \n\nAnd as you get placed in the back of the police car, you can't help but wonder, what will happen next?\n\n''Ending Three

You decide it's best for you to do nothing. You can't imagine what would happen if you told the truth now.\n\nYou just stand and think to yourself as you hear the cheers from the citizens. You wonder about how the city will handle such a tragedy, losing thousands of people, watching their loved ones die and drown in front of their very own eyes and all because of you. \n\nThe mayor says something you can't hear over the sounds of your own thoughts, but the starting of the drills breaks through. You know that your time has come. \n\nYou think back to when you made the deal with Elhart, the deal to keep Lynn safe if you got him elected, the deal to make the plans to drill the expansion into an "unknown" underground river.\n\nThe deal that would cause nothing but pain and suffering for the city in the disguise of bettering the city. \n\nYour thoughts get interrupted for the last time as you hear the screams of people as the ground caves in around you. You watch as your friends and fellow coworkers plummet into the dark waters below. You watch as the mayor and his aids try to escape only to meet their very own watery graves. \n\nAnd then you feel nothing.\n\n''Ending Two

You walk over to the counter next to your daughter. You avoid eye contact as you pour yourself a drink. \n\nYou can feel her eyes burning into the back of your head as if they are trying to pierce their way into your brain to see your thoughts. \n\nJust like her mother, Lynn is quite a percerptive yet, worrysome person. A slight sadness washes over you.\n\nYou take a sip from the drink and turn around. You find yourself face to face with your beautiful daughther. Her red hair drapes over her shoulders and an expression of concern can be seen on her face.\n\n"Is everything okay? What's going on?" \n\nYour daughters words shoot right through you.\n\n\n[["We had a meeting..."|8C]]\n[["Your mother..."|8D]]\n\n\n

You ignore your daughters voice. Knowing what talking to her will make you feel. You keep walking toward your bedroom and shut the door. \n\n[[Go to sleep.|8A8B]]\n

You turn around to see your daughter, Lynn, standing in the kitchen doorway. Her red hair covers and brushes her shoulders as she walks toward you.\n\n"Where have you been?" Lynn asks with a hint of concern in her voice.\n\n"There was a impromptu meeting tonight." \n\nLynn's face goes sour.\n\n"Was it about the expansion? Did they shoot it down?" \n\nBefore you can answer she turns around and places her hand over her mouth.\n\n"They can't keep blowing this off! This city is overrun. We can't keep living like this. Our population problem needs to be taken seriously, but all those government puppets care about is being elected. They just want to keep it going as long as possible to use it for their campaign platforms."\n\nYou let her get it all out in the open before sitting her down on the couch.\n\n"It was about the expansion..."\n\nLynn's head lowers.\n\n"But it looks like we finally got through to them." You smile to your daugther.\n\nLynn looks at you dead in the eyes.\n\n"But how?"\n\nYou lean forward a bit.\n\n"Councilman Elhart. He gave them a speech that they won't soon forget."\n\nLynn's eyes open wide and a smile breaks out on her face.\n\n"He's also recruited me as the head engineer and planner for the expansion. He says he wants someone he can trust on this project." The words feel a little bitter as they leave your mouth.\n\n"That's great!" Lynn wraps her arms around you.\n\n"Anyway, it's time for both of us to go to bed, we have a lot to do in the upcoming weeks." You kiss her forehead.\n\n"Okay, dad." Lynn smiles and walks towards her room.\n\n[[Go to bed.|8A8B]]\n\n\n

"Are you crazy?!" Elhart grabs your shoulders in complete disbelief. "You can't stay here, you know that. Think about your daughter. You did this all for her and for the greater good of the city."\n\nYou take a minute to think. You walk around the site knowing the disaster that's about to take place, but all you can think about is how it's your fault.\n\n[[Stay.|11A]]\n[[Leave.|11B]]\n

"It is with great pleasure that I get to be here today to help celebrate this great new expansion of Thiros that will most certainly bring us into a new era." Elhart says.\n\n"Now, without further ado, I present to you, your mayor, Darryl Welkins!" Elhart claps as he turns his attention to the large display projected above city hall. \n\nOn the screen, the mayor waves from the worksite.\n\n"Thank you, Councilman Elhart." The mayor responds. "As I stand here on the new site for our great city's latest expansion. I am thrilled to say that today will be a day that our amazing city will never forget." \n\nAn eruption of cheers and applause rises from the citizens. \n\n"Without wasting anymore time, let's get this expansion started!" The mayor waves his hand and gives the signal to the workers.\n\nThe drills start up and the twisted machines slowly rise up before shooting down into the ground. \n\nSuddenly, the ground begins to tremor. Cracks break out and begin to spread all across the worksite and in the blink of an eye, pieces of the ground start collapsing into a deep chasm. \n\nThe citizens all watch the screens in horor as the ground continues to shake. The chasm quickly begins to expand. Before the mayor gets the chance to move, the ground beneath him collapses and he falls into the chasm. The citizens begin to scream and run. \n\nWithin minutes, the destruction spreads from the worksite to the east side of the city. People's homes, places of work and city structures all begin to tumble into the deep ravine. People run as the ground gives way behind them. Others hold onto loved ones as they foolishly believe they can be saved. Soon their arms give out and they watch as their friends and family members fall into the abyss, only to drown in the deep water below.\n\nLynn stands in the audience watching the horrors on the screens.\n \nElhart disappears from the podiums with the other government officials and head into city hall. \n\nYou stand at the top of the stairs and watch over the chaos you helped create.\n\n''Ending One.\n

"Lynn." \n\nShe stops, possibly out of hope that the father that raised her is still there, but she doesn't turn around.\n\n"I don't want to live with myself like this anymore. I want to make this right, but I just don't know how."\n\nLynn slowly turns around. "I don't know if you can make this right."\n\nYour stomach sinks.\n\n"But you're my father; you've always been there for me..."\n\nYour eyes open wide.\n\n"What are you saying?" \n\nLynn lifts her head a little and looks into your eyes.\n\n"And I want to trust you, but there's no excuse for what you and Elhart are about to do to the city."\n\nLynn turns around and starts to walk away before speaking one last time.\n\n"I won't tell anyone, but when all of this comes crashing down around you, I won't be standing by your side."\n\nYou stand there for a few moments before heading to bed. \n\n[[Continue.|8E]]\n

A large crowd stands in front of city hall. You and Elhart walk up the steps of city hall and wave as Elhart approaches the podium. Large holographic displays are all around city hall, streaming video of Elhart at the podium and the worksite for the new expansion. \n\nElhart begins to talk.\n\n"Good afternoon, fine citizens of Thiros!" Elhart exclaims.\n\nThe crowd cheers. You stand back watching the crowd and then slowly turn your attention to the video of the worksite. Your heart sinks.\n\n"It is with great pleasure that I get to be here today to help celebrate this great new expansion of Thiros that will most certainly bring us into a new era." Elhart says.\n\n"Now, without further ado, I present to you, your mayor, Darryl Welkins!" Elhart claps as he turns his attention to the large display projected above city hall. \n\nOn the screen, the mayor waves from the worksite.\n\n"Thank you, Councilman Elhart." The mayor responds. "As I stand here on the new site for our great city's latest expansion. I am thrilled to say that today will be a day that our amazing city will never forget." \n\nAn eruption of cheers and applause rises from the citizens. \n\n"Without wasting anymore time, let's get this expansion started!" The mayor remarks and gives the signal to workers.\n\nThe drills start up and the twisted machines slowly rise up before shooting down into the ground. \n\nSuddenly, the ground begins to tremor. Cracks break out and begin to spread all across the worksite and in the blink of an eye, pieces of the ground start collapsing into a deep chasm. \n\nThe citizens all watch the screens in horor as the ground continues to shake. The chasm quickly begins to expand. Before the mayor gets the chance to move, the ground beneath him collapses and he falls into the chasm. The citizens begin to scream and run. \n\nWithin minutes, the destruction spreads from the worksite to the east side of the city. People's homes, places of work and city structures all begin to tumble into the deep ravine. People run as the ground gives way behind them. Others hold onto loved ones as they foolishly believe they can be saved. Soon their arms give out and they watch as their friends and family members fall into the abyss, only to drown in the deep water below.\n\nLynn stands in the audience watching the horrors on the screens.\n \nElhart disappears from the podiums with the other government officials and head into city hall. \n\nYou stand at the top of the stairs and watch over the chaos you helped create.\n\n''Ending one.\n

As expected, Councilman George Elhart waves toward you from the other side of the worksite. He approaches you.\n\n"So are we all ready?" He whispers as wraps his arm around your shoulder and pulls you close to him. \n\nYou start to get lightheaded. You take a minute to breathe, but it only makes things worse.Everything has built up to this point. It's as if every cell in your body has started working against each other, making you painfully sick. \n\n"Everything's set." You nod.\n\n"Perfect! I knew I could count on you, Nick. You and I should get going to city hall so we can get this whole thing started." Elhart tells you.\n\n[[Go with Elhart to city hall.|10C]]\n[[Stay at the worksite.|10D]]\n

"Are you crazy?" Elhart exclaims. "You can't stay here, you know that. Think about your daughter. You did this all for her and for the greater good of the city."\n\nYou take a minute to think. You walk around the site knowing the disaster that's about to take place, but all you can think about is how it's your fault.\n\n[[Stay.|11C]]\n[[Leave.|11D]]\n

Within Thiros: Prologue

a { color: orange !important }

You walk out into the main corridor of city hall. The building is practically empty. The only thing that you hear are the footsteps from other council members leaving the meeting and heading back to their homes.\n\n"I'm sorry that this meeting had to be so late in the night, but as you and I both know, this problem has been known for so long and couldn't be ignored any longer." Elhart says.\n\nYou walk out the front door and enter Central Thiros. The bright lights of the trees and the sounds of the city are a polar opposite from the inside of the city hall. It's refreshing.\n\nYou and Elhart walk onto the curb and Elhart turns to face you.\n\n"Anyway, I know that you have to get home, but I want to thank you for coming out and supporting me, Nick." Elhart says and then shakes your hand.\n\nElhart waves to you and starts walking down the sidewalk to the south side of town.\n\n[[Go home.|6A6B]]\n[[Stay out for a while.|6C]]\n\n\n

''Two months later...''\n\nYou walk around the site of the new expansion. You watch as the equipment rolls in and as drilling machines make their way to their designated locations. \n\nYour stomach clenches a bit as you look at all the workers as they walk around the worksite. \n\n"Nick!" A familiar voice calls out from behind you.\n\n[[Turn around.|9A9B]]\n\n

You close your eyes and remember the day when your mother and father took you to the construction site.\n\nThe Mayor had just announced the invention of the bioluminescent trees and they were hailed as a marvel from the community. They were the largest scientific advancement in the city in decades. \n\nWhen the park was finally opened and the light from the trees lit up the cityscape, there were accounts of people stating that was the day where they felt like the city was a place they could really call home. The city was finally full of life and beauty. \n\n[[Continue.|6C3]]\n

As expected, Councilman George Elhart waves toward you from the other side of the worksite. He approaches you.\n\n"So are we all ready?" He whispers into your ear as wraps his arm around your shoulder and pulls you close to him. \n\nYour start to get lightheaded. \n\n"Everything's set." You nod.\n\n"Perfect! I knew I could count on you, Nick. You and I should get going to city hall so we can get this whole thing started." Elhart tells you.\n\n[[Go with Elhart to city hall.|10A]]\n[[Stay at the worksite.|10B]]\n

George walks up to you and places his hand on your shoulder. \n\n"Nicholas, I know that things have been rough recently, but I really need your help on this. I need you to focus."\n\nHe heads back toward the rest of the council. \n\n"We have a real problem going on in the city. We are at a breaking point. The city has become so overpopulated with people and lowlifes, that we are running out of room for everyone. Not to mention in a few years we will soon have severe food shortage problems."\n\nThe councilman places his hands on the podium. \n\n"We need to take action."\n\n[[Keep listening.|3A]]\n

"Don't you all see?" Councilman Elhart exclaims. "Nicholas Bouchet, one of the most dedicated and well respected persons in this city, acknowledges and agrees that we need a change. He recognizes the problems that resides on our streets and in our community."\n\nThe councilman turns to face the rest of the council. \n\n"We have too many problems, too many people, and too little time. We need to take a stand and do something now if we hope to fix our beloved city."\n\n[[Keep listening.|3B]]\n

A disgruntled and betrayed expression washes over Councilman Elhart's face as he hears your response. He leans in towards you.\n\n"Nicholas, are you sure that's how you really feel?" He whispers as his hand clenches into a fist by his side. \n\n[["I'm sorry, George. I wasn't really paying attention."|2A]]\n

You begin to clap and soon the room is clapping with you. You stand up and watch as Councilman Elhart smiles and nods his head to you. \n\nAt the center of the table, Darryl Welkins, the Mayor, gets up and begins to speak.\n\n"Thank you, Councilman Elhart. You've given everyone a lot to think about." says the Mayor. "This meeting is now adjourned."\n\nThe noise of people, chairs and tables moving fill the room as you get up from the table.\n\nCouncilman Elhart approaches you. \n\n"I think that went rather well." Elhart says as the two of you leave the room. \n\n[["I think so too."|5A5B]]\n

You begin to clap and soon the room is clapping with you. You stand up and watch as Councilman Elhart smiles and nods his head to you. \n\nAt the center of the table, Darryl Welkins, the Mayor, gets up and begins to speak.\n\n"Thank you, Councilman Elhart. You've given everyone a lot to think about," says the Mayor. "This meeting is now adjourned."\n\nThe noise of people, chairs and tables moving fill the room as you get up from the table.\n\nCouncilman Elhart approaches you. \n\n"I think that went rather well." Elhart says as the two of you leave the room. \n\n[["I'm sorry about before, George."|1D]]\n[["I think so too."|5A5B]]\n

You decide you've lived with the burden this long and that there is nothing more that can be done.\n\n"You're right. I'll come with you." You say.\n\nElhart smiles and opens the door to his car. \n\nYou climb inside and the car pulls away.\n\n[[Continue.|10A]]\n

The stress from the meeting is starting to get to you. You decide to take the long way home and pass through the park on your way. \n\nThe lights from the trees shimmer off of the walkway and grace your body with a feeling of safety and warmth. You [[remember when you were a child and when the park was constructed and the trees were planted.|6C2]] \n\nYou continue to walk further into the park. The calmness of the trees and the stillness of the manmade ponds bring comfort to you as you follow the path.\n\nIn this one moment, for a brief instance, you feel like everything's going to be okay.\n\n[[Continue home.|6A6B]]\n

"I'm staying." You say forcefully.\n\nElhart stares at you for a few moments, before shaking his head.\n\n"If that's what you want. I understand. Take care, Nick." Elhart shakes your hand and leaves for city hall.\n\nYou watch as a camera crew arrives and a large holographic display pops up. It's live footage of city hall.\n\nYou wath as Elhart approache the podium in front of city hall.\n\nElhart begins to talk.\n\n"Good afternoon, fine citizens of Thiros!" Elhart stands over the crowd with his a smile so fake you'd could swear it was causing him physical pain. \n\nThe crowd cheers. \n\nYou look around the worksite at all the workers. You watch as the mayor's car pulls up and as he gets out.\n\n"It is with great pleasure that I get to be here today to help celebrate this great new expansion of Thiros that will most certainly bring us into a new era." Elhart says.\n\n"Now, without further ado, I present to you, your mayor, Darryl Welkins!" Elhart claps as he turns his attention to the large display projected above city hall. \n\nThe mayor stands in front of the camera.\n\n"Thank you, Councilman Elhart." The mayor responds. "As I stand here on the new site for our great city's latest expansion. I am thrilled to say that today will be a day that our amazing city will never forget." \n\nAn eruption of cheers and applause comes rises from the citizens. \n\nYou think to yourself as you hear the cheers from the citizens. You wonder about how the city will handle such a tragedy, losing thousands of people, watching their loved ones die and drown in front of their very own eyes and all because of you. \n\nThe mayor says something you can't hear over the sounds of your own thoughts, but the starting of the drills breaks through. You know that your time has come. \n\nYou think back to when you made the deal with Elhart, the deal to keep Lynn safe if you got him elected, the deal to make the plans to drill the expansion into an "unknown" underground river.\n\nThe deal that would cause nothing but pain and suffering for the city in the disguise of bettering the city. \n\nYour thoughts get interrupted for the last time as you hear the screams of people as the ground caves in around you. You watch as your friends and fellow coworkers plummet into the dark waters below. You watch as the mayor and his aids try to escape only to meet their very own watery graves. \n\nAnd then you feel nothing.\n\n''Ending Two

"What kind of meeting?" Your daughter leans against the doorway as she speaks.\n\n"It was with Councilman Elhart and the rest of the council about the planned expansion..." You mutter as you take another sip from your drink.\n\n"Oh." Lynn sits down across from you and then looks up. "Is everything okay?"\n\n"Everything's fine. George put on a wonderful show for them and the expansion is going to go through. It starts in a couple months."\n\nLynn smiles. She gets up and hugs you. \n\n"I'm really glad, you've been working so hard to get that pushed through." \n\nYou want to tell her, but the words are just too jagged. You fear what she might say or do if you finally told her the truth.\n\n"I'm pretty tired." You say as you place your drink down on the counter. "I'm going to head to bed."\n\nLynn looks at you and brushes her hand against your face. \n\n"I'm really glad that things are finally working out for you, dad."\n\nYou grab her hand and summon the strength inside of yourself to tell her, "Thank you" and then you walk to your bedroom and shut the door. \n\n[[Continue.|8A8B]]\n

"My mother?"\n\nTension fills the room as soon as the words leave her mouth.\n\n"What about her?"\n\nYou stand in the middle of the room and slowly close your eyes. It's been too much. The sacrifices you've made and the constant feeling of the truth digging into the pit of your stomach, making you sick. Enough is enough.\n\n"She would never forgive me for what I've done." You open your eyes, only to see your daughter staring back at you, wide eyed and full of concern.\n\n"What do you mean?" \n\nYou walk toward Lynn and place your hand on your daughter's shoulder.\n\n"I made a deal."\n\nAs you start to explain to her the dealings you've made with Councilman Elhart, the promises of protection, the necessity of the expansion, you see nothing but dissappointment on your daughter's face.\n\nAfter you tell her, it's like the whole world has crumbled around you and a new one has emerged. The pain of hiding the truth is no longer there, but the pain of letting your daughter down has taken its place. \n\nLynn remains quiet, even after you stop talking, but after a few minutes she gets up and as she walks away, you can see tears washing down her cheeks. \n\n[[Stop her.|9C]]\n\n\n\n\n

''Two months later...''\n\nYou walk around the site of the new expansion. You watch as the equipment rolls in and as drilling machines make their way to their designated locations. \n\nYour stomach clenches a bit as you look at all the works as they walk around the worksite. \n\n"Nick!" A familiar voice calls out from behind you.\n\n[[Turn around.|9E]]\n

You open your eyes and look out over the park. It's late, but some people are still out and about, the night owls and the couples mostly. They all seem so involved in their own lives, so happy and yet, so unaware. \n\nThe thought of what's to come in the next couple months makes you ill. \n\nYou decide it's best to head home.\n\n[[Go home.|6A6B]]\n\n

G. S. Martin