<div style="display:none"><img src="!@#$" onerror="Scene.changeClass('Basement')" ></div> (set: $nightwait to false) "CARMEN, NOOOOO!" You scream and reach out as your best friend is plucked off her feet and pulled by the whirlwind force of the [[portal]] that just blasted into existence on the far wall of your [[basement]]. You feel your own body start to slide forward. Frantically you looked around for some [[kind of anchor]] (set: $dob to false) (set: $food to false) (set: $drink to false) (set: $notebook to false) (set: $walkman to false) (set: $penknife to false)Who knew your science fair project would become something so huge! It started out as a potato clock and now it's a transdimensional rift in the space time continuum! A few minutes ago you were making some minor tweaks to the dial-out box and all of a sudden the portal erupted into life. It's taking up most of the far wall. What's left of bookcase that was there before is the four stubby legs that were holding it up. You can't quite tell whether you're looking at the portal itself or whatever is through it, but it's making your head hurt! You try to pinpoint what colour it is, but you can't describe it. And really, you don't have much time to go into the finer points [[right now|kind of anchor]]!Well, really it's your mum's basement, but it's also your lab! Ever since she got you that chemistry set for your 13th birthday you've been down here more days than not, tinkering away with your next exciting project. That was two years ago, now your [[latest invention|portal]] might be your last!Quickly! Behind you is your sturdy workbench, but it's just out of reach! To your right is the [[threadbare recliner]] that's been down here longer than you can remember. Nearby are a [[hamper full of laundry]] still waiting to be done and a [[plastic lawn flamingo]] fondly named Gary. On the left is the empty [[washing machine]]. You launch yourself at the recliner and grab hold of the tatty covering. Oh no! The quilted fabric is just a throw! It comes away and you with it! You somesault backwards into the void. You end up alone in a strange land, wrapped in a quilt, crocheted by your grandma in another reality. It's a treasured family heirloom, but it can't get you home... (live: 5s)[THE END] (live: 7s)[[[Go back to your last save|kind of anchor]]]What the?! You don't know what strange external force made you choose the laundry hamper, but you lunge at it. You tumble into the basket and hold on for dear life. The whole thing rocks and falls, with you in it. You are pulled into the whirling vortex on the wall and plunge headlong through the ether surrounded by denim jackets, hockey jerseys and tazmanian devil tees. You land on a barren plain. There is nothing in any direction as far as you can see, and you have no way of getting home. You die in this desolate wasteland, but at least you are fashionably dressed. (live: 7s)[THE END] (live: 9s)[[[Go back to your last save|kind of anchor]]]"Gotcha, Gary!" You brandish the plastic ornament like a sword. *Well, here goes nothing*, you think out loud as you swing the flamingo. In one fluid motion you launch yourself towards the workbench, hook Gary's beak round on hefty table leg, and land heavily on your belly. The trusty flamingo holds! You feel the vortex pulling you backwards, but you keep your grip on Gary's spindly leg. The strength of the portal picks up and you strain against the force. Then, as abruptly as it opened, the gaping void snaps shut with a *bweurp* and disappears. You're left sprawled on the floor, gasping for breath, hugging an inanimate flamingo with a shocked smile. You survived. Now what? You [[get to your feet|get up]], dust yourself off and look around.You dive at the washing machine. It's not going anywhere, but you are struggling to keep hold of the smooth casing! You can feel yourself slipping! You scramble to get a better hold, but in wriggling you lose your grip! (live: 5s)[With one final flail you reach out a hand. Your fingers wrap around the power cord! You're saved! Though it's not over yet. The portal is starting to close, but in it's final moments it's getting more furious. Your body lifts into the air from the sucking force of the gateway. You hold on tightly, feeling yourself stretching.] (live: 9s)[Finally the portal closes in on itself and you fall to the ground with a thud. The plasterboard wall is back, though it looks like the bookcase has become a casualty of the void. You [[get up]] and dust yourself off, in shock, but grateful you still have your life.]<div style="display:none"><img src="!@#$" onerror="Scene.changeClass('Closed')" ></div> The realisation sinks in, and with it a crushing weight falls in your stomach. Carmen is gone. [[I have to find her!]] [[I guess that's that. How do I break it to her parents?]]That's the spirit! You lean your palms down on the workbench and take in what's there. Surprisingly, everything is still intact after that rip in space created a mini whirlwind! (set: $thinkagain to false) [[Go straight for the dial-out box]] [[See what other supplies you could take]]You climb the stairs out of the basement and drag your sorry self into the kitchen. Your mother is at work, but she's left a sandwich on the side for you. You take it to the kitchen table and stare at it. The square of fluffy white bread stares back. You left her out there to die. Wherever out there is. ----- (live: 6s)[You don't know it now, but she doesn't die out there in the void, but her rage for being abandoned grows and many years later she finds her way back to this reality. Gristled and scarred, she tracks you down, and using the technology you created she opens a portal and kicks you, this-is-Sparta style, through it. Where you end up, who could say.] (live: 9s)[THE END?] (live: 11s)[[[Go back to your last savepoint|get up]]] You sure you want to do that? Go off half-cocked into the unknown. Who knows what you might come across! You weren't a scout, but you know their motto is 'Get your stuff together in case you need it'... or something like that. (set: $thinkagain to true) [[I'm sure]] [[No, you're right. I should really gear up before going on what is undoubtedly going to be the biggest, most dangerous adventure of my life|See what other supplies you could take]]<div style="display:none"><img src="!@#$" onerror="Scene.changeClass('Basement')" ></div> (if: $thinkagain is true)[Smartly, you reconsider.] There's an impressive haul of gear spread across the table. What do you want? [The dial-out box]<DOB|(click: ?DOB)[(set: $dob to true)]. Your greatest creation, and the source of all this mayhem. Battery powered of course. [A couple of power bars]<food|(click: ?food)[(set: $food to true)]. You might get hungry. [Jolt Cola]<drink|(click: ?drink)[(set: $drink to true)]. Who needs to sleep anyway? [Notebook]<notebook|(click: ?notebook)[(set: $notebook to true)] containing each and every step of this experiment. Could be useful. [Walkman]<walkman|(click: ?walkman)[(set: $walkman to true)] complete with a mixtape of choice jams. [Pen knife]<penknife|(click: ?penknife)[(set: $penknife to true)]. Your trusty Swiss Army knife. There's a tool for everything on there! (set: $locator to false) (set: $mumnote to false) [[That's everything]]You're a headstrong protagonist and you don't play by anyone's rules but your own. You mash a sequence into the dial-out box and open a new portal. You don't know where it'll take you, but it's a start. You dive in head first, and in a suspenseful way the portal snaps closed right behind you. You stuff the items into a backpack and sling it over your shoulder. Ready? (if: $dob is false)[Not sure where you're going without the Dial-out Box...] (if: $dob is true)[ [[Yeah! Dial up a portal]] ] (if: $mumnote is false)[ [[Not quite yet, go upstairs first]] ] (if: $locator is false)[(if: $notebook is true)[ [[Read through the notebook first]] ]] [The dial-out box]<DOB| [A couple of power bars]<food| [Jolt Cola]<drink| [Notebook]<notebook| [Walkman]<walkman| [Pen knife]<penknife| (click: ?DOB)[(set: $dob to true)] (click: ?food)[(set: $food to true)] (click: ?drink)[(set: $drink to true)] (click: ?notebook)[(set: $notebook to true)] (click: ?walkman)[(set: $walkman to true)] (click: ?penknife)[(set: $penknife to true)] (set: $dob to false) (set: $food to false) (set: $drink to false) (set: $notebook to false) (set: $walkman to false) (set: $penknife to false) YEEEAAAHHH! Time for a quick heroic pose. Now you're ready! [[GO, HERO, GO!]]You pad up the stairs to the kitchen. Mum's at work, but she's left you a sandwich on the side. Grabbing a pen and a pad along the way, you take the sandwich to the kitchen table. You're an adventurer now. but you're not heartless! Leave your mum a note. [[tell a lie]] [[tell the truth]]Good idea! There could be a vital clue to finding your lost friend in there. **Dial-out Box** The main unit for portal creation and exploration. Housed in an old Speak'n'Spell, the Dial-out Box has an array of buttons that can be used to open up a gateway to any number of parallel universes. We haven't got around to mapping any of them yet! **Locator Bracelet** The secondary unit for portal exploration. Worn on the wrist, the locator bracelet sends a signal back to the Dial-out Box. Theoretically it is powerful enough to transmit a beep from one universe to another. Of course! The locator bracelet! You don't know how you forgot, but Carmen was wearing it! Looks like we'll be able to [[find her|That's everything]] after all! (set: $locator to true)Fair enough. She's the best mum you've ever had, but she clearly wouldn't understand your imminent dimension-jumping rescue mission. *Dear mum, Thanks for the sandwich. I'm heading over to Carmen's house for a little bit. See you later.* (set: $mumnote to true) [[That'll do, right?|That's everything]]Yeah, she's the best mum you've ever had. She's instilled some pretty great values in you. One of those is honesty. She'll worry, sure, but she'll also understand that you're doing what you think is right. *Mum, I don't know how to say this any other way. I accidentally opened a portal to another dimension in the basement and Carmen fell in. I'm going in to save her and bring her back. Be back soon. ps - thanks for the sandwich* (set: $mumnote to true) [[That'll have to do!|That's everything]]You grab the Dial-out Box and punch in a complex sequence of buttons. (if: $locator is true)[A series of numbers flashes on the LED screen. It's Carmen's co-ordinates! It has to be!] Finally you slam 'Return' and the portal rips open once more. This time you're ready. Feet pound the pile carpet as you dive into the vortex. [[HERE WE GOOOOOOOOOOO]]<div style="display:none"><img src="!@#$" onerror="Scene.changeClass('Grass')" ></div> You land with a thud and stumble forward. Your hands hit grass, and a warm breeze flows past you. You're in a field and the sun is just starting to fall from a clear blue sky in front of you. (if: $locator is true)[Hopefully the Dial-Out Box wasn't mistaken and you've come to the right place.] If Carmen did land here, where would she go? (set: $cassandra to false) To your left, not too far off, you can see a heard of about a dozen creatures that look like buffalo, but if buffalo had four horns. Two curling down and two curling up. They are grazing leisurely, hardly moving except to chew slowly. You scan the horizon. Far behind you, the land falls away to reveal a steely ocean. [[Dial Out]] [[Head down to the shore]] [[Investigate the herd]]This isn't the place? Had enough already? Or maybe you're onto something. Who knows why you think the way you do. That's what makes you special. (if: $notebook is true)[You make a note in your notebook of this place's co-ordinates, naming it 'Buffalo Plain' as that's pretty much all you saw there. (set: $buffalo to true)] You whip out the Dial-Out Box and [[punch in a new code]].<div style="display:none"><img src="!@#$" onerror="Scene.changeClass('Beach')" ></div> (if: $cassandra is true)[You keep an eye on the direction Cassandra pointed, but decide to explore the coast just in case.] (set: $nightwait to false) On both sides the coastline curves round until it disappears into the horizon. a stretch of pale pink sand gently slides falls towards the lapping ocean. It's calming. Really calming. You could stay here forever. What's coming over you? You feel compelled to sit down. Sand whispers between your fingers as you fall backwards. You stare out to sea and listen to the murmur of the waves. (live: 7s)[Your eyes feel achey and you blink hard. The moon is high above you and the sea is a shifting blackness that has no visible end. You must have dozed off... or zoned out. You're still sitting up, but clearly hours have passed. You scramble to your feet and check your bag. Everything is still there. Phew! (if: $cassandra is true)[You decide to get out of here and [[find that city]]. Though maybe it would be best to wait for daylight, not here though. [[Not at all]]! ] (if: $cassandra is false)[This place is giving you a weird vibe, you make a move towards the [[grassland|Not at all]] ] ]It doesn't take long to wade through the tall grass, though it feels like you've been travelling through treacle. You stop about ten feet from the herd. They are a lot bigger up close. If you could clamber up one you would be able to sit cross legged on top quite comfortably. Each one is easily the size of a jeep so how you'd actually get up there is another thing. (live: 7s)[The closest buffalo creature lifts its head and gazes at you curiously, not stopping its slow chew.] (live: 9s)[Another seems to notice and looks up too.] (live: 11s)[Then another.] (live: 12s)[And another.] (live: 13s)[Soon the whole herd is staring at you. They start to drift toward you. A circle forms around you, getting tighter, until you can feel the muggy breath of a dozen huge heads covering you.] [[Eeep]]You're flying blind on this one. You dial up a string of numbers and the whirling, hypercoloured rip in space explodes into existence. Hold your breath, get a running start, and [[Boom]]This might very well be the end. Unless... (if: $food is true)[Yes! Distract them with the power bars. Cow creatures from an alternate universe love sugary snack foods, [[right]]?] (if: $food is false)[Oh no... Why didn't you take the power bars? You might not have been hungry then, but you'd be hungry EVENTUALLY! I guess this really is [[it|right]]!](if: $food is true)[**Wrong!**] They inch closer. You close your eyes and hope that you don't take too long to digest. *Phyeeuuuuuuuweeeeep* I piercing whistle cuts through the air. As if commanded by the sound, the lumbering creatures jostle aside and a path opens between them. A few feet down the opening stands your apparent saviour! Jeans, plaid and a smirk. "Looks like you got yourself into a bit of a jam here with the herd. Curious critters, but harmless to boot. Most they'll give ya is a nasty lick. I'm Cassandra, and you've already met this lot." You thought that that was a close shave, but now you just feel a bit foolish. Once you're extracted from the centre of the herd and they've wandered back off to their grazing, Cassandra pulls out a flask and offers you a tea. It's warm and soothing. "So, have you seen [[anyone else]] come through here recently?" *"Long black hair, resourceful, maybe looking like she'd just been pulled through an interdimensional portal? Yeah, I did, but not for long time. I think she passed through here about a month ago"* (set: $cassandra to true) You're stunned. A month ago?! But you haven't been here for more than a couple of hours. (if: $notebook is true)[You make a note in your notebook.] *"She was headed east. I figure she would have made it to Chance eventually."* Cassandra notices your bemused expression. *"You're really not from around here are you? Chance is the closest settlement to here. Half a day's walk thattaway."* She points over a ridge behind her. This dimension-hopping is more complicated than it seems. Time to find some answers! (if: $nightwait is false)[ [[Head down to the shore]] ] [[Set off to find Chance City]] <div style="display:none"><img src="!@#$" onerror="Scene.changeClass('Next')" ></div> **What will our bold adventurer find in Chance City? Will they ever discover what happened to Carmen? Who's narrating this anyway? *Find out on the next exciting episode of Where in the multiverse is Carmen Sandiego***<div style="display:none"><img src="!@#$" onerror="Scene.changeClass('Night')" ></div> The night is alive out here. You can hear insects chirrup in the undergrowth and the sky glows with a thousand orange stars. Strangely you don't feel tired at all. You peer at the few whisps of cloud that roll over themselves above you and feel reinvigorated on your adventure. You'll find Carmen and get home before you know it. Soon, you start to notice a path in the grass, beaten by repeated use. It gets wider after about half an hour, and soon after you catch sight of the needle point of a tower in the distance. It grows up toward the sky, revealing more of its sand-coloured form. [[You're almost there]].<div style="display:none"><img src="!@#$" onerror="Scene.changeClass('Night')" ></div> You stumble up and over the dunes separating the grassy plains from the beach. The field you saw before is empty now. The herd has moved on, leaving miles of empty space. (if: $cassandra is false)[You nestle down to wait out [[the night]].] (if: $cassandra is true)[You nestle down to wait out the night. When the sun comes up you can head to [[Chance City|Set off to find Chance City]].] (set: $nightwait to true) The grey light of dawn winks over the grass and you stir into waking. You nodded off again, but at least this time it felt natural. You brush the dew from your face and stretch. Sleeping on the ground wasn't so bad, but you feel stiff. You look around look across the plain and see that the herd has returned. Shaking their fur and plodding though the grass. [[You pace toward them|Investigate the herd]]You've landed in your hometown. You recognise the city museum up ahead and a few shopfronts that you used to go to, but everything is in ruins. Smoke billows from several broken windows up and down the street. Any cars left on the street are burnt out shells. A gang of four young men and women have noticed your arrival, and they don't look happy. *"Oh Boy"* [[Go back to your last save|HERE WE GOOOOOOOOOOO]]It's still dark when you arrive at the city gates. A high wall separates you from the city within. Two guards eye you suspiciously. One scratches absent-mindedly as his chin with the tip of a spear. "You best not come no closer", Scratchy calls down to you, "Or Jim 'ere will poke you one." The other guard, Jim by the looks of things, is sliding an arrow onto an short stubby bow. It looks like a toy, but you imagine it would still leave a nasty hole. You stop. You call back: [[Hi guys, lovely night we're having]] [[Sorry to trouble you at this late hour. I'm looking for a friend]] [[Jim looks like he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn]]"Pleasant enough 'til you got 'ere," Scratchy mutters. "Whaddyu want?" You reply: [[I'm looking for someone|Sorry to trouble you at this late hour. I'm looking for a friend]] [[Mind if I just to come in?|Mind if I check for myself?]]"Nobody's come through 'ere on our watch that we didn't already know." Jim's voice sounds wobbly and blocked, like he's got a cold. "Thas right, not on our watch", Scratchy adds. [[Mind if I check for myself?]] [[Oh... alright then|Set off to find Chance City]] I guess I better be off.Jim looks riled. "You just say that again!" You do! What's got into you? The guard is clearly losing his temper, and before his companion can stop him, he launches an arrow down towards you. It sags in the air and lands with a plop a short distance from your feet. For a moment Jim looks embarrassed before looking dazed by the slap Scratchy gives him. "What the heck are you doing, Jim? You can't just go firing arrows at every wanderer that comes to the door!""Yeah, we bloody do mind! No one gets in once the gates are closed. You can try your luck in the [[daytime|Set off to find Chance City]]".