Deus Ex 2018

Bob Page begins without pleasantries. His artificial irises are just a shade off his red hair, and both are punctured with aging electronics, rose gold paint chipping off silver electrodes in the shape of small apples. ["Your appointment to the Department of Energy should be finalized within the week. I've already discussed the matter with the Senator."]<c1| (click: ?c1)["Has his dataprint been infected?" Simons, his butterfly-blue facial veins on full display, has the voice of an animate corpse.]<c2| (click: ?c2)[Page nods. "When I arranged an identity change, he was so willing it was almost pathetic."]<c3| (click: ?c3)["Platorm data corruption is intensifying to the point that we may not be able to contain it."]<c4| (click: ?c4)["Why contain it? Let it wash smooth the ledgers, the media feeds. Let the nameless wander the streets. In the end, they'll beg us to save them."]<c5| (click: ?c5)["What about the Q situation?"]<c6| (click: ?c6)["One aging lunatic or three decades of cynics."]<c7| (click: ?c7)["And ETRUSCO?" Simons asks.]<c8| (click: ?c8)["Silicon Valley's handshake deal with the intelligence agencies won't crack. But I'll admit I'm less than confident in the augmentation program's primary unit."]<c9| (click: ?c9)["The secondary unit should be online within six months. We won't make the same mistakes again."]<c10| (click: ?c10)[The sun sets over San Francisco, and a ragged man settles against the tower's bland sign: MAJESTIC REALTY, 12 MARKET STREET. He draws a fractured, translucent phone and taps at it like a starving seagull pecking an empty shell.]<c11| (click: ?c11)["We've had to endure much, you and I, but soon there will be order again. A new age -- and we will be crowned its kings," says Page, as deadpan as ever. "Or better than kings: //gods.//"]<c12| (click: ?c12)[The man spares a glance upward and sets his phone on the sidewalk. It flashes, shooting light along the cracks. As the scene fades, the lines (link:"twist into text:")[(goto:"Title Screen")]]

Cut to the US headquarters of ETRUSCO: the thin wired line against online disinformation and antisocial behavior. The address of the Euroglobal Trust and Safety Council's windowless skyscraper was once inland Manhattan — until superstorms and rising sea levels left it perched at the edge of the Hudson. You are rookie ETRUSCO content moderator JC Denton, fresh from the training academy. As the building's security guard gestures at your dark glasses, you slide them down, revealing the glowing orbs of your nano-augmented eyes. ["You're one of those, huh? The new ones." The guard hits the scanner button with a three-fingered hand. "I had old-school augs back in the day — fourteen fingers. Great for pianists. Better for mech pilots."]<c1| (click: ?c1)["What happened?"]<c2| (click: ?c2)["I lost the warranty when Opalware went Chapter 11, and the neural bonding started to go. So I went to one of those mom-and-pop repair shops to get them defused — turns out they should have stuck to phones."]<c3| (click: ?c3)["I'm sorry."]<c4| (click: ?c4)["Eh. At least I still had some real hand underneath. Not like..." She looks pointedly at your eyes. "Anyway, have a nice day..."]<c5| (click: ?c5)[(link:"Mr. Denton.")[(set: $gender to "male")(set: $paul to "Paul")(set: $sibling to "brother")(set: $pronoun to "he")(set: $possessive to "his")(set: $pronoun2 to "him")(goto:"Enter HQ")] (link:"Ms. Denton.")[(set: $gender to "female")(set: $paul to "Paula")(set: $sibling to "sister")(set: $pronoun to "she")(set: $possessive to "her")(set: $pronoun2 to "her")(goto:"Enter HQ")] (link:"Mx. Denton.")[(set: $gender to "nb")(set: $paul to "Pauli")(set: $sibling to "sibling")(set: $pronoun to "they")(set: $possessive to "their")(set: $pronoun2 to "them")(goto:"Enter HQ")]]

The door shuts with a pneumatic wheeze. The building's interior is a yawning, strangely empty concrete cube. All you see is a vacant desk and (link:"a flag")[(goto:"Flag")] in front of (link:"a heavy, broad door")[(goto:"HQ Second Floor")]. (set: $desklock to "locked") (set: $visitHQ2 to false) (set: $paulemail to false) (set: $paultablet to false) (set: $visitedcarter to false) (set: $visitedjaime to false) (set: $visitedmanderley to false) (set: $visitedalex to false) (set: $visitedanna to false) (set: $ductlocked to true) (set: $showedalexflag to false) (set: $tookflag to false)

The desk is low and angular, its varnished surface dulled to the point of blur. (if: $desklock is "unlocked")[Its (link:"drawers are unlocked")[(goto:"InsideFrontDesk")].] (else-if: $desklock is "empty")[Its drawers are empty.] (else-if: $desklock is "locked")[Its drawers are locked. (link:"You can unlock them, if you're not afraid of some light burglary.")[(set: $desklock to "unlocked")(goto:"InsideFrontDesk")]] (link:"In any case, it's not very interesting.")[(goto:"Leave HQ")]

It's an old-style, fifty-two-star American Flag, not the American Battle Flag you're used to seeing. (link:"Pick the flag up.")[(set: $tookflag to true)(set: $flag to true)(set: $showedflag to 0)(goto:"HQ First Floor")] (link:"Leave the flag be.")[(goto:"HQ First Floor")]

(if: $visitHQ2 is false)[The security door clangs shut as you ascend the stairs.(set: $credits to it + 1)] The second floor is a narrow corridor carpeted with abstract patterns that suggest rotten fusilli pasta. It is lined with doors and sans-serif nameplates: {(if:$visitedcarter is false)[(link:"S. Carter")[(goto:"Sam Office")]] (if:$visitedcarter is true)[(link:"S. Carter")[(goto:"Sam Visited")]]} (link:"P. Denton")[(goto:"Denton Office")] (link:"G. Hermann")[(goto:"Gunther Office")] {(if:$hastwofactor is true)[(link:"A. Jacobson")[(goto:"Alex Visited Hacker")]](else-if:$hasdronewhistle is true)[(link:"A. Jacobson")[(goto:"Alex Visited Drone")]](else:)[(link:"A. Jacobson")[(goto:"Alex Office")]]} {(if:$visitedmanderley is false)[(link:"J. Manderley")[(goto:"Manderley Office")]] (if:$visitedmanderley is true)[(link:"J. Manderley")[(goto:"Manderley Visited")]]} {(if:$visitedanna is false)[(link:"A. Navarre")[(goto:"Anna Office")]] (if:$visitedanna is true)[(link:"A. Navarre")[(goto:"Anna Visited")]]} {(if:$visitedjaime is false)[(link:"J. Reyes")[(goto:"Jaime Office")]](if:$visitedjaime is true)[(link:"J. Reyes")[(goto:"Jaime Visited")]]} {(if: $visitHQ2 is false)[A tinny voice bounces against the fine bones of your skull, and a name flashes: Alex Jacobson, Information and Misinformation Information Integrity Technician. "Hey, JC. Glad you got in; I heard a DDoS locked down the subway. We've got a situation developing — go to Manderley's office and he'll fill you in. And just use your $sibling's office until we've got yours ready. Your temporary keyphrase is 'more human than human.'" (set: $seemanderley to true)](else:)[]} {(if: $showedflag is 5)[(set: $finishedflag to true)(set: $flag to false)You look at the flag. For the first time, you notice a small branding tag sewn into the corner: //DARK PATTERNS//. You're not familiar with the label. You drop it quietly in the corner and move on.](else:)[]} {(if: $visitedjaime is true and $visitedcarter is true and $visitedalex is true and $visitedmanderley is true)[Your mission-critical functions here are finished. It's time to (link:"head back downstairs and prepare for your mission.")[(goto:"Review Inventory")]](else:)[]} (set: $visitHQ2 to true) (link:"Check Objectives")[(display:"Objectives")]

You see a soylent brick. (link:"Empty the desk.")[(set: $desklock to "empty")(set: $hassoylent to true)(goto:"Leave HQ")] (link:"Leave it alone.")[(set: $desklock to "unlocked")(goto:"Leave HQ")]

The building's interior is a yawning, strangely empty concrete cube. All you see is a vacant desk (if:$flag is false)[and (link:"a flag ")[(goto:"Flag")]] in front of (link:"a heavy, broad door")[(goto:"HQ Second Floor")]. (if: $flag is true)[Memory-enhancing nanites gently stimulate your retinal projector. //An excellent flag//, the cluster says. //You should make sure everyone sees it//.] (link:"Check Objectives.")[(display:"Objectives")]

Check Objectives: (if:$flag is true)[Show everyone at the base your flag.](if:$finishedflag is true)[~~Show everyone at the base your flag.~~] (if:$seemanderley is true)[Meet Joseph Manderley in his office.](if:$visitedmanderley is true)[~~Meet Joseph Manderley in his office.~~] (if: $seejaime is true)[Check in with Jaime Reyes.](if: $visitedjaime is true)[~~Check in with Jaime Reyes.~~] (if: $seecarter is true)[Check in with Sam Carter.](if: $visitedcarter is true)[~~Check in with Sam Carter.~~] (if: $seealex is true)[Check in with Alex Jacobson.](if: $visitedalex is true)[~~Check in with Alex Jacobson.~~] (if: $visitedjaime is true and $visitedcarter is true and $visitedalex is true)[Go to Brighton Yards.]

The office has $paul's particular flavor of organized chaos, stacked with electronics from several continents and at least two different decades. Three are powered up: a (link:"desktop workstation")[(goto:"Paul Computer")]; a white-label ETRUSCO (link:"broadsheet tablet")[(goto:"Paul Tablet")]; and an (link:"aging Opalware Glassphone")[(goto:"Paul Phone")], nearly hidden beneath a (link:"fat paper folder")[(goto:"Paul Folder")] labeled OPPOSITIONAL RESEARCH. (link:"Leave the office.")[(goto:"HQ Second Floor")]

You clear your throat, twitch your finger to trigger a two-factor token, and speak: ["More human than human."]<c1| (click: ?c1)[It unlocks with an entirely unnecessary animated flourish, revealing a notification: //You have 5,246 unread messages in your mailbox. Priority messages: 1.// (link:"Read the email.")[(goto:"Paul Email")] (link:"Log out.")[(goto:"Denton Office")]]

From: `<[email protected]>` To: `<[email protected]>` Subject: PLEASE READ //In light of the recent incident with Mr. Hermann, I'm re-sending a copy of our social media policy guidelines. Specifically, please note that dark-pattern interfaces are considered a controlled substance REGARDLESS of source, and deploying them can be as dangerous to a mechanically augmented user as the target. Nanoaugmented agents may speak to Dr. Reyes about potential risks.// (link:"Log out.")[(set: $paulemail to true)(goto:"Denton Office")]

KNOW YOUR ENEMY ''WIKIPODE:'' // Wikipode should not be confused with legitimate ETRUSCO partner WikiMedia. These fanatical "information liberation" activists are linked to the Shadow KGB and several murder-by-proxies, as well as the creation of the Unperson virus.// ''NOWHEREMEN:'' //The anarchic Nowheremen were instrumental in the catastrophic Opalware data breach of 2044, and they have been implicated in the spread of Unperson. However, analysts now call the group's freewheeling tactics "bringing a cyberknife to a cybergunfight," and its recent operations amount to little more than injecting unapproved music macros into social media feeds.// ''WHITE HOUSE:'' //ETRUSCO's official position on all branches of the American government is non-adversarial. However, practical considerations may at times necessitate the temporary circumvention of certain executive actions, and public-private information-sharing is enacted on a "need-to-know" basis. This memo is intended for Archangel-level clearances only and should be considered NON-necessary information.// (link:"Put down tablet.")[(set: $paultablet to true)(goto:"Denton Office")]

You see a stack of cheaply printed copies of an apparent tabloid called //The Great Awakening//. There's too much to read, but you catch a few headlines: ''EXCLUSIVE: Slenderman Summoned by CIA-funded Occult Cronut Shop Cannibals for Child Fear Serum Harvesting Ring'' ''2025 Star Wars Re-Release Cut Scenes Featuring 'Slightly Bigger' Luke Skywalker Doppelganger -- Was Kathleen Kennedy Covering Up a George Lucas Body Double Replacement Plot?'' ''New Twittergram CEO: Chaos Alien???'' (link:"Carefully put down the papers.")[(goto:"Denton Office")]

You haven't seen a Glassphone in ages. The device would probably have failed even if Opalware hadn't imploded for... other... reasons, because its single, ethereal block of glass made all screen activity visible from every angle. People love transparency until it's their data on the line. A single messaging app appears to be installed, containing a single message from an unknown party: //P: THE PATTERNS ARE REAL - AJ// (link:"Put the phone back.")[(goto:"Denton Office")]

Jaime Reyes looks more at ease in his doctor's coat than he did in the moderation academy's standard jumpsuits. He greats you with a smile, gesturing at the electroderringer strapped to your side. ["Well, if it isn't JC -- I might as well get used to your codename. They actually let you point a gun at people these days?"]<c1| (click: ?c1)["They're still keeping the real stuff for SWAT mods — ever since the Pintersnap riot. This is purely non-lethal."]<c2| (click: ?c2)["A few of Agent Navarre's targets might call that a technicality, if they were still breathing. But never mind that. How's your first day?"]<c3| (click: ?c3)["I have a feeling it's about to get worse. (if: $visitedmanderley is true)[Manderley's sending me to the docks to bust up a troll farm — and it sounds like they've got $paul."] (else:)[Manderley wants to see me about a mission."]]<c4| (click: ?c4)[(if: $visitedmanderley is true)["My god, really?] (else:)["Already?] Then I'd better check over your specs. Looks like the lab is issuing some experimental sticker packs and nanoreconstruction units. So you can heal anything short of a rocket to the brainstem, or you can distract anybody wearing optical mech-augs or glasses with holographic kittens — and these days, that covers just about everybody."]<c5| (click: ?c5)[|pickregen>[(link: "I'll take the reconstruction unit.")[(set: $hasregen to true)(replace: ?pickregen)["I'll take the reconstruction unit."](replace: ?pickkittens)[](replace: ?choseitem)["An excellent choice."]]] |pickkittens>[(link: "I'll take the kittens.")[(set: $haskittens to true)(replace: ?pickregen)["I'll take the kittens."](replace: ?pickkittens)[](replace: ?choseitem)["An excellent choice."]]]] [|choseitem)[]]<c6| (click: ?c6)[(if: $paulemail is true)["By the way, I got an email saying I should ask you about dark patterns. Know anything about that?"](else:)["Anything else I should know before I go out?"]]<c7| (click: ?c7)[(if: $paulemail is true)["Ah. We've had problems with some new dark patterns — weaponized UX, addictive interfaces, the usual things.](else:)["Nothing that I... ah. Manderley wanted me to warn the staff about some new dark patterns — weaponized UX, addictive interfaces, the usual things.] Nanoaugmentation bypasses most neural-sync tricks, so you'll do better than... some of our staff. But the apps are catching up. Just be careful what you log onto, JC. You never know what might be logging //you//."]<c8| (click: ?c8)["I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the help. (if: $visitedmanderley is false)[Now I'd better go talk to Manderley."] (else-if: $visitedmanderley is true)[Now I'd better find $paul and shut down those punks -- before it's too late."] (if: $flag is true)[(set: $showedflag to it + 1)[As you turn to leave, you remember your mission and casually hold up your American flag.]]]<c9| (click: ?c9)[(if: $flag is true)[Jaime sighs. "Being a patriot used to be so easy, didn't it? Now you don't know who you can trust."] (else:)["Stay safe, JC."]]<c10| (click: ?c10)[(link:"Leave the office.")[(set: $visitedjaime to true)(set: $seejaime to false)(goto:"HQ Second Floor")]]

You crack the door to Jaime's office. He appears to be caught up in an argument with his digital assistant, a talking snake wound around a copper rod. (link:"Close the door.")[(goto:"HQ Second Floor")]

(set: $credits to it + 1)You've met Joseph Manderley once, at your accredition ceremony, and he struck you as a man who repeats the phrase "avuncular" silently to himself during conversations. His office is decorated in the rococo style of a '20s startup, all applique flowers and razor blades. //He did ten years in Silicon Roundabout before joining ETRUSCO,// your memory cluster reminds you. //Acquisitions for Nazgul Pharmaceuticals.// Manderley looks up from his desk. ["Welcome. Please -- have a seat," he says in clipped Queen's English.]<c1| (click: ?c1)[You settle on an uncomfortable steel chair. "Alex Jacobson said you wanted to see me."]<c2| (click: ?c2)[Manderley sighs heavily and tents his fingers. "Indeed. We have a matter of some... unpleasantness to discuss. Are you familiar with the Wikipode Confederation?"]<c3| (click: ?c3)[(if: $paultablet is true)["Of course. They're a rogue Wikimedia Foundation faction that split off during the verification wars. Sound like a dangerous bunch."//] (else:)["Academy clearance levels can only tell you so much. Refresh my memory."]]<c4| (click: ?c4)[(if: $paultablet is true)["Precisely.] (else:)["They defected from the Wikimedia Foundation during the verification wars -- quite a dangerous bunch, if you ask me.] Even by their usual standards, Wikipode has been reaching into some deep pockets lately. And it's dropping the change into an unauthorized social media platform."]<c5| (click: ?c5)["What kind of platform are we talking about? Text? Video?"]<c6| (click: ?c6)["Oh, I'm afraid it's far worse than that. They call it 'Libranet' — a fully affective immersive simulation, unvetted and unmoderated. Quite simply, once its electrical signals hit even //your// gray matter... truth is whatever they want it to be."]<c7| (click: ?c7)["Sounds serious. Why hasn't ETRUSCO gone after it?"]<c8| (click: ?c8)["That's why you're here, JC. Because we //did// send someone after it: your $sibling. And we haven't heard from $pronoun2 since."]<c9| (click: ?c9)[Manderley thumbs a button behind his desk fiduciary. A holographic garden appears and then shrinks, revealing a begreened steel iceberg. "We've traced $paul's emergency beacon to the old Brighton Yards arcology in Brooklyn. If our intelligence is correct, we'll find Libranet's servers there too," he says. "I need you to infiltrate the Yards, find $paul -- and deplatform the hell out of these thugs."]<c10| (click: ?c10)["When do I start?"]<c11| (click: ?c11)["Check in with Dr. Reyes and our wetware specialist Sam Carter, if you haven't already. Alex Jacobson can rustle up some extra computational firepower. And if you have time, check in with Agent Navarre -- I'm assigning her to run backup on this operation. God willing, she'll like you better than your $sibling. Any last questions?"]<c12| (click: ?c12)[(if: $flag is true)[(set: $showedflag to it + 1)"Only one, sir. What do you think of this flag?"](else:)["That's all, sir. It'll be good to see some action."]]<c13| (click: ?c13)[(if: $flag is true)["If you're attempting to question my loyalty, JC, I think this is hardly the time."] (else:)["Very good. Now if you don't mind, I have some emails to attend to."]]<c14| (click: ?c14)[(link:"Leave the room.")[(set: $visitedmanderley to true)(set: $seemanderley to false)(if: $visitedjaime is false)[(set: $seejaime to true)](if: $visitedalex is false)[(set: $seealex to true)](if: $visitedcarter is false)[(set: $seecarter to true)](goto: "HQ Second Floor")]]

(if:$ductlocked is false)[(link:"Open the door.")[(goto:"Gunther Office Interior")]](else:)[It's locked. But nobody is watching... (if: $haslockpick is true)[(link:"Pick the lock.")[(goto:"Gunther Office Interior")]]] (link:"Leave it alone.")[(goto:"HQ Second Floor")]

Sam Carter's graying buzzcut and pristine posture gives away the fact that he's real ex-military -- or ex-LAPD, which amounts to the same thing since Executive Order 392610258-D. Police union pressure has probably kept him at ETRUSCO, because a sixty-year-old civilian would have logged out years ago. This is no country for old mods. ["At ease, moderator," says Carter with a wry grin. His single artificial eye shines.]<c1| (click: ?c1)["Sergeant Carter. I read about the Alameda Operation in school. This is a great honor."]<c2| (click: ?c2)["I'm not a sergeant anymore -- and you have to take the good with the bad. For every Alameda, there's a Malibu."]<c3| (click: ?c3)["That wasn't your fault, sir, and we all know it. I can't believe they let the swatter get away with manslaughter charges."]<c4| (click: ?c4)["Enough of that, Denton. A monster might have tricked us into killing innocents. But should our fingers have been so tight on the triggers in the first place? These days, I'm not sure."]<c5| (click: ?c5)["If anyone is responsible, it's the platforms that allowed anonymous callling in the first place."]<c6| (click: ?c6)["I said, that's enough. Now, I can license you a nanite lockpick upgrade. And Agent Navarre uploaded some printing code for a plasma flechette emitter, if you're more interested in her way of doing things. I wouldn't ask where she got it."]<c7| (click: ?c7)[|picklockpick>[(link:"I'll take the lockpick.")[(set: $haslockpick to true)(replace: ?picklockpick)["I'll take the lockpick."](replace: ?pickammo)[](replace: ?choseitem)["A man who uses his head -- I like that. Now move out, moderator."]]] |pickammo>[(link:"I'll take the emitter.")[(set: $hasgun to true)(replace: ?picklockpick)["I'll take the emitter."](replace: ?pickammo)[](replace: ?choseitem)["A man who means business -- nothing wrong with that. Now move out, moderator."]]]] [|choseitem>[]]<c8| (click: ?c8)[You start to salute before catching yourself. (if: $flag is true)[(set:$showedflag to it + 1)Remembering your mission, you position the flag prominently beside you.]]<c9| (click: ?c9)[(if: $flag is true)["Ten Californias, and no Texas," says Carter. "Always strange how things turn out."](else:)["No need for that, moderator. Those days are long gone."]]<c10| (click: ?c10)[(link: "Move out.")[(set:$seecarter to false)(set: $visitedcarter to true)(goto: "HQ Second Floor")]]

You've heard about Anna Navarre's stretch in the White Swan prison augmentation trials and her defection from Shadow KGB Cyberkommand. She would probably kill you for mentioning it, but she seems to rely on the rumors: they're the reason nobody calls her on those suspected trolls that die in custody. Because after all, she understands the real stakes of platform moderation. Now, she's leaning on her desk with one skeletal steel arm, her metal-streaked face fixed in a dubious frown. ["Are you sure you pressed the right button?" she says, her accent turning every consonent into a knife.]<c1| (click: ?c1)[Anna's partner Gunther Hermann is a nearly solid chunk of German steel maybe a foot taller than her and easily twice as wide, but he has the physical presence of an unusually deadly lamp. As Navarre speaks, he extracts a packet of soylent gel from a disposable delivery drone. "I do not make mistakes of this kind. I wanted orange. It gave me lemon-lime."]<c2| (click: ?c2)["The machine would not make a mistake."]<c3| (click: ?c3)[Gunther crushes the drone into powder with one clumsy metal fist. "It's the maintenance man! He knows I like orange."]<c4| (click: ?c4)[Navarre's red eyes, sunken into the pale skin of her cheekbones, follow the debris. "The system has had no human maintenance for twelve years. You think the delivery algorithm has concocted some kind of plot?"]<c5| (click: ?c5)["Yes! Perhaps the Russians have hacked it."]<c6| (click: ?c6)[As an awkward lull descends over the office, you cough conspicuously. "I just wanted to say that I look forward to working with you, Agent Navarre. (if:$visitedmanderley is true)[Mr. Manderley tells me we'll be moderating in Brighton Beach together.] Forgive my intrusion."]<c7| (click: ?c7)[Anna sighs. "My new partner, JC Denton. Tell me: do you share your $sibling's disdain for ethical certainty?"]<c8| (click: ?c8)["I'd like to believe we all have a consistent ethical framework here, Agent Navarre."]<c9| (click: ?c9)["//Really.// Perhaps you thought the same of our forebearers -- the ones who could not ban a Nazi frog without censoring the Declaration of Independence."]<c10| (click: ?c10)["I doubt $paul would agree with their conclusions. But a media literacy reeducation facility is a bigger step than taking away someone's verification badge. It's not unreasonable to be cautious."]<c11| (click: ?c11)["A difference in degree to our enemies, Agent Denton -- not in kind. What was the old Wikipode Confederation slogan, again? 'First they came for the checkmarks?' I think you will find that their flechettes fly as fast over one moderation tactic as the other."]<c12| (click: ?c12)["I'll keep that in mind, Agent Navarre. (if: $flag is true)[(set: $showedflag to it + 1)In fact, I'm carrying this flag to remind me right now.]"]<c13| (click: ?c13)["Very well -- I will see you in the field(if: $flag is true)[. Please do not bring the flag]."]<c14| (click: ?c14)[(link: "Step outside.")[(set: $visitedanna to true)(goto:"HQ Second Floor")]]

ETRUSCO's roots are in online operations, before moderation largely referred to finding illicit data towers and server banks. For most web users, the platforms are still ethereal, omnipresent, and unbreakable. People like Alex keep them that way in rooms like this, lined with hardware reminders of the net's fragile physicality. A locked computer workstation sits to your left. To your right is a hefty (if: $visitedalex is true and $hastwofactor is true)[(link:"stack of datacubes.")[(goto:"Alex Datacubes")]](else:)[stack of datacubes. Someone has marked operating system names on each of them in an old-fashioned black marker, none of which match your nanites' experimental OS.] Alex herself is sitting on the floor (link: "at the far end")[(goto:"Alex Talk")] of the office, half-hidden by some kind of metal box.

-------------- (if:$endingcredits is true)[(link:"^^''Credits''^^")[(display:"Credits Ending")]](else:)[(link:"^^''Credits''^^")[(display:"Credits3")]]

You crack the door to Manderley's office. His secretary drone slams it in your face. (link:"Leave it alone.")[(goto:"HQ Second Floor")]

(css: "font-size: 80%;")[CREDITS (align: "=><=")[ Directed by: A(if:$extracreditD1 is true)[(replace: ?creditsD1)[D]](else-if:$credits is >= 1)[(link:"d")[(set:$extracreditD1 to true)(set:$extracredits to it +1)(replace: ?creditsD1)[D]]](else:)[d]i Rob(if:$extracreditE1 is true)[(replace: ?creditsE1)[E]](else-if:$credits is >= 2)[(link:"e")[(set:$extracreditE1 to true)(set:$extracredits to it +1)(replace: ?creditsE1)[E]]](else:)[e]rtson Written by: Adi Robertson With support from: Bij(if:$extracreditA1 is true)[(replace: ?creditsA1)[A]](else-if:$credits is >= 3)[(link:"a")[(set:$extracreditA1 to true)(set: $extracredits to it + 1)(replace: ?creditsA1)[A]]](else:)[a]n Stephen Original story by: Warren Spector Special thanks: Charles Pratt Published by: Verge Mini Hack Week Built in: Twine 2 |creditsD1>[] |creditsA1>[] |creditsR1>[] |creditsK1>[] |creditsP1>[] |creditsA2>[] |creditsT1>[] |creditsT2>[] |creditsE1>[] |creditsR1>[] |creditsN1>[] |creditsS1>[] (if:$extracredits is 12)[CHAOS ALIENS]]]

(set: $credits to 0)At the center of a vast granite chamber, plasma panels light the ominous "all-enveloping hand" logo of the Deep State: Illuminati splinter cabal, shadow superpower, destroyer of subtext. Its headquarters dominates the crowded skyline of half-flooded San Francisco -- but the tower has been sinking for years into its fetid mud, and it lists enough to slash the city like a misplaced punctuation mark. Two men approach the logo with a tentative, off-balance attempt at a masculine stride: Bob Page, leader of the Deep State, and his lieutenant Walton Simons. Facing each other awkwardly, ever-conscious of the looming hand behind them, the men (link:"begin to speak")[(goto:"Opening Conversation")]. (link: "SKIP TO EPISODE 2 — BETA OPTION")[ (set:$haslockpick to true)(set: $hasgun to false)(set:$haskittens to true)(set:$hasregen to false)(set:$hasdronewhistle to true)(set:$hastwofactor to false)(set:$tookflag to false)(set:$desklock to "locked")(goto:"Review Inventory")] (link: "SKIP TO EPISODE 3 — BETA OPTION")[(set:$haslockpick to true)(set: $hasgun to false)(set:$haskittens to true)(set:$hasregen to false)(set:$hasdronewhistle to true)(set:$hastwofactor to false)(goto:"Arcology Intro")]

Inventory: (if: $haslockpick is true)[* a universal lockpick] (if: $hasgun is true)[*an unlicensed ceramoplasteel plasma flechette emitter] (if: $hasregen is true)[* a nanorecontruction capacitor] (if: $haskittens is true)[* a "rare feline breeds of North America" sticker pack] (if: $hastwofactor is true)[* a two-factor authentication spoofing chip] (if: $hasdronewhistle is true)[* a

As you prepare to leave, you check your equipment one last time. ''Inventory'' Rechargeable Electropacification Stunner Universal Hard Storage Nano-Connector { |samchoice>[(if:$haslockpick is true)[Nanite Lockpicking Module](else-if:$hasgun is true)[Plasma Flechette Pistol]] (link:"Change")[(goto:"Sam Confirm")] } { |alexchoice>[(if:$hastwofactor is true)[Computing Hijack Upgrade](else-if:$hasdronewhistle is true)[Drone Whistle]] (link:"Change")[(goto:"Alex Confirm")] } {|jaimechoice>[(if:$hasregen is true)[Advanced Bio-Repair](else-if:$haskittens is true)[Feline Decoy]] (link:"Change")[(goto:"Jaime Confirm")] } Once you're finished, you (link:"head downstairs to the lobby.")[(set:$credits to it + 1)(goto:"Leave HQ")]

You crack the door to Carter's office. He flashes a blinding eye and turns back to his work. (link:"Close the door.")[(goto:"HQ Second Floor")]

You don't even bother opening the door. You've got a bad feeling about those two. (link:"Leave it alone.")[(goto:"HQ Second Floor")]

There is a duct in Gunther Hermann's office. To learn more about this room, buy the DEUS EX: DARK PATTERNS Season Pass for $49.99. (if: $visitedalex is false)[(link:"Crawl into the duct.")[(set:$ductlocked to false)(goto:"Alex From Duct")]] (else-if: $visitedalex is true and $hastwofactor is true)[(link:"Crawl into the duct.")[(set:$ductlocked to false)(goto:"Alex Visited Hacker")]](else-if: $visitedalex is true and $hasdronewhistle is true)[(link:"Crawl into the duct.")[(set:$ductlocked to false)(goto:"Alex Visited Drone")]] (link:"Go away.")[(goto:"HQ Second Floor")]

Alex is back at work, whatever that entails. Her locked computer workstation sits to your left, (if:$fellthroughduct is true or $ductlocked is false)[an (link: "open duct")[(goto:"Gunther Office Interior")] is beside it,](else-if:$ductlocked is false)[an (link: "open duct")[(goto:"Gunther Office Interior")] is beside it,](else-if: $alexcubetrick is true)[a (link: "locked duct")[(goto:"Open Alex Duct")] is beside it,](else-if: $dogsleep is true)[a locked duct is beside it,] and a (link:"stack of datacubes")[(goto:"Alex Datacubes")] is on the right. (if: $dogsleep is true)[The shibe is a quiet box at your feet.](else:)[The shibe has followed you -- maybe programmed curiosity, maybe reflexive surveillance.] (if:$showedalexflag is false)[(set:$showedalexflag to true)(set:$showedflag to it + 1)As your head clears, you realize you have forgotten to show Alex the flag. You wave it conspicuously from across the room until she nods quizzically and looks away. Thank god.] (if: $dogsleep is false)[(link:"Pet the shibe.")[(goto:"Log Into Dog")]] (link:"Leave the room.")[(goto:"HQ Second Floor")]

(align:"=><=")[THANK YOU FOR PLAYING //DEUS EX: DARK PATTERNS// FREEWARE EDITION FOR MORE CHAPTERS PLEASE MAIL $5.98 AND A PRE-PAID ENVELOPE TO 85 BROAD STREET 15TH FLOOR NEW YORK, NY 10004]

Alex is unaugmented and hardwired to a foldout tablet with an electrode armband and headset. She flicks a finger, and the box before her refolds origami-like into a chromed but oddly familiar four-legged shape. It trots aside, giving Alex space to shake your hand. ["JC Denton. (if:$fellthroughduct is true)[Nice of you to... drop in?"](else:)[Nice to finally meet you,"] she says.]<c1| [(if:$fellthroughduct is true)["Sorry about that.](else:)["The feeling is mutual.] Is that a drone?"]<c2| (click: ?c2)["It's called a shibe. Autonomous nanites wrapped around an organic nervous system -- hard outside, squishy inside, sort of the opposite of you. So Manderley wants me to flip some switches in your little machines, right?"]<c3| (click: ?c3)[(if:$visitedmanderley is true)["His exact words were 'computational firepower.'"](else:)["I haven't seen him yet. But I doubt he'd object."]]<c4| (click: ?c4)[(if:$visitedmanderley is true)["Well, some ETRUSCO agents see everything as some kind of weapon.] I'm authorized to patch in one of two upgrades. The first is a two-factor authentication jammer coupled with a platonic vocal cord modulator — in other words, a hacking kit. The second overrides the priorities of autonomous robotic or cybernetic systems. You might call it a drone whistle."]<c5| (click: ?c5)[|picktwofactor>[(link:"I'll take the hacking kit.")[(set: $hastwofactor to true)(replace: ?picktwofactor)["I'll take the hacking kit."](replace: ?pickdronewhistle)[](replace: ?choseitem)["Sure thing. This'll be a lot more fun than reinstalling Gunther's skullgun drivers. //Again//."]]] |pickdronewhistle>[(link:"I'll take the drone whistle.")[(set: $hasdronewhistle to true)(replace: ?picktwofactor)["I'll take the drone whistle."](replace: ?pickdronewhistle)[](replace: ?choseitem)["Sure thing. This'll be a lot more fun than reinstalling Gunther's skullgun drivers. //Again//."]]]] [|choseitem>[]]<c6| (click: ?c6)["Skullgun?"]<c7| (click: ?c7)["If you were going to ask: no, you're not getting one. Turns out taking recoil hits to the head is even less fun than it sounds, and Jaime doesn't need another agent coming in with concussions."]<c8| (click: ?c8)["I was going to ask what an ETRUSCO agent needs with a permanent firearm implant. I thought our mission here was moderation -- not escalation."]<c9| (click: ?c9)[Alex adjusts her headset. "My dad used to say there are three kinds of people. You've got peaceful, helpless sheep. You've got wolves. And between them, there's the sheepdog. Brave, righteous — and ready to eviscerate anything that looks a little too wolfish, because an incomprehensibly superintelligent being has spent five thousand years breeding it to think that //nothing else exists.// Although Dad never said that part."]<c10| (click: ?c10)[You tilt your head to expose your nanoprogramming pad. "I'm not sure I understand the analogy."]<c11| (click: ?c11)["What I'm trying to say is, it's not the skullguns I'm worried about. Now close your eyes, count backwards from five, and try not to imagine that your veins are full of spiders."]<c12| (click: ?c12)[5]<c13| (click: ?c13)[4]<c14| (click: ?c14)[3]<c15| (click: ?c15)[(link:"2")[(goto:"Alex Talk Finish")]]

The grate on the duct is loose. You clamber inside and fall gracelessly through a light screen into somebody's office. Judging by all the wires and old electronics, you're guessing it's Alex Jacobson's. ETRUSCO's roots are in online operations, before moderation largely referred to finding illicit data towers and server banks. For most web users, the platforms are still ethereal, omnipresent, and unbreakable. People like Alex keep them that way in rooms like this, lined with hardware reminders of the net's fragile physicality. A locked computer workstation sits to your left. To your right is a hefty (if: $visitedalex is true and $hastwofactor is true)[(link:"stack of datacubes.")[(goto:"Alex Datacubes")]](else:)[stack of datacubes. Someone has marked operating system names on each of them in an old-fashioned black marker, none of which match your nanites' experimental OS.] Alex herself is sitting on the floor (link: "at the far end")[(set: $ductlocked to false)(set:$fellthroughduct to true)(goto:"Alex Talk")] of the office, half-hidden by some kind of metal box.

You press the new node at the side of your throat and see a list of names -- well, a single name, "AJACOBSON" -- appear in your retinal waveguide. ["Do you know the password?"]<c1| (click: ?c1)[The workstation's desktop background is an old photo of a long-since-melted Antarctic research zone with a slightly stretched aspect ratio, icons arranged to cover only the tiny equipment shacks in the picture. You see a series of dull interface screenshots, a logo for //Dwarf Fortress v0.995//, and an email notification widget: //You have 110,802 unread messages in your mailbox. Priority messages: 1.// (link:"Read the email.")[(goto:"Alex Email")] (link:"Log out.")[(goto:"Alex Visited Hacker")]]

You pick up a datacube and press a finger to its contact pad. As usual, you're not sure whether you can feel the nanites winding their way to the surface of your skin to transmit their tiny electrical pulses, or if it's purely psychosomatic. (if: $hastwofactor is true)[The first four datacubes give you nothing -- just old cat pictures and several folders labeled //Dwarf Fortress//. But the fifth appears to (link:"hold a message")[(goto:"Alex Datacubes Message")].] (if: $hasdronewhistle is true)[The first five datacubes give you nothing -- just old cat pictures, several folders labeled //Dwarf Fortress//, and a passphrase that's useless without hacking augs. But the sixth appears to (link:"hold a note")[(goto:"Alex Datacubes Message")].]

(set:$alexcubetrick to true)From: `<[email protected]>` To: `<[email protected]>` Subject: NOREPLY - Maintenance Request #002913628 - RESOLVED //Dear `$RESIDENT` Our maintenance algorithms detect no irregularities in HVAC performance. Building records also indicate that your duct's placement (A394xD213) is too high for standard ingress by a human or animal of mean organic strength. Thank you for your concern. - >>>An HVAC duct cover in my office >>>seems to have come loose. Not hanging off or any >>>thing, but if you squeeze the >>>diagonal corners, it pops right >>>open. I know it's been a long >>>time since this was all NSA >>>ops, but I assume security doesn't just want >>>people crawling around in the walls >>>-- and hell, the other offices might >>>be worse.// (link:"Log out.")[(goto:"Alex Visited Hacker")]

You open your eyes after, according to your nanoclock, four minutes and thirty-three seconds. The past few lines of conversation are a blur, and you have a strange tickling in your throat. Alex waves a hand in front of your face. ["Feeling augmented yet?"]<c1| (click: ?c1)["I guess so. How am I supposed to use this thing?"]<c2| (click: ?c2)[(if:$hastwofactor is true)["Just find a passphrase and say it, same as usual. The modulator adds supervocal static that should freak out voiceprint software, like those turtles AIs think are guns.](if:$hasdronewhistle is true)["Just get close enough to touch a machine, and it's your best friend.] By the way, I tweaked some code so your nanites can interface with basically any storage media. A society loses its data, it loses its past, you know?"]<c3| (click: ?c3)[Still a little dazed, you nod goodbye and wander (link:"back to the front")[(set:$visitedalex to true)(set: $seealex to false)(if:$hastwofactor is true)[(goto:"Alex Visited Hacker")](if:$hasdronewhistle is true)[(set: $dogsleep to false)(goto:"Alex Visited Drone")]] of the office.]

Alex is back at work, whatever that entails. Her computer workstation sits to your left, (if: $alexcubecode is true)[waiting (link:"for a passphrase.")[(goto:"Alex Computer")]](else:)[still inaccessible without a passphrase.] (if:$fellthroughduct is true)[An (link: "open duct")[(goto:"Gunther Office Interior")] is beside it.](else-if: $ductlocked is false)[An (link: "open duct")[(goto:"Gunther Office Interior")] is beside it.] (else-if: $alexcubetrick is true)[Based on your datalink's blueprint calculations, a (link: "locked duct")[(goto:"Open Alex Duct")] should be located just beside it, under a picture of pre-flood Shanghai.] A (link:"stack of datacubes")[(goto:"Alex Datacubes")] is on the right. (if:$showedalexflag is false)[(set:$showedalexflag to true)(set:$showedflag to it + 1)As your head clears, you realize you have forgotten to show Alex the flag. You wave it conspicuously from across the room until she nods quizzically and looks away. Thank god.] (link:"Leave the room.")[(goto:"HQ Second Floor")]

(if: $hastwofactor is true)[//G: Please stop attempting to install black-market intrusion countermeasures on my local network. Only an insane sociopath would rather starve someone to death with a dark pattern trap than arrest them. Also, stop asking me to come to your office and reset your password. If you can't be bothered to walk in here, use an offline datacube. "Do you know the password?" See, that's my secondary account phrase, which I'm comfortable sharing over datacube because I TRUST THE SYSTEM WE HAVE ESTABLI// The message appears to have been neither finished nor delivered. (link:"Put the datacube down.")[(set: $alexcubecode to true)(goto:"Alex Visited Hacker")]] (if: $hasdronewhistle is true)[//MAINTENANCE REQUEST: CLIENT COPY Sender: Jacobson, Alexa Echo Category: Infrastructure/HVAC Text: An HVAC duct cover in my office seems to have come loose. Not hanging off or anything, but if you squeeze the diagonal corners, it pops right open. I know it's been a long time since this was all NSA ops, but I assume security doesn't just want people crawling around in the walls -- and hell, the other offices might be worse.// (link:"Put the datacube down.")[(set: $alexcubetrick to true)(goto:"Alex Visited Drone")]]

The shibe's metal exoskeleton contracts slightly when you stroke it, eerily lifelike and artificial at the same time -- although you suspect some people have said the same thing about you. It lifts its head, opens a mouthlike port, and licks your hand. Your retinal waveguide lights up: (link:"ACTIVATE THREAT MODELING")[(goto:"Dog Finds Vent")] (link:"DESYNC")[(goto:"Alex Visited Drone")]

The shibe's eyes glow briefly as it scans the room with a faint clicking noise. Its heatmap and executive report spreads across your waveguide. {(live: 2s)[(show: ?dog1)(stop:)] (live: 2.2s)[(show: ?dog2)(stop:)] (live: 2.6s)[(show: ?dog3)(stop:)] (live: 3s)[(show: ?dog4)(stop:)] (live: 5s)[(show: ?dog5)(stop:)]} (css: "color: red;")[|dog1)[w o w]] (css: "color: green;")[|dog2)[m u c h w i r i n g]] (css: "color: blue;")[|dog3)[v e r y a i r d u c t]] (css: "color: orange")[|dog4)[''s o s e c u r e'']] |dog5)[A score in flashing red suggests that this last line is sarcastic. The shibe seizes up as soon as it's finished and retreats back into box form. You notice a square it's highlighted behind a light screen printing of pre-flood Shanghai. Gently lifting the picture aside, you see (if:$ductlocked is true)[the locked entrance to an air duct.](if:$ductlocked is false)[the duct you found already.] (set: $dogsleep to true) {(if:$alexcubetrick is true and $ductlocked is true)[(link:"Jiggle the sides and crawl into the duct.")[(set: $ductlocked to false)(goto:"Gunther Office Interior")]](else-if: $ductlocked is false)[(link:"Crawl through the duct.")[(goto:"Gunther Office Interior")]]} (link:"Leave the duct alone.")[(goto:"Alex Visited Drone")]]

You carefully jiggle the duct open. As you climb in, you think you see Alex roll her eyes. (link:"Exit the duct.")[(set: $ductlocked to false)(goto:"Gunther Office Interior")]

(if:$hastwofactor is true)[Computing Hijack Upgrade Chosen. (link:"Take Drone Whistle.")[(set:$hastwofactor to false)(set:$hasdronewhistle to true)(goto:"Review Inventory")]] (else-if:$hasdronewhistle is true)[Drone Whistle Chosen. (link:"Take Computing Hijack Upgrade.")[(set:$hastwofactor to true)(set:$hasdronewhistle to false)(goto:"Review Inventory")]]

(if:$hasregen is true)[Advanced Bio-Repair Chosen. (link:"Take Feline Decoy.")[(set:$hasregen to false)(set:$haskittens to true)(goto:"Review Inventory")]] (else-if:$haskittens is true)[Feline Decoy Chosen. (link:"Take Advanced Bio-Repair.")[(set:$hasregen to true)(set:$haskittens to false)(goto:"Review Inventory")]]

(if:$haslockpick is true)[Nanite Lockpicking Module Chosen. (link:"Take Plasma Flechette Pistol.")[(set:$haslockpick to false)(set:$hasgun to true)(goto:"Review Inventory")]] (else-if:$hasgun is true)[Plasma Flechette Pistol Chosen. (link:"Take Nanite Lockpicking Module.")[(set:$haslockpick to true)(set:$hasgun to false)(goto:"Review Inventory")]]

(set:$haslockpick to true) (set:$hasgun to false) (set:$hasregen to true) (set:$haskittens to false) (set:$hastwofactor to true) (set:$hasdronewhistle to false) (link:"Confirm Gear")[(goto:"Review Inventory")]

The security door clangs behind you. You are left alone with(if: $tookflag is false)[ the flag and ](if: $haslockpick is true)[(link:"the vacant desk")[(goto:"Front Desk")] and](else:)[the vacant desk and] your growing anxiety. Your memory cluster takes your mind off $paul and the upcoming operation with a rousing history lesson. [//There is one great lesson of our century: the most trivial-sounding tactics often evolve into the most dangerous. Early 21st-century social media warfare was merely crude psychological and technical manipulation. And for this reason, the platform superpowers did little to stem its advance.//]<c1| (click: ?c1)[//The internet's executives allowed development of the first interface traps and reality editors in the 2020s, even refusing to acknowledge them until the first skirmishes of the verification wars — when they had already been refined, weaponized, and injected into code built for a more innocent age.//]<c2| (click: ?c2)[//The term "cyberwarfare" became as redundant as "electronic mail." Trolls and hackers matched the platforms' escalating patches blow for blow. It is difficult to even imagine a future for civilization without ETRUSCO's operations.//]<c3| (click: ?c3)[//Some unlicensed media outlets have claimed the unperson virus represents a critical failure for ETRUSCO, or a reverse of the past decade's progress. Nothing could be further from the truth. The virus has merely exposed the final, hideous traces of an old world -- and you will be the one to end it.//]<c4| (click: ?c4)[Your commlink vibrates, indicating that a Platinum Tier black autocab is ready to (link:"drive you to Brooklyn.")[(set: $etruscoHQfinished to true)(goto:"Start Brighton Yards")]]

{(set: $tunnel to "hidden") (set: $beachguards to "calm") (set: $leavebeachgoal to "active") (set: $activategondolagoal to "active") (set: $guncount to 0) (set: $lockpickcount to 0) (set: $kittenscount to 0) (set: $regencount to 0) (set: $twofactorcount to 0) (set: $dronewhistlecount to 0) (set: $stuncount to 0) (set: $killcount to 0)} Brighton Yards is a remnant of Old New New York. Developers originally pitched it as a public-access artificial island; the anchor of a Brooklyn seawall; and a luxury apartment arcology, with ten percent of its underwater units devoted to affordable housing. Now it lies solitary and abandoned, and years of mergers, bankruptcies, and lawsuits have left its ownership uncertain. The autocab drops you off at the rocky beach. Anna Navarre – who has taken a different, slightly blacker cab — looks at the watery gap between shore and building with obvious disdain, then turns to you with (if:$hasgun is true)[a somewhat warmer expression.](else:)[a similar expression.] ["How do you plan to proceed?"]<c1| (click: ?c1)[You frown. "I assumed we would be going in together."]<c2| (click: ?c2)["How... forward of you. No -- Manderley would like an untainted assessment of your performance. You will make the initial ingress as a solo operation, then activate the gondola on the observation deck, preparing us for a speedy tactical departure. I will follow once this is done."]<c3| (click: ?c3)["How am I supposed to get to the observation deck? Swim?"]<c4| (click: ?c4)["Perhaps if you had not worn a ridiculous leather overcoat, that would be a possibility."]<c5| (click: ?c5)[Navarre raises her eyebrows and retreats to the boardwalk. You (link:"need some advice")[(goto:"Call Alex Beach")].]

Inventory: * Rechargeable Electropacification Stunner * Universal Hard Storage Nano-Connector * (if: $haslockpick is true)[Nanite Lockpicking Module](else-if: $hasgun is true)[Plasma Flechette Pistol] * (if: $hasregen is true)[Advanced Bio-Repair](else-if: $haskittens is true)[Feline Decoy] * (if: $hastwofactor is true)[Computing Hijack Upgrade](else-if: $hasdronewhistle is true)[Drone Whistle] (if:$hassoylent is true)[* Soylent Bar]

Objectives: (if: $leavebeachgoal is "active")[* Reach the Brighton Yards tower.](else-if: $leavebeachgoal is "completed")[* ~~Reach the Brighton Yards tower.~~] (if: $activategondolagoal is "active")[* Activate the gondola.](else-if: $leavebeachgoal is "completed")[* ~~Activate the gondola.~~]

Alex answers your commlink call on the fourth vibration. You pace the beach beneath a darkening sky, trying to look natural for the half-dozen quixotic sunbathers gingerly resting on the rocks. ["JC! Sorry. The shibe grabbed my headband. What's going on?"]<c1| (click: ?c1)["Agent Navarre wants me to go it alone on the beach. Can you pull up any schematics of the area?"]<c2| (click: ?c2)["Looks like there's a marina to the east -- you might be able to catch a ride from there. The Yards' developers might have left another way in, too -- but I doubt it'd be in plain sight. Ever seen one of those tunnels under Disneyworld?"]<c3| (click: ?c3)["No."]<c4| (click: ?c4)["Exactly."]<c5| (click: ?c5)[For lack of any better options, you could (link:"head for the marina")[(goto:"Visit Marina")] or (link:"explore the beach.")[(goto:"Visit Beach")]]

Your memory cluster defines a "marina" as "a specially designed harbor with moorings for pleasure craft and small boats." The only harbor you see is a large, brine-crusted enclosure of steel netting, and the only craft are stark, sleek bullets arranged in an unfamiliar formation. [(if:$beachdrone is true)["Submarines," you whisper to the small drone above you.](else:)[Submarines.]]<c1| (click: ?c1)[A man melts out of the netting and blocks your way. "Members only," he growls."]<c2| (click: ?c2)["Members of what?"]<c3| (click: ?c3)[The man must be military or PMC if he's still using light-field cloaking mech-augs. LFC was briefly popular with consumers, the way baby alligators are popular in illicit pet shops. It was an honest-to-god invisibility superpower that lasted maybe three years, until its nigh-impossible power draw exceeded its degrading battery capacity. Now its civilian users have only delicate, lightless lines of implanted mirrors, like a dinosaur's plates.]<c4| (click: ?c4)["Do you really expect me to answer that?"]<c5| (click: ?c5)[You can think of very few ways to avoid sounding petulant here, and they all involve violence.]<c6| (click: ?c6)["Yes," you mutter. "Yes, (link:"I do")[(goto:"Meet the Guards")]." (if:$beachdrone is true)[(link:"Or you could just smash your drone into him.")[(goto:"Drone Beach Guards")]]]

(set: $beachguards to "wary") The guard mutters something into the crook of his metal arm, and you realize he's not alone. Two more men split the netting and slip out of the marina, nearly surrounding you. Even the sky seems hostile: the storm that's been threatening since you arrived finally hits, scattering the last of the beachgoers. (if: $hasgun is true)[(link:"Draw the plasma emitter and open fire.")[(goto:"Shoot Beach Guards")]] (if: $hasregen is true)[(link:"Draw the stunner and shoot.")[(goto:"Stun Beach Guards")]] (if: $hasgun is true)[(link:"Run.")[(goto:"Run Beach Guards")]](else-if: $hasregen is true)[(link:"Run.")[(goto:"Run Beach Guards")]](else:)[(link:"You're hopelessly outgunned. Run.")[(goto:"Run Beach Guards")]]

(set: $hasgun to true) (set: $haslockpick to true) (set: $hasregen to true) (set: $haskittens to true) (set: $hastwofactor to true) (set: $hasdronewhistle to true) (set: $hassoylent to true) (set: $tunnel to "hidden") (set: $beachguards to "calm") (link:"Start")[(goto:"Start Brighton Yards")]

(set: $killcount to it + 3) (set: $guncount to it + 3) You pull the plasma emitter from its holster with your nano-augmented reflexes. The guards are old, clumsy — obsolete. They have no purpose on this earth. [Pew.]<c1| (click: ?c1)[Pew.]<c2| (click: ?c2)[Pew.]<c3| (click: ?c3)[Pew.]<c4| (click: ?c4)[Pew.]<c5| (click: ?c5)[Pew.]<c6| (click: ?c6)[Pew.]<c7| (click: ?c7)[Pew.]<c8| (click: ?c8)[Pew.]<c9| (click: ?c9)[Pew.]<c10| (click: ?c10)[Pew.]<c11| (click: ?c11)[Pew.]<c12| (click: ?c12)[Pew.]<c13| (click: ?c13)[Pew.]<c14| (click: ?c14)[Pew.]<c15| (click: ?c15)[Pew.]<c16| (click: ?c16)[Pew.]<c17| (click: ?c17)[Pew.]<c18| (click: ?c18)[Pew.]<c19| (click: ?c19)[Pew.]<c20| (click: ?c20)[Pew.]<c21| (click: ?c21)[Pew.]<c22| (click: ?c22)[Pew.]<c23| (click: ?c23)[Salt air and rainwater smother the scent of burning flesh and scorched metal as the last guard falls to the ground. You have no idea who these people were, or what they were doing. But you really wanted into that marina, so (link:"now they're dead.")[(goto:"Enter Marina.")]]

As you cross the marina, you remember learning that during the verification wars, ten Dorsey Separatists attempted to break the siege of Portland with a fleet of personal submarines. They spent cramped weeks navigating water mazes laid by platform superpowers, fueled by designer nootropics. Five turned back, three went insane, and one reappeared months later on a ship adrift in the Pacific, living among rats that he claimed had formed a hive intelligence after being given modafinil. The last was never found. (link:"Stuff yourself into the tiny submarine.")[(set:$beachtravel to "boat")(goto:"Travel To Arcology")]

(set: $stuncount to it + 1) (set: $regencount to it + 1) You draw the stunner. Your aiming nanites calculate your opponent's estimated weight, age, and body fat; his ancestral DNA quotients; his current probable pain threshold; the presence of any prominently branded products; and the trajectory of his body. Only one of those measurements is actually necessary, but the rest is [useful for data mining.]<c1| (click: ?c1)[For you, it's not much help. You hit the man in the center, but the other two fire while your stunner recharges. You slump to the ground, and the last thing you hear before starting your regenerator and passing out is one of the guards:]<c2| (click: ?c2)["This is still illegal, right? We should (link:"get rid of $pronoun2")[(goto:"Regenerate In Marina")]."]

(set: $beachguards to "gone") [Wake up.]<c1| (click: ?c1)[You are wrapped in a soggy blanket bearing the logo of a prominent esports caster. The room is dark and smells of bleach, but your augmented vision can tell that it's a storage closet, and some fumbling reveals that someone dropped your stunner in a corner.]<c2| (click: ?c2)[This isn't too unreasonable a decision, because judging by the holes in your coat and shirt, any ordinary human would be extremely dead by now. You feel only a maddening internal tickle and several spots of tender skin.]<c3| (click: ?c3)[You sneak a look outside. The guards appear to have taken their fallen comrade away, and you're (link:"alone in the marina.")[(goto:"Enter Marina")]]

The guards are slow, stiffened by years of planned obsolescence in their implants. You outrun them easily and slip back (link:"to the beach.")[(goto:"Beach Central")]

It's raining heavily, and Anna's joke about swimming no longer sounds like such a bad idea. But the way you see it, you still have two options: (link:"the marina")[(if: $beachguards is "wary")[(goto:"Return Beach Guards")](else-if: $beachguards is "calm")[(goto:"Visit Marina")](else-if: $beachguards is "gone")[(goto:"Enter Marina")]] and (link:"the far end of the beach.")[(goto:"Visit Beach")] (if:$beachdrone is true)[A small drone is following you.] (link:"Check Objectives")[(display:"Brighton Objectives")] (link:"Check Inventory")[(display:"Brighton Inventory")]

The beach doesn't end. It disappears into a tangle of plastic detritis, drawn from ocean and city alike. (if:$tunnel is "woman")[The woman's directions put the tunnel entrance in a gap (link:"behind a kelpy swamp")[(goto:"Enter Tunnel")] of bags.](else-if:$tunnel is "drone")[A tunnel entrance sits in a gap (link:"behind a kelpy swamp")[(goto:"Enter Tunnel")] of bags.](else-if: $tunnel is "hidden")[You see no sign of a boat or anything else of value, except perhaps an (if:$hasdronewhistle is true)[(link:"abandoned toy quadcopter")[(goto:"Drone Beach Survey")].](else-if:$hasdronewhistle is false)[abandoned toy quadcopter.]] (link:"Turn back.")[(goto:"Beach Central")]

You can't be sure the woman is unpersoned, but anyone else who looked so stuck would be filed into the system of indigent work shelters and reskilling institutes. Those require a platform presence, though, and the unpersoned have a virus bound to their name and biometrics, erasing any linked accounts as soon as they're created. The very rich can change their identities through courts and plastic surgeons. When every connection routes through a personalized online assistant, how is anyone else supposed to even get started? Melodramatic types call the Unperson virus the "gray death." Last week it knocked an entire suburb of Atlanta offline. ["The weather's hell today, isn't it?" she says.]<c1| (click: ?c1)["I'd assume hell would at least be warmer."]<c2| (click: ?c2)[She laughs. "Most people have never been to hell."]<c3| (click: ?c3)[A peal of thunder hits, and you both flinch. She recovers first. "You're supposed to ask me," she says.]<c4| (click: ?c4)["Ask you what?"]<c5| (click: ?c5)["Ask me if I //have//." She cocks an eyebrow. "And if you've got anything to eat, I'll tell you."]<c6| (click: ?c6)[(if:$hassoylent is true)[(link:"Give her your soylent.")[(goto:"Beach Woman Tunnel")] (link:"Apologize and keep walking.")[(set:$woman to "ignored")(goto:"Beach Tunnel End")]] (else:)[(link:"You have nothing. Apologize and keep walking.")[(goto:"Beach Tunnel End")]]]

(set: $tunnel to "woman") (set: $woman to "fed") The woman peels the soylent bar's rice-plastic wrapper and takes a bite. ["You probably guessed I was lying. And I am, you know? But only on a technicality. Because Hell has nine levels." She levels a finger at the mass of Brighton Yards. "And that thing out there has seventeen."]<c1| (click: ?c1)["You lived in the Yards?"]<c2| (click: ?c2)["I died in the Yards."]<c3| (click: ?c3)["The virus, you mean."]<c4| (click: ?c4)["You think a ghost would want food?" She takes another bite. "That place is //infested//. The funny thing is, I thought I was being smart. I got ghosted by an outfit called Majestic Realty on a contract, and I didn't have a whole lot else to do, so I spent a whole week online finding somewhere to complain. All signs pointed to them owning it, you know?"]<c5| (click: ?c5)["I didn't. How did you get out there? The gondola's offline."]<c6| (click: ?c6)["Oh, that -- that //was// smart. I read all the glossy architecture magazine profiles till I figured out they had a poor door. Or a poor... tunnel, I guess. Then I busted into it with a crowbar."]<c7| (click: ?c7)[You wait for her to finish the soylent, thinking of various phrasings for your question: "Can you tell me (link:"how to get there")[(goto:"Beach Tunnel End")]?"]

ETRUSCO's training center is an enclosed toroid arcology located far inland in California 7. $paul told you once that it was so nobody could look out to the ocean and wonder what they'd lost. It's easy enough to see what's been lost on the beach -- in the foundering piers, the clumsy levees, and (if: $woman is "fed")[the woman who searched the Yards.](else-if: $woman is "ignored")[the hungry woman beneath the boardwalk.](else:)[(link:"the woman sheltering")[(goto:"Talk Beach Woman")] beneath a half-rotted section of the boardwalk.] (link:"Walk on by.")[(goto:"Beach Tunnel End")]

(set:$tunnel to "drone") (set: $dronewhistlecount to it + 1) (set: $beachdrone to true) The quadcopter is an older model, but you breathe life into its insectoid body just the same. It's the kind of thing your parents might have stuffed a stocking with at Christmas, just some rotors and a camera. You send it soaring, and as it rises, your nanites' pattern recognition algorithms catch a strange depression (link:"behind a kelpy swamp")[(goto:"Enter Tunnel")] of bags. (link:"Turn back.")[(goto:"Beach Central")]

You slosh through inches of plastic filth as you make your way to the tunnel's crumbling stairs. Its metal door is small, modest, and scarred with bright scratch lines. It's also hanging open. Peering into the darkness, you catch the only two words that matter on a metal plaque: BRIGHTON YARDS (link:"Enter the tunnel.")[(set: $beachtravel to "tunnel")(goto:"Travel To Arcology")] (link:"Turn back.")[(goto:"Beach Central")]

(set: $leavebeachgoal to "completed") (if:$beachtravel is "boat")[The submarine has a cheap reality editor equipped, but you doubt it fools anyone into enjoying a ride in a coffin-like tube. You close your eyes and silently recite the moderator's creed.](else-if:$beachtravel is "tunnel")[The tunnel cools precipitously as it drops beneath the water. This must be how undersea cables feel — the smart ones, anyway.] As you make your way through the water, your commlink buzzes. There's no name with the feeling, and you're surprised you have data service at all. ["Alex?"]<c1| (click: ?c1)[L̷̳͕̪͎̾̒͌Ị̵̛͖Ṡ̷̩T̵͙̈́̆͘É̵̘̰͜͝N̶͉͕̲͙̐̄̒ ̵͈̈̒C̸͈̯̆̓̕A̸̭̐͜R̶̦͂E̴͖̮̟̅F̷̟͎̿̄͝Ụ̵̯́̏͂̎L̵̡̜̫̜̄̊L̴͉̀̐̓͝Y̷͕̹̍͐͋͠]<c2| (click: ?c2)["Agent Navarre?"]<c3| (click: ?c3)[Ḑ̴̣̅͜͠E̸͓͉͋͘F̶͕͗͠͝Ḯ̵̡̗͈Ņ̴̙͖͆̂E̷̤̞̖͊́ ̶̠̽̀͘Ě̷̦̻̗L̷̯͉͆͂̍ͅE̶̺̥̦̾̕Ġ̵̪͐̂Ĭ̸̻̹͚͛̽À̷̗̥̌̾ͅC̷͚̎̒̊:̴̨̜̽͒ ̴̞̗̌A̷̘͊ ̶̯̞̖̃̆Ľ̶̹̫̅̐Ả̴̰̀͆͜Ṃ̴͓̊̚E̵̬͎̾́̒N̶̯̱͑̀T̴̥͗ ̶̨̬̓̿̂F̶̢̟̣̀͝Ó̶̬̤̲R̴̺̎ ̴̬̭̞͆̐̈T̸̺̈́̒̆ͅH̶̰̤̹͂Ë̵̱́́ ̴͇͙͒̊͆D̴̰̂͋͘E̴̢̠̐A̵̧͇̫̒͋Ḋ̴̨̻̞̕]<c4| (click: ?c4)["A lament for the dead? I don't understand. Who is this?"]<c5| (click: ?c5)[Ḋ̴̪Ẻ̶͖̤͈̈́͛͠Ǎ̷̺̯̰̲̯́̃̑̈́D̷̙̼͔̹̜̀ ̵̭͌̀̈≯̦̔ ̶͖̳̟̯̉̓̍B̸̼̽Ŕ̵͈͝E̵͇̯̖̬͖̅̐̆͘Ä̵̧̭̘͎̓ͅD̸̖̦̜͕̈́͝ ̶̡̢̱̠̀̎͌̐>̵̤͓̄̂͋͠ ̴͔͚͗̂L̵͚̜͋́̀͝E̵̠͓̔A̶̧͓͓̘͔̿̊D̷̨̫̗͛̚.̷̜̄̊̈́̆ ̵̞̟̪̮͈̓L̴͓̙̞̆͊̂͝Ḛ̴̣̔̊̊́͘Ą̸̊́̾͂͝Ḏ̸́̕:̶̑͒͂̕ͅ ̷̼̥̠̖̀ͅ#̴̱̦̻͆̽̕͜ͅĀ̵̰9̷̅ͅA̴̭̥͇̭͝͠9̴̧̜̫̉͌͋Ă̸̭̟̖͍̈͗̀9̶͔̟̮̞̅͊́]<c6| (click: ?c6)["Hexadecimal gray... dead — you mean the gray death? You're talking about Unperson?"]<c7| (click: ?c7)[Ư̵͇N̴̪̈́P̷̦͗Ȇ̷̡R̵͓̈́S̶̙̽O̷͑ͅN̷̗̆ ̴̮̈>̶̱̒ ̸̱͌Ẅ̶̡Ǫ̷̽R̴̮̍S̴̗͠E̷̜͝N̷͘͜ ̵̹̀>̴̝̑ ̵̣̔K̸̠̓R̶͈̆Ǐ̷̟S̵͙̍T̷̬́O̶͈͘F̶̼̌F̶͕̍É̸̼Ṛ̴̊S̶̤̃Ó̵̳N̵͕͂ ̶̫̃>̶̥͑ ̵͛ͅB̷͉͘L̵̜̓A̵̘͆D̵̗̆Ȩ̵͠ ̶͈͠1̷̞͊9̵̪͆9̵̲̔8̸̧͘ ̷̫͌=̶̣̿ ̴͙̋S̶̲̍N̴͉̅I̷̘̓P̵̝͂È̶̼S̷̮͋ ̴͍͋>̶̊͜ ̶͓͒S̵͚̈́N̴̲͝Ì̸̩P̶̥̌Ė̶͇R̸̞̂:̸̫͐ ̴̟̅T̷̡̂H̸̭̽E̷͍̅ ̶͊ͅP̷̪̈́Ì̴̝E̴̙͂C̶̪̆E̵͔͐Ś̵̘ ̵͎͛F̷͚́Í̶̯T̶̨̈]<c8| (click: ?c8)["What pieces? How did you get this link? Who are you?"]<c9| (click: ?c9)[(display:"Q Text")]

The rain cloaks you in shadows, and the guards don't seem to notice you've come back. (if:$haskittens is true)[(link:"Select a kitten from your sticker pack.")[(goto:"Kittens Beach Guards")]] (if:$beachdrone is true)[(link:"Crash your drone into the guards.")[(goto:"Drone Beach Guards")]] (if: $hasgun is true)[(link:"Draw the plasma emitter and open fire.")[(goto:"Shoot Beach Guards")]] (if: $hasregen is true)[(link:"Approach with the stunner and shoot.")[(goto:"Stun Beach Guards")]] (link:"Head back to the beach.")[(goto:"Beach Central")]

(set: $kittenscount to it + 1) You select a particularly adorable gray Scottish Fold — probably Japanese — from your occipital menu. Blinking hard, you cast it into the rain by the guards. The effect is disappointing at first, because the kitten doesn't look remotely real to your eyes. But the guards are suddenly, uncannily rapt. You remember Jaime's words: //Weaponized UX, addictive interfaces.// (link:"They don't even turn their heads as you slip by.")[(goto:"Enter Marina")]

(set:$stuncount to it +3) The drone hits the guard with the force of a mech-aug palmetto bug, giving you time to hit him with your electroderringer. You recharge it and slip around the inner perimeter of the marina, silently taking down a second guard, and then a third. It is a remarkably satisfying process. (link:"You are alone in the marina.")[(goto:"Enter Marina")]

You are on a dock at one side of a room. At the other end is, for all intents and purposes, a door. A barrier lies between you and the door. A guard stands in front of the door. The barrier is between you and the guard as well. If you simply climb it, he'll see you and shoot, unless he's distracted. If you traverse the barrier safely, you'll be in range with a plasma pistol. For a stunner, a closer range is required. To your left, near the platform, is a small grate. To the right, there's a line of projectors flashing hot enough to conceal you. They won't get you past a barrier, but they'll get you into a duct near it, marked with a QR code indicating proximity to a security terminal. Do you: (link:"Go left to the grate.")[(goto: "Drone Grate Ghost")] (link:"Go right toward the duct.")[(goto:"Hacking Grate Ghost")] (link:"Move toward the barrier.")[(goto:"Barrier Ghost")] (link:"OBJECTIVES")[(display:"Arcology Objectives Ghost")] (link:"INVENTORY")[(display:"Arcology Inventory Ghost")]

(set: $lockpickcountghost to 0) (set: $guncountghost to 0) (set: $regencountghost to 0) (set: $kittenscountghost to 0) (set: $twofactorcount to 0) (set: $dronewhistlecount to 0) (set: $killcount to 0) You are on a platform at the far end of a huge antechamber garden. At the far end of the garden, in the center, there is a locked door. A guard is in front of the door. A large barrier, which would take time to traverse, is between you and the guard. Your guns cannot shoot through this barrier, and the guard will shoot you if you climb over it, unless distracted. In the far left-hand corner, there is a security room. You see a row of future-trees that would hide you from the guard and get you to a grate, but the front door is on the guard's side. If you open it he will see and shoot you, unless he's distracted. There is a grate to your left. Test only: you should change your inventory (go to inventory) Do you: Go left to the grate. Go right through the trees. Move toward the barrier. You should think on this. (if triedcount is whatever, go final)

Go to the grate to your left. Inside is a drone in a tiny vent. Do you: (drone only) Send the drone through the vent. Leave it alone (back to start, but drone is at end of gate.)

The grate is locked. You can: Shoot the grate, which makes the guard wary. Lockpick the grate.

You can deal with the guard long enough to get within shooting range. To get within stunning range, he'd need to be really distracted. Deploy a kitten to distract him. Deploy regeneration to live through some bullets.

The drone can unlock the door, or it can distract the guard. It takes a few minutes for the drone to warm up, so you can do one or two other things before it deploys. (unspoken, unless distracted by something else at barrier drone will die) At barrier: Send the drone to unlock the door. The guard will notice this. Send the drone to hit the guard. At security station: Send the drone to unlock the door. The guard will notice this if he is already wary. Send the drone to distract the guard. He will shoot if he's already wary.

If deploying a kitten from the barrier: Deploy kitten, get within range, and shoot the distracted guard. Deploy kitten, get within range of droned guard, and stun him. If deploying a kitten from the hacking room: Deploy kitten, get within range, and shoot or stun the distracted guard. Deploy kitten on droned guard, and he... gets really confused?

If deploying regen from the barrier: Deploy regen, get within range, and shoot the distracted guard. Deploy regen, get within range of droned guard, and stun him. If deploying regen from the hacking room: Deploy regen, get within range, and shoot or stun the distracted guard. Deploy regen on droned guard, he's so freaked out that he stuns himself.

The guard is carrying a passphrase, and there's one in a locked safe. You will get this option if you have shot/stunned the guard or opened the safe. If you have only hacked and not dealt with guard: Return to start Deploy kitten from hacking station and stun guard Deploy regen from hacking station and stun guard Deploy drone from hacking station and distract guard or unlock main door.

You have to shoot it a lot, so you only get this option if you have dealt with the guard. Congrats, you're done. Go to end.

The drone unlocks the door (and guard shoots unless he's taken care of) You still have to deal with the guard, if you haven't already. If guard is dealt with: go to end If not: follow normal deal-with-guard options from security room or barrier

(set: $haslockpick to false) (set: $hasgun to true) (set: $haskittens to false) (set: $hasregen to true) (set: $hasdronewhistle to true) (set: $hastwofactor to false) (link:"Start")[(goto:"Solve Arcology Ghost Intro")]

//There's a drone behind the grate, right at the entrance to a long passage. Too small for you, just fine for it.// (if:$hasdronewhistle is true and $dronestate is "stationary")[(link:"Start the drone.")[(print:"The friendly drone disappears, then peeks out from above the guard.")(set:$finaldronestarted to true)(set: $dronestate to "ready")(set: $dronewhistlecountghost to it + 1)]](else-if: $dronestate is "ready")[You see the drone's home base.](else-if: $dronestate is "dead")[You see the dead drone's home base.] (link:"Go back to the dock.")[(goto:"Solve Arcology Ghost")]

(if:$hackroomstate is "locked")[//The duct leads to a security room, but it's locked.// (if: $hasgun is true and $guardstate is "calm")[(link:"Shoot the grate with a plasma flechette, alarming the guard.")[(set: $finalshootgrate to true)(set: $guardstate to "wary")(set: $hackroomstate to "unlocked")(goto:"Hacking Room Ghost")]](else-if:$hasgun is true)[(link:"Shoot the grate with a plasma flechette.")[(set:$hackroomstate to "unlocked")(goto:"Hacking Room Ghost")]] (if: $haslockpick is true)[(link:"Lockpick the grate.")[(set:$finallockpickgrate to true)(set: $hackroomstate to "unlocked")(goto:"Hacking Room Ghost")]]](else:)[There's an open duct to the security room. (link:"Go on in.")[(goto:"Hacking Room Ghost")]] (link:"Go Back.")[(goto:"Solve Arcology Ghost")]

(if: $roomcleared is false)[//You're near the barrier between you and the guard.//](else-if: $roomcleared is true)[//You're near the barrier between you and the guard. He's motionless.//] (if: $roomcleared is false)[(link:"Deal with it.")[(goto:"Guard From Barrier Ghost")]](else-if: $roomcleared is true)[(link:"Cross the barrier.")[(goto:"Cleared Room Ghost")]] (link:"Back away slowly.")[(goto:"Solve Arcology Ghost")]

You are in the hacking room. The hacking terminal needs a password. The door toward the guard is open. There is a safe on the wall. (if: $hasgun is true and $guardstate is "calm" and $haspassword is false)[(link:"Shoot the safe, alarming the guard.")[(set: $guardstate to "wary")(set: $haspassword to true)(set: $guncountghost to it + 1)(goto:"Hacking Terminal Ghost")]](else-if: $hasgun is true and $haspassword is false)[(link:"Shoot the safe.")[(set: $haspassword to true)(set: $guncountghost to it + 1)(goto:"Hacking Terminal Ghost")]] (if: $haslockpick is true and $haspassword is false)[(link:"Lockpick the safe.")[(set: $haspassword to true)(set: $lockpickcountghost to it + 1)(goto:"Hacking Terminal Ghost")]] (if: $dronestate is "ready" and $guardstate is "distracted" and $finaldoor is "locked")[(link:"Send the drone to unlock the door.")[(print:"The drone unlocks the door and hides in the grate.")(set:$finaldoor to "unlocked")]] (else-if: $dronestate is "ready" and $guardstate is "calm" and $finaldoor is "locked")[(link:"Send the drone to unlock the door.")[(print:"The drone unlocks the door. Before it can return to the grate, the guard shoots it down.")(set:$finaldoor to "unlocked")(set: $dronestate to "dead")]](else-if: $dronestate is "ready" and $roomcleared is true)[(print:"The drone unlocks the door and hovers above it.")(set:$finaldoor to "unlocked")] (if:$dronestate is "ready" and $guardstate is "distracted")[(link:"Send the drone to distract the guard even more.")[(link:"The drone swoops into the guard. You burst through the door.")[(set: $guardstate to "superdistracted")(goto:"Guard From Station")]]](else-if:$dronestate is "ready" and $guardstate is "calm")[(link:"Send the drone to distract the guard.")[(link:"The drone swoops into the guard. You burst through the side door.")[(set: $guardstate to "distracted")(set: $dronestate to "dead")(goto:"Guard From Station")]]] (if: $haskittens is true and $guardstate is "distracted")[(link:"Crack the door and cast a kitten.")[(set:$guardstate to "superdistracted")(set: $kittenscountghost to it + 1)(goto:"Guard From Station")]](else-if: $guardstate is "calm")[(link:"Crack the side door, cast a kitten.")[(set: $guardstate to "distracted")(set: $kittenscountghost to it + 1)(goto:"Guard From Station")]] (if: $hasregen is true and $roomcleared is false)[(link:"Turn on regeneration and burst through the door.")[(set: $regencountghost to it + 1)(goto:"Guard From Station")]] (if: $roomcleared is true)[(link:"Go to the cleared room")[(goto:"Cleared Room Ghost")]] (link:"Return to the dock.")[(goto:"Solve Arcology Ghost")] (link:"OBJECTIVES")[(display:"Arcology Objectives Ghost")] (link:"INVENTORY")[(display:"Arcology Inventory Ghost")]

{ (set: $lockpickcountghost to 0) (set: $guncountghost to 0) (set: $regencountghost to 0) (set: $kittenscountghost to 0) (set: $twofactorcountghost to 0) (set: $dronewhistlecountghost to 0) (set: $killcountghost to 0) (set: $dronestate to "stationary") (set: $guardstate to "calm") (set: $hackroomstate to "locked") (set: $haspassword to false) (set: $roomcleared to false) (set: $finaldoor to "locked") (set: $augstate to "none") (set: $safestate to "locked") (set: $guardsearched to false) (set: $finaldronestarted to false) (set: $finaldoordrone to false) (set: $finaldoordronedeath to false) (set: $finaldoorshoot to false) (set: $finalhackterminal to false) (set: $finalsearchguard to false) (set: $finalshootgrate to false) (set: $finallockpickgrate to false) (set: $finalshootsafe to false) (set: $finallockpicksafe to false) (set: $finalterminalguardshoot to false) (set: $finalterminalguardstunregen to false) (set: $finalterminalguardshootregen to false) (set: $finalterminalguardstundrone to false) (set: $finalterminalguardstunregendrone to false) (set: $finalterminalguardstundronedeath to false) (set: $finalterminalguardstunkittens to false) (set: $finalbarrierguardshootregen to false) (set: $finalbarrierguardshootkittens to false) (set: $finalbarrierguardstunkittensdrone to false) (set: $finalbarrierguardstunregendrone to false) (set: $finalbarrierguardshootregendronedeath to false) (set: $scenariocount to 0) } //Here are the parameters of the situation,// [says the cluster.]<c1| (click: ?c1)[//You are on a dock at one side of a room. At the other end is, for all intents and purposes, a door. A barrier lies between you and the door.//]<c2| (click: ?c2)[//A guard, or close enough, stands in front of the door. Now, the barrier is between you and the guard as well. If you simply climb it, he'll see you and shoot, unless he's distracted. If you traverse the barrier safely, you'll be in range with a plasma pistol. For a stunner, a closer range is required.//]<c3| (click: ?c3)[//Now, surroundings. To your left, near the platform, is a small grate. To the right, there's a line of projectors flashing hot enough to conceal you. They won't get you past a barrier, but they'll get you into a duct near it, marked with a QR code indicating proximity to a security terminal.//]<c4| (click: ?c4)[//What do you do?// (link:"Go left to the grate.")[(goto: "Drone Grate Ghost")] (link:"Go right toward the duct.")[(goto:"Hacking Grate Ghost")] (link:"Move toward the barrier.")[(goto:"Barrier Ghost")] ]

//You've unlocked the work station with the passphrase.// (if:$finaldoor is "locked")[(link:"Unlock the Arcology entrance and log out.")[(set: $finalhackterminal to true)(set: $finaldoor to "unlocked")(goto:"Hacking Room Ghost")]](else:)[(link:"Log out.")[(goto:"Hacking Room Ghost")]]

You burst out the security station door. (if:$regenerating is true:)

OBJECTIVES: (if:$roomcleared is false)[Deal with the guard](else-if: $roomcleared is true)[~~Deal with the guard~~] (if: $finaldoor is "locked")[Unlock the door](else-if: $finaldoor is "unlocked")[~~Unlock the door.~~] (if: $roomcleared is true and $finaldoor is "unlocked")[Enter the arcology.]

INVENTORY: Rechargeable Electropacification Stunner Universal Hard Storage Nano-Connector (if: $haslockpick is true)[Nanite Lockpicking Module](else-if: $hasgun is true)[Plasma Flechette Pistol] (if: $hastwofactor is true)[Computing Hijack Upgrade](else-if: $hasdronewhistle is true)[Drone Whistle] (if: $hasregen is true)[Advanced Bio-Repair](else-if: $haskittens is true)[Feline Decoy]

//(if:$guardstate is "calm")[The guard is calm and will be slow on the draw, but you'll still need a distraction to make it close enough to shoot him at all, let alone stun him.](else-if:$guardstate is "wary")[The guard is wary and will be quick on the draw. He cannot be distracted except by being attacked.]// (if:$roomcleared is false and $hasregen is true)[(link:"Turn on advanced bio-repair.")[(goto:"Deploy Regenerate Barrier Ghost")]] (if:$roomcleared is false and $haskittens is true and $guardstate is "calm")[(link:"Deploy feline decoy.")[(goto:"Deploy Kitten Barrier Ghost")]] (if: $roomcleared is false and $dronestate is "ready")[(link:"Deploy friendly drone.")[(goto:"Deploy Drone Barrier Ghost")]] (link:"Back away slowly.")[(goto:"Solve Arcology Ghost")] (link:"OBJECTIVES")[(display:"Arcology Objectives Ghost")] (link:"INVENTORY")[(display:"Arcology Inventory Ghost")]

//(if:$guardstate is "calm")[(print:"The guard is unaware and slow on the draw.")](else-if:$guardstate is "wary")[(print:"The guard is wary and will overload your regeneration capacity immediately, unless he's already being attacked.")]// (if:$guardstate is "calm" and $hasgun is true)[(link:"Cross the barrier, get within plasma shooting distance before your damage limit is reached, and fire a flechette.")[(set:$finalbarrierguardshootregen to true)(set: $augstate to "regenerating")(goto:"Guard Shoot Barrier Ghost")]] (if:$guardstate is "calm" and $dronestate is "ready")[(link:"Cross the barrier, get within plasma shooting distance before your damage limit is reached, and quickly deploy the friendly drone.")[(set:$augstate to "regenerating")(goto:"Deploy Drone Barrier Ghost")]] (link:"Never mind. Back away slowly.")[(goto:"Solve Arcology Ghost")] (if:$hasregen is false)[(print:"How did you even get here")]

//(if:$guardstate is "calm")[(print:"The guard is unaware and slow on the draw.")](else-if:$guardstate is "wary")[(print:"The guard is wary and will attack the drone immediately, unless he's already being attacked.")]// (if:$guardstate is "calm" and $augstate is "kittens")[(link:"Deploy the friendly drone against the guard, who is distracted by your feline decoy.")[(set:$finalbarrierguardstunkittensdrone to true)(set: $dronestate to "attacking")(goto:"Guard Stun Barrier Ghost")]] (if:$guardstate is "calm" and $augstate is "regenerating")[(link:"Deploy the friendly drone against the guard, who is currently shooting you.")[(set:$finalbarrierguardstunregendrone to true)(set:$dronestate to "attacking")(goto:"Guard Stun Barrier Ghost")]] (if:$guardstate is "wary" and $augstate is "regenerating" and $hasgun is true)[(link:"Sacrifice the friendly drone to get within plasma shooting range of the guard.")[(set:$finalbarrierguardshootregendronedeath to true)(set: $dronestate to "dead")(goto:"Guard Shoot Barrier Ghost")]] (link:"Sacrifice the friendly drone to unlock the Arcology entrance.")[(set:$finaldoordronedeath to true)(set: $dronestate to "dead")(goto:"Guard From Barrier Ghost")] (link:"Never mind. Back away slowly.")[(set:$augstate to "none")(goto:"Solve Arcology Ghost")] (if:$hasdronewhistle is false)[(print:"How did you even get here")]

//(if:$guardstate is "calm")[(print:"The guard is unaware and will be distracted a moderate amount of time by the kitten.")](else-if:$guardstate is "wary")[(print:"The guard is wary and cannot be distracted.")]// (if:$guardstate is "calm" and $hasgun is true)[(link:"Deploy a kitten, get within plasma shooting range of the guard, and fire a flechette.")[(set:$finalbarrierguardshootkittens to true)(set:$augstate to "kittens")(goto:"Guard Shoot Barrier Ghost")]] (if:$guardstate is "calm" and $dronestate is "ready")[(link:"Deploy a kitten, get within plasma shooting range of the guard, and quickly deploy the friendly drone.")[(set:$augstate to "kittens")(goto:"Deploy Drone Barrier Ghost")]] (link:"Never mind. Back away slowly.")[(goto:"Solve Arcology Ghost")]

//You're too far from the guard to stun him, but close enough to hit him with a plasma flechette.// (if:$augstate is "kittens")[The guard is distracted by kittens. (link:"Kill him.")[(set: $guardstate to "dead")(set: $augstate to "none")(set: $roomcleared to true)(goto:"Cleared Room Ghost")]] (if:$augstate is "regenerating" and $dronestate is "dead")[The guard is distracted by the now-disintegrating drone. (link:"Kill him.")[(set: $guardstate to "dead")(set: $augstate to "none")(set: $roomcleared to true)(goto:"Cleared Room Ghost")]](else-if: $augstate is "regenerating")[The guard shoots you, to minimal effect. (link:"Kill him.")[(set: $guardstate to "dead")(set: $augstate to "none")(set: $roomcleared to true)(goto:"Cleared Room Ghost")]]

//(if:$augstate is "kittens" and $dronestate is "attacking")[The guard is distracted by kittens, and the drone stuns it easily. (link:"You're clear to cross.")[(set: $roomcleared to true)(set: $augstate to "none")(set: $dronestate to "ready")(set:$guardstate to "stunned")(goto:"Cleared Room Ghost")]]// (if:$augstate is "regenerating" and $dronestate is "attacking")[The guard is busy shooting you, and the friendly drone stuns it easily. (link:"You're clear to cross.")[(set: $roomcleared to true)(set: $augstate to "none")(set: $dronestate to "ready")(set:$guardstate to "stunned")(goto:"Cleared Room Ghost")]]‹›

//(if:$guardstate is "dead")[The guard is dead.](else-if:$guardstate is "stunned")[The guard is unconscious.] (if:$finaldoor is "unlocked")[The Arcology entrance is unlocked and you are free to walk inside.](else-if:$finaldoor is "locked")[The door to the Arcology is still locked.] The side door to the security room near you is unlocked.// (if:$guardsearched is false)[(link:"Search the guard.")[(goto:"Search Guard Ghost")]] (if:$finaldoor is "locked" and $hasgun is true)[(link:"Shoot the locked entrance.")[(set:$finaldoorshoot to true)(goto:"Shoot Final Door Ghost")]] (if:$finaldoor is "locked" and $dronestate is "ready")[(link:"Have the drone unlock the Arcology entrance.")[(goto:"Drone Final Door Ghost")]] (link:"Open the side door and enter the security room.")[(set: $hackroomstate to "unlocked")(goto:"Hacking Room Ghost")] (if: $finaldoor is "unlocked")[(link:"Walk into the Arcology.")[(goto:"Arcology Commit Screen")]] (link:"OBJECTIVES")[(display:"Arcology Objectives Ghost")] (link:"INVENTORY")[(display:"Arcology Inventory Ghost")]

//Definitely a security room, with a standard passphrase-based terminal. (if:$roomcleared is true)[There's an unlocked side door that opens near the Arcology entrance.](else:)[There's an unlocked side door that opens near the guard.] (if:$safestate is "unlocked")[You've emptied the passphrase safe.](else-if: $safestate is "locked")[A locked safe is on the wall.]// (if:$roomcleared is true)[(link:"It's safe to open the side door and walk outside.")[(goto:"Cleared Room Ghost")]](else:)[(link:"Deal with the guard.")[(goto:"Guard From Terminal Ghost")]] (if:$safestate is "locked" and $haslockpick is true)[(link:"Pick the lock to the safe.")[(set:$finallockpicksafe to true)(goto:"Open Safe Ghost")]](else-if: $safestate is "locked" and $hasgun is true and $guardstate is "calm")[(link:"Shoot the safe with a plasma flechette, alarming the guard.")[(set:$finalshootsafe to true)(set: $guardstate to "wary")(goto:"Open Safe Ghost")]](else-if: $safestate is "locked" and $hasgun is true)[(set:$finalshootsafe to true)(link:"Shoot the safe with a plasma flechette.")[(goto:"Open Safe Ghost")]] (if: $hastwofactor is true and $haspassword is true)[(link:"Access the security terminal.")[(goto:"Hacking Terminal Ghost")]] (link:"Head back out the grate.")[(goto:"Solve Arcology Ghost")]

//(if:$haslockpick is true)[You pick the lock and open the safe.](else-if:$hasgun is true)[You loudly shoot the safe open.] Inside, you find a passphrase for the computer.// (if:$hastwofactor is true)[(link:"Take the passphrase.")[(set: $safestate to "unlocked")(set:$haspassword to true)(goto:"Hacking Room Ghost")]](else:)[(link:"Leave the passphrase. It's useless to you.")[(set: $safestate to "unlocked")(goto:"Hacking Room Ghost")]]

//The guard is close enough that you could shoot him from the doorway, or find a way to get closer and stun him. (if: $guardstate is "calm")[He isn't paying much attention and will be slow on the draw.](else-if: $guardstate is "wary")[He's wary — if you shoot him, he'll hit you first, and he can't be distracted, except by being attacked.]// (if:$hasgun is true and $guardstate is "calm")[(link:"Jump out and shoot the guard with your plasma flechettes.")[(set:$finalterminalguardshoot to true)(set:$guardstate to "terminalshot")(goto:"Guard Shoot Terminal Ghost")]] (if:$hasregen is true)[(link:"Turn on advanced bio-repair.")[(goto:"Deploy Regenerate Terminal Ghost")]] (if:$haskittens is true)[(link:"Deploy feline decoy.")[(goto:"Deploy Kitten Terminal Ghost")]] (if:$dronestate is "ready")[(link:"Deploy friendly drone.")[(goto:"Deploy Drone Terminal Ghost")]] (link:"Never mind. Keep the side door shut.")[(goto:"Hacking Room Ghost")]

(if: $augstate is "regenerating")[You open the door, and the guard shoots you. (link:"Kill him.")[(set:$guardstate to "dead")(set:$roomcleared to true)(set:$augstate to "none")(goto:"Cleared Room Ghost")]](else:)[You open the door and see the guard. (link:"Kill him.")[(set:$guardstate to "dead")(set:$roomcleared to true)(set:$augstate to "none")(goto:"Cleared Room Ghost")]]

(if:$guardstate is "calm" and $augstate is "regenerating")[The guard shoots you, but you shake it off and stun him.](else-if:$guardstate is "calm" and $dronestate is "attacking")[(set:$dronestate to "ready")The drone knocks the guard out before the guard even sees it.](else-if:$augstate is "regenerating" and $dronestate is "attacking")[(set: $dronestate to "ready")The drone knocks the guard out while he's busy shooting you.](else-if:$guardstate is "wary" and $dronestate is "dead")[You knock the guard out while he's destroying the drone.](else-if:$guardstate is "calm" and $augstate is "kittens")[You knock the guard out while he's watching the kittens.] (link:"The coast is clear")[(set:$guardstate to "stunned")(set:$roomcleared to true)(goto:"Cleared Room Ghost")]

//(if:$guardstate is "calm")[(print:"The guard is unaware and slow on the draw.")](else-if:$guardstate is "wary")[(print:"The guard is wary and will overload your regeneration capacity if you try to get close, unless he's already being attacked.")]// (if:$guardstate is "calm")[(link:"Open the side door, turn on advanced bio-repair, and stun the guard.")[(set: $finalterminalguardstunregen to true)(set: $augstate to "regenerating")(goto:"Guard Stun Terminal Ghost")]] (if:$guardstate is "wary" and $hasgun is true)[(link:"Open the side door, turn on advanced bio-repair, and shoot the guard with a plasma flechette.")[(set:$finalterminalguardshootregen to true)(set: $augstate to "regenerating")(goto:"Guard Shoot Terminal Ghost")]] (if:$guardstate is "wary" and $dronestate is "ready")[(link:"Crack the side door, turn on advanced bio-repair, then deploy the friendly drone.")[(set:$augstate to "regenerating")(goto:"Deploy Drone Terminal Ghost")]] (link:"Never mind. Keep the side door closed.")[(goto:"Hacking Room Ghost")] (if:$hasregen is false)[(print:"How did you even get here")]

//(if:$guardstate is "calm")[(print:"The guard is unaware and slow on the draw.")](else-if:$guardstate is "wary")[(print:"The guard is wary and will attack the drone immediately, unless he's already being attacked.")]// (if:$guardstate is "calm")[(set:$finalterminalguardstundrone to true)(link:"Send the friendly drone to stun the guard.")[(set: $dronestate to "attacking")(goto:"Guard Stun Terminal Ghost")]] (if:$guardstate is "wary" and $augstate is "regenerating")[(link:"Send the friendly drone to stun the guard while he's shooting you.")[(set:$finalterminalguardstunregendrone to true)(set: $dronestate to "attacking")(goto:"Guard Stun Terminal Ghost")]] (if:$guardstate is "wary")[(set:$finalterminalguardstundronedeath to true)(link:"Sacrifice the friendly drone while you leap out and stun the guard.")[(set:$dronestate to "dead")(goto:"Guard Stun Terminal Ghost")]] (link:"Sacrifice the friendly drone to unlock the Arcology entrance.")[(set:$finaldoordronedeath to true)(set: $dronestate to "dead")(goto:"Guard From Terminal Ghost")] (link:"Never mind. Keep the side door closed.")[(set:$augstate to "none")(goto:"Hacking Room Ghost")] (if:$hasdronewhistle is false)[(print:"How did you even get here")]

You fire several plasma flechettes at the entrance to the Arcology. (link:"It explodes.")[(set:$finaldoor to "unlocked")(goto:"Cleared Room Ghost")]

You tell the friendly drone to unlock the entrance to the Arcology. (link:"It does.")[(set:$finaldoordrone to true)(set:$finaldoor to "unlocked")(goto:"Cleared Room Ghost")]

(if:$hastwofactor is true)[The guard is carrying a terminal passphrase. (link:"Take it.")[(set:$haspassword to true)(set:$finalsearchguard to true)(set:$guardsearched to true)(goto:"Cleared Room Ghost")]](if:$hastwofactor is false)[The guard is carrying a terminal passphrase, which is useless to you. (link:"Put it back.")[(set:$guardsearched to true)(goto:"Cleared Room Ghost")]]

//First of all, secure your resources.// ''Inventory'' Rechargeable Electropacification Stunner Universal Hard Storage Nano-Connector { |samchoice>[(if:$haslockpick is true)[Nanite Lockpicking Module](else-if:$hasgun is true)[Plasma Flechette Pistol]] (link:"Change")[(goto:"Sam Confirm Arcology")] } { |alexchoice>[(if:$hastwofactor is true)[Computing Hijack Upgrade](else-if:$hasdronewhistle is true)[Drone Whistle]] (link:"Change")[(goto:"Alex Confirm Arcology")] } { |jaimechoice>[(if:$hasregen is true)[Advanced Bio-Repair](else-if:$haskittens is true)[Feline Decoy]] (link:"Change")[(goto:"Jaime Confirm Arcology")] } //Once you're sure you've got what you want,// (link:"//start planning the altercation.//")[(goto:"Solve Arcology Ghost Intro")]

(if:$hastwofactor is true)[Computing Hijack Upgrade Chosen. (link:"Take Drone Whistle.")[(set:$hastwofactor to false)(set:$hasdronewhistle to true)(goto:"Review Inventory Arcology")]] (else-if:$hasdronewhistle is true)[Drone Whistle Chosen. (link:"Take Computing Hijack Upgrade.")[(set:$hastwofactor to true)(set:$hasdronewhistle to false)(goto:"Review Inventory Arcology")]]

(if:$hasregen is true)[Advanced Bio-Repair Chosen. (link:"Take Feline Decoy.")[(set:$hasregen to false)(set:$haskittens to true)(goto:"Review Inventory Arcology")]] (else-if:$haskittens is true)[Feline Decoy Chosen. (link:"Take Advanced Bio-Repair.")[(set:$hasregen to true)(set:$haskittens to false)(goto:"Review Inventory Arcology")]]

(if:$haslockpick is true)[Nanite Lockpicking Module Chosen. (link:"Take Plasma Flechette Pistol.")[(set:$haslockpick to false)(set:$hasgun to true)(goto:"Review Inventory Arcology")]] (else-if:$hasgun is true)[Plasma Flechette Pistol Chosen. (link:"Take Nanite Lockpicking Module.")[(set:$haslockpick to true)(set:$hasgun to false)(goto:"Review Inventory Arcology")]]

(set:$dronecount to it + 1) You can guess what you'll find in the grate: one of the maintenance drones that keep this place functional at all. Early drones (if:$finaldoordronedeath is true)[You immediately sacrifice the drone.] (if:$finalshootgrate is true)[(link:"Shoot the grate.")[(goto:"Final Shoot Grate")]](else-if:$finallockpickgrate is true)[(link:"Lockpick the grate.")[(goto:"Final Lockpick Grate")]](else-if:$finalbarrierguardshootregen is true)[(link:"Turn on regeneration, cross the barrier, and shoot the guard.")[(goto:"Final Shoot Barrier Guard Regen")]](else-if:$finalbarrierguardshootkittens is true)[(link:"Deploy kitten, cross the barrier, and shoot the guard.")[(goto:"Final Shoot Barrier Guard Kittens")]](else-if:$finalbarrierguardstunkittensdrone is true)[(link:"Deploy kittens and send the drone to stun the guard.")[(goto:"Final Stun Barrier Guard Kittens Drone")]](else-if:$finalbarrierguardstunregendrone is true)[(link:"Turn on regeneration, cross the border, and send the drone to stun the guard while he's shooting you.")[(goto:"Final Stun Barrier Guard Regen Drone")]]

You are on a platform at the far end of a huge antechamber garden. At the far end of the garden, in the center, there is a locked door. A guard is in front of the door. A large barrier, which would take time to traverse, is between you and the guard. Your guns cannot shoot through this barrier, and the guard will shoot you if you climb over it, unless distracted. In the far left-hand corner, there is a security room. You see a row of future-trees that would hide you from the guard and get you to a grate, but the front door is on the guard's side. If you open it he will see and shoot you, unless he's distracted. There is a grate to your left. Drone started: $finaldronestarted Unlocked door with drone: $finaldoordrone Sacrificed drone to open door: $finaldoordronedeath Shot final door: $finaldoorshoot Hacked terminal to open door: $finalhackterminal Searched guard: $finalsearchguard Shot grate: $finalshootgrate Lockpicked grate: $finallockpickgrate Shot safe: $finalshootsafe Lockpicked safe: $finallockpicksafe Shot calm guard from terminal doorway: $finalterminalguardshoot Stunned calm guard from terminal with regeneration: $finalterminalguardstunregen Shot wary guard from terminal with regeneration: $finalterminalguardshootregen Stunned calm guard from terminal with drone: $finalterminalguardstundrone Stunned wary guard from terminal with drone after regen: $finalterminalguardstunregendrone Sacrificed drone to stun wary guard from terminal: $finalterminalguardstundronedeath Stunned calm guard from terminal after kittens: $finalterminalguardstunkittens Crossed barrier and shot calm guard with regeneration: $finalbarrierguardshootregen Crossed barrier and shot calm guard with kittens: $finalbarrierguardshootkittens Crossed barrier, deployed kittens, and stunned calm guard with drone: $finalbarrierguardstunkittensdrone Crossed barrier, started regen, and stunned calm guard with drone: $finalbarrierguardstunregendrone Crossed barrier, started regen, sacrified drone to shoot wary guard: set:$finalbarrierguardshootregendronedeath (if:$finaldronestarted)[(link:"Start the drone.")[(goto:"Final Drone Start")]](else-if:$finalshootgrate is true)[(link:"Shoot the grate.")[(goto:"Final Shoot Grate")]](else-if:$finallockpickgrate is true)[(link:"Lockpick the grate.")[(goto:"Final Lockpick Grate")]](else-if:$finalbarrierguardshootregen is true)[(link:"Turn on regeneration, cross the barrier, and shoot the guard.")[(goto:"Final Shoot Barrier Guard Regen")]](else-if:$finalbarrierguardshootkittens is true)[(link:"Deploy kitten, cross the barrier, and shoot the guard.")[(goto:"Final Shoot Barrier Guard Kittens")]](else-if:$finalbarrierguardstunkittensdrone is true)[(link:"Deploy kittens and send the drone to stun the guard.")[(goto:"Final Stun Barrier Guard Kittens Drone")]](else-if:$finalbarrierguardstunregendrone is true)[(link:"Turn on regeneration, cross the border, and send the drone to stun the guard while he's shooting you.")[(goto:"Final Stun Barrier Guard Regen Drone")]](else-if:$finalbarrierguardshootregendronedeath is true)[(link:"Turn on regeneration, cross the border, and sacrifice the drone to get within shooting range.")[(goto:"Final Shoot Barrier Guard Regen Drone Death")]]

(set:$guncount to it +1) Shoot the grate. (if:$finalshootsafe is true)[(link:"Shoot the safe.")[(goto:"Final Shoot Safe")]](else-if:$finalterminalguardshoot is true)[(link:"Open the door and shoot the guard.")[(goto:"Final Shoot Terminal Guard Doorway")]](else-if:$finalterminalguardstunregen is true)[(link:"Turn on regeneration, open the door, and stun the guard.")[(goto:"Final Stun Terminal Guard Regen")]](else-if:$finalterminalguardshootregen is true)[(link:"Turn on regeneration, open the door, and shoot the guard.")[(goto:"Final Shoot Terminal Guard Regen")]](else-if:$finalterminalguardstundrone is true)[(link:"Stun the guard from the doorway with the drone.")[(goto:"Final Stun Terminal Guard Drone")]](else-if:$finalterminalguardstunregendrone is true)[(link:"Turn on regeneration, open the door, and deploy the drone while the guard is shooting you.")[(goto:"Final Stun Terminal Guard Drone Regen")]](else-if:$finalterminalguardstundronedeath is true)[(link:"Sacrifice the drone so you can run out and stun the guard.")[(goto:"Final Stun Terminal Guard Drone Death")]](else-if:$finalterminalguardstunkittens is true)[(link:"Distract the guard with kittens from the doorway and stun him with the drone.")[(goto:"Final Stun Terminal Guard Drone Kittens")]]

(set:$lockpickcount to it + 1) You lockpicked the grate, cool. (if:$finallockpicksafe is true)[(link:"Lockpick the safe.")[(goto:"Final Lockpick Safe")]](else-if:$finalterminalguardstunregen is true)[(link:"Turn on regeneration, open the door, and stun the guard.")[(goto:"Final Stun Terminal Guard Regen")]](else-if:$finalterminalguardstundrone is true)[(link:"Stun the guard from the doorway with the drone.")[(goto:"Final Stun Terminal Guard Drone")]](else-if:$finalterminalguardstunregendrone is true)[(link:"Turn on regeneration, open the door, and deploy the drone while the guard is shooting you.")[(goto:"Final Stun Terminal Guard Drone Regen")]](else-if:$finalterminalguardstundronedeath is true)[(link:"Sacrifice the drone so you can run out and stun the guard.")[(goto:"Final Stun Terminal Guard Drone Death")]](else-if:$finalterminalguardstunkittens is true)[(link:"Distract the guard with kittens from the doorway and stun him with the drone.")[(goto:"Final Stun Terminal Guard Drone Kittens")]]

(set:$guncount to it + 1) (set:$killcount to it + 1) (set:$regencount to it + 1) You turn on regeneration, cross the barrier, and shoot the guard. (if:$finalsearchguard is true)[(link:"Search the dead guard.")[(goto:"Final Search Dead Guard")]](else-if:$finaldoordrone is true)[(link:"Open the door with the drone.")[(goto:"Final Door Drone Open")]](else-if:$finaldoorshoot is true)[(link:"Shoot the door open.")[(goto:"Final Door Shoot Open")]](else-if:$finalhackterminal is true)[(link:"Hack the door.")[(goto:"Final Door Hack Open")]]

(set:$kittenscount to it + 1) (set:$guncount to it + 1) (set:$killcount to it + 1) You deploy a kitten, cross the barrier, and shoot the guard. (if:$finalsearchguard is true)[(link:"Search the dead guard.")[(goto:"Final Search Dead Guard")]](else-if:$finaldoordrone is true)[(link:"Open the door with the drone.")[(goto:"Final Door Drone Open")]](else-if:$finaldoorshoot is true)[(link:"Shoot the door open.")[(goto:"Final Door Shoot Open")]](else-if:$finalhackterminal is true)[(link:"Open the hacked door.")[(goto:"Final Door Hack Open")]]

(set:$stuncount to it + 1) (set:$kittenscount to it + 1) You deploy a kitten and send the drone to knock out the guard.

(set:$kittenscount to it + 1) (set:$regencount to it + 1) (set:$stuncount to it + 1) You turn on regeneration, cross the barrier, and let the drone stun the guard while he's shooting you. (if:$finalsearchguard is true)[(link:"Search the unconscious guard.")[(goto:"Final Search Stunned Guard")]](else-if:$finaldoordrone is true)[(link:"Open the door with the drone.")[(goto:"Final Door Drone Open")]](else-if:$finaldoorshoot is true)[(link:"Shoot the door open.")[(goto:"Final Door Shoot Open")]](else-if:$finalhackterminal is true)[(link:"Open the hacked door.")[(goto:"Final Door Hack Open")]]

(set:$regencount to it + 1) (set:$guncount to it + 1) (set:$killcount to it + 1) You turn on regeneration, then advance and deploy the drone to distract the guard while you shoot him. (if:$finalsearchguard is true)[(link:"Search the dead guard.")[(goto:"Final Search Dead Guard")]](else-if:$finaldoordrone is true)[(link:"Open the door with the drone.")[(goto:"Final Door Drone Open")]](else-if:$finaldoorshoot is true)[(link:"Shoot the door open.")[(goto:"Final Door Shoot Open")]](else-if:$finalhackterminal is true)[(link:"Open the hacked door.")[(goto:"Final Door Hack Open")]]

OK you're ready. (if:$finaldronestarted is true)[(display:"Final Drone Start")] (if:$finaldronestarted is true)[(link:"Start the drone.")[(goto:"Final Drone Start")]](else-if:$finalshootgrate is true)[(link:"Shoot the grate.")[(goto:"Final Shoot Grate")]](else-if:$finallockpickgrate is true)[(link:"Lockpick the grate.")[(goto:"Final Lockpick Grate")]](else-if:$finalbarrierguardshootregen is true)[(link:"Turn on regeneration, cross the barrier, and shoot the guard.")[(goto:"Final Shoot Barrier Guard Regen")]](else-if:$finalbarrierguardshootkittens is true)[(link:"Deploy kitten, cross the barrier, and shoot the guard.")[(goto:"Final Shoot Barrier Guard Kittens")]](else-if:$finalbarrierguardstunkittensdrone is true)[(link:"Deploy kittens and send the drone to stun the guard.")[(goto:"Final Stun Barrier Guard Kittens Drone")]](else-if:$finalbarrierguardstunregendrone is true)[(link:"Turn on regeneration, cross the border, and send the drone to stun the guard while he's shooting you.")[(goto:"Final Stun Barrier Guard Regen Drone")]]

(set:$lockpickcount to it + 1) You lockpick the safe and find the passcode. (if:$finalterminalguardstunregen is true)[(link:"Turn on regeneration, open the door, and stun the guard.")[(goto:"Final Stun Terminal Guard Regen")]](else-if:$finalterminalguardstundrone is true)[(link:"Stun the guard from the doorway with the drone.")[(goto:"Final Stun Terminal Guard Drone")]](else-if:$finalterminalguardstunkittens is true)[(link:"Distract the guard with kittens from the doorway and stun him.")[(goto:"Final Stun Terminal Guard Kittens")]](else-if:$finalbarrierguardstunkittensdrone is true)[(link:"Deploy kittens and send the drone to stun the guard.")[(goto:"Final Stun Barrier Guard Kittens Drone")]](else-if:$finalbarrierguardstunregendrone is true)[(link:"Turn on regeneration, cross the border, and send the drone to stun the guard while he's shooting you.")[(goto:"Final Stun Barrier Guard Regen Drone")]]

(set:$guncount to it + 1) You shot the safe and found a passcode.

Tktktk the door is hacked. (link:"Enter the arcology.")[(goto:"Final Enter Arcology")]

tktktk if-or on drone $finaldoordronedeath (link:"Enter the arcology.")[(goto:"Final Enter Arcology")]

tktk you shoot the door (link:"Enter the arcology.")[(goto:"Final Enter Arcology")]

You walk into the Arcology. What's in there? (link:"Walk through the doors.")[(set: $endingcredits to true)(goto:"Demo Ending")]

You are ready to enter the Arcology. (display:"Arcology Inventory Ghost") (link:"Restart the thought experiment.")[(goto:"Review Inventory Arcology")] (link:"No. This is how things should go down.")[(goto:"Demo Ending")]

(if:$hastwofactor is true)[You search the dead guard and find the passphrase.](else:)[You search the dead guard and find a useless passphrase, tktk.] (if:$finaldoordrone is true)[(link:"Open the door with the drone.")[(goto:"Final Door Drone Open")]](else-if:$finaldoorshoot is true)[(link:"Shoot the door open.")[(goto:"Final Door Shoot Open")]](else-if:$finalhackterminal is true)[(link:"Open the hacked door.")[(goto:"Final Door Hack Open")]]

(if:$hastwofactor is true)[You search the unconscious guard and find the passphrase.](else:)[You search the unconscious guard and find a useless passphrase, tktk.] (if:$finaldoordrone is true)[(link:"Open the door with the drone.")[(goto:"Final Door Drone Open")]](else-if:$finaldoorshoot is true)[(link:"Shoot the door open.")[(goto:"Final Door Shoot Open")]](else-if:$finalhackterminal is true)[(link:"Open the hacked door.")[(goto:"Final Door Hack Open")]]

(css: "font-size: 80%;")[CREDITS (align: "=><=")[ Directed by: Adi Robertson Written by: Adi Robertson With support from: Bijan Stephen Based on an original story by: Warren Spector Special thanks: Charles Pratt Published by: Verge Mini Hack Week Built in: Twine 2]]

(align: "==><==")[ (css: "font-size: 200%;")[(font:"Orbitron")[(link:"''DEUS EX: DARK PATTERNS''")[(goto:"Starting Base")]]]]

Turn on regen, jump out and stun the calm guard from the terminal. (if:$finalsearchguard is true)[(link:"Search the unconscious guard.")[(goto:"Final Search Stunned Guard")]](else-if:$finaldoordrone is true)[(link:"Open the door with the drone.")[(goto:"Final Door Drone Open")]](else-if:$$finaldoordronedeath is true)[(link:"The drone was sacrificed to oepn the door.")[(goto:"Final Door Drone Open")]](else-if:$finaldoorshoot is true)[(link:"Shoot the door open.")[(goto:"Final Door Shoot Open")]](else-if:$finalhackterminal is true)[(link:"Open the hacked door.")[(goto:"Final Door Hack Open")]]

The drone has given its life for you. (link:"Enter the arcology.")[(goto:"Final Enter Arcology")]

Stun the calm guard from the terminal with the drone. (if:$finalsearchguard is true)[(link:"Search the unconscious guard.")[(goto:"Final Search Stunned Guard")]](else-if:$finaldoordrone is true)[(link:"Open the door with the drone.")[(goto:"Final Door Drone Open")]](else-if:$$finaldoordronedeath is true)[(link:"The drone was sacrificed to oepn the door.")[(goto:"Final Door Drone Open")]](else-if:$finaldoorshoot is true)[(link:"Shoot the door open.")[(goto:"Final Door Shoot Open")]](else-if:$finalhackterminal is true)[(link:"Open the hacked door.")[(goto:"Final Door Hack Open")]]

Distract the guard with kittens from the doorway and stun him. (if:$finalsearchguard is true)[(link:"Search the unconscious guard.")[(goto:"Final Search Stunned Guard")]](else-if:$finaldoordrone is true)[(link:"Open the door with the drone.")[(goto:"Final Door Drone Open")]](else-if:$$finaldoordronedeath is true)[(link:"The drone was sacrificed to oepn the door.")[(goto:"Final Door Drone Open")]](else-if:$finaldoorshoot is true)[(link:"Shoot the door open.")[(goto:"Final Door Shoot Open")]](else-if:$finalhackterminal is true)[(link:"Open the hacked door.")[(goto:"Final Door Hack Open")]]

(if: $beachtravel is "tunnel")[You crawl from the submarine, and the](else-if: $beachtravel is "boat")[You step through the tunnel, and the](else:)[The] garden antechamber of Brighton Yards spreads out before you. The garden's shatterproof hothouse glass has crumbled over the years, leaving the odd solar-powered projector flickering into nowhere. Maintenance drones must be keeping the worst of the damage at bay, but a storm has left a line of mangled furniture and artificial trees between you and the Arcology entrance. As you begin to climb, the memory cluster hisses. You heed its warning and peer over the barrier — only to see a guard in old-fashioned visual camouflage [blocking the door.]<c1| (click: ?c1)[//You need to think,// the cluster tells you. //How many of these scenarios did you run in the academy? Just remember what they told you: Capture, Classify, Conjugate, and Commit.//]<c2| (click: ?c2)[You don't recall ever being told this, but that's the purpose of the cluster: it remembers, so you don't have to.]<c3| (click: ?c3)[(link:"All right. Let's go.")[(goto:"Review Inventory Arcology")]]

(align: "=><=")[ |q1)[Q̸̱̘͔̣̲̽̿̄̋̚] |q2)[Q̷̨̭̅̄́] |q3)[Q̶̡̡̢̲͔̘̘̘̙͉͓͛́́̑̃̐̊̓̃̌̊̈͑̚͝] |q4)[Q̶̠̹̪̠̞̫̙̅̆̕͝] |q5)[Q̵̝̾] |q6)[Q̸̨̘͇̗͎́] |q7)[Q̵] |q8)[(css: "font-size: 200%;")[(link:"Q")[(goto:"After Q Arcology")]]] ] { (live: 1s)[(show: ?q1)(stop:)] (live: 2s)[(show: ?q2)(stop:)] (live: 3s)[(show: ?q3)(stop:)] (live: 4s)[(show: ?q4)(stop:)] (live: 5s)[(show: ?q5)(stop:)] (live: 6s)[(show: ?q6)(stop:)] (live: 7s)[(show: ?q7)(stop:)] (live: 9s)[(show: ?q8)(stop:)] }

The line goes dead. The exchange has made no sense whatsoever — or perhaps it made perfect sense. It's very hard to tell. You try to call Alex, but you were right: there's no service in the (if:$beachtravel is "boat")[submarine](else-if:$beachtravel is "tunnel")[tunnel]. You're still thinking about the exchange when you (if:$beachtravel is "boat")[(link:"reach the dock")[(goto:"Arcology Intro")]](else-if:$beachtravel is "tunnel")[(link:"climb to the exit")[(goto:"Arcology Intro")]].