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<div class="hello">\
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You dream that you are alone in a swirling void which echoes with your disappointment.
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<<if $dream1 is true>> <img @src="setup.imagePath + 'regrets/text' + $endingsOrder[3] + '.gif'">
<<elseif $dream2 is true>> <img @src="setup.imagePath + 'regrets/text' + $endingsOrder[6] + '.gif'">
<<elseif $dream3 is true>> <img @src="setup.imagePath + 'regrets/text' + $endingsOrder[10] + '.gif'">
<</if>>\
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<<if $dream1 is true>>\
<<linkreplace "''listen''" t8n>>\
''(listen)''
//Not much else here to listen to at the moment, I suppose...// Your disappointment multiplies itself, draping you in heavy sound until you are once again enveloped in dreamless sleep.
<span class="decision">[[try again (return to title page)|TITLE]]</span>
<</linkreplace>>\
<<else>>\
<<linkreplace "''listen''" t8n>>\
''(listen)''
There is a low murmur in the distance. You grope your way toward it until you reach its source:
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<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'SECRET2.gif'">
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<<if $dream2 is true>>\
<<linkreplace "''join them''" t8n>>\
''(join them)''
As you step into the light, the figures begin to shift and fade like a mirage. You feel yourself dissolving with them as you slip back into unconsciousness.
<span class="decision">[[try again (return to title page)|TITLE]]</span>
<</linkreplace>>\
<<else>>\
<<linkreplace "''join them''" t8n>>\
''(join them)''
The effect is like that of looking at yourself through a series of watery mirrors. The two nearest figures move apart to make room in the circle, and you slip your hands into hands which are yours and yet not yours, hands so limp they might have been grasping thin air.
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'SECRET3.gif'">
Looking into their faces, you realize that they have not even noticed your arrival, so occupied are they with their own respective grievances:
<<set $i to 1>>\
<div id="regret"><img @src="setup.imagePath + 'regrets/img' + $endingsOrder[$i] + '.jpg'"></div>
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<div id="listen">\
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<<link "''listen''">>\
<<set $i to $i + 1>>\
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<<replace "#regret">><img @src="setup.imagePath + 'regrets/img' + $endingsOrder[$i] + '.jpg'"><</replace>>\
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<<if $i === 9>>\
\
<<replace "#listen">>\
''(listen)''
The last voice trails off, waiting for another to take its place, but the next sentence never comes. //Something’s still missing,// you think as the dream ends...
<span class="decision">[[try again (return to title page)|TITLE]]</span>
<</replace>>\
<</if>>\
<</link>>\
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</div>\
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<</if>>\
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<</linkreplace>>\
<</if>>\
</div><div class="content">\
<<if $gotEndings[2] === 'done' >><<else>><<= setup.gotEnding(2)>><</if>>\
<<= setup.checkEndings()>>\
<div class="illustration">\
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'HLL-L.gif'">
</div>\
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<div class="text">
''EPILOGUE''
Running a business wasn’t so bad at the beginning. The pay you had left over from your time at Yobel was enough to cover the costs of setting up a lab space and securing a modest supply of argevan. You worked at your own pace and according to your own values. You had freed yourself of Yobel’s ethical baggage.
You offer research internships to students at Liora College who help out around your lab space in the summers. Gail gives you feedback on your work from time to time and keeps you updated on industry news. But the logistics of continuing your research are starting to weigh you down. You had estimated that it would take two years to complete the osteogenesis project you originally wanted to pursue at the lab. Two years turned into three, then five. If you don’t have a breakthrough soon, you might have to move into your lab space.
You get a call from Gail while sorting through some paperwork one morning.
<<linkreplace "''pick up the phone''" t8n>>\
''(pick up the phone)''
“Hi, Gail. What’s up?”
“I have some bad news for you. The Aegis Innovation Association is changing its requirements for publication peer review next year.”
“What’s happening?”
“Well, it says here: ‘In an effort to elevate the standard of our scientific literature, we will be implementing a more rigorous screening process for potential peer reviewers.’ Then it lists all these requirements you have to check off before you’re allowed to review for them. I’ll be fine, but I’m guessing most people who don’t have ties to a ‘reputable institution’ will be barred.”
<<linkreplace "''ask her to explain''" t8n>>\
''(ask her to explain)''
“And that means?”
“Essentially, the AIA, which is already mostly Yobel researchers plus, oh, about five people from Liora College, wants to make it so that only they can decide what research deserves to be published.”
You were prepared to sacrifice the comforts of working at Yobel for a chance to continue your research on your own terms. But are you prepared to have your work rejected again and again by the institution that betrayed your trust? Or worse, to have them publish a version of your work first and reap all the profit?
“What am I supposed to do now?”
“Your best bet is to submit your work by the end of the year. Otherwise, it’s going to have to sound a lot more like the papers we write at Yobel.”
There’s no way you can make that deadline. “Are those my only options?”
“I mean...you can always reapply to Yobel. Even if Tobias doesn’t want you in his department, I can try to open up a position for you. I bet we still have your early research in the company database.”
<<linkreplace "''refuse her offer''" t8n>>\
''(refuse her offer)''
You sigh. “How can you stand working at Yobel after everything that’s happened? It makes me sick just thinking about it.”
“I’ve always believed that research is best done in collaboration with others. There are certain facts about the industry that you have to accept if that’s how you choose to work.”
“Well, I swore to myself that I would never go back after the incident. So I’ll have to find my own way.”
“Best of luck to you, then.”
''ENDING 2: RECLUSIVE INVENTOR''
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<<if $secret is true>> <span class="decision">[[later, a vision of your past selves appears to you in a dream... (advance to next page)|SECRET]]</span> <<elseif $dream1 is true or $dream2 is true or $dream3 is true>> <span class="decision">[[later, a vision of your past selves appears to you in a dream... (advance to next page)|DREAM]]</span> <<else>> <span class="decision">[[try again (return to title page)|TITLE]]</span> <</if>>\
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<span class="left"><<link "return to title page">> <<= UI.restart()>> <</link>></span>\
work: high | social: low | opportunity: low\
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<<for _i to 1; _i <= 15; _i++>>\
<<if $gotEndings[_i] === 'done' >> <span class="found">*</span> <<else>> <span class="notfound">*</span> <</if>>
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<<if $gotEndings[4] === 'done' >><<else>><<= setup.gotEnding(4)>><</if>>\
<<= setup.checkEndings()>>\
<div class="illustration">\
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'LHL-L.gif'">
</div>\
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<div class="text">
''EPILOGUE''
As you and Miriam’s husband Emmett clean up in the kitchen after dinner, you hear Miriam calling to your niece Zoe in the next room. “Zoe dear? Can you help me clear the table before you turn on the TV?”
“But I don’t wanna miss the interview!”
“We have plenty of time. Come on.”
A few moments later, Zoe appears in her wheelchair with a stack of plates in her lap. “Thanks, Z,” you say, taking them.
“Okay, Mom, I’m going!”
This is the first break you’ve had in months. You and Aaron both understand that pushing ahead tirelessly is the only way to produce real change. When you told Miriam that you would be in Aegis-Eben for an interview, she insisted you stay over until the segment aired. You’ve enjoyed spending time with Zoe, who loves hearing about your reporting adventures, but you know that when you run out of stories to tell, you’ll have to return to your work.
“I can handle the rest of the dishes,” Emmett says. “Why don’t you go keep Zoe company?”
<<linkreplace "''watch your interview''" t8n>>\
''(watch your interview)''
You get to the living room just in time to catch the beginning of the interview. //“Good evening, Aegis-Eben. Tonight, we have an exclusive interview with the investigative journalist who toppled Tobias Capra’s argevan empire...”//
Zoe squeals, delighted to see you on-screen. “You look //good//.”
//“...I understand that Aaron Brighthorn, one of the leaders of Aegis-Liora’s labor movement, is a former colleague of yours?”
“Yes, he’s an old friend! We were coworkers at Yobel, and we still keep in touch. We push each other to be better at what we do, you know; I’m thankful to have that source of motivation in my life.”//
Miriam finishes cleaning up in the kitchen and joins the two of you.
//“...So what’s next for you? Is there more corruption that we should be on the lookout for?”
“Oh, always--my goal is an Aegis-Liora where workers are compensated fairly and positions of power are not abused. Until that day comes, I’ll be in the field.”//
<<linkreplace "''see Zoe and Miriam’s reactions''" t8n>>\
''(see Zoe and Miriam’s reactions)''
Zoe claps at the end of the interview. “That was so cool! You were like, ‘The bad guys are everywhere. But don’t worry! I’ll fight them for you!’”
Miriam seems unsure. “Don’t you ever worry that your reporting is doing more harm than good?”
“What do you mean, Mom?” Zoe asks. “Was it bad?”
Sensing tension in the living room, Emmett comes in to wheel Zoe away. “Let’s take a look at that math problem you were having trouble with, okay?” he says to her.
“What //do// you mean by that?” you ask once they’re gone.
“Sure, Tobias isn’t in charge of Yobel anymore, but how do you know that the next director will be any better? Are you writing to help the underground employees or just to get your headlines on the front page?”
<<linkreplace "''stand by your values''" t8n>>\
''(stand by your values)''
“Are you suggesting that I should stop? How can I ignore something that’s so blatantly unjust? I have to make sure people know what needs to change; otherwise, nothing will ever improve.”
Miriam closes her eyes for a few seconds before responding. “I guess you’ll be heading out tomorrow, then?”
You nod.
“Okay. Be safe.”
''ENDING 4: RESOLUTE ACTIVIST''
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<<if $secret is true>> <span class="decision">[[later, a vision of your past selves appears to you in a dream... (advance to next page)|SECRET]]</span> <<elseif $dream1 is true or $dream2 is true or $dream3 is true>> <span class="decision">[[later, a vision of your past selves appears to you in a dream... (advance to next page)|DREAM]]</span> <<else>> <span class="decision">[[try again (return to title page)|TITLE]]</span> <</if>>\
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<span class="left"><<link "return to title page">> <<= UI.restart()>> <</link>></span>\
work: low | social: high | opportunity: low\
<span class="right">\
<<for _i to 1; _i <= 15; _i++>>\
<<if $gotEndings[_i] === 'done' >> <span class="found">*</span> <<else>> <span class="notfound">*</span> <</if>>
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</footer><div class="content">\
<<if $gotEndings[6] === 'done' >><<else>><<= setup.gotEnding(6)>><</if>>\
<<= setup.checkEndings()>>\
<div class="illustration">\
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'LLH-L.gif'">
</div>\
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<div class="text">
''EPILOGUE''
While the boardroom meeting disperses, you and Rebecca are all handshakes and smiles. You manage to contain your triumph until you make it out of the building. “We did it!” she cheers. Her declaration echoes back from the open sky, making you shiver.
“I can’t believe it went so well.”
“You were great.”
“No, no, it was all you...” Even as you speak, your stride seems to float across the ground.
“Let’s celebrate!”
<<linkreplace "''hell yeah''" t8n>>\
''(hell yeah)''
You decide to head downtown for drinks at The Capricious Hoof. Rebecca first brought you here when you moved to Aegis-Eben to join her startup, as a way to mark the start of a new chapter in your life. “A fitting way to end it too, isn’t it?” you say as you toast each other.
“We’ve come a long way.” Her eyes sparkle at you through her tipped-up glass.
Your giddy revelry is interrupted after a few rounds of drinking by an incoming call. You ignore your buzzing phone, hoping it’ll stop, but it doesn’t.
<<linkreplace "''take the call''" t8n>>\
''(take the call)''
You pick up. “Hello?”
It’s Miriam. “Hey--can you hear me? It’s so loud where you are...”
You sigh and step out of the bar. “What’s up?”
“I was just thinking that we haven’t caught up in a while. Is it a bad time?”
“I’m with Rebecca right now. We signed our final agreement with the lab today, so...”
“The startup is officially sold, then? That’s great news! Which lab was it again?”
“Oh, it’s a subsidiary of Yobel that’s based in Aegis-Eben,” you say without thinking.
She doesn’t answer for a minute. “Wait...Yobel?”
//Here we go.// “Yeah.”
“You’re making deals with the same Yobel Labs that you left because of the scandal.”
“So what?”
“I don’t understand why you would do that. I thought you didn’t want to be associated with them anymore.”
Inside, Rebecca is playing with her empty glass and looking around impatiently. You are starting to get a headache from the alcohol.
<<linkreplace "''tell Miriam what you really think''" t8n>>\
''(tell Miriam what you really think)''
“I didn’t want to be associated with the //scandal//, Miriam. It was a practical decision. The news comes and goes, but Yobel is everywhere. You have to deal with them if you want to make it in biotech--that’s just how the industry works.”
“That sounds exactly like something Rebecca would say. You know it’s not that simple.”
“You don’t know what it’s like to work in this field.”
“The way you look up to her isn’t healthy at all. I think she’s been a bad influence on you, honestly.”
“You just don’t have the same values. I’ve grown a lot since I started working with her.”
Miriam sighs. “I guess there’s no point in having this conversation, then. Have a good night.”
//*click*//
You expected yourself to be upset at Miriam for not being supportive of your accomplishment, but what you feel stirring inside you is not quite like anger. You hurry back inside before it can swell up to the surface.
“Who was that?” Rebecca asks when you rejoin her.
“Miriam. I slipped up and mentioned Yobel while I was telling her about the acquisition. You know how she is about the incident.”
She rolls her eyes. “All too well. What did she say?”
“It doesn’t matter. Want another drink?”
''ENDING 6: NIMBLE ENTREPRENEUR''
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<<if $secret is true>> <span class="decision">[[later, a vision of your past selves appears to you in a dream... (advance to next page)|SECRET]]</span> <<elseif $dream1 is true or $dream2 is true or $dream3 is true>> <span class="decision">[[later, a vision of your past selves appears to you in a dream... (advance to next page)|DREAM]]</span> <<else>> <span class="decision">[[try again (return to title page)|TITLE]]</span> <</if>>\
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<span class="left"><<link "return to title page">> <<= UI.restart()>> <</link>></span>\
work: low | social: low | opportunity: high\
<span class="right">\
<<for _i to 1; _i <= 15; _i++>>\
<<if $gotEndings[_i] === 'done' >> <span class="found">*</span> <<else>> <span class="notfound">*</span> <</if>>
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</footer><div class="content">\
<<if $gotEndings[10] === 'done' >><<else>><<= setup.gotEnding(10)>><</if>>\
<<= setup.checkEndings()>>\
<div class="illustration">\
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'LMM-L.gif'">
</div>\
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<div class="text">
''EPILOGUE''
“So //I// said...‘You can //suck// it, Tobias! We’re //done// with...being your minions...’ And the two of us walked...//right// out!!”
The party has just begun, but Aaron is already drunk. Most of his guests are ignoring him; he’s given this speech every weekend for the last month or so, each delivery more sensational than the last. A few of his responsible college friends hover nearby, preparing to hold him over a bucket if he threatens to throw up on his couch again. You don’t know where you would be sleeping now if Aaron hadn’t taken you in after your lease expired, but you can only be so grateful for a bed that smells like vomit. The memory is making you sick. //Ugh. I shouldn’t have taken so many of...whatever those things were.//
<<linkreplace "''get some fresh air''" t8n>>\
''(get some fresh air)''
You step out onto Aaron’s balcony and pull a cigarette from your pocket. //This will help, right?// But your motor skills betray you as you try to light it, and you only succeed in singeing your hand. //Never mind.// You flick the cigarette over the railing, growing annoyed with yourself.
While the sounds of the party continue inside, you look out at the dark skyline. The city winks at you, wrapping you in a cold breeze, and you are suddenly reminded of your pathetic position in life. //What was I thinking? We were both sick of the lab, and yet...//You slump over the railing, somehow feeling more nauseous than before.
The balcony door slams open, revealing a shadowy, imposing figure. //Tobias!? How did he get here?// You shrink into yourself, hoping he doesn’t notice you.
“Aaron’s revolutionary thing was cuter in college,” he says. “Some of us have to survive, you know.”
Your head spins. //Huh. That doesn’t sound like Tobias.//
“I heard you were looking for work. We’re understaffed at my job. Are you in?”
//Wait, is this guy offering me a job? Okay, don’t screw this up. You need the money.//
<<linkreplace "''accept the job''" t8n>>\
''(accept the job)''
You manage to nod at the stranger. “Great,” he replies. “I’ll stop by at nine tomorrow morning.”
You are alone on the balcony again, but now your phone is buzzing in your pocket. You know it’s Miriam without even looking. As you take your phone out to answer her, your arm separates into two, then four ghostly arms, multiplying until you can no longer count them all. Each arm holding a phone, each phone receiving a call...You don’t know which one to answer. You don’t know which one is you. You feel dizzy just looking at them.
//Maybe these other versions of me deserve to be worried about,// you think, //but not this one.// You start to sob uncontrollably.
<<linkreplace "''black out''" t8n>>\
''(black out)''
Someone is pounding on the front door of Aaron’s apartment. Aaron is shaking you awake while trying to rub the sleep from his own eyes. “Wake up! What’s happening?”
You look around, squinting in the morning light. Somehow, you made it to the couch before passing out. You remember your conversation on the balcony last night and start to register the situation.
“Oh, there was some guy last night...wanted me to work...shit! That’s him!” You scramble off the couch and grope around for your things. “I have to go.”
“What guy? What work?”
Your voice rises to a wail as the knocking is replaced by the sound of fading footsteps. “I--it was //your// party! How am I supposed to know? I don’t know,” you say, sinking to the floor. “I don’t know.”
''ENDING 10: DESPERATE MEASURES''
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<<if $secret is true>> <span class="decision">[[later, a vision of your past selves appears to you in a dream... (advance to next page)|SECRET]]</span> <<elseif $dream1 is true or $dream2 is true or $dream3 is true>> <span class="decision">[[later, a vision of your past selves appears to you in a dream... (advance to next page)|DREAM]]</span> <<else>> <span class="decision">[[try again (return to title page)|TITLE]]</span> <</if>>\
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<span class="left"><<link "return to title page">> <<= UI.restart()>> <</link>></span>\
work: low | social: med | opportunity: med\
<span class="right">\
<<for _i to 1; _i <= 15; _i++>>\
<<if $gotEndings[_i] === 'done' >> <span class="found">*</span> <<else>> <span class="notfound">*</span> <</if>>
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<<if $gotEndings[12] === 'done' >><<else>><<= setup.gotEnding(12)>><</if>>\
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<div class="text">
''EPILOGUE''
Shortly before noon, you wake up on Miriam’s couch to check Alfalfa on your phone. Since leaving Yobel, social media has been your go-to for finding business opportunities. Rebecca has been using Alfalfa to promote her startup. Her new post reads:
//Last year, the AIA awarded 9 out of 10 grants to #BigArgevan labs like Yobel, but the smart money is on #LeanStartups that iterate quickly to bring life-changing products to market. HEXI is proud to announce a successful seed round of $5 million! Stay tuned! #disruptive #biotech//
The longer you stay with Miriam, the fewer excuses you have for not networking with Rebecca. //But I have to make the most of the opportunity. There’s no point in talking to her unless I’m prepared to pitch myself.//
Your niece Zoe wheels into the room with a plush doll in her lap. “Can you play doctor with me? Here, you be the patient.” She gives you the doll and whispers, “Little Billy needs stomach surgery because he ate a stone.”
<<linkreplace "''brush her off''" t8n>>\
''(brush her off)''
You put Billy back in her lap, annoyed at her for interrupting your train of thought. “Not now, Z. I’m busy.”
“Oh...okay.” She maneuvers her wheelchair to the corner of the room and starts murmuring to herself as she acts out the operation.
Zoe is a handful, but you can’t deny how adorable she looks when she’s playing. An idea pops into your head, and you give Rebecca a call, suddenly feeling confident.
“I was wondering when I’d hear from you,” Rebecca says. “What’s up?”
“I’ve been following your HEXI posts on Alfalfa. The monthly infusions are a great business strategy, but you need a better way to get customers on board.”
“Go on.”
<<linkreplace "''make Zoe act for the camera''" t8n>>\
''(make Zoe act for the camera)''
You turn on your phone camera so Rebecca can get a clear view of Zoe. “Hey Zoe,” you say. “How about I be the doctor and you act out Little Billy as the patient?”
Her face lights up. “Okay!”
“Alright. Billy is sad because he’s sick and has to stay in bed all day.”
Zoe tilts Billy’s head down and sighs dramatically. “‘Oh, being in the hospital is so, so lonely! Nobody ever visits me.’”
“But then, I gave him a cure! Now he can walk again.”
She waves Billy’s arms around. “‘Oh, thank you so much, doctor! Now I can go out and see my friends whenever I want!’”
“Great. Now say, ‘With HEXI’s patented argevan infusions, I too will be able to live without a wheelchair!’”
Billy’s movements falter as you say the line, but Zoe does as she’s told. “With HEX-I’s patented ar-ge-van infusions...” she trails off, her gaze shifting to the doorway.
“What’s going on in here?”
You whip around to see Miriam behind you.
<<linkreplace "''cover your tracks''" t8n>>\
''(cover your tracks)''
“Uhhh--” You hang up on Rebecca and hide your phone. “Wow, back so early! We’re just playing doctor.”
“Don’t mess with me. When I said talk to Rebecca, did you think I meant ‘use my daughter for shameless self-promotion’? Are you out of your mind?”
Zoe starts to sniffle. “See?” Miriam says, pointing at her. “She doesn’t want this. Look what you’ve done.”
“Stop it, Mom!” Zoe throws Billy to the ground. “All I //wanted// was to play a normal game. You ruined it. Both of you.” She wheels out of the room, leaving you and Miriam to stare at each other in silence.
''ENDING 12: PUPPET THEATER''
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work: med | social: low | opportunity: med\
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<<for _i to 1; _i <= 15; _i++>>\
<<if $gotEndings[_i] === 'done' >> <span class="found">*</span> <<else>> <span class="notfound">*</span> <</if>>
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</footer><div class="content">\
<<if $gotEndings[8] === 'done' >><<else>><<= setup.gotEnding(8)>><</if>>\
<<= setup.checkEndings()>>\
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<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'MML-L.gif'">
</div>\
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<div class="text">
''EPILOGUE''
Today is your last day at Yobel. You finished your paperwork this morning and packed most of your things into an old cardboard box. Now, your only remaining task is to untangle the cables behind your desk and remember which ones belong to you. You squeeze yourself into the tiny space under the desk and squint at a particularly stubborn knot, trying to see how to pick it apart.
Your stomach lets out a loud grumble without warning. In your surprise, you hit your horns against the underside of the table. “Ow-owowow,” you say softly, dropping the cables to clutch at your head.
Aaron leans over from the neighboring desk to see what’s happening. “You ok? Do you need help?”
“I’m fine. Actually, what time is it?”
“Almost one. Why?”
“Do you wanna get lunch? I’m starving.”
“Sure! Let’s go.”
<<linkreplace "''get lunch with Aaron''" t8n>>\
''(get lunch with Aaron)''
Aaron is quiet as you take the elevator to the ground floor together. It’s a gloomy day; the plaza where you usually eat is nearly empty, and your sandwiches are ready in no time. You sit at a table that is sheltered from the wind.
“Wow,” Aaron says as you both prepare to eat. “This is the last time we’ll ever have lunch here.”
“Don’t make it sound like I’m dying. Obviously I’ll visit you whenever I can.”
“I’m still surprised you made up your mind this quickly. You’re usually so cautious.”
“Well, it was partly because of the lease. Once I tried to imagine being here a whole year from now...well, leaving just seemed like the right decision. I can’t see myself continuing to work for a company that I don’t have faith in, you know?”
Aaron nods. “So...have you figured out what you’re going to do once you get to Aegis-Eben?”
“Not yet, but I will. Hopefully.”
“Of course you will! I believe in you.”
“Awww...thanks, Aaron. I miss you already.”
He swallows the last bite of his sandwich and crumples the wrapper into a ball. “Should we go back? It’s getting pretty cold.”
<<linkreplace "''continue packing up''" t8n>>\
''(continue packing up)''
The break was apparently just what you needed to clear your head. When you try the knot again, it unravels almost immediately, as if the cables had loosened themselves while you were away. Once the cables are sorted, wrapped, and tucked into your box, you say your final goodbyes and head back to your apartment.
Miriam arrives late in the afternoon to help you move out. Together, you bring the boxes downstairs one by one and load them into the back of her car. By the time you finish, the sky is growing dark.
“Let me make sure I didn’t forget anything,” you say. “I’ll be right back.”
<<linkreplace "''check the apartment''" t8n>>\
''(check the apartment)''
You take a slow tour through the apartment, studying the contours of each room, and spend several minutes gazing at the lab from your bedroom window. When you first moved here, you used to feel pride whenever you saw the building lit up at night, like a beacon watching over the city. //So much has changed since then.// Although you are daunted by the task of rebuilding your career from scratch, you feel a strange relief as you turn away from the window.
You lock the door to your apartment, drop the key off at the office downstairs, and return to Miriam’s car. “Okay,” you say. “I’m ready.”
''ENDING 8: NEW HORIZONS''
\
<<if $secret is true>> <span class="decision">[[later, a vision of your past selves appears to you in a dream... (advance to next page)|SECRET]]</span> <<elseif $dream1 is true or $dream2 is true or $dream3 is true>> <span class="decision">[[later, a vision of your past selves appears to you in a dream... (advance to next page)|DREAM]]</span> <<else>> <span class="decision">[[try again (return to title page)|TITLE]]</span> <</if>>\
\
<</linkreplace>>\
<</linkreplace>>\
<</linkreplace>>\
</div>\
</div>
<footer>
<span class="left"><<link "return to title page">> <<= UI.restart()>> <</link>></span>\
work: med | social: med | opportunity: low\
<span class="right">\
<<for _i to 1; _i <= 15; _i++>>\
<<if $gotEndings[_i] === 'done' >> <span class="found">*</span> <<else>> <span class="notfound">*</span> <</if>>
<</for>> </span>
</footer><div class="content">\
<<if $gotEndings[14] === 'done' >><<else>><<= setup.gotEnding(14)>><</if>>\
<<= setup.checkEndings()>>\
<div class="illustration">\
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'MMM-L.gif'">
</div>\
\
<div class="text">
''EPILOGUE''
These days, what wakes you is usually not the rising sun, the noise of the city, or the sounds of everyone eating lunch in the kitchen, but the guilt of continuing to rely on Miriam. You’ve been looking for work since you arrived in Aegis-Eben, but convincing someone to hire you isn’t easy when you can barely take care of yourself. Sleeping seems like the only thing you can do to escape the pressure, even if it’s on Miriam’s beat-up couch. So you sleep.
Through the fog of this pre-waking train of thought, you feel someone poking your shoulder repeatedly.
“Mmmhh,” you say.
“...for lunch! You should...”
You let out a long yawn and blink your eyes open. “What?”
Your niece Zoe is leaning over you. “We made soup for lunch! It’s //reaaaally// good. You should eat it before it gets cold.”
You feel terrible. Even if you get up now, the soup will be cold by the time you get to it. You’ll have to convince her to leave you alone.
<<linkreplace "''make up an excuse''" t8n>>\
''(make up an excuse)''
“I’m in the middle of having a very interesting dream,” you say, closing your eyes. “It’ll disappear if I don’t finish it. I’ll reheat the soup later.”
“You have interesting dreams every night? Can you tell me about them?”
You hadn’t thought this far ahead. “Uh...not exactly.”
“Then how come you’re asleep all the time? You never eat with us, and you never play with me, even though you’re always at home...”
“Haha. Well, it’s because--” Your forced laugh turns into a sob. “Sometimes you realize that the people around you are doing bad things, and you feel like all your work was for nothing, but you--you still feel like you have to do something about it, but how can you do that when--when--” //Why am I telling her this?// you think as your words dissolve into incoherent blubbering.
Zoe seems alarmed by your outburst. “Hey, Mom?” she calls into the hallway.
Miriam appears in the living room. “Oh, no,” she says when she sees you. “Let’s get some fresh air. Here’s your coat.” She turns to Zoe while you get ready. “We’re going on a walk, okay? Call me if you need anything.”
<<linkreplace "''put on your shoes''" t8n>>\
''(put on your shoes)''
“I can’t live like this anymore,” you say as you head out. “But my mind is so scattered--I have no idea where I would even start. Whenever I think I’ve made up my mind about something, I panic because I’m afraid I’ll decide wrong. And then I overthink it until I’m too tired to do anything.”
“That’s just because you haven’t been on your own in a while, right? You’ll get over it once you build up a new routine.”
“This isn’t something I can //get over//. Not that I know of, at least.”
Miriam is silent for a moment. “I wish I could be more helpful, but I don’t think I totally understand what you’re going through. Is there anyone from the lab you can talk to? I remember you had a friend in your group...Aaron, right?”
<<linkreplace "''say you’ve lost touch''" t8n>>\
''(say you’ve lost touch)''
//What would he think if he saw me like this?// Truthfully, you know that Aaron of all people would understand. //But it’s been so long. I don’t even know what I would ask him. It’s too embarrassing...//
“We weren’t //that// close,” you reply. “We haven’t spoken since I left Yobel. He might not even remember me anymore...”
''ENDING 14: AIMLESS WANDERING''
\
<<if $secret is true>> <span class="decision">[[later, a vision of your past selves appears to you in a dream... (advance to next page)|SECRET]]</span> <<elseif $dream1 is true or $dream2 is true or $dream3 is true>> <span class="decision">[[later, a vision of your past selves appears to you in a dream... (advance to next page)|DREAM]]</span> <<else>> <span class="decision">[[try again (return to title page)|TITLE]]</span> <</if>>\
\
<</linkreplace>>\
<</linkreplace>>\
<</linkreplace>>\
</div>\
</div>
<footer>
<span class="left"><<link "return to title page">> <<= UI.restart()>> <</link>></span>\
work: med | social: med | opportunity: med\
<span class="right">\
<<for _i to 1; _i <= 15; _i++>>\
<<if $gotEndings[_i] === 'done' >> <span class="found">*</span> <<else>> <span class="notfound">*</span> <</if>>
<</for>> </span>
</footer><div class="hello">\
\
You dream that you are alone in a swirling void which echoes with your disappointment.
\
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'regrets/text' + $endingsOrder[14] + '.gif'">
\
<<linkreplace "''listen''" t8n>>\
''(listen)''
There is a low murmur in the distance. You grope your way toward it until you reach its source:
\
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'SECRET2.gif'">
\
<<linkreplace "''join them''" t8n>>\
''(join them)''
The effect is like that of looking at yourself through a series of watery mirrors. The two nearest figures move apart to make room in the circle, and you slip your hands into hands which are yours and yet not yours, hands so limp they might have been grasping thin air.
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'SECRET3.gif'">
Looking into their faces, you realize that they have not even noticed your arrival, so occupied are they with their own respective grievances:
<<set $i to 1>>\
<div id="regret"><img @src="setup.imagePath + 'regrets/img' + $endingsOrder[$i] + '.jpg'"></div>
\
<div id="listen">\
\
<<link "''listen''">>\
<<set $i to $i + 1>>\
\
<<replace "#regret">><img @src="setup.imagePath + 'regrets/img' + $endingsOrder[$i] + '.jpg'"><</replace>>\
\
<<if $i === 13>>\
\
<<replace "#listen">>\
\
''(listen)''
<<linkreplace "''speak''" t8n>>\
''(speak)''
//Wait!// you say. The others turn, finally acknowledging your presence.
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'SECRET5.gif'">
\
//We’ve tried everything. Can’t you see? The lab would alienate us from our friends, our family, even ourselves to ensure its own survival.
\
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'SECRET6.gif'">
\
Grind us into crumbs and swallow us whole. It’s a game, and we all have to play it alone--of course we never stood a chance.//
<<linkreplace "''look around''" t8n>>\
''(look around)''
//But look at us now--compassion, insight, endurance, charisma...
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'SECRET7.gif'">
\
We may not be able to help each other, but when we return to our separate lives in the morning, we will find these qualities
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'SECRET8.JPG'">
in the eyes of our neighbors, our acquaintances, even our rivals, for we seek the same liberation.//
<<linkreplace "''speak''" t8n>>\
''(speak)''
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'SECRET9.gif'">
\
//Take their hands and commit yourselves to your shared cause.
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'SECRET10.gif'">
Someday, when each of us is free of our regrets, we will meet again.//
''ENDING 15: THE AWAKENING''
<span class="decision">[[return to title page|TITLE]]</span>
\
<</linkreplace>>\
<</linkreplace>>\
<</linkreplace>>\
\
<</replace>>\
<</if>>\
\
<</link>>\
</div>\
\
<</linkreplace>>\
<</linkreplace>>\
\
<<= setup.gotEnding(15)>>\
\
</div><div class="content">\
<<if $gotEndings[1] === 'done' >><<else>><<= setup.gotEnding(1)>><</if>>\
<<= setup.checkEndings()>>\
<div class="illustration">\
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'HLL-S.gif'">
</div>\
\
<div class="text">
''EPILOGUE''
An image of Zoe and Miriam appears on the large screen above the announcer onstage. Both your cousin and your niece are overjoyed as Zoe stands on her own for the first time. “...for their research on argevan-assisted osteogenesis, the youngest-ever recipient of the Aegis Innovation Award!”
//Oh, that’s me!// Thunderous applause fills the ceremony hall as you stand, clutching your note card to your chest. You are unused to this new way of being addressed, to this new manner of dress, but you make your way to the stage and manage to take the crystal trophy delicately from the announcer. The stage lights are overwhelming. You steady yourself at the podium and allow yourself one last glance at your note card before facing the audience.
“Thank you. It is such an honor to be standing up here today. I’ve always dreamed of making a positive difference in the world, so having my work recognized at this level is just surreal.
I first want to thank Tobias Capra, who taught me everything I know and has supported me since my days as a research assistant. I absolutely would not be here without his wisdom and mentorship.”
<<linkreplace "''look into the audience''" t8n>>\
''(look into the audience)''
Tobias nods at you from the second row. He is wearing the slightest of smiles, but the satisfaction in his eyes is unmistakable.
“I also want to thank my peers at Yobel. I have survived hardships that I couldn’t have endured alone because of your constant support and encouragement. These past few years have been a difficult time for all of us at the lab, and I’m so glad we were able to get through it together.”
<<linkreplace "''look into the audience''" t8n>>\
''(look into the audience)''
Gail is sitting alone in a dark corner of the hall. You can’t read the expression on her face--disappointment? resignation? bitterness? Whatever it is, it makes your mind go blank, and you have to look down at your notes again before you can continue.
“Um...I look forward to working with you all for many years to come, and I’m hopeful that our continued dedication to this research will help restore the public’s faith in our mission. Thank you.”
You bow and return to your seat to another round of applause.
<<linkreplace "''go home''" t8n>>\
''(go home)''
It’s almost midnight when you arrive home from the awards ceremony. You change out of your formal clothes and clear a space on your bookshelf for the trophy. //When did all this dust get here?// you think, covering your face while you brush it away. Once the trophy is placed, you step back to admire your work.
This trophy is the sum of all your hard work and sacrifice distilled into a moment of triumph. It sparkles like nothing else in your room. But as you look at it, you can only think of the way Gail was watching you from the audience. You haven’t spoken to her since Aaron left the lab not long after the incident. Thinking about that time now, you wonder how you were able to speak so casually about it in your speech.
//Things haven’t been the same since then, have they?//
You turn away from the bookshelf, suddenly feeling very tired.
''ENDING 1: COMPANY LOYALIST''
\
<<if $secret is true>> <span class="decision">[[later, a vision of your past selves appears to you in a dream... (advance to next page)|SECRET]]</span> <<elseif $dream1 is true or $dream2 is true or $dream3 is true>> <span class="decision">[[later, a vision of your past selves appears to you in a dream... (advance to next page)|DREAM]]</span> <<else>> <span class="decision">[[try again (return to title page)|TITLE]]</span> <</if>>\
\
<</linkreplace>>\
<</linkreplace>>\
<</linkreplace>>\
</div>\
</div>
<footer>
<span class="left"><<link "return to title page">> <<= UI.restart()>> <</link>></span>\
work: high | social: low | opportunity: low\
<span class="right">\
<<for _i to 1; _i <= 15; _i++>>\
<<if $gotEndings[_i] === 'done' >> <span class="found">*</span> <<else>> <span class="notfound">*</span> <</if>>
<</for>> </span>
</footer><div class="content">\
<<if $gotEndings[3] === 'done' >><<else>><<= setup.gotEnding(3)>><</if>>\
<<= setup.checkEndings()>>\
<div class="illustration">\
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'LHL-S.gif'">
</div>\
\
<div class="text">
''EPILOGUE''
You and Gail had spent weeks planning this event for the lab--designing activities to encourage conversation about the incident, making posters and decorations, booking a musician, and convincing the people you met during the walkout to help you set up in the atrium. You thought your coworkers would welcome this festive diversion after a long day of work, but when quitting time came, most people just took a snack on their way home. A few groups of friends remain, playing with the activity materials while having their own conversations. The musician plucks a quiet tune on his double bass in the corner.
Gail walks over as you survey the half-empty room. “Should we wrap it up? I don’t think anyone else is going to come.”
“There’s still another hour left, but...I guess we should.”
<<linkreplace "''make an announcement''" t8n>>\
''(make an announcement)''
“Hi everyone! I hope you’re having a wonderful evening. We’re going to start cleaning up soon, but please feel free to stay until the end of the event. Thank you all again for coming.”
The attendees filter out while you and Gail set about returning the atrium to its normal state. The musician and the rest of the volunteers also start to pack up. As you carry an armful of posters toward the center of the room, Tobias exits the elevator and bumps into you, causing you to scatter the posters at his feet. “Ah! Sorry, Tobias...” You drop to the floor to gather them back into a pile.
“Hmph. What a waste of time. I want all this garbage gone by the time I come in tomorrow.”
You keep your head down until he is gone to hide your embarrassment. When you get back to your bags with the posters, you realize that you don’t even have room for them. You’ll have to leave something behind.
<<linkreplace "''throw the posters away''" t8n>>\
''(throw the posters away)''
You know they would only collect dust at home, but it pains you to imagine them in the trash. //I’ll just keep this one. Or this one?// You take a few minutes to decide on your favorite poster and roll it up to carry home with you, discarding the rest.
Gail grips your shoulder as you part ways at the lab entrance. “Don’t lose hope. Bringing a community together is a process. This is only the beginning.”
<<linkreplace "''go home''" t8n>>\
''(go home)''
Despite her encouragement, you can’t help feeling disappointed about how the event turned out. You call Aaron during your subway ride home to vent. You’re sure he would understand--he was the one who left the lab after the incident to become a community organizer, after all.
“Did they at least pay you for the time you spent planning this?” he asks after you tell him about your evening.
“No...”
“I hate to say this, but changing the lab from the inside is only going to get you so far. Gail is cool, sure, but in all her years at Yobel, what has she actually accomplished for the lab community?”
“How can you say that?” Instinctively, your hand clenches into a fist, crumpling your poster.
“Hey, hey, I’m not trying to attack you. I just mean that every strategy has its limitations. I have to recognize that as much as you do.”
You sigh. “You’re right. I didn’t mean to yell at you. Thanks for listening, Aaron.”
As you wait for the subway to arrive at your station, you spread the poster across your lap and try to smooth out the wrinkles in the image.
''ENDING 3: COMMUNITY HEALER''
\
<<if $secret is true>> <span class="decision">[[later, a vision of your past selves appears to you in a dream... (advance to next page)|SECRET]]</span> <<elseif $dream1 is true or $dream2 is true or $dream3 is true>> <span class="decision">[[later, a vision of your past selves appears to you in a dream... (advance to next page)|DREAM]]</span> <<else>> <span class="decision">[[try again (return to title page)|TITLE]]</span> <</if>>\
\
<</linkreplace>>\
<</linkreplace>>\
<</linkreplace>>\
</div>\
</div>
<footer>
<span class="left"><<link "return to title page">> <<= UI.restart()>> <</link>></span>\
work: low | social: high | opportunity: low\
<span class="right">\
<<for _i to 1; _i <= 15; _i++>>\
<<if $gotEndings[_i] === 'done' >> <span class="found">*</span> <<else>> <span class="notfound">*</span> <</if>>
<</for>> </span>
</footer><div class="content">\
<<if $gotEndings[5] === 'done' >><<else>><<= setup.gotEnding(5)>><</if>>\
<<= setup.checkEndings()>>\
<div class="illustration">\
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'LLH-S.gif'">
</div>\
\
<div class="text">
''EPILOGUE''
You have walked through the lab’s atrium on so many bleary-eyed mornings that you’ve nearly forgotten what it’s like to see it for the first time. But the tour groups of schoolchildren that you lead never get tired of the prototypes on display, and you see glimpses of your younger self in their enthusiasm.
“This next project is led by Tobias Capra, the director of Yobel Labs! His department studies how argevan can be used to influence bone growth. These sets of horns were all grown artificially in our lab, focusing on different properties like length, shape, and durability...”
The kids press their faces against the glass display, chattering quietly among themselves. While they take in the prototypes, Aaron spots you from the entrance of the building and comes over. “Can I join your tour?” he asks jokingly.
<<linkreplace "''make Aaron talk''" t8n>>\
''(make Aaron talk)''
“Hey everyone,” you say, waving to get the group’s attention. “I want to introduce you to my friend Aaron. He actually worked on this project, so he can answer any questions you might have about it!”
“Wow!” “Which ones did you make?” “Can I get one?” The kids surround him, talking over each other. After recovering from his initial embarrassment, Aaron manages to field most of their questions.
As the rest of the students retrieve their backpacks from a corner of the atrium, the teacher approaches you with one of her students. “I wanna be a scientist someday, just like you!” the student exclaims.
<<linkreplace "''encourage his dream''" t8n>>\
''(encourage his dream)''
You crouch down and pat him on the shoulder. “I’m so glad that you’re interested in science at such a young age! If you work hard at school, I’m sure you’ll accomplish great things here when you’re older.” He stares at you in speechless admiration.
“Thank you so much for giving this tour,” the teacher says. “It’s fascinating to look behind the scenes at the work that’s happening here. I’m sure this has been very inspirational for them.”
<<linkreplace "''finish the tour''" t8n>>\
''(finish the tour)''
“The pleasure is all mine! Let me show you out.”
You and Aaron take the elevator back upstairs together. “I wasn’t expecting you to do that to me,” he says.
“Sorry to put you on the spot. I really think you should try giving a tour, though. You’d be so good at it.”
Aaron shakes his head. “I don’t want to imagine myself spewing propaganda like that. You know I’ve never been sold on this whole ‘public education program’ you and Tobias have been doing. He’s just using you to patch up his own reputation.”
“It’s our reputation, too. What’s the point of being here if people only remember us for the scandal ten years from now?”
“You talk pretty big for someone who went from almost leading their own project to bragging in front of little kids every day. Or is this just an easier way to get on Tobias’s good side?”
“What if it is?” you say with a shrug.
“Then maybe I should watch what I say around you in the future,” he replies.
You both laugh as the elevator reaches your floor, but there is a nervousness in his voice that you’ve never heard before.
''ENDING 5: INDUSTRY SURVIVOR''
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<<if $secret is true>> <span class="decision">[[later, a vision of your past selves appears to you in a dream... (advance to next page)|SECRET]]</span> <<elseif $dream1 is true or $dream2 is true or $dream3 is true>> <span class="decision">[[later, a vision of your past selves appears to you in a dream... (advance to next page)|DREAM]]</span> <<else>> <span class="decision">[[try again (return to title page)|TITLE]]</span> <</if>>\
\
<</linkreplace>>\
<</linkreplace>>\
<</linkreplace>>\
</div>\
</div>
<footer>
<span class="left"><<link "return to title page">> <<= UI.restart()>> <</link>></span>\
work: low | social: low | opportunity: high\
<span class="right">\
<<for _i to 1; _i <= 15; _i++>>\
<<if $gotEndings[_i] === 'done' >> <span class="found">*</span> <<else>> <span class="notfound">*</span> <</if>>
<</for>> </span>
</footer><div class="content">\
<<if $gotEndings[9] === 'done' >><<else>><<= setup.gotEnding(9)>><</if>>\
<<= setup.checkEndings()>>\
<div class="illustration">\
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'LMM-S.gif'">
</div>\
\
<div class="text">
''EPILOGUE''
“I hope your report for the Bioethical Design Conference is coming along,” Gail says as she wraps up your check-in meeting. “Have you collected the argevan augmentation outcomes data from our partner labs in the mountain communities yet? I don’t want to be adding new information last minute.”
It’s been months since you transferred to Gail’s department, but you’re still struggling to adjust to her more social brand of science. Tobias’s work often felt frivolous, but at least it had a physical end product. With Gail, you have to solve problems with emails and interviews. It doesn’t come naturally to you, and you’ve had trouble staying on schedule.
Gail seems to feel your frustration. “I know it’s a hassle, but this is the best way to hold the rest of Yobel accountable for their work. Take a break and get something to eat, but meet me back here afterwards--we need to finish this by the end of the day.”
<<linkreplace "''find Aaron''" t8n>>\
''(find Aaron)''
You walk to your old department to see if Aaron is free to have lunch together. When you first came to Yobel, you never imagined that you would end up doing social outcomes research. //But how could I not, after everything that’s happened? It’s the only ethical work there is at the lab.//
You bump into Tobias right as he is leaving his office. “Well, look who it is,” he says. “Are you here to tell me about Gail’s latest project?”
<<linkreplace "''tell him about your work''" t8n>>\
''(tell him about your work)''
You refuse to let Tobias belittle you whenever he pleases. “We’re actually working on argevan augmentation outcomes at the moment,” you say with a smile. “We’ll be covering horn implants pretty soon.”
“Really! What a coincidence. We’ve discontinued the argevan augmentation program, you know. Yobel was just granted a patent for the process, so our manufacturers will be handling everything from now on.” He smirks at your surprised expression. “You and Gail can study us all you want, but innovation never sleeps. I hope you’re prepared to keep up.” He walks off, leaving you alone in front of his office.
Aaron finds you a few moments later. “Wow, are you okay?” he says, waving a hand in front of your face. “Don’t tell me Tobias is still on your case about the transfer. Come on, let’s get lunch.”
<<linkreplace "''get lunch with Aaron''" t8n>>\
''(get lunch with Aaron)''
The two of you place your usual orders at Greatest of All Time Sandwiches. “Is Tobias really moving away from argevan augmentation?” you ask as you start eating. “I thought that was his bread and butter.”
“Yeah. I was surprised, too. He gave me parameters for re-configuring our simulations, but he hasn’t said what for. I think he’s gotten paranoid since the incident.”
“The projects that Gail is studying are all from four, five years ago. Will her research even be relevant if she’s this far behind?”
“They’ve been at it for decades,” Aaron says. “She knows what she’s doing. Tobias moves fast and breaks things, and Gail picks up the pieces. Isn’t that how the game works?”
You nod slowly, letting his words sink in. “That sucks,” you say. “Well. At least we have these sandwiches.”
“Seriously,” he says, taking a bite. "Eat your sorrows away.”
''ENDING 9: COPING MECHANISMS''
\
<<if $secret is true>> <span class="decision">[[later, a vision of your past selves appears to you in a dream... (advance to next page)|SECRET]]</span> <<elseif $dream1 is true or $dream2 is true or $dream3 is true>> <span class="decision">[[later, a vision of your past selves appears to you in a dream... (advance to next page)|DREAM]]</span> <<else>> <span class="decision">[[try again (return to title page)|TITLE]]</span> <</if>>\
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<</linkreplace>>\
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</div>
<footer>
<span class="left"><<link "return to title page">> <<= UI.restart()>> <</link>></span>\
work: low | social: med | opportunity: med\
<span class="right">\
<<for _i to 1; _i <= 15; _i++>>\
<<if $gotEndings[_i] === 'done' >> <span class="found">*</span> <<else>> <span class="notfound">*</span> <</if>>
<</for>> </span>
</footer><div class="content">\
<<if $gotEndings[11] === 'done' >><<else>><<= setup.gotEnding(11)>><</if>>\
<<= setup.checkEndings()>>\
<div class="illustration">\
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'MLM-S.gif'">
</div>\
\
<div class="text">
''EPILOGUE''
You know that it will be a regular day before you even open your eyes. When your alarm rings, you become aware of a morning sunbeam warming your cheek as it streams through your window.
From the moment you step out of bed, it takes you half an hour to leave your apartment, half an hour to get to your desk at the lab, and half an hour to check your emails and respond to them. Once you finish, you walk to the lounge to meet the intern that Yobel’s shadowing program has assigned you for the morning.
The intern is standing with Gail and looking around nervously. He takes a few hesitant steps towards you as you approach. “Our group meeting is starting soon,” you say. “Come this way.”
<<linkreplace "''attend your meeting''" t8n>>\
''(attend your meeting)''
Tobias goes through his routine list of agenda items. Since his initial outburst after the incident, he has taken to sprinkling tangentially related rants about the press throughout every meeting, but you have become so used to this quirk that you barely notice it anymore. Actually, the most interesting part of the meeting is seeing the intern’s reaction to it. Although it tires your eyes to watch him without turning your head, it is entertaining to see his initial reverence evolve into poorly concealed confusion, shock, and discomfort over the course of an hour.
After the meeting, you let the intern sit in Aaron’s chair while you work. He spins around idly for a few minutes, tapping at a cardboard box under the desk with his foot. “Whose desk is this?” he asks.
“A coworker of mine used to sit there. He left quite suddenly last month and wasn’t able to take all his stuff.”
He withdraws his foot. “Oh. Sorry.”
“That’s a funny thing to say.”
“Um...is Mr. Capra always like that?”
“Just since the incident,” you say. “It’s not so bad once you’ve heard him a few times.”
“Don’t you think his opinions are kind of problematic?”
You shrug. “If you’re bothered by it, perhaps Yobel Labs isn’t the right company for you.”
He seems unsure of how to respond. “Anyway,” you say, “it’s almost noon. Let’s get you to the lounge.”
<<linkreplace "''bring the intern back to Gail''" t8n>>\
''(bring the intern back to Gail)''
In the lounge, you and Gail exchange curt nods as the intern returns to her side. “It’s good to see you,” you say to her.
“Yes,” she replies. “Take care.”
Shortly before sundown, you finish your tasks for the day and commute the half hour back home. Miriam calls during your dinner to ask whether you’ve heard the latest news about Yobel’s unethical practices. “How can you carry on as if nothing has changed?” she says when you don’t respond.
“Unless you’re suggesting I quit my job, I don’t really know what you expect me to do about it,” you reply.
She keeps berating you but tires herself out after about half an hour. “I worry about you, Miriam,” you say as you prepare to end the call. “Please try to get some rest.”
<<linkreplace "''continue on with your evening''" t8n>>\
''(continue on with your evening)''
Satisfied with yourself for surviving all the diversions of the day, you take a long shower, watch a movie in bed, and sleep like a log.
When your alarm rings, you become aware of a morning sunbeam warming your cheek as it streams through your window. You know that it will be a regular day before you even open your eyes.
''ENDING 11: BUSINESS AS USUAL''
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''EPILOGUE''
Aaron rereads your shrinking list of Yobel department heads and project leads while the two of you sit with Gail in her office. “I have so many friends in the Aegis-Liora Harvesters' Committee,” he says. “Why can’t we ask them to back the petition?”
After the incident, you and Aaron spent weeks gathering new information from the underground employees and helping Gail draft and distribute a revised list of reforms. Ira and many of the underground employees have signed it, but you haven’t had much success finding support for it among your own coworkers.
Gail sighs. “We’ve talked about this. Yobel’s leadership won’t cave to external pressure. Getting people to support us here is our first priority.”
<<linkreplace "''check the time''" t8n>>\
''(check the time)''
You glance up at Gail’s clock on the wall. //It’s already past two?// You return your copy of the list to her desk, signaling for Aaron to do the same. “Actually, we have to go,” you say. “I’m sorry--we’re late for a check-in with Tobias.”
“I understand. See you next week.”
You and Aaron hurry back to your department, passing news clippings and awards pinned to the walls. Each department decorates their hallways with records of their past achievements, but Gail’s department is decidedly minimalist compared to yours. You know that most of Tobias’s projects are just rebranded versions of the same concept, but at Yobel, it’s the image of success that counts.
As you approach Tobias’s office, Aaron asks, “Am I being paranoid, or has Tobias been scheduling our check-ins during Gail’s office hours on purpose? I feel like we’ve been running around the lab a lot lately.”
You hadn’t thought of that before, but the idea of Tobias restricting your freedom without your knowledge makes you shudder. “I don’t think I want to know,” you say.
<<linkreplace "''knock on Tobias's door''" t8n>>\
''(knock on Tobias's door)''
Tobias taps his watch conspicuously as you enter. “Ah, the dynamic duo graces me with their presence! You must have had some //very// important business to attend to.”
“We lost track of time,” Aaron answers. “Sorry.”
“There’s no need to lie to me if you haven’t even bothered to cover your tracks.” Tobias pulls out a copy of your petition and slaps it down on his desk. Your names are right under Gail’s. “She could never have carried this out on her own, so I’m guessing you two must be responsible.”
<<linkreplace "''admit that you’re working with Gail''" t8n>>\
''(admit that you’re working with Gail)''
You sigh. “Yeah.”
Aaron tries to back you up. “Come on, Tobias. The underground employees deserve better. You know that. And I’m certain that other people here feel the same way.”
Tobias raises an eyebrow. “What makes you think anyone will listen to Gail? All the department heads know she’s just jumping on the media hype train for a chance at the positive press she’s never had. Don’t let her manipulate you.”
You and Aaron look at each other in shock. //That’s not true, is it?//
Tobias coughs. “I think that’s enough chit-chat for now. Let’s not take on any more extracurriculars while we’re behind schedule, alright? Do show me what you’ve been working on this week...”
“How will we make any progress with Gail if we can barely stay on top of our work for Tobias?” you ask as you and Aaron leave the meeting.
He shrugs. “I guess it’s going to be a long night.”
''ENDING 7: THE LONG HAUL''
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''EPILOGUE''
You’ve developed a bit of an evening routine in recent weeks. The minute you get home from work, you put on loud music, a playlist of mindless videos, or an old documentary--anything to drown out the sound of your brain. You eat dinner and complete your errands with frightening efficiency so you can be in bed by eleven.
Once you have made yourself comfortable, you pick up your phone and navigate to its call history.
//MIRIAM
MIRIAM
MIRIAM
MIRIAM
MIRIAM//
Hmm. Miriam is the only person you’ve called in ages.
//Well, what else is there to do?//
<<linkreplace "''call Miriam''" t8n>>\
''(call Miriam)''
“Hello?” Miriam’s voice is accompanied by the hum of a microwave.
“Hey, it’s me.”
“Hang on, I’m heating up some leftovers for dinner.” You hear a series of beeps and then the sound of a plate against a countertop. “Okay. Hey. How are you?”
“Pretty awful. As usual.”
“Aw, I’m sorry. Did something happen today?”
<<linkreplace "''talk about your day''" t8n>>\
''(talk about your day)''
Finally, an outlet for your frustration. “There were so many people outside the lab again--I don’t know if the protests are ever going to end. Every time I walk through them to get to the lab building, I feel like they’re judging me for working here. I mean, I support them and all, but I’m just trying to get by, you know? I wish they understood. I couldn’t focus all morning because I kept thinking about that.”
“Yeah. That must be hard. You know it’s not your fault, though, so try not to take it personally.”
“And later, when I was waiting for the elevator, there were these two important-looking people who must’ve been here for a board meeting or something. They were talking about the press blowing the incident out of proportion and...I don’t know, it was so obvious that they just see all of us as pawns. The protestors, the employees, everyone. There was no compassion at all. Like, if I had that kind of power, I would actually do something useful with it. But instead it just goes to the kind of person who’s willing to step on anyone to get their way...”
Miriam sighs. “Not every company is like that, you know. But it doesn’t surprise me that a place as well-known and successful as Yobel would have leaders like that.”
<<linkreplace "''talk about your day''" t8n>>\
''(talk about your day)''
“And after that--”
“Wait,” Miriam interrupts. “Is this important?”
You pause. “Well...”
“I know this is a hard time for you, and I’m happy to listen if it makes you feel better. But I can’t do this every day, and I don’t want you to talk to me //instead// of finding a constructive way to deal with the things that are bothering you. Do you know what I mean?”
“Yeah. Sorry. Do you have to go?”
“I can talk for a few more minutes, if you want to finish what you were going to say.”
Once you and Miriam have wished each other goodnight, you are forced to take in the silence of your apartment for the first time all evening.
//Would I be happier if I had left the lab? Could I have spared Miriam all this trouble? She must be sick of me...//
Even as you ask these questions, you dread the thought that their answers might reveal themselves to you. You turn your phone over and over in your hand, staring at its slow rotation until it lulls you to sleep.
''ENDING 13: INERTIAL PARALYSIS''
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''THE INCIDENT''
You wake up to the faint sound of sirens and helicopters. Miriam has sent you a text: //Are you okay??// As you wonder what she’s referring to, you notice a noxious smell accompanying the commotion outside.
<<linkreplace "''look out your window''" t8n>>\
''(look out your window)''
The lab is on fire. Most of the building is obscured by dark billowing smoke. The helicopters circle the scene, trying to put the fire out, but at this distance they look so insignificant, like flies hovering around a wounded creature. The smell is making you sick. You sit down to type a reply to Miriam.
//don’t worry, i’m still at home. but holy shit
Thank goodness. What happened?
not sure. i’ll tell you when i find out//
What is going on?
<<linkreplace "''check your email''" t8n>>\
''(check your email)''
//Hello researchers,
Due to the incident at the lab today, our group will conduct work remotely until further notice. We are working on determining the cause and severity of the fire and are hoping to begin repairs by the end of the week. Please let me know if you have trouble accessing data or equipment from home.
Stay safe. Tobias//
<<linkreplace "''check the news''" t8n>>\
''(check the news)''
//EXPLOSION ROCKS INNOVATION QUARTER
The blast took place at Yobel Laboratories' headquarters early this morning, causing one of its underground facilities to collapse and starting a fire at the foot of the iconic tower. The lab building itself was not impacted by the explosion and remains stable. No casualties have been reported so far, as both the lab and its surroundings were relatively empty at the time, but first responders arrived on the scene to douse the flames and tend to lab employees who were on-site. The cause of the explosion has yet to be determined, but investigators have not ruled out the possibility of a premeditated attack. Citizens are advised to stay away from the site and submit tips to the Aegis-Liora Department of Health & Safety.//
<<linkreplace "''process this with someone you trust''" t8n>>\
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Nobody has all the answers, but you wonder how some of the people around you are reacting right now. You decide to talk to
\
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<<if $social === 0>>
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''(Tobias)''
Even if Tobias himself doesn’t know what happened yet, he would definitely be the first to find out. As you consider emailing him to ask what he knows, you receive a message from him addressed to the company.
//To the community members of Yobel Laboratories,
I am as shocked as all of you to learn about the explosion at our headquarters in Aegis-Liora this morning. Thankfully, the incident took place outside of working hours, and there have been very few reported injuries.
We hope to have the lab building repaired as soon as possible, but our first priority as an institution is making sure that our workplace is secure from anything that threatens the safety of Yobel employees. As we address the financial impact of this incident, I hope that we can come together to support the lab’s recovery during this difficult time. The future of this institution is counting on your hard work and commitment.
Tobias Capra, co-founder//
<<if $work === 2>>\
And another one addressed to your group:
//Hello researchers,
Just a reminder: my role as the public face of Yobel means that I will be highly visible to the media in the upcoming weeks. Be aware that you may be similarly scrutinized by association. I trust you will conduct yourselves in a manner that reflects and upholds the values of our institution.
Tobias//
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''(Miriam)''
Years of working as a nurse has made Miriam exceptionally good at staying calm under pressure. If there’s anyone you can count on right now, it’s her. //I don’t think she has work until later today,// you think as you call her.
“So Yobel doesn’t know what’s going on either...In any case, you weren’t hurt, and you don’t have to go to the lab again until things get back to normal. That’s the most important thing. I’m guessing it’ll turn out to be an accident, but even if it was an outside attack, I don’t think there’s anything to be afraid of. Once the investigators get to the bottom of this, I’m sure the lab will do everything in its power to make sure this never happens again. Why don’t you go for a walk or something? I think it’ll be good to take your mind off of the situation until it’s more resolved.”
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''(Aaron)''
Right now, you just want to talk to someone who will understand your perspective. Aaron is usually a goofball, but you can trust him to be real during a serious situation. You text him and receive a stream of replies.
//<<if $petition === 0>>oh right, you didn’t come underground with us last week. basically the argevan fields at yobel are super shady and probably the reason the explosion happened<<else>>huh. crazy how we were just at the fields talking about how dangerous they were and suddenly they blow up<</if>>
sorry, i’m feeling pretty shitty right now. some of the guys i went to school with work down there. if i hadn’t studied what i did, i’d probably be there too. i should be doing something to help them instead of sitting around feeling sorry for myself//
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''(Rebecca)''
Under normal circumstances you’d never contact a stranger for advice, but from the way Miriam describes her, Rebecca seems to know her way around tough situations. //I’m sure she would know how to respond to something like this.// You find her number and send her a text.
//who’s this? miriam’s cousin? you’re working at yobel? yikes. yeah, i saw. good luck with that, kid
i’m not saying it was bound to happen, but i wouldn’t be surprised if there was something shady going on at the lab. it’s been too successful for too long. in any case, the news will be all over this in no time. it’s gonna get messy. i say don’t tether yourself to an institution if its reputation isn’t doing you any favors//
<<if $opp === 2>>\
//btw. miriam told me you haven’t been happy with your job recently. if i were you i’d avoid the media like the plague and get out of there asap. why don’t you just skip town and come join my startup?//
<</if>>\
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<<replace "#people" t8n>>\
''(Gail)''
Based on what you learned last week, Gail might be able to help you make sense of what’s happening now. You look her up in the lab’s team directory and send her an email.
//Good to hear from you. I’m glad you’re safe.
Yes, I think it’s quite likely that this was an internal accident. I was afraid this might happen. Brace yourself--it’s impossible to avoid getting caught up in the fallout of an event like this, and it will be exhausting. I don’t know if this will be the wake-up call the lab needs, but it’s the best one we’ve had in a while. Let’s make the most of it.
Take care. Gail//
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That’s one view of the situation, but it shouldn’t stop you from making up your own mind. //Maybe I should just check it out for myself,// you think. //It’s not like I’ll be able to focus on work today, anyway.//
<<linkreplace "''visit the lab''" t8n>>\
''(visit the lab)''
Quiet streets, empty subway cars. It could have been a peaceful morning. You walk slowly from the station, watching the top of the tower emerge from behind the surrounding buildings. The scene you saw from your window this morning was like a photograph from the news--flat and static, producing only a shadow of the dread you feel now. You turn the corner.
The area around the lab’s entrance has been cordoned off, and vehicles from the Department of Health & Safety are parked all around. But you can see everything: the block blackened by soot and smoke, piles of debris gleaming with glass, warped beams erupting from the open gash in the pavement--a monstrous metal bloom.
In its heart, so faint you can barely make it out, a dull purple glow.
The air smells like argevan.
A voice near your shoulder interrupts your thoughts. “Excuse me? Do you work here by any chance?”
“Yeah, why?” you say, turning to see the source of the question.
A skittish-looking reporter saddled with recording equipment thrusts a microphone at you. “As an employee of Yobel Laboratories, what’s your reaction to witnessing this tragedy today?” he asks.
Your eyes roam between the label on the microphone--//The Evening Cud//, a well-known newspaper in town--and the blinking red light on his camera. There is no way you are composed enough to convey even a fraction of what you’ve been feeling, but you know that whatever you say next will be quoted, interpreted, judged by thousands of Aegis-Liorans who see you as nothing but a mouthpiece of the lab.
<span class="decision">[[> defend your work (advance to next page)|WORK3][$work++]]</span>
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//Stay out of the spotlight. Lay low until the drama blows over.//
“I’d prefer not to say anything at this point,” you answer. “I’m still processing the situation myself.”
The reporter keeps the microphone in your face, expecting you to change your mind and elaborate, but you stare him down until the conversation is beyond saving. “Okay...thank you for your time,” he says finally, backing away. Any guilt you feel for being so cold towards him disappears when you see him approaching another passerby seconds later.
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//Even if I don’t have all the answers, the public needs to know the truth.//
“It’s frustrating,” you say. “I don’t think any of this needed to happen.”
“What do you mean?” the reporter asks.
“Hundreds of employees work underneath this street every day. If Yobel has the resources to provide office workers like me with state-of-the-art equipment, then its underground employees should at least be able to work without fearing for their safety. Yobel needs to prove to us that it can do that.”
The reporter waits for you to explain your cryptic response, but you know it would be foolish to say any more. “Let’s hope that this incident will lead to positive change at the lab,” he says after a moment. “Thank you for your comments.”
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//I just wanted to work on something that would make the world a better place.//
“I’m in shock,” you say. “Even seeing it now, it’s hard to believe that this is the same building I work at every day.”
“Do you have any idea what might have caused this?”
“No, but whatever it is, I hope it never happens again. It’s so horrible that this could happen to an institution that devotes its efforts to helping others. That’s why I’m here, at least.”
The reporter frowns, but his tone remains neutral as he replies. “I suppose Yobel has done a lot for Aegis-Liora, economically speaking. Thank you for your time.” He gives you a curt nod before wandering off.
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<span class="right">\
<<for _i to 1; _i <= 15; _i++>>\
<<if $gotEndings[_i] === 'done' >> <span class="found">*</span> <<else>> <span class="notfound">*</span> <</if>>
<</for>> </span>
</footer><div class="homescreen">\
''CREDITS''
Thank you for playing //Goat Game: A Hollow-Horned Rumination//!
This Twine game was designed, written, and illustrated by
''Kathryn Li''
with programming and editing support from
''Sam Posner''
thoughtful guidance from
''Fred Lynch & Taylor Polites''
playtest feedback from
''Antoine Revoy, Gabriel Mintzer, Kyleigh Bell, Paul van der Kouwe, Polly Becker, Sam Posner, Sebastian DeMarino, & Zenon Holowaty''
and generous support from friends and family.
<span class="decision">[[return to title page|TITLE]]</span>
</div><div class="homescreen">\
''ENDINGS''
<<= setup.checkEndings()>>\
ENDING 1: <<if $gotEndings[1] === 'done' >> <span class="decision">[[COMPANY LOYALIST|HLL-S]]</span> <<else>> ??? <</if>>
ENDING 2: <<if $gotEndings[2] === 'done' >> <span class="decision">[[RECLUSIVE INVENTOR|HLL-L]]</span> <<else>> ??? <</if>>
ENDING 3: <<if $gotEndings[3] === 'done' >> <span class="decision">[[COMMUNITY HEALER|LHL-S]]</span> <<else>> ??? <</if>>
ENDING 4: <<if $gotEndings[4] === 'done' >> <span class="decision">[[RESOLUTE ACTIVIST|LHL-L]]</span> <<else>> ??? <</if>>
ENDING 5: <<if $gotEndings[5] === 'done' >> <span class="decision">[[INDUSTRY SURVIVOR|LLH-S]]</span> <<else>> ??? <</if>>
ENDING 6: <<if $gotEndings[6] === 'done' >> <span class="decision">[[NIMBLE ENTREPRENEUR|LLH-L]]</span> <<else>> ??? <</if>>
ENDING 7: <<if $gotEndings[7] === 'done' >> <span class="decision">[[THE LONG HAUL|MML-S]]</span> <<else>> ??? <</if>>
ENDING 8: <<if $gotEndings[8] === 'done' >> <span class="decision">[[NEW HORIZONS|MML-L]]</span> <<else>> ??? <</if>>
ENDING 9: <<if $gotEndings[9] === 'done' >> <span class="decision">[[COPING MECHANISMS|LMM-S]]</span> <<else>> ??? <</if>>
ENDING 10: <<if $gotEndings[10] === 'done' >> <span class="decision">[[DESPERATE MEASURES|LMM-L]]</span> <<else>> ??? <</if>>
ENDING 11: <<if $gotEndings[11] === 'done' >> <span class="decision">[[BUSINESS AS USUAL|MLM-S]]</span> <<else>> ??? <</if>>
ENDING 12: <<if $gotEndings[12] === 'done' >> <span class="decision">[[PUPPET THEATER|MLM-L]]</span> <<else>> ??? <</if>>
ENDING 13: <<if $gotEndings[13] === 'done' >> <span class="decision">[[INERTIAL PARALYSIS|MMM-S]]</span> <<else>> ??? <</if>>
ENDING 14: <<if $gotEndings[14] === 'done' >> <span class="decision">[[AIMLESS WANDERING|MMM-L]]</span> <<else>> ??? <</if>>
ENDING 15: <<if $gotEndings[15] === 'done' >> <span class="decision">[[THE AWAKENING|SECRET]]</span> <<else>> ??? <</if>>
<span class="decision">[[return to title page|TITLE]]</span>
</div><div class="content">\
<div class="illustration">\
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'MAP.jpg'">
</div>\
\
<div class="text">
''GLOSSARY''
''Aaron:'' Your coworker and friend at Yobel who was raised in Aegis-Liora.
''Aegis-Eben:'' A modest coastal city where you and Miriam attended college.
''Aegis-Liora:'' A sprawling inland city where you have lived and worked for the past year.
''Argevan:'' An organism that occurs in underground caves. Initially the subject of Yobel’s research, now a crucial ingredient in its products.
''Emmett:'' Miriam’s husband.
''Innovation Quarter:'' An upscale district in Aegis-Liora which has served as the city’s economic engine since Yobel’s founding.
''Ira:'' The current leader of unionization efforts at Yobel.
''Gail:'' A senior researcher at Yobel and a longtime colleague of Tobias.
''Miriam:'' Your cousin who works as a nurse in Aegis-Eben, where she lives with her family.
''Rebecca:'' Miriam’s college roommate and an entrepreneur based in Aegis-Eben.
''Tobias:'' Your supervisor at Yobel, a co-founder of the company, and a leading thinker in the biotech industry.
''Yobel Laboratories:'' Your employer, a prominent biotech company based in Aegis-Liora.
''Zoe:'' Your niece and the daughter of Miriam and Emmett.
<span class="decision">[[return to title page|TITLE]]</span>
</div>\
</div><div class="content">\
<div class="illustration">\
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'INTRO.gif'">
</div>\
\
<div class="text">
''END OF MONTH''
Today, more urgently than ever, they are waiting for you--
\
<blockquote>\
<span id="voicemail">\
<<link "a voicemail">>\
<<replace "#voicemail" t8n>>\
\
''(a voicemail)''
//“Hey, it’s Miriam...I saw the news about the lab just now and wanted to make sure you were okay.
I know getting this job meant a lot to you...
What I’m trying to say is, you’re welcome to crash with us in Aegis-Eben if you need company or a place to stay. I’m sure it’s not easy dealing with this by yourself, and Emmett and Zoe are always happy to see you. Oh, Zoe needs me...call me back when you get a chance, okay?”//
Your cousin Miriam is like an older sister to you. You could tell her anything. But you haven't been yourself these past few weeks, and you couldn’t bring yourself to pick up the phone when she called, no matter how many times she tried to reach you.\
<</replace>>\
<<addclass "#one" "fade-in">>\
<</link>>\
</span>
\
<span id="letter">\
<<link "a letter">>\
<<replace "#letter" t8n>>\
''(a letter)''
//Your lease is set to expire at the end of the year...please complete and return the attached form by October 31st if you plan to renew it.//
A letter from the office of your apartment complex, dated October 3rd. You found it on your doorstep before you left for work that day and haven’t touched it since. Is it hard to admit that you’ve lived in Aegis-Liora for almost a full year?\
\
<</replace>>\
<<addclass "#two" "fade-in">>\
<</link>>\
</span>
</blockquote>\
\
\
--but if it were a simple decision, you wouldn’t be taking so long to make up your mind. You’re still reeling from the events of the past month.\
\
<div id="one" class="opaque">\
<div id="two" class="opaque">
<span class="decision">[[take a moment to reflect... (advance to next page)|WEEK1]]</span>\
\
</div>\
</div>\
\
<<= setup.checkEndings()>>\
</div>\
</div>
<footer>
<span class="left"><<link "return to title page">> <<= UI.restart()>> <</link>></span>\
work: <<if $work === 0 >> low <<elseif $work === 3 >> high <<else>> med <</if>> | social: <<if $social === 0 >> low <<elseif $social === 3 >> high <<else>> med <</if>> | opportunity: <<if $opp === 0 >> low <<elseif $opp === 3 >> high <<else>> med <</if>>\
<span class="right">\
<<for _i to 1; _i <= 15; _i++>>\
<<if $gotEndings[_i] === 'done' >> <span class="found">*</span> <<else>> <span class="notfound">*</span> <</if>>
<</for>> </span>
</footer><div class="content">\
<div class="illustration">\
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'PROLOGUE.gif'">
</div>\
\
<div class="text">
''PROLOGUE''
//For years, the city maintained a balance, not building beyond its ability to reach into the reservoir of promise that lay beneath its oldest foundations. At the spot where it all began, a soaring tower served as a testament to the city’s transformation and to the dreams of those who had brought it about. By the time the tower’s ambition surpassed what the city could sustain, their fates were already irreversibly entangled.
When the smoke cleared, every spotlight swiveled to capture the scene in glaring intensity--the tower shaken by the blast below but indifferent somehow to the horror it had unearthed. Beyond the limits of their vision, where truth fades into shifting shadow, an unsteady whisper repeats itself, waiting for an echo...//
<span class="decision">[[start (click on purple text to advance)|INTRO]]</span>\
\
</div>\
</div><div class="content">\
<div class="illustration">\
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'TITLE.jpg'">
</div>\
\
<div class="text">
<span class="decision">[[> new game|PROLOGUE]]</span>
<span class="decision">[[> endings|ENDINGS]]</span>
<span class="decision">[[> glossary|GLOSSARY]]</span>
<span class="decision">[[> credits|CREDITS]]</span>
\
/**<<if $DEBUG>> <<link [[test secret ending|SECRET]]>>
<<= setup.debugEndings()>>
<</link>> <</if>>**/
\
<<set $work to 0>>\
<<set $social to 0>>\
<<set $opp to 0>>\
<<set $petition to 0>>\
<<set $news to 0>>\
\
<<set $optional to false>>\
<<set $dream1 to false>>\
<<set $dream2 to false>>\
<<set $dream3 to false>>\
<<set $dream4 to false>>\
<<set $secret to false>>\
<<set $gotEndings to []>>\
<<set $endingsOrder to []>>\
\
</div>
</div><div class="content">\
<div class="illustration">\
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'WEEK1.gif'">
</div>\
\
<div class="text">
“I guess I’ve been...kind of stuck?” you say. “You remember how much I wanted this job back in college, right? But I feel like a glorified intern or something--I never have anything interesting or important to do. I probably should’ve realized what I was getting myself into before moving all the way over here...”
“Well, blaming yourself won’t do you any good,” Miriam says. “You know, I was so impressed when you told me you were starting at Yobel! But if it doesn’t feel right, maybe you should look for other options. Actually, do you remember my friend Rebecca?”
“You roomed with her during college, right?”
“Yeah, that’s her. She mentioned that she’s been recruiting people to join her new biotech startup here in Aegis-Eben. Maybe you should check it out.”
<<linkreplace "''look Rebecca up''" t8n>>\
''(look Rebecca up)''
A flashy website, a punchy personal statement, an impressive resume...Rebecca can do anything she sets her mind to. “Wasn’t she a business major?”
“All the more reason to hire people with industry experience. I’m sure you’d be a good fit. Here, I’ll give you her number so you can talk--just tell her I sent you.”
“Hmm...I’ll think about it.”
“You don’t have to decide right away. Get some rest! You must’ve had a long day.”
You yawn. “Yeah, I should sleep. Thanks for the lead.”
“Of course. Talk to you later.”
//*click*//
The idea of starting over with a smaller company appeals to you, but...//Do I just quit? How would I move everything? What if I don’t like it there, either?// You close Rebecca’s website before your worries can multiply. //Don’t get ahead of yourself. It’s just an option.//
<span class="decision">[[go to sleep (advance to next page)|WEEK2]]</span>\
<</linkreplace>>\
\
<<= setup.checkEndings()>>\
</div>\
</div>
<footer>
<span class="left"><<link "return to title page">> <<= UI.restart()>> <</link>></span>\
work: <<if $work === 0 >> low <<elseif $work === 3 >> high <<else>> med <</if>> | social: <<if $social === 0 >> low <<elseif $social === 3 >> high <<else>> med <</if>> | opportunity: <<if $opp === 0 >> low <<elseif $opp === 3 >> high <<else>> med <</if>>\
<span class="right">\
<<for _i to 1; _i <= 15; _i++>>\
<<if $gotEndings[_i] === 'done' >> <span class="found">*</span> <<else>> <span class="notfound">*</span> <</if>>
<</for>> </span>
</footer><div class="content">\
<div class="illustration">\
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'WEEK1.gif'">
</div>\
\
<div class="text">
“I really like Aegis-Liora,” you say. “The weather is nice and there’s interesting things to see...I could imagine myself staying here for a while.”
“Wow. I never thought you’d become so comfortable in the city! I’m glad you’re finally starting to like it. What have you been up to?”
“Well, Aaron and I are pretty close now. He grew up here, so sometimes he tells me about what Aegis-Liora used to be like and where his favorite places in the city are. I go out on the weekends and explore. I liked being in Aegis-Eben too, but living at your place and only commuting for class just isn’t the same, you know?”
“That’s true. Rebecca and I never really felt like we were part of a community back in college. Not living on campus makes a big difference.”
“Rebecca was your college roommate, right?”
“Yes. Oh--she recently launched a biotech startup in Aegis-Eben! I’ve been meaning to give you her contact. Just in case you’re looking for new opportunities, though you seem quite happy with your current position...”
<<linkreplace "''ask Miriam how she’s doing''" t8n>>\
''(ask Miriam how she’s doing)''
//She sounds pretty strung out.// Miriam is a devoted caretaker both at work and at home, but you suspect that she doesn’t pay nearly as much attention to her own wellbeing as she does to everyone else’s. “Hey, are you okay?”
“What? Of course...” she yawns. “What’s wrong?”
“Do you want to tell me more about the startup later? I appreciate you thinking of me, really. But you sound like you haven’t slept in a while.”
“Fine, fine...”
Usually, Miriam would be worrying about your health, so you are surprised to hear yourself echoing her words back to her. //Well, I guess it’s about time I returned the favor.//
<span class="decision">[[go to sleep (advance to next page)|WEEK2]]</span>\
<</linkreplace>>\
\
<<= setup.checkEndings()>>\
</div>\
</div>
<footer>
<span class="left"><<link "return to title page">> <<= UI.restart()>> <</link>></span>\
work: <<if $work === 0 >> low <<elseif $work === 3 >> high <<else>> med <</if>> | social: <<if $social === 0 >> low <<elseif $social === 3 >> high <<else>> med <</if>> | opportunity: <<if $opp === 0 >> low <<elseif $opp === 3 >> high <<else>> med <</if>>\
<span class="right">\
<<for _i to 1; _i <= 15; _i++>>\
<<if $gotEndings[_i] === 'done' >> <span class="found">*</span> <<else>> <span class="notfound">*</span> <</if>>
<</for>> </span>
</footer><div class="content">\
<div class="illustration">\
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'WEEK1.gif'">
</div>\
\
<div class="text">
''WEEK 1''
You call Miriam late at night once her shift at the hospital has ended. “Oh, same as always,” you say when she asks how you’ve been. As usual, you
\
<blockquote>\
<span id="wtw">\
<<link "went to work">>\
<<replace "#wtw" t8n>>\
\
<span id="choices1">went to work...\
<<link "''by public transit?''">>\
<<replace "#choices1" t8n>>\
''(went to work by public transit)''
//Local news in your headphones gushing about Yobel Laboratories--shiny institution, your workplace, and the centerpiece of Aegis-Liora’s Innovation Quarter. The press talks about Tobias like a mythical, otherworldly figure, and when you see him from this perspective you are not sure if you feel pride or fear.
Punctuated by station names and ringtones, the shapes of airy conversations sway with each turn of the rumbling subway car. They follow you to the lab and repeat themselves in your head just when you think you’ve managed to focus. Your daily soundtrack, whether you like it or not.//
\
<</replace>>\
<<addclass "#oppchoice" "fade-in">>\
<<addclass "#one" "fade-in">>\
<</link>>\
\
<<link "''by bike?''">>\
<<replace "#choices1" t8n>>\
''(went to work by bike)''
//Weaving through Aegis-Liora’s city gardens on your bike, passing elderly folks out for a morning stroll, groups of children on their way to school, the same groundskeeper always hard at work. The well-tended flowers and trees radiate the warmth of his care even as winter draws near.
Though Yobel Laboratories still towers over you, every work-related worry is hushed momentarily by this tranquil space, or else washed away by the bracing air flowing all around. Here, your workplace is just another part of the scenery, and the brief change in perspective brings you comfort.//
\
<</replace>>\
<<addclass "#socialchoice" "fade-in">>\
<<addclass "#one" "fade-in">>\
<</link>>\
</span>\
\
<</replace>>\
<</link>>\
</span>
\
<span id="ham">\
<<link "had a meeting">>\
<<replace "#ham" t8n>>\
\
<span id="choices2">had a meeting...\
<<link "''was it productive?''">>\
<<replace "#choices2" t8n>>\
''(had a productive meeting)''
//Two minds whirling through space in accelerating orbit, the rest of the room a distant constellation of blinking stars...a delusion, you tell yourself, an ambition you dare not speak aloud.
You still stumble over yourself like you did the first time you met him. Tobias is a visionary, revered throughout the region for transforming the field of biotechnology--you can’t believe he even agreed to advise you. But he has come to trust your sometimes-scattered thought process just as you have always trusted the wisdom behind his exacting standards. Where do the possibilities end? you wonder, marvelling at how much you’ve already grown under his mentorship. And so your dream lives on...//
\
<</replace>>\
<<addclass "#workchoice" "fade-in">>\
<<addclass "#two" "fade-in">>\
<</link>>\
\
<<link "''or exhausting?''">>\
<<replace "#choices2" t8n>>\
''(had an exhausting meeting)''
//Nodding along weakly, eyes searching for dead space as your advisor Tobias dismantles your proposal in front of the whole room. You suspect he hasn’t even read the full document--this one has potential, you’re sure of it--but you are as intimidated and bewitched by his influence as everyone else is. How could you know better than a pioneer of modern biotechnology? Nobody comes to your defense, and by the end of the meeting you are determined to start over, though Aaron does his best to convince you otherwise.
The same excruciating ritual every time, with rare exceptions. Is this worth it? you ask yourself. Is what worth what? you reply, and then your head spins round and round looking for the right words...//
\
<</replace>>\
<<addclass "#oppchoice" "fade-in">>\
<<addclass "#two" "fade-in">>\
<</link>>\
</span>\
\
<</replace>>\
<</link>>\
</span>
\
<span id="al">\
<<link "ate lunch">>\
<<replace "#al" t8n>>\
\
<span id="choices3">ate lunch...\
<<link "''with coworkers?''">>\
<<replace "#choices3" t8n>>\
''(ate lunch with coworkers)''
//You and your desk neighbor Aaron sitting with store-bought sandwiches in a sunny plaza full of manicured storefronts and lab employees, your other coworkers talking in a group nearby. They would welcome you if you wanted to join, but somehow you’ve both instinctively decided against trying to fit in.
When the two of you started work as research assistants last fall, you quickly bonded over Tobias’s eccentric habits and the unforgiving work culture he encouraged. Later, you learned that Aaron grew up in Aegis-Liora before it became the sparkling metropolis it is now. He tells you that this plaza was once a neighborhood where several of his childhood friends lived. Is it resentment you hear mixed with the nostalgia in his voice?//
\
<</replace>>\
<<addclass "#socialchoice" "fade-in">>\
<<addclass "#three" "fade-in">>\
<</link>>\
\
<<link "''by yourself?''">>\
<<replace "#choices3" t8n>>\
''(ate lunch by yourself)''
//Gracious coworkers never failing to invite you if they go out together during their lunch break. Sometimes you join them, speaking quietly to your desk neighbor Aaron while the others engage in spirited conversations that betray years of familiarity. Most days, though, you prefer the solitude, and your coworkers have gotten used to being refused politely or ignored altogether, if you’re in a certain mood.
With all the other researchers gone, you can hear the idle computers and machines around you humming to each other. You enjoy your homemade salad in their company and continue to work, relieved to have a moment to yourself.//
\
<</replace>>\
<<addclass "#workchoice" "fade-in">>\
<<addclass "#three" "fade-in">>\
<</link>>\
</span>\
\
<</replace>>\
<</link>>\
</span>
\
<span id="wsm">\
<<link "worked some more">>\
<<replace "#wsm" t8n>>\
\
<span id="choices4">worked some more...\
<<link "''on an interesting task?''">>\
<<replace "#choices4" t8n>>\
''(worked on an interesting task)''
//Scrolling through Yobel’s database of past projects for inspiration while your computer is busy running simulations for you, grateful that your job leaves you the time and resources to pursue your own ideas.
Seeing page after page of research fall smoothly into a linear progression, it’s easy to forget the hours of frustration that likely went into producing each sentence. Tobias is right; your proposal still has a long way to go. But the day will come when he decides there is enough room in the department's argevan budget for a new funded project, and you are determined to be the first person he thinks of.//
\
<</replace>>\
<<addclass "#workchoice" "fade-in">>\
<<addclass "#four" "fade-in">>\
<</link>>\
\
<<link "''or a frustrating one?''">>\
<<replace "#choices4" t8n>>\
''(worked on a frustrating task)''
//Checking Alfalfa on your phone while your computer tries to reduce your program’s error margin by sampling new data from the wet lab downstairs. Running simulations for the other researchers in your department is the kind of mind-numbing task that only spares you enough brain cells to scroll social media on the side.
Your Alfalfa feed is an unending stream of other people’s delightful hobbies, fulfilling careers, and transformative experiences. You’ve spent the last year of your life staring at a screen at this very nice desk. If only you could get your proposal off the ground...if only there was enough argevan to go around...your computer is calling you.//
\
<</replace>>\
<<addclass "#oppchoice" "fade-in">>\
<<addclass "#four" "fade-in">>\
<</link>>\
</span>\
\
<</replace>>\
<</link>>\
</span>
\
<span id="ach">\
<<link "and came home">>\
<<replace "#ach" t8n>>\
\
<span id="choices5">and came home...\
<<link "''after an evening in town?''">>\
<<replace "#choices5" t8n>>\
''(came home after an evening in town)''
//Getting to the annual harvest festival with Aaron and your other coworkers just in time to see Main Street lit up by a dazzling parade. All along its path, colorful displays and fragrant street snacks compete for your attention, but Aaron walks by without glancing at a single one. “Nowadays it’s designed to attract tourists,” he explains, “but it only became popular in the first place because of the local vendors. Those ones are the real deal.”
You wander through dark side streets for hours, visiting all of Aaron’s favorite stalls. The food is amazing, and as you listen to him catch up with vendors who recognize him from festivals past, you can’t help but think that this is the happiest you’ve ever seen him.//
\
<</replace>>\
<<addclass "#socialchoice" "fade-in">>\
<<addclass "#five" "fade-in">>\
<</link>>\
\
<<link "''or right after work?''">>\
<<replace "#choices5" t8n>>\
''(came home right after work)''
//Steering clear of the group that Aaron has gathered in the atrium so he can’t ask you one last time if you want to go downtown to see the harvest festival after work. The last thing you want after being at the lab with your coworkers all day is spending several more hours trying to make small talk with them.
Your stress approaches high tide as you leave work, follows you home to lap at your doorstep. So you surround yourself with silence, feed yourself a comforting meal, and allow yourself a long shower. When you can no longer hear the sound of the waves, you are ready to face tomorrow.//
\
<</replace>>\
<<addclass "#workchoice" "fade-in">>\
<<addclass "#five" "fade-in">>\
<</link>>\
</span>\
\
<</replace>>\
<</link>>\
</span>\
\
\
</blockquote>\
“Well, how are you feeling about the lab these days? Do you like Aegis-Liora better now that you’ve had some time to settle in?” she asks.\
\
<div id="one" class="opaque">\
<div id="two" class="opaque">\
<div id="three" class="opaque">\
<div id="four" class="opaque">\
<div id="five" class="opaque">\
<div id="workchoice" class="opaque">\
<span class="decision">[[> I like working here (advance to next page)|WORK1][$work++]]</span>\
</div>\
<div id="socialchoice" class="opaque">\
<span class="decision">[[> I like living here (advance to next page)|SOCIAL1][$social++]]</span>\
</div>\
<div id="oppchoice" class="opaque">\
<span class="decision">[[> I don’t like it here (advance to next page)|OPP1][$opp++]]</span>\
</div>\
\
</div>\
</div>\
</div>\
</div>\
</div>\
\
<<= setup.checkEndings()>>\
</div>\
</div>
<footer>
<span class="left"><<link "return to title page">> <<= UI.restart()>> <</link>></span>\
work: <<if $work === 0 >> low <<elseif $work === 3 >> high <<else>> med <</if>> | social: <<if $social === 0 >> low <<elseif $social === 3 >> high <<else>> med <</if>> | opportunity: <<if $opp === 0 >> low <<elseif $opp === 3 >> high <<else>> med <</if>>\
<span class="right">\
<<for _i to 1; _i <= 15; _i++>>\
<<if $gotEndings[_i] === 'done' >> <span class="found">*</span> <<else>> <span class="notfound">*</span> <</if>>
<</for>> </span>
</footer><div class="content">\
<div class="illustration">\
<img @src="setup.imagePath + 'WEEK1.gif'">
</div>\
\
<div class="text">
“I like Yobel. No luck on the proposal yet...but honestly, I’m learning a lot just from seeing what everyone else in my department is doing and hearing the feedback Tobias has for them.”
“Be patient with yourself,” Miriam says. “You’re just getting started. I’m glad it’s going well.”
“Yeah. It feels good to be part of something that’s bigger than myself. I’m always exhausted when I get home, but in the way where I feel like the effort was well spent, you know?”
Miriam laughs. “I’m a nurse. Of course I know. So what are you working on?”
“It’s an offshoot of Tobias’s study on horn augmentation. His project is purely cosmetic, but there’s some interesting research on bone growth behind it which we’re continuing to develop.”
“I think my college roommate is doing something similar to that horn-augmenting project. You remember my college roommate Rebecca, right? She just launched a startup here in Aegis-Eben.”
“That sounds cool. I’ll have to ask her about it next time we run into each other.”
“I can give you her number if you want to talk. Oh--Zoe wants to say hi to you before she goes to bed.”
<<linkreplace "''say hi to Zoe''" t8n>>\
''(say hi to Zoe)''
Miriam shuffles some things around, crouching despite her tired knees to hold the phone up to Zoe’s face. Your niece is engulfed in her oversized wheelchair, playing with an intricate flower chain in her lap.
“Look! I’ve gotten really good at making these. Next time you visit I’ll make you one, and we’ll be matching...”
Zoe’s enthusiasm never fails to inspire you. //She’s been through so much already...someday I hope my research will help you the way you’ve helped me.//
<span class="decision">[[go to sleep (advance to next page)|WEEK2]]</span>\
<</linkreplace>>\
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Aaron must be out of his mind. Gail and Tobias were peers--if defying him cost Gail so much, you don’t want to imagine what he could do to a lowly research assistant like you, especially now that you know the full extent of his power. “If everything you just said is true, then I don’t see the point in throwing away my job for a lost cause. Sorry.”
Gail nods. “I don’t blame you. I know it’s a lot to ask.”
“Are you really just going to walk away after seeing this?” Aaron asks in disbelief.
“It’s not like I don’t care, Aaron. But I have to look out for myself first. Gail can do whatever she wants because she knows the lab will never fire her. We don’t have that kind of security.”
His eyes widen as he registers the weight of his decision. “You won’t tell Tobias, right?”
“Of course not. But he’ll know as soon as he sees your name on the list. If anyone asks, I was never here.” You turn to Gail. “Thank you for the tour. Can we go back now?”
<span class="decision">[[return to work (advance to next page)|EVENT]]</span>\
<<set $petition to 1>>\
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It seems risky, but if it only takes you a few minutes to see the obvious, the truth is bound to come out sooner or later. When it does, you would rather be part of the movement than watching from the sidelines.
“I’ll sign as well,” you say.
Aaron is triumphant. “Yes! Let’s do this.”
“Thank you,” Gail says. “It’s great to have your support. We’re in this together now, so if anyone gives you a hard time about it, I’ll do everything in my power to help you.”
“Isn’t she such a badass?” Aaron says to you as the two of you part ways with Gail upstairs.
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<div class="text">
''WEEK 2''
While returning from your lunch break, you find Aaron sitting in the lounge with someone you don’t recognize. Aaron is always making new acquaintances in the lab. He doesn’t seem to do it out of a desire to network; his friendliness is effortless and unaffected. Normally you feel too awkward to join him when he’s socializing, but he seems unusually enthusiastic to see you this time. “Hey!” he says as you approach. “I was just telling Gail about you.”
After he introduces you to each other, Gail says, “So you both work under Tobias? What’s it like?” She listens intently as you speak, and her mild demeanor puts you at ease. You find yourself opening up and telling her about
\
<blockquote>\
<span id="what">\
<<link "what you’re working on">>\
<<replace "#what" t8n>>\
''(what you're working on)''
Running programmed simulations all day is not the life you would have chosen for yourself, but it’s part of your job as a research assistant. “Someone has to make sure everything is running smoothly, so I get it. But I know //way// too much about horn-augmenting implants, and I’ve only been here for a year. I’d like to work on a different project someday, or even start my own. I’ve been using Yobel’s database of existing argevan applications to help me write a proposal.”
“Horn-augmenting implants? Tobias is //still// working on those?” Gail shakes her head slowly. “I know the argevan augmentation project has been wildly successful, but his ideas really aren’t what they used to be.”
\
<</replace>>\
<<addclass "#one" "fade-in">>\
<</link>>\
</span>\
\
<<if $opp === 1>>
<span id="who">\
<<link "who your coworkers are">>\
<<replace "#who" t8n>>\
''(who your coworkers are)''
You pause for a moment, grasping for the most gentle way to describe your coworkers. “Our team is quite small, but we have some, uh...pretty big personalities to make up for it,” you say finally.
“How could you say that about me!” Aaron says, feigning offense.
“Not you, obviously. You’re, like, the most normal person we have. Not that the rest of them are mean or weird or anything, they’re just...really smart and intense. It’s hard to hold a regular conversation with them, you know? Sometimes that gets on my nerves.”
“Tobias does tend to recruit the brightest and most ambitious researchers for his team,” Gail says. “But there’s always a trade-off. I’m glad I’m not in his position--keeping you all in line must be hard work.”
\
<</replace>>\
<<addclass "#two" "fade-in">>\
<</link>>\
</span> <</if>>\
\
<<if $work === 1>>
<span id="why">\
<<link "why you came to the lab">>\
<<replace "#why" t8n>>\
''(why you came to the lab)''
Your original intentions seem like such a distant memory now that you’re here. “I guess it was right after I started college. My niece, Zoe, was born with a debilitating genetic condition. I was staying with my cousin and her husband at the time, and my cousin was so torn between staying home with Zoe and focusing on her nursing job. She wanted to take care of everyone. So when I heard that Yobel was developing argevan treatments for medical purposes, I knew I wanted to work here someday.”
“Are you trying to propose something that will help Zoe?” Gail asks.
You nod, and she continues, “It won’t be easy to get the support you need. You might have to pitch it to another team, or spin it into something with broader applications. But it’s a noble goal. I hope you can find a way to make it happen.”
\
<</replace>>\
<<addclass "#two" "fade-in">>\
<</link>>\
</span> <</if>>\
\
<<if $social === 1>>
<span id="where">\
<<link "where you’re from">>\
<<replace "#where" t8n>>\
''(where you’re from)''
For the first time in months, you think about how far away you are from your family. “I grew up in a small mountain town--you wouldn’t know the name. But my cousin Miriam and I both went to school in Aegis-Eben, so it’s like our second home. She supported me during my college years because she had just gone through the same process, so we’re very close. Moving to Aegis-Eben was such a shock for me; I’d never been around that many people before! But of course it’s nothing compared to here.”
Gail looks down at the districts surrounding the lab building, stretching one after the other toward the horizon. “Aegis-Liora and Aegis-Eben were once called ‘The Twin Shields’, though nobody would think to say that now,” she says. “It’s been fascinating to watch them grow apart over the past few decades.”
\
<</replace>>\
<<addclass "#two" "fade-in">>\
<</link>>\
</span> <</if>>\
</blockquote>\
When you ask Gail about herself, Aaron butts in. “Gail’s been here for a long time,” he says with a sly smile. “She knows //all// of the lab’s ancient secrets.”\
<div id="one" class="opaque">\
<div id="two" class="opaque">\
\
<span id="secrets">
<div id="yes">\
<<link "''acquire ancient secrets''">>\
<<replace "#secrets" t8n>>\
''(acquire ancient secrets)''
“What do you mean?” you ask, intrigued.
Gail chuckles. “Aaron wanted me to show him around Yobel’s underground facilities. You can come with, if you’d like.”
You shrug. “Why not?”
It’s a long elevator ride down from your floor to ground level. “How much of this building have the two of you seen?” Gail asks as slivers of the lab’s many departments drift past.
“Not much besides our space and the public areas, honestly,” you reply, “except when I have to deal with paperwork. I’m sure Aaron’s seen his fair share, though. Didn’t someone let you into one of the wet labs last week?”
“Yeah, that was sick. But even I’ve never been underground.”
<span id="follow">\
<<link "''follow Gail underground''">>\
<<addclass "#1" "fade-in">>\
<<addclass "#2" "fade-in">>\
<<replace "#follow" t8n>>\
''(follow Gail underground)''
Gail leads you out of the elevator, across the public atrium, through a small side door marked //RESTRICTED ACCESS//, and down a dark flight of stairs to another elevator. “Yobel used to be very interconnected, but that was during our early days as a company. Nobody uses this entrance anymore--the underground employees have a tunnel that starts a block away. I only have access because the company forgot to take it away during its expansion.”
If the upstairs elevator resembled a crystal box, this one would be compared to a rusted cage. It clearly hasn’t been maintained in years; as it lowers you into the earth, its flickering light skims over the rocky surface of the elevator shaft, just barely illuminating it. When the elevator stops, you find yourselves on a suspended walkway.
<span id="look">\
<<link "''look down''">>\
<<addclass "#3" "fade-in">>\
<<addclass "#below" "fade-in">>\
<<replace "#look" t8n>>\
''(look down)''
Below you is vast rippling shadow--a shallow lake. The surface of the water is draped in a grid of stars, each purple point a ripening gem. It extends in all directions until the cave walls carve it a dark, jagged hem. //We must be in the argevan fields.// You’ve worked with argevan before, but always tiny, isolated samples in controlled environments. You never imagined the fields would be so breathtaking.
“Where is everyone?” you whisper. The faint outlines of dormant machinery hang silently above you; this cave is devoid of sound except for the low, distorted echo of faraway chambers.
“I’m sure you know that argevan is a scarce resource,” Gail says. “We harvest these fields on a rotating schedule to ensure a steady supply, so I guess the underground employees haven’t gotten around to this chamber yet. I’d say these colonies are overdue for harvesting, given their current size. Are you familiar with the farming and harvesting process that goes into producing argevan? Sort of?”
You learned about the properties of argevan in school. It’s a picky organism--it only grows at a certain temperature and humidity in mineral-rich groundwater. Naturally occurring argevan colonies are usually no bigger than a marble because they’re sensitive to changes in the environment. Larger colonies are chemically volatile, especially if they come into contact with each other, which makes argevan difficult to mass-produce and store.
“You see how the field is divided into compartments? That’s to make sure the colonies stay separate from each other.”
Now that your eyes have adjusted to the dark, you can see that rows of dividers crisscross the surface of the water, allowing one argevan colony per square.
Aaron snorts. “They don’t look that separate to me.”
<<linkreplace "''look again''" t8n>>\
''(look again)''
He’s right. Overwhelming beauty aside, there’s no denying how unprofessional this setup is compared to the rest of the lab. You wouldn’t trust the machinery to stay attached to the ceiling if you had to work here every day. The air is tolerable for now, but the accumulated fumes from these argevan colonies could easily suffocate you given enough time. “If they don’t harvest this soon...”
Aaron finishes your thought for you. “A big enough chain reaction could bring down the whole lab!”
Gail nods. “Exactly. These fields are a major safety hazard.”
“Why hasn’t anything been done about it?” you ask.
“I tried, back when Yobel was first expanding. I’m a department head, you know--I used to be on the board of this company with Tobias and the other department heads. But he refused to do anything that would slow down the lab's momentum, and the rest of them...I’d like to think they were too fond of their positions to stand up to him. Why do you think I only have two research assistants? Tobias can’t fire me outright, so he antagonizes me by keeping my department underfunded. Ha! He may be a brilliant scientist, but I do pity his lack of imagination sometimes.
The point is, Tobias has the company in the palm of his hand, and probably half the elected officials in town, too. Don’t even get me started on how much the public adores him, with the economic revival and all. In other words, I need your help.”
<<linkreplace "''ask her to explain''" t8n>>\
''(ask her to explain)''
“Why us?” you ask.
“The underground employees have been trying to unionize for years, but every time they show signs of getting their act together, the company steps in to purge their leadership. Who are the workers following these days...some guy named Ira? He seems like the most radical one so far, which means he likely won’t last long. And everyone who’s anyone in this company thinks I’m just a hag who can’t let go of an old grudge. But //you// were handpicked by Tobias himself; that gives you a level of credibility that most of us don’t have. Plus, he won’t get rid of you if he needs you for his research. Do you see what I mean?”
“I’ll help you,” Aaron says. “What do you need?”
“I have a petition urging Yobel to grant more protections to its underground employees and update the infrastructure of their argevan fields. I’m asking each person who signs to submit a public statement.”
“Wait,” you say. “What happens when Tobias realizes that we’re helping you?”
Gail sighs. “You’ll have to decide for yourself if you’re willing to find out.”
<span class="decision">[[> sign the petition (advance to next page)|SOCIAL2][$social++]]</span>
<span class="decision">[[> don’t sign the petition (advance to next page)|OPP2][$opp++]]</span>
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This conversation has gone on for longer than expected, and knowing Aaron, it isn’t about to end anytime soon. You don’t really have time for lengthy distractions right now. “Sorry, I should probably get back to work soon,” you say. “There’s something I need to finish by the end of the day.”
“Oh, come on,” Aaron protests, visibly annoyed.
Gail seems amused by him. “That’s alright. It was good meeting you, anyway.”
“Yes, let’s talk again another time! Have fun, Aaron.”
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<div class="text">
''END OF MONTH''
You hadn’t expected your first day back at the lab to be so eventful. When you finally get home, you collapse onto your couch, intending to take a nap. As you set an alarm on your phone, you notice that Miriam left a voicemail after you ignored her calls this morning.
<<linkreplace "''listen to the voicemail''" t8n>>\
''(listen to the voicemail)''
//“Hey, it’s Miriam...I saw the news about the lab just now and wanted to make sure you were okay.
I know getting this job meant a lot to you...
What I’m trying to say is, you’re welcome to crash with us in Aegis-Eben if you need company or a place to stay. I’m sure it’s not easy dealing with this by yourself, and Emmett and Zoe are always happy to see you. Oh, Zoe needs me...call me back when you get a chance, okay?”//
Miriam is generous with her home, as usual. //Home. Home...
Wait, don’t I need to renew my lease by tonight?//
You jolt awake and scramble to get a pen, worried the office downstairs will close before you can fill out the form and return it. //Unless...//you stop. //Given everything that’s happened, does it still make sense for me to stay on? If I wanted to, I could let the lease expire, leave the lab, and start over somewhere else...//
Either way, it’s time to make your decision.
<span class="decision">[[> stay at the lab (advance to next page)|STAY]]</span>
<span class="decision">[[> leave the lab (advance to next page)|LEAVE]]</span>
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You throw the lease renewal form away and rummage around your apartment for spare boxes. //I hope I’m making the right choice,// you think as you mentally prepare yourself for the start of a new life.
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You sign the lease renewal form and deliver it to the office downstairs. //I hope I’m making the right choice,// you think as you prepare yourself for another day of work.
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<span class="decision">[[several years later... (advance to next page)|HLL-S]]</span>
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<div class="text">
''WEEK 3''
Repairs are underway at Yobel. Your department is meeting at the lab for the first time since the incident. Working from home has been strange; all you can remember of the past two weeks is sitting with your laptop at the kitchen counter, time passing neither quickly nor slowly. As you go through the motions of your old morning routine, however, you feel that things are starting to return to normal.
<<linkreplace "''head to work''" t8n>>\
''(head to work)''
//PROTESTS SPRING UP OVER MISMANAGEMENT AT YOBEL
Investigators have confirmed that the explosion which took place at Yobel Laboratories two weeks ago was caused by a chemical reaction between large quantities of improperly stored argevan in the institution’s underground facilities...//
//Phone, keys, wallet.// Your phone starts to buzz as you pick it up. It’s Miriam.
You contemplate it for a moment before declining the call, grabbing the rest of your things, and rushing to the subway station.
If you had gotten up earlier, you would have biked to work today. You resist the urge to fidget while the subway lingers at each station.
“Next stop, Innovation Quarter,” you hear at last.
<<linkreplace "''get off the subway''" t8n>>\
''(get off the subway)''
//...After two of their own were found dead in the wreckage last week, Yobel’s underground employees have gone on strike. Protestors sympathetic to their cause have gathered in Aegis-Liora’s Innovation Quarter, carrying signs and chanting pro-union slogans...//
The block surrounding the lab is packed; if not for the height of the building, you wouldn’t be able to find your way to the entrance. You read the signs hovering above the mass of protestors. //PROSPERITY IN AEGIS-LIORA IS A LIE. YOU TOOK OUR HOMES FROM US. YOBEL IS BLEEDING OUR CITY DRY.// You never knew that the lab’s relationship with the citizens of Aegis-Liora was so troubled.
You find an opening in the crowd and push your way through, hoping nobody will realize you’re a Yobel employee. Suddenly, you no longer feel the crush of bodies against your own; you’ve broken through the front row of protestors and are now standing alone about twenty feet from the lab entrance.
“Look, Ira! Another one!”
A tall protestor who must be Ira turns in response and grabs your arm before you can take another step. <<if $petition > 0>>//So this is the leader of the underground employees that Gail was talking about.//<</if>>
“Where are you going, I wonder?” His expression changes when he sees your face. “Hold on...weren’t you on the news the other day?”
The crowd closes in around you, murmuring in agreement.
<<if $news === 0>>\
//They put me on the news even though I didn’t say anything?// “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you stammer.
“Ha! That’s what you told the reporter, too. Do you think you’re more important than us just because you have a computer and a shiny badge?”
<</if>>\
\
<<if $news === 1>>\
“Oh, I remember now,” he continues. “You’re the one who got all teary-eyed about how the lab didn’t deserve to have a mess made in its front yard!” The comment draws some chuckles from the protestors around him.
<</if>>\
\
<<if $news === 2>>\
“I thought you told the reporter that Yobel needed to change,” he continues, “so how come you’re sneaking back into the lab now instead of standing with us? Was that just an empty statement?”
<</if>>\
<<if $petition === 0>>\
“L-look, I don’t know what this is all about...could you let go of me, please? I have a meeting I need to be at.”
Ira makes an exaggerated display of remorse. “Oh, I’m sorry! The scared little kid’s going to work! Run along to Toby, then. Make sure you tell him to //get the hell out of our town before we bring this place to the ground.//”
The crowd jeers as you stagger into the building.
<</if>>\
\
<<if $petition === 1>>\
You squirm in his grip, trying to free yourself. “Let me go. I don’t have time for this right now.”
Ira releases you and steps away, arms raised in a casual shrug. “Do as you please. But one day, you’ll see what it’s like to be tossed aside like trash. And when Yobel decides it //doesn’t have time// for you anymore, nobody will be there to catch you...”
<</if>>\
\
<<if $petition === 2>>\
//Why does it have to be like this? Aren’t we supposed to be on the same team?// “Do you think I want to be in this position?” you say. “I may not be protesting, but you have to trust that I’m on your side. My coworkers are in there fighting for you right now. What use can I be to them, or to any of you, if you won’t let me help them?”
Ira gazes at you for a while, considering your words. “Alright,” he says at last, letting you go, “but I hope you’re telling the truth. We’ll be waiting for you.”
<</if>>\
<<linkreplace "''attend your meeting''" t8n>>\
''(attend your meeting)''
//...Argevan, a microorganism with a distinctive purple color, was discovered in Aegis-Liora’s underground cave system thirty years ago. Yobel’s groundbreaking research on argevan’s unique chemical properties is partially responsible for Aegis-Liora’s economic revival in the last few decades. However, our sources have found that for years, Yobel’s argevan fields have followed harvesting and storage protocols which fall short of the city’s health and safety standards...//
You are shaken and out of breath when you arrive at the meeting. Thankfully, you’re not alone; several of your coworkers seem to have gotten the same treatment that you just received. Tobias, usually charismatic and commanding, seems suspicious of the tension in the room. After going through the items on the meeting agenda, he clears his throat and says, “I want to address the current situation here at the lab.”
He gestures at the window.
“Look at that mob outside. They think they get to decide what’s right. On what basis? Some rumor they heard on Alfalfa? People these days believe anything they see on social media. It’s a cycle--the journalists smell a story and blow it way out of proportion, and suddenly the whole city is up in arms over their hysterics. Those protestors out there don’t even know what they’re asking for.
Now //we--we// are an institution. We follow procedures, and we come to rational conclusions. We do things the proper way. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices for the greater good. But we make the difficult decisions that nobody else can so we can engineer the best argevan products out there. We’re saving lives. They should be //thanking// us. Have I made myself clear?”
He scans the room. Everyone is silent.
“Excellent. I will see you all next week.”
<<linkreplace "''return to your desk''" t8n>>\
''(return to your desk)''
//...We interviewed several underground employees who said that efforts to report unsafe working conditions have resulted in inaction or retaliation from the company. Tobias Capra, Yobel’s director and co-founder, has not responded to these accusations.//
<<if $petition === 0>>\
“Well //that// was quite a speech,” Aaron says as you leave the meeting together.
“I mean...”
“What?”
“Did you also get stopped by the protestors outside this morning? It kind of freaked me out, to be honest.”
You reach a bend in the hallway and stop to look at the crowd outside. “Yeah, I know what you mean,” he says. “I don’t agree with Tobias at all, but...I can’t imagine myself joining them, either. They’d tear us apart if they found out we were in his department. At least we still have the petition.”
“What petition?”
“Remember that day I was talking to Gail and we went to the underground facilities? She had started a petition asking Yobel to improve the working conditions there and was looking for people to sign it.”
“Oh, why didn’t you say so? I feel like I would have signed if I had known what it was about.”
“//Now// you tell me. But whenever I actually talk to you about anything it’s always ‘I’m too busy with //this//, I’m too busy with //that//...’”
He walks off, leaving you alone at the window.
<</if>>\
\
<<if $petition === 1>>\
“Looks like Gail was right after all, huh?” Aaron says as you leave the meeting together.
“Hm. I wonder how the other departments are handling it.”
“Well...after the explosion happened, we convinced a bunch of other researchers to back the petition. The evidence for it was just too strong, I guess. We submitted it over the weekend--that’s probably why Tobias was like that. Don’t you wish you’d gotten on board when you had the chance?”
Before you can respond, the sound of chanting outside takes the smug look off his face. “...Sorry,” he says, his voice suddenly subdued. “I didn’t mean that. I know this is hard for everyone.”
“I know. It’s okay.”
You try to focus on your work for the rest of the afternoon, with little success.
<</if>>\
\
<<if $petition === 2>>\
“Did Gail manage to submit the petition?” you ask Aaron as you leave the meeting together.
“Yeah, she did. You should’ve seen how many signatures it had towards the end. After the accident, they just started pouring in. This sounds terrible, but I don’t think the petition would have gotten so much support if this hadn’t happened.”
“It’s pretty hard to not support it after hearing Tobias rant like that.”
“I cannot //believe// all those things he said. Could he have been any more callous?”
You stop at a bend in the hallway to peer out at the protestors below. “Were there really that many people who signed the petition?”
“Ooh...are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
The two of you gather Gail’s collection of public statements and descend floor by floor through the lab, convincing the authors and their friends to join your walkout. Ira nods in approval when you appear at the entrance of the lab with your ragtag group. “Good to see you again,” he says gruffly.
Around noon, the commotion outside becomes too much for Tobias to bear. He opens his office door to find that he is the only one left on his floor.
<</if>>\
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