The Weapon
Sean Barrett
aliens built-in hints cover art Evil protagonist feelies nonhuman protagonist parser single room technology walkthrough Xyzzy Awards 2001
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You pass the sentry watching the doorway to the Yi control room, hardly aware of his presence, and step inside, stopping before the owner of the familiar, frowning face just inside. Your escorts come to a halt behind you.

"Tolan," the tall, wiry woman says to you.

You steel yourself for the need to speak. "Cheryl," you reply. "Dig Leader Cheryl Thadafel. I knew you would have need of the greatest Mechanist in the galaxy. Again." The longest speech ever to cross these lips?

"Tolan, this is going to be on my terms, or not at all."

You turn your empty hands face-up. "Cheryl, this is important to me. It is the Yi-Lono-Mordel. Whatever the restrictions, I cannot miss this opportunity."

"Especially if the restrictions required you be kept away from it. Enough. I don't have much else to work with here, do I?" As she dismisses the guards, you sweep your eyes about the room.

Again.

This time you will pull it off--regardless of Cheryl's desires.

Copyright 2001, Sean Barrett

Most humans would probably find it the height of fashion, but this low ellipsoidal room makes you uncomfortable with its perfect symmetry and sterility. The featureless white wall is broken up only by the large elliptical window in the ceiling and the circular doorway through which you entered. A cluster of forms sits in the center, atop the slightly concave floor.

Cheryl Thadafel stands here, watching you closely.

[Type "ABOUT" for special information about interacting with THE WEAPON.]
You examine the room
The room is about fifteen meters long, eight meters wide, and three meters tall, in the traditional Yi ratio 4:2:1, with the vertical compromised to only 2/3 its height before the somewhat flat floor intrudes.

Cheryl says, "This is our chance to make a difference, Tolan. But only if we do it according to my rules. You're going to see what sort of information you can get displayed. As soon as you bring some Yi text up, you stop. You don't touch anything until I say it's ok to continue. Got it?"
Yes
Just use TALK or REPLY to engage in idle chitchat; for non-conversational communication, see the information in ABOUT.
Reply
You reply, "Of course. I will do it your way rather than not at all."

Cheryl says, "I'd be more glad to hear that if I actually trusted you, Tolan."
About yourself
You glance down at your body, taking care not to let the loathing show on your face, but there is really nothing worth noticing. Unless you count these idiotic handcuffs.

Cheryl says, "As you asked, the guards will keep their distance so they won't disturb your concentration. It'll just be you and me. And, since I'm no mechanist, I've got this--just so I can keep tabs on you." She shows you a holographic reproduction of this room, hovering over a black base. "There are sensors for movement, electromagnetic radiation, and I don't know what else, all analyzing this room. This little display lets me monitor the activity everywhere in the room so I can see what you're up to. So don't think you'll get away with anything."
You look at the handcuffs
Military grade handcuffs--oblong, blocky, but perfectly functional. You have seen them often enough in your lifetime--almost always in similar circumstances, sadly. They are securely fastened around your wrists, although since they are locked in front of you they should not interfere too much with your work.
You look under the handcuffs
The pale flesh of human wrists.
You eat the handcuffs
They're plainly inedible.
You unlock the handcuffs
(with the handcuffs)
Those don't seem to fit the lock.
You look at the floor
(the floor)
The floor is such a gentle concave slope, with its lowest point at the center under the various forms, that you cannot tell whether it is elliptical, spherical, parabolic, hyperbolic, or something higher-order.
You look at the wall
(the room)
The room is about fifteen meters long, eight meters wide, and three meters tall, in the traditional Yi ratio 4:2:1, with the vertical compromised to only 2/3 its height before the floor intrudes.

Cheryl sighs. "Tolan, do you have any idea how important it is we figure this place out, once and for all?"
You examine the window
Looking out the window you can only get the faintest sense of the magnitude of Yi-Lono-Mordel. The sun you now orbit is on the opposite side from this window, although you can see one star, very close. The other asteroids are in the same orbit, so they'd never appear above you--and they would surely be too distant to be visible even if the window did face them.

Cheryl says, "The problem is with the Lono, as you might guess."
Reply
You say, "Are not the Lono long gone? Or is there a Terran Alliance secret?"
You look at Cheryl
Dig Leader Cheryl Thadafel is a tall, wiry woman in her forties, perhaps late thirties. You spent the last three months looking forward to seeing her again, but now that you do, you wonder why you found her pug nose and staring eyes attractive in your memories. Perhaps it was just that you had little else to think about. Cheryl is carrying a monitor hologram, a laser pistol, and a key.

Cheryl replies, "Gone, but not forgotten. We didn't lie about anything, though. After the battle at Calder's Star, every last one of their ships retreated through the wormhole back to their galaxy."
You look at the forms
The forms consist of a raised slab (in the same proportions as the ellipsoidal room, but a rectangular parallelepiped instead) and two gleaming swept curves (one on each side of the slab).

"But," Cheryl continues, "They swore an oath. Apparently the same one they swore against the Yi, millennia ago. They're going to be back, Tolan, back with a vengeance. Soon. So before they show up, I'm going to have found a way to put an end to it--and that's why you're here."
You examine cheryl's key
Given that one of the guards who brought you up here gave the key to Cheryl, this elliptical disk of grey metal is almost certainly the key for a certain particularly annoying pair of handcuffs.

Cheryl says, "You probably never realized it, Tolan, but the Yi had a somewhat high opinion of themselves. The word Yi isn't just their name--it means 'the end' or 'the ultimate'. The 'Yi-Lono-Mordel' isn't 'the Yi's Lono weapon'; it's 'the final Lono weapon'. They were planning to win their war with it."
You examine hologram
A flickering three-dimensional image in the shape of the control room hovers over a plain black base, itself a rectangular parallelepiped.

("Rectangular parallelepiped"! How can any sane creature stand to use a language with no proper word for the simplest form with parallel sides? It's a wonder humanity made it off Terra.)

Cheryl says, "So I guess I'll finally make it into the history books by doing it for them."
You check your inventory
You are carrying:
a pair of handcuffs (being worn)
You examine pistol
Apparently standard issue to military officers, given the frequency with which you have been on the wrong end of them, the shiny chrome and spiky protrustions leave no question as to the purpose of this device. At least the Yi tend to be subtle about it.
You jump
You jump on the spot, fruitlessly.

Cheryl says, "That's a bit of Mechanism I've never seen before."
You describe your surroundings
This low ellipsoidal room makes you uncomfortable with its perfect symmetry and sterility. The featureless white wall is broken up only by the large elliptical window in the ceiling and the circular doorway through which you entered. In the center sits a slab, two swept curves surrounding it.

Cheryl stands here, watching you closely.
You examine the curves
Though the reason they are shaped into hyperboloids is unknown to you, you are well aware that each of these metal lumps served as an energy locus for a Yi--in this environment, a work location. The two sit on either side of the slab, one on the side nearest the door, one on the far side. They would be far too awkward to serve as a chair for your body.
You touch the curves
Although they are seemingly metallic, no free electrons wander the surface of these shapes; you can find nothing to influence.
You ask her about the handcuffs
(Cheryl about that)
Just use TALK or REPLY to engage in idle chitchat; for non-conversational communication, see the information in ABOUT.
You look at the slab
The slab, subtly off-white, is warm to the touch, and hides the sensitive Yi technological components needed to manipulate the whole of Yi-Lono-Mordel; this much you were able to determine the last time you were here. In the top center edge on the side opposite the door is a small notch.
You examine the notch
You recognize the notch as a standard Yi heat-sensitive triggering device; human body temperature happens to be sufficient to activate this one, as you figured out before you were halted in your tracks on your previous attempt at conquering Yi-Lono-Mordel.
You ask Cheryl for the key
Cheryl says, "Tolan, I don't trust you further than I can throw you. Until I see a problem you can't solve with the handcuffs on, forget it."
You talk to her
(Cheryl)
You don't think talking right now would accomplish anything.
About yourself
You glance down at your body for a fresh reminder of your situation.
Fondle notch
You touch the the notch with a minimal pressure. It is cooler than the rest of the slab, and you can feel the heat from your finger being drawn out momentarily. Where no cracks had been visible before, nevertheless sections of the top of the slab give way, and a control surface slides up and clicks into place.

Cheryl says, "Ok, this is interesting." She peers at the control surface.
You examine the surface
The control surface is covered with a large grid of studs arranged in a hexagonal packing; it also features a set-in viewscreen.

Cheryl says, "What's on that screen?" She approaches from other side of the slab. "Bah. See if you can find some text there."
You read the screen
The viewscreen is a small, perfectly square display set into the control surface. It shows some indecipherable icons.
You look at the icons
They are indecipherable.
You show the icons to Cheryl
(first taking the icons)
That's hardly portable.
You examine the studs
Each of the thousands of studs arrayed in a regular hexagonal packing across the control surface has a color and shape, but those two together are not enough to make each unique. However, it resembles all the other Yi mechanisms you have encountered in your life; although nobody else in the galaxy might ever realize it, the third axis of encoding is in the electric potential of the stud. Although the human body is poorly suited to the task, your long study has made you sensitive to this dimension as well. With that extra information and your encyclopedic knowledge of Yi technology, you can hazard a guess about many of these controls.

There are a number of studs whose exact function you are fairly certain you would recall if you studied them more closely and which seem relevant right now: an information stud, a powerup stud, a project status stud, a sequence stud, and a forcefield stud.
You examine the information stud
Activating this stud will bring up a large display on which will be shown what you imagine must be a detailed description of the purpose behind Yi-Lono-Mordel and information on how to use it--none of which would do you any good, since you can not read Yi writing. You are not certain that this is the information it displays, but you did activate and then deactivate this stud several months ago, so you are quite positive about it being full of Yi text.
You touch it
You touch your fingertip gently against the powerup stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

Hmm... Absolutely nothing happens. Given the years of disuse, perhaps the generator is in need of minor maintenance. You search the control surface and find a generator access stud, which should give you access to the generator so you can make any repairs necessary.
You look at the project status stud
Activating this stud ought to produce some sort of more detailed display of the Yi-Lono-Mordel status. Knowing the way the Yi tend to compartmentalize knowledge, it will hopefully not give any detail about the point of the entire mechanism.
You examine the generator access
Activating this stud should give you access to the fusion generator used to power this facility.
You examine the sequence stud
Activating this toggle stud will most likely bring up a concise listing of the steps needed to use Yi-Lono-Mordel on the control surface viewscreen. It probably has text that Cheryl could decipher, but hopefully it includes symbolic instructions; despite your bravado, Yi-Lono-Mordel is on a vastly different scope that any other Yi technology you have worked with, and you'll need help getting it going--help you can not rely on Cheryl for. Unfortunately, Cheryl seems to be able to see the viewscreen pretty clearly.
You examine the forcefield stud
You are no coward, but you know when you can use some help, so you always have an eye open for something like this. Activating this stud probably turns on a forcefield generator around the control slab--and Yi forcefields are nearly impenetrable by human technology. This might come in handy if Cheryl was not always so close to the slab.
You touch the information
This is the only stud you were able to activate when you were here before, and you are positive that it will produce the information Cheryl's looking for--which would make her bring today's session to a halt. It might be enough information for her to figure out what this place is; if so, you'd never get a chance to try again. So you better not activate it unless you've got some way to stop her.
You touch the generator
You touch your fingertip gently against the generator access stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

A pale green energy appears on the monitor hologram. Cheryl says, "What's that? Don't touch..."

To the right, a white pillar with an elliptical cross-section slides up out of the floor.

Cheryl says, "You better know what you're doing here, Tolan."
Reply
You say, "I'm looking for the manual override."
You examine the white pillar
This looks to be the fusion generator. It is an elliptical white pillar, almost two meters tall, one meter wide, and half a meter deep. On the long front side is an access panel, which is closed.

Cheryl says, "Well, of course. I'd help, but I'm busy watching you."
Reply
You say, "Of course."
You look at the panel
Visible only by a small color variation, a parametrically-rectangular section of the front of the pillar seems to be an access panel.

Cheryl says, "Tolan, my superiors don't want you anywhere near here. If they find out, I'll be in a lot of trouble."
Reply
You say, "Even if I find a way to win the war?"
Reply
There's no good reply to make.

Cheryl says, "If I manage to find a way to win the war, they'll forgive me. But I can't tell them about it yet. They don't trust you at all. I don't really trust you. But we've worked together, so I'm sure I can keep you under control, and more importantly, I'm sure you can get me access. I know you can do this. I don't know if anybody else could."
Reply
You smile. "Nobody else could."
You open the panel
The access panel has no seams you could work your fingernails into, and nothing else you could grip.

Cheryl says, "And of anyone, I'm the only one who will be able to make heads or tails out of whatever information you can dig up."
You touch panel
You touch your fingers to the access panel and immediately recognize the subtle flow of energy through the surface. How much easier this would be if you could see in the electromagnetic spectrum! After a moment of concentration, you align the energy in your fingertips against the flow. The access panel swings open, revealing a fusion generator bay.

Cheryl says, "What exactly is that?"
Reply
You say, "It is a wiring crossover terminal. Something is not connected correctly."
You look at the bay
The fusion generator bay is a spherical chamber which houses several Yi components you recognize comprise a plasma generator--a much bigger generator than you have ever seen in your long life--while the one remaining mechanism must be a plasma containment system--something you have always suspected the Yi were capable of, despite it being beyond your species' ability to produce. Closer inspection of the containment system reveals twelve contact points.

You recall noticing a tool stud which might give you something useful for analyzing the situation.

Cheryl says, "Oh, right, I should have recognized it."
You examine the contact points
The twelve contacts are arranged around the edge of the plasma generation zone in perfect symmetry. They all look quite identical.
You touch the plasma
Which do you mean, the plasma generator or the plasma containment system?
Examine generator
(the white pillar)
This is the fusion generator. It is an elliptical white pillar, almost two meters tall, one meter wide, and half a meter deep. On the long front side is an access panel, which is open, revealing a fusion generator bay.
You examine the containment
The thing you suspect is a plasma containment system looks perfectly serviceable. The twelve contacts arranged around the bay must be the loci of some sort of magnetic field used to contain the plasma.
You touch the tool stud
You touch your fingertip gently against the tool stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

A slot appears on the top of the slab, to the left. Rising out of the slot is an electropulse probe.

Cheryl says, "What is that? Hands off, Tolan." She grabs it as it emerges.
Reply
There's no good reply to make.

Cheryl says, "You can have this once I'm sure it's safe, Tolan."

She examines the probe carefully, then aims it so neither end is pointing at either of you, and fiddles with it for a moment.

Although you cannot see anything happening directly,  Cheryl's monitor hologram lights up with a multi-colored iridescent sphere which slowly fades away.

Cheryl says, "Huh. Just an electromagnetic toy." She sets it down on the slab.
You examine probe
A thin, cylindrical, half-meter-long rod, the electropulse probe is a common Yi device for working with certain kinds of Yi technology. The subtle interplay of electric and magnetic fields found in mechanisms can be stimulated with the probe, useful for detection, analysis, or calibration. At one end are two control sensors.
You examine the sensors
Which do you mean, the top sensor or the bottom sensor?
Top
The top sensor will trigger the probe to fire immediately.
You look at the bottom
The bottom sensor triggers the probe to fire after a delay.
You take probe
Taken.
You touch the top
You trigger the top sensor.

Although you cannot see anything happening directly,  Cheryl's monitor hologram lights up with a multi-colored iridescent sphere which slowly fades away.
Point probe at points
You put the electropulse probe into the fusion generator bay.
You press the top
You trigger the top sensor.

Although you cannot see anything happening directly,  Cheryl's monitor hologram lights up with a multi-colored iridescent sphere which slowly fades away. At the same time, a number of smaller points of white appear in the part of the hologram corresponding to the fusion bay, but you cannot make out the details; they are somewhat obscured by the glow of the probe.
You press the bottom
You trigger the bottom sensor.
Wait
Time passes.
Sing
Your singing is abominable.

Although you cannot see anything happening directly,  Cheryl's monitor hologram lights up with a multi-colored iridescent sphere which slowly fades away. At the same time, a number of smaller points of white appear in the part of the hologram corresponding to the fusion bay, but you cannot make out the details from here; they are somewhat obscured by the glow of the probe.

Cheryl says, "Tolan, we both have to be here. So please don't make it any worse for me."
You look
This low ellipsoidal room makes you uncomfortable with its perfect symmetry and sterility. The featureless white wall is broken up only by the large elliptical window in the ceiling and the circular doorway through which you entered. In the center sits a slab, two swept curves surrounding it.

In the center of the right side of the room is a white pillar. The access panel on the pillar is open, exposing a fusion generator bay. An electropulse probe sticks out of the bay.

On the slab are a slot (which is empty) and a control surface.

Cheryl stands here, watching you closely.
You examine the probe
A thin half-meter-long rod, the electropulse probe is a common Yi device for working with certain kinds of Yi technology. The subtle interplay of electric and magnetic fields found in mechanisms can be stimulated with the probe, useful for detection, analysis, or calibration. At one end are two control sensors.
You look at the slot
This narrow rectangular slot is where the probe emerged.
Probe
What do you want to probe?
You probe yourself
You move the probe near yourself and trigger the top sensor.

Although you cannot see anything happening directly,  Cheryl's monitor hologram lights up with a multi-colored iridescent sphere which slowly fades away.
Probe contacts
You put the electropulse probe into the fusion generator bay.

You trigger the top sensor.

Although you cannot see anything happening directly,  Cheryl's monitor hologram lights up with a multi-colored iridescent sphere which slowly fades away. At the same time, a number of smaller points of white appear in the part of the hologram corresponding to the fusion bay, but you cannot make out the details from here--unfortunate, since those details are just what you need to make the repairs; they are somewhat obscured by the glow of the probe.
You touch the bottom sensor
You trigger the bottom sensor.
You examine hologram
A flickering three-dimensional image of the control room hovers over a rectangular black base.
You look at the hologram
You try to get a better look at Cheryl's monitor hologram as the probe fires; it looks like you only see eleven flickers of white, but you can not be sure, and Cheryl does not look comfortable with the idea of you standing any closer.
CHERYL, ,EXAMINE HOLOGRAM
You trigger the bottom sensor.
Time passes.
Cheryl isn't particularly interested.

Although you cannot see anything happening directly,  Cheryl's monitor hologram lights up with a multi-colored iridescent sphere which slowly fades away. At the same time, a number of smaller points of white appear in the part of the hologram corresponding to the fusion bay, but you cannot make out the details from here; they are somewhat obscured by the glow of the probe.
Point probe at slot
(first taking the electropulse probe)
You put the "top" end of the probe back into the slot, leaving the sensors exposed. The probe is held in place firmly, but sticks up out of the slot.
You press the top
You trigger the top sensor.

Cheryl's monitor hologram lights up with a burst of radiant energy from the probe, just under the surface of the slab.
Wait
Time passes.
Point probe at contacts
(first taking the electropulse probe)
You put the electropulse probe into the fusion generator bay.
You wait
Time passes.

Although you cannot see anything happening directly,  Cheryl's monitor hologram lights up with a multi-colored iridescent sphere which slowly fades away.
You look at Cheryl
Cheryl Thadafel is a tall, wiry woman in her forties. You spent the last three months looking forward to seeing her again, but now that you do, you wonder why you found her pug nose and staring eyes attractive in your memories. Cheryl is carrying a monitor hologram, a laser pistol, and a key.
You ask her for the pistol
(Cheryl for the laser pistol)
Cheryl says, "You think you're amusing? If there's something that you need a laser pistol for, I think you'll just have to let me do the shooting for you."
You continue
(Cheryl for the laser pistol)
Cheryl says, "I'm not giving it to you. If you need something shot, maybe I'll do it."
You shoot cheryl
Cheryl says, "Very funny."
You shoot you
Cheryl says, "Trust me, Tolan, I will the minute you give me a good reason to."
You ask her for the hologram
(Cheryl for the monitor hologram)
Cheryl says, "This monitor hologram is how I'm keeping tabs on you. If I don't have it, you're not going to get to do anything, anything at all."

Cheryl thinks for a moment and then speaks again. "However, I recall we confiscated a pair of electromagnetic-sensitive goggles from you back when we... found... you here." She speaks into her communicator.

Several minutes later, one of the guards stands in the doorway and tosses the goggles on the floor next to you, then leaves.
Wear the goggles
(first taking the electromagnetic goggles)
You clumsily struggle to put on the electromagnetic goggles and the room suddenly bursts to life visually. Whorls and eddies of energy play over every surface of the room but the window. Although it is a far cry from being able to directly perceive this much of the electromagnetic spectrum, it is far, far more than you have been forced to live with for some time.

The one drawback is that it is difficult to read displays, since the display spectrum is compressed to such a narrow band, and the display circuitry itself is exposed.
You examine the contacts
The twelve contacts are arranged around the edge of the plasma generation zone in perfect symmetry. They all look quite identical.
Examine generator
(the white pillar)
The fusion generator is an elliptical pillar, with small amounts of energy playing over it. Energy flows in a regulated way across an access panel, which is open, revealing a fusion generator bay.
You examine the bay
The fusion generator bay houses several Yi components you recognize comprise a plasma generator, while the remaining mechanism must be a plasma containment system. The containment system has twelve contact points. There is little energy flow to be seen, since the generator is off.
You touch the top
You trigger the top sensor.

A sharp, multi-colored burst of electromagnetic radiation pulses out of the tip of the probe.
Probe contacts
You put the electropulse probe into the fusion generator bay.

You trigger the top sensor.

A sharp, multi-colored burst of electromagnetic radiation pulses out of the tip of the probe.

The contact points in the fusion generator bay resonate in response--all but the ninth one, which stays utterly black. There is probably a recalibration stud for each of the contacts amongst the giant array of controls on the slab.

It is a good thing you got the goggles; the probe flash tends to overwhelm the details on Cheryl's hologram anyway.
You examine the studs
There are a number of studs whose function you are fairly certain of and which might prove relevant: a calibration stud, a tool stud, a generator access stud, an information stud, a powerup stud, a project status stud, a sequence stud, and a forcefield stud.
You touch calibration
You touch your fingertip gently against the calibration stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

Nothing appears to happen, but that is hardly surprising, since you know well it can't be calibrated without an appropriate stimulus.

Cheryl says, "Are you sure you know what you're doing, Tolan?"
Answer
You say, "Trial and error is part of the process of Mechanism."
Probe ninth contact
Which do you mean, the contact points or the calibration stud?
Points
You're not holding the probe.

Cheryl says, "Make sure you err on the side of safety."
You take the probe
Taken.

You already have that.
Point probe at calibration
You move the probe near the calibration stud and trigger the top sensor.

A sharp, multi-colored burst of electromagnetic radiation pulses out of the tip of the probe.
Probe contacts
You put the electropulse probe into the fusion generator bay.

You trigger the top sensor.

A sharp, multi-colored burst of electromagnetic radiation pulses out of the tip of the probe.

The contact points in the fusion generator bay resonate in response--all but the ninth one, which stays utterly black. There is probably a recalibration stud for each of the contacts.
You examine calibration stud
Activating this stud will recalibrate the ninth contact point in the fusion generator bay if the contact is appropriately stimulated at the same time.
You touch calibration
You touch your fingertip gently against the calibration stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

Nothing appears to happen, but that is hardly surprising, since it can't be calibrated without a simultaneous electromagnetic stimulus.
You touch the information
This is the only stud you were able to activate when you were here before, and you are positive that it will produce the information Cheryl's looking for--which would make her bring today's session to a halt. It might be enough information for her to figure out what this place is; if so, you'd never get a chance to try again. So you better not activate it unless you've got a way to stop her.
You examine the studs
There are a number of studs whose function you are fairly certain of and which might prove relevant: a calibration stud, a tool stud, a generator access stud, an information stud, a powerup stud, a project status stud, a sequence stud, and a forcefield stud.
You press the powerup
You touch your fingertip gently against the powerup stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

Nothing happens. It would be typical of the Yi to have a safety interlock which requires the access panel be shut.
Sing
Your singing is abominable.
You shut the panel
The probe blocks it from closing.
You take probe
Taken.
You shut the panel
You close the generator access panel.
You press the powerup
You touch your fingertip gently against the powerup stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

The fusion generator pillar radiates a sequence of colors: dark red, deep purple, light blue, and then builds and peaks with a very bright yellow.

Cheryl's monitor hologram reveals significant electromagnetic activity beginning to occur within the fusion generator.

It looks like powering up was a good place to start; that was fairly obvious. But you have no intuition about what to do next with a mechanism on this scale; the grid of stud offers thousands of studs, any of which could plausibly be involved.

Cheryl says, "You're making quite a bit of progress, Tolan."
Reply
You say, "No. This is little more than turning the lights on."
Press sequence
You touch your fingertip gently against the sequence stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

The viewscreen lights up, pulsing and probing energies dancing all over its surface.

Cheryl notices the changed display on the viewscreen. "What is that? Move away from the controls, Tolan. I want to decipher that text." She draws her laser pistol and points it at you.

You look down at the viewscreen as you raise your hands for Cheryl and determine that this is exactly what you needed to know.

Unfortunately, you'll never get the chance to make use of the information.
You look at the project status stud
Activating this stud ought to produce some sort of more detailed display of the Yi-Lono-Mordel status. Knowing the way the Yi tend to compartmentalize knowledge, it will hopefully not give any detail about the point of the entire mechanism.

Cheryl says, "Oh, well, sure, for a place this big and complicated, that would be true."
Press project status stud
You touch your fingertip gently against the project status stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

Projected on the left half of the far wall of the room, an installation status display showing the current configuration of Yi-Lono-Mordel appears.

Cheryl says, "What's this?" She takes a step closer to it. "Shoot, no text."
You examine status display
It's a little too hard to make out the display through the visual noise of the goggles.

Cheryl says, "Cool, that must be Yi-Lono-Mordel. I'm sure there's more to this, Tolan. Find me some text!"
You remove the goggles
You take off the goggles, revealing the drab world of the natural human visual spectrum.
Press sequence
You touch your fingertip gently against the sequence stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

The viewscreen lights up with a list of Yi text and corresponding control iconography.

Cheryl notices the changed display on the viewscreen. "What is that? Move away from the controls, Tolan. I want to decipher that text." She draws her laser pistol and points it at you.

You look down at the viewscreen as you raise your hands for Cheryl and determine that this is exactly what you needed to know.

Unfortunately, you'll never get the chance to make use of the information.
You ask Cheryl about the handcuffs
Just use TALK or REPLY to engage in idle chitchat; for non-conversational communication, see the information in ABOUT.
You examine the status
(the installation status display)
The installation status display uses crisp, simple geometric symbols to display a representation of the entire Yi-Lono-Mordel installation: the star system you are in now, with the twenty asteroids including this one orbiting it, and the twenty stars arrayed around it like the vertices of a dodecahedron, each with twenty asteroids of their own. The indicator corresponding to this asteroid is glowing brighter than those for the other asteroids.
You show the handcuffs to Cheryl
Cheryl says, "Tolan, I don't trust you further than I can throw you. Until I see a problem you can't solve with the handcuffs on, forget it."
You examine the status display
The installation status display shows a symbolic representation of the entire Yi-Lono-Mordel installation: the star system you are in now, with the twenty asteroids including this one orbiting it, and the twenty stars arrayed around it like the vertices of a dodecahedron, each with twenty asteroids of their own. The indicator corresponding to this asteroid is glowing brighter than those for the other asteroids.
You touch the forcefield
You touch your fingertip gently against the forcefield stud while focusing your mind to concentrate your energies through it. But you can not quite achieve the right electrical flow, because the handcuffs on your wrists short-circuit your hands.
Wave
You wave, feeling foolish.

Cheryl says, "Yes? I do see you, Tolan."
You check what you're carrying
You are carrying:
an electropulse probe
a pair of electromagnetic goggles
a pair of handcuffs (being worn)
Kiss cheryl
You consider just how many sacrifices you would be willing to make to achieve your goals; reflecting on it, there is really nothing you would not be willing to do. But Cheryl has a laser pistol.
Point at stud
Which do you mean, the calibration stud, the tool stud, the generator access stud, the information stud, the powerup stud, the project status stud, the sequence stud or the forcefield stud?
Forcefield
You point at the forcefield stud.
You show forcefield stud to Cheryl
(first taking the forcefield stud)
That's hardly portable.
Point probe at cuffs
You move the probe near the handcuffs and trigger the top sensor.

Although you cannot see anything happening directly,  Cheryl's monitor hologram lights up with a multi-colored iridescent sphere which slowly fades away.
You look at the tool stud
This stud controls a probe storage mechanism.
You press generator access stud
You touch your fingertip gently against the generator access stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

The elliptical pillar disappears back into the floor.
Press project status stud
You touch your fingertip gently against the project status stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

The installation status display fades away.
Press project status stud
You touch your fingertip gently against the project status stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

The installation status display showing the current configuration of Yi-Lono-Mordel appears, projected on the wall.

Cheryl looks at the status display to see if there's anything new.
Press information stud
This is the only stud you were able to activate when you were here before, and you are positive that it will produce the information Cheryl's looking for--which would make her bring today's session to a halt. It might be enough information for her to figure out what this place is; if so, you'd never get a chance to try again. So you better not activate it unless you've got a way to stop her.
You look
This low ellipsoidal room makes you uncomfortable with its perfect symmetry and sterility. The featureless white wall is broken up only by the large elliptical window in the ceiling and the circular doorway through which you entered. In the center sits a slab, two swept curves surrounding it.

Projected on the left half of the far wall of the room is an installation status display.

On the slab are a slot (which is empty) and a control surface.

Cheryl stands here, watching you closely.
Wear the goggles
You clumsily struggle to put on the electromagnetic goggles and the room suddenly bursts to life visually, including the various displays, which become more challenging to read.
You examine the surface
The control surface is covered with a large grid of studs arranged in a hexagonal packing; it also features a set-in viewscreen.

Cheryl says, "Are those goggles helpful? Can you see anything through them that isn't on my hologram?"
You give the goggles to Cheryl
Cheryl takes the goggles from you. "Something interesting to see this way, Tolan?" She puts them on and looks around as if slightly disoriented.
You touch sequence stud
You touch your fingertip gently against the sequence stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

The viewscreen lights up with a list of Yi text and corresponding control iconography.

Cheryl says, "Is that it?" She reaches up to take off the goggles.
You examine the viewscreen
The viewscreen is a small, perfectly square display set into the control surface. Although you can not understand the Yi writing, you can recognize a number of the control icons in the sequence: power-up, then transmit go, then control rods, then ignition. Powering up you have done; no doubt there are studs to trigger the other three.

Cheryl says, "Show's over, huh?" She takes off the goggles and tosses them on the ground beside you. Good thing they're sturdy enough to take a fair amount of abuse.

Cheryl notices the changed display on the viewscreen. "What is that? Move away from the controls, Tolan. I want to decipher that text." She draws her laser pistol and points it at you.

Too bad you'll never get another chance.
You touch sequence stud
You touch your fingertip gently against the sequence stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

The viewscreen returns to its normal display.

Cheryl says, "Show's over, huh?" She takes off the goggles and tosses them on the ground beside you. Good thing they're sturdy enough to take a fair amount of abuse.
You give probe to her
(Cheryl)
Cheryl says, "I'm not particulary interested in that."
You throw the probe at her
(Cheryl)
You would prefer not to do something that might provoke Cheryl and earn you a trip straight back to the brig.
Probe cheryl
Cheryl circles the slab and gives you a look of warning.
You look
This low ellipsoidal room makes you uncomfortable with its perfect symmetry and sterility. The featureless white wall is broken up only by the large elliptical window in the ceiling and the circular doorway through which you entered. In the center sits a slab, two swept curves surrounding it.

Projected on the left half of the far wall of the room is an installation status display.

On the slab are a slot (which is empty) and a control surface.

Cheryl stands here, watching you closely.

You can also see a pair of electromagnetic goggles here.
You give the goggles to Cheryl
(first taking the electromagnetic goggles)
Cheryl takes the goggles from you. "Got something to show me?" She puts them on and looks around.
You press the top
You trigger the top sensor.

Although you cannot see anything happening directly,  Cheryl's monitor hologram lights up with a multi-colored iridescent sphere which slowly fades away.

Cheryl, watching through the goggles, says, "Huh. Tolan, I'd never have thought you'd be one to admire beauty."
You wait a while
Time passes.

Cheryl says, "That it?" She reaches up to take off the goggles.
Wait
Time passes.

Cheryl takes off the goggles and tosses them on the ground beside you.
You ask her for the goggles
(Cheryl for the electromagnetic goggles)
Cheryl says, "You must be on artificial stimulants, Tolan."
You ask her for the key
(Cheryl for the key)
Cheryl says, "Tolan, I don't trust you further than I can throw you. Until I see a problem you can't solve with the handcuffs on, forget it."
You look at her
(Cheryl)
Cheryl Thadafel is a tall, wiry woman in her forties. You spent the last three months looking forward to seeing her again, but now that you do, you wonder why you found her pug nose and staring eyes attractive in your memories. Cheryl is carrying a monitor hologram, a laser pistol, and a key.
You ask her for the hologram
(Cheryl for the monitor hologram)
Cheryl says, "I'm using this monitor hologram to track your activities, Tolan."
Break monitor
That is insubstantial.
Probe surface
You move the probe near the control surface and trigger the top sensor.

Although you cannot see anything happening directly,  Cheryl's monitor hologram lights up with a multi-colored iridescent sphere which slowly fades away.
Probe slab
You put the "top" end of the probe back into the slot, leaving the sensors exposed. The probe is held in place firmly, but sticks up out of the slot.

You trigger the top sensor.

Cheryl's monitor hologram lights up with a burst of radiant energy from the probe, just under the surface of the slab.
You take probe
Taken.
You show the window to her
(Cheryl)
(first taking the elliptical window)
That's hardly portable.

Cheryl takes off the goggles and tosses them on the ground beside you.
You examine the studs
There are a number of studs whose function you are fairly certain of and which might prove relevant: a transmit stud, a control stud, an ignition stud, a calibration stud, a tool stud, a generator access stud, an information stud, a powerup stud, a project status stud, a sequence stud, and a forcefield stud.

Cheryl takes off the goggles and tosses them on the ground beside you.
You look at the control
(the control surface)
The control surface is covered with a large grid of studs arranged in a hexagonal packing; it also features a set-in viewscreen.
You examine the transmit
Activating this stud no doubt transmits a signal of some sort, presumably to the other asteroids in the Yi-Lono-Mordel installation. Considering their ability to miniaturize, the Yi would not need an external transmission source; the transmitter is probably right inside the slab. However, given the location and energy necessary, the signal it produces will surely be visible on Cheryl's monitor hologram or through your electromagnetic goggles.
You examine the control stud
Activating this stud should give access to the final control system.
You press transmit
You touch your fingertip gently against the transmit stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

A very bright blue ball appears on Cheryl's monitor hologram in the center of the control slab.

Cheryl says, "What was that? I suspect that's what a signal transmission would look like. Don't touch a thing, Tolan." She draws her laser pistol. "Until I can find out what just happened, I'm sending you back to the brig."

Unfortunately, once she finds out what just happened, they'll probably opt for a harsher penalty than just the brig.
You press the control
(the control surface)
It is fixed in place.
You press control stud
You touch your fingertip gently against the control stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

Nothing happens.
You examine the studs
There are a number of studs whose function you are fairly certain of and which might prove relevant: a transmit stud, a control stud, an ignition stud, a calibration stud, a tool stud, a generator access stud, an information stud, a powerup stud, a project status stud, a sequence stud, and a forcefield stud.
You press the ignition stud
You touch your fingertip gently against the ignition stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

Nothing happens.
You examine the transmit stud
Activating this stud no doubt transmits a signal of some sort, presumably to the other asteroids in the Yi-Lono-Mordel installation. Knowing the Yi, the transmitter is inside the slab. Transmitting such a signal will be very visible on Cheryl's hologram.
You examine slab
The slab, subtly off-white, is warm to the touch, and hides the sensitive Yi technological components needed to manipulate the whole of Yi-Lono-Mordel. In the top center edge on the side opposite the door is a small notch. Extending across much of the surface of the slab is a slightly raised control surface. There is an open slot in the slab where the probe emerged.
Press status
(the installation status display)
That is insubstantial.
Press status stud
You touch your fingertip gently against the project status stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

The installation status display fades away.
Press status stud
You touch your fingertip gently against the project status stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

The installation status display showing the current configuration of Yi-Lono-Mordel appears, projected on the wall.
You touch the tool stud
You touch your fingertip gently against the tool stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

The slot through which the probe emerged closes.
You examine the status
(the installation status display)
The installation status display shows a symbolic representation of the entire Yi-Lono-Mordel installation: the star system you are in now, with the twenty asteroids including this one orbiting it, and the twenty stars arrayed around it like the vertices of a dodecahedron, each with twenty asteroids of their own. The indicator corresponding to this asteroid is glowing brighter than those for the other asteroids.
You touch the tool stud
You touch your fingertip gently against the tool stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

A slot appears on the top of the slab.
Touch status
(the installation status display)
There's nothing to feel.
You put the probe in the slab
You put the "top" end of the probe back into the slot, leaving the sensors exposed. The probe is held in place firmly, but sticks up out of the slot.
You examine icon
They are still indecipherable.
You examine the studs
There are a number of studs whose function you are fairly certain of and which might prove relevant: a transmit stud, a control stud, an ignition stud, a calibration stud, a tool stud, a generator access stud, an information stud, a powerup stud, a project status stud, a sequence stud, and a forcefield stud.
You examine viewscreen
The viewscreen is a small, perfectly square display set into the control surface. It shows some indecipherable icons.
You touch control stud
You touch your fingertip gently against the control stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

A pair of rods slowly emerge from surface of the slab.

Cheryl says, "What are those?"
You sit on the rods
They're not something you can sit down on.

Cheryl says, "I knew it! The place must be very important to have its information so protected. It's rather uncharacteristic of the Yi, but I expected that all along."
You look at the rods
A pair of slender cylindrical control rods sticks up from the surface of the slab through a thin crack. The rods are about a meter apart. You have never seen anything like this in your experience with Yi equipment.
You examine the crack
The rods poke up out of this thin crack.
You touch the rods
You touch each of the rods one at a time, but the handcuffs prevent you from touching both at the same time. Although the rods have a subtle electric potential, you cannot find any way to trigger them energistically.
You take the rods
They're fixed in place.
Pull rods
You try to reach and touch both of the rods at the same time, but the handcuffs prevent you.
Pull rods
Cheryl says, "I'd rather leave my hands free to reach for my laser, Tolan. But I guess you can take the handcuffs off."

She tosses the key to the handcuffs onto the floor next to you.
You take the key
Taken.
You unlock the handcuffs with the key
You unlock the handcuffs.
You remove the handcuffs
(first opening the handcuffs)
You take off the handcuffs.
Pull rods
You pull the rods together, towards each other, and they move until they are much closer. An icon on the viewscreen changes slightly. The rods want to spring back apart, and you can not do anything else while holding them together, so you release the rods.
You put the handcuffs on the rods
You pull the rods together and slip the handcuffs on them. They seem to hold the rods together quite handily. An icon on the viewscreen changes slightly.

Cheryl says, "How clever."
Press forcefield
You touch your fingertip gently against the forcefield stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

Cheryl notices the activity on her hologram monitor. She turns to face you. "Tolan, if I'm not mistaken, there's a forcefield around this slab... and us." Her laser pistol is in her hand. "I suggest you lower that forcefield. If I'm forced to use this... well, I might be trapped here for a while, but the Terran Alliance will ship the technology to break the field eventually. So why don't you make it easy on the both of us?"

Little choice: in death there will be no second chances. Unfortunately, this has tipped them off, and you'll never get a second chance in what's left of your life, either.
You look at the wall
(the room)
The room is about fifteen meters long, eight meters wide, and three meters tall, in the traditional Yi ratio 4:2:1, with the vertical compromised to only 2/3 its height before the floor intrudes. A status display is projected on one side of the room.

Cheryl says, "I'm surprised the Yi would have had such a physical control system. I could have operated that myself."
Press information
You touch your fingertip gently against the information stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

A large display appears on the right wall of the room, filled with line after line of Yi text.

Cheryl notices the activity and turns to look at the display. "That's it! You've found it. Wonderful!" She walks over to take a closer look at it. "Oh, Tolan, I think the first word is 'humans'! I think this might be addressed to us! The first ever communication from the Yi."
Press forcefield
You touch your fingertip gently against the forcefield stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

Cheryl notices the activity on her hologram monitor. She turns to face you. "Tolan, you're a dead man. I told you not to mess with anything." She draws her laser pistol, but hesitates. "Hell, that's a Yi forcefield, isn't it? Well, you can't stay in there forever."
You touch the ignition
You touch your fingertip gently against the ignition stud and focus your mind to concentrate your energies through it.

On Cheryl's monitor hologram, an enormous surge of energy flows out of the fusion generator and out in all directions around the room.

The indicator corresponding to this asteroid on the installation status display turns white.

Cheryl looks at the monitor hologram in dismay, then turns to face you.

Cheryl says, "What are you up to, Tolan?"
Reply
You say, "Well, it has been fun, Cheryl. But it is over now."

Cheryl says, "What do you mean?"

A speaker at the doorway crackles to life. "Dig Leader, some time ago we detected a transmission to the surrounding asteroids, and have just determined it came from the control room."
Reply
You say, "Yi-Lono-Mordel is powered up and ready to go."

Cheryl says, "Ready? What is Yi-Lono-Mordel?"

The indicator for this asteroid on the status display turns bright yellow.
Reply
You say, "It is the Yi's ultimate weapon, just like you said. You remember the Lono planet-buster? Yi-Lono-Mordel is more. Far more. It is a galaxy smasher. I think. I believe. I hope."

Cheryl stares at you silently.
Continue
You say, "We can only assume the Yi did not use it because they did not want to wipe out humanity along with the Lono--at least, not if humanity managed to stop the Lono."

The indicators for the other asteroids around this star light up a bit brighter.

You say, "So now I will get to do the honors."

Cheryl says, "What? Destroy the galaxy? Why?"

The voice on the speaker returns. "Also, a freighter in the area reports a signal was sent out to the neighboring stars."
Reply
You shake your head. "Cheryl, Cheryl. Come now. Why do you think I would want to destroy all of humanity?"

Cheryl says, "I know you too well to believe you're a psychopath. So I don't know."
Reply
You say, "You do not know me at all, Cheryl. I am different from everyone you know. Different from every human being in the galaxy, in fact. Differently motivated."

The indicator for this asteroid on the status display turns hot pink.
Reply
You say, "Did your superiors suspect? Did they tell you to keep me away, or did they tell you to kill me? Tell me."

Cheryl considers replying, but hesitates.
Reply
You say, "Well, enough discussion. I find it hard enough to control this pathetic human body without forcing myself to try to make human speech. Say goodbye, 'Milky Way'."

The indicator for this asteroid on the status display begins flashing.
Laugh
You cackle maniacally.

Cheryl opens her mouth to speak, but she is, for once, at a loss for words.
Wave
You wave, feeling foolish.