IF Whispers 5
Chris Conley
cat collaboration horror I7 source available
Travel down into an abandoned Antarctic Base and unveil the mysteries within. A story made in the paper-telephone style, with each person only having access to the section before, with a co-ordinated ending that ties everything beautifully together.
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You have been travelling for weeks. Your supplies are running low. You had nearly lost all hope -- and then you found the first sign of humanity you've seen in days.

Type "about" for more information on this project.

Your tracks lead through the snow back into the distance. Everywhere else is blank and undefined; the sky and the ground are one solid, flat plane ahead of you.

Something silver is sticking out of the snow.
You examine silver
A strange thin silver device, smaller than the palm of your hand. There is a small depression on one end.
You take it
Something inside rattles as you pick up the strange device.
You shake it
(first taking the depression)
That seems to be a part of the strange device.
You need to be holding the depression first.

But you aren't holding that.
Shake device
As you start to move the device around, a red light on one end starts to flash.
Shake device
With a bit of experimentation, you find that the device blinks fastest when it's pointed towards the west.
Wave device
The device blinks fastest when pointing west.
West
Holding the strange device out in front of you, you trudge ahead for a few minutes, until the rate of blinking slows down.
Author
Scene 1, "Southern Exposure", was written by Chris Conley.
Wave device
The device blinks fastest when pointing southwest.
You go west
Holding the strange device out in front of you, you trudge ahead for a few minutes, until the rate of blinking slows down.

The device begins vibrating in your hand, as you nearly trip over something buried in the snow.
Dig
What do you want to dig?
Snow
You don't have anything extremely well-suited to digging, but the snow is fortunately dry and lightly packed. Using a bowl from your supplies, progress is fairly quick. Within half an hour, you are...

The only real landmark of any note here is the research center. At last, you have found the site you were searching for.
You check your inventory
You are carrying:
a strange device
an arctic gear (being worn)
a giant backpack (being worn, and closed)
You examine center
Barely anything more than a metal shack with a solid door.
You open door
(the research center shack)
After some effort, the door to the research center pops open. You are greeted by a blast of stale-but surprisingly not cold-air. Stairs lead downward, and you descend...

Your steady search for the research center has not been in vain! The airlock is a cool dank chamber, with metal walls, floor, and ceiling. The fresh snow that blew in with you melts slowly on the stairs that lead up to the outer door that gapes open above. To the north is the inner door that presumably leads into the research center proper.
You close the outer door
With a satisfying slam, you shut the outer door and a stale warmth fills the airlock.

Now the whistling of the outside wind is no longer a distraction, you take a greater stock of your surroundings and note with mounting unease a red smear on the floor leading towards the inner door.
You examine the smear
A dried red-brown smear leads in under the inner door. The sight brings back your fears about the research center's long radio silence.
Smell smear
You lean right in and inhale deeply. The smear has a sharp iron tang to it.
Taste smear
The smear has a sharp iron tang to it.
You open the backpack
You open the giant backpack, revealing some survival supplies and a collapsible tent.
You examine supplies
MREs, granola bars, a small propane stove and a bowl for making soup with melted snow. Nothing glamorous, and there's almost nothing left.
You look at the gear
The arctic gear lies in a damp creased pile.
You drop the gear
The arctic gear drops with a resounding squelch.
About yourself
You are weary from the harsh trek through the snowy wastes, but you know you've certainly looked worse. You are currently decked out in a hooded jacket combo and a giant backpack.
You open the inner door
You open the inner door and are greeted by a warm waft of stale air.

A slow dripping alerts you to the fact that the snow on the stairs has now melted completely.
Go north
You step out of the airlock and into a dim, narrow corridor. As you pass the threshold, the strange device that you'd picked up from the snow beeps shrilly before going silent.

Claustrophobia gropes at your mind with feral claws in this corridor. It leads northeast and west from here. The functional, bolted metal of the walls continues from the airlock. It's warm in here, far too warm. The bloody trail leads to the west.
Wave device
As you start to move the device around, a red light on one end starts to flash.
You examine the red light
A tiny hole on the top of one of the broad sides of the device, currently blinking red.
You examine the trail
The trail becomes more of a splatter as it moves continues west.
You close the inner door
You close the inner door.
Go west
You step into the supply room and grow pale. You know the form sprawled on the floor, that twisted thing that once was Kira Argmanov. Steadying yourself on the doorframe for a second, trying to blink the tears away. You take a deep breath, breathing in the smell of her death, and stop. Your love, dead in Antarctica.

Then something rumbles in the locker, and at the same time the strange device beeps once again.

This room has been thoroughly and methodically searched. Boxes stand open, racks are emptied, balls of plastic wrapping lie on the floor. There is a single locker in the corner.

The corpse of the woman you love lies here, exposed.
You examine the corpse
You can't bear to look at her too long. Looks like someone or something attacked her from behind and cracked her open. You notice a birthmark on her shoulder you used to kiss a thousand miles from here, and somehow that's the worst. There's a bile taste in your mouth, and you can't look anymore.
You examine the locker
It's a functional metal locker. It doesn't have a lock.
You open the locker
You carefully open the locker, prepared for everything - then something jumps out at you! You screech and cover your face - warm, prickly fur on your face, hitting the ground as you stumble backwards. As you regain your senses, something small flees into the corridor.
You open the locker
That's already open.
Wave device
The device blinks fastest when pointing southwest.
You search the locker
In the locker is a blanket.
You examine the blanket
It's an olive emergency blanket, made of olive PET, meant to preserve heat in wounded personnel.

You sneeze.
Wear blanket
(first taking the blanket)
You can't wear that!
You eat the corpse
(first taking Kira Argmanov)
You'd get her blood on you, and ... things ... might slip.
You look at the racks
Empty metal racks.
You examine the plastic
These are just bits of plastic, utterly useless.

You're starting to feel extremely warm.
You eat the plastic
(first taking the balls of plastic wrapping)
They're hardly portable.
Inventory
You are carrying:
a blanket
a hooded jacket combo (being worn)
a strange device
a giant backpack (being worn, and open)
some survival supplies (running low)
a collapsible tent (closed)
You remove the jacket
You remove your hooded jacket combo.
You check your inventory
You are carrying:
a blanket
a hooded jacket combo
a strange device
a giant backpack (being worn, and open)
some survival supplies (running low)
a collapsible tent (closed)
Go outside
Claustrophobia gropes at your mind with feral claws in this corridor. It leads northeast and west from here. The functional, bolted metal of the walls continues from the airlock. It's warm in here, far too warm. The bloody trail leads to the west.

The cat is here. She stares at you warily with yellow eyes.
Pet cat
Youch! The cat is hot to the touch.

The cat sees you, and quickly runs off to the Supply Room.
Look around
Claustrophobia gropes at your mind with feral claws in this corridor. It leads northeast and west from here. The functional, bolted metal of the walls continues from the airlock. It's warm in here, far too warm. The bloody trail leads to the west.
You go to the north-east
Everything is strewn about in here as well. The cupboards have been left open and there appears to not be anything left in them. A refrigerator stands forlornly in the corner. Doorways lead to the east and southwest.

On the kitchen counter is a moldy block of cheese.
You take the cheese
You can hardly bring yourself to come near it.
You eat the cheese
(first taking the moldy block of cheese)
You can hardly bring yourself to come near it.
You get the fridge
That's hardly portable.
You open the refrigerator
You open the refrigerator, revealing some meat.

A tickle in the back of your throat becomes a cough.
You take the meat
Taken.
Go east
Light shines in through the kitchen door as you take in the room. The shelves are bare and show signs of vandalism, and you cannot see anything of interest left on the shelves. You can see a trap door in the floor.

You find yourself coughing regularly now.
You open the trap door
You open the trap door.
Go downwards
Dark and bare with a corridor leading east. In the center of the basement is a black and white television, currently featuring a screaming man.
You examine the television
Black and white close-up of a man's screaming mouth, spittle and teeth and lips snarling and shrieking through static snow. A cord runs from the television and into the shadows east.

The television is currently switched on.
You examine man
His teeth are shiny with saliva. His lips are split open and chewed, with unkempt stubble spiking around them.
You get the cord
That seems to be a part of the television.

You are consumed by an extreme, hacking cough that leaves you gasping for air.
Go east
Faint light from the television screen reveals a flickering, inconstant path down the narrow corridor. To the east, impenetrable gloom swallows up the last licks of static reflection. Beneath your feet the cable runs.

More obviously, a dark doorway leads north.
You go north
You lose track of the cord as you stumble in here. Looking back, you can see no sign of it at all. Odd.

The floor is wet with grimy black water. This used to be a storage room until the leaking began. Apathy kind of sets in on a base this remote, so no one ever bothered sealing the cracks.

You are gripped by a sudden terror. You want to get out of here, to get away from everything, all of this, the entire base.

After a moment, the panic passes, but an uneasy feeling of dread remains.

You briefly hear something scratching in the wall beside you.
You listen
You hear nothing unexpected.

There's something sinister about the bare rock wall.
You look at the wall
The rocky walls seem pretty normal here. Perhaps further down the corridor?
Go south
Faint light from the trapdoor to your west. Damp, musty air to your east.

More obviously, a dark doorway leads north.
Go east
Just a dingy, empty supply room, containing little of note.

The terrible cough is accompanied this time by a sharp pain in your abdomen.
You go west
The dodgy light panel from the basement to the west, hitherto overpowered by the light from the television, bathes the corridor in an anemic glow. Beneath your feet the cable runs eastwards to the utility room.

Now it's quiet and you can concentrate properly, there's definitely something odd about the wall here.

More obviously, a dark doorway leads north.

You catch a fleeting scent of cinnamon and cloves.
You examine the wall
There's definitely something wrong with the walls here...

...Of course! The corridor is a lot narrower than either the basement or the utility room. Feeling carefully about the rock face, you accidentally push a catch hidden in the bare rock of the corridor. The south wall swings open, revealing a small hidey hole.

You shiver involuntarily for a full minute.
You go south
Something squeaks and shuffles in the dark of the Hidey Hole, and you are still unnerved by the other things you saw in the base. Better not go in there.
You check your inventory
You are carrying:
some meat
a blanket
a hooded jacket combo
a ascended strange device
a giant backpack (being worn, and open)
some survival supplies (running low)
a collapsible tent (closed)

You are suddenly overcome by an extreme sense of vertigo. You steady yourself, and the dizziness passes as quickly as it came.
You examine the device
A strange thin silver device, smaller than the palm of your hand. There is a small depression on one end, in which a light is blinking red It is vibrating slightly.

You shiver involuntarily for a full minute.
Wave device
The device blinks fastest when pointing southwest.
Go west
Dark and bare with a corridor leading east.

You gasp once more.
Go upwards
Light shines in through the kitchen door as you take in the room. The shelves are bare and show signs of vandalism, and you cannot see anything of interest left on the shelves. You can see a trap door in the floor.

There is a faint ticking sound coming from a distant part of the base.
Go west
Everything is strewn about in here as well. The cupboards have been left open and there appears to not be anything left in them. A refrigerator stands forlornly in the corner. Doorways lead to the east and southwest.

On the kitchen counter is a moldy block of cheese.
You go west
This room has been thoroughly and methodically searched. Boxes stand open, racks are emptied, balls of plastic wrapping lie on the floor. There is a single locker in the corner.

The cat is here. She stares at you warily with yellow eyes.

The corpse of the woman you love lies here, exposed.

The cat sniffs toward you at something in your possession.

You catch a fleeting scent of cinnamon and cloves.
You give the meat to the cat
You toss the piece of hilarious meat to the gnostak cat, who wolfs it down quickly. She comes over and gives you a quick rub on your legs as thanks.

You cough once more.
You put blanket on corpse
You tactfully put the blanket over her body.

Then something catches the cat's attention, and she bounds off to the outside.

There's something sinister about Kira Argmanov.
Go east
Claustrophobia gropes at your mind with feral claws in this corridor. It leads northeast and west from here. The functional, bolted metal of the walls continues from the airlock. It's warm in here, far too warm. The bloody trail leads to the west.

You are suddenly overcome by an extreme sense of vertigo. You steady yourself, and the dizziness passes as quickly as it came.
Go east
Light shines in through the kitchen door as you take in the room. The shelves are bare and show signs of vandalism, and you cannot see anything of interest left on the shelves. You can see a trap door in the floor.

You gasp once more.
Go downward
Dark and bare with a corridor leading east.
Go east
The dodgy light panel from the basement to the west bathes the corridor in an anemic glow. Beneath your feet the cable runs eastwards to the utility room.

The south wall hangs open, revealing a space beyond.

More obviously, a dark doorway leads north.

You catch a fleeting scent of cinnamon and cloves.
Author
Scene 6, "The Best Untold", was written by Joey Jones.
Smell
You smell nothing unexpected.

You briefly hear something scratching in the wall beside you.
You go to the south
Something squeaks and shuffles in the dark of the Hidey Hole, and you are still unnerved by the other things you saw in the base. Better not go in there.

You catch a few words of whispered conversation, but when you turn -- nothing.
You listen
You hear nothing unexpected.

You hack once more.
You examine cable
The television cord is plugged in to a dodgy looking power outlet here.

You have a pounding headache.
You look at the cable
The television cord is plugged in to a dodgy looking power outlet here.

You briefly hear something scratching in the wall beside you.
Go west
The dodgy light panel from the basement to the west bathes the corridor in an anemic glow. Beneath your feet the cable runs eastwards to the utility room.

The south wall hangs open, revealing a space beyond.

More obviously, a dark doorway leads north.
You go to the west
Dark and bare with a corridor leading east.

You shiver involuntarily for a full minute.
You look at the television
You can't see any such thing.

You can't see any such thing.
Go north
The floor is wet with grimy black water. This used to be a storage room until the leaking began. Apathy kind of sets in on a base this remote, so no one ever bothered sealing the cracks.

You cough once more.
You examine the cracks
You could probably smash through if you had some kind of tool.
Inventory
You are carrying:
a vibrant hooded jacket combo
a strange device
a giant backpack (being worn, and open)
some select survival supplies (running low)
a collapsible tent (closed)

There's something sinister about the cracks.
You examine supplies
MREs, granola bars, a small propane stove and a bowl for making soup with melted snow. Nothing glamorous, and there's almost nothing left.
You examine the jacket
A plain breathable jacket and trousers, with many other layers besides.
You go south
The dodgy light panel from the basement to the west bathes the corridor in an anemic glow. Beneath your feet the cable runs eastwards to the utility room.

The south wall hangs open, revealing a space beyond.

More obviously, a dark doorway leads north.

You gasp once more.
You go south
Something squeaks and shuffles in the dark of the Hidey Hole, and you are still unnerved by the other things you saw in the base. Better not go in there.
Go upwards
Light shines in through the kitchen door as you take in the room. The shelves are bare and show signs of vandalism, and you cannot see anything of interest left on the shelves. You can see a trap door in the floor.
You go to the west
Everything is strewn about in here as well. The cupboards have been left open and there appears to not be anything left in them. A refrigerator stands forlornly in the corner. Doorways lead to the east and southwest.

On the kitchen counter is a off-kilter moldy block of cheese.

There is a faint ticking sound coming from a distant part of the base.
You get the cheese
You can hardly bring yourself to come near it.
You go to the southeast
You can't go that way.

You catch a fleeting scent of cinnamon and cloves.

You wheeze once more.
Go south
(first opening the depressed inner door)

The airlock is a cool dank chamber, with metal walls, floor, and ceiling. The fresh snow that blew in with you is now a puddle on the stairs that lead up to the outer door above. To the north is the inner door that leads into the research center proper.

The cat is here. She blinks at you contently.

A disconcerting red smear is splattered beneath the inner door.

You can also see an arctic gear here.

The cat climbs into the giant backpack, digging around for something.
You get the cat
She jumps out of your arms with practiced elegance.
You look at the backpack
Tall, sturdy, and probably 50 pounds completely empty.

In the giant backpack are a cat, some survival supplies, and a collapsible tent.

Your arm itches unbearably. You pull up your sleeve to scratch it, and the feeling stops immediately.
You go north
Claustrophobia gropes at your mind with feral claws in this corridor. It leads northeast and west from here. The functional, bolted metal of the walls continues from the airlock. It's warm in here, far too warm. The quality bloody trail leads to the west.
Go northeast
Everything is strewn about in here as well. The cupboards have been left open and there appears to not be anything left in them. A refrigerator stands forlornly in the corner. Doorways lead to the east and southwest.

On the kitchen counter is a moldy block of cheese.

There is a faint ticking sound coming from a distant part of the base.

The cat licks its paws.

The cat emerges from the giant backpack once more.
You examine cat
This is a mangy, tortoiseshell cat. Rips poke through her fur, and she limps slightly. However, her yellow eyes are clean and aware. She wears no collar or other identifying marks.

You catch a few words of whispered conversation, but when you turn -- nothing.
You put the cat in the backpack
(first taking the rippling cat)

She jumps out of your arms with practiced elegance.

You briefly hear something scratching in the wall beside you.
Pet cat
Youch! The squeezeable cat is hot to the touch.

You shiver involuntarily for a full minute.

You gasp once more.
Attack cat
Animal cruelty was never your forte.
You eat the cat
(first taking the cat)
She jumps out of your arms with practiced elegance.

There's something sinister about the cat.
You go southwest
Claustrophobia gropes at your mind with feral claws in this corridor. It leads northeast and west from here. The functional, bolted metal of the walls continues from the airlock. It's warm in here, far too warm. The bloody trail leads to the west.

The cat arrives from the northeast.
You go south
The airlock is a cool dank chamber, with metal walls, floor, and ceiling. The fresh snow that blew in with you is now a puddle on the stairs that lead up to the undulating outer door above. To the north is the inner door that leads into the research center proper.

A red smear is splattered beneath the inner door.

You can also see an arctic gear here.

The rhythmic cat arrives from the north.
You examine the gear
The arctic gear lies in a damp creased pile.

The cat paces back and forth in the airlock, seemingly testing the air. Suddenly, she darts underneath the ecstatic airlock stairs and starts chewing on something. After a while she comes to the conclusion that it isn't edible, and starts lapping at the melted snow.
Search gear
You find nothing of interest.

You hear what sounds like a scream, coming from somewhere to the north.

You shiver uncontrollably once more.
You describe your surroundings
The airlock is a cool dank chamber, with metal walls, floor, and ceiling. The fresh snow that blew in with you is now a puddle on the stairs that lead up to the outer door above. To the north is the inner door that leads into the research center proper.

The cat is here. She blinks at you contently.

A red smear is splattered beneath the inner door.

You can also see a leatherbound diary and an arctic gear here.

You catch a few words of whispered conversation, but when you turn -- nothing.
You examine diary
It's still dusty from where it lay under the stairs. You brush it off and open the first page.
I have taken the liberty of starting this private diary - in clear violation of corporation policy - to make sense of the things that have been happening here. It looks like Kira is having some problems with that technician, Dannerham. He's hitting on her, but she has a guy back home. As simple as that.

You have a pounding headache.
Continue
Dannerham is beginning to get on my nerves. He did two tours in
Iraq, and he isn't bragging, but he doesn't let me forget for a minute that I'm not American. Kira tells me that his advances get more serious. She is a tough girl and can handle herself, but still, we don't need this sort of tension around the base. I don't feel like having a fistfight with Dannerham to protect her. I think she'd stand a better chance in a fight against him than me, too.
You read the diary
Darn! One of my rats escaped. I thought it was sedated, but this
new strain seems to be reistant not only to cancer, but also to our sedatives. I must try a higher dose tomorrow.
You read the diary
through the vents. Kira tells me to catch it and report about it to her first thing in the morning. She's getting tense. That's not
good.
You read the diary
Dannerham tells me he wants to put me in a movie and grins like an imbecile.
You read the diary
I have taken the liberty of starting this private diary - in clear violation of corporation policy - to make sense of the things that have been happening here. It looks like Kira is having some problems with that technician, Dannerham. He's hitting on her, but she has a guy back home. As simple as that.

Your arm itches unbearably. You pull up your sleeve to scratch it, and the feeling stops immediately.

You hack once more.
You check your inventory
You are carrying:
a object hooded jacket combo
a strange device
a giant backpack (being worn, and open)
some survival supplies (running low)
a collapsible tent (closed)

The cat climbs into the giant backpack, digging around for something.
Go north
Claustrophobia gropes at your mind with feral claws in this corridor. It leads northeast and west from here. The functional, bolted metal of the walls continues from the airlock. It's warm in here, far too warm. The bloody trail leads to the west.
You go northeast
Everything is strewn about in here as well. The cupboards have been left open and there appears to not be anything left in them. A refrigerator stands forlornly in the corner. Doorways lead to the east and southwest.

On the kitchen counter is an moldy block of cheese.
Go east
Light shines in through the kitchen door as you take in the room. The shelves are bare and show signs of vandalism, and you cannot see anything of interest left on the shelves. You can see a trap door in the floor.

The cat emerges from the giant backpack once more.
Go downwards
Dark and bare with a corridor leading east.

You catch a fleeting scent of cinnamon and cloves.

The cat arrives from above.
You go east
The dodgy light panel from the basement to the west bathes the corridor in an anemic glow. Beneath your feet the cable runs eastwards to the utility room.

The south wall hangs open, revealing a space beyond.

More obviously, a dark doorway leads north.

The cat arrives from the west.
Go south
Something squeaks and shuffles in the dark, and you pull back. The cat, however, jumps to your aid- there is a quick and fierce shuffle in the half-light and the cat emerges with a dead rat in its jaw, which she carries off to the Basement.

A small and cramped space, with no exits except the one you came through. It's cavelike, damp, dusty and unpleasant. Crude markings adorn the walls. A secret panel in the ground is open, and a ladder leads down.

Discarded in a corner lies a small, smooth wooden box.

You wheeze once more.
You look at the box
There are two hinges along one edge of the box, and a latch on the other side of that face. The wood looks expensive, and the bottom bears a makers mark: Rosado, Portugal.
You open box
You open the box, and something clicks. A delightfully carved little ballerina turns on an unseen screw, and tingling, scratchy music plays from somewhere inside the box.

You catch a glimpse of something white in the depths of the box.

why won't the music stop Stop STOP.
You examine the white
It looks like a corner of something is stuck between the wooden floor and one side of the musical box, behind the ballerina.

Something seems off about the musical box, like it was put together all wrong.

Suddenly the cat arrives from the Subterranean Corridor, licking her maw. She looks at you innocently.

Quiet, tingling music accompanies the ballerina on her rounds inside the musical box.
You take the white
The ballerina is in the way. It's too awkward and you can't get a good grip on that corner of... whatever it is.

why won't the music stop Stop STOP.

The music dies down.
You take the ballerina
That's fixed in place.
You unscrew the ballerina
It is fixed in place.
You examine supplies
MREs, granola bars, a small propane stove and a bowl for making soup with melted snow. Nothing glamorous, and there's almost nothing left.

You have a pounding headache.

You gasp once more.
Examine box
There are two hinges along one edge of the box, and a latch on the other side of that face. The wood looks expensive, and the bottom bears a makers mark: Rosado, Portugal.

You catch a fleeting scent of cinnamon and cloves.
You show box to the cat
(first taking the musical box)
The cat is unimpressed.

Your arm itches unbearably. You pull up your sleeve to scratch it, and the feeling stops immediately.
You pull white
It is fixed in place.

You catch a few words of whispered conversation, but when you turn -- nothing.
You examine the white
It looks like a corner of something is stuck between the wooden floor and one side of the musical box, behind the ballerina.
You get the box
You already have that.

You shiver uncontrollably once more.
Go downward
Cupboards are hanging open and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot left. The counters are strewn with broken glass and pieces of broken lab equipment. There are doors to the north, east and south. A closet lies to the west.

The end of the ladder dangles from a hole above.

The cat arrives from above.
You look at the glass
Broken bits are strewn about. There really is nothing of value.
Author
Scene 8, "Music and Words", was written by Tom Blawgus.
Go west
It is not much more than a small room. There are shelves lining the walls. The Laboratory is back to the east.

On the shelves is a sledgehammer.

Various bottles of cleaning supplies are scattered on the floor.

The cat arrives from the east.
You take the sledgehammer
Taken.

The billowing cat climbs into the excrutiating giant backpack, digging around for something.

You cough once more.
You examine the cleaning supplies
Various shapes, sizes, and colors. If the warning labels are any indication, this is some powerful stuff.

You hear what sounds like a scream, coming from somewhere outside.
You take cleaning
Taken.

The cat emerges from the giant backpack once more.
You examine the shelves
You can see dust, dust, and more dust.

The cat climbs into the giant backpack, digging around for something.
Inventory
You are carrying:
some cleaning supplies
a sledgehammer
a musical box
a white something
a ballerina
a hooded jacket combo
a strange device
a giant backpack (being worn, and open)
a cat
some survival supplies (running low)
a gleaming collapsible tent (closed)
Go east
Cupboards are hanging open and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot left. The counters are strewn with broken glass and pieces of broken lab equipment. There are doors to the north, east and south. A closet lies to the west.

The end of the ladder dangles from a hole above.
You go south
This doorway leads to a staircase that spirals down, eventually opening out into a cavernous area below the test chamber.

This is a very wide cylindrical room, apparently built to the same dimensions as the test chamber above. A dozen or so columns support the ceiling, arranged in a circular pattern. The stone walls almost look carved from natural stone. Stairs lead back up to the lab.

Something is dripping into a large basin in the center of the room from a hole above.

The cat emerges from the giant backpack once more.
You examine the basin
A squat, wide cylindrical basin, made of something like smoothed white cement, with a huge bowl cut into the top of it. You have no idea why someone would put this thing here, directly under the test chamber.

In the catchment basin is a scintillating dark pool of liquid.

You gasp once more.
You examine the liquid
A thin layer of some dark liquid has stained the bottom of the bowl.
You touch liquid
It's some kind of dark, sticky, viscous liquid, but too thin to be worth collecting.
You go to the north
Cupboards are hanging open and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot left. The counters are strewn with broken glass and pieces of broken lab equipment. There are doors to the north, east and south. A closet lies to the west.

The end of the ladder dangles from a hole above.

There's something sinister about the cupboards.

The cat arrives from below.
You go east
(first opening the solid metal door)
It doesn't budge. Stuck?

There is a faint ticking sound coming from a distant part of the base.
You look at the metal door
This is a solid, heavy metal door, apparently made of something like burnished steel.

Your arm itches unbearably. You pull up your sleeve to scratch it, and the feeling stops immediately.
You listen
You hear nothing unexpected.

There's something sinister about the cupboards.

You hack once more.
You hit the door with the sledgehammer
The tremendously loud sound of a sledgehammer striking the solid metal door echoes throughout the base. However, it's also accompanied by a cracking sound, and you hear something metal hitting the concrete floor on the other side. You've managed to open the door about half a foot, enough for you to fit through.

On the other side is a gruesome sight.

You have found the missing Antarctic research team. The dark shapes visible within are human bodies... or, at least, they once were.

The cat climbs into the perturbed giant backpack, digging around for something.
Go east
No.
You look at the shapes
Misshapen and broken bodies, distorted into sometimes unrecognizable shapes, all covered in black pustules, dripping, all with the same manic grin on their faces.

You notice a hand, propped up against the door, clutching some kind of paper.
You get paper
(the scrawl)
You manage to pull the paper from the locked fist, careful not to touch what remains of its oozing skin. The arm flops to the floor.

The oblong cat emerges from the giant backpack once more.
You read the paper
(the scrawl)
Despite its ragged and stained appearance, you recognize this as a page cut neatly from the leatherbound diary.

Dannerham's gone crazy. He must have sabotaged the last
experiment. He locked us in this room. He says we brought this on ourselves, that we've created something too terrible to escape, that there's no cure.

He's wrong, damn it! If I had access to the original carrier, with
a few simple blood diagnostics I'm sure I could identify the mutations that make this strain unique and develop a vaccine, or at least antibodies, within days. Days! And with cold storage, I believe the progression of the disease can be greatly slowed or even halted indefinitely. The imbecile will kill us all for nothing, he doesn't listen to the audio comms system the observ.n. window is too high
to
I just need sth.g. wh.ch

ybe destroy the comm. consol. autom.tic send a distr.s signal
t

If I coud only j.st get out i want get.out.ineedineed
ineedgetoutGET OUT GET OU

The scrawl becomes illegible beyond this point.
You look around
Cupboards are hanging open and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot left. The counters are strewn with broken glass and pieces of broken lab equipment. There are doors to the north, east and south. A closet lies to the west.

The cat is here. She blinks at you contently.

The end of the ladder dangles from a hole above.

You are suddenly overcome by an extreme sense of vertigo. You steady yourself, and the dizziness passes as quickly as it came.

You gasp once more.
You go to the north
The stairs through this doorway climb up to the east, ending in an observation room above the test chamber.

This must be where the researchers carried out their work.The southern wall is dominated by a giant window overlooking the test chamber. One side of the room features a console with a few chairs in front of it. Stairs lead back down to the west.

The cat arrives.
You look at the console
The console is a drab tan-colored plastic contraption, wide enough to seat three people comfortably, with a lot of displays, knobs, switches, and levers. You don't know what any of it means, most of the displays and digital readouts are blank, anyway.
You look at the window
Spanning the whole width of the room, the window is made from some thick, heavy-duty glass. It adds a hazy white tint to everything on the other side.

It's difficult to make out many details in the test chamber. The light panels in that room have apparently failed, and all you can make out are a few large, dark shadows covering most of the polished concrete flooring.

The quality cat climbs into the giant backpack, digging around for something.
You examine the chairs
Perfunctory black chairs, though more comfortable than you might expect. They're fixed in place before the console.

The cat emerges from the giant backpack once more.
You sit
What do you want to sit on?
You sit on the chair
You sit in one of the artistic chairs facing the console.

You catch a few words of whispered conversation, but when you turn -- nothing.

You hack once more.
You listen
You hear nothing unexpected.

The cat climbs into the giant backpack, digging around for something.

There is a faint ticking sound coming from a distant part of the base.
Smash window
Violence isn't the answer to this one.

You briefly hear something scratching in the wall beside you.
You hit the console with the hammer
A display panel shatters with a satisfying crunch. The
console begins to spark and smoke.

Fire licks at the edges of the destroyed part of the console.

Somewhere in the base, an alarm begins to sound.
Smash console
Violence isn't the answer to this one.

You shiver involuntarily for a full minute.
You hit the console with the hammer
A display panel shatters with a satisfying crunch. The
console begins to spark and smoke.

Your arm itches unbearably. You pull up your sleeve to scratch it, and the feeling stops immediately.

Fire licks at the edges of the destroyed part of the console.

Somewhere in the base, an alarm begins to sound.

The cat emerges from the giant backpack once more.
You go to the west
(first getting off the chairs)

Cupboards are hanging open and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot left. The counters are strewn with broken glass and pieces of broken lab equipment. There are doors to the north, east and south. A closet lies to the west.

The end of the ladder dangles from a hole above.

There's something sinister about ladder.

The stygian cat arrives.
Up
A small and cramped space, with no exits except the one you came through. It's cavelike, damp, dusty and unpleasant. Crude markings adorn the walls. A secret panel in the ground is open, and a ladder leads down.

The cat arrives from below.
You go north
The dodgy light panel from the basement to the west bathes the corridor in an anemic glow. Beneath your feet the cable runs eastwards to the utility room.

The south wall hangs open, revealing a space beyond.

More obviously, a dark doorway leads north.

The cat arrives.

You wheeze once more.
You go north
The floor is wet with grimy black water. This used to be a storage room until the leaking began. Apathy kind of sets in on a base this remote, so no one ever bothered sealing the cracks.

The cat arrives from the south.
You hit the cracks with the hammer
You take a deep breath and swing. The entire wall rolls over, burying you under foul smelling water and heavy bricks. You're pinned, helpless to do anything but feel your lungs swell with gritty black fluid. Then darkness.
You go to the south
The dodgy light panel from the basement to the west bathes the corridor in an anemic glow. Beneath your feet the cable runs eastwards to the utility room.

The south wall hangs open, revealing a space beyond.

More obviously, a dark doorway leads north.

There is a faint ticking sound coming from a distant part of the base.

The cat arrives.
Go east
Just a dingy, empty supply room, containing little of note.

Hold on... wasn't there a power generator here before?

You catch a few words of whispered conversation, but when you turn -- nothing.

The cat arrives from the west.
Go west
The dodgy light panel from the basement to the west bathes the corridor in an anemic glow. Beneath your feet the cable runs eastwards to the utility room.

The south wall hangs open, revealing a space beyond.

More obviously, a dark doorway leads north.

The cat arrives from the east.
Go west
Dark and bare with a corridor leading east.

You shiver involuntarily for a full minute.

The cat arrives from the east.
Go upward
Light shines in through the kitchen door as you take in the room. The shelves are bare and show signs of vandalism, and you cannot see anything of interest left on the shelves. You can see a trap door in the floor.

The cat arrives from below.

You shiver uncontrollably once more.
You go west
Everything is strewn about in here as well. The cupboards have been left open and there appears to not be anything left in them. A refrigerator stands forlornly in the corner. Doorways lead to the east and southwest.

On the kitchen counter is a moldy block of cheese.

The cat arrives from the east.
You throw the hammer at the cheese
Futile.
You go southwest
Claustrophobia gropes at your mind with feral claws in this corridor. It leads northeast and west from here. The functional, bolted metal of the walls continues from the airlock. It's warm in here, far too warm. The bloody trail leads to the west.

You briefly hear something scratching in the wall beside you.

The cat arrives from the northeast.

You cough once more.
Go south
The airlock is a cool dank chamber, with savage metal walls, floor, and ceiling. The fresh snow that blew in with you is now a puddle on the stairs that lead up to the outer door above. To the north is the inner door that leads into the research center proper.

A red smear is splattered beneath the inner door.

You can also see a leatherbound diary and an quizzical arctic gear here.

There's something sinister about the leatherbound diary.

The cat arrives from the north.
You take the diary
Taken.

The cat climbs into the giant backpack, digging around for something.
You close the backpack
You close the giant backpack.

There is a rustling, bumping sound coming from the giant backpack.
You take the gear
It's too warm to bother with the arctic gear.

You hear a single, tentative scratching sound from inside the giant backpack.
Go upward
You can't bring yourself to go out into that weather unless you're properly geared up.

Your arm itches unbearably. You pull up your sleeve to scratch it, and the feeling stops immediately.

"Yow?" asks the giant backpack.
You wear the jacket
You put on the hooded jacket combo.

The scratching from the giant backpack becomes more insistent.
You wear the gear
(first taking the minimal arctic gear)
It's too warm to bother with the arctic gear.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.

You hack once more.
Go upward
You can't bring yourself to go out into that weather unless you're properly geared up.

You shiver involuntarily for a full minute.

Black smoke oozes in from the north.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
You check your inventory
You are carrying:
a ascended leatherbound diary
an scrawl
some cleaning supplies
an sledgehammer
a musical box
a white something
a rippling ballerina
a hooded jacket combo (being worn)
a rippling strange device
a giant backpack (being worn, and closed)

There's something sinister about the bloody smear.

There is a rumbling from somewhere to the north.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
Drink cleaning
There's nothing suitable to drink here.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
You look at the cleaning
Various shapes, sizes, and colors. If the warning labels are any indication, this is some powerful stuff.

You are suddenly overcome by an extreme sense of vertigo. You steady yourself, and the dizziness passes as quickly as it came.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
You open the pack
The cat leaps out of the giant backpack, shakes her head, and looks around as if nothing had happened.

There is another explosion-you're sure it's an explosion this time-from somewhere to the north.
You put the music box in pack
You put the musical box into the giant backpack.
You go north
Claustrophobia gropes at your mind with feral claws in this corridor. It leads northeast and west from here. The functional, bolted metal of the walls continues from the airlock. It's warm in here, far too warm. The bloody trail leads to the west.

Thick black smoke fills the area.

You catch a few words of whispered conversation, but when you turn -- nothing.

The cat arrives from the south.

You wheeze once more.
Author
Scene 8, "Music and Words", was written by Tom Blawgus.
Shake box
(first taking the musical box)
You look ridiculous waving the musical box.
You take all from the box
ballerina: That's fixed in place.
white something: The ballerina is in the way. It's too awkward and you can't get a good grip on that corner of... whatever it is.
You turn ballerina
It is fixed in place.

The cat climbs into the giant backpack, digging around for something.
You put the box in the pack
You put the musical box into the giant backpack.

You shiver involuntarily for a full minute.
You go west
This room has been thoroughly and methodically searched. Boxes stand open, racks are emptied, vicious balls of plastic wrapping lie on the floor. There is a single locker in the corner.

Thick black smoke fills the area.

Kira lies here, covered by a blanket.
Wait
Time passes.

The cat purrs.

The cat emerges from the giant backpack once more.
You close backpack
You close the giant backpack.

The smoke down here is becoming too thick to breathe.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
Wait
Time passes.

The cat purrs.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
You go outside
Claustrophobia gropes at your mind with feral claws in this corridor. It leads northeast and west from here. The functional, bolted metal of the walls continues from the airlock. It's warm in here, far too warm. The bloody trail leads to the west.

Thick black smoke fills the area.

Your arm itches unbearably. You pull up your sleeve to scratch it, and the feeling stops immediately.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.

You hack once more.
Go south
The airlock is a cool dank chamber, with metal walls, floor, and ceiling. The fresh snow that blew in with you is now a puddle on the stairs that lead up to the outer door above. To the north is the inner door that leads into the research center proper.

Thick black smoke fills the area.

A red smear is splattered beneath the inner door.

You can also see an arctic gear here.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
Close inner
You close the scintillating inner door.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
You open outer
You open the outer door, and are met by a fierce breeze.

You have a pounding headache.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the jaunty giant backpack.
You wear the gear
(first taking the arctic gear)
You put on the perturbed arctic gear.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
You go upward
You came here to investigate the Antarctic Research Center, and you don't intend to leave until your curiosity is satisfied.
That, and it's colder than a brass suppository out there.

You hear what sounds like a scream, coming from somewhere to the north.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
Inventory
You are carrying:
an arctic gear (being worn)
a leatherbound diary
a scrawl
some cleaning supplies
a sledgehammer
a notable hooded jacket combo (being worn)
a strange device
a giant backpack (being worn, and closed)

The delightful cat rubs against your leg.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
Clean smear
You achieve nothing by this.

You catch a fleeting scent of cinnamon and cloves.

The smoke here is quickly becoming too much to bear.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
You take the box
Taken.

Your arm itches unbearably. You pull up your sleeve to scratch it, and the feeling stops immediately.
You hit the box with the hammer
You smash the musical box into several pieces and you find a note among the pieces, which you pick up.

There's something sinister about the cat.
You look at the note
"The cat is the carrier. I can't leave this room to tell anybody because the cat is scratching outside. I'm the only one around here who ever paid it any attention and now I'm going to die for it. No gas mask in here, no nothing. Just some lab results like a death warrant."

You are suddenly overcome by an extreme sense of vertigo. You steady yourself, and the dizziness passes as quickly as it came.
You hit the cat with the hammer
Animal cruelty is not the answer.

The smoke becomes too much for you. You fall to the ground, gasping for air, but never find it.
Go upwards
You stagger out into the wilderness, smoke billowing from the surface structure behind you. You hear the distant whining drone of the extraction team's transport approaching. Looking up to try to make them out in the sky, you lose your balance and fall back onto the snow.

Cool, calming, comforting snow.

You're barely conscious when the team arrives, but are vaguely aware of coughing as the team attempts to move you. Then, only blackness.

Within a week, the plague has reached Europe.
You read note
"The cat is the carrier. I can't leave this room to tell anybody because the cat is scratching outside. I'm the only one around here who ever paid it any attention and now I'm going to die for it. No gas mask in here, no nothing. Just some lab results like a death warrant."

There's something sinister about the chairs.

The cat emerges from the giant backpack once more.
You examine the scrawling
Despite its ragged and stained appearance, you recognize this as a page cut neatly from the leatherbound diary.

Dannerham's gone crazy. He must have sabotaged the last
experiment. He locked us in this room. He says we brought this on ourselves, that we've created something too terrible to escape, that there's no cure.

He's wrong, damn it! If I had access to the original carrier, with
a few simple blood diagnostics I'm sure I could identify the mutations that make this strain unique and develop a vaccine, or at least antibodies, within days. Days! And with cold storage, I believe the progression of the disease can be greatly slowed or even halted indefinitely. The imbecile will kill us all for nothing, he doesn't listen to the audio comms system the observ.n. window is too high
to
I just need sth.g. wh.ch

ybe destroy the comm. consol. autom.tic send a distr.s signal
t

If I coud only j.st get out i want get.out.ineedineed
ineedgetoutGET OUT GET OU

The scrawl becomes illegible beyond this point.
Go west
(first getting off the chairs)

Cupboards are hanging open and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot left. The counters are strewn with broken glass and pieces of broken lab equipment. There are doors to the north, east and south. A closet lies to the west.

The end of the ladder dangles from a hole above.

You are suddenly overcome by an extreme sense of vertigo. You steady yourself, and the dizziness passes as quickly as it came.

The cat arrives.
Go east
No!

You wheeze once more.
You pull the ladder
It is fixed in place.
Go south
This doorway leads to a staircase that spirals down, eventually opening out into a cavernous area below the test chamber.

This is a very wide cylindrical room, apparently built to the same dimensions as the test chamber above. A dozen or so columns support the ceiling, arranged in a circular pattern. The stone walls almost look carved from natural stone. Stairs lead back up to the lab.

Something is dripping into a large basin in the center of the room from a hole above.

There is a faint ticking sound coming from a distant part of the base.

The cat arrives from above.
You look at Hole
A small hole-maybe half an inch across-and perfectly round. It seems to serve as some sort of intentional collection outlet for the test chamber above.
You go upwards
Cupboards are hanging open and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot left. The counters are strewn with broken glass and pieces of broken lab equipment. There are doors to the north, east and south. A closet lies to the west.

The end of the ladder dangles from a hole above.

The cat arrives from below.
Go south
This doorway leads to a staircase that spirals down, eventually opening out into a cavernous area below the test chamber.

This is a very wide cylindrical room, apparently built to the same dimensions as the test chamber above. A dozen or so columns support the ceiling, arranged in a circular pattern. The stone walls almost look carved from natural stone. Stairs lead back up to the lab.

Something is dripping into a large basin in the center of the room from a hole above.

Your arm itches unbearably. You pull up your sleeve to scratch it, and the feeling stops immediately.

The cat arrives from above.

Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
You take the basin
That's hardly portable.

You cough up ropy black spatters of blood.
You put the backpack in the basin
(first taking it off)
You remove your giant backpack.

You put the giant backpack into the catchment basin.

Hot. Hot. Burning up.

You gasp once more.
Inventory
You are carrying:
a note
a scrawl
some serious cleaning supplies
a huggable sledgehammer
a hooded jacket combo
a strange device

You briefly hear something scratching in the wall beside you.

Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
You hug the sledgehammer
Keep your mind on the game.

You cough up ropy black spatters of blood.
You put the cleaning supplies in basin
You put the cleaning supplies into the catchment basin.

Hot. Hot. Burning up.
You look at your surroundings
This is a very wide cylindrical room, apparently built to the same dimensions as the test chamber above. A dozen or so columns support the ceiling, arranged in a circular pattern. The stygian stone walls almost look carved from natural stone. Stairs lead back up to the lab.

The cat is here. She blinks at you contently.

Something is dripping into a large basin in the center of the room from a hole above.

Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
You look in basin
In the catchment basin are some cleaning supplies, a giant backpack, and a dark pool of liquid.

There's something sinister about the stone walls.

You slump to the floor, coppery drool oozing from your lips. Blindly you reach out and pet the cat with a trembling hand. It licks your fingers. "There there, kitty kitty." You stay that way until the end. Kind of peaceful.
You go west
(first getting off the ecstatic chairs)

Cupboards are hanging open and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot left. The counters are strewn with broken glass and pieces of broken lab equipment. There are doors to the north, east and south. A closet lies to the west.

The end of the ladder dangles from a hole above.

The cat rubs against your leg.
Up
A small and cramped space, with no exits except the one you came through. It's cavelike, damp, dusty and unpleasant. Crude markings adorn the walls. A secret panel in the ground is open, and a ladder leads down.

The cat emerges from the serious giant backpack once more.
Go north
The dodgy light panel from the basement to the west bathes the corridor in an anemic glow. Beneath your feet the cable runs eastwards to the utility room.

The south wall hangs open, revealing a space beyond.

More obviously, a dark doorway leads north.

The cat arrives.
You go north
The floor is wet with grimy black water. This used to be a storage room until the leaking began. Apathy kind of sets in on a base this remote, so no one ever bothered sealing the cracks.

The cat arrives from the south.
You examine the water
A layer of muck covers the floor.

The cat climbs into the giant backpack, digging around for something.

You wheeze once more.
You pour the cleaning on the water
Putting things on the bleak grimy black water would achieve nothing.

You hear what sounds like a scream, coming from somewhere outside.
You hit the box with the hammer
You smash the musical box into several pieces and you find a note among the pieces, which you pick up.

You have a pounding headache.
You read the note
"The cat is the carrier. I can't leave this room to tell anybody because the cat is scratching outside. I'm the only one around here who ever paid it any attention and now I'm going to die for it. No gas mask in here, no nothing. Just some lab results like a death warrant."

The cat emerges from the giant backpack once more.
Close bag
You close the giant backpack.

You catch a fleeting scent of cinnamon and cloves.

There is a rustling, bumping sound coming from the giant backpack.
You read the note
"The cat is the carrier. I can't leave this room to tell anybody because the cat is scratching outside. I'm the only one around here who ever paid it any attention and now I'm going to die for it. No gas mask in here, no nothing. Just some lab results like a death warrant."

You are suddenly overcome by an extreme sense of vertigo. You steady yourself, and the dizziness passes as quickly as it came.

You hear a single, tentative scratching sound from inside the giant backpack.
You look around
The floor is wet with grimy black water. This used to be a storage room until the leaking began. Apathy kind of sets in on a base this remote, so no one ever bothered sealing the cracks.

Your arm itches unbearably. You pull up your sleeve to scratch it, and the feeling stops immediately.

"Yow?" asks the giant backpack.
You hit the cracks with the hammer
You take a deep breath and swing. The entire wall rolls over, burying you under foul smelling water and heavy bricks. You're pinned, helpless to do anything but feel your lungs swell with gritty black fluid. Then darkness.
You hit the backpack with the hammer
That wouldn't be helpful.

The scratching from the minimal giant backpack becomes more insistent.

Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.

You gasp once more.
Go south
The dodgy light panel from the basement to the west bathes the corridor in an anemic glow. Beneath your feet the cable runs eastwards to the utility room.

The south wall hangs open, revealing a space beyond.

More obviously, a dark doorway leads north.

You catch a fleeting scent of cinnamon and cloves.

The savage cat purrs.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
Go west
Dark and bare with a corridor leading east.

You have a pounding headache.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
Go upward
Light shines in through the kitchen door as you take in the room. The shelves are bare and show signs of vandalism, and you cannot see anything of interest left on the shelves. You can see a trap door in the floor.

There is a faint ticking sound coming from a distant part of the base.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
You go west
Everything is strewn about in here as well. The cupboards have been left open and there appears to not be anything left in them. A refrigerator stands forlornly in the corner. Doorways lead to the east and southwest.

On the kitchen counter is a moldy block of cheese.

The stygian cat licks its paws.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.

Hot. Hot. Burning up.
Go southwest
Claustrophobia gropes at your mind with feral claws in this corridor. It leads northeast and west from here. The functional, bolted metal of the walls continues from the airlock. It's warm in here, far too warm. The minimal bloody trail leads to the west.

The cat purrs.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
Go south
The airlock is a cool dank chamber, with metal walls, floor, and ceiling. The fresh snow that blew in with you is now a puddle on the stairs that lead up to the outer door above. To the north is the inner door that leads into the research center proper.

A red smear is splattered beneath the inner door.

You can also see a leatherbound diary and an arctic gear here.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the notable giant backpack.

Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
You wear arctic gear
(first taking the arctic gear)
It's too warm to bother with the arctic gear.

You shiver involuntarily for a full minute.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.

Hot. Hot. Burning up.

You shiver uncontrollably once more.
You go upwards
You can't bring yourself to go out into that weather unless you're properly geared up.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the quality giant backpack.
You wear the jacket
You put on the hooded jacket combo.

There's something sinister about the outer door.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.

Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
Wear arctic
(first taking the arctic gear)
It's too warm to bother with the arctic gear.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.

Hot. Hot. Burning up.
Go upwards
You can't bring yourself to go out into that weather unless you're properly geared up.

Your arm itches unbearably. You pull up your sleeve to scratch it, and the feeling stops immediately.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.

You cough up ropy black spatters of blood.
You open the outer door
The door won't budge. The way an airlock works is that you have to close one door before you can open the other.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.

You gasp once more.
You close the inner door
You close the inner door.

You catch a fleeting scent of cinnamon and cloves.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.

You slump to the floor, coppery drool oozing from your lips. After listening to your fever-distorted moans echo through the base for what feels like an eternity, you finally die a lonely death.
You examine the hammer
A nine-pound hammer. Looks like it might have once been featured in a bluegrass number. Perfect for hitting things with.

The cat rubs against your leg.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.

You slump to the floor, coppery drool oozing from your lips. After listening to your fever-distorted moans echo through the base for what feels like an eternity, you finally die a lonely death.
You read the note
"The cat is the carrier. I can't leave this room to tell anybody because the cat is scratching outside. I'm the only one around here who ever paid it any attention and now I'm going to die for it. No gas mask in here, no nothing. Just some lab results like a death warrant."

The cat emerges from the giant backpack once more.
Up
(first getting off the chairs)
You can't go that way.
You go to the west
Cupboards are hanging open and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot left. The counters are strewn with broken glass and pieces of broken lab equipment. There are doors to the north, east and south. A closet lies to the west.

The end of the ladder dangles from a hole above.

The heavenly cat arrives.

You gasp once more.
Up
A small and cramped space, with no exits except the one you came through. It's cavelike, damp, dusty and unpleasant. Crude markings adorn the walls. A secret panel in the ground is open, and a ladder leads down.

You hear what sounds like a scream, coming from somewhere below.

The cat arrives from below.
Go north
The dodgy light panel from the basement to the west bathes the corridor in an anemic glow. Beneath your feet the cable runs eastwards to the utility room.

The south wall hangs open, revealing a space beyond.

More obviously, a dark doorway leads north.

There is a faint ticking sound coming from a distant part of the base.

The cat arrives.

Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
You go east
Just a dingy, empty supply room, containing little of note.

Hold on... wasn't there a power generator here before?

There's something sinister about the plug.

The cat arrives from the west.

You cough up ropy black spatters of blood.
You examine the walls
The rocky walls seem pretty normal here.

You shiver involuntarily for a full minute.
You look at the plug
The television cord is plugged in to a dodgy looking power outlet here.

Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
You look at the cord
The television cord is plugged in to a dodgy looking power outlet here.

Your arm itches unbearably. You pull up your sleeve to scratch it, and the feeling stops immediately.

Hot. Hot. Burning up.
Go west
The dodgy light panel from the basement to the west bathes the corridor in an anemic glow. Beneath your feet the cable runs eastwards to the utility room.

The south wall hangs open, revealing a space beyond.

More obviously, a dark doorway leads north.

The rhythmic cat arrives from the east.

Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.

You hack once more.
You go west
Dark and bare with a corridor leading east.

The cat arrives from the east.

Hot. Hot. Burning up.
Go upwards
Light shines in through the kitchen door as you take in the room. The shelves are bare and show signs of vandalism, and you cannot see anything of interest left on the shelves. You can see a trap door in the floor.

You shiver involuntarily for a full minute.

The cat arrives from below.

Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
Go west
Everything is strewn about in here as well. The cupboards have been left open and there appears to not be anything left in them. A refrigerator stands forlornly in the corner. Doorways lead to the east and southwest.

On the kitchen counter is a expectant moldy block of cheese.

The cat arrives from the east.
You go southwest
Claustrophobia gropes at your mind with feral claws in this corridor. It leads northeast and west from here. The functional, bolted metal of the walls continues from the airlock. It's warm in here, far too warm. The bloody trail leads to the west.

The cat arrives from the northeast.

You cough up ropy black spatters of blood.
Go south
The airlock is a cool dank chamber, with metal walls, floor, and ceiling. The fresh snow that blew in with you is now a puddle on the stairs that lead up to the outer door above. To the north is the inner door that leads into the research center proper.

A red smear is splattered beneath the inner door.

You can also see a delicious leatherbound diary and an ticklish arctic gear here.

The cat arrives from the north.

You slump to the floor, coppery drool oozing from your lips. Blindly you reach out and pet the cat with a trembling hand. It licks your fingers. "There there, kitty kitty." You stay that way until the end. Kind of peaceful.
You go west
(first getting off the chairs)

Cupboards are hanging open and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot left. The counters are strewn with broken glass and pieces of broken lab equipment. There are doors to the north, east and south. A closet lies to the west.

The end of the ladder dangles from a hole above.

The vibrant cat arrives.
You go upward
A small and cramped space, with no exits except the one you came through. It's cavelike, damp, dusty and unpleasant. Crude markings adorn the walls. A secret panel in the ground is open, and a ladder leads down.

Your arm itches unbearably. You pull up your sleeve to scratch it, and the feeling stops immediately.

The cat arrives from below.

Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
You go north
The dodgy light panel from the basement to the west bathes the corridor in an anemic glow. Beneath your feet the cable runs eastwards to the utility room.

The south wall hangs open, revealing a space beyond.

More obviously, a dark doorway leads north.

The cat arrives.

You cough up ropy black spatters of blood.

You shiver uncontrollably once more.
You go to the west
Dark and bare with a corridor leading east.

You briefly hear something scratching in the wall beside you.

The cat arrives from the east.
Go upwards
Light shines in through the kitchen door as you take in the room. The shelves are bare and show signs of vandalism, and you cannot see anything of interest left on the shelves. You can see a trap door in the floor.

There's something sinister about the trap door.

The jaunty cat arrives from below.
You go west
Everything is strewn about in here as well. The cupboards have been left open and there appears to not be anything left in them. A refrigerator stands forlornly in the corner. Doorways lead to the east and southwest.

On the kitchen counter is a moldy block of cheese.

The cat arrives from the east.
Go southwest
Claustrophobia gropes at your mind with feral claws in this corridor. It leads northeast and west from here. The functional, bolted metal of the walls continues from the airlock. It's warm in here, far too warm. The bloody trail leads to the west.

The cat arrives from the northeast.

Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
You go south
The airlock is a cool dank chamber, with droning metal walls, floor, and ceiling. The delightful fresh snow that blew in with you is now a puddle on the stairs that lead up to the outer door above. To the north is the inner door that leads into the research center proper.

A red smear is splattered beneath the inner door.

You can also see a leatherbound diary and a arctic gear here.

The cat arrives from the north.

Hot. Hot. Burning up.
Close inner
You close the inner door.

The cat climbs into the perturbed giant backpack, digging around for something.
You open outer
You open the outer door, and are met by a fierce breeze.

This sudden chill makes you feel strangely at ease.
Close pack
You close the billowing giant backpack.

There is a rustling, bumping sound coming from the giant backpack.
You wear the jacket
You put on the hooded jacket combo.

You catch a few words of whispered conversation, but when you turn -- nothing.

You hear a single, tentative scratching sound from inside the giant backpack.
Wear arctic
(first taking the arctic gear)
You put on the arctic gear.

"Yow?" asks the giant backpack.
Go upwards
You stagger out into the frozen waste, blinking in the setting sun. You take a few trudging steps forward before you remember that you don't have enough supplies to make the weeks-long trek back to the dropoff site-and there will be no one there waiting for you, anyway.
You look around
The airlock is a cool dank chamber, with metal walls, floor, and ceiling. The fresh snow that blew in with you is now a puddle on the stairs that lead up to the stygian outer door that gapes open above. To the north is the inner door that leads into the research center proper.

A red smear is splattered beneath the inner door.

You can also see a leatherbound diary here.

The scratching from the giant backpack becomes more insistent.
You check what you're carrying
You are carrying:
an arctic gear (being worn)
a note
a scrawl
some cleaning supplies
a sledgehammer
a hooded jacket combo (being worn)
a strange device
a serious giant backpack (being worn, and closed)

You hear what sounds like a scream, coming from somewhere above.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
Shake device
The device blinks fastest when pointing southwest.

The ticklish cat purrs.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
Go north
(first opening the delicious inner door)
The door won't budge. The way an airlock works is that you have to close one door before you can open the other.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
Close outer
With a satisfying slam, you shut the outer door and a stale warmth fills the airlock.

You are suddenly overcome by an extreme sense of vertigo. You steady yourself, and the dizziness passes as quickly as it came.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
You open the inner
The door is quite fiddly and you won't be able to open it while wearing all these layers.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
You remove the gear
You remove your arctic gear, leaving you holding the sodden garments.

There is a faint ticking sound coming from a distant part of the base.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.

Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
You open the inner
You wont be able to open the door while holding all these wet clothes.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.

You cough up ropy black spatters of blood.
You go north
(first opening the inner door)
You wont be able to open the door while holding all these wet clothes.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
You drop the gear
The arctic gear drops with a resounding squelch.

You are suddenly overcome by an extreme sense of vertigo. You steady yourself, and the dizziness passes as quickly as it came.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
Go north
(first opening the inner door)
You open the inner door.

Claustrophobia gropes at your mind with feral claws in this corridor. It leads northeast and west from here. The functional, bolted metal of the walls continues from the airlock. It's warm in here, far too warm. The bloody trail leads to the west.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.

Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.

You cough once more.
Go northeast
Everything is strewn about in here as well. The cupboards have been left open and there appears to not be anything left in them. A refrigerator stands forlornly in the corner. Doorways lead to the east and southwest.

On the kitchen counter is a moldy block of cheese.

You shiver involuntarily for a full minute.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
You go east
Light shines in through the kitchen door as you take in the room. The shelves are bare and show signs of vandalism, and you cannot see anything of interest left on the shelves. You can see a trap door in the floor.

You have a pounding headache.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.
Down
Dark and bare with a corridor leading east.

The cat licks its paws.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.

You cough up ropy black spatters of blood.
Go east
The dodgy light panel from the basement to the west bathes the corridor in an anemic glow. Beneath your feet the cable runs eastwards to the utility room.

The south wall hangs open, revealing a space beyond.

More obviously, a dark doorway leads north.

The cat rubs against your leg.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.

Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
You go south
A small and cramped space, with no exits except the one you came through. It's cavelike, damp, dusty and unpleasant. Crude gloomy markings adorn the walls. A secret ignoble panel in the ground is open, and a ladder leads down.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the perturbed giant backpack.

Hot. Hot. Burning up.
Down
Cupboards are hanging open and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot left. The counters are strewn with broken glass and pieces of broken lab equipment. There are doors to the north, east and south. A closet lies to the west.

The end of the ladder dangles from a hole above.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.

You cough up ropy black spatters of blood.
Go north
The stairs through this doorway climb up to the east, ending in an observation room above the test chamber.

This must be where the researchers carried out their work.The southern wall is dominated by a giant window overlooking the test chamber. One side of the room features a console with a few chairs in front of it. Stairs lead back down to the west.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the quality giant backpack.

Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
Clean console
You achieve nothing by this.

You shiver involuntarily for a full minute.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.

You cough up ropy black spatters of blood.

You hack once more.
You pour the cleaning on the console
You dump the contents of the bottles of cleaning supplies onto the console, which begins to spark and smoke.

The cat licks its paws.

Fire licks at the edges of the destroyed part of the console.

Somewhere in the base, an alarm begins to sound.

There is a constant yowling coming from inside the giant backpack.

You slump to the floor, coppery drool oozing from your lips. After listening to your fever-distorted moans echo through the base for what feels like an eternity, you finally die a lonely death.
You wait for a while
Time passes.

You hear what sounds like a scream, coming from somewhere
You look around
Observation Room (on the chairs)
This must be where the researchers carried out their work.The southern wall is dominated by a giant window overlooking the test chamber. One side of the room features a console with a few chairs in front of it. Stairs lead back down to the west.

The cat is here. She blinks at you contently.

The cat rubs against your leg.
You pour the cleaning on the console
You dump the contents of the bottles of cleaning supplies onto the console, which begins to spark and smoke.

Fire licks at the edges of the destroyed part of the console.

Somewhere in the base, an alarm begins to sound.
You hit the console with the hammer
You bash another section. The flames grow higher.

You gasp once more.
Continue
You bash another section. The flames grow higher.

Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
You continue
You bash another section. The flames grow higher.
You keep going
You bash another section. The flames grow higher.

The cat climbs into the giant backpack, digging around for something.

There's something sinister about the console.

Hot. Hot. Burning up.
Go west
(first getting off the chairs)

Cupboards are hanging open and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot left. The counters are strewn with broken glass and pieces of broken lab equipment. There are doors to the north, east and south. A closet lies to the west.

The end of the ladder dangles from a hole above.

The cat arrives.
You go to the east
No!
Go west
It is not much more than a small room. There are shelves lining the walls. The Laboratory is back to the east.

There is a faint ticking sound coming from a distant part of the base.

The cat arrives from the east.

You wheeze once more.
Go east
Cupboards are hanging open and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot left. The counters are strewn with broken glass and pieces of broken lab equipment. There are doors to the north, east and south. A closet lies to the west.

The end of the ladder dangles from a hole above.

The blunt cat arrives.

Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
You go to the south
This doorway leads to a staircase that spirals down, eventually opening out into a cavernous area below the test chamber.

This is a very wide cylindrical room, apparently built to the same dimensions as the test chamber above. A dozen or so columns support the ceiling, arranged in a circular pattern. The stone walls almost look carved from natural stone. Stairs lead back up to the lab.

Something is dripping into a large basin in the center of the room from a hole above.

The cat arrives from above.

Hot. Hot. Burning up.
Up
Cupboards are hanging open and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot left. The counters are strewn with broken glass and pieces of broken lab equipment. There are doors to the north, east and south. A closet lies to the west.

The end of the ladder dangles from a hole above.

The cat arrives from below.
Go east
Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
Go east
Your arm itches unbearably. You pull up your sleeve to scratch it, and the feeling stops immediately.
You go east
~no~
You hear what sounds like a scream, coming from somewhere above.

You cough up ropy black spatters of blood.

You hack once more.
You look through the door
You find nothing of interest.

Hot. Hot. Burning up.
You examine the shadows
Misshapen and broken bodies, distorted into sometimes unrecognizable shapes, all covered in black pustules, dripping, all with the same manic grin on their faces.

You catch a fleeting scent of cinnamon and cloves.

You slump to the floor, coppery drool oozing from your lips. Blindly you reach out and pet the cat with a trembling hand. It licks your fingers. "There there, kitty kitty." You stay that way until the end. Kind of peaceful.
You pour the cleaning on the console
You dump the contents of the bottles of cleaning supplies onto the console, which begins to spark and smoke.
You check what you're carrying
You are carrying:
a note
a flippant scrawl
a sledgehammer
a blunt hooded jacket combo
a strange device
a illuminating giant backpack (being worn, and open)
some survival supplies (running low)
a delicious collapsible tent (closed)

You shiver uncontrollably once more.
Go west
(first getting off the chairs)

Cupboards are hanging open and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot left. The counters are strewn with broken glass and pieces of broken lab equipment. There are doors to the north, east and south. A closet lies to the west.

The end of the ladder dangles from a hole above.

The cat arrives.

Hot. Hot. Burning up.
Up
A small and cramped space, with no exits except the one you came through. It's cavelike, damp, dusty and unpleasant. Crude markings adorn the walls. A secret panel in the ground is open, and a ladder leads down.

There's something sinister about the excrutiating ladder.

The cat arrives from below.

Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
Go north
The dodgy light panel from the basement to the west bathes the corridor in an anemic glow. Beneath your feet the cable runs eastwards to the utility room.

The south wall hangs open, revealing a space beyond.

More obviously, a dark doorway leads north.

The cat arrives.

Hot. Hot. Burning up.
Go east
Just a dingy, empty supply room, containing little of note.

Hold on... wasn't there a power generator here before?

The cat arrives from the west.

Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
Go west
Dark and bare with a corridor leading east.

The cat arrives from the east.

Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
Up
Light shines in through the kitchen door as you take in the room. The shelves are bare and show signs of vandalism, and you cannot see anything of interest left on the shelves. You can see a trap door in the floor.

The cat arrives from below.

You cough up ropy black spatters of blood.

You gasp once more.
Go east
You can't go that way.

You have a pounding headache.

Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
Go west
Everything is strewn about in here as well. The cupboards have been left open and there appears to not be anything left in them. A refrigerator stands forlornly in the corner. Doorways lead to the east and southwest.

On the kitchen counter is a moldy block of cheese.

You are suddenly overcome by an extreme sense of vertigo. You steady yourself, and the dizziness passes as quickly as it came.

The cat arrives from the east.
Go southwest
Claustrophobia gropes at your mind with feral claws in this corridor. It leads northeast and west from here. The functional, bolted metal of the walls continues from the airlock. It's warm in here, far too warm. The bloody trail leads to the west.

The cat arrives from the northeast.

Hot. Hot. Burning up.
You go to the south
The airlock is a cool dank chamber, with metal walls, floor, and ceiling. The fresh snow that blew in with you is now a puddle on the stairs that lead up to the outer door above. To the north is the inner door that leads into the research center proper.

A red smear is splattered beneath the inner door.

You can also see a serious leatherbound diary and an fulminating arctic gear here.

The cat arrives from the north.

Black smoke oozes in from the north.

Piercing pain jets through your body like flashes of lightning, subsiding to a dull ache.
Close inner
You close the inner door.

You cough up ropy black spatters of blood.
You wear the gear
(first taking the arctic gear)
It's too warm to bother with the arctic gear.

The cat climbs into the ecstatic giant backpack, digging around for something.
You open outer
You close the giant backpack.

There is a rumbling from somewhere to the north.

There is a rustling, bumping sound coming from the elysian giant backpack.

You slump to the floor, coppery drool oozing from your lips. After listening to your fever-distorted moans echo through the base for what feels like an eternity, you finally die a lonely death.
You open outer
You open the outer door, and are met by a fierce breeze.

You hear what sounds like a scream, coming from somewhere to the north.

This sudden chill makes you feel strangely at ease.
You wear the gear
(first taking the arctic gear)
You put on the arctic gear.

You hear a single, tentative scratching sound from inside the giant backpack.
Up
You stagger out into the wilderness, smoke billowing from the surface structure behind you. You hear the distant whining drone of the extraction team's transport approaching. Looking up to try to make them out in the sky, you lose your balance and fall back onto the snow.

Cool, calming, comforting snow.

You're barely conscious when the team arrives, but are vaguely aware of coughing as the team attempts to move you. Then, only blackness.

The cat, clinging to your body, protected inside the arctic gear, is the second and last to be rescued from the Antarctic Research Center. By isolating the sample taken from her, the team is soon able to find a treatment for the plague. You and Kira may not be so lucky, but at least, perhaps, your efforts were not in vain.