Rogue of the Multiverse
C.E.J. Pacian
alien world chase compassless cover art escape feelies gender choice generated content IF Comp 2010 IFComp Game memorable NPC money multiple endings nonhuman antagonists parser prison procgen randomized replay puzzle TADS TADS 3 vehicle violence walkthrough Xyzzy Awards 2010 XYZZY Best Individual NPC
Congratulations, convict 76954! You have been selected for scientific experimentation! You will be matter-transmitted to exotic non-Treaty worlds - where opportunities abound to take in fantastic sights and mingle with colourful locals!
%
Great towers rise from the desert, beneath a clear blue sky. Their mirrored sides reflect the afternoon sun through a shimmering heat haze. Specks hover over the city on veined wings or burning jets.

[Enter 'about' for more info, 'credits' to see who made the game possible, and 'hint' if you get stuck.]

The klaxon sounds briefly, and your cell door rattles open.

You've only been in this prison a few days, and you're not confident that you'll make it through too many more.

The cracked tiles of your small cell have been defaced by decades of graffiti. The metal door out stands open.

Springs protrude from your decrepit old bed.
About yourself
It's definitely you. How exactly you wound up in this jail is an interesting question.
You examine the uniform
It identifies you as convict #76954, albeit not in human numerals.
You look at the bed
A big, slightly springy mattress suitable for a wide variety of species.
You examine the graffiti
A lot of it's in languages you've never even seen before. You recognise some apian gang symbols, some vulgar saurian poetry, and some crude drawings of octopodes in coitu.
You examine the tiles
They might have looked nice once, in an institutional kind of way.
You remove the uniform
It's a cold and uncaring Multiverse out there to be running around naked.
Go outside
Rotating fan vents light this wide corridor with harsh, flickering sunlight.

Orange suited prisoners drift listlessly forwards.

Saurian guards keep a close eye on the inmates.
You look at the guards
Burly, reptilian bipeds in thick body armour. From experience you know they're just looking for an excuse to use their shock sticks.
You look at the prisoners
Organics and androids, bipeds and octopodes... Humans are conspicuous by their absence.
EXITS
Obvious exits lead in, back to the cell; and forwards.

(You can control the exit listings with the EXITS command. EXITS STATUS shows the exit list in the status line, EXITS LOOK shows a full exit list in each room description, EXITS ON shows both, and EXITS OFF turns off both kinds of exit lists.)
You look around
Rotating fan vents light this wide corridor with harsh, flickering sunlight.

Orange suited prisoners drift listlessly forwards.

Saurian guards keep a close eye on the inmates.

Obvious exits: In, Forwards
You examine the androids
Many of them lethal killing machines to varying degrees of literalness.
You examine organics
Generally squishy and full of fluid, just like you, although many have exoskeletons.
You examine the vents
A cheap solution to both lighting and ventilation. That's saurians for you.
F.
A raised skyway between Cell Block X and the rest of the prison tower. It provides a view of the endless wasteland you'd have to traverse if you even managed to escape. Wire mesh prevents inmates from throwing themselves over the side.

A burly guard stands watch by the way forwards.

Two inmates - one saurian, one apian - are dawdling on the skyway. The apian nudges her companion and points at you. "What's that?"

He guffaws. "Ain't you never seen a human before?"

Obvious exits: Forwards, Backwards
You examine apian
Her black and yellow exoskeleton has been scrimshawed with elaborate gang carvings.

She looks back at you. "Oh honey, what juicy eyes you have."

"Isn't human," the apian says, "like, the other other white meat?"

"No fur," the saurian muses, looking you up and down, "no exoskeleton or scales. Like a walking buffet."
You examine the saurian
Razor sharp teeth, hungry eyes and green-scaled skin that's stretched taut over his muscles.

He stares back at you. "What are you looking at, chimp?"

The guard draws his shock stick. "Break it up you three. This isn't a social club."

Your two new friends walk away laughing, the saurian pausing to thump you on the back. "We'll catch you for a bite later, hey pal?"
F.
A number of scanners and drone turrets are arrayed around a low platform, overseen by a smiley face on a computer screen.

The smiley-faced computer assembles a sentence out of painfully cheerful soundbites. "Greetings! Convict 76954! Please! Stand on the! Scanning platform!"

Obvious exits: Forwards, Backwards
You examine computer
A simple cartoon face that corresponds to the eye and mouth placements of most saurians, apians and lesser octopodes.
You stand on the platform
You stand on the platform. The scanners begin to whir around you, beams tingling over your skin.

"Thank you!" the computer chirps, "For your! Co-operation! Please wait... For the scan to complete..."
You look at the platform
Scuffed by countless feet.

You are standing on the scanning platform.

"Scanning..." the computer drones. "Scanning..."
Back
(first getting off of the scanning platform)
"Please!" the computer sings. "Proceed! Forward! To! Participate in a scientific experiment!"

The drone turrets swivel to aim multi-barrelled machineguns at you.
You examine turrets
They look like they could put a real dent in your day.
Forward
Cosily lit, with a messy noticeboard on one wall. A narrow desk takes up the centre of the room, strewn with notes. An empty chair is turned slightly towards you.

A saurian in a labcoat sits on the opposite side of the desk.

A muscular guard blocks the exit.

Obvious exits: Out

The saurian smiles, baring her pointed teeth. "Well, hello! I'm Dr. Sliss. Are those appendages prehensile? How wonderful! Why don't you take a seat and we'll begin?"
You look at sliss
Her skin consists of shimmering green scales, and her golden, slit-pupil eyes hold a calculating beauty.

Dr. Sliss is wearing a labcoat, a white blouse, a grey skirt, and red shoes.

"Don't be shy," Dr. Sliss says. "I won't bite."
You sit
(on the chair)
Intended for saurian backsides, the chair is less than comfortable.

"Now," Dr. Sliss says, "let's get down to business. Would you start by confirming your name?"
Male
"But of course," the doctor says. "Now, some questions about your medical history. Please be honest."

She turns to the first page of her notes. "Have you ever been exposed to more than 200 yegs of radiation?"

(You could say yes or no.)
No
The doctor scribbles down your answer. "I see. Has your head ever been detached from its current body?"

(You could say yes or no.)
No
The doctor scribbles down your answer. "If you say so. Have you ever had any form of unprotected sex with an entity that exists in more than four macroscopic spatial dimensions?"

(You could say yes or no.)
No
The doctor scribbles down your answer. "Really? You should try it sometime. Have your actions ever been controlled by hive-linked cortex worms?"

(You could say yes or no.)
Yes
The doctor scribbles down your answer. "The fact you can admit it proves you've recovered. Now, the following questions attempt to gauge your personality. There are no right or wrong answers, so just relax and answer truthfully. Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Apian Individualist Coalition, or AIC?"

(You could say yes or no.)
No
The doctor scribbles down your answer. "That should please the bean-counters. Have you ever consumed your own offspring?"

(You could say yes or no.)
Yes
The doctor scribbles down your answer. "I certainly don't judge you for it. Finally, I see you're serving a life sentence. Well... Did you do it?"

(You could say yes or no.)
No
The doctor scribbles down your answer. "And I believe you, even though there's absolutely nothing I can do about it. Well, I'm pleased to say that you meet all of the requirements of my research - especially the parts that prohibit experiments on fellow saurians."

She nods to the guard. "You may shock him now."

Something cold and metallic touches the back of your neck - and then you taste burning and everything goes white.

You're awoken by an unfamiliar beeping sound. You sit bolt upright and look around.

Holding Cell (sitting on the bed)
A bare room of white walls. Strip lights glare down from the ceiling, and there's an intercom next to the way out.

A white, saurian-style bed occupies the middle of the floor.

Something in the room seems to be beeping.

Obvious exits: Out
You look at the bed
Raised up off the floor, with a gap in the middle for your tail to go through when you're lying on your back.

You are sitting on the bed.

Something in the room seems to be beeping.
About yourself
How do you get in these predicaments?
You listen
Something in the room seems to be beeping.
You find the beep
What do you want to look that up in?
You examine the intercom
A simple grille in the wall. There's a big red button beneath it. The beeping seems to be coming from the intercom.
You examine the lights
The kind of cosy lighting that might be at home in a morgue.
Inventory
You are carrying nothing, and are wearing a collar and an orange uniform.

Something in the room seems to be beeping.
You look at the collar
A leather collar with a small metal box at the throat.
You look at the box
It's slightly warm to the touch.

Something in the room seems to be beeping.
Go outside
(first standing up, then opening the door)

Complex: Lower Level
An expansive, drab space. Perhaps a factory floor after the machinery has been cleared out. A catwalk crosses the room above, beneath the dusty rays of grubby skylights.

Dr. Sliss leans over the catwalk railing.

A number of armed cyborgs look down from the catwalk.

You can go forward to the antechamber, or back to the holding cell.

The Doctor waves down at you. "Do you like your new fashion accessory? With that collar, I can always keep tabs on my favourite chimp. No, don't try to remove it - the explosive charge will blow your head off."

After a moment, she adds, "Also, you might want to keep your distance from microwave ovens."
About yourself
How do you get in these predicaments?

"Now," Dr. Sliss says with a grin, "why don't you step into the antechamber. There may be a banana in it for you!"
You look at the cyborgs
Members of various sapient species, all wearing black armour. Their brains seem to have been replaced with an exposed mass of wiring and tubes.
You examine catwalk
A narrow catwalk, utilitarian and sturdy.

Dr. Sliss is standing on the catwalk.

The cyborgs are standing on the catwalk.
Forward
A long, narrow room, the walls bulging with strange pipes and machinery. The most notable feature is the thickly armoured airlock door leading further in. Either side of the airlock are an equipment rack and a glass tube. A more conventional exit leads back out.

On the equipment rack are a launcher, a scanner, and a retrieval beacon. The glass tube contains an environment suit.

Obvious exits: In, Out

You can go forward to the transmission chamber, or back to the complex lower level.

A wall-mounted monitor flickers to life, displaying Dr Sliss' face.

"Through that airlock is the matter transmission chamber. You're going to be performing a routine, uh, salvage detail on a non-Treaty world. Which world? Who knows, there are millions."
You examine tube
It's closed, and contains an environment suit.

Dr Sliss peers around the room from the monitor. "You'll need all this equipment if you want to return in one piece. Which is not to say that our advanced medical facility is unable to cope with multiple pieces, but bio-glue doesn't come cheap."
You examine rack
On the equipment rack are a launcher, a scanner, and a retrieval beacon.
You examine the launcher
It looks kind of like a gun, only weirder.
Examine scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen is blank.
You examine BEACON
An orange cylinder with RETRIEVAL BEACON stencilled on it. A thin cord protrudes from it with a ring on the end, begging to be pulled.
You get all
launcher: You sling the launcher over your shoulder.

"You can use the launcher to tag valuables," Dr. Sliss tells you. "At the end of the mission, anything you've tagged will be matter transmitted into one of our five retrieval tanks for salvage."

After a moment's thought, she adds, "Please note that the Complex has an ample supply of bananas. Do not tag bananas."

The exit locks with a chunky click.

scanner: The scanner fits neatly in your palm.

"The scanner is able to detect points of interest within five kitrecks," Dr. Sliss says. "Go to these points of interest and tag anything valuable with the launcher."

retrieval beacon: You find the beacon adheres somehow to the front of your outfit.

"The beacon is your way home," Dr. Sliss says. "If everything goes wrong, or if you've tagged everything valuable in sight, just pull the cord on the beacon and we'll retrieve you whether the mission clock has run out or not. And don't worry if you're too wounded or dismembered to pull the cord: the lifesign monitors on your collar will fulfil the same function when you're near death."

environment suit:
(first opening the glass tube)
Taken.

"We don't exactly want you running around the complex with a blast launcher," Dr. Sliss adds, "so you'll have to return all the equipment before you can leave."
You wear the suit
You step into the suit and fasten the seals. Your ears pop slightly as it pressurises.

"If something should happen to you," Dr. Sliss explains, "the bright yellow colour of the suit will make it easier to retrieve your - uh, yourself."

"That's it," Dr. Sliss says, "you're ready. Enter the airlock and it's nothing but open skies and banana trees from here on."
STATUS
You're Hunkomeat, the male human.

Now you've scored a job as a lab rat. Keep it up!
Go inside
(first opening the airlock door)

An enormous metal dome lit by the distant floodlights that surround an armoured observation window. A huge antenna aims directly down at you from above.

A metal chair is bolted to the floor.

An armoured airlock door leads out.

Obvious exits: Out Dr. Sliss appears at the observation window.

Her voice booms over a loudspeaker. "When you're ready to begin the-" she clears her throat, "salvage mission, please take a seat. We'll retrieve you when 50 seegols have elapsed, when you activate your beacon, or when you're about to die. Whichever happens first."
You look at the antenna
It looks like it has a lot of zap.
You examine the door
It's open.
You sit
(on the metal chair)
You sit on the metal chair. Restraints clunk into place around your wrists and ankles. "Just relax," Dr. Sliss says. "I've transmitted several warm-blooded organisms and very few experienced anatomical inversion."

Everything begins to glow.

Dr. Sliss continues, "You may feel a sensation like every molecule in your body being forced through a microscopic wormhole like so much toothpaste. Don't be alarmed. It's merely that this is exactly what's happening."

Everything seems to be growing extremely elongated and distant. Before the whole world disappears with a snap, you hear Dr. Sliss say, "Remember! Tag valuable objects! Bananas aren't valuable!"

With the sound of billions of molecules snapping into place, you pop back into existence - falling some distance to the ground.

City 0 E 0 N (lying on the ground)
Elegant art deco buildings line the streets, futurist skyscrapers pierce the skyline and the pavements are all clean.

You see an automated news stand here.

Obvious exits: North, South, East, West, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest
You examine the news stand
A coin-operated newspaper stand with a pair of robot arms.
Examine scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A large blip at 0 E, 0 N.
A large blip at 3 E, -2 N.
A large blip at 2 E, 0 N.
A moving blip at -3 E, -3 N.
A moving blip at 3 E, 4 N.
A moving blip at -4 E, -1 N.
A moving blip at -3 E, 3 N.
A moving blip at -2 E, 3 N.
A moving blip at -1 E, -3 N.
Tag newspaper stand
You aim the launcher, squeeze its trigger, and splatter a sticky homing tag onto the automated news stand.
You look at scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A large blip at 0 E, 0 N. (Tagged.)
A large blip at 3 E, -2 N.
A large blip at 2 E, 0 N.
A moving blip at -3 E, -3 N.
A moving blip at 3 E, 4 N.
A moving blip at -4 E, -1 N.
A moving blip at -3 E, 3 N.
A moving blip at -2 E, 3 N.
A moving blip at -1 E, -3 N.
Go east
(first standing up)
City 1 E 0 N
Elegant art deco buildings line the streets, futurist skyscrapers pierce the skyline and the pavements are all clean.

Obvious exits: North, South, East, West, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest
You go east
Elegant art deco buildings line the streets, futurist skyscrapers pierce the skyline and the pavements are all clean.

You see a hovercar here.

Obvious exits: North, South, East, West, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest
You look at the hovercar
Sleek and curvaceous.
Tag hovercar
You aim the launcher, squeeze its trigger, and splatter a sticky homing tag onto the hovercar.
You examine the buildings
Lavish, curvaceous and streamlined, all.
You look at the scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A large blip at 0 E, 0 N. (Tagged.)
A large blip at 3 E, -2 N. (Tagged.)
A large blip at 5 E, 1 N.
A large blip at 2 E, 0 N. (Tagged.)
A moving blip at 6 E, -5 N.
A moving blip at -1 E, -3 N.
Examine scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A large blip at 3 E, -2 N. (Tagged.)
A moving blip at 5 E, -5 N.
You examine cop
She's wearing a smart blue uniform and a peaked hat.

The cop leaves to the east.
Examine scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A large blip at 3 E, -2 N. (Tagged.)
A moving blip at 6 E, -5 N.
You go northwest
Elegant art deco buildings line the streets, futurist skyscrapers pierce the skyline and the pavements are all clean.

Obvious exits: North, South, East, West, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest
You look at the scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A large blip at 3 E, -2 N. (Tagged.)
A large blip at 2 E, 0 N. (Tagged.)
A moving blip at 6 E, -5 N.
Examine scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A large blip at 0 E, 0 N. (Tagged.)
A large blip at 3 E, -2 N. (Tagged.)
A large blip at 5 E, 1 N.
A large blip at 2 E, 0 N. (Tagged.)
A moving blip at 7 E, -5 N.
You examine the hotdog
A coin-operated hotdog stand with a pair of robot arms.
Tag hotdog
You aim the launcher, squeeze its trigger, and splatter a sticky homing tag onto the automated hotdog stand.
Examine scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A large blip at 3 E, -2 N. (Tagged.)
A large blip at 5 E, 1 N. (Tagged.)
A large blip at 2 E, 0 N. (Tagged.)
A moving blip at 2 E, 5 N.
Examine scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A large blip at 0 E, 0 N. (Tagged.)
A large blip at 3 E, -2 N. (Tagged.)
A large blip at 5 E, 1 N. (Tagged.)
A large blip at 2 E, 0 N. (Tagged.)
A moving blip at 2 E, 5 N.
A moving blip at 2 E, 6 N.
Examine scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A large blip at 0 E, 0 N. (Tagged.)
A large blip at 3 E, -2 N. (Tagged.)
A large blip at 5 E, 1 N. (Tagged.)
A large blip at 2 E, 0 N. (Tagged.)
A moving blip at 2 E, 5 N.
A moving blip at -2 E, 3 N.
A moving blip at 2 E, 6 N.
You go northwest
Elegant art deco buildings line the streets, futurist skyscrapers pierce the skyline and the pavements are all clean.

An android housewife is window-shopping here.

Obvious exits: North, South, East, West, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest
Tag housewife
You aim the launcher, squeeze its trigger, and splatter a sticky homing tag onto the housewife. The housewife grabs the tag and pulls it off.

The housewife flees to the south.
You examine the housewife
She's wearing a modest dress and a pair of horn-rimmed glasses.
You look at the scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A large blip at 0 E, 0 N. (Tagged.)
A large blip at 5 E, 1 N. (Tagged.)
A large blip at 2 E, 0 N. (Tagged.)
A moving blip at 1 E, 4 N.
A moving blip at -3 E, 3 N.
A moving blip at -2 E, 3 N.
A moving blip at 2 E, 6 N.
A moving blip at -1 E, 8 N.
Inventory
You are carrying a launcher, a scanner, and a retrieval beacon, and you're wearing a collar, an environment suit, and an orange uniform.

The housewife leaves to the north.
Go northeast
Elegant art deco buildings line the streets, futurist skyscrapers pierce the skyline and the pavements are all clean.

Obvious exits: North, South, East, West, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest

Your watch starts vibrating. Everything begins to glow. You feel a sensation like being pulled backwards down your own throat.

You materialise in the matter transmission chamber with a pop, and fall flailing to the ground.

Transmission Chamber (lying on the floor)
An enormous metal dome lit by the distant floodlights that surround an armoured observation window. A huge antenna aims directly down at you from above.

A metal chair is bolted to the floor.

An armoured airlock door leads out.

Dr. Sliss looks down at you from the observation window.

Obvious exits: Out

"Welcome home, Hunkomeat," the doctor booms over the tannoy. "It looks like 4 of our retrieval tanks received salvage. Let's see what you tagged..."

Dr. Sliss touches her chin thoughtfully. "Hey, chimpy-boy, what do you say we incentivise you? I'll give you 10% of the value of everything you, ahem, salvage. It's only fair - you do take at least part of the risk."

"A cheap robot and a load of news articles about another timeline. I don't see the market for it, to be honest."
[Cash +100]

"An actual hovercar. On the one hand: supersonic jet engine. On the other: no seatbelts."
[Cash +400]

"An actual hovercar. On the one hand: supersonic jet engine. On the other: no seatbelts."
[Cash +400]

"A robot that sells elongated packets of cooked offal. I smell a new fast food craze in the offing."
[Cash +250]

Then she looks down at you and grins. "You know, a lot of my subjects are gibbering wrecks by this point. I knew you were a good candidate. Why don't you take some time to relax before coming back for your next mission?"
Go outside
(first standing up)

A long, narrow room, the walls bulging with strange pipes and machinery. The most notable feature is the thickly armoured airlock door leading further in. Either side of the airlock are an equipment rack and a glass tube. A more conventional exit leads back out.

Obvious exits: In, Out, Forwards, Backwards

You can go forward to the complex lower level, or back to the transmission chamber.

You change out of your environment suit and return your equipment to the racks.

The exit unlocks with a click.
Forward
(first opening the exit)

Complex: Lower Level
An expansive, drab space. Perhaps a factory floor after the machinery has been cleared out. A catwalk crosses the room above, beneath the dusty rays of grubby skylights.

A number of armed cyborgs look down from the catwalk.

Obvious exits: Forwards, Backwards

You can go forward to the holding cell, left to the infirmary, right to a long corridor, or back to the antechamber.

Dr. Sliss walks out onto the catwalk overhead. "I've given you access to some of the other areas of the complex," she says. "Have a look around. Just don't forget to go on missions or I may have to turn you into one of these lobotomised cyborgs!"

She laughs playfully, her pointed teeth glinting in the sunlight.
Left
A single white bed stands in the centre of the room, overlooked by an expansive observation window.

A long mechanical arm hangs from the ceiling, ending in the torso of a white auto-doc.

Obvious exits: Out
Examine auto-doc
An androgynous android with numerous arms ending in advanced medical instruments.

"Wonder if..." the auto-doc begins, trailing off thoughtfully.
You lie on the bed
Okay, you're now lying on the bed.

The auto-doc orbits the infirmary anti-clockwise.
Wait
Time passes...

"Singular airway and oesophagus," the auto-doc notes. "Choking hazard."
You go outside
Complex: Lower Level
An expansive, drab space. Perhaps a factory floor after the machinery has been cleared out. A catwalk crosses the room above, beneath the dusty rays of grubby skylights.

A number of armed cyborgs look down from the catwalk.

Obvious exits: Left, Right, Forwards, Backwards

You can go forward to a long corridor, left to the holding cell, right to the antechamber, or back to the infirmary.
Exit
What do you want to get out of?
EXITS
Obvious exits lead left; right, to the antechamber; forwards; and backwards, back to the infirmary.
Right
A long, narrow room, the walls bulging with strange pipes and machinery. The most notable feature is the thickly armoured airlock door leading further in. Either side of the airlock are an equipment rack and a glass tube. A more conventional exit leads back out.

On the equipment rack are a scanner, a retrieval beacon, and a launcher. The glass tube contains an environment suit.

You can go forward to the transmission chamber, or back to the complex lower level.

You don the environment suit and grab your equipment.

The exit slides shut and locks with a click.
Back
(first opening the exit)

You change out of your environment suit and return your equipment to the racks.

The exit unlocks with a click.

Complex: Lower Level
An expansive, drab space. Perhaps a factory floor after the machinery has been cleared out. A catwalk crosses the room above, beneath the dusty rays of grubby skylights.

A number of armed cyborgs look down from the catwalk.

You can go forward to the holding cell, left to the infirmary, right to a long corridor, or back to the antechamber.
Right
This functional corridor ends in a thick steel door marked "Exit". The bare concrete floor has been scratched and scored by heavy machinery, the breezeblock walls dented and stained.

A small terminal is fixed to the wall beside the door.

You can go forward to the emergency exit, left to the bathroom, right to the canteen, or back to the complex: lower level.
You look at the terminal
The screen is blank. There's a tempting button beneath it.
0
Have a nice day.
Look around
This functional corridor ends in a thick steel door marked "Exit". The bare concrete floor has been scratched and scored by heavy machinery, the breezeblock walls dented and stained.

A small terminal is fixed to the wall beside the door.

You can go forward to the emergency exit, left to the bathroom, right to the canteen, or back to the complex: lower level.
Left
A utilitarian shower and a saurian toilet, all lit harshly by fluorescent lights that emit a sickly hum.

A voice whispers from the toilet bowl. "Hey! Over here!"
You examine the toilet
You peer cautiously into the toilet bowl. An enormous, seemingly eyeless white worm, easily the size of your whole arm, looks back at you from within. "Finally!" the worm says. "Look, you're not alone in this mess. The name's Sola. Also known as Test Subject 13, the one that got away."
Flush toilet
You flush the toilet.

Sola gurgles, "Blub! You're not getting rid of me that easily."

"Look," Sola says, "I'm an undercover agent from the Core Alliance. I escaped into the sewer system when that damn saurian scientist started to twig, but I need your help."
You ask Sola about Sliss
Sola sighs. "I'm sure Dr. Sliss means well, in her own way. And ultimately it's the government of Dryzandia that should be held responsible. Still, she's a complete whackjob."
You ask Sola about the dryzandia
"You're standing on it," Sola says. "Almost uninhabitable, no valuable exports, but they've made a fortune incarcerating prisoners from other Treaty worlds. Not exactly the route to power and prestige though, which is probably why they've started pillaging non-Treaty worlds."
You ask Sola about Treaty
"The Mutual Defence and Non-Aggression Treaty," Sola says. "The most advanced worlds in the Imbroglio sign up to it to get protection from interdimensional bandits and rogue states. Of course, to remain a member there's a minimum standard of conduct."
You ask Sola about the conduct
"Treaty worlds have two main obligations," Sola says. "They have to contibute to the military and police forces that protect all Treaty worlds - you know, schmucks like me. And they have to refrain from violating the sovereignty of other civilised or pristine worlds, whether those worlds are a part of the Treaty or not."
You ask Sola about Sola
"What's there to know?" Sola says. "Pretty typical nematode. I was a cop in the Squirm for a couple of decades, but I got sick of the corruption. I joined the Core Alliance out of some misplaced sense of duty, got assigned to the worst undercover job in history, wriggled out of my exploding collar and now live down the shitter. No family back home, but thinking of having kids through autogamy - if I ever get out of here."
You ask Sola about the collar
"Easy enough to slip out of it if you don't have any bones," Sola says. "Although it did explode shortly after."
You ask Sola about Imbroglio
"That's where you are right now," Sola explains, "and every place you've ever been. The Imbroglio consists of countless worlds, all inter-connected across time, space and alternate realities. The most habitable, most interconnected worlds form the Core Alliance. Most other worlds worth a damn are part of the MDANA treaty."
You ask Sola about the help
Sola looks around furtively. "The Core Alliance knows that Dryzandia has an unlicensed matter transmitter, but they don't know where, and they don't know what it's being used for. Dr. Sliss is giving you an incentive, right? There's a shopping terminal right next to the exit. I need you to buy some common household items for me, so I can assemble a makeshift cross-planar quantum packet modulator."
You ask Sola about the items
"Okay, listen up," Sola says. "With a cross-planar quantum packet modulator I can contact my superiors without anyone on Dryzandia noticing. I should be able to make one with parts from a holo-gallery and a lava lamp. But I'll need to read up on the theory first."
Look around
A utilitarian shower and a saurian toilet, all lit harshly by fluorescent lights that emit a sickly hum.

Sola looks up at you from the toilet bowl.
Go outside
This functional corridor ends in a thick steel door marked "Exit". The bare concrete floor has been scratched and scored by heavy machinery, the breezeblock walls dented and stained.

A small terminal is fixed to the wall beside the door.

You can go forward to the canteen, left to the emergency exit, right to the complex: lower level, or back to the bathroom.
Forward
Decorated in a homely style - for saurians. The cactus-print wallpaper is peeling and torn.

Various chairs are scattered around a single long table.

A brightly coloured food dispenser stands against the wall.
You examine the dispenser
The gaudy advertising copy claims it will combine whatever nutrients your biology requires into "palatable" food. The saurian on the logo certainly seems to be enjoying his snake kebab.

There's a big button smack in the middle of the thing.
You take the banana
Taken.
You examine gruel
Capable of sustaining orphans, at least.
You look at the spoon
Not likely to be much help tunnelling out of here.
You eat the gruel
You eat the gruel.
You examine the bowl
"Property of the Long Range Matter Transmission Complex. Please return to dispenser tray after use."
STATUS
You're Hunkomeat, the male human.

You've earned 1150 credits after 1 mission.
You examine the tray
On the dispenser tray are a bowl and a spoon.
You examine the banana
Yellowest of all fruit, save perhaps the lemon.
You look
Decorated in a homely style - for saurians. The cactus-print wallpaper is peeling and torn.

Various chairs are scattered around a single long table.

A brightly coloured food dispenser stands against the wall.

On the dispenser tray are a bowl and a spoon.
Leave
Before leaving, you return your leftovers to the dispenser.

This functional corridor ends in a thick steel door marked "Exit". The bare concrete floor has been scratched and scored by heavy machinery, the breezeblock walls dented and stained.

A small terminal is fixed to the wall beside the door.

You can go forward to the bathroom, left to the complex: lower level, right to the emergency exit, or back to the canteen.
Right
(first trying to open the exit)
The exit seems to be locked.
You look at the exit
You suspect the only way this thing moving is with Dr. Sliss' consent. It's closed.
EXITS
Obvious exits lead left; right; forwards, to the bathroom; and backwards, back to the canteen.
Left
Complex: Lower Level
An expansive, drab space. Perhaps a factory floor after the machinery has been cleared out. A catwalk crosses the room above, beneath the dusty rays of grubby skylights.

A number of armed cyborgs look down from the catwalk.

You can go forward to the infirmary, left to the antechamber, right to the holding cell, or back to a long corridor.
Back
This functional corridor ends in a thick steel door marked "Exit". The bare concrete floor has been scratched and scored by heavy machinery, the breezeblock walls dented and stained.

A small terminal is fixed to the wall beside the door.

You can go forward to the emergency exit, left to the bathroom, right to the canteen, or back to the complex: lower level.
You look at the terminal
The screen is blank. There's a tempting button beneath it.
Yes
Purchase successful.

Your purchase has been matter transmitted to your billing address.
Yes
--Please wait... OK.--

Your balance: 1050 credits.

2 - Dryzandia Drift
3 - Drone Fantasies Illustrated
4 - Lord Jim
5 - Introduction to Octopode Art
0
--VALU-NET SHOPPING DIRECTORY--
Your balance: 1050 credits.

2 - Furniture
3 - Books
2
--Please wait... OK.--

Your balance: 1050 credits.

2 - Double bed
3 - Lava lamp
4 - Saurian sculpture
5 - Apian glowlamp
1
--Please wait... OK.--

Bring some tentacular culture to your living room with this holo-gallery of works by famous octopode artists.

Price: 1000 credits.
Your balance: 1050 credits.
Yes
--Please wait... OK.--

Your balance: 50 credits.

2 - Lava lamp
3 - Saurian sculpture
4 - Apian glowlamp
2
--Please wait... OK.--

This unique product of saurian culture can add a real talking point to your room. Are its ever-moving blobs representative of the ceaseless drive of saurians for progress, or our vibrant, party-loving nature?

Price: 250 credits.
Your balance: 50 credits.
0
--VALU-NET SHOPPING DIRECTORY--
Your balance: 50 credits.

2 - Furniture
3 - Books
0
Have a nice day.
EXITS
Obvious exits lead left, to the bathroom; right, to the canteen; forwards; and backwards, back to the complex: lower level.
Right
A bare room of white walls. Strip lights glare down from the ceiling, and there's an intercom next to the way out.

A white, saurian-style bed occupies the middle of the floor.

A bookshelf is affixed to one wall.

Pleasing shapes float in the air over an octopode holo-projector.

On the bookshelf is Matter Transmission Made Easy.
You look at holothe -the projector
A silver widget a bit like a desk lamp.
You get all
bed: The bed is too heavy.

Matter Transmission Made Easy: Taken.
Octopode holo-gallery: Taken.
Go outside
Complex: Lower Level
An expansive, drab space. Perhaps a factory floor after the machinery has been cleared out. A catwalk crosses the room above, beneath the dusty rays of grubby skylights.

A number of armed cyborgs look down from the catwalk.

You can go forward to the antechamber, left to a long corridor, right to the infirmary, or back to the holding cell.
Left
This functional corridor ends in a thick steel door marked "Exit". The bare concrete floor has been scratched and scored by heavy machinery, the breezeblock walls dented and stained.

A small terminal is fixed to the wall beside the door.

You can go forward to the emergency exit, left to the bathroom, right to the canteen, or back to the complex: lower level.
You check your inventory
You are carrying Matter Transmission Made Easy and an Octopode holo-gallery, and you're wearing a collar and an orange uniform.
You read the book
There are those, of course, who say, "Why meddle? Why pick apart the vague beauty of the Multiverse? Why try to expose mysteries and unlock power we are unlikely to use wisely?"

It is worth noting how many of these naysayers are in their thirties or forties. How many are in their fifties, sixties or even older.
Because it is precisely the drive of intelligent, questioning minds to find out what is true, how things work, to try to unravel the secrets of even something as sacred as the living body - it is precisely that drive which has enabled them to live to such a ripe old age that they can preach nostalgically about more ignorant times.

Some would suggest that to see a flower as an inscrutable object of bright colours is more romantic, more inspiring, than to appreciate its inner workings as a complex structure of intricate cells, nourished by waves of energy from its nearest stars, part of a complex, changing ecosystem and an ancient, unspoken symbiosis.

As someone with a more thorough grounding in science than art, I cannot dispute this view, much as I may feel quite the opposite. But however unromantic the scientist's flower may be, even less appealing is the plague; the child who dies in infancy; the cry for help that travels too slow.

If the role of dispelling mystery, crushing fancy and profaning the sacred is one to be shunned, I still embrace it, as the alternative is far worse still.
Examine book
The cover shows a swirl of tesselating shapes that give you a slight headache. The author's picture on the back is disturbingly familiar.
You look at the picture
"ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. Lisella Sliss is a graduate of Srrisni University with as many widely accepted theories to her name as controversial hypotheses. She is currently working for the Dryzandian government on an undisclosed project."
You give the book to Sola
"Wait," Sola says, "she wrote this? Ah well, it'll do."

Zie swallows the book whole. "I still need an Octopode holo-gallery, and a lava lamp."
You look at the holo
A silver widget a bit like a desk lamp.
You give the holo to Sola
"Excellent," Sola says. "Now I just need to strip out the hyperdimensional EM-threader and unplug the magnetic tape heads."

Zie swallows the projector whole. "Now all I need is a lava lamp."
Go inside
An enormous metal dome lit by the distant floodlights that surround an armoured observation window. A huge antenna aims directly down at you from above.

A metal chair is bolted to the floor.

An armoured airlock door leads out.

Dr. Sliss appears at the observation window.
You sit
(on the metal chair)
You sit on the metal chair. Restraints clunk into place around your wrists and ankles. As the transmission machinery hums to life, the world elongates into a one-dimensional line - which then disappears.

With the sound of billions of molecules snapping into place, you pop back into existence - falling some distance to the ground.

Asteroid 0 E 0 N (lying on the ground)
Warped dunes and craters curve dramatically towards the near horizon, beneath a starry, airless sky.
You look at the scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A moving blip at 3 E, 2 N.
Go northeast
(first standing up)
Asteroid 1 E 1 N
Warped dunes and craters curve dramatically towards the near horizon, beneath a starry, airless sky.
Go northeast
Warped dunes and craters curve dramatically towards the near horizon, beneath a starry, airless sky.
You go east
Warped dunes and craters curve dramatically towards the near horizon, beneath a starry, airless sky.

A mining drone drills into the rock here.
Tag drone
You aim the launcher, squeeze its trigger, and splatter a sticky homing tag onto the mining drone.

The mining drone lifts its drill from the ground and turns to face you.
Examine scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A moving blip at 3 E, 2 N. (Tagged.)

The mining drone drills your right arm.
You go to the southwest
Warped dunes and craters curve dramatically towards the near horizon, beneath a starry, airless sky.

You've escaped the mining drone.
You examine arm
Which arm do you mean, your right arm, or your left arm?
Right
Your right arm is injured.
Examine scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A moving blip at 3 E, 2 N. (Tagged.)
You go to the north-west
Warped dunes and craters curve dramatically towards the near horizon, beneath a starry, airless sky.
Examine scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A large blip at -2 E, 6 N.
A moving blip at 3 E, 2 N. (Tagged.)
Go north
Warped dunes and craters curve dramatically towards the near horizon, beneath a starry, airless sky.

You see a gold vein here.
Tag gold
You aim the launcher, squeeze its trigger, and splatter a sticky homing tag onto the gold vein.
Examine scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A large blip at -2 E, 6 N. (Tagged.)
A large blip at -5 E, 5 N.
You go west
Warped dunes and craters curve dramatically towards the near horizon, beneath a starry, airless sky.

You see a meteorite here.
You look at the meteorite
What other kind of rock would be sitting in the middle of a crater like that?
You tag it
You aim the launcher, squeeze its trigger, and splatter a sticky homing tag onto the meteorite.
You look at the scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A large blip at -2 E, 6 N. (Tagged.)
A large blip at -5 E, 5 N. (Tagged.)
Examine scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A large blip at -5 E, 5 N. (Tagged.)
Examine scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A large blip at -2 E, 6 N. (Tagged.)
A large blip at -6 E, -2 N.
A large blip at -5 E, 5 N. (Tagged.)
Examine scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A large blip at -6 E, -2 N. (Tagged.)

A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A large blip at -6 E, -2 N. (Tagged.)
Examine scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A large blip at -6 E, -2 N. (Tagged.)
A moving blip at -2 E, -6 N.
Examine scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A moving blip at -2 E, -7 N.
You go south
Warped dunes and craters curve dramatically towards the near horizon, beneath a starry, airless sky.

An insectoid sea skater glides over the water.

The science rover leaves to the west.
Examine scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A moving blip at -3 E, -7 N.
You go west
Warped dunes and craters curve dramatically towards the near horizon, beneath a starry, airless sky.

An insectoid sea skater glides over the water.
Examine scanner
A small, ergonomic gizmo with a bright LCD screen.

The screen shows:
A moving blip at -3 E, -7 N.

Your watch starts vibrating. Everything begins to glow. You feel a sensation like being pulled backwards down your own throat.

You materialise in the matter transmission chamber with a pop, and fall flailing to the ground.

Transmission Chamber (lying on the floor)
An enormous metal dome lit by the distant floodlights that surround an armoured observation window. A huge antenna aims directly down at you from above.

A metal chair is bolted to the floor.

An armoured airlock door leads out.

Dr. Sliss looks down at you from the observation window.

"Welcome home, Hunkomeat," the doctor booms over the tannoy. "It looks like 4 of our retrieval tanks received salvage. Let's see what you tagged..."

"A mining drone full of valuable space rocks. Don't mind if I do thanks."
[Cash +500]

"Oh ho ho, some bona fide gold. You're one sharp prospector, Hunkomeat."
[Cash +500]

"An asteroid full of valuable space metals."
[Cash +300]

"An asteroid full of valuable space metals."
[Cash +300]

Dr. Sliss literally jumps for joy. "Hoo boy, what a treasure trove! I could kiss you, Hunkomeat - you know, if you weren't a monkey."
Tag rover
You aim the launcher, squeeze its trigger, and splatter a sticky homing tag onto the science rover.

The science rover flees to the west.

Your watch starts vibrating. Everything begins to glow. You feel a sensation like being pulled backwards down your own throat.

You materialise in the matter transmission chamber with a pop, and fall flailing to the ground.

Transmission Chamber (lying on the floor)
An enormous metal dome lit by the distant floodlights that surround an armoured observation window. A huge antenna aims directly down at you from above.

A metal chair is bolted to the floor.

An armoured airlock door leads out.

Dr. Sliss looks down at you from the observation window.

"Welcome home, Hunkomeat," the doctor booms over the tannoy. "All five retrieval tanks received salvage! Let's see what you tagged..."

"A mining drone full of valuable space rocks. Don't mind if I do thanks."
[Cash +500]

"Oh ho ho, some bona fide gold. You're one sharp prospector, Hunkomeat."
[Cash +500]

"An asteroid full of valuable space metals."
[Cash +300]

"An asteroid full of valuable space metals."
[Cash +300]

"Someone else's robotic probe, and all their lovely research data. The very best kind of theft, in my experience."
[Cash +250]

Dr. Sliss literally jumps for joy. "Hoo boy, what a treasure trove! I could kiss you, Hunkomeat - you know, if you weren't a monkey."
You go outside
(first standing up)

A long, narrow room, the walls bulging with strange pipes and machinery. The most notable feature is the thickly armoured airlock door leading further in. Either side of the airlock are an equipment rack and a glass tube. A more conventional exit leads back out.

You can go forward to the complex lower level, or back to the transmission chamber.

You change out of your environment suit and return your equipment to the racks.

The exit unlocks with a click.
Leave
(first opening the exit)

Complex: Lower Level
An expansive, drab space. Perhaps a factory floor after the machinery has been cleared out. A catwalk crosses the room above, beneath the dusty rays of grubby skylights.

A number of armed cyborgs look down from the catwalk.

You can go forward to the holding cell, left to the infirmary, right to a long corridor, or back to the antechamber.
Left
A single white bed stands in the centre of the room, overlooked by an expansive observation window.

A long mechanical arm hangs from the ceiling, ending in the torso of a white auto-doc.

The auto-doc tends to your injuries. "Be sure to get a check-up before you shed your next exoskeleton."

You feel much better now.
Go outside
Complex: Lower Level
An expansive, drab space. Perhaps a factory floor after the machinery has been cleared out. A catwalk crosses the room above, beneath the dusty rays of grubby skylights.

A number of armed cyborgs look down from the catwalk.

You can go forward to a long corridor, left to the holding cell, right to the antechamber, or back to the infirmary.
R.
A bare room of white walls. Strip lights glare down from the ceiling, and there's an intercom next to the way out.

A white, saurian-style bed occupies the middle of the floor.

A bookshelf is affixed to one wall.

A lava lamp throws strange patterns against the wall.
You examine the lamp
A cheap plastic tube full of glowing, slowly undulating fluid.
You take it
Taken.
Go outside
Complex: Lower Level
An expansive, drab space. Perhaps a factory floor after the machinery has been cleared out. A catwalk crosses the room above, beneath the dusty rays of grubby skylights.

A number of armed cyborgs look down from the catwalk.

You can go forward to the antechamber, left to a long corridor, right to the infirmary, or back to the holding cell.
You give the lamp to Sola
"Okay," Sola says. "This should have the isotopes I need."

Zie swallows the lamp whole. "That's it! It'll take some time to get this thing assembled and transmitting, so you might like to get some sleep or take a mission or something. After that, the cavalry should be here in an instant..."

Sola disappears down the U-bend.
R.
A bare room of white walls. Strip lights glare down from the ceiling, and there's an intercom next to the way out.

A white, saurian-style bed occupies the middle of the floor.

A small wardrobe stands beside your bed.

A bookshelf is affixed to one wall.
You examine the wardrobe
It's closed.
You open it
Opening the wardrobe reveals an LRMT uniform.
You look at uniform
(the orange uniform)
It identifies you as convict #76954, albeit not in human numerals.
You examine lrmt
(the LRMT icon)
A small image of Dryzandia with a beam shooting out of it.
You take it
You can't have that; it's part of the LRMT uniform.
You examine the lrmt uniform
A practical blue uniform with a flashy icon on one shoulder and your rank ("Test Subject") on the other.
You wear it
You remove your orange uniform. You put on the LRMT uniform.
You put the orange uniform in the wardrobe
(first taking the orange uniform)
Done.
Exit
Complex: Lower Level
An expansive, drab space. Perhaps a factory floor after the machinery has been cleared out. A catwalk crosses the room above, beneath the dusty rays of grubby skylights.

A number of armed cyborgs look down from the catwalk.

You can go forward to the antechamber, left to a long corridor, right to the infirmary, or back to the holding cell.

Dr. Sliss is leaning over the catwalk, smoking a cigarette.
You look at sliss
Her skin consists of shimmering green scales, and her golden, slit-pupil eyes hold a calculating beauty. She is standing on the catwalk.

Dr. Sliss is carrying a cigarette, and she's wearing a labcoat, a white blouse, a grey skirt, and red shoes.
You examine the skirt
Rather smart and elegant. At least as much as it can be with her tail poking out the back.
You look up skirt
What do you want to look that up in?
R.
A bare room of white walls. Strip lights glare down from the ceiling, and there's an intercom next to the way out.

A white, saurian-style bed occupies the middle of the floor.

A small wardrobe stands beside your bed.

A bookshelf is affixed to one wall.

The wardrobe contains some pyjamas and an orange uniform.
You examine the pyjamas
Warm and comfortable flannel pyjamas, with a flap in the back for a saurian's tail.
You wear the pyjamas
(first taking the pyjamas)
You remove your LRMT uniform. You put on the pyjamas.
Sleep
You never learned to sleep standing up. Or if you did, you've unlearned it.
You lie on the bed
You lie down awkwardly on the bed. It's not very comfortable.
Sleep
You manage to get slightly comfortable and doze for a while. You're woken by a bright flash. When you open your eyes, there are several soldiers in desert camouflage in the room. Before you can do or say anything, several of the soldiers jump on you.

Prison Van (standing in the restraints)
Cramped; windowless; the thickly armoured walls are painted regulation grey. Steel chains dangle from the ceiling and tantalisingly open doors lead out.

Dr. Sliss is chained up next to you. She looks really, really angry.

An officious looking apian stands before you in desert camouflage.
You look at Apian
A burly apian worker with a battle-scarred exoskeleton and one antenna missing.

The commander is carrying a clipboard and a shock stick.

"Dr. Sliss," the apian says, "this Core Alliance Enforcement Team is arresting you on behalf of the Dryzandian government."

"I work for the Dryzandian government," Dr. Sliss hisses.

"Your project is being shut down," the apian continues, "and you are being remanded to prison."

(You could defend Sliss, repudiate her, or say nothing.)
You defend myself
You try to argue, but the apian cuts you off. "I don't wanna hear it."

"It's not his fault!" Dr. Sliss shouts. "Didn't you hear him? I'm the bad guy! When I get out of these restraints, I'm gonna-"

The apian touches her shock stick to the doctor's throat. The saurian yelps and then slumps forward.

The apian sighs. "Much better."
You look at clipboard
You can't read it from here, but there are photos of you and Dr. Sliss on it.

The apian is about to leave when Sola squirms into the van. "Commander Zrzh! Wait! What are you doing? Didn't you get my report? Give these two immunity, let them testify against the Dryzandian-"

The apian shakes her head. "It's politics, agent Sola. Do you have any idea how many prisoners the Core has sent to Dryzandia over the years? You want them to start sending them back?"

The commander stomps off. Sola looks at you sadly for a second, and then follows after her.
You cry
There there.

Dr. Sliss sobs quietly to herself. Or is she laughing? Her tail appears with a keyring dangling from its tip, and she stretches lazily.

"Very few saurians have prehensile tails," the doctor explains as she unlocks her chains. "Which is why cops from other species rarely know to restrain them. Not that I've ever been arrested before. Much."

As her restraints fall to the floor, she puts her hands on her hips. "Come on: who's the greatest?"

(You could tell her she's the greatest, or say nothing.)
You tell her she's the greatest
Dr. Sliss listens to your compliment with pride. "Don't I know it."

She unlocks your restraints. "Naturally, I have an escape plan. You can tag along if you want. It should halve my chances of getting shot."
Leave
The two of you burst out of the prison van.

Desert sand stretches as far as you can see, mercilessly reflecting the harsh sunlight. The complex itself is a low dome sunken into wind-blasted rock.

The prison van stands beside a road that curves off into the distance.

Dr. Sliss is standing here in brazen defiance of the Core Alliance.

An octopode in desert camouflage stands guard beside an apian with a plasma blaster.

Dr. Sliss tail-whips the apian, who collapses into an unconscious heap.

The octopode charges you with tentacles outstretched!
You kick the octopode
You dodge the octopode's tentacles and punch him in his boneless head. Concussed, he falls to the ground unconscious.

Dr. Sliss picks up the plasma blaster. "You know, I once paid good money to see a human wrestle an octopode, and here you are giving it away for free."
You search the octopode
There's nothing unusual in the octopode guard.

Somewhere nearby, you hear alarmed shouts.

Dr. Sliss kicks off her heels and sprints forwards towards the complex. "Follow me if you wanna live!"
You follow Sliss
You chase after the doctor. The voices draw nearer. A few bolts of plasma flash overhead.

A dimly lit maze of concrete pillars. White lines divide the floor into empty parking spaces.

Something sits in one of the spaces, covered in tarpaulin.

Dr. Sliss is taking cover behind one of the columns.

She waves you over. "Get that tarp off! I'll cover you!"
You remove the tarp
You grab the edge of the tarpaulin and pull... unveiling a sleek red vehicle that looks like a jet engine mounted between two huge wheels.

Dr. Sliss shrugs. "Yeah, I don't look the type. But I've always been an impulse buyer. I mean, I bought you, didn't I?"
Yes
"My dearest, favourite human," the doctor says, "let's talk when we're not being shot at."

"Okay," the doctor says, "you drive, I'll shoot."
You enter the vehicle
You climb onto the jet bike's leather saddle and take a firm hold of the handlebars.

Dr. Sliss gets on behind you, wrapping an arm around your waist.
"Punch it, Hunkomeat!"

You fire up the bike's jet engine and roar unsteadily out of the garage, plasma bolts flying past you in every direction.

Wasteland Throughway 13 (left lane)
Black tarmac bisects the sun-bright glare of the desert sand, a thin line of darkness that stops only at the boundary to the clear blue sky.

You're in the saddle of a sleek red jet bike, hurtling forward at breakneck speed.

Dr. Sliss is behind you, one arm tight around your waist, the other wielding a plasma blaster.

"You have ridden a jet bike before, right?" Dr. Sliss shouts out from behind you. "Accelerate, brake, left, right... A chimp could do it. Which is fortunate."
About yourself
How do you get in these predicaments?

"Nobody's following us?" Dr. Sliss says. "I'm almost disappointed."
Inventory
You are carrying nothing, and are wearing some pyjamas and a collar.

With the throaty roar of a personal rocket pack, an Alliance Enforcer appears behind you.

Dr Sliss readies her plasma blaster. "Me and my big mouth."
You accelerate
With a thunderous roar, the afterburner kicks in. You cling to the handlebars with all your strength.

The enforcer seems to have no trouble keeping pace with you.

Dr. Sliss yells into your ear. "Hit the gas! We've gotta lose our new friend!"
Continue
With a thunderous roar, the afterburner kicks in. You cling to the handlebars with all your strength.

The enforcer seems to have no trouble keeping pace with you.

Dr. Sliss aims the plasma blaster and squeezes off a shot at the enforcer.
Wait
Dr. Sliss fires another shot at the enforcer. "Hold still, damn you!"
Wait
Dr. Sliss yells into your ear. "She's gaining on us! Can't you go any faster?"
You accelerate
With a thunderous roar, the afterburner kicks in. You cling to the handlebars with all your strength.

The enforcer seems to have no trouble keeping pace with you.

Dr. Sliss fires wildly at the enforcer, bolts of plasma churning up the tarmac behind you.
You continue
With a thunderous roar, the afterburner kicks in. You cling to the handlebars with all your strength.

The enforcer seems to have no trouble keeping pace with you.

The doctor finally gets off a lucky shot, hitting the enforcer's rocket pack. Straining her wings, the enforcer manages to land in a roll.

Dr. Sliss whoops and punches the air. "In your face!"

You hear a familiar sound - another rocket pack! This time a saurian enforcer is approaching you from behind.
Brake
The jet engine winds down.

The enforcer hits the brakes too, narrowly avoiding running into your back.

"Watch out!" Dr. Sliss shouts. "He's trying to get alongside us!"
Brake
The jet engine winds down.

The enforcer hits the brakes too, narrowly avoiding running into your back.

Dr. Sliss yells into your ear. "Get us out of here!"
You accelerate
With a thunderous roar, the afterburner kicks in. You cling to the handlebars with all your strength.

The enforcer seems to have no trouble keeping pace with you.

Dr. Sliss turns to fire several shots at the enforcer. "Back off!"
You accelerate
With a thunderous roar, the afterburner kicks in. You cling to the handlebars with all your strength.

The enforcer seems to have no trouble keeping pace with you.

Dr. Sliss keep shooting. "You know, I've never really fired one of these before today."
Right
You steer into the right lane.

The enforcer sees his chance to accelerate up alongside of you.

"Eat this!" the doctor screams firing at the enforcer.
Brake
The jet engine winds down.

The enforcer slows to keep pace with you.

A shot from the doctor's plasma blaster hits the enforcer's rocket pack, and he suddenly launches up into the sky, exploding at his apex like a firework full of jet fuel.

"I'm sure he'll be fine," Dr. Sliss says.

"That's it!" Dr. Sliss says triumphantly. "They can't have more than two rocket packs. We're home free."

Along the horizon ahead you can see a row of blinking blue lights.
You accelerate
With a thunderous roar, the afterburner kicks in. You cling to the handlebars with all your strength.

"Okay," Dr. Sliss says, grabbing your shoulders painfully tight.
"Don't panic! We can punch through. Give it all you've got!"
Continue
With a thunderous roar, the afterburner kicks in. You cling to the handlebars with all your strength.

You ram through between two police cars, saurian cops scattering out of your way as the vehicles are tossed to the side. A few of the cops get off shots at you, but you're out of range in seconds.

"Can I open my eyes now?" Dr. Sliss asks. "Alright! I knew you could do it. Look out!"

As you thunder down the road at incredible speed, you're hurtling towards a billboard on a sharp bend.
You look at the billboard
The bilboard advertises Eggulax, helping saurian women pass unfertilised eggs when it's "that time of the year".

The few seconds you spend reading the advertisement is all that's needed to hit it. Your bike erupts into a bright red explosion, incinerating its two passengers in the process.
Brake
The jet engine winds down. You slam on the brakes. The bike's huge tyres lock tight, but you keep going, leaving twin streaks of molten rubber on the road.

Dr. Sliss screams and grabs you so tight you can barely breathe.

And then suddenly you're clear. You've made it safely around the corner and you're racing off down the open road once more.

Dr. Sliss collapses limply against your back. "Holy shit, I don't think I can take any more of this."
Wait
Time passes...

Ahead of you, great towers rise from the desert.

Dr. Sliss leans over your shoulder to point at a small and shabby tower block. "I don't like our chances of getting far into the city, but we should be able to reach my apartment. From there, well..."

It's... a mess. Clothes and books are thrown haphazardly on every surface, along with circuitboards, tools and spare parts. Beneath all the clutter you can just make out a sofa and an aquarium.

In the centre of the room is a small platform beneath a familiar-looking antenna.

Dr. Sliss spins around, hands outstretched. "Of course you're not surprised I built one in my spare time, are you? It should be able to safely fire a couple of times. Before blowing out power across the city."

(You could ask her about the exploding collar, or her plans.)
You ask Sliss about the collar
"I suppose I owe it to you not to let your head explode," Dr. Sliss says, grabbing a screwdriver from a nearby surface.

After a little poking and prodding, the collar drops to the floor.
You ask Sliss about the plans
She winks. "Oh, don't worry about me. I've got somewhere nice lined up. You can come if you want. I mean, I kind of like you as a test subject - maybe even a friend. Or I can send you off somewhere by yourself and you'll never see me again."
You ask Sliss about the platform
"It's nice to finally talk to you as if we were equals," Dr. Sliss says, "but any second now the cops are going to be bashing down that door."
You follow Sliss
Dr. Sliss is right here.

The doctor looks at her aquarium. "Let me just get my..."

Her shoulders slump. "Great. I forgot to fucking feed them."
You examine the aquarium
Full of dead fish floating belly-side up.

Dr. Sliss looks around nervously. "When you're ready, get on the platform."
You take the collar
Taken.

"By the way," Dr. Sliss says, "call me Lisella. No, wait, I changed my mind. Keep calling me Dr. Sliss."
You stand on the platform
Okay, you're now standing on the platform.

Dr. Sliss looks around her apartment and sighs. "Well, this is it then. Do you want to go where I'm going?"

(You could say yes or no.)
Yes
She tries not to smile too widely as she works the controls to her homemade matter transmitter. "Oh really? Well, for what I have in store next, I think we should be equal partners. Almost equal partners. Sixty-forty my way. Seventy-thirty. We'll negotiate."

With a hop and a skip, Dr. Sliss jumps onto the platform with you, and you feel the familiar sensation of being beamed through time, space and alternate realities.

Today's the day of the big demonstration. Of course you'll turn up. What you'll do once you get there is another question.

A raised platform surrounded by a precarious railing. From here you can look out across smoking chimneys and slate tiled roofs, or watch airships churn stubbornly into the rain-shrouded sky.

A cable car can take you down to the streets.
You examine the hat
You'd think a world with headwear like this would have taller doorways.
You examine the suit
It actually has a lot more than three pieces. You think you've remembered them all.
You look at the airships
From luxury liners to ragtag cutters.
You examine the cable car
Rusted and well used, but otherwise mostly stable.
Go downwards
You ride the cable car down to street level.

The city's streets are crowded and narrow - horse-drawn carriages competing for space with steam-powered automobiles, and human pedestrians flooding the gaps in between.

The neoclassical face of the Royal Academy rises above the red-brick offices either side, its open doors leading in.
You look at Academy
Big marble pillars trying to look much older than they are.
You go inside
Rows of seats descend towards a raised stage. A pair of cages stand on the stage, surrounded by machinery that crackles with electricity.

Dr. Sliss stands on the stage, trying to lecture on matter transmission theory.

An audience of gentlemen in top hats chatter loudly amongst themselves, mostly about "the lizard woman".
You look at the cages
cage: The wide gaps between the bars suggest a purpose other than imprisonment.

cage: The wide gaps between the bars suggest a purpose other than imprisonment.

Dr. Sliss gestures frantically for you to get on the stage.
You get on the stage
Okay, you're now standing on the stage.

Dr. Sliss sighs with relief and shoots you a grateful smile.

"My loyal assistant," Dr. Sliss yells at the disinterested crowd, "will now demonstrate the practical application of the theory I've discussed."

She hustles you quickly into one of the cages and works the controls of her machinery. The cages begin to pop and ripple. You experience a familiar sensation, and then a blinding flash.

You appear in the opposite cage with a resounding pop. The audience stares at the stage open-mouthed.

"Gentlemen," Dr. Sliss says, with a predatory smile, "I know that in your eyes I am a mere reptile - and worse still: a woman. But what would you say if I offered you the untold riches of alternate worlds?"
Wait
Time passes...
You wait awhile
Time passes...

Dr. Sliss tries to be heard over the hubbub. "-even universal suffrage-"
You wait
Time passes...

Dr. Sliss gestures frantically for you to get on the stage.
You leave
With one last look at Dr. Sliss, you turn and leave her.

Never again. Perhaps somewhere in this world you can find a way to live a normal life.
Look around
Rows of seats descend towards a raised stage. A pair of cages stand on the stage, surrounded by machinery that crackles with electricity.

Dr. Sliss stands on the stage, trying to lecture on matter transmission theory.

An audience of gentlemen in top hats chatter loudly amongst themselves, mostly about "the lizard woman".

Dr. Sliss tries to be heard over the hubbub. "-distant worlds-"
You get in the cage
Dr. Sliss is too busy trying to hold the audience's attention. She just gestures for you to get on the stage.

Dr. Sliss gestures frantically for you to get on the stage.
You remove the hat
Be seen out hatless?! Ladies would faint to see such brazen nudity.

Dr. Sliss tries to be heard over the hubbub. "-matter and energy become interchangeable-"
You turn off the machinery
That isn't something you can turn off.

Dr. Sliss gestures frantically for you to get on the stage.
You examine machinery
A bizarre mishmash of primitive technology hammered into something that throbbs and crackles with Dr. Sliss' otherworldly knowledge.

Dr. Sliss tries to be heard over the hubbub. "-considerable power drain-"
You talk to the gentlemen
You can't get a word in edgewise.

Dr. Sliss gestures frantically for you to get on the stage.
Kiss sliss
Dr. Sliss probably wouldn't like that.

Dr. Sliss tries to be heard over the hubbub. "-alternate timelines-"
You kill Sliss
You cannot attack her.

Dr. Sliss gestures frantically for you to get on the stage.
You take the cages
cage: You can't take that.

cage: You can't take that.

Dr. Sliss tries to be heard over the hubbub. "-curved spacetime-"
Break machinery
Breaking that would serve no purpose.

Dr. Sliss gestures frantically for you to get on the stage.
You check your inventory
You are carrying nothing, and are wearing a top hat and a three-piece suit.

Dr. Sliss tries to be heard over the hubbub. "-asteroid-"
You look under the stage
You see nothing unusual under the stage.

Dr. Sliss gestures frantically for you to get on the stage.
You enter the cage
(first standing on the stage)
Okay, you're now standing in the cage.

Dr. Sliss sighs with relief and shoots you a grateful smile.

"My loyal assistant," Dr. Sliss yells at the disinterested crowd, "will now demonstrate the practical application of the theory I've discussed."

She works the controls of her machinery. The cages begin to pop and ripple. You experience a familiar sensation, and then a blinding flash.

You appear in the opposite cage with a resounding pop. The audience stares at the stage open-mouthed.

"Gentlemen," Dr. Sliss says, with a predatory smile, "I know that in your eyes I am a mere reptile - and worse still: a woman. But what would you say if I offered you the untold riches of alternate worlds?"
Kiss sliss
Dr. Sliss probably wouldn't like that.
You look
Rows of seats descend towards a raised stage. A pair of cages stand on the stage, surrounded by machinery that crackles with electricity.

Dr. Sliss stands on the stage, trying to lecture on matter transmission theory.

An audience of gentlemen in top hats chatter loudly amongst themselves, mostly about "the lizard woman".

Dr. Sliss tries to be heard over the hubbub. "-more advanced civilisations-"
You throw hat
What do you want to throw it at?
Sliss
(first taking off the top hat)
You miss. The top hat hits the ground.

Dr. Sliss gestures frantically for you to get on the stage.
You throw the suit at Sliss
(first trying to take off the three-piece suit)
It's a cold and uncaring Multiverse out there to be running around naked.

Dr. Sliss tries to be heard over the hubbub. "-wormholes-"
You examine the hat
You'd think a world with headwear like this would have taller doorways.

Dr. Sliss gestures frantically for you to get on the stage.
You put the hat in the cage
(first taking the top hat)
Done.

Dr. Sliss tries to be heard over the hubbub. "-unexpected opportunities-"
You put the suit in the cage
(first trying to take off the three-piece suit)
It's a cold and uncaring Multiverse out there to be running around naked.

Dr. Sliss gestures frantically for you to get on the stage.
You sit
What do you want to sit on?
You sit on the chairs
You take a seat in the audience and watch Dr. Sliss flounder. Gradually, the gentlemen of the Royal Academy leave to follow pursuits they consider more worthy of their time.

When the theatre is empty but for you two, Dr. Sliss comes down to sit beside you. "Okay," she says. "I get it. No more matter transmission. I'll try and eke out a life on this barren rock."

She points a scaly green finger at you. "But we're entering a marriage of convenience. Getting anything done on this world as a single woman is impossible."

Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO the last move, see your FULL SCORE, or QUIT?
You accelerate
With a thunderous roar, the afterburner kicks in. You cling to the handlebars with all your strength.

"Nobody's following us?" Dr. Sliss says. "I'm almost disappointed."
You accelerate
With a thunderous roar, the afterburner kicks in. You cling to the handlebars with all your strength.

With the throaty roar of a personal rocket pack, an Alliance Enforcer appears behind you.

Dr Sliss readies her plasma blaster. "Me and my big mouth."
Left
You drive briefly off-road, but the bike begins to judder uncontrollably as it lurches over uneven rocks and slippery sand.

Dr. Sliss yells into your ear. "Hit the gas! We've gotta lose our new friend!"
You accelerate
With a thunderous roar, the afterburner kicks in. You cling to the handlebars with all your strength.

The enforcer seems to have no trouble keeping pace with you.

Dr. Sliss aims the plasma blaster and squeezes off a shot at the enforcer.
Brake
The jet engine winds down.

The enforcer, unable to slow down in time, smacks into the back of your jet bike and tumbles down onto the road in a roll.

Dr. Sliss looks back for a few seconds, and then reassures you, "She's all right. That arm will regrow by itself."

You hear a familiar sound - another rocket pack! This time a saurian enforcer is approaching you from behind.
You accelerate
With a thunderous roar, the afterburner kicks in. You cling to the handlebars with all your strength.

The enforcer seems to have no trouble keeping pace with you.

"Watch out!" Dr. Sliss shouts. "He's trying to get alongside us!"
Right
You steer into the right lane.

The enforcer sees his chance to accelerate up alongside of you.

Dr. Sliss yells into your ear. "Get us out of here!"
Left
You ram the enforcer from the side, sending him tumbling into the sand.

Glancing over your shoulder you see him getting up, dusting himself off and kicking his mangled rocket pack.

"That's it!" Dr. Sliss says triumphantly. "They can't have more than two rocket packs. We're home free."

Along the horizon ahead you can see a row of blinking blue lights.
You accelerate
With a thunderous roar, the afterburner kicks in. You cling to the handlebars with all your strength.

"Okay," Dr. Sliss says, grabbing your shoulders painfully tight.
"Don't panic! We can punch through. Give it all you've got!"
You accelerate
With a thunderous roar, the afterburner kicks in. You cling to the handlebars with all your strength.

Ahead of you, great towers rise from the desert.

Dr. Sliss leans over your shoulder to point at a small and shabby tower block. "I don't like our chances of getting far into the city, but we should be able to reach my apartment. From there, well..."

It's... a mess. Clothes and books are thrown haphazardly on every surface, along with circuitboards, tools and spare parts. Beneath all the clutter you can just make out a sofa and an aquarium.

In the centre of the room is a small platform beneath a familiar-looking antenna.

Dr. Sliss spins around, hands outstretched. "Of course you're not surprised I built one in my spare time, are you? It should be able to safely fire a couple of times. Before blowing out power across the city."

(You could ask her about the exploding collar, or her plans.)
You ask Sliss about her plans
She winks. "Oh, don't worry about me. I've got somewhere nice lined up. You can come if you want. I mean, I kind of like you as a test subject - maybe even a friend. Or I can send you off somewhere by yourself and you'll never see me again."
You look at the sofa
Something about its disarray suggests that it's often slept on.

The doctor looks at her aquarium. "Let me just get my..."

Her shoulders slump. "Great. I forgot to fucking feed them."
You look at the books
Mostly about matter transmission theory, unsurprisingly.

"Let me get that collar off you," she says, grabbing a screwdriver from a nearby surface.

After a little poking and prodding, the collar drops to the floor.
You stand on the platform
Okay, you're now standing on the platform.

Dr. Sliss looks around her apartment and sighs. "Well, this is it then. Do you want to go where I'm going?"

(You could say yes or no.)
No
She looks sad, but unsurprised. "Sure thing. I know a nice place to send you an' all. Goodbye, Hunkomeat. And good luck."

She flicks a switch, and you feel the familiar sensation of being beamed through time, space and alternate realities. "Consider being someone else's test subject," you hear Dr. Sliss call out, her voice fading into the distance, "you're good at it!"

It's been quiet, this past year, but after what you've been through you don't mind so much. It's spring once again now, and time to plough your fields.

The morning sun is low in the sky. Along the horizon are the shattered domes and broken skyscrapers of a ruined civilisation. Fertile forests spill over, through and around the ruins, divulging a broken road in the direction of the fields beyond.

You can follow the road forwards.
You throw the hat at the road
(first taking off the straw hat)
You miss. The straw hat hits the ground.
You wear the hat
(first taking the straw hat)
Okay, you're now wearing the straw hat.
You look at road
Newer stones laid over the broken remnants of old tarmac.
You examine the skyscrapers
Some of them apparently snapped in half by some terrible force.
Forward
A rickety wooden fence denotes the edge of the farmland. The fields lie a short way ahead.

A massive industrial farmbot waits here.

The farmbot activates with a brief warning klaxon, and stands unsteadily on four hydraulic legs.
You look at the farmbot
Badly rusted, its paint almost entirely peeled off, but careful maintenance has kept it running well.
F.
A large square of exposed earth, the fertile soil interrupted in one corner by the huge rusting skull of a fallen warbot.

Ahead is the small dome of the farmhouse.

The farmbot lowers its plough, and tries to get its bearings with long-broken proximity sensors. You carefully guide it around the field until the ground has been neatly tilled. By the time you're done, the noon sun beats down on you mercilessly.
F.
A small, broken dome, the largest cracks thatched over. Ivy clings valiantly to its smooth sides. Cheerful voices emerge from further in.

The farmbot stomps after you.

You catch Old Man Cadan on his way out. "Alright my ansum," he says. "Best I warn thee the schoolmarm's on the warpath. Scarin' the chillurn wi' your stories o' bee people an' nasty Dr. Stick, she reckons."

He starts to leave, and then pauses. "Now me, I be rememberin' you turnin' up near a year ago in your strange clothes, with those comical stories 'bout you fallin' out the sky. You've settled in quite nice-like, but I reckon there's something different 'bout you, and that ain't no bad thing."

He strolls off, whistling to himself. "Don't go losin' that specialness, y'hear?"
F.
You head inside the dome to face up to the schoolmarm's scorn, and partake of Mama Gwen's freshly made lunch; to tell stories of high-speed jet bike chases to fascinated children, while your wide-eyed, eavesdropping sweetheart pretends to be doubtful or unimpressed.

Your days of hopping from world to world are over. You'll never again find strange treasures or be torn limb from limb by strange monsters only to be glued back together. Like almost everyone in the Imbroglio, you're stuck on just one world, with people you've grown to love and hate.

Yours is the wistful happiness of the adventurer who lived to tell the tale.
Dig
What do you want to dig in?
Soil
What do you want to dig in it with?
You look at the farmbot
Badly rusted, its paint almost entirely peeled off, but careful maintenance has kept it running well.
Describe the surroundings
A large square of exposed earth, the fertile soil interrupted in one corner by the huge rusting skull of a fallen warbot.

Ahead is the small dome of the farmhouse.

A massive industrial farmbot waits here.