text: [Themes: superhero]
  
  > look around
  Command Center (on the bed)
  Dr. Sinister seems to have found an interesting solution to the problem of maintaining operational security: he has placed his master command center in his bedroom. A surprisingly humble bed sits off against the south wall, while an impressive command terminal full of controls and displays occupies most of the opposite one. The Doctor's office lies back to the east.
  
  > look at the terminal
  The terminal's displays are now showing various parts of the base. One view looks at the closed bulk of the main doors, while another gazes out the hangar into the blue sky. Other images flicker through the displays, but the only other one that catches your eye is the grid of light that seems to be sealing off the hangar from the main halls. Beneath the displays, you note that the master power switch, the defense grid switch, and the launch hatch switch are on, and the main door switch is switched off. There is also a button marked "TRAP TOGGLE".
  
  > look at the grid
  This switch is labeled "DEFENSE GRID".
  
  The defense grid switch is currently switched on.
  
  > switch off the defense grid
  The switch is stuck. You pull with all your might, and then the switch gives suddenly. Unfortunately, it hasn't actually switched off; the switch itself has crumbled to powder in your grip.
  
  > examine DEFENSE GRID
  This switch is labeled "DEFENSE GRID". However, the switch itself has broken off and it is wedged in the ON position.
  
  The broken defense grid switch is currently switched on.
  
  > Inventory
  You are carrying:
  a silver key
  the HummingBelt (being worn)
  an energy drink
  a large-handled key
  a crowbar
  
  > Go east
  (first getting off the bed)
  
  Dr. Sinister's Office
  This luxurious office must be where Dr. Sinister spends most of his time scheming. A huge mahogany desk takes up most of the west side of the room, and behind it is a tall, black leather chair. A smaller door hides behind it. The rest of the base lies to the east.
  
  > Go east
  This large area looks like it was once central to Dr. Sinister's operations. However, any signs of his plots based here have been removed. There hasn't been much time for dust to accumulate, either; he must have been expecting to leave this base behind.
  
  This area continues off to the east, and narrows considerably to the west. The rocket hangar lies through the huge archway to the north. However, access to the hangar is currently blocked by a grid of shimmering light beams.
  
  > look at the light beams
  This circular doorway leads to the hangar. Beams of coruscating light crisscross the doorway. They don't look terribly friendly.
  
  > go west
  Dr. Sinister seems to have found an interesting solution to the problem of maintaining operational security: he has placed his master command center in his bedroom. A surprisingly humble bed sits off against the south wall, while an impressive command terminal full of controls and displays occupies most of the opposite one. The Doctor's office lies back to the east.
  
  > pry the switch
  Which do you mean, the master power switch, the broken defense grid switch, the main door switch, or the launch hatch switch?
  
  > Broken DEFENSE GRID
  (first taking the crowbar)
  There isn't a switch there anymore.
  
  > pry the launch hatch switch
  There's no reason to force it; simply toggling the launch hatch switch will suffice.
  
  > toggle the launch hatch switch
  On the displays, you see a dome close over the top of the hangar, roofing it off.
  
  > continue
  On the displays, you see the hangar roof retract, revealing an inviting blue sky.
  
  > toggle the master power switch
  As the displays shut down, you can see the hangar's launch hatch beginning to close and the light beams in the hangar flicker and go out.
  
  > Continue
  The displays flicker to life. The terminal's displays are now showing various parts of the base. One view looks at the closed bulk of the main gate, while another shows the roof of the hangar opening up, revealing the blue sky above. Other images flicker through the displays, but the only other one that catches your eye is the grid of light starting to flicker to life, sealing off the hangar from the main halls.
  
  > toggle the door switch
  On the displays, you see the massive main doors to the base slowly swing open.
  
  > toggle the main power switch
  As the displays shut down, you can see the main doors and the hangar's launch hatch each beginning to close. The light beams in the hangar also flicker and go out.
  
  > examine the defense grid switch
  This switch is labeled "DEFENSE GRID". However, the switch itself has broken off and it is wedged in the ON position.
  
  The broken defense grid switch is currently switched on.
  
  > go east
  Dr. Sinister's Office
  This luxurious office must be where Dr. Sinister spends most of his time scheming. A huge mahogany desk takes up most of the west side of the room, and behind it is a tall, black leather chair. A smaller door hides behind it. The rest of the base lies to the east.
  
  > move desk
  Wow. It is heavy. You don't seem to be able to budge it at all.
  
  > Go east
  The base continues from east to west. This area looks like a barracks; rows and rows of empty bunk beds line the halls. This must be where his minions slept when they weren't on-duty.
  
  To the west you can see a fancy desk. Looks like the boss had an open-door policy.
  
  > Go east
  This large area looks like it was once central to Dr. Sinister's operations. However, any signs of his plots based here have been removed. There hasn't been much time for dust to accumulate, either; he must have been expecting to leave this base behind.
  
  This area continues off to the east, and narrows considerably to the west. The rocket hangar lies through the huge archway to the north.
  
  > Go east
  Colorful tapestries hang on the wall here. Most of them carry the series of red slashes that are Dr. Sinister's trademark insignia, but a few others show his benevolent face smiling down upon any visitors from the main entrance to the north, or perhaps to inspire his troops marching out from the west.
  
  > look at the tapestries
  Dr. Sinister's logo looks pretty good at that scale, but his face doesn't. It's a little too clean-shaven and managerial-looking.
  
  > go to the north
  This is, in all likelihood, more of an "exit hall" than an "entrance hall." Dr. Sinister is unlikely to be receiving visitors often, and this "entrance" is broad enough to let a budding overlord's armies march out twenty abreast and still have room to move out vehicles after them.
  
  That does raise the question of how he planned on getting them to the mainland, but you suppose that's neither here nor there.
  
  The huge doors to the north bar your passage.
  
  Your suit chimes again. "Hummingbird here. Good timing; I've finished my investigation."
  
  "What did you find?"
  
  "The base is abandoned. Whatever Sinister's up to is entirely in orbit."
  
  "So does that mean the strike force gets a green light?"
  
  [1] "Yes - that should stop him."
  [2] "No - there's enough here that I can stop him."
  
  > 2
  "No. Dr. Sinister always keeps redundant backup plans - in this case, he has a separate launch rocket and fuel still in the base. I can give chase."
  
  "All right, but be quick about it. They won't wait forever."
  
  > look at door
  The massive door towers impressively above you.