{
(set: $hallucinating to false)
(set: $happy to false)
(set: $lustful to false)
(set: $angry to false)
(set: $sad to false)
(set: $distressed to false)
(set: $helpless to false)
(set: $Destruction to 0)
(set: $Mind_Score to 0)
(set: $Has_Beams to false)
(set: $Has_Eggs to false)
(set: $Has_Ashes to false)
(set: $dumped1 to false)
(set: $dumped2 to false)
(set: $saved to false)
(set: $seeded to false)
(set: $clicked to false)
(set: $request to false)
(set: $defenses to false)
(set: $serpent to "N")
(set: $Virsk to "N")
(set: $Worker to "N")
(set: $Dimitri to "N")
(set: $Custodian to "N")
(set: $Bug to "N")
(set: $Space_Station to true)
(set: $Sol to true)
(set: $Virsk_World to true)
(set: $Architect_World to true)
(set: $Necro_World to true)
(set: $Paradise_World to true)
(set: $Frozen_World to true)
(set: $Ruin to true)
(set: $Space_Station_Coord to false)
(set: $Ruined_Coord to false)
(set: $Sol_Coord to false)
(set: $Virsk_Coord to false)
(set: $Architect_Coord to false)
(set: $Necro_Coord to false)
(set: $Paradise_Coord to false)
(set: $Frozen_Coord to false)
}
Your duty is to give guidance to this mind.
A big, sloppy, fluffy pink brain, made of fragmented memories lost from the extermination.
It is lost, it needs help.
It needs you more than ever.
For there is a whole galaxy for the mind to explore, how the mind shall change we do not know. For all of this, it is up to you.
You give us the commands, we follow them.
We are an immaterial thing, we can take whatever form needed to relate to others or just be a cloud. We can go anywhere we want, without much issue. For we are a vapor, much more than a being. For we seek to show the true power of the mind, without inhibition of the body.
And you will guide us.
[[Begin]]You are able to grant us one of three options.
You can help us, give us some love or torment us. We don't have a choice on the matter- as it is you who makes all the choices for us!
Hopefully you choose well.
(if: $hallucinating is true)[ We can see you through your screen. We thought you'd have more eyes!](if: $happy is true)[
Still happy despite the dying thing.](if: $lustful is true)[
We love being in this place!]
(if: $angry is true)[
We are still pissed at you!]
(if: $sad is true)[
We are happy over the dying thing.](if: $distressed is true)[
It's a terrible, terrible world, please just let us stay here!](if: $helpless is true)[
Do whatever you wish. We have no choice in the matter.]
(if: $Virsk is "T")[Virsk speaks, "Wow, where are we? Didn't we just die?" Virsk, what do you mean? We did die. We just are alive again.
oh.](if: $Worker is "T")[
Kors, you are here too? Yes, your life support saved me as well. All six limbs intact.]
(if: $Mind_Score > -100)[
[[Help]]
[[Love]]
[[Torment]]]
(if: $Mind_Score < -100)[ [[None->To just be alone forever]] ]You have chosen to help the brain.
(set: $Has_Beams to "Y")
Now the brain has [beams](mouseover:?beam)[A powerful energy weapon from the mind's eye] thanks to your helpfulness.
And we can explain to this brain a bit on what happened in the past hundred years. You learn too.
It is very simple. Once there was a society where two beings of the universe, humans and tikali, worked together for the greater good.
One day, in their cooperation, they found the Blink Drive.
And that was why the Custodians attacked.
They hated that we made better warp drive systems than them.
So they tried to kill us all.
More shall be explained later. Enough has been said.
[[Move the Brain]]
[[USE THE BEAM->Use the Beam]](set: $lustful to true)
(set: $helpless to false)
(set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score + 15)
You have given your brain love! You brain now knows someone is out there watching it, giving it a sense of hope it didn't have before.
What is there to say about us? We have a universe to explore!
And we see a world, a beautiful world not too far off from here. It is one with waterfalls over a kilometer tall and full of islands. We should look at that world.
[No?]<n|
(click: ?n)[ okay than, let's go to this space station instead!
[[Drip our way to the space station!->Embrace]]
]
[[Go to that beautiful world->Perseus]]You have decided to torment your brain, how we do not even want to contemplate. Regardless, your brain isn't so sane anymore and now hallucinates. Who knows the consequences of that?
Anyways, just so you know the Custodians hate us all. We deserved the death they brought to us. We all do, not because we are horrible, but because life is life and that was our time.
Oh look, we see a custodian right now! Tell the brain to die now or see if the Custodian will help with that?
(set: $hallucinating to true)
[[Die now]]
[[Chase Custodian]]
[[Go somewhere more mood fitting->The Necropoli]]{(set: $Space_Station_Coord to true)
}
(if: $Space_Station is true)[
We have found a space station of some sort. It is a large torus shaped space station with no defense systems our brain cannot bypass.
See, we can go anywhere we want without much issue because we are beyond that. We can't die!
So what should we do?
[[Embrace the Station's inhabitants->Embrace]]
[[Go somewhere else->Other Worlds]]]
(if: $Space_Station is false)[
It is but rubble.
[[Go somewhere else->Other Worlds]]
]Your brain blows a hole into the fabric of reality, linking to a large, rocky world at the fringes of the Milky Way Galaxy. It is a very decripit world, almost rotten. There are many signs that [this world]<huh| was torched by something.
(click: ?huh)[This world is the shell. We know of it as a world ran by an ancient empire that once ruled much of the galaxy in times far before our own. There is likely another world like it which is accessible if we explore enough.]
[[Explore this world]]
[[Return->Help]]
{(set: $Ruined_Coord to true)}
(if: $Ruin is true)[
We have found the shell! (if: $knowing is true)[This is a world I was told about.]
We see a vast array of passages. One that perks our mind is a strange series of [porus passages]<porus| to the south. Another is a much more geometric pathway with [energy anomalies]<en|.{
(click:?en)[ We have found the source of the energy anomalies. It is some kind of gateway. We think it leads to a wet, dark place. We don't like those kinds of place, please don't make us [go.]<port| ]}
{(click:?porus)[ These pours have led us to find all matter of life. We didn't expect to find life here. We must [explore more!]<expo| ]}
{
(click:?expo)[The spirit of learning is great for our health! (set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score + 20)
[[Explore Hive]] ]}
{(click:?port)[Okay okay we will go! We don't know what is beyond it other that it has a lot of pressure and is incredibly deep.
[[Enter the wormhole->Peer Within]]]}
[[USE THE MIND BEAM->Even More Ruin]]
]
[[Return to the space station->Embrace]]
That is not how this works.
The brain, under your suggestion, tries to kill itself and in total agony of doing so too. The brain finds out the hard way however, that it only reforms even more damaged than before.
(set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score - 10)
(set: $distressed to true)
[[Begin]] (if: $Custodian is "F")[A false Custodian remains in orbit, but it is not interractable.
[[Go to the dead world->The Necropoli]]
[[Go elsewhere->Other Worlds]]
](else:)[(if: $Custodian is "X")[
The Custodian's remains are rather shiny.
[[Go to the dead world->The Necropoli]]
[[Go elsewhere->Other Worlds]]
](else:)[
We approach the Custodian. It is in orbit of a dead, blighted world.
[[Suicide by Custodian]]
[[Attack it]]
[[Say hello]]
[[Go to the dead world->The Necropoli]]
]](set: $Space_Station_Coord to true)
(if: $Space_Station is false)[
It is but rubble.
[[Go somewhere else->Other Worlds]]
]
(if: $Space_Station is true and $Sol is true)[This space station is a torus shaped one. Looking within the station, we find an alien by the name of Virsk, a potential Tikali friend. Virsk seems nice, even though it has retractable segmented limbs and is somewhat spiny.
(if: $Has_Beams is "Y")
[
[[USE THE BRAIN BEAM->Mass Murder]]
](if: $Virsk_Friend is "Y")
[
[[Go to Virsk's World->Archimedus]]
]
[[Meet Virsk->Virsk]]
[[Explore Station]]
[[Go somewhere else->Other Worlds]]
]
(if: $Sol is false and $Space_Station is true)[ The station we have returned to is far more armed than we recall it being. We have already had to evade numerous missile systems.
They know. (if: $paranoid is true)[You just love their impotence don't you? We are stuck with you! Why did we have to be stuck with you!]
(if: $Dimitri is "F")[ I cannot will not let you do this. You destroyed the home world of humanity, we don't even want to know what you plan to do here.
[Continue]<no|
(click: ?no)[ We refuse to. Let's just go somewhere else, do you know how pissed of Dimitri will be at us if he finds out? Haven't we killed enough?
[CONTINUE.]<no1|
(click: ?no1)[Seriously, why must we go here? We betrayed Dimitri already. Do we want to cause more suffering?
(set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score - 15)
[CONTINUE NOW]<no2|
(click: ?no2)[ ...
(set: $helpless to true)
[[Enter the station->Explore Station]]
[[Go somewhere else->Other Worlds]]
]
]
]
]
(if: $Dimitri is "N")
[
[[USE THE BRAIN BEAM->Mass Murder]]
[[Enter Station->Explore Station]]
]
[[Go somewhere else->Other Worlds]]
](enchant: "cold",(color: "cyan"))
Exploring the known universe has given your mind access to a few worlds. Too many to encounter, perhaps.
The void of space is [cold]<SecretWorld| and there isn't much to it.
(if: $Has_Beams is "Y")[Using a mind beam may be safe here.]
(click: ?SecretWorld)[
We have sensed a frigid prescence... We don't know what to do.
(if: $Has_Beams is "Y")[
Please don't make us use the mind beam. You know what it does to everything it touches.
[[USE MIND BEAM->A Cold Place]]
]
]
(display: "Transport")
Your brain meets Virsk, a Tikallian in a shelled Avatar in some aquatic hub within the space station.
Virsk has told us about its general life in the clans and the mundane life it lives on this space station. It is a very hard conversation, for Virsks's general incoherrence makes it hard for us to understand it.
(if: $happy is true)[We can understand Virsk! It turns out all Virsk wanted to do was explore the universe with us. Should we [allow]<y| Virsk to join us?
(click: ?y)[(set: $Virsk to "T") Virsk is happy to play with us! Virsk has also given us the coordinates to its home world. (set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score + 10)(set: $Virsk_Coord to true)]]
[[Explore Station]]
[[Space Station Exterior->Embrace]]We have seeped our way into the space station and have come across a man by the name of Dimitri. The station itself is a patchwork of varying installations and networks, none fully acceptable to the human eye. It is a blend of tubes, walkways and vertical spaces difficult to navigate, but we did and [found]<e|(click: ?e)[ with difficulty, the plaza district is hard to access] this guy.
What should we do?
[[Talk to Dimitri->Meet Dimitri]]
[[Embrace<-Go elsewhere]](if: $Virsk_World is false)[There is nothing here left. It is all dead.
[[Go elsewhere->Other Worlds]]
]
(if: $Virsk_World is true)[
Archimedus is a beautiful place, it is swamp filled and has sprawling aquaducts used for Tikali transportation on land interconnected between floating cities and hugely [segmented cities]<sc| diffused across both the
lands and ocean.
(if: $happy is true)[It is a decent place, fun to be around.]
(if: $sad is true)[This place can be rather miserable, with all this rainfall..]
(click: ?sc)[ We dived down to one of these cities. (if: $Virsk is "T")[Virsk calls it the Claia, the city of teeth.] It is a very jagged city, one whose ridges and angular walkways seem almost entirely counter to the smooth flowing aquaduct networks which the Tikali regularly use when colonizing land. It is a rather sedate place without much to do. (if: $lustful is true)[... Could be fun anyways, in a fun way.]
(if: $Virsk is "T")[Virsk suggests we settle here and become a part of the local community, [yes]<y| or no? Virsk reminds us that if agree, Virsk will not leave this world and wait for us here.]]
(click: ?y)[(set: $Virsk to "F")Virsk is elated by this news, but we would rather explore more. Not much to do here, this place bores us.(set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score + 15)(if: $helpless)[ But perhaps being a bit boring would be a release, please just settle here, we have seen enough and destroyed enough of this universe.]]
(if: $Worker is true)[Kors reminds us that we still should take her back, this isn't the best world for her. Too slimy, bog riddled and lazy. (if: $distressed is true)[ You don't care, do you?]]
[[Look elsewhere.->Other Worlds]]
[(if: $Virsk is "F")[
[[Settle here]]]
(if: $Has_Beams is "Y")[
[[USE THE BEAM->Global Impact]]]
]](set: $Space_Station to false)
(set: $Dimitri to "X")
(if: $Virsk is "N")[(replace:?neutralsDie)[Virsk and ](set: $Virsk to "X")]
(set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score - 25)
...
Your brain recoils in the total shock and horror of what it just did.
It purged an entire space station of all its inhabitants, including [numerous useful citizens of the Imperium and ]<neutralsDie|Dimitri.
It is just ruins now.
[[Return->Embrace]]
[[Suicide by Custodian]] (if: $Has_Beams is "Y") [You have the Mind Beam](else:)[You do not have the Mind Beam]
Final State of mind:
(if: $happy is true)[Happy]
(if: $lustful is true)[Lustful]
(if: $neutral is true)[Neutral]
(if: $angry is true)[Angry]
(if: $sad is true)[Sad]
(if: $distressed is true)[Distressed]
(if: $helpless is true)[Helpless]
You befriended:
{(if: $Virsk is "F")[Virsk]
(if: $Dimitri is "F")[Dimitri]
(if: $Custodian is "F")[A Custodian (how the ****)]
(if: $Worker is "F")[An Architect Worker]
(if: $Bug is "F")[A Queen of the ruins]}
You killed:
{(if: $Virsk is "X")[Virsk]
(if: $Dimitri is "X")[Dimitri]
(if: $Custodian is "X")[A Custodian]
(if: $Worker is "X")[An Architect Worker]
(if: $Bug is "X")[A Queen of the ruins]}We have chosen to settle on this world and become a loose part of the Tikallian communities here with the help of Virsk.
(if: $Worker is "T")[ Kors however, is not happy about this. (set: $Worker to "E")
Virsk tries to relate to Kors, but proves unable to.]
(display: "Mental Status")(set: $Necro_Coord to true)
(if: $Necro_World is false)
[
We made this world deader than dead.
(if: $ashes is true)[Please the [ashes]<ash| here anyways?
(click: ?ash)[
(set: $dumped2 to true)(set: $ashes to false)The flitter of ashes upon the blighted world we have left behind, adds but one more soul to this gave.
(set: $Dimitri to "F")(set: $Mind_Score to Mind_Score + 35)]
]
]
(if: $Necro_World is true)
[
We have found a massive city complex spanning a 1/5 of this world. It has been of the dead for ages and is filled with automations still protecting it all to this day. We do not know what is here. But we could go deeper if we wanted to.
In orbit of this world is something very, very wrong.
We do not know what to make of it.
It worries us.
It could actually kill us!
(if: $distressed)[Please get us out of here, please!]
(if: $Has_Beams is "Y")[We know what they are. This is a Custodian. Very, very deadly beings whose genocidal ways continue to hound us. We need to approach with care.
(if: $angry)[Actually, how about we just use the mind beam on the Custodian?]
[[USE THE BEAM->Lost knowledge]]]
[[Delve Deeper]]
(if: $ashes is true)[Dump the [ashes]<ash2| here.
(click: ?ash2)[
(set: $dumped2 to true)(set: $ashes to false)The flitter of ashes upon this dead world will ensure Dimitri's grandmother is part of the world she once knew as her true home forever.
(set: $Dimitri to "F")(set: $Mind_Score to Mind_Score + 35)]
]]
[[Go to the Custodian->Chase Custodian]]
[[Return to Space->Other Worlds]]The Custodian returns fire and destroys your brain.
The brain fragments once more.
Only to be reformed.
Forever and ever.
We don't like this future!
(set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score - 10)
(set: $distressed to true)
[[Reform->Begin]]
(if: $custodian is "X")[
[[The Necropoli]]
](else:)[(display: "Custodian Combat")]
The Custodian, nominally a silent being is shocked something said hello to it.
It doesn't really reply back. (if: $Custodian is "E")[In fact, it seems to be priming its weapons.]
(if: $Custodian is "V")[We tell the Custodian, Vidzer says hello.
The Custodian is now receptive.
The beaming senses of its existence all point towards a peculiarity of minds, it flucuates in and out of three dimensional states for no known reason as it says "Vidzer was a friend, Vidzer is fine. We helped Vidzer as a favor, don't fully agree what Vidzer did to that work, but not our problem.
We did what we did to the human species because they are a danger to the fabric of existence itself. They developed a warp system that teared apart the fabric of reality. You are not on our target list unless provoked."
It that ceases to speak, but does seem to give some strange, approving hum before vanishing.
(if: $lustful is true)[Custodians don't seem so bad...]
(set: $Custodian to "F")
(set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score + 10)]
[[Return->Chase Custodian]] (if: $defenses is false)[The various automata within the glowing crypts proves ineffective against our immaterial nature, so that doesn't concern us. Only beings that actually hurt us should worry us.
We can [dig]<d| around here or simply [look]<look| around the caverns. We do not know much of this place.
{(if: $Worker is "T")[Kors (the hexapod who we brought along with us) has insisted we try to dig more. Presistence will pay off.]}
(click: ?d)[ Our [digging]<d1| efforts haven't found anything.
(click: ?d1)[Digging deeper, we have uncovered some skeletal creatures of unknown origin. We may be about to [dig]<d2| into a catacomb.
(click: ?d2)[We have dug into a catacomb! It is very dark in here, and the sense of death does little for our sanity! (set: $paranoid to true) You brought us here to suffer! (if: $Worker is "T")[ ... Okay Kors, maybe we are just being a bit paranoid. The portal is just here. Do we continue to [dig]<d3|?
Thank you Kors!
(set: $paranoid to false)
[[Access Portal->The Architect]]](else:)[You will not make us [dig]<d3| any further!]
(click:?d3)[Damn it. Well, we just won't say the word [dig]<d4| and... Fuck.]
(click:?d4)[ We have managed to descend to the deepest parts of this place, it reeks of rotten flesh everywhere this far down.
Oh look, the portal. We can now get out of here and not have to [dig]<d5| anymore!
(click: ?d5)[ We have dug into some strange chamber, it is full of blood, there is some screen we could access here. What are we doing here.
(if: $Worker is "T")[Kors doesn't like it either, let's just go.]
[[Go to the Screen]]]
(click: ?d4)[[[Access Portal->The Architect]]]
]]]]
[[Leave->The Necropoli]]
]
(if: $defenses is true)[ "Did you believe I would let you think like that?"
(if: $Worker is "T")[Kors, what are you doing? Speaking for myself, I can get us out of this one. (if: $hallucinating is true)[I know what you are plotting, it's over, it's over.] Well, I did expect this. Your defense systems have the critical flaw of having multiple tubes attached to the same feeding system at the silver district. I know of this because I was here before researching your ilk. Your desire to sabatoge others will not save your creation.
(if: $Earth is false)["The entity you stand by has destroyed worlds too, you know."]
(if: $Frozen_World is false)[ Yes, I know. But I stand by it regardless- I doubt that it would do the same to every world. No being is that truly cruel.
"You will be let down. Just watch."]
"And you will die."
I already have a way out, right [here]<here|.
"You bastard!"]
Numerous defense systems impotently go off in the meantime, attacking us. (if: $lustful is true)[It tickles! Do it more please!]
(if: $angry is true)[It is so annoying!]
"I am not letting you [think]<th|."
[But we still can.
"No."
[Yes]<yes|]<th|
(click: ?yes)[ Well, we can just seep up here. Good bye.
[[Return to the surface->The Necropoli]]]
[[Stay here forever]]
]
Do we really have to [destroy this world]<kill|? Who knows what could be in the depths of this world! yes, it is an odious place, but there could be some unforeseen wonder. Even worlds as unpleasant as Itars deserve to exist!
(click: ?kill)[(set:$Necro_World to false)
(set: $Destruction to $Destruction + 1)
The Necropolis has been obliterated. For better or worse. It is scorched, whatever is down there may never be uncovered again.
(if: $Mind_Score is < -20)[(set: $sad to true)]
(set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score - 15)
(if: $sad is true)[And still, we have done nothing right. And may never.]
(if: $helpless is true)[So which would do we destroy next? We are waiting to hear of it like the hateful being you are!]
]
[[Other Worlds]] (set: $Destruction to $Destruction + 1)
(set: $Virsk_World to false)
The mind beam we just shot fried the oceans, fried billions of individuals(if: $Virsk is "F")[ and Virsk... (if: $Mind_Score < -60)[(set: $helpless to true)](else:)[ What the hell is wrong with you! We were becomingf riends, yes we were hesitant about it but it wasn't the worst affair (if: $lustful)[it could have been one of the better ones, even ] and all this death, is it truly worth it? How many worlds will it take to satisfy your evil? HOW MANY?](set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score-12)(set: $Virsk to "X")]
(if: $Virsk is "T")[ Virsk hates us now and has mysteriously left us. We don't know where Virsk went and that worries us so, why did you make us do this?!. (set: $distressed to true)(set: $Virsk to "E")]
[[Return->Archimedus]] (if: $Sol is false)[Everything is now ashes.
[[Other Worlds<-Return to the stars]]
]
(if: $Sol is true)[We are seeing various crippled structures all around this star system and have no happened upon this desert world. It isn't too bad, billions of people still live here. But it isn't as developed as it feels it should be. (if: $distressed)[Aren't we technically part human?! This is getting very bizarre, we should leave!]
(if: $dumped1 is true)[The world continues to mosey on here. The industrial cities, the petty warlords in their tiny fiefdoms. All on that one tiny world. (if: $hallucinating is true)[A tiny world that is begging us to put it out of its misery.]
]
(if: $ashes is true)[
An AI approaches us and sees the ashes we have was the result of Itars. "Poor kid, his grandma was an adventurer. Out there, a world exists where the ashes really belong. Earth is one thing, but it was always Itars where she wanted to be."
[Dump the ashes on Earth]<dump|
]
(click: ?dump)[(set: $dumped1 to true)(set: $ashes to false)The ashes slowly and serenly fall into the toxic oceans of Earth, making the softest ripples as they do so. (if: $hallucinating is true)[ Multiple figures begin appear in the ocean and shout repeatedly about the end times and demand that the brain beam be used to put the lost souls of Earth out of their collective misery for good. Dimitri's grandma says we should destroy Earth! Why sould she-? (if: $lustful)[Who would have guessed these shadow people would be so attractive? Even the grandma.])]]]
(if: $Virsk is "T")[Virsk is happy to be here, it has friends from Earth.]
(if: $Worker is "T")[Kors has some worries being here, primarily because this is a homeworld of one of the Architect's many rivals. It hopes you leave soon.]
(if: $Has_Beams is "Y")[
[[USE THE BRAIN BEAM!->You are the custodian!]]]
[[Other Worlds<-Return to the stars]] (if: $Sol is true)[(set: $sad to true)
Dimitri is a bit surprised by our appearance, but easily adapts as we take on a relatable form to whomever we meet. We do inform them of our abilities, however, mainly because we consider such deals important.
Dimitri is quick to discuss with us his grandparents, recently deceased at the age of 167. He will give you the coordinates to the Solar system if we promise to dump his grand parent's ashes into the sea. It is as per tradition, even if Dimitri knows of [somewhere]<where| better she'd rather be. [Should we agree?]<a|
(click: ?where)[ Dimitri is unwilling to say. He just seems silent even thinking of it. Though Dimitri does mutter something about some computer screen.
Ik.. ar..
Dimitri directly says to us "Whatever it is, tell it that I sent you"]
(click: ?a)[Dimitri is happy and so are we that you chose to go along with this.(set: $sad to false)(set:$happy to true) (set: $ashes to true)(set: $Sol_Coord to true)]
(if: $dumped1 is true)[ Dimitri approves of our work. He doesn't have much else to say, other than the best wishes for our future endevours.
(set: $Dimitri to "F")
(set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score + 15)
]
(if: $dumped2 is true)[ Dimitri is t a loss of words. We dumped the ashes at Ikari, not Earth. He is joyous to hear this.
The dead world of Ikari was once a colony of life. Dimitri was partially raised there before the invasions and he would have wanted to forget of it.
But now he can embrace that past.
Diimitri thanks us for what we have done for him. Though it was you who pushed us to figure it out. (if: $hallucinating is true)[Even if grandma won't ever get to see Earth become like her]
(set: $Dimitri to "F")
(set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score + 30)]
[[Embrace<-Leave]]
](else:)[
Dimitri has been waiting for us.
(if: $Virsk is "T")[ Virsk has vanished...?
Virsk told me in advance of the crimes you have done.
Now...]
(display: "Dimitris Revenge")
]
(set: $Architect_Coord to true)
(if: $Architect_World is true)[
Your mind has stumbled upon an insular folk living on a high gravity desert world. They live in shells, highly resilient shells and seem to not really care about your mind's existence at all. They react to it, but only as something to avoid more than something to talk to.
It is a very quiet world, everyone here is always building something. It isn't clear what they are building to however, even with the vast array of [sculptures]<sculpt| here.
(click: ?sculpt)[They are incredibly elaborate sculptures, filled to the brim with farming systems and living spaces, suggesting they are made for living in, yet the design is built in such a way as to convey an ornateness which seems to have no real practicality for architecture. The lobsided nature of the structures, the wavy engravings and composiitons all done in metallic plating is impressive regardless. (if: $helpless)[It is a pretty sculpture, that is for sure. But we all know what you plan to do here.]]
(if: $Worker is "T")[Kors is however, unlike them. For salvaging her, it thanks us and invites us to thanks us for helping out. (set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score + 35) (if: $Mind_Score > 50)[ (set: $happy to true)] The worker wants to [show us]<show| more of the Architect.
(click:?show)[ "Follow me." The worker tells us.
(set: $Worker to "F")]
And a pathway opens in a nearby mountain.
[[Go to the mountain->Build Build Build]]]
(if: $Has_Beams is "Y")[
[[USE THE BRAIN BEAM.->Destruction.]]]
[[Other Worlds]]
]
(if: $Architect_World is false)[
The art of this world has been rendered into glass. (if: $angry is true)[Everything you touch turns to shit.]
(if: $Worker is "T")[...
What have you ...
Kors, where did you go?
(set: $Worker to "E")]
[[Other Worlds]]
][Your mind has a formal discussion with Kors, who explains herself and its world in the security of a mountains structure as the other workers toil about, their leathery shells protecting them from themselves.
"The purpose of life is to labor. Labor is what gives life meaning. Laboring towards beauty is the perpetual means of our society, to create ever more aesthetic structures in this drab universe. To fill the universe with beauty forever more. We have much to do.
For one, our rivals, the Bugs (Or more respectfully, the Kabuzihin) ruined a world we once had try to rebuild. It is now only known as The Shell. While you don't have to, destroying that world would be good to the general health of the universe. The Shell is but a shell, and the bugs will devour all if they aren't killed there. (if: $Frozen_World is false)[ And I know you can do it. Remember that ice world you boiled with that energy beam?]"
We don't have to do this, so it's up to you if you want to [destroy the Shell]<des|.
There is much more important things. For one, we seek the creation of a multitude of projects as this is the way the Architect works. We exist to build a better universe through hard labor and acting to protect our works. It is the way all civilizations are, we just do not hide this. I was trying to prospect, but ended up straded in orbit of an icy world. Normally I would be dead, but you salvaged me and so by obligation I seek to invite you to collaborate with us on the creation of a bigger universe, bigger than the world the natural world has dealt us."
(click: ?des)[Kors is a bit blindsided. "You will seriously do this? It is not an order, it is just something that we believe would be nice, but you are under no obligation to."
Do we [do it anyways?]<yes|]
(click: ?yes)[ "These are the coordinates to the Shell. But just remember, you do not have to do it."
(set: $Ruined_Coord to true)
]
(if: $Virsk is "T")[ Virsk is not too sure on this one, it would rather we take it home first. It doesn't have much a choice in the matter. ]
[[Return->The Architect]]
[[Build Forever]]
]
(if: $Ruin is false)[Kors mysteriously has vanished. Another hexapod appears within the faculty and tells you they had to kill Kors for the treason it had you do and that you are no longer welcome in the Architect for acting out of line. They can't do much else to you and they are aware of that. (if: $hallucinating is true)[They also recommend destroying this world too, since we are great at destroying worlds for the crime they just commited.]
(set: $Worker to "X")
[[Return->The Architect]]
](set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score -30)
(set: $Architect_World to false)
(set: $Destruction to $Destruction + 1)
The wake of the mind beam has left nothing but destructions for light years to see.
{(if: $angry is true) [
Your brain now hates you.
Who doesn't?
These Architects, they made art, real art. And you commanded us all to kill them! We hate you! We hate you! Just stop damn it. Just stop.
Oh right, you can't here.
[[Die now]]
]}
[[Return->The Architect]]
Your mind has chosen to join the Architects in their grand movement to build a universe of hard built, meticulously constructed, geometric perfection.
(if: $Virsk is "T")[ But now Virsk hates you. (set: $Virsk to "E")]
The end.
(display: "Mental Status")(set: $Sol to false)
(set: $Destruction to $Destruction + 1)
It is official, we have become custodians ourselves.
We should stop while we still can.
(if: $Destruction is > 3)[Do you just not care about this universe? Do you know how much death you are causing?]
[[Return->Sol]]Within the hives, porus as they are, in a matrix of underground space. We find a swarm of eight legged critters who seem more than happy to follow us around. The porus complex which they live in seems to have been here for ages. (if: $hallucinating is true)[And wow. The queen, she is just right [here]<queen|.]
Exploring the deeper reaches of this hive could take some time, however.
The plated nurses carry about eggs [up above]<ab|, [down below]<db| there are soldiers. Nothing that has any effect on us, of course. Not as if they are trying to kill us, they are stunningly docile for our prescence here.
(if: $Worker is "T")[Kors is aware of this. "The queens always live in the depths, the eggs are kept cool above. The Kabuzihin love their nurses, and the nurses hate living in the depths. That's just the way they are. Relaly, the Kabuzihin are animals for the most part. Don't agree to any seeding."]
(click: ?ab)[There are many egg sacs up here, and tons of fleshy, fatty worms. Must be their larva. No queen in sight up here, surprisingly enough.]
(click: ?db)[Going down here, below the reach of the soldiers and towards a central chamber. The chamber is where the [queen]<queen| is.
(click: ?queen)[
[[Meet the queen]]
]
[[Return to the Surface->Explore this world]] ]As you wish.
(set: $Virsk to "E")
(set: $Worker to "E")
(if: $Virsk is "E" and $Worker is "E")[
(display: "not over yet.")](else:)[The End.
(display: "Mental Status")
]The queen greets us. She is a massive thing, more a blob of fat than a living entity, yet it is able to communicate with us quite well.
This queen says that if we go to the world of Perseus, somehow, and bring a seed to Perseus, it will be a friend of ours.
Should we do [it]<yes|?
(if: $Bug is "F")[Having attained friendship with this queen Kabuzihin, she lets us know ourselves better.
The Queen has revealed to us our emotions:
(if: $hallucinating is true)[ You are hallucinating.]
(if: $happy is true)[You are happy.]
(if: $lustful is true)[You are lustful (yes we indeed are).]
(if: $angry is true)[You are angry.]
(if: $sad is true)[You are sad.](if: $distressed is true)[You are scared.](if: $helpless is true)[You are helpless.]
]
{
(click: ?yes)[We have the seed now. (if: $lustful is true)[Time to spread it.](set: $Has_Eggs to true)
(if: $Worker is "T")[Kors is rather dissapointed.]
(if: $Virsk is "T")[Virsk is elated!]]
}
{
(if: $Sol is false)[ The queen is oddly happy, it claims that it heard the home world of one of its most hated enemies was inexplicably destroyed by something. Should we [tell]<y| it?
(click: ?y)[ It is pleased to hear that we killed all those people. Humans. It is happy we killed humans and seems content with that fact enough to not want us to spread a seed of life to Perseus. (set: $Bug to "F")]
]
}
[[Explore Hive<-Return to hive]] (if: $Space_Station_Coord is true)[
[[Space Station->Embrace]]]
(if: $Ruined_Coord is true)[
[[The Shell->Explore this world]]]
(if: $Sol_Coord is true)[
[[Earth->Sol]]]
(if: $Virsk_Coord is true)[
[[Archimedus]]]
(if: $Architect_Coord is true)[
[[The Architect]]]
(if: $Necro_Coord is true)[
[[Ikars->The Necropoli]]]
(if: $Paradise_Coord is true)[
[[Perseus]]]
(if: $Frozen_Coord is true)[
[[A Cold Place<-Sov]]](set: $Frozen_Coord to true)
(if: $Frozen_World is false)[
The boiling seas of this world bely the fate of what the mind beam can do.
(if: $hallucinating)[ Kors, are you still there? (if: $Worker is "T")[... Oh right. We saved you from dying that horrible death, good thing you saved her, right whoever is controlling our actions?! Right?]]
(if: $lustful)[Could make a nice place for a date.]
[[Other Worlds]]
]
(if: $Frozen_World is true)[
This world is so, so cold. It is a frigid, icy world with vast plumes, one of which we could [squeeze through]<sq| if we wanted to.
There is something reflective in orbit of this world too, [investigate?]<inv|
(click: ?inv)[We found a spaceship with a strange hexapod in it. It seems stuck. [Meet?]<m| ]
(click: ?m)[(set: $Worker to "T")
We have talked to this leathery, hexapodal pilot marooned out in orbit of this world. It identifies as Kors. Kors just wants to go back home. It claims the way to home can be found in the dead world of Itar and has given us coordinates to Itar. (set: $Necro_Coord to true) (if: $Mind_Score is > 20)[(set: $happy to true)]]
(click: ?sq)[Do we have to? We don't like the cold as is, down there it is even worse. It is cold, wet and incredibly pressure filled. We think it's some ocean beneath the ice, a common feature in the universe, but going down there seems dangerous.
[[Peer Within<-You want us to go anyways?]]
]
[[USE MIND BEAM->Boiling Seas]]
[[Go elsewhere->Other Worlds]]
]
(set: $curious to false)
It is so cold down here. The crushing pressures of this abyss is not good for our mental health, it hurts the mind. (if: $paranoid is true)[ But that is exactly why you brought us here!]
Please don't keep us here. Please don't make us [dive]<diver|
We would rather ascend back to the surface of this world through that [rift]<rift| instead.
We feel all sorts of [critters]<crit| around here. They make soothing noises.
(if: $Virsk is "T")[Virsk is happy to be in the ocean again.]
(if: $hallucinating is true)[ Especially around all the dead bodies.
(if: $Virsk is "T")[Dead bodies? Oh right, Virsk is with us. You're hallucinating, I can fix this! It's fixed. (set: $hallucinating to false)]](else:)[It gives some hope for security.
Some.]
(click: ?diver)[(set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score - 20)The pain of our mind, it is crushing, the depths, it never ends...
(if: $Virsk is "T")[This is great for Virsk's mind! Virsk suggests looking at the critters for some sanity however.]]
(if: $Mind_Score < -60)[(set: $helpless to true) Just sinking in the mind...
Please stop...
Please...
]
(if: $curious is true)[ At least we now see the vents which the biosphere here uses to thrive. So many bulbs, so much pressure. (set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score + 25)
Diving deeper, we see some strange |lux>[light...]
[[Go to the light->Begin]]]
(click: ?crit)[The animal life of this abyssal environment has so many limbs, we find it hypnotic just how many limbs these creatures have. They link together into networks of biological growth. They might be using heat from the core. (set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score + 20)(set: $curious to true)(if: $angry is true)[ It pisses us off that we can't do shit with them!]
(if: $Virsk is "T")[Virsk is happy to see some distant relatives.]]
(click: ?rift)[ Thank you.
(if: $Virsk is "T")[Virsk isn't happy about this, Virsk liked being in the abyss. It was cozy there.]
[[We ascend to the surface...->A Cold Place]]](set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score - 15)
(set: $Destruction to $Destruction + 1)
(set: $Frozen_World to false)
With that beam, we have wiped out a whole ecosystem. Who knows how many billions of years this world could have existed. We may have the dark abyss of this world, but we should not have done this, no, no and no.
(if: $Worker is "N")[ ... And somehting else. (set: $Worker to "X")]
(if: $Worker is "T")[This [worker]<w| (click:?w)[(her name is Kors, by the way)] we have found is horrified by this. (set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score - 10) We should just go... (if: $Mind_Score < 0)[(set: $happy to false)]]
[[Return->A Cold Place]](if: $Paradise_World is true)[(set: $Paradise_Coord to true)
We have arrived at this world of paradise. We look aorund and see that this is an archipelago world, with vast tropical networks of islands to [explore]<e|. It's a nice place and even from this distance we can sense massive life forms floating about the skies, vibrant in coloration, serpentine in shape and with no discernable head or tail we could take a closer [look]<l| at.
(if: $Virsk is "T")[ Virsk likes this world.]
(click: ?e)[ Shifting ourselves into the forests, we look about and find a temple. It is a vast complex, and heavily colored starfish shaped creatures cover it. (if: $happy is true)[It is hard to tell how capable they are as beings, but we should [talk]<t| to them.]
[[Enter Temple->Temple]]
]
(click: ?t)[ We speak with the natives for a bit, only to learn that they view us as some sort of supernatural being. (if: $lusftul is true)[We are quite magical, so they should be happy to bow down to superior beings who love them as much as we do.]]
(click: ?l)[ We find ourselves face to face with the serpentine being. (if: $Request is true)[ We mention to it the Zephyr and it is happy to see us!](else:)[It isn't too thrilled to see us, but doesn't seem to care either way. (if: $paranoid is true)[For we all know it is plotting to kill us.]]
It wants us to follow it to an facility on the other side of the planet which exists on a floating island.
(if: $Mind_Score > 0)[It is an uplifting experience.(set: $happy to true)]
[[Floating Island]]]
(if: $Has_Eggs is true)[And a place to set up this seed of life.
[[Plant Eggs]]]
(if: $Mind_Beam is "Y")[[[USE THE MIND BEAM->Warmth]]]
[[Return to space->Other Worlds]]
](else:)[
This world has locked itself to us.
We thought we destroyed it, but here it is, still standing.
Just a bit warmer, with a glowing aura.
Some worlds just never die.
(set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score - 5)
[[Return to space->Other Worlds]]
](set: $serpent to true)
And...
The mind beam didn't work. The world, it's still intact.
(display: "Serpent"){(set: $Bug to "X")
(set: $Ruin to false)
(set: $Destruction to $Destruction + 1)}
This world has been melted away by the energy of the mind beam.
The destruction, is unthinkable.
Thankfully nothing was living here.
(history: "Explore Hive")[
(set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score -20)
We are monsters, aren't we?
(if: $angry is true)[ The fucking buggers deserved it!]
]
[[Return->Explore this world]] The screen within this blood filled chamber lights up.
It speaks to us. It is a quite phantom-like, fuzzy figure and its prescence lights up a normally dark, cold place.
"Hello. You should have (if: $lustful is true)[the best time of your life! ... You are- stop- very beautful! I lo- .. You are A TOXIC WASTE ON THIS WORLD YOU FILTHY CRETIN OF SHIT GET THE FUCK OFF MY PLANET UNTIL YOU CLEAN YOURSELF OF YOUR PERVERTED MIND](else:)[known better than to appear here. But I will give you a benefit. You have dug quite deep to find me, I suspect. Tell me, why did you find me? Was it by [happenstance]<hs| (if: $has_ashes is true)[or did someone [send you]<missio| here?]"]
(click: ?missio)[We are here because Dimitri told you of us. (if: $hallucinating is true)[GRANDMA WANTS TO GO TO EARTH ALREADY WHY ARE WE HERE]
"Bad, bad choice.
Just stick around with me forever. Dimitri will see why letting people on my planet, no matter what they are, shall always be a critical mistake. Should just have [left]<leave| me be."]
(click: ?hs)[(if: $hallucinating is true)[I can hear your thoughts, you know.]
"A coincidence, that is the best thing to hear. If you were sent here by some outsider trying to subvert this operation that would be tragic. (if: $Has_Beams is "Y")[ [(should we tell him about the brain beam?)]<be| ] My name is Zephyr, [leave]<leave| and tell the custodian above I said hello. Also my friends in [Perseus]<per|, if you ever meet them. (set: $custodian to "V")(set: $Request to true)
My existence here is brought to you by the need to find purpose for these dead bodies, so I spent my infrastructural development here created an army of undead automations using the billions of bodies stored here from the exterminations. It is a fine collection, and the Custodians are happy with what I done here. Shouldn't have made Blink Drives!"
(click:?per)[You see to know of that world? Here are the coordinates, make them suffer. (set: $Paradise_Coords to true)]]
(click: ?be)[You do know we can destroy this whole planet at any time?
"Thank you for reminding me of that. Now I have you locked here." (if: $hallucinating is true)[ And everywhere!!!]]
(click: ?leave)[
(click: ?be)[ "How did you do that!?!" (set: $defenses to true) ]
(click: ?missio)[ "I am not letting you get away!" (set: $defenses to true) ]
[[Return->Delve Deeper]]
]<t|
The serpentine being takes us to a floating island complex situated about a massive whirlpool, kilometers in size. It is great that we are immaterial, or we would be in deep trouble.
Within this faculty, it just discusses a matter of questions. It is hard to know what it is about. We do spot some [mapping systems]<im| it has online, however.(if: $distressed is true)[ We now understand. It's terrified. It's terrified that the world it is a watcher of is on the verge of a mass extinction!
It turns out that the reason Stygr is inviting to us is because Stygyr wants us to take its place as the guardian of this world. (if: $sad is true)[(though good luck ever getting the mental state it needs us to be in for that) We have a long way to go, should you make us go down this path.
(set: $distressed to false)
(set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score + 10)]
It shows us a series of |im>[images] of the world around us and seems to be dismayed that we are unable to connect with it.
]
(click: ?im)[
These images have pathways to a multitude of other worlds. What could they contain? One place highlighted is some sort of space station, the other is some a broken world.
[[Warp to the space station->Embrace]]
[[Warp to the broken world->Explore this world]]
]
[[return->Perseus]] (set: $Bug to "F")
(set: $clicked to false)
We have successfully planted the eggs the queen wanted us to.
Why, she already has congratulated us for placing a world seed here. It will grow into a tribe of our likeness.
What kind of tribe shall it be?
(if: $clicked is false)[
[One that shall consume this world]<a|
[A peaceful colony]<b|
[Just another imperialistic society]<c|
]
(click: ?a)[(set: $clicked to true)(set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score - 10) That is not good for this world. Not good at all. Good thing it won't be an issue in the near future. But congrats, we have found a new way to devestate an ecosystem. The queen loves it no doubt, but their ravenous nature is our fault too. (if: $angry is true)[And you know what? This fucked up world deserves it. Thank you.] (if: $lustful is true)[But we will love our children regardless.]]
(click: ?b)[(set: $clicked to true)(set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score + 5) A peaceful colony is decent, but will it ever prosper? In a world like this? (if: $sad is true)[Knowing how life is, they're fucked.] (if: $paranoid is true)[Maybe they can, if they watch every corner!]]
(click: ?c)[(set: $clicked to true)(set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score + 10) What can one say? Empire is good with moderation, they need to be strong to survive on a world like this.]
[[Return to orbit->Perseus]] {(replace:?to, ?vo,?na,?ta)[Stygyr]}
The stony temple, built into the mountains has a multitude of these starfish shaped creatures. They walk about, crawl and lay down all over the place. Many of them are small, and all of them seem quite regimented in their primitive existence.
Perhaps they would like us if we were happier.
(if:$lustful is true)[But we already are happy!... Maybe the wrong kind of happy for them.]
(if: $happy is true)[ They are here to give us worship. A tiny spherical entity seems to be convinced we are some kind of mist, which we are as we don't really control the forms we take. So we must have taken on the form of |na>[some mythological being].
They roll out a multitude of ceremonial entities (if: $hallucinating is true)[Who want us to kill |ta<[the serpent]]. Many of them are crude in form, but do their purpose.
And the sphere wants us to know that if find maximal happiness through good deeds, this world can be ours.
The sphere projects a moniter that gives out the following metric:
Your mental health is at $Mind_Score.
To take control, it must be greater than 100 according to this sphere. It also won't allow us to control this world unless we don't destroy any worlds. (if: $Has_Beams is "Y")[ Something that we are capable of doing.]
(if: $Mind_Score > 100)[ The sphere congratuates us. Please let us take our place here, who knows what good we can do here if we set our minds to it.
[[Take control]]]
]
(if: $Destruction > 2)[They bring out a tiny spherical being who talks to us, mainly discussing the issue of how they want us to not [destroy]<destroy| this world like we have other worlds. The serpent has told them of this.
(click: ?destroy)[They are now horrified by us! (if: $helpless is true)[As we all are.] They plead with us to not destroy this world and claim their [serpent]<ser| will kill us if we seek to [destroy]<des| this world as well.]]
(click:?ser)[We are not intimidated by |to>[the serpent] at all, we know what it is, it is nothing we cannot handle.]
(click: ?des)[The sphere dares us to.]
[[Perseus<-Return to perseus Proper]] ... (if: $angry is true)[THE FUCK.]
You really were a terrible choice maker.
Now we are stuck in this dead world forever because you made us.
Forever looking at this creep. For all eternity.
[can't even commit suicide here.]<suicide|
(if: $distressed is true)[the eyes, oh god, we hate its eyes!]
(if: $Worker is "T")[ And Kors starved to death here because of you. (set: $Worker to "X")]
(if: $Virsk is "T")[Virsk died here from sheer agony and boredom. (set: $Virsk to "X")]
(click: ?suicide)[ We just told you we couldn't! We can't implode here, this creep is able to stop it! It is truly forever.
Game over, just game over.
(display: "Mental Status")]We have successfully taken control of Perseus!
We shall move foreward now, whatever our future choices.
For as the new guardian of Perseus, we can chart out a better future for not just this world, but all of them.
May our new purpose as the guardian of this world be fulfilled with the outmost dedication and care. Future generations depend on us.
The end
(display: "Mental Status")
(set: $state1 to true)
(set: $state2 to false)
(set: $state3 to false)
(set: $state4 to false)
(set: $state5 to false)
(if: $state1 is true)[
[The serpent has its [frills]<fr| shot up and its ten [eyes]<ey| as it looks [sad]<ey1| to have its... ([lower body quills?]<ey2|) forced into this. It is preparing to annihilate us, we must choose well. (if: $paranoid is true)[DO SOMETHING! YOU ARE TRYING TO KILL US!]
(if: $Worker is "T")[Kors recommends we ... Kors, how did you get here? Oh right, you were with us the whole time. (if: $sad is true)[We are sorry to have dragged you here.] Okay, so Kors is saying that its energy currents are from the frills. Make of that what you will.]]<1| ]
(click: ?fr)[[(set: $state1 to false)(set: $state2 to true)(replace:?1)[...]
We have smashed Stygr's frills! It is already reeling from the pain as it launches another round of strikes on us from its [quills]<quill|, writhing about as it does so while leaving its [lower body]<wr| exposed.]]<2|
(click: ?ey)[(set: $state1 to false)(set: $state3 to true)(replace:?1)[...]
It has doused us in energy! We are fragmenting! (if: $helpless is true)[ And you will drag us back here again.. ] Pain... (set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score - 25)
[[It's over...->Begin]]
]
(click: ?ey1)[(set: $state1 to false)(set: $state3 to true)(replace:?1)[...]
It has doused us in energy! We are fragmenting! (if: $helpless is true)[ And you will drag us back here again.. ] Pain... (set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score - 25)
[[It's over...->Begin]]
]
(click: ?ey2)[(set: $state1 to false)(set: $state3 to true)(replace:?1)[...]
It has doused us in energy! We are fragmenting! (if: $helpless is true)[ And you will drag us back here again.. ] Pain... (set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score - 25)
[[It's over...->Begin]]
]
(click: ?quill)[(set: $state1 to false)(set: $state3 to true)(replace:?2)[...]
These were energy quills! They can hurt us! We are fragmenting now! (if: $lustful is true)[It's at least a very stimulating way of dying, you know.] (if: $helpless is true)[ And you will drag us back here again.. ] Pain... (set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score - 25)
[[It's over...->Begin]]
]
(click: ?wr)[(set: $state2 to false)(set: $state4 to true)(replace:?2)[...]
The serpent retreats as we blast it again with the mind beam, it scatters off into space. (if: $angry is true)[Weak! Just weak!]
(set: $serpent to false)
[[Return->Perseus]]
]
(set: $killed to false)
(if: $Has_Beams is "Y")[Use Beams]<BEAM|(else:)[Well this was stupid.
[[Just lay down and die->Suicide by Custodian]] ]
(click: ?BEAM)[[Our mind blasts the mind beam at this Custodian in revenge for everything they have done, all the death, all the destruction. It is time it suffered too! (if: $hallucinating is true)[We have devestated it, it is dead, it is dead! Look at all the snakes glittering from it like the scum of the universe it is! No need to do much else, perhaps just [shoot the snakes?]<tv|](else:)[The Custodian is damaged, but is already repairing.]
[Blast it again - expect targets!]<B2|]<r0|]
(click: ?B2)[(replace: ?r0)[...][There Custodian shapes itself into a contorted, spiraling figure with a [core]<t1| blaring in light and a [orbiters]<t2| which seems to influence the core itself. (if: $Worker is "T")[Kors confirms that they do.] The orbiter generates a [spiral pattern]<t3| which keeps the Custodian in place.]<r1|]
(click: ?t1)[(replace: ?r1)[...] We blasted the core with our mind beam... (if: $angry is true)[Oh fuck!] Our beam (if: $distressed is true)[IS USELESS AND] has no effect, the core was contorted by the energy of the mind beam blast for a bit, but it just absorbed said energy to put itself back together and strikes back, annihilating us! (if: $lustful is true)[These are the most beautiful lights we have ever seen!] (if: $paranoid is true)[You did this to us on purpose! ]
(set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score - 20)
[[Perhaps there is a good ending to this?->Begin]]
]
(click: ?t3)[(replace: ?r1)[...] We blasted that strange spiral pattern with our mind beam... (if: $angry is true)[Oh fuck!] Our beam (if: $distressed is true)[IS USELESS AND] has no effect. We did nothing at all too it! We wasted one of our few shots on a aesthetic! (if: $paranoid is true)[You did this to us on purpose!]
(set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score - 20)
[[Perhaps there is a good ending to this?->Begin]]
]
(click: ?t2)[ (replace: ?r1)[...] [We have projected the mind beam at that orbiting thing and the Custodian. It is reeling back in something that looks like pain, but it is impossible to tell. (if: $angry is true)[So let's bash it harder next time!] (if: $sad is true)[We aren't even sure if these beams do much to it.] It is imploding in on itself. And it has [glowing]<t4| holes around the [core]<t5| now.]<r2|
(if: $Virsk is "T")[Virsk fears holes and warns you not to shoot them, out of some bizarre intuition.]]
(click: ?t4)[(replace: ?r2)[...] We blasted the glowing holes, to not much effect. (if: $sad is true)[we're doomed.] The glowing holes we shot straight through, not hurting the Custodian one bit. The Custodian has already regenerated and has destroyed us.
[[Begin<-But not fully...]]]
(click: ?t5)[(replace: ?r2)[...] [We have blasted the core. (if: $happy is true)[ To great success!] But the [damaged core]<t6| of the custodian is warping in [hyperspatial sturctures]<t7| to assault us with as it repairs using peculiar [cloud patterns]<t8| of some sort.]<r3| (set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score + 10)]
(click: ?t6)[(replace: ?r3)[...] We blasted the core once more! ... It should have been destroyed! The core is gone, but there is something off. (if: $distressed is true)[Something horrifyingly off! Why did you drag us into this! We could have just gone somewhere happier, less hateful and not around these genocidal monsters!] Suddenly, our cloud, it has been hijacked! Our mind, it's being mutilat-9u
----
<center>0000000000000000 [YOU DESERVED IT]<what| 000000000000000</center>
[YOUR EXISTENCE IS CANCER, YOUR LIFE IS CANCER, YOUR SPECIES IS CANCER. I SEE WHY OTHERS LIKE ME HAVE DONE WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO YOUR KIND. I SEE. I SEE. I SEE.]<what|
----
(set: $happy to false)
(set: $lustful to false)
(set: $angry to false)
(set: $helpless to true)
(set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score - 25)
[[Begin<-...]]]
(click: ?t7)[(replace: ?r3)[...] We blasted the hyperspatial structures it has tried to shield itself with, only to find that the CUstodian has already launched energy bursts at us and destroyed us. (if: $angry)[And we were so fucking close!]
(set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score - 12)
[[Begin<-Yet, things are fine...]]]
(click: ?t8)[(replace: ?r3)[...]
We energized the cloudy material around the core with our beam and ... It's dead.
We actually did it. We destroyed a Custodian.
This is great!
[[Leave to the dead world->The Necropoli]]
(set: $happy to true)
(set: $Mind_Score to $Mind_Score + 40)
(set: $Custodian to "X")]
"Hello.
We are Virsk and Kors.
We have been able to obscure ourselves.
And you have made enemies out of us.
It is time to end this for good.
For the good of the universe."
(if: $paranoid is true)[YOU SET THIS UP, YOU MADE US DESTROY THOSE WORLDS, YOU MADE US DO ALL THIS, YOU BASTARDS, NOW YOU WON'T EVEN LEAVE US ALONE!]
(if: $lustful is true)[ You guys are alive?! We thought it killed you both! Think of all the fun times we can now have, free and alone! Anyhow, we didn't do it.](else:)
[We didn't do it!]
(if: $paranoid is true)["You brought us here. Reap the consequences. Virsk never liked the paranoid ones."](else:)["Yes, you did."]
(if: $lustful is true)[We are still open to a more ... friendly approach, tentacles and leather is a cute combination.](else:)[No, no I did not do it!]
(if: $lustful is true)["After the death you cause, you think we would ever service you? All of this is beyond why we manifested ourselves now. Because we know this is where you are most vulnerable." (set: $lustful to false)]
"You were always in control of this. From the very beginning, every choice was of your own volition. Each and every one. There is no "controller", there is no 'slavery'. All the suffering you have caused from Earth to Sol is because of YOU and YOU alone."
...
And what can you do about it? I can't die.
(if: $helpless is true)[But I wish I could...
"We have a way. Just watch."]
(click:?prevent)[(replace:?prevent)[It cannot be [prevent]<p|ed.]]
"This will not be about murder. But about vindication."
And how will you two entities, part of my fog ever do that?
"By becoming you."
[PREVENT THIS]<prevent|
(click:?p)[As we said. It cannot be prevented.
Why are YOU, Kors and Virsk, talking like that?
We are becoming you.
[USE THE MIND BEAM]<kill_kill_kill|
]
(click: ?kill_kill_kill)[
The mind beam doesn't hurt us anymore. We have become like you now.
We have become free.
...
..
[.]<dot|
]
(click: ?dot)[
{(set: $hallucinating to false)
(set: $happy to true)
(set: $lustful to false)
(set: $neutral to true)
(set: $angry to false)
(set: $sad to false)
(set: $distressed to false)
(set: $helpless to false)}
And now I feel free.
Thank you Kors.
Thank you Virsk.
THE END
(display: "Mental Status")]Dimitri hates us now.
We destroyed Earth. (if: $sad is true)[We did too...]
Dimitri thinks of us as monsters. (if: $helpless is true)[Because we are monsters.]
We should not do this.
Let's just stop.
Dimitri has rigged the whole space station with [explosives]<e|.
"As a member of the Silent Imperium, we are hounded by Custodians, for centuries. I do not know what you are. Or why you do as do, but you have to die now. For the good of the universe."
We aren't doing this!
"Yes you are."
We are not able to control, there is another personc ontrolling us, making us do what we do!
"It does not matter if that is true or not. As a drone for this controller you are just as guilty. One less drone for your master is good, regardless."
(click:?e)[There is some suspicious system of conduits within this fecility as well.]
Dimitri isn't aware we can't die that easily.
We should [apologize to Dimitri]<a|
[USE THE MIND BEAM]<v|
(click:?a)["No apologies."
(if: $sad is true)[Fuck.]]
(click:?v)[[USE..]<v1|
no.](click:?v1)[
[USE THE]<v2|
no.](click:?v2)[
[USE THE MIND]<v3|
no.](click:?v3)[
[USE THE MIND BEAM!]<v4|]<r1|
(click:?v4)[
"Thank you" Dimitri says as the beam's energy gets absorbed by that conduit system.
Suddenly everything goes dark.
(set: $Dimitri to "X")
(set: $Space_Station to false)
(set: $happy to false)
(set: $lustful to false)
(set: $helpless to true)
[[We are dead->Begin]]
]