Story 1

You wake up still gripping the ship's helm in your hand. Your right eye is swollen shut and something warm is running down the side of your face. It takes you a moment to remember where you are. You recall dimly the sight of storm clouds churning miles... //below//. Rocketing downward over a mountainous landscape, you recall deafening cracks of thunder, the horror-struck faces of your fellow crewmates, the terrain's rapid approach. You lost control... A pale light pours through a small crack in the ship's hull to your left. Smoke billows from behind, deeper within the wreckage. Others could be trapped further within, though going alone seems like a dangerous prospect. What do you do? [[Crawl from the wreckage]] [[Look around for other survivors]] [[Remember: Yourself]]

Dark smoke obscures your vision. There's no one in sight. [[Crawl from the wreckage]] [[Others may be trapped inside, brave the smoke]]

You manage to free yourself, crawling through a break in the hull. [[Call out for any other survivors]] [[Take in your surroundings]]

You brave the smoke, calling out for any survivors. It is difficult to see, but you hear a muffled straining deeper within the ruined ship remains. Upon investigating, you find Rose, a crewmate, trapped beneath a piece of debris. Her helmet is cracked. She won't last here long. [[Try to help free her]] [[There's not enough time, leave her to her fate]] [[Remember: Rose]]

Together, you just manage to free her. Her leg is badly wounded. You put her arm over your shoulder and cautiously make your way out of the wreckage. [[Call out for any other survivors]] [[Take in your surroundings]] (set: $savedrose to 1)

The ship could go up at any second, you leave while you still can. Her moans fade as you make your way out of the wreckage. [[Call out for any other survivors]] [[Take in your surroundings]] (set: $screwrose to 1)

You call out and a voice answers. It's Leona, the ship medic. You follow her voice and come up to her bandaging a grievously injured Captain Gaines, thirty paces from the wreckage. Her shoulder is badly injured, though she seems too preoccupied to care. (if: $savedrose is 1)["Thank God, you've found Rose! Chris has just gone looking for her. Set her down here and fetch him before anyone else gets hurt." You help Rose to the ground. [[Go after Chris]] [[Stay put]]] (if: $savedrose is 0)["Thank God, you're alright! Have you seen Rose? Chris has just gone looking for her." [[Go after the others]] [[Stay put]]] [[Remember: Leona]] [[Remember: Captain Gaines]]

Looking around, you see a long streak of turned up earth, and at its end, the remains of your ship. The ship's name, Gaia 16, is printed on its side, now wreathed in wispy blue flames. A light drizzle dampens the surrounding brush, though beyond, the hilly landscape rattles with the sound of distant storm clouds. [[Call out for any other survivors]] [[Remember: The Mission]]

You head back into the wreckage, calling after Chris. He appears after a moment, through a plume of smoke. "Good to see you're in one piece." he says, breathlessly. You inform him Rose is back with the others and begin making your way back. As you do so, you notice your exit has been blocked by a piece of fallen debris. There's room enough to crawl past, but it looks as though it might shift at any moment. Dark smoke fills the ruinous ship interior. (Set:$goback to 1) "There must be another way out." Chris gasps. [[Look for another exit]] [[Try to slide beneath the debris.]] [[Remember: Chris]]

You haven't the slightest interest in returning to that death trap. You take a seat on the damp earth and catch your breath. Leona looks at you. (if: $savedrose is 0)["Did you hear me? Chris and Rose are still back there! You take a breather when their lives aren't on the line!" [[Go after the others]] [[Ignore her]] [[Tell her she can risk her own life]]] (if: $savedrose is 1)["Did you hear me? Chris is still back there! I can take care of Rose, just make sure he gets out alright!" [[Go after Chris]] [[Ignore her]] [[Tell her she can risk her own life]]]

You head back into the wreckage(if: $screwrose is 1)[, knowing at the very least where you would find Rose. The pair of them appear suddenly through a plume of smoke, looking haggard. Rose gives you a dirty look. This could be awkward.](if:$screwrose is 0)[, calling out to each of them in turn. The pair of them appear suddenly through a plume of smoke, looking haggard.] "Good to see you're in one piece." says Chris, breathlessly. "Help me with her." The three of you begin making your way back. As you do so, you notice your exit has been blocked by a piece of fallen debris. There's room enough to crawl past, but it looks as though it might shift at any moment. Dark smoke fills the ruinous ship interior.(Set:$goback to 1) "There must be another way out." Chris gasps. [[Look for another exit]] [[Try to slide beneath the debris.]] [[Remember: Rose]] [[Remember: Chris]]

You ignore her. You'd take her fury over that death sentence any day. A moment of silence passes. She looks at you, worried. "Are you alright?" She asks in genuine concern. You continue to ignore her. Perhapes feigning deafness or a mild head trauma will get her off your case while she's preocupied with other things. (if: $savedrose is 0)[After a few moments, the figures of Rose and Chris emerge from the wreckage, looking the worse for wear(if:$screwrose is 1)[. Rose gives you a dirty look as the two make their way from the ship.] (if:$screwrose is 0)[, but relieved.]] (if: $savedrose is 1)[ After a few moments, Chris emerges from the wreckage, looking the worse for wear, but relieved to see you and Rose.] "Wasn't sure you made it." says Chris looking down at you with a nod. He turns to Leona. "Everyone's accounted for. We need to find shelter. That storm will be on us in a matter of minutes. How's the captain looking?" "He's not walking anytime soon." She responds. "If you help me with him, we could carry him but..." "You're in no state, Leona" he replies. "You help Rose." He turns back to you. "We'll carry the captain." [[Nod and prepare to help Chris carry the captain]] [[That's more work than he's worth, refuse]] [[Suggest leaving Captain Gaines behind]] (if: $savedrose is 0)[[Remember: Rose]] [[Remember: Chris]]

You tell Leona she can risk her own life. There's a moment of silence as she looks at you stunned. "Were I to abandon this just now, I would be risking more than my own life... But, fine, if you're so concerned with your own hide, by all means just sit there!" She reaches into a medical pack at her ankle, and pelts a spare roll of gauze at your chest. "Just don't expect //me// to be the one to patch it up should you tear it." (Set:$goback to -1) You put the roll in your own pack, and take a seat on the damp ground. (if: $savedrose is 0)[After a few moments, the figures of Rose and Chris emerge from the wreckage, looking the worse for wear(if:$screwrose is 1)[. Rose gives you a dirty look as the two make their way from the ship.] (if:$screwrose is 0)[, but relieved.]] (if: $savedrose is 1)[ After a few moments, Chris emerges from the wreckage, looking the worse for wear, but releived to see you and Rose.] "Wasn't sure you made it." says Chris, looking down at you. He turns to Leona. "Everyone's accounted for. We need to find shelter. That storm will be on us in a matter of minutes. How's the captain looking?" "He's not walking anytime soon." she responds. "If you help me with him, we could carry him but..." "You're in no state, Leona." he replies. "You help Rose." He turns back to you. "We'll carry the captain." [[Nod and prepare to help Chris carry the captain]] [[That's more work than he's worth, refuse]] [[Suggest leaving Captain Gaines behind]] (if: $savedrose is 0)[[Remember: Rose]] [[Remember: Chris]]

Chris grabs Captain Gaines from beneath the shoulders. You grasp him beneath the knees. He is completely unresponsive as you do so, though you notice a vague rise and fall in his chest. As a group, you march from the smoldering wreckage. Whatever the future has in store, you'll face together. [[Chapter 2]]

You suggest leaving the captain behind. He's not long for this world anyway. Chris scowls at you. "How about I break your legs and we leave //you// behind?" [[Nod and prepare to help Chris carry the captain]] [[Tell Chris he can go to Hell]]

You refuse to help carry the captain. If the others want to bring him along, they'll have to do the heavy lifting. The others glare at you. There is a long pause, punctuated by a distant crack of thunder. Chris smiles at you, though you notice the expression doesn't extend to his eyes. "I wasn't asking. The captain's out of commision, that means //I'm// in charge. You'll help me carry him." [[Nod and prepare to help Chris carry the captain]] [[Suggest leaving Captain Gaines behind]] [[Tell Chris he can go to Hell]]

Together, you begin searching for another exit. Your vision begins to blur as your periphery closes in. You spot a beam of light pouring from a large break in the ship hull. You finally emerge, gasping for breath. You're able to make your way back. Upon arrival, Chris addresses the group as a whole. "Good to see we're all accounted for. We need to find shelter. That storm will be on us in a matter of minutes. How's the captain looking?" "He's not walking anytime soon." responds Leona. "If you help me with him, we could carry him but..." "You're in no state, Leona." he replies. "You help Rose." He turns back to you. "We'll carry the captain." [[Nod and prepare to help Chris carry the captain]] [[That's more work than he's worth, refuse]] [[Suggest leaving Captain Gaines behind]]

You attempt to crawl beneath the blockage. You just get your shoulders through before hearing the sound of shifting metal. You close your eyes expecting the worst(if:$savedrose is 1)[, but in that moment, you feel Chris' hand around your ankle as he yanks you out from under the collapsing scrap. Had you remained a second longer, you'd have been a goner. You turn to him, both of you breathing heavily. "We need to get out of here." he gasps. [[Look for another exit]]](if:$savedrose is 0)[. The others watch helplessly as you are crushed beneath the fragment of ship and buried under a mound of debris. You are dead.]

You tell Chris he can go to Hell. He chuckles at this. The others watch in stunned silence. "You watch yourself, or you'll be the one bleeding out into the cold damp earth..." he replies coolly. (if:$screwrose is 1)["They found me before you did, Chris... You left me to die. I say we return the favor." chimes in Rose. "Is that so?" asks Chris, turning to her. (if:$goback is -1)["I asked them to head in after you. Seems like they'd be willing to turn their back on any one of us when it comes down to it." adds Leona. Chris turns back to you suddenly, and before you can react, you feel his knuckles against your cheek. You're out cold before you hit the ground. The others have abandoned you.] (if:$goback is 0)["They haven't been keen to help anyone but themselves." adds Leona. She stands up from the captain's side and walks over to you. "There are two options. You can come with us, contribute where you can, and maybe we'll all survive this, or we can leave you here to fend for yourself. Your choice." [[Nod and prepare to help Chris carry the captain]] [[Tell the others you're better off without them]]] (if:$goback is 1)["They did go back for you." Leona adds. She stands up from the captain's side and walks over to you. "Look, if any of us are going to survie out here, we're going to have to work together. We can't do this without you." [[Nod and prepare to help Chris carry the captain]] [[Tell the others you're better off without them]]]] (if:$savedrose is 1)["Everyone relax." Rose interjects. "I can help with the captain. I just need to catch my breath." The others look at you resentfully. [[Carry on with the others]] [[Tell the others you're better off without them]]] (if:$savedrose is 0)[(if:$screwrose is 0)[(if:$goback is -1)["I asked them to head in after you. Seems like they'd be willing to turn their back on any one of us when it comes down to it." adds Leona. Chris turns back to you suddenly and before you can react, you feel his knuckles against your cheek. You're out cold before you hit the ground. The others have abandoned you.] (if:$goback is 0)["They haven't been keen to help anyone but themselves." adds Leona. She stands up from the captain's side and walks over to you. "There are two options. You can come with us, contribute where you can, and maybe we'll all survive this, or we can leave you here to fend for yourself. Your choice." [[Nod and prepare to help Chris carry the captain]] [[Tell the others you're better off without them]]] (if:$goback is 1)["They did go back for you." Leona adds. She stands up from the captain's side and walks over to you. "Look, if any of us are going to survive out here, we're going to have to work together. We can't do this without you." [[Nod and prepare to help Chris carry the captain]] [[Tell the others you're better off without them]]]]]

Despite being in a worse state than yourself, Rose decides to help Chris with the captain in your place. As a group, you march from the smoldering wreckage. Whatever the future has in store, you'll face together. [[Chapter 2]]

You decide to go your separate ways. Whatever the future has in store, you'll have to face on your own. [[Chapter 2]]

You take a moment to gather your faculties. You start by holding your hands out in front of your face, articulating each finger in turn as you count them off--one through... You take a breath of relief, ten. You remember Dad always said, "If you've got both hands, and the faculties to use them, then you're still in the fight." The phrase sparks something and suddenly your memory begins to flood back. Your name is Jessie Aldrin. You're an explorer, born and raised on the Cloud Cities of Venus, a colony at its industrial height. You must be on a mission, though precisely what it is, seems to linger just out of reach. In any case, you've got more pressing matters to attend to.

You focus your mind on the mission. At once, your mind is filled with imagery of travel itineraries and slide presentations, countless mission briefings, and headings titled, "//We're Heading Back!//" or "//Contacting the Home World!//" You're on Earth! It's been years since the planet went radio silent. You and your team must have been sent here to reestablish communications, if there's anyone left to contact that is... It seems you've hit your first hurdle--a crash landing. Perhaps your next step should be locating the rest of your crewmates...

As you look at those striking light brown eyes you recall suddenly your first meeting with Ms. Rosetta Leakey Livingston. A man stands between you, his face blurred and indistinct. He speaks first. "This is one who will be piloting the Gaia 16, Leakey, Jessie Aldrin, codename Dancer." "Oh. We're doing codenames?" She asks. "No, we're not. He just likes to get everyone he can to call me that." You reply. "I was a dance minor at UAT, a fact he has yet to let me live down it seems. Can I guess then that you'd prefer to be called Rosetta over... did he call you Leakey?" "Ha! He did, yes. I really don't mind. Leakey is my middle name, after Louis Leakey. He was an archeologist. My parents were nerdy like that. But then the past three generations of my family have all been archeologists." "Really? Isn't that hard? Y'know... living in the Venusian Cloud Cities?" "Oh, well, I um... teach. And I've been rambling. Most people just call me Rose. But hey, if you want a little revenge, you should-" "Hold on now. Wait a-" The man tries to cut in. "Call him Cece. It's what his sisters call him, drives him completely mad! Anyway, I need to be off." "It was nice meeting you, Rose." "You too, Dancer."

Her worried expression pulls you momentarily from the present. You find yourself in Dr. Leona Blackwell's office, sitting atop an examination table. "Is it the shoulder again?" She asks. "Yes." You reply. "I warned Gaines against those tests. It's only a strain now, but it’s only a matter of time before I'm forced to lop off one of these limbs." "Hell, I'll be fine so long as I've got both my hands and the faculties to use 'em. Why is it you’re exempt from Cap's training regimen again?" "I've already passed my physical." "Is that right?" "Yes, I did some study abroad at Olympus Mons Academy. Once you've been spelunking in Martian caves there's little Captain Gaines can throw at you." "Wow, that's-" "Completely reckless? I'm aware. Though, evidently, the skill set has stuck with me." "I was going to say awesome. I guess I didn't expect you to... um..." "I know what you mean. But then, you'd be hard-pressed to find a single member of this crew who isn't at least a little... awesome. It's basically in the job description."

Even now, there is something in his saunter that reminds you hazily of the past. Then, without warning, you find yourself opposite Christian Calderone, your surroundings still coming into focus. You duck suddenly to the side and a fist misses you by inches. "Nice! Now you're getting the hang of it. Glad to see those dancing lessons weren't for nothing." Chris winks. You recall the scene, a gymnasium, the pair of you donned in sparring equipment. You return a jeering smile. "That's right, Cecelia, I can dance around you all day." You aim a quick jab for the ribs, which he swats away effortlessly. "Come on Dancer, what if we land and some big scary Earthlings try to take your lunch money?" His next punch hit its mark square on your chest. You shake it off easily enough. "I reckon they may need it more than me." You reply, turning quickly into a hook kick. He sidesteps and catches you around the ankle. "You know what they say right?" He begins, still holding your leg aloft. "That our mission is doomed to fail. That, if there was anything left worth saving, the Earthlings would have done so by now." He dropped suddenly, swiping your remaining leg out from under you with a sweeping kick. You land hard on your back. "Ah! Damnit. Yep, that's the shoulder." You groan. He turns away unapologetically, grabbing a bottled water from his corner of the ring. He takes a swig before offering you his hand and saying," Personally, I'm not so pessimistic. I figure, if there's someone down there who needs our help, it's our responsibility to lend a hand."

The sight of the man's critical state leaves you momentarily stunned. You think back to your interaction with Captain Sebastian Gaines only this morning. You had woken up that morning, your last sol in orbit, before anyone else. You merely stood there looking out of the main bay window, 368 miles above the planet's surface. It was strange, you thought, how everyone back home clung to that green and blue depiction. In every seminar, every debriefing, at the head of every slide presentation, was that “classic” visual often set above the words, "//We're Heading Back!//" or "//Contacting the Home World!//" from a time when anything like land or an ocean could be made out beneath the layer of pale grey clouds. It hadn’t looked like that since long before the colony was established and they knew it. You supposed they just liked to forget it. "At ease, Helmsman." He said. You hadn't heard him enter. You had been standing in a stiff attention stance without realizing it. You relaxed your posture and turned to face him as he joined you by the bay window. "Captain." "Aldrin." A moment passed before he spoke again. "Are you prepared for our descent at 1600 hrs?" "Yes sir." "Yes, of course you are. I should rephrase... Are you prepared for what we might find down there? Prepared for... the worst?" "If I can sir, I hope to avoid the worst." "Part of the job is planning for failure." "Really? I would have thought it would be to ignore your failures until you can make them someone else's problem." "Unfortunately... that only works for so long." "I... Sorry, sir. I'm-" "Quite justified in your frustration. Humanity has put an awful lot of weight on our shoulders. It's for this reason we need to plan for failure so that we never have to accept defeat."

The five of us were led through mossy cobblestone streets, shackled and fettered. Townsfolk were gathered along the street side. Filthy, emaciated faces followed us, their expression darkly significant--foreboding. We came to an opening, a bayside promenade. Behind me, storm clouds rattled over the distant mountainside. Through the crowds, I saw a raised wooden platform on which a hooded man stood looming over eight figures. As we approached, six imposing guards relieved our escorts, grabbing us harshly and pulling us to the square’s center. They wore full-faced masks which had been veiled beneath a sage netting which gave the men an almost inhuman silhouette. Frogmen, they were called. The effect was unnerving. We had been brought before the town’s despot, a man I knew by sight, Dayton “The Fisher” Drach. He sat atop a low terrace, surrounded by more of his Frogmen. His throne may have once looked outwardly opulent, but now its golden trim was dull and flaking, its once fine upholstery faded and torn. He chuckled. “So this is all that's left of The Fugitive’s rebellion? I must say, I am somewhat disappointed. I had hoped to capture the man himself. I suppose I will have to settle with his right hand. Skyler Guevara, isn’t it?” I merely stared back my acknowledgment. “And look, you’re right on cue. As you can see, my men made quick work of your insurgents.” He motioned to the figures standing on the opposing platform. Their heads were bagged, their necks noosed. “We knew exactly where and when your reinforcements would arrive, and now, you can watch as I snuff out the pitiful remains of your rebellion before feeling the hangman’s noose yourself! Hangman! Relieve the prisoners of their bags. Let us all bask in their final moments.” The hooded man bowed and did as he was told, relieving the rightmost prisoner of his bag. The significance of what Drach saw next sent him into a stunned silence. The person the hangman had just revealed was no rebel, but a bloodied and gagged Gale Aberdeen, the lord’s protector and leader of the Frogmen, a man who Drach evidently expected to be standing sentry to his left. In that moment, the masked men standing at Drach’s side unsheathed their weapons, and those holding me and my men finished loosening our restraints. “Right on cue indeed,” I thought, throwing off my shackles. “What… What the hell is going on here!?” bellowed Drach. “Shall I remove the gag as well, Lord Drach?” Interjected the hangman. He didn’t wait for a response but pulled the man’s gag loose. Aberdeen shot Drach a hollow smile. He was missing several teeth. “You’re a blind idiot, Drach,” started Aberdeen. His breathing was labored and he seemed incapable of keeping both eyes open. “Can’t even see when you’ve been beaten…” As Aberdeen spoke, Drach stood up from his crumbling throne, spinning to face the guards slowly advancing from behind. They backed him down the terrace steps, forcing him into the square’s center. “You won’t get away with this!” Drach shouted. “I’ve got ties with the Vances of New Rome, you don’t have the men, you won’t hold this town for a week.” “Look around you old man, they’re everywhere.” continued Aberdeen. “They’ve infiltrated our ranks, given the slime the tools they need to topple your leadership… Even as I speak they are readying their pitchforks, passing around daggers. They’ve gone and bought into The Fugitive’s socialist raving, think they’ll have better lives once they’ve whacked the lot of us off.” “You’re a faithless traitor, Aberdeen!” “No, Lord, my men and I were loyal to the end… They’ll make me swing for what I did on your orders, but you… They’re going to tear you apart.” The crowd began shouting. Stones were thrown in Drach’s direction as he was forced ever closer to the square’s center, ever closer to me and my men. As he came within reach, I kicked out his leg, sending him sprawling to the ground. It began drizzling. “Would you mind, Lucius?” I asked, arm extended to the nearest of my net-clad insurgents. He nodded, handing me a rusty and moss-strewn cleaver, likely the property of the Frogman he now impersonated. The crowd roared for blood, as I pulled the trembling man to his knees by his thinning tuft of mousey brown hair. “Wait! I surrender, please. I’m worth more to you alive.” He pleaded. “You’re a blight on the Earth, worth nothing. And unlike you, we do not clasp our fellow man in chains. It’s people like you who doomed the Earth, and people like me who are forced to set right the mistakes of our past.” I pressed the blade to his throat and glanced upward to the hooded figure still standing atop the hangman’s gallows. “What do you say, Fugitive?” [[Spare his life]] [[Kill the man]]

You pull down the hangman's hood and stare deep into the despot's eyes. Before you can answer, however, a loud and sudden eruption overhead draws your attention. The crowd goes silent as a metal craft pierces the sky sending flaming debris across the neighboring hillside. It shoots out of sight and, a moment later, a loud crash announces the strangers' arrival. Skyler turns to you. "What...what does this mean?" "It means... the forces that once crippled the Earth... have returned to destroy it. Let us greet our guests."

You pull down the hangman's hood and stare deep into the despot's eyes. Before you can answer, however, a loud and sudden eruption overhead draws your attention. The crowd goes silent as a metal craft pierces the sky sending flaming debris across the neighboring hillside. It shoots out of sight and, a moment later, a loud crash announces the strangers' arrival. Skyler turns to you. "What...what does this mean?" "It means... new players have entered the field. Let us greet our guests."