Dest:Exo

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<<newinventory '$backpack'>> <<newinventory '$dropped'>> <<newinventory '$diegoinv'>> <<newinventory '$mistyinv'>> <<newinventory '$arainv'>> <<newinventory '$lanceinv'>> <<set $diegofriend to 5>> <<set $diegolove to 1>> <<set $lancefriend to 3>> <<set $lancelove to 3>> <<set $mistyfriend to 10>> <<set $arafriend to 1>>

<<sort '$backpack'>><center>v1.005</center> \<hr> <<if $backpackobtained is true>>''Backpack'' <<inventory '$backpack'>> <hr><<else>>\<</if>> ''[[= = = Help = = =|Help]]'' ''<a href="https://exonova.neocities.org/walkthrough-dest_exo.html" onclick="window.open('https://exonova.neocities.org/walkthrough-dest_exo.html')">= Walkthrough =</a>'' ''<a href="https://exonova.neocities.org/games.html" onclick="window.open('https://exonova.neocities.org/games.html')">= More Games =</a>'' ''= = = = = = = = ='' <hr> [[(Variable Progression)]]

♥︎ ♥ ☺︎ ☺ 🔥︎ 🔥 Ado (star) Yalna (gas giant) Yalna-6 (moon) Davenport Research Colony Adoans/Adoa (sentients) Rune Hagen - (nordic) linguist/anthropologist (pale, raven hair, short, blue eyes, thin) Diego Leon - (mexican) psyche/doctor (tanned golden skin, brown hair, brown eyes, tall, fit) Misty Reisa - (black trans) programmer/AI handler (black skin, long black hair in dreads and space buns, average height, brown eyes, thin) Ara Reisa - (japanese) anthropologist (pale, black hair, dark brown eyes, short, fit) Lance Walker - (american) technician (average white, fit, gray eyes, light brown hair medium length manbun undercut) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exceptional_memory She's wearing her favorite outfit today. Carefully curated to reflect the colors of the trans flag. From an early age, I learned to be hyper-aware of everything going on around me. Even if I don't understand what's happening in the moment, or even consciously think about something I'm seeing or hearing, I pay as much attention as I can. Because even if it doesn't mean anything to me now, it might later. Like saving a file to a folder. I can only go back and look at it if I saved it in the first place. "You're just bitter because you can't have me." "I literally have a wife." "Truly, the forbidden fruit!" "You're //best friends// with my wife." feels something weird assumes he needs sleep you have a baby face next room: Rune sees everyone disappear, some creature hunting him, suffocating, passes out wakes up in hospital ward Diego tells him he hallucinated all of it Choose either: Rune and Lance play video games at Lance's place Rune and Diego go drinking Rune and Lance have casual sex Doesn't think Lance is the kind of guy who'd want anything more For now, I'm alright with that If love+: Diego probably would "I assume you didn't have a good childhood." "Eh, just enough trauma to make me funny." Rune gets Diego to kiss him I wanna say I knew it, but I legitimately could not figure you one way or another til just now Wants to have sex but Diego says raincheck til sober If love+: figures Lance woulda done it. Oh my god, they were roommates. Techs find a strange device emitting infrasound resonations Hagen means 'enclosure, protected place'. What am I but a container of memories, safe in a place they'll never die. There is research suggesting some link between those with eidetic memory and psychosis. That some with the condition, when recalling memories, experience remembered stimuli so vividly it can become a hallucination, and lose touch with reality. But that's never happened to me before. Not to that extent. ...there's also the consideration that psychosis often begins to present itself in the late teens and early 20s. Diego gives Rune antipsychotics They don't work Techs take the device out and being it to the labs to study it They commit him Nothing will let him sleep without dreams all the outs in free Rune senses something bad is going to happen, calls all his friends to his room. The colony is attacked by invisible phasing creatures Only Rune can see them and gets his friends to safety Ara doesn't understand why Rune is the only one who can see them, gets mad at him Rune has panic attack, Diego helps him calm down Finds Niraj's body, Rune despairs find steve's body. "Fuck, Steve, you dumb bastard." Wants to warn someone of a creature but Lance holds him back so the creature doesn't see them Rune cries Y'know, maybe if you sleep for 10 goddamn minutes, I'd have the energy to figure this out, asshole. Anyone without a high enough friendship level dies Whichever romance partner Rune picks, the other one dies If everyone dies, Rune falls into depression and opts into a memory erasure program

''Dropped/Used Items'' <<inventory '$dropped'>> ''Diego's Inventory'' <<inventory '$diegoinv'>> ''Relationship levels:'' ''Diego'' Friendship: $diegofriend Romance: $diegolove ''Lance'' Friendship: $lancefriend Romance: $lancelove ''Ara'' Friendship: $arafriend <<return "Back">>

It always starts the same. The nothing yet everything, inky black, darker than space. Empty, endless, constricting at the same time. How can something so infinite feel so //small//? There's another thing. I don't remember why, but I know I've felt it before. Its a feeling like... I'm a child, with a puzzle splayed out before me, alone in a room. I know someone's watching, from the other side of the one-way glass. Watching my every movement, every twitch on my face, scrawling notes like every unconscious foot tap as I work through this puzzle means something, determines something, decides my fate. I wish I could see that note pad. I wish I knew what those lines meant, what I'm supposed to do, what I'm supposed to //not// do. There's no puzzle here. No one-way glass, no harsh circle of light. Just me, the dark, the infinite, and the feeling of being watched by something somehow //outside// the infinite. It's unsettling. I don't know what it wants. I don't know if it has a note pad, summing up my actions in some strange algorithm. Its intentions are alien, void, empty; like looking into the eyes of a mantis and having nothing to compare within yourself to what you see there. I don't know what it wants from //me//. All I know is that I'm supposed to do something. Solve something. Trigger something. But I have no idea what, or if doing so is even in my best interest. Its the note pad I can't see. It's watching. Calculating. Waiting. Maybe waiting until I let my guard down. Maybe it's just hungry. [[>Continue|Ch1p2]]

I startle awake to the sound of something hitting the floor. Momentarily delirious as filtered light fills my eyes, bolting straight up into a sitting position. That prey feeling still flooding my veins with a cold chill, heart loud in my ears. "Shit. Sorry, man." Came a wistful voice from the other side of the room. I glance over, and the dream slowly loses its grip as my mind registers the figure currently bent down, picking up a water bottle, the source of the crash. "I was trying to be quiet." Diego Leon, in the process of putting his day pack together. He's one of the resident dual psychologist-physicians, five years my senior. People-person, caring, clever. Not to mention tall, fit, and handsome as hell. If any gods exist, they really invested all they had in this guy. To be completely honest, if the thrill of uncovering an advanced alien culture wasn't naturally more of a climax, I'd probably climb him like a tree. Not sure he'd go for it, though. Roommates for almost a year and I still haven't figured out which ways he swings, if he swings at all. I sigh and rub my face with my hands, running them up through my hair, trying to wipe away the remnants of that sickening feeling in my gut, the ink clinging to my skin. <<link ">S'fine. Alarm's about to go off anyway. (+☺)" Ch1p3>><<set $ch1p2 to 1>><<set $diegofriend to $diegofriend + 1>><</link>> <<link ">Never be sorry for blessing my morning with your lovely visage. (+♥)" Ch1p3>><<set $ch1p2 to 2>><<set $diegolove to $diegolove + 1>><</link>> <<link ">Trying //real// fucking hard, huh? (-☺)" Ch1p3>><<set $ch1p2 to 3>><<set $diegofriend to $diegofriend - 1>><</link>>

<<if $ch1p2 is 1>>"S'fine. Alarm's about to go off anyway." I say dismissively, stifling a yawn. Diego smiles and nods, turning back to his packing. <<elseif $ch1p2 is 2>>"Never be sorry for blessing my morning with your lovely visage." I quip flirtatiously. Diego laughs at that. "Let's hope my coordinator feels the same when they find out I'm late for my appointment." He turns back to his packing. <<elseif $ch1p2 is 3>>"Trying //real// fucking hard, huh?" I spit grouchily. Inside, I know it's not a fair thing to say; Diego's a good roommate, always considerate. I'm just tired. Diego frowns, glancing down, crestfallen. "Sorry, I'll do better. I know you've got a lot on your plate." Ugh, beautiful idiot. Diego turns back to his packing. <</if>>"That nightmare, again?" He asks gently, flicking those warm brown eyes in my direction as he works the bag closed. Analyzing, no doubt. We all have our roles in this place, and we're all expected to exceed them. "Same as always." I agree, swinging my legs down to the ground before reaching out to my nightstand for a cigarette. At the moment, I don't care that the good doctor is pretending not to disappointedly watch me light it up. We both know what he wants to say, and we both know that he won't. Not right now. "I know, patient confidentiality bullshit, but I gotta ask; I can't be the only one dealing with this, right?" Diego hesitates for a moment, searching for the right words. "I mean, //nightmares// are prevalent in the colony. My colleagues and I figure its either a side effect of FTL, or possibly one of those weird infrasound frequencies resonating in this region." "But none like mine?" I ask, taking a drag of the cigarette. "No one else's reported having the same dream over and over every single night since they got here, no." Diego confirms reluctantly. "Well, aren't I just special." "We can talk about it later, if you want." "No offense, doc; but I don't think that'll do much for me at this point." "Up to you." Diego shrugs, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "See you later, Rune." He says, turning off towards the door of our dorm. I throw him a lazy salute in farewell and reach out for my tablet. I give my messages a quick glance-over, not expecting much. Just the techs, letting me know they don't really //need// me on site today, that they can just //send me the lidar scans//. It's one of their favorite things to say to me, and something I learned to tune out after a week. Techs don't like academics in their excavation zones, and they especially don't like //me// in their excavation zones. Still, after a year, you'd think they'd know better than to bother. [[>Continue|Ch1p4]]

<center>''Destination:Exo''</center> \Welcome to ''Destination:Exo'', a super gay interactive fiction game. Interactive fiction (or a 'text adventure') is a type of computer game in which the player interacts with textual environments. (Click anywhere to continue) ''About Destination:Exo'' <<linkreplace "''Intro''">>''Intro'' Humanity of the far future has finally uncovered evidence of an ancient alien species on a faraway moon in the form of a structure of unknown purpose. Rune, a linguist and anthropologist with an eidetic memory, has made it his mission to discover the purpose of the strange construction. However, not all is as inert as it seems. A terrible danger lurks in the shadowy recesses of the structure, threatening to break free as the humans continue to prod at things they cannot hope to understand. Rune and his friends soon find themselves in a race against the clock to reveal the ancient secret before it is too late to save reality as they know it. <</linkreplace>> <<linkreplace "''Content Warnings''">>''Content Warnings'' (Potential Spoilers) Cigarette Usage, Alcohol Usage, Psychological Disorders, Optional Non-Explicit Sexual Encounters, Psychological Horror, Disturbing Textual Imagery, Described Gore, Mass Death, Despair, and one of the three possible endings is very unhappy<</linkreplace>> <hr> ''How to Play'' <<linkreplace "''Side Bar''">>''Side Bar'' If you don't see the side bar, hit the right arrow button in the top left corner of this screen. In this side bar, you will find your inventory, useful links, your saves, and the option to restart the game from the beginning. <</linkreplace>> <<linkreplace "''Relationships''">>''Relationships'' As you play, you will soon discover that interactions with characters that end in a symbol affect the relationship you have with these characters. Some future choices may require a certain relationship level with a character to be utilized, and final story outcomes may be determined by relationship levels. <</linkreplace>> <<linkreplace "''Symbol Key''">>''Symbol Key'' (+☺) increases ''friendship'' level (-☺) decreases ''friendship'' level (+♥) increases ''romance'' level (-♥) decreases ''romance'' level (🔥) sexual encounter<</linkreplace>> <hr> ''[[Start Game|Ch1p1]]''

I was a year into college, when they discovered Yalna-6. Supposed to be some barren moon, one of twelve orbiting a gas giant in the Ado system. Exactly what it was, too; except this barren moon also happened to be the resting place of a structure undeniably built by something sentient. //Anciently// sentient, according to the carbon dating. Closest thing to a resemblance anyone could apply to it was 'temple'. Curling spires, strange linework carvings, monoliths reaching for the stars; the purpose of each section so vastly unclear that our woefully underevolved minds could assign only the supernatural as explanation. You know how humans are, //I don't understand, so it must be god//. It was pretty clear from the lack of any discernable past or present habitable planets that the ancients who raised the structure didn't evolve here; but people called them 'Adoans' anyway. Not exactly a common naming convention, considering we typically name civilizations after the planet, not the sun. Granted, I wouldn't exactly argue against the idea of being called a Solaran. Has a nice ring to it. Anyway, the timing worked out for me. My major had, up until that point, been in engineering; not exactly what I wanted to do with my life, but frankly, I was a gifted-kid burnout and hadn't exactly figured out what I //would// wanna do anyway. Soon as I heard the news about Yalna-6, though? I knew, then. I knew. I switched my major to linguistics, enrolled in all the classes I needed in anthropology, archaeology, astrobiology, and whatever the hell else I thought might up my chances of being considered for the mission. I was aiming high. Like, 'youngest expert on the Adoa Project' high. Papers running '//Dr. Rune Hagen, Basically a Child, Discovers Purpose of Adoan Structure//' high. I graduated at 24 with three PhDs, a certification list longer than my arm, and a pilot's license under my belt. I'd like to thank my eidetic memory and obsessive personality for making that possible. In the end, though, it was my experience in engineering that got me picked from the pool of Adoa Project applicants. When it comes to deep space missions, they like to fill the roster with cross-expert folks for the sake of lessening the necessary crew. I was a linguist who could also fix the ship if it broke. Figures. [[>Continue|Ch1p5]]

Supposing I should get to the excavation site before the techs can devise some strategy for keeping me away, I take one last drag of my cigarette before tapping it out and sliding off the bed. I watch the smoke drift up into the air recyclers as I pad over to the little dorm bathroom. The filtration system is so powerful, any molecular trace I ever had the little stick of poor past decisions is gone already. After taking care of business, I can't help but grimace at my reflection in the mirror as I wash my hands. Not that I wasn't pale to begin with, considering my studious and antisocial lifestyle back home; but I feel like I've been looking more pallid and drawn as of late. I should probably consider visiting the sunroom before Diego starts lecturing me about photic-withdrawal psychosis again. I step back out of the bathroom and glance around the dorm. Never really ceases to amuse me, the stark contrast between the sides of the room; Diego's so neat and tidy, while I don't think I've made my bed since I first got here. It's a bit of a plain space, with some fabricated attempt to keep things bright with glistening white walls, sunlamps, and a back wall screen with life-size moving pictures and gentle sounds of nature. I don't mind it. More cheerful than my college dorm. I need to get dressed, pack my bag and at least //consider// grabbing something to eat before I head out. [[>Go to my side of the dorm|Ch1p5RuneBed]] [[>Go to the bathroom|Ch1p5Bathroom]] [[>Go to Diego's side of the dorm|Ch1p5DiegoBed]] [[>Go to the kitchenette|Ch1p5Kitchen]] [[>Leave the dorm|Ch1p5DormDoor]]

''= = =HELP= = ='' ''There is text on the screen but no buttons, how do I continue?'' If there is nothing but text on the screen, click the screen with your mouse (on PC) or your finger (on smartphone) to continue. More text will pop up, and eventually you will be given a button or text box. ''I don't see my inventory?'' Make sure you pick up the Backpack in the Dorm in chapter 1! ''I can't figure out how to proceed?'' Make sure you explore every possible area available to you and pick up all available items. Sometimes actions in a certain area may only be available once you pick up an item in another. If you are truly stuck, check the <a href="https://exonova.neocities.org/walkthrough-dest_exo.html" onclick="window.open('https://exonova.neocities.org/walkthrough-dest_exo.html')">Walkthrough</a>. ''Why is this interaction with a character not available to me?'' You likely selected interactions that resulted in certain relationship levels with this character, causing interactions that require a specific relationship level to become unavailable. ''Interaction Symbol Key:'' (+☺) increases ''friendship'' level (-☺) decreases ''friendship'' level (+♥) increases ''romance'' level (-♥) decreases ''romance'' level (🔥) sexual encounter <<return "Back">>

<<if $backpack.has('Closet Key') or $dropped.has('Closet Key')>>I insert the key chip into the reader beside the closet door, then hit the button. The door slides open with a tooth-grinding screech. I really need to oil that thing. <<transfer '$backpack' '$dropped' 'Closet Key'>> Inside the closet is an assortment of clothes and uniforms. <<if $backpack.has('Clothes') or $dropped.has('Clothes')>><<else>>Guess I'll pick out today's <<link "outfit" Ch1p5RuneCloset>><<pickup '$backpack' 'Clothes'>><</link>>. Not the most difficult of choices, considering everything's pretty monotone. <</if>><<if $backpack.has('Boots') or $dropped.has('Boots')>><<else>>My favorite pair of <<link "boots" Ch1p5RuneCloset>><<pickup '$backpack' 'Boots'>><</link>> rests on the floor of the closet. Brown and ratty and not at all dress code, but my superiors know better than to argue with me on this particular subject.<</if>> <<else>>I hit the button for the closet door to open, but it won't respond. It has an auto-lock feature, and requires a key chip. Dumb fucking system, if you ask me. I usually keep my key around here somewhere, so if anyone decided to rob me of my generic gear for who the hell knows what reason, they wouldn't have to try too hard. <</if>>[[>Back|Ch1p5RuneBed]]

The dorm's a bit of a plain space, with some fabricated attempt to keep things bright with glistening white walls, sunlamps, and a back wall screen with life-size moving pictures and gentle sounds of nature. [[>Go to my side of the dorm|Ch1p5RuneBed]] [[>Go to the bathroom|Ch1p5Bathroom]] [[>Go to Diego's side of the dorm|Ch1p5DiegoBed]] [[>Go to the kitchenette|Ch1p5Kitchen]] [[>Leave the dorm|Ch1p5DormDoor]]

My bed's a mess, as usual. A few shelves hang over it, scattered with Yalna-6 souvenirs and some knick-knacks I brought with me; to remind me of home, I guess. Not sure why I'd want that, though. The door of my sliding closet hovers over my side table like an impatient teacher. <<if $backpackobtained is true>><<else>> My <<if $backpackobtained is true>><<else>><<link "backpack" Ch1p5RuneBed>><<set $backpackobtained to true>><</link>><</if>> lays resting against the foot of my bed.<</if>><<if $backpack.has('Boots') and $dressed is true>> I sit down on my bed to pull my <<link "boots" Ch1p5RuneBed>><<set $shoeson to true>><<transfer '$backpack' '$dropped' 'Boots'>><</link>> on.<<elseif $dropped.has('Boots')>><<else>><</if>> [[>Open the closet|Ch1p5RuneCloset]] [[>Look at my side table|Ch1p5RuneSideTable]] [[>Back|Ch1p5Dorm]]

The bathroom's a bit cramped, just a sink and wall-length mirror on one side, and a shower with a slide-out toilet inside on the other. That's fine though, not like I'm throwing parties in here. <<if $dressed is true>> I'm wearing some black pants, a gray t-shirt and a long black jacket over my slim-fit, thermally-regulated, gloved-and-footed one-piece. Everyone's required to wear those outside the living zones. In case of emergencies, they're already sealed and ready for a helmet attachment. You can survive in the void of space for a few hours in one of these bad boys. Course, that means I don't really //need// my jacket; but on one hand, the inner pockets are great for sneaking in rocks when the techs aren't watching, and on the other hand, I look dapper as hell.<</if>> <<if $shoeson is true>> My favorite old boots tap on the flooring as I walk. A satisfying sound that the clunky uniform regulation boots don't make. Its the little things.<</if>><<if $backpack.has('Clothes')>> I'll put my <<link "clothes" Ch1p5Bathroom>><<set $dressed to true>><<transfer '$backpack' '$dropped' 'Clothes'>><</link>> on in here. Wouldn't be the first time someone's burst in on me half-dressed in these perpetually-unlocked dorms. Not that I'm particularly shy or poor to look at, but I'd rather avoid the two-week period of awkwardness the other person feels the need to emanate after such an event.<<elseif $dropped.has('Clothes')>><<else>><</if>> [[>Look in the mirror|Ch1p5BathroomMirror]] [[>Back|Ch1p5Dorm]]

The kitchenette's hardly even that. Its just like, a counter next to the door with a mini-fridge under the overhang and one cabinet. All real food preparation happens in one of the colony's cafeterias. [[>Open the fridge|Ch1p5KitchenFridge]] [[>Open the cabinet|Ch1p5KitchenCabinet]] [[>Leave the dorm|Ch1p5DormDoor]] [[>Back|Ch1p5Dorm]]

<<if $backpack.hasAll('Cigarette Pack', 'Tablet', 'A42-Lenses', 'Water Bottle') and $dressed is true and $wearingglasses is true and $shoeson is true and $backpackobtained is true and $hascigs is true>>Alright. I'm dressed, got my bag together, got my equipment. Time to head down to the excavation site. [[>Back|Ch1p5Dorm]] [[>Go to work|Ch1p6]] (NOTE: You will not be able to return to this area after proceding to the next section) <<elseif $backpack.hasAll('Tablet', 'A42-Lenses', 'Water Bottle') and $dressed is true and $wearingglasses is true and $shoeson is true and $backpackobtained is true and $hascigs is not true>>Excuse me, I don't go anywhere without my cigarette pack. [[>Back|Ch1p5Dorm]]<<else>>Listen, last time I went to work this unprepared, my coordinator told me I might as well catch the next flight back home. The Davenport Research Colony is not a place you half-ass anything. [[>Back|Ch1p5Dorm]]<</if>>

I don't remember if I've ever seen Diego's bed unmade. The guy sleeps so straight-boarded and still the blankets don't even get rumpled in the first place. One time, when I got up in the middle of the night, I couldn't help but go over and breath-check him to see if he was actually dead. [[>Open Diego's closet|Ch1p5DiegoCloset]] [[>Look at Diego's side table|Ch1p5DiegoSideTable]] [[>Back|Ch1p5Dorm]]

It won't budge. Diego usually takes the key with him like a responsible little boy scout. I know this because there's only so long one can be roommates with a person before you get curious about what's in their closet. Or is that just me? [[>Back|Ch1p5DiegoBed]]

My side table, housing my old green lava lamp from back home. Don't say a fucking word. It's awesome, and you know it. <<if $backpack.has('Cigarette Pack')>><<else>>My <<if $backpack.has('Cigarette Pack')>><<else>><<link "cigarette pack" Ch1p5RuneSideTable>><<pickup '$backpack' 'Cigarette Pack'>><<set $hascigs to true>><</link>><</if>> lies at the base of it like a sacrifice at an altar to some ancient god of the 1990s. <</if>><<if $backpack.has('Tablet')>><<else>>My <<if $backpack.has('Tablet')>><<else>><<link "tablet" Ch1p5RuneSideTable>><<pickup '$backpack' 'Tablet'>><</link>><</if>>, back on its dock, dings away with messages I'll probably never read.<</if>> [[>Open drawer|Ch1p5RuneSideTableDrawer]] [[>Back|Ch1p5RuneBed]]

Diego's side table is generally devoid of anything beyond his sunrise wake lamp. Like the ones lining the walls and ceiling aren't enough, he insists on having one beaming directly into his face.<<if $backpack.has('Diegos Pedometer')>><<else>> Upon the table today, however, also sits Diego's <<link "step counter" Ch1p5DiegoSideTable>><<pickup '$backpack' 'Diegos Pedometer'>><</link>> watch. Its funny how such a neat, obsessively organized and put-together man like the good doctor can forget this one particular thing so often. He has to come back for it at least three times a week, cursing about how many steps he lost running down the hallway without it. I don't know if he'll be back for it today, if he's already late. I could grab it in case I happen to pass him in a hall at some point.<</if>> [[>Open drawer|Ch1p5DiegoSideTableDrawer]] [[>Back|Ch1p5DiegoBed]]

I open the drawer to my side table. Inside's a bunch of random shit; cards, game chips, uh... lubricant. Probably won't be needing that today. <<if $backpack.has('A42-Lenses')>><<else>>A pair of stylish folded <<link "glasses" Ch1p5RuneSideTableDrawer>><<pickup '$backpack' 'A42-Lenses'>><</link>> sit in their case. I don't need them for seeing, but I do need them for their data processing and AR analyzation features. Plus, I'm damn cute in them. <</if>><<if $backpack.has('Closet Key') or $dropped.has('Closet Key')>><<else>>The <<link "key" Ch1p5RuneSideTableDrawer>><<pickup '$backpack' 'Closet Key'>><</link>> to my closet's in there too.<</if>> [[>Back|Ch1p5RuneSideTable]]

I glance in the mirror again. Ignoring my pallid complexion, I focus on fixing my hair for the sake of looking slightly less dissheveled. Its short and choppy and picks up static like a balloon. Its a constant battle against looking like scrawny noirette Guy Fieri. <<if $wearingglasses is true>> The thick-rimmed glasses frame my face and make my blue eyes pop.<</if>><<if $backpack.has('A42-Lenses') and $wearingglasses is not true>> Again, not that I need them for seeing or anything, but I'll put my <<link "glasses" Ch1p5BathroomMirror>><<set $wearingglasses to true>><</link>> on now before I head out anyway. One less thing to rummage around my bag for later, and a lot less likely to get crushed under specimen samples if they're on my face.<<elseif $dropped.has('A42-Lenses')>><<else>><</if>> [[>Back|Ch1p5Bathroom]]

The fridge has a few bottles containing Diego's favorite eloctrolyte-boosting vitamin drink mixes. He made me drink one when I came back dehydrated once. I legitimately do not think the man was born with taste buds. There's another container in there with a bacterial experiment of mine. As you can imagine, Diego's not overly fond of consumables sharing a space with bacteria colonies. <<if $backpack.has('Water Bottle')>><<else>>My <<link "water bottle" Ch1p5KitchenFridge>><<pickup '$backpack' 'Water Bottle'>><</link>> is chilling in the back next to it. Guess I'll grab that, at least.<</if>> [[>Open the cabinet|Ch1p5KitchenCabinet]] [[>Back|Ch1p5Kitchen]]

The cabinet is mostly full of Diego's protein shit, with a little section on the side dedicated to my treats. <<if $backpack.has('Protein Bar')>><<else>>I'm not really hungry, as usual. But Diego's dumb lecture about the importance of 'breaking the overnight fasting period' echoes in my mind. Guess I should grab a <<link "protein bar" Ch1p5KitchenCabinet>><<pickup '$backpack' 'Protein Bar'>><</link>> or something.<</if>> [[>Open the fridge|Ch1p5KitchenFridge]] [[>Back|Ch1p5Kitchen]]

I should probably feel kinda bad about poking around in Diego's stuff. But considering the fact that he's poked around in my //head//, which is significantly more intimate, I feel like we're even. There's not really anything in here, anyway. Not even a single condom. Boring. Its just his sleepphones, and a photo of himself as a kid with his sisters and parents. Cute family. Maybe when the Adoa Project sends us home, he'll invite me to one of his dad's famous multi-course authentic Mexican family dinners he's told me about. [[>Back|Ch1p5DiegoSideTable]]

I remember feeling pretty claustrophobic, the first time I wandered down these halls. They did their best to abate it, using white materials to construct the inner lining and filling the midsections with mirrors where they could. But that only does so much, considering how much the Adoa Project blew up in proportion; they didn't build the infrastructure with this much foot traffic in mind. I nod with all the friendliness I can muster to everyone who greets me in passing. When I decided I wanted to be the youngest expert on the Adoa project, I wasn't really thinking about how that might impact my antisocial preferences. Unfortunately, pretty much everyone in this damn colony knows my name. Eventually, the hallway spills out into one of the main hubs. Its more spacious here, with hexagonal glass lining the roof. In this particular area, facing this direction, its really only the stars that are visible through the glass. Beautiful, but not the best view there is. Considering the tidal-locking, you have to go to another area of the colony to see Yalna in all her might and beauty. "Long time no see, Rune." I look up to see Diego, jogging over in my direction, looking flustered yet pleased with himself for his own stupid joke. "Forget your step counter again?" I ask knowingly, amused smile quirking. "Maybe you should just sleep with it on." Diego looks sheepish as he slows to a stop when he reaches my side. "But what if it registers my sleep movements as steps?" "Buddy, you literally enter a state of complete paralyses when you fall asleep." I remind him. "I'm not entirely sure you even breathe." "So you like to tell me." Diego laughs. "Anyway, I should get back to the dorm. I'm late as it is." <<link ">C'mon, Diego. Why don't you just count your steps in your head like the rest of us?" Ch1p7>><<set $ch1p6 to 1>><</link>> <<if $backpack.has('Diegos Pedometer')>><<link ">Actually, you're in luck. I happened to grab it before I left. (+☺)" Ch1p7>><<set $ch1p6 to 2>><<set $diegofriend to $diegofriend + 1>><</link>><<else>>>(Required item not found) Actually, you're in luck. I happened to grab it before I left. (+☺)<</if>> <<link ">Better hurry before sector 6 starts flooding the hallways." Ch1p7>><<set $ch1p6 to 3>><</link>>

<<if $ch1p6 is 1>>"C'mon, Diego. Why don't you just count your steps in your head like the rest of us?" I tease. Diego looks at me in earnest surprise, "How do you not lose count?" "Y-... I- nevermind." I shake my head. "A day's loss in activity tracking isn't gonna kill you, dude. Just set an average and carry on tomorrow." "I haven't missed a day in 8 years." Diego sighs, deflating a bit. "But yeah, I guess you're right. Sector 6 rush hour'll make me miss the whole day. You heading for the station too?" <<link ">Yeah, wanna be a gentleman and escort me?" Ch1p8diego>><</link>> <<link ">Nah, I was planning on taking the long way." Ch1p8alone>><<set $longway to true>><</link>> <<elseif $ch1p6 is 2>>"Actually, you're in luck. I happened to grab it before I left." I say triumphantly, reaching into my pocket to pull out the object in question, dangling it in front of him. "You gotta kiss me for it though." Diego laughs good-naturedly, reaching out to take the device from my hand. "I owe you one, man! I'll only be //fashionably// late, now."<<transfer '$backpack' '$diegoinv' 'Diegos Pedometer'>> He straps it to his wrist, hitting the button to start the count. "You heading for the station too?" <<link ">Yeah, wanna be a gentleman and escort me?" Ch1p8diego>><</link>> <<link ">Nah, I was planning on taking the long way." Ch1p8alone>><<set $longway to true>><</link>> <<elseif $ch1p6 is 3>>"Better hurry before sector 6 starts flooding the hallways." I say. Its the most populated housing sector, you do //not// want to get stuck in the sector 6 rush hour. Diego's eyes widen with alarm, "Is it that time already? Shit, see you later, Hagen!" The man brushes past me and starts off in a brisk jog in the direction I'd came from. I can't help but stay to admire the view of those glorious glutes until they disappear from sight. I mean hey, he worked so hard on them, it would be disrespectful //not// to appreciate them, right? [[>Continue|Ch1p8alone]]<<set $longway to false>> <</if>>

<<if $longway is true>>"Nah, I was planning on taking the long way." I say. "View's too nice to pass up." Not entirely untrue. Its not that I don't enjoy the man's company, I just feel like being alone right now. "Well, you know I'll never discourage getting exercise." Diego smiles, clapping me on the shoulder before turning to head towards the station. "Later, Hagen." I can't help but stay to admire the view of those glorious glutes until they disappear from sight. I mean hey, he worked so hard on them, it would be disrespectful //not// to appreciate them, right? I make my way through the hub, heading for one of the hall entrances on the far end. The tunnels out that way are a bit wider, considering the pedestrians have to share the space with material transport carts. Luckily for my claustrophobia, there's not a lot of shipments at this time of the simulated day cycle. The hallway I choose today had quite a bit more care put into the design for the fact that this is the route used by visiting VIPs looking for the temple tour. The dividers are full of lush greenery, and most of the walls are cut through with thick glass serving as windows out to the beautiful beyond. If you want to get a good look at Yalna and her occasional passing moons, this is the route you wanna take.<<set $seenyalna to true>> Its kind of funny, how the human mind works. Even if you never stop appreciating something, there's a part inside of you that will never feel the same after the novelty wears off. You can appreciate beautiful sunsets your whole life, but it'll never feel like the first time you saw one. Yalna, a gas giant similar to Jupiter, albeit a bit smaller. Although she's got many of the same tans and oranges tinting her central bands and swirls, there's also a good amount of vivid blues and greens further out. She's like a central-heterochromic eye, grand and vibrant as she hangs there quietly against the black of space. You can only ever see half of her at the most, on this side of the moon. She turns the sky to a gradiant of splendor. People tell me about that sunset thing, they tell me about the first time they saw her, how they wish they could erase their memories and experience it all over again. Actually, if they want to experience it over and over, they should want the opposite of that. Because personally, with my eidetic memory, I can relive that moment whenever I want. That skin-chilling awe I felt the first time I saw her through the window of my approaching way-vessel. Groggy as hell, cotton in my brain, having been roused from cryo only a few hours prior; she was like a splash of cold water. When I recall this moment, when I look at her and she triggers this memory uncalled, I feel those things all over just as I did in that moment. A reality I can get lost in. Its a curse more often than not; but its a gift in moments like this. It takes me about an hour longer than it would have via train to reach the temple zone entrance, but it was worth it. I figure the techs won't have minded having the extra time not babysitting me, anyway. Maybe they'll be a little less cranky when I get there. [[>Continue|Ch1p9]] <</if>><<if $longway is false>>I head for the station alone, weaving my way through the crowds of people rushing back and forth from their work areas. It's not the busiest time of the simulated day cycle, but still a bit more crowded than I prefer. The train station's a hive of activity. I am grateful they segregate those transporting materials from the solo foot pedestrian in seperate cars now. I didn't have to deal with it very long when I first got here, but let me tell you; getting hit square on by a momentum-driven runaway cart packed with lab equipment is not the most pleasant thing you'd want to experience while packed into a car with nowhere to run. The bruises stayed with me for two weeks. I board the closest train car; a bullet-shaped thing that fits snugly into its rounded tunnel. As I shuffle through with the handful of folks boarding with me, I'm pleasantly surprised I manage to find an empty seat. Its not exactly a long journey to my workplace; the train may not be a direct line, but they zoom along at breakneck speeds. But if we're being honest, I'm still feeling a little weary from my restless sleep. I think the nightmares are finally starting to take a physiological toll. Maybe I'll ask Diego for a sedative or prazosin or something. The train reaches the temple zone entrance station in about 20 minutes, all stops considered. And not a moment too soon; some guy who had opted not to shower this morning ended up in the standing area right over me. Feeling like a victim of chemical warfare, I waste no time escaping the cloud and out into the freshly cycled air of the station. [[>Continue|Ch1p9]] <</if>>

"Yeah, wanna be a gentleman and escort me?" I ask. Diego smiles and playfully raises his elbow up in offer, "Certainly, my good sir." He says in an exaggeratedly posh voice. I reach up and take his arm, "How terribly kind of you, my lord." I match his cadence, and together we head towards the train station. Eventually we break our link, as we weave our way through the crowds of people rushing back and forth from their work areas. It's not the busiest time of the simulated day cycle, but still a bit more crowded than I prefer. The train station's a hive of activity. I am grateful they segregate those transporting materials from the solo foot pedestrian in seperate cars now. I didn't have to deal with it very long when I first got here, but let me tell you; getting hit square on by a momentum-driven runaway cart packed with lab equipment is not the most pleasant thing you'd want to experience while packed into a car with nowhere to run. The bruises stayed with me for two weeks. We board the closest train car; a bullet-shaped thing that fits snugly into its rounded tunnel. It's not overly packed, but I don't spot any empty seats next to each other, so we opt for the standing area. I grasp the cold metal pole, while Diego, who is tall enough to comfortably do so, reaches up for the loop. "Fucking Martians." I mutter. Diego glances down at me with a knowing smirk, "Genetics are a bitch, huh?" "Its the gravitational factor and you know it." "I dunno, man; I know quite a few Terrans a hell of a lot taller than you." "Fuck you." "Would you have gotten so far in life without that angry chihuahua size complex driving you forward?" "That's fair; I do have an abnormally strong force of will only found in those told they're not tall enough to ride the rollercoaster." Diego laughs at that. "Anyway, what's on the work agenda for today?" He asks. The train lurches a bit as it starts off on its path away from the station dock. <<link ">You want the boring details, or the compressed version?" Ch1p8diego1>><<set $ch1p8diego to 1>><</link>> <<link ">Eh, nothing exciting. Yours? (+☺)" Ch1p8diego1>><<set $ch1p8diego to 2>><<set $diegofriend to $diegofriend + 1>><</link>> <<link ">Sorry, I was too busy thinking about how much you look like this tree I used to climb back home. (+♥)" Ch1p8diego1>><<set $ch1p8diego to 3>><<set $diegolove to $diegolove + 1>><</link>>

<<if $backpack.has('Diegos Pedometer')>>As I walk, I absent-mindedly fiddle with something in my pocket for a while before it registers that I have no idea what I'm playing with. I pull it out of my pocket and stare at it for a long moment before I realize its Diego's pedometer. "How did-? Oh. Right. //Fuck//." I slap myself in the face. The man was right there, experiencing a dilemma about an object that was immediately in my pocket, available to hand over, and I forgot. I'm not used to forgetting things, considering my eidetic memory and all; but recently, things have been slipping past me. Maybe my brain is fried. I really need to get more sleep at night. Well, I guess I can explain and give it to him later. He's too nice to get mad at me for something like this. Which, in a way, kinda makes me feel worse. Maybe I'll just plant it under his bed and pretend to find it. <<elseif $diegoinv.has('Diegos Pedometer')>><<else>><<pickup '$diegoinv' 'Diegos Pedometer'>><</if>>When I reach the temple entrance hub, I head for the cart transport area. The Adoan temple is massive, basically the size of a small town; unless you plan on walking all day, people generally opt to take the carts along to different sectors. The place I'm heading for today is near the centerpoint of the temple, so like hell I'm walking. "Hey Niraj." I greet the old man sitting in the driver's seat of one of the carts. Niraj glances up from his tablet, smiling warmly when he recognizes me. "Ah, Rune. Come to cause trouble today?" "All day every day." I grin, grabbing the side of the cart to hoist myself up into the front passenger seat beside him. I love Niraj. He's like a quirky uncle to me. He's the only cart driver that lets me sit up front, instead of squished in with the other passengers. I'd appreciate him for this alone, but he also has the added benefit of being the kind of warm and cheerful fellow you naturally want to be around. He likes to tell me stories of the trouble he got up to as a young man; which means he finds my shenanigans amusing rather than something to report to my coordinator. "Did I ever tell you about that time I almost killed my sister's fiance hitchhiking to New Cali?" Niraj asked, glancing back to his cart to decide whether it was full enough to depart. Deciding it was, he turned back to start the engine. "I don't think so." I say. A lie, really. He's told me this story four times now. Thanks to my eidetic memory, I could tell it //for// him. But I don't mind reruns. It makes Niraj happy to tell the stories, and it passes the travel time. "Tell me all about it, buddy." So, as the cart pulls out of the lot, my old friend's gruff yet jovial voice fills my ears with a crazy story of trouble and adventure that I could recite word for word along with him. [[>Continue|Ch1p10]]

<<if $ch1p8diego is 1>>"You want the boring details, or the compressed version?" I ask. "Give me whatever'll fit into our commute time." "Gee, I wish I had //that// much news." I sigh. "The techs cut a hole in one of those doors we couldn't figure out how to open last night. Initial lidar scans don't indicate anything exciting about the new room, but hey; its a new room." "So you'll be exploring the new room today, then?" Diego asks with sincere interest. That's one of the things I've always liked about Diego. He's genuinely interested in people. "Yup. Hoping there'll be some new engravings to work with, at least." <</if>><<if $ch1p8diego is 2>>"Eh, nothing exciting." I say, shrugging. "Yours?" "Most of the usual, got a surgery later." Diego says. "Some idiot decided not to follow safety procedures last week and lost three fingers to the drill, so he's getting some prosthetic implants." "Yikes. He gonna have enough functionality to keep working?" "He opted into a trial phase for a new neurally-interlinked cybernetic model from Eidolon, so as long as there's no unknown side effects, he should regain full functionality." "You're trained on Eidolon tech?" I ask, surprised and impressed. "The only reason I'm here over a few other applicants, actually." Diego says with a grin. "Damn, can you get me one of those cool new AR eyeballs?" "I don't know if I'd have the heart to scoop out one of your pretty blues to do so." "You can put it in a jar above your mantelpiece." "Tempting." <</if>><<if $ch1p8diego is 3>>"Sorry, I was too busy thinking about how much you look like this tree I used to climb back home." I say flirtatiously. "Can you repeat that?" Diego shakes his head, smiling good-naturedly. "Eat your thoughts." A saying I know comes from an ancient-cultural reintegration and modernization his family's been partaking in for generations. This particular one has something to do with a goddess who consumes and cleanses filth. At least I know he read me clearly. I grin, "On the contrary, Freyr blesses my efforts." I shift my weight a bit to lean against the pole I'm holding onto. "Anyway. What are you up to today?" "Nothing very exciting, other than a surgery later." Diego shrugs. "Some idiot decided not to follow safety procedures last week and lost three fingers to the drill, so he's getting some prosthetic implants." "Yikes. He gonna have enough functionality to keep working?" "He opted into a trial phase for a new neurally-interlinked cybernetic model from Eidolon, so as long as there's no unknown side effects, he should regain full functionality." "You're trained on Eidolon tech?" I ask, surprised and impressed. "The only reason I'm here over a few other applicants, actually." Diego says with a grin. "Damn, can you get me one of those cool new AR eyeballs?" "I don't know if I'd have the heart to scoop out one of your pretty blues to do so." "You can put it in a jar above your mantelpiece." "Tempting." Diego chuckles. "So what about you? Anything exciting?" "The techs cut a hole in one of those doors we couldn't figure out how to open last night." I say. "Initial lidar scans don't indicate anything exciting about the new room, but hey; its a new room." "So you'll be exploring the new room today, then?" Diego asks with sincere interest. That's one of the things I've always liked about Diego. He's genuinely interested in people. "Yup. Hoping there'll be some new engravings to work with, at least." <</if>>It was at this moment that the train's AI seems to decide it's going just a bit too fast as it approaches the station stop ahead, and adjusts its speed rather suddenly. Surprised and unprepared for this instant loss in momentum, I lose my footing and lurch forward, crashing bodily into Diego's torso, my face right to his chest. The man, barely managing to adjust his own footing in time, instinctively grabs my shoulder to stop me from falling entirely. "Shit, you alright?" Diego asks, helping me right myself. <<link ">Well, my face hurts." Ch1p8diego2>><<set $ch1p8diego1 to 1>><</link>> <<link ">Sure, you softened the blow. (+☺)" Ch1p8diego2>><<set $ch1p8diego1 to 2>><<set $diegofriend to $diegofriend + 1>><</link>> <<link ">I'd never complain about planting my face on those pecs. (+♥)" Ch1p8diego2>><<set $ch1p8diego1 to 3>><<set $diegolove to $diegolove + 1>><</link>>

<<if $ch1p8diego1 is 1>>"Well, my face hurts." I wince, touching my throbbing nose to check for blood. Upon finding none, I say, "But I had worse in that bar fight last month." "You mean the one where that chica punched you in the nose for flirting with her boyfriend?" "Hey, that girl was ripped, my face didn't stand a chance." "So you tell me." Diego shakes his head with a smirk, reaching out to gently grab my face by the jawline, lifting my head a bit to get a better look. "Probably gonna bruise a bit, but not broken." "Thanks, doctor Leon." "Just doing my duty." <</if>><<if $ch1p8diego1 is 2>>"Sure, you softened the blow." I say, trying to keep the lacrimal fluid flooding my nasal passage from springing to my eyes. I don't want him to feel bad. He sees right through me, though, and reaches out to gently grab my face by the jawline, lifting my head a bit to get a better look. "Nose is probably gonna bruise a bit. Not as bad as last time, though." "You referring to my bar fight?" "Yeah, the one where you got punched by that chica for flirting with her boyfriend." "Hey, that girl was ripped, my face didn't stand a chance." "So you tell me." <</if>><<if $ch1p8diego1 is 3>>"I'd never complain about planting my face on those pecs." I say through my watering eyes. <<if $ch1p8diego is 3 and $ch1p2 is 2>>"You're sure fiery today." <</if>>Diego shakes his head with a smirk, reaching out to gently grab my face by the jawline, lifting my head a bit to get a better look. "Nose is probably gonna bruise a bit. Not as bad as last time, though." "You referring to my bar fight?" "Yeah, the one where you got punched by that chica for flirting with her boyfriend." "Hey, that girl was ripped, my face didn't stand a chance." "So you tell me." <</if>>We continue chatting casually about this and that as we run along through several more stops. The hospital sector is about halfway along my own journey, so eventually we reach Diego's stop first. "This is me." Diego announces, letting go of the handhold as the train slows to a stop. "I'll probably be back late tonight, so don't forget to eat dinner, yeah?" "Sure, mom." I sigh. I'll never openly admit its anything more than an annoyance, but the man is often the difference between thinking to maintain my body or passing out after a day on nothing but a handful of stale bar pretzels. Eidetic memory's good for the past; not as good for the present. "Seriously, Rune." Diego fixes me with one of his stern looks. "You're looking kind of pale, today." "I am the face of my Nordic ancestors." I deflect. "No but like, paler than usual. Have you visited the sunroom at //all// lately?" "Who's got time for tanning when there's an alien civilization to discover?" Diego sighs, shaking his head. I know he'd love to argue further, but luckily for me, the train's threatening to leave soon. So instead, he claps me on the shoulder in farewell and turns to head out, moving with the crowd through the doors. I find an empty seat after that, and ride out the rest of the journey off my feet. I probably could have kept standing, considering how short the rest of the trip is. But if we're being honest, I'm still feeling a little weary from my restless sleep. I think the nightmares are finally starting to take a physiological toll. Maybe I'll ask Diego for a sedative or prazosin or something. The train reaches the temple zone entrance station not a moment too soon; some guy who had opted not to shower this morning ended up in the standing area right over me. Feeling like a victim of chemical warfare, I waste no time escaping the cloud and out into the freshly cycled air of the station. [[>Continue|Ch1p9]]

The Adoan temple area is the only part of Davenport that feels truly //free//. When Professor Austin Davenport, the man who funded the Adoa Project, planned out the colony with a handful of experts, they decided the best way to conduct extensive research while maintaining the structure's integrity and splendor would be to seal over the temple entirely and pump it with Terran atmosphere. Sealing the entire temple, rather than sectional sealing, would save time and increase safety. Thus began the most ambitious glass dome-project of all time. Though glass domes are far from a new concept or architectural practice, most colonies on non-terraformed planets and moons exist in squat, chambered units much like the rest of Davenport. Gravitational and atmospheric control is far more efficient in smaller spaces, and less costly. But for something as important and historical as the Adoa Project, Davenport threw all his chips (and funding) in. The result is, frankly, awe-inspiring. When I first saw that honeycombed transluscent material spanning the entirety of the massive Adoan structure, I was approaching the moon on my way-vessel. I remember from afar, it looked like a soap bubble floating atop a liquid surface; so fragile, like it could pop at any moment. Its a stunning, inexplicable sight, riding along through the temple grounds. Open enough to feel like you're traveling unhindered across the surface of a dark, barren planet; the gray and lifeless dirt crunching under the tires. Passing between structural shapes so unquestionably alien and eerie, black and glassy like obsidian, domed by a structure transluscent enough to view the stars beyond it. The awe-inspiring backdrop of the gas giant so perfectly aligned behind it that could not have possibly been coincidence. <<if $seenyalna is true>><<else>>Yalna. A sight in herself. Its kind of funny, how the human mind works. Even if you never stop appreciating something, there's a part inside of you that will never feel the same after the novelty wears off. You can appreciate beautiful sunsets your whole life, but it'll never feel like the first time you saw one. Yalna is very similar to Jupiter, albeit a bit smaller. Although she's got many of the same tans and oranges tinting her central bands and swirls, there's also a good amount of vivid blues and greens further out. She's like a central-heterochromic eye, grand and vibrant as she hangs there quietly against the black of space. You can only ever see half of her at the most, on this side of the moon. She turns the sky to a gradiant of splendor. People tell me about that sunset thing, they tell me about the first time they saw her, how they wish they could erase their memories and experience it all over again. Actually, if they want to experience it over and over, they should want the opposite of memory erasure. Because personally, with my eidetic mind, I can relive that moment whenever I want. That skin-chilling awe I felt the first time I saw her through the window of the way-vessel. Groggy as hell, cotton in my brain, having been roused from cryo only a few hours prior; she was like a splash of cold water. When I recall this moment, when I look at her and she triggers this memory unbidden, I feel those things all over just as I did in that moment. A reality I can get lost in. Its a curse more often than not; but its a gift in moments like this. <</if>>Eventually, after a few stops to let other passengers off, the cart reaches the central tower. The structure is widest at its base, like a layered pyramid, before fracturing into multiple spires reaching up for the stars. The central tower's made of the same obsidian-like material as the rest of it. A scientific mystery in itself; an entirely unknown material whose properties are a density like cut marble, conductivity superior to silver, an extensive resonance, and piezoelectric potential. Many of my fellow anthropologists believe the physiological effects from standing in certain areas of the temple while the structure resonated with certain kinds of currents could have been percieved as a spiritual experience. Although bias isn't entirely avoidable, I tend to remain skeptical. I'd like to think a highly advanced space-faring race would have a more complicated reason for constructing such an extensive project than experiencing a little brain tickling. [[>Continue|Ch1p11]]

I light up a new cigarette after hopping off the cart, waving Niraj goodbye as I turn and head for the steps leading up the skeleton of scaffolding temporarily constructed to access this area. Whatever the Adoans were like, they were evidently either quite a bit larger than humans, or capable of sustained flight. Every day that passes, I hope to Odin that the next excavation finds organic remains, or graphical depictions at the very least. What I wouldn't give to have //something// more than vague linework to reconstruct the people who walked here eons prior. I can practically hear the silent, internal groans of the techs as they spot me ascending. I feel the glares of a few of them on my skin when I reach the top, stepping off the boardwalk to hear my boots tap against the structure's glassy flooring. After at least twenty attempts to get me to stop doing this, the safety team all but gave up and started refabricating the signs to say 'all personnel must remain on the boardwalk with the singular exception of Rune Hagen'. But hey, how am I supposed to get into the minds of an ancient people if I don't walk where they walked? "//Hagen!//" An angry voice shouts from behind me, echoing through the chamber. I sigh, tucking my free hand into my pocket before turning around, feigning surprise. "Why, Professor Reisa! What are you doing here?" I ask, my voice quizzical. Ara Reisa, a little spitfire of a short-tempered woman. One of the most high-profile anthropologists on the project, with an attitude to match it. I think of all the people in this colony who have reason to hate me, she'd be the first to space me. "This is //my// fucking time slot." She storms up to me like a territorial cat, hair on end. "//I'm// supposed to be here, //not you//." "Oh, is that so?" I raise my eyebrows dramatically. "The coordinator must have gotten it all mixed up again." "Coordinators don't make those kind of mistakes." Ara growls, inches from my face. "You did something. //Again//." "You're welcome to check the register. It's all there." My smile is humble, but I'm fighting a snicker. You see, its not too hard to adjust your scheduling when your coordinator is an AI, and your best friend is an AI programmer. "Well, since I'm here anyway-" She grabs me by the shirt and pulls me down to her height; which, admittedly, isn't very far down. "If you cause even the //slightest// problem for me today, I will peel every single one of your fingernails from the root." "I am nothing but a shadow." I say with an assuring smile. Ara glares at me for a moment longer before releasing my shirt and turning back in the direction she came. "And put that fucking cigarette out." She spits over her shoulder. "Where did you even get that? Davenport doesn't import that shit." "I'm no narc." I say, taking a drag as I watch her grumble away. I explicitly do not put the cigarette out, but I head in a direction far from Ara anyway. I'm a pusher of luck, often far past its limit, but I'm not a complete idiot. I arranged for this 'roster mistake' for good reason, and I won't risk it just to amuse myself ruffling my colleague's feathers today. As one of the newer editions to the team, I'm not very high on the seniority list when it comes to 'first dibs' on a research mission. Ara was one of the first here, so she usually gets her pick of the crop, and the others don't dare argue with her anyway. But I didn't come here to scavenge leftovers. I came here to have my name go down in history as the first person to unravel the mystery of the Adoans. Not to mention the fact that if I'm not in the group messageboard with my theories first, someone else comes in with some dumb fuck biased idea that they all get stuck on for the rest of time. [[>Continue|Ch1p12]]

"Hey, Lance." I greet a technician sitting on one of the transport crates as I approach. The man glances up from the wiring he's fiddling with. "Mornin', Rune. Got past Reisa with your skin still on?" "Day's not over yet." I grin. "What's the expected timeline for that door?" "Safety guys gave the all-clear 10 minutes ago, so we'll be getting the go-ahead to pop the seal in another 10, I'd guess." He nods at my cigarette. "How's that batch treating you?" "Perfectly fabricated, as always." I say gracefully, holding it out in offer as I lean back against the crate. The man accepts, taking a drag of it before handing it back. "Watch out for Reisa, though. If I make her mad enough today, I'd be shocked if she doesn't go looking to rat my dealer for the sole purpose of watching me go through nicotine withdrawal." "You know me, subtle as a mouse." Lance Walker. Bit of a bad boy, probably never one to sacrifice much of anything for anyone; but he's an honest, chill guy and easy for me to get along with. Of course, I might only be drawn to him because he's cute. Wouldn't be the first time I've ended up friends with some asshole with nice cheekbones. At any rate, he's pretty much the only tech who doesn't hate my guts. <<link ">Mind if I hang out while I wait?" Ch1p13>><<set $ch1p12 to 2>><</link>> <<link ">Well, I'll see you later, Walker." Ch1p13>><<set $ch1p12 to 1>><</link>>

<<if $ch1p12 is 1>>"Well, I'll see you later, Walker." I say, pushing off the crate. Lance nods in farewell before looking back down at his wiring. I head back over to the gaping mouth of the tower entrance, where no one else is around, and sit down with my legs dangling off the ledge. Anyone else probably woulda been yelled at for this, but I don't think anyone here would mind if I fell and splattered all over the ground. That suits me fine. I pull out my tablet and fiddle around with a project while I wait. Just another attempt at cracking the code of what we've been able to decipher from the Adoan written language; or what we assume is their written language. The program we use is pretty advanced, and does most of the heavy lifting, limited only by the perameters we set for it. Most of my colleagues try to apply rules from human languages of the past. Personally, I avoid the application of human logic whatsoever. It's impossible to know, without discovering their home planet, how exactly the Adoans evolved. But I think its fairly reasonable to assume they're nothing like us, didn't evolve like us, that their brains don't work like ours. There's an incredible variety of non-human language on Earth alone; it would be egocentric to assume aliens must follow our patterns. Well, egocentricity is a very human trait, I suppose. After a short while of waiting, I eventually hear footsteps pad up behind me, and a hand plants itself on my shoulder, "Hey, might wanna get up there if you want first wave." Its Lance, the only person who would give enough of a shit to bother letting me know. I nod, tap out my cigarette on the ground and get to my feet. I follow Lance until we split off in our respective directions, and head towards the small handful of people standing around near the door, Ara with them. The others seem to be a mix of scientists, and a couple of her assistants. She does love bossing assistants around. I shove my hands in my pockets, remaining casual in my gait as I approach. Ara turns and points at me, however. "NO. Hagen, you stay //right there//. I'm going in first." She orders, glaring daggers. I raise my hands in surrender, "Hey, don't mind me. I'm just along for the ride." "Alright, everyone back up." Lance says from his place at the winch. "Block should be stable, but just in case; smooshed scientist is the worst kind of paperwork to fill out." The group hurriedly backs up to the indicated boardwalk line, chattering excitedly amongst themselves. Only Ara and I seem to be maintaining a calm reserve; though I know she's only doing so for the sake of appearing mature and authoratative. I know she's just as eager, under than chilly exterior. Personally, I have my own reasons for feigning nonchalance. [[>Continue|Ch1p16]]<</if>><<if $ch1p12 is 2>>"Mind if I hang out while I wait?" I ask. I'd certainly rather pass the time with a friend than weave my way through techs who'd rather I fall off a ledge somewhere. "Mi crate es su crate." Lance pats the container he's sitting on welcomingly. I hop up beside him and lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees as I watch the bustling activity playing out in front of me. Techs and safety everywhere, a few scientists here and there. Busier than usual, considering the occasion. "Think there's gonna be anything interesting in there when we pop that baby open?" Lance asks, indicating the doorway with his thumb. <<link ">I'm not getting my hopes up." Ch1p14>><<set $ch1p13 to 1>><</link>> <<link ">Guess we'll see. What are you up to? (+☺)" Ch1p14>><<set $ch1p13 to 2>><<set $lancefriend to $lancefriend + 1>><</link>> <<link ">Only after //you// walk in. (+♥)" Ch1p14>><<set $ch1p13 to 3>><<set $lancelove to $lancelove + 1>><</link>> <</if>>

<<if $ch1p13 is 1>>"I'm not getting my hopes up." I say. "Based on the lidar scans, I'm not expecting anything different in this room." "That's not the optimistic Rune I'm used to." Lance comments, raising an eyebrow. "A year of next to no real progress'll do that to you." "Maybe you just need a break." Lance shrugs. <</if>><<if $ch1p13 is 2>>"Guess we'll see." I shrug. I prefer not to speculate, for the sake of avoiding bias. "What are you up to?" "Steve decided to wire the generator stoned as hell or something, almost blew us up when we hooked up the molecular analyzer earlier." Lance explains the wires in his hands, a bit of an annoyed tone to his voice. "Don't know why I gotta fix his mistakes for him, but coordinators' gonna coordinate I guess." "Damn, should I be sitting so close?" "Hey, //I// can do my job with my eyes closed, unlike //Steve//." Lance grins. <</if>><<if $ch1p13 is 3>>"Only after //you// walk in." I say flirtatiously. Lance smirks, "Funny, I was gonna say the same thing to you." "Oh yeah?" I plant my chin on my fist and glance over, "What's so interesting about little ol' me?" "If I was a better man, I'd come up with something poetic; but I'm not, so I'm just gonna say 'your ass'." "Poetry to //my// ears." <</if>>"You should stop by my place longer than pickup this endcycle, by the way." He offers. "Finally managed to get my hands on a copy of that old school game collection I was telling you about." He says this casually, though I know him well enough to see the ulterior suggestion between the lines. Lance is a bit of a playboy, and it wouldn't be the first time he's offered. It's not that I'm not down for it or anything; but considering my obsessive personality when it comes to my work, I'm not exactly fantastic at time management and fitting in //extracurricular activities//. <<link ">I'll probably be working through the endcycle, honestly." Ch1p15>><<set $ch1p14 to 1>><</link>> <<link ">Hell yeah, man. I'll let you know what my schedule's like. (+☺)" Ch1p15>><<set $ch1p14 to 2>><<set $lancefriend to $lancefriend + 1>><</link>> <<link ">We Smashing, or smashing? (+♥)" Ch1p15>><<set $ch1p14 to 3>><<set $lancelove to $lancelove + 1>><</link>>

<<if $ch1p14 is 1>>"I'll probably be working through the endcycle, honestly." I say with a sigh. "You ever //not// working?" Lance asks pointedly. "Only when I'm sleeping." "You sleep?" "On occasion." <</if>><<if $ch1p14 is 2>>"Hell yeah, man." I say. "I'll let you know what my schedule's like." "Heh, knowing you, I won't hold my breath." "Well, wouldn't want your asphyxiation on my hands." "Not that kinky?" "I didn't say that." <</if>><<if $ch1p14 is 3>>"We Smashing, or smashing?" I ask playfully. "I'm always down for either." Lance responds, lip quirking. "I'll wear my //nice// underwear, then." I say. "Dunno what my schedule's like yet, though. So I'll let you know." "Heh, knowing you, I won't hold my breath." "Well, wouldn't want your asphyxiation on my hands." "Not that kinky?" "I didn't say that." <</if>>"Hey, Walker?" A voice calls out from across the room. "You mind helping with the winch?" "Sounds like its time." Lance tells me, setting the wires down. "Might wanna get up there if you want first wave." I take one last drag of my cigarette before tapping out the stick on the container and sliding off. I head towards the small handful of people standing around near the door, Ara with them. The others seem to be a mix of scientists, and a couple of her assistants. She does love bossing assistants around. I shove my hands in my pockets, remaining casual in my gait as I approach. Ara turns and points at me, however. "NO. Hagen, you stay //right there//. I'm going in first." She orders, glaring daggers. I raise my hands in surrender, "Hey, don't mind me. I'm just along for the ride." "Alright, everyone back up." Lance says from his place at the winch. "Block should be stable, but just in case; smooshed scientist is the worst kind of paperwork to fill out." The group hurriedly backs up to the indicated boardwalk line, chattering excitedly amongst themselves. Only Ara and I seem to be maintaining a calm reserve; though I know she's only doing so for the sake of appearing mature and authoratative. I know she's just as eager, under than chilly exterior. Personally, I have my own reasons for feigning nonchalance. [[>Continue|Ch1p16]]

"Move, I'm gay!" I shout, barreling through the techs and dashing into the dark void of the new room. "''//HEY!//''" Ara shrieks, leaping into a run after me. "//Fuck you//, I'm gay too!" "Well, I'm bisexual, so I guess I'll wait my turn." Lance calls after us.