As you scale up the side of the facility, the repressing heat of the desert night seeping into your skin, you begin to regret accepting this job. It had taken you almost three hours to make it past the front gates and find a suitable entrance. (If you count a one hundred foot climb straight up the side of the building in the dark as suitable.) You could have gone faster, but you preferred to get in and out with no mess.
Every few feet you pause and hold yourself to the side of the building to avoid the roaming spotlights. So far no one has noticed your presence, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
In between the cracks of your clothes, sand shifts and rubs against your skin. Sweat drips down your face, soaking the fabric mask covering everything but your eyes. Your leather armor and the various weapons holstered to your thigh and slung around your back weigh you down. Your hands begin to burn through your gloves. Perhaps using a metal rope was not your best idea. Nevertheless, the thought of your future pay [[fills you with determination]] to continue.You reach the top of the building, and pull yourself over the edge and onto the roof.
It is easier to be on the same level as the lights, but you still crawl on your stomach just in case.
The hatch is in the middle of the roof and made with sleek black metal. Your sweaty hands slide, unable to find a place to grip the wheel. Even after you wipe the moisture off, it doesn't budge.
It's then that you notice the small key card station to the left of the wheel. You dig around in your pockets, grasping at the key card you had nicked off one of the perimeter guards.
(link-reveal:"Swipe the Card")[=
The red light blinks green. This time when you turn the wheel, it twists open easily. You slink through the hole, landing heavily on the floor with a wince. Hopefully no one heard that. No alarm goes off. Oddly enough, from what you could see, the security presence was pretty minimal.
The hallway is barely lit, and the dark gray walls and low ceiling make the space feel otherworldly. You can't tell what material the wall is made from, but it looks slippery. From what you can see, there are no doors.
Your priority is finding a computer station, preferably one in a secluded area. Unfortunately, your client wants a large number of files, which means it will take a while to load onto the storage device they had given you. To your frustration, they never specified what exactly the files contained. They only ever mentioned a name: Project Green. You hate flying blind, but they had promised you that the pay would increase if you didn't ask questions.
But before you do anything you'll need to find a map.
To the right, you can see an intersection in the distance. To the left, there is a dead end with a flickering light.
Which direction will you choose?
[[Go Left]]
[[Go Right]]You turn on your heel and head left, keeping your steps as soft as possible. When you reach the end of the hallway, all you can see is pannel after pannel of the wall. No windows or doors. Just a flickering light.
You start to leave when that you notice one of the back panels seems a little disconnected. Curiosity piqued, you squat down and pry the panel back more. A rectangular black card falls from its hiding spot behind the wall. You pick it up and flip it around, but it is completely blank. With a shrug, you pocket the item.
[[The Intersection]] You head right, your weapons clanging against your side. It is weird how empty this place is. You expected more resistance. Instead, it is a ghost town. It's not at all the high-security facility that your client had described.
[[The Intersection]]You shake your head and refocus. Where there is noise, there are people. You need to find a map if you want to get the job done and get paid.
But then, the clanging sound happens again. Louder. As if there is a rope tied around you, you are tugged in the direction of the noise. You try to fight against the force pulling you, but there is no use.
[[Investigate the noise]] Something calls you to investigate, a tugging in your chest. Your feet have a mind of their own as they carry you in autopilot down the hall that you originally landed in.
After a few meters, you notice the keypad and the vague outline of the door, hidden in the cracks between the panels. And above it - a small sign with three lines across it. Huh. Weird. You trace the edge of it with your gloves, digging in to see if it budges.
It doesn't.
You pull out the keycard and swipe.
[[Open the door]]The door opens with a hiss. You ready yourself for a possible ambush, but no guards come at you.
At first, you can't see anything at all, and then you look down.
There is a child on the ground, barely six or seven. Your mind goes blank when your eyes meet, his dark and guarded. He is chained to the ground, wrists worn against the metal cuffs. There is a metal ball in the far corner of the room. Your guess is that this is the source of the clanging, but you have no idea how he could have moved it.
"Hello," You say softly, glancing behind your back before slowly lowering to your knees. He says nothing, looking at you with the same mistrusting expression. You cautiously reach over for the ball and hold it up to him. "Is this yours?"
He nods slowly. Suddenly the ball is no longer in your hands, ripped from your palm by...something. You look around for a second before you see it, perfectly centered in the child's hand. A chill goes down your spine.
"How did you do that?" You say, fear and wonder edging into your tone.
//mine// The thought enters your head, foreign. You blink and gulp.
So the stories were true, you think. Growing up, the gifted were a legend, distant and fantastical. And yet, here one sits right in front of you. Their powers are mysterious. No one really knows what they are truly capable of. You have a gut feeling that, somehow, he sensed your presence and led you here.
This is much more than you were prepared for. The plan was to grab the files and go. But this - this complicates things. You're not sure what the right thing to do is, but seeing this little kid chained to the floor in this cold dark room makes something heavy settle in your chest.
[[Take the Child]]
[[Leave the Child]]You nod to yourself and sigh. You have questions, but they can wait until you're out of here. There is no way you can leave this kid. You begin to search around your body for something to safely free the child with when you are thrown against the wall. A groan escapes your mouth, the guns slung behind you dig painfully into your spine.
The child is standing up now, fury in their eyes.
//no// The thought is forced into your mind.
You hold a hand up, huffing loudly. "I wasn't trying to hurt you."
Their expression does not change.
"If you let me go I will free you." You try to speak as calmly as possible, but the pain and pressure are becoming unbearable.
They hesitate. //don't trust// It's starting to feel more natural, but every time they send a thought to you, you shiver.
"I don't know what they did to you, kid. But I have no intention of hurting you."
They purse their lips, squinting up at you. //i will look//
"Look where?"
And the something digs into your brain, like a toddler digging into sand. The feeling is indescribable. Memories flash. A flash of curly brown hair. A deep red puddle of blood. The grief. You flinch away from the kid, but they do not stop until their posture relaxes.
//okay// It feels more like a mental pat this time, a caressing apology. You gasp as they let you go from their hold, clutching your chest.
They hold their hands out, blinking innocently.
[[Free the Child]]You freeze in place, weighing your options. On the one hand, something squirms in your stomach at the thought of leaving them behind, but you're not sure if you can handle it. Not after -
You shake your head. You are in no place to be taking on a child. And a gifted one at that.
But -
They're chained up. The least you can do is free them. You begin to search around your body for something to safely free the child with when you are thrown against the wall. A groan escapes your mouth, the guns slung behind you dig painfully into your spine.
The child is standing up now, fury in their eyes.
//no// The thought is forced into your mind.
You hold a hand up, huffing loudly. "I wasn't trying to hurt you."
Their expression does not change.
"If you let me go I will free you." You try to speak as calmly as possible, but the pain and pressure are becoming unbearable.
They hesitate. //don't trust// It's starting to feel more natural, but every time they send a thought to you, you shiver.
"I don't know what they did to you, kid. But I have no intention of hurting you."
They purse their lips, squinting up at you. //i will look//
"Look where?"
And the something digs into your brain, like a toddler digging into sand. The feeling is indescribable. Memories flash. A flash of curly brown hair. A deep red puddle of blood. The grief. You flinch away from the kid, but they do not stop until their posture relaxes.
//okay// It feels more like a mental pat this time, a caressing apology. You gasp as they let you go from their hold, clutching your chest.
They hold their hands out, blinking innocently.
You cautiously step forward, cutting the metal cuffs off as gently as possible. The metal clangs against the floor, echoing in the room. They rub their wrists and look up at you.
"Best of luck getting out, kid." You say with a nod. They nod back.
[[Exit The Room]]You manage to find the plasma slicer you had hidden in your boot and you gently cut them free. It's a wonder that you don't knick them in the process as your hands are still shaking from their exploration into your thoughts.
They rub their wrists and tuck the ball into the pocket of their pants. Although they have chosen to trust you for the moment, an uneasy tension still lingers between you both.
"Let's get you out of here." You say, holding out your hand. They pause, eyes darting between your eyes and your hand. Slowly, they place their hand in yours, wrapping their small fingers around your palm.
You step out into the hallway.
But of course, it couldn't have been that easy. The moment the child comes into the hallway, a large blaring siren goes off. You are temporarily disoriented as the once clinical white lights become a flashing red. All around you, the panels of the walls open up, releasing humanoid guards into the corridor. They begin to surround you. Your free hand tightens around the gun in your holster.
The kid latches onto your leg.
"Stay behind me." You say.
[[Fight off the Soliders]]You let go of their hand, pushing them slightly back into the doorway. The moment they are out of the way, the soldiers attack. Your thoughts begin to blur as you react purely on instinct.
In such a small space, it is impossible to use your long-range weapons, so you rely on your smaller blaster and a switchblade. You manage to fend off most of their attacks; your armor saving you from the many blaster shocks. However, one guard is able to land a cut in between the joints of your armor when you look back to check on the child.
Pushing through the stinging pain, you take down the group surrounding you. Sometimes you notice that your opponents fall back or are pushed away by some invisible force. You silently thank the child for their help.
Throughout the fight, the sirens and lights continue. You know, no matter what, this is far from the end of things. Finally, when every current attacker has been vanquished, you turn around. The kid stares at you, seemingly unbothered by the pools of blood that surround you.
"Well, what do you say buddy? What should we do?"
[[Continue with the mission]]
[[Give up]]The child shrugs at your question. You pause before shaking your head at yourself.
"I forgot, you have no idea why I'm here."
They nod in agreement. You rub your fingers to your chin, considering. No matter what, getting out of here is going to be a hassle. Might as well get what you came for.
You offer your hand to the child again.
"I'll make this quick, and then we can get you out of here. Good?"
//good//
[[Break into the Control Room]]
[[Break into the Boiler Room]]The child shrugs at your question. You pause before shaking your head at yourself.
"I forgot, you have no idea why I'm here."
They nod in agreement. You rub your fingers to your chin, considering. But as you continue to look at them, drenched in blood, your heart aches. There would always be another opportunity to get the information, hell to even get another job, but you never know what could happen to the kid if you go through with it now. This child only has one life, and so far it seems to have not gone very well. You can't put them at risk more than you already have.
You offer them your hand again.
"Come on," You say, tilting your head. "Let's get you out of here."
[[Escape from the Guards]]You're already at the top of the compound, where it would make the most logical sense for the control room to be. You wander around the hallways, taking down the guards you run into. The further right you go, the busier it gets until the corridor opens up into a wider space.
However, just before the corridor, you notice a break in the wall similar to where the child had been. You swipe your card and before anyone can notice you, you duck into a small janitorial closet, hoping that it will have some kind of computer station inside.
Today must be your lucky day, as there is, in fact, a small access point. You figure it is probably used by the janitors to communicate which areas have been cleaned. You push some objects up to barricade the door. It won't hold for long if you are found, but it is better than nothing.
At the computer screen, (link-reveal:"you swipe the card.")[=
The screen turns green and lets you in. You breathe a sigh of relief. But when you go to view the files. It asks you to (link-reveal:"swipe again.")[=
The screen turns red.
[[Copy the Files]](if:(history: where its name contains "Go Left")'s length is 1)[Suddenly, you remember the black card from earlier. Slowly, you pull it out of your pocket. You are not sure if it will work or not, but it is worth a try. You insert it into the card slot. A gray circle spins in the middle of the screen. Your heart races in your chest, breaths louder than the machines whirring behind you. The screen turns bright green.
"Thank gods," You say in relief. You put your storage device into the port and begin transferring the research files.]
(if:(history: where its name contains "Go Right")'s length is 1)[You swear underneath your breath, hitting your hand against the screen. It looks like whoever had this card did not have high enough security access to see files of research results. You'll have to hack into it. Thankfully, the computer setup is similar to what you're used to. Your heart beats loudly in your chest as you enter the access codes page. There is a list of numbers at the top of the screen. 55 89 3 97 41 6 78 39.(link-reveal:"Choose the correct access code to hack the system.")[=
(link-reveal:"55 3 78 89 6 41 97 39")[=
Incorrect. Try Again.
(link-reveal:"6 39 41 3 78 55 97 89")[=
Incorrect. You have one attempt left.
(link-reveal:"97 89 78 55 41 39 6 3")[=
Correct. Access Granted.
You breathe out a sigh of relief as the screen turns green, and put your storage device into the download port.]
You try not to be impatient as the bar loads slowly. Outside, you can hear yelling, and someone begins to bang on the door.
The child’s eyes, lit up from the computer screen, stare at you. Their metal ball twisting in their hand as they play with it.
"Not long now." You say to comfort them.
//not long//
The banging on the door gets louder, starting to move the items you had used to barricade it. The bar reads at 80%.
"As soon as this is done, we will have to fight like hell okay?" You say.
The child holds up a small fist.
[[Stop the Guards]] You go back the way you came. Since you're not completing your mission, there is no point in exploring. Thankfully, it's not too far, and the hatch is still open. The sight of the dark sky spotted with stars is a relief compared to the silver walls and flashing red lights. You can hear distant yelling when you get to the hatch. Time is of the essence.
"I'm going to hoist you up first, okay? But you must wait for me until I get up. Stay low to the roof so they can't spot you."
//i will//
"Good." You hold your arms out. The kid is slow to react, but they allow themselves to be maneuvered until they are on your back. From that position, they are not that far from the ceiling
"Step on my shoulders and pull yourself up."
The kid does as their told, but their muscles are weak from lack of use. You try to help by lifting their legs up as high as you can once they have a grip on the edge. After they make it through, you begin to shed some of your weapons. They are precious to you, but ultimately, they will weigh you down. You put down the sharpshooter rifle and a blaster, two weapons that are fairly replaceable, but your heart still stings to lose them. They have served you well.
You can see the guards in the distance getting closer. You jump up, higher than you expected, as if the child gave you a small boost. The guards begin shooting at you, the heat from a blaster shot grazing your leg. Your arms strain as you get yourself a bit higher.
You reach the point where you're almost fully out when someone grabs your leg and tries to yank you down. A shout escapes your lips. The child looks at you, eyes almost panicked as you disappear back down. You fight and kick against the guards, but it's no use. They grab your other leg. Your hands claw against the side of the hatch, fingers slipping on the metal.
Right as you think this might be it, the kid grabs your arms and pulls with inhuman strength. They pull so fast your arms almost dislocate, but you feel the guards' grasp on your legs slip. The moment your legs are through, the kid shuts the hatch and looks over at you, concerned.
//okay?//
"Yeah, thanks to you, kid."
[[Go outside]](if:(history: where its name contains "Escape from the Guards")'s length is 1)[Getting down the rope with an injured leg isn't easy, but it's much easier than going up. Thankfully, the kid is big enough that they can hold onto the rope without support. You go down first and spot them as they inch down after you. Hiding against the side of the building is also more difficult. You have to time the swings of two bodies into the shadows. Somehow though, you make it down, feet gingerly landing on the sandy ground. Now all that's left is getting out of this damn facility.]
(if:(history: where its name contains "Break into the Control Room")'s length is 1)[Getting down the rope with an injured leg isn't easy, but it's much easier than going up. Thankfully, the kid is big enough that they can hold onto the rope without support. You go down first and spot them as they inch down after you. Hiding against the side of the building is also more difficult. You have to time the swings of two bodies into the shadows. Somehow though, you make it down, feet gingerly landing on the sandy ground. Now all that's left is getting out of this damn facility.]
Unlike when you entered the facility, there is no reason to be sneaky now. With the child at your side, you feel emboldened.
You keep your blaster at hand as the two of you make a break for it.(if:(history: where its name contains "Escape from the Guards")'s length is 1)[Your leg burns as you run, but you push through the pain.] (if:(history: where its name contains "Break into the Control Room")'s length is 1)[Your leg burns as you run, but you push through the pain.] It's harder to aim while running, but you shoot the guards as best you can. There are a few areas where you sneak behind crates to avoid congregated groups, but other than that it is a straight shot for the entrance.
Which of course is heavily guarded. Great.
[[The Child]]You take your chance and decide to look for a Boiler room. They tend to have controls and are less crowded than the control room.
After wandering down the hallways for a bit, occassionally taking down groups of guards who you run in to, you find a stairwell. The enterance is just a break in the panneling rather than a locked door. Similar to the room where the child was, there is a small picture with stairs on it. It seems the facility mostly communicates in picture designantions. The further you descend, the busier it gets. At one point, you pick the child up as they cannot keep up with your pace.
By the time you reach the bottom, you're exhausted. To the left, you can hear the loud whirring of the boiler room, so you run down the hall until you find a sign that resembles a boiler. You use the card you stole to get in.
The room is dark and loud. There are only a few workers inside that you can barely make out. You put the child down next to the computer station and barracade the door before getting rid of your company.
At the computer screen, (link-reveal:"you swipe the card.")[=
The screen turns green and lets you in. You breathe a sigh of relief. But when you go to view the files. It asks you to (link-reveal:"swipe again.")[=
The screen turns red.
[[Copy the Files]] (if:(history: where its name contains "Break into the Boiler Room")'s length is 1)[The door breaks open the moment the bar reaches 100 percent. You snatch the device and shove it into the pocket over your chest. Soldiers flood into the room, the lights at the ends of their weapons temporarily blinding you. Your stomach drops at the sight. How will you get out of this now?
"Hey, kid," You whisper and look down. But the kid is gone. You whip your head around, searching for them, but it is as if they vanished into thin air. Your best guess is that they found refuge behind one of the boiler machines.
"Put your hands up." One of the guards yells as the rest take aim. "If you don't cooperate we will use force."
You slowly raise your hands up, heart racing in your chest. A vicious part of your brain reminds you that this is why you try not to get involved. But it is too little too late for regrets. You hear the safety go off on one of the guard's guns, and then chaos.
Some invisible force pushes all of your attackers back all at once, as if they were hit with a tidal wave of energy. They fall over each other into a pile no longer blocking the exit, groaning in pain. The red flashing lights of the hallway spill into the room, illuminating the child as they step out from the shadows. Their hands are held up. It hits you that they are holding the guards down. You meet their eyes.
//Get out.//
You nod and run out of the room. The kid is not far behind you, slamming the doors closed without so much as a touch. From the far end of the corridor, you can see more soldiers on their way.
"I have what I came for. We need to leave."
The child nods, glaring at the wall while you run through a couple of options in your head. On your way down you couldn't spot any doors to the outside. Going back up to the roof might be your only option, but it would be very risky. You are drawn out of your thoughts by a large crashing sound. When you look up, you're met with the sight of a large hole in the wall, the child staring up at you from the outside with a smirk.
You shrug. "Well that's one way to do it."]
(if:(history: where its name contains "Break into the Control Room")'s length is 1)[Someone must have spotted you as you ducked in. Outside the room, multiple voices yell and shout, the door shaking against their anger. Every time they ram against it, the barricade slips a bit more. The door breaks open the moment the bar reaches 100 percent. The closet is so tiny that only one or two people can run in, but you spot three or more outside, armed and ready. You slip the storage device into your pocket and reach for one of your blasters.
But before you can do anything, some invisible force pushes the two guards out of the room and the rest outside onto the opposite wall. They try to fight against it, but their struggle is futile. When you look down, the kid is in front of you, holding their hands out. You silently thank your past self for taking the kid with you. The kid holds them there until you're far enough away.
The two of you go back the way you came. Thankfully, it's not too far, and the hatch is still open. The sight of the dark sky spotted with stars is a relief compared to the silver walls and flashing red lights. You can hear distant yelling when you get to the hatch. Time is of the essence.
"I'm going to hoist you up first, okay? But you must wait for me until I get up. Stay low to the roof so they can't spot you."
//i will//
"Good." You hold your arms out. The kid is slow to react, but they allow themselves to be maneuvered until they are on your back. From that position, they are not that far from the ceiling
"Step on my shoulders and pull yourself up."
The kid does as their told, but their muscles are weak from lack of use. You try to help by lifting their legs up as high as you can once they have a grip on the edge. After they make it through, you begin to shed some of your weapons. They are precious to you, but ultimately, they will weigh you down. You put down the sharpshooter rifle and a blaster, two weapons that are fairly replaceable, but your heart still stings to lose them. They have served you well.
You can see the guards in the distance getting closer. You jump up, higher than you expected, as if the child gave you a small boost. The guards begin shooting at you, the heat from a blaster shot grazing your leg. Your arms strain as you get yourself a bit higher.
You reach the point where you're almost fully out when someone grabs your leg and tries to yank you down. A shout escapes your lips. The child looks at you, eyes almost panicked as you disappear back down. You fight and kick against the guards, but it's no use. They grab your other leg. Your hands claw against the side of the hatch, fingers slipping on the metal.
Right as you think this might be it, the kid grabs your arms and pulls with inhuman strength. They pull so fast your arms almost dislocate, but you feel the guards' grasp on your legs slip. The moment your legs are through, the kid shuts the hatch and looks over at you, concerned.
//okay?//
"Yeah, thanks to you, kid."]
[[Go outside]] They spot you before you can duck behind a building, blasters aimed and ready to fire. You grab the child's hand and pull them closer to you. At the front of the group is a man in a white coat, his hands folded behind his back. He smiles when he sees you, icy cold, eyes glinting.
"Your efforts are commendable," He says. His voice is pleasant and yet simultaneously grating. "But I am afraid I will have to stop you here."
He's baiting you - that much is obvious. When you're already surrounded, there is no need for a conversation unless it's a distraction. You press your lips together behind your mask.
"What? Not much of a talker?" He says with a laugh. "I can see why you are so drawn to our little friend here."
The child's hand squeezes yours tightly. Their fear causes something to well up inside you. Something protective and fierce.
"They're coming with me." You say firmly. How you will actually make that happen is beyond you, but it's better to not let everyone else know that.
"Then you are very foolish." He replies, unphased by your stubbornness. "You may think you have some kind of idea what you are in possession of, but you do not. I am the only one who can help them."
Beside you the child has started shaking, from anger or fear - you cannot tell.
"My stance is unchanged." You say, squaring your shoulders.
"Very well then," He waves a hand over his shoulder. "Kill them."
Your heart leaps into your throat. In the millisecond between his order and the blaster fire, the world around you seems to freeze, and then it errupts. The blasters explode in the guards' hands and the crowd of people is parted, their bodies flinging against the surrounding buildings. The very ground beneath you shakes, cracking into fragments.
The child is in front of you. Their shaking has stopped. The scientist is still in the middle, now significantly scratched up. You do not know what words the child is speaking into his brain, but from the look of his expression, you have some idea. It is not surprising that he passes out.
At the end of it all, when the dust settles, the man lays on the ground, blood seeping out of his nose, his white coat tarnished by the dirt. The kid follows soon after. You race forward, catching them in your arms before they hit the ground.
Surveying the damage only one thought echos in your head.
Holy shit.
[[Take the Child With You]](enchant:?page,(background:(gradient: 0, 0,(hsl:339,0.8788,0.7412,0.65),0.5,(hsl:255,0.9301,0.7196,0.8),1,#4263eb)))Despite their age, the kid weighs nothing in your arms as you stagger over sand dunes and desert rock. You will take care of any injuries when you get back to the ship. The sun has begun to rise, painting the clouds and the sand pink as the stars blink out one by one.
The facility is a dot in the distance. Faintly you can see smoke rising from the wreckage. You are not sure how fast they will be able to recuperate and send a task force out, but you are not willing to stay around and find out. Whoever this kid is - they were important to those people.
Your ship is a few kilometers out. You will take care of any injuries and deal with the client when you get back, but it will be a while before you are safe behind its sturdy metal hull. The kid has gotten less pale as time has passed, their breathing more even.
As you crest the top of a dune, the light of the morning sun illuminates the child’s face. Your heart pangs in your chest as their eyes flutter open. You prepare yourself to be blown back, or flung away, as they stare into your eyes.
Instead, your breath catches as they rest their head against your chest, as if listening to your heart. She used to do that all the time - your daughter. This is the first time since her death that you felt so connected to another person.
//thank you for saving me//
It's at that moment you know, no matter what, you're never leaving this kid.At the intersection, you look down the two new hallways. Again, nothing. The artificial light and gray pannels seem to blend in. You cannot see an end to the hallway. For a moment, you falter. What if you get lost?
You are drawn out of your thoughts by a loud clanging noise.
[[Continue looking for a map.]]
[[Investigate the noise]]When you leave the room, the kid doesn't follow, but you keep the door open for them just in case. Luck, however, does not seem to be by your side. As much as you look around, you cannot find anything that even closely resembles a map. Meaning you'll have to take a gamble.
The best two places to check out are either the top or bottom floor. Both provide you with easy escape options, rather than being stuck on a middle floor and having to make your way back up.
The bottom floor should have an access point in the boiler room, and the top floor will have a control room.
You are currently on the top floor.
[[Stay on Current Floor]]
[[Head to Bottom Floor]]You've already run into something unrelated to your mission, so you decide to stay on the current floor to avoid any other encounters. Plus, the servers near the control room might run faster. You keep heading right, pausing before every intersection to make sure that no one spots you.
Eventually, the corridor opens up to a wider space. When you notice the opening, you stick closely to the right side of the wall. Faintly, you can hear two workers conversing. You're in the right place.
[[Find a Computer]]It takes quite a while of wandering to find a stairwell. The entrance is just a break in the paneling rather than a locked door. Similar to the room where the child was, there is a small picture with stairs on it. It seems the facility mostly communicates in picture designations. The stairwell is just as empty as the hallways. You move as fast as you can without being loud.
By the time you get to the bottom of the stairs, you are heaving for air. You lost count of how many flights of stairs there were, but it was no small number. You adjust your weapons and step into the hall. Other than being slightly colder than the top part of the building, everything is identical.
You put a hand on your blaster and begin your search for the boiler room.
[[Find a Computer]] (if:(history: where its name contains "Stay on Current Floor")'s length is 1)[However, just before the corridor, you notice a break in the wall similar to where the child had been. You swipe your card and before anyone can notice you, you duck into a small janitorial closet, hoping that it will have some kind of computer station inside.
However, as the door hisses open, you notice there is someone inside. You step in as quickly as possible before they can alert anyone of your presence. They whip around as the door closes, eyes wide. There is only so much you can do in such a small space, so you settle for at least knocking him out cold. Once he is out, you lay him on the ground and DIY a way to tie him up and cover his mouth with some rags. Then, you assess your surroundings.
Today must be your lucky day, as there is, in fact, a small access point. You figure it is probably used by the janitors to communicate which areas have been cleaned. You push some objects up to barricade the door. It won't hold for long if you are found, but it is better than nothing.
At the computer screen, (link-reveal:"you swipe the card.")[=
The screen turns green and lets you in. You breathe a sigh of relief. But when you go to view the files. It asks you to (link-reveal:"swipe again.")[=
The screen turns red.]
(if:(history: where its name contains "Head to Bottom Floor")'s length is 1)[You follow the sound of whirring machines through the halls. It grows louder the further left you go. There are more breaks in the paneling down here than on the top floor. The sound reaches its maximum when you are standing outside a break in the wall, similar to the one you found upstairs.
The room is dark and deafening. There are only a few workers inside that you can barely make out. You barricade the door before getting rid of your company. Only the few that witnessed you enter the room fight back. Aided by the lack of light and the sound, you reach the others before they can notice enough to defend themselves. Then you return to the computer station near the front door.
At the computer screen, (link-reveal:"you swipe the card.")[=
The screen turns green and lets you in. You breathe a sigh of relief. But when you go to view the files. It asks you to (link-reveal:"swipe again.")[=
The screen turns red.]
[[Download the Files]] (if:(history: where its name contains "Go Left")'s length is 1)[Suddenly, you remember the black card from earlier. Slowly, you pull it out of your pocket. You are not sure if it will work or not, but it is worth a try. You insert it into the card slot. A gray circle spins in the middle of the screen. Your heart races in your chest, breaths louder than the machines whirring behind you. The screen turns bright green.
"Thank gods," You say in relief. You put your storage device into the port and begin transferring the information.]
(if:(history: where its name contains "Go Right")'s length is 1)[You swear underneath your breath, hitting your hand against the screen. It looks like whoever had this card did not have high enough security access to see files of research results. You'll have to hack into it. Thankfully, the computer setup is similar to what you're used to. Your heart beats loudly in your chest as you enter the access codes page. There is a list of numbers at the top of the screen. 55 89 3 97 41 6 78 39.(link-reveal:"Choose the correct access code to hack the system.")[=
(link-reveal:"55 3 78 89 6 41 97 39")[=
Incorrect. Try Again.
(link-reveal:"6 39 41 3 78 55 97 89")[=
Incorrect. You have one attempt left.
(link-reveal:"97 89 78 55 41 39 6 3")[=
Correct. Access Granted.
You breathe out a sigh of relief as the screen turns green, and put your storage device into the download port.]
[[Escape the building]](if:(history: where its name contains "Stay on Current Floor")'s length is 1)[As soon as the loading bar reaches 100 percent, you hear an alarm start in the hallway.
Shit.
You tuck the storage device into the pocket on your chest and glance around. You're not sure if the alarm was triggered by you or not, but you want to stay as under the radar as possible. And the easiest way to do that would be blending in.
You look back at the janitor.
Hm. That'll do.
You hide as much as you can of your smaller weapons in the pockets of the janitor’s clothing, the rest are hidden in the cart of cleaning supplies. Unfortunately, your disguise means you cannot keep your face covered, but the facility seems big enough that people might not recognize your unfamiliar face.
It is complete chaos the moment you step outside. Guards are rushing everywhere - so many more than you had assumed there would be. They jog in clear lines, weapons cradled in their hands against their chests. You keep your head down and stay out of their way, hoping they don't go near the hallway where your escape hatch is.
The further you walk back in the direction you came from, the more you notice the signs. Some of the panels are dented, and a trail of bodies lines the hallway.
Everything hits you at once - who had escaped. Of course it was the child.
Your hands tighten on the bar of the cart and you keep walking. Nobody has bothered you yet, but your muscles remain tense regardless. You're so used to a layer of armor between you and the outside world, these flimsy fabrics make you feel naked.
When you reach the intersection you notice they all seem to be taking a right, rather than going straight (where the hatch is). You stick to the outside of the crowd, hoping you can slip away, but the moment you step out of the flow a voice calls.
"Janitor! Where do you think you are going?"
You swear under your breath and slowly turn around.
"To fix the light in this hallway, Officer." You respond slowly.
They shake their head, gesturing with their gun. "All personnel are ordered to exit the complex."
You nod and redirect your cart. At least you're going outside.]
(if:(history: where its name contains "Head to Bottom Floor")'s length is 1)[As soon as the loading bar reaches 100 percent, you hear an alarm start in the hallway.
Shit. You tuck the storage device in your pocket at your chest and glance around. There is no way to disguise yourself, as most of the plausible outfits are covered in blood. You will have to find a way out as you are. You stop and think for a second. Don't boiler rooms usually have their own exits?
Carefully as possible, you slink back to the back of the room. Sure enough, as you feel your way around, your fingertips catch a crack in the wall. You pat around more and come in contact with a keypad. You swipe your card and the door slides open to the outside.
You step off the solid metal floor and onto the soft sand.
Now all that's left is getting out of this gods-forsaken facility.]
[[the savior]](if:(history: where its name contains "Stay on Current Floor")'s length is 1)[It's easier to get away from the train of people once you are outside. The overseers congregate in the front, so no one besides the few guards around you notice when you exit the line and head to one of the smaller outer buildings, and they seem too in their heads to say anything.
You find another empty janitor's station and make quick work of changing back into your normal clothes. The weight of the leather armor calms your racing heart, protective and familiar. And your mask - oh your mask! - it is a joy to have it back on. Your identity is safe again. Once each weapon is in its designated place, you step outside. You'll have to be more cautious now, but it is worth being back in a skin you are comfortable with.]
Despite the fact that this is far from your first job, you feel anxious to get out of this place. Each time you pause and duck to hide from the lines of guards looking for the child, you get more impatient. The wall is so close but so far.
There is a break in the security where you got in, and you're almost there - just a few meters left when you notice the commotion. In between the alleyways of the buildings you see the child in the center road of the compound, surrounded by guards.
Their hands are clenched at their sides, curly hair now a matted mess. The stark lights of the compound make them look lifeless.
You feel tugged in two directions. One tells you to escape while the kid gives you the perfect reaction. But the other - the other thinks of the one you failed to protect - it thinks of //her//. And it begs you to not make the same mistake. Guilt rises in your chest, forming a ball in your throat. It's been years, but you can't get the image out of your head. It haunts you day and night. And you know if you leave, this will too.
Voice rise from the circle, the guards aim their weapons. You see a man in a white lab coat step into the middle of the circle. You need to make a decision.
(link-reveal:"Go Help the kid.")[=
Fine! Fine. You'll go help the child.
You turn on your heel. What you are about to do is very stupid and might get you both killed, but there is no time to think of a better plan. You grab your biggest blaster, adjust it in your arms, and make your way towards the confrontation.
But as you're making your first few steps, something blows you back, blows everyone back. The ground beneath you trembles, and the buildings shake. Some stones come loose, hitting the guards who had fallen over. But for some reason, they never get you. You don't know for how long it goes on. It seems like an eternity. You stay on the ground, protecting your head.
When the dust clears, the guards surrounding the child are all down. The walls and buildings in the near vicinity have effectively been crumbled to piles of rocks. You stand up slowly, supporting yourself on a nearby stone. Once you're on your feet, you stumble.
You search for the kid, scanning the road. But from where you are, you can't see them. You make your way towards the center, avoiding the bodies and clambering over the piles of rocks.
Finally, on top of the rock pile, you spot them. They are in the same place they once stood, now passed out on the ground. Your heart drops in your chest.
You scramble down the pile, desperation in your veins. You need to get there before anyone else does. When your feet hit solid ground again, you make a run for it.
The scientist nearby begins to stand up, reaching around for some kind of weapon. His hand settles on a rock before he slowly crawls towards the child. At the sight, something awakens in you. A feeling you haven't felt since you lost her.
You forget your surroundings. You forget the guns strapped to your back and thighs. You forget the knife tucked in your boot, and you dive for the scientist, hands stretched for his throat. He either didn't hear your approach or didn't care. Regardless, he is unprepared for your attack, his eyes wide in shock.
With the adrenaline rushing through you, the fight doesn't last long. Soon he is limp on the floor, skin as pale as his coat.
You disregard him and crawl desperately towards the child. You touch them gently.
"Hey, kid." Nothing.
"Hey kid, wake up." Still nothing.
Starting to feel panicked, you put two fingers to their pulse.
Badum, badum, badum.
Weak but still there.
Still there.
[[Take the Child With You]]