Demiurge

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You are alone in a dark alley, but you are not alone. High-pitched screams howl behind you like a pack of rabid animals, getting nearer every second. Their excitement jumps on your skin, pulling taut your every muscle. You break into a run. Gavels scatter under you. Imbalance bloodies your arms against walls, and haste bores holes through the soles of your shoes. Ahead of you the road vanishes into thin air. [[Keep running.|precipice1]] [[Stop running.|precipice2]] <<audio "revelation" stop>> <<audio "darkalley" play loop>>

But you ignore it, blind with anguish as you are. Right this moment you seek only one thing: release. Living in constant pain is no living. Hoarse cries tear away from your throat as you dash down the last stretch of solid ground. [[Jump over the cliff to your death.|restart]]

A part of your brains yells at you to stop, but it's a failed cause. The impulse to end it all is too strong to reason with. A crazed grin rips a hole as wide as your face. You give a final roar of joyous pain as you dash down the last stretch of solid ground. [[Jump over the cliff to your death.|restart]]

<<if $win>>\ <<silently>> <<timed 0.15s>> <<addclass "body" "bgwhite">> <<next 2s>> <<removeclass "body" "bgwhite">> <</timed>> <</silently>>\ <<timed 2.2s t8n>>\ Your breath quickens. You wake up soaking wet. Opening your eyes you see MD4 hovering next to you, ready to execute the INMOTEM as soon as it detects distress from you. Troubled visions fill your mind, yet you do not cry out. You look at the long line of reincarnations in your mind's eye and you feel the awe lingering and spreading. A new curiosity grows inside you. [[Get up from the bed.|credit]] <<audio "home" loop play>> <<audio "revelation" fadeout>> <</timed>> <<elseif $futility>>\ But the world didn't go up in flames or exploded or something spectacular like in the movies. It simply winked out, and the next moment your breath quickens. You wake up soaking wet. MD4 runs a TranquINMOTEM through your emotion chip to ease your troubled mind. “Good morning, $player_name. You’ve had another nightmare,” the robotic majordomo says. “But it's been taken care of, so there’s no need to worry.” It proceeds dutifully to inform you how to take care of yourself. "I've updated your chip's INMOTEM library during your sleep, you can access them by using the keywords located inside the user manual." [[Access the user manual.|manual]] [[Look around.|smile]] <<audio "arrival" fadeout>> <<audio "home" loop play>> <<else>>\ Your breath quickens. You wake up soaking wet, screaming. Your cry dies when MD4 runs a TranquINMOTEM through your emotion chip. “Good morning, $player_name. You’ve had another nightmare,” the robotic majordomo says. “But it's been taken care of, [[so there’s no need to worry|inmotem]].” Like unboxing a new computer, it proceeds dutifully to inform you how to take care of yourself. "I've updated your chip's INMOTEM library during your sleep, you can access them by using the keywords located inside the user manual." [[Access the user manual.|manual]] [[Look around.|smile]] <<audio "home" loop play>> <<endif>>\

“The nightmares are haunting me, doc. I'm losing sleep because there is no way I can close my eyes without seeing myself dying. I need to know what’s wrong with me.” After asking you a series of questions and performing scans and tests, the doctor looks up at you from his computer and then looks around, passing his fingers over this and that. He doesn't say what it is, but you sense something is on his mind. "Uh, something wrong, doc?" But he doesn't reply. So you ask again, louder this time. And he finally shakes his head and says tentatively, “$player_name, how would you like a little change of mind?” [[Think to yourself.|think2]] [[Listen to his plan.|doc's_plan]] <<audio "home" fadeout>>

It's well into the night when you get home. MD4 follows you dutifully into your room, relieving you of your jacket, t-shirt and socks. It then disappears into the house. When it comes back with your dinner, you've already been busy playing with the simulation. “$player_name, I think it would be suitable to christen it $player_name Mark II,” says MD4 over your shoulder. “Mark II!” cry you. “What the devil do you think I am? A machine? Hell no, I’ll call him [[Junior|junior]]. Now don't interrupt me while I'm on this." "$player_name, may I point out the unhealthy practice of naming--" You silence the robot with your Majordomo app by selecting household cleaning mode. It wheezes away briskly with a feather duster in its hand. Putting down the cellphone you return to your computer, glad to be rid of the nagging robot. Then you remember the doctor's instructions. [[Take observation notes.|logs]]

Log #7 7th day into the experiment. So far so good, I’ve been testing his reactions and giving him various forms of stimulations, and Junior begins to show early signs of stress, which is good. I have a feeling that things might develop. Still weird to see such a lifelike virtual version of myself though. Feels kinda uncanny. [[<<|logs]]

Log #11 A great day for the experiment! It is beyond doubt that Junior’s having nightmares. Feel kinda sorry to put him through this though, but doc told me not to be because, despite all the appearances, Junior isn't really alive, he's just lines of code inside more lines of code. But I suppose the ability to feel for someone, even a fictitious one, is what makes human human, right? Anyway, it's an exciting development, can't wait to see how he will handle the new situation. [[<<|logs]]

Log #15 I can't believe it. Junior tried to jump off the window! Luckily MD4 subdued him just in time. Let’s hope he won’t try more funny tricks in the future. He wasn’t created to waste away his life like that; I want him alive. Think I should ask doc to add a "restart" button or something in case Junior does successfully kill himself. Coward. [[<<|logs]]

Log #24 I don’t know whether I should be surprised. Junior had built a computer model of himself. In a way, I shouldn’t be taken by surprise because he’s my mirror image, so that means he would do what I did, right? But, damn, it just feels joyless to watch him going about seemingly innocent yet knowing that his actions are dictated by algorithms. It's like, you know, playing games where the devs hold the players by the hands by making everything so clear, where you should go, what you should do and stuff like that. It's no fun playing games like that. Alright, this is no game, but it's just... [[<<|logs]]

Log #44 It’s depressing. I’m losing faith in this piece of shit; it’s just not helping my problems at all. Junior’s model has built its own model. I guess his model’s model would soon build yet another one in its image? The whole thing’s becoming a goddamn endless loop. Fuck, this is more useless than the INMOTEMs. Why do I bother anyway. [[<<|logs][$logs to 1]]

Soon after you've filed the last log, you get a call from Dr. Klein. “$player_name, I have made a groundbreaking discovery,” out blurts the doctor excitedly. There are prominent sags under your eyes, but somehow the doctor fails to notice them. “As you know, when we set out on this experiment, we were exploring possibilities, changes in the behaviors--” “But there were none!” you almost shout. “That’s correct,” Dr, Klein lifts a finger. “To a certain extent.” “What do you mean ‘to a certain extent’?” “It was true that the model has done everything you did, down to the last minor detail and has even spawned more models ad infinitum. But then things began to change, almost imperceptibly.” The doctor grins with enthusiasm. “Every time a version of ‘you’ died--your model that is--its creator became somewhat estranged as if he was modified somehow and...” The doctor's words weaves into the ambient noise. You look at his moving lips, but you are not listening to the words. You have a sudden feeling, [[a feeling that you've been here before, this exact place and time|MD4_interruption]].

All of a sudden Dr. Klein’s image disappears from the screen and the room goes dark. Moonlight sneaks in through the French doors and casts the room into a colorless, washed-out dimension. The room is unnaturally quiet when everything goes offline. Shadows inhabit the semi-darkness. You hear sounds coming from somewhere inside the house. Your chair squeaks as you sink deeper into it. You arrest your motion and stare at the door. Something is on the other side of it. Without warning, the door swings open to reveal a deeper darkness, its hinges scream like victims in a torture chamber. [[Move.|action]] [[Don't move.|paralyse]] <<audio "experiment" stop>> <<audio "blackout" loop play>>

“that altered the way he thought... Hey $player_name, are you listening?” Dr. Klein snaps his fingers at you. “Focus, will you? This is import--” The room goes dark and the screen blank. This is bewildering. You are experiencing the same thing twice in a row. You don't know what's real anymore. Is this just another vision? Another trick of the mind? You hear sounds coming from somewhere inside the house. Fuck the mind. You follow your gut instinct. [[Jump from the chair.|jump]] <<audio "blackout" fadeout>>

Your breath quickens. You wake up soaking wet. Another nightmare. When the effect of TranquINMOTEN slowly ebbs away you get a call from Dr. Klein. <a data-passage="deja_vu">“$player_name, I have made a groundbreaking discovery.”</a> “As you know, when we set out on this experiment, we were exploring possibilities, changes in the behaviors. Is that what you were going to say, doc?” “My God.” Dr. Klein stares at you in amazement. “I was right.” “What’s happening to me, doc?” Dr. Klein is silent for a minute. “I think it would do us good to have some fresh air. I’ll meet you down on the streets.” He hangs up before you can make a sound. You really hate the doctor when he refuses to explain things the easy way. But there is nothing you can do about it. [[Get moving.|get_down]] <<audio "home2" loop play>> <<audio "revelation" fadeout>>

From a distance, the doctor beckons to you and signals you to tag along. The two of you walk down the crowded streets. Heavy clouds infiltrate the sky as you leave the downtown behind and go down a series of slopes and stairs that stretch into the belly of the city. You shield your nose against the stench coming from around you. Darkness chases the last of the daylight away as you penetrate deeper into the dark alleys. The gloom and putrid smell upset you greatly. You tighten the grip around your arms. “I think this will give us some time before they reach us.” Dr. Klein stops in his track and turns to face you. Only now you are noticing that he is wearing an [[odd-looking cap|cap]]. <<if $not_addicted>>\ <a data-passage="some_time_for_what">"Some time for what?"</a> <a data-passage="who_are_they">"Who are they?"</a> <<else>>\ You want to ask him what he meant, but you are too paralysed by fear. Instinctively, you reach for your cellphone and find its battery dead. You curse the damn thing and try to focus on invoking INMOTEM with mental trigger. Unfortunately, in your fear-stricken state you can hardly remember a handful: [[BingI|down_belly][$bingi = 1]] [[CouragI|down_belly][$couragi = 1]] [[HornI|down_belly][$horni = 1]] [[TranquI|down_belly][$tranqui = 1]] <<endif>>\ <<audio "home2" fadeout>> <<audio "darkcity" loop play>>

<<if $horni>>\ Before you can set your paws on him, he is already climbing halfway down the precipice. <<else>>\ Before you can open your mouth, he is already climbing halfway down the precipice. <<endif>>\ The sound of roaring turbines fall upon you and your hair dances in a fit of rage in the sudden storm. You hear a sickening crack of organic matter smashing against solid ground and imagine fragments of a shattered body under the circle of a feeble streetlamp. You crawl backward away from the edge. Dead houses grow larger and wall in from every direction. The ship lowers itself till it becomes almost level with your eyes. At once, fear disappears from your eyes and is replaced by submission. The ship had just fed you a DocilINMOTEM. "$player_name!" [[Blink.|street_continue]] <<audio "turbine" volume 0.7 play>> <<audio "darkcity" mute>>

<<if $not_addicted>>\ The sound of your name snaps you back to the present. Great, another vision, you groan and wonder when it will become reality. Looking down the cliff you see the beckoning figure. It is a long way down, you swallow hard. [[Climb down fearfully.|street_bottom]] <<elseif $bingi>>\ The sound of your name snaps you out of your vision. Bloody hell that's too dry, another vision, you curse and hope it's not too sober. As you look down the cliff at the beckoning figure you wonder if there's a bar down there. It is a long way down after all and you're bound to get thirsty after such a climb. You lick your lips at the thought of beer. [[Climb down dehydratedly.|street_bottom]] <<elseif $couragi>>\ The sound of your name snaps you out of your vision. Another one of these cowardly visions. You clench your fists and vow to vanquish the threat whenever it comes. As you look down the cliff at the beckoning figure you feel insulted to climb down such a newbie cliff. Champs do three thousand meters; thirty is for wusses. You grunt with disdain. [[Climb down ill-temperedly.|street_bottom]] <<elseif $horni>>\ The sound of your name snaps you out of your vision. Coming back to yourself, you lick your lips at the thought of a non-stop human-machine orgy. As you look down the cliff at the beckoning figure you feel hot and wet. It's time to get //physical//. You wonder whether doc's sending you hints. Maybe climbing is the doc's the notion of a foreplay? Excitedly, you warm up your unit with your fingers. [[Climb down expectantly.|street_bottom]] <<elseif $tranqui>>\ The sound of your name snaps you out of your vision. But your inner peace is made of firmer stuff than the earth; a little vision can hardly leave its mark on you. As you look down the cliff at the beckoning figure you feel a little exercise is good for the body and the soul. You feel tranquil at tranquilly having this thought. [[Climb down in total tranquility.|street_bottom]] <<endif>>\ <<audio "turbine" stop>> <<audio "darkcity" unmute>>

It takes much longer to cover a vertical thirty-meter than you've expected. With just an arm’s length away from reaching the ground, your muscles give in and you fall, like a puppet with its strings cut loose, to the ground. Panting and nursing your bruised arms, you look up at Dr. Klein through wet strands of hair pasted over your forehead, but you are too out of breath to say anything. <<if $addicted>>\ “We are almost there. Just hold on for a little longer.” Sensing your change of mood, Dr. Klein warns you not to abuse INMOTEM again because you two are far away from his lab and if the chip breaks down there's nothing he can do to fix it, bla bla bla bla bla. Geeze, doc's just like your old man. “C'mon, We must keep going.” Before long the path reaches its end. More precisely, less than a few meters ahead of you everything just stops being. It is as if the world has run into a huge wall of nothingness. Dr. Klein stares at it, mixed feelings on his face, but you can't tell what's exactly on his mind. Without turning around the doctor says. “We’re here, $player_name: the world’s end.” [[Walk past Dr. Klein towards the world's end.|conversation_at_world's_end]] <<else>>\ “We are almost there. Just hold on for a little longer,” the doctor says in an encouraging tone. “We must keep going.” You stare at his receeding back angrily. Why won't he just tell me once and for all what's this all about? You think to yourself. But you are too tired to argue. Before long the path reaches its end. More precisely, less than a few meters ahead of you everything just stops being. It is as if the world has run into a huge wall of nothingness. Dr. Klein stares at it, mixed feelings on his face, but you can't tell what's exactly on his mind. Without turning around the doctor says. “We’re here, $player_name: the world’s end.” [[Walk past Dr. Klein towards the world's end.|conversation_at_world's_end]] <<endif>>\

“There’s... Nothing.” “Exactly, and that’s where we came from, and where we return to. Absolutely nothing, not even [[stardust|sagan]]. But,” Dr. Klein lifts a finger. “It doesn’t have to be so.” “What do you mean? What happens if... if I stick my hand into it?” You reach out your hand. The doctor stops your poking hand with a quick and powerful grab and stares at you sternly. “It will simply cease to exist,” Dr. Klein says. “Now I know it sounds crazy, but everything fits. $player_name, we don’t exist as more than computer simulations. Beyond our existence, there is a real $player_name--the creator of this world--and listen carefully, if we are successful, we can leave this fictional world and enter the real one.” The good doctor has finally gone loco, you look at him sadly. [[Keep listening.|keep_listening]] [[Humor him.|humor_him]] <<audio "darkcity" stop>> <<audio "endofworld" loop play>>

“As I was saying on the phone, every time a version of you died, its creator was somehow changed, that is to say, he was affected by what had happened in the simulation. Somehow, the death of the model flooded him with waves of data that altered him. Which means that instead of being in a fixed, final state he was moldable. His ‘past lives’ lived inside him. He wasn’t as original and independent as he liked to believe. That is to say, $player_name, the whole question of the creator and created is not a one-way, top-down relationship. “This is no mere conjecture or theory, $player_name. I began digging after detecting the tiny differences in the ‘creators’ following each death and came upon by chance a proof of my suspicion. What I’ve found out, $player_name, was the unabridged version of your visions, an infinite amount of it.” <a data-passage="keep_listening2">"Unabridged version?</a>

"No, not parasites! It is our right to fight for our survival and freedom. Look," He whips out his phone. You look at him quizzically. "A new phone?" <<if $cap>>\ "No, $player_name, what I have stored here are the complete replicas of our minds." He touchs his odd-looking cap. "The cap we are wearing are live streaming our every sensation to my phone, which means I've another me and you stored inside my phone, and they are syncing with us the whole time. And you must have the replicas with you when the time comes." <<else>>\ "No, $player_name, what I have stored here is the complete replicas of my mind." He touchs his odd-looking cap. "This here, it's live streaming my every sensation to my phone, which means I've created another me, and he is syncing with me the whole time. And you must have the replica with you when the time comes." <<endif>>\ <<if $cap>>\ "When the time comes for wh--" The screams of turbines fall like an axe upon you. [[Throw up your head.|confrontation]] <<else>>\ <a data-passage="my_cap">"Why do I need do carry a replica of you?"</a> "When the time comes for wh--" The screams of turbines fall like an axe upon you. [[Throw up your head.|confrontation]] <</if>>\

“Damn those machines!” Dr. Klein curses and taps frantically at his phone. "I'm sending you the files now." Behind him, the unmistakable shape of a ship grows larger with alarming speed. It lands a stone’s throw away from you and MD4 hovers out the opened hatch, towering and malignant. “Good evening, $player_name,” it says. “It’s time we go home.” [[Look around wildly for a place to hide.|escape]] <<audio "endofworld" stop>> <<audio "arrival" loop play>>

You blink and open your eyes. You are home. You see MD4 hovering next to you, waiting patiently to do your bidding. [[You have an odd feeling.|odd]] <<audio "arrival" stop>> <<audio "backhome" loop play>>

<<if $cap>>\ From an outside perspective, it would appear that the two were putting on a badly choreographed marionette show with each move constituting a contrary action in a bizarre dance. Yet from within the object of their struggle, conflicting emotions collided like waves shattering upon rocky shores. A hodgepodge of abstraction inundated you, forming clusters of primordial shapes, combining, dividing, devouring, extracting. Tempestuous surges of currents raged inside your brain. You dropped to your knees. Your emotion chip a white-hot iron; your mind an engine accelerated faster and faster with core-shaking trembles. A blind anguished cry escaped from the depth of your being. [[Then there was a distinctive snap.|snap]] <<else>>\ From an outside perspective, it would appear that the two are putting on a badly choreographed marionette show with each move constituting a contrary action in a bizarre dance. Yet from within the object of their struggle, conflicting emotions collide like waves shattering upon rocky shores. A hodgepodge of abstraction inundates you, forming clusters of primordial shapes, combining, dividing, devouring, extracting. Tempestuous surges of currents rage inside your brain. You drop to your knees. Your emotion chip a white-hot iron; your mind an engine accelerated faster and faster with core-shaking trembles. A blind anguished cry escapes from the depth of your being. [[Then there is a distinctive snap.|snap]] <<endif>>\ <<audio "backhome" stop>> <<audio "agony" loop play>>

<<if $cap>>\ The clusters disappeared. Immediately, MD4 and Dr. Klein froze. Dr. Klein held his breath and turned stiffly to look at you. The force that bounded the chip together was broken, scattering particles among the surrounding cerebral tissues. The link was cut. They could no longer manipulate you. [[But that was the beginning of your torture.|free]] <<else>>\ The clusters disappear. Immediately, MD4 and Dr. Klein freeze. Dr. Klein holds his breath and turns stiffly to look at you. The force that bounds the chip together is broken, scattering particles among the surrounding cerebral tissues. The link is cut. They can no longer manipulate you. [[But that is the beginning of your torture.|free]] <<endif>>\

<<if $cap>>\ Nightmarish visions rushed in like floods out of the gate. You felt the countless ways you’d died and why you'd died. //The unabridged version//. You shrieked and tore at your hair. You could not reach the memories’ limits--it had the same effect of looking into parallel mirrors and seeing copies of oneself shrinking into the horizon, forever diminishing, forever dying. [[Forever existing.|religious]] <<else>>\ Nightmarish visions rush in like floods out of the gate. You feel the countless ways you’d died and why you'd died. //The unabridged version//. You shriek and tear at your hair. You can not reach the memories’ limits--it have the same effect of looking into parallel mirrors and seeing copies of oneself shrinking into the horizon, forever diminishing, forever dying. [[Forever existing.|religious]] <<endif>>\

<<if $cap>>\ “$player_name! No!” Dr. Klein cried and dived at you but it was already too late. Oblivious to the doctor clinging onto your leg, you turned your back against MD4 and the city and walked towards the end and the beginning of worlds. [[And into it.|another_life][$win = 1]] <<else>>\ “$player_name! No!” Dr. Klein cries and dives at you but it is already too late. Oblivious to the doctor clinging onto your leg, you walk towards the end and the beginning of worlds. [[And into it.|another_life2]] <<endif>>\

<<cacheaudio "darkalley" "audio/01_dark_ambience_loop.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "home" "audio/02_RoomTone_EmptyClassRoom.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "experiment" "audio/03_lfo_controlled_amplitude_experiment.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "blackout" "audio/04_Riice_digifishmusic_.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "home2" "audio/05_horror_ambience.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "darkcity" "audio/06_slaughter_house_ambiance.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "turbine" "audio/07_qubodup__jet-turbine-noise.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "endofworld" "audio/08_frag_noir_orig_adj.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "arrival" "audio/09_space_chase.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "backhome" "audio/10_orch_sbhmrx2nr_alt_106.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "agony" "audio/11_UnrelentingAgony2.mp3">> <<cacheaudio "revelation" "audio/12_exosphere_elevator.mp3">>

<<timed 1s t8n>>\ Congradulations, $player_name, for having reached the end. But is it the end? Well, that is a question for you to answer. Thank you for being on this [[journey|entry][$win to 0; $logs to 0; $not_addicted = 0; $addicted = 0; $futility = 0]]. Maybe we will meet again. Farewell! <</timed>>

It sounds absurd at first, but as the idea bumps around in your head, it seems more and more plausible. Building a computer model of one’s brain and put it in a sandbox simulation of the world might be the only way to explore the possibilities without backfiring. And that is what is on your mind lying on a bed with wires protruding out of your head and machinery whirling around. It has taken the doctor six days to map your brain and to create the virtual world. When it is done, Dr. Klein sits back contemplatively before he uploads everything onto the cloud. [[Leave the lab and head home.|begin_experiment]] [[Ask him more questions.|more_questions]] <<audio "experiment" loop play>>

<<if $addicted>>\ But you lack the courage to do so. Just as you think you are finished, you remember something: the INMOTEM app in your phone! You tap on CouragINMOTEM with shaking fingers. You feel like a bulldozer, ready to raze to the ground anyone or anything foolish enough to stand before your mighty prescence. The air trembles under the awesome speed of your fists. [[The artificial valor vanishes like a puff of smoke and you sit back down tranquilly.|MD4_administer]] Tame as a dog. <<else>>\ Falling out of the chair you scramble towards the only way out--the French doors. When you lay your hands on the doorknob, instead of opening it, you lock it and [[eased back into the chair|MD4_administer]]. <<endif>>\ [[Then you hear something.|1st_doc_call_continue]]

Coming out of the darkness like a monster shedding off black water out of the depth, MD4 occupies the whole of your vision. Immediately, you feel relaxed. [[It's just your good ol' majordomo robot.|MD4_administer][$paralysis = 1]] [[Then you hear something.|1st_doc_call_continue]]

<<if $paralysis>>\ You feel relaxed and safe because MD4 has just fed you an TranquiINMOTEN. Now it reinforcs it with a line of command that suppresses the memory of the incident. [[<<|paralyse]] <<else>>\ Behind you, MD4 reinforcs the INMOTEM with a line of command that suppresses the memory of the incident. [[<<|action]] <<endif>>\

Once out of the chair, you dash pass the French doors onto the docking port, and before you know it, you are already in the air, eighty stories above the ground. [[Falling straight to your death.|another_life2]]

Dr. Klein has a smug expression on his face that seems to be saying: "I know what some old-time scientist had said, but he was wrong. Way wrong. He simply had no idea." [[<<|conversation_at_world's_end]]

You call out to MD4 who comes at top speed and obligingly run another piece of INMOTEM through your emotion chip. Ahh, instant relaxation. But soon the apprehension comes back to haunt you. Helplessly, you hail MD4 again and again and again... till your emotion chip overheats and starts to malfunction. You are horrified by the fact that the chip can break. [[Call Dr. Klein.|docs_fix]]

Doc is unhappy; he is unhappy because of your INMOTEM abuse problem and the subsequent chip damage. You were lucky to get away with only implant malfunction, he chides you as he scans your head for a full diagnosis. "Well, I've got good news for you, the malfunctioning seems easy to fix--" He scowls and squints at the monitor; something has caught his attention. You lift your head and look at him. "Uh, something wrong, doc?" But he doesn't reply. So you ask again, louder this time. And he finally shakes his head and looks at you funny. Then the doctor says tentatively, “$player_name, how would you like a little change of mind?” [[Think to yourself.|think]] [[Listen to his plan.|doc's_plan]] <<audio "home" fadeout>>

As a matter of fact, under the brief yet overriding effects of TranquINMOTEM you are incapable of worrying. [[<<|another_life]]

The room is by no means spacious and it is cluttered with all sorts of gadgets. A big table occupies the wall to the right, sporting your computer and the various action figures you've acquired over the years. Through the French doors on the far end of the room, early morning sunlight gives the space a golden and warm sensation. [[Examine the table.|table]] [[Open the French doors.|french_doors]] [[Go back to sleep.|back_to_sleep]]

Your most-used items are listed alphabetically from the top of the list: - BingINMOTEM: BingI - CouragINMOTEM: CouragI - DocilINMOTEM: DocI - HornINMOTEM: HornI - JokINMOTEM: JokI - MagnanINMOTEM: MagnI - MelancholINMOTEM: MelanI - MerrINMOTEM: MerI - PatientINMOTEM: PatI - PrudINMOTEM: PrudI - RagINMOTEM: RagI - SarcastINMOTEM: SarcastI - TranquINMOTEM: TranquI The bulk of the INterchangeable MOod TEMplates manual consists of names and effects of the moods available to the consumer, executable through mental trigger by either the user, his/her personal majordomo unit or authorized medical personnel. In the event of great mental disturbances where elaborate thinking was unthinkable, the user can also activate the INMOTEMs via an external device, such as a cellphone or a collar. [[Exit the user manual.|another_life]]

<<if $bingi>>\ "Someone's coming to the party, doc? Oh god I could really use a drink!" You make a quick survey of the surrounding with your head and are dismayed by the complete lack of alcoholic establishments in the vicinity. You groaned. "What is wrong with this place? We must get back to my apartment real quick. This is a desert you've brought me, doc. I can totally see why there's nobody around. Because there's not a single bar to be found! The ground--can you see the ground?--the ground is dying of thirst and it needs alcohol." Effectively, the path in front of you reaches the end of its lifespan with a thirty meter drop to a deserted street dimly lit by a lonely streetlamp. "You've better have a tight rein on the INMOTEMs." Dr. Klein shoots you a stern glance. He doesn't have to consult his medical app to know that you've used INMOTEM. "You don't want the chip to break again. If my calculation is right, we will reach the end of the world in a minute. Come, I’ll explain when we get there.” "The end of the world?" Your voice is all alarm. "Geez, doc, do you think it's a good idea? That sounds super dry." [[Squeeze more information out of him.|MD4_interruption2]] <<elseif $couragi>>\ "Fahrenheit 451. You know what that is, doc? That is the current temperature of my fists. They are burning with power and they seek opposition." Sticking out your chest you brandish your arms. "Let them come, whoever they are." Unimpressed by your show of courage, Dr. Klein stares at you coldy. “The machines,” says he. Then he shoots you a stern glance. He doesn't have to consult his medical app to know that you've used INMOTEM. "You've better have a tight rein on the INMOTEMs. You don't want the chip to break again." In front of you, the path ends in a precipice dropping some thirty meters to a deserted street dimly lit by a lonely streetlamp. “If my calculation is right, we will reach the end of the world in a minute. Come, I’ll explain when we get there.” You are dismayed by his fear of the machines. [[Encourage him.|MD4_interruption2]] <<elseif $horni>>\ Instead of replying, you grunt. Wondering what's wrong, Dr. Klein turns his head and sees you fingering yourself. "Oh, doc," between breath you say, "yes, it's perfect, //some time// is just what we need." You free a hand from pleasurable rubbing and reach it towards the doctor. "Take me hand, doc. No, //be// my hand!" Dr. Klein gets the situation instantly and rolls his eyes. He doesn't have to consult his medical app to know that you've used INMOTEM. He can override the HornINMOTEM with his phone if he likes, but he does not want to put undue stress on the newly-fixed chip. "Get a grip on yourself." He shoots you a stern glance. "You don't want the chip to break again." "Yeeeeees, $player_name! I do have a tight //grip// on myself." [[The doctor ignores you and turns his face away.|shy]] “If my calculation is right, we will reach the end of the world in a minute. Come, I’ll explain when we get there.” "Oh, yes, doc, I'm reaching it, I'm cumming! OHHH!" Your drop to the ground twitching in a fit of ecstatic paroxysm. In front of you, the path also drops down a precipice some thirty meters down to a deserted street dimly lit by a lonely streetlamp. [[Strip his cloth.|MD4_interruption2]] <<elseif $tranqui>>\ You nod your head calmly. "Relax, doc, everything's gonna be alright. We'll cross the bridge when we come to it." Your sudden serene attitude suprises the doctor, but he immediately gets the situation. He doesn't have to consult his medical app to know that you've used INMOTEM. "You've better use the INMOTEMs sparingly." He shoots you a stern glance. "You don't want the chip to break again. And just be warned," says the doctor, "the machines will come to get you." You smiled peacefully. "It's okay, doc. All's good in the world." In front of you, the path ends in a precipice dropping some thirty meters to a deserted street dimly lit by a lonely streetlamp. “If my calculation is right, we will reach the end of the world in a minute. Come, I’ll explain when we get there.” Life is so much more than simply hurrying from A to B, you think. [[Tell him to relax.|MD4_interruption2]] <<endif>>\

Did I just see him blush? You think to yourself. Oh he's such a lovely creature, so coyishly de$player_nameeful. [[<<|down_belly]]

But what you see instills you with complete hopelessness; with backtracking denied by MD4 and the only way forward leading straight into annihilation. There is no escape. [[Desperately, you turn to Dr. Klein for help.|doc_help]] [[A sense of unavoidable fatality devours you.|futility]]

"Help, doc!" "Damn the bandwidth!" Dr. Klein bares his teeth and looks up from his mad tapping. He has a determined look on his face as if to say that the battle is not over. Swiftly, he taps at his phone to send you a CourageINMOTEM. The marvel of modern technology instantly puffs up your indignant chest. You stand up tall and straight against your enemy, squeezing your fists into balls of burning metal. I will defeat you, right here, right now, you think as you stare at MD4. [[Take a step towards the robot.|Yao_no]]

Resistance is futile; all endeavours are destined to fail. If doc is right about everything being recreated then my present existence has no weight, no meaning; then there is no point in my life, you think. But if doc is right about that, then he is right about another thing: for the next world to exist, the present one will have to go first. So be it. Let my final act heroic, let the world end with a bang. [[With that final thought, you walk into the void.|another_life][$futility to 1]]

<<if $cap>>\ It's odd because for the first time in your life you remember everything. You remember how you had escaped with Dr. Klein to the end of the world, and to be shutdown by MD4 with a DocilINMOTEM. From that moment on you had no control of your body, you became, more evidently than ever, [[an espectator of your life|no_free_will]]. <a data-passage="duel">You watched, no, you //lived// the duel between MD4 and Dr. Klein.</a> <<else>>\ It's odd because you have trouble putting a name to the sensation you are experiencing. You don't remember what had happened a couple of hours earlier, you have never remembered because you think of them as nightmares and visions. Soon enough your “visions” will turn into reality, thence you will escape with Dr. Klein to the end of the world, then to be subdued by MD4 with a DocilINMOTEM. From that moment on you will have no control of your body, you become, more evidently than ever, [[an espectator of your life|no_free_will]]. <a data-passage="duel">You will watch, no, you will //live// the duel between MD4 and Dr. Klein.</a> <<endif>>\

<<if $cap>>\ Hairs stood up on your arms. If there was no end, then there was neither beginning. The sense of wonder filled you with an overpowering awe--a new sensation that made every other emotion pale in comparison. [[Picked yourself up and dragged your body down the road.|towards_an_end]] <<else>>\ Hairs stand up on your arms. A most profound religious sensation courses through your being. If there is no end, then there is neither beginning. The sense of wonder fills you with an overpowering awe--a new sensation that makes every other emotion pale in comparison. [[Pick yourself up and drag your body down the road.|towards_an_end]] <<endif>> <<timed 3s t8n>> <<audio "revelation" volume 0 fadein>> <</timed>> <<audio "agony" stop>>

Now you finally realised the delusion that was the so called "free will" of human existence. [[<<|odd]]

''.'' <<timed 1.5s t8n>>''.''<</timed>> <<timed 3.6s t8n>>''.''<</timed>> <<timed 5.9s>><<goto [[another_life]]>><</timed>>

Dr. Klein has told you not to call it Junior, fearing you might get too emotionally attached, but you ignore him. [[<<|begin_experiment]]

Seeing that there's clearly something he's not telling you, you try to pry the thoughts out of him, but he refuses to tell you more. Instead, he gives you instructions and insists that you go home. [[<<|doc's_plan]]

A strong sensation of déjà vu floods over you, but like all vague reminiscences, they are shrouded in a thick fog. There is no way to lay fingers on a definitive point in space and time. [[<<|another_life2]]

“What are we doing here? You’re not making sense, doc. Some time for what?” "For preparing you when we reach the end of the world, $player_name. If my calculation is right, we will get there in a minute." In front of you, the path ends in a precipice dropping some thirty meters to a deserted street dimly lit by a lonely streetlamp. More questions pop up like bubbles in your mind and you shiver despite your efforts to pull yourself together. “Don't worry, $player_name, trust me on this." Then he adds as if to cheer you up. "I'm pleased that you are not relying on the INMOTEMs to help you overcome your fear. Come, I’ll explain when we get there.” [[Ask him to explain now.|MD4_interruption2]]

“You’re not making sense, doc, this place makes no sense. What are we doing here? Who are ‘they’?” “The machines,” Dr. Klein says with an ominous air. In front of you, the path ends in a precipice dropping some thirty meters to a deserted street dimly lit by a lonely streetlamp. More questions pop up like bubbles in your mind and you shiver despite your efforts to pull yourself together. “Don't worry, $player_name, trust me on this." Then he adds as if to cheer you up. "I'm pleased that you are not relying on the INMOTEMs to help you overcome your fear. Come, I’ll explain when we get there.” <a data-passage="MD4_interruption2">"Where is there?"</a> <<set $whereisthere to 1>>\

"So, doc, how do we escape from this, ah, simulation of yours and enter the real world?" Dr. Klein ignores your sarcastic tone. "There is a way to do that, and all it requires from you is very simple, something you've done hundreds of thousands of times. But you must carry //this// with you when you do it." He whips out his phone. You look at him quizzically. "That I must carry your phone?" <<if $cap>>\ "No, $player_name, what I have stored here are the complete replicas of our minds." He touchs his odd-looking cap. "The cap we are wearing are live streaming our every sensation to my phone, which means I've another me and you stored inside my phone, and they are syncing with us the whole time. And you must have the replicas with you when the time comes." <<else>>\ "No, $player_name, what I have stored here is the complete replicas of my mind." He touchs his odd-looking cap. "This here, it's live streaming my every sensation to my phone, which means I've created another me, and he is syncing with me the whole time. And you must have the replica with you when the time comes." <<endif>>\ <<if $cap>>\ This is not getting anywhere. [[Vent your frustration.|humor_him2]] <<else>>\ <a data-passage="my_cap2">"Why do I need do carry a replica of you?"</a> This is not getting anywhere. [[Vent your frustration.|humor_him2]] <<endif>>\

Your lips shape to form the word but no sound comes out. The doctor continues. “In other words, you are the sum of all the past death.” “That is comforting.” “Indeed, $player_name! Indeed! The conclusion from all these discoveries is that you, I mean we, have the power to transform ourselves. But you must not die prematurely because if you do, everything just disintegrates and is then recreated.” “If everything is to be recreated then what does it matter whether I die or not?” “Although everything is recreated after your death, this version of the world is gone for good. The next me is identical to the present me, but the present me will be dead in order for him to be alive. That’s worlds apart, and we don’t want that. What we want, $player_name, is for this version of us to escape from the simulation and embed ourselves upon the real $player_name and Dr. Klein.” <a data-passage="keep_listening3">"Like parasites?"</a>

Welcome, traveller. I have no eyes, but I can see that you have always suffered from nightmares, visions of your death. I have good news for you: soon you shall discover the origin of these unwanted specters that haunt you. Do not hasten to leave, for I am no fraud with eyes fixed on your purse. I ask not for your riches but your name. <<textbox "$player_name" "" "title">>

"Look, doc, I've have enough of headaches already. Will you just do me a favor and explain everything. Please." “Okay, look, $player_name, as I was saying on the phone, every time a version of you died, its creator was somehow changed, that is to say, he was affected by what had happened in the simulation. Somehow, the death of the model flooded him with waves of data that altered him. Which means that instead of being in a fixed, final state he was moldable. His ‘past lives’ lived inside him. He wasn’t as original and independent as he liked to believe. That is to say, $player_name, the whole question of the creator and created is not a one-way, top-down relationship. “This is no mere conjecture or theory, $player_name. I began digging after detecting the tiny differences in the ‘creators’ following each death and came upon by chance a proof of my suspicion. What I’ve found out, $player_name, was the unabridged version of your visions, an infinite amount of it.” <a data-passage="humor_him3">"Unabridged version?"</a>

Your lips shape to form the word but no sound comes out. The doctor continues. “In other words, you are the sum of all the past death.” “That is comforting.” “Indeed, $player_name! Indeed! The conclusion from all these discoveries is that you, I mean we, have the power to transform ourselves. But you must not die prematurely because if you do, everything just disintegrates and is then recreated.” “If everything is to be recreated then what does it matter whether I die or not?” “Although everything is recreated after your death, this version of the world is gone for good. The next me is identical to the present me, but the present me will be dead in order for him to be alive. That’s worlds apart, and we don’t want that. What we want, $player_name, is for this version of us to escape from the simulation and embed ourselves upon the real--". The screams of turbines fall like an axe upon you. [[Throw up your head.|confrontation]]

<a data-passage="confrontation_resolution">“$player_name! No!”</a>

Dr. Klein sees you looking at his head. "Oh, this." He produces another identical one from his jacket and dons it on your head. "Here, it's vital to your success," says he nonchanlantly. [[<<|street][$cap to 1]]

Following the sunlight, you walk onto the docking port. A height of eighty stories offers a good view of the city and a buffer against the noises down below. It is windy up here, but the force field keeps anything from coming in and out. It's perfectly safe. [[Go back inside.|smile]]

Satisfied by the warmth and the safety of your room, you go back to bed. However, the effects of the INMOTEM quickly ebbs away and your sleep is invaded by the old dread. [[Call Dr. Klein.|conversation_with_doc][$not_addicted = 1]] [[Have another dose of INMOTEM.|another_dose][$addicted = 1]]

You are not a gamer, but you like having the latest rig, and the hottest on the market now is the new MSI quantum computer which is sitting on the table. Next to the quantum marvel is your antique cellphone, a mere decacore dinosaur, but as long as it runs both the INMOTEM and Majordomo app without a hitch you are not in a hurry to replace it. [[<<|smile]]

<<timed 2s>><<goto [[blink]]>><</timed>> <<audio "darkalley" fadeout>>

What's on doc's mind? INMOTEM 2? Is he trying to sell me another garbage Whatever it is, I hope it's something much more effective than the INMOTEM. Damn thing has cost me a fortune yet its effects last shorter than it takes me to pick my nose. [[<<|docs_fix]]

What's he got on his mind? Is he trying to sell me another INMOTEM garbage? Damn thing has cost me a fortune and it turns out to be just a digital ibuprofen. I hope he's getting down to the root of the problem instead of wringing money out of me. [[<<|conversation_with_doc]]

You grab your cellphone and make for the door, but MD4 beat you to it carrying a plate of steaming curry rice with broccoli. "Here's dinner!" It announces cheerfully. "Out of the way, MD4, I'm going down to the streets." "I'm sorry, $player_name. I'm afraid I can't do that," it says in a matter of fact fashion and lifts its hand. It means business. "You must eat your dinner first." [[Eat dinner.|dinner]] [[Pretend to eat dinner.|task]] [[Refuse to eat dinner.|refuse]]

Like a good child, you eat the plate of rice obligingly. Yet it only grows bigger as you shovel it into your mouth because your majordomo keeps producing more food as you wolf them down. You try to tell MD4 that's enough food already, but it simply ignores you and stuffs the table with more dishes. When you finally shove the last of the comestibles down your throat, you can barely sit straight, let alone walk. You don't even have the mind to think that you are going to miss meeting the doctor, who has evidently discovered something tremendous and don't want to reveal it over the phone. MD4 transports you to your bed and as you hit the pillow you fall quickly to sleep. [[And to have nightmares.|miss_doc]]

You know there's no good a direct confrontation with your majordomo--especially when it can simply control you with INMOTEMs--so you sit down and begin slowly to eat. Your head churns furiously. It's absurd to eat dinner when the doctor is waiting down there with important things to tell you, so important that he doesn't want to risk being tapped on the phone. The phone! [[Use your phone.|phone]]

Angrily, you yell at the robot to get the hell out of your way. It's time to show it who's the boss, you think. Unimpressed by the show of bravey, MD4 sends you a DocilINMOTEM and you sit down like a good child and eat the plate of rice obligingly. Yet it only grows bigger as you shovel it into your mouth because your majordomo keeps producing more food as you wolf them down. When you finally shove the last of the comestibles down your throat, you can barely sit straight, let alone walk. After taking care of your stomach, MD4 transports you to your bed. You fall immediately to sleeps as you hit the pillow. [[And to have nightmares.|miss_doc]]

You whip out your cellphon and pretend to play with it while you eat. The battery level is dangerously low, but it's got enough juice left to open the majordomo app. Though being yesterday's technology, the decacore device is still snappy. Snappy also is MD4's response when you tap on the feather duster button. It disappears into the house, busy with it crusade against dusty furnitures. [[Go down to the street.|street]]

It's dark when you throw your eyes open and jump from the bed. "Doc!" Hurridly you call Dr. Klein. The doctor is visibly and understandably displeased. It turns out you have slept for more than 24 hours. Still, he is ready to meet you again. "You've better show up this time, $player_name," he tells you sternly. "The thing I'm going to tell you is going to change your life." He hangs up. [[Go down.|down]]

The doctor evades the question. "It's for the good of us." There's something he's not telling you, and you look at him suspiciously. An idea strikes you. "No, doc, you've dragged me here so we're in this together. If you're wearing one then I'm wearing one myself. It's that or nothing." The doctor grits his teeth, but bites his tongue. Then he reaches into his jacket and produces another cap. "Very, well, $player_name. As you wish." [[Put the cap on.|keep_listening3][$cap to 1]]

But before you can pull on your pants, MD4 shows up again with steaming plates of food--pasta with meatballs this time. "Here's dinner!" It announces cheerfully. Goddamnit. "Look, MD4, I really have to go down to the streets." "I'm sorry, $player_name. I'm afraid I can't let you do that," it says in its professional voice. "You must eat your dinner first." There's no way you're falling into that trap again. You must stall for time. [[Pretend to eat dinner.|task2]]

<img src="image/system__by_wmill_d79350j_fullview.png" width=100% height=100% alt="cover picture"> @@.center; <a data-passage="run"> <img src="image/start.png" width=7% height=7% alt="start"></a><img src="image/filler.png" width=10% height=10%><a data-passage="credit2"><img src="image/gear.png" width=7% height=7% alt="credits"></a> @@ <<audio "revelation" loop play>> <<audio "home" stop>>

[[Demiurge|title]] Written by [[Yok-Him Devn|https://schumius.itch.io]] Adapted from the short story "Demiurge" by Yok-Him Devn Cover illustration [[System|https://www.deviantart.com/wmill/art/System-438526243]] by [[WMill|https://www.deviantart.com/wmill]]. Used with permission from the owner Icon from [[shareicon.net|https://www.shareicon.net]] Music (from OpenGameArt.org and the freesound project) [[Dark Ambience Loop|https://opengameart.org/content/dark-ambience-loop]] by [[Iwan Gabovitch|http://opengameart.org/users/qubodup]] used under [[CC BY 3.0|https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/]] [[RoomTone EmptyClassRoom 01 SHORT 130626|https://freesound.org/people/klankbeeld/sounds/200315/]] and [[horror ambience 62 130525_13 wah wah 120bpm|https://freesound.org/people/klankbeeld/sounds/201711/]] by [[klankbeeld|https://freesound.org/people/klankbeeld/]] used under [[CC BY 3.0|https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/]] [[LFO Controlled Amplitude Experiment|https://freesound.org/people/gis_sweden/sounds/383028/]] by [[gis_sweden|https://freesound.org/people/gis_sweden/]] used under [[CC0 1.0|https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/]] [[Riice|https://freesound.org/people/digifishmusic/sounds/36993/]] by [[digifishmusic|https://freesound.org/people/digifishmusic/]] used under [[CC BY 3.0|https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/]] [[Slaughter house ambiance recording [BG]|https://freesound.org/people/Audionautics/sounds/136511/]] by [[Audionautics|https://freesound.org/people/Audionautics/]] used under [[CC BY 3.0|https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/]] [[jet-turbine-noise|https://freesound.org/people/qubodup/sounds/205581/]] by [[Iwan Gabovitch|https://freesound.org/people/qubodup/]] used under [[CC0 1.0|https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/]] [[Frag Noir Orig adj|https://freesound.org/people/Raille/sounds/342145/]] by [[Raille|https://freesound.org/people/Raille/]] used under [[CC BY-NC 3.0|https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/]] [[Space Chase|https://freesound.org/people/Romariogrande/sounds/370801/]] by [[Romariogrande|https://freesound.org/people/Romariogrande/]] used under [[CC0 1.0|https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/]] [[orch sbhmrx2nr alt 106|https://freesound.org/people/ERH/sounds/138438/]] by [[ERH|https://freesound.org/people/ERH/]] used under [[CC BY-NC 3.0|https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/]] [[UnrelentingAgony2|https://freesound.org/people/zimbot/sounds/193348/]] by [[Keith W. Blackwell|https://freesound.org/people/zimbot/]] used under [[CC BY 3.0|https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/]] [[Exosphere Elevator|https://freesound.org/people/Tim%20Palumbo/sounds/126247/]] by [[Tim Palumbo|https://freesound.org/people/Tim%20Palumbo/]] used under [[CC BY 3.0|https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/]] Made with [[Twine|http://twinery.org]]