Time and Time Again...

You Find yourself Waking up on a Train... You're in a Soldier's Uniform and looking down at your Nametag... What's your name? (input:bind $name,"Chronos") [[Continue->Train2]]

(print:$name)... I'll Remember that. As you're waking up you look outside the train window to see the city that serves as a battleground. Neo-Arc City. This City was beautiful, with diverse ranges of Fantastical Species from Elf to Orc that shared the land peacefully, but that was all before the Orcish population got sick of their lot in life, and decided to break the peace to take all for themselves. They gathered around a single leader, and through Balrog, the Orcs were able to lay siege to Neo-Arc City Ever since. You've been Sent to quell the insurrection. You've heard rumors from the other fronts that the Three Captains, Captain House, Captain Overdrive, and Captain Jackal, alongside Elvish Advisor Sathrial Le Louch will lead an attack from their advanced position that will strike at the heart of Balrog's Operation and end the fighting once and for all. [[Continue->Train3]]

As you take in the Sights of the city, you're approached by your Commander, Captain Overdrive, And It looks like he's about to wake you up. He Steps up to you and claps his hands in front of your face. (set: $loops to 0) [[Open your Eyes->LoopStart]]

(text-colour:red)["Wake Up! We're Almost at the base." ] (if: $loops is 1)[(text-colour:blue)[Wait, have we been here before?]] (if: $loops is 2)[(text-colour:blue)[Okay, Looks like we're Back.]] (if: $loops >= 3)[(text-colour:blue)[How many Times do we have to do this?]] (if: $endings >= 3)[(text-colour:yellow)[Time and Time Again... No matter how hard you try, and no matter how many times you keep running through the exact same situations over and over again, HE won't let go.]] The Captain looks you up and Down, somewhat Confused. In a nicer tone he says: (text-colour:red)["I don't recognize you. What's your name?"] (text-colour:blue)["(print:$name), sir."] (text-colour:red)["Well (print:$name), you picked one hell of a time to sign up for the Neon Rising Sun." ] [["Elaborate?"->TrainExpo]] (if:$endings is 3)[[No. This Needs to End.->Ending5]]

The Captain sits down to Speak to you, just as he's about to start speaking on the situation, The Conductor comes onto the P.A. System... [[What will he say? -> TrainFight]]

"Attention all Passengers! It appears we have an Ambush on the Train! Weapons Free!" The P.A. cuts off as a horde of Orcs begin to Rush the Train through the windows and the roof. Cpt.Overdrive Runs off and orders you along with all the other soldiers to Hold them off until he Calls reinforcements. What Will you do? (if:$metJackal is not true)[[[Fight Them Off ->TrainBrave]]](else-if:$metJackal is true)[(text-colour:yellow)[It's really hard to ignore where they'll be coming from at this point.]] [[Run away! ->TrainCoward]] (if:$endings >= 1)[[Show no Mercy. ->TrainSNM]]

You and the rest of the soldiers fight off the orcs that have rushed the train. Just as all hope was thought to be lost, a radio comes into hearing and you listen in... (text-colour:orange)["This is Jackal-1 moving in to support overdrive. Too close for missiles, switching to guns." ] The reinforcements the orcs were gaining have been cut off, and it takes only a small Effort on your Part to eliminate the last of the orcs. Orc attack quelled, Jackal-1 flies back to homebase to refuel... Just then, Cpt. Overdrive comes back into the train car, finishing up a radio and heading back to address you, one of the last living soldiers on the Train. [["Who was that?"->TrainPostF]]

You begin to run away from the fighting, dodging as many orcs as possible. (if:$loops >= 2)[it's quite easy to dodge them at this point, and through your advanced attempts you're able to get away. Closing your eyes you open them only to see the darkness you'd see as per usual. (text-colour:yellow)[Seems like Running Away Isn't going to be an Option.]](else:)[As you make it through the chaos, a blade catches your backside. As you look up to see the damage, you see an orc raise their blade against you. Your eyes dialate as the blade comes down on you... ] Darkness as far as you can see. You stay their for some time, basking in darkness, wondering what went wrong... Eventually, you see a bright light in the distance. It starts to grow ever closer, until the point it's blinding. You close your eyes until you hear familar sounds and smell familiar scents. (set:$loops to $loops+1) Curious, you [[Open your Eyes->LoopStart]]

(text-colour:red)["That was the conductor. They stripped the rails on the track, train was barely holding on to it by the time we stopped. We're on foot from here, so help me get this Door Off." ] You and the captain get out of the train and after a major fall from the tracks to the ground, have to Sneak through the underbrush of the Metahuman Ghettos. It takes a long time, but you are able to make it to the camp that the Neon Rising Sun have set to garrison their troops before their planned assault. [[Continue ->TrainPostF2]]

(text-colour:blue)["Private (print:$name) Reporting for Duty, Captain!" ] (text-colour:red)["At ease, we walked in at the same time... Now, As you might've heard, this Camp is only a temporary point we have captured. Notably it's the final Checkpoint that lies between us, and Balrog." ] (text-colour:blue)["Are we planning on doing something with this advantage?" ] (text-colour:red)["You catch on quick. Yeah, thats precisely it. Me and the Other captains are planning on leading a multi-front assault on Balrog's position. Thanks to our higher manpower, we should be able to take them down, or atleast for our part anyway, lead the assault that will provide the distraction for Captain House to lead her Flanking team into the base."] (text-colour:blue)["Safe to assume I'll be on your Squad?" ] (text-colour:red)["Right again. Unless you wanted to join someone else?" ] [["No, I'll stick with you."->OverdriveA]] [["Actually, Let Me Reconsider...->TrainPostF2]]

The day of the attack has finally arrived, and as you awake, you find yourself marching towards the front lines, ready to lay down your life to distract the advancing Orc forces to provide House her way into Balrog's base. Cpt. Overdrive addresses you and the fellow defense squad, ordering to take the nearby outpost to station and garrison the forces and to hold off there. Knowing your orders and the Sun starting to rise, you begin the assault and you... [[Run towards the Fray like everyone else ->OABrave]] [[Run Away from the fighting ->OACoward]]

Some time passes, and You take the time to speak to the commanders about what they intend to do, and why they have so many troops stationed here at base... (if:$metSathrial is true)[You already know the Situation at this point, so let's just get to the point.](else:)[There were (text-colour:yellow)[(if:$metJackal is true)[4](else:)[3]] Commanders at base at the time, but one of them was always running around, always busy. He wasn't much of a talker, and honestly diddn't look much like a commander anyways, but the others insisted that he'd stay, if not from a Combative role but atleast as an advisor, as he himself is Metahuman, Elven blood specifically, having an Interpreter at Basecamp would be valuable to understand what the enemy thinks. What their mindset is.] [[Talk to Captain Overdrive ->OverdriveR]] [[Talk to the Captain House ->HouseR]] (if:$metJackal is true)[[Talk to Jackal-1 ->JackalR]] (if:$metSathrial is true)[[Find Sathrial ->SathrialR]]

(text-colour:blue)["Private (print:$name) Reporting for Duty, Captain!"] (text-colour:lime)["Oh, PLEASE, don't call me that. Just 'House' is Enough."] (text-colour:blue)["Understood, Captain House."] (text-colour:lime)["Drop the Captain, (print:$name), "] (text-colour:blue)["House, got it."] (text-colour:lime)["That's Better. Now, I Assume you wanted to Hear about the Plan from me?" ] (text-colour:blue)["There IS a Plan?"] (text-colour:lime)["Right, the Privates weren't informed. Here: let me catch you up to speed."] (text-colour:lime)["Me and Overdrive are Planning an Attack on Balrog's Base by Sunrise Tomorrow. It'll be a 2-Front attack, so you'll have to choose to either Accompany me in the Sewers to free the prisoners from Balrog's control, or Soldier Boy Up top causing the Distraction for my squad to do our work. Sound good to you?"] [["Sure, I'm Game."->HouseA]] [["Actually, Let Me Reconsider...->TrainPostF2]]

The Day of the Attack has finally Arrived, and as you awake, you Find yourself hidden among the sewers, with House and her elite squad sent to discretly Free Balrog's prisoners and to Eliminate Balrog himself. Cpt. House addresses you and the fellow stealth squad, ordering to take to the muck and dig in. Once she makes an opening, she'll signal and you'll push up with the rest. Much time Passes, and no signal comes. You swear you hear noises, but you don't think it's the signal... As a Free-Thinking Soldier, you decide to: [[Investigate ->HouseInvestigate]] [[Bunker Down and Wait ->HouseWait]]

You rush towards the nearby encampment, Orcs falling left and right as you along with the rest of the soldiers are able to establish a perimiter around a captured encampment to bunker down in to Continue the Assault. It's only then does a radio ring out from one of the other Squads. [["What's Going on? ->OABrave2]]

But of course, you couldn't handle the pressure. Running away from the fighting, you only wish to escape all the violence, but they catch up with you. You stumble and fall to a blade being plunged into you, as the Orcs don't treat kindly to Cowards, and don't take prisoners. Darkness as far as you can see. You stay their for some time, basking in darkness, wondering what went wrong... Eventually, you see a bright light in the distance. It starts to grow ever closer, until the point it's blinding. You close your eyes until you hear familar sounds and smell familiar scents. (set:$loops to $loops+1) Curious, you [[Open your Eyes->LoopStart]]

"We we're duped, Sir. They KNEW about the attack and they found a flanking route! They flanked us-" Radio silence. The Captain, wracked with plenty of Emotions, is torn on what to do. He needs your assistance. You approach the Captain and tell him what you would do... [["The sooner we end the battle, The faster we can reroute to base." ->OAContinue]] [["We're close to base still. If we fall back now, we might be able to save some people back at the base." ->OAFallback]]

(text-colour:red)["You're Right. If we we're to fall back now, House's forces would experience heavy losses and maybe not make it out at all. We have to fight to keep that distraction alive!" ] The fighting took hours. Through it all it's been silent on both the basefront and House's squad. Nevertheless, Overdrive and his men kept fighting through it all to keep the hope of tomorrow would come. Finally, as the dawn fades to dusk, House finally comes onto the radio to address you and Overdrive. [[Continue ->Finale1]]

(text-colour:red)["You're Right. There are civilians stationed at the base, we need to reduce the causalties as much as we can!"] Calling back the Assault, Cpt.Overdrive moves his forces back into the Base. It's complete chaos. The few units that were stationed there have all been defeated, without the reinforcements, they surely would've been run over. Finally, as the dawn fades to dusk, House finally comes onto the Radio to Address you and Overdrive. [[Continue ->Finale1]]

Through Pained Breaths, you hear her say: (text-colour:lime)["This is House. Overdrive, (print:$name), do you copy?"] (text-colour:red)["House! What's going on over there?" ] (text-colour:lime)["Listen: I don't think we're gonna make it here. We put all Chips on Black and we went bust." ] (text-colour:red)["What do need of me? More Support? More Distraction? Anything!" ] (text-colour:lime)["I Need you to Listen, Odie. Focus on Minimalizing Damages, I'll Focus on ending the fight. I'm sorry it had to end like this but this fight was mine to start and it should be mine to finish. Thank you Odie. Over and Out." ] The Radio sounds Subside as you hear an explosion far off in the Distance. The Building you were fighting towards fades to white as you see the aftermath of an Explosion subside, the building nowhere to be seen. The Orcs have all stopped fighting. Now no longer recieving Orders, they have no other choice but to give up and surrender, even the ones that were in the Base. The battle is over. You won. [[But at What cost? ->Ending1]]

Some Time has passed after the Battle, and in that time Cpt. Overdrive has decided to prepare a memorial grounds to honor the Fallen from the battle, and Invited you to bear witness. You see Odie standing over an Unmarked site, holding his sword he used in battle in it's scabbard. You approach, struggling to put together words but finally you say: (text-colour:blue)["We did everything we could. With what we knew at the time, theres nothing that we could change."] (text-colour:red)["But there was no reason House had to die for it. There must be something we could've done, something I Could've Changed... //If I could go back..//."] Odie falls to his knees, his body shaking as tears fall from his face. You understand theres nothing to be done now. You've said your piece and as you walk away you close your eyes to meditate on the loss, on everything before, you find yourself lost in thought. (set:$loops to $loops+1) (if:$endings is 0)[(set:$endings to $endings+1)] Eventually, you [[Open your Eyes ->LoopStart]]

Risky (and against Orders it may be) You decide to leave the others behind to investigate on why House is taking so long to issue the order. It takes a few close calls, but you are able to sneak by a side room. You don't notice the Orc that attacks you from behind, but before you're finished off, A knife is plunged into the Orc's back. The Orc is pushed aside and a Hand appears to help you up. [["House!" ->HouseInvestigate2]]

The Waiting Continues. Still more time passes and you swear those noises are getting Louder. They're Luckily coming from the opposite side of where House went, but it is still growing in size and noise? Do you decide to Stick to your guns? [[Mama Diddn't Raise a quitter ->HouseWait2]] [[Maybe I Should Check ->HouseInvestigate]]

Holding out til the very end... the bright light is going close and as they approach you hear someone who went to investigate the late. With Labored breath they say into the Radio: "We We're Duped, Sir. They KNEW about the attack and they found a Flanking Route! They Flanked us-" He gets stabbed in the back and falls to the ground, motionless. You Figured out whats going on but fight on anyways, to atleast cover House's espionage. It doesn't take long to fall, and as you do, you hear that House was atleast successful in releasing the prisoners, but couldn't help you out today... Darkness as far as you can see. You stay their for some time, basking in darkness, wondering what went wrong... Eventually, you see a bright light in the distance. It starts to grow ever closer, until the point it's blinding. You close your eyes until you hear familar sounds and smell familiar scents. (set:$loops to $loops+1) Curious, you [[Open your Eyes->LoopStart]]

(text-colour:lime)["(print:$name)! Sorry I couldn't make it back, I found the keys to release the prisoners, so I took it upon myself to get them."] Just then, both of you hear a radio call-in: "We We're Duped, Sir. They KNEW about the attack and they found a Flanking Route! They Flanked us-" The message is prematurely cut off. House looks Immediately worried. (text-colour:lime)["That Sounded like Frank! He was just down in the Sewers with us!" ] (text-colour:blue)["House, The Situation seems dire back at the homebase, something needs to be done." ] (text-colour:lime)["You're right, (print:$name). You need to leave. I have something on me that can end this." ] [["What do you mean?" ->Finale2]]

You see House unveil from her Uniform a cylindrical device. She looks at it pensively. (text-colour:lime)["This is an ULTIMATIUM Bomb. The damage will be devastating but enough to end the conflict." ] (text-colour:blue)["Do you need to arm it yourself?" ] House Pauses before answering with a Simple nod. (text-colour:lime)["I wouldn't consider trying something like this if the situation wasn't FUBAR." ] (text-colour:blue)["House, I understand that this battle hasn't gone to plan, but you don't need to resort to this!?!" ] (text-colour:lime)["$name, I've made my Peace, but I need you to live on and watch over Overdrive. This isn't an order, but a Final request for someone to look after my friend." ] Theres no point in trying to convince them, so you go back the way you came. Luckily the way was cleared out, but theres evidence of a battle happening down here. Guess that explains why nobody came after you. As you leave, you hear House struggling to get through the Orcs, she's able to get one last radio call to both you and Cpt. Overdrive... [[Listen In ->Finale1]]

They Appear in the Exact same places they appeared the last (print:$loops) times. Figuring out where they were you're able to easily clean house by placing traps and troops in all the places where they need to be. A few minutes into the Assault, and Jackal-1 flying in. "This is Jackal-1 moving in to Support Overdrive." Unlike those other times, you hear a resoponse: "Request to reinforce acknoledged, but we have the situation under control. Proceed to Base as Planned." "Understood, See you at the base, Captain." The Pilot flies off towards the Station, seemingly to rest at the base. [[We can meet him now? ->TrainSNM2]]

Some time Passes and the Train makes it to the Base. Fellow Soldiers congradulate your bravery and you're approached by Jackal-1. "I was watching from the plane. Good work out there, $name. It's time to plan the final Assault. You get some rest and the rest of us captains will fill in the details tommorrow. You did a great service today, I'm sure any of the other captains would love to have you in their ranks tomorrow." Taking his advice, you take some well-needed rest. (if: $metJackal is not true)[(text-colour:green)[This is already Different from last time. Maybe there Is a way to end this loop?]] (set:$metJackal to true) [[The Next Day... ->TrainPostF2]]

(text-colour:blue)["Private (print:$name) Reporting for Duty, Captain!" ] (text-colour:orange)["Helluva fighter out there kid. If I wasn't stuck in that plane I would've pulled out a popcorn bucket just to watch you work."] That's a nice Compliment. (text-colour:blue)["Whats the plan for the Assault, Jackal?"] (text-colour:orange)["Thanks to your efforts we were able to get a Resupply of our Forces onto the front lines. We now have the manpower to get a whole squad up in the air. Tell me, $name, How familiar are you with Flying?"] (text-colour:blue)["Wouldn't I need training?" ] (text-colour:orange)["Not with these Planes. They're driven by intent, just Think in what direction you want to fly in and the Plane will do the rest. A Kid could do it. So how about it? Want to join us in the Skies?"] [["Let's Take to the Skies"->JackalA]] [["Actually, Let Me Reconsider...->TrainPostF2]]

The Day of the Attack has finally Arrived, and as you awake, you Find yourself marching towards the Runway, with you and the rest of your squadron along with Jackal-1. Jackal takes some time to teach the basics of the Neural Interface, and you're able to grasps the controls fairly easily. After the tutorial, the alarms blare above signalling the beginning of the assault. You board your plane and as you rise into the skies, you begin the assault: [[Flying on Jackal's Tail ->JackalWingman]] [[Finding Ground Forces to Skirmish ->JackalSolo]]

You Back up Jackal in his pursuit to save Pinned ground Troops. Thanks to both your efforts, Plenty of Overdrive's Units are still alive. Suddenly, you hear a Radio come in on your Headset... [[Listen in -> Jackal2]]

You take the time to eliminate major ground forces, opening the Oportunities for Cpt. Overdrive to take outer camp easier than they had. Suddenly, you hear a Radio come in on your Headset... [[Listen in -> Jackal2]]

"We We're Duped, Sir. They KNEW about the attack and they found a Flanking Route! They Flanked us-" Radio Silence. The Captains are all shocked, But Jackal wastes no time to act. (text-colour:orange)["Jackals, I need 2 squads formed, Closest Half needs to head back towards the base and cut-off enemy reinforcements while the other half continues the assault and supports Cpt. Overdrive as planned."] The Planes split apart and you find yourself in the middle of the split. Torn on where to go, you decide to go with your gut and: [[Fly back Into the Fray ->JackalAssault]] [[Fly back towards the camp ->JackalFallback]]

Using your Superior Speed, you fly through the battlefield, blasting away as many Orcs as you can. The Ensuing battle takes hours, but eventually you hear a radio come on in your Helmet. [[Listen in ->Finale3]]

Using your Superior Speed, You rush back towards the Base to Defend off against the Assault. While providing Air Support for the Pinned down Soldiers and Civilians, you see something Suspicious moving away from the battle, and into the sewers. Could be an Orc, but it could be something more... You only have so much time to react, so you decide to: [[Continue Defending the Base ->JackalFallback2]] [[Pursue the lead ->JackalPursuit]]

Through Pained Breaths, you hear House say: (text-colour:lime)["This is House. Odie, Jackie, (print:$name), do you copy?"] (text-colour:orange)["House! What the HELL's going on over there?" ] (text-colour:lime)["Listen: I don't think we're gonna make it here. We put all Chips on Black and we went bust." ] (text-colour:red)["What do need of us? More Support? More Distraction? Anything!"] (text-colour:lime)["I Need you to Listen, you three. Focus on Minimalizing Damages, I'll Focus on ending the fight. I'm sorry it had to end like this but this fight was mine to start and it should be mine to finish. Thank you all. Over and Out."] The Radio sounds Subside as you hear an explosion far off in the Distance. The Building you were fighting towards fades to white as you see the aftermath of an Explosion subside, the building nowhere to be seen. The Orcs have all stopped fighting. Now no longer recieving Orders, they have no other choice but to give up and surrender, even the ones that were in the Base. The battle is over. You won. (text-colour:yellow)[Did you really think things would be different this time?] [[We both know what happens next. ->Ending2]]

Some Time has passed after the Battle, and in that time the Captains have decided to prepare a memorial grounds to honor the Fallen from the battle, and Invited you to bear witness. You see Odie and Jackal standing over an Unmarked site, Odie holding his sword he used in battle in it's scabbard. You approach, struggling to put together words but finally you say: (text-colour:blue)["We did everything we could. With what we knew at the time, theres nothing that we could change." ] (text-colour:red)["But there was no reason House had to die for it. There must be something we could've done, something I Could've Changed...// If I could go back//..."] Odie falls to his knees, his body shaking as tears fall from his face. Jackal puts a hand onto his Shoulder, remaining for a moment but eventually, he walks away. You close your eyes, lost in thought for a moment. Nothing Changed. Jackal's inclusion into the equation had no effect on the outcome of the battle, atleast on the front, but (text-colour:green)[there must be something I missed.] These Thoughts race for awhile, but eventually fade into action. The Sounds of the Train moving on the rails signal the it's time to begin again. (set:$loops to $loops+1) Eventually, you [[Open your Eyes ->LoopStart]]

That lead probably Wasn't important anyway. (text-colour:yellow)[Worst comes to Worst, you could always come back, right?] You continue your Defense of the base, carrying out House's wishes from the last Runs. However, you hear a radio start up on your Headset. [[Here we go again. ->Finale3]]

(text-colour:blue)["This is $name. Jackal, Saw a straggler starting to get away from the action, moving in to pursue."] (text-colour:orange)["$name, What do you mean you're pursuing? Stand down-" ] You cut the radio before he finishes chewing you out. (text-colour:blue)[Not this time. There must be something I missed from these Last times.] As you leave your Plane, you see the light from the target fade into the sewers. [[Begin the Chase ->JackalChase]]

You run into the sewers, disreguarding all Orders and senses in the Hope that something might be different. On the way to the Suspect, you see a Paper dropped on the Ground, wet from the hurried stomping away, but dropped on Accident. You don't have time to read the paper, so you pocket the Item for later. [[Continue ->Finale4]]

You Continue the Chase. The light growing closer until eventually you catch up with the footsteps of the Runner. You tackle them to the Sewage Grounds, the light they were once holding now illuminates their shrill face. While holding them down, you speak, trying to get some answers: (text-colour:blue)["Who are you?!?"] The shrill voice of a man laughs in response. A long pause hangs in the air before they respond. (text-colour:yellow)["You can call me a Rat, of sorts." ] You recognize this Man. He's the Interpreter for the Metahumans. [["//Sathrial Le Louch.//" ->Finale5]]

Another Laugh. (text-colour:blue)["We TRUSTED You! Why would you sell us out! We're the Good guys here!" ] (text-colour:yellow)["See, this is what I love about you //humans.// Always so proactive, but never inquisitive. Your people wanted to learn how we think, so I'm merely offering a taste."] (text-colour:blue)["By granting the Orcs the Open Door to slaughter us behind our backs?"] (text-colour:yellow)["By forcing you to feel the pains we all have. But now that you have, //YOU// have the chance to //Evolve//. So tell me: Would you ever be so satisfied with life that you'd let go of pain, as I have?"] Theres not much time to think as you hear a message over Sathrial's Radio: [[Listen in ->Finale6]]

Theres only one thing that Radio call means. ... Complete White envelops everything you and Sathrial see. It's quite painless, Actually. At the very least this white is somewhat different from the Darkness that started the other runs. This white is blinding but you know you have to close your eyes at some point to start the loop, so you take a moment to reorient yourself before the next run: Sathrial, the Elven Rat, is somewhat aware of these loops, //like me.// He's seemingly helping the Orcs Ambush the Human base so that they'd feel the pain of loss and "Evolve." But the Orcs need to be guided toward the ambush site. //So what if we stopped that from happening?// Alright, we might be able to stop the ambush, but how would we be able to prove that fact? After thinking for a moment, your eyes closed lost in thought, you notice your Pocket has something in it. (text-colour:green)[That's New.] Thinking you might be onto something here, you hear the familiar noises of the train cut your clear thoughts. (set:$loops to $loops+1) (if:$endings is 1)[(set:$endings to $endings+1)] Once you're ready for the next attempt, you [[Open your Eyes ->LoopStart]]

Through Pained Breaths, you hear House say: (text-colour:lime)["This is House. Odie, Jackie, (print:$name), do you copy?" ] (text-colour:red)["House! What's going on over there?" ] (text-colour:lime)["Listen: I don't think we're gonna make it here. We put all Chips on Black and we went bust."] (text-colour:red)["What do need of us? More Support? More Distraction? Any-"] Sathrial Cuts the Radio off. (text-colour:yellow)["We've already heard this enough times, havent we?"] (text-colour:blue)["That voice. You-" ] (text-colour:yellow)["It'll Only confuse you. We'll meet again, I promise."] (set:$metSathrial to true) [[See you Soon. ->Ending3]]

It takes a Moment, but by asking around the camp and following where would make sense, you eventually wait and holdout at the entrance to the sewers. Hours pass without any stimuli, but before giving up, your gumption is vindicated with Sathrial, leaving the Captains meeting with a piece of paper. The same one in your pocket. as he gets close to the entrance, you pounce. tackling the Rat caught in the act. He Laughs, confused and throughly impressed. (text-colour:yellow)["So you've found out //When I set the Ambush//, good work. But what do you think this Changes?"] (text-colour:blue)["Without the Ambush, We'll be able to do a full-frontal assault on Balrog's Castle. We WILL defeat Balrog and I WILL Break this loop!" ] (text-colour:yellow)["Did you think this loop centered around You? That's just self-absorbed. We're merely passengers along for the ride, but by all means, feign your Control. Go on, DO IT. I Dare you."] He Laughs and keeps laughing. In anger, you punch him until he's knocked out. That'll shut him up for awhile. [[Time to Go to Work ->SathrialA]]

You Deliver Sathrial to House, Jackal, and Overdrive, along with evidence to his betrayal, to the other Captains that were still gathered, finalizing plans. (text-colour:blue)["The Plan needs a re-work and this RAT is the reason why." ] You catch up the Captains to Sathrial's Plot, and what he told you both in this run, and in the last. It takes a moment for House to finally speak up. (text-colour:lime)["He plotted against us, and for what? To feel Pain?"] (text-colour:red)["Doesn't Matter right now, but $name is right, we need to do something about this." ] House and Overdrive look towards you. (text-colour:red)["Well Private, you seem to have proven yourself. Where do you wanna take this?"] [["Full Assault." -> SathrialPush]]

The Day of the Attack has finally Arrived, and as you awake, you Find yourself hidden among the sewers, with House and Overdrive in the sewers while a small Groundforce will cause a Distraction with the help of Jackal's Air Support. The Bombs Start Flying and explosions ring overhead, all three of you know that it's time to begin the Flank. Taking everything you've learnt, you lead the captains through the best route through the sewers and into the Castle, thanks to Sathrial, ironically. You and the Other Captains fight through the Orc Guards and free the prisoners, catching the Attention of the Commander Balrog himself. Throughly Enraged, Balrog speaks: "This Place shall be your final Rest. You will be given all you are owed, and I shall be your END!" [[Let's Do this ->Finale7]]

It's an Hour Long Battle. In Moments of Weakness you Urk the Captains to keep fighting, to keep Struggling. But Balrog was not strong enough to defeat the three of you, and you take him down with barely any energy left. The Battle is Over. You Won. [[Time for my Flowers ->Ending4]]

Some time passes before the parting began, and for your part, it was well worth it. Drinks were passed around, stories were shared around the campfires of the base and mood is light in the wake of despair. Your captains, Odie, House, and Jackie, invite you to drink alongside them for your unprecedented efforts in the Battles. You start to feel a sense of relief. Finally it feels like we might be able to break this loop. You hear House tell her favorite Stories about Jackie and Odie, and Odie replies with a simple plattitude: (text-colour:red)["This was all just like those old times huh? I Wish we could do this all again, huh?"] Cheers are had. But that saying, something about it feels, //Wrong.// You Close your Eyes. Hoping, Praying, that it all doesn't fade away again like it always has. Please. Not Again. I Don't think I can Handle this all over again. We already won. Jackal is here, House is Alive, Odie is happy. Why can't they all be happy? The Captains notice something wrong with you, but you don't notice. All you hear is the footfalls of shoes hitting Metal stepping towards you. It seems like they're about to wake you up. He Steps up to you and claps his hands in front of your face. (set: $loops to $loops+1) (if:$endings is 2)[(set:$endings to $endings+1)] [[Open your Eyes->LoopStart]]

(text-colour:purple)["Captain Overdrive, Odie. Please sit, I wanna talk."] Odie Sits down. (text-colour:red)["I never told you my name?"] (text-colour:purple)["We only have so Much time before the train gets ambushed, so can I please say my peace?"] Confusion is clear, all over his face. You expected this. (text-colour:purple)["Listen, this is gonna sound insane, but I've been going through a time loop for quite some time now."] Laughter erupts from the Captain. (text-colour:purple)["No Please. Listen: I've seen where this trainride goes. I know where the planned assault leads and I've seen it Succeed, and I've seen it fail. I've seen every way that this ends, and I'm tired of merely watching."] (text-colour:red)["Okay 'Time Traveler.' Wheres your proof?" ] You look to your watch. [[5 Seconds. ->Ending5a]]

You rattle off the PA system's Annoucement, then with your weapon you Decimate all the Orcs that enter the room with your eyes Closed. Odie watches on in astonishment as you do this, moving robotically, almost in a mechanical nature. Practiced. Like a well choreographed dance, this entire ambush feels like an artform. The Orcs stop funneling in and you pull out the Paper that ratted out Sathrial, and an Artifact from the interior of Balrogs Castle. (text-colour:purple)["I've been Everywhere I could be. And yet here I am Again." ] (text-colour:red)["Why?"] (text-colour:purple)["I wish I knew the answer, but I think I might have a theory."] (text-colour:red)["Go ahead. I think you've proven your platform enough."] [["I think it all stems from YOU, Sir.->Ending5b]]

You see Odie sit up from his chair, agast from the accusation that was handed out. (text-colour:red)["What gives you the right to say that?"] (text-colour:purple)["Throughout all these loops, everytime the battle Ends, no matter what the outcome was, there was always a running constant, an idea made regardless of the context around it that I think might be causing this. At first I thought it was innocuous, but now I know better."] Odie seems perplexed, but listens and responds. (text-colour:red)["Well? What is it then?"] You take a deep breath. [["Sir, How often do you find yourself holding onto the past? And how many times would you go back to revise it? Change it, make it perfect?"->Ending5c]]

You see Odie pause for a moment to think about what you said. Eventually, he looks up to you, and in a more somber tone, he says: (text-colour:red)["I think about it all the time. I worry about getting things wrong as a commander. I worry about the lasting consequences of my choices, and mostly, I worry about House. Something about her demeanor has been, sacrificial recently. I think the pressure from this war is getting to her. I want to make sure she gets out of this alive. I don't know what I'd do with myself if she were to..."] You see him pause and consider what he would say. Where his first thoughts would be if that moment were to pass. (text-colour:red)["If House were to die, I'd ask myself what I would do differently. It would wreck me knowing that there must have been something I did wrong."] Moments pass in complete silence. Odie bearing his soul to you and its hard for either for you to speak. Eventually, you respond. [["That thinking will Break you. Like it did me."->Ending5d]]

(text-colour:purple)["Odie. I've been at this Countless times. Running through every practical possibility that I Could. I LIVED the idea of trying again, and I'm sick of it. So Let me tell you, as someone whose done this enough times, that it's not worth it."] Pause. While it may clash with Odie's ideas, he sees the wear, the age, the Pain in your eyes and hears you out. (text-colour:purple)["Sure, in your head, you might have played out the perfect sequence of events that gives you everything that you wanted out of life. Everyones safe, nobody dies, everybody's happy. Replaying the past over and over again can be optimized, but can't get you anywhere past that point and time. None of what you'll ponder and theorize on what could've happened before the present moment will ever come to pass." ] [["You Need to Move On." ->Ending5e]]

Silence. You can see fear but a solemn understanding in Odie's eyes. (text-colour:purple)["It's a hard truth, but the truth none the less. Time moves whether you want it to or not. Moments will come and go. Friends will always say Goodbye one last time. You can wonder all you want, but you can't change what happens, and whether you accept it or not, time waits for no one."] A Long Pause. Odie wipes the tears from his eyes. You've said your piece. Now time to end the loop. (text-colour:red)["So, then what's next for us? How do we end this?"] (text-colour:purple)["The First time we went through this loop I think is the one eventuality that's supposed to happen. I'm sorry, but House has to Die."] Odie sees the Rammifications of this, and while tonight might not be the day where he can accept her death, he can atleast say goodbye, something he never got to do during the loop. The Train Nears the base, and as the doors swing open, you wonder if saying what you've said will actually get through to Odie, but sure enough, after the meeting, you see Odie and House find a clearing in the base where they talk for a long while. "Not everyone has a chance like this, so atleast he can have solace in the fact that he's said everything he's wanted to say" You think to yourself, relieved that Odie took your Words to heart. [[The Next Day...->Ending5f]]

The Next Day Arrives and the Battle Plays out the way it did the first time around. While you might've seen Sathrial sneak away to set up the route for the orcs, you let him go, knowing the purpose that his betrayal makes to the events. While fighting off the Orcs at the Base, you hear the Radio come on from House, as it always does. [[Listen in, one last time->Ending5g]]

Through Pained Breaths, you hear House say: (text-colour:lime)["This is House. Odie, Jackie, (print:$name), do you copy?"] (text-colour:red)["House! Are you Okay?"] (text-colour:lime)["Listen: I don't think we're gonna make it here. We put all Chips on Black and we went bust." ] (text-colour:red)["We're you able to get Prisoners?"] (text-colour:lime)["Yea, but I'm Wounded over here. The Reinforcements just keep coming, they need to be cut off." ] (text-colour:purple)["What do you suggest we do?"] (text-colour:lime)["Not so much a 'we' and more so a 'me' thing. Remember that Bomb I told you both about? I Think it's about time I use it."] Silence. Eventually Jackal chimes in. (text-colour:orange)["I'll have my Jackals move to extract the Prisoners ASAP."] Some Time Passes and Jackal Chimes in saying the captives have been resecured. But before House can detonate the ULTIMATUM bomb, Overdrive Chimes in, his voice shaky. This is it. (text-colour:red)["Base is defended here and all the Civilians are in a safe place."] (text-colour:lime)["Thank you Odie."] (text-colour:red)["Wait, House."] (text-colour:lime)["Yea, Odie?"] (text-colour:red)["Thank you. Thank you for everything. I Love you."] Pause. The Radio crackles to life one final time. (text-colour:lime)["Love ya too, Odie."] Radio static rings through your radios but that sound is cut by an explosion. It's the same as all the other times that House has done this, but still, it feels different. The Orcs have all stopped fighting. Now no longer recieving Orders, they have no other choice but to give up and surrender, even the ones that were in the Base. The battle is over. You won. [[But now it's time to honor our Fallen. ->TrueEnd]]

Months have passed after the Battle, The Captains mounting a wide restoration effort to begin the overhaul and reconstruction of all the Neo-Arc City Metahuman Ghettos. Those places are Liveable now, due to the efforts of knocking down the regime stalling those efforts. You see Odie and Jackie standing over a Gravesite. A Monolith, adorned with many names. Sensing your Approach, Odie says to you: (text-colour:red)["Was wondering when you'd finally Show up. Good to see you again, $name."] (text-colour:purple)["Sorry, Got Held up in the Traffic through Condor. Place looks alot better when it isn't a battlefield."] You take some time in solemn silence to read the names of the fallen. The Momument was made to Honor all the fallen in the battle, but of all the names on the stone, you find House's name Suspiciously Missing from the Memorial. Sensing your confusion, Jackie Chimes in. (text-colour:orange)["Looking to find House, right? Don't worry, we have something special for her."] The Captains lead you to a nearby clearing filled with flowers and a Headstone, shaped like a cabin, it reads "Amanda House. 2000-2035. May her Sacrifice be a Roof over all those she's saved." Moments pass in complete silence as the three of you appretiate the Memorial in Silence. You close your eyes, thinking back on all the events that got you there. What it took to get to this very moment, and how, no matter what happens next, you know that her sacrifice lives on through Odie, Jackie, and now, you. Eventually, you (text-colour:purple)[Open your Eyes.] ... And once you do, you and the rest of the captains all share a nice drink while looking forward to the future. THE END.