red alert

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<div id="center"><span class="blink">@@.cpu;red alert@@</span> [[Click to begin.|000]]</div>

You glance around to see if Phera and Lor, your diagnostician and your navigator, are still at their stations. <<timed 4s t8n>>Your heart sinks when you see Lor slumped over her console, and the smell of burning flesh meets you.<</timed>> <<timed 10s t8n>>You look to your left, hoping Phera is still there. You fumble with your harness, but it won't release. Pain shoots up your leg as you try to squirm out of it. Something might be broken, but you can deal with that later. You look down to find the culprit: one of the monitors broke off the wall, and it's pinning you down.<</timed>> <<timed 22s t8n>>@@.mc;"Phera?"@@ you call out. Your voice is hoarse from the smoke.<</timed>> <<set $crew to random(1, 2)>>\ <<if $crew is 1>> <<timed 26s t8n>>@@.p;"I'm here,"@@ she croaks, and follows it with a deep chested cough. You sigh with relief. @@.mc;"I'm stuck. Can you walk?"@@ @@.p;"I think so."@@ You hear her dragging herself up. Broken machinery clatters as she uses it as a handhold. Then she is by your side, blood running down the side of her face, and her red slippery hands try to [[undo your harness|003]].<</timed>> <<elseif $crew is 2>> <<timed 26s t8n>>No response. [[Call Grady.|002]]<</timed>> <</if>>

Your comm is still within arm's reach, and luckily for you, seems to still be functioning. @@.mc;"Grady? Are you okay? Where are you?"@@ <<timed 9s t8n>>@@.g;"Hey, boss."@@ His voice is weak. @@.g;"Still in Engineering. Things are looking bad down here."@@ @@.mc;"I think Lor and Phera are dead."@@ You can't stop your voice from breaking. @@.mc;"I'm pinned to my interface. I can't check on them."@@ @@.g;"They... I..."@@<</timed>> <<timed 22s t8n>>@@.g;"Don't move. I'll come to you."@@ @@.mc;"Stay in contact."@@ @@.g;"I will, boss."@@<</timed>> <<timed 29s t8n>>The alarm still blares at you. A terminal lays alongside you, its shattered screen still functioning. All you can do right now is [[check your readings.|004]]<</timed>>

@@.mc;"Have you heard from Grady?"@@ you ask her as she gives the harness a yank. You grit your teeth as the pain shoots up your leg again. Phera sighs and steps back, then reaches into her boot. You're not surprised when she pulls out a knife, and she begins sawing away at the harness. @@.p;"No. He's not answering the comm. I'll go down and check on him."@@ She steadies herself and saws harder. <<timed 17s t8n>>You look over her shoulder at Lor, who hasn't moved an inch. @@.mc;"Give me the knife,"@@ you say, almost a whisper. @@.mc;"Go check on Lor."@@<</timed>> <<timed 22s t8n>>Grimly, Phera [[presses the knife into your hand|005]], and limps over to the navigation console.<</timed>>

From the few diagnostic systems are still working, you are able to assess the damage to Malachite Rogue. @@.cpu;<<timed 0.8s t8n>>Main Power: Critical <<next>>Cabin Pressure: 4.1 psi <<next>>Life Support: 34% <<next>>Artificial Gravity: Critical <<next>>Flight Deck Temperature: 38° C <<next>>Engineering Bay Temperature: 44° C <<next>>Communications Relay: Critical <<next>>Weapons Array: Failed <<next>>Propulsion Systems: Failed <<next>>Emergency Power 1: Failed <<next>>Emergency Power 2: Failed <<next>>Emergency Power 3: 40%<</timed>>@@ <<timed 13s t8n>>Your heart thumps in your chest. You snatch up your comm again. @@.mc;"Grady? Are you still in the engineering bay?"@@<</timed>> <<timed 18s t8n>>@@.g;"No, I just left. The main doors are blocked. I'm making my way up now."@@ @@.mc;"Okay. Keep me updated. Diagnostics are critical. We don't have a lot of time."@@ @@.g;"Be there momentarily, boss."@@<</timed>> <<timed 28s t8n>>You yank at your harness again, but [[it's no use.|008]]<</timed>>

You cut yourself free from your harness. You feel almost ashamed when you think about what a waste this is of a brand new, high-tech pilot station. Phera returns to you, her eyes brimming with tears as she helps you sit up. She only gives you a solemn shake of the head. <<timed 10s t8n>>Together, you lift the monitor off your leg. You can't help but cry out from the pain. You can feel Phera's hands shaking.<</timed>> <<timed 15s t8n>>@@.mc;"Try Grady again,"@@ you tell her, panting. She pulls out her comm. @@.p;"Grady? Grady, are you okay?"@@ She looks at you desperately, but you are [[interrupted by another alert|006]]. <</timed>>

<span class="blink">@@.cpu;"Warning. Vapour leak in Engineering Bay. Warning. Vapour leak in Engineering Bay."@@</span> @@.p;"Grady's still down there,"@@ gasps Phera. <<timed 6s t8n>>@@.pulse;BOOM@@<</timed>> <<timed 7s t8n>>@@.pulse;CRASH@@<</timed>> <<timed 8s t8n>>@@.pulse;BANG@@<</timed>> <<timed 9s t8n>>You and Phera brace yourselves as Malachite Rogue shudders under the impact of the explosion. You can feel the artifical gravity begin to give way; the life support systems will soon go after it. @@.p;"We need to go,"@@ says Phera, helping you [[to your feet.|007]]<</timed>>

Walking is excruciating. But with Phera's help, you're able to make it to the exit. <<timed 5s t8n>>@@.pulse;BOOM@@<</timed>> <<timed 7s t8n>>The two of you look up at the same time as a bulkhead to your right crumples into itself. @@.mc;"Crap,"@@ you mutter. Before you realize it, Phera is dragging you in the opposite direction.<</timed>> <<timed 16s t8n>>@@.mc;"The suits are that way!"@@ you protest, but she doesn't falter. @@.p;"It's too late for the suits,"@@ says Phera, through gritted teeth.<</timed>> <<timed 22s t8n>>Then it hits you: [[the PREs|017]].<</timed>>

Your vision begins to fade back into the light. <span class="blink"><<timed 5s t8n>>@@.cpu;//beep beep beep beep beep beep beep//@@<</timed>></span> <<timed 10s t8n>>You snap into focus. The red alert is going off.<</timed>> <<timed 15s t8n>>//Fuck//. Your sensors are going haywire. You choke on a cloud of thick black smoke, and your eyes water as it stings. Sweat rolls down your brow; it's getting unbearably hot in here. And then you realize you're lying on the floor, broken cables piled atop of you. What the hell happened?<</timed>> <<timed 25s t8n>>@@.mc;"Mal?"@@ It comes out as a whisper. @@.mc;"Mal, answer me."@@<</timed>> <<timed 31s t8n>>But you no longer hear the familiar voice of your mech, Malachite Rogue.<</timed>> <<timed 36s t8n>>You need to [[check on your crew.|001]]<</timed>>

You manage to sit yourself up, dripping with sweat, which collects and soaks into your flight suit. You check your diagnostics again. <<timed 5s t8n>>@@.cpu;Flight Deck Temperature: 41° C@@<</timed>> <<timed 7s t8n>>@@.pulse;BANG@@<</timed>> <<timed 8s t8n>><span class="blink">@@.cpu;//beepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeep//@@</span><</timed>> <<timed 10s t8n>>Your sensors make a futile attempt to warn you of the hull breach, but you can already feel it. The pressure in the flight deck drops even further. It's getting harder to breathe.<</timed>> <<timed 15s t8n>>@@.g;"Boss, you alright?"@@<</timed>> <div style="float: left"><<timed 17s t8n>>[[I'm fine. How far are you?|009]]<</timed>></div><div style="float: right"><<timed 17s t8n>>[[Grady, get over to the suits. Now.|010]]<</timed>></div><div style="clear: both;"></div>

@@.g;"Sit tight. Nearly there."@@ <<timed 3s t8n>>A moment of silence passes. The comm clicks on again. @@.g;"You seen these diagnostics, boss? It, uh..."@@ @@.mc;"Yeah, I saw it, Grady."@@<</timed>> <<timed 8s t8n>>@@.g;"It looks like she's gonna blow."@@<</timed>> <<timed 13s t8n>>You close your eyes and sigh. Nothing ever gets past Grady. Now that he's said it out loud, it's real.<</timed>> <<timed 18s t8n>>You reach for your comm again. @@.mc;"Grady, my leg is broken. Phera and Lor are dead. You're the only one who can reach the suits."@@<</timed>> <<timed 23s t8n>>...<</timed>> <<timed 28s t8n>>@@.g;"Yes, boss."@@<</timed>> <<timed 32s t8n>>[[Nothing ever gets past Grady.|021]]<</timed>>

A moment of hesitation in his voice. @@.g;"I'm almost there. I'll come get you, and then we'll go get the suits."@@ <div style="float: left"><<timed 2s t8n>>[[Okay. Hurry up.|011]]<</timed>></div><div style="float: right"><<timed 2s t8n>><span id="gradysuits">[[I mean it, Grady. Don't come up any further.|012]]</span>\ <<timed 8s>><<replace "#gradysuits">>[[I mean it, Grady. Don't come up any further.|013]]<</replace>>\ <</timed>><</timed>></div><div style="clear: both;"></div> <<timed 17s>><<goto "014">><</timed>>

Another low rumble from the depths of Malachite Rogue. <<timed 5s t8n>>You close your eyes. You can still hear her, but only from memories. You've certainly heard her voice enough to imagine she is still speaking to you.<</timed>> <<timed 11s t8n>>What would she be telling you now?<</timed>> <<timed 14s t8n>>@@.mal;"Looks like I'm imploding. You should probably get out."@@<</timed>> <<timed 18s t8n>>You chuckle to yourself.<</timed>> <<timed 26s t8n>>Moments pass before you hear the scraping of the doors being [[manually pulled open.|022]]<</timed>>

He doesn't respond immediately, and you begin to wonder if he is okay. <<timed 8s t8n>>@@.g;"I see the suits. They're intact."@@<</timed>> <<timed 13s t8n>>@@.mc;"Good,"@@ is all you can manage to say.<</timed>> <<timed 18s t8n>>Another silence.<</timed>> <<timed 22s t8n>>@@.mc;"Well, I hope you got in one."@@<</timed>> <<timed 25s t8n>>You hear his laugh over the comm, and you can't help but smile as well.<</timed>> <<timed 30s t8n>>@@.g;"I just got suited up."@@<</timed>> <<timed 33s t8n>>A pause.<</timed>> <<timed 36s t8n>>@@.g;"Hey, stay on the comm with me, okay?"@@<</timed>> <<timed 41s t8n>>@@.mc;"Okay."@@<</timed>> <<timed 46s t8n>>You stare up into the cracked ceiling of the flight deck, listening to Grady's voice until the remainder Malachite Rogue's power fails, and the world falls silent.<</timed>> <div id="center"><<timed 54s t8n>>end.<</timed>> <<timed 56s t8n>>Thank you for playing.<</timed>> <<timed 62s t8n>>[[Play Again?|start][state.restart()]]<</timed>> <<timed 66s t8n>>Or make [[another choice|008]]?<</timed>> </div>

@@.g;"Well, a bit too late for that."@@ <<timed 4s t8n>>You hear scratching and thumping at the door of the flight deck. You lift your head in time to see Grady pry it open, slide into the crack, plant his legs in the frame, and fully push the door open.<</timed>> <<timed 13s t8n>>You can't decide if you should be angry at his insubordination, or relieved to see him.<</timed>> <<timed 19s t8n>>He steps into the flight deck, then stops. Phera's station was closest to the door. You turn your head, towards Lor. Your ears feel warm and wet; you can't remember if it's sweat or tears.<</timed>> <<timed 27s t8n>>A moment passes before you hear his footsteps approaching. You turn again to face him.<</timed>> <<timed 33s t8n>>Slowly, he seats himself next to you. You can only stare at him.<</timed>> <<timed 39s t8n>>@@.mc;"You could have made it,"@@ you say in a low voice.<</timed>> <<timed 43s t8n>>He shakes his head. You reach out to him, and he takes your hand.<</timed>> <<timed 47s t8n>>He locks eyes with you, and smiles faintly.<</timed>> <<timed 51s t8n>>You give his hand a squeeze.<</timed>> <<set $gradye to 2>> <<timed 556s t8n>><<goto "015">><</timed>>

You stare at the comm in your hand. Do you really have enough time? If Grady's uninjured, it wouldn't be impossible to get the both of you down to the suits. But right now, maybe Grady would have enough time to save himself. <<timed 12s t8n>>@@.g;"Boss? You still with me?"@@<</timed>> <<timed 17s t8n>>Your mouth feels dry.<</timed>> <<timed 19s t8n>>@@.mc;"Grady, y--"@@<</timed>> <<set $gradye to 1>> <<timed 21s t8n>><<goto "015">><</timed>>

<<addclass "html" "flash">>\ <<if $gradye is 1>><<timed 5s>><<goto "016">><</timed>> <<elseif $gradye is 2>><<timed 5s>><<goto "032">><</timed>><</if>>

<<removeclass "html" "flash">><<addclass "html" "space">>\ \ <<timed 5s t8n>>Space is so cold.<</timed>> <<timed 13s t8n>>It's almost refreshing, after being inside that sweltering flight deck for so long. Drops of sweat freeze solid on your brow.<</timed>> <<timed 21s t8n>>You think you make out Grady, floating in the space near the wreckage. Did he get to the suits in time? You can't tell from here.<</timed>> <<timed 29s t8n>>The last thing you see is the shattered remains of Malachite Rogue, floating aimlessly in open space. It's evident now, as you drift further and further away, just how much damage she'd taken.<</timed>> <<timed 37s t8n>>Rest well, old friend.<</timed>> <div id="center"><<timed 44s t8n>>end.<</timed>> <<timed 48s t8n>>Thank you for playing.<</timed>> <<timed 54s t8n>>[[Play Again?|start][state.restart()]]<</timed>> <<timed 58s t8n>>Or make [[another choice|010]]?<</timed>> </div>

Malachite Rogue is equipped with five space suits for four crewmen. But in the case they should fail or become inaccessible--as they have now--there is one last resort: the Personal Rescue Enclosures. Or, as Grady liked to call them, the hamster balls. <<timed 13s t8n>>PREs are considered dated technology, but you're grateful to have them now. These spherical devices once required the user to wear an oxygen mask, and even then carried only an hour's worth of oxygen. The PRE on Malachite Rogue now carries rations and three days of oxygen; ideally, long enough for a person to be rescued. That, however, is the only aspect that has changed: it still seats only one, and requires its passenger to assume a fetal position.<</timed>> <<timed 32s t8n>>You can't be sure if Phera knows, but being the pilot, you certainly are aware of the fact that [[there is only one PRE on board.|018]]<</timed>>

The PRE is easy to locate: it is unceremoniously stowed away in a cabinet among tunnels of cables and bulkheads. Phera unwraps her arm from your waist, and you lean up against the side of the cabinet as she pulls out a vinyl case. Together, you drag it into the airlock. <<timed 12s t8n>>Phera unzips the top, reaches in, and yanks the cord. You watch silently as the PRE unfolds itself, inflating into a paneled kevlar sphere.<</timed>> <<timed 19s t8n>>She stays her hand at the zipper, and looks up at you. @@.p;"Ready?"@@ @@.mc;"...what?"@@ She glances down at the PRE, and then back to you. @@.p;"There's only one, and you need someone to zip you up."@@<</timed>> <<timed 26s t8n>>[[Phera, the captain goes down with the ship. I need you to get in.|019]]<</timed>> <<timed 41s>><<goto "020">><</timed>>

@@.p;"The PRE needs to be pushed out the airlock. You're injured. Only I can do it."@@ <<timed 3s t8n>><span id="pherapre">[[I can do it. Get in.|023]]</span><</timed>> <<timed 8s t8n>><<replace "#pherapre">>[[I can do it. Get in.|024]]<</replace>><</timed>>\ <<timed 5s t8n>>She shakes her head. @@.p;"You know I'm right. You'll be rescued."@@<</timed>> <<timed 10s t8n>>Phera gently takes your arm. @@.p;"We don't have much time."@@<</timed>> <<timed 18s t8n>><<goto "025">><</timed>>

You're blinded by the searing pain from your leg as Phera helps you lower yourself into the PRE. Something in there is definitely broken, but you'll have to wait until someone rescues you. <<timed 7s t8n>>If someone rescues you.<</timed>> <<timed 12s t8n>>Through the small window of the PRE, your eyes meet Phera's. You both know she isn't going to survive this. Her expression is serene. Exhausted, but peaceful.<</timed>> <<timed 20s t8n>>You feel the lift as the PRE enters space and gravity drifts away. She's sent you off, steadily. You can still see her for a moment longer, standing in the porthole of the airlock.<</timed>> <<timed 32s t8n>>You drift away from Malachite Rogue. From this distance, you can see her in her entirety. Her arms are badly damaged, hanging from a few scraps of metal. What remains of her head is completely scorched. What happened?<</timed>> <<timed 46s t8n>>You have three days to contemplate it.<</timed>> <div id="center"><<timed 53s t8n>>end.<</timed>> <<timed 55s t8n>>Thank you for playing.<</timed>> <<timed 61s t8n>>[[Play Again?|start][state.restart()]]<</timed>> <<timed 65s t8n>>Or make [[another choice|018]]?<</timed>> </div>

You're starting to feel lightheaded. You can't tell if it's because the artifical gravity is dropping, or because the oxygen levels are dropping. Either way, you don't have much time. <<timed 5s t8n>>@@.g;"All the suits are still intact. I'll suit up and bring one to you."@@<</timed>> <<timed 10s t8n>>You shake your head, even though you know Grady can't see it. @@.mc;"Forget it, Grady. A captain goes down with their ship."@@ You turn your head to face Lor, and the world spins around her limp body.<</timed>> <<timed 18s t8n>>@@.g;"Come on, boss. This isn't the end of you. You can't give up."@@<</timed>> <<timed 23s t8n>>You struggle to draw in a breath, but you manage to say, @@.mc;"You better go, the airlock probably won't hold much longer."@@<</timed>> <<timed 31s t8n>>You start to think he has left without a word, but the comm clicks on again.<</timed>> <<timed 36s t8n>>@@.g;"It's been an honour serving with you."@@<</timed>> <<timed 41s t8n>>You smile, and your eyelids involuntarily droop.<</timed>> <<timed 50s t8n>>@@.mc;"See you later, Grady."@@<</timed>> <div id="center"><<timed 57s t8n>>end.<</timed>> <<timed 59s t8n>>Thank you for playing.<</timed>> <<timed 65s t8n>>[[Play Again?|start][state.restart()]]<</timed>> <<timed 69s t8n>>Or make [[another choice|008]]?<</timed>> </div>

You crane your head up to see Grady give the door a final shove, and he steps into the flight deck. <<timed 5s t8n>>He doesn't see you immediately. He stops at the diagnostics station first; Phera's station. Grady bends down, out of your vision, and when he rises again he wipes his eyes on his sleeve.<</timed>> <<timed 13s t8n>>@@.mc;"Grady,"@@ you call out hoarsely. The expression on his face when you sees you almost makes you regret calling attention to yourself.<</timed>> <<timed 20s t8n>>@@.mc;"Do I look that bad?"@@ You crack a smile. He can't help but laugh. He wipes his eyes on his sleeve again as he approaches you.<</timed>> <<timed 27s t8n>>@@.g;"You're going to need a new leg,"@@ he says. @@.g;"Maybe you can get one of those fancy ones. You know, with the rockets in the kneecaps."@@ You laugh, and then grimace from the pain.<</timed>> <<timed 32s t8n>>@@.mc;"Did you...how is Lor?"@@ you ask, [[turning your head to face her.|029]]<</timed>>

@@.mc;"I'm serious, Phera. We don't have time to argue."@@ <<timed 3s t8n>>She swallows hard, then nods. You unzip the PRE, and she steps in.<</timed>> <<timed 8s t8n>>She holds your eye contact for a moment. You can't think of anything to say. Her lips tremble, as if she can't either.<</timed>> <<timed 15s t8n>>[[You zip the PRE closed.|028]]<</timed>>

@@.mc;"Phera, get in the fucking ball. That's an order."@@ <<timed 4s t8n>>She bristles in a way you've never seen her do before.<</timed>> <<timed 7s t8n>>@@.pulse;BANG@@<</timed>> <<timed 10s t8n>>She looks up in the direction of the noise, but you take her arm and unzip the PRE. Hesitantly, she steps in.<</timed>> <<timed 15s t8n>>Phera looks up at you as you zip the PRE closed. You can't tell what her expression is. You can't bear to look.<</timed>> <<timed 20s t8n>>You limp over to the airlock door. Closing it is a struggle. She was right, of course.<</timed>> <<timed 24s t8n>>You can hear her voice, but you can't make out what she's saying through the kevlar.<</timed>> <<timed 29s t8n>>@@.pulse;BOOM@@<</timed>> <<timed 30s t8n>><<goto "026">><</timed>>

Your vision fades black for a moment. You can hardly stand on your feet, even aside from the fact that one of your legs is broken. The ground comes rushing towards you. <<timed 8s t8n>>You hear Phera calling your name, but your brain is all fog. Strong hands grasp you tightly. Your head swings about as she tries to lift you. Your limbs feel too heavy to pick up; you can barely even keep your eyes open.<</timed>> <<timed 18s t8n>>The last thing you are aware of is the metal floor beneath your cheek suddenly turning frigid, before the lack of gravity in open space separates you.<</timed>> <<timed 25s t8n>>You can only hope that Phera got into the PRE.<</timed>> <<timed 32s t8n>>But you'll never know.<</timed>> <div id="center"><<timed 39s t8n>>end.<</timed>> <<timed 41s t8n>>Thank you for playing.<</timed>> <<timed 47s t8n>>[[Play Again?|start][state.restart()]]<</timed>> <<timed 51s t8n>>Or make [[another choice|018]]?<</timed>> </div>

<<addclass "html" "flash">>\ <<timed 5s>><<goto "027">><</timed>>

<<removeclass "html" "flash">><<addclass "html" "space">>\ \ <<timed 8s t8n>>You're floating in empty space.<</timed>> <<timed 13s t8n>>It's not empty, not really. Pieces of shrapnel drift by you.<</timed>> <<timed 20s t8n>>The last thing you see is the white kevlar sphere, bright and pristine like the moon.<</timed>> <<timed 28s t8n>>And then the light is gone.<</timed>> <div id="center"><<timed 35s t8n>>end.<</timed>> <<timed 37s t8n>>Thank you for playing.<</timed>> <<timed 43s t8n>>[[Play Again?|start][state.restart()]]<</timed>> <<timed 47s t8n>>Or make [[another choice|018]]?<</timed>> </div>

Limping over to the airlock door, you hear Malachite Rogue groan. Somewhere, a bulkhead collapses. <<timed 7s t8n>>You push the airlock door closed. It's heavy, and your broken leg is working against you. You don't realize until it's shut that you've been screaming in pain.<</timed>> <<timed 13s t8n>>Ejecting the airlock is muscle memory at this point. You hear the hiss of depressurization. You throw the switch for the external door.<</timed>> <<timed 22s t8n>>Then, you limp over to the window and watch as the PRE drifts slowly into space.<</timed>> <<timed 28s t8n>>She is safe.<</timed>> <<timed 34s t8n>>You're panting now. The oxygen levels have dropped significantly. And it's still unbearably hot.<</timed>> <<timed 41s t8n>>You need to sit down for a minute.<</timed>> <<timed 51s t8n>>Just a minute.<</timed>> <div id="center"><<timed 58s t8n>>end.<</timed>> <<timed 60s t8n>>Thank you for playing.<</timed>> <<timed 66s t8n>>[[Play Again?|start][state.restart()]]<</timed>> <<timed 70s t8n>>Or make [[another choice|018]]?<</timed>> </div>

Grady's face turns grim when he sees Lor. He approaches the navigation console and touches her on the shoulder, gently. His hand moves to her neck. After a moment, it drops to his side. <<timed 8s t8n>>He returns to you. He doesn't meet your eyes. @@.g;"Let's get that thing off you."@@<</timed>> <<timed 14s t8n>>Grady stands above you and grasps the monitor, and you lean into it. He grunts, and you grit your teeth, trying not to scream. The pain shoots up your leg.<</timed>> <<timed 20s t8n>>@@.mc;"Grady, stop,"@@ you gasp. He releases it, panting. He sinks down onto the ground next to you. You watch as his chest rises and falls rapidly. You can tell the dropping oxygen levels are getting to him too.<</timed>> <div style="float: left"><<timed 28s t8n>>[[Go.|030]]<</timed>></div><div style="float: right"><<timed 28s t8n>>[[Stay with me.|031]]<</timed>></div><div style="clear: both;"></div>

He doesn't look at you. Aside from his shallow breathing, the only thing you hear is another structure on Malachite Rogue collapsing. <<timed 8s t8n>>Another deep rumble.<</timed>> <<timed 16s t8n>>You reach out and touch his arm, gently. He clasps his hand over yours.<</timed>> <<timed 21s t8n>>@@.mc;"Go,"@@ you say, this time in a whisper.<</timed>> <<timed 28s t8n>>He meets your eyes, finally.<</timed>> <<timed 33s t8n>>With a small nod, he releases your hand and pulls himself up.<</timed>> <<timed 39s t8n>>You try to watch him leave, to be sure that he makes it.<</timed>> <<timed 46s t8n>>But you can't keep your eyes open any longer.<</timed>> <div id="center"><<timed 53s t8n>>end.<</timed>> <<timed 55s t8n>>Thank you for playing.<</timed>> <<timed 61s t8n>>[[Play Again?|start][state.restart()]]<</timed>> <<timed 65s t8n>>Or make [[another choice|010]]?<</timed>> </div>

Without hesitation, he nods. <<timed 5s t8n>>You reach out your hand, and he takes it.<</timed>> <<timed 12s t8n>>You don't know how many more minutes the two of you had before Malachite Rogue collapsed, before the air you breathed escaped out into open space, before the lack of gravity separated you from him. But in that moment, it felt like eternity.<</timed>> <div id="center"><<timed 22s t8n>>end.<</timed>> <<timed 24s t8n>>Thank you for playing.<</timed>> <<timed 30s t8n>>[[Play Again?|start][state.restart()]]<</timed>> <<timed 34s t8n>>Or make [[another choice|010]]?<</timed>> </div>

<<removeclass "html" "flash">><<addclass "html" "space">>\ \ <div id="center"><<timed 7s t8n>>end.<</timed>> <<timed 9s t8n>>Thank you for playing.<</timed>> <<timed 15s t8n>>[[Play Again?|start][state.restart()]]<</timed>> <<timed 19s t8n>>Or make [[another choice|008]]?<</timed>> </div>