Satellite Love

<img src=http://i.imgur.com/vkf4tRV.png> SATELLITE LOVE a twine game for A GAME BY ITS COVER JAM 2016 by lindsay doebler [[START->1]]

<img src=http://i.imgur.com/B6nOr7K.png> She smiled as she approached the ship. The smooth, gleaming white hull had a pearlescent shimmer that winked at her as she approached. Fluorescents overhead illuminated every sparkling detail, from the chrome buttons and switches to the delicately patterned floor. It was bigger and more majestic than she had ever dreamed of. [[CLICK->2]]

Wide eyed, she stared out the small tinted window. Smoke and steam and flame billowed as the ship began to lift from the ground. She peeled her eyes away and looked around the viewing cabin. No one else was even watching! She turned back to the window as the smoke began to part. [[CLICK->3]]

Suddenly ocean stretched below them, the launch pad obscured entirely. Up they went until the waves lost their texture and became nothing more than an expanse of blue. The curve of the planet materialized and soon they broke through the atmosphere. Hurtling further still, eventually the planet was a blue globe, like she had had on her shelf as a child. Would the next planet be as lovely? <img src=http://i.imgur.com/S18Z6yL.png> A warm hand on her shoulder startled her from her thoughts as a man chuckled, "First time in space, little lady?" She felt her cheeks grow warm and nodded, turning back to the window but the planet was just a speck now. [[CLICK->4]]

Her bed was impossibly soft. She laid sinking into the mattress with her oversized headphones on. The darkness was the best part of space, she had decided. She never needed to worry about closing her bedroom's curtains since it was always just dark. The quiet was the second best thing. Luckily none of the stuffy-shirt politicians aboard had bugged her so far. It was a welcome change to the never-ending spotlight she got back home. <img src=http://i.imgur.com/ZUYHdGf.png> [[CLICK->5]]

A soft knock on her door pulled her unwittingly from her dreams. Disoriented, she shuffled over and opened the door. A short, disheveled sort of man stood on the other side. She recognized him as an author she had once seen in interviews. He seemed surprised that she answered as he wrung his hands for a second before clearing his throat. "Um. Hi. They told me this was your room. I just wanted to say hello. I guess. We're the only creatives they sent, so. Yeah." He coughed once more and then thrust a small scrap of paper at her before quickly turning red in the face. <img src=http://i.imgur.com/SMsGLTb.png> [[Nice response->5a]] [[Neutral response->5b]] [[Negative response->5c]]

Space wasn't everything she had thought it was when they first left the planet. It was nice at first but the dark emptynessleft her feeling lonely and above all, bored. (if: $lawrence is 1)[She and Lawrence, the author, ate their meals together but mostly sat in silence. They didn't really have much in common but the isolation they both felt pushed them together.] (else-if: $lawrence is not 1)[She never really interacted with anyone on the ship except curt nods of ackowledgement if she passed someone in a hall.] The food was surprisingly good for such a space journey. She gave a little smile every time she made a chocolate milkshake with the food replicator. [[CLICK->7]]

A week had been spent on the journey so far. They were half way to the capitol planet. A sharp knock interrupted her dreams again. She lay for a few seconds in the warm confusion of being pulled from a dream world. It had felt so real. The knock came again and this time she answered it. One of the ship's staff was there. "We've been told to alert all passengers aboard that an anomaly has occured. The ship's staff are dealing with it presently and feel it will not cause much concern or risk to the passengers. However we are informing all passengers of the occurence. It's policy." [[Wait what?->8]]

"I'm sorry, that's all I can say for now." [[CLICK->8a]]

A small smile flicked across his face. "Okay. I'll uh. Let you get back to sleep. Bye." (set: $lawrence to 1) [[CLICK->6]]

(if: $lawrence is 1)[At the next meal, Lawrence didn't come to the cafeteria. She got a small pang of concern in her gut but brushed it off. Surely it was nothing to worry about.] (else-if: $lawrence is not 1)[At the next meal, fewer people seemed to show up to the cafeteria. It seemed odd but she didn't pay it much mind.] [[CLICK->9]]

She decided to spend some time reading on the viewing deck. As comfortable as her bed was, she needed a change of scenery. While sitting in the viewing deck, she noticed a bright light begin to shine through one of the windows. The light danced pastel hues across her book's pages and she was puzzeled. They were near no suns or other ships that she knew of, so what was the light? She went to the window and saw something that she couldn't wrap her mind around. Near the side of the ship, a mass of light and shapes floated. As it bobbed up and down, the patterns of light shifted and changed. It was almost like looking at an old television set to a channel that flickered in and out between two stations, with white noise over top of it all. The images that shifted before her seemed at once alien and incredibly familiar. She became aware that she could hear some kind of sound too. Like the clunking of wooden windchimes over the dull roar of thunder. The sound sent chilling shivers down her spine. [[CLICK->10]]

Staring at the strange light produced an odd sensation in her chest - like a balloon slowly expanding and warming up. It was uncomfortable and yet compelling. She felt the increasing urge to do... something. She had no idea what, but the urgency of action was tantamount. Yet she couldn't rip her eyes away. "Ugh, no." The spell finally broke and she whipped around. Lawrence stood there, his head in his hand, looking like he hadn't slept in a day or two. "That goddamn thing. It follows me wherever I go on this ship. Shines at my curtains. Staff keeps telling me it's 'just an anomaly', some 'foreign satellite' or some bullshit. That they're 'dealing with it'." He made air quotes with his fingers and rolled his eyes. [[It's beautiful isn't it?->11]]

"Sure. But there's something not right about it. Like. Maybe it's dangerous. I dunno." [[CLICK->12]]

The next time she woke up, she still had the feeling in her chest. It was bubbling up and wanted to burst out of her throat like a song. She was pacing her room when a sharp knock came at her door. "We've been told to inform all passengers to stay away from the windows when possible. Keep curtains closed. The anomaly is... causing some interference with the electrical work. We believe that the windows are a weak point." [[This is about that light isn't it?->12a]]

"Light?" She flipped through some papers on her clipboard. "Yes. We initially thought the ship somehow hit and dragged a small satellite into space when we left the planet's orbit. Unfortunately it has since shown to be some other kind of anomaly." [[CLICK->13]]

In the cafeteria, Lawrence looked ragged. Dark bags had formed under his eyes and his hair was unkempt. He had taken to wearing his bathrobe around the ship rather than caring enough to put on new clothes each day cycle. [[Hey, is everything okay with you?->13a]]

(if: $lawrence is not 1)[He nodded sleepily and carried on eating before returning to his room without another word. [[CLICK->14]]] (else-if: $lawrence is 1)[He glanced around at the rest of the room before responding to her in a low voice. "No. That damn satellite, anomaly, whatever is seriously freaking me out. Hangs around my windows all the time. Even when I close my curtains I can hear that sound it makes and it drives me crazy." [[It sounds like windchimes. It gives me chills.->13b]]]

"What?" He looked at her like maybe she was talking about something else entirely. "No, that screeching sound it makes. Like metal rending apart. Reminds me of an accident I had when I was a kid." He grew silent, lost in his thoughts. [[CLICK->14]]

Fitful dreams left her uneasy when she next awoke. She had slept for nearly ten hours, yet she was still tired. She had dreamed she was in a car accident and she had to get her legs amputated. Still disoriented from the dream, she forgot the ship's staff's instructions and peeked out her window curtain. [[CLICK->15]]

She stumbled backwards in shock. The anomaly was right at her window. It seemed bigger than before - its shifting hues and patterns taking up the whole window. Instantly she was drawn in again. The sound of wooden chimes and rain and thunger filled her ears. Her eyes lost focus, staring into the ebb and flow of images the anomaly presented. An image of rain and waves flashed briefly and suddenly she remembered why the sounds made her shiver. When she was a little girl she survived a hurricane, hidden under the front porch. She listened to the wind chimes clatter for hours until the storm abated enough for her to climb out. It was like she was reliving it as she stood and stared at the anomaly before her. [[CLICK->16]]

[[... what?->17]]

She ached everywhere and remembered nothing. Slowly opening her eyes, she found she was on the floor of her room. A throbbing headache made itself known as she got to her feet. Piece by piece she remembered watching the anomaly but couldn't remember falling asleep or how she wound up on the ground. Looking around, she noticed the curtain had been drawn shut and her door was slightly ajar. On her bed was a small note. <img src=http://i.imgur.com/hBySPOo.png> [[CLICK->18]]

After looking everywhere else for him, she finally found Lawrence in the viewing deck. He motioned her over conspiratorially and leaned towards her as she approached. He was nearly whispering. "I found you staring at that thing in a trance. I told you it was fucking dangerous. You were twitching on the floor, just wide eyed staring at it. I closed the curtain and then you passed out." He gave a frustrated sigh and rubbed his tired looking face. "The staff doesn't seem interesting in actually dealling with it, so. So. So I think we should. Y'know. Get out there and hit it. Or something. [[What the hell are you talking about?->18a]] [[No, I don't think it's that bad. When I look at it I feel...->18a2]]

"I know the staff have walking suits. For when they need to do emergency repairs and stuff. We take them and we take some kind of gun or something from some politician's security dude. This thing is bad news, so come on." [[No, you're fucking crazy.->19a]] [[Fine, let's do this and take it out.->19b]] [[I'll go out there, but I don't think we need a gun. We can learn from it.->19c]]

"Feel like what?" [[... Like it I just get so wrapped up in it. I know it's not good but it's all I can think about.->18b]]

"Jesus you sound like you're in love with the damn satellite thing. That's how it gets you, though. Sucks you in. Does something to your brain." He snorted derisively. "Guess that's just like love though." [[No, you're fucking crazy.->19a]] [[Fine, let's do this and take it out.->19b]] [[I'll go out there, but I don't think we need a gun. We can learn from it.->19c]]

"Okay. I'll uh, let you sleep. Bye." (set: $lawrence to 0) [[CLICK->6]]

His face turned a deeper shade of red as he turned his eyes to the floor. "Oh. Sorry then. I'll let you sleep. Bye." (set: $lawrence to -1) [[CLICK->6]]

His eyebrows knitted together in frustration as he looked away from her. "Fine. Just go then." She returned to her room and went back to sleep. Only a few more days left on this miserable journey. [[CLICK->19a2]]

He smiled. (if: $lawrence is 1)[He grabbed her hand. "I'm glad you agree with me on this. I know we don't have a lot in common, but. But I feel like we've become friends on this journey. Maybe."] He nodded, eyes scanning the room as he thought about their next step. "Okay. So. I know where the suits are. But can you distract one of the politician's bodyguards while I get there gun?" [[Guess I don't have much choice.->19b2]]

He rolled his eyes. "Ever the bleeding heart. We'll try it your way and hope you're right. If nothing else hopefully we'll scare it off. Or. Well. Hopefully nothing bad happens." [[CLICK->19c2]]

She awoke abruptly to the sound of windchimes filling her room. She sleepily opened her eyes. The anomaly was in her room, hovering directly over her and her bed. With no where to go and nothing she could do, she simply laid there, gazing into the anomaly. The familiar sounds of thunder and wind and rain and chimes overwhelmed her. The crackling, shifting patterns softened her focus. It felt like she was falling. [[CLICK->19a3]]

"You know, I've always secretly loved your music. I know, I know. You probably don't get many burly dudes at your shows, but it's true." The body guard laughed nervously and continued to gush about her pop music. Behind him, Lawrence was sneakily prying the gun from the guard's holster on his hip. [[CLICK->19b3]]

They had both managed to slip into space walking suits without the staff seeing them. Lawrence was prepping the airlocks. "Are you ready? Knowing how it follows us, I have a feeling it's going to be just outside here." [[Let's go. I want to get a closer look at it.->19c3]]

<img src=http://i.imgur.com/sjScJ0P.png> [[FALLING->END]]

Thank you for playing through my game! I hope you enjoyed it! Shout out to coffee, for helping me finish this game on time. [[RETURN TO TITLE PAGE->Start]]

Lawrence had the gun. They had both managed to slip into space walking suits without the staff seeing them. Lawrence was prepping the airlocks. "Are you ready? Knowing how it follows us, I have a feeling it's going to be just outside here." [[Let's go before I start having second thoughts.->19b4]]

Even through the insulation and armor from the suit, she could feel the crushing cold of space. She felt a panic start to rise in her chest, thinking she had put the suit on wrong. It was soon replaced by the familiar tightening in her chest as she spun and caught sight of the anomaly. It was only a few meters away, bobbing up and down slightly. It started drifting closer and she could hear the chimes. Lawrence pulled the gun out and pointed it at the anomaly. "Get outta here!" Despite herself, she felt herself drifting forward, toward the anomaly. The chimes grew louder and louder as she got closer. She could faintly hear Lawrence telling her to move back. She felt compelled to reach her arm out to touch it. As soon as her finger made contact with the anomaly, she felt a white hot bolt shoot through her. She was conscious of nothing but the chimes and thunder and wind and rain. [["Oh God. Oh God, I have to shoot! I'm going to shoot it!"->19b5]]

<img src=http://i.imgur.com/sjScJ0P.png> [[And then everything was black.->END]]

Even through the insulation and armor from the suit, she could feel the crushing cold of space. She felt a panic start to rise in her chest, thinking she had put the suit on wrong. It was soon replaced by the familiar tightening in her chest as she spun and caught sight of the anomaly. It was only a few meters away, bobbing up and down slightly. It started drifting closer and she could hear the chimes. Lawrence fidgeted. He was clearly uncomfortable with this plan. She felt herself drifting forward, toward the anomaly. The chimes grew louder and louder as she got closer. She could faintly hear Lawrence telling her to move back. She felt compelled to reach her arm out to touch it. As soon as her finger made contact with the anomaly, she felt a white hot bolt shoot through her. She was conscious of nothing but the chimes and thunder and wind and rain. She felt a tug behind her. Lawrence was screaming something behind her, but she didn't care anymore. Space was so cold and dark and the anomaly was so bright and familiar. How could she let go of this feeling? [[She loved the anomaly.->19c4]]

<img src=http://i.imgur.com/sjScJ0P.png> [[Everything was bright and warm and nothing hurt anymore.->END]]