The Pool

Flitter Control for the yellow side. In love with Katie Holtz. When Katie's flight control went down, guided her in flight. Defected to rescue Katie at her crash site. Tracked and killed by Internal Affairs at the crash site. Body recovered by IA and committed to The Pool.

Flitter pilot for the yellow side. In love with Corrine Lazore Scanned by the VESTIGE in flight, lost critical systems. Survived for a little while at the jungle crash site. Until IA tracked Corrine to the crash site & killed them both. Body recovered by IA and committed to The Pool.

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(set:_slowfade to (transition:"dissolve") + (transition-time: 20s))_slowfade[It feels like being underwater. There is no sense of having a body; you're just... drifting. The voices are distant. You've probably been hearing them for some time, but there was no need to listen. It's easier just to lie here.](click: "lie here")[$fade[.. ... Yes, that's it. You're lying down. The thought emerges reluctantly, swimming from the depths. [[[Try to wake up.|day 1-3]] ]<try_to_wake_up|[I don't want to wake up.]]]{ }(click: "I don't want to wake up.")[(replace:?try_to_wake_up)[]$fade[ Relentlessly, other thoughts begin to circle. Where are you? Who was talking? You reach for that sense of floating calm, but it's gone. Your heartbeat is pounding in your ears. [[Wake up.|day 1-3]]]]

"Ah... hello there." A woman's voice. You feel like you've heard it before. "I see you're coming around. Can you open your eyes?"{ }(click:"open your eyes")[$fade[ You strain your eyelids, but all you can see is a crack of bright light. Something is holding them shut.]]{ }(click:"holding them shut")[$fade[ Before you can panic, the voice says, "Wait. Let me." A shadow moves toward your face, and you flinch, feeling a cool, moist touch at the corner of one eye, then the other. "There. [[Try now.|day 1-4]]"]]

The ceiling is white. It seems bright at first, but you quickly realise the light is significantly dimmed.(click:"light")[$fade[ The shadows it casts are pale and soft-edged.]] A woman is standing next to you. Her arm is outstretched and there is something in her hand.(click:"woman")[$fade[ You squint, trying to make out more detail, but your eyes fill with water. "Easy, soldier. You've been asleep for a long time."]] (link-replace:"Try to focus.")[$fade[You try to focus, but it's too much, too soon. The room falls away above you, and you sink back down into [[sleep|day 2-1]].]]

(set:_slowfade to (transition:"dissolve") + (transition-time: 20s))_slowfade[Over the next day, you drift in and out of consciousness. Sometimes the woman is there, and sometimes you're alone. Bit by bit, you put together a picture, although it's hard to hold onto details. You gather that the woman is a clinician of some kind and this seems to be a medical facility.(click:"medical facility")[$fade[ The woman wouldn't tell you any more. "In this kind of case, you have to take things slowly."]](click:"this kind of case")[$fade[ She wouldn't tell you any more about that, either.]] (link-replace:"Look around.")[$fade[Your room is unremarkable. An adjustable bed, a fold-over table and a button you can use to call for help. To one side of the room is a series of electronic devices; the read-outs are turned away from you, so all you can see is the glow they cast against the wall. The wall is lit by a white strip about a metre from the ground which runs all around, breaking for the door. They dimmed it at night, but it still glimmered faintly, like moonlight.]] A chime at your door, and it [[slides open.|day 2-2]]]

The woman walks in. "I'm glad to see you more alert." She's carrying a tray, which she sets down beside the bed. Now that you're less out of it, you're better able to take in her appearance.{ }(click:"her appearance")[$fade[ About (link-reveal:"your height")[$fade[, which you can oddly still picture, despite having yet to stand up]]. Her brown hair's pulled back, as you might expect, and it's hard to gauge her age from her face.(if:$game>1)[ You feel like you've met her before.] "Before we get started, [first things first."]<first_things_first|]]{ }(click-replace:?first_things_first)[first things first. $fade[ My name is $dr, and I'm going to be your therapist while you recover." Her voice is level and pleasant, but that's all. A step up from, "Hello, how may I help you today?" but there's still something about it which remains impersonal. "Now. What shall I call you? Just a first name." (link-replace:"... Why can't I remember?")[$fade["You've had a traumatic experience. Don't worry. This is what I'm here to help you with. If you can't remember, pick something you like the sound of." ]] [[Think of a name]].]]

{ (set: $name to (prompt:"You can call me...","")) (if:$name is "")[ "No? If you prefer, I can use your patient number for now." (link-reveal:"That's fine.")[ (set:$name to $patient_id) (go-to:"day 2-3")] [[No! I didn't mean--|Think of a name]] ] (elseif:$name is $dr)[ $dr almost smiles. "Interesting. But potentially confusing. We will have to call you something else, for the duration of your recovery. Perhaps a [[nickname|Think of a name]]?] (elseif:$name is any of (a:"Katie","Corrine","Holtz","Lazore"))[ $dr frowns. "Really." [[What? That's my name.|day 2-3]] ] (else:)[ (go-to:"day 2-3")] }

$dr nods sharply. "Well, $name. (if:$name is $patient_id)["And she says it, zero four, just like that. "]You're probably a little disorientated. But even at the risk of making that worse, I think it's about time to try you in the memory pool."{ }(click:"memory pool")[$fade[ "It's what this facility is built around. You're in one of (link-reveal:"eight chambers")[$fade[, not that we're currently using all eight]]. Between the chambers is an experimental installation derived from salvaged Vestige technology: the Pool."]]{ }(click:"Vestige")[$fade[ "It's better for you to get to that in your own time. I doubt it will take long."]]{ }(click:"the Pool")[$fade[ She takes the tray in one hand and offers the other to help you rise. You're wearing a long [$gown_colour]<gown_colour| hospital gown with short sleeves which falls just below your knees, and the air feels loose around your lower legs. You feel them tremble - you're still pretty unsteady. "Why don't you [[see for yourself|day 2-4]]?"]]{ (click-replace:?gown_colour)[(display: "gown_colour_chooser")] (if:false)[[[fake link|gown_colour_chooser]]]}

{ }Even with $dr's help, walking is slow. Not painful, just difficult, as if you're in high gravity. Your body feels fragile, uncushioned. Without |her_hand>[[[her hand|day 2-4 (skin contact)]]], you might fall and snap.{  (if: $debug)[ (if: (history:) contains "day 2-4 (skin contact)")[ (replace:?her_hand)[her hand]]]\ (else:)[ (if: (history:)'s last is "day 2-4 (skin contact)")[ (replace:?her_hand)[her hand]]]} The door slides open at (link:"your")[$fade[her]] approach, and you find yourself in a corridor[.]<p1|{ (click:"corridor")[{  (replace:?her_hand)[her hand] (replace:?p1)[] (show:?corridor) }] }|corridor)[$fade[ which gently curves in both directions, your room being on the outside of the curve. The walls are lit with the same white strip; now must be what passes for daytime, because they're at full brilliance.(set:$corridor_lights to 100) Looking at them hurts your eyes.{ }(click:"hurts your eyes")[$fade[ $dr obviously notices. "Corridor lights, seventy percent." Her voice is quiet, calm. The lights immediately dim slightly and you can relax your eyes again.(set:$corridor_lights to 70) |try_lights>[I wonder if that works when I try. ]|dont_try_lights>[Better not try my own voice commands right now. Maybe I'll test it later.]{ }(click:?dont_try_lights)[(replace:?try_lights)[]]{ }(click:?try_lights)[\ (replace:?try_lights)[]\ (replace:?dont_try_lights)[]\ [$fade[Corridor lights, fifty percent? ]]<cl1|[ ]<cl2|[ ]<cl3|{  }(set:$tick to 0)\ (live:0.5s)[\ (if:$tick is 1)[(append:?cl1)[$fade[.]]]\ (if:$tick is 2)[(append:?cl1)[$fade[.]]]\ (if:$tick is 3)[(append:?cl1)[$fade[.]]]\ (if:$tick is 4)[(append:?cl2)[$fade[Nothing.]]]\ (if:$tick is 5)[(append:?cl2)[$fade[ Without looking at you, $dr says, "Please, ask if you need anything."]]]\ (if:$tick is 10)[\ (append:?cl3)[$fade[After a few steps she adds, "Corridor lights, fifty percent," and they dim further, shadowing the far end of the corridor.]]\ (set:$corridor_lights to 50)\ (replace:?view_down_corridor)[]\ (stop:)]\ (set:$tick to it + 1)\ ]\ ]\ ]] |view_down_corridor>[As you walk, you can see another door on the outside curve of the corridor.(click:"another door")[$fade[ It's closed.]] But before you reach it, ]$dr stops and leans toward a black panel on the other wall. A red light briefly plays over her face, and a heavy panel [[slides open|pool 1-1]].]]

{  (set:$debug to false)  (set:$fade to (transition:"dissolve"))  (set:$game to 1)  (set:$dr to "Ana")  (set:$name to "")  (set:$patient_id to "Patient 04")  (set:$gown_colour_list to (a:"blue", "green", "scarlet", "white", "black", "yellow", "purple")) (set:$gown_colour_index to 1) (set:$gown_colour to $gown_colour_list's $gown_colour_index)  (set:$sedative to false) }

{ (set:$name to "Debug") (set:$debug to true) }

Even with $dr's help, walking is slow. Not painful, just difficult, as if you're in high gravity. Your body feels fragile, uncushioned. Without her hand, you might fall and snap. Her hand is touching your arm. You weren't really thinking about it, but now you are, you realise your body has no memory of the last time you actually touched someone skin to skin.|arm_hair>[ The hair on your arm feels like it should be standing on end.]{ }(click:"hair on your arm")[(replace:?arm_hair)[$fade[ Huh, that's interesting. There isn't any hair on your arm.]]] But you're going to the Pool, so you [[put it out of your mind|day 2-4]].

As the door opens onto a dimmed room, you're struck by a wave of warm, damp air. The room follows the shape of the corridor, coming together at the far side to form a large circular chamber. The ceiling above is domed, but very little of it is visible due to the tangles of bundled cables hanging in great arcs.(click:"cables")[$fade[ They drop down to connect to a clutter of computers, consoles and racks, blinking with variously coloured lights. On the floor, more cables run between the systems, and some, thicker than the others, wind into the centre of the room and trail into a recessed pool, a circular expanse of [dark water]<dark_water|.]](click:?dark_water)[$fade[ The water stirs slightly as Ame does something behind you to close the door, and the movement sends darts of colour flicking across its surface. The mirror images of the cables sway gently in the ripples.{ }(live:3.5s)[(show:?clears_throat)(stop:)]]]{ }|clears_throat)[$fade[ [[$dr quietly clears her throat|pool 1-2]], the sound sending metallic echoes around the room.]]

(if:$corridor_lights is 50)[with little light spilling through from the dim corridor behind you, and for a while all you can see are shapes and shadows. Then the door shuts, and you're in darkness, only able to pick out the slight detail of coiled cables, hanging from the ceiling.]\ (else:)[but for the moment before the door slides shut, the light spilling through from the corridor behind you reveals a tangle of wires and boxes on one side of the room, . ] Once your eyes adjust,

You look around to see that $dr has set the tray down on a gurney by the door and is currently pulling on a pair of gloves. She presses the cuffs with her fingers and they seal around her sleeves. "The pool is filled with a psychoactive liquid which stimulates memory retrieval. It breaks down outside of quite precise conditions, so we monitor it constantly."{ }(click:"psychoactive liquid")[$fade[ $dr holds up a gloved hand. "Don't be concerned that I'm wearing protection. The liquid isn't dangerous, but it can cause the formation of false memories. This is a risk you should be aware of as well. This will be an active process for you, and you will need to distinguish between genuine memory and your own imagination." [[So, what. I just get in?|pool 1-3]]{ }]]

$dr picks up a small beaker from the tray and steps over to you. She gestures at your gown. "As you are is fine. The fabric is hydrophobic." She offers you the beaker. "This is a mild sedative." [Drink it. ]<drink_choice|\ [I don't want it. ]<drink_choice|{ }(click:?drink_choice's 1st)[\ (replace:?drink_choice)[](show:?get_in)(set:$sedative to true)\ $fade[The liquid is clear and leaves a bitter residue on your tongue. You don't immediately feel any different, but $dr nods her head. "Good. It can be a little overwhelming if you haven't experienced it before, and strong emotions can interfere with our measuring equipment."]]{ }(click:?drink_choice's 2nd)[\ (replace:?drink_choice)[](show:?get_in)(set:$sedative to false)\ $fade[$dr shrugs one shoulder. "Very well." She puts the beaker back on the tray. "I suggest concentrating on your breathing to begin with. Let the memories come to you, and try to avoid strong emotions."]]{ }|get_in)[$fade[ [[Step in to the pool|pool 1-4]].]]

[A series of submerged steps at one side of the pool appear to lead down into the water.]<steps|(click:"submerged steps")[(replace:?steps)[$fade[You pick your way carefully between the cables and take the first step down, the water swirling in and around your feet and ankles. It's just a little warmer than body temperature, so the shivers you're feeling must be something else.]]]{ }(click:"shivers")[$fade[ As the bottom of your gown brushes the surface, you take its hem between the thumb and forefinger of one hand to prevent it from floating up. A little of the soft $gown_colour fabric rises again above the water, which runs off it in bright beads, leaving it completely dry. You're [up to your knees]<knees|, now.]](click:?knees)[$fade[ $dr must still be in the room, because you haven't heard the door open again, but she is thankfully silent as you lower yourself down another few steps and it rises above your thighs. [Relax. ]<rt|\ [Tense up. ]<rt|]]{ }(click:?rt's 1st)[(show:?next)(replace:?rt)[]$fade[\ You realise you've been holding your breath and you let it go. The water rises around you, kissing your skin, and it's like you finally have a body again. You settle down, sigh, and wiggle your toes in the water.]]{ }(click:?rt's 2nd)[(show:?next)(replace:?rt)[]$fade[\ Let's just get this over with. You reach back with one foot to find the depth of the step behind you, then lower yourself to sit on it all at once. The action sends a large ripple running the length of the pool, causing water to lap over the edges for a moment before it drains back.]]{ }|next)[(live:2s)[(stop:)$fade[ Like eyes in the jungle night, tiny lights begin to blink on all around. [[Breathe|pool 1-5]].]]]

{ (set: $gown_colour_index to (it % ($gown_colour_list's length)) + 1) (set: $gown_colour to $gown_colour_list's $gown_colour_index) $fade[$gown_colour] (click-replace:?gown_colour)[(display: "gown_colour_chooser")] }

Your first impression is of a swarm of butterflies, their wings catching the sun, shining blue and yellow and laced through with black latticework. A pair - one blue, one yellow - spiral up away from you, and it's then you realise you are falling.(click:"you are falling")[$fade[ You spread your arms to catch yourself and the air billows beneath them. They aren't arms, they're wings, bright sun-yellow wings, and you're rising up now, following the twisting pair above, riding the air currents without even having to think.]](click:"the twisting pair above")[$fade[ Light flashes curiously from the blue wings. You reflexively blink and when you open your eyes there are tatters of yellow falling all around you, the jagged edges of black spars glowing with heat, and a body, a sad limp human body, dropping lazily from the sky above.]](click:"human body")[$fade[ [Gasp ]<react|\ [Scream ]<react|\ [Cry ]<react|\ [Laugh ]<react|{ }(click:?react)[(replace:?react)[]$fade[You might, if you were there right now. But this is just a memory. ]]Breathe]](click-replace:"Breathe")[$fade[[[Kill.|memory of butterflies-2]]]]

You fan and curl your fingertips, contouring your wing surface for maximum speed. A tiny movement of the ring finger on your right hand spills a little air, positioning you perfectly within the strong thermal current, and you begin to soar.(click:"you begin to soar")[$fade[ All across your arms and back, you feel the weapons systems absorbing sunlight. What begins as a tingle just below your solar plexus soon runs the length of you, from the base of your spine to the nape of your neck. In your peripheral vision you see your wings turn white.]](click:"your wings turn white")[$fade[ You roll slightly, slowing your ascent. At the apex of your arc you must seem to momentarily hang in the air. As the blue flitter begins to reverse its course back toward the swarm, the stored sunlight dances static shock across your skin, begging to be released.]](click:"begging to be released")[$fade[ You bring your arms forward and cup your palms toward the flitter as if you were making an offering, then turn control over to your targeting computer. A series of pin-pricks darts up your arms and fingers as it makes thousands of microadjustments, shaping your wing surfaces into perfect parabolae.]](click:"perfect parabolae")[$fade[ Sunlight spills from your arms, and [[the blue butterfly flashes into ash|end of demo]].]]

You close your eyes and settle slightly further down, letting the surface of the pool rise up to your neck. With almost your whole body submerged, the water takes much of your weight and it's easy to imagine you're somewhere else, anywhere else. A faint memory is nagging at the edge of your mind. Something half-forgotten, but with the slight doubled surreality of deja vu. You could probably suppress it if you wanted to, but $dr said you were here to remember, so... [[Remember|memory of butterflies-1]].

(align: "=><=")[\ (css: "font-size: 200%")[Second Phase] (css: "font-size: 130%")[`[` [[*re/cognition*|memory of butterflies-3]] `]`]]

(align: "=><=")[\ (css: "font-size: 200%")[First Phase] (css: "font-size: 130%")[`[` [[*re/collection*|day 1-1]] `]`]]

You laugh, and the sound is very close to your face. There is a glass shell around your face. Now that the blue flitter is gone, the inside of the shell begins to light up with warnings. Your swarm is far below you, and they want you back.(click:"they want you back")[$fade[ ["$name."]<name1|]]{ }(click-replace:?name1)[$fade[The glass is right up against your face. You don't know why it isn't steaming up with your breath. Instead it blossoms triangles, targeting brackets, lines of glowing, urgent text[ in a language you don't know how to read]<language|.]]{ }(click:"you don't know how to read")[\ (replace:?language)[]\ $fade[ You read the text and your adrenaline spikes. You know that's what this feeling of pricking skin is, because now the text is saying it too. Automatically, the flitter dispenses pharmaceutical agents to counter the surge. They feel like ice water in your veins.]](click:"ice water in your veins")[$fade[ ["$name."]<name2|]]{ }(click-replace:?name2)[$fade[It's now two seconds since the adrenaline dump. ]](click:"two seconds")[$fade[ That's an important number. You remember that. Two seconds is the length of time it takes the Vestige to target and destroy a flitter which is isolated from its swarm.]](click:"Vestige")[$fade[ Funny. You only heard that [name]<name3| earlier today.]](click:?name3)[$fade[ (if:$sedative)[[["$name!"|pool 2-1 (sedative)]]]\ (else:)[[["$name!"|pool 2-1 (no sedative)]]]\ ]]

"... Just breathe slowly." You are sitting in water. The water's warm, but it's not warm enough. A block of ice is packed around your heart. You feel it fluttering, like the wings of the flitter. There is an arm, holding you upright, and something soft behind your head. There is [glass right up against your face]<glass|.(click:?glass)[$fade[ "It's alright. It's an oxygen mask. Now, breathe slowly." The words come to you only distantly, and it takes a moment to understand them. It takes about two seconds. [Breathe.]<breathe|]]{  }(mouseover-replace:?breathe)[(transition:"pulse")[Kill.]]\ (click-replace:?breathe)[$fade[Another surge of adrenaline runs through you, but you force it down, taking a deep breath. "That's good. [[Again|pool 2-2]]."]]

Double-click this passage to edit it.

"... Just breathe slowly." You are sitting in water. The water's warm, but it's not warm enough. A block of ice is packed around your heart. There is an arm, holding you upright, and something soft behind your head. There is [glass right up against your face]<glass|.(click:?glass)[$fade[ "It's alright. It's an oxygen mask. Now, breathe slowly. The sedative you took earlier will help you to relax." The words come to you only distantly, and it takes a moment to understand them. It takes a little over two seconds. [Breathe.]<breathe|]](click-replace:?breathe)[$fade[You take a deep, slow breath. "That's good. [[Again|pool 2-2]]."]]

(align: "=><=")[This is the end of the demo for The Pool. But it is far from the end of $name's story...]