The examination room is chilly. [[You]] sit on crackly paper and stuffed vinyl, bare feet dangling, waiting for the doctor to arrive.
(if: $character is "Anna")[(display: "Anna Start")](else-if: $character is "Hannah")[(display: "Hannah Start")]
(else:)[(print: "The wait is torture.")]
Woman. Thin (click: "Thin")[(Some might say 'scrawny' though you prefer 'wiry')]. If you look in the tiny mirror above the sink you would see [[an adult face, lined with the years]] || [[a young face, prematurely lined with worry]].
(set: $character to "Anna")(display: "Start")
(set: $character to "Hannah")(display: "Start")
The door opens with a soft click, and the doctor enters, followed by your coach. Your stomach sinks. (hook: "coach")[You're not a minor any more, but with your parents two continents away, you never bothered to replace Neo as your emergency contact.]
A twinge in your shoulder flares up your neck and you see stars. Whatever this is, it affects him too. Might as well let him stay.
"Hannah," Neo says, looking at the doctor and spreading his hands.
"I know," you say. "Is this the part where I admit I never did my daily exercises?" [[You try to smile, but the strings are cut somewhere between your brain and your face.->What's Next, Hannah?]]
With a brisk tap, the doctor enters, followed by your commander. You can master your facial expression, but your stomach does an uneasy somersault.
"I'm sorry, Anna," says the doctor. "Even if we operated tomorrow, we could restore less than 45% of your mobility in the right leg. With the surgical triage we're forced to do on a daily basis here..." she sighs. "It could be years before we can operate."
"Thank you," you say, the words drawn out of out you like hankerchiefs on a string by some street magician, "for your honesty."
She salutes, and leaves you alone to speak with [[your commander->What Next, Anna?]].
"Well," you say. "That's that, then."
"Captain," says your commander. "<I>Anna</I>."
"Don't." You turn away from the naked pity on his face. "Unless I've done something wrong - apart from fucking up my leg - I'm still a Captain."
"You'll be honorably discharged as Captain, of course," he says, sounding a little pained at the implication in your words. "In recognition of your years of service, you'll receive an excellent severance package."
"Never really cared about the money," you say.
"Anna," he says softly. "Sniping was your life. [[What will you do?->What's Next, Anna? 2]]"
Weak winter sunlight breaks in through the window at your back, lighting the tips of your hair silver and gold. Your smile is at brittle as light as you say, "What games are your kids playing these days, Jerry?"
[[Press Play->Game Within A Game Start]]
The doctor fills you both in, using lots of abbreviations (hook: "abbreviations")[("RSI", "CTS", "TCL")] and technical jargon (hook: "jargon")[("neuropathy", "biomechanical cumulative trauma", "myofascial triggers")] to tell you your career in e-sports is over.
"Surgery is an option, of course," he says. "Our wait list is quite long, but we have some of the best surgeons for minimally-invasive procedures on hand, for obvious reasons."
The doctor excuses himself to let you and Neo talk things over.
"Three years of championships for Venom and this is how I go out," you mutter. "I won't even be able to finish out the season, will I?"
"We want you there," Neo says. "The team needs you, even if you're -"
"Benched. Useless. [[A glorified cheerleader->What Next, Hannah? 2]]."
"It doesn't matter," Neo said. "You're family. You're the heart of the team. We want you there at finals with us."
"Even if I get the surgery - between the wait and the recovery, I'm done. I can't keep up with the meta changes, the game play, the rising stars. It's over, Neo. Let me go. Don't let Venom rot because you can't bring yourself to amputate it's dead limb."
He cries. You feel bad, forgetting he's not much older than you are. Then you feel bad for feeling bad, because he's not the one who just flushed 12 years of his life away because of neglect and laziness and <I>just one more game before taking a break</I>.
The steroid injections are starting to work; thowing your purse over your shoulder causes only mild agony that quickly fades as you step into the watery Los Angeles sunshine.
[[Press Play->Game Within A Game Start]]
(set: $shotgunoverdrive to true)(set: $weapontype to (either: 'a gun', 'a knife', 'a potlid', 'nothing'))(set: $weaponcount to 1)(set: $haveweapon to true)(set: $gunfirevisited to false)(set: $peoplekilled to 0)
You wake up in an decrepit abandoned room. The door is broken open, and through the portal you see a small slice of crumbled asphalt and brick wall.
You check your bag and find (print: $weapontype).
[[Look for cover]]
[[Explore the area]]
(if: $weapontype is 'nothing')[(set: $weaponcount to 0)(set: $haveweapon to false)[ [[Find a weapon]] ]]
Nearby are a few places you can seek cover: there's [[a crumbled brick wall]] you saw from your starting location. A little further away there's [[a broken down car]]. To the side, against the building, there's [[a thicket of bushes]].
After leaving the room, you hold still and listen, trying to find the best direction to go in. To the east, you hear [[people shouting]]. In the north, you swear there is [[birdsong]]. (if: $gunfirevisited is false)[Finally to the south, something that sounds distressingly like [[gunfire]]. ]
You feel naked without a weapon. There's a broken down car you could [[search->search car]] nearby that looks promising. You also swear you hear something that sounds like [[gunfire]] nearby.
The car looks recently abanoned. You can [[search it->search car]] or [[hide behind it->hide behind car]]. It looks like you could even [[wiggle beneath it->hide under car]] if you wanted to.
Despite the pits and scars, the wall looks sturdy enough. Do you [[climb over the wall]], or [[hide behind it->hide behind wall]]?
It doesn't look like there's any thorns. [[Search the bushes]] or climb inside and [[hide->hide in bushes]]?
You follow the sound of shouting until you encounter two people engaged in a vicious argument. Do you try and [[calm them down->team up]] or do you use the element of surprise to [[attack]]?
(set: $objCap to 0)To your utter surprise, you find a beautiful meadow covered with tall, waving grasses and trees to spindly to hide behind. After getting used to your presence, the birds begin to sing again. The sunlight is warm and golden, making a bright square in the centre of the meadow.
It's clearly a trap and you should [[run away]].
On the other hand, the grass is tall enough to hide you if you sit or lie down, and the sunshine is [[so inviting]].
(set: $gunfirevisited to true)Intermittent pops and bursts split the otherwise quiet day. Someone screams, in either rage or pain. The closeness - the //humaness// of it shocks you out of the detached, dreamy mood the gunfire created. You see two bloodied individuals fighting each other as soon as you [[round the corner->attack]].
(set: $weapontype3 to (either: 'a handgun', 'a knife', 'a steering wheel', 'a plastic sword'))(set: $weaponcount to it + 1)(set: $haveweapon to true)Jackpot! Prying open the car door nets you (print: $weapontype3).
Now you're ready to [[explore the area->Explore the area]]
You crouch behind the car. When you hear voices, you try to climb inside but the creaking door alerts them to your presence. They don't seem particularly concerned about hiding their presence; they argue with [[raised voices->people shouting]].
Exhaling hard, you wriggle under the car. It's a tight fit and the gravel scrapes your skin as the undercarriage of the car drags your shirt up. You're well hidden.
Unfortunately, while no one finds you, you don't do anything useful either, and time runs out.
[[DEFEAT]]
Using some forward momentum, you pull yourself over the wall and let yourself drop to the ground on the other side. Unfortunately, this startles the person lying on the other side, and their knife finds a cosy spot between your ribs.
[[DEFEAT]]
You crouch behind the wall, peeking through the cracks occasionally. You hear voices soon enough, raised loudly. Before you can creep away, [[two people->people shouting]] having a fierce argument come around the corner.
(set: $weapontype2 to (either: 'a rifle', 'a pistol', 'a hunting knife', 'a camping lantern'))(set: $weaponcount to it + 1)(set: $haveweapon to true) You poke through the bushes carefully. Before long, your fingers close around the handle of (print: $weapontype2).
Now you're ready to [[explore the area->Explore the area]].
The bushes are thick and soft. You fall asleep.
The announcer's voice counting down the final seconds wake you, but not in time to accomplish anything.
[[DEFEAT]]
(set: $gamewon to false)You tried your best but sometimes it's not enough.
[[Scoreboard]]
[[Quit game]]
You get the hell out of there as fast as your legs can carry you. After what feels like hours, you come across a steep cliff that runs in either direction as far as the eye can see. You follow it for a time, hoping for a path down, but a loud siren interrupts you before you get too far. "OUT OF BOUNDS!" flashes for a few seconds, before you get disconnected.
[[DEFEAT]]
The grass is as soft as it looks. You decide to lie down for a bit and gather your thoughts.(set: $objCap to it + 1)
(if: $objCap is 3)[ [[Objective Captured!]] ](else:)[ [[Stay a while longer->so inviting]] or [[move on->run away]]?]
It turns out that golden spot wasn't just sunshine, but a valuable target. Way to go!(set: $capturedObj to true)
[[VICTORY]]
(set: $gamewon to true)Whether through luck or skill, you emerged victorious.
[[Scoreboard]]
[[Quit game]]
"Hey," you say, quietly enough that you can slip away if they don't notice you.
They do.
"Hi," says one guy. "Sorry about the noise."
(if: $weapontype is 'nothing')["You want to team up? I could use some help," you say.](else:)["We should team up. Safety in numbers and all that," you say.]
"I dunno," the other guy says. "What if she's dangerous?"
(if: $character is 'Hannah')["If I were, you'd be dead already," you say with some confidence.](else:)["I wouldn't announce myself if I was planning to attack," you point out.]
The first guy laughs. "I like her. Let's do it. We were planning on hiding out in a [[nearby meadow->birdsong]]. You can come if you want."
"Thanks," you say.
The two strangers are making so much noise, they don't notice your approach, giving you the element of surprise. What should you do?
(if: $haveweapon is true)[ Attack the person [[nearest to you]].
Attack the person [[furthest away from you]].](if: $haveweapon is false)[Take a few seconds to [[assess the situation]].]
You don't have any weapon and these two are armed, so you take a few moments to assess the situation. Who's weakest? What should be your angle of approach? You make all these calculations and more in a single second.
Unfortunately, it takes less than a second for the bullet fired by one of the combatants to strike you, fatally wounding you.
[[DEFEAT]]
(if: $weapontype is 'a potlid')[You take out your potlid, feeling a little foolish. One of the combatants is equipped with a semi-automatic weapon, spraying bullets everywhere. You duck behind the potlid out of reflex, and fear the screams you hear are your own as your arm explodes in pain. But when you peek out, you see [[both people are dead or dying]], shredded by the shrapnel deflected by the lid.] (elseif: $weapontype3 is 'a plastic sword' )[You throw (print: $weapontype3) as hard as you can at the person closest to you. It tangles in their feet and they fall heavily, dropping their gun to break their fall. You snatch it off the ground and [[aim it at the remaining combatant]]. (set: $weapontype4 to 'a gun')(set: $weaponcount to it + 1)](elseif: $weapontype3 is 'a steering wheel' )[You throw (print: $weapontype3) as hard as you can at the person closest to you. It tangles in their feet and they fall heavily, dropping their gun to break their fall. You snatch it off the ground and [[aim it at the remaining combatant]]. (set: $weapontype4 to 'a gun')(set: $weaponcount to it + 1)]
(else:)[You take out your weapon, and target the person closest to you with as much ferocity as you can muster. Taken by surprise from an unexpected angle, they fall easily under your attack. You snatch their gun from nerveless fingers and [[aim it at the remaining combatant]].(set: $weapontype4 to 'a gun')(set: $weaponcount to it + 1)(set: $peoplekilled to it + 1)]
(if: $weapontype is 'a potlid')[You take out your potlid, feeling a little foolish. One of the combatants is equipped with a semi-automatic weapon, spraying bullets everywhere. You duck behind the potlid out of reflex, and fear the screams you hear are your own as your arm explodes in pain. But when you peek out, you see [[both people are dead or dying]], shredded by the shrapnel deflected by the lid.](elseif: $weapontype3 is 'a plastic sword')[You throw the plastic sword as hard as you can at the person further away from you. It tangles in their feet and they fall heavily, dropping their gun to break their fall. You snatch it off the ground. (set: $weapontype4 to 'a gun')(set: $weaponcount to it + 1)](elseif: $weapontype3 is 'a steering wheel' )[You throw (print: $weapontype3) as hard as you can at the person closest to you. It tangles in their feet and they fall heavily, dropping their gun to break their fall. You snatch it off the ground and [[aim it at the remaining combatant]]. (set: $weapontype4 to 'a gun')(set: $weaponcount to it + 1)](else:)[You take out your weapon, and target the person closest to you with as much ferocity as you can muster. Taken by surprise from an unexpected angle, they fall easily under your attack. You snatch their gun from nerveless fingers and [[aim it at the remaining combatant]].(set: $weapontype4 to 'a gun')(set: $weaponcount to it + 1)(set: $peoplekilled to it + 1)]
(set: $peoplekilled to it + 2)You're no doctor but you're pretty sure these two aren't going to be recovering from the holes in their bodies. Do you [[loot their bodies]] or [[leave the scene at haste->Explore the area]]?
The other person looks exhausted as you point the gun at them. They're limping heavily, and even though they out-gun you, you feel like they're not much of a threat. Should you [[shoot them]] or [[offer to spare them]] if they team up with you?
(set: $weapontype4 to 'a gun')(set: $weapontype5 to 'a submachine gun')(set: $weaponcount to it + 2)You pick through the debris, and collect (print: $weapontype4) and (print: $weapontype5). You decide to [[beat a retreat->Explore the area]] quickly after.
(set: $weapontype5 to 'a submachine gun')(set: $weaponcount to it + 1)(set: $peoplekilled to it + 1)They don't react when you fire the gun, no surprise at all on their face, but just fall heavily to the ground. You take the weapon off their body and [[leave the area->Explore the area]] behind.
"You can't fight me," you point out. "Give me your gun, and let's work together."
"It's all yours," they say, and sling the gun towards your feet.(set: $weapontype5 to 'a submachine gun')(set: $weaponcount to it + 1) "But I'm not in any shape to go anywhere. I'm going to find a quiet place to recover. Thanks, anyway."
It feels wrong to watch them limp off alone, but you shake your head and let them go. You [[leave the area->Explore the area]] yourself.
FINAL MATCH SCORE:
**Weapons Collected:**
{(if: $weapontype is 0)[(print: ' ')](else:)[(print: $weapontype).]
(if: $weapontype2 is 0)[(print: ' ')](else:)[(print: $weapontype2).]
(if: $weapontype3 is 0)[(print: ' ')](else:)[(print: $weapontype3).]
(if: $weapontype4 is 0)[(print: ' ')](else:)[(print: $weapontype4).]
(if: $weapontype5 is 0)[(print: ' ')](else:)[(print: $weapontype5).]}
Total: (print: $weaponcount)
**Enemies Killed:**
Total: (print: $peoplekilled)
**Objective Captured:**
(if: $capturedObj is true)[(print: 'Yes')](else:)[(print: 'No')]
[[Quit game]]
(set: $shotgunoverdrive to false)(if: $character is 'Anna')[(if: $gamewon is false)[You [[sigh]], and take a sip of coffee.](else:)[You take a sip of your cold coffee, feeling [[slightly smug]].]]
(else:)[(if: $gamewon is false)[Meko, one of your teammates, comes in. "[[Reliving old mistakes]] to feel better about not playing anymore?"](else:)[Meko, one of your teammates, comes in. "Torturing yourself [[relieving old glories]]?"]]
"That could've gone better." Now that the game's over, you turn your attention to the web-camera and chat on the second monitor. You light up a cigarette while you browse old messages.
"... I play like a monkey with Parkinson's? What a little shit." You type in chat "fight me, loser" Maybe picking the gamertag GamingGrandma was a little much - you don't even have kids, let alone grandkids. But everyone streaming these days has a niche, and you need to find yours.
(if: $gamewon is true)[Your computer dings, letting you know you have a new subscriber. HAN.NAH. That's cute - almost your own name.](else:)[Someone in chat is typing furiously in your defense. Their screen-name is HAN.NAH. Close to your own.]
"Well, just one more game [[before bed->fall asleep]]..." you reason.
"Not too bad for an old lady, huh?" Now that the game's over, you turn your attention to the web-camera and chat on the second monitor. You light up a cigarette while you browse old messages.
"... I play like a monkey with Parkinson's? What a little shit." You type in chat "fight me, loser" Maybe picking the gamertag GamingGrandma was a little much - you don't even have kids, let alone grandkids. But everyone streaming these days has a niche, and you need to find yours.
(if: $gamewon is true)[Your computer dings, letting you know you have a new subscriber. HAN.NAH. That's cute - almost your own name.](else:)[Someone in chat is typing furiously in your defense. Their screen-name is HAN.NAH. Close to your own.]
"Well, just one more game [[before bed->fall asleep]]..." you reason. Gotta keep up that win streak.
You flip him the bird. "Get bent, Meko." He hands you half his sandwich (click: "sandwich")[(It's ham and cheese, gross. But you're hungry, so you take it.)] as a peace offering.
"I'm watching this old lady stream some //Shotgun Overdrive//. She's not bad for a newbie."
"26 isn't old, Hannah, even if - " Meko leans over your shoulder. "Oh, she really is old! Like, at least 50. Chat is being their usual charming self, I see."
You frown. "Yeah. I think they're picking on her because she's old. Or a lady. Probably both."
[[Subscribe to old lady]]
[[Send her a message]]
[[Close stream]]
"Nah, I'm watching this old lady stream some //Shotgun Overdrive//. She's pretty decent for a rookie."
"26 isn't old, Hannah, even if - " Meko leans over your shoulder. "Oh, she really is old! Like, at least 50."
"It sucks that chat's being shitty to her. Not too surprising, though."
Meko laughs. "You should say something, that would really shut some of those kids up!"
[[Subscribe to old lady]]
[[Send her a message]]
[[Close stream]]
(set: $character to 'player')(set: $shotgunoverdrive to false)
(if: $shotgunoverdrive is true)[<script>$('tw-passage').addClass('shotgunoverdrive');</script>]
(else-if: $character is 'Anna')[<script>$('tw-passage').addClass('Anna');</script>]\
(else-if: $character is 'Hannah')[<script>$('tw-passage').addClass('Hannah');</script>]
For now (click: "now")[(You're not sure how much longer the deals will last now you're off Venom for good.)] you have a bunch of free subscriptions to the streaming service. You do the old lady a solid and subscribe. "My gift to you," you mutter.
Meko says, "I'm sure that 5 bucks a month will make a big difference."
"It might. We don't know, do we?"
Meko invites you out with the team for dinner. It feels weird being with them, knowing you're leaving soon. Their kindness grates a little and you wish they'd go back to being their jackassy gamer selves.
When you go to bed that night, you find yourself thinking about the older woman as you [[fall asleep]].
< HAN.NAH >:(if: $gamewon is true)[Don't listen to these jokers, you did great](else:)[ Like you pricks were any better at this game when you started!]
< POGLUL69 >: she plays like an old lady
< HAN.NAH >: so what?
< GamingGrandma >: listen up, you little keyboard warriors, i was reloading sniper rifles in Iraq before you were out of diapers. I've seen men and women die from bad water and bullet wounds. I don't really give a shit if you like how I play. There's a million other boring turds for you to watch if that's what you want.
< emett37ded >: ....
< POGLUL69 > lmfao
< HAN.NAH >: um can you be my grandmother please
When you [[go to bed->fall asleep]] that night, you crack a smile remembering how the woman laughed and took a drag of a cigarette on camera before queuing up for another game.
You close the browser window and follow Meko to dinner. But you can't stop thinking about the woman's face on camera - pained but determined. You remember how that felt.
Before [[falling asleep later->fall asleep]] you tell yourself you'll message her in the morning.
(if: $character is 'Anna')[After a few weeks playing daily rounds of //Shotgun Overdrive// you feel like you're only just grasping some of the nuances now. It's not completely foreign - you've handled a lot of the weapons in game in real life - but the way of thinking and the tactics are completely different. It's funny, but you feel alive playing it again, in a way you hadn't since your injury. With hard work, you could be good at this. [[Tomorrow]], you'll start finding resources online.](else:)[You're back on-stage at the World Championships, accepting the trophy with 8 other screaming, crying members of Venom. Meko is slapping your back and yelling in your ear. "You really saved us, Hannah!" The casters are announcing the most valuable player, but they call out a name you don't recognize. An older woman steps forward to take the award. You realize, you're wearing the stiff polo shirt of a team coach; your hands are clawed and twisted, impossible to play with anymore. You drag yourself to wakefulness out of sheer force of will. [[Tomorrow]], you'll face it.]
To be continued in chapter two.