Path to Freedom

The year is 2048. The nations of the world have crumbled, and reformed into warring city-states. Technology has regressed to pre-WW1. The city you live in has new management: a mayor who is trying to appeal to the public, despite an incredibly unpopular, authoritarian rule. You are a leading member of an organisation in your city-state known as Joy. Together, you campaign for more public freedoms. In this harsh, unforgiving world, all you wanna do is have fun... [[Begin->main menu]]

Welcome to the city-state of Arcadia Where would you like to go? [[Go to Apartment Block->Block]] [[Go to Town Square->Square]]

The apartment block is a massive, ugly, concrete building. It towers over you, far too imposing for what should be a home. Inside, a long staricase winds upwards. Your apartment is on the fifth floor, so you begin climbing up, one flight at a time. You reach your apartment, no.57, unlock the door and walk inside. It is a fairly spartan living space. There is a small stove, a bare mattress, and a sink, all in one room. On the far wall, there is one small, dirty window. Peering outside, you see it is getting dark. [[Go to sleep->Block2]] [[Leave->Block1]]

The Town Square is a large, concrete ground, surrounded by the towering structures of the apartment blocks, factories and offices. There are guard posts scattered around, manned by soldiers. A few soldiers parade around, showing off their new breech-loaded rifles. One guard post is being harassed by some members of Joy, including its leader, Ennia Wolff. The members of Joy are shouting in the soldier's face, waving placards, etc., while the soldier just stands there looking uncomfortable. Ennia turns, and sees you standing there. What would you like to do? [[Wave to Ennia->Ennia]] [[Leave->main menu]]

Ennia waves back, and walks over to you. She is a short, skinny woman, in her early thirties. Dust and dirt cover her face. She has obviously come to the square immediately after her shift in the factories. As she approaches, she smiles, and extends her hand in greeting. You shake hands, and she starts talking, in a way that feels like her words are a river rushing by, never stopping. "Hey, haven't seen you in a while. How are you keeping? We've been pretty busy here. Don't know if you know, but there's a new mayor in town. Looks a nasty piece of work, if you ask me, but we've already started getting more protests going, getting a bit of leeway, y'know, a bit of space for people to actually start <i>living</i>. What do you think?" She gestures at the other members. [["Umm... Seems a bit harsh, no?"->Ennia1]]

She frowns, and looks confused for a minute. "Really? I would have thought, 'Any means necessary' for you. I mean, whatever you think. You're probably the sagest of us here. I mean, what were <i>you</i> thinking?" [["Revolution!"->Ennia1.1]] [["Diplomacy?"->Ennia1.2]]

She chuckles, "Now who's being harsh?" She ponders for a minute, seriously considering it. "Well, who knows, maybe that would be a better approach. At this rate, it'll be a good while till we make any progress with our current approach," She smiles as she says this. "Well, I'd better be off, see you later!" She walks back to the guard post, leaving you standing there. You look up and notice that it's getting late. Probably best to head home. [[Go to your apartment->Block.1]]

She scoffs. "Diplomacy? With that man? Let me tell you something, something that should be obvious to someone as intelligent as you: there's no chance of that. He's a power-hungry man, he won't ever give us anything unless we push for it!" She stops, and stares into the distance fora moment. Then she turns to you, all smiling and happy. "Tell you what, you can talk to him if you like, explain our position. If it works, great! If it doesn't, well," she shrugs, "I guess we'll have to continue as we are. What d'you say?" [["Sure."]] [["Why don't you come with me?"]]

You leave your apartment, locking the door behind you. You make the slow walk down the stairs, pausing once to help a drunk resident get inside his apartment, and exit the building [[Continue->main menu]]

You lie down on the mattress, and despite not feeling sleepy at all, as soon as your head hits the mattress, you fall into a deep sleep. You dream of a city-state free from any authority, just people, basking in the sun, smiling, happy. You wake up with a jolt. The room is cold, but brightened by light from the window. After readying yourself for the day, you realise there is nothing left to do here. [[Leave->Block3]]

The new working day has begun, and people everywhere are rushing to their respective jobs, to the factories, to the offices. Many just sit by the road, hands outstretched, begging for any money to help them survive, and no doubt, in many cases to help their family survive. What would you like to do? [[Give money to a beggar->money?]] [[Go to offices->Offices]] [[Go to factories->Factories]]

You reach into your pockets to give some charity, and a few beggars look up at you, hopefully. You rummagebaround, but find you don't have a single coin to give. You shrug in apology at the beggars, who look down, disappointed. What would you like to do? [[Go to offices->Offices]] [[Go to factories->Factories]]

//This path requires purchase of the DLC. To purchase the DLC, click [[here]].//

You lie down on the mattress, and despite not feeling sleepy at all, as soon as your head hits the mattress, you fall into a deep sleep. You dream of a bloody revolution, ending with a city-state free from authority. You wake up with a jolt, as you hear a massive ''BOOM'' [[Leave->leave]]

You run down the stairs, passing doors left ajar as others also rush out. Outside, you see a flood of people fleeing from the Town Square. Jogging over to the square, you see all of Joy, in all of its might, cheering, shouting, waving their newly stolen guns from the newly dead soldiers. Looking over, you see what must have been the source of the explosion. The Mayor's hall. The ruins of it at least. Blasted to pieces, as everyone in the city slept. And from the rubble you seen Ennia dragging something out.[[It's the mayor->Death]]

And he's unconcious- And she's smiling- And she's almost happy- But it doesnt feel right- It's not right- (But it is isn't it?) (Freedom from oppression) (And here's the greatest symbol of oppression) [[And then it happens->Happens]]

Ennia pulls out a revolver, a member of Joy smacks the Mayor awake. And she's aiming- There she is And there he is And there you are And here is everyone, waiting And then she speaks: "Freedom at last" [["Wait!"]] [[Wait...]]

Ennia looks up, and sees you. But she doesn't lower the gun. "Isn't this what you wanted? What we wanted? Freedom from oppression? Freedom from tyranny?" [["Yes, but not like this..."->not]] [["Yes, but I want to watch it happen..."]]

[[Bang!]]

"I'm sorry, but we've crossed the Rubicon. There's no stopping..." [[Bang!]]

"Well, watch closely, as I perform the magic trick that liberates this city!" She smiles. And pulls the trigger. [[Bang!]]

And thus the first half of the dream is accomplished; but the second, it never comes. Ennia stepped into the role of Mayor, to keep the city running smoothly while changes to the system were to be made. But the neighbouring city-states, seeing a opportunity, invaded the city. You were not expecting it, no-one was expecting it. No-one was prepared for it, as many of the trained soldiers of the city died in the revolution. Freedom? Freedom is impossible. And the path to freedom was as corrupt as the path it was seeking to avoid. [[Restart->Title Screen]]

You leave your apartment, locking the door behind you. You make the slow walk down the stairs, pausing once to help an older resident get inside her apartment, and exit the building [[Continue->work menu]]

"Great!" She looks pleased, almost too pleased. (But this is good, isn't it? She's finally letting you talk, work something out with the mayor rationally.) "Well, I'd better be off, and you should get some sleep! It's getting dark, and you've got a big day ahead of you!" She walks back to the protest, or, almost skips back... [[Go home->Block,1]]

"You know what, sure! I'll come with." She looks pleased, almost too pleased. (But this is good, isn't it? She's finally letting you talk, work something out with the mayor rationally.) "Well, I'd better be off, and you should get some sleep! It's getting dark, and you've got a big day ahead of you!" She walks back to the protest, or, almost skips back... [[Go home->Block,2]]

You lie down on the mattress, and despite not feeling sleepy at all, as soon as your head hits the mattress, you fall into a deep sleep. You dream of peaceful talks, of discussion, debate, and finally, a happy, free, rational society. You slowly drift into consciousness, and look up to see Ennia, leaning against the wall looking down at you, holding a huge jacket in her hands. "Rise and shine, time to go." As you get up, she hands you the jacket. "It's bulletproof. In case things go sideways." [["Thanks."]] [["How did you get in here?"]]

"No problem, now let's go!" As she walks out the door, you notice that the door's lock has been hacked off (Ouch) [[Follow Ennia->Follow]]

She winks at you, grinning widely. "Oh, I have my ways!" You look past her and notice that the lock of the door handle has been hacked off... (How did you sleep through that?) "Come on." Ennia waves you over, as she walks out the door. [[Follow Ennia->Follow]]

You follow Ennia down the stairs, passing by a drunk resident trying to get up the stairs. Outside the apartment block, you make your way to the mayor's hall. The town square is busier now, but you squeeze your way through the crowds, to the hall. Ennia turns to you. "Well, good luck. You can make your own way now. I'll be waiting here." You continue to the hall, after saying goodbye. It feels final. (Should it feel final?) The mayor is standing outside the hall, obviously he was made aware of your visit. He is a tall man, plump, but not fat. He smiles as you approach. "Welcome to my hall. I hear you have come to ask for more public freedoms, correct? Come on in, we can talk in my study." [[Go inside->Hall]]

Inside, the lobby is huge. Bigger than is necessary for one man. Lining the wall is 8... 12... 20 soldiers. That's a lot of soldiers for one lobby. You walk into the study, and there you both sit down. "Shall we get down to business?" [[Beep beep beep->bomb]]

And that's when you realise why the jacket is so heavy It's packed with 20-year-old C4. Which is beeping- You look up in horror at the mayor, who looks at you, fear in his eyes. Ennia has betrayed you- To kill the mayor- [[Boom!]]

And thus the dream was never accomplished. Ennia stepped into the role of Mayor, to keep the city running smoothly while changes to the system were to be made. But the neighbouring city-states, seeing a opportunity, invaded the city. She was not expecting it, no-one was expecting it. No-one was prepared for it, as many of the well-trained soldiers were killed in the revolution that followed the assasination of the mayor. And the murder of you. Freedom? Freedom is impossible. Because there will always be someone to stop you on the path to true freedom. [[Restart->Title Screen]]

See? Freedom is impossible. You can try, and try and try. But you can't stop human nature. and human nature demands that we have power. Power corrupts, and that corruption will abuse that power. Freedom? Don't even try to find it. Because walking the path to freedom is futile. That path will only take you in circles. [[Restart->Title Screen]]

You lie down on the mattress, and despite not feeling sleepy at all, as soon as your head hits the mattress, you fall into a deep sleep. You dream of peaceful talks, of discussion, debate, and finally, a happy, free, rational society. You slowly drift into consciousness, and look up to see Ennia, leaning against the wall looking down at you. "Rise and shine, time to go." [["Right."]] [["How did you get in here?"->How]]

"Now, let's go!" As she walks out the door, you notice that the door's lock has been hacked off (Ouch) [[Follow Ennia->Follow1]]

You follow Ennia down the stairs, passing by a drunk resident trying to get up the stairs. Outside the apartment block, you make your way to the mayor's hall. The town square is busier now, but you squeeze your way through the crowds, to the hall. The mayor is standing outside, obviously he was made aware of your visit. He is a tall man, plump, but not fat. He smiles as you approach. "Welcome to my hall. I hear you have come to ask for more public freedoms, correct? Come on in, we can talk in my study." [[Go inside->Hall1]]

Inside, the lobby is huge. Bigger than is necessary for one man. Lining the wall is 8... 12... 20 soldiers. That's a lot of soldiers for one lobby. You walk into the study, following Ennia and there you all sit down. "Shall we get down to business?" "Yes, let's." Ennia says, acid in her voice, as she pulls out a revolver. [[Wha-?]]

It's pointing at the mayor- She's about to kill the mayor- But the mayor is smiling- (Why is he smiling?) And then- The soldiers rush in- All 20 of them. They raise their rifles at Ennia and you. "Business conlcuded." declares the Mayor. And the soldiers open fire- [[Bang! bang! bang!]]

And thus the dream was never accomplished. The mayor continued his rule, this time with a fist so iron it was practically an anvil. All remaining freedoms were stripped from the people. The mayor declared war on the neighbouring city-states, and conquered them. He reunited all of Britain. At the cost of freedom, and many lives. Even your own. Freedom? Freedom is impossible. Because there will always be someone to stop you on the path to true freedom. [[Restart->Title Screen]]