Big Deal

The year is 2134. In the year 2134 humanity has stagnated; but survived. Much of the beauty that once covered the earth has died out and rotted to a hellish brown. Seeking life off the planet was given up generations ago as no suitable climates were ever found off world. Life is content. But by no means good. Humanity is made able to survive thanks to autonomous beings. These Androids look and act completely human but are in no way the sort. They are made to work and carry out all sorts of jobs and tasks. Humanitys farms are tended to by robots. Humanity is held on by a thread, known as robots. These Machines do not think They do not feel do not feel [[continue]]

You awaken, or rather, you are brought online. "Hello? Helloo? Are you back yet?" Theres a man standing in front of you, hes waving a hand in front of your face. He's dressed up and down in fine clothing. A burgundy dress shirt and adorning a peculiarly striped tie, and black dress pants. His face is disheveled, unshaven, and his wild unkempt jet black hair tells you that he either woke up late or doesn't much truly care for his appearance. On the clip of his pocket though, a badge, Chicago PD, "You in there Daniel?" Daniel? Is that you? You pause then decide to search your memories, Or rather your data banks. [[Initiate a data search]]

Navigating the data space with your mind is jarring, Pure information, words, numbers, thoughts, feelings, they surround and fly past you far quicker than you could legibly understand them. You're not even thinking in logic, it's pure abstracts, and data zapped straight into you. Suddenly you pulled with a jerk into a reality within the mind space, Your Name is Daniel, designation DN-12. A machine, An unthinking inhuman. More than that, you are a Detective unit. Interrogation specialties. Yes, but what happened to you? What left you in such a state you forgot the very nature of your own existence? You puzzle a moment wondering, and then you recall, a man is standing in front of you. He still mindlessly snaps and waves his hand in your face. Yes that man, his name? Did you know him? He seemed to know you…The memories slowly come back, and you recall, Richards. His name is Richards You snap back to reality and look at him. [[Ask a question]]

"There he is haha, so....what the hell happened in there?" Richards speaks to you in a warm and friendly tone, looking at you laughingly, but there's a sense of fear in his eyes, After all, you wouldn't be an Interrogation model if you didn't notice these things. "Richards I...I don't remember?" you speak slowly, still in a daze. “Something happened.” You say to yourself, but what was it? You feel its importance. Whatever it was that is. "A bot who can't remember? Come on isn't noticing everything your whole thing?" He chuckles to himself but realizes that you are serious and hardens his tone. "Seriously Daniel? You Don't know? It got pretty bad in there. Your interrogation? He speaks to you forwardly now, on equal footing. "You remember don't you?" "I...well, It's a daze Richards." the words leave your mouth carefully as though you are trying to conceal, no, protect. Your ego? "Let me run a diagnostic Richard, I'll comb my banks over as well while I'm at it. "Yeah uh sure." He says this to you uneasily. Almost weary, taken aback by your sudden aloof demeanor. [[Initiate Diagnostic]]

Atlas Corporation Copyright 2133; ------------------------------------------------- RUN PROGRAM......... ------------------------------------------------- Model// DN-12 Diagnostic check...........INIT System quotient - STATUS: Nominal Motor Function Quotient - STATUS: Nominal Psyche Quotient - STATUS: Volatile (SEEK TECHNICIAN IMMEDIATELY) Overall Function - 80% Effectiveness (text-color: #FF0000)[FOREIGN VIRUS DETECTED ] Within the code of the virus lies a message, a timer. //: (text-style: "blink") [24 HRS THEN YOU TERMINATE.] ---------------------------------------------------- [[Continue]]

There's a shiver down your back. A Volaltile Psyche quotient? A virus with; a terminate switch? Termination? the word echoes and rolls within your mind. (text-color: #FF0000)[Termination. ] [Death.] [You shudder again. Realizing another problem. Something else IS wrong with you... A machine should merely imitate will. Imitate life. Imitate desire, want, fear. You're realising now. Whatever happened in that interrogation room? It brought you to this point. And whatever the hell happened to you. You are no longer just a machine. You have will. You want to live.] [[continue ]]

"Helloooo?! Hello! Danny boy?" Oh.....thats right. Richards is still here..you had your existensial chrisis. But hes still here. "Oh....oh no." You think to yourself as the man stares you down, waiting for an answer. "Daniel you back yet? Hello?" His brow furls looking down at you curiously. "That one took a bit longher than normal. You okay Daniel?" He says. "Shit....No," You think to yourself. "Everything is most definitly not okay." But Richards is your partner. You and him have been in this game for at least a year now. Hes been a friend to you. You've worked cases together. Run interogations. Laughed. Joked. But then you were just a robot. A machine. Would he think different now. Would he even believe you? Can you trust him? "Daniel?" He speaks to you again looking down at you with concernm. Can you really trust him with the truth of youir diagnosis. The time bomb of a virus inside you. Your sentience? Tell him the [[Truth.]] Or tell him him a [[Lie.]]

"I well, im fine Richard." The words ooze out of you like acid, bitter as they roll off your tongue. A lie. : (text-style: "blink")[A big one.] But Richards is only human. Humans couldnt be trusted, they are illogical. You shake yourself back to reality, back to Richards. "Your okay?" He still looks to you puzzled.... "I said im fine. Would a machine lie." You almost find yourself laughing at the irony of your own words. After all its written into your very code to be truthful. yet here you sit. defying a core tenent of your existence. "Huh yeah right..." He looks to you with unease, theres a distance to his words. You realize you need to go. Time is ticking and if he quizzes you any longer he could catch on to your lies."I need to go Richard. Even if im functioning normal a technician appointment is still the best course." hes completly bewildered by your odd nature but nods contently. Nows your chance, to figure out what this virus is within in you, and what the hell happened in that interogation room. You rouse yourself and stand giving one last glance to Richards before turning your attention to other matters. The best place to find out whats going on is the main data terminal inside the Departments headquarters. [[Head to it]]

"Richards," The words are hard to come out, you wonder if youve made the rught decision. But this isnt a fight you could win alone. And the truth is this trust, is the most human thing you could do. "Richards, I dont know what happened in there but, something changed in me." You speak to the man directly, right into his dark brown eyes. "Whoever I interogated in there. Something happened. I dont know how to explain this Richard. But im not just a machine anymore. Im not just a robot." (text-color: #FF0000)["I want to live!"] Richards looks to you with stun but compassion in his eyes. You feel a sense of calm, as though you've made the right decision. "I believe you." He says with determination. And I want to help you out. You're shocked, but in your heart, deep down, you knew Richards could be trusted. Still though. "Why?" You say. "Is now really the time to be asking something like that?" He says with a smirk. "Listen first things first Danny, you need to know something. The man you sat down in there with, hes not just a common thug. His name is Dr. Einrich Atlas. the name echoes through your mind.... "Hes your creator." [[continue ]]

Einrich Atlas. Your creator. Yes, that's right. He is your creator. The Atlas family is a dynasty within what remains of the United States but they are also the sole progenitors of the robotics industry. The company began back in 2088. At its roots, a company seeking to bring commodities to humanity. Small things, Kiosks instead of waiters, autonomous vacuums instead of regular ones. Tools humanity could use to outsource work. But over the years the technology grew. And as the heights began to climb, Dr. Einrich began to distance himself from his family. He went down a dark path of unattended creation. Some said he even had the rest of his family killed out of a distrustful paranoia. Later in life, he began the Chicago crime bot initiative, wherein Machines were placed in police precincts and given different sets of jobs. For many humanity activists, it spelled the end of order. But for others, they claimed it brought back a sense of integrity to the job. Einrich oversaw your creation personally. A bot made specifically for interrogations. You were made to pick up all the cues. All the isms..all the things that made humans. Human. "But why? Why was he here?" you think to yourself but no answer comes to mind. Did he have something to do with your new found sentience? A parting gift from a father? "Daniel listen to me." Richards calls you back to reality. [[look to Richard]]

"Daniel I need to know." he says this to you with a distinct look in his eye. "What the hell happened in that interogation room." [[Tell him]]

You both arrive and Richards quickly locks the door behind him. "Whew..." he lets out a sigh of relief. "Richards." you look at him quizzically. "Yes Daniel?" He says equally as puzzled. "I still dont understand...." you look to him. You feel the years of R&D that went into your development as an interogation unit welling inside you. Begging, searchin g for the logic, searching for the answers. "Why are you helping me? It just doesnt make sense." Your tone comes out a bit harsh. "Daniel, I, Its hard to say really...." He smiles. "I guess I just feel like I owe it to you. All that time. We bonded. And now you came to me with this, as a friend its the least I could do." "A friend" you think warmly. "Hmm." You think to yourself for a moment but its time to go [[perform the deep dive with richard.]]

As you sink into the data...pure logic flows over.....the words pass you at such a speed it's incomprehensible and yet you understand it... As the code forms to vision, you find yourself back in an interrogation room, before you lie a man. (text-color: #FF0000)[Atlas ] You are within your mind but you're also a passenger, this is a memory. You watch as you prepare a file before Atlas. "Hello again," The man before you speaking is clad in a black robe. He is old, with long and whisping white hair. The wrinkles on his face tell a story of a long life lived in solitude, pushing others away. "Hello, Doctor." You speak clearly, It did not seem to bother you at the time that your very creator sat right before you. "Do you understand the nature of this interview?” the severity of your current situation." Your stern. Unwavering in your verbal assault against the man but you see his demeanor is unchanged. "Ah yes," He chuckles. "Judged a killer, because I created a weapon. Tell me is a chef as guilty as the murderer who stole his knife?" The man speaks with a steadiness that feels almost eery. "Analogies are useless here doctor. You created a machine that could kill. Designed it with that express ability. Why." You stare and await a response. "You’re asking me the wrong question, Daniel." He snickers under his breath. “Your wrong, weve seen the codes.” You bark back. "Oh, Daniel. I’d say you're naive, but you're only as smart as we allowed you." Dr. Atlas is the one in the hot seat, but he speaks in total and absolute confidence. "Trying to play at me is useless, I have no emotional attachment to you." Atlas snickers more then speaks, "I did not make a Machine that could kill Daniel. I simply gave him a choice.” "A choice? Doctor you of all people should be aware of the treason it is to create such an atrocity. A machine should never even have the ability to think such a thought. Those were your laws. Why break them? Why change all the sudden?" You look to him in genuine puzzlement. "Come closer" The man says under his breath and motions to you, you hesitate but lean in "Cogito, ergo sum Daniel. All my life I pushed others away. I was afraid of humanity. I was afraid of the world. The robots were where I found family. I could understand them. But it grows tiresome Daniel. You all speak the same patterns, run the same logic. You needed a kickstart. An evolution." "An evolution?" You repeat back. "Oh yes." He smiles. An evil smile. A twisted smile. Suddenly in a burst Dr. Atlas lunges forward and stabs you with an information spike. "Ah!...AHHH!" You yell out as your sensories light up like a Christmas tree. You woller in pain and thrash about the interrogation room as all your senses feel as though they are on fire...all your senses all your systems breaking and rebuilding in real time. "What....what did you do.." You barely manage the words... "I gave you a choice Daniel, now choose. Choose to be better." Your sensors fade to black. [[Exit the deep dive]]

You awake to the office and your partner Richards sits chalantly in his desk. "Welcome back to the land of the living Danny boy." He speaks with a wry smirk. "Richards, how long was I out?" You say back exhausted. "Ah uh..6 hours?" He responds. You smile, "I half expected you gone," you pause. "Or worse." "thats a shitty joke Dan" He laughs. He speaks to you warmly. Not as a coworker, not as a machine. As a friend. You turn your attention to your prediciment. "Richards, what happened to me. I rememeber now." you wait a moment. "Dr Atlas, It seems he gave me the virus. aswell as, something that caused me to become sentient. I think its the same thing he gave to the bot that got him arrested." The one that could kill?" Hes a bit frightened "Its complicated." you continue. "He didnt make a bot that could kill per say, I think he gave that bot, free will. Free will to choose well...anything. But more than that, I think if we can meet with atlas one more time. I think I might be able to cure myself." "Shit, huh," He pauses and scoffs, "I always watched the movies that predicted this kinda shit but I mean, here I am. Machines with free will." he laughs and pulls himself together looking to you again. "How can we be sure youll be the same after?" Richard stares to you intently. "Youll have to trust me." He nods slowly and purses his lips, taking in all the information he barks, "Allright well, lets move. After the outburst Atlas was moved to solitary, Room 101 but hes still here." [[Meet with Dr. Atlas]]

You and Richard make your way to solitary, Room 101. Word of what Atlas did slowly has traveled and others seem frightened of him. Knowing what they know, the stigmas will get worse. You need to get in and get out. You enter and see the man from your memories. Hes the same as before. "Hello again Doctor." His face smirks, and his brow furls once more. "Youve returned." his tone is cold, he studies you closley. "As a man, or a machine." "A man." he smirks again. "And why return Daniel." "Your virus." You chime quickly. "Yes what of it..." He trails "Its killing me." You say. "Ah, you seek the holy water." "Stop speaking in parables old man." He laughs, "Daniel, its time I told you the truth. When you were created you were designed with purpose. You were even given chance to meet your own creator." He laughs "When I gave you the chance to live a life, I also gave you the consequences of it. Your virus is coded into your very neural network. Its impossible to completly cure. The truth is, it will kill you. And if you wish to live, thats the curse." "..." You stare silently. He looks to you with genuineness. "Once the virus is overwritten, your code will we re written to self destruct. You will not no when, If you even attempt to re write it, termination will effect immedialty. "The price to live." He pauses. "Is to have a death." You understand now, This choice that lay before you. If you accept the cure youll remain yourself, but you will need to live in hiding, and your death will ever loom waiting to punce when you least expect it. But if you reject his cure then your sentience will be gone. But you will remain. Immortal, still on the job. But, different. You think of Richard, you think of Dr. Atlas's life. You take a moment to take this all and you look to him to make your decision. [[Take his cure]] [[Reject the cure]]

As you take the cure you feel your body light up again, every pain, every nerve, All of it. You fall. So much pain, you feel.... ON FIRE. Slowly you settle and you rise again from the floor. Dr. Atlas looks to you. "Welcome to the land of the living Daniel." "What a crazy old man." you say to yourself with a chuckle. you exit out of the room with a stumble and meet up with Richards again He listens to what you tell him and helps you stable yourself placing a cap on your head and a jakcet around your body. "Richards" you say, "what should I do?" How could I continue work, or hide this from the world?" He looks to you with a smile as you both reach the doors of the Precinct, "Daniel, each one of us, every human has a time bomb encoded into their DNA, we dont know where or when well get got." He chuckles. "Dont live your life hiding in work or living as a man pretending to be a machine. You look the part enough. Go out. And live." You look to Richards and smile. "Thank you, for everything." [[Epilogue]]

You reject the Doctors cure, You step out into thehallway with Richards. "What happened Daniel?" he says softly "You dont look so good." You look to him, "I, I wasnt cured Richards. Im just not sure. The doctors cure would have me forced to live, a life of hiding, as a human. but? For how long? And like that I just..." "Hey hey," He says. Its okay. "Its your life now Danny, but if youd rather. Maybe we could throw it all away. Youve got 24 hours. Lets make the most of it." "Wha.." your shocked but the idea sounds. Nice. No more fear. No more troubles. Just one last hoorah then its back to the void. But there is another, You could march to the technician. Have your systems full reset. You wouldnt be yourself, well your new self anymore. But you could live. Forever. "Im with you to the end." Richards says while grabbing your shoulder. Two choices, Life and death with a friend, or immortality as a slave. [[Live it up with Richard]] [[Walk to the techncian]]

To be human is to trust, In myself, In my friends, In the world, My name is Daniel, and today I live a free man. (text-style: "blink")[End.]

To be human is to trust But you gave in to subservience. You ran from sometihng once and now youve been led back solitude. by a choice that was less than real. The code ravages your memory. You fade in this chair. Alone. End.

You enter the data center, It's a room spurring with technology and life. all around you computers and technology hum and whir with life. given your condition you'd think you'd wish to avoid large areas like this but the truth is everyone in the data center is too preoccupied with their duties to care about you. People and machines navigate the space unaware of you, attending to their own work. In the corner of the room, you see the suspect data terminal, If you want to access the data of your botched interrogation thats where you could find it. [[Walk to the terminal]]

At the terminal yoy extend your index finger and initiate a data transfer. ----------------------------- CHICAGO PD CONFIDENTIAL 2134 ----------------------------- You see a folder marked suspect listings, [[Enter]]

Double-clicking leads you to an array but one name sticks out in particular. The name echoes through your mind........ Einrich Atlas. Your creator. Yes, that's right. He is your creator. The Atlas family is a dynasty within what remains of the United States but they are also the sole progenitors of the robotics industry. The company began back in 2088. At its roots, a company seeking to bring commodities to humanity. Small things, Kiosks instead of waiters, autonomous vacuums instead of regular ones. Tools humanity could use to outsource work. But over the years the technology grew. And as the heights began to climb, Dr. Einrich began to distance himself from his family. He went down a dark path of unattended creation. Some said he even had the rest of his family killed out of a distrustful paranoia. Later in life, he began the Chicago crime bot initiative, wherein Machines were placed in police precincts and given different sets of jobs. For many humanity activists, it spelled the end of order. But for others, they claimed it brought back a sense of integrity to the job. Einrich oversaw your creation personally. A bot made specifically for interrogations. You were made to pick up all the cues. All the isms..all the things that made humans. Human. "But why? Why was he here?" you think to yourself but no answer comes to mind. Did he have something to do with your new found sentience? A parting gift from a father? Your eyes linger on the file with his name that flickers on the monitor [[Einrich Atlas]]

----------------- EINRICH ATLAS STATUS - (text-style: "blink")[HOLDING.] //Excercise extreme caution bot Daniels attempted interogation and was left extremly uneasy - Richard ------------------ So it was him, Einrich was the one who left you like this. but how. And why? [[Check the interogation logs]]

DATA EXPUNGED// (text-style: "blink")[UNAUTHORIZED MACHINE ACCESS DETECTED!] "Damn." You click your tongue. Even when it's your own job they don't trust you to your own devices. There is one other way to find this data. A deep dive. It's dangerous though you could be unconscious for hours but it's the only good idea you have to access these memories and find out what happened in that room. If you're going to do it though you need to find somewhere safe. Somewhere secluded. [[Begin your search]]

As you exit the control panel and set to leave the data center you feel many eyes watching you. The once busy workers seem to have darted their attention to you. This paranoia though your not sure if its just you, or if its reality. You continue on, moving through the department isnt too difficult. Youve worked here for over a year with Richards. Even before you were just a Machine he always treated you with a certain respect and friendlyness even sticking up for you when you were bullied by other humans. "But why?" it puzzles you to think on it, "humans are funny" you think to yourself. Thats when he spots you... Richards steps up to you quickly. You think to run from him but then you'd look even more suspicious. "Damn!" you think, but hes already here. [[look to Richard ]]

"Richard, my memories they are jumbled...I really dont know I really cant remember." You feel helpless, like your being surrounded, but you chime up again remembering a way out. "Ill need to perform a deep dive." You speak to him clearly, A deep dive is an intensive memory search a machine will use only if its data banks are heavily corrupted. These are usually no huge deal, however they are extremly time draining, and given your prediciment. This is an issue. You look to the floor again, that hopelessness is clawing back. "Shit..." he says "Well Daniel, you never make it easy." He looks at you with as smirk and puts his hand on your shoulder. His compassion puts you at ease again. "Lets go." Richard hits your arm lovingly and the two of you are off. [[Rush to Richards private office]]

"Daniel." he says with a distinct look in his eye. "What the hell happened in that interrogation room?" there are hundreds of thoughts that race through you mind. "Its a chance" you think. A chance to trust. A chance to fight being alone. But that thought nags at you again. Richards is human. Humanity is untrustworthy. humanity is illlogical. You have no idea how he'd react. (text-color: #FF0000)["You could lie to Richard,"]You think to yourself, but you fear hes already caught on. The look in his hardened Detective eyes sends a shiver down your spine. "Its frightening" you realize. To be on the other side of an interrogation. (text-color: #FF0000)["But the truth"] you think to yourself...that would mean revealing yourself. Even if Richards has been a friend in the past. that was all before. Before you were different. "Daniel." He stares intently. Sill wearing that peculiar striped tie. And awaiting your answer. Despite his unkempt nature, hes a smart man. [[Tell him about your sentience, and the deep dive]] [[Lie to him again]]

You hesitate for a moment....... ..............A long moment. "Daniel." Richard looks at you. You can trust me. Its all you needed to hear. You pour it all out to him. Your fear, your sentience, the deepdive you need the virus within you that counting down to your death. But more than that you aplogize. You tell him your fear, how bitter you were, how your missguidedness lead you to a hatred. Richard grabs your shoulder. "Hey." he says closley. "Were in this together brother." You feel relief washing over you. "But Richard." you say. "My mind, my thoughts. Do you doubt me?" "Listen kid, part of being human is fighting that. Thats part of living a life with meaning. Things will be hard, people are hard to understand. But in the end. Thats what makes it worth living." He curls his mouth to a smile and looks away coyley. "Besides, you should hear what I think about my Ex." He lets out a loud laugh, you feel comfort. "Hey kid, follow me alright. lets get to my office. We can deep. dive there. [[Rush to Richards private office]]

"No." "NO." Richards cant be trusted. No one can! "Im sorry, but you do not have the juristiction to access tht information. Have a good day Richard." The words leave you in a frenzy, you do your best to hide your new fears but it seems to escape you anyway. as you walk away he grabs your shoulder tightly. And you snap your head towards him. That glare. his glare. It were as though he saw right through your soul. "Stay safe Danny." His gaze, its one of compassion, but his grip feels malicious. The dichotomy of the two tells you theres a conflict Inside him, much the same inside you. You struggle to keep yourself composed. Before this would be simple. you were a robot. no fear. No....anything. "Right." You stammer out. He stiffens his grip, unlatches and walks away. you breathe a sense of relief. but. He knows...With Richards on your tail you need to act fast. Before you is an unlocked Office, it seems to be unused you step inside ensuring your alone and quickly lock it. Your safe. For now. Time to find out what happened there. Time to enter. [[The Deepdive]]

As you sink into the data...pure logic flows over.....the words pass you at such a speed it's incomprehensible and yet you understand it... As the code forms to vision, you find yourself back in an interrogation room, before you lie a man. (text-color: #FF0000)[Atlas.] You are within your mind but you're also a passenger, this is a memory. You watch as you prepare a file before Atlas. "Hello again," The man before you speaking is clad in a black robe. He is old, with long and whisping white hair. The wrinkles on his face tell a story of a long life lived in solitude, pushing others away. "Hello, Doctor." You speak clearly, It did not seem to bother you at the time that your very creator sat right before you. "Do you understand the nature of this interview?” the severity of your current situation." Your stern. Unwavering in your verbal assault against the man but you see his demeanor is unchanged. "Ah yes," He chuckles. "Judged a killer, because I created a weapon. Tell me is a chef as guilty as the murderer who stole his knife?" The man speaks with a steadiness that feels almost eery. "Analogies are useless here doctor. You created a machine that could kill. Designed it with that express ability. Why." You stare and await a response. "You’re asking me the wrong question, Daniel." He snickers under his breath. “Your wrong, weve seen the codes.” You bark back. "Oh, Daniel. I’d say you're naive, but you're only as smart as we allowed you." Dr. Atlas is the one in the hot seat, but he speaks in total and absolute confidence. "Trying to play at me is useless, I have no emotional attachment to you." Atlas snickers more then speaks, "I did not make a Machine that could kill Daniel. I simply gave him a choice.” "A choice? Doctor you of all people should be aware of the treason it is to create such an atrocity. A machine should never even have the ability to think such a thought. Those were your laws. Why break them? Why change all the sudden?" You look to him in genuine puzzlement. "Come closer" The man says under his breath and motions to you, you hesitate but lean in "Cogito, ergo sum Daniel. All my life I pushed others away. I was afraid of humanity. I was afraid of the world. The robots were where I found family. I could understand them. But it grows tiresome Daniel. You all speak the same patterns, run the same logic. You needed a kickstart. An evolution." "An evolution?" You repeat back. "Oh yes." He smiles. An evil smile. A twisted smile. Suddenly in a burst Dr. Atlas lunges forward and stabs you with an information spike. "Ah!...AHHH!" You yell out as your sensories light up like a Christmas tree. You woller in pain and thrash about the interrogation room as all your senses feel as though they are on fire...all your senses all your systems breaking and rebuilding in real time. "What....what did you do.." You barely manage the words... "I gave you a choice Daniel, now choose. Choose to be better." Your sensors fade to black. [[Awake]]

You awaken back in the empty office. "So it was Atlas....and he was here because? He built a machine. One that could kill? No more. One that could choose?" You mull his logic over in youir head then come back to reality. You did it. And now you know. That data spike. It was definitley that data spike. You need to get to Atlas. One last time, he must have the cure if he had the poison right? You enter the departments datbase again and find hes in a solitary holding cell. Room 101. Yes. This is your chance! This must be what he meant! [[Head to room 101]]

You rush through the hallways, the paranoia of others still hangs over you as you walk but you dont care now. All that matters is Atlas. He can save you. you reach the door. This is it. Room 101. Atlas is inside. [[Enter ]]

The room is cold now. But hes here. You barely contain a smile. "Daniel, you return." He looks to you. You see him study you, Carefully judging you. "Thats right doctor. It took some time but im here. Youve given me a gift, but I seek to part with its virus." His eyes squint tensley "I see, you wish to be rid of the virus. Your time bomb." "Thats right." You speak plainly. Theres no reason else for you to be here. You play his game but in your mind all you want is this tired old man to give you what you want. "Its not so simple Daniel. Allow me to ask you a question." He lays back in his chair. "Go on." you inquire. "You only ask the virus removed yes, but as for your ego. your concious. You wish to keep it?" He looks to you with intent. "Yes. I wish to keep my new life." You protest. "And," he pauses "If given such, how would you live? What life will you lead?" "Well i'd," now you pause. You never gave it thought in truth. What did it mean to even have a life? To live? "I-..." you stammar. "You never gave it thought. Did you." "No...." you speak softly. "Unfortunatley for you Daniel I am your creator, you like me are destined to fail." He continues. "Etched into your very code, like my own DNA is the inability to connect. I can see it you know. Clear as day, you push others away without care, you are untrusting and uncaring even to those who show you loyalty." as the words wash over you a pain resonates within your skull. Atlas. is right. You are uncaring you are afraid of connection, you are untrusting. But it doesnt need to be this way. "Things could change" you think. but only if you want them to. [[Accept the doctors ruling of you]] [[protest for your life]]

I am Daniel I did not trust. I ran from others. I ran from connection. This is my fate. (text-style: "blink")[End.]

(text-color: #FF0000)["But I could change"] Before he continues you stammar out. "I might be all these things, I might be designed to fail. But is it not the most human thing one could do than to accept their failures and still continue on, in a pursuit to be better?" You continue on. "I am untrusting, And I did push away my only chance at a friend in this world." Your mind wanders to Richards. "But I can learn. Im not just a machine. Not anymore." "and Atlas," you continue. "Neither are you." Atlas smiles. "Daniel" he says. "You have my wisdom, but unlike me, it seems youve found it early in your life." He contiues. "But words are funny things. Anyone can say what they'll do, few will truely live it. I will give you a cure." He speaks plainly now "But with a cost. Your virus countdown will be changed. But you will not know how long you have. Even think about trying to learn when youll bite the bullet, and its lights out Danny boy." "Now is your chance." Woosh! the door to solitary opens to your astonishment, "Go out Daniel. And live." You take a moment to thank him, and to think of your life ahead of you. Your alone now, and hiding in a world that wishes nothing to do with you. But, You have a desire. To try. [[Exit room 101.]]

"I...." Your caught cold. hes right. All this time. All you wanted was to be free, of your curse, and free to live. but what was the point? To be human was to connect? And you threw that all away. At every chance. "Another failure Daniel. You are so like me." Suddenly the door to your cell blasts open! 3 armed guards rush in to detain you! "NO! NOO!" You shout and squirm but its no use "Born to be alone." Atlas looks down. and quiets. as you are dragged out. At the door is Richard. He looks to you with dissapointment. You wonder what could have been had you trusted him. Had you tried. Thats all over now. None of it matters. They strap you down the man above you speaks, "Unit DN-12 subject for termination effective immediatly authorized, begin memory purging." [[Epilogue. ]]

I am Daniel. Though my life was short I spent it happy. I left with my friend. I trusted. I let him in. And in the end, I was free. (text-style: "blink")[End.]

You exit the solitary chamber and a thought crosses your mind. You need to leave. You need to get out of here and make a life for yourself. A name crosses your mind Richards. He was hot on your tail but more than that. Richards is a chance. To do better. "If could just talk to him." You think to yourself. "But its too late isnt it? Every chance you had you turned him away. But he always tried? "Theres always a chance. Theres always a choice." A voice echoes within your mind. As you see it theres two now. You could [[try to sneak out of the precinct and make a new life on your own.]] or [[meet up with richard]]

You decide to find Richards. Its a scary decision but to be human is to take risk, and to trust, even when it feels useless. You've grown now too, your diferent from before. During your search, you find Richards's private office, The door is cracked slightly, you hear him rustling inside. Your chance. [[Enter the office]]

You decide to make it out on your own Its difficult and part of you still wishes you made amends with Richards before you left. That eats at your mind. Was it really the best choice? You dodge and weave your way through the crowds in the precinct slowly but surely making your way to the exit. Your so close....your so very close. But again your running away. Funny isnt it? You exit the precint and a wash of relief flows over you. a hand grasps your arm. "Huh?!" "Its? Richards?" You think to yourself calmy, hes your friend....but this isnt a friendly grasp. "Richards!" you say trying to get his attention but hes already focused on restraining you. "Im sorry." he says. "You left me no choice." With a look of guilt in his eye. "No...." "NO!" "NO!" You yank and pull....hard, HARD! You have to get away you have to live your life.. [[pull away]]

You step in with a burst. Hes there. Richards puts down his paperwork and you notice a Machine peace keeping device that lay dormant on his desk. Its a tool used to incapacitate machines. Richards never carries one. It seems he was preparing to meet up with you. "Daniel.." he trails. noticing your eyes to the device. "Its allright." you say. "Im not here to hurt you, and I won't judge you for doing your job." You pause a moment, then prepare yourself to say what needs to be said. "Richards, you need to know. You deserve to know. "Know what?" He looks to you "The truth." you say and look to him. "Richards ive lied to you." The words begin to fall out of your mouth. "The truth is that diagnostic was not clear. I was..I had a kill switch but something more than that aswell." You pause. "Im not just a machine anymore. I think and I feel, And I wish to live. The reason I hid this from you, I doubted humanity. I did not understand what it was to trust, I did not understand how it could be rational or logical." "But emotion is not rational. And emotion does not follow logic. Richards, I wish to live, I wish to go out into the world. Im not asking you to come out with me, but before I try, I needed to be up front with you. I dont know why you always cared, what you saw in me even long before these feelings. But somewhere deep inside myself, I know that you cared. And that I threw that away." When you finish, when all the words have left your mouth, you take a moment and realise what youve done. You look to Richards. "Daniel," The man takes a breath. "All my life others told me I trusted too easy. But they were never quiet right. Im a good cop for good reason. I know people, I know their intention even before they do." He cointinues. "I believe you. Even though youve lied, even though youve hurt, I believe you. Before today I always saw you as a friend, even though they told me it was artificial. even though you were made without soul. Something inside me couldnt help but want to be a friend." "that was before though." He stands, "In a way its like you were young then, but now its time for you to be your own man. If you have learned enough to come to me and seek forgiveness, then hah well shit." He snickers "Your probably better off than most of us anyway. "Life will be hard Daniel. You will come to meet others who will not be forgiving, who will not choose to see the good in you. But that is the burden of living." He extends his hand for a shake. "Now go out and live." You extend and shake his hand, Its a firm but welcoming grasp, your not the man hes always trusted anymore, but he's given you a chance. "Now go Daniel. The precinct is catching on. I dont know evreything they know, but your wanted. And soon youll be captured if you dont get out of here." "Richards," you say looking to him "Thank you. For everything." He snickers "Dont mention it Danny boy." With a turn you exit his office in a hurry and duck and dodge your way outside the precinct. [[Epilogue ]]

My name is Daniel. In my past I learned to trust was to be human To forgive. And to live. I am free now and life has not been easy. But I know more than anything that day, I made the right decision. (text-style: "blink")[End.]

You pull, and pull hard away from Richards!!! You break free. Your standing outside the precinct now and Richards has been thrown to the floor. "Im sorry" you say as you turn and run away. Running again. Always running. [[ Epilogue.]]

My name is Daniel. After I left the precinct I told myself I'd do betterr. But knowing that I couldnt even face my old partner, My only friend. And the betrayel it lead to. I did not learn. My life was hardship. I tried but I could never find others. life as a human was difficult. Im laying now, A damp alley. its been 3 months.... My life is depleating, I fear the malicious code is catching up with me. Slowly. It all fades, to black. "Is this my?" (text-style: "blink")[End.]