You slip into the virtual world easily. It's like, as the Company says, a second home to you - a space to meet friends, family, and new people from all over the world. You even have a chance to meet those who have died, their memories recorded so that you can continue to love and be loved.
The Company has facilitated all of this. With its melding of knowledge, empathy, and wisdom, it has crafted a world at peace, where thoughts can be translated faithfully into other languages. The Company's scientists are still working on translating the thoughts of most animals, but they've perfected communication with dogs.
Today you are here to meet up with family. Your (print: $rell's 1st). $rellspc (if: $doa is 0)[died a while ago](else:)[lives far away] and you set up this time to spend together with (if: $doa is 0)[$rellp afterlife avatar](else:)[$rellop].
As you wait for your (print: $rell's 1st) to appear, an unexpected cat - (print: $catc's 1st) and (print: $catc's 2nd) - dashes past you. Cats are malicious and you know that they're dangerous to approach, that's what the Company says and you have no reason to believe otherwise. You have to wonder what it's doing in this place.
Only separatists own cats, after all, and none of them would be here. They hate the Company. You think they're out of their minds, both for hating the Company and seeking the company of the malicious animals.
//''Do you:''//
Go after the cat, despite your fear? (link: "Turn to page 38")[(set: $chcat to 1)(goto: "cat1")].
Ignore the cat and continue waiting for your (print: $rell's 1st)? (link: "Turn to page 52")[(set: $igcat to 1)(goto: "doc1")].Page numbers used: (out of 100)
8 (miss relative passage
10 (head back after chasing cat)
12 (ask tech to send you back)
17 (accept diagnosis)
38 (follow cat from start)
43 (see relative after doctor)
47 (relative doctor reaction)
50 (end of relative and story)
52 (wait for relative (get doctor))
55 (try to engage cat)
58 (offer to help tech)
62 (challenge doctor)
72 (catch relative up on stuff)
88 (challenge tech)
90 (go back after seeing tech)
93 (relative cat reaction)
{(set: $catc to (shuffled: "pink", "brown", "grey", "purple", "orange", "blue", "fuschia", "green", "red", "maroon"))
(set: $rell to (shuffled: "mom", "aunt", "uncle", "grandfather", "great-aunt"))
(if: $rell's 1st is "mom" or "aunt" or "great-aunt")[(set: $rellsp to "she")(set: $rellop to "her") (set: $rellp to "her")](else:)[(set: $rellsp to "he")(set: $rellop to "him") (set: $rellp to "his")]
(if: $rellsp is "she")[(set: $rellopc to "Her") (set: $rellspc to "She")]
(if: $rellsp is "he")[(set: $rellopc to "Him") (Set: $rellspc to "He")]
(set: $tecgen to (random: 0,1))
(set: $doa to (random: 0,2))
(set: $hiddentech to (random: 1,4))(set: $kit to (random: 1,3))
(set: $chcat to 0)(set: $tecat to 0)(set: $makit to 0)(set: $beldoc to 0)(set: $igcat to 0)(set: $igdoc to 0)
(set: $lovechat to (a: 0,0,0,0))
}You decide to leave the cat (the error? the bug?) for security to deal with. They probably know it's there anyway. Sure enough, you hear a barking noise, surely security in the form of a dog chasing after the cat.
It feels good. You see a light shimmering in front of you and smile. Your (print: $rell's 1st) is here!
...Except the person who steps through is not your (print: $rell's 1st), but one of your doctors. You frown. This is a specialist who lives halfway across the world. It should be the middle of the night for him. At least with translation technology you've never had trouble communicating with him, even if you don't speak the same language.
"I have terrible news," he says, looking at you seriously. "We ran your tests and it turns out you have cardiac sarcoma."
"Huh?" you manage. You haven't had any tests lately for him. You haven't even seen him in six months, and everything was fine there.
"Cancer of the heart," he clarifies. "A very rare cancer to be sure, but still cancer."
//''Well, this is unexpected! Do you:''//
Ask him if he's sure? [[Turn to page 62|doc2a]].
Accept that he knows what he's talking about? [[Turn to page 17|doc2b]]You chase after the cat, despite the fact that you really should be meeting up with your (print: $rell's 1st). You're pretty sure you should have summoned security, but you've always been a curious person and never been afraid to chase something despite your fears. Your (print: $rell's 1st) will understand.
The landscape suddenly turns from a lush landscape to a ruined city, and you have to blink. The cat has run under a sign that says "-OFTBANK" that leans high against the side of a crumbled building. It's hissing and definitely not happy to see you.
//''Do you:''//
Keep moving towards the cat? [[Turn to page 55|cat2a]].
Decide that it's better to be safe than sorry and head back to meet with (print: $rell's 1st)? [[Turn to page 10|cat2b]].(set: _loc1 to (random: 1,4))(set: _loc2 to(random: 1,4))You see your (print: $rell's 1st) waving to you from a shimmering portal. Waving back, you walk towards $rellop and the landscape changes.
You are (cond: _loc1 is 1, "at the cafe both of you loved", _loc1 is 2, "in $rellp house, as you remember it from childhood", _loc1 is 3, "at a camping spot near where you used to live", _loc1 is 4, "at your favorite fishing spot"), a place filled with warm memories.
You give $rellop a brief hug. There's a steaming cup of (cond: _loc2 is 1, "coffee", _loc2 is 2, "tea", _loc2 is 3, "hot cocoa", _loc2 is 4, "hot apple cider") ready for you to drink. You take a small sip, enjoying the taste. It's perfect. Things in this world always are.
"How are you? I haven't seen you in a long time," your (print: $rell's 1st) asks. You feel a pang of regret because you haven't. You've just been unable to rack up the credits to make this virtual visit.
"Been busy," you say casually. Your (print: $rell's 1st) knows this anyway, because (if: $doa is 0)[it's something you always say when you visit.](else:)[you've told $rellop over the old-style audio call that you try to make weekly. It's cheaper than this virtual visit, of course.]
$rellspc nods. "I understand."
Do you:
Tell $rellop what the doctor said? [[Turn to page 47|rel2a]].
Tell $rellop about the cat? [[Turn to page 93|rel2b]].
Tell $rellop you miss $rellop? [[Turn to page 8|rel2c]].
Tell $rellop about what's happened since you last (if: $doa is 1)[called](else:)[talked to] $rellop? [[Turn to page 72|rel2d]].(set: $igdoc to 1)"Are you sure, Doctor?" you ask respectfully. "I haven't had any tests lately, and your specialty has nothing to do with my heart."
He blinks, and looks at his notes.
"Hm, it seems like I have the wrong patient," he says, and disappears in a shimmer of light. You feel bad for whoever has the cardiac sarcoma; it doesn't sound like a pleasant thing to have.
In the meantime, it looks like your (print: $rell's 1st) is arriving, as you see another shimmer of light. [[Turn to page 43|rel1]] to meet $rellop.(set: $beldoc to 1)"Okay. Um, what next?" you ask. It seems odd that this doctor popped up unexpectedly. Normally there's some kind of warning. And his practice doesn't have anything to do with your heart, but you aren't that educated on biology. You resolve to fix that once you're finished visiting with your relative.
"My office will schedule further appointments," he says reassuringly. "Have a good afternoon!"
He disappears and you shake your head. You don't know what to make of it, but you'll wait for his office.
In the meantime, it looks like your (print: $rell's 1st) is arriving, as you see another shimmer of light. [[Turn to page 43|rel1]] to meet $rellop.(set: $tecat to 1)(set: _techex to (random: 1,3))The cat continues hissing as you approach and keeps backing up until it's out from under the sign. Suddenly, it's not a cat anymore but a very annoyed (if: $tecgen is 0)[woman](else:)[man] standing there, glaring at you.
"Why did you follow me?" (if: $tecgen is 0)[she](else:)[he] asks.
"I was curious," you tell (if: $tecgen is 0)[her](else:)[him].
"Well, I am a tech and I'm trying to fix this place before it falls apart, so you can go back to where you started." (if: $tecgen is 0)[She](else:)[He] folds (if: $tecgen is 0)[her](else:)[his] arms. "I can send you back if you want, or you can go back on your own, I don't care."
"But... you were a cat...." You trail off. You have to admit, you're a bit curious as to why.
(if: $tecgen is 0)[She](else:)[He] shrugs. "(cond: _techex is 1, "A coworker turned me into a cat as a prank. I will get it fixed later.", _techex is 2, "I did not know I was a cat until I started hissing. I will get it fixed later.", _techex > 2, "I like doing that. People usually run in fear instead of bothering me.")"
{(if: $hiddentech is 1)[
//''Well, that's interesting. Maybe a bit odd. Do you:''//<br>
Decide to go back anyway? (link: "Turn to page 90")[(set: $tecat to 1)(goto: "cat3b")].<br>
Decide to let the tech send you back? (link: "Turn to page 12")[(set: $tecat to 1)(goto: "cat3c")].<br>
Tell the tech you don't believe (if: $tecgen is 0)[her](else:)[him]? [[Turn to page 88|cat3a]].<br>
Ask if (if: $tecgen is 0)[she](else:)[he] needs any help? (link: "Turn to page 58")[(set: $tecat to 1)(goto: "cat3d")]](else:)[//''Maybe you shouldn't annoy (if: $tecgen is 0)[her](else:)[him]. Do you:''//<br>
Decide to walk back? (link: "Turn to page 90")[(set: $tecat to 1)(goto: "cat3b")].<br>
Ask (if: $tecgen is 0)[her](else:)[him] to send you back? (link: "Turn to page 12")[(set: $tecat to 1)(goto: "cat3c").]<br>
Ask if (if: $tecgen is 0)[her](else:)[him] needs any help? (link: "Turn to page 58")[(set: $tecat to 1)(goto: "cat3d")]]}You decide it's better to be safe than sorry and head back.
(if: $kit is 1)[On the way there, you see a black and white cat carrying a black and (print: $catc's 2nd) kitten across the road. You hear tiny meows. Looking over you see a set of kittens, a mix of black, white, (print: $catc's 1st) and (print: $catc's 2nd) all stuck in some sort of ditch that wasn't there before. (if: $tecat is 1)[You wonder if this is a glitch or another technician.] Deciding enough is enough, you sprint towards where you started, arriving - you hope - in time to see your (print: $rell's 1st).(set: $makit to 1)](else:)[It's an uneventful trip back, at least. You arrive at your starting point and look around.]
(display: "doc1a")There is something odd about the tech, and you aren't afraid to point it out. "Are you really a tech? Prove that you're a tech."
If you're just being stupid and (if: $tecgen is 0)[she's](else:)[he's] really a tech? Well, you'll deal with the consequences.
"I am a tech. But not in the way you think. I'm fixing what needs to be fixed to save us all." There is a fire in (if: $tecgen is 0)[her](else:)[his] eyes that scares you.
You freeze for a moment as you realize that the cat form was a clue. This is a separatist! (if: $tecgen is 0)[She](else:)[He] must be here to hurt the Company, and you have to stop that from happening. You lunge for (if: $tecgen is 0)[her](else:)[him] and mentally call for help.
As you do, you realize that everything is turning dark and you swear you hear (if: $tecgen is 0)[her](else:)[him] apologizing as you're kicked out of the virtual world. You try to get back in but you're blocked. You can only hope security catches (if: $tecgen is 0)[her](else:)[him].
This is the end for the moment, but you can always (link: "start again")[(restart:)]....Having interrupted the technician, you feel bad about doing that and head back on foot.
(if: $kit is 1)[On the way there, you see a black and white cat carrying a black and (print: $catc's 2nd) kitten across the road. You hear tiny meows. Looking over you see a set of kittens, a mix of black, white, (print: $catc's 1st) and (print: $catc's 2nd) all stuck in some sort of ditch that wasn't there before. (if: $tecat is 1)[You wonder if this is a glitch or another technician.] Deciding enough is enough, you sprint towards where you started, arriving - you hope - in time to see your (print: $rell's 1st).(set: $makit to 1)](else:)[It's an uneventful trip back, at least. You arrive at your starting point and look around.]
(display: "doc1a")The technian nods and presses a button on the device (if: $tecgen is 0)[she's](else:)[he's] got on (if: $tecgen is 0)[her](else:)[his] wrist. Then frowns.
"Not working, as usual. I'll get it sorted when I get back. Sorry about that, but hopefully it's a short walk." (if: $tecgen is 0)[She](else:)[He] shrugs.
You shrug back and head back on foot. You shouldn't have asked (if: $tecgen is 0)[her](else:)[him] anyway.
(if: $kit is 1)[On the way there, you see a black and white cat carrying a black and (print: $catc's 2nd) kitten across the road. You hear tiny meows. Looking over you see a set of kittens, a mix of black, white, (print: $catc's 1st) and (print: $catc's 2nd) all stuck in some sort of ditch that wasn't there before. (if: $tecat is 1)[You wonder if this is a glitch or another technician.] Deciding enough is enough, you sprint towards where you started, arriving - you hope - in time to see your (print: $rell's 1st).(set: $makit to 1)](else:)[It's an uneventful trip back, at least. You arrive at your starting point and look around.]
(display: "doc1a")You see a light shimmering in front of you and smile. Your (print: $rell's 1st) is here!
...Except the person who steps through is not your (print: $rell's 1st), but one of your doctors. You frown. This is a specialist who lives halfway across the world. It should be the middle of the night for him. At least with translation technology you've never had trouble communicating with him, even if you don't speak the same language.
"I have terrible news," he says, looking at you seriously. "We ran your tests and it turns out you have cardiac sarcoma."
"Huh?" you manage. You haven't had any tests lately for him. You haven't even seen him in six months, and everything was fine there.
"Cancer of the heart," he clarifies. "A very rare cancer to be sure, but still cancer."
//''Well, this is unexpected! Do you:''//
Ask him if he's sure? [[Turn to page 62|doc2a]].
Accept that he knows what he's talking about? [[Turn to page 17|doc2b]]"Is there anything I can do to help?" you ask.
The technician's expression softens and (if: $tecgen is 0)[she](else:)[he] smiles a little. "Have you seen anything unusual?" (if: $tecgen is 0)[she](else:)[he] asks.
You shake your head. "Apart from you looking like a cat and running across my session, no."
"Understood. I am sorry I scared you like that. Let me see if I can pop you back to where you started... I guess not." (if: $tecgen is 0)[She](else:)[He] gives the device on his wrist a shake. "Guess I'll have to fix that later. You'll just have to head back on foot, shouldn't take long."
You thank (if: $tecgen is 0)[her](else:)[him] and head back to where you were expecting to meet your (print: $rell's 1st).
(if: $kit is 1)[On the way there, you see a black and white cat carrying a black and (print: $catc's 2nd) kitten across the road. You hear tiny meows. Looking over you see a set of kittens, a mix of black, white, (print: $catc's 1st) and (print: $catc's 2nd) all stuck in some sort of ditch that wasn't there before. (if: $tecat is 1)[You wonder if this is a glitch or another technician.] Deciding enough is enough, you sprint towards where you started, arriving - you hope - in time to see your (print: $rell's 1st).(set: $makit to 1)](else:)[It's an uneventful trip back, at least. You arrive at your starting point and look around.]
(display: "doc1a")(set: _dsum to $beldoc + $igdoc)(set: $lovechat's 1st to 1)"A doctor popped in when I was waiting for you," you tell $rellop. "He said I had something called 'cardiac sarcoma' - cancer of the heart. It was weird, I don't see him for heart issues and I don't remember any recent tests for him."
Your (print: $rell's 1st) frowns. "What was your reaction when he told you that?"
(if: $beldoc is 1 AND $igdoc is 0)["I believed him. I had no reason not to." You frown at that. Maybe you shouldn't have believed him?](elseif: $igdoc is 1 AND $beldoc is 0)["I didn't believe him, and asked if he was sure. Then he said he had the wrong patient, and poofed out of there." You frown. That shouldn't happen.](else:)[You frown. "I really don't remember." You remember the doctor saying something, but you don't remember how you responded. Are you losing your memory?]
(if: _dsum is 2)["Maybe it's not your heart, there's something that's wrong with your brain." Your (print: $rell's 1st) shakes $rellp head. ](elseif: $beldoc is 1)["I think you should get a second opinion. That sounds wrong, somehow." Your (print: $rell's 1st) shakes $rellp head.](else:)["That sounds weird. Maybe there's a glitch in the system?" Your (print: $rell's 1st) shakes $rellp head. ]
(if: _dsum is 2)["I will. I promise."](elseif: $beldoc is 1)["Yeah, it does sound wrong. I'll contact the doctor's office to make sure I heard everything correctly and then get a second opinion."](else:)[(if: $tecat is 1)["I ran across a tech on the way here that said (if: $tecgen is 0)[she](else:)[he] was fixing some things, so I think you're right."](else:)["Probably. I can't say for certain."]] //Maybe today is just odd//, you think.(if: $tecat is 1 and $lovechat's 2nd is 1)[<p>"Oh, was that the technician that was the cat?" It's as if $rellsp finds this somehow hilarious.</p><p>You nod.</p>"How interesting!" $rellsp says, leaning back.]
//''Anything else you want to talk about with $rellop?''//
Tell $rellop about the cat? [[Turn to page 93|rel2b]].
Tell $rellop you miss $rellop? [[Turn to page 8|rel2c]].
Tell $rellop about what's happened since you last (if: $doa is 1)[called](else:)[talked to] $rellop? [[Turn to page 72|rel2d]].
No, I think that's enough talk for the day. [[Turn to page 50|rel3]].(Set: $lovechat's 2nd to 1)"So I was on my way to see you and I saw this cat," you tell your (print: $rell's 1st). "It was (print: $catc's 1st) and (print: $catc's 2nd), really weird.(if: $igcat is 1)[" You continue to tell $rellop about the cat and how scared you were and how you decided not to chase it.](if: $chcat is 1 AND $tecat is 0)[ I followed it for a bit but decided to come back."](if: $tecat is 1)[ I followed it for a bit. It turns out the cat was actually a technician that was for some reason in the form of a cat!" You can't remember what the technician said about why (if: $tecgen is 0)[she](else:)[he] was a cat, but it was something kind of funny.](if: $igcat is 0 AND $kit is 1)[<p>Your (print: $rell's 1st) smiles for some reason when you say that.</p> "On the way back here, I saw a cat carrying a kitten, while some others were in a ditch. (if: $tecat is 1)[I think it was another technician fixing something."](else:)[Maybe it was a glitch or something, I don't know."]]
Unexpectedly, your (print: $rell's 1st) laughs. "Did you know that a long time ago, for the most part cats weren't considered evil? It wasn't until the Company became the Company that they were."
You never thought of your (print: $rell's 1st) as being a separatist, now or in the past. You hope they aren't. Maybe it's just a little bit of trivia they're sharing. After all, $rellsp didn't say that they weren't malicious or evil, just that they weren't in the past. Weren't they worshipped in Egypt?
Yeah, this is just $rellop spouting trivia, you're sure.
$rellspc opens $rellp mouth as if to say something, but then shuts it. Maybe $rellsp does have, or did have, some separatist opinions once upon a time. You're sure $rellsp doesn't now.
Who knows. Maybe the separatists are not wrong. You quickly revise that thought. The separatists are always wrong.
//''Well, that was a bit awkward. Anything else you want to talk about with $rellop?''//
Tell $rellop what the doctor said? [[Turn to page 47|rel2a]].
Tell $rellop you miss $rellop? [[Turn to page 8|rel2c]].
Tell $rellop about what's happened since you last (if: $doa is 1)[called](else:)[talked to] $rellop? [[Turn to page 72|rel2d]].
No, I think that's enough talk for the day. [[Turn to page 50|rel3]].(Set: $lovechat's 3rd to 1)"I miss you so much," you tell $rellop. "I wish (if: $doa is 0)[you were still here."](else:)[I lived closer to you."]
$rellspc smiles gently. (if: $doa is 0)["I had a good life, and, well, even the Company can't fix everything that goes wrong with a human body."](else:)["I miss living close to you too, but you have your own life. I can't ask you to live here just because. After all, you seem to be happy where you are."]
You wish you could hug $rellop in the real world right now. (if: $doa is 0)[But $rellsp is dead. (print: $rellspc)'s right; the Company is amazing but it can't completely prevent human death. At least you have them here. "I know, but still...."](else:)[(print: $rellspc)'s right. The Company has done so much to bridge distances that you really shouldn't complain. "I am, but I still miss you. I still miss home. I didn't want to go so far away to work."]
(if: $doa is 0)["I was just so happy that so many of the common diseases were eradicated. You know your great-great-grandmother died of lung cancer, and her daughter of breast cancer? Nowadays none of us have to worry about either." You have to admit that even if you're still grieving $rellop a little, $rellsp is right.](else:)["But you're doing so well for yourself. I - and the rest of the family - couldn't be prouder." Your (print: $rell's 1st)'s smile grows so wide that it lights up the room. "I was just telling your (print: $rell's 5th) how proud of you I am. Don't worry, you're doing fine."]
//''Anything else you want to talk about with $rellop?''//
Tell $rellop what the doctor said? [[Turn to page 47|rel2a]].
Tell $rellop about the cat? [[Turn to page 93|rel2b]].
Tell $rellop about what's happened since you last (if: $doa is 1)[called](else:)[talked to] $rellop? [[Turn to page 72|rel2d]].
No, I think that's enough talk for the day. [[Turn to page 50|rel3]].(set: _lsong to (random: 1,3))(set: $lovechat's 4th to 1)(set: _dgit to (random: 1,4))"So," you tell your (print: $rell's 1st), "Here's what's been happening in my life."
You tell $rellop about what you've been up to. The day your coworker suddenly and hilariously deciding to belt out the song (if: _lsong is 1)["Yellow Dress and Fluffy Hair"](elseif: _lsong is 2)["Let Time Pass Slowly"](else:)["We Meet Again Above the Cloud"] one day in the break room. Some of the funny customers you've talked to, and the places you've learned about. "There's a town called Hayfork somewhere, apparently," you tell $rellop, and $rellsp nods.
You share more things, like what you and your friends have been doing together. The last time your dog - a (cond: _dgit is 1, "Bedlington Terrier", _dgit is 2, "Shi Tzu", _dgit is 3, "Maltese", _dgit is 4, "Yorkshire Terrier") - chased a dog bigger than herself when you were on the way to the dog park.
"She's not afraid of anything," your (print: $rell's 1st) laughs.
How you met up with (print: $rell's 3rd) and (print: $rell's 4th) when they came into town and had lunch. It was good to see them.
All the fun stuff $rellsp doesn't get to see because (if: $doa is 0)[(print: $rellsp)'s dead.](else:)[$rellsp and you live so far away from each other.]
Talking to your (print: $rell's 1st) makes you so happy.
//''Anything else you want to talk about with $rellop?''//
Tell $rellop what the doctor said? [[Turn to page 47|rel2a]].
Tell $rellop about the cat? [[Turn to page 93|rel2b]].
Tell $rellop you miss $rellop? [[Turn to page 8|rel2c]].
No, I think that's enough talk for the day. [[Turn to page 50|rel3]].(set: _lenough to $lovechat's 1st + $lovechat's 2nd + $lovechat's 3rd + $lovechat's 4th)The two of you continue to chat until your time is up. (if: _lenough is 4)[You cover everything you can think of.](else:)[You may forget to talk about one or more topics, but that's okay.] You chat about past and future, about love and laughter, family and friends, and promise to chat with each other this way again sometime.
You leave the virtual world refreshed and happy. The Company asks you to rate how you felt about the session; you give it five stars, as always. It is a good time to be alive, and you are always thankful for that.
THE END
(link: "Start again?")[(restart:)]