Valley of Steel
by The Custodian (2013)
Genres: Science Fiction

The creep of surveillance and control has continued unabated. Every citizen is required to have a chip implant which can definitively identify them to anyone with a scanner. You've spent years working with the underground as a hacker for hire, helping research and develop countermeasures to government surveillance. You've managed to steal information which will help the design of a cryptographic attack against the Mitsui-Klein Encapsulation that every citizen carries in their skull, which (if it works) will render the chip inoperative. Your own MitKlein signature was captured during your mission, however. Although you did your best to wipe all records of your MitKlein signature from all the databases you could find, if you let your chip be scanned by any system it is likely that Homeland Security will be after you immediately. Short term, you'll have to get off the street before curfew and figure out how to move around undetected - long term, you will have to bring the fight to Homeland Security itself.

action: %
response: A rare moment of rest. Your mission to steal specifications of the MitKlein Encapsulation - the ID transponder embedded in every citizen's head, even yours - was successful, and you transmitted your report to Central early this morning. You expect a new assignment soon, even if it is only instructions to fall back into a cover identity, as you have been on the front lines of the underground struggle against Homeland Security nearly from the start. Giving up your birth identity and life, moving instead into the flickery half-existence of an underground operative, you've sabotaged, stolen, publicized, verified and fought for years now. Hopefully, this last mission means that a strategy to counter the government's ubiquitous tagging of citizens is being worked out at levels above your own head.

For now, you have found yourself a small quiet park in a quiet corner of the City.

Welcome to the future. Every citizen has been scanned, chipped, folded, spindled and mutilated - and it's enough to make you scream.

[LINK]

Primrose Street ends here in a small circular cul-de-sac. You're in a small green park to the north of this, bounded on its three other sides by high fences. A few trees rise over well-manicured grass. There is a curfew sign at the park's entrance.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go south from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You read the notice
response: A mounted sign which reads: PUBLIC SURVEILLANCE AREA. ALL ACTIVITY MONITORED FOR HOMELAND SECURITY.
action: About yourself
response: You're wearing basic clothing which is almost obsessively nondescript. You're average in nearly every physical respect - something which didn't win you many accolades growing up, but serves you well in your efforts to blend in with the conformist population through which you now move.

You're wearing a backpack.
You're carrying a multitool, a watch, and a phone.
action: You open it
response: That's already open.
action: You examine the phone
response: A standard candybar model with a nice screen. Although you've disabled its voice calling functionality to make it less distracting, the lock screen is still active and tells you it is 7:31 pm. The back is blank metal save for a tiny icon of a waterdrop with a slash across it.
action: You get the notice
response: That's firmly mounted in place, by law.
action: Go south
response: This staid neighborhood intersection of Primrose Lane and Cedar Street fronts the local Transit station, Green Residential. The station entrance is to the west. Primrose Lane continues to the south, and Cedar Street continues to the east.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go north to Green Residential Park, south, east, and west from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You read Notice
response: A mounted sign which reads: PUBLIC SURVEILLANCE AREA. ALL ACTIVITY MONITORED FOR HOMELAND SECURITY.
action: You examine Spacescraper
response: Visible in the distance above the surrounding buildings, the Reserve Bank Spacescraper is home to more than just the regional Reserve Bank. It is a two-hundred-level building containing all manner of businesses and government offices, as well as a hotel and several floors of extremely high-priced residential apartments. Centrally located Downtown, it boasts its own Transit station and a food court in its lower levels. Conventions and events are often held in its soaring Atrium, an open space within the building core which rises over fifty floors entirely indoors. It is several miles away.
action: Go north
response: Primrose Street ends here in a small circular cul-de-sac. You're in a small green park to the north of this, bounded on its three other sides by high fences. A few trees rise over well-manicured grass. There is a curfew sign at the park's entrance.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go south to Primrose & Cedar from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

There is a quiet tone from your phone and you feel a short vibration, indicating that an SMS message has arrived.
action: You read the sign
response: A metal sign on a metal pole, it reads "NOTE: PARK CLOSED DURING RESIDENTIAL AREA CURFEW - 8:00PM to 5:00 AM - NO LOITERING."
action: You read the sms
response: Message 1 reads: REPORT RECEIVED. MISSION SUCCESSFUL. ATTACK PROGRAM CREATED USING INFORMATION IN REPORT.
action: You read the sms
response: Message 2 reads: DANGER DANGER DANGER: OPERATIVE COMPROMISED DURING OPERATION. YOUR MITKLEIN CODE READ BY HOMELAND SECURITY. YOUR ID RECORDS DELETED BUT MITKLEIN CODE ALONE ENOUGH TO ID YOU AS
TARGET.
action: You read the sms
response: Message 3 reads: NEW INSTRUCTIONS FOLLOW:
action: Examine watch
response: A cheap digital, your watch reads 7:34 pm.

The watch might be more useful if worn.
action: You wear the watch
response: You put on the watch.
action: You read the sms
response: Message 4 reads: - YOU MUST FIND A WAY TO DISABLE YOUR MITKLEIN USING ATTACK PROGRAM WHICH WILL BE DELIVERED
action: You read the sms
response: Message 5 reads: - YOU MUST NOT BE IN SURVEILLED AREA DURING CURFEW WITH ACTIVE MITKLEIN OR SECURITY SWEEPS WILL IDENTIFY YOU AS
TARGET
action: You read the sms
response: Message 6 reads: - YOU MUST NOT BE ID-SCANNED UNTIL MITKLEIN IS DISABLED
action: You read the sms
response: Message 7 reads: - ONCE MITKLEIN IS DISABLED, RETRIEVE DROP MESSAGE FOR NEW INSTRUCTIONS. CONTACT WILL LEAVE DROP MESSAGE NEAR FOUNTAIN IN GREEN COMMERCIAL.
action: You read the sms
response: Message 8 reads: - ATTACK PROGRAM AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD BY NETBOOTING ANY COMPUTER WITH YOUR PHONE IN PROXIMITY
action: You read the sms
response: Message 9 reads: - THIS PHONE POSSIBLY COMPROMISED - IF IT ACQUIRES CELL SIGNAL IN ANOTHER AREA IT WILL BE LOCATABLE BY HOMELAND SECURITY - DISABLE ENTIRELY OR ABANDON BEFORE TRAVEL
action: You read the sms
response: Message 10 reads: GOOD LUCK. MESSAGE ENDS.
action: You look around
response: Primrose Street ends here in a small circular cul-de-sac. You're in a small green park to the north of this, bounded on its three other sides by high fences. A few trees rise over well-manicured grass. There is a curfew sign at the park's entrance.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go south to Primrose & Cedar from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go south
response: This staid neighborhood intersection of Primrose Lane and Cedar Street fronts the local Transit station, Green Residential. The station entrance is to the west. Primrose Lane continues to the south, and Cedar Street continues to the east.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go north to Green Residential Park, south, east, and west from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go south
response: Primrose Lane continues to the north. To the south is a boarded-up empty house; sumac plants can be seen peeking over the top of the dilapidated fencing. The fence has a plastic tarp strung behind it which prevents you from seeing much of the house. To the west is a single-family home with a large warning sign and an enormous dog on the front lawn. To the east is a three-family residence's front path.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go north to Primrose & Cedar and east from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You look at the tarp
response: A combination of cyclone fence and plastic sheeting, it blocks your view. You can hear rustling from behind it, as of people moving around furtively.
action: You examine the dog
response: This snoozing beast must mass thirty kilos or more. Its ancestry appears to include Mastiff, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler and tribble. You have no desire to get anywhere near it.
action: Go east
response: This front path is paved with cracked flagstones. Primrose Lane is to the west, a three-family building is to the east, and the building's side yard is to the northeast.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go northeast, east through the House door (closed), and west to South Primrose Lane from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You open the door
response: You open the House door.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You go east
response: (first opening the House door)

The slightly shabby front lobby of this multi-family building. A door leads outside to the west, gated stairs leading up to the upper two floors are to the east, and an apartment door is to the south.

A small post-it note is stuck to the door of Apartment 1.

You can also see a newspaper and a pamphlet here.

You can go south through the Apartment door (closed) and west through the House door to Front Path from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You read the note
response: A short scribble, which reads "The techs were by to turn off your water. Have a nice vacation!"
action: You read the newspaper
response: Today's front-page headline is: Homeland Security convention to be held this week at the Reserve Bank Spacescraper. "The best and
the brightest of the various Homeland Security agencies will meet in the Reserve Bank Atrium this week to receive presentations on new security initiatives and to discuss the state of the art in security technology."

The next headline reads: Soldiers begin to experience
breakdowns.
The story itself continues: "The parents of several deployed American military personnel have raised concerns that their children appear to be losing touch with reality. Government refutes these claims with statistics showing that 97.2 percent of deployed American service personnel are safely medicated." At the bottom, a small postscript reads Would you like to know more? [LINK]

Reading the story about the Homeland Security convention, the thought of all those Homeland Security drones in one place makes you grind your teeth. Then, however, a vision of all those heavily-secured workers with dead MitKlein bottles replaces it, and you have some difficulty wiping the resulting smile from your face. If only...
action: You read the pamphlet
response: It seems that the DHS believe the occupants of Apartment 1 are due to have a child any day now. As such, the pamphlet is meant to inform them of their duty as a citizen to ensure their child has his or her Mitsui-Klein encapsulation properly implanted by their birth hospital. Along with two or three not-so-veiled hints as to the penalties for avoiding implantation, the pamplet also contains a very familiar boilerplate description of the MitKlein Bottle which you and all your fellow citizens carry within your skulls. Inserted at birth, the MitKlein becomes embedded in the bone structure of the skull as the fontanelles close and harden. It contains just enough electronics to act as a transponder which will identify its owner, securely, to any nearby chip scanner over a range of perhaps five meters or less. The pamphlet cheerily explains that without such a chip, your child will be severely disadvantaged and unable to use basic modern services.
action: You open the door
response: (the Apartment door)
The door is securely locked.
action: You unlock the door with the multitool
response: Which do you mean, the Apartment door or the House door?
action: Go west
response: (first opening the House door)

This front path is paved with cracked flagstones. Primrose Lane is to the west, a three-family building is to the east, and the building's side yard is to the northeast.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go northeast, east through the House door to Front Lobby, and west to South Primrose Lane from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You go northeast
response: A narrow side yard with a high solid fence on the north side and a few straggly decorative plants. The yard extends east behind the house and west to the front of the house.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go east and west to Front Path from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You look at the plants
response: A few straggly brown and green plants huddling near the base of the fence and the side of the house.
action: You go to the east
response: An enclosed back yard, this small square of grass is surrounded by a high fence and the east side of the attached home. A narrow frosted window - likely a bathroom - is visible in the middle of the stretch of wall, and a larger clear window with curtains behind it is visible at the south end.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go north to Side Yard from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You examine the frosted window
response: A very narrow window of frosted glass, it appears to be painted shut.
action: You open the frosted window
response: It's painted shut.
action: You look at the window
response: Which do you mean, the bedroom window or the bathroom window?
action: Bedroom
response: A large clear two-pane window, it is locked with a latch mechanism at the join of the two panes. Having the latch on the outside probably violates some building code somewhere.
action: You examine the latch
response: This is a fairly standard window latch. It prevents the two windowpanes from sliding past one another. The locking tab is secured with a cotter pin which, for some reason, is on the outside of the window.

In the latch is a cotter pin.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a backpack (being worn, and open but empty)
a multitool
a watch (being worn)
a phone
action: You remove the pin with multitool
response: You deftly remove the cotter pin with the multitool.
action: You open the bedroom window
response: You slide the bedroom window open.
action: You enter the window
response: (the bedroom window)

This bedroom is rather plain. Its owners must not spend much time in it while awake. It contains a bed - currently unmade - and a bedside table with a lamp on it.

You can go north, east to Back Yard, and west from here.
action: You open table
response: (the bedside table)
That's not something you can open.
action: You examine table
response: (the bedside table)
A cheap but sturdy bedside table. There is a table lamp atop it.
action: You look at the lamp
response: A generic compact fluorescent lamp, it is screwed to the table, presumably to prevent it falling over.

The table lamp is currently switched off.
action: You unscrew the lamp
response: It is fixed in place.
action: You switch on the lamp
response: You switch the table lamp on.

The Green Residential curfew will begin in five minutes. You'll need to be inside, in an area which isn't under public surveillance, to avoid being arrested.
action: Close window
response: You slide the bedroom window closed.
action: Go north
response: This home only has the one bathroom, which means that the fact that it's not very clean is somewhat embarrassing. Or at least, it would be if the owner had expected visitors. It contains a sink, mirror, toilet and shower.

You can go south to Bedroom and west from here.
action: You examine the window
response: A very narrow window of frosted glass, it appears to be painted shut.
action: You examine the mirror
response: A mid-range but functional mirror mounted over the sink. It has various illegible smudges around the edge which suggest that its owner uses it to write temporary notes to themself. One corner has a small piece of graffiti done in black marker.
action: You examine the graffiti
response: This small graffito is scrawled text reading HISTORY IS A LIE!
Just below it is a URL: [LINK]
action: You look in the mirror
response: You can't see any such thing.

It's hard to say if your reflection shows a true urban resistance fighter or just a very nondescript citizen. You've changed your hairstyle so many times now, you don't know what you look
like.

It's 8:00 PM. The curfew is now in effect for this neighborhood.
action: Flush toilet
response: There is a brief gurgling sound. If only your problems could be so easily disposed of.
action: You turn on the sink
response: The apartment owners must have shut off their water while away; nothing happens.
action: You go south
response: This bedroom is rather plain. Its owners must not spend much time in it while awake. It contains a bed - currently unmade - and a bedside table with a lamp on it.

You can go north to Bathroom, east to Back Yard, and west from here.
action: Go west
response: The central hallway of this modest home. It's relatively clean and neat, as there is no furniture in it.

You can go north, east to Bedroom, and west from here.
action: You go north
response: This is the small entryway to the ground-floor apartment. A pile of mail, most of it unread, nearly covers the side table just inside the apartment door. The apartment hallway is to the south. To the west is an office, and to the east is a bathroom.

You can see a side table (on which is a car key) here.

You can go north through the Apartment door (closed) to Front Lobby, south to Hall, east to Bathroom, and west from here.
action: You take the key
response: Taken.
action: You look at the key
response: This "key" is really a small rubberized, sealed plastic transponder which automatically unlocks the car it is paired with when it is within range. You have no idea where the appropriate car might be, however.
action: You read mail
response: Pretty much what you'd expect.
action: You examine the mail
response: A stack of someone else's mail you've already thumbed through.
action: You go to the west
response: This is obviously a home office, a room which in other homes might be a living room. It is not very tidy. Random detritus covers most available surfaces except for a workbench.

You can see a workbench (on which are a lockblade knife, a soldering iron, some solder, and a laptop) here.

You can go south and east to Entry from here.
action: You take all
response: lockblade knife: This knife is large enough to run afoul of local weapons laws. It would be a bad idea to let it be seen where the police are watching.
soldering iron: (putting the phone into the backpack to make room) Taken.
solder: (putting the multitool into the backpack to make room)
Taken.
laptop: (putting the cotter pin into the backpack to make room)
Taken.
action: You examine the laptop
response: The laptop is a generic, slightly more fashionable than functional portable tablet computer. It is active, with the screen lit.
action: You read the laptop
response: The laptop is presently displaying a login screen. There is a reboot button in the corner of the screen.
action: You click the reboot
response: The screen flickers as the laptop reboots. The laptop pauses as it finds the boot server that has been installed on your phone, and then there is a quick series of flashes before a screen full of text comes up!
action: You read screen
response: The laptop is displaying a static screen, which instructs you to place a memory chip into its chipslot to download the attack program.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a laptop
some solder
a soldering iron
a lockblade knife
a car key
a backpack (being worn, and open)
a cotter pin
a multitool
a phone
a watch (being worn)
action: You look at your surroundings
response: This is obviously a home office, a room which in other homes might be a living room. It is not very tidy. Random detritus covers most available surfaces except for a workbench.

You can see a workbench here.

You can go south and east to Entry from here.
action: You look at the phone
response: A standard candybar model with a nice screen. Although you've disabled its voice calling functionality to make it less distracting, the lock screen is still active and tells you it is 8:10 pm. The back is blank metal save for a tiny icon of a waterdrop with a slash across it.
action: You open the phone
response: It's a sealed unit.
action: Go south
response: This kitchen is decorated in a style some four decades old, which is probably when it was last renovated. It is fairly clean, likely reflecting the fact that the occupants don't cook for themselves much. The built-in sink takes up most of the available counter, with the microwave oven occupying almost all of the rest. The refrigerator hulks along the opposite wall.

You can see a thermos (closed) here.

You can go north to Home Office and east to Hall from here.
action: You open the refrigerator
response: You open the refrigerator.

It's empty. The occupants must have emptied it before going on vacation.
action: You open the thermos
response: You open the thermos.
action: You open the microwave
response: (the microwave oven)
You open the oven.
action: You take the thermos
response: (putting the car key into the backpack to make room)
Taken.
action: You look in the thermos
response: The thermos is empty.
action: Go north
response: This is obviously a home office, a room which in other homes might be a living room. It is not very tidy. Random detritus covers most available surfaces except for a workbench.

You can see a workbench here.

You can go south to the Kitchen and east to Entry from here.
action: You cut the key with the knife
response: (putting the lockblade knife into the backpack to make room)
Taken.

(putting the soldering iron into the backpack to make room)
Taken.

You carefully cut open the car key with your knife and peel back the rubber to reveal a broadcast chip and a transponder memory chip.
action: You take the memory chip
response: (putting the solder into the backpack to make room)
Taken.
action: You put the memory chip in the laptop
response: The Download light flashes red intermittently for a few seconds before returning to a regular blinking green.
action: You read screen
response: The laptop is displaying a static screen, which instructs you to place a memory chip into its chipslot to download the attack program.
action: You take the memory chip
response: Taken.
action: You put the memory chip in the car key
response: You put the attack memory chip into the car key.
action: You close the car key
response: The plastic appears to be cut away. The damage looks permanent.
action: You look in the key
response: In the car key are an attack memory chip and a broadcast chip.
action: You examine the transponder chip
response: This is a broadcast chip - a small solid-state radio about the size of a coin. These can be found in most portable electronics these days. Usually powered by small batteries in phones or car keys, these generally have a range of a few meters. There are leads on the chip for connecting a data source and a power source.

You can't see any such thing.
action: Solder broadcast chip
response: What do you want to combine?
action: Solder broadcast chip to memory chip
response: (first taking the broadcast chip)
(first taking the attack memory chip)
(putting the laptop into the backpack to make room)
You don't have the proper tools.
action: You take solder
response: (putting the thermos into the backpack to make room)
Taken.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
some solder
an attack memory chip
a broadcast chip
a lockblade knife
a car key
a backpack (being worn, and open)
a thermos (open but empty)
a laptop
a soldering iron
a cotter pin
a multitool
a phone
a watch (being worn)
action: You examine the iron
response: A portable soldering iron. It uses a sealed battery rather than requiring a power connection.

The soldering iron is currently switched off.
action: You take the soldering iron
response: (putting the car key into the backpack to make room)
Taken.
action: You switch the iron on
response: You switch the soldering iron on.
The tip heats up rapidly to a cherry-red heat.
action: Solder broadcast chip to memory chip
response: You fashion the broadcast chip and the attack memory chip into a Klein Blaster!
action: You examine Klein Blaster
response: A combination of a Broadcast chip and a Memory chip which has been programmed with the attack payload. It needs a power source to perform its task.
action: You cut the phone with the knife
response: Taken.

Cutting that would achieve little.
action: You cut the laptop with the knife
response: (putting the lockblade knife into the backpack to make room)
Taken.

(putting the solder into the backpack to make room)
Taken.

Cutting that would achieve little.
action: You turn off the iron
response: You switch the soldering iron off.
The tip cools rapidly, fading to a silver-gray.
action: You cut the iron with the knife
response: Cutting that would achieve little.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a lockblade knife
a laptop
a phone
a Klein Blaster
a soldering iron
a backpack (being worn, and open)
some solder
a car key
a thermos (open but empty)
a cotter pin
a multitool
a watch (being worn)
action: You look at the watch
response: A cheap digital, your watch reads 8:38 pm.
action: You put Klein Blaster in the key
response: The slots in the car key are made for individual chips.
action: You go south
response: This kitchen is decorated in a style some four decades old, which is probably when it was last renovated. It is fairly clean, likely reflecting the fact that the occupants don't cook for themselves much. The built-in sink takes up most of the available counter, with the microwave oven occupying almost all of the rest. The refrigerator hulks along the opposite wall.

You can go north to Home Office and east to Hall from here.
action: Examine slot
response: The chipslot is used for external storage. Right now, its status LED is blinking, indicating that it has been set to autosave data, but no Memory chip is in the slot.
action: You examine the microwave
response: (the microwave oven)
A microwave oven of perhaps a cubic foot capacity with a transparent door. It is a relatively smart oven, able to determine the proper setting for whatever is placed in it using a plethora of sensors. There is a single button (marked "COOK") on the front. A side panel sports a lurid warning. The door is ajar.

The microwave oven is currently switched off.
action: You read the warning
response: The side panel is a small rounded rectangle of plastic with a narrow seam running around it. A warning label on it reads NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. There is an icon of a small stick figure opening the panel and being electrocuted, irradiated and (as far as you can tell) stung by bees.
action: You open the panel with multitool
response: You pry open the side panel with the pliers in your multitool, ignoring the sound of breaking plastic.

Opening the side panel reveals the safety limiter!
action: You look at the safety limiter
response: A small circuit board consisting of two connected chips which plugs into the microwave oven side panel. One chip looks a bit like a standard receive chip, and the other a standard memory chip - although these are custom versions and can't be used as such. Examining its connectors and their labels, you deduce that when installed, this board monitors the sensors and radio frequencies inside the microwave oven and prevents it from operating if things like electronics are inside, it's empty, or the door is open.
action: You remove the limiter
response: (first taking the safety limiter)
(putting the soldering iron into the backpack to make room)
You're not wearing that.
action: You take limiter
response: You already have that.
action: You put Klein Blaster in the microwave
response: (the microwave oven)
You put the Klein Blaster into the oven.
action: You close the microwave
response: (the microwave oven)
You close the oven.
action: Solder klein blaster to microwave
response: (the microwave oven)
(first taking the microwave oven)
That's hardly portable.
action: You put the phone in the oven
response: You put the phone into the oven.
action: You close the door
response: You close the oven.
action: You switch the oven
response: A light comes on in the microwave and it begins to hum.
Almost immediately, sparks begin to dance wildly around the rim of the phone! After a few seconds more, the screen goes dead black with a very final ZZT noise.
A few moments later there is a loud BING! and the microwave
stops.
action: You open the oven
response: You open the oven.
action: You examine the phone
response: A standard candybar model with a nice screen. At least, the screen was nice; now it's stone dead. The back is blank metal save for a tiny icon of a waterdrop with a slash across it.
action: You switch the oven
response: You feel a strange warmth on your face as the microwave starts up.
A light comes on in the microwave and it begins to hum.
A few moments later there is a loud BING! and the microwave
stops.
action: About yourself
response: You're wearing basic clothing which is almost obsessively nondescript. You're average in nearly every physical respect - something which didn't win you many accolades growing up, but serves you well in your efforts to blend in with the conformist population through which you now move.

You're wearing a backpack and a watch.
You're carrying a Klein Blaster, a safety limiter, a lockblade knife, and a laptop.
action: You look at the knife
response: This is a battered but extremely sharp folding lockblade knife.
action: You look at the refrigerator
response: Standard off-white home antiheating unit.
action: You go to the east
response: The central hallway of this modest home. It's relatively clean and neat, as there is no furniture in it.

You can go north to Entry, east to Bedroom, and west to the Kitchen from here.
action: You go east
response: This bedroom is rather plain. Its owners must not spend much time in it while awake. It contains a bed - currently unmade - and a bedside table with a lamp on it.

You can go north to Bathroom, east to Back Yard, and west to Hall from here.
action: You look at the lamp
response: A generic compact fluorescent lamp, it is screwed to the table, presumably to prevent it falling over. It is presently giving off a wan bluish light.

The table lamp is currently switched on.
action: You unscrew the lamp
response: It is fixed in place.
action: Go north
response: This is the small entryway to the ground-floor apartment. A pile of mail, most of it unread, nearly covers the side table just inside the apartment door. The apartment hallway is to the south. To the west is an office, and to the east is a bathroom.

You can see a side table here.

You can go north through the Apartment door (closed) to Front Lobby, south to Hall, east to Bathroom, and west to Home Office from here.
action: You examine the bench
response: It's actually a very nice piece of furniture; just the right height, easy to get your legs under.
action: You examine the multitool
response: Your pocket multitool. Has various pliers and attachments and, in a pinch, can probably do 80 percent of what a full toolbox could. One exception is that in order to remain legal, it doesn't have any cutting edges larger than your fingernail. You are paranoid that one day you'll forget and try to get on an airplane with it and despite that fact that'll be the last you'll see of it, so you've etched a PO Box address and "BUSINESS REPLY MAIL" onto it.
action: You examine the laptop
response: The laptop is a generic, slightly more fashionable than functional portable tablet computer. It is active, with the screen lit.
action: You examine the microwave
response: (the microwave oven)
A microwave oven of perhaps a cubic foot capacity with a transparent door. It is a relatively smart oven, able to determine the proper setting for whatever is placed in it using a plethora of sensors. There is a single button (marked "COOK") on the front. A side panel sports a lurid warning. The door is ajar. The service panel is bent open on the side.

The microwave oven is currently switched off.
action: F cf3
response: %% Enter a save filename to write:
action: You put the iron in the oven
response: That's dangerous. You might want to switch the soldering iron off first.
action: You put the iron in the oven
response: You put the soldering iron into the oven.
action: You turn on the oven
response: A light comes on in the microwave and it begins to hum.
A few moments later there is a loud BING! and the microwave
stops.
action: You open the oven
response: You open the oven.
action: You examine the iron
response: A portable soldering iron. It uses a sealed battery rather than requiring a power connection.

The soldering iron is currently switched off.
action: You turn on the iron
response: You switch the soldering iron on.
The tip heats up rapidly to a cherry-red heat.
action: You turn it off
response: You switch the soldering iron off.
The tip cools rapidly, fading to a silver-gray.
action: You switch the microwave
response: (the microwave oven)
You stop before initiating the cook cycle to avoid destroying the Klein Blaster.
action: You put the laptop in the microwave
response: (the microwave oven)
That won't fit in the oven.
action: You examine the fridge
response: Standard off-white home antiheating unit.
action: You search the fridge
response: The refrigerator is empty.
action: You examine the multitool
response: Your pocket multitool. Has various pliers and attachments and, in a pinch, can probably do 80 percent of what a full toolbox could. One exception is that in order to remain legal, it doesn't have any cutting edges larger than your fingernail. You are paranoid that one day you'll forget and try to get on an airplane with it and despite that fact that'll be the last you'll see of it, so you've etched a PO Box address and "BUSINESS REPLY MAIL" onto it.
action: You examine the pin
response: A small steel pin made up of a length of wire doubled over on itself with a loop at one end.
action: You examine the panel
response: The side panel is a small rounded rectangle of plastic with a narrow seam running around it. A warning label on it reads NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. There is an icon of a small stick figure opening the panel and being electrocuted, irradiated and (as far as you can tell) stung by bees. The panel has been pried open. The magnetron is just visible here, right next to some circuitry. The panel has room for a small component inside it.
action: You take the magnetron
response: That seems to be a part of the microwave oven.
action: You open the magnetron with multitool
response: That's already been opened.
action: Solder blaster to magnetron
response: As you slide the component in, a small LED labelled "TRNSMT RDY" lights up on the main board!

You put the Klein Blaster into the side panel.

(first taking the Klein Blaster)
(first taking the side panel)
That seems to be a part of the microwave oven.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a Klein Blaster
a phone
a safety limiter
a lockblade knife
a laptop
a backpack (being worn, and open)
some solder
a car key
a thermos (open but empty)
a cotter pin
a multitool
a watch (being worn)
action: You put Blaster in the panel
response: As you slide the component in, a small LED labelled "TRNSMT RDY" lights up on the main board!

You put the Klein Blaster into the side panel.
action: You close the oven
response: You close the oven.
action: You turn on the oven
response: The microwave comes on, its lights lit brightly, and begins to shake for a few seconds before the level of radio energy in the cook box, confined by the closed door, trips emergency circuits and it shuts off again.
action: You switch the oven
response: With the door open, the hacked microwave keeps increasing its power as energy is lost to the air. You feel an incredible burst of noise behind your forehead! Static, bits of music, and above all the shriek of data transfer! Just before you feel you'll go mad from the noise, there is a stutter, and it stops. Blessed silence falls inside your skull. There is a smell of smoke as the microwave goes dead.

You examine the now-fried microwave, musing to yourself that if only there was a way to make a portable version of this hack, you might be able to fight your way clear of this whole mess.
action: You look at the oven
response: A microwave oven of perhaps a cubic foot capacity. The side panel is melted shut, the interior is scorched, and the plastic around the edges slightly melted. The door is ajar. The oven contains a soldering iron.

The microwave oven is currently switched off.
action: You examine the panel
response: The side panel is a small rounded rectangle of plastic with a narrow seam running around it. A warning label on it reads NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. There is an icon of a small stick figure opening the panel and being electrocuted, irradiated and (as far as you can tell) stung by bees. The side panel is scorched and the innards melted. Apparently the magnetron overloaded something.
action: You open the door
response: You undo the throw bolts. Since you have no key, you leave the door unlocked.

You open the Apartment door.
action: Go north
response: The slightly shabby front lobby of this multi-family building. A door leads outside to the west, gated stairs leading up to the upper two floors are to the east, and an apartment door is to the south.

A small post-it note is stuck to the door of Apartment 1.

You can also see a newspaper and a pamphlet here.

You can go south through the Apartment door to Entry and west through the House door (closed) to Front Path from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

Security surveillance spots you openly carrying a weapon. Police rush in!
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a soldering iron
a phone
a safety limiter
a lockblade knife
a laptop
a backpack (being worn, and open)
some solder
a car key
a thermos (open but empty)
a cotter pin
a multitool
a watch (being worn)
action: You put the knife in the backpack
response: You put the lockblade knife into the backpack.
action: You go north
response: The slightly shabby front lobby of this multi-family building. A door leads outside to the west, gated stairs leading up to the upper two floors are to the east, and an apartment door is to the south.

A small post-it note is stuck to the door of Apartment 1.

You can also see a newspaper and a pamphlet here.

You can go south through the Apartment door to Entry and west through the House door (closed) to Front Path from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go to the west
response: (first opening the House door)

This front path is paved with cracked flagstones. Primrose Lane is to the west, a three-family building is to the east, and the building's side yard is to the northeast.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go northeast to Side Yard, east through the House door to Front Lobby, and west to South Primrose Lane from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You go west
response: Primrose Lane continues to the north. To the south is a boarded-up empty house; sumac plants can be seen peeking over the top of the dilapidated fencing. The fence has a plastic tarp strung behind it which prevents you from seeing much of the house. To the west is a single-family home with a large warning sign and an enormous dog on the front lawn. To the east is a three-family residence's front path.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go north to Primrose & Cedar and east to Front Path from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go north
response: This staid neighborhood intersection of Primrose Lane and Cedar Street fronts the local Transit station, Green Residential. The station entrance is to the west. Primrose Lane continues to the south, and Cedar Street continues to the east.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go north to Green Residential Park, south to South Primrose Lane, east, and west from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go east
response: Cedar Street comes to an end in a cul-de-sac here. There are residential buildings to the north, east and south. Typical for the area, they are three-family houses with common entrances. Their lawns are neatly trimmed.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go west to Primrose & Cedar from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go west
response: This staid neighborhood intersection of Primrose Lane and Cedar Street fronts the local Transit station, Green Residential. The station entrance is to the west. Primrose Lane continues to the south, and Cedar Street continues to the east.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go north to Green Residential Park, south to South Primrose Lane, east to East Cedar Street, and west from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go to the west
response: This is a utilitarian shelter intended mostly to keep the rain out of the Transit System. A stairway leads down to the autodoor leading to the Transit platform and an exit leads east to the street.

You can go east to Primrose & Cedar and down through the Green Residential Station door (closed) from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go downwards
response: (first opening the Green Residential Station door)
The Door Scanner scans your iris to determine your identity. The Transit Security and Accounting Subroutine determines that you have a legitimate account with the Transit system, and the doors slide smoothly open.

Green Residential's platform serves mostly residential commuters. There is an exit at the center of the platform which leads east through a set of closed automatic doors to a stairway leading up to the main station, just next to a large plaque with the name of the station on it. The platform abuts the Transit web to the west, now empty.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go east through the Green Residential Station door to Green Residential Station from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You read Map
response: A metal sign displaying a map of Green Line Transit:

|   Green   |
|  Service  |

/        ^
/          \
v            \
    
| Reserve |    |   Green   |
|  Bank   |    |Residential|
    
\              ^
\            /
v          /

|  Green   |
|Commercial|
action: Go west
response: A barrier fence with closed autodoors blocks your way.
action: You examine Transit Web
response: Not really a web so much as a series of maglev rings linked by guides, the Transit Web is separated from the platform by a barrier fence with automatic doors, which line up with Transit Capsule doors when a Capsule is in the station. The Web rings glow faintly with the Magfield.
action: You examine the plaque
response: Metal, perhaps a meter by five meters, the plaque reads "Green Residential" in standard Transit Helvetica font.
action: You wait for Transit
response: You see a small mouse scurry along the Transit Web and vanish back into the tunnels.

Warning lights along the platform edge begin to blink rapidly. A light grows in the tunnel. With a deep moan and gust of wind, an express Transit Capsule blasts through Green Residential and vanishes into the darkness once more.

A commuter walks by.

A commuter walks by.

A light grows in the tunnel. With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Residential Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You look at the commuter
response: A elderly delivery worker eating a snack swerves past you and is gone.
action: You examine the commuter
response: A young delivery worker reading from a handheld walks swiftly past you and is gone.
action: Go west
response: You enter the Transit capsule.

A fifty-person maglev Transit capsule. You're standing, holding on to a strap. Through the windows you can see the Green Residential Platform.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
a soldering iron
a phone
a safety limiter
a laptop
a backpack (being worn, and open)
a lockblade knife
some solder
a car key
a thermos (open but empty)
a cotter pin
a multitool
a watch (being worn)
action: You wait for Transit
response: Do you really expect a Transit capsule to show up here?

A shabbily-dressed man wanders up to you. He appears to be about to ask you for something, but then he catches a look at your eyes and instead wanders away again.
action: Look around
response: A fifty-person maglev Transit capsule. You're standing, holding on to a strap. A deep hum resonates through your bones, indicating that the Vectorfield is active. Outside the narrow windows, the tunnel is dark. Occasional blurry streaks show lights flashing past the moving Capsule.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Service Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
action: You leave
response: Green Service One's platform is underground. It serves mostly city workers during the day. There is an exit at the center of the platform which leads north through a set of closed automatic doors to a stairway leading up to the main station, just next to a large plaque with the name of the station on it. The platform abuts the Transit web to the south, where a Transit capsule hovers impatiently in the web. The capsule doors are open.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go north through the Green Service Station door (closed) from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: Look around
response: Green Service One's platform is underground. It serves mostly city workers during the day. There is an exit at the center of the platform which leads north through a set of closed automatic doors to a stairway leading up to the main station, just next to a large plaque with the name of the station on it. The platform abuts the Transit web to the south, where a Transit capsule hovers impatiently in the web. The capsule doors are open.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go north through the Green Service Station door (closed) from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go south
response: You enter the Transit capsule.

A fifty-person maglev Transit capsule. You're standing, holding on to a strap. Through the windows you can see the Green Service Platform.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.
action: You wait awhile
response: Time passes.

With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Reserve Bank Station and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

You see a small red light in the corner of your vision which vanishes as you turn to look at it.
action: You wait a while
response: Time passes.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

A man nearby yawns.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Commercial Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
action: Go outside
response: Green Commercial One is one of the oldest stations on the Transit web. Although it has been refurbished several times, its age still manages to show through the layers of tile and paint. The platform opens out at the middle to a lobby area which is dominated by a row of automated doors to the south, which lead to stairways up to the main station. The flow of commuters moves steadily through these doors. The floor and walls are both extremely scuffed duramex nanotile, and the station name (Green Commercial One) is indicated on a large plaque set into the walls. The platform abuts the Transit web to the north, where a Transit capsule can be seen hovering. The capsule doors are open.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go south through the Green Commercial Station door (closed) from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: Go south
response: (first opening the Green Commercial Station door)

Green Commercial One's Transit station usually does most of its business around the rush hours, as Green Residental commuters stop off to take care of errands. The station is relatively small, but well kept up - the Green Commercial Business Improvement District organization sees to that. Open doorways lead south to Green Commercial One proper, and a stairway leads down to the doors to the Transit platform.

You can go south and down through the Green Commercial Station door to Green Commercial Platform from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

You hear a very quiet beep from somewhere you can't identify.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: Go south
response: Green Commercial One is built around a plaza, and this is its northern end. No vehicles are permitted within the public areas of Green Commercial One, so the entire area is pedestrian-only. To the north are the doorways to the Green Commercial Station. To the east is the NanoMart. To the west is a storefront bank with an ATM. The plaza continues to the south.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see a trash can (closed) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Station, south, southeast, southwest, east, and west from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You open the trash
response: You open the trash can, revealing some rubbish.
action: You examine the rubbish
response: All you'd expect from a cheap public trash can.
action: You go south
response: This is the center of the Green Commercial Plaza. There is a fountain here with a bench facing it. The plaza continues to the north and south; to the east is a bar called (ironically, you hope) the Proletariat. To the west is a Bistro Paris cafe.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see a trash can (closed) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Plaza North, northeast, northwest, south, southeast, east, and west from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You look in the trash
response: You open the trash can, revealing a drop message and some rubbish.

In the trash can are a drop message and some rubbish.
action: You get the MESSAGE
response: (the drop message)
You unfold the message as you take it.
action: You read it
response: A small piece of flash paper  which contains the following message: "IF THIS MESSAGE RETRIEVED ATTACK PAYLOAD IS FUNCTIONAL. YOUR MK RECORD NOW DISTRIBUTED TO ALL SECURITY ELEMENTS. TO EFFECT ESCAPE AND COMPLETE MISSION, USE PAYLOAD TO DISRUPT ANY BLOCKING HOMELAND SECURITY PERSONNEL. FOR LARGE CROWDS, A MINIMUM OF THREE SEQUENTIAL ATTACKS WILL BE REQUIRED TO DISRUPT ENOUGH OPERATIVES TO PERMIT ESCAPE. DROP SHUTTLE WILL MAKE PICKUP ONCE YOU REACH THE RESERVE BANK SPACESCRAPER SEMIBALLISTIC ROOF PADS. ACCESS TO PADS ONLY AVAILABLE VIA SPECIAL LIFT TUBE IN MAIN ATRIUM LEVEL."
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a drop message
a soldering iron
a phone
a safety limiter
a laptop
a backpack (being worn, and open)
a lockblade knife
some solder
a car key
a thermos (open but empty)
a cotter pin
a multitool
a watch (being worn)
action: You go west
response: This is a branch of the popular lunch and coffee shop Bistro Paris. There are a few tables near the front. A restroom is to the west. On the north wall, opposite the counter, is a collection of Paris-themed prints. In the center is a large holoportrait of the chain's owner, Zuzu, and a sign claiming that the Bistro Paris has restaurants here, in the Reserve Bank Spacescraper, and in London. A server behind the counter is waiting on several customers.

You can see a trash can (closed) here.

You can go northeast to Green Commercial Plaza North, southeast, east to Green Commercial Plaza Center, and west from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You examine the holoportrait
response: This portrait is somewhat horribly overdone. In it, Zuzu's face, in three-quarter profile, floats in front of what appears to be this very restaurant. Her face is so large and detailed that you're sure they had to edit out her pores, although they probably left her bright green eye unretouched.
action: You examine trash can
response: Painted industrial dark green, the Green Commercial Bistro Paris trash can awaits its daily diet of rubbish. There is a solar panel on it; presumably it reports back to a central system when it is full.
action: You look at your surroundings
response: This is a branch of the popular lunch and coffee shop Bistro Paris. There are a few tables near the front. A restroom is to the west. On the north wall, opposite the counter, is a collection of Paris-themed prints. In the center is a large holoportrait of the chain's owner, Zuzu, and a sign claiming that the Bistro Paris has restaurants here, in the Reserve Bank Spacescraper, and in London. A server behind the counter is waiting on several customers.

You can see a trash can (closed) here.

You can go northeast to Green Commercial Plaza North, southeast, east to Green Commercial Plaza Center, and west from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You look in the trash
response: You open the trash can, revealing some rubbish.

In the trash can is some rubbish.
action: You look at the server
response: A slightly harrassed-looking food service worker, intent on trading meals for funds. He is busy serving customers.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a drop message
a soldering iron
a phone
a safety limiter
a laptop
a backpack (being worn, and open)
a lockblade knife
some solder
a car key
a thermos (open but empty)
a cotter pin
a multitool
a watch (being worn)
action: Go west
response: This public restroom is squeakily clean, as befits Bistro Paris' image. A stall offers minimum privacy, and a large mirror is affixed over the double sink. Despite the best efforts of the staff, a bit of graffiti seems to have made it onto the mirror.

You can go east to Green Commercial Bistro Paris from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You examine the graffiti
response: This small graffito is a stylized angel wearing a pair of mirrorshades. Just below it is a URL: [LINK]
action: You go east
response: This is a branch of the popular lunch and coffee shop Bistro Paris. There are a few tables near the front. A restroom is to the west. On the north wall, opposite the counter, is a collection of Paris-themed prints. In the center is a large holoportrait of the chain's owner, Zuzu, and a sign claiming that the Bistro Paris has restaurants here, in the Reserve Bank Spacescraper, and in London. A server behind the counter is waiting on several customers.

You can see a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go northeast to Green Commercial Plaza North, southeast, east to Green Commercial Plaza Center, and west to Bistro Paris Restroom from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You talk to the server
response: To start a conversation, try to ASK the server ABOUT something or TELL the server ABOUT something.
action: You go southeast
response: The southern end of the Green Commercial Plaza, which continues to the north. To the east is Accessorize, a fashion store, and to the west is Garb-oh, a trendy clothing shop. The south end of the mall is closed off by an elaborate landscaping installation of trees and shrubs, presumably to hide a relatively ugly building behind it.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see a trash can (closed) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Plaza Center, northeast, northwest to Green Commercial Bistro Paris, east, and west through the Garb-oh door (closed) from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go east
response: This well-lit store purveys all manner of cosmetic aids and fashion accessories. Everything from wrist bangles to skin creams to custom cosmetic contacts can be purchased here.

You can see a Lens Crafter here.

You can go northwest to Green Commercial Plaza Center and west to Green Commercial Plaza South from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You examine Lens Crafter
response: A floor-standing device used to produce custom-made cosmetic contact lenses (although for an extra fee, they can be made to a prescription). A A screen on the front presents a menu of options, or a Memory can be inserted into a slot with appropriate specifications.

The Lens Crafter is currently switched off.
action: Switch lens
response: (the Lens Crafter)
The lens crafter machine's screen flashes red. A message reads "NO VALID SOURCE DATA AVAILABLE."
action: You go west
response: The southern end of the Green Commercial Plaza, which continues to the north. To the east is Accessorize, a fashion store, and to the west is Garb-oh, a trendy clothing shop. The south end of the mall is closed off by an elaborate landscaping installation of trees and shrubs, presumably to hide a relatively ugly building behind it.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see a trash can (closed) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Plaza Center, northeast, northwest to Green Commercial Bistro Paris, east to Accessorize, and west through the Garb-oh door (closed) from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go west
response: (first opening the Garb-oh door)

Garb-oh! is a trendy clothing shop. Images of the shop's icon Greta Garbo abound, each dressed in the clothing item offered on the rack below it. Jackets, scarves, bandannas, trousers, shirts and more are on inviting display.

On the racks are a blue jacket, a red jacket, a white shirt, a green shirt, a blue pair of pants, and a brown pair of pants.

The sales counter runs along the north side of the store.

You can also see the shopkeeper and the shopper here.

You can go east through the Garb-oh door to Green Commercial Plaza South from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A shopper wanders through the antitheft detectors and out of the shop, as another wanders in and begins browsing.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: Examine shopper
response: The shopper is a young woman wearing large headphones, loose clothes. She is bouncing her head in what is probably the rhythm of the song she is listening to, and seems to be paying very little attention to her surroundings. Every once in a while she pulls an item from a rack and holds it up in front of a mirror before returning it to its place. She is wearing a large shoulder bag.

The shopper is empty-handed.
action: You look at the shopkeeper
response: (the shopkeeper)
The shopkeeper is a somewhat frumpy older lady. You can't help but wonder if she has been deliberately selected for her appearance so as to present a contrast with the merchandise.

The shopkeeper is empty-handed.
action: You examine the blue jacket
response: A dark blue jacket, very bland cut, with black snap closures and side pockets. You almost expect to see a name sewn on the front at the breast in gold thread. It's probably a size too large for you.

There is an antitheft tag attached to the blue jacket.
action: You look at the green shirt
response: Hunter green, this pullover is probably the only thing Garb-oh sells that you'd be caught wearing.

There is an antitheft tag attached to the green shirt.
action: You go to the east
response: (first opening the Garb-oh door)

The southern end of the Green Commercial Plaza, which continues to the north. To the east is Accessorize, a fashion store, and to the west is Garb-oh, a trendy clothing shop. The south end of the mall is closed off by an elaborate landscaping installation of trees and shrubs, presumably to hide a relatively ugly building behind it.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see a trash can (closed) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Plaza Center, northeast, northwest to Green Commercial Bistro Paris, east to Accessorize, and west through the Garb-oh door to Garb-oh from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You examine the trees
response: A small number of heavily landscaped trees and shrubs which hide the buildings to the south.
action: Go northeast
response: The Proletariat is a local bar (not a pub). It's just far enough above a "dive" to be allowed zoning here, but steadfastedly refuses to cater to upscale tastes. You like it. Restrooms are to the east; the bar runs along the north side with a stolid bartender behind it and a jukebox sits against the back wall. A few hardy drinkers sit here, communing with their spirits. In a nod to the place's name, a Public Surveillance Notice covered with stickers and graffiti tags has been framed above the bar.

You can see a Bartender and a man here.

You can go northwest to Green Commercial Plaza North, southwest to Green Commercial Plaza South, east, and west to Green Commercial Plaza Center from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

You hear a very quiet beep from somewhere you can't identify.
action: You examine man
response: A medium-height man of middle age and dark but somewhat pasty-looking skin. His hair, black and cut short, is just beginning to grey at the temples. His hands are rough and callused. He is wearing work shoes and dark blue trousers, slightly scuffed. He is wearing a dark blue trade uniform jacket with a long narrow gash at the left shoulder and his name (Roberto Velez) on a tag clipped to the breast.
action: You look at Bartender
response: (the Bartender)
The bartender is busily polishing a glass. He is ignoring you entirely, but you don't feel insulted as he seems to be ignoring everyone in the bar.
action: You ask Roberto about Spacescraper
response: (Roberto Velez about that)
Roberto looks at you curiously. You have a sneaking suspicion his English is not very good.

You hear a very quiet beep from somewhere you can't identify.
action: You ask Roberto about the beep
response: (Roberto Velez about that)
Roberto looks at you curiously. You have a sneaking suspicion his English is not very good.
action: You examine Jukebox
response: A retro-themed music player with imitation vinyl records visible within its transparent cabinet, this jukebox actually operates via a network connection. It doesn't require money, but then again the users can't really select music on it, either, so fair is fair.

The Jukebox is currently switched off.
action: Switch jukebox
response: You switch the Jukebox on.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.
action: You examine Jukebox
response: A retro-themed music player with imitation vinyl records visible within its transparent cabinet, this jukebox actually operates via a network connection. It doesn't require money, but then again the users can't really select music on it, either, so fair is fair. It is playing a subdued post-punk Musak adaptation of some anti-government tune.

The Jukebox is currently switched on.
action: You go east
response: The one-holer restroom at the Proletariat is cleaner than you might think, although that may be due to the fact that it is midweek. A scratched mirror over the sink has been covered with marker graffiti.

You can see a trash can (closed) here.

You can go west to The Proletariat Bar from here.
action: You open can
response: You open the trash can, revealing some rubbish.
action: You get rubbish
response: It's too disgusting to touch.
action: Close can
response: You close the trash can.
action: You go west
response: You can't see any such thing.

The Proletariat is a local bar (not a pub). It's just far enough above a "dive" to be allowed zoning here, but steadfastedly refuses to cater to upscale tastes. You like it. Restrooms are to the east; the bar runs along the north side with a stolid bartender behind it and a jukebox sits against the back wall. A few hardy drinkers sit here, communing with their spirits. In a nod to the place's name, a Public Surveillance Notice covered with stickers and graffiti tags has been framed above the bar.

Thin music can be heard.

You can see a Bartender and Roberto Velez here.

You can go northwest to Green Commercial Plaza North, southwest to Green Commercial Plaza South, east to Proletariat Restroom, and west to Green Commercial Plaza Center from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go northwest
response: Green Commercial One is built around a plaza, and this is its northern end. No vehicles are permitted within the public areas of Green Commercial One, so the entire area is pedestrian-only. To the north are the doorways to the Green Commercial Station. To the east is the NanoMart. To the west is a storefront bank with an ATM. The plaza continues to the south.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Station, south to Green Commercial Plaza Center, southeast to The Proletariat Bar, southwest to Green Commercial Bistro Paris, east, and west from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go west
response: This is a completely nondescript bank storefront which exists solely to house an ATM. It's so nondescript, in fact, that it took you some actual effort to determine which bank owns it, probably to ensure that they can charge you access fees no matter what. To the east is Green Commercial Plaza.

You can see an ATM here.

You can go southeast to Green Commercial Plaza Center and east to Green Commercial Plaza North from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You look at ATM
response: This is a standard ATM, using palm prints and Mit-Klein authentication to permit customers to perform banking transactions. A palm reader juts out from the front of the console.

The ATM is currently switched off.
action: Switch atm
response: The palm reader appears to be broken; it does not respond.
action: You examine the palm
response: (your palm)
Standard garden-variety palm.
action: You examine the palm reader
response: This is a standard palm reader, which is used to verify the identity of the ATM customer. A flat plate, slightly inset, it is placed at a convenient angle to allow the palm to lie against it. This one, however, has a broad crack in it across which someone has written "KAPUT" in black marker.
action: You put the palm in the reader
response: (your palm in the palm reader)
You can't put that in the palm reader!
action: You put the palm on reader
response: (your palm on the palm reader)
(first taking your palm)

That seems to be a part of yourself.
You need to be holding your palm before you can put it on top of something else.
action: You get the palm reader
response: That seems to be a part of the ATM.
action: You get atm
response: That's fixed in place.
action: Go east
response: Green Commercial One is built around a plaza, and this is its northern end. No vehicles are permitted within the public areas of Green Commercial One, so the entire area is pedestrian-only. To the north are the doorways to the Green Commercial Station. To the east is the NanoMart. To the west is a storefront bank with an ATM. The plaza continues to the south.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Station, south to Green Commercial Plaza Center, southeast to The Proletariat Bar, southwest to Green Commercial Bistro Paris, east, and west to Metro Savings from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go to the east
response: This brighly-lit shop is an altar to the notion of instant gratification. Everything from cheap, hot coffee to ice cream and frozen lunches is available via an automated vending system, provided you don't mind your purchases being relentlessly catalogued by the NanoMart Corporation. You stopped shopping here after they told you you couldn't buy a coffee without using biometric authentication.

You can go southwest to Green Commercial Plaza Center and west to Green Commercial Plaza North from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go southwest
response: This is the center of the Green Commercial Plaza. There is a fountain here with a bench facing it. The plaza continues to the north and south; to the east is a bar called (ironically, you hope) the Proletariat. To the west is a Bistro Paris cafe.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Plaza North, northeast to NanoMart, northwest to Metro Savings, south to Green Commercial Plaza South, southeast to Accessorize, east to The Proletariat Bar, and west to Green Commercial Bistro Paris from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go west
response: This is a branch of the popular lunch and coffee shop Bistro Paris. There are a few tables near the front. A restroom is to the west. On the north wall, opposite the counter, is a collection of Paris-themed prints. In the center is a large holoportrait of the chain's owner, Zuzu, and a sign claiming that the Bistro Paris has restaurants here, in the Reserve Bank Spacescraper, and in London. A server behind the counter is waiting on several customers.

You can see a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go northeast to Green Commercial Plaza North, southeast to Green Commercial Plaza South, east to Green Commercial Plaza Center, and west to Bistro Paris Restroom from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go north
response: Green Commercial One is built around a plaza, and this is its northern end. No vehicles are permitted within the public areas of Green Commercial One, so the entire area is pedestrian-only. To the north are the doorways to the Green Commercial Station. To the east is the NanoMart. To the west is a storefront bank with an ATM. The plaza continues to the south.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Station, south to Green Commercial Plaza Center, southeast to The Proletariat Bar, southwest to Green Commercial Bistro Paris, east to NanoMart, and west to Metro Savings from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go north
response: Green Commercial One's Transit station usually does most of its business around the rush hours, as Green Residental commuters stop off to take care of errands. The station is relatively small, but well kept up - the Green Commercial Business Improvement District organization sees to that. Open doorways lead south to Green Commercial One proper, and a stairway leads down to the doors to the Transit platform.

You can go south to Green Commercial Plaza North and down through the Green Commercial Station door (closed) to Green Commercial Platform from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go downwards
response: (first opening the Green Commercial Station door)

Green Commercial One is one of the oldest stations on the Transit web. Although it has been refurbished several times, its age still manages to show through the layers of tile and paint. The platform opens out at the middle to a lobby area which is dominated by a row of automated doors to the south, which lead to stairways up to the main station. The flow of commuters moves steadily through these doors. The floor and walls are both extremely scuffed duramex nanotile, and the station name (Green Commercial One) is indicated on a large plaque set into the walls. The platform abuts the Transit web to the north, now empty.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go south through the Green Commercial Station door to Green Commercial Station from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You wait for Capsule
response: A light grows in the tunnel. With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Commercial Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You enter Capsule
response: You move into the Transit Capsule.

A fifty-person maglev Transit capsule. You're standing, holding on to a strap. Through the windows you can see the Green Commercial Platform.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

You find yourself mesmerized by an advertisement for disposable cameras.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Residential Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
action: Go north
response: (first opening the Green Service Station door)

Green Service is the local government services cluster. The Transit station seems to reflect this, exhibiting a weary conformity - although you couldn't say exactly how. A stairway leads down to the platform access doors, and a set of doorways lead north out onto Government Square.

You can go north and down through the Green Service Station door to Green Service Platform from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You go to the north
response: This is the southern half of Government Square. Several benches and landscape features are scattered throughout the area. A roadway approaches from the west, loops north around the square and continues to the east. Groundcars move back and forth along the road, mixed with official vehicles such as police cars, ambulances and the ubiquitous slightly shabby black flitters used by government agencies. The doors to Green Service Transit station are to the south. Across the road to the east is Green Hospital's driveway. The Hospital's main entrance is to the northeast. The square continues to the north. To the northwest, across the road on the other side, is the front steps of the local police station.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go north, northeast, northwest, south to Green Service Station, and east from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go east
response: The driveway and parking area for the Hospital ER, which lies directly to the east. To the north is the main entrance to the Hospital building.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

An ambulance, a bulky flittervan with emergency markings, is parked here.

You can go north, northwest, east through the ER door (closed), and west to Government Square South from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You look at the ambulance
response: This aerovan is probably a Geely-Ford/Fujiwara product underneath, but has all manner of emergency lights and markings on it, including a large set of red crosses. It has a double door in the back along with the two main cab entry doors. It is dark and powered down but securely locked, and a slowly blinking light indicates that its locklarm is armed.
action: Go east
response: (first opening the ER door)

This is a triage area for the ER to the east. To the north is the main Hospital lobby, and west lies the automatic doors out to the driveway. Patients and staff are moving back and forth through the area.

You can go north, east, and west through the ER door to Hospital Driveway from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: Go east
response: This is a prep and emergency treatment area for the emergency ward to the east, which is locked. Triage is to the west, and a door leads north. The ER is presently unused, and lies empty.

You can see a tissue generator here.

You can go north and west to Triage from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You examine the tissue generator
response: (the tissue generator)
This is a medium-sized appliance found in most modern hospitals. It is used to provide artificial tissue for grafting into or onto injuries. In order to prevent rejection, the tissue generator must be given a complete scan of the patient's tissue, from which it will (by default) produce an exact duplicate of the scanned sample. It has a button marked ACTIVATE. There is a slot on the front of the machine labeled INSERT CRYOPACK FOR SAMPLE where, presumably, the generated tissue is delivered; there is a smaller opening labeled FEED and there is a slot labeled READ where a tissue sampler can be inserted. The feed slot contains biogen feedstock.

The tissue generator is currently switched off.
action: Go west
response: This is a triage area for the ER to the east. To the north is the main Hospital lobby, and west lies the automatic doors out to the driveway. Patients and staff are moving back and forth through the area.

You can go north, east to the Emergency Room, and west through the ER door (closed) to Hospital Driveway from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go north
response: This is the main entrance to a busy regional hospital. Autodoors lie to the west. Patients and staff rush back and forth, all too busy to pay you any attention. To the south is an archway with a sign reading "TRIAGE"; to the east is the elevator core and to the north is the waiting lounge.

You can go north, south to Triage, east, and west through the Hospital door (closed) from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go east
response: The main elevator bank for the hospital seems to require either an appropriate Mit-Klein scan or a hospital ID to swipe. Patients and staff move through the area. The lobby is to the west. The ER is through a door to the south, and a restroom is to the east.

You can go south to the Emergency Room, east, and west to Hospital Lobby from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go to the east
response: A clean restroom that smells strongly of disinfectant and hand sanitizer. There is a single sink with a small mirror over it and a single stall.

You can see a trash can (closed) here.

You can go west to Hospital Elevators from here.
action: You examine the graffiti
response: This small graffito is a stylized angel wearing a pair of mirrorshades. Just below it is a URL: [LINK]
action: You examine trash
response: Painted industrial dark green, the Hospital Restroom trash can awaits its daily diet of rubbish. There is a solar panel on it; presumably it reports back to a central system when it is full.
action: You look at the solar panel
response: A small (8x8cm) solar panel set into the lid, apparently powering something embedded beneath in the trash can.
action: You remove the solar panel
response: (first taking the solar panel)
That seems to be a part of the trash can.
action: You open the trash
response: You open the trash can, revealing some rubbish.
action: You look at can
response: Painted industrial dark green, the Hospital Restroom trash can awaits its daily diet of rubbish. There is a solar panel on it; presumably it reports back to a central system when it is full.

In the trash can is some rubbish.
action: You cut the panel with the knife
response: That seems to be a part of the trash can.

(putting the laptop into the backpack to make room)
Taken.

Cutting that would achieve little.
action: You look in the can
response: You put the lockblade knife into the backpack.

In the trash can is some rubbish.
action: You get can
response: That's fixed in place.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a drop message
a soldering iron
a phone
a safety limiter
a backpack (being worn, and open)
a lockblade knife
a laptop
some solder
a car key
a thermos (open but empty)
a cotter pin
a multitool
a watch (being worn)
action: You go to the west
response: The main elevator bank for the hospital seems to require either an appropriate Mit-Klein scan or a hospital ID to swipe. Patients and staff move through the area. The lobby is to the west. The ER is through a door to the south, and a restroom is to the east.

You can go south to the Emergency Room, east to Hospital Restroom, and west to Hospital Lobby from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go south
response: This is a prep and emergency treatment area for the emergency ward to the east, which is locked. Triage is to the west, and a door leads north. The ER is presently unused, and lies empty.

You can see a tissue generator here.

You can go north to Hospital Elevators and west to Triage from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go west
response: This is the main entrance to a busy regional hospital. Autodoors lie to the west. Patients and staff rush back and forth, all too busy to pay you any attention. To the south is an archway with a sign reading "TRIAGE"; to the east is the elevator core and to the north is the waiting lounge.

You can go north, south to Triage, east to Hospital Elevators, and west through the Hospital door (closed) from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You examine patient
response: A worried delivery worker with a messenger bag runs past you and is gone.
action: Go north
response: This lounge is full of marginally-comfortable seating and antiquated magazines. A door to the east reads "LAB" and the main lobby is to the south. It is deserted; looking at the decor, you're pretty sure you know why.

You can go south to Hospital Lobby and east from here.
action: You go to the east
response: This is an all-purpose pathology laboratory receiving area. The lab itself is behind a bulletproof glass wall to the east, and a small window allows samples or paperwork to be passed back and forth.

You can see a cryopack (closed) and a trash can (closed) here.

You can go west to Hospital Lounge from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You get all
response: cryopack: Taken.
action: Oops cryopack
response: This is a roughly fist-sized container, white with red crosses and an instructions sticker with WARNING! printed at the top. It feels slightly cold to the touch. A green LED labelled "OPERATING" is lit.
action: You read the sticker
response: WARNING: This is a single-use cryogenic transport pack. Opening the cryopack will disrupt the superconductor charge and disable the cryopack until it is recharged for its next use.
action: You open the cryopack
response: You open the cryopack. A small cloud of chill and condensation escapes from the cryopack into the surrounding air. The green LED on it goes out; a red one lights up.
action: You look in cryopack
response: The cryopack is empty.
action: Look around
response: This is an all-purpose pathology laboratory receiving area. The lab itself is behind a bulletproof glass wall to the east, and a small window allows samples or paperwork to be passed back and forth.

You can see a trash can (closed) here.

You can go west to Hospital Lounge from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Examine can
response: Painted industrial dark green, the Hospital Lab trash can awaits its daily diet of rubbish. There is a solar panel on it; presumably it reports back to a central system when it is full.

In the trash can is some rubbish.
action: You go south
response: span class="floydstyle input">> S

You can't go that way.
action: You go west
response: This lounge is full of marginally-comfortable seating and antiquated magazines. A door to the east reads "LAB" and the main lobby is to the south. It is deserted; looking at the decor, you're pretty sure you know why.

You can go south to Hospital Lobby and east to the Hospital Lab from here.
action: Go south
response: This is the main entrance to a busy regional hospital. Autodoors lie to the west. Patients and staff rush back and forth, all too busy to pay you any attention. To the south is an archway with a sign reading "TRIAGE"; to the east is the elevator core and to the north is the waiting lounge.

You can go north to Hospital Lounge, south to Triage, east to Hospital Elevators, and west through the Hospital door (closed) from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go east
response: The main elevator bank for the hospital seems to require either an appropriate Mit-Klein scan or a hospital ID to swipe. Patients and staff move through the area. The lobby is to the west. The ER is through a door to the south, and a restroom is to the east.

You can go south to the Emergency Room, east to Hospital Restroom, and west to Hospital Lobby from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go south
response: This is a triage area for the ER to the east. To the north is the main Hospital lobby, and west lies the automatic doors out to the driveway. Patients and staff are moving back and forth through the area.

You can go north to Hospital Lobby, east to the Emergency Room, and west through the ER door (closed) to Hospital Driveway from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You put the cryopack into the tissue generator
response: (the tissue generator)
Which slot do you want to put the cryopack into - the sample slot, the feed slot or the read slot?
action: SAMPLE
response: What do you want to sample?
action: Sample slot
response: Which do you mean, the feed slot, the sample slot, the read slot, or the chipslot?
action: You put cryopack in the sample slot
response: You put the cryopack into the sample slot.
action: You examine the tissue
response: (the tissue generator)
This is a medium-sized appliance found in most modern hospitals. It is used to provide artificial tissue for grafting into or onto injuries. In order to prevent rejection, the tissue generator must be given a complete scan of the patient's tissue, from which it will (by default) produce an exact duplicate of the scanned sample. It has a button marked ACTIVATE. There is a slot on the front of the machine labeled INSERT CRYOPACK FOR SAMPLE where, presumably, the generated tissue is delivered; there is a smaller opening labeled FEED and there is a slot labeled READ where a tissue sampler can be inserted.
There is a cryopack in the sample slot. The feed slot contains biogen feedstock.

The tissue generator is currently switched off.
action: You put the soldering iron in the backpack
response: That's dangerous. You might want to switch the soldering iron off first.
action: You put it in the backpack
response: You switch the soldering iron off.
The tip cools rapidly, fading to a silver-gray.

You put the soldering iron into the backpack.
action: You activate tissue
response: (the tissue generator)
The tissue generator blinks a red indicator which reads NOT READY: CHECK SLOTS and deactivates.
action: Go west
response: This is a triage area for the ER to the east. To the north is the main Hospital lobby, and west lies the automatic doors out to the driveway. Patients and staff are moving back and forth through the area.

You can go north to Hospital Lobby, east to the Emergency Room, and west through the ER door (closed) to Hospital Driveway from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go to the west
response: (first opening the ER door)

The driveway and parking area for the Hospital ER, which lies directly to the east. To the north is the main entrance to the Hospital building.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

An ambulance, a bulky flittervan with emergency markings, is parked here.

You can go north, northwest, east through the ER door to Triage, and west to Government Square South from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You go to the north
response: This is the front entryway pavilion of the local hospital. The automatic entryway doors are to the east, and the ER entrance and driveway is to the south.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go south to Hospital Driveway, southwest to Government Square South, east through the Hospital door (closed) to Hospital Lobby, and west from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go west
response: The north half of Government Square is surrounded on three sides by roadway. Groundcars trundle back and forth, and the occasional flitter whines down to or screams up from flitter pads out of sight atop the surrounding buildings. The hospital driveway is to the southeast, across the road; the hospital entrance to the east and the police station to the west. To the north is the steps to the Civil Center, the local government office building.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

It seems a tourist has left behind a cheap disposable camera, which rests on the sidewalk here.

You can go north, south to Government Square South, southeast to Hospital Driveway, east to Hospital Entrance, and west from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You examine the camera
response: A cheap piece of integral electronics, made cheaper by the fact that any portable or phone has a perfectly good camera in it. It has a built-in flash, and is typically linked to a cell phone or other handheld for displaying and storing photos.
action: You examine the camera
response: A cheap piece of integral electronics, made cheaper by the fact that any portable or phone has a perfectly good camera in it. It has a built-in flash, and is typically linked to a cell phone or other handheld for displaying and storing photos. This camera has been cracked open, revealing its internal electronics. A capacitor (for the flash unit) and battery are available, as are numerous circuit connection points.
action: You go to the west
response: These are the busy steps of the local police station. To the east and southeast is Government Square, while the police station lies at the top to the west. Uniformed police and people in plain clothes are traversing the steps to exit and enter the building.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go southeast to Government Square South, east to Government Square North, and west from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go west
response: This is the front desk of the police station. A harried sergeant is manning the desk, and are so busy they don't even have time to give you more than a brief scowl. To the north is a security gate leading into the police station proper, and to the south is an open area with a sign reading "BOOKING."

You can see Sergeant Ramirez here.

You can go south and east to Police Station Steps from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

Sergeant Ramirez scowls at his paperwork.
action: You examine Ramirez
response: Seated behind his desk, this grizzled uniformed policeman is clearly a veteran of many years" service. He scowls at you, waiting for you to make his life more annoying.
action: You go to the south
response: This area is used for processing prisoners…er, excuse me, suspects, and as a waiting lounge. There is a single hard bench, now empty, and a counter along the south wall with a stern poster on the wall above it. One area has been kept clear and is a neutral pale blue, presumably to be used as a backdrop for photographing suspects.

You can see an ID camera here.

You can go north to the Front Desk from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Examine poster
response: The poster has an almost laughably crude and kitschy burly policeman chasing a pair of hoodlums while blowing a whistle and brandishing a nightstick. The hoodlums are leaving a trail of iconic Drug Paraphernalia. A caption reads "If you see any DRUG ACTIVITY, report it AT ONCE to your FRIENDLY LOCAL POLICE."
action: You examinethe i d camera
response: A battered but serviceable device, this is a high resolution holocamera used by the police for recording suspects" identities. It can either record to a local server if one is available, or to a standard Memory chip placed in its memory slot. It is securely attached to the countertop with a security chain to prevent anyone from walking off with it.
action: You openthe i d camera
response: The ID camera is a sealed unit.
action: You examine the security chain
response: A thin chain, almost a cable. It has been visibly repaired in the past.
action: You cut the security chain with the knife
response: That seems to be a part of the ID camera.

Taken.

Cutting that would achieve little.

Security surveillance spots you openly carrying a weapon. Police rush in!
action: Go north
response: This is the front desk of the police station. A harried sergeant is manning the desk, and are so busy they don't even have time to give you more than a brief scowl. To the north is a security gate leading into the police station proper, and to the south is an open area with a sign reading "BOOKING."

You can see Sergeant Ramirez here.

You can go south to Booking and east to Police Station Steps from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go east
response: These are the busy steps of the local police station. To the east and southeast is Government Square, while the police station lies at the top to the west. Uniformed police and people in plain clothes are traversing the steps to exit and enter the building.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go southeast to Government Square South, east to Government Square North, and west to the Front Desk from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go east
response: The north half of Government Square is surrounded on three sides by roadway. Groundcars trundle back and forth, and the occasional flitter whines down to or screams up from flitter pads out of sight atop the surrounding buildings. The hospital driveway is to the southeast, across the road; the hospital entrance to the east and the police station to the west. To the north is the steps to the Civil Center, the local government office building.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go north, south to Government Square South, southeast to Hospital Driveway, east to Hospital Entrance, and west to Police Station Steps from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go north
response: These are the front steps of an impressive government building. Civil servants hurry in and out through the security checkpoint, going about their business.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see Ponyfriend Chunky and the civil servants here.

You can go south to Government Square North from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

Ponyfriend frantically whips his pager out and scrutinizes the blank display before putting it away, apparently crestfallen.
action: You examine Ponyfriend chunky
response: (Ponyfriend Chunky)
Dressed in ragged clothing, this man is looking around himself nervously, trying not to meet anyone's eye. He is holding a sign that reads "HELP ME COMPLETE MY MISSION GIVE WHAT YOU CAN."

Ponyfriend Chunky is carrying a pager and a begging sign.

Dressed in ragged clothing, this man is looking around himself nervously, trying not to meet anyone's eye. He is holding a sign that reads "HELP ME COMPLETE MY MISSION GIVE WHAT YOU CAN."

Ponyfriend Chunky is carrying a pager and a begging sign.
action: You ask Ponyfriend about Spacescraper
response: (Ponyfriend Chunky about that)
Ponyfriend responds out of the corner of his mouth, looking away. "The Tower! (Ponyfriend points eagerly towards the Spacescraper visible in the distance)  I think I'll need to go there…that mission,
though…(he
stops talking suddenly and looks at you suspiciously.)"

Ponyfriend looks up sharply, muttering "Did you hear that?" and checks his pager.

With a brief flare of light from its boosters and a far-off rumble, a drop shuttle rises from the semiballistic pads atop the far-off Reserve Bank Spacescraper, vanishing into the sky.
action: You ask Ponyfriend for the pager
response: (Ponyfriend Chunky for the pager)
Ponyfriend looks frightened and clutches the pager to his chest. "No! You can't have it! THEY gave it to me! How would I know They needed me if I gave it to you?"

Ponyfriend wipes his pager's display with a dirty sleeve.
action: You look at the pager
response: It looks like a pretty old-school radio pager. It also looks like it isn't working; the display is fogged over, there are no lights on it, and one of the two buttons on the front is missing. There is a small sliding panel on the back.
action: You give the phone to Ponyfriend
response: (Ponyfriend Chunky)
Ponyfriend clutches the cell phone and mumbles "This is so much better, now I can get my instructions directly rather than having to call them back!" He stands there for a moment, then seems to come to a realization. "In fact, they can call me! I don't need this pager!" he says.

Ponyfriend Chunky gives the pager to you.
action: You ask Ponyfriend about the beep
response: (Ponyfriend Chunky about that)
Ponyfriend avoids your eye.
action: You open the pager
response: You open the pager, revealing a receive chip.

Ponyfriend checks his cell phone, looking disappointed that no-one has called.
Ponyfriend sighs and sits down for a few moments before springing back up, muttering.
action: You give the camera to Ponyfriend
response: (Ponyfriend Chunky)
Ponyfriend shakes his head violently and pushes the lost camera back to you.
action: You ask Ponyfriend about the mission
response: (Ponyfriend Chunky about that)
Ponyfriend's face animates and he looks up at you. "My missions? They're…well…(a suspicious look comes over his face) They're
secret!
You can't know!"
action: Examine chip
response: This is a receive chip - a small solid-state radio about the size of a coin. These can be found in most portable electronics that need to receive distant broadcasts, able to pull in signals from beyond a few meters. There are leads on the chip for connecting data lines and a power source.
action: Solder chip
response: What do you want to combine?

Ponyfriend's eyes light up and he pulls out his (dead) cell phone. Raising it to his head, he has a brief conversation with it before putting it away carefully and looking around furtively.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a receive chip
a pager (open but empty)
a lost camera
a drop message
a safety limiter
a backpack (being worn, and open)
a soldering iron
a lockblade knife
a laptop
some solder
a car key
a thermos (open but empty)
a cotter pin
a multitool
a watch (being worn)
action: Go north
response: In order to pass the checkpoint, you would need to have a Government authorized Mitsui-Klein signature. Realizing this, you retreat.
action: Look around
response: These are the front steps of an impressive government building. Civil servants hurry in and out through the security checkpoint, going about their business.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see Ponyfriend Chunky and the civil servants here.

You can go south to Government Square North from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go south
response: The north half of Government Square is surrounded on three sides by roadway. Groundcars trundle back and forth, and the occasional flitter whines down to or screams up from flitter pads out of sight atop the surrounding buildings. The hospital driveway is to the southeast, across the road; the hospital entrance to the east and the police station to the west. To the north is the steps to the Civil Center, the local government office building.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go north to Civil Center Steps, south to Government Square South, southeast to Hospital Driveway, east to Hospital Entrance, and west to Police Station Steps from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go to the south
response: This is the southern half of Government Square. Several benches and landscape features are scattered throughout the area. A roadway approaches from the west, loops north around the square and continues to the east. Groundcars move back and forth along the road, mixed with official vehicles such as police cars, ambulances and the ubiquitous slightly shabby black flitters used by government agencies. The doors to Green Service Transit station are to the south. Across the road to the east is Green Hospital's driveway. The Hospital's main entrance is to the northeast. The square continues to the north. To the northwest, across the road on the other side, is the front steps of the local police station.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go north to Government Square North, northeast to Hospital Entrance, northwest to Police Station Steps, south to Green Service Station, and east to Hospital Driveway from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go south
response: Green Service is the local government services cluster. The Transit station seems to reflect this, exhibiting a weary conformity - although you couldn't say exactly how. A stairway leads down to the platform access doors, and a set of doorways lead north out onto Government Square.

You can go north to Government Square South and down through the Green Service Station door (closed) to Green Service Platform from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go downwards
response: (first opening the Green Service Station door)

Green Service One's platform is underground. It serves mostly city workers during the day. There is an exit at the center of the platform which leads north through a set of closed automatic doors to a stairway leading up to the main station, just next to a large plaque with the name of the station on it. The platform abuts the Transit web to the south, where a Transit capsule hovers impatiently in the web. The capsule doors are open.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go north through the Green Service Station door to Green Service Station from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: Go south
response: You enter the Transit capsule.

A fifty-person maglev Transit capsule. You're standing, holding on to a strap. Through the windows you can see the Green Service Platform.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.
action: Go outside
response: The Reserve Bank Transit Station. The platform opens out at the middle to a lobby area which is dominated by a row of automated doors to the west. The flow of commuters moves steadily through these doors, with each person turning their head to the right as they approach for the eye scanner to verify their identity before opening the portal long enough for them to slip through. The floor and walls are both clean duramex nanotile, and the station name (Reserve Bank) is indicated on large plaques set into the walls. At either end of the platform, closed gates guard against any entry into the slideway tunnels. A platform abuts a Transit web, where a Transit capsule can be seen hovering. The capsule doors are open.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go west through the Reserve Bank Station door (closed) from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: Go west
response: (first opening the Reserve Bank Station door)
The Eye Scanner laser delicately probes your iris to determine your identity. The Reserve Bank Security Subroutine determines that you have no legitimate reason to enter the Reserve Bank spacescraper. A harsh buzzer sounds and the door remains locked.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: Examine Scanner
response: Above and to the right of each automated door is a Door Scanner. These spherical devices have a glass plane inset in the side facing you, and an eerie red light flickers deep inside each as it waits for you to present a recognizable iris to the scanning laser within. Until you do so, the door controlled by the scanner will remain closed.
action: Go east
response: You enter the Transit capsule.

A fifty-person maglev Transit capsule. You're standing, holding on to a strap. Through the windows you can see the Reserve Bank Station.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.
action: You go south
response: You exit the Transit capsule.

Green Commercial One is one of the oldest stations on the Transit web. Although it has been refurbished several times, its age still manages to show through the layers of tile and paint. The platform opens out at the middle to a lobby area which is dominated by a row of automated doors to the south, which lead to stairways up to the main station. The flow of commuters moves steadily through these doors. The floor and walls are both extremely scuffed duramex nanotile, and the station name (Green Commercial One) is indicated on a large plaque set into the walls. The platform abuts the Transit web to the north, where a Transit capsule can be seen hovering. The capsule doors are open.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go south through the Green Commercial Station door (closed) to Green Commercial Station from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You go south
response: (first opening the Green Commercial Station door)

Green Commercial One's Transit station usually does most of its business around the rush hours, as Green Residental commuters stop off to take care of errands. The station is relatively small, but well kept up - the Green Commercial Business Improvement District organization sees to that. Open doorways lead south to Green Commercial One proper, and a stairway leads down to the doors to the Transit platform.

You can go south to Green Commercial Plaza North and down through the Green Commercial Station door to Green Commercial Platform from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You go south
response: Green Commercial One is built around a plaza, and this is its northern end. No vehicles are permitted within the public areas of Green Commercial One, so the entire area is pedestrian-only. To the north are the doorways to the Green Commercial Station. To the east is the NanoMart. To the west is a storefront bank with an ATM. The plaza continues to the south.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Station, south to Green Commercial Plaza Center, southeast to The Proletariat Bar, southwest to Green Commercial Bistro Paris, east to NanoMart, and west to Metro Savings from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go south
response: The southern end of the Green Commercial Plaza, which continues to the north. To the east is Accessorize, a fashion store, and to the west is Garb-oh, a trendy clothing shop. The south end of the mall is closed off by an elaborate landscaping installation of trees and shrubs, presumably to hide a relatively ugly building behind it.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see a trash can (closed) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Plaza Center, northeast to The Proletariat Bar, northwest to Green Commercial Bistro Paris, east to Accessorize, and west through the Garb-oh door (closed) to Garb-oh from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go west
response: (first opening the Garb-oh door)

Garb-oh! is a trendy clothing shop. Images of the shop's icon Greta Garbo abound, each dressed in the clothing item offered on the rack below it. Jackets, scarves, bandannas, trousers, shirts and more are on inviting display.

On the racks are a blue jacket, a red jacket, a white shirt, a green shirt, a blue pair of pants, and a brown pair of pants.

The sales counter runs along the north side of the store.

You can also see the shopkeeper and the shopper here.

You can go east through the Garb-oh door to Green Commercial Plaza South from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You examine the red jacket
response: This jacket is a wine red sports coat. You had thought this style vanished in the 1970s, but here it is. It is several sizes too small for you.

There is an antitheft tag attached to the red jacket.
action: You examine tag
response: Which do you mean, the blue jacket's antitheft tag, the red jacket's antitheft tag, the white shirt's antitheft tag, the green shirt's antitheft tag, the blue pair of pants's antitheft tag, or the brown pair of pants's antitheft tag?
action: You examine the red jacket's tag
response: This is a small rubberized sealed plastic transponder, perhaps a centimeter thick and two by four centimeters square, with a complex security mechanism for attaching it to products. It is used for inventory control as well as theft prevention; it cannot be removed from a garment without the associated removal tool.
action: You look at the shopkeeper
response: (the shopkeeper)
The shopkeeper is a somewhat frumpy older lady. You can't help but wonder if she has been deliberately selected for her appearance so as to present a contrast with the merchandise.

The shopkeeper is empty-handed.
action: You examine the counter
response: In the sales counter is a sales drawer.
action: You open it
response: You can't reach that from here; you'd need to be behind the sales counter.

A shopper pulls a jacket off the racks and looks at it critically before returning it.
action: You go behind the sales counter
response: You try to move behind the sales counter, but the shopkeeper glares at you and blocks the way!

A small group of people enter the store, look around, look at each other and file back out.
action: You examine the shoulder bag
response: An open-topped satchel with a carrying strap meant to be strung over one shoulder. It is currently over the shoulder of a woman shopper.
action: You take it
response: That seems to belong to the shopper.
action: You put the red jacket in the bag
response: (the backpack)
You put the red jacket into the backpack.
action: You put red jacket in the shoulder bag
response: You stealthily slide the red jacket into the shoulder bag!

The shopper puts down a last item of clothing and drifts towards the door. As she reaches it, however, the antitheft alarm blares and a strobe light begins to flash! She stops, frozen in surprise, as the shopkeeper rushes over and grabs her. A few seconds later, two policemen enter the shop. The shopkeeper, shopper and police all begin shouting at the same time.
action: You go behind the counter
response: You move around behind the sales counter.

Garb-oh (in the sales counter)
Garb-oh! is a trendy clothing shop. Images of the shop's icon Greta Garbo abound, each dressed in the clothing item offered on the rack below it. Jackets, scarves, bandannas, trousers, shirts and more are on inviting display.

On the racks are a blue jacket, a white shirt, a green shirt, a blue pair of pants, and a brown pair of pants.

You can also see a Patrolman, Officer Prescott, the shopkeeper, and the shopper here.

There is a wide drawer below the counter level.

You can go east through the Garb-oh door (closed) to Green Commercial Plaza South from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You open the drawer
response: You open the sales drawer, revealing a tag remover.
action: You get the tag remover
response: (putting the safety limiter into the backpack to make room)
Taken.
action: You look at officer prescott
response: A normal-looking Metro Policeman, Prescott is wearing light patrol gear with his holobadge displaying his name and rank across his left breast. Every once in a while, the comm unit attached to his belt murmurs to him through his earpiece.

Officer Prescott is carrying a flitterkey.
action: Go outside
response: You get out of the sales counter.

Garb-oh! is a trendy clothing shop. Images of the shop's icon Greta Garbo abound, each dressed in the clothing item offered on the rack below it. Jackets, scarves, bandannas, trousers, shirts and more are on inviting display.

On the racks are a blue jacket, a white shirt, a green shirt, a blue pair of pants, and a brown pair of pants.

The sales counter runs along the north side of the store.

You can also see a Patrolman, Officer Prescott, the shopkeeper, and the shopper here.

You can go east through the Garb-oh door (closed) to Green Commercial Plaza South from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

You hear a very quiet beep from somewhere you can't identify.
action: You look at the brown pants
response: Brown dungarees are never really in style, ergo they can't ever really be out of style either.

There is an antitheft tag attached to the brown pair of pants.
action: You remove tag
response: (the tag remover)
You're not wearing that.
action: You get the antitheft tag
response: Which do you mean, the blue jacket's antitheft tag, the white shirt's antitheft tag, the green shirt's antitheft tag, the blue pair of pants's antitheft tag, the brown pair of pants's antitheft tag, or the red jacket's antitheft tag?
action: You get the brown pants's antitheft tag
response: You can't remove that bare-handed; you'll need to use the appropriate tool.
action: You remove the brown pants's antitheft tag with tag remover
response: You deftly remove the tag with the tag remover.
action: You look at the tag
response: (the brown pair of pants's antitheft tag)
This is a small rubberized sealed plastic transponder, perhaps a centimeter thick and two by four centimeters square, with a complex security mechanism for attaching it to products. It is used for inventory control as well as theft prevention; it cannot be removed from a garment without the associated removal tool.
action: You remove the blue pants's antitheft tag with the tag remover
response: You deftly remove the tag with the tag remover.

The police finally search the shopper's shoulder bag, and shake their heads. They lead her towards the door, one explaining that they'll need to take her statement at the station. The shopkeeper asks snippily what they'll be doing to protect her stock; Officer Prescott rolls his eyes and says "Lady, we'll have our patrol stop in the plaza out front for a while in case this one has any accomplices, all right?" They leave, and the shopkeeper watches them go with a somewhat irritatingly smug expression on her face.
action: You open the tag
response: Which do you mean, the blue jacket's antitheft tag, the white shirt's antitheft tag, the green shirt's antitheft tag, the blue pair of pants's antitheft tag, the brown pair of pants's antitheft tag, or the tag remover?
action: Go east
response: As you approach the autodoor, a cyclone light goes off, triggered by the antitheft tag you are carrying! The attendant hurries over as a policeman rushes in. The tag is swiftly found!
action: You cut the brown pants's antitheft tag
response: You'd need to cut the brown pair of pants's antitheft tag with something; you can't do it bare-handed.
action: You cut brown pants's antitheft tag with the knife
response: (putting the drop message into the backpack to make room)
You're carrying too many things already.

You carefully cut open the tag with your knife and peel back the plastic to reveal a blank memory chip.

You see a small red light in the corner of your vision which vanishes as you turn to look at it.
action: You take the memory chip
response: (putting the lost camera into the backpack to make room)
You're carrying too many things already.
action: You cut the blue pants's antitheft tag with the knife
response: (putting the pager into the backpack to make room)
Taken.

You carefully cut open the tag with your knife and peel back the plastic to reveal a blank memory chip.

Security surveillance spots you openly carrying a weapon. Police rush in!
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a blue pair of pants's antitheft tag
a brown pair of pants's antitheft tag
a blank memory chip
a tag remover
a receive chip
a pager (open but empty)
a backpack (being worn, and open)
a lost camera
a drop message
a safety limiter
a soldering iron
a lockblade knife
a laptop
some solder
a car key
a thermos (open but empty)
a cotter pin
a multitool
a watch (being worn)
action: You drop the blue
response: (the blue pair of pants's antitheft tag)
The attendant spots you dropping an antitheft tag on the floor. Suspicious, she presses her alarm and runs over, calling for police!
action: You put the blue on the rack
response: (the blue pair of pants's antitheft tag on the racks)
You put the blue pair of pants's antitheft tag on the racks.
action: You put the brown on the racks
response: (the brown pair of pants's antitheft tag on the racks)
You put the brown pair of pants's antitheft tag on the racks.

A small group of people enter the store, look around, look at each other and file back out.
action: You put the knife in the backpack
response: You put the lockblade knife into the backpack.
action: You go east
response: (first opening the Garb-oh door)

The southern end of the Green Commercial Plaza, which continues to the north. To the east is Accessorize, a fashion store, and to the west is Garb-oh, a trendy clothing shop. The south end of the mall is closed off by an elaborate landscaping installation of trees and shrubs, presumably to hide a relatively ugly building behind it.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see a trash can (closed) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Plaza Center, northeast to The Proletariat Bar, northwest to Green Commercial Bistro Paris, east to Accessorize, and west through the Garb-oh door to Garb-oh from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

You have the sudden feeling that you're being followed, but have no idea by whom.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You go north
response: The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Plaza North, northeast to NanoMart, northwest to Metro Savings, south to Green Commercial Plaza South, southeast to Accessorize, east to The Proletariat Bar, and west to Green Commercial Bistro Paris from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A surveillance camera atop a nearby streetlight swivels silently.
action: You go north
response: The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Station, south to Green Commercial Plaza Center, southeast to The Proletariat Bar, southwest to Green Commercial Bistro Paris, east to NanoMart, and west to Metro Savings from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go north
response: You can go south to Green Commercial Plaza North and down through the Green Commercial Station door (closed) to Green Commercial Platform from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go down
response: (first opening the Green Commercial Station door)

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go south through the Green Commercial Station door to Green Commercial Station from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

A commuter walks by.

The automatic door slides closed.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.
action: You wait for Capsule
response: You see a small mouse scurry along the Transit Web and vanish back into the tunnels.

A commuter walks by.

A light grows in the tunnel. With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Commercial Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

A commuter walks by.
action: Go north
response: You enter the Transit capsule.

A fifty-person maglev Transit capsule. You're standing, holding on to a strap. Through the windows you can see the Green Commercial Platform.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

A tiny surveillance camera you're sure you didn't see before swivels to follow you.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.

Time passes.

Time passes.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Residential Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
action: You go to the east
response: You exit the Transit capsule.

Green Residential's platform serves mostly residential commuters. There is an exit at the center of the platform which leads east through a set of closed automatic doors to a stairway leading up to the main station, just next to a large plaque with the name of the station on it. The platform abuts the Transit web to the west, where a Transit capsule hovers impatiently. The capsule doors are open.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go east through the Green Residential Station door (closed) to Green Residential Station from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You go east
response: (first opening the Green Residential Station door)
The Eye Scanner laser delicately probes your iris, and the doors slide smoothly open.

You can go east to Primrose & Cedar and down through the Green Residential Station door to Green Residential Platform from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You go east
response: The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go north to Green Residential Park, south to South Primrose Lane, east to East Cedar Street, and west to Green Residential Station from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go east
response: The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go west to Primrose & Cedar from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Look around
response: Cedar Street comes to an end in a cul-de-sac here. There are residential buildings to the north, east and south. Typical for the area, they are three-family houses with common entrances. Their lawns are neatly trimmed.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go west to Primrose & Cedar from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You look at the residential buildings
response: A set of residential buildings with neatly trimmed lawns.
action: You go south
response: The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go north to Primrose & Cedar and east to Front Path from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You look around
response: Primrose Lane continues to the north. To the south is a boarded-up empty house; sumac plants can be seen peeking over the top of the dilapidated fencing. The fence has a plastic tarp strung behind it which prevents you from seeing much of the house. To the west is a single-family home with a large warning sign and an enormous dog on the front lawn. To the east is a three-family residence's front path.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go north to Primrose & Cedar and east to Front Path from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You read the sign
response: It reads "YOUR SKIN MUST BE THIS THICK (here there is a lifelike picture of a dog's tooth, perhaps an inch long) TO BURGLE THIS HOUSE." There is an arrow pointing down and to the side, which actually points at the dog.
action: Go west
response: As you approach the lawn of the house, the large dog raises its head to look at you and growls, softly but very communicatively. You decide discretion is the better part of valor and retreat.
action: You cut the fence
response: You'd need to cut the fence with something; you can't do it bare-handed.
action: You examine the sumac
response: You can see the tops of a few trees over the top of the fence. Their leaves are greenish red, waving out of reach in the slight breeze.
action: You put knife in the pack
response: You put the lockblade knife into the backpack.
action: You go to the west
response: You can go east to Primrose & Cedar and down through the Green Residential Station door (closed) to Green Residential Platform from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You descend
response: (first opening the Green Residential Station door)
The Door Scanner scans your iris to determine your identity. The Transit Security and Accounting Subroutine determines that you have a legitimate account with the Transit system, and the doors slide smoothly open.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go east through the Green Residential Station door to Green Residential Station from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: Go west
response: A barrier fence with closed autodoors blocks your way.
action: You wait for Transit
response: Warning lights along the platform edge begin to blink rapidly. A light grows in the tunnel. With a deep moan and gust of wind, an express Transit Capsule blasts through Green Residential and vanishes into the darkness once more.

A light grows in the tunnel. With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Residential Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You go to the west
response: You enter the Transit capsule.

A fifty-person maglev Transit capsule. You're standing, holding on to a strap. Through the windows you can see the Green Residential Platform.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

A tiny surveillance camera you're sure you didn't see before swivels to follow you.
action: You examine Surveillance
response: Which do you mean, the surveillance cameras or the Public Surveillance Notice?
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.

Time passes.

Time passes.
action: Go north
response: You exit the Transit Capsule.

Green Service One's platform is underground. It serves mostly city workers during the day. There is an exit at the center of the platform which leads north through a set of closed automatic doors to a stairway leading up to the main station, just next to a large plaque with the name of the station on it. The platform abuts the Transit web to the south, where a Transit capsule hovers impatiently in the web. The capsule doors are open.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go north through the Green Service Station door (closed) to Green Service Station from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You go to the north
response: (first opening the Green Service Station door)

You can go north to Government Square South and down through the Green Service Station door to Green Service Platform from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: Go north
response: The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go north to Government Square North, northeast to Hospital Entrance, northwest to Police Station Steps, south to Green Service Station, and east to Hospital Driveway from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go northwest
response: The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go southeast to Government Square South, east to Government Square North, and west to the Front Desk from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go west
response: You can see Sergeant Ramirez here.

You can go south to Booking and east to Police Station Steps from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go south
response: You can see an ID camera here.

You can go north to the Front Desk from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You put the memory chip ini d camera
response: You put the blank memory chip into the film slot.
action: You get the camera
response: (the ID camera)
The camera is chained down securely.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
a tag remover
a receive chip
a pager (open but empty)
a backpack (being worn, and open)
a lockblade knife
a lost camera
a drop message
a safety limiter
a soldering iron
a laptop
some solder
a car key
a thermos (open but empty)
a cotter pin
a multitool
a watch (being worn)
action: You cut the chain with the car key
response: That seems to be a part of the ID camera.

Taken.

Cutting that would achieve little.
action: You ask Ramirez aboutthe i d camera
response: "Yeah, yeah, you and everybody else…"
action: You tell Ramirez about the drug activity
response: Sergeant Ramirez snorts. "Did you actually witness drug trafficking?" he asks. When you shake your head, he sighs theatrically and goes back to his paperwork.
action: Yes
response: cheapglulxe quit with exit status: 0
action: Go north
response: The gate is securely locked.
action: You examine the gate
response: A scarred metal security gate of bars and mesh. A bare hallway is visible trough it. It is locked.
action: You go east
response: The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go southeast to Government Square South, east to Government Square North, and west to the Front Desk from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go south
response: You can go north to Government Square South and down through the Green Service Station door (closed) to Green Service Platform from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go downward
response: (first opening the Green Service Station door)

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go north through the Green Service Station door to Green Service Station from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: Go south
response: You enter the Transit capsule.

A fifty-person maglev Transit capsule. You're standing, holding on to a strap. Through the windows you can see the Green Service Platform.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

A nearby commuter's handheld begins beeping loudly. She hurriedly shuts it off.

Time passes.

Time passes.

With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Reserve Bank Station and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
Time passes.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You wait for a while
response: Time passes.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

Time passes.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.

Time passes.

Time passes.
action: Go south
response: (first opening the Green Commercial Station door)

You can go south to Green Commercial Plaza North and down through the Green Commercial Station door to Green Commercial Platform from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You go to the south
response: The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Station, south to Green Commercial Plaza Center, southeast to The Proletariat Bar, southwest to Green Commercial Bistro Paris, east to NanoMart, and west to Metro Savings from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go southwest
response: You can see Officer Prescott and a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go northeast to Green Commercial Plaza North, southeast to Green Commercial Plaza South, east to Green Commercial Plaza Center, and west to Bistro Paris Restroom from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You examine Prescott
response: A normal-looking Metro Policeman, Prescott is wearing light patrol gear with his holobadge displaying his name and rank across his left breast. Every once in a while, the comm unit attached to his belt murmurs to him through his earpiece. At the moment, he's sitting at a table nursing a coffee.

Officer Prescott is carrying a flitterkey.
action: You get flitterkey
response: That seems to belong to Officer Prescott.
action: You look at the flitterkey
response: the flitterkey is a scuffed, hardened ballistic plastic transponder.
action: You describe your surroundings
response: This is a branch of the popular lunch and coffee shop Bistro Paris. There are a few tables near the front. A restroom is to the west. On the north wall, opposite the counter, is a collection of Paris-themed prints. In the center is a large holoportrait of the chain's owner, Zuzu, and a sign claiming that the Bistro Paris has restaurants here, in the Reserve Bank Spacescraper, and in London. A server behind the counter is waiting on several customers.

You can see Officer Prescott and a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go northeast to Green Commercial Plaza North, southeast to Green Commercial Plaza South, east to Green Commercial Plaza Center, and west to Bistro Paris Restroom from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You get the holoportrait
response: That's hardly portable.
action: You examine the holoportrait
response: This portrait is somewhat horribly overdone. In it, Zuzu's face, in three-quarter profile, floats in front of what appears to be this very restaurant. Her face is so large and detailed that you're sure they had to edit out her pores, although they probably left her bright green eye unretouched.
action: You examine the camera
response: A cheap piece of integral electronics, made cheaper by the fact that any portable or phone has a perfectly good camera in it. It has a built-in flash, and is typically linked to a cell phone or other handheld for displaying and storing photos. This camera has been cracked open, revealing its internal electronics. A capacitor (for the flash unit) and battery are available, as are numerous circuit connection points.
action: You take the picture
response: What do you want to take picture of?
action: You take the picture of the holoportrait
response: What do you want to take picture of the portrait with?
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a car key
a tag remover
a receive chip
a pager (open but empty)
a backpack (being worn, and open)
a lockblade knife
a lost camera
a drop message
a safety limiter
a soldering iron
a laptop
some solder
a thermos (open but empty)
a cotter pin
a multitool
a watch (being worn)
action: You connect the pager with the camera
response: (first taking the lost camera)
The pager won't attach to the lost camera.
action: You look at the pager
response: It looks like a pretty old-school radio pager. It also looks like it isn't working; the display is fogged over, there are no lights on it, and one of the two buttons on the front is missing. There is a small sliding panel on the back, which is open.
action: You go to the east
response: The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Plaza North, northeast to NanoMart, northwest to Metro Savings, south to Green Commercial Plaza South, southeast to Accessorize, east to The Proletariat Bar, and west to Green Commercial Bistro Paris from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go south
response: The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

A parked police flitter, armored and festooned with lights, looms here.

You can also see a trash can (closed) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Plaza Center, northeast to The Proletariat Bar, northwest to Green Commercial Bistro Paris, east to Accessorize, and west through the Garb-oh door (closed) to Garb-oh from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go west
response: (first opening the Garb-oh door)

On the racks are a brown pair of pants's antitheft tag, a blue pair of pants's antitheft tag, a blue jacket, a white shirt, a green shirt, a blue pair of pants, and a brown pair of pants.

The sales counter runs along the north side of the store.

You can also see the shopkeeper here.

You can go east through the Garb-oh door to Green Commercial Plaza South from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You go north
response: The shopkeeper blocks you again. You need a distraction.
action: You get the blue pair of the pants's the antitheft tag
response: (putting the pager into the backpack to make room)
Taken.
action: You cut the blue pair of the pants's the antitheft tag
response: You'd need to cut the blue pair of pants's antitheft tag with something; you can't do it bare-handed.
action: You cut blue pair of the pants's antitheft tag with the knife
response: (putting the receive chip into the backpack to make room)
Taken.

You carefully cut open the tag with your knife and peel back the plastic to reveal a blank memory chip.

Security surveillance spots you openly carrying a weapon. Police rush in!
action: You put the blue pair of the pants's the antitheft tag on the racks
response: You put the blue pair of pants's antitheft tag on the racks.
action: You put the receive chip in the car key
response: You put the receive chip into the car key.

A PA system mumbles a message about an upcoming sale.
action: You look at the key
response: This "key" is really a small rubberized, sealed plastic transponder which automatically unlocks the car it is paired with when it is within range. You have no idea where the appropriate car might be, however. The plastic has been cut away from one end of the key, revealing two component slots.

In the car key is a receive chip.
action: You describe your surroundings
response: Garb-oh! is a trendy clothing shop. Images of the shop's icon Greta Garbo abound, each dressed in the clothing item offered on the rack below it. Jackets, scarves, bandannas, trousers, shirts and more are on inviting display.

On the racks are a blue jacket, a white shirt, a green shirt, a blue pair of pants, and a brown pair of pants.

The sales counter runs along the north side of the store.

You can also see the shopkeeper here.

You can go east through the Garb-oh door (closed) to Green Commercial Plaza South from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a blue pair of pants's antitheft tag
a brown pair of pants's antitheft tag
a blank memory chip
a tag remover
a receive chip
a pager (open but empty)
a backpack (being worn, and open)
a lost camera
a drop message
a safety limiter
a soldering iron
a lockblade knife
a laptop
some solder
a car key
a thermos (open but empty)
a cotter pin
a multitool
a watch (being worn)
action: You put the blue on the rack
response: (the blue pair of pants's antitheft tag on the racks)
You put the blue pair of pants's antitheft tag on the racks.
action: You put the brown on the rack
response: (the brown pair of pants's antitheft tag on the racks)
You put the brown pair of pants's antitheft tag on the racks.
action: You put Memory in the car key
response: You put the blank memory chip into the car key.
action: You put the receive in the car key
response: You put the receive chip into the car key.
action: You look at the key
response: This "key" is really a small rubberized, sealed plastic transponder which automatically unlocks the car it is paired with when it is within range. You have no idea where the appropriate car might be, however. The plastic has been cut away from one end of the key, revealing two component slots.

In the car key are a receive chip and a blank memory chip.
action: You examine receive
response: This is a receive chip - a small solid-state radio about the size of a coin. These can be found in most portable electronics that need to receive distant broadcasts, able to pull in signals from beyond a few meters. There are leads on the chip for connecting data lines and a power source.
action: Solder receive to Memory
response: (first taking the receive chip)
(first taking the blank memory chip)
The contents of that memory chip aren't very useful.
action: You look around
response: Garb-oh! is a trendy clothing shop. Images of the shop's icon Greta Garbo abound, each dressed in the clothing item offered on the rack below it. Jackets, scarves, bandannas, trousers, shirts and more are on inviting display.

On the racks are a brown pair of pants's antitheft tag, a blue pair of pants's antitheft tag, a blue jacket, a white shirt, a green shirt, a blue pair of pants, and a brown pair of pants.

The sales counter runs along the north side of the store.

You can also see the shopkeeper here.

You can go east through the Garb-oh door (closed) to Green Commercial Plaza South from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go to the east
response: (first opening the Garb-oh door)

The southern end of the Green Commercial Plaza, which continues to the north. To the east is Accessorize, a fashion store, and to the west is Garb-oh, a trendy clothing shop. The south end of the mall is closed off by an elaborate landscaping installation of trees and shrubs, presumably to hide a relatively ugly building behind it.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see a trash can (closed) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Plaza Center, northeast to The Proletariat Bar, northwest to Green Commercial Bistro Paris, east to Accessorize, and west through the Garb-oh door to Garb-oh from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You go to the north-west
response: This is a branch of the popular lunch and coffee shop Bistro Paris. There are a few tables near the front. A restroom is to the west. On the north wall, opposite the counter, is a collection of Paris-themed prints. In the center is a large holoportrait of the chain's owner, Zuzu, and a sign claiming that the Bistro Paris has restaurants here, in the Reserve Bank Spacescraper, and in London. A server behind the counter is waiting on several customers.

You can see a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go northeast to Green Commercial Plaza North, southeast to Green Commercial Plaza South, east to Green Commercial Plaza Center, and west to Bistro Paris Restroom from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go west
response: (first opening the Garb-oh door)

Garb-oh! is a trendy clothing shop. Images of the shop's icon Greta Garbo abound, each dressed in the clothing item offered on the rack below it. Jackets, scarves, bandannas, trousers, shirts and more are on inviting display.

On the racks are a brown pair of pants's antitheft tag, a blue pair of pants's antitheft tag, a blue jacket, a white shirt, a green shirt, a blue pair of pants, and a brown pair of pants.

The sales counter runs along the north side of the store.

You can also see the shopkeeper here.

You can go east through the Garb-oh door to Green Commercial Plaza South from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: Go east
response: The Proletariat is a local bar (not a pub). It's just far enough above a "dive" to be allowed zoning here, but steadfastedly refuses to cater to upscale tastes. You like it. Restrooms are to the east; the bar runs along the north side with a stolid bartender behind it and a jukebox sits against the back wall. A few hardy drinkers sit here, communing with their spirits. In a nod to the place's name, a Public Surveillance Notice covered with stickers and graffiti tags has been framed above the bar.

You barely recognize the Muzak as something that was once punk.

You can see a Bartender and Roberto Velez here.

You can go northwest to Green Commercial Plaza North, southwest to Green Commercial Plaza South, east to Proletariat Restroom, and west to Green Commercial Plaza Center from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

Roberto shuffles his feet.
action: You ask Roberto about the drugs
response: (Roberto Velez about that)
Roberto looks at you curiously. You have a sneaking suspicion his English is not very good.
action: You examine roberto
response: (Roberto Velez)
A medium-height man of middle age and dark but somewhat pasty-looking skin. His hair, black and cut short, is just beginning to grey at the temples. His hands are rough and callused. He is wearing work shoes and dark blue trousers, slightly scuffed. He is wearing a dark blue trade uniform jacket with a long narrow gash at the left shoulder and his name (Roberto Velez) on a tag clipped to the breast.

Roberto Velez is empty-handed.
action: You look at the tag
response: This is a combination antitheft tag remover and wirecutter, useful for removing antitheft tags or pesky labels from products.
action: You go south
response: You can see an ID camera here.

You can go north to the Front Desk from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You cut the chain with the tag remover
response: Looking around to check for watchers, you snip through the ID camera security chain with the tag remover!
action: You get the camera
response: (the ID camera)
Taken.
action: You examine it
response: A battered but serviceable device, this is a high resolution holocamera used by the police for recording suspects" identities. It can either record to a local server if one is available, or to a standard Memory chip placed in its memory slot.. Although it was once chained down, the chain seems to have been cut; a broken piece hangs off the camera.
action: You put the memory chip in the slot
response: (the film slot)
There is no more room in the film slot.
action: You look at the slot
response: (the film slot)
A slot for a standard Memory chip. A chip is currently in the slot.

In the film slot is a blank memory chip.
action: Go down
response: (first opening the Green Service Station door)

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go north through the Green Service Station door to Green Service Station from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You wait for Transit
response: A public address system reminds you to be alert and "if you see something, say something!"

Warning lights along the platform edge begin to blink rapidly. A light grows in the tunnel. With a deep moan and gust of wind, an express Transit Capsule blasts through Green Service One and vanishes into the darkness once more.

A busker puts down his cap and pulls out a flute. Before he gets more than a few notes out a pair of policemen hurry up and hustle him and his cap away out of sight.

A light grows in the tunnel. With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Service Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You wait awhile
response: Time passes.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.

Time passes.

Time passes.

Time passes.

With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Reserve Bank Station and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
action: You wait awhile
response: Time passes.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

Time passes.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

Time passes.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.

Time passes.

Time passes.
action: You wait
response: Time passes.

With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Commercial Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
Time passes.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You go south
response: You exit the Transit capsule.

Green Commercial One is one of the oldest stations on the Transit web. Although it has been refurbished several times, its age still manages to show through the layers of tile and paint. The platform opens out at the middle to a lobby area which is dominated by a row of automated doors to the south, which lead to stairways up to the main station. The flow of commuters moves steadily through these doors. The floor and walls are both extremely scuffed duramex nanotile, and the station name (Green Commercial One) is indicated on a large plaque set into the walls. The platform abuts the Transit web to the north, where a Transit capsule can be seen hovering. The capsule doors are open.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go south through the Green Commercial Station door (closed) to Green Commercial Station from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: Go south
response: (first opening the Green Commercial Station door)

You can go south to Green Commercial Plaza North and down through the Green Commercial Station door to Green Commercial Platform from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Station, south to Green Commercial Plaza Center, southeast to The Proletariat Bar, southwest to Green Commercial Bistro Paris, east to NanoMart, and west to Metro Savings from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go southwest
response: You can see a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go northeast to Green Commercial Plaza North, southeast to Green Commercial Plaza South, east to Green Commercial Plaza Center, and west to Bistro Paris Restroom from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You take the picture of the holoportrait withthe i d camera
response: The camera emits an artificial-sounding "CLICK" noise.
The disc icon flashes green, indicating that the image has been stored.
action: You go southeast
response: You can see a Lens Crafter here.

You can go northwest to Green Commercial Plaza Center and west to Green Commercial Plaza South from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You examine Lens Crafter
response: A floor-standing device used to produce custom-made cosmetic contact lenses (although for an extra fee, they can be made to a prescription). A A screen on the front presents a menu of options, or a Memory can be inserted into a slot with appropriate specifications.

The Lens Crafter is currently switched off.
action: You put Memory into slot
response: Which do you mean, the delivery slot, the data slot, the film slot, or the chipslot?
action: You put Memory into Lens Crafter
response: You put the photo memory chip into the data slot.
action: Switch lens crafter
response: The lens crafter machine's screen flashes red. A message reads "NO VALID SOURCE DATA AVAILABLE."
action: You press activate
response: Which do you mean, the Lens Crafter's activate button or the soldering iron's activate button?
action: You put the laptop in the backpack
response: You put the laptop into the backpack.
action: You look at Memory
response: This is a standard Memory chip- a small solid-state data storage device about the size of a coin. Data can be stored to a Memory chip by most electronic devices and computers. This memory chip seems to contain image data.
action: You drop the laptop
response: Dropped.
action: Go west
response: The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

A parked police flitter, armored and festooned with lights, looms here.

You can also see a laptop and a trash can (closed) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Plaza Center, northeast to The Proletariat Bar, northwest to Green Commercial Bistro Paris, east to Accessorize, and west through the Garb-oh door (closed) to Garb-oh from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You examine the flitter
response: A Tesla-Fujiwara light aircraft, the police model of this particular flitter is upengined in order to carry armor and equipment. Seating four, this example has the full lighting array and riot pod of a crowd control vehicle. It is securely locked, and a slowly blinking light indicates that its locklarm is armed.
action: You get Memory
response: (putting the receive chip into the backpack to make room)
Taken.
action: You put Memory intothe i d camera
response: You put the photo memory chip into the film slot.
action: You go to the west
response: (first opening the Garb-oh door)

On the racks are a brown pair of pants's antitheft tag, a blue pair of pants's antitheft tag, a blue jacket, a white shirt, a green shirt, a blue pair of pants, and a brown pair of pants.

The sales counter runs along the north side of the store.

You can also see the shopkeeper here.

You can go east through the Garb-oh door to Green Commercial Plaza South from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A small group of people enter the store, look around, look at each other and file back out.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You go to the east
response: (first opening the Garb-oh door)

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

A parked police flitter, armored and festooned with lights, looms here.

You can also see a trash can (closed) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Plaza Center, northeast to The Proletariat Bar, northwest to Green Commercial Bistro Paris, east to Accessorize, and west through the Garb-oh door to Garb-oh from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: Go northwest
response: You can see Officer Prescott and a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go northeast to Green Commercial Plaza North, southeast to Green Commercial Plaza South, east to Green Commercial Plaza Center, and west to Bistro Paris Restroom from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You tell Prescott about the drugs
response: This provokes no reaction.

You hear a very quiet beep from somewhere you can't identify.
action: You examine the holoportrait
response: This is a branch of the popular lunch and coffee shop Bistro Paris. There are a few tables near the front. A restroom is to the west. On the north wall, opposite the counter, is a collection of Paris-themed prints. In the center is a large holoportrait of the chain's owner, Zuzu, and a sign claiming that the Bistro Paris has restaurants here, in the Reserve Bank Spacescraper, and in London. A server behind the counter is waiting on several customers.

You can see Officer Prescott and a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go northeast to Green Commercial Plaza North, southeast to Green Commercial Plaza South, east to Green Commercial Plaza Center, and west to Bistro Paris Restroom from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

This portrait is somewhat horribly overdone. In it, Zuzu's face, in three-quarter profile, floats in front of what appears to be this very restaurant. Her face is so large and detailed that you're sure they had to edit out her pores, although they probably left her bright green eye unretouched.
action: You look at the eye
response: Which do you mean, your eye, an eye, or Zuzu's eye?
action: You examine the zuzu's eyes
response: Zuzu's eye is bright emerald green, which is easy to see as she is looking wide-eyed into the camera.
action: You take picture of the zuzu's eye withi d camera
response: The camera emits an artificial-sounding "CLICK" noise.
The disc icon flashes green, indicating that the image has been stored.
action: You look at the camera
response: (the ID camera)
A battered but serviceable device, this is a high resolution holocamera used by the police for recording suspects" identities. It can either record to a local server if one is available, or to a standard Memory chip placed in its memory slot.. Although it was once chained down, the chain seems to have been cut; a broken piece hangs off the camera.
action: You go to the east
response: The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Plaza North, northeast to NanoMart, northwest to Metro Savings, south to Green Commercial Plaza South, southeast to Accessorize, east to The Proletariat Bar, and west to Green Commercial Bistro Paris from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Switch crafter
response: The lens crafter machine's screen flashes green. A message reads "SOURCE DATA ACCEPTED - COSTUME LENS SYNTHESIZED." The machine hisses slightly, and a sleeve descends around the lens case. When the sleeve retracts, the lens case is closed.
action: You get Lens
response: (the Lens Crafter)
That's fixed in place.
action: You open it
response: You open the lens case.
action: You examine the case
response: A small clear plastic cylinder, full of preservative liquid.

In the lens case is a contact lens.
action: You get the contact lens
response: (putting the tag remover into the backpack to make room)
Taken.
action: You wear it
response: You put on the contact lens.
action: You examine Lens
response: Which do you mean, the Lens Crafter, the Lens Crafter's activate button, the Lens Menu, the contact lens, or the lens case?
action: You examine the contact lens
response: While it's in your eye? That'd be a neat trick!
action: You look at Menu
response: The menu screen, locked,  displays a password prompt. You don't have the password.
action: Go downward
response: (first opening the Green Commercial Station door)

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go south through the Green Commercial Station door to Green Commercial Station from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You wait for Transit
response: A public address system reminds you to be alert and "if you see something, say something!"

A public address system reminds you to be alert and "if you see something, say something!"

A commuter walks by.

A light grows in the tunnel. With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Commercial Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You say something
response: (to the commuter)
Your words are lost as the commuter slips past you and continues on their way.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You wait awhile
response: Time passes.

A man nearby yawns.

Time passes.
action: Go outside
response: Green Residential's platform serves mostly residential commuters. There is an exit at the center of the platform which leads east through a set of closed automatic doors to a stairway leading up to the main station, just next to a large plaque with the name of the station on it. The platform abuts the Transit web to the west, where a Transit capsule hovers impatiently. The capsule doors are open.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go east through the Green Residential Station door (closed) to Green Residential Station from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: Go west
response: You enter the Transit capsule.

A fifty-person maglev Transit capsule. You're standing, holding on to a strap. Through the windows you can see the Green Residential Platform.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You go east
response: You exit the Transit capsule.

Green Residential's platform serves mostly residential commuters. There is an exit at the center of the platform which leads east through a set of closed automatic doors to a stairway leading up to the main station, just next to a large plaque with the name of the station on it. The platform abuts the Transit web to the west, where a Transit capsule hovers impatiently. The capsule doors are open.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go east through the Green Residential Station door (closed) to Green Residential Station from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.
action: You wait 10 minutes
response: A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.

A nearby commuter's handheld begins beeping loudly. She hurriedly shuts it off.

With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Service Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.

It is now 4:20 am.

With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Reserve Bank Station and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
action: You go to the west
response: You exit the Transit capsule.

The Reserve Bank Transit Station. The platform opens out at the middle to a lobby area which is dominated by a row of automated doors to the west. The flow of commuters moves steadily through these doors, with each person turning their head to the right as they approach for the eye scanner to verify their identity before opening the portal long enough for them to slip through. The floor and walls are both clean duramex nanotile, and the station name (Reserve Bank) is indicated on large plaques set into the walls. At either end of the platform, closed gates guard against any entry into the slideway tunnels. A platform abuts a Transit web, where a Transit capsule can be seen hovering. The capsule doors are open.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go west through the Reserve Bank Station door (closed) from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: Go west
response: (first opening the Reserve Bank Station door)
The Eye Scanner scans the iris printed on the contact lens to determine your identity. The Reserve Bank Security Subroutine determines that "you" have a legitimate reason to enter the Reserve Bank spacescraper, and the doors slide smoothly open.

The corridor widens as it terminates at the automatic doors to the Reserve Bank Station, which lies to the east. There is a directory and guide sign on the wall. Although traffic is overwhelmingly to the west, there are two doors reserved for traffic into the station, indicated by green lightbars overhead, whose access scanners are active.

You can see a directory here.

You can go east through the Reserve Bank Station door to Reserve Bank Station and west from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A tiny surveillance camera you're sure you didn't see before swivels to follow you.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You read the sign
response: A large sign mounted to the wall. It reads:
Green Line Transit: Basement Level
Food Court: Basement Level
Atrium: Main Lobby Level
Rooftop Bouncelift: Main Lobby Level
action: You go west
response: The center of the Food Court beneath the Reserve Bank spacescraper is a busy place at all times of the day. Around the periphery are several food stand franchises, some doing a brisk business. Hundreds of people are here waiting in line at the food stands, sitting at the dozens of tables in the center, or just passing through from the Reserve Bank Station to the Lift Lobby up a ramp to the west or vice versa. The floor is made of duramex tiles.

You can see a trash can (closed) here.

You can go north, northeast, northwest, south, southeast, southwest, east to Station Corridor, and west from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You look at the floor
response: The floor is made of duramex tiles, nondescript gray matte shedding scuff marks with the determination of the designed servant into nanogrout channels in between. During the short nighttime lull, the floor will seem to creep slightly as the nanogrout slowly flows the daytime grime along the channels to dispose of it into the walls.
action: You go southeast
response: The Sheep Look Up is a gyros restaurant, featuring small cartoon sheep heads looking imploringly up from the steam table behind the glass. Two surly employees are hard at work slicing gyros and constructing sandwiches and lunch platters for the several hungry customers who wait in line.

You can go north, northwest to Food Court, and west from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

You see a small red light in the corner of your vision which vanishes as you turn to look at it.
action: You look up
response: The ceiling is two levels up, peppered with DayBrite(™) lighting fixtures which make it difficult to see any detail through the glare.
action: Go north
response: I Have No Mouth (but Ice Cream) is a popular frozen dessert chain. Despite the somewhat disturbing corporate artwork and iconography, this counter offers a selection of solid flavors including Chocolate AMmond, PostApocalicks and We've All Gone Tutti-Frutti. Two scoopers behind the counter are smoothly dishing up cones and cups to a large crowd of midday sweet-seekers.

You can go south to The Sheep Look Up, southwest to Food Court, and west from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go west
response: Bistro Paris is a well-known faux French eatery offering somewhat soggy croissants and mediocre coffee alongside such wonders as coq au vin served in white styrofoam. Sadly, it appears that it does not sell wine, which might go some way towards relieving the disappointment any gourmand feels when faced with the prospect of eating here. There are two workers behind the counter serving a line of customers. A sign painted onto the counter reads "Try our Green Commercial One location!"

You can go south to Food Court, east to I Have No Mouth, and west from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go to the west
response: This corner of the food court is drab and uninhabited. A closed door marked "MAINTENANCE" lurks to the west, and another marked "RESTROOM" to the north. The floor and walls are scuffed around the door, no doubt from cleaning implements banging against them on their daily travels.

You can go north, south, southeast to Food Court, east to Reserve Bank Bistro Paris, and west through the Maintenance Door (closed) from here.
action: Go south
response: Apollo's Coffee is done up in fake Ancient Greek, as befits its name. Plastic busts and columns adorn its facade. For some reason, there is a silver robotic head behind the counter, mounted on the wall, where a red scanning laser moves monotonously back and forth.

You can go north to Maintenance Area, northeast to Food Court, and east from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You examine the head
response: Large and chromed silver, this robot's head looks like a large helmet with rudimentary features. Instead of eyes, a red band crosses the face, behind which a bright red light slowly moves back and forth.
action: You get the head
response: It's mounted high behind the counter.
action: Go east
response: Tacos Terriff is a bare-bones Mexicalitexazonan food joint. Meat product is scooped into grain-plastic shells and covered with various unidentifiable industrial sauces and shredded veggies. Despite this, it seems to have a dedicated following, as it is doing land-office business with the office set.

You can go north to Food Court, east to The Sheep Look Up, and west to Apollo's from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go north
response: You can see a trash can (closed) here.

You can go north to Reserve Bank Bistro Paris, northeast to I Have No Mouth, northwest to Maintenance Area, south to Tacos Terriff, southeast to The Sheep Look Up, southwest to Apollo's, east to Station Corridor, and west from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go to the west
response: (first opening the Maintenance Door)
The palm lock ignores you. The door remains firmly closed.
action: You examine Door
response: The maintenance closet is sealed by an autodoor. There is no eye  on this door, but a flat plate above the door handle indicates a palm scanner lock.
action: You put the palm on Scanner
response: (first taking your palm)

That seems to be a part of yourself.
You need to be holding your palm before you can put it on top of something else.
action: You go north
response: Bog-standard restroom. Several stalls offer a minimum of privacy. A large mirror covers the walls over the sink.

You can go south to Maintenance Area from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You examine the mirror
response: A wall-covering mirror over the sinks. The edges are covered in fingerprints, and you note that even the surveillance warning has not prevented a small scrawl of marker graffiti on the left edge.
action: You go to the south-east
response: You can see a trash can (closed) here.

You can go north to Reserve Bank Bistro Paris, northeast to I Have No Mouth, northwest to Maintenance Area, south to Tacos Terriff, southeast to The Sheep Look Up, southwest to Apollo's, east to Station Corridor, and west from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go west
response: The Lift Lobby controls underground access to the Reserve Bank spacescraper, beneath the towers of industry and capital made pillars of money and sin. Hundreds of people rush to and fro through the lobby on their way into or out of the building. To the north is a large bank of bouncelifts, their liftfields on and glowing faintly blue behind security gates. Access to the bouncelifts is controlled by Lift Scanners, set above and to the right of each bouncelift entry. There is no ceiling; several meters up, the room opens out into the street level lobby above. There is a railing around the perimeter of the floor above; several people are leaning against or over it, watching the flow of commuters below them and around you. The Atrium, a wide open area extending at least halfway up the spacescraper, is visible above that. There is no way to reach the street lobby from here other than via the bouncelifts. A shallow ramp leads east down to the Food Court.

You can hear the confused murmur of a large crowd coming from the Atrium above.

You can see a Powered Platform (on which is a spool) and the Security Guard here.

You can go east to Food Court and up from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You examine spool
response: A metal spool of what appears to be very strong cable, with a winding mechanism at its center. The mechanism is locked. There is a carabiner at the end of the cable, but it's locked into the spool. It is attached to the platform's winch frame with several locking clamps.
action: Unlock
response: What do you want to unlock?
action: Unlock winch
response: Which do you mean, the winch control or the winch control's activate button?
action: You press the activate button
response: Which do you mean, the winch control's activate button or the soldering iron's activate button?
action: Winch
response: You switch the winch control on.
action: Control
response: A simple control panel, used for winding or unwinding cables and thus raising or lowering the platform. It seems to be shut off. A keylock is set to "OFF."

The winch control is currently switched on.
action: You examine the keylock
response: It's a simple keyslot. It's set to "OFF."
action: You look at Guard
response: He's dressed in a standard security guard outfit. It appears his job is keep people from fiddling with the ashtrays or perhaps the fake plants.

The Security Guard is empty-handed.
action: You examine Platform
response: This is a platform with motorized winches resting near the south wall. Judging from the equipment locked to it, it is used to clean the walls and windows of the Atrium. A locked-down control winch control is at one end, and there is a safety railing around the edge.

On the Powered Platform is a spool.
action: You stand on Platform
response: Before you can step up onto it, the security guard rushes over and shoves you away from the platform, glaring at you.
action: You go to the north
response: The main bouncelifts are much more heavily secured than the public areas of the building. Your dead MitKlein prevents you from gaining access.
action: You go east
response: You can see a trash can (closed) here.

You can go north to Reserve Bank Bistro Paris, northeast to I Have No Mouth, northwest to Maintenance Area, south to Tacos Terriff, southeast to The Sheep Look Up, southwest to Apollo's, east to Station Corridor, and west to Lift Lobby from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go east
response: You can see a directory here.

You can go east through the Reserve Bank Station door (closed) to Reserve Bank Station and west to Food Court from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go east
response: (first opening the Reserve Bank Station door)
The Eye Scanner probes your eye and deducts Transit fare from the account associated with your iris pattern.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go west through the Reserve Bank Station door to Station Corridor from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A commuter walks by.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You go east
response: A barrier fence with closed autodoors blocks your way.
action: You wait for Transit
response: Warning lights along the platform edge begin to blink rapidly. A light grows in the tunnel. With a deep moan and gust of wind, an express Transit Capsule blasts through Reserve Bank and vanishes into the darkness once more.

A light grows in the tunnel. With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Reserve Bank Station and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You go to the east
response: You enter the Transit capsule.

A fifty-person maglev Transit capsule. You're standing, holding on to a strap. Through the windows you can see the Reserve Bank Station.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You wait 15 minutes
response: A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.

A nearby commuter's handheld begins beeping loudly. She hurriedly shuts it off.

Someone coughs.

With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Commercial Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.

You hear a very quiet beep from somewhere you can't identify.

Someone coughs.

With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Residential Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.

It is now 5:25 am.
action: You wait 5 minutes
response: With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Service Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.

It is now 5:30 am.
action: You wait 5 minutes
response: A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.

A nearby commuter's handheld begins beeping loudly. She hurriedly shuts it off.

It is now 5:37 am.
action: You wait 2 minutes
response: With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Commercial Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
It is now 5:39 am.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: Go outside
response: Green Commercial One is one of the oldest stations on the Transit web. Although it has been refurbished several times, its age still manages to show through the layers of tile and paint. The platform opens out at the middle to a lobby area which is dominated by a row of automated doors to the south, which lead to stairways up to the main station. The flow of commuters moves steadily through these doors. The floor and walls are both extremely scuffed duramex nanotile, and the station name (Green Commercial One) is indicated on a large plaque set into the walls. The platform abuts the Transit web to the north, where a Transit capsule can be seen hovering. The capsule doors are open.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go south through the Green Commercial Station door (closed) to Green Commercial Station from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: Go south
response: (first opening the Green Commercial Station door)

You can go south to Green Commercial Plaza North and down through the Green Commercial Station door to Green Commercial Platform from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: Go west
response: You can see an ATM here.

You can go southeast to Green Commercial Plaza Center and east to Green Commercial Plaza North from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You look at ATM
response: This is a standard ATM, using palm prints and Mit-Klein authentication to permit customers to perform banking transactions. A palm reader juts out from the front of the console.

The ATM is currently switched off.
action: You examine the palm reader
response: This is a standard palm reader, which is used to verify the identity of the ATM customer. A flat plate, slightly inset, it is placed at a convenient angle to allow the palm to lie against it. This one, however, has a broad crack in it across which someone has written "KAPUT" in black marker.
action: Palm
response: (your palm)
The tissue sample target is yourself
That's not made of tissue.
action: You cut atm with the knife
response: Taken.

Cutting that would achieve little.

Security surveillance spots you openly carrying a weapon. Police rush in!
action: You remove the reader
response: (first taking the palm reader)
That seems to be a part of the ATM.
action: You pull the reader
response: It is fixed in place.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a contact lens (being worn)
a lens case (open but empty)
a laptop
an ID camera
a car key
a backpack (being worn, and open)
a tag remover
a receive chip
a pager (open but empty)
a lockblade knife
a lost camera
a drop message
a safety limiter
a soldering iron
some solder
a thermos (open but empty)
a cotter pin
a multitool
a watch (being worn)
action: You examine the pin
response: A small steel pin made up of a length of wire doubled over on itself with a loop at one end.
action: You wait for Capsule
response: A light grows in the tunnel. With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Commercial Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

A commuter walks by.
action: You wait 3 minutes
response: A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.

It is now 6:07 am.
action: You go inside
response: A fifty-person maglev Transit capsule. You're standing, holding on to a strap. Through the windows you can see the Green Residential Platform.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You wait 3 minutes
response: A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.

It is now 6:13 am.

You hear a very quiet beep from somewhere you can't identify.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

The capsule shudders as it passes a junction in the Web.

With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Service Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
action: Go outside
response: Green Service One's platform is underground. It serves mostly city workers during the day. There is an exit at the center of the platform which leads north through a set of closed automatic doors to a stairway leading up to the main station, just next to a large plaque with the name of the station on it. The platform abuts the Transit web to the south, where a Transit capsule hovers impatiently in the web. The capsule doors are open.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go north through the Green Service Station door (closed) to Green Service Station from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You go to the north
response: (first opening the Green Service Station door)

You can go north to Government Square South and down through the Green Service Station door to Green Service Platform from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: Go east
response: The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

An ambulance, a bulky flittervan with emergency markings, is parked here.

You can go north to Hospital Entrance, northwest to Government Square North, east through the ER door (closed) to Triage, and west to Government Square South from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You look at the ambulance
response: This aerovan is probably a Geely-Ford/Fujiwara product underneath, but has all manner of emergency lights and markings on it, including a large set of red crosses. It has a double door in the back along with the two main cab entry doors. It is dark and powered down but securely locked, and a slowly blinking light indicates that its locklarm is armed.
action: Open ambulance
response: As you reach for the door handle, the locklarm begins to strobe and an ominous beeping begins. You decide not to risk it.
action: You go east
response: (first opening the ER door)

You can go north to Hospital Lobby, east to the Emergency Room, and west through the ER door to Hospital Driveway from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: Go east
response: You can see a tissue generator here.

You can go north to Hospital Elevators and west to Triage from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go to the west
response: You can go north to Hospital Lobby, east to the Emergency Room, and west through the ER door (closed) to Hospital Driveway from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go north
response: You can go north to Hospital Lounge, south to Triage, east to Hospital Elevators, and west through the Hospital door (closed) to Hospital Entrance from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Look around
response: This is the main entrance to a busy regional hospital. Autodoors lie to the west. Patients and staff rush back and forth, all too busy to pay you any attention. To the south is an archway with a sign reading "TRIAGE"; to the east is the elevator core and to the north is the waiting lounge.

You can go north to Hospital Lounge, south to Triage, east to Hospital Elevators, and west through the Hospital door (closed) to Hospital Entrance from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go east
response: You can go south to the Emergency Room, east to Hospital Restroom, and west to Hospital Lobby from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You look at your surroundings
response: The main elevator bank for the hospital seems to require either an appropriate Mit-Klein scan or a hospital ID to swipe. Patients and staff move through the area. The lobby is to the west. The ER is through a door to the south, and a restroom is to the east.

You can go south to the Emergency Room, east to Hospital Restroom, and west to Hospital Lobby from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go north
response: You can go south to Hospital Lobby and east to the Hospital Lab from here.
action: You go east
response: You can see a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go west to Hospital Lounge from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Look around
response: This is an all-purpose pathology laboratory receiving area. The lab itself is behind a bulletproof glass wall to the east, and a small window allows samples or paperwork to be passed back and forth.

You can see a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go west to Hospital Lounge from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go west
response: (first opening the Hospital door)

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go south to Hospital Driveway, southwest to Government Square South, east through the Hospital door to Hospital Lobby, and west to Government Square North from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: Describe the surroundings
response: This is the front entryway pavilion of the local hospital. The automatic entryway doors are to the east, and the ER entrance and driveway is to the south.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go south to Hospital Driveway, southwest to Government Square South, east through the Hospital door (closed) to Hospital Lobby, and west to Government Square North from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go west
response: The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go north to Civil Center Steps, south to Government Square South, southeast to Hospital Driveway, east to Hospital Entrance, and west to Police Station Steps from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go to the east
response: The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go south to Hospital Driveway, southwest to Government Square South, east through the Hospital door (closed) to Hospital Lobby, and west to Government Square North from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go south
response: The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

An ambulance, a bulky flittervan with emergency markings, is parked here.

You can go north to Hospital Entrance, northwest to Government Square North, east through the ER door (closed) to Triage, and west to Government Square South from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go west
response: (first opening the ER door)

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

An ambulance, a bulky flittervan with emergency markings, is parked here.

You can go north to Hospital Entrance, northwest to Government Square North, east through the ER door to Triage, and west to Government Square South from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You go to the east
response: (first opening the ER door)

You can go north to Hospital Lobby, east to the Emergency Room, and west through the ER door to Hospital Driveway from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

You hear a very quiet beep from somewhere you can't identify.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: Go east
response: You can see a tissue generator here.

You can go north to Hospital Elevators and west to Triage from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You look at the generator
response: (the tissue generator)
This is a medium-sized appliance found in most modern hospitals. It is used to provide artificial tissue for grafting into or onto injuries. In order to prevent rejection, the tissue generator must be given a complete scan of the patient's tissue, from which it will (by default) produce an exact duplicate of the scanned sample. It has a button marked ACTIVATE. There is a slot on the front of the machine labeled INSERT CRYOPACK FOR SAMPLE where, presumably, the generated tissue is delivered; there is a smaller opening labeled FEED and there is a slot labeled READ where a tissue sampler can be inserted.
There is a cryopack in the sample slot. The feed slot contains biogen feedstock.

The tissue generator is currently switched off.
action: You examine it
response: This is a small cube of material which resembles freeze-dried beef.
It is a standard supply unit for biotech synthesizers.
action: Examine read
response: A slot where a standard medical tissue sampler plate can be inserted and read.
action: You go to the west
response: You can go north to Hospital Lobby, east to the Emergency Room, and west through the ER door (closed) to Hospital Driveway from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You wait for Transit
response: Warning lights along the platform edge begin to blink rapidly. A light grows in the tunnel. With a deep moan and gust of wind, an express Transit Capsule blasts through Green Service One and vanishes into the darkness once more.

You see a small mouse scurry along the Transit Web and vanish back into the tunnels.

Warning lights along the platform edge begin to blink rapidly. A light grows in the tunnel. With a deep moan and gust of wind, an express Transit Capsule blasts through Green Service One and vanishes into the darkness once more.

A public address system reminds you to be alert and "if you see something, say something!"

A light grows in the tunnel. With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Service Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You wait 11 minutes
response: A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.

With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Reserve Bank Station and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.

With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Commercial Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
It is now 7:15 am.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You go east
response: You can go southwest to Green Commercial Plaza Center and west to Green Commercial Plaza North from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go east
response: You can see a Bartender here.

You can go northwest to Green Commercial Plaza North, southwest to Green Commercial Plaza South, east to Proletariat Restroom, and west to Green Commercial Plaza Center from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You ask Bartender about Roberto
response: (the Bartender about that)
The bartender looks up. "He comes in here most afternoons around three. Works the early shift at the Bank."
action: You ask Bartender about the tissue sampler
response: (the Bartender about that)
The bartender seems to be ignoring you.
action: You ask Bartender about the beer
response: (the Bartender about that)
The bartender cocks his head as you speak, then shakes his head eloquently. Looks like he doesn't have anything to say.
action: You ask Bartender about Prescott
response: (the Bartender about that)
The bartender looks at you briefly before  shrugging and returning his attention to the glass.
action: You look at the glass
response: A slightly dirty standard bar drink holder.
action: You get the glass
response: That seems to belong to the Bartender.
action: Go west
response: The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Plaza North, northeast to NanoMart, northwest to Metro Savings, south to Green Commercial Plaza South, southeast to Accessorize, east to The Proletariat Bar, and west to Green Commercial Bistro Paris from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go to the west
response: You can see Officer Prescott and a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go northeast to Green Commercial Plaza North, southeast to Green Commercial Plaza South, east to Green Commercial Plaza Center, and west to Bistro Paris Restroom from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: No
response: What should I do?
What do I do at the Reserve Bank?
How do I get into the Maintenance Closet?
How do I get to the Reserve Bank Atrium?
How do I get into vehicles?
1/8: Your goal is to escape the city.

Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint.
action: Go downwards
response: (first opening the Green Commercial Station door)

Green Commercial One is one of the oldest stations on the Transit web. Although it has been refurbished several times, its age still manages to show through the layers of tile and paint. The platform opens out at the middle to a lobby area which is dominated by a row of automated doors to the south, which lead to stairways up to the main station. The flow of commuters moves steadily through these doors. The floor and walls are both extremely scuffed duramex nanotile, and the station name (Green Commercial One) is indicated on a large plaque set into the walls. The platform abuts the Transit web to the north, now empty.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go south through the Green Commercial Station door to Green Commercial Station from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.

A light grows in the tunnel. With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Commercial Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
action: You examine the walls
response: Metal, perhaps a meter by five meters, the plaque reads "Green Commercial One" in standard Transit Helvetica font.
action: Go north
response: You enter the Transit capsule.

A fifty-person maglev Transit capsule. You're standing, holding on to a strap. Through the windows you can see the Green Commercial Platform.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You wait five minutes
response: A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.

It is now 7:44 am.

With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Residential Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
action: You go to the east
response: You exit the Transit capsule.

Green Residential's platform serves mostly residential commuters. There is an exit at the center of the platform which leads east through a set of closed automatic doors to a stairway leading up to the main station, just next to a large plaque with the name of the station on it. The platform abuts the Transit web to the west, where a Transit capsule hovers impatiently. The capsule doors are open.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go east through the Green Residential Station door (closed) to Green Residential Station from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You go east
response: (first opening the Green Residential Station door)
The Eye Scanner laser delicately probes your iris, and the doors slide smoothly open.

This is a utilitarian shelter intended mostly to keep the rain out of the Transit System. A stairway leads down to the autodoor leading to the Transit platform and an exit leads east to the street.

You can go east to Primrose & Cedar and down through the Green Residential Station door to Green Residential Platform from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You go east
response: This staid neighborhood intersection of Primrose Lane and Cedar Street fronts the local Transit station, Green Residential. The station entrance is to the west. Primrose Lane continues to the south, and Cedar Street continues to the east.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go north to Green Residential Park, south to South Primrose Lane, east to East Cedar Street, and west to Green Residential Station from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

You hear a very quiet beep from somewhere you can't identify.
action: Go south
response: Primrose Lane continues to the north. To the south is a boarded-up empty house; sumac plants can be seen peeking over the top of the dilapidated fencing. The fence has a plastic tarp strung behind it which prevents you from seeing much of the house. To the west is a single-family home with a large warning sign and an enormous dog on the front lawn. To the east is a three-family residence's front path.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go north to Primrose & Cedar and east to Front Path from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Hint
response: What should I do?
What do I do at the Reserve Bank?
How do I get into the Maintenance Closet?
How do I get to the Reserve Bank Atrium?
How do I get into vehicles?
1/8: Your goal is to escape the city.

2/8: Have you received and read your SMS messages?

3/8: Have you gotten out of Green Residential?

4/8: Have you found your drop message of instructions?

5/8: Have you found a way into the Spacescraper?

6/8: Have you found a way through that suspicious fence in South Primrose Lane?

Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint.
action: Go north
response: What should I do?
> What do I do at the Reserve Bank?
How do I get into the Maintenance Closet?
How do I get to the Reserve Bank Atrium?
How do I get into vehicles?
action: You go north
response: What should I do?
What do I do at the Reserve Bank?
> How do I get into the Maintenance Closet?
How do I get to the Reserve Bank Atrium?
How do I get into vehicles?
action: You go north
response: What should I do?
What do I do at the Reserve Bank?
How do I get into the Maintenance Closet?
> How do I get to the Reserve Bank Atrium?
How do I get into vehicles?
action: Go north
response: What should I do?
What do I do at the Reserve Bank?
How do I get into the Maintenance Closet?
How do I get to the Reserve Bank Atrium?
> How do I get into vehicles?
action: Go north
response: What should I do?
What do I do at the Reserve Bank?
How do I get into the Maintenance Closet?
How do I get to the Reserve Bank Atrium?
> How do I get into vehicles?
1/8: To gain access to a vehicle, you need its key.

Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint.
What should I do?
What do I do at the Reserve Bank?
How do I get into the Maintenance Closet?
How do I get to the Reserve Bank Atrium?
> How do I get into vehicles?
1/8: To gain access to a vehicle, you need its key.

Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint.
action: You go to the east
response: This front path is paved with cracked flagstones. Primrose Lane is to the west, a three-family building is to the east, and the building's side yard is to the northeast.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go northeast to Side Yard, east through the House door (closed) to Front Lobby, and west to South Primrose Lane from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go east
response: (first opening the House door)

The slightly shabby front lobby of this multi-family building. A door leads outside to the west, gated stairs leading up to the upper two floors are to the east, and an apartment door is to the south.

A small post-it note is stuck to the door of Apartment 1.

You can also see a newspaper and a pamphlet here.

You can go south through the Apartment door to Entry and west through the House door to Front Path from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: Examine newspaper
response: The local newspaper, printed on plasfax. Some retro individuals still prefer to hold their news in their hands.

[If you want to read the newspaper (as opposed to just looking at it) try READ NEWSPAPER.]
action: You read it
response: Today's front-page headline is: Homeland Security convention to be held this week at the Reserve Bank Spacescraper. "The best and
the brightest of the various Homeland Security agencies will meet in the Reserve Bank Atrium this week to receive presentations on new security initiatives and to discuss the state of the art in security technology."

The next headline reads: Soldiers begin to experience
breakdowns.
The story itself continues: "The parents of several deployed American military personnel have raised concerns that their children appear to be losing touch with reality. Government refutes these claims with statistics showing that 97.2 percent of deployed American service personnel are safely medicated." At the bottom, a small postscript reads Would you like to know more? [LINK]

Reading the story about the Homeland Security convention, the thought of all those Homeland Security drones in one place makes you grind your teeth. Then, however, a vision of all those heavily-secured workers with dead MitKlein bottles replaces it, and you have some difficulty wiping the resulting smile from your face. If only...
action: You get all
response: newspaper: Taken.
pamphlet: (putting the car key into the backpack to make room)
Taken.
post-it: (putting the ID camera into the backpack to make room)
Taken.
action: You look at the postthe -the it
response: A short scribble, which reads "The techs were by to turn off your water. Have a nice vacation!"
action: You examine the PAMPHLET
response: A pamphlet is from the Department of Homeland Security.

[If you want to read the pamphlet (as opposed to just looking at it) try READ PAMPHLET.]
action: Hint
response: What should I do?
What do I do at the Reserve Bank?
How do I get into the Maintenance Closet?
How do I get to the Reserve Bank Atrium?
How do I get into vehicles?
action: Go north
response: What should I do?
> What do I do at the Reserve Bank?
How do I get into the Maintenance Closet?
How do I get to the Reserve Bank Atrium?
How do I get into vehicles?
1/11: If you've gotten this far, your MitKlein is disabled. Being the only one with such is very dangerous.

2/11: What if other citizens" MitKleins were dead as well?

3/11: The newspaper should tell you why the Reserve Bank is important.

Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint.
action: You go to the west
response: (first opening the House door)

This front path is paved with cracked flagstones. Primrose Lane is to the west, a three-family building is to the east, and the building's side yard is to the northeast.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go northeast to Side Yard, east through the House door to Front Lobby, and west to South Primrose Lane from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You go north
response: This staid neighborhood intersection of Primrose Lane and Cedar Street fronts the local Transit station, Green Residential. The station entrance is to the west. Primrose Lane continues to the south, and Cedar Street continues to the east.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can go north to Green Residential Park, south to South Primrose Lane, east to East Cedar Street, and west to Green Residential Station from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go west
response: This is a utilitarian shelter intended mostly to keep the rain out of the Transit System. A stairway leads down to the autodoor leading to the Transit platform and an exit leads east to the street.

You can go east to Primrose & Cedar and down through the Green Residential Station door (closed) to Green Residential Platform from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go downwards
response: (first opening the Green Residential Station door)
The Door Scanner scans your iris to determine your identity. The Transit Security and Accounting Subroutine determines that you have a legitimate account with the Transit system, and the doors slide smoothly open.

Green Residential's platform serves mostly residential commuters. There is an exit at the center of the platform which leads east through a set of closed automatic doors to a stairway leading up to the main station, just next to a large plaque with the name of the station on it. The platform abuts the Transit web to the west, now empty.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go east through the Green Residential Station door to Green Residential Station from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

A police officer strolls through the area, giving you a suspicious look before moving on.
action: You wait for Transit
response: A tiny surveillance camera you're sure you didn't see before swivels to follow you.

Warning lights along the platform edge begin to blink rapidly. A light grows in the tunnel. With a deep moan and gust of wind, an express Transit Capsule blasts through Green Residential and vanishes into the darkness once more.

A light grows in the tunnel. With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Residential Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You wait 10 minutes
response: A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.

A shabbily-dressed man wanders up to you. He appears to be about to ask you for something, but then he catches a look at your eyes and instead wanders away again.

With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Service Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.

It is now 8:20 am.

With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Reserve Bank Station and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
action: Go west
response: You exit the Transit capsule.

The Reserve Bank Transit Station. The platform opens out at the middle to a lobby area which is dominated by a row of automated doors to the west. The flow of commuters moves steadily through these doors, with each person turning their head to the right as they approach for the eye scanner to verify their identity before opening the portal long enough for them to slip through. The floor and walls are both clean duramex nanotile, and the station name (Reserve Bank) is indicated on large plaques set into the walls. At either end of the platform, closed gates guard against any entry into the slideway tunnels. A platform abuts a Transit web, where a Transit capsule can be seen hovering. The capsule doors are open.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go west through the Reserve Bank Station door (closed) to Station Corridor from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: Go west
response: (first opening the Reserve Bank Station door)
The Eye Scanner scans the iris printed on the contact lens to determine your identity. The Reserve Bank Security Subroutine determines that "you" have a legitimate reason to enter the Reserve Bank spacescraper, and the doors slide smoothly open.

The corridor widens as it terminates at the automatic doors to the Reserve Bank Station, which lies to the east. There is a directory and guide sign on the wall. Although traffic is overwhelmingly to the west, there are two doors reserved for traffic into the station, indicated by green lightbars overhead, whose access scanners are active.

You can see a directory here.

You can go east through the Reserve Bank Station door to Reserve Bank Station and west to Food Court from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You go west
response: The center of the Food Court beneath the Reserve Bank spacescraper is a busy place at all times of the day. Around the periphery are several food stand franchises, some doing a brisk business. Hundreds of people are here waiting in line at the food stands, sitting at the dozens of tables in the center, or just passing through from the Reserve Bank Station to the Lift Lobby up a ramp to the west or vice versa. The floor is made of duramex tiles.

You can see a trash can (closed) here.

You can go north to Reserve Bank Bistro Paris, northeast to I Have No Mouth, northwest to Maintenance Area, south to Tacos Terriff, southeast to The Sheep Look Up, southwest to Apollo's, east to Station Corridor, and west to Lift Lobby from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You talk to Guard
response: To start a conversation, try to ASK the Security Guard ABOUT something or TELL the Security Guard ABOUT something.
action: You look at Guard
response: He's dressed in a standard security guard outfit. It appears his job is keep people from fiddling with the ashtrays or perhaps the fake plants.

The Security Guard is empty-handed.
action: You switch the winch control off
response: You switch the winch control off.
action: You examine the control
response: A simple control panel, used for winding or unwinding cables and thus raising or lowering the platform. It seems to be shut off. A keylock is set to "OFF."

The winch control is currently switched off.
action: You put the key in the slot
response: (the film slot)
That won't fit.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a post-it
a pamphlet
a newspaper
a contact lens (being worn)
a lens case (open but empty)
a laptop
a backpack (being worn, and open)
an ID camera
a car key
a tag remover
a receive chip
a pager (open but empty)
a lockblade knife
a lost camera
a drop message
a safety limiter
a soldering iron
some solder
a thermos (open but empty)
a cotter pin
a multitool
a watch (being worn)
action: Hint
response: What should I do?
What do I do at the Reserve Bank?
How do I get into the Maintenance Closet?
How do I get to the Reserve Bank Atrium?
How do I get into vehicles?
action: Go north
response: What should I do?
> What do I do at the Reserve Bank?
How do I get into the Maintenance Closet?
How do I get to the Reserve Bank Atrium?
How do I get into vehicles?
action: Go north
response: What should I do?
What do I do at the Reserve Bank?
> How do I get into the Maintenance Closet?
How do I get to the Reserve Bank Atrium?
How do I get into vehicles?
1/14: Only authorized personnel can enter the maintenance closet.

2/14: You'll need to find someone who is allowed to enter the closet.

3/14: Oh, and you'll need to find a way to convince the door's palm lock that you are, in fact, them.

4/14: Remember the contact lens?

5/14: Do you really want me to get more explicit?

6/14: Oh, fine. If you've found your target, try talking to him about his job.

Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint.
action: Go east
response: The center of the Food Court beneath the Reserve Bank spacescraper is a busy place at all times of the day. Around the periphery are several food stand franchises, some doing a brisk business. Hundreds of people are here waiting in line at the food stands, sitting at the dozens of tables in the center, or just passing through from the Reserve Bank Station to the Lift Lobby up a ramp to the west or vice versa. The floor is made of duramex tiles.

You can see a trash can (closed) here.

You can go north to Reserve Bank Bistro Paris, northeast to I Have No Mouth, northwest to Maintenance Area, south to Tacos Terriff, southeast to The Sheep Look Up, southwest to Apollo's, east to Station Corridor, and west to Lift Lobby from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go east
response: The corridor widens as it terminates at the automatic doors to the Reserve Bank Station, which lies to the east. There is a directory and guide sign on the wall. Although traffic is overwhelmingly to the west, there are two doors reserved for traffic into the station, indicated by green lightbars overhead, whose access scanners are active.

You can see a directory here.

You can go east through the Reserve Bank Station door (closed) to Reserve Bank Station and west to Food Court from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go to the east
response: (first opening the Reserve Bank Station door)
The Eye Scanner probes your eye and deducts Transit fare from the account associated with your iris pattern.

The Reserve Bank Transit Station. The platform opens out at the middle to a lobby area which is dominated by a row of automated doors to the west. The flow of commuters moves steadily through these doors, with each person turning their head to the right as they approach for the eye scanner to verify their identity before opening the portal long enough for them to slip through. The floor and walls are both clean duramex nanotile, and the station name (Reserve Bank) is indicated on large plaques set into the walls. At either end of the platform, closed gates guard against any entry into the slideway tunnels. A platform abuts a Transit web, now empty.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go west through the Reserve Bank Station door to Station Corridor from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You wait for Transit
response: A light grows in the tunnel. With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Reserve Bank Station and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You go to the east
response: You enter the Transit capsule.

A fifty-person maglev Transit capsule. You're standing, holding on to a strap. Through the windows you can see the Reserve Bank Station.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You wait 5 minutes
response: A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

The capsule doors slide shut. The humming noice increases in volume, and the capsule slides out of the station, gathering speed as it goes, and slides into the tunnel.

You hold onto your strap as the Capsule rapidly accelerates.

With a deep thrumming and the whoosh of displaced air, the Transit Capsule slides smoothly into Green Commercial Platform and comes to a stop, hovering in the Web. The doors slide open and a few commuters enter and exit the capsule.
It is now 8:51 am.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.
action: You go south
response: You exit the Transit capsule.

Green Commercial One is one of the oldest stations on the Transit web. Although it has been refurbished several times, its age still manages to show through the layers of tile and paint. The platform opens out at the middle to a lobby area which is dominated by a row of automated doors to the south, which lead to stairways up to the main station. The flow of commuters moves steadily through these doors. The floor and walls are both extremely scuffed duramex nanotile, and the station name (Green Commercial One) is indicated on a large plaque set into the walls. The platform abuts the Transit web to the north, where a Transit capsule can be seen hovering. The capsule doors are open.

You can see a Transit Map here.

You can go south through the Green Commercial Station door (closed) to Green Commercial Station from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

A few commuters get on and off the Transit capsule.

You see a small red light in the corner of your vision which vanishes as you turn to look at it.
action: You go south
response: (first opening the Green Commercial Station door)

Green Commercial One's Transit station usually does most of its business around the rush hours, as Green Residental commuters stop off to take care of errands. The station is relatively small, but well kept up - the Green Commercial Business Improvement District organization sees to that. Open doorways lead south to Green Commercial One proper, and a stairway leads down to the doors to the Transit platform.

You can go south to Green Commercial Plaza North and down through the Green Commercial Station door to Green Commercial Platform from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You go south
response: Green Commercial One is built around a plaza, and this is its northern end. No vehicles are permitted within the public areas of Green Commercial One, so the entire area is pedestrian-only. To the north are the doorways to the Green Commercial Station. To the east is the NanoMart. To the west is a storefront bank with an ATM. The plaza continues to the south.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Station, south to Green Commercial Plaza Center, southeast to The Proletariat Bar, southwest to Green Commercial Bistro Paris, east to NanoMart, and west to Metro Savings from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go southeast
response: The Proletariat is a local bar (not a pub). It's just far enough above a "dive" to be allowed zoning here, but steadfastedly refuses to cater to upscale tastes. You like it. Restrooms are to the east; the bar runs along the north side with a stolid bartender behind it and a jukebox sits against the back wall. A few hardy drinkers sit here, communing with their spirits. In a nod to the place's name, a Public Surveillance Notice covered with stickers and graffiti tags has been framed above the bar.

Thin music can be heard.

You can see a Bartender here.

You can go northwest to Green Commercial Plaza North, southwest to Green Commercial Plaza South, east to Proletariat Restroom, and west to Green Commercial Plaza Center from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You ask Bartender about Roberto
response: (the Bartender about that)
The bartender looks up. "He comes in here most afternoons around three. Works the early shift at the Bank."
action: You wait until 3
response: A tiny surveillance camera you're sure you didn't see before swivels to follow you.

You see a small red light in the corner of your vision which vanishes as you turn to look at it.

You see a small red light in the corner of your vision which vanishes as you turn to look at it.

You see a small red light in the corner of your vision which vanishes as you turn to look at it.

The door opens. Roberto Velez comes in, orders a beer and sits down at a table.

Roberto examines his jacket sleeve and sighs.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

A tiny surveillance camera you're sure you didn't see before swivels to follow you.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto examines his jacket sleeve and sighs.

Roberto examines his jacket sleeve and sighs.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto examines his jacket sleeve and sighs.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto examines his jacket sleeve and sighs.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

A tiny surveillance camera you're sure you didn't see before swivels to follow you.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto examines his jacket sleeve and sighs.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

A tiny surveillance camera you're sure you didn't see before swivels to follow you.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto examines his jacket sleeve and sighs.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto examines his jacket sleeve and sighs.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

A tiny surveillance camera you're sure you didn't see before swivels to follow you.

Roberto examines his jacket sleeve and sighs.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto examines his jacket sleeve and sighs.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto examines his jacket sleeve and sighs.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

A tiny surveillance camera you're sure you didn't see before swivels to follow you.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

A tiny surveillance camera you're sure you didn't see before swivels to follow you.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

A tiny surveillance camera you're sure you didn't see before swivels to follow you.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

You see a small red light in the corner of your vision which vanishes as you turn to look at it.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto examines his jacket sleeve and sighs.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

You hear a very quiet beep from somewhere you can't identify.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

You hear a very quiet beep from somewhere you can't identify.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto examines his jacket sleeve and sighs.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

You hear a very quiet beep from somewhere you can't identify.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto examines his jacket sleeve and sighs.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

You see a small red light in the corner of your vision which vanishes as you turn to look at it.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto examines his jacket sleeve and sighs.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

A tiny surveillance camera you're sure you didn't see before swivels to follow you.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto stands and goes to the bar for some peanuts, returning to the table.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto examines his jacket sleeve and sighs.

Roberto shuffles his feet.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto takes a swig of his beer.

Roberto examines his jacket sleeve and sighs.

Roberto stands up, stretches, pays his bill and ambles out.

A tiny surveillance camera you're sure you didn't see before swivels to follow you.

You see a small red light in the corner of your vision which vanishes as you turn to look at it.

You yawn until 3:00 am.
action: You ask Roberto about the job
response: (Roberto Velez about that)
Roberto sighs. "I have a good job," he says. "I am a custodian at the Reserve Bank, downtown. The work is not bad, and the pay is not terrible, but they are very strict about the uniform."
action: You ask Roberto about the uniform
response: (Roberto Velez about that)
Roberto cranes his head to look at the damage. "Oh, yes," he says. "This happened at work. I caught it on a shelf." He shakes his head dolefully. "They are making me pay for the jacket," he says to you, "but they are charging me the new price for it! The price, it is ridiculous! I would replace it myself but I cannot afford one like it. I will have to let them dock my pay for months."
action: You look at the jacket
response: A dark blue uniform jacket with black snap closures and false side pockets. There is a long gash on the outside of the left sleeve near the shoulder. There is a nametag clipped to the jacket which reads "Roberto Velez."
action: You go to the south
response: The southern end of the Green Commercial Plaza, which continues to the north. To the east is Accessorize, a fashion store, and to the west is Garb-oh, a trendy clothing shop. The south end of the mall is closed off by an elaborate landscaping installation of trees and shrubs, presumably to hide a relatively ugly building behind it.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

A parked police flitter, armored and festooned with lights, looms here.

You can also see a trash can (closed) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Plaza Center, northeast to The Proletariat Bar, northwest to Green Commercial Bistro Paris, east to Accessorize, and west through the Garb-oh door (closed) to Garb-oh from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Go west
response: (first opening the Garb-oh door)

Garb-oh! is a trendy clothing shop. Images of the shop's icon Greta Garbo abound, each dressed in the clothing item offered on the rack below it. Jackets, scarves, bandannas, trousers, shirts and more are on inviting display.

On the racks are a brown pair of pants's antitheft tag, a blue pair of pants's antitheft tag, a blue jacket, a white shirt, a green shirt, a blue pair of pants, and a brown pair of pants.

The sales counter runs along the north side of the store.

You can also see the shopkeeper here.

You can go east through the Garb-oh door to Green Commercial Plaza South from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The automatic door slides closed.
action: You get the blue jacket
response: (putting the laptop into the backpack to make room)
Taken.
action: You examine the blue jacket
response: A dark blue jacket, very bland cut, with black snap closures and side pockets. You almost expect to see a name sewn on the front at the breast in gold thread. It's probably a size too large for you.

There is an antitheft tag attached to the blue jacket.
action: You cut the tag
response: Which do you mean, the brown pair of pants's antitheft tag, the blue pair of pants's antitheft tag, the white shirt's antitheft tag, the green shirt's antitheft tag, the blue jacket's antitheft tag, or the tag remover?
action: You cut the blue jacket's tag
response: You'd need to cut the blue jacket's antitheft tag with something; you can't do it bare-handed.

The shopkeeper wanders past you and gives you a suspicious look.
action: You remove the blue jacket's tag with the tag remover
response: You deftly remove the tag with the tag remover.
action: You look at the tag
response: (the blue jacket's antitheft tag)
This is a small rubberized sealed plastic transponder, perhaps a centimeter thick and two by four centimeters square, with a complex security mechanism for attaching it to products. It is used for inventory control as well as theft prevention; it cannot be removed from a garment without the associated removal tool.
action: You cut the tag with the knife
response: (the blue jacket's antitheft tag with the lockblade knife)
(putting the lens case into the backpack to make room)
You're carrying too many things already.

You carefully cut open the tag with your knife and peel back the plastic to reveal a blank memory chip.

A small group of people enter the store, look around, look at each other and file back out.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
a blue jacket's antitheft tag
a blank memory chip
a blue jacket
a post-it
a pamphlet
a newspaper
a contact lens (being worn)
a backpack (being worn, and open)
a lens case (open but empty)
a laptop
an ID camera
a car key
a tag remover
a receive chip
a pager (open but empty)
a lockblade knife
a lost camera
a drop message
a safety limiter
a soldering iron
some solder
a thermos (open but empty)
a cotter pin
a multitool
a watch (being worn)
action: You put the tag on the rack
response: (the blue jacket's antitheft tag on the racks)
You put the blue jacket's antitheft tag on the racks.

A small group of people enter the store, look around, look at each other and file back out.
action: Go east
response: The Proletariat is a local bar (not a pub). It's just far enough above a "dive" to be allowed zoning here, but steadfastedly refuses to cater to upscale tastes. You like it. Restrooms are to the east; the bar runs along the north side with a stolid bartender behind it and a jukebox sits against the back wall. A few hardy drinkers sit here, communing with their spirits. In a nod to the place's name, a Public Surveillance Notice covered with stickers and graffiti tags has been framed above the bar.

Thin music can be heard.

You can see Roberto Velez and a Bartender here.

You can go northwest to Green Commercial Plaza North, southwest to Green Commercial Plaza South, east to Proletariat Restroom, and west to Green Commercial Plaza Center from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You give the jacket to Roberto
response: (the blue jacket to Roberto Velez)
Roberto stands up and eagerly examines the blue jacket. "This would be a perfect replacement!" he says enthusiastically, showing you how closely it resembles his torn uniform jacket. "Would you be willing to part with it? I cannot give you much, but I would happily pay you what I can; it will be less than what those dogs would take from my salary to replace this one!" He pats his pockets, then shakes his head. "I need to go to the ATM." With that, he stands up.

Roberto Velez goes northwest.
action: You go northwest
response: Green Commercial One is built around a plaza, and this is its northern end. No vehicles are permitted within the public areas of Green Commercial One, so the entire area is pedestrian-only. To the north are the doorways to the Green Commercial Station. To the east is the NanoMart. To the west is a storefront bank with an ATM. The plaza continues to the south.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see Roberto Velez and a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Station, south to Green Commercial Plaza Center, southeast to The Proletariat Bar, southwest to Green Commercial Bistro Paris, east to NanoMart, and west to Metro Savings from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

Roberto Velez goes west.
action: Go west
response: This is a completely nondescript bank storefront which exists solely to house an ATM. It's so nondescript, in fact, that it took you some actual effort to determine which bank owns it, probably to ensure that they can charge you access fees no matter what. To the east is Green Commercial Plaza.

You can see Roberto Velez and an ATM here.

You can go southeast to Green Commercial Plaza Center and east to Green Commercial Plaza North from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

Roberto approaches the ATM, intent on withdrawing funds to pay you for the blue jacket.
He looks at the ATM's cracked palm reader, then at you. "The ATM scanner, he is broken." He shakes his head.
action: You give the jacket to Roberto
response: (the blue jacket to Roberto Velez)
Roberto stands up and eagerly examines the blue jacket. "This would be a perfect replacement!" he says enthusiastically, showing you how closely it resembles his torn uniform jacket. "Would you be willing to part with it? I cannot give you much, but I would happily pay you what I can; it will be less than what those dogs would take from my salary to replace this one!" He pats his pockets, then shakes his head. "I need to go to the ATM." With that, he stands up.
action: You go east
response: Green Commercial One is built around a plaza, and this is its northern end. No vehicles are permitted within the public areas of Green Commercial One, so the entire area is pedestrian-only. To the north are the doorways to the Green Commercial Station. To the east is the NanoMart. To the west is a storefront bank with an ATM. The plaza continues to the south.

The Reserve Bank Spacescraper is visible in the distance, rising over the low skyline.

You can also see a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go north to Green Commercial Station, south to Green Commercial Plaza Center, southeast to The Proletariat Bar, southwest to Green Commercial Bistro Paris, east to NanoMart, and west to Metro Savings from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: You go west
response: This is a completely nondescript bank storefront which exists solely to house an ATM. It's so nondescript, in fact, that it took you some actual effort to determine which bank owns it, probably to ensure that they can charge you access fees no matter what. To the east is Green Commercial Plaza.

You can see Roberto Velez and an ATM here.

You can go southeast to Green Commercial Plaza Center and east to Green Commercial Plaza North from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.
action: Search crack
response: The palm reader is empty.
action: You go north
response: What should I do?
What do I do at the Reserve Bank?
> How do I get into the Maintenance Closet?
How do I get to the Reserve Bank Atrium?
How do I get into vehicles?
1/14: Only authorized personnel can enter the maintenance closet.

2/14: You'll need to find someone who is allowed to enter the closet.

3/14: Oh, and you'll need to find a way to convince the door's palm lock that you are, in fact, them.

4/14: Remember the contact lens?

5/14: Do you really want me to get more explicit?

6/14: Oh, fine. If you've found your target, try talking to him about his job.

7/14: He needs to replace his jacket.

8/14: You'll need to get him a replacement.

Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint.
action: You put the receive chip into the camera
response: Which do you mean, the ID camera, the camera chain, or the lost camera?
action: You examine the lost camera
response: A cheap piece of integral electronics, made cheaper by the fact that any portable or phone has a perfectly good camera in it. It has a built-in flash, and is typically linked to a cell phone or other handheld for displaying and storing photos. This camera has been cracked open, revealing its internal electronics. A capacitor (for the flash unit) and battery are available, as are numerous circuit connection points.
action: You attach the receive chip to the lost camera
response: (first taking the receive chip)
(putting the newspaper into the backpack to make room)
(first taking the lost camera)
(putting the pamphlet into the backpack to make room)
The receive chip and the lost camera don't make anything useful.
action: Examine receive the chip
response: This is a receive chip - a small solid-state radio about the size of a coin. These can be found in most portable electronics that need to receive distant broadcasts, able to pull in signals from beyond a few meters. There are leads on the chip for connecting data lines and a power source.
action: Go north
response: What should I do?
What do I do at the Reserve Bank?
How do I get into the Maintenance Closet?
How do I get to the Reserve Bank Atrium?
> How do I get into vehicles?
1/8: To gain access to a vehicle, you need its key.

2/8: Well, perhaps not its actual key, but at the least an exact duplicate.

3/8: Most public safety vehicles use a common keycode.

Press SPACE to return to the menu or H to reveal another hint.
action: You wait five minutes
response: There is the sound of sirens in the distance.

A police officer ambles out of Green Commercial Bistro Paris. As he approaches the flitter, the flitter key transponder on his belt disables the locklarm.
He then climbs into the flitter and shuts the door. A few moments later, the aircraft powers up. The turbines spool up and, its beacons flashing, it lifts smoothly into the air, disappearing behind the building tops.

It is now 3:49 pm.
action: You examine receive
response: This is a receive chip - a small solid-state radio about the size of a coin. These can be found in most portable electronics that need to receive distant broadcasts, able to pull in signals from beyond a few meters. There are leads on the chip for connecting data lines and a power source.
action: Solder receive toi d camera
response: (first taking the ID camera)
(putting the post-it into the backpack to make room)
The ID camera won't attach to the receive chip.

A police officer ambles out of Green Commercial Bistro Paris. As he approaches the flitter, the flitter key transponder on his belt disables the locklarm.
He then climbs into the flitter and shuts the door. A few moments later, the aircraft powers up. The turbines spool up and, its beacons flashing, it lifts smoothly into the air, disappearing behind the building tops.
action: Go west
response: This is a branch of the popular lunch and coffee shop Bistro Paris. There are a few tables near the front. A restroom is to the west. On the north wall, opposite the counter, is a collection of Paris-themed prints. In the center is a large holoportrait of the chain's owner, Zuzu, and a sign claiming that the Bistro Paris has restaurants here, in the Reserve Bank Spacescraper, and in London. A server behind the counter is waiting on several customers.

You can see Officer Prescott and a trash can (in which is some rubbish) here.

You can go northeast to Green Commercial Plaza North, southeast to Green Commercial Plaza South, east to Green Commercial Plaza Center, and west to Bistro Paris Restroom from here.

There is a Public Surveillance Notice here.

The police officer finishes his coffee, tosses his trash in a bin and ambles out of the bistro. You hear the sound of flitter turbines spooling up outside and then fading away.