New Gaia

by Samuel Isaacson

  You don’t get a chance to reply as she pushes you back and you stumble several steps to remain on your feet. She continues talking at you, punctuating her monologue with pushes against your chest as the rest of her friends cluster around you, separating you from Catalina and Pauline. “What’s your problem that you can’t just let people enjoy a nice quiet drink out?”

  The small crowd cheers as she swings a punch at you and you narrowly avoid it. You are going to have to defend yourself.

  Gang leader

  BODY 6

  SPIRIT 9

  If you win, turn to 216.

  226

  The door opens into what looks like an entrance hallway, a row of empty coat hooks directly in front of you. The only door is to your left and you burst through this. Add 5 seconds to your TIME score.

  Through the door you find yourself in a corridor with a door to your right, which you ignore. You run to the left, your pulse racing, and burst through the door on your right-hand side. Add another 5 seconds to your TIME score.

  This door opens into a large room containing a stinking, organic mass, dark in the red light with luminous yellow spots revealing its shape. There is a door on the left-hand wall and so you run straight towards it and burst through. Add another 10 seconds to your TIME score and turn to 270.

  227

  “Oh, thank you,” he says. “You’re too kind. May you have every success in your endeavour, and on behalf of the UDE may I say thank you for your service.” If you have not yet spoken to Lauren Tucs and would like to, you may do so now by turning to 114. Otherwise, you leave (turn to 185).

  228

  You are standing outside the Martian Navy headquarters and can feel that time is running out. If you have not visited them already, you may go to Ada the scientist (turn to 50), either of the ambassadors (turn to 384) or Anna the technologist (turn to 165). If you have already visited all of them, David is asking you to conclude based on your conversations (turn to 188).

  229

  The final security guard falls to the floor, and you look up to see David bending over Catalina, who is badly wounded.

  “I’ll be ok,” she’s saying, but you can tell she needs help. Thankfully you spot a first aid kit through a glass-fronted cupboard, and within a couple of minutes she is back on her feet looking ready to keep on moving.

  After everything that has happened, you feel a bit disoriented. The room that you are in contains several sofas and a bed in one corner. On one of the walls is a door bearing a sign saying “Do not enter”, and the wall to its left also contains a door. You’re not sure which one you came in by.

  Will you go through the door with the sign on it (turn to 149) or the other door (turn to 371)?

  230

  You are sneaking around on the 18th floor and are at risk of being spotted! Make a combined BODY and MIND check at difficulty 18. If you succeed, turn to 272. If you fail, turn to 132.

  231

  The nearest police station is only a couple of blocks away, and when you walk in the officer behind the desk recognises you all.

  “Hey!” she says, “Aren’t you the time travellers? Do you need help?”

  The three of you nod, and she asks you to wait for a moment while she taps at her comms unit.

  A moment later, another police officer enters the reception area from a door to her right. He looks familiar, and then you recognise him; he was one of the police officers who was on duty during your trial two days ago.

  “Well, aren’t I the lucky one?” he says with a smile, and asks how he can help.

  Catalina explains your situation, and a grave expression spreads across his face. He looks directly at you for a moment.

  “You’re not the only one to be infected,” he says. “We had someone else in this morning and have a secure location for you. Will you come with me please?” He indicates that Catalina and Pauline should wait where they are and leads you through a door on the other side of the reception desk and into a private room. When the door has closed, he turns to you again.

  “Right, this is our only real chance,” he says. “Here’s a silenced rifle. I’ll bring them in, then you take out the blonde one and I’ll take the brunette.”

  You nod at him, only half-realising what you’re doing, and ready your weapon. Within two minutes he has left the room, returned with Catalina and Pauline, and both are lying dead on the floor.

  “There are more of us,” he explains, and takes you off to meet your new comrades in the war you are about to wage on the whole of humanity.

  232

  You plug in the data store and are presented with a huge database of personal records. You start to scroll through lists of names.

  Make a HEART check at difficulty 13. If you succeed, turn to 100. If you fail, turn to 318.

  233

  It’s clear that she is intent on removing you from the room, so you explain as quickly as you feel you can a bit about your story and what you saw in the nurse’s eyes. She says that she thinks she recognises you from the news, although it’s clear she isn’t sure whether or not to believe you.

  Make a HEART check at difficulty 14. If you are successful, turn to 135. If you fail, turn to 389.

  234

  You cautiously open the door to reveal a room set up in a very similar way to your own. Lying in the bed is a middle-aged man with short, curly hair. He was reading something as you entered and looks up as you enter.

  “Oh, hello,” he says, and a smile suddenly breaks out on his face. “Hey, come here a moment.”

  Will you talk to him to see what he wants (turn to 87) or leave immediately (turn to 210)?

  235

  Scouring the grounds, your foot knocks against something and you stoop to pick it up. At first you think it’s just a pebble, but as you turn it over in your hand you feel a notch in one side, which reveals itself to be a powerful data store. You have no way of testing what’s on it at the moment, but you slip it in your pocket for later use.

  From this position you can see that the building has a balcony the whole width of the house that the stairs lead up to, and that it provides access in on the first floor through two sets of double doors. You also think that you spot some movement from behind a bush against the perimeter wall. Will you go into the house through the front door (turn to 47), go up the stairs to the balcony (turn to 391), or investigate the bush (turn to 5)?

  236

  The door opens to reveal a small room that looks like an entrance hallway. Hooks for coats and hats line the left-hand wall, and a door faces them. You quickly search the room but there is nothing here and so you try the door, which turns out to be locked.

  Will you go back through the door you just came in by and go through the other door instead (turn to 290), will you try to pick the lock of this new door (turn to 80), or will you try to force it open (turn to 364)?

  237

  The room behind the door is a much sparser, more functional space with a desk and a chair set against the right-hand wall. It almost feels as if this is a private space for doing some writing but nothing else; there is no computer in here, no pictures on the walls and no obvious space for filing records.

  Will you search this room (turn to 252) or go back and walk through the door by the poker table (turn to 160)?

  238

  The COMN raises an eyebrow at you and then crosses his arms.

  “No?” he says, rhetorically. “Well, I suppose we should just go ahead and launch an attack directly on the alien ships then. Of course, we need an audit trail for decision making here. I’ll be the one making the decision, but will you go on the record as recommending that we do that?”

  Do you agree to go on the record for recommending a pre-emptive strike on the approaching alien fleet (turn to 347) or not (turn to 92)?

  239

  “I’m glad you see the truth of things,” she says. “There’s something fishy about that Anna Michaels, anyway. If you meet her, I’d recommend you ask her what�
�s going on, and don’t let her off the hook until she’s answered your questions.

  “Now, you’ll forgive me if I ask you to leave,” she says, walking over to the door and opening it for you; “the ASR is trying to sort out this interplanetary communications issue and I’m the key Martian contact.”

  Turn to 2.

  240

  You start to walk around the room, being careful to avoid the living mound in its centre. As you step around it, however, you fail to notice the strange patterns on the floor and as you step onto one particular circle you hear a click and catch the sight of something shooting out at you in your peripheral vision.

  You try to dodge; make a BODY check at difficulty 12. If you succeed, turn to 31. If you fail, turn to 173.

  241

  Your negative response clearly stands in contrast to his typical experience and he seems stunned for a moment, simply looking at you and breathing carefully.

  “Well, regardless,” he continues, “let’s talk hypothetically for a moment. It looks like earth is about to be invaded, and by extension Mars. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if they come here first – that’s what I would do if I were entering the solar system and had an eye on earth. We don’t know their reasons for wanting to invade, am I right?”

  Major Abofanwe nods. “That’s correct, we’ve had no communications from them.”

  “Nobody declares war for no reason, so there must have been some sort of provocation,” continues the COMN. “Do you think it’s sensible to assume that the initial provocation came from earth?”

  You look at your companions, unsure as to where this line of questioning is going. Do you say that you agree with his assumption (turn to 292) or that you don’t think one could make that assumption (turn to 134)?

  242

  You open your mouth to speak but manage to achieve nothing other than revealing the speed at which she can move. You’ve barely emitted a single syllable before her clenched fist has met with the side of your face, knocking you off balance.

  Lose 4 SPIRIT points and turn to 16.

  243

  You say hello to the man, who needs no encouragement to start telling you about his life in New Gaia. His parents moved him off earth when he was a child as one of the first farming families, and he ended up living at a place they called Freedom Farm, a name he cringes at. When he was a child he often dreamed of running away from home, and as part of his plan he buried a kit of supplies in the grounds under the only oak tree on Mars.

  When he was old enough, he left home and joined one of the big construction firms in the city, which paid well and made him feel like he was contributing something to the place he lived. He even did some work on the building this hospital is now in, which he considers a great irony.

  His name is called out, and he leaves without stopping talking about himself. If you ever end up in Freedom Farm and end up exploring the grounds, you can search for his supply kit by adding 90 to the section number you are in. You will know that you are in the right place if the oak tree is mentioned in the opening sentence.

  Now the only remaining patient by herself is the attractive young lady, whom you can talk to if you like (turn to 25) or you can leave this waiting room (turn to 322).

  244

  As you run into this room you feel disoriented at entering a space that looks identical to the room you entered this maze through, as if Ada has recreated her observatory below ground. Add 10 seconds to your TIME score.

  There are two doors leading out of this room. Having entered and turned left, will you go through the door on the left-hand wall (turn to 111) or the one directly in front of you (turn to 62)?

  245

  “Excellent!” she exclaims, and hurries towards her laboratory at double the pace. “I can’t wait to see its effects. I hope it works!”

  The laboratory is as you remember it, a white space filled with Lady Yatch’s scribbled notes and half-eaten sandwiches laid out sporadically in concentric circles around the odd island you saw before. She ushers you into a corner full of test tubes containing different coloured liquids. She picks up a couple, muttering to herself the whole time.

  “Now, is it this- hmm, no. Maybe this one? Now where did I put it? Perhaps under- ah, yes. Here we are.” She turns back to you, brandishing a small vial containing an indigo liquid. “Let’s give this a go, shall we?”

  You gulp and sit in a seat that she clears for that purpose, and places the vial in a machine connected to the armrest.

  “Just sit still,” she asks in a polite and excited manner, and you watch as the machine clamps your arm and injects you with the liquid. The machine withdraws and you look up at your companions.

  “How do you feel?” Catalina asks.

  You nod, vaguely, and stand up although your foot slips and your legs collapse underneath you.

  Pauline’s voice raises in anger. “What have you done?” she demands.

  “Oh yes, well that was a likely side effect,” replies Lady Yatch. “Is the alien still present?”

  You are unable to say either yes or no because an extreme sense of nausea is beginning to overtake you. Anticipating it, Catalina quickly finds a bucket and you are sick into it. Lose 4 SPIRIT points.

  “Hmm,” says the researcher. “unless it’s now in that bucket I’d suggest that it hasn’t worked. You should really be sneezing at this point. Well, back to the drawing board I suppose! Thanks for stopping by.”

  She turns back to her work as if you’ve already all left the room, and the three of you slink out of the research facility.

  As you make your way out to the street, you begin to feel much better. In fact, you feel absolutely fantastic. You have no idea what has happened to you, but you feel able to take on anything now! Add 2 points to each of your MIND, BODY and HEART scores.

  Will you now go to the police (turn to 231) or the doctor (turn to 48)?

  246

  You stumble into quite a small room containing a series of screens on the wall in front of you, and another door next to the one you came in by, swinging on its hinges. You must be right behind Ada! Will you run through this other door in pursuit of her (turn to 190) or will you take a moment to watch the screens to see if there’s anything you can learn (turn to 13)?

  247

  The bracelet is exactly what the ambassador told you it was. Increase your MIND score by 2 points.

  If you have not yet spoken to Lauren Tucs and would like to, you may do so now by turning to 114. Otherwise, you leave (turn to 185).

  248

  You can feel the effects of the pill within a few seconds of having swallowed it. It works by sending a chemical reaction through your whole body, rapidly tensing and relaxing all of your muscles in quick succession, thereby giving you a full body workout without having to physically do anything. It certainly isn’t comfortable but you do feel stronger. Gain 1 BODY point and lose 1 SPIRIT point, then continue along the corridor by turning to 299.

  249

  You go to open the door, but it is locked. You can leave and continue along the corridor if you like (turn to 167), or else you can try to pick the lock (turn to 264) or try to force it open (turn to 205).

  250

  Bursting through the door, you reveal an empty room with no other exit. Cursing, you turn around and run back out, following the corridor until you reach the door you came through to get here. Add 15 seconds to your TIME score.

  You burst through the door, ignore the door on your left and keep running down the corridor (turn to 284).

  251

  You move to the door and lift your hand to open it. Well, you try to, but your arm refuses to lift and you find yourself walking away from the door. Turn to 272 and make another choice.

  252

  Make a MIND check at difficulty 14. If you succeed, turn to 186. If you fail, turn to 317.

  253

  You lunge towards her and swipe at her but she ducks out of the way and gives you a look filled with rage, then smil
es.

  “Help!” she screams, and then she pulls an electric lash from her belt, clearly designed for just such an event as this one. She moves to fight back and so you have no regret as you try to take her down.

  Nurse

  BODY 4

  SPIRIT 4

  If you win, turn to 331.

  254

  The door opens into a square room filled with computing power. Stacks of black boxes that reach the ceiling are connected to a screen next to a slot with a label saying “data store”. If you have a data store, you can try to insert this (turn to 232), or, if not, you can try to get past the security screen yourself (turn to 54). Otherwise, there is another door in the left-hand wall so you can leave if you wish (turn to 213).

  255

  You approach the table and the men look up at you with mild interest. You say that you’ve just arrived in New Gaia, and were wondering if they’d give you some insight on the city.

  “Of course!” one of them exclaims, revealing perfect teeth beneath his slightly greying side-parting. “Pull up a chair with your friends. We were just getting into an interesting conversation, actually. Mike, pick up where you just left off, would you?”

  His friend, whom you now know as Mike, beams and says, “Sure Stan! So, when we first arrived on Mars – by ‘we’ I mean the human race – it was good for science and pretty much nothing else. The next piece to arrive was Martian tourism, which led to a small retail surge and a financial services move shortly afterwards, and for that you need infrastructure. I’m not talking roads and electricity, I’m talking schools, hospitals, law enforcement…within two years an off-world research centre became just another job in the solar system’s fastest growing city.”

  At this point, a lady reaches over you to pick up the empty glasses on the table and Stan gently grabs her wrist. “Would you get us six more please?” he asks, and she nods.

  “Anyway,” continues Mike, not missing a beat, “what happens to a city the size of New Gaia? The immigrants’ children grow up, don’t know any different, and so try to live out their career aspirations in this new place. Thanks,” he says to the lady, placing the drinks on the table. Everyone takes a sip as he continues. “So we’re now at a point where there are more startups in New Gaia than in any city on earth, because the infrastructure’s been built to cope with the demand.”