Serenity

{ (if: $day >1)[Day (print: $day)] Endlessly I stare into the darkness, waiting for a flicker of light to bring me to my senses. A flash spreads across the cave with a sharp crackle. I shrink away from the brightness, shielding my eyes from the burning pain. As I unfurl my hands from my face, the light gently washes over me. [[Wake Up->Alarm 0]] } (set: $day +=1)

{ The crackle turns into a screech and I bolt upright snapping myself awake. Looking around for the source of my disturbance I... [[grab the alarm-clock, wrestling to mute the symphony from hell.->Wake Up 0]] }

{ Spilling into the atrium of the factory the workers disperse towards their roles, forming tidey lines deeper into the factory. I find the queue towards the canteen, ready for breakfast before starting today’s tasks. The screech of metal against concrete greets me as I tread in time towards the food dispenser. Placing a tray under the whirling machine, I make sure to keep my hands away from the scalding liquid spurting out to cool as porridge. Shuffling away with my breakfast I join the next empty space at a metal table in the middle of the room. As I wait to let the grey mush settle, a flick of red catches my eye again. Staring carelessly across the expanse it seems the posters are also in here, scattered on some of the outer tables. Carefully I finish the porridge and [[join a queue out of the canteen, past a table covered in red.->Morning Work 0]] }

{ Hurrying deeper into the factory I find the Service Desk Department, still pondering over the posters I swing the cubicle door open. Slumping into my chair at the center of the two by two meter office I try to put the event out of my mind to focus on work. Plugging in the work cables I start analysing the technical issues that have been submitted. Glancing over the ticket list there are hundreds of password resets which have been flagged since the shift change an hour ago. I guess it’s the beginning of the month and it’s always the same employees who forget to change their password and locked themselves out of their consoles. Getting to work I dive into the system, reconnecting the accounts and forwarding on their temporary log in details. Working quickly I should be able to finish before lunch. [[Jolting to my sense, the lunch alarm reminds me to head to the canteen again, I dim the console and head out.->Lunch 0]] }

{ The corridor trickles with people taking a break from their work, catching glimpses of familiar faces I turn my face downwards to avoid confrontation. The queue for the vending machine moves quickly and soon I’m making my way towards one of the outer tables covered in red. Glancing around the room I carefully edge a poster to face me. Reading over the tray filled with a grey stew the poster reads: Join Me 9pm in the Community Hall, you won’t be disappointed. Another worker joins me and I concentrate on gulping down the rest of my lunch, [[before heading back to my desk.->Afternoon Work 0]] }

{ The afternoon races by as I reset more passwords and respond to some low level queries over data lines and retrieving documents. I can’t help wondering what it meant “You won’t be disappointed.” I live a simple comfortable life with nothing to worry about, the company provides all, there are no disappointments as there are no expectations. What would be the point in change? [[The day ends and I unplug myself from the console to collect the final meal of the day.->Dinner 0]] }

{ Not feeling hungry I drift through the canteen wondering what tonight would hold. [[Head Home->Home 0]] }

{ Back at my house I shower and refresh myself for the evening activities. These do not start till 2100 so I have a little time to decide what to do. A shiver of excitement runs down my spine as I contemplate missing the Data Theory course at the Centre in favour of going to the Community Hall. [[Go to the Community Hall->Community Hall Decision 0]] or [[Go to the Centre->Centre Decesion 0]] }

{ Flickering into existence S.H.E. starts barking instructions “Jump higher, squat lower.” The unrelenting voice continues until my body screams for this to stop. “Good work Serenity, you have done Maximo proud keeping our body in top condition.” I slump onto the floor catching my breath, [[before forcing myself on towards work.->Walk to Work 0]] }

{ The fresh air hits me as an unusually clear sky has allowed frost to settle on the ground. Warily I join the crowds of Maximo workers heading out of the housing complex towards the factory. Keeping my head lowered I try not to make eye contact, a splash of red inadvertently catches the corner of my eye. It’s a poster for an event tonight, but I’m carried away by the tide of workers before I can properly take it all in. The factory looms closer, a colossal concrete scar on the fields that surround it. Maximo Help Centre towers over the entrance in giant letters inviting in the employees and warning away the curious. [[Letting the wave of workers push me inside, I pass through the automatic doors logging my arrival.->Breakfast 0]] }

{ It’s just another day. [[I need to present myself before S.H.E has time to criticise my tardiness.->Exercise 0]] }

{ Street lamps illuminate the way as I follow the road round towards the community hall, housed in a neo-gothic church. It feels strange to be familiar with a place having never been there before. Maximo showed me the details of the local area as they felt it necessary knowledge for all its employees before starting at the factory. [[Standing at the door of the church I knock, waiting to be let in.->Community Centre 0]] }

{ The doors creak open to reveal an empty hall dimly lit with a stage at the front. I enter and find a discreet place to stand at the back. Looking up I see red fabric blooming from the ceiling, draping down the walls to frame the makeshift wooden stage. The lights fade completely before a spotlight focus on a hooded figure, throwing it back with dramatic effect he bellows “Welcome, I’m here with one message. Break out of your routine and you will discover more than you could imagine.” With a theatrical swish of the cape he disappears down a trapdoor returning the lights to the hall. [[Stunned I turn and shuffle back outside letting the realisation dawn on me, I had missed my Data Theory class.->Walk to Town 0.1]] } (set: $event +=1)

[[The road back to Maximo was quiet and the gate gently creaked as I let myself back inside.->Walk to Work 0.2]]

{ Keeping close to the shadows I make my way back to block 44 [[letting myself in -> Home 0.1]] }

{ I collapse on to the bed, exhausted by the long day. [[My head hits the pillow and I’m out like a light.->Dream 1]] }

{ I'm back in the cave a warm glow flooding over my shoulders illuminating the cracks in the wall. Strange echoes fill my ears and I strain to look behind me, trapped I struggle harder the rattling of my chains [[give way to the rattling of an alarm clock.->Alarm 1]] }

{ Stepping out into the clear night sky, I make my way to the edge of the housing complex. Standing at the boundary I listen, an electric car goes past on the other side of the gate but there’s only silence on the factory grounds. A rustle behind me pulls me to my senses and... [[...I hastily push through the gate into Little Greyton.->Walk to Town 0]] }

{ The time reaches 2045 and I click the door shut behind me, bracing myself for the bitter air. Stepping into line with the rest of the workers I make my way towards the Centre for tonight's activity, Data Theory. I had fought for months to get onto the course completing tests and countless prerequisite programs in order to apply. Finally I managed to secure a place last night when I aced my Meta Data Rational putting me into the top 10%. [[The doors slide open scanning me as I enter the Centre->Centre 0]] }

{ I make my way around the circular lobby looking into each door untill I find the one titled Data Theory. [[Reaching the far back wall I open the door->Data Theory 0]] }

At the centre of the room are eight reclining chairs facing each other, three already filled. Walking towards an empty chair I sit next to my classmates and [[plug myself in.->Lesson 0]]

{ I Fall into the network and find my feet standing next to me are two men and one woman forming a circle. As soon as the circle has filled the session begins, blocks appear around us in random sizes and heights illustrating abstract reasoning in three dimensions. Lines appear between the blocks pulses of information traveling between the nodes, watching we see some nodes swell and other fade all the while resonating between spheres and cubes. Suddenly blocks start splitting of from the larger entities throwing out lines to connect themselves to us. My head starts to spin as information travels between us and the shapes, [[I open my eyes,->Data Theory 0.1]] }

{ I’m back on the chair in the Centre. Unplugging myself I carefully sit up and leverage myself out of the chair, none of the other have yet awoken as I make my way out of the room. It had been such a strange feeling being connected to something much greater than yourself, an uncontrollable force that had accepted me. Without language or imagery, information seemed to flow between us as it tried to show and teach me abstract thought. [[My feet carried me to the door of block 44-> Home 0.2]] }

{ I letting myself in and I turn on the lights collapsing into bed. It seems the force was trying show me something greater, something new, expanding my reasoning, maybe it is time to step outside of Maximo’s complex. (if: $event >=1)[[[The lights dim as my eyes drop and I fall into a deep sleep.->Dream 3]]] (else:)[[[The lights dim as my eyes drop and I fall into a deep sleep.->Dream -1]]] }

{ (if: $event >= 1)[[[Grabbing the Alarm clock I rush to turn it off.->Wake Up 1]]] }

{ Closing my eyes I drift back to sleep. I'm greeted by the rattle of chains not only echoing from mine but from those around me. Straining my neck to see I try and glimpse another inmate, but to no avail. Footsteps echo behind me and suddenly grotesque images fall onto the wall of the cave. [[Terrified I startle myself awake, not waiting for the dream to continue.->Wake Up 1.2]] } (set: $choice +=1)

{ I wait to be reprimanded for my disobedience but none comes. Instead the familiar voice starts barking the same rhythmic instructions “Jump higher, squat lower.” Exhausted by the pace of the exercise I lean over the catch my breath, relaxed and ready for the day. It finishes as always by S.H.E thanking me for looking after the body Maximo gave me, [[I leave the house to get to work.->Walk to Work 1]] }

{ I sit up awake, but I feel drawn to continue the dream, something is calling me back as if we have some unfinnished buisness. Remebering what had happened at the Community Hall, [[I reset my alarm to continue the dream->Dream 2]] or [[I can't believe I skipped Data Theory S.H.E is going to be angry I had better get up quickly.->Exercise 1]] }

{ Cold sweat drips down my face I need to shake of this fear, I need to move. [[I stand in front of S.H.E knowing that the rythm of her regime will calm me.->Exercise 1]] or [[I leave the hosue, not knowing where my feet will take me->Walk to Work 1.1]] }

{ [[Breakfast 1]] }

{ [[Walk To Town 1]] [[Breakfast 1]] }

{ [[Walk to Work 1.2]] }

{ [[Morning Work 1]] }

{ [[Breakfast 1]] }

{ [[Lunch 1]] }

{ [[Afternoon Work 1]] (if: $choice +=1)[[[Walk to Work 1.3]]] }

{ [[Dinner 1]] }

{ [[Exercise -1]] }

{ [[Walk To Work -1]] }

{ [[Breakfast -1]] }

{ [[Morning Work -1]] }

{ [[Lunch -1]] }

{ [[Afternoon Work -1]] }

{ [[Dinner -1]] }

{ [[Home -1]] }

{ [[Centre 1]] }

{ [[Centre Decesion 1]] or [[Community Hall Decision 0]] }

{ I stand at the edge of a crevice and look down over a dizzying height, unwillingly I feel myself lean to get a better view of the drop. I start to fall. Uncontrolably the cave walls whistle past twisting my stomache into a knot. [[I hit the ground.->Alarm -1]] }

{ [[Grabbing the Alarm clock I rush to turn it off.->Wake Up -1]] }

{ [[Data Theory 1]] }

{ [[Lesson 1]] }

{ [[Data Theory 1.1]] }

{ [[Home -1.1]] }

{ [[Dream -2]] }

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{ [[Afternoon Work 1]] [[Walk to Town 1.2]] }

{ [[Walk to Work 1.4]] } (set: $choice +=1)

{ [[Afternoon Work 1]] }

{ [[Home 1]] (if: $choice >=1)[[[Walk to Town 1.3]]] }

{ [[Centre Decesion 0]] or [[Community Hall Decision 1]] }

{ [[Stationary Shop 1]] }

Double-click this passage to edit it.

{ [[Home 1]] } (set: $pen +=1)

Double-click this passage to edit it.