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<<cacheaudio "1-1_typing" "1-1_typing.mp3">><<cacheaudio "sunflowers" "sunflowers.mp3">><<cacheaudio "tree" "tree.mp3">><<cacheaudio "lake" "lake.mp3">><<cacheaudio "2-1_alarmclock" "2-1_alarmclock.mp3">><<cacheaudio "1-1_opening" "1-1_opening-reverb.mp3">><<cacheaudio "1-1_sunrise" "1-1_sunrise-reverb.mp3">><<cacheaudio "1-1_pulse" "rotate-CR-1.mp3">><<cacheaudio "1-2_pulse" "rotate-hallway.mp3">><<cacheaudio "1-2_sunrise-hall" "1-2_sunrise-hall.mp3">><<cacheaudio "1-2_sunrise-lounge" "1-2_sunrise-lounge.mp3">><<cacheaudio "1-2_sunrise-lab" "1-2_sunrise-lab.mp3">><<cacheaudio "1-2_sunrise-drone" "1-2_sunrise-drone.mp3">><<cacheaudio "1-3_lab" "1-3_lab_new.mp3">><<cacheaudio "1-2_drone" "1-2_drone_new.mp3">><<cacheaudio "1-2_lounge" "1-2_lounge.mp3">><<cacheaudio "1-2_lounge_2" "1-2_lounge_2.mp3">><<cacheaudio "1-2_lounge_1" "1-2_lounge_1.mp3">><<cacheaudio "1-2_comm" "1-2_comm_DB.mp3">><<cacheaudio "1-2_yes" "1-2_yes_DB.mp3">><<cacheaudio "1-2_no" "1-2_no_DB.mp3">><<cacheaudio "1-2_comm-l" "1-2_comm_lounge.mp3">><<cacheaudio "1-2_yes-l" "1-2_yes_lounge.mp3">><<cacheaudio "1-2_no-l" "1-2_no_lounge.mp3">><<cacheaudio "1-3_labsounds" "1-3_labsounds_new.mp3">><<cacheaudio "1-4_sunrise" "1-4_sunrise-reverb1.mp3">><<cacheaudio "1-4_sunrise-reverb" "1-4_sunrise-reverb2.mp3">><<cacheaudio "title" "5b-extended-reverb.mp3">><<cacheaudio "2-1_sunriseb" "sunriseb-ch2-lounge.mp3">><<cacheaudio "2-2_hesitate" "ch2-hesitate.mp3">><<cacheaudio "2-2_yes" "ch2-yes.mp3">><<cacheaudio "2-2_no" "ch2-no.mp3">><<cacheaudio "2-1_shower" "lake2-shower.mp3">><<cacheaudio "2-4_cr" "sunriseb-ch2-controlroom.mp3">><<cacheaudio "2-4_tree" "2-3_tree.mp3">><<cacheaudio "2-2_lounge" "2-2_lounge.mp3">><<cacheaudio "2-4_lake-bg" "lake2-background.mp3">><<cacheaudio "2-4_lake-full" "lake2-full.mp3">><<cacheaudio "2-3_typing" "CH2-cr_notree.mp3">><<cacheaudio "rotpulse-pno" "ROTPULSE-PNO.mp3">><<cacheaudio "2-3_outage" "CH2-cr_outage.mp3">><<cacheaudio "river" "riverofstars.mp3">><<cacheaudio "interlude" "interludetrans.mp3">><<cacheaudio "mountain" "mountain.mp3">><<cacheaudio "mountainend" "mountainend.mp3">><<cacheaudio "forest" "forest.mp3">><<cacheaudio "forestend" "forestend.mp3">><<audio "title" play loop>><div id="title"><b>NOT QUITE A SUNSET</b></div><div style="text-align:center"><i>a hypertext opera</i>
PREVIEW VERSION
for the 2017 Spring Thing Festival of Interactive Fiction
Music and text by Kyle Rowan
Headphones are recommended
<<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeoverto 7s 0>><<goto "Chapter 1 - Sunrise">><</click>>
[[Table of Contents]]
[[Credits|About]]
©2017 Kyle Rowan
</div>
<div style="text-align:center"><i>Not Quite a Sunset</i> was written and composed by Kyle Rowan.
The text is programmed in Twine 2 using the Sugarcube format.
The instrumental music was recorded on April 2-4, 2016, with recording engineer
Andres Gutierrez Martinez at the University of California - San Diego.
Vocals were recorded in April 28, 2016, and February 8, 2017,
with recording engineer Colin Zyskowski, also at UCSD.
Voice - [[Kirsten Ashley Wiest|http://www.kirstenashleywiest.com/]]
Flute - [[Michael Matsuno|http://www.michaelmatsuno.com/]]
Clarinet - Madison Greenstone
Violin - Batya Macadam-Somer
Cello - [[Jennifer Bewerse|http://www.jenniferbewerse.com/]]
Bass - Kiyoe Wellington
Piano - [[Kyle Adam Blair|http://www.kyleadamblair.com/]]
Many thanks to Brooke Rowan for editing and proofreading the text, and to Halim Beere,
Scott Rowan, Ania Stachurska, and Brittany Welch for playtesting.
[[Home|Title 2]] • <<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeoverto 12s 0>><<goto "Chapter 1 - Sunrise">><</click>> • [[Table of Contents]]</div>
<<timed 5s>><<audio "1-1_opening" volume 1 play>><<next 15500ms>><<audio "1-1_sunrise" time 0 volume 1 play loop>><</timed>><div style="text-align:center"><<timed 6s t8n>><img src="http://www.penguinmanmusic.com/station.jpg" height="253" width="410"><</timed>>
<<timed 14s t8n>><b>Chapter 1 - Sunrise</b><</timed>>
<<timed 21550ms t8n>><i>1.1 Control Room</i><</timed>></div>
<span id="sunrise"><p><<timed 21550ms t8n>>As the light from the system's lone star breached the edge of the planet below, Sara pulled the visor on her headset over her eyes. More out of habit than necessity, really - the sophisticated shielding around the station blocked the solar radiation better than an atmosphere. The influx of natural sunlight triggered an automatic dimming of the lighting inside the control room, while the console itself still glowed a soft blue and red under her fingers.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 21550ms t8n>>Although the surface of the planet was dark, still shadowed from the glare of its sun, the bare outlines of continents were illuminated on her HUD. Small green circles in the planet's more temperate zones represented the many drones tasked with surveying the area for the first human settlement. As the automated reports were transmitted from the planet below, the console chirped proudly, slowly assembling a picture of the planet more complete than the orbital satellites alone could provide.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 21550ms t8n>><i><<click "~continue~">><<replace "#sunrise" t8n>><p><<audio "1-1_typing" play>><<timed 100ms t8n>>She looked closely at the report from the Ninth Drone Group, which was surveying a large valley on the third continent, about 20 degrees south of the equator. The valley was a particularly promising location, with relatively level terrain, good climate, and a nearby river that could provide a good source of water and power.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Her hands moved with a quiet virtuosity over the console, her eyes scanning the images and data coming in from the surface, though the pictures themselves were obscured greatly by the alien foliage. The readings sent by one drone seemed to indicate some kind of metal, but it was not immediately clear what exactly. She flagged the report for closer examination by the laboratory computers.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>As she programmed a new search pattern for the group, focusing several other drones on where the maybe-metallic readings were found, she heard one of the lifts from the outer ring slide open. Her relief had arrived.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 100ms t8n>><i><<click "~continue~">><<replace "#sunrise">><p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"It's 0800, Doctor."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Be right there."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>She synced the console with the station's rotation and maneuvered its platform down to the lift, where Lieutenant Ryan Ackerley stood waiting.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The lieutenant was the military liaison on this survey mission - no excursion to extrasolar planets was possible without defense funding to cover the massive expense of interstellar travel, as much as Sara woud prefer otherwise. Her briefing manual indicated he was an accomplished pilot both in vacuum and in atmosphere, as well as a capable medic, but there was nothing that indicated a special expertise in charting planets. Perhaps his still low seniority got him posted this far from Earth.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>After releasing the harness on her chair and removing the headset, she pushed off hard on the armrests, sending herself floating in the near-zero gravity of the control room. The electromagnets in her boots engaged automatically when she neared the platform, allowing her to land smoothly. The scientist and the soldier exchanged a salute.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 100ms t8n>><i><<click "~continue~">><<replace "#sunrise" t8n>><p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"All systems normal and within optimal parameters. Nothing out of the ordinary, but keep an eye on Group 9, they might be onto something promising."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Yes, ma'am, I'll let you know if anything changes." He began to move toward the console chair. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>She pulled herself into the lift and locked herself in, now standing perpendicular to her previous orientation, then looked up at her crewmate, who was situating himself in the command console. It was always an odd perspective, standing on the wall while someone else was on the floor, and it made her grin.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Have a good day, Lieutenant."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"G'night, Doctor Reyes." He smiled back at her.<</timed>> </p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>She settled into the seat as the door above her closed, and the lift descended slowly towards the station's outer ring. There were still things she could - should - take care of before heading back to her quarters, but no one would blame her if she decided to relax over a cup of coffee first.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 100ms t8n>><<click "Laboratory">><<audio ":playing" fadeoverto 10s 0>><<audio "1-1_pulse" volume 0 fadeoverto 20s 0.4>><<goto "1.2(a) Outer Ring">><</click>> • <<click "Docking Bay">><<audio ":playing" fadeoverto 10s 0>><<audio "1-1_pulse" volume 0 fadeoverto 20s 0.4>><<goto "1.2(b) Outer Ring / Docking Bay">><</click>> • <<click "Crew Quarters">><<audio ":playing" fadeoverto 10s 0>><<audio "1-1_pulse" volume 0 play fadeoverto 20s 0.4>><<goto "1.2(c) Outer Ring / Crew Quarters">><</click>><</timed>></div><</replace>><</click>></i><</timed>></div><</replace>><</click>></i><</timed>></div><</replace>><</click>></i><</timed>></div></span>
<<audio "1-1_sunrise" fadeoverto 10s 0>><<audio "1-2_sunrise-hall" volume 0 fadeoverto 20s 0.6 loop>><<audio "1-2_sunrise-lab" volume 0.05 play>><<timed 20s>><<audio "1-1_pulse" fadeoverto 10s 0>><<audio "1-2_pulse" time 20s volume 0 play fadeoverto 10s 0.4 loop>><</timed>><div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 1 - Sunrise</b>
<<timed 5s t8n>><i>1.2(a) Outer ring</i><</timed>></div>
<<set $lab to 1, $ada to 0>><p><<timed 5s t8n>>The transition from the near zero gravity of the control room to the gravity environment of the outer ring was always a little unsettling, but after several days on the station it was getting easier. Once the door to the lift opened, she stood up, disengaged the locks on her boots and stepped off to the right towards the station's laboratory and workshop.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 5s t8n>>The outer ring was not particularly large - only about 250 meters around - but if you weren't careful it was easy to become disoriented and take a wrong turn out of the lift. In her first days on the station, she would stop and carefully follow the color-coded arrows painted on the walls, but now only an initial cursory glance at the blue arrow was necessary. As she walked, she avoided looking out the long windows; even after being on board for five days, the large planet spinning outside made her a little queasy. She much preferred the gravitational freedom that the main console allowed, but in order to generate gravity for the outer ring the rotation was unfortunately necessary.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 5s t8n>>The ring was divided into three large segments, each with six compartments. The borders between the compartments were lined with yellow and black, to warn you of the slight change in slope as you moved from one to another. These also indicated where an airlock seal would engage automatically, and terrifyingly quickly, if the computer detected a breach in the outer hull of the compartment. The metal corridors of the station were lined with numbered compartments for storage, increasing clockwise around the ring, while yellow symbols indicated which systems were wired through each conduit.<</timed>> </p>
<p><<timed 5s t8n>>She finally arrived at a closed door, painted with the blue line that indicated the entrance to the laboratory wing. While the airlocks of the inner compartments remained open, those dividing the three larger segments of the ring were typically sealed tight. She placed her hand on the reader to the right, and the panel flashed green before the airlock opened.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 5s t8n>><i><<click "~continue~">><<audio ":playing" fadeoverto 10s 0>><<audio "1-2_sunrise-lab" fadeoverto 10s 1>><<goto "1.3(a) Laboratory">><</click>></i><</timed>></div>
<<audio "1-1_sunrise" fadeoverto 5s 0>><<audio "1-2_sunrise-hall" volume 0 fadeoverto 40s .6>><<audio "1-2_sunrise-drone" volume 0.05 loop>><<timed 20s>><<audio "1-1_pulse" fadeoverto 10s 0>><<audio "1-2_pulse" time 20s volume 0 fadeoverto 10s 0.4 loop>><</timed>><div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 1 - Sunrise</b>
<<timed 5s t8n>><i>1.2(b) Outer ring / Docking Bay</i><</timed>></div>
<span id="dockingbay"><p><<timed 5s t8n>>The transition from the near zero gravity of the control room to the gravity environment of the outer ring was always a little unsettling, but after several days on the station it was getting easier. Once the door to the lift opened, she stood up, disengaged the locks on her boots and stepped off to the right towards the station's docking bay.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 5s t8n>>The outer ring was not particularly large - only about 250 meters around - but if you weren't careful it was easy to become disoriented and take a wrong turn out of the lift. In her first days on the station, she would stop and carefully follow the color-coded arrows painted on the walls, but now only an initial cursory glance at the orange arrow was necessary. As she walked, she avoided looking out the long windows; even after being on board for five days, the large planet spinning outside made her a little queasy. She much preferred the freedom from the rotation that the main console allowed, but in order to generate gravity for the outer ring the rotation was unfortunately necessary.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 5s t8n>>The ring was divided into three large segments, each with six compartments. The borders between the compartments were lined with yellow and black, warning her of the slight change in slope as you moved from one to another. These also contained an airlock seal that would engage automatically, and terrifyingly quickly, if the computer detected a breach in the outer hull of the compartment. The metal corridors of the station were lined with numbered compartments for storage, increasing clockwise around the ring, while yellow symbols indicated which systems were wired through each conduit.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 5s t8n>>She finally arrived at a closed door, painted with the orange line that indicated the entrance to the docking bay. While the airlocks of the inner compartments remained open, those dividing the three larger segments of the ring were typically sealed tight. She placed her hand on the reader to the right, and the panel flashed green before the airlock opened.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 5s t8n>><i><<click "~continue~">><<replace "#dockingbay">><<audio ":playing" fadeoverto 10s 0 unloop>><<audio "1-2_sunrise-drone" fadeoverto 10s 0.25 loop>><<audio "1-2_drone" fadeoverto 10s 0.5 loop>><p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The docking bay primarily served as the hangar and maintenance bay for additional drones in case any were needed to supplement or replace the drones currently on the surface. At this (admittedly early) point in the mission, none had been needed, so all of the several dozen compartments were still full. She walked through, double-checking the status of each one on the displays. She could do this remotely from any computer terminal, of course, but she wanted to stretch her legs a bit after the shift at the console. Besides, she had spent years at the Institute designing and redesigning and <i>re</i>redesigning these drones, and there was something comforting about walking through and checking them in person. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>When she reached the far side of the hangar, she also checked the seal and status of the airlock leading to the lone shuttle on the station. When the larger interstellar transport ship came to resupply the station, they would use this shuttle to fly over for their debriefing and to brief the new personnel who would take their place manning the station. The sleek design was capable of handling atmosphere as well as vacuum, although they were discouraged from using it to go down to the planet without express permission - it took simply too much fuel to get back up to the station. The black and white markings were reminiscent of American shuttles of the past, though it carried the insignia of the Agency for Interstellar Defense and Exploration instead. Whoever designed them had a thing for aerospace history, it seemed. <</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 100ms t8n>><i><<click "~continue~">><<replace "#dockingbay">><p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Her communicator buzzed.<</timed>></p>
<p><<audio "1-2_comm" play>><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Hey, Sara, you still up?" It was Ada Lynden, the station's young and talented engineer. The two had hit it off during their training, and Sara hoped she might join her at the Institute when they eventually returned to Earth.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Yeah, for a bit, anyways - I'm finishing my walkthrough in the docking bay right now."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"D'ya think you could come down here for a sec? Lab Two."<</timed>></p>
<span id="choice"><p><<timed 10s t8n>>Technically, she was due for a few hours' <<click "break">><<replace #choice>><p><<timed 100ms t8n>><<audio "1-2_no" play>>"Well, I'm just off my shift at the console...can it wait?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"I suppose it can...but, I'm telling you Sara, you're really gonna want to take a look at this sooner than later."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Sara glanced at her watch. "I'm back on duty in six hours, Ada, I'll come right down then."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Copy that, Doc."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>She clicked off her communicator, and completed her rounds. After confirming the status of the rest of the drones in the hanger, she finally walked out towards the station's living quarters.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 100ms t8n>><i><<click "~continue~">><<audio "1-2_drone" fadeoverto 10s 0>><<audio "1-2_sunrise-drone" fadeoverto 15s 0>><<goto "1.2(d) Crew Quarters">><</click>></i><<set $ada to 1, $lab to 0>><</timed>></div><</replace>><</click>> after a console shift, but Ada knew that, so if she was calling it might be urgent, or at least something <<click "interesting...">><<replace #choice>><p><<audio "1-2_yes" play>><<timed 100ms t8n>>Sara checked her watch before responding. Still pretty early. "Sure thing, I'll be right down." She glanced at the monitors on the other side of the room - all green - before quickly heading down to meet Ada in the lab.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 100ms t8n>><i><<click "~continue~">><<audio "1-2_drone" fadeoverto 10s 0>><<audio "1-2_sunrise-drone" fadeoverto 15s 0>><<goto "1.3(b) Laboratory">><</click>></i><</timed>></div><<set $lab to 1, $ada to 0>><</replace>><</click>><</timed>></p></span><</replace>><</click>></i><</timed>></div><</replace>><</click>></i><</timed>></div></span>
<<audio "1-1_sunrise" fadeoverto 5s 0>><<audio "1-2_sunrise-hall" volume 0 fadeoverto 20s 0.25 loop>><<timed 20s>><<audio "1-1_pulse" fadeoverto 10s 0>><<audio "1-2_pulse" time 20s volume 0 fadeoverto 10s 0.4 loop>><</timed>><div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 1 - Sunrise</b> <<set $ada to 1, $lab to 0>>
<<timed 100ms t8n>><i>1.2(c) Outer ring / Crew Quarters</i><</timed>></div>
<span id="crewq"><p><<timed 5s t8n>>The transition from the near zero gravity of the control room to the gravity environment of the outer ring was always a little unsettling, but after several days on the station it was getting easier. Once the door to the lift opened, she stood up, disengaged the locks on her boots and stepped off to the left towards the station's living quarters. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 5s t8n>>The outer ring was not particularly large - only about 250 meters around - but if you weren't careful it was easy to become disoriented and take a wrong turn out of the lift. In her first days on the station, she would stop and carefully follow the color-coded arrows painted on the walls, but now only an initial cursory glance at the green arrow was necessary. As she walked, she avoided looking out the long windows; even after being on board for five days, the large planet spinning outside made her a little queasy. She much preferred the gravitational freedom that the main console allowed, but in order to generate gravity for the outer ring the rotation was unfortunately necessary.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 5s t8n>>The ring was divided into three large segments, each with six compartments. The borders between the compartments were lined with yellow and black, warning her of the slight change in slope as you moved from one to another. These also contained an airlock seal that would engage automatically, and terrifyingly quickly, if the computer detected a breach in the outer hull of the compartment. The metal corridors of the station were lined with numbered compartments for storage, increasing clockwise around the ring, while yellow symbols indicated which systems were wired through each conduit.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 5s t8n>>She finally arrived at a closed door, painted with the green line that indicated the entrance to the living quarters. She placed her hand on the reader to the right, and the panel flashed green before the airlock opened. <</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 5s t8n>><i><<click "~continue~">><<audio ":playing" fadeoverto 10s 0>><<timed 100ms>><<audio "1-2_lounge_1" volume .5 play>><</timed>><<replace "#crewq">><p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Upon entering the wing, she opened the first door on the right and entered the pantry containing the crew's pre-rationed meals. The dehydrated food of the first astronauts were a thing of the past, they were proudly told during training, but these meals were clearly developed to favor ease of storage and transport over flavor. It took quite a bit of creativity to alter them for personal taste, as the kitchen next door was not much more than a glorified microwave, but after a shift she was usually so hungry it didn't matter. Ration Pack 5A/Chicken - good enough. She moved next door and placed the Pack in the food preparer. While she waited, she grabbed one of the many identical, nondescript blue mugs off a shelf, filled it with hot black coffee, and leaned back against the countertop. She closed her eyes and breathed in the aroma. The coffee machine managed to produce a remarkably good cup, all things considered. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>A cheerful tone announced that her meal was ready, and she took it out of the microwave, tore the seal, and stepped out into the hall.<</timed>> </p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The lounge and dining area sat adjacent to the kitchen facilities, and were actually pretty comfortable. The lounge was the only room in the station that was carpeted, and had rather comfortable seating. The windows here doubled as high definition screens that could display a live video feed of the planet from a fixed perspective; you could almost forget that the station was still rotating. She sat down in the leftmost chair and ate slowly - it was vaguely chicken, all right - while looking out the windows. This was her favorite time of the day, watching the surface gradually become illuminated in the increasing sunlight. <<set $coffee = 1>> <</timed>></p><<timed 25s t8n>><<audio "1-2_sunrise-lounge" time 25s volume 0 fadeoverto 5s 0.25 loop>><</timed>>
<p><<timed 102s>><<audio "1-2_comm-l" volume 0.5 play>>"Hey, Sara, you still up?" her communicator buzzed. It was Ada Lynden, the station's young and talented engineer. The two had hit it off during their training, and Sara hoped she might join her at the Institute when they eventually returned to Earth.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 102s>>"Yeah, for a bit, anyways."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 102s>>"D'ya think you could come down here for a sec? Lab Two."<</timed>></p>
<span id="choice"><p><<timed 112s t8n>>Technically, she was due for a few hours' <<click "break">><<replace #choice>><p><<audio "1-2_no-l" volume 0.5 play>><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Well, I'm just off my shift at the console...can it wait?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"I suppose it can...but, I'm telling you Sara, you're really gonna want to take a look at this."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"I'm back on duty in six hours, Ada, I'll come right down then."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Copy that, Doc."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Her communicator clicked silent and Sara settled back into the chair. As she sipped her coffee, she tried to concentrate back on the sunrise, which was illuminating a large region of snow-capped mountains to the north. She wondered how it would be to ski there; the planet was a touch smaller than Earth, and the decreased gravity was sure to have an impact. She chuckled to herself and shook her head at the ridiculousness of the image of a ski jumper that popped into her head, dressed head to toe in space-walking gear, reaching escape velocity. She watched the steam dance off of the surface of her mug, trying to quiet her thoughts.<</timed>></p>
<<timed 25s>><<audio "1-2_lounge_2" volume 0.5 fadein>><</timed>>
<p><<timed 97s>><<audio "1-2_yes-l" volume 0.5 play>>...but ultimately her mind kept straying from the brightening planet below to what could be so interesting down in the lab. She reopened the channel.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 97s>>"Changed my mind, I'll be right down."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 97s>>"Thought you might! You won't be disappointed." <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 97s>>She quickly finished her ration pack as she headed back into the kitchen, where she fished out a lid for her mug before heading down to the lab.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><i><<click "~continue~">><<audio "1-2_sunrise-lounge" fadeoverto 5s 0 unloop>><<goto "1.3(b) Laboratory">><</click>></i></div><</replace>><</click>><</timed>><<timed 112s t8n>> after a console shift, but Ada knew that, so if she was calling it might be urgent, or at least something <<click "interesting...">><<audio "1-2_yes-l" volume 0.5 play>><<replace "#choice">><p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Sara checked her watch before responding. Still pretty early. "Sure thing, I'll be right down." She glanced at the monitors on the other side of the room - all green - before quickly heading down to meet Ada in the lab.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 100ms t8n>><i><<click "~continue~">><<audio "1-2_sunrise-lounge" fadeoverto 5s 0 unloop>><<goto "1.3(b) Laboratory">><</click>></i><</timed>></div><</replace>><</click>><</timed>></p></span><</replace>><</click>></i><</timed>></div></span>
<<timed 5s>><<audio "1-3_labsounds" volume 0 fadeoverto 10s .6 loop>><</timed>><div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 1 - Sunrise</b>
<<timed 100ms t8n>><i>1.3(a) Laboratory</i><</timed>></div>
<span id="lab1"><p><<timed 5s t8n>>The laboratory wing of the station contained several large labs and workshops. The workshops were primarily designed for maintenance of various components used in the station, and Sara had used a similar facility on a previous station to develop the current generation of scout drones. The labs were filled with powerful computers and equipment for analysis of the soil and atmosphere of the planet below. At this point, less than a week into their mission, they relied exclusively on computer simulations and the readings from the drones' on-board equipment, as the Agency had yet to approve the retrieval of any materials from the surface.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 5s t8n>>Sara arrived at the third segment of the laboratory wing, the location of Lab 2. This facility held equipment focused on analyzing soil samples and developing fertilization and soil enrichment procedures for the terraforming project. Through the small round window in the center of the door, Sara could see Ada Lynden sitting by the main computer terminal with her communicator in her right hand. Ada was the station's young and talented engineer. The two had hit it off during their training, and Sara hoped she might join her at the Institute when they eventually returned to Earth. Sara placed her hand on the panel beside the door. The panel flashed green and the door slid open obediently. She stepped over the threshold into the narrow lab.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 5s t8n>><i><<click "~continue~">><<audio "1-3_lab" volume 0.6 play>><<replace "#lab1">><p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Ada turned at the sound of the door. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Sara! I was just about to call you, actually."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Grinning, she replaced the comm to her belt and beckoned energetically toward Sara, who was still standing by the entrance. "Come have a look at this."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"What do you have for me, Ada?" Sara quickly walked the short distance to the terminal. She leaned forward, looking over Ada's shoulder.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"The readings you flagged earlier are pretty incredible."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Some kind of metal, right?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Yes, it's metal, all right, but it's not quite so simple as that - rather, it's some kind of alloy."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"An alloy?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Yeah - a particularly complex one, too - the drones weren't equipped to analyze the exact components, we'll need to go down and get a sample of it to really figure out what we're dealing with here, but the numbers we are getting don't match anything else on file. I am certain about one thing - it's not naturally occurring."<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 37s t8n>>• • •<</timed>></div>
<p><<timed 37s t8n>>Sara and Ada pored over the readings for the next couple hours, with each new scan from a drone raising more questions. If it didn't occur naturally, how did it get here? Who made it? What was it - perhaps a part of something larger still out there? No non-Agency ship had been this deep into space, but to the best of their knowledge - and that of the station's database - nothing developed by the Agency used this kind of metal...<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 37s t8n>>But speculation would do nothing at this point; there were too many unknowns, too much guessing - they needed more information. Permission to go down to the surface and bring back a sample was, at the earliest, several days away, so the search patterns would continue as planned, but with a greater focus on Group Nine's valley on the southern continent.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 37s t8n>><i><<click "~continue~">><<goto "1.4 Living Quarters">><</click>></i><</timed>></div><</replace>><</click>></i><</timed>></div></span>
<<audio "1-2_drone" fadeoverto 5s 0 unloop>><<audio "1-2_sunrise-drone" fadeoverto 10s 0 unloop>><div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 1 - Sunrise</b>
<<timed 100ms t8n>><i>1.2(d) Crew Quarters</i><</timed>></div>
<p><<timed 7s t8n>><<audio "1-2_lounge_1" volume 0 fadeoverto 7s 0.6>>Upon arriving at the habitation wing for the three crewmen who staffed the station, Sara immediately opened the first door on the right and entered the pantry containing the crew's pre-rationed meals. The dehydrated food of the first astronauts were a thing of the past, they were proudly told during training, but these meals were clearly developed to favor ease of storage and transport over flavor. It took quite a bit of creativity to alter them for personal taste, as the kitchen next door was not much more than a glorified microwave, but after a shift she was usually so hungry it didn't matter. Ration Pack 5A/Chicken - good enough. She moved next door and placed the Pack in the food preparer. While she waited, she grabbed one of the many identical, nondescript blue mugs off a shelf and filled it with coffee - black, always black - then leaned back against the countertop. The coffee machine managed to produce a remarkably good cup, all things considered.<</timed>> </p>
<p><<timed 7s t8n>>A cheerful tone announced that her meal was ready, and she took it out of the machine and ripped the package open. Carrying the ration pack in her right hand and her coffee in her left, she walked out of the kitchen.<</timed>> </p>
<p><<timed 7s t8n>>The lounge and dining area sat adjacent to the kitchen facilities. The lounge was the only room in the station that was carpeted, and the only room that had comfortable seating. The windows here doubled as high definition screens that could display a live video feed of the planet from a fixed perspective; you could almost forget that the station was still rotating. She sat down in the leftmost chair and ate slowly - it was vaguely chicken, all right - while looking out the windows. This was her favorite time of the day, watching the surface gradually become illuminated in the increasing sunlight. She sipped her coffee as the light spread over a large region of snow-capped mountains to the north. She wondered how it would be to ski there; the planet was a touch smaller than Earth, and the decreased gravity was sure to have an impact. She chuckled to herself and shook her head at the image of a ski jumper that popped into her head, dressed head to toe in space-walking gear and reaching escape velocity. She watched the steam dance off of the surface of her mug, trying to quiet her thoughts. <<set $coffee to 1>><</timed>></p><<timed 25s>><<audio "1-2_sunrise-lounge" volume 0 fadeoverto 10s .25 loop>><</timed>>
<p><<timed 100s t8n>><<audio "1-2_yes-l" play>>...but ultimately her mind kept straying from the brightening planet below to what could be so interesting down in the lab. She pulled our her communicator.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100s t8n>>"Changed my mind, I'll be right down."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100s t8n>>"Thought you might! You won't be disappointed."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100s t8n>>She quickly finished her ration pack as she headed back into the kitchen, where she fished out a lid for her mug before heading down to the laboratory wing.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 100s t8n>><i><<click "~continue~">><<audio "1-2_sunrise-lounge" fadeoverto 5s 0 unloop>><<goto "1.3(b) Laboratory">><</click>></i><</timed>></div>
<<audio "1-3_labsounds" fadeoverto 5s 0 unloop>><<audio "1-2_sunrise-lab" fadeoverto 10s 0 unloop>><div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 1 - Sunrise</b>
<<timed 100ms t8n>><i>1.4 Living Quarters</i><</timed>></div>
<<if $lab is 1>><<timed 7s>><<audio "1-2_lounge_2" volume 0 fadeoverto 3s 0.5>><</timed>><p><<timed 7s t8n>>Much later than she had originally planned, Sara finally arrived at the wing containing the living quarters for the three crewmen who staffed the station. She opened the first door on the right and scanned the pantry containing the crew's pre-rationed meals. The dehydrated food of the first astronauts were a thing of the past, they were proudly told during training, but these meals were clearly developed to favor ease of storage and transport over flavor. It took quite a bit of creativity to alter them for personal taste, as the kitchen next door was not much more than a glorified microwave, but after a shift she was usually so hungry it didn't matter. Ration Pack 5A/Chicken - good enough. She moved next door and placed the Pack in the food preparer. While she waited, she grabbed one of the many identical, nondescript blue mugs off a shelf, filled it with hot black coffee, and leaned back against the countertop. The coffee machine managed to produce a remarkably good cup, all things considered.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 7s t8n>>After a minute or two, a cheerful tone announced that her meal was ready. She took it out of the microwave, tore the seal, and stepped back into the corridor.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 20s t8n>><<audio "1-4_sunrise" volume 0 fadeoverto 20s .25 loop>>The lounge and dining area sat adjacent to the kitchen facilities, and were actually pretty comfortable. The lounge was the only room in the station that was carpeted, and had rather comfortable seating. The windows here doubled as high definition screens that could display a live video feed of the planet from a fixed perspective; you could almost forget that the station was still rotating. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 20s t8n>>She sat down in the leftmost chair and ate slowly - it was vaguely chicken, all right - while looking out the windows. A shadow slowly stretched over the eastern sea as sunset approached. As she sipped her coffee, she tried to concentrate on the approaching night, but ultimately it was hard to get her mind off what they had found. A previously unknown alloy... <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 20s t8n>>She turned her gaze to the steam dance off of the surface of her mug, trying to quiet her thoughts.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 92s t8n>><<audio "1-4_sunrise" fadeoverto 30s 0 unloop>><<audio "1-4_sunrise-reverb" time 92s fadeoverto 20s 0.25 loop>>When she finished her quick meal and had cleaned up a bit, she moved down the hall and entered her own quarters. The lights flicked on automatically and illuminated the sparsely decorated room, left mostly bare except for a small photograph of her family home by the computer terminal. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 92s t8n>>She changed out of her uniform and into the Agency-issued pajamas, then sat on her bed, looking out the window/screen. The valley was visible from this perspective, cloud-covered and shaded black and gray from the many plants and trees adapted to absorb as much light from the red dwarf star as they could. A thin line of the river led into the blue-green of the ocean, particularly vivid next to the monochrome of the continents. She glanced at the time displayed on the console - only three hours left, she'd better sleep - and tapped the bottom right of the screen. Shutters closed over the windows and the lights and displays dimmed, leaving only a pale green point of light on the far wall. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 92s t8n>>She lay back on her pillow and looked up into the darkness for a moment. Shifting to her right side, she closed her eyes, quieted her mind, and slowly drifted off to sleep.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 102s t8n>><<click "Continue">><<audio "1-4_sunrise-reverb" fadeoverto 10s 0>><<goto "INTERLUDE: Sunflowers">><</click>> • <<click "Restart Chapter 1">><<audio "1-4_sunrise" fadeoverto 15s 0>><<goto "Chapter 1 - Sunrise">><</click>> • <<click "Return to Title">><<audio "1-4_sunrise" fadeout>><<audio "title" volume 1 play>><<goto "Title 2">><</click>><</timed>></div><</if>><<if $ada is 1>><p><<audio "1-4_sunrise" volume 0 fadeoverto 5s .25 loop>><<timed 5s t8n>>Much later than she had originally planned, Sara finally arrived at her own quarters to get some rest before her next shift at the console. The lights flicked on automatically and illuminated the sparsely decorated room, left mostly bare except for a small photograph of her family home by the computer terminal. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 5s t8n>>She walked to the other side of the room to the compartments that served as her dresser. She opened up the lowest drawer and paused, staring blankly down, still lost in thought about what they had found. A previously unknown alloy... <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 5s t8n>>She changed out of her uniform and into the Agency-issued pajamas, then sat on her bed, looking out the window/screen. The valley was visible from this perspective, cloud-covered and shaded black and gray from the many plants and trees adapted to absorb as much light from the red dwarf star as they could. A thin line of the river led into the blue-green of the ocean, particularly vivid next to the monochrome of the continents. She glanced at the time displayed on the console - only three hours left, she'd better sleep - and tapped the bottom right of the screen. Shutters closed over the windows and the lights and displays dimmed, leaving only a pale green point of light on the far wall. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 5s t8n>>She lay back on her pillow and looked up into the darkness for a moment. Shifting to her side, she closed her eyes, quieted her mind, and slowly drifted off to sleep.<</timed>> </p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 20s t8n>><<audio "1-4_sunrise" fadeoverto 10s 0 unloop>><<audio "1-4_sunrise-reverb" volume 0 fadeoverto 5s 0.25 loop>><<click "Continue">><<audio "1-4_sunrise-reverb" fadeoverto 10s 0>><<goto "INTERLUDE: Sunflowers">><</click>> • <<click "Restart Chapter 1">><<audio "1-4_sunrise-reverb" fadeoverto 15s 0 unloop>><<goto "Chapter 1 - Sunrise">><</click>> • <<click "Return to Title">><<audio "1-4_sunrise-reverb" fadeout>><<audio "title" volume 1 play loop>><<goto "Title 2">><</click>><</timed>></div><</if>>
<<timed 13s>><<audio "sunflowers" play>><</timed>><div style="text-align:center"><<timed 10s t8n>><img src="http://www.penguinmanmusic.com/sunflower.png" height="287" width="500">
<b>Sunflowers</b><</timed>></div>
<span id="sunflowers"><p><<timed 25336ms t8n>> It is late afternoon.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 32570ms t8n>>I am standing in a field of long grass, surrounded by tall, yellow flowers. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 32570ms t8n>>Rather, I should say that the field itself is surrounded by yellow flowers, as there are none within a 40 meter radius around me, but outside that border sunflowers extend apparently unendingly beyond the horizon, nothing but sunflowers in all directions.<</timed>> </p>
<p><<timed 45423ms t8n>>The sky is cloudless and blue but oranges and reds are beginning to spread. The wind moves lightly past me, shifting and adjusting my hair as the long grass brushes against my legs.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 76285ms t8n>>I close my eyes and take a deep breath and listen to the wind, rustling and whistling around me, making paths through the floral sea. Though it seems late summer, the air is cool. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 155624ms t8n>>I open my eyes and run lightly towards the yellow flowers, though they never seem to get any closer.<</timed>><<timed 164225ms>> I push harder, breaking into a sprint.<</timed>><<timed 167451ms>> I shift directions, hoping to catch them off guard, but still I fail; the flowers remain tantalizingly close but impossibly far. <</timed>><<timed 208968ms t8n>>I stop running, and put my hands on my knees to catch my breath, and wonder...<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 250s t8n>>Standing straight again I take in my surroundings once more. There is more here than I had noticed initially - no, I am certain there was nothing but tall grass and sunflowers before, nothing else to be seen, but now things have emerged unnoticed.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 250s t8n>>Within the field I notice a <<click "tree">><<replace "#sunflowers">><<display "tree">><</replace>><</click>> to the north, stout with oak-like leaves and round yellow fruit where acorns should be. The sturdy branches hang low and are spaced such that the tree seems to have been designed for climbing.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 250s t8n>>In the west there is a small <<click "lake">><<replace "#sunflowers">><<display "lake">><</replace>><</click>>, perhaps just a pond. The sun lingers over its silver surface, gazing at its reflection below, and casting long shadows of the sunflowers at the far edge.<</timed>></p></span>
<<audio "sunflowers" fadeout>><<timed 1s>><<audio "lake" play>><</timed>><p><<set $lake = 1, $tree = 0>><<timed 1s t8n>>I take a step towards the shore of the lake - pond - and, though most of the embankment is blanketed in flowers, it does not move away. My steps grow more confident and I shift into a light jog and soon I am beside the small body of water. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 10332ms t8n>>The surface shimmers in the dimming sunlight, but the water is strangely still, even in the light breeze I feel around me. I look down. The stillness of the water makes it a perfect mirror.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 25263ms t8n>>I glance down at my reflection.<</timed>> <<timed 31892ms t8n>>My own hazel eyes return my gaze, and I see the wind too, shifting through my hair and brushing against my dress. Still, the water refuses to acknowledge the moving air. Curious. I sit down on the bank and continue to look at myself in the water.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 46485ms t8n>>Certainly it is me I see there, a reflection of me, though I cannot help but sense that there is something different there, too.<</timed>><<timed 63110ms t8n>> Is it just the nature of reflections, of mere images, or is there something really missing in me?<</timed>> <<timed 67s t8n>>I look up, past my reflection, to the opposite shore, and wonder.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 75s t8n>>On the surface of the lake I see a tall structure that wasn't there when I sat down. Where did it come from? Only a few meters away, it seems to have appeared as suddenly and unnoticed as the lake had. I feel a sudden desire, a need, to reach it.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 92379ms t8n>>I stand carefully and begin to walk into the lake. <</timed>><<timed 96788ms t8n>>Soon I am on the lake itself, the still water feeling like glass beneath my feet.<</timed>><<timed 104170ms t8n>> Soon I am beside the structure, apparently an unfinished wall some five meters high. It appears to be made out of some combination of wood and metal, colored silver with thin lines and curves of green engraved into it. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 119844ms t8n>>I walk around it, wondering how and why this wall is here on this strange lake. From the other side the wall appears more as an arch, with the silver and green replaced by a deep impenetrable black.<</timed>><<timed 134943ms t8n>> Somehow I know that there is something beyond the black void, but I cannot see past the threshold.<</timed>></p>
<p></p>
<p><<timed 142809ms t8n>>It is a door I cannot open.<</timed>> </p>
<p></p>
<<timed 171s>><<goto "Chapter 2 - Visions">><</timed>>
<<audio "sunflowers" fadeout>><<timed 1s>><<audio "tree" play>><</timed>><<set $tree = 1, $lake = 0>><p><<timed 1s t8n>>I take a few cautious steps towards the tree. To my surprise, it stays in place, making no attempt to flee. I begin to jog towards it, quickly covering the distance, finding myself by the trunk.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 13092ms t8n>>The tree is not particularly tall, but it asserts itself with its breadth - the lowest branches easily extend five meters, and the trunk itself is nearly ten meters around.<</timed>><<timed 28311ms t8n>> The branches are filled with yellow fruit, all perfect orbs. In the leaf-filtered light they almost seem to flicker like stars. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 55059ms t8n>>I pick the fruit closest to me. Somehow I know it is ripe, and I take a bite. It is crispy and sweet, and I slide down with my back to the trunk of the tree, eating the fruit.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 85059ms t8n>>From the center of the grassy field the leaves seemed quite dense, but from beneath the tree I can see this is only true of the outer half of the branches. The inner area of the tree is clean, and I can see the blue-orange sky clearly through the top of the canopy. A spiral formation of branches forms a kind of stairway to the top.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 107910ms t8n>>I stand up and grasp the lowest branch. I hoist myself up and begin to clamber up the tree. I half expect the top to keep extending beyond my reach, like the sunflowers, but instead it seems to come towards me and suddenly I am seated on a branch with my head above the canopy.<</timed>><<timed 118146ms t8n>> Around the tree is the sea of sunflowers; even from my higher vantage point I cannot see the end of them. <</timed>><<timed 126631ms t8n>> The wind causes calm waves to flow through them, lapping against an invisible beach.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 151325ms t8n>>I see a glint of something metal in the distance.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 155533ms t8n>> A closer look reveals a structure standing tall amid the sunflowers, and I wonder what it is. I wonder how to reach it. I feel a sudden desire, a need, to reach it.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 170401ms t8n>>Suddenly I am standing before it, now truly surrounded by sunflowers who have now allowed me among them, and the structure is as tall as the tree and made of unfamiliar metal and wood, silver with lines and curves of green engraved in it. <</timed>><<timed 185755ms t8n>> The wind-blown flowers brush up against it lightly; from this side it seems to be nothing more than a freestanding wall. I walk around it, wondering how and why this wall was here in this strange field.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 202593ms t8n>>From the other side of the wall it appears as an arch, with the silver and green replaced by a deep impenetrable black. <</timed>><<timed 210932ms t8n>> Somehow I know that there is something beyond the black void, but I cannot see past the threshold.<</timed>></p>
<p></p>
<p><<timed 220966ms t8n>>It is a door I cannot open.<</timed>></p>
<p></p>
<<timed 241s>><<goto "Chapter 2 - Visions">><</timed>>
<<audio "2-1_alarmclock" time 0 volume 1 play>><div style="text-align:center"><<timed 10s t8n>><img src="http://www.penguinmanmusic.com/nqas/roomdoor.png"><</timed>>
<<timed 14s t8n>><b>Chapter 2 - Visions</b><</timed>>
<<timed 33s t8n>><i>2.1 Crew Quarters</i><</timed>></div>
<p><<timed 33s t8n>>A loud knocking at the door snapped her awake, and she sat up sharply, still groggy.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 33s t8n>>"Sara! Hey, Sara, you planning on sleeping all day or what?" Ada's voice was decidedly too chipper for the hour.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 33s t8n>>"I'm up, I'm up." Groaning, Sara deactivated the alarm, which was still blaring and beginning to sound annoyed that she was still in bed. 0539 - she'd overslept somehow, by nearly an hour. She slowly relaxed and laid her head back on the pillow, staring up at the ceiling. Even with the extra sleep, she felt more tired than she had in ages.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 33s t8n>>"You okay? That alarm's been going off for awhile..."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 33s t8n>>"No, no, I'm good, just overslept somehow."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 33s t8n>>"Ok, see you at breakfast!" <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 33s t8n>>Sara listened as Ada's footsteps grew more distant in the hallway. Rubbing her eyes, she rolled over and sat up on the edge of the bed. She stayed there a moment, almost frozen, the warmth of the sheets pleading with her not to go, but at last she rose and walked across the cold floor. The control panel chirped when she touched the command, "Open." She crossed her arms as the shutters covering the window slid away to reveal the starlit sky outside.<</timed>> </p>
<p><<timed 33s t8n>>The planet below was still dark, as it was not yet dawn, but the sight of it comforted her. She smiled down at it, and somehow began to feel more awake, as if the planet itself was encouraging her to get moving. Stretching, she turned away from the viewport, and, taking the planet's cue, headed to the showers.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 33s t8n>><i><<click "~continue~">><<audio ":playing" fadeoverto 5s 0>><<audio "2-1_sunriseb" volume 0 fadeoverto 15s 0.25 loop>><<goto "2.1 Crew Quarters">><</click>></i><</timed>></div>
<<timed 58s>><<audio "2-1_sunriseb" volume 0 fadeoverto 30s 0.25 loop>><<audio "2-1_alarmclock" fadeoverto 22s 0>><</timed>>
<<if $lake is 1>><<display "showers - lake">><</if>><<if $tree is 1>><<display "showers - tree">><</if>>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 2 - Visions</b>
<i>2.1(a) Crew Quarters</i></div>
<p>She felt better, more refreshed, now clean, showered, and dressed in her uniform. Pulling her hair back into a ponytail, she turned to take a final cursory glance at herself in the mirror.</p><<timed 5s>><<audio "2-1_shower" play>><</timed>>
<p><<timed 5s t8n>>At the sight of her reflection, she gasped and jumped back a step, looking away and shaking her head in disbelief. Instead of a soft-blue uniform complete with the round Agency insignia she had seen the same reflection from the Dream-lake, with her hair down, blowing in the wind, in that dress, sunflowers around her in every direction. She could still smell the sunflowers, hear the wind brushing through them. When she closed her eyes she could feel them against her legs.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 43s t8n>>The sensations faded almost as quickly as they came, and her perception seemed to return to normal. Cautiously, her heart rate still a little elevated, she turned back toward the mirror, where her expected reflection had returned - had it ever really left? Sara let out a sigh of relief while she adjusted her hair. She'd had vivid dreams before, but never one that had her seeing things in the morning, and it took her a few extra moments to relax and slow her breathing once more. Still a little uneasy, she headed out to the kitchen. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 43s t8n>>Of all the breakfast options in the pantry, Sara liked the oatmeal best - it was the only one that tasted pretty much like it did back on Earth. She grabbed a pack from the shelf, tore it open, and poured it into a bowl, then started the coffee machine and some water boiling. Closing her eyes again while she waited, she tried to clear her head of the last of its grogginess, though this was made more difficult by the imprint the phantom reflection had made on her memory. Why did it bother her so much? She looked down at a particularly reflective part of the countertop - yep, still her, still in uniform, still on the station. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 43s t8n>>At last, the coffee pot and the water heater chimed nearly simultaneously to indicate their readiness. The smell of cinnamon and brown sugar began to fill the room as she poured the water over the bowl of dry oatmeal, and she breathed it in deeply, the soothing aroma pushing her uneasiness aside for now. She picked up the bowl and her coffee mug and headed to the lounge to join Ada.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 43s t8n>><i><<click "~continue~">><<goto "2.2(a) Lounge">><</click>></i><</timed>></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 2 - Visions</b>
<i>2.2(a) Lounge</i></div> <<audio "2-2_lounge" play>>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Nice to see you up and about!" Ada was sitting cross-legged on the couch in the center, facing the windows, and still aggravatingly happy for this time of day.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Morning." The sun was beginning to emerge from behind the planet, which was still shrouded in a slowly receding shadow. As she moved to join Ada, a glint of color caught Sara's eye. On the table in the far corner of the room, there was a vase with a single yellow sunflower that Sara didn't remember ever seeing before. She stared at it for a moment, then walked behind the couch and slowly over to the table, never breaking her gaze. She placed her oatmeal down on the table, and cocked her head, considering the sunflower. It looked real enough.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 37s t8n>>"Sara?" Ada had turned to watch her.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 37s t8n>>Sara reached out gingerly and grabbed the flower between her thumb and first finger, pulling it out of the vase and rolled the stem back and forth as she drew it closer to her face. No scent, but that's to be expected from a sunflower. She felt the leaves - silk. It was a remarkably real looking artificial flower. She turned toward Ada, still looking at the flower. "Where'd this come from?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 37s t8n>>"Oh, that flower? Brought it from home. I've had it in my room, but I thought this place could use a little brightening up, so.... I can always put it back, though." She began to get up, but Sarah waved her back.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 37s t8n>><<audio "2-1_sunriseb" fadeoverto 10s 0>><<audio "2-2_hesitate" play>>"No, it's...nice." She replaced the flower but kept looking at it for a beat before suddenly shaking her head, trying to clear her drowsiness. "Unexpected, is all." She hadn't brought anything of the like from her own home on Earth, her quarters on the station left bare and somewhat spartan. Retrieving her food, she finally joined Ada on the couch.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 37s t8n>>"Really, Sara, what's up? You feeling alright? You're looking a little pale."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 37s t8n>>"Didn't really sleep well last night..."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 67s t8n>><<audio "2-1_sunriseb" fadeoverto 5s 0.25>>Sara began to <<click "tell her about the dream">><<audio "2-2_yes" play>><<goto "2.2(c) Lounge">><</click>>, but a strange hesitation caught her words in her throat. A voice in her head - a very insistent voice - seemed to be telling her to <<click "keep it all to herself">><<audio "2-2_no" play>><<goto "2.2(d) Lounge">><</click>>.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 2 - Visions</b>
<i>2.1(b) Crew Quarters</i></div>
<p>She felt better, more refreshed, now clean and dressed in her uniform. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail and after a final quick glance at herself in the mirror she walked out of her quarters toward the kitchen.</p>
<p>As a rule, Sara never skipped breakfast. On weekends back on Earth, it was her favorite meal - there was nothing quite like a good plate of homemade French toast while watching the sunrise from the front porch. Even though the food on the station couldn't quite live up to "real" food, she never felt quite like herself if she didn't eat something. This morning, however, she already felt strangely full. Looking through the pantry, none of the ration packs seemed particularly appetizing anyway, certainly nothing that lived up to the flavor of the yellow fruit in her dream, so she just fixed a cup of coffee, and headed to the lounge, where she found Ada. </p>
<div style="text-align:center"><i>[[~continue~|2.2(b) Lounge]]</i></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 2 - Visions</b>
<i>2.2(b) Lounge</i></div> <<audio "2-2_lounge" play>>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Nice to see you up and about!" Ada was sitting cross-legged on the couch in the center, facing the windows, and still aggravatingly happy for this time of day.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Morning." The sun was beginning to emerge from behind the planet, which was still shrouded in a slowly receding shadow. As she moved to join Ada, a glint of color caught Sara's eye. On the table in the far corner of the room, there was a vase with a single yellow sunflower that Sara didn't remember ever seeing before. She stared at it for a moment, then walked behind the couch and slowly over to the table, never breaking her gaze. She placed her coffee down on the table, and cocked her head, considering the sunflower. It looked real enough.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 37s t8n>>"Sara?" Ada had turned to watch her.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 37s t8n>>Sara reached out gingerly and grabbed the flower between her thumb and first finger, pulling it out of the vase and rolled the stem back and forth as she drew it closer to her face. No scent, but that's to be expected from a sunflower. She felt the leaves - silk. It was a remarkably real looking artificial flower. She turned toward Ada, still looking at the flower. "Where'd this come from?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 37s t8n>>"Oh, that flower? Brought it from home. I've had it in my room, but I thought this place could use a little brightening up, so.... I can always put it back, though." She began to get up, but Sarah waved her back.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 37s t8n>><<audio "2-1_sunriseb" fadeoverto 10s 0>><<audio "2-2_hesitate" volume 0.5 play>>"No, it's...nice." She replaced the flower but kept looking at it for a beat before suddenly shaking her head, trying to clear her drowsiness. "Unexpected, is all." She hadn't brought anything of the like from her own home on Earth, her quarters on the station left bare and somewhat spartan. Retrieving her coffee, she finally joined Ada on the couch.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 37s t8n>>"Really, Sara, what's up? You feeling alright? You're looking a little pale."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 37s t8n>>"Didn't really sleep well last night..."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 64s t8n>><<audio "2-1_sunriseb" fadeoverto 5s 0.25>>Sara began to <<click "tell her about the dream">><<audio "2-2_yes" volume 0.5 play>><<goto "2.2(e) Lounge">><</click>>, but a strange hesitation caught her words in her throat. A voice in her head - a very insistent voice - seemed to be telling her to <<click "keep it all to herself">><<audio "2-2_no" volume 0.5 play>><<goto "2.2(f) Lounge">><</click>>.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 2 - Visions<<set $dreamyes = 1>></b>
<i>2.2(c) Lounge</i></div>
<p>Sara fought off her hesitation and recounted the dream to Ada, the vivid images fully preserved in her head. Though her dream-self had seemed fairly unfazed by everything, retelling it left her somewhat uneasy.</p>
<p>"Wow, Sara..."</p>
<p>"Then, when I woke up this morning I saw that reflection - the same reflection - in the mirror for a split second. I thought I might have been imagining the sunflower too."</p>
<p>"That door, though, I wonder where it could lead..." Ada had her chin in her hands, eyes narrowed, with an expression like she was imagining just what was on the other side of the door.</p>
<p>Sara leaned back and shook her head. "Whatever, I just hope I can get some sleep tonight."</p>
<p>A sudden grin from Ada beamed back at her. "I'm sure you will - don't give it too much thought, it's just a dream."</p>
<p>"It felt so real, though..."</p>
<p>"In any case - it's time for work. I'll see you this evening." She sprang up from the couch with her dishes, walking brightly out of the lounge.</p>
<p>"Later," Sara called after her. Nothing, not even an early morning wakeup, ever fazed Ada, she thought to herself, smiling softly. Slowly she got up and followed her out the door, taking her dishes to the kitchen before heading to the control room for her shift. </p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 35s t8n>><i>[[~continue~|2.3(a) Control Room]]</i><</timed>></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 2 - Visions</b><<set $dreamyes = 0>>
<i>2.2(d) Lounge</i></div>
<p>"Why not?" Ada had a friendly concern on her face. </p>
<p>"Just...too excited from our find yesterday, I guess." This wasn't completely false, anyways. </p>
<p>"No worries, took me awhile to shut my brain off and get to sleep myself. You'll be alright tonight."</p>
<p>"I hope."</p>
<p>"In any case - it's time for work. I'll see you this evening." She sprang up from the couch with her dishes, walking brightly out of the lounge.</p>
<p>"Later," Sara called after her. Nothing, not even an early morning wakeup, ever fazed Ada, she thought to herself, smiling softly. She felt a small pang of disappointment that she hadn't told her about the dream, but it was just that - a dream. Slowly she got up and followed Ada out the door, taking her dishes to the kitchen before heading to the control room for her shift. </p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 30s t8n>><i>[[~continue~|2.3(a) Control Room]]</i><</timed>></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 2 - Visions</b><<set $dreamyes = 1>>
<i>2.2(e) Lounge</i></div>
<p>She fought off her hesitation and recounted the dream to Ada, the vivid images fully preserved in her head. Though her dream-self had seemed fairly unfazed by everything, retelling it left her somewhat uneasy.</p>
<p>"Wow, Sara..."</p>
<p>"When I saw the sunflower, I thought I might be imagining it."</p>
<p>"That door, though, I wonder where it could lead..." Ada had her chin in her hands, eyes narrowed, with an expression like she was imagining just what was on the other side of the door.</p>
<p>Sara leaned back and shook her head. "Whatever, I just hope I can get some sleep tonight."</p>
<p>A sudden grin from Ada beamed back at her. "I'm sure you will - don't give it too much thought, it's just a dream."</p>
<p>"It felt so real, though..."</p>
<p>"In any case - it's time for work. I'll see you this evening." She sprang up from the couch with her dishes, walking brightly out of the lounge.</p>
<p>"Later," Sara called after her. Nothing, not even an early morning wakeup, ever fazed Ada, she thought to herself, smiling softly. She finished her coffee, then slowly got up and followed Ada out the door, taking her empty mug to the kitchen before heading to the control room for her shift. </p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 35s>><i>[[~continue~|2.3(b) Control Room]]</i><</timed>></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 2 - Visions</b><<set $dreamyes = 0>>
<i>2.2(f) Lounge</i></div>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>> "Why not?" Ada had a friendly concern on her face.<</timed>> </p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Just...too excited from our find yesterday, I guess." This wasn't completely false, anyways. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"No worries, took me awhile to shut my brain off and get to sleep myself. You'll be alright tonight."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"I guess."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"In any case - it's time for work. I'll see you this evening." She sprang up from the couch with her dishes, walking brightly out of the lounge.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Later," Sara called after her. Nothing, not even an early morning wakeup, ever fazed Ada, she thought to herself, smiling softly. She felt a small pang of disappointment that she hadn't told her about the dream, but it was just that - a dream. She finished her coffee, then slowly got up and followed Ada out the door, taking her empty mug to the kitchen before heading to the control room for her shift. <</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 30s t8n>><i>[[~continue~|2.3(b) Control Room]]</i><</timed>></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 2 - Visions</b>
<i>2.3(a) Control Room</i></div>
<span id="ch2-cr"><p>The next several days were relatively uneventful, and as Sara went about her daily routine the uneasiness from the dream had passed. Still, though, no amount of additional data from the surface helped to answer any questions about the strange alloy. It was beginning to seem like only a trip down to the planet would provide those answers, and they couldn't do that without permission from the Agency.</p>
<p>On that front, they were as yet unsuccessful. Even with the station's state-of-the-art faster-than-light communication array, it took at least a day for messages to reach the nearest outpost, and a day for messages to return, and that's without accounting for the time needed for the Agency's bureaucracy to come to a decision. So they waited, somewhere on the continuum between patience and impatience, before finally - finally! - the reply arrived as Sara was eating supper before another overnight shift. Eagerly she opened the message, but the eagerness turned quickly to frustration and she slammed her fist on the table in the lounge when she read it. Short and impersonal, rather typical of official correspondence, the note unceremoniously read, "Request denied. More information required." This is the message they were waiting for?</p>
<p>"We'll just find a way to get a better picture of what's down there - give them something more specific," Ada had said, as usual responding to the situation with more optimism than it seemed to warrant. "Nothing else we can do," she added, shrugging.</p>
<p>Ada was right, of course, but Sara wasn't really in the mood to hear it. Still fuming, she quickly finished her ration pack - 7C/Salmon - and silently left the lounge to begin her shift in the control room. How did the Agency not see the significance of this? Surely the need to get to the planet, the importance of discovering something new, something possibly alien, was enough to override the budgetary concerns of expending some fuel.</p>
<div style="text-align:center"><i><<click ~continue~>><<audio "2-1_sunriseb" fadeoverto 30s 0>><<audio "2-4_tree" volume 1 play loop>><<replace #ch2-cr>>
<p>At last the lift door opened and Sara stepped off into the control room.</p>
<p>Or, rather, into where the control room should have been, but in place of the central column and control panel stood a massive tree. Its branches extended in every direction, pressing against the windows, and sagged under the apparent weight of the yellow fruit, especially strange considering the extremely low gravity of the chamber. Sara cautiously left the lift and slowly scanned the room in disbelief - she must be hallucinating. She closed her eyes for a few seconds, trying to will the tree away, but to no avail - the tree was still there when she opened them. The colors of yellow and orange filled the room with warmth, though the star-filled sky outside the glass remained unchanged. </p>
<p>Still skeptical, she reached for her communicator, but it wasn't on her hip - she must have left it at her quarters. There was a subtle movement in the branches of the tree, air from the ventilation system no doubt, but she felt as if it was beckoning her closer. Slowly she walked to the edge of the platform, the magnets in her boots keeping her tethered. The console was not docked with the lift platform where it was supposed to be, although with the tree here it likely would not be operational anyway. Instead, a branch reached out and met the platform by her feet. Following it with her eyes, it would not be difficult to [[climb|2.3(c) Control Room]] to the trunk, although perhaps it would be better to [[keep her distance|2.3(d) Control Room]].</p><</replace>><</click>></i></div></span>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 2 - Visions</b>
<i>2.3(b) Control Room</i></div><<audio "2-1_sunriseb" fadeoverto 30s 0>><<audio "2-4_cr" volume 0 fadeoverto 30s 0.25>>
<span id="opening"> <p>The next several days were relatively uneventful, and as Sara went about her daily routine the uneasiness from the dream had passed. Still, though, no amount of additional data from the surface helped to answer any questions about the strange alloy. It was beginning to seem like only a trip down to the planet would provide those answers, and they couldn't do that without permission from the Agency.</p>
<p>On that front, they were as yet unsuccessful. Even with the station's state-of-the-art faster-than-light communication array, it took at least a day for messages to reach the nearest outpost, and a day for messages to return, and that's without accounting for the time needed for the Agency's bureaucracy to come to a decision. So they waited, somewhere on the continuum between patience and impatience, before finally - finally! - the reply arrived as Sara was eating supper before another overnight shift. Eagerly she opened the message, but the eagerness turned quickly to frustration and she slammed her fist on the table in the lounge when she read it. Short and impersonal, rather typical of official correspondence, the note unceremoniously read, "Request denied. More information required." This is the message they were waiting for?</p>
<p>"We'll just find a way to get a better picture of what's down there - give them something more specific," Ada had said, as usual responding to the situation with more optimism than it seemed to warrant. "Nothing else we can do," she added, shrugging.</p>
<p>Ada was right, of course, but Sara wasn't really in the mood to hear it. Still fuming, she quickly finished her ration pack - 7C/Salmon - and silently left the lounge to begin her shift in the control room. How did the Agency not see the significance of this? Surely the need to get to the planet, the importance of discovering something new, something possibly alien, was enough to override the budgetary concerns of expending some fuel.</p>
<div style="text-align:center"><i><<click "~continue~">><<replace #opening>><<audio "2-3_typing" play>>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The door to the lift opened. Sara strode out to the control panel, docked at the edge of the lift platform, and strapped herself back in, pulling down the visor to block the already risen sun. She checked the previous night's logs - everything seemed normal from the surface - then maneuvered the console so that the northern continent was within her view to monitor the search pattern and results of each drone individually. Though the climate here was pretty cold, there were still some interesting and potentially viable sites for settlement. She moved slightly west to the next landmass in succession, continuing to check on each drone one by one.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>After a couple of hours, she had worked her way to the southern continent, which she'd saved for last. No drone had found anything like that mysterious alloy anywhere else on the continent yet, so it may be only that one location. She began working through each of the final dozen drones.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 60500ms t8n>><<audio "2-4_cr" stop>>The station shuddered suddenly as main power in the station shut off, and when the auxiliary generators came online a second later all twelve green dots had disappeared from the display.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 60500ms t8n>>Dumbfounded, Sara stared out at the continent through the HUD for a few seconds. She checked the logs - the station had received the last location signals at the same time, then they seemed to cut off simultaneously. The logs for the other sets of drones seemed to be receiving still, and when she moved the console in position over the northern continent she could see the drones moving over the planet. Sara returned the console to the platform and began running a diagnostic. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 60500ms t8n>>She reached for her communicator to call Ada, but it wasn't on her belt. As she disembarked the console in order to head down to the lab on foot, the lift door opened, revealing Ada herself, who'd apparently run down here from her post. "Tried to call, but didn't get an answer on your comm."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 60500ms t8n>>Reflexively Sara touched her belt where the communicator should have been. Still missing. "Just tried to call you myself - I must have left it in my room this morning. What's going on?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 60500ms t8n>>"No idea. Are you receiving anything from Nine? I lost contact..."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 60500ms t8n>>"Same here - no sign of any of them." Sara turned and looked out at the planet. This was very odd - each drone had a durable black box transponder so that even if one crashed it could still transmit its location and other important data, but it was as if they had all disappeared. "I'll run down to the docking bay and prep another drone. Call the lieutenant and have him cover the console while you monitor from the lab."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 60500ms t8n>>"Got it." They headed into the lift. As it moved back towards the outer ring, Sara and Ada sat in uncharacteristic silence, each wondering how so many of the drones could just cease functioning at once.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 60500ms t8n>><i>[[~continue~|2.4(b) Docking Bay]]</i><</timed>></div>
<<timed 76s>><<audio "rotpulse-pno" volume 0 fadeoverto 60s 0.5 loop>><</timed>><</replace>><</click>></i></div></span>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 2 - Visions</b>
<i>2.3(c) Control Room</i></div>
<span id="ch2-cr"><p>Bending down, Sara reached out and touched the branch before her. It didn't feel like a mirage - the light-colored bark looked generally smooth but was rough to the touch. The branches were segmented, with an irregularly shaped ring an inch or two wide marking each segment and breaking up the smoothness of the rest. The small, waxy leaves had very well defined veins and their color was mostly varying shades of orange, with a few pale blue individuals appearing almost lost, confused, out of place. She leaned over further and cradled a fruit in her hands. Perfect yellow orbs, they were flawless in every way, almost glowing with an inner light. Though they were clearly ripe and smelled amazing, she didn't dare eat them. </p>
<p>Everything looked and felt so real.</p>
<p>She deactivated the magnets in her boots and pulled herself along the branch toward the massive trunk at the center. Following it upward with her eyes, toward the top of the dome, she could see the metal disc that usually held the control column in place. She pulled herself fully onto the branch, first in a crouching position, then standing, leaning her back against the trunk, still looking up. There were a few branches right at her head level, and she used these to pull herself up and propel herself toward the canopy. </p>
<p>Putting her hands out, she stopped herself softly against the metal disc. The tree enveloped the entire column, no part of which was visible but must still be there. She pushed off from the trunk and used one of the higher branches to brace herself as she looked out the glass dome. The tree seemed to extend outside of the station, with branches spiraling out and seeming to frame part of the southern continent. She settled onto the branch, still looking out, completely bewildered.</p>
<p>Eventually, she began lowering herself gently back down to the platform. The branches seemed to open up a path for her, facilitating her descent, almost guiding her. When she reached the bottom, she turned back toward the tree and sat cross-legged, leaning back slightly and taking it all in. Calmly she slid back completely and lay there, with her arms to her side, almost meditating.</p>
<div style="text-align:center"><i><<click "~continue~">><<replace #ch2-cr>><<audio "2-4_cr" fadeoverto 15s 0.25>><<audio "2-4_tree" fadeoverto 15s 0>><p>Time passed, she wasn't sure how long, before a shadow loomed over her.</p>
<p>"Doctor Reyes?" Lt. Ackerley sounded amused. She hadn't heard the door open. His entry seemed to break the spell, and suddenly she could no longer see the tree. The control room was back to normal. She stood up suddenly, somewhat embarrassed.</p>
<p>"Comfortable down there?"</p>
<p>"I, uh..." What could she possibly tell him? That she had seen (hallucinated?) a [[giant fruit tree|2.3(e) Control Room]] growing in the center of the space station? Certainly [[not|2.3(f) Control Room]]...</p><</replace>><</click>></i></div></span>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 2 - Visions</b>
<i>2.3(d) Control Room</i></div>
<span id="ch2-cr"><p>Sara took a few steps back toward the lift door, eyeing the suspicious tree. After deactivating the magnets in her boots she leapt softly off the platform, using the railing around the circumference of the chamber to edge clockwise around the outer walls. The tree was every bit as broad as in her dream and seemed too large to fit in the control room she remembered, and yet somehow it did.</p>
<p>One branch extended all the way to the edge about a quarter of the way around. She reached out to touch the twigs closest too her. It didn't feel like a mirage - the light-colored bark looked generally smooth but was rough to the touch. The branches were segmented, with an irregularly shaped ring an inch or two wide marking each and breaking up the smoothness of the rest. The small, waxy leaves had very well defined veins and their color was mostly varying shades of orange, with a few pale blue individuals appearing almost lost, confused, out of place. There was a small bunch of the fruit, and she cradled one of them in her hands. Perfect yellow orbs, they were flawless in every way, almost glowing with an inner light. Though they were clearly ripe and smelled amazing, she didn't dare eat them. She let go of the fruit and guided herself carefully around the branch.</p>
<p>Everything looked and felt so real.</p>
<p>About halfway around, she realized that the tree extended all the way to the top of the dome, and she followed the curve of the dome to the metal disc that formed the very top. The trunk completely enveloped the control column, no part of which was visible any more. She rotated herself to look outside the glass, and she could the tree extended even into the vacuum. The spiral of branches seemed to frame part of the southern continent of the planet below. She allowed herself to settle into some branches and continued to look out in wonderment.</p>
<p>Eventually, she began lowering herself gently back down to the platform. The branches seemed to open up a path for her, facilitating her descent, almost guiding her. When she reached the bottom, she turned back toward the tree and sat cross-legged, leaning back slightly and taking it all in. Calmly she slid back completely and lay there, with her arms to her side, almost meditating.</p>
<div style="text-align:center"><i><<click "~continue~">><<replace #ch2-cr>><<audio "2-4_cr" fadeoverto 15s 1>><<audio "2-4_tree" fadeoverto 15s 0>><p>Time passed, she wasn't sure how long, before a shadow loomed over her.</p>
<p>"Comfortable down there, Doctor Reyes?" Lt. Ackerley sounded amused. She hadn't heard the door open. His entry seemed to break the spell, and suddenly she could no longer see the tree. The control room was back to normal. She scrambled to her feet, somewhat embarrassed.</p>
<p>"I, uh..." She hesitated. What could she possibly tell him? That she had seen (hallucinated?) a [[giant fruit tree|2.3(e) Control Room]] growing in the center of the space station? Certainly [[not|2.3(f) Control Room]]...</p><</replace>><</click>></i></div></span>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 2 - Visions</b>
<i>2.3(e) Control Room</i></div><<set $ackerley to 1>>
<p>"You probably won't believe this, but when I walked in here, I saw a giant tree standing in the middle of the room. It enveloped the whole column, the console wasn't even here."</p>
<p>"A tree?" Lt. Ackerley laughed. "In the control room?"</p>
<p>"Yeah - the branches extended outside the dome, so I was lying on the ground looking up at it, trying to figure out what was going on. I'd seen one just like it in a dream last night. But once you came in, I couldn't see it anymore."</p>
<p>He looked at her like she was being weird. Which, admittedly, she kind of was. "You feeling all right? Maybe you should go lie down for a bit, take tomorrow off." He waved his hand at the console. "All of this is pretty automated anyways."</p>
<p>"You're probably right." Her face felt so very red. </p>
<p>"Well, in any case, you're shift's over. Anything to report?"</p>
<p>"I, uh, never actually looked at the console," she admitted sheepishly. The console hadn't even been there until a moment ago, not in a way that she could perceive anyways. "Haven't heard any odd chirps or alarms, though. Just keep an eye on the same drones from before."</p>
<p>"Ok, will do." He moved past her toward to the control console. She remained frozen for a couple seconds before heading to the lift. She thought she heard him mutter something about a tree under his breath as he situated himself in the chair.</p>
<div style="text-align:center"><i>[[~continue~|2.3(g) Control Room]]</i></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 2 - Visions</b>
<i>2.3(f) Control Room</i></div>
<p>"Thought I might try to get a little different perspective, looking out the top of the dome." She looked back up towards where the branches had been, but all she saw was metal-framed glass and the stars beyond. Her face felt so very red, but if the lieutenant had noticed it wasn't apparent. He put his hands on his hips and looked up.</p>
<p>"Huh. Well. In any case, your shift's up. Anything to report?"</p>
<p>"I, uh, didn't actually check the console..." she admitted. The console hadn't even been there until a moment ago, not in a way that she could perceive anyways, but she couldn't tell him that. "Haven't heard any odd chirps or alarms, though. Just keep an eye on the same drones from yesterday."</p>
<p>"Ok, will do." He began to move past her toward to the control console. She remained frozen for a couple seconds before heading to the lift.</p>
<div style="text-align:center"><i>[[~continue~|2.3(g) Control Room]]</i></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 2 - Visions</b>
<i>2.3(g) Control Room</i></div><<audio "2-3_outage" play>><<audio "2-4_cr" stop>><<timed 16s>><<audio "rotpulse-pno" volume 0 fadeoverto 60s 0.5 loop>><</timed>>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The station shuddered suddenly as main power shut off briefly, leaving the control room dark before auxiliaries came online. "What was that?" Lt. Ackerley wondered aloud.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Sara reached for her communicator to call Ada, but it of course still wasn't on her belt. As she took a step toward the lift to head down to the lab on foot, the door opened, revealing Ada herself, who'd apparently run down here from her post. "Tried to call, but didn't get an answer on your comm."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Reflexively Sara touched her belt again where the communicator should have been. "I must have left it in my room this morning. What's up, Ada?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"I'm not getting any data from the southern continent. None. At all. The diagnostics came back fine, so I wanted to check the console..."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"No data?" That was odd - each drone had a black box transponder so that even if one broke in nearly all cases it could still transmit its location. Sara climbed into the console and checked the monitor. The other five continents were reporting fine, but the computer showed nothing from the southern continent. According to the logs, each had sent their last signal about twenty minutes ago, then winked out simultaneously. Without bothering to strap herself in, she maneuvered the console so that it would be visible through the HUD. Within the outline of the border of a continent where a dozen drones should have been exploring and mapping, there was not one green dot. She slumped back in her chair.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Anything?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Nothing...nothing." It was like they had all disappeared. She returned the console to the lift platform and disembarked. "I'm going to run down to the shuttle bay and prep another drone. Lieutenant, man the console - when the new drone shows up, send it to the southern continent and configure it to continuously stream video after entry. Ada, monitor the feed in the lab."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Yessir," they responded in unison, and Sara and Ada headed into the elevator as Lt. Ackerley strapped himself into the console. The lift began moving towards the outer ring, while Sara and Ada sat in uncharacteristic silence, each wondering how so many of the drones could just cease functioning at once.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><i>[[~continue~|2.4(a) Docking Bay]]</i></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 2 - Visions</b>
<i>2.4(a) Docking Bay</i></div><<audio "1-2_drone" play>>
<p>Sara first ran to the crew quarters to retrieve her communicator, then headed quickly down to the docking bay. When she entered, Sara scanned the room and the rows of compartments housing the replacement drones, then took a step toward the left wall. Something in her head seemed to urge her toward the shuttle on the opposite side of the room, away from her task, and she slowly walked across to the shuttle's airlock, almost in a trance. The compartments to either side suddenly seemed to fall away and all she could perceive was a path of floor panels to the airlock. <i>Why waste time with another drone when you could go down there herself?</i>, a voice in her head seemed to ask as she stood outside the door, peering through the small window into the shuttle. Her hand began to move toward the panel as if to open it.</p>
<p>A buzz from her communicator snapped her out of the trance and back into the present.</p>
<p>"Are you there yet, Doctor?"</p>
<p>"Yes, Lieutenant, stand by."</p>
<p>Shaking her head, she hurried away from the airlock to the first replacement drone on the left side. From the control panel outside its compartment, she double-checked its status - full charge, full fuel, plenty of memory. The camera was operational. She typed in its new ID (SC013) and when she placed her palm on the panel the indicator lights changed from red to green to indicate the drone was ACTIVE. </p>
<p>"Lieutenant Ackerley, do you see the new drone?"</p>
<p>"Yes, Doctor, SC013 is active on the main console and configured for continuous video stream from the southern continent."</p>
<p>"Ada?"</p>
<p>"Yes, Sara, it's transmitting to the lab."</p>
<p>"Okay, prepping launch countdown."</p>
<p>The panel changed from green to yellow as the 30 second countdown began, and Sara walked over to the far window to watch. When the clock hit zero, the panel became red, and the station shook slightly at the force of launch. The drone streaked toward the planet, hitting the atmosphere with a burst of hot light.</p>
<p>"Entry's good, Doctor, still transmitting and maneuvering to the southern continent," confirmed Lt. Ackerley.</p>
<p>"Roger that. Let's all meet in the lab to watch the feed."</p>
<p>"Understood."</p>
<div style="text-align:center"><i><<click "~continue~">><<goto "2.5 Laboratory">><</click>></i></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 5s t8n>><img src="http://www.penguinmanmusic.com/nqas/river.png" height="207" width="505">
<b>River of Stars</b><</timed>></div><div style="font-family:skia"><<audio "river" play>>
<p><<timed 9000ms t8n>>The wind picks up around me, rousing me from sleep, and I open my eyes, but I do not move, only breathe.<</timed>> <<timed 25s t8n>>I am lying on my side in a field of long grass, the brush-like ends of which nudge me softly in rhythm with the moving air, encouraging me to get up. Something - the floral scent in the air, the chattering of insects around me - seems familiar about this place, though I am not entirely sure where I am.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 33000ms t8n>>I begin to sit up slowly, first propping myself up on my elbows, taking a mental panorama of my surroundings. As with the sunflowers before, the tall grass spreads out in an endless sea around me, shaded black and grey by the darkness, occasionally glinting silver as it sways. It grows nearly past my shoulders. How did I manage to sleep here, under the grass canopy, in the cold air?<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 46500ms t8n>>The night sky is unnaturally empty, completely dark. Though there is enough light to see faintly, there is not a single star, not a single point of light nor evidence of cloud cover visible above me. I sit up fully, shaking my head and rubbing my eyes, and look up again, unsettled. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 46500ms t8n>>Still nothing.<</timed>> </p>
<p><<timed 46500ms t8n>>How can I see around me so well in the dark, with no source of light?<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 46500ms t8n>>The wind gusts suddenly, and I shiver. I pull my knees toward my chest, wrapping them in my arms, and I sit there, looking at the ground, thinking, wondering. What is this place? <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 75155ms t8n>>Finally I stand, pulling my coat tightly around me, still cold, still shivering.<</timed>> <<timed 85700ms t8n>>The wind continues to blow around me, lightly tugging at my clothes, as if to get my attention, to show me something.<</timed>> <<timed 95000ms t8n>>I brace against it, but it whips harder still, and ultimately I have no choice.<</timed>> <<timed 109000ms t8n>>I turn to follow the wind, and I see a faint glow coming from below a ridge to the southwest I hadn't noticed before, and it extends for what seems like miles.<</timed>> </p>
<p><<timed 119000ms t8n>>I hesitate, remembering the sunflowers and their initial desire to remain distant,<</timed>> <<timed 130s t8n>>but the wind pushes against my back lightly, calmer and more encouraging than before.<</timed>> <<timed 164s t8n>>I take a few cautious steps, watching closely.<</timed>> <<timed 184s t8n>>The light seems to hold its position, so I begin to run toward it with greater confidence, striding easily through the grass - the ground is level and the soil is firm and the grass seems to part ahead of me. There are no rocks to trip on.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 194000ms t8n>>I lean into the last few steps, as a small hill rose between me and the light. Reaching the top, I stop briefly to catch my breath before looking down. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 209300ms t8n>>Below me is a river, glowing golden, nearly blinding in the darkness. While my eyes adjust, I walk slowly down the other side of the hill, watching my step. Soon I stand before the river.<</timed>> <<timed 225500ms t8n>>The surface is still as glass<<if $lake is 1>>, like the lake before. I am almost scared to look down into it, to see my reflection, but I sit by the shore and peer in nonetheless<</if>>. Even my brown hair shines glittering and golden in the light that bathes this riverbank.<</timed>> <<timed 237200ms t8n>>There is a brightness in my eyes that I don't recognize.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 256s t8n>>As I look closer at the water, I notice that the golden glow is made up of countless pinpricks of light, flickering like stars. I feel the urge to look up. The sky has been filled with a river of stars where there was before only darkness. I scramble up the bank, away from the river, and stand up again, staring upward, my hands on my hips.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 256s t8n>>I break my gaze away from the sky and look along the river, following it in both directions. It extends far beyond where I can see, but <<click "from the northwest">><<audio "interlude" fadeoverto 5s 0>><<goto "mountains">><</click>> it winds down a mountain range, where its source must be. <<click "To the southeast">><<audio "interlude" fadeoverto 5s 0>><<goto "forest">><</click>> it moves through a valley and into a forest of broad trees, and I can see an opening in the canopy from here.<</timed>></p></div>
<<timed 266932ms>><<audio "interlude" play loop>><</timed>>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 2 - Visions</b>
<i>2.4(b) Docking Bay</i></div><<audio "2-4_lake-bg" fadeoverto 20s 0.5 loop>><<audio "2-4_cr" fadeoverto 20s 0>><<audio "rotpulse-pno" fadeoverto 20s 0>>
<p>Sara first ran to the crew quarters to retrieve her communicator, then headed quickly down to the docking bay. Upon entering, Sara scanned the room and the rows of compartments housing the replacement drones and began to walk toward the left wall. As she did, a field of sunflowers appeared around her. Taken aback, she turned around sharply to see the flowers surrounding the perimeter of the room, growing somehow so densely that she could not reach the drones, though she could still see the lights on the panels. The flowers blocked even the exit to the corridor. She pulled out her communicator.</p>
<p>"Ada? Ada, come in."</p>
<p>Nothing in response but static. She shook the device and tried again, but to no avail - she could not call anyone. She took several deep breaths, trying to slow her heart rate. She reached out and touched the closest flowers - tangible, real. Not silk, like Ada's in the lounge. She turned slowly around, dumbfounded. The floor panels in the center had become a lake, a very broad lake, bigger than should be able to fit in the smallish docking bay. She walked towards it and crouched down, peering at her reflection, only it wasn't quite her reflection, because she wasn't wearing her hair down and she was certainly not wearing a linen dress while on duty. She touched the surface - the water was cool and inviting. </p>
<p>Though she could not see the bottom, she thought that it was likely shallow enough to [[wade into|2.4(c) Docking Bay]], but perhaps it would be better to stick to the [[shoreline|2.4(d) Docking Bay]].</p>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 3 - Merging</b>
<i>3.1 Laboratory</i></div>
<p>Sara was lying on something hard and flat - the floor? a table? - and her head was pounding. Sounds were fuzzy too, a wash of noise, and she couldn't focus enough to comprehend any of what she heard. Her eyes were closed still, as she tried to work through the fog in her head to remember what had happened, but to no avail. She lay there, still, unmoving, waiting, breathing. It hurt to breathe. She began to become aware of the rest of her body - her arms were by her side, her legs straight, her back to the floor. She felt a dull ache in her shoulder, and she moved slightly in response to the sensation.</p>
<p>Gradually, the noise coalesced into familiar voices. Ada and Lt. Ackerley were nearby, maybe standing over her.</p>
<p>"I think she's coming around. Dr. Reyes?"</p>
<p>"Sara? Sara, can you hear me?"</p>
<p>She slowly opened her eyes. The lights were dimmed in the room, and everything was blanketed in a slight golden haze. Odd, but she presumed it was related to her headache - her vision would (should) normalize. She tried to sit up, groaning and grimacing, but Ada and Lt. Ackerley quickly grabbed her and eased her back down.</p>
<p>"Don't try to move yet, just sit still. You hit your head pretty hard." Ada's voice was filled with worry. </p>
<p>"What happened?" Sara groaned weakly, reaching back and touching the bandage around her head. She turned to face Ada. "Where am I?"</p>
<p>"We're still in the lab. We were watching the screen waiting for the data and images from the drone..." </p>
<p>"You fell and hit your head on the ground. Look over here for a moment." Lt. Ackerley interrupted her, checking her eyes. "Do you feel up for answering a few questions?"</p>
<p>"Sure, I guess..."</p>
<p>Lt. Ackerley ran through what Sara recognized as the standard assessment for concussions, and she answered the questions dutifully if a bit slowly. There was something oddly funny about the list of random words she had to repeat, in the way they had a strange aural similarity even though they didn't rhyme - elbow apple carpet saddle bubble, elbow apple carpet saddle bubble. She looked at the lieutenant's face for some clue as to how she was doing, but she couldn't read him.</p>
<p>After she answered his last question, he smiled. "Okay. Do you think you can stand? We'll help you back to your quarters to rest."</p>
<p>Ada and Lt. Ackerley helped Sara up and she leaned on them as they walked, slowly, to her quarters. Her muscles felt like she hadn't used them in weeks, her coordination dulled from the head trauma. She grew more confident with each step, however, and by the time they got there, she didn't need their support as much and could walk relatively comfortably, if still gingerly. Once they arrived, the lieutenant took his leave and Ada helped her inside.</p>
<p>"I'll stay here to keep an eye on you for a while. Lt. Ackerley will take the rest of your shift at the control console. Don't worry about anything - your job is to rest." Ada said gently.</p>
<p>"Don't you have work to do?" Sara felt pretty sure that she'd be fine, and didn't want to impose on the young engineer.</p>
<p>"Don't worry about it - I can monitor data from your terminal. Get some rest."</p>
<p>"Thanks, Ada, I appreciate it." The pounding in her head was starting to lessen, though the haze that surrounded everything was still present. Ada helped her into bed and she laid her head on her pillow and closed her eyes, falling quickly into a deep sleep as Ada settled in at the computer [[console.|3.2 Crew Quarters]]</p>
<span id="lab"><div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 2 - Visions</b>
<i>2.5 Laboratory</i></div><<audio "1-2_drone" fadeoverto 10s 0>><<audio "rotpulse-pno" fadeoverto 10s 0>><<audio "1-3_labsounds" fadeoverto 10s 0.5 loop>><<timed 5s>><<audio "2-1_alarmclock" time 0 volume 1 play>><</timed>>
<p>Sara walked out quickly, nearly running, to join Ada in the lab. She arrived shortly before the lieutenant, and the three gathered around Ada's monitor. The screen was still blurry and full of static from entering the atmosphere. On the location display, she watched the green dot move closer and closer to the center of the continent, where the alloy had been found the day before.</p>
<p>As the picture began to clear, Sara's head began to cloud and she suddenly felt very dizzy. She grasped at the back of Ada's chair for support, but her hands missed as her legs buckled under and she collapsed to the floor. The world became slowly black as her mind seemed to leave the station.</p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 100ms t8n>><<click "Continue">><<replace "#lab">><</replace>><<audio ":playing" fadeoverto 1s 0>><<timed 1s>><<goto "INTERLUDE: River of Stars">><</timed>><</click>> • <<click "Restart Chapter 2">><<replace "#lab">><</replace>><<audio ":playing" fadeoverto 1s 0>><<timed 1s>><<goto "Chapter 2 - Visions">><</timed>><</click>> • <<click "Return to Title">><<replace "#lab">><</replace>><<audio ":playing" fadeoverto 1s 0>><<timed 1s>><<audio "title" volume 1 play>><<goto "Title 2">><</timed>><</click>><</timed>></div>
</span>
<<audio "1-2_sunrise-lab" volume 0 fadeoverto 5s 0.5 loop>> <<audio "1-3_labsounds" volume 0 fadeoverto 10s 0.6 loop>><div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 1 - Sunrise</b>
<<timed 100ms t8n>><i>1.3(b) Laboratory</i><</timed>></div>
<span id="lab2"><p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The laboratory wing of the station contained several large labs and workshops. The workshops were primarily designed for maintenance of various components used in the station, and Sara had used a similar facility on a previous station to develop the current generation of scout drones. The labs were filled with powerful computers and equipment for analysis of the soil and atmosphere of the planet below. At this point, less than a week into their mission, they relied exclusively on computer simulations and the drones' on-board equipment, as the Agency had yet to approve the retrieval of any materials from the surface.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Sara arrived at the third segment of the laboratory wing, the location of Lab 2. This facility held equipment focused on analyzing soil samples and developing fertilization and soil enrichment procedures for the terraforming project. Through the small round window in the center of the door, Sara could see Ada sitting by the main computer terminal. Sara placed her hand on the panel beside the door. The panel flashed green and the door slid open obediently. She stepped over the threshold into the narrow lab.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 100ms t8n>><i><<click "~continue~">><<audio "1-3_lab" volume 0.6 play>><<replace "#lab2">><p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Ada turned at the sound of the door. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Glad you could make it down!"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Grinning, she replaced the comm to her belt and beckoned energetically toward Sara, who was still standing by the entrance. "Come have a look at this."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"What do you have for me, Ada?" Sara quickly walked the short distance to the terminal. She leaned forward, looking over Ada's shoulder.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"The readings you flagged earlier are pretty incredible."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Some kind of metal, right?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Yes, it's metal, all right, but it's not quite so simple as that - rather, it's some kind of alloy."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"An alloy?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Yeah - a particularly complex one, too - the drones weren't equipped to analyze the exact components, we'll need to go down and get a sample of it to really figure out what we're dealing with here, but the numbers we are getting don't match anything else on file. I am certain about one thing - it's not naturally occurring."<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 37s t8n>>• • •<</timed>></div>
<p><<timed 37s t8n>>Sara and Ada pored over the readings for the next couple hours, with each new scan from a drone raising more questions. If it didn't occur naturally, how did it get here? Who made it? What was it - perhaps a part of something larger still out there? No non-Agency ship had been this deep into space, but to the best of their knowledge - and that of the station's database - nothing developed by the Agency used this kind of metal...<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 37s t8n>>But speculation would do nothing at this point; there were too many unknowns, too much guessing - they needed more information. Permission to go down to the surface and bring back a sample was, at the earliest, several days away, so the search patterns would continue as planned, but with a greater focus on Group Nine's valley on the southern continent.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 37s t8n>><i>[[~continue~|1.4 Living Quarters]]</i><</timed>></div><</replace>><</click>></i><</timed>></div></span>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>River of Stars</b></div>
<div><<set $mountain to 1>><<timed 5s>><<audio "mountain" play>><</timed>><p><<timed 6500ms t8n>>I follow the river along its winding path toward its source in the mountains. The path is never difficult, though sometimes steep, and I never tire. Miles of earth (though I cannot be sure it is not alien soil) pass beneath my feet, and hours pass around me though I do not count them, and still I do not tire, and stranger still the sun refuses to rise.<</timed>> <<timed 13252ms t8n>>The stars above follow the river too, extending before me and giving me the assurance that I was heading somewhere.<</timed>> <<timed 22578ms t8n>>I stop and look up at them, and smile. They seem to smile back.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 44459ms t8n>>Soon I find myself at the summit of a mountain, but instead of a lake or pond or something remotely resembling a source, the river forks ahead of me, and although the water is completely still to my eyes I can feel in the ground the other two forks are defying gravity and flowing up the mountain before combining into the river that guided me here. Boulders cut off my path down either fork - I can no longer follow the river. I look up at the sky, and the stars seem to slowly swirl over the fork, moving but still at the same time. They no longer follow the river, either. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 63783ms t8n>>On the shore across the fork ahead of me I see a single proud yellow sunflower.<</timed>> <<timed 74800ms t8n>>I must reach it.<</timed>></p><<timed 72s>><<audio "mountainend" play>><</timed>>
<p><<timed 87701ms t8n>>I take off my shoes and walk barefoot to the edge of the water.<</timed>> <<timed 92628ms t8n>>I gingerly reach my leg out to touch the water's surface, somehow expecting it to hold my weight, but my foot breaks the plane and I tumble forward into the river.<</timed>> <<timed 103178ms t8n>>It is surprisingly deep, even for a river of its breadth, and I cannot reach the bottom. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 115247ms t8n>>The shore around me and mountain under me vanish before I can surface, and I am suddenly aware that I am no longer in the water but suspended in the air, or rather in a vacuum.<</timed>> <<timed 128459ms t8n>>Though I am wearing neither a suit nor an oxygen tank, I find I can breathe, or perhaps only that I no longer need to.<</timed>> <<timed 144833ms t8n>>I am surrounded by the swirl of stars; they rotate slowly around me. Though impossibly distant, I extend my arm towards one star, trying to touch it with the tip of my left index finger.<</timed>> <<timed 161504ms t8n>>A spark flies out as my finger makes contact, and I jerk back in surprise. The spark of a star begins to pulse, and the stars around me begin to move faster, all of them in front of me now, and they begin to form an ornate design.<</timed>> <<timed 178077ms t8n>>Their golden glow begins to shift to green as the shapes become more solid.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 203756ms t8n>>I feel a brush along my thighs, and I jump, looking down and around at a field of sunflowers, extending again in every direction. My feet are once again on solid ground.<</timed>> <<timed 220428ms t8n>>Before me stands once more the mysterious door, the stars now embedded in the carving. I walk slowly around it, taking it in once more. It seems to have more life than before, like it wants to open, like it wants to show me what is on its other side, a side that is impossible - certainly once it is opened it will no longer be a door but an arch.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 250910ms t8n>>As I return to face the front of the door, a glint catches my eye, and I can see the spark I spawned, and I stare at it, thinking.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 265992ms t8n>>I extend my arm once more, reaching to touch the spark.<</timed>></p></div>
<<timed 294s>><<goto "To be continued">><</timed>>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>River of Stars</b></div>
<<set $forest to 1>><<timed 5s>><<audio "forest" play>><</timed>><p><<timed 1s t8n>>I turn to the southeast and begin walking along the river's edge.<</timed>> <<timed 6794ms t8n>>The path is smooth, and the water eerily still. The river bed slopes down gently, so much so that I barely notice that I am walking downhill, and as it cuts through the earth (though is it right to call alien soil that?) the bank rises ever steeper and higher around it. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 23264ms t8n>>Eventually my path narrows, and the river with it; I can no longer avoid getting my feet wet.<</timed>> <<timed 33s t8n>>I remove my shoes and gingerly place one foot in the water. <</timed>><<timed 39945ms t8n>>It is cold, but not unbearably so.<</timed>> <<timed 50s t8n>>I can't see how deep the river actually is, but my foot meets the riverbed quickly and I find I can walk even in the center. Still I am less than confident; I know how quickly things can change in this world.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 83700ms t8n>>For miles I continue to follow the winding of the river, and I do not tire. I feel the energy of the millions of stars in the sky-river above me. It mirrors the ground-river's bends exactly, and its guidance comforts me. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 98000ms t8n>>After hours of walking in the center of the river, the bank begins to narrow more dramatically and closes above me. I can no longer see the path before me. I press on all the same.<</timed>> <<timed 110s t8n>> The riverbank narrows so much in the darkness that I am forced to turn and sidle along slowly for perhaps a quarter mile. I reach out to touch the wall of cool soil for balance, but instead of soft dirt the texture is rough - the bark of a tree.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 128033ms t8n>>I open my eyes, which I just realized I had closed, and looked around at the forest full of stout trees filled with yellow fruit.<</timed>> <<timed 138877ms t8n>>The canopy is dense and I can only see pinpricks of starlight, but the leaves glow softly. There was no sign of the narrowing riverbank, as the ground was flat for as far as I could see. How long had I held my eyes closed unknowing?<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 138877ms t8n>>I look back along the path of the river and see that I am now at an opening in the forest.<</timed>> <<timed 147039ms t8n>>I step into the grove, the canopy opening above me, and I am again bathed in the warmth of the river of light.<</timed>> <<timed 160s t8n>>The true river thins and dives underground in the center of the glen, going where I cannot follow, and the stars above have begun to swirl slowly over me. I walk to the end of the river and sit on the ground beyond it, legs slightly crossed, and I lean back and gaze upward at the stars.<</timed>></p><<timed 156100ms>><<audio "forestend" play>><</timed>>
<p><<timed 169028ms t8n>>A flicker catches my eye; the sky is now dark, as the stars have surrounded me, and I watch them dance.<</timed>> <<timed 178100ms t8n>>Slowly I see that they are not stars, but fireflies with a star-like brilliance, and I smile, remembering those summer evenings of my childhood spent chasing them.<</timed>> <<timed 190s t8n>>I stand up and close my eyes again, breathing deeply, breathing it all in.<</timed>> </p>
<p><<timed 224100ms t8n>>When I open my eyes again, I see one firefly a little bit brighter than the rest.<</timed>> <<timed 230486ms t8n>>I watch it silently, then feel the urge of my previous seven-year-old self - I reach out carefully with both hands and cup them around the insect.<</timed>> <<timed 241236ms t8n>>It flutters softly against my palms, and I can see its glow through the back of my hands. The glow seems to brighten, and enters my hands, spreading up my arms. In shock, I release the firefly, but it is no longer there, and I see the others beginning to form ornate designs in front of me, shifting in color from soft gold to green.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 289680ms t8n>>I feel a brush along my thighs, and I jump, looking down and around at a field of sunflowers, extending again in every direction.<</timed>> <<timed 299785ms t8n>> I am no longer in the forest glen.<</timed>> <<timed 305500ms t8n>>Before me stands once more the mysterious door, the shapes the fireflies made now embedded in the carvings. I walk slowly around it, taking it in once more. It seems to have more life than before, like it wants to open, like it wants to show me what was on its other side, a side that was impossible - certainly once open it was no longer a door but an arch.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 336978ms t8n>>As I return to face the front of the door, the glow that had entered me seems to be reflected on the door and in one of the designs I can see a single bright point of light, a spark. It beckons me. I extend my left arm once more, to touch the spark.<</timed>> </p>
<<timed 378s>><<goto "To be continued">><</timed>>
<<if $dreamyes is 1>><<display "Ada Dream">><<else>><<display "Ada Gone">><</if>>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 3 - Merging</b>
<i>3.2(a) Crew Quarters</i></div>
<p>"Sara, Sara, wake up, wake up!"</p>
<p>Groggily, Sara opened her eyes and looked at an impossibly excited Ada standing above her. She touched her head - the pounding that had been nearly constant was now nearly gone, but still everything in her vision was clouded with that golden haze. She should probably see Lt. Ackerley to get her bandage changed.</p>
<p>"Come look at what the drone found on the planet's surface, in the valley. I don't know how it's been missed until now." </p>
<p>"What are you talking about?" asked Sara, confused and barely awake.</p>
<p>"Come on!" Ada helped Sara out of bed and over to the console, which was displaying the latest image from the drone they had sent down earlier. "I think it's the source of that mysterious alloy - or at least related to it. And I think it's the Door from your dream."</p>
<p>"The Door?" Sara sat down in the chair and looked at the screen, suddenly more alert. The brightness of the display dissipated the haze somewhat, though not entirely.</p>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<div id="trance"><p>I am sitting on a rock, cushioned by moss. The sun is bright, shining down directly on me. Everything around me is bathed in its golden light, especially the grassy hill that stands before me, which is ringed with tall yellow flowers.</p></div>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<p>Sara shook her head, snapping back to the station. The bright light of the computer screen hurt her eyes and gave her a headache, recovering as she was from her possible (probable) concussion. Still she fought through it, looking directly at it, willing the grainy image into focus.</p>
<p>Sara stared at the screen speechless. There it was, unmistakably. </p>
<p>The Door.</p>
<p>"I'm going down to the lab to do a more thorough analysis. Ackerley's requested permission to take the shuttle down to the surface. Will you be all right here for a little while?"</p>
<p>Sara nodded silently, her gaze still fixed on the screen. How could the door be real? It was just a part of her dream, wasn't it? Yet there it was, on the screen in her quarters, on the planet below. She barely heard Ada's good-bye as the door slid closed behind her. </p>
<p>(text-style: "Italic")[You have to get down there], urged a voice in the back of her head. </p>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<div id="trance"><p>I stand up and walk toward the hill, briefly leaving an imprint of myself on the rock before the moss springs back into its natural shape. There is a snaking path up the slope, though the hill is not so steep that it would prevent me from climbing straight up. I follow the path with my eyes, and see that it leads to the entrance of a cave about halfway up. I walk up the path, obediently following the switchbacks, and reach the cave.</p></div>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<p>Sara was standing at the door, her hand hovering over the control panel, when she snapped out of the vision again. She let her hand drop. What was going on? Perhaps her head injury was more serious than she thought.</p>
<p>As much as she [[wanted to follow|3.3(a) Corridor]] Ada to find out more about what was going on, she should probably [[stay here and rest|3.3(c) Crew Quarters]] - these hallucinations were nothing to trifle with.</p>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 3 - Merging</b>
<i>3.2(b) Crew Quarters</i></div>
<p>After some time, she wasn't sure how long, Sara woke up and opened her eyes. Stretching, she yawned and sat up in the bed, looking over toward where Ada had been sitting. The seat by the computer console was vacant; Ada had left. The display was still on, illuminating the room softly. Sara eased herself out of bed, using the wall to prop herself up, and turned on the lights. She walked over to the chair and sat down at the console.</p>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<div id="trance"><p>I am sitting on a rock, cushioned by moss. The sun is bright, shining down directly on me. Everything around me is bathed in its golden light, but especially the grassy hill that stands before me, which is ringed with tall golden flowers.</p></div>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<p>Sara shook her head, snapping back to the station from her vision. The bright light of the computer screen hurt her eyes and gave her a headache, still recovering as she was from her possible (probable) concussion. Still she fought through it, looking directly at the screen, willing the grainy image into focus. There in the center of an alien field stood a door.</p>
<p><i>The</i> Door.</p>
<p>Sara stared at the screen speechless.</p>
<p>It couldn't be, that was just a dream, wasn't it? A recurring dream, certainly, but a dream nonetheless. How could it actually exist on the planet below? No matter how many ways Sara tried refreshing the display, or looking away and closing her eyes, it was unmistakably the Door.</p>
<p>Sara flipped open her communicator.</p>
<p>"Ada, is that a door on the planet in this image?" She tried to hide the nervousness in her voice.</p>
<p>"Sara! You're up! Yes, isn't it amazing? An alien structure here - I think it's the source of the alloy we found earlier, but it'll take more time to analyze. Ackerley's submitted a request to the Agency to take the shuttle down to the surface."</p>
<p>"Do you need any help with the analysis?"</p>
<p>"No, no, you should rest - don't worry about it. We've got things under control here. You're off duty today."</p>
<p>"Roger that. Keep me informed what you find."</p>
<p>"Sure thing."</p>
<p>When the comm fell silent, she looked back to the screen. <i>You have to get down there</i>, said a voice in the back of her head.</p>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<div id="trance"><p>I stand up and walk toward the hill, briefly leaving an imprint of myself on the rock before the moss springs back into its natural shape. There is a snaking path up the slope, though it is not so steep to prevent one from climbing straight up. I follow the path with my eyes, and see that it leads to the entrance of a cave about halfway up. I walk up the path, obediently following the switchbacks, and reach the cave.</p></div>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<p>Sara was standing at the door, her hand hovering over the control panel, when she snapped out of the vision again. She let her hand drop. What was going on? Perhaps her head injury was more serious than she thought.</p>
<p>As much as she wanted [[to find Ada|3.3(b) Corridor]] to learn more about what was going on, she should probably [[stay here and rest|3.3(c) Crew Quarters]] - these hallucinations were nothing to trifle with. </p>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 3 - Merging</b>
<i>3.3(a) Corridor</i></div>
<p>There was no way she could get any rest while the Door was at the forefront of her mind, so following Ada to the lab was really the only way. Without thinking much more about it, she opened the door and stepped out into the corridor. Her legs felt much more like themselves now, and she could walk easily and naturally again. Even so, she walked cautiously down the hallway, as the golden haze still clouded her vision.</p>
<p>Sara stopped by the kitchen briefly to fix some coffee; if she was going to help Ada with the analysis, she needed to be fully awake, and caffeine was the only way. As she waited for the coffee machine to run, part of her wondered whether it was even a good idea to have caffeine so soon after a concussion - or did it even matter? - but the rest of her was dead set against working without coffee.</p>
<p>Finally, the coffee machine chimed with an annoying cheerfulness, and Sara left the kitchen, mug in hand, turning left toward the laboratory.</p>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<div id="trance"><p>Although I have no lantern, I walk into the cave without hesitation. To my surprise, the walls are lined with something - moss? - that provides a soft illumination similar to the golden haze outside, and I am able to see even as I move away from the mouth. Still, I keep my hand against the wall to keep me oriented. The rock forming the cave wall is remarkably smooth, and it sparkles in the moss-light.</p>
<p>The cave turns slightly, slowly, always to the right, and sloping gradually down into the earth. I begin to perceive it more as a tunnel than a cave, though who or what has created it is unclear. I follow it around as it spirals deeper.</p></div>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<p>She stumbled slightly and leaned against the wall for support as she snapped back to the station, sliding down while clutching her coffee in two hands and clenching her eyes shut. What was happening to her?, she wondered, while trying to regain her composure and control her breathing.</p>
<p> She opened her eyes and looked around. The hallway was now lined with sunflowers, their yellow faces turned directly toward her, almost threateningly from her perspective from the floor, though they made no attempt to block her path. Was it just in her head, or was the Door having some kind of physical effect on this place? Neither should be possible, there's no way something on the surface could have any effect on the station. And yet...</p>
<p>Slowly she pulled herself to her feet and continued walking. Though she expected the sunflowers to keep her from moving forward in some way, they remained at the edges of the corridor. Finally the bulkhead leading into the laboratory wing stood before her. <i>Ada should be able to help her,</i> she thought as she opened the airlock. On other side she saw even more sunflowers that lined the edges even more densely. They swayed in an imperceptible wind, seeming to beckon her further, urging her to keep walking. She followed for several meters, before she was standing next to the door to the second laboratory.</p>
<p>Ada was sitting in Lab 2, which seemed to be her preferred station. Sara moved to open the door, but something in her hesitated, and she heard the voice again. <i>You need to hurry, you need to get down to the planet. They can't help you. She can't help you.</i></p>
<p>She stood still for a moment, her hand poised over the controls. Ada was concentrating on her work. There was probably [[nothing|3.4(e) Corridor / Tunnel]] she could do but listen to her story of dreams and visions. But still [[there must be comfort|3.4 Laboratory]] in that...</p>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 3 - Merging</b>
<i>3.3(b) Corridor</i></div>
<p>There was no way she could get any rest while the Door was at the forefront of her mind, so going to the lab to see Ada was really the only way. Without thinking much more about it, she opened the door and stepped out into the corridor. Her legs felt much more like themselves now, and she could walk easily and naturally again. Even so, she walked cautiously down the hallway, as the golden haze still clouded her vision.</p>
<p>Sara stopped by the kitchen briefly to fix some coffee; if she was going to help Ada with the analysis, she needed to be fully awake, and caffeine was the only way. As she waited for the the coffee machine to run, part of her wondered whether it was it even a good idea to have caffeine so soon after a concussion - or did it even matter? - but the rest of her was dead set against working without coffee.</p>
<p>Finally, the coffee machine chimed with an annoying cheerfulness, and Sara left the kitchen, mug in hand, turning left toward the laboratory.</p>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<div id="trance"><p>Although I have no lantern, I walk into the cave without hesitation. To my surprise, the walls are lined with something - moss? - that provides a soft illumination similar to the golden haze outside, and I am able to see even as I move away from the mouth. Still, I keep my hand against the wall to keep me oriented. The rock forming the cave wall is remarkably smooth, and it sparkles in the moss-light.</p>
<p>The cave turns slightly, slowly, always to the right, and sloping gradually down into the earth. I begin to perceive it more as a tunnel than a cave, though who or what has created it is unclear. I follow it around as it spirals deeper.</p></div>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<p>She stumbled slightly and leaned against the wall for support as she snapped back to the station, sliding down while clutching her coffee in two hands and clenching her eyes shut. What was happening to her?, she wondered, while trying to regain her composure and control her breathing.</p>
<p> She opened her eyes and looked around. The hallway was now lined with sunflowers, their yellow faces turned directly toward her, almost threateningly from her perspective from the floor, though they made no attempt to block her path. Was it just in her head, or was the Door having some kind of physical effect on this place? Neither should be possible, there's no way something on the surface could have any effect on the station. And yet...</p>
<p>Slowly she pulled herself to her feet and continued walking. Though she expected the sunflowers to keep her from moving forward in some way, they remained at the edges of the corridor. Finally the bulkhead leading into the laboratory wing stood before her. Ada should be able to help her, she thought as she opened the airlock. On other side she saw even more sunflowers that lined the edges even more densely. They swayed in an imperceptible wind, seeming to beckon her further, urging her to keep walking. She followed for several meters, before she was standing next to the door to the second laboratory.</p>
<p>Ada was sitting in Lab 2, which seemed to be her preferred station. Sara moved to open the door, but something in her hesitated, and she heard the voice again. <i>You need to hurry, you need to get down to the planet. They can't help you.</i></p>
<p>She stood still for a moment, her hand poised over the controls. Ada was concentrating on her work. There was probably [[nothing|3.4(e) Corridor / Tunnel]] she could do but listen to her story of dreams and visions. But still [[there must be comfort|3.4 Laboratory]] in that...</p>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 3 - Merging</b><<set $tunnel = 3>>
<i>3.4(e) Corridor / Tunnel</i></div>
<p>The sunflowers had now grown so thick that she could no longer force her way through them. Their stalks were remarkably strong; the flowers in the closest row would not bend aginst her shoulder pressing against them. They almost seemed to push back against her, responding with more force than she exerted, and she could not make any progress.</p>
<p>Sara stopped fighting and stood in the center of a kind of clearing formed in the middle of the sunfowers, her hands on her hips, walking from side to side in a kind of slight circle, trying to find a way through. She couldn't trick the flowers, she knew that from the dreams.</p>
<p>She looked back over her shoulder at the flowers behind her. These were more inviting, thinner stems. They looked soft. She could walk right through them, all the way back to the entrance of the docking bay, if she wanted, she was sure. The path seemed to open before her even as she looked at them. She took a step toward them. Indeed, the immediate row of flowers began to part, and she broke into a run. The flowers were becoming so tall that they curled into a kind of tunnel around her. She entered the tunnel willingly. These flowers were related to the visions she was having, they were related to the Door on the planet, and she was sure they would lead her to answers.</p>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<div id="trance"><p>As I follow the tunnel, I see dozens upon dozens of tree roots snaking along my path. Those that grow in my way quickly move aside, withdrawing into the ground, creating clean places for my feet to fall. There is no danger of tripping on them. Some burst through the smooth soil of the tunnel walls and extend their tendrils toward me, catching my arms. They pull me forward, away from the entrance of the cave, onward, downward. I go willingly - I need to go down, I need to see what was at the end of the tunnel.</p>
<p>Eventually they release me, and in a flurry of movement they form a tight set of knots behind me, blocking the path. Even if I wanted to I can not turn back.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I must go [[forward|3.5 Tunnel]].</p></div>
<<if $dreamyes is 1>><<if $lake is 1>><<if $ackerley is 1>><<display "Ackerley">><</if>><<if $ackerley is 0>><<display "No Ackerley">><</if>><</if>><<if $tree is 1>><<display "Ada 5">><</if>><</if>><<if $dreamyes is 0>><<if $lake is 1>><<display "Ada 4">><</if>><<if $tree is 1>><<display "Ada 3">><</if>><</if>>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 3 - Merging</b><<set $tunnel = 4>>
<i>3.4(d) Laboratory</i></div>
<p>She fought off her hesitation and entered the lab. Ada looked up sharply, shocked to see her out of bed.</p>
<p>"Sara? Is everything ok."</p>
<p>Sara slumped into the chair next to Ada. "I don't know, Ada. I don't think so."</p>
<p>Ada looked very concerned. "What is it?"</p>
<p>"You'll never believe me."</p>
<p>"Try me."</p>
<p>"I've...been having dreams. A couple nights ago, and again while I was unconscious earlier. The Door, that door in the images from the surface, has been in all of them."</p>
<p>"What? How is that possible?"</p>
<p>"I don't know. It began when we discovered the alloy."</p>
<p>"Huh..."</p>
<p>"Ada, I keep slipping out. I can't keep myself present, I keep seeing the dream world, sometimes together with the station and sometimes in place of it. There was a lake in the center of the docking bay, and then there wasn't, and I almost walked out into the airlock to the shuttle. The corridors are becoming like caves, tunnels in the earth, spiraling down deeper and deeper and deeper and I don't know where it will lead me. There are sunflowers everywhere..." Sara was almost frantic.</p>
<p>"Hey now, c'mon, it'll be all right, just breathe...let me call the lieutenant, we'll get you back to your Quarters. You're probably still suffering from the head trauma."</p>
<p>Sara nodded, but she didn't really believe it would help. As she looked around the lab, she saw sunflowers beginning to surround them. She closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair so she wouldn't have to see the borders between the worlds coming apart.</p>
<p>After a few minutes that seemed like hours, Lt. Ackerley arrived at the lab. He and Ada helped Sara out into the hall. The three of them turned toward the living quarters. "I'll contact the Agency, they'll send a ship. You should see an actual doctor about that head injury, I think," said the lieutenant.</p>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<div id="trance"><p>As I follow the tunnel, dozens upon dozens of tree roots burst through the smooth soil and extend their tendrils toward me, catching my arms. They pull me back, toward the entrance to the cave, but I know that I must continue downward. I needed to go down, I needed to see what was at the end of the tunnel, but the roots prevent me from advancing. I struggle against them, pulling, kicking, to no avail. I drop to the ground, digging my heels into the dirt, trying to use my weight to my advantage.</p>
<p>I break free, falling against my back. Quickly I get to my feet and begin sprinting deeper into the tunnel. More tendrils move toward me, but I fight them off, stumbling forward, still running. I grab the the side of the wall to keep my balance, and as I do a wall of dirt closes off the tunnel behind me, sealing the path. I stand there for a moment in disbelief.</p>
<p>I can not go back.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I must go [[forward|3.5 Tunnel]].</p></div>
<<if $tunnel is 1>><<display "4.1(c) On the surface">><</if>><<if $tunnel is 2>><<display "4.1(b) On the surface">><</if>><<if $tunnel is 3>><<display "4.1(d) On the surface">><</if>><<if $tunnel is 4>><<display "4.1(a) On the surface">><</if>>
<b>EPILOGUE - Sunset</b>
...to be determined...
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Twilight</b></div>
<p>The colors are bright, oranges and reds and yellows in infinite shades, buffeting the space around me in every direction. There is an enormous amount of energy in them, and yet I stand still and strong against their onslaught. They move around me, but they do not touch me, they can not touch me. They have no form. Despite their apparent vibration, they make no sound. They are endless.</p>
<p>I continue to move forward, propelled through the field of color though I do not walk. I close my eyes and take in the odd sensation, breathing deeply. The colors' vibration is oddly soothing, even with the uneasy soundlessness. </p>
<p> Gradually the field of color begins to change, parting in front of me, yeilding to purples and blues and greys. My motion slows gradually until I am still. Finally taking a step forward, I consider my surroundings.</p>
<p>The valley around me is cloaked in twilit shadows of alien trees. I can feel the energy of the planet deeply, penetrating my bones, giving me support, and guiding me deeper into the valley. A path, untouched by the shadow, begins at my feet and leads down several miles. As I follow it with my eyes, I see a distant structure, and though it is far away I know instictively it is the Door; it can be nothing else. For once its presence comforts me, and I [[smile|To be continued]].</p>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 3 - Merging</b><<set $tunnel = 1>>
<i>3.4(a) Laboratory</i></div>
<p>She fought off her hesitation and entered the lab. Ada looked up sharply, shocked and not a little bit concerned to see her out of bed.</p>
<p>"Sara? Is everything ok."</p>
<p>Sara slumped into the chair next to Ada. "I don't know, Ada. I don't think so."</p>
<p>Ada swiveled in her chair to face her. "What is it?"</p>
<p>"You know I've been having dreams. Not just the other night, but when I was unconscious in the lab too. The Door, that door in the images from the surface, has been in all of them."</p>
<p>Ada watched her carefully, waiting for her to continue.</p>
<p>"Ada, I keep slipping out. I can't keep myself present, I keep seeing things from the dream world, sometimes together with the station and sometimes in place of it. There was a tree in the control room, and then there wasn't. Lt. Ackerley couldn't see it, but I know it was there, I touched it, I sat in its branches. The corridors are becoming like caves, tunnels in the earth, spiraling down deeper and deeper and deeper and I don't know where it will lead me. There are sunflowers everywhere..." Sara was almost frantic.</p>
<p>"Hey now, c'mon, it'll be all right, just breathe..." Ada interrupted. "Let me call the lieutenant, we'll get you back to your Quarters. You don't have to go to sleep if you're afraid of the dreams, but let's make sure you're safe first. You're probably still suffering from the head trauma."</p>
<p>"I don't think that's going to do it, Ada. I think I have to go to the surface."</p>
<p>"We haven't heard back yet from the Agency..."</p>
<p>"Screw the agency. I've got to get down there, I know it's the key to these dreams, these visions, I've got to, Ada." She stood suddenly and started pacing the lab, her hands on her head, stopping only when Ada rose and put her hand on her back.</p>
<p>"Okay, okay. We'll go down. I'll go with you. But first let's call the Lieutenant and let him know. He'll want to check you out first." Ada's voice was soft and soothing.</p>
<p>"All right." Sara replied reluctantly, but she trusted Ada. She sat back down, tapping nervously on her leg while she waited.</p>
<p>Ada called down to the control room and after a few minutes that seemed like hours, Lt. Ackerley arrived at the lab. He ran through the concussion tests again and checked her vitals. "You're still recovering, Doc, you shouldn't be working at the computer, much less piloting a shuttle down to the surface of the planet."</p>
<p>"But, Lieutenant..." she began to protest. </p>
<p>"Absolutely not. It's my call, Dr. Reyes, you know it is. You still need rest. You should see an actual doctor, too, I think. I've already contacted the Agency, they're sending a ship," he said.</p>
<p>"She's fine, Lieutenant," Ada came to her defense.</p>
<p>"I've been seeing the Door in my dreams, since before we found it on the planet. And I've been seeing things on the station, things from the dreams. I need to get down there, it's the only way to find out what's happening to me. One way or another I'm going." She was feeling more confident - the confusion she felt earlier was fading.</p>
<p>"It's true, Lieutenant, she told me about the dream before we actually saw the Door," Ada added. </p>
<p>The lieutenant paused, looking dumbfounded at Ada, before turning to Sara. "So that talk about a tree in the control room...?"</p>
<p>"I really did see it. It was there. For a time, at least. I really don't care what you say, I'm going down there."</p>
<p>He was silent for a moment, thinking. His face was always so hard to read.</p>
<p>"Okay."</p>
<p>"What? Really?"</p>
<p>"Yes. But you're not going alone. I want to be there to monitor your condition."</p>
<p>"I'm coming too, Sara," Ada chimed in.</p>
<p>"Shouldn't someone stay back and watch the station?"</p>
<p>"You know, the whole thing's pretty automated, it can really run itself, and there's no way anyone's going down to the surface without me." Ada said, grinning at Sara.</p>
<p>Somewhat reluctantly, somewhat relieved, she nodded. "All right, then. Let's go." Together, the three of them headed into the hallway and turned right, toward the docking bay.</p>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<div id="trance"><p>As I follow the tunnel, I see dozens upon dozens of tree roots snaking along my path. Those that grow in my way quickly move aside, withdrawing into the ground, creating clean places for my feet to fall. There is no danger of tripping on them. Some burst through the smooth soil of the tunnel walls and extend their tendrils toward me, catching my arms. They pull me forward, away from the entrance of the cave, onward, downward. I go willingly - I need to go down, I need to see what is at the end of the tunnel.</p>
<p>Eventually they release me, and in a flurry of movement they form a tight set of knots behind me, blocking the path. Even if I wanted to I can not turn back.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I must go [[forward|3.5 Tunnel]].</p></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 3 - Merging</b><<set $tunnel = 2>>
<i>3.4(b) Laboratory</i></div>
<p>She fought off her hesitation and entered the lab. Ada looked up sharply, shocked and not a little bit concerned to see her out of bed.</p>
<p>"Sara? Is everything ok."</p>
<p>Sara slumped into the chair next to Ada. "I don't know, Ada. I don't think so."</p>
<p>Ada swiveled in her chair. "What is it?"</p>
<p>"You know I've been having dreams. Not just the other night, but when I was unconscious in the lab too. The Door, that door in the images from the surface, has been in all of them."</p>
<p>Ada watched her carefully, waiting for her to continue. Sara swallowed hard.</p>
<p>"Ada, I keep slipping out. I can't keep myself present, I keep seeing things from the dream world, sometimes together with the station and sometimes in place of it. There was a tree in the control room, and then there wasn't. Lt. Ackerley couldn't see it, but I know it was there, I touched it, I sat in its branches. The corridors are becoming like caves, tunnels in the earth, spiraling down deeper and deeper and deeper and I don't know where it will lead me. There are sunflowers everywhere..." Sara was almost frantic.</p>
<p>"Hey now, c'mon, it'll be all right, just breathe...let me call the lieutenant, we'll get you back to your Quarters. You don't have to go to sleep if you're afraid of the dreams, but let's make sure you're safe first. You're probably still suffering from the head trauma."</p>
<p>"I don't think that's going to do it, Ada. I have to go to the surface."</p>
<p>"We haven't heard back yet from the Agency..."</p>
<p>"Screw the agency. I've got to get down there, I know it's the key to these dreams, these visions, I've got to, Ada." She stood suddenly and started pacing the lab, her hands on her head, stopping only when Ada rose and put her hand on her back.</p>
<p>"Okay. We'll go down. But first let's call the Lieutenant and let him know. He'll want to check you out first." Ada's voice was soft and soothing.</p>
<p>"All right." Sara replied reluctantly, but she trusted Ada. She sat back down, tapping nervously on her leg while she waited.</p>
<p>Ada called down to the control room and after a few minutes that seemed like hours, Lt. Ackerley arrived at the lab. He ran through the concussion tests again and checked her vitals. "You're still recovering, Doctor, you shouldn't be working at the computer, much less piloting a shuttle down to the surface of the planet."</p>
<p>"But, Lieutenant..." she began to protest. </p>
<p>"Absolutely not. As the field medic, it's my call, Dr. Reyes. You still need rest. You should see an actual doctor, too, I think. I've already contacted the Agency, they're sending a ship." said the lieutenant.</p>
<p>"She's fine, Lieutenant," Ada came to her defense.</p>
<p>"I've been seeing the Door in my dreams, since before we found it on the planet. And I've been seeing things on the station, things from the dreams. I need to get down there, it's the only way to find out what's happening to me. One way or another I'm going." She was feeling more confident - the desperation she felt earlier was gone.</p>
<p>"It's true, Lieutenant, she told me about the dream before we actually saw the Door," Ada added. </p>
<p>The lieutenant was not impressed. "Frankly, the fact that you are hallucinating makes me less inclined to approve. You're going to stay on the station, and I'm restricting you to quarters. Once the Agency doctor clears you, and the Agency approves the launch, you'll be able to go down, but for now, I have no choice but the relieve you from duty."</p>
<p>There was nothing she could do; though she outranked him on this mission, as the only one with any medical training he had this authority, so she resigned herself for now. It would be awhile before the ship arrived; certainly she'd find a way off the station. </p>
<p>Lt. Ackerley and Ada helped Sara out into the hall and the three of them turned toward the living quarters. </p>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<div id="trance"><p>As I follow the tunnel, dozens upon dozens of tree roots burst through the smooth soil and extend their tendrils toward me, catching my arms. They pull me back, toward the entrance to the cave, but I know that I must continue downward. I needed to go down, I needed to see what was at the end of the tunnel, but the roots prevent me from advancing. I struggle against them, pulling, kicking, to no avail. I drop to the ground, digging my heels into the dirt, trying to use my weight to my advantage.</p>
<p>I break free, falling against my back. Quickly I get to my feet and begin sprinting deeper into the tunnel. More tendrils move toward me, but I fight them off, stumbling forward, still running. I grab the the side of the wall to keep my balance, and as I do a wall of dirt closes off the tunnel behind me, sealing the path. I stand there for a moment in disbelief. </p>
<p>I cannot go back. I must go [[forward|3.5 Tunnel]].</p></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 3 - Merging</b>
<i>3.5 Tunnel</i></div>
<div id="trance"><p>The tunnel continues its spiraling descent, and I follow it willingly, though there is no apparent end and no sign of where it will lead me. The air is increasingly humid and warm the deeper I go, and I feel sweat beading on my forehead; I wipe it off with my arm. Miles seem to fall under my feet, but I am not tired, and I do not feel the time pass. Perhaps this is because the walls are unchanging around me. </p>
<p>Am I going in circles? </p>
<p>Am I standing still?</p>
<p>I stop, close my eyes, and listen deeply.</p>
<p>There is the sound of air, of wind, coming from somewhere nearby. Eyes still closed, I hold out my arms to either side, forming a line with my shoulders, and extending my fingers. Shifting to the inside of the curve, I hold my arms in front of me, palms toward the wall, listening for the air with my hands.</p>
<p>There it is.</p>
<p>In the center of the wall I feel the air flowing lightly through an invisible crack. It smells of lavender. There must be something in the center of this spiral through the soil.</p>
<p>I open my eyes and press my hands against the soil.</p>
<p>The tunnel falls away around me, replaced by a Provençal field, full of long grass and wild flowers. The air is cool and a light breeze brushes around me. In the middle of the field, maybe a couple hundred yards away, there stands a baby blue farmhouse with white windowpanes and a brown roof next to a tree of yellow fruit. It seems familiar.</p>
<p>I find myself standing on the porch outside the front door of the house. There is nothing on the porch save a simple wooden bench, its unstained finish showing the knots and lines of age of a once proud tree. The bench came from the same trees that were sacrificed to build the house. In a way it is a part of the whole and yet unconnected to the rest of its former self, left a part that is useful but removable, discard-able, replaceable. Out of pity I sit to look out over the field, in doing so removing its emptiness for a time. </p>
<p>Finally I stand and confront the front door. The house appears empty, and that it has been so for quite a while.</p>
<p>I turn the bronze knob, and the front door opens gently. The house seems to <<if $tunnel is 1>>[[invite me in|3.6(a) House / Docking Bay]]<</if>><<if $tunnel is 2>>[[invite me in|3.6(b) House / Docking Bay]]<</if>><<if $tunnel is 3>>[[invite me in|3.6(d) House / Docking Bay]]<</if>><<if $tunnel is 4>>[[invite me in|3.6(c) House / Docking Bay]]<</if>>.</p></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 3 - Merging</b>
<i>3.6(a) House / Docking Bay</i></div>
<div id="sectionLeft"><p>The inside of the house, though furnished, is quite spacious. The floors are a deep brown wood, cool to the bare soles of my feet. The furniture looks cozy, its deep yellow fabric inset with large brown buttons and complementing the house quite nicely. I do not sit down, though.</p>
<p>The walls are filled with portraits and photographs, probably of the family that lived here, but no matter how close I stand I cannot see the faces. I can tell they are there when they are on the edges of my peripheral vision, but when I turn to focus on any picture the faces are eerily hidden from my perception, replaced by a hazy blur. I reach out and touch one; I feel a connection to the pictures. They are familiar. They were a part of my memory once, but I cannot access them now.</p>
<p>I walk through the living room into the kitchen. This room is brightly lit with natural light entering through wide windows. It is well equipped with an unused gas stove and new granite counters and cutting-edge appliances designed to look retro. I go to the sink and look outside and watch the wind brushing through the sea of grass and wildflowers. The sky grows orange as the sun sets behind the mountains in the distance. </p>
<p>I have a feeling that there is not much time left.</p>
<p>A glint of green catches the corner of my eye, and I turn around. The doorway that ostensibly opens onto the stairs to the basement is carved with the same intricate designs as the mysterious Door, though it is clear that it is not the same door at all. I walk over to the doorway, place my hand on the knob, and turn. </p>
<p>There are in fact stairs on the other side of the door. I walk down the stairs. With each step I am more confident, as the walls too are carved with the same designs, leading me onward. They glow with the same light as the moss, illuminating my step. </p>
<p>Soon I will have [[answers|INTERLUDE: Twilight]].</p>
</div><div id="sectionRight"><p>The three entered the docking bay together, Ada and Lt. Ackerley lightly supporting Sara, who had her head down, gazing at the floor. Suddenly she looked up and broke away from them and began moving to the left wall.</p>
<p>"You okay, Sara?" Ada sounded concerned.</p>
<p>Sara didn't seem like she heard. She walked slowly as if in a daze, and really only a part of her was really here. The other part of her was being guided by the Door, maybe already on the planet. She needed to rejoin her other part.</p>
<p>"Sara?"</p>
<p>The lights on the drones' panels were all blinking green to indicate STATUS: READY. She walked over to them and placed her hand over the control panel of one, staring blankly at the display. </p>
<p>"Hey, are you listening to me?"</p>
<p>Sara did not respond. She continued to look at the display, caressing the panel with her hand. Slowly she turned away and began scanning the room. There was almost a magnetic pull from the airlock door on the far wall, pulling at her, trying to draw her closer. She walked to the window, and looked out onto the planet toward the exact point the drone had found the Door. Something was down there, waiting for her, pulling her forward. She had to see what was on the other side of the door.</p>
<p>Sara turned back toward the others.</p>
<p>"It's time. Are you coming?" </p>
</div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 3 - Merging</b>
<i>3.6(b) Docking Bay</i></div>
<div id="sectionLeft"><p>The inside of the house, though furnished, is quite spacious. The floors are a deep brown wood, cool to the bare soles of my feet. The furniture looks cozy, its deep yellow fabric inset with large brown buttons and complementing the house quite nicely. I do not sit down, though.</p>
<p>The walls are filled with portraits and photographs, probably of the family that lived here, but no matter how close I stand I cannot see the faces. I can tell they are there when they are on the edges of my peripheral vision, but when I turn to focus on any picture the faces are eerily hidden from my perception, replaced by a hazy blur. I reach out and touch one; I feel a connection to the pictures. They are familiar. They were a part of my memory once, but I cannot access them now.</p>
<p>I walk through the living room into the kitchen. This room is brightly lit with natural light entering through wide windows. It is well equipped with an unused gas stove and new granite counters and cutting-edge appliances designed to look retro. I go to the sink and look outside and watch the wind brushing through the sea of grass and wildflowers. The sky grows orange as the sun sets behind the mountains in the distance. </p>
<p>I have a feeling that there is not much time left.</p>
<p>A glint of green catches the corner of my eye, and I turn around. The doorway that ostensibly opens onto the stairs to the basement is carved with the same intricate designs as the mysterious Door, though it is clear that it is not the same door at all. I walk over to the doorway, place my hand on the knob, and turn. </p>
<p>There are in fact stairs on the other side of the door. I walk down the stairs. With each step I am more confident, as the walls too are carved with the same designs, leading me onward. They glow with the same light as the moss, illuminating my step. </p>
<p>Soon I will have [[answers|INTERLUDE: Twilight]].</p>
</div><div id="sectionRight"><p>"Sara entered the docking bay alone. She had gotten separated from the others, but she did not know how. Somehow she had made it here, she would be able to get to the surface now. Nothing could stop her.</p>
<p>She walked slowly as if in a daze, and really only a part of her was really here. The other part of her was being guided by the Door, maybe already on the planet. She needed to rejoin her other part.</p>
<p>The lights on the drones' panels were all blinking green to indicate STATUS: READY. She walked over to them and placed her hand over the control panel of one, staring blankly at the display. </p>
<p>The door opened behind her.</p>
<p>"What are you doing?" came Ada's worried voice. "Ackerley's hurt, you twisted his knee pretty bad."</p>
<p>Sara did not respond. She continued to look at the display, caressing the panel with her hand. </p>
<p>"Hey, are you listening to me? Why'd you lock the bulkhead shut? Why'd you run here without us?"</p>
<p>She heard but was not really listening. It didn't seem to matter.</p>
<p>Ada grabbed her shoulder and pulled her around. "Come on, Sara, snap out of it!"</p>
<p>"I have to go down there, Ada, I can't stay here anymore, I have to go." Sara said finally, distantly, turning her eyes away from Ada's and looking toward the shuttle. </p>
<p>"I know, I know. I'm coming too. I'm here for you."</p>
<p>"He would have tried to stop me."</p>
<p>"He's only trying...Sara?"</p>
<p>Sara had turned and walked to the window, looking out onto the planet, looking at the exact point the drone had found the Door. Something was down there, waiting for her, pulling her forward. She had to see what was on the other side.</p>
<p>"It's time, Ada. Are you coming?"</p>
</div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 3 - Merging</b>
<i>3.6(c) Docking Bay</i></div>
<div id="sectionLeft"><p>The inside of the house, though furnished, is quite spacious. The floors are a deep brown wood, cool to the bare soles of my feet. The furniture looks cozy, its deep yellow fabric inset with large brown buttons and complementing the house quite nicely. I do not sit down, though.</p>
<p>The walls are filled with portraits and photographs, probably of the family that lived here, but no matter how close I stand I cannot see the faces. I can tell they are there when they are on the edges of my peripheral vision, but when I turn to focus on any picture the faces are eerily hidden from my perception, replaced by a hazy blur. I reach out and touch one; I feel a connection to the pictures. They are familiar. They were a part of my memory once, but I cannot access them now.</p>
<p>I walk through the living room into the kitchen. This room is brightly lit with natural light entering through wide windows. It is well equipped with an unused gas stove and new granite counters and cutting-edge appliances designed to look retro. I go to the sink and look outside and watch the wind brushing through the sea of grass and wildflowers. The sky grows orange as the sun sets behind the mountains in the distance. </p>
<p>I have a feeling that there is not much time left.</p>
<p>A glint of green catches the corner of my eye, and I turn around. The doorway that ostensibly opens onto the stairs to the basement is carved with the same intricate designs as the mysterious Door, though it is clear that it is not the same door at all. I walk over to the doorway, place my hand on the knob, and turn. </p>
<p>There are in fact stairs on the other side of the door. I walk down the stairs. With each step I am more confident, as the walls too are carved with the same designs, leading me onward. They glow with the same light as the moss, illuminating my step. </p>
<p>Soon I will have [[answers|INTERLUDE: Twilight]].</p>
</div><div id="sectionRight"><p>Sara entered the docking bay alone. She had gotten separated from the others, but she did not know how. Somehow she had made it here, she would be able to get to the surface now. Nothing could stop her.</p>
<p>She walked slowly as if in a daze, and really only a part of her was really here. The other part of her was being guided by the Door, maybe already on the planet. She needed to rejoin her other part.</p>
<p>The lights on the drones' panels were all blinking green to indicate STATUS: READY. She walked over to them and placed her hand over the control panel of one, staring blankly at the display. </p>
<p>Slowly she turned away from the panels and scanned the docking bay around her. Directly across on the far side of the room was the door to the airlock leading to the shuttle. She could feel a strong urge to walk over there, to get into the shuttle, to go down to the planet right now, but she hesitated - should she go back to the others? </p>
<p>No, certainly not. They don't understand, they couldn't, not without experiencing the same dreams and visions and fears that she had. This was something that she would have to do alone.</p>
<p>She half-heard the crackle of her comm as one of the others was certainly trying to get ahold of her, but she couldn't understand any of the words. No matter; she had made up her mind. With no hesitation she clicked off her comm and tossed it on the floor of the docking bay, and it clattered away from her against the hard flooring.</p>
<p>Finally she strode toward the airlock and placed her hand on the control. It opened easily - strange, that the others had not locked her out. They must not think she'd actually go through with it; more evidence that they'd never understand why she so desperately needed to.</p>
<p>She stepped into the airlock and onto the shuttle, the door closing shut behind her.</p></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 3 - Merging</b>
<i>3.6(d) House / Docking Bay</i></div>
<div id="sectionLeft"><p>The inside of the house, though furnished, is quite spacious. The floors are a deep brown wood, cool to the bare soles of my feet. The furniture looks cozy, its deep yellow fabric inset with large brown buttons and complementing the house quite nicely. I do not sit down, though.</p>
<p>The walls are filled with portraits and photographs, probably of the family that lived here, but no matter how close I stand I cannot see the faces. I can tell they are there when they are on the edges of my peripheral vision, but when I turn to focus on any picture the faces are eerily hidden from my perception, replaced by a hazy blur. I reach out and touch one; I feel a connection to the pictures. They are familiar. They were a part of my memory once, but I cannot access them now.</p>
<p>I walk through the living room into the kitchen. This room is brightly lit with natural light entering through wide windows. It is well equipped with an unused gas stove and new granite counters and cutting-edge appliances designed to look retro. I go to the sink and look outside and watch the wind brushing through the sea of grass and wildflowers. The sky grows orange as the sun sets behind the mountains in the distance. </p>
<p>I have a feeling that there is not much time left.</p>
<p>A glint of green catches the corner of my eye, and I turn around. The doorway that ostensibly opens onto the stairs to the basement is carved with the same intricate designs as the mysterious Door, though it is clear that it is not the same door at all. I walk over to the doorway, place my hand on the knob, and turn. </p>
<p>There are in fact stairs on the other side of the door. I walk down the stairs. With each step I am more confident, as the walls too are carved with the same designs, leading me onward. They glow with the same light as the moss, illuminating my step. </p>
<p>Soon I will have [[answers|INTERLUDE: Twilight]].</p>
</div><div id="sectionRight"><p>Sara entered the docking bay. Somehow she had made it here, without realizing this is where she was going. She would be able to get to the surface now. Nothing could stop her. The others didn't even know she was here, didn't know what she was about to do.</p>
<p>She walked slowly as if in a daze, and really only a part of her was really here. The other part of her was being guided by the Door, maybe already on the planet. She needed to rejoin her other part.</p>
<p>The lights on the drones' panels were all blinking green to indicate STATUS: READY. She walked over to them and placed her hand over the control panel of one, staring blankly at the display. </p>
<p>Slowly she turned away from the panels and scanned the docking bay around her. Directly across on the far side of the room was the door to the airlock leading to the shuttle. She could feel a strong urge to walk over there, to get into the shuttle, to go down to the planet right now, but she hesitated - should she tell the others? </p>
<p>No, certainly not. They don't understand, they couldn't, not without experiencing the same dreams and visions and fears that she had. This was something that she would have to do alone.</p>
<p>She half-heard the crackle of her comm as one of the others was certainly trying to get ahold of her, but she couldn't understand any of the words. No matter; she had made up her mind. She clicked her comm off and began to toss it to the ground, but hesitated. Once on the surface her comm would be her only link to the station; she shouldn't sever that so easily. She returned the comm to her waist.</p>
<p>Finally she strode toward the airlock and placed her hand on the control. It opened easily. She stepped into the airlock and onto the shuttle, the door closing shut behind her.</p></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 4 - Opening</b>
<i>4.1(a) On the surface</i></div>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The shuttle's hatch opened slowly, letting the fading light of the afternoon stream into the cabin. Sara stepped out onto the alien field, a light breeze cool against her face, and she surveyed her surroundings. She had landed the shuttle on the flat top of a hill carpeted in long, knee-high grasses, swaying slightly in the wind, brushing against Sara's legs. This was one of the few open areas in this heavily wooded region of the continent. From this vantage point, as the hill rose slightly above the canopy, she could see that the surrounding forest stretched for miles in every direction, extending onto the slopes of the mountains in the west. For the most part, the planet's flora was extremely dark in color, nearly black, the better to absorb as much energy as possible from the red dwarf star the planet orbited, but there were tinges of oranges and blues among the leaves the trees that she didn't remember noticing from orbit. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The golden haze that had clouded her vision on the station had been dissipating gradually as she stood there, perhaps because she was now finally on the planet's surface, finally moving toward the Door, toward (she hoped) clarity. She sat down in the grass, waiting for her vision to clear completely as the sun moved behind the mountains. Somewhere in this wooded valley was the Door.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>As the sun set, some of the grass on the hill began to change, with a golden light growing from within each blade and pushing out the deep purples and blacks and illuminating the ground. The light grass formed a path that snaked down the hill toward a rather thickly grown area of the forest. Despite the strangeness of the experience and even though she didn't quite trust its convenient appearance, Sara stood and began to follow the path, certain it would [[lead|4.2(a) Entering the Forest]] her to the Door itself.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 4 - Opening</b>
<i>4.1(b) On the surface</i></div>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The shuttle's hatch opened slowly, letting the fading light of the afternoon stream into the cabin. Sara stepped out onto the alien field, followed closely by Ada, who immediately began walking around excitedly looking around in all directions. "Just look at this place!"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Sara smiled. "You've seen it on the monitors, you know."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Yeah, well, it's different when you're actually seeing it, when you're actually breathing the air."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>In stark contrast to Ada's quick movements, Sara stood still, a light breeze cool against her face, and she surveyed her surroundings. She had landed the shuttle on the flat top of a hill, one of the few open areas in this heavily wooded region of the continent. From this vantage point, as the hill rose slightly above the canopy, she could see that the surrounding forest stretched for miles in every direction, extending onto the slopes of the mountains in the west. The Door was somewhere deep within this wooded valley, several miles from the landing site, but this was as close as she could land. The hill was carpeted in long, knee-high grasses, swaying slightly in the wind, brushing against their legs. For the most part, the planet's flora was extremely dark in color, nearly black, the better to absorb as much energy as possible from the red dwarf star the planet orbited, but there were tinges of oranges and blues among the leaves the trees that she didn't remember noticing from orbit. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The golden haze that had clouded her vision on the station had been dissipating gradually as she stood there, perhaps because she was now finally on the planet's surface, finally moving toward the Door, toward (she hoped) clarity. As it faded, some of the golden color that was fading seemed to focus itself, coalescing into a river of light that settled upon the grass, illuminating an apparent path instead of filling her field of vision. The path led down the hill toward a rather thickly grown area of the forest, beckoning her - she could almost hear it. With little hesitation, despite the strangeness of the experience, even though she didn't quite trust its convenient appearance, Sara began to follow the path, certain it would lead her to the Door itself.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Hey, Sara, wait up!" Sara stopped as Ada came running to her. "Taking off without me?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"I..." She had almost forgotten she wasn't alone.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Let me grab some things off the shuttle first." <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Ada jogged back and reentered the shuttle, emerging a moment later with two emergency packs from the shuttle, containing food, water, a first aid kit, and anything else one might need during a hike on an alien planet. She handed one to Sara before pulling a small tablet from the other. The net of orbital satellites could be used to orient their position on the planet's surface as they hiked to the Door. A green dot at the edge of the screen indicated the position of the drone when it located the Door, and with a few commands Ada the tablet had calculated the best and shortest possible path through the terrain.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Okay, let's go." She started walking roughly northeast toward the edge of the woods.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Sara turned back toward the illuminated "path" of grass, heading south. <i>Follow.</i><</timed>></p>
<span id="follow"><<click "Follow Ada">><</click>><<replace "#follow">><p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Sara shook her head, trying to brush aside the allure of following the voice. She jogged up to catch up with Ada and the two heading into the [[forest|4.2(b) Entering the Forest]].<</timed>></p><</replace>><</click>> • <<click "Follow the Voice">><<replace "#follow">><p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Hey, Ada?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Ada stopped, turning back toward her. "What is it?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"This may sound odd, but I have a really strong feeling we need to head that way."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"That's almost exactly in the opposite direction!"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"I know, but I just...feel like it's the way we're supposed to go."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Ada tilted her head, uncertain. "Well, I've come this far with you. We'll start heading your way. We can always recalculate a new direct path if we need to."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Thanks, Ada." <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"No problem." She started to jog back toward her.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>It really meant a lot to her that Ada was willing to trust her, to not brush off these visions without a second thought. What would this journey be like, without her?
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Finally, the two headed south into the [[forest|"4.2(c) Entering the Forest"]].<</timed>></p><</replace>><</click>></span>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 4 - Opening</b>
<i>4.1(c) On the surface</i></div>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The shuttle's hatch opened slowly, letting the fading light of the afternoon stream into the cabin. Sara stepped out onto the alien field, followed closely by Ada and Lt. Ackerley. The lieutenant began circling the hill rather deliberately, gauging the terrain and establishing a perimeter, or whatever it is military officers do when setting up a base. Meanwhile Ada walked excitedly and a bit more haphazardly around the shuttle, taking in the view. "Just look at this place!"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Sara smiled. "You've seen it on the monitors, you know."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Yeah, well, it's different when you're actually seeing it, when you're actually breathing the air."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>In stark contrast to the others, Sara stood still, a light breeze cool against her face, and she surveyed her surroundings. They had landed the shuttle on the flat top of a hill, one of the few open areas in this heavily wooded region of the continent. From this vantage point, as the hill rose slightly above the canopy, she could see that the surrounding forest stretched for miles in every direction, extending onto the slopes of the mountains in the west. The Door was somewhere deep within this wooded valley, several miles from the landing site, but this was as close as she could land. The hill was carpeted in long, knee-high grasses, swaying slightly in the wind, brushing against their legs. For the most part, the planet's flora was extremely dark in color, nearly black, the better to absorb as much energy as possible from the red dwarf star the planet orbited, but there were tinges of oranges and blues among the leaves the trees that she didn't remember noticing from orbit. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The golden haze that had clouded her vision on the station had been dissipating gradually as she stood there, perhaps because she was now finally on the planet's surface, finally moving toward the Door, toward (she hoped) clarity. As it faded, some of the golden color that was fading seemed to focus itself, coalescing into a river of light that settled upon the grass, illuminating an apparent path instead of filling her field of vision. The path led down the hill toward a rather thickly grown area of the forest, beckoning her - she could almost hear it. With little hesitation, despite the strangeness of the experience, even though she didn't quite trust its convenient appearance, Sara began to follow the path, certain it would lead her to the Door itself.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Just a sec, Dr. Reyes!" She turned to see the lieutenant waving toward her; she had almost forgotten she wasn't alone. "Grab a pack."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>She walked back to the shuttle, where each of the three of them strapped on a emergence pack containing food, water, a first aid kit, and anything else one might need on an alien planet.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Which way?" asked Ada, looking toward the horizon.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Lt. Ackerley took a small tablet out of his pack and turned it on. The net of orbital satellites could be used to orient their position on the planet's surface as they hiked to the Door. A green dot at the edge of the screen indicated the position of the drone when it located the Door, and with a few commands the tablet had calculated the best and shortest possible path through the terrain. "The first leg is in that direction," he said, and gestured northeast.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Okay, let's go." Ada and the lieutenant started walking toward the edge of the woods. Sara turned back toward the illuminated "path" of grass, heading south. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>><i>Follow.</i><</timed>></p>
<span id="follow"><<click "Follow the others">><<replace "#follow">><p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Sara shook her head, trying to brush aside the allure of following the voice. She jogged to catch up with the others and headed into the [[forest|4.2(d) Entering the Forest]].<</timed>></p><</replace>><</click>> • <<click "Follow the Voice">><<replace "#follow">><p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Hey, guys?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The two stopped, turning back toward her. "What is it?" asked Ada.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"This may sound odd, but I have a really strong feeling we need to head that way."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"That's almost exactly in the opposite direction," Ackerley protested.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"I know, but I just...feel like it's the way we're supposed to go."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Ada tilted her head, uncertain. "What makes you think that?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"The grass...can't you see it? It's lit up, it's forming a path into the forest..."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Lit up?" The lieutenant frowned. "It all looks the same to me."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Me too, Sara."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"You can't see it?" Sara looked behind her. The path was still visible.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The lieutenant interrupted her. "Look, I'm sorry, but if I'm putting my career on the line for this we're going to keep at least one foot grounded in reality. The Door is in that direction, the best and easiest path is in that direction. For now, we head this way. If we reach a dead end we'll come back to the shuttle to regroup and try a different way. But I must insist we follow the path found by the tablet." <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"I know you're skeptical of my dreams or visions or whatever, but I'm telling you it's not nothing. They're real. We need to head south, I'm certain of it. Ada?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"I'm sorry, Sara, but I have to agree with the lieutenant. We should start with the path the tablet calculated and see where it takes us."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Sara looked back and forth between them. How could she make them believe her, make them understand that she needed to follow the illuminated grass. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>She couldn't. Not yet, anyways. And it would be better to stay together than to go off on her own. They've come this far for her; she would just have to trust them now.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"All right, let's go."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Finally, the three headed northeast into the [[forest|4.2(d) Entering the Forest]].<</timed>></p><</replace>><</click>></span>
<<set $dreamyes = 1>><div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 4 - Opening</b>
<i>4.1(d) On the surface</i></div>
<p>The shuttle's hatch opened slowly, letting the fading light of the afternoon stream into the cabin. Sara stepped out onto the alien field, a light breeze cool against her face, and she surveyed her surroundings. She had landed the shuttle on the flat top of a hill, one of the few open areas in this heavily wooded region of the continent. From this vantage point, as the hill rose slightly above the canopy, she could see that the surrounding forest stretched for miles in every direction, extending onto the slopes of the mountains in the west. The Door was somewhere deep within this wooded valley, several miles from the landing site, but this was as close as she could land. The hill was carpeted in long, knee-high grasses, swaying slightly in the wind, brushing against Sara's legs. For the most part, the planet's flora was extremely dark in color, nearly black, the better to absorb as much energy as possible from the red dwarf star the planet orbited, but there were tinges of oranges and blues among the leaves the trees that she didn't remember noticing from orbit. </p>
<p>The golden haze that had clouded her vision on the station had been dissipating gradually as she stood there, perhaps because she was now finally on the planet's surface, finally moving toward the Door, toward (she hoped) clarity. As it faded, some of the golden color that was fading seemed to focus itself, coalescing into a river of light that settled upon the grass, illuminating an apparent path instead of filling her field of vision. The path led down the hill toward a rather thickly grown area of the forest, beckoning her - she could almost hear it. With little hesitation, despite the strangeness of the experience, even though she didn't quite trust its convenient appearance, Sara began to follow the path, certain it would lead her to the Door itself.</p>
<p>As she reached the forest's edge, her communicator buzzed. It was from the station, from Ada. </p>
<p>"Sara, what are you doing?" She sounded worried.</p>
<p>Sara hesitated. She wasn't particularly interested in the argument that would certainly ensue. Ada and Lt. Ackerley were sure to try to persuade her to return to the station.</p>
<p>"Sara! Come in!"</p>
<span id="comm"><p>She reached for her waist, about to turn the comm off. But her hand refused - a part of her still needed a <<click "connection to the others">><<replace #comm>><p>She reached for her waist, about to turn the comm off. But her hand refused - a part of her still needed a connection to the others, to the station, something to keep her anchored in this world. At the same time, this journey was so important, so personal to her, and she was afraid that preserving this link might make it more difficult to discover the meaning of her connection to the Door.</p>
<p>Finally she answered.</p>
<p>"Here, Ada."</p>
<p>"What the hell are you doing, Sara?"</p>
<p>"I have to get to the Door, Ada, I can't wait for the Agency."</p>
<p>"Why didn't you come to us? Why didn't you tell us what you were planning? I don't understand why'd you go on your own. You're still recovering, for God's sake!"</p>
<p>"I didn't plan it. I just..." Sara hesitated. "You wouldn't understand. There's some kind of... connection between me and the Door. It led me to the shuttle, to the planet. I need to find out why."</p>
<<if $dreamyes is 0>><p>"What kind of connection?"</p>
<p>"I've been seeing things, having dreams and visions. It's more than There's something leading me, urging me forward. The Door's the key, I'm sure of it, I have to get there." </p><</if>><p>"You still should have told us - we could have helped." Ada was clearly hurt, and angry, and Sara couldn't blame her. Why didn't she go to them? She didn't have a good explanation, except that she had been led along by the Door, by the Voice, and now she was on the surface of an alien planet, alone. </p>
<p>Nothing she could do about it now, though.</p>
<p>"I'm sorry, Ada, I'm sorry... I did what I thought I had to do." She paused. Maybe not nothing. "You still might be able to help me, though - I'll stay in contact with you, let you know what I see."</p>
<p>"Flip on the beacon in your comm, I can have a drone follow you."</p>
<span id="drone"><p>If she activated the beacon, the station would now be able to pinpoint her location, allowing Ada (or anyone with access to the control panel) to target her position with a drone. Her own drones, surveilling her instead of surveying the planet. <<click "She didn't really like that idea">><<replace #drone>><p>If she activated the beacon, the station would now be able to pinpoint her location, allowing Ada (or anyone with access to the control panel) to target her position with a drone. Her own drones, surveilling her instead of surveying the planet. She didn't really like that idea, but she could trust Ada, couldn't she?</p>
<p>"No, Ada, it'll be voice only." While she trusted Ada, she couldn't trust that the Agency wouldn't use it to try to stop her when the ship Lt. Ackerley has certainly sent for arrives. </p>
<p>"Sara..."</p>
<p>"This is my journey, Ada. I'll keep you filled in, but I don't want any interference."</p>
<p>Silence for a few seconds. Then: "All right."</p>
<p>With that, Sara continued down the hill and into the forest.</p>
<p>The canopy of trees here was remarkably thick; though sunset was still several hours away only brief glimpses of sunlight pierced through the leaves. For this reason, perhaps, the tree branches stretched well above her head, each tree reaching for the top of the canopy, trying to get every drop of light energy it could despite the great amount of competition from its neighbors. The forest floor was still blanketed by the same long grass as the hillside, somehow growing heartily despite the low amount of light that reached the blades. Perhaps the grass was able to pull enough energy from the soil itself - such fertility would bode well for the potential settlement. She crouched down to take a sample, then realized she hadn't brought any supplies from the shuttle. She made a mental note to get a sample when she came back through.</p>
<p>After only maybe an hour of following the illuminated path, the entrance had become a distant point of light. That she could still see the entrance at all gave her the feeling that maybe there was still an opportunity to return, despite everything. Her conversation with Ada, at first lively and descriptive of the environment around her, had trickled down to silence for now. She had a feeling that Ada hadn't told the lieutenant that she was in contact with her.</p>
<p>In the pale golden light from the forest floor, a well-worn trail was emerging from the tall grass, showing more evidence of past use the further she went, though to the best of her knowledge no human had set foot on the planet before her. Was this a popular path for animals to take through the trees? She stopped and listened carefully, but heard nothing aside from the rustling of the leaves in the breeze, not even the sounds of insects or birds. This was slightly unsettling - she should hear something in a forest so thick and abundant with potential food sources. Had this region of the planet somehow evolved without them? This is an alien world, though - perhaps the fauna had simply developed differently enough to escape her perception for now.</p>
<p>After another hour or two, or more (she was losing track of the time), she stopped to rest, leaning against the rough bark of a tree. It must be later than she thought - she could no longer see even the occasional flicker of sunlight through the canopy. Yawning, she felt sleep begin to come over her, and she curled up in the soft grass away from the path. She would start again in the [[morning|4.2(e) Entering the Forest]].</p><</replace>><</click>>, but she could <<click "trust Ada">><<replace #drone>><p>If she activated the beacon, the station would now be able to pinpoint her location, allowing Ada (or anyone with access to the control panel) to target her position with a drone. Her own drones, surveilling her instead of surveying the planet. She didn't really like that idea, but she could trust Ada, couldn't she?</p>
<p>She could.</p>
<p>Sara clicked on the beacon, then continued down the hill and finally entered the forest.</p>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<p>The canopy of trees here was remarkably thick; though sunset was still several hours away only brief glimpses of sunlight pierced through the leaves. For this reason, perhaps, the tree branches stretched well above her head, each tree reaching for the top of the canopy, trying to get every drop of light energy it could despite the great amount of competition from its neighbors. The forest floor was still blanketed by the same long grass as the hillside, somehow growing heartily despite the low amount of light that reached the blades. Perhaps the grass was able to pull enough energy from the soil itself - such fertility would bode well for the potential settlement. She crouched down to take a sample, then realized she hadn't brought any supplies from the shuttle. She made a mental note to get a sample when she came back through.</p>
<p>After only maybe an hour of following the illuminated path, the entrance had become a distant point of light. That she could still see the entrance at all gave her the feeling that maybe there was still an opportunity to return, despite everything. Her conversation with Ada, at first lively and descriptive of the environment around her, had trickled down to silence for now. She had a feeling that Ada hadn't told the lieutenant that she was in contact with her.</p>
<p>In the pale golden light from the forest floor, a well-worn trail was emerging from the tall grass, showing more evidence of past use the further she went, though to the best of her knowledge no human had set foot on the planet before her. Was this a popular path for animals to take through the trees? She stopped and listened carefully, but heard nothing aside from the rustling of the leaves in the breeze, not even the sounds of insects or birds. This was slightly unsettling - she should hear something in a forest so thick and abundant with potential food sources. Had this region of the planet somehow evolved without them? This is an alien world, though - perhaps the fauna had simply developed differently enough to escape her perception for now.</p>
<p>After another hour or two, or more (she was losing track of the time), she stopped to rest, leaning against the rough bark of a tree. It must be later than she thought - she could no longer see even the occasional flicker of sunlight through the canopy. Yawning, she felt sleep begin to come over her, and she curled up in the soft grass away from the path. She would start again in the [[morning|4.2(f) Entering the Forest]].</p><</replace>><</click>>, couldn't she?</p></span><</replace>><</click>>, to the station, something to keep her anchored in this world. At the same time, this journey was so important, so personal to her, and she was afraid that preserving this link might make it more difficult to discover the meaning of her <<click "connection to the Door.">><<replace #comm>><p>She reached for her waist, about to turn the comm off. But her hand refused - a part of her still needed a connection to the others, to the station, something to keep her anchored in this world. At the same time, this journey was so important, so personal to her, and she was afraid that preserving this link might make it more difficult to discover the meaning of her connection to the Door.</p>
<p>In the end she fought through the hesitation and turned the comm off, tossing it aside. This was something she needed to do alone. She needed to learn why it affected her; the others would not understand. She would deal with the consequences later, when she returned. There was no turning back now, as they say. She walked down the hill and entered the alien forest.</p>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<p>The canopy of trees here was remarkably thick; though sunset was still several hours away only brief glimpses of sunlight pierced through the leaves. For this reason, perhaps, the tree branches stretched well above her head, each tree reaching for the top of the canopy, trying to get every drop of light energy it could despite the great amount of competition from its neighbors. The forest floor was still blanketed by the same long grass as the hillside, somehow growing heartily despite the low amount of light that reached the blades. Perhaps the grass was able to pull enough energy from the soil itself - such fertility would bode well for the potential settlement. She crouched down to take a sample, then realized she hadn't brought any supplies from the shuttle. She made a mental note to get a sample when she came back through.</p>
<p>After only maybe an hour of following the illuminated path, the entrance had become a distant point of light. That she could still see it at all gave her the feeling that maybe there was still an opportunity to return, despite everything. She could see in the pale golden light from the forest floor that a well-worn trail was emerging from the tall grass, showing more evidence of past use the further she went, though to the best of her knowledge no human had set foot on the planet before her. Was this a popular path for animals to take through the trees? She stopped and listened carefully, but heard nothing aside from the rustling of the leaves in the breeze, not even the sounds of insects or birds. This was slightly unsettling - she should hear something in a forest so thick and abundant with potential food sources. Had this region of the planet somehow evolved without them? This is an alien world, though - perhaps the fauna had simply developed differently enough to escape her perception for now.</p>
<p>After another hour or two, or more (she was losing track of the time), she stopped to rest, leaning against the rough bark of a tree. It must be later than she thought - she could no longer see even the occasional flicker of sunlight through the canopy. Yawning, she felt sleep begin to come over her, and she curled up in the soft grass away from the path. She would start again in the <<click "morning">><<goto "4.2(a) Entering the Forest">><</click>>.</p><</replace>><</click>></p></span>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 3 - Merging</b><<set $tunnel = 4>>
<i>3.4(d) Laboratory</i></div>
<p>She fought off her hesitation and entered the lab. Ada looked up sharply, shocked to see her out of bed.</p>
<p>"Sara? Is everything ok."</p>
<p>Sara slumped into the chair next to Ada. "I don't know, Ada. I don't think so."</p>
<p>Ada looked very concerned. "What is it?"</p>
<p>"You'll never believe me."</p>
<p>"Try me."</p>
<p>"I've...been having dreams. A couple nights ago, and again while I was unconscious earlier. The Door, that door in the images from the surface, has been in all of them."</p>
<p>"What? How is that possible?"</p>
<p>"I don't know. It began when we discovered the alloy."</p>
<p>"Huh..."</p>
<p>"Ada, I keep slipping out. I can't keep myself present, I keep seeing the dream world, sometimes together with the station and sometimes in place of it. There was a tree in the control room, and then there wasn't. Lt. Ackerley couldn't see it, but I know it was there, I touched it, I sat in its branches. Now the corridors are like caves, tunnels in the earth, spiraling down deeper and deeper and deeper and I don't know where it will lead me. There are sunflowers everywhere..." Sara was almost frantic.</p>
<p>"Hey now, c'mon, it'll be all right, just breathe...let me call the lieutenant, we'll get you back to your Quarters. You don't have to go to sleep if you're afraid of the dreams, but let's make sure you're safe first. You're probably still suffering from the head trauma."</p>
<p>Sara nodded, but she didn't really believe it would help. As she looked around the lab, she saw sunflowers beginning to surround them. She closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair so she wouldn't have to see the borders between the worlds coming apart.</p>
<p>After a few minutes that seemed like hours, Lt. Ackerley arrived at the lab. He and Ada helped Sara out into the hall. The three of them turned toward the living quarters. "I'll contact the Agency, they'll send a ship. You should see an actual doctor about that head injury, I think," said the lieutenant.</p>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<div id="trance"><p>As I follow the tunnel, dozens upon dozens of tree roots burst through the smooth soil and extend their tendrils toward me, catching my arms. They pull me back, toward the entrance to the cave, but I know that I must continue downward. I needed to go down, I needed to see what was at the end of the tunnel, but the roots prevent me from advancing. I struggle against them, pulling, kicking, to no avail. I drop to the ground, digging my heels into the dirt, trying to use my weight to my advantage.</p>
<p>I break free, falling against my back. Quickly I get to my feet and begin sprinting deeper into the tunnel. More tendrils move toward me, but I fight them off, stumbling forward, still running. I grab the the side of the wall to keep my balance, and as I do a wall of dirt closes off the tunnel behind me, sealing the path. I stand there for a moment in disbelief.</p>
<p>I can not go back.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I must go [[forward|3.5 Tunnel]].</p></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 3 - Merging</b><<set $tunnel = 2>>
<i>3.4(c) Laboratory</i></div>
<p>She fought off her hesitation and entered the lab. Ada looked up sharply, shocked and not a little bit concerned to see her out of bed.</p>
<p>"Sara? Is everything ok."</p>
<p>Sara slumped into the chair next to Ada. "I don't know, Ada. I don't think so."</p>
<p>Ada swiveled in her chair. "What is it?"</p>
<p>"You know I've been having dreams. Not just the other night, but when I was unconscious in the lab too. The Door, that door in the images from the surface, has been in all of them."</p>
<p>Ada watched her carefully, waiting for her to continue.</p>
<p>"Ada, I keep slipping out. I can't keep myself present, I keep seeing things from the dreams, sometimes together with the station and sometimes in place of it. There was a lake in the docking bay, a lake!, and I nearly walked out the airlock into the shuttle. The corridors are becoming like caves, tunnels in the earth, spiraling down deeper and deeper and deeper and I don't know where it will lead me. There are sunflowers everywhere..." Sara was almost frantic.</p>
<p>"Hey now, c'mon, just breathe, it'll be all right...let me call the lieutenant, we'll get you back to your Quarters. You're probably still suffering from the head trauma."</p>
<p>"I don't think that's going to do it, Ada. I think I have to go to the surface."</p>
<p>"We haven't heard back yet from the Agency..."</p>
<p>"Screw the agency. I've got to get down there, I know it's the key to these dreams, these visions, I've got to, Ada." She stood suddenly and started pacing the lab, her hands on her head, stopping only when Ada rose and put her hand on her back.</p>
<p>"Okay. We'll go down. But first let's call the Lieutenant and let him know. He'll want to check you out first." Ada's voice was soft and soothing.</p>
<p>"All right." Sara replied reluctantly, but she trusted Ada. She sat back down, tapping nervously on her leg while she waited.</p>
<p>Ada called down to the control room and after a few minutes that seemed like hours, Lt. Ackerley arrived at the lab. He ran through the concussion tests again and checked her vitals. "You're still recovering, Doctor, you shouldn't be working at the computer, much less piloting a shuttle down to the surface of the planet."</p>
<p>"But.." she began to protest. </p>
<p>"Absolutely not. As the field medic, it's my call, Dr. Reyes. You still need rest. You should see an actual doctor, too, I think. I've already contacted the Agency, they're sending a ship," said the lieutenant.</p>
<p>"She's fine, Lieutenant," Ada came to her defense.</p>
<p>"I've been seeing the Door in my dreams, since before we found it on the planet. And I've been seeing things on the station, things from the dreams. I need to get down there, it's the only way to find out what's happening to me. One way or another I'm going." She was feeling more confident - the brief bout of desperation she felt earlier was gone.</p>
<p>"It's true, Lieutenant, she told me about the dream before we actually saw the Door," Ada added. </p>
<p>The lieutenant was not impressed. "Frankly, the fact that you are hallucinating makes me less inclined to approve. You're going to stay on the station, and I'm restricting you to quarters. Once the Agency doctor clears you, and the Agency approves the launch, you'll be able to go down, but for now, I have no choice but the relieve you of duty."</p>
<p>There was nothing she could do; though she outranked him on this mission, as the only one with any medical training he had this authority, so she resigned herself for now. It would be awhile before the ship arrived; certainly she'd find a way off the station before then. </p>
<p>Lt. Ackerley and Ada helped Sara out into the hall and the three of them turned toward the living quarters. </p>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<div id="trance"><p>As I follow the tunnel, dozens upon dozens of tree roots burst through the smooth soil and extend their tendrils toward me, catching my arms. They pull me back, toward the entrance to the cave, but I know that I must continue downward. I needed to go down, I needed to see what was at the end of the tunnel, but the roots prevent me from advancing. I struggle against them, pulling, kicking, to no avail. I drop to the ground, digging my heels into the dirt, trying to use my weight to my advantage.</p>
<p>I break free, falling against my back. Quickly I get to my feet and begin sprinting deeper into the tunnel. More tendrils move toward me, but I fight them off, stumbling forward, still running. I grab the the side of the wall to keep my balance, and as I do a wall of dirt closes off the tunnel behind me, sealing the path. I stand there for a moment in disbelief. </p>
<p>I cannot go back. I must go [[3.5 Tunnel]].</p></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 3 - Merging</b>
<i>3.3(c) Crew Quarters</i></div>
<p>Sara returned to the bed and sat down, trying to clear her head. Laying back against her pillow, she closed her eyes, but it was impossible to get back to sleep - the existence of the Door was still troubling her, monopolizing her thoughts. Was the Door itself giving her these dreams, drawing her to it? She had gotten closer to opening the Dream Door; could she open the real one? And what would become of opening it, given it stood alone and was not the entrance to anything she could see.</p>
<p><i>Get up</i>, came the voice in her head, and she obeyed, looking again at the image of the Door from the surface before turning her back to it brusquely. Maybe a shower would help her feel better. She walked into the bathroom and glanced at herself in the mirror, examining her bandage. She must have hit her head hard, but Lt. Ackerley did good work wrapping her injury.</p>
<p>The constant golden haze was still around her, everywhere, unchanged, although her headache had thankfully receded completely, and her mind was finally clear. As she stepped out of the shower, she looked at her reflection once more. It might be her imagination, but the haze seemed to the originating with her, emanating into the rest of the room.</p>
<p><i>You need to get to the surface, to see the Door, to touch it with your own hands,</i> came the voice in her head again - her own thought? - but she knew that would be impossible until the Agency got back to them with permission to use the shuttle. The fuel required to return to the station was too expensive to use without authorization, and besides with her vision compromised she shouldn't try to fly it anyways. <i>But you probably won't be returning to the station, anyways,</i> she thought suddenly, and horrified, she tried to push it out, away from her, though a sliver of that doubt had stubbornly rooted itself in her mind. </p>
<p>Something she did need was to get fresh air, or as fresh as filtered and recycled air could get on a station. She'd walk around the ring for a bit, clear her head. She dressed in her simple uniform and exited the room, turning right.</p>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<div id="trance"><p>Although I have no lantern, I walk into the cave without hesitation. To my surprise, the walls are lined with something - moss? - that provides a soft illumination similar to the golden haze outside, and I am able to see even as I move away from the mouth. Still, I let my hand brush the wall to keep me oriented. The rock forming the cave wall is remarkably smooth, and it sparkles in the moss-light.</p>
<p>The cave turns slightly, always to the right, and sloping gradually down into the earth. I begin to perceive it more as a tunnel than a cave, though who or what has created it is unclear. I follow it around as it spirals deeper.</p></div>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<p>She stumbled slightly and leaned against the wall for support, sliding down clenching her fists and eyes shut. What was happening to her? Was the Door having some kind of physical effect? That shouldn't, couldn't be possible, there's no way it could be doing anything to her from the planet's surface. And yet...</p>
<p>She opened her eyes and looked up slowly. All along the corridor she saw sunflowers lining the edges and they seemed to beckon her further, urging her to keep walking. Hesitatingly she got up and obeyed, skeptical of the hallucination it must be.</p>
<p>Soon she stood before the bulkhead leading into the docking bay. Around the door the golden haze semed to dissipate a bit, and she felt like she was being pulled in, and the sunflowers seemed like they were leading here. She resisted the urge and took a few steps back, eyeing the door suspiciously. <i>You need to get to the planet,</i> the voice implored, but she fought the thought, turned away from the door, and with some difficulty, began walking back the direction she came. </p>
<p>Clearly she wasn't fully recovered. Lt. Ackerley would probably order her back to her room, which was the last place she wanted to be. Maybe she should go [[talk to Ada|3.3(d) Corridor]] about this.</p>
<p>Was it her imagination or were the sunflowers growing [[closer and thicker|3.4(d) Corridor / Tunnel]] around her?</p>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 3 - Merging</b><<set $tunnel = 3>>
<i>3.4(e) Corridor / Tunnel</i></div>
<p>Sara turned away from the door to the laboratory. She knew what she had to do now. She was going down to the surface. She didn't need the others' help.</p>
<p>All around her sunflowers emerged from the ground, fading into her vision, but she was not alarmed. They were almost welcoming, parting to form a path ahead of her. She walking willingly, eagerly, into their embrace, into the tunnel.</p>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<div id= "trance"><p>As I follow the tunnel, I see dozens upon dozens of tree roots snaking along my path. Those that grow in my way quickly move aside, withdrawing into the ground, creating clean places for my feet to fall. There is no danger of tripping on them. Some burst through the smooth soil of the tunnel walls and extend their tendrils toward me, catching my arms. They pull me forward, away from the entrance of the cave, onward, downward. I go willingly - I need to go down, I need to see what is at the end of the tunnel.</p>
<p>Eventually they release me, and in a flurry of movement they form a tight set of knots behind me, blocking the path. Even if I wanted to I can not turn back.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I must go [[forward|3.5 Tunnel]].</p></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 2 - Visions</b>
<i>2.4(c) Docking Bay</i></div> <<audio "2-4_lake-full" play>><<audio "2-4_lake-bg" fadeoverto 10s 0>>
<p>Sara dried her hand on her thigh as she rose and looked out over the silver surface of the indoor lake. She took a step to wade into the lake, but to her surprise the water held her weight and she was able to walk on the surface. As she took careful steps, she looked down at her feet - even now there was no disturbance of the perfectly smooth surface.</p>
<p>She stopped in the middle of the lake, and crouched down again, trying to peer through. The surface was impenetrable by light it seemed, as she could not see into the water and was only met by that strange "reflection" of herself. She reached her hand out again, and she could still feel the cool wetness of the lake. It was still water.</p>
<p>Rising again, she continued to the far side of the room, eventually reaching the wall. She peered out the window before her. Incredibly, the lake extended even into the vacuum outside, forming a ring around the station as it rotated. She could see a thin stream extending from the ring, forming a kind of river, leading toward the planet, guiding her eyes towards the southern continent. The station's wall seemed to fade from her perception as something in her wanted, needed to follow the river. She began to raise her hand and reached out toward where the wall had been.</p><<timed 50s>><<audio "1-2_drone" volume 0 fadeoverto 13s 0.5 loop>><<audio "rotpulse-pno" fadeoverto 13s 0.5 loop>><</timed>>
<p><<timed 63s t8n>>A buzz from her communicator snapped her out of the trance.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 63s t8n>>"Are you there yet, Doctor?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 63s t8n>>The room suddenly returned to normal at the sound of Lt. Ackerley's voice, the lake and sunflowers disappearing. She was standing in front of the airlock to the shuttle, with her hand poised over the panel, as if she was about to open it.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 63s t8n>>"Doctor Reyes?" <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 63s t8n>>"Yes, Lieutenant, stand by."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 63s t8n>>Shaking her head, she hurried away from the airlock to the first replacement drone on the left side. From the control panel outside its compartment, she double-checked its status - full charge, full fuel, plenty of memory. The camera was operational. She typed in its new ID (SC013) and set it to Active.<</timed>> </p>
<p><<timed 63s t8n>>"Lieutenant Ackerley, do you see the new drone?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 63s t8n>>"Yes, Doctor, SC013 is active on the main console and configured for continuous video stream from the southern continent."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 63s t8n>>"Ada?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 63s t8n>>"Yes, Sara, it's transmitting to the lab."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 63s t8n>>"Okay, prepping launch countdown."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 63s t8n>>The panel changed from green to yellow as the 30 second countdown began, and Sara walked over to the far window to watch. When the clock hit zero, the panel became red, and the station shuddered at the force of launch. The drone streaked toward the planet, hitting the atmosphere with a burst of hot light.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 63s t8n>>"Entry's good, Doctor, still transmitting and maneuvering to the southern continent," confirmed Lt. Ackerley.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 63s t8n>>"Roger that. Let's all meet in the lab to watch the feed."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 63s t8n>>"Understood."<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 63s t8n>><i>[[~continue~|2.5 Laboratory]]</i><</timed>></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 2 - Visions</b>
<i>2.4(d) Docking Bay</i></div><<audio "2-4_lake-full" play>><<audio "2-4_lake-bg" fadeoverto 10s 0>>
<p>She dried her hand on her thigh and sat back and looked across the lake. It was very calm, the water still and unmoving, which was probably to be expected for a lake found in the docking bay of a space station. The water seemed to extend all the way to the far wall. </p>
<p>The shore of the lake was clear of the flowers, so Sara stood up and began carefully walking around the lake. The shore itself was covered in short, soft grass, growing thickly and leaving no visible evidence of the floor panels that must still be there under her feet. She could still not see into the water, as the surface was so still it was perfectly reflective and impenetrable to light. Her gaze was met only with the same "reflection" of herself. Closing her eyes, she could almost feel a summer breeze and a sudden warmth from the sun. She smiled and reached out her arms to either side, her right hand brushing against the sunflowers. </p>
<p>Eventually she reached the wall on the far side of the room. She peered out the window before her. Incredibly, the lake extended even into the vacuum outside, forming a ring around the station as it rotated. She could see a thin stream extending from the ring, forming a kind of river, leading toward the planet, guiding her eyes towards the southern continent. The station's wall seemed to fade from her perception as something in her wanted, needed to follow the river, and she waded toward the center of the lake, which was actually quite shallow.</p><<timed 50s>><<audio "1-2_drone" volume 0 fadeoverto 26s 0.5 loop>><<audio "rotpulse-pno" fadeoverto 26s 0.5 loop>><</timed>>
<p><<timed 76s t8n>>A buzz from her communicator snapped her out of the trance.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 76s t8n>>"Are you there yet, Doctor?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 76s t8n>>The room suddenly returned to normal at the sound of Lt. Ackerley's voice, the lake and sunflowers disappearing. She was standing in front of the airlock to the shuttle, with her hand poised over the panel, as if she was about to open it.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 76s t8n>>"Doctor Reyes?" <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 76s t8n>>"Yes, Lieutenant, stand by."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 76s t8n>>Shaking her head, she hurried away from the airlock to the first replacement drone on the left side. From the control panel outside its compartment, she double-checked its status - full charge, full fuel, plenty of memory. The camera was operational. She typed in its new ID (SC013) and set it to Active.<</timed>> </p>
<p><<timed 76s t8n>>"Lieutenant Ackerley, do you see the new drone?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 76s t8n>>"Yes, Doctor, SC013 is active on the main console and configured for continuous video stream from the southern continent."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 76s t8n>>"Ada?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 76s t8n>>"Yes, Sara, it's transmitting to the lab."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 76s t8n>>"Okay, prepping launch countdown."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 76s t8n>>The panel changed from green to yellow as the 30 second countdown began, and Sara walked over to the far window to watch. When the clock hit zero, the panel became red, and the station shuddered at the force of launch. The drone streaked toward the planet, hitting the atmosphere with a burst of hot light.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 76s t8n>>"Entry's good, Doctor, still transmitting and maneuvering to the southern continent," confirmed Lt. Ackerley.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 76s t8n>>"Roger that. Let's all meet in the lab to watch the feed."<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 76s t8n>>"Understood."<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 76s t8n>><i>[[~continue~|2.5 Laboratory]]</i><</timed>></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 3 - Merging</b>
<i>3.3(d) Corridor</i></div>
<p>The sunflowers surrounded her as she walked toward the laboratory to talk to Ada. They kept pushing at her, trying to force her back, making her path harder and harder to follow the further she got from the docking bay. At first she was able to push them aside, forming a path for herself, but the stalks were growing too thick and too strong.</p>
<p>Eventually she simply couldn't advance any more against them.</p>
<p>Sara stopped fighting and stood in the center of a kind of clearing formed in the middle of the sunfowers, her hands on her hips, walking from side to side in a kind of slight circle, trying to find a way through. She couldn't trick the flowers, she knew that from the dreams.</p>
<p>She looked back over her shoulder at the flowers behind her. These were more inviting, thinner stems. They looked soft. She could walk right through them, all the way back to the entrance of the docking bay, if she wanted, she was sure. The path seemed to open before her even as she looked at them. She took a step toward them.</p>
<p>No.</p>
<p>She could not give in.</p>
<p>She was going to get to Ada, one way or another.</p>
<p>Sara grabbed her comm off her belt - she'd remembered it this time. "Ada, you there?"</p>
<p>Only static. Whatever made the flowers appear must be affecting the comms.</p>
<p>Angrily, Sara turned back toward the wall of flowers ahead of her, her mind suddenly and singularly set on reaching the lab, on showing whatever it was that it had no control over her. She broke into a sprint and lowered her shoulder, bracing for impact.</p>
<p>As she reached the floral wall she felt only air, and without the flowers to brace her she lost her balance, falling flat on the ground, sharply hitting her knee on the metal floor. She gingerly lifted herself to a seated position and rested against the wall. The flowers were nowhere to be seen; she would have no more resistance.<p>
<p>After catching her breath for a moment, she eased herself up and with a small limp set off again for the lab. Soon she found herself standing before the doorway to the second laboratory.</p>
<p>Ada was sitting in Lab 2, which seemed to be her preferred station. Sara moved to open the door, but something in her hesitated, and she heard the voice again. (text-style: "italic")[You need to hurry, you need to get down to the planet. They can't help you. She can't help you.]</p>
<p>She stood still for a moment, her hand poised over the controls. Ada was concentrating on her work. There was probably nothing she could do but listen to her story of dreams and visions. But still [[there must be comfort|3.4 Laboratory]] in that, and besides she'd made it this far fighting through the sunflowers.</p>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>NOT QUITE A SUNSET</b>
<i>a hypertext opera</i>
Words and music by Kyle Rowan
[[Home|Title 2]] • [[Credits|About]]
<i>Table of Contents</i>
<<click "Chapter 1 - Sunrise">><<audio "title" unloop fadeoverto 12s 0>><<goto "Chapter 1 - Sunrise">><</click>>
<span id="il1"><<click "INTERLUDE: Sunflowers">><<replace "#il1">>INTERLUDE: Sunflowers
<p><<click "Beginning">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "INTERLUDE: Sunflowers">><</click>>, <<click "tree">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "TOC-Tree">><</click>>, or <<click "lake?">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "TOC-Lake">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>></span>
<span id="ch2"><<click "Chapter 2 - Visions">><<replace #ch2>>Chapter 2 - Visions
<p><<click "Tree">><<replace #ch2>>Chapter 2 - Visions
<p>Tree</p><<set $tree = 1, $lake = 0>>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "Chapter 2 - Visions">><</click>></p><</replace>>
<</click>> or <<click "lake?">><<replace #ch2>>Chapter 2 - Visions
<p>Lake</p><<set $tree = 0, $lake = 1>>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "Chapter 2 - Visions">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>></span>
<span id="il2"><<click "INTERLUDE: River of Stars">><<replace #il2>>INTERLUDE: River of Stars
<p><<click "Tree">><<replace #il2>>INTERLUDE: River of Stars
<p>Tree</p><<set $tree = 1, $lake = 0>>
<p><<click "Tell">>
<<replace #il2>>INTERLUDE: River of Stars
<p>Tree</p><<set $dreamyes = 1, $ackerley = 1>>
<p>Tell</p>
<p><<click "Beginning">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "INTERLUDE: River of Stars">><</click>>, <<click "mountain">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "mountains">><</click>>, or <<click "forest?">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "forest">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "hide?">><<replace #il2>>INTERLUDE: River of Stars
<p>Tree</p><<set $dreamyes = 0, $ackerley = 0>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p><<click "Beginning">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "INTERLUDE: River of Stars">><</click>>, <<click "mountain">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "mountains">><</click>>, or <<click "forest?">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "forest">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "lake?">><<replace #il2>>INTERLUDE: River of Stars
<p>Lake</p><<set $tree = 0, $lake = 1>>
<p><<click "Tell">><<replace #il2>>INTERLUDE: River of Stars
<p>Lake</p><<set $dreamyes = 1>>
<p>Tell</p>
<p><<click "Beginning">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "INTERLUDE: River of Stars">><</click>>, <<click "mountain">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "mountains">><</click>>, or <<click "forest?">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "forest">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "hide?">><<replace #il2>>INTERLUDE: River of Stars
<p>Lake</p><<set $dreamyes = 0>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p><<click "Beginning">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "INTERLUDE: River of Stars">><</click>>, <<click "mountain">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "mountains">><</click>>, or <<click "forest?">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "forest">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>><</replace>><</click>><</replace>><</click>></span>
<i>Coming Summer 2017</i>
Chapter 3 - Merging
INTERLUDE: Twilight
Chapter 4 - Opening
EPILOGUE: Sunset </div>
<div id="title"><b>NOT QUITE A SUNSET</b></div><div style="text-align:center"><i>a hypertext opera</i>
Preview Version for the 2017 Spring Thing Festival
Music and text by Kyle Rowan
Headphones are recommended
<<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeoverto 7s 0>><<goto "Chapter 1 - Sunrise">><</click>>
[[Table of Contents]]
[[Credits|About]]
©2017 Kyle Rowan.
</div>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 100ms t8n>><img src="http://www.penguinmanmusic.com/sunflower.png" height="287" width="500">
<b>INTERLUDE: Sunflowers</b><</timed>></div>
<<timed 1s>><<audio "tree" play>><</timed>><<set $tree = 1, $lake = 0>><p><<timed 1s t8n>>I take a few cautious steps towards the tree. To my surprise, it stays in place, making no attempt to flee. I begin to jog towards it, quickly covering the distance, finding myself by the trunk.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 13092ms t8n>>The tree is not particularly tall, but it asserts itself with its breadth - the lowest branches easily extend five meters, and the trunk itself is nearly ten meters around.<</timed>><<timed 28311ms t8n>> The branches are filled with yellow fruit, all perfect orbs. In the leaf-filtered light they almost seem to flicker like stars. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 55059ms t8n>>I pick the fruit closest to me. Somehow I know it is ripe, and I take a bite. It is crispy and sweet, and I sink down with my back to the trunk of the tree, eating the fruit.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 85059ms t8n>>From the center of the grassy field the leaves seemed quite dense, but from beneath the tree I can see this is only true of the outer half of the branches. The inner area of the tree is clean, and I can see the blue-orange sky clearly through the top of the canopy. A spiral formation of branches forms a kind of stairway to the top.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 107910ms t8n>>I stand up and grasp the lowest branch. I hoist myself up and begin to clamber up the tree. I half expect the top to keep extending beyond my reach, like the sunflowers, but instead it seems to come towards me and suddenly I am seated on a branch with my head above the canopy.<</timed>><<timed 118146ms t8n>> Around the tree is the sea of sunflowers; even from my higher vantage point I cannot see the end of them. <</timed>><<timed 126631ms t8n>> The wind causes calm waves to flow through them, lapping against an invisible beach.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 151325ms t8n>>I see a glint of something metal in the distance.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 155533ms t8n>> A closer look reveals a structure standing tall amid the sunflowers, and I wonder what it is. I wonder how to reach it. I feel a sudden desire, a need, to reach it.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 170401ms t8n>>Suddenly I am standing before it, now truly surrounding by sunflowers who have now allowed me among them, and the structure is as tall as the tree and made of unfamiliar metal and wood, silver with lines and curves of green engraved in it. <</timed>><<timed 185755ms t8n>> The wind-blown flowers brush up against it lightly; from this side it seems to be nothing more than a freestanding wall. I walk around it, wondering how and why this wall was here in this strange field.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 202593ms t8n>>From the other side of the wall it appears as an arch, with the silver and green replaced by a deep impenetrable black. <</timed>><<timed 210932ms t8n>> Somehow I know that there is something beyond the black void, but I cannot see past the threshold.<</timed>></p>
<p></p>
<p><<timed 220966ms t8n>>It is a door I cannot open.<</timed>></p>
<p></p>
<<timed 241s>><<goto "Chapter 2 - Visions">><</timed>>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 100ms t8n>><img src="http://www.penguinmanmusic.com/sunflower.png" height="287" width="500">
<b>INTERLUDE: Sunflowers</b><</timed>></div>
<p><<set $lake = 1, $tree = 0>><<timed 1s t8n>><<audio "lake" play>>I take a step towards the shore of the lake - pond - and, though most of the embankment is blanketed in flowers, it does not move away. My steps grow more confident and I shift into a light jog and soon I am beside the small body of water. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 10332ms t8n>>The surface shimmers in the dimming sunlight, but the water is strangely still, even in the light breeze I feel around me. I look down. The stillness of the water makes it a perfect mirror.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 25263ms t8n>>I glance down at my reflection.<</timed>> <<timed 31892ms t8n>>My own hazel eyes return my gaze, and I see the wind too, shifting through my hair and brushing against my dress. Still, the water refuses to acknowledge the moving air. Curious. I sit down on the bank and continue to look at myself in the water.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 46485ms t8n>>Certainly it is me I see there, a reflection of me, though I cannot help but sense that there is something different there, too.<</timed>><<timed 63110ms t8n>> Is it just the nature of reflections, of mere images, or is there something really missing in me? I look up, past my reflection, to the opposite shore, and wonder.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 75s t8n>>On the surface of the lake I see a tall structure that wasn't there when I sat down. Where did it come from? Only a few meters away, it seems to have appeared as suddenly and unnoticed as the lake had. I feel a sudden desire, a need, to reach it.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 92379ms t8n>>I stand carefully and begin to walk into the lake. <</timed>><<timed 96788ms t8n>>Soon I am on the lake itself, the still water feeling like glass beneath my feet.<</timed>><<timed 104170ms t8n>> Soon I am beside the structure, apparently an unfinished wall some five meters high. It appears to be made out of some combination of wood and metal, colored silver with thin lines and curves of green engraved into it. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 119844ms t8n>>I walk around it, wondering how and why this wall is here on this strange lake. From the other side the wall appears more as an arch, with the silver and green replaced by a deep impenetrable black.<</timed>><<timed 134943ms t8n>> Somehow I know that there is something beyond the black void, but I cannot see past the threshold.<</timed>></p>
<p></p>
<p><<timed 142809ms t8n>>It is a door I cannot open.<</timed>> </p>
<p></p>
<<timed 171s>><<goto "Chapter 2 - Visions">><</timed>>
<span id="ch4"><<click "Chapter 4 - Opening">><<replace #ch4>>Chapter 4 - Opening
<p><<click "Tree">><<replace #ch4>>Chapter 4 - Opening
<p>Tree</p><<set $tree = 1, $lake = 0>>
<p><<click "Tell">></p>
<<replace #ch4>>Chapter 4 - Opening
<p>Tree</p><<set $dreamyes = 1, $ackerley = 0, $tunnel = 2>>
<p>Tell</p>
<p><<click "Mountain">><<replace #ch4>>Chapter 4 - Opening
<p>Tree</p><<set $forest = 0, $mountain = 1>>
<p>Tell</p>
<p>Mountain</p>
<p>[[Begin|Chapter 4 - Opening]]</p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "forest?">><<replace #ch4>>Chapter 4 - Opening
<p>Tree</p><<set $forest = 1, $mountain = 0>>
<p>Tell</p>
<p>Forest</p>
<p>[[Begin|Chapter 4 - Opening]]</p><</replace>><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "hide?">><<replace #ch4>>Chapter 4 - Opening
<p>Tree</p><<set $dreamyes = 0, $ackerley = 0>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p><<click "Mountain">><<replace #ch4>>Chapter 4 - Opening
<p>Tree</p><<set $forest = 0, $mountain = 1>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Mountain</p>
<p><<click "Comm">><<replace #ch4>>Chapter 4 - Opening
<p>Tree</p><<set $tunnel = 3>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Mountain</p>
<p>Comm</p>
<p>[[Begin|Chapter 4 - Opening]]</p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "none?">><<replace #ch4>>Chapter 4 - Opening
<p>Tree</p><<set $tunnel = 4>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Mountain</p>
<p>No Comm</p>
<p>[[Begin|Chapter 4 - Opening]]</p><</replace>><</click>><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "forest?">><<replace #ch4>>Chapter 4 - Opening
<p>Tree</p><<set $forest = 1, $mountain = 0>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Forest</p>
<p><<click "Comm">><<replace #ch4>>Chapter 4 - Opening
<p>Tree</p><<set $tunnel = 3>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Forest</p>
<p>Comm</p>
<p>[[Begin|Chapter 4 - Opening]]</p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "none?">><<replace #ch4>>Chapter 4 - Opening
<p>Tree</p><<set $tunnel = 4>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Forest</p>
<p>No Comm</p>
<p>[[Begin|Chapter 4 - Opening]]</p><</replace>><</click>><</replace>><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "lake?">><<replace #ch4>>Chapter 4 - Opening
<p>Lake</p><<set $tree = 0, $lake = 1>>
<p><<click "Tell">><<replace #ch4>>Chapter 4 - Opening
<p>Lake</p><<set $dreamyes = 1, $ackerley = 1, $tunnel = 1>>
<p>Tell</p>
<p><<click "Mountain">><<replace #ch4>>Chapter 4 - Opening
<p>Lake</p><<set $forest = 0, $mountain = 1>>
<p>Tell</p>
<p>Mountain</p>
<p>[[Begin|Chapter 4 - Opening]]</p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "forest?">><<replace #ch4>>Chapter 4 - Opening
<p>Lake</p><<set $forest = 1, $mountain = 0>>
<p>Tell</p>
<p>Forest</p>
<p>[[Begin|Chapter 4 - Opening]]</p><</replace>><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "hide?">><<replace #ch4>>Chapter 4 - Opening
<p>Lake</p><<set $dreamyes = 0>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p><<click "Mountain">><<replace #ch4>>Chapter 4 - Opening
<p>Lake</p><<set $forest = 0, $mountain = 1>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Mountain</p>
<p><<click "Comm">><<replace #ch4>>Chapter 4 - Opening
<p>Lake</p><<set $tunnel = 3>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Mountain</p>
<p>Comm</p>
<p>[[Begin|Chapter 4 - Opening]]</p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "none?">><<replace #ch4>>Chapter 4 - Opening
<p>Lake</p><<set $tunnel = 4>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Mountain</p>
<p>No Comm</p>
<p>[[Begin|Chapter 4 - Opening]]</p><</replace>><</click>><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "forest?">><<replace #ch4>>Chapter 4 - Opening
<p>Lake</p><<set $forest = 1, $mountain = 0>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Forest</p>
<p><<click "Comm">><<replace #ch4>>Chapter 4 - Opening
<p>Lake</p><<set $tunnel = 3>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Forest</p>
<p>Comm</p>
<p>[[Begin|Chapter 4 - Opening]]</p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "none?">><<replace #ch4>>Chapter 4 - Opening
<p>Lake</p><<set $tunnel = 4>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Forest</p>
<p>No Comm</p>
<p>[[Begin|Chapter 4 - Opening]]</p><</replace>><</click>><</replace>><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>><</replace>><</click>><</replace>><</click>></span>
<<click "EPILOGUE - Sunset">><<goto "EPILOGUE - Sunset">><</click>></div>
<div id="title" style="text-align:center"><<audio "title" time 0 volume 1 play loop>>
TO BE CONTINUED</div>
<div style="text-align:center">Thank you for reading. Please look forward to the full release of
<i>Not Quite a Sunset</i>, including the final two chapters, in Summer 2017.</div>
<div style="text-align:center"><i>[[~return to title~|Title 2]]</i></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 4 - Opening</b>
<i>4.2(a) Forest Entrance</i></div>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>As she approached the forest's edge, she paused to look back toward the shuttle, realizing for the first time that she would truly be on her own as she encountered the Door, with no way to contact or get support from her colleagues on the station - she had left her communicator behind, and this was the only shuttle. No matter - she would deal with the consequences later, when she returned. There was no turning back now, as they say. She continued walking down the hill and entered the alien forest.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The canopy of trees here was remarkably thick; she could not see the sky through the leaves. For this reason, perhaps, the tree branches stretched well above her head, each tree reaching for the top of the canopy, trying to get every drop of light energy it could despite the great amount of competition from its neighbors. The forest floor was still blanketed by the same long grass as the hillside, somehow growing heartily despite the low amount of light that reached the blades. Perhaps the grass was able to pull enough energy from the soil itself - such fertility would bode well for the potential settlement. She made a mental note to get a sample if she came back through. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>That thought startled her. <i>If?</i><</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>She could see in the pale golden light from the forest floor that a well-worn trail was emerging from the tall grass, showing more evidence of past use the further she went, though to the best of her knowledge no human had set foot on the planet before her. Was this a popular path for animals to take through the trees?<</timed>> </p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>She listened carefully as she walked, but heard nothing aside from the rustling of the leaves in the breeze, not even the sounds of insects or birds. This was slightly unsettling - she should hear something in a forest so thick and abundant with potential food sources. Had this region of the planet somehow evolved without them? This is an alien world, though - perhaps the fauna had simply developed differently enough to escape her perception for now.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>After another hour or two, or more (she was losing track of the time), she stopped to rest, leaning against the rough bark of a tree. It was late; she look for a safe place to sleep. Just off the path there was a sheltered place beneath a large and welcoming tree, the tendrils of its large roots forming an embrace around the soft grass, around her. She would start again in the [[morning|4.3(a) Memories]].<</timed>></p>
<<set $tree = 1>><<if $tree is 1>><<display "Tree - Alone">><</if>><<if $lake is 1>><<display "Lake - Alone">><</if>>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 4 - Opening</b>
<i>4.3(a) Deep Forest</i></div>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>When she awoke, it was even darker than before, and Sara immediately felt hungry. When was the last time she had eaten? She regretted not carrying more supplies from the shuttle, but the forest path was much longer than she had expected it to be, longer than it physically should be between the landing site and the Door's position. Looking around, she noticed that the golden light had faded away into the night - no wonder it was that much darker. Sara stood up slowly and looked around for where the path may have gone, holding one hand against the tree to keep her bearings in the darkness, but there was no sign of it. Had the Door released its hold on her? No, she could still feel it, this connection to the planet. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Just as she was about to try to go back to sleep, to wait for the sunrise to continue on, something in the distance caught her eye - a flicker of green light, a familiar shade of green.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The green from the etchings on the Door.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Sara began moving in that direction, first walking, then sprinting towards the green light, somewhat recklessly, nearly running into several trees before finally stumbling into a clearing, at the center of which was the source of the light. It was not the Door, but a tree, a bioluminescent tree with round yellow fruit, the bark of which had split to reveal a glowing green core, generating the same kinds of intricate patterns she had seen in her dreams. She stayed on the outskirts of the clearing, hesitant to get too close to the center, circling the tree. In such a dense forest, how did this clearing come to be? How does this tree, of all the trees, get so much personal space?<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>She heard a voice in her head. <i>You're hungry. Eat.</i><</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Above her, on a particularly low-hanging branch, was a ripe-looking round fruit. It smelled sweet, but also vaguely of citrus. Tempting, but Sara hesitated.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>><i>Do you trust me?</i></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><<timed 100ms t8n>>[[Yes|TreeAloneTrust]] • [[No|TreeAloneDoubt]] • [[Who are you?|TreeAloneWho]]<</timed>></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 4 - Opening</b>
<i>4.3(b) Deep Forest</i></div>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>When she awoke, it was even darker than before, and Sara immediately felt thirsty. When was the last time she had had something to drink? She regretted not going back to the shuttle for supplies earlier, but the forest path was much longer than she had expected it to be, longer than it physically should be between the landing site and the Door's position. Looking around, she noticed that even the golden light had faded away with the sun - no wonder it was that much darker. Sara stood up slowly and looked around for where the path may have gone, holding one hand against the tree to keep her bearings in the darkness, but there was no sign of it. Had the Door released its hold on her? No, she could still feel it, this connection to the planet. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Just as she was about to try to go back to sleep, to wait for the sunrise to continue on, something in the distance caught her eye - a flicker of green light, a familiar shade of green.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The green from the carvings on the Door.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Sara began moving in that direction, first walking, then sprinting towards the green light, somewhat recklessly, nearly running into several trees before finally stumbling into a clearing, at the center of which was the source of the light. It was not the Door, but a lake, smooth and still as glass and laced with intricate patterns of lines and curves of green light emanating from beneath the surface. Initially she kept her distance, somehow the cover of the forest seeming safer than this strange lakeshore.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>She heard a voice in her head. You're thirsty. Drink.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Beside the lake she noticed for the first time a tree stump upon which rested what appeared to be a small cup. She walked slowly over to it and held it in her hands, studying it closely. It was silver colored with etchings using similar designs to those found in the lake itself. It seemed safe enough, but she hesitated despite her thirst.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>><i>Do you trust me?</i><</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center">[[Yes|LakeAloneTrust]] • [[No|LakeAloneDoubt]] • [[Who are you?|LakeAloneWho]]<</timed>></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 4 - Opening</b>
<i>4.3(d) Deep Forest</i></div>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"No," Sara thought, and the voice did not respond. Everything was a little too convenient, a little too suspicious to trust so readily. Despite the fact the fruit was perfectly edible in her dream, she could not chance eating an alien fruit, not alone, not at the behest of a voice in her head. Still, she took some cautious steps towards the tree, eyeing the branches above her, studying the patterns. The intricate curves, shapes, and angles seemed more designed than naturally occurring. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Hesitantly, she reached out toward the trunk, but did not touch it yet. She could feel a kind of warmth emanating from the center of the tree, a calming, welcoming warmth. Eventually she allowed herself to make contact with the trunk, and though her hand was bathed in the pale green light being emitted from the core, the bark felt no different than a tree that might be found on Earth. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>><i>Climb. Like before.</i> The voice again.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>She looked up through the branches and could see that the tree would not be difficult to climb. Physically she could do it, certainly, but she was reluctant to listen to the voice in her head - it was clear this was no ordinary tree, no ordinary place. She stepped back away from the tree and edged around to the other side, facing the tree the whole way. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The Door could not be too far away now. Illuminated by the glow of the tree she could see the continuation of the trail deeper into the forest; she was certain this trail would take her [[there|4.4(b) Deeper]].<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 4 - Opening</b>
<i>4.3(c) Deep Forest</i></div>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Yes," Sara thought, though she did not completely understand why. She reached up and plucked the fruit from the branch. The surface was perfectly smooth, evenly colored. She took a bite - every bit as sweet as it smelled, crispy and juicy, perfectly satisfying. To say it hit the spot would be an understatement. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>She walked closer to the tree's trunk, still eating the fruit, studying the pattern. The intricate curves, shapes, and angles seemed more designed than naturally occurring. She reached out to touch the trunk, and though her hand was bathed in the pale green light being emitted from the core, the bark felt no different than a tree that might be found on Earth. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>><i>Climb up. Like before.</i><</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Unlike the other trees in the forest, the branches of this one were arranged evenly throughout the trunk, making it a rather easy climb. Soon she was at the top of the tree, able to look out over the canopy. The sky was filled with stars, more stars than you could see from the surface of Earth these days, and though she had of course seen all of these stars before from the station and various interstellar transports it was only by looking at them from an unsettled region of a planet, the starlight filtered through the atmosphere, that you could get a sense of the great vastness of space. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Behind her she could barely make out the hill where the shuttle rested, somehow seeming both closer and further away than it ought to have been. As she turned to look forward again, many points of light that had appeared to be stars began to move, detaching from the firmament and swarming around her silently. They were some kind of insect, like fireflies, with their glowing bodies twinkling exactly like the stars above. Somehow she managed to stay calm, unmoving, just watching the dance of the insects.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Eventually the alien fireflies stopped in midair in front of her face for a brief moment before diving under the canopy. Sara began climbing down the tree, feeling like she needed to [[follow|4.4(a) Deeper]].<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 4 - Opening</b>
<i>4.3(e) Deep Forest</i></div>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Who are you?" Sara thought, both curious and suspicious.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>><i>You'll remember soon enough</i>, the voice responded, sidestepping the question.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"So I know you." The voice did not respond.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Sara looked up at the fruit hanging from the branch immediately above her. It looked ripe enough, but she could not chance eating an alien fruit, not alone, not at the behest of a voice in her head, no matter how satisfying it may have been in her dream. Still, she took some cautious steps towards the tree, eyeing the branches above her, studying the patterns. The intricate curves, shapes, and angles seemed more designed than naturally occurring. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Hesitantly, she reached out toward the trunk, but did not touch it yet. She could feel a kind of warmth emanating from the center of the tree, a calming, welcoming warmth. Eventually she allowed herself to make contact with the trunk, and though her hand was bathed in the pale green light being emitted from the core, the bark felt no different than a tree that might be found on Earth. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Climb up. Like before. The voice again. Sara took a step back away from the tree.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Why?"<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>><i>You will see. Climb.</i><</timed>></p>
<span id="YesNo"><div style="text-align:center"><<click "Yes">><<replace "#YesNo">><p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Though still skeptical, she looked up through the branches and could see that the tree would not be difficult to climb, so she hoisted herself up first onto the lowest branch and checked the strength of the next before continuing on. Soon she was at the top of the tree, able to look out over the canopy. The sky was filled with stars, more stars than you could see from the surface of Earth these days, and though she had of course seen all of them before from the station or an interstellar transport it was only by looking at them from an unsettled region of a planet, the starlight filtered through the atmosphere, that you could get a sense of the great vastness of space. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Behind her she could barely make out the hill where the shuttle rested, somehow seeming both closer and further away than it ought to have been. As she turned to look forward again, many points of light that had appeared to be stars began to move, detaching from the firmament and swarming around her silently. They were some kind of insect, like fireflies, with their glowing bodies twinkling exactly like the stars above. Somehow she managed to stay calm, unmoving, just watching the dance of the insects. Eventually the alien fireflies stopped in midair in front of her face for a brief moment before diving under the canopy. Sara began climbing down the tree, feeling like she needed to [[follow|4.4(a) Deeper]].<</timed>></p><</replace>><</click>> • <<click "No">><<replace "#YesNo">><p><<timed 100ms t8n>>She looked up through the branches and could see that the tree would not be difficult to climb. Physically she could do it, certainly, but she was reluctant to listen to the voice in her head - it was clear this was no ordinary tree, no ordinary place. She stepped back away from the tree and edged around to the other side, facing the tree the whole way. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The Door could not be too far away now. Illuminated by the glow of the tree she could see the continuation of the trail deeper into the forest; she was certain this trail would take her [[there|4.4(b) Deeper]].<</timed>></p><</replace>>>><</click>></div></span>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 4 - Opening</b>
<i>4.3(f) Deep Forest</i></div>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Yes," Sara thought, though she did not completely understand why. She went to the water's edge and crouched on the bank. The reflection that returned her gaze was tired, visibly affected by the stress of the last day. Her head was still bandaged. She reached up to touch the wrapping, having nearly forgotten about it. Lt. Ackerley had wrapped it well. She looked up into the sky and wondered what was going on at the station.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>> Finally, she dipped the cup into the lake and took a drink. The water was cool and refreshing, with a naturally clean taste that was significantly better than the sterile, heavily-filtered, recycled water typical of starships and space stations. When she finished off one cupful, she took another, and her thirst and even her hunger were satisfied. Her reflection looked refreshed, too, brighter and more full of color. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>When she replaced the cup on the pedestal, she heard the voice again. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>><i>Walk across. You've done it before.</i><</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The cup and pedestal were one thing, but to walk on the surface of a lake? The water was still and crystal clear like glass, but this did not mean that she could walk on it, regardless of what had happened in her dream.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>But as she studied the lake closer, she could see that the green and silver light coming from beneath the surface did not illuminate the lake in a uniform way. The water directly across from the pedestal was ever so slightly brighter than the rest of the lake, slight enough that she had to really concentrate to see it. She moved to sit with her back to the pedestal and looked out over the lake again. It was faint, but unmistakable just the same - there was a rectangular path of brighter water leading across the lake, ending in a circular platform at the exact center.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>She stood up and walked right to the edge, gingerly taking a first step, and the brighter water held her weight. Crouching down, she touched the surface with her hand; she felt what was likely glass just beneath the water's surface, perfectly transparent and somehow seemingly engineered to refract light nearly identically to water. Slowly she walked the rest of the way to the center of the lake, carefully staying as close to the center of the path as possible.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Once she reached the center platform, the green and silver light emanating from the lake began to pulse, slowly and brightly. The reflection of the stars in the lake's surface began to move as the water pulsed, rising slowly out of the water, pulsing themselves at varying rates, swirling around her, looking like fireflies. The light filled her vision completely and she could no longer see the shore in the glare, so she simply closed her eyes and listened. She could hear the wind against the leaves of the trees, feel it against her uniform, quicker than it had been before, perhaps influenced by the motion in the scene. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>When the wind began to calm once more, she opened her eyes. The lake was quiet again, and all traces of the green and silver had vanished. The fireflies - is that really what they were? - had come together in a flickering cloud in front of her, hovering. Instinctively, she reached out to touch one.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>In the instant that her finger made contact, the flickering lights dove beneath the surface of the lake, spreading out into a long underwater cylinder. As she followed them with her eyes, she could see the mouth of an underwater cave illuminated by their light near the far shore.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>><i>[[Dive in|4.4(c) Deeper]]</i>, said the voice.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 4 - Opening</b>
<i>4.3(h) Deep Forest</i></div>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"Who are you?" Sara thought, both curious and suspicious. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>><i>You'll remember soon enough</i>, the voice responded sidestepping the question.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"So I know you." The voice did not respond.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Sarah walked carefully down to the shore and crouched down, looking at her reflection in the surface of the lake. The reflection that returned her gaze was tired, visibly affected by the stress of the last day. Her head was still bandaged. She reached up to touch the wrapping, having nearly forgotten about it. Lt. Ackerley had wrapped it well. She leaned back and looked up into the sky and wondered what was going on at the station.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Finally, she decided she needed a drink before she kept going. She glanced at the cup on the pedestal, then leaned down close to the surface, cupped her hands, and brought some water to her lips. Inefficient though this was, she trusted her own hands far more than the Voice's cup. The water was cool and refreshing, with a naturally clean taste that was significantly better than the sterile, heavily-filtered, recycled water typical of starships and space stations. When she finished off one palmful, she took another, then another, and her thirst and even her hunger were satisfied. Her reflection looked refreshed, too, brighter and more full of color.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>She heard the voice again: <i>Walk across. You've done it before.</i><</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Walk across? The water was still and crystal clear, and looked like glass, but this did not mean that she could walk on it, regardless of what had happened in her dream.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>But as she studied the lake closer, she could see that the green and silver light coming from beneath the surface did not illuminate the lake in a uniform way. The water directly across from the pedestal was ever so slightly brighter than the rest of the lake, slight enough that she had to really concentrate to see it. She moved to sit with her back to the pedestal and looked out over the lake again. It was faint, but unmistakable just the same - there was a rectangular path of brighter water leading across the lake, ending in a circular platform at the exact center.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>She stood up and walked right to the edge, gingerly taking a first step, and the brighter water held her weight. Crouching down, she touched the surface with her hand; she felt what was likely glass just beneath the water's surface, perfectly transparent and somehow seemingly engineered to refract light nearly identically to the surrounding water. Slowly she walked the rest of the way to the center of the lake, carefully staying as close to the center of the path as possible.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Once she reached the center platform, the green and silver light emanating from the lake began to pulse, slowly and brightly. The reflection of the stars in the lake's surface began to move as the water pulsed, rising slowly out of the water, pulsing themselves at varying rates, swirling around her, looking like fireflies. The light filled her vision completely and she could no longer see the shore in the glare, so she simply closed her eyes and listened. She could hear the wind against the leaves of the trees, feel it against her uniform, quicker than it had been before, perhaps influenced by the motion in the scene. <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>When the wind began to calm once more, she opened her eyes. The lake was quiet again, and all traces of the green and silver had vanished. The fireflies - is that really what they were? - had come together in a flickering cloud in front of her, hovering. Instinctively, she reached out to touch one.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>In the instant that her finger made contact, the flickering lights dove beneath the surface of the lake, spreading out into a long underwater cylinder. As she followed them with her eyes, she could see the mouth of an underwater cave illuminated by their light near the far shore.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>><i>[[Dive in|4.4(c) Deeper]]</i>, said the voice.<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 4 - Opening</b>
<i>4.3(g) Deep Forest</i></div>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>"No," Sara thought, and the voice did not respond. Everything was a little too convenient, a little too suspicious to trust so readily. Still, she walked carefully to the edge of the lake and crouched down, looking at her reflection in the surface. The reflection that returned her gaze was tired, visibly affected by the stress of the last day. Her head was still bandaged. She reached up to touch the wrapping, having nearly forgotten about it. Lt. Ackerley had wrapped it well. She leaned back and looked up into the sky and wondered what was going on at the station. By now they must have messaged the Agency and another ship was on its way to help them reach her, but it would be a couple of days before it arrived. How was Ada taking it?<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Finally, she decided she needed a drink before she got going. She glanced at the cup on the pedestal, then leaned down close to the surface, cupped her hands, and brought some water to her lips. Inefficient though this was, she trusted her own hands far more than the Voice's cup. The water was cool and refreshing, with a naturally clean taste that was significantly better than the sterile, heavily-filtered, recycled water typical of starships and space stations. When she finished off one palmful, she took another, then another, and her thirst and even her hunger were satisfied. Her reflection looked refreshed, too, brighter and more full of color.<</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The voice spoke again: <i>Walk across. You've done it before.</i><</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Ignoring the voice, she lay back against the bank and looked up at the stars. Without the light pollution of overpopulated cities the sky was brilliantly bright, full of strange, unfamiliar constellations. Which of the stars above was Earth's sun? <</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>At last she sat up and looked around once more. The light from the stars had illuminated the forest floor once again, and she thought she could she the path restart on the other side of the lake. She got up and began to walk around the lake. The Door could not be too far away now; this path was certain to lead her [[there|4.4(b) Deeper]].<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 4 - Opening</b>
<i>4.4(b) Deeper Forest</i></div>
[[4.5(a) Door Chamber]]
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 4 - Opening</b>
<i>4.4(a) Deeper Forest</i></div>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The fireflies continued danced in spirals and coils ahead of her, leading her mile after winding mile deeper into the woods. They stayed the same distance ahead of her - when she stopped or turned away, they danced in place, waiting for her to continue toward them again. How far would they lead her? Though she still could not see the sky, brief pinpricks of light in the canopy told her that the sun had already begun to rise. The air was getting colder and thinner; she must be moving gradually into the mountains.</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The fireflies darted suddenly behind a boulder, out of Sara's view. Immediately she broke into a sprint, quickly reaching the boulder, but she could not see the fireflies anymore. Hands on her hips, she looked around, checking down several paths, but they were not to be found. She returned to the boulder to think. Where could they have gone? Why lead her here? She sat down and leaned against the boulder.</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>The boulder was vibrating.</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Sara jumped up and looked closely at the gray stone face of the boulder. It was perfectly smooth, and faint golden lights were spinning in intricate circular designs in the center, roughly waist high. She moved her hand toward it, and the lights spun faster and began to brighten, then dulled again as she pulled her hand away. It seemed to want her to touch it. She felt an urge to touch it.</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>So she pressed her hand into the center palm first. A bright light flashed with a sharp heat, but she held her hand place. Green lines in the same intricate designs as the Door spread throughout the boulder from the control panel - for that was what it must be. A hatch slid open silently in the forest floor, revealing a tunnel into the forest floor. The inside of the tunnel was softly lit by the same green light, as it was woven through the soil alongside the exposed roots of the trees and grass.</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>><i>Enter.</i></timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>She obeyed. Walking through here was nothing like the tunnel of her vision. It was warm and welcoming; the roots stayed put within the smooth earthen wall. The green light grew brighter the further she walked; perhaps she was heading towards the ultimate source of this energy. She walked down the tunnel for miles, until she could no longer see the entrance behind her, until the floor began to feel less like soft earth and more like clay, walking still further as the clay shifted texture itself and gradually became more metallic as the earthen tunnel turned into an artificial corridor. She walked until she could finally see an end to the tunnel ahead; then she ran, her boots clanging on the metallic walkway. </timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>At the end of the tunnel there stood a device more recognizably control panel-like than the boulder and an intricate round hatchway sealing the bulkhead. Without hesitation she touched the panel with her hand, and the hatch opened in the same way as the tunnel. She stepped over the threshold and into a cavernous chamber brightly lit through an opening in the extremely high roof - it was a hollowed out mountain. The green lines filled the walls as high as she could see, though they thinned out considerably near the top. Throughout the chamber grew large yellow flowers, similar to but not quite sunflowers. They were the only thing that color she'd seen on the planet at all.</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>Sara turned finally to the center of the chamber, which she'd almost missed because of the immense size of the space.</timed>></p>
<p><<timed 100ms t8n>>At last. [[The Door|4.5(a) Door Chamber]].<</timed>></p>
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 4 - Opening</b>
<i>4.5(a) Door Chamber></i></div>
[[4.5(b) Ending 1]] [[4.5(c) Ending 2]]
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 4 - Opening</b>
<i>4.4(c) Deeper Forest</i></div>
[[4.5(a) Door Chamber]]
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 4 - Opening</b>
<i>4.5(b) Door Chamber></i></div>
[[EPILOGUE - Sunset]]
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 4 - Opening</b>
<i>4.5(c) Door Chamber></i></div>
[[EPILOGUE - Sunset]]
Ada and Sara entering the forest, talking, observing.
Gets dark, emergency packs have lights.
Voice interjects occasionally. Sara feeling more and more distant.
Continue to a rest point.
Two sleep - Sara can't. Voice talking, thinking about it says.
Choice - Go on own, wake up Ada?
Either way end both go along into the woods.
[[4.3(b) Memories]]
<div style="text-align:center"><b>Chapter 4 - Opening</b>
<i>4.2(c) Entering the Forest</i></div>
<p>The canopy of trees here was remarkably thick; though sunset was still several hours away only brief glimpses of sunlight pierced through the leaves. For this reason, perhaps, the tree branches stretched well above her head, each tree reaching for the top of the canopy, trying to get every drop of light energy it could despite the great amount of competition from its neighbors. The forest floor was still blanketed by the same long grass as the hillside, somehow growing heartily despite the low amount of light that reached the blades. Perhaps the grass was able to pull enough energy from the soil itself - such fertility would bode well for the potential settlement.
At one point, Ada crouched down to get a sample. "While we're here, we might as well." When she pulled the grass and soil out of the ground, the light in it faded away.</p>
<p>"Huh." </p>
<p>"What, Sara?"</p>
<p>"It only glows when it's in the ground, connected to the soil, to the rest of the plants."</p>
<p>"What do you mean? What's glowing?"</p>
<p>"You can't see it? The grass along the path here is glowing gold." Sara gestured in front of her.</p>
<p>Ada frowned, looking deeper into the forest. "Nope, just normal alien grass."</p>
<p>"That's odd."</p>
<p>Ada stood up. "Why is it glowing for you, I wonder?"</p>
<p>"I don't know. Probably has something to do with the dreams, and the Door. I think it's trying to lead me along." Sara turned away and looked down the path. Why her, indeed.</p>
<p>Ada smiled at her. "Guess we'll have to continue on to the Door, then. Lead on, Doc!" </p>
<p>They began walking back down the path, initially in silence, but after awhile Sara heard what she thought was Ada singing under her breath: "...follow, follow, follow, follow..."</p>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<p>After only maybe an hour of following the illuminated path, the entrance had become a distant point of light. That she could still see it at all gave Sara the feeling that maybe there was still an opportunity to return, despite everything, despite the fact that she and Ada may have ended their careers by taking the shuttle like they did. She felt bad for dragging Ada into this, but it didn't seem to bother her younger colleague, and she was glad for the company. She imagined this hike would be a lot harder, a lot lonelier, on her own.</p>
<p>In the pale golden light from the forest floor a well-worn trail was emerging from the tall grass, showing more evidence of past use the further she went, though to the best of her knowledge no human had set foot on the planet before her. Was this a popular path for animals to take through the trees?</p>
<p>"Do you hear anything, Sara?" Ada was standing still a few steps behind her - Sara hadn't noticed that she'd stopped - and had her eyes closed, apparently listening to the sounds of the woods around them. "Like a bird, or bug, or anything?"</p>
<p>Sara listened, but heard nothing aside from the rustling of the leaves in the breeze. This was slightly unsettling - they should hear something in a forest so thick and abundant with potential food sources. Had this region of the planet somehow evolved without them? This is an alien world, though - perhaps the fauna had simply developed differently enough to escape their perception for now. </p>
<p>"Nothing but the wind. Maybe birds don't sing on this planet."</p>
<p>"Maybe there are no birds."</p>
<div style="text-align:center">• • •</div>
<p>After another hour or two, or more (she was losing track of the time), she stopped to rest, leaning against the rough bark of a tree. It must be later than she thought - she could no longer see even the occasional flicker of sunlight through the canopy. Yawning, she felt sleep begin to come over her, and she curled up in the soft grass away from the path. They would start again in the [[morning|4.3(b) Memories]].</p>
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[[EPILOGUE - Sunset]]
[[EPILOGUE - Sunset]]
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[[EPILOGUE - Sunset]]
[[EPILOGUE - Sunset]]
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[[EPILOGUE - Sunset]]
[[EPILOGUE - Sunset]]
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<div style="text-align:center"><b>NOT QUITE A SUNSET</b>
<i>a hypertext opera</i>
Words and music by Kyle Rowan
[[Home|Title 2]] • [[Credits|About]]
<i>Table of Contents</i>
<<click "Chapter 1 - Sunrise">><<audio "title" unloop fadeoverto 12s 0>><<goto "Chapter 1 - Sunrise">><</click>>
<span id="il1"><<click "INTERLUDE: Sunflowers">><<replace "#il1">>INTERLUDE: Sunflowers
<p><<click "Beginning">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "INTERLUDE: Sunflowers">><</click>>, <<click "tree">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "TOC-Tree">><</click>>, or <<click "lake?">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "TOC-Lake">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>></span>
<span id="ch2"><<click "Chapter 2 - Visions">><<replace #ch2>>Chapter 2 - Visions
<p><<click "Tree">><<replace #ch2>>Chapter 2 - Visions
<p>Tree</p><<set $tree = 1, $lake = 0>>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "Chapter 2 - Visions">><</click>></p><</replace>>
<</click>> or <<click "lake?">><<replace #ch2>>Chapter 2 - Visions
<p>Lake</p><<set $tree = 0, $lake = 1>>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "Chapter 2 - Visions">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>></span>
<span id="il2"><<click "INTERLUDE: River of Stars">><<replace #il2>>INTERLUDE: River of Stars
<p><<click "Tree">><<replace #il2>>INTERLUDE: River of Stars
<p>Tree</p><<set $tree = 1, $lake = 0>>
<p><<click "Tell">>
<<replace #il2>>INTERLUDE: River of Stars
<p>Tree</p><<set $dreamyes = 1, $ackerley = 1>>
<p>Tell</p>
<p><<click "Beginning">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "INTERLUDE: River of Stars">><</click>>, <<click "mountain">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "mountains">><</click>>, or <<click "forest?">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "forest">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "hide?">><<replace #il2>>INTERLUDE: River of Stars
<p>Tree</p><<set $dreamyes = 0, $ackerley = 0>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p><<click "Beginning">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "INTERLUDE: River of Stars">><</click>>, <<click "mountain">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "mountains">><</click>>, or <<click "forest?">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "forest">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "lake?">><<replace #il2>>INTERLUDE: River of Stars
<p>Lake</p><<set $tree = 0, $lake = 1>>
<p><<click "Tell">><<replace #il2>>INTERLUDE: River of Stars
<p>Lake</p><<set $dreamyes = 1>>
<p>Tell</p>
<p><<click "Beginning">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "INTERLUDE: River of Stars">><</click>>, <<click "mountain">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "mountains">><</click>>, or <<click "forest?">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "forest">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "hide?">><<replace #il2>>INTERLUDE: River of Stars
<p>Lake</p><<set $dreamyes = 0>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p><<click "Beginning">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "INTERLUDE: River of Stars">><</click>>, <<click "mountain">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "mountains">><</click>>, or <<click "forest?">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "forest">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>><</replace>><</click>><</replace>><</click>></span>
<span id="ch3"><<click "Chapter 3 - Merging">><<replace #ch3>>Chapter 3 - Merging
<p><<click "Tree">><<replace #ch3>>Chapter 3 - Merging
<p>Tree</p><<set $tree = 1, $lake = 0>>
<p><<click "Tell">></p>
<<replace #ch3>>Chapter 3 - Merging
<p>Tree</p><<set $dreamyes = 1, $ackerley = 1>>
<p>Tell</p>
<p><<click "Mountain">><<replace #ch3>>Chapter 3 - Merging
<p>Tree</p><<set $forest = 1, $mountain = 0>>
<p>Tell</p>
<p>Mountain</p>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "Chapter 3 - Merging">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "forest?">><<replace #ch3>>Chapter 3 - Merging
<p>Tree</p><<set $forest = 1, $mountain = 0>>
<p>Tell</p>
<p>Forest</p>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "Chapter 3 - Merging">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "hide?">><<replace #ch3>>Chapter 3 - Merging
<p>Tree</p><<set $dreamyes = 0, $ackerley = 0>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p><<click "Mountain">><<replace #ch3>>Chapter 3 - Merging
<p>Tree</p><<set $forest = 1, $mountain = 0>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Mountain</p>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "Chapter 3 - Merging">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "forest?">><<replace #ch3>>Chapter 3 - Merging
<p>Tree</p><<set $forest = 1, $mountain = 0>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Forest</p>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "Chapter 3 - Merging">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "lake?">><<replace #ch3>>Chapter 3 - Merging
<p>Lake</p><<set $tree = 0, $lake = 1>>
<p><<click "Tell">><<replace #ch3>>Chapter 3 - Merging
<p>Lake</p><<set $dreamyes = 1>>
<p>Tell</p>
<p><<click "Mountain">><<replace #ch3>>Chapter 3 - Merging
<p>Lake</p><<set $forest = 1, $mountain = 0>>
<p>Tell</p>
<p>Mountain</p>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "Chapter 3 - Merging">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "forest?">><<replace #ch3>>Chapter 3 - Merging
<p>Lake</p><<set $forest = 1, $mountain = 0>>
<p>Tell</p>
<p>Forest</p>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "Chapter 3 - Merging">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "hide?">><<replace #ch3>>Chapter 3 - Merging
<p>Lake</p><<set $dreamyes = 0>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p><<click "Mountain">><<replace #ch3>>Chapter 3 - Merging
<p>Lake</p><<set $forest = 1, $mountain = 0>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Mountain</p>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "Chapter 3 - Merging">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "forest?">><<replace #ch3>>Chapter 3 - Merging
<p>Lake</p><<set $forest = 1, $mountain = 0>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Forest</p>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "Chapter 3 - Merging">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>><</replace>><</click>><</replace>><</click>></span>
<span id="il3"><<click "INTERLUDE: Twilight">><<replace #il3>>INTERLUDE: Twilight
<p><<click "Tree">><<replace #il3>>INTERLUDE: Twilight
<p>Tree</p><<set $tree = 1, $lake = 0>>
<p><<click "Tell">></p>
<<replace #il3>>INTERLUDE: Twilight
<p>Tree</p><<set $dreamyes = 1, $ackerley = 0, $tunnel = 2>>
<p>Tell</p>
<p><<click "Mountain">><<replace #il3>>INTERLUDE: Twilight
<p>Tree</p><<set $forest = 0, $mountain = 1>>
<p>Tell</p>
<p>Mountain</p>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "INTERLUDE: Twilight">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "forest?">><<replace #il3>>INTERLUDE: Twilight
<p>Tree</p><<set $forest = 1, $mountain = 0>>
<p>Tell</p>
<p>Forest</p>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "INTERLUDE: Twilight">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "hide?">><<replace #il3>>INTERLUDE: Twilight
<p>Tree</p><<set $dreamyes = 0, $ackerley = 0>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p><<click "Mountain">><<replace #il3>>INTERLUDE: Twilight
<p>Tree</p><<set $forest = 0, $mountain = 1>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Mountain</p>
<p><<click "Comm">><<replace #il3>>INTERLUDE: Twilight
<p>Tree</p><<set $tunnel = 3>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Mountain</p>
<p>Comm</p>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "INTERLUDE: Twilight">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "none?">><<replace #il3>>INTERLUDE: Twilight
<p>Tree</p><<set $tunnel = 4>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Mountain</p>
<p>No Comm</p>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "INTERLUDE: Twilight">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "forest?">><<replace #il3>>INTERLUDE: Twilight
<p>Tree</p><<set $forest = 1, $mountain = 0>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Forest</p>
<p><<click "Comm">><<replace #il3>>INTERLUDE: Twilight
<p>Tree</p><<set $tunnel = 3>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Forest</p>
<p>Comm</p>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "INTERLUDE: Twilight">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "none?">><<replace #il3>>INTERLUDE: Twilight
<p>Tree</p><<set $tunnel = 4>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Forest</p>
<p>No Comm</p>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "INTERLUDE: Twilight">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>><</replace>><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "lake?">><<replace #il3>>INTERLUDE: Twilight
<p>Lake</p><<set $tree = 0, $lake = 1>>
<p><<click "Tell">><<replace #il3>>INTERLUDE: Twilight
<p>Lake</p><<set $dreamyes = 1, $ackerley = 1, $tunnel = 1>>
<p>Tell</p>
<p><<click "Mountain">><<replace #il3>>INTERLUDE: Twilight
<p>Lake</p><<set $forest = 0, $mountain = 1>>
<p>Tell</p>
<p>Mountain</p>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "INTERLUDE: Twilight">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "forest?">><<replace #il3>>INTERLUDE: Twilight
<p>Lake</p><<set $forest = 1, $mountain = 0>>
<p>Tell</p>
<p>Forest</p>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "INTERLUDE: Twilight">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "hide?">><<replace #il3>>INTERLUDE: Twilight
<p>Lake</p><<set $dreamyes = 0>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p><<click "Mountain">><<replace #il3>>INTERLUDE: Twilight
<p>Lake</p><<set $forest = 0, $mountain = 1>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Mountain</p>
<p><<click "Comm">><<replace #il3>>INTERLUDE: Twilight
<p>Lake</p><<set $tunnel = 3>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Mountain</p>
<p>Comm</p>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "INTERLUDE: Twilight">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "none?">><<replace #il3>>INTERLUDE: Twilight
<p>Lake</p><<set $tunnel = 4>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Mountain</p>
<p>No Comm</p>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "INTERLUDE: Twilight">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "forest?">><<replace #il3>>Chapter 3 - Merging
<p>Lake</p><<set $forest = 1, $mountain = 0>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Forest</p>
<p><<click "Comm">><<replace #il3>>INTERLUDE: Twilight
<p>Lake</p><<set $tunnel = 3>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Forest</p>
<p>Comm</p>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "INTERLUDE: Twilight">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>> or <<click "none?">><<replace #il3>>INTERLUDE: Twilight
<p>Lake</p><<set $tunnel = 4>>
<p>Hide</p>
<p>Forest</p>
<p>No Comm</p>
<p><<click "Begin">><<audio "title" unloop fadeout>><<goto "INTERLUDE: Twilight">><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>><</replace>><</click>></p><</replace>><</click>><</replace>><</click>><</replace>><</click>></span>
Chapter 4 - Opening
EPILOGUE - Sunset</div>