*set attemptescape true It's easy to get lost among the crowds of wandering high schoolers roaming the hallways on whatever route their schedules have assigned for them. Junior and his companion, Hobbs, merge with them with far more proficiency than I had expected. Evidently, getting lost was something they did quite often. After a few minutes of quick movement, we end up stopping in front of a door with a very clear 'staff only' sign taped onto it. *if (triedtoexplore =true) This spot is famliar to me. I identify it as the very same entrance I used upon my first visit to this school. In through the roof where I encountered Vi. It seems she and I are not the only ones aware of this particular break in the school's security. "There's a pretty decent sized supply room through here," says Junior. "Pretty sure it's where the janitors keep their equipment. There just also happens to be a ladder that leads us up straight to the roof. Nobody is ever up there, so it's really just as simple as taking a dive off the side and making a break for the buildings." "At least, that's how it's always been," Hobbs cuts in. "But back in the back-when times, we didn't have all these fancy security cameras and taser wielding guards walking around either for no explained reason. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a guard up there right now." "Geez, how did a simple thing like walking out of school become something out of Shawshank?" A number of ways that I could answer that, but by my prediction, anything involving the truth would likely impede the success of our mission. Better to stick to constructive areas of conversation. "We'll want to get in before this crowd breaks apart," says Junior, examining our cover. "Otherwise we'll be spotted for sure." "So why do we not just go in now?" I question. "No way to know if there's a camera in there now," says Junior. "If we open that door and there's one staring us smack dab in the face, then that's it. Mission over." "So what's your plan?" Hobbs questions his leader, who responds by looking at me. "I was going to let our new friend decide. This is a team project after all." The expectant look I'm getting from both of them tells me there's not a way to convince them otherwise, at least not without severely damaging the alliance that I've formed, which would be something that I greatly want to avoid. As far as mission objectives go, open a door is hardly the most complicated, difficult, nor dangerous assignment I've had. Not even in the past year. Since this conversation started, the possible options available to me were already running through my mind, and I have a pretty good list by now. Question is which tactic has the highest probability of success. *choice #Just go through "So?" Junior asks expectantly, "What's your plan?" "Don't bother." I respond simply by opening the door wide open and slipping inside. I see a brief moment of shock on both of them as I casually enter the room (which is about what Junior described, ladder and all) and beckon them enter. "Gutsy," Hobbs says, though clearly not impressed. "What if you were wrong?" *if ((triedtoexplore =true) or (destroyed_school_security =true)) "I already knew the answer," I respond while closing the door behind us, double checking to make sure we weren't seen by anyone important in the process. *if (triedtoexplore =true) "I came in this way, and I remember there not being a camera then. There was never any danger." "Well don't I feel silly now," says Junior. "Not bad, kid. Not bad at all. Now let's get moving before the cleaning crew decides to pop their heads in." *page_break In the city... *goto_scene 1-11freedom-1 *if (destroyed_school_security =true) "I know for a fact that the school security system isn't functioning. The system computer was destroyed earlier this morning. At the moment, the only thing those cameras are doing is giving the impression of observation. There was no danger." "Well don't I feel silly now," says Junior. "Not bad, kid. Not bad at all. Now let's get moving before the cleaning crew decides to pop their heads in." *page_break In the city... *goto_scene 1-11freedom-1 "Then we could have lied." I respond while closing the door behind us, double checking to make sure we weren't seen by anyone important in the process. "The consequences for failure were low enough to make the risk worthwhile. As you can see, we are inside." "Well don't I feel silly now," says Junior. "Not bad, kid. Not bad at all. Now let's get moving before the cleaning crew decides to pop their heads in." *page_break In the city... *goto_scene 1-11freedom-1 #Convince one of the passerbys to do it first Finding a target isn't difficult. It's a simple matter of reaching over and grabbing someone. "Hey!" She struggles, "What do you think you're doing?" "What [i]do[/i] you think you're doing?" Hobbs echoes her question. I ignore him in favor of continuing the mission. I gesture to the door in question. "Open this." She looks at the sign, and back at me. "And why would I do that?" *choice #Ask nicely *set combat -1 *set juniorrelationship "Dismissive" I point to the door again. "Please open this door." She is not amused. "1) No. 2) Hell now. 3) Leave me alone before I call the police." With that, she goes on her way. "Smooth." Says Hobbs, "Any other bright ideas." "Forget it," Junior looks around. "We're out of time." He's right, of course. The crowds are thinned, removing our cover and leaving us wide in the open to whoever might be looking. "Let's just go to class. We can try again tomorrow." "Nice," Hobbs shakes his head. Him and Junior walk off, leaving me behind next to the unopened door. I'm not sure if this is a complete destruction of our alliance, but it is highly unlikely that I did any favors to my reputation with them. Overall, not the positive result I was looking for. And in the end, I'm left with no options left but to go to my next hour. *if (incidents >0) At least I didn't end up in the principal's office again. *page_break Sixth hour... *goto_scene 1-10sixth-1 #Bribe "We have money," I explain. "Thirty American dollars to open this door." "That sounds really fishy..." I look at Junior, and without hesitation he reaches into his wallet and produces the amount that I requested. "Easy money," I explain to her. "Just open and look inside." In my experience, money is a universal motivator. No matter where you go, everyone wants it. Often times, they don't even care what they'll actually [i]do[/i] with it or if they need it for anything, just so long as it's there and tangible. An easily exploitable weakness. One that I've seen destroy many individuals. Just like this one. "Fine," she says. The female walks past us and to the door. She hesitates, but she does open it and looks inside before looking back at us. "It's just a janitor's closet." "Any cameras?" Junior asks. "No...can I be paid now? I really need to get to class." "Here," Junior passes it off to her and the female runs off, no longer interested in us. Afterwards, he's the first one through, and beckons us inside. "A bit crude," says Hobbs, closing the door behind us. "But effective," says Junior. "Even if you do owe me thirty dollars now." "I will repay," I inform him. It shouldn't be too difficult to convince Daniel to give me such a meager amount. "Shall we go now?" *page_break In the city... *goto_scene 1-11freedom-1 #[i]Threaten *set juniorfriend false *set hurtgirlwithjunior true *set juniorhostileforlife true *set juniorrelationship "Hostile" *set bored +1 "Because I said so," I say, moving close to her. Before she can properly react, I reach into my pocket and pull out the first sharp thing I find, a pencil, and press it into her side. "And because your blood is a precious resource that you do not wish to lose." It isn't until she looks down that she realizes the predicament she's in, and her skin pales. "You're...you're not serious..." "Ten seconds." "${firstname}, what the fuck?!" Junior exclaims, pushing between us, ruining my dominant position. "Just...go! Get out of here!" He says to the female, pushing her back into the crowd, a path that she is all too happy to take. "Are you completely fucking mental? You can't just," he stops and lowers his voice, "You can't just shank someone in the middle of a crowded hallway?" "Why not?" "Why-" he scoffs, then waves me off. "Forget it. Hobbs, we're leaving." With that, he and his companion turn their backs on me, the mission incomplete. I'm not sure if this is a complete destruction of our alliance, but it is highly unlikely that I did any favors to my reputation with them. Overall, not the positive result I was looking for. And in the end, I'm left with no options left but to go to my next hour. *if (incidents >0) At least I didn't end up in the principal's office again. *page_break Sixth hour... *goto_scene 1-10sixth-1 #Use a rational argument "Because the sooner you do, the sooner I stop bothering you and you can be on your way, having completely forgotten this encounter." She seems like she wants to argue, but as I suspected, she's more interested in just getting this conversation over with as soon as possible. "Fine," she sighs. The female walks past us and to the door. She hesitates, but she does open it and looks inside before looking back at us. "It's just a janitor's closet." "Any cameras?" Junior asks. "No, can I go now?" "You may." I say, and the female runs off. Afterwards, Junior's the first one through, and beckons us inside. "A bit crude," says Hobbs, closing the door behind us. "But effective," says Junior. "Thought for certain I'd have to empty my pockets." "Valid option, but ultimately unnecessary." I explain. "Shall we go now?" *page_break In the city... *goto_scene 1-11freedom-1 #Use something reflective to scout the area first Opening the door a crack can be done easily without drawing attention, and without revealing our faces to what's inside. If there were a human being inside there would be a risk, but the likelihood of that is low, at best. The only real difficulty is in finding something that would serve the purpose of being a reflective surface. "Do either of you have a mirror?" I ask my companions. "Actually, yes." To my luck, Hobbs reaches into his pocket and produces to me what appears to be a make-up case. "Why do you have that?" Junior asks. "Sentimental," he says briefly, "I'll tell you later. What do you need this for?" "I will be quick." I say, taking the mirror in hand and pressing my back to the door. Holding the device in my right hand while operating the door handle with my left, I'm able to open the door with my back, easily and inconspiciously opening the door and peaking around. "Clear." After that's confirmed, I casually enter the room (which is about what Junior described, ladder and all) and beckon them enter. "Not bad, kid. Not bad at all." Junior nods his head, clearly impressed. "It was alright," says Hobbs. "Ready to get going then?" *page_break In the city... *goto_scene 1-11freedom-1