*set report_followed true I noticed the camera above the door following my movements as I approached. When I was closer to the door I heard the click of the locks being disengaged. It was reasonable to assume there was such a mechanism in every door, meaning in order to break in without being detected I would probably have to use a window or other such indirect method of entry. But these were just fleeting thoughts; my real focus was on the man who welcomed me as I walked through the door. He was alone, and greeted me with a smile before asking me to come with him to his office. He was probably the principal come out to meet me, which would also explain why he came alone; it was recorded in the psyche profile that I wasn't supposed to read that I became nervous when speaking to more than one unknown person, which was almost true. It was actually any number of unknown persons. "Arrived right when he said you would," the principal was trying to make small talk, a common distraction method, "I suppose you CIA types love your punctuality." "I'm not CIA," I corrected him, taking more consideration to observing my surroundings and looking for any ambushes that the small talk was supposed to distract me from. All I could see was a janitor at the moment, but I couldn't see what was in his bucket; I made a mental note that he should be considered the primary threat until I could confirm otherwise. During my observations I also noticed that there were multiple cameras all over the hallways; I made an additional note to locate the security office that they led to. *if (daniel_warden =false) The cameras were already expected though, and so far the only thing remotely alarming was the janitor, and his behavior wasn't that of someone who was planning attack. Plus, I highly doubt Daniel would have put me in the care of this person if he hadn't done an extensive background check. I was probably safe, at the moment. "Right, I'm sorry, I assumed they- well nevermind, we probably shouldn't talk about that in the open anyway," he said with a fake chuckle probably meant to put me at ease. *if (daniel_warden =true) and lure me into a false sense of security. *page_break We went into his office... On the way in we pass by what appears to be a security room, with a large computer featuring multiple screens, presumably visuals from all the cameras I saw coming in. I stop a second and stare at the screen, committing every detail to memory out of habit; there can't be any harm in knowing the layout after all. When the principal realizes I'm not following he stands obligingly for a second, before coughing as some sort of polite way to say. *if (daniel_warden =true) "hurry up and walk into my obvious ambush." I think to myself that he should stop being so impatient and that he should understand the necessity of taking precautions like these, especially when you are 85% certain that everyone around you is planning to kill you. *if (daniel_warden =false) "I took the time out of my day to babysit you now hurry up." I think to myself that he should stop being so impatient and that he should understand the necessity of taking precautions like these when entering a new environment. Ordinarily, I never went anywhere without doing extensive recon of the area first, and these cameras were all I was going to get. *set memorized_school_layout true In his office were a large number of trophies with dates going back five decades. The ends were pointed and stands well-built; these could easily serve as either stabbing or bludgeoning weapons if needed. I also saw a nameplate on his desk that read Gardner; he was a principal and not a gardener, so I assumed Gardner was his last name. More importantly, the edges of the nameplate were pointed; potential throwing weapon. "Now then," principal Gardner said, taking a seat behind his desk, "Please, relax. Take a seat." *if (daniel_warden =true) Now he was being just plain insulting "I prefer to stand," I say, remaining vigilant to his baiting tactics and keeping my back to a corner of the room where I could see both him and the door. "Suit yourself," he said understandingly, "Now, I was 'briefed' as they say about your...particular circumstances. I don't know the details and...well, I won't ask for them. You have my sympathies, ${mr}..." *fake_choice *if (female =true) #Jane *set firstname "Jane" *set fullname "Jane Decker" "Right, ${mr} ${fullname}," he mumbled out the name as if struggling to remember it. It was weird to think of it as my name; nobody knew what my actual name was, if I ever had one, so Daniel ended up picking one out for me. He said the name Jane suited me; as in Jane Doe, the woman with no name, no past, no identity. Perfect for a fresh start; or so he put it. *goto prince #Henrietta *set firstname "Henrietta" *set fullname "Henrietta Decker" "Right, ${mr} ${fullname}," he mumbled out the name as if struggling to remember it. It was weird to think of it as my name; nobody knew what my actual name was, if I ever had one, so Daniel ended up picking one out for me. He told me I was named after some woman from a long time ago named Henrietta Lacks, whose cells had managed to live long after she died and survive multiple splits. A testament to their survival instinct, although I didn't understand a word of it until we started my biology lessons. *goto prince #Joy *set firstname "Joy" *set fullname "Joy Decker" "Right, ${mr} ${fullname}," he mumbled out the name as if struggling to remember it. It was weird to think of it as my name; nobody knew what my actual name was, if I ever had one, so Daniel ended up picking one out for me. *if hatedan >0 I'm pretty sure the name is meant to be ironic seeing as how I haven't smiled in...well, I haven't smiled. If he meant it to be serious then he had a very poor sense of judgement when he named me. *if hatedan =0 At first I thought he meant the name as a joke until I asked him about it. He said his hope was that someday the name would fit, and so every time I heard it I would be reminded of where I was trying to be. He wasn't sentimental very often so that moment always stuck out to me. *goto prince #Jeannette *set firstname "Jeannette" *set fullname "Jeannette Decker" "Right, ${mr} ${fullname}," he mumbled out the name as if struggling to remember it. It was weird to think of it as my name; nobody knew what my actual name was, if I ever had one, so Daniel ended up picking one out for me. He said I was named after an American girl named Jeannette Walls, who was able to grow up in some of the worst conditions possible and still come out as a person, and even wrote a book about it. I never got around to reading it, but I admit I wouldn't mind swapping stories if I ever met her. *goto prince #Joan *set firstname "Joan" *set fullname "Joan Decker" "Right, ${mr} ${fullname}," he mumbled out the name as if struggling to remember it. It was weird to think of it as my name; nobody knew what my actual name was, if I ever had one, so Daniel ended up picking one out for me. He named me after a woman who became some kind of holy soldier a long time ago. I don't know much about holiness, but I recognize the soldier part all too well; which is why I suppose he figured it would be a good name or me. *goto prince #He took too long, so I told him *input_text firstname *set fullname (firstname&" ")&lastname "...Right, ${mr} ${fullname}, sorry" He mumbled out apologetically and I felt the man's threat potential reduce drastically. It was weird to think of it as my name; nobody knew what my actual name was, if I ever had one, so Daniel ended up picking one out for me. *goto prince *if (male =true) #John *set firstname "John" *set fullname "John Decker" "Right, ${mr} ${fullname}," he mumbled out the name as if struggling to remember it. It was weird to think of it as my name; nobody knew what my actual name was, if I ever had one, so Daniel ended up picking one out for me. He said the name John suited me; as in John Doe, the man with no name, no past, no identity. Perfect for a fresh start; or so he put it. *goto prince #Pinocchio *set firstname "Pinocchio" *set fullname "Pinocchio Decker" "Right, ${mr} ${fullname}," he mumbled out the name as if struggling to remember it. It was weird to think of it as my name; nobody knew what my actual name was, if I ever had one, so Daniel ended up picking one out for me. I found out in our literature lessons that I was named after a fairy tale character who started out as a lifeless puppet but through hard work and a little help managed to become a real boy. I suppose he was trying to be poetic. *if (daniel_warden =true) I thought it was a really stupid story. *goto prince #David *set firstname "David" *set fullname "David Decker" "Right, ${mr} ${fullname}," he mumbled out the name as if struggling to remember it. It was weird to think of it as my name; nobody knew what my actual name was, if I ever had one, so Daniel ended up picking one out for me. He chose David from the old biblical story, David and Goliath. Supposedly about a man who, with a slingshot, killed a giant with the help of his father, though the story didn't explain how his dad helped him; I assumed he provided some kind of sniper support from far away and let his son take the credit, though apparently he didn't coordinate this to his son because the son kept telling everyone that it was actually his father that killed the giant, but they made him a king anyway. I didn't really get it but apparently this kind of stuff is very popular in America. *goto prince #Rommel *set firstname "Rommel" *set fullname "Rommel Decker" "Right, ${mr} ${fullname}," he mumbled out the name as if struggling to remember it. It was weird to think of it as my name; nobody knew what my actual name was, if I ever had one, so Daniel ended up picking one out for me. Daniel was apparently a history buff, cause he named me after a German general in a war from a long time ago. Apparently he was pretty good cause he wrote a few books; though if you ask me, he couldn't have been that smart if he wrote down all his tactics in a book for his enemies to read. *goto prince #Bruce *set firstname "Bruce" *set fullname "Bruce Decker" "Right, ${mr} ${fullname}," he mumbled out the name as if struggling to remember it. It was weird to think of it as my name; nobody knew what my actual name was, if I ever had one, so Daniel ended up picking one out for me. Bruce was apparently the most boring and unassuming name in all of America, which made it perfect for blending in. I could see the reasoning behind it and thought it was pretty smart of him. *goto prince #He took too long, so I told him *input_text firstname *set fullname (firstname&" ")&lastname "...Right, ${mr} ${fullname}, sorry," He mumbled apologetically and I felt the man's threat potential reduce drastically. It was weird to think of it as my name; nobody knew what my actual name was, if I ever had one, so Daniel ended up picking one out for me. *goto prince *label prince "Anyway," he cleared his throat, "Your teachers have been similarly instructed to...indulge some strange behavior. However, of course, this isn't giving you license to do whatever you please; you'll be expected to follow the same rules as everyone else." *if (daniel_warden =true) I was having a hard time predicting where this trap was going to come from; if it was going to come at all. Oddly enough, the uncertainty of whether or not I was about to be attacked was worse than being in actual definitive danger. principal Gardner reached for something in his desk and my hand twitched toward the nearest trophy, but all he presented was a sheet of paper. *if (daniel_warden =false) I was a pretty patient person when the job called for it, but all other times I did typically prefer to simply move things along. This was appearently a philosophy that my principal did not share as he slowly sifted through papers searching for something. He eventually opened his desk, and my hand shifted toward the nearest trophy, but all he really produced was another sheet of paper. "This will be your class schedule, me and your 'handler' discussed which would be most appropriate; like all students you'll be given a 1-week grace period but afterwards you will be expected to appear on time to all functions unless given notice ahead of time by your legal guardian." Cautiously, I extended a hand forward and picked up the small sheet of paper. I used my peripheral vision to keep an eye on the room while I read through what was supposedly going to be my daily routine for the next year. 1st hour: Family and Consumer Science 2nd hour: Personal Finance 3rd hour: Algebra 4th hour: Art 5th hour: Language Arts Lunch 6th hour: Psychology/Sociology 7th hour: History *page_break A perfectly normal High School schedule "Given the circumstances, your legal guardian and I felt that you didn't need any form of physical education, and that placing you in a physically exerting environment could cause potential...episodes," he said, unsubtly referring to potential PTSD breakdowns. I'll admit those have been problems in the past, not so much for me but for anyone who was nearby me at the time, so I can see why they would want to avoid that altogether. Looking at the classes, it seems avoiding anything remotely similar to my past was the philosophy they used for deciding all my classes. "Now, you're supposedly fourteen, correct?" "As far as anyone can tell," I respond. Nobody knows my real age, not even me. Only one person was there when I was born, and she's dead. Nobody knows how long I was scavenging war-torn battlefields before someone found me and taught me how to create war-torn battlefields instead. Fourteen was the best they could guess based on my appearance. "Right, so you'll be starting as a Freshmen. That should put you on relatively the same footing as everyone else; they're all new here, too!" He said, laughing awkwardly. By this point, *if (daniel_warden =false) I was just glad to finally be moving on with my day. *goto done *if (daniel_warden =true) *choice #I was convinced this man was too stupid to be planning an ambush *set reflex -1 *set explosives -1 *goto done #I was wishing he would get this ambush out of the way so I could go home *goto done *label done When I didn't respond he ended his laugh as awkwardly as it started and coughed nervously, "Right, so...I suppose I'll let you on your way. Now, when you go to your first class, you'll be the only one there; the rest will be at an assembly getting their own schedules. Your 'handler' felt it would be best if you skipped that." Makes sense; large crowd, lots of noise, lots of crowded people; someone probably would have gotten hurt. "I uh suppose it will be a good time to get some good old fashioned studying done!" I notice he is about to let out another barrage of awkward laughter and make a tactical retreat. *page_break First Hour... *goto_scene 1-4first-1