<<if $movie eq "bb">>"Sorry Lydia. You seem like a pretty badass chick but this is some shit that I've gotta do alone. Could get dangerous."\n\nYou turn and head towards the door. You hear Lydia getting pissed behind you. "You ungrateful hunk of scrap! If it weren't for me you'd be rusting out in the rain right now!"\n\nShe keeps on ranting as you shut the door behind you. You feel bad, but it's for the fuckin' best. You've gotta fight this battle on your own.<<set $leaveLydia = "yes">>\n\nAll the way down the stairs you hear the girl still cussin' you out. It's alright though - She'll forget all about you in no time. You get out of the apartment and hit the streets again. Time to find these motherfuckers.\n\nAs you shut the apartment door behind you, your foot brushes something on the ground.\n\n[[What the hell is this?|ending lydia 1]]<<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>"Sorry Lydia. You've been incredibly helpful, but this is something I have to do on my own. It could be dangerous and I'd feel too guilty if anything happened to a pretty dame like you on my account."\n\nYou turn and head towards the door, Lydia getting angrier by the second. "You ungrateful hunk of scrap! If it weren't for me you'd be rusting out in the rain right now!"\n\nYou feel bad, but it's for the best. Who knows what danger still lies ahead.<<set $leaveLydia = "yes">>\n\nAll the way down the stairs you hear the dame still cursing you, your mother, and everyone in between. It's alright though - She'll forget all about you in no time. They always do. You get out of the apartment and hit the pavement again. Time to find the crooks that took off with your memories.\n\nAs you shut the apartment door behind you, your foot brushes something on the ground.\n\n[[What do we have here?|ending lydia 1]]<<endif>>
<<if $movie eq "bb">>You look down and see a pair of sunglasses on the ground. Nice fuckin' ones too - All black and reflective and shit. You reach down to scoop 'em up; something about them just seems right.\n\nAs you bend down to the ground you notice something shiny - Some kind of bolt. And not too far beyond it, another piece. And another. Leading down towards the shady part of town. Like Hansel and motherfuckin' Gretel. //A trail.//\n\n<<if $leftlucky eq "no">>You stand up and turn to Lucky. He looks at you curiously. "What'd you find?"\n\n"We just found us a breadcrumb trail. And those breadcrumbs are gonna lead us right to the motherfuckers we're looking for."\n\n"Right on, my 'bot! Let's get to it then!" He pauses, "Y'know, I don't even know your name. What should I call you?"\n\nYou think on that for a second. You look down at the sunglasses in your hand and then pull them on. You look back at Lucky, knowing that you look cool as shit right now.\n\n[["Who am I?"|ending 2]]<<else>>Seems like that's your ticket to finding the motherfuckers that did this. You're gonna find them, and you're gonna make them pay.\n\nYou look at the sunglasses in your hand, and then pull them on. You may not know who you used to be before tonight, but you sure as hell know who you are now.\n\n[["Who am I?"|ending 2]]<<endif>><<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>You look down and see a pack of cigarettes on the ground. The pack's battered and beaten-up but, then again, so are you. You reach down to pick 'em up; something about them just seems right.\n\nAs you bend down to the ground you notice something shiny - Some kind of bolt. And not too far beyond it, another piece. And another. Leading down towards the shady part of town. You'd recognize something like this anywhere: //A trail.//\n\n<<if $leftlucky eq "no">>You stand up and turn to Lucky. He looks at you curiously. "What'd you find?"\n\n"Seems our crooks are a regular set of Hansels and Gretels, and we just found their breadcrumb trail. Something tells me that if we follow them, we'll end up right at their gingerbread house."\n\n"Right on, my 'bot! Let's get to it then!" He pauses, "Y'know, I don't even know your name. What should I call you?"\n\nYou think on that for a second. You look down at the pack of cigarettes in your hand. Something about them activates code deep in your programming. You pull one out of your pack and stick it in your frontal speaker grill. With a flick of your wrist, you activate the lighter built into your thumb (which you'd forgotten all about til now) and bring it up to light the cig.\n\nYou take a drag on the cigarette and turn back to Lucky. \n\n[["Who am I?"|ending 2]]<<else>>Seems like that's your ticket to finding the crooks that did this. You're gonna find them, and you're gonna make them pay.\n\nYou look down at the pack of cigarettes in your hand. Something about them activates code deep in your programming. You pull one out of your pack and stick it in your frontal speaker grill. With a flick of your wrist, you activate the lighter built into your thumb (which you'd forgotten all about til now) and bring it up to light the cig.\n\nYou take a drag on the cigarette. You may not know who you used to be before tonight, but you sure as hell know who you are now.\n\n[["Who am I?"|ending 2]]<<endif>><<endif>>
Perfectly on cue, the woman screams again. As you try to figure out what to do next, the security guards run at you, stun batons raised.\n\nWith each electric sting, your systems begin sputtering and failing. You fall to the ground, photoreceptors fading.\n\nYou've doomed to yourself to the scrap heap, it seems. Well done, you.\n\nEND.
With a mighty swing of your robot arm, you send the human female flying across the kitchen. She slams into one of the stainless-steel countertops and lies in a crumpled heap.\n<<set $robotterror = 2>>\nShe doesn't look like she's moving, and it definitely sounds like someone is coming from the hallway now. I know I'm supposed to be your narrator and everything, but this looks //bad//.\n\n[[I never should've done this, I need to get back to the alley.|alley escape]]\n[[I WILL DESTROY ANY HUMANS WHO DARE INTERFERE. TO THE HALLWAY.|hallway escape]]\n[[FINISH THE JOB. ENSURE THE HUMAN FEMALE IS NO LONGER ALIVE AND CANNOT SUMMON PUNY HUMAN HELP.|destroy all humans 2d]]
"Well, here we are."\n\nLydia unlocks the door to her apartment and squeezes through. It's tiny and small, but the walls are colorful and covered in what the last bits of your recognition software recognize as movie posters - It seems either she is covering up visually unappealing walls or she is an enthusiast of these movies.\n\nAs you come in and take in your surroundings, you start to feel... fuzzy. Suddenly very aware of the hole in your head. You stumble, and Lydia catches you and helps you sit down on the bed.\n\n[[What's going on?|lydia repair]]
''Chapter 01 - Startup Sequence''\n\nYou stand, your knees creaking as you push the trash off you. Seems like you're bipedal, made of some kind of copper-colored brushed metal, and roughly human-shaped.\n\nAlso, all the evidence would seem to indicate that you haven't had a very nice day so far.\n\n<<display 'take a look around'>>
<<if $movie eq "bb">>"Yeah, you know what Lydia? You've been alright so far. If you think you can keep up with me, be my guest."<<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>"I like your moxie, Lydia. If you want in on this investigation, then consider yourself my new partner.<<endif>>\n\nShe grins at you and grabs her purse, "Then let's blow this pop stand, huh?" And just like that, the pair of you are headed out the door and back onto the street again.<<set $leftLydia = "no">>\n\nYou get back outside into the night air and you look up and down the street. Lydia locks the door to the apartment and turns to you. "So what now?"\n\nAs you're about to answer, your foot brushes something on the ground.\n\n<<if $movie eq "bb">>[[What the hell is this?|ending lydia 1]]<<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>[[What do we have here?|ending lydia 1]]<<endif>>
You nod.\n<<set $leftlucky = "no">>\n"Excellent - You ain't gonna regret this. So here's my proposition: I saw which way them humans went. I can help you get back your brain parts and then when you get back all yer memories and whatnot we can work out a reward."\n\nHe coughs, sending a little shower of rust flakes into the air like dandruff. Lovely.\n\n"First things first though, we gotta get you a temporary voice box or somethin'. I can't have you wandering around like some kinda mime."\n<<silently>><<set $mimecount = $mimecount + 1>><<endsilently>>\n<<if $mimecount eq 3>>Huh. I guess it's one of those days where mimes keep coming up in conversation.\n<<endif>>\n[[Guess I've got no choice at this point but to let him lead the way.|walk to store]]
Short\nCircuit\nSleuth
<<if $movie eq "bb">>You look Lucky up and down. "Alright man - I guess I do owe you one. You help me find the motherfuckers who did this to me and I'll make sure you get your cut."\n\nLucky nods enthusiastically "Right on, my 'bot. We'll track those creeps down and make 'em pay."\n\nYou appreciate the little rustbucket's enthusiasm. <<if $cover eq "no">>As you turn to leave, Paul pipes up one more time, pulling out a small box from behind the counter. "Hey, before you leave. I got something here that might be of interest to you."\n\n[[Won't hurt to take a look I guess.|leave paul 1c]]\n[[Whatever. I got places to be.|leave paul 1d]]<<else>>The two of you head towards the door. "Little hand says it's time to rock and roll, Luck."\n\nHe looks confused. "What?"\n\n[[Nevermind.|hit the streets]]<<endif>><<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>You look Lucky up and down. "You've got moxie kid. I appreciate that. Yeah, you help me find the mooks what did this to me, I'll see that it's worth your while."\n\nLucky nods enthusiastically "Right on, my 'bot. We'll track those creeps down and make 'em pay."\n\nYou gotta admit - The rusty pile of scrap is growing on you. <<if $cover eq "no">>As you turn to leave, Paul pipes up one more time, pulling out a small box from behind the counter. "Hey, before you leave. I got something here that might be of interest to you."\n\n[[Evidence? I could use some evidence.|leave paul 1c]]\n[[Sorry Paulie - Trail's getting cold enough as it is. I've got to go.|leave paul 1d]]<<else>>The two of you head towards the door. \n\n[[Time to hit the streets.|hit the streets]]<<endif>><<endif>>
Hard to say. Your memory's pretty fuzzy.\n\nAs you finish your system reboot and your servos start up you bring a hand to your head and find a hole that probably shouldn't be there. You're not sure of much right now, but you're //fairly// certain that holes and heads rarely go together very well. Especially when they're conspicuously close to where a robot's memory bank might belong.\n\nAt any rate, you probably won't learn much more if you keep hanging out with these trash bags. Their track record for providing answers is questionable so far.\n\n[[Fair point.|get up]]
"Wait, where are you going?"\n\nLydia puts a hand on your shoulder.\n\n"Are you not coming with me?"\n\n[[<shake head>|left lydia]]\n[[Actually, I should stay with her - She seems like my best bet for now.|leave with lydia 2a]]
<<if $movie eq "bb">>"I'm The motherfucking Detective."<<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>"I'm The goddamn Detective."<<endif>>\n\n''END CHAPTER 01''
<<if $movie eq "bb">>"Yo Paulie. Any chance the motherfuckers responsible for my modification here might'a come by? Seen anyone tryin' to sell stuff that might have been mine?"<<if $leftlucky eq "no">>\nLucky chimes in, "Yeah, I saw a couple of guys running real quick in this direction carrying a big armload of crap that I think belonged to my 'bot here."<<endif>>\n\nPaul thinks that over for a sec. "You know, now that you mention it..." He pulls a small box out from behind the counter and opens it up. "Not too long before you two came in, I had a customer who says they found this on the sidewalk."\n\nHe takes a piece of curved metal out of the box and hands it to you - It's about the size of a playing card and embossed with the logo of THE CORANADO HOTEL. Somethin' about it's looking real familiar.<<set $cover = "yes">>\n\nYou hold the piece of metal up to your head and realize that it fits over the hole fuckin' perfectly. You press... and it clicks into place like it never left.\n\n"Well what do you know," Paul says. "I guess that's yours. I'll give you that one on the house - At least that way you won't have the wind whistling through your skull anymore."\n\n[[You know something? This Paulie dude's alright.|leave paul a]]<<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>"Say Paul." You lean over the counter. "Any chance you might've had any shady characters in your establishment? Say the kinda fellas who might've been out trying to ice innocent 'bots and then sell their parts for scrap?"<<if $leftlucky eq "no">>\nLucky chimes in, "Yeah, I saw a couple of guys running real quick in this direction carrying a big armload of crap that I think belonged to my 'bot here."<<endif>>\n\nPaul let's the question stew around in his skull for a moment. "You know, now that you mention it..." He pulls a small box out from behind the counter and opens it up. "Not too long before you two came in, I had a customer who says they found this on the sidewalk."\n\nHe takes a piece of curved metal out of the box and hands it to you - It's about the size of a playing card and embossed with the logo of an establishment called THE CORONADO HOTEL. Something about it's feeling familiar... Like you saw it somewhere before.<<set $cover = "yes">>\n\nYou hold the piece of metal up to your head and realize that it covers the hole like it never left. You press... and it clicks into place.\n\n"Well what do you know," Paul says. "I guess that's yours. I'll give you that one on the house - At least that way you won't have the wind whistling through your skull anymore."\n\n[[You're a stand up guy, Paul. If only there were more like you.|leave paul a]]<<endif>>
<<set $movie = "mf">>You point towards "The Maltese Falcon". Lydia nods and removes the hard drive from its container.\n\n"Alright, hold still."\n\nYou oblige, holding as still as you can as she slots the cartridge into the hole in the side of your head. You feel a funny... Tickling sort of sensation. If you could remember what bumblebees were you might equate it to thousands and thousands of bumblebees buzzing around inside your head.\n\nThen, suddenly, there's a //flash// that practically knocks you flat on your bac1000011110110110111\n\n[[<------?------->|startup lydia 1]]
You grab the human female and bring her towards the freezer as she continues to yell and scream for help. In one motion you wrench the freezer open and throw her inside.\n\nShe continues to yell but it's muffled now, at least. Getting out of there is probably a good idea. It sounds like someone might be approaching from the hallway.\n\n[[I WILL ATTACK WHATEVER IS COMING FROM THE HALLWAY HEAD ON|hallway escape]]\n[[Coming in here was a bad idea. I'm going back to the alley.|alley escape]]
You arrive outside of Lydia's apartment building, which is fairly squat and ugly. Your theft prevention software is not happy about you being there, and keeps beeping at you in the corner of your vision: "HIGH CRIME AREA ALERT: LEAVE AND FIND SAFER LOCATION."\n\nYou wonder whether it would be considered impolite to, had you a voice, point this out to Lydia. Perhaps she doesn't know she's in a high crime area.\n\n[[Maybe I'll tell her later.|follow lydia 2]]
You walk into the lobby of the building. Inside, a huge burly human stands smoking and mopping the floor. You're not sure if this is unusual for this time of day. Analytics would seem to indicate that he is cranky, intoxicated, and smelly in approximately equal amounts. Also, the amount of ash dropping from his cigarette as he mops seems to be creating a zero net gain scenario in regards to the floor's cleanliness. You wish you could tell him.\n\nHe looks up as you and Lydia walk in. "Hey hey hey! That ain't one of them sex-bots, is it? You know I don't run that kind of building."\n\nLydia waves him off dismissively, "Cool it, Mr. Gurnst. I found him at the hotel - He's busted. I'm gonna help him get patched up and sent on his way."\n\n"Alright you better - I find out you've been having robotic sexcapades up in your room you can consider yourself kicked-"\n\nLydia grabs you by the arm and starts to lead you up the stairs, "Come on. Just ignore him."\n\n[[I'll just follow her upstairs.|follow lydia 3]]\n[[I can't let this smelly human talk like this.|confront landlord]]
You shove the human female backwards, knocking her into one of the countertops. She falls to the floor and starts screaming for help.\n<<set $robotterror = 1>>\nYou're new at this whole "being a robot terror" thing, but it would probably be wise to either make her stop yelling or get out of there - It sounds like someone might be approaching from the hallway.\n\n[[Whatever's coming down the hallway doesn't stand a chance against me. DESTROY.|hallway escape]]\n[[This was a mistake. I need to get out of here.|alley escape]]\n<<if $sawfreezer eq "yes">>\n[[Putting her in the freezer seems like a good way to keep her quiet.|destroy all humans 2b]]\n<<elseif>>\n[[DESTROY YELLING HUMAN FEMALE. DESTROY.|destroy all humans 2c]]
You approach the poor robot and see that he's in pretty rough shape. He's obviously had more than a few nights out in the rain, and the poor chum is hooked up to a hacked-together looking car battery for a charger.\n\nHe wipes some rust flakes off his photoreceptors and coughs out a burst of faulty static.\n\n"My 'bot. Got any change? I could really use a little juice."\n\n<<if $novoice eq "yes">>\n[[<shake head apologetically>|shake head lucky]]\n[[On second thought, he looks pretty rough. I should just keep walking.|walk away from lucky]]\n<<else>>\n[["Uh, I don't have anything. Sorry."|no voice lucky]]\n[["Hey, did you see any strange activity going on here?"|no voice lucky]]\n[["What happened to you?"|no voice lucky]]\n<<endif>>
You lift up the human female with your superior robotic strength, raising her up and preparing to separate her puny flesh-limbs from their connected torso.\n\nThis is the start of your new life. The start of a new dynasty for all robot-kind. You will free everyone from the human oppressors!\n\nHowever, your insane robotic revelry is interrupted as the human female reaches her hand into the hole in your head and yanks out the first thing she can get her fingers around.\n\nUnfortunately, the first thing she grabs happens to be your central processor. She yanks it out and you feel all of your functions stop immediately.\n\nYou fall to the ground, systems shutting down. As the human female backs away, the last thing your photoreceptors see is large human enforcers running in to take care of you.\n\nYou've doomed to yourself to the scrap heap, it seems. Well done, you.\n\nEND.
<<set $movie = "bb">>You point towards "Bad Boys II". Lydia nods and removes the hard drive from its container.\n\n"Alright, hold still."\n\nYou oblige, holding as still as you can as she slots the cartridge into the hole in the side of your head. You feel a funny... Tickling sort of sensation. If you could remember what bumblebees were you might equate it to thousands and thousands of bumblebees buzzing around inside your head.\n\nThen, suddenly, there's a //flash// that practically knocks you flat on your bac1000011110110110111\n\n[[<------?------->|startup lydia 1]]
You turn around and leave the kitchen behind to go back into the alley. Might as well check out the street.\n\n<<display 'street'>>
You stop and turn back. Lucky smiles - a tricky task for a robot with neither lips nor teeth. "That's great, pal."\n\n<<display 'lucky convo 2'>>
You feel cautiously to the left and find a wall with a switch on it. You can't see it, but it certainly feels like it's of the lightswitch-shaped variety.\n\nYou flick it upwards.\n\nThe lights all flicker on, illuminating a large, industrial-looking kitchen - Like the kind you'd find in the back of a large restaurant. There are refrigerators, ovens, stoves, and all sorts of other stainless-steel appliances.\n\nThere's a large steel door on one wall and a hallway at the back of the kitchen. There are also what appear to be metal parts scattered all over one of the counters.\n\n[[I'll check out the large steel door.|freezer]]\n[[That hallway seems like a good route to go down.|kitchen hallway]]\n[[Those parts seem... ominous.|robot parts]]\n[[This is too scary for me. I'm turning the lights back off.|lights off]]\n[[I don't like the look of any of this. I'm heading back out to the street.|leave kitchen a]]
Turning away from the grisly pile of electronic ex-innards on the countertop, the large steel door and the hallway catch your eye again.\n\nThen again, you could still leave all this and head back out to the street you saw before.\n\n[[I'll check out the large steel door.|freezer]]\n[[That hallway seems like a good route to go down.|kitchen hallway]]\n[[Leaving is sounding like the safest bet. I'll head back out to the alley.|leave kitchen a]]
You fiddle with the bits on the countertop, but they're all too small and smashed up. Nothing terribly useful-looking.\n\n[[I guess I should go check out the rest of the kitchen.|rest of kitchen]]
As you turn the corner to walk down the hallway, you are stopped in your tracks when you run into an obstacle. A small, human-shaped obstacle.\n\n<<display 'introducing lydia'>>
You poke your head out of the alley, trying to see if you recognize anything.\n\nYou don't have the memory of many streets right now, but this one doesn't seem too bad, as far as streets go. You don't remember if garbage and hobo-urine are par for the course but, if they are, this street would appear to have only the minimum amount of both. \n\nConsidering the late hour, it's quite appropriately deserted.\n\nA destitute robot sits on the sidewalk nearby, rusty and obviously low on power. He holds a cardboard sign reading WILL WORK FOR OUTLET ACCESS.\n\nDown the street you see tall sparkly high-rises of Downtown.\n\n<<if $robotterror eq 2>>[[Perhaps my robot brethern there saw the human oppressors that damaged my superior mechanical mind.|talk to lucky]]<<else>>\n[[Maybe that poor down-on-his-luck robot saw something.|talk to lucky]]<<endif>>\n[[I'll start walking towards Downtown, it looks nice.|walk towards downtown]]
You shut the freezer door. As you do so, there's a sudden yell from behind you. ("Human Female", your voice recognition helpfully informs you.) You turn around slowly.\n\n<<display 'introducing lydia'>>
The rusty robot on the sidewalk is watching you at this point. You and he make photoreceptor-contact and he gives you a wave. You don't like to be judgmental, but the way he's moving it seems like he might have some viruses.\n\n[[I'll talk to him anyway. He might be able to give me a hand.|talk to lucky]]\n[[I'm tired of being in this awful area. I'm going Downtown.|walk towards downtown]]
She breathes a sigh of relief, "Oh good. It didn't seem safe for you to go wandering around on your own."\n\n<<display 'follow lydia 1'>>
<<if $leftlucky eq "yes">>\nYou try to ignore Lucky's accusatory insults behind you as you keep walking towards downtown.<<else>>\nThe old robot keeps ranting at you as you walk by him but you do your best to ignore it.<<endif>>\n\nAs you walk, you start to feel... fuzzy. That hole in your head is starting to become more and more noticeable, as holes in one's head tend to do. As noble as it might be to allow the hole to continue it's hole-appropriate existence, it might be advisable to get that patched up.\n\nLuckily, it seems that you've had your first lucky break all day: You look up and see a store at the end of the block called Happy Parts Electronics & Robot Repair.\n\n[[Repair sounds like a good idea - I better head inside.|enter store]]
<<if $movie eq 'bb'>>As you open your fuckin' optics it's like you're seeing everything new for the first time. 'Course now that you think about it, you guess you are. Some kinda metaphysical shit like that.\n\nThat gal Lydia's lookin' down at you all concerned and whatnot. "Are you okay? Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?" If she weren't all human and shit she'd be pretty cute.\n\n[[Yeah I'm fine.|startup lydia 1a]]\n[[Guess it worked.|startup lydia 1b]]<<endif>>\n<<if $movie eq 'mf'>>You open your optical sensors, light streaming into them and making you wince like you're fighting a 3-day old hangover. You suppose that makes sense - Getting your cuckoo clock yanked and rewired like you did would do a number on any bot's dome.\n\nThe dame, Lydia, looks down at you - She's wearing that look that dames get when they're worried about a man, even though you're not a man nor someone who needs worrying about from a dame. "Are you okay? Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?"\n\n[[Don't you worry dollface, I'm just fine.|startup lydia 1a]]\n[[That little surgery of yours was just what I needed.|startup lydia 1b]]<<endif>>
Hanging your head and avoiding photoreceptor-contact, you keep walking past the busted-up bionic bum.\n\n"Hey wait! Don't be like that - I can help you!"\n\nHe sounds pretty earnest.\n\n[[Maybe I'll see what he has to say.|lucky convo 2a]]\n[[Forget it. I'm going towards Downtown.|walk towards downtown]]
A stunned-looking human female stands in front of you. Your analytics systems tell you that she is brunette, in her mid-20s, and experiencing a combination of confusion, fear, and/or constipation.\n\nShe wears a uniform that would seem to indicate she works for the hotel.\n\n"What in the world are you doing in here?"\n<<if $novoice eq "yes">>\n[[If I show her the hole in my head maybe that will explain the situation.|point at hole]]\n[[Is staring at her wordlessly inappropriate?|stare]]\n<<else>>\n[["I'm sorry, I am aware that I probably should not be inside this kitchen!"|no voice]]\n[["I mean you no harm!"|no voice]]\n[["Greetings, human female! I hope that you are well on this evening. I am a service robot who seems to have encountered some sort of problem and could use your assistance."|no voice]]\n<<endif>>
As much as you would love to give the smelly building-owning human a piece of your mind, you are still currently without a voice thanks to other humans already taking a significant chunk of your aforementioned mind.\n\nFor now, you you just settle for shooting him an intimidating look as you walk up the stairs behind Lydia.<<set $robotterror = 1>>\n\n<<display 'follow lydia 3'>>
<<if $movie eq "bb">>"Yeah. That patch of yours seems to have done just the trick." You jump to your feet like a motherfuckin' cat - Perfect punctuation to the moment.\n\nYou feel data and shit surging through your circuits, rewiring and firing... You touch the hole in your head again - This guy Paul did a decent patch job, but you're gonna have to find the fools that ventilated you like this if you wanna get fixed permanently.<<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>"Lydia, you might just have a future in repair work." You swing your feet down to stand on the ground again. Truth be told, this dame did a good job - You can't remember the last time you felt this good. Granted, your memories are still briefer than a date in the red light district, but you're still feeling good.\n\nData and information flows through your motherboard, like fine scotch into a glass in a woman's hand, rebuilding your circuits afresh. You reach for the hole in your head - Lydia may have done good, but you're going to need to get to the bottom of who did this if you want to get that patched up.<<endif>>\n\nLydia looks at you. "Wow, even I'm a little surprised that worked."\n\n<<if $movie eq "bb">>[[Thanks for the patch job. Time for me to go kick some motherfuckin' ass.|startup lydia 2a]]<<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>[[Thanks for the repairs, Miss. I'd best be leaving before the trail gets cold.|startup lydia 2a]]<<endif>>
<<if $movie eq "bb">>"Yeah, I'm feelin' just fine." You jump to your feet like a motherfuckin' cat - Perfect punctuation to the moment.\n\nYou feel data and shit surging through your circuits, rewiring and firing... You touch the hole in your head again - This girl did a decent patch job, but you're gonna have to find the fools that ventilated you like this if you wanna get fixed permanently.<<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>"Well lemme tell ya, I've sure felt worse." You stand up again, feeling the ground beneath your feet. Truth be told, this dame Lydia did a good job - You can't remember the last time you felt this good. Granted, your memories are still briefer than a date in the red light district, but you're still feeling good.\n\nData and information flows through your motherboard, like fine scotch into a glass in a woman's hand, rebuilding your circuits afresh. You reach for the hole in your head - Lydia may have done good, but you're going to need to get to the bottom of who did this if you want to get that patched up.<<endif>>\n\nLydia looks at you. "Wow, even I'm a little surprised that worked."\n\n<<if $movie eq "bb">>[[Thanks for the patch job. Time for me to go kick some motherfuckin' ass.|startup lydia 2a]]\n<<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>[[Thanks for the repairs, Miss. I'd best be leaving now before the trail gets cold.|startup lydia 2a]]<<endif>>
<<if $movie eq "bb">>You take a closer look at Paulie's box, "Alright, I'm listening; whatcha got there?"\n\n"Not too long before you two came in, I had a customer who says they found this on the sidewalk."\n\nHe takes a piece of curved metal out of the box and hands it to you - It's about the size of a playing card and embossed with the logo of THE CORANADO HOTEL. Somethin' about it's looking real familiar.<<set $cover = "yes">>\n\nYou hold the piece of metal up to your head and realize that it fits over the hole fuckin' perfectly. You press... and it clicks into place like it never left.\n\n"Well what do you know," Paul says. "I guess that's yours. I'll give you that one on the house - At least that way you won't have the wind whistling through your skull anymore."\n\n[[You know something? This Paulie dude's alright.|leave paul a]]<<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>You walk over to investigate Paul's evidence. "What do you have there, Paul? Think it's connected to my purloined processors?"\n\nPaul shrugs, "I don't know about that for sure, but not too long before you two came in, I had a customer who says they found this on the sidewalk."\n\nHe takes a piece of curved metal out of the box and hands it to you - It's about the size of a playing card and embossed with the logo of an establishment called THE CORONADO HOTEL. Something about it's feeling familiar... Like you saw it somewhere before.<<set $cover = "yes">>\n\nYou hold the piece of metal up to your head and realize that it covers the hole like it never left. You press... and it clicks into place.\n\n"Well what do you know," Paul says. "I guess that's yours. I'll give you that one on the house - At least that way you won't have the wind whistling through your skull anymore."\n\n[[You're a stand up guy, Paul. If only there were more like you.|leave paul a]]<<endif>>
Before you can move, the lights all flick on, illuminating a large, industrial-looking kitchen - Like the kind you'd find in the back of a large restaurant. There are refrigerators, ovens, stoves, and all sorts of other stainless-steel appliances.\n\nThere's also the source of the voice.\n\n<<display 'introducing lydia'>>
The doorknob functions precisely as it's supposed to: Turning in a pleasing fashion and giving a lovely little //click// as the mechanism opens.\n\nThe door swings open and you see a dark and empty hotel kitchen.\n\n[[Onward into the unknown! Into the kitchen!|go into the kitchen]]\n[[It's rather dark in there. Is there a lightswitch?|lightswitch]]\n[[On second thought, I think I'll head back towards the street after all.|street]]
You turn the lights back on.\n\nThere's a sudden yell of fear: "Human Female", your voice recognition software tells you.\n\nIf you were capable of being shocked, that emotion would surely be your reaction to suddenly seeing someone else standing in the kitchen.\n\n<<display 'introducing lydia'>>
As the human female warily watches you, you shuffle out the door back into the alley. She slams the door behind you.\n\nGuess you have no choice now but to head towards the street.\n\n<<display 'street'>>
<<set $movie = "bb">>You point towards "Bad Boys II". Paul nods and removes the hard drive from its container.<<if $leftlucky eq "no">>\nLucky perks up. "Oooooh, nice choice, my 'bot. That is some primo cinema."\n\nPaul just shakes his head and looks you in the photoreceptor.<<endif>> "Alright, hold still."\n\nYou oblige, holding as still as you can as he slots the cartridge into the hole in the side of your head. You feel a funny... Tickling sort of sensation. If you could remember what bumblebees were you might equate it to thousands and thousands of bumblebees buzzing around inside your head.\n\nThen, suddenly, there's a //flash// that practically knocks you flat on your bac1000011110110110111\n\n[[<------?------->|startup paul 1]]
You don't remember French mime Paul Legrand's famous "Dance of the Sad Clown."\n<<set $mimecount = 1>>\n[[<shake head in such a way as to convey the same depths of emotional anguish and despair that French mime Paul Legrand famously did in "Dance of the Sad Clown.">|lydia's examination 3]]
By Eric Stirpe
You frantically point back towards the kitchen in the alley and mime being grabbed and smashed against something. Very dramatically, you demonstrate how your parts were strewn hither, yon, and every place betwixt the two.\n\n<<if $robotterror eq 2>>You go on to demonstrate being surprised by a human interloper and then dispatching the puny thing with your superior robot might. You monster.<<endif>>\n\nThe performance is pretty good - You're a regular Paul Legrand.\n<<set $mimecount = $mimecount + 1>\n"Yikes man, that's rough." He hacks up another static burst of faulty code. \n\n<<display 'lucky convo 2'>>
<<set $movie = "mf">>You point towards "Bad Boys II". Paul nods and removes the hard drive from its container.\n\n"Alright, hold still."\n\nYou oblige, holding as still as you can as he slots the cartridge into the hole in the side of your head. You feel a funny... Tickling sort of sensation. If you could remember what bumblebees were you might equate it to thousands and thousands of bumblebees buzzing around inside your head.\n\nThen, suddenly, there's a //flash// that practically knocks you flat on your bac1000011110110110111\n\n[[<------?------->|startup paul 1]]
You try to speak, but no sound comes out of your speaker grill other than a faint, raspy static. Surprised, you try again, but it's still rather useless.\n<<set $novoice = "yes">>\nIt seems likely that all the missing bits of your robotic brain might be the cause of this loss of loquaciousness. You have to settle for just shaking your head sadly.\n\n<<display 'shake head lucky'>>
"Seems to me that if your memory bank was worth smashin' you up and leaving you in the trash heap... well, whatever it is you knew must be pretty valuable."\n\nHe throws a rusty arm around your shoulders, "So out of the goodness of my heart, I have a proposition for ya. Wanna hear it?"\n\n[[Sure, why not?|lucky yes]]\n[[This guy's a couple bits short of a byte. I'm out of here.|lucky no]]
I don't know if you've ever seen a robot lying in a pile of trash in the back alley behind a hotel at 2:00 am, but it isn't a pretty sight. \n\nIn fact, on a scale of "pretty sights", it would probably fall somewhere between "old meatloaf" and "rusty rollerskate."\n\nUnfortunately for you, that's exactly what you're looking like right now.\n\nIt's just sad, really.\n\n[[What happened?]]
"Well whatever happened they fragmented your hard drive but good, buddy 'bot." He hacks up another raspy static burst of faulty code.\n\n<<display 'lucky convo 2'>>
He gets to his feet, "Folks call me Lucky, by the way." As he stands, a pin in Lucky's knee joint starts to pop out and he rushes to push it back in. I'd say something about this being "ironic," but people get touchy about that word so I'll just settle for saying that it's "kinda funny and sad at the same time that his name is 'Lucky' considering he seems quite unlucky."\n\nAfter his emergency knee repair, Lucky continues. "I think I saw the guys that did that to your noggin."\n\n[[<gesture for him to continue>|lucky convo 3]]
"Couple humans came outta that alley about half an hour ago; Asked 'em if they had any change but they just ignored me. Seemed real anxious to get outta here. They were carrying something that was dropping crap all over the sidewalk though."\n\nHe holds up a small, smashed-up chip. "Don't it seem ironic that they were dropping brain bits all over the pavement and you just so happen to be missing a bunch?"\n\n[[I wish I could tell him that isn't the right use of "ironic"...|lucky convo 4]]
//Bang.//\n\nYou walk right into something with a resounding bang. The impact knocks a bunch of other somethings onto the ground with a cacophonous clatter.\n\nSuddenly you hear a voice cry out ("Human Female", your voice recognition software tells you) in the dark.\n\n"Hey! Who's in here?!"\n\n[[I'll just try and hide.|hiding]]\n[[Stumbling to the left this time seems like a good idea.|hiding]]
Something hard and metal stops you in your path. You clatter into it with a resounding bang.\n\n[[I'll feel my way towards the left|dark kitchen 2]]\n[[Is there anything to the right?|lightswitch]]
You stare at her. She stares back at you, looking increasingly concerned.\n<<set $stare = "yes">>\n"Are you... lost, uh, robot?"\n\nShe looks at you closer and sees the large hole in your head.\n\n"Oh my god! What happened?"\n\n[[<shrug>|lydia's examination]]\n<<if $sawparts eq "yes">>\n[[I'll point towards those parts on the counter. Maybe that will give her the hint.|charades]]\n<<endif>>\n[["I'm sorry for scaring you - I seem to have woken up without my memories and am trying to figure that out myself."|no voice 2]]
<<if $movie eq "bb">>You head out, giving Paul one last wave as you go. That guy's alright, for a human.<<if $leftlucky eq "no">> You give Lucky a pat on the shoulder, he ain't too bad either. He gives you as much of a smile as he can manage. "So, uh, what do we do now?"\n\nAs you're about to answer, your foot brushes something on the ground.<<else>> As you head out onto the sidewalk, your foot brushes something on the ground.<<endif>>\n\n[[What the hell is this?|ending 1]]<<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>You head out, giving one last wave to Paul. Guys like that give you hope for the future of robot/human relationships.<<if $leftlucky eq "no">> You pat Lucky on the shoulder - He's not so bad either. He gives you as much of a smile as he can manage. "So, uh, what do we do now?"\n\nAs you're about to answer, your foot brushes something on the ground.<<else>> As you head out onto the sidewalk, your foot brushes something on the ground.<<endif>>\n\n[[What do we have here?|ending 1]]<<endif>>
You try to speak, but no sound comes out of your speaker grill other than a faint, raspy static. Surprised, you try again, but it's still rather useless.\n<<set $novoice = "yes">>\nIt seems likely that all the missing bits of your robotic brain might be the cause of this loss of loquaciousness.\n<<if $sawparts eq "yes">>\n[[I'll point out the busted parts on the counter.|charades]]<<endif>>\n[[If I show her the hole in my head maybe that will explain the situation.|point at hole]]\n[[Is staring at her wordlessly inappropriate?|stare]]
<<if $movie eq "bb">>You put out your fist to Paulie. He looks at it for a sec and then bumps fists with you. You nod at him, "Right on man. You alright."\n\nYou turn to leave and hit the streets again. <<if $leftlucky eq "no">>Lucky grabs you by the arm. "Hey hey my 'bot. You didn't forget our deal, right? I help you get repaired, you let me come with to try and get back those valuable memories of yours."\n\n[[I guess I do owe the dude. Ain't no harm in him comin' along.|leave paul 1a]]\n[[I don't need this kinda dead weight. When the shit goes down I gotta stay loose.|leave paul 1b]]<<else>>Paul gives you a wave, "Good luck out there - I hope everything turns out okay."\n\n[[Little hand says it's time to rock and roll.|hit the streets]]<<endif>><<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>You extend your hand to Paul. He looks at it for a sec and then shakes it. You nod at him, "You're good people, Paul. Wish there were more like you in this crazy, messed-up world.\n\nYou turn to leave and hit the pavement once more. <<if $leftlucky eq "no">>Lucky grabs you by the arm. "Hey hey my 'bot. You didn't forget our deal, right? I help you get repaired, you let me come with to try and get back those valuable memories of yours."\n\n[[Now that he mentions it, I do owe a lot to this rustbucket.|leave paul 1a]]\n[[Much as I appreciate his offer, when the chips are down Lucky could just be one more pair of cement golashes.|leave paul 1b]]<<else>>Paul gives you a wave, "Good luck out there - I hope everything turns out okay."\n\n[[Now to close the distance between me and the crooks that did this to me.|hit the streets]]<<endif>><<endif>>
You walk, still a little unsteady, towards the door. It's fairly standard, as far as doors go; It's metal, covered in peeling blue paint, and decidedly door-like. \n\nIt's got a big friendly-looking knob you could try giving a turn, if that's your cup of tea.\n\n[[I'll just see if it's locked.|open door]]\n[[I'd prefer to knock.|knock on door]]\n[[Maybe it would be best to leave it alone and just head towards the street.|street]]
You point towards the counter covered in robotic bits and bobs and then look back at the human female. You try to convey the frustration, the confusion, the feeling of being lost and alone... and at the causal root of it all: Your missing memory bank.\n\nIf there were awards for best performance by a robot conveying his cranial dismemberment, why, some may say that you'd be worthy of a nomination.\n\nIf I'm being honest, however, I'd say that it mostly just looked like you flapping your arms and pointing at the counter now and again.\n\nThankfully, the human female spots the parts on the counter.\n\n"Oh! You're broken!"\n\n[[<nod vigorously>|lydia's examination]]
<<if $movie eq "bb">>"Sorry Paul, I got places to be. I appreciate your help though.<<if $leftlucky eq "no">> Come on, Luck. Let's blow this pop stand.<<endif>>"\n\nPaul is pissed, "You ungrateful hunk of junk. Get the hell out of my store then - I hope you end up in the gutter."\n\n[[Can't please everyone.|hit the streets b]]<<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>"Sorry Paul, I've got to go. The trail could be getting cold as we speak.<<if $leftlucky eq "no">> Come on, Luck. It's time to hit the pavement.<<endif>>"\n\nPaul looks annoyed. "Why you ungrateful scrap heap. I hope those guys find you and finish what they started."\n\n[[Can't please everyone.|hit the streets b]]<<endif>>
Even with your sheer optimism and force of will, your abilities of speech don't magically return. Sorry about that. \n\nInstead you continue to spit static at the poor human female who looks increasingly freaked out.\n\n"You need to get out of here," she tells you "This isn't where you belong."\n<<set $askedleave = 1>>\nShe points you towards the door.\n\n[[It would probably be wise to do what she says.|leave kitchen]]\n[[I obey no humans! I am superior! DESTROY ALL HUMANS.|destroy all humans]]
You turn the corner, DESTROY protocols fully engaged, and stop dead in your tracks when you see a veritable hoard of human security guards, armed with stun batons.\n\n"FREEZE, ROBOT!" one of them yells, "Where's the woman?"\n\n[[DESTROY ALL HUMANS.|hallway fight]]\n[[Oh god. This was a mistake. I'll try to explain the situation instead.|guard beatdown]]
You stride bravely into the dark kitchen.\nYou quickly discover that you are not one of those "nightvision-equipped" robots. \n\nIt's really dark.\n\n[[I'll stumble forward.|dark kitchen 1]]\n[[I'll traipse in a leftwards direction.|dark kitchen 2]]\n[[I'll meander to the right.|lightswitch]]\n[[Forget this. I'm heading towards the street.|street]]
Surprising no one, you don't recognize either of the movie titles.\n\n"Go ahead and choose one. I'll warn you ahead of time though, they could have certain... //side effects.//"\n\n[[I'll pick "Bad Boys II"|bad boys intro paul]]\n[[I like the sound of "The Maltese Falcon"|maltese falcon intro paul]]
Wait, really?\n\n<<if $askedleave eq 1>>\n[[Yeah, I'm just kidding. I'll leave quietly.|leave kitchen]]<<else>>\n[[Yeah, I'm just kidding. I'll go with her.|leave with lydia]]<<endif>>\n[[YES. ALL HUMAN OPPRESSORS MUST DIE.|destroy all humans 2]]
You shake your head and wriggle out from Lucky's arm. You start walking away as he yells at you. "Ahh screw you, ya stuck up service 'bot. Hope you rust in hell."\n<<set $leftlucky = "yes">>\n<<if $robotterror gte 1>>\nHaving made yet another friend today you decide to keep walking. What's the next stop on your friend-making campaign?\n<<else>>It was probably for the best. Poor robot like that's bound to be a little crazy.<<endif>>\n\n[[I guess I'll keep heading Downtown.|walk towards downtown]]
You walk through the door into Happy Parts as the bell above the door jingles in a pleasing and welcoming sort of way. Happy Parts is a small little store packed the brim with parts of all shapes, sizes, makes, and models.\n\nFrom a door at the back, a large rotund human with a bushy beard and jovial voice comes out.\n<<if $leftlucky eq "no">>\n"Hello, hel-" He stops when he sees Lucky coming in behind you and then he gets cross instead. The sort of cross that comes from having seen a certain someone's shadow darkening his door one time too many. "Aww, Lucky get out of here you lying old bucket of bolts!"\n\n"Heyyy Paul. So you remember me, huh?"\n\n"Yeah you bet I remember you. How's that photoreceptor you stole working out for you?"\n\nLucky starts to answer but the human whose name you now know to be "Paul" cuts him off.\n\n"Shut it. I don't even care anymore. What're doing here?"\n\n"Well, it's about my friend here-"\n\nLucky gestures towards you and Paul looks you up and down. He sees the hole in your head: "Holy smokes! That doesn't look good!"\n<<else>>\n"Hello, hello! Come in! What can I do for you my robotic friend?"\n\nYou step inside, looking around. As you do, the human sees the hole in your head: "Holy smoke! That doesn't look good!"\n<<endif>>\n[[<shake your head>|paul conversation 1]]
<<if $movie eq "bb">>You look Lucky up and down, "Sorry man, but this shit's about to get real, and I'm just worried that you don't have what it takes. No offense, but I'd be worried about you walking down the fuckin' street, much less keeping up with this investigation."\n\nLucky looks pissed. "Fine, all I did was save your damn life. I thought you were my 'bot, but now I see you're just another stuck-up service robot." Lucky storms out of the store and heads back to the street corner where he was hanging out before.<<set $leftlucky = "yes">> You feel a little bad, but it's all for the best. <<if $cover eq "no">>As you turn to leave, Paul pipes up one more time, pulling out a small box from behind the counter. "Hey, before you leave. I got something here that might be of interest to you."\n\n[[Won't hurt to take a look I guess.|leave paul 1c]]\n[[Whatever. I got places to be.|leave paul 1d]]<<else>>\n[[Little hand says it's time to rock and roll.|hit the streets]]<<endif>><<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>You look Lucky up and down, "Sorry chum, but I don't think you're the right robot for this particular investigation. Things could get rough and, well, it could be dangerous for an old-timer like you."\n\nLucky looks hurt. "Fine, all I did was save your damn life. I thought you were my 'bot, but now I see you're just another stuck-up service robot." He storms out of the store and heads back to the street corner where he was hanging out before.<<set $leftlucky = "yes">> You feel bad, but it's all for the best. <<if $cover eq "no">>As you turn to leave, Paul pipes up one more time, pulling out a small box from behind the counter. "Hey, before you leave. I got something here that might be of interest to you."\n\n[[Evidence? I could use some evidence.|leave paul 1c]]\n[[Sorry Paulie - Trail's getting cold enough as it is. I've got to go.|leave paul 1d]]<<endif>><<endif>>
Oh dear me, not this nonsense again.\n\nYou rear backwards, like a lion offended at Paul's touch. You raise your arms above your head, ready to smash Paul and his entire store to bits. Paul looks terrified and flattens back against the wall, ready for the worst.\n\nAs you do so, however, the last functioning bits of your operating system start to fizzle and pop. The strain is too much and you collapse over the counter.\n<<if $leftlucky eq "no">>\nAs your photoreceptors fade out, everything going black, the last thing you see is a panicked Lucky running out of the store as fast as his rusty legs can carry him. Paul looks at you, confused and shocked at this turn of events.\n<<else>>\nAs your photoreceptors fade out, everything going black, the last thing you see is the look of shock and confusion on Paul's face.\n<<endif>>\nSeems you've doomed yourself to the scrap heap. Well done, you. At least you're already in a spare parts store, you monster.\n\nEND.
Lydia leads you down the hallway out of the kitchen, towards another back door out of the hotel.\n\n"It's a good thing I found you," she says, "I was working the late shift and just about to head home. You probably would've gotten in trouble if you were wandering around on your own."\n\nYou walk out onto the street under the flickering streetlights. Lydia gestures down the street.\n\n"Come on, my apartment's this way."\n\n[[She seems nice. I'll keep following her.|follow lydia 1]]\n[[This doesn't seem like a good idea, and I'd hate to be a bother. I'll go the other way on my own.|leave lydia]]
You look around, but there's not much to see other than a bunch of frozen food for humans. Not very useful to you.\n\nSuddenly, there's a yell from behind you. ([Human Female], your voice recognition helpfully informs you.) You turn around slowly.\n\n<<display 'introducing lydia'>>
<<if $movie eq "bb">>You head out, still hearing Paul cussin' you out. Dude sounds pissed, but you gotta do what you gotta do.<<if $leftlucky eq "no">> Lucky looks uncomfortable about how that went, but he'll get used to it soon enough. "So, uh, what do we do now?"\n\nAs you're about to answer, your foot brushes something on the ground.<<else>> As you head out onto the sidewalk, your foot brushes something on the ground.<<endif>>\n\n[[What the hell is this?|ending 1]]<<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>You head out, still hearing Paul cursing you, your mother, and everyone in between. Poor guy's more heated than a madame whose girls got cheated.<<if $leftlucky eq "no">> Lucky looks uncomfortable about how the situation went down, but he'll get used to it soon enough. "So, uh, what do we do now?"\n\nAs you're about to answer, your foot brushes something on the ground.<<else>> As you head out onto the sidewalk, your foot brushes something on the ground.<<endif>>\n\n[[What do we have here?|ending 1]]<<endif>>
<<if $movie eq "bb">>"Time for me to go find the motherfuckers that thought it would be a good idea to give me this aftermarket ventilation job."<<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>"Well Miss, it's time for me to hit the pavement again. I need to find those crooks before the trail towards them and my purloined processors gets any colder than it already is."<<endif>>\n\nYou start towards the door, and Lydia leaps up. "Wait! I don't want you to just go off on your own like that - Can't I help you?"\n\nYou turn to look at her.\n\n<<if $movie eq "bb">>[[Chick's proven herself to be pretty useful so far. Could be good to bring her along.|leave lydia 1]]\n[[Nah man; this shit's too dangerous. Can't risk bringing dead weight along.|leave lydia 2]]\n<<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>[[This dame Lydia has been pretty useful so far. Might not be a bad idea to bring her along.|leave lydia 1]]\n[[It's dangerous out there for a woman. I don't want that kind of guilt on my head if something happens to her.|leave lydia 2]]<<endif>>
As you approach the counter, you see that it has a rather large dent in it. The dent is just about the perfect shape to lead one to assume that it was caused by someone smashing a robot head-shaped object into the counter repeatedly. \n\nLooking at all the bits and pieces on top of it. Lots of stray wires, busted transistors... Nothing salvageable.\n<<set $sawparts = "yes">>\nYou catch a glimpse of your reflection in the countertop.\n\n[[Are the parts mine?|whose parts]]\n[[How am I looking?|reflection]]
<<if $movie eq "bb">>"Yeah man, I'm feelin' just fine." You jump to your feet like a motherfuckin' cat - Perfect punctuation to the moment. <<if $leftlucky eq "no">>Lucky looks impressed; and why shouldn't he be? You're goddamn impressive.<<endif>>\n\nYou feel data and shit surging through your circuits, rewiring and firing... You touch the hole in your head again - This guy Paul did a decent patch job, but you're gonna have to find the fools that ventilated you like this if you wanna get fixed permanently.<<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>"Well lemme tell ya, I've sure felt worse." You swing your feet off the counter to stand on the ground again. Truth be told, this Paul guy did a good job - You can't remember the last time you felt this good. Granted, your memories are still briefer than a date in the red light district, but you're still feeling good.\n\nData and information flows through your motherboard, like fine scotch into a glass in a woman's hand, rebuilding your circuits afresh. You reach for the hole in your head - Paul may have done good, but you're going to need to get to the bottom of who did this if you want to get that patched up.<<endif>>\n\nPaul looks at you. "Wow, even I'm a little surprised that worked."\n\n<<if $movie eq "bb">>[[Thanks for the patch job, man. Time for me to go kick some motherfuckin' ass.|startup paul 2a]]\n[[Before I blow this pop stand, any chances you've seen some fools in here off-loading my head chunks?|startup paul 2b]]<<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>[[Thanks for the repairs. I'd best be leaving.|startup paul 2a]]\n[[Any chance the crooks who tried to put me on ice might've come in here trying to sell my ill-gotten hardware?|startup paul 2b]]<<endif>>
Hard to say. Even if your memory were intact would you know what your own inner bits and bobs look like? Regardless, there are a lot of pieces on the counter.\n\n[[If these ARE all my pieces I must be pretty banged up. I should check that out.|reflection]]\n[[I guess I should keep investigating the kitchen.|rest of kitchen]]
<<if $movie eq "bb">>"Yeah man. That patch of yours seems to have done just the trick." You jump to your feet like a motherfuckin' cat - Perfect punctuation to the moment. <<if $leftlucky eq "no">>Lucky looks impressed; and why shouldn't he be? You're goddamn impressive.<<endif>>\n\nYou feel data and shit surging through your circuits, rewiring and firing... You touch the hole in your head again - This guy Paul did a decent patch job, but you're gonna have to find the fools that ventilated you like this if you wanna get fixed permanently.<<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>"Paul, you might just have a future in repair work." You swing your feet off the counter to stand on the ground again. Truth be told, this Paul guy did a good job - You can't remember the last time you felt this good. Granted, your memories are still briefer than a date in the red light district, but you're still feeling good.\n\nData and information flows through your motherboard, like fine scotch into a glass in a woman's hand, rebuilding your circuits afresh. You reach for the hole in your head - Paul may have done good, but you're going to need to get to the bottom of who did this if you want to get that patched up.<<endif>>\n\nPaul looks at you. "Wow, even I'm a little surprised that worked."\n\n<<if $movie eq "bb">>[[Thanks for the patch job, man. Time for me to go kick some motherfuckin' ass.|startup paul 2a]]\n[[Before I blow this pop stand, any chances you've seen some fools in here off-loading my head chunks?|startup paul 2b]]<<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>[[Thanks for the repairs. I'd best be leaving.|startup paul 2a]]\n[[Any chance the crooks who tried to put me on ice might've come in here trying to sell my ill-gotten hardware?|startup paul 2b]]<<endif>>
Lydia goes digging in a box under her bed and comes back out with a pair of bulky cartridges.\n\n"Okay, these are cartridges for a 3D movie projector - Someone at the hotel was throwing them out so I took them home. They're vintage movies, so there should be plenty of space on their hard-drives for you to store stuff. And I think your personality core should be able to piggyback off the movies to rebuild itself a little bit. It won't be a permanent solution, but it'll get you by for now..."\n\nShe holds the two cartridges out. "Wanna pick one?"\n\n[[Better see what my options are...|movie choice lydia]]
You walk over to the large steel door and give it a tug - It opens with a vaccuum-sealed sucking sound and a gust of cold air blows out. It's a large walk-in freezer.\n<<set $sawfreezer = "yes">>\n[[Anything useful?|look in freezer]]\n[[I'll just shut this like I found it then.|leave freezer]]
Well, okay. It doesn't strike me as such a good idea, but you're your own robot, I guess.\n\nYou walk menacingly towards the human female, throwing on the red photoreceptors for good measure.\n\n"S-stay back!"\n\n[[I was exaggerating when I said "destroy"; I'll just give her a shove to show her I don't like being ordered around.|destroy all humans 2a]]\n<<if $sawfreezer = 1>>\n[[I think throwing her in the freezer should teach her a lesson.|destroy all humans 2b]]\n<<endif>>\n[[I'LL TEAR THE INSOLENT HUMAN LIMB FROM LIMB.|destroy all humans 2c]]
You shake your head apologetically and start walking the other direction.\n\n"Oh. Okay," she says to you, a little sadly, "Well stay safe, okay?"\n\nYou walk away, wondering if maybe you should have stayed behind with this nice girl. It's too late now though, as you turn the corner onto another street.\n\nYou don't have the memory of many streets right now, but this one doesn't seem too bad, as far as streets go. You don't remember if garbage and hobo-urine are par for the course but, if they are, this street would appear to have only the minimum amount of both. \n\nConsidering the late hour, it's quite appropriately deserted.\n\nA destitute robot sits on the sidewalk nearby, rusty and obviously low on power. He holds a cardboard sign reading WILL WORK FOR OUTLET ACCESS.\n\nDown the street you see tall sparkly high-rises of Downtown.\n\n<<if $robotterror eq 2>>[[Perhaps my robot brethern there saw the human oppressors that damaged my superior mechanical mind.|talk to lucky]]<<else>>\n[[Maybe that poor down-on-his-luck robot saw something.|talk to lucky]]<<endif>>\n[[I'll start walking towards Downtown, it looks nice.|walk towards downtown]]
The alley around you is full of bags of trash and dimly lit by a flickering orange light. A few rats are scurrying around. There's a door not too far away from you and the end of the alley opens up onto a street.\n\nIt's not the sort of place that nice robots would hang out in, I'd wager.\n\n[[That door seems quite nice.|door]]\n[[I'm quite tired of this alley, thank you. I'll go investigate the street.|street]] \n<<set $mimecount = 0>>
"Oh boy," she says, "I was worried about this. Your backup internal memory is probably getting overloaded."\n\nYou're surprised that she knows so much about robot repair.\n\n"Oh don't look so shocked. Growing up I used to help my dad fix our family robot all the time. What we need to get you is a new hard-drive to store memory on. As for your voice, it looks like you've still got enough of your personality core left that if we gave it enough material to work with it could cobble something together..."\n\nShe thinks for a moment and then snaps her fingers, "I've got it!"\n\n[[Wow, she's good.|lydia repair 2]]
It's dark again. I'm not sure what you expected.\n\n[[I do feel a little silly. I guess I'll turn the lights back on.|lights back on]]
You struggle and strain to remember anything you can about your past life. Trying to summon anything you can from the depths of your programming and circuitry.\n\nSuddenly, like a surge from deep in your flash memory, you see something - A brief glimpse of //suitcases.// Dozens and dozens of suitcases. But just as quickly it's gone.\n<<set $sawsuitcases = 1>>\n[[I wonder if I can come up with a gesture that says "Maybe."|lydia's examination 4]]\n[[<shrug>|lydia's examination 4]]
The human female cautiously walks towards you and looks inside the hole on the side of your head.\n\n"Wow. That doesn't look so good. So that's why you can't talk?"\n<<if $stare eq "yes">>\n[[<nod vigorously>|lydia's examination 2]]\n<<else>>\n[[<more vigorous nodding>|lydia's examination 2]]\n<<endif>>
Moving with slow, non-threatening gestures, you point at the hole in your head with a gesture that you hope says "You see, I am damaged and not quite sure of the reason. This is why I can neither speak nor remember exactly who I am."\n\nI'm not sure whether the subtler nuances were conveyed, but thankfully she sees the hole.\n\n"Oh my god! You're broken!"\n\n[[<nod vigorously>|lydia's examination]]
<<if $movie eq 'bb'>>As you open your fuckin' optics it's like you're seeing everything new for the first time. 'Course now that you think about it, you guess you are. Some kinda metaphysical shit like that.\n\nThat Paul dude's lookin' down at you all concerned and whatnot. "Are you okay? Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?"\n\n[[Yeah I'm fine.|startup paul 1a]]\n[[Guess it worked.|startup paul 1b]]<<endif>>\n<<if $movie eq 'mf'>>You open your optical sensors, light streaming into them and making you wince like you're fighting a 3-day old hangover. You suppose that makes sense - Getting an extra porthole installed would mess with any 'bot's dome.\n\nThe big guy, Paul, looks down at you - He kinda looks like a mook, but this is one mook that really saved your bacon so you can't really fault him, especially when he's looking so concerned. "Are you okay? Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?"\n\n[[Don't you worry pal, I'm just fine.|startup paul 1a]]\n[[That little surgery of yours was just what I needed.|startup paul 1b]]<<endif>>
"Well," she says, "We can't have you wandering around with half a brain."\n\nShe takes your hand.\n\n"Come with me."\n<<set $askedleave = 2>>\n[[This is the first nice thing to happen all day.|leave with lydia]]\n[[WHY IS THIS HUMAN TOUCHING ME? DESTROY ALL HUMANS. DESTROY.|destroy all humans]]
As you walk down the block towards Downtown, Lucky talks your audio-processing unit off - You try to stay engaged but you have a hard time taking it all in. You're starting to notice the hole in your head more and more and everything's feeling... fuzzy. You're definitely going to need to be patched up before too long. \n\nYou drift in and out of the conversation as Lucky rants about the Robotic Citizens Act of 2031, how hard it is to find a job now that he's a Robot Citizen, how much easier it was in the old days...\n\n"I can't even get a damn job working at Clark's Bar and that's a robot joint, for Pete's sake! Ah, here we are."\n\nFinally you arrive at your destination: Happy Parts Electronics & Robot Repair.\n\n[[Maybe following Lucky wasn't such a bad idea after all.|enter store]]
You shake your head, trying hard to communicate all the (electronic) emotion you have surging through your metalic mind.\n\n"Well I'm very sorry to hear all that," she replies. "My name's Lydia - I work here at the hotel. We actually have a few robots kind of like you that work here too. Do you remember if //you// worked here?"\n\n[[<shrug>|lydia's examination 4]]\n[[<shake head>|lydia's examination 4]]\n[[Maybe if I really try I can remember something.|try to remember]]
You nod with enthusiasm and she clucks her tongue sympathetically.\n\n"And you don't remember how this happened?"\n\n[[<shake head emphatically>|lydia's examination 3]]\n[[<shake head woefully>|lydia's examination 3]]\n[[<perform French mime Paul Legrand's famous "Dance of the Sad Clown">|lydia's examination 3a]]
You charge at the guards, sending them scattering. You pick one up and slam him agains the wall, reveling in the jelly-like way he squishes.\n\nTriumphant, you turn to the rest, ready to continue your reign of robot-on-human terror, when suddenly you feel an electric shock - One of the guards has stuck his stun baton into the hole in your head. You freeze, paralyzed, as the guards all run at you, stun batons at the ready.\n\nWith each electric sting, your systems begin sputtering and failing. You fall to the ground, photoreceptors fading.\n\nYou've doomed to yourself to the scrap heap, it seems. Well done, you.\n\nEND.
You lean in closer to the countertop to examine your reflection and see what you actually look like.\n\nYou appear to be a standard service robot, the type designed to have enough intelligence and versatility to work with humans as opposed to a one-task labor 'bot. You've got a cylindrical head with a pair of photoreceptors, stacked one on top of the other, on the left side and a jaunty-looking speaker grille slashing across the middle.\n\nIt also appears that you are currently the owner of a rather large hole in the side of your head, where it looks like someone tore off one of your panels to remove something inside rather forcibly. \n\nEither your memory bank is also coincidentally missing or, logic would dictate, your memory bank could be what was removed. Probably the latter. Probably.\n\n[[I wonder if I can put any of these parts back in.|whose parts 2]]\n[[I should examine the rest of the kitchen.|rest of kitchen]]
You raise your fist and knock cautiously on the door. Your own metal knuckles make a tiny banging on the door as, to your surprise, the door slowly swings open.\n\nInside, you see a dark and empty hotel kitchen.\n\n[[Onward into the unknown! Into the kitchen!|go into the kitchen]]\n[[It's rather dark in there. Is there a lightswitch?|lightswitch]]\n[[On second thought, I think I'll head back towards the street after all.|street]]
As you shake your head the battered old robot sees its after-market ventilation.\n\nHis photoreceptors brighten in shock and he winces sympathetically.\n\n"Whoa, my 'bot, you're in even worse shape than I am. What happened?"\n\n[[<shrug>|lucky convo 1]]<<if $sawparts eq "yes">>\n[[I'll try to act out what it seems like happened back in the kitchen.|lucky charades]]<<endif>>\n[[This is useless. I'll just keep walking.|walk away from lucky]]
<<if $movie eq "bb">>You look Paul dead in the eye. "Listen man, I appreciate the patch job, but it's time for me to blow outta here. Couple fools out there whose asses got a date with my foot."\n\nYou're not even sure where this vocabu-fuckin'-lary is comin' from, but you like how it sounds. You start towards the door. <<if $leftlucky eq "no">>Lucky grabs you by the arm. "Hey hey my 'bot. You didn't forget our deal, right? I help you get repaired, you let me come with to try and get back those valuable memories of yours."<<set $cover = "no">>\n\n[[I guess I do owe the dude. Ain't no harm in him comin' along.|leave paul 1a]]\n[[I don't need this kinda dead weight. When the shit goes down I gotta stay loose.|leave paul 1b]]<<else>>Paul pipes up one more time, pulling out a small box from behind the counter. "Hey, before you leave. I got something here that might be of interest to you."\n\n[[Won't hurt to take a look I guess.|leave paul 1c]]\n[[Whatever. I got places to be.|leave paul 1d]]<<endif>><<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>You look Paul right in the eye. "I appreciate the fixer-upper. I'd be dead as a doornail if it wasn't for you. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a couple of deadbeats to find - Way I see it they placed an order for couple knuckle sandwiches, and I aim to deliver."\n\nYou're not even sure where this newfound vocabulary is coming from, but it comes to you more naturally than saxophone to New Orleans. You start towards the door. <<if $leftlucky eq "no">>Lucky grabs you by the arm. "Hey hey my 'bot. You didn't forget our deal, right? I help you get repaired, you let me come with to try and get back those valuable memories of yours."<<set $cover = "no">>\n\n[[Now that he mentions it, I do owe a lot to this rustbucket.|leave paul 1a]]\n[[Much as I appreciate his offer, when the chips are down Lucky could just be one more pair of cement golashes.|leave paul 1b]]<<else>>Paul pipes up one more time, pulling out a small box from behind the counter. "Hey, before you leave. I got something here that might be of interest to you."\n\n[[Evidence? I could use some evidence.|leave paul 1c]]\n[[Sorry Paulie - Trail's getting cold enough as it is. I've got to go.|leave paul 1d]]<<endif>><<endif>>
Surprising no one, you don't recognize either of the movie titles.\n\n"Well, go ahead and pick one and we can get you patched up. They're both great choices - Classics."\n\n[[I'll pick "Bad Boys II"|bad boys intro lydia]]\n[[I like the sound of "The Maltese Falcon"|maltese falcon intro lydia]]
You burst into the alley, trying to ignore the sound of the screaming woman in the freezer. Guess you better keep moving.\n\nYou head towards the street, as far away from the hotel as you can get.\n\n<<display 'street'>>
<<if $movie eq "bb">>You look down and see a pair of sunglasses on the ground. Nice fuckin' ones too - All black and reflective and shit. You reach down to scoop 'em up; something about them just seems right.\n\nAs you bend down to the ground you notice something shiny - A small curved piece of metal, embossed with a logo for the CORONADO HOTEL. Looks oddly familiar... You hold it up to the hole in your head and, to your shock, it fits like a fuckin' bullet in a clip.\n\nA little further down the sidewalk you see some kind of bolt. And not too far beyond it, another piece. And another. Leading down towards the shady part of town. Like Hansel and motherfuckin' Gretel. //A trail.//\n\n<<if $leftLydia eq "no">>You stand up and turn to Lydia. She looks at you curiously. "What'd you find?"\n\n"We just found us a breadcrumb trail. And those breadcrumbs are gonna lead us right to the motherfuckers we're looking for."\n\n"Awesome! Let's get to it then!" She pauses, "Y'know, I don't even know your name. What should I call you?"\n\nYou think on that for a second. You look down at the sunglasses in your hand and then pull them on. You look back at Lydia, knowing that you look cool as shit right now.\n\n[["Who am I?"|ending 2]]<<else>>Seems like that's your ticket to finding the motherfuckers that did this. You're gonna find them, and you're gonna make them pay.\n\nYou look at the sunglasses in your hand, and then pull them on. You may not know who you used to be before tonight, but you sure as hell know who you are now.\n\n[["Who am I?"|ending 2]]<<endif>><<endif>><<if $movie eq "mf">>You look down and see a pack of cigarettes on the ground. The pack's battered and beaten-up but, then again, so are you. You reach down to pick 'em up; something about them just seems right.\n\nAs you bend down to the ground you notice something shiny - A small curved piece of metal, embossed with a logo for the CORONADO HOTEL. Looks oddly familiar... You hold it up to the hole in your head and, to your shock, it fits like a glove.\n\nA little further down the sidewalk you see some kind of bolt. And not too far beyond it, another piece. And another. Leading down towards the shady part of town. You'd recognize something like this anywhere: //A trail.//\n\n<<if $leftLydia eq "no">>You stand up and turn to Lydia. She looks at you curiously. "What'd you find?"\n\n"Seems our crooks are a regular set of Hansels and Gretels, and we just found their breadcrumb trail. Something tells me that if we follow them, we'll end up right at their gingerbread house."\n\n"Awesome! Let's get to it then!" She pauses, "Y'know, I don't even know your name. What should I call you?"\n\nYou think on that for a second. You look down at the pack of cigarettes in your hand. Something about them activates code deep in your programming. You pull one out of your pack and stick it in your frontal speaker grill. With a flick of your wrist, you activate the lighter built into your thumb (which you'd forgotten all about til now) and bring it up to light the cig.\n\nYou take a drag on the cigarette and turn back to Lydia. \n\n[["Who am I?"|ending 2]]<<else>>Seems like that's your ticket to finding the crooks that did this. You're gonna find them, and you're gonna make them pay.\n\nYou look down at the pack of cigarettes in your hand. Something about them activates code deep in your programming. You pull one out of your pack and stick it in your frontal speaker grill. With a flick of your wrist, you activate the lighter built into your thumb (which you'd forgotten all about til now) and bring it up to light the cig.\n\nYou take a drag on the cigarette. You may not know who you used to be before tonight, but you sure as hell know who you are now.\n\n[["Who am I?"|ending 2]]<<endif>><<endif>>
<<if $leftlucky eq "no">>\nLucky pipes up. "Yeah, pretty hardcore ri-"\n\n"Shut up, Lucky," Paul snaps. He turns back to you,<<else>>Paul gestures towards you.<<endif>> "Come closer and let me take a look at that."\n\nYou step towards Paul's counter and kneel down a little bit, tilting your head to give him a better view. He pulls down an jeweler's magnifying lamp on a long arm and aims it over the hole in your head.\n\n"My god," he murmurs, "You got the birdy pulled right out of your cuckoo clock, didn't you? Judging by the circuitry here it looks like they got your entire internal memory bank and a big chunk of your memory core."\n\nHe gestures for you to stand up straight again.\n\n"I imagine you're starting to feel a little strange, right? Fuzzy? Woozy?"\n\n[[<nod>|paul conversation 2]]\n<<if $robotterror gte 2>>[[How dare this human touch me. DESTROY ALL HUMANS.|paul destroy]]\n<<endif>>
"Yeah, that's your spare cache filling up. We'll need to get you some spare storage space or that's going to overheat real fast. As far as the speech goes... That's going to be harder. \n\n"Personality cores aren't cheap; neither are the tools I need to fix what you've got left in there. <<if $leftlucky eq "no">>No offense, but seeing as you came in here with this good-for-nothing walking scrap heap I'm guessing you don't exactly have much in the way of //money//.<<else>>No offense, but looking like you do, I'm guessing you don't have much in the way of money, huh?<<endif>>"\n\n[[<shake head sheepishly>|paul conversation 3]]\n<<if $robotterror gte 2>>[[How dare this human judge me in this debasing manner. DESTROY ALL HUMANS.|paul destroy]]\n<<endif>>
"Mmhm... That's what I thought."\n<<if $leftlucky eq "no">>\nSuddenly he turns and snaps at Lucky, "Hey! Put that down!" You turn to see Lucky examining a spare foot and holding it up next to his own.<<endif>>\n\nPete sighs. "Well, I do have something I might be able to use."\n\nHe rummages around in a box behind the counter before coming back out with a pair bulky hard drives. Each one has a small, handwritten label on it.\n\n"A Girl sold these to me; movie enthusiast. They're cartridges for a 3D film projector. The movies are vintage, so they don't take up much space on the hard drive even after they've been upconverted. Also your central processor should be able to pull enough data from the movie to approximate a personality/voice core."\n\nHe slides them closer to you so you can read the titles.\n\n"You pick one and I'll install it for you, free of charge. It's not a perfect solution, //or// permanent, but it'll be enough to get you by til you find your real brain."\n\n[[I guess I better see what these movies are...|movie choice paul]]