Wednesday 15 February 2017

Chapter VI: Like Tears in the Rain

You: You have no memory of how you got here, what you’re doing, or even who you are. All you know are your surroundings. You’re in a room that’s somewhere between a serial killer’s garage and a butcher’s shop. A creature that looks half human, half washing machine is standing in front of you. You’re holding a heavy brown paper bag and a notebook with large writing on the front page
Stranger: What is this? Fucking Story time?
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The story so far. You know what, this week have a fairly exposition-friendly player, so I'll let them fill you in on the details. Of course, it didn't exactly start that way...

You: You have no memory of how you got here, what you’re doing, or even who you are. All you know are your surroundings. You’re in a room that’s somewhere between a serial killer’s garage and a butcher’s shop. A creature that looks half human, half washing machine is standing in front of you. You’re holding a heavy brown paper bag and a notebook with large writing on the front page
Stranger: and you sweat
Stranger: heavly
Stranger: what should i do
Stranger: who are they
Stranger: where i am
You: "Your memory has gone again hasn't it?" says the washing machine guy
Stranger: wtf is this
You: "Okay, relax, I'll explain everything. Your positronic brain isn't working. It keeps resetting."
Stranger: dont comes near me
Stranger: stay away
Stranger: nooo
Stranger: dont touch me

Honestly, this is the most rational response Ellis has had during any of their adventures so far. I'm impressed. Still, Doc Osmium isn't one of those doctors who believe in sugar coating the pill. Also this is the 19th time they've had this conversation and the poor doctor's bedside manner is beginning to slip.

You: "It's okay! I'm your doctor. I just gave you reconstructive surgery to look like Ryan Gosling."
You: "Because of those murders you're wanted for."
Stranger: and why you do that
You: "I fought in the Robot Wars. I still believe in the fraternity of androids I suppose."
Stranger: android
Stranger: you are soo old

Wait, what? Are androids not cool now? Are we supposed to call them Syntheads or Tin Men or Droids or Wireguts or Uncanny Valley Girls or Electric Sheep Dreamers or Dancing Siris or Circuitfuckers?

You: "Anyway, here are your things. The notepad will explain some of it. But unfortunately your previous personalities aren't great at keeping notes."
Stranger: ok give me a cup of watter
Stranger: my head hurts me
You: The washing machine doctor passes you a cup of water.
Stranger: tnx
You: "That's probably your positronic net resetting," the doctor says.
Stranger: tell me everything
You: "Read the notebook. Check the bag, it has your things in. You can leave whenever you like."
You: "Just, so long as you do remember it, please don't tell the cops I helped you."
Stranger: why
Stranger: from the begening
You: "Because helping a double murderer wouldn't be good for my practice?" the Doctor says.
Stranger: murder??
Stranger: what do you say
Stranger: explain more doctor

What's that? You want to know the extensive back story of your character before doing anything? Well don't mind if I do!

You: "Okay, here's what happened. You're a private investigator named Ellis Cobalt. This morning you were seen fleeing the scene of tycoon Clagg Masterdon's apartment, killing a detective and a dozen police bots on the way.. You ended up here, shot to shit. I helped put you back together and gave you a new face. That it look like Ryan Gosling was your idea."
You: "My name's Doc Osmium by the way. Any more questions?"
Stranger: so this is not my face
Stranger: and i request that?
You: The Doctor picks an ID out of the paper bag. It has a face that looks like a cross between Tilda Swinton and Jason Statham. "This was what you had before."
Stranger: my head hurts me i cant remember anythig
You: "Your personality rebuilds itself whenever your memory is wiped. The results are unpredictable."
Stranger: anyway tnx
Stranger: i want my things]
Stranger: i will leave somewhere
You: The doc passes you the notepad and the paper bag.
You: Then he points to the door.

Armed with all this knowledge, Ellis is ready to go out into the world and maybe make something of their lives, perhaps unravel the many mysteries still surrounding the death of Clagg Masterdon and Ellis themselves. But suddenly Ellis comes over all emo...

Stranger: tnx soo much
Stranger: but
Stranger: i have a family or no?
Stranger: you know anything
You: "You're an android. We're all family," Osmium says.
Stranger: aaaaaaa my head
You: "Maybe check out the museum. That might fill you in on your history."
You: "Oh, and take these pain killers. They should help."
Stranger: tell me what year is this?
You: "It's 75 years since the end of the Robot Wars," Osmium says.
Stranger: so 30 years of my memories lost
Stranger: no family
Stranger: no friends
You: "And somebody might be trying to frame you for murder," Osmium says.

Doc Osmium is helpful! And in no way a qualified counsellor.

Stranger: nothing
Stranger: why you give me life
Stranger: why
You: "In times like this, I advise patients to do the job in front of them. There's peace in that."
Stranger: you should just let me die
You: "There's not many androids left, Ellis. We need to protect our numbers."
Stranger: from who?
You: "The war is over. The humans aren't going to try and kill us. They're just going to wait for time and each other to do it for them," Osmium says.
Stranger: so its a war between us and humains
Stranger: why
Stranger: about what
You: "The war is over Ellis, remember that, it's important. We have a truce and that is important."
Stranger: are we going to hide forever
Stranger: ?
Stranger: we should do something
You: "Go to the museum Ellis. That'll give you some context," Osmium says. "And maybe even help you get your memory back."
Stranger: really
Stranger: ok then
Stranger: i want to rest for a while

You know when you have a friend over and you have a really good chat and it's great seeing them again but you've got things to do and they just aren't going to take the hint?

You: "Look, I don't mean to hurry you, but I've got other patients to see," Osmium says. "Go have a look around. You can come back here later if you need more help."
Stranger: ok
Stranger: anyway tnx soo much
Stranger: i dont know what to say
You: "And remember! Your brain could reset any time so WRITE STUFF DOWN!" Osmium shouts as you leave.
You: You come out of the doctor's surgery into a wide town square, although where you might expect the sky to be there are girders and hanging strip lights. In the centre of the square stands a rusting iron statue of a man, holding up an even more rusted looking sign with flickering bulbs around its edge. The sign reads “WELCOME TO TIN TOWN”. Walking around the square are numerous people, although from they all have a slightly jerky gate and plastic looking skin that makes you think they must be androids too. In front of the statue a single shaft of what looks like daylight in shining down onto the smashed up wreck of some kind of small, blue tank. Some androids have gathered around to look at it, but everyone is keeping their distance. A number of shops open up onto the town square, with neon signs and glitch, halting video screens in the windows advertising their wares. From here you can signs reading “Copper’s Write Electrical Store”, “Doc Osmium’s Repair Workshop”, “The Tin Memorial War Museum” and “Nicky Nickel’s Diner”.
Stranger: whoo

And so Ellis is back in Tin Town again, with a world of possibility before them.

You: What do you do next?
Stranger: wait
You: You see people, androids, cleaning robots going back and forth across the square.
You: The buildings never seem to shut. This is a 24 hour kind of a place.
Stranger: what all this
Stranger: hi
Stranger: anyone help
You: People give you weird looks and a wide berth.
Stranger: wtf with this people
You: From here you can signs reading “Copper’s Write Electrical Store”, “Doc Osmium’s Repair Workshop”, “The Tin Memorial War Museum” and “Nicky Nickel’s Diner”.
Stranger: i just need to ask
You: ??
Stranger: anyone here to ask
You: Everyone here seems very keen to mind their own business.
Stranger: hey you
Stranger: let me ask you
Stranger: is there a place here to stay in
You: An android stops. "Yes?" they ask.
Stranger: i am really sick
You: "Honestly, you don't want to stay anywhere around here," they say. "Niki's diner might be able to help you out."
Stranger: niki
Stranger: call him then
Stranger: please
You: The android points at the sign that reads "Niki Nickel's Diner" in flashing red neon.
Stranger: ???
You: It's just across the square, past the Tin Town statue.
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Well that was unfortunate. But Ellis is healed up now, with a new face. Also talking with Doc Osmium has yielded valuable character and world building information that will be absolutely vital to helping Ellis unravel the mysteries surrounding their existence.

So it's a real shame they just forgot all of that forever.

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