fixed_objects.txt This file is used for objects that will remain in one location, such as doors, consoles, furniture--all objects that adventurers won't be able to add to their inventory and that will stay in one place for the entire game. Acceptable tags include object, name, long name, desc, and actions. Possible actions are EXAMINE (shows desc), OPEN, CLOSE...If the object is a door, don't forget you will need to modify the corresponding room node. Actions that correspond to objects should also have corresponding object IDs. You can put notes anywhere in this document except between tags. mirror a large cracked wall mirror Your eyes are first drawn to the long, spidery crack in the surface of this mirror. It is a beautiful thing, these glistening rivers that distort and fragment the icy surface of truth. You then dare to examine your own image. You gaze into your face, and are so very disappointed. Is this pale, withered being really you? Of course it is. Your eyes are small and beady, shadowy in their swollen pits, and your face sags on a puffed and oily frame. You are naked, gaunt, and unnatural, a sick joke of a man. Both of your arms are riddled with needle punctures, some of them inflamed. Small pink sores cover your body, no doubt slowly killing you. Bid them to it. You should've been dead long ago. You have no right to live. Utterly disgusted, you look away. EXAMINE, TAKE R1, BREAK R2, MOVE R3 It's firmly attached to the wall. Besides, hopefully there is more to see here than yourself. It's suffered enough. Leave it alone. It's securely attached to the wall. porthole a porthole Through the thick glass of this porthole you see a vast expanse of stars and darkness. What catches your eye, though, are several awkward, finger-sized objects floating several meters beyond the glass--human corpses, frozen forever in the still and void of space, perfectly preserved in silent, graceless agony. A few are missing limbs or heads, but most appear to have died by exposure to the vacuum. Though it is a bit difficult to tell at a distance, you can count at least two dozen men and women, and a third as many children, and there may be more beyond your view. The sight is oddly calming. Someone has smeared a greasy message on the glass: "NOT REAL." EXAMINE, BREAK R1 You have little desire at the moment to join these dead. I doubt very seriously they would welcome you. screen a large white video screen This screen is as wide as you are with both arms outstretched. It is bordered on all sides by glossy white plastic. It looks like the kind of luxury that offers a few moments of distraction from the eternally dull and tedious work necessary to acquire it. EXAMINE, USE R1, MOVE R2 What exactly did you have in mind? I see no controls. If I feel so moved, I'll let you know. The screen is currently blank. Seemingly random images appear and coalesce into others on this screen. Occasionally the screen flashes a loop of a tall and sickeningly thin young man careening naked down long, empty corridors. Sometimes he is dressed in women's lacey underclothing and kissing his hands, slobbering over himself. At still other times he is singing or declaring his great love for himself, using all the appropriate obscene gestures. There are other scenes I shall leave to your imagination. All this entertainment, and with a saccharine piano and clarinet duet grating in the background. Ah, now, is this your idea of entertainment? chair a lonely cushioned chair From the looks of its worn cushion, this chair has long performed its duty. EXAMINE, USE R1, BREAK R2 You sit in the chair for a long moment, staring into the screen, and pondering the value of your precious life. So it goes. Tempting...But no. couch a long black couch It's a plain black couch, firmly affixed to the floor, and almost as comfortable as sitting on the floor. EXAMINE M5 H, SEARCH M5 H, USE R1 You recline on the couch. Satisfied? hatch a small metal hatch to the north This sturdy steel hatch looks as though it were designed to keep you out. Beside the hatch is a small circular slot about the size of your thumb. EXAMINE, OPEN S2, CLOSE S2, UNLOCK M1 S1 The hatch is locked. If you want in there, you'll need to find the object that fits that slot. The hatch is unlocked. The hatch is closed. The hatch stands open. viewport a large and mesmirizing viewport A view like this imprisons the soul. Gazing out into the stars and empty spaces, you see your past in every milky speck, and your future in the quiet gloom. Forever is the space from its left to its right, and eternity slowly lumbers towards those pinpricks of light. All is wholesome in those empty spaces, free of oxygen and life, and if you could but get beyond this glass, you might introduce yourself to peace, and leave behind all mortal strife. Nature may abhor a vacuum, but you long for one. EXAMINE, BREAK R1 You're on the right track. But premature. door steel door to the west This heavy steel door is well beyond your ability to force open. The word "AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY" is printed in gold letters on its top. The words "FORBIDDEN" are etched neatly below it. A card slot on the door looks like the only means of locking or unlocking it. EXAMINE, OPEN S2, CLOSE S2, UNLOCK M6 S1 The door is locked. You'll need to find an access card to open it. The door is unlocked. Although the door is now unlocked, it's still closed. The door is open. console a sturdy computer console It appears to be a well-built computer console which gives the user access to the library's information database. It consists of a large display, wide enough to show two standard-sized pages side-by-side. Someone has conveniently removed all of the keys from the unit's keyboard except for one, so I doubt you'll be spending much time here engrossed in the classics. EXAMINE, USE S1 R1 You turn on the console. The console is turned off. A message displays: "A library? What could possibly interest you here? Aren't you enjoying heaven? Enjoy your well-earned rest. How I envy you! What peace you must enjoy! Peace and calm were always denied me. You know, I didn't want to leave clues for you. You might find out too much and ruin yourself. I have doubted my judgment, but you must trust it. Yes, remember what God forbade Adam. I make the same empty threats. Be happy in your garden, and beware the serpent. Oh, I love you, though I do not know you. I died so you could live. I died so...I could live again." Does that help you? Food Dispenser a bulky food dispenser This food dispenser smells like a mixture of heavy duty sterilizing agents and ruined milk. The pan intended to catch the machine's gruel is caked with grayish grime and is no doubt infested with bacteria. The very idea of eating anything this unit delivers makes your stomach clench. Someone has etched the message "AMBROSIA" on the front of the unit. You see a slot on the machine for inserting access cards. EXAMINE, USE R1 Fortunately, using this machine is neither desirable, nor possible, though I much admire your effort to achieve dysentery. Surely, though, you have enough to worry about without spewing feces all over the floor? sink a cruddy sink What a ghastly sight awaits eyes who dare to dive upon this object! The metal surface of its bowl is coated with dried substances you have no desire to analyze further. The water valves are caked with crud and wedged up tight. A small sign beside the sink reads, "KILL GERMS. WASH YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP." From the looks of it, that advice has fallen on deaf ears far more often than water has fallen on anyone's soapy hands. EXAMINE M7 H, USE R1 Debased and worthless as you may be, even you have enough self-pity to keep away from this sink. alcoves an alcove alcoves beds slots These alcoves serve a single, unflattering purpose: To provide a somewhat enclosed surface for a human body to slumber in. There is nothing else about them worth mentioning. EXAMINE slot a slot It's a thin slot for inserting access cards. EXAMINE M6 H fresco syns: sun, fresco, sky, ceiling, painting The painting was obviously a misguided attempt to convince the denizens that they were worthy of more beauty than bare plastic and steel permitted. However, a painted sun gives forth no heat, no light--a painted cloud no breath. The clouds and sun you see here are as cold and lifeless as the empty soul who gazes on them. EXAMINE plants syns: plants, potted plants, pots These tall and gangly plants are dried to a brown crust, probably from lack of water. EXAMINE waste syns: hair, blood, fecal matter, shit, waste You couldn't possibly have less desire to examine that more closely. EXAMINE table syns: tables, chairs, chair The tables are stained and spotted in places with the vestiges of long forgotten meals. The chairs must surely have endured many an ignoble blast. EXAMINE stains syns: blood, blood stains, stains These long-dried stains range from light to dark brown, and cause you to shiver. Obviously, it took a lot of death to decorate the place this way. EXAMINE panels lights, panels These solid panels emit a dull, bluish light that is about as bright as a full moon. It occasionally pulses softly, ostensibly promoting healthy biorhythms. Do they help? EXAMINE debris syns: debris, wreckage, trash, pieces, rubble, junk, ruins It's a heap of worthless junk, mostly bits and pieces broken off of larger, unidentifiable machinery, electronics, and furniture. Someone has scooted it into the corners to make a walkable path through the clutter. EXAMINE posters syns: posters, pictures, ads These posters seem to share the same style and theme--it's hip to be a settler on another planet. Some of the slogans are, "We don't need no stinking pollution," "Earth is what it cracked up to be," and "Be your own civilization." Apparently, leaving Earth in a floating trailer park is the best thing ever. Is this how you got here? EXAMINE terminal a medical terminal The terminal features a small square monochrome screen and a few keys for cycling through the medical database. A lock on the unit has been forced open and discarded. EXAMINE, USE S1 The terminal is turned off. The terminal is on. You take a few moments to cycle through the terminal's access history log. The last page was accessed yesterday, and consists of information about an experimental drug to treat severe psychological trauma. According to the file, one dose will wipe most of one's long-term and short-term memory, though individual results may vary. Side effects range from mild nauseau to a fatal liver condition. The effect is permanent and is advised only for incurable and unendurable cases. There seems to be an alarmingly high number of suicides among the treated. Then again, there are probably even more among the left alone. computer a bulky personal computer This computer has a built-in monitor and thumb reader. There may have been a mouse and keyboard here at one time, but now there are only shorn cables emerging from the back of this box. Nevertheless, you are surprised to find a mostly intact computer here amidst the carnage. EXAMINE, USE X S1 The computer is on, displaying a flickering image of a window slowly bouncing about the screen. Occasionally, a little plane flies by toting a large banner. The banner reads, "Depress thumb on reader to login." "Welcome, Captain Acklos," greets the computer as its hard drive spins into action. You take a few moments to explore the Captain's personal files, eventually locating his personal log. You skim the log, looking for any items of interest. Most of the early entries concern the day-to-day activities common for any man of high authority on a large ship, but eventually things become interesting. The last entry is dated some twenty years ago. I'll read you some snippets from the earlier passages: "I'm not satisfied with this crew. My first officer, Lt. Commander Leroy Lane, has been challenging my authority in subtle ways for weeks now. Today he even questioned one of my orders in front of the crew. He's also been trying to "quiz" me in front of them about the ship's tech, asking my "opinion" about esoteric components just to catch me in error. Makes him feel important when I have to confess I don't know what he's talking about. But I do know his game. If my brother at the politik hadn't thrust him on me, I wouldn't even have taken him on as a cook...Yes, he's the son of a governor, but he's also a son of a bitch. I don't even know why he took this commission. But it's too late now. I guess I'll have to replace him if he keeps it up." "The science officer reported today that she's pregnant. What kind of crew is this? I just can't accept this level of unprofessionalism even among the personnel. As if I don't have enough to worry about." You skip ahead to the last few entries. "I didn't want to log this. Been hoping it was just a temporary problem. But Earth stopped responding to us months ago. No clues. No reason. It's got the crew on edge, and of course one of them promptly leaked it to the settlers. Idiots. It's about all I can do to maintain order here now. Half the crew bleating about going home, calling off the mission. I knew it'd be hard on all of us, going on such a long mission. But now. Well, I've got a bad feeling. I don't know what happened on Earth, and I don't think I want to. This ship might be all that's left. We've got to get it to a planet and make it self-sufficient. This has turned into a one-way voyage for all of us, crew and settlers." "Things are getting bleak. The crew has been questioning my orders more and more, even once-loyal officers. I tried convincing them--we don't have enough supplies to risk going back to Earth. If we do, we're stuck there, even if there's nothing left but radiation. We've got to stay on course. Sounds silly to say it, but...Well, damn it, we're humanity's last chance, aren't we?" "Violence is escalating. A group of settlers was protesting. Security team got panicky, and when one of the settlers threw a canister, they rushed them with batons. Ended up beating a 21-year old named Paulson Greer to death. His father rushed the chief himself the next day, but he was wrestled to the ground and thrown in the brig. Two people have committed suicide, a 42-year old officer and a young female settler. Loss of the female particularly bad. Got to keep the women alive if we're to proliferate, and I was hoping...Well, there are more left." "Open mutiny has broken out. Leroy Lane leading it, rampaging around the ship, declaring himself captain and killing anyone who doesn't follow him. The last of the loyal security officers and settlers are on the command level. Ought to be easy to defend it. Too bad we can't just shoot them. Rather have a vacuum onboard than Lane at this point." "They're through. I've got minutes here. Whoever is reading this, remember: the race must survive. Do whatever is necessary. Even if it means rape. Just don't kill...And don't let them kill themselves after you've done your duty. There has been enough of that already." reader a print reader It's a small black square. The idea is that you push your thumb down on it. If the system recognizes your thumb print, it will grant you instant access to its data. No passwords. Just thumbs. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem that your own thumb is recognized by the device. EXAMINE, USE R1 A small LED display on the device reads, "Access Denied." The LED display reads, "Access Granted." You push your own thumb down on the reader, but nothing happens. terminal a flashing communications terminal While the myriad of buttons and dials on this device are beyond you, it's easy enough to see the problem: There hasn't been any incoming communications for over twenty years. A little flashing window indicates that the ship has been emitting a general distress call for about as long. Guess no one has received it. Or cared. A small sticky note on the monitor reads, "Leroy Now." EXAMINE, USE R1 It's already on. I think this time you'd probably better look, not touch. monitor a flashing status monitor This monitor gives the status of the various systems on the ship. Some of the panels refer to energy and fuel levels, life support operations, computer self-diagnostics, and hull integrity. The panels indicate that all of these systems are operating normally. However, the ship has been on yellow alert for some two decades, but I'd judge you to be about as safe now as ever. After all, according to the lifeform detector, you are the only living being on this ship. EXAMINE, USE R1 It's a monitor. You use it just by looking at it. display an auto-orienting celestial map dispay Well, isn't this a fancy device? It's job at the moment seems to be flashing a small pixel surrounded by absolutely nothing. According to the map, the ship is headed into deep space, and is already some twenty years away from the nearest star system. I hope you like solitary confinement. EXAMINE, USE R1, TAKE R2 Ah, if only it were that easy. No, the best I can do is look at it. It's up to you to use it. Why would you want to lug that thing around? syringes piles of used, empty syringes Scattered all about the floor here are stacks of empty plastic syringes. According to the labels, they contained controlled doses of such helpful analgesics as morphine, oxycodone, and pethidine. Unfortunately, it doesn't look as though any more are left. Disappointing, really. The thought of jabbing one of these angels of mercy into your arm seems oddly thrilling. EXAMINE, TAKE R1, USE R2 I'm trying to think of a good reason to. I'm not having any luck. Let's leave them here. Sigh. Yes, I'd like that as well. But they're empty, and acupuncture...Well, I don't see the point. chest a small metal chest It's a small metal chest about three feet long and two feet wide. It's all black and seems about the right size to suffocate a baby inside. EXAMINE, TAKE R1, USE R2, OPEN S2 M13 H, CLOSE S2, UNLOCK M3 S1 It's a small chest, but I still don't see any reason to lug it around. Okay. And how do you propose I do that? The chest is locked. Looks like you'll need a key to open it. The chest is unlocked. The chest is unlocked, but closed. The chest is open. grate a steel grate It's a hinged grate made of steel. It's located on the lower western wall over what looks like a narrow crawl space. You see a small metal box through the holes in the grate. EXAMINE, OPEN S2, CLOSE S2, UNLOCK M14 S1 The grate is screwed shut. You'll need to find a screwdriver. You've managed to remove the screws. The grate is closed. The grate is open. poster syns: posters, pictures These posters present such stirring themes as, "Where there's water, there's the good life!" and "Biodomes keep in the warmth, but let out dangerous pollutants." Your favorite is the one declaring "Nanotech Biodome Plastic: Just like living in nothing at all!" Somehow, living in a plastic bag doesn't seem as appealing as a tin can. But maybe that's just a sign of a closed mind. EXAMINE reactor nuclear fusion reactor This is a massive, sprawling machine whose inner workings are as mysterious to you as life and death. However, its purpose is clear enough: This device powers the ship and all its systems. You're really not sure whether you should be worried about its incredibly noise, which sounds about as pleasant as machine gun fire richocheting off a solid steel barrel. A little message etched on the wall here reads "CERBERUS." EXAMINE door a pressure hatch This door is designed to keep all the ship's air from blowing out when the airlock is opened. I suggest you keep it closed until you've seen enough. EXAMINE, OPEN S1, CLOSE S1 The door is open. The door is closed. You'll have to open it if you want inside. door the airlock outer door If you manage to open this door, you'll end your wretched existence. Your choice is simple: Suffer here until your body at last gives way to death, or meet it on your own terms. Go ahead, take the initiative. EXAMINE, OPEN G1, CLOSE S2 The airlock is sealed shut. You'll have to deactivate the security mechanism if you want it otherwise. You've managed to override the security mechanism. It's time to end this. The airlock is closed. The airlock is open. panel a security panel It's a metal security panel with a small keypad and an even smaller display. EXAMINE, OPEN R1, BREAK R2, USE R1 Do you know the code? I don't. I think brute force might be called for here. Show your manhood. I'd love to. But this calls for a tool. The security panel is intact. Maybe you could make it less so? The panel is busted open, revealing a clump of coiled wires--little veins just waiting to be cut, wouldn't you say? wires syns: wire, wires, cables It's a clump of tightly coiled wires that send and receive electrical signals to the security mechanism. Cut the wires, cut the communication. At least, that's the theory. EXAMINE The wires are intact, taunting you with their healthy flow of signals. The wires are slit. Small sparks flash from the severed ends, like little snakes hissing. posters syns: poster, ads, ad, posters Your favorite features a family gathered around a table, each face glowing with raw delight (or perhaps radiation). Each of them has a massive can of SPAM standing tall and erect on their platter. A message below reads, "Now even better for you!" I guess that means less hog intestine. Or perhaps more. EXAMINE