Phase Q/Turmoil

In the soil, the moist wet molecules slip through your fingers. Like mud, almost. A worm would thrive here. A worm like Ruthernuss.

In the darkness, you savor the moments away from the Futuristas. Your mind roams free.

Sure, you could carry on with the outcast crew, in the likely vain hope of connecting with a larger node on the tubeworks. But then what? Wander aimlessly for a few more years, until the Trad forces finally catch you? No gain there.

Or… Or, you think, with growing enthusiasm, you could rat out these punks, collect a cool reward, and get back to the simple life. Isn’t that what you once wanted? Hard to remember.

Snort. You hear a muffled sound from the car. Probably Natalya snoring. Poor thing, no family, no job, no hope. You feel sorry for her. Yet, enough to sell out your own life?

Afraid to awaken the Futuristas, you curtail your meandering thoughts and walk away from the car as quietly as you can.

“Hey.”

Who said that?

“Hey. Over here.”

Looking closely, you see that the voice is coming from a pile of belongings that the Futuristas left by the riverbank. But there’s no room for anyone to hide there.

“Psst, are you listening?”

You keep walking over, looking for what could explain the voice. Then, you see it.

Of course. Now it makes sense, obviously. “What do you want?” you ask.

“What are you doing there?” the voice asks. “You’re going to get yourself killed.”

“What do you care?”

“It doesn’t matter what I care, you’re a citizen, and any citizen outside of the authorized zones is subject to immediate arrest. And with those tramps? Death.”

“Look,” you say to the Futurista campaign pin. “What do you want from me? You’re already destroying the country.”

An eerie silence fills the still night air. Until a car door opens.

“What the fuck’s happening?” Smitty is looking out groggily, waving a gun around.

Panicking, you throw down the sweater with the pin in it. “Uh, shit, I thought I heard something in the bush.”

“What was it?” asks Smitty. “A squad?”

“No, I think it was an animal. A bear or something.” Your heart races.

“Get back in the car. I’ll go have a look.”

You get back into the car, relieved that he doesn’t realize your secret. A scream shrieks out of the woods, piercingly. Leave rustle loudly, and a flock of flying animals bursts out. A silhouette disappears into the distance.

“Drive! Drive!” you yell to Natalya, wrestling her from her sleep. As she wearily turns the ignition, you wonder whether you’ll make it another day.

“Where the fuck’s Smitty?” she asks.

“I don’t know! Just fuckin’ drive!”

Natalya gasts you a menacing glance. You may have a few more hours with her. You may have less than that without her.

• Node
• Heartland

Phase Q: An interactive adventure.