Andromeda Apocalypse - Extended Edition — 56 of 97

Section 11 - The Central Processing Unit

The Central Processing Unit is southwest of the Air Duct. "You are in a replica of the room where you started your conversation with LOGAN. In place of the scanning utility, a perfect cube stands, hovering on a jet of air and kept in place by forces unknown."

Instead of going northeast from the Central Processing Unit, say "The air vent is way too high to reach."

The hovering cube is scenery in the Central Processing Unit. The description is "A metal cube, a meter and a half on each size, floating above the floor. On each side a small door seems to be drawn on the surface." Understand "floating/cpu/central/processing/unit" as the hovering cube.

Instead of taking or pushing or pulling the hovering cube, say "Somehow, it won't budge. Some force is keeping it firmly in place."

Does the player mean doing something with the hovering cube when in the Central Processing Unit: it is very likely.

Instead of opening the hovering cube, say "You have to decide which drawer to open."

The left drawer is part of the hovering cube. It is a closed openable container. The description is "The left drawer is [if open]open[else]closed[end if]." Understand "door" as the left drawer.

The right drawer is part of the hovering cube. It is a closed openable container. The description is "The right drawer is [if open]open[else]closed[end if]." Understand "door" as the left drawer.

Before closing the right drawer:

if the right drawer is open:

say "The terminal is out and prevents the drawer from closing.";

stop the action.

In the left drawer is a set_RAM. The printed name of the set_RAM is "set of RAM cards". The description of the set_RAM is "The RAM cards are all welded together in a single block, fit into the side of the hovering cube. Small lights throb on its sides." Understand "set/ram/card/cards/light/lights" as the set_RAM.

Instead of taking the set_RAM:

say "You pull out the cards. As soon as you do it, the lights go off.[paragraph break]A few seconds later, all the lights in the room vanish... and something far more frightening happens: suddenly, you feel an intense warmth from the inside battling a strong cold from the ouside, as the safety systems of the ship are switched off. In seconds, the suit starts to balloon and all of the remaining air is sucked from your lungs in one last, fierce shock.[paragraph break]Resetting LOGAN's memory must have not been a clever idea.";

record "Fatboy" as achieved;

end the game in death.

Instead of pulling the set_RAM, try taking the set_RAM.

After opening the right drawer:

say "As the drawer opens, a terminal from inside the cube pops out.";

now the cpu_terminal is in Central Processing Unit.

The cpu_terminal is fixed in place. The printed name is "CPU terminal". Understand "cpu/terminal/lights/light/shield" as the cpu_terminal. "A terminal of sorts comes out from the right door on the hovering cube." The description is "A set of lights pulsates on the terminal. On the mid-section, a tiny slot seems to be the only feature of an otherwise perfectly polished surface."

The card_slot is part of the cpu_terminal. The printed name is "tiny slot". Understand "card/reader/tiny/slot" as the card_slot. The description is "A mere fissure, circa ten centimeters wide and a one millimeter narrow." It is a container.

Instead of inserting something into the card_slot:

if the noun is the useless railway ticket:

say "This seems like an idiotic idea.[paragraph break]But it works. Somehow, the reader inside the slot finds the codes on the ticket interesting. In a few seconds, the ticket is spat out and the shielded terminal springs open, revealing a twin set of metal blocks with handles.";

remove the cpu_terminal from play;

now the cpu_backup is in the Central Processing Unit;

now the cpu_real is in the Central Processing Unit;

try looking;

else:

say "[The noun] won't fit the tiny slot.".

Instead of inserting something into the cpu_terminal, try inserting the noun into the card_slot.

The cpu_backup is a thing. "Alongside, a bronze-lined metal block." Understand "cpu/bronze/lined/metal/block/handle" as the cpu_backup. The printed name is "bronze-lined metal block". The description is "A bronze block, with a handle."

The cpu_real is a thing. "A silver-lined metal block is exposed in the right side of the hovering cube." Understand "cpu/silver/lined/metal/block/handle" as the cpu_real. The printed name is "silver-lined metal block". The description is "A silver block, with a handle."

Instead of pulling the cpu_real, try taking the cpu_real. Instead of pulling the cpu_backup, try taking the cpu_backup.

Instead of taking the cpu_real:

say "You pull out the silver block. As soon as you do it, the lights go off.[paragraph break]A few seconds later, all the lights in the room vanish... and something far more frightening happens: suddenly, you feel an intense warmth from the inside battling a strong cold from the ouside, as the safety systems of the ship are switched off. In seconds, the suit starts to balloon and all of the remaining air is sucked from your lungs in one last, fierce shock.[paragraph break]Disconnecting LOGAN must have not been a clever idea.";

record "Fatboy" as achieved;

end the game in death.

After taking the cpu_backup:

say "The bronze cube comes out with no effort.[paragraph break][italic type]Here it is. Maybe not the full knowledge, but it is something.[roman type][paragraph break]LOGAN://'What you hold in your hands, Ektor Mastiff, is not only a complete archive of my memories from the past 1,300 millennia, but also a faithful replica of my neural matrix. If this were to be connected to a power source and to a terminal, it would behave as I do, one-hundred percent guaranteed.'[paragraph break]'That's nice,' you smile. 'This could mean our trip together is not over, yet.'[paragraph break]LOGAN://'Well, one can read it that way, yes, Ektor Mastiff. Now: I suggest you get to the [bold type]vessel[roman type] as soon as you can, as we are running out of time.' That said, LOGAN operates another of its wonders and a sort of porthole is opened in the side of the room.[paragraph break]LOGAN://'Think of it as a backdoor. Running through this tunnel you may reach your destination in a few minutes.'[paragraph break]One last glance at the amazing hovering cube, and the second later you are running.";

now the player is in the Reliquary.