When in Rome 2: Far from Home — 15 of 22

Section 3 - Propelling

Before switching on the pod when the propulsion unit is part of the pod:

try switching on the propulsion unit instead.

Instead of switching on the propulsion unit when the player carries the propulsion unit:

say "Throwing caution to the wind, you turn on the propulsion unit while it is still in your possession.

The last thing you feel is a searing blast against your midriff...";

end the story saying "You have died".

Instead of switching on the propulsion unit when the propulsion unit is in a container:

say "It turns out that firing a propulsion unit which is inside [a holder of the propulsion unit] is not a good idea, and in fact produces a deadly explosion...";

end the story saying "You have died".

Instead of switching on the propulsion unit when the propulsion unit is not stuck to the egg:

say "You turn on the propulsion unit, which -- lacking the steadying influence and guidance system of the egg pod -- flies around the room like a punctured balloon; crashes through the plate glass window; and is last seen buzzing along over the tops of cars down on Fifth Avenue.

It takes the boys from A. P. six minutes and twenty-seven seconds to turn up in your office and fire you.";

end the story saying "This terminates your A. P. contract"

Instead of switching on the propulsion unit when the propulsion unit is stuck to the egg and the creature lies outside the egg:

say "The propulsion unit lifts the egg off and guides it safely through the window, which automatically opens to allow for the departure. It's a thing of beauty, really.

You watch, entranced, as it floats off towards the Empire State Building[if the creature is visible].

So does the creature[end if].";

end the story saying "You just threw away a very expensive piece of equipment"

Instead of switching on the propulsion unit when the creature is in the egg and the propulsion unit is stuck to the egg and the egg is open:

say "You flip the switch, and the egg jets off. The creature, deciding that it does not want to go to space in an open egg pod, leaps lightly out and lands beside you, while the egg goes its own way...";

end the story saying "You just threw away a very expensive piece of equipment"

Instead of switching on the propulsion unit when the creature is in the egg and the propulsion unit is stuck to the egg and the blank label is stuck to the egg:

say "You flip the switch, and the egg jets off -- just slowly enough for you to get a long last look at the blank label on the side. The creature presses its nose pathetically against the inner surface of the egg as you send it off to an eternal oblivion in the nowhere of space... ";

deliver the mislabeling ending.

To deliver the mislabeling ending:

say "[paragraph break]'Sir,' says Esther from the doorway. 'Your ride to A. P. is here.'

You look back from the window. 'Could you stall them?' It's not as though you have a plan, but --

'No, she could not,' says a deeper voice, as the A. P. man comes to stand behind her. 'What went wrong?'

You admit that the label never got filled out. The man frowns -- no, perhaps glares would be more accurate. Then he walks to Esther's telephone, dials a ten-digit number, and says something curt and not in English.

'What did you just do?' Esther asks him. 'Can you fix it?'

'In a manner of speaking,' he says. 'But it is no longer your business. I'm afraid we cannot continue to work with someone who has made an error of this level.'";

end the story saying "This terminates your A. P. contract"

Instead of switching on the propulsion unit when the creature is in the egg and the propulsion unit is stuck to the egg and the blank label is not stuck to the egg and the filled label is not stuck to the egg:

say "You flip the switch, and the egg jets off -- just slowly enough for you to remember that you never did label the thing.

The creature presses its nose pathetically against the inner surface of the egg as you send it off to an eternal oblivion in the nowhere of space... ";

deliver the mislabeling ending.

Instead of switching on the propulsion unit when the creature is in the egg and the propulsion unit is stuck to the egg and the life-support unit is switched off:

say "You flip the switch, and the egg jets off -- just slowly enough for you to notice that the life support unit is turned off. ";

deliver suffocation ending.

Instead of switching on the propulsion unit when the creature is in the egg and the propulsion unit is stuck to the egg and the life-support unit is not stuck to the egg:

say "You flip the switch, and the egg jets off -- just slowly enough for you to notice that the life support unit is not part of the package. ";

deliver suffocation ending.

To deliver suffocation ending:

say "The creature scrabbles helplessly at the interior of the egg, but it's too late: its suffocation is inevitable.

You consider trying to conceal this from the boys at Alien Protocol, but when you walk in for your debriefing, it's obvious that they already know. Everyone is sitting back from the table, and the one with the dark bushy eyebrows has his fingers pressed together.

'We did mention that this would be a job requiring attention to detail,' he begins, in an apologetic tone. 'Your record with Chase Manhattan was exemplary, so perhaps you are best suited to a career as teller?'

Not likely. 'What happens now?' you ask. 'Will there be-- that is, do you think there will be reprisals?'

Their expressions are vague. 'We intercepted the outgoing pod,' says the blond one after a moment. 'The body will never reach the creature's home; it will be presumed lost.'";

end the story saying "Your contract with A. P. is dissolved"

Instead of switching on the propulsion unit when the egg is ready and the moon of the filled label is not the moon of the creature:

say "You flip the switch, and the egg jets off to [moon of the filled label].

This turns out to have been a mistake, though one of those mistakes that, like cashing a counterfeit check, doesn't come to your attention for some weeks. One fine day a man from A. P. comes in to see you, and informs you that you misdirected your Visitor, and that it wound up on [moon of the filled label] without belonging there at all.

'And did it get back home?' you ask. 'In the long run, I mean.'

'As of this minute, your contract is terminated and your clearance revoked,' he replies. 'So it would be inappropriate for me to give you any further information about the long-term results of your actions.'

From his expression, you can see he realizes you will find this extremely exasperating. He lifts his hat to you, kisses Esther's hand, and leaves.

'Well, that's that,' says Esther, wiping her hand on a handkerchief. 'Now I can finally pursue my life-long ambition and marry a doctor.'";

end the story saying "This terminates your A. P. contract"

Definition: the egg is ready:

if the egg is open, no;

if the propulsion unit is not stuck to the egg, no;

if the filled label is not stuck to the egg, no;

if life-support is not stuck to the egg, no;

if life-support is switched off, no;

if the creature lies within the egg, yes;

no.

After switching on the propulsion unit:

let destiny be the moon of the creature;

choose row with moon column of destiny in the Table of Happy Endings;

say "You touch the propulsion and the pod blasts off, slipping through the window as though it were not made of glass at all; as though it were a curtain of water. And the creature is on its way back to [destiny]. ";

say "[ending entry]";

now the left hand status line is "Tuesday, July 20, 1954";

now the time of day is 5:52 PM;

move Esther to Reception;

make scene break.

Report closing a container which contains the creature:

say "You shut [the noun], with [the creature] inside." instead.

Instead of inserting the pod into the file drawer:

say "[The pod] is far too large to fit into the file drawer."

Before inserting something which is worn by the player into something:

try taking off the noun;

if the noun is worn, stop the action.

Before inserting something into a closed container:

try opening the second noun;

if the second noun is closed, stop the action.