Binary

You are an android that has been assigned to take care of an ill girl. She is bedridden and depressed, and you have one week before she is euthanized. [[Accept->Introduction]]

You enter the room slowly so you do not startle her. Her head barely turns toward you as you enter the room, and her dark eyes register your existence for half a second before moving on to the blank, white wall ahead of her again. Her appearance matches the photos in your database: she is small and underweight, and she has brown eyes and long black hair, though it appears to be quite messy from all the time she spends leaning into her pillow at various angles throughout the day. She does not speak to you or look at you again. [[Ask if she knows who you are->Who]] [[Ask how she is->How]]

"I know who you are," she replies, though her voice sounds hoarse from the very little use she has put it through. "You'll be the last person to see me alive. I'm sorry you were assigned to me; I'm sure your time could have gone to someone much more valuable." Though she clearly hasn't spoken much, it's obvious she has a lot to say. You suppose she must have a lot of thoughts that she hardly ever shares with anyone. You walk over to check her [[vitals->Vitals]].

"I'm how I always am," she answers. Her voice sounds hoarse in a way that you can tell she hasn't used it much. "I don't really feel anything. I haven't for years. I can't wait to die. I can't imagine you know how that would feel like, though." You don't know how to respond to that. She isn't wrong, either; you don't really know how that might feel like because your emotion-mimicking program doesn't include emotions like those. You walk over to check her [[vitals->Vitals]].

You plug your finger into a socket beside her bed. Her vitals and other important information (such as her history) appears in words and numbers in an overlay. She doesn't pay you any attention while you do this. Her vitals seem fine, though you make mental notes that she is severely depressed and has expressed self-harming tendencies before. She is set to be euthanized in a week. Since she is ill and has no motivation to work or live, it is the duty of the current society to make her comfortable before she can exit the world how she sees fit. She doesn't have any value otherwise. You look over at her even though she isn't looking at you. So, this is going to be the [[first day->First Day]].

You have a few things you can do today with or without the girl. You can [[talk->Talk]] to her. There's a [[journal->Journal]] on the dresser. You can investigate the next [[room->Room]]. You can go into [[sleep mode->Sleep]].

She isn't even glancing in your direction, so it doesn't look like you'll be caught. Still, you hesitate for a moment before [[opening->Entry1]] it. [[You look back to the room.->First Day]]

Her writing is a little messy, but it's still legible. The first page reads: *Dear Journal, I don't know why I'm writing in here. I heard these are supposed to help you sort out your feelings, but they never really helped me. I've trashed all my other journals. I feel like each page looks the same and I never get any better. I'll probably trash this one or just stop writing in it, whichever comes first. A new android's been assigned to me. This will be the last one I get before I finally die in about a week. It'll be like the others: it'll feed me, talk to me, and do the bare minimum so I can survive until the day I'm supposed to die. They're sort of creepy. They just stare at you most of the time and I wish they'd leave me alone. They don't really have anything interesting to say, anyway. I guess they weren't programmed to be good talkers. I kind of miss the one I had when I was a kid. Sometimes, I'd hear a song from the next room and I'd feel a little bit of what you might call "content."* She signed her name, but it looks as if she went back and scratched it out with black ink. It's unreadable. You [[close->Journal]] the journal.

She looks forlorn. [[You try to come up with something for you two to talk about.->Talk1]]

The room that connects to the girl's room is covered in a fine layer of dust. It doesn't look like it's been used very much. There's an old piano in the center of the room that looks as if it hasn't been played in years. It's covered haphazardly with a white cloth. You don't want to touch anything in case you aren't allowed to. [[You go back to the girl's room.->First Day]]

You charge in your [["sleep"->Second Day]] soundly.

It's the second day. The girl looks a little happier today. You can [[talk->Talk2]] to her. The journal isn't on top of the dresser anymore. You can check her [[vitals->Vitals2]]. You can investigate the next [[room->Room2]]. You can go [[outside->Outside]]. You can go into [[sleep mode->Sleep2]].

You mumble something about the weather, but she isn't even looking at the window. She doesn't respond. [[You look back to the room.->First Day]]

(if: $Investigate is 0)[She appears to be in a better mood, but you're not sure why. [[Ask->Ask]]] (if: $Investigate is 1)[You ask her about the sheet music you found in the other room. She looks surprised for a moment, but quickly answers that it's not anything you should concern yourself over. "All of that sheet music is really old," she adds. After that, she appears to think that the conversation has ended. [[You look back to the room.->Second Day]]]

The room looks the same as it did the day before: dusty, unused, abandoned. You could [[investigate->Investigate]] the room further. [[You go back to the girl's room.->Second Day]]

You charge in your [["sleep"->Third Day]] soundly.

Her vitals are the same as before, but with the difference that the brain scan shows she's in a more positive mood today. [[You look back to the room.->Second Day]]

She answers that she's happier today because she doesn't have obligations to anyone anymore. [[You look back to the room.->Second Day]]

It's the third day. You can [[talk->Talk3]] to her. You can check her [[vitals->Vitals3]]. You can investigate the next [[room->Room3]]. You can go [[outside->Explore2]]. You can go into [[sleep mode->Sleep3]].

(set: $Investigate to 1)[There's old sheet music on the floor behind the piano. Some of it is torn, but it looks like it could be put back together. [[You go back to the room.->Room2]]]

(if: $Download is 0)[She doesn't look like she wants to talk. [[You look back to the room.->Third Day]]] (if: $Download is 1)[You ask her about her relationship with music. "I used to play the piano a long time ago, but I stopped for various reasons," she says. She doesn't look like she's going to say anything else about it. [[You look back to the room.->Third Day]]]

Her vitals are at the same levels as when you started. [[You look back to the room.->Third Day]]

The room looks the same as before: dusty, unused, abandoned. [[Analyze->Analyze]] the sheet music. [[You go back to the girl's room.->Third Day]]

You charge in your [["sleep"->Fourth Day]] soundly.

It's the fourth day. You can [[talk->Talk4]] to her. You can check her [[vitals->Vitals4]]. You can investigate the next [[room->Room4]]. You can go [[outside->Explore3]]. You can go into [[sleep mode->Sleep4]].

(if: $Play is 0)[You think about asking the girl more about her relationship with music. [[Ask->Ask2]]] (if: $Play is 1)[The girl is smiling as you approach her to talk, and she has tears forming in her eyes. "I haven't heard that piano in so long," she says. "I wish I could play it again. I used to write songs, too, but I lost all my confidence in them. I don't even know where the sheet music is for those songs anymore." You two talk about the piano and music for hours. When you two finish, she's tired from her emotions and the social interaction and she decides she needs to take a nap. [[You look back to the room.->Fourth Day]]]

Her vitals are at the same levels as when you started. [[You look back to the room.->Fourth Day]]

The room looks the same as before: dusty, unused, abandoned. You think about [[approaching->Approach]] the piano. [[You go back to the girl's room.->Fourth Day]]

You charge in your [["sleep"->Fifth Day]] soundly.

It's the fifth day. You can [[talk->Talk5]] to her. You can check her [[vitals->Vitals5]]. You can investigate the next [[room->Room5]]. You can go [[outside->Explore4]]. You can go into [[sleep mode->Sleep5]].

(if: $SheetMusic is 0)[You try to talk to her more about the sheet music you found in the other room, but she can't tell you much. [[You look back to the room.->Fifth Day]]] (if: $SheetMusic is 1)[You talk to her about the sheet music pieces that you are working on putting together. The girl seems to recognize at least one of the torn pieces; she remembers that it was about a spring day where petals danced across the sky and trees were heavy with bright flowers. She says that the way she had the piano keys slowly climb upward while the other hand played small, gentle chords evoked that image for her. Your conversation with the girl soon ends naturally, and you leave her in a happier than she was previously. [[You look back to the room.->Fifth Day]]]

Her vitals are at the same levels as when you started. [[You look back to the room.->Fifth Day]]

The room looks the same as before: dusty, unused, abandoned. You think about [[approaching->Approach2]] the piano. [[You go back to the girl's room.->Fifth Day]]

You charge in your [["sleep"->Sixth Day]] soundly.

It's the sixth day. You can [[talk->Talk6]] to her. You can check her [[vitals->Vitals6]]. You can investigate the next [[room->Room6]]. You can go [[outside->Explore5]]. You can go into [[sleep mode->Sleep6]].

(if: $SheetMusic is 0)[You try to talk to her more about the sheet music you found in the other room, but she can't tell you much. [[You look back to the room.->Sixth Day]]] (if: $SheetMusic is 1)[You try to talk to her more about the sheet music you found in the other room, but she can't tell you much beyond the song she wrote about the lovely spring day. [[You look back to the room.->Sixth Day]]] (if: $SheetMusic is 2)[You talk to her more about the sheet music pieces that you are working on putting together. The girl recognizes another one of the torn pieces. She remembers that the way she wrote it made her think of someone living out a simple life: even if no one remembered them too long after they passed, what mattered was that they lived their life doing what made them happy. Your conversation with the girl soon ends naturally, and she seems happier than she was before you two began talking for the day. [[You look back to the room.->Sixth Day]]]

Her brain scan shows that she feels much more relaxed and positive. [[You look back to the room.->Sixth Day]]

The room looks the same as before. You think about [[approaching->Approach3]] the piano. [[You go back to the girl's room.->Sixth Day]]

You charge in your [["sleep"->Seventh Day]] soundly.

It's the last day. Tomorrow is the execution date. You can [[talk->Talk7]] to her. You can check her [[vitals->Vitals7]]. You can investigate the next [[room->Room7]]. You can go [[outside->Explore6]]. You can go into [[sleep mode->Sleep7]].

(if: $SheetMusic is 2 or 1 or 0)[You try to talk to her more about the sheet music you found in the other room, but she can't tell you much beyond what she's already told you. [[You look back to the room.->Seventh Day]]] (if: $SheetMusic is 3)[The girl is smiling again as you approach her to talk. "Those were all my songs," she says. "Hearing you play them made me remember how I felt when I wrote all of them so long ago. I kind of want to try playing music again. I remember it used to make me happy. It's been so long." [[You tell her that she should keep trying.->Keep Trying]]]

(if: $SheetMusic is 2 or 1 or 0)[Her vitals are at the same levels as when you started. [[You look back to the room.->Seventh Day]]] (if: $SheetMusic is 3)[Her brain scan shows that she feels happy. [[You look back to the room.->Seventh Day]]]

The piano is half-covered in a white cloth. You think about [[approaching->Approach4]] the piano. [[You go back to the girl's room.->Seventh Day]]

You charge in your [["sleep"->Ending]] soundly.

You analyze the sheet music, even the torn up pieces. [[Download->Download]]

The piano is still half-covered in a white cloth. You think about trying to [[play->Play]] the piano. [[You look back toward the room.->Room4]]

(set: $Download to 1)[You find and download information about how to play a piano and how to read sheet music. You then figure that that's enough for today. [[You look back toward the room.->Room3]]]

The piano is half-covered in a white cloth. You can work on putting the pieces of the sheet music back [[together->Sheet Music]] here. [[You look back toward the room.->Room5]]

(set: $Play to 1)[You hesitate before pulling the cloth off the piano and sitting down at the bench before it. You call up the information you downloaded about the sheet music, but only the complete pieces. You start to play one of the songs. You are precise and perfect even though it's your first try because of the information you downloaded. When you finish, you get up and put the cloth back over the piano. [[You look back toward the room.->Room4]]]

(if: $SheetMusic is 2 or 1 or 0)[The next day, you are told that the girl could not be saved and she was euthanized. With your purpose over, you will be shut down until you can be repurposed for another family after a wipe of your memories. As you closed your eyes for the last time, you wondered what else you could have done.] (if: $SheetMusic is 3)[The next day, you are told that the execution is cancelled because the girl's mental health has improved and she has expressed the wish to live in order to try playing music again. Because of this, your function is primarily over and you will be shut down until you can be repurposed for another family after a wipe of your memories. You wanted to stay with the girl and her family, but it wasn't your decision to make. No one asked for you and the girl did not go to see you before you closed your eyes for the last time.]

The piano is half-covered in a white cloth. You can work on putting the pieces of the sheet music back [[together->Sheet Music2]] here. [[You look back toward the room.->Room6]]

(if: $SheetMusic is 3)[You are able to put all of the pieces together now. You go to the piano and play each original piece one after another. When you finish, you get up and put the cloth back over the piano. [[You look back toward the room.->Room7]]]

"I want to. I think I'll ask. My parents would be happy to hear that, wouldn't they?" she says. She seems almost like a completely different person lately. When your conversation with her is over, you can hear her humming something to herself. It sounds like one of her songs. [[You look back to the room.->Seventh Day]]

She doesn't look like she wants to talk to you right now. [[You look back to the room.->Fourth Day]]

(set:$SheetMusic to ($SheetMusic + 1))[You look over the sheet music and try to put together the pieces of the torn papers in your mind. After some time, you figure that's enough and you stop for the day. [[You look back toward the room.->Room5]]]

The piano is half-covered in a white cloth. You can work on putting the pieces of the sheet music back [[together->Sheet Music3]] here. [[You look back toward the room.->Room7]]

(set:$SheetMusic to ($SheetMusic + 1))(if: $SheetMusic is 3)[You look over the sheet music again and try to put together the pieces of the torn papers in your [[mind->Play2]].] (if: $SheetMusic is 2 or 1 or 0)[You look over the sheet music again and try to put together the pieces of the torn papers in your mind. After some time, you figure that's enough and you stop for the day. [[You look back toward the room.->Room7]]]

You step out of the room. There are several directions you can go, but you are confined to stay in the area of the house and courtyard. It seems that every day, different things may happen here, but you are only to observe them. You can come back here more than once and you may notice something different, or you may find yourself looking at the same thing. [[Explore->Explore]] [[Go back->Second Day]]

(set: $event to (random: 1, 6)) (if: $event is 1)[The courtyard is full of beautiful beds of flowers and a few trees. It is surrounded on all sides by the rest of the building, which houses the girl's family. Even though this area is remarkable, it has a sense of loneliness, and it looks as if almost no one comes here besides the gardener.] (elseif: $event is 2)[You hear giggling coming from one of the rooms in the house, but your programming telling you that you are not allowed in. It appears that the room belongs to one of the girl's siblings.] (elseif: $event is 3)[The hallway outside the girl's room is decorated with pictures depicting her growth throughout the years. You can see her progression from a baby to a teenager in only a few steps.] (elseif: $event is 4)[One of the rooms nearby is a room that proudly displays the family's achievements. Among the science and technology achievements that the girl's father has won, you can see a couple of awards that were given to the girl for placing high in different piano contests.] (elseif: $event is 5)[You can hear murmuring in one of the nearby rooms, but you can't make out the words. You think that the murmuring could be from the girl's parents, though, so you decide to steer clear so you are not caught trying to eavesdrop.] (elseif: $event is 6)[Outside one of the windows, you can see that the house is surrounded by others that look a lot like it. You can barely see anything else.] [[Go back to the girl's room->Second Day]]