So we leave turn to 23.
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23 Leaving the dance club, you move off down the corridor towards the lift. As you rush along, you hear booted feet ahead and feel a surge of relief. You are not alone after all! Maybe they can help you take control of the ship. You hurry around the bend towards your new-found friends; but when they come into sight you begin to doubt the extent of the amiability. There are four soldiers, clad in space-black fatigues with shiny black body armour and helmets with tinted visors. Each one carries a blaster rifle in hand, belts heavy with other weapons around their hips. Each one has an insignia of a planet with a large red P on it. Inwardly you groan. You have heard of these soldiers. In recent times a mysterious tyrant has been taking over planets one by one, leaving dead husks in its wake. There is much speculation about what P stands for, but most news-casters have seized upon the unimaginative "Pirates." Seeing you, one calls out "Halt!" as they rush to apprehend you. Two of them grab you and another thrusts his gun into your chest. The other just chills nearby. You imagine the soldier in front giving you a steely cold stare, but can see nothing through the visor. "Who are you?" the soldier before you demands to know. If you have your id and want to show it to him, turn to 5 If you have Gary Fishbone's id and want to show it to him, turn to 14 Otherwise, your only choice is to insult him; turn to 45 174s |
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45 Looking at the soldier sympathetically, you say: "It's ok. You don't have to pretend with me." "Huh?" the soldier says, a little taken aback. Then he remembers that he is the one holding the blaster that is thrust into your chest. "Less talk, more id!" You shake your head sadly. "I don't want to embarrass you in front of your friends about"¦well, you know. You should be very proud of what you"ve achieved already." "What are you babbling about?" the soldier demands. "You know," you lower your voice to a whisper. "About not being able to read." "I can read, space-brain!" the soldier insists. "What do you think I am?" "Aren't you a shaved gorilla?" The soldier grabs you around the neck. "You having a go at me?" "Not at all!" you wheeze. "I admire greatly what you"ve been able to accomplish since leaving the jungle!" Sensing a homicidal inclination developing in the soldier, you desperately try to think of more witty things to say before it's too late. Before you can speak, or get shot, one of the soldiers holding your arm speaks. "Don't kill him. He could be the one where"re after. He matches the physical description." "So have 1000s of others!" the soldier holding your neck spits; an unfortunate form of expression since he is wearing a visor over his face. "The queen wouldn't waste an algorithm on a waste of space like this!" The soldiers discus the matter for a while, while you concentrate on breathing between the soldier's fingers. Eventually they decide to take you back for "inspection". The soldier holding your neck claims he can take 'the pipsqueak" back unaided, so the others unhand you and continue on their way. The soldier releases you with a shove, and then raises his blaster. "Run, and I"ll shoot you down like a dog!" You briefly consider pointing out that far more human beings are shot annually than dogs. And rather than being the norm, most dogs are well-treated, as cruel treatment, including shootings, is illegal under every jurisdiction in the known universe apart from the planet Purros, which is populated by an intelligent feline race that is famous for yarn production and barbarous public dog torturing. Instead, you just rub your neck and continue on your way. You are directed into the lift and the soldier presses the button for level X, the main engineering deck. As the lift descends, the soldier removes his helmet to clean off the spittle from inside the visor. He gives you a glare that warns you not to try anything. To try something, turn to 27 To remain passive, turn to 9 312s |