Battle Royale in the Milky Way

<div class="text"> (text-colour:red)[''“FIRST ROUND, BEGINNING RING COUNTDOWN"'' ] I look down at the screen on the bracelet that sits tightly around my wrist. (text-colour:red)[11] Players. Nobody has died yet. The games have just started and my palms are already sweaty. Neptune quickly starts gathering ammunition, weapons and other important objects. I do the same and open the nearest supply bin. Two automatic carbines, ammunition, a med kit and a bulletproof vest. I put on the vest and throw one of the carbines over my shoulder. I realise I won't fit all the ammunition if I take the med kit. <br> <br> {(Link: "//Take half of the ammunition and the med kit// ") [ (set: $medicine to 1) (goto: "looting") ]} <br> {(Link: "//Take all of the ammunition//") [ (set: $medicine to 0) (goto: "looting") ]} </div> (set: $placement to 0) (set:$death to 0)

<div class="text"> I load my weapon and put the rest of the ammunition (if: $medicine is 1)[and the med kit] in my pockets. I look over at Neptune who is putting a bulletproof helmet on her head. She has a sniper rifle fastened on her back and is holding a pistol. I raise my eyebrow and look first at the weapon and then at her. "Is that all you're gonna go with?" I ask. Neptune shrugs her shoulders. "This was the best there was. Come on, let's go," she replies and starts moving out of the building. <br> <br> {(Link: "//Follow Neptune//") [ (goto: "plan") ]} </div>

<div class="text"> Neptune shakes her head with a smile on her lips. A shot can be heard in the far distance and I involuntary flinch at the same time as the bracelet lets out a ping. Three more shots can be heard before the bracelet pings again. (text-colour:red)[9] Players. Neptune looks at her screen and then looks around our surroundings. She points at a high building, a few minutes away. "That one is inside the circle. We look for better weapons on the way up to the roof. We're out to win, not killing the most people," she says. <br> <br> {(Link: "//Agree// ") [ (goto: "hologram deaths") ]} <br> {(Link: "Or we go towards the shooting instead? They're probably already hurt so we should hurry! ") [ (goto: "panic") ]} </div>

<div class="text"> I nod and Neptune taps at her bracelet and two identical holograms show up next to her. We start moving towards the building, but before we can barely take any step, one of the holograms are shot in the head and falls over(Link:"...")[(show: ?choice)] |choice)[(set: $counter to 5)(text-style:"bold","italic","shudder")|counter>[$counter]<br>(live: 1s)[(set: $counter to it - 1)(if: $counter is 0)[(go-to:"Death 0"))](replace: ?counter)[$counter](link:"//Look around to see the shooter//")<br>[(go-to:"titta")]<br>(link:"//Run towards the building//")[(go-to:"Spring")]]] </div>

<div class="text"> "Did you not hear what that was? It was a sniper, which means if we go over there-" Neptune doesn't have tome to finish the sentence before a bullet smashes into the ground just a few metres away from us(Link:"...")[(show: ?choice)] |choice)[(set: $counter to 5)(text-style:"bold","italic","shudder")|counter>[$counter]<br>(live: 1s)[(set: $counter to it - 1)(if: $counter is 0)[(go-to:"Death 0"))](replace: ?counter)[$counter](link:"//Look around to see the shooter//")<br>[(go-to:"Death 1")]<br>(link:"//Run towards the building//")[(go-to:"Spring")]]] </div>

<div class="text"> I turn around to see where the bullet came from but don't see anything. It must have been a sniper hidden somewhere. Probably Pluto. “[[Run]] you idiot!” Neptune yells and grabs my arm as her other hologram is shot down. <br> </div>

<div class="text"> (text-colour:red)[''"RING CLOSING COMPLETE. SECOND ROUND, BEGINNING RING COUNTDOWN"''] We run towards the building and hurry through the door. Neptune slams it shut and leans her body against the wall. "Forget what I said before. We don't have time to look through the building. Lay out your gas traps and I'll meet you on the roof," Neptune orders between breaths and starts walking up the stairs two steps at a time. <br> <br> {(Link: "//Set out the gas traps// ") [ (goto: "byggnaden") ]} <br> </div>

<div class="text"> I turn around to see where the bullet came from and is instead met with a bullet flying right towards me. I hear Neptunes scream at the same time as everything around me flickers and the world turns black(Link:"...")[(show: ?choice)] |choice)[(set: $counter to 10)(text-style:"bold")[|counter>[$counter]<br>(live: 1s)[(set: $counter to it - 1)(if: $counter is 0)[(go-to:"look around"))](replace: ?counter)[$counter] <br> (Link: "QUIT? ") [(go-to:"QUIT?")]]]] </div> (set:$death to 1) (set:$placement to 0)

<div class="text"> (if: $placement is 0)['(text-colour:red)[' You left the game before your respawn time had expired. You won't get any rewards for your placement or for participating in the game. Take off your simulation helmet and report to your superior for your next match.'']] (if: $placement is 2)[You and your teammate placed: (text-colour:green)[second!] Take off your simulation helmet and report to your superior for your next match.] (if: $placement is 7)[You and your teammate placed: (text-colour:green)[fourth!] Take off your simulation helmet and report to your superior for your next match.] (if: $placement is 5)[You and your teammate placed: (text-colour:green)[third!] Take off your simulation helmet and report to your superior for your next match. ] (if: $placement is 1)[You and your teammate placed: (text-colour:green)[first!] Congratulations. Take off your simulation helmet and report to your superior for your reward. Information about your next match will be available after some time off, if you so wish.]

<div class="text"> With shaky hands I take off my backpack and take out on of the gas traps. My own invention that I was really proud of and had saved me several times. I stroke my thumb across the orange ball and the big V carved into it. I put one next to the door and look into the room next to the stairs. The curtains from an open window flutters from the wind. <br> <br> {(Link: "//walk towards the window// ") [ (goto: "Death 2") ]} <br> {(Link: "//Roll a gas trap towards the window// ") [ (set: $gas to 1) (goto: "taket") ]} </div>

<div class="text"> I walk towards the window and take a ball out of the backpack. Before I can put it by the windowsill, the glass shatters and a piercing pain spreads from my right shoulder. The ball falls out of my hand and before it can hit the ground the world flickers and then turns black(Link:"...")[(show: ?choice)] |choice)[(set: $counter to 10)(text-style:"bold")[|counter>[$counter]<br>(live: 1s)[(set: $counter to it - 1)(if: $counter is 0)[(go-to:"look around"))](replace: ?counter)[$counter] <br> (Link: "QUIT? ") [(go-to:"QUIT?")]]]] </div> (set:$death to 1) (set:$placement to 0) </div>

<div class="text"> I press the communication button on the bracelet and message Neptune that the traps are set. The bracelt pings. (text-colour:red)[8] Players. I hurry up the stairs to the roof. When I arrive I see Neptune sitting at the edge with her sniper rifle in position. I crouch down and slowly move towards her. "Do you see anyone?" I ask. "I saw Sun alone, which probably means that Moon has died. Saturn and Mars are in the building next to us. I heard their voices," Neptune replies. <br> <br> {(Link: "//Go and observe your surroundings// ") [ (goto: "look around") ]} <br> </div>

<div class="text"> (if: $death is 1)[ "Lucky for you, there was a terminal up here. Your stuff are over there, hurry up and do a security check," Neptunes says as soon as I come too. I stand up quickly and do as she says. Coming back through a terminal always gave me a headache and I fight to keep my eyes open.] <br> I slowly move towards the left side of the roof. Mars is sitting in the other building bandaging Saturns leg, seemingly unaware that they're being watched. A window next to them was slightly open and their voices were barely distinguishable. I then move towards the right side of the roof. A lone muscular figure is moving around on the ground between the smaller houses. I move back towards Neptune. "Saturn is injure. They don't seem to know we're here. Pluto is maybe 50 metres away. He's not moving towards us but..." I trail off and Neptune gives me a conteplative look. "Follow your [[gut]]. What do you want to do?" she asks with a gentle voice. </div>

<div class="text"> (text-colour:red)[''“WARNING, RING MOVEMENT IN PROGRESS”''] I quickly look down at the bracelet. Still(text-colour:red)[ 8] players(Link:"...")[(show: ?choice)] |choice)[(set: $counter to 10)(text-style:"bold","italic","shudder")|counter>[$counter]<br>(live: 1s)[(set: $counter to it - 1)(if: $counter is 0)[(go-to:"Death 0"))](replace: ?counter)[$counter](Link: "//Throw a gas trap at Saturn and Mars// ") [(go-to:"SM")] (link:"//Wait until you hear shooting//")[(go-to:"vänta")] <br> (Link:"//Ask Neptune to shoot at Pluto// ") <br> [(go-to:"pluto")]]] </div>

<div class="text"> I take out one of the gas traps and look up at Neptune. I smile and give her a wink and am met with a laughable combination of rose red cheeks and worried eyes. I hurry towards the left edge of the roof and throw the ball through the window. Mars immediately runs out to the stairway leaving Saturn, who is limping away from the gas spreading quickly from the ball. I raise my weapon with shaky hands and aim it at the door that leads out towards the roof. A ping from the bracelet. The door bursts open by Mars (Link:"...")[(show: ?choice)] <br> |choice)[(set: $counter to 5)(text-style:"bold","italic","shudder")|counter>[$counter]<br>(live: 1s)[(set: $counter to it - 1)(if: $counter is 0)[(go-to:"Death 3"))](replace: ?counter)[$counter] <br> (Link: "//Shoot// ") [(go-to:"Mars")]]] </div> (set: $MS to true)

<div class="text"> "We wait. When you start hearing shooting, shoot at them. They'll be wounded and too focused on each other," I say. Neptune nods and looks back down the scope. After only a few seconds, a shot is fired in the distance. Neptune tenses and I wonder if she's even breathing. She fires the weapon and another ping can be heard. Neptune reloads with a sour face. "Sun blinded me. I got Jupiter by mistake," she explains before I can even ask. "Better than nothing," I say. Neptune agrees with a grunt and aims again. An explosion can be heard close by together with another ping from the bracelet. Another ping can be heard again shortly thereafter. <br> <br> {(Link: "//Look around to see where the sound came from// ") [ (goto: "almost") ]} <br> </div> (set: $MS to false) (set:$hurt to 0)

<div class="text"> "Aim at Pluto. I'll keep watch on the building to the left," I say. Neptune nods and look back down the scope. I walk over to the left side of the roof and aim my weapon at the door that leads up to the other buildings roof. Neptune starts shooting and I try with all my might to make my heart calm down. Shots are fired over and over until eventually a ping is heard from the bracelet. (text-colour:red)[7 ]players. Mars and Saturn burst through the door(Link:"...")[(show: ?choice)] <br> |choice)[(set: $counter to 5)(text-style:"bold","italic","shudder")|counter>[$counter]<br>(live: 1s)[(set: $counter to it - 1)(if: $counter is 0)[(go-to:"Death 3"))](replace: ?counter)[$counter] <br> (Link: "//Shoot// ") [(go-to:"Mars")]]] </div> (set: $pluto to true)

<div class="text"> Mars shoots at the same time but misses. Blood trickles down his face as the lifeless body falls to the ground. (if: $pluto is true)[Saturn tries to keep their body up with one leg and takes out their weapon. I fire another bullet and their body falls over Mars.] Another ping from the bracelet. (text-colour:red)[5] players. Laughter wells out of me and I turn proudly to Neptune. Neptune smiles back but there is something wrong with her smile. My eyes wander down to the shoulder shes holding. Mars didn't miss. (if: $medicine is 1)[I quickly pull the med kit out from my pocket to help her. Neptune takes it from me and the holds up her hand in gesture of stopping me.] (if: $medicine is 0) [I barely take a step towards Neptune before she raises her hand in a gesture to stop me.] A small house a bit off explodes. Two pings from the bracelet. "Pluto is on his way. [[Focus!]]" <br> </div> (set: $hurt to 1)

<div class="text"> My body becomes frozen and I'm incapable of making a decision. Suddenly pain is spreading though my body, everything flickers and the world turns black(Link:"...")[(show: ?choice)] |choice)[(set: $counter to 10)(text-style:"bold")[|counter>[$counter]<br>(live: 1s)[(set: $counter to it - 1)(if: $counter is 0)[(go-to:"look around"))](replace: ?counter)[$counter] <br> (Link: "QUIT? ") [(go-to:"QUIT?")]]]] (set:$death to 1) (set:$placement to 0) </div>

<div class="text"> I stand up to see where the explosion came from(Link:"...")[(show: ?choice)] <br> |choice)[(set: $counter to 5)(text-style:"bold","italic","shudder")|counter>[$counter]<br>(live: 1s)[(set: $counter to it - 1)(if: $counter is 0)[(go-to:"Death Duck"))](replace: ?counter)[$counter] <br> (Link: "//Duck// ") [(go-to:"Fokusera!")]]]

<div class="text"> (text-colour:red)[''"THIRD ROUND, BEGINNING RING COUNTDOWN"''] "Listen to me. Hide behind the door. Pluto will come up here and give me all his attention. While he's distracted you shoot him, okay?" Neptunes tells me with a clear hint of desperation. (if: $MS is false)["I'll deal with Saturn and Mars, you just make sure your stupidity won't be the death of you." ] (if:$hurt is true and $medicine is 1) [I glance down at her wound. "I can still hold a gun, don't worry," she continues.] (if:$hurt is true and $medicine is 0)[I glance down at her wound. "I don't have to survive for us to win," she continues.] {(Link: "//Do as you're told// ") [ (goto: "Finale") ]} <br> </div>

<div class="text"> I hurry and hide behind the door. Neptune turns around and leans her back towards the edge with her pistol in hand. (if: $MS is false)[The door to roof on the other building bursts open. Neptune fires twice before I can even react. (text-colour:red)[3] players left. Neptune look over at my stunned face and gives a wink that makes her own cheeks redden.] Heavy steps can be heard from the stairwell. Neptune raises her hand (if: $hurt is 1)[with a painful grimace] and aims at the door. After what feels like eternity the door opens and Pluto's massive body stands between me and Neptune(Link:"...")[(show: ?choice)] <br> |choice)[(set: $counter to 5)(text-style:"bold","italic","shudder")|counter>[$counter]<br>(live: 1s)[(set: $counter to it - 1)(if: $counter is 0)[(go-to:"Death 4"))](replace: ?counter)[$counter] <br> (Link: "//Shoot// ") [(set:$placement to 1)(go-to:"QUIT?")]]] </div>

<div class="text"> (text-colour:red)[''“WARNING. RING MOVEMENT IN PROGRESS.”''] I follow Neptune out of the building. The bracelet lets out a ping. (text-colour:red)[10] Players. "So what's the plan?" I ask. "Do you want to find a better weapon? Hide and wait until the ring closes? Find a good spot with a high view?" "Do you not have any sort of survivors instinct, Venus? A gut feeling?" Neptune asks back with a huff. <br> <br> {(Link: "No, not at all. You should have learned that by now" ) [ (goto: "deciding") ]} {(Link: "I do, I'd just rather listen to yours") [ (goto: "deciding") ]} <br> </div>

<div class="text"> A shot is fired, however it wasn't from my weapon. Neptune's pistol falls to the ground alongisde her lifeless arm. My breath catches when I see the blood trickle down over her lifeless eyes. Pluto turns around and before I can even react, a sharp pain spreads across my body. The world flickers and everything turns black. ''[[QUIT?]]'' </div> (set: $placement to 2)

<div class="text"> A second of doubt is all Mars needs to fire his weapon at me. Pain spreads, the world flickers and everything turns black. <br> ''[[QUIT?]]'' (set:$placement to 7) </div>

<div class="text"> I barely get a glimpse of the fire before the world flickers and everything turns black. <br> ''[[QUIT?]]'' </div> (set: $placement to 5)

<div class="text"> (align:"=><=")+(box:"=XXX=")[(text-colour:orange)[Battle Royale in the Milky Way] <br> by Izabella Novo <br> <br> <br> {(Link: "START GAME" ) [ (goto: "first ring") ]}] <div/>