Sugarcane

"Uhm, what's your idea for a good story for today's game?" \nGood opener. Really? That's the best you can come up with when looking for inspiration? Pathetic.\n\nRichard looks up from his notebook: "I'm still working on it, but I don't know if I'll be able to finish it in time. We have to our game until 18:00 o'clock."\n\nYou return to your [[workplace]]. Too bad this conversation was so short.

Another game jam you have chosen to attend this summer. Once again, you are surrounded by friendly and creative people who prefer programming instead of relaxing at the swimming pool. \n\nAfter the intro speeches have been held, the game jam begins. It is now that you realize that you have absolutely no idea how to start. You have been lucky to have some reasonable ideas on you last game jam, but now your creativity seems to have come to an end.\n\nThere are three persons sitting next to you, working on their games: Astrid, a digital artist, Richard, a young programmer and Iwan, a sound designer. \n\nSpeak to [[Richard]]\n\nSpeak to [[Astrid]].\n\nSpeak to [[Iwan]].

You wake up from an unpleasant combination of a shrill doorbell and a wild throbbing against the door. \n\n"Open immediately, police!", a harsh voice yells out.\n\nOn your way to the door, you realize that all other gamejam participants are gone. The bleak, unfurnished rooms look like nobody has been in here for ages. The unfurnished rooms? How could that happen? Is that some kind of joke?\nWhat's the crumpled-up [[piece of paper]] lying on the floor?\nWho's hammering against the [[door]]?\nAnd why does the angry voice sound familiar to you?\n\n \n\n

"You will be back. Rheinsteiner may have defeated you last time but you still are a valuable asset. When you come to the Headquarters, ask for Rachel." the scribbling says. \n\nThe good thing: it's a message written by a girl, judging by the soft handwriting. Girls writing letters to you, it's fourth grade all over again, hooray!\n\nThe bad thing: the angry guy at the door yells something like "We're coming in NOW!"\n\nYou bolt for the [[door]].

Your body stiffens, as you stand stil, waiting for a reaction.\nFor several seconds, you hear nothing. Then the door breaks, and you see special forces soldiers with assault rifles breaking into the room.\n\nWhat do you do [[now]]?

Wanna do some Jason Bourne-action on a windowsill in the 5th floor? Sure, why not, you have plenty of time until the guys return with an attack helicopter or something.\n\nEven if you think that's not a very good idea, [[you]] start climbing out of the window...

A trigger to pull, yeah, that's what you are wishing for now.\nThe soldiers are not impressed by your rebellish mindset, as they have you gunned down in no time. \n\nNow, with a punctured lung, you're down for good. It seems to puzzle [[you]] that the soldiers call for a medic...\n\n\n

"Goddamnit!" you hear behind the door. \n"Whoever is doing this, it's serious. Call in the reinforcements! They must not get away!"\n\nThe shuffling of heavy boots withdrawing from the half landing seems like a great relief. They seem to be gone...calling for back-up.\n\nWhat do you do now?\n\nYou can open the door and sneak into the [[hallway]] \n\nor\n\nyou can go and take a look out of the next [[window]].\n

A short conversation

to be continued...

Even though Astrid seems to be fully absorbed in her creation, she takes down her headset and gives you a friendly smile.\n\n"Astrid, if there would be one advise you could give me on, uh, creative work, what would it be?". \n\n"Do the most work you can!" Astrid answers like a shot. This advice sounds good, but you are far too tired now to think about it. You return to your [[workplace]]. Too bad this conversation was so short.

There is nobody to be seen when you open the door and take a look around...what was that? Why is that stuff happening to [[you]]?

Do you want to [[answer]] the door or [[remain calm]]?

Iwan seems to be listening to music. You choose not to disturb him. You return to your [[workplace]] and let your head sink on the table. Too bad this conversation was so short.

What do you answer?\n\n"Uh, nobody around here, it's the [[radio]] talking!"\n\n"My name is...[[Mr.Burns]]!"\n\n"I have the entire building [[rigged with explosives]]. Wanna come in and find out if I'm bluffing?"\n\n\n\n

Alexander Kuprijanow

\nWhen they kick out your front door, how you gonna come?\n\nWith your hands [[behind your head]] or on the [[trigger]] of your gun?\n\nWhen you're through with remembering fancy song lyrics, you can still attempt to [[flee]].

You spot an open window across the room and a rusty ladder leading to a small skylight...\n\nWhere do [[you]] wanna flee?

You spend the next hour jotting down some random words on paper, looking outside the window. Another hour passes; due to the hot summer day, you become tired. You welcome the sleepiness, as your head sinks on the table. You are [[asleep]] now.

You put your hands on the top of your head and get on your knees.\n\nThe soldiers don't mind hitting you a couple of times with their take you prisoner by every trick in the book. When they're done putting you in chains, a tall, thin man enters the room. You recognize his voice.\n\n"You...here? In this hole? Impossible! The last time we met, you have been a formidable foe. Now you...simply surrender? What do you say to a short conversation, just you and me?" \n\nWhat do [[you]] answer?\n\nWho are you?\n\nWhere am I?\n\nWhat is this all about?\n\nYes, we should talk in private.\n\n