Text will now be saved to the script file.  Type UNSCRIPT to discontinue
scripting.

>l
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner keeping some tropical
specimens alive.  The rest of the tables around the room are covered with other
plant-related experiments, ranging from jars of seeds in solution by the west
wall, to some kind of large mechanical-botanical hybrid by the east wall.
Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are covered with various scribbles and
notations.

>put nut under heat lamp
Which nut do you mean, a granola nut, or the large nut?

>large
You can't put anything under that.

>x hybrid
It's small for a tree, or large for a bush (the table its pot is sitting on is
extra-reinforced).  Even so, there's still some open soil left in its pot — how
big do they expect it to grow in the near future?  The main thing of note,
however, are the wires and pumps running from boxes on the table and burrowing
into the trunk of the tree.  Whatever is going on there is tracked by a set of
computer monitors built into the pot, but most of the readouts seem fairly
meaningless.

>x table
The typical sort of tables you'd expect to see in a botany lab: slabrous and
giving off the faint scent of potting soil of yore.

>kick it
There wouldn't be much point to attacking that.

>push it
The plant tables are too heavy.

>move it
The plant tables are too heavy.

>tip it
The story doesn't understand that command.

>i
You are carrying an issue of Newsbeak, 175 food pills, four granola nuts, a
metal bowl, a Xavian viewmaster, a note, your image projector (disguised as a
powder compact) (which contains a microdot), six souvenir beak-polishers, a
scrap of paper, a remote control, an account book, a large nut, a rounded brown
sack, a Max Blaster action figure, your tk device (disguised as a tube of
lipstick), a gold cube, and a wave generator.  You are wearing your rocket
pants.

>plant nut
Which nut do you mean, a granola nut, or the large nut?

>large
(in the tree's pot)
There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just get dirty.

>plant granola nut
(in the tree's pot)
There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just get dirty.

>put chip in slot
You see no chip here.

>ne
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>nw
Flight Lab
The flight lab is nominally for studying flying things, but since to a Xavian
this covers everything from electronics to projectile weapons to spaceships,
the room appears somewhat organizationally confused to human eyes.  The
situation isn't helped by the fact that the room seems to have been mostly-
cleared as part of the base lockdown, probably into the cabinets against the
back wall.  Nevertheless, it's still a mess: there are bits of wire and half-
assembled mechanisms on the workbench, a long cylinder takes up much of the
center of the room, and most of the free wallspace is taken up by shelving.

>get chip
You see no chip here.

>se
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

You see a Venusian potato here.

>ne
Prototyping Room
The room is practically empty except for the large prototyping machine in the
center, but since that's the size of a large spacescooter, the room doesn't
feel deserted.  A few shelves occupy the walls but either they were bare to
start with or they've been hastily cleared.

The prototyper's slot contains a recordable datachip.

>get chip
Taken.

>sw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

You see a Venusian potato here.

The potato quietly fades out of existence.

>sw
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner keeping some tropical
specimens alive.  The rest of the tables around the room are covered with other
plant-related experiments, ranging from jars of seeds in solution by the west
wall, to some kind of large mechanical-botanical hybrid by the east wall.
Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are covered with various scribbles and
notations.

>put chip in slot
You slide the datachip into the slot.

>push button
(the download data button)
An error flashes briefly on one of the pot's readouts: “No unusual data to
download.”

>get chip
Taken.

>ne
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>se
Screen Theory Lab
This room is almost entirely open, except for a row of metal cabinets along one
wall, a large machine in the corner, and a small end-table next to the machine.
The majority of the room is devoted to bare floor on which a six-square grid
has been painted.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected in the middle of square 6.  Balanced
on top is a Venusian potato.

You see a projector note here.

>x note
Which note do you mean, the scrap of paper, the projector note, or the note?

>projector
“Intermittent screen instabilities also persisting in 4-6,” reads the note.
“Need to track down cause (freq interfer?)  or close off additional squares.
Leave upper/non-LOS settings disabled until perm received for extended
testing.”

The potato quietly fades out of existence.

>set lever to 4
You shift the lever to 4.  With a whirr like a flywheel slowing, the dome fades
away and disappears.  Moments later, the screen hums into existence back on the
grid.

>set lever to 5
You shift the lever to 5.  With a whirr like a flywheel slowing, the dome fades
away and disappears.  Moments later, the screen hums into existence back on the
grid.

>set lever to 6
You shift the lever to 6.  With a whirr like a flywheel slowing, the dome fades
away and disappears.  Moments later, the screen hums into existence back on the
grid.

>set lever to 7
As you push the lever to where 7 would be, a strip of paint crumbles away,
revealing that there are indeed three more settings for the lever.  With a
whirr like a flywheel slowing, the dome fades away and disappears.

>set lever to 8
You shift the lever to 8.

>set lever to 9
You shift the lever to 9.

>x main
The control panel for the screen projector seems pretty simple: there's an
on/off switch (currently on), a lever with settings 1-9 (set to 9), a green
button (for you to push), and a display (blank).  But the only one of note
seems to be the safety override switch.

>push green
(the screen projector's button)
With a ker-thunk, an auxiliary control panel covered in buttons and switches
shoots out from the main one.

>x aux
The word “aux” is not necessary in this story.

>x auxiliary
There is a large variety of buttons and switches on the auxiliary control
panel, none of which are labelled with anything other than cryptic
abbreviations and none of which mean anything to you except for the safety
override switch (off).

>turn on machine
The screen projector's power switch is already on.

>turn off machine
You flip the switch.  With a whirr like a flywheel slowing, the dome fades away
and disappears.

>turn on machine
You flip the switch.  There is a faint humming noise in the air, which rises to
a higher pitch as the screen reappears.

>listen
You hear nothing out of the ordinary.

>hum
You sing a few scales.

>l
Screen Theory Lab
This room is almost entirely open, except for a row of metal cabinets along one
wall, a large machine in the corner, and a small end-table next to the machine.
The majority of the room is devoted to bare floor on which a six-square grid
has been painted.

You see a projector note here.

>x grid
The grid is painted onto the floor, two rows of three, with 1 and and 4 at the
south end of the room, then 2 and 5, then 3 and 6.  The 4-5-6 column is flush
against the west wall; the 1-2-3 column heads down the center of the room
towards the door, and then there is some space on the floor to the south and
east of the grid which is occupied by cabinets and the screen projector and so
on.

>nw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

You see a Venusian potato here.

>sw
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner keeping some tropical
specimens alive.  The rest of the tables around the room are covered with other
plant-related experiments, ranging from jars of seeds in solution by the west
wall, to some kind of large mechanical-botanical hybrid by the east wall.
Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are covered with various scribbles and
notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected near the doorway.

>ne
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

You see a Venusian potato here.

>se
Screen Theory Lab
This room is almost entirely open, except for a row of metal cabinets along one
wall, a large machine in the corner, and a small end-table next to the machine.
The majority of the room is devoted to bare floor on which a six-square grid
has been painted.

You see a projector note here.

>set lever to 8
You shift the lever to 8.

>nw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

You see a Venusian potato here.

The potato quietly fades out of existence.

>sw
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner keeping some tropical
specimens alive.  The rest of the tables around the room are covered with other
plant-related experiments, ranging from jars of seeds in solution by the west
wall, to some kind of large mechanical-botanical hybrid by the east wall.
Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are covered with various scribbles and
notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected on a table near the east wall.

>put chip in slot
You slide the datachip into the slot.

>push button
(the download data button)
An error flashes briefly on one of the pot's readouts: “No unusual data to
download.”

>ne
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>se
Screen Theory Lab
This room is almost entirely open, except for a row of metal cabinets along one
wall, a large machine in the corner, and a small end-table next to the machine.
The majority of the room is devoted to bare floor on which a six-square grid
has been painted.

You see a projector note here.

>set lever to 9
You shift the lever to 9.

>nw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>sw
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner keeping some tropical
specimens alive.  The rest of the tables around the room are covered with other
plant-related experiments, ranging from jars of seeds in solution by the west
wall, to some kind of large mechanical-botanical hybrid by the east wall.
Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are covered with various scribbles and
notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected near the doorway.

You see a Venusian potato here.  The small slot in the pot contains a
recordable datachip.

>x screen
The screen, projected near the doorway, is shaped like a dome and is a bit more
than a yard across and half that in height.  The screen itself doesn't appear
similar to anything you've seen before — unlike Max's forcefield, the screen is
slightly fuzzy, as if it's vibrating almost too fast to be seen.  And, as
mentioned, it has a faint bluish tinge, though not enough to render it opaque.

>ne
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>se
Screen Theory Lab
This room is almost entirely open, except for a row of metal cabinets along one
wall, a large machine in the corner, and a small end-table next to the machine.
The majority of the room is devoted to bare floor on which a six-square grid
has been painted.

You see a projector note here.

>set lever to 8
You shift the lever to 8.

>nw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>sw
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner keeping some tropical
specimens alive.  The rest of the tables around the room are covered with other
plant-related experiments, ranging from jars of seeds in solution by the west
wall, to some kind of large mechanical-botanical hybrid by the east wall.
Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are covered with various scribbles and
notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected on a table near the east wall.

You see a Venusian potato here.  The small slot in the pot contains a
recordable datachip.

>x table
The typical sort of tables you'd expect to see in a botany lab: slabrous and
giving off the faint scent of potting soil of yore.  The small slot in the pot
contains a recordable datachip.

The potato quietly fades out of existence.

>[eh?]
Noted.

>push button
(the download data button)
An error flashes briefly on one of the pot's readouts: “No unusual data to
download.”

>push pot into dome
This would accomplish nothing.

>ne
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>se
Screen Theory Lab
This room is almost entirely open, except for a row of metal cabinets along one
wall, a large machine in the corner, and a small end-table next to the machine.
The majority of the room is devoted to bare floor on which a six-square grid
has been painted.

You see a projector note here.

>set lever to 12
The screen projector's lever has no such setting.

>set lever to 10
The screen projector's lever has no such setting.

>set lever to 8
You leave the lever at 8.

>x grid
The grid is painted onto the floor, two rows of three, with 1 and and 4 at the
south end of the room, then 2 and 5, then 3 and 6.  The 4-5-6 column is flush
against the west wall; the 1-2-3 column heads down the center of the room
towards the door, and then there is some space on the floor to the south and
east of the grid which is occupied by cabinets and the screen projector and so
on.

>set dial to 7
You adjust the dial on the viewmaster.

>nw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>ne
Prototyping Room
The room is practically empty except for the large prototyping machine in the
center, but since that's the size of a large spacescooter, the room doesn't
feel deserted.  A few shelves occupy the walls but either they were bare to
start with or they've been hastily cleared.

>se
You can't go that way.  The only obvious exit leads southwest, back to the
corridor by the laboratories.

>sw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>se
Screen Theory Lab
This room is almost entirely open, except for a row of metal cabinets along one
wall, a large machine in the corner, and a small end-table next to the machine.
The majority of the room is devoted to bare floor on which a six-square grid
has been painted.

You see a projector note and a Venusian potato here.

>set dial to 7
You adjust the dial on the viewmaster.

>set lever to 7
You shift the lever to 7.

>nw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>sw
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner keeping some tropical
specimens alive.  The rest of the tables around the room are covered with other
plant-related experiments, ranging from jars of seeds in solution by the west
wall, to some kind of large mechanical-botanical hybrid by the east wall.
Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are covered with various scribbles and
notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected on a table in the southeast corner.

The small slot in the pot contains a recordable datachip.

>x table
The typical sort of tables you'd expect to see in a botany lab: slabrous and
giving off the faint scent of potting soil of yore.  The small slot in the pot
contains a recordable datachip.

>look under dome
You see nothing unusual under the dome screen.

>touch dome
You touch the screen, and again are forced to quickly pull your hand away.

>push button
(the download data button)
An error flashes briefly on one of the pot's readouts: “No unusual data to
download.”

>ne
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>se
Screen Theory Lab
This room is almost entirely open, except for a row of metal cabinets along one
wall, a large machine in the corner, and a small end-table next to the machine.
The majority of the room is devoted to bare floor on which a six-square grid
has been painted.

You see a projector note here.

>x auxiliary
There is a large variety of buttons and switches on the auxiliary control
panel, none of which are labelled with anything other than cryptic
abbreviations and none of which mean anything to you except for the safety
override switch (off).

>turn on override
The display flashes for a moment, and then displays “Safety override enabled.”

>nw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>sw
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner keeping some tropical
specimens alive.  The rest of the tables around the room are covered with other
plant-related experiments, ranging from jars of seeds in solution by the west
wall, to some kind of large mechanical-botanical hybrid by the east wall.
Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are covered with various scribbles and
notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected on a table in the southeast corner.

You see a Venusian potato here.  The small slot in the pot contains a
recordable datachip.

>push button
(the download data button)
An error flashes briefly on one of the pot's readouts: “No unusual data to
download.”

>ne
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>se
Screen Theory Lab
This room is almost entirely open, except for a row of metal cabinets along one
wall, a large machine in the corner, and a small end-table next to the machine.
The majority of the room is devoted to bare floor on which a six-square grid
has been painted.

You see a projector note here.

>nw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>sw
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner keeping some tropical
specimens alive.  The rest of the tables around the room are covered with other
plant-related experiments, ranging from jars of seeds in solution by the west
wall, to some kind of large mechanical-botanical hybrid by the east wall.
Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are covered with various scribbles and
notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected on a table in the southeast corner.

You see a Venusian potato here.  The small slot in the pot contains a
recordable datachip.

>x hybrid
It's small for a tree, or large for a bush (the table its pot is sitting on is
extra-reinforced).  Even so, there's still some open soil left in its pot — how
big do they expect it to grow in the near future?  The main thing of note,
however, are the wires and pumps running from boxes on the table and burrowing
into the trunk of the tree.  Whatever is going on there is tracked by a set of
computer monitors built into the pot, but most of the readouts seem fairly
meaningless.

The potato quietly fades out of existence.

>unplug wire
You see no wire here.

>unplug wires
You see no way to unplug the tree's exoskeleton.

>push tree into dome
This would accomplish nothing.

>x hybrid
It's small for a tree, or large for a bush (the table its pot is sitting on is
extra-reinforced).  Even so, there's still some open soil left in its pot — how
big do they expect it to grow in the near future?  The main thing of note,
however, are the wires and pumps running from boxes on the table and burrowing
into the trunk of the tree.  Whatever is going on there is tracked by a set of
computer monitors built into the pot, but most of the readouts seem fairly
meaningless.

>unplug pumps
You see no way to unplug the tree's exoskeleton.

>x dome
The screen, projected on a table in the southeast corner, is shaped like a dome
and is a bit more than a yard across and half that in height.  The screen
itself doesn't appear similar to anything you've seen before — unlike Max's
forcefield, the screen is slightly fuzzy, as if it's vibrating almost too fast
to be seen.  And, as mentioned, it has a faint bluish tinge, though not enough
to render it opaque.

>l
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner keeping some tropical
specimens alive.  The rest of the tables around the room are covered with other
plant-related experiments, ranging from jars of seeds in solution by the west
wall, to some kind of large mechanical-botanical hybrid by the east wall.
Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are covered with various scribbles and
notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected on a table in the southeast corner.

The small slot in the pot contains a recordable datachip.

>x dome table
You see no dome table here.

>x table
The typical sort of tables you'd expect to see in a botany lab: slabrous and
giving off the faint scent of potting soil of yore.  The small slot in the pot
contains a recordable datachip.

>[huh?]
Noted.

>go under table
The story doesn't understand that command.

>enter table
Those are not something you can enter.

>stand on table
Okay, you're now standing on the plant tables.

>stand on dome
You touch the screen, and again are forced to quickly pull your hand away.

>d
(off of the plant tables)
Okay, you're no longer on the plant tables.

>ne
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>se
Screen Theory Lab
This room is almost entirely open, except for a row of metal cabinets along one
wall, a large machine in the corner, and a small end-table next to the machine.
The majority of the room is devoted to bare floor on which a six-square grid
has been painted.

You see a projector note here.

>set lever to 8
You shift the lever to 8.  An error flashes up on the control panel's display.
“Safety override engaged; non-line-of-sight screens disallowed.”  The lever
snaps back into place.

>nw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>sw
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner keeping some tropical
specimens alive.  The rest of the tables around the room are covered with other
plant-related experiments, ranging from jars of seeds in solution by the west
wall, to some kind of large mechanical-botanical hybrid by the east wall.
Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are covered with various scribbles and
notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected on a table in the southeast corner.

The small slot in the pot contains a recordable datachip.

>push button
(the download data button)
An error flashes briefly on one of the pot's readouts: “No unusual data to
download.”

>ne
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>se
Screen Theory Lab
This room is almost entirely open, except for a row of metal cabinets along one
wall, a large machine in the corner, and a small end-table next to the machine.
The majority of the room is devoted to bare floor on which a six-square grid
has been painted.

You see a projector note here.

>set lever to 9
You shift the lever to 9.  An error flashes up on the control panel's display.
“Safety override engaged; non-line-of-sight screens disallowed.”  The lever
snaps back into place.

>nw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>sw
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner keeping some tropical
specimens alive.  The rest of the tables around the room are covered with other
plant-related experiments, ranging from jars of seeds in solution by the west
wall, to some kind of large mechanical-botanical hybrid by the east wall.
Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are covered with various scribbles and
notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected on a table in the southeast corner.

The small slot in the pot contains a recordable datachip.

>push button
(the download data button)
An error flashes briefly on one of the pot's readouts: “No unusual data to
download.”

>ne
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>se
Screen Theory Lab
This room is almost entirely open, except for a row of metal cabinets along one
wall, a large machine in the corner, and a small end-table next to the machine.
The majority of the room is devoted to bare floor on which a six-square grid
has been painted.

You see a projector note here.

>x auxiliary
There is a large variety of buttons and switches on the auxiliary control
panel, none of which are labelled with anything other than cryptic
abbreviations and none of which mean anything to you except for the safety
override switch (on).

>turn off override
The display flashes for a moment, and then displays “Safety override disabled.”

>turn off machine
You flip the switch.  With a whirr like a flywheel slowing, the dome fades away
and disappears.

>[Except it disappears in the next room]
Noted.

>turn on machine
You flip the switch.  There is a faint humming noise in the air, which rises to
a higher pitch as the screen reappears.

>[ditto]
Noted.

>l
Screen Theory Lab
This room is almost entirely open, except for a row of metal cabinets along one
wall, a large machine in the corner, and a small end-table next to the machine.
The majority of the room is devoted to bare floor on which a six-square grid
has been painted.

You see a projector note here.

>x lever
The screen projector's lever is set to 7.

>nw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

You see a Venusian potato here.

>sw
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner keeping some tropical
specimens alive.  The rest of the tables around the room are covered with other
plant-related experiments, ranging from jars of seeds in solution by the west
wall, to some kind of large mechanical-botanical hybrid by the east wall.
Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are covered with various scribbles and
notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected on a table in the southeast corner.

The small slot in the pot contains a recordable datachip.

>push button
(the download data button)
An error flashes briefly on one of the pot's readouts: “No unusual data to
download.”

>ne
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>se
Screen Theory Lab
This room is almost entirely open, except for a row of metal cabinets along one
wall, a large machine in the corner, and a small end-table next to the machine.
The majority of the room is devoted to bare floor on which a six-square grid
has been painted.

You see a projector note here.

>set lever to 8
You shift the lever to 8.

>nw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>sw
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner keeping some tropical
specimens alive.  The rest of the tables around the room are covered with other
plant-related experiments, ranging from jars of seeds in solution by the west
wall, to some kind of large mechanical-botanical hybrid by the east wall.
Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are covered with various scribbles and
notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected on a table near the east wall.

The small slot in the pot contains a recordable datachip.

>push button
(the download data button)
An error flashes briefly on one of the pot's readouts: “No unusual data to
download.”

>ne. se. set lever to 9. nw. sw. push button
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

You see a Venusian potato here.

Screen Theory Lab
This room is almost entirely open, except for a row of metal cabinets along one
wall, a large machine in the corner, and a small end-table next to the machine.
The majority of the room is devoted to bare floor on which a six-square grid
has been painted.

You see a projector note here.

You shift the lever to 9.

Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

You see a Venusian potato here.

Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner keeping some tropical
specimens alive.  The rest of the tables around the room are covered with other
plant-related experiments, ranging from jars of seeds in solution by the west
wall, to some kind of large mechanical-botanical hybrid by the east wall.
Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are covered with various scribbles and
notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected near the doorway.

The small slot in the pot contains a recordable datachip.

(the download data button)
An error flashes briefly on one of the pot's readouts: “No unusual data to
download.”

>[bah]
Noted.

>x whiteboard
The whiteboards are covered in cryptic notes and drawings.  You can piece
together a few phrases: “monitor grwth dbl” “stray wavefrms lcated?”  “xtra
pollen — poss defense vs pain enfrcrs?”  “mem self: buy frtilizer” but nothing
that's really suggestive of, say, where they keep the experimental screen
disruptors, unless “side-effects from accelerated lifecycle of seeds??”  is
some sort of code.

>hit tree
There wouldn't be much point to attacking that.

>ping tree
The word “ping” is not necessary in this story.

>wave
What do you want to move?

>tree
The tree, needless to say, is rather firmly attached to the pot.

>wave dome
You touch the screen, and again are forced to quickly pull your hand away.

>touch hybrid
You feel nothing out of the ordinary.

>hold hybrid
Even a small tree is really too heavy to move.

>attach hybrid to dome
You cannot attach that to anything.

>i
You are carrying an issue of Newsbeak, 175 food pills, four granola nuts, a
metal bowl, a Xavian viewmaster, a note, your image projector (disguised as a
powder compact) (which contains a microdot), six souvenir beak-polishers, a
scrap of paper, a remote control, an account book, a large nut, a rounded brown
sack, a Max Blaster action figure, your tk device (disguised as a tube of
lipstick), a gold cube, and a wave generator.  You are wearing your rocket
pants.

>aim wave generator at dome
A staticky hiss comes from the wave generator.  What kind of waveform is that?

>pour liquid on dome
That is not something you can pour.

>get liquid
You can't bring yourself to touch the liquid.  Besides, there's a big danger
label on the jars.

>x danger
The label has a somewhat confusing silhouette of a Xavian surrounded by small
black ovals, with text below reading “DANGER: contact with formula may lead to
nausea, throbbing, beak rot, and instantaneous molting.

>sing
You sing a few scales.

>x hybrid
It's small for a tree, or large for a bush (the table its pot is sitting on is
extra-reinforced).  Even so, there's still some open soil left in its pot — how
big do they expect it to grow in the near future?  The main thing of note,
however, are the wires and pumps running from boxes on the table and burrowing
into the trunk of the tree.  Whatever is going on there is tracked by a set of
computer monitors built into the pot, but most of the readouts seem fairly
meaningless.

>x monitors
The tree's pot is designed as a combination resting-place and diagnostic: it is
filled with rich dark soil on the inside, and covered with readouts on the
outside, tracking moisture levels, growth rates, nutrient patterns, gas
emissions, magnetic fields, and virtually everything else about a plant (or
machine) one could imagine.  A button labelled ‘Download Data’ is just above a
small slot, in which is a recordable datachip.  The small slot in the pot
contains a recordable datachip.

>touch hybrid
You feel nothing out of the ordinary.

>smell it
You smell nothing out of the ordinary.

>clean it
The hybrid tree is already (relatively) clean.

>clean pot
The tree's pot is already (relatively) clean.

>l
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner keeping some tropical
specimens alive.  The rest of the tables around the room are covered with other
plant-related experiments, ranging from jars of seeds in solution by the west
wall, to some kind of large mechanical-botanical hybrid by the east wall.
Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are covered with various scribbles and
notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected near the doorway.  Balanced on top is
a Venusian potato.

The small slot in the pot contains a recordable datachip.

>turn off lamp
For greater reliability, the lamp has been designed without a switch, and its
power supply must be internal.

>hit lamp
There wouldn't be much point to attacking that.

>x whiteboard
The whiteboards are covered in cryptic notes and drawings.  You can piece
together a few phrases: ‘monitor grwth dbl’ ‘stray wavefrms lcated?’  ‘xtra
pollen — poss defense vs pain enfrcrs?’  ‘mem self: buy frtilizer’ but nothing
that's really suggestive of, say, where they keep the experimental screen
disruptors, unless ‘side-effects from accelerated lifecycle of seeds??’  is
some sort of code.

The potato quietly fades out of existence.

>ne
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>ne
Prototyping Room
The room is practically empty except for the large prototyping machine in the
center, but since that's the size of a large spacescooter, the room doesn't
feel deserted.  A few shelves occupy the walls but either they were bare to
start with or they've been hastily cleared.

>x screen
The screen is displaying a brief menu of the currently available blueprints:

1: wave generator
2: ingot
3: gaussrifle barrel
4: reflective sheet

>get silver
The prototyper's screen goes blank as you remove the cube.

>put gold in machine
Which gold do you mean, a souvenir beak-polisher, or the gold cube?

>cube
You snap the gold cube into the niche.  The screen displays a brief menu of the
cube's contents:

1: flight-modelling ship
2: artificial limb
3: ultradraft feather
4: drill-beak cover

>set dial to 4
You adjust the dial on the viewmaster.

>type 4
What do you want to type that on?

>pad
The display blanks for a moment, then text appears.  ‘Loading blueprint for
'drill-beak cover' .  .  .  .  done.  Additional required: (none)’

>put generator in input
Done.

>close input
The output compartment swings shut.  The prototyping machine hums, first
quietly and then louder.  The faint scent of hot metal wafts out from behind
the compartment doors, along with stray beams of red and blue light.  Then the
humming stops, the lights wink out, and the compartments pop open again.

In the output compartment you see a drill-beak cover.

>get cover 
(the drill-beak cover)
Taken.

>x it
This is a mechanism designed to fit over a Xavian's beak and enable them to
drill with enhanced power and penetration into trees, walls, and that kind of
thing.

>sw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>sw
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner keeping some tropical
specimens alive.  The rest of the tables around the room are covered with other
plant-related experiments, ranging from jars of seeds in solution by the west
wall, to some kind of large mechanical-botanical hybrid by the east wall.
Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are covered with various scribbles and
notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected near the doorway.

The small slot in the pot contains a recordable datachip.

>drill
What do you want to attack?

>tree
(with the drill-beak cover)
There wouldn't be much point to attacking that.

>drill pot with cover
There wouldn't be much point to attacking that.

>l
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner keeping some tropical
specimens alive.  The rest of the tables around the room are covered with other
plant-related experiments, ranging from jars of seeds in solution by the west
wall, to some kind of large mechanical-botanical hybrid by the east wall.
Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are covered with various scribbles and
notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected near the doorway.

The small slot in the pot contains a recordable datachip.

>x plants
The tropical plants are nestled together under the heat lamp for warmth.  Small
tags identify them as ‘D.  muscipula,’ ‘T.  greigii,’ and ‘C.  xativa,’
although the lay-botanist such as yourself would probably identify them as
‘twiny green one,’ ‘the one with the red flower on top,’ and ‘the purple grassy
one’.

>get green plant
Taken.

>x it
The plant has a great number of twiny green tendrils, which seem to twitch
slightly of their own accord.

>put it in pot
That plant is already potted.

>touch hybrid with green plant
You see no hybrid with green plant here.

>[arr]
Noted.

>touch green plant to hybrid
You see no green plant to hybrid here.

>[grr]
Noted.

>put green on hybrid
Which green do you mean, a food pill, or the twiny green plant?

>plant
There's no good surface on the hybrid tree.

>x red
Which red do you mean, the red-flowered plant, the jar's label, or the seeds in
the jars?

>flower
The plant has a large, orange-red flower on top shaped something like a bell
and dusted heavily with pollen.

>hit flower
It seems like being a plant is punishment enough.

>shake red
(first taking the red-flowered plant)
A small cloud of yellow pollen drifts from the red flower as you pick it up.
A cloud of yellow pollen drifts from the flower as you shake it, drifts over to
a previously-unseen vent in the wall behind the hybrid tree, and disappears.

>x vent
The air-conditioning vent is set into the wall at about eye-level.  It is
loosely covered by a flat grille.

>open grille
Opened.

>look in vent
Through the vent you can see the darkness inside the vent, with slits of light
a few feet ahead.

>enter it
The vent is at eye level, so it's actually already reachable from the ground.

>shake red into pot
The story doesn't understand that command.

>get pollen
You are already carrying the red-flowered plant.

>put pollen in pot
That plant is already potted.

>reach in vent
You feel around inside the vent, but there's nothing within reach except cold
metal walls.

>ne
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>se
Screen Theory Lab
This room is almost entirely open, except for a row of metal cabinets along one
wall, a large machine in the corner, and a small end-table next to the machine.
The majority of the room is devoted to bare floor on which a six-square grid
has been painted.

You see a projector note here.

>x vent
The air-conditioning vent is set into the wall at about eye-level.  It is
loosely covered by a flat grille.

>open vent
Opened.

>look in it
Through the vent you can see a tangle of branches, and some tables beyond, but
you can't make out much through the branches.

>x branches
They look like branches from a small tree, or a large bush.

>push branches
The branches are on the other side of the vent.

>get branches
The branches are on the other side of the vent.

>w
You can't go that way.  The only obvious exit leads northwest, back to the
corridor by the laboratories.

>nw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>sw
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner.  The rest of the tables
around the room are covered with other plant-related experiments, ranging from
jars of seeds in solution by the west wall, to some kind of large mechanical-
botanical hybrid by the east wall.  Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are
covered with various scribbles and notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected near the doorway.  Balanced on top is
a Venusian potato.

On the plant tables is a purple grassy plant.  The small slot in the pot
contains a recordable datachip.

>get purple
Taken.

>x it
The plant consists of a number of blades of long purple grasses, giving off an
exotic scent.

>smell it
The purple grass has an exotic, musky scent — suggestive of the darkest parts
of the Venusian jungle.

>put it on hybrid
There's no good surface on the hybrid tree.

The potato quietly fades out of existence.

>[BTW, I had to get a hint from liza that there were other plants here.]
Noted.

>i
You are carrying an issue of Newsbeak, 175 food pills, four granola nuts, a
metal bowl, a Xavian viewmaster, a note, your image projector (disguised as a
powder compact) (which contains a microdot), six souvenir beak-polishers, a
scrap of paper, a remote control, an account book, a large nut, a rounded brown
sack, a Max Blaster action figure, your tk device (disguised as a tube of
lipstick), a silver cube, a drill-beak cover, a twiny green plant, a red-
flowered plant, two vent covers, and a purple grassy plant.  You are wearing
your rocket pants.

>x brown sack
The paper sack looks vaguely ovoid and smells of hot peppers.  It contains a
Hungrybird Box-o-worms.

>get box
Taken.

>put worms in pot
There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just get dirty.

>open box
You pull up a corner of the box and peer inside: the faux earth is covered with
frost, like the jungle on a wintry morning.

>close box
Which box do you mean, the remote control, the tree's exoskeleton, or the
Hungrybird Box-o-worms?

>hungrybird
That is not something you can close.

>put box under lamp
Which box do you mean, the remote control, or the Hungrybird Box-o-worms?

>hungrybird
You can't put anything under that.

>put worms in lamp
You can't put anything in the heat lamp.

>[bah]
Noted.

>put worms on lamp
There's no good surface on the heat lamp.

>warm worms
The word ‘warm’ is not necessary in this story.

>pour box into pot
Which box do you mean, the remote control, the tree's exoskeleton, or the
Hungrybird Box-o-worms?

>worms
That is not something you can pour.

>i
You are carrying an issue of Newsbeak, 175 food pills, four granola nuts, a
metal bowl, a Xavian viewmaster, a note, your image projector (disguised as a
powder compact) (which contains a microdot), six souvenir beak-polishers, a
scrap of paper, a remote control, an account book, a large nut, a rounded brown
sack, a Max Blaster action figure, your tk device (disguised as a tube of
lipstick), a silver cube, a drill-beak cover, a twiny green plant, a red-
flowered plant, two vent covers, a purple grassy plant, and a Hungrybird Box-o-
worms.  You are wearing your rocket pants.

>hit tree with vent cover
There wouldn't be much point to attacking that.

>x vent cover
It's a flat grille made to cover an air-conditioning vent.

>enter vent
The vent is at eye level, so it's actually already reachable from the ground.

>climb into vent
The vent is at eye level, so it's actually already reachable from the ground.

>[dude]
Noted.

>put dirt in box
Which box do you mean, the remote control, the tree's exoskeleton, or the
Hungrybird Box-o-worms?

>worms
You see no dirt here.

>i
You are carrying an issue of Newsbeak, 175 food pills, four granola nuts, a
metal bowl, a Xavian viewmaster, a note, your image projector (disguised as a
powder compact) (which contains a microdot), six souvenir beak-polishers, a
scrap of paper, a remote control, an account book, a large nut, a rounded brown
sack, a Max Blaster action figure, your tk device (disguised as a tube of
lipstick), a silver cube, a drill-beak cover, a twiny green plant, a red-
flowered plant, two vent covers, a purple grassy plant, and a Hungrybird Box-o-
worms.  You are wearing your rocket pants.

>x purple
Which purple do you mean, the purple grassy plant, or the seeds in the jars?

>seeds
The seeds come in a variety of colors — red, orange, yellow, green, blue,
purple, not to mention black and white — and have swollen fat from the liquid
they soak in.  Though it's hard to tell through the liquid, their shells appear
a bit ..  oddly formed.

>shake red
A cloud of yellow pollen drifts from the flower as you shake it, then drifts
into the vent and disappears.

>g
A cloud of yellow pollen drifts from the flower as you shake it, then drifts
into the vent and disappears.

>g
A cloud of yellow pollen drifts from the flower as you shake it, then drifts
into the vent and disappears.

>g
A cloud of yellow pollen drifts from the flower as you shake it, then drifts
into the vent and disappears.

>blow tree
The story doesn't understand that command.

>l
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner.  The rest of the tables
around the room are covered with other plant-related experiments, ranging from
jars of seeds in solution by the west wall, to some kind of large mechanical-
botanical hybrid by the east wall.  Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are
covered with various scribbles and notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected near the doorway.

The small slot in the pot contains a recordable datachip.

>push button
(the download data button)
An error flashes briefly on one of the pot's readouts: ‘No unusual data to
download.’

>x whiteborad
The word ‘whiteborad’ is not necessary in this story.

>x whiteboard
The whiteboards are covered in cryptic notes and drawings.  You can piece
together a few phrases: ‘monitor grwth dbl’ ‘stray wavefrms lcated?’  ‘xtra
pollen — poss defense vs pain enfrcrs?’  ‘mem self: buy frtilizer’ but nothing
that's really suggestive of, say, where they keep the experimental screen
disruptors, unless ‘side-effects from accelerated lifecycle of seeds??’  is
some sort of code.

>x monitor
The tree's pot is designed as a combination resting-place and diagnostic: it is
filled with rich dark soil on the inside, and covered with readouts on the
outside, tracking moisture levels, growth rates, nutrient patterns, gas
emissions, magnetic fields, and virtually everything else about a plant (or
machine) one could imagine.  A button labelled ‘Download Data’ is just above a
small slot, in which is a recordable datachip.  The small slot in the pot
contains a recordable datachip.

>turn hybrid
You cannot turn that.

>x green
Which green do you mean, a food pill, the Venusian potato, the seeds in the
jars, or the twiny green plant?

>plant
The plant has a great number of twiny green tendrils, which seem to twitch
slightly of their own accord.

>touch it
You feel nothing out of the ordinary.

>wave it
The tendrils pull back gently against you.

>put it on dome
The dome is curved, making it hard to balance more than one thing on it at a
time.

The potato quietly fades out of existence.

>put it on dome
You carefully set the twiny green plant on the dome.

>wave it
The tendrils pull back gently against you.

>get it
Taken.

>put red on it
There's no good surface on the twiny green plant.

>put red on dome
You carefully set the red-flowered plant on the dome.

>shake it
(first taking the red-flowered plant)
A small cloud of yellow pollen drifts from the red flower as you pick it up.
A cloud of yellow pollen drifts from the flower as you shake it, then drifts
into the vent and disappears.

>undo
Taking back one turn: ‘shake it’.

Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner.  The rest of the tables
around the room are covered with other plant-related experiments, ranging from
jars of seeds in solution by the west wall, to some kind of large mechanical-
botanical hybrid by the east wall.  Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are
covered with various scribbles and notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected near the doorway.  Balanced on top is
a red-flowered plant.

The small slot in the pot contains a recordable datachip.

>touch it
You feel nothing out of the ordinary.

>touch flower
You feel nothing out of the ordinary.

>x flower
The plant has a large, orange-red flower on top shaped something like a bell
and dusted heavily with pollen.

>ring flower
The story doesn't understand that command.

>ne
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

You see a Venusian potato here.

>se
Screen Theory Lab
This room is almost entirely open, except for a row of metal cabinets along one
wall, a large machine in the corner, and a small end-table next to the machine.
The majority of the room is devoted to bare floor on which a six-square grid
has been painted.

You see a projector note here.

>set lever to 8
You shift the lever to 8.

>nw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

You see a Venusian potato here.

>sw
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner.  The rest of the tables
around the room are covered with other plant-related experiments, ranging from
jars of seeds in solution by the west wall, to some kind of large mechanical-
botanical hybrid by the east wall.  Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are
covered with various scribbles and notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected on a table near the east wall.

You see a red-flowered plant here.  The small slot in the pot contains a
recordable datachip.

>se
You can't go that way.  The only obvious exit leads northeast, back to the
corridor by the laboratories.

>ne
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>se
Screen Theory Lab
This room is almost entirely open, except for a row of metal cabinets along one
wall, a large machine in the corner, and a small end-table next to the machine.
The majority of the room is devoted to bare floor on which a six-square grid
has been painted.

You see a projector note here.

>set lever to 9
You shift the lever to 9.

>nw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>sw
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner.  The rest of the tables
around the room are covered with other plant-related experiments, ranging from
jars of seeds in solution by the west wall, to some kind of large mechanical-
botanical hybrid by the east wall.  Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are
covered with various scribbles and notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected near the doorway.

You see a red-flowered plant and a Venusian potato here.  The small slot in the
pot contains a recordable datachip.

>ne
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>se
Screen Theory Lab
This room is almost entirely open, except for a row of metal cabinets along one
wall, a large machine in the corner, and a small end-table next to the machine.
The majority of the room is devoted to bare floor on which a six-square grid
has been painted.

You see a projector note here.

>set lever to 7
You shift the lever to 7.

>nw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>sw
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner.  The rest of the tables
around the room are covered with other plant-related experiments, ranging from
jars of seeds in solution by the west wall, to some kind of large mechanical-
botanical hybrid by the east wall.  Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are
covered with various scribbles and notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected on a table in the southeast corner.

You see a red-flowered plant here.  The small slot in the pot contains a
recordable datachip.

>get red
A small cloud of yellow pollen drifts from the red flower as you pick it up.

>put it on dome
You carefully set the red-flowered plant on the dome.

>ne
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>se
Screen Theory Lab
This room is almost entirely open, except for a row of metal cabinets along one
wall, a large machine in the corner, and a small end-table next to the machine.
The majority of the room is devoted to bare floor on which a six-square grid
has been painted.

You see a projector note here.

>set lever to 8
You shift the lever to 8.

>set lever to 7
You shift the lever to 7.

>nw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>sw
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner.  The rest of the tables
around the room are covered with other plant-related experiments, ranging from
jars of seeds in solution by the west wall, to some kind of large mechanical-
botanical hybrid by the east wall.  Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are
covered with various scribbles and notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected on a table in the southeast corner.

You see a red-flowered plant here.  The small slot in the pot contains a
recordable datachip.

>get red
A small cloud of yellow pollen drifts from the red flower as you pick it up.

>put green plant on dome
You carefully set the twiny green plant on the dome.

>x twine
The word ‘twine’ is not necessary in this story.

>x tendrils
The plant has a great number of twiny green tendrils, which seem to twitch
slightly of their own accord.

>touch tendrils
You feel nothing out of the ordinary.

>wave tendrils
The tendrils pull back gently against you.

>pull tendrils
The tendrils pull back gently against you.

>push tendrils
Pushing the twiny green plant has no effect.

>ne
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>nw
Flight Lab
The flight lab is nominally for studying flying things, but since to a Xavian
this covers everything from electronics to projectile weapons to spaceships,
the room appears somewhat organizationally confused to human eyes.  The
situation isn't helped by the fact that the room seems to have been mostly-
cleared as part of the base lockdown, probably into the cabinets against the
back wall.  Nevertheless, it's still a mess: there are bits of wire and half-
assembled mechanisms on the workbench, a long cylinder takes up much of the
center of the room, and most of the free wallspace is taken up by shelving.

>open vent
Opened.

>x vent
The air-conditioning vent is set into the wall at about eye-level.  With the
cover removed, you can see into the darkness inside the vent, with slits of
light a few feet ahead.

>reach in vent
You feel around inside the vent, but there's nothing within reach except cold
metal walls.

>se
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>ne
Prototyping Room
The room is practically empty except for the large prototyping machine in the
center, but since that's the size of a large spacescooter, the room doesn't
feel deserted.  A few shelves occupy the walls but either they were bare to
start with or they've been hastily cleared.

>open vent
Opened.

>look in vent
Through the vent you can see a workbench against the far wall, covered in bits
of electronics.

>sw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>nw
Flight Lab
The flight lab is nominally for studying flying things, but since to a Xavian
this covers everything from electronics to projectile weapons to spaceships,
the room appears somewhat organizationally confused to human eyes.  The
situation isn't helped by the fact that the room seems to have been mostly-
cleared as part of the base lockdown, probably into the cabinets against the
back wall.  Nevertheless, it's still a mess: there are bits of wire and half-
assembled mechanisms on the workbench, a long cylinder takes up much of the
center of the room, and most of the free wallspace is taken up by shelving.

>look in vent
Through the vent you can see a bare patch of the far wall.

>se
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>ne
Prototyping Room
The room is practically empty except for the large prototyping machine in the
center, but since that's the size of a large spacescooter, the room doesn't
feel deserted.  A few shelves occupy the walls but either they were bare to
start with or they've been hastily cleared.

You see a Venusian potato here.

>open vent
The vent is already open.

>look in vent
Through the vent you can see a workbench against the far wall, covered in bits
of electronics.

>sw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>e
Your rocket pants send you blasting upwards along the wall.  You hover briefly,
then fly through the doorway and drop down to ground level on the other side.

Office Area
This is a large room with walls going up perhaps fifty feet.  Each wall has a
half-dozen cotes with perches on it, and it takes mere moments to realize that
this is an example of the latest in Xavian office-space technology: a coopicle
farm.  But no doubt because of the base lockdown, most of the cotes are closed
off with metal shutters.  The only exits from the room are a doorway high up on
the west well, and an opening to the south leading outside.

>open vent
That is not something you can open.

>x vent
It's a flat grille made to cover an air-conditioning vent.

>w
Your rocket pants send you blasting upwards along the wall.  You hover briefly,
then fly through the doorway and drop down to ground level on the other side.

Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>i
You are carrying an issue of Newsbeak, 175 food pills, four granola nuts, a
metal bowl, a Xavian viewmaster, a note, your image projector (disguised as a
powder compact) (which contains a microdot), six souvenir beak-polishers, a
scrap of paper, a remote control, an account book, a large nut, a rounded brown
sack, a Max Blaster action figure, your tk device (disguised as a tube of
lipstick), a silver cube, a drill-beak cover, four vent covers, a purple grassy
plant, a Hungrybird Box-o-worms, and a red-flowered plant.  You are wearing
your rocket pants.

>sw
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner.  The rest of the tables
around the room are covered with other plant-related experiments, ranging from
jars of seeds in solution by the west wall, to some kind of large mechanical-
botanical hybrid by the east wall.  Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are
covered with various scribbles and notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected on a table in the southeast corner.
Balanced on top is a twiny green plant.

The small slot in the pot contains a recordable datachip.

>aim heat lamp at hybrid
There wouldn't be much point to attacking that.

>spit on hybrid
The word ‘spit’ is not necessary in this story.

>i
You are carrying an issue of Newsbeak, 175 food pills, four granola nuts, a
metal bowl, a Xavian viewmaster, a note, your image projector (disguised as a
powder compact) (which contains a microdot), six souvenir beak-polishers, a
scrap of paper, a remote control, an account book, a large nut, a rounded brown
sack, a Max Blaster action figure, your tk device (disguised as a tube of
lipstick), a silver cube, a drill-beak cover, four vent covers, a purple grassy
plant, a Hungrybird Box-o-worms, and a red-flowered plant.  You are wearing
your rocket pants.

>put a food pill in pot
(the food pill)
Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.

>put all in pot
issue of Newsbeak: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just get
dirty.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
food pill: Don't be silly — food doesn't grow on trees, you know.
granola nut: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just get
dirty.
granola nut: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just get
dirty.
granola nut: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just get
dirty.
granola nut: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just get
dirty.
metal bowl: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just get dirty.
Xavian viewmaster: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just get
dirty.
note: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just get dirty.
image projector: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just get
dirty.
souvenir beak-polisher: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd
just get dirty.
souvenir beak-polisher: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd
just get dirty.
souvenir beak-polisher: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd
just get dirty.
souvenir beak-polisher: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd
just get dirty.
souvenir beak-polisher: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd
just get dirty.
souvenir beak-polisher: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd
just get dirty.
scrap of paper: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just get
dirty.
remote control: The remote seems like something you want to hang onto.
account book: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just get
dirty.
large nut: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just get dirty.
rounded brown sack: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just
get dirty.
Max Blaster action figure: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd
just get dirty.
tk device: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just get dirty.
rocket pants: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just get
dirty.
silver cube: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just get
dirty.
drill-beak cover: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just get
dirty.
vent cover: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just get dirty.
vent cover: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just get dirty.
purple grassy plant: That plant is already potted.
Hungrybird Box-o-worms: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd
just get dirty.
red-flowered plant: That plant is already potted.
vent cover: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just get dirty.
vent cover: There's no point to planting that in the pot — it'd just get dirty.

recordable datachip:
(first taking the recordable datachip)
You slide the datachip into the slot.

twiny green plant: That plant is already potted.

>pee in pot
The word ‘pee’ is not necessary in this story.

>i
You are carrying an issue of Newsbeak, 175 food pills, four granola nuts, a
metal bowl, a Xavian viewmaster, a note, your image projector (disguised as a
powder compact) (which contains a microdot), six souvenir beak-polishers, a
scrap of paper, a remote control, an account book, a large nut, a rounded brown
sack, a Max Blaster action figure, your tk device (disguised as a tube of
lipstick), a silver cube, a drill-beak cover, four vent covers, a purple grassy
plant, a Hungrybird Box-o-worms, and a red-flowered plant.  You are wearing
your rocket pants.

>x red jar
You see no red jar here.

>x blue jar
You see no blue jar here.

>x red seed
The seeds come in a variety of colors — red, orange, yellow, green, blue,
purple, not to mention black and white — and have swollen fat from the liquid
they soak in.  Though it's hard to tell through the liquid, their shells appear
a bit ..  oddly formed.

>x liquid
The liquid seems thick and subtly unpleasant, each jar in its own way.

>get a liquid
(the viscous liquid)
You can't bring yourself to touch the liquid.  Besides, there's a big danger
label on the jars.

>put red plant in liquid
The plant twitches and seems to grow even more vibrant as it is touched by the
liquid.

>put green plant in liquid
(first taking the twiny green plant)
The plant's tendrils twist down into the solution in the jars.  Their writhing
increases in speed, and the plant seems to be bushier than ever when it finally
lifts up, plucking a white seed from the jar.

>[good lord]
Noted.

>get white seed
The plant's tendrils reluctantly release the white seed.

>x it
It's a small seed, white in color and swollen fat from soaking.  The shell
seems somehow twisted from the effort of containing whatever's inside.

>put seed in pot
You carefully bury the white seed in the soil and wait.  Within moments, a
small green sprig has poked above the soil, and then, with a screech like a
teakettle exploding, the rest of the plant shoots up.  Leaves and buds unfurl,
the whistling screech twists into higher registers and vanishes from your
hearing, and the readouts on the plant pot bleep wildly.

As the plant bursts into its full growth, the screen ripples like pudding in a
high wind and seems almost to dissolve entirely.  Then the plant collapses and
the dome settles back into its normal form again.  ‘Unusual activity detected’
flashes on the pot's monitor.  This is followed by ‘Downloading data .  .  .  .
done.’  The chip ejects into your hand with a click.

>get chip
You are already carrying the recordable datachip.

>ne
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>ne
Prototyping Room
The room is practically empty except for the large prototyping machine in the
center, but since that's the size of a large spacescooter, the room doesn't
feel deserted.  A few shelves occupy the walls but either they were bare to
start with or they've been hastily cleared.

>put chip in machine
You slide the datachip into the slot.

>i
You are carrying an issue of Newsbeak, 175 food pills, four granola nuts, a
metal bowl, a Xavian viewmaster, a note, your image projector (disguised as a
powder compact) (which contains a microdot), six souvenir beak-polishers, a
scrap of paper, a remote control, an account book, a large nut, a rounded brown
sack, a Max Blaster action figure, your tk device (disguised as a tube of
lipstick), a silver cube, a drill-beak cover, four vent covers, a purple grassy
plant, a Hungrybird Box-o-worms, a red-flowered plant, and a twiny green plant.
You are wearing your rocket pants.

>x output
The output compartment is about eighteen inches across, and looks closeable but
has no handle.  It's open.

>sw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>ne
Prototyping Room
The room is practically empty except for the large prototyping machine in the
center, but since that's the size of a large spacescooter, the room doesn't
feel deserted.  A few shelves occupy the walls but either they were bare to
start with or they've been hastily cleared.

The prototyper's slot contains a recordable datachip.

>x input
The input compartment is about eighteen inches across, and has a handle to open
and close it with.  It's open.

>get gold cube
The prototyper's screen goes blank as you remove the cube.

>put silver cube in machine
You snap the silver cube into the niche.  The screen displays a brief menu of
the cube's contents:

1: wave generator
2: ingot
3: gaussrifle barrel
4: reflective sheet

>type 1 on pad
The display blanks for a moment, then text appears.  ‘Loading blueprint for
'wave generator' .  .  .  .  done.  Additional required: waveform data’

>sw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

You see a Venusian potato here.

>se
Screen Theory Lab
This room is almost entirely open, except for a row of metal cabinets along one
wall, a large machine in the corner, and a small end-table next to the machine.
The majority of the room is devoted to bare floor on which a six-square grid
has been painted.

You see a projector note here.

>nw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

You see a Venusian potato here.

>sw
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner.  The rest of the tables
around the room are covered with other plant-related experiments, ranging from
jars of seeds in solution by the west wall, to some kind of large mechanical-
botanical hybrid by the east wall.  Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are
covered with various scribbles and notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected on a table in the southeast corner.

>i
You are carrying an issue of Newsbeak, 175 food pills, four granola nuts, a
metal bowl, a Xavian viewmaster, a note, your image projector (disguised as a
powder compact) (which contains a microdot), six souvenir beak-polishers, a
scrap of paper, a remote control, an account book, a large nut, a rounded brown
sack, a Max Blaster action figure, your tk device (disguised as a tube of
lipstick), a drill-beak cover, four vent covers, a purple grassy plant, a
Hungrybird Box-o-worms, a red-flowered plant, a twiny green plant, and a gold
cube.  You are wearing your rocket pants.

>m
The word ‘m’ is not necessary in this story.

>ne
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

You see a Venusian potato here.

>ne
Prototyping Room
The room is practically empty except for the large prototyping machine in the
center, but since that's the size of a large spacescooter, the room doesn't
feel deserted.  A few shelves occupy the walls but either they were bare to
start with or they've been hastily cleared.

The prototyper's slot contains a recordable datachip.

>put drill in input
Done.

>close input
The output compartment swings shut.  The prototyping machine hums, first
quietly and then louder.  The faint scent of hot metal wafts out from behind
the compartment doors, along with stray beams of red and blue light.  Then the
humming stops, the lights wink out, and the compartments pop open again.

In the output compartment you see a screen disruptor.

>get disruptor
Taken.

>sw
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>sw
Botany Lab
The temperature in the room feels a few degrees warmer than the hallway to the
northeast, mostly due to the heat lamp in the corner.  The rest of the tables
around the room are covered with other plant-related experiments, ranging from
jars of seeds in solution by the west wall, to some kind of large mechanical-
botanical hybrid by the east wall.  Meanwhile, the whiteboards on the walls are
covered with various scribbles and notations.

A bluish dome-shaped screen is projected on a table in the southeast corner.

>aim disruptor at dome
You aim the screen disruptor at the dome.  It vibrates slightly in your hand,
but the waveform it generates is otherwise invisible as it travels through the
air.  When it touches the dome, however, it collides like a meteor strike: the
screen twists and bulges and then blinks out entirely.  As you release the
trigger, the dome snaps back into place, giving no sign of having been gone.

>[woo!]
Noted.

>ne
Outside the Labs
Two doorways open in each of the north and south walls of the corridor,
providing, by the looks of them, exits to the actual labs.  The corridor itself
runs west from here back to the junction, and east to a sheer wall — and then
upwards along the wall, up forty feet or more to a doorway.

>e
Your rocket pants send you blasting upwards along the wall.  You hover briefly,
then fly through the doorway and drop down to ground level on the other side.

Office Area
This is a large room with walls going up perhaps fifty feet.  Each wall has a
half-dozen cotes with perches on it, and it takes mere moments to realize that
this is an example of the latest in Xavian office-space technology: a coopicle
farm.  But no doubt because of the base lockdown, most of the cotes are closed
off with metal shutters.  The only exits from the room are a doorway high up on
the west well, and an opening to the south leading outside.

You see a Venusian potato here.

>s
You engage your rocket pants and soar out of the dome.

***

You flash back to the main trunk, and from there fly upwards cautiously until
you see your first guard.  Then it's back to silent climbing, grabbing onto the
rough spots on the tree and hoisting yourself up, pausing only when you need to
take a breath or to duck down to avoid another watchful sentry.  Finally, you
spot the outer screen: twice a hundred feet across and perfectly spherical.
Its crackling brilliance fills the air around it with a hum and the scent of
ozone.

And there, hidden away under a curve in the branch, is Max.  You make your way
over cautiously.

By the Outer Screen
A split in the branches provides a convenient place to wait below the outer
screen, giving cover from the guards beyond and a view both up ahead and of the
trunk below.

Max is here.

‘There you are, Doris!’  Max says.  ‘I was wor—’ He coughs.  ‘I mean, what took
you so long?’

(Doris has raised the score by ten points.)

>save
Saved.

>talk to max
(You can't think of anything to say at the moment.)

>x max
Tanned skin, curly blonde locks, and handsome.  And check out those perfectly-
white teeth.

Max is carrying a mask of fearless Xavian leader Ch'awww-k'pot, his blaster,
his force generator, and the ultra-bomb (disguised as a pocketwatch).

>x bomb
Although small in size (specifically, the size of an old-style gold
pocketwatch, which it is disguised as), the bomb is packed with enough
duodecaplylatomate to blow through anything.  Which is good, as headquarter's
reports say the Xavian's secret weapon is protected by an otherwise-
invulnerable forcefield.

Max studies Ch'awwwk's dome.

>x dome
The cage dangles from a branch near the top of the sphere.  It looks
surprisingly small, although it's hard to judge size from below and from a
distance.  Still, given that it contains both Ch'awww-k'pot and the secret
weapon, it's more than big enough.

As you study the base, you see a likely-looking hiding spot inside the screen.
It's similar to this one, a natural shelter formed by joined branches, and it
seems about as far as you can hope out of the patrol paths of the guards.  Now,
if you can just get inside.

>aim disruptor at dome
You aim the screen disruptor at the outer screen and pull the trigger.  The
beam is silent and invisible, but the effect is not: as it touches the screen,
the screen simply dissolves away.  A person-sized hole appears in the surface
of the sphere.  ‘Nice work,’ Max says.

>in
What do you want to enter?

>dome
You don't waste any time: as soon as the guards' rounds take them far enough
away, the two of you scramble up the trunk and through the hole before, it
closes.  You hurry across the branches, moving as fast as you dare and hoping
no guards look round.  Finally you reach the safe spot and pause to catch your
breath.

Inside the Screen
At long last you have made it inside the screen, to a hiding-place only sixty
or seventy feet away from Ch'awwwk's dome, and the secret weapon atop it.
Unfortunately, at least fifty of those feet are straight up, as the cage-dome
dangles from the branches above.  Still, given that guards are flying all
around, this is probably as close as you can get.

Max is here.

Three harsh tones sound from the cage-dome, followed by a robotic pseudo-Xavian
voice: ‘Energizing complete.  Preparing to activate weapon in 10 units.’  A
light winks on along the secret weapon's main column.

>max, give me mask
Max hands the mask of fearless Xavian leader Ch'awww-k'pot to you.

‘Activation of secret weapon in 9 units.’  Another light winks on.

>put mask in image
There's not room for more than one thing at a time in the projector.

>get all from image
image projector's mirror: You can't have that; it's part of your image
projector.
image projector's controls: You can't have that; it's part of your image
projector.
microdot: Taken.

‘Activation of secret weapon in 8 units.  Please remember that Exalted Warlord
Ch'awww-k'pot has already called dibs on all outlets of Rainbow Bob's Fruit-n-
Nut Emporium.’  Another light winks on.

>put mask in image
The mask of fearless Xavian leader Ch'awww-k'pot is too large to fit in the
projector.

>max, throw bomb at dome
Yeah, Max could hit the dome, if he threw the bomb hard.  But it would probably
bounce off and fall right back down again — there must be a better plan.

‘Activation of secret weapon in 7 units.’  Another light winks on.

>u
That seems pointless if you aren't carrying the bomb.

>get bomb
Max hands the ultra-bomb to you.  Taken.

‘Activation of secret weapon in 6 units.’  Another light winks on.

>u
You put your hand to your rocket pants and start to fly upwards.

‘What are you doing??’  Max demands, in a shocked whisper.

>1
‘What does it look like?’  you say.  ‘We've got to take out that bomb — if you
have a better plan, let's hear it.’

‘Here, give me the bomb for a moment,’ Max says.

‘Activation of secret weapon in 5 units.  As soon as activation has occurred,
right and left wings will launch — claw and tail fleets will follow to subdue
any resistance.’  Another light winks on.

>1
‘What do you want it for?’  you ask.

Max glances upwards.  ‘Just give it here.’

>give bomb to max
You hand the ultra-bomb to Max.

Max puts a foot onto a branch and starts to climb upwards.

‘Activation of secret weapon in 4 units.’  Another light winks on.

>u
That seems pointless if you aren't carrying the bomb.

Max watches the secret weapon in silence for a minute.  ‘The Patrol above all,
eh?’

He suddenly shoves you backwards, off the branch.  As you fall, Max shouts ‘Get
clear!  This is going to be a bit messy!’  and begins scrambling up the branch.
The guards' bullets zing over his head as he climbs, but he's unscathed long
enough to get near the secret weapon, then hurl the bomb towards it.  The bomb
flies through the air straight and true.Max Blaster and Doris de Lightning Against the Parrot Creatures of Venusby Ah,
life is good.  A space-army at your command, a secret weapon about to fire,
those two spies are locked up tight, and that top-of-the-line gyro-stabilized
humor containment suit finally arrived.

What better day to start your conquest of the galaxy?  The only thing lacking
is someone to gloat to.

Your Office (standing on your perch)
This is a pretty normal office for a Xavian leader: desks scattered around
piled with memos, a few bits of military memorabilia on the walls, a large
perch hanging from the ceiling (on which you are sitting, and in front of which
is a viewscreen and control panel), and newspaper on the floor.

The gyro-stabilized humor containment suit sits tantalizingly on a desk.

On your desk is Doris de Lightning's jacket.

(Max has raised the score by ten points.) x jacket

The jacket is made of a beautiful shiny material.  You rather fancy that by
removing the arms, you could turn it into a stylish vest, or perhaps some sort
of decorative —h but there'll be time for that later.  x suit

The gyro-stabilized humor containment suit represents the latest in humor-
stabilization technologies.  Have a balance problem?  Feeling a bit tipsy?
Just put on the suit, and let its in-built orientation mechanisms do the rest!
Never fear falling on the floor after a joke again![dude, what's with the lack of prompts?]
get suit

Taken.  wear it

You change into the humor-containment suit, tingling with anticipation[20].  footnote 20

As well as a slight static charge the suit probably picked up en route.  read newspaper

‘EXTRA!  EXTRA!  New top-secret weapon developed,’ that kind of thing.  At the
bottom of one page it reads ‘The Daily Chirp is a divison of Kommqwaak Media
Enterprises, Inc.’You glance over at the viewscreen.  Such a pity there's
nobody here to to gloat to.  gloat

To gloat would be delightful indeed.  But who to gloat to?  Your claw moves
over to the control panel.

You push the button.  The viewscreen crackles into life, and, after a brief
argument with some secretaries, you are smirking through the viewscreen at the
Director of the soon-to-be-former Galatic Patrol.  ‘You?’  snarls the Director.
‘What exactly is it that you want this time, Ch'awww-k'pot?’2

‘This is your last chance, Terran,’ you say.  ‘Will your planet surrender
peacefully, or will Xavia be forced to crush it in its beak like a bug?’  You
smack your beak at the tasty metaphor.  The Director's voice is firm as he
responds.  ‘Earth will never give into your fiendish demands, Ch'awww-k'pot.
Our fleets will resist you unto the last man.’1

You sigh.  ‘Ah, well, I was afraid it was going to be this way — which is why I
took the precaution of telling all our ships to wait until Earth's defenses
were rendered helpless before attacking.’‘Enough of this shilly-shallying,’ the
Director half-shouts.  ‘What exactly do you mean?  Out with it!’  1

You take a moment to straighten your feathers.  ‘What I mean, my good Director,
is that the secret weapon will be activating in mere moments.’The Director
reels back, and has to grip the edge of his desk to keep from falling.  ‘The
secret weapon?  But I thought ...  I mean —’1

‘Oh,’ you say, ‘You must be thinking of those spies of yours.  That we caught
trying to sneak in and destroy the secret weapon.  And locked them up.  Yes,
yes, quite a pity about them.  Normally we would of course have some kind of
diplomatic exchange, but since the government of Earth won't exist for more
than another day or two, it doesn't really seem worth the effort.’The
Director's face has gone an ashy pale, and he has to take several deep breaths
before speaking.  ‘Nevertheless, we will resist you, Xavian.  Resist in the
hopes that, somehow ...’1

‘Somehow what?’  you say.  ‘As if there could be anything that could stop me
now.  Why, it is to laugh.’  Fitting action to words, you take a deep breath
and let the laughs come confidently, first mere chuckles and then full-blown
guffaws, drowning out the noise of the slight disturbance outside.  ‘Ah-ha-ha-
ha-ha-ha!’  you shout, the mechanisms in your suit adapting to keep yourself
perfectly balanced no matter how much you laugh.

Perfectly balanced, that is, until the massive explosion sends the dome, the
secret weapon, and everything else within the outer screen crashing to the
ground.

Max Blaster and Doris de Lightning Against the Parrot Creatures of Venusby As
Max shoves you, you tumble down from the branches.  You fumble desperately for
the controls of the rocket pants, and all the while fire and force are roaring
at your heels.

But you are not fated to perish here: you jab the button on the remote control
and moments before you crash into the outer screen, something else crashes
through it.  You drop into the cockpit of the Hummingbird, and blast away as
the tree, the dome, and the secret weapon collapse behind you.

>fly
It's going to be a while until you're back on Earth.  Better get comfy.

>z
The ship speeds on through space ...

The ship's ansible suddenly crackles into life with the familiar Patrol code-
signal.  You walk over and enter the appropriate response, and then the
Director's face appears on the ship's small vidscreen.  ‘Congratulations,
Doris, you've done the impossible!  But where's Max?’

>1
You have to force the words out.  ‘I'm — I'm afraid he didn't make it, sir.  He
said we had to destroy the secret weapon, whatever the cost.’

‘Ah,’ say the Director, his voice a bit rough.  ‘I'm sorry to hear that.  I was
hoping — never mind that now.  You come back here and get some R&R.  It was a
tough mission, but you made the Patrol proud.’

It is a long and lonely ride back to Earth.

*** The mission is complete ***

Your score is 90 of a possible 100, in 1432 moves.  This gives you the rank of
Agent of the Patrol.

Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO the last
move, or QUIT?
>restore
Restored.

By the Outer Screen
A split in the branches provides a convenient place to wait below the outer
screen, giving cover from the guards beyond and a view both up ahead and of the
trunk below.  Things are made a bit easier because the guards don't come too
close to the edge of the screen: the crackling hum that surrounds it makes your
skin tingle, and looking directly at the screen for too long is dizzying.  It's
not opaque, however, and you can see up through to the highest cage-dome in the
tree, hanging at the very center of the screen's sphere.

Max is here.

>i
You are carrying an issue of Newsbeak, 175 food pills, four granola nuts, a
metal bowl, a Xavian viewmaster, a note, your image projector (disguised as a
powder compact) (which contains a microdot), six souvenir beak-polishers, a
scrap of paper, a remote control, an account book, a large nut, a rounded brown
sack, a Max Blaster action figure, your tk device (disguised as a tube of
lipstick), four vent covers, a purple grassy plant, a Hungrybird Box-o-worms, a
red-flowered plant, a twiny green plant, a gold cube, and a screen disruptor.
You are wearing your rocket pants.

Max studies Ch'awwwk's dome.

>x dome
The cage dangles from a branch near the top of the sphere.  It looks
surprisingly small, although it's hard to judge size from below and from a
distance.  Still, given that it contains both Ch'awww-k'pot and the secret
weapon, it's more than big enough.

As you study the base, you see a likely-looking hiding spot inside the screen.
It's similar to this one, a natural shelter formed by joined branches, and it
seems about as far as you can hope out of the patrol paths of the guards.  Now,
if you can just get inside.

>get dot
Taken.

>ask max about bomb
You can't think of anything to say about the ultra-bomb.

>aim disruptor at dome
You aim the screen disruptor at the outer screen and pull the trigger.  The
beam is silent and invisible, but the effect is not: as it touches the screen,
the screen simply dissolves away.  A person-sized hole appears in the surface
of the sphere.  ‘Nice work,’ Max says.

>enter dome
You don't waste any time: as soon as the guards' rounds take them far enough
away, the two of you scramble up the trunk and through the hole before, it
closes.  You hurry across the branches, moving as fast as you dare and hoping
no guards look round.  Finally you reach the safe spot and pause to catch your
breath.

Inside the Screen
At long last you have made it inside the screen, to a hiding-place only sixty
or seventy feet away from Ch'awwwk's dome, and the secret weapon atop it.
Unfortunately, at least fifty of those feet are straight up, as the cage-dome
dangles from the branches above.  Still, given that guards are flying all
around, this is probably as close as you can get.

Max is here.

Three harsh tones sound from the cage-dome, followed by a robotic pseudo-Xavian
voice: ‘Energizing complete.  Preparing to activate weapon in 10 units.’  A
light winks on along the secret weapon's main column.

>save
Saved.

>x column
The cylindrical column of the secret weapon rises at an angle from the dome,
pointing directly at Earth.  A line of lights along the side of the column
grows ever-longer as the countdown continues.

‘Activation of secret weapon in 9 units.’  Another light winks on.

>undo
Taking back one turn: ‘x column’.

Inside the Screen
At long last you have made it inside the screen, to a hiding-place only sixty
or seventy feet away from Ch'awwwk's dome, and the secret weapon atop it.
Unfortunately, at least fifty of those feet are straight up, as the cage-dome
dangles from the branches above.  Still, given that guards are flying all
around, this is probably as close as you can get.

Max is here.

>push button
You push the button on the remote.  Click.

‘Activation of secret weapon in 9 units.’  Another light winks on.

>i
You are carrying an issue of Newsbeak, 175 food pills, four granola nuts, a
metal bowl, a Xavian viewmaster, a note, your image projector (disguised as a
powder compact), six souvenir beak-polishers, a scrap of paper, a remote
control, an account book, a large nut, a rounded brown sack, a Max Blaster
action figure, your tk device (disguised as a tube of lipstick), four vent
covers, a purple grassy plant, a Hungrybird Box-o-worms, a red-flowered plant,
a twiny green plant, a gold cube, a screen disruptor, and a microdot.  You are
wearing your rocket pants.

>throw pill at dome
You don't quite have the throwing arm to get something up that high.

‘Activation of secret weapon in 8 units.  Please remember that Exalted Warlord
Ch'awww-k'pot has already called dibs on all outlets of Rainbow Bob's Fruit-n-
Nut Emporium.’  Another light winks on.

>max, throw pill at dome
You hand the food pill to Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.

>max, throw bomb at dome
Yeah, Max could hit the dome, if he threw the bomb hard.  But it would probably
bounce off and fall right back down again — there must be a better plan.

‘Activation of secret weapon in 7 units.’  Another light winks on.

>max, throw nut at dome
Which nut do you mean, a granola nut, or the large nut?

>large
You hand the large nut to Max.
Max takes the large nut.

The large nut smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.

‘Awwwk!  There they are!’  one of the guards calls.  A bullet whips through the
branches just above your head, and the other guards circle and start closing
in.

>u
You coolly study the approaching guards, then turn back to Max.  ‘It's been
good working with you, partner.  Sorry there's no clean ending.’

You grab the bomb from him, and then you suddenly slam your hand onto the
controls for the rocket pants.  You blast into the air, bullets from surprised
guards whizzing past your head.  At the apex of your flight, you reach the
secret weapon, and then you activate the bomb.

*** Doris's story ends but at least the mission has succeeded ***

Your score is 80 of a possible 100, in 1415 moves.  This gives you the rank of
Galactic G-Woman.

Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO the last
move, or QUIT?
>restore
Restored.

Inside the Screen
At long last you have made it inside the screen, to a hiding-place only sixty
or seventy feet away from Ch'awwwk's dome, and the secret weapon atop it.
Unfortunately, at least fifty of those feet are straight up, as the cage-dome
dangles from the branches above.  Still, given that guards are flying all
around, this is probably as close as you can get.

Max is here.

‘Activation of secret weapon in 9 units.’  Another light winks on.

>max, distract guards
The word ‘distract’ is not necessary in this story.

>x max
Tanned skin, curly blonde locks, and handsome.  And check out those perfectly-
white teeth.

Max is carrying a mask of fearless Xavian leader Ch'awww-k'pot, his blaster,
his force generator, and the ultra-bomb (disguised as a pocketwatch).

>i
You are carrying an issue of Newsbeak, 175 food pills, four granola nuts, a
metal bowl, a Xavian viewmaster, a note, your image projector (disguised as a
powder compact), six souvenir beak-polishers, a scrap of paper, a remote
control, an account book, a large nut, a rounded brown sack, a Max Blaster
action figure, your tk device (disguised as a tube of lipstick), four vent
covers, a purple grassy plant, a Hungrybird Box-o-worms, a red-flowered plant,
a twiny green plant, a gold cube, a screen disruptor, and a microdot.  You are
wearing your rocket pants.

‘Activation of secret weapon in 8 units.  Please remember that Exalted Warlord
Ch'awww-k'pot has already called dibs on all outlets of Rainbow Bob's Fruit-n-
Nut Emporium.’  Another light winks on.

>max, throw all at dome
The mask of fearless Xavian leader Ch'awww-k'pot smacks into the underside of
the dome and tumbles back down again, luckily falling right near where you are.
Max's blaster smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  Max's force generator smacks
into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down again, luckily falling
right near where you are.  Yeah, Max could hit the dome, if he threw the bomb
hard.  But it would probably bounce off and fall right back down again — there
must be a better plan.  You hand the issue of Newsbeak to Max.
Max takes the issue of Newsbeak.

The issue of Newsbeak smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back
down again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill
to Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max takes the food pill.

The food pill smacks into the underside of the dome and tumbles back down
again, luckily falling right near where you are.  You hand the food pill to
Max.
Max ta