The "Choose-Your-Own-Adventure" game

[Kalel21]

It should have been a fairly easy mission. The Avengers and the FF ran across each other during their respective investigations of someone using transporter technology to steal valuable and potentially dangerous scientific equipment.

The two teams joined up when they confronted the Mad Thinker--the mastermind behind the plot. In the ensuing fight, the Thinker and his various androids and robots were defeated.

But the Thinker's teleporter had been damaged during the fight. Just as the battle was ending, it suddenly exploded. There was a blinding flash of light...


...And when everyone's vision cleared, Mr. Fantastic and Captain America were nowhere to be seen...


Reed and Cap suddenly found themselves standing on an alien landscape, surrounded by rocky hills and a few purple trees and bushes. Two moons and a ringed planet hung in the sky overhead. It was night time, but the light from those moons kept the landscape reasonably bright.


Reed looked around curiously. "Hmm. It appears the Thinker's teleportation device was more efficient than even he expected."

Cap smiled wanly. "So it appears. Well, we can breath the atmosphere and the gravity seems pretty close to Earth-normal, so I suppose it could be worse. Any idea where we are?"


"No. The moonlight washes out too many of the stars to try to make a guess."

Cap looked around. In one direction, the purple trees became thicker, forming a dark forest. From that direction, something roared loudly.

"Well, that confirms the presence of animal life," said Reed with a smile. He always enjoyed learning new things.

"Why don't you take a look around?" suggested Cap.


"Good idea." Reed stretched up his neck and revolved his head in a 360 degree arc. Then he stretched back down again. "The trees are too thick to see into the forest, though I did see a sizable flying creatures similar to pteradatycls flying just over the trees. More interestingly, though, is a small village about 4 kilometers in the opposite direction. Electric lights and building of what appear to be artificial materials, plus a few hovercraft like vehicles were moving about, so they have technology. The population seemed to be a mix of various alien species, so--though I didn't see a space port or space craft--it seems likely they have access to interstellar travel. I believe I saw a Shi'ar and what I think was a Badoon."


"Then the village seems like the best place to start to get ourselves home." Cap considered the situation. Both he and Reed had done enough intersteller travel to leave them both fairly fluent in Interlac--the lingua franca of the the spaceways. But even if Interlac wasn't spoken here, Cap's Avengers communicator in his belt buckle and Reed's chest FF symbol both included universal translators. The two devices could be synced to provide them with radio communication if they were to get separated.

So the next question was how to approach the village.


PICK AN OPTION:

A) Reed and Cap approach the village openly.

B) Cap secretly scouts the village first, while Reed waits nearby.

[BudPalmer]

OOOOh! OOOOh! I pick B) Cap's a sneaky sort!

[JackAssterson]

But put finger on A, so if B is bad, can go back to A and it's not cheating because nobody saw it!

[Kalel21]

But put finger on A, so if B is bad, can go back to A and it's not cheating because nobody saw it!

You cheated at the "Choose-Your-Own Adventure" books? :o

That's sad,'cause it is cheating even if nobody saw it!!! :confused:


Anyways, should I count that as a vote for B?


I'll post one new chapter each weekday based whichever option from the day before gets the most votes.

[JKLantern]

You cheated at the "Choose-Your-Own Adventure" books? :o

That's sad,'cause it is cheating even if nobody saw it!!! :confused:


Anyways, should I count that as a vote for B?


I'll post one new chapter each weekday based whichever option from the day before gets the most votes.

My memory was good enough, at one point, that I could remember what page numbers had major branches (since not every page did). From there, it was no real trouble to backtrack when you went through and died (although I'm pretty sure I read at least one where there was no good ending).

Anyway, I add another vote to B.

[JackAssterson]

You cheated at the "Choose-Your-Own Adventure" books? :o

That's sad,'cause it is cheating even if nobody saw it!!! :confused:


What's sad is I'd always die a horrible death anyway.

[JackAssterson]

(although I'm pretty sure I read at least one where there was no good ending).


Was that "The Worst Day of Your Life" (or something like that) I remember that one having pretty much universal bad endings.

[JKLantern]

Was that "The Worst Day of Your Life" (or something like that) I remember that one having pretty much universal bad endings.

Yeah, I think so. Always wondered why that was in an Elementary School Library...

[Wade Wilson]

b, i choose you!!!

[St-Dumas]

=> Get ye flask.

I mean, B.

[Kalel21]

Cap approached the small town cautiously, expertly taking advantage of the available cover as he reached the closest building.


It appeared to be a stable, containing a half-dozen 8-legged creatures that looked like a cross between a horse and a geeko lizard. A spindly green bi-pedal alien was shoveling manure out of one of the stalls.


Moving along the edge of the building, Cap paused as he heard two beings standing in front of the stable talking to one another. They spoke quietly, but Cap, hidden around the corner, was close enough to hear.


They were speaking in Interlac, so Cap was able to follow the gist of the conversation. Nonetheless, he turned on the universal translator in his Avengers communicator to make sure he didn't miss anything. The conversation was simultaneously broadcast to Reed, who was waiting outside of town.


"Is everything prepared?" This was a male voice--Cap thought he recognized a Shi'ar accent.

"Yes, save for transporation to the ship. You've arranged for three of the gwimthits to be saddled and ready?"


"I have. Remember, we all meet in front of the Assay Station at 3.4 Hours Standard. The delivery is being made at that time. We must strike hard and fast."


The two men moved away. Cap risked a glance around the corner. One of the aliens was indeed a Shi'ar. The other was a four-armed, red and green striped alien that Cap had never encountered before. Both men wore blasters in hip holsters, as well as bandoliers holding various odds and ends of equipment.

"Did you get that, Reed?" Cap spoke into the communicator.

"I did. They apparently have a ship--probably a space ship, though we can't know if it's capable of interstellar travel. I would suggest bartering with them for passage, but judging from their conversation, they may be up to something nefarious."

"I agree. Maybe we should be looking into this."


Cap and Reed's options are:

A) Contact the local authorities and warn them.


B) Locate the Assay Office and stake it out.


C) Follow the Shi'ar.


D) Follow the four-armed alien.

E) Approach the aliens and barter passage on their ship.

[Thawmus]

D) Follow the four-armed alien.

[BudPalmer]

Pick D). That guy sounds freaky!

[JackAssterson]

B) Locate the Assay Office and stake it out.

That's what SHE said.

[Kalel21]

So two people want to follow the four-armed alien because he's creepy and one person wants to stake out the Assay Office in the apparent hope of meeting girls.


Any other votes? At the moment, creepy alien stalking is the leading choice.

[JKLantern]

Follow the Shi'Ar. They're never up to any good. And it's not like the non-stalking options aren't obvious schmuck bait.

[JackAssterson]

And it's not like the non-stalking options aren't obvious schmuck bait.

Are you saying we'd get eaten by a bear?

I always get eaten by a bear.

[BudPalmer]

And yet still you post. That bear must have no teeth and serious digestive problems!

[JackAssterson]

And yet still you post. That bear must have no teeth and serious digestive problems!

I've been murdered countless times by mafia and townsfolk, died in World War II, been eaten alive by vampire bats...

HCRealms. A dangerous place.

[BudPalmer]

Just admit to being a gummed piece of bear diarrhea!

[Kalel21]

I've been murdered countless times by mafia and townsfolk, died in World War II, been eaten alive by vampire bats...

HCRealms. A dangerous place.

Weren't you once the lone survivor of 25 B-17 missions?

[JackAssterson]

Weren't you once the lone survivor of 25 B-17 missions?

Yes, yes I was. :cool:

Just admit to being a gummed piece of bear diarrhea!

IKNOWYOUAREBUTWHATAMI!

[Space Jawa]

I vote C! At least with the Shi'ar, we'll know what we're initially dealing with if things really go bad.

[Kalel21]

That makes a 2 to 2 tie between tailing the Shi'ar and tailing 4-armed guy. If there's no tiebreaking vote by tomorrow, I'll pick on of the options randomly.

[BudPalmer]

I don't think gummed pieces of bear diarrhea should get a vote!

[JKLantern]

I don't think gummed pieces of bear diarrhea should get a vote!

But we let YOU vote. :cheeky:

[BudPalmer]

That bear had teeth!

[JKLantern]

That bear had teeth!

Candy corn don't count as teeth, dammit!

[BudPalmer]

Try telling that to Uncle Smoothie!

[JKLantern]

Try telling that to Uncle Smoothie!

Uncle Smoothie doesn't exist! He's a figment of your imagination! Like the Staypuft Marshmallow Man!

[BudPalmer]

You Take That BACK!!! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/81441390@N00/254033874/)

[JKLantern]

You Take That BACK!!! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/81441390@N00/254033874/)

Sadly, that's roughly my opinion on how well my braces did, and I had them on for about five years.

But on the subject of the Candy Corn Teeth. I WILL NOT RECANT! ZUUL! ZUUUUUUUUUUL!

[JackAssterson]

ZUUL! ZUUUUUUUUUUL!

Someone's in the kitchen with Daaaaana!

Someone's in her fridgy I know know know know

Someone's in the kitchen with Daaaaaaaanaaaaaa!

Says there ain't no Dana, no

Oh they say

Ain't no Dana no

Ain't no Dana only Zuuuuuuul

Ain't no Dana, NOOOOOOO!

Ain't no Dana, only Zuuuuuul!

[Kalel21]

Cap took to the roof-tops and followed the pair of aliens. When they separated a few blocks down the road, Cap continued to follow the four-armed fellow.

The alien soon turned into a narrow alley and--using an electronic pass key--entered what appeared to be a warehouse. Cap found an open window near the back and entered quietly.


The warehouse was empty except for a few crates and other odd and ends, lit by a few portable electric lanterns. The 4-armed alien was speaking to a tall grey robot. Still keeping to the shadows, Cap moved close enough to overhear.


The robot was bi-pedal--two arms and two legs, but the arms were disproportionately long and there was a blaster attached to each of its forearms.


As Cap moved close, a red light mounted in the robot's forehead began to blink. "ALERT!! ALERT!!!" blared the robot. "Heat sensors detect intruder!!! ALERT!!! ALERT!!!"

The robot raised both arms and swung quickly to point in Cap's direction...


Should Cap:

A) Come out of hiding and try to talk things out?


B) Retreat quickly out of the warehouse?


C) Attack and fight?

[Space Jawa]

I vote B. Let's call for the reinforcements.

[JackAssterson]

A is for pinko commies and B is for white flag waving peaceniks!

C! Hitler's brain might be in that thing!

[BudPalmer]

I'm going with C)

[JKLantern]

B. He who fights and runs away can run away another day!

[JackAssterson]

B. He who fights and runs away can run away another day!

White flag waving peacenik! Why don't we try putting flowers in its gun barrels? And then we can have a good :cry: and talk about our feelings!

:mad:

Amerrrrica! Fudge yeah!

[JKLantern]

White flag waving peacenik! Why don't we try putting flowers in its gun barrels? And then we can have a good :cry: and talk about our feelings!

:mad:

Amerrrrica! Fudge yeah!

Inquiry: Aren't you one of those crazy hippies from Seattle, and, pirates or not, weren't my family a bunch of the people who came over on the Mayflower?

WHO'S the American here? :devious:

[Thawmus]

My brain is saying: "A"

Comics history is saying: "C"

[JackAssterson]

WHO'S the American here? :devious:

Anyone who votes C, that's who!

My brain is saying: "A"

Comics history is saying: "C"

When's the last time listening to their brain did anyone a darn lick of good?

[JKLantern]

When's the last time listening to their brain did anyone a darn lick of good?

I agree with this statement. Anyone NOT see that coming?

:m-dolphin::m-dolphin:

[St-Dumas]

C! For America!

[Kalel21]

As the robot leveled its blasters, Cap charged forward, raising his shield to deflect the pair of energy beams that slice towards him. He jumped and cannonballed into the robot, taking the brunt of the impact with his shield.


The robot over-balanced and fell with a loud clang. Cap somersaulted off him, barely dodging a blaster shot from the four-armed alien.


Cap jackknifed backwards and kicked the blaster from the alien's lower left hand. He spun and came to his feet, landing a hard right cross on the alien's jaw.

But the alien was tough. He grunted and stumbled back a half-step, but managed to slam his upper right arm down on Cap's shoulders. Simultaneously, he drew a second blaster from it's holster with its lower right hand.

Cap rolled with the blow and did a spin kick, knocking the second blaster away. He noticed the robot had regained its feet and was zeroing in on the Avenger with its own twin blasters.

Cap dived to one side and threw his shield. The edge of the red, white ad blue weapon carved into the robot's head. With a barrage of sparks and smoke, it collapsed to the ground.

The four-armed alien had run off into the shadows. Cap heard the front door of the warehouse sliding open.


Should Cap:

A) Make sure the robot is down for sure?

B) Immediately chase and capture the alien?

C) Immediately but surreptiously follow the alien to see where it goes next?

[BudPalmer]

I'm going with A) (those pesky things always have something left in them - kinda like soda cans!)

[JKLantern]

In grand Dungeons and Dragons tradition, I'm also going with A), loot corpse.

[St-Dumas]

I'll vote for C. The alien could know things.

[Space Jawa]

I vote A. We make sure the robot is down for good, then we can take its brain back to Mr. Fantastic. I'm sure he can pull some useful information of the thing.

[Kalel21]

Cap carefully approached the robot and examined it. It seemed to be down and definitely out of service.

He adjusted his Avengers communicator to pick up visuals and said "Reed, are you getting this?"

"I am. There appears to be an access panel right under the neck. See if you can pry it open."

Cap quickly did this, using the edge of his shield as a lever. His communicator sent the image of the robot's inner workings to Reed.

"That's the CPU," said Reed. "Remove it and I'll meet you at the edge of town."

*******

Ten minutes later, the two heroes had rejoined each other just outside the small alien town. Reed was tinkering with the CPU, hooking it up with his FF communicator.


"One more adjustment," he muttered. Then several lights on the CPU came on. A holographic image--a map and some alien lettering--was projected from the communictor.


"Basic Interlac," commented Reed. "It seems this village is a mining town. The planent is a rich source of dilithium crystals. Our friends and their robot companion here were planning on robbing the crystals and cash stored at the Assay office, then escaping in a ship parked several kilometers out of town."

"An interstellar vehicle?" asked Cap.

Reed shrugged. "No information on that. Apparently, the Shi'ar is the pilot and the robot simply wasn't programed with that information. Still, it must at least be interplanetary and I might be able to modify it for hyperspace. It could be a way home."


"I wonder if the Shi'ar and our four-armed friend are still thinking about pulling off the heist now that they've lost the robot."


"That's a good question. Also, there's the ethical dilemma of who the ship belongs to. We can't simply assume it's all right for us to steal a ship because its current owners are themselves thieves. They might not be the rightful owners themselves." Reed sighed. "We still need more information."


Should Cap and Reed:

A) Stake out the Assay Office and stop the robbery if it still takes place?

B) Contact the local authorities?

C) Find the ship and hack into its computers for more information?

[BudPalmer]

Pick A)


(Oh and one of these days I'll go back and actually read this thread instead of just skipping to the end and picking the option I like best! :laugh:)

[JKLantern]

Pick C. Because C is for Cookie, because Cookie starts with C.

[Space Jawa]

I vote C. It just makes the most sense to me.

[Kalel21]

Circling around the town, Cap and Reed soon approached the space ship. It was a relatively small one--roughly the size of an Avengers Quinjet--and was equipped with only interplanetary engines.


"Can you slip inside?" asked Cap.


"Depends on how well designed and repaired this thing is. A space vessel is generally airtight. That would leave not even a small opening for me to squeeze through." But Reed stretched himself around the ship's hull, searching it carefully. "Ah. There are several very small cracks--probably caused by micro-meteors. Not enough to endanger the ship if their air recycling system is working, but it should give me an entryway."


Reed squeezed himself almost microscopically thin and flowed into the ship through one of the cracks. Once inside, he opened the main hatch, allowing Cap to enter.

It took Reed only a few minutes to hack into the computer. He pulled up the ship's log. "The Shi'ar and the other fellow--his race is apparently called the Bront--seem to have actually bought this ship from a sort of interstellar junkyard. It is legally theirs. Ethically, we can't just take it."

"Any information on where we are?"

"Yes. This sytems is located just outside of Shi'ar space. You know, I believe I can rig the engines to make one hyperspace jump before they burn out. We can at least get back to our solar system."

"Okay, then, we need to get permission to use this ship, then," decided Cap. "I can think of two different ways."


Should Cap and Reed:

A) Capture the aliens when they attempt to rob the Assay Office and then claim the ship as a reward?

B) Intercept the aliens before the robbery to convince them they don't stand a chance, then barter with them for the ship?

[BudPalmer]

Go with A!!!!!!!

[Space Jawa]

I vote for B!

[JKLantern]

I vote for C!

[St-Dumas]

I vote for D!

No, wait, I vote for A.

[JKLantern]

In all seriousness, while B seems like a dick move, it seems like it would work better. Go with B.

[JackAssterson]

"Can you slip inside?" asked Cap.


That's what SHE said.

Oh, and I vote B.

Which is also what SHE said.

[JKLantern]

That's what SHE said.

Oh, and I vote B.

Which is also what SHE said.

Am I allowed to revoke Jack's voting privileges?

[Kalel21]

An hour later, the Shi'ar and the Bront were approaching the ship together. Both were still armed with holstered blasters.


But neither had a chance to draw. Captain America and Mr. Fantastic both moved from their respective hiding places too quickly, confronting the two would-be outlaws before either of them could make a hostile move.


The Shi'ar started at the sight of Reed. "The Fantastic Four!" he exclaimed.


"You've heard of us?" asked Reed.


"Who has not heard tales of your exploits? You are famous across the known universe!"

"I honored. And this is my friend--Captain America. You no doubt heard of him also."

The Shi'ar shrugged. "I don't believe I have."

Many people who knew Reed slightly thought of him as humorless, but he smiled broadly at the slightly miffed expression that crossed Cap's face.

"Let's get down to business," said Cap. "We know of your plans to rob the Assay Office. It won't work. We'll put a stop to it."

The Bront made an odd four-armed gesture that Reed assumed was analogous to a shrug for his species. "We've already given it up. Without the robot the Colonel destroyed..."

"Captain," corrected Cap.

"Whatever. Without the robot, we don't have enough firepower to succeed."


"Well, then, perhaps we can make a deal," said Reed. "We need transport back to Earth. I can rig your engines to make one hyperspace jump to get us home. Once there, I will repair and improve the engines on your ship."

The Bront and the Shi'ar backed away and discussed it for several minutes. Their discussion seemed to grow heated and the Brunt's lower left hand moved carefully to one of its holster.


Should Cap and Reed:

A) Allow the discussion to continue and only step in if it gets violent?

B) Pre-emptively step in to disarm the two aliens?

[Space Jawa]

Let's go with A. I trust Cap can throw his shield quickly enough to stop things if they go badly. Or something like that.

[wintremute]

I vote "A", for "America"...CAPTAIN America!