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>>41608106

...by having you killed?

"Sir?" The soldier, Jenners looks at him.

"Just shoot her. That's an order."

> Try and calm down and think about the situation.
> Panicpanicpanic.

>>41608122
>> Panicpanicpanic.

>>41608122
Now's the time too
> Panicpanicpanic

>>41608122
> Try and calm down and think about the situation.
>Fail
>PANICPANICPANIC

>>41608122
> Panicpanicpanic.
Fuck calming down this is stupid! Also, lethally dangerous.

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>>41608232
>>41608168
>>41608166
>>41608156

SHIT SHIT SHIT.

Jenners and Summers seem to be having an argument but you are too busy freaking out. You get something like the germ of a headache...

> FIGHT
> RUN

>>41608353
> RUN
For now.

>>41608353
> RUN

>>41608353
> RUN
We gotta go, we've got nothing to lose, the time has come for us so goodbye

>>41608353
> RUN

>>41608353
> RUN

>>41608353
>RUN WHILE SCREAMING

>>41608353
They're gonna shot us anyway, might as well
> RUN

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>>41608584
>>41608557
>>41608545
>>41608522
>>41608487
>>41608386
>>41608370

You back away towards the furthest corner of the seat until you can't go any further away.

Jenners takes off the safety of his gun.

Shit shit shit. Your headache is fairly bad now.

Where the fuck can you run?

> Left
> Right
> Forwards
> Down

>>41608659
> Right

>>41608659
> Down
>Up?

>>41608659
Other: kick the gun out of Jenners' hand.

>>41608659
They cornered fox, bad move
>Tackle

>>41608659
> Down
HIT THE GROUND GO GO GO

>>41608659
>Left

>>41608659
> Left

>>41608659
Up up down down left right left right (b a).

>>41608659
> down
We gotta go, if we're going down then let's go down in flames

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>>41608846
>>41608699
>>41608723

You dive under the table the moment before you hear a burst of gunfire.

Your headache gets worse.

You hear Summers say something to Jenners "-to see what happens, you idiot!"

> Maybe there's an escape hatch down here?
> How many bullets does a pistol have?
> What is this table made of?
> THINK. BREATHE.
> [Write in]

>>41609032
>> THINK. BREATHE.
Use the Force, girl!

>>41609032
> What is this table made of?
> Maybe there's an escape hatch down here?

>>41609032
> THINK. BREATHE.
> Maybe there's an escape hatch down here?
The great escape continues

>>41609032
> How many bullets does a pistol have?
Coming on strong like a force of nature

>>41609032
>How many bullets does a pistol have?

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>>41609058
>>41609124

You think for a moment and are a bit calmer. You go through what you've just learned.

Summers suspects you are an outsider. He wants Jenners to shoot you.

Then if you get shot, then he doesn't think you are an outsider. However, you'll be shot.

If you use outsider abilities - if you even have them - to avoid being shot, he'll know you are an outsider, and then??? Then what?

Summers continues. "I'm going to lift up the table. Get ready for when you see a clear shot."

You still have your headache. Of course it could just be a migraine, in which case you are screwed. But...

> Think about the gun.
> Think about Jenners.
> Think about outside the vehicle.
> Think about Summers.
> [Write in]

>>41609404
>> Think about the gun.

>>41609404
> Think about Jenners.
Eh, alright.

>>41609404
>> Think about the gun.
It is a... deagle!

>>41609404
> Think about the gun.

>>41609404
Think about the gun.

>>41609404
> Think about the gun.
Imagine a reality where it's actually a water gun!

>>41609404
> Think about the gun.

>>41609404
>> [Write in]
Think about _someone_.

>>41609638
Changing mine to >>41609766

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>>41609693
>>41609638
>>41609614
>>41609599
>>41609560

The moment you were fired at appears in your head with a strange clarity. The image of the gun appears in your head.

_Glock 18_
_Selective fire set to burst fire_
_9mm_
_3 rounds fired_

The ache trembles in your head. You hold on to it.

> How many bullets are really left in this gun?
> How good is Jenner's aim, really?
> Maybe I saw wrong, maybe there wasn't a gun?
> What are the chances I get shot and survive?
> [Write in]

>>41609857
> How good is Jenner's aim, really?
It's shit! SHIIIIT!

>>41609857
> Maybe I saw wrong, maybe there wasn't a gun?

A bouquet? Odd.

>>41609857
> Maybe I saw wrong, maybe there wasn't a gun?
Why is that man holding a rabid raccoon?

>>41609884
Too unsubtle. Jenner missing won't tip off that you changed universes with Outsider powers as quickly. Do you want to give Summers what he wants, solid proof?

>>41609857
> How many bullets are really left in this gun?
0.

>>41609857
>> How good is Jenner's aim, really?

>>41609857
>> How many bullets are really left in this gun?
Emptied.

>>41609857
> What are the chances I get shot and survive?

>>41609870
>>41609884
>>41609928
Need a tiebreaker.

>>41610232
It's shit! SHIIIIT!

>>41610093
Changing mine to>>41609884

>>41610232
I'll switch >>41609904 to aim.

>>41610298
Actually, I find it rather odd that he's pointing a banana towards me.

>>41610521
He probably skipped out on lunch.

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>>41610306
>>41610298
>>41609870
>>41609939

_Jenners_
_Private_
_Disciplinary record: Multiple warnings_
_Personal recommendation by Colonel Summers_
_Moved to Project Outsider_

You don't question why you see this guy's entire life history. Not right now. Summers is lifting the table. You see something... red? In his hand.

You see the lanes of the past and the future as roads alongside you.

> Jenners always resented Summers. Now he's had enough.
> Jenners doesn't like what Summers said to him. He's going to miss on purpose.
> Jenners has always been lazy. He cheated to get good target shooting results.
> A collision with something outside the vehicle is going to throw off his aim.
> [Write in]

T̮̫̤i̫̙͖̲͓ͅm̯͓̫͉͚e̖̮ t͚̯̗͖̼o̜ ͔̖t͔̮͈̺̲͇u̗̳r̠͓̳͓ͅn̼̘͎͙̟̦ t̝̩̥̬h͙̞̻̫̼͉e͕̦͕̼̘ ̲̦̬k̜̝̮̮͚͕̮e̤̦̪y̝͕̗.̬̘̲̦̳

>>41610613
> Jenners doesn't like what Summers said to him. He's going to miss on purpose.

>>41610613
>> Jenners doesn't like what Summers said to him. He's going to miss on purpose.

I feel like that's the least reality bending one.

>>41610613
>> Jenners doesn't like what Summers said to him. He's going to miss on purpose.

>>41610613
>> A collision with something outside the vehicle is going to throw off his aim.
The choice that least betrays our involvement.

>>41610613
> A collision with something outside the vehicle is going to throw off his aim.

>>41610613
>Jenners doesn't like what Summers said to him. He's going to miss on purpose.

>>41610613
> A collision with something outside the vehicle is going to throw off his aim.
Sounds like a distraction!

>>41610613
> A collision with something outside the vehicle is going to throw off his aim.

>>41610613
> Jenners doesn't like what Summers said to him. He's going to miss on purpose.

>>41610613
> Jenners doesn't like what Summers said to him. He's going to miss on purpose.

>>41610613
>> A collision with something outside the vehicle is going to throw off his aim.

>>41610613
> Jenners doesn't want to shoot a fucking child. He's going to miss on purpose.

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>>41610765
>>41610822
>>41610759
>>41610659
>>41610647
>>41610640
>>41610631

T͖̟̫̠̭͉ḫ̺i̪͎͇̻̲s̮̠̹̙͈ ̖̟̪͇̳̠͔i̪̼s̬͙̥̥ ̥̖̩̘͓̪͓w̦̮͔̤͓̙͓ha͖̞̯̣̼t̜̻͇͍̜̞̹ ̘͖͈͚̻̯͇h̞a̟͕̣͙̩pp̭͓̙̞̝̣e̻͖͈̫̪͉̖n̻e̮̻̝̱̟d...
̞


_"You fucking moron!" Summers shouts at Jenners.

"But it's just a kid!" Jenners says.

"Just do what you are ordered," Summers says. "You aren't paid to think. Now wait, I need to see exactly what happens. Get ready."

This was not what Jenners signed up for. He raises the gun, his hands shaking. Then an idea comes into his head. Seriously, fuck this guy. Fuck his unreasonable orders.

Summers pulls the table away from its supports, as Jenners adjusts his aim slightly..._

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>>41611043
There's a series of bangs in rapid succession as Jenners empties his gun just over your head. Cool air floods the chamber as the window behind you smashes.

"The fuck did you miss for?" Summers looks at Jenners.

You feel tired, the headache is gone.

> Get out the window.
> Rush past Jenners to your left.
> Attack Summers.
> [Write in]

>>41611098
> Get out the window.
Sure.

>>41611098
> Get out the window.
Summers appears to have a light saber.
Running seems smart.

>>41611098
>Get out the window.

>>41611098
>Cry

>>41611098
> Get out the window.

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>>41611098
Is. Is Summers holding a bright red sword.

Or should i say it's _red_.

That's probably one of those weapons he said he made to kill outsiders.

>>41611098
>> Get out the window.

>>41611170
Looks like it. More a long knife perhaps. Seems pretty lethal!

>>41611098
> Get out the window.

>>41611098
> Rush past Jenners to your left.

>>41611098
>Get out window

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>>41611263
>>41611172
>>41611164
>>41611129
>>41611126
>>41611118

While Summers and Jenners are arguing, you climb on to the broken window, ignoring the glass that cuts up your hands and knees.

It's pitch black outside and you only sense the wind. You seem to be in some sort of trailer. You realise you have no idea how fast this thing is travelling.

> Jump
> Don't jump
> Stop the vehicle?

>>41611412
>Jump

>>41611412
>Climb on top.

>>41611412
> Jump

>>41611412
>> Jump

Fuck it. Apparently if we're injured we can _uninjure_ ourselves with soft foliage.

>>41611412
>Jump

>>41611412
> Jump
We won't get hurt. Just roughed up a little.

>>41611412
>> Jump
I'm wondering how far removed we are from our original reality by bow. That _Someone_ used its power quite a bit.

>>41611489
Probably so far that it's useless to worry about it.

>>41611624
And we were already told that you can't find your way back even after just a single jump.

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>>41611455
>>41611418
>>41611461
>>41611464
>>41611471
>>41611489

Okay.

>>41611753
You go girl!

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>>41611753

This is going to hurt a lot.

(Be back after a half-hour break!)

>>41611793
You tease!

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>>41611793

The blackness shifts into unexpected light.

You're instead sitting in a car. You are on a road, and you are driving, but you aren't sure where to and where from. And beside you...

_"You did it. I'm glad." says a soft voice._

> Look at it. "I thought you died...?"
> Look at her. "T-thank goodness you're here."
> [Write in]

>>41612733
>[Write in]
"Why me? Why did you choose me?"

>>41612733
>[Write in]
"Did... what?"

>>41612733
> Look at it. "I thought you died...?"

>>41612733
>Look at it. "I thought you died...?"

>>41612733
>> Look at it. "I thought you died...?"
this is the choice of whether we accept the _something_ or not. i still dont trust the creepy fucker

>>41612733
> [Write in]
So, what's your goal now then? What am I supposed to do? Huh?

>>41612733
> Look at her. "T-thank goodness you're here."

You know if _someone_ explained things a little more honestly and less sinisterly and manipulatively this might have gone a lot more smoothly.

>>41612733
>> Look at it. "I thought you died...?"

>>41612733
>Look at her."What the bloody squid testicles is happening?!"

>>41612813
It's clear they can't hurt us and we can't hurt it. They are the only one who can help you against Colonel Genocide.

>>41612733
>> Look at her. "T-thank goodness you're here."
>> [Write in]
"Did what?"

>>41612843
Survive. To both questions.

Obviously.

>>41613095
But that's boring. Who lives just to survive?
I don't need any grand meaning of life myself but 'it's comfy sitting in front of my computer and I want to play that new Mongolian Masturbation Game under translation' is probably neither our protagonist's reasoning nor a great basis for plot.

>>41613148
What you do afterwards is irrelevant, simple survival is the immediate and pressing goal in the face of a genocidal slider douchebag.

Just joined this quest. Seems funky.

Just to clarify, we're some kinda reality-warper-in-training, right? And trying to avoid being killed by the military because of that fact?

>>41612733

> Look at it. "I thought you died...?"

>>41613265
Yes?
If you've read the archives you know what we know.

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>>41612999
>>41612813
>>41612778
>>41612777

_It sighs. "Still ungrateful."_

_There's a tired and defeated look._

_"Yes, I died. So, in fact, did you just now. Or you should have died. Until I changed it."_

> "Thanks?"
> "Thanks."
> Look away.
> [Write in]

>>41613265

( It is, uh, rather strongly recommended you read the rest of the quest, there isn't that much of it.)

>>41613265
More or less, best to start off at the beginning.

>>41613291
>"Thanks."

>>41613291
> "Thanks?"

>>41613265
>archives
seriously, do you pick up the fourth book in a series and start reading from there when the first, second and third are in front of you?

>>41613291
> "Thanks."
> "Any chance for some explanations?"

>>41613265
Read the damn archives you lazy bint.

>>41613291
>> "Thanks."

"You know about the guy with lotsa weapons to kill people like...us, right?"

>>41613291
>> "Thanks?"
so, uh, whats the point? what do we do now? is our brother even alive? am i really alive?

>>41613291
>Look away

>>41613291
>"Thanks?"

Alright, alright, I'm reading. Ye gods.

...Shorter than I expected.

>>41613291
> "Thanks?"
> "Why'd you save me anyway?"
Let's hear it from her.

>>41613291
> Look away.
>Did you "change" your own death too?

>>41613291
"Honestly, if you were just upfront about WHATEVER this is that's going on, I'd probably be a lot more cooperative. I don't trust you because I don't know shit, and I'm not GONNA trust you as long as I don't know shit."

>>41613291
>> "Thanks?"

>>41613291
Well, we've got a guy who can STOP you from changing things apparently. He's killed a lot of you...er... us? Is there an us now.

Okay, finished reading the backlog.

...I'm almost more confused than I was before I asked.

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>>41613410
>>41613380
>>41613370
>>41613310

_It is silent for a moment._

_"I-I don't have a lot of time. I'm here to give you a warning. The power you are using has a price. You see. Because you're not like us, you are still moving the rest of *you*. For now, you can still go back. But soon..."_

_"I don't know," it says. "That's all I have left to say."_

The car stops. _It undoes its seat belt._

_"This is where I get off." It says. "You win."_

> [Write in]

>>41613703
>> [Write in]
Wait! I'm sorry!

You know about the guy trying to kill both of us, right?

How do we fight someone like him? I don't know anything!

>>41613703
"Thanks, although I'd honestly rather we'd been on the same team. I don't know what's going on, but I had to choose between you and Crazy McGenocide, well..."

>>41613703
>"I don't feel like I'm fucking winning. You're gonna save me then dump that cryptic kebab in my lap and fuck off? I just want some help!"

>>41613703
I'm sorry. I never trusted you, but you were just trying to help.

I just wish you'd have been more honest with me. I wouldn't have fought you every step of the way.

Truce?

>>41613703
>Wait...

>>41613703
Please don't leave me.

>>41613703
>Cry

>>41613703
You ain't gonna solve anything by just leaving. So let's talk. We have a Mad Scientist to stop.

>>41613703
...What is it you wanted from me? What do you want now?

>>41613703
You can't just leave. You have to take responsibility for what you've done to me.

>>41614045
That sounds lewd anon.

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_It opens the door. The air outside is neither cold nor warm as it steps out of the car. It doesn't look at you._

You realise the seat where _it_ was sitting was covered in _red_.

> Get out after it.
> "Get back here!"
> Watch.
> [Write in]

>>41614183
>> Get out after it.
Hey just what you think you're doing?

>>41614183
>> Get out after it.

>>41614183
>> "Get back here!"
>Seriously, stop trying to pull this engimatic bullshit- speak up.

>>41614183
> Get out after it.
We might as well comfort the dying one. Though her concept of right and wrong made absolutely no sense and stuff at least she hasn't tried to kill us.

>>41614183
Mom no!

>>41614183
> Get out after it.
Oh fine, if it wants to be all melodramatic and shit.

>>41614183
> Get out after it.
> Cry.

>>41614183
> Get out after it.

I'm honestly still not...feeling for this thing. Like, the only reason I'm at all concerned is because it hasn't actively tried to kill us. But if it died, I honestly don't think we'd be much worse off than before. It's only been helpful in the vaguest and loosest sense of the word, and refuses to be anything more.

>>41614363
It's our only connection to whatever the fuck is going on that isn't A: seemingly working off less/unreliable info and B: as you said not actively trying to kill us. Would be quite heavy to lose it as a tether to our old life and the situation as hand, even if we felt little for the 'person' itself.

>>41614363
If it hadn't interfered, we'd still be living a normal life. I don't really see it as helpful, except for just having saved our bacon with a motive it won't speak of.

>>41614409
The problem with A is that it's not TELLING us what said info is, and we are a very suspicious lot. We run off the base assumption that if you're not honest with what's going on, you have something to hide from us, which is likely bad, and therefore, largely untrustworthy.

>>41614363
She's the only one who's been trying to help us this whole time.

Her only sin is being a poor communicator.

>>41614470
Continuing on that point (same anon, apologies), even if it was something insane like 'We're trying to fix a timeline anomoly that'll erase existance' or even somewhat evil like 'We want to make time and causality our bitch' or whatever in between, I'd just really like to know. I could be down with playing an evil/psychosis filled reality warper, as long as I KNOW that's what's going on.

>>41614445
A motherless life.

And no. It's all Summers's fault. He orchestrated all of this.

If _someone_ hadn't interfered, you'd be just another ignorant civilian trapped in a world he left burning to ashes in his mad crusade.

>>41614484
Let's be honest here, firstly we never tried to ask her anything. Secondly, if she *had* answered, would people have believed her?

>>41614525
Also this.

>>41614539
Honestly? I probably would've, considering all the weird shit that's been happening. At least would've taken it into serious consideration.

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>>41614305
>>41614315
>>41614270
>>41614229
>>41614224
>>41614214

You get out of the car.

What strikes you immediately is the wind. A wind tangles around you, tries to pull you off your feet. After a moment it weakens. You see in the distance, behind criss-crossing roads, a reddish star, and as you look at it, the wind grows again, this time definitely pulling you towards it. You look away.

Apart from you, it seems many things are affected by this wind.

_Someone stumbles to the ground in front of you. Its hair, its clothes, and the odd red of its blood, all are pulled towards the red star._

Further, the sky - if it can be called that - is full of streaks of _red_, all flowing towards the star.

_"Get back," it says. "Let me die in peace." And softer, "this place is not safe."_

> "Please, just answer me one question."
> Hug her.
> Pull her back into the car.
> Get back in the car.
> [Write in]

>>41614951
>> Hug her.

>>41614951
> Hug her.

>>41614951
> Pull her back into the car.
> Hug her.
Shit's going pretty badly.

>>41614951
> Hug her.
Awww man

>>41614951
> Get back in the car.
Not alot we can do here

>>41614951
> Pull her back into the car.
Jaysus lady!

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>>41615108
>>41615059
>>41615008
>>41614990

You grab hold of her as she sags into your arms. She is soft, and feels oddly insubstantial, and getting lighter by the second.

_"I thought... because Alice said too much... I would not make that mistake. I thought... to become your mother, to live a linear life, it would have been pleasant." She laughs a rasping laugh. "I was such a fool."_

_She holds you and whispers gently. "What will you do now?"_

> Point at the red star. "That's Summers' doing isn't it, I'm going to put an end to it."
> "I'm going to survive."
> "I'm going to save dad and my brother. This world's, anyway."
> "I'm going to save your butt."
> [Write in]

>>41615698
> Point at the red star. "That's Summers' doing isn't it, I'm going to put an end to it."

>>41615698
> Point at the red star. "That's Summers' doing isn't it, I'm going to put an end to it."

>>41615698
>> Point at the red star. "That's Summers' doing isn't it, I'm going to put an end to it."
remov summer

>>41615698
>> "I'm going to save your butt."

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>>41615743
>>41615806
>>41615848

_She is speechless for a moment. And then she smiles._

_"I don't know if you are telling the truth or not. I am still not all that good at being human."_

_"But to help you, I'll tell you a secret."_

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>>41616476

It was not words she said to you. But instead, you are aware of some knowledge in your head that wasn't there before. She closes her eyes.

"Go forth, my almost-daughter. Do me, do yourself proud."

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>>41616507

And then she is gone.

(END OF SESSION)

>>41616543
(Alright. Phew.

Next time in Car Quest: We'll start the finale! Maybe we'll even complete it!

Also, are people still confused about anything? If so, you erm, shouldn't be, so I can answer any questions directly either now, later when I check this thread, or next session. IC, this is all clarified in the knowledge she transferred to you.

Hope you enjoyed this installment!)

>>41614951
>>41615698
>>41616476
>>41616507
>>41616543
>>41616635

(Bah, I must have forgotten to set my tripcode at some point. Mea culpa)

>>41616635
Finale? Story's almost over already?

Just wanted to say that I really love your work.

>>41616759
somehow i doubt someone else was posting them. Mad props

>>41616759
Got any plans for what you're doing after this quest?

Bumpski for good questki

>>41621039
That's what the archives are for idiot.