CYOA: Stars Beyond

"Okay. But don't trip." You say, speeding up a little.

The others speed up accordingly, and you think that you're making good time. Right up until the point where 9 trips over a fallen metal plate.

You feel like wailing. This is exactly what you were afraid of. 9's leg is twisted, and he probably won't be able to walk.

If you leave him, he probably won't make it in time, and you'll probably be even slower if you both carry him. If you carry him alone, you risk tripping yourself, and both of you might not make it. You could run back, and get help, although you're probably not going to make it there and back in time.

A: Don't carry him
B: Carry him (with 4)
C: Carry him (alone)
D: Go get help

Who let this kid in this game? He keeps almost dying. If our role wasn't leader is just let him drown at this point.

B, carry him with his arms over our shoulders. It should be faster than full on carrying him since he can still carry some of his weight.

Crow's right though. 4 would just stay behind and try to help him. We can't lose 2 in one day.

Well. I've also considered 9 may be one of the killers, trying to bring us down with feigned incompetence. We can't know for sure the killers operate on the same rules and knowledge level as the players, after all - they may not need to be in that room, and there were 3 missing... We also don't know for sure we'll die if we don't make it, but we would be easy prey for a killer if we're asleep and they follow a different ruleset.

But the risk to Allure if we bail is unacceptably high. Other than looking good in front of the others if everything goes well, we'd especially ingratiate ourself with her. And she's - assuming she's not a killer - an extremely useful tool. ...Also maybe I like her character, but that's neither here nor there.

You feel a tremendous urge to leave 9 behind. The sheer uselessness of a child with an anxiety disorder in a game of life and death, especially bearing in mind that he could actually be some kind of murderer, and might need to kill to survive. You get the feeling that you've had a history of being betrayed, although you still can't remember much of your life.

However, you don't think you can convince 4 to leave 9 to die. And 4 has proven herself to be fairly useful up until now. You also kind of like her... but that doesn't factor into your decision much.

You also think that 8 actually had a point. This seems to be some sort of reality show, and it certainly can't help to have the audience, and maybe even the other contestants.

You don't feel very terrible about leaving a child to an unknown fate, but you do feel bad about that.

"Fine. 9, get your arm over my shoulder, and can you help, 4?"

4 puts her helmet back on, probably to protect her face from 9's flailing fist, and mirrors your own action.

"Let's go."

You move even faster before, and you realise you don't seem to be tiring. 4 seems to be huffing a little bit, but still pulling her own. Do you have some sort of superpower? Your stamina is extraordinary, and you seem to be able to do increase your mental speed while solving a problem.

You go around the corner, and the corridor starts narrowing. You see the door, and all nine other contestants seem to be at the end of it.

"Thirty seconds left"

The door at the end of the corridor begins descending from the ceiling. Ever so slowly.

You see number 10 slam something diagonally between the door and the side of the doorframe, trying to stall it.

At this point, 4 cannot stand side by side with 9, and is forced forwards. She jogs ahead a little, and looks fearfully back at you.

What are you going to do now?

Remind me to never let you look after my children. If I ever have any.

You drop 9, grab a wrist, and motion 4 to do the same.

The way she does so suggests that she thinks there was probably a better way. But she doesn't argue.

You run towards the door, 4 manages to keep up, but is panting.

It narrows still further. One of you is definitely going to have to let go now.

A: Let go.

B: Let 4 let go.

B, we can't let her die and we have super stamina. PULL HARDER AND FASTER, DAMN YOU.

B, throw nine and then run into a slide under the door.

You suddenly start sprinting and bowl 9 under the door. The others hastily drag him inside.

"Five."

You run like your life depends on it. For all you know, it does.

"Four."

You find yourself reflexively turning sideways.

"Three."

You crouch, and start rolling.

"Two."

You lie flat, and propel yourself through the door.

"One."

The door slams down on your foot. You manage to pull it back before it crushes your toes.

"Zero. Adsum passages closing. Any passageways assigned to CORE contestants not assembled in the CORE Hall will be forever closed. CORE contestants missing: 0. Meeting begins in five minutes."

There is a collective sigh of relief, and a few people start clapping. Someone cheers, although you're not sure who.

4 helps you up. Your foot still stings a little, but it will be fine.

(972/1000)

9's leaning against a wall, swaying slightly, you notice.

1 stalks towards you. His helmet's back on, which – though you didn't notice if before, – is actually heart-themed. "Huh." He says, dismissively. "Honestly, 7, I was under the impression that you weren't a sentimental simpleton. Apparently not. You do realise you nearly killed yourself to save someone who failed a puzzle designed specifically for him? How long do you think he'll last? You think he'll be of help to the rest of us?"

"Oh really? Okay then, how long do you think someone who is loudmouthed, self-righteous, and selfish, is going to last in a game where they need to co-operate?"

"Guys..." pipes up a new voice, before 1 has a chance to speak. You turn towards 12, who had spoken. He's wiry and buff, who seems to glance away from people while talking. "How about we stop arguing for now, and discuss nicknames? 2 said you guys were talking about them earlier, and we need something to call each other. It's difficult to remember each person's number..."

"He," 5 says, pointing at 1, enunciating each syllable by tilting her head in a different direction. "Can keep being 'Number one'. As in, 'always looking out for', and, 'a big steaming puddle of...'"

"Please," 9 says, dispassionately. "Stop fighting..."