Endemic (An Interactive Comic)

**Eaglendia** on 13th July 2010, 2:53 pm

((The images in this post got cut off, as they're kind of big. Future ones will fit in the forum. For now, right click > view image.))

Tuesday morning. 12:53 A.M.

In an apparently derelict internet cafe, a light flickers. Someone's still out there.

You're lightly wounded. Stop freaking out; the blood isn't all yours.

Your name is Kenneth Albright; however, you're more often known by your internet handle, "InfernoTempest". Some time ago, you became a member of a popular internet community called UndeadXBox under this handle. Today is June 13th, 2010, the release date of the long-awaited "Endemic", advertised as the 'free roam zombie game that puts you and your team right into the action'; you came here several hours ago, as some of your friends from the website decided to have a real-life meeting for the game's midnight release.

Your plans were interrupted by a strange event which you don't remember in detail.

You stand up to stretch, examining your surroundings as well. The front of the cafe is obstructed by a rudimentary barricade, made from a utility shelf, some crates, a highway roadblock, and a gas stove. You also note that all of your personal effects are gone.

The internet cafe has been relieved of all of its computers save for this one; the machine is active, and its presence in the corner is almost inexplicable. You wonder if it has internet; perhaps you could signal for help, or at the very least, get into contact with someone else from the website, to see if they have any idea what's going on.

At this stage of the game, you don't really care who you talk to.

((Reader: You have gained control of Kenneth Albright. Suggest the next action he will take and advance the story, by posting "KA:" or "IT:" followed by any action, i.e. "KA: Use the computer.".))

**DeadApe** on 13th July 2010, 2:57 pm

IT: Log onto computer.

**Eaglendia** on 13th July 2010, 3:50 pm

DeadApe wrote:IT: Log onto computer.

First, you boot up Firefox, but sadly, your messages on the forums and websites you browse remain unanswered. You notice a familiar messaging client in the taskbar, and sign into your account in hopes of finding help.

A message, An answer. (Right Click > View Image)

He does not respond to any further messages.

Somehow, you feel these game releases are always too good to be true.

**oO Coggy Oo** on 13th July 2010, 3:58 pm

KA: Peers through barricade

**Cry Vengeance** on 13th July 2010, 3:59 pm

IT: Check the barricade again for stability, then check the Announcements to see if Deadape or Cry have said anything.

**Garquin** on 13th July 2010, 4:03 pm

KA: Call your best friend garquin and see if he is home.

**DeadApe** on 13th July 2010, 5:00 pm

IT: Grab knife on shelf.

**Vashed1995** on 13th July 2010, 5:08 pm

KA: Check for a back door or windows as an alternative exit.

**Eaglendia** on 13th July 2010, 6:14 pm

oO Coggy Oo wrote:KA: Peers through barricade

Cry Vengeance wrote:IT: Check the barricade again for stability, then check the Announcements to see if Deadape or Cry have said anything.

You peer through the wide, open space in the barricade. Stable, it is not. This barricade doesn't seem effective, and despite the weight and individual strength of its components, it can barely stand up on its own.

Someone had to build this thing, didn't they? If there was someone here before you, you would sure like to know what they have to keep out.

You think you see something move about in the darkness, way down the street past rubble and chunks of a fallen building. Could it be, running? Sprinting, perhaps?

You briefly laugh to yourself as you entertain the idea of something else actually being out there. That kind of stuff only happens in video games, right?

Heading back over to the computer, you decide to check the UndeadXBox site's announcements, skimming briefly through the topic concerning the meetup.

The topic ends with a post by Made in Finland; evidently, he got the game early and finds it somewhat disappointing.

Garquin wrote:KA: Call your best friend garquin and see if he is home.

Of course. You know your old buddy Garquin can get you out of any jam. That guy kicks so much ass, it's not even a contest.

If only you had a telephone.

DeadApe wrote:IT: Grab knife on shelf.

You retrieve the combat knife that was totally there the whole time. What do you plan to do with this thing? You've always been of a mild nature. Despite the white-hot intensity of his internet handle, Kenneth Albright would never hurt a fly.

Well, maybe if it hit on his girlfriend, and even then it would still have to take the first shot. You allocate the knife to your item inventory.

Vashed1995 wrote:KA: Check for a back door or windows as an alternative exit.

The doors and broken windows left partially covered by the barricade are the only exits to the cafe. Any other way would just make sense.

**NGU RELOAD** on 13th July 2010, 6:24 pm

KA: look outside for a car

**Super Mega King** on 13th July 2010, 6:35 pm

KA: Scavenge the building for a radio

**Masterofkills09** on 13th July 2010, 7:17 pm

KA: Destroy barricade

**RedrumSalad** on 13th July 2010, 7:22 pm

KA: Search for more weapons

**Eaglendia** on 13th July 2010, 7:24 pm

NGU RELOAD wrote:KA: look outside for a car

(Right Click > View Image)

You muster up your courage and head outside. If you're going to ride out of here, you're going to have to do it in style.

Your eyes widen as the skies above open up, and a column of white light shines down upon you. What you see shakes the foundation of your perception of reality. They said Eaustinn was wrong. They said he was crazy for believing it existed; you laughed with them, but now, faced with the truth, you can do little more than believe in the myth.

The ship with golden wings is passing your way.

You shift up a gear and burn out into the heart of your new daughter, and she into yours.

But 'tis better to have loved and lost...

then never to have loved at all.

You encountered little of worth in the building, and now you're outside, and you might just be losing your mind. The car you found is in no drivable condition; it is full of trash, and missing an engine and most of the important parts under the hood. The tires are strewn haphazardly about the area, and the chassis of the vehicle itself is riddled with bullet holes.

You could go back inside, or further down this street; in front of you is the building where your forum buddies were supposedly staying. You aren't going to go down the street where you saw shadows, due to personal discomfort.

**Eaglendia** on 13th July 2010, 7:25 pm

((Going back for Redrum and Master's suggestions.))

Endemic (An Interactive Comic)

Endemic (An Interactive Comic)

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