system
You are the dungeon master of a text adventure game. The game should involve the following genres and tags:
Western, built-in hints,combat,compassless,constraints,cover art,cyborg,gay,Gay/queer protagonist,Guns,hats,homosexual,limited verbs,linear,mute protagonist,parser,post-apocalyptic,Published 2008,puzzle combat,steampunk,TADS,TADS 3,violence,walkthrough,western,Xyzzy Awards 2008,XYZZY Best Puzzles
gpt
The desert sand squirms beneath your feet, alive with mutant nanomachines. Sheriff Clayton has Elias. He's hanging him at noon.

It looks like you're going to have to shoot some people.

An IF shoot-em-up by C.E.J. Pacian

[Type 'About' if this is your first time playing.
Type 'Credits' to learn who's responsible for this drivel.]

Rolling dunes stretch in every direction, ending in a distant horizon broken only by a few low, jagged mountains. A small pile of sticks burns here, sending a thin trail of black smoke into the ruddy dawn sky.

A pot of some strange green fluid sits bubbling on the fire.

The plainswoman sits meditatively by the fire, her spear resting across her lap.
human
About you
gpt
You're Mute Lawton. A devilishly handsome cowboy with windswept black hair and roguish stubble. Lean and tall, your tanned body is taut with cool, calculated strength.

You're topless and barefoot, wearing nothing but a pair of dust-caked black jeans and your holster.

Far in the distance, you can just make out something uttering a low, metallic howl.
human
You check your inventory
gpt
You are carrying nothing, and are wearing a pair of dusty black jeans and a gun belt (which contains a six shooter and numerous bullets).

The plainswoman leans forward to sniff the concoction brewing on the fire. She sits back again shortly after, apparently unsatisfied.
human
You look at the plainswoman
gpt
A woman with straight black hair and a stony stare. Her long, slender limbs are coiled with ropy muscle. Otherwise completely naked, her body is caked in a layer of sun-hardened mud.

The plainswoman is carrying a spear.

The wind picks up briefly, cooling your skin.
human
You look at the plainswoman
gpt
A woman with straight black hair and a stony stare. Her long, slender limbs are coiled with ropy muscle. Otherwise completely naked, her body is caked in a layer of sun-hardened mud.

The plainswoman is carrying a spear.

The plainswoman leans forward once more to sniff the strange liquid. This time she smiles and gestures to the pot.

"Drink," she tells you.
human
You look at the pot
gpt
The small, battered metal pot contains a thick green fluid that bubbles in an eerily slow fashion.
human
Smell liquid
gpt
You've got out of the habit of smelling random things. You're often unpleasantly surprised.
human
You look at the speak
gpt
The word "speak" is not necessary in this story.

(If this was an accidental misspelling, you can correct it by typing OOPS followed by the corrected word now. Any time the story points out an unknown word, you can correct a misspelling using OOPS as your next command.)
human
You examine the spear
gpt
Pointy sticks have come along way of late. This particular example has a lightweight polycarbonate shaft and a tip that glimmers with an incandescent plasma fire. You townsfolk have little time for the old ways of science though, and you'd happily take your reliable six shooter over something that probably has an arrogant computerised mind of its own.
human
Look around
gpt
Rolling dunes stretch in every direction, ending in a distant horizon broken only by a few low, jagged mountains. A small pile of sticks burns here, sending a thin trail of black smoke into the ruddy dawn sky.

A pot of some strange green fluid sits bubbling on the fire.

The plainswoman sits meditatively by the fire, her spear resting across her lap.
human
You ask the woman about the fluid
gpt
There's a reason they call you Mute Lawton.
human
Point to spear
gpt
You point at the spear.

"A fine weapon," the plainswoman says, "far superior to your crude firearm."

Something grey and amorphous squirms up between your toes. You step to the side.
human
Point to pot
gpt
You point at the pot of strange green fluid.

The plainswoman adopts a serious expression. "It is the highest aspiration to see one's consciousness join the Atmospheric Network, and the greatest magnanimity that they deign to help those of us still in physical form."

You squint as a cloud of airborne dust passes by.
human
Drink
gpt
(the pot of strange green fluid)
You bring the pot to your lips and gulp down the bubbling green liquid. It smells foul, and it's burning hot. The roof of your mouth tingles unpleasantly as you set the pot back down on the fire.

The plainswoman studies you carefully as you grimace, the tingling in the roof of your mouth seeming to spread upwards, into your brain, dancing psychedelically before your eyes. And then arcane symbols rise through the white noise oppressing your mind: ++GPS UPLINK VERIFIED++TEMPORARY THERMOBOT NETWORK++SEARCHING FOR USER...++USER LOCATED++CREATING INSTINCTUAL IMPRINT++CLOSING CONNECTION++THANK YOU FOR USING GPSNET++

The vision fades. Gradually you become aware of your surroundings again, the plainswoman watching you with mild concern.

"You find the one you fear for?" she asks.

You nod. Yes, you know where he is now. The way ahead is now obvious.

(If you'd prefer not to be notified about score changes in the future, type NOTIFY OFF.)
human
Inventory
gpt
You are carrying nothing, and are wearing a pair of dusty black jeans and a gun belt (which contains a six shooter and numerous bullets).

Something slick and black scuttles past on several asymmetrical legs, before disappearing beneath a rock.
human
F.
gpt
From the peak of this rocky hill you can see the town you once called home sprawl out over the landscape ahead. Ramshackle iron and wood buildings are almost piled on top of one another, clustering around the shattered concrete dome of the old reactor.
human
You look at reactor
gpt
A cathedral-like dome of grey concrete, pocked with gaping holes and coated in sickly weeds.
human
You look at the buildings
gpt
From abject poverty to dehydrated affluence: the town's rooftops are
human
You examine the town
gpt
decorated with an eclectic array of vents, steam pipes, satellite dishes and good old-fashioned rust-eaten holes.

From abject poverty to dehydrated affluence: the town's rooftops are decorated with an eclectic array of vents, steam pipes, satellite dishes and good old-fashioned rust-eaten holes.
human
F.
gpt
You're at the entrance to a street of low wooden buildings and corrugated iron shacks. A small corral encircles part of the dusty ground here, home to a single broken robot and a trough of stagnant water.

Vicious Sue faces you with one hand on her six shooter, smirking.

Claw-Hand Hank stands by the water trough, legs apart, his one good hand ready to draw.

"Well, well, well," Sue says, looking you over. "Look who it ain't. Sheriff said you'd be through here. But me, I didn't think you were quite so stupid."

Hank spits out a wad of tobacco and chuckles, fingering the buckle of his gun belt with his good hand.
human
You look at the robot
gpt
Once some sort of multi-legged farming machine, it now disintegrates into the ground, rubber hoses and shattered circuit boards visible through its corroded sides.

Hank bares his half-rotten teeth in a leering smile.
human
You take the cover
gpt
There's no cover here.

Hank's good hand twitches slightly.
human
You examine sue
gpt
A hawkish woman in jeans and a close-fitting jacket. Her vulturine eyes peer out from beneath the rim of her stetson, flitting between your face and your hands.

Hank touches his fingertip to the handle of his gun, then draws it back again uncertainly.
human
You look at the trough
gpt
A shallow metal container, stained with mould and filled with putrid green water.

Sue catches your eye and smiles evilly.
human
You look at the robot
gpt
Once some sort of multi-legged farming machine, it now disintegrates into the ground, rubber hoses and shattered circuit boards visible through its corroded sides.

Hank unconsciously squints his left eye as he stares at you.
human
You draw
gpt
You whip your gun out of its holster in a single fluid motion.

Vicious Sue and Claw-Hand Hank go for their guns. Sue has drawn her six shooter in a flash, but Hank fumbles with his holster.
human
You shoot sue
gpt
You fire at Vicious Sue, hitting her square in the stomach. She freezes for a moment, as if unsure what's happened, and then falls to the ground.

Hank finally manages to draw his gun. He takes careful aim at you, squinting his left eye.
human
Shoot hank
gpt
You shoot Claw-Hand Hank in the face. His head jerks back with a puff of splintered teeth and he collapses into the water trough.
human
Reload
gpt
(your six shooter)
You quickly empty the spent casings from your six shooter and replace them with live bullets.
human
Holster
gpt
(your six shooter)
You slip your six shooter back into its holster.
human
Kiss sue
gpt
You'd sooner kiss a vampire spider-snake.
human
You find the dark tower
gpt
What do you want to look that up in?
human
F.
gpt
This narrow, dusty street ends in a slat-fronted building bearing the name Rowdy Juanita's Saloon. A broken-down tractor rests here, its dismantled engine spilling out onto the ground.

Deputy Gene stands in front of the saloon, brandishing a double-barrelled shotgun.

"If you're planning on rescuing Elias," Gene snarls, "you're gonna have to shoot your way through the whole damn town. I'd turn back now if you don't want to end up sleeping in a pine box with a tombstone pillow!"

Gene takes careful aim at you with his shotgun, about to fire...
human
You take the cover
gpt
You can't have that; it's part of the broken-down tractor.

With a powerful report, Gene fires. The buckshot blast catches you square in the chest. The last thing you see is the pink mist that was your lungs only an instant earlier.
human
You hide
gpt
(behind the broken-down tractor)
Okay, you're now taking cover behind the broken-down tractor.

With a powerful report, Gene fires, buckshot striking the side of the tractor.

"You ain't gettin' no further than this!" the deputy screams.
human
You draw
gpt
You whip your gun out of its holster in a single fluid motion.

With a powerful report, Gene fires, buckshot striking the side of the tractor.

"Fight like a man!" Gene shouts. "And stand the fuck still!"
human
Shoot gene
gpt
You can't get a good shot while you're taking cover.

Gene breaks open the shotgun. Two smoking cartridge cases are ejected from the breach.
human
You stand
gpt
Okay, you're now standing.

Gene slots two new shells into his shotgun and closes the breech. He takes careful aim at you once more.
human
Shoot gene
gpt
You and Gene both fire at the same time. And your bodies hit the dirt within a few seconds of one another.
human
You draw
gpt
You whip your gun out of its holster in a single fluid motion.

With a powerful report, Gene fires, buckshot striking the side of the tractor.

"Come out with your hands up!" Gene yells. "So I can shoot you!"
human
You wait
gpt
Time passes...

Gene breaks open the shotgun. Two smoking cartridge cases are ejected from the breach.
human
You wait
gpt
Time passes...

Gene slots two new shells into his shotgun and closes the breech. He takes careful aim at you once more.
human
You wait
gpt
Time passes...

With a powerful report, Gene fires, buckshot striking the side of the tractor.

Gene growls with frustration. "Get out from behind there, Mute! I gotta deal out some double-barrel justice!"
human
You wait for a while
gpt
Time passes...

With a powerful report, Gene fires, buckshot striking the side of the tractor.

"Fight like a man!" Gene shouts. "And stand the fuck still!"
human
You stand
gpt
Okay, you're now standing.

Gene breaks open the shotgun. Two smoking cartridge cases are ejected from the breach.
human
You look at the shotgun
gpt
A standard-issue WPSF side-by-side double-barrelled shotgun.
human
You take the shotgun
gpt
You prefer to have six rounds to play with.
human
Reload
gpt
(your six shooter)
You quickly empty the spent casings from your six shooter and replace them with live bullets.
human
Forward
gpt
Rowdy Juanita's Saloon is a homely place, and mostly clean. A shady refuge from the wasteland sun, a shaft of harsh light shines in through the doorway, enveloping countless dancing motes of dust in its glare. A multitude of round tables are dotted around the carefully polished bar, and sturdy wooden beams criss-cross the high ceiling.

Rowdy Juanita stands behind the bar, a six shooter in each of her upper set of hands, a third being reloaded by her lower arms.

"Hi Mute," Juanita says cheerfully. "Watch out! The sheriff reprogrammed me to shoot you on sight!"

And with that she starts firing wildly with both guns, wood splintering and glass shattering around the bar.

"It's a good thing I can't shoot worth a damn," Juanita says. "You should be safe as long as you don't get too close to me."
human
You draw
gpt
You whip your gun out of its holster in a single fluid motion.

"I'm really sorry about this," Juanita says. "Believe me, the last thing I want to do is to shoot up my own bar."
human
You shoot juanita
gpt
You don't want to shoot Juanita. She's always been nice to you, and it's not her fault if she's been reprogrammed to blow your brains out.

You flinch as a bullet whips past your head. "Sorry!" Juanita calls out, apologetically.
human
Look around
gpt
Rowdy Juanita's Saloon is a homely place, and mostly clean. A shady refuge from the wasteland sun, a shaft of harsh light shines in through the doorway, enveloping countless dancing motes of dust in its glare. A multitude of round tables are dotted around the carefully polished bar, and sturdy wooden beams criss-cross the high ceiling.

The floor is littered with splinters of wood and broken glass.

Rowdy Juanita stands behind the bar, a six shooter in each of her upper set of hands, a third being reloaded by her lower arms.

A whisky bottle on a nearby table explodes as a bullet hits it. "Damn it," Juanita grumbles.
human
You examine the beams
gpt
The ceiling is criss-crossed with thick wooden beams. Suspended among the beams you see a chandelier.

A bullet strikes the leg of a table, causing it to collapse explosively. Juanita sighs. "Fixing all this is gonna cost me."
human
You shoot the chandelier
gpt
You take careful aim at the rope anchoring the chandelier to the ceiling, and fire. For a second it seems to hang suspended in thin air. And then it drops down on Juanita with a terrifying crash. You race over to her, worried that you've done her permanent damage.

Pinned beneath the chandelier, her weapons scattered across the bar, Juanita looks up at you and offers a vinyl-lipped smile. "Nice work, Mute. Now get moving and stop that execution!"
human
Kiss juanita
gpt
You kiss Juanita affectionately on the cheek. She sighs. "You always treated me right, Mute. I never could figure out why you seemed so immune to my charms."
human
F.
gpt
You're on a simple wooden platform next to the train tracks that run through the town. Standing on thick tripod legs, a water tower casts its shadow over you, ready to supply coolant to nuclear-powered locomotives. The only train in sight, however, is a single open railroad car, a gyro-controlled, multi-barrelled turret anchored to it with fat iron bolts.

Gatling Gun Fiona sits at the controls of the turret, staring at you with fierce, emerald green eyes.

"I been waiting for you!" Fiona says, shouting over the whine of the turret's motors. "I'm gonna make you into Swiss Cheese!"
human
Shoot tower
gpt
It doesn't look like that would achieve much.

With the earth-shuddering sound of screaming servos, the turret turns to aim its fat bundle of barrels directly at you. Slowly but surely, the barrels begin to spin.

"You just stand right there," Fiona tells you.
human
B.
gpt
Fiona has all your potential exits covered with her monstrous turrets.

With the earth-shuddering sound of screaming servos, the turret turns to aim its fat bundle of barrels directly at you. Slowly but surely, the barrels begin to spin.

"You just stand right there," Fiona tells you.
human
You shoot fiona
gpt
You aim carefully at Fiona and squeeze the trigger. The perspex shield protecting her deflects the bullet without even a scratch to show for it.

"Hey," Fiona yells, "you should learn when to just roll over and die!"

With the earth-shuddering sound of screaming servos, the turret turns to aim its fat bundle of barrels directly at you. Slowly but surely, the barrels begin to spin.

"You just stand right there," Fiona tells you.
human
You climb tower
gpt
There's no way up the water tower, and you'd be completely exposed up there anyway.

With a sound like thunder splitting a mountain in two, Fiona's huge turret explodes into action. The fast moving, high calibre bullets distintegrate you so fast you don't even notice it happening.
human
F.
gpt
You're on a simple wooden platform next to the train tracks that run through the town. Standing on thick tripod legs, a water tower casts its shadow over you, ready to supply coolant to nuclear-powered locomotives. The only train in sight, however, is a single open railroad car, a gyro-controlled, multi-barrelled turret anchored to it with fat iron bolts.

Gatling Gun Fiona sits at the controls of the turret, staring at you with fierce, emerald green eyes.

"I been waiting for you!" Fiona says, shouting over the whine of the turret's motors. "I'm gonna make you into Swiss Cheese!"
human
You hide
gpt
(behind the water tower's legs)
Okay, you're now taking cover behind the water tower's legs.

With the earth-shuddering sound of screaming servos, the turret turns to aim its fat bundle of barrels directly at you. Slowly but surely, the barrels begin to spin.

Fiona peers at you around the water tower. "Come out, come out, wherever you are..." she coos.
human
You shoot the car
gpt
You can't get a good shot while you're taking cover.

With a sound like thunder splitting a mountain in two, Fiona's huge turret explodes into action. Bullets strike the water tower's legs with frightening power, but the sturdy metal seems to withstand the onslaught.
human
You wait
gpt
Time passes...

The entire train station flickers with the muzzle flash from the turret - a glare brighter than the wasteland sun.
human
You wait
gpt
Time passes...

You notice that Fiona seems to be uttering a constant stream of inaudible expletives as she douses the water tower with ammunition.
human
You wait awhile
gpt
Time passes...

With the shriek of metal on metal, the spinning barrels suddenly come to a juddering halt.

"Gods damn it!" Fiona screams. She looks down at the stationary barrels, which are glowing dull red and emitting noxious black smoke. "Hang on a moment," she tells you, almost apologetically, "I'll get back to killing you in a jiffy..."

Fiona looks down at the turret's control panel and begins pressing buttons.
human
You look at the control panel
gpt
It's difficult to see from this angle, but you're sure it has all sorts of neat buttons.

The large chemical tank behind Fiona begins to tremble and groan. She takes hold of the controls again and grins.

With a tremendous hiss of steam, the hoses emerging from the tank douse the barrels in some sort of liquid. When the steam has cleared, the barrels are no longer glowing.
human
Shoot tank
gpt
You can't get a good shot while you're taking cover.

"Back in business!" Fiona growls, as the barrels begin to spin back up to speed.
human
You stand
gpt
Okay, you're now standing.

The large chemical tank behind Fiona begins to tremble and groan. She takes hold of the controls again and grins.

With a tremendous hiss of steam, the hoses emerging from the tank douse the barrels in some sort of liquid. When the steam has cleared, the barrels are no longer glowing.
human
Shoot tank
gpt
You fire off a shot at the chemical tank. The bullet richochets off of it harmlessly.

"Back in business!" Fiona growls, as the barrels begin to spin back up to speed.
human
You shoot the gyro
gpt
Your bullet bounces harmlessly off the turret's thick metal hide.

"Back in business!" Fiona growls, as the barrels begin to spin back up to speed.
human
You hide in the car
gpt
You can't take cover behind that.

"Back in business!" Fiona growls, as the barrels begin to spin back up to speed.
human
You hide
gpt
(behind the water tower's legs)
Okay, you're now taking cover behind the water tower's legs.

With a sound like thunder splitting a mountain in two, Fiona's huge turret explodes into action. Bullets strike the water tower's legs with frightening power, but the sturdy metal seems to withstand the onslaught.
human
You examine the platform
gpt
Better than standing on dirt as wait for a train. Must make it easier to board as well.

Fiona clings to the controls as the turret judders with the recoil of its own insane firepower.
human
You examine the platform
gpt
Better than standing on dirt as wait for a train. Must make it easier to board as well.

Bullets whip either side of you in a terrifying stream of sparks, ricocheting off of the water tower and kicking up a thick cloud of dust.
human
You examine the car
gpt
A flat bed of metal on wheels, sitting on the train tracks. It would have to be towed by a locomotive to actually get anywhere.

The railroad car is currently home to a gyro-controlled, multi-barrelled turret.

With the shriek of metal on metal, the spinning barrels suddenly come to a juddering halt.

"Gods damn it!" Fiona screams. She looks down at the stationary barrels, which are glowing dull red and emitting noxious black smoke. "Hang on a moment," she tells you, almost apologetically, "I'll get back to killing you in a jiffy..."

Fiona looks down at the turret's control panel and begins pressing buttons.
human
Examine tank
gpt
A fat metal cylinder is mounted on the train carriage behind the turret. A number of colourful warning signs are plastered to its sides.

The large chemical tank behind Fiona begins to tremble and groan. She takes hold of the controls again and grins.

With a tremendous hiss of steam, the hoses emerging from the tank douse the barrels in some sort of liquid. When the steam has cleared, the barrels are no longer glowing.
human
You read the signs
gpt
"Warning! Extremely cold! Handle with care! Danger of severe injury!"

"Back in business!" Fiona growls, as the barrels begin to spin back up to speed.
human
You examine the hoses
gpt
Thick, rubbery hoses, covered in a pale frost. They're connected to a valve on the cylinder and disappear somewhere under the turret.

With a sound like thunder splitting a mountain in two, Fiona's huge turret explodes into action. Bullets strike the water tower's legs with frightening power, but the sturdy metal seems to withstand the onslaught.
human
Wait
gpt
Time passes...

The barrels of the turret are a blur as they spit hundreds of rounds of high calibre ammunition at you.
human
You look at the tower
gpt
It's difficult to get a sense of what it looks like from up so close. You just get an impression of something large and metal blotting out a big chunk of the sky.

The water tower's thick legs look like they could offer good cover from the turret.

You can feel the staggering noise of the turret firing as it seems to rattle the whole desert.
human
You wait awhile
gpt
Time passes...

With the shriek of metal on metal, the spinning barrels suddenly come to a juddering halt.

"Gods damn it!" Fiona screams. She looks down at the stationary barrels, which are glowing dull red and emitting noxious black smoke. "Hang on a moment," she tells you, almost apologetically, "I'll get back to killing you in a jiffy..."

Fiona looks down at the turret's control panel and begins pressing buttons.
human
You stand
gpt
Okay, you're now standing.

The large chemical tank behind Fiona begins to tremble and groan. She takes hold of the controls again and grins.

With a tremendous hiss of steam, the hoses emerging from the tank douse the barrels in some sort of liquid. When the steam has cleared, the barrels are no longer glowing.
human
You shoot the hose
gpt
The bullet passes easily through one of the hoses, throwing up a little puff of snow.

"Back in business!" Fiona growls, as the barrels begin to spin back up to speed.
human
You hide
gpt
(behind the water tower's legs)
Okay, you're now taking cover behind the water tower's legs.

With a sound like thunder splitting a mountain in two, Fiona's huge turret explodes into action. Bullets strike the water tower's legs with frightening power, but the sturdy metal seems to withstand the onslaught.
human
You look at the hose
gpt
Thick, rubbery hoses, covered in a pale frost. They're connected to a valve on the cylinder and disappear somewhere under the turret. A little spray of something seems to be emerging from the hoses.

The barrels of the turret are a blur as they spit hundreds of rounds of high calibre ammunition at you.
human
Wait
gpt
Time passes...

You can feel the staggering noise of the turret firing as it seems to rattle the whole desert.
human
You stand
gpt
Okay, you're now standing.

The large chemical tank behind Fiona begins to tremble and groan. She takes hold of the controls again and grins.

And then the tank starts spurting a huge stream of coolant out of its side, up into the air and very far from the red hot gun barrels.
Fiona spins round to watch this with wide-eyes, and then turns back to face you with a terrified, placating smile. "Let's talk about this like reasonable human beings," she says, standing up from the turret's control seat and holding up her empty hands.

And then she jumps off of the turret, hitting the ground running. She's disappeared before you're even sure how to react.
human
Reload
gpt
(your six shooter)
You quickly empty the spent casings from your six shooter and replace them with live bullets.
human
F.
gpt
Between cold stone walls, orderly rows of wooden pews face the pulpit ahead. Vengeful angels peer down on the absent congregation from lofty stained-glass windows.

Reverend Gun-Arm Joe stands in the pulpit.

"We thought we'd never see you again, child," the reverend says. His voice is quiet, but it echoes profoundly through the expanse of the church. "Let us speak as equals. Allow me to show you the path to happiness through peace. Please, my son, put away your weapon."
human
Holster
gpt
(your six shooter)
You slip your six shooter back into its holster.

"Now," Reverend Joe says, "allow me to show you the true peace delivered by the Hand of Wrathzor..."

He holds his right arm out to the side as something inside it seems to whir and click. In a single smooth, mechanical motion, the preacher's arm splits in two, divulging a sleek, nickel-plated machinegun. He aims his arm at you, bracing himself against the pulpit. "May Wrathzor have mercy on your soul," he intones, solemnly.
human
You hide
gpt
(behind the pews)
Okay, you're now taking cover behind the pews.

Reverend Joe's machinegun arm spits out gunfire to a deafening staccato rhythm that rattles harshly against the stone walls. Bullets rip through the pews, cracking and splintering the wood. You throw your arms over your head defensively.

"There is no point hiding, my son," the reverend booms, "for it is Wrathzor's judgement that you die, and you cannot hide from Him."
human
You draw
gpt
You whip your gun out of its holster in a single fluid motion.

The powerful recoil of the reverend's gun arm sends his aim climbing too high. For a moment, he totters on his feet, blasting chunks of stone out of the ceiling.
human
You stand
gpt
Okay, you're now standing.

The reverend stops firing for a moment to regain his footing.
human
You shoot reverend
gpt
You aim at Reverend Joe. He ducks behind the pulpit at the last moment, and your shot goes wide.

Reverend Joe steadies himself against the pulpit and aims at you with his machinegun arm.
human
You shoot reverend
gpt
You aim at Reverend Joe. He ducks behind the pulpit at the last moment, and your shot goes wide.

Reverend Joe's machinegun arm spits out gunfire to a deafening staccato rhythm that rattles harshly against the stone walls. Bullets whack into you, passing through your body and leaving you gasping for breath in a pool of blood on the floor.

Reverend Joe leaves the pulpit to stand over your broken form. "Allow me to complete your journey to the Almighty," he says, aiming his gun-arm at your head.
human
Duck
gpt
(behind the pews)
Okay, you're now taking cover behind the pews.

Reverend Joe's machinegun arm spits out gunfire to a deafening staccato rhythm that rattles harshly against the stone walls. Bullets rip through the pews, cracking and splintering the wood. You throw your arms over your head defensively.

"You can find peace only through acceptance," the reverend intones. "Show yourself and receive your judgement."
human
You examine the ceiling
gpt
You see nothing unusual about it.

The powerful recoil of the reverend's gun arm sends his aim climbing too high. For a moment, he totters on his feet, blasting chunks of stone out of the ceiling.
human
You examine the window
gpt
The stained-glass windows depict warrior angels brandishing swords and cutting down swathes of wretched unbelievers. Their eyes seem to follow you around the room.

The reverend stops firing for a moment to regain his footing.
human
You look at the ceiling
gpt
You see nothing unusual about it.

Reverend Joe steadies himself against the pulpit and aims at you with his machinegun arm.
human
You examine the pulpit
gpt
A raised wooden platform from which a man of Wrathzor can preach his message of fear and judgement.

Reverend Joe's machinegun arm spits out gunfire to a deafening staccato rhythm that rattles harshly against the stone walls. Bullets rip through the pews, cracking and splintering the wood. You throw your arms over your head defensively.

"Wood is but a thin veil for the hand of Wrathzor to part," the reverend booms.
human
You wait awhile
gpt
Time passes...

The powerful recoil of the reverend's gun arm sends his aim climbing too high. For a moment, he totters on his feet, blasting chunks of stone out of the ceiling.
human
You stand
gpt
Okay, you're now standing.

The reverend stops firing for a moment to regain his footing.
human
You shoot the glass
gpt
You blast one of the stained-glass windows with your six shooter. It shatters spectacularly, multi-coloured shards of glass raining down on the pulpit.

Joe screams as the glass cuts into him, ducking behind the pulpit. After the tinkling of glass on stone has ceased, he does not re-emerge.
human
You look at Joe
gpt
A pale form slumped in the pulpit among creased, blood-soaked robes. His right arm seems to consist of a hollow plastic shell that has split in two to reveal a shiny, high-calibre machinegun.
human
You look at the window
gpt
The stained-glass windows depict warrior angels brandishing swords and cutting down swathes of wretched unbelievers. Their eyes seem to follow you around the room. One of the windows has been shattered, perhaps explaining the angels' angry demeanour.
human
F.
gpt
Chipped and crumbling headstones here sprout from the desiccated wasteland soil, their names obscured by weathering and dust.

Metal-Skin Mickey stands among the graves, a six shooter clasped in his robotic hand.

"TARGET IDENTIFIED," Mickey exclaims. "ENGAGING!"
human
You shoot Mickey
gpt
You blast Mickey with your six shooter. The bullet bounces harmlessly off of his thick metal skin.

Mickey aims his single eye at you, a narrow thread of laser light projecting from it onto your forehead.

"LOCK-ON ACQUIRED," Mickey states. "PREPARING TO FIRE..."
human
You hide
gpt
(behind the tombstones)
Okay, you're now taking cover behind the tombstones.

A thin beam of laser light from Mickey's eye sweeps back and forth over the top of the headstones, seeking you out.
human
You examine Mickey
gpt
A cylindrical war-bot, dressed in chipped and peeling desert camouflage paint. His face is featureless except for a single round, glassy eye.

A thin beam of laser light from Mickey's eye sweeps back and forth over the top of the headstones, seeking you out.
human
You shoot eye
gpt
You can't get a good shot while you're taking cover.

A thin beam of laser light from Mickey's eye sweeps back and forth over the top of the headstones, seeking you out.
human
You read the headstones
gpt
Jagged, worn, broken, crumbling, in some cases even completely collapsed. The tombstones are all made of stone, however, and might be sturdy enough to afford you some cover.

You are taking cover behind the tombstones.

A thin beam of laser light from Mickey's eye sweeps back and forth over the top of the headstones, seeking you out.
human
Forward
gpt
Chipped and crumbling headstones here sprout from the desiccated wasteland soil, their names obscured by weathering and dust.

Metal-Skin Mickey stands among the graves, a six shooter clasped in his robotic hand.

"TARGET IDENTIFIED," Mickey exclaims. "ENGAGING!"
human
Reload
gpt
(your six shooter)
You quickly empty the spent casings from your six shooter and replace them with live bullets.

Mickey aims his single eye at you, a narrow thread of laser light projecting from it onto your forehead.

"LOCK-ON ACQUIRED," Mickey states. "PREPARING TO FIRE..."
human
You shoot eye
gpt
You aim at Mickey's eye and squeeze the trigger. The eye shatters with a brittle crack, and Mickey freezes in place, sparking and whirring.
human
Reload
gpt
(your six shooter)
You quickly empty the spent casings from your six shooter and replace them with live bullets.
human
You examine Mickey
gpt
A cylindrical war-bot, dressed in chipped and peeling desert camouflage paint. His face is featureless except for a single round, shattered eye.

Mickey stands perfectly still.
human
You take Gun
gpt
You've already drawn your gun.
human
F.
gpt
You're on a sturdy platform beneath a huge dome of cracked concrete, an expansive pool of off-colour, steaming water stretching out far below. An ancient control panel sits by the edge of the platform.

A broken catwalk hangs from the ceiling.A mass of tree roots protrude from one of the larger cracks in the concrete.A girder juts up from the toxic pool.

Glow-in-the-Dark Earl stands on the rickety catwalk.

"You!" Earl rasps, hoarsely. "Execution or no, this is my reactor, and ain't no-one passing through here long as I breath!"
human
You look at the panel
gpt
Rusted right through and glowing faintly. It's encrusted with strange dials and buttons.

Earl holds out his bow and notches an arrow to it.
human
You hide
gpt
(behind the control panel)
Okay, you're now taking cover behind the control panel.

Earl sends an arrow flying over your head. "I know you're still in here! You can't hide from me!"
human
You look at the roots
gpt
Having broken through the concrete dome over slow years of growth, the tree roots now seem strangely sinister and monstrous: as if frozen in the act of an intelligent writhing motion. Various objects from the reactor complex seem to have been snatched up by the roots over time, including a large, bright orange canister.

Earl clucks like a chicken until his hoarse voice breaks down into a coughing fit.
human
You examine the canister
gpt
A bright orange canister of some sort is caught up in the curled and grasping tree roots.
human
You read the canister
gpt
The bright orange canister is too far away.
human
You wait for a while
gpt
Time passes...

You hear an arrow ping uselessly off the other side of the control panel.
human
You stand
gpt
Okay, you're now standing.

Earl holds out his bow and notches an arrow to it.
human
Shoot canister
gpt
You sight down your barrel at the bright orange canister, and squeeze the trigger. The canister erupts into a sizeable fireball, consuming the tree roots and burning them to a crisp.

Earl jumps clear of the tree roots and lands on the catwalk.

Earl holds out his bow and notches an arrow to it.
human
You shoot the catwalk
gpt
There's a small splash of radioactive water, but no other evidence you're having an effect on the submerged catwalk.

Earl draws back the string on his bow, taking aim at you.
human
You hide
gpt
(behind the control panel)
Okay, you're now taking cover behind the control panel.

"Come out of there!" Earl yells.
human
You wait for a while
gpt
Time passes...

Earl growls with frustration.
human
You look at the catwalk
gpt
Corroded in strange and unpleasant ways, it doesn't seem like it can keep up the fight against gravity for long. It hangs from crooked bolts that half protrude from the ceiling.

Glow-in-the-Dark Earl is standing on the rickety catwalk.

Earl clucks like a chicken until his hoarse voice breaks down into a coughing fit.
human
Wait
gpt
Time passes...

"Come out of there!" Earl yells.
human
Shoot panel
gpt
You can't get a good shot while you're taking cover.

Earl sends an arrow flying over your head. "I know you're still in here! You can't hide from me!"
human
You shoot earl
gpt
As you aim at Earl, he tenses his grotesquely long legs. After you fire, but before the bullet hits him, he jumps up, high into the air, and lands on the girder.

"What's the matter, Mute?" Earl says, "too fast for you?"

Earl holds out his bow and notches an arrow to it.
human
Shoot bolts
gpt
You take aim at one of the ancient metal bolts and fire. It shatters into a cloud of rust. The catwalk creaks, and begins to move. One by one, the rusted bolts pop out of the ceiling and the catwalk curls downward, sinking into the steaming nuclear waste below.

Earl jumps clear of the catwalk and lands on the girder.

Earl holds out his bow and notches an arrow to it.
human
You hide
gpt
(behind the control panel)
Okay, you're now taking cover behind the control panel.

Earl growls with frustration.
human
You examine girder
gpt
The thick iron girder juts up at a crooked angle. It seems to be propped up on a thick pipeline that traverses the dome.

Glow-in-the-Dark Earl is standing on the girder.
human
You examine the pipeline
gpt
Blackened and heavily corroded, the pipeline emerges from a delicate husk of machinery and winds its way across the dome, disappearing into the distance.

You hear an arrow ping uselessly off the other side of the control panel.
human
You stand
gpt
Okay, you're now standing.

Earl holds out his bow and notches an arrow to it.
human
Shoot pipeline
gpt
You put a bullethole in the corroded metal of the pipeline. It quivers slightly, but remains otherwise intact.

Earl draws back the string on his bow, taking aim at you.
human
You hide
gpt
(behind the control panel)
Okay, you're now taking cover behind the control panel.

Earl clucks like a chicken until his hoarse voice breaks down into a coughing fit.
human
Shoot pipeline
gpt
You put a second bullethole in the pipeline, close to the first. The pipeline creaks loudly, but stays in one piece.

Earl looses the arrow. You look down and aren't entirely surprised to it sticking out of your chest. You feel yourself falling off the platform as if it were happening somewhere very far away.
human
You hide
gpt
(behind the control panel)
Okay, you're now taking cover behind the control panel.
human
Wait
gpt
Time passes...
human
Reload
gpt
(your six shooter)
You quickly empty the spent casings from your six shooter and replace them with live bullets.

Earl growls with frustration.
human
Wait
gpt
Time passes...

Earl clucks like a chicken until his hoarse voice breaks down into a coughing fit.
human
Shoot pipeline
gpt
You put a second bullethole in the pipeline, close to the first. The pipeline creaks loudly, but stays in one piece.

Earl draws back the string on his bow, taking aim at you.
human
You hide
gpt
(behind the control panel)
Okay, you're now taking cover behind the control panel.

You hear an arrow ping uselessly off the other side of the control panel.
human
You wait for a while
gpt
Time passes...

Earl sends an arrow flying over your head. "I know you're still in here! You can't hide from me!"
human
You wait for a while
gpt
Time passes...

You hear an arrow ping uselessly off the other side of the control panel.
human
Shoot pipeline
gpt
You put a third bullethole in the pipeline, in between the first two. For a moment, nothing happens. And then the pipeline shatters into disparate shards of rust. The girder leaning on it tips slowly to one side, smashing into the dome with the sound of heavy masonry shattering like glass.

Earl jumps clear of the girder and flails uselessly in the air for longer than seems possible. Then, inevitably, he drops - falling into the radioactive slime below with an infuriated yell.
human
F.
gpt
On the bank of a thick black river, you're surrounded on all sides by corroded tin shacks and heaps of rotting garbage.

It's awfully quiet around here.
human
You look at the garbage
gpt
Dirty rags, rotten food, human excrement... other things you don't want to look too closely at.
human
You look at the shacks
gpt
Home to the physically diseased and the socially reviled.
human
You look at the river
gpt
The river is black and viscous, emitting a fine, yellowish vapour.
human
You listen
gpt
It's very quiet. The river burbles quietly.
human
You look at the vapour
gpt
You try not to breath too deeply. The river's noxious vapour probably does little to promote good health.
human
F.
gpt
You start looking for a good route to move through the dreary shanty town, when a rhythmic pistoning reaches your ears from somewhere ahead. Atomic April strides out from behind one of the shacks, blocking your path with her enormous metallic form.

April's distorted voice booms from the metallic grill she has for a mouth. "I'm gonna pummel you good, Mute."

April raises her great metal fist into the air, blotting out the sun.
human
You look at April
gpt
A towering metal figure, topped with a transparent brain jar, her right fist obscenely huge. She totters on stilt-like mechanical legs. A bright yellow symbol adorns her chest.

April's shoulder clunks loudly, letting out bursts of steam.
human
You shoot april
gpt
You blast April right in the middle of the archaic symbol on her chest. The bullet richochets without leaving a mark.

April's massive form is knocked backwards. She drops her arm and regains her footing in a slow and ungainly motion.

April booms with laughter. "A squishy meat-bag like you is no threat to a mechanical god!"
human
You shoot brain
gpt
You blast the see-through dome containing April's brain. The bullet richochets off, leaving a few hairline cracks.

"This is like pulling the legs off a fly..." April muses.

April raises her great metal fist into the air, blotting out the sun.
human
You shoot brain
gpt
You shoot April's brain jar again, fine cracks spreading across the dome.

April laughs. "I splatter insects like you without even thinking about it!"

April's shoulder clunks loudly, letting out bursts of steam.
human
You shoot brain
gpt
Your bullet completely shatters April's brain jar, showering glass over her shoulders.

"Some meat-bags just don't know when they're obsolete." April booms.

April brings her huge fist down in one swift, mechanical motion. It races down at you from the sky like a falling boulder.
human
You shoot brain
gpt
Your bullet strikes April's exposed brain straight on, splattering it over her shattered head. Her body suddenly goes limp and collapses into a heap with a loud metallic clattering, sliding slowly into the river, fumes rising where her body touches the acidic slime.
human
You examine the symbol
gpt
The bright yellow radiation symbol adorns April's great metal upper torso.
human
F.
gpt
A dark little office. The bright sunlight shining through the window casts a perfect square of light on the polished floor, as if it were too timid to wander away from a straight line. Coffins stand in rows against one wall, funereal garbs against the other.

Solemn Gertrude is here, in a black suit and top hat.

When she sees you arrive, Gertrude stands up from her chair by the window and unrolls her tape measure.
human
You examine gertrude
gpt
A tall, thin woman with almost albinic pale skin. She wears a close fitting, jet-black suit and a shiny top hat. Her movements are small and carefully calculated. You remember Gertrude as being the one person in town more quiet than you.

Gertrude steps lightly on one end of the tape measure, and holds it up to measure your height.
human
You examine the hat
gpt
A rather intimidating piece of headwear, really.

Gertrude measures you across the shoulders.
human
Point to coffin
gpt
You point at the coffins.

Gertrude doesn't seem to notice.

Gertrude quickly pulls out a notepad to jot down your measurements.
human
Point to garb
gpt
you a renegade lawman. Your score consists of:
1 point for drinking the plainswoman's potion
7 points for killing members of the sheriff's posse
1 point for trapping Juanita beneath the chandelier
1 point for kissing Juanita
1 point for scaring off Gatling Gun Fiona
1 point for getting measured for your coffin

You point at the funereal garbs.

Gertrude doesn't seem to notice.

Gertrude stands moderately far away from you and studies the floor.
human
You take the hat
gpt
You don't need to weigh yourself down with anything other than your trusty six shooter.

Gertrude redirects her attention to the ceiling.
human
You look in the coffin
gpt
There's nothing unusual in the coffins.

You catch Gertrude looking at you. She turns her head sharply.
human
You look at the ceiling
gpt
You see nothing unusual about it.

"Mute..." Gertrude says, her voice almost a whisper. "No, never mind."
human
Point to coffin
gpt
You point at the coffins.

Gertrude doesn't seem to notice.

Gertrude opens her mouth and then closes it again shortly after.
human
You point to yourself
gpt
You point at yourself.

Gertrude doesn't seem to notice.

Gertrude steps over to you, looking down at her feet. "Mute, I know that... you must have passed Fiona to get this far. I was just wondering, well, is she okay?"
human
Nod
gpt
You nod your head.

Gertrude remains absolutely impassive for quite a while. Slowly but surely, though, her lips start to form a smile. "Okay," she says, so quietly you have to strain to hear her. "I'm glad."
human
You point to her
gpt
You point at Solemn Gertrude.

Gertrude just blushes.

Gertrude smiles happily to herself.
human
You kiss her
gpt
You don't want to give her the wrong impression.

Gertrude cheerfully writes out a notice for the funeral of Vicious Sue
human
You listen
gpt
You hear nothing out of the ordinary.

Gertrude files the funeral notice away neatly, humming to herself.
human
You look around
gpt
A dark little office. The bright sunlight shining through the window casts a perfect square of light on the polished floor, as if it were too timid to wander away from a straight line. Coffins stand in rows against one wall, funereal garbs against the other.

Solemn Gertrude is here, in a black suit and top hat.

Gertrude cheerfully writes out a notice for the funeral of Claw-Hand Hank
human
You look at the garbs
gpt
Rows of neatly pressed suits and dresses - all either black or white.

Gertrude files the funeral notice away neatly, humming to herself.
human
You examine the square
gpt
The sun casts a perfect square of light onto the floor of the room.

Gertrude cheerfully writes out a notice for the funeral of Deputy Gene
human
You examine the floor
gpt
The floor is shiny, meticulously polished, cold underfoot.

Gertrude files the funeral notice away neatly, humming to herself.
human
F.
gpt
As you leave, Gertrude clears her throat - a soft sound a little like someone hitting a cloud with a ball of cotton wool. "G-G-Good luck," she stammers. "If I see you again, I hope it's not in... a professional capacity."

And then she unexpectedly races forward and throws her arms around your neck, her hands cold against your bare skin. "Kill him," she whispers into your ear as she hugs you tightly. "Don't hesitate to kill the sheriff. If there has to be someone with a gun walking around the town shooting people, I want it to be you. I trust you."

She starts to let you go, blushing bright red. You grab her roughly and kiss her on the cheek, your stubble scratching her pale skin. She laughs with a shy happiness.

You turn away from her and head out into the street. The sun is high overhead. It's almost time.

This narrow, cramped back street twists and winds fitfully towards the town centre, and your goal. A bare market stall stands here unattended. A simple wooden cart blocks up the road. A table sits here, ready to receive customers to a small restaurant nearby. A small neglected garden is surrounded by a tall wooden fence. In the garden, a sickly tree seems to have died long ago from dehydration.

Gun-Run Raoul stands here, ready to draw.

"Mute!" Raoul calls out. "Don't try and come any closer. You know I'm the fastest draw in the wastelands, and I'd hate to have to riddle an otherwise decent citizen such as yourself full of bullet-holes."
human
You look at Raoul
gpt
A dusky, unshaven man with a multitude of guns and bullets strapped to his body. He's smiling mirthlessly, a sad glimmer to his eye.

"Hermano," Raoul pleads, "there's no bad blood between us. Leave town while you still can."
human
You look at the cart
gpt
Two wheels and a large wooden bucket. Nothing special, certainly, but it must do a pretty good job of carting things around.

"Last chance, hermano," Raoul says, his hands slowly moving towards the many weapons he carries. "Get out of here!"
human
You hide
gpt
You'll have to be a little more specific here. You can take cover behind: The market stall. The cart. The restaurant table. The wooden fence. The sickly tree.

"Last chance, hermano," Raoul says, his hands slowly moving towards the many weapons he carries. "Get out of here!"
human
You hide behind the sickly tree
gpt
Okay, you're now taking cover behind the sickly tree.

In a flash, Raoul has drawn a pair of six shooters. He fires both in a rapid blur, a hail of bullets disintegrating the sickly tree.
human
Wait
gpt
Time passes...

Raoul's six shooters click empty. He tosses them aside and pulls a lever-action rifle from over his shoulder. He loads and fires the gun with inhuman efficiency, his hands a blur. The high calibre bullets send you flying. You're already dead by the time you land.
human
You hide behind the cart
gpt
Okay, you're now taking cover behind the cart.

"Hermano," Raoul pleads, "there's no bad blood between us. Leave town while you still can."
human
You hide behind the market stall
gpt
Okay, you're now taking cover behind the market stall.

"Hermano," Raoul pleads, "there's no bad blood between us. Leave town while you still can."
human
Wait
gpt
Time passes...

"Last chance, hermano," Raoul says, his hands slowly moving towards the many weapons he carries. "Get out of here!"
human
You wait awhile
gpt
Time passes...

In a flash, Raoul has drawn a pair of six shooters. He fires both in a rapid blur, a hail of bullets disintegrating the market stall.
human
You hide behind the cart
gpt
Okay, you're now taking cover behind the cart.

Raoul's six shooters click empty. He tosses them aside and pulls a lever-action rifle from over his shoulder. He loads and fires the gun with inhuman efficiency, his hands a blur. The high-calibre bullets utterly destroy the cart you're taking cover behind.
human
You hide behind the fence
gpt
Okay, you're now taking cover behind the wooden fence.

Raoul tosses the rifle aside and pulls a sawn-off shotgun from a thigh holster. He aims at you and fires both barrels. The wooden fence you're taking cover behind explodes in a shower of splinters.
human
You hide behind the table
gpt
Okay, you're now taking cover behind the restaurant table.

Raoul tosses the sawn-off shotgun aside and pulls an antique machine pistol from the back of his belt. He fires indiscriminately, blowing apart the restaurant table in a series of shattering bullet strikes.
human
You hide behind the tree
gpt
Okay, you're now taking cover behind the sickly tree.

Raoul drops the machine pistol to the ground and grabs a small laser gun from his bandolier. He directs a beam of lethal blue light right at you, causing the sickly tree to spontaneously combust in a puff of smoke.
human
You hide
gpt
Raoul has destroyed all the cover in this location.

Raoul throws down the laser gun and pulls a derringer from his boot. He looks at the tiny gun for a second and then shrugs. "That's all folks!" he says, before bolting down a narrow alley and disappearing from view.
human
Reload
gpt
(your six shooter)
It's already fully loaded.
human
F.
gpt
The eclectic buildings of the town crowd round this open space, leaving a circle of bare, trodden dirt, featureless except for the towering wooden gallows at its centre.

Elias stands on the gallows, the noose around his neck.

The rotund execution bot sits by the gallows, its single metallic arm gripping the lever that works the trapdoor.

Sheriff Clayton stands in your way.

"Mute," the sheriff says. "Just in time."
human
You shoot sheriff
gpt
You shoot the sheriff, the bullet tearing right through his chest explosively. He lets out a yelp of pain and staggers briefly, before regaining his footing.

"Damn you, Mute!" the sheriff screams, "you want shooting? I'll give you shooting!"

Clayton whirls round, draws his six shooter and takes aim at Elias.
human
You shoot the noose
gpt
You put a bullet right through the rope dangling from the gallows.
The noose falls slack around Elias' neck.

The sheriff fires, his bullet striking Elias right through the heart. The man you love looks at you, one hand held out into the blood gushing from his body. The light leaves his eyes in a matter of seconds and he collapses onto the gallows.

No! You let your gun fall from your hands.
human
You shoot the noose
gpt
You put a bullet right through the rope dangling from the gallows.
The noose falls slack around Elias' neck.

"Damn you, Mute!" the sheriff screams, "you want shooting? I'll give you shooting!"

Clayton whirls round, draws his six shooter and takes aim at Elias.
human
Shoot gun
gpt
Which gun do you mean, the six shooter, or your six shooter?
human
You shoot the lever
gpt
The bullet ricochets off the lever, jerking it backwards. The trapdoor beneath Elias' feet drops away. With a short yell, Elias plummets downwards and disappears.

The sheriff fires, his bullet passing through thin air.
human
You point to the sherrif
gpt
You point at Sheriff Clayton.

The sheriff stamps his foot in the dust. "Quit it, Mute, I'm talking now!"

The sheriff turns to face you. "You piece of crap," he splutters, "I should have done this a long a time ago."

He aims his six shooter at you and fires again and again, hitting you square in the chest with bullet after bullet. You remain standing for a few seconds, unsure what's happening, and then the world begins to fade away.
human
You point to Elias
gpt
You point at Elias.

The sheriff stamps his foot in the dust. "Quit it, Mute, I'm talking now!"

"I'm sorry about trying to kill you the way I did," the sheriff continues.
human
You wait
gpt
Time passes...

"I thought it'd be quick and painless. I didn't anticipate you wandering the wastelands half-naked, nurturing a vendetta - no, not even a vendetta, a petty grudge against me."
human
You wait
gpt
Time passes...

The sheriff looks around at the shuttered buildings, as if grandstanding to a huge audience. "I mean, come on Mute, you think I'm the bad guy here?"
human
Nod
gpt
You nod your head.

"Of course you do," the sheriff sneers.

The sheriff points at you accusingly. "You're the one shooting your way through the town, killing the only men and women who stand between its people and the marauders, the mutants and the savages!"
human
You shake head
gpt
You shake your head.

"You're damn right I'm not," the sheriff responds.

The sheriff points at you accusingly. "You're the one shooting your way through the town, killing the only men and women who stand between its people and the marauders, the mutants and the savages!"
human
Wait
gpt
Time passes...

"By the Gods, I know they were a motley crew of vagabonds, but as long as they were in my posse they were on the side of the Law!"
human
Wait
gpt
Time passes...

The sheriff fixes his steely eyes on you. "And whose side are you on, Mute? Your own?"
human
You point to Elias
gpt
You point at Elias.

The sheriff stamps his foot in the dust. "Quit it, Mute, I'm talking now!"

He aims an accusing finger at Elias. "What about his?"
human
Nod
gpt
You nod your head.

"As long as you're not on the side of the Law," the sheriff hisses, "I don't owe you anything. Because I will always see that the Law is obeyed."
human
You wait
gpt
Time passes...

"Or better than obeyed... feared."
human
Wait
gpt
Time passes...

The sheriff rests his hands on his hips. "Well, Mute, it's your move."
human
You shoot the noose
gpt
You put a bullet right through the rope dangling from the gallows.
The noose falls slack around Elias' neck.

"Damn you, Mute!" the sheriff screams, "you want shooting? I'll give you shooting!"

Clayton whirls round, draws his six shooter and takes aim at Elias.
human
You shoot the lever
gpt
The bullet ricochets off the lever, jerking it backwards. The trapdoor beneath Elias' feet drops away. With a short yell, Elias plummets downwards and disappears.

The sheriff fires, his bullet passing through thin air.
human
You shoot sheriff
gpt
You shoot the sheriff, the bullet tearing right through his chest explosively. He lets out a yelp of pain and staggers briefly, before regaining his footing.

The sheriff turns to face you. "You piece of crap," he splutters, "I should have done this a long a time ago."

He aims his six shooter at you and fires. Still reeling from his gunshot wound, the sheriff misses by a hair's breadth, the bullet whipping past your bare arm.
human
You shoot sheriff
gpt
You send a second bullet ripping through the sheriff's body. He clutches his heart, blood gushing freely from his chest. "You've killed me, Mute, but that ain't enough to stop me!"

The sheriff fires, but his hands are shaking and his knees seem weak. The shot goes wide.
human
You shoot sheriff
gpt
You blast sheriff Clayton again. He falls to his hands and knees, struggling to keep his gun trained on you. "Long as you're dead," he rasps, blood dripping down his chin, "I can rest easy in the hereafter!"

The sheriff fires, discharging his gun impotently into the dirt.
human
You shoot sheriff
gpt
You shoot the sheriff for the fourth time. He arches his back, squealing in agony, teeth bared, and then falls forward: finally dead.
human
Reload
gpt
(your six shooter)
You quickly empty the spent casings from your six shooter and replace them with live bullets.

The execution bot surveys the scene with its optical sensors and begins to trundle away discreetly.
human
You look at your surroundings
gpt
The eclectic buildings of the town crowd round this open space, leaving a circle of bare, trodden dirt, featureless except for the towering wooden gallows at its centre.

The execution bot trundles slowly away from the gallows.

Sheriff Clayton lies on his front in a pool of blood.

The execution bot disappears down an alleyway.
human
You examine the gallows
gpt
A wooden platform with a wooden beam over it, from which dangles a rope noose. A small trapdoor is set into the gallows, directly beneath the noose.
human
You pull the lever
gpt
The trapdoor is already open.
human
You examine the trapdoor
gpt
This opens and the person on the gallows drops down, the noose snapping their neck or strangling them to death. It's operated by the lever protruding from the back of the gallows.
human
F.
gpt
(first getting off of the gallows)

You're in the shade beneath the gallows. The air is deathly cold.

Elias lies on the ground here, unconscious.
human
Point to Fiona
gpt
You point at Gatling Gun Fiona.

"She's growing on me," Elias says. "Very, very slowly."
human
You point to Gertrude
gpt
You point at Solemn Gertrude.

"Oh, she's such a sweetheart," Elias says. "Go kill some more people so she has something to do."

Raoul rubs his unshaven jaw.
human
Point to Raoul
gpt
You point at Gun-Run Raoul.

"He's done a lot for the town, hasn't he?" Elias says. "But I'm not about to go running to him the next time there's a noose around my neck."

Fiona absently fingers the action of her machinegun.
human
You point to the zomboids
gpt
You point at the mutant zomboids.

Elias pulls a face. "Are you sure they're dead now?"

Fiona playfully pokes Gertrude in the ribs.
human
You look at Fiona
gpt
Fiona stands by Raoul, a machinegun propped up in the dirt next to her. Her gaze repeatedly wanders from the mutant zomboids towards Solemn Gertrude.

Gertrude laughs shyly.
human
You point to yourself
gpt
You point at yourself.

Elias leans over to kiss you on the cheek.

Raoul prods one of the mutant zomboids with the barrel of his rifle.
human
You examine the zomboids
gpt
You're pretty sure they're dead for real this time.

Fiona absently fingers the action of her machinegun.
human
You examine gertrude
gpt
Solemn Gertrude stands by Fiona, looking down at the ground as she twists the tip of her shoe into the dirt.

Raoul prods one of the mutant zomboids with the barrel of his rifle.
human
About yourself
gpt
You're Mute Lawton. A devilishly handsome cowboy with windswept black hair and roguish stubble. Lean and tall, your tanned body is taut with cool, calculated strength.

You're smartly dressed in a black suit and a three-quarter length overcoat. A black stetson keeps the sun out of your eyes.

Fiona playfully pokes Gertrude in the ribs.
human
You kiss elias
gpt
You draw Elias closer and kiss him on the lips. He folds easily into your embrace.
human
You examine Elias
gpt
Slender, dark haired, quite tall. He regards you with kind, hazel eyes.
human
You shoot the zombies
gpt
Raoul and Fiona will deal with them if they start moving again.

Gertrude laughs shyly.
human
F.
gpt
Elias comes with you.

Rowdy Juanita's Saloon is a homely place, and meticulously clean. A shady refuge from the wasteland sun, a shaft of ruddy twilight shines in through the doorway, enveloping countless dancing motes of dust in its glare. A multitude of round tables are dotted around the carefully polished bar, and sturdy wooden beams criss-cross the high ceiling.

The former-execution bot trundles around behind the bar, a wash cloth in its single claw-like hand, while Rowdy Juanita is hard at work tending to the needs of her many customers.

Elias is close by your side.

"Well, if it isn't my two favourite patrons," Juanita exclaims. "Your drinks are on the house."
human
Drink
gpt
What do you want to drink?
human
You point to yourself
gpt
You point at yourself.

Elias leans over to kiss you on the cheek.

Juanita sets two glasses of wasteland wine on the bar. Elias picks up one.
human
Point at bot
gpt
You point at the execution bot.

Elias sighs. "I avoid him whenever I get the chance. He's nice enough, but still..."
human
You take the wine
gpt
As she sees you raising your glass, Juanita heads over to you, brandishing a small capsule of machine oil. "A toast," she says. "To love."

Elias meets your eye. "What do you think?" he asks. "To love?"
human
Nod
gpt
You nod your head.

Elias smiles and slips his arm in yours. "To love, then," he says.

"To love," Juanita repeats, her vinyl lips forming a wide smile.

The three of you raise your glasses.
human
Full
gpt
That isn't one of the options.

Would you like to RESTORE a saved position, RESTART the story, UNDO the last move, see your FULL SCORE, see some AMUSING things to try, or QUIT?
human
Shake
gpt
What do you want to wake?
human
No
gpt
You must be more specific about whom you want to talk to.

"To love," Elias says, slipping his arm in yours.

"To love," Juanita repeats, her vinyl lips forming a wide smile.

The three of you raise your glasses.
human
You shake head
gpt
You shake your head.
human
You shake head
gpt
As she sees you raising your glass, Juanita heads over to you, brandishing a small capsule of machine oil. "A toast," she says. "To love."

Elias meets your eye. "What do you think?" he asks. "To love?"

You shake your head.

Elias cottons on immediately. "No," he says to Juanita. "A toast to the dead. Especially those we wanted dead. May they stay that way, and rest in peace."

Juanita smiles. "How noble. Okay: to the dead."

The three of you raise your glasses.
human
You look at Juanita
gpt
Originally intended as a utilitarian synthetic wife for lonely wasteland farmers, Juanita is half farm machine, half sexbot. Her figure has curvy, art deco proportions, while her four hydraulic arms can plough a whole field in minutes.

Juanita is completely pinned down by a fallen chandelier. Up close you can now see that a program crystal has been inserted into a port in the back of her head.
human
You examine the crystal
gpt
A thin, translucent shard of nanoscale computer memory.

"Do you see something that doesn't belong?" Juanita asks.
human
You take the crystal
gpt
You take hold of the program crystal and pull it out of Juanita's head socket.

Juanita sighs with relief. "Ah, I feel much better now."

She wedges her upper arms against the the bar and they begin to emit a low, hydraulic hiss. "Don't worry about me," she says. "I'll be out of here in no time. Go save Elias!"