The Negotiator:
Page: A panel of Ethan staring in shock at his manager. Ethan: “That’s impossible… I’ve never done drugs in my entire life, there must be an error! Can’t you double check the results, or send me in for another test?” (Wits check: 3-1(doubt) = 2) A panel of the shift manager looking at Ethan, exasperated. Shift Manager: “The testers are booked through the next month, and I’m not inclined to doubt their results.” Ethan: (How could the test have came back positive? Could someone have wanted me fired to give someone else my position?) (Wits check: 5-2(little data)+1(narrow question) = 4) A close-up panel of Ethan’s shocked face. Ethan: (No, that doesn’t make sense. I’ve only been working here for a few months, and I remember overhearing the store manager say that they needed more entry-level workers, so that doesn’t seem like the reason.) A panel of the shift manager looking at Ethan, annoyed. Shift Manager: “Are you going to leave now?”
Will Ethan keep trying to make the shift manager see reason?
The Stranger:
Page: A panel of the unkempt man wandering through the small business district. (Wits check: 3+0 = 3) A panel of him standing next to a storefront. A panel zooming in on the storefront showing a sign reading “Genescent Postproduction Services” in flowing letters, and below that, a sign reading “Help Wanted”.
Is this a satisfactory opportunity?
The Lifebringer:
Page: A panel of Dora walking towards the light. (Wits check: 4+0) Dora: (It’s coming from one of the tombstones, like something’s hidden behind it…) A large panel of Dora looking at a tombstone glowing an unearthly purple. Dora: (No.. the tombstone itself is glowing!)
What does Dora do?
Dr. Mutagen:
Page: A panel of Burt picking up the tray. [He was researching the possibility of using genetic engineering on an egg cell to partially determine the appearance of an animal.] A panel of Burt walking across the room. An extension cord is visible just in front of him. [He would soon be able to do much more than that.] (Physique check: 2-1(distracted)+1(easy) = 2) A panel showing the exact moment that Burt tripped over the extension cord. A panel showing Burt falling to the ground, the tray of samples still in his hands. A panel showing the samples shatter. A panel showing the outside of the laboratory. Burt: “AIEEEEEEEE!”
Page: A panel showing Burt sit up groggily. A panel showing Burt open a box on the wall labelled “First Aid”. A panel showing Burt driving. A panel showing Burt collapsed on a bed.
When Burt returns to his laboratory, what does he do?
The Traveler:
Page: A panel showing Octavian crying tears of joy. Octavian: (The sunset… so beautiful…) [It was sunrise.] A panel showing Octavian’s knees buckle. Octavian: (No, wait… sunrise!) A panel showing Octavian collapsed on the ground, eyes closed and a smile on his face.
Okay, when Octavian wakes up, then what will he do with his newfound freedom?
Anathema:
Page: A panel showing Orion scowling. A panel showing Orion walking up to the head of the group. A panel showing Orion looking at the man in the pith helmet. Orion: “Hey, I’m going back to take a smoke break.” (Wits check: 5-1(hard)+1(distracted) = 5) Pith Helmet Man: “Wha? Yeah, sure, whatever.” A panel showing Orion walking away from the group, smiling.
Anything in particular that Orion’s interested in?
Cuddle Team Leader:
Page: A panel showing Sofia tug on the refrigerator’s handle. A panel showing Sofia look in confusion at the unopened door. A panel showing Sofia tug and turn the refrigerator’s handle. Sofia: (Okay, this is a really weird fridge.) A panel showing the refrigerator’s contents: several dozen unmarked metallic containers of various shapes and sizes. A panel showing Sofia grabbing a soda can-sized cylindrical container. Sofia: (This is soda, right? This had better be soda.) [It was not soda.] A panel showing Sofia fiddling with the top of the canister. Sofia: (There, got it!) A panel showing Sofia raising the canister to her mouth. A panel showing Sofia drinking the canister. Sofia: (Hey, this actually tastes really good! And fizzy! Guess it is soda.)
Page: A splash panel showing the man in the lab coat standing awkwardly with his hands in his pockets. In the foreground is a surprised Sofia, and in the background is a perfectly normal fridge. Lab Coat Man: “The fridge that stores food is on the other side of the room.”
Oops?
Contingent:
Page: A panel showing the nanoblob being placed on a very fancy scale by a long pair of tongs. Scientist: “Density is about 930 kg/m3.” A panel showing one of the scientists manning a complicated-looking piece of machinery. Scientist: “The sample we took self-destructed when it got separated from the main blob, but joke’s on it: We analyzed the scraps and determined it’s made out of mostly carbon with some silicon.” A panel showing the nanoblob inside a microwave-like device. Scientist: “When we cooled it slightly, it heated itself back up, and when we heated it slightly, it started slowly falling apart, which is poor performance even for nanobots, which aren’t exactly heat-resistant at the best of times.” A panel showing a scientist looking at Peter. “We’re waiting for your ideas on further tests, since this thing hasn’t “gone crazy” like some other nanogoo samples.”
Ideas for further testing?
The Man of Stone:
Page: A panel showing Thrak looking at the approaching club-armed cavemen. Thrak: “You no need do this! You have Freedom of Choose!” (Wits check: 4-2(hard) = 2) A panel showing one of the cavemen looking angrily at Thrak. Caveman: “Freedom of Choose ought be used for good, not bad! Disobey chiefs is bad!” A panel showing the cavemen almost at the rock.
Do Thrak think something wrong with caveman logic?
Ringer:
Page: A panel showing the amnesiac man running away from the blond man. A panel showing the blond man standing in place and launching another fire-punch. (Physique check: 4+0 = 4) A panel showing the amnesiac man dodging it. A panel showing the blond man running after the amnesiac man. (Physique check: 4+0 = 4) A panel showing the amnesiac man running in the foreground and the blond man running while launching a fire-punch in the background. (Physique check: 4+0 = 4) A panel showing the amnesiac man dodging it. (Physique check: 4+0 = 4) A panel showing the amnesiac man running in the foreground and the blond man running while launching a fire-punch in the background. (Physique check: 5+0 = 5) A panel showing the amnesiac man dodging it. Amnesiac Man: (Wait… I know how to do that punch! I don’t know how, but that sounds like a question for later.)
What are the amnesiac man’s plans for survival?