In short order the Rathskeller was emptied. The rain was already falling steadily when I made my way up the narrow stairs to street level. Many Volunteers quickly moved in the direction of the Residential Towers, but not all. I wondered where the Round Table members laid their heads.

I sloshed my way to the Towers and rode the lift to my floor. At the far end of the dreary hall I saw a capsule door shut. An unknown neighbor. I went to my capsule, scanned my code, and crawled inside. It was just as barren as ever. Maybe I could get a poster or something to decorate. A potted plant. Heh.

I removed my ballistic vest and boots, setting them carefully beside the foam slab that served as a bed. Then I reclined, wearing only my t-shirt and pants, and dimmed the fluorescent light.

I had an opportunity to align myself, or at least attempt to endear myself, with three separate groups. ‘Factions’ was the word that Antisoc used. What an unusual coincidence that all three opportunities should open up within a single Cycle, almost concurrently. Or maybe there were no coincidences. The term ‘synchronicity’ wormed its way into my brain. Strange. Where did that thought come from?

As I lay in the near dark, I opened my menu and reviewed the notes entered under my Subroutines.

[>SUBROUTINES

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* Assist Antisoc with Repository Heist (Pending)

* Assist Serpents with Package Delivery (Pending)

* Assist Round Table with Warehouse District Raid (Pending)]

Antisoc, a shadowy group of self-proclaimed hackers that had ambushed and interrogated me. They want me to play a part in carrying out a heist at the Repository to help fund their ongoing operations. They claim to be my best hope of discovering the truth about this digital world and my own lost identity. Could I trust them? Would they trust me? I recalled that Apache had casually name-dropped them. They obviously had some sort of symbiotic relationship with the Round Table, or at least provided special services to Volunteers from time to time.

Then there were the Serpents. I was warned this group was dangerous. And Serpent goons have accosted me on two occasions. Yet their leader invited me to join their 'family.' He promises power beyond my wildest imaginings, and he demonstrates an uncanny mastery over certain elements of this world. All I have to do is ‘deliver a package.’ Hmm.

Lastly, the Round Table is recruiting Volunteers to serve as cannon fodder in an upcoming raid. It sounds dangerous, with a high likelihood of death. If I survive, I could keep whatever I earn during the raid. If I die, I will lose it. I didn’t have any kind of Repository account to instantly transfer materials for safekeeping. But live or die, I would get a 5% discount at the Armory and maybe take my first steps toward joining the Round Table, if that is what I want. The raid will begin in less than two cycles.

Decisions, decisions, decisions. I twisted the knob until my capsule was bathed in inky darkness. A torpedo tube in a submarine in the depths of the ocean. I felt myself slowly fading from consciousness.