You are the newest scientist at a lab known for its best invention: the Time Machine, which was created by a famous and popular scientist, Dr. Chronos. Due to the potential dangers of time travel, the machine was designed with intricate puzzles that only high-ranking staff know how to solve. Every night, they are responsible for shutting it down in the present to prevent anyone else from using it.
However, one day, things go horribly wrong.
You arrive at work to see the time machine is on. Your coworkers start messing with the machine and accidentally go to the future. When they attempt to return, they find themselves trapped. The Future setting has broken.
There are no high-ranking staff in the lab, so you try to call them, but to your surprise, you aren't able to get any service. With no one else at the lab and no way of contacting anyone, you are the only one left who can repair the machine. You must travel between the past and present versions of the lab to solve the puzzles required to reactivate the future setting and save your coworkers.
Rules:
-You must spend fifteen seconds to one minute in each time period before switching to avoid getting stuck in a certain period.
-Use clues from both time periods to solve puzzles to go to the future.
[[Present Lab]]
(set: $hasPaper1 to false)
(set: $failCount to 0)
(set: $hasPaper2 to false)
(set: $hasNotebook to false)
(set: $hasKey to false)
(set: $inventory to "")
(set: $hasWatch to false)
You’re in the Present Lab. The time machine hums quietly in the corner. There’s a **locked drawer** and a **half-torn piece of paper** on the floor. What will you do?
(if: $hasWatch is false)[[Examine the Drawer]]
(if: $hasPaper1 is false)[ [[Pick up the Torn Paper->Torn Paper 1]]]
[[Travel to the Past->Past Lab]]
[[Check Inventory->Inventory]]
(if: $hasPaper1 is true and $hasPaper2 is true and $hasNotebook is true and $hasWatch)[
You have all the clues! Attempt to fix the time machine!
[[Fix Time Machine->Time Machine]]](if: $hasKey is false)[You approach the locked drawer. It seems that you need a key to open it.]
(if: $hasKey is true)[You unlock the drawer with the key. You find a **broken watch** that displays the time **2:30**.
[[Return to the Present Lab->Present Lab]]
(set: $hasWatch to true)
(if: $inventory is "")[
(set: $inventory to "Watch ")
](else:)[
(set: $inventory to $inventory + ", Watch")
]]
You found half of a torn document. It has part of what seems to be a code.
[[Return to the Present Lab->Present Lab]]
(set: $hasPaper1 to true)
(if: $inventory is "")[
(set: $inventory to "Torn Paper 1")
](else:)[
(set: $inventory to $inventory + ", Torn Paper 1")
]
The Past Lab is very similar to the current one, except it is very dusty and some of the equipment is outdated. However, the essentials are still there. There’s a **microscope** and a **half of a torn piece of paper** sticking out from under a file cabinet. You also notice an **old notebook** on the desk.
(if: $hasKey is false)[[[Look into the Microscope->Microscope]]]
(if: $hasPaper2 is false)[[[Pick up the Torn Paper->Torn Paper 2]]]
(if: $hasNotebook is false)[[Read the Notebook->Old Notebook]]
[[Travel to the Present->Present Lab]]
[[Check Inventory->Inventory 2]]
You found half of a torn document. It has part of what seems to be a code.
[[Return to the Past Lab->Past Lab]]
(set: $hasPaper2 to true)
(if: $inventory is "")[
(set: $inventory to "Torn Paper 2")
](else:)[
(set: $inventory to $inventory + ", Torn Paper 2")
]
Your Inventory:
(if: $inventory is "")[
Nothing yet.
](else:)[
(print: $inventory)
]
[[Return to Present Lab->Present Lab]]Your inventory:
(if: $inventory is "")[
Nothing yet.
](else:)[
(print: $inventory)
]
[[Return to Past Lab->Past Lab]]You stand in front of the time machine. There are many areas to input different codes.
You examine the torn papers in your pocket. Combining the clues from both pieces of the paper, you begin to decipher a color puzzle.
**"Things change over time. Orange turned into green. What color stayed the same during this change?"**
Please enter your answer below:
(set: $playerAnswer to "")
(link: "Submit Answer")[
(set: $playerAnswer to (prompt: "Enter your answer here", ""))
(if: $playerAnswer is "yellow" or $playerAnswer is "Yellow")[
Correct! Now, for a number puzzle. Reminder, the hint is **"Three numbers are needed in one puzzle. Figure them out or it will be too late."** Enter the three numbers below:
(set: $numberAnswer to "")
(link: "Submit Numbers")[
(set: $numberAnswer to (prompt: "Enter the three numbers", ""))
(if: $numberAnswer is "312" or $numberAnswer is "3-1-2")[
Correct! The time machine is fully fixed.
[[Go to the Future Lab->Future Lab]]
]
(else:)[
Incorrect. Try again.
(set: $numberAnswer to "")
[[Try Again->Time Machine]]
]
]
]
(else:)[
Incorrect. Try again.
(set: $playerAnswer to "")
[[Try Again->Time Machine]]
]
]
You open the old notebook, and inside it, you find a page with a message:
**"HINT: Three numbers are needed in one puzzle. Figure them out or it will be too late."**
It seems like this notebook might hold an important clue for fixing the time machine.
[[Return to the Past Lab->Past Lab]]
(set: $hasNotebook to true)
(if: $inventory is "")[
(set: $inventory to "Notebook")
](else:)[
(set: $inventory to $inventory + ", Notebook")
]You have made it to the future! You instantly see your coworkers who got stuck here. They all look hopeful the moment they see you, but the happy moment is suddenly interrupted when you hear a voice - similar to one you've heard before - over a speaker.
"It seems some *newbie* was able to solve the puzzles. Dr. *Chronos* was an idiot for assuming lower-ranked staff couldn't solve them! But there's still one final challenge... You'll need to take time into your own hands—**just make sure you don’t take too much away**. Get this wrong once, and you won’t be able to return!"
You all start panicking, but one worker suddenly points out a tiny area on the time machine to input a four digit code.
Then, the worker says, "I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but the clock has been stuck at **12:45** this entire time. Maybe that's the answer." They go to input the code, but you stop them. You remember there is one object you haven't put to use yet: **the watch that says 2:30** You know the clock and the watch are both important.
What do you input?
(set: $timeAnswer to "")
(link: "Submit Answer")[
(set: $timeAnswer to (prompt: "Enter the time in XX:XX format:", ""))
(if: $timeAnswer is "10:15")[
You’ve solved the final puzzle!
[[Good Ending->Good Ending]]
]
(else:)[
Incorrect. You couldn’t figure out the right time. The time loop traps you forever.
[[Bad Ending->Bad Ending 2]]
]
]:: Microscope
You look through the microscope. You see the number **10** and a small note that says **"The sum reveals the truth."** Then, you notice a sheet with different sequences. They are **"3-7-5," "6-3-1," "5-5-5," and "1-2-4".**
What sequence will you input?
(set: $microscopeAnswer to "")
(link: "Submit Answer")[
(set: $microscopeAnswer to (prompt: "Enter the correct sequence:", "")) (if: $microscopeAnswer is "6-3-1" or $microscopeAnswer is "631")[
A hidden compartment on the microscope opens, revealing the **key**!
[[Return to the Past Lab->Past Lab]]
(set: $hasKey to true)
(if: $inventory is "")[
(set: $inventory to "Key")
]
(else:)[
(set: $inventory to $inventory + ", Key")
]
]
(else:)[
That sequence didn’t work. Try again.
[[Try Again->Microscope]]
]
]
You hear the voice again.
"It looks like you couldn't keep up. You really thought you could save everyone?"
You feel a mix of terror and embarassment. The consequences of your failure has set in. The voice continues, sounding even more maniacal than before.
"After all that, you couldn't even answer the simplest question. Now, you're trapped. You've failed, and there's no way of turning back time."
The room suddenly feels colder. Your coworkers try to reassure you that you did your best, but you still feel like you let them down.
You sigh and slump to the floor as you think about the various ways your failure will alter the timeline, which you won't even be there to witness.
**Bad Ending 2**
[[Try again->Introduction]]You and your coworkers return back to the present and see a high-ranking scientist there. At first, they blame all of you for what happened because they don't know the truth. Thankfully, there are cameras that recorded everything. The worker looks over the recordings. First, they thank you for risking your life to save everyone else. Usually, you'd be in trouble for trying, but if you waited for anyone else to help, it probably would have been too late. Therefore, you did the right thing. After thanking you, they look at the recording from the previous night and find out that the time machine being left on was no accident. One of best scientists, Dr. Rift, who you happened to look up to, was the final worker there that night.
As he looked at the machine before leaving that night, he could be heard saying, "Dr. Chronos will finally agree with me soon." He had the same voice as the one you heard over the speaker. You realize that's why the voice sounded familiar when you first heard it. As a fan of his, you've watched some of his speeches. The high-ranking staff with you didn't know why Rift did this, but reported Rift before he could cause any more damage.
[[Five Years Later...->Good Ending Pt. 2]]*5 Years Later*
As you walk toward Dr. Chronos herself, an audience cheers. She shakes your hand and declares you a world-renowned scientist for saving those at your lab and for what you did between that time and now. The cheers become louder. You feel a rush of adrenaline as she asks you to give a speech.
You look toward the audience and say, "There have been many highs and lows during my time as a scientist. Saving my coworkers is easily one of the highlights. I knew it was a risk, but it was a risk I was willing to take. Unfortunately, it meant completely shutting down the time machine for a while..." There is an awkward silence as you look back at Dr. Chronos.
You worry she will be upset about the mention of this, but she suddenly laughs and says, "At least Dr. Rift's plan somewhat worked in his favor! He always hated the idea of a time machine because he thought something bad would happen, but I never believed him! I guess he proved me wrong by causing the problem!" While the crowd claps, you recall that soon after the time machine incident, Rift was arrested. Although he had the right idea of shutting down the machine, he went about it in a horrible way. To this day, you are still in disbelief that someone you looked up to would do such a horrible thing and even insult you when you were saving everyone, but it has driven you to become someone that people won't regret supporting.
As you finish dwelling on this, you speak up. "Sometimes the worst moments lead to the best discoveries. The time machine incident was difficult, but it turned me into who I am today."
**Good Ending**
[[Play Again->Introduction]]