avatarJohn Fanidis

Summary

The web content introduces "A City of Regrets," the third story arc in a cyberpunk 'choose your own' adventure series, where the reader navigates through a rainy Albuquerque, witnesses a man being beaten by cops, and must choose how to respond.

Abstract

The provided text is an excerpt from a cyberpunk interactive story titled "A City of Regrets," which is part of a 'choose your own' fiction series. The narrative unfolds in a dystopian Albuquerque, where the protagonist, amidst a rainstorm, encounters a scene of police brutality. The protagonist is faced with five choices after hearing a man's cries for help from a back alley: confront the cops, attack them, ignore the situation, attempt to hack the officers, or distract them to rescue the man. This story format adheres to the drabble structure, with each part of the story consisting of exactly 100 words. Readers are also invited to contribute to the ongoing narrative and are provided with links to support the author.

Opinions

  • The story presents a morally ambiguous setting, suggesting that the city's 'new order' may not align with traditional ideas of justice or citizen rights.
  • The protagonist's internal monologue implies a level of dissatisfaction or disillusionment with the current state of affairs in the city.
  • The options given to the reader reflect a range of possible alignments and moral compasses, from passive observation to violent intervention.
  • The inclusion of cybernetics hints at a society where technology is deeply integrated into individuals, possibly including law enforcement.
  • The author encourages reader engagement and investment in the story through interactive choices and calls to action for support.

DRABBLE STORY ARC #3: A CITY OF REGRETS

Be a Good Citizen

Chapter 1 of a cyberpunk ‘choose your own’ story — drabble edition.

This is a ‘choose your own’ fiction story, “drabble edition”. Each main part of the story (not including choices and blurb) should be a 100-word drabble. Find out how to contribute to the ongoing story here.

You hustle through the crowd, trying to stay under the shop canopies to avoid the rainstorm.

“It’s a really shitty day, even for Albuquerque,” you think. A huge video wall of a nearby metropolitan skyscraper reads, “Be a good citizen. Respect the new order.”

After a while, the green-yellow neon sign of a motel, La Hacienda, welcomes you home. A noise coming from the back alley catches your attention. It’s a man crying for help!

You circle the building to find two cops brutally beating a man in an expensive suit—his plea for help echoes in your head.

You decide to:

  1. Ask the cops to leave the man alone. This isn’t what you signed up for.
  2. Activate your blades and attack the cops. You feel like slicing them open in style.
  3. Let them keep beating the rich guy. He probably deserves it.
  4. Scan the cops for cybernetics and try to hack them.
  5. Distract the cops and try to save the guy.

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Cyberpunk
Adventure
Choose Your Own Adventure
Storytelling
Fiction
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