You have entered Communications Mode. The following locations are equipped with communication outlets:
PRISM Project Control Center (PPCC)
Dr. Garcia's Office (GAOF)
Staff Lounge (STAL)
World News Network Feed (WNNF)
To activate a specific outlet, submit the associated code.

>WNNF
World News Network Feed
Your visual and audio circuits are now hooked directly to the programming of the World News Network: You see various scenes of a busy restaurant, as a narrator whispers, "We travelled to the world-famous steakhouse, Jack's Steer Palace in Dallas, to see if we could fool people into thinking that our FrozenBoy Yeasteaks were the real thing. Here's what happened." The picture cuts to a couple seated at their dinner table." Absloutely the most delicious steak I've ever had in my life," exclaims the woman, in a high, whiny voice. "It was juicy, tender, and really, really tasty!" The off-screen narrator asks, "Would you believe me if I told you that you've been eating FrozenBoy Yeasteaks?"

>WAIT
Time passes...

The anchorman reappears. "In New Washington today, the President's Population Control Package is in for some rough times, as religious pressure groups are gearing up for a massive lobbying effort to defeat the initiative. Early straw polls predict that next week's vote on the bill is too close to call."
A message comes over the message line: "Garcia to PRISM. Please activate the communication port in my office."

>GAOF
Dr. Garcia's Office
This is the office of Dr. Julio Garcia, the Secretary of Population for the United States of North America. Volumes of government studies fill the shelves. The walls are tastefully decorated with art prints, such as van Gogh and Brangwynne.
A thick black notebook is sitting on Dr. Garcia's desk.
Dr. Garcia is sitting at his desk, working.

>LOOK AT THE NOTEBOOK
The notebook is labeled "Omnibus Population Management Initiative of 2033, Legislative Docket Number 2033-419F."

Dr. Garcia looks up at your communications unit and nods. "PRISM, we'd like you to do a simulation for us, to study what the state of the country will be in thirty years if the President's Population Bill is scuttled. We've fed the parameters into the Simulation Controller, so we're ready when you are."

>DOCTOR GARCIA, WHAT IS THE POPULATION BILL?
"It's the President's comprehensive plan to deal with the population problem. I'm surprised you haven't heard about it. It's been all over
the news."

>GO TO SIMULATION MODE
This simulation is considered Class Three Security and is based in 2063.
This is your last chance to abort. Do you want to abort? >NO

Broadway & Devon
You're standing on the corner of Broadway, a wide east-west boulevard, and Devon Lane, a small north-south street. A government cafeteria is on the northeast corner, and tall, guarded apartment towers are on the other three corners.

>SOUTHWEST
A guard blocks your way. "Get lost," he says. "No squatting here."

>NORTHEAST
Cafeteria
You have entered a massive government-run food dispensary. Long lines of listless people wait to carry away trays of brownish hash.
Depressing gray tables fill the center of this colorless room.

>RECORD ON
Record feature activated.

>LOOK
Cafeteria
You have entered a massive government-run food dispensary. Long lines of listless people wait to carry away trays of brownish hash.
Depressing gray tables fill the center of this colorless room.

>GET SOME FOOD
You wait in the line, which moves agonizingly slowly. Finally, you get to the dispensing area. A surly worker growls, "Let's see yer permit."

>INVENTORY
You are carrying:
a credit card
a residency permit

The worker growls, "C'mon, joker, yer holding up the line."

>SHOW MY RESIDENCY PETMIT TO WORKER
[I don't know the word "petmit."]

>OOPS PERMIT
The worker growls and shoves a tray of the hash into your hands.

>EXAMINE THE HASH
It's a semi-solid goo of brown and gray and white substances. It smells awful, and looks marginally edible.

>RECORD OFF
Record feature deactivated.

>LEAVE THE CAFETERIA
Broadway & Devon

>NORTH
Entrance to Base
Devon Street, which continues to the south, ends here at the gate to the National Guard base for this sector of the city. On the west side of the street is a large, imposing building. To the east is Devon Park. The front page of a newspaper is pinned against the fence of the base by the wind.

>RECORD
Record feature activated.

>READ THE NEWSPAPER
(taking the newspaper first)
The headline story is about President Mazzotta's defense of the Martial Law Board's decision to lower the mandatory euthanasia age to 55. "Without this ruling," the President is quoted as saying, "we'd have a full-fledged famine by the end of next year." The President agreed that it was a difficult and unpopular step, but blamed it on decades of neglect by previous adminstrators. The article ends with a reminder that everyone over the age of 55 has two weeks to report to a Euthanasia Center.

>RECORD OFF
Record feature deactivated.

>WEST
Euthanasia Center
This is one of the many locations where the hopeless, homeless victims of modern society can come to be released of their burdens. In
addition, those reaching the regulated age must report here for termination.

>EAST
Entrance to Base

>ENTER THE PARK
Devon Park
This once-lovely park, like all others in the city, has been converted to refugee-style huts for the homeless. This is one of the less crowded camps; some families have nearly 150 square feet of ground. The only exit from the park is to the west.

>RECORD ON
Record feature activated.

>LOOK
Devon Park
This once-lovely park, like all others in the city, has been converted to refugee-style huts for the homeless. This is one of the less crowded camps; some families have nearly 150 square feet of ground. The only exit from the park is to the west.

>RECORD OFF
Record feature deactivated.

>WEST.SOUTH.SOUTH
Entrance to Base

Broadway & Devon

Everett & Devon
Devon Lane ends here at the intersection with Everett Street, which continues to the east and west. This block of Devon Lane was once considered "quaint," since it is lined with hemlocks and still has streetlights, fire hydrants and manhole covers. The south side of Everett is lined with sub-standard housing.

Jill, your wife, suddenly runs up to you, looking frantic. "Perry, I've been searching all over for you! I lost my residency permit! I've looked everywhere for it! How will I eat?" She breaks into sobs.

>COMFORT JILL
You take Jill in your arms. She buries her head against your chest, her body shaking with sobs. You can feel her ribs through her thin, myalon smock.

Suddenly, you notice four National Guardsmen standing around you. "Spot check," says one of the officers. "Let's see your permits." Jill looks at you, unreasoning terror in her eyes. Your throat is dry, and your voice cracks as you explain that your wife lost her permit.
"She'll have to come with us, then," says the officer, grabbing Jill's bony arm and leading her toward a waiting skyvan. You try to stop them, but one of the Guardsmen cracks you across the skull with a rubber club. Through your wooziness, tears and blood, you see Jill being hustled into the skyvan. As it lifts and glides away, you realize that you'll never see your wife again.

>ABORT
Aborting to Communications Mode.
--SIMULATION TERMINATED--

>STAL
Staff Lounge
The visual unit at this outlet provides you with a view of a comfortable and soothing room. Many plants hang from the ceiling. On the walls, which are painted lavender-white, are Monet and Cody prints.
A fresh pot of plankton is brewing in a corner.

>SMELL THE PLANKTON
You're not equipped with olfactory senses.

>WAIT
Time passes...

"Garcia to PRISM. Please come to my office as soon as possible."

>GAOF
Dr. Garcia's Office

Dr. Garcia smiles as he sees your active light come on. "PRISM, I just finished viewing your recordings. You've done a fine job. I think the President will be able to use your recordings to convince the Congress and the public of the need for the Population Bill. Again, thanks for a job well done."