iStory:The Agent/chapter 408 alternatives

This page notes the different possible versions of chapter 8 of The Agent.

All cases (I)

After Anna tells Rachel that her plan to get the detonator is not really okay with her, Anna pulls Rachel aside. Anna tells Rachel that maybe Rachel was right, that they should just take Abe away and that the others will be released eventually. Rachel responds that there is another problem, that agents have seen them. Anna replies that she has been seen before, and REBEL makes it go away. Rachel then comments that it is easy to remove Anna from the records, but if Rachel disappears it will raise eyebrows as they are currently running the description of a double agent.

Rachel reads Anna's expression, and notes that Anna is wondering if Rachel is going to kill the fugitives. She continues that Rachel killed her own partner to hide her ability, and it would be easy to just wait three minutes and warn her commander so that he blows them up and preserves her secret. Rachel adds that no one would think to blame her for Jason's death after that, and asks again if that is what Anna is thinking. However, Anna just responds by throwing her arms around Rachel and telling her to come back to them.

With two minutes left before the fugitives move out, Rachel teleports herself back down outside the building and finds herself standing around the corner from the SWAT teams. She hears people talking, loading their guns, and applying their body armor, and realizes they are ready to proceed. Rachel walks around the corner and searches for the site commander, Commander Klassen. She notes to herself that Klassen is one of Danko's most trusted lieutenants, and recalls how he has been trying not to act smug since they arrived. Rachel thinks his act is strange since a lot of agents have been getting killed in operations like this, then realizes he knows he is going to kill the fugitives.

An agent beside Rachel asks her if she is ready for some payback for Jason, and Rachel says she is. Rachel then watches Klassen twirl a finger in the air, and the squad leaders begin calling out orders. Then, in one large mass, the SWAT teams head towards the target building. Rachel stays in one place, waiting for Commander Klassen.

At the one minute mark, Rachel spots the commander bringing up the rear with two aides carrying laptops and radios. She notes to herself that they should be in a field ops van, but Klassen decided he wants to go on foot. Rachel also thinks that though the troops think what is doing is for show, he actually wants to be on the ground so he can slip away and observe the supposedly "non-functional" fire escape.

Options (I)

When the commander spots Rachel and asks why she isn't with B Team, the player gets to choose how Rachel responds.

Option 1A: Rachel warns the commander that the fugitives are escaping...

...and he asks her what she saw. She replies that there was activity at the top of the back fire escape. The commander responds that they were told the fire escape was non-functional, and Rachel says she knows what she saw. Klassen then curses and tells Rachel that she did good work. Rachel, the commander, and his two aides reach a point where they can see the fire escape just as the first fugitives begin climbing out onto the first platform. Commander Klassen says it's perfect and pulls out the detonator from a belt pouch. As he does, Rachel spots Anna appear on the fire escape and Rachel realizes she couldn't allow this. For what actually happens, jump to Option 1C.

Option 1B: Rachel aims her gun at the commander and the aides...

...and tells the commander to give her the detonator. Commander Klassen replies that Rachel cracked; and she says that it's worse, but he will never find out if he doesn't give her the detonator. However, the commander just stands there with his hands raised. His two aides begin stepping away, but Rachel waves them back with her gun. Klassen then comments that Rachel doesn't have any backbone and reaches for her gun. Rachel responds by shooting him before he can get off a shot, and Jason's face flashes before her eyes but she forces it out of her thoughts. Rachel hears boots behind her and realizes she only has a second. She spots a grenade on Klassen's belt; and, in order to get rid of the detonator, she pulls the pin just as the first shots ring out. For what actually happens, jump to Option 1C.

Option 1C: Rachel decides to follow B Team for now...

...and the SWAT teams make their way to their pre-marked paths, passing over trash and street bums until they reach the target building. Rachel checks her watch and figures that Anna and the fugitives should be heading down the fire escape now. She figures it will be close and doesn't know how to stop this. Then, Rachel hears the last status reports in her earpiece noting that everyone is in position, and the commander radios to proceed in thirty seconds. She notes to herself that it sounds like the commander is moving fast, but he has already moved out of view. Rachel breaks from her team and rushes toward the direction Commander Klassen was heading. One of the other agents yells into their radio that a truck is approaching. The agent adds that it's a large truck with no markings, approaching from the northwest, and that the people in the truck have spotted them. The agent continues that the truck is accelerating towards the back of the building. Commander Klassen responds that he will head there, and Rachel guesses he is practically already there. She can hear his voice, even without the radio, and hears him yell. Rachel notes that it is a kind of FUBAR yell, and that he has spotted the fugitives. The commander radios that the targets have already left the building, and he gives instructions to the teams. He orders teams A and C to circle around the sides and team B to move to the top floor and take out anyone still there. Rachel starts running and, after turning another corner, spots Klassen a block ahead of her. She also sees figures heading off the bottom of the fire escape, and Klassen turning around with the detonator box out. Rachel guesses that it is too late, and the fugitives are too low to be affected by the blast. The commander spots Rachel and says her name questioningly. Then, they both look towards the mystery truck as it screeches its tires. The truck stops at the end of the fugitive's alley, and Rachel notices a symbol of a hammer and some dots is traced in the dust on the side, the same symbol she saw in the nursery overhead. Commander Klassen radios for team B to move to the windows and block the fugitives from the truck with gunfire until teams A and C arrive. A few moments later, team B starts firing from the upper-story windows of the building. Rachel aims at Klassen's back, but can't pull the trigger. She then notes getting a rush of adrenalin and time seems to slow for her. As smoke rises out of the alley and bullets tear into the truck, Klassen begins running toward the battle. Rachel then teleports in front of the commander and says hello. However, Commander Klassen cannot stop quick enough and his face winds up in Rachel's fist. He begins falling backwards and the detonator flies into the air. Rachel grabs the detonator just as Klassen lands on his back. As the commander sits up, Rachel takes hold of his collar and he asks what she is. Rachel replies that she is a monster and then closes her eyes. With a snap, Rachel teleports herself and the commander to twenty feet in the air above the fire escape. As they hang in the air, she notices agents leaning off the top platforms and out nearby windows. Rachel sees bullets flashing off the grimy alley walls, and that the agents' helmets are all facing away from them. They then begin falling, and she can make out a dozen or more of the fugitives' pale faces at the end of the alley. She notes to herself that there are men, women, and a child among them, and they alone see Rachel and the commander flash into the middle of the sky. As the commander and Rachel fall next to the fire escape, Rachel looks at the bomb detonator in her hand, then at the agents around them. Then, in a moment where she feels sad and peaceful; Rachel lets go of Klassen, closes her eyes, and presses the button.

All cases (II)

Sometime later, Rachel recalls something happened to her in the air, and notes that it feels like she left part of herself up in the sky. She remembers feeling the concussion of the explosion, even as the ground materialized under her feet. For a moment, it felt to her as if she had a foot in both spots, and she landed a different person with a new life. Rachel also notes that it hurt a lot, and that she screamed over and over. Then, hands grabbed her and a diesel engine roared.

Now, as Rachel still recovers from the shock of the explosion, she finds herself in the back of the truck. She is standing, holding herself up and watching the highway slip past. The faces of dead agents, some license plates, and road signs flash into Rachel's head as she focuses and turns around. The fugitives she helped rescue are all staring at Rachel in silence, and Rachel finds it a bit creepy. She asks them if she left part of her face on the side of the building, and Anna laughs. Most of the others smile and look down, but a few continue staring.

Rachel reflects on what happened again, then asks Anna who is driving the truck. Anna replies that it is a friend, and that she will introduce the person to her when they stop. Then, Anna's cell phone beeps with a message from REBEL. Anna notes who its from, and takes a long time reading it. Rachel asks what is up and Anna responds only by wordlessly handing her the phone.

Looking at the phone, Rachel sees a huge list containing cries for help from fugitives in trouble. The message also contains status reports, email addresses, and links to websites. Rachel asks what is happening, and Anna responds that Ellen is in trouble. Rachel then comments that Anna needs to introduce her to Ellen someday, and Anna says they need to introduce a lot of people to Ellen.

Then, Rachel's cell phone buzzes with a text from Danko. Rachel reads the message, which asks her to report to him immediately. Anna, having taken back her own phone, says that REBEL pointed her to a person at a nearby circus that should be their priority. Rachel absently replies that she hates circuses, and Anna asks if something is wrong. Rachel responds that there is something she needs to take care of first.

Coming Soon on iStory Rachel faces Danko in Building 26, prepared for the worst. But Danko will still find a way to surprise her...

Notes

• Option 1C is confirmed by the story to be what actually happens, and also appears to be the optimal path where Rachel uses the bomb to stop some of the agents from pursuing the fugitives and allowing their escape. It is also possible that Rachel could teleport out safely in this option, whereas the other two options have Rachel get shot or the fugitives killed.
• The final page of this chapter again has a flash image of Rachel's desk. In this chapter, the spilled over pill bottles are still there but the photos on the desk have been changed to those of Danko and Claire. On Friday, April 3, 2009, the phone began ringing again to coincide with the conclusion of the chapter that was added.

Trivia

• In the original version of chapter 408, released March 31, 2009, the chapter ended with Rachel pressing the detonator button and closing her eyes, and then the following prompt:

Coming Soon The government's war on specials escalates. Dozens of fugitives are in trouble. How can REBEL keep up?

• On Friday, April 3, 2009, the prompt was removed and chapter 408 continued with Rachel materializing next to the diesel truck the fugitives are using to escape.