iStory:The Private/chapter 302 alternatives

This page notes the different possible versions of chapter 2 of The Private.

All cases (I)

Rachel takes a break from her story when the interviewer leaves temporarily to fetch some coffee. When he returns with his cup and asks Rachel if she wants some, she declines and continues her story when prompted to. Rachel notes that next, her captors dump her in a deep and narrow muddy pit that she cannot climb out. She also realizes her captors had taken some of her blood some time before then, and she waits by herself there for about 12 hours until a rope ladder is lowered to her sometime around sunset and someone says something in Farse. Rachel climbs up the ladder, and upon reaching the surface, observes her surroundings. Rachel sees just a couple of guys and a woman, tribespeople. Behind the three people in front of her is the small village she has been hearing. The village has many low buildings and lots of civilians in jeans and robes walking its dirt streets. Above the roofline, Rachel spots a bunch of boxy, metal buildings outside town.

Rachel is lead to a mess hall where she is interrogated by an Arabic man who introduces himself as Harry. She tells Harry that her people will come for her, and learns from him that she is in Iran and that there is an Iranian army medical facility in the nearby village. When Harry then asks her about her mother, Rachel must decide how to react.

Options (I)

Option

Summary

Option 1 (return case): ask to be returned to the pit Option 2 (silent case): stay silent, forcing him to talk Option 3 (bargain case): try to bargain with him

click "show" to view summary Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Choosing to ask to be taken back to her pit, Harry tells her there is no reason to be harsh and Rachel tells him off for gassing her friends and imprisoning her. Harry responds by asking Rachel if she knows why she has been under surveillance, and Rachel says she does not know why. Harry then waves Rachel quiet and says it doesn't matter anymore and has her sent back to her pit. Choosing to stay silent, Harry tells Rachel that she has been under surveillance for some time, but not by them. Harry continues that they thought it was CIA, but that now they don't know. Then, before Rachel can reply, Harry has her sent back to her pit. Choosing to try and bargain with Harry, Rachel says she will answer his question in exchange for something in return. Harry seems to misunderstand her and notes that she doesn't have anything he wants. Regardless, Rachel continues and answers his question, saying her mother killed herself when she was a kid, and now he should answer one of her questions. Instead, Harry then asks if she realizes that she has been under surveillance. Rachel responds, startled, asking by who, and noting that wasn't her question. Harry then replies, saying that it doesn't matter and that somebody made a mistake. He then waves to the two men at the door and they take Rachel back to her pit.

All cases (II)

Rachel finds she has company in her pit--a man who allows her to sit next to him and then introduces himself as Jim. Rachel notes to herself that a bloody bandage covers Jim's bare chest, and that Jim looked American, but not military due to his hair being too long. However, his being heavy built and having a bullet scar on his other shoulder, Rachel considers Jim being Special Forces. A second later, Jim asks Rachel if they said anything about why they brought her there and Rachel must choose how to respond.

Options (II)

Option

Summary

Option 4 (warn case): warn Jim that others might be listening Option 5 (silent case): stay quiet and not respond to Jim Option 6 (chat case): comment on Jim's appearance

click "show" to view summary Option 4 Rachel tells Jim to be quiet since they were likely placed together so they would talk. Jim replies that maybe they just don't have any other pits finished yet and that he saw a half-dozen pits in the clearing. She then asks what is the place they are in, and Jim comments that there are places like it all over the world. Rachel notes that there aren't ones that ask you about your mother, and Jim begins to recall something about a man in Serbia when Rachel asks him to shut up. Jim then apologizes and repeats his question as to if she has any idea why they brought her here. Rachel must again choose how to respond. Option 4A (ask why the question case) Option 4B (silent case) Option 4C (say no case) Rachel asks why Jim is so curious, and claims he just thought she would be wondering why they picked her out of the crowd. Rachel then asked what makes Jim think they picked her out, and who he is? Jim answers that he's nobody, but Rachel insists he be more specific so Jim elaborates. He says that he is a security contractor who was out by himself when some guys jumped him. Rachel asks which contractor he works for, but Jim just says that she's never heard of them. Jim says he knows that sounds bad, and gets cut off by Ammar, who announces his arrival above their pit. Rachel asks Ammar to join them down in the pit so she can say hi properly, but Ammar ignores her and notes that things have not turned out as her captors expected and they plan to kill her. Rachel replies as though she can't hear him, asking Ammar to come closer and calling him a derogatory name. Rachel pauses telling the story when the interviewer makes a note, and she asks him if she said something interesting. The interviewer replies that Rachel's conversations with others suggest that she has a Type J personality, and that will save some time during her assessment testing. Rachel responds by asking if the interview is some sort of psychological evaluation, but the interviewer just presses Rachel to continue her story and adds that Ammar has a proposal for her. Rachel then continues the story, after wondering aloud how he knew that. Rachel ignores Jim's repeated question, and he shrugs saying it is just as well since their captors have to be listening. They then sit in silence a little while until Ammar calls for Rachel from above their pit. Rachel asks Ammar to join them down in the pit so she can say hi properly, but Ammar ignores her and notes that things have not turned out as her captors expected and they plan to kill her. Rachel replies as though she can't hear him, asking Ammar to come closer and calling him a derogatory name. Rachel pauses telling the story when the interviewer makes a note, and she asks him if she said something interesting. The interviewer replies that Rachel's conversations with others suggest that she has a Type J personality, and that will save some time during her assessment testing. Rachel responds by asking if the interview is some sort of psychological evaluation, but the interviewer just presses Rachel to continue her story and adds that Ammar has a proposal for her. Rachel then continues the story, after wondering aloud how he knew that. Rachel says she doesn't know, but wishes she did. Jim replies that he bets that is the case, and teases that their location is literally the pits. Jim then peels off the edge of his big, bloody bandage from his chest to show Rachel he has a deep cut there, but nothing big enough to give off the amount of blood that is on the bandage. He explains that he pulled the bandage off a body when he was about to first get caught, and their captors think he is nearly dead. Jim says that they will jump them the first chance they get. Their conversation is then interrupted by Ammar, who announces his arrival above their pit. Ammar claims that Rachel's captors plan to kill her, and she asks for his help. Ammar notes that they would want him dead if he helped them, and Rachel responds that he wouldn't be there if he didn't already know he made a mistake. Rachel pauses telling the story when the interviewer makes a note, and she asks him what she said that interested him. When the interviewer replies that Rachel seems to have a Type E personality based on her responses, Rachel asks if that is the best type. The interviewer says it is excellent if she has a balanced team, but makes a point of noting to her that she doesn't have the job or a team just yet. Rachel then asks why she gets the feeling that how she tells the story is more important than the story itself. The interviewer doesn't answer Rachel, but instead notes that Ammar has a proposal for Rachel and asks Rachel to continue the story, which she does after wondering aloud how her interviewer knew Ammar had a proposal. Option 5 Rachel chooses to remain silent and Jim notes that it is just as well--that they have to be listening. They sit in silence a moment longer, and Rachel studies him. Jim then follows her line of thought and says aloud that he might be one of them. Rachel must again choose how to react. Option 5A (really case) Option 5B (silent case) Option 5C (confused case) Rachel asks Jim if he is really working for them, and he denies it. Jim says that he works for a paper company, was working alone, got jumped, and is now sitting in this hole with her feeling pretty stupid. Rachel then inquires what he was working on when he got caught, and he claims it is not important, just reconstruction stuff. She then presses him for a straight answer, and Jim replies that he is not a threat--that he's nobody. Their conversation is then interrupted by Ammar, who announces his arrival above their pit. Rachel asks Ammar to join them down in the pit so she can say hi properly, but Ammar ignores her and notes that things have not turned out as her captors expected and they are going to kill her. Rachel replies as though she can't hear him, asking Ammar to come closer and calling him a derogatory name. Rachel pauses telling the story when the interviewer makes a note, and she asks him if she said something interesting. The interviewer replies that Rachel's conversations with others suggest that she has a Type J personality, and that will save some time during her assessment testing. Rachel responds by asking if the interview is some sort of psychological evaluation, but the interviewer just presses Rachel to continue her story and adds that Ammar has a proposal for her. Rachel then continues the story, after wondering aloud how he knew that. Rachel stays silent and they both avoid eye contact with each other for a few minutes. Then Ammar arrives above their pit, and tells Rachel that her captors plan to kill her. Rachel says that is not unexpected and asks to be left alone. Ammar tries to explain that he didn't mean for this to happen, but Rachel doesn't respond. Rachel pauses telling the story when the interviewer makes a note, and she asks him if there is a problem. When the interviewer replies that Rachel seems to have a Type P personality based on her responses, Rachel says that he is using her story to do a psych assessment. The interview then notes that Ammar has a proposal for Rachel and asks Rachel to continue the story, which she does after wondering how her interviewer knew Ammar had a proposal. Rachel apologizes, and says she is just trying to figure this out. Jim says he bets that is the case, and teases that their location is literally the pits. Jim then peels off the edge of his big, bloody bandage from his chest to show Rachel he has a deep cut there, but nothing big enough to give off the amount of blood that is on the bandage. He explains that he pulled the bandage off a body when he was about to first get caught, and their captors think he is nearly dead. Jim says that they will jump them the first chance they get. Their conversation is then interrupted by Ammar, who announces his arrival above their pit. Ammar says that her captors plan to kill her, and Rachel replies that is not unexpected and asks him to leave her alone. Ammar then tries to explain that he didn't mean for this to happen, but Rachel doesn't respond. Rachel pauses telling the story when the interviewer makes a note, and she asks him if there is a problem. When the interviewer replies that Rachel seems to have a Type P personality based on her responses, Rachel says that he is using her story to do a psych assessment. The interview then notes that Ammar has a proposal for Rachel and asks Rachel to continue the story, which she does after wondering how her interviewer knew Ammar had a proposal. Option 6 Rachel chooses to comment on Jim's appearance, and he notes that it's the price of being stupid. He tells her he was there because he went off by himself in Iraq while following orders from Jeremy Woo. Jim also explains that he works as a freelance security consultant for a paper company. Rachel must again decide how to respond. Option 6A (disbelief case) Option 6B (silent case) Option 6C (chat case) Rachel says she doesn't believe Jim; and he admits there is more to it than that, but he says he will not discuss it in the middle of an Iranian prisoner camp. Rachel then notes that he says that like they will be able talk elsewhere. Jim then peels off the edge of his big, bloody bandage from his chest to show Rachel he has a deep cut there, but nothing big enough to give off the amount of blood that is on the bandage. He explains that he pulled the bandage off a body when he was about to first get caught, and their captors think he is nearly dead. Jim says that they will jump them the first chance they get. Their conversation is then interrupted by Ammar, who announces his arrival above their pit. Rachel asks for Ammar to drop down the ladder, but Ammar ignores her. He notes that things haven't gone as they expected, and that Rachel's captors plan to kill her. Rachel says that is not unexpected and says it is not too late for him to help her. Rachel pauses telling the story when the interviewer makes a note, and she asks him what she said that interested him. When the interviewer replies that Rachel seems to have a Type E personality based on her responses, Rachel asks if that is the best type. The interviewer says it is excellent if she has a balanced team, but makes a point of noting to her that she doesn't have the job or a team just yet. Rachel then asks why she gets the feeling that how she tells the story is more important than the story itself. The interviewer doesn't answer Rachel, but instead notes that Ammar has a proposal for Rachel and asks Rachel to continue the story, which she does after wondering aloud how her interviewer knew Ammar had a proposal. Rachel stays silent and they both avoid eye contact with each other for a few minutes. Then Ammar arrives above their pit, and tells Rachel that her captors plan to kill her. Rachel says that is not unexpected and asks to be left alone. Ammar tries to explain that he didn't mean for this to happen, but Rachel doesn't respond. Rachel pauses telling the story when the interviewer makes a note, and she asks him if there is a problem. When the interviewer replies that Rachel seems to have a Type P personality based on her responses, Rachel says that he is using her story to do a psych assessment. The interview then notes that Ammar has a proposal for Rachel and asks Rachel to continue the story, which she does after wondering how her interviewer knew Ammar had a proposal. Rachel says that his job sounds like fun, and gets him to open up more about his capture. Jim notes that he was picked up outside Baghdad the same day she was captured, and Rachel replies, asking how he knew when she was captured. He tries to explain that he was just guessing, but Rachel says she doesn't buy it and to tell Harry their plan isn't going to work. However, their conversation is then interrupted by Ammar, who announces his arrival above their pit. Ammar claims that Rachel's captors plan to kill her, and she asks for his help. Ammar notes that they would want him dead if he helped them, and Rachel responds that he wouldn't be there if he didn't already know he made a mistake. Rachel pauses telling the story when the interviewer makes a note, and she asks him what she said that interested him. When the interviewer replies that Rachel seems to have a Type E personality based on her responses, Rachel asks if that is the best type. The interviewer says it is excellent if she has a balanced team, but makes a point of noting to her that she doesn't have the job or a team just yet. Rachel then asks why she gets the feeling that how she tells the story is more important than the story itself. The interviewer doesn't answer Rachel, but instead notes that Ammar has a proposal for Rachel and asks Rachel to continue the story, which she does after wondering aloud how her interviewer knew Ammar had a proposal.

All cases (III)

Ammar proposes for him to return after it is dark and for Rachel and himself to use his motorcycle to make a one to two days drive on a road that the U.S. military is watching to the Iraqi border. Rachel replies that it sounds like his plan is to get them blown up by a Predator drone, but Ammar says that she will signal to her people that they are escaped prisoners when they get close. He adds that part of the deal is that Rachel will tell her people that he's a "good guy". Rachel then asks Ammar about bringing Jim, but Ammar says that there is no room and he can't be trusted. Jim whispers to Rachel that they will jump him and take his bike.

After Ammar comes back that night and helps them get out, Rachel knocks Ammar out with her fist and whispers to Jim that she thought that would feel more satisfying. Jim replies that Ammar is just a punk, and for them to get rolling. Looking back, Rachel spots their pit in a fenced-off clearing behind them and sees other pits half-dug nearby. Jim and Rachel spot Ammar's motorcycle between two low storage buildings and hop on. Jim starts it and they drive away from the camp. The street quickly turns to dirt and wilderness fast. They drive for a couple minutes, then pull off and climb to the top of a nearby hill to check for pursuit.

Reaching the top of the hill, Jim is breathing hard. Seeing Rachel's grin, he tells her to shut up, saying that he's in good shape but that she's a machine. Rachel replies that she's thirsty and they've got quite a drive ahead of them, noting that it felt like their captors had taken her hundreds of miles. Jim says that maybe they won't have to drive at all, and Rachel turns around to find four men had suddenly materialized behind them. The men appear to be desert fighters, dressed in ragged robes and hoods, and holding assault rifles wrapped in rags to protect them from the dust. Rachel tells them not to shoot in Arabic, raising her hands; but she gets a reply in English from one of them, that they speak Farsi there.

Two hours later, they have been introduced to the Special Forces squad and their lieutenant meets Jim and Rachel where they are resting between two boulders. The lieutenant explains to them that they have been out there a while, mostly watching the facility where Rachel and Jim had been taken. The officer continues that the facility appears to be doing some kind of heavy duty research and development. The lieutenant guesses it is biological warfare, except more experimental stuff, noting that more people seem to come out than go in and that it's not too clear how much of it is official government stuff. The officer adds that they know that almost every major terrorist figure in the region has been through this facility in the last couple months, and that they are lucky to be alive.

Rachel then comments that it is very lucky for them that they were here, especially since the border is quite a hike. However, the lieutenant replies that it's not lucky for Rachel and Jim just yet, cause they just got back their orders and they are supposed to rescue them from the main facility. Jim notes that they've already escaped, but the officer just repeats that now they are going to rescue them. Rachel understands what the officer means, noting that they will do a lot of damage on the way. The lieutenant then confirms Rachel's thoughts, saying that they are their get-out-of-jail-free card for political fallout.

Notes

• Using Options 2 and 6C is the optimal case. By staying silent and allowing Harry to talk (Option 2), Rachel learns that she has been under surveillance for sometime by a party unrelated to her captors, and that the party doesn't appear to be the CIA. By talking to Jim about his appearance and experiences (Option 6C), Rachel gets Jim to open up some about how he got to be in the same pit as her.

Trivia

• In the original version of Chapter 302, released January 23, 2009, the chapter ended with Ammar proposing a method of rescuing Rachel and Jim whispering that they would jump him and take his bike when they got out. The player was then given the opportunity to vote to affect what happened next with the following prompt:

Vote for the plan you want to follow... Jim's Plan Ammar's Plan Vote carefully: your choice affects what happens in the next chapter. Discuss your choice at the 9th Wonders "Friend or Foe" forum. Poll ends and story continues on Monday, 1/26/09.

• On January 26, 2009, the polling was set aside and chapter 302 continued with Rachel choosing Jim's option. The option of sticking with Ammar's plan was not presented.
• In this chapter, the interviewer analyzes Rachel Mills's responses and assigns them to a personality type. Some personality types have multiple meanings or connotations. Based on the types presented in the different options and the interviewer saying he evaluated Rachel's personality type based on her responses, the interviewer is likely referring to personality types as classified by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), which classifies personalities based on preferences (not ability). The types presented are classified as follows using MBTI.

Type	Name	Definition
E	Extroversion	This personality describes people who prefer extraversion draw energy from action: they tend to act, then reflect, then act further. If they are inactive, their level of energy and motivation tends to decline.
J	Judging	This personality describes people who have a preference for using the judging function (thinking or feeling) when relating to the outside world. Those who prefer thinking tend to decide things from a more detached standpoint, measuring the decision by what seems reasonable, logical, causal, consistent and matching a given set of rules. Those who prefer feeling tend to come to decisions by associating or empathizing with the situation, looking at it 'from the inside' and weighing the situation to achieve, on balance, the greatest harmony, consensus and fit, considering the needs of the people involved.
P	Perceiving	This personality describes people who have a preference for using the perceiving function (sensing or intuition) when relating to the outside world. Individuals who prefer sensing are more likely to trust information that is in the present, tangible and concrete: that is, information that can be understood by the five senses. They tend to distrust hunches that seem to come out of nowhere. They prefer to look for details and facts. For them, the meaning is in the data. On the other hand, those who prefer intuition tend to trust information that is more abstract or theoretical, that can be associated with other information (either remembered or discovered by seeking a wider context or pattern). They may be more interested in future possibilities. They tend to trust those flashes of insight that seem to bubble up from the unconscious mind. The meaning is in how the data relates to the pattern or theory.

• The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator allows for people to be classified in more than one personality type. For instance, a person can be both type E and J, or both type E and P. The 16 main classifications specified by MBTI are listed at the Myers and Briggs Foundation website.