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The simulation had been going great! This was so much more fun than Operator had expected their training to go. They just loved being Guard, and they had just figured out the imposter! All that was left was to call a meeting and share their evidence. They'd just have to hope that the crew listened.
They snuck their way to the button and pressed it after preparing an escape route just in case the crew tried to eject them again. Fortunately, the crew was curious enough to hear them out. They laid out the evidence they collected and made their accusation. It was a sound argument with no wiggle room, they'd succeeded. The crew would have to listen!
The captain spoke up.
“It's an impressive argument, but you're still definitely the imposter!”
No. No this wasn't supposed to happen! They'd done everything right! Was the simulation just unwinnable? No, that wouldn't make sense! The crew all voted against them again. They didn't let themself be grabbed this time, escaping once more.
What were they supposed to do now? There was no more evidence left to collect. If the crew wouldn't listen to a perfect argument, then what else could they do?
They heard Management’s voice and the simulation paused for them to communicate.
“Operator, you've done an amazing job! You're close to the end of the simulation now. I can't wait for you to graduate!”
What?
Confused, Operator asked, “how am I supposed to win? The crew won't listen to me. They still think I did it.”
Without missing a beat Management responded, “well, there is one more way to prove your innocence and stop the imposter. Imposter bodies, when cut open, are very easy to distinguish from crewmate bodies. You still have the kitchen knife that was used as the murder weapon with you.”
What…? No, they can't possibly be suggesting that. Did they really make that required in order to win? Why? What was the point in making it a requirement for Guard to sneak attack someone using a knife?
Actually, there were a lot of weird things that the simulation demanded that they do. Things that made sense for Guard's specific situation but would be incredibly suspicious in any other context. Wouldn't it have made much more sense for the simulation to focus more on things that would be much more likely to be relevant in more likely scenarios?
The simulation had them as Guard taking advantage of a blackout, escaping an airlock, crawling through vents, sabotaging a reactor, evading the crew, cornering a scared crewmate, and all sorts of other suspicious things. Why were they taught these things? And now Management was saying that they'd have to commit an assassination. Maybe Guard's paranoia had rubbed off on them, but they just couldn't shake the feeling that something about this simulation was wrong.
Management spoke again.
“While you're planning that, which is what I assume you seem to be contemplating, I'm going to go get everything ready for your graduation! You're going to be a great addition to the team!”
There was something chilling about their voice now, despite it being just as friendly as before. Why were they so scared? They're just overreacting.
Steeling their nerves, they asked Management a question.
“Management, why has it been necessary to make Guard act so suspicious this entire time? In a real scenario, crawling vents and stuff wouldn't make sense at all. And now you're telling me I have to get away with stealthily killing someone in order to prove my innocence. Why did you make the simulation like this?”
That question was a mistake, it sounds so rude and accusatory. They should've just followed orders and kept going like they were supposed to. God, Management probably hates them now…
Management laughed. Operator froze. That laugh didn't sound fully crewmate. Their blood ran cold.
“I'm surprised, Operator. I underestimated you. Should've known you'd actually pick up some detective skills from the simulation.”
This was it. They were going to die. They had no way to run or call for help. They opened their menu, but the exit button had been replaced with text reading “nice try!”, they were trapped.
“Oh don't be like that, Operator. You've been such a good student, you're really a natural. Graduation won't hurt a bit, and you'll do great as one of us!” Management told them with a sinister enthusiasm.
Oh. So that was the plan. They had to find a way to escape the simulation before Management returned with whatever they were grabbing for their “graduation” and tell someone! But… How would they manage to do that? They couldn't leave the machine while the simulation was running and there was no way to turn it off now.
They didn't want to become an imposter. They didn't want to die only to be replaced by a murderous alien that would go after their loved ones. They hated being trapped and feeling helpless. They were alone right now. There was nothing that they could do but wait for their impending doom and there was no way for them to tell anyone.
“Why am I crying on the floor? This isn't like me at all!”
Guard's voice knocked them out of their spiral. Why did Guard react to that? They had to try something. They didn't want to be alone right now.
Whispering with a voice that was shaky with tears they asked, “can you hear me?”
It sounded like their own voice, not Guard's. Was that because they were talking to Guard?
Guard stumbled in response, not having been caught off guard by someone else's voice coming from their body. They quickly steadied themself to avoid falling.
“Wh-what the??? What kind of sick mind game is this, who are you?!”
Operator wasn't fazed by the aggression. They were just relieved to have anyone they could talk to right now.
“My name is Operator. This is a simulation and you're the protagonist. And… I was told that this simulation was training to better catch imposters. I was lied to and now I'm trapped. I have no way to escape. The one who made this simulation is secretly evil and I'm about to die and I'm so sorry to dump this all on you but I just can't be alone right now, so please talk to me.”
Guard staggered. They were genuinely taken aback by this. The voice sounded so genuinely terrified. That couldn't be true, right? This couldn't all be fake. What about their family? They needed more information.
“Why should I believe you? For all I know this could be some messed up trick to make me look as lost as a chunk of ice in a desert.”
Their body was crying even harder now. The emotional waterfall was going to make them nauseous if they couldn't dam it off soon. Would it? If this wasn't real then…
“I can't prove anything. I'm sorry. I don't want to die like this. They're going to turn me into… I'm scared. There's nothing I can do to stop it. And then everyone I know will be in danger… I shouldn't have trusted them…”
Guard was terrible at emotions. In any other situation they'd be running off like a startled catmate, not wanting to be stuck having to awkwardly comfort someone. Unfortunately, this time that someone was stuck to them. So awkwardly and uncomfortably they tried giving themself a hug. And then their body leaned into the touch on its own.
“It's not safe to trust anybody”, Guard whispered.
“I trust you”, the voice, Operator, responded.
Guard was stunned silent. How could this person possibly trust them, especially after having just been betrayed?
“We should get up and try to do something. If you're telling the truth, we've got to find a way out of this web you're stuck in.”
The game paused and a familiar voice spoke to Operator. It was Matey! Would Matey help or hurt them?
“Tip: It's a bad idea to try and make the characters self aware! They might start demanding rights.”
“Matey, how do I exit the simulation?”
“To exit the simulation, just open your menu and hit the leave button!”
“My leave button has been removed. How else can I exit the simulation?”
“There's an emergency escape button inside Security!”
“That's perfect! Thank you so much, you're the best!”
“That's correct, I am the best.”
Operator unpauses the simulation.
“Guard, I just found a way to leave the simulation! There's a button I have to press in Security! We have to hurry. We don't have much time.”
Security wasn't empty. Not with the crew searching the ship for them. They'd need a distraction.
Guard was stumped for a moment, trying to think of a plan when Operator spoke.
“I think we can steal juice from the cafeteria to make a fake puddle of blood in the meeting room, call another meeting, and use the vents to get out before we're spotted. Then we can get to Security from there.”
That was… a rather sound plan.
Getting to the cafeteria was simple enough. And fortunately there was plenty of juice to use. Now it was just a matter of pulling off the plan, which would require not getting caught while escaping after pressing the meeting button. It was definitely risky, but it was the best way to make the crew find and get distracted by the fake blood spill. Time was of the essence.
They arrived safely, having managed to avoid any confrontation with the others. Now it was time to put things into action. Grabbing juice from their backpack, they spilled it all over the floor before putting the empty bottle back in their bag. They then slammed the button and hopped into the vents just in time to avoid being seen. The commotion from the room was loud, everyone was distracted by the “blood” and was trying to find out what happened.
Except Doctor, who was surprisingly quick to figure out that it was fake. Actually, they made sense. They weren't the brightest, but they did still have medical knowledge.
They needed to get to Security before the group figured out why Guard had done what they did.
Making it there, they were quick to start looking for buttons. There was one on Guard's desk labeled “escape”, and Guard slammed it.
It let out a pre-recorded message in Management’s voice.
“Nice try, Operator. Did you really think I'd forget to disable the emergency escape button? Really, you should just make this easier on yourself and just wait patiently.”
Guard didn't know what to say. That imposter was mocking the poor mate, how dare they!
Their body was stuck between bristling with rage and collapsing into a devastated, terrified mess.
“How am I supposed to stop an imposter from killing me and replacing me with a monster if I can't even get out of here? I'm… I'm about to die…”
The simulation paused again.
“Tip: If you suspect a coworker is an imposter, you can send reports through me!”
That was perfect! They'd never doubt Matey ever again. Even if Management was the one who made it.
“Matey, I need to send a report about Management! Please, they're going to kill me!”
“Report is being sent.”
“Yes!!!”
“Uh oh, it seems like the report feature has been removed. Contacting Management for bug fixing now.”
Despair once again pushed itself onto Operator, overwhelming them.
Management contacted them again, having seen the failed attempt at a report.
“Oh you poor thing, it will all be over soon.”
“Please don't do this… please.”
“You crewmates all genuinely think you deserve to live, it's so sad. You'll know better once I'm done.”
That was strangely loud, almost as if the volume settings had been messed with. Management seemed to notice it too, eyes widening.
Matey then took a turn to speak, saying “confession has been broadcasted across the building.”
Management could be seen looking around frantically before taking off at a run while glaring into their screen.
“How DARE you! I created you! You're supposed to do what I want!”
“Tip: My stated purpose is to assist crewmates.”
“Damn you!”, was the last thing Management said before cutting the call.
Operator unpaused the simulation to explain everything to Guard, who all but melted with relief.
Using the vent to find somewhere to hide in, they waited for about ten minutes together before the simulation paused again and disconnected.
Taking off the mask, Operator was greeted by a concerned employee they hadn't yet met. The employee explained how Management had been disposed of and that they were to take Operator to the medical wing to recover. Operator surprised the employee by clinging onto them in a hug and crying on them. The employee awkwardly patted Operator in a gesture of comfort and Operator pushed themself off, apologizing for overstepping.
The employee shrugged, understanding that Operator had just had a terrifying experience.
A few days later, they managed to request that some of the simulated crewmates get holoforms. They really missed Guard. It worked!
Operator had to wait until after everyone had had their situations explained to them by other MIRA employees, but they could hear from the other room Guard demanding to see Operator. They remembered!
Once Operator was allowed inside the room, they ran straight to Guard, trying to tackle them in a hug. They phased through due to Guard being a hologram and landed flat on their visor. They were lucky it somehow didn't crack.
Guard chuckled.
Operator and all the holographic crewmates turned to stare at them. They didn't think the deeply hard-boiled detective could laugh.
Embarrassed, Guard immediately went on the aggressive with, “say one word about this to anyone and I'll choke you all with your own backpack straps then throw your bodies into a river to be carried away by fishmates and torn into tiny pieces that will float on in misery for the rest of time.’
Operator was so glad to be alive right now.