In a dark place, a made-man struggles against his bonds. Before him, several tools glimmer and sway gently along the wall, the strange bald druggist who knocked him out playing with them. The room is barely illuminated from the streetlights, passing cars, and electric billboards of Level 4. True darkness and silence is not common here.“...It's always women, prostitutes. Transient kids. People who won't be missed. That's no fun. I think doing it to men is much more fun; but not because you're a boy. More because it's not somebody you'd expect. It could be anybody.””You want money? I got money. Pacelli connections.”“You will be next great creation. Worth far more then any amount of dirty criminal money.”“Who da fuck... wait, you're from Level 2?”The man doesn't say anything, instead the stranger brandishes a razor, testing its sharpness against a finger, turning to the mobster. He looks over his captive, eyes looking for the juciest piece to cut first. The mafioso tries to pull out from the rope, the chair squeaking. He sweats. Bribes will certainly not work.“You'd be smart to let me go, psycho. I'm a dangerous man, and I know dangerous people!”He grins at the mafioso with a golden tooth. “Exactly. That's the fun part.”
“Hey Max, thanks so much for watching my kid brothers! My parents are busy and I really need to get to this job interview. It'll only be for about three hours.””No problem!” You say, smiling.“I don't have much to pay you...””Oh, you don't need to pay me anything. I don't need any money.”“You sure? Thanks, I'll bring you a pack of those protein poofs you like for dinner.””Sounds great!”Your name is Max Montagu and you live on Level 5. Within the sparse and uncomfortable walls of yet another government supplied & rent controlled microapartment; you offered to help watch a friend's brothers for a bit. He's one of the few people you know who has a chance to move up in the city; up to Level 4. Just like Cheryl. You didn't ask for a reward, after all, your UBI is enough to cover all basic expenses.”Marbles? Huh, I never had many of those when I was your age. I remember bigger kids would always just steal stuff like that; better to not get attached.”“Nobody has stolen them from us; and we've played with them in the street before!” Carlos's brother says.”Hmm... guess times have changed.”
...In no small part thanks to yourself.Your name may be Max, but that's your secret, ordinary identity. You're also known by another name; the ruthless and powerful vigilante known as The Mask! With your own hands, tonfas, and various other gadgets you have managed to put a serious dent in the “punk culture” of Level 5. Women walk the streets alone without fear, and UBI collection day is no longer a time of stress and secrecy as people try to avoid the big bodied “tax collectors” looking to take a cut. You even managed to take down the strongest and biggest bully of your entire Level; the Viking; and thwart his plans of making himself the petty king of people who already have next to nothing.https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2025/6170571/The Mask has grown a reputation. Known for silence, seriousness, and a single-minded determination to defeat those who prey upon the innocent. And now? He's even known as a killer. At least just for one man; the Viking; who you burned. In a way, it sort of worked out. You've been recovering from that battle for the past few months; taking it easy and not going out on patrol, and this fearsome reputation has helped keep things quiet. It seems the myth has grown; word on the street the reason the Mask killed the Viking was because he saw your face. Given that he almost killed you, you aren't upset about having killed him back. You had your reasons.But given you lost the mask at the DeliDiner, not being back there by the owner or found anywhere; you can't exactly just step back into that role again. You suppose it helped contribute to the legend. Though you have been feeling a little restless recently; you used to punch criminals in the face, and now you're babysitting. How much do you want to return to being the Mask?>Not at all; it's only something you do by necessity>A little excited; it gives your life meaning>Thrilled; you want action, danger, and fame!>It's your True Self
>>6332504>It's your True SelfIt's not a mask. It's our face.
>>6332504Oh cool, we're already back.>Thrilled; you want action, danger, and fame!None of that "Ooooh Bruce Wayne is the REEEEAL mask" bullshit
>>6332506Man, I hate that trope. Max isn't even some obsessed mentally ill tweaker like Batman. He's clearly got an actual life, even if he likes being the mask.
>>6332504>A little excited; it gives your life meaningKilling the Viking was a reality check. A lot to think about.
While these threads tend not to be as contentious as other quests I run; please know that future votes may have a no 1-Post ID rule; especially for big or controversial choices. This is your opportunity to secure a thread ID just in case.
>>6332560Might as well make a post, then, even if I am undecided on this vote.
>>6332504>Thrilled; you want action, danger, and fame!>>6332507Agreed
>>6332550Agreed. Making out with that caked-up librarian was nice, but almost being murdered by some huge asshole wasn't.>>6332509>>6332507I like the trope, but Max isn't Rorschach or Batman. Agreed.>>6332504>A little excited; it gives your life meaning
Truthfully, you want to put the Mask back on. You enjoyed it. You aren't obsessed with it, nor does it define your entire life... but it is special. And seeing the positive and real change you can make in the world when you leave befine the confines of your normal identity and limitations; humble and quiet Max, a Level 5 citizen for life and government charity case; actually a vigilante.You've built a bit of a reputation with the Mask, but it also represents a certain ethos. Your current heroic ethos is to protect the innocent over punishing the guilty, to avoid confrontation when possible, and to maintain a serious and ominous presence as The Mask. But your main impetus for it all? Just because it's the right thing to do.You shake yourself from your thoughts, looking down at the kids playing underfoot, shooting marbles around. You feel a little awkward just standing here, but like most people on Level 5, Carlos doesn't exactly have anywhere to sit. No furniture. Kids annoying you a bit, so you've been doing your best to tune them out, but it's only for a few hours...“You like this game?””It's alright. I feel like it could be better. Maybe we can give the marbles special powers!?”“Naw... that's too complicated. Just use the big marble as the shooter, that's easy to remember, so all the kids can play it.””Kids on level 3 and 2 probably could by gyroscopes or whatever in the marble and cheat anyway...”“I don't think they'd do that. That'd defeat the purpose of the game. It's supposed to be about skill.””Hehe, that would be kinda cool though. I wonder if Reggie would-”
...In the meantime, you've spent your time getting back into shape. After your climatic battle with the Viking, in which you almost died, you've had to take things slow and recover. The drugs from the city's admittedly very good, free healthcare helped a lot, but even then didn't totally fix everything; the rest would take time. You lost a few teeth and almost had your jaw fractured, though you were kindly given immediate replacements and have no trouble chewing anymore. The punch to your side was much worse; causing significant internal damage and organ bruising, fracturing your rib, and causing a constant pain whenever trying to run, bend, or lift weights. This put a serious damper on your training and rehabilitation. Thankfully, the Mask not being needed on Level 5 any more meant you could give it time to heal. But now? You're back to normal.You train in the garage, feeling good. You strike at your dummies and twirl your tonfas, the sweat and smell of good-health give you motivation to continue. As far as you can fathom, you are about as physically strong as you can get given your genetics, diet, and age allow. You've reached a plateau and you won't be able to get any more out of regular training. It's nothing to be ashamed of. And besides, given Level 5's criminal undercurrent of punk culture? You proved yourself the strongest on the whole level. I mean, you beat the Viking didn't you? Maybe you should feel a little proud.While you are almost fully recovered completely, and reached a natural stopping point, you feel as though trying to optimize your body just a few more percentage points, using up the last few excess bit of calories and protein you can squeeze out of your low-impact lifestyle, you might be able to shift the needle just ever so slightly. If you can improve yourself just a little bit more; what would you like to focus on?>Strike just a little bit harder and take down foes faster>Jump just a little bit higher and be more agile>Be just a little bit tougher and more resilient to pain
>>6333101>Jump just a little bit higher and be more agileIn a scenario where we aren't dealing with weapons, agility is probably the best choice, if only so we can maneuver ourselves and escape from the police better.
>>6333101>Be just a little bit tougher and more resilient to painWe took quite a beating, and that may not be the last time it happens.
>>6333117I suppose my logic is that I'd rather not get hit than to get a hit and take it, and that being a little rougher isn't gonna save us from things like actual weapons.
>>6333101>Be just a little bit tougher and more resilient to pain
You think back, considering your time as the Mask so far, and your greatest challenge... against the Viking and his gang. You are the strongest on Level 5 now, but not physically. You beat the Viking, but it was mostly luck and quick thinking; physically, you could never beat a man like that. Being a little physically tougher and having more endurance? That would help even out the scales. You decide to maximize your training with core excercises, pain, and endurance training. Toughen up, or die.But in the meantime... You've been studying with your mind too. Visiting the library constantly, learning as much as you can about the city's construction and architecture. Huge amounts of information is just missing, especially about things like exact coordinates or dimensions, but most of the utilities and water-line information you can get. It's only thanks to your librarian friend, Nancy, that you can efficently get access to the information that you need!“Look Max!” Nancy says, putting her hands to her side and swaying happily. “Noticshe anything different?””Oh... You have a Level 5 Visitor's badge? But we're on Level 5!”“Pfft... Itch's for visiting Level 4! The Flea Market sells rare books sometimes. I've been promoted enough I'm allowed to vischit once a month to pick up things for the Level 5 library! Isnch't that great!?”Truthfully, you're a little remiss about her getting a promotion, given how much she's helped you. You couldn't have made your Mask equipment without the library and her help. But you've already decided that you'd respect her decision no matter what. It'd be selfish to try and keep her here just to help you. If she manages to get promoted and actually move up to Level 4 like Cheryl well... good for her. Even if you feel a little left behind.”That's great, Nacny. By the way, I was looking for engineering books on hydrodynamics, especially since it seems hard to learn about the city waterworks with what's avaliable...”“Oh yeah... That's more restricted schection stuff. Even I can't access that. Maybe as the head librarian I could but... oh by the schway; what's all this for?””Huh?”“You told me that you were schtudying for a job. But last time it was explosions and high-pressure fluid dynamics, and the time before that it was anatomy and schowing clothes! What job could possibly combine all these things?!”Uh oh. Nancy is getting a little suspicious. Your rather eclectic knowledge needs for vigilante work has raised some kind of red flag. What should you say?>Yes, because I'm the Mask.>It's just an excuse to come see you (flirt)>Tell her to mind her own business>I just find it interesting!>Other (Write In)
>>6333634Part of me wants to flirt with her, but I really do like Cheryl. Telling her we're the Red Mask is a bad idea, though, we can't risk her safety.Any idea of some other excuse?
>>6333634>WRITE IN: I'm studying for multiple jobs. I like to keep my options open.Try to spin it as us not wanting to put all of our eggs into one basket, something like that.
>>6333634Lispy nerd girls are cute, and we already made out with her in our secret identity, while Cheryl has shown less interest. So...>It's just an excuse to come see you (flirt)but ALSO +1 to >>6333647 because if she buys the excuse, she'll still want to know why we're borrowing more random books, anyway.
>>6333647I'll +1 this. Not the flirting idea though. >>6333659Huh? Cheryl has been pretty damn chummy with us. If we actually tried we'd have been able to move forward with her last thread too.
>>6333634>It's just an excuse to come see you (flirt)Nancy's cute, she's single, she's known us a long while. And we've already kissed her.I LIKE Cheryl, but our relation with her has been friendly/professional. Besides, we have no idea what her social life is like up there on the higher level.
Hmm we are at an tie. Someone should break it. I mean I guess you could do both, but that's not usually how these votes work.
>>6333647SupportingI don't like flirting, we shouldn't get too promiscuous, especially not as out civilian persona.
>>6333647+1
“...I like to keep my options open! I'm studying for multiple fields, you know.”“Max... if you like it itsch fine, but you know that the only people who get promoted are really good at schtuff, right? You schould probably focus on one thing.””Well, then in that case,” You say casually, with a smile, putting your elbow up on the nearby bookshelf. ”Then I do it just so I can see you more!”Nancy looks a little taken aback. “Wha- me?” She lets out a little mouse-like eep! of surprise, and instantly blushes at the unintentional sound.”Yeah! My favorite librarian!” You say, to defuse the situation.“Oh!” She crosses her arms, angrily, not liking what she now percieves as a joke, at her expense. “Why'd you have to go and make me do that!?””Oh come on Nancy... I was just fooling. Will you help me find this book?”“You know the schelves by now... Nonfiction, Aisle 4. I tschink it's on the bottom schelf.””Thank you~”You don't mind flirting with Nancy. It's harmless, at least in your eyes. To compare yourself to her you think you're a catch, but come to think of it, she might only have eyes for your alter-ego. Why have boring old Max when she could have the Mask? It must be all the exercise boosting your testosterone or something; you'd never be this confident before. Or maybe it's just because you don't have the same kind of feelings for Nancy as you do for Cheryl...You manage to get the books you need from the library. Information on the deep infrastructure of the city is sketchy at best; but you did manage to get the kind of schematics you needed. You are trying to find a way to move between different levels of the city, and you might have just found it.The city of Panopolis has the structure of a layered cake. Each level of the city is basically an independent city on its own built on top of each other; each specalized to fit the needs of the population. Level 5, your level, is the largest and lower level of society; filled with the “dregs” like you who survive on government assistance and charity from the upper levels. Many are resentful, but in a way, it's very freeing and peaceful. However, allowing the poor and rich to rub shoulders wouldn't make sense; so the city is segregated. Each level's population is controlled, and not allowed to move between levels easily. Those from higher levels can to a lower level easily, but the opposite requires very special permission. The only way to move between levels are through government security checkpoints which will turn you away if you try to move to a level you aren't supposed to be on without a good reason. Many on Level 5 have never even been to Level 4, and have no idea what it's even like or what life is like there, leading to much resentment but also mystery.
To be fair, you have been on other Levels before, but only as a kid. You had to do some medical tests and stuff on Level 3, some randomized control group thing. Bad memories of white-walled clinics where they made you eat raw milk and drink warm milk and run on a treadmill and stuff like that. But you barely remember anything from what you saw up there; and especially not as an adult, you've never visited. You've always kinda wanted to see what it's like. Secretly, you wonder if it's as rich and fancy and nice as everyone on Level 5 says it says, but you have a feeling that isn't the case. Cheryl seems to think Level 4 is as bad as Level 5, just in different ways. Now you'll have to be the judge of that.But how to get between the levels? That's where your research has finally paid off. While the government checkpoints are basically fullproof; there are some large elements of infrastructure that span between levels. The most promising of these are the washes; massive water canals that let the waste water from higher levels flow down from each level, getting more polluted each time until they reach Level 5, where its reclaimed, sieved, and processed. You know from basic hydrophonics the water can't just fall straight down; it would make too much noise or cause a splashdown effect and throw up an unacceptable amount of irritants into the air; so the canals have to be at a gradual slope. You also know like most things in the city, it's built to last with as little human maintence required as possible, so there are unlikely to be any grates or floodgates within. The main problem? The washes are not on a set schedule, and fill with rushing water very quickly, which would be deadly to attempt on foot. But vehicles on every level of the city only operate on approved roads and pathways; drawing directly from the hidden LeyLine power system built into every city street. So that thwarts that attempt too.Except you have a motorcycle.With a reliable supply of biodiesel from the owner of the restruant you saved from the Viking, you can finally keep your, or Cheryl's Dad's you suppose, motorbike fully gassed up and ready to go. And you can take it anywhere you want! City roads be damned!You'll admit, it's a bit of a risky plan. But you've studied the blueprints and distances; and you think you can make it. With an average body of water passing thru the washes every 30 seconds, you'll have just enough time at full speed and acceleration to make it up the waste-water channel into the next level of the city. You've practiced gunning it on your bike out in the vacant parking lots at the edge of the city, and timing your progress, and improved your skill at driving the bike. You can make it.
Maybe you've become addicted to the adrenaline of fighting punks and putting your life on the line. This is pretty dumb, even for you. Still, you just can't take all these gifts and advantages you've been given by pure luck and let them go to waste. Who else on Level 5 could ever get to even see Level 4 without a decade of work or special connections? Much less visit it whenever they want?! The curiosity has been killing you. And besides, Cheryl mentioned something about crime families on Level 4. If things remain quiet on Level 5, well that's a good thing, but maybe the Mask could find a new purpose on a new Level...You gas up your bike and head to the wash. You wait until the early morning, where the least water rushes through, and time the waves. Every 30 seconds on the dot; with a few taking an extra second or two to come down, and sometimes even a minute between splashes. You just gotta time this right...Finally, you find your opportunity. You accelerate along the wash and ride down the ramped parapet into the wash proper, your tires slicking with the leftovers of the previous wash just passing by you to give you the maximum amount of time to make it through the concrete tunnel. You speed up as fast as you can go while maintaining control of the bike, feeling great relief at the long and straight sloped tunnel ahead of you; the lights of your bike illuminating the darkness as you drive even faster. The smell of metallic, stale water is all around you as you ride through the deadly damp tunnel, like the bowels of the city itself.Then, you hear a rumbling and the sound of water. What!? It's only been fifteen seconds, max!? You dread for a moment thinking you were off by your count, but then you realize the sound isn't the same as a normal emission; this is a small dump of water, like from a smaller, private resevoir on Level 4. What rotten luck. The oncoming water is nowhere near as much as a full release of the wash; not enough to wash you away with it and certain death, but it's still not good. Even an ankle deep stream of water has enough force to cause you to lose control, or could push you back enough to cause you to miss the timing for the real flood to come before you've managed to make it.You have to think fast. What are you going to do?>Go full speed and just power thru>Ride along the edge of the tunnel and ride above the water with centrifugal force>Look for a side tunnel or service area you can use to avoid the dangerous floodwaters
