iStory:The Civilian/chapter 502 alternatives

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

All cases (I)

Near Lyneboro, CT, a young boy in his pre-teens steps out of a farmhouse. He is beat up and vomit covers his shirt. He staggers forward and disappears into the tree line. Behind him, a man in a hooded sweatshirt exits the farmhouse and also heads for the tree line.

At Rachel's home, Rachel, now living with her mother, steps out of her room. She pulls off her shirt as she heads for the bathroom, but notices someone in the neighbor's window, peeping at her, who quickly ducks out of sight. Annoyed, Rachel puts her shirt back on. She yells towards the neighbor's house, but no one replies. She then heads to the neighbor's front door, and knocks on the door. When the door finally opens, Rachel begins to yell at her Peeping Tom, but instead sees Leona.

Rachel heads inside, and notices that the house is cramped with electronic equipment: game consoles, video players, stereos. Leona introduces her to Tim, the neighbor. Tim appears, wearing a T-shirt with a cartoon character on it and holding a half-dismantled laptop. Leona says that Tim and her have been having coffee each morning. Rachel shrugs and says that she is going to be late for work, then leaves, much to Tim's disappointment.

Options (I)

Later, Rachel returns to her home, and sees that everything is either faded, wilted, or broken down, thanks to Leona's ability. The player can now choose what Rachel does.

Option 1A (Go to Rachel's room)

Rachel notes that the room is made with military precision. She has a laptop and a phone on the desk, as well as an empty closet. Her window looks towards the neighbor's house. The player can have Rachel go over to her desk, or return to the living room.

Option 1A.1 (Desk)
Rachel checks her email and answering machine. There is voicemail from Chief Parker: "Rachel, I need you down at the station ASAP. Got a kid missing." Rachel then returns to the living room. (jump back to Option 1)

Option 1A.2 (Back)
Rachel returns to the living room. (jump back to Option 1)

Option 1B (Go to Leona's room)
Rachel enters Leona's room, and sees file cabinets, a military-spec map on the wall, and shelves of "souvenirs" that remind Rachel of Building 26 and the circus. She wonders what are in the file cabinets, or on the old computer that's glowing on the desk. However, she reminds herself that she's no longer an agent, and refrains from looking through Leona's stuff. Rachel then returns to the living room. (jump back to Option 1)

Option 1C (Go to Tim's house)

Rachel knocks on Tim's door. Tim opens the door shyly, and greets Rachel. The player can decide what Rachel does.

Option 1C.1 (Ask about Leona)
Rachel asks Tim if he's seen Leona. Tim replies that he thinks she's at the diner. Rachel thanks Tim, and Tim hopefully asks if there's anything else Rachel wants. Rachel simply says "take care", and returns to her house. (jump back to Option 1)

Option 1C.2 (Leave)
Rachel returns to her house. (jump back to Option 1)

Option 1D (Drive into Town)

Rachel drives into town and arrives at Main Street.

The player gets to choose where Rachel will go from Main Street. They can decide whether Rachel heads for the park, the police station, Rachel's home, Mable's Diner, or Smokey's Bar.

Option 1D.1 (Park)

Rachel heads to the park, where she notices a scruffy-looking guy. She thinks to herself that he might be a drifter. Rachel then sees a playground to the west and a picnic area to the east. The player can choose where Rachel goes.

Option 1D.1A: Rachel heads towards the drifter...

...and when she gets close to him, he looks at her, alert. He has a long a scraggly beard, but sharp blue eyes. Rachel thinks that the locals probably find him freaky. The player can have Rachel leave the guy alone, or call him by name.

Option 1D.1A.1: Leave him alone...
Rachel leaves the drifter alone and returns to the park's entrance. (jump back to Option 1D.1)

Option 1D.1A.1: Call him by name...
Rachel doesn't know the guy's name, and the two of them stare at each other for a second without speaking. Then, Rachel leaves and heads back to the park's entrance. (jump back to Option 1D.1)

Option 1D.2B: Rachel heads west, to the playground...