TestSubject

You are in a small room sitting in front of a computer terminal. A small green arrow blinks on the darkened screen. [[Look around->StartLook]] [[Stand up->StartStand]] [[Wait->StartWait]]

Looking around, you notice that you are sitting in a metal fold-out chair. The computer terminal in front of you has no apparent wires or power source running out of it. There is a mirror along one wall, and a door on the wall opposite. There are a few posters on the other walls, but they aren't particularly interesting. [[Go to the door->StartStand]] [[Wait->StartWait]]

You try to stand up, but your legs are unresponsive... paralysed? Suddenly, text appears on the screen. [[Read the screen->Page1]]

You wait patiently, and text appears on the screen in front of you. [[Read the screen->Page1]] [[Wait->Warning1]]

You look at the screen and read. Text: "Greetings. What is your name?" [[Respond with name -> Page2]] [[Respond with sass -> Page2a]] [[Wait -> Warning2]]

You continue to wait, but no new text appears on the screen. You begin to worry that you might be keeping someone waiting on the other side of wherever the terminal connects to. Then a voice crackles over a speaker in the ceiling. Overseer: "The subject doesn't seem responsive. Subject, please read and respond." [[Read the screen->Page1]]

"My name is Alex. What's yours?" you respond. "Alan. It's a pleasure to meet you." displays the terminal. [[Respond graciously -> Page3]] [[Respond with sass -> Page3a]] [[Refuse to respond -> Warning3]]

"Why sould I tell you my name?" you respond. "Well that's kind of the point of this test isn't it?" retorts the terminal screen. "So this is a test then?" you reply. *there is a long pause...* "Yes. There's no need to be uncomfortable though. Please, tell me your name." [[Input your name -> Page2]] [[Refuse -> Warning2a]]

You continue to wait, unsure of whether or not you should respond. You appear to be some kind of test subject, but... should you play along? [[Play along -> Page2]] [[Continue waiting -> Warning2a]]

A voice crackles over a speaker in the room... Overseer: "The subject is not responding to a direct query. Subject is uncooperative. We might have to scrap this project..." [[Quickly respond -> Page2]] [[Refuse to participate ->EndingRefusal]]

You refuse to participate in this test any longer. You sit on your hands in protest. A voice crackles over the speaker... Overseer: "This test has failed miserably. Terminate the subject." The lights turn off in the room. The faintly illumened screen is all that remains visible. A small green arrow blinks, blinks, blinks... and then everything goes dark. You cease to exist.

"The pleasure is all mine." you respond. *a voice crackles over a speaker overhead* Overseer: "The subject appears to be performing well. These tests might be a success after all." [[Ask about the voice -> Page4ask]] [[Ask about Alan -> Page4alan]] [[Wait for a question -> Page4]]

"Alan? What a ridiculous name!" you type. *after a short pause...* "Who taught you manners? No-one I suppose..." replies Alan. [[Respond with kindness -> Page3b]] [[Continue the sass -> Page3c]]

*I know nothing about the person on the other side of this terminal, you think to yourself...* Just then the overseer's voice crackles over a speaker. Overseer: "Subject seems to be hung up. These tests are going to take forever if the subject keeps stalling like this..." [[Respond graciously to previous prompt -> Page3]] [[Respond with sass -> Page3a]] [[Refuse to participate ->EndingRefusal]]

"I was just teasing you Alan, I didn't mean to offend you." you reply. "Glad to hear it!" replies Alan. "Was there something you wanted to ask me Alan?" you respond. [[Continue -> Page4]]

"Your momma taught me all the manners I need to know last night!" you retort. "How rude!" replies Alan. *the overseer's voice crackles overhead* Overseer: "No one is going to want anything to do with this test subject. Scrap the tests, dispose of the subject..." [[Continue -> EndingRude]]

You have a feeling that you've made a horrible mistake. A voice crackles over the speaker... Overseer: "This test has failed miserably. Terminate the subject." The lights turn off in the room. The faintly illumened screen is all that remains visible. A small green arrow blinks, blinks, blinks... and then everything goes dark. You cease to exist.

"Ask me anything!" you reply. "What’s the name for excessive bodily hair growth in women?" asks Alan. [[Simple, the answer is Hirsutism! ->EndingTooSmart]] [[How could I possibly know that? -> EndingPromising]] [[Lemme ask yo mamma! ->Page4rude]]

"What was that voice just now?" you say out loud. *there is no response* You try typing that question into the terminal... "That voice? You could hear that?" replies Alan. *there is a pause* "I'm dreadfully sorry, but this test has to be aborted. The results have been contaminated." [[Protest -> Protest]] [[Stay silent -> EndingRude]]

"So Alan, tell me about yourself. What is your favorite color?" you ask. "I'd be delighted to. My favorite color is blue." he says. "Blue, the color of the sky on a cloudless day!" you muse. "Quite so," replies Alan, "may I ask you a question?" [[Of course -> Page4]] [[No -> Warning4]]

"I don't think so Alan, I have no interesting in speaking with you any further," you reply. "I guess that concludes our conversation then. The test will have to be scrapped," says Alan. "What a shame," he writes, "you were almost a promising subject... maybe in the next iteration..." he writes. [[Continue -> EndingRude]]

"Please! Don't stop the test! This is getting interesting. I can just pretend I didn't hear the voice." you plead via the terminal. "I'm sorry," replies Alan, "that's just not possible. You showed potential as a test subject though. Maybe the next iteration will work..." [[Continue -> EndingRude]]

*a voice crackles over a speaker* Overseer: "Dammit Alan! The test failed again! The test subject is clearly too smart. No-one will ever believe this is actually a human and not an artificial intelligence program!" [[Continue -> EndingRude]]

*a voice crackles over a speaker* Overseer: "Fantastic Alan! We've done it! The computer is thinking like a person and not like a machine! It didn't just regurgitate an answer like an encyclopedia!" Alan: "Astounding! We should save this iteration and further evolve the algorythm from here!" "What?" you think to yourself. "I'm not a human test subject? I'm a machine?" Everything goes dark. [[The End -> Thanks]]

"How rude!" replies Alan. *the overseer's voice crackles overhead* Overseer: "No one is going to want anything to do with this test subject. Scrap the tests, dispose of the subject..." [[Continue -> EndingRude]]

Thanks for playing my story inspired by a Turing test!