Part 16

Welcome to the last update of the game.



So, to recap from last time, Eva removed River from Johnny’s memories because she’s a horrible monster medical professional who has unfortunate contractual rules to follow. Johnny had a normal life with his brother Joey, the writer, and eventually received the call to join NASA to become an astronaut.




BGM: Having Lived




: "You sound surprised. Whatever happened to 'we always succeed, because we are awesome'?"

: ". . . This isn't a success."

: "Oh lighten up, we're in NASA!"

: "We don't have much time left, let's at least check this place out."







: ". . . That's what I thought you'd say, Neil."

: "How pathetic, all this trouble just for some girl."

: "There you go. Good to have you back."

: ". . . Yeah, yeah."

Johnny set a book down on the table. Let’s take a peek.



: "I can't believe this crap actually sold."

: "This isn't the real world, Neil."



That was our first memory link. Yes, we need memory links in this chapter – for the last time.



This is the reason for the links – our ultimate destination is locked.



Time to do some exploring to get that taken care of.



: "Is it me or is this elevator smaller on the inside?"

I think this is a Doctor Who reference, but I may just be reaching.





Johnny’s not over here.





: ". . . I half expected to see Zordon on that screen."

: "It's not here. . . "



There’s our second link.





: "Let's not, Neil. Let's not."





: "If you're lucky, you'll learn to hate it one day."

: "Ah, yes. The spinny thingy."

: "It's not here either. . . ”

: ". . . What are you talking about?"



One more link to go before we can enter that locked door. There’s only one more floor to explore, so I guess our route is linear enough.







: "Ugh, this isn't good. Perhaps there's somewhere we missed."

: "Er, you need to work on your communication skills."

: "Let's just head back downstairs."

Well, not yet – we still haven’t found that link!



: "Woah. . . ”

: ". . . Yeah."

: "You know what's the best part of it?"

: "What?"

: "The very top and bottom of the shuttle."

: ". . . I'd have to agree."

: "Oh, how I pity anyone who can't see those particular parts."

: "Indeed. Especially its nose at the top. When maintenance finishes, it probably won't look the same."

: "Yeah, now's the only time."



Cute, guys.

Anyways, that’s the last link – let’s get back down to that door.






BGM: Birds chirping SFX are added to the still-playing Having Lived.




: "Probably not. It's constructed in part with Johnny's beliefs after all."

: "Ah, yes, a wiki of existing facts tainted by personal fairytales. It's odd, though, to hear birds and see none."



: ". . . Sorry, Neil. I really thought there was a good chance."

: ". . . What?"





: "Here's David; he's a mission specialist."

: "Nice to meet you."

: ". . . At least he got into NASA, I guess. You think he made it to the end?"

: "Even if he did, it'd take more than just a few years to become an astronaut."

: "Let's hurry and find the last link, then. . . I'd hate to miss the finale."



: "Are we out of time?"

: "I. . . I don't know."













(NEW) BGM (NEW): Everything’s Alright (Reprise)



: "River, right? Good to have you on board."







: "I almost thought she wasn’--”

: "What the %#*$, Eva?! But you. . . deleted her!"

: "No. I told you, I just moved her. What she does with her life here is still up to. . . 'her'. But this new world. . . it's based on public data and Johnny's own beliefs. And since River's data as an individual is not recorded in the public domain. . . "



: "But even then, that merely increases the odds. . . how were you sure that it'd work?"

: "I wasn't."

: "It could've gone very badly, y'know."

: "You were never one to take risks, Neil. . . Let's just say I won this round."

: "We still have the two spare helmets, right?"






BGM: Everything’s Alright (Reprise) fades out.





BGM: For River – Piano (Johnny’s Version)










: "Rather repetitive if you ask me, though."

: “What's it called. . . ?"

: "'To the Moon'."







This is a sort of training montage for Johnny and River. It doesn’t last long.



Johnny’s medical doctor and Lily are now tied into the machine.






BGM: For River – Piano (Johnny’s Version) stops as Johnny stops playing.


: "You two should go get some rest. Tomorrow's the big day!"






(NEW) BGM (NEW): Tomorrow




This is a very typical Florida backdrop around the coast – I’d say they were taking off from Cape Canaveral, but I could be wrong.



: "One day, son. . . you just might."

: ". . . Meh."



: “Hah, did you?"

: "No. The way she is, I didn't think she would succeed. But I. . . I guess I was wrong."

: ". . . All the better then, isn't it?"

: "Yes. . . I'm happy for them."



: "Wow!!"

: "Yep. I once wrote a book about this, too. . . with a less optimistic ending, heh. I might have to change that after all."



: ". . . Thank you for letting us in here."

: "Yeah, yeah. Eva's the one who requested it."

: "Did you find out why he wanted to go to the moon?"

: "Sure."

: "And. . . ? What all happened here?"


Neil pauses.


: "Let's just say it was a bunch of sappy cheese that sorted itself out."



: "I think he consciously held on to wait for you two."

: "He's rather patient, then."

: "I just hope it's worth the wait. This is the first time I've ever been. . . "

: "It probably won't be your last."

: ". . . It'll probably take a while to get used to, then."





: "I thought this might be a good view."

: "Good enough to cut off the traffic, eh."

: "Sure, even if they were real."



: "All we've worked for. . . ready to initiate it?"





: "Uh, why?"

: "Why not. . . ?"

: "You're just gonna push me off the ledge again, aren't you?"

: "Probably."















These red shakes are accompanied with loud booms.

It’s once again time for one last HIGHLY RECOMMENDED video clip.

This one goes all the way through to the end of the game and includes the credits and epilogue.

CLICK HERE!













(NEW) BGM (NEW): Launch




Houston…



We are GO for launch.



We have lift-off!













Nice try, Neil.





Anya watches their flight to the stars…



And the rest of their new, modified life together is gradually filtered into Johnny’s memories.



Not only will he have River with him, but Joey will be there as well.



_{Beep…Beep…}



Their house on the hill will be completed…

_{Beep…Beep…}



…and they’ll be allowed to grow old together.

_{Beep…Beep…}


BGM: Launch finishes and lapses into silence, save for the intermittent beeping.




As for the ‘present’, though…

<sub>Beep…Beep…



Beep…Beep…</sub>



…Johnny’s time has run out.

Beep…Beep…





Beep…Beep…



Before the end, though, his new memory of River gives him the sign of her affection he was craving for so long in reality…



BEEP…BEEP…

…just in time…



BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-…






























































An unknown amount of time later…




BGM: Ocean waves SFX.






: "Thanks. . . Off you go, now."



: "Heh, who else was there to give it to? Us? Terrible place for burials, though. . . if there's a landslide, they'd be swimming with the fishes."

: ". . . Still a little too soon."

: "Naw, it's never soon enough."


(NEW) BGM (NEW): Eva’s Ringtone




Eva answers it, and the ringtone stops.

: "Hello, Eva here. . . we're on our way."

She hangs up.

: "New patient?"

: "New patient."

: "Let's roll."










(NEW) BGM (NEW): For River – Piano (Ending Version)













Editor’s Note: The credits were directly after Johnny’s death. It doesn’t really fit the screenshot format to put them there (or pretty much anywhere, honestly) so I’ll mention here that For River (Ending Version) is supposed to play then, as opposed to now. The credits are intact in the supplementary video. As long as I have a nice backing track, though, let me just say my parting words.

This game is one of the most fantastic stories I’ve ever experienced and I highly recommend that you pick up a copy for yourself if you hadn’t done so already. Beyond the incredible story, it’s given me an appreciation for music in games that I’ve never really had before. You can get both the game and the OST on Steam. Freebird Games is coming out with a sort-of pseudo-sequel to this game called A Bird Story. It won’t feature Neil or Eva, but the boy will eventually be their patient in episode 2 of this series. Supposedly it’s coming out in late 2013, but we’re rapidly approaching that deadline…so we’ll see, I guess.

This has been a great project that has hopefully drawn a few eyes towards FB Games – any support you can offer this wonderful indie game developer would no doubt be appreciated.

Thanks for watching, everyone.