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<h1>[[QUEERBOMB|the mission//diffuse]]</h1>
diffuse or refuse
<span id="time">$seconds</span>Good luck.
<b><i>[[Enter the capitol|confabulator]]</i></b>
Cut a wire. Hurry, $name!
<<timed .5s transition>>The [[lime green|green]] wire.<</timed>>
<<timed 1s transition>>The [[black|black]] wire.<</timed>>
<<timed 1.5s transition>>The [[glitter|glitter]] wire (because glitter counts as a color).<</timed>>
The bomb's tacky retrochic wondertastic confabulator screen talks to you again. <i>"What is this, a horror movie? You would cut the black wire first. You may not have survived the sunken place, but at least you didn't make the bomb go off."</i>
But now...
[[switch the switch|switch//end]] or [[pull the lever|lever]]? The world depends on you!Pliers in hand, you lean forward and stare at the sparkly wire. You close your eyes and [[clamp down|end//glitter]].Switches get stitches. In a furious fagfemme boom, the bomb explodes. Kinky.
<h1>YOU LOSE</h1>
(or do you?)
Return to [[start|start]] or learn more [[about this game|about]].
The bomb ExPlOdEs!!!!!!!!
You are covered in enough tiny pieces of biodegradable glitter to make a pink unicorn at a pride parade puke (more glitter, of course).
<h1>YOU LOSE</h1>
(or do you?)
Return to [[start|start]] or learn more [[about this game|about]]. Hi! Thank you so much for playing! This is my first twine game and first time coding, so I really appreciate it. I wanted to share a little bit about the concept.
The United States military really did try to create a <a href="https://gizmodo.com/the-u-s-military-once-proposed-a-gay-bomb-1443813176">gay bomb</a> as a weapon of, ehem, questionable science, to say the least. Though it was never fully funded, anti-queerness and hypermasculinity remains central to U.S. foreign and military policy. Times of hypernationalism go hand in hand with racism and xenophobia, censorship of radical thought, and queerphobia. The "make love, not war" approach of the U.S. queerbomb is not a victimless crime. It is no coincidence that anti-queer violence escalated during the 1950s with gender-role-heavy Cold-War era patriotism. Nor is it a coincidence extreme <a href="https://qz.com/1097841/donald-trumps-passion-for-cruelty-is-symbolic-of-a-greater-american-illness/">violence</a> perpetuated by Trump been drenched in a whole nother level of hypermasculine foolishnes.
While the U.S. government may have quite literally tried to weaponize queer love as something you'd only wish upon your enemy, "GendrR!0t" envisions queer love as a future unbound by the literal and social borders of the state. Likewise, why opt for a typical, linear, climax-based narrative structure when you can make a twine?
This game was designed by a queer, bisexual, Black American, mixed race, mixed class, disabled woman of color. I love cats, puns, baseball, hip-hop, and zines. Hit me up @malanasqueendom for comments or suggestions!
[[start|start]] With a deep breath, you cut the wire. After all, green is a sensible choice. Green means the natural, minty freshness of things like corporate sponsorship and extraction of #pride.
The bomb's retrochic confabulator asks you to insert $20 to continue. You:
Ask [["where my $20 at?"|where's my $20]]
Say [["You the bomb!"|you the bomb]] and pay the $20.
Be all like "Capitalism is a socioeconomic construct so....can I [[venmo|venmo]] you?"
<h1>YOUR MISSION, SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT:</h1>
<<timed 1s transition>>As you know, our scientists have researched around the clock in hopes of finding a weapon to end the war. We believed we had finally found it with Project XX: the development of a feminizing bomb that releases synthetic estrogens and pheromones. This plan hits the rebel factions at the root. Instead of fighting, they will submit; instead of reproducing, they will die out.<</timed>>
<<timed 1.5s transition>>Unfortunately, this technology was stolen from inside our borders. We currently suspect a member of the radical anti-war terrorist group "G3ndrR!ot," whose members' past actions include draft dodging, resisting arrest, and disturbing the peace. They have now escalated to treason by stealing this technology and attempting to use it against us. <</timed>>
<<timed 2.5s transition>>We have just discovered that the bomb has been armed and placed within the statehouse. We believe you are the best equipped to disengage with minimum queerilization to the surrounding population. Do you accept? <</timed>>
<<timed 3.5s transition>><i>I hereby agree to continue, with full knowledge that this bomb has the ability to bend my gender and/or sexual orientation. Even if successful at disarming, due to close exposure I may develop an incurable love for Rent, felines, or Janelle Monae.</i><</timed>>
<<textbox "$name" "">>
SIGNATURE
[[I AGREE|start//diffuse]]
<div class="container">
<h1 class="heading" data-target-resolver></h1>
</div>
<i>This wasn't in my contract!</i> You think to yourself.
Besides, where is this money going? What is this bomb doing, asking for handouts? We do not negotiate with terrorists, especially ones like GendrR!0t.
[[Go back.|green]]<i>"Thank you for your donation,"</i> the confabulator says to you. You know this is against protocol, but it seems like the best way to [[advance|advance]].
<h1>Like a bomb would have an app for that.</h1>
[[Time is ticking!|green]]
YOU LOSE
(or do you?)
Return to [[start|start]], learn more [[about this game|about]], or magically reset time with the other super secret technology the government was developing and [[try the other lever|the other lever]].
<h1>[[Pull that lever|wires2]], $name!</h1>You <i>read</i> this all wrong, honey.
The bomb exploded, so <h1>YOU LOSE</h1>
(or do you?)
[[about|about]] the game or return to [[start|start]] <h1>You may have made it this far, but you still have more wires to cut. hurry, $name! </h1>
<<timed .5s transition>>Cut the [[red|end//red]] wire.<</timed>>
<<timed .5s transition>>Cut the [[white|white]] wire.<</timed>>
<<timed .5s transition>>Cut the [[blue|end//blue]] wire.<</timed>>
You bomb explodes. You start loving the people around you. You magically are no longer a perpetuator of state violence and can have more freedom of self-expression and let other people live they best life too.
The bomb exploded, so <h1>YOU LOSE</h1>
(or do you?)
[[about|about]] the game or return to [[start|start]] The bomb's tacky retrochic wondertastic confabulator screen counts down in the center. It seems a little off, but a part of you can't help but like it. <i>"Pull yourself together,"</i> you mutter to yourself. This is a bomb after all. The tacky retrochic wondertastic confabulator shakes furiously, and you worry that you may be too late.
<<timed 1s transition>><i>"HELLO $name"</i> You rub your eyes, but $name is still on the screen. <<timed 2s transition>> <h2>How did it know who you are?</h2><</timed>> <</timed>>
<<timed 3s transition>><i>"Isn't it nice to be called by your name?"</i> It's taunting you now. That's just annoying.<</timed>>
<<timed 3.5s transition>>The briefing was right. <i>This must be G3ndrR!ot.</i> They're always graffiting things like say their name or respect pronouns. You freak out and [[smash|smash]] the screen with a right hook and a jab or [[get down to business|wires]] disarming the bomb.<</timed>>
With a swing that may not have floated like a butterfly but certainly stung your hand, you smash the retrochic confabulator with all your might. After a brief second, the confabulator shakes and rattles violently, then swirls, spins, and flies toward your head.
It [[knocks you out|wakeup]] colder than Deebo in Friday.
Someone's talking but you don't know who they are or if you can understand them. Your head is throbbing, and you feel like you must be forgetting something, or that it was already forgotten.
<h2>"I'm 0n1y her3 2 h#1p. r3mem($% me?"</h2>
Everything is jumbled, so how do you respond?
<b>[[Hoq l0nB h@v3 ! b33n kn0ct3D 0u+???|howlong]]</b>
<b>[[@sk about G#ndrr!!TT|askaboutG3ndrR!ot]]</b>
<b>[[St@nd & l#@ve|standandleave]]</b>
<b>[[@sk @bou+ b0nb|askaboutbomb]]</b>
<h2>"Hoq l0nB h@v3 I b33n kn0ck3D 0u+???"</h2> you ask. Well, you try to anyway.
<h2>"Ju$+ @ m1nu+3 or s0,"</h2> the person responds. <h2>"I h@d to m@ke sur u w3r't owt 2 L0ng. Th3 b0mb culd h@ve $+opp3d"</h2>
Wait did they say what you think they just said? That definitely makes you curious. You should [[say something else|wakeup]] to them and try to figure out what's going on.
<h2><i>"U r w/ G#ndrr!!TT, arn/t u???"</i></h2> You manage to sputter out. It's less of an accusation and more of a curiousity. You must have really hit your head.
<i>"TH@t d3penD$ on one thing,"</i> the person cautions.
<h2>"Do you know the password?"</h2></i>
Guess.
You wrack your brain. Password? What password? You must know something...
The password is <b>[[Abyssian|abyssian]]</b>
The password is <b>[[Android|android]]</b>
The password is <b>[[Angel|angel]]</b>
<i>"I tH!nk th3r3'$ a b0mb. W3 h@>3 2 Le@ve!!!!!"</i> you yell with exasperation.
<i>"W3're ok@y, d0n't woRry,"</i> the mysterious person says in a calming voice, as if speaking to a child. <i>"W3 h@d to break through your conditi0n!ng someh0w onc3 th3y go+ 2 u, and u've @lways b33n ez to fr3ak out. The most imP0rt@nt th!nG is th@t you rememb3r the password."</i>
<h1>You wrack your brain. Password? What password? You must know something...</h1>
The password is <b>[[Monarch|monarch]]</b>
The password is <b>[[Magenta|magenta]]</b>
The password is <b>[[Make me|makeme]]</b>
<h1>You get up and try to stand, but immediately fall back down. [[Speaking|wakeup]] seems easier than standing. </h1>You hesitate for a moment, your head becoming a little clearer.
<i>"Android,"</i> you say, overly sure of yourself.
<i>"I'm Mz. Fire. We've never met before, but I'm your G3ndrR!0t contact."</i>.
Mz. Fire stares grabs your shoulders firmly and stares deep into your eyes. <h1>"It's all a scam. The bomb doesn't work. But imagine what will happen when they start queering their world, realizing later the bomb had nothing to do with it?"</h1>
The past comes flooding back to you, and you realize you only have a few minutes left. This bomb still has chemicals, and it makes you think about the toxic landful polluting your hometown. What do you do?
[[Let the queerbomb explode]] or [[still diffuse]] it. Oh no. The password is the one thing we make sure you remember to ensure you're still on our side. Guess we're going to have to just expose you to the queerbomb with the rest of them.
<h1>YOU LOSE.</h1>
(or do you?)
Return to [[start|start]] or learn more [[about this game|about]]. Cat got your tongue? Guess we're going to have to just expose you to the queerbomb with the rest of them.
<h1>YOU LOSE.</h1>
(or do you?)
[[about|about]] the game or return to [[start|start]] <<timed 1s transition>>6....<</timed>>
<<timed 2s transition>>5....<</timed>>
<<timed 3s transition>>4....<</timed>>
<<timed 4s transition>>3....<</timed>>
<<timed 5s transition>>2....<</timed>>
<<timed 6s transition>>[[1....|about]]<</timed>>The confabulator screen flashes and says
<h2>"O say does that star-strangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the cash and the home of the slave?"</h2>
The ticking stops. It seems as if, in silent, non-violent protest, the bomb has waved a white flag. Taken a knee. But hey, you dismantled the bomb! You get a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, but push it down for the sake of victory.
<h1>YOU WIN</h1>
(or do you?)
[[about|about]] the game or return to [[start|start]] Quick! [[Press a button.|button]]
The machinery ticking within the bomb. grinds to a hault. You saved hundreds of people from being exposed to potentially harmful chemicals!
Three weeks later, the EPA announces a plan to increase the dumping of toxic waste in poor urban communities across the country and stop funding brownfield cleanups. Oh, and a bill to have queer people register and carry (gender assigned at birth) ID is introduced in the house, and a similar bill is expected to be introduced in the Senate.
<h1>YOU WIN</h1>
(or do you?)
Return to [[start|start]] or learn more [[about this game|about]]. "Wrong password." The person says.
You should have thought that this group wouldn't be big on power structures, monarchy included.
"Guess we're going to have to just expose you to the queerbomb with the rest of them."
<h1>YOU LOSE.</h1>
(or do you?)
[[about|about]] the game or return to [[start|start]] It's about to pop off now. Your bubble has just bursted.
<h1>YOU LOSE.</h1>
(or do you?)
[[about|about]] the game or return to [[start|start]] You hesitate for a moment, your head becoming a little clearer.
<i>"Make me!,"</i> you say, overly sure of yourself. The person smirks and nods.
<i>"I'm Mz. Fire. We've never met before, but I'm your G3ndrR!0t contact."</i>.
Mz. Fire stares grabs your shoulders firmly and stares deep into your eyes. <h1>"It's all a scam. The bomb doesn't work. But imagine what will happen when they start queering their world, realizing later the bomb had nothing to do with it?"</h1>
The past comes flooding back to you, and you realize you only have a few minutes left. Will there be stigma for queers and queens not affected by the bomb? Will this set the movement back?
[[Let the queerbomb explode|letthebombexplode2]] or [[still diffuse|diffuse2]] it. <<timed 1s transition>>6....<</timed>>
<<timed 2s transition>>5....<</timed>>
<<timed 3s transition>>4....<</timed>>
<<timed 4s transition>>3....<</timed>>
<<timed 5s transition>>2....<</timed>>
<<timed 6s transition>>[[1....|aftermath]]<</timed>>You cover your eyes and [[press the button|pressthebutton]], unsure of what will happen next. The bomb exploding softens the majority of statespeople's positions on LGBTQ+ rights because they finally have an excuse to not be terrible people. You get the respect of a war hero and leverage your position, run for office, and work from the top down for marginalized people's rights. Many people on the ground criticize you for pushing rights instead of justice, and wonder if your politics have gotten watered down since you got into, well, politics.
<h1>YOU WIN</h1>
(or do you?)
[[about|about]] the game or return to [[start|start]] Oh no! That was the wrong button! The bomb poofs in an explosion of glitter.
<h1>YOU LOSE</h1>
(or do you?)
[[about|about]] the game or return to [[start|start]] That is until the tacky retrochic wondertastic confabulator screen shorts out. <i>I never expected you would show us any kindness,</i> it says. Imagine that.
<h1>YOU WIN</h1>
(or do you?)
[[about|about]] the game or return to [[start|start]]