Life is cruel.
You would have thought that you had learned that lesson long ago, but life always seems to know how to butter you up just so it can jerk you around again. With the way your life has been, you should have known better.
For as long as you can remember, things have been tough on you. Your mother took you and your two older sisters away from your abusive father when you were very young. Unfortunately, that left her struggling to support three children on a limited income in a poor neighborhood. Of course, your father never made it any easier on her. He'd send you expensive gifts every Christmas and birthday, from video game systems to brand new bicycles, even though your mother had trouble just keeping you well-fed and clothed during the rest of the year. As the youngest child, you didn't understand why your mother looked so sad vwhen you'd be so excited to see what your father had sent you this year. When your father learned that you liked computers, he bought you the very best that money could buy, and you spent all your time playing on it and learning from it. Eventually, you realized how he had been using you to torment your mother, but back then you were just happy to get nice gifts twice a year.
Daily life was a much more dismal story. Your mother insisted that you bus off to a nice school in another district, far from your poor neighborhood. This only made your shabby clothes stand out, and it was even harder to make close friends when you lived so far away. Your family couldn't afford many toys, so you spent most of your time reading books from the library. They told you amazing stories that took you away to fantastic places, but they made you even less popular among the other school kids. You didn't care though. Well, not a lot, anyway. You had your books, and you had your computer, and that was good enough for you.
The next years went by in a blur. After all, nothing really special happened. You focused on your schoolwork, got picked on by a faceless string of bullies, and eventually worked your way through the computer engineering program at San Francisco State. Busy with work and school, you never really had the time or inclination to make many friends. Besides, most people aren't very bright, and you don't have time to waste on idiots. Let them have their laughing crowds and their oh-so-interesting whispers. You've never needed them anyway.
Over the last few years, you've managed to do very well as one of the first members of a small think-tank company, Dragon Security, based in San Diego. Founded by an eccentric but wealthy sponsor, Anthony Chu, the company has grown to consult on many of the major security systems used in southern California. With your hefty salary, you've managed to buy yourself a nice house in a very exclusive neighborhood near San Diego, and you send your mother large checks each month. What's more, you even get to do your work from home!
It's precisely the large amounts of time that you spent at home that finally made it possible for you to meet people. Your wealthy neighborhood includes a number of housebound wives and telecommuting executives. A few months back, you received a delicately designed invitation to attend a Community Watch meeting. You figured that it couldn't hurt, being a security expert and all, so you decided to drop by.
It was a little disorienting at first, being surrounded by so many people. You were quite overwhelmed, especially when the well-to-do housewives started mobbing you with questions. Fortunately, the hostess, a friendly Japanese woman, rescued you moments before your sarcastic responses became simple enough for even the stupid old hags to understand. She introduced herself as Chie, and eventually the two of you somehow ended up in an avid discussion of James Bond movies. Despite the annoying crowd, you enjoyed chatting with her through the evening.
A few days later, you decided to pay her a visit, and she seemed ecstatic to see you. It was actually rather nice to find someone so glad to have your company. You learned that her husband is Jason Schissel, co-founder of Electrodyne Systems, a well-known supplier of electronic components for various military programs. In fact, Dragon Security uses some Electrodyne devices in a few of its security systems, and you actually met Jason at last year's electronics showcase. The great success of the company has obviously taken a toll on Chie's home life though, as she often finds herself alone in her large house while Jason works late into the night. Since then, you've been visiting her pretty regularly, especially when Jason is gone on long business trips. Sometimes you chat, and other times you bring over some work on your laptop, just to keep her company. It had been so nice to spend time with someone else for once that you didn't even realize what had happened.
You had fallen in love with a married woman.
Oh, you tried to deny it at first, and you tried to stay away for a while. That only led her to call you, and you couldn't stand to refuse her. Now, she's all that you can think about, whatever the tragic circumstances. In fact, you've even started checking up on Chie, even when you aren't visiting. You talked her into installing a security system to help her feel safe while home alone. Of course, it was one of Dragon Security's household systems, and you know the built-in access codes. Now you can keep an eye on her all the time. Sometimes, you find yourself mesmerized, just watching her on the cameras, moving from room to room. You've also had the chance to see the indifference on Jason's face when he comes home to her and the tears in her eyes when she wonders what it is that she might have done wrong. She deserves better than that. She deserves the kind of love and attention that only you can give her.
You had been trying to work up the courage to tell her how you feel, knowing that she truly belongs with you. Then, two weeks ago, Chie broke into tears, crying that she didn't know what had gone wrong with her marriage. Not knowing what to do, you held her in your arms and calmed her down. Even as it broke your heart, you suggested ways that she might be able to mend things with Jason. As luck would have it, she took one of your suggestions and planned to surprise him by tagging along for this year's electronics showcase in San Francisco.
Your heart sank when Chie gave a stunned Jason a big kiss. He was obviously surprised and happy to see her. After introducing you to Jason, Chie seemed to have forgotten all about you.
You noticed that Jason's pretty personal assistant (Megan) was also attending the showcase again this year. You remembered meeting her along with Jason at last year's expo. She gave you an inviting wink, but you barely noticed. You only have eyes for one woman, and she's the one you can't have.
Life is cruel.
At the beginning of the game, feel free to talk to your neighbors, read a book, or flip through a magazine, just as you might on a real train ride. Of course, you'll be keeping an eye on Chie and Jason the whole time, and it will be quite frustrating, stuck on the outside looking in once again. When one of the judges announces the explosion, (safely!) fling yourself out of your seat, scream, cry out to the Heavens, or go nuts, as appropriate. Don't go overboard, as pretty much everyone should be dead within a few moments. When you die, just lie still on the ground with your eyes closed until a judge announces the continuation of the game.
When you wake, the first thing you'll want to do is check on Chie. You're sure that she'll be frightened and confused. It figures that you'd die just as you had found someone worth caring for. At least she's still here with you, even if Jason came along as well. You wonder what caused the explosion that's put all of you here. At least your special photo of Chie is still safe.
You'd like to make Jason look bad, though not in a way that hurts Chie's feelings.
You've never trusted other people. You're sure that they're the ones who caused the accident, and they probably also got you stuck here, wherever "here" is. You'll be a bit disagreeable and suspicious. You'll want to check things over for yourself.