<Snipped quote by Audacious>

There's a word for it. Whimsical?
*As they float between the microlabs, a massive moon breaches the horizon, stylized with three bars of different length running across its surface, consuming a third of the sky when fully risen, and a purple cybernetic crosshatch pattern zig-zags itself from one end of the horizon to the other until the entire ground is consumed by the pattern*

<Snipped quote by Host>

Yeah, that’s the one.
*Sidesteps the lines of the pattern as they manifest near us, still watching*
As cool as it all looks, though, is this building up to some kind of exit for us?

<Snipped quote by Audacious>

Would it recognize that we intend to leave? I'm not really sure myself.
*Steps onto one of the intersections, but nothing happens*

<Snipped quote by Host>

What a great question. If only we could know.
*Plants a foot onto the pattern’s line myself*

<Snipped quote by Audacious>

*A glowing ring on the crosshatch extends out from where we stand in all directions with a dull marimbic tone before returning to the original color*
There must be some kind of interface we can hook into.

<Snipped quote by Host>

*Reaches out to touch the ring*
Got any ideas?

<Snipped quote by Audacious>

If we can figure out what triggered any of the effects so far, that might bring us some insight.

<Snipped quote by Host>

On moving on? It could. But I’m honestly scared that all these things we’re having to pause and figure out are slowing us down too much.

<Snipped quote by Audacious>

Agreed. But you never know what might come in handy.
*Kneels down and traces the crosshatch pattern, and a basic menu appears when I drag down with two fingers*

<Snipped quote by Host>

I’m sure a lot of it could be handy. Until the full, focused power of the Sun comes raining down on our heads when the defenses give out.

<Snipped quote by Audacious>

*Looks impressed at the comment*
How did you figure that out?
*Searches through the menus for anything useful*

<Snipped quote by Host>

He wouldn’t be wasting his time if he could help it. We know he’s here.

<Snipped quote by Audacious>

I was thinking about the sun comment, really.

<Snipped quote by Host>

Oh. That was more so me just choosing dramatic words… Will it actually be, like, a huge laser?
*Stops and stands behind you, looking over your shoulder at what you’re doing*

<Snipped quote by Audacious>

*Opens a digital inventory, full of scientific equipment*
He's going to blot out the sun and use it as a small fuel source for himself.

<Snipped quote by Host>

Yikes…
*Walks in arbitrary directions throughout the grid at our feet*
Talk about overkill.

<Snipped quote by Audacious>

*Retrieves an item labeled Control Staff from the inventory, which digitizes in my hand*
We talked about theatrics earlier...
*Taps the scepter against the grid, and large marble columns rise up on either side of us as an ascending staircase rises from the terrain*

<Snipped quote by Host>

*Stops and watches*
Right. Case in point: wizard's staff.

<Snipped quote by Audacious>

I'm not convinced this makes work any more efficient either.
*Starts to ascend the staircase*

<Snipped quote by Host>

*Scurries over behind you and climbs up behind you*
It's definitely not.