Host

Myriad Reality

<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.

@Audacious

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

Myriad Reality

<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.

@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*

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Host>

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

@Audacious

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

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Host>

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

@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.

Myriad Reality

<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?

@Audacious

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

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Host>

*Raises my arms while cracking a grin, and watches them before they leave*
Okay, maybe there’s a little bit of joy in it…

@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*

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Host>

You think the visual flair is important to him?

@Audacious

When he has endless space to operate like this, it's at least a higher priority than in the lab proper.
*Bands and ribbons of orange light flutter past us, spinning in a circle around each of us before continuing on their way*

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Host>

I guess you can fit more into a virtual space. I’m doubling down on what I said about him needing a large space to play.

@Audacious

Fit more, pack in more visual flair. People like him seem to appreciate details like that, as impractical as they are.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Host>

That’s pretty cool. Still seems like it’s overly flashy.

@Audacious

This is a virtual world, as I understand it? Flashy wouldn't surprise me.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Host>

Woah.
*Looks up to where the trail ends, where you ended up*
You okay?

@Audacious

*Steps off and back onto the rail from the floating facility and it brings me back*
Perfectly fine. Convenient travel system.