Searching Far and Wide

[intricate_engineer]

Glen was creating a prototype for a new gate design. It was meant to be affordable and provide quick transport between individual homes. She tests several objects and a rat and everything seems to be working.

She steps through. Instead of finding herself in the room next door, she finds herself standing on a sidewalk in an empty city. The buildings are tall and perfect, colorless with doorways far too tall for any human. The roads have no straight lines and twist in on themselves. There is no life or sound.
Glen tries to stay calm. She begins to walk along the road, randomly opening doors and exploring buildings that are as silent as the rest of the world.

She opens a door that she hopes will lead onto a roof and is instead met with warmth, and soft noise, and color.

Comments

[the_very_best]

...It's weird that it works that way when presumably the thing displaying the words will move with her eye, but she looks at "yes".

[intricate_engineer]

When she moves her eyes, the words stay static relative to the world around her.
When she focuses on Yes it flashes and the words disappear.
Do you need to remain aware of your environment?

[the_very_best]

"It's asking if I need to remain aware of my environment. Does it just mean visually or can it stop me hearing stuff too?"

[intricate_engineer]

"Visually, but I have some earbuds you can attach it to in a minute."

[the_very_best]

"Okay..." No, she does not need to remain aware of her environment.

[intricate_engineer]

This technology is controlled by hand signals. To control this device, your eyes must be open and your hands must be within your field of view. Do you have two hands?
Yes. No.

[the_very_best]

Yes. It's very considerate of it to ask.

[intricate_engineer]

All commands can be edited at a later time.
The device then shows her the commands for emergency stop, pause, menu, yes, no, and item selection.
Different programs may have different commands. The emergency stop will work in every program. Would you like to see the commands again?

[the_very_best]

Yes please, Bella's not accustomed to sign language.

[intricate_engineer]

It repeats the instructions and asks Bella if she is ready to move on.

[the_very_best]

Yeah, she thinks she remembers them all.

[intricate_engineer]

You can repeat signs at any time from the help menu. Blinking five times will serve to access the help menu if needed. Will you be using a companion device?

[the_very_best]

"Will I be using a companion device?"

[intricate_engineer]

"Yea. You'll need to. You can't access the internet from here. My computer should work."

[the_very_best]

Yes, she tells the contacts.

[intricate_engineer]

Enter the following code into your companion device:
XNOP793BX04

[the_very_best]

Bella recites this.

[intricate_engineer]

Companion device connected.
Would you like to control your contacts with you companion device?

[the_very_best]

Bella relays this question to Glen.

[intricate_engineer]

"It's easier with a computer usually. I'd say yes. They ask in case it's a public computer. You don't want a stranger controlling your eyes."

[the_very_best]

"Gotcha." Yes.

[intricate_engineer]

Glen pushes her computer over to Bella.
"So I have the default programs, and a few specialized things. I also have some videos that aren't formatted for public consumption that you might find interesting."

[the_very_best]

"Formatted for public consumption?"

[intricate_engineer]

"These are from a private camera. They haven't been edited and you can't see everything. Most give you a virtual environment without any blurry spots."

[the_very_best]

"What're the default programs?"