DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Fun & Games ETD: Escape the Dream Episode II: Last Stand of the USS Rubicon

Do I think this holographic laser pattern is dangerous? I study the grid pattern. Remembering I an not a contortionist, can I see a way through it? Are there any controls on the contrl terminal by which I could shut it off or change the pattern?

You don't think it's as dangerous as that path Indiana Jones had to navigate in that "Golden Idol" experience you had on the holodeck a few months ago. But something tells you that the locked door at the other end won't open if you don't follow the right directions.

The terminal does not appear to have any sort of shutoff command, but there's a small "info" icon that you can press, which pops up a message, "Security Grid Alpha. Deactivation path mirrors standard maintenance access route for Plasma Conduit 7B".

Now you wonder how many paths there are to conduit 7B and whether mirrors means mirror or copy.... decisions, decisions.

I would go with copies. What is the shape of the grid pattern? (Or is it just a bunch of squares?)

The grid pattern is a bunch of squares, large enough to stand in. Entering a square crosses a beam on its edge. It's kind of like a large tic-tac-toe grid. All the same size, not different squares like the Fibonacci galaxy poster you saw a short while ago, but it may require a different kind of dance move.

So a 3 x 3 grid? Like:
Where is the door? Top of the grid in the middle?

If so try entering middle square bottom row - move one square right - move two squares up - move one square left

The 3x3 grid is about what you see.

Your attempt at navigating it works as far as "entering middle square bottom row, move ones square right, move two squares up..."

The first square is fine.

The second square gives an annoying musical chord sound that nobody should ever be forced to hear.


You think you're on to something, though...

Back to the start - middle square row 1, move left and listen

Bzzzt. Your original move to the right and then turn left one square seems the way to start.

You wonder if you only get three tries and you need to get this last try right....

So try middle entry, one square to right, one square up, one to the left, one square up.

I did misinterpret what you said on the original attempt and got the discordant noise, thought when you said the second square, you meant the second square I moved into.. not the second square of the two moves up

You move through the grid. The lasers flicker but don't alarm. You reach the other side and the magnetic lock door, and as you enter the final square you hear an audible click and whirring noise.

There's no keycard reader here, just a manual wheel.

Releasing a pent up breath.. turn the wheel carefully.

With a solid clunk, the magnetic seals disengage. The door slides open, revealing the vast space of Primary Docking Bay 3.

You stand before a wide service chasm. A retractable walkway is stuck in its housing on the far side. A control box on your side has three unlabeled sliders. A damaged voice log plays on loop: "...and if the bridge fails, align the harmonics. The resonance frequency is in the log... it's the same as my old cabin's combo, for pity's sake..."

There is a keycard reader next to the sliders.

Try the key card I alread have in the reader

You scan the keycard. The sliders light up and you can hear the sound of a three-note chord filling the room. Not a nice sounding one, though.

OK, am thinking that each sound is linked to a slider, which means that none are in the right place. Is there any way to tell how many positions the sliders can be moved to?