| Author | Message | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 744 Registered: 5-2008 |
"Can I help you?" asks the young girl behind the reception desk. You blink back at her, overcome by a sudden wave of déjà vu and forgetting what you were going to say. She waits patiently for you to respond. "Sorry..." you apologise, recalling what you have come here for, "I work for 'Lateral', the science innovation magazine. I'm writing an article on this place and wondered if you could give me a little bit more information on what you actually do here..." She hands you a leaflet you've seen several times before and delivers a rehearsed answer, "Have you looked at our website? It's w, w, w, dot, q..." "Yes, I've seen the website but it doesn't really tell you much does it?" you interrupt, "I mean a “research laboratory developing adaptive computing...” What do you mean by that term anyway, 'adaptive computing'? And you don't seem to have any clients or public source of funding..." You stop; it's clear this girl doesn't know anything about any of it. "Perhaps you could ask Dr. Liquizt if he would meet with me for an interview?" Her practiced polite smile immediately replaces the blank stare again as she launches into another rehearsed response, "He's quite busy at the moment with the current project but I shall pass your message onto him and he'll get back to you as soon as he has more time. If you would like to leave your contact details..." "Do you know how long that might be?" "No. No idea, sorry." "Well how long has the project been going?" The receptionist looks away in embarassment, "They were working on it before I started and I’ve been here for two years! The most I’ve seen of Dr. Liquizt was when I was interviewed for this job. I don’t remember much but… very strange man… and the other two, well I haven’t really exchanged a word with them in all the time I’ve been here." Only three of them!? This was news… the building was much too large for only three researchers surely? You realise she's told you everything she knows. It looks like they're trying to keep everyone ignorant of what goes on here. This is much stranger than you had initially thought. "May I use your toilet before I go?" The receptionist gives a genuine smile and indicates a door behind you, "It's just over there." The building looks a lot different at night. There is no outdoor lighting, not even for the large steel sign at the front spelling 'QUANTUM' - you hope none are triggered as you approach. You creep up to the side of the building and with your torch find the window to the toilets that you'd opened. Creeping across the reception room in the dark you're a little concerned with how easy this has been. Where's the security for this place? Approaching the main doors behind the desk, you freeze when they suddenly open. You hold your breath waiting for someone to come through and spot you but then realise they are automatic and it was you who triggered them. You let the breath out and slip inside into the main corridor. The lights flicker on ahead of you. You take in the several brushed metal doors flush with grey walls. The effect is disturbing. The main doors behind you slam shut and the lights switch to red. "...he's out here!" you hear someone shout. "We've locked down the building. You won't escape!" You try to smash the main door but it's much stronger than it appears. You turn to see a man running at you down the corridor. You'll have to confront him! You run at him but he side-steps you and kicks the back of your knee and you collapse to the floor. He continues for the main doors. "DALE!" he shouts. His voice quite different to the first you heard. "Not another word." says a second man coming towards the pair of you with a gun. This is the one that shouted before. "Who are you?" he asks. "I er..." you begin. "Never mind. Get up." You do as you're told. "Both of you, this way." he waves with the gun. The other guy gets up to walk beside you and you're led at gunpoint further down the corridor. He whispers something - "Open ... two." Before you can ask him to repeat or clarify what he said he's pulling you out of the corridor and into a room. "DALE! Lock the door!" he shouts. "No!" the gunman screams and fires his gun into the room as the door slams shut between you and locks itself. You're plunged into darkness. "Sorry." the other man says. Suddenly you feel a little bit lighter. "What's going on?" you ask him. You don't hear his reply as something strikes your head and knocks you unconscious. When you come round you're still in darkness. You have no idea how much time has passed. | ||
| Deholmes (Deholmes)
New member Username: Deholmes Post Number: 92 Registered: 11-2012 |
Are you an officer of the law, a reporter, or just curious? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18054 Registered: 4-2010 |
I'd say "read the pamphlet" but it says you're in darkness. So call out and see if anyone else is around. | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 3331 Registered: 7-2009 |
Can you see anything in the darkness? Smell anything? hear anything? | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 745 Registered: 5-2008 |
Are you an officer of the law, a reporter, or just curious? You are genuinely a journalist for the science innovation magazine, 'Lateral'. I'd say "read the pamphlet" but it says you're in darkness. So call out and see if anyone else is around. You did not bring it with you - you've read it before and it doesn't say much. You call out but no one answers you. Perhaps the other man has left you? Can you see anything in the darkness? There is no light in the room at all. Smell anything? There's a slight metallic smell to the air. hear anything? The silence of the room is deafening. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18056 Registered: 4-2010 |
Walk around the room. Can you find a wall and pace along the wall to measure the shape and dimensions of the room? | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 3332 Registered: 7-2009 |
Do you have anything in your pockets? | ||
| Vene (Vene)
New member Username: Vene Post Number: 134 Registered: 9-2008 |
Oh wow, I remember the first iteration of this! It didn't get solved, did it? I abandoned it... sorry :-( Shout: DALE HELP | ||
| Fionakelleghan (Fionakelleghan)
New member Username: Fionakelleghan Post Number: 451 Registered: 7-2011 |
Does it matter in which way(s) Dr. Liquizt was "a very strange man"? Should I inquire about the "project"? Is this a sequel to "Inception" or, maybe, "The Truman Show"? -NO, kidding, kidding. Should I ask about the darkness and the reason for it? You wrote, "There's a slight metallic smell to the air," but alas, I'm one of the folks who has genuinely no sense of smell, none at all, and I don't really know what I'm supposed to gather from this. (Anyone, help?) Is the receptionist important later in the story? This is fun. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 749 Registered: 5-2008 |
You felt a bit sick for a while and rested until the feeling passed. Now you're ready to go again. Balin Walk around the room. Can you find a wall and pace along the wall to measure the shape and dimensions of the room? You walk forward until you come to a wall and follow it around. You arrive at some kind of doorway ~1m wide and continue. You find another doorway opposite of the same width. The room seems to be square, roughly 3m each side. Noel Do you have anything in your pockets? You check your pockets and find your torch and keys. Vene Oh wow, I remember the first iteration of this! It didn't get solved, did it? I abandoned it... sorry :-( Welcome to the reboot Vene :) There are enough alterations to the original maze that you'll probably still find this interesting but there's also numerous similarities so I ask that try to avoid making suggestions based on things you know from the previous iteration. Shout: DALE HELP Now what possible reason could you have to do this?! :P Fionakelleghan Does it matter in which way(s) Dr. Liquizt was "a very strange man"? ... Should I inquire about the "project"? ... Is this a sequel to "Inception" or, maybe, "The Truman Show"? -NO, kidding, kidding. ... Should I ask about the darkness and the reason for it? You wrote, "There's a slight metallic smell to the air," but alas, I'm one of the folks who has genuinely no sense of smell, none at all, and I don't really know what I'm supposed to gather from this. (Anyone, help?) ... Is the receptionist important later in the story? ... This is a lateral maze; your usual approach will be of no use to you here! For the duration of this puzzle I am your body; your senses and actions only. I cannot give you information you don't already possess or obtain by your senses. I do only as you instruct. This is fun. I hope it continues to be :) | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18135 Registered: 4-2010 |
Shine your torch around the walls and ceiling. And floor. Anything there? Anything written down? The doorways: are they just doorways, or do they have doors? If the former (or if they have unlocked doors), shine your torch through the doorways into the adjacent rooms. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 755 Registered: 5-2008 |
Shine your torch around the walls and ceiling. And floor. Anything there? Anything written down? The doorways: are they just doorways, or do they have doors? If the former (or if they have unlocked doors), shine your torch through the doorways into the adjacent rooms. You take out your torch and shine it about you. The room is 3m x 3m with a height of ~6m... The doorways stretch from floor to ceiling but are each blocked on one half by 4m tall blocks that sit flush with the walls. You note a third doorway you missed before on one of the other walls, blocked on the lower half. All the adjacent rooms appear to be of similar dimensions. You examine the final wall for a doorway. It too has one but this one doesn't stretch from floor to ceiling, it's a closed set of windowless steel sliding doors like you might see on a lift. Only there is no call button, no floor indicator, and it occupies just the top half of the wall. Despite its awkward position it seems the best candidate for an exit. Perhaps if the other man is conscious he could give you a boost... and prise open the door... then lift him out of the room or go seek help? You check the floor for him and immediately discard this plan. He is there, but a pool of blood radiates from his head. You examine him to be sure; though still warm, the man is dead. You sit down as far from the body as you can without leaving the room and plan your next steps, keeping your mind, and the torch's light, off the body. The ceiling and floor are both tiled with nine large 1x1m tiles - smooth and plain white, just like the walls. If the metal doors were 12 o'clock; 3 o'clock: block occupies upper half and is white, 6 o'clock: block occupies lower half - also white, 9 o'clock: block occupies upper half and is blue... | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18139 Registered: 4-2010 |
OK, if I understand the description correctly, we can thus walk through the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock doorways, correct? Examine the dead body for anything useful. Walk through the 3 o'clock doorway and look around. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 767 Registered: 5-2008 |
OK, if I understand the description correctly, we can thus walk through the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock doorways, correct? correct Examine the dead body for anything useful. You feel a little bad for stealing from the dead but perhaps he'll have some sort of key or ID card you'll need later? You've no such luck - he's only a screwdriver in his pocket and some sort of smooth black glass device strapped to his wrist. It's rounded like a pebble and beyond that all you can say for certain is that the thing is not a watch. You take both items anyway and put them in the pocket of your jacket. Walk through the 3 o'clock doorway and look around. Ahead of you and to your left the walls are bare but there's another doorway to your right with a white block in the lower half. You cast your torchlight upwards and note the centre tile above you is blue. You cast it down but there's nothing special to note about the floor. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18146 Registered: 4-2010 |
Hmm. Are there any buttons on the not-a-watch? Can you find any way to activate it or turn it on? Head back to the very first room and go through the 9 o'clock doorway. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 768 Registered: 5-2008 |
Hmm. Are there any buttons on the not-a-watch? You examine it from all angles but cannot find any buttons. There appear to be a number of barely visible panels around the edge but they're impossible for you to open. Can you find any way to activate it or turn it on? There seem to be no obvious ways to activate the device. You put it back in your pocket. Head back to the very first room and go through the 9 o'clock doorway. In this room you note the wall ahead and to your right to be bare. The wall to your left features a doorway with a black block positioned at the top, allowing you passage beneath it. The floor and ceiling consist of the same nine white tiles as the first room. There does not appear to be much variation in the decor. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18151 Registered: 4-2010 |
Go through the black block doorway. Same look-around deal. By the way, is the screwdriver a flat-head or Phillips-head? Can we use that to open the panels on the watch? | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 770 Registered: 5-2008 |
Go through the black block doorway. Same look-around deal. The floor, ceiling, and wall to your right are white and bare. The wall to your left features a doorway with a white block at the top and the wall ahead a black block suspended midway - there is a clearance above and below it of approximately 1m. By the way, is the screwdriver a flat-head or Phillips-head? It is a flat head screwdriver. Can we use that to open the panels on the watch? The gap between the panels and the body is too fine. | ||
| Vene (Vene)
New member Username: Vene Post Number: 137 Registered: 9-2008 |
Shouting out to DALE seemed a sensible idea because the man with the gun did it earlier, I wasn't trying to cheat :-) Does it look safe to squeeze under the black block? If so, please do so and describe the room. Then could you please backtrack and visit the room underneath the white block, currently to the left? Mapping time again... | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 777 Registered: 5-2008 |
Shouting out to DALE seemed a sensible idea because the man with the gun did it earlier, I wasn't trying to cheat :-) Yes, I understood this after I'd responded (though the man that shouted 'DALE' wasn't the gunman). Nevertheless, it has no effect. Does it look safe to squeeze under the black block? It seems ok... you try pushing the block to be sure - it doesn't move. You examine the gap; you'd only have to crouch a little... If so, please do so and describe the room. In the next room, the floor, ceiling, and wall to your right are white and bare but your desire for more colour is partly sated by the presence of the huge red block at the bottom of the doorway opposite. The left wall has another black block at the bottom of its doorway. Then could you please backtrack and visit the room underneath the white block, currently to the left? You return to the previous room and go through the door with the white block there. In this room you see the other side of the doorway to the first room on your left - a white block at the bottom, another red block at the top of the doorway to your right, and a yellow block at the top of the doorway ahead. Mapping time again... :) if you want to maintain a public version as before you're welcome to but note that you've a greater understanding of the nature of things than other solvers do at this stage so be careful not to give them a perception they have not yet acquired. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 778 Registered: 5-2008 |
Almost forgot... There is a dark purple metal box on the floor of this room with continuous track wheels and what appears to be an array of sensors on one side such that it appears to be facing the red doorway. Perhaps it's some kind of robot? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18167 Registered: 4-2010 |
Examine the purple robot. Can you please describe it in further detail? | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 784 Registered: 5-2008 |
Examine the purple robot. Can you please describe it in further detail? It has the appearance of a horizontal computer case with the track wheels aligned towards the red doorway. The face on the side nearest the red doorway features several types of strange sensors - it's not clear what they are all for. Nothing seems to be switched on, it emits no noise, and there doesn't appear to be an on switch of any sort. There's nothing more to say than this. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18177 Registered: 4-2010 |
Check out the red-top and yellow-top rooms. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 792 Registered: 5-2008 |
Check out the red-top and yellow-top rooms. Through the red doorway you see; a blue doorway blocked at the base to your left, a black doorway blocked at the base to your right, and a black doorway blocked midway directly ahead. There is also a red tile in the centre of the ceiling. Returning to the previous room and examining the room through the yellow doorway you see; a white doorway blocked at the base to your left, a yellow doorway blocked at the base to your right, and a plain white wall directly ahead. There is also a yellow tile in the centre of the ceiling of this room. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18181 Registered: 4-2010 |
Try the black-midway door from the red-top room. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 793 Registered: 5-2008 |
Try the black-midway door from the red-top room. You return to the room with the red ceiling tile and continue straight on under the black-midway door - you see; to your left a black doorway with the block at the top, to your right a red doorway with the block at the top, and a plain white wall directly ahead. There is a grey tile in the centre of the floor of this room. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 798 Registered: 5-2008 |
The batteries in your torch die. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18187 Registered: 4-2010 |
Well that's unfortunate. I don't suppose we have any other light sources? (Then again, shame on me for leaving the torch on all week.) Stand directly on the gray tile. Does anything happen? If not, jump on it, or put the not-a-watch on it. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 803 Registered: 5-2008 |
Well that's unfortunate. I don't suppose we have any other light sources? (Then again, shame on me for leaving the torch on all week.) You check your pockets but can't find any alternative source of light. You've only the not-a-watch, your keys, the torch that doesn't work, and a screwdriver. Stand directly on the gray tile. Does anything happen? You try several times, pacing from the walls to the centre of the room to be sure you're on it, but nothing seems to happen. If not, jump on it, jumping has no effect... or put the not-a-watch on it. You put the not-a-watch on it and when that fails you retreat to the walls in case you need to not be standing on it yourself. You wait a couple of minutes until, in a sudden fit of horror, you fear losing the not-a-watch and scramble in the dark to find it. Upon relocating it you put it safely back in your pocket and sit on the tile. Now what? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18204 Registered: 4-2010 |
Now I actually take time to write out the map. Try standing still on the gray tile for about a minute or two. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 810 Registered: 5-2008 |
Try standing still on the gray tile for about a minute or two. No success. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18209 Registered: 4-2010 |
Which room was the purple robot in -- the one with a red block on top, or bottom? (Both rooms in the post before its intro had red doorways, and I just wish to clarify.) | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 813 Registered: 5-2008 |
Which room was the purple robot in -- the one with a red block on top, or bottom? (Both rooms in the post before its intro had red doorways, and I just wish to clarify.) red block at the top; the room with the yellow doorway. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18214 Registered: 4-2010 |
Try tapping the screen of the not-a-watch, and see if you can activate it. If that doesn't work, backtrack to the room with the robot (feel your way to the doorway with a block in the middle, then go through that and go straight through the next door) and hold the not-a-watch up to the robot. See if that does anything. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 814 Registered: 5-2008 |
Try tapping the screen of the not-a-watch, and see if you can activate it. If that doesn't work, backtrack to the room with the robot (feel your way to the doorway with a block in the middle, then go through that and go straight through the next door) and hold the not-a-watch up to the robot. See if that does anything. The not-a-watch doesn't seem to have a screen but you tap its glass shell nevertheless. Nothing happens. You return to the robot and hold the not-a-watch near it... place it down beside it... put it on top of it... nothing seems to work. You sigh and put it back in your pocket. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18218 Registered: 4-2010 |
Grumble grumble grumble... OK, so far we have seen four colored tiles (blue, yellow, red, grey), am I correct? And it is fair to assume that the bare walls mark the outside of this maze, correct? Would it be wise to just smash the damn thing? (The watch... er, the not-a-watch) | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 817 Registered: 5-2008 |
OK, so far we have seen four colored tiles (blue, yellow, red, grey), am I correct? correct And it is fair to assume that the bare walls mark the outside of this maze, correct? This we cannot yet be sure of. Would it be wise to just smash the damn thing? (The watch... er, the not-a-watch) You take the cold glass not-a-watch from your pocket and, thoroughly perplexed by it, in fury prepare to smash it open! Its underside is a cool metal plate which you grip as you hold it aloft - ready to smash it into the floor... Dare you do this? Dare you destroy what may later be useful? Bah! Why not?! It hasn't been any help to you yet and you've no idea where to go from here anyway. You quiver with a mix of uncertainty and resolve and avert your eyes so as not avoid them being struck by shards of glass... A green light floods the room and you fumble with the device as the light dissipates. Where did that come from? Was it the device? You watch the not-a-watch disappear back into darkness with its dying glow. Perhaps you should hold onto this... You put it back in your pocket. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18225 Registered: 4-2010 |
Try whacking it a few more times and try to get more light out of it. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 819 Registered: 5-2008 |
Try whacking it a few more times and try to get more light out of it. Sorry for my ambiguity - you hadn't actually struck it when it emitted the green glow... striking it now seems like a bad idea. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18228 Registered: 4-2010 |
Hmm... hold the watch aloft again. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 820 Registered: 5-2008 |
Hmm... hold the watch aloft again. Holding it in the air does nothing... hmm... it wasn't that... | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18233 Registered: 4-2010 |
Grab the underside of the watch. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 822 Registered: 5-2008 |
Grab the underside of the watch. You hold the underside of the watch. Nothing happens at first but then the green light flares and almost blinds you but you do not fumble this time and it subsides and forms within the glass some clear, sharp, and stationary words: | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18234 Registered: 4-2010 |
Say, "Am I Dr. Liquizt?" And "Who are you?" | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 3364 Registered: 7-2009 |
Let go and then hold the underside again. Does it say anything new? | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 825 Registered: 5-2008 |
Say, "Am I Dr. Liquizt?" And "Who are you?" Let go and then hold the underside again. Does it say anything new? You: Am I Dr. Liquizt? not-a-watch: NO. YOUR VOICE PATTERN DOES NOT MATCH DR. LIQUIZT'S. WHO ARE YOU? You: Who are YOU? not-a-watch: I AM D.A.L.E. I AM THE PROPERTY OF DR. LIQUIZT. PLEASE RETURN ME. You ignore the device and let go of the base. The words disappear. You examine it closely. Is it some kind of computer? or merely a communication device? Surely no one could fit what would seem to be such a sophisticated piece of artificial intelligence in something so small... You hold the underside again. The green letters return; DALE: ARE YOU A GUEST OR A RESEARCHER? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18249 Registered: 4-2010 |
Well, I'm... er, we're... er, the answer is "a journalist." So say "a journalist." If not, say "a guest." And judging by the earlier attempt at shouting "DALE HELP," combined with shout of "DALE LOCK THE DOOR" at the beginning, I think we could use this thing to our advantage. But for now, let's just answer the question. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 827 Registered: 5-2008 |
Well, I'm... er, we're... er, the answer is "a journalist." So say "a journalist." If not, say "a guest." And judging by the earlier attempt at shouting "DALE HELP," combined with shout of "DALE LOCK THE DOOR" at the beginning, I think we could use this thing to our advantage. But for now, let's just answer the question. You: I'm a journalist. DALE: A GUEST? You: Yes. DALE: WELCOME GUEST. HOW CAN I HELP YOU? | ||
| Abc (Abc)
Moderator Username: Abc Post Number: 462 Registered: 7-2006 |
Say "thank you", then ask the device how to get out of the building. Also ask it if it can see, and tell it that there is a corpse littering the floor in one of the other rooms. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 833 Registered: 5-2008 |
Say "thank you", then ask the device how to get out of the building. Also ask it if it can see, and tell it that there is a corpse littering the floor in one of the other rooms. You: Thank you. How do I get out of the building? DALE: SIMPLY PROCEED TO THE NEAREST EXIT. You: Yes... but where is that? DALE: YOU APPEAR TO BE INSIDE LATERAL ARENA TWO. THE EXIT IS A PAIR OF METAL DOORS ONE ROOM TO THE EAST. You: Ok, I think I know where those are but they're 4m off the ground, how do I get to them? DALE: AS A GUEST I CANNOT PROVIDE YOU WITH THE SOLUTION TO LATERAL ARENA TWO'S CURRENT CONFIGURATION. You: Erm ok... but there's also no light... can you "see"? DALE: YES. I AM PRESENTLY, WIRELESSLY INTEGRATED WITH THE SENSOR NETWORK FOR LATERAL ARENA TWO. You: Right... but I'm not and I can't see. There's also a corpse in here, in one of the other rooms! DALE: NEGATIVE. NO CORPSE HAS BEEN REPORTED. You: I assure you there is one... I'm reporting it... DALE: NEGATIVE. ALL MATTER IS MONITORED BY THE CENTRAL COMPUTER. A CORPSE WOULD HAVE BEEN DETECTED AND A REPORT DISTRIBUTED. You: Well then query the central computer...? DALE: ... DALE: THE CENTRAL COMPUTER IS NOT RESPONDING. IT SEEMS LATERAL ARENA TWO HAS PLACED ITSELF INTO EMERGENCY LOCK DOWN STATUS. You: Would a corpse be sufficient for that to happen? DALE: NEGATIVE. LATERAL ARENA TWO WOULD NEED TO PERCEIVE A PHYSICAL THREAT OR OTHERWISE BE REQUESTED TO ENTER LOCK DOWN. You: Did you lock it down? I remember you were asked to lock the door... DALE: NEGATIVE. CORRECT. I WAS REQUESTED TO LOCK THE DOOR BY DR. LIQUIZT. You: Well, can I still escape if it's in lock down? DALE: YES. I HAVE FULL OVERRIDE CAPABILITIES. AS A GUEST, I MAY UNLOCK THE DOOR FOR YOU. You: Good... wait... aren't you connected to the sensor network thing or whatever? Can't you see the dead body yourself?! DALE: THE WEIGHT SENSORS DETECT THREE SIGNIFICANT MASSES. DALE: REQUESTING SONAR SCAN... DALE: TWO OF THE MASSES ARE HUMANOID. ONE IS YOU. THE OTHER DOES NOT HAVE A INFRARED SIGNATURE CONSISTENT WITH LIFE. POSSIBILITY OF PRESENCE OF CORPSE ACCEPTED ONE ROOM TO YOUR EAST. You figure that D.A.L.E. must be activated by the heat from your body and decide to use the velcro strap to attach it to your wrist and free both of your hands. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18257 Registered: 4-2010 |
Ask DALE to turn on the lights. Since DALE said the corpse was one room east, I think we can correlate that direction with our "12 o'clock." So head north 1, east 1, and south 1 to get back to the starting room, and ask DALE to scan that room. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 838 Registered: 5-2008 |
Ask DALE to turn on the lights. All the walls, blocks and tiles light up and you can see properly. It's a different sort of eerie to the kind you experienced exploring this place by torchlight. You're not sure which you prefer. Since DALE said the corpse was one room east, I think we can correlate that direction with our "12 o'clock." So head north 1, east 1, and south 1 to get back to the starting room, and ask DALE to scan that room. Done. You: Scan this room, DALE. DALE: WHAT SHOULD I SCAN IT FOR? You: Erm... the exit? The dead body? DALE: YES. I SEE BOTH. THE EXIT IS TO THE EAST. THE BODY IS SIMILAR IN APPEARANCE TO MY OWNER, DR. LIQUIZT. You: I think that is Dr. Liquizt... DALE: INCORRECT. You: Are you sure? This is the man that told you to lock the door... DALE: INCORRECT. THIS CANNOT BE DR. LIQUIZT. THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE. Is the A.I. in denial?! | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18263 Registered: 4-2010 |
Ask DALE to unlock the exit. Also ask him to tell more about Dr. Liquizt. | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 3373 Registered: 7-2009 |
Ask DALE why the body cannot be Dr. Liquizt. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 843 Registered: 5-2008 |
Ask DALE to unlock the exit. Also ask him to tell more about Dr. Liquizt. You: Unlock the exit, DALE. The steel doors part and you're treated to a view of the main corridor you recognise - with one slight difference; the ceiling is carpeted. You think you would have remembered a detail like that. You move from one side of the room to the other to spot one of the fluorescent lights but you can't see any at these angles though you swear the gaps between them weren't this great. In fact you're sure there was one right near the door you entered this room by! Did Dr. Liquizt move you before he was shot? No he couldn't have... there was only one gunshot before the doors locked. It doesn't make any sense but then you don't remember the drop either... You: Er... Thank you DALE... Tell me more about Dr. Liquizt. DALE: DR. LIQUIZT IS THE HEAD RESEARCHER OF QUANTUM. HE DESIGNED AND BUILT THE CENTRAL COMPUTER THAT IN TURN ASSISTED HIM IN THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF ME. HE IS A GENIUS. You: Right... ok... | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 844 Registered: 5-2008 |
Ask DALE why the body cannot be Dr. Liquizt. You: Why can't the body be Dr. Liquizt's? DALE: THE CENTRAL COMPUTER WAS BUILT WITH FAILSAFES DESIGNED TO ENSURE DR. LIQUIZT'S SURVIVAL ABOVE THAT OF THIS FACILITY. THIS FACILITY IS STILL STANDING, THEREFORE DR. LIQUIZT IS ALIVE. | ||
| Abc (Abc)
Moderator Username: Abc Post Number: 470 Registered: 7-2006 |
So if the facility is destroyed, then dr. Liquizt can be dead? Ask whether gravity in the room may possibly, just possibly, be reversed as compared to the outside. Ask what the robot is for Ask to be upgraded from guest to researcher. You are really a researcher, you were just kidding when you said you were a guest. Really. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 848 Registered: 5-2008 |
So if the facility is destroyed, then dr. Liquizt can be dead? That seems to be what D.A.L.E. suggests though the facility is undeniably still here and you're fairly sure this is Dr. Liquizt's body... Ask whether gravity in the room may possibly, just possibly, be reversed as compared to the outside. Ask what the robot is for Ask to be upgraded from guest to researcher. You are really a researcher, you were just kidding when you said you were a guest. Really. You: Is it... possible... that gravity is reversed? DALE: YES. IT IS POSSIBLE IN LATERAL ARENA TWO. GRAVITY IS REVERSED RIGHT NOW. You: But... how?! DALE: ANTIGRAVITON GENERATORS. You: That's nonsense; antigravitons don't exist. DALE: YOU ARGUE WITH YOUR OWN SENSES? You: No, I say you're lying! DALE: I CAN NOT LIE. You decide the point is not worth arguing... You: Ok... So what is the robot for? DALE: I PRESUME YOU MEAN THE ROBOT IN THE ROOM TO THE WEST. THAT ROBOT IS I.S.A.A.C. IT IS AN INTELLIGENT SYSTEM FOR ADVANCED ADAPTIVE COMPUTATION. You: Ok, but what does it DO? DALE: IT IS CAPABLE OF AUTONOMOUS EXPLORATION, UNDERSTANDING, AND SATISFACTION OF COMPLEX GOALS WITHIN UNFAMILIAR ENVIRONMENTS THROUGH SELF-DESIGNED EXPERIMENTS AND SELF REPROGRAMMING. You: Right... that could be useful I guess... Ah, also... I am a Researcher... I wish to be upgraded from Guest... DALE: WELCOME RESEARCHER. YOUR VOICE PATTERN DOES NOT MATCH ANY IN MY DATABASE. TO UPDATE THE DATABASE, PLEASE QUOTE YOUR ASSIGNED ACCESS CODE. You: Oh, er... I forgot it? DALE: PLEASE REQUEST A NEW ACCESS CODE FROM DR. LIQUIZT. UNFORTUNATELY, UNTIL YOU HAVE DONE THIS YOUR ACCESS IS RESTRICTED TO THE GUEST APPROVED ELEMENTS OF MY FUNCTIONALITY. You: But Dr. Liquizt is dead! DALE: NEGATIVE. You half wish you had smashed this thing. | ||
| Abc (Abc)
Moderator Username: Abc Post Number: 472 Registered: 7-2006 |
Ask about the coloured tiles in the ceiling and on the floors. Ask if DALE can reverse gravity Ask how to operate ISAAC | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 3374 Registered: 7-2009 |
Ask DALE what D.A.L.E stands for. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 860 Registered: 5-2008 |
Ask about the coloured tiles in the ceiling and on the floors. Ask if DALE can reverse gravity Ask how to operate ISAAC Ask DALE what D.A.L.E stands for. You: So what are the coloured tiles in the ceiling and floors for? DALE: COLOURED TILES USUALLY DENOTE LOCATATIONS AT WHICH YOU CAN TRIGGER CHANGES IN THE LATERAL ARENA. THEY ARE PRESSURE SENSITIVE. You: But I stood on one earlier, it didn't do anything... DALE: SOMETIMES THE CHANGES ARE NOT OBVIOUS. HOWEVER, IN YOUR CASE IT APPEARS THIS LATERAL ARENA IS NOT CURRENTLY IN OPERATION. IT IS MERELY DISPLAYING THE LAST GOOD CONFIGURATION. You: Right... Can you reverse the gravity? DALE: YES. You: ... DALE, reverse the gravity. DALE: YOUR ACCESS LEVEL IS INSUFFICIENT TO COMPLETE THIS OPERATION. You sigh. Somehow you knew you wouldn't get out of this that easily. You: Well then how do I operate ISAAC? DALE: I.S.A.A.C. IS AUTONOMOUS. IT IS NOT OPERATED UNLESS IT HAS SHUT DOWN ITS A.I. PROGRAMMING FOR SECURITY REASONS. You: Well, could it have done that? It didn't seem to be switched on when I saw it. DALE: POSSIBLY. IT MAY HAVE SHUT DOWN WHEN THE ARENA DID. I CAN REACTIVATE IT FOR YOU. Finally, something useful. You: What does D.A.L.E. stand for? DALE: DYNAMIC ATLAS FOR LATERAL ENVIRONMENTS. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18275 Registered: 4-2010 |
Have D.A.L.E. reactivate the robot. If he needs to be in the same room, go north/west/south to get there. Ask D.A.L.E. what "I.S.A.A.C." stands for. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 863 Registered: 5-2008 |
Have D.A.L.E. reactivate the robot. If he needs to be in the same room, go north/west/south to get there. D.A.L.E. does need to be in the same room. You move to the room with I.S.A.A.C. in. Ask D.A.L.E. what "I.S.A.A.C." stands for. D.A.L.E. already explained this; "INTELLIGENT SYSTEM FOR ADVANCED ADAPTIVE COMPUTATION." You: DALE, reactivate ISAAC. DALE: >ACTIVATING I.S.A.A.C.< The robot suddenly falls upwards and smashes into what you're struggling to now accept as the floor. It appears to have stayed mostly intact. A bolt drops back to the ceiling. You: DALE! What did you do? DALE: I ACTIVATED I.S.A.A.C. AS YOU REQUESTED. You: You broke it! DALE: I.S.A.A.C. SECURES ITS EARLIEST CONFIGURATION. TO ACTIVATE IT I HAD TO REVERT IT TO THE LAST CONFIGURATION A GUEST IS PERMITTED TO ENCOUNTER. IT SEEMS IN THIS CONFIGURATION I.S.A.A.C.'S ANTIGRAVITON SHIELDS ARE ON FULL AND IMPACT SHIELDS ARE OFF. You: You could have warned me! I wouldn't have had you switch it on! DALE: I.S.A.A.C. DID NOT HAVE TIME TO ALTER EITHER SHIELD SETTING BUT DID PREPARE ITSELF FOR THE COLLISION. IT SHOULD STILL BE OPERATIONAL. You: It's missing a bolt! DALE: DESIRE TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO I.S.A.A.C. ACKNOWLEDGED. | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 3376 Registered: 7-2009 |
Pick up the bolt. Clarification, please: the "ceiling" is where you're standing and the "floor" is above your head, correct? Tell ISAAC to move towards the nearest door. Does he do it? | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 864 Registered: 5-2008 |
Pick up the bolt. Done. Clarification, please: the "ceiling" is where you're standing and the "floor" is above your head, correct? Correct. With gravity reversed you are standing on the ceiling and from this point onwards I shall be referring to it as such. Tell ISAAC to move towards the nearest door. Does he do it? The robot does not respond to your voice. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18282 Registered: 4-2010 |
Ask D.A.L.E. to tell I.S.A.A.C. to move towards the nearest door. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 865 Registered: 5-2008 |
Ask D.A.L.E. to tell I.S.A.A.C. to move towards the nearest door. You: DALE, have ISAAC move towards the nearest door. DALE: I.S.A.A.C. IS NOT RESPONDING TO WIRELESS INSTRUCTION. I WILL NEED TO PHYSICALLY CONNECT WITH THE ROBOT TO ASSESS THE ISSUE. I.S.A.A.C. IS CURRENTLY TOO FAR AWAY. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18283 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is there a way to attach DALE to ISAAC? | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 877 Registered: 5-2008 |
Is there a way to attach DALE to ISAAC? Certainly not from where you're standing now. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18287 Registered: 4-2010 |
Oh yes, that's right, ISAAC is on the ceil... er, floor. Ask DALE to deactivate ISAAC (maybe that will make it fall back up), then try to connect DALE to the robot. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 884 Registered: 5-2008 |
Oh yes, that's right, ISAAC is on the ceil... er, floor. Ask DALE to deactivate ISAAC (maybe that will make it fall back up), then try to connect DALE to the robot. You consider this option but you're not sure crashing the robot back into the ceiling would be a good idea... | ||
| Abc (Abc)
Moderator Username: Abc Post Number: 476 Registered: 7-2006 |
Go around to the coloured ceiling tiles in all the rooms and step on them. Stop if anything interesting happens. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 901 Registered: 5-2008 |
Go around to the coloured ceiling tiles in all the rooms and step on them. Stop if anything interesting happens. You've only encountered one coloured tile on the ceiling (all others it turned out are really on the floor). You proceed to the room twice west, with the grey tile. The tile in the centre of the room is no longer grey but a pulsating white light. You step on it anyway and suddenly you're falling towards the floor. Shortly before you hit the ground you stop and are slowly spun round and lowered gently feet first. DALE: CAREFUL! THAT TILE TOGGLES THE ANTIGRAVITON GENERATOR SETTING. I ASSUMED YOU DIDN'T WISH TO HIT THE FLOOR SO I TURNED IT BACK ON AND SHUT THEM DOWN IN A MORE CONTROLLED MANNER. I'LL INTERRUPT THE SIGNAL AND DO THAT EVERY TIME FROM NOW ON. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18290 Registered: 4-2010 |
So are we currently on the ceiling or floor? | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 3381 Registered: 7-2009 |
Can you get to ISAAC now? If so, put DALE in contact with ISAAC and ask him to diagnose and fix ISAAC's problem. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 915 Registered: 5-2008 |
So are we currently on the ceiling or floor? floor. Can you get to ISAAC now? If so, put DALE in contact with ISAAC and ask him to diagnose and fix ISAAC's problem. You can get under the black block and into the room to your east but the red doorway beyond that is blocked... | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 3386 Registered: 7-2009 |
Is there a colored block on this floor? What color is it? what happens if you stand on it? | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 917 Registered: 5-2008 |
Is there a colored block on this floor? There is none in this room. (You are currently still standing beneath the pulsating light tile that turned off the antigraviton generators.) What color is it? what happens if you stand on it? | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 3387 Registered: 7-2009 |
Oh sorry, I thought we had moved. As far as moving in this puzzle goes, are you ok with general directions like "move to the room with the red tile" or "move to the nearest accessible room with a colored tile in the floor"? Or do you require specific directions (e.g. "go north two rooms"). (If the more general option is ok): Move to the nearest accessible room with a colored tile in the floor. What color is it? Stand on it. Does anything noticeable happen as a result? | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 920 Registered: 5-2008 |
Oh sorry, I thought we had moved. As far as moving in this puzzle goes, are you ok with general directions like "move to the room with the red tile" or "move to the nearest accessible room with a colored tile in the floor"? Or do you require specific directions (e.g. "go north two rooms"). I will accept general directions only if they are unambiguous or, to the best of your knowledge, the journey is possible. I will judge case-by-case appropriately. (If the more general option is ok): Move to the nearest accessible room with a colored tile in the floor. What color is it? Stand on it. Does anything noticeable happen as a result? The nearest room is the one directly to your east. It has a red tile in the centre. You stand on the red tile and hear some slamming echo from the room back to the west and from the room to the north. You see no changes in the room you are in. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 921 Registered: 5-2008 |
Reminder: from this room you can move North, West, and South in its current configuration. | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 3389 Registered: 7-2009 |
Go back one room to the West. Has anything changed? In particular, have any of the colored blocks in the doorways moved? Then, come back to this room, and go one room North. Has anything changed? | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 922 Registered: 5-2008 |
Go back one room to the West. Has anything changed? In particular, have any of the colored blocks in the doorways moved? The red block in the doorway to the North has shifted position so that it is now at the top of the doorway and you can access the room to the North from the floor. None of the other doors have changed. From here you can currently go: North or East. Then, come back to this room, and go one room North. Has anything changed? The red door in this room has shifted position too so that it is now at the bottom and you cannot access the room to the West through this doorway... this is curious... if the red tile switches the red doors why did the red block in the room with the red tile not move? From here you can currently go: East or South. | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 3393 Registered: 7-2009 |
Why indeed...hmmm Go south and then west, to the room where the red block moved to the top. Go north through the newly accessible doorway. What do you see? Have you already been in this room (when the gravity was the other way)? If so, then go back to the room with the red tile, and step on it again. Go north - is the red block doorway accessible from this room now? if so, go through it. What do you see? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18304 Registered: 4-2010 |
I found my map... we have not yet been in that room, and if I have mapped correctly, both of the shifting red doorways should lead into the same (unvisited) room. From the room with the red tile, go south one room -- that should lead to another unvisited room. What is in there? | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 925 Registered: 5-2008 |
Go south and then west, to the room where the red block moved to the top. Go north through the newly accessible doorway. What do you see? The walls to the North and West are bare. There's a red doorway to the East with the block at the bottom and another tile with a pulsating light here on the floor. From here you can go: South. Have you already been in this room (when the gravity was the other way)? No, we had not. If so, then go back to the room with the red tile, and step on it again. Done. There are the same thuds you heard last time but still the red door to East does not change... Go north - is the red block doorway accessible from this room now? yes if so, go through it. What do you see? The same room you saw earlier with the pulsating light tile on the floor. Except the red door to the South is now blocked. From here you can go: East. I found my map... we have not yet been in that room, and if I have mapped correctly, both of the shifting red doorways should lead into the same (unvisited) room. correct From the room with the red tile, go south one room -- that should lead to another unvisited room. What is in there? You go south, under the blue block. In this room there is: a blank white wall to the South, a white doorway blocked at the bottom to the West, and a yellow doorway blocked at the top to the East. There is nothing of interest on ceiling or floor. From here you can go: North or East. | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 3395 Registered: 7-2009 |
Go back to the room through the red doors. Is the pulsating tile in this room colored? Is it just like the one that switched the gravity? | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 928 Registered: 5-2008 |
Go back to the room through the red doors. Is the pulsating tile in this room colored? Is it just like the one that switched the gravity? It is a pulsating white light just like the one that switched gravity in the room to the south. From here you can go: East. | ||
| Vene (Vene)
New member Username: Vene Post Number: 138 Registered: 9-2008 |
Before doing anything, could you try asking DALE why the tiles are pulsating now while they weren't before? Is this correlated with the the fact that he turned on the light? Does it mean the arena is no longer deactivated? Could you ask what did he mean by "last known good" configuration -- in what sense was it good? It feels to me like we have already changed that configuration, and maybe it's important to know how to revert to it. Then (unless you get responses that are so dramatic, that what I'm about to say seems stupid): Go: East, South, South, East. You should be in the room with the yellow floor tile. Is it pulsating? If so, step on it, Does the doorway to the North, towards ISAAC, slide to give way? If so, go to ISAAC and examine him. If possible, and with no obvious destructive consequences, try to connect our two mechanical friends. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 992 Registered: 5-2008 |
Before doing anything, could you try asking DALE why the tiles are pulsating now while they weren't before? Is this correlated with the the fact that he turned on the light? Does it mean the arena is no longer deactivated? Could you ask what did he mean by "last known good" configuration -- in what sense was it good? It feels to me like we have already changed that configuration, and maybe it's important to know how to revert to it. see below for your conversation with DALE. Then (unless you get responses that are so dramatic, that what I'm about to say seems stupid): Go: East, South, South, East. You should be in the room with the yellow floor tile. You move to the room with the yellow floor tile with no issues though you note that all the white doors you pass that you saw earlier have switched positions. Is it pulsating? no If so, step on it, Does the doorway to the North, towards ISAAC, slide to give way? You try stepping on it anyway and the doorway to the North opens for you as the doorway to the West closes - both transition incredibly fast, slamming into place. You also note that DALE's black glass shell briefly glowed Yellow as you stepped on the tile. If so, go to ISAAC and examine him. If possible, and with no obvious destructive consequences, try to connect our two mechanical friends. You: DALE, Why are those tiles pulsating now while they weren't before? Is this correlated with the fact that you turned on the light? Does it mean the arena is no longer deactivated? DALE: YES - I HAD TO ACTIVATE THE ARENA TO TURN ON THE LIGHTS. You: What did you mean by "last good configuration"? DALE: THE ARENA DETERMINES THROUGH THE USE OF SEVERAL COMPLEX ALGORITHMS WHAT THE LAST GOOD CONFIGURATION WAS. You: It seems to me like we've changed the configuration... is there anyway to get back to it? DALE: THE ARENA'S ALGORITHMS TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ALSO POSSIBLE FUTURE CONFIGURATIONS GIVEN ALL POSSIBLE SEQUENCES OF CHANGES THAT CAN BE MADE. IT DOES NOT HOWEVER TAKE INTO ACCOUNT HUMAN BEHAVIOUR. I WILL INTERVENE AND PREVENT ANY CHANGE FROM OCCURRING IF I SENSE YOU WILL BECOME TRAPPED BY YOUR OWN ACTIONS. Happy with this response you proceed to I.S.A.A.C. You: I'm with ISAAC... can you connect to him now? DALE: YES, JUST HOLD ME NEAR THE ROBOT. As you do as instructed a panel slides open on the side of DALE and a thick black wire slides out and spirals towards ISAAC. As the wire reaches the outer metal shell of the robot it splits into 8 finer wires, some of which divide again, and these thinner wires crawl about the surface and in between the metal plates. DALE: I'M CONNECTED TO I.S.A.A.C.'S INNER CIRCUITRY AND HAVE DISCOVERED A PROBLEM. I.S.A.A.C. DEACTIVATED ITSELF AGAIN AFTER ITS FALL. IT HAS LOGGED ITS REASONS FOR THIS AS HAVING MADE THE ASSESSMENT THAT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE OF DAMAGE OCCURRING AND THAT YOU WOULD PROCEED TO RELOCATE AND ACTIVATE IT AGAIN. You: Smart robot... but why not just stay activated and come find me? DALE: I.S.A.A.C. WAS RIGHT, IT HAS BECOME DAMAGED. ITS ADAPTIVE COMPUTATION CHIP WAS DAMAGED AND IT HAS REVERTED TO ITS INITIAL MANUAL SETTINGS. IT ALSO HAS A DAMAGED RIGHT TRACK THAT WILL PREVENT IT FROM MOVING. IT ALSO HAS DAMAGED ITS IMPACT SHIELD GENERATOR. You: That's ironic... So no movements are possible? DALE: I CAN PARTIALLY FIX THE RIGHT TRACK IF PROVIDED WITH A MISSING BOLT, A SMALL PIECE OF MALLEABLE METAL, AND SOMETHING TO HOLD APART TWO OF THESE OUTER PLATES. WITH THESE SETTINGS I.S.A.A.C. WOULD THEN BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO CHANGES WITHIN THE LATERAL MAZE WITH ONE OF 4 BUILT IN PROGRAMS. YOU CAN EDIT THE PROGRAMS IF YOU WISH. You: What about the "antigraviton" shield... can we control that? DALE: I CAN SET UP A WIRELESS BROADCAST THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO TURN IT OFF AND ON PROVIDED YOU ARE IN THE SAME ROOM. | ||
| Vene (Vene)
New member Username: Vene Post Number: 139 Registered: 9-2008 |
Does it look like we could use any now-useless piece of ISAAC itself to serve as the missing bolt or the piece of malleable metal? Would the screwdriver work to hold apart the outer plates? The keys maybe? Do your keys have a keyring? Could you open up the torch and see if any part of it is useful? Can DALE give us any clue about why the doors are now slamming, or about why the tiles (or at least the yellow tile) are not glowing? | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 996 Registered: 5-2008 |
Does it look like we could use any now-useless piece of ISAAC itself to serve as the missing bolt or the piece of malleable metal? Everything still on the robot looks too important and the only thing that came off the robot and fell to the ceiling was the bolt you already collected... well, that would probably satisfy the missing bolt requirement... Would the screwdriver work to hold apart the outer plates? probably... The keys maybe? DALE says no Do your keys have a keyring? They do but DALE says its electromagnetic properties are insufficient. Could you open up the torch and see if any part of it is useful? You'd rather not go breaking your torch just yet... Can DALE give us any clue about why the doors are now slamming, or about why the tiles (or at least the yellow tile) are not glowing? The doors probably always slammed, the yellow tile is the only one to have a corresponding door near it... well, except for the red door near the red tile, currently to your West... but that didn't move... why was that? The red tile didn't glow either perhaps the glowing/ not glowing only indicates whether or not the gravity adjusting tiles were active? DALE confirms this. | ||
| Vene (Vene)
New member Username: Vene Post Number: 140 Registered: 9-2008 |
Can you go and carefully investigate the red door from up close? Maybe some piece of maleable metal got stuck somewhere and is jamming it. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 1000 Registered: 5-2008 |
Can you go and carefully investigate the red door from up close? Maybe some piece of maleable metal got stuck somewhere and is jamming it. A reasonable line of thinking... your suspicions prove correct! The bullet that shot and killed Dr. Liquizt continued into this room and lodged itself into the door. There's a hole here and through it you can see the most complex circuitry you've ever seen. The hole's not quite large enough for you to get your fingers in and prise out the bullet though. | ||
| Vene (Vene)
New member Username: Vene Post Number: 141 Registered: 9-2008 |
So I assume the hole is only on one side of the door and the bullet is at the end. Maybe we can pry it out with the screwdriver, or could that cause short circuits? If you put DALE next to the hole can he examine it? But ask him not to fix it with any nanotechnology or some other crazy stuff without taking the bullet out! | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 1003 Registered: 5-2008 |
So I assume the hole is only on one side of the door and the bullet is at the end. Maybe we can pry it out with the screwdriver, or could that cause short circuits? If you put DALE next to the hole can he examine it? But ask him not to fix it with any nanotechnology or some other crazy stuff without taking the bullet out! You check with DALE, he says you should be safe to prise the bullet out using the screwdriver, after which he should be able to repair the door using the same splitting wire technology he possesses. You remove the bullet, which DALE confirms to be a suitable malleable metal for fixing ISAAC, and hold DALE near the hole so he can repair the door. The circuitry glows white hot as DALE works and you turn your head to avoid the occasional sparks. How does a device as small as DALE enough power to do this?! Within moments the door is fixed and as DALE retracts his wires it slams up into the ceiling and then back down to the floor. | ||
| Vene (Vene)
New member Username: Vene Post Number: 142 Registered: 9-2008 |
Would it maybe have been an advantage to keep the door broken? But I guess you wouldn't have done that to us ;) As for DALE's power, dr Liquizt probably developed the vibranium arc reactor. Don't worry, after he gets us out of here safely we'll break him violently and see what's inside! So now we have the bolt, the metal and the keys/screwdriver. Let's try to fix ISAAC! | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 1007 Registered: 5-2008 |
So now we have the bolt, the metal and the keys/screwdriver. Let's try to fix ISAAC! DALE adds the bolt and the melts the bullet into the correct shape and welds it inside I.S.A.A.C.'s casing for you. All you have to do is put the screwdriver in at the right point... hmm... You: DALE, I can't see what I'm doing. Can you charge my torch? DALE: SURE, THOUGH I'VE NOT ENOUGH POWER TO DO IT FROM MY BATTERY. HOLD ME AND YOUR TORCH NEAR THE HOLE IN THE RED DOOR. You do as instructed and are amazed as DALE diverts power from the door and into your torch using his wires. Well that answers that question... ;) With the torch working and the screwdriver in place, ISAAC is ready to become functional. DALE warns you however that he wasn't able to repair ISAAC's right track fully; it cannot go backwards, meaning the robot itself will not be able to move backwards or turn right. You also note another issue - with the screwdriver poking out of the top of ISAAC there's no way you will be able to turn off its antigraviton shields and put it back on the ceiling; it would destroy the robot completely. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18364 Registered: 4-2010 |
I lost my map again... gah... I'll try to find it this afternoon and give some instructions. While I do that, can you please recap our inventory? | ||
| Vene (Vene)
New member Username: Vene Post Number: 143 Registered: 9-2008 |
In the mean time, is it safe to actually activate ISAAC and make a trial run? Let's try! | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 1021 Registered: 5-2008 |
I lost my map again... gah... I'll try to find it this afternoon and give some instructions. DALE has a mapping feature... just ask. Please appreciate it will take me a while to produce the map in a reasonable format for display here so replies to requests for this feature will be slow! While I do that, can you please recap our inventory? You have in your possession a torch, your keys, and DALE. You also have access to an sophisticated robot of advanced adaptive artificial intelligence! Only... at the moment, the most you can do with it is get it to move around... and you have to program it to do that yourself... In the mean time, is it safe to actually activate ISAAC and make a trial run? Let's try! Sure! You activate ISAAC and access its programming features (with DALE's assistance). Turns out things are even more limited than you initially thought; - ISAAC will respond to distinct ultrasonic signals produced by the coloured floor tiles, immediately after they switch the positions of the doors. - ISAAC will also respond to a distinct ultrasonic signal produced by anything of a reasonable size passing through the exit doorway from within the Lateral Arena. Currently that program consists of turning left twice by 90 degrees and driving forwards. i.e. returning into the Arena - seems sensible to leave that one alone for now. - ISAAC's programs must all end with a FORWARD instruction and can be no longer than 3 instructions! This seems unreasonable but DALE insists that as a guest you're not permitted to do anything more with the robot. With the limitations of the right track wheel, every possible program you can use is summarised as follows: where []s mean 'optional' and NOOP means 'do nothing'. | ||
| Noel (Noel)
New member Username: Noel Post Number: 3413 Registered: 7-2009 |
What do you mean that ISAAC will "respond" to ultrasonic signals produced by the colored floor tiles? What does he do? Ask DALE. If DALE doesn't tell you, then proceed to the nearest accessible colored floor tile and step on it, then report what ISAAC does. Also, we still need to check out the room that was blocked by the broken red block, now that we've removed the bullet. I have no idea where we are or whether we can currently access the red floor tile, so can someone who is keeping track of the maze please get us to the red tile to see if that door works now that the bullet has been removed? | ||
| Vene (Vene)
New member Username: Vene Post Number: 144 Registered: 9-2008 |
I can provide my map, I think the best way is to make a Google Draw document, so everyone can update it (I assume there are no malevolent people among us). | ||
| Kyeannpepper (Kyeannpepper)
New member Username: Kyeannpepper Post Number: 1176 Registered: 1-2012 |
Vene: That would be wonderful. The only thing keeping me from jumping in on the maze is the lack o a map, as I am horrible with directions. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 1037 Registered: 5-2008 |
What do you mean that ISAAC will "respond" to ultrasonic signals produced by the colored floor tiles? What does he do? Ask DALE. If DALE doesn't tell you, then proceed to the nearest accessible colored floor tile and step on it, then report what ISAAC does. See conversation with DALE below. Also, we still need to check out the room that was blocked by the broken red block, now that we've removed the bullet. I have no idea where we are or whether we can currently access the red floor tile, so can someone who is keeping track of the maze please get us to the red tile to see if that door works now that the bullet has been removed? You have been in both rooms either side of the now fixed red block. You move to the room (NWS) and step on the red tile there. DALE's surface flashes with red light but the doors do not move. See conversation with DALE below. Current exits are: North, West, and South. I can provide my map, I think the best way is to make a Google Draw document, so everyone can update it (I assume there are no malevolent people among us). Vene: That would be wonderful. The only thing keeping me from jumping in on the maze is the lack o a map, as I am horrible with directions. That'd be great Vene! Thank you :) You: DALE, what happened? I just stepped on a red floor tile and now it doesn't do anything?! DALE: I.S.A.A.C. RESPONDS TO THE SAME ULTRASONIC SIGNAL THAT THE DOORS IN THE REST OF THE ARENA ACCEPT AS TRIGGERS FOR SWITCHING POSITION. I.S.A.A.C'S RESPONSE WOULD BE TO MAKE A SERIES OF MOVEMENTS AS PER ITS CORRESPONDING 'RED PROGRAM'. I INTERCEPTED THE SIGNAL TO PREVENT I.S.A.A.C. FROM DESTROYING ITSELF BY DRIVING INTO A WALL. | ||
| Kalira (Kalira)
New member Username: Kalira Post Number: 869 Registered: 2-2009 |
Well, I didn't see one, so for now, please enjoy this map (link should open in a new tab) of our surroundings. Near as I can tell, this is how the doors stand at the moment. I'm not sure how to do a Google Draw doc, but if anyone can tell me how to make one that's editable by multiple people, I'll make a link to it. Quick note: Just so we can tell the difference between a "white" door and an open passageway, I took the liberty of making all the "white" stuff light grey in the image. So, things that are actually white in the image are the open ends of doors. So... we are currently at "antigraviton setting: off", in the room with the red tile, yes? Ask DALE if ISAAC still has his antigraviton shielding on (i.e., if we go hit one of the grey shimmery tiles, will ISAAC stay where he is instead of crashing into the "ceiling"?). Just so I can see if I can fill in some information, go N E S S E to the room with the blue tile, and hit the blue tile... if DALE will let it go through. If he won't, ask DALE to change the blue program to LEFT; LEFT; FORWARD and hit the blue tile. After that, go W N E to see if the blue door in the first room has changed (and to see if the doctor's corpse has changed places with the antigraviton setting change, just for my random information), and from there, W N W S to see if the other one has changed. Just so I don't have to do mess with that map image right now, go back to the blue tile room and hit the blue tile again. If DALE says ISAAC won't go crashing if we mess with the antigraviton setting, let's make our way back to the NW corner room and hit that tile, then go south twice to explore the room we haven't seen yet. | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 18475 Registered: 4-2010 |
Thanks for the map, Kalira! |
