Editing City Series:Volume8a Chapter1 (section)

===Aoe’s Board Mode: At DT Yard===

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

You are at DT Yard’s Top Page: Yard Captain’s Office.

The current time is 9:00 AM.

You just entered the room through the Yard’s newcomer lobby.

The large room contains a large desk. The shelves on the wall carry awards and a shield.

A single PC Body is in the room: Ogre Telyb Dll.

Aoe: “Mh?”

Aoe: <Oh?>

Aoe: “What kind of room is this? It’s nothing like the lobby. Is this a new kind of textual world?”

Telyb: “Ha ha ha. Precisely, visitor.”

Telyb: “This conversation-only mode is DT’s unique Board Mode, Aoe.”

Aoe: “Mh.”

Aoe: “There must be someone here, but where are they? I can’t see anything in this mode.”

Telyb: “Yes, I’m here. Right in front of you even.”

Telyb: “If you want to see something in Board Mode, just think ‘Over Reload’ to yourself.”

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Mr. Telyb is seated across the desk from you. He is a fat middle-aged black man.

A blue avian Mouse is standing on Mr. Telyb’s desk.

A digital clock counting down to the Day of the Oracle is located on the wall above the window behind him.

Aoe: “The Day of the Oracle?”

Help: Day of the Oracle.

A prophecy was received when the 2nd Godtact Experiment failed and the Questron exploded. It was a vague prophecy simply stating that everything would “get better” after a point 2000 years in the future. The day the people of DT lost their memories in the explosion was set as July 7 of Year 0 DT in the city properties, so 2000 years later would be precisely 3 PM on July 7, 2000 DT. DT’s dynasty paid a great price for that prophecy, so to ensure it was of some use, DT’s overall boost properties will be changed on the Day of the Oracle and the DT data from before the 2nd Godtact Experiment will receive an open release after previously being sealed away to prevent a panic.

Aoe: <Mh. It won’t stop talking.>

Telyb: “The terminology help program loves to show off to visitors.”

Telyb: “So how are you handling yourself in Board Mode?”

Aoe: “Hmm. It feels strange, to be honest.”

Aoe: “I rely on sensory information so much that not actually seeing things is bothersome.”

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

The surroundings have not changed. Mr. Telyb is giving you a serious look.

Aoe: “Are things around me in motion while I talk like this?”

Telyb: “They are. You need to keep in mind that an Over Reload only gives you 2-3 seconds’ worth of data. Board Mode is for a high-speed exchange of the textual data at the foundation of DT. It isn’t meant for other uses.”

Telyb: “If you want a visual-based experience, you have to switch to Sight Mode. But I should explain Board Mode to you before you try that. Do another Over Reload.”

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Mr. Telyb has stood up and is aiming a handgun your way.

Aoe: “Mh.”

Telyb: “This is the scary thing about Board Mode. I’ve been aiming this gun at you for 8 seconds now, but you didn’t notice until you Over Reloaded. If I had pulled the trigger, you would have seen a critical warning window at the same time you felt the shock and died.”

Aoe: “And if you die in the Virtual City, you die in real life? Can’t you back us up?”

Telyb: “Only if you want to trigger resonance collapse with your existing Lives. Just make sure to check on your surroundings periodically.”

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Mr. Telyb has put away the handgun and is seated deep in his chair.

Telyb: “Yes, start out by keeping a close eye on things.”

Telyb: “Board Mode only shows you a limited slice of the data. Your PC Body exists even if you can’t sense it and it operates using subprograms. That allows it to move, do work, and eat, but the subprograms are inaccurate and make mistakes. They’re efficient and fast, though.”

Aoe: “The most difficult thing for me is holding a conversation without seeing the other person’s face or hearing their tone of voice.”

Telyb: “That you’ll just have to get used to. Board Mode is the primary mode of life here in DT.”

Aoe: “Isn’t that stifling?”

Telyb: “There are people who can’t keep up with this high-speed exchange of emotionless data. They’re better suited for the slow pace of the harmonious Plus World outside the city, so the high-speed noisy Minus World of DT can be overwhelming.”

Telyb: “I’ve seen hundreds if not thousands of people who neurotically Over Reload every single second watching for unseen changes in their surroundings. But on the other hand, Board Mode is fast and convenient.”

Aoe: “What if I can’t get used to this?”

Telyb: “Unfortunately, that’s the case for the majority of people. If you can’t read the rapid flow of emotionless text data and use your imagination to pick up on the emotions hidden in that text, then you’ll misunderstand the people around you, cause trouble, and claim you’re being treated unfairly. We have a word for them: dropouts.”

Telyb: “So either get used to it or find people you’re comfortable enough around that you don’t need to Over Reload. Speaking of which, you’re forgetting to do it again. What do you think my expression was when I was talking about the dropouts?”

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Mr. Telyb is smiling in your direction.

Aoe: “You look amused by the term.”

Telyb: “Of course I am. I was originally a type of hacker called a phone phreak, which made me a Minus Elite. I never fit in in the outside world. It scared me how everyone assumed I was a Plus person, so they couldn’t understand me. That’s why I was so surprised when I came to DT. Here, everyone views people’s feelings and everything else in a Minus light and you’re considered the bad guy if you assume the opposite.”

Telyb: “We got used to life here pretty quick, but there are always the people who just can’t see through the noise. They’re the mainstream of the outside world. It’s those Plus Elites who end up dropping out in here.”

Telyb: “And we can only be the Elites here because the Minus extreme of stripping out all emotion causes that type to drop out. We don’t drive them out because of pride or anything. It’s this world itself that drives them out.”

Aoe: “…”

Aoe: “Did you ever think you fit in here because you’re missing something normal people have?”

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Mr. Telyb claps his hands once in delight.

Telyb: “I like you, Aoe. You have the most wonderful look of disgust on your face right now, don’t you?”

Aoe: “How did you know?”

Telyb: “Because we’re Minus Elites. There’s always something off about us on the emotional, human, or moral front. But you can’t see any of that here in DT, so our imaginations have to act as a substitute. And…”

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Mr. Telyb is smiling bitterly.

Telyb: “Those of us who find the outside world frightening believe in that power and praise the Minus.”

Telyb: “This virtual city full of fakes is home to people like that. If a Plus Elite tries to lie in this Minus World, they will fall to the Minus side and drop out. They can’t give up the reality of the Plus and they can’t choose the dream of the Minus.”

Aoe: “Algo said he was going to abandon the Plus and eliminate Words Warn.”

Telyb: “Whatever his reasons, he has chosen the path of the Minus Elite. But which will you choose?”

Aoe: “Well…”

'''<Aoe’s Over Reload>

Mr. Telyb’s eyebrows are raised in a bitter smile. It is a subtle smile.

Telyb: “You don’t have to agonize over the decision. Some aren’t on either side and some struggle either way. But remember this: if you can’t accept the fakes, then you are a Plus person.”

Telyb: “But you did kill someone in the Plus World. That is a Minus act.”

Aoe: “Algo said the same thing. He said I had dropped out of the Plus World.”

Telyb: “Don’t look so troubled by it. Remember what I said? Some people aren’t on either side and there’s nothing wrong with that. Whether or not it destroys you is the world’s decision.”

Telyb: “And if you aren’t on either side, it means you have more options open to you. You could choose the Plus, the Minus, or some third option. Give it some thought if you have the time.”

Telyb: “But that’s enough chitter chatter. Think ‘Sight Mode’ to change modes. That one should be a lot easier to grasp.”

'''<Aoe’s Board Mode has ended>