text: [Themes: Science Fiction]
  
  > look at your surroundings
  Like a new and never-used aquarium, the lobby. Featuring a kiosk.
  
  > go southeast
  The Gap gapes on the northeast corner. A place called "Ice Planet" is southeast. To the southwest is a convenience store, ShopLite. The cheerful block of the nTopia Hospital occupies the remaining corner, to the northwest.
  
  > go east
  You head east on First Street...
  
  A Starbucks is to the northeast. The post office on the southwest corner looks as distinguished as a mausoleum. The urban idiom fails on the northwest corner, where a restaurant sits like a ranch house on a little plot of desert. Opposite it, a path leads onto the nWare Media Campus.
  
  > Go southeast
  The north part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media buildings scattered about. Specifically, F2 is to the northeast.
  
  > Go northeast
  This particularly uninviting room may have been included simply to reassure those without proper clearance that they are in the wrong place. To the north is the building's main floor.
  
  > go to the north
  This is a large, open, and curiously empty workspace. Presumably employees come in here with their own laptops and work in some sort of hoteling arrangement, but the place seems rather desolate at the moment. Perhaps the team that uses this space isn't working feverishly for the demo, the way Engine team is. Or perhaps they're just elsewhere, who knows?
  
  There are racks all around the place. And it looks like we also have the F2 server.
  
  > look at the server
  This nSure 3000 looks a lot like Wendy.
  
  One thing seems pretty funny, though. The machine is hooked up in a completely ass-reversed fashion, or, actually, in a way that's even worse. It just seems to be plugged into itself all over the place. It couldn't actually be doing anything useful, set up like this. This is a fake server, the equivalent of a blank book that is used for interior decorating purposes.
  
  > pull the server
  You pull the server towards you a bit and then release it. It falls back into place. The rack next to it slides aside to reveal a stairway, leading down, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
  
  > Down
  You are at one end of a vast hall stretching out of sight to the east. The walls are liquid rivers of orange stone, except for one dark patch where the stairway traces a path upward. The hall is filled with wisps of white mist that sway like Voldo from Soul Calibur.
  
  > Go east
  The orange pulsing walls and sadomasochistic ripples of mist that so disturbingly livened up the west side of this huge room are absent here. This part of the underground space is pretty much bare and white, shaped like a giant Bose speaker. One notable feature is the large black button with a right-pointing triangle on it. Curiously, you also notice a small plate on one of the walls here -- there must have been some method to Knut's madness.
  
  > Examine button
  ( That is, "examine the black button." )
  
  Ah, yes. The black button. There it is.
  
  > open the plate
  You open the plate, revealing a futuristic helmet.
  
  > examine the helmet
  It's a head-enclosing helmet, mirrored on the front. Not the thing you'd want to wear to a formal dinner. Here in nTopia, though, it would probably be a perfectly acceptable accessory. It's discretely labeled "SimulacCam."
  
  > Wear helmet
  You enclose your head in the blackness of the helmet. An instant and a soft beep later, you can somehow see and hear again. You don't seem to have any trouble breathing in the strange device, and it isn't as uncomfortable as one would imagine.
  
  > look
  This part of the underground space is pretty much bare and white, shaped like a giant Bose speaker. One notable feature is the large black button with a right-pointing triangle on it. The metal plate Knut mentioned is here, tilting open.
  
  > press the button
  ( That is, "press the black button." )
  
  Very well. That was one of the least interesting button-pressing experiences of the past week.
  
  > Go west
  This is the west end of a cavernous space, all white and oddly-angled. Some sort of studio or research facility, no doubt. A stairway leads up.
  
  > Up
  This is a large, open, and curiously empty workspace. There are racks all around.
  
  The one next to the F2 server has moved aside to reveal a stairway leading down.
  
  > pull the server
  You give the server a tug towards you. The rack unit slides closed, and it's now as if the hidden stairway were a figment of your imagination.
  
  > Leave
  This particularly uninviting room may have been included simply to reassure those without proper clearance that they are in the wrong place. To the north is the building's main floor.
  
  > Go northwest
  A Starbucks is to the northeast. The post office on the southwest corner looks as distinguished as a mausoleum. The urban idiom fails on the northwest corner, where a restaurant sits like a ranch house on a little plot of desert. Opposite it, a path leads onto the nWare Media Campus.
  
  A gray and black designer herd hurries past you, almost at a trot, brandishing picapoles.
  
  > Go north
  You head north on Main...
  
  Even Main Street has nothing but a pair of warehouses on this end, where it meets Front Street. The airport wall is north.
  
  > go to the west
  You head west on Front Street...
  
  It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks.
  
  > Go north
  nAir flies direct from here to Seattle, San Jose, Austin, and Boston, with trips to less geeky destinations being more circuitous. They seem to have forgotten to give this place the air of a big-city airport. It looks more like a large metal barn, with little but a kiosk in this main space.
  
  Past security, to the north, you can see a handful of gates, which are actually gates in a fence. A subtle door to the east leads to the Airport's server room.
  
  > press the button
  ( That is, "press the server's red button." )
  
  The button clicks in. As you release it, the box falls silent and dark for a moment, then begins to power back up.
  
  Now it's really rebooted.
  
  > examine server
  This nSure 3000 looks a lot like Wendy. Unfortunately, this server is probably now serving as a massive repository of pirated ninja movies. You sure wish you could remember how to turn these things off.
  
  > check your inventory
  You are carrying the SimulacCam (being worn), an nStick, your nLap 500, your pager, and your key.
  
  > unplug the server
  Plugging and unplugging things is so 1997.
  
  > Open nLap
  You open the nLap 500, which wakes the moment it begins to unfold.
  
  > use computer
  ( That is, "use Nora." )
  
  Nora hasn't been dumbed down enough to be used in only one way.
  
  > examine Nora
  This nSure 3000 looks a lot like Wendy. Unfortunately, this server is probably now serving as a massive repository of pirated ninja movies. You sure wish you could remember how to turn these things off.
  
  A crackling sound comes, somehow, from all around.
  
  This is a test of the nTopia civil alert system. If this were actually a --
  
  The recorded voice breaks off.
  
  ATTENTION. This is actually not a test. This is an alert. Severe dust and wind conditions are anticipated. In a calm and orderly fashion, please find shelter indoors, or remain indoors if you are there already, and refer from going outside until further notice. Refrain. Refrain from going outside. Don't be nervous. High risk of death if you don't get indoors. Calmly. Get indoors. Immediately.
  
  Then there is quiet.
  
  > turn off Nora
  Once you figure out how to turn this server off, you can do whatever it is that turns this server off, and, as a result, the server will be turned off.
  
  There's a granular howl from outside.
  
  > hold button
  ( That is, "hold the server's red button." )
  
  You hold the server's button in a for a while, and the box whines to a halt, falling silent. When you release the button, the server remains lifeless.
  
  The harsh whistling sound continues.
  
  You get that satisfied feeling that you usually get after accomplishing a work-related task.
  
  > Go south
  You can't go that way.
  
  The harsh whistling sound continues.
  
  > Exits
  From here, it looks like it's possible to go west and out.
  
  > Exit
  You head out through the door.
  
  nAir flies direct from here to Seattle, San Jose, Austin, and Boston, with trips to less geeky destinations being more circuitous. They seem to have forgotten to give this place the air of a big-city airport. It looks more like a large metal barn, with little but a kiosk in this main space.
  
  Past security, to the north, you can see a handful of gates, which are actually gates in a fence. A subtle door to the east leads to the Airport's server room.
  
  The harsh whistling sound continues. The city outside remains obscured by dust.
  
  > Go outside
  There's more than one exit. Specify a direction to take one of them.
  
  The harsh whistling sound continues. The city outside remains obscured by dust.
  
  > Exits
  From here, it looks like it's possible to go east and south.
  
  > Go south
  It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks.
  
  A wall of shifting orange-brown slams through the space and around you. What you were breathing is quickly as thick as an hourglass. First grit -- then stupor -- then the letting go --
  
  > Go southwest
  You can't go that way.
  
  The harsh whistling sound continues. The city outside remains obscured by dust.
  
  > Go north
  At airport security they find that you are without a boarding pass. After a quick strip search, they politely turn you away.
  
  The harsh whistling sound continues. The city outside remains obscured by dust.
  
  > go to the east
  You head through the door and into the server room.
  
  Raised floor, drop ceiling, and racks all around instead of walls make this place seem pretty comfy, at least if you're a patch cable. And it looks like we also have Nora.
  
  The harsh whistling sound continues.
  
  > use the computer
  ( That is, "use Nora." )
  
  Nora hasn't been dumbed down enough to be used in only one way.
  
  The harsh whistling sound continues.
  
  > use nLap
  Your nLap 500 is portable, but not very usable, when closed.
  
  The harsh whistling sound continues.
  
  > Open nLap
  You open the nLap 500, which wakes the moment it begins to unfold.
  
  The harsh whistling sound continues.
  
  > go to the west
  You head out through the door.
  
  nAir flies direct from here to Seattle, San Jose, Austin, and Boston, with trips to less geeky destinations being more circuitous. They seem to have forgotten to give this place the air of a big-city airport. It looks more like a large metal barn, with little but a kiosk in this main space.
  
  Past security, to the north, you can see a handful of gates, which are actually gates in a fence. A subtle door to the east leads to the Airport's server room.
  
  A window pops up in the lower right corner of your nLap. In it, the uncanny red stapler wiggles its hinged head to the accompaniment of a cheery robot voice:
  
  Hey, this looks like the airport! You can get on a plane here and go somewhere else! After you purchase a ticket, after you get your manager's approval for vacation time, and so forth!
  
  The window winks away.
  
  > Close nLap
  You close the nLap 500.
  
  > go south
  It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks.
  
  There seems to be no trace of whatever sand was blowing all around, unless some of the buildings now have a slightly glossier finish.
  
  > Go southwest
  Hey, it's Starbucks. Just like in You've Got Mail.
  
  > buy tea
  They only really have stuff like coffee for sale here.
  
  > buy the coffee
  You purchase your caffeine solution and gratefully slurp it down.
  
  > Go northeast
  It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks.
  
  > go southeast
  Words cut out of dark wood cover most of the walls, although a central space has a triptych of enormous video panels. A woman who exceeds the conventional standards of beauty is standing around cheerfully.
  
  > ask the woman about nTopia
  "Lovely place we live in," she says.
  
  > ask the woman about the date
  "Um, I'm not sure. They haven't really told me much. I mostly just stand here and smile," she replies.
  
  > ask the woman about the triptych
  "Um, I'm not sure. They haven't really told me much. I mostly just stand here and smile," she says.
  
  > go out
  If you're trying to communicate, try asking about something specific. If you're trying to give orders, you don't seem to be in much of a position to do that.
  
  > examine the panels
  The video panels display cheerful promotional views of nTopia.
  
  > Go northwest
  It's the gateway to nTopia. The airport is north through a tall rectangular arch that is topped with red flashing lights. On the southeast corner is the visitor center. Southwest is a Starbucks.
  
  > go south
  You head south on Eel...
  
  The Gap gapes on the northeast corner. A place called "Ice Planet" is southeast. To the southwest is a convenience store, ShopLite. The cheerful block of the nTopia Hospital occupies the remaining corner, to the northwest.
  
  A very important-looking person wearing a green visor speeds by on a golden Sinclair C5.
  
  > go to the northeast
  Hey, it's The Gap. Just like in Minority Report.
  
  > go south
  You head south on Eel...
  
  The marquee of the Bastion Theater is northeast and the blank stare of 0th Bank diagonally across to the southwest. Speaking of the Southwest, the bad Southwestern art of the Coyote and Crown howls from the northwest corner. A pleasant absence of city is southeast, where the fake hills of nTopia's park roll.
  
  > go to the south
  You head south on Eel...
  
  To the northeast are the miniature tree-spotted hills of nTopia's park. On the southeast corner is the police station. A Starbucks is on the southwest corner. Neon signs and flashing screens glint from the establishment to the northwest, Arcadia Ego.
  
  > Go northwest
  Hey, this is just like in War Games, pretty much, except for the loads of games where you can control 3D figures that kick each other's ass, and the games where you dance or play a drum or fire shotguns, and the section of retro games. That section is just like in War Games, actually, except now it's all retro.
  
  There's a din of digitized sound. What's visible of the walls is covered with multicolored squares, presumably in an attempt to make the atmosphere even more festive.
  
  > examine the Games
  There are loads of games that look familiar but uncompelling. Looking through them, you find only one standout: LlamaFight 2000, a true classic.
  
  > look at the llamafight 2000
  You remember LlamaFight 2000 as being totally awesome, and by totally awesome, you mean totally sweet. One or two players can participate in hard-hitting, bare-hoofed combat. In Europe the game was released under the name "Yie Ar Kung Llama."
  
  This righteous coin-op doesn't seem to use the nPediment payment system, as it has a lit coin slot that simply says "1".
  
  > go southeast
  To the northeast are the miniature tree-spotted hills of nTopia's park. On the southeast corner is the police station. A Starbucks is on the southwest corner. Neon signs and flashing screens glint from the establishment to the northwest, Arcadia Ego.
  
  > go to the north
  You head north on Eel...
  
  The marquee of the Bastion Theater is northeast and the blank stare of 0th Bank diagonally across to the southwest. Speaking of the Southwest, the bad Southwestern art of the Coyote and Crown howls from the northwest corner. A pleasant absence of city is southeast, where the fake hills of nTopia's park roll.
  
  > Go southwest
  It's just a cheesy bank lobby, with indoor-outdoor carpet. A teller waits behind a counter.
  
  > examine teller
  Dressed like a bank teller, standing behind a counter in a bank -- she almost certainly is a bank teller.
  
  > ask the teller for the money
  The teller produces some sort of tethered handheld device and begins tapping on it.
  
  "Yes, I see you've started the process of establishing an account with us. While your account has not yet been approved, as a courtesy to new residents of nTopia, and to remind you about how enjoyable personal financial transactions can be, we can convert one dollar from your nRich account into a physical representation of value."
  
  The device produces a coin, which the teller hands to you. She then puts the device away and tells you to have a nice day.
  
  > examine the coin
  It's one of those new dollar coins with an armadillo on one side and half the head of Thomas Edison on the other.
  
  > go to the north-east
  The marquee of the Bastion Theater is northeast and the blank stare of 0th Bank diagonally across to the southwest. Speaking of the Southwest, the bad Southwestern art of the Coyote and Crown howls from the northwest corner. A pleasant absence of city is southeast, where the fake hills of nTopia's park roll.
  
  A bicyclist hurtles by, speaking Spanish on a hands-free phone.
  
  > go northwest
  There's a din of digitized sound. What's visible of the walls is covered with multicolored squares, presumably in an attempt to make the atmosphere even more festive.
  
  > play the llamafight 2000
  The coin does seen like an obvious thing to put into the coin slot, but it's too thick to fit in there.
  
  > Go south
  You head south on Eel...
  
  The local elementary school sits beside a gated playground to the northeast. Plywood closes off the site on the southeast corner, hiding whatever is being built there. The Pine and Elm, an apartment building you checked out and found just about identical to the Wild Palms, is southwest. On the northwest corner is an upscale variety store, MarMart.
  
  > Go south
  You head south on Eel...
  
  To the northeast is Public Char. A Starbucks is on the southeast corner. A complex of tall apartment buildings, The Planar Forest, is southwest. To the northwest is a shoe store.
  
  > Go west
  You head west on Fifth Street...
  
  Your apartment building is on the southwest corner. Opposite it is a windowless, blocky building. On the southeast corner Pharmicopia sprawls. Otto's Automat is to the northwest.
  
  > go to the northwest
  Someone, perhaps shellf, really got into Dark City. There couldn't be any other excuse for this combination vending machine and cafeteria, even though it may strain to look modern and appetizing. Pixelated smiley faces in an urgent red decorate everything, even the edges of the food-dispensing wall.
  
  The opportunity to avoid social contact during food selection is appealing.
  
  > look at the wall
  The food-grid features various sorts of ready-made edibles.
  
  > look at the edibles
  Ah, yes. The food. There it is.
  
  > buy the food
  Food does seem like a good idea. You select something palatable from the food-dispensing wall and begin to consume it, face flickering with mammalian happiness.
  
  You conclude your culinary experience.
  
  Here we go again. Your pager goes off in its usual buzzing, vibrating fit.
  
  The pager buzzes and jars you, its motor driven to disrupt and demand attention.
  
  > press the pager's button
  A beep issues from the pager, then a voice:
  
  Gus needs his password reset now. Immediately. At the current time. Sorry it's so early. Also, be nice to him when you walk over and deliver his new password, since this weekend has been rough on everyone. He's in F2 and I'm now having your nPediment privileges set so you can walk right in there and find him. Thanks for rebooting the machines, by the way.
  
  It is, of course, Wilbur.
  
  A beep issues from the pager, then a voice:
  
  This is an automatic report about how you got owned, champ. That's right, one of your machines is puking out denial of service packets and needs to be offlined immediately. Better get it off your network before somebody other than a robot tells you about it. The victim is Nora.
  
  It sounds like the perky cousin of that stupid stapler.
  
  A beep issues from the pager, then a voice:
  
  Disk failure. Disk hesitant, corrupted, ready for immolation. Replace the disk. Must be replaced prior to demo. Almost there. Almost at demo. We will make it. Replace the disk. Follow the procedure and incinerate the old disk once it has been replaced. The disk of the main server in F9. Access to F9 is currently being provided you. Go.
  
  Obviously, the message is from Wilbur.
  
  > Go east
  You head east on Third Street...
  
  To the northeast are the miniature tree-spotted hills of nTopia's park. On the southeast corner is the police station. A Starbucks is on the southwest corner. Neon signs and flashing screens glint from the establishment to the northwest, Arcadia Ego.
  
  > Go east
  You head east on Third Street...
  
  Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Court," is less impressive.
  
  > Go northwest
  The products are incidentally on hand here. Usually nGeniuses are about to discuss tips and tricks that further enhance the virtues of nWare hardware and software, preaching to the clergy. Today, perhaps because of the impending demo, the place seems barren.
  
  > take the disk
  This seems a likely place to find an nWare hard disk drive, but you don't notice any. If you wanted to buy one, though, you could try to -- somebody might be able to help you.
  
  > go southeast
  Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Court," is less impressive.
  
  Three people covered with flour and ink run down the street in tears, disappearing.
  
  > go to the east
  You head east on Third Street...
  
  The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're cleared to enter, to the northwest. And to the southeast is the enigmatic F9.
  
  > go southeast
  The building seems to be almost completely occupied by this one huge room. A flat screen blinks on the east wall. You can't tell where the server room might be.
  
  > look at the screen
  You read a curious message there: "All 'sensitives' on the Book Team should have been evacuated by now! If any are left consult the appropriate contact regarding evacuation ASAP IKYN!"
  
  A superannuated manager rushes in, fiddling with some sort of extremely advanced laser pointer. He casts an embarrassed glance at the flat panel and manipulates the laser pointer; the screen blinks off. With some other twist or twiddle of the device, the east wall slides open, and the flat panel moves with it, out of sight.
  
  "Come. In here."
  
  He ushers you east.
  
  You're getting to that point in your life where all the server rooms start to look the same. And it looks like we also have the F9 server.
  
  The gentleman of great senectitude dashes off at an amazing pace, disappearing.
  
  > examine server
  The remarkable thing here is the hard disk drive that is jutting out of a slot in the machine.
  
  > look at the drive
  Fixed to the side of the charred hard disk is a purchase order for a replacement disk and a curt notice: DESTROY UPON FAILURE.
  
  > take the order
  That seems to be a part of the defective disk.
  
  > take the disk
  You withdraw the defective disk.
  
  > go out
  The building seems to be almost completely occupied by this one huge room. There's an opening to the east.
  
  > go to the east
  You're getting to that point in your life where all the server rooms start to look the same. And it looks like we also have the F9 server.
  
  > go outside
  The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're cleared to enter, to the northwest. And to the southeast is the enigmatic F9.
  
  > Go west
  You head west on Third Street...
  
  Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Court," is less impressive.
  
  > Go northwest
  The products are incidentally on hand here. Usually nGeniuses are about to discuss tips and tricks that further enhance the virtues of nWare hardware and software, preaching to the clergy. Today, perhaps because of the impending demo, the place seems barren.
  
  > buy the disk
  ( That is, "buy the merchandise." )
  
  By brandishing the busted disk drive, you manage to flag down a salesperson. The guy assisting you expertly produces a new and identically-shaped drive, stamping the old one with something red and indelible as he hands the new one to you and tells you what kind of day to have.
  
  > Go southeast
  Main runs along the western edge of the nWare Media Campus. Northwest of here, a bit of parkland holds the nWare store, a multi-story glass cube. The concrete structure to the southwest, labeled "Supreme Food Court," is less impressive.
  
  A man with the demeanor of a middle manager skips by in a long gray cape, peeling a banana at both ends.
  
  > go to the east
  You head east on Third Street...
  
  The south part of the campus is deceptively pleasant, with nWare Media buildings scattered about. You particularly note F7, which you're cleared to enter, to the northwest. And to the southeast is the enigmatic F9.
  
  > go to the southeast
  The building seems to be almost completely occupied by this one huge room. There's an opening to the east.
  
  > go to the east
  You're getting to that point in your life where all the server rooms start to look the same. And it looks like we also have the F9 server.
  
  > put the disk in the server
  ... Are you referring to the new disk or the defective disk?
  
  > New
  As you insert the new hard disk drive, the slot seals itself closed, and the server looks the way that usual, fully functional server looks.
  
  You get that satisfied feeling that you usually get after accomplishing a work-related task.
  
  > Go northeast
  One corner of the nWare Media Campus is to the northeast, where a path affords entrance. There are Starbuckses on the other three corners.
  
  > Go southwest
  The scooters, Segways, bikes, sport utility tricycles, and suchlike are all lined up here in supposedly appealing configurations.
  
  > buy the unicycle
  You are gripped by paralysis, unable to decide where to begin or end your shopping spree. After you breathe for a moment, the panic subsides. Perhaps you'll be able to go and shop after the stress of the demo has passed.
  
  > Go northeast
  The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra.
  
  The scheme of the city, and your previous wanderings, suggest to you that the incinerator isn't likely to be plopped down here in the middle of town.
  
  > Go west
  You head west on Fifth Street...
  
  To the northeast is Public Char. A Starbucks is on the southeast corner. A complex of tall apartment buildings, The Planar Forest, is southwest. To the northwest is a shoe store.
  
  > Go south
  You head south on Eel...
  
  Two uncannily clean but industrial-looking buildings sit on either side of Eel to the north. Back Street runs right along the railing that bounds the city to the south.
  
  You have come to the edge of the plateau on which nTopia is built. Far below, past the railing, is the desert plain, stretching from reddish white to white, scraggled here and there with gray. The sky is lapis lazuli. Some highway stretches far off from east to west, as if it were an imperfect reflection of a line on a map.
  
  > Go northwest
  There's some corrugated steel-with-cinderblock-accents thing going on here. The floor ends to the west, where smoke and wailing rise from a pit. And it looks like we also have a double-cup panel lifter.
  
  > look in the pit
  The pit from which smoke and wailing arises is empty.
  
  > look at the lifter
  Ah yes. The double-cup panel lifter. An ungainly little widget. There it is.
  
  > use the lifter
  The double-cup panel lifter can only be used to open and close floor panels.
  
  > take the lifter
  You conduct the acquisition.
  
  > throw the disk in the pit
  You gingerly fling the defective disk into the pit, where it almost certainly goes the way of the gold standard.
  
  You get that satisfied feeling that you usually get after accomplishing a work-related task.
  
  > go outside
  Two uncannily clean but industrial-looking buildings sit on either side of Eel to the north. Back Street runs right along the railing that bounds the city to the south.
  
  > go to the east
  You head east on Back Street...
  
  Back Street runs east behind City Hall here at the south end of nTopia. Eel is to the west. A warehouse is on the northwest corner.
  
  > Go north
  You head north on Main...
  
  The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra.
  
  A cute little fire truck careers down the street, letting loose an occasional bottle rocket.
  
  > Go northwest
  While most of the retail spaces are minimal or postmodern, this package pickup and dropoff point has more of the sense of a Hoboken everything 99 cents store.
  
  > Leave
  The building to the northeast houses "Scales," a restaurant. The government-looking neo-something architecture of City Hall offers an entryway to the southeast. On the southwest corner is "Wheel-Man," a personal transportation dealer. The final business here, to the northwest, is Mailboxes Ultra.
  
  > Go northeast
  It's all orange inside, too, with rounded booths of different sizes cut into the walls. The place is a sort of large-scale bento box, outfitted so that it will be safe during hunting season.
  
  Here we go again. Your pager goes off in its usual buzzing, vibrating fit.
  
  The pager buzzes and jars you, its motor driven to disrupt and demand attention.
  
  > press the pager's button
  A beep issues from the pager, then a voice:
  
  Gus needs his password reset now. Immediately. At the current time. Sorry it's so early. Also, be nice to him when you walk over and deliver his new password, since this weekend has been rough on everyone. He's in F2 and I'm now having your nPediment privileges set so you can walk right in there and find him. Thanks for rebooting the machines, by the way.
  
  It is, of course, Wilbur.
  
  A beep issues from the pager, then a voice:
  
  This is an automatic report about how you got owned, champ. That's right, one of your machines is puking out denial of service packets and needs to be offlined immediately. Better get it off your network before somebody other than a robot tells you about it. The victim is Nora.
  
  It sounds like the perky cousin of that stupid stapler.
  
  A beep issues from the pager, then a voice:
  
  Disk failure. Disk hesitant, corrupted, ready for immolation. Replace the disk. Must be replaced prior to demo. Almost there. Almost at demo. We will make it. Replace the disk. Follow the procedure and incinerate the old disk once it has been replaced. The disk of the main server in F9. Access to F9 is currently being provided you. Go.
  
  Obviously, the message is from Wilbur.
  
  A beep issues from the pager, then a voice:
  
  Gratitude. Appreciation. Systems working within adequate tolerances. Mental hygiene triage of team evidently complete. Programmers and artists working harmoniously together. Sky rent like sackcloth. Please remain on call. Productivity obtains. A time of peace is near.
  
  Your loving boss. It seems the guy reacts well to stress, once it gets past a certain level.
  
  > hold pager's button
  The pager emits a low beep after you hold the button down for about a second and a half.
  
  > buy the food
  Your hacker frame can sustain itself for at least half a day on a single meal; you certainly aren't ready to have another one just yet.
  
  > Go southeast
  The interior walls are of parquet hardwood, which would be the most remarkable thing about most city halls, but here we have this full-size diorama in the middle of the lobby with animatrons of Benjamin Franklin, John von Neumann, and shellf.
  
  There's also a subtle door here to the southeast, which wouldn't be noticeable to an onlooker who wasn't in the know.
  
  > go southeast
  You head through the door and into the server room.
  
  There are just the usual racks here. The rest of the room is bare, with the usual drop ceilings and the usual raised floor providing a contrast to the unusual wooden walls outside. And it looks like we also have Sophie.
  
  > Open floor
  Using the double-cup panel lifter somewhat more strenuously than you really should have to, you wiggle part of the floor open.
  
  > look at the floor
  There's the floor. Right down there. Wide open.
  
  > Doff simulaccam
  You take off the SimulacCam.