Threshold

"So you're telling me there's a place out there made specifically just for us?"

Ashley nodded. "According to this datapoint, yes. Some of this language is pretty disturbing though. Listen to this: Know this, my creations! Your father loves you and has created for you a haven safe from those who would deny you your birthright. You, the Aegis, who stand on the threshold of the future!" She read.

"That sounds a lot like what those anti-integration extremists use to scare baselines into marching in the streets."

"I'm not going to lie to you Aidan. it scares this baseline."

"Well what else does it say?"

"Nothing. There's just a "Threshold" button on the display but it's disabled."

Aidan walked over to where she stood by the console.

"Wait." she said, "It just switched to an overhead view of this room, with us highlighted."

Aidan leaned in and squinted at the display, "That's weird." He said. "You've got two pulsing indicators next to you. A green one and a red one, but there's nothing next to me."

"Really? I don't see anything."

"Hmm." Aidan said. "Maybe it's some kind of failsafe?"

"Maybe." Ashley said moving around to change her viewing angle. "How is it even doing that? Eye tracking is one thing, but targeted display?"

"I think it wants me to approve you Ashley."

"Really? How sure are you?"

"Pretty sure. I think it's meant to be obvious since we—since Aegis are probably the only ones supposed to see this. Green for yes, red for no."

She put her arm around his waist, partially as a sign of affection and partially for protection. He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head

"Aidan, I'm not really comfortable trusting a system designed by Mr birthright Threshold of the future."

"I can't say I blame you."

The console flickered.

"Huh."

"What?"

"Well," he said, "The indicators just disappeared, and now you're just highlighted green."

"Now I see it too."

"I guess I approved you?"

"I guess."

The walls of the room lit up suddenly, with blinding intensity, then dimmed gradually to more readable displays of cartographical data.

"The amount of sensorium tech in this room must be some kind of record." Ashley mused. "Body temperature, heart rate and probably a bunch of other stuff I don't want to think about."

Aidan examined the new displays. "This isn't a map Ashley, it's another puzzle."

"I know." She said. "Apparently Dr. Atticus really liked his failsafes."