The settings page has options regarding input methods including speech recognition. It also has settings relating to the theme of the UI elements, the units and calendar used and setting alarms. It also notes that these are the settings Citizen ID f71e1b59 (Tamaris) and 516eb290 (Zahn). The sole thing that stands out is an obscure comment: "No claimed rooms or buildings."

"Well that's intriguing I wonder how it can tell who's sitting at the computer."

"Yeah. And I don't like the word 'Citizen' or the fact that we're numbered. If I've learned one thing from history it's that numbering people like that tends to end up badly." She sighs, navigates out of settings and heads into interfaces.

"I tend to think of numbering as a computer thing, especially given that it's in hexadecimal."

The interfaces section merely has a notice saying "No local interfaces detected. No remote interfaces configured. No employee interfaces unlocked."

"I'm a history minor, and one of my- great uncles was involved and told stories. It stuck in my head."

"Well, so far, this has been a complete bust," Tamaris says, pouting slightly, "What do you reckon? Employment or encyclopedia next?"

"I'm sorta intrigued by the idea of employment but I'd naively expect that the encyclopedia has the most information."

"Well. It's certainly worth a shot," she agrees, navigating to the encyclopedia.

The encyclopedia has articles on a lot of topics, there's articles on medicine, specific plants, farming techniques, anatomy, various animals including some that are extinct on Earth, cleaning agents, security systems, martial arts, mall stores, and teleporters among other topics. Zahn also looks at the list on his own terminal. "One of these things is not like the others. I think stuff about Teleporters might be our best lead."

The articles on teleporters describe a pretty wide variety of types of teleporters including the familiar elevator type. One of the articles also makes reference to a buffer drug to protect users during interstellar teleportation.

"...interstellar?" Tamaris murmurs, looking for more information on that buffer drug. "Could that have been in the drinks we had? Might explain why Joss was so woozy when we got here..."

"Yeah, Alice and I both had a drink."

"As did me and Rex," Tamaris confirms. "Joss is overly paranoid about open drinks containers at parties and refused to. I- why on earth, or whatever spirits forsaken planet we've found ourselves on, did somebody decide that a interstellar abduction was required?! It makes acquiring a ransom difficult, and with the openness of the invitation, how could they know they'd acquire anyone worth ransoming in the first place?" (She's starting to sound a little panicky now, but she's doing a good job of controlling it.)

"Why is your first thought ransom? It doesn't really seem to follow from what we've seen. I think my first thought would be some sort of social experiment or scientific study."

"You're probably right," she agrees, shaking her head. "Although I'd really rather not think about the possibility of 'scientific study'." She shrugs. "Unfortunately my 'spoiled rich girl' comment earlier? That comes with a healthy dose of paranoia about kidnap and ransom."

"That makes sense, on both counts. I'm not really sure what to expect. This whole thing is strange and it's only really the word of this place that indicates we've been teleported to another star system, at least so far."

Tamaris sighs. "The lack of phone signal implies...something. I'm not sure what. And how are we supposed to get independent verification exactly? I mean, we can't call home and ask whether we've suddenly left the solar system. Not sure how they'd even tell." She runs her fingers through her head. "I mean, Joss might be able to discern something, and Rex definitely thought something wasn't right but. I don't know if they'd be able to tell if we were in a different solar system."

"It might not be proof positive, but when the clouds clear and it's daytime the sun might look different here, that would be a evidence that we're in a different solar system."

"Well, it's probably the best plan we have right now," Tamaris agrees, sitting back in her seat, tapping one foot. "Provided this place even has a daytime?"

"It was light out when Alice and I got here, just overcast."

"Okay, so there is a daytime," Tamaris says, nodding thoughtfully. "We just have to hope that the cloud cover leaves. Unfortunately manipulating weather is not something I can do," her tone has turned half teasing there, trying to inject some levity. She sighs. "Well, if we're not going to find anything else out tonight, I suppose I should at least try to sleep..."

"Yeah, sleep is probably a good idea. There's a lot to read but nothing seems likely to be urgent."

"I really doubt they're just going to hand us the way home," Tamaris says, slightly regretfully as she gets to her feet. "But everyone says that things look better in the morning."

She tilts her neck from side to side as she heads for the bedrooms. "Good night," she says over her shoulder.

"Good Night." Zahn finds a bedroom for himself and goes to sleep.

The next morning Alice wakes up early and goes to the kitchen in search of breakfast.

Joss is already awake, perched on one of the counters with a glass of water, staring at the ceiling as though it had personally offended her.

"G'morning," she greets without looking to Alice. "Sleep well?"

"Reasonably well, I've travelled a lot so I'm used to sleeping in unfamiliar places. I had to meditate a bit to clear my thoughts first."