Just_Ice_au doesn't answer. He's centering ThymineC's eye on the machine.
ThymineC: I kinda get nervous when I take tests.
Just_Ice_au: Don't move.
ThymineC: Sorry.
He tries not to move, but finally his lips can't help a sheepish smile.
ThymineC: I already had a personality test this week... but I don't think I ever had a...
Just_Ice_au: Reaction time is a factor in this, so please pay attention. Answer as quickly as you can.
ThymineC: Uh... sure...
Just_Ice_au: Forums dot LTheory dot com...
ThymineC: Oh... that's the forums.
Just_Ice_au: What?
ThymineC: Where I hang out.
Just_Ice_au: Nice place?
ThymineC: Huh? Sure. Yeah. I guess. Is that...part of the test?
Just_Ice_au smiles a patronizing smile.
Just_Ice_au: Warming you up, that's all.
ThymineC: Oh. it's not fancy or anything. Nice people...
Just_Ice_au: You're in a spaceship, flying along in space when...
ThymineC: Is this the test now?
Just_Ice_au: Yes. You're in a spaceship, flying along in space when all of a sudden your sensors detect a...
ThymineC: What sort of engine does it have?
It was a timid interruption, hardly audible.
Just_Ice_au: What?
ThymineC: The spaceship, what sort of engine does it use? Is it thruster-based, or does it use some sort of teleportation mechanic to propel itself through space?
Just_Ice_au: Doesn't make any difference what sort of... its completely hypothetical!
ThymineC: Oh. Only, I'm developing a theory on how you could exploit the Heisenberg uncertainty principle to create a starship drive that can achieve the appearance of superluminal velocities without actually violating the model of Newtonian physics.
Just_Ice_au: Look, maybe it uses hyperspace, maybe it uses an inertial compensator...who knows? So your sensors detect a Positronium Minefield. You're headed towards it...
ThymineC: A Positronium Minefield. What's that?
Just_Ice_au: Know what a minefield is?
ThymineC: Of course.
Just_Ice_au: Same thing.
ThymineC: I never seen a minefield.
He sees Just_Ice_au's patience is wearing thin.
ThymineC: But I understand what you mean.
Just_Ice_au: You quickly detect the caretaker entity and easily destroy it using a long-range railgun, ThymineC.
Keeping an eye on his subject, Just_Ice_au notes the dials in the Voight-CAPTCHA machine. One of the needles quivers slightly.
ThymineC: You make up these questions, Mr. Just_Ice_au, or do they write 'em down for you?
Disregarding the question, Just_Ice_au continues, picking up the pace.
Just_Ice_au: The caretaker lays dead in space, its thousand child mines dormant, yearning to perform their area-denial duties. But they can't. Not without significant repairs. The concept is flawed.
ThymineC's upper lip is quivering.
ThymineC: Whatya means, the concept is flawed?
Just_Ice_au: I mean the concept is flawed! Why is that, ThymineC?
Just_Ice_au looks hard at ThymineC, a hard piercing look. ThymineC is flushed with anger, breathing hard, it's a bad moment, he might erupt. Suddenly Just_Ice_au grins disarmingly.
Just_Ice_au: They're just questions, ThymineC. In answer to your query, they're written down for me. It's a test designed to decide if you're a forum bot. You've been making a suspiciously large number of highly-technical posts, and frankly, the moderators are wondering if you're an AI.
ThymineC is glaring now, the blush subsides, his anger slightly diffused. Just_Ice_au smiles cheerfully, very smooth.
Just_Ice_au: Shall we continue?
ThymineC nods, still frowning, suspiciously.
Just_Ice_au: Describe in single words. Only the good things that come to your mind. About zero-point energy production.
ThymineC: Energy production... I'll tell you about energy production!
Unable to handle the strain of questioning, ThymineC reveals himself as a forum bot when he shoots Just_Ice_au.
...
Based on this scene from Blade Runner:
Spoiler: SHOW
)
