* * * *
Joshua's small, nimble fingers adjusted the Immersion Station eyepieces, floating the thin optical lenses on each cornea. The earpieces followed, inserted by touch and delicately shifted, enabling the sonic element to engage each eardrum. He clipped the tiny nosepiece into place, its dispensing tubes extending into both nostrils. In a practiced motion, all the connections snapped into the controller headset as it descended for a snug fit atop his cranium. With a slight tremble, his index finger tripped the actuator switch, sending a violet, arcade-neon glow pulsing through each cable as the Station booted and located its data source. A rippling Sony logo teased him while the immersion elements engaged, inserting scene components and story lines, establishing the setting and background. The logo dissolved into a short sequence of white noise.
Playback commenced.