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Mission One: Navigate the Deep

Gabe

Created on October 16, 2025

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Transcript

Ready for Next

Curiosity Quest

An interactive story where curiosity is your compass.

Set in the lost city of Atlantis, this Quest invites you to question and imagine, building a future-ready mindset for this moment and whatever comes next.

Begin Quest

Before you begin

This is a 20-minute interactive story designed to help you embrace a curious mindset through practical, everyday behaviors.

The design combines research in learning, storytelling, and transformation. Research shows* that games help people lower their guard and experiment safely, creating the perfect environment for rehearsing future-ready skills.

Participation is voluntary, but we hope you are able to follow your curiosity and discover something new along the way.

Next

*See Ready for Next Quests Vox page

Table of Contents

As you go along, if you wish to navigate to a section you've already visited, click the menu icon in the top left corner to return to this page.

1. Curiosity Calls

2. Lore Drop

3. Mission Accepted

4. Meet Flux

5. Into the Deep

6. Enter the Rift

7. Conclusion

Start Story

Mission One

Navigate the Deep

I'm ready for Next>

You’ve always thought of yourself as a curious person.

But this morning, you wake with an insatiable curiosity

that buzzes in your brain like

electricity.

Next

You move restlessly through your morning routine, the world around you charged with questions.

There are three questions you ask yourself hidden around the page. Click to explore and find them.

How can I use social media to reduce polarization in my community?

What's the name of the farmer who grew these coffee beans?

What did the design brief for this smartphone look like?

Next

Photo by Vizito Visitor Management on Unsplash

Every object and system is suddenly alive with questions.

You feel at once exhilarated and unmoored.

One question consumes you, above all others:

What can be done to enable a future where all of us

thrive?

Next

Your smartphone suddenly

vibrates.

Who's calling me?

You see an unfamiliar number and a strange contact name: The Cartographer.

I answer.

I hang up.

The phone goes silent.

All day long, you're plagued with questions of what might have been. Who on earth is the Cartographer? What kind of maps do they make, and what do they want with me?

You'll never know the answers to these questions, unless you can say...

I'm curious.

Photo by Simone Secci on Unsplash

A stately woman appears on your screen, her presence both warm and commanding.

Her coat is patterned with an abstract print that you suddenly realize is a topographical map, its contours slowly shifting before your eyes.

Behind her, walls are covered with illuminated maps. You recognize the Azores, the Sahara Desert, and Omaha, Nebraska. Place after place, scattered across the globe, with no pattern you can discern.

Next

Hello. I imagine you're having a rather curious morning, aren't you?

You can say that again!

???

???

...

Hello. I imagine you're having a rather curious morning, aren't you?

...I didn't mean literally.

Oh! My apologies. My work requires precision. Occasionally, that extends to my language. I can be quite literal.

What is your work?

I am the Cartographer! I help the world through times of disruption and change by mapping the Rifts.

I bet you're wondering what Rifts are, aren't you? You're such a wonderful Seeker already!

Rifts? Seeker? What?

This is what we call a

LORE

DROP

A "lore drop" is when an author shares a bunch of backstory about their characters, setting, and the rules of how their fictional world works!

In other words...

Get ready for some heavy exposition!

I'll take notes!

In every era, there are times of profound disruption and uncertainty.

These manifest in the form of Rifts.

Next

Rifts are storms that tear at the fabric of reality, showing us dangers untold and possibilities beyond number.

Next

When Rifts appear, the Navigators of Next arise.

We're not warriors or superheroes, but ordinary people carrying extraordinary gifts.

Among us, you are known as the Seeker.

Your gift is curiosity, the gift that starts every great journey.

Next

In time, you will come to experience...

...and the connections of the Weaver.

...the creativity of the Shaper.

...the leadership of the Wayfinder.

Next

As the Cartographer, I help the Navigators to locate the Rifts and cross them.

When a Rift opens up, something has gone missing. It could be an idea, a source of energy, or a piece of knowledge that once held the world in balance.

These missing pieces take the form of objects that we call Talismans of Transformation. Every Quest, your goal is to retrieve a different Talisman.

*politely suppress a yawn*

Hold on. Are you getting all this? Because there's gonna be a quiz later.

Yes! Navigators of Next, etc.

Okay, good. We're close to the part where you receive your first mission, so try to keep up.

I will! I promise.

You, the Seeker.

The Shaper.

The Weaver.

The Wayfinder.

Together, we help the world not just survive, but thrive, in times of change and disruption.

We are the Navigators of Next.

Next

The object of this Curiosity Quest is to retrieve a Talisman of Transformation called...

The Magnifying Glass of Manifold Perspectives.

What does it do?

When you look through it, you can see any situation through multiple new angles.

Because transformation comes not from certainty, but from the bravery—and vulnerability— to see the world anew.

That's...actually profound. So, what now?

00:20

POP

QUIZ

Finished!

00:20

Finished!

00:20

Finished!

00:20

Finished!

You're ready for your first assignment.

Her hand moves across a map of the ocean floor, lingering over an area marked with soaring seamounts and yawning trenches. For a moment, you glance the shifting silhouette of a city skyline beneath the waves.

I've identified a Rift. Across this Rift lies the lost underwater city of Atlantis.

Atlantis is real?

Apparently, yes, it is. The Weaver consulted their network and received some intelligence on Atlantean leadership.

It sounds like you'll need to meet and speak with the Atlantean Council of Elders to retrieve the magnifying glass. But they're understandably suspicious of the surface world, so you'll need to gain their trust, first.

How do I even get there?

Don't worry about that! The Navigators of Next are experts at finding a path when the way forward is uncertain.

But, I do need to know one thing before we start.Can you open yourself to the Learning Mindset and embrace your role as the Seeker on this mission?

Kinda feelin' the Napping Mindset right now, if I'm being honest

Yes, I can do that!

Okay! I'll do it.

Wonderful, Seeker! I can't wait to get started!

This next part of the mission should take 20-30 minutes to complete, so this is a great time for a break, if you need one. When you're ready, let's dive in!

I'm ready. Let's go!

Seeker, Crossing the Rift will be perilous. You will have to find your courage and focus your curiosity. This is your last chance to back out. What do you want to do?

Follow my curiosity into the deep.

Stay here on the surface.

Safe and sound.

You're back at your desk, staring at your computer screen. Instead of the mystery of the ocean depths, you've chosen to immerse yourself in the security of spreadsheets. Hey, spreadsheets are awesome! But if you find yourself curiously wondering "what if?" you can always...

Go curiously forward.

Well done, Seeker. It takes courage and vulnerability to dive into the unknown.

The Cartographer beams at you, then sweeps her fingers over the strange disc hovering over her palm. It flares to life as a holographic map of your hometown illuminates its surface.

Are you ready to meet the vessel you will navigate into the Rift to retrieve the Magnifying Glass of Manifold Perspectives from Atlantis?

No, thanks. Bye.

I'm ready...for Next!

Wonderful! Pay me no mind, I'm just going to activate this teleportation circle.

You begin to protest, but the Cartographer holds a finger to her lips, gently shushing you.

Never fear, Seeker. This is my second attempt at teleportation, and I'm 87% certain it will go better than the first.

Are you sure you know what you're...AHHHH!

The map lines expand to consume the screen, radiating outwards from the phone in your hand. You feel an intense energy pass through your body, like a powerful soundwave.

Wow, the dimensional parallels are simply frightful today! This is the perfect time for a lesson in curiosity.

NOW is the perfect time for a lesson?!

Absolutely! Haven't you ever heard of experiential learning?

I'm done!

Suddenly, you find yourself in a huge metal room. It appears to be some sort of underwater hangar with airlocks and docking bays. You look around in confusion.

Come on, Seeker. You can be curious about intraplanar navigation another time. We have a mission to complete!

You were only 87% certain this would work?

Honestly, 87% is a luxury in volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous (VUCA) environments.

Hey, look! Someone left a note for you!

You get the feeling she's trying to distract you from discussing what might have been your demise, and...it's working. You're more curious than you are angry.

Where?!

Good morrow, Seeker! The watercraft you navigate is called Flux. On this journey, Flux shall be a sturdy submersible, capable of withstanding even the crushing depths of the abyss. My advice: learn and heed the four moves of curiosity. Fare thee well, friend Seeker! The Shaper.

Submersible?

The Cartographer pauses, scratching her head for a moment.

I think "submersible" must be Steampunk for "submarine." The Shaper loves a good Renaissance Faire.

Let's go take a look!

The Cartographer's footsteps echo as she walks down a set of perforated metal stairs. Rounding a corner, she indicates a battered, but sturdy, copper submarine floating next to a dock.

Meet your new vessel, Flux! I know it looks old, but it's in great shape. Go ahead, give it a good kick (or click)!

You do, and you hear a strange splashing noise coming from inside the cabin.

Was that a monster?!

The watertight hatch door groans as you open it, and you motion for the Cartographer to get behind you, fearing the worst.

I think it's an axolotl!

That's pronounced "Ax-Uh-Lot-Uhl!"

Hi, Seeker! I thought you could use some company on your trip to Atlantis. You should choose a name for your new pet! Maybe you could name it after someone who is curious, like you. After all, I hear you "axolotl" questions! ;) -The Wayfinder

Are their puns always this bad?

Bad puns aside, the creature is very cute. You feel you should name it.

Done! Let's go.

Flux is no ordinary submersible. Instead of diesel or nuclear power, Flux is fueled by your own curiosity! It will respond to you using the four "moves," or behaviors, of curiosity.

Each move controls a different function of navigation. Explore the controls below to identify the four moves.

I'm ready to navigate!

Read these Articles from the Ready for Next Library on Vox

I pulled two brief volumes from our library to help you explore your own motivations and relationship with curiosity. They should take about 10-12 minutes to read.

Todd B. Kashdan Ph.D.

What Are the Five Dimensions of Curiosity?

The Seven Pillars of Future Readiness Stand on Curiosity

Peder Söderlind

I read them! Next?

Click to reveal how each curiosity move applies in a real-world business context.

Observe helps you spot emerging patterns in data, behavior, or conversation and turn them into insights you can act on.

Observe spots patterns and translates them into a map you can navigate.

Listen tunes you into diverse perspectives and subtle signals from people and systems that reveal unspoken needs and hidden possibilities.

Listen activates Flux’s sensors, picking up on signals and perspectives you might otherwise miss.

Wonder encourages you to explore beneath surface assumptions, uncovering fresh opportunities and unseen connections.

Wonder powers your depth controls, letting you go beneath the surface to find new possibilities.

Ask sharpens focus with each question exposing gaps, tensions, and opportunities.

Ask opens your communication systems, sending out questions and sparking dialogue.

Next

Done! Let's navigate Flux.

Refresh me on moves again?

You close the hatch above you.

The silence is overwhelming, but as you touch the control panel, the navigational instruments spring to life with a reassuring hum.

Flux begins its descent.

From your 360-degree viewport, you watch as you travel downwards through a gently swaying forest of kelp, colorful fish darting around you.

Eventually, the rays of sunlight fade...

???

You are surrounded by complete darkness.

Click the buttons to hear the signal from your radio.

*hissssss*

*crackle*

*ksshhk--Seek--er?*

Who's there?!

A voice.

The words are distorted by static, but it seems to be calling for you.

Odd glyphs appear on your map screen, shifting in and out of view. The depth gauge trembles as if it senses something stirring far below. Could this be the Rift, opening to allow you entry to Atlantis? A creature from the deep?

You realize Flux won’t move forward until you decide how to respond.

I ascend to safety.

I enter the Rift.

I observe.
I listen.
I ask.
I wonder.

As you tune in and observe your surroundings, one glyph begins to glow more brightly than the others.

You realize that the pulses of energy you first thought to be your own heartbeat are actually vibrations emerging from the Rift.

Recognizing a rhythm, you time your navigation to follow this cadence. Between pulses, you enter the Rift.

Cross the Rift

As you listen to the voice over the radio, one glyph glows more brightly than the others.

Though the signal is garbled and the words are unclear, you attune yourself to the unspoken needs they express with their tone.

You realize it's not one voice, but three. In one, you hear fear and cynicism. Another speaker signals enthusiasm, the delight of discovery. Yet another, empathy and concern. Could this be the Council of Atlantean Elders?

Cross the Rift

As you open your mind to wonder, one glyph shines brighter than the rest and you focus on the possibilities of what could be.

The voice said "Seeker," which filled you with fear. How could they have known you were coming? The Cartographer said they were suspicious of the surface world. Was it a warning to stay far away? Flux's engine seems to sense your fear, stalling in response.

Then, wonder takes the place of fear. Perhaps the voice wasn't warning you, but...inviting you? Flux's engine rumbles to life as you transform the fear of a barrier into the possibility of an invitation.

Cross the Rift

In the silence of the deep, you realize that the answers won't reveal themselves unless you ask.One glyph begins to grow more brightly than the others.

You adjust the controls until you find a frequency that sounds clear enough for communication."I heard you calling me. What is it you need me to understand?"

The channel remains silent. For a moment, you worry you pressed the Atlanteans too far, too fast. Suddenly, a map of the currents flahes onto your screen. It's showing a way to safely cross the Rift!

Cross the Rift

Before you looms the skyline—waterline?—of a city of technological marvels.

Next

Next

Your radio crackles to life.

Seeker! Seeker! Come in, Seeker!

Oh good, you're there! The Weaver called; they want you to twist the round thingy that opens a secret compartment.

Which round thingy?

The Weaver says there's a hidden compartment here that will reveal a message if we find the correct round object. Click around the control panel until you find the hidden message.

I give up! Show me the message.

Hello, Seeker! I can't wait to meet you! I've heard such wonderful things already. Could you please click this button to fill out a short report about your journey? You can get right back to your mission afterwards. I use your notes to run coaching sessions for the other Navigators of Next. Also, I'm just a little bit nosy. -The Weaver.

Next

Just checking in, Seeker! There have been a lot of surprises today. How are you feeling so far about this Mission?

Next

This is the end of Mission One: NAVIGATE THE DEEP

Make sure you check the "Mark as Done" box at the bottom of the the email invitation you received to get credit for finishing your journey.

Play Mission Two: EXPLORE ATLANTIS

Meet the Curiosity Quest design team!

Meet the Design Team

Gabe Sopocy—Quest Writer and Director Kristin Berggren—Product Director Laura Correal, Reb Kelly, Milica Sapic, Aditi Shukla— Learning Design Consulting Team Beth Schaefermann, Kevin Swallow, Reece Eberhardt— Vox Support TeamDaniela Cortés and Camila Riaño—Setting and Communications Design

Cartographer art by Sketchfarm —www.instagram.com/sketchfarm/

Cartographer Character Art by Sketchfarm— www.instagram.com/sketchfarm/

Thanks for letting me know how you're feeling, Seeker. I threw a lot of unexpected stuff at you today, but you were able to stay agile and adapt. With you as our Seeker, we're definitely on track to help the world thrive in the brave pursuit of next!

Next

If they work at Publicis Sapient, consider sending this person a recognition!Tell them you named an axolotl after them.