10-17-2017, 04:10 PM
Omni-Mart really had the feel of home about it. After dumping his old, blood stained clothes in a trash bin, he strolled about for a bit longer, just to see what all this universe’s version of the classic American shopping center had to offer. Of course he made a beeline straight to the Electronics department.
It warmed his heart to see such a vast array of videogames, odd consoles and odd personal devices. I could do with a mobile… Cell phones were vastly useful for more than just games, he reasoned. Games were a big bonus though. So many different types though…
He tried on one of the display pieces. It was a wrist watch ordeal with what he guessed would be a blue tooth earbud. The little panel in front of its display gave a few instructions. Flick wrist twice to activate device’s interface. That seemed easy enough. He flicks the device, expecting it to project a screen onto his arm like some of the civilian devices back home. Nope, a screen appeared in the air, with keys hovering in front of his fingers. “Woah.” That was super flashy… Not his style.
Next option was more his speed. It looked like a normal smart phone. He hit the power button on the display and it looked pretty straight forward. “Ooh, app store…” He did not click it for now, but no doubt that was a bonus. The panel had a list of add ons, sold separately of course. It was pretty much exactly what he was looking for. Placing the display back neatly, Stein plucked one of the boxes from underneath.
He also nabbed a set of bass boost headphones, black with an acid green trim because why not, and a screen protector. Better safe than sorry, right? With the selection in hand, he made his way back to the electronics department register.
“How can I help you?” A younger man stood at the register. He had the look of a new age rocker… and not in a good way.
As Stein placed his assortment on the counter, he pointed out the boxed smartphone. “What sort of plans do you offer? I’m looking for a monthly thing, if guys have it.”
The man shook his head to clear long, black bangs from his face. He took up the box and looked it over. “This model has full functionality. One time purchase to open functions, any of which can be unlocked through the app store at a later date. Dataverse connection is one hundred Omnilium, Communicator is two hundred Omnilium and Vita Compass is… Eight hundred, I think.”
That’s a lot of options. Dataverse connection sounded like Internet… that was definitely a necessity. The Communicator option sounded like Text and Phone. There was only one he could not figure out by the name. “What’s a Vita Compass?”
With a heavy I don’t want to be here sigh, the man droned an almost autonomous response. “The Vita Compass allows you to track your friends and foes across all serviceable Omniverse verses.” And then the man’s eyes rest on Stein with a I don’t have all day, dude glare.
Since he hardly knew anyone, Vita Compass was the least of his worries. “The Dataverse thing.” Stein was already placing his hand on the little device to make his payment. A few beeps and angsty sighs later, the cashier was bagging up his purchases. “Thanks, have a good one man.”
“Whatever,” Stein heard, even as he was skirting away from the depressing lad. Yeesh.
It was a quick stop over at the grocery side… The assortment of doughnuts was off the chain! Hmm… Two cream filled unglazed, two cream filled glazed, and two cream filled chocolate glazed… That seemed about right, right? Yea. Tying his back haphazardly to his belt line, he then filled up one of the half-dozen boxes. That should hold till dinner time. Damn I’m so unhealthy…
Then it was over to the front register. He ordered a pack of cigarettes, regular full flavored. Greg seemed the cowboy type. He paid again and then he was headed out the door. He felt a bit of his old self return, bit by bit. The normal life part, specifically.
Knock, knock. He tapped on the window, alerting Greg to his return. The man was nose to screen almost, watching what looks to be an action movie, complete with a helicopter fight. Might be interesting. “Well don’t you look ten shades better.” The old Taximan chimed after rolling down the window. “Hop in the front, we’ll enjoy the snack before we head out. Off the clock, since you’re so gracious.”
Stein handed off the cigarettes first, before heading around, stuffing his other goodies in the back seat. He slid into the front, box of doughnuts swiftly opened and offered. Greg happily accepted first pick and went for a glazed and unglazed. “Not a chocolate fan?”
“Nah. Have at ‘em.” Stein happily accepted both of the chocolate covered, cream filled delightful pastries. With two held expertly in one hand, he sat the box in the back so he could stretch out. “If you want to watch something, I have movies in the glove box.”
“Just restart what you’ve got on. Action looked pretty good.”
“It hadn’t even really started yet, pal.” Using the pinky of a doughnut burdened hand, he fumbled with the touch screen to rewind it just beyond the opening credits.
Stein got comfy. “Hell of a welcome party, my man.”
“Not every day I get a decent person in my cab, especially no young buck with a proper appreciation for classic action and cream filling. Takes a special soul.”
The hero just laughed. “Or the mind of a child that refused to grow up.”
“That too, that too.” Do I smell a bromance? So far the Omniverse was looking up.
It warmed his heart to see such a vast array of videogames, odd consoles and odd personal devices. I could do with a mobile… Cell phones were vastly useful for more than just games, he reasoned. Games were a big bonus though. So many different types though…
He tried on one of the display pieces. It was a wrist watch ordeal with what he guessed would be a blue tooth earbud. The little panel in front of its display gave a few instructions. Flick wrist twice to activate device’s interface. That seemed easy enough. He flicks the device, expecting it to project a screen onto his arm like some of the civilian devices back home. Nope, a screen appeared in the air, with keys hovering in front of his fingers. “Woah.” That was super flashy… Not his style.
Next option was more his speed. It looked like a normal smart phone. He hit the power button on the display and it looked pretty straight forward. “Ooh, app store…” He did not click it for now, but no doubt that was a bonus. The panel had a list of add ons, sold separately of course. It was pretty much exactly what he was looking for. Placing the display back neatly, Stein plucked one of the boxes from underneath.
He also nabbed a set of bass boost headphones, black with an acid green trim because why not, and a screen protector. Better safe than sorry, right? With the selection in hand, he made his way back to the electronics department register.
“How can I help you?” A younger man stood at the register. He had the look of a new age rocker… and not in a good way.
As Stein placed his assortment on the counter, he pointed out the boxed smartphone. “What sort of plans do you offer? I’m looking for a monthly thing, if guys have it.”
The man shook his head to clear long, black bangs from his face. He took up the box and looked it over. “This model has full functionality. One time purchase to open functions, any of which can be unlocked through the app store at a later date. Dataverse connection is one hundred Omnilium, Communicator is two hundred Omnilium and Vita Compass is… Eight hundred, I think.”
That’s a lot of options. Dataverse connection sounded like Internet… that was definitely a necessity. The Communicator option sounded like Text and Phone. There was only one he could not figure out by the name. “What’s a Vita Compass?”
With a heavy I don’t want to be here sigh, the man droned an almost autonomous response. “The Vita Compass allows you to track your friends and foes across all serviceable Omniverse verses.” And then the man’s eyes rest on Stein with a I don’t have all day, dude glare.
Since he hardly knew anyone, Vita Compass was the least of his worries. “The Dataverse thing.” Stein was already placing his hand on the little device to make his payment. A few beeps and angsty sighs later, the cashier was bagging up his purchases. “Thanks, have a good one man.”
“Whatever,” Stein heard, even as he was skirting away from the depressing lad. Yeesh.
It was a quick stop over at the grocery side… The assortment of doughnuts was off the chain! Hmm… Two cream filled unglazed, two cream filled glazed, and two cream filled chocolate glazed… That seemed about right, right? Yea. Tying his back haphazardly to his belt line, he then filled up one of the half-dozen boxes. That should hold till dinner time. Damn I’m so unhealthy…
Then it was over to the front register. He ordered a pack of cigarettes, regular full flavored. Greg seemed the cowboy type. He paid again and then he was headed out the door. He felt a bit of his old self return, bit by bit. The normal life part, specifically.
Knock, knock. He tapped on the window, alerting Greg to his return. The man was nose to screen almost, watching what looks to be an action movie, complete with a helicopter fight. Might be interesting. “Well don’t you look ten shades better.” The old Taximan chimed after rolling down the window. “Hop in the front, we’ll enjoy the snack before we head out. Off the clock, since you’re so gracious.”
Stein handed off the cigarettes first, before heading around, stuffing his other goodies in the back seat. He slid into the front, box of doughnuts swiftly opened and offered. Greg happily accepted first pick and went for a glazed and unglazed. “Not a chocolate fan?”
“Nah. Have at ‘em.” Stein happily accepted both of the chocolate covered, cream filled delightful pastries. With two held expertly in one hand, he sat the box in the back so he could stretch out. “If you want to watch something, I have movies in the glove box.”
“Just restart what you’ve got on. Action looked pretty good.”
“It hadn’t even really started yet, pal.” Using the pinky of a doughnut burdened hand, he fumbled with the touch screen to rewind it just beyond the opening credits.
Stein got comfy. “Hell of a welcome party, my man.”
“Not every day I get a decent person in my cab, especially no young buck with a proper appreciation for classic action and cream filling. Takes a special soul.”
The hero just laughed. “Or the mind of a child that refused to grow up.”
“That too, that too.” Do I smell a bromance? So far the Omniverse was looking up.