05-27-2018, 05:07 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-27-2018, 05:12 PM by Bandit With No Name.)
“Please clear the teleportation area,” a pleasant voice chimed over the intercom. “Please clear the teleportation area.” The few techs shuffled away from the pad, not taking much note. “Oversized load incoming. Oversized load incoming. Please clear the teleportation area.” A brief silence occurred as the computer processed. “Teleportation area clear.”
There was a flash of light that filled the entire room, the techs holding their touch screens in front of their eyes and staggering back as the massive object was warped in from another verse. The floor shook as the object hit it, a waft of air flowing over everyone in the room. The massive military truck sat in the center of the room, its suspension gently rocking back and forth, springs squeaking softly.
“Holy shit,” the woman in the driver’s seat laughed, “that was awesome.”
Caret laughed, her pink hair tussled and wild. “We are definitely doing that again, right? We get to teleport out of here when it’s over?”
The eldar in the truck’s bed laughed softly and pulled the large spikes that had anchored her from the bed of the truck. “I believe so,” she uttered softly, her voice echoing in the minds of any that could hear it. In a flutter of her red and black cloak she bound from the back and onto the floor, barely making a sound. “In the meantime, I will only be happy that we did not need to travel the Webway to reach our destination. I had been concerned.”
“Nah,” the bandit kicked open her door. “I dunno what the Webway is, but we don’t have to do any spooky shit to teleport in the Omniverse.” She hopped from the seat of the truck and landed with a metallic thump, then looked over to a Syntech employee and tossed the keys to him. “Just put it somewhere where I can find it, yeah?”
The tech looked at the keys, and then looked at the woman. She wasn’t going to argue. “Uh. Alright.”
The trio began to make their way through the only door available and into the sprawling building, Balanlara taking the lead. “Fascinating,” she stated, violet eyes darting from object to object. “Different than the technology on Coruscant, but not superior.”
“Yeah,” the nameless woman confirmed, “You see a lot of divergent tech throughout the verses. That’s especially so in the Dunes for some reason, but this place seems like it’s pretty much all the same stuff.” She stalk around for a moment, taking note of each of the different doors leading into the separate chambers. “I guess this place is the Nexus of the Danteverse.”
Caret’s eyes were wide. “I just realized that this is the first time I’ve been out of the verse I was made in!” She excitedly clung to the bandit’s arm. “This is so cool! Thank you so much for bringing me along!”
The woman smiled down at her, “You know what’s crazy? You could have left any time. There’s nothing stopping you, kid.”
“Only the inertia of a settled heart,” Balanlara said passingly as she swept up to a nearby chamber door. “Ah, a training facility.”
“Sign reads ‘barracks,’” the marauder noted. “I bet that’s where we all crash between rounds or whatever.”
“What about the spectators?” Caret asked with no small amount of unsurety. “I mean, I guess I can sleep on the floor somewhere, but I’d rather not.”
A Syntech worker walked up to the group and smiled. “Hello! I seems like you’re the first of the entrants to arrive. Yes, the contestants will have a private space in the barracks, but participants will have to return home if they’d like to rest between matches.”
The towering woman shrugged. “Whatever, you two can stay with me. I’ll make some extra beds if we need to.”
The worker nodded, “That should be fine, yes.” She gestured to the rooms around them. “We have several amenities available to all of the contestants and their guests. You look like you might enjoy the bar, the park, the gym, perhaps even the library? In any case, please don’t hesitate to ask any of our host staff if you have questions or need directions.”
“Yo, thank you,” the bandit said to her, and summoned a tiny chip of omnilium. “Thanks for the help.”
The host shook her head and smiled cheerfully, “Oh no! Uh,” she paused, “what are your pronouns?” she clarified.
“Pronouns?” the surly bandit asked.
Another cheerful smile from the host. “He/him, she/her, they/them? Or really anything else you’d like to refer to you as.”
The marauder struggled with the concept for a moment before replying. “Oh. Uh, I guess she is fine.”
The host nodded politely in thanks. “Well ma’am, we are not allowed to accept tips. But thank you so much!”
“Oh,” the omnilium vanish from the bandit’s fingers, “I dunno what that really means; I’m used to paying people who have been helpful instead of trying to blow your fuckin’ face off.”
The host shook her head. “No, it’s just my job.” The nameless woman knew that meant, “This is what I was made to do and I don’t have much choice.”
“Well maybe I can get you something nice later,” the woman offered as a compromise. “Or not, if that makes you uncomfortable or whatever.”
The host smiled and moved forward in the conversation by gesturing at the bar. “There are multiple restaurants and other refreshment establishments through there if you find yourself hungry after your journey.”
The bandit grinned, said, “Thanks again,” and headed in that direction.
There was a flash of light that filled the entire room, the techs holding their touch screens in front of their eyes and staggering back as the massive object was warped in from another verse. The floor shook as the object hit it, a waft of air flowing over everyone in the room. The massive military truck sat in the center of the room, its suspension gently rocking back and forth, springs squeaking softly.
“Holy shit,” the woman in the driver’s seat laughed, “that was awesome.”
Caret laughed, her pink hair tussled and wild. “We are definitely doing that again, right? We get to teleport out of here when it’s over?”
The eldar in the truck’s bed laughed softly and pulled the large spikes that had anchored her from the bed of the truck. “I believe so,” she uttered softly, her voice echoing in the minds of any that could hear it. In a flutter of her red and black cloak she bound from the back and onto the floor, barely making a sound. “In the meantime, I will only be happy that we did not need to travel the Webway to reach our destination. I had been concerned.”
“Nah,” the bandit kicked open her door. “I dunno what the Webway is, but we don’t have to do any spooky shit to teleport in the Omniverse.” She hopped from the seat of the truck and landed with a metallic thump, then looked over to a Syntech employee and tossed the keys to him. “Just put it somewhere where I can find it, yeah?”
The tech looked at the keys, and then looked at the woman. She wasn’t going to argue. “Uh. Alright.”
The trio began to make their way through the only door available and into the sprawling building, Balanlara taking the lead. “Fascinating,” she stated, violet eyes darting from object to object. “Different than the technology on Coruscant, but not superior.”
“Yeah,” the nameless woman confirmed, “You see a lot of divergent tech throughout the verses. That’s especially so in the Dunes for some reason, but this place seems like it’s pretty much all the same stuff.” She stalk around for a moment, taking note of each of the different doors leading into the separate chambers. “I guess this place is the Nexus of the Danteverse.”
Caret’s eyes were wide. “I just realized that this is the first time I’ve been out of the verse I was made in!” She excitedly clung to the bandit’s arm. “This is so cool! Thank you so much for bringing me along!”
The woman smiled down at her, “You know what’s crazy? You could have left any time. There’s nothing stopping you, kid.”
“Only the inertia of a settled heart,” Balanlara said passingly as she swept up to a nearby chamber door. “Ah, a training facility.”
“Sign reads ‘barracks,’” the marauder noted. “I bet that’s where we all crash between rounds or whatever.”
“What about the spectators?” Caret asked with no small amount of unsurety. “I mean, I guess I can sleep on the floor somewhere, but I’d rather not.”
A Syntech worker walked up to the group and smiled. “Hello! I seems like you’re the first of the entrants to arrive. Yes, the contestants will have a private space in the barracks, but participants will have to return home if they’d like to rest between matches.”
The towering woman shrugged. “Whatever, you two can stay with me. I’ll make some extra beds if we need to.”
The worker nodded, “That should be fine, yes.” She gestured to the rooms around them. “We have several amenities available to all of the contestants and their guests. You look like you might enjoy the bar, the park, the gym, perhaps even the library? In any case, please don’t hesitate to ask any of our host staff if you have questions or need directions.”
“Yo, thank you,” the bandit said to her, and summoned a tiny chip of omnilium. “Thanks for the help.”
The host shook her head and smiled cheerfully, “Oh no! Uh,” she paused, “what are your pronouns?” she clarified.
“Pronouns?” the surly bandit asked.
Another cheerful smile from the host. “He/him, she/her, they/them? Or really anything else you’d like to refer to you as.”
The marauder struggled with the concept for a moment before replying. “Oh. Uh, I guess she is fine.”
The host nodded politely in thanks. “Well ma’am, we are not allowed to accept tips. But thank you so much!”
“Oh,” the omnilium vanish from the bandit’s fingers, “I dunno what that really means; I’m used to paying people who have been helpful instead of trying to blow your fuckin’ face off.”
The host shook her head. “No, it’s just my job.” The nameless woman knew that meant, “This is what I was made to do and I don’t have much choice.”
“Well maybe I can get you something nice later,” the woman offered as a compromise. “Or not, if that makes you uncomfortable or whatever.”
The host smiled and moved forward in the conversation by gesturing at the bar. “There are multiple restaurants and other refreshment establishments through there if you find yourself hungry after your journey.”
The bandit grinned, said, “Thanks again,” and headed in that direction.