Negation
Shameless Pervert
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- Jul 27, 2019
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- 6,889
Won't it be better to link this with the Greed system to extend its range?
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The regular administrative staff are taking a vacation, and in the meantime, Biigoh is taking over. See here for more information.
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Emptiness
That which encompasses reality
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2024
- Messages
- 75
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No, you don't need a villain pilot! You need a mech that turns a promising underdog into a tragic fallen antagonist! Then, when the mech is inevitably defeated and the pilot switches to an angel mech, you can have a reoccurring plotline of the reused parts of Nosferatu corrupting other mechs!
I036
New
lost star
Connoisseur.
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2013
- Messages
- 14,519
- Likes received
- 467,324
Stepping back from the drama slightly. Mars Silver was a heavily developed planet. It existed on the borders of the Friday Coalition, rather far from Hexxer territory. It had not been touched by war, and wouldn't be touched due to various strategic reasons. It therefore had a rather large population unused to real combat. The arenas were the closet things they had to true violence, and they'd lucked into these arenas becoming one of the more popular things in the Coalition. A lot of money therefore ran through the arenas, and there were a lot of considerations built into the local government to encourage things.
The arena that Bolt and Lilly had chosen was close to the middle of the road in almost all respects. They had a decent roster, a decent following, and a fair amount of resources. They did not have a dedicated designer on call. Most arenas didn't. If they needed a custom mech they just hired someone for a one off design. It wasn't a popular job despite the money involved. As Bolt had observed, it was essentially building a custom mech for an actor. Building a custom weapon for an expert was a respectable and eagerly sought after job. Building something specifically for a fake battle was decidedly less prestigious. Designers advanced through sales and through experimentation. Arenas mechs didn't lend themselves to either, thus the jobs were typically taken by designers who just needed money, and they usually did the minimum required.
Bolt and Lilly's offer to work with the arena for VIP treatment was therefore a bit unusual. The arena managers had only taken it at first because Lilly was an expert. Her advice alone was worth the cost of putting two people in the VIP areas. The managers had thrown their newest talent the couple's way because any mistakes or problems could be compensated for quite easily. If Bolt had given Harry a boring or faulty mech it wouldn't have mattered. Harry's career was new enough that they could adjust as needed.
Everyday had ultimately been a surprise to everyone. Its performance in the arena had retroactively made Bolt's episode one of the most popular ones in the series. Everyone wanted to know how the man had done it. Yet despite Bolt blatantly telling them to the face what he did, no one could really tell exactly what he did. It became a tantalizing mystery that sent the local MTA officials into a minor scramble. Bolt had done absolutely nothing wrong. He'd just made every educator's life harder because all the kids wanted to do something like that now.
Then his creation of his newest mech was broadcast. It was a bit of an accident on Bolt's part. The man had not actually intended to construct a mech in front of a camera. He'd just gone to the nearest bay with tools and forgotten completely that they'd studded it with recording equipment due to his previous scene.
Nosferatu was built in a flurry of activity more fitting for the wide screen than a controlled mech construction company. Bolt, in his mania, had constructed the mech with the barest of safety measures, and with the full use off all the technology in the bay. It had been acrobatic, enthralling, and resulted in a mech that loomed so ominously that it could be felt through the TV screen. The mech became famous overnight, and its debut became one of the hottest topics on the planet.
It was actually a tiny bit of a problem for the arena. There was too much anticipation. They had to rewrite the entire script and get a better pilot for the new mech because disappointment could kill an arena faster than even failure. Fortunately their recent success let them recruit someone who could pilot the mech properly. Nosferatu turned out to have a very high performance ceiling after testing, and while anyone could pilot the thing, better pilots could coax a lot more out of the mech. (Bolt considered that very close to a real failure truthfully.)
Thus the plotline had shifted around a lot, and they'd gone with the unleashed monster mech that piloted itself mostly. No one complained that much really. The new mech had enough of a presence that the direction worked pretty well.
"Behold my new weapon!" Sinestra Six proclaimed as she gestured to the massive chained coffin next to her mech. "Forged from the nightmares of humanity, this monster will defeat you all, one, by, one!"
"Not a chance Sinestra!" Allday stepped forward. "I'll stop you, and your weapon!"
That was the cue for the custom made container to shake. The chains fell off one by one, and then the side cracked open. The arena lights flickered, and then flickered red without any input from the special effects team at all. The mech inside the coffin reached out almost casually and pushed the lid off. It fell to the ground with a slam and an elegant figure stepped out.
Everyone held their breath. By now people were familiar with Everyday's appearance and presence. It was a light and valiant breath of vitality. It wasn't obvious, nor was it demanding, but it was there. Like a little light.
Nosferatu's aura was horror and despair, yet the fun type. It was a monster putting on a show. It dragged you down for a scare and laughed in your face. It pulled you in with dread and made you hold your breath. This was a monster it cried, and it demanded you appreciate it while it was on stage.
The mech spread out her wings while everyone watched and then the world went red. The people in the arena could almost taste blood. An iron scent bled through everything for a brief moment before fading away. Nosferatu was having her debut and had taken control of the show.
"What, what is this?!" Sinestra breathed out in real shock before she recovered like the professional actor she was. "Beast, obey me!"
Nosferatu tilted her head. The horns made the gesture dramatic and more exaggerated than it would have been. She made a gesture with two fingers and red flowed up and covered Sinestra's mech.
"Nooooo!" The woman cried out as her mech staggered and dropped with almost exaggerated distress.
Another gesture had the red pull off and back around Nosferatu. The mech flicked a finger almost disdainfully at the puddle of crimson and it splattered around her. Thanks to the tint and the size difference the sand looked remarkably like blood. As Nosferatu spread her wings again half the audience took pictures and made screenshots. This was a mech that screamed vampire. The black and red creation dominated the scene so thoroughly that the special effects managers barely needed to do anything. (They did start the ominous Latin music naturally.)
"I don't know what sort of monster Sinestra has unleashed, but I will be sure to put it down!" Allday shouted out, and Everyday shined in response to his declaration.
The heroic mech charged forward. No special effects were invoked, but the field changed as he did so. For one brief moment the red was pushed back in shining gold. It went beyond mechanics and into story. The clash became a whirl of enthralling gold and red.
Red 'blood' spattered the arena as the battle continued. Nosferatu's style was almost artful. She moved like a dancer and spread red wherever she stepped. She threw it onto Everyday and pulled it off in a shower of almost gore. She carefully cut him with her wings and then shot him with points of her fingers. (The managers were giving the pilot a raise after this, because there was good piloting and then there was art.)
In contrast Everyday just moved forward, yet that fit. His heroic stand demanded nothing less. He strode through it all and shined ever brighter every second.
Yet victory was not going to be his. This was Nosferatu's debut, and the arena people wanted to milk every second of it. This meant that first round went to the monster. They didn't even have to fake it. Allday had chosen the exactly wrong method of fighting Nosferatu by accident. Falling into her rhythm meant that the mech could draw out the fight at her leisure.
The ending was somehow beautifully tragic. Everyday was surrounded in red sand towards the end and Nosferatu clenched a hand cinematically. All the sand flowed up around the mech and covered the entire thing. It dropped down, and it was like the light went out. Some of the audience even cried out.
Then the lights really went out as the scene ended and people got ready for the cleanup. Both of Bolt's mechs seemed incredibly happy with the results, somehow. (They weren't spirits yet, but Bolt was fairly sure that something about the situation was accelerating the process.)
The arena that Bolt and Lilly had chosen was close to the middle of the road in almost all respects. They had a decent roster, a decent following, and a fair amount of resources. They did not have a dedicated designer on call. Most arenas didn't. If they needed a custom mech they just hired someone for a one off design. It wasn't a popular job despite the money involved. As Bolt had observed, it was essentially building a custom mech for an actor. Building a custom weapon for an expert was a respectable and eagerly sought after job. Building something specifically for a fake battle was decidedly less prestigious. Designers advanced through sales and through experimentation. Arenas mechs didn't lend themselves to either, thus the jobs were typically taken by designers who just needed money, and they usually did the minimum required.
Bolt and Lilly's offer to work with the arena for VIP treatment was therefore a bit unusual. The arena managers had only taken it at first because Lilly was an expert. Her advice alone was worth the cost of putting two people in the VIP areas. The managers had thrown their newest talent the couple's way because any mistakes or problems could be compensated for quite easily. If Bolt had given Harry a boring or faulty mech it wouldn't have mattered. Harry's career was new enough that they could adjust as needed.
Everyday had ultimately been a surprise to everyone. Its performance in the arena had retroactively made Bolt's episode one of the most popular ones in the series. Everyone wanted to know how the man had done it. Yet despite Bolt blatantly telling them to the face what he did, no one could really tell exactly what he did. It became a tantalizing mystery that sent the local MTA officials into a minor scramble. Bolt had done absolutely nothing wrong. He'd just made every educator's life harder because all the kids wanted to do something like that now.
Then his creation of his newest mech was broadcast. It was a bit of an accident on Bolt's part. The man had not actually intended to construct a mech in front of a camera. He'd just gone to the nearest bay with tools and forgotten completely that they'd studded it with recording equipment due to his previous scene.
Nosferatu was built in a flurry of activity more fitting for the wide screen than a controlled mech construction company. Bolt, in his mania, had constructed the mech with the barest of safety measures, and with the full use off all the technology in the bay. It had been acrobatic, enthralling, and resulted in a mech that loomed so ominously that it could be felt through the TV screen. The mech became famous overnight, and its debut became one of the hottest topics on the planet.
It was actually a tiny bit of a problem for the arena. There was too much anticipation. They had to rewrite the entire script and get a better pilot for the new mech because disappointment could kill an arena faster than even failure. Fortunately their recent success let them recruit someone who could pilot the mech properly. Nosferatu turned out to have a very high performance ceiling after testing, and while anyone could pilot the thing, better pilots could coax a lot more out of the mech. (Bolt considered that very close to a real failure truthfully.)
Thus the plotline had shifted around a lot, and they'd gone with the unleashed monster mech that piloted itself mostly. No one complained that much really. The new mech had enough of a presence that the direction worked pretty well.
"Behold my new weapon!" Sinestra Six proclaimed as she gestured to the massive chained coffin next to her mech. "Forged from the nightmares of humanity, this monster will defeat you all, one, by, one!"
"Not a chance Sinestra!" Allday stepped forward. "I'll stop you, and your weapon!"
That was the cue for the custom made container to shake. The chains fell off one by one, and then the side cracked open. The arena lights flickered, and then flickered red without any input from the special effects team at all. The mech inside the coffin reached out almost casually and pushed the lid off. It fell to the ground with a slam and an elegant figure stepped out.
Everyone held their breath. By now people were familiar with Everyday's appearance and presence. It was a light and valiant breath of vitality. It wasn't obvious, nor was it demanding, but it was there. Like a little light.
Nosferatu's aura was horror and despair, yet the fun type. It was a monster putting on a show. It dragged you down for a scare and laughed in your face. It pulled you in with dread and made you hold your breath. This was a monster it cried, and it demanded you appreciate it while it was on stage.
The mech spread out her wings while everyone watched and then the world went red. The people in the arena could almost taste blood. An iron scent bled through everything for a brief moment before fading away. Nosferatu was having her debut and had taken control of the show.
"What, what is this?!" Sinestra breathed out in real shock before she recovered like the professional actor she was. "Beast, obey me!"
Nosferatu tilted her head. The horns made the gesture dramatic and more exaggerated than it would have been. She made a gesture with two fingers and red flowed up and covered Sinestra's mech.
"Nooooo!" The woman cried out as her mech staggered and dropped with almost exaggerated distress.
Another gesture had the red pull off and back around Nosferatu. The mech flicked a finger almost disdainfully at the puddle of crimson and it splattered around her. Thanks to the tint and the size difference the sand looked remarkably like blood. As Nosferatu spread her wings again half the audience took pictures and made screenshots. This was a mech that screamed vampire. The black and red creation dominated the scene so thoroughly that the special effects managers barely needed to do anything. (They did start the ominous Latin music naturally.)
"I don't know what sort of monster Sinestra has unleashed, but I will be sure to put it down!" Allday shouted out, and Everyday shined in response to his declaration.
The heroic mech charged forward. No special effects were invoked, but the field changed as he did so. For one brief moment the red was pushed back in shining gold. It went beyond mechanics and into story. The clash became a whirl of enthralling gold and red.
Red 'blood' spattered the arena as the battle continued. Nosferatu's style was almost artful. She moved like a dancer and spread red wherever she stepped. She threw it onto Everyday and pulled it off in a shower of almost gore. She carefully cut him with her wings and then shot him with points of her fingers. (The managers were giving the pilot a raise after this, because there was good piloting and then there was art.)
In contrast Everyday just moved forward, yet that fit. His heroic stand demanded nothing less. He strode through it all and shined ever brighter every second.
Yet victory was not going to be his. This was Nosferatu's debut, and the arena people wanted to milk every second of it. This meant that first round went to the monster. They didn't even have to fake it. Allday had chosen the exactly wrong method of fighting Nosferatu by accident. Falling into her rhythm meant that the mech could draw out the fight at her leisure.
The ending was somehow beautifully tragic. Everyday was surrounded in red sand towards the end and Nosferatu clenched a hand cinematically. All the sand flowed up around the mech and covered the entire thing. It dropped down, and it was like the light went out. Some of the audience even cried out.
Then the lights really went out as the scene ended and people got ready for the cleanup. Both of Bolt's mechs seemed incredibly happy with the results, somehow. (They weren't spirits yet, but Bolt was fairly sure that something about the situation was accelerating the process.)
Tavarokk
Pursuer of perversion
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2015
- Messages
- 12,219
- Likes received
- 24,990
As an aside, since Morningstar is effectively 2nd rate except for reactor and Dowry can upgrade itself with eaten materials except for reactor, can Bolt use the opportunity (ie stay on a 2nd rate planet rich in mech-related businesses, already with access to construction facilities) to refit both to full 2nd rate?
Simonbob
Really? You don't say.
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2014
- Messages
- 1,582
- Likes received
- 20,040
Possible, but....
It's both expensive, and very hard to maintain, without a lot of stuff that their world doesn't have, and couldn't protect if it did. Bad idea.
foo-jin
Most polished sword in the trichilliocosm.
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2024
- Messages
- 934
- Likes received
- 13,276
3rd rate Star Mech Designer Bolt here we come!
I037
New
lost star
Connoisseur.
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2013
- Messages
- 14,519
- Likes received
- 467,324
AN: Silly bit here. It's supposed to be an article. The (Link) Is deliberate because I'm not doing actual links.
---
What is Allday, what is Everday, and why should I care about all these days? That's the largest question on everyone's lips nowadays, and you'll have to pardon my frequent usage of days here. We can't avoid using the names of our newest hot topics after all my dear readers.
So what is Allday? Allday is one of the many pilots that take up names and masks in the name of entertainment. Yes most of what he does is acting. Don't say it though. Part of the fun is that when he's in the mask, he's that person. It's called Kayfabe, and it's complicated, but for those who don't know it, if you see a mask it's very very very serious, with a serious face.
Everyday is Allday's mech. Yes that's deliberate. Actors have names that are supposed to stick in your head. We have the official specs and blueprints linked to the article. (Link) You'll note that they aren't that impressive on paper.
Here's what the paper doesn't tell you, and why could it? It's paper! Jests aside the mech's paper specifications are flat out lies.
Everyday is a beautiful little showman. The mech blooms in the arena. If you get in in front of a crowd, all those little numbers go out the window. It fights with flair. It's finishing move can one-hit KO a mech. Even the way it is destroyed is beautiful. We have clips (Link), that show him falling so magnificently you'd think it's been recorded in a movie and not in an arena.
That's another thing about our wonderful people here. Our masked men might be acting, but inside the arena it's very real. They do a few minor things to spice up the look of the damage, but all of the fights have minimal to no scripting. You even have events where people can fight against the actors, some will even make it into the main shows and storylines. Yes you can be on TV, yes you can say hi to mom too. In fact they encourage it sometimes. Be sure to say hi to dad too. He's feeling neglected.
Back to the spotlight! Everyday's variable performance is all real. If the crowd's hyped, the mech is better. If it's not, then well, it's a normal medium of the road brawler.
Now all of this alone isn't really stand out, you know? We get the occasional unusual mech. Some designers can do some strange things. We all remember the ghost mech last year.
Here's why you should care. One word. The name of another mech. Nosferatu.
Nosferatu does a thing similar to Everyday, but the gorgeous vampire wants terror. She wants your thrills, and your boos. She stands in front of you and makes you feel things. Yes dear readers, I'm being a bit silly, but she's beautiful.
Now you have a hero and a villain mech, and they make my heart race. When they're together and fight it's a classic good an evil that goes beyond mech fights and into something that inspires. They shine too when they're alone, but they work best when the crowd is hyped. Everyone wants to fight them, because sometimes they even make their opponent look better!
To make things more entertaining, here's the designer. (Link)
Yes that's the designer. No, I'm not joking. He's a hunky beefcake with smoldering eyes and a hint of madness. Not kidding on the last part. We have clips of him building the two mechs, and the man's a cross between a monkey, a mad scientist, and a living power tool. That man can lift a girl up with one hand.
He's also married, and I'd be disappointed, but they're adorable together. (Link) Yes that's her being lifted up with one hand. Yes we get memes from it. She's an expert too by the way. Yes she pilots his mechs. They're a regular power couple, and there's shows about it that are close to true. She's also got a baby on the way, so send her well wishes if you can!
Really it's all right out of a storybook. We have a couple with a building legend waltz in, upend the entire scene, and then probably waltz out into the sunset while we pick up the glorious pieces. It's just a bit hilarious, and something that we'll all be glad to watch. Everyday and Nosferatu are going to stick around and be used heavily. I have a pretty good feeling that the arena knows they have a gold goose on their hands, and they know how to care for geese like that.
Hmm? Did you look at the systems and shows and see something about Hearts? Oh my dear readers, I'm glad you're paying attention.
Bolt, that's the designer, has an unusual philosophy with that. You can see his own words in the clips. (Link) It's not an act, we think. That's him just explaining things in his own way. The Heart System is officially MTA approved, and currently restricted to his designs. Don't be fooled by it being Third Rate, according to the grape vines I hear it has potential.
At the moment we don't know more. A lot of the documentation is a bit, well unproven. We have results like this, but people can't really figure it all out. The MTA is evaluating a possible provisional licensing for all arena mechs. It's quite a bit strange, and not everyone is going to get one installed, but if it allows for performance like Everyday and Nosferatu, then it will get really popular. My completely uneducated guess is that we'll see a lot of mechs start to develop like our two new stars, but nothing will compare to the originals.
And that's why you should care!
-Small news article on Mars Silver
"I almost peed my pants!"
"Really?"
"Yes, Nosferatu came out and everything turned red. I'll be honest, I wasn't really paying attention beforehand. I'd just gotten the munchies and was getting some of the good popcorn, and then everything turns red and it's like someone was looming over me. Scared me like you wouldn't believe! I can't say I hated it though."
"That was a fairly common sentiment."
"You still feel it when the mech really cuts loose, but I have to say it got me really invested now. Though I do wonder about the cosplayers."
"Cosplayers?"
"A few girls have decided the black corsets, specific hair styles, and red lipstick are very appropriate for the arena after that match."
"Oh dear."
"I mean done right it looks gorgeous, but I really hope it doesn't start a trend."
-Excerpt from a daytime interview
Sales tickets continue to rise as Everyday and Nosferatu's plotlines continue. The clash between the two and formal challengers have continued. Hostile takeover attempts and attempts to purchase or steal the mechs have resulted in the courts and government moving to take a hard line. For those unaware of the minute, a provision comes into place when events similar to this happen. It typically comes in when a smaller arena stumbles on success. The courts take a very dim view of larger arenas throwing their weight around, and might begin to force investigations and criminal actions if it continues.
-Financial excerpt
"How many spy organizations are here now?!"
"We can't be certain sir. The only confirmed ones are from the Coalition. There's at least four now. Thanks to compartmentalization and cell structures some might even be ours."
"Of course, this is turning into a clusterfuck. Do we have eyes in the ship?"
"Some, but Bolt and Lilly are both finding most of the devices and we don't know how."
"Naturally. Tell me that the hostile takeover attempts aren't us at least."
"I don't think so? Some may be happening because of previous plans, but it's hard to tell."
"Of course is there any good news then?"
"We got tickets to the next show?"
"That that is actually decent news makes me want to shoot something. And don't think I don't see you edging towards the door. I don't have the gun on me now. Whatever, go to your show, take your girlfriend, and I better hear some sort of news later!"
-Conversation between several spies.
While the constant movement does make it difficult to properly monitor the subject, it's not a serious issue. We are receiving continuous medical updates and have their location. The subject should return to have the treasure extracted, at which point we can acquire it through normal methods. It will of course require some cleanup afterwards, but we can probably arrange for the mess to be attributed to other involved pests.
If the subject doesn't return in a timely manner this is perfectly acceptable as well. There are several assets that can intercept if needed, and it might even be easier in that way. Regardless, the treasure is only moderately valuable, so the resources being committed are relatively limited. We do have to account for the present as well as the future after all.
I would humbly request that someone does a review of our assets in this area. It's become apparent that other groups associated with us are involved, and we might have some conflicting goals. Coordination is never perfect, but it feels particularly bad here. I do not suspect enemy action so much as severe neglect.
-Message on a secured line to Five Scroll Compact Managers
---
What is Allday, what is Everday, and why should I care about all these days? That's the largest question on everyone's lips nowadays, and you'll have to pardon my frequent usage of days here. We can't avoid using the names of our newest hot topics after all my dear readers.
So what is Allday? Allday is one of the many pilots that take up names and masks in the name of entertainment. Yes most of what he does is acting. Don't say it though. Part of the fun is that when he's in the mask, he's that person. It's called Kayfabe, and it's complicated, but for those who don't know it, if you see a mask it's very very very serious, with a serious face.
Everyday is Allday's mech. Yes that's deliberate. Actors have names that are supposed to stick in your head. We have the official specs and blueprints linked to the article. (Link) You'll note that they aren't that impressive on paper.
Here's what the paper doesn't tell you, and why could it? It's paper! Jests aside the mech's paper specifications are flat out lies.
Everyday is a beautiful little showman. The mech blooms in the arena. If you get in in front of a crowd, all those little numbers go out the window. It fights with flair. It's finishing move can one-hit KO a mech. Even the way it is destroyed is beautiful. We have clips (Link), that show him falling so magnificently you'd think it's been recorded in a movie and not in an arena.
That's another thing about our wonderful people here. Our masked men might be acting, but inside the arena it's very real. They do a few minor things to spice up the look of the damage, but all of the fights have minimal to no scripting. You even have events where people can fight against the actors, some will even make it into the main shows and storylines. Yes you can be on TV, yes you can say hi to mom too. In fact they encourage it sometimes. Be sure to say hi to dad too. He's feeling neglected.
Back to the spotlight! Everyday's variable performance is all real. If the crowd's hyped, the mech is better. If it's not, then well, it's a normal medium of the road brawler.
Now all of this alone isn't really stand out, you know? We get the occasional unusual mech. Some designers can do some strange things. We all remember the ghost mech last year.
Here's why you should care. One word. The name of another mech. Nosferatu.
Nosferatu does a thing similar to Everyday, but the gorgeous vampire wants terror. She wants your thrills, and your boos. She stands in front of you and makes you feel things. Yes dear readers, I'm being a bit silly, but she's beautiful.
Now you have a hero and a villain mech, and they make my heart race. When they're together and fight it's a classic good an evil that goes beyond mech fights and into something that inspires. They shine too when they're alone, but they work best when the crowd is hyped. Everyone wants to fight them, because sometimes they even make their opponent look better!
To make things more entertaining, here's the designer. (Link)
Yes that's the designer. No, I'm not joking. He's a hunky beefcake with smoldering eyes and a hint of madness. Not kidding on the last part. We have clips of him building the two mechs, and the man's a cross between a monkey, a mad scientist, and a living power tool. That man can lift a girl up with one hand.
He's also married, and I'd be disappointed, but they're adorable together. (Link) Yes that's her being lifted up with one hand. Yes we get memes from it. She's an expert too by the way. Yes she pilots his mechs. They're a regular power couple, and there's shows about it that are close to true. She's also got a baby on the way, so send her well wishes if you can!
Really it's all right out of a storybook. We have a couple with a building legend waltz in, upend the entire scene, and then probably waltz out into the sunset while we pick up the glorious pieces. It's just a bit hilarious, and something that we'll all be glad to watch. Everyday and Nosferatu are going to stick around and be used heavily. I have a pretty good feeling that the arena knows they have a gold goose on their hands, and they know how to care for geese like that.
Hmm? Did you look at the systems and shows and see something about Hearts? Oh my dear readers, I'm glad you're paying attention.
Bolt, that's the designer, has an unusual philosophy with that. You can see his own words in the clips. (Link) It's not an act, we think. That's him just explaining things in his own way. The Heart System is officially MTA approved, and currently restricted to his designs. Don't be fooled by it being Third Rate, according to the grape vines I hear it has potential.
At the moment we don't know more. A lot of the documentation is a bit, well unproven. We have results like this, but people can't really figure it all out. The MTA is evaluating a possible provisional licensing for all arena mechs. It's quite a bit strange, and not everyone is going to get one installed, but if it allows for performance like Everyday and Nosferatu, then it will get really popular. My completely uneducated guess is that we'll see a lot of mechs start to develop like our two new stars, but nothing will compare to the originals.
And that's why you should care!
-Small news article on Mars Silver
"I almost peed my pants!"
"Really?"
"Yes, Nosferatu came out and everything turned red. I'll be honest, I wasn't really paying attention beforehand. I'd just gotten the munchies and was getting some of the good popcorn, and then everything turns red and it's like someone was looming over me. Scared me like you wouldn't believe! I can't say I hated it though."
"That was a fairly common sentiment."
"You still feel it when the mech really cuts loose, but I have to say it got me really invested now. Though I do wonder about the cosplayers."
"Cosplayers?"
"A few girls have decided the black corsets, specific hair styles, and red lipstick are very appropriate for the arena after that match."
"Oh dear."
"I mean done right it looks gorgeous, but I really hope it doesn't start a trend."
-Excerpt from a daytime interview
Sales tickets continue to rise as Everyday and Nosferatu's plotlines continue. The clash between the two and formal challengers have continued. Hostile takeover attempts and attempts to purchase or steal the mechs have resulted in the courts and government moving to take a hard line. For those unaware of the minute, a provision comes into place when events similar to this happen. It typically comes in when a smaller arena stumbles on success. The courts take a very dim view of larger arenas throwing their weight around, and might begin to force investigations and criminal actions if it continues.
-Financial excerpt
"How many spy organizations are here now?!"
"We can't be certain sir. The only confirmed ones are from the Coalition. There's at least four now. Thanks to compartmentalization and cell structures some might even be ours."
"Of course, this is turning into a clusterfuck. Do we have eyes in the ship?"
"Some, but Bolt and Lilly are both finding most of the devices and we don't know how."
"Naturally. Tell me that the hostile takeover attempts aren't us at least."
"I don't think so? Some may be happening because of previous plans, but it's hard to tell."
"Of course is there any good news then?"
"We got tickets to the next show?"
"That that is actually decent news makes me want to shoot something. And don't think I don't see you edging towards the door. I don't have the gun on me now. Whatever, go to your show, take your girlfriend, and I better hear some sort of news later!"
-Conversation between several spies.
While the constant movement does make it difficult to properly monitor the subject, it's not a serious issue. We are receiving continuous medical updates and have their location. The subject should return to have the treasure extracted, at which point we can acquire it through normal methods. It will of course require some cleanup afterwards, but we can probably arrange for the mess to be attributed to other involved pests.
If the subject doesn't return in a timely manner this is perfectly acceptable as well. There are several assets that can intercept if needed, and it might even be easier in that way. Regardless, the treasure is only moderately valuable, so the resources being committed are relatively limited. We do have to account for the present as well as the future after all.
I would humbly request that someone does a review of our assets in this area. It's become apparent that other groups associated with us are involved, and we might have some conflicting goals. Coordination is never perfect, but it feels particularly bad here. I do not suspect enemy action so much as severe neglect.
-Message on a secured line to Five Scroll Compact Managers
Wolfjob
Not too sore, are you?
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Might be those simpletons thinking he has a scroll fragment. It's probably the baby though.
M141
New
lost star
Connoisseur.
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It was honestly extremely tempting to stay. Bolt was having a lot of fun. Like any human he wanted to prolong that fun. That said, two things kept him from staying. One was the fact that he was sure the novelty would wear off eventually. Two was the fact that he still wanted to make his home better. He wanted to build up his own palace, not live in one another person built.
"Are you quite certain you don't want to stay?" The arena manager asked as Bolt prepared himself.
"Thought it over. Ya'll actually tempted me a lot. Not sure if you understand how much that means." Bolt answered before shaking his head. "But no. Thank you for the entertainment and VIP treatmen, but we're gonna leave soon."
"Was a lotta fun!" Lilly commented from the side. "Give my regards to your guys. Glad they all loved the talks."
"Venerable Lilly, we've noticed significant improvement from everyone under your guidance. They'd have to be fools to dislike your instruction." The man said seriously before turning back to Bolt. "If I cannot convince you stay, then all I can do is say thank you, and of course give you a lifetime subscription to our arena."
Bolt laughed at that. "I'll watch it." He promised before tapping at his comm. "That said, I am giving you and everyone else access to a new blueprint."
The manager's eyebrows raised and he pulled out his own comm before starting it. "The Heroic Hearts?"
"It's a customized version of my Heart System. Fully approved by the MTA for usage in arena mechs." Bolt informed the other man. "The documentation is in there, but to put it in normal speak, add the module to any arena mech, and it will give them a small bit of what makes Allday and Nosferatu special. It should become better over time too, assuming the pilot keeps the heart and keeps using it in front of crowds."
"That is generous." The man breathed out as he scanned over it. "Surprisingly affordable too."
"I can't and won't make it free, but I can put an affordable price on the license. If any designers have questions you can give them my contact information. Anyone with a registered arena will be able to access this module, but I'm pretty sure that yer the only one that will do it at first." The designer said.
"There's a note here that this is only for arena mechs."
Bolt nodded. "That's intentional. The system only works in crowds. Outside them." He paused and thought. "Some things might work, but most of it won't. The recording feature should work still, and most pilots like that. It's a standard with the Heart system."
"Reviewing yer actions helps a lot with improving." Lilly chimed in.
"We'll probably have it installed on all the relevent mechs immediately. Thank you." The manager bowed. "I hope you all have a bright and happy future!"
The couple waved as they left on the shuttle. Behind them the camera clicked as it was shut off. Another great scene done! Because of course they'd record their new stars leaving.
Up in orbit Lilly settled down on a cushioned seat and poked at her stomach. "It really only starts showing after the First Trimester right?"
"Depends on the woman, but yes." Bolt observed his wife with a critical eye. "I do see a small bump maybe?"
"I did gain some weight and medical checkups say I'm good, but no more piloting." Lilly reclined on the chair with a huff. "Hope my mechs don't get lonely!"
"Even if they did you can still get in them. You just should have them not move fast. It's the g-force that is worrying medically." The soon to be father noted. "But enough o' that. Got a place ya wanna go next?"
"Hmmm." Lilly poked through the nearby planets. "Can we leave the sector?"
"We have the drive and fuel fer it, and so long as we're not gone a year or so my mechs here will be fine." Bolt answered.
Before you were a master, mechs degraded if you died or left your area of influence. Journeymen like Bolt had a sector's worth of influence. Leaving could be an issue potentially, but only if you were gone for awhile. Mech degradation started after about a year, and if you dipped in and out of the area it didn't happen.
"Kay, then I wanna go here." Lilly brought up the planet in question.
"Er." Bolt almost objected until he read it more. "All right then?" It did seem mildly interesting.
Lilly wanted to go to a planet a sector over. The planet's name was Green Barrier 12. It was a planet bordering a very hostile and very deadly alien race known as the Arboretians. Normally Bolt would have said no, but there technically wasn't a war there at the moment.
This was due to the aliens being, well alien. The Arboretians were a race of plants, literally. They were akin to trees, though that was very technically a mis-designation. They spread through very very slow FTL and operated on the scale of centuries. They were absolute masters of defensive battles as well. It should have been a problem, but their odd sense of reality caused some rather unusual results.
Simplified, every year the Great Trees sent out younglings to nearby planets. Those younglings would grow on the planets, then humans would then burn them out once they noticed them. It was a war in only the most technical sense. The younglings were Second Rate equivalent combatants, but limited in many ways. They were so limited it had become more akin to hunting animals than a war. Sure there were plenty of human deaths, but they were 'acceptable' human deaths so to speak.
Green Barrier 12 was currently rated as safe to visit. That would change depending on how many Arboretians landed on the planet over time and how well the people there purged them. Bolt found it interesting because the mechs used wood as materials. Specialized wood yes, but still wood.
Now it has to be said that humanity did not suffer threats lightly. The MTA and the CFA did try to purge the aliens, and still kept them under heavy surveillance. The simple fact of the matter was that assaulting the alien core worlds was more trouble than it was worth. Rumor had it that even a god pilot wasn't able to easily get in, but if so there were no official records of it. Any attempts by other people had failed, sometimes spectacularly.
As it was, the aliens provided a good source of Second Rate materials and were contained, so the status quo was acceptable enough for humanity. No one on humanity's side cared about what the trees thought, but they'd kept doing the same thing repeatedly to no effect, so people assumed that they didn't care at all. Most scholarly assumptions were that the Arboretians had a need to propagate, but absolutely no attachment to their young and were throwing them into human territory simply because they believed that all it would take is a single failure for them to win. It was an assumption though, and there were plenty of other possible reasons.
"Are you quite certain you don't want to stay?" The arena manager asked as Bolt prepared himself.
"Thought it over. Ya'll actually tempted me a lot. Not sure if you understand how much that means." Bolt answered before shaking his head. "But no. Thank you for the entertainment and VIP treatmen, but we're gonna leave soon."
"Was a lotta fun!" Lilly commented from the side. "Give my regards to your guys. Glad they all loved the talks."
"Venerable Lilly, we've noticed significant improvement from everyone under your guidance. They'd have to be fools to dislike your instruction." The man said seriously before turning back to Bolt. "If I cannot convince you stay, then all I can do is say thank you, and of course give you a lifetime subscription to our arena."
Bolt laughed at that. "I'll watch it." He promised before tapping at his comm. "That said, I am giving you and everyone else access to a new blueprint."
The manager's eyebrows raised and he pulled out his own comm before starting it. "The Heroic Hearts?"
"It's a customized version of my Heart System. Fully approved by the MTA for usage in arena mechs." Bolt informed the other man. "The documentation is in there, but to put it in normal speak, add the module to any arena mech, and it will give them a small bit of what makes Allday and Nosferatu special. It should become better over time too, assuming the pilot keeps the heart and keeps using it in front of crowds."
"That is generous." The man breathed out as he scanned over it. "Surprisingly affordable too."
"I can't and won't make it free, but I can put an affordable price on the license. If any designers have questions you can give them my contact information. Anyone with a registered arena will be able to access this module, but I'm pretty sure that yer the only one that will do it at first." The designer said.
"There's a note here that this is only for arena mechs."
Bolt nodded. "That's intentional. The system only works in crowds. Outside them." He paused and thought. "Some things might work, but most of it won't. The recording feature should work still, and most pilots like that. It's a standard with the Heart system."
"Reviewing yer actions helps a lot with improving." Lilly chimed in.
"We'll probably have it installed on all the relevent mechs immediately. Thank you." The manager bowed. "I hope you all have a bright and happy future!"
The couple waved as they left on the shuttle. Behind them the camera clicked as it was shut off. Another great scene done! Because of course they'd record their new stars leaving.
Up in orbit Lilly settled down on a cushioned seat and poked at her stomach. "It really only starts showing after the First Trimester right?"
"Depends on the woman, but yes." Bolt observed his wife with a critical eye. "I do see a small bump maybe?"
"I did gain some weight and medical checkups say I'm good, but no more piloting." Lilly reclined on the chair with a huff. "Hope my mechs don't get lonely!"
"Even if they did you can still get in them. You just should have them not move fast. It's the g-force that is worrying medically." The soon to be father noted. "But enough o' that. Got a place ya wanna go next?"
"Hmmm." Lilly poked through the nearby planets. "Can we leave the sector?"
"We have the drive and fuel fer it, and so long as we're not gone a year or so my mechs here will be fine." Bolt answered.
Before you were a master, mechs degraded if you died or left your area of influence. Journeymen like Bolt had a sector's worth of influence. Leaving could be an issue potentially, but only if you were gone for awhile. Mech degradation started after about a year, and if you dipped in and out of the area it didn't happen.
"Kay, then I wanna go here." Lilly brought up the planet in question.
"Er." Bolt almost objected until he read it more. "All right then?" It did seem mildly interesting.
Lilly wanted to go to a planet a sector over. The planet's name was Green Barrier 12. It was a planet bordering a very hostile and very deadly alien race known as the Arboretians. Normally Bolt would have said no, but there technically wasn't a war there at the moment.
This was due to the aliens being, well alien. The Arboretians were a race of plants, literally. They were akin to trees, though that was very technically a mis-designation. They spread through very very slow FTL and operated on the scale of centuries. They were absolute masters of defensive battles as well. It should have been a problem, but their odd sense of reality caused some rather unusual results.
Simplified, every year the Great Trees sent out younglings to nearby planets. Those younglings would grow on the planets, then humans would then burn them out once they noticed them. It was a war in only the most technical sense. The younglings were Second Rate equivalent combatants, but limited in many ways. They were so limited it had become more akin to hunting animals than a war. Sure there were plenty of human deaths, but they were 'acceptable' human deaths so to speak.
Green Barrier 12 was currently rated as safe to visit. That would change depending on how many Arboretians landed on the planet over time and how well the people there purged them. Bolt found it interesting because the mechs used wood as materials. Specialized wood yes, but still wood.
Now it has to be said that humanity did not suffer threats lightly. The MTA and the CFA did try to purge the aliens, and still kept them under heavy surveillance. The simple fact of the matter was that assaulting the alien core worlds was more trouble than it was worth. Rumor had it that even a god pilot wasn't able to easily get in, but if so there were no official records of it. Any attempts by other people had failed, sometimes spectacularly.
As it was, the aliens provided a good source of Second Rate materials and were contained, so the status quo was acceptable enough for humanity. No one on humanity's side cared about what the trees thought, but they'd kept doing the same thing repeatedly to no effect, so people assumed that they didn't care at all. Most scholarly assumptions were that the Arboretians had a need to propagate, but absolutely no attachment to their young and were throwing them into human territory simply because they believed that all it would take is a single failure for them to win. It was an assumption though, and there were plenty of other possible reasons.
Thomisannoyed
Versed in the lewd.
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Fuck around and have those losers behind us find out.
M142
New
lost star
Connoisseur.
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2013
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- 467,324
Green Barrier was not green. That was the first observation Bolt found. The second observation was that it had a surprising amount of traffic around orbit. The reasoning took a few minutes to find, but it was mostly because they were in the tail end of 'harvesting.' The planet itself was a mix of grey and brown as in the aftermath of all the fighting. Significant portions of it looked to have been razed and burned in some fashion and the most predominant color was due to that tainting the air.
"Bolt and Lilly Silica?" A man met them as they landed on a small landing pad.
"That'd be us." Lilly waved.
"It iz a pleasure to meet you. Forgive the lack of ceremony, but all other officials are quite busy." The man continued with a bow. "Please inform me of any needs you might have and about any requests you desire to make! I will see about fulfilling them to the best of my ability."
"Not like we need that much. I'm just interested in the mechs." Bolt said as he glanced around the surprisingly barren facilities.
"Oui, that is most definitely worthwhile. I can most certainly get you into contact with a few experts. This is a good time for that. With the major battles winding down some will be glad to talk shop. Does the Madame desire anything?" The man asked with a nod.
"I kinda wanna see how ya'll fight. Also, it reminds me a bit 'o home." Lilly took a deep breath. "Same scent of smoke, but with sap too."
"Reminds you of home?" The greeter stared at Lilly a moment. "Madame, this was an active warzone, and we still have small skirmishes with lingering remnants."
"That's home." Bolt confirmed with a nod. "More plants here, but the atmosphere is almost identical."
His statement seemed to make the man stop even trying to make sense of things. Instead he handed Bolt and Lilly a few contact addresses and made his way out with a slightly disturbed expression. Bolt couldn't say he blamed him. Rather than deal with that he stepped off the landing pad and looked out on the city, the only city on the planet.
The barrier planets weren't really places people settled on really. They were truthfully more military installations than tourist destinations, but due to several reasons they each had a city on them to help support the 'war.' This meant a lot of things, but for Bolt and Lilly it meant they could visit for their own entertainment. It wasn't unknown to happen and they did have procedures for it.
As a result of the near constant need for defense, the planet's city was a large and sprawling mess of metal and high-rises surrounded by walls. There was absolutely no dirt or plants at all in sight, and there were actual restrictions on open piles of dirt. This had caused the natives to use other methods to decorate the city and break up the brutal building profiles. Every building had something painted on it. Every corner had banners, lights, and various other decorations. There were elevators and other vehicles everywhere to make it easier to get up and down, and it all collided together to make navigating a dizzying affair. It almost drowned out the immense walls on the horizon and the faint hint of smoke.
Despite this the locals didn't act like they were just recently off a conflict. There was some standard foot traffic, advertisements, and even a few open air restaurants. There was no hint of stress or quick movements. People just went about their lives as normal.
"Was wondering if they'd be like us, but no. This feels more..." Lilly trailed off and held her husbands arm as they walked along the street.
"It feels like they haven't seen war at all." Bolt finished and looked around. "Or more like they're deliberately ignoring it."
You had to look for the hints of battle. A few scars. Some people had hints of pain. The occasional grieving single parent. There were very few of them though. It was perhaps a testimony about the routine nature of things.
"Why is there so much green?" Lilly asked quietly.
"Hmm?" Bolt responded.
"Green skin, green hair, some with red and green, but a lot of green on some people." Lilly pointed out.
That did seem unusual. Bolt wondered about it. Green didn't seem like a good fashion color when you were fighting against a species that used a lot of that color. It felt oddly subversive.
"Oh, they're teenagers." The designer realized.
Lilly stifled a laugh. "Oh, teenage rebellion by doing something with green." She barely kept herself quiet as they made their way into the hotel, but not quiet enough however.
"It's not rebellion!" A teenager who'd heard her shot back with a trace of shot back anger and a shaking fist before he approached. "It's stupid parents!"
"Excuse me?" Bolt asked as he turned to the person.
It was extremely hard to tell if it was a man or woman. The body shape was androgynous and lacked all secondary sex characteristics. The only thing that hinted at his sex was his voice. Everything else was just indeterminate. Frankly it gave him a mildly alien appearance that was more disturbing than anything else.
"Ze parents decided to do this to us." He said and crossed his arms, with several other teenagers nodding along as they joined him. "Tis a stupid fashion that happened when I was born. " He grabbed at his shoulder length green hair and pulled with frustration. "Oh I have a lovely mane, and green skin. I'm strong, but I barely look like a man! I should have hair on my chin!"
"I should have tits!" A girl, presumably, shouted out.
Now that Bolt was looking more than a few of the crowd had that sort of look. "Your parents altered your genetics like that?"
"Yes." The young man growled out. "So itz not rebellion. It's us living with their stupidity!" He got several nods.
Despite the rage, the small group of teenagers weren't actually acting that offensively, surprisingly. There wasn't that sense of aggression that made Bolt feel like he was in danger. It was more that they were generally offended at the world rather than anything else.
"Oh, that..." Lilly trailed off with a wince as she held her stomach and seemed to be contemplating something.
"We didn't do that Lilly." Bolt reassured his wife. "Remember."
"I know, it's just I don't know why a parent would do that?" The expert asked out loud with a profoundly disturbed expression.
"My parents were trend chasers and vapid pricks." The leader of the group said with a huff that was probably universal in teenagers. "You did some engineering for your child?"
"Had to, otherwise I couldn't have him." Lilly confirmed with a nod. "We didn't determine anything but male and no genetic issues."
"That iz acceptable." The teen flipped his green hair and nodded at them both. "You are good people. Forgive the rage Madam, you did not deserve it."
"Now I'm reminded that I'll need that if I want kids." One of the girls in the background said almost quietly enough for Bolt to miss it.
"That is even if we can afford and tolerate it. Remember what the doctor said? Hormonal treatment will be just the first step and it'll be uncomfortable."
"Let's not talk here. Is there a cafe nearby we can talk?" Bolt asked as the anger started to fade.
With a bit of suspicion the young man nodded, and then they moved to a small place on a corner that seemed to be a local hangout. The food was cheap, the drinks a cheap tea, and all of it was poor quality for Second Rate. It was still better than Bolt's usual, and actually more to his taste than the more expensive stuff he'd had.
The gist of it came out over a few minutes as they talked. The young man, Philippe, had been genetically engineered at birth with some alien DNA, along with several others. The reasoning behind it had officially been to gain an advantage against the Arboretians. The entire suite of changes the man and his fellows had gone through were extensive.
Something about that felt like a lie, though Bolt didn't say it out loud. The teenagers already felt trapped and angry at everything. Adding more to that would cause further trouble. They had few job prospects, and about half the city found the modifications both absurd and stupid.
"We can't even leave the planet for something better." Philippe noted bitterly. "Ze entire nation hates the Arboretians, and having these mods means no one would even think about giving us a chance."
"Without money we have to depend on our parents, and according to them getting treated is expensive." One of the others said. "I hear about first crushes and romance, and I feel nothing. I should be thinking about sex. I can't." And wasn't that mildly horrifying to hear.
Lilly winced before she brightened as something occurred to her. "Why don't you just move a sector over?"
"Huh?" Philippe asked in confusion.
"The Friday Coalition doesn't really care about this area. They're also in the middle of a war. Travel through the sector divide and you could probably get a job in something physical." Bolt explained before wincing slightly. "Though I can't guarantee it'll be good at first."
The teenager stared at him a moment before sighing. "I cannot believe we did not think of that."
"Oui!" Several others said before laughing.
"I'll forward you some information on travel and the forms. Getting a transport on your own shouldn't be out of your budget if you pool money and are careful." Bolt offered.
Sometimes you just needed a solution to make things better. The thought of a plan forward gave the young men and women more motivation than anything else. They parted on pretty good terms.
"Bolt and Lilly Silica?" A man met them as they landed on a small landing pad.
"That'd be us." Lilly waved.
"It iz a pleasure to meet you. Forgive the lack of ceremony, but all other officials are quite busy." The man continued with a bow. "Please inform me of any needs you might have and about any requests you desire to make! I will see about fulfilling them to the best of my ability."
"Not like we need that much. I'm just interested in the mechs." Bolt said as he glanced around the surprisingly barren facilities.
"Oui, that is most definitely worthwhile. I can most certainly get you into contact with a few experts. This is a good time for that. With the major battles winding down some will be glad to talk shop. Does the Madame desire anything?" The man asked with a nod.
"I kinda wanna see how ya'll fight. Also, it reminds me a bit 'o home." Lilly took a deep breath. "Same scent of smoke, but with sap too."
"Reminds you of home?" The greeter stared at Lilly a moment. "Madame, this was an active warzone, and we still have small skirmishes with lingering remnants."
"That's home." Bolt confirmed with a nod. "More plants here, but the atmosphere is almost identical."
His statement seemed to make the man stop even trying to make sense of things. Instead he handed Bolt and Lilly a few contact addresses and made his way out with a slightly disturbed expression. Bolt couldn't say he blamed him. Rather than deal with that he stepped off the landing pad and looked out on the city, the only city on the planet.
The barrier planets weren't really places people settled on really. They were truthfully more military installations than tourist destinations, but due to several reasons they each had a city on them to help support the 'war.' This meant a lot of things, but for Bolt and Lilly it meant they could visit for their own entertainment. It wasn't unknown to happen and they did have procedures for it.
As a result of the near constant need for defense, the planet's city was a large and sprawling mess of metal and high-rises surrounded by walls. There was absolutely no dirt or plants at all in sight, and there were actual restrictions on open piles of dirt. This had caused the natives to use other methods to decorate the city and break up the brutal building profiles. Every building had something painted on it. Every corner had banners, lights, and various other decorations. There were elevators and other vehicles everywhere to make it easier to get up and down, and it all collided together to make navigating a dizzying affair. It almost drowned out the immense walls on the horizon and the faint hint of smoke.
Despite this the locals didn't act like they were just recently off a conflict. There was some standard foot traffic, advertisements, and even a few open air restaurants. There was no hint of stress or quick movements. People just went about their lives as normal.
"Was wondering if they'd be like us, but no. This feels more..." Lilly trailed off and held her husbands arm as they walked along the street.
"It feels like they haven't seen war at all." Bolt finished and looked around. "Or more like they're deliberately ignoring it."
You had to look for the hints of battle. A few scars. Some people had hints of pain. The occasional grieving single parent. There were very few of them though. It was perhaps a testimony about the routine nature of things.
"Why is there so much green?" Lilly asked quietly.
"Hmm?" Bolt responded.
"Green skin, green hair, some with red and green, but a lot of green on some people." Lilly pointed out.
That did seem unusual. Bolt wondered about it. Green didn't seem like a good fashion color when you were fighting against a species that used a lot of that color. It felt oddly subversive.
"Oh, they're teenagers." The designer realized.
Lilly stifled a laugh. "Oh, teenage rebellion by doing something with green." She barely kept herself quiet as they made their way into the hotel, but not quiet enough however.
"It's not rebellion!" A teenager who'd heard her shot back with a trace of shot back anger and a shaking fist before he approached. "It's stupid parents!"
"Excuse me?" Bolt asked as he turned to the person.
It was extremely hard to tell if it was a man or woman. The body shape was androgynous and lacked all secondary sex characteristics. The only thing that hinted at his sex was his voice. Everything else was just indeterminate. Frankly it gave him a mildly alien appearance that was more disturbing than anything else.
"Ze parents decided to do this to us." He said and crossed his arms, with several other teenagers nodding along as they joined him. "Tis a stupid fashion that happened when I was born. " He grabbed at his shoulder length green hair and pulled with frustration. "Oh I have a lovely mane, and green skin. I'm strong, but I barely look like a man! I should have hair on my chin!"
"I should have tits!" A girl, presumably, shouted out.
Now that Bolt was looking more than a few of the crowd had that sort of look. "Your parents altered your genetics like that?"
"Yes." The young man growled out. "So itz not rebellion. It's us living with their stupidity!" He got several nods.
Despite the rage, the small group of teenagers weren't actually acting that offensively, surprisingly. There wasn't that sense of aggression that made Bolt feel like he was in danger. It was more that they were generally offended at the world rather than anything else.
"Oh, that..." Lilly trailed off with a wince as she held her stomach and seemed to be contemplating something.
"We didn't do that Lilly." Bolt reassured his wife. "Remember."
"I know, it's just I don't know why a parent would do that?" The expert asked out loud with a profoundly disturbed expression.
"My parents were trend chasers and vapid pricks." The leader of the group said with a huff that was probably universal in teenagers. "You did some engineering for your child?"
"Had to, otherwise I couldn't have him." Lilly confirmed with a nod. "We didn't determine anything but male and no genetic issues."
"That iz acceptable." The teen flipped his green hair and nodded at them both. "You are good people. Forgive the rage Madam, you did not deserve it."
"Now I'm reminded that I'll need that if I want kids." One of the girls in the background said almost quietly enough for Bolt to miss it.
"That is even if we can afford and tolerate it. Remember what the doctor said? Hormonal treatment will be just the first step and it'll be uncomfortable."
"Let's not talk here. Is there a cafe nearby we can talk?" Bolt asked as the anger started to fade.
With a bit of suspicion the young man nodded, and then they moved to a small place on a corner that seemed to be a local hangout. The food was cheap, the drinks a cheap tea, and all of it was poor quality for Second Rate. It was still better than Bolt's usual, and actually more to his taste than the more expensive stuff he'd had.
The gist of it came out over a few minutes as they talked. The young man, Philippe, had been genetically engineered at birth with some alien DNA, along with several others. The reasoning behind it had officially been to gain an advantage against the Arboretians. The entire suite of changes the man and his fellows had gone through were extensive.
Something about that felt like a lie, though Bolt didn't say it out loud. The teenagers already felt trapped and angry at everything. Adding more to that would cause further trouble. They had few job prospects, and about half the city found the modifications both absurd and stupid.
"We can't even leave the planet for something better." Philippe noted bitterly. "Ze entire nation hates the Arboretians, and having these mods means no one would even think about giving us a chance."
"Without money we have to depend on our parents, and according to them getting treated is expensive." One of the others said. "I hear about first crushes and romance, and I feel nothing. I should be thinking about sex. I can't." And wasn't that mildly horrifying to hear.
Lilly winced before she brightened as something occurred to her. "Why don't you just move a sector over?"
"Huh?" Philippe asked in confusion.
"The Friday Coalition doesn't really care about this area. They're also in the middle of a war. Travel through the sector divide and you could probably get a job in something physical." Bolt explained before wincing slightly. "Though I can't guarantee it'll be good at first."
The teenager stared at him a moment before sighing. "I cannot believe we did not think of that."
"Oui!" Several others said before laughing.
"I'll forward you some information on travel and the forms. Getting a transport on your own shouldn't be out of your budget if you pool money and are careful." Bolt offered.
Sometimes you just needed a solution to make things better. The thought of a plan forward gave the young men and women more motivation than anything else. They parted on pretty good terms.
Tavarokk
Pursuer of perversion
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Might also be an invasion vector by the patient aliens that 'keep doing the same thing all over again'.Hmm, odd genetic experimental involving alien genes, where have we heard that before? 5
