Kit looks around at Vedrir's suggestion. "Mm...maybe? Would be better if I had junk from my workbench. I can try." Kit looks around for material that could make a convincing drone body to disguise equipment.
Kit manages to fashion a somewhat reasonable drone body, but you doubt it will stand up to close inspection.
Dr. Taeress and Nib offer to store Nomyra's weapons in the apartment.
Puzzle locates a map showing the layout of the Horizon House.
After getting everything ready to go, you manage to make your way through Asanatown's mostly vacant back streets, avoiding checkpoints along the way, to get to CLearlight Station without any trouble. Nib purchases and virtually transmits you daily passes for the Asanatown-Clearlight linecrawler. Perhaps not surprisingly, the station is much smaller than the one connecting Asanatown to Dawnshore. Maybe it's the relatively small space, but this location is actually the busiest single place you've seen in Asanatown, though you're here in rather execptional circumstances.
At the entrance to the station there are three Sunrise Collective lashuntas. Unlike the small-talking guards that were at Checkpoint Laubu, these guards look tired and appear to be waving most lashuntas and non-lashuntas alike through the checkpoint without much more than a cursory glance.
Noticing that the guards appear to be giving only the most cursory glance at those that pass by, Puzzle decides it best not to draw their attention afterall by openly carrying the rifle. Scanning the surrounding area, they look for somewhere to dump the rifle, out of sight of the guards.
If they're able to do so without much fuss, they will. Puzzle will then rejoin those in the queue waiting to pass through.
After glancing around, Puzzle finds really a place right outside the station to inconspicuously dump a rifle. You did just come through several alleys and backstreets, though, so it wouldn't take more than several minutes to retrace your steps, find a dark corner or dumpster, and drop the rifle off there before continuing.
"Ok, we ready to go? Got house to fix!" Kit says, a grin on his face.
"Yes, let us head in. There is no point in us waiting here for the sun to grow cold." says Vedrir.
Puzzle cocks their head, looking at Vedrir, euebrows raised. "Is that anything like the expression 'Hell freezing over'?" the android asks.
"Let's go!"
Puzzle cocks their head, looking at Vedrir, euebrows raised. "Is that anything like the expression 'Hell freezing over'?" the android asks.
"Hell freezing over? What an odd saying. Kasathas are not really believing in hell, and the concept of hell being filled with fire was abandoned thousands of years ago. But I think that the meaning should be similar. "
Says Vedrir and follows Nomyra.
The party approaches the checkpoint at the tight entrance to the Clearlight linecrawler station.
When the party reaches the checkpoint, three harried-looking lashuntas stand watch in a hastily established roped off area. After waiving you forward, the first lashunta man looks over the group before saying, in a rote voice denoting a rehearsed speech, "Currently this station is prohibiting the transmission of personal firearms, lasers, and other weaponry between Asanatown and Clearlight as a matter of public safety. By continuing, you agree to submit to inspections or searches by the Sunrise Collective as needed to ensure public safety. State your purpose for going into Clearlight."
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"Hell freezing over? What an odd saying. Kasathas are not really believing in hell, and the concept of hell being filled with fire was abandoned thousands of years ago. But I think that the meaning should be similar. "
The android considers Vedrir's reply; head still cocked, a quizzical expression on their face, as they file the exchange away for later analysis.
- - - - -
"We agree with the terms of passage," Puzzle replies to the lashunta with a nod.
"ACN Express, delivery to Horizon House," the android explains, opting for a simple, straight-forward approach. Credentials displayed on their comm, Puzzle flashes the readout before the guard, whisking it away before he gets a good look. "For the refurbishment for the new guests."
The lashunta gives another quick glance. "Sure. Next." He waves the group in line behind you forward, and the way to the linecrawler is clear.
The ride over to the Clearlight Bubble is a short one. Once you disembark, it's a short walk to Asanatown’s capitol building, Horizon House. The structure stands in a park at the center of Clearlight, its manicured grounds separating it from the shops and homes of the rest of the neighborhood. Under normal circumstances, portions of the building are open to tourists and citizens who wish to watch the proceedings, but as you enter Clearlight your phones receive an alert that all civilians should remain clear of the Horizon House until further notice.
"It is good that we have a package to the Horizon House, let us keep on going to the main doors. " suggests to his friends.
"Yep, start with the straightforward approach. Sounds good."
Puzzle nods once. "Agreed. Currently, our best option is to stick to our plan."
Sparkling steps lead up to a columned portico shading several doors. To the east and west, the glimmering white building sprawls out in two asymmetric wings. The west one is shaped to accommodate a massive orrery that stands amid a circle of low benches.
As you approach at the top of the steps, a threatening female voice calls out from above "This area is closed by the order of the Sunrise Collective. Tresspassers will be shot. This is your only warning."
Kit looks up at the voice, a look of indignation on his face as he tries to spot the person speaking.
Puzzle stops immediately upon hearing the woman call out. They opt for the same spiel they used at the Station checkpoint, once again flashing their credentials on the comm unit.
"ACN Express crew, ma'am. Delivery for the..." The android pauses to glance at the comm unit, before continuing as though reading from a delivery invoice. "...'Refurbishment for the new guests'."
The voice appears to be coming from above you, as though from the ceiling of the portico.
Unfortunately, Kit doesn't see anyone or anything up where the voice is coming from.
"And we have a quota to keep, so we need to make this delivery quickly."
Vedrir stops hearing words being said from the ceiling and sets his box on the floor. He considers enough is said in the matter and more natural would be for him to not join the cacophony of voices.
Kasatha stands still, showing some signs of annoyance due to them being stopped. He pulls out his comm unit and begins searching documents that if presented would shame their talker and let them through.
The menacing voice's tone changes as it answers from above. "Delievery? I wasn't... Wait here."
After about 20 seconds pass, you still haven't heard or seen anything.
"The person might check on our claim, and learn that it is a scam. We could leave some boxes here and sneak in, maybe they will think that we left the delivery and went out. " suggest Vedrir
"Sounds like a plan."
Nodding, Puzzle says, "We'll need to move quickly."
"Grab what you can. Kit, can you get us inside?" the android asks, pointing at the door to the right of the entry.
Vedrir will use all his four arms to go through the boxes and recover his weapons. Then he would close the boxes back on the ground and set them near the wall.
Then he would follow after Kit opens any of the doors.
"Can someone grab my rifle parts? Puzzle asks as they work on reclaiming the sword.
"Just a sec!" Kit pulls the cardboard away from the barrel of his rifle, then heads over to check out the door. He gives it a quick once over, looking for alarms or other defenses, then sets to work.
Kit doesn't notice any defenses. As he takes out his tools to disable a lock, he finds that the door is actually not locked, but instead opens easily.
Before the party lies a windowless hallway with doors to the north, east, and west (which you're all looking through). The south wall is lined with small alcoves surrounded by gleaming silver arches.
As the party enters the room, the three southern alcoves light up with very familiar scenes to Nomyra, Kit, and Vedrir. Otherwise, the room appears relatively non-descript.
The first alcove shows the floor of a starship engine bay, strewn across with parts and pieces of the clearly-disassembled engine on one edge. Initially, the pieces seem to be strewn randomly about, devoid of rhyme or reason. Upon more careful examination, however, you notice a thin strand of dotted line, connecting everything in an incomprehensible diagram of parts, pieces, and tools from across the room. Every piece visible is connected by at least one strand of the chart...except one small bolt, which throbs with pulsating red light.
The second alcove holds a plate of cooked lobster served with cut and steam-fried vegetables and a bowl of rice, all that served with a glass of wine.
"I am getting hungry." thinks to himself Vedrir as he looks on his good visualized so nicely.
The third alcove is terrifying. Shadows pop out and disappear again. Friends turn into vicious monsters and back.
"I...think this place is starting to have an affect on me."
Vedrir looks at the alcove showing food and realizes how hungry he is, then he spots the dirty machines. It probably is an engine of some sort of a current transformer, he was never an engineer. Then he notices the monsters and says:
"This is creeping me out, can we move forwards?"
Puzzle cocks their head, curious, as they regard the hologram displays in the alcoves.
Looking around for a label display or plaque, the android asks, "What do you suppose is the significance of these scenes? They don't seem to have anything in common."
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Wyrd eyes the holographic display units after experiencing their effects
"..now _those_ would make for a nice present for A.L.I.C.E..."
He then glances at the others
"How do we feel about.....uhrm..liberating the art work in case an uprising will happen and they start looting? We might as well preemptively secure some valuable cultural heritages?"
The holographic projects are more integrated parts of the structure than removable components. Removing them would likely take tens of minutes, at a minimum.
In addition, after looking around for a few moments you notice a plaque, written in Common and Lashunta, proclaiming this area as "The Hall of Reflection" with a few sentences about the Horizon House's dedication to political transparency written beneath.
"Yes, let's not delay." Nomyra gives a sidelong glance to the alcove displaying her thoughts.
Kit pulls a small bolt out of his pocket, looks at it, looks at the display, then shrugs and puts it back in his pocket.
"Yes, we need to keep moving," Puzzle agrees before moving toward the door at the end of the corridor.
The android pauses to listen at the door.
Should it seem safe to do so (and provided none of their companions stop them), the android attempts to open the door.
Puzzle doesn't hear anything at the door. Upon trying the door, Puzzle finds it is locked.
Kit moves up to examine the door, looking it over with a critical eye before shrugging and pulling out his tools.
Vedrir looks one more time at the projectors. He never understood the societies in which reading one's mind was the norm. For him, that was one of the most private things, and reading even surface thoughts was unacceptable. Slowly but he moves after Puzzle, Nomyra, Kit and Wyrd. Kasatha doubts that others understand that, all in all culture of their people is so much different from his.
Holding his needler rifle Vedrir is waiting for the doors to get opened.