After some more fancy flying of the Valerous, the gunners apply themselves to the remaining Azlanti fighter. While the damage done to the enemy ship does not seem catastrophic, a message sounds through the ships comms, "You'll never take us alive!" Shortly after, there is another explosion as the Azlanti crew utilizes their self-destruct.
Upon their return to the Vesk-Aucturn station, the disguised Starfinders receive a rowdy congratulations from their fellow soldiers and commanding officer. Someone offers them a round of drinks and the war stories are dragged out for all to revel in. The tales become less believable as the evening progresses and the alcohol flows.
The team sneak away, undetected, during a particularly outrageous and entertaining performance. They activate the clockwork key and find themselves back aboard the Fairweather Foe in Venture-Captain Hilo Beruta’s office.
Hilo looks up from their work and warmly greets the returning team. He offers a snack, and invites them to describe what they experienced. Listening eagerly to their report, the damai interrupts only occasionally, usually to ask leading questions about the reported observations or the team’s conclusions regarding the world they visited. A lively conversation about the possibilities for their own reality based on what was observed during their adventure is eventually brought to a conclusion when the Venture-Captain shoos the team off for some much deserved rest, promising to recall them soon for more research.
True to his word, the Venture-Captain invites the team to return. On their arrival, the hum of starship engines thrum quietly in the background as the Fairweather Foe maintains orbit around an uninhabited planet. Inside the ship, Venture-Captain Hilo Beruta stands next to a large orrery depicting an unidentified star system, the shine of artificial lights gleaming off its golden arms.
“Thank you for coming all the way out here. I hope your trip through the Drift was scenic but uneventful.” Hilo gestures to the orrery. The device stands nearly as tall as the damai Venture-Captain as it rests on its pedestal. “As you probably remember, this is Myrrium. It’s a powerful artifact of unknown purpose that was originally discovered on the planet below. Through my research, I’ve found it holds the power to transport individuals to a myriad of different worlds, each of them strange or unusual in a unique way. It was my job to explore its pathways, but unfortunately, I find myself far too busy with my leadership responsibilities to attend to my research. Thus, the task of exploring Myrrium falls to you.”
Hilo produces a silver clockwork key from his pocket. “This key activates the artifact, and guarantees your safe return, so it’s vitally important that you keep it safe. To activate Myrrium, simply insert the key while each of you touches the orrery, then depress the arms to get underway. Remember: we have no idea where it will take you, so be vigilant, record any data that could potentially be used to identify your location. When you’re ready to leave, activate the key to return here. Wherever you go, you’ll likely be alien, or even extra-dimensional, so leave as little trace of your presence as you can.”
The Venture-Captain looks expectantly at the team of Starfinders as they ready themselves and approach the device.
When the orrery’s arms are depressed and released, the golden device begins to spin. At first, the rotations are slow, but within seconds, the colourful orbs of planets and moons begin to whirl at a dizzying speed. The sun of the miniature star system starts to glow with lavender light, and as it shines brighter and brighter, the room seems to fade.
After a blinding moment, the light fades to reveal a gleaming, technological city bustling with activity. Pedestrians dressed in high fashion and sporting marvellous gadgets walk the streets, while high above, flying vehicles navigate the airways between skyscrapers. Digital signage dynamically responds to the activity going on around it, and the smell of delicious food wafts from automated carts that hawk their menu items with cheerful, mechanical voices. Above everything are low-hanging clouds, pierced by the occasional building and backlit by a bright, out-of-view sun.
The city is unfamiliar and strange. As the team members look at each other and down at themselves they find their appearance has changed and they seem to be dressed in fashionable and high-end clothes.
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Istilnar, is dressed in also dressed in a black business with a suit with a green tie and looks very uncomfortable without this hooded jacket, as now his face is revealed. His skin is an unnatural golden color and his head is topped by long flowing locks of white hair. Most disturbingly his eyes are also the color of gold and his pupils are shaped like hourglasses.
He sneers at the other party members that look at him.
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Arboreal looks down at his clothing and frowns. "I... don't think I've ever worn anything this formal. I've never been invited to a formal event. I lived in the forest for most of my life, after all."
They are dressed in a thick brown tunic with golden trims and a pair of stylish black pants with a snug fit. A number of the vines on their head are tied back into a low ponytail so that none of it hangs in front of their face any longer.
"Uggghhh," They groan. "I hate this."
While admiring their new outfits and appearance, the group is approached by a human pedestrian with an uncertain expression on their face. They hold a brochure in their hands that displays moving images of fantastical locations and attractions, though the language it’s written in isn’t Common.
As this person points to a map on their brochure, it is clear from intonation that they are asking a question but none of the team understands the language.
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Arboreal stares over at Bordle "Oh um... it's not a big deal. I just haven't lived outside of the wilderness for long. All these odd urban formality customs I haven't grown to enjoy thus far. But... I guess I can give this artifact credit that it didn't make me wear a stiff jacket and like a shirt with buttons or something.
But they blink in confusion when Jyskos mentions Akitonian. "Correct me if I'm wrong, I only recently started living in the Pact Worlds but... Akiton is supposed to a be a wild sandy planet, right? This is obviously a city! Maybe this person is trying to relocate here or something?"
The stranger eventually shrugs and wanders off when it is clear that none of those they approached understand them.
As the group begin to walk past a bustling café, a robotic hover drone with various nozzles and arms intercepts them, addressing them initially in what the team believe to be Akitonian, it quickly shifts to common and asks if they would like refreshments to go.
"Please present VRI for payment" the bot responds and extends what looks like a scanner. It also extends what could be a menu.
The bot reiterates, ”Payment by VRI is due.” A friendly patron is leaving the seating area and waiting to pay, they offer to include your drink in their payment which is immediately acceptable to the bot. The patron extends an appendage, which the bot scans, before they hustle away, wishing the party a “fine day” over their shoulder as they depart.
As the team moves past the café they note a highly digitized street, where holograms and holographic displays line the boulevard and crowd the walkways. Advertisements featuring everything from luxury space cruisers to investment firms follow pedestrians as they walk by, sometimes quite literally. The ads seem customized to each individual they follow, going as far as including the person’s name in the spoken narration. Most people push past the digital sales pitches. When the Starfinders enter the area they notice none of the ads follow them or call out their names as they walk through the area.
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Bordle frowns at the advertising. Talk about 'in your face' advertising. Highly personised and trying to sell expensive stuff. And I thought cold calling advertisers were bad. If one of them has a go at me, I'm going to shoot it.
She pauses for a moment. Would that be 'justifiable advertcide?
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She pauses for a moment. Would that be 'justifiable advertcide?
Farsurrwag turns to Bordle and deadpans, "Everyone thinks they're a comedian."
His mood rapidly changes though when he spots a weather report for the upcoming week that shows an icon floating among cartoon clouds. The icon is labelled Atmosa.
"It would seem that our heads--as well as the rest of us--has been in the clouds!" he declares. "Though, thus far, I have failed to note any silver linings."
"Yet, if I am not mistaken--and I am most certainly not, for Ms. Taken was my primary school teacher and an unfortunate kidnap victim--we have found ourselves in the city of Atmosa."
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ZeeZee sighs at the comedy duo, slightly confused at the back and forth. She then also sees the weather report for Atmosa, and looks over at Farsurrwag.
"I don't think you are mistaken. I think we are in Atmosa, but have any of you ever heard of this place before? When I think of Akiton, I think of desserts or snow storms - not cloud cities."
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Arboreal stares down at the floor trying to ignore all the advertisements at they go. "Oooh I'm this close to punching one the things as well. Who would want to buy any of this stuff?
"Is there any way we could get off this crazy cloud? I think I'd rather brave an arid desert at this point than this..."
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I'm just trying to figure out ... if this is Akiton ... how did it get this way? I think I'm going to have to study history a bit more
And yeah ... all those 'sponsored ads that keep popping up on my social media ... it's like they tailor them to your search history .... this is that turned up to eleven.
I suppose we could use the key and depart but I .... think the VeeCee would like us to find out more first.
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"I agree, we're on Atmosa and oh boy are these prices expensive...jeez" Jyskos says, looking around.
"Also, there are a lot of Thasteron companies pushing their products here but I don't want any when they are that pricey" Jyskos mentions, looking slightly disgusted but also happy he's not getting pestered.
At the mention of thasteron, some of the Starfinders have the sense there is something they should remember.
Farsurrwag feels an odd tingling sensation around or within their head as thoughts press forward to their consciousness. They recall that thasteron was essential for pre-drift travel and Akiton was at the centre of thasteron mining.
The mention of thasteron sparks a clear memory for Jyskos:
Prior to the discovery of hyperspace, Akiton was the centre of its solar system’s mining, production, and trade of thasteron, an ore instrumental in the creation of fuel for sublight interplanetary travel. Since the advent of drift travel and a reduced need for long realspace flights, however, demand for thasteron has fallen, and the economic effects of the crash now play out in political squabbles and civil strife across the planet.
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So .... Pre Hyperspace? or Pre Triune's Signal? or .... maybe the Signal never got here or ... wasn't sent at all. Which meant .... the Thasteron Crash never happened ..... wow.....
She looked over to Arboreal. Depends how fast a Thasteron powered ship goes and how far away your home system is from the Pact Worlds ..... although, I suppose we never met the Vesk plus the Swarm and the Azlanti would be very far away. Ooooh .... maybe there's another alternate history novel idea in this.
As the adventurers continue to explore they reach a recreational area.
A floating lake fed by marble fountains sparkles in the sunlight. Children splash and play in the glittering curtains of water.
Businesspeople lounge on benches nearby, spending their breaks surrounded by immersive virtual entertainment spheres or eating food out of sleek recyclable boxes.
They have little time to enjoy the scene before being confronted by security drones. ”You lack proper registration. You will accompany us and surrender your belongings for processing.”
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Arboreal stares at the robots. "Okay Arboreal, don't let them get to you... You don't trust robots but try not to do anything rash this time..."
They hold their gun out and make like they're about to drop it to the ground, but hesitate and look back and forth at the other members of the group for guidance.
The security drones reiterate, "You must surrender yourselves and your possessions for processing."