Take a tour of Near Space on the trail of Envar Tamm, star of the extreme travel v-log series “Envar’s Expeditions.” Ordered to “save” Envar and bring him home to his mother, the Starfinders track Envar’s digital data tags to exciting, over-the-top travel destinations to find and assist the thrill-seeking influencer. Survive a colossi-safari on Daimalko, outrace a storm on Gaskar III, mingle with the local brenneri on picturesque Varturan, and more! This is one “vacation” you’ll never forget!
|
In one of the many lounges in the Lorespire Complex a middle-aged pahtra woman spreads out along a couch. Casually scratching her own gray fur as he watches a sitcom on the vidscreen across the way, she yawns wide before picking up her datapad to check on the results of her recent mission.
Ongie's position has been secured. Good. Oh! The and Izalguun won! Fair enough, he should be acceptable.
As she clicks away and continues to scratch herself, a keen observer might note faint silvery flecks amidst her fur that sometimes twitch around as her claws move through it.
|
A very violet android slips into the lounge and drapes herself over a chair near the pahtra. She's dressed and dyed head-to-toe in purples and deep indigo, and her warm brown skin is laced all over with indigo and violet tattoos in delicate scrollwork and flowers that highlight her pale violet glowing circuits.
It appears that she might want to strike up a conversation, but gives up after a few awkward moments of trying to come up with an opening. Suppressing a sigh, she pulls out her datapad and begins reading up on the new First Seeker.
|
A bookish membrane ghibrani, wearing a labcoat over light armor and carrying a long injection rifle slung over his shoulder. He flies over joins the other two. "Hello! Dr. Lakare Koob, at your service! I'll be the medical officer for this mission. If you'll allow me to scan you before we depart, I'll be better able to heal you should you be injured, as well as provide supplements to improve your performance."
...too bad, because that's the only one we have available. Those were the words of the launch bay operator after asking what ship the group the preferred. After handing the group the launch codes to the Preference, a brand new Azata vessel that somehow isn't favourite among the various Starfinder crews. The mission is very simple: float by Liavara, avoiding any reckless test pilots and count the new spawn of space whales in the area.
Of course, somehow Radaszam always knows when there's a Starfinder group out there idling. He must have a sense for it. Soon enough a message 'From:@dealmaker' pops up on the the comm console.
A ping sounds from the ship’s comm unit and its screen blinks on, displaying Radaszam sitting at a desk. “Hello, Starfinders,” the vesk says.
“According to our data, your ship is currently in Near Space, so you’re well-placed to take on the request I’ve just received. Some of you may recall we’ve worked with Ilia Tamm, CEO of the Arch Energy Consortium, in the past. Her son Envar hasn’t been responding to her communications, and she wants him found. A team previously managed to track him to an unexplored planet, but he was gone by the time they arrived. Now, Ilia’s got new information: a set of data tags tied to some v-log show of his, marking where he’s been.” Radaszam shifts in his chair. “Tracking down an errant influencer might not be the most earth-shaking of missions, but we’d like to keep on Ilia’s good side—and she’s paying well. I’m forwarding you the data tag coordinates. Investigate them in whatever order you like; they aren’t time- stamped, so we don’t know when Envar’s been where. Find him and bring him back for a family reunion if possible, or at least verify his safety.
Ilia wants those tags collected too, to track what he’s been up to. Should be straightforward, though I understand his travel destinations can be… eclectic. Good luck. Radaszam out.”
---
---
---
|
|
Twila-5 groans. "Oh, not again. That brat is a classic touron. I was on the team that tracked him last time. I swear, that man-child needs to be kept on a tight leash for the galaxy's own good. ... Please don't tell his mom I said that."
She crosses to the console to check out the data tags. After a few moments' consideration she points to several of them. "Hmm. He's a drama queen click-baiter, so I'd guess these locations are the most likely candidates. But who knows."
|
|
A pleasurre to meet you. the Pahtra says as the other Starfinders congregate with her - and as Radaszam summons them to Liavara. Tocti. And yes, take a scan if you need for yourr own worrk. I should warrn you: on occasion my nanites crreate somewhat anomolous rreadings. I will trry to move them arround and away frrom the scanning point. she purrs.
Tocti quickly turns towards the ijtikri and grins a leonine grin. Therre is a movement to frree yourr worrld as well? she says, eagerly accepting the offered pamphlets. I know how tenacious the Veskarrium's grrasp can be. And Pulonis has felt how loathe they arre to rrelease theirr grrip. Tell me: what is yourr worrld's true name? I am ashamed that the Vesk's dominance has left it unkown to me.
--
Days later, when aboard the Preference Tocti scratches her head at Radaszam's message ends. The assignment seems basic enough. But why did he brring us so farr out into space if he wasn't going to meet with us himself? It is a wastely use of time. And fuel.
To Twila-5 she nods. If you have met him, I deferr to yourr insights. Though a parrt of me hopes he may be on one of those worrlds. she says pointing to Geology and Meterology. I am always intrrgiued by the uniqueness that can be found in the physical worrld.
Pakahano is a planet with many tropical islands, and all tour-guides on the planet mention the illusory attractions of the City of Veils. The planet looks blue from space, which a single, rather rough-looking supercontinent, an enormous ocean and many tiny tiny specks of island.
A scan from space suggests the data tag is nowhere near the City of Veils, but rather centered somewhere else: an island in the Tarpak megaocean, containing a small spaceport and tourist town.
The data tag itself seem to be on the caldera of a nearby volcanic island... that's going to be way too small and unstable to land a starship on.
The closest safe landing space is a nearby settlement. On the ground, the town turns out to be a typical tourist community, with tour guides offering various thrilling experiences, mostly centered around the nearby volcanoes.
Well, Twila is doing a good job locating souvenir shops (selling miniature volcanic islands, very iconic) and 'Original Elytrian Mush' restaurants (yuk!), but no trail on Envar. Lapodie is having better luck, and gets handed a flyer for the 'Grand Caldera Cook-Off Extravaganza Deluxe!', something that is so insanely out of this world that it wouldn't take a genius to figure out Envar did this. The tout handing the flyer indeed confirms Envar was here: Lashunta, kinda tall? Walking around as if he has no clue? Yep.
The 'Grand Caldera Cook-Off Extravaganza Deluxe!' is just a regular cooking show where several groups of participitants compete to create the best dish. Boring you say? Okay, to spice things up we start the course by air-dropping you into the caldera of an active volcano! There, you'll batter, baste and broil delicious dishes over the spicy-hot open fire of the volcano! If you can't stand the heat, get out of the crater!
---Grand Caldera Cook-Off Extravaganza Deluxe!, flyer
Sign-up is for the cooking show free, and - as luck has it - the contest is taking place today. Following sign-up, the group is flown out to the nearby volcanic island, and air-dropped out of the plane. Talk about a flashy entrance here.
Banners reading “The Grand Caldera Cook-Off” in numerous languages flutter over a cauldron-like hollow in the mountain peak forming this island. The bubbling glow of the lava within the hollow illuminates the walkways built atop it, spiraling down to a platform holding four cook stations. As the contestants land on the platform, a grinning summerborn ryphorian standing before a camera gestures exuberantly.
“And here are our contestants! I, Viktaria, will be your host for this culinary journey, and our judges are eager to see what our contestants whip up. So, without further ado… let’s get cooking! Your recipe today is…” They pause for effect...
Nine-claw Lobster Rolls!
The nine-clawed lobster! Native of this planet! The lobster is the centre of this popular favourite, creamy, creamy lobster rolls!
|
|
Oh, brother. Caught up in his schemes again. Twila-5 inwardly groans, but decides to lean into it. Who knows? It might get Envar's attention enough that he'll come over to chat and they can all leave right then. (The chances of that are minuscule, but not zero.) As she leaps from the aircraft, she begins with a swan dive, then transitions to a pike position for three rotations before sticking the landing.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Tocti gracefully dives from the plane upon arrival and lands on her feet just like a…person who is good at landing.
As the ryphorian host explains the meal of the day, her fur begins to dampen a bit with sweat. Shellfish. Why couldn’t it be free-range fish. Much better at catching those.
Looking to Lapodie, she whispers Yourr worrld is highly aquatic. Perrrhaps you could drraw on that to give some perrrsonal flairr to the rrolls?
With flashy displays of aerobatics, the team makes it into the caldera. Well, flashy for most of the team, because Dr. Lakare seems to have some trouble, the skydiving gear actually hampering the Doctor rather than helping him. Ah, well, you can't be good at everything.
Let's hear it for the Starfinders! What a flashy entrance they made. Let's see if they are as good in the water as they are in theair. Viktaria announces the team Ready to start, contestants? Leeeeeet's caaaaatch soooome loooooobsteeeeeer!!
Lapodie, appointed head chef, boils a clawed creature with apparent ease, and without ever getting close to dropping it. That red color looks really tasty! Viktaria says Look like our Starfinders are on a roll! But now comes the hard part, will they succeed at shelling this thing without making a mess?
|
|
Tocti smiles as Lapodie wrestles the creature out onto the table. Said smile curdles a it is apparent a dead lobster is not a 'ready-to-eat' one. Protective evolution can be frustrating
She shakes her body a bit and you see metallic flecks flow out from her grey fur and form about her arms to give them an even darker hue. Looking to Twila-5 she says Just tell me wherre to brreak. Orr just wherre to hold.
--
With the meat finally freed, Tocti tries to stay out of the way listening to instructions. Perhaps she can at least help fetch spices and seasonings quickly for them.
Ooow Viktaria says is she grabbing raddish? For a lobster roll? I hope her friend are there for her, but that is gross
See! That's more my style! Viktaria comments on the touches Lakare adds Mayonais! Cocktail sauce! None of that limp green stuff!
|
|
"Hold there. I'll break it here." Twila-5 pulls out a crowbar and tries to pry the shell open.
When it comes time to combine the lobster and the salad, Twila-5 thinks back to what she saw while searching for Envar before this competition. [/i]By the way, where is that man-child?[/i] "I think the greens go next."
Whoa! It's crude, but it's effective! Viktaria reacts, I have never seen anybody break open a lobster with a crowbar before, but I have now. Still, doesn't that dish looks absolutely delicious?
The judges confer, and seem to quickly agree that, yes, these are indeed delicious lobster rolls!
We have our winners! Viktaria concludes, Pricebot, what have our contestants won?
Well, Viktaria Pricebot, an aptly named robot announces They will never have to be hungry again with this Ring Of Sustenance! Brought to you by today's sponsor MusH Bars! Mush Bars, the mushiest bar!
Once the contest wraps up, there is some time for the team to quickly explore the volcano. No sign of Envar, but the data tag is here, containing a holographic recording.
As the hologram activates, a lashunta man with a chef’s hat perched jauntily on his head waves cheerfully. “Hello hey, Envies and newbies alike! You’ve earned a sneak preview of a new episode of Envar’s Expeditions, featuring sunny Pakahano! Now, plebian tourists might think the City of Veils’ illusions are all this place has to offer, but the beaches here are way better than some fake holo-adventure. Check out my channel to see thrilling lava-hopping adventures, culminating in a special surprise crossover with another hit program!” He winks at the camera. “Don’t miss it!”
|
|
Twila-5 accepts the ring, deadpan as only an android can be. "Wow. MusH bars. Doesn't their parent company also make Bachelor Chow?" She's annoyed that Envar doesn't sweep in to steal the show at the end (that wouldn't be outside the realm of possibility), but isn't surprised that he's skipped town before they could catch him (definitely his schtick).
When the team finds his data tag, she sighs. "Welcome to chasing Envar."
The next data tag leads to the planet Daimalko, a rocky world, which looks like a mossy pebble from outer space.
A quick scan reveals that the data tag is location in the vicinity of the only building of note in the area. The building is some kind of compound, with a landing pad next to it. The Preference touches down gently in the mild weather.
A blocky complex juts from the earth, encircled by a military- grade fence. Outside it, the withered landscape bears the scars of a great battle—blasted tree stumps, debris, and churned earth. Several trucks are parked on the grounds, emblazoned with insignia of a doshko striking against an enormous claw. A chattering group of eager tourists dressed in safari gear heads for one of the trucks, led by a grizzled vesk. A holographic display posted outside the main building’s entrance shows ticket prices for guided safari tours: Spot the Colossus! With Wertnabe!.
Already outside of the compound, greeters tout tours of the nearby wasteland, including a twice-daily safari. Inside the building, there's visitor's center with schedules, brochures of the tours on offer, and a gallery of impressive-looking pictures of tourists posing with the downright massive colossus creatures that roam the land. Not your regular petting zoo!
Get your tickets here! Isn't this your lucky day! The next tour is led by Wertnabe himself! the cheerful, outdoorsy-looking worlanisi behind the counter exclaims, pointing to a picture of a male Vesk, labelled 'First Hunter Wertnabe', Guaranteed sighting of a colossus on every trip! Get your tickets here!
|
|
Tocti's whiskers perk up as she tries some of the leftover lobster rolls.
This is absolutley superrb. I did not rrealize you werre such a talented cook Lapodie.
--
On Daimalko she looks at the promotional imagery with a curious expression. I had always hearrd this worrld's cololssi werre dangerrous thrreats. To crreate a safarri or theme parrk based arround theirr spectacle - grreedy, but is it safe?
Still, if the data tag's location tracker indicates its nearby, the pahtra notes its probably slightly les dangerous to be looking around the area for it in a tour group rather than on our own.
Group package? the worlanisi asks. The four of you would be 100 credits. You get a flyer and a free Colossus keychain. Special tour with Wertnabe, don't miss it!
Twila-5 chips in for the tickets, confident that Radaszam will reimburse her, and the group is rounded up together with some other tourists as Wertnabe, recognizable from his outfit and gruff demeanour enters the scene Welcome everybody, and welcome to this... he start to speak, when he is interrupted by a comm unit blaring Welcome to.., and a mousy-looking human self-consciously scrambling to lower the volume.
Ahem Wertnabe says, resuming his speech, apparantly used to this kind of distraction Ah, look at you, hey. Ready for a bit of adventure? We'll be driving off into the wilderness, and I've been tipped off we got some mighty creature sighting ready for us. We all want a piece of that spectacle, huh? Wertnabe adjusts his hat to make him look even more experienced as a wildlife guide, smoldering gaze and all.
I'm really sorry... the human confides in the group, then turns away to his comm unit screen, typing some comments (username @Reldrian) on what looks to be a recently published Envar's Expeditions episode.
Wertnabe is still explaining: Now, before we start, a few safety precuations. Our vehicle is safe, you won't need to have any fear is any of the colossi approach you. Now should one approach us... and this is very important... . That makes em mad, and you don't want em mad. Also, keep you hands indoors, you don't want any of them of them to be chomped or, or I'm gonna have to call you stompy. Water's in the vehicle, and if the weak-bladdered of you please want to make sure full emptying before we leave, we can all hop on board!
|
|
I have seen this story before Tocti thinks to herself as she listens to the vesk's corporate-speak bravado while handing over her credits for the 'experience'.
As a call for 'Envies' blast out from another in the crowd, she cocks her head towards the source. Carefully approaching the human she asks him Sorrry, but was that the voice of Envarr Tamm? Is that his latest video?
Yes the soft-spoken human says I'm just commenting on it! I hope I get a reply, it's so nice to get his replies. Envar and me really connect on a personal level...
I don't know what he's up to, I'm just following his data tag to find out. I really want to meet him
Dr. Koob figures out that this superfan wants to sneak off from the tour group to go meet his idol in person.
Twila learns little more than was already known before, but it does seem like the trail of datatags is more widely known across the fanbase.
From the shaking and jostling safari vehicle, it's possible to get a slight bearing on the data tag. Though the vehicle inches closer, it's not really truly going across it's location.
There's a stop at a Waystation where Wertnabe gives a brief overview of the local plants, and then just stops for a brief break.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Listen, friend" Koob says, as nicely as he can muster. "I feel like you're about to do something foolish soon, and I should know. Being a Starfinder is basically doing foolish things professionally. It's almost certain that Envar isn't at this tag, though, just like he wasn't at the last one we checked, so you'd be risking your life for nothing. And this is not a planet to mess around with."
Ok, mister. Yes, mister... the superfan meekishly says.