《Intergalactic Cultural Research》Downtime
Advertisement
2 Hours later...
Finlay walked through the "mall" of the ship, wide open and... surprisingly classy. White metals, golden inlays and so, so, so much glass. A disturbing view into space in almost every direction, he felt like if he just hocked a rock somewhere that would be... it. For him and any other poor bastard that was too close at the time.
"Jesus... it's pretty but come on, you'd think there would be safety standards..."
"What has your blood pressure in a spike now?"
"Don't you think this is kind of... Open? I know it's probably a special kind of glass but this is... I feel like I'm dancing on the edge of death right now..."
"Odd, that's supposed to help calm you down. Many species have trouble floating around in a metal box for days, let alone months on end."
"I can live with the travel stress, believe me, I used to travel with SWW... 3 suitcases I still haven't gotten back."
"Then what's bothering you?"
"All this glass dude! One lucky rock and we're all fucked..."
"Ah... I understand now. Finlay, go ahead and pick a window."
Easy enough task, he just had turn to his left and he was looking into one of the many shops of the ship. He didn't have a fucking clue what he was looking at, except for the Ur'Quanth working the counter. An awkward wave later and he was back to focusing on the glass... it was impossibly thin, like a sheet of paper.
"... well don't just stare at it, give it a punch."
"Are you glitched? I don't want to smash some random dudes window..."
"Like you have the balls to... just punch it."
Rolling his eyes, he looked over to the Minotaur-man and nodded. "Blame him." Pointing to the holo-bird, before cocking back and giving the window a good whack, turning away and waiting for the shatter to echo... and when not even the thud of his fist came he looked back at the glass.
He stood back up straight and watched as the thin pane rippled like water in slow-motion. The ripples reached the edge of the frame, bouncing back and forth until they faded away.
Advertisement
"Now imagine a pane of that about a foot thick keeping you inside."
"... Okay, yeah, alright. that's... Neat."
"Neat? technology decades ahead of your species and your reaction is Neat?"
"Look I don't have any idea on how it works, I'm not an architect or an engineer so...Neat."
Walking into the shop to get a real peek at the good's inside. Floating bottles of who knows what, if had to make a guess... paint... really colorful paint with little flecks of glitter swirling around inside. It took finding some weird drawings on a wall to finally make the full connection. "This... Is a tattoo parlor, ain't it?" Backing away slowly.
He wasn't some war-hardened badass, but he still thought his fears were logical. Except for one, His mother and one of Mama Roberts rules was no ink. Sure the chances of her leaving earth to chastise him for getting one would be low... But not 0. He had a few days to make a decision on it anyway. He'd come back after working up the courage. Giving the clerk a nod before going back to his exploration.
More walking around left him a little disappointed. Even in space a mall is a mall, nothing but clothing joint, clothing joint, flower shop, clothing joint, Starbucks... Starbucks? He peered over the rail for another look at the sign, green and white mermaid. Though the name has been changed to... Earthbucks, really? That's the best the team could do? He could see that it already attracted some of his fellow Terrans... more power to 'em.
"...Just how big is this fucking ship?"
"About the Size of New York."
"The City?"
"The State."
"Jesus Christ... for a three day trip to the edge of a Solar system... Seems like overkill. Bring up the map again?"
===================================================================================
(For the sake of the writer's already dead mental health... And for easy reading. All character's Speech shall be translated into English.)Xiao Lu (age: 25) wandered the halls of the ships mall, Bai ze walking in front of him acting as a barrier and guide. The Holo-Tigers tail wrapped on his wrist to stop Lu from getting too distracted. It was hard enough to stop the traditional Chinese Chef from missing his tests in Hong Kong. Take that same country bumpkin and put him on a space ship... Bai ze wished for handcuffs, oh the stress and time it would save.
Advertisement
Xiao Lu Is a well toned Beast of a man, He had to be. Living out in the sticks meant a hard days labor for a full belly at night. 6'2" of muscle that learned how to cook family recipes almost from day one. An only child that must carry on the tradition... He kept that mentality firmly in Sight... Until the very moment he stepped in Hong Kong. Ever since then it's been nothing but havoc for his Holo, Keeping the human from getting in trouble. Trading a basket of radishes for a chicken may have flown in his village... and while it may work out in Space as well, it didn't give their home country a good Look.
Lu: "Woooooooah. Ze-ze Look! What's this shop?"
Ze: "...It's sport equipment, Xiao."
Lu: "Sports, Yeah... Ze-ze could we go and-"
Ze: "For the love of whatever gods You pray to Xiao... Can we at least do what we were requested to do FIRST!?"
Lu: "C'mon Ze-ze! Look at this place! The Job can wait! The others are probably exploring too! Higher chance of spotting them in a store as well. I'm just doing it more thoroughly."
The Holo-Tiger grumbled and resigned itself to it's fate, tugging the excited Human into the sport shop. "We're only Looking, Understand!? Then it's back to the job..."
=============================================================================
Kathleen Clark
5'10" Caucasian woman, 27, Sand Brown hair tied into a bun. Years of military service had left her woefully over prepared for this it would seem. She sat bored in the Alien coffee shop and sipped quietly looking over her recipe book, and cross referencing ingredients with Nunny, Similar ingredients that could be used interchangeably with the ones her book. It gave her something to do until their trip to the edge began and the rooms would be assigned.
Nunny: "... And you're sure you don't want to explore a little bit? like at all?"
Kathy: "I'm sure... never been a fan of markets."
Nunny: "But it's not just stores... zero gravity pool, Rec center, museums, Day spa."
Kathy: "Nunny, You know we're here for work yes? expand the Earths edible food catalogue and in return do the same for the Galaxy. I for one find that more appealing than wobbling around in a floating ball of water."
The small Holo-newt shrunk even smaller as the Ex-soldier coldly rattled her words, only when Kathleen looked at the downtrodden newt did she notice her own tone... She'll have to fix that at some point.
"...Though... I suppose a Massage would be nice... after we start moving of course."
========================================================================
Hada Ryou
5'6", Japanese woman, 22, Lean muscle body earned through Physical training, her hair was Cut Pixie style and spiked with gel, one spike was dyed purple. Aiko her forever kitten-Holo sat on her shoulder like a parrot. Looking dead ahead... keeping track of something or someone.
Aiko: "Target 35 meters ahead. Appears Comfortable, unaware of our presence."
Hada: "Would you calm down? no need for all the formality."
"Can you really blame me? The first thing you want to do is track and hunt down someone..."
"Mmmm, Hunt is a strong word. Some... reconnaissance~?"
"Now who's being formal? Let's be real here. You're stalking them."
"I am not, Stalking implies some level of infatuation. I'm just... Curious."
"Target turned right... The store is... Kinhaxxi Auto."
"So they're a Motorhead? That explains the leather jacket..."
"Well we don't really know that, Target 1 needs more observation... Ryou, Target 2 Has made an appearance, they're making contact... I suggest joining the conversation naturally."
==============================================================================
Berthold Burisyak
5'9", Son of Russia, 20, Bulky but not obese, long and lustrous sandy brown hair.
"SOMEONE GET ME OUT OF THIS DAMN BUBBLE!"
Advertisement
- In Serial31 Chapters
The Interstellar Artship
Hello? Traveler? Hi. My name is Silas. I’m the Chronicler around here. Might I entreat you to stay with us a while? We are a meager fleet of artships, eking our way across the charred and shrewd universe. Please, join us around the table and tell us your story. Our lives depend on it. I’m sure you know this world proves demanding, strange, and lonely. But here we go together, a caravan fleet of spacefarers, challenging the starry frontier, investigating the strangeness. Our warp-drives run on inspiration—a volatile fuel collected from the active minds of the artists, writers, and musicians among us. But the clock runs out—the Heartless in their scarships seek to destroy all that is beautiful, systematically deconstructing all creativity in order to fuel their weapons and feed their evil powers. We’ve all been hurt by those hateful devourers. We’ve all lost loved ones. But no more. No more, I say! Together we unite and make our arduous journey to the dreadful Shattered Suns—the home of our enemy. Once and for all the question shall be answered—the path to life shall show itself. **** If you would like to read the Artifacts which Silas and the Sojournor crew restore, visit our patreon page. The Chronicles are cowritten by Paul T. Gibson and Lydia Donaldson. The fantastic cover art is by the great Kyle Sneed. **** Patreon supporters: Certified Pre-owned Utility ShuttleThomas GibsonThe Centennial Hawk (Rae)Seraphite Storm (Bizarre Bladesong) The Steel Miner's Extraction RigThe Washburn Revenge (Manderson)
8 99 - In Serial7 Chapters
Deleted Fiction - Author is Ashamed #3
Deleted Fiction - Author is Ashamed Deleted Fiction - Author is Ashamed Deleted Fiction - Author is Ashamed Deleted Fiction - Author is Ashamed Deleted Fiction - Author is Ashamed Deleted Fiction - Author is Ashamed Deleted Fiction - Author is Ashamed
8 101 - In Serial9 Chapters
MY STORY, AFTER REINCARNATION
A regular man ends up dying and miraculously reincarnates into Highschool DxD! A world of magic, swords, monsters, devils, and gods! With all the knowledge he has in his back pocket will he change the plot or use it to his advantage? The possibilities are endless! Though there is one small problem, he's about many years before canon and oh yeah he's human. And also no-op mc, no sacred gear. Let the show begin!
8 108 - In Serial11 Chapters
48 Hours
Currently on HIATUS. Can you imagine living the same 48 hours over and over again? Martin has. In fact, he has relived the same 48 hours twenty three times and counting. How? He doesn't know. He wants to find out. He's a coward though. It'll be hard. But eventually? He'll get there. Updates irregularly. Usually once a week, sometimes more, sometimes less.
8 117 - In Serial27 Chapters
The Secret Garden -By Frances Hodgson Burnett
When orphaned Mary Lennox comes to live at her uncle's great house on the Yorkshire Moors, she finds it full of mysterious secrets. There are nearly one hundred rooms, most of which are locked, and the house is filled with creepy old portraits and suits or armor. Mary rarely sees her uncle, and perhaps most unsettling of all is that at night she hears the sound of someone crying down one of the long corridors. The gardens surrounding the odd property are Mary's escape and she explores ever inch of them-all except for the mysterious walled-in, locked garden. Then one day, Mary discovers a key. Could it open the door to the garden?
8 151 - In Serial37 Chapters
Living With My Bully
(Original Version, New Version in Progress that I suggest waiting for if you'd like) "I'm sorry for your loss." I hear and look over to see Oliver, "I've been in a similar situation, I may not have lost someone this way, but I definitely did lose someone. My family and I will be here for you and will help you get through this." He says biting his lip. I smile a bit. "Thank you Oliver, hearing you say that really means a lot to me." I tell him. I can barely see Oliver look back through my tear-filled eyes but then I feel two arms wrap around me. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Meet Iris Mitchell, she's known as the nerd in school with her best friend, Kayla. Iris is also extremely stubborn and doesn't know when to shut her mouth. She also likes to watch Netflix 25/8 with Kayla. But in school, Iris is bullied by Addison Meyer and the one and only, Oliver Sullivan. Meet Oliver Sullivan, he's known as the bad boy in school but also the bully of many students in the school, and Iris is one of them. All the girls want him, except Iris and Kayla, they fantasize about famous actors and fictional characters. Oliver is mostly found hanging out with his friends Adam, Lucas, and Ross. But outside of school, Oliver is an extremely different person and no one knows. Well until Iris moves in with him, of course. Iris' father, Christopher Mitchell, dies in a fire, at his job, saving people on the top floors. With no mother or relatives to go live with, Iris needs to move in with a family, and her dad knew the Sullivan family pretty well. What's going to happen when Iris moves in with her bully? Read to find out!7-9-19//#18 in bully8-3-20//#4 in teenfiction
8 161

