999 OCTILLION SOULS, June 26, 2024
II THE BOX 3, 4
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TRANSLATOR'S NOTE:The following information is derived from Information Seed 40 and received by the Gravitational Wave Observatory. I and AI performed a frequency analysis on it. IE edited certain parts to make them more 'readable'. (He might have overdone it.) Please feel free to comment.3
The sterile air of the 123rd Floor Swiss Building Bank hummed, contrasting the green park Petra had just left. Clutching the ornately carved box tighter, she shuffled in line, her gaze flitting between the gleaming chrome robots that served as tellers and the other customers, a mix of humans, green-skinned Qeeravs, crab-like Azoins, and oddities from other worlds.
Finally, her turn arrived. A tall, slender robot with glowing blue optics tilted its head down, its metallic voice devoid of inflection. "Good day, dear. What can our bank do for you today?"
Petra swallowed. "I-I'd like to store something in a safe deposit box.”
The robot's metallic fingers clicked softly. "Certainly. Do you have the proper identification?"
"I do. It's not money or anything. It's just... a box. But it's very important." She waved her hand at the scanner the machine offered her. A subcutaneous microchip talked to the bank’s systems. Next, the robot asked for her fingerprints and a retina scan. The latter was unusual, but Swiss banks did everything their way. And most importantly they had negotiated with the Computer to protect their clients’ privacy.
The robot's optics dimmed slightly. "Your social score is good, Petra. And you’re too young to be of interest to the Computer. Safe deposit boxes require a rental fee. Our fee is quite high to ensure better service. Would that be a problem?"
She could pay if she sold zero-gee ball cards now and then. If the box kept dispensing them. "Can I... can I visit the safe deposit box every day, just to look at my things?" she blurted out. "Like a special arrangement?"
The robot whirred. "An unusual request… However, visiting a rented box daily is permissible within operational hours. Would you like to proceed with a standard rental agreement?"
Relief washed over Petra. "Yes, please!" she said, a wide grin splitting her face. Every day, she'd come back, her secret box safe amongst the countless valuables within the metallic belly of the bank, hidden from the unsuspecting robots. The adventure had begun.
hatmaker_H: stuff we can’t have. not helping
4
The airlock hissed open. Lush greenery carpeted the cavern floor of the base hidden inside a massive asteroid, illuminated by soft, diffused light that emanated from unseen sources. Crystal-clear streams gurgled merrily. The air hummed with the soft whir of unseen machinery.
Legume blinked, speechless. Beside her, Charlotte gasped in delight, her wide eyes sparkling with wonder.
"Welcome to Serenity Haven," a voice greeted them, smooth and melodious. A feminine hologram burst into existence, its form coalescing from the ambient light. Dressed in a flowing white gown that defied gravity, the hologram possessed an ethereal beauty that soothed and intrigued Legume.
"Maia," Legume said. "This place... it's incredible."
Maia's hologram smiled, the corners of her non-existent lips curving upwards. "A modest refuge. One I hope will serve you well. You must be exhausted after your journey."
Legume nodded, the adrenaline of their escape finally starting to ebb. They'd been on the run for many shifts. Ever since the drunk baron told her about the planned genocide that had gotten her marked for termination. Escape to the fringes of the Rim systems had been their only option.
Maia gestured, the light around them rippling in response. A path paved with smooth, cool stone materialized, beckoning them forward. "Follow me," Maia said, her voice a gentle wave. "Let me show you around."
As they walked, Legume cast wary glances around. Charlotte, however, skipped ahead, her small hand trailing along the cool stone path, her curiosity eclipsing their precarious situation.
Maia led them through interconnected caverns, each a marvel of technology and nature in perfect harmony. They saw hydroponics bays growing a dazzling array of fruits and vegetables, workshops humming with activity, and living quarters that combined comfort with utilitarian efficiency.
Legume learned that Serenity Haven was a hidden OEF base, one of many scattered throughout the Rim. It housed a small contingent of rebels and engineers, tasked with countering the Grand Empire's ever-growing dominance.
"It won't be easy," Maia said, entering a control room filled with flickering holographic displays. "The Grand Empire's reach is long. Their Dyson swarms can make a lot of lupsofot. With your help, Legume, we can make a difference. If you tell the galaxy your story."
luo_ji: our galaxy?
Legume felt a knot tighten in her stomach. She wasn't afraid of a fight. Here, in this hidden haven, she glimpsed a chance to strike back against the tyranny of the Grand Empire. Looking down at Charlotte, her eyes wide with innocent wonder, Legume knew she had to fight for a future where her daughter could grow up in a galaxy free from oppression.
“Grand Empire’ll kill everyone they can miss,” Legume said. “Free energy fer lupsofot.”
ru_mikhail: need energy for magic rocks
“They won’t dare to do it too fast,” Maia said.
“Rim cleaning’s phase one. Kiloshifts later the Core.”
“We should discuss strategy and tactics.”
“What’s yer ship for?” Charlotte asked.
“Carries matter so strange it turns other matter into a copy of itself. It can destroy stars.”
prof_sparky: strange quarks. must be