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+--- Thread: Pitstop on Pittsburgh (/showthread.php?tid=182252)
Pitstop on Pittsburgh - Toaster - 07-28-2020
Olivia glared at her ship's instruments as it descended through several kilometers of dense, dark smog, its engine wash igniting occasional pockets of volatile gasses, lighting up the clouds of ash around it. Her altimeter claimed that she was only a mile from the ground, but the filth around her gave no indication as to that readout's veracity. She sighed and pushed her craft's nose down, continuing her careful dive through Pittsburgh's ruined atmosphere.
Why she had bothered coming here, she wasn't sure. The communique from Damian had come as a surprise, in fact, she hadn't fully expected to ever hear from him again after their strange escapades in Kepler. Or perhaps she had hoped to never have to deal with him again. That way she wouldn't have to worry about the favor she knew she owed him. But nonetheless, his invitation - despite its despicable location - had intrigued her. After all, he was an interesting man, to say the least. Insane? Probably. But intriguing, too. She was definitely curious as to what his intentions were. Surely, he wasn't just looking to spend some quality time with a new friend.
"Jesus Christ," Olivia muttered under her breath as she inspected her ship on the landing pad. Its usually clean, light grey hull was completely discolored, every inch of it covered in soot and filth. She shook her head in disgust and indicated for the dock workers to get to work on refueling and - more importantly - rinsing off the craft. Coughing as she breathed in air that felt in her throat like sandpaper, she headed towards the small spaceport's terminal, fiddling around in her pockets for her neural net device. She dialed in her date's ID and waited to record her message.
"Damian, I just landed. Feel free to pick me up." Then she settled down on a rusty bench and looked out at the grungy slums and the arid landscape beyond, wondering why anyone had ever considered this world worth settling in the first place.
RE: Pitstop on Pittsburgh - Reeves - 07-28-2020
It would take a few moments for him to get there, definitely a case of somebody being fashionably late. Needless to say Olivia would have a healthy amount of time to understand just how miserable it must have been to live and work here. Pittsburgh was by no stretch of the word an ideal home for a family. But this was what people who slipped through the cracks were stuck with. It was quite clear in the moment why a group such as the Xenos might be seen in a sympathetic light by some of the destitute residents. At least they hadn't forgotten about them.
In the distance, speeding towards the isolated spaceport was a sporty looking hoverbike. It was a popular brand, sought after by wealthy enthusiasts and Damian's seemed to be sporting an appropriate theme of colors to match the surroundings. Slowing down as he reached the path leading to Olivia's bench, he would soon come to a stop directly in front of where she'd decided to sit. "Hope I didn't keep you waiting. You look good, and you'll be needing this to keep it that way." He held out a helmet much like his own, albeit a bright silver compared to his deep black. It was well made and properly equipped for Pittsburgh's horrid air quality, fitted with a robust visor and set of filters. For whatever reason, he gave off a different aura, but maybe that was just the emissions warping perceptions.
In the distance, speeding towards the isolated spaceport was a sporty looking hoverbike. It was a popular brand, sought after by wealthy enthusiasts and Damian's seemed to be sporting an appropriate theme of colors to match the surroundings. Slowing down as he reached the path leading to Olivia's bench, he would soon come to a stop directly in front of where she'd decided to sit. "Hope I didn't keep you waiting. You look good, and you'll be needing this to keep it that way." He held out a helmet much like his own, albeit a bright silver compared to his deep black. It was well made and properly equipped for Pittsburgh's horrid air quality, fitted with a robust visor and set of filters. For whatever reason, he gave off a different aura, but maybe that was just the emissions warping perceptions.
RE: Pitstop on Pittsburgh - Toaster - 07-29-2020
Olivia squinted up at the hovercyclist, the gradually setting sun managing to peek through the clouds of soot and dust behind him. Then she glanced at his vehicle, a doubtful look on her face. She had never ridden a hoverbike herself, and it looked an awful lot like Damian had simply detached an engine from his personal ship and strapped it between his legs. She doubted that a helmet would suffice to protect its passengers if it were to come to an accident. But, then again, just getting a decent air filter between herself and the borderline toxic atmosphere of Pittsburgh was already reason enough to join the man for a ride. Not wanting to shy away from what could turn out to be an interesting adventure, she rose to the occasion and from the bench, accepting the polished silver helmet from the Xeno.
Climbing onto the bike, Olivia took her seat directly behind Damian, wrapping her arms around his waist for support. Leaning forward, she shouted over the almost deafening growl of the bike's engine, "Don't get any funny ideas."
Climbing onto the bike, Olivia took her seat directly behind Damian, wrapping her arms around his waist for support. Leaning forward, she shouted over the almost deafening growl of the bike's engine, "Don't get any funny ideas."
RE: Pitstop on Pittsburgh - Reeves - 07-29-2020
With the lower half of his face entirely obscured by the helmet's frame and filters, it wasn't clear if he smiled at her statement or not, but the wrinkling at the corners of his eyes betrayed him there. While getting away from the immediate vicinity of the spaceport, he would keep the throttle light, not wanting to commit to speed just yet. "Relax, I didn't call you here with any motivations. You were on my mind earlier in the day, felt like inviting you over. Besides, I can't keep the bike locked up forever, would be a waste of a great machine and an experience."
When he wasn't strapped into the hot seat of a fighter, his tone took on a more grounded and even simple set of characteristics. But all that gave rise to was doubts of which version was the real him. Was Cobra, despite all the theatrics, an accurate depiction of who he really was? Or was it the man currently trying to enjoy some downtime on an expensive bike and good company? In either case, once he was clear of the spaceport he gunned the engine. The afterglow it gave off slowly becoming their sole source of light besides the lamps attached to the front of the bike, the sun gradually continuing to set and the spaceport being left far behind. They were rapidly approaching what seemed like an endless chain of furnaces and haphazard rails that crisscrossed between the behemoth factories and what must have been rudimentary residences for the workers. "Up ahead, where you see all the fire. Place never shuts down, they constantly rotate shifts. So every hour of every day, those fires never fade. Sometimes during a bad storm, the light they give off is the only way you know what direction you're headed." From observation, Olivia would be able to tell that infrastructure here was centered around deposits of resources where mining could be done, stretches of land where nothing of value lay beneath the dirt were practically untouched or used to build hives for the overwhelming population.
When he wasn't strapped into the hot seat of a fighter, his tone took on a more grounded and even simple set of characteristics. But all that gave rise to was doubts of which version was the real him. Was Cobra, despite all the theatrics, an accurate depiction of who he really was? Or was it the man currently trying to enjoy some downtime on an expensive bike and good company? In either case, once he was clear of the spaceport he gunned the engine. The afterglow it gave off slowly becoming their sole source of light besides the lamps attached to the front of the bike, the sun gradually continuing to set and the spaceport being left far behind. They were rapidly approaching what seemed like an endless chain of furnaces and haphazard rails that crisscrossed between the behemoth factories and what must have been rudimentary residences for the workers. "Up ahead, where you see all the fire. Place never shuts down, they constantly rotate shifts. So every hour of every day, those fires never fade. Sometimes during a bad storm, the light they give off is the only way you know what direction you're headed." From observation, Olivia would be able to tell that infrastructure here was centered around deposits of resources where mining could be done, stretches of land where nothing of value lay beneath the dirt were practically untouched or used to build hives for the overwhelming population.
RE: Pitstop on Pittsburgh - Toaster - 07-29-2020
Through the helmet's visor, Olivia glanced out at the barren, desolate world they were rocketing over, the wind violently tugging at her flightsuit. Apart from the city-like clusters of mines and factories, the arid landscape was devoid of any signs of life, the monotony of the deserts only occasionally broken up by enormous rocky outcroppings, piercing the sky like cyclopean skyscrapers, casting shadows across massive swaths of brown sand against the last light of the setting sun. The clouds above them were painted a shade of brown, slightly lighter than the dirt around them, almost bordering on orange. In a strange, apocalyptic sense, it was almost pretty.
They passed one gigantic manufacturing site after another, the cacophony of machinery audible even over the angry whine of the hoverbike's engine and the air rushing by. Occasionally, they would come across one of the oversized, wheeled trucks used to deliver raw resources from the strip mines to the factories, its enormous tires dwarfing Damian's ride, leaving deep, wide ruts in the unpaved, sandy road.
"I'm not sure whether I should be flattered," Olivia muttered into Damian's ears, "by you thinking of me, if it leads to you inviting me to a dump like this."
With her head near his, she could just barely make out the smile in his eyes. She wondered whether this relaxed, almost 'normal' man was the real Damian - whether the cold, remorseless figure she had encountered in Kepler was merely a guise he put on for the sake of his business. She had her doubts, however. A man who could both enjoy a casual bike ride with an acquaintance and gun down two complete strangers in a hallway without hesitation was not a man she would ever trust, much less try to figure out.
They passed one gigantic manufacturing site after another, the cacophony of machinery audible even over the angry whine of the hoverbike's engine and the air rushing by. Occasionally, they would come across one of the oversized, wheeled trucks used to deliver raw resources from the strip mines to the factories, its enormous tires dwarfing Damian's ride, leaving deep, wide ruts in the unpaved, sandy road.
"I'm not sure whether I should be flattered," Olivia muttered into Damian's ears, "by you thinking of me, if it leads to you inviting me to a dump like this."
With her head near his, she could just barely make out the smile in his eyes. She wondered whether this relaxed, almost 'normal' man was the real Damian - whether the cold, remorseless figure she had encountered in Kepler was merely a guise he put on for the sake of his business. She had her doubts, however. A man who could both enjoy a casual bike ride with an acquaintance and gun down two complete strangers in a hallway without hesitation was not a man she would ever trust, much less try to figure out.
RE: Pitstop on Pittsburgh - Reeves - 07-29-2020
It sounded like he chuckled at what she'd said, it was most certainly a mix of sarcasm and humor, but it was too potent a bait for him to pass up. "Going to make me feel bad saying things like that. I'd take you some place nice but my reputation makes that difficult. Not to say there aren't options, but I'll have to think of something for next time." The fact he even mentioned a possibility of a next time was reason enough to raise an eyebrow.
Slowing down for a few seconds in order to put the bike into a gradual right turn, he seemed to be carefully navigating towards a distant city built into and across a rocky outcropping, capable of accommodating stable foundations for large structures unlike the ocean of sand that otherwise spanned much of the planet's surface. "Hungry? I know a guy in that city up ahead, he's rough around the edges but he makes the definition of comfort food." Though it didn't seem like he had much of a plan for how they were going to spend time here, it was hardly necessary given his capacity for cleverness and improvisation. Even a world like this had some degree of attractions, things worth seeing or doing. It just took a keen eye and thick skin, perhaps literally.
Slowing down for a few seconds in order to put the bike into a gradual right turn, he seemed to be carefully navigating towards a distant city built into and across a rocky outcropping, capable of accommodating stable foundations for large structures unlike the ocean of sand that otherwise spanned much of the planet's surface. "Hungry? I know a guy in that city up ahead, he's rough around the edges but he makes the definition of comfort food." Though it didn't seem like he had much of a plan for how they were going to spend time here, it was hardly necessary given his capacity for cleverness and improvisation. Even a world like this had some degree of attractions, things worth seeing or doing. It just took a keen eye and thick skin, perhaps literally.
RE: Pitstop on Pittsburgh - Toaster - 07-29-2020
"If you're hoping for a next time, you'll have to really impress me," Olivia chuckled. Despite her reservations concerning her companion's nature, she couldn't help but feel at least a slight connection between them. As long as she stayed on his good side, she doubted she had to be particularly worried about his more cold-blooded tendencies and might just be able to enjoy a few hours of relative relaxation on this dustball of a world.
Up ahead, the squalid city approached, its dim lights and scarce traffic now the only source of illumination, the sun having passed below the horizon, drowning the world around them in darkness. Even through her helmet's filters, Olivia could smell the stench of the town, the air reeking of waste gases, rusted metal, and oil. From afar, it looked little different from the enormous factory plants they had passed by, the only immediate distinction being the lack of gargantuan furnaces spewing fire and ash into the atmosphere.
"I could use a bite to eat," Olivia readily admitted. "I just hope I can keep my appetite if we're headed in there."
RE: Pitstop on Pittsburgh - Reeves - 07-29-2020
There was a chance that his continued ignorance of the perceived debt she owed him might have been disconcerting, he had honestly not given it any consideration and had instead decided that he could afford to be a little cheeky. "We'll have to see, but you wouldn't be here if you weren't at least the slightest bit interested, and I wouldn't have called if I wasn't. I'll aim to please either way, but I'm sure I can manage to be persuasive enough thanks to that fact." Winding up through the path carved out of the rock for vehicles, Damian sped through the city limits in a controlled fashion, weaving past the isolated instances of slower traffic ahead of them. He certainly knew his way around the place. "I wouldn't worry too much, his canteen's sealed off and the food's good enough to be compelling. You'll be fine." For once he sounded genuinely reassuring, like his word could be taken for granted. Maybe he was like this with other people in the movement too, but there was little insight that speculation could provide an outsider with.
RE: Pitstop on Pittsburgh - Toaster - 07-29-2020
She couldn't argue with that. She was interested. Or at least curious about what Damian might have intended for her, be it business or indeed, as he claimed, purely social.
The city was surprisingly quiet, in the sense that traffic was scarce and there weren't any building-sized holo-advertisements blaring at the populace at ear-shattering volumes. Instead, there was the noise of small workshops, dingy bars, and the constant, distant roaring of manufacturing plants to contend with.
Damian's reassuring words seemed to be sincere, so Olivia allowed herself to look forward to a decent meal, regardless of the highly questionable and outright unpleasant location.
"I'll take your word for it," she said, wondering what sort of 'delicacies' a place like this would have to offer to.
The city was surprisingly quiet, in the sense that traffic was scarce and there weren't any building-sized holo-advertisements blaring at the populace at ear-shattering volumes. Instead, there was the noise of small workshops, dingy bars, and the constant, distant roaring of manufacturing plants to contend with.
Damian's reassuring words seemed to be sincere, so Olivia allowed herself to look forward to a decent meal, regardless of the highly questionable and outright unpleasant location.
"I'll take your word for it," she said, wondering what sort of 'delicacies' a place like this would have to offer to.
RE: Pitstop on Pittsburgh - Reeves - 07-29-2020
The roads ahead did have a surprisingly dense amount of traffic, but it wouldn't take long before he pulled up alongside what appeared to be a humble diner, it advertised itself through the use of a well-lit neon sign that clearly labelled it as "Mom's Place," an innocent enough time. More important was the fact that the glass, despite given a clear view both into and out of the establishment, helped seal off the interior for the muck-ridden outside world. Anyone paying the place a visit had to pass through a pair of doors that kept the cool, climate-controlled interior secure. "Just through that pair of doors here, come on. Keep the helmet on until we're inside." In one swift and practiced motion, he got off the bike, offering a hand for his date to do the same. If she was so inclined, he was prepared to let her hold on until they were inside.