The journey involves making five jumps, six if the shuttle was to fly through New Tokyo. A couple taps on the display showed the shuttle service taking the longer journey. Why not take the scenic route through Kusari's capital? Saying goodbye to his fellow Starfliers, Rex confirms the hire for a shuttle to take him to the Tau-37 system. Blue skies and many trade lanes later, staying the night at Tsushima Depot, Rex arrives at Freeport 10 where the surrounding space could be considered the most peaceful sector in all of Sirius. That is, if you don't consider where the northern jumphole takes you. Rex enters the bar to wind down after a long trip.
"Hey, bartender. If someone asks for a Starflier, point them towards me, will you?"
A grunt is heard from behind the counter. One that agreed with his request. Sitting down, another person catches Rex's eye as they also enter the bar.
Starfliers...//...Information...//...Recruitment...//...Discord Server Independent Cartographers, Vector Analysts & Researchers.
Godspeed, Pilots.
An icy lady entered the scene, putting herself behind Rex. Accompanied by a couple of bodyguards, she looked the bartender first, waiting for a response. The bartender nodded to her and the woman displayed a frozen smile, completely devoid of emotion. She turned her face to the Starfliers contact and the talk started:
“Señor Rex Baker, is that correct? Julia López here, pleased to make your acquaintance.”
Julia’s presence is one of complete apathy, her pose steadfast and her cheeks white, cold as winter. Even with her solid posture, her formality does not match with her dressing. Her head was uncovered but her slim body was covered by an EVA suit, blackened by plasma combustion residues. Not a single drop of sweat appeared to be in the woman, even as the smell of recent burns and chemicals surrounded her, signs of probable ship repairs or maintenance work done before the gathering. She did not wait for the confirmation of her question and continued:
“Before we begin, we would like you to answer a simple question.”
Julia retrieved an old-fashioned data pad from her back, checking information before the next sentence, seemingly oblivious to the environment and the guy.
“Are you afraid of darkness?”
Julia intended to put a forced chuckle, but it was not a malevolent one. She retrieved a pill from one of her pockets and extended her arm and hand towards Rex, waiting for him to answer and take it. The capsule did not seem particularly special, a pharmaceutical product similar to many. Meanwhile, the 2 bodyguards surrounded him from both sides, taking a close but careful distance from Baker.
From the outside, this little exchange could be mistaken for a shakedown, bribery, intelligence gathering. Luckily for him, the cubicle he sat in was one under a shadow. On one side of the table, a civilian wearing a casual outfit. On the other, a dark void of a person extending a pill and a question. Rex's eyes widen. Perhaps this is when we he learns to slow down and pay attention. He ignores that thought and proceeds as if he was in space.
"Right now, I don't believe you'd want me maimed or dead, considering our conversation a couple days ago. A question like that has an answer, though it's one I'm unaware of, however..."
The pill is taken from Julia and held up high where the light shines. Looks normal, his gaze shifts to Julia as a glass of water is raised with his other hand.
"...I will find out soon what it is. I assume you expect me to take this? What is it?"
Starfliers...//...Information...//...Recruitment...//...Discord Server Independent Cartographers, Vector Analysts & Researchers.
Godspeed, Pilots.
Julia, lightly disappointed by the lack of explicit response to her question, decided to cut to the chase, always maintaining an adamant attitude:
“Consider this a courtesy from our part; it will make your trip feel shorter to the desired training. We can always go with a less subtle way if you prefer, my bodyguards would certainly like that. It involves a bag in the head and a stun baton, but the option I am giving you is more peaceful. The effect is immediate, I suggest you to lean back to the table.”
The bodyguards started to lose the patience, but a quick look from López was enough to calm them down.
“Alpha Command has approved this, so do not worry about your safety...we will make sure that you will get your sessions. Now hurry up and swallow it, I have a schedule to fulfill; my ship needs some outfitting after our last incursion.”
Julia relaxed a bit, trying to convey some assurance to the stranger.
"I mean no disrespect, Julia. Of course I don't wan't to make your time here difficult. Your men can stand down, I won't cause any fuss. "
Remembering his time with Universal Shipping, how Rex got to Trenton Outpost was way less interesting. Though back then, Leon and Halpert were with him. Now alone, an Outcast is asking him to take a pill, possibly to hide the journey from Freeport 10 to wherever Julia has planned to take him. A shot of confidence shows as Rex hears that Audaz himself has green lit this arrangement.
"Let's get this done then. Shall we? "
The pill is taken, followed by a quick sip of water. Rex's reaction over the next few seconds turns from being unaffected to being out cold, slumped in his seat.
Starfliers...//...Information...//...Recruitment...//...Discord Server Independent Cartographers, Vector Analysts & Researchers.
Godspeed, Pilots.
A breathtaking landscape of the orange horizon can be seen from the isolated structure, an amalgam of endless meadows and swamps eclipsed by the singular sky in the midst of twilight. Situated in a single mountain, the immense, tall and stiff building, resembling the standard Maltese architectural design, mimicked the rocky and dark foundations. Only a vibrant white light coming from one of the windows differed from the shadowy forms.
Behind the window, a grey and spacious cubic room remained immaculate, only ruined by a blood trail in the floor. The big red silhouette started near the bed and ended in the entrance, an opened door with magnetic sealing mechanism. Besides that, the area was filled by several elements worthy of long-term academic studies: A map in the wall, showing the different locations of the facility, a robust desk with several drawers, a console with neural-net interface, a couple of chairs and a bed.
All these things surrounded Rex, who rested quietly and unscathed in the bed. The drug was intended to end its effects in any moment and unconsciousness would be no more.
An unintelligible voice was emitted from speakers placed in one of the walls of the room, mumbling and coughing. A couple of questions went clearly, though:
“What do you mean that it is not ready?!? Why did they drop an amateur to take care of the outsider?!?”
Beyond the door, silence and gloom dominated the multiple corridors and halls of the apparently forsaken facility.
A slight shiver wakes the Starflier. Turning over in bed, Rex almost falls back asleep due to the cushioning being a little too comfortable. The chill stopped him from waking and after a moment, he arises to find he's still wearing his normal clothes. The pool of blood freaks Rex out, seeing that he's now in a much, much different place. Rex remembers Leon's request to slow down and take in the moment, though this situation wasn't what he had in mind to start breaking his habits. A console on a desk buzzes, with a dashboard that looks to be a home page of sorts. Completely different to the civilian software Rex uses on the Fomalhaut and on Starflier Base, the screen has matching Maltese wording and symbols. Rex quietly exclaims,
"What the hell? What have I gotten myself into?"
The window on the opposite side of the room shows a magnificent orange horizon, perhaps all of this is what Julia wanted to know. Is Rex afraid of the unknown? Afraid of her? Afraid of being introduced to the den of Cardamine users? A device in the corner of the room explodes with sound, most of it gibberish until a clear voice is heard.
“What do you mean that it is not ready?!? Why did they drop an amateur to take care of the outsider?!?”
The voice doesn't sound familiar, but Rex knows for certain that the outsider mentioned was him. Staying quiet, his primary objective is to stay alive and try find someone else. Leaping before looking has landed him here, and now Rex will pace himself to make sure he makes it further than the blood trail, which leads him through the opened mechanical door. The map on the wall inside the room shows a network of corridors leading to more rooms. One giant circle dominates an area of the map, marked with the word "Awditorju". Rex gives that particular word a few mental attempts at pronunciation before giving up and deciding that this place is where he should head to. If anyone could help him get to his training, it would be another Hyperspace Starfleet member. Rex proceeds through the doorway and heads left, away from the blood trail.
Starfliers...//...Information...//...Recruitment...//...Discord Server Independent Cartographers, Vector Analysts & Researchers.
Godspeed, Pilots.
As Rex left the dormitory, lights started to flicker, illuminating the whole corridor sporadically. The blood in the room was nothing in comparison to the new scene: Red and orange stains all across the walls and floor, a nightmare of distorted symbols and gibberish, paints of hands and words Uno, con gli Spiriti, ¡Déjenme salir! and Irrid immur id-dar. Behind Rex, a dead end and additional doors, marked with numbers.
At the other side of the hallway, in front of Baker, similar accesses and a bifurcation can be seen. The contiguous room had the entry opened and lights out; dreadful and rotten stench can be perceived. The bifurcation, down the hall, was marked by big arrows to the left and right, Librerija and Awditorju were written on them, respectively.
Suddenly, audio reverberated and an old voice permeated throughout the area, from an unknown source:
“I see that you have awaken. Merħba! Merħba! I hope you enjoy your stay here, child. I guess it will not be permanent, as many of those who come here leave quickly and never return.”
The speech was interrupted by several coughs and continued:
“Our apologies for the dirt and dust, not many come here and we are just my old myself and my beautiful wife; I can barely hold myself with these bones. By the way, I recognized the ship that you came. How is Julia going? She has not spoken to me since a long time ago…my sweet, sweet Ángel de La Muerte. If I had not a wife…”
He made a pause of 3 seconds, taking a deep and noisy sniff:
“By the Spirits, you are a strong one! Standing still! I am impressed. Well, come on! Tell me your secret! You slept too much but you are not staggering! Talk! I am listening! Don’t be shy! I can hear you everywhere!”
The words Rex heard didn't put him in any better of a position. Someone here has eyes on him, and he didn't like it one bit. Surrounded by unknown fluids, stains, smells and unpleasantness of every kind, the only thing that moves Rex further in was the word "Awditorju", printed on a sign half hanging in one of the corridors.
"Hey, I came here to improve my piloting skills! Why the hell am I here!?"
Putting emphasis on that last word sent our Starflier heeling over for a brief moment. Rex lets out a couple coughs before continuing on.
"I guess Julia put me here, I haven't seen here since... well... how long have I been here for? I'd like some answers."
Rex moves down the hallway marked with the guide word. With the recent development of being watched and talked to by a disembodied voice, his hope of finding someone else out here who can help him looks to be fleeting.
Starfliers...//...Information...//...Recruitment...//...Discord Server Independent Cartographers, Vector Analysts & Researchers.
Godspeed, Pilots.
As the Starflier walked towards the Awditorju, the lights from behind began to fade and the ones in the front went brighter.
“Piloting skills? Yes, this is the right place. This installation offers one of the most advanced systems in Malta and perhaps whole Sirius! Many people come here for a challenge that only few can endure, but I see that you are handling it all too well, healthy man. I thought you knew this. This is troubling. Well, I do not know all, I guess…and my memory tends to fail.”
Besides the speaking man, solitude seemed to have dominated the whole facility, as not a single soul has appeared to encounter Rex. The path to Awditorju went cleaner by each step, just the coldness of a grey and straightforward route, leaving the disturbing colors and odors behind.
“Regarding your arrival, I think it was a week…or a month? I can’t remember really…oh wait, yes! You arrived 23 days ago! A couple of men arrived and left you where you woke up. No sign of Julia, I am afraid. How is she? Have you seen her recently? They just said that an amateur is coming to help you; I do not understand why. I got angry, I yelled to my wife. Almost hit her. Good times.”
As if he was just reconnecting axons, the guy suddenly said:
“Piloting skills? Yes, Ħabib. Come to the Awditorju, I will meet you there! Happy to help! I can prepare the training for you! But first, tell me, what type of ship are you going to use on this occasion? What class?”
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