All posts by ShinJae

Champions of Battle: The Very Best – Opportunity #036

West Drop:  Kinetic-Potential Talent School

The Kinetic-Potential school’s talents were incredible fun.  The ability to move things in unexpected ways challenged Brisa’s mind and was visually appealing.  Often times, the simplest of effects repeated several times over made the most beautiful of patterns.

Currently, Brisa was practicing a particularly challenging and visually beautiful feet using simple pencils.  Arm stretched, she sweet bullets as dozens, almost hundreds of pencils hovered, rotated and flipped slowly.  Together, they made something that looked like a giant spinning wooden bagel.  Occasionally parts of the large form turned pink as the untouching pencils’ erasers came into view.

Vangie Ren, her instructor, stood near matching Brisa’s pose.  She had lavender skin.  Her plain clothes revealed her yellow and eggshell splotches of color that formed vertically along her arms.  Her face was of average beauty but was calm and focused as she glanced over to see Brisa’s hand shaking.  Seeing that Brisa was struggling with the simple task, she decided to end the lesson.  

All at once, the pencils moved as one back into their respective boxes on the shelf, all except five.  Brisa focused on her pencils half a second longer before realizing the lesson was over.  At this realization, her pencils fell to the table.  As they hit, they joined their kind on the trip to the pencil boxes.

“You did well for your first lesson,” Vangie said smiling.

Brisa looked immediately at the colored highlights in Vangie’s black hair.  It took less than half a minute for Brisa to realize that those portions of Vangie’s hair were enchanted.  They changed colors with Vangie’s mood and brightened greatly when she lied.  Right now the deep dark indigo shade told her that although Vangie was quite disappointed, she wasn’t lying.  “Thank you Instructor,” she replied.

Vangie nodded in response.  “I told you before, Vangie is just fine,” she said as her hair brightened to a slightly less deep shade of indigo.  “It’s getting late,” Vangie resumed, “You should stay the night here with us.”

Brisa’s perception enchant shown its brilliant glow again.  The near miss earlier that day was still getting to her, if that’s what it was.  This city was quite dangerous, but the wall of thoughts and prick of warning didn’t hit her this time.  

Brisa sighed, eased by the slight comfort, “How much are the rooms?”

“Not that much,” Vangie giggled, “You get a discount for being a student.  You get even more of a discount if you choose to learn more from us.”

Brisa looked to check her banknotes as the two walked to the front desk.  From the little traveling she did, she knew that term “not that much” translated differently between a seller and a buyer.

The two ladies returned to the front of the crazy building where the prices for a night’s rest were proudly displayed.  They caused Brisa some concern.  

The discounts were nice but with all the training she had already done that day, she was starting to run low on funds.  Brisa may not be able to pay for her trip to Bear Gate!  However, she’ll need that money later and this was now.  Right now, she needed to rest and this was the best place she could think of.

Brisa resigned to what was happening now, “Kay, I’ll take the room.”

#1 – Opportunity #35

Sons of Sword: Tales of Glory – Lost and Found #033

It took a some time for Insula to reach the front of the road block.  As she waited, quite a few vehicles were turned away.  The Founder saw the angry drivers and knew that her act would have to be spot on if she was going to be able to be any help to her student.  Hopefully, this was going to be worth the sleep she missed the night before.

Finally at the front of the queue, Insula saw the bot trying to look intimidating with the heat sensing rifle.  There was a second scanning device set on the road.  This one looked more like a box.  Insula knew everything about what it was for and she wasn’t scared of it one bit.

The training-bot approached Insula’s van as she pulled up.  Everything about the bot was identical to all others.  However, it spoke there was a particular Crisho accented voice, “W… what business have you at this hour ma’am?”  The peasant behind the controls stuttered a bit.  He clearly was enjoying his role in this play.  Still, he recognized his employer.

“I’m trying to get groceries,” Insula replied in frustration.  The Founder enjoyed acting as well.  She rarely had a chance to interact with the little people, but she had to remember her role.  She was supposed to be acting like a lowly peasant like those around her, “I apologize m’lord.  This morning has been nothing but trouble.”

There was a notable pause before the peasant behind the controls spoke again, “V..very well,” he continued.  “Tis a might big car for getting morning groceries is it?”

“Sorry sir,” Insula tried to imitate his accent, “Roommate took the good one barhopping.  I know where she got.  Just can’t get to her right now.”

“Mind if I check the back?”

“No sir.”

“Keep your hands seeable.”

Another notable pause from the mechanical guard.  Perhaps the pilot wasn’t quite used to the controls.  Not surprising, peasants are trusted with so little but expected to do so much.

Once moving again, the bot started fiddling with the box scanner on the road.  This was much faster since the bot only had to stick its hand into the device.  After that, the pilot communicated directly with the device.

The bot lifted the device from its access point and aimed the device at the van.  Circling the van, it saw images of what what was inside through the hull.  There was nothing really: towels, a spare tire, the standard backseat, and a small basket apparently for trash.

Seeing nothing of value, the mechanical guard waved Insula through the blockade.

“Be sure to stay grounded while you’re doing business,” he warned.

“Yes sir.”

With that, the Founder drove into the secured area and

Insula had taken great care in making this scenario.  The town’s folk were used to disruptions in their lives.  They were peasants as well as Commoners so they expected things like this from the higher classes by now.  This particular disruption seemed to be more fun for some of them though.  

Now back to my student’s test.

#1 – Lost and Found #32 – Lost and Found #34

Champions of Battle: AD7 – Awakening #037

Chaeri and Tosca followed Adrianne aboard Silent Blur.  Captain Bubbles’ comforting scent welcomed them as well as the soft purples, reds, and greys lining the walls.  Soft plush carpets, and holographic projections of art gave an air of sophistication.  With all of the decorated comfort around them, one would forget they were on a war machine.  However, Tosca remembered that the high tech lockers held who knows what and promised battle readiness.

Upon entry, the three ladies immediately went to the cockpit.  There in silent observation sat the true servant and ruler of the craft.

“Eye Captain,” Adrianne said with her customary salute.

“Greetings Captain,” Cheari followed with a bowing nod.

Tosca’s greeting was unique.  She sang, “Missed you Bubbles,” as she bent, winked, and blew the droid a kiss.

A small light at the bottom of the filled sphere blinked after each of their gestures.  It blinked particularly brightly after Tosca’s display as it recognized her most of all.  She was never able to pilot Silent Blur, but she did play many games on the craft that challenged the computer’s artificial intelligence.  

After making themselves known to the device, they all went about their own business aboard the ship.  Adrianne sat in the pilot’s chair while Chaeri went into the navigator’s station.  Tosca however went to the rear of the craft to look over the many droids.

The flight itself was fast, smooth, and uneventful.  Chaeri had a few questions about the Skyguard pilots following them but after an explanation of earlier events, she understood the need.

—–

“Alright,” guard Hanny Rong sighed into the communicator as she walked the lab.

It was getting late.  The Rubin’s Lab Guards were finishing their rounds but there seemed little need.  About this time of night, all work had long finished.  There was nothing to be seen except the deactivated droids on the workstations.  

These guards were the strongest of the elite, most highly and continually trained, but they usually had little to do this time of night.  No one had any reason to be there.  Only the researchers with the deadliest of deadlines would keep working this late into the night.  However, no one was the last worker list tonight.  

Why would anyone be here, the silence shouted at Hanny.  There could possibly be a thief, but only a creative fool would bury deep enough to try and steal something from this secure location.

“I’m done here,” Hanny spoke more confidently with one final final glance over the lab, “let’s go to cameras only.”  With that, she closed the door and headed to the camera station.  Besides, their main prize was resting.  

AD7 was watched continually throughout the day and especially at night even before she had regained consciousness.  No chances were taken with the one that had caused such a horrible catastrophe.  However, it seemed that she too was resting at this hour.  

Hanny left the silent and still lab.  All the droids were in their place at their respective tables unfeeling and lifeless.  She had drew the short straw and was on patrolling duty with Roman Huo, the creepy new guy.  She had found a way to ditch him, but she would be meeting with him again in the security office soon.

 

A few minutes after Hanny and Roman made it to the camera room, the cameras watching the research lab stopped swinging.  A hidden program had taken over their motherboards decades ago.  They knew to play looped recordings of a still lab.  They will play these same recordings until they receive new instructions.

#1 – Awakening #36 – Awakening #38