[GP/status] OtherWorlds: Welcome to Asphodel Station

[st_aff]

By the time the Crystal Room, recently and precipitously vacated by Kash, had closed itself off to begin its transformation, the incipient connection to a new world had already been reflected in the Inn's shops. Notably, after Valentine's Day, the boutique had begun to stock two new clothing trends. First came the heavily weighted apparel, almost like blankets for those on the autism spectrum, designed to hang against the body and stay against the body, most of them in fairly neutral shades and modest styles. Then came the exquisitely light, unusual fabrics, that seemed made for dancing and twirling. They often had extra fabric, tubes and ruffs, and layers that when caught in the wind would puff out into shapes. These tended toward the colorful, and while rarely what any 21st century Earth person would call scandalous, they often seemed to be playing peekaboo with spectators and the flesh beneath.

Other, less interesting, changes happened more suddenly. Every room had fresh water bottles delivered daily. The chef's chicken dishes inexplicably began to contain a great deal of cream, cheese, and cream cheese. The ice machines occasionally acted up and spit a stream of cubes at people passing without filling a bucket.

In retrospect, when the Crystal Room opened onto the deck of what might once have been some kind of space yacht but had become more the equivalent of an overcrowded tour bus for penny-pinchers and scholarship kids, it was more obvious than ever that where they'd be going, what they'd need when they'd get there, and the camouflaging of their arrival wasn't entirely random. The captain and passengers of the dirty, overcrowded space-bus SC Trolley couldn't possibly have cared less where the extra passengers came from, if they even noticed. And the docking crew on the pretentiously named Celadon Ring (third from the top, reserved for miner-leave ships and the odd 'leisure' travelers), was more interested in clan personal matters than in how many people were supposed to be on the ship versus how many left through its doors. After the first few hours of the ship's arrival, no one cared at all, which made it very easy for the people of the Inn to come and go.

Whatever intelligence lay behind their off-world jaunts could do little about their appearances, however, and their strange fleshy colors and hairstyles drew unpleasant looks from many on station. The Verineans in particular were none too thrilled by the appearance of a long-forgotten race, and behave more haughtily than ever. The Trovians poked them curiously and ran away. Most of the others avoided them. Only the Gunnii and the Diggers seemed to take them in stride.

Nevertheless, the noisy Hub with its welter of foreign tongues, the familiar patter of bargains and auctions, backed by the odd and occasionally terrifying structural creaks and groans, smelled of tarnished metal, less than fresh bodies, and commerce. Away from the pristine living quarters in the wealthiest petals, Asphodel was a trade station, and anyone with goods to trade and a will to trade them wouldn't be turned (too hard) away.

The rings and Paidia, the upper and the downbelow were something of a different story. Dangerous in the rings and the downbelow, downright welcoming in the Paidia, and off-limits without bribes on the upper, they had their own rules and their own essences. In truth, the station was large enough with so little in the way of true government, it might as well have been several small nations bound together by a gravitational system and air supply.

Regardless of where they planned to go, any visitor that exited a ship in one of the rings was made to watch a welcome video while waiting for the lifts. It contained the basic rules, offenses punishable by death, and an overview map of the station. Exchange rates in currencies unknown to the Inn were posted at the lifts exit doors. Yet whenever any first left the rings for the Hub or elsewhere on Asphodel they couldn't help but be unprepared.

Comments

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_arkintern]

"Peter was surprised his first time as well," Karen says. She had been dormant at the time, or else she would have activated it at Peter's request, had he known about the feature. He did not. It seemed like there was a lot that Peter did not know about his suit's full capabilities. Karen could only assume that he was not very good at remembering things. That was why she was happy to record everything.

Peter can only sorta hear what Liz is whispering to Karen. Him, Just, Know. He doesn't say anything; he just strains his ears a little more to hear any future conversations.

"I can tell. I am a very sophisticated AI."

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_hotflashes]

"I'm starting to get that." Liz smiled into her suit, wondering if Karen could see it. She followed Peter around a corner, still on him fondly.

She whispered again, maybe because Karen felt so real to her and maybe because she was a little worried. "Is he... Um. Is he happy?"

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_arkintern]

Peter's pretty sure he can see something up ahead, so he temporarily relinquishes his hold on Liz's hand to get a closer look -- and make sure it's secure. As much as he wants to try to eavesdrop a little more, the last thing he wants is for them to be trapped or have to fight in a corridor as close as this one.

"That is a very complicated question," Karen says. "That is a very complicated question. From what I have observed, no human is happy all the time. Can you be more specific?"

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_hotflashes]

As she watched Peter walk further away, Liz worried a little that maybe she was prying. Maybe it wasn't her place to ask. At the same time, if he was unhappy, maybe she could help.

"I guess... I guess I'd like to know if it's happy being stuck in the Inn. If anything's bothering him. If - If he's happy with me."

The last part kind of surprised her and she shut her eyes despite there being a mask over her head and thought about how stupid she was and how that question was... well, despite it being a worry, it wasn't something people usually asked.

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_arkintern]

"There are certain things that he misses. His Aunt, his friend Ned, and his other friends. I believe these things are normal."

Or, once again, so Karen has observed.

"I am certain he is happy with you. Peter has told me as much." He talked about this Liz even more than the previous model.

"There's a door up here," Peter shouts from the other side of the hallway. He gestures at the door. "I'm going to open it and make sure everything's okay. I'll knock on the door if it is."

He opens the door just a crack; it's really heavy. And once he's opened it enough to get a peek outside, he pushes it open enough for him to squeeze through --

-- then shuts the door behind him.

"Though I can tell you the things that are bothering him, I would strongly encourage you to speak with him directly."

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_hotflashes]

"Okay!" She called out to him, then quieter to Karen, "you're right... I will. I'm, sorry, for asking you questions like that."

She paused. "I guess I kind of miss having someone to talk to about this. My best friend Maria... - well, she's not here." And Kitty was great, but not a teenager. And Karen was an AI. And... Well, that was life right?

Liz moved up to the door and waited. She could feel worry creep in at the back of her neck just a little.

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_arkintern]

"That is understandable," Karen says, though human emotions are still very peculiar to her. "If you would like,
you are welcome to talk to me. Peter does already. I'm sure he wouldn't mind you borrowing me."

No knock comes from the other side of the door.

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_hotflashes]

"Maybe..." Liz knew Karen was special and she knew that Karen was Peter's and somehow taking that away from Peter seemed wrong. He should have something special that was just his.

She waited. And waited. It seemed like a long time.

"He's taking a long time."

Panic started to sink in a little and Liz decided to pull open the door. She was greeted with the 'streets' of the space station, but no Peter.

"...Karen" her voice was tight in her throat. "... Do you have a way of tracking Peter? Or.. or seeing from high up?"

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_arkintern]

"The only tracker was the one once on this suit." Once because it had been removed before she was activated.

"If you'd like, there is another utility that might be useful. However, I can not deploy it without your permission." There were some limits to what Karen was allowed to do.

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_hotflashes]

"Okay... okay, let's do that." She looked around, trying not to be frantic about it. "We have to find him, Karen. I can't - we have to find him."

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_arkintern]

"Happy to," Karen responds with her usual good-natured calm. The slightly-raised spider emblem on the front of the suit peels off like an 80s puff sticker, then soars up into the sky and zooms off.

"I will be happy to let you know when he is located. May I suggest we continue our search by foot? Though our reconnaissance drone has many abilities that make searching for an individual or scanning an easier than it would be otherwise, it may be good for us to continue our search by foot as well."

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_hotflashes]

Once the little machine pulls off of the suit - which startles Liz for a moment - she was already trying to decide to go left or right. Right seemed to go back into the gardens and she figured as much as Peter might want to help Yetu, he wouldn't have gone that way, so just as Karen finishes her recommendation, Liz is off to the left.

She had to work really hard not to run. Her pace was similar to a parent who lots a child, but didn't want to alarm other people around them from running. Panic was swelling up more and more as she walked. Every step seemed to release more dread into her chest.

Up ahead there was what looked like to be a small market with stalls for wares and some food. Liz wished Peter had the suit on - he would be easier to see. Instead, her eyes scanned for the boy she was fond of - looking for a hint of his cute haircut that framed his far-too handsome face, or his broad shoulders. He still had his backpack and hoodie, right? Hopefully.

She couldn't help it as she heard herself shout "Peter?!"

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_arkintern]

"I'm detecting an increased heart rate," Karen supplies helpfully, a half-second before Liz calls out Peter's name.

There's no response from Peter, just a few individuals who shoot her a disturbed look; she's unlike any alien they've seen, yelling out words they don't understand.

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_hotflashes]

Liz was trying her hardest not to cry. Her lips were pressed firmly against each other as she moved around the various aliens, ignoring the weird looks even though a part of her worried she was going to somehow get arrested before finding him.

Should she run back to the Inn and get Kitty and Piotr? Her hands balled up into fists. She was going to find her boyfriend.

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_arkintern]

"I have located Peter. He appears to be located about 1.5 kilometers away."

On the suit's "screen", blue box suddenly manifests, and in it, what appears to be a simplified overhead view of a part of the station; a red blinking dot appears near the top of the screen, and a solid blue dot down near the bottom.

"I have already charted the most efficient route for you."

A blue line forms a path from blue dot to red dot, winding around any obstructions until it finds its target.

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_hotflashes]

"Thank you Karen!" Which came out a little louder than it needed to be, but she felt the sudden rush of relief and need to make sure Peter was okay. It wasn't like Peter to just leave like that.

She did not quite look like a superhero as she ran through, weaving and ducking. She ran into at least two people, apologizing profusely as she did so, and then kept going.

Finally the back of his body came into view. "Peter!" She started to run up to him.

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_arkintern]

When Liz approaches, the reconnaissance drone flies down to her chest and re-attaches it to her suit. Peter doesn't turn when Liz calls out his name. He doesn't respond at all.

In his hands, he's carrying a small-sized box, wrapped in thick brown paper. It looks incredibly simple and low-tech, as far as packages go, especially on a planet that seems to be so tech-advanced.

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_hotflashes]

"Peter?" She sounded a little less sure of herself, but approached beside him. "Peter are you okay?"

She paused. "What's in the box?" She wondered... "Karen can you tell what's in the box?"

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_arkintern]

Once again, Peter does not respond; instead, he continues walking forward like a man on a mission. His stride is unnatural -- he moves with the same perfect and mechanical movements that one might imagine a physical AI would make: almost eerily precise.

Fortunately, Liz has an AI of her own that's all too willing to assist.

"It appears to a high-density explosive," Karen supplies with her usual cheeriness. She genuinely enjoys being useful -- even when she might not be providing someone with information they may not want to hear.

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_hotflashes]

When Peter ignored her, Liz went to reach for the box, but then she stopped, just as her fingers grazed the box, when Karen mentioned explosive. "No. No way." It wasn't really directed at Karen, but it came out anyways and Liz's mind raced.

She moved up ahead of Peter and got in his path. "Peter, you need to stop. What are you doing?"

Liz reached out for the box, hoping it wasn't going to go off right there in between the two of them. If it did, she hoped at least Peter would survive.

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_arkintern]

Peter doesn't respond to Liz, continuing to proceed forward with the same mechanical movements as before. When Liz attempts to pull the package away from him, he does not react; instead pushing forward to his final destination.

"It appears that Peter may be under the influence of a Wiste's pheromones," Karen supplies helpfully. "Those effected have no choice but to follow its commands."

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_hotflashes]

"Wait, what?" Had Karen known this all along or did she just discover it now? Liz had so many questions, but they would have to wait.

Liz's mind started to race. Pheromones. It would have to wear off eventually but if he had a bomb Liz was willing to bet eventually ended with a big boom.

"Karen, I need you to turn on that drier thing again and for longer."

Karen probably verbally replied, but all Liz could focus on was keeping pace with Peter while thinking.

Under the heat of the drier, Liz began to sweat. She felt the sweat bead on most parts of her body, her bra becoming uncomfortable like after a long day. Then she ran up ahead of Peter's path. Again, it took her a bumbling moment to find the right place to press and then suddenly she was stuffing the suit in the bag, hiding it behind what was probably a garbage can.

Then Liz Parker, sweaty and practically naked, stepped out into the 'street' amongst a bunch of aliens. She was thankful she was wearing light pink bra and underwear and that they matched - she didn't want to think about what she'd have looked like wearing white right now. Not that this registered for longer than a second because all that really mattered was saving Peter.

A deep breath in, Liz walked up to Peter, and with all her strength pulled him close to her, his face against her chest. She closed her eyes. "Please snap out of it Peter."

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_arkintern]

It takes only a moment for Peter to finally snap out of it, and when he does, he very nearly drops the package in his hands

"L-Liz," he somehow manages to stammer out before his mind fully processes his present reality: he's pressed tightly against his girlfriend's chest. She isn't wearing a shirt. She isn't wearing any pants.

Peter quickly pulls away and turns around, grateful for once that he's not wearing his Spider-Man costume. It's not that he doesn't want to see her like that (because he does); it's that he's afraid she'll notice precisely how much he enjoyed the feel of her body against his.

It's only once Peter manages to will himself to calm down that he realizes that he can't remember the last twenty minutes of his life.

And more importantly, that he's carrying something.

"What am I -- what am I holding?"

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_hotflashes]

There was sudden relief when Peter started to talk and then a rush of mortification. Eyes wide as he turned around, Liz brought her hands up against her chest as if that was going to do anything for her modesty. Her face turned pink and she felt as if all eyes were on her at the moment, though thankfully Peter had walked far enough away from the small market there was only a few looker-ons.

The sweat against her skin was now drying in the cool air of the station and she felt goosebumps start to form. She kicked herself for leaving the bag so far away. A part of her wanted to go get it, but she was worried if she left, something would happen to Peter.

"It's - Karen said it's a bomb. You weren't, you wouldn't stop. Karen said something about, about an alien who can control people with pheromones..."

Peter had once asked Liz what kind of powers she would want. Right now it was the ability to magically make clothes appear on her person.

Re: Closed to Liz Parker

[st_arkintern]

Peter doesn't turn around. If he does, he's going to see Liz again, and it's just going to make his problem worse than it is already. He's already trying to focus on something else, even though the image of Liz in her cute, matching lingerie keeps rising to the surface.

"A bomb?" Peter's voice cracks a little. "Again?" What was with it with his life and bombs? Most people didn't have one encounter with a bomb, but in the last twelve months, he somehow managed to have two.

"What do you -- what do you think we should do with it?" Peter looks up. Getting it really far away from the city, somewhere up in the air wasn't really an option; there wasn't enough space between the city and the dome-shaped top of the station for it to go off without potentially puncturing a hole straight through it and sucking all of them into the endless chasm of space. "Do we -- do we try to disarm it? Bring it in? Someone's going to ask how we got a bomb in the first place and I'm not -- not sure what we're going to tell them."