OOCS, Into A Wider Galaxy, Part 650

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The Dauntless

“-and you would say that the markings are...” Observer Wu asks Miss Amakiir before hearing a siren ring out and everyone freezes. He looks around to see what the other men are doing and they’re all looking towards a singular building. The Siren goes off for a few moments and then silences.

“Sorry about that. Situation contained.” A voice says over the speakers and everyone goes back to what they were doing.

“Excuse me a moment.” Observer Wu states before turning to his bodyguards. “Bring one of the Undaunted here so they can explain what just happened.”

The man waves down a Sonir Undaunted who flutters over. “Sir?”

“What was that alarm about?”

“Nerd Squad Sir. They did something that spooked someone and yeah. Axiom Adepts experimenting is... yeah.”

“I see, is this normal? I’ve been here for some time and this is the first I’ve heard of it.”

“Safety regulations and protections keep improving every time they get dinged, so that alarm was saying ‘The Nerds Broke Containment’. Meaning they did something that either circumnavigated the safeties, or blew clean through them. And honestly I’m not sure which is scarier, you humans have wild imaginations when it comes to using Axiom in any way.” The Soldier says.

“I see. Would you say it’s safe to investigate?”

“If it wasn’t safe the alarm would still be going off.” The Soldier says before tilting his head to the side and nodding as one of his large ears twitches. “But I can hear some of what they’re saying in the building from here. I haven’t heard anyone say anything about injuries but they are talking about damage. Apparently they broke something and not someone so that’s encouraging.”

“I see... and can you give me specifics about their conversation?”

“They’re theorizing on how to defend from something called False Vacuum Collapse?” The Soldier asks and Observer Wu is simply baffled as a terrified sound squeaks out of Amakiir’s throat. “Do you know what that is miss?”

“False. Vacuum. Collapse. Those are the words you heard?”

“Yes.”

“Oh shit.”

“What does it mean?” Observer Wu presses.

“I don’t understand the full physics of it myself. Apparently it’s a lot of theoretical stuff. But I have heard it mentioned before in interviews with skilled and powerful Annihilation Adepts. And if people are fiddling with Annihilation Techniques then you need to be very, very careful. Those Adepts break things down at the atomic level and use it for fuel to cause more damage.”

“I’m aware, I’ve personally interviewed a confirmed Annihilation Adept. He used his techniques and knowledge to teleport in system with such skill and raw power that we moved light minutes, perhaps light hours at a time, and physically put his hands on the frozen core of a gas giant. We were on a flying platform at the time. No shields, no atmospherics. But he supplied both to make a demonstration.”

“Yeah... that’s... Frankly most Annihilation Adepts are like that. Let me guess, he was pensive and thoughtful?”

“Yes. Very much so thankfully.”

“That’s normal of the Adepts that endure. If they don’t develop a calm and thoughtful attitude in short order then an Annihilation Adept generally doesn’t have long to live.” Amakiir answers and Observer Wu nods.

“That’s good to hear. Or rather not, this equally implies that more reckless and other such personality traits quickly gets an Adept with those abilities killed.”

“In one way or another an Adept known to be an Annihilation Adept going off and trying to blackmail, extort or threaten people quickly ends up with a bounty and is dodging hypersonic trytite in short order.” She says and Observer Wu sighs.

“It’s so strange to feel relieved that a certain type of metal exists.”

“Oh?”

“Anyone can decide to become a superweapon outside of Cruel Space, but equally there is an answer to a terrorist deciding that they don’t want to be stopped. And thank goodness for that.” Observer Wu says.

“I bet it helps that Trytite is so common.”

“Almost worryingly so.” Observer Wu notes.

“Not really. It’s just very, very common. Things like Iron or tin or most types of stone are more common.”

“I was more stating this from the perspective of someone from Cruel Space. Trytite is a generally unknown substance on Earth. The only sources are samples brought in from the wider galaxy.” Observer Wu states.

“Oh. Well I suppose it would be confusing. The question of what it is and why it doesn’t form in your part of the galaxy need to be answered. After all Null is just unusually dense Axiom. Why wouldn’t Trytite form?”

“Yeah.”

“Have you looked up a study of it? Mineralogy was never my field.”

“I have the data, but I only have so many hours in a day and my priority is making sure that the interviews I’ve taken can be fully understood and properly translated without misinterpretation.”

“Oh, that makes sense and...” Amakiir begins to say before her communicator starts blaring at her. She glances at it. “Oh crap, Doge is using my legal absence from work as an excuse to write me up. I need to be there in ten minutes or I’m getting a write up.”

“Soldier, Miss Amakiir has been a useful and cooperative friend to The Undaunted. Can you get her some help?” Observer Wu asks the Sonir who grins.

“I got this. Hey Private! We need some assistance!” The Sonir confirms before turning and bellowing.

“Yeah?” Private Stream asks stepping out from behind The Sonir.

“Our friend here needs to be somewhere five minutes ago. Can you do it?”

“Where to?” Private Stream asks looking to Miss Amakiir.

“Vex Spire, Level One Thirty Three, Dewdrop Road, Building Eight Ninety Seven.”

“Alright just crunching the numbers and... yeah okay! Take my hand please miss!” Private Stream says before holding out his hand with a smile. She takes it and they’re both gone in a burst of Axiom.

•-•-•Scene Change•-•-• (Building 897, Dewdrop Road, Level 133, Vex Spire, Centris)•-•-•

Amakiir blinks and looks around in surprise before grinning. “You’re good.”

“Thanks! Mind if I stick around to help with any explanations? Please? I wanna help.”

“Of course. Come on.” She says already knowing that this is going to be good.

She opens the front door to the building and walks in, past the few extra business that share the building and walks into the section for Durasoul Protections. The slogan is in an old Alfar language and translates badly into galactic trade, but it generally can be read as Protections for the body is a balm for the soul.

Private Stream snorts at the sight of it.

“Is something funny?” She asks.

“Shield Skin are Untense Spirits?” Private Stream reads out.

“You need to put it into it’s context and remember that the old word for skin and self are the same thing in that language.”

“Right and in that language ‘are’ can also mean ‘is’ and ‘is an’ and ‘is’ means the same thing. Private Stream notes.

“Exactly. Well spotted.

“Amakiir! Where have you been?” The voice of Doge demands.

“Ma’am, as per The Protector’s Handbook, Section Three Page Three Dash Fifteen...”

“This isn’t about the handbook Amakiir! This is about your availability! You are on the clock and not on assignment, therefore you are to be available at all times!”

“Mitigating circumstances!” Private Stream suddenly says and there is a pause and the older Alfar woman with numerous Tattoos resemblign interlocking hands emerges from her office and looks around before noticing that Private Stream is there, just so short that he couldn’t be seen over the cubicals.

“Who is this child and why are they dressed in uniform?”

“Ma’am! This is Private Stream of The Undaunted! I am Miss Amakiir’s escort and here to help explain her temporary and completely legal and permissible absence from immediate response.” Private Stream answers with a big overly enthusiastic salute.

“Oh yes? Then please explain it.”

“Recent advances in Undaunted Scanning Technology detected a potential health issue in Miss Amakiir. At our request she came to an Undaunted facility for further in depth scanning to both further test the technology and help Miss Amakiir simultaneously. Tests were confirmed positive and while her quality of life has indeed been negatively impacted we were unable to lend assistance beyond the confirmation of a diagnosis at this time. Therefore her absence falls under the acceptable categories of both diplomatic efforts and medical emergencies. Both of the groups are mentioned in The Protector’s Handbook in Section-”

“Hold it! Medical? Am I looking at a potential contagion point?”

“Negative ma’am! Her health condition is genealogical in nature and otherwise completely confidential to the discretion of Miss Amakiir.” Private Stream answers with a big smile.

“And why are you here?”

“We would like to continue testing with Miss Amakiir in order to better help not only herself but several Undaunted Troopers and friendly civilians with similar concerns. To this end I have permission to negotiate a lucrative contract that will specify that Miss Amakiir be under our employ for several periods. However as this concerns her I would also like to request that Miss Amakiir be available at all times during the negotiations if not directly part of the negotiations herself.”

“And a Private has the authority to make such negotiations?”

“The identity of Private Stream is non-indicative of rank. It is a social construct to help in diplomatic and low profile dealings with outside parties.” Private Stream says.

“Really?”

“Really.”

“That’s very strange.” Doge states and Private Stream shrugs.

“Yeah, it’s strange to me too, but it keeps working. The persona, the equipment and the methods work again and again and again. I’m not entirely sure how. I was working to be a mechanic when I was scouted for this. Apparently I have the right attitude for it.” Private Stream says with a smile as he tilts up his hat and shows he has the green skin of a Gohb. “Now then ma’am, care to begin contract negotiations?”

“How long will you be employing Miss Amakiir?”

“That is entirely dependant on you. We will be using her for non-invasive and non-destructive study purposes. Basically sit on a scanner, doing a few things we have evidence of her already doing several times in her life already and watching the results.”

“Hmph, maybe miss bareface can actually be useful to someone.”

“... Miss Amakiir I am recording everything at all times. Do you want a copy of that abuse and mockery of a medical condition made available to you?” Private Stream asks turning to Amakiir who smiles.

“Yes.”

“Abuse? She’s a bareface! She has no proper markings! It is not an abusive term, it a descriptive one.”

“It is one that calls attention to the private medical situation of Miss Amakiir and that is categorized as abuse in not only your own operation manual The Protector’s Handbook, but in legal business protocols on every level of this spire above level fifty. Which level one hundred and thirty three easily falls into.”

“That’s absurd!”

“Furthermore two such insults in such a short time frame from an individual with direct authority over Miss Amakiir can constitute a hostile working environment and an abuse of personal power under the standards of...”

“Stop! I don’t need things cited at me. If I agree to stop calling her that will this be dropped?”

“That is not my call to make ma’am.” Private Stream states and he looks directly to Miss Amakiir.

“Hmm...” Amakiir openly considers it while Doge’s eyes slowly widen. “Yes I think I would thank you. Now...”

“Excuse me, could we speak in my office Arella? Please?” Doge asks and she ducks back into her office. Amakiir walks in, with Private Stream directly beside her and stands in front of the desk as Doge sits to speak. “Arella, I really think we need to talk...”

She pauses as she sits and turns to regard Amakiir and sees that Private Stream is right there. “Why are you in here?”

“I’ve been temporarily assigned to follow and protect Miss Amakiir until I have either negotiated a contract, been informed there will be no contract or dismissed by Miss Amakiir.” Private Stream answers.

“... How lovely. However private business is private business. Please wait outside.” Doge states and Private Stream pulls out a piece of paper and reads off it.

“I’m sorry ma’am, but you have already proven yourself a hostile party to my client and therefore I am legally obligated to remain with the room with them.”

“What is that?”

“A printout of the The Protector’s Handbook Part Six, Page...” Private Stream begins to read out and with a flick of one of her hands, that also has a hand marking on her cheek animate and make a gesturing motion, Doge has the paper fly out of his hands and into her own. Private Stream openly, clearly and visibly considers saying something. Then dismisses it. But his smile has gone from rote to sincere. He’s actually amused now. “Anyways, in summation it a page of common sayings to give to clients and people speaking to you about clients in order to legally cover yourself and to be allowed to perform your duties in peace.”

Catherine Doge is deeply unamused.

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