“Coming up on the Metropolis, Commander Roscoe. ETA about ten minutes.”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9BNk8fHyh
“Good,” Roscoe said. “Let me know when we're at dock.”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcYeDyEKpK
“Nah, I actually thought of just leaving you all in this rusted ol' flying tin can while I indulge myself in the pleasures of whatever the station has to offer that is not on the Arcadia, but seeing as you now have discovered my evil plans and all I figured I'd take you all along. Sound like a plan to you, Stan?”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbkE65Zxhu
“Sure, whatever you say, Blitz,” Roscoe waved as he walked back into the body of the ship.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfrKSI65mE
“Yeah, alright, ok, Commander, that's cool. Clogged up ear canals, that's … that's fine with me...” He continued the approach to the small oddly shaped ball in the distance. Just to have something to do in the meantime he looked up the tourism brochures for the station on-screen, and flipped through the holograms one by one, skimming texts while being fascinated by pictures of swimming pools and their patrons, clear-black and starry skies, dozens of shopping malls, the general public – which apparently consisted of many more races than he'd ever seen under the same "roof" – and hundredfold of buildings.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQ8bblVbK6
“Oddly enough I've scrounged the whole galaxy but never been here...” he mumbled to himself, puzzled. “Let's see ... museums, shopping districts, cinemas-- Ooh, well, that's definitely something that might be worth checking out...” He pulled up the dossiers on-screen and scanned them line by line until he found what he was looking for. Clicking the intercom he sounded somewhat more eager: “Hey Commander, I don't know much about this asset … but I know where we can find it.”
***
As the frigate closed in on the object in the horizon, the dot they were heading toward grew larger for every kilometer. Blitz couldn't help grinning as he pulled into radio range of the grand structure – a design that looked almost identical on both poles, indicating to the skeptics that there were people living upside down on the southern hemisphere of the station. Granted it was not complete ball-shaped but had what looked like an outer construct separating the two sides, not unlike what a draft of a two-dimensional coin would show. High buildings stretched on both sides “up” towards the universe, and, just as Blitz had silently predicted, the ship suddenly burst through a distinct barrier as the sudden presence of gravity fell heavy on the vessel.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1muw2bddA
“Entering the Metropolis' atmosphere now, Commander. You should probably get everyone ready. Man, I can't believe I never came before...”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mCT8tFuIe
“You wouldn't have the first-time experience if you'd been here before, Blitz. Try to relax – I'm sure it'll be worth the trip,” Roscoe said calmly.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMoY98YiYb
“Yes, Commander.” Picking up on station comms the pilot announced, “This is UNSV Avenger. We're on Arcadia errand and request landing permission, over.”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiulAq5Y1d
“UNSV Avenger, this is Metropolis Control, landing permission granted. Is this your first time here?” The other end was calm and “gray” in its tone but it was alive enough for Blitz to recognize it as a real person speaking.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQ7ruP9jIQ
“Yeah, never been here before. Could you maybe give us a tip on where to start off? Sight-seeing, I mean. For research purposes, of course.”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiqinFNBrz
“Certainly. Please proceed to dock four-four-two; a Tourist Information Party attendant will be ready for you.”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3BvXDBUXe
The comms snapped off and Blitz looked around for anything that could indicate a landing pad, but he only saw massive poles sticking out of the structure. "When I asked for a tip I didn't think they'd be so literal..." he mumbled to himself, sighing in slight frustration over the docking bay layout of the station. "Ok, maybe they've got it a little different from us...” he reasoned, shrugged and turned the vessel toward the supposed docking areas. As he neared them he noticed to his relief the huge digits indicating dock numbers, and sailed the ship smoothly into number 442.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzEd2qlJ1a
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have now arrived at Metropolis station. If a shore leave is in place all passengers may be asked not to leave valuables behind as there will still be maintenance on board,” Blitz informed officially. “Well, last one off is hereby dubbed a space hamster - a spamster, if you will.”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WxDcdZWxG
“Ooooh, this is gonna be so great, Tiger,” Alice bubbled as she came into the cockpit. She offered the pilot her arm and helped him up. “Finally some leave...”
***
Well aboard the station and in the lower wards inside the walls of the structure, Roscoe, Alice, Jovovich and Blitz walked along all kinds of stores: Little ones. Big ones. Stores with flashy decorations in the windows. Stores with costumers arguing with the keeps. Stores selling animals. Stores selling fish tanks; weapons; weapon modifications; combat gear; advanced technology; TV screens … and even some things that none of the Avenger crew had ever seen before. There were insurance companies, banks, infirmaries, antique stores – so much that they wouldn't have time to swoop through everything if they tried.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfpLMxMblR
“Wow, this is such a huge place,” Alice gaped as she gazed at everything and then upward as if she tried to find reason for it all in the ceiling, but that, too was so high up that she quickly gave in as her neck started to hurt.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUp7Fpm7l29
“And it just goes on,” Blitz noted, pointing at a large neon sign over a hallway, saying STAIRS, a directional arrow pointing upward. From their distance the letters seemed rather small but large enough for each of them not to doubt their perception of depth. “Looks like we're in the basement.” Next to the hallway opening was a holographic table stating the facilities on the different floors.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpmviuQrFC
The gang went over to the holotab and scanned it thoroughly.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzP0OTRBEV
“Well,” Blitz suddenly said as he slung an arm around the corporal's waistline, pulling hers to his, “Looks like I'll be busy with you today.” He smiled confidently as she sent him a seductive smile.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJJJss56HJ
“What'cha thinkin', fly-boy?” She wrapped a thin finger into a braid from Blitz's beard.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9BoBJpQTX
Roscoe rolled his eyes as he turned away, but he couldn't help seeing the lieutenant sending him a weird look, and smiled to himself.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczwDiQDRr4
“I was maybe thinking that...” the pilot continued in his conversation with Alice, which Roscoe had long since left. He had gotten his eye on something far more interesting – a woman in the shop they were currently standing outside the window of. She had her back turned to them, so he had no way of seeing her face but even then there was no doubt in his mind who that person was.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGGjbPUrrC
“Now,” Blitz suddenly said, ripping Roscoe from his inner period of motionlessness, “the Metropolis may kick the ass of everything else in the galaxy but they can't possibly beat the crap outta the Atlantis' bathrooms.” He looked around until he found something seeming like the intergalactic symbols for male and female - fortunately the cosmic toilet empire people had decided to go with those circle-andcross/arrow stuff - and strained in that direction.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSROSC9XrG
“Why didn't you go before?” Lieutenant Jovovich asked, to which Blitz turned his head at him.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJFvKjoSIO
“Hello, I was flying? I didn't have time for breaks or you'd all have screamed for me to save the day right before we'd crash into the station. Besides, if I'm ever going to move here I need to know what I'm getting myself into, so I saved up a little. No point in going unloaded, y'know?”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOtKk9adfR
Alice hid her face in her hands, shaking with silent laughter. Jovovich figured she either found the pilot's comments extremely funny or she was disgusted by him being so forthcoming in her presence that her brain didn't know how to react, but had to let on a crooked grin himself, shaking his head.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWC8c3x2ZN
“Oh, come on, Corporal, you've had worse than that.”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzQIAywvm1
She nodded as drying her tears, giggling a little. “Yeah. Yeah, I guess I have.”
***
Blitz and Alice had long since vanished down another direction and Jovovich had gone ahead to check out the facilities in the vicinity. Roscoe took the elevator – tube lines that followed holographic power lines – down to the upside-down section of the station, and when he arrived he walked out into the semi-large entry room. Before him was a slide door, and inside it seemed like people were having a good time. So he decided to check it out. Funny thing, he realized, was that gravity on this side of the station was just as functional as on the "upside". But then - wasn't that also the case on Earth?680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeT5LcWi1Y
The room behind the door was likely the largest recreational area he had ever seen. Bar and cafeteria with tables and chairs, billiards, two dance floors – one on each side of the split uppermost floor. It even had a pool on the far bottom, two floors beneath his feet.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ESkl0qPYx
“How you all doin' tonight, people!”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8U8fwhVgAQ
Roscoe whirled around after the voice, it having called forth a roar from a united crowd scattered all over the room. At the far end of the first floor where he stood, there was a stage which he had completely overlooked, to his surprise. The stage was not empty, though, as a few races already stood like they were about to put on a show.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPv0kVlIwV
He counted: two humans, both female; a male argon, two skellets, a siren and a praetorean. They all had what looked like musical instruments at hand - some were familiar, like guitars, drums and a keyboard, but others he could only assume to be wind instruments.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVAqDanXnt
It was one of the humans who had shouted the greeting. Latina. Somewhat familiar, but he couldn't point out the similarities. Interesting, so he walked closer casually to have a better look, but not too close for comfort.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BBsJs9Tv6
The Latina seemed to take notice of him, however, but she shook it off quickly and dragged the show on.
***
During the concert Roscoe had taken a seat over at the bar on the opposing side of the stage, one floor up. The concert had gathered a large crowd of supporters now standing around the stage. He emptied another glass and pulled a passing argon over.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYqVlxq7Hj
“Hey, you know who the dark-skinned human is?”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMkdN5s81t
The four-armed, hulking rock-like stranger looked at him with a mocking grin. His voice was deep as a bass and the raspy voice rumbled slowly on.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdV1cieEPO
“Ain' seen you around here before, Tiny. What's the matter -don't know your own kin? Around here it doesn't really matter who she is in person, but the group calls itself La Terra Guerra or somethin'. Some say they got the best musical talent on the station.” He made a deep grumble before walking off, scoffing.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxza44vWfmi
Roscoe remained seated. He considered, for once, the best way to approach this person; someone as famous as she obviously was around here would almost always be busy ... and possibly overly self-proclaiming. It was probably best to be careful about this.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEN7SHxOHfy
He turned around to the counter to have another glass when he suddenly noticed someone sitting down calmly on the stool next to him. In the corner of his eye he noted it was a woman. Human. Seemed familiar. Then his nostrils caught the vaguely scented perfume that only one person in the whole galaxy would wear.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNF6a7sf4YZ
“Not bad, huh?” the woman said casually. “The music,” she elaborated; he nodded absentmindedly.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ENdAGWBUI
She turned around to the counter, ordered a glass for herself, and while waiting for delivery she folded her hands on the counter. “So how've you been, John? Been a while since we saw each other.” Despite her Russian upbringing her American English was little less than fluent.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRnfWH6n0u
Roscoe said nothing, just stared down into the red drink in his glass.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtqWQJf4Ay
“You care for a dance?” she suddenly asked, and this time he looked up at her.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9kkNAMspL
Her sandy blond hair was pulled into a tight ponytail as usual, her clear ocean blue eyes complimenting the few strands in front of her face. Her eyes along with her seducing lips tempted and scared him away every time he saw her, but even when he didn't he felt something rise in him when thoughts revolved around her. Her body was to him very unique among the women he had seen, and much more special among those that he actually knew.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8Avh2Xiii
On another note she, too, was commanding officer on the UNSV Superior, a vessel that suited her confident nature as one of the very few that could compare to the Avenger.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxxdkXFoq3
Roscoe smiled at the offer, blew some air but had to turn it down. “Maybe another time. Right now I've got work to do.”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gcyud1PBc
The woman threw her head to the side indicating she understood him, smiling vaguely. “Riiight. Goes for me too, I guess...” She drained the glass in one go, stood up and went directly in front of Roscoe.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTMFsfEbXy
“Well … it was good seeing you again, John.” She reached out a straight and official arm, but her hand was as relaxed and gentle as her unhardened face. Her fingers were relaxed and together except for the pinky, which pointed further down than the rest. There was some slack in her wrist, causing a slant in the angle of her hand. Good - there was woman still left in her.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALU6kCDegc
Roscoe got up too, and hesitating a split second he took the hand, shaking it, almost surprised at how firm her grip was, but quickly reminded himself of who he was greeting. He noticed that his pinky had slipped into the space between her ring finger and pinky, and looking at her, her face cracked into a ry of sunchine, like a child who'd just gotten butterflies in her belly.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGRtem3QM9
They let go - as did her beming expression - and she stood there looking from side to side on the floor like she didn't know how to turn around and walk away. Then she nodded a few times and did exactly that – turned around and walked down the stairs and through the exit.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27gygXIpLl
Roscoe noticed who she passed by on the way, but it was obvious that the woman who had just accompanied him, didn't. The young Latina from the concert approached him with a confident yet curious manner.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9BgSeJmYr
He turned around to the counter again, pretending like he hadn't seen or recognized her and that she was just another costumer at the bar, until he heard her voice over his shoulder.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoCvaegWe6
“I cuddn' 'elp get this feeling 'bout you,” she said. Her voice was a little scrathy, and her way of talking reminded him of someone truly a generation his junior.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bzQoFYxdW
“A feeling about me?” Roscoe repeated without turning around.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡds9qSKCSRo
“Like you wan' somethin'. With me. Ask me somethin'.” She came and sat down with a heavy thump - much more tactlessly than his earlier guest - next to him by the counter, legs spread like a Yankee on a horse. “Waituh! Gimme whatevah he's havin'. With a straw.” As the drink slid across the table she put the straw in the side of her mouth and cocked her head at Roscoe. “So whatcha want, man?”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3iQWyddsL
For the first time Roscoe turned toward and looked her intensely in the eyes. “I'm Commander Roscoe of the United Nations Military Command: I need to gather a team of skilled operators for a critical mission, and you've been recommended.”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4QAQgbY50
“Well a'ait then.”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxC7d5Pcdq
Roscoe was almost thrown off at this unexpectedly quick response. “That was easy. Aren't you curious on the mission details?”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7sSVoknO7
“I'll learn them on the way. Only thing I wanna know though, is: why me? Is a musical store assistant that cooks with a screwdriver really that special?”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2GkcW4kug
“I understand from your files that you do other exercises that can very well come in handy in combat. Besides, a decent cook is always appreciated among the crew, and musical quality is far off these days, especially since the radio seems to break every two days. You're exactly the kind of crewman I need and on top of that you ran with gangs and you've lived alone, so you're no stranger to the the chain of command nor solitary life should it ever be an option. In addition...” he could see her expression shifting as he continued laying her life out on the table, “...your father was a mechanic, and even though you didn't know him long he taught you those arts, at which you became one of the best at the garage. But your real expertise is enforcement and firearms, which together can make one virtually untouchable. You can take care of yourself. That is why I need you. So what do you say?”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4V7Q79nKy
The girl snorted slightly, a tiny smirk on the side of her lips. “I already told you.”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2satONdpr
“That you have.”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemIDUv1nZq
They both got up from the bar stools and shook each others' hand. Again Roscoe was surprised at the firmness of another girl's hand, and he decided to take a better look at her.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAR2MRp6F7
It was definitely the sturdiest build on a woman her age he had ever seen; muscly lean arms, a solid abdomen underneath the white tank top and wide, powerful hips and legs covered by black cargo pants. The torso and chest section also looked like they could take a solid beating, although he figured it was likely that the enemy would be round-house kicked. Standing in her black combat boots, with a serious face and dark eyes underneath the strains of loose-hanging hair forming a thick baid adorning her back, she looked like a marine true to her profession.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoQlU699vL
“You got a name, soldier?” Roscoe asked.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLh5XiHCSn
“Mich. That's what everyone calls me. Guessin' it's short for Michelle or somethin'...”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnapbIZTNwF
“Alright, Mich. We still have a while before heading out. Or you want to go back to the ship and take a rest, get to know the crew?”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu5EcNvwnw
Michelle shook her head. “Actually I got somethin' I need to get done befoah leavin'. Gimme the name of the ship and dock number and I'll get back there myself.”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtes8WwolIa
Roscoe gave her the information, but when she was about to vanish off in the crowd she turned to him again.680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseJgt4Cu8K
“Just a couple questions. How much stuff can I bring?”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7npAWXe3lV
“One footlocker plus hand luggage for your own space in the cabin.”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6CldmeYwG
“Uh-huh, and can I bring a friend?”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fLhvxuPZD
“This isn't really a safari tour, but if you really intend to recommend her for the mission we'll have to examine her on the dock.”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciNkdPnDD5
“Gotcha. See you later.”680Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHLR0t9hwQ
Roscoe watch her backside move graciously as she walked away from him, like the cog and gears of a machinery working in tandem to produce the perfect creation. The body certainly was a marvelous thing to behold...
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