"You're one classy toilet, you know that?" asked Scott after a moment.
"Thank you, sir," replied the toilet crisply. "You seem quite alright, yourself."
Originally, Scott did want to try it out for personal reasons but now the whole situation was weird. How could a man go to the bathroom on a talking toilet capable of holding an actual conversation? It seemed wrong, somehow. "So, what's the deal Alfred? Didn't Bruce Wayne pay you enough?"
"Sir, I beg your indulgence and forgiveness. I am certain that I do not know of what you speak. However, I shall make it the greatest urgency to discover the answer that you seek," replied the toilet.
"No. It's fine. Carry on with your normal tasks," said Scott.
"Yes, of course, sir," replied Alfred.
Scott eyed it for another moment. He had a slight suspicion that it would shoot laser beams up his backside like some sort of bidet of the future if he ever used it.
Eventually, he turned away from the professional sounding device. Despite all of its fanciness, he was fairly certain that the overachieving toilet was still just a chair to poop in whenever the urge struck him. He would have to learn whether there was a laser light show involved at a later time.
Scott meandered his way through his new home, and tested out a few of his other conveniences. The kitchen equipment was quite interesting. He could order food on a menu, and the wall would open up to reveal a set of robot arms. The arms would take groceries that he supplied in the refrigeration unit, and then prepare the meal on his behalf. The beautiful machine would even clean the dishes and cookware afterward.
"Man. If I didn't have to play a death game I would get so fat living here," remarked Scott with a laugh. This was exactly what he had needed, a little break from the doom and gloom.
Eventually, he had seen enough of his new house. He had stuff to do. The first thing that he did after leaving the apartment was to head to the shopping district. It took a while to find his way to a store that sold armaments, as most of the items on sale in the shopping area were souvenirs, food, or clothing.
"Hellespont Assault and Associates, huh?" asked Scott curiously as he wandered into the weapon store. Inside he discovered a fancy looking retail establishment with weapons on open display. He knew from previous experience in the other shops, however, that the items hovering in the air were actually holographic images. Robot attendants would bring purchases from the back of the store.
"Greetings, home owner. Would you like to see something special?" asked a robotic voice that sounded slightly auto-tuned.
Scott turned to see a small metal ball hovering in the air. It had a bright yellow smiley face painted on the front that was both charming, and mildly disturbing. He blinked at the weird little thing then shrugged. "Sure, got any power armor?"
"Power armor? If you wish to see power armor, I can show you several styles and varieties. Do you wish to proceed?" asked the smiling customer service bot. There were other customers in the store, yet they did not seemed to be disturbed by the conversation. If anything, they were too busy shopping to care what he did.
"Sure, I'd like that," said Scott.
The little smiling robot bobbed up and down then turned away. "Follow me, sir."
Scott followed the little ball-bot and was led to a door in the back. A dinging noise, sounded off when he walked through. The alarm sound was followed-up by several lights turning green. "What was that?"
"If you are referencing the light and sounds, sir, it was a detection system to determine whether or not you are a preferred customer," replied the floating customer service bot.
"Am I?" asked Scott curiously.
"Of course, sir. You are a home owner," said the little ball without missing a beat.
Glad that he had bought a house first, Scott continued to follow his guide until he entered a large room that held dozens of suits of armor. There were even a few oversized suits in the back that looked more like bipedal battle tanks than something a man would wear.
"Sir. Starting from the front, we have the items on sale. The further back you go, the more powerful and expensive the items. Please do be aware that sale items are not customizable," said the device. It rotated back toward Scott then bobbed up and down. "If you wish to see if a sale item will fit your body specifications, please use the scanner in the center of the room."
The little device left, and Scott was now free to see what he could find. The first thing that he did was scan his specifications at the scanner. There were thirty suits of armor on sale at the front of the room, but after his scan was complete, he saw most of them fade out of sight, slightly.
"Wonder how this works when other people are in the room?" he asked curiously.
There were three items on sale that would fit his specifications. Scott checked their price information then nearly passed out. "Yeah, even on sale, power armor is expensive."
The cheapest suit, a blocky looking hunk of crap with multiple dings and dents, would set him back eighty thousand credits. Its sole claim to fame was that it could double the strength of a normal human being. Scott already had several times the strength of a normal human being. He would basically pay eighty thousand credits for a one point boost to his strength if he bought the hunk of scrap.
The sale items turned out to be unworthy of his attention. They added a nice bit of defense, but were basically designed to allow someone to wear it without it being too heavy. That was useful for normal armor, but Scott wanted something more dynamic if he was going to spend money on it.
He moved along and checked the price for other items. Most power armor ranged between two hundred fifty thousand to four hundred thousand credits. The massive suits in the back were worth twelve million, however. Ridiculously expensive, true. But they were listed as high-grade military models.
After seeing their specs, Scott was partially inclined to go get the money. However, buying one would require a thirty day waiting period and a government permit. He had identification, but had no idea how to get a permit, or even if he was qualified for one.
While he wandered through the power armor section of the store, he eventually came across a little platform in the far corner that he had not noticed before. "Why is this thing transparent?" he asked the empty air.
[Message]
Congratulations! You've discovered a hidden secret treasure.
As the first to unlock the Hellespont IV Free Space Port Hub-Location, several hidden treasures are exclusively available to you and remain unclaimed.
You must purchase the item discovered due to the location. If you wish to take it with you, the option to purchase it will remain available to you, and only you, for thirty days.
Unclaimed treasures will remain invisible to any other champion for the remainder of your exclusivity period. Once that period ends, any champion who enters this hub-location may claim them, upon discovering their existence.
[--]
"A new treasure item? Wow, these things really can pop up anywhere." Scott looked at the pillar then noticed that there was a small nearly invisible bracelet floating in the air above it. It only slightly distorted the air, so he had not noticed its presence before now.
Scott reached out to claim the bracelet, but a sales menu popped up. His eyes widened. "Two thousand EXP...?"
He ran a hand down his face. On the one hand, it was a treasure item. They were rare pieces of equipment with typically superior upgrade potential for their item tier. On the other, it would cost him two thousand EXP and he would not even know what the thing did until he purchased it.
"A little over fourteen thousand left... I can still work with twelve thousand." Scott made his decision. It was a treasure item. The likelihood that it would be pure garbage was low. He did not want to squander his precious points, but he had to take this risk. Besides that, he could always earn more through side missions.
Scott purchased the nearly invisible item, and then smiled when it faded into view. "So, what do you do?" Taking it in
hand, he was not surprised when the world went black and white around him. A message screen popped up.
[Treasure Item]
Nano-Cloud Battle Suit MK I
Level: 1/4
EXP: 0/400
Damage: 40
Durability: 40/40
Hit Points: 0.40
Special Option
Assault Field Intensity: 1
Suit Integrity: 1
All Attributes: 1[No Upgrade]
Combat Suit Integration: 1 [No Upgrade]
Environmental Normalization: 10% [No Upgrade]
Warning: If the suit loses its integrity, it will require four hours to complete unit repairs.
[--]
Scott nearly slapped himself when he saw what he had gotten. After checking the various bits of information that he could click on, he shook his head slowly. "Hot damn..."
For some reason he would not be able to actually use it until he went back to his home point, but he chose not to question that too much due to what it was capable of doing for him.
His treasure was truly remarkable. It was a plug suit, similar to the one that Samantha wore. By itself it was not meant to be a heavy combat item, just a preparatory one. It was the armor worn underneath real power armor.
The difference was that Scott's new treasure was a system item that would completely integrate with one suit of armor. It would make it a summonable item that he could equip or unequip at will. The best part was that once he maximized his new suit's level, it would provide more than twice the hit points that all of his current armor provided, combined.
Of course, there were draw backs. If he equipped the cloud suit, it would unequip everything else that he currently wore and store it in a sub-spatial pocket. That meant that using it would only allow for usage of the power armor and its equipped weapon system. He could not easily mix and match. Though, he could screw around with it a bit to see what sort of workarounds he could find. Either way, it was the sort of thing that worked best if used as intended.
"Dammit, now I have to save up to buy system generated power armor," muttered Scott. He loved his new upgrade. He truly did. It would even simplify his armor situation quite a bit if he upgraded the suit integrity. One level increase focused on that aspect would make his suit completely immune to his plasma pistol. If he went full defense, even a high-caliber rifle might not pierce his armor. That alone was worth the paltry sum of two thousand EXP for access. If he chose full offense instead of defense, his unarmed attacks would hit with similar force, if not the same level of penetration, as those high-caliber rifles.
"Man, my equipment really was shit..." said Scott, "This one thing is better than all my crap combined."
He rubbed his chin for a moment, then clamped the bracelet around his wrist. It would need to be upgraded to max level before it would be truly useful. Using it as it was now, would lead to a drastic reduction in hit points. Once back Home he could upgrade it, though it would set him back another twenty-eight hundred or so EXP. Even with that extra cost, however, it was the singular best piece of equipment he was going to get for the price at the moment.
"Better see what power armor costs back home, if it's available at all, it would be better to buy that to integrate with my bracelet," said Scott thoughtfully. The stuff he could buy here would not be upgradeable through the system. He only intended to buy it because it would be an upgrade over his old crap, but it would be better to upgrade as much as possible in the future. Items that could increase in level would be far superior.
Scott left the power armor area and worked his way over to the weapon's section. No happy little treasure items appeared, but he did find interesting pistols and rifles. There was even a laser knife and energy sword section. He purchased a little over one hundred thousand credits worth of explosives, energy shields, and energy weapons of various types. He was not certain just how destructive they would be, but it would be fun to find out.
"Ah, med-packs are a thing," Scott looked through the medical treatment section then grinned. "Definitely not as good as a healing potion, but this will do." Scott ordered a few dozen trauma packs, and then acquired a nice foot locker. He'd ordered too much to carry, but thankfully the smiling robot told him that his items would be delivered to his apartment by the end of the business day.
Scott was about to enter a different door when a familiar female voice called out to him. "Well, if it isn't Scott."
He turned to see that Samantha Jeran chose that moment walk back into his life. "Hey, you."
"Hey, you?" she asked with a slight snort. "He doesn't write. Doesn't call. Now I see him spending money like it's going out of style?"
Scott grinned at her. She was wearing her skintight body suit today, just as she had worn it previously. "Sorry, been busy with work. How are things?"
She tilted her head slightly to the side. "Work? Now, I recall you saying that you would help me find some of that?"
"I have plenty of it. Though, I intend to take a day or two off from doing any of it while I stock up on the essentials," said Scott.
Before she could say anything, smiley-bot floated back over to Scott. "Pardon the intrusion, sir. The Delta Aeon Disruptor Mk IV unit that you ordered is currently out of stock in your color preference. If you will accept one that is blue with gold-trim, we will give you a five percent discount."
"That's fine," said Scott. He did prefer the black with gold trim version, but it was a decent compromise. Besides that, the color didn't change its specs and he'd receive a discount.
"Delta... Wha—?" asked Samantha, her eyes going wide. "That... What?"
"Hmm? Are you alright?" asked Scott curiously.
"Those things cost forty-six thousand credits," she said in mild surprise. Her eyes suddenly shifted to the left. "Say, Scott... Have you had dinner, yet?"
"I could eat," he said, "Though, if you want to get dinner with me, could we do it back at my place? I want to wait for my shipment to arrive."
"Your place? You rented a motel room, here?" asked Samantha curiously.
Scott shook his head. "Nah, I bought an apartment. Figured it would be easier to store my crap there without having to worry about maids trying to get inside and tidy up the place."
"Really..." Samantha stepped forward then took him by the arm. "So, then. Dinner?"
He grinned a little then said, "Sure, far be it from me to deny a hungry woman."
"Ah, a man with common sense," she said, before practically dragging him out of the store.
Scott regained the lead from the overly enthusiastic mercenary, and he herded her off toward the fancy part of town. Samantha looked around curiously as they passed several of the nicer apartment buildings, only to end up at one of the better known buildings among the moderately high-end establishments.
"Here? You bought an apartment, here?" she asked, curious to hear his reaction.
"Yeah, was that bad? I didn't want to spend a couple million just to get a slightly better room somewhere else," said Scott lightly.
She blinked owlishly at him. A moment of silence passed between them, and then she gripped his arm tighter, her bountiful feminine bounty pressed against him like his arm was life itself. "Is that so?"
He glanced at her then tried to fight down a laugh. Apparently, he guessed right when it came to her love of money. She would hold on tight to any credits that she earned.
Once they reached his apartment, her eyes widened once again. "Whoa, nice."
"I like it." said Scott with a smile. "Beats the hole I've been living in between missions."
Samantha turned her head toward him so swiftly that her ponytail practically went horizontal. A superb feat due to the short distance. "You said that you would have work for me?"
"I always have work," said Scott.
"You some kind of interplanetary mob boss?" she asked quickly.
"Not that I know of?" he responded thoughtfully.
"Assassin for hire?" she asked, curiously.
"Well, no more than you I suppose," he responded after a moment of consideration.
"OK, tell me how you're able to earn all of this," she said. "I go to some of the most dangerous places around and I don't make anywhere near the kind of credits it would take for something like this."
"You have a spaceship," pointed out Scott.
She laughed at him. "That thing's mortgaged up to my eyeballs. If I ever have kids, their grandkids will be paying it off."
"Maybe you need higher paying work?" he asked her lightly. Now was the time to reel her in, when she was at her most money hungry.
"That would be great." She looked up at him, her lips lightly parted. "Got anything big lined up for me?"
It was Scott's turn to laugh a little. "Well, I can think of a few things."
"I," she tapped his chin.
"Bet," she touched his nose.
"You," she lightly placed a finger to his lower lip.
"Can," she said before offering a seductive smile.
Scott enjoyed the attention for a moment, but unfortunately there was business to discuss as well. "I'm not really sure you want to get involved with it, though."
"Oh? I'm a big girl," she said in a husky tone.
"Are you big enough to participate in an interdimensional death game?" he asked her curiously.
She froze in place briefly, and then blinked. "I— Did I just hear you, right?"
Scott nodded to her. "Yep, sure did."
"There's a lot to explain about the situation. If you can hold back your perfectly understandable animal lust for me, I'll try to fill you in," he said with a cheerful smile.
"I'll do my best," she said lightly.
"First, about dinner... Any preference?" asked Scott.
"Doesn't matter, to me. Maybe some pasta?"
Scott led her over to the robo-chef and then asked her, "Spaghetti?"
Galactic Fist of Legend: Volume 2 Page 2
