The Vertigo Bridge was an amazing sight. About fifty meters wide, about twenty high and according to Exa, exactly 1600 meters long. Except for the Metal frame work and slide ways on each side, the bridge was completely transparent. Rain pelted the roof. I could see the City on the other side.
Children were lying on the floor pretending to fly. Locals walked or used the Slide ways without hesitation, visitors and some tourists clearly stood out as some of them hesitated to take the first step. There was laughter and shrieks.
Exa walked a few steps out and said." 3000 meters below us is Twilight River. The river carved this canyon out of the very hard granite rock. The River fed by the perpetual rain and the canyon are almost 6000 kilometers long, making it one of the longest rivers on any known planet in the Union. It has the longest stretch of white water turbulences and there are 321 waterfalls of which the Skull Mist Veil seventy kilometers up river from here is the widest and the Giant shower 200 klicks down river the highest with a 1400 meter drop. Twilight river is visited by over 6 million white water sports enthusiasts and we have thousands of river water sports related clubs, associations and equipment manufacturers."
The steep v shaped rock walls glistened wet and green. Dense green forests lined both sides; the river itself was a small band of green snaking in a crackly line as far as I could see into both directions.
"Are you coming or are you afraid? We could use one of the Cable cars or the Swing tram. Or if you do not like heights at all we can of course also use the Trans Planet Mag-tube."
"No I am not afraid. It is the first time I actually see another world and I was taking in the sights."
I followed her and now I could see a big A frame steel construct in the distance connecting the two sides and dozens of capsules attached to the apex of the A frame with thin cables swung back and forth.
She said."That's the swing tram. It belongs actually to the Amusement park and connects both sides of the park build into the walls, there are no absorbers or anything you feel the full effect of the swing and it is along with the bridge the most popular attraction."
"You really know your stuff and you sound like a real tour guide"
She smiled proudly. "Sometimes I am lucky and they look past the dirt, and then they hire me as a tourguide and I can earn some credits in tips. She pointed throught the floor. "The river below teams with fish. None of them are native as there is no local animal life but they were brought in from Earth. Do you want to go fish? It also is very popular!"
"No not really. I come from a planet where fishing is a major part of life. I would not mind to find out how they taste, though."
She waved me over to the Slide way and we rode on it and reached the peak of the arched bridge in no time. There the bridge widened and was not transparent. On the left were a dozen shops and restaurants and on the right a Hotel.
The man behind the reception desk was human and he looked me and the girl up and down and said."Sorry we do not service Bottoms, even if you received bed vouchers from Social. The community sleep hall is on Port side Level 7."
I wondered why he treated me like this but then I saw my reflection in a big mirror. I was smeared with black sod and dust from head to toe.
"I need two rooms with baths. I am not a Bottom and neither is she."
"I am sorry sir but it is peak season and I am booked solid, except for the Crystal Suite for 1500 credits a night. It does have several separate bed rooms however."
I took the credit chip out of the secure chip compartement of the PDD, activated it with my Bionetics and my code so that he could see the amount displayed."I did not ask how much the accommodationscost, now did I? I'll gladly put down a deposit and then I would like to have a bath, laundry service and a few hours of peace and quiet."
His chin dropped." Holy mother of god! Sir if you want I call the Super Lux and have them send Butler service! He became all fluttery and asked us to follow him.
The Crystal suite was incredible. Extending like a bay window out into sheer nothingness. With transparent walls and floors, but partially covered with deep soft carpets, luxurious furniture and it even had a transparent fireplace, that I found particular incredible to look at. He said." The suite has the latest in GalNet technology Sir, fully Holo Avatar capable in all rooms. The glass bottom Jacuzzi , and everything else can be turned opaque. The Auto Dresser was just delivered last week and accepts downloads form all major fashion houses. Oh and don't worry about the transparency. You can see out, no one can see in, of course."
After he was gone with a nice tip, Exa said." The bed rooms inside walls turn opaque as soon as you close the door from the inside. That is so cool!"
"Now get cleaned up girl and use the Auto Dresser and I do the same and then we figure out what we going to do with you.
***
I had heard of auto dressers but never seen or used one. It was basically a rectangular box with an automatic door. As I stepped in, the door closed and it was completely dark for maybe a second, then a voice said." Species recognized, human, male. Loading tailor simulation. Suddenly I stood before a three leaf mirror in what looked like an old fashioned clothing store, with wooden shelves. A man in a gray suit said." Welcome to Crystal Palace Hotels. This is a SII – Lux IX Auto Dresser and I am James the Standard Human Male Start Sequence Avatar. This is the London Tailor set."
Before me appeared a glowing circle with small representations of other sets.
"You may choose any of the 35 standard Sets, design your own or upload your preferred set from your PDD. "
I said." Skip this selection sequence and begin." Casual standard clothing."
I felt something constricting my body, as the assembly arms and nanites started their work. Invisibe to me inside the simulation. My reflection in the mirror showed me a selection of pants and shirts. I choose black leather pants, All terrain boots and a dark blue shirt.
James the Simulation said." This model is fully stylist and hygiene enabled. Do you wish a shave, hair styling, massage or body hygiene sequences?"
I had a few blonde whiskers and wondered if I should keep wearing my hair in braids, the system offered me a few style suggestions and I opted for a pony tail and a shave.
As I stepped out I wore the clothing I had selected and my hair in the new fashion. Exa was still busy in the bath room so I sat down before the GalNet terminal and asked to be connected to Mr. Silverzweig.
He came on almost immediately and I saw he was in some kind of meeting." Hello Eric! Nice of you to call! Is there something I can help you with?"
"If you are busy I can always call later, Sir."
"Call me David. I call you Eric after all. This is a boring conference on Tuktian Law, I activated the privacy screen. Please tell me what is on your mind."
I told him about my latest adventure, about Exa and the inhumane conditions she had described at Mother Moore. While I talked he actually took notes on a paper pad with a pen and then said." Your Grandfather was very much like that. He too could not look away or keep his nose out of trouble. I am glad you called me. I am going to call a friend of mine and have him investigate Mother Moore and if we can proof any wrong doings, we shut them down. As for Exa, you are not old enough to adopt her or become her legal guardian, but your father, your Uncle Hogun or any other adult on Nilfeheim could. If you can organize an official invitation from Nilfeheim, she can then legally travel there."
"Good Idea. I do that!"
"I am glad I could be of service. I agree with you that the Union as whole should do something about that. I will think about it for a while and keep you posted if I have an idea."
After I said good bye I called home and it was Greifen who took the call."Greetings Eric! The Lord your father is down in the basements with the construction crew. We're digging a few more levels out of the rock and expand leather production. Your sister is a whirlwind of ideas! One moment I think Midril is signaling me...ah yes Elena is coming!"
Elena appeared, taking off her cold mask a
nd her thick gloves and yelled."Eric!"
After exchanging family and local gossip I told her the story. Exa had silently appeared next to me and stared at Elena. My sister got an angry face and said." Those bastards! You send that girl on her way here. I'll talk to the Ancient and father right away to get that invitation. I will call you back in an hour."
Exa said."That lady looked like a princess. Who is she?"
"That was Elena, my sister." I turned and stopped talking. Exa had transformed from a filthy underground kid to a beautiful little girl. The Auto dresser had changed her dusty gray mob of short hair in a shiny brown bob cut. Her skin was so fine it almost had a translucent shine to it. She wore a nice green dress with white lace around the collar and sleeves. The skirt reached to her knees and she wore white tights and black shoes. She blushed." I always wanted a dress. I never had one. You don't like it, right?"
"You look very nice and like a girl should, you are also clean and that is a major improvement!"
She smiled."I smell good too! I used perfumed soap!"
I motioned her to sit down and said."Exa I do not want you to do anything you don't like. The door is not locked and you can go whenever you like, but I would like to send you to my home world Nilfeheim. There are people who will take care of you, never touch you if you don't want them and there is always plenty to eat. You can wear dresses all day long and when School starts in a few months you can go to Union school with many other girls and go home afterwards every day. Granted Nilfeheim is not the most hospitable planet and it is going to be cold for a long time, with lots of snow. But we got warm burgs and lots of warm things to eat and wear. It is only a suggestion of course. I am not sending you there if you do not want, okay?"
She listened and said." I don't have to be a Bottom there?"
"No Exa, they don't even know what a Bottom, if you say you are a Bottom they think you want to be a pair of pants or something."
She giggled for the first time like a girl." That sounds funny. Can I think about it for a little?"
"Sure! Why don't you eat something while you think? I am sure you can order food here."
Exa had eaten and fallen asleep on the sofa as the GalNet Unit blinked and the Olafson Wolf logo appeared. I accepted right away. It was Uncle Hogun, Aunt Freydis, Elena and the Ancient, all together at the family table at Hogun's Inn. The ancient spoke first." Eric you did the right thing to call us. I informed Egill and he will transmit to you an official invitation of the government of Nilfeheim to little Exa. Your father said immediately yes, but your Uncle Hogun and his wife really would love to invite the girl to them, where is she?"
Exa stepped into the capture field of the visual sensor and she said shyly," I am right here."
Aunt Freydis clapped her hands together." Oh you are adorable! Exa, I am Freydis and this is my husband Hogun. Don't be afraid of his beard, he is very nice, we are relatives of Eric and we would love to welcome you in our home if you want to come."
Exa wiped a tear from her face." Yes please if you really allow me to come. I promise I won't steal anything and eat very little. I can also help and work!"
Now it was Aunt Freydis who wiped tears away and Uncle Hogun turned away. My aunt said." You sent that little lady to us right away, Eric, you hear? "
Uncle Hogun blew his nose in a huge kerchief and faced the visual sensor again."You can eat all you want and you don't need to steal anything. All you have to do is ask and it will be yours!"
The Ancient smiled warmly."Eric make sure she travels safely!"
***
I handed Exa a data Chip." This is your official Nilfeheim Invitation. It allows you to travel there! It also holds a few credits, so you don't travel without means. You won't need much money on Nilfeheim that I can assure you. I hired you a charter shuttle that takes you straight there, so there are no stops and it isn't very far either. The suit cases with your extra dresses we bought are already loaded. Am I forgetting anything?"
She said."Yes Eric! Can you kneel for me?"
I did and she flung her arms around my neck."Thank you Eric!"
I hugged her too." Don't be afraid when you see Uncle Hogun. He is very big but I assure you he is the gentlest person you will ever meet and try not to steal too much. Neo Vikings don't have a lot of patience for that, but you got 20,000 credits on that chip. You should be able to buy what you want."
She pressed her cheek against mine and whispered." I will not steal I promise. If I can have a place where I belong, I don't need anything else."
I walked with her to the D 20 FTL shuttle I had hired and she climbed in. The pilot tipped his hand to his head and said." One Passenger to Nilfeheim, all aboard young Lady, we going to be there in no time!"
The shuttle climbed, slipped through the rain shield membrane and disappeared in the clouds. I decided to check out the amusement park and do a little sight-seeing before I would board the bus to Blue Moon and from there to Arsenal. I didn't expect any more troubles. Besides what could go wrong in an amusement park?
-GalNet Entry Planet Guayas
Guayas is the 3rd planet in the Dom Seis System. Dom Seis is one of the six F Spectral type Stars in the Hyades Cluster 152 Light years from Terra. The Hyades Cluster was the main home of the Xunx. After the Terran –Xunx war only a few useable garden worlds were found in the Hyades Cluster. One of the few untouched garden worlds was Guayas. Opened for colonization in 2177 and colonized by seventeen groups of indigenous people of South America, Australia, Africa and the South Pacific (Earth regions). These tribes bemoaned the loss of lands and their traditional ways to the influence of European settlers and claimed that the influx of Alien technology would further deteriorate their way of living. Planet Guayas a rich Type 3B Garden world with 4 continents, sprawling rain forests, and a very mild tropical climate was first surveyed by Captain Eduardo Sezcan of the USS Palermo, he being a Native of Ecuador brought many images home and convinced the tribes to colonize this world.
This was before the formation of the United Stars of the Galaxy and the Native settlers insisted on strict isolation and did not want to belong to the Association of Earth Colonies (Pre Union Organization of Earth Colonies, now defunct). The seventeen tribes thrived and most of them shed all trappings of modern society and returned to Stone Age conditions but with surprisingly great success."
During the 4th Inter Galactic War, the Kermac War thrall species, the Nogoll invaded Guayas to use the planet as resupply depot for a direct attack on Sol and Earth. A Regiment of Space Marines orbital jumped onto Guayas, fought almost to the last man to prevent a Nogoll massacre on the Native population, today known as the Battle of Guayas and still remembered in the seventh strophe of the Marine Hymn. After the war, the Chiefs of the seventeen tribes agreed to have a Union Post with a Clinic, Post Office, Gal Net station and Union School. Mostly to prevent such an event from ever happening again, Guayas became a Union world in 3200 and is a full Member. Mao Tsuta is the current Pluribus Representative . The Seventeen tribes maintain a Type 100 P Culture without prohibiting their tribal members to obtain technology. There is no formal government and the tribes keep their own independent chiefs. They do come together once a year for a big celebration during which planet matters are discussed, such as the election of a Representative if necessary. Only about five percent of the population is registered as Union Citizens and travel abroad, but young men are honored and considered especially brave if they choose a career as marines to repay the planets debt to that branch of the military. Tribal wars are fairly common and also the practice of head hunting. Tribal wars are highly ritualistic in nature and the biggest death toll is perhaps five or six men. Their semiannual sporting events are much more dangerous and claim more lives. While the individual cultures maintained their own distinctive ways, over the long time some of the practices and traditions are an amalgam of all cultures. While 95 percent of the population claims to belong to the Old Catholic Church of Earth, they have strongly altered that religion and develo
ped a very unique brand of this faith, with a heavy focus on shamanism, demon and spirit worship.
The rich indigenous flora and fauna has many consumable species and some species are dangerous to man but the locals have learned to live with these dangers.
There is virtually no export, except for some tribal made craft items. The sale of shrunken heads is officially prohibited. Also there is virtually no import except for knives, shot guns and other very basic items.
Union Post Papua town is considered the Capital. A small Hotel, several shops and a Class K Space port (leveled dirt field) is frequented every two month by space bus and Post ship. Flyers are rare, only the Clinic and the Hotel operate a small fleet of them. One Company provides public transport to all continents and Island groups via a fleet of wood fired steam ships. Tourism is not unknown and not prohibited but not encouraged either.
Interlude: Mao
Mao Vouza was the son of the Papuan tribal Chief Mao Pappy Vouza. His grandfather had seen the Union marines fight for them and instilled a longing for the outer worlds and stars in his grandson. The Papuans were of Austronesian descent and usually bigger than the members of the Native American or African tribes. The Papuans had settled a group of large islands in the South East Sea and for most of the year had no or very little contact with others, Mao always loved to listen to his grandfathers stories of the valiant soldiers dropping out of the heavens, fighting the green scaled monsters that also had come from a world beyond the clouds and was allowed to visit the Union School in Post Papua. His father hoped he would join the United Stars Marine corps. Not knowing that his son had other plans. Mao was even for Neo Papuan standards big. At the age of fifteen he was considered one of the strongest men and a regular winning participant at the wrestling and strength contests during the Sports games. He already had much of his family history tattooed on his left shoulder and arm and all in all was known to be as good natured as he was strong and honor full.
Summer break was almost there and school would be out in five weeks. By next year he hoped to be accepted at the United Stars Academy. While a career as marine was nothing bad. He had seen a school Virtu of a Battle ship opening fire and ever since he wanted to become the one sitting behind the bridge station officially called tactical but he knew the fleet slang for it. Weapon System Officers who held the tactical position on a battle ship sat behind the Firing Piano! Because like a musician of a piano or an organ pressing many buttons and contacts and so releasing a fire storm of destruction. Behind his family's hut he had built himself a replica of a Firing Piano, when he was a kid. It was made of wood, sticks and mud and colorful shells and rocks for buttons, but in his imagination it saved the day when he destroyed Dai Than Fleets, Kermac Battle ships and Y' All Armadas.
Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 6 (The Galactic Chronicles Series) Page 217
