This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.
The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/KyleKKent on 2025-11-26 21:18:22+00:00.
RAK and Roll!/Shadows Over Centris
“Yes, yes that’s correct no injuries.” Koa confirms with the police officer as she takes his statement about everything that happened and the equipment used and set up is examined but not confiscated. They’re legally in the midst of an approved patrol/scouting mission.
“Okay, so a non-toxic knockout gas and a single null burst with threat of further gas. That is all that you used?”
“Beyond our own abilities to kick, punch, use Axiom and run, yes.” Koa confirms.
“What form of Axiom effects again?”
“Ma’am, I haven’t been lying. The answer is the same as it was before. Self enhencement for escape and defence, coupled with illusions that were incapable of causing lasting harm.” Koa says and she checks her notes.
“Yes, that is what you already told me. I ask these questions not because I don’t believe you, but because I have to.”
“I know, I’m just putting some variety in your report.”
“Please don’t it’s just more work without any benefit.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s alright, it’s an extra thirty second so far to my day, so as long as this is the last of it then it’s fine.” The Officer says.
“Right. Sorry again.” Koa says and she holds up her hand. Things proceed quickly from there and the police leave the area shortly. There is now a crowd in the area, but the news of the Null and the fact that Anaris is still prowling around. Literally.
“Is there a reason you’re sticking around?” Koa asks.
“I’m not a criminal and this is a public area. I don’t need a reason.” Anaris counters.
“Are we really so interesting?” Reggie asks.
“Just for asking such a stupid question. You are now the target.” Anaris threatens him. Maybe threatened him?
“Target in...”
“Humans are horny sex machines. Me wanty.” Anaris states and Reggie facepalms as Amadi laughs at him.
“You’re in luck lady! He-” Amadi starts to call over and Reggie grabs him around the mouth to shut him up. Then the sound pours out anyways. “has been worn down by his current wives and is no longer sex averse! So you’ve got options!”
“What does it take to shut you up!?” Reggie demands and illusions of Amadi’s face appear around them.
“More than you can do!” Amadi boasts.
“Clear the area! I’m about to Null it and beat the hell out of a...” Reggie calls out and Koa grabs both men by the back of the shirt and pulls them apart.
“That’s enough.” Koa states sternly before turning to Anaris. “And you... You need to make a better impression of things.”
Anaris merely giggles and sticks out her tongue. Energy clearly sparks between the two halves of the fork.
“Well let’s get back to things. Come on boys.” Koa says.
“I’ve been told to go with since you’ve deviated from the normal route.” Torque says.
“Great, we were just about to invite you anyways. Come on, if you really got the enhancement then we gotta see what level of spicy you can take.”
“Are you guys packing hotsauce or something?”
“Yes.” Koa says.
“You do realize that some spires are claiming they’re chemical weapons right.”
“Yes.”
“And that this spire is one in the process of debating that very restriction.”
“Then we better get a move on so that we can get some good spicy food in you.”
“Hmm... I’m starting to regret telling you men about my enhancement.” Torque notes in a bland tone. He then tilts his head as his handler tells him something. “Nearest restaurant is over there.”
“Forward then!” Koa announces pointing dramatically. Torque walks up under him and adjusts his arm to correct his pointing. Amadi chuckles.
“You’re going to fit in just fine my friend.” Amadi says as he starts walking ahead. “Now come on, we’ve got the big guy, the technician, the Adept Medic and now someone with actual brains! Or rather a guy with a line to someone with actual brains.”
“Well that insult was pure friendly fire.” Reggie says in an amused tone.
“Yes. Yes it was.” Amadi states as Koa sighs.
“Alright, let’s see what’s available. Even though we just came from a restaurant.” Koa says.
“Oh come on, like you’re ever not up for a sampling of something exotic.”
“Fine. Snacks only.” Koa states.
“Yes Dad, I’ll be sure not to spoil my appetite.” Torque says in an incredulous tone.
“Well if you want me to discipline you like a father then that’s all right.” Koa remarks and Torque just blows a raspberry up at him.
Following behind is Anaris slowly prowling after them.
•-•-•Scene Change•-•-• ( Circling Lorule Spire, Unmarked Blue Van, Centris)•-•-•
The autopilot algorithm keeps her safe as she regards the information. She brings up several windows on her personal computer screen and looks over it again. It was amazingly consistent, and completely at odds with previous data.
But she can’t be wrong. Not about this. Not after pouring so much into this and working so hard. There has to be something she missed.
The dangerous Njyhd wasn’t... attacking them or angry with them. Even though they had clearly provoked her. And her enemy as well. Did she have history with them? Did they have some kind of leverage over her? There had to be something. Anything to explain the unusual behaviour. It did not make sense for The Undaunted to have such issue with her sister but so little with others. More aggressive species should have more deadly interactions. But the V’Quci had walked away. Hell she had been given food.
She had tried to shred them but had been given mercy. So why?
She goes back to watching the Undaunted. These three... now four, were one of the groups that kept searching for trouble. One of the first ones formed. It was patrols like that which had led to her sister’s death.
•-•-•Scene Change•-•-• (Lorule Spire, Jem’s Chop Wagon, Centris)•-•-•
“Not half bad.” Torque remarks as he bites into the square chunk of deep fried meat. “What did you say this thing was again?”
The Jorgua, Jem, manning the Chop Wagon smiles at that.
“It’s cloned meat, but the blueprint is a Dalfarin Darter. A type of amphibian with only forelimbs and a tail. Very tender meat and is amazing for chewing. Add the slight crunch of a deep frying it and you have yourself a treat.”
“So why is this called a Chop Wagon?” Reggie asks.
“Oh! I know that!” Torque remarks around his food before swallowing. “They...”
“Clone up whole slabs of meat and chop them into cubes before serving. Hence the name, chop wagons. She’s got tablets of meat in storage of there.” Anaris says. “Although speaking of... How much for a slab?”
“... I don’t sell the meat by the slab. I sell it buy the cube.”
“I don’t want it by the cube, I want it by the slab.”
“Are you trying to prove something?” Koa asks.
“Yeah, that I’m hungry. My lightning is half bio half Axiom. That burns through calories, to say nothing of these muscles, I need meat.” Anaris explains.
“Just give me a second to think. I need to figure out the price of handing one of these over that doesn’t... forget it. A hundred and thirty credits. Market plus ten.”
“Plus ten?”
“Delivery costs are at least twice that for most places.” Jem replies and Anaris shrugs.
“Fine.” She says reaching to her belt and pulling out a small handful of coins, she stacks five deep red Girtl coins and Jem takes them before stacking up five trytite coins in return before reaching in and pulling out a massive slab of dark grey meat that’s easily five centimetres thick, fifty long and fifty wide.”
“Here you are.” Jem says and Anaris sits down and coils her long tail around her as she holds up her hands to take the meat. She takes a big bite of the meat and shreds it.
“Thank goodness I didn’t order it with blood.” Jem notes.
“Oh grow up. This thing never lived, can’t die and therefore isn’t worthy of sympathy or thought.” Anaris says.
“And what about synths?” Koa asks.
“They’re alive, the hell makes you think otherwise?” Anaris asks. “Seriously you all need to relax. My grudge was with Doteme. You’re not problems, your curiosities.”
“But what is so curious about us?” Koa asks.
“Really? You get into a fight with a V’Quci that nearly shreds your leg and you’re not even bothered. Not rattled, not worried. Scent says calm and maybe just a little bored now.” Anaris replies. “None of you smell scared. Yet you had a big fight with that living buzz-saw. That’s interesting.”
“Wasn’t much of a fight. The fact that we didn’t want to kill anyone or cause collateral is all that kept it going that long. Loose skin and insulated fur doesn’t help much against a knife or a bullet.” Torque says as he bites into his second piece of deep fried dalfarin darter. He looks up to see a bottle of red sauce from Koa and green sauce from Amadi being held in front of him. “Oh no, you can’t fool me, I’ve heard of what the green sauces do.”
He pours a bit of red sauce into the bite of his second cube and takes another. His eyes bug out and he gags a little for a moment before thinking and chewing a bit more. “Woo! That’s a... that’s a lot and there’s still something missing.”
“Garlic, onion and some salt would make this really, really savoury.” Amadi considers.
“No no, you just need some soy sauce or something. Maybe plum or sweet and sour.” Koa says.
“And do any of you have these things on you?”
“Here.” Reggie says holding out small packets of all three types.
“Oh sweet.”
“Soy is more salty than sweet.”
“Smartass.” Torque remarks with a grin.
“Better smartass than dumbass.” Reggie notes as he looks out while finishing the only cube he bought...
Content cut off. Read original on https://old.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/1p7jtk0/oocs_into_a_wider_galaxy_part_517/