Streaking through the sky, a small 2-man Omni-Pol shuttle is descending toward the starport in the Loyalty Trade District of Omni-Prime. Inside the shuttle, just beyond the pale white-ish gray hull sits a man, roughly 25 in age, in full military dress uniform.
His attention is focused exclusively out the rectangle shaped window on his left where the rooftops of the district’s taller buildings are beginning to dance by. Within moments the rapid decent had the shuttle completely masked in shadows as it began its approach to land. The man’s attention was shattered by a sudden beep coming from the front of the cabin.
Much to his surprise a digital readout mounted up by the roof was flashing “>>Incoming Transmission<<.” “Who the frell would be calling me?” He muttered to himself. Just then, his comm. switched on.
”Good Afternoon, Lieutenant Harking, This is Colonel Hoffman serving under General Zora. I am calling to remind you of your judiciary hearing tomorrow at 08:00. As per procedure, if you do not show, you waive your right to defend yourself at the hearing and accept the ruling of the tribunal without an opportunity to appeal. Please bring any papers that you may have prepared with you and submit them for processing fifteen minutes prior to the hearing. Hoffman out.”
Like clockwork the shuttle touches down and the doors hiss open just as the transmission ends. The sunlight floods the cabin leaving him temporary blind as he picks his stomach up off the floor and walks down the ramp onto the landing pad. “This is it, Tom. There is no going back now.”
Lt. Harking stands up straight, fixes the cuffs on his jacket and begins to walk towards the terminal.
A few blocks away a voice can be heard booming down a fairly empty avenue, “Pro!” the voice echoed off a big sign that reads, “No Yelling!” “Yo, Pro! Hold Up!” A man at the other end of the avenue stops dead in his tracks and turns around. The other man comes barreling down the street and staggers to a halt just inches away from him.
“Ellis. What’s wrong?”
“Pro, Dude.”
“What?”
“You need to see this.”
“What? See what!? Is somebody hurt?”
Ellis stands there staring at Pro before allowing a big stupid smile from capturing his face and saying, “This.”
Ellis removes a folded newspaper from his back pocket and slaps it down into Pro’s hand.
“You need to read this.” Ellis says.
Pro unfolds the newspaper and begins to skim over it.
“Well that’s good to know, stocks are up.”Originally Posted by ”Newspaper”
“Damnit, Pro, stop thinking of your retirement!”
“How can you say that? If you don’t start planning now…”
“Shut up and keep reading! Damn.”
Pro hisses slightly and keeps reading.
“…The hell is this?”
“Trousers!” Sotto shouts.Originally Posted by ”Newspaper”
Ellis begins to crack up laughing.
“What’s so funny?
“Your face! You should have seen it!” Ellis continues to laugh
“Real funny coming from a guy they call Hummus.”
Ellis abruptly stops laughing and gets dead serious, “I thought we agreed to never speak of that ever again.”
Sotto shrugs and says, “I can’t believe this. This could ruin my career.”
“No it can’t, and you know that. Upper management doesn’t give a rat’s ass what the grunts call you on the street. Hell, trousers is a much better name then some of them get called.”
“I guess you’re right…”
“Of course I am! It’s like I always tell you. When in doubt just…” Ellis trails off as Sotto’s comm. begins to buzz.
“Hold on, I need to take this. “Comm. Speaker On. Hello.”
The voice of a droid can be heard coming from the comm. unit.
“Mr. Mahoney. A letter has arrived that requires your immediate attention. May I suggest you return as soon as possible?”
“Of course. I’ll be right back.” Sotto says as he waves his hand in the air to signal to a passing taxi that he requires transportation. “Though, can you tell me who the letter is from?”
“Of course. The letter is from a Mr. Niklas Kappel from Rubi-Ka.”
Sotto falls silent
“What’s the problem, man?” Ellis asks as he wrinkles his brow.
“I’ll be right there.” Sotto blurts out as he shuts his comm. off.
“Well, who is he?”
“Niklas Kappel is the Chief of Operations for Omni-Trans on Rubi-Ka.”
“Oh…”
“Yeah, I can’t imagine what he would wa...” the ending of the sentience is muffled by the taxi as it pulls up.
“Well, lets get going.” Ellis says as the doors open with a hiss.
The two men climb into the taxi and are greeted by a glowing red orb of light. Shortly after the men seat themselves the orb begins to talk, “Destination. Please.”
“Humility Business Park. 3 Oligopoly Avenue.” Sotto says firmly.
“Destination. Accepted.” The orb replies as the taxi begins to move and lift up into the air.
The silent ride from one district to the other only takes a few minutes but the wheels never stopped spinning in Sotto’s heads
When the door opened Sotto stepped right out and turned around, “Are you coming?” he asked.
“Nah, I think I’ll leave this to you, it might be a little private.”
“Alright.” Sotto turns around and walks toward the building. As the taxi doors begin to shut he can hear the orb say, “Destination. Please.” And Ellis answers, “Red Light District number 5. Big booty bit…” and the door hisses shut. As the taxi lifts up into the sky the ground level elevator opens and Sotto steps inside pressing the number 7.
Moments later, the door shuts.