

We Weren't born here, we are just here, no one knows why, know one knows how. But we're here, whether we like it or not. Some people of old remember when we weren't, when the real world existed. They say they woke up one day and were in this virtual existence. Of course there are only rumours how we got here, but of the 30 billion people who exist in this life most are perfectly happy. Me included. -Kennio's Journal Entry 167 "Kennio! Get your ass out here!"

"I'll be two seconds!" I shouted back at The boss. I was crouched over some engine I'd found floating just above the stratosphere of Suttang. It was high-quality metal, I could have pawned it for a fair amount of Yent, But it wouldn't have been enough for me to buy a ship of my own and, of course, I would have also run into the problem of The boss finding the money somehow. So I decided to see if I could create a lightblock. It would come in handy on the occasional bounty, usually, ships didn't have light capacity around the outer territories, but some will, and it would save us a lot of money if I could install it in the ship. "These fine gentlemen want offworld" He continued to shout at me. "Offworld." "Ye! Know hurry." I put down my attempt at a lightblock and rushed towards the door of my small wooden hut. I saw the boss bargaining with some strange men in a huddle, the group seemed to be clinging to the shadows in which the surrounding trees were creating. The men were all dressed in long black robes which covered the entirety of their figures, I couldn't see any features of theirs at all, face, hair, hands, it was all obscured by the clothing. I couldn't even tell if they were male or female. They almost appeared as silhouettes next to the bosses burly and tall frame, however, the men did not seem intimidated or even cautious of him. It was as if a cloud of smoke hung over the group, they were somewhat of an enigma and I for one wanted to solve it. "Come on Kennio." The boss yelled at me like a kid giddy with excitement. I wiped my greasy hands on my khaki pants and proceeded to jog over to the huddle in the shadows. "Kennio, I'd like to introduce you to the H'botha brotherhood" He said grinning from ear to ear. "Nice to make your acquaintance" I replied courteously. "You have a ship with light capacity" There voices were muffled and I couldn't distinguish which one of the now apparent 5 figures was speaking. "Yes! Yes, we do, and we do great rates for offworld travel." The boss recited to them. "You have already given us your pathetic attempt at a pitch..." The boss moved back from them slightly and his eyes now looked at them in a different way than before, I could see anger flickering within them, but he quickly suppressed it. "But as it so happens we are in a hurry so we are willing to pay a lot of Yent to get away from the outer territories. We were thinking of Taka II." Me and The boss looked at each other wide-eyed. Taking someone that far inwards was unheard of on Suttang, it would run someone several thousand Yent, more money than I had ever seen in my life. "Is... this a problem?" "No, no, no!" Pleaded The boss. "We can do it! Of course! However it's gonna cost a load, I'm talking a load." "Money is no issue, we will pay." The boss bit his lip. "Well then... Shall we say... 2... 3... make it 5 thousand Yent." "Yes! Yes! That is fine. now please let's speed this up, we need to get there in 2 New Earth days." "Don't you worry, Kennio here is an excellent mechanic he can get you there in under a day" I made a small nod gesture towards them. "Excellent!" They proclaimed "let us go!" "Hold on a second, there is just the large matter of the payment." "Oh of course." One of the robed figures threw a sack at The boss, which he caught as if it was his own life falling from above. He proceeded to cradle it in his hands like he was afraid of it slipping away. "I'll take you to the ship." I said softly while beckoning them over to the wooden hut which I had been working in earlier, they followed me over to it, their legs and bodies swaying in perfect unison reminding me of a pendulum swinging. "Why are we going into your hut?" One of them inquired. "Firstly it's not mine it's The bosses..." I turned and pointed in the direction where he was last standing. "Is he alright?" The men asked with a hint of humour in their tone. I turned to find him rolling around on the wet and muddy floor, embracing the sack of Yent and giving it frequent kisses. "Ye, he's just poor." "Oh, ... I see." "Anyway to answer your question, here on Suttang crime and corruption is everywhere you look.." We walked into the tiny room which constituted the entirety of the hut's innards. "... and to avoid are ship being stolen like a Jari eating an Ortirrn, we keep it hidden away under the opening in the forest where the boss is know mating with a sack." More chuckles came from the group. "That is quite ingenious, do you use some form of solid projection to keep it hidden, while, of course, making the ground opaque and tangible as so one can walk on it?" "And his name is Bingo." I said like it was no big deal (which of course it was). "But how can you afford to buy such technology?" "Hey pal, who said anything about buying it, I made it myself." "Very impressive, I hope your piloting skills are as good as your mechanics." "Well we'll see won't we ... ONWARDS!" I leant against a fake bookshelf on the west wall and the solid projection of a rug dissipated beneath my feet (another of my works). I bent over, feeling the weight of seventeen years of labour strain on my backside. My hands contacted the vault door of which the vanished rug was hiding. As I slowly turned the vault handle I felt a sense of anticipation from the hooded phantoms who stood adjacent to my TV. The door popped open with a large snapping noise; white curly smoke made it's way into the small room, immediately making it colder than it already was. I moved out the way of the small opening which seemed to lead to infinite blackness below. "Indeterminate gender first." I mused at them. In one singular motion, they nodded and one by one descended down the ladder into what one would assume was Tartarus. I followed them ignoring the rungs of the ladder altogether and focused my grip on the vertical bars which run up both sides of it. I let it slide up my palms leading to me sliding down all the way down till my feet hit the floor with a thud, it echoed around the large room which I had just landed in. I turned to see the H'bothans staring with awe at the ship which loomed above them. "Sexy, Isn't she." "What class is she?" "Well if she had one I assure you it would be the prestige. ..." I said proudly. "... However, this alluring lady is a Frankenstein's monster if you will. She has light capacity of up to 7 nodis; 2 high-powered plasma cannons on the bow, light nets on both sides and a lightblock in the works; it is, of course, kitted with supplies for voyages which run more than 30 New Earth days." It looked like a disproportionate wine bottle. The cup part which held the wine being the engine on the back, the significantly chunkier neck being the living quarters and the base being the command console which controlled all the moving parts of the eloquent being. "Indulge yourself in the majesty that is ... Celestial Pioneer!"









