The Guy's Taxi Services (TGTS)

the_guy545

DocSlime Gerry continues driving, sipping on his Diet Spacecola. He wonders what this has to do with him.
So, what you're saying is, your part of a resistance, and want to eliminate these "Offworlders" just because they sent you away, and they have a a big fancy Space Pillar? And where exactly is this Artifact?

DocSlime

the_guy545 "Well, there has to be some explanation for such an odd call and horrible, horrible hoverpad. You are holding a common Artifact, one that doesn't use hardlight. Such relics are only availa-" BOOM
Something explodes near the ship, causing no direct damage.
Pewpewpewpewpew
"A flak cannon? Where'd they get that.. Ah. There was a testing of one on our fighter. It's beyond useless. Pistol bullets would do more damage. Carry on driving, sir. As I said, the Artifacts of the highest tie-"
BOOM
"Damn it all! Why must they-"
BLAM
"Now that's new. Nothing serious, though. They had another development, it's something like a flak cannon with a folding metal plate payload. We wouldn't quite be able to jump away in one piece, but it's safe and wears off after a minute. Where was I... the Artifacts project hardlight in a varie-"
POOSH
"What?"
The ship begins to shake uncontrollably. It stops after mere seconds.
"Seriously? I'd advise you to hurry up. And the sensor detecting is incredibl-"
PEWPEWPEW
"Mister Civilian ran out of ammunition. That was point defense, I'm sure. Wait, we're already near? Aim for the hoverpad. It will compensate even their Pillar fighter at terminal velocity, but I can't assure the safety of your bones and skull if you do not assume sleeping position. Where are your sleeplocks, anyway? You have no sleeplocks? Okay, hold onto your seats."
The ship falls onto the hoverpad, bounces in it a few times, and begins to rest.
"Many thanks. I will not forget you, sir. Good luck on your future journeys."
Alerauf wears his magnetic shoes and tears off the whole bandit undercover with one quick swipe before leaving to the nearest vending machine that, unlike others, appears to be made out of solid gold. It quickly catches your attention, especially that it looks like a personnel deploy pod on one of the ships you saw on the way to Offworld. It also appears to loudly speak about something you can't quite make out.
A small flying robot flies near the ship.
"Do you wish to come aboard, dear visitor? We are selling the best magnetic shoes there ever were! Purchase a pair for 100 credits. We are also searching for lost Artifacts. You probably know which if you know what it is. Model Hatchet for 10000 credits."
Another man comes near and whispers.
"I would buy one for 20000. The whole Offworld is rotten and built on trust. Do not donate a weapon to them for such a minging price."

TheSillyFox

the Dimond Legion (the ones who blew up the parasites) will help your company thrive.
(basically we gonna be allied or something.)

the_guy545

TheSillyFox Thank you very much good sir. It will surely help our company grow and strive.

the_guy545

DocSlime After seeing these incredible events, Gerry decides to stay and rest a little, to clear his head.
“No, no. Just need to find a space motel or something. Well, I did see a neat looking fella go that-away, so go bother him. “
Gerry leaves the cab, and makes sure to lock it. He looks around for a motel, needing a good rest before he heads back home.

DocSlime

the_guy545 The flying robot flies near Gerry.
"Citizen! I will automatically escort your vehicle to the parking lot free of charge as a means of preventing crashes! You are not alone in this station, and there are not infinite pods. This station has signs in Offworld Type doubled in English so you may clearly notice the parking lot. Have a nice day."
The robot sits on the cab and flies away quite soon. The U-shaped transport, nearly a signature mark of the Offworld, flies near the cab and moves it to a clearly visible parking lot with the most grace and care it could provide.
In the station itself, you can clearly see a bunch of vending machines lined near a wall with perfect distance between them. The machines' height appears to escalate from left to right and forms the golden ratio. The last machine appears to perform something with Alerauf and shine with fairly dim, but noticeable red light. Other machines sell a variety of products ranging from some sort of really ugly, but clearly juicy and ripe fruit to alcohol that stinks from a mile away with the smell of these fruits, some other fruit and beef. A vegetable is also noticeable: it appears to be like a water balloon containing immense nutritional value, as stated on the machine. Some Offworlders are seen holding some sort of cup for such vegetables and drinking its contents from a slice in the vegetable. It's also noticeable that their clothes are either very tight - those in such clothes usually have some sort of weapon - and very baggy, sometimes it's just like someone after taking a shower wrapped in a towel, except that "towel" is decorated with golden string and various other works of walking art. Gerry, of course, decides to ask some Offworlder about the nearest motel.
"A what? Motello? Wat is dat? Place where you slip? Rest? Oh. Go by signs to eksit and then turn right, move half keelometr away or somethin' and find such place. Best luck to you, travilar. Ohh! You have no shoes! You'll die walking to there! Buy disposable sleepper from shop! They move along proper lanes! It's basic magnets!"
The odd-sounding lady seriously skates away along the fully metallic floor in something looking like pack boots on heels. It's impressive how that is almost not noticed in the Offworld clothes.

the_guy545

DocSlime Gerry decides to buy one of these “shoes”, and soon gets used to their weird magnetic properties. He goes up to one of the vendors, and looks at what they offer.
“I really should be going, but everything is put so perfectly! That golden ratio definitely does magic, alright!”
Gerry goes into the market place, passing past multiple Offworlders, some of them giving him strange looks, perhaps due to his appearance.

DocSlime

the_guy545 The vendors sell wares of extreme range. Gerry also has noticed a lewd-looking design of a shop covered in red, thick curtains and decided to speed up when passing near. One vendor that caught his attention was selling bluff guns - and demonstrated them to the public for a symbolical fee of 1 credit. There, however, appears to be something that does indeed look closest to the motel that it could probably get in the distance, along the line of neverending shops of the station's ground floor.

DocSlime

the_guy545 A nearby Offworlder in a sleek, tight black suit with a damascus steel knife in a holster walks up to Gerry. The suit has markers that indicate this person is of very high rank in the military.
"Greeteengs, ceeveeleean. You look layke you served a day in the meeleetaree weethout sleepeen'. The stashon has a playce called 24/7 Shoppeen wheech provaydes rest for slaytli reedeecoolos prayces. Eet's steel bettah than renteen a houverbayke and goin to the clousest hotel. Contact me eef you need asseestaynce."
The person hands a business card to Gerry. It says:
"Spec-Ops Agent Ubaur. 5 years of service in stealth operations and hostage rescuing. Weapon handling tutorials, assassination, other similar services. Insertaspacephonenumberhere"
On the other side, the card has Offworld Type.

image https://i.imgur.com/kn3Eb2U.png

FangTheCat

Jamoke receives a transmission from the Tribe.
A familiar voice speaks
"Hello... Hello..?" "is this thing working.." "I am Static.. as you know, I thank you, for.. well.. the taxi ride, really, I believe I owe you something, as I think your ship took a hit or two... maybe three...
... honestly, I believe I have you to thank, that the Tribe didn't kill me, I'm with them now, and your kindness, however awkward, convinced me to save my childhood friend.. who would have likely died.."
*He sends you a ship. (I suppose you have SW and whatever mod adds Plasma thrusters.)

image https://i.imgur.com/D6j3L1u.png

the_guy545

FangTheCat Jamoke happily jumps in the new ride, and sends a transmission.
/INCOMING TRANSMISSION/
Yo, thanks dude! This whip is sweet, homes! And that paint job! Damn, it’s nice! Screw my old piece of junk cab, I’m using this from now on! And it’s even got gunz! Now I can blast some fools who come in mai way! Thanks homes!
/END OF TRANSMISSION/
Jamoke powers it on. The thrusters roar to life, and the lasers on the front power on, ready to be used. He steps on the ignition, and blasts away. Perhaps this is the cab that will help him fulfill his destiny...

the_guy545

DocSlime Gerry takes a moment to look at the card.
“Wait, Special Operations? Is this guy trying to recruit me or something? That’s a little fishy....”
Gerry decides to take his offer, and heads to the “24/7” place the man was talking about.

DocSlime

the_guy545 Gerry walks in a room under the sign "24/7 shopping!" doubled in Offworld Type. A polite cashier without that incredibly annoying accent invites him to rent a "personal rest capsule" and asks to show him the capsule. It appears to be something like the fashionable capsule hotels, except... it's vertical? The cashier opens the capsule, revealing incredibly fluffy and comfortable... shackles? Furthermore, they appear to have a button on the upper side that opens and closes them when pressed, as the cashier demonstrates. The wall around the shackles is also covered by a thin but certainly soft mattress-like object. The fee is 50 credits per hour. There also is some sort of really odd alarm clock near the shackles, but just outside of the reach so you won't miss your rental time.

the_guy545

DocSlime Gerry nervously looks at the strange capsule. To him, it looks more like a torture device more than resting capsule. He reluctantly agrees, and pays the annoying man. He steps into the capsule, and immediately the shackles leach on to him. The man assured Gerry that everything will be fine, everyone does that on their first time, but Gerry still does not trust him There’s something fishy about him that he just can’t put his tongue on... immediately he starts to feel sleepy. The man tells him it is just the onboard life support, which helps people to fall asleep. Gerry tries to ask the man another question, but he soon slips off into a deep sleep. The last thing he heard is “Nighty night...” and he blacks out.

DocSlime

the_guy545 Gerry wakes up after 5 hours. Everything looked entirely safe and as it always was. The man then laughs and explains that the whole Offworld actually sleeps like that, by the invention of the glorious- the man cuts off at the very start of the name. Of the Sixth. The man also charges 250 credits. Gerry's watch appears to show roughly 5 hours more than it shown before sleeping. All questions regarding this "Sixth" are completely ignored and met by a look of "YOU UGLY BARBARIAN, HOW DARE YOU DISRESPECT US", except calmer. Gerry shrugs and decides to move out, away from this unearthen place.

DocSlime

the_guy545 888-123-TAXI
A man is speaking, though something sounds quite off, but you can't make out what exactly it is.
"Greetings. Do you by any chance happen to have information regarding a person named Alerauf? They have used the Prolongation at the age of 32, which leads me personally to suspicious thoughts since no life-threatening diseases were found in Alerauf's last checkup. I will kindly provide some information about the Offworld in return, it seems one of your drivers was quite interested in it. Yes, I am tracking Alerauf's actions. But a plain spy microphone can't really show their exact location, right?"

LORE FRAGMENT PART: ANC ̵̬̿̅̅̎̔͊ ̴̨̲̖̰͌ ̴̲̩̖̜̫̻̓̏̉ ̷̢̧͔̘̲̮̈́̑̈̆̚͜͝ ̴̧̜̪̭͇͠ ̶͍̰̝̩͉͔̫͂ ̸̩̮̹͙̻̥͗͑͒̐͒͊̚ ̵̻̒̅̈́̓͗̎͛ ̷̨͉̪̫͓̬͎̅͛̉

the_guy545

DocSlime /INCOMING TRANSMISSION/
Hey, it’s me @the_guy545! My boy Gerry just came back from delivering his last job, and I think he might have what you need. Gerry, get your lousy butt over here!
Gerry appears in front of the camera, looking tired and dazed.
Oh, yeah, I uh- I remember that guy. He told me to take him to one of your cities, but I don’t remember the name, because it was in Offworldian. The last thing I remember was him telling me that he was planning on infiltrating something called “the Pillar” by using some sort of ancient artifacts. I’m not really sure what any of that is, but maybe you do. And that’s all I know.
I tell Gerry to leave, and go get some rest.
I guess that concludes our buisness here. If you need anything else, just call us.
/END OF TRANSMISSION/

DocSlime

the_guy545 Transmission start
"There was a thing called shotgun email centuries ago. Guess now shotgun transmissions is a thing. Turns out I was helped by... uhm, other people faster. Also, the Pillar is a new spaceship built by Offworld that utilizes "glitchdrive" - they somehow noticed that squashing matter between thrusters pointing sideways somehow propels them forward faster than if thrusters were pointed in the, uhm, right direction. No, not right as in right, but as in proper. Speaking is a tough job that needs to be done, and done well.
By the way, according to what I've heard, the Ancestors were, well, ancestors of the Offworld. They had space travel long ago, before, well, actual humans - YOUR ancestors discovered space travel. They then managed to crash on the planet now known as Celestia Alpha and it is known that each one had unique traits that were passed on to Offworlders over years and years of what humans call "incest". Also apparently that is an incredible insult, even though I see it as extremely rational. Uh, you should probably tell all this to sir Gerry and let him get some rest. A pity I don't require rest to know how humans need it.
Transmission end

LORE FRAGMENT COMPLETE: ANCESTORS

the_guy545

DocSlime /INCOMING TRANSMISSION/
I appear in front of the camera, sipping a mug that says “UNIVERSE’S BEST PERSON.”
Oh hey again! That was some interesting history lesson you got there. That “glitchdrive” you got there really sounds like a very important piece of technology. And also-
I immediately spit my coffee
INCEST?! That’s disgusting! Jeez... this universe really is messed up. Well, I’ll go ahead and tell Gerry now. I’m not sure if he’ll really understand or care about any of this, but it’s worth a shot. Ok, bye bye.
/END IF TRANSMISSION/

DocSlime

the_guy545 "It was involuntary, as they say, though I see no reason to avoid such a useful method of reprodu-"
CLANG
"Gotta go!"
Hexer grabs some very unique-looking, sleek pistol, deploys a hardlight riot shield out of it and fires a few warning shots somewhere offscreen. Incoming gunfire is entirely reflected by the shield, and he advances outside of view, accompanied by fighting noises. His Pod then apparently detaches with a signature fear-inducing depressurization noise, cracks in half and then the video feed is entirely replaced by a black screen with red letters on it:
CONNECTION TO CONTROLLER LOST. RECONNECT POSSIBLE UNTIL 3... 2... 1...
Transmission end

DocSlime

the_guy545 888-123-TAXI
"It's me, Hexer agai-"
"-And Alerauf too!"
"We-cough I require assistance. Not exactly taxi, but assistance."
"I can see now why they fired you."
"We- ah. away Is this really necessary?"
"Yes."
"Ahem. Anyway, I will send you my coordinates and, well, I suppose I could pay with myself."
"WHAT?!"
"away We don't have anything else, sir."
"Don't call me that! And do we certainly have nothing else?"
"Well, we have you and your precious organs. Do you know how much a kidney or bone marrow is worth on the black market? You won't even have to become an eternal slave to a taxi service and won't die either! These idiotic Donors make sure the Prolongation, which is the exact reason I am currently calling the taxi, is worth a bit less than an arm and a leg."
"Very well. But this is not funny. I meant serio-"
"No. Nothing else."
"For the Offworld and its demise."
"Wouldn't it be better to tell them to get out and put up the iron, err, golden curtain over space again?"
"Good luck doing that."
"Whatever. Sir, no, not you, the sir on the line, here are the coordinates. This is urgent, and arriving just for the payment while the customer is already suffocated in his own carbon dioxide is not exactly what a righteous taxi company would do."