The Nightmare Years

Larry took Laertes not-so-subtle hint and said, "Okay, anyone who want to ride with me, I'm going. While we're at it let's keep an eye out for any nasties that might be waiting for us in the city. Just because they cleared out of here doesn't mean there isn't an ambush waiting for us somewhere."

"You're coming with me then, mister" says Jane as she looks over at Jerome. She then inputs some instructions onto the interface of her electronic devices and then nods her head.

In less than a minute or so, her hoverbike would appear on the skies, parking itself in front of Jane. She then got on before looking at the other groups leaving "Got space for one more. Also, those going on other groups... I'll want the communication number and or ID of at least one in each group. If this is some great quest we're taking together, it stands to reason that we must be able to communicate at our leisure"

"Anyone got room for a bike in their trunk?" Cosmo asked, hoping the frame he had left outside wasn't utterly mangled.

"I don't have a trunk but yeah I have a backspace," Larry said.

Saffron◊, the Red World
Capital: Saffron City
Largest City: Dominica
Population: 2,700,000,000
Moon: Luminos

Strength, Mind, Soul

Saffron is the oldest and most populous world in the Baritone System with nearly 3,000,000,000 residents. The planet is known for its large cities, public halls, research centers and trade districts. After Vermillion, it is the second most urbanized planet. It shares an orbit with Emeraldia, the two are on the opposite sides of the sun from each other.

Saffron has four continents. In the northern hemisphere are Proxima, which goes down past the equator into the south as well. Across the Narrow Ocean is Theresa, the second continent in the north. The third is Edresa, which covers the north pole and is barely connected to Theresa by a land strip. Separated from Theresa by a narrow strait is the fourth continent, which is entirely in the southern hemisphere; Formosa.

The City of Manifee

Saffron had been booming before the Nightmare Years had created a rapid decline in just about everything. The rapidly advancing boomtowns of the frontier were abandon overnight, creating only spots of civilization dotting the planet wherever the original colony ships had landed. In between the great cities and their outlying settlements were the ghost towns, unfinished roads, and fields of Dark Hearts.

It was in one of those outlying settlements the recently dubbed "Knights of the Four World" had ended up drifting into after their ordeal in Cerritos. The small city of Manifee wasn't much to look at. But as far as anyone could tell there were not any Nightmares inside its shielded walls.

Joe's Diner

Inside a small burger joint, Leartes and the others were seated across two booths. Some were flicking through the holo-display that was projecting the menu from the lamps above. Others were taking sips from the drinks already delivered. A few were just plain half-asleep, Irma's healing hadn't returned the energy exerted from fighting the Nightmares.

Leartes was examining one of the stones the group had collected in the cave. He tossed it, flipped it, poked it - nothing happened.

"So just what are we supposed to do with these things- Gah!"

Leartes had given the stone a strong squeeze, and surprisingly that had gotten a reaction. A quick glow, and the stone threw up a three dimensional display, not much different from the diner's menu.

It was a miniature version of their home. The entire solar system was orbiting around the star Baritone. Four of the planets, easily recognizable by the location of their orbit as the four inhabited worlds, were glowing in certain locations.

"Okay, woah."

"Yeah, that's cool man," Cosmo said, not really looking at it, instead looking at the menu. "Put it away before it zaps out the menu or something." He pressed the holo-button for the combo that included a triple cheeseburger, two servings of animal style fries, a Dr. Pepper: Space, and a chocolate malt.

edited 31st Oct '12 10:39:58 PM by nman

Darrel had spent the previous few minutes muttering to himself (and anyone who would listen) about the advantages and disadvantages of aircraft that couldn't break atmo. Once the sudden appearance of the solar map appeared though, Darrel shut up instantly and started looking intently. He concentrated on the one for Vermillion, since he knew it the best, then grabbed a napkin and fished a pen out of his flight suit to start noting down the locations.

"Hmm...That's interesting." Xavier took out one of his many rocks and attempted to make it bring up the map as the other rock had.

"Hmmm," Larry said. "Try focusing on one of those spots, doesn't matter which, see if it zooms in."

Jane had ordered a chicken hamburger, some fries and a soda. Though now she was more interested on the glowing display showing their four worlds "Indeed, do as Larry says... we need to be as exact with the coordinates of such spots as possible"

Xavier's squeeze of his rock brought out an identical display of the system that Leartes already had. Again, certain areas of the Four World glowed brighter then the rest of the three dimensional illusion.

Leartes gave the stone another squeeze. Nothing.

"Okay, that didn't help." He studied the tiny planets floating around their tiny sun closely.

"But, if I squint, I think I can make out what parts are all shiny and stuff. Look, this part of Saffron is Proxima Continent, the one we're on and its - "

The man in the orange coat had been pointing into the magical display when his finger touched the planet. In an instant, the system fizzled and was replaced by one of just Saffron, zoomed in and in greater detail. Now everyone pay attention would see that two places on the planet were glowing; the center of Proxima and the northern tip of the continent Formosa.

"Okay," Larry said, "So which is closer to where we are now?" With no money of his own Larry had been poaching fries and other sidedishes from the others.

A tired looking waitress with twitchy eyes came by and set Jane and Cosmo's orders before them. Meanwhile Leartes smacked Larry's hand away from his fries while looking over the planet imagery.

"The one here is one the same continent as us." He pointed at the shining area on Proxima. Just way north. But this thing is just showing outlines. I don't know whats out there."

He looked around. "Anyone here Saffronese?"

"Yeff," Cosmo said through a mouthful of burgers. He swallowed hard, and pointed at the map, "That' call," as he spoke, he took another bite,"dashsshhhhhrgh mmmmmgggrhhh efffffgggguuuurghhmmmmmmmm," he continued to describe what little he knew of the geography, not realizing no one could truly understand him.

Darrel raised an eyebrow at Cosmo's 'explanation', then looked at Leartes. "I'm Vermillion, so no" Darrel said, before looking back at Cosmo. "Hey buddy, can't hear you through your food" he added snarkily.

"Ahhh shhaidd," Cosmo said, gulping down a large chunk of his burger, "That's the Buried Ocean. It's called "buried" cause of the ice.... I think." He had a sip of his shake.

Darrel listened, then looked back at the display. "I sure hope it's not under all that ice, then" Darrel muttered, sitting back and folding his arms.

"Well if it's been there a long time," Cosmo said, having cleared his mouth with his shake, "I wouldn't be surprised if it were."