Damned and Demand

[Cassandra Paige]

Itash thought of Maena as a planet of the Damned.

Cass saw it as a planet of Demand.

The truth of course, was that it was both.

Cassandra Paige gazed out the transport window as they came in, following the prescribed flight path above the city. She.... wasn't really sure how she felt about it, to be honest. There was wealth here, but also filth. Soaring spires but also yellow smog and poverty. Of course, how did that make it much different from Coruscant? If anything it was much like a far (far) more extreme version, with all of the middle ground being shunted into one direction or the other.

She tilted her head, looking out but leaning toward Itash slightly. They were seated next to each other, a case, large enough to hold a medium sized dog, at their feet. Her hand rested lightly in his, her thumb absently toying with the ring he'd set on her finger after that night. Even if his true face was hidden behind a literal mask now, offering only the younger appearance he'd been gifted with previously, the ring combined with his true face when they were in private reminded her daily of that night.

Not that her hunger since then could let her forget.

"It's..... not a particularly attractive city, is it?" She commented, just before the transport made it's finally approach toward the landing pad.

"But it has a certain.... individuality to it."

Before, she might simply have sneered. But that night had opened up things, experiences and views, that had been closed off to Cass before. Now?

She wasn't certain if she saw the appeal, but her mind was open to the possibility Maena presented.

[member="Itash Mecetti"] [member="Six-O"] [member="Matsu Xiangu"]​

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"] | [member="Six-O"] | [member="Matsu Xiangu"]

There was something primal about Maena.

The city beneath breathed and it was the breath of sickness. Each cough, each huff strengthening the whole while destroying individual after individual- how many had met their ends in just the span of a single sentence? How many more would do just by the passing of one breath? Two? Three? Much more than Coruscant, he felt it in the air, felt the tugging of the Force coiling around its burning amber focal point.

"Attractive? No." Tash agreed without a trace of deceit or hesitation. "But there is a dark allure there... one can lose themselves in the night and the next day find themselves more."

...or less.

It all depended on Maena's mood, he reckoned.

The living beast of the inferno.

"They were quite polite last time," Rising slowly while softly tugging her along, until her arm was hooked around his elbow. "I liked them." Tash said, only a little surprise coloring his tone as they walked towards the viewport proper to see the city looming up. It didn't take long for them to reach the designated landing pad which would lead further towards their appointment.

It amused Tash- to think that appointments and the rule of the calendar ruled even here.

 

[Six-O]

Attractive to a set of certain eyes, appalling to others, awe-inspiring to most. Now the New City was no Coruscant, it wasn't Nar Shaddaa. But it very well was a Wonder of the Galaxy to behold. A single Volcano that dominated the surface of Maena, so vast, so towering, so grand that it was the very first feature of the World one would witness thousands of miles out on their final approach.

A mouth of madness, endlessly yawning. The 600 Cities within, satiating it's ceaseless hunger.

Stand at the edge and gaze across, your horizon was dominated by upwards Urban Growth, a city larger than Seas. Wander too far down, those very same eyes may very well never witness sky or stars again. Doomed to die under neon lights and witness to things far too obscene for description.

Damned.

Asriana brushed a flake of ash from her emerald dress, her eyes narrowing as she slackly followed the descent of the vessel that had shuttled [member="Cassandra Paige"] and [member="Itash Mecetti"] towards this Landing Platform. All around her men and women of a vastly varied array of species worked tirelessly to sweep soot from the gleaming black flooring.

"Yii'x-ai uut, zyk ook j'ian-zi'eex! " Said the young, short statured woman.

Immediately the work became much more obsessive, the Ash Sweepers falling to hands and knees to whisk the offending pellicle of dust aside, clearing a pathway for the two as the ship heavily came to a rest on growling landing struts.

With arms tucked behind her back, and a thickly built Chiss male holding an umbrella over her head she strode forward to meet the Off Worlders, likewise, two other Chiss raced forward. Each unfurling vinyl fleshed implements to assure the Ash did not touch such esteemed guests.

"Cassandra Paige, Itash Mecetti - it is my pleasure to meet them you. " She spoke very awkwardly, Galactic Basic most assuredly not her second, third or even fourth language of choice. "I am trust your journey was long but well. "

Her red hair was worn in two large braids, her face dotted with cinnamon colored spots. Above and too her left, one of what seemed a million billboards was ringed in blinking neon, sprawled across it's HoloLit LED Screen was Ugg's Deli displaying one of their latest favorites. The Emperor's Horde. A 27 Inch Sausage made of ground Turia Siqsa Neck and Rib Fillet, loaded with Turia Siqsa Crackling, New City Neon Yellow Onions, and Obsidian Maenan Peppers on an airy Ash Bun. Drowned with a fiery Xoth-za Sauce and served with Green, Glowing Nova Crisps with your choice of Shake - Asriana happened to like the Ashberry Shake.

"If you are could be kind, and please would follow on me. . . " She said, her face dominated with an absolutely ruthless looking scar, "We have a Shuttled prepared to take you 15 Levels down. "

As if on queue, a short distance behind the young woman, a Large and Private Shuttle's doors swung upon.

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

Just another day, as far as the secretary working behind the desk was concerned. This was one of several suites of offices owned by Matsu Xiangu, scattered through the Highest 20 - the hub of commerce and elite businesses. The glittering shell hiding something rotten. The secretary, Khalitha, didn’t know it...but that’s how most people would describe her if asked. A beautiful blonde-haired Hapan outside, an unpleasant snake on the inside.

A light blinked on her organizer, confirmation that Asriana had met with the visitors and was successfully escorting them downwards. Not that they’d even understand what the simple idiot was going on about - her Basic was terrible. Khalitha would never understand how that girl, with her hideous accent and her ugly scar, had gotten a job cushier and more important than the secretary herself - who hadn’t been promoted in months despite hard work, she would add! The schedule didn’t organize itself, confirmations didn’t happen without her lifting a finger to make them.

Of course, Khalitha would miss that Asriana simply had something she lacked: charm.

As the poisonous line of thought needled through the Hapan’s mind, it seemed to bring the very object of her rumination in to existence as a shock of emerald green proceeded two visitors: one, an attractive woman who filled out her clothes in the way Khalitha only wished hers did when she checked her butt in the mirror. And two, a man that sent the Hapan’s heart fluttering in her chest. Kark, she had to be professional. Beating Asriana rode on this.

Although unpleasant, Khalitha was excellent at her job and swiftly alerted Matsu and the Droid to their guests presence while simultaneously greeting them. “Welcome! Ms. Xiangu is waiting for you inside, you can go right in,” she said, her most beautiful smile flashed at them. But mostly the man.

________​

​

Her offices in the very top levels of Maena were as tasteful as her choice in clothes, modern and clean and lots and lots of white. Shocks of obsidian furniture and counters broke up the wash, brilliant streaks of red, purple, green, blue catching the eye in art and sculpture. But the Lady was obviously a fan of the sleek, minimal, and very fashionable.

She sat on one side of a small table in a meeting room, gazing out at the view of the glittering city outside until she heard the soft buzz that announced her guests arrival. On that, she stood, black slacks and a mauve starsilk turtleneck covering more recent burns from a run-in with Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori. Her hair - sleek, black, straight as a whip - framed an unnaturally pale face that had once been beautiful. She moved and held herself with the grace of a woman who had always been looked at. Now it was just for different reasons.

“Come in, get comfortable. I trust Asriana got you here without a hitch.” Matsu settled back down when her visitors did, crossing one leg over the other and settling her metal hands in her lap. "This is my associate, YVHa-60. I would prefer you address both of us through this discussion."

It was nothing against either the man or woman sitting before her. The galaxy at large had a tendency to dismiss droids as useless machines at best, objects of distrust and disgust at worst, so she always provided a disclaimer. Treating the droid poorly in her presence simply would not do.

[member="Six-O"] | [member="Cassandra Paige"] | [member="Itash Mecetti"]​

 

[Cassandra Paige]

"You'll find I am.... rather unable to appreciate that particular allure," Cass said pointedly.

Reminding him.

Not that he ever forgot of course. Not as though she would have let him.

Reminding him that she was still waiting for his promise. That until he had fulfilled it (or she had found solutions elsewhere), she was still without the Force. She'd tasted it, so briefly, but enough to know now what she was missing.

And she had no intention of stopping until she had it again.

She did not nag, but when he made comments of that nature, barbs that reminded her of what she so clearly lacked, she had little issue responding in kind. She had not yet decided if he did that on purpose or not. She suspected that, just perhaps, he did. At the moment they had a temporary solution, an accord. But it was not the answer she wanted.

They exited the shuttle, her hand settled snugly in the crook of his arm. She settled that pleasant neutrality on her face that was like a second skin, a slight smile, greeting their own greeters with nods. This was, thus far at least, not exactly what she had hoped. The ash, the very clear mishmash of species cluttering (in her eyes) the tarmac. The lack of proper basic from their greeter. Grey eyes cast up, catching the garish exposition of the billboard in the background.

"A pleasure," she said smoothly in return. "The trip was excellent, thank you."

The passage down to the fifteenth level was relative quick, especially compared to the rest of the trip. Small talk was made when necessary, silence and observation perfectly adequate when not, and it wasn't until they reached their destination that Cass nodded with actual appreciation of the decor. There, this was something more her preference. No smog and ash, no flashing lights declaring enormous meat.

Especially when they entered the office (Cass barely noticed the receptionist), finding their contacts far more to her taste as well. Droids Cass considered reliable, in many ways more so even than humans (certainly more than the rest of the rabbled species across the galaxy). And the woman greeting them? Well, considering Cass's own wardrobe tilted toward not dissimilar styles, there was an immediate appreciation. Her own white business suit had been for a moment considered a mistake on the landing pad with its black ash and glaring neon, but this was far more her comfort zone.

If only she knew.

Oddly, the physical aspects of Matsu's visage did not bother the woman. They certainly registered, but in a note and file way. Cass understood, not to the extent but to the nature. Her own scars were simply less obvious. She did not particularly care about how she had come by them, there was no real empathy there. Simply a lack of negative (or positive) reaction to that aspect of her appearance.

"Thank you for seeing us, Lady Xiangu," Cass said with a smile, settling down where indicated, her smile turning toward the droid just as easily, "YVHa-60," she inclined her head. Honestly, better a droid than many alternatives.

Tash had the case containing the prototype, but that could wait for the moment.

"I am pleased we are finally able to sit down and discuss in person," she continued. She didn't introduce herself, they knew who she was after the business that had already been conducted. "I for one have been very pleased with the growing relationship between GenPals and Maena, so let me say how happy we are to be here. One of my sales managers has done nothing but gush about Maena for a month, so I am so glad to see it for myself! This, of course is Lord Itash Mecetti, of Didact Defense Solutions and my fiance. I have contracted with his firm to oversee some of the more technical and security oriented aspects of this project."

Honestly now that she had seen it, Cass was surprised by Matteo's interest here. It did not seem his speed at all. Well, to each their own she supposed.

[member="Itash Mecetti"] [member="Six-O"] [member="Matsu Xiangu"]

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"] | [member="Six-O"] | [member="Matsu Xiangu"]

Much happened.

The first lady got a curious glance and then a small nod of appreciation.

The second lady, the secretary, got a longer look bordering on the inappropriate. The glance was measured, brushing, it conveyed interest and relayed it without much in the way of shame. Cassandra was focused, after all, and Tash needed something to amuse himself with. Flustering an attractive lady was high on the list of things to lower his boredom.

But as soon as it began it was over with Tash sweeping past him, following Cassandra into the room.

He settled himself down, one leg crossing over the other.

Part of him was surprised when Cass greeted the... droid? But Tash supposed that it didn't cost a lot of effort to simply do as Xiangu asked. It didn't hurt them. Much. "My Lady," He inclined his head an inch when Paige introduced him. There passed the wolfish grin tug at the corner of his mouth when the term fiance came up. "YVHa-60," A moment later as well.

There was an appreciative glance there though.

Yes, Six Oh was a droid, but he was quite a fabulous one.

All gleaming metals and sharp angles. Death in its most efficient form, Tash did little to stop that appreciative glance. "It is a pleasure to meet both of you." His eyes shifted back to Matsu. Hm. It used to be said that Lady Xiangu was a true beauty, exotic, but that a life time of war and the dark had made that... less so. Tash sniffed, she still looked perfectly splendid to him.

It was the face behind the face that interested him.

The skin only nail deep.

"I am afraid I will have little to say in this meeting, my Cassandra is the brain of our operations. I am simply the gun." A pleasant smile followed.

 

[Six-O]

(Level 15)​

Few understood the power of silence in the way that YVHa-60 did. It's non-organic nature gifted it many things, but the machines mute latency, it was a tool most Droid's overlooked in their pitiful attempt to accommodate their organic company. But not this one. Rare were the times Six-O offered modulation of it's opinion, of it's intentions, or of it's sagacity. Silent vigil. That's how it operated. Gleaming metal cut with turbulent scars from the many battles it waged on behalf of it's Matsu, broad and tall it stood to the side of the small Atrisian woman.

The only noise offered, even in riposte to salutations of honored guests, were the sounds of it's internal components. It simply watched. Recorded. Examined. Calculated. . .

Lit eyes of a fervidly glowing crimson gazing back upon the two as they entered and sat.

The Machine turned as [member="Itash Mecetti"] spoke, it's stride raising obese thuds from the clack of it's powerful feet against the polished stone below, the gait of it's pacing robotic, precise, so unnatural to behold. Much like [member="Cassandra Paige"]'s mate, YVHa-60 too, was better wielded as a weapon. It'd been thousands of years since any of it's Business had involved more than the exchange of Currency for Violence.

With it's back towards the three it surveyed the sprawl of city visible just outside of this Luxury Office [member="Matsu Xiangu"] had been conducting her more common and professional duties from. The tasks she had here on Maena, here in the New City, were many. The organics of this World were unique, not easily agreeable to any form of leadership or law.

Individuals and Dynasties of immeasurable Wealth.

Aberrations and Monsters.

Cults and Religion.

Gangs and Cartels.

Plump industrial powerhouse figures that had grown sick from the corpulence. Exploiting the lack of decretum to their absolute full advantage. From here they could operate across all of the Unknown Territories and even across the entire Galactic Disc, free of retribution, outside the scrutiny of more Civilized Governments.

It stared, eyes radiant, spectating the flow of traffic as it hovered in and across the vista of the massive window. It was always nighttime on Level 15, it was always alive - no rest for the wicked as they fiendishly worshiped lustful Gods and Demons. A City of Parties, a City of Sin, Entertainment was the Religion here. Fads and Trends and Pop Culture Deified. Perhaps most important to the guests that sat behind the Droid, GenPals had taken hold of the population like some vicious plague.

Where once people from all across the Unknown Regions and Outer Rim came here to see the endless miles of the Floating River that ringed the entire Level. Where they once came to experience the most reprehensible pleasures, the most exotic food, the wildest most feral dreams they could imagine, or simply see the Twin Cities, one below and one above, that resided in relative safety of this dangerous, foreign place. Now all they wanted were their GenPals. . .

The A'zan-ix had been a mind numbing sort of success, and the New City craved so much more.

With a sudden wave of it's hand, the window tinted black, the view across one of a thousand lakes and the party raging at the edge of it's water vanishing in to a sea of obsidian. For now there was business, and the Droid would occupy itself by fetching drinks for it's Matsu's guests.

​

(The View)​

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

She wasn’t watching too intently, but even still she didn’t miss when Ms. Paige - soon to be Mecetti, it seemed - smoothly greeted the droid, almost as if more pleased with him than an alternative. If she hadn’t been sold on the fashion choices she was now comfortable enough to lean back conspiratorially in her chair, one elbow propped on its arm.

The nod the Lady offered to Mecetti’s explanation of his silence was accompanied by the tiniest one-sided smile in return. Simply the gun. Yes, oh sure. The face behind the face of his own. Either way, business was at hand. Peeling back layers was for another time.

“GenPals has been an...extraordinary thing to watch on Maena. I assumed it might have done well, given this city’s penchant for entertainment and collection. But the way it has exploded is remarkable. As a side note, if any of your people like Maena, they can contact my offices and Melissa will ensure they're not charged wherever they stay.”

In Maena’s top levels, there was no price that wouldn’t be paid for the latest GenPal creation - or better yet, some discreet combination of genetics so that the top socialites might have something completely singular perched on their shoulders at that weekend’s event. They’d become one of many symbols of status to those too shallow to see them as anything else.

Lower, interest ran more towards the sheer fun of owning one. If there was anything Maenans loved, it was the strange and unpredictable. GenPal creations added even more riotous color to the streets, something to entertain. Always something new.

Even lower, uses for GenPals were not quite as...palatable. But those were best left undescribed.

Fads and trends proliferated in the New City, a place that absorbed cultural norms of other places and twisted them to their own brand of Unknown Regions sensibility. For a world that ejected citizens at odds with the rules of the galaxy at large, they certainly seemed to absorb the entertainment of far-flung destinations. For Matsu, a woman who’d once ruled Coruscant - arguably the most cutting-edge and modern planet in the galaxy - might have seemed an odd transplant there. But that had been a planet easily cowed, used to oppression. Maena would never belong to anyone, and its wildness appealed to something fundamental in the Lady.

GenPals did good things for the city. And there was something to be gained for all parties.

“I’d love to see what you have in mind.”

[member="Six-O"] | [member="Cassandra Paige"] | [member="Itash Mecetti"]​

 

[Cassandra Paige]

Cass cast her eyes over at Itash, a smile playing on her lips. That was how he wanted to play his involvement here, and it made a certain level of sense. It wasn't the first time one or the other had taken on the role of accessory when it suited the needs of the moment.

Grey gaze went back to Matsu and the droid, YVHa-60. They watched each other, the two women, regarding, finding a certain.... common ground. Or perhaps not. It was difficult to tell this early, but for now there was that one definitive thread.

Profit.

Whether in the manner of credits or currencies far less..... concrete.... well, that was what they were all here for.

"I will admit some hesitation originally," Cass said with a smile. "But the reception here has exceeded all of my expectations, Lady Xiangu."

With a nod to Itash, Cassandra continued.

"I am hoping that the details of the project will appeal to the particular demographics here," she said, reaching into the open case Itash offered and drawing out what looked, more than anything, to be a fairly sleek and stylish but otherwise unremarkable, hand held hologram projector.

With a push of a button, it sprang to life. But instead of a grainy image of someone's great aunt who can't figure out if this thing is on, a small creature stretched and yawned above Cassandra's palm. She set the unit on the floor while she continued to speak.

"Purchase of the unit and a small monthly subscription fee, barely more than the cost of a cup of caf, gains you access to the 'standard' program."

Wiggling its ears, the creature started to sniff around, wandering farther and farther from the base unit- much farther than the usual projection for something like a holocall.

"The program is based on the virtual reality centers at the GenPals Conference Center. Fully interactive with thousands of behaviors programmed into the baseline, with the capacity to be 'taught' additional ones through interactions and add-ons. Each unit interacts with the environment in approximately a three meters radius, from tables, to people. The programming is done in a way that it can recognize most standard things in an environment and respond appropriately.... like so."

She gestured as the creature reached the leg of the low table between them. It sniffed at it, gave it an experimental lick, then sat down to regard the height of it up up up above its head. Crouching down, it wiggled its butt and leapt, catching the leg of the table and starting to climb.

"This is just the prototype of course," she said, almost apologetically- as if this wasn't already something of interest.

"My intention is to include multiple layers of membership, with expanded content, including at the highest level the capacity to 'find' and 'befriend' 'wild' creatures- programmed to appear at random intervals."

She paused in her explanation, attempting to gauge their reaction and interest. The seed of the project had come from Maena, and GenPals had expanded on it, in what, she hoped, was a way that appealed.

[member="Matsu Xiangu"] [member="Six-O"] [member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

Technology on par with the Core was practically non-existent that far out in the Unknown Regions. Thousands of lightyears from the center, those things considered cutting-edge by the rest of the galaxy were obsolete relics by the time the Regions got their hands on it. Thus, Cassandra’s admitted hesitation wasn't unfounded even at face value. Combining that with Maena's reputation left any prospective businesswoman a little leery. But the New City was a rotten anomaly. While the rest of Maena more closely conformed to its last-gen brethren, the City consumed ‘new’ like it was a need as critical as oxygen. A sheer wealth of resources made the planet a hub of business and trade despite its great distance, and to those closest the riches of the Core spilled forth.

The prototype as it stood would sell millions.
Refined? Both the women in the room no doubt had credit signs for pupils.

Even for someone who used to reside on Coruscant, she was mesmerized.

She could see it now, those high-society gatherings she detested. All the elite of other planets that had found another home in Maena, perhaps a truer home for some. They brought their games and sense of unreality with them, a disconnect from the world that made them alien. With so much money one had to invent new pleasures. And someone always had to be on top. They'd display this new creation with the same comparisons as all other things, hoping to buy the highest tiers and explore the farthest for the chance to have something their peers did not. They’d make their vapid speeches with a hologram curling around their shoulders, the rest of the crowd watching as others ran around tables. The simple incredible fact of the technology itself? Nice, but they'd all have it. They'd compete for more. They'd demand. And they'd pay.

The lower levels wouldn't compete amongst each other, or at least not for accolades. No, there it would be the thrill of finding something novel and exotic - first in the hologram tech itself, and then in the sense of exploration as they searched for said wild animals and random encounters, to see evolution and simply...what happened next. And who knew, maybe businesses would see opportunity for what it was and cater to people with GenPal holograms, drawing customers searching for something special and boosting the City's economy higher.

Matsu watched the creature trail busily along the table in exploration and felt the urge to buy one herself.

“I must admit I'm a little jealous you found the programmers under your employ before I did,” the Lady said, the quirk of a smile on one side of her mouth. She did like to collect.

She extended her hand towards it, waiting to see if it would take an interest in her.

“I can already see these doing very well and I'm flattered you chose Maena as a testing ground. So what is your proposal? I can assist you on where I think these will give you the most information to tweak for an official roll-out but… I can see them ending up in places we didn't expect. Lots of sticky fingers in this city.”

[member="Cassandra Paige"] | [member="Itash Mecetti"] | [member="Six-O"]​

 

[Cassandra Paige]

Cass leaned back comfortably, watching the interaction. They had tested it with individuals not involved in its creation, so she had no doubts it would function just as well here. She was not disappointed.

The creature paused as Matsu's hand came close enough for the algorithms and sensors to pick up on. When it did, the hologram looked up, ears arching up slightly, nose twitching as it 'smelled' her. It did no such thing- the sensors weren't that advanced, since there had really been no reason to, but it was expected cute animal behavior so they had included it. It approached with optimistic caution- also deliberate.

"In our test groups we found people to be less engaged if the animals immediately trotted over," Cass said casually as the hologram looked from Matsu's hand up to her face, then her hand again before cautiously 'nudging' at it with its nose. "This way there is some of the pleasure of 'earning' the animal's trust. There's an endorphin rush most mammalian sentients feel in response to it."

Cass didn't get it, but then, she wasn't an animal person.

"As to my proposal.... The product requires a holonet 'hub' within the sector to function properly. I have with me a portable version of that," she indicated the suitcase itself. "But it would be prohibitively expensive and frankly too large for someone to carry about with them for something like this. I would like to find a location on Maena, with your permission, or on a nearby planet if you would prefer not, to build one of our hubs. If built here, it would eventually cover the entire sector for use with the interactive portion of the projects programming. It's what allows it to interact so well with its surroundings while being kept as a pocket sized projector. Beyond that I would be interested in your views on how best to introduce them to Maena in particular- you are the expert in that arena after all. But I was thinking of offering a special promotion to early adopters, something to make that even more enticing, some limited edition content that could be unique to early adopters on Maena."

[member="Matsu Xiangu"] [member="Six-O"] [member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

Spoiler

It was irritating to work so closely with something she couldn't connect with on an unconscious level. Six-O, lacking the Force - and more importantly, an organic brain - did not emit the sort of thoughtful, silent decision-making or pick up on Matsu's the way the Lady cultivated with other long-term business partners. Even those she worked with who didn't have the Force could be read so negotiations and deal-making went smoothly. Even some droids were more physically emotive. But not Six-O.

Luckily, he didn't seem much interested in this end of things. Like Cassandra’s partner, the droid was more interested in seeing things through rather than being the one setting plans in stone. It might suggest things here and there to make things more efficient or protected, but otherwise? Indifferent.

So it wouldn't much matter what Matsu decided.

Pulling a tablet closer to herself, she drew up plans from New City’s further construction. It had, of course, existed long before she’d appeared. But she’d helped to make...improvements. From the tablet, a 3-D image emerged of some of the City’s construction.

“Between each Level, there is a much smaller sub-level that allows for faster travel of emergency services, repair services, that sort of thing. It’s off-limits to civilians and while of course...some get in, it is a far more empty place than the levels themselves. I think this might be optimal as a test site. Not in a place where it can be easily damaged or stolen, especially if you have security around it. Unseen, keeping the illusion of the technology. And best of all, they span the entire horizontal width of a level so you could build along them and cover an entire section of the city easily.”

She paused, steepling her fingers in thought.

“As for where would be best to run a trial...perhaps somewhere in the Lower 50. Income is high enough to make the product easily accessible, but not so stuffy that it’ll skew your results out of the range of the average civilian.”

She sat back in her seat, resting her hands over her stomach. The New City grew.

[member="Six-O"] | [member="Cassandra Paige"] | [member="Itash Mecetti"]​