(An In-Character record of life in New Eden. Posts based on real events of my day to day play sessions.)

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Death, and a New Beginning

I was getting bored.

My goal was to make money, make a difference, and make friends. Be a part of something big, you know? I understand I was supposed to start off small, work my way up and make it big. I was looking forward to the journey, yet progress seemed to plateau for me lately. My wallet has broken a billion isk twice that I know of, and hasn't stayed up there long before it went down again. I needed a change or I would go stir crazy. Something different besides this constant cycle of wardecs and sitting on my hands, then try and rush out to make enough isk to keep one or both of the girls flying so I could keep income up. The plan seemed to work for a while, but with the wardecs and whatnot, I was clearly wasting money.

"Watcha thinkin?" Amalea asked. I jumped as I was staring out the window into space. I had finished my breakfast of bacon and eggs and was now sipping coffee while watching the ships dock and leave from the cafeteria. I did notice this morning that everyone seemed to pick seats far from my spot, besides Amalea and Maya, of course. They've been here a while without me noticing because Maya was halfway through her cereal.

"I was thinking of a change." I reply, setting my cup on the table.

"Changing what?" Maya asked.

"Everything. I was thinking of moving out to Null Sec. I would make much more money and the lifestyle is different." Amalea seemed to turn white. Maya didn't flinch and continued to eat. Only when she finished did she speak.

"What are your plans?" she asked, "It's going to be hard to get your stuff out there."

"Yes. I'm planning on leaving my corp to join one up there. I was thinking of selling most of my stuff and buying new stuff up there, but some of it has some sentimental value. I think I'm going to just give everything to Osiph and have her sell it for me or use it herself."

"How will you get up there though?" Maya asked, "I'm pretty sure you can't fly an interceptor. You will probably get caught in a bubble on the way and lose your ship and your life."

"Not to mention your impants." Amalea chimed in.

"I'm already in a clean clone." I said. It did feel odd to be in a different body. This one had the same upgrades as the last, but no implants. Those were still safely installed in my old body. I could clearly tell the difference. I felt kind of slow and dull than I was used to. Like I was half asleep compared to when I had implants. Maybe this is how normal people feel...

"So how are you going to go up there?" Maya asked.

"I'm going to die."


-------------------------------------------------

This is what I have done. I'm staring at the self destruct option while sitting in my pod inside a station. I had contracted all my things over to Osiph, along with an explanation of what I was doing. She was happy for me, yet she was a little disappointed that I was leaving just as our relationship was getting better. Maya and Amalea were at odds with how they felt about it. I had assured them that I would be making much more money and would have them come up with me as soon as I could if they wanted to. They both agreed after a lengthy private conversation.

I thought about Sister Alitura and her ongoing investigation, however, I directed her to Osiph who agreed to take up the investigation on my behalf. She told me she knew I wasn't happy here and understood why I was going, gladly helping anyway she could.

So now, all of my things were in her hands, my market orders canceled, all my industry jobs done, my PI has been pulled up, I've said my goodbyes and now I sit in my pod, my mind was kind of hesitant to activate my self destruct.

"You've remembered to set your medical clone to your new null sec station, right?" Maya asked over comms. My camera drone swiveled to view the balcony of my Captain's quarters where her and Amalea were standing.

"Of course. That's the whole point of me doing this." I scoffed, "I blow up here and my consciousness goes to my new medical clone in Null Sec."

"Then what's the hold up. Get to the explodey part!" She teased.

"It's just...." I trail off.

"What?"

"I've never died before. Not since becoming a Capsuleer." I confessed. It was true. I lost only a handful of ships, but no pod losses up to this point. I've never died."

"Is this why you asked all those questions about it before? You did just clone jump, didn't you?"

"Yeah, but this is dying." I say, "It's different."

"Are you scared?" Maya asked after a pause.

"No. It's just more like I have a decent living streak going here that I'm about to break." I say. I can see her shoulders shaking as she starts to laugh. The camera drone can't zoom in so far to see her face, but I can see this at least.

"Sain, have a good trip." She just said, "I'm sure it won't be long before we see you again."

"Thanks." I say, smiling. I tried to close my eyes but they were already closed in the pod. Still a little hesitant, I reached out with my mind and activated the self destruct.....

*.......BANG!*

It was a delayed reaction. There wasn't even an option to abort or to ask if I was sure. I pressed the button and there was a flash of light. I remember feeling cold and in the dark. Maybe it was the lack of implants that delayed the reaction, but before I realized it, I came to my senses and realized nothing happened.

Or I thought nothing had happened. The inside of the station was slightly different now. It seemed darker than before. The system indicator was showing those red numbers of Null Sec. I had made it and died doing so.

Taking a moment to calm myself from the jolt of a new clone, I start thinking of what to do next. I buy a Skiff and fit it out, then  I was about to undock but my new corp's comms and Intel channels light up with warnings. I refrain from undocking and adrenaline rushes when I see local spike with twenty six new pilots, all red to me. The enemy had just jumped into my new home and I was forced to stay inside.

Within a few minutes, they had moved on, and I was able to undock for the first time, in a rookie ship to be sure. I had to fetch some rigs for my Skiff in the neighboring system, but as I warped back to the gate, again Intel flared up saying they were on the way back. I made it back in station and docked with my gear, but they didn't end up coming into the system.

I was told it was quiet up here. It does have it's moments though. I just happened to jump right into one of those moments. A lot more exciting than High sec, that's for sure. I'm looking forward to getting out into the belts and making some good money for once. For now, the trip and excitement had worn me out, and I ended up falling asleep in my pod for the night.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Standstill

It was an odd return to Arnon to see Sister Alitura. The investigation hit a standstill and she seemed too busy to talk to me when I docked. It was a good thing I didn't bother to get out of my ship this time as when I contacted her, that nervous looking receptionist answered my call.

"I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Darkwing, but Sister Alitura is out at the moment. She left me with authorization to complete your current mission and issue payment." She said. I saw my wallet icon flash in my mind but I didn't really care about the money.

"I was to ask for more leads on survivors of the Damsel." I replied. The receptionist seemed confused. Perhaps she was not privy to that information.

"I was told to tell you that she would contact you again when she had more leads." she replied.

I thanked the young woman and undocked, returning to the SOE station where our Corp had settled down. I spent a few weeks mining and building things, trying to make money but always waiting for answers to a mystery that kept bugging me in the back of my mind.

-------------------------------------------------------

*THUNK*.........*THUNK*..........*THUNK*.......

"Fifty four." the announcer said, rather dully. He sort of spat the current score and I sighed as I lumbered up to the board to retrieve my darts. Another wardec had me sort of confined to the station, however, since I could now go anywhere, there were better places I could be than here. Somehow, the same bar we always attended seemed like the best place to be right now. Besides, there was a dart tournament!

*THUNK*.........*THUNK*..........*THUNK*.......

"ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY!" the announcer yelled, the excitement suddenly bursting forth in the small room. Cheers erupted and glasses clinked together. Maya sheepishly grinned as she sauntered to the board to get her darts. On the way back I saw the redness in her face.

"Why the hell are you so good at Darts?" I ask as she leans on the bar beside me. She took a sip of her ale and huffed.

"I used to own one when I was a teenager and played alot." She said, "Now, as a Capsuleer, My ocular implants and whatnot make me even better at it." She paused and looked me over, somewhat confused, "I'm surprised you aren't better. Don't you have a plus four Ocular Implant? I only have a plus three." I noticed some other people overhear us and their expressions changed to disgust. As if we were cheating or something.

"I would expect you need that natural talent there before the implants would help at all." I replied, finishing my drink. I ordered another one.

*THUNK*.........*THUNK*..........*THUNK*.......

"One hundred and twenty!" the announcer called. This time Amalea returned from the board with her darts in hand. I'm sure she only had a plus two set installed in her head.

"Was that good?" She asked innocently.

"I think I'm getting hustled." I sigh. Amalea seemed confused when Maya giggled but her laugh was cut short when she looked up over my head and a heavy hand gripped my shoulder tightly. I glanced over my shoulder to see a tall, stocky, Gallente man standing over me. He wore Camo pants and a dirty white tank top, seemingly stretched to the limit over thick muscles. The man smelled heavily of alcohol and a toothpick rolled across thin lips set deep into a thick mane of a beard, yet not a hair graced the man's scalp.

"Yew three are Capsooleers, aintcha?" He asked, his voice a deep baratone, "That shoul be agnst da rules, ain't it? Yer all cheaters!" I could barely see the three stems of the man's darts protruding from what could only be described as a large Honey Ham attached to the end of the man's trunk of an arm. He didn't look like he could tell the bow from the stern of a Caldari Shuttle either. Even without my plus four Intelligence implant, I could outwit this man without even trying. Still, those holiday hams at the end of his upper appendages wouldn't feel nice to get in the face with a bit of force. I had to be smart here. Play this with a bit of wit and cunning.

"Nope." I reply. Maya and Amalea keep their mouths shut, their attention directed to the gorilla behind me again.

"Waddaya mean 'Nope'?" he yelled. "Ye gotz dem metal thingies on yer necks an everytin'! I bet it wudden matta if I clobberd ya right now!" He wheezed as if his speech was taxing him, but he could have a cold as well. I'm not entirely sure, "Yer cheatin' an it's not fair. Give us regular people a chance ta win the prize money!"

"There's prize money?" I ask innocently, "I had no idea! I thought the prize was a skill book or something. You know, to learn new things and expand your knowledge? Isn't that why you are here? I'm sure you can use it."

"Man, ow dumb can you be? I ain't got no implants, I'm one hundred percen' pure Gallente! A skill book wouldn' do me any good!" he said, puffing out his chest. I could see the fibers in his already stressed shirt barely hanging on. I wanted to take a step back in case the thing exploded and sent a shower of smelly chest hair over me.

"I wouldn't say 'Pure', exactly...." I mutter. Both girls burst out laughing and caught themselves, but it was enough to clue in Kongo that he had been made fun of.

"I hope your clone is up ta date, sir. Cuz imma beat ya till you wake up in a new one!" he threatened, cracking his knuckles. Oddly, It made me want bacon now. Maybe for breakfast tomorrow morning.

"You really are stupid, aren't you?" I say to the man, setting my darts on the bar, "Don't you read the news? We don't have to update our clones anymore. The new ones have unlimited skill points!" Again, the girls gaze drift from me to Kongo, their mouths open in surprise.

Apparently, everything I just said sailed far over his head like a ganker orbiting a barge at a thousand meters. I could see the gears of thought turn in his head, then grind to a halt and fall apart due to stress. He made an odd gurgling sound that sounded like he was trying to say a poorly thought comeback, but then gave up and opted for a full blown battle cry as he lunged at me, which at this point was a fair distance because ever since we started this incident, I had been inching away only slightly with the girls down the bar. They gasped when they saw the man run at me, but jumped when there was a flash of light and he dropped like a ton of pork roast, calmly snoring on the floor at my feet. I had been casually standing with my arms crossed, yet had a concealed parapistol tucked under my arm. Dropping it, it slid down my side and landed gracefully in the holster around my waist, under my jacket.

"What happened?" Amalea asked, somewhat surprised. Only Maya saw the gun.

"Narcolepsy, I think." Maya muttered, turning back to the bar just as I did. We both had a large grin on our faces as the brute just snored loudly behind me. Five minutes later, four security guards showed up and somehow dragged Kongo out of the bar after I assume the bartender made the call. After the commotion had simmered down, I had just returned from another turn at the board. One dart in the bull, one on the edge of the board, the last ended up in the floor. I really suck at this game.

"Hey, thanks for getting rid of that guy." I tell the bartender. He chuckled.

"He's been causing trouble here for a few days now. I'm just happy someone put him in his place." he said, "By the way, thank you for sponsoring this tournament, Sain."

"No Problem."

"Wait, you sponsored this?" Maya asked.

"Yep. He put ten thousand ISK up for the winning prize." The barkeeper said, patting me heavily on the shoulder.

"That's it?" Maya asked, seemingly unimpressed.

"Ten thousand is a lot to us regular folk. I'm still surprised you Capsuleers hang out in a dive like this. You could be living in the most expensive place this station has to offer! Drinking the best alcohol there is." The bartender said, "How much you worth anyway, Sain?"

"I don't really want to put a number on it. I own several ships that are worth a lot."

"How much in your wallet then?" He asked, "I have about five grand. As a comparison, that's all."

"Five thousand?" Maya asked.

"Yep."

"Three hundred." I reply.

"That's all?"

".....Million." I add.

"Holy...." the barkeep stood in awe. Maya smiled.

"Yeah that's not a lot for him. He's near broke for a Capsuleer." she informed the man. He just shook his head.

"You guys are just on a completely different level." he said, picking up a mug to wipe, "Although, you're about the only ones I know who doesn't really flaunt their money. I like that you're humble about it."

"You getting more business because of it. That's why you like us." I advise. The man's stoic face broke to a sly grin.

"Yeah you got me there." he laughed, "Feel free to hold whatever events you want here that will draw in more people."

I simply raised my glass to the man and finished my drink. Cheers went up in the background as a young girl just threw her winning dart....