Tour of the Complex

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1/8/99

You walk towards the Recreational Facility.

Recreational Facility

As massively scaled as the rest of the complex is, it should come as no surprise that the recreation hall is also huge. One end is taken up by a large swimming pool and diving tower. Small cabanas are erected nearby for ease in changing clothes. Another section of the bright and airy room is dedicated to various weight machines for use by various races. Some of them in fact are dizzyingly incomprehensible. Presumably -someone- knows how to use them. A sloping ramp leads up to a jogging track above the hall. The track is lined with large open windows that look out onto the atrium and its gardens. This room is usually occupied at all hours by someone or another looking for a bit of exercise.

(OOC Note: To set your room doing, try 'I'm blank'.)

Contents:

Niko, standing by the door.

Kyara, weight-lifting

Obvious Exits:

Atrium

You walk here from the Central Atrium.

Kyara is working with a pair of dumbells over in the corner. She glances around every now and then, observing those around her.

Niko, expression as he spots some of the more unusual equipment suggesting that he's most definitely new to the area, nods pleasantly when Kyara glances his way, with a murmured "Ma'am" that likely doesn't reach her across the room.

Kyara has very good ears. Or perhaps she can read lips. In either case, that single word sharpens her focus on Niko, and she gazes at him for a moment before inclining her head to acknowledge the greeting. "Officer."

Niko offers a faint smile at the acknowledgement, then moves about the room to get a closer look at some of the exercise equipment that disconcerted him on first glance. After a moment, he mutters to himself, "... not sure... want... know."

Kyara laughs silently, obviously amused. "Are you sure about that? Half this stuff looks like weaponry in disguise."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko, looking over with a rather sheepish grin, nonetheless says, "I doubt the Chief would let that happen, ma'am. He seems the type of person who would notice that sort of thing."

Kyara absorbs that thoughtfully. "I daresay he would. Doesn't mean he /is/ that type of person however. Appearances are not necessarily indicative." Sounds like something learned by rote.

Niko nods amiably to that. "No, ma'am, they aren't, but I was going more on instinct than anything else."

Kyara rests the dumbells on her bench with a grin. "And you have good instincts?"

Niko considers that for a moment. "Sometimes. Sometimes not, I think I'm right this time, but since that's an instinctive judgement as well..." He shakes his head, smile one of droll amusement. "But I'm disturbing you, ma'am. Excuse me."

Kyara shakes her head, reaching for a towel to pat the sweat from her face. "Quite alright. I'd overdone it here, anyhow."

Niko, with a nod, says, "The name's Niko, by the way, ma'am. Very pleased to meet you."

Kyara laughs wryly as she stands to replace the dumbells in their rack. "I doubt it. Niko, huh? Then how come it says 'Casymed' on your shirt?" Wiping her hand against her pants, she sticks it out offering a shake. "Frondeur Kyara Veh. But you can call me Kya."

Niko moves to shake the offered, hand, saying equably, "Casymed's my last name, ma'am, and it usually gets me odd looks when I use it. Nice to see someone else who doesn't go by their first name--or is Frondeur a title? You'll have to forgive me; I'm not familiar with your customs yet."

Kyara shakes her head, a shadow crossing her expression. "Tis indeed a name. One I'm not quite used to.""

Niko's bushy eyebrows lift fractionally, caterpillars briefly becoming inchworms. "I hope I've not said something I shouldn't?"

Kyara hmms? "Oh..." She shakes her head, offering a little smile. "Not at all, believe me. You merely took me by surprise."

Niko, expression faintly puzzled, inclines his head. "My apologies, then, ma'am."

Kyara chuckles. "Don't. Apologize, I mean. You did not offend, Niko. And please, do not call me ma'am. At best, if overheard, I'll never hear the end of it. At worst, I'll get... what's the phrase?... called on the carpet."

Oh, look. The caterpillars are twitching now. "You'd get in trouble because I use a term of respect towards you?" Niko still looks puzzled, but amiable enough about it. "As you wish, Kya."

Kyara snickers. "You wouldn't think so, would you? And if you were to address anyone else in the delegation in such a manner, nobody would think twice about it. But I've been told once that my 'high and mighty ways' will not be tolerated. I'd rather not become familiar with the consequences should your words be misconstrued."

Niko nods very slowly, the kind of nod used when he's got absolutely no clue what the other person in the conversation is talking about, but, whether for pride or politeness, doesn't want to acknowledge this. "I'll try to be more careful about it, then."

Riley walks here from the Central Atrium.

Riley has arrived.

Kyara nods amiably. "As you wish..." She trails off, hands twitching slightly as yet another security type walks in. "Is there a convention going on of which I'm not aware?"

Riley ambles in, much the way he tends to amble everywhere. But then half his job is wandering around places and waiting for disaster to strike. Like a high-heeled-wearing woman in a horror movie, he exists simply to wait for doom. Waving pleasantly to the others he begins a polite greeting before cutting himself of, "Convention? Last I checked the Shriners weren't due for another week."

Niko, turning at Kyara's inquiry to see what caused it, still looks just a bit puzzled about something. Spotting Riley, though, his expression shifts to polite attention, and he straightens, as if someone has just upwards on his shoulders. It's almost Pavlovian. "Hello, Chief. I didn't think you'd be free yet." A pause. "Shriners?"

Kyara eyes Niko's reaction to the newcomer and turns to gaze at the latter for a moment. Once she spots the nametage she lets out a soft "Ahhh." Then she echoes in curiosity, "Shriners?"

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Riley tugs lightly on one uniform cuff, there's something about Niko that makes him feel decidedly rumpled looking. "I was swamped under paperwork half the morning, and then I got cornered by Ambassador Lexington about bugs in his quarters. The many legged kind, not taps. THankfully Anya distracted him with several dozen forms and I managed to escape. He's probably still there now, trying to figure out what his gross taxable income has to do with spiders." He nods, "Shriners, you know, the guys with the funny hats?"

Niko says slowly, brows lifting at the mention of the spiders, "I saw them in a parade once, driving small vehicles. Perhaps I should have been more specific, though: is there a reason why they're coming here?"

Kyara shakes her head, smiling slightly. "No, I don't know, but I'll take your word for it." She takes a step back behind Niko, kneeling to paw through a carisak.

Riley shakes his head, his dark curls a half-beat behind. "Well, not here as such. The Gryphons run a nice little resort though out this way, and the Complex being open to all citizens and such we usually get a fair chunk of them in here taking pictures of everybody and generaly being nimrods."

Kyara doesn't appear to be listening, though she glances up at the last word. "Nimrods? Wasn't that a ruler on ancient Earth?"

Niko notes the motion of the floomphy curls with the smallest of smiles, and a slight shake of his head. Tugging gently on his already smooth shirt, he blinks towards Kyara. "I'm afraid I don't know. Ancient history was never my strong point."

Riley's shrugged response is decidedly non-comittal. "I use it in the colloquial sense meaning 'twit' or 'nitwit'. Which drunken overweight men with cameras most assuredly are."

Niko grimaces at Riley's description. "Their visit," he says carefully, "Should be... interesting."

Kyara's eyebrows would arch, if she had any. Instead there's again that little hand fluttering. "Unless in their own homes, yes," she agrees, rising gracefully. "I'm guessing by Niko's method of address that you're the Security Chief I've heard about?"

Riley offers a polite inclination of his head and shoulders. Not quite a bow, but close enough for goverment work. "Riley Addison at your service, ma'am. I'm in charge of what the Council calls Security, yes." He mmmhmms to Niko, "Everything here is. Wait until the election gets fired up fully. This is an Interegnuum period. Once we actually get to the Chairman's election...-that- wull be...interesting." His last words are in amiable mimicry of Niko's.

Kyara sighs softly, glancing toward Niko. "Why do I have the feeling it'd be easier to just get used to that title? Ah well, at least you all are polite." She nods to Riley with what appears to be a friendly smile. "Frondeur Kyara Veh. My condolences."

Niko's amused grin suggests that he recognizes Riley's mimicry. Turning to Kyara, he adds, "It's respect, Kya. I don't know about the Chief, here, but it's been ingrained in me since childhood, and reinforced fairly recently."

Riley returns the apparently cheerful smile. Funny, when he grins like that it's not hard to remember that smiling originally came from a fang-bearing response in humans. "When in doubt it's the best way to go. The majority of the diplomatic service types prefer titles and ma'am'ery. If you have a preferred form of address I'm more than willing to be educated. I prefer to call people what they wish to be called." A quick glance to Niko acompanies the thought, 'When I can pronounce it.'

Kyara chuckles. "I prefer my name. Probably an omen that I'm in the wrong business."

Niko peers curiously at Riley at that quick glance, but, as he's not a mindreader, he doesn't make the comment that would follow such a statement as Riley's thought--that his name isn't his fault, and that his parents are very sorry. "Seems a good way to go."

Riley's chocolate eyebrows lift over eyes holding a hint of devilry, "Very well, Frondeur Kyara Veh. And I don't know about the wrong business. I think the one thing I can definatively say about Council diplomacy is that it takes all kinds."

Kyara flashes a practiced grin. "And I am a most unusual type, though I daresay you're not too far behind. Either of you," she amends, inclining her head by way of apology. "And you too can call me Kya, Chief Addison."

Niko blinks mildly at the characterization, looking for a moment like he's going to protest it. He's perfectly usual, really! Instead, however, he merely inclines his head, with a vague, murmured pleasantry.

Riley places a hand, fingers spread, over his heart, inclining his head in another of those near-bows. It's got to be a cultural gesture, it's too practiced to be uncomfortable. "A plesaure to meet you then, Kya." His brows furrow lightly, "Your both new in, eh? We could all do 'The Tour', if y'all aren't objecting to getting your feet a bit damp."

Kyara's fingers on her right hand flutter as she slips them through the handle of her carisak. "I'd be delighted. Damp?"

Niko nods towards Riley. He doesn't glance towards his immaculately-shined boots, though he's very likely thinking of how he'll have to shine them again tonight. "Sounds good, Chief."

Riley is suddenly the very picture of innocence. It's not a mask he wears well. His natural proclivities make it a decidedly unlikely image. "Some of the key points of the tour aren't as immaculately kept as the Grand Hall." He turns to amble amiably towards the Atrium.

Riley walks towards the Central Atrium.

Riley has left.

You walk towards the Central Atrium.

Central Atrium

Filled with greenery and assorted plants from a hundred different Alliance worlds, this massive atrium is a chaotic and interesting place. The room itself is round, with evenly-spaced archways leading to the other areas. Each archway is color-coded, with a label telling where it leads in standard and the languages of each of the major races. In the center of the room, a one storey high obelisk bears a giant clock. When the hourly chimes go off, they can be heard throughout most of the Spaceport. For those who pause to look upwards, the escheresque upper levels of the complex may be seen, as the atrium reaches through the entire complex, with a plasglass skylight at the top through which Linnae's sunlight may filter. Paths wend their way through the carefully tended gardens, and small placards label the groups of vegetation and their homeworld. Some are labeled with the universal symbol for danger, be careful, they bite. Groups of benches are located here and there for the comfort of passing delegates and those attempting to lobby them.

The elevator is at floor number 4 (the doors are closed) and appears to contain 1 people.

Contents:

Riley

Obvious exits:

Elevator Arch Out Rec Hall Dining Meeting Hall Spaceport

You walk here from the Recreational Facility.

Kyara walks here from the Recreational Facility.

Kyara has arrived.

Niko falls into step behind Riley, slightly to his right so he'll be able to see past the taller man. He looks just a bit bemused by that innocent expression, and perhaps a bit nervous. He keeps his comments to himself, though.

Kyara trails along behind both gian... er, men, curiosity written all over her face. (Anybody got an eraser?)

Riley gestures to the Atrium's massed gardens, "It's the Atrium. It's got lots of flowers. Some of them bite. It's also the greatest living monument to the lunacy of this place." He gestures to a Security officer standing guard over a seemingly random spot in the garden, "See poor Ander? He drew the dumbest watch we have for today. A hundred years or so ago one of the first bluebonnets of spring came up there. The then Chairman commanded a Security officer to stand over the spot and keep it from being crushed. It got put in the records. It remains that way to this day despite my ranting and railing. Nobody wants to take the time to put their name to an order to rescind the duty. So we guard grass."

Kyara snorts softly. "That seems awfully silly. I'm sure you cannot afford to be taking officers away from more vital duties for something so minor. How large is your force anyhow?" Intent eyes turn on Riley. "I daresay this is a prize assignment to fight for."

Niko's gaze flicks to the other guard, then to the grass he guards. "That really is ridiculous," he says, bushy brows lowering so much that one can't help but fear for the safety of his eyes. "Guarding -grass-." He murmurs something about the grass's vital presence and the safety of the alliance, his commentary trailing off into a fragment of something that's very well his native language, as it's surely not standard.

Riley hmphs softly, tucking his hands into uniform pockets. With a nod to Ander he begins to head around the permiter of the Atrium. "It varies depending on the number of diplomats present at any given time. And as for grass gaurding, folks draw lots for it. I wouldn't demean anybody by assigning them to that, even for punishment." He gestures towards the Dining Hall, "The dining area, as I'm sure you know. They give you odd looks if you as for tziziki sauce on your fries. But at least they're friendly enough." He continues heading around the room.

Kyara nods amiably, following. "They really don't do steak tartare justice though. Oh yes, I've become quite fond of extraplanetary cuisine."

Niko, however, stops, staring after Riley. He picks up the pace after a moment or two, demanding, "You use tziziki on -fries-? Chief, my grandmother would roll over in her grave if she knew I was even speaking to you, for that." He pauses. "Well, she would if she were dead."

Riley glances back to regard Niko, laughing quietly. This laugh is genuine enough, not tinged with sarcasm. "I take it tziziki on fries is a bad thing?" He gestures towards the elevator, "The upper floors are of course housing and the facility levels. It's perhaps not the most efficent arrangement, but this place has evolved rather than being a planned construction. You'd be amazed at all the little ins and outs and hallways leading nowhere and everywhere here." He continues to the doors of the Meeting Hall, "The diplomats're still out for the afternoon. We can go in and make the poor press boys jump a half-foot wondering what's going on off-schedule."

Kyara laughs, a soft sound reminiscient of bells. "The media here does seem a bit... overenthusiastic at times."

Niko, trailing behind Riley once more, chuckles. "Depends on your generation. I don't eat them that way, mainly because the aforementioned grandmother would never forgive me." He shrugs, amiably moving with the segue. "I've not been here long enough to notice the media." And, gee, doesn't he sound crushed at that.

Riley casts another genuinely cheerful look back at his captive audience. This is his home, his job, the main of his universe. Is it any suprise he seems as comfortable in it as if it were a pair of old shoes? "Well, it's the very heart of the Alliance. Folks are curious not just about the laws, but about those that make them." He places his hand on a palm scanner and nods to the guard on duty, passing into the Meeting Hall.

Riley heads towards the Grand Hall.

Riley has left.

You head towards the Grand Hall.

Grand Hall

Well, there's a reason it's called the 'Grand Hall'. This room, so often displayed on newscasts around the galaxy, is built on a grandiose scale. The floor is jet black marble, inset with opalescent chips of mother of pearl, forming a vast map of the star systems encompassed by the Alliance. The ceiling is a huge vaulted affair with a giant mosaic of the symbol for the Alliance, a massive star-dotted knot, pieced out on it in miniscule tiles. From the floor it appears to be one seamless design, although from the higher tiers of seats the individual tiles can be discerned. How metaphoric. The seating is arranged by planetary sector, with heavy oak desks and brushed steel seating designed for each delegate's racial preferences. The speaker's platform is a raised dais in the center of the circular room, and is provided with a dizzying array of microphones, projecting the occupant's voice not just into the huge chamber, but into security files, archival records, and of course various news agencies. A tallyboard is located along the back of one curved wall, noting the time left on pending votes, and which delegation has voted in which fashion.

Contents:

Riley

Obvious exits:

Atrium

You arrive from the Central Atrium.

Kyara arrives from the Central Atrium.

Kyara has arrived.

Niko lets out a low whistle as he comes into the room, clearly impressed despite himself. Then, however, he peers about the room, taking a closer look at his surroundings. "It's a very shiny place," he murmurs.

Kyara takes a few eager steps forward, eyes darting everywhere. "Hmmm. It is not quite as I'd imagined. Smaller." Glancing down she lets out a quiet exclamation of delight, and begins to prowl the room, identifying this star system and that. "An artist must have designed this place."

As predicted, the press folks in the press bays jump as the doors open. They relax realizing the new entrants to the room are not here for some un-announced vote or debate. Riley heads on into the general splendor of the Hall, looking decidedly shabby and out of place despite the overly formal daily Alliance uniforms. "It's a gorgeous room. The vids simply don't do it justice, but then they're usually focused on the people, not the architecture. Don't let the fancy look fool you though, this room's fully bomb and transmission proof. Hence why they keep the press in the bays."

Kyara glances inquiringly toward Riley. "Bombproof I can understand, but transmission proof?" She keeps her voice light, almost hiding the edge of confusion.

Niko, unlike the others, remains by the entrance, apparently content to view the room from there. He ceases his scrutiny at Kyara's inquiry, dark eyes turning towards her.

Riley hops lightly onto the speaker's dais, his reply to Kyara echoing out through dozens of carefully aimed speakers. "So no unauthorized recordings can be made or beamed out. Everything said in here is public record, including this random conversation. So that there's only one official archival source of record, no transmissions or recordings are allowed." He grins brightly before hopping back down, heading across the marble floor towards the door with a clicking of bootheels, "And this way they can edit history."

For the briefest of seconds, a mischievous look appears on Kya's face before being harshly repressed. At Riley's last sentence, however, she can't quite hide a frown. Shrugging, she turns to join Niko by the door. "History will always be written by the winners, indeed. A phrase in human culture as well as my own, if I'm not mistaken."

Niko says mildly, tone implying another quote, "God cannot alter the past, but historians can."

Riley snickers, adding a dry, "Amen," before heading back out of the Hall.

Riley heads towards the Central Atrium.

Riley has left.

You head towards the Central Atrium.

Central Atrium

The elevator is at floor number 4 (the doors are closed) and appears to contain no people.

Contents:

Riley

Obvious exits:

Elevator Arch Out Rec Hall Dining Meeting Hall Spaceport

You arrive from the Grand Hall.

Kyara arrives from the Grand Hall.

Kyara has arrived.

Riley pads for the main arch, threading his way through crowds returning from lunch at more interesting places than the dining hall. "On to the Pavilion then, I guess."

Kyara says "The... Pavilion?"

Niko, with an amiable nod, and a murmur of greeting for Andre and his grass, follows the padding Riley.

Riley nods amiably again, his hair floomphing. "Copper Hill's primary square. Buskers, street merchants, and when it rains a few dragons."

Riley heads towards the Massive Open Air Pavilion.

Riley has left.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Kyara heads towards the Massive Open Air Pavilion.

Kyara has left.

You head towards the Massive Open Air Pavilion.

Massive Open Air Pavilion

The sound of footsteps ring from these wide terra-cotta paving stones at all hours-- this pavilion is central to the life of a great many of those who live in Copper Hill Steading. It is protected from the worst of the elements by a massive onion dome over head. The dome is fashioned of lacquered wood, and is painted in bright swirling stripes of blue and green. There are no walls, as massive stone columns, painted in equally festive shades support the dome

Enterprising sales persons and street musicians are set up in scattered clumps beneath the pavilion's shelter. The sounds of their calls, and their myriad mix of musical styles, echoing against the lacquered wood high overhead create a melodious cacophony-- the echoes of which can be heard for miles.

Dominating the Pavilion's east end is the massive Alliance Complex, home to a myriad of diplomats and tradespeople from hundreds of worlds. It's a massive construction of mirror-bright black marble and sun-shielded plas-glas. Irregular in shape, it attests to the evolutionary construction of both the building and the Alliance itself.

Contents:

Kyara

Riley

Obvious exits:

Bonded GuildHall Java Quarter Complex Gate

You arrive from the Central Atrium.

Riley pauses as a group of small children run past, before continuing out into the crowd. "The weathers lovely today, so all the big critters'll be on the Bonded lawns." He gestures towards the GuildHall, "But when it rains, they tend to come sneak over here to chatter under the shelter. It gets quite cosmopolitan. They're a traffic hazard, but an amusing one."

Kyara blinks, eyes slowly adjusting to the brightness after the controlled light of the Complex. "It's very... intriguing," is the best comment she can come up with in a decent amount of time. "Big critters? Oh.. dragons? I read about those."

Niko takes a moment to peer over his shoulder at the Complex, wincing just a bit at the flash of sunlight on mirrored marble. Turning back to the others, he flashes a broad grin at a quartet of musicians, clearly approving of their song. "Marvelous," he says cheerfully, though whether he's lauding the musicians or the pavilion in general is unclear.

Riley continues making his way through the crowd, "Yeah, the dragons and the..." A large shadow passes overhead as a grypon wings beneath the dome, taking a short cut to the GuildHall, "The gryphons. They're native Linnaen races." He manages to wend his way to a sidestreet, turning onto it.

Riley heads towards the Java Quarter.

Riley has left.

You head towards the Java Quarter.

Java Quarter

In the very heart of the Java Quarter stands a massive granite fountain. Change glints in the basin, and a whimsically carved dragon basks amongst the pouring flows of water. A small faded plaque indicates it's a memorial of some kind. Around the fountain square lurk squat little buildings, each painted in a riot of colors and bedecked with curling wrought iron trim. Many years ago these were fine houses for people from outlying steadings coming to visit the capitol. Now they have been re-made into artist's studios, odd little stores, java shops, and bars.

The streets in this quarter are all of cobblestone, and earthenware pots are scattered at every corner. In these pots are planted quirky little topiary bushes. The streetlights are made to mimic old gas lantern-lights, and the street signs are of battered driftwood. A great deal of care has been taken to keep the flavor and charm of this district without sacrificing modern amenities. Small darkened 'alleys' lead off the narrow streets and between the cramped buildings. Dingy and with a flavor of great age to them, they're probably not the best place for tourists to go.

Contents:

Riley

Obvious exits:

Pavilion

You arrive from the Massive Open Air Pavilion.

Kyara arrives from the Massive Open Air Pavilion.

Kyara has arrived.

Niko, murmuring something about very sharp claws, picks up his formerly lagging pace so that he's at Riley's shoulder once more. "Charming," he murmurs, though his gaze flicks towards those alleys.

Riley glances back briefly to make sure he hasn't lost anyone before continuing, "This is the Java Quarter, quirky shops, some really fun places to eat, a bar or two worth the name, and far too many of those ridiculously trendy Java shops." Waving to a young woman waiting tables at an outdoor cafe he heads across the square.

A smile slowly lights up Kyara's face as she breaks off a bit to wander the square. "Now this is downright lovely." She pauses to glance down an alley and smoothly moves on to inspect the plaque on the fountain. "A bit hard to read.... have you any idea what this says?"

Niko, squinting towards one of the aforementioned java shops, blinks. "Starbucks. They really -are- everywhere." He hms a vague inquiry to Kyara's question.

At Kyara's question, Riley stops at the fountain. He grins wryly at the faded plaque, "It's a memorial to people who've drowned in fountains. The Java Quarter's an eccentric place."

Niko's eyebrows lift at that, and he moves to peer more closely at the plaque. "Eccentric," he repeats. "Well, yes. Hard to believe that fountain-drownings were that common, though. Seems like a person would have to try awfully hard to succeed at that."

Riley nods, his own expression one of faintly puzzled contemplation. "You would think. But it seems there was quite a rash of it at one point. This fountain's ancient, it predates Alliance presence on this world by centuries."

Kyara does the slightest of double-takes, eyes narrowing a bit as she glances toward Riley. Not quite sounding disbelieving, she suggests, "Perhaps they never had war heroes or great leaders to memorialize." Waving a hand toward the dingiest of the alleys, she inquires, "What's down there?"

Riley pauses a moment, noting quietly, "Either that or they didn't feel war should be held in honor, You never know. Linnaens are an odd bunch." At the question regarding the alleys he grins, "Our next destination." And with that he heads into a side alley.

Riley heads towards the Dark Alley.

Riley has left.

You head towards the Dark Alley.

Dark Alley

The rich java-colored cobblestones of the square fade to a dark, foreboding gray here in the alleyways. The antique looking lamps have been ditched for more practical luminous bulbs. The light fixtures, darkened by grime, were probably spread out to illuminate the alley at one point, but years of miscare have left the alley with poor lighting. Lining one side are the occasional trash containers, adjacent to metal doors on the opposite building. The dark and dingy alleyway branches here and there, leading to short dead-ends inhabitied by scurrying things and maybe a shuffling dark form.

The main alley ends at small arched entrance to a stairway. Made of stone, large slabs of granite crest the bottom edge of the opening. A few are missing, leaving gray holes where they used to fit snugly. Inside the stairway, flickering fluorescent lights play with shadows down the stairs. In the flickering light you can see where a piece or two of the ceiling tile has fallen. The smell of damp earth wafts up from the darkness.

Contents:

Riley

Obvious exits:

Causeway Java Quarter

You arrive from the Java Quarter.

Kyara arrives from the Java Quarter.

Kyara has arrived.

Riley pads through the filth of the alley, still as cheerful as before. "You've seen the Complex with its seas of polished marble and overdressed diplomats. This is one of a dozen or more ways into the Underground; where the real business gets done."

Niko's boots are never going to forgive Riley for this. They've lost a bit of their shine, by now, as Niko hasn't been overly careful of where steps. He seems only marginally aware of the boots, though, as the vast majority of his attention is actually on the alley. "The real business?" The faintest hint of disapproval tinges his tone. He likes -clean- places, see.

Kyara seems completely unaffected by Riley's comment on war and honor as she trails along behind the men. A subtle sniff or two produces a thoughtful expression, and her eyes narrow in on Riley fiercely. "The Underground? I thought that was a myth."

Riley descends down the treacherous stairs, his voice echoing back. "Where the under the table deals are made. Nope, no myth. And there're really gators in the sewers. Sorry, sometime truth -is- stranger than fiction."

Riley heads towards the Underground Causeway.

Riley has left.

You head towards the Underground Causeway.

Underground Causeway

This massive underground cavern is teeming with people of all shapes and forms. Richly clad diplomats mingle with smugglers in boots and denim and the homeless clad in rags. The Underground houses the forgotten people, the poor, the illegal, the disenfranchised. It is a far better representation of the Alliance than the starkly clean halls above, layered as it is with the refuse of so many cultures. Damp and dark, it is hardly a pleasant place, but it is a necessary one. The occasional Alliance Security officer treks through in uniform and is given a wide berth and unpleasant looks by the occupants. Their presence imparts the message that the Underground is accepted if not appreciated by the Alliance. Low openings lead into further caverns providing housing and shop space for these lost ones. If you can't find it anywhere else, you can probably find it here.

Contents:

Riley

Obvious exits:

Dank Housing Dim Bar Dark Alley Dingy Stairs

You arrive from the Dark Alley.

Kyara arrives from the Dark Alley.

Kyara has arrived.

Niko, noting the reaction to his uniform, is bright enough to keep his comments to himself, and his expression fairly neutral. His jaw tightens somewhat as he spots a diplomat, but, again, he holds his tongue.

Well no wonder Riley look mildly rumpled. If he spends much time down here it's a miracle he's as pressed as he is. Still ambling, he looks as comfortable down here as he does in the polished halls above. The occasional individual makes as if to wave, then spots the uniform and quickly looks away. "Welcome to the Underground. The only place where the Alliance ideals of equality are real. The only thing that matters here is the almighty giro."

Kyara's expression is one of shock. "I haven't seen anything like this since... I'm surpised the Alliance allows this to exist." She edges away a bit, feeling the negative attitude toward her companions.

Niko's curt nod is a clear statement of his agreement with Kyara's words, though he still doesn't actually verbalize said agreement. He rubs briefly at the back of his neck, shoulders straightening--perhaps as a rebellion against his instinct to hunch them.

Riley hmphs softly, heading down the causeway. For once he doesn't have to pick his way through the crowd. The crowd is quite willing to move out of his and Niko's way. "It's all but sanctioned. When I first came here I tried to shut the whole mess down. I was wide-eyed and full of myself, thinking this was a peach of an assignment. The Council came down on me like a ton of bricks. The third halfblack on my record." And since two is enough to get you cashiered, that's saying something. "The Alliance couldn't function without this place." He heads towards the dim bar, obviously insane.

Riley walks towards the The Vault.

Riley has left.

You walk towards the The Vault.

The Vault

Hints of former splendor are visible here and there in this seedy dive of a place. While the majority of the structure was demolished to construct the Complex, the basement and vault complex remain of this old Linnaen bank. The floor may once have been black and white tile, but now so much dirt and discarded refuse is littered along it, only hints of its glory can be seen. The bar itself is a massive length corrugated plas-steel set up in front of the old vault. The vault's door is mostly closed, and occasionally people slip back into it. Rickety tables are set up at various intervals, although most folks ignore them in favor of rather dark, rank booths set up along the walls. The lighting is flickering at best, and coupled with the thick smoke, visual acuity is hard to come by in this place. This is where the folks who make the Underground their home do their business, and it's not exactly a friendly welcoming place.

Contents:

Riley

Aaron Dimitri

Obvious exits:

Causeway

You walk here from the Underground Causeway.

Kyara walks here from the Underground Causeway.

Kyara has arrived.

Riley looks faintly amused by the displeased looks he's garnering, wandering through this dingy hole like some kind of tour guide. "This's the Vault. I wouldn't suggest doing any drinking here till you've been onworld a week or so. Give you full time for your immunizations to kick in. We get called in here a lot to haul drunken delegates back upstairs. They disturb the peace of the poor smugglers and black marketeers."

Kyara gazes around, wide-eyed. "Talk about feeling over-dressed," she mumbles, now actually making sure she's never more than a couple of feet from the security officers. Then Riley goes and causes her to gape unabashed. "Smugglers and...? How is -this- essential to the Alliance's continued existence?"

Riley grins broadly, shrugging. To him it's all some big surreal joke. "I have -no- idea, Kya. But that's why I'm not a diplomat. Or at least so I'm told. I'm given to understand the diplomats can't engage in certain vital political activities upstairs. Hence the Underground is allowed to thrive, supported on their giros being pumped into the bars, brothels, and illegal trade. It's not really sane. But wait, it gets better." With that he turns and leaves the bar.

Riley walks towards the Underground Causeway.

Riley has left.

Niko mutters, "There's more?" He shakes his head, following.

You walk towards the Underground Causeway.

Underground Causeway

Contents:

Riley

Obvious exits:

Dank Housing Dim Bar Dark Alley Dingy Stairs

You walk here from the The Vault.

Kyara walks here from the The Vault.

Kyara has arrived.

Kyara strides out, shaking her head. "What could be worse than that?"

Riley heads to a set of filthy stairs heading upwards. With a broad grin at the lunacy of it all, he takes the stairs two at a time out of habit. Poor Kyara, having to keep up with two long-legged types.

Riley climbs up the dingy stairs.

Riley has left.

You climb a long set of dingy stairs, taking you well up into the Complex.

Poorly Lit Hallway

This hall is particularly uninteresting. It's rather vague, and quite dingy. The walls are a gunmetal gray in color and the lighting overhead is of the fluorescent variety. Approximately half the bulbs have burned out or are flickering out of existence. It's some kind of access corridor by the markings. One end of it wends its way to the elevator lobby. The other ends in a dingy stairway, obviously as poorly maintained as the hallway. Sound is oddly muffled here; even speech seems dimmed.

Contents:

Riley

Obvious exits:

Dingy Stairway Elevator Lobby

Kyara comes up the dingy stairs.

Kyara has arrived.

Riley doesn't comment, he just keeps grinning and heads down the hall.

Riley walks towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

Riley has left.

Kyara walks towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

Kyara has left.

You walk towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

Second Floor Elevator Lounge

Despite being one of the major hubs of activity in the Complex, few people linger here. While there are usually people present, usually they are on their way to someplace else. The lobby is nice enough, with broad tapestries hung on richly paneled walls, and floors of veined black marble; but it is simply too busy for most people to stop and chat in. The occasional tasteful potted plant lurks in the corners, and large mirrors are hung near the elevators for passing lobbyists to check their appearances before descending to the main level. Corridors lead to the northeast and southwest.

Contents:

Kyara

Riley

Obvious exits:

Elevator General Housing Library Security Maintenance Medical

You walk here from the Poorly Lit Hallway.

Kyara blinks. A lot. Then she lets out a soft snort. "Easy access?"

Riley leans against the doorjamb to Security, "Kinda surreal, eh? THe biggest Security leak in the building...And look where it comes out..."

Niko, unlike Riley, is very obviously -not- amused by the lunacy of it all. "How was this allowed to happen?" he inquires, accent suddenly a stronger presence in his voice.

Riley brushes lightly at a smudge on one sleeve, "I had it opened. They were going to have an entrance from the Complex whether I liked it or not. Better one I can keep an eye on, than one I have to go out of my way to watch."

Niko acknowledges the sense of that with a grudging nod, though he's still quite obvious about the fact that he doesn't like it.

Kyara glances toward Niko, amusement briefly in her eyes, then laughs quietly. "They give you enough exercise without needing that much more, Chief Addison?"

Riley repeats his gesture from before, one hand across his heart, fingers spread. It's accompanied by another near-bow. His formality is however eradicated by the frivolity of his tone, "Bingo." He nods to Niko, acknowledging the other mans dislike of the situation, he was the same way once. He adds with seeming lightness, "Better the enemy you know after all..." His gaze turns fully on Kyara, one chocolate eyebrow lifted wryly, "Than the one you don't, eh?"

Kyara chuckles, inclining her head slightly. "Indeed. And even then you'd best always watch your back, yes?"

Riley returns his hands to his pockets, conceding the point with another half-bow; this one perhaps a bit lower than the others. "It's always a good policy to do so here. The Complex is quite...complex. Okay, that's cheesy, but it's true."

Niko, after a nod of acknowledgement to Kyara's statement, happens to catch sight of his boots, and the decided lack of shine there. He forbears to sigh, though, instead sliding his hands into his pockets, as if the de-shining of his boots relieves him somewhat of his formality. "Aptly named," he murmurs.

Kyara laughs. "Quite alright. I'm fond of cheese." She glances toward Niko, her expression taking on a bit of sympathy. "What is?"

Niko removes a hand from a pocket to gesture vaguely. His words suggest that this vague gesture is meant to encompass the entire area. "The Complex."

Kyara ohs, blushing slightly. Of course, in her case, 'slightly' denotes a shade akin to an ancient fire truck. "Would that be all of the tour then, sir?"

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Riley nods simply, straightening up from his leaning position. "Those're the high points, there's mazes upon mazes more, but I'd lose my reputation for being every at once if I showed -all- my shortcuts."

Kyara chuckles. "You keep your men on their toes, do you?"

Niko chuckles quietly at Riley's statement, though the chime distracts him briefly. Brows migrating slowly upwards at Kyara's comment, he waits for the response.

Riley pauses to consider that a moment, looking thoughful. "I guess, I prefer to keep the bad guys on their toes instead."

Niko says drolly, "Speaking on behalf of the good guys, yay."

Kyara tilts her head thoughtfully. "Considering what's allowed to breed here," she nods in the vague direction of the Vault et al, "I'm not sure what you'd consider 'bad'."

The elevator goes "ping" as it goes down past this floor.

Riley grins wryly, "Depends on the Chairman, and we're in an Interegnuum. We'll have to see."

Niko shakes his head fractionally, squelching his ethical protests into a small box. "Do you need me for anything else, Chief? I have a bit of correspondence I should probably complete."

Kyara nods, absorbing that. "Interesting how one's opinions can change depending on the political clime."

Riley shakes his head, "Nope, just check in with the office for your schedule, Niko." He grins ruefully, obviously mildly embarrassed, "Once you're in the military, your opinions are no longer wholey your own."

Niko nods in an apparent agreement with Riley's words, though not quite a pleased agreement. "Office, check. Thanks for the tour," he says briskly. "Kyara, it was nice meeting you. I'm sure I'll see you around the complex."

Kyara chuckles wryly. "The military, diplomacy, all the same." She turns her full attention on Niko, smiling warmly. "I certainly hope so."

Niko, returning the smile rather boyishly, nods to Kyara, then turns to start bargaining with the elevator for a quick and speedy passage.

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