EVE Fiction

Clellinon VI, Obray, Verge Vendor
He raised the glass of dark liquid to his mouth and took a sip, relishing the warm feeling of the Caldari rum as it went down. Opening his eyes he let them wander around the familiar bar. He had known this place for a long time. The Centre for Advanced Studies had been his home his whole life.

The bar was busy tonight. There were dozens of newly born Capsuleers, very few of them older than he was. They were still full of the wonder of their new lives as he was. Then there were the ‘Born Agains’, Capsuleers whose consciousness had transferred over to fresh new clones with new identities. This was usually because their old clones were too well known or because they had too much time on their hands.

His father had once told him about Capsuleers whose consciousness inhabited more than one clone simultaneously, though he couldn’t quite grasp the concept of that just yet as he was still getting used to his first clone body.

He took another sip from the glass as his attention was drawn to the shadowed corners and alcoves where veteran Capsuleers nursed quiet drinks alone or traded stories of their recent exploits with one another but largely steering clear of the new clones.

Then a loud cheer arose from the corner farthest from him, a group of new born were gathered around a large wall-mounted viewscreen. The GX tournament was being broadcast live from the city of Caille on Gallente Prime. A deadly sport mainly played by Capsuleers, high-tech cycles armed and armoured racing around a series of courses lined with obstacles, hazards and the other riders. He hadn’t been following this tournament but it would no doubt be a close call between Riodan and Trey Callister, it nearly always was.

He glanced briefly at his chronometer strapped to his left wrist and then drained his glass. There was time for another. He brought up the holo-menu on the table’s display area and ordered another glass of Caldari rum. He had acquired a taste for it in his exam years in this very bar. He had always had a fascination for the Capsuleers and was the only member of his group of friends who had dared to come here.

A droid painted in the Gallente colours served his drink. He took a sip of the dark liquid and relaxed. Absently his mind wandered on inane thoughts that were quickly forgotten as he watched the viewscreen. A rider in a green heavily armoured cycle activated their turbo and shot up a ramp and over the pink cycle that had been in the lead. This prompted a hail of projectiles from the pink cycles assault guns that bounced harmlessly off the green.

He viewed it all dispassionately as his mind was elsewhere. A lot had happened in the last half a month and he had learned so much. He now owned several ships and was raking in the ISK, though more was to be earned once he had finished the career paths.

He took another sip. His tolerance to alcohol had increased since becoming a Capsuleer. A lot of things had changed since he had stepped into that medical facility. His memory dredged up the events of two days prior, the solar energy array that was under attack from Serpentis raiders, he took out two of them easy enough but the one that got away had deployed a shredder charge that took out the array and the thousand or so mortal souls that were on board.

He didn’t feel anything about the loss of the people on the array. He was more annoyed that the one raider had escaped, though he was being tracked. The raider would get what he deserved, eventually.

A louder cheer came from the new born as the GX race was won, though he didn’t bother to glance over to see who the winner was. He took a deeper sip of his drink to the halfway point. Someone was yelling about buying a round. He thought about having a third but he was on a schedule.

His chronometer started to beep. He downed the rest of the sweet dark rum and silenced the alarm. Rising from the table he made his way out of the CAS bar just as a quartet started playing pre-Nascent Era indie music.

The bar was on one of the highest levels of the station, a privilege of being a Capsuleer. This high up the ceiling still only showed a projection of the night sky as seen from Clellinon VI. The stations humidifiers were simulating a cool summer’s night and it felt good against his exposed arms. He could hear the sound of crickets though he doubted there were actually any on the station.

He walked quickly towards the park passing only a few people, one of which was walking a pugdle, ugly little flat faced critters that some Gallente kept as pets. The idea of a pet had never really appealed to him. After a few turns he entered the park and took in the scent of freshly cut grass. Looking around the mostly empty park he saw her leaning against a green neon column. The light reflected off her smooth skin. Like him she wore a black vest top and combats. Her dog tags hung outside her top draped over her firm breasts that looked ready to burst out from the top.

He approached her and she happily greeted him with a kiss.
“I wasn’t sure you’d come.”
“We had a date Mya. I would never stand a lady up.” He said.
“Who says I am a lady?”
“You’re a lady unless you prove otherwise.” He flirted
“Then I’d best get proving.”
He took her in his arms.
“My place isn’t far.” He said.
“Good, I’ve already had a long enough walk today.”
With his arm around her waist he led her out the other side of the park through pathways flanked by imported Aborah Trees from the world that the station orbited, the leaves of which glowed faintly as they passed adding their soft blue glow to the light pink moonlight.

Great narrative!

:D