Out of Pod Experience

*Indahmawar Fazmarai is seated alone at the caldarium of the Kaltana Roman Baths. The room is a good imitation of ancient structures, with a cupola on one end of the room, hovering over a shallow bathtube and some steps. False sunlight enters through a skylight, and there is a small circular pool with hot water on the opposite end of the room. Indahmawar is nude, but she's keeping a towel by her and grabs it as she hears steps. A figure trespasses the door into the dimly lit pool end of the room, and closes into the better lit cupola end until Indahmawar can see his face.

- H.! You here!
- I myself, sweetheart. How are you doing? And why that towel?
- Didn't know who was... why aren't you at the fight? Surely Ishtanchuk will love to see you.
- Oh, my sense said that I was better needed here.
- Your sense, my...
- Well, actually, I saw you get in, asked a bit and figured you would be here in that lovely skin dress...
- You're the lecherous one... don't even dream to remove that towel!
- Just a bit impish, sweetheart. But not enough to not notice those sorrowful eyes. What's going on?
- I had news from my mother... haven't shared with Ish, but my sister Pedughan and her huband had set a interview with a Preserver in the Amarr empire, to see what the wise man could do about my mother's disease.
- Oh, yes, i think you already told me that... she's suffering RGD 503, right? Nasty stuff, incurable and such... right?
- Yes, Incurable and deadly -Indahmawar's eyes shined as tears started gathering on them-. So they...we... hoped that maybe a Preserver would know a way to deal with RGD 503, but that's not the case. Ish and I already suspected, but mom is so down now... they had hopes and lost them. And we... we don't tell them...
- Wait, wait, i'm losing my thread here. Weren't you and Ishtanchuk up to something?
- Yes, we... Ish... she figured a way to deal with the disease. She contacted some Sansha agents and they offered us the use of a technology they owe, to grow perfect and healthy clones from a single cell rather than manufacture them on organic matherial as usual clones. It's slow and ilegal and expensive, specially as Ish has killed many Sansha and they're extorting us.
- Yes, so that's why you asked em if i could spare some money, right?
- Well, we understad you've been busy with the war at Fountain...
- Heh, don't get me started. I've compromised to help some friends with their move but that won't be easy. And I kind of lost a POS unless I can reach an agreement... well. Nullsec politics. You know how that goes. I wish I could be of help...
- Nevermind, Ish is managing the issue on her own, running missions like crazy... we're about to pay the first bonus as they're gonna give birth to 10 promising candidates. They lost 18 of 100 during fetal growth and then they're gonna develop the newborns until they're the equivalet to 6 month old... and wll kill 7 and keep only 3. I can't... get over it... but it''s how it's done and they're...
- Nasty stuff, i see why it's ilegal. So you're dealing with the mafia, right?
- The what?
- Heh, an old word for organized criminal gangs.
- Oh. I guess they are. But they're not actual Sansha, just commoners. They had a setup in Caldari space and the demise of Heth's mandate has left them exposed, so they're starting up in Gallente space... with OUR money.

H. started laughing and Indah objected:

- What's so funny?
- Oh my, I can figure if Police learned of that... The Fazmarai Cousins, notorious gangsters! They're armed and dangerous! Arrest on sight!
- I don't see what's funny... they're true criminals.
- Mmkay, but you, we, are not exactly sheeps neither. Capsuleers are way too much for commonners.
- I don't feel like that. And anyway our flight license expired.
- Yours and Yiole's?
- Ish is working hard to pay the Sanha agents... I never had a source of regular income and Yiole has been staying alot arund here with Random.
- Who?
- A sort of boyfriend she's got...
- Oh, that interests me! So now our big Yiole has got a swetheart?
- Don't know exactly, but whatever the case, we were talking about Ish and me...
- Oh, how rude i am... so you're dealing with those Sansha agents? And what will be next?
- At some point, we'll have to tell my mother what's been going on... and convince her to use a clone.
- Is she conservative?
- Don't know... but I don't see how she would... she must agree. But she then... she would be dead, in our view.. The religious view, your soul doesn't carries into a new body, period. This is why Ish has been a tad erratic since her original body died. But then, why should we just let my mother die... completely? And what if there was no soul? Or it could carry with your... mind? And what if she opposes and resigns herself to die?
- Doh, you're too philosophical, sweetheart. I mean, the Amarran and Khanid and Ni-Kuni...

But Indahmawar was no longer listening. She started weeping quietly, and H. was baffled for a while. Then he braced her shoulders and allowed her to lean on his shoulder. Her body heat was quite uncomfortable in the high temperature of the caldarium, and also H. had to fight against the desire to kiss and caress her. Was he supposed to be a just-a-friend? Probably, as she looked like something he couldn't withstand -just a poor little girl, hapless and full of sorrow. And damn hot in every meaning...

- Don't this place have a thermostat? -said H., but the shaky warm figure leaning on him and covering him in sweat and tears just kept sobbing-. "No triki-triki today, neither" -thought H. to himself, hoping she wouldn't mind the lump in his towel as much as he had wished earlier that she noticed and used it...

Bump

*Mumbles*

I Don't Like him

Suddenly the backdoor falls open and several Kaltanas enter the bars interiour. Giggling an gabbling, only barely clothed with towels wrapped briefly around their nude bodies, they quickly form up a cloud around the new and apparently irritated borman.

"Oh hey, are you new?"..."That must be the new guy, Ish told us about!!"..."He looks so stern..."..."Oh is that Java coffee??"..."Why's your waitress looking so bemused?"..."Hey Alice!!"..."Oh, are you a former Guristas?"..."What do you mean with not properly clothed??"..."We can take them off if you feel better then!"...

Succus sees no other escape than to rush back to the counter, quickly offering the Kaltamassacre free Java coffee until the mad bloodhorses are taking their seats in a line well-behaved, while slurping the delicious hot brew.

(Meta: Because every bor needs a barman, Succus is the first public NPC at TGFB. Use him and his... skills... as you see fit. He's rumored to know a lot on drinks, foods, bars and more, and to always land on his feet -his former masters never had an objection in 40 years... but don't ask him so he won't lie to you)

A group of tired janitors enters the bar, coming from the multipurpose room. They've been struggling with the solidified Nutella, which has proven to be refractory to every cleaning product and so it's being slowly and painstakingly cut to pieces and removed from the wasted mudwrestling ring.

- So how is that going? -asks one of the waitresses.
- Horrendous. That thing will just bounce when you try to cut it... what happened with it?
- Apparently they heated it for days and just got mixed with coolant and cooled out.
- God. Luckily it didn't became self-aware, albeit it's got enough primal inteligence to hate us... what nasty, nasty stuff...
- Bartender, the mistress said we could have a drink each two hours... -said the janitors' foreman.
- Soft drinks, infusions and water, yes. Mistress Fazmarai was very clear about not providing any alcohol -answered Succus.
- Heh, the generosity of capsuleers baffles me...
- We have alcohol-free beer. 71 brands at the moment, and 52 more to come once I get my shipments sorted.
- Holy...! Can we have a pint of each?
- Not all at once, but we can work that out if you pay for each pint beyond the gratuity...
- 71 brands of alcohol-free beer alone...

The janitors start drinking, each one a different brand, and Succus makes sure they will taste the poorer ones only after they've had a few pints of the best ones...

Seated at the Owner's Table on the second floor of the Bar, the Fazmarai cousins are having a late dinner, consisting of grilled vegetables and half a baked potatoe each. "Aunt" Mae, the head waitress, brings some olive oil and salt to season the potatoes.

- Do you want anything else, Fazmarai ladies?
- No, that's all, Mae. May you ask Succus to bring us some tea later?
- I will not have tea, Ish, just a decaf caffe latte.
- Noted, Miss Indahmawar.
- Thank you, Aunt Mae. I'm sad we had you working until this late...
- Oh, it's not that late, Miss Indahmawar.
- Thank you, Mae -says Ishtanchuk as she leaves.

The cousins eat in silence, Ish overlooking the Bar below. Succus is busy serving some drinks at the counter, but also manages to boil a teapot and start up the coffee machine to serve the masters' beverages once they're done dining.

- Did you talk with my mother, Ish? -asks Indahamwar
- About the Preserver? Yes, I did. She's quite down from what i saw.
- I think, shouldn't we...?
- Please, not now, Indah. I've got an appointment with the Sansha agnts in a few days. They've been doing their part and we have been doing ours. And once we got that clone, then we will forward it as a fait accompli.
- Maybe she will need some time to consider...
- Consider what, Indah? That we're spending nearly 7 billion dealing with a criminal organization to get a cure for her? Seriously, i don't want to talk that now.
- I'm sorry, H. came to meet me and I just...
- You just talked about it and probably ended up cyring on his shoulder, albeit he likely had some other plans.
- You don't need to be rude, Ish -said Indahmawar, speaking softly.
- I'm sorry. Indah. But seriously, all these missions, they're extenuating. I barely earned 7 billion in the last 2 years, now I must earn that amount in 6 months. Some agents have actually run out of work for me. And each week, I funnel yet some more money into those Sansha types' accounts. And I'm going to ask to see the clones.
- You want to see them?
- I want to see what happens if I ask that. This is not the Caldari operation. My sources still don't have independent confirmation on the new setup.

A waitress came in, bringing the tea and the caffe latte as ordered, and Ish remained silent while she served. When the waitress left, Indahmawar said:

- Ish, I don't want to keep doing nothing. Please, could you find a way so I... was of service? It's my mother!

Ishtanchuk Fazmarai looked above her cup and into her young cousin's eyes. Indah saw on her face a love exprssion and Ish said:

- Ok, I'll try to think something, OK? We'll get out of this together, Mawi.
- Indah, call me Indah... Corrina.
- Indah, yes -said Ishtanchuk, leaving the cup on the table and caressing Indahmawar's cheek. Then Indah kissed her hand before she moved it away.
- I love you, Ish.
- I love you too, Indah. I'm glad that you're my cousin.
- Me too...

Then they remained silent for a while, as Ish pondered what was her role, as someone who had always been by Indah as she grew, then left, and which returned like a whirlwind of chaos and disorder. Was she responsible for Indah's lack of definition? But Ish already had many things to think about and didn't wanted to worry Indahmawar with frowning. Indahmawar finished her caffe latte and waited for Ish to end her cup of tea, and then both walked to their respective appartments, accompanied by the quiet noises and soft voices of late night at The Greater Fool Bar.

Ishtanchuk Fazmarai enters the Bar and looks casually at the main counter, to check any news with Succus. Yet instead of Succus, she sees a different person. Closing in to investigate, Ishtanchuk sees a young folk behind the counter, and as light hits him fully, she is shocked. The young man behind the bar is wearing an amazing amount of piercings on his face, and haves the left side of the head almost shaved whereas the right half has long hair, dyed blue in irregular strokes. He's wearing a black leather jacket full of patches and as Ish reaches the bar, she notices how the young man is also wearing many rings in his hands and a necklace made out of bicycle brake wire, with a large plate of twisted metal hanging from it as a medallion.

- Who... WHO ARE YOU?
- Hi, Mistress Fazmarai. I am Twinkle -says the young man, smiling and tilting his head in an absurd angle.
- Where is Succus?
- He's not here.
- And who are you?
- I am Twinkle.
- No, I mean what are you doing here?
- I am replacing Succus until he's back.
- But I didn't hire you! And I'm not paying you!
- Doesn't matter, I substitute Succus when he's not here -Twinkle speaks slowly in a delicate high pitched voice, always smiling and tilting his head each now and then.
- OK, get out of there, I'll take care of the bar.
- Not necessary, mistress Fazmarai, I take care of the bor while Succus is away.
- OK, but you both will have to explain some things to me later...
- Maybe he can explain now -says Twinkle, pointing to the backrooms as Succus enters the bar. He's accompanied by two young Kaltanas, so similar that could be twins, and each of them taller than him by a head. Succus is wearing his usual tuxedo trousers and also the jacket, open on the blue vest. Apparently he's leading both young Kaltanas, holding their hands, and they smile shily as Succus takes them to a table.

- Now, you will wait, aspettare, here, until Mistress Kaltana, signora Kaltana, comes to get you. Be nice, essere gentile, while you are here.

Then Succus grabs each young Kaltana behind their knees, efortlessly lifting them as they keep their balance with their delicate hands on Succus' shoulders, and then they bend back and place their nice round rears on the table and seat there.

- And now, a kiss, bacio, and say good bye.

The first young Kaltana bends forward and kisses Succus' lips for exactly 3 seconds, then she takes a napkin and cleans lipstick from Succus' mouth. Then she says:

- Addio, nonno Sucus.

Then the second young Kaltana bends forward and kisses Succus' lips for exactly 3 seconds, then she takes a napkin and cleans lipstick from Succus' mouth and says:

- Addio, nonno Sucus.

Succus takes out his jacket and hangs it by the bar, then he greets Ishtanchuk:

- Good morning, mistress Fazmarai.
- Good morning, Succus -says Ish, astonished.
- Good morning, Twinkle. All well?
- All well, Succus.
- May I be of service, mistress Fazmarai?
- Huh... no, Succus, you can go back to your duties...

Ishtanchuk looks at the two tame Kaltanas, so pretty and still, waiting patiently until someone picks them, and decides she'll be best to not know what happened, specially as the Kaltanas are not wearing anything else than make up...

- Uber-koool!! -announces Twinkle, tilting his head almost horizontal in admiration.
- That's a Dual Light Pulse Laser... in my Bar... -says Ish, in case someone could not notice the deadly machine standing in the room.
- We won't clean the mess! We-ain't-cleaning-anything! -says the janitor foreman, struggling to see amid the vanishing vapors.
- So, what's going on? -asks Succus, barely batting an eyelash.
- Tee-hee -say the young Kaltanas from their table.
- Girl, you better do sum 'splaining -says "Aunt" Mae.

Laude smiles and grabs her specs, covering her white-circled eyes...

*Is running a betting game with straws from the bar, shooting bits of paper at the wall close as possible to Alice's head without her noticing*

The world around Jill faded from pitch black non-existence to a sharp realisation that she has just awoken from a very deep dreamless sleep.

- whaa ... where ... ?

Jill was suddenly beset by that awful feeling when your brain pushes against your skull from the inside and the room around you spins horizontally.

"Great I'm hung over ..." Jill mumbled to herself while her stomach made the attempt to squeeze itself like a Boa Constrictor squeezes its prey. She pushed herself up, just enough to rest on her ellbows. The room was still moving to her inner ear, allthough Jill tried to keep the room steady in her mind by squinting through her barely open eyelids.

Suddenly there was a blaring sound that kicked Jill's survival instinct into overdrive. The military training she has had as a sixteen year old made her flip sidewise out of the bunk she was lying in and fall flat on her chest. Both her hands were flat on the ground slightly below her shoulders, ready to give maximum pushing force, in case she needed to jump up ...

"Calm down Jill ! ... and room, stop f'ing spinning already !" Jill had no memory of the last few hours, but she instinctively new what must have happened. She must have gotten so drunk last night, that she passed out. Some kind soul from The Greater Fool Bar must have booked a room for her and put her in that bunk that she had just "escaped" so suddenly.

Then the ear shattering sound went off again. Was this room close to the outer ring of the station, and somebody was attacking the station ? Ever since the Malkalen incident, you couldn't rule out those kind of stupidity.

Jill slowly crawled up until she was kneeling, with the front of her head still resting on the cold floor.

"Yeah .... that's better."

---

A couple of minutes later Jill felt confident that she could stand up without vomiting or falling and splitting her skull open on some furniture. She noticed she was still fully dressed from the day before. Except for a mild headache and a dry throat, everything seemed quite allright. Well everything, except that nerve wrecking sound that she still couldn't figure out.

At that moment a computer console next to the bed chirped, announcing a pending communication.

"Can't be for me, can it ?" hesitantly Jill waved her hand in front of the invisi-screen(tm) to open the channel. The face which appeared on the screen had Jill gazing in shock and sobered her up by at least 50%.