*image ch1_header1.jpg As your transport shuttle hisses into the docking area, and the tinted dome that covers your group pulls back to reveal a deep, purple sky, you realize you've been holding your breath. Finally, you've made it to Doldes. You never thought it would actually happen. Even when the recruitment officers came to your home. Even when they told your parents about your Em-Sec scores. Even when you waved goodbye to your little sister, Esme, who tried to hide her tears and put on a brave face as she watched you leave her behind. You simply assumed that you would wake up at home, in your familiar bed, to find it was all a dream. Now, with reality washing you in its regal, amaranthine light, your mind struggles to find a place for all of the emotions you're experiencing. You feel a lump rising in your throat, but, like Esme, you pull it back down and away, instead just smiling. You are about to begin a new life. A better life. *page_break You had been told stories about Doldes, and you'd seen the picture books your Grandfather would bring on his visits, but nothing could have prepared you for the awe-striking beauty you would encounter as you disembarked from the shuttle. The lush, blue-green grass is dappled with vibrant flora in every hue, reminding you of the paintings your human ancestors left behind. Beings of all shapes, colors, and sizes mill about the courtyard on their way to their important jobs and fulfilling social engagements. Great spires rise from the ground, reaching so far into the violet sky that you can hardly see their pinnacles through the atmospheric mist that hangs like a halo over the planet. Certainly you knew there would be a purple sky instead of the blue and white to which you are accustomed, but something about this light is making you feel sort of strange. At first, there's a slight burning in your eyes, as though you've accidentally gotten shampoo in them. The burning quickly intensifies, however, and your head begins to pound as the astounding world in front of you becomes a darkening vignette. You continue walking, but stumble, your eyes now feeling like two hot coals burning through your skull. You try to make your way through the docking area, but instead you just lean against the wall, your pulse pounding in your ears. You look up and can barely make out a child-like frame bounding toward you, shouting in an incomprehensible language and waving dramatically at the small cross-body bag draped across your chest. *line_break What's going through your mind? *fake_choice #[i]My bag?[/i] *goto bag #[i]I knew this place would be the death of me![/i] *goto death #[i]Am I about to get mugged on top of everything else?[/i] *goto mugged *label bag [i]My bag![/i] Your escort gave it to you before you got on the shuttle back home! There must be something in there to help! You try to reach into it, but your vision is too blurred and dark to see what you're doing. What seems like hours pass and you finally get a hand inside to fumble through the various implements, but it's no use. Everything fades to black, and you stand there in the darkness like an animal about to be attacked. *line_break *goto saved *label death You just didn't think it would be so soon. You try to relax your body, letting the darkness overcome you. You can feel hot tears welling in your blind eyes. This isn't what you wanted. *line_break *goto saved *label mugged Even though you can hear your own heartbeat drumming in your ears, you feel the corners of your mouth turn up into a slight smile. The comedy of the situation, as desperate as it is, is not lost on you. Blinded and mugged in your first minutes on Doldes? You'll have one hell of a story once this is all over. . . If you survive. *line_break *goto saved *label saved Just then, the small body rushing toward you collides with your own, knocking you into the wall with surprising force. You feel tiny, deft hands moving to your bag as you try to make out what's happening. The voice is high-pitched and urgent, but the sounds it makes are entirely foreign to you. [i]Why is this happening?[/i], you wonder. [i]Is this what people on Doldes do? Do they see a weakness and immediately exploit[/i][i] it? What[/i] [i]was I thinking coming here?[/i] As your thoughts tumble into a stream of self-pity and disbelief, you snap back into the moment when you feel something being inserted into your ear, and notice that, suddenly, you can understand the person on top of you. "Are you trying to permanently damage yourself or something? Didn't they give you the standard Doldes Arrival Safety Protocol speech? I swear, these Outies keep getting dumber and dumber, and. . . " *page_break In the middle of the tirade, you feel something being placed over and across your eyes. The next moment, your would-be attacker is back on their feet. The pain in your eyes and head begins to recede and your vision, though still a bit murky, returns enough for you to see them standing over you. Her proportions are like those of a child, yet something about her face seems very mature. She has bluish, almost translucent skin and eyes that are nearly the same hue as the dangerous light of Doldes that put your here. You wonder for a moment if they'd have the same effect if you stared at them too long. The top of her head is quaffed in short, stylish tendrils that frame her otherworldly face, and you can't help but smile at the idea that even those on another world could get bed head. For all of her biological beauty, her clothes are oddly drab. A simple, off-white tunic drapes over one shoulder, covering her down to her knees. Her bare feet seem especially strange, given that you are in such a large city. Surely she must step on the odd piece of glass or an errant stone in the path on occasion. *fake_choice #"Who are you and what did you do to me?" *set esperith -2 *set guard +2 #"Well, hellooooo there. And who might you be?" *set esperith + 5 *set sexuality + 3 #"I don't care who you are, you saved me!" *set esperith -3 *set guard - 2 #Say nothing *set guard + 5 "I'm Esperith, and I just saved your eyes, stupid!" she replies, looking up and away from you as though she's embarrassed to be seen there. She only remains that way for a few moments, though, before looking back to you and sighing. "I put in your translator and covered your eyes with the safety film that was provided in your arrival bag." All at once, you flash back to your escort handing you the bag and beginning a lengthy speech about safety and the proper Doldesian protocol. A wave of hot embarrassment crashes over you when you realize that, in your excitement, you went completely into your own head and missed the entire spiel. *page_break After a few moments. . . Your vision is finally back to normal, save for the slight darkening due to the protective film that now covers your eyes. Esperith leans against the wall, waiting for you to regain your sight and composure. As she regards the courtyard, you can't help but watch her. As small as she is, she possesses a certain regalness that commands respect. It certainly doesn't hurt that she is genuinely beautiful to look at. Her soft, petite features contrast the sharp determination in her eyes, giving her a mystique the likes of which you've never encountered. You begin to wonder about her life here on Doldes, and what your life will be like, as well. Your mind wanders between thoughts until you hear a small, agitated grunt. Immediately you snap back, only to find that you're being confronted by Esperith's pretty, childlike face. "It's likely that you've never seen a Losthesian before, but it's still considered rude to stare, Outie!" Her voice is filled with disdain. With your thoughts elsewhere, your eyes must have remained fixed on her the whole time. Given that she's just saved you from a horrible fate, how do you respond? *set met_esperith true *choice #Give her a genuine compliment on her features *goto compliment #Comment on how strange she seems to you *goto strange #Make a joke at your own expense *goto joke #Apologize flatly *goto apology *label compliment "I couldn't help myself," you say as your eyes make one more journey from top to bottom, "I've just never seen anything so breathtakingly beautiful in all my life." You mentally pat yourself on the back for being so charming, but when you see her expression, you wish you could smack yourself instead. Her smooth, lovely face is scrunched into an angry scowl, and her breathing is quick and uneven. You have obviously hit a nerve. *set esperith + 10 *set sexuality + 5 *line_break *goto porter *label strange Though you're not sure how it'll be received, you feel like you should at least be honest with her. "I don't mean to, but I really have only ever seen other Delhumans up close. You're so different that I got caught up in it." A thoughtful look comes over her, and she nods at you in approval. "At least you're honest. I don't get that much from the usual Outie masses." *set esperith - 10 *set guard - 5 *line_break *goto porter *label joke "Well, you know us Delhumans! We're not exactly known as the most tactful creatures in the TI, right?" You put on a big, cheesy grin and wait. She lets out another small grunt, but follows up with a tiny chuckle. "A Delhuman that knows where they stand in the Planetary Races? That's a real rarity, for sure." *set esperith - 5 *set eloquence + 5 *line_break *goto porter *label apology "Sorry about that," you say. "It won't happen again." She rolls her violet eyes at you and turns away. "Whatever." Her reply is quick and her tone is even. She seems to accept your words. Either that or she's already decided that you aren't worth her time and attention. *set guard + 5 *line_break *goto porter *label porter Esperith looks around and sighs. "Let's just get you to your assigned porter. Show me your papers so I know who will be doing your intake survey." You grab a handful of papers from your bag and hold them out in front of you. Esperith lets out an exasperated sigh and grabs them. A quick scan seems to reveal what she needs to know, and she hands your papers back to you before turning and walking away. You scramble to your feet and collect your things before falling in step behind her. "You've been assigned to Sekk. He's good at what he does. You're lucky." She doesn't look at you while she speaks. You get the feeling it's entirely deliberate. Even though you want to try to talk to her, to thank her and find out more about her, you're sure it would only make things uncomfortable. Instead, you walk in silence across the courtyard, finally able to take in the true beauty of it as you go. *page_break A short walk later. . . *goto_scene you2