“You’re Priestess Absolute,” Lauren told Nadalia. “You make the call.” “In that case, I approve the creation of a subdivision of the Guard-Knights dedicated to the specialization of aircraft,” Nadalia said, smiling with an upturned chin.Lauren hugged her as congratulations. “Bully for you,” Alba said, straightening her tie. Valentina slow-clapped. Sweet Su popped a tube of confetti. “Radical!” Anna said. “Abusing power is the best,�

 Lauren and her friends sat in a circle in front of the gate, watching the Firstborn vessels descend onto the planet. “So, do you think we’ve peaked?” Melody asked, scratching her jaw. “We technically peaked fifteen minutes ago,” Nadalia responded, looking over her shoulder with a coy smile at the mountain upon whose other side a conquered Supreme Succubus lay. The group laughed. “But seriously…” Melody said as the laughter died down. “I should hope

 It was time. Obliteration Prime was a moonless planet orbiting a dying sun. Its sister planets had long since been destroyed in the fight for the more important rock. Fissures and craters ran across its eroded crust from the centuries of fighting. Vortexes of toxic fumes spun around the planet like dry hurricanes, and smoke had long since replaced any clouds. Constant detonations on the surface could be seen from space. Seven translucent shield, shimmering and gleaming, trapped the pl

 One week passed while the forge experts of the moon and the scientists from the Palace of Progress worked on the means that would allow the explorers to take the prized gate on Obliteration Prime. During that time, most of them elected to stay on the ship, as the beds in the living quarters at that secondary facility were uncomfortable. Meanwhile, Lauren, her friends, and her sister formulated their plan of attack, and Lauren’s friends gave input to the manufacturers. They could feel

 Lauren, her friends, and her sister stood in the command room, invited by Captain Erometc| for another arrival viewing. Delagai+ was there, as well, but she stood to the side, silent and distant. Captain Erometc| received signals from his busy crew, and he bade the explorers to ready themselves. The common sight, the stars stopped being flicking blurs, and the vessel passed into a system centered around a golden star. However, they were not at the moon of their destination nor the planet i

 It was six days after leaving the Palace of Progress and two days before the explorers would land on their destination. At a request from Lauren, Harland had granted Doctor Gene, Doctor McLain, Engineer Urashima, and Researcher Bredbury along with their works, notes, and materials the time to go with Lauren and company so that the former could continue offering their assistance to the explorers. Oflehxun was being kept under guard. Delagai+ and Lauren were not on speaking terms. And, Valen

 Lauren and Nadalia exited Conference Room 4B to see the other explorers grouped together in the hall. At first, Lauren thought they had had been waiting for her and Nadalia, but then she saw Doctor McLain, Researcher Bredbury, Engineer Urashima, and Doctor Gene standing in a line across from them. Sweet Su was looking at Doctor Gene with a hateful expression. “What’s going on?” Lauren asked. “Don’t know,” Valentina said back at her, with a shrug. “They just

 Lauren was cleaning off her .45 revolver in the observation chamber. Nadalia was sitting next to her, reading the spell book from the Drowning Realm. The vessel would be arriving at G133SS1P18 soon. The doors opened, and Melody strode through, accompanied by the white slime that had assisted her during the assault on the Palace of Progress. Lauren and Nadalia looked up from their activities, and both raised an eyebrow. “That thing’s still following you around, Melody?” Laure

 While Lauren redressed, Cammia exited the supply pantry, clean and clothed. She carried a bottle under her arm and a package of crackers in her hands. “Super cleaner,” Cammia explained, nudging her left shoulder at the door behind her. “Ah,” Lauren said, putting on her denim vest. Cammia jostled the crackers. “All I could find on the grain-front,” Cammia said. “Guess the Estranged don’t have access to the latest preservative technology.” “I wonde

 “We should add ‘Goddess of Friendship’ to your list,” Cammia remarked, tracing circles on the floor with her right index finger. “No,” Lauren stated. “A new friend how?” Valentina asked from the bed. “I fought a woman,” Lauren said, running her fingers through her hair. “In a fighting pit while a bunch of Estranged watched us. She seemed to have been fighting in there awhile. I won.” “Of course you won,” Cammia said, sniffing. �

 Lauren was slapped awake. As she rose to a sitting position, she rubbed her sore cheek. Valentina stood over her, naked. Lauren cocked her head, and she looked down to see that she was naked as well. Lauren scanned around and observed that she, Valentina, and apparently Cammia (who was also naked) were a three-walled cell with only one stiff bed. Zappy bars formed a barrier between their cell and barren hall. Lauren rose to her feet. “Where the hell is this?” Lauren exclaimed.&nbs

 “Are you going to open it?” Lauren asked Alba. Among all the clocks in the room, an alarm clock on a stand next to the skeleton produced the loudest ticks. “Right now?” Alba replied, weighing the package in her hand. The alarm clock was seconds away from all three hands pointing up. “Uh-huh,” Lauren said. “Why not?” Lauren finally noticed out of the corner of her eye that the alarm clock was numbered in reverse, and rather than twelve, the peak numb

 After finding no solution in the ancient archway gate, Lauren and her friends met up with Anna, who carried with her a sheaf of documents that she had to convince some personal of OPUI to print on physical paper. When the OPUI claimed to have no more ways to help their widescale endeavors, the explorers decided to leave with Lauren making one last visit to the Director in order to tell him she would require the OPUI’s services later. The explorers left the Offices, with Valentina loc

Office of Para-Universal Investigations  P.O.I Eval.-Type 172Evaluation: Subject Scarred Boss (SB)Investigation Authority: ClearedDate of Evaluation: 41.18.5105 StandardSubject Moniker: Alba AuroriInstability Threat: HighMethod of Travel: Firstborn (B) Technology?Origin: Universe 05Details: Subject SB is the leader (“boss”) of the Aurori organized crime family within universe 05 (designation: Broken), which she founded. Subject SB is a veteran of a circa eight-decade war like the m

Office of Para-Universal Investigations  P.O.I Eval.-Type 172Evaluation: Subject Eager Privateer (EP)Investigation Authority: ClearedDate of Evaluation: 41.16.5105 StandardSubject Moniker: Theresah ProudstoneInstability Threat: LowMethod of Travel: UnknownOrigin: Universe 04Details: Subject EP is a former privateering captain as a licensed mariner for the Gilded Collective empire of universe 04 (designation: Wet). Whereas the OPUI knows Subject Ep joined Subject BF (see P.O.I. Eval.-Ty

Office of Para-Universal Investigations  P.O.I Eval.-Type 172Evaluation: Subject Hybrid Warrior (HW)Investigation Authority: ClearedDate of Evaluation: 41.15.5105 StandardSubject Moniker: Fóa Hind/Fohind HildardottirInstability Threat: LowMethod of Travel: UnknownOrigin: Universe 09Details: Subject HW is a former “Winter Knight” (offensive combatant, highly-trained in physical, short-range weaponry, hunting, and self-sustainability) of the society of the same name founded by the i

Office of Para-Universal Investigations  P.O.I Eval.-Type 172Evaluation: Subject Musical President (MP)Investigation Authority: ClearedDate of Evaluation: 41.14.5105 StandardSubject Moniker: Valentina CinezaInstability Threat: ModerateMethod of Travel: UnknownOrigin: Universe 07Details: Subject MP is the president of universe 07 (designation: Blackpowder). Out of all the members of Subject BF’s (see P.O.I. Eval.-Type 172;Lauren) entourage, Subject MP’s high seat of power ma

Office of Para-Universal Investigations  P.O.I Eval.-Type 172Evaluation: Subject Callipygian Mercenary (CM)Investigation Authority: ClearedDate of Evaluation: 41.12.5105 StandardSubject Moniker: Melody WhiteInstability Threat: LowMethod of Travel: UnknownOrigin: Universe 01Details: Subject CM is a Type-37C entity (designation: Aquakin; clarification: shark-esque; specification: shortfin mako); as a Type-37C entity, Subject CM is at the rare but not unwarranted height of 327,66 centimet

Office of Para-Universal Investigations  P.O.I Eval.-Type 172Evaluation: Subject Sneaky Cat (SC)Investigation Authority: ClearedDate of Evaluation: 41.9.5105 StandardSubject Moniker: Strea [LAST NAME UNKNOWN]Instability Threat: ModerateMethod of Travel: UnknownOrigin: Universe 01Details: Similar to her close comrade Subject TP (see P.O.I. Eval.-Type 172;Yuitrita), very little is known about Subject SC’s history. Subject SC is a Type-37A entity (designation: Pawkin; clarification:

Office of Para-Universal Investigations  P.O.I Eval.-Type 172Evaluation: Subject Tall Powerhouse (TP)Investigation Authority: ClearedDate of Evaluation: 41.8.5105 StandardSubject Moniker: Yuitrita (nickname: Rita)Instability Threat: LowMethod of Travel: UnknownOrigin: Universe 01Details: Subject TP is a Type-58C entity (designation: AMAZON; clarification: half-Giant, half-Human). Very little information is known about Subject TP. Type-58C entities rarely entire areas where research can

Office of Para-Universal Investigations  P.O.I Eval.-Type 172Evaluation: Subject Arcane Knight (AK)Investigation Authority: ClearedDate of Evaluation: 41.05.5105 StandardSubject Moniker: Nadalia SerenInstability Threat: HighMethod of Travel: Arcane (Unproven)Origin: Universe 01 (Designation: Fanciful)Details: Subject AK has been observed in universes 01 (Designation: Fanciful), 04 (Designation: Wet), 05 (Designation: Broken), 07 (Designation: Blackpowder), and 09 (Designation: Wonderla

Office of Para-Universal Investigations  P.O.I Eval.-Type 172Evaluation: Subject Blue Farmer (BF)Investigation Authority: ClearedDate of Evaluation: 41.03.5105 StandardSubject Moniker: Lauren [LAST NAME UNKNOWN]Instability Threat: HighMethod of Travel: UnknownOrigin: UnknownDetails: Subject BF has been observed in universes 01 (Designation: Fanciful), 04 (Designation: Wet), 05 (Designation: Broken), 07 (Designation: Blackpowder), and 09 (Designation: Wonderland). Lauren is always seen