City of Gantun

Gantun wasn't an exception from the showering of rainy days, at least thanks to the Weather Modification Station that hovered high above the city. Using the science of cloud seeding, planetary members can experience the same seasons, and share in the same festivals that take place during them.

Aradi's feet slapped the wet ground as she ran under the rain, during these times, the city was devoid of large crowds, only vehicles drove by and overhead under the constant downpour. She hated the rain and preferred to stay indoors as well, but there she was, on her way to the Museum. There was no real reason for her to head over, in general, she wished the knowledge was just erased, anything to distance herself from her ancestry despite almost nothing about being existent. She supposed that the discovery of a new artifact might've piqued her interest and curiosity at best.

Galactic Museum of History

Aradi's eyes gazed locked onto the statue of the founder of the Galactic Council as she waited in the empty hallways. Museums weren't exactly a popular location for people to go to, it was occupied by professors and historians at the least. At best places like libraries, museums, served as monuments of the Council's presence more than anything. Suddenly a soft, warming voice lifted the cold silence around the Elf.

"Excuse me, miss Aradi? I'm Larien, I've been assigned to show you around. It's nice to meet you"

The Elf turned quickly to gaze upon a human, a rare sight indeed, her blue eyes widened a bit as her cheeks reddened, a stiffness suddenly took over her. Reassuring her posture was well, she greeted the human, not out of anything but embarrassment.
"Nice to meet you...don't take this the wrong way but...I was expecting someone else"
Larien awkwardly smiled back to her as she responded,
"I apologize for the inconvenience. Shaki called in sick, some kind of flu that's been going around lately. Please, right this way"
Aradi nodded, "of course".

The echoes of two feminine footsteps lightly echoed in the museum, Larien's soft voice did not disturb the strange peacefulness of it,
"I see you were looking at one of the key moments in history" she noted, Aradi nodded as she walked behind her from a distance,
"Y-yes, I was"
Larien continued on, though wondering why Aradi was walking so far behind her,
"The "Eater of God" symbolizes the Council's Unity against the horrid powers of religious belief. The statue depicts the representation of science, with the Galactic Council's symbol etched in the center, holding a globe of the Galactic Council's logo in the center of it. The 2 symbols on opposite ends depict, above the blackened entries, represent the emptiness of us Citizens ready to be filled by their grace"
Aradi followed in silence as Larien's words filled her ears, history is nonsense to her, but Larien's own voice was captivating for some reason, though she was not the first human the Elf had never met. She couldn't really recall such a naturally soothing voice such as Larien's unless it was a profession of some kind, though the pros may even have a difficult time contending.
"Your last visit was over a 100 years ago, time sure flies, doesn't it?" Larien said aloud, Aradi nodded and softly replied, little did the Elf know, her voice was much more elegant and memorable than Larien's..
"It's hard to keep track of sometimes"

A monitor displaying a message read: "Visitation appointment for: Aradi, is authorized. Enjoy the time brought to you by the GALACTIC COUNCIL"

Larien turned to Aradi, smiling cheerfully, excited even,
"Here we are, if you need anything, please don't hesitate to let me know, Miss Aradi!"
Aradi smiled as she stared at the human, her long hair parted at her forehead, the rest was tied in a knot hanging from the back, her clothes were very modest, not typically something you'd see everyday, in fact there isn't really a conformity to outfits outside of the world of the Protectorate and politics.

The Elf tilted her head, her left arm curved behind her backside, and her right arm came upwards, hand nearly covering her mouth, as if to muffle her quest, she spoke with much hesitation,
"I was actually wondering, if I could ask you something"

Larien's eyes shifted away for a moment, before looking back to the client, she had very unsure expression across her face, almost as unsure as Aradi's,
"Uhh - sure"
"The thing is..I've..."
Suddenly a wave of chaotic words flew from Aradi's lips, smacking Larien without warning -
"I don't want to assume but - y-you're human, right? I uh - I was just wondering if - if you're free this weekend, maybe..."
Aradi suddenly stopped as saw Larien, a bit shaky somewhat, the Elf quickly started pleading in apologies,
"O-oh I-I'm sorry, I didn't - do human citizens have sensitive receptors? It's been a short while since I have met one" - that was over 200 years ago, Larien looked a bit dizzy as she responded,
"No need to worry about me, Miss. As you know, endangered..citizens are well prepared for all kinds of reactions"

Aradi looked to the side, overtaken by her own blunder, Larien's words did not ease her feelings,
"Sadly, I am due to be taking my leave by the weekend"
The Elf looked to her,
"I see. Maybe next time I'll have better luck"
"Miss Aradi, I do believe it is more than luck for anyone to gaze upon you. Now please, follow me to your Sim-pod.

Simulation Pod control center and entry point

Aradi walked out of a changing room, though shy, her voluptuous figure was screaming for air beneath a tight haptic based body suit, even Larien couldn't help but look away as she spoke,
"The pod is ready to receive you, please lay, and prepare for connections"

With her haired in a ponytail, Aradi stepped into the pod, she felt the soft padding make contact with her foot before she took to lie down on it, she looked up to Larien approaching with tubes that would be used to send electrical currents to enable accurate haptic feedback from the simulation. The difference between simulations and virtual realities is as follows: Sims are built on theoretical ideas, mostly used for historical viewings and combat training. Virtual realities are used in fantastical ways, such as entertainment, amusement parks, etc.

Larien plugged a tube into an entry way that met Aradi's belly, she squirmed a bit, with a slight quiver after, after the tubes were connected, the glareshield then closed above her. The air was suddenly starting to shift, a potent substance must've been pumped into her pod. The Elf began to feel a bit woozy, a little hungry, and smiled as her eyebrows raised, her blinking became slow, heavy. Larien stood above the pod, speaking to her, though her words began to drift around Aradi's ears, rather than to them.

"I understand you need abnormally high dosages to be put to sleep, so the suit you're wearing is actually a very unique, customized version. It's why there's so much inputs. Now, miss Aradi, just relax, and imagine you're waking up from a long, long, dream."

Running Ancient Variant Sim.....stand by...
Loading starting area....done...
Loading dynamic overseer npc.......done..
Attempting to connect to synapses via Route 1...failed...
Booting Route 2 and 3.....done
Attempting to connect to synapses via Routes...
Route 1.....done ...
Route 2....done....
Route 3.....error
Overriding safety measures, injecting higher levels of Propofols...
Attempting to connect to synapses...
...Routes connected...
Now rendering...

A strange voice could be heard reaching to the deep sleep of a peaceful Elf, not entirely normal, but not entirely otherworldly,
"Good morning" it said.

The eyelids of the Ancient woman lifted themselves to reveal blue eyes coming to life. The voice once again,
"Good morning" - suddenly the Elf shot herself up, holding up the edge of a blanket close to her as if she were naked and exposed,
"Get the F#^% away from me, you water intolerant chromo-buffoon!!" she shouted.

A floating robotic NPC was before her, the eyes however, strangely, normal, it blankly stared at her for a moment before attempting, for the third time, to greet her,
"Good mor-"
"I HEARD YOU THE FIRST TIME! STAY AWAY FROM ME!" Aradi shouted as she pointed at the machine, interrupting yet again.
There was a silence between the two, before things got really awkward, the robot spoke,
"Greetings Miss Aradi. I am this simulation's dynamic overseer: METTA. I am here to inform you of the changes since your last visit"
Suddenly there was strange glitch, the overseer repeated himself,
"How much rust is in that chum bucket you call a head, got?" Aradi asked, as the robot spoke, it's words fizzled, glitched, and even repeated itself,
"Your last visit to the historic-c-c-c simulation archives was recorded over 200 years - years ago. I am o-operating under strict algorithms tailored to your specific design in -order - order to provide you with the b-best experience possible. As you see this hologram, I am a-also a non-physical proje-jection of this simulation. I can not intera-"

Suddenly a pillow was chucked at the npc, it glided through him, leaving a strange distorted pixel silhouette that quickly patched itself back together. The robot stared at Aradi in silence, she uttered,
"Proceed..."
"..As you can see, I cannot physically harm - harm - harm you. The simulation may load upon y-your command. Since your systems overload most-st-st-st sims, please try to remain calm through your visit. Are you ready to load the sim?"

"Load the sim"

Aradi was suddenly standing, her body caught her own balance just in time, any one else surely would have fallen. She turned to see an orb of some kind offloading data, grass, rocks, trees began to form from lines of code that stretched far. Her initial simple dress she loaded into the sim with, began to be replaced as the data began to latch onto her, jewellery thought to be worn by the arms formed in the appearance of arm bracelets. Her bare feet suddenly felt the tingling sensation of grass.

Before her now, instead of a blank canvas, a land built by machine, by algorithms inherited by glitches, attempting to recreate her past. Her thoughts spoke, rattling her mind like small earthquakes,
This place...is like a question that gives you a different answer every time...how much of this was real. ..do I want it to be real. Or stay a dream?

Would I go to it, leaving the council behind? Would I..be accepted.... and what if ..they're the ones that are different?

Her eyes began to lower, a certain strange feeling of anger came over her,

No matter what, the reality is.. They abandoned me, on a slave planet no less. It does not matter how often I desire it. My place is with the Council, and this will always be nothing more than an echo of a civilization that deserved to die ... .Sometimes an echo should stay an echo. To be seen as nothing more than a remnant of what's built on nothing but rumors, fantasies, entertainment, guess work and projection of personal beliefs. I've never been myself, and it's all because of them. But I won't let them choose anymore, I'll serve the council, more than I've ever been forced to serve this lie.


Thus it would seem, Aradi did indeed long to belong with her own kind, but for too long did others tell her how they were, and for too long did they never appear to rescue her, so indeed did she abandon them to the past, and embrace the will of the Galactic Council.

Elsewhere....

Larien stood in darkness, her quite, calm demeanor was all but so within her thoughts, a voice spoke to her,
Tell me. How did things go?
She responded,
"She was more captivated by what I appeared to be..what I saw, a heart once known, now pelted to stone, she wishes to be what she now is: nothing but an echo.
Then tell me, Larien. Was I right?
"I believe your words...I have too. I need too. For I fear if not. Then all is lost...
You and the others may return to Thorn, give her my thanks, and I will see her soon

End -

Note: Tapas has character limit! This is actually quite troubling as the number of characters inside the script are by no means under 15K. More is on the way!