Tales of the Courier – Courier17 Lands Hard
It’s been over a month since the oasis was found. No time to return, it’s been all dispatch since then. Courier17 hands the gatemaster the token and eases the ride into place.
The beauty of the oasis still stands vividly in that last glance to memory. It had been a brief moment to escape the grid, a refuge in a place lost in time. Courier17 is also lost in time.
The gatemaster makes the final announcements as the steel security doors begin to close. This was the part that was the worst, the waiting. Dispatch wanted this though, and HQ was backing the play. Deep breaths as the countdown begins, it’s best to breath and stay calm when the door opens.
It’s a slim chance that this will work, and the odds of making it in time are almost nil. But even a slim chance is better than none, as 1courier would say, and 1courier was a friend in need. Courier17 wasn’t going to let him down.
The countdown continues as the as the door begins to shimmer and phase into reality. It is strange to think of this event as a door. Only top level couriers and jobs were permitted through the event into another universe. This was courier17’s second trip through, and with any luck, the last.
The countdown ceases and the shimmering steadies into blazing white light. The door is large enough for a small building to squeeze through, with room to spare. Getting the word from the gatemaster, courier17 eases the ride forward, taking care not to strike the emitters.
It was important to maintain the integrity of the ride because it would be used as soon as the enclave was established on Nalphia. Checking the destination targeting, confirms 5universe has been locked in. It was now or never.
The first time through was not mentally difficult. It was physically problematic. Nausea being the lesser of the drawbacks, and hurling at the top of the list. But it had worked and only taken a day to wear off.
Hard not to feel apprehensive as the ride moves into the light door. A few seconds is all it takes. Just keep thinking it’s a single, unbroken stretch, of road from one side to the other. Concentrate on keeping the wheel pointed north.
But it’s not unbroken, in fact, it’s broken badly, and it’s a hard landing.
The ride’s wheels screech loudly, and the ride drops and lands hard. The bright light begins to fade from all around. It takes a minute for the eyes to adjust from the glare of the event. When the arrival area of 5universe becomes visible, it is manned by only one service bot. This is the first red flag, and courier17 instinctively knows there is something wrong.
The arrival platform begins rotating to align with the exit tunnel. There are flashing yellow and red warning lights everywhere, and a loud warning of rain is being boomed and amplified, repeatedly. The whole effect is absolutely unexpected. This never occurred the first time, but it’s obviously extremely bad.
The exit tunnel opens and the m-com link signals an alert simultaneously, as courier17 starts the ride again, and begins moving the hell out of the alarm zone. Rain isn’t a big deal back home. It’s actually one the things courier17 enjoys about homeworld. This world Nalphia was the complete opposite. Rain was deadly.
Dispatch is on the m-com and confirms the warnings. There will be rain on Nalphia. With a sinking feeling courier17 pushes the ride harder and begins trying to alert 1courier. Not only was there an enclave to set up, there was now, even less time to do so.
Keeping in mind the importance of this particular ride, courier17 doubles down the speed. Too late to turn back now.
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