SOL 1: Enter the Vagrant
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Light =&gt; Light: Exotic Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: Grimm on 28-09-2008, 08:40:31</h2>
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				Title: <strong>SOL 1: Enter the Vagrant </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Grimm</strong> on <strong>28-09-2008, 08:40:31</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Eddie walked down the mechanized gangplank from his ship, shrugging his sweatshirt on as he moved.&nbsp; The sound of air moving through the dock's ventilation system echoed around him, emphasizing the silence of an empty dock.&nbsp; Odd.&nbsp; Eddie couldn't remember the last time he'd seen an empty dock.&nbsp; Had he overslept?&nbsp; He checked his wrist for his chrono, but realized too late he wasn't wearing it.&nbsp; He glanced back at the ship for a moment.&nbsp; The lime green monstrosity stood out against the gray background of the dock.&nbsp; It's stumpy engines and unpainted sections made it stand out all the more when compared to other, more streamlined ships.&nbsp; The smooth front section lacked a cockpit, or any other recognizable driving area.&nbsp; Nestled inside though, was a half-finished sensor suite that would make any freighter pilot jealous.&nbsp; Well, when he finally got enough money to complete it.<br><br>Deciding against going back for his chrono, Eddie entered the airlock and waited impatiently for the air to finish cycling.&nbsp; When he finally received the electronic go-ahead, Eddie strode out of the airlock and entered a nearby elevator, ascending into the second ring of the station.<br><br>When the elevator opened, Eddie stepped into the bustling main hall.&nbsp; People moved around and past him, some stopping at stores, others puffing onwards, eventually disappearing as they walked around the curve of the ring.&nbsp; On the right, long horizontal viewports offered a view of Saturn.&nbsp; Eddie took a moment to appreciate the sight before allowing himself to be caught up in the human tide moving down the ring.&nbsp; <br><br>Holograms danced all around him, vying with one another in clashing colors and blaring noises to catch his attention.&nbsp; Thankfully, most of them stayed on the wall, though a few of the newer ones managed to slip into the air ahead of him.&nbsp; Eddie brushed through a giant pair of talking lips and a dolphin before he saw his destination.<br><br>He was able to detach himself from the crowd long enough to escape into his favorite greasy spoon.&nbsp; The Diner was the only one of it's kind on-station, and it attracted a hefty portion of the freighter pilots that were docked there.&nbsp; Unfortunately, the place was empty.&nbsp; Eddie pulled up a chair and checked the morning special.&nbsp; A large, angry looking woman with hair that somehow managed to be short and tall at the same time ambled in from the kitchen.&nbsp; <br><br>"What'll be today, Eddie?"&nbsp; She asked, not bothering to pull her pad out of her apron.&nbsp; Eddie always had the same thing.<br><br>"The usual, Bertha."&nbsp; Eddie said. "Any-"<br><br>"Nope.&nbsp; You missed the rush today.&nbsp; All the jobs are taken."<br><br>Eddie didn't say much after that exchange.&nbsp; He wordlessly handed his credit stick over to the woman, watching her wave it in front of a sensor and listen for a beep of confirmation before handing it back.&nbsp; He thanked whatever power controlled the universe that credit sticks didn't have to be connected to a major banking corporation as long as they were only used on-station.<br><br>Eddie murmured his thanks as Bertha slid a steaming pile of something yellow, green, and white in front of him. <br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: SOL 1: Enter the Vagrant </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Schwarzepard</strong> on <strong>30-09-2008, 09:53:38</strong>
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				<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Under orders from the United Earth Government, Sol has begun closing its borders. Automated gun posts are being build just outside the wide orbit of Pluto. The UEG is claiming this is to shut out the many space stations outside of sol controlled by the Union, however, some are claiming that this is a way to make sure warp experiments stay strictly in the hands of the UEG.<br><br>Copyright 2094 Sol News Wire.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br><br>Detective Kyna Lust saw the tiny movement of Lemke's eye, and she knew he had seen the luminescent holographic newsticker at the same time she had.<br><br>"That's how the universe says 'Fuck You', Lemke..."<br><br>The newsticker swirled above the crowd in front of the twenty story office pylon at the crux of the three way intersection that formed one of the largest open spaces in Saturn-1 Orbital.&nbsp; Predator and prey stood motionless, only a meter apart. They faced each other in the crowded thoroughfare as the bustling crowd flowed around them like water.&nbsp; Lemke stared at her.&nbsp; He was coiled to strike.&nbsp; The only thing that held him back was the gun ready in her lace-gloved fist.&nbsp; Her grip tightened on the black pistol.&nbsp; He looked her up and down with a flicker of his gaze. The glow from hundreds of ethereal advertisements reflected on her black plastic shortcoat, from the fur-cuffed sleeves of which she had produced the pistol.&nbsp; Behind her he could see the helmets of her tactical squad bobbing as they forced their way through the crowd.&nbsp; Her breath was coming fast.&nbsp; Their eyes locked.&nbsp; She lowered her head without breaking the staredown as she imperceptibly shifted her weight to take his inevitable attack.&nbsp; She had memorized all the information Saturn-1 Police Department had on Lemke, and she couldn't believe he would go down without a fight.&nbsp; <br><br>Lemke listened to the crowd as he watched beads of sweat gather on Kyna's forehead.&nbsp; With each passing second, her tension grew and her backup got closer.&nbsp; In his peripheral vision he watched one of the armored cops smash a young woman out of his way.&nbsp; Her high-pitched scream made Kyna twitch for a fraction of a second.&nbsp; Lemke dropped fluidly behind the shopper passing him, bowling over the people nearby.&nbsp; Kyna grimaced with frustration as she barely managed to keep from firing.&nbsp; She lunged into motion as she flicked an extendable shock baton out of her sleeve, agonizingly conscious of the moment she had lost shifting out of her defensive stance.&nbsp; The cries and movements of the panicking people told her Lemke was flanking her, knowing she couldn't track her pistol after him because of the stunned bystanders next to her.&nbsp; &nbsp;Her grimace became a snarl as she pivoted and sidekicked the shopper back into the crowd.&nbsp; She felt her stiletto heel tear into the innocent woman, but that only fired her determination to take Lemke down.&nbsp; She saw Lemke scramble out from underneath the woman, crouching as he turned to face her.&nbsp; Her view was suddenly blocked by the station tech who had been passing on her right when Lemke made his move.&nbsp; His pale shocked face filled her vision as he jostled to get out of her way.&nbsp; Kyna's eyes locked again with Lemke's as he launched himself at her from his crouch.&nbsp; She brought her pistol to bear but the muzzle caught on the equipment harness of the station tech who was still interposed between her and the onrushing Lemke.&nbsp; His face was a mask of feral rage.&nbsp; Kyna felt a wave of nausea and fired as fast as she could pull the trigger.<br><br>Lemke crashed into Kyna and the tech, knocking all three to the floor.&nbsp; He felt the breath go out of her as she hit the ground.&nbsp; Her pistol was trapped under the spasming tech.&nbsp; She whipped her baton at his face but he smashed her arm back down on the floor.&nbsp; Agonizing pain shot through her elbow as it hit the slab tile.&nbsp; Her baton clattered next to her numbed hand.&nbsp; Lemke drove his knee into her gut, pinning her.&nbsp; She struggled to get traction with her free leg, but the stiletto heel of her boot just scraped along the tile.&nbsp; Lemke grabbed the baton and jerked it up to his waist, unable to raise it higher because it was tethered to her wrist.&nbsp; Kyna gritted her teeth and with a scream of exertion put every ounce of strength into trying to stop him from bringing the baton down on her, but her stunned and injured arm was no match for his strength.&nbsp; He slammed the baton into her face and released its maximum charge. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: SOL 1: Enter the Vagrant </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Schwarzepard</strong> on <strong>04-10-2008, 08:35:19</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Lemke rode Detective Lust as she spasmed and bucked.&nbsp; He watched her eyes roll in their sockets and held the baton aloft, ready beat down any sign of resistance.&nbsp; He felt her go limp and leapt to his feet, slipping in the station tech's blood.&nbsp; He could see the tactical squad coming in for the kill.<br><br>"Freeze!"&nbsp; boomed an amplified voice, "Police!"&nbsp; Lemke felt his body react like an attack dog let off its chain.&nbsp; He jabbed and rammed his way through the crowd, bent almost double to deny the police a clear shot.&nbsp; The tactical officers closed in on him as he raced for the doorway of his destination.&nbsp; The bar's entrance was a rectangle of darkness in the lighted concourse.&nbsp; Several tactical officers thrust between the crowd and the wall, trying to cut him off.&nbsp; A blue-uniformed figure entered his peripheral vision as he rushed headlong into the darkened doorway.&nbsp; He saw the cop's baton swinging toward him, but he was moving too fast to counter.&nbsp; He heard his ribs break and pain reddened the edges of his vision as the baton caught him in the midriff.&nbsp; The shock numbed him despite his insulated jacket.&nbsp; His legs went out from under him he and saw stars as his head bounced off the mosaic tiles.&nbsp; His momentum carried him across the floor.&nbsp; Silhouettes jostled in the light from the doorway as more cops entered the bar.&nbsp; &nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: SOL 1: Enter the Vagrant </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Grimm</strong> on <strong>05-10-2008, 07:41:17</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				The door chimed behind him as Eddie left The Diner.&nbsp; It took him a moment to notice how the atmosphere had changed in the Main Hall.&nbsp; People walked quickly by, holding hushed conversations.&nbsp; People flowed around an area cordoned off by Police.&nbsp; Eddie thought he could see a body behind the wall of officers, but he wasn't really sure.&nbsp; With all the noise in the area, The Diner had been soundproofed.&nbsp; Most of the time, Eddie had enjoyed that.&nbsp; Now though, that seemed more an inconvenience than anything else.<br><br>He tucked a stray piece of hair behind his ear and walked on, trying not to draw the ire of the Police, who were obviously on the edge.&nbsp; He passed a bar with even more Police gathered around it.&nbsp; He hadn't seen this many Officers in one place since...well, ever.&nbsp; Eddie tried not to think about what warranted such a response.&nbsp; He heard a grunt of effort as he walked by the door.&nbsp; A small crowd of cops were gathered in a circle around something.<br><br>Eddie looked around, checking to make sure he wouldn't be stopped if he tried to move in closer.&nbsp; None of the cops in the area were looking in his direction at the moment.&nbsp; Trying his best to be inconspicuous, Eddie crept into the bar to get a closer look.&nbsp; As he got closer, he thought he recognized a few of the faces from the cops that patrolled the docks.&nbsp; He'd heard quite a few cracks at his ship while he was working on it.<br><br>Lost in a memory, Eddie didn't hear the footsteps behind him.&nbsp; He jumped as a hand fell on his shoulder.&nbsp; "Shouldn't be here, Kid."&nbsp; Eddie looked up into another cop's face.&nbsp; Where did all these tall people come from?&nbsp; <br><br>"Hey, I recognize you!&nbsp; You run that P.O.S. freighter in the dock, right?"&nbsp; The cop's face broke into a grin.&nbsp; "I don't think that ship'll run any no matter how hard you try."<br><br>The other cops in the circle started glancing in their direction.<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: SOL 1: Enter the Vagrant </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>RubySlippers</strong> on <strong>05-10-2008, 17:32:33</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				An advertisement comes up on the monitors paid for by AFT and certain other parties. A ravishing woman widely known as one of the rising stars of AFT and heads Station X an AFT freeport in deep space.<br><br><em>AFT the Association of Free Traders is always looking for pilots, ship owners and agents to do our work in Sol and with our new expansion into space citizens seeking to change their lives and forge a new future. Offering ship manitenance and repairs at my shipyards at Station X we can outfit you with low cost AFT Drives and all the tools you need to be the best small traders. If you seek to colonize we guarentee you a share of a colony vessel to any of our new colonies with land grants and a share of the profits after an indenture period. If your a colorful person with connections or a criminal record our new Diplomatic Corps needs you get diplomatic protection and bonuses for advancing AFT in Sol. If you want to start or get involved in the Union don't fear AFT space welcomes you with assistance and access to many groups at Station X and on Eris.<br><br>While Earth scrambles to control just Sol we are seeking the stars, join AFT, contact your local AFT agent on this station:<br><br><span class="bbc_u">Victoria Selesta, Diplomatic Corps attached to Station X Envoy, Dock 12 (AFT Corvette Stilleto)</span></em><br><br>There were images of Station X, colony vessels and many pilots, captains and AFTers making profits and being productive.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: SOL 1: Enter the Vagrant </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Schwarzepard</strong> on <strong>07-10-2008, 08:52:39</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Lemke winced in pain as he climbed to his feet, pulling himself up by the rungs of a freefall-proof barstool.&nbsp; He heard the scraping of metal on fabric as the cops drew their guns.&nbsp; "Freeze!" the voice boomed again.&nbsp; He heaved himself through the space in the bar separating it from where the startled customers had just begun to react.&nbsp; The lead cop fired twice as Lemke dove through the doors to the kitchen, the gunshots deafening in the confined space of the bar.&nbsp; Fragments of plastic showered him as the bullets punched through the door.&nbsp; Ears ringing, he staggered between the metal tables of the cramped kitchen.&nbsp; He sprinted for the open passageway that connected the bar's kitchen to the service corridors next to the central cylinder of the habitat. 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: SOL 1: Enter the Vagrant </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Grimm</strong> on <strong>09-10-2008, 08:19:06</strong>
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				Suddenly, he was alone.&nbsp; All the cops rushed off in different directions, trying to catch up with whoever they were chasing.&nbsp; Eddie took the moment to exit the bar and shake his head.&nbsp; He hoped they didn't want him to stick around, because there was no way he was going to be taken in for questioning.&nbsp; He imagined they wouldn't be very happy when they found out he wasn't on any formal register.<br><br>Eddie walked the Corridors alone, passing by numerous displays, all trying to sell him something.&nbsp; Suddenly, one advertisement caught his eye.&nbsp; He stopped and moved to the wall where it had been playing.&nbsp; It took a while for the programs to cycle through again, but eventually, he saw the same one again.&nbsp; <br><br>So, the AFT was looking for pilots?&nbsp; Well, he was looking for a job.&nbsp; With a new sense of purpose, Eddie started to make his way back to the Docks.&nbsp; He wasn't headed for his ship, though.&nbsp; He stopped a few times to check the maps posted all over the station.&nbsp; It took him some time to get to the elevator to Dock 12, since it was on the other side of the station.<br><br>Eddie stepped into the elevator's spacious interior and leaned against the side railing to support himself as he descended towards the outer ring.&nbsp; He still hadn't quite gotten used to the increased gravity on-station.&nbsp; The techs kept it closer to Earth Standard, though he didn't really know why.&nbsp; Tourism, maybe?<br><br>The doors opened again and Eddie stepped into the airlock, waiting again for the air to cycle through.&nbsp; When the airlock finally opened to let him out, Eddie tugged at his patchwork sweatshirt and stepped through.&nbsp; <br><br>Of course, he wasn't expecting the guards.<br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: SOL 1: Enter the Vagrant </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Schwarzepard</strong> on <strong>09-10-2008, 09:15:46</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				The storage corridors were deserted.&nbsp; Lemke sprinted for a row of parked electric cargo transporters.&nbsp; He heard the cops enter the cooridor behind him.&nbsp; They didn't bother with a warning before opening fire.&nbsp; The gunfire reverberated in the empty corridor.&nbsp; A bullet struck him in the back but flattened itself against his armored jacket.&nbsp; Another nicked the top of his ear.&nbsp; He clambered aboard the nearest of the electric vehicles and hit the activation stud.&nbsp; The cops drew four abreast in the corridor, their guns leveled at Lemke.&nbsp; He gunned the engine and headed straight for them, ducking down as the first fusillade of bullets sparked and ricocheted off the vehicle.&nbsp; The cops fired relentlessly, but the bullets had little effect on the solid plastic tires and the distributed electric motors.&nbsp; They stood their ground firing until the last second when they jumped for the walls.&nbsp; Lemke anticipated their dodge and spun the wheel so that the vehicle's cargo trailer swung across the corridor.&nbsp; Three&nbsp; cops were too slow;&nbsp; the trailer sent them flying.&nbsp; Lemke turned the vehicle and scraped it along the wall, giving the cops who had avoided the trailer the choice of jumping back into the bar's kitchen or being crushed.&nbsp; They dove back through the doorway.&nbsp; &nbsp;
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: SOL 1: Enter the Vagrant </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Schwarzepard</strong> on <strong>13-10-2008, 08:00:21</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Lemke brought the cargo truck off the and accelerated down the corridor.&nbsp; Of the three cops he'd hit with the trailer one was giving another first aid and the third lay still.&nbsp; The other cops were reemerging from the bar kitchen doorway.&nbsp; They paused briefly to fire again at the speeding transporter then sprinted after it.&nbsp; Lemke glanced over his shoulder to see the cops shrinking in the distance.&nbsp; Another glance showed him they had disappeared around the torus' curvature.&nbsp; He spun the wheel and took the vehicle around a corner towards the central cylinder transportation core.&nbsp; He passed several warehouse corridors, each wide enough to accomodate several cargo vehicles.&nbsp; Down one corridor he saw a team of workers loading a vehicle similar to his own, but the silent operation of the electric motors let him pass without notice.&nbsp; When he reached the closest of the massive freight elevators at the transportation core, he brought the vehicle to a stop then leapt to the floor.&nbsp; The pain of his landing staggered him.&nbsp; He steadied himself against the vehicle then drew a small maintenance diagnostic controller from inside his jacket.&nbsp; He flipped open the black plastic cover and deftly entered commands into the tiny console.&nbsp; The maintenance panel near the elevators controls clicked open and he pulled it open while taking a short network cable from his pocket.&nbsp; He glanced behind him but there was still no sign of pursuit.&nbsp; He disconnected the network cable from the main circuit board inside the maintenance panel and inserted his own, connecting the other end to the diagnostic controller.&nbsp; He keyed in another set of commands and with a turning of gears the cargo gates began to open.&nbsp; He withdrew his network cable, slammed the maintenance panel shut and pocketed the controller and its cale.&nbsp; He vaulted over the lower cargo gate as soon as there was enough space to permit it, rolling into a crouch and hitting the button for the shipping dock at the planetside end of the habitat. 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: SOL 1: Enter the Vagrant </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Revolverman</strong> on <strong>13-10-2008, 08:03:26</strong>
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				A loud Siren began blasting "RED ALERT. RED ALERT Station is under lock down. UEG Forces are on there way"
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: SOL 1: Enter the Vagrant </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Schwarzepard</strong> on <strong>13-10-2008, 08:41:38</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				The police officers chasing Lemke sped through the freight corridors mounted on a small maintenance vehicle.&nbsp; The driver pulled around a corner, making the electric cart fishtail.&nbsp; The other officers were desperately holding on to keep themselves from flying out of the cart when the emergency lights turned red and started strobing.<br><br><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=21611.msg871298#msg871298">Quote from: Revolverman on 13-10-2008, 08:03:26</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">A loud Siren began blasting "RED ALERT. RED ALERT Station is under lock down. UEG Forces are on there way"<br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br>Sergeant Kozya pounded his fist on the cart's dashboard before flinging his helmet visor up and pulling off his throat mic.<br><br>"Mother-Fucker!"&nbsp; he yelled.&nbsp; He hammered his fist into the dashboard again.&nbsp; "I hate those assholes!&nbsp; Step on it, Hakko!"<br><br>"Yes Boss!" the driver's voice crackled in Sergeant Kozya's earpiece.&nbsp; "Boss, there's the truck!"&nbsp; Officer Hakko brought the cart to a quick stop, slewing to the side.&nbsp; The four policemen dismounted the cart and advanced on the abandoned cargo transporter, pistols drawn.&nbsp; After a hurried inspection, Sergeant Kozya replaced his throat mic.&nbsp; "Control, this is Kozya..."&nbsp; Officer Hakko's voice crackled in his ear again.&nbsp; Hakko had his hand against the freight doors of the massive elevator.&nbsp; "The elevator's moving Boss!"&nbsp; Sergeant Kozya rolled his eyes and nodded.&nbsp; "Control, Kozya... Elevator 6-F has been activated.&nbsp; Recommend lockdown."<br><br>A female voice came through his earpiece.&nbsp; "We locked it down, Sergeant.&nbsp; Are you sure it's moving?"<br><br>"Yes, Control, I'm sure, look at your own goddamn screens... memorandum for record, suspect can override lockdown procedures."&nbsp; Sergeant Kozya removed his throat mic again and faced his team.&nbsp; "We need to get some new jokes.&nbsp; Let's go."&nbsp; &nbsp;
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: SOL 1: Enter the Vagrant </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Schwarzepard</strong> on <strong>15-10-2008, 07:54:47</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				As the elevator began its descent, Lemke climbed the indentations set in the wall to the maintenance hatch in the ceiling.&nbsp; He jerked at the hatch twice before it slid back, revealing the vast space of the Saturn-1 habitat's transportation core.&nbsp; He slowly climbed onto the roof of the elevator, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the metal surface.&nbsp; After he was out he slid the hatch shut and lay motionless on the roof of the elevator, his eyes closed.&nbsp; When his sense of balance had recovered and his stomach stopped churning, he turned over on his back and looked out at the transportation core.
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