Fi was over the moon. First of all, she had a much greater chance of being able to rent the whole Pearl Lake, second she would be able to gain magic and able to meet someone important. The woman in front of her was at least an admin, as she could trigger system announcements and the new patch.
The woman turned her attention towards Fi after the announcement.
"I'll let you get a headstart with a few other lucky ones. Just like in twenty years we will send a few smaller ships ahead of us to scout out the locations already chosen." The woman continued with confidence.
"I'm absolutely sure there is nothing else dangerous there, but it doesn't hurt to double check. Your mission will be to set up the beacons for the landing phase. While they are not necessary it will smooth out the landing."
Before Fi had time to react the woman waved goodbye and sank back into the wall. Left all alone, she pondered for a while and checked the menu to see the status of her body.
A window appeared showing her body's transfer route back on the ship. It would be safe. Now that she didn't have to worry on material matters, she selected the option to initialize the game.
Portals of all colors imaginable surrounded Fi swallowing her into them all simultaneously. A few seconds passed. She appeared into a smaller ship with four seats in the cockpit.
Outside of the window opened up a breathtaking view.
There it was, Eden, the promised land. The planet, green with big oceans. Few things separated it from earth. It didn't have ice on the north pole, but a humongous flower yellow in color.
A big line on the equator of the planet covered in huge crystals. The crystal line seemed to have a few different zones of differing color. Represented was both white and black. On the horizon appeared a tinge of some other color, but Fi couldn't be sure what it was.
The planet covered in multitudes of different zones.
Strapped in on her left a woman appeared. The woman's appearance to be in her forties.
Stunned by the visage, it took a moment for the woman to notice Fi.
The woman's slightly crooked nose and blue eyes gave her an odd but pleasing visage.
"I am Bernadette, but you can call me Blue like everyone else," Blue said while stretching her hand. Fi managed to grab the outstretched hand with difficulty. The straps limiting her movement.
"Blue?" Fi muttered in a quizzical tone and introducing herself.
"Ah wait a second," Blue said and a hue came over her eyes indicating she was checking the menu. In a few moments, her hair turned blue. Fi nodded in understanding.
Fi was to open her mouth when in a seat behind her a young boy with pitch black hair popped in. Blue gasped in shock as she saw the boy.
"You are Illusion!" Blue yelled. The boy grimaced and rubbed his temples. Blue caught herself squealing in a teenager's ecstasy and covered her mouth in embarrassment. It wasn't proper for a lady of her age.
Fi nodded towards Illusion not really interested in him. Illusion answered the nod thankfully.
"Pleasure to meet you. You already seem to know me, but please use my real name instead of my stage name. I am Robin." Robin didn't forget his manners even with the lady hysterical at seeing the star.
Fi introduced them both.
"As appearances are so deceiving can you tell me your ages?" Robin asked while trying to get a better position under the straps.
"I am eighteen as of today," Fi said while smiling bemusedly. She didn't think ages mattered that much, but still entertained Robin's question.
"Sadly I am in the late sixties. I might not be in the best shape when we finally make planetfall." Blue said with a sigh. Both nodded with sympathy.
"Fifteen," Robin said matter-of-factly. His age was already public knowledge seeing he was the current musical superstar.
Why Blue's appearance was in her forties while pushing seventy years old is for a simple reason. Some 500 years ago back on earth, the human genes were modified so that you aged quicker while young and slower after that.
Everyone lives till a bit over a hundred years old. If we compare the aging process to the one before the gene transformation, twelve is the new age where you become an adult and gain the right to vote.
In your life, you spend twelve years as a child. Thirty years as a young adult. Forty years in a middle-aged appearance and the last twenty years of life as a spry sixty-year-old.
As they were pondering their ages the final member of their team arrived in the last seat behind Blue. It was a slim and scrupulous looking man. He was in his thirties. The slim man was silent as he arrived and his sharp brown eyes brought shivers to everyone he laid eyes upon.
"Sawyer." The high and unpleasant voice came from the slim man. While Fi was a bit unnerved from his eyes, she introduced the rest of them. Sawyer nodded in response adding nothing to the conversation.
As they finished their introductions a video feed started playing on the window.
'Please choose your destination, you are the first of four scout ships entering the orbit ' The message on the screen read. Three points blinked on the planet below. While an arrow on top showed the fourth being on the other side.
All four looked at each other and started reading up on the different locations.
The first place, inland under a mountain with thick jungle. The second was on a set of islands far south on the planet. Third being close to the crystal belt.
The fourth and final one on the other side of the planet inside an old and inactive volcano.
Everyone except Sawyer had thoughtful looks on their faces. Sawyer pressed a few buttons in the air setting up a voting system. Voting for the set of islands himself.
Fi didn't hesitate for more than a minute and voted for the islands as well.
Blue thought a moment longer, but seeing two others voting for the islands she didn't hesitate either and voted the same.
Robin sighed and voted for the crystal belt, knowing they would be going to the islands instead.
The tally finalized and a countdown appeared on the screen and urged them to ready for entering the atmosphere. The countdown hit zero. Engines roared to life sending them hurling towards the surface.
Fi's head, pressed against the back of her chair. "Finally, planetfall." Fi thought as a magnificent smile spread on her face.