Deros PoV
I walked around Varia's city, looking up at the sky. There were cities up there too. I'd seen them on the way down.
"How can you build so high up?" Lia asked, watching in more amazement than me. Which made sense. Orginal might've not had anything like this, but I had seen pictures before.
Lady Varia looked down at her nails and smirked. "Superior craftsmanship. Also, we have certain alloys which allow for lightweight but study buildings. Our cities are built to withstand the biggest of storms that Quadra can throw at us. Not that that's an issue. The corporation can control the planet's weather and climate. Look up at the sky. You'll see our planet's sun occasionally dims. That dimming isn't because of another planet, but because of moving panels."
Wilneth gulped. "You people managed to tame even the stars?"
She chuckled. "More or less. That's not even the most impressive Stellar Sphere the corporation has at its disposal. Stars without any habitable planets have true Stellar Spheres which encircle the entire star and beam energy to 'rest stop' worlds that lack sufficient sunlight."
I walked around Varia's city, looking up at the sky. There were cities up there too. I'd seen them on the way down.
"How can you build so high up?" Lia asked, watching in more amazement than me. Which made sense. Orginal might've not had anything like this, but I had seen pictures before.
Lady Varia looked down at her nails and smirked. "Superior craftsmanship. Also, we have certain alloys which allow for lightweight but sturdy buildings. Our cities are built to withstand the biggest of storms that Quadra can throw at us. Not that that's an issue. The corporation can control the planet's weather and climate. Look up at the sky. You'll see our planet's sun occasionally dims. That dimming isn't because of another planet, but because of moving panels."
Wilneth gulped. "You people managed to tame even the stars?"
She chuckled. "More or less. That's not even the most impressive Stellar Sphere the corporation has at its disposal. Stars without any habitable planets have true Stellar Spheres which encircle the entire star and beam energy to 'rest stop' worlds that lack sufficient sunlight."
Arare's eyes widened, her curiosity piqued. "Rest stop worlds? That's incredible! How do they work?"
"Yes," Varia continued. "These are worlds that serve as waypoints for interstellar travel. They don't have sufficient natural sunlight, so we beam energy from the Stellar Spheres to sustain them. It allows for extended travel and habitation in otherwise uninhabitable regions of space."
"That's fascinating," Lia said, clearly enthralled. "It's like something out of a science fiction story."
Varia smiled, clearly pleased with our reactions. "The Nomuus Corporation has always strived for excellence. We believe that through innovation and technology, we can overcome any obstacle and create a better future."
Wilneth nodded, still looking a bit overwhelmed. "It's certainly impressive. But with such power, there must be challenges too."
"Indeed," Varia replied, her expression becoming more serious. "Managing such a complex system requires constant vigilance and adaptation. There are always unforeseen variables and risks. But that's where our expertise and dedication come into play."
"How do you ensure that the power and technology are used responsibly?" Wilneth asked.
Varia glanced at me, her eyes thoughtful. "We have strict protocols and oversight in place. Our decision-making processes are guided by data and ethical considerations. Additionally, we have a dedicated team of experts who constantly monitor and assess the impact of our actions. Transparency and accountability are key principles we uphold."
Lia nodded. "It's reassuring to hear that. But what about the people? How do they feel about living under the corporation's control?"
"Most people are content," Varia replied. "They appreciate the stability and high standard of living we provide. Of course, there are always those who question or oppose the system. But we address their concerns through dialogue and by continuously striving to improve."
As we continued our tour, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to uncover. The Nomuus Corporation's achievements were impressive, but I couldn't help but wonder what challenges and secrets lay beneath the surface.
"My paternal grandparents are pretty high up in the company," I muttered.
"Really?" Varia said, eyes widening.
I smiled. "Yeah, it's actually why I went to train on your based on your moon. It was to familiarize myself with the company."
Arare grinned. "Wait, if Zepheria's grandparents resemble us, then do yours also resemble me and Lia?"
Lia blushed. "What kind of question is that?"
I stared at the two. "Actually, yeah. You're almost as flamboyant as Grandpa."
"And me?" Lia asked, pointing at herself.
I chuckled. "Grandma has the same gentle demeanor as you, Lia. Always composed, always thinking things through."
Lia's blush deepened, and she looked down, fiddling with her fingers. "That's... nice to know."
Arare laughed. "Well, I guess we have some pretty interesting counterparts in this world. It's kind of fun to imagine."
Varia looked intrigued. "It's fascinating how different worlds can have such similarities. It makes me wonder about the multiverse and the connections between different realities."
Wilneth, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke. "Maybe it's not just about similarities. Maybe there are deeper connections we don't fully understand yet. Something that ties us all together, regardless of the world we come from."
"Perhaps," Varia mused. "The Nomuus Corporation is always looking into new realms of research and discovery. Who knows what we might uncover in the future?"
I smiled at the two. "You two and Arisa are a good case study if anything."
Varia smiled and glanced at her Titanos counterpart. "True."
"I remember hearing a legend in my planet that doppelgangers are doomed to kill one another, though," Lia muttered as we walked.
I thought about Zepheria and Zane. I liked Zane, but not the former. Our paths would lead to the commander and me crashing heads again. That was certain.
Arare blinked. "Why would they? Bad fate?"
"Something about ceasing the other's power and luck."
He smiled. "I already got great luck, so I'm fine."
I smiled at the two. "You two and Arisa are a good case study if anything."
Varia smiled and glanced at her Titanos counterpart. "True."
"I remember hearing a legend on my planet that doppelgangers are doomed to kill one another, though," Lia muttered as we walked.
I thought about Zepheria and Zane. I liked Zane, but not the former. Our paths would lead to the commander and me crashing heads again. That was certain.
Arare blinked. "Why would they? Bad fate?"
"Something about seizing the other's power and luck."
He smiled. "I already got great luck, so I'm fine."
Varia tilted her head, curiosity evident in her eyes. "Deros, you mentioned your grandparents are high up in the company. What positions do they hold?"
I grinned, proud of my family's accomplishments. "My grandma handles the equivalent of the IRS. She oversees all the financial regulations and tax collections. It's a tough job, but she's incredibly thorough and fair."
Lia looked impressed. "That sounds like a massive responsibility."
"It is," I acknowledged. "But she's always been meticulous. She has this way of making sure everything runs smoothly, no matter how complicated it gets."
Arare leaned in, clearly intrigued. "And your grandpa?"
"Grandpa deals with world acquisition," I said. "He's the one who negotiates and oversees the incorporation of new planets and territories into the Nomuus Corporation's domain. It's a delicate balance of diplomacy and strategy."
Varia nodded thoughtfully. "That's fascinating. They must be quite influential."
"They are," I replied. "But they also believe in the core values inscribed in the Nomuus Corporation's book of ethics. Well, Grandma does. I have heard that Grandpa did do some arm bending."
Lia glanced at Arare and smiled. "And which of us is the villain again?"
"Hey, I'm not the same! And you're the bad one in our universe. You teamed up with the enemy!"
Wilneth, who had been quietly absorbing all the information, finally spoke up. "It sounds like your grandparents play crucial roles in maintaining the corporation's integrity and growth."
"They do," I said, feeling a surge of pride. "It's one of the reasons I wanted to familiarize myself with the company. Understanding how it operates from the inside and out gives me a better perspective on how to contribute effectively."
Lia smiled. "It's clear that you're proud of them, and rightfully so. They seem like remarkable individuals."
"They are," I agreed. "Grandma taught me a lot about responsibility and the importance of doing things the right way."
"So, what about your grandpa? Which kind of 'arm bending' did he do exactly?"
I crossed my arms. "Well, when he was around Varia and Wilneth's age, he used trickery to gain an upper hand in diplomatic talks. Stuff like bribing, spying, that sort of thing."
Lia shook her head. "How did your grandma fall for that kind of sleaze bag?"
Arare looked away.
I chuckled. "I'm surprised too, given they're always arguing. Dad said he heard they were like a married couple before they even got together."
"Opposites attract, perhaps?" Varia muttered, smiling. "I mean, you and I are opposites too."
My cheeks warmed up. "A-are you saying we're a couple?"
She laughed. "I was just giving an example."
I sighed, feeling a mix of embarrassment and amusement at Varia's teasing.
Wilneth chuckled. "Don't tease the poor boy too much, Varia. While I've barely met him, I can tell he's a lot more sensitive than my boyfriend."
My cheeks warmed up. That was right, our Titanos counterparts were dating. It was strange to think about the parallels between our worlds and how relationships played out differently.
"Sensitive?" I asked, trying to steer the conversation. "Maybe, but I can handle a bit of teasing."
Varia smirked. "Good to know, Deros. Now, back to our tour. There's still much to see and discuss."
My stomach suddenly growled.
She snickered. "Let's have some lunch first, we don't want Deros to fall over."
My face heated up. Varia was such a tease...
"O-okay!"
Arare stared at him. "Uh, Deros. I think you have the opposite issue that Zane does. You can't be too submissive."
I sighed. He was right. Girls didn't like submissive guys in this world. Or so I heard.