Sol took his time weaving through the sprawling streets of the megacity-ship, letting himself absorb the overwhelming sights and sounds around him. There was no rush—this place was massive, and he had no intention of aimlessly wandering its maze-like pathways forever.
A tantalizing aroma caught his attention, drawing him toward a street vendor grilling skewers of some kind of sizzling, neon-colored meat. The vendor, a stout alien with three eyes and a perpetually amused expression, flipped the skewers effortlessly, the scent growing richer. "New to the city? First one's half price," the vendor grinned, offering him a stick.
Sol accepted, biting into the juicy, slightly spicy meat. It was unlike anything he'd ever tasted—bold, with an aftertaste that almost tingled against his tongue. He nodded approvingly. "Not bad."
Further ahead, a street performer was juggling small orbs of energy, shifting their colors mid-air and molding them into elaborate shapes—first a serpent, then a soaring bird, then a miniature nebula that swirled with tiny stars. A small crowd had gathered, awestruck by the display, and Sol found himself lingering for a moment, watching the show with mild amusement.
But time was moving, and he needed to find a better way to navigate this endless sprawl. Walking was inefficient, and he had no desire to get lost in the labyrinth of the city. Spotting a tech stall tucked between towering holographic billboards, he made his way over.
A row of sleek, customizable holopads lined the shop's counters, each one more advanced than the last. Sol ran his fingers over the interface of one, watching as the vendor, a lanky humanoid with glowing tattoos, leaned over the counter. "Looking for something fast, sleek, or just flashy?"
"Efficient," Sol replied. "Something that'll help me get where I need to go without the headache."
The vendor smirked. "Smart choice. I'll hook you up with a city-wide mapping module, personalized transit links, and an encrypted ID. Don't want the wrong eyes tracking you, do you?"
Sol smirked back. "Not a chance."
With a few credits exchanged—10,000, to be exact—his new holopad flickered to life, displaying a detailed 3D map of the city, along with potential routes to his destination. The moment the transaction completed, Sol felt a pinch in his pockets, his balance taking a notable hit. He sighed, muttering under his breath, "I need to find a way to make credits soon..." before turning his attention back to the screen. The Luminara District. Finally, he had a way forward.
Before making his move, Sol took a moment to customize his holopad. Walking everywhere in this massive city would take forever, and if he was going to use this thing frequently, he might as well have some fun with it.
He scrolled through customization options, debating between sleek and practical or something more... ridiculous. A slow smirk crept across his face as he made his choice. When the final design flickered to life, his holopad now looked like a giant, pastel-colored teddy bear head, complete with blinking cartoon eyes, a ridiculous toothy grin, and tiny robotic arms that wiggled whenever he tapped the screen.
The eyes followed his movements, scanning his surroundings like a sentient creature. Every time he pressed a button, it giggled in a high-pitched voice: "Navigating the stars, wheee!" or "Big adventure time!" in an unsettlingly enthusiastic tone.
As he activated the map, a blaring carnival jingle played, accompanied by flashing rainbow lights as the bear's mouth opened, revealing a holographic city grid. Then, in a voice far too energetic for its own good, it declared: "LET'S GO, SPACE CHAMP! FOLLOW THE CUDDLY PATH TO DESTINY!" before launching an over-the-top animation of a neon rocket ship blasting toward his next waypoint.
Sol stared at it for a long moment before sighing and rubbing his temple. "I might have overdone it..." Then he smirked. "Nah. Perfect."
Every time he tapped the screen, the holopad let out a dramatic ding-ding-ding! sound, as if starting a match. When he activated the map, a booming voice roared, "ARE YOU READY TO RUMBLE… THROUGH THE STREETS?!" followed by a rapid play-by-play breakdown of his route, complete with explosive graphics.
The shop owner, who had seen plenty of strange customizations in his time, could only stare, completely bewildered. He had witnessed all sorts of eccentricities from travelers passing through—people who wanted their holopads shaped like space squid, sentient cubes, and even personal theme park mascots. But this? This took the cake.
"Kid… what is this?" the vendor finally muttered, rubbing his temples as the bear's eyes gleamed with unsettling excitement.
Sol smirked, casually flipping the holopad around in his hand. "Peak design."
Sol stared at it for a long moment before letting out a slow chuckle. "Perfect… this'll do."
With his absurdly dramatic holopad now guiding him, he took his first steps toward the Luminara District. The city's vibrant energy still pulsed around him, but something about the name on the holo-display had ignited a spark within him. Restricted access. Proceed at your own risk. It was practically an invitation.
As he navigated through the bustling thoroughfares, the atmosphere around him began to shift. The towering neon advertisements grew sparser, the music and laughter of the entertainment districts faded, replaced by an eerie stillness. The streets became narrower, the floating walkways more fragmented, twisting unpredictably as if the city itself was warning those who wandered too close.
And yet, cutting through the silence like a malfunctioning carnival ride, Sol's absurd holopad blared its over-the-top announcements at full volume. "SPACE CHAMP! PREPARE FOR YOUR DESTINY!" it bellowed, flashing neon arrows that pulsated unnecessarily as if guiding him into some cosmic wrestling ring instead of a restricted district.
The contrast was jarring. A place that exuded unease and secrecy was now accompanied by a floating pastel-colored teddy bear head, its unsettlingly cheerful eyes scanning its surroundings as its robotic arms wiggled in excitement. Every few steps, it giggled, "Wheee! Adventure time!"—the chipper voice echoing off the cold, empty walls.
A few remaining pedestrians glanced at Sol, their expressions shifting from vague wariness to outright confusion. One hooded figure muttered something under their breath before briskly changing course, clearly deciding they wanted no part in whatever this was.
He noticed fewer pedestrians, and those who remained walked with purpose, attempting to avoid eye contact. But that was easier said than done. His giant pastel teddy bear holopad made sure of that, floating beside him, flashing neon arrows, and periodically blurting out "BIG ADVENTURE TIME!" in its aggressively cheerful tone.
A few people visibly flinched, their hurried pace increasing. Others couldn't help but stare, their expressions a mix of wariness and outright disbelief. One particularly nervous passerby tripped over their own feet, caught between trying to pretend Sol didn't exist and failing miserably at ignoring the absurd spectacle right beside him.
It wasn't fear—not outright—but it was caution. An unspoken rule that only those who belonged dared to linger here. And Sol? With his ridiculous, over-the-top travel companion? He definitely didn't belong.
Sol exhaled, adjusting his jacket as he kept moving. No turning back now.
Ahead, a checkpoint loomed, marked by a hazy, shimmering energy barrier stretching across the entrance to the district. A single attendant, an older humanoid with cybernetic eyes, leaned lazily against a console, watching as a few figures passed through without issue. No guards. No weapons. Just a simple scanning station.
But Sol had lived in the slums long enough to know that the real dangers were rarely the ones you could see.
He stepped forward, keeping his expression neutral. If the checkpoint was automated, his forged credentials would hold. If not… well, he'd figure something out.
The attendant barely glanced up as Sol approached, then did a double take, his mechanical eye whirring as he took in the absurd spectacle of the giant, floating teddy bear holopad beside him. His mouth opened, then closed, before he finally blurted, "What the fuck is that?"
Sol's eyes gleamed with pure, unshakable pride as he casually gestured toward the bear. "His name is Peach. Doesn't he look badass?"
The old man just stared, utterly speechless. He had seen all kinds of strange things pass through this checkpoint, but this? This was something else. What truly bewildered him, though, wasn't just the ridiculousness of the floating, overenthusiastic bear—it was the genuine pride in the kid's eyes as he said it. The kid truly meant it.
The man just exhaled, deciding it was better not to ask any more questions about that damn bear. Still, despite his best efforts, his eyes kept drifting back to it, as if trying to process the absurdity all over again. Finally, he shook his head and refocused on Sol.
"Alright, kid. You're a new face, and I sure as hell would've remembered someone as weird as you. What are you here for?"
Sol shrugged. "Exploring. Heard this place had a reputation. Thought I'd see if it lives up to it."
The old man chuckled dryly. "Reputation, huh? That's one way to put it." His fingers tapped against the console. "You look smart, kid." He paused for a second, his eyes involuntarily drifting back to the absurdly grinning bear floating beside Sol, as if trying once again to comprehend what he was looking at. He sighed before continuing. "Smarter than most who wander in without knowing what they're getting into. So tell me—what do you really want?"
For a moment, Sol considered lying. Spinning a tale, weaving a story that would get him through without much fuss. But something about this place, about this moment, made him hesitate. Instead, he did something rare—he answered honestly.
"There's nothing I want," Sol said, his voice steady. "I just want to learn more. It bothers me that there's so much knowledge in this universe, and yet I know nothing. I feel blind. And I think this place… it might be my first step to opening my eyes to the world."
The attendant didn't expect that kind of answer, and for a moment, he simply stared at Sol. Then, despite himself, his eyes drifted back to the floating bear. He couldn't reconcile it—the absurdity of that ridiculous thing and the sharp-eyed kid in front of him, speaking like a philosopher chasing the mysteries of the universe.
Maybe the kid had a split personality. Maybe he was just insane.
Finally, the old man sighed, rubbing his temple. "You can't understand crazy."
With a casual wave of his hand, the barrier shimmered, allowing Sol to pass.
*Welcome to the Luminara District.*