[LoweGear]

I'll just leave this here thanks.

Spoiler for Welcome:

“Welcome to the new world boy.”

These were the words that greeted me as the bright white light gradually faded away to the sight of a dimly lit room illuminated by a single, flickering yellow light bulb. It was a small room, seemed to be barely 4 meters square, lined with dark, crumbling brick walls. The air was thick and stuffy, almost choking. I had to cough to get the dryness off my throat, and I was starting to feel nauseated from the unbearable heat.

“New world needs more ventilation, lady.”

The gruff woman who greeted me didn’t seem to have any problem with the room whatsoever, or perhaps willing it away with that thin, business-like smile of hers.

“I get that alot. Yet my clients always want discounts for my services. Let’s get you topside before you suffocate, you look like you could die any second. And it’s Miss Deborah to you boy.”

“Yes... ma’m.”

Ms. Deborah opened the room’s only metal door, which creaked loudly as it was pulled inward. A long, dark stairwell was outside, its corridors barely narrow enough for a single person. Same composition as the room, same dimly lit appearance, with only more darkness waiting ahead. She motioned for me to go ahead. I accepted without hesitation, and began my ascent with much haste. I couldn’t get out of this hellhole too soon, lest my oxygen run out on me en route.

“Wondering why it’s so horrid like Dante here yes?” She inquired nonchalantly, trailing behind me.

“I get a feeling you’ve answered that question lots of times.” I replied.

“Business is good afterall.”

“Business would be better if your clients don’t arrive at such a stuffy place.”

“Can’t help it. This portal has to be buried to a depth of 20 meters with all manner of shielding to reduce its energy signature to anybody snooping around with a sensor.”

I might have been able to accept that explanation as solace for my current discomfort, if not for a comparison that readily came to mind.

“The portal facility I came in from wasn’t this deep, and wasn’t this sloppy either.”

I looked back to see a much visible scowl on Ms. Deborah’s face, even in this dim stairwell.

“Sorry for not being as rich or as intellectually bright as that bastard Turing. He’s been promising to upgrade my portal with his energy conservation upgrades for a while now, yet that a**-hole never makes the time to get to work!”

‘I wouldn’t want to work in a place as bad as this either’ I thought to myself, keeping my smirk hidden from the fuming woman behind me mumbling colourful words under her breath, who I don’t think would bother answering the last part of my query. I wouldn’t dare push anyway, with the sickening sound of her knuckles she’s cracking together.

“That’s not a musical instrument you’re carrying is it?”

It seems she finally noticed the object I was carrying slung at my back: A long, meter long black rifle bag. Inside, was a good friend whom I had entrusted my life to during difficult times, through thick and thin. And it was the only valuable possession I had carried from Earth.

“It’s my rifle. I was planning on getting a license for it here.”

At that moment Ms. Deborah’s footsteps abruptly stopped.

“I do hope you’re not kidding me boy.” She inquired with a much disdainful exasperation that told me I just said something stupid.

“Pardon?”

“Unless you plan to engage in unspeakable acts of homosexual rape with your soon-to-be fellow inmates for the rest of your life, or join the Bureau I suggest you dispose of that thing right now.”

It didn’t take long for the implication of her words to sink in. And what a deep, mocking hole it left on my intelligence – I should’ve taken the time to better research the local laws before I got here. Time to ask.

“How illegal?”

“Five life sentences if you’re lucky. Mid has the tightest implementation of gun control laws on any world in Ordered Space. Just seeing you holding one can make court hearings an everyday occurrence for you. You’d have to be in the Bureau to have a chance of keeping a firearm – and the special license required for that is a bitch to obtain. You can join one of those rumoured black ops groups if you really want to keep your weapon.”

“I’ve seen enough of the military to make me sick thanks.”

“You’re welcome. That bastard never told you about the firearms ban did he?”

“Turing told me it wouldn’t be a problem.”

“Because Turing’s an idiot.”

Bluntly said, and rightfully too. I sighed heavily at the thought of how lacking the old man’s knowledge was... that, or he just pulled a stinking wedgie on me, laughing on the other side of that portal. I squeezed the sling of my rifle bag tighter... then relaxed.

“Guess all my ties to Earth have to be severed now huh...”

“That was the reason you came here wasn’t it?”

The reason I was here... To escape from the devils that had haunted me for all these years, tormenting me with my failures and incompetence. To run from the regrets of my mistakes back in those cruel, bloodstained desert sands. Forget the pain, the anguish, the anger - all the things that almost lead me to a path of self-destruction. To wipe the slate clean of the blood and tears that stained these foolish hands of mine... and start anew.

My rifle held all those memories, for good and bad. A constant reminder of what I was trying to leave behind, back in that war-torn planet called Earth – only so I wouldn’t lose sight of what I wanted to accomplish here.

Miss Deborah wasn’t wrong... but it’s hardly that simple. Not like she’ll know any better.

“I guess so, Miss Deborah.” I replied weakly.

She shoved me aside to move ahead, and pushed up on a dark slab on top of her. With a mighty heave it swung open, and my entire vision was filled with a blinding light...

“Come boy.”

These were the words that greeted me, as the sudden explosion of divine light gradually faded... and my eyes were greeted by the sight of not one, but TWO moons, giant spheres floating overhead beyond the bright and clear pale blue sky. Arising to an endless field of grass that seemed to go on for eternity, with cool, soothing air that filled my weary lungs with the breath of life... This was the new world was it?

“Where are we?”

“This is the new world. Welcome to Midchilda, Mr. Gilliam Aker.”