Empire of Daqin, Pínqióng (貧窮) System
Zhīnǚ (織女) Station, Special Economic Zone
"Letroit" Asteroid Module
New Year's Eve, 2324 CE
Rain.
It always seemed to be falling in the asteroid city of Letroit. "Little Detroit" if someone was being particular. The station recycled water felt like it was always coming down from on high, trying to wash away the perpetual smoke as hot new cherries lit up in the seemingly perpetual night. It was as futile as washing away Sin of course, especially here of all places. Arriving at the spaceports, the place felt like it belonged in the future, with everything responding quickly and efficiently. And if not that, then The Empire's latest wares took their time to answer and reply in dulcet tones, looking their most fabulous for any potential customers.
These wares? Regular people had pets, but the Daqinren had Chongwu.
Superior pets for superior people. Walking upright, talking and smiling, these animals were molded into the likeness of human shape to serve. These beast-folk in the spaceport were the glamorous side of Sin as they tended to those coming and going. Beautiful or handsome or sometimes both, they always had the guests wowed by their appearances and immaculate service. At least, until the masters of the spaceport showed themselves. The salesman and saleswomen of Sin in this city simply looked Perfect in a way that out shown their own products. Most human beings had only ever seen them over social media or SpaceTube. In person, most folk had to build a resistance to their glamor and charm. Their every step was precise, every swish of their tails calculated, and their smiles meant just for you, and then they were gone. Sooner or later, stunned and amazed guests left the domain of the Daqinren and their Chongwu, and returned to the realm of humans.
The streets.
Taxis came and went, drivers at their helms, with bosses cutting corners and not bothering with self-driving vehicles and all the regulations that they had to promise to pass. Beyond the spaceport, steam rose out of the grates, and there was always seemed to be a hustle and bustle. Business was done left and right, since the businesses all owned the place. Those that couldn't do business, and make that cut, were simply out of luck on said streets. That's how businesses liked it. No regulations, no safety nets, and the cops ran as part of a private affair, jointly held by several of the top dogs. After all, the nations themselves were too slow and cautious to set up shop in The Daqin Empire. But opportunity and riches beckoned, and so, these hodgepodge cities in the stars were built, all in a hungry scramble for bioware, software or hardware that the Daqin sold. Letroit in particular, had a distinctively aged American flavor to it, which somehow felt nostalgic and beckoned to a time long gone. A time of darkness, but also opportunity. A person could find their fortune here, or have their dreams destroyed.
Like any other night, as one man rose, another fell.
"You're finished McColeman," the pinstripe suited man cracked his knuckles. The other man's moll rushed down to see to her man's cuts and bruises. "The boss know you've been getting sloppy, cutting corners. That ain't gonna do it no more." Looking down on his fallen adversary and his partner, the newly made Underboss donned his fedora again.
"Say it ain't so!" McColeman's moll looked up at him with teary eyes. She was a gorgeous, shapely brunette. But like her man, she was getting past her prime. Even so, the new Underboss was human, and seeing a woman look at him that way still stung, even after all the years in this business.
"Ellen," McColeman tried to speak through missing, broken teeth.
"There has to be something we can work out," she quickly rose to her feet, pleading with the new Underboss.
"Ellen," McColeman tried to speak again from the floor, blood dripping from his ruined mouth.
"There's something special, maybe, that you'd want to look at, you see," the dark haired brunette wrung her fingers, struggling to flip her frown over.
"Ell - "
"SHADAP! I'M TRYIN TA SAVE YA HIDE!" the brunette exploded at McColeman, kicking him for good measure before storming off. The new Underboss tried to ignore her as she opened a side room and went in, the door left open, but one of the made men caught a glimpse of what was inside.
"Boss, you're gonna want to see this. She wasn't kidding," an older, trustworthy Capo remarked. Raising an eyebrow, the Underboss followed.
"Alright Miss Rhine, you have my attention," the Underboss smiled, eying the glowing red orb on the pedestal.
Zhīnǚ (織女) Station, Special Economic Zone
"Letroit" Asteroid Module
New Year's Eve, 2324 CE
Rain.
It always seemed to be falling in the asteroid city of Letroit. "Little Detroit" if someone was being particular. The station recycled water felt like it was always coming down from on high, trying to wash away the perpetual smoke as hot new cherries lit up in the seemingly perpetual night. It was as futile as washing away Sin of course, especially here of all places. Arriving at the spaceports, the place felt like it belonged in the future, with everything responding quickly and efficiently. And if not that, then The Empire's latest wares took their time to answer and reply in dulcet tones, looking their most fabulous for any potential customers.
These wares? Regular people had pets, but the Daqinren had Chongwu.
Superior pets for superior people. Walking upright, talking and smiling, these animals were molded into the likeness of human shape to serve. These beast-folk in the spaceport were the glamorous side of Sin as they tended to those coming and going. Beautiful or handsome or sometimes both, they always had the guests wowed by their appearances and immaculate service. At least, until the masters of the spaceport showed themselves. The salesman and saleswomen of Sin in this city simply looked Perfect in a way that out shown their own products. Most human beings had only ever seen them over social media or SpaceTube. In person, most folk had to build a resistance to their glamor and charm. Their every step was precise, every swish of their tails calculated, and their smiles meant just for you, and then they were gone. Sooner or later, stunned and amazed guests left the domain of the Daqinren and their Chongwu, and returned to the realm of humans.
The streets.
Taxis came and went, drivers at their helms, with bosses cutting corners and not bothering with self-driving vehicles and all the regulations that they had to promise to pass. Beyond the spaceport, steam rose out of the grates, and there was always seemed to be a hustle and bustle. Business was done left and right, since the businesses all owned the place. Those that couldn't do business, and make that cut, were simply out of luck on said streets. That's how businesses liked it. No regulations, no safety nets, and the cops ran as part of a private affair, jointly held by several of the top dogs. After all, the nations themselves were too slow and cautious to set up shop in The Daqin Empire. But opportunity and riches beckoned, and so, these hodgepodge cities in the stars were built, all in a hungry scramble for bioware, software or hardware that the Daqin sold. Letroit in particular, had a distinctively aged American flavor to it, which somehow felt nostalgic and beckoned to a time long gone. A time of darkness, but also opportunity. A person could find their fortune here, or have their dreams destroyed.
Like any other night, as one man rose, another fell.
"You're finished McColeman," the pinstripe suited man cracked his knuckles. The other man's moll rushed down to see to her man's cuts and bruises. "The boss know you've been getting sloppy, cutting corners. That ain't gonna do it no more." Looking down on his fallen adversary and his partner, the newly made Underboss donned his fedora again.
"Say it ain't so!" McColeman's moll looked up at him with teary eyes. She was a gorgeous, shapely brunette. But like her man, she was getting past her prime. Even so, the new Underboss was human, and seeing a woman look at him that way still stung, even after all the years in this business.
"Ellen," McColeman tried to speak through missing, broken teeth.
"There has to be something we can work out," she quickly rose to her feet, pleading with the new Underboss.
"Ellen," McColeman tried to speak again from the floor, blood dripping from his ruined mouth.
"There's something special, maybe, that you'd want to look at, you see," the dark haired brunette wrung her fingers, struggling to flip her frown over.
"Ell - "
"SHADAP! I'M TRYIN TA SAVE YA HIDE!" the brunette exploded at McColeman, kicking him for good measure before storming off. The new Underboss tried to ignore her as she opened a side room and went in, the door left open, but one of the made men caught a glimpse of what was inside.
"Boss, you're gonna want to see this. She wasn't kidding," an older, trustworthy Capo remarked. Raising an eyebrow, the Underboss followed.
"Alright Miss Rhine, you have my attention," the Underboss smiled, eying the glowing red orb on the pedestal.