Gateway to the Multiverse

All was peaceful on the floating citadels suspended over the swirling gases of Jupiter. It was mid-morning, and the inhabitants of the temperature controlled sky-cities had begun traveling to their respective workplaces. Sleek, aerodynamic vehicles sped through designated lanes in several directions, while a few individuals simply zipped through the air using antigravity harnesses synced to their clothing.

Lina rather liked flying without a vehicle. Throwing oneself at the ground and missing - only the historians remembered the origin of that description, but that didn't make it any less appropriate. Terrans couldn't fly without mechanical aid, but science provided what nature did not - Jupiter's flight harnesses were the best available, and they were just about as good as their natural equivalents. The scientist soared towards the Arcane Research Facility, ready to continue the important work of analyzing the different properties and applications of magical energy. The fanciful beliefs of the ancient past were gone, obsolete in a world of scientific mindsets and progressive thinking - it was all science to the people of the Human Union.

All of a sudden, distress signals blared all throughout the Union's comm networks. A robotic craft of unknown origin had appeared in the Sol system, and was clearly hostile. It was broadcasting a single, repeating message:

"Greetings, pathetic life forms. Your star systems are now my star systems. Some of you will die, and the rest of you will WISH you were dead. But I require entertainment, so I will take some people off one planet to transfer them to my location. Do not be jealous of them; they probably won't fare too well here, either."

The neural network began displaying a transmission from the Union High Council, requesting negotiations with the mysterious being controlling the robot. The glowing red eyes on the other end of the connection were soon replaced by the silhouette of a man wrapped in shadow. The Council members were proposing an alliance with the being, offering free access to all Union resources and unwavering support of the new multiverse-wide empire he was creating in return for zero bloodshed and the capacity to continue development without additional restrictions.

The shadowy man gave this arrangement some thought... and eventually accepted, on the condition that an individual would still arrive on his ship. The robot had by then passed close to Jupiter, and promptly changed course towards the planet's main city. It docked peacefully, only using its tentacles to anchor it more firmly to the structure's surface.

Many of the city's inhabitants had congregated at the docking bays, patiently waiting until someone would volunteer or be taken. In all likelihood, there would be a volunteer - the entire deal was agreeable, given that virtually no freedom would be lost throughout the various systems of the Union, and the time spent aboard the mysterious man's ship would undoubtedly be an interesting experience.

Lina knew that being on a multiverse-crossing ship might lead to a great deal of research on different types of energy, especially magical energy. After a brief transmission to the rest of those gathered, she was eventually allowed to land at the entrance to the docking bay. The purple-clad researcher detached her flight harness and programmed it to return to her home, and entered the bay. She walked across to the robot, where it had unfolded a teleporter pad in anticipation of the subsequent transfer. Preparing her mind in anticipation of what might come next, Lina stepped onto the pad... and was carried far away to the vast Nexus, as it continued on its path of conquest through the multiverse.

The large robot detached itself from the citadel and sped away into the blackness of space, vanishing into a newly-opened warp hole that quickly closed behind it. On Jupiter, and throughout the rest of the great interstellar alliance, normal life resumed.

Awesome Job Buta. Approved! May your job as our Spellchecker officially begin!

Spellchecker... and technical specialist. I stay up way too long working out the systems for this place.