Oh well, the population's well on it's way towards seventy thousand, I should expect things like this.Oh well, the population's well on it's way towards seventy thousand, I should expect things like this. When I got into town, people were looking at me. I stopped someone, and asked them in Quen where the human female had gone. He indicated a building towards the center of the town. Like all Pendorian towns, this one was a mixture of old and new. The place was spotless, and magnificent in it's look. It had the feel of a quiet eighteenth-century american village, straight out of Disney World, but I could also see the influence the technology of the world had had. The streets were clean, and behind some of the buildings, rather than pack-horses, people had grav flitters. This seemed to be a strictly Centaur community, which is somewhat unusual, but not to be unexpected. Unlike the humanoid races, Centaurs need larger and differently-shaped spaces. These houses were all obviously handmade. This town had never had an FAMECE near it, apparently. Wait, yes it had. The road was obviously made by a FAMECE, but every building had that incredible handmade look that just glows. I tethered the horse outside the house, amused to note that both horses had already been surrounded by scurriers. I adressed the empty air. "Excuse me, but does the local AI have a name?" I was somewhat suprised by the response. Most AI's don't like telepathic contact, but this one came out and said *My name is Alan Majors, Shardik.* "Alan? I built you a couple of years ago." *Yes, you did. How are you doing, Father? Haven't seen you in a couple of years.* "I've been...busy." *Yes, well. Miss Flanders is inside. I assume you're looking for her?* "Yes, thank you." I walked in. It was a local healer's office, and what I saw inside was completely different from the simple rural atmosphere outside. "Oh, good, you're here." Brieanna was lying on the floor, and her left arm was halfway into the sex of what was a very pregnant centaur lying on the healer's floor. |