Generation Two - Chapter Ten: J1NX1E Has a Rival

Whilst J1NX1E was out in the wastelands, Shannon sneaked off to the Robot Workshop and Emporium. Just chatting to her electronic friend, gave Shannon a really brilliant idea (and the chance to unlock one of her wishes at the same time).

She'd seen all the 'off the shelf' ready to use Plumbots dotted around the floor and decided that she would get one as a gift for J1NX1E. It was basically to give her an idea of what Snowflake Day and gift giving really meant

 She recalled, a few weeks earlier, whilst she was trying to create Nanites, how J1NX1E was hovering around one particular Plumbot ...... Sock Em. So, armed with her little stash of Simoleans, she purchased a copy of Sock Em. At first glance, Sock Em was a much sturdier build, with a whole heap of upgrades and traits. She was much stronger by far with a longer lasting battery life.

.... the perfect companion to J1NX1E, whilst she herself was going to be busy painting for a living and exploring more of Oasis Landing. She realised that sooner or later, she'd have to return home to Dragon Valley. The longer she stayed, the more she affected the future of her family.

Dialling her communicator, she ordered J1NX1E to meet her outside the Robot Workshop. Luckily, J1NX1E was already on her way back, and arrived within an hour.

Inside, Sock Em was getting a quick brief from the salesbot.

Mind your manners. 

Check.

Obey your creator, no matter what the demands or how unreasonable you may think they are.

Check.

Keep your batteries fully charged at all times.

Check.

I have installed a self help manual, so you can repair yourself as and when you need.

Check.

Outside, Shannon was all a-flutter with excitement.

J1NX1E, I have a surprise for you. A gift. I hope you will like it.

New trait chip?

Um, no. Something much better.

An upgrade?

Er, no. Unfortunately I'm not experienced enough to install another slot, and you are still a fairly basic model.

What is it?

I got you a companion.

......

Another Plumbot.

......

A Sock Em. Someone to talk to whilst I am busy.

I hate you.

Excuse me?

Am I not good enough for you? You have to buy a replacement? Am I destined for the scrapheap?

No .... that's not what .......

I am insulted that you should do this to me.

By now, Shannon was wishing that she hadn't installed that personality/emotion trait chip, as it kicked in BIG TIME. She was forced to listen to J1NX1E's tirade. This wasn't the reaction she'd been expecting. Gratitude maybe, puzzlement perhaps. But not a full blown accusation about being replaced. The thought had never crossed her mind. Finally, J1NX1E's insults ran dry. After all, she was - as Shannon put it - still simply a basic model and didn't have much of a memory board. And her cheap weak batteries were starting to run dry.

Perhaps you should meet her.

I'd rather not.

Oh go on J1NX1E. I'm sure you two will get along like a house on fire.

Houses on fire normally means it is a dangerous situation to be in.

Ohhh, you know what I ..... never mind. It was just an expression. Come on, before you power up, meet Sock Em.

J1NX1E reluctantly dragged her feet into the Workshop where she came face to face with her rival.

Greetings Miss Plumbot, how are you.

She ignored her and walked past.

..... stupid Plumbot, thinks the sparks shine out of her metal wrists .....

Perhaps we should power up together?

Whatever, I'm busy.

Instead, she switched on her on board computer and started playing video games whilst poor Sock Em was left standing there.

I do not understand.

Don't worry, she'll get over it. She's just had an emotion/personality trait chip installed and she is just getting used to it.

******************

A few pics for you. Even though (as far as I can recall) Oasis Landing doesn't celebrate holiday times like every other town, they still have Zombies at full moon. Shortly after Shannon purchased Sock Em, one poor hapless zombie decided to try and take a bite out of a Plumbot. 

HUUUUUUUNGRY...... NEED BRAIIIIIIIIIIINS

Bet he got a nasty shock when he discovered strips of metal instead of flesh!!!

Generation Two - Chapter Six: Meet J1NX1E

After a rough nights' sleep, Shannon awoke to find herself feeling a little yucky and smelly. Well.... a LOT smelly actually. So she decided to try out the sonic shower. It didn't work out for her.

How the heck do these folks deal with this technology? It's giving me a splitting headache!

The quarters that she'd chosen - at the community centre - had a bedroom, bathroom and a small lobby area. As she was passing through the lobby, she heard a small crying noise and looking down, she spotted a little virtua-fox thingy. It was distressed and hungry.

She couldn't resist it, she HAD to pick it up.

Hello there young fella, feeling a little lonely?
E3E3WWWWE3E3WWWWEEEEO0O0O0
Hmm, how do you work these things?

Pressing a button, it gave her instructions on how to maintain this cute little thing and proceeded to clean in, talk to it and thankfully after her experimentation at the Robotics workshop, she had some nanites left over so she fed it. It shut up after that.

Wonder if I'm allowed to bring you back home with me? Sophie would LOVE this. I know she would. I feel so bad for giving her a hard time lately. It'd be nice to bring her something back at least. Besides, it's pink, her favourite colour.

Emit was nowhere to be seen, so she slipped it into her backpack and hoped that what she was doing wasn't illegal and that she wasn't going to be arrested for stealing or something much much worse!!!

After breakfast - which consisted of long life synthesised lasagne - seriously, this stuff was brought out of the replicator well over 24 hours ago and it STILL maintained it's 'freshness'. No green haze or horrid smells.

Shannon then decided that since she was going to be here for a little while - she only had fleeting wishes to return home - she'd become a Freelance Painter to earn her keep and have some extra pennies in her pocket.

Setting up the digital easel was pretty straightforward since she'd boosted her Advanced Technology skill when she fed and talked to that virtua fox. She even attracted the attention of a passing plumbob paparazzi. Already she was getting attention here in Oasis Landing.

However, the sky started darkening in, and that meant that even in the future, there was always a risk of rain. So she gave up painting and decided to return to the Robotics workshop to try her luck at creating a Plumbot of her very own. She thought about Blaine and how he was high maintenance, and wondered if there was a chance that a Plumbot from the future might add some 'spark' into Blaine's mundane, routine life.

After a few fits and starts, and nanites crawling all over (and under) her skin, Shannon managed to make enough to start the plumbot process.

With a hiss, the doors swept open from the egg shaped machine......

.... to reveal......

J1NX1E.

A delightful combination of silvers, pinks and greens!

Shannon discovered, however, that J1NX1E was a simple bot with no personalities or any traits fitted in her memory chip. So, apart from upgrading and maintaining her, J1NX1E was worse than useless. So Shannon left her to her own devices whilst she continued working on more nanites.

J1NX1E, in the meantime, proved NOT to be as boring as Shannon had portrayed. She had a childlike curiosity that led her to standing on more than one occasion, admiring a prototype bot that was on display ready to be sold.

HMMM, T1TAN1UM ALL0Y, 1NT3R3ST1NG

She also proved more than her worth when, after a long day, she and Shannon went back to the community centre. Shannon fell fast asleep with no bad dreams this time, only to be accosted by TWO plumbob paps who took it upon themselves to stand and stare at Shannon.

J1NX1E stepped forward and challenged them to leave.

PL3A53 L3AV3

They did, with great reluctance, but at least Shannon had herself a little bodyguard that she herself had created.

Whilst at the Robotics workshop, I happened to espy a familiar figure - or so I thought.
Atom Beaker.

And wondered if he was related to the Beakers from Sims 2, especially the infamous Loki Beaker
And yep, he sure is, Evil and all, like father like son ..... especially when he gave out the most evil of cackles right there and then.

Thankfully Shannon didn't roll a wish to meet and greet him. As goodness knows WHAT would have happened there!!!!

Generation Two - Chapter Four: Welcome to Oasis Landing

Shannon's point of view.

I know I must be mad to do this, but this thing, this metal contraption has been sitting in our front yard for goodness knows how long. After witnessing Blaine breaking down consistently and not being able to find anything here in Dragon Valley (we are so far behind with technology here) I wondered if there was a silver lining of sorts. I mean really, this place is still so medieval in more ways than one.  We should move forward, but the majority of people here are just happy to live in the now.

Life's been lonely without Austin around. Sure I have the girls, but they're moving onwards now with their own independent lives. And then there's Blaine. Poor rusty little mechanical man. I only allow him to potter around the place simply because he was one of those little quirks that Austin introduced into our lives. So I am loath to let him go really.

But I digress. I was talking about the metal contraption. Not a clue where it came from but it is the talk of the town. I know there are whispers about the 'odd family of fairies' and honestly? I do not care. I'd rather be a curiosity for people to gawk at, because that leaves other poor folks alone.

As Austin used to remind me, hey baby don't worry about what people think. Be yourself. As long as you are happy doing that, who cares? Eh babes?

Anyways, after tapping the footplate a couple of times (and seriously hoping that nothing happens), the bugger started up! I was stunned, shocked. So much so that I had to step back otherwise I'd have landed on my butt! Then from the bright glow, the shape of a man appeared and stepped out.

He was very odd looking with blue hair and an outfit that seemed to have glowing seams inserted into the fabric.

Greetings benevolent one.
I wish.
Um hello?
This is the right address I presume? The Powers family? Yes?

He had me at a loss for words, this odd little man.

Um, yes?

Oh boy, have I got a wonderful surprise for you.
Oh really? (I wasn't falling for his charms - if ever he tried to apply them that is - besides he looked rather pompous and full of himself so I indulged him)
I have yes, hold this please.

He handed me a metal case with a clasp on it.

This .... is a time almanac. Take good care of it and it'll help you whenever you need it.

I couldn't resist. I really couldn't.

For ... what?
For your adventures into the future, that's what! Any time traveller will tell you that.

Time .... traveller? Is he on something or what? This is ludicrous, there's no such thing as time travel. Or at least there wasn't the last time I looked. Although as I said earlier, Dragon Valley is so behind with the times that we are positively archaic.

I looked at him with positive indulgence and wondered who on earth - or wherever - he was.

Oh forgive me, I didn't introduce myself. I am Emit Relevart - time traveller extraordinaire and your guide into the future.
You mean there really IS such a thing as time travel?
But of course. I have spent many an aeon perfecting this portal and travelling through time, space and many other vortices.
Is it ... safe?
Of course it is. Although some folks do tend to suffer from travel sickness a couple of times when they travel.
And should I go through this portal, the present won't be affected in any way? I won't find my family has vanished or whatever?
Nope, the only thing that will change ... is the future, simply because that's one area that isn't fixed and prone to many variables.
Can I travel to the past?
No. sadly that cannot happen.
Oh, so once I go there, I cannot return?
Oh, I never said that. Um, what actually happens is that everybody has a different signature DNA strand that the portal recognises. It also remembers whereabouts you were in the 'present' and is programmed to send you back without any time being lost whatsoever.
Sounds complicated.
Try it.
Um, I'm not so sure.
You can see your family in the future there.
We survive? Please, tell me we survive and we are successful.
Hop aboard and see for yourself.

So .... after nervously stepping into the portal, within a few nanoseconds, (as far as I know, it could have been hours, days,weeks even years in this thing), I finally stepped out into a wonderous, bright, clean looking place.

Emit was standing there waiting for me. How he managed to do that I really honestly don't know and I resisted the temptation to ask him.

Welcome to Oasis Landing and your home until you wish to return back to your original abode. Any questions?
This..... this is ..... marvellous! It is ..... gorgeous.... it is...... words fail me here!
It is a nice place isn't it?

What are they like for schools and education and all that?
They have geniuses by the dozen here. Nobody is overlooked.
Oh that's good. Technology is far in advance I presume?
More than you'll ever know.
You said I could see my family here.
All in good time ....
They are here.... aren't they?
You'll see.
Stop being vague, I want to know now.

I swear he smiled indulgently at me. I know I sounded like a kid demanding to know everything, but the prospects of seeing my family was just too much. It really was.

There are two branches of your descendants living here, and doing pretty well for themselves. They have a strong family bond because they live not far from one another.

I was so excited that I had a whole heap of wishes that I wanted to do whilst I was here. but I focused on just the one.

Sooo, how long can I stay here?
As long as you want, there's no time limit at all.
Oh good, then I've got loads of time to explore and do stuff like meet the family.
Yes.
Anything of interest here?
There's Legacy Park, that's always a popular choice.
Ohh I'd like to go there, if that's ok.
Of course, but here's something that you might find useful for getting around though.

He handed me a jet pack.

Try this on for size and see what it feels like.

I did and wow, it felt amazing, didn't crush my wings at all. Mind you, being a fairy myself, the whole concept of flying wasn't exactly new to me. At least I didn't fall head first into the ground! I even impressed Emit.

I must admit, you have adapted pretty well already. No travel sickness, and using a jet pack with relative ease. I'd say you were definitely destined to live your life here in Oasis Landing. I can see you are eager to explore, so I'll let you go a wandering and check out everything we have to offer here in Oasis Landing.

And so I did, I headed to Legacy Park where I met with a few locals, although I swear this poor man's wife wasn't too happy to see me chatting to her husband. She kept glaring daggers at me so I thought I'd better scarper before the claws came out.

There was one statue there that intrigued me. It was of a woman who had won the lottery .... and gave it all away to charity! Ohhh to be that woman and be immortalised here in Legacy Park.

It made me wonder if our numbers ever came up. I wanted to go check but wasn't quite sure where that would actually take place. Thankfully my jet pack also came with a map of the town as well as a route and venue locator.

I headed off to City Hall to check the records, but unfortunately they didn't have any for us. Oh never mind, it was worth a try anyways.

I tell you what though, I am really impressed with this town and what it had to offer. I look forward to exploring much more.

Generation Two Chapter Three - The 'Mystery Man'

Sophie's point of view:

I have discoverd who mom is seeing. And it is darned creepy, really. I mean it.
It all began when she suddenly took a great interest in that metal portal thingy out in the front garden.

I can't remember where I was when it happened, the flash of light, the humming and buzzing. She should never have touched it in the first place. But it's been there for ages now, and curiosity got the better of mom and she activated it.

How, I really do not know, but it started up. Out of all of us, I'd have expected say Hannah or Nessa.... or even Blaine to show a lot more interest, but nope. It just HAD to be mom.

According to some of our closest neighbours, you could see this beam of light practically from space, it was so bright!!

But then HE turned up.

Emit Relevart.
Claims he is from the future.
Yeah, riiiiight.

Says that he can take mom there and back in the blink of an eye.
Handed her a small metal box, said it was an 'almanac of time' and would help her on her travels

That he would wait for her at the 'other side'.
Methinks he is warping people's minds to believe what they want.

But...... mom being mom, she is totally smitten. Has discovered she can learn the robotics skill in ... what's that place called .....???? Oh yeah ... Oasis Landing ....

So apparently, that's what she did. She 'apparently' went into the future.

Great. Thanks for nothing. Leaving me here with my nutty sister and a species confused Simbot that STILL thinks it's a human sim.