To Utopia, Hell...

[Dracos]

Marching off, they made their way towards Vault City, the notable fortress in the desert standing proudly before them.  There was only two entrances from the outside.  The external office and the gateway to the city.

Dracos

[Carthrat]

"Explain it to me ," asks Mei-Ling, of Jan. Here was someone who seemed to have a head on his shoulders.

"Why is opening the tower important, again? So far, the only reason I've managed to discern is 'because Darx wants to'."

[Olvelsper]

Jan waved for Mei-Ling to hang back with him as the group marched ahead of them. He continued in a low voice. "It's basically that, not even I have decided to interfere with that place in all my time here. I wanted him to see it was tightly sealed to dissuade him from constantly tempting fate and running there whenever an opportunity presented itself. There are very dangerous creatures running through there most of the time."

He coughed. "A bit of negative reinforcement, let's say."

The negotiator waved a hand grandly over the fortress as he decided to change the subject before said subject noticed the discussion. "Anyway, you need to go through the office and take an exam if you're going to be allowed into that city, miss."

[Carthrat]

But what will you do if he finds the star?

"An exam? What's on the exam?" asks Mei-Ling, shrugging. "I can just as easily go to New Reno.."

[Olvelsper]

Jan didn't quite know how to respond to Mei-Ling's quiet question, "I'll have to find it first." He murmured in response.

Shrugging, he continued. "You have the look of a well seasoned traveler. I know Vault City has a lot of tools, maps, and assorted other things that will benefit you. Besides, this area only has the three towns. It's probably best to not ignore one of the three."

"Anyway, the exam is them asking you fairly simply questions about your background. They give you a personality test to make sure you aren't psychotic. And a blood exam if you're *really* odd."

[Shukuen]

"This is where we part for now," Leets said, watching Jan explaining the to Mei-Ling before breaking off from the group and heading towards the entrance.

[Olvelsper]

"Where are you heading off to, Leets?" Jan questioned the youngest in the group.

[Carthrat]

"Oh. That shouldn't be too difficult," replies Mei-Ling, nodding. "Hmm. I'll enquire about that now. Perhaps we could meet later... "

She shrugs at that, and heads towards the entrance (coincidentally, after Leets).

[Shukuen]

"There's a contact here from my employer I need to check on," Leets said.

"If I had known Darx was going to drag us into searching for stars, I wouldn't have invited him along."

[Olvelsper]

"Well then, I have to go to the engineer's guild to ask them some questions. On your way?"

[Shukuen]

"Yeah, I think it is," Leets answered as they reached the gates. He pulled out his pass and held it out to the guard.

[Olvelsper]

Jan/Leets:

You see the young woman heading off with a starstruck gaze as she explored the nearby stores.

Dracos

[RyderHakubi]

Poor Ryder, left out camping once more since she's not welcome in Vault City...

"Damnit, why did I have to tell about spending time in jail..." she mutters unhappily as she sets up "camp."

[Carthrat]

When Mei-Ling reaches the guard, she faces him, and says, "Ah, sorry, but I don't have a pass. I was told there was an exam one could take to get one?"

[Dexie Oblivion]

Darx smirks, walking up behind Ryda.

"Stuck outside again, girl?"