[Dimension transit in progress]

  [Message from your sponsor.:

  Hey there. This is a reminder to avoid making major changes to the universes you are visiting.

  Discussing our arrangement was not explicitly forbidden before, but it is now.

  I understand you were under compulsion. The mental resistance should prevent that from now on.

  To make up for the change in contract, your account was recently awarded several thousand credits.

  This next stop may have some unique challenges for you. It will be a longer visit than you are used to.

  That said, Enjoy.]

  Hmm, extra credits. That explains the larger than expected total. 23023 credits left. I wish I had nine more so it would be a palindrome. I love palendromes. Still repeating numbers are satisfying as well.

  The green glowing, Apple II type text of the sponsor note floated in the midnight grey abyss. Messages from my Pooka sponsor were always different from the blue system windows. Such as the blue system window telling me my current credit total. Their font and style have changed every hop so far.

  It seems in character for a race of shape shifting fey. Before all this started, the only thing I knew about Pookas was from the movie Harvey with Jimmy Stewart. Pookas are not just invisible 6ft tall rabbits. If you don't understand that, go watch Harvey. Seriously.

  I digress. Pookas are fey like beings also known as Pucks. Shakespeare's midsummer nights dream has a Puck as a narrator. Pookas are known as mischievous goblins, elves, and even devils. But what they really are, are storytellers, and story collectors. They crave stories, and may cause mischief or help others in pursuit of a good story.

  Pookas do have rules for what they are and aren't allowed to do to influence a story. My sponsor’s arrangement with me is taking advantage of a loop hole of sorts. They get a fresh story, I break all the rules they can't.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Even so, I have been warned repeatedly to step lightly on timelines. Lest I attract too much attention. There are powerful things that don't like change.

  Speaking of change, time to look at myself.

  Name:

  Race : [ Human (earth 01510) ]

  Job: [ street food chef]

  Bonded Vehicle: Street food cart

  Purchased perks

  [ Infinite cart storage]

  Infinite pages of 256 block grids. One type of object per block.

  [ magical device power]

  Cart will passively power all accessories attached to it.

  [ Chameleon cart ]

  Cart and all accessories adapt to fit universe.

  [ Paperwork pass ]

  Some paperwork and bureaucracy regarding trade licenses and travel is completed for you

  [ Lingua Omnia ]

  Speak all languages

  [ Lexia Omnia ]

  Read all languages

  [ Graphia + ]

  Write any language you have trained in. Training in language writing is faster than average person.

  [ Eternal Youth* ]

  You will not age past twenty eight until the task is complete. Then from that point you will age as normal.

  [ Mental Resistance ]

  You have resistance against many forms of mental attacks and manipulation.

  Stats: [Human Avg.]

  System Credits 23023

  Other currency

  Konoha Ryo: 24000

  Frank: 15

  Yen: 250

  Euro: 25

  USD: 1.25

  Lira: 12

  Denari: 3

  I converted all but 250 ryo to system credits. That added 7125 system credits for a total of 30,148. I try to keep some of each currency from every hop. Anne loved to collect coins. I have her coin collection in storage, but the system won't recognise it as currency unless I earn it in a hop. Nor would I want to break up her collection. I’ve added a few coins to it here and there, they don't count in the system currency counter either.

  —

  The bluetooth speaker started playing the TARDIS noises. It's showtime. The world fades into existence, blurs and shadows smear into solid shapes.

  There are few places that I knew better than where I had appeared. My childhood home, the house Ann and I built together, the halls of my high school all places I knew like the back of my hand.

  Growing up, I had spent every week for seven years watching the events here. Once it ended, I would watch every rerun. Then when DVD sets became affordable, all seven seasons were on my shelf.

  The colors of maroon, and tan covered curved blades surrounding matte steel grey paneling. The same colors formed bands to direct foot traffic on the floor. Standing kiosk screens displayed text in three different languages.

  People in gold, red and blue jumpsuits walked in between crowds of shoppers. Elaborate earrings and ribbed nose bridges decorated the faces of men and women.

  I was on the promenade of the space station Deep Space Nine. Even though I have never been further away, or in a location so alien, this felt like home.