A week later, Minx found herself and her team once again in the portal room. This time they were going to an orange portal planet where they would be working as a class. They were still broken into their groups, but they were to stay close to their teacher.
This was an exploration mission that included multiple schools and both year levels. It was simply their turn to go. They were working together to find undiscovered flora and fauna using scanners which were passed out during the explanation. These scanners only worked once the teacher turned them on and within 200 meters of the teacher's scanner. Move outside that radius and thy would no longer work.
Plants would give the group 5 points while undiscovered beasts would yield 20 points. These points accumulated into their grade. Minx looked around and saw that sketchy girl right behind her man and she scowled deeply. Her class would be the first to go through the portal this time. She wanted desperately to go over there and tie the little girl up in a vine, but Sin announced they needed to line up and get ready to go.
Since Minx wanted to show her man what he meant to her, she went through last in her group so she would only need to hold on to the person in front of her, who was Raven, and not have anyone touch her at all.
The more dangerous the planet, the more likely a party was to get scattered if they were not holding one another. Holding on tight was highly encouraged.
Once on the other side, there was a soldier standing there telling them to move aside. Sin had already started forming a line of his students so they would all stay together. There were several places the students could land. Minx was looking for all of them because she wanted to keep an eye on the skank.
Eventually, Vorden and the rest of Quinn's team arrived. Fire shot out her ears, and it wasn't due to the heat and muggy day they were experiencing. The little hoe had dropped her hand down where it had no business being on the way through the teleporter and Vorden looked angry, making it obvious it was not invited.
Without thinking, Minx threw out a root system. Vorden saw the hand movement and saw the ensuing after math. It didn't hit anything though because she had already moved. He smiled broadly at her and gave her a wink. She returned his smile then finally took a look around at the planet they were on.
The first obvious thing was they were all standing in mud. There were paths wide enough for vehicles in front of them and the teachers were forming lines in front of each path. The plants were mystical to Minx.
The colors were beyond anything she had ever seen before. The sounds from her classmates around her told her they felt the same way. She was excited to see what kind of treasures this planet manifested. The dozens of shades of green melded so magically they made the rainbow look boring. She saw trees, shrubs, vines, flowers of all kinds that could only thrive in a rain forest. She felt home, at peace. Like this sight was something designed just for her enjoyment. She vowed to return here and study the plants.
The shelter off to the side looked like it had never been finished since there was no wall. It looked like a treehouse that spanned many trees, many houses, and many branches. There were houses and shops as high up as the trees could support with bridges and stairs providing access to the various levels. There was nothing on the ground except the teleport spots.
This was considered a tier 5 city. The residents paid no taxes but were also open to beasts attacks. If a person or a family could not afford to live on Earth or a green portal planet, this is the kind of life they could expect in these times. Red portal planets had no shelters as they were too dangerous.
Minx noticed a group of 5 travelers with a beast talking to one of the soldiers. She assumed since there was a beast with them, they had to be from the Bree family. Raven had Knight on her shoulder, so she was used to seeing someone travel with a beast. Unlike the green-portal planet, they were not greeted by people selling their wares. Just soldiers looking them over to ensure they had everything they needed. Safety was obviously paramount here.
Minx's team, minus Dufus and herself were wearing their new armor and weapons. Since Revlis chose to carry the device, the team lightened the load on his back by putting some of his stuff in their bags. She didn't believe in encumbering the slowest person, making the party even slower.
On this outing, killing beasts wasn't required or expected. Just scanning. Therefore, the hard-fought-for levels Minx encouraged meant little. She was still proud of their hard work. Reviewing their current positions, she smiled. Midas level 8, Revlis and Aqua, level 6, Raven and herself level 5 and Dufus at level 3. She released a content sigh at how far they had come.
At the beginning of the path, she was looking at which was between her path and Vorden's path, she saw a 6-foot tall S-shaped plant that had glowing blue rings all over it. She heard it speaking to her since she was near the front of the line. It offered to enhance her and her partner's sexual pleasure.
Minx started laughing but no one else heard so they just looked at her like she was crazy. The mood of the majority of people was wonder but also a bit sour because no one liked muggy weather and this was muggy! She felt like her normal personality was returning after the stress school had placed on her.
Her class was the first to move forward. As soon as they got on the path, the voices of all the plants slammed her unexpectantly due to the sheer volume of them. She dropped to her knees holding her head and gritting her teeth. She strained against the pain. Her team encircled her in a second and the teacher was quickly right behind them.
"Are you okay? What's wrong?" Sin asked.
She gulped then pushed herself into a meditative pose. Her classmates were annoyed with her, but her eyes were closed. She didn't care about their opinions anyway. A few moments later she was able to get control, explaining to the plants she needed them to speak one at a time, please.
They assaulted her with questions, one right after another. She explained the mission to them. The plants happily offered to assist her. She told them she would need to discuss it with her teacher.
"I'm sorry about causing you some concern, teacher Sin. The plants were excited and decided to talk at once. It was so loud, it hurt my ears. They would like to help us. Did they give you a map of where we need to explore or do you have autonomy in this mission? Should I ask them to just point us in this direction?"
Sin presented his tablet to her and pointed, "this is where we start. The second years last explored just before that."
Minx listened for a moment them smiled at the teacher, "Excellent. The second-years missed some. We should pick those up before continuing. Can I walk along side you and help you lead?"
Sin smiled, "I think your ability just might be handy. Please, lead the way."