Caboose eagerly led all the girls through the second floor connecting bridge, looking forward to seeing what Polt had made of her gym. He vaguely recalled giving her several tips on how to improve it, and was looking forward to what it would be. The girls following behind him - except for Mero, whom he was pushing in her wheelchair - were also curious to see, as Polt had been going on and on in conversation about the finished product now that it was ready.
As they entered the gym, all of them gasped in awe. Rather than entering on the second floor as expected, the bridge connected midway up on the wall of a triple height first floor, easily tall enough for even the tallest of demi-humans to stand in and have full clearance. The main doors were sized to it, and could be seen to open easily. The main floor could be seen divided into three main segments. The nearest - which a ramp from the bridge opening led down to - was a sequence of conveyor belts set up like treadmills, running at various speeds and smooth as silk for moving on whether on feet, hooves, or serpentine body. At the opposite end, a wind tunnel could be seen set up, with bungee cord safety harnesses temporarily anchored to the ground.
The large visual draw - and the center of the floor - was what looked like a massive jungle gym made of bamboo. The various branches of the structure seemed to swirl endlessly, with passages both wide and narrow in and amongst it turning it into an almost aerial maze one could wander endlessly. There were even small pools of water held aloft within the structure, along with branches extending out from the main structure to provide breathtaking views, and even a cycling waterfall with pump from one higher pool to a lower one. It was a climber's paradise. Miia and Rachnera both had to lift their lower jaws as they stared.
"Looks like your Snake Pass idea is a real success, Love!" Polt proclaimed happily as she dashed up to the group. "Caboose mentioned how you claimed to be a great climber, Miia, and I remembered that most climbing extra-species don't brachiate to do so, and Caboose pointed me to a game that had a good way to allow Lamia - or Arachne - to get climbing exercise in a controlled environment!"
"How would it support Miia's weight?" Rachnera asked teasingly, making Miia hiss angrily. "For that matter, how is it supporting its own weight?"
"Oh, it's not actually made of bamboo!" Polt explained quickly. "It's actually made of a new material being developed called Spider-Steel, made from Arachne silk braided into thick cord and encapsulated inside solid material. The solid material - in this case, the bamboo - gives it the predefined shape, while the tensile strength of the silk - amplified through braiding it together - makes it nearly indestructible! Production is still an issue because there aren't that many Arachne willing to donate such vast quantities of silk to the development, but my Freckle was able to get this much of it...and quite a bit extra! I'm thinking I can use it to make us customized armor like Caboose's, so we can all be Blue!"
[Spider-Steel tougher and more flexible than simulation trooper armor!] Polt's Freckle confirmed excitedly.
"That is amazing!" Caboose declared excitedly. "Can you upgrade my armor like that?"
[Negative,] Caboose's Freckle intoned immediately. [Captain Caboose's armor is not designed to protect Captain Caboose.]
"It's not?" Polt asked in surprise. "Then what is it designed to do?"
[Protect everyone else from Captain Caboose,] the Freckle continued. [It is inbuilt with several limiter systems-]
"Wait a minute!" Cerea gasped out. "Are you saying...as strong and fast as we've seen Caboose be...that's at less than 100% natural abilities, not more?"
[Affirmative.]
Miia leaned in close to Polt. "So...I think your 'part god' theory is gaining ground…"
Polt merely grinned, pleased in the knowledge that she was the only one who had seen what Caboose was capable of without his limiters. Shaking off her smugness, she focused on the present situation. "As you can see, in addition to the climbing gym, we have group treadmills for demi-humans of all sizes and shapes, along with a wind tunnel in which winged demi-humans can get flight exercise. The safety harnesses are actually strengthened with Spider-Steel as well, to ensure they won't break in use. Papi, would you like to-"
"WHEE!" Papi called happily as she let herself be carried up into the wind tunnel, having already strapped herself in with the help of her Freckle unit...which had joined her in the air.
[WHEE!] Papi's Freckle added excitedly.
Polt chuckled sheepishly. "Guess that answers that. For now, should we check out the upper floors?"
Above the large first floor was a room filled with weights and exercise machines. "While I am focusing primarily on those services that would appeal to demi-humans who can't use a human gym, I realized a lot of demi-humans might be more comfortable exercising with other demi-humans, rather than around humans. As such, I'm still offering all services, although the exercise machines here are restricted to those demi-humans with a humanoid physique. However, I was able to tweak some of the tension machines so that - with careful computerized monitoring - winged demi-humans who can't fly at the moment due to torn webbing or lost feathers can use them to keep up their flight muscles while recovering, since this place can also double as a physical therapy center."
"You've really outdone yourself, Polt," Agent Smith spoke up from where she was overseeing Tio, Zombina, Monako, and Doppel as they exercised.
"Hi Mr. Ambassador!" Tio called out happily as she hefted a massive pair of weights, one in each hand.
"Hi girls!" Caboose called back excitedly. "Are you all enjoying yourselves?"
"Heck yeah!" Zombina responded immediately. "This place is amazing! How the heck did you manage to keep this under budget, Polt?"
"Mostly Freckle," Polt allowed. "I'd go to bed with a floor designed wondering how I'd budget it, and wake up to find it finished. I think he's part Wee Folk."
[Happy to help!] Polt's Freckle declared excitedly.
"Once we're all done exercising, come back to Blue Base for dinner!" Caboose offered happily. "I'll make us a big meal to celebrate!"
As everyone else cheered, Polt sweatdropped. "And there goes all the calories they'll burn…"