2. CHAPTER TWO
In the forty-eight hours after I hit ‘confirm,’ I became a machine.
I cleared every lingering report from my queue, closed out the new accounts, and marched to Carla’s office with my best ‘responsible adult’ face on.
One carefully worded request for a week of ‘much-needed personal leave’ later—and a promise that I’d left everything idiot-proofed on the system—I had her approval.
I didn’t even remember getting back to my flat after work.
My brain was so excited about going to Vela that I barely noticed the journey.
I crammed panties and a few bras into my pink glitter rolling suitcase, along with socks and a few baggy T-shirts for sleeping.
I threw together a few outfits for the remaining days of sightseeing and then focused on my concert outfit.
I changed into my favorite, totally high-frequency miniskirt and a lavender butterfly tank top.
I scooped up a handful of butterfly clips from my vanity and shoved them into the pocket of the jean jacket I’d managed to throw on.
I grabbed my notoriously comfortable chunky-heeled boots and slipped my feet inside.
After doing my makeup and adding the finishing touches of star gems around my eyes, and applying Cosmic Girl lip gloss, I stood in front of my full-length mirror.
“Wow, you look totally out of orbit,” I told my reflection, smiling.
I grabbed my things and headed out to the street, flicking my wrist comm awake to call a cab.
Ten minutes later, I slid into the back seat, and we were off—merging into the slow crawl of London traffic.
By the time the skyline thinned and the space station came into view, my attention had drifted somewhere far beyond the city.
The cab pulled into the terminal, and just like that, I was there.
I stepped out with my stuff and made my way inside the station.
Everything looked like the shuttle stock photo online, just sharper and brighter. White arches, stupidly high ceilings, and security lines snaked back and forth, breaking up the giant room. There were even luggage drones zipping past my knees.
I walked over to the departure board, watching it cycle through the star systems.
I was nervous, but it was the buzzy, electric kind, not the hide-in-the-bathroom kind, which was usually what I got.
You would have thought that being dragged around Earth for my dad’s government job while growing up would have meant I wouldn’t be nervous about traveling alone.
But I was. We got to see a lot of new cities every few months.
We even traveled around Canada, where I ordered poutine at every restaurant for dinner.
Most of the hotels we stayed in were very luxurious—high-rise buildings with hundreds of rooms, rooftop pools, and bars.
But we did end up in a few shitholes too.
Because we traveled so much, I knew how to move through terminals on autopilot, which helped to some degree. This really was the same, just… bigger.
I had never seen Zhari in concert before, so with the sale price and her being so close it was perfect. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so of course I had to take it. Who knew when there would be another deal again?
Just as I came back to reality, a cheerful voice came from my left. A young-looking Velan woman with softly flowing cheeks and pink skin stood there. She had a backpack slung over one shoulder and Zhari’s tour poster clutched to her chest.
“First time going off-world?”
“Is it that obvious?” I asked, looking around.
She smiled. “You’ve been staring at that departure board for a few minutes with a blank look on your face.”
“How can you understand me? I don’t see an ear translator on you, and I’m not wearing mine,” I said, confused. I reached into my pocket and dug it out. I flipped the on switch with my thumb and popped it into my right ear.
She laughed, a bright, cackling sound. “We Velans are taught many languages in school. Human language is among them.” She adjusted her backpack so it rested higher on her shoulder. “I’m Pia’re.” She stuck out her hand to shake.
I looked down and reached for it. Regardless of how long extraterrestrials had been on Earth, I had never actually touched one. Steve from work had never shaken my hand.
“Nice to meet you Pia’re, I’m Vada Lamoth.”
“I live in Lumara City. I was just in Toronto for the week. The nightlife there was spectacular.”
Her stare never broke from my eyes. Not even for a blink.
“I take it your going to Vela for Zhari’s concert?”
“How did you know I was going to Vela for her concert?”
“Well, for one, you’re wearing glitter makeup and star gems on your eyelids.
” She tapped her right eye. “You’re also wearing a pastel purple crop top with butterflies on it and the words Cosmic Crush in silver rhinestones.
Plus, the only departures from this space station right now are to the surrounding cities on Vela because of the concert.
It happens every time she’s in town.” She reached out and grabbed my arm.
“I think it’s safe to say you’re going to see the coolest pop star alive.
” She laughed. “I’m going to see her too.
I’ve been her biggest fan since forever.
It’s so cool that she’s from my home city.
” Her glow brightened. “Her Lumara shows are always wild. Last time, she floated the entire arena. Like, a full gravity shift during the bridge. People were crying.”
My brain was trying to follow everything Pia’re was saying, but my mind was stuck on the gravity shift. “She what? She floated people? In a good way or in a ‘lawsuit’ way?”
“In a religious-experience way.” She hugged the poster tighter. “I think it’s because she feels more connected to her home city.” She smirked. “You’ll see.”
“Okay, I guess I will. I am pretty excited. So that must be a long day for you, traveling from Toronto to London just to catch a shuttle back home?”
“Yeah, but only when Zhari is back in the city. I’m not really sure why they close the other locations.
I think it has to do with this one being a sponsor.
But I try to come back through London anytime I visit Earth.
A few of my close friends live here. They work over at that big advertising building downtown,” she said proudly.
“The one with all the windows? Mulder and Scully Marketing? I have to deal with them sometimes for work. Well, next time you’re here, we should totally meet up!” I exclaimed. This was my chance to make a new friend, so I just went for it. I was sure my mum would be happy to know I was trying.
“As if I wouldn’t!” Pia’re beamed, pulling a chrome flip phone from her pocket. She flicked it open and activated Orbit Palz. A bright pink hologram popped up with the words Add Pal glowing in the air.
I tapped my wrist comm, pulled up the app, and angled my own hologram toward hers. We tilted them close until the chime sounded and the words Pal Added blinked.
I smiled at my new contact. Her username, cosmicvelan37, glowed lime green.
“Stellar,” Pia’re giggled, looking down at her phone. “Spunky_potato15? Your username is high-frequency.”
I laughed nervously. “Yeah, I made it years ago. I’m still obsessed with potatoes.”
A mellow tone sounded overhead, then the boarding call for Lumara City, Vela, chimed with our gate number. I looked up as the gate door irised open in a smooth sweep. The shuttle waited beyond it—its silver skin catching the light like prisms.
Pia’re nodded solemnly. “Come on. That’s us. You don’t want to miss your first jump.”
At the threshold, my wristband vibrated. A new message from my mum popped up.
MOM: Hi, honey. Maybe you can call us when you get off work today. Try not to burn out, and stay hydrated.
I rolled my eyes. “Technically,” I whispered, “I’m getting off work for the next week.”
I flicked the message away. I wasn’t about to ruin my mood with my mother’s antics.
The boarding tunnel curved toward the shuttle, its walls throbbing with a slow, soothing light that was probably designed to calm nervous passengers. However, it mostly made me feel like I was walking through the throat of some bioluminescent creature.
“Where are you sitting?” Pia’re asked.
“Uh—” I checked my shuttle pass on my wrist comm. “Section C, seat twelve.”
She beamed. “Section C, seat thirteen for me! We can scream together during takeoff!”
“That’s very generous of you,” I said nervously. “Normally, I reserve my screaming for alien pop stars, but I’ll make an exception this once.”
We both laughed as we started to board.
I stood inside the shuttle and glanced around, noticing how it looked more like the inside of a sleek, luxurious train. Rows of soft reclining seats lined the space, while curved windows ran along the sides. A track of low ambient light glowed along the ceiling.
I found my seat by the window. Pia’re plopped into the one beside me.
“Lucky you. First jump, and you got the best seat.”
“Tell that to my intestines,” I muttered.
A trio of humans squeezed down the aisle, arguing about the best place to get something called Nebs in Lumara.
“What are Nebs, Pia’re?”
She looked over at me and smiled. “They’re like your human ramen, but better. More flavorful, in my opinion.”
Wow. If only my mother could see how noodles were essentially life across planets.
A Velan child hopped past me, their light threads bouncing with each step while a glowing safety band tethered them to an adult nearby.
A recorded voice chimed overhead in human and two different alien languages, politely reminding us to fasten our harnesses and refrain from trying to access the luggage compartments mid-flight.
I clicked my restraints into place, suddenly hyperaware of how thin the window separating me from the outside seemed to be.
Pia’re leaned over. “Regretting it yet?”
“Yes… No. Ask me again in…” I glanced at her. “How long does this flight take again? I can’t remember.”