11. CHAPTER ELEVEN
Isat in the back of the mess hall by the large window overlooking the docking bay.
I decided to start my late morning with some sketching since Zhari was in rehearsals all day.
I hadn't had a chance to step outside to walk around Minia so I drew what I could from the window for now.
The meadow across the road that went on forever.
The workers coming and going, and the giant holographic tour buses all parked together in the lot.
Just as I set my sketchbook down to grab my pens, my wrist comm pinged. It was Pia’re. I tapped the live-stream notification to bring up a holo.
“Hey, friends! It’s me, your favorite vlogging girly-pop, Pia’re! I’m coming to you live from Minia, Tessara.”
Oh my stars! Pia’re was here, somewhere in Minia. I tapped Orbit Palz and sent her a message.
ME: Hey! I’m watching your live stream. I’m in Minia too! Let’s meet up for lunch if you have time today.
I flicked away from her live stream and swiped back to the Orbit Palz home screen. While I waited to see if she responded, I could send a quick text to my mother and Thomas, letting them know I was having so much fun on this work retreat.
I opened my family chat first.
ME: Hi, Mom. Just checking in. Everything is going well with the training. I’m having a really great time and I’m eating properly.
The three dots appeared almost immediately.
MOM: Are you sure? You’re eating proper meals? Not just noodles? Where are you staying? Is it safe? Are you alone? Is Carla with you? Did you bring enough clothes? Are you sleeping?
I stared at the messages, already feeling a headache forming behind my eyes.
ME: Mom, that was eight questions.
MOM: You didn’t answer all of them.
ME: I’m safe. I’m eating. I have enough clothes. I’m sleeping. I’m not alone. Carla is not here, but everything is fine.
MOM: You sound suspiciously vague.
ME: I’m working. I have to go. Love you.
I swiped away from the chat before she could send another message.
Then I opened my conversation with Thomas.
ME: I’m in Tessara today. I’m meeting up with Pia’re for lunch. She’s the girl I met boarding the shuttle.
THOMAS: You’re exploring another planet alone?
ME: I’m meeting a friend for lunch. I’ll be fine.
THOMAS: Where is Zhari?
ME: She had early rehearsals that goes until later.
THOMAS: Life of a popstar. So, you two kiss yet?
ME: Don’t start.
THOMAS: I haven’t even started. I’m just saying, this is the most interesting your life has ever sounded.
ME: My life is usually very interesting.
THOMAS: You spend all your time drawing or arguing with the vending machines.
ME: It steals from me!
THOMAS: LOL. I have to get back to work. Don’t get kidnapped. Or married. Or both.
ME: I’ll do my best.
I smiled at the screen before swiping away the conversation and hitting the NEW notification alert.
PIA’RE: That is totally out of orbit! I would love to have lunch with you. I’ll send over the location pin. See ya soon!
Pia’re sent over a location pin, which opened in Galax-Maps when I tapped it. I saved it, then forwarded it to Zhari so she’d know where I was headed today, adding: Lunch with my new friend—Pia’re, the one I told you about.
I opened Astrolynx and searched for cab services in the area, then scrolled through the results by rating.
Galaxy Cab 900 had the most positive reviews for efficient and timely journeys. I quickly filled out the request and hit send. A notification immediately popped up with a fare estimate converted to human credits and a Send Driver Request button.
“Five credits for a ten-minute drive? That’s actually pretty good,” I mumbled.
I linked my credit card and hit request.
A hologram projected above my wrist—Your cab driver is two minutes away.
My eyes drifted up toward the empty road before dropping back to the quiet glow of my wrist comm. A quick swipe cleared the clutter of incoming notifications, and I powered down the display, letting the screen go black.
Ahead, the docks stretched out in a steady rhythm of industrial life.
Cargo loaders purred in the foreground, while overhead, shuttle traffic traced slow, silent arcs across the sky.
Framing the entire horizon was Tessara itself, its jagged skyline rising in striking shades of metallic blue and violet.
After a few minutes of waiting, a boxy blue-chrome car hovered at the curb. Across the top floated Galaxy Cab 900, flashing in different colors.
As I walked up to the passenger-side door, it popped open slowly.
An extraterrestrial leaned over and smiled.
“Name’s Wyn, and I’ll be your driver this afternoon. Hop in,” he said, flashing the biggest smile. His gray skin shimmered in the light, making his white teeth look extremely bright.
I pulled the door open all the way and got inside. The interior smelled faintly of citrus.
“Wow, that was fast. You guys really are efficient,” I beamed.
“We are anything but slow,” Wyn said, flashing another smile.
Tiny amber beads dangled from the rearview mirror, clicking softly as he moved.
“So, just visiting Tessara, or do you live here on a visa?”
I reached around to grab the seat belt, but it was already moving on its own. It slid along a track in the door, stopped in the middle of my chest, and tightened softly, clicking itself into place.
“That’s cool,” I mumbled, staring at the belt. “Um…” I shook my head. “I’m just visiting. I’m meeting up with a friend for lunch.”
He reached in front of him and pressed a button. The door slowly shut, and the engine purred to life. The lights on the dashboard blinked, and a cheerful voice chimed, "Welcome to Galaxy Cab 900, where we are just one blip away.”
As the car eased away from the dock, Wyn flicked on the satellite radio and flipped through stations until low-fi music came on, a steady, soothing beat.
A map of the city popped up as a hologram hovering over the front dashboard. It automatically zoomed in on the pin Pia’re had sent me—Jelly Lounge Café.
“You are going to love Minia. I have lived here my whole life, and I am always finding new cool places to check out.” His eyes wandered to the holographic map.
“I see you’re headed to the G’yor food district.
They have amazing restaurants with tasty food.
There are also some stellar little shops with clothing, accessories, and all that stuff. ”
He waved his hand lightly.
“I’ll have to check it all out. We’re going to a place called the Jelly Lounge? It sounds so exotic.”
I folded my hands in my lap and looked out the tinted window, watching the scenery change from loading bays and freight cranes to the hustle and bustle of the city.
Giant glass buildings arched over us as we drove up a hill into the shopping district.
Clothing racks and tables lined the sidewalks, full of fabrics that caught the light and shimmered.
Little trinkets, like slow-moving snow globes with lazy blobs bouncing around inside them, sat on display stands.
Giant fabric bolts were stacked neatly next to one another, columns of color rising like candy-striped pillars.
When we came to a stoplight, Wyn let out a happy sigh.
“Ah, now that place is high-frequency,” he said, looking to his right and pointing.
I followed his finger and gasped.
A giant chrome-colored building was wedged between two smaller shops. The entire facade rippled with projected sugar swirls and glittery comets. The massive sign above the door read The Sweet Server in a looping script.
“I’m going to guess they sell candy?” I said.
“Candy?” He tilted his head. “Oh, I’m not sure, but they sell a lot of sweet food there. Comet Razlers are my favorite. Sticky, sweet, and a bit sour on the last bite.”
He licked his lips and continued driving as the light changed.
I let out a laugh.
“Humans call that candy. I’m definitely checking it out if I can.”
“You should try the Comet Razlers. Any flavor, because they’re all good. Oh! Also, try the Lux Lollies. Brizzleberry is the best,” he said, gripping the wheel.
The car slowed and pulled off to the side.
“But enjoy your lunch. You are in for a treat. That’s a phenomenal café.”
He winked and pressed the button in front of him again. The engine softened, and the seat belt unclicked and slid away.
I looked out the window as the door opened. He had dropped me right at the entrance of the Jelly Lounge Café, tucked down a pedestrian alley off the main food district.
Pia’re was already there, standing outside and scrolling through her phone with a large Neptune Academy shopping bag hanging from her arm.
I waited until the seat belt fully retracted, then stepped out.
“Thanks for the ride, Wyn!”
“Catch you in orbit!” he called, flashing the same bright smile as before as the cab lifted and glided back into traffic.
Just as the cab took off, Pia’re looked up from her phone and squealed.
“Ah! Vada! Oh my stars! I thought I recognized your voice! I cannot believe you’re actually here, in Tessara!”
She ran over and pulled me into a deep hug.
I smiled and wrapped my arms around her, squeezing.
“Well, hi to you too,” I laughed.
She grabbed my hand and started dragging me toward the sliding glass door.
“You are going to lag when you see this place,” she giggled.
The door chimed and slipped open, and suddenly I was standing inside something I had only ever seen in half-remembered dreams.
The Jelly Lounge was totally out of orbit.
For a second, my brain refused to understand it. My body did, though. I felt that slow, drifting calm, as if gravity had softened its grip and the world had decided to float instead of stand still.
The floor beneath my boots was clear, seamless glass. Far below, an endless tank stretched into glowing blue-green depths, light rippling upward in liquid patterns that slid across my skin.
It looked like walking on the surface of an ocean that refused to break.
Every step sent faint pulses of light scattering beneath me, as if the water were aware of us.