Chapter 15 #2
“Well, because it was the final show for this stop, there’ll be a party tonight, but that won’t happen until we dock back with the ship. Everyone has the next hour to shower and wind down from the show before we have to prepare for immediate departure.”
Excitement flows through my body at the thought of what’s to come.
Fuck me, I’m going to space! “Is there anything specific we need to do for that?” I ask as we move through the crowd toward the merch stand.
It’s surrounded by people, their happiness and energy so palpable it gives me second-hand shivers of excitement.
“Yes, it’s roughly four hours to make it back to the other ship. We need to pass a few of Earth’s sensors and our cloaking technology on the arena can only handle slower speeds, so we can’t go any faster.”
I’m trying my best to focus on what he’s saying, but there’s a little commotion at the merch stand that’s grabbing my attention.
A young couple is arguing over the merchandise.
The woman wants a poster with Caspian and Dylan on it, but the guy she’s with is refusing to buy it for her.
Poor girl looks like she’s just about in tears.
Before I can step in, John pushes past me to the booth, grabs a poster, rolls it up, and puts a band around it before returning to us.
While he’s in the process of doing that, the jackass boyfriend storms off, leaving the girl looking around like she has no clue what to do now.
My marshmallow grandpa walks up to the girl and hands her the poster, whispering in her ear when she continues to sob.
Before I know it, he’s escorting her outside.
“It’s not quite our responsibility to make sure the humans all get along, but it does benefit us to limit the drama that happens on the circus grounds,” William explains.
“John’s likely calling the girl a taxi so she can get home safely.
No one in the crew would ever take advantage of her, but it’s good to care for others if you have the means to do so. ”
My white knight grandpa rejoins us, and as we walk back toward the elevators and the two men guarding it, William continues to tell me about the trip.
“It’s too short a journey for lightspeed, not to mention the arena isn't lightspeed capable on its own. You need to be strapped in for the first part of the journey, and it takes roughly ten minutes to leave the Earth’s atmosphere.
Most people choose to nap for the journey since the bed converts into a secure capsule which you can be strapped into for safety purposes.
There’s no real point being up and about.
We don't serve a meal, and apart from the control deck, there are no windows. Best that you wait until we dock with the main ship.”
“Once we get there, I can show you to your permanent quarters and all the other cool things on board. Because the ship travels most of the time, it’s virtually a little city.” John butts in as the guards step away to allow us entrance.
“We will have a few days of rest and relaxation, then we will take the arena to the US and do the show all over again. After that, we hit Asia and Australia, and then this rotation on Earth will be done.” William presses the button for the employee floor, and the elevator moves smoothly upward.
“Oh, and when we are in the US, we also take on anyone who wants or has been asked to leave Earth. We have holding cells on both this pod and the main ship so that visitors can travel with us without being a potential threat to any of our regulars.”
My mind spins with all the information. Just when I thought I had a handle on it all, it seems I haven’t.
“Come on, Lila. Let’s take tea in our quarters. Eric will be cleaning up after the show, and we usually do a debrief before take-off.” The guys lead the way off the elevator, past my room, and all the way down the corridor to a set of double doors.
John opens them with a flourish and marches in, with William gesturing for me to go first. As I enter their private space, a whistle escapes my mouth.
“It is good to be the kings.”
“Well, there are three of us,” William grumbles from behind me as I take in the huge luxuriously appointed space.
“And there used to be four,” John adds in quietly.
I take a seat on one of the plush sofas and decide to address the elephant in the room.
“What happened to Grandma? I don't think anybody has said,” I ask gently, and they both join me on the large sectional sofa, each giving the other space.