at Minda Yerra?"
Terrana nodded.
His face brightened. "Since we're both first years, maybe we're in the same cabin. Let's check our tickets." He pulled out a shiny white coin from his pocket and rubbed it. A tiny projection of the junk appeared and an automated voice spoke.
"Deck E, cabin five. Seat J. Occupation eight out of ten."
Mikin's face fell. "That's the bottom deck. It's always the last place to be served and the view isn't great either. Which seat did you get?"
As Terrana removed a blue coin from her pocket, Mikin's eyes widened in amazement. "You have a blue coin? B-but how?"
Before she could answer, an attendant swooped down on them. "Oi you! Nipponian! You need to be in your cabin now!"
He was the strangest Pophusian Terrana had ever seen; thin and gawky, with the biggest, purple afro tied in two large knots over his head. It didn't help that he was wearing a bright orange bodysuit either.
"Just ... just going," stammered Mikin. He looked at Terrana. "I hope we can meet later."
"Likewise," said Terrana. She felt a little sad as she watched him disappear down the stairs. He had been the first person to befriend her.
"Miss, allow me to escort you to your cabin," said the attendant politely. He even performed a cursory bow.
"Oh, I'm not sure which cabin I'm supposed to be in. I didn't rub my coin yet."
"Not to worry, Miss Ondur. Blue coins register with us as soon as you board. I shall lead you to your cabin." He led her back to the stairs, and on their way up they encountered the fair boy she had seen earlier. He looked at her in surprise, noticing the blue coin in her hand. He whistled as they passed by, watching them as they headed to the top.
Terrana found herself back on the top deck once more, staring at the main mast and sails.
"Erm, shouldn't I be down below in one of the cabins?"
"No, Miss Ondur. Your cabin is on the forecastle deck up there." He pointed towards the front of the junk and she found herself looking at an observatory-type area, constructed from opaque glass.
"How, how many students are in there?"
"Why, none, Miss Ondur. You have the deck all to yourself."
"All, all to myself?"
"Naturally, Miss Ondur. This way, if you please."
They ascended the polished wooden steps to the forecastle and went into the observatory dome through a sliding door. From the moment she stepped in, Terrana found herself basking in the folds of luxury.
There was a whirlpool in the middle of the room, large enough to fit ten people. Pods hung from the ceiling, customisable to any body shape or size, to function as seats. There was a bar to the right, complete with pods for patrons. She also noticed transparent circular discs tucked neatly into each pod. She pointed at them.
"What are those?"
"Sensory pads, Miss Ondur. Simply place them close to your receptive organs, in this case, your temples next to your eyes and ears is preferable, and you will have a virtual helmet."
"Virtual helmet? For what?"
"To provide entertainment. You may wish to view movies, play games, listen to music or, you can explore what the others are doing by going into the simulated meeting rooms. The more vigorous passengers can stand on the gaming simulation pad." He pointed to a grey area on the floor to the left of the whirlpool. "If you enjoy combat games that require extreme physical movement, that is where you act it out. Very realistic."
"Oh." She wondered what he meant by extreme physical movement and planned to try out the gaming simulation pad later. Beyond the pool, she could see right out into the sky, and it was fascinating to watch the cars and ships whizzing by.
"Will I be able to see outside throughout the trip?"
"Yes, Miss Ondur. Or if you prefer, you can choose to open the blinds on the ceiling. Naturally, they'll shut automatically should we encounter solar flares or pass through reflective zones."
"Oh."
"Any request you have, Kazu will help you."
"Who's Kazu?"
"I am the ship's computer. Any request
Terrana nodded.
His face brightened. "Since we're both first years, maybe we're in the same cabin. Let's check our tickets." He pulled out a shiny white coin from his pocket and rubbed it. A tiny projection of the junk appeared and an automated voice spoke.
"Deck E, cabin five. Seat J. Occupation eight out of ten."
Mikin's face fell. "That's the bottom deck. It's always the last place to be served and the view isn't great either. Which seat did you get?"
As Terrana removed a blue coin from her pocket, Mikin's eyes widened in amazement. "You have a blue coin? B-but how?"
Before she could answer, an attendant swooped down on them. "Oi you! Nipponian! You need to be in your cabin now!"
He was the strangest Pophusian Terrana had ever seen; thin and gawky, with the biggest, purple afro tied in two large knots over his head. It didn't help that he was wearing a bright orange bodysuit either.
"Just ... just going," stammered Mikin. He looked at Terrana. "I hope we can meet later."
"Likewise," said Terrana. She felt a little sad as she watched him disappear down the stairs. He had been the first person to befriend her.
"Miss, allow me to escort you to your cabin," said the attendant politely. He even performed a cursory bow.
"Oh, I'm not sure which cabin I'm supposed to be in. I didn't rub my coin yet."
"Not to worry, Miss Ondur. Blue coins register with us as soon as you board. I shall lead you to your cabin." He led her back to the stairs, and on their way up they encountered the fair boy she had seen earlier. He looked at her in surprise, noticing the blue coin in her hand. He whistled as they passed by, watching them as they headed to the top.
Terrana found herself back on the top deck once more, staring at the main mast and sails.
"Erm, shouldn't I be down below in one of the cabins?"
"No, Miss Ondur. Your cabin is on the forecastle deck up there." He pointed towards the front of the junk and she found herself looking at an observatory-type area, constructed from opaque glass.
"How, how many students are in there?"
"Why, none, Miss Ondur. You have the deck all to yourself."
"All, all to myself?"
"Naturally, Miss Ondur. This way, if you please."
They ascended the polished wooden steps to the forecastle and went into the observatory dome through a sliding door. From the moment she stepped in, Terrana found herself basking in the folds of luxury.
There was a whirlpool in the middle of the room, large enough to fit ten people. Pods hung from the ceiling, customisable to any body shape or size, to function as seats. There was a bar to the right, complete with pods for patrons. She also noticed transparent circular discs tucked neatly into each pod. She pointed at them.
"What are those?"
"Sensory pads, Miss Ondur. Simply place them close to your receptive organs, in this case, your temples next to your eyes and ears is preferable, and you will have a virtual helmet."
"Virtual helmet? For what?"
"To provide entertainment. You may wish to view movies, play games, listen to music or, you can explore what the others are doing by going into the simulated meeting rooms. The more vigorous passengers can stand on the gaming simulation pad." He pointed to a grey area on the floor to the left of the whirlpool. "If you enjoy combat games that require extreme physical movement, that is where you act it out. Very realistic."
"Oh." She wondered what he meant by extreme physical movement and planned to try out the gaming simulation pad later. Beyond the pool, she could see right out into the sky, and it was fascinating to watch the cars and ships whizzing by.
"Will I be able to see outside throughout the trip?"
"Yes, Miss Ondur. Or if you prefer, you can choose to open the blinds on the ceiling. Naturally, they'll shut automatically should we encounter solar flares or pass through reflective zones."
"Oh."
"Any request you have, Kazu will help you."
"Who's Kazu?"
"I am the ship's computer. Any request
Similar Books
