Transmigrant - Chapter 9
Copyright © 2024 Stephen B. Anthony
Without new life, what becomes of us? By the time the jump gate opens, will there be enough of us left to remember what we were trying to preserve? Perhaps the greatest failure is not the system, but our belief in its permanence.
—Christine Silman Decker
CHAPTER 9
Ray, Kaylie, and Estia sat in a booth at No Man’s Land, a renowned pub, soaking in the atmosphere, and glad to be off the Shinobi after two days of boredom. Famous for boasting the widest variety of tequila in existence, the pub enjoyed wide acclaim.
Situated at the center of the elevator complex within the vertical spoke of Eden Station, the pub offered convenience from any floor. Its extensive tequila collection and zero-gravity dance floors drew crowds, while enticing invitations to luxurious resorts on Eden’s surface adorned screens throughout the establishment.
“I wonder,” Kaylie said, “how many people who say they have vacationed at Eden have never gone any further than this space station? I bet less than half go to the beaches.”
“Good question. Your parents live on the surface?” Ray asked.
“Yes,” she said. “I came here multiple times a year when I was a kid. My parents inherited an estate on a small, remote island, but rarely go now. Mom is too busy. Dad goes more often. I haven’t been since college. But it is gorgeous. You should come sometime.”
She noticed a brief smile grace his lips, a rarity she hadn’t witnessed often. Whenever his expression brightened, she found him attractive. Yet, most of the time, he appeared sullen or despondent, a demeanor that wearied her occasionally, though she understood its origins. However, she had observed a recent increase in his smiles, a change she couldn’t help but notice.
“What about you, Estia? Ever been?” Ray asked.
“I haven’t been anywhere,” she said. “Everything is a new experience for me.”
“You never eat,” he said, observing that she had declined food. “You sure you don’t want something?”
“I’m not hungry,” she said, “but thank you.”
“I am starving,” he said. “There’s so much food here that doesn’t exist on Tellarius.” He took a large bite of a cheeseburger, followed by a sip of beer, and flashed a smile again.