Chapter 2 – All Aboard the Silver Stream

The night air felt crisp as Arwain coasted toward a building in the upper sector. He eyed the approach to the landing zone of Silver Stream’s headquarters, illuminated under the glow of OLEDs amid a sea of towers also sporting business signage.

There were few options when a business required cannons to launch packages for rendezvousing Gliders. The top of buildings provided a clear shot in all directions, and Arwain counted himself lucky that they managed to find a location with only a quarter of the effective launch area obstructed by taller structures.

Arwain slowed his approach until his feet gently tapped upon the platform, a contrast to the breakneck landing that he typically used throughout the day. He had no need to rush at the moment. It was the only place where Arwain could call ‘home’.

“The last thing you need to do is rush through those doors! That means that you had a bad day and can’t wait for me to console you!”

The words of his momma rang loudly in his mind as he made his way inside, sporting a grin as he convinced himself that everything went right today.

But even if it didn’t, he would try to find something to look back fondly upon. He hadn’t stepped foot in his childhood home in ages. There was no familiar face to console him on his worst of days. He hadn’t gone back since his momma passed away.

Instead, Arwain had to face forward. He had to have the best of days. For himself and for the company that he started as his new home.

A puff of air blew outward at him as the door slid open. He stepped forward as the computer system confirmed the credentials stitched on his uniform. Within moments, robotic arms encircled him, scanning his body for wear and tear. They beeped as a flash of light caused his uniform to disconnect, allowing for the arms to pluck them as they fell off. The individual pieces were placed in a bin for cleaning later.

Several arms traced the length of Arwain’s biotech wings, ensuring that a Glider’s livelihood was in tip top shape. Satisfied with the results, a green arrow popped in front of him, walking forward to toss his goggles for another arm to catch.

A shower of light sprinkled around him next. Pieces of clothing from storage were slapped on and the threads stitched together with barely a seam. It fit to the contour of his body as if he were a doll being dressed. In seconds, the uniform was replaced by casual clothing, completing the transition from work to relaxation time. A cup of herbal tea came out of a slot at the end of the room, which he grabbed and took a sip.

The door leading out of the changing room retracted upwards, giving him permission to call it a day. But not three steps later, Arwain turned the corner to see someone catching his attention.

A short woman in a tank top and tight leggings stood by the viewing window to the changing room, sipping her tea. Her short brown hair whipped around as she faced him, the locks over her forehead settling back until they hid one eye completely.

“Yo, Queen! Enjoying the view? Don’t tell me that you were waiting for little ol’ me?”

The cup covering her lips went down, revealing a curious grin.

“Now why would you think that? It’s not as if I was wondering if you were wearing tighty whities today. No, no. That would be just slovenly of me. Why, I just so happened to walk to this very spot that gives the best view of that ten-second-long undressing and redressing. And since you happened to be there, pecs out and flexed for my eyes to draw attention upon, I caught myself staring just an eensy bit.”

“I told you before. I’m not shy about it one bit.”

“Of course, and that’s why my lips are loose.”

Vera McQueen was a curious fellow Glider. It was no secret that she enjoyed being one to linger around the eye candy. Given the physical demands of the occupation, Gliders typically had some of the best toned bodies in the service business. Particularly when it came to a small upstart that fought to compete with the bigger ones.

But that was not why Arwain called her ‘Queen’. That came from the holographic dashboard that she held in her hands, a daily routine of checking her delivery stats in comparison with the other members. She fought for the best numbers – total packages delivered, flight path efficiency, on-the-job incidents, etc. When it came to the business, she was a veteran that did everything she could to stay at the top of the game.

The doors hissed open, signaling another returning Glider.

This time, a tall, muscular man peeled off his uniform, revealing a speedo worn underneath. Rather than casually walking forward, he stretched his back before hopping into a front flip that put his nimbleness in full display. It ended with a flash of chiseled butt toward the viewing window.

“Queen, you’re drooling into your tea.”

“A-Am I now? Sorry, that one got the juices flowing a bit too much,” Queen chuckled as she went to wipe her mouth with her arm.

The door retracted to reveal a debonair blond wearing tights that traced along his curves. He struck a pose like the end of a performance, giving his audience of two the full experience of his showmanship.

“Dammit, Jester. Do you have to make Queen weak in the knees every time you return to the office?”

In response, Jester placed an arm around him and pulled him close. The two of them were in a tight bro hug that invoked a squeal.

Arwain turned to a visibly pink Queen, who was now giggling sheepishly into her tea. He could recognize that gaze from anywhere. It was a sign that the woman before him was just the slightest bit ‘rotten’.

“Apologies to the two of you. I’m afraid that it is my instinct to do such things on purpose. I blame it on a livelihood of keeping with the spotlight. Every entrance has to be fabulous. Every audience wooed by their heart’s desire.”

Arwain simply drank his tea as Jester Soliel paraded out of the room. His penchant for catching people’s attention was no less dulled when he transitioned from a circus performer to fellow Glider. Coming from a family that performed on stages for generations, Jester’s deliveries added a bit of the flair.

As for how he came to work for Silver Stream, he was literally recruited off the street after Arwain attended one of his dynamic flight shows on the cheap. Circus acts had become a dying discipline after people were given wings. The peril of falling to one’s doom had all been erased, leading to an indifference for that type of entertainment.

The door hissed open again. This time, the curves of a feminine, muscular body stood before the mechanical arms. Arwain choked on his tea before making to leave the room, until his arm was tightly gripped by Queen.

“Aww, leaving so soon? This is a society that promotes equality, even when it comes to bodily appreciation.”

“Tell me that when I don’t expect to eat a roundhouse to the face. You know Sarge is a stickler for traditional views.”

Arwain moved to slither away from Queen’s grip, much to her disappointment. The door to the changing room opened just as he reached the other exit, revealing a silver-haired beauty with a piercing gaze level with Arwain. She looked like she was always judging the person before her. In his case, she probably was.

Margery Saul was her name, but everyone called her ‘Sarge’ due to the vibe that she commanded.

“Are you going to keeping staring at me, or do I need your permission to get around you?”

Arwain quickly shuffled away from the exit as if her no-nonsense attitude had swept him to the side. Her preference in semi-formal business dress only added to the tough aura of guidance that surrounded her.

“You know, tsunderes like her are a rewarding experience.”

“And why would you know that, Queen?”

“Because she’s sweet to me.”

“Haha, and how much did that cost?”

“Everything… in my secret closet.”

“Whoa there, that’s something that I don’t need to know.”

“Aww, you’re no fun. Let’s grab some grub. Dingleberry and Jolly are waiting for us.”

Arwain sighed. His crew at Silver Stream was the family that he had now. And if nothing else, it was a family that never gave him any regrets. At least, that was what he would keep telling himself.