Chapter 13: An Unexpected Walk

Baths were sacred experiences on the outposts. Space life meant giving up such comforts for most of your existence among the stars. Showering in the quick blast shower units was the most common form of self-cleaning, and it was the same for all, no matter what station or responsibility. Resource limitations and supply constraints kept water volumes at minimal levels. Even Hana’s request for an increased water supply by only a slight ration increase for Shinrin-Yoku was originally met with concern. So when public bath festivals were announced for the colonies and outposts, the events took on near-mythological status.

Modular bathhouse facilities were erected within the colonies and outposts, often in larger common areas like the main squares in Sectors One and Four. Each facility had privacy measures, but rumors circulated that it was not common for public nudity to be common on those days, with everyone celebrating their cleanliness and exposed skin in unison as traditional reservations were briefly cast aside. Beyond those rumors and publicly available data, Hana did not have any more knowledge of the festival and leaned on Lunara’s experience.

“Oh yeah, I walked around all of Sector Four completely naked. Any kids that lived on the outpost were tucked away in the residential districts, so there was no concern for that. Wasn’t uncommon to see people getting… comfortable… with one another in public.”

“What??!” squeaked Hana.

“You’re just trying to make me blush.”

“Not at all. More just trying to prepare you. I joined in on a few. Never even talked about it with anyone after. Everyone just understood that was how things went rockside, and we all were fine with it,” said Lunara.

“Did… did Shreve do anything like that?” asked Hana.

Lunara paused.

“Would you be upset if I said yes?”

Hana thought it over and shook her head.

“No,” she answered.

“Well, much like now, half the outpost was infatuated with him at the time, and he was mysterious. So yes, I saw him join in a few. He and I did once too, full transparency.”

“What?!!”

“Well, there was another girl there too, but-”

“Okay, I get the picture. But you too are so casual with one another!” blurted Hana.

“Like I said, it’s just how things are during the bath festivals, and when you’re rockside, you’ve got to stick together. No room for jealousy or insecurity. So we did, then went on our way. I would not be mad if you invited me to join you two if you get to that,” Lunara said with a thoughtful smile as she eyed Hana’s chest.

Hana giggled and covered her chest with her arms.

“You are so very forward,” she grinned.

“Comes with the gig,” said Lunara.

“Well, I want Shreve to myself this time. Maybe next time,” said Hana, her voice turning deeper as she met Lunara’s playful gaze.

“Deal.”

Anticipation for the festival built every day in the weeks leading up to its beginning. Hana knew she needed to speak to Shreve, but could not figure out how or when to broach such a request. Even if he had done such things before, he had not done them with her, and she did not want to fail. Her resolve had also accepted that he might reject her outright, and she would be faced with re-evaluating her relationship with him afterward. For now, she hoped for the best and tried to find an opportune time. To her surprise, she received an alert from him one day as she was putting away her teapot.

“If you are free tonight, please meet me at Sector Two’s launch bay at 20:30.”

“I am open! I will see you there,” Hana replied.

She had not a clue what he had planned or why he was asking her to meet him, but that night at 20:15 she found herself on the rail making her way to Sector Two’s worker docks. She had barely explored Sector Two since it was a mechanical factory floor full of busy workers breaking down the ore that was delivered by miners. Most of the sector was off-limits for her, so she was uncertain where she could even explore on her own. When she arrived at the launch bay, Shreve was there waiting for her. Hana couldn’t help but smile and wave to him, and to her happiness, he smiled and waved back to her.

“Good evening,” he smiled.

“Good evening… I was surprised when you messaged me,” she said.

He nodded.

“I’ve been thinking. I apologize if I have not been clear or communicative. I’m not good at, well, a lot of things, like talking. And I never know what people think of me, as so many have perceived me as an angry, brooding sort of fellow. So I apologize if those biases made me distant from you. It was not my intention.”

Hana could not help but think Lux must have dropped some hints to Shreve in their days of working together.

“I don’t think you’re angry. I think you are a kind person. Brooding certainly, but I like that,” said Hana.

He smiled to himself and scuffed his boot on the ground.

“Well, thank you. I think you are a very kind person as well. People seem at ease around you. It’s nice to watch.”

“You watch me?” she asked.

“Yes. In the times you pass by, or I see you in public, you might not even notice me, but I see you engaging with everyone with kindness and excitement. You’re a beautiful person.”

Hana’s heart fluttered again. She had never been complimented outright like that before. Shreve held out his hand.

“Come.”

“Are we going for a walk?”

“Something like that.”

They turned down a red-lit hallway and went through a handful of pressurized doors. Hana still had no idea what was going on. Soon they were at a common room with two doors on opposite sides from one another. Shreve pointed to the one to Hana’s left.

“In there. Put on the base layers and step into the suit. I’ll get you fully prepped after that.”

“Whaaat is going on?” Hana asked, even though she began to have an idea.

“Where are we walking?”

“There,” he said, pointing out the window to the asteroid’s rocky outcroppings.

“NOOOOOO WAY!” shrieked Hana in joyous shock.

“REALLY??”

He nodded and Hana couldn’t help but jump up and down. Never in all of her plans or vision boards had she imagined she’d get an actual opportunity to set foot on the exterior surface. Without a word, she ran through the door and began to change. She zipped her base layer suit and stepped into the orange exterior pressure suit. It was puffy and stiff, with heavy fabric reinforced with steel cabling. Her body felt very small inside of its rigid protection as she waddled towards the door.

“I wish I looked cuter in this than I did,” she said to herself as she made her way back to the common room.

Shreve was there, already suited up. He laughed as she approached.

“Don’t laugh!” giggled Hana in slight embarrassment.

“You’re cute. It looks good on you. Very fashionable.”

“Earth girls will be jealous of the latest starside fashion!” said Hana as she posed in a mock fashionista bend.

Shreve made his way to her and began sealing the pressure guards. Grav boots and leg thrusters were activated in a dull hum. The cranial mount was secured on her head like a net of wires.

“This mount analyzes your brainwaves and tells your suit what to do. So just think it and it will happen. If you think, ‘I need to glide to that rock’, you will. But it’s not too powerful so don’t worry. You’re not going to fling yourself into the abyss if you think it.”

“Roger,” responded Hana, who was grateful there were safeguards.

Once everything was in place, Shreve latched Hana’s helmet and gave her a thumbs up.

“Can you hear me?” he asked.

“Yes!” responded Hana.

He latched his helmet and took her hand. They went through two more doors and were at the exit bay.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Very!” she replied.

Blue lights strobed, an alert sounded, and the doors began to open. Hana was surprised that she barely felt and shift in the pressure against her body. Vacuumous space welcomed her. They exited the bay and stepped out onto the ramp, then were on the asteroid’s surface.

Hana couldn’t help but let out a squeal of excitement as the rocky surface crunched beneath her boots.

“Hundreds of thousands of years of homo sapien existence led us to this moment, and for the first time, we as a species walk among the stars,” said Shreve.

He let go of her hand and motioned forward. Hana took a few nervous steps and felt the gravity boots working to pull her down with every step. Courage built, and she took a slight jump, which sent her floating through the air.

“Woo hooo hooooo!” she screamed out as she spun through the air like a dancer no longer tethered to earthly physics.

Shreve watched her without speaking. Boosters kept her elevated, and Hana found herself enjoying gliding in the air as much as she did skipping on the rocking ground.

“Do whatever you’d like. We are safe in this zone as no crews are out today,” he said.

Excitement soared through Hana’s muscles as she slid her boot across the crunchy surface. Memories of dancing that were long forgotten suddenly returned to her and she found herself twirling, bending, sliding, jumping, and pirouetting across the asteroid as Shreve walked beside her. Silence replaced music, but the sounds in her head gave her all the melody she needed to enjoy herself as the stars spun above and beside her.

Light from distant nebulas shined blue and green on her visor as she landed in front of Shreve, whose hands were outstretched to hers. Their fingers intertwined and he pulled her back to the ground before him. There they stood, facing one another. Thoughts of their dance flickered in Hana’s memories, and she slowly placed his hand on her waist then took the other. They began to dance together in silence as distant pieces of rock drifted around them in silence.

After a few moments, they stopped. Hana was satisfied, even though she felt as though she could never return to the inside of the outpost and still be happy.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“You are welcome,” said Shreve.

“Do you take people out here often?” she asked.

“No. You are the first. I just wanted to do something for you that you’d never experienced before, like you did with tea for me.”

Hana was touched.

“Thank you. I will never forget this,” she said.

Shuttles and carriers hovered over them in air-less silence as they made their way back to the outpost bay doors. Metal and rock surrounded them. Safety beacons blinked distant red and yellow lights as though communicating with one another. Hana’s breaths echoed in a muffled whisp within her helmet as she walked. The wonder of existence coursed through the entirety of her being. Her hand found his once more and they walked the remainder of the way in silence. Hana knew this was the moment.

After they had returned and changed, Hana almost decided to try to kiss him right then and there but decided to savor what she had experienced as just that. After all, what was a few more days of waiting at this point? Still, her heart raced as she returned to the common area to find Shreve already changed and standing in the middle of the room.

“Thank you again. That might have been the most amazing experience of my life,” said Hana.

“You are welcome.”

This was it. She wanted to ask him before they left that room and returned to reality.

“Shreve?”

“Hm?” he asked.

“Are- are you planning on going to the bath festival?” she asked.

His expression was unreadable.

“I was.”

“I am too. I-”

She paused, almost unable to state her desire. She reset herself and gathered her courage.

“I want to bathe with you.”

There. She had said it at last. No matter what happened. She had said it. He didn’t speak but stepped towards her. Metallic fingertips touched her hip, then moved to her jaw. Breath escaped her for a moment as his fingers drifted to her collar bone then down to her chest. Her lips parted and a very soft moan slipped from them without her permission. Their eyes met once again.

“I would like that,” he answered.