Welcome to Inariu

Cassandra was flying through the air as Julian stood behind her with the instruction manual.

“So I think that if you press that button, it opens the cup holder.”

“Cup holder?” Cassandra asked. She pressed the button Julian mentioned, and a small cup holder popped out.

“That’s amazing.” Cassandra whispered to herself. “Hey, could you get me some water real quick? I gotta test this.”

Julian did as she asked, passing by Roxanne on the couch.

“You need a drink?”

“Could I get some water?” She asked, tired.

Julian went into the kitchen of the ship and checked under the sink. The box of water underneath was almost empty. He checked the minifridge above the sink, and in it was one more box of water. No issue, they just had to get more once they landed. He checked their generator. 68%. Pretty good, but they could probably recharge in Inariu, seeing as they were the second highest producers of the stuff. But enough maintenance, he had water to get. He used the last of the first box to fill three glasses of water. He handed the first one to Cassandra, who put it in the cup holder. The technology amazed her. She took a sip of water and put it back into the cup holder.

Amazing.

Julian went back to the lounge with Roxanne, two glasses in hand.

“So, Roxanne. Sorry if this sounds insensitive or whatever, but are you from Inariu?”

“Don’t think so.” Roxanne replied, taking a sip of water.

“Alright, just thought I’d ask.” Julian took a sip of his water. “So do you know if you have any ideas where you’re from before miracle?”

“Haven’t really thought about it.” Roxanne replied, tilting her glass and staring at the ripples. “From what I’ve heard I just appeared on the ship one day as a baby.”

“You’re what, eighteen? So it wasn’t a New Legion thing, anyway.”

“That’s one thing, anyway.” She sighed. “So what do you think it was?”

“Honestly? No idea. Same deal with how Cassandra just appeared with no memories one day on the ship. But if you don’t seem to be dwelling on it, then neither will I.”

Julian went back to Cassandra, who had an empty glass of water next to her. And in front of them was Inariu. A large black box of a place with several ladders leading out of the top, where people seemed to be resting. There were several metal platforms jutting out alongside the housing ships connected to the grand, and on the metal platforms were their own houses. But on the top was where they had to land. Near the top was the docking station, where the other ships were. Cassandra landed the ship, and a man nearby spoke into his shirt.

When Cassandra stepped out, a group of men were already running up the stairs. About twelve, with three of them holding guns.

“Uh, what’s all this about?” Cassandra asked.

“We’re allowed to shoot if you make any sudden moves!” The gunman in the centre yelled out.

“We’re here to see Ola!” Cassandra yelled out. “We’re the miracle scouting group!”

The man who called for the guards in the first place spoke into his coat once again. After a few seconds of silence which felt more and more dragged out as time went on, Ola made her appearance. Dressed like a normal person rather than any ruler, in a simple red t-shirt and black jeans, with her hair tied back.

“They’re the real deal.” Ola said nonchalantly. “Lower your weapons.”

The guards did as instructed, lowering their weapons and backing behind Ola.

“Apologies for not setting a time for the landing, everyone.” Ola said, putting her hands up and looking tired as she did. “I lost track of time.”

The guards all went back underground, leaving just Ola in front of the ship.

“Well, with introductions out of the way, welcome to Inariu!”

Cassandra stepped out of the ship with Julian, who was clutching his heart.

“What was that?” He yelled. “What were those…portable death cannons?”

“You mean guns?” Ola asked. “They’ve been around for a while.”

“Yeah, I know?” Julian asked.

“You put metal orbs in them. Then you pull a trigger which shoots the orbs out. And if that hits someone, it’ll hurt like hell. Or worse.”

“So they’re weapons?” Cassandra asked. “Kind of like bows?”

“They blow bows out of the water!” Ola laughed. “It’s all power and no drawbacks! You wanna try it?”

“Maybe after we fix our friend?” Cassandra asked, pointing towards the ship.

“Oh! Right!” Ola yelled, slapping her head. “That’s what you came here for! I’ll get a med-team, give me a second.”

Ola pulled open a phone and started talking. Within a few minutes, a couple medical staff were there with a stretcher. Cassandra directed them to the ship where Roxanne was lying and helped get her onto the stretcher. Once she was on, they went underneath the dock to the main building.

Inside the metallic core of the grand was several metal walkways leading to several doors, all having people scurry around from one to another. Most were holding some kind of equipment, but Cassandra couldn’t recognize most of it. The medical staff dressed in all white were effortlessly navigating the stairs as well as the many people on them, while Cassandra and Julian were bumping into people, almost seeming like a competition between the two on who could disrupt the most people. Even then, none of the people they bumped into dropped anything they were holding. But after what felt like an endless case of stairways the two medical staff ran into a larger white building. Ola went up to the desk and slapped the bell at the end.

“Prosthetics department. Dakarai. Sorry for the short notice.”

The person at the desk grabbed a phone next to them, while the other two people were also rapidly talking on the phone, as well as one checking a computer. The entire back end was also flowing in coloured post-it notes.

“He’s ready, but there might be another person in the room.” The receptionist said calmly.

“It shouldn’t be an issue.” Ola replied. “People, prosthetics department room 13!”

The medical staff ran into an elevator with Roxanne, and Cassandra and Julian barely managed to squeeze their way in.

“You ready, Roxanne?” Cassandra whispered.

“So this is Inariu?” Roxanne wheezed.

“Yeah.” Cassandra nodded. “Busy place.”

“So it’s not a kidnapping, cool.”

“Were they that fast?” Julian asked.

“They just put me on the stretcher.” Roxanne replied. “It was really damn quick.”

The smooth ding was heard out of the elevator, and the medical staff once again rushed out into the hallways. They made a sharp turn into the corner of the white hallways, with the one in front quickly opening the door.

“You know about the patient?” The first one asked.

“The miracle one?” A mans voice asked from inside.

“Yep.” Roxanne replied.

“Alright, leave her by the x-ray. Thanks again.”

The two rushed out of the room, and Cassandra walked in with Julian.

“So, you’re the prosthetics guy?” Julian asked. “Dakarai, was it?”

The man looked up at them from his desk. He was wearing a light red shirt with a simple necklace similar to Roxanne’s, only with a white gemstone. His black dreadlocks were also tied back into a ponytail.

“That would be me, yes.” He nodded in a calm voice. “I’m guessing you were rushed in by Ola and the others?” He asked with a defeated chuckle.

“Tell me about it.” Julian sighed while taking his beanie off and putting a hand in. Unusually damp. Probably more of a sign of him needing a haircut than anything else, however.

“Well, if that’s the case, I welcome you to Inariu!”