Chapter 3:
To The Green Lake
The parade was over, and most people and cams long gone. Only a few remained behind, one of them being me. I was sitting in the street on one of the large, ergonomically curved benches, with a tray of steaming hot casserole hovering next to me. The cool wind ruffled my hair, and I watched as a group of small cleaning bots chased after a paper bag. The streets were still lit with different colors—yellow and blue and purple, just to name a few—and they reflected off the dark glass storefronts, the black cobblestones, before they vanished up high into the black night sky. Above us little drones danced with the stars and posed as silent fireworks. This here was quite different from the quiet life I knew, but honestly, back home I could’ve just turned on my HR room and experienced all of this in holo reality. At least the food did taste better, now that I was actually hungry and had heated it up.
Still, I couldn’t help but feel annoyed. The parade had been nice, sure—but a life-changing experience? That was a little much, I thought. Especially since I had watched it all alone, even as I stood in the middle of the cheerful crowd. Now that the streets were empty, I really felt the cold, harsh reality of going on this trip alone.
When was the last time I was really, and truly, alone, without the presence of another human? Sure, I had that annoying Lottie to accompany me, and I could spend the time tinkering with the bots, but that just wasn’t the same. I missed Lia and Been. I should have just ditched this stupid trip and went on the port tour with them. It would’ve been much better.
I took another bite of Dad’s casserole, and couldn’t help but miss home. Stupid trip. Stupid parents. Stupid friends. And most of all, stupid me.
It was then that—out of the corner of my eye—I noticed the stranger.
She kept to the shadows, and tried to stay as invisible as she could—but only made herself more suspicious by doing so. Her long, pink hair swayed in the wind, and sometimes, the colorful light would reflect off her white and light gray suit. She didn’t wear any outer decorations, no jacket or capes or, well, anything. It was weird, as if she was being naked and didn’t even know. I tried not to stare, even though I definitely wanted to figure out what her deal was.
But then, she came closer. She clearly wasn’t focused on me, though, but on the food.
“Hey.” I at least offered a greeting.
“Hello.”
She didn’t even look at me. Her eyes looked smaller through the big, round glasses she was wearing, as she watched the food with clear hunger. I looked back and forth between her and my food. It wasn’t like I was that hungry anymore, really.
“Do you want some? It’s just reheated leftovers, but…” I shrugged.
“Gladly!”
Suddenly, she looked at me, and for a moment, I got startled. She was prettier than I would have thought, in a strange way I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Everything about her was slightly off—but nothing so much that I could tell what was going on.
“I’ve always wanted to try Terra’s food!”
“Uh. Right. Well, help yourself.” I tapped on the bottom of the heating plate, and out slid another pair of cutlery.
“Just…” I looked at her. “Be careful, it’s hot.”
Everyone would know that. But on the contrary, no one I knew would call this place ‘Terra’. Was she from Kanda?
She stared at the cutlery, then back at me. I took a bite from my sporknife, unsure if she suspected the food to be poisoned or if she just didn't know to use a sporknife.
“Fascinating,” she muttered, before mimicking my movements.
Her eyes lit up with delight as she took her first bite.
“It's warm!”
“Told you so.”
“And the flavors! The texture! Delightful, simply delightful!”
I couldn’t hide a big grin. Sure, I hadn’t been the one to cook the casserole, but I knew exactly what she meant, even if she had an odd way of phrasing it.
“It’s my favorite,” I admitted.
Homesickness shot through me with an ache so bad it physically hurt in my chest. But only for a moment, and then, it subsided again.
“I understand. Human flavors truly are different.”
“So, you’re from Kanda?”
She looked at me with big eyes. “You can tell?”
A laugh escaped me.
“Of course! You’re a funny one.”
“I am?” She tilted her head, but then, nodded. “Human humor is different as well, it seems. But I’m glad you’re feeling well.”
“Thanks to you, actually,” I mumbled.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you. What was that?”
“I- my name is Toma.” The words slipped out before I could stop myself. “And you are?”
“Well…” She tilted her head, and let go of the empty plate, which hovered back to me. “I think… you can call me… Emelyse.”
“Huh.” It was a strange name, but it rolled off my tongue well enough. Maybe it had been adjusted for human speech? “Well, I’m glad I got to know you, Emelyse.”
I watched her devor the rest of my casserole, all while we exchanged a smile now and then. Finally, I got up and stretched. It really was too bad I had to go.
“Where are you going?”
“Uh…”
I looked at her, smiling at me in a way that was both sincere and over the top, showing too much of her teeth. On the inside, I shook my head at myself. Here I was, almost ready to maybe make a friend – and then, I once again hesitated. So close to running away.
“I’m on a trip, actually,” I said.
Her eyes lit up, and for the first time, I saw her antennae lift up from her hair.
“Oh! That’s wonderful! I’m also on a trip!”
I looked around. “Are you traveling by pod or port?”
“Pod? Port?”
“Uh… I mean, are you taking a quick teleportation station or do you use a mobile travel pod to get to your destination?”
Still, she looked confused. And now, I was getting a bit confused. Were there other options? As soon as I thought this, a memory of my parents flashed through my mind.
‘We had no port or pod ready, sweetheart! We went just where the wind–or rather, the kind strangers–took us. It was a great adventure, and we got to meet so many people hitching a pod here and there. You should try it sometime.’
“Are you a hitchhiker, then? Looking for someone to travel with?”
And then, she finally nodded. “That’s what I’m looking for, yes! To study human culture.”
For another heartbeat, I hesitated. She seemed so sweet, so genuine and eager to learn more about humans. I liked her vibe. And it seemed that she liked me, too.
Was it wise to reach out to her?
‘Just try, sweetheart. Sometimes you have to jump into the cold water.’ I could hear Dad’s voice in my head, warm and reassuring.
“So, uh, do you have a ride already? If not, I could-”
“I do not have any means of transportation at the moment, though. Can I-”
We spoke at the same time. I blinked at her, and then laughed.
“Do you want to come a little with me, then? The pod is tiny and old, but… it should be big enough for two, still.”
“I would love to! You have good food. And you are… pleasant, I think is the right word?”
“First time I’ve been described like that.”
But still, I couldn’t help but grin at her words. I was having fun! I made a friend!
Maybe this trip wasn’t so bad at all.
“Are you ready, then?”
“I am.”
She pressed some holo-buttons on her suit, which on closer inspection was definitely more advanced than the one I was wearing. Out of thin air, a pristine white suitcase suddenly appeared. She took one quick look inside, then nodded.
“I have everything prepared for the journey. Let us go.”
“Great. Just, uh, don’t expect too much from the pod.”
As Lottie came into sight, I could only see her flaws, even in the dim lights of the street. All that rust and the stupid stickers, the silly melody the repair bots hummed and how Lottie’s holo image blinked into existence.
“Hello, Toma!”
“Hi, Lottie.”
I glanced at Emelyse. What was she thinking? Surely, she wouldn’t want to come in, now that she saw the sorry state that the pod was in.
But she looked at it in a state that I could only describe as awe. Her eyes were so big that the colorful lights around us reflected in them, and she gently ran her hand along Lottie’s side. A single repair bot came up to her, trying to identify her even with half its vision obscured by that old unicorn sticker. She waved at the little bot, and it waved right back at her while happily beeping, before it continued its work.
“It’s wonderful,” she sighed.
“W-well, I’m glad to hear it,” I mumbled, happiness fluttering in my chest.
I brushed past her and stepped into the pod. “Come in, then. I think we can pull out the couch to make some room for you.”
Maybe, just maybe, this trip could turn better then I had thought.
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