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The next morning Maliek told his parents he was returning to the Academy for the next week. As he’d lain in bed the previous night, struggling for a plausible excuse for his absence, he’d made up a special summer engineering program. This morning, his mother had gushed over his smarts for getting into the program, his initiative in taking a class over his summer break, and what it meant for his future.
Afraid she’d start showering him with questions, he’d scarfed down his breakfast and rushed off, insisting he didn’t want to be late, though he didn’t escape without receiving a hug and final praise on his way out the door.
Guilt tugged at him as he headed toward Space City Sims, but it paled compared to his growing excitement, and nervousness, at the prospect of seeing Igata in person.
Inside the studio, he found a line of people for the sims. He took a seat in the corner, hands jittery. Was he actually doing this? Visiting a planet on the banned list? He half expected Velos to retract the offer of employment and travel, relegating him to a week alone at the Academy to keep up the lie to his parents.
Velos ushered the last person to their sim room and returned. Maliek stood, clenching and unclenching his fists.
“You ready to travel?” Velos asked.
“You’re sure it’s okay?” Maliek wanted the Kali to take him to Melathia, yet a part of him wanted Velos to backtrack on his offer.
“Got the approval for you to travel in my stead first thing this morning. A simple delivery, then you’re free to spend a few days with Igata,” Velos answered. “When you get back, we’ll figure out a work schedule for you.”
Maliek hoped everything went that well. “What am I delivering?”
“First, I need you to do a health scan,” Velos said. “The Bazij want confirmation that you’re healthy.”
“Sure.” Maliek pulled up the health scanner app on his wrist-comp and conducted a scan of his body. After several uncomfortable minutes where he stressed that the wrist-comp would tell him he was coming down with something that he didn’t’ have symptoms for yet, the device chimed with his results.
“All clear!”
The Kali drifted behind his counter and retrieved another wrist-comp. “I need your wrist-comp.”
“What for?” Maliek instinctively covered his device with his free hand.
“You can’t take yours with you.” Velos held out the new device. “You’ll take this company one instead.”
Maliek eyed it, but didn’t reach for it. He hadn’t handed over his wrist-comp to anyone in years, not even his parents. Space City rules dictated everyone kept their wrist-comps on them at all times, especially when visiting alien worlds. It allowed for quick location in an emergency.
“For travel to Melathia it’s necessary,” Velos said, guessing his thoughts. “We don’t want a Bazij hacking into your wrist-comp while you’re there.”
“But why...?” Maliek began, wondering who would want to hack into his.
“The Bazij government employs excellent hackers. They consider it normal procedure to steal data from foreign governments. If you take your wrist-comp, someone will break into it, steal whatever information they can find, and exploit it.”
“But I don’t work for our government.” Maliek couldn’t believe anyone would bother with him. He had nothing of interest.
“To the Bazij, every individual is a part of their respective government. They don’t see a distinction. It’s safer for you and anyone you know if you travel with a clean wrist-comp. No personal information is stored on it, except my contact number so you can reach me when you’re ready to return.”
Was he making a mistake? Bazij hackers trying to steal his personal data gave him pause. Is there more to Melathia being on the banned travel list than Velos is letting on?
“You can use this one same as yours. It has all your standard features. Just be careful what you access or who you contact while on Melathia. Don’t log into anything personal and you’ll be fine. It’s the price of doing business with the Bazij.”
Maliek hadn’t planned on messaging anyone. Certainly not his parents, where he’d risk conversations that required more lying. Still, giving up his wrist-comp... that felt like getting dropped in the ocean without a boat, lifejacket, or lifeline.
“Don’t worry. Lock your wrist-comp and I’ll store it in the safe while you’re gone.”
“All right.” Maliek relented, removing his device and handing it over.
Velos traded him the new one, which Maliek strapped in place. Then the Kali secured his device in a safe behind the counter.
“It’ll be right here when you return,” Velos promised.
Still uneasy about the exchange, but eager to see Igata, Maliek followed the Kali down the hall and into a back room. A cart parked next to a thorneway frame held a hefty metal crate.
“What am I delivering?” Maliek asked.
“New connection ports for our sims rigs. The Bazij use them to update their interfaces to our systems.” Velos activated the thorneway. “Ready?”
Maliek took a deep breath, wanting to step forward and retreat at the same time. But seeing Igata in person meant taking a chance. With a simple nod, he strode forward.
“Let me know when you’re ready to return,” Velos said. “Hope to hear some scandalous stories.”
Maliek’s eyes widened, his face burning, as he pushed the cart through the thorneway.
******
THE THORNEWAY DEPOSITED Maliek and the cart in a windowless room, with only the thorneway frame behind him and a single arched exit. Had Velos sent him to the wrong place?
The moment the thorneway deactivated, the far door opened. In marched a bronze droid with three short, dark gray horns on its forehead. That wasn’t what Igata had meant by seeing him in the real world, was it?
“Igata?”
“Bazij attendant at your service.” The droid stopped before the cart. Vein-like cables covered its arms and legs.
Maliek grimaced. He’d hoped she’d be the one here to greet him, but it made sense that one of the facility droids would pick up the delivery. Maliek pushed the cart handles toward it.
“Can you verify your identity first?” the droid asked.
Maliek blinked. Without his wrist-comp, he didn’t have his ID.
“I... um... give me a second.”
He activated the company wrist-comp to contact Velos, and noticed a redacted version of his ID. Relieved, he offered it to the droid. A light from its eyes slid across the wrist-comp’s screen.
“ID verified.” It took control over the cart and wheeled it toward the door. “Follow me.”
The droid led him through the facility, down windowless hallways and closed doors. Numerous cables, similar in design to the ones on the droid, covered the walls and crisscrossed the halls above doorways in haphazard fashion. The place was devoid of dust or debris, but stale air filled the hallways.
Other than the two of them, the facility appeared deserted. Nor did the droid seem programmed for hospitality. It set a swift pace and said nothing.
At last they entered a room with glass walls on three sides, revealing that the facility rested atop a remote mountain. Clouds hugged snowcapped peaks all around them, making him feel he was alone on the entire planet. That might be true, unless he counted the droid. At least until Igata arrived.
“Where’s Igata?” Maliek asked, wondering if they’d spend his entire visit here in quarantine. It would be a shame not to hike some of those mountains.
“I apologize,” the droid said. “Igata’s original estimated arrival time coincided with yours. My data indicates she encountered a delay. She plans to join you soon.”
It retreated with the cart to the door.
“Wait!” Maliek reached for the droid even though it was out of arm’s length. “You’re leaving me here alone?”
“I must handle this delivery. Refreshments will arrive soon,” the droid replied. “Igata is in transit. Enjoy the view.”
At that, it exited.
This trip was not starting off as he’d hoped. He reminded himself this was her first visit in the real world. Unexpected delays shouldn’t come as a surprise. They’d likely encounter other issues as she got accustomed to her body and, more significantly, the limitations of physics.
He grabbed his wrist-comp as he sat on a single bench facing outside. He entered the messages app and added in Igata’s contact information. Then he dictated a quick note to her.
“Arrived. Can’t wait to see you. This week will be great!”