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Rubbing the back of my neck, slightly sore from the removal of the Electrotix, I sit in the hovership. Larger than a hovercoach, this ship flies just over the trees towards the city.
“Roberd, stop looking so green. It wasn’t nearly as bad as your making it out to be.” Fynn chastises. He is right. All we had to do was sit still while they located the Tix and then a small aero-chamber sucked the thing out with a set of small tweezers. The whole thing didn’t even take five minutes.
“I can’t help it. Needles, electric devices in my neck... it all makes me sick.” He grimaces.
“Ah poor baby,” Akiyra teases. “You were such a good boy for the nice doctor. How about we buy you a treat?”
Roberd perks up a bit, “what kind of treat are we talking about?”
The hovership settles on the ground and we each stand to leave. Jonah opens the door, stepping out into a barren field. “If I may suggest, go to the Virgin Tit. Ask for Letisha. She will know exactly what to serve you.”
‘The virgin’s...” Akiyra splutters, trying not to laugh. I have to say it made a grin come to my face.
“Don’t mock it in her hearing, but you will never have a drink like what she gives you.” His grin makes me think that when he visits he is getting something more than a drink.
“Thank you. Any other advice before we leave you? We have never visited Xislunia. My only time here was my trip to Xistrosie a few days ago and that was.... memorable,” Akiyra asks.
“Stay to the main street, keep your hands where others can see them and don’t stay
after dark,” Jonah replies.
“Thank you. Oh, one last question. We are running short on Edtraxi Java. When I supplied the ship, I didn’t realize that I would be feeding five other addicts. Where could we get some of the real stuff, not that garbage that they pass as comparable to it?”
Jonah thinks for a minute, “Go to Deathwish Java and ask for Huckleberry. Tell him Jonah sent you. He will make sure that what you get is Shaynetastiic.” He turns to board his ship, stopping to look back at us, “May the stars guide your path and the sun ever shine in your favor.”
“And you,” we all echo back, then turn to face the main city of Xislunia. Standing on the outskirts we can see one long street that runs through it. From here we have the advantage of seeing what Jonah had been hinting at. If you step one street off the main street, the town turns to poverty with shacks and garbage strewn everywhere. Honestly, the main street isn’t all that much better, but at least you wouldn’t have to worry about the buildings collapsing.
Behind us are the forest and crystal cliffs we had traveled through. A large opaque dome covers the whole area.
“What is the dome for?’ I ask. This is my first trip off planet and everything is new. “And how are there trees growing here? We are on the moon correct?”
“That is sort of correct,” Sawyr replies. Xislunia is unique in that no one knows what to classify it as. It is the size of most moons, but it doesn’t travel as a moon does around a planet. It travels on its own axis. The dome is what allows humans to live here. The atmosphere does not contain enough oxygen, so the dome allows trees to be planted to provide the necessary oxygen. It is a tight balancing act to make sure that there is enough oxygen for the people, each month they take a census to determine how many more trees need to be planted or how many must leave. Unlike Xistrosie, they are not forced to work here, they are able to choose their lives. But as you can see, that means many don’t help themselves.”
I’m quiet for a minute as we walk down the main street looking for the Virgin’s Tit. “If oxygen is an issue here, I am guessing that they do not have many visitors or tourism. So what do they have here to provide a way of life?”
Akiyra pats her hip bag that holds the package she is delivering for the Rebels. “Crystals. Xislunia is full of crystal mines. They can be used for many different things from jewelry to technology. But harvesting them is very dangerous.”
“Look, the Virgin’s Tit!”
We all stop to look at the sign above the weathered building. A large set of breasts billow over a corset, a refilling cup below one of them.
“Well, that is something you don’t see every day.” Akiyra’s dry remark has us chuckling.
“Not sure I want a drink from a tit,” Roberd says, grinning, “unless maybe if it is direct from the source.”
Akiyra shoves him, “stop being crude. If this is where Jonah sent us, then let’s go.” She leads us into the dark interior of the bar. Patrons sit at a few tables, which Akiyra leads us back to sit in the corner.
A large woman, her dress and breasts baring a startling resemblance to the sign bustles over to us. “Well hi, there dearies. I will be over in a tit’s shake with your drinks.”
“But we didn’t order yet!” Sawyr objects.
Her deep, full-bodied laugh rolls over us. “Dearie, no one orders in the Virgin’s Tit. Just you wait. You will never want to go somewhere else on Xislunia after today.” She bustles to the bar, her large bottom narrowly missing tables and chairs.
“Well, this will be interesting,” Fynn says, taking in everything.
“You can say that again,” Akiyra eyes the drinks in front of some of the patrons. I have to say that the colors and consistencies have me gagging.
“Here we are, dearies!” The large woman returns a tray in hand. “For the lady,” she hands Akiyra a drink that is as blue as the sky with pink flecks in it. She waits patiently for Akiyra to take a sip, but Akiyra appears to be waiting for us all to have our drinks. “Come on dearie, drink up!”
Akiyra looks at the drink, then takes a tentative sip. Surprise lights her face as she takes a larger sip. “That is delicious! What is it?”
The woman beams, “Anju flower mixed with honey-bear juice and pink crystal dust for health.” She turns and sets a lime green drink in front of me and Fynn. The color has me gagging. “Gentleman try this. I am sure you will enjoy it.”
I look at Fynn, then the drink, lifting it to my lips. The tart crisp flavor with a hint of spice is a pleasant surprise. “What is it?” I ask.
“Can’t tell you that, trade secrets.” She smiles and place mud brown drinks in front of Sawyr and Roberd, and a black inky drink in front of Tobis. “Enjoy your drinks and time in Xislunia.”
“Well, Jonah didn’t steer us wrong with this, Now we need to decide what we need to pick up before heading back, It will be four days to get to Zanthia, Tiri has already ordered supplies, so this will just be shopping for your personal needs.”