“Ben,” I said, getting his attention before the techs arrived. He turned to face them, smiling as they neared.

  "Captain Murdock?" The woman asked, looking at me.

  “I’m Noah,” I replied, motioning to Ben. “He’s Captain Murdock.”

  The woman smiled. Straight white teeth flashed brightly against her smooth lavender skin. “Twama Nothi, Chief Technician of the Gothori Navy, at your service." Her voice emerged rich and throaty. She gestured briskly to her associates. "My associates, Koti and Manat—my second-in-command. Her Royal Highness, Princess Goloran, has instructed us to install updated communications and broadcasting equipment on your ship.”

  "A pleasure to meet you all.” Ben extended his hand. “I’m Benjamin Murdock.” Twama accepted his firm grip with an approving nod. Her companions quickly shook hands as Ben made introductions all around. "We look forward to having you aboard."

  “You may not be so happy, once we begin our work. I promise, we’re going to get in your way.” Twama laughed easily.

  “No problem, Twama. We’re anxious to get this install done as quickly as possible.”

  “Well then, shall we go take a look at your ship? The princess mentioned it is quite…unique."

  “It is indeed.” Ben said, smiling as he stepped back, extending his right arm to issue her forward, a guiding hand at her back.

  Twenty minutes later the Princess’ engineers gathered on Head Case’s flight deck, each wearing expressions of amazed delight. Clearly they relished the opportunity to study alien technologies. We watched from positions near the command station as the trio flitted between stations like children in a candy store.

  “Simply incredible,” Manat breathed, having visited the reactor with Leo. "The power curves on your reactor are off the charts! How did you create so much energy in such a small design? And how do you keep it stable?”

  Meg and Leo looked at one another, unsure how to respond to specific questions about David’s design. It appeared that even they didn’t know exactly how it worked.

  Fortunately, Koti interrupted from beneath the comm station. "Are these fiber optics? Why do you not use crystals? I haven't seen tech like this in ages!" He emerged clutching a bundle of Meg's precious cables. "Where did you find components this archaic?"

  "Hey, careful with those!" she protested with good-natured irritation. "Just because they're a little older doesn't make them archaic!"

  Watching Meg dash over to safeguard her handiwork, I smothered a grin behind a raised hand. No doubt we were in good hands.

  Eventually Twama directed her fascinated crew members back to business. “Okay, enough gawking,” she chided. “Manat, did you finish scanning for an integration site?"

  "Yes Chief,” Manat said. “The ship’s linkage between sensor arrays and primary control are well designed and located. There’s ample unused space around the cooling ducts and data storage. We should be able to wire everything straight into their systems with minimal disruption."

  “We will however require a permit for external construction,” Koti said. “We will need to install a new antenna and control system, plus sync the outer and inner crystals. I believe with the assistance of Captain Murdock’s engineers, we can design an interface between their antiquated technology and our updated arrays.”

  “We’ll help any way we can,” Meg said.

  “Thank you,” Twarma replied.

  “How long do you expect this to take?” Ally asked, eager to move on to Levain’s station.

  “Three or four segments. Not long.”

  “How long is a segment?” Tyler whispered to Leo.

  “I don’t know. Not long.”

  “Do we have time to check out the station?” Tyler asked.

  “With your Captain’s permission,” Twarma answered.

  “This is your ship right now,” Ben said with a grin. “I just work here.”

  “We should ask Lantz and Hzzt if they want to tag along,” I said. “They know the way around better than we do. And I’ll bring Archie, too.”

  “What about you, Shaq?” Ally asked.

  The Jagger was perched on the arm of the command station. He yawned lazily.“No, thank you,” he buzzed.

  “Keep your comms active,” Ben said. “Call in if there’s any trouble. We’ll do the same.”

  “Copy that,” Tyler said excitedly. “This is going to be awesome!”

  CHAPTER 35

  "This place is unbelievable," I remarked once again as the tram glided smoothly between the asteroids. I pressed my face against the window, awestruck by the incredible view of Asterock through the transparent tubing and cable. Everywhere, swarms of ships moved purposefully about. I didn’t think I had ever seen anything so active and vibrant. In our few minutes aboard the tram, the promise that had brought me on board Head Case in the first place was more than fulfilled. I couldn’t imagine how there might be anything out here that would be more incredibly amazing.

  "It’s like Dubai on steroids," Tyler agreed. “I can't wait to get to that party asteroid!"

  As the tram slowed toward our destination, a brilliantly lit asteroid loomed ahead, colorful holographic projections promising adventure. I could only imagine what entertainment an advanced spacefaring society could offer.

  Our motley group disembarked amidst a chattering crowd of wildly varying lifeforms. Humanoid aliens rubbed elbows with beings that resembled walking plants, fuzzy quadrupeds, and things too strange to categorize easily. A smiling, elven-like attendant directed us toward the sprawling station's commercial district. We passed boutiques and restaurants wafting tempting aromas before the concourse exploded into the vast alien equivalent of a carnival midway. Overhead, massive holographic projections advertised different attractions in languages I couldn't comprehend, and the Warden’s pill refused to translate. Enticing snippets of music and laughter assailed me from everywhere at once. My head spun, trying to absorb it all.

  "What'll it be first?" Tyler mused, spreading his arms wide. "We've got all kinds of stuff to choose from. Arcades, thrill rides, weird petting zoo things..."

  "Let's wander around and see what looks good," Ally suggested. "I could go for something exotic to eat, too."

  As if on cue, a low rumble echoed from Hzzt's midsection. The gangly alien shifted awkwardly. "I wouldn't be opposed to finding sustenance."

  "Seconded," Lantz piped up cheerfully.

  We followed tempting scents to an alien food court, with dozens of small kiosks offering edibles from all over Warexia, with a single payment stand at the far end. I pressed my hand against Matt’s paystick in my pocket. We had plenty of quark for our needs. Too much, really. I felt some pressure carrying our only source of Warexian funds around. But not enough to skip trying out the delicacies.

  Unlike our first foray into foreign food, we stuck to the stalls marked for human-like species. Guided by Hzzt and Lantz pointing out their favorite dishes, I loaded a compartmentalized tray with strange delicacies. Tyler found an empty table big enough for our group, and I quickly sat down, eager to sample everything on my tray, especially the bright green noodles swirled in savory purple sauce. The combination of flavors and textures surprised me with its subtlety, at once sweet, sour and nutty. Compared to a lot of fast food, it was like eating a symphony.

  Tee shoveled some odd red and purple dumplings dripping neon yellow filling into his mouth with gusto. His exaggerated sounds of enjoyment drew disapproving looks from nearby diners. Lantz and Ally sampled peppery fried alien vegetables piled atop a mountain of vivid orange rice, laughter and easy banter flowing freely between them. Meanwhile, Hzzt inhaled platter after platter, pausing only long enough for brief snatches of excited conversation.

  When the last crumb disappeared, Tyler leaned back and patted his bloated belly with a satisfied sigh. "Man, I'm stuffed! That sure hit the spot." Getting to his feet, he thoughtfully scanned the crowded concourse. "So, what'll it be, gang? I’m already having the time of my life. And we deserve it after the last few weeks, am I right?”

  “Absolutely,” I agreed, the food, conversation, and larger open space helping me relax. “There's someplace called the Asterock Arena that caught my⁠—"

  "The Arena?" Hzzt stopped trying to tip the last dregs of his drink into his mouth, shaking his head. “You do not want to go there.”

  “Why not?” Tyler asked.

  “It is not an enjoyable experience.”

  “Don’t listen to him,” Lantz said. “The Arena is the most popular attraction here.”

  “How do you know?” Ally asked.

  “This isn’t my first time on Asterock.”

  “What?” Tyler cried. “Dude, why didn’t you mention that before we arrived?”

  “Because you aren’t from Warexia, and I wanted to see the looks on your faces when you saw this place. Totally worth it.” He grinned widely.

  “So, the Arena,” I said. “What is it? Like Roman gladiators or something?”

  “I don’t know what that is,” Lantz replied. “But the Arena is a massive simulator. It uses advanced holographic and hard light tech to create these massive landscapes where players act out fantastical battles and games. It has enough space for over four thousand participants at one time. You can also buy spectator seats, and thousands of visitors do that, but honestly, you’re better off being in the simulation instead of watching it.”

  “It’s horrible!” Hzzt moaned. “The first and last time I was here, my work group played a scenario themed around an ancient colony world overrun by saurian predators. I nearly lost a limb!” His long fingers waved toward me. “The experience synthesizes actual pain for maximum realism. If you want to go, count me out. I’m still traumatized.”

  Ally winced at that. "Wait, so it actually hurts if our characters take damage? That's kind of intense."

  Lantz waved a hand airily. “As usual, our pal Hzzt is catastrophizing. You don’t have to feel anything if you don’t want to, but you get a reward multiplier for choosing higher pain levels. And the safety features keep anyone from actual harm. It’s more like an intense electric shock if things get really bad.” He shrugged. “It's not for everyone, but still great fun."

  Tyler was already moving away from the table. "Dude, let's do this! Pain slider set to max for bonus points!”

  “I don’t know,” Ally said, bringing Tee to a sudden stop. “Isn’t that maybe a little too real, considering what we went through on Cacitrum?”

  “Fighting dinosaurs on an ancient colony world is nothing like what we went through,” Tyler argued. “And you’re a Stinking Badger, too. You’re supposed to love this kind of stuff.”

  “I do. I did. I don’t know. What if we don’t get dinosaurs? What if we have to participate in some recreation of a real battle or something?”

  “Then it’ll be good practice.” Tyler’s eyes shifted my way. “What do you think, Katzuo?”

  “I understand Red’s hesitation,” I replied, drawing a grateful smile from her. “But I have to admit, it sounds like a serious advanced version of VR Awesome. I don’t think I can turn that down.”

  “That’s the spirit!” Tyler said. “Come on, Red. It’ll be fun.”

  “And if it isn’t?” she asked.

  “I’ll make it up to you somehow.”

  “How?”

  “I don’t know yet, but I will. I promise.”

  “Fine,” she relented. “I’m in. It does sound kind of incredible.”

  “Vámonos!” Tee laughed, heading off ahead of us even though he didn’t know the way.

  Lantz quickly caught up to him to point him in the right direction. I trailed behind the others through the bustling alien bazaar, dodging wildly varied lifeforms to keep our little group in sight. After several twists and turns, we arrived at a towering edifice of gleaming alloy and colored lights. An enormous holographic projection reached overhead, cycling through dramatic scenes of alien hordes battling monstrous creatures and massive war machines. Just looking at the incredible displays left me awestruck.

  "Here we are! The famous Asterock Arena!" Lantz grandly swept both arms toward the entrance where excited patrons streamed inside. Pausing, he fixed me, Ally and Tyler with a hesitant expression. "Before we go in, I should mention that entry fees are pretty steep."

  My shoulders sagged, my excitement turning toward disappointment. As the purse holder for this expedition, it was my responsibility to decide how we spent our quark. And I didn’t think Matt would approve of blowing it all on a fancy video game. “In that case, we need to pass, or maybe get spectator tickets.”

  "Not to worry,” Lantz replied. “This one’s on me, a parting gift.”

  “Wait, you’re not staying on board?” Ally asked, more disappointed than I expected.

  “Don’t get me wrong, your Captain is a great guy, and he runs the finest ship with the best crew I’ve ever spent time around. But I have other responsibilities in other parts of the galaxy than where you’re headed. Of course, I’ll give you my comms identifier so you can always keep in touch.”

  “It’s going to be sad to see you go, man,” Tyler said.

  “Yeah, you really helped us out of a jam back on Cacitrum, and Leo’s spoken so highly of your skills,” I said. “We’ll definitely miss you.”

  “I am also not remaining on board,” Hzzt reminded us. “Though I did give some strong consideration before coming to this decision. I find myself addicted to your kind’s entertainment, which is not healthy for me in the long term. Besides, my wife will miss me if I do not return soon.”

  “Oh, well, that’s too bad,” Tyler said, lacking any of the sincerity he had with Lantz.

  “Yeah, it was nice having you around,” I agreed in similar fashion.

  “You’ve been very helpful, Hzzt,” Ally said. “Especially with finding Lantz and Tarvik for us.”

  “You are most welcome. Perhaps I will return in the future. Certainly, if you need anything I can provide, stay in contact. Your payment is significantly higher than my rate at my current place of employment.”

  “Wait, aren’t you at least sticking around to play?” I asked.

  Hzzt shook his head. “I would rather lick the tail of a nizzt.” He raised his right hand, waving his three fingers. “I hope you enjoy your experience. I left my identifier with Captain Murdock. Please do not hesitate to use it.”

  “Okay then,” Tee said. “Bye, Hzzt.”

  “Yeah, so long, Hzzt,” I added, “Take care.”

  “Happy trails,” Ally chimed in with a wave. He waved back before turning and vanishing into the crowd.

  “That was kind of awkward,” Tyler commented once he was gone.

  “Can’t say I’ll miss him that much,” Alyssa agreed.

  “At least we might stand a chance at getting some solid sleep now,” I said.

  Still riding a wave of adrenaline, Tyler threw an arm across Lantz's shoulders and propelled the amused engineer toward the garishly lit entrance to the Arena. "Let's do this!”

  CHAPTER 36

  We navigated steadily through thickening crowds to reach ticketing kiosks flanking the Arena’s massive doors. Lantz jammed his paystick into the interface of one kiosk, tapping a few times to enter the number of tickets, pausing to eyeball our heights and weights, and finishing what appeared to be a short questionnaire. After a lengthy pause, his eyes lit triumphantly.

  "We're all set! The next round starts in fifteen minutes. Just enough time to get us fitted for gear. This way." He herded our group toward a side entrance marked Participants Only. After flashing our tickets to a large, hairy attendant who looked more likely to eat us than let us pass, we emerged onto a gigantic concourse near the base of the Arena's outer shell.

  “Oh, wow!” Tyler's shocked exclamation echoed my sentiments. This place was beyond anything I'd ever imagined.

  An enormous dome curved overhead, while concentric rings of spectator seating encircled a humongous playing field. Countless beings packed the stands, a steady current of newcomers flowing in through multiple portals. I couldn't wait to step into that fantastic space and see what happened next.

  We hurried into a chaotic prep area bustling with activity. Clothing drones swirled through the controlled chaos, garbing wildly varied participants in outlandish costumes from a fantasy nightmare. A sleek, reptilian attendant spotted Lantz’s wave for service and bustled over.

  "Lantzy! Good to see you. Signing up at the last minute again?" Her musical voice held a teasing note.

  "You know me, Melia. Always ready to jump into the fray." Lantz clapped Tyler’s back. "These are friends new to the Arena. I was hoping you could set us up with gear?"

  "First timers? Excellent! Right this way."

  “How many times have you been here?” Tee asked the engineer, who shrugged.

  “A few.”

  We trailed Melia to a section of the vast changing area filled with racks of oddly shaped armor and weaponry. She selected fitted items seemingly at random, directing attendant drones to dress Ally first, in supple leather leggings and lightweight plate armor. A utility belt bristling with strange devices cinched her narrow waist.

  Next came Tyler, bouncing energetically on the bench as another drone helped him into armored greaves, bracers, and a breastplate engraved with odd runes. His costume looked perfect for fighting a dragon. Meanwhile, a drone draped a hooded sapphire cloak over my shoulders, the heavy fabric secured by a bright silver brooch. Sturdy boots and matching bracers protected limbs likely to take damage, complemented by an amulet on a chain around my neck.

  “I take it this means we’re going to get medieval on someone’s ass?” Tyler asked.

  “Or we’re doing a holographic renaissance fair,” I replied. “We’re halfway across the universe and they apparently have the same fantasy tropes.”

  “The Warden’s handiwork, I’m sure,” Ally said.