This place has one feature that's both a blessing and a curse. A round window. Why? In a toilet? I mean, we’re in space, but…? The vacuum outside almost creeps in, but I cannot complain about the view of my old home. The sight is somewhat reminiscent of videos taken from the ISS, but much more vivid. I can distinguish the continents with reasonable certainty whenever the clouds part enough.
Dig is the captain of this ship. She is also a very interesting person. The confidence she oozes speaks of a character who has seen a lot of the cosmos. It's different from Winston's. He is like a rock that does not waver, no matter how strong the winds blow. Winston remains steadfastly friendly, smiling behind his bar counter. Has he ever even lost his temper? I doubt it.
This Aldebaran adventuress, on the other hand, has no anchors. The winds always blow towards new adventures. Dig feels like someone who is constantly on her way to the next catastrophe, but manages to figure everything out on the fly. She seems to trust herself so much that even if she is afraid of something, the brake pedal is never an option.
Due to Dig's speedy nature, I'm in this bathroom, lowering my internal revolutions. I actually needed to use it a couple of times, so my stay here wasn't just for shelter. The trip to visit the Mumenos is approaching, but I'm still lacking that much-talked-about familiarity. Or whatever the term was. And I don't dispute that. To solve this problem, Dig came up with a great solution. Let's go to Earth to get some oranges for the Guuverts.
The quick departure taught me that Aldebaran ears are sharp. Cook had barely sighed about a shortage in the supplies, but Dig caught it. It took only about an hour from idea to liftoff. I'm looking forward to the harvest, though. I also intend to ask in detail how the oranges ended up on Earth. My knowledge on the history of my own planet clearly has some holes.
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
When we get back to Café Stardust, I'll have to ask Cook for help. He surely has some kind of physical stabilizer lying around. Dig and Babaru don't seem to be affected by any of this, but I'm experiencing some difficulties. Even though we are not yet bending time, space, or reality in any way, I'm drifting between realities a little too often. Like that time I mentioned in my previous entry, but much more intensely. What will happen when we go full steam ahead toward the edge of our universe?
Pearl didn't come along on this trip. And she's unlikely to go and see the Mumenos either. Something seems to be keeping her tied to the café. It's not something that's said out loud. It's just a fact that hangs in the air, understood by everyone without needing to be said. Despite Pearl staying put, I can clearly sense the bond between her and Dig. They are like two particles entangled together.
Babaru has knocked on my cabin door a few times already. We're ready to land. Despite all her speed, Dig does take safety seriously. At least when it comes to the safety of others besides herself. I should be with her and Babaru in the cockpit, or whatever that room is called. The bridge, maybe? Babaru told me that landing on a planet with an atmosphere can be bumpy, and Dig doesn’t want to turn me into mincemeat. I'm impressed by the metaphor and the concern.
Thank goodness, Babaru is with us. She is a true friend and apparently saved me from a "no no" situation. Pearl used the name Dahlia Dewdrop for Dig at the café. It happened when Pearl wanted to clarify something and used the adventuress's full name. It's like when you scold a child and say their full name, but without the scolding. I almost let the name slip.
Babaru interrupted the translation as if she'd suddenly started coughing. Friips don’t normally seem to ever do that. Then she whispered only to me, "Just don't." Sometimes, small moments contain so much weight that no explanation is needed. Dig can pet Pearl, and Pearl can call Dig Dahlia. I understand the rules and live by them. I'm only human.
Okay, my confidence meter is out of the red now, and I should be ready to return to my traveling companions. Babaru is at the door again, so I won't make her knock anymore. Besides, all this toilet business is starting to feel like a bad joke.
Till next time.
- Johnny