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"There's a venue called Nebulus on the third level that serves food and showcases acrobats from Delari 3. You'll love it!"
I hang tight to Qhix's hand as he strides toward what looks like a glass elevator running the center of the Orb. Its sleek, transparent walls are adorned with swirls of vibrant colors and intricate designs, giving the illusion of floating through a kaleidoscope. We step inside, and the doors slide shut with a soft whoosh. Suddenly, we're rising upward, passing by other levels filled with even more fantastical creatures and wares, each one more mesmerizing than the last.
I find myself pressing my face against the cool glass, eager to take in every detail of this intergalactic bazaar. We reach our level and the elevator glides to a smooth halt. The doors slide open and Qhix leads me out onto a bustling walkway.
He points toward a large venue with a sign bearing its name: Nebulus. As we make our way toward it, lively music and laughter spills out.
As we enter, I am immediately mesmerized by the spectacle before me. Acrobats flipping and twirling in mid-air, colorful dishes being served by tentacled waiters, and strange music pulsating from every corner.
We find an empty table in the midst of the chaos. Qhix taps the pad of his finger on the edge of the table, illuminating a menu with holographic images of exotic dishes.
"Do you trust me?"
"Always." I smile up at him and wish it was my voice he heard and my face he saw and not the one projected by the hologuise.
He confidently orders for us in a language I do not understand, rattling off a list of items into an unseen microphone. His selections pop up on the side of the menu.
As we wait for our food to arrive, we watch the acrobats contort and soar with graceful precision. One performer catches my eye, a slender female balancing on a tightrope that looks like a laser beam, her body fluidly bending and twisting as she balances high above the crowd.
I am so enraptured by her performance, I barely take notice of the tentacled waiter carrying over our platter of steaming dishes. The aroma alone is enough to make my mouth water as we delve into this otherworldly cuisine.
Each bite is a journey of flavor; some are bitter, some sweet, some spicy, but all blending together in a way that's strangely addictive. And then there are the textures, crunchy this way, chewy that way, forcing my jaw to work overtime trying to figure it all out. The drink in front of me fizzes as I lift it to my lips, releasing an intoxicating fragrance of fruits unknown to Earth. I take a sip and feel it dancing across my tongue.
The show comes to an end, and we exit into a neon-lit walkway. The place is jumping, with music bumping and holographic ads flashing all around us. The air is thick with strange smells, some exotic and enticing, others pungent and repulsive. Qhix grips my hand tightly, pulling me along with excitement fueling his movements.
The crowd presses in on us from all sides; their bodies swaying and bouncing to the beat of the rhythm. The bass vibrates through my bones, urging me to join in on their wild dance. Qhix is right there with me, his hands on my hips as we move together. I laugh, placing my hands on his shoulders, wishing it was his face I saw and not the tusked Gruh he is pretending to be.
After a while, we are both breathless and thirsty. Qhix guides me over to a long table tucked against the wall and chooses a pair of beverages with hazy foam reminiscent of dry ice. The drink is blue and tastes of ginger ale and blueberries, but the effects of the alcohol or whatever it is that's making my head fuzzy and my knees loose, are immediate.
"Sorry!" Qhix notices and takes the glass from me. "Hreb juice. I have to drink several of these before I feel it."
"Ishh shatasty," I slur and hiccup.
"Blinking dund! Two sips and you're intoxicated."
"Cheeap dayte," I laugh, losing my balance and bumping into a lizard man wearing a cowboy hat. A flash of light glitches across my wavy vision before rightening itself. "Oopsy. Sawry, pawner."
Qhix quickly ushers me away from the startled look on the cowboy lizard's face. "Let's get you some fresh air and something to sober you up."
Stumbling and giggling, Qhix guides me to the glass elevator and up two levels before we exit onto a floor bustling with shops.
We navigate through the alien throngs until we arrive at a quaint shop nestled in a distant corner. The heady aroma of something close to coffee beans being freshly brewed fills my nose as we enter.
I practically float across the floor as Qhix escorts me to a cozy table next to a circular viewport with a spectacular view of a distant nebula. He orders for us as I stare out into space, my head swimming from the intoxicating juice. My head lands on his shoulder as he sits next to me, and next thing I know, a steaming mug is being placed in my hands.
"Careful, the choki brew is hot," Qhix says, helping me take a sip. "This will work wonders to sober you up fast, then we can explore the shops."
"I flove to showp." I grin up at him, taking another sip of my alien Starbucks.
We sip our hot drinks and gaze out the viewport as my buzz fades to sobriety. I can't help but feel a sense of wonder at the vastness of space. The colorful swirls of the nebula dance before me, a mesmerizing display of celestial beauty. With Qhix seated next to me, we are just two beings sharing a peaceful moment among the chaos of an alien space port.
For the first time since my abduction, I feel safe and at peace.
Chapter
Seven
QHIX
