Stay Hydrated

Posted on Mon Sep 24th, 2012 @ 9:24am by Berry
Edited on on Mon Sep 24th, 2012 @ 9:25am

1,687 words; about a 8 minute read

Chapter: Chapter I: Web of Fate
Location: Velusia
Timeline: Thee days from Day 1

Berry slung her small bagpack over her shoulder as she stepped off of Mehe’s transport barge, crushing the sand under her feet. An expression of awe lit her face up as she looked at the outside of the spaceport, her eyes wider than ever and lips slightly parted. The port itself was inside the hollow mountain, one that was an ancient volcano that had blown its top off thousands of years ago. Now, only collected water and ships were inside the aptly named Mount Hollow.

“How do we get inside?” Berry asked the herdmaster. It’s not like she could just fall in. Well, she could, but climbing up might take a while.

“Do you see an entrance?” Mehe asked back with a sigh. “Don’t forget your hat—”

“Oh!” She quickly scampered up the mountain side along the wide, beaten path.

He sighed and slowly followed her.

In the side of the mountain was a large metal hangar leading to the many cargo bays. The recycled air smelled of fresh fish. It smelled good.

Berry’s stomach growled, and she grabbed a few dead beetles from her belt pocket and popped them in her mouth. Her eyes were wide as she looked around, jaw crunching on the yummies. This was the first time she was at Velusia’s only spaceport, and, boy, was it—metal-y. She began jumping up and down on the grated deck, grinning at the pinging sound her feet made.

Mehe breathed heavily as he made it to the hanger. The extra gravity experienced when out of water did not suit his portly body well. “So where are you headed?”

Berry shrugged, an excited smile on her face as she munched away at her beetles. “I was thinking Coruscant. That’s where all cool the stuff is, right?”

The Aquar man nodded, placing a brown, floppy-brimmed hat on her head of black hair. It looked like a big mush-ball of smashed brown kelp. “Yes, like the Jedi Temple. Makes sense.”

Berry pushed the hat up to gaze up at him in confusion, her lips parted and eyes wide, almost child-like. “Huh?”

“Nothing,” Mehe quickly said, frowning. “Yes, Coruscant. Good place. Remember to keep your hat on.”

She grimaced, tugging at the brim hiding most of her face. Some piece of black hair stuck out at awkward angles. “It’s so ugly!”

“That’s my hat you’re talking about! And you’re still wanted,” he told her with a glare. “Unless you want to stay here after being captured by the authorities?”

Berry laughed cheerfully. “That’d be funny to watch. Sooo, where’s the ship that I have to get on?”

“They’re on the upper level, but you have to buy a ticket, first. And change your money.”

Berry frowned at him. “Why do I have to change my money?”

“Not everyone takes shells in the galaxy, Berry,” Mehe groaned as he lumbered to the service desk.

“I know that,” she mumbled, walking after him with a slight pout. “I just think the shells are prettier…”

At the desk was a young Aquar woman with her green stringy hair pulled back. From her ears dangled rainbow shells. She glanced up and smiled. “Mehe, I just told you yesterday the farm droid shipment still isn’t here yet.”

The herdmaster sighed. “Yes, I know. I’m here for a different reason. I need a ticket for Coruscant.”

“Oh?” The woman smiled amusedly. “Since when do you leave the planet?”

He frowned. “You know I never do. It’s her.” He pointed a webbed thumb over at Berry…who was not standing there.

She was plastered against the window, eyes wide as she marveled at the ships landing and flying.

There were only three in transit, but that was three more than she had ever seen before. “Whooaaa…”

“Berry!” Mehe growled out at her.

She quickly turned around and scurried back to the desk. “Yeah?”

The desk woman’s eyes widened slightly in recognition. “You’re ~the~ Berry, aren’t you?”

The part-Aquar named Berry nodded, laughing merrily. “How’d you know? Are you a mind reader?”

Mehe sighed, shaking his head. “Having your face in the news doesn’t help. One ticket for her please, Lavan.”

The very amused Aquar woman nodded, pressing on her console. “Velusia is going to be too quiet without you, Berry. Ever since…” She blinked and quieted, watching Berry almost warily.

Berry casually flapped a hand at the desk woman, chuckling. “I know.” Her brows lowered, smile becoming determined as she made a fist. “And it’s gonna get even louder when I come back.”

“If you can find your way back,” Mehe murmured.

“Twenty shells, please.”

Berry fished out a handful of small purple shells, placing them on the desk. “One…two…three…”

“For Velus sake,” the herdmaster swore as he pushed some shells out of the pile with his green hand. “Twenty.”

Berry pouted again at him. “I was getting there.”

Lavan handed Berry a small glowing piece of metal. “Here you go.”

“Don’t lose it,” Mehe told her sternly.

Berry smiled, quickly sequestering it in one of her belt pockets. “I won’t.” She smiled brightly at Lavan. “Thanks for the ticket! And I really like your earrings.”

“Safe travel,” the desk woman wished her, holding back a laugh.

Mehe shook his head. “Knowing her, that’s not going to happen. Now for your money…”

“It’s mine!” Berry immediately said, eyes flashing even though her glare was quite playful.

He groaned. “I know.”

After a quick visit to the money-changer, the two Aquar walked off toward the lifts, and Mehe pressed a button. Berry smiled all around, but her smile faded as she noticed the herdmaster looking seriously at her. “Did I…do something?” She ventured, smile already becoming sheepish.

His brows furrowed, and he shook his head. “Not yet. But soon, you will.” He patted her on the shoulder. “Try not to get killed, okay?”

She nodded. “Yeah.” Berry then stepped forward and gave him a big, squeezing hug. “Thanks, Mehe.” She beamed a pretty smile at him.. The skin/scales on her face glimmered silver. “You helped me a lot.”

“Don’t mention it,” the man grumbled, cheeks a dark green.

She smiled impishly at him. “And…you’re not actually that fat.”

He shook his head. The lift pinged and the doors opening.

Berry just stood there, then tilted her hat and struck a pose, grinning over at him. “Look, I’m a smuggler!”

“Get inside the lift!” he growled.

Berry yelped and jumped inside. She managed a wave before the doors closed. Then she stumbled around as the lift shot up.

“What’s going on??” she exclaimed, bracing herself against the wall. The doors finally opened, and she staggered out into open air. She looked around with wide eyes, realizing she was at the mountaintop. A proud smile formed on her face as she had just conquered her first lift, and she scampered to the nearest cliff for a view.

All around her was an empty horizon, the water glistening as the sun began to lower from its zenith. In the distant sky, Berry could see the two glowing forms of the moons creeping up. Her hair fluttered behind her, a fresh blast of salty wind hitting the small smile on her face. She briefly shimmered silver. ~Asi, this is for you~

When would she be back? Or more importantly—when was she going to leave?

Berry turned around and looked at the several ships sitting out on the dock. She frowned and took out the ticket, turning it around in her hands. Where was the transport ship name on this thing? And it was glowing way too brightly. She put it back and started walking to a ship, spotting a person. “Are you going to Coruscant?”

“No.”

She walked to the next ship. “Are you going to Coruscant?”

“No.”

Berry sighed and jogged to the next one. It looked remarkably rustier and gross. “Are you going to Coruscant?”

The man seemed to be missing a tooth as he leered at her chest. “No, but yer welcome to come aboard.”

Berry chuckled. His neck must’ve been hurt, since he couldn’t look at her face. “No thanks.” Then she scampered along. Where was her ship??

Man, she was also getting really thirsty from all this talking. She set her bagpack down and dug inside for some water. No water? She pouted. Whoever packed this was really dumb. Oh wait, that was her. Ha!

She sighed and walked around the deck, hands in her pockets. Well, this trip was ending really quickly.
Then she smelled it. Water. She bolted toward the smell and almost ran right into a huge tank of fish.
“Hi!” she said to the little guys. They looked like they were being shipped off, and they were very fat and yummy looking. She leapt up and grabbed for the edge at the top, but missed. Berry puffed a cheek in annoyance before backing up and running, leaping up and grabbing the edge. She pulled herself over and grinned. Water!

Berry hung over the inside edge, one hand holding her up and her feet propping herself against the wall. She reached in with her free hand and grabbed some water, quickly sipping it from her palm before it dripped out. Mmmm. Hopefully there wasn’t a lot of fish pee in it…

Suddenly the tank shook, and Berry fell in with a splash! She spluttered as she surfaced. The tank was…rising? And…there was a lid sliding over her head.

Berry yelped and swam to the edge of the tank, scrabbling up the side and splashing back into the water. “Nooo, don’tclosedon’tclose!” She tried to use some fish as maybe steps, but they were nowhere to be found. She fell back into the water with a sigh as the tank closed. At least the water was fresh. She lowered her face in the water and made some bubbles as she pouted.

TBC

RSS Feed