Bon Voyage (Second Edition/Preview Book)

The Hook Line

Planet: OROS

System: AMAZON

Sector: PORTUGUESE INTERSTELLAR

Date: 28-FEB-2428

Ethan João Rifts hates space. In fact, he imagined his life going in a completely different direction when he was a kid, and it did not involve space. He imagined himself growing up, growing old, and dying on Oros, with an animal sanctuary in his name.

But that never happened.

Like many Orosians, he hopped from one job to another; from retail, to grocery, to fast food, to retail, to grocery, to fast food, and so on. Then, a series of unfortunate events by a combination of his and other hands forced him from one situation to another, and now he is on a bus, resting his head against the back of a seat with his bag on his lap.

In the bag are the last of his clothes, a few possessions, and some papers inside a sealed folder. He sold his possessions, closed his bank account, and purged his online accounts. For added security, he is wearing a gray hat to hide his dark red hair, and he has sunglasses to conceal his green eyes. He cannot do much about his pale skin, but without the hat and sunglasses, he would stick out like a sore thumb, which is the last thing he wants.

The inside of the bus is white with a blue band streaking across the length that connects to the Federation of Sol Systems symbol: a golden Sculptor constellation surrounded by a golden wreath. Advertisements of vaccines, military service, universities, and movies run along the length of the bus, but they are covered in graffiti, ranging from squiggles to an actual gang sign of three machetes stacked over each other, like a crossed-out equal sign. The largest symbol is painted on the back of the bus, and it is an entwined tree with its roots and branches twisted to hands reaching up and reaching below. Written in a circle around it is "Ramos do Vazio. Sementes da Árvore."

Ethan does a lot to ignore that symbol, and someone spray painted crosses around it and over it.

Choro music is playing over the bus's speakers, others on the bus talk among themselves, and Ethan believes he saw some of the passengers look at him, but he pretends not to notice. The bus passes a scarce amount of people, despite it being a sunny day, and the buildings range from high rise apartment complexes that look like bricks and steel, to glass monoliths with corporate logos; with the absolute tallest belonging to a company called Arx Corporation, its logo is simply a sharp "A."

The towering obelisk makes sure everyone knows their motto: "Building the Future. Together."

The bus passes statues of warped proportions in front of the Museum of New Rio, advertising an exhibit for a long extinct race that used to live on the planet. Near the cultural center is a franchise restaurant with enticing holographic projections of burgers, drinks, and snacks. The most notable of the eateries is a Klumsy K's, with a 1920's architecture design and full parking lot.

At one point, the bus stops at the local mall, too. The mall is the Green Roof Mall because of its green glass roof, and while its arches and pillars and exterior masonry give it a mediocre appearance, the interior is hollow and boring.

The bus picks up some more people from the mall bus stop, and Ethan keeps his head down as the newcomers file on, each sliding their pass across an orb at the top of the stairs. Once the new people are on, the bus resumes driving, and no trouble comes.

The longer the bus drives, the less urban the area becomes, replacing the tall buildings with short, rundown buildings such as diners and fuel stations, a row of abandoned houses being retaken by trees, grass, and vines, and the smooth roads degrading to cracks and potholes.

The road continues on and expands into a six-lane interstate with sparse traffic that slowly spreads to their own exits, while the bus continues straight. The road is nudged between two walls with electric fences and lampposts that would activate at night to give plenty of light to anybody driving, and the roads that split from it get the same treatment. The walls guard the infrastructure from the overgrown plant life, and the Orosian farmers must use terrariums to protect their crop and livestock, lest they want the pollen to kill their livelihood.