(GQ #13) Adventures in Spacepunk

5. Red Light, Green Light

An ornate archway displaying Serenity Park's name welcomed Mia and Lorenzo to their destination. It had been years since she last stepped through. Her favorite swingset stood in the distance–for now. Maybe her being taller had something to do with this, or maybe experiencing Earth spoiled her, but the mild hills of manicured greenery looked so small, so empty now.

Captain Galhardo came to a stop and broke the silence. "Have the others made it to their positions?"

Mia skimmed through the group chat. "Everyone's in place. Roxie says we should adopt nicknames to blend in more with other spacepunks."

"Nicknames?"

"Like, um–Actually, here." It was easier just to show him that part of the conversation. She had to hand it to the others, names like Junk and E-Clipse sounded as spacepunk as any other. That didn't mean she could pull it off, nor did she want to.

"...I see." The captain sounded just as enthusiastic.

"Not everyone goes by names that are so, uh, out there." There had to be a dozen Serena's walking around. "We could probably get away with our real names."

He rested a hand on his chin. "Actually, it may still be beneficial to go by different names. A lot of former Interstellar Forces Preparatory Academy students live here. I'm sure the same applies to your former classmates."

Not like they'd remember her. "I should be fine so long as I don't run into family. But I can go by my middle name if you prefer."

"Excellent. From hereon, you may call me Rafael."

"McKenzie." Wordlessly, she updated the group chat on their new nicknames, then gazed beyond the archway. "Do we start looking here?" A few joggers, some senior citizens, and a couple of parents with children lingered in the park. None looked like their missing person. In fact, it looked like they arrived too early for the spacepunk crowd.

"Let's."

What followed was a silent stroll. Nowhere did she find any sign of Ranger Hook, but she enjoyed reacquainting herself with the only patch of nature that wouldn't kill her.

They finally finished the artificial pond since she last visited. Other new installments included flowers, more portable bathrooms, and the occasional speaker playing sounds of animals that didn't exist. Mia missed seeing birds. She also missed the wonky looking caterpillar statue in the playground that had been replaced by a more traditionally cute robot character.

Miraculously, everything else stayed the same, from the water fountain she and her mom drank from to the picnic benches her family sat at. They shined just like she remembered. Lunaria wouldn't have it any other way.

It took until the second lap for the captain to speak again. "Has anyone else reported seeing her?"

Mia checked her phone. "No."

"Hmm. If we don't find her on this lap, we'll search somewhere else."

She nodded.

"Also, is it," the captain's glasses rendered his expression less readable than usual, "suspicious that we haven't been talking?"

"I'm not sure." Mia never paid attention to whether other park goers talked or not. "Should we?"

"If you want."

A pause took place as both tried to figure out something to talk about.

"So, how was it shopping with the L–my br–E-Clipse yesterday?" he choked out the nickname.

"It was fine."

More silence.

"Did you see anything we bought?"