The Summit Beyond Our Galaxy - An Apple Loving Individual space opera

Chapter 5 - A Glowing Angel From Another Star

Chapter 5 – A Glowing Angel From Another Star

Thursday, May 9, 2176
3:39 PM
Kanzen City Interplanetary Spaceport

Jerry arrived at the spaceport forty minutes prior to the flight. Priya came out of Jerry's holo-phone in her human form, to check out the spaceport. "The Kanzen City Interplanetary Spaceport was one of the first spaceports built on Mars, in the year 2145." She said. "This was eighty years after the first human colonies were established on Mars." "Appreciate the update, Capt. Obvious!" said Jerry, laughing. "I love you, Priya!" Priya then smiled, "Love you too, sir!" and they clapped a high five. "If you won't be needing me, I'll go into standby!" said Priya. "Sure, go ahead!" said Jerry. Priya then went back into the holo-phone. An announcement was made on the PA system. "Attention passengers, please make your way over to Gate H-16, as the space shuttle to Cross Resort, Phobos leaves in fifteen minutes. Please have your boarding passes with the confirmation number ready at the gate!" Jerry then sighed, "Well, here it comes! My long-awaited vacation!" said Jerry. He grabbed his bag and went towards the gate.

The starship was quite huge, just enough to fit at least three hundred and twenty passengers. Jerry looked at the starship technical specifications on a holo-flyer in the pocket of the seat ahead of him. "Cool!" said Jerry, smiling as he was intrigued by the starship's features. "Not every day you sit in a starship that travels faster than lightspeed." He sat waiting patiently for takeoff. "I agree, sir!" said Priya, speaking from the holo-phone while staying inside it. The PA system in the starship then went off, "Attention all passengers, do fasten your safety belts and secure all items. In three minutes, we will take off for our not so long flight to Phobos." Jerry then obliged, and all the passengers took their seats. In no time, the starship took off and the digital screens on the walls (serving as a substitute for traditional windows), showed the distance to destination, outside temperature, starship ground speed in miles per hour and , and the outside view of the star system.

Everyone was fascinated seeing all flying by so incredibly fast, it was as if they were not even moving, yet still headed on route to their destination. Soon, just a few minutes after launch, the starship arrived at Phobos Universal Plaza, which was a beautiful spaceport combined with a hotel, Cross Resort; for space tourists. Jerry was amazed at the place, knowing it was a full-fledged resort. It contained swimming pools, sports facility, virtual reality arcades, holo-film cinemas, and many other luxurious endeavors that existed in the late twenty-second century. "Jackpot, Priya!" said Jerry. "Since we are here for three weeks, we will enjoy ourselves." Priya then appeared from Jerry's holo-phone, wearing summer fashion such as those worn at a beach. "I'm sure indeed it will be an amazing three weeks, me and Arjun also agree." She said. "Arjun?" said Jerry, confused. "He's my boyfriend, another AI, just like me, who lives in the cloud with me." "Why have I never met him?" asked Jerry, trying not to laugh. "You'll meet him soon, however, he's shy about meeting new people or even coming out in the real world like I do." Priya explained. Jerry then proceeded to grab his luggage at the baggage claim, as Priya commanded and got some bellhop robots to help him.

After arriving to his hotel room, Jerry unloaded all his stuff. Priya also helped him, by commanding the bellhop robots. Then, Jerry took out his holo-phone to display the package he bought, which paid for his hotel booking. "Priya, now that we're here, you wanna check the place out?" said Jerry. "Let's do it." Priya said, excitedly. "Gonna go for a swim later on too." Jerry said. Jerry then unloaded the rest of his stuff, prepared some coffee for himself and then he and Priya left the room, once they were done and after Jerry finished his coffee.

The resort was truly a blessing. There also was a virtual casino, which Jerry chose to avoid has he chose not to gamble ever in his life. After arriving to the food court, Jerry sat down on a table and then turned to his left. He then suddenly was struck in awe and mesmerized. A beautiful young woman sat on a table just a couple feet away. She seemed to be doing some work, on her holo-laptop. She was getting work done. Jerry looked at her, and felt she was feeling troubled. Priya, who was observing Jerry began to smile. "She is beautiful, isn't she?" said Priya. "Yeah, for sure! What? Who are you referring to?" said Jerry. "Come on, I saw how you were eyeing her!" said Priya. "For the first time in your life, you've looked at a girl so long." Jerry then looked away. "You're right!" said Jerry. "For the first time in my life, it's been a weird feeling for a girl." "I wouldn't say weird. You admire her." Priya said. "It's healthy!" Priya looked towards Jerry, only to see he was not there.

She then caught eye of Jerry, who made his way over to the other table where the girl was sitting. He then caught her attention. "Hi, there!" said Jerry. The girl then looked up, then saw Jerry. She then smiled and said, "Hi, how are you?" "Doing good, and on vacation!" said Jerry. "You?" "I'm just here to finish work for my boss!" said the girl. "I actually live here on Phobos. Born here and living here for the last twenty-four years of my existence." Jerry was intrigued. "So, you never been outside it?" "No, never!" said the girl. "I'm Alyssa by the way, Alyssa Michelle Eisenberg!" "Jerry Connor Sullivan, born in Houston, TX and living in Kanzen City since the last four years." Jerry explained. Priya smiled as she watched Jerry. "Go! Get her, tiger!" said Priya as she giggled.

Jerry continued to talk to Alyssa. "Alyssa, I don't want to get forward with you, or anything. But, I don't come to Phobos every day." Jerry said. "Would you like to show me around for just a couple days?" Alyssa bit her lip and then took a deep breath. "Sure, why not?" said Alyssa. "Since you're only here for three weeks, I'd love to show you around!" "Cool!" said Jerry. "What's your schedule?" "I work twice a week, Mondays and Tuesdays, from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM," said Alyssa. "and Wednesdays and Thursdays, I telecommute from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM! So, we can start tomorrow." "Smashing idea, I'll give you my contact information!" said Jerry. "See you, tomorrow at 9:00 AM. However, if you want we can even chill tonight at 7:00." Alyssa was intrigued. "Where at?" she said. "Well, I was gonna go swimming, but I can hold it off to tomorrow evening." Jerry said. "You name the place, as you know more about this moon than I would." "Sure, thing!" said Alyssa. "I'll be available sooner, I'll be available at 6." "Six it is!" said Jerry. "See you later, tonight!"

Jerry then shook hands with Alyssa and went back to his table. His lunch had arrived, and he began to eat. "How much for the food?" Jerry asked the android waiter. "It was only 0.9 cloud jewels all together sir!" said the waiter. Priya then spoke up. "You seemed to be having a lot of fun with her." She said. "Yeah, and for the first time meeting a girl, I feel amazing!" said Jerry. "I definitely will chill with her again tonight. She is a glowing angel from another star!" Priya then patted him on the shoulder, although it was almost a numb feeling. "Just be careful, remember that there are space pirates hidden on this moon, and the USAMSSO are advising all citizens of the solar system to stay on the lookout." "Where would I be without you, Priya?" said Jerry. "I don't know, perhaps not on this current vacation!" Priya replied, jokingly. The two began to laugh, and Jerry drank some soda. "Did you hear about Ajay Kulkarni?" said Priya. "CEO of Perkins Software, AI and Robotics? Yeah, I heard of him!" said Jerry. "Why, what's up?" "He was just named richest person in the entire galaxy, having a net worth exceeding 21.2 trillion cloud jewels ($80.2 trillion)!" said Priya. "I'm sure he is, and he also invested trillions of dollars to help create life on other planets, sustainable for us!" said Jerry. "I hope to meet him one day!" "Don't worry!" said Priya. "You do technically work for him, as he owns the power stations and energy production facilities on Mars, Moon, Phobos and Deimos!" Jerry and Priya shared a high five. Then he left to go back to his hotel room, as Priya went back in the holo-phone.