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

Chapter 6 - Moonlight Rendezvous On A Foreign Moon

Chapter 6 – Moonlight Rendezvous On A Foreign Moon

Thursday, May 9, 2176
6:19 PM (Houston local time)
Martian surface, Korolev Crater, Mars

Back on Mars, circling the Kanzen City dome, Tango Galnac was making their patrol outside the dome, making sure all was well. Larkin kept her eyes peeled and had her holo-radio on, in case her seniors had further instructions. "Really missing action nowadays!" said Larkin. "It seems like for the last few months, we've been doing the same thing again and again!" "No, shit! I'm completely in agreement with your statement." Luna said. "Last time we kicked ass was two and a half months ago, and it was against space pirates, who tried to steal our antimatter power station supplies." Lance and Rahul kept a sharp eye on their surroundings outside the truck. "In a way, it is better here than just sitting around at home!" said Rahul. "Although, I must agree with you two!" Lance then spoke up. "I'll say this however, I'm glad to be working with all of you! Rahul, Larkin, and Luna of course!" he said. "I'll always thank Rahul and Luna for watching my six on Phobos, when the space pirates were trying to smuggle that illegal from its surface." "Why was that ore illegal?" said Rahul. "Basically, it was used as a substitute for RDX, to create bombs, capable of eradicating cities from the face of a planet!" said Luna. "Those ores are worth equivalent to sixty million cloud jewels per kilo!" Suddenly, the holo-radio began to buzz. "Tango Galnac, come in! This is Gen. Durand! Do you copy?" said a voice. Larkin grabbed the holo-radio and pushed the button. "Hoo-ah! Tango Galnac, reads you 100%! Sir!" "Put a pin on whatever you're doing, and report back to HQ, ASAP! We have an emergency, code red!" "SIR, YES SIR!" said Team Galnac, simultaneously. "We'll be there, ASAP!" said Larkin. Then she turned to the team. "Hoo-ah?" said Larkin. "Hoo-ah!" said Luna. "Hoo-ah!" said Rahul. "Hoo-ah!" said Lance.

Thursday, May 9, 2176
7:14 PM (Houston local time)
Dawson Dome, Phobos

Alyssa showed Jerry most of her home city, Dawson Dome on Phobos. Then she gave him an extended tour of Phobos, through a virtual reality simulation. Within the first hour and a half of spending his evening with Alyssa, Jerry already learned a lot about her. "So, you've never been in a relationship, of any sort?" he asked Alyssa. Alyssa bit her lip, then she began to tremble and shake. Jerry observed this immediately and realized he may have scared her. "I'm sorry!" said Jerry. "It's okay, if you don't want to talk about it!" Then he saw a tear drop from Alyssa's eye. "I'm truly sorry!" said Jerry. "Please don't cry!" Alyssa then wiped her eyes. "No, you're fine! You're good." She said. "I rather not say anything." Then she looked at him. "You?" said Alyssa. "What about you?" Jerry then took a deep breath and sighed. "I was married at one time, I'll admit." He said. "Lasted only six months. Her name was Michaela, Michaela Rodriguez." Alyssa looked at Jerry with interest. "She was a sweet girl, and amazing. We thought we'd stay in love with each other forever! But then, she lost interest in me." "And you allowed her to go from your life?" said Alyssa. "Well, yeah!" said Jerry. "She wasn't happy with me, and if you're not happy with your spouse, you can't keep them happy!" "But, do you ever regret it?" said Alyssa. "Didn't you miss her?" "Always, Alyssa!" said Jerry. "Always!" "Aaww, you poor thing!" said Alyssa, feeling sympathy for Jerry. "No, it's alright!" said Jerry. "I had my friends and more importantly, I had my virtual assistant Priya." Priya smiled at Jerry as she was feeling good, her owner was praising her. "She's been my friend, for eight years now!" "And a very good friend too!" said Priya. "Basically, whenever he needed a friend, I was there for him! I've also helped him to improve his social skills too!" "Yes, Alyssa! There was a time, where I lacked social skills." Jerry explained. "But, Priya helped me to improve in that area."

Alyssa smiled and then sighed. "I'm glad you opened up and confided this in me." She said. "Now, I think I'll tell you my side of the story." Jerry looked at her. "I've always dwelt on Phobos, since my birth. I did fall in love just once, five years ago. The dude was named Christopher Miller, he was six years my senior and he was an amazing person, or so I thought!" Jerry then saw her face turn away. "What do you mean, you thought?" said Jerry. "I found out he dealt in illegal drugs, arms and was running an illegal mining business on Deimos." Alyssa said, shedding a few tears. "When I found out, I dumped him! But not before making an anonymous call to the galactic authorities! I called the Interplanetary Police and reported Christopher, then I told him that I was breaking up with him! It was half an hour later, the authorities raided him and took him in custody!" Alyssa wiped her eyes. "He was sentenced to serve thirty years in Mason Dungeon, the maximum-security jail, located on the Moon." Alyssa broke down. "There, there!" said Jerry. "It's alright, at least you're alright and safe now!" He embraced Alyssa. "Don't cry!" said Jerry. "Guess it happens to the best of us, doesn't it?" said Alyssa, smiling. "Yeah, sure does!" said Jerry. "Things were hard at first, when me and Michaela split. But afterwards, nobody cared!" He then got up. "Well, I really could have swum for a while." Alyssa then looked at him. "Just come on over to my flat, there's an indoor swimming pool there!" she said. Jerry looked at her in amazement. "Are you inviting me over to your place?" said Jerry, shocked to a certain degree. "I'm sorry, but never has a girl done that with me." Alyssa then smiled. "Then again, not every single day a tourist from another rock stops on mine." She replied. "I've yet to go to another planet in our solar system." Then Jerry and Alyssa got up to go to her apartment.

Upon arriving the place, Alyssa showed Jerry around her home. Jerry was amazed seeing facilities and infrastructure of her apartment. "So, Alyssa? What exactly is it that you do?" said Jerry. "Me? I'm actually a database administrator for Phobos' customs clearance. My job is to create new databases for the Customs Department!" said Alyssa. "It does allow me, to work and get my mind off a lot of bullshit that took place in my past." After that, Alyssa showed Jerry her indoor swimming pool. It was an oval shaped pool, about eight feet deep. Jerry then got changed in a dressing room, in the apartment. "Aren't you gonna join me?" said Jerry. "I'm good, thank you!" said Alyssa. "You sure?" asked Jerry. "You've been working hard all week." Then Alyssa gave it a thought. "Sure, it's been a while." She said. "I'll be back and soon!" She also changed into her swimwear, as Jerry jumped off the diving board and splashed into the pool. Soon, Jerry and Alyssa both swam, sometimes together but mostly at a distance from one another. Alyssa took a deep breath and dove underwater, and Jerry seeing her above from the surface jokingly shouted out, "MARCO!" He then dove and swam underwater as Alyssa did. Alyssa then rose to the surface to breathe. "POLO!" she shouted out, as she heard Jerry while she was underwater. It was a relaxing and cool moment for both Jerry and Alyssa, as they continued to swim in the cool, rejuvenating water. The holographic thermometer on the wall, displayed the pool temperature as eighteen degrees Celsius.

Then Jerry felt exhausted and climbed out of the pool. He then helped Alyssa out as well. "Well, I'm still pretty fatigued from enjoying a lot today with you." He said. "I'll head back to the resort and sleep now, but here's my contact! Do hit me up, if you wish to chill sometimes!" Alyssa smiled. "Sure, why not!" she said. "I'll also let you know when I'm free!" She then gave Jerry a hug. "So, wanna be friends?" she asked. "Yeah, of course!" said Jerry. "I thought we already were." They both laughed. "Goodnight, Alyssa!" said Jerry, as he started to go. "Goodnight, Jerry!" said Alyssa. She walked him to the door, and they bid each other goodnight one more time. Jerry felt good, and he was hoping soon he may even be able to ask Alyssa out. However, knowing of her past, he did not wish to rush into anything. He then summoned Priya from his holo-phone. "Alright, Priya! Take me back to the resort!" said Jerry. "Aye, sir!" said Priya. "Calling a shuttle, ASAP!" In a few minutes, the shuttle arrived, and Jerry entered it. He then put on some music, as the shuttle took him back to his resort.