While Evie and Phoenix were gone, Jet and Kepler waited together in the repair shop’s lobby. Jet continued to tap her boot on the floor impatiently and she forced her eyes to watch one of the lobby screens as she felt the seconds pass by slowly.
Finally, she turned to Kepler and asked on a private channel in her headset, “What are you going to do about these humans?”
Kepler shrugged. “Apparently, one human and a shapeshifter.”
“Do you know any aliens that can shapeshift?” she asked flatly.
They fidgeted in their seat uncomfortably. “No.” Kepler paused before they asked quietly, “Do you think he’s crazy?”
“I think it’s more likely that he doesn’t realize how good he has it on Earth. He somehow accessed our online platforms and got excited learning about the System. He’s doing this to stay up here.”
“So, you think he lied.”
Jet sighed and leaned back in her seat. “Obviously.”
A pause hung between them as they both stared forward, not bothering to face each other. Then Kepler said, “I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’m just trying to solve one problem at a time.”
“Are you going to let them stay on your ship?”
They glanced back at Jet puzzledly. “It’s the only place right now that’s safe for them.”
She scoffed. “I wouldn’t do that. Do you know what the System government would do if they found out you were hiding humans on your ship?”
Kepler turned to face her and asked bitterly, “What about when I was hiding a wanted fugitive on my ship? You snuck on just like they did.”
She continued to face forward, not returning their gaze. “You wouldn’t have been able to get rid of me then, even if you tried.”
They groaned and threw up the hands of their spacesuit. “Are you always like this? You can go, if you’d like! I don’t need you judging my life decisions. I’m sure I can handle the repair costs myself.”
Jet didn’t say anything else. She just crossed her arms and continued to tap her foot. Kepler turned away, feeling their vines now a lot stiffer with frustration.
Silent minutes passed by before a maintenance robot approached their seats. It was a dated model with a rusted color and visible cogs and metal joints visible between openings in its geometric plates. They heard it say through their headsets, “We need you two to complete a questionnaire about your experience here.” It then gestured for them to get up from their seats and follow.
Jet narrowed her eyes. “The ship isn’t repaired yet.”
The robot waved for them to follow again. “The survey is required,” it droned. It then began to head out of the lobby and Jet and Kepler just glanced at each other before they followed.
The robot led them through the repair shop’s rundown halls before they got to what Jet assumed was an office as the robot held the door open for them. As Jet and Kepler stood before the doorway, they saw that it was actually a supply closet.
Jet glanced back towards the robot. “What the hell-”
Before she could finish her thought, she saw that the robot had fired a weapon at both herself and Kepler. Jet lifted her arm and noticed that a dart had pierced through her suit to dig into her skin. Then everything went numb.
---
Jet and Kepler woke to hear an upbeat automated voice say, “Welcome to Satellite: Leading in alien innovation.”
As they came to their senses, they found themselves strapped into a self-guided vehicle that slowly hovered over a path illuminated by a single blue line. The front of the vehicle was completely open, allowing them to view the setup around the guided path. Screens lined the walls displaying new and advanced spaceships, drones, and devices made by Satellite. Optimistic corporate music played in the background.
Jet wrestled in the seat she was strapped into and grunted furiously when nothing budged. Kepler spotted a hologram of a spaceship that they wished they could afford.
The front of their helmets were unsealed, so they could clearly hear the feminine automated voice continue. “We are the System’s number one supplier in spacecrafts, robotics, and other technological innovations that allow us to thrive in the space age. Here in Satellite Headquarters, witness a world of cutting-edge technology that will lead the next generation.”
The vehicle neared the end of the screen-filled hall, and a large door opened for the vehicle to travel on the blue line above an enormous shopping center where aliens gazed at various Satellite devices on different open floors. The whole place was sparkling clean and polished, a grand vast exhibit for the newest models. Jet and Kepler were stuck high above all of it in this strange informercial ride. They both tried yelling over the music to the shopping aliens below, but no one seemed to hear or notice them. Their vehicle then went through an opening at the other end of the center and they were in a hallway again.
The interior of this whole structure was bright and glossy to bring a refreshing modern aesthetic. Their slow-moving vehicle continued on the glowing line through the reflective white halls with blue accents. The automated voice said, “Unfortunately for you, your journey through Satellite Headquarters will have to be cut short as the CEO is expecting you. Please keep all limbs inside of the vehicle until it comes to a complete stop.”
Jet wrestled in her seat again. “As if we didn’t have a choice!”
The door to an office automatically opened and the vehicle hovered inside. The front of the vehicle then detached, leaving Jet and Kepler’s seats to remain while the vehicle backed up before leaving the office. They both now were stuck in their seats in front of a glossy desk with a computer sitting on top of it. Lamps hovered in the air to provide warm lighting to the space. Almost everything else in the room was a hologram, including the potted plants, water dispenser, filing cabinets, and the generic paintings on the walls. The back wall of the office had a large screen that depicted a view overlooking a modern Earth city from a high up skyscraper.
They both heard the computer whirr as it turned on. The sleek computer was rounded in shape and had two antennas that sparked to life with electricity. Its screen turned blue to allow two white glowing dots and a line to appear, depicting eyes and a mouth.
The line depicting a mouth formed waves when the computer began speaking in the same peppy automated voice from the ride. “I am Blair, the personal assistant to Satellite’s CEO.” The face on the screen was then replaced by text that typed out, “BL-A1R” in large letters. The eyes and mouth then returned for BL-A1R to say, “You will be meeting with him shortly. As your humble host, please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.” Her face briefly became an “;D” image.
“Can we leave?” Kepler asked.
BL-A1R’s face remained still for a moment before she said, “Request rejected.”
They shrugged as they glanced towards Jet. “It was worth trying.”
Jet breathed out forcefully, feeling herself boiling inside from dread and frustration. Her boot kept tapping the floor anxiously, as now that was the only free movement she had. She felt like she was going to lose it if she had to stay stuck like this for much longer.
BL-A1R’s spirited voice returned and she started playing music for a dramatic entrance. “Now everybody, put your hands together for Roswell!”
The large screen behind the desk displayed shots of gold confetti glistening over a dark background. The screen then parted in the middle to reveal a hidden doorway, and the main lighting in the room darkened for celebratory lights to start flashing. The alien named Roswell walked through this entrance and BL-A1R played sounds of erupting applause. Roswell waved to the imaginary audience while Jet and Kepler just stared at him blankly.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Roswell was a green humanoid figure, who seemed to be glowing with light ever so slightly. He had big dark eyes and no other facial features. He wore a dark grey suit that was similar to the traditional business suits that humans wore.
He raised a hand to BL-A1R and then the music and applause cut out while the lighting returned back to normal. The screen behind him sealed and returned to depicting a view over an Earthen city.
Roswell sat at the other side of the desk and he clapped his gloved hands together. “How was that?” he asked sincerely. “Blair and I have been practicing ways to introduce Satellite representatives with the strongest impression. I usually hire actors to be the face of my company, but I thought that since I have to meet with you, I’d give it a go.”
“So,” he gestured towards Jet and Kepler and asked again, “how was it?”
They were both silent for a moment before Jet said sternly, “You have a lot of nerve kidnapping us and then asking our opinion of your little show. You have no right to treat us like this.”
Roswell leaned back in his seat. “I feel like we’re getting off on the wrong foot here.” He then snapped his fingers and a part of the wall opened up for an android without a head to enter, who carried a tray of champagne glasses. The android set the tray on the desk and then grabbed BL-A1R to place her between the android’s shoulders. Now connected to her android body, BL-A1R’s screen made an “:)” face as she offered the tray towards Roswell.
He took a glass of champagne from the robot and said, “We’re celebrating something special today. Please,” he gestured towards the remaining glasses, “I insist.”
The straps holding Jet and Kepler in place were suddenly released as BL-A1R offered them the tray. They both hesitated before taking a glass each.
“It’s not everyday that somebody lands on Earth and makes it back to tell the tale,” Roswell lightly stated. “I think that’s one of the biggest felonies in the System.”
Jet exhaled through her nose forcefully, refusing to let her guard down. “What are you trying to get at?”
He chuckled. “Most of the Earthen border stations are Satellite spacecrafts.” He then gestured to BL-A1R, who brought up on her screen an image of Kepler’s ship plummeting towards Earth.
Neither of them could bring themselves to respond as they both felt the weight of this image sink in. Jet’s robotic hand holding her champagne instinctively tightened and she cursed as the glass shattered in her grip, causing the drink to spill over her spacesuit. Roswell ignored the mess and raised a hand to assure them. “Nobody has any of this evidence except for me, and you two have the ability to keep it that way. I just want to make a deal.”
Jet silently brushed the glass off of herself while Kepler continued to glare back at Roswell, so he carried on. “I know that you brought humans into the System, and if you hand them over to me, I’ll have no problem making your records clean. And to help you out a bit, Satellite will provide you with a large profit annually, for your troubles.”
"We didn’t leave Earth with any humans,” Kepler immediately objected, not giving Jet a chance to respond.
“Well, while you were being transported here, this made System-wide news.” He gestured to BL-A1R again, who’s screen changed to security footage in a convenience store spotting two humans racing through.
“What!?” Jet’s eyes bulged and she stomped furiously, glass crunching under her boot. She had no way of controlling her outburst. “Those absolute lunatics!”
Roswell seemed pleased with that reaction and he added, “If my androids don’t return with those humans, I’d honestly be surprised. But just in case, I’m asking for your help in retrieving them as well.”
Kepler’s vines grew tense as they tried to hide how upset they were. “Why do you even want humans?” they asked.
“Frankly, that’s not any of your business. You just need to decide whether you’re going to get the rest of your lives taken care of or not.” He leaned in curiously. “Is this not enough? I can throw in more, if you’d like.”
Roswell motioned to the large screen behind him, which switched to display a sleek new spaceship. He coughed with a mouth that wasn’t visible and adjusted his voice to sound more like a showman. “It’s the all-new Satellite Andromeda Max! Cruise through the cosmos in your very own crystal-powered double engine spaceship, equipped with three spacious levels that are designed to provide every luxury, from a full kitchen to your own fitness center. With this ship you can travel through the System in record time, in style!”
He swiveled in his seat and added, “If you’re concerned that a spaceship this large is too much to handle, we’ll throw in a crew of appliance robots, which will be committed to serving your every need. And your annual profit from Satellite will be more than enough to pay for any upkeep on your new ship and robot crew.”
Satisfied by his own pitch, Roswell turned to them and extended a hand across the desk eagerly. “So, do we have a deal?”
They both hesitated, staring at his outstretched hand motionlessly. Then Jet asked, “How much money are we talking?”
“No!” Kepler cut in before anyone could respond, slamming their drink on the desk. Their vines shook with rage as they said to Roswell, “We’re not going to be pawns aiding you with your filthy secrets. I don’t care how much you have to offer, or what kind of dirt you have on us, we’re not doing shit for you!” They pointed towards Roswell forcefully. “The System’s gonna uncover you one day and this whole company’s gonna fall.” They crossed their arms to finish their outburst.
Roswell blinked before he chuckled a bit. “Alright, your loss.” He nodded to BL-A1R, who’s face became an “>:)” image. She grabbed a laser gun from behind the desk and pointed it directly at Kepler’s chest. They flinched in shock while Roswell kicked back in his seat to watch their demise. “If you’re not going to take my offer, I can’t let you leave here alive, unfortunately. It’s nothing personal.” He swirled the champagne around in his glass impatiently while BL-A1R took the laser gun off of safety.
“Wait,” Jet quickly interjected. She barely realized that she said anything, as terror was consuming her. Her heart was pounding and there was a ringing in her ears. After a few short breaths she said, “I also rather die than work for this shit company.”
“Oh, would you like to go first?” BL-A1R asked tauntingly. She stepped towards Jet and pointed the gun at her instead. Jet then immediately fell back in her seat, allowing her leg to kick upwards and knock the gun out of BL-A1R’s hand. A laser fired and hit a light as that happened, causing sparks to shower down.
Kepler’s vines stretched out the arms of their spacesuit to catch the gun out of the air, and they instantly pointed it towards BL-A1R and Roswell. Jet rolled backwards off the floor to stand next to Kepler and she grinned at this new development.
“Nobody move!” Kepler yelled boldly, even though their voice slightly trembled. “Or I’ll blast you to smithereens!”
The next second, they both sprinted for the exit. The door to the office automatically opened for them as they barged out for their lives.
In the polished white and blue corridor, Kepler threw the gun towards the other end of the hall. Jet turned to them, astounded. “What the hell are you doing!?”
“I don’t know!” they yelled back wildly. “I didn’t like holding that thing!”
The door to the office opened a moment later and BL-A1R dashed through to confront them. Electricity sparked vigorously between her antennas. She pointed at Jet and Kepler and exclaimed, “Stop right there! >:(”
They hesitated for a second and then sprinted away, running from the fuming android that chased after them.
They turned sharply around corners and ran through several pristine corridors before they were in a hallway with an open elevator at the end. Jet pushed herself to race faster, and made it into the elevator first. She hammered the button to shut the doors and as they began to close, Kepler leaped and made it inside in time. Then they both heard the metal clang as BL-A1R crashed against the closed door.
Kepler weakly got up, fighting complete exhaustion while Jet had the elevator descend towards the headquarters’ main level. Elevator music started playing and they both stood there in silence. Suddenly, BL-A1R’s voice came in through the speakers, shouting over the music, “I’m going to end you!”
The elevator dinged as they got to their level and they both rushed out into an open dealership floor selling various spaceships. The headquarters’ grand exit stood on the other side of this large shopping center.
Jet and Kepler reattached the front of their helmets to prepare to exit and they ran through the crowds of shoppers. They got plenty of confused looks as they pushed past aliens in a hurry.
Kepler glanced back and noticed that a fleet of drones were flying down from above. They pulled Jet’s arm and made a sharp turn towards one of the exiting airlocks, throwing off the drones’ projection.
The airlock sealed and then the other side opened for them to exit the headquarters towards one of Q-23’s connecting walkways. They both ran across the bridge’s glowing tiles surrounded by superstructures with brightly shining Satellite logos and holograms showing off Satellite technology.
They both noticed when several drones swarmed in the space above and started soaring down towards them. As the drones approached their bridge, Jet did the one thing she could and tackled Kepler. They both fell off of the bridge together, plummeting straight through a giant hologram advertisement. Kepler screamed the whole way down.
Their gravity-regulators forced them to crash land in an open square, which was directly below the bridge they descended from. Nearby aliens in spacesuits scampered away, startled by their rough landing. Jet rolled onto her back and grimaced in pain. She gazed up at the gleaming superstructures connected to various walkways that surrounded her. She turned her head and noticed the fountain of glowing drones that Phoenix had been talking about. The radiating art that the grand fountain produced was incredible. This part of Q-23 was way too nice to be anywhere near the rundown repair shop they had been taken from.
Kepler heaved themself up and pointed excitedly at a nearby structure. “There’s a train station here!” they exclaimed in their headset.
Jet huffed a fatigued breath as she stood next to Kepler and they both hurried towards the station.
As they ran across the tiles, Kepler glanced back and shouted, “Look out!”
Jet turned around to find a single Satellite drone soaring after them. She gritted her teeth furiously and reared her arm back to punch the drone right in its lens with her metal fist. Shards of glass flew and the drone’s mechanics whirred as it floated back into space lifelessly. Jet stared at its broken state while panting through her rage. She was then pulled back by Kepler as surrounding aliens gawked at her in surprise. Together they dashed into the train station.