Ball-blasters All Round

"Couldn't we just call her."

"I need to see her in the flesh," said Astra. "Besides there are things we need to talk about that I don't want broadcast over some telepathy device. Come on."

Astra took Stacy by the hand and led her through the crowd. They didn't follow any particular path but Astra was on the lookout, wide eyed and alert. "There!" she said and pulled Stacy closer, hooking her arm through Stacy's. Arm in arm they followed a pair of westerners, a man and a women, who wore high collared white matching suits and carried smart briefcases.

The man and woman went into a an upmarket drinking establishment and went to order drinks at the bar. Astra and Stacy followed and joined them at the bar.

Astra bumped up against the man. "Oh, I'm so sorry," she said, suddenly affecting the worst fake Brooklyn accent that Stacy had ever heard.

"That's okay," said the man.

"Oh, are you American?" asked Astra.

"Erm, yes." said the man clearing his throat and trying to avoid eye contact.

"My friend's American," said Astra. "Why don't you say hello. Come on, Stacy, say hello."

"Hi," said Stacy. "I'm from New York. What about you."

"Chicago," said the man, smiling weakly.

"I'm Astra," said Astra grabbing the man's hand.

"Frank. And this is Jeanette."

The woman turned to them. She had straight, shoulder length hair and black lipstick. She and acknowledged them with a forced smile which looked more like a grimace.

"Wow, let me buy you a drink," said Astra running her hands through her hair. She still wasn't wearing anything under her jacket and Stacy noticed the man's eyes flick down as her jacket flapped open.

"That's perfectly okay," said the man.

"No, I insist," said Astra. She got the bartender's attention "Four ball-blasters."

"That's a rather strong drink..." began the man.

"Nonsense," said Astra, giving him a playful slap. "You gotta live a little."

When the drink arrived, Astra downed the whole jar in one go. "Another!" she said, slamming the empty down on the bar and letting out an impressive belch.

And that was how the drinking began. An hour later they were at a table filled with empty glasses and Astra was telling everyone about the time she had captured an Allarian Moon-goat using only a piece of rope and a large apple. It was a very exciting story and it involved lots of acting out, arms and red hair flayling, but she never did explain what an Allarian Moon-goat actually was. Presumably a very large goat.

"I think," said Jeanette trying very hard not to slur her words, "I think you've got chocolate on your left breast."

Astra held her jacket open with both hands and examined her chest. "Oh yes. Now how did that happen."

"It was at Milliways," said Stacy seriously. "You weren't being very well behaved."

"Oh, Milliways," said Jeanette. "You've been to Milliways? Isn't it delightful." She shuffled round to Stacy and spoke conspiratorially. "They did a interpretive dance version of Jesus Christ Superstar. Very exotic, if you know what I mean. Judas in particular was very fine. He had the largest..."

"Another!" said Astra, slamming down another empty glass.

"Oh, we can't," said Jeanette. "We've got to board soon."

"Oh, come on," said Astra. "Just one more. You've got to try a Petulent Dwarf!" She said with a maniacal grin. "They come in pints. And it's like swallowing a slice of lemon..."

Jeanette pulled a face.

"No, wait" Astra said. "like a slice of lemon wrapped around a grenade."

Jeanette seemed intrigued.

1. Identity swap

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