Tickets please

"Why didn't you say so before," said Stacy under her breath.

"I did say so before."

Astra's disguise amounted to little more than tighing her hair back and stuffing a small pillow under her jacket to bulk up her stomach. The idea was to hide her feminine figure but if anyone asked when the baby was due then they'd know the disguise was a failure.

"It'll be fine," said Stacy. "Just act manly."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"I don't know," said Stacy. "Just act butch. And don't eye up any men."

"Men don't eye up other men?"

"No," said Stacy. "Of course not."

"Oh. I did not know that."

"You do have men in Aqualaria, right?"

"Of course!"

"Well just act like an Aqualarian warrior," said Stacy like she was talking to a child. "Okay?"

They approached their gate and Stacy got the tickets ready.

"Welcome to Japan Spaceways," said the attendant. "Tickets please."

"Greetings fair maiden," said Astra effecting a elaborate bow.

"Could you give us a minute please," said Stacy. She took Astra aside. "What the hell was that?" she whispered.

"Talking like an Aqualarian warrior," said Astra.

"You're overdoing it. Just, I don't know, just try to say as little as possible, okay?"

"Okay."

They turned back to the attendant, smiling. Stacy handed over the tickets.

"Mz Jeanette Scott," said the flight attendant looking up from the ticket. "Welcome on board. And ..." The attendant looked at the other ticket. "Mr Frank Baum." She looked up at Astra with the glimmer of a frown.

"Uhh, huh," said Astra putting one arm around Stacy's shoulder and trying to put on a casual macho stance.

"Welcome on board," said the attendant handing the tickets to Astra.

"Uhh, thank you very much." Astra put on a deeper voice but to Stacy it sounded every bit like a bad Elvis impression.

They made their way through the gate. Astra winked at Stacy and pinched her bum.

"Hey!" Stacy gave her a slap. "Was that part of your Aqualarian warrior act?"

"Of course," said Astra, grinning.

1. Into Orbit

Add New Option

Go Back

View Forward Story Tree
View Back Story Tree