Damn, that girl is a trooper!
Once all four women had attached their shoe pads, they examined the token, likely thinking the same thing as Alice. It was one thing to stick something to your shoe, but quite another to willingly attach a piece of alien tech to your skin.
They all peered at her expectantly. A million thoughts of what could happen ran through her mind, but instead of showing the others her anxiety, she decided to be brave and take a leap of faith.
Closing her eyes and clenching her jaw, she held the token against her wrist. The metal was warm against her delicate skin, but the jab of pain or searing burn she expected never came. She started to pull back the token, ready to explain to Metli that hers was defective, but it didn’t move. She pulled a little harder, stretching her skin until finally it released with a pop. Pushing it back again, she felt the familiar warmth, and when she let go, it stayed in place.
Alice gave a thumbs up and puffed her chest with a sense of pride as the three other women attached their tokens to their arms. She’d never been the one people turned to for leadership. They constantly came to her with their problems, that was for sure, but there was always a lack of respect. When she had a group project due, she’d always be the one to do the work but was never the group’s leader. At Molly’s, she often went above and beyond to make sure the tables were cleaned and bussed, even though she was also a bartender. Yet it was Trent, her coworker who sat on a barstool most of the time, who’d been promoted to manager.
“Follow me, please.” Metli turned and began walking on the water again, heading toward the domed central building.
Alice, Vanessa, Rita, and Daisy stood perched on the edge of the lake, not sure how they were supposed to cross the water.
When they didn’t follow, Metli paused and turned back.
“How are you walking on water?” Alice asked.
“Oh, I am so sorry. I didn’t think to explain,” she said, quickly returning to meet them at the shoreline. “If you’re holding that coin, a platform will appear under your feet as you walk, see?”
Now that Metli was near and they could examine the water more closely, they could see that a clear flat platform rose to just above the surface of the water under wherever Metli hovered her foot.
“How does that work?” Vanessa asked, stepping onto her own platform in awe.
“I’m not sure.” Metli shrugged, eyes flashing back toward the building anxiously.
I guess it’s not good to keep the Queen waiting.
One by one, they stepped onto the water and slowly trailed behind Metli, the gel on their shoes gripping the smooth material of the platform. Alice could see Metli’s barely contained annoyance shining in her eyes whenever she had to stop and wait for them to slowly catch up.
Although the walkway was probably as ordinary as an Earth sidewalk, Alice and the others walked on it as though traversing black ice. She chuckled as she imagined what they must look like to observers, walking on tiptoes with their arms outstretched like the solid surface was a tightrope.
When they finally reached the speckled green platform circling the domed building and its offshoot buildings, they released a collective sigh.
Moving more quickly and with more agitation than before, Metli ushered them through the large curved sliding doors of the largest building, down a curved hallway, and into an interior room.
About a dozen women of various shapes, sizes, and ethnicities, were milling around the large room. Some were talking to each other quietly, and others were sprawled on low couches or plush chairs. As Alice’s group entered, all faces turned to them. Some of the women broke out in smiles and walked over to greet them.
Humans. Alice couldn’t be sure, because so many of the aliens she’d met looked similar to her, but she had a primal feeling in her bones that these women were human.
Dazed, she accepted hugs and handshakes from a few of them and nodded politely as they told her their names, which she promptly forgot.
After a few minutes of greetings went by, a regal-looking woman with a deeply lined face who hadn’t yet moved to meet them rose from her seat.
She wore a high-collared, long, plain purple dress that complemented her pale lavender eyes. Although simple, especially in comparison to Metli’s garb, her clothing was tailored to perfection and exuded an air of no-nonsense sophistication. The woman looked old in the same way a pyramid or castle might. She was strong and powerful and the sign of age only enhanced that aura.
“Please have a seat.” She motioned to the many chairs and couches surrounding her. When she spoke, her words seem to dominate the room, even though her voice wasn’t raised. This must be the Queen.
Alice looked around at the faces of the new women near her. They all seemed content. Not happy, but not unhappy, either. It gave Alice hope that perhaps this place wouldn’t be that bad.
After the women were all seated, the Queen spoke again. “I am Queen of this city, Tremanta. Located on the planet of Clecania.”
So, there were other kings or queens in different cities? Why hadn’t the woman given her name? Was she just supposed to call her Queen?
Vanessa began to speak, but the Queen held up her hand, silencing her. Vanessa clamped her mouth shut and crossed her legs in annoyance.
“We
