Station Andromida

My hands tighten around the control panel as I watch the massive spaceport grow by the second. Ships of all sizes and colors pass my window, and I crane my head to get a better look at each one.Before long, it's my turn to dock. Compared to the other ships, my small pod looks comically small, zooming around to find a space where it won't get crushed by the larger ships. The ground jerks slightly as my pod connects with the spaceport, air hissing through the room as the different pressures acclimate.I grab my duffle bag, my knuckles white from where they clutch at the strap, and fling it over my shoulder. The doors slide open, and I take my first step out of the pod.All around me, ships and pods connect and disconnect from the pier, hundreds of people entering and exiting their vessels. Their movements appear almost coordinated, like schools of fish weaving effortlessly between each other.I had left my blaster in the pod, so I pass through the security and identification checkpoints without issue, making my way through tight crowds to the main entrance of the port. The docking bay ends, leading to what looks like a mega-shopping mall. An arch looms over the entrance, welcoming visitors to "Station Andromida", scrawled in large bold letters.Shops line every available wall, wares and exports from all over the galaxy being sold in almost every direction you look. I inhale deeply, savoring the stale scent of filtration air mixed with fresh plaster and metal.Someone wearing a velvet hat larger than the wearer's head itself passes by. My feet falter, and I fall still as I take in my surroundings. Compared to earth, everything seems too colorful, too bright. The lights above are a harsh hospital grade, making me even colder than I was in the pod.Compared to the people around me, I suddenly feel severely underdressed. I tug at the straps of my black cocktail dress, and continue walking.I'm not a tourist, yet in this moment I feel like one. I can't help but wish I was one.Vendors selling snacks I've never seen wave their hands, calling over potential buyers. Dresses of all shapes and sizes move on animatronic models, striking poses that I believe would shatter my bones if I tried.I keep my gaze forward, following the small path to the hotel that my brain had mapped ahead of time. I don't pass a single window, and beneath the bright, flashing lights, one could almost believe it was midday rather than early morningOne of the establishments I pass is unusually bright, flashing signs nearly blinding me as I pass. Girls dressed in scanty outfits dance in the window displays, smiling flirtatiously at the shoppers. My eyes connect with a male dancer, and I jerk my gaze forward before I see something that would undoubtedly burn my corneas.My head is throbbing by the time I reach the hotel, and all I want to do is fall into a warm bed and pass out."Name?" the desk clerk asks, not bothering to look up from her monitor. I don't remember the name I registered under, so I don't respond, instead sliding forward my online room receipt and fake ID. She gives the documents a cursory glance, then tosses me a room key. "Gym is on the fourth floor and the pool is closed for maintenance. Thanks for choosing Nova Heights Hotel."I mutter out a thanks, grabbing my keys as I make my way to the elevators. Out of all the things my father chose to pack for me, an extra pair of shoes was not on his list.My feet ache like they've never before, and I try not walk gracefully, not stumble, into the elevator. My room is on the fourteenth floor, and soft elevator music fills the cell while I wait. Finally, the door dings open. Except, when I step out, the heel of my stiletto catches on one of the tiles, and I fall forward, crashing into someone on the other side."Holy shit!" The unbelievable amount of bags the woman underneath me is carrying cushions my fall, and I quickly roll over onto my back, cursing my shoes as I tear them off my feet. "Are you okay?""I'm fine," I mutter, rubbing my temples with barely constrained frustration. "Sorry about that. I'm-"The woman suddenly gasps, raising her colorfully pedicured nails to cover her mouth."Are you...?" She looks up and down the halls, then turns back jerkily, her blonde curls bouncing animatedly. "Are you a gladiator?" she says, covering the sides of her mouth, as if it somehow makes her words quieter.Fucking great. I throw my broken stilettos into my bag, brushing dirt off my dress hem before I stand."Nope. I actually don't even know what a gladiator is. Have a good day, miss."She grabs me by the wrist."No you are! It is you! From the fight a couple nights before!"It takes me a couple seconds to understand what she's talking about, and then it clicks. She's talking about the fight at the Port l'enfer.Surprisingly, this isn't my first time dealing with this kind of interaction. Despite all the precautions my father takes, only allowing me to fight in each arena once, not registering me by any traceable name, there's still a person every once and a while who recognizes me.The problem comes with an easy fix, but that requires my fathers talented stylists, which I don't currently have access to. My eyes take in the young blonde, who looks to be about my age, and I wonder how in the stars she knows about illegal underground fighting rings. From the look on my face, her excitement grows."My dad participated in the bettings," she answers, guessing my question. "I told him not to bet against you, but he wouldn't listen!" Her dad is an illegal gambler. Wonderful. "Are you here for more fights?""Ah," I say, trying to tug my wrist out of her grasp. "No. It was a one time thing."Truthfully, I've never liked fighting. But my father insisted on regular bouts. Killing wasn't unlike other skills, and it required constant practice. Gladiator matches meant I always faced someone larger and stronger, it meant the piles of bodies that I accumulated didn't attract police.Before I can stop her, the girl reaches up and snaps a picture of my room receipt."We totally should go shopping together. The way you shot the guy dead was such a girlboss moment. I asked daddy if he'd let me take blaster lessons after I saw the match, but he said it wasn't in a woman's place to- hey! Where are you going?"The moment her hand loosened slightly, I bolted, practically running towards my door. I only relax when I hear the lock click in place, and I slide down the door with relief.I make a mental note to change rooms as soon as possible, and to pick up a box of hair-dye and eye contacts. The room is unremarkable, with a medium sized bed taking the center of the room. There are two sliding doors to the left of the main room, leading to what I assume is the bathroom and kitchen. A small oval window is built into the wall, revealing the dark expanse of space.My body feels like lead as I drag myself into the bed, falling in without bothering to open the covers. After an entire night spent on the cold floor, and several hours of walking, the mattress feels like pure heaven, and I let myself sink into its comfort.After an hour of rest, I force myself to get up, flicking on the overhead lights before I pull out my computer. Hastily, I make a few online orders and click the option for the fastest delivery. The card my father left me is at the bottom of the duffle bag, with a small note taped to the back that simply reads: 50K/month.I spent the rest of the morning researching Elias' company, X4T9F Machinery. He captains a ship called 'The Vessel'. Clearly he's a very creative man.Their official website offers little to no information, serving typical corporate jargon, complete with a mission statement, showcasing their newest rockets, chips, and rovers.Eventually, I find what I'm looking for, pulling out his ship's public landing logs. It takes me longer than I expect to decode the coordinate points and time signatures, but eventually I get it. I stare down at the diagram I had virtually drawn on the table, and I feel my stomach drop.Two days ago, the ship had made a complete 360 turn. It had sped across the Andromeda galaxy and into the milky way, with minimum stops, a clear disregard for fuel and efficiency. Directly towards Andromida Station. The ship would arrive tonight.