Shoshone Station: The Galactic Consortium season 2

Episode 9: Asha-Tanga #15

Always the organizer, Dhanesha had managed to finagle them invites to a roof party for the huge Asha-Tanga parade and final festival. "To see the festival in person, on Saras with Sarasvat herself presiding, would be magnificent," he said with a shake of his head, "but difficult to manage. This party is along the route. And that is something. We will see them pass. And then we will watch the rest on video feeds."

"I'm sure it will be wonderful," Jake's Mom said.

Jake nodded. He was finally overcoming the constant dread that his family would see something beyond their comfort zone and freak out. The casual nudism and wild hedonism he'd heard about existed in places, but for the most part, Asha-Tanga wasn't that different from Mardi Gras or Carnival. A wild party in places, more low-key in others. Now he was feeling excited for the big parade and festivities.

The downside of Dhanesha's party was that it was on the far side of the station, and the traffic would be heavy. They rose early and left before the station's huge fake sun was yet visible.

They found a couple of people passed out in the park at the front of the hotel. "Should we check them?" Cynthia asked, worried.

Dhanesha laughed when he saw them. "Couldn't stay awake the whole week? When I was their age—"

"You still went to bed before last watch," Dhakshana joked. "Don't go bragging. You'll encourage our boy."

Chatura rolled his eyes. "Not me," he muttered. Seeing the look of worry in the others' eyes, he said, "Don't worry. They're just sleeping. If there was something wrong, the medical grid would have notified the healers to come help them."

Jake gave a nervous laugh. "I forget about the grid. We don't have anything like it back home." He turned toward Cynthia and his mom. "You've heard about their security grid? It's more than security, though. You call for security, they'll hear and come. But it's also the healers and whatnot. If you're on a station, you don't even need a slate, really. You can message or whatever straight through the grid from anywhere. And if you get sick, the system will notify the nearest healers."

The streets were quiet, or at least quieter than Jake had witnessed so far. Through one open door, he could see a party still going on, the rhythm slow and low, and the partiers dancing close or locked in embraces. An orgy? He looked away, not sure he wanted to know for sure. Cynthia followed his gaze and smirked.

"Are you excited to see Princess Sarasvat in person?" she asked Jamie, heading down the road and distracting her.

Jamie nodded excitedly. "It's going to be awesome."

Dhanesha had flagged down two transports. Workers were already rising and making ready for the day around them. A handful of transports rolled up and down the major streets. Street vendors were setting up shop, and bakeries were emitting the most incredible aromas as they baked goods for the day.

Jake climbed in the front seat of the second transport with Cynthia and Jamie. They faced toward the back, and in the rear seat facing them was Mike and Chatura. Abioya had managed to run across the way and buy a handful of rolls from a vendor before jumping in next to Chatura.

The sun rose—or came on or whatever you want to call it when the sun is a giant light on one side of a dome, Jack thought—as they rolled up onto the main highway that circled the great dome of Saras Station. A sense of awe overwhelmed Jake as he looked across the city. Markets overflowing with goods, huge temples and statues, and parks. Wild partygoers dancing to the drums, a group doing something that looked like yoga. Another seated in meditation. It was all here, the material, the carnal, the spiritual, and the natural. All blended into one. A sense of wholeness filled Jake.