Escape by K. R. Alexander

Author:K. R. Alexander
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

If this had been any other park, Cody would have expected some sort of spacecraft simulator. There would be blinking control panels and uncomfortable pleather seats and tiny screens showing pixelated galaxies. Jerky motors would jolt the capsule around in a poor imitation of space flight while crackly music and bad sound effects would blare from old speakers. At least, that’s what he would have expected at a normal theme park. This, of course, was different.

It felt like walking into the lobby of a beautiful, high-end hotel. Not at all a metallic, lifeless vessel. Great palm plants sat in silver vases and rich red carpet spread out before them. A huge crystalline fountain in the shape of a star bubbled in front of them. The lobby was easily the size of a football field, or maybe even bigger. It was hard to tell with all the columns arching up past the balconies. Cody followed them up with his gaze.

His jaw dropped open.

Because there, arched like the ceiling of some old cathedral, were glass panes that revealed the literal heavens. Stars and galaxies swirled beautifully beyond the glass, revealing a world that nearly made tears come to his eyes.

“It’s beautiful,” Inga whispered. She stood so close to Cody that their arms lightly touched. His skin seemed to tingle with electricity beneath his suit. “I had been worried … One of my fears is being stranded in space. Which is silly, since I have no desire to be an astronaut. But being lost out there, all alone. Well, I suppose it isn’t as scary as it might be. This is quite stunning.”

He wanted to reach out and take her hand, but the moment was interrupted by the arrival of a robot.

“Welcome, travelers,” said the robotic greeter.

The robot was an android with metallic skin, wearing a crisp black flight attendant uniform trimmed in silver and azure. She wore a tiny hat angled to the side, and her hair was made of silver strands. Her eyes glowed as blue as the trim of her jacket.

“My name is Cassiopeia,” she said. “And I am your guide for this cruise. First, I must ask, what sort of adventure would you like on your cruise tonight?”

“Something relaxing,” Jayson piped in immediately.

“Yes,” Inga said. “Perhaps something educational?”

“Very well,” Cassiopeia said. “Perhaps I might interest you in an intergalactic raft ride? Nothing could be more relaxing than rafting down the Milky Way in our totally secure space pods. I could also bring you to the observatory deck, where you could watch our travels in complete comfort, if you would like something even slower paced.”

“Rafting sounds kind of fun,” Jayson admitted. He looked to Cassiopeia. “You’re sure there aren’t any, like, space sharks or something?”

The android smiled.

“No space sharks. Just tranquility. Here on the Cosmic Cruise, your relaxation is our premier destination.”

* * *

Cassiopeia wasn’t lying.

She guided the three of them past the main foyer and down a long hallway lined with moving photos of solar systems and galaxies, each of them as beautiful as a painting.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.