"They're waiting for you up in the VIP. Just tell the bouncers your name." Andee squints at him perplexed. Domie nods emphasizing that he's serious.
Andee is heading up the steps squeezing through the crowd. A couple of people recognize him, and cheer him, patting him on his back. He still looks uncomfortable with the attention, and he becomes even more uncomfortable when the bouncer opens up the velvet rope for him even before he can speak.
"Follow me, is all the bouncer says to him." Without a word, and looking more confused and uncomfortable by the minute, he follows the bouncer. They walk past Gavor's booth. All of his entourage notice Andee and stare at him hard. Gavor lifts his glass in the air, and gives him a 'salutation'. Andee can't even think of a reaction he is so discombobulated. They approach another round booth. The first person he notices, sitting facing him, is Nayaa. His head snaps back, shocked by the sight into an even deeper state of confusion. The bouncer stops and guides him into the circular sofa with a swing of his left arm like a butler. Andee first looks at a smiling Nayaa, who looks happy to see him, and then at the strangers sitting on her right. He then looks left and instantly makes eye contact with Ricio, and then next to him, with Silestra. Poor Andee looks completely dumbfounded, but he doesn't have time. Ricio leaps up to his feet in a burst of excitement.
"Ah-ha-ha! He is here! The man is here!" Ricio shouts and leaps past Silestra and accosts Andee grabbing him in a huge hug, somehow managing not to spill the drink in his hand. He lets go of Andee and steps back. "Holly crap man! Holly crap, you're here! I'm so excited."
Poor discombobulated Andee looks to Nayaa for a clue, but she just looks back at him with a big grin.
"Everyone. I want you all to meet the man of the hour, Andee! A true hero." Ricio turns to the table lifting his glass in the air. At the same time Silestra stands up and gives him a soft hug placing her left cheek against his. Poor Andee is still in shock. Nayaa's smile turns into an unfriendly pout, but only for a moment. She catches herself, and looks away forcing a grin of a smile.
"Man, you have no idea how happy I am to see you." Ricio shouts. Andee just nods. "Come on, come on, join us. We have so much to discuss. What's your drink? We've got everything here."
"Ah, water, I'm good with water."
"How about berry-fizz?"
"Sure." As he takes a seat right between Ricio and Silestra.
"You have no idea how excited I am. God it's great to finally meet you and talk to you face to face." Ricio, a bit tipsy with alcohol is exuberant. Andee looks to Nayaa, his only point of familiarity. He is in a scenario he's never been in before. At a table of Bitani, in a modern glass club, with food and drinks on the table unlike any he has ever seen before, and with people so exuberant to see him, that it is beyond his comprehension. He glances at Nayaa, but all she can do is offer him an equally perplexed shrug. They are both out of their element, and struggling to fit into this alien environment.
Their awkward mood is quickly pushed aside by conversation. Ricio's friends are focused on Andee, but still interested in Nayaa as well. It seems they were asking her all kinds of questions, and now those same questions are directed at Andee. They want to know how he did it. How he climbed those rocks with such elegance and ease? They are full of questions, about his ghimpour, dancing skills, and their Carpati life in general. The conversations continues on for a long time, and both Andee and Nayaa, now having each other, become more comfortable in this strange place.
"You are both absolutely amazing." Ricio lifts up another glass to toast them. "I feel honored to know you both." All raise their glasses, Andee and Nayaa with their berry-fizz, clink their glasses in a toast, and drink. Ricio then turns to Andee.
"You saved my life risking your own. I know you're good, but those rocks were steep, especially coming down from that outcrop. I can't even begin to think how I can repay you. I know things are complicated between our people, but I'm indebted to you. I want to do what I can for you. If there is anything that I can do just ask."
"I'm good man, you don't have to..." Andee responds humbly.
"Ah, yeah he does." Nayaa interjects with a coy smirk. Then lifts up her cup. "Berry-fizz for life."
"Done." Ricio responds confident without hesitation.
"Really? You could do that?" Nayaa looks at him shocked.
"I'll find a way." Nodding to Nayaa than turning back to Andee. "Tell me. Anything. What can I do for you?"
"Are you serious?" Andee counters still incredulous.
"Of course I'm serious! Are you kidding me? I'm as serious as death."
"I don't know."
"There's got to be something."
Andee looks down and thinks. "Well there is one thing, but..."
"What?" Everyone at the table is leaning forward, awaiting Andee's words with anticipation.
"I don't know. I don't think it's right. You wouldn't be allowed."
"Tell me, and I'll tell you what's allowed."
"I want to see the city." Everyone, even Nayaa, freeze up with shocked round eyes.
"Whoa, OK. Well that makes sense, actually." Ricio nods. "Done."
"What? Are you serious?" Andee almost jumps in his seat incredulous.
"I'm sorry, but I think he's had too much to drink." Silestra cuts in. The other Bitani at the table look at Ricio disapprovingly. "Ricio is a great guy, and he would do it, if he could, but it's not up to him."
"Nonsense. I'm Ricio Bret. My father is the bastard Brandberd Bret. If I say I'm going to bring my friend Andee to the city, who's going to stop me? My father. Punk him!"
"Honey, you're drunk. And you're making promises you can't keep." Ricio looks at her disapprovingly. He gets up, and grabs Andee by the shoulder.
"Come with me." And Rico pulls at Andee forcing him to get up. The two walk away from the booth to a more secluded corner.
"You really want to see the city?"
"It's been my dream since I was a kid."
"She is kind of right. Damn it! My father is such a punk. You know, he thinks you're dangerous."
"Why?"
"I don't know. He warned me to stay away from you?"
"Maybe it's because they got my name wrong."
"You're name?" Ricio stares at Andee perplexed.
"My name is Andee Star, not Starfighter." Andee explains to him the difference and the hated Starfighter troublemakers.
"I've never heard of any Starfighters." Ricio responds with a shake of his head.
"Really?" Andee responds surprised. "I heard they were troublemakers, and a big deal long ago."
"There was a purge about ten years ago and lots of troublemakers got banished, but none by the name Starfighter, that I know of."
"How about Star?"
"Nope. To be honest, I don't know any of the names. I know there was an accident, and some buildings in the city exploded, who knows." Ricio shrugs his shoulders. Andee is staring through him, focused, trying to read every clue in his words, but doesn't say anything himself. "But maybe you're right. Maybe that's what it is. It doesn't mater. That's just stupid. That's ancient. I'm going to show you the city."
"You're serious?"
"As serious as my accident. Tomorrow. Meet me here, by dome rock, just before noon. OK? Be here. And you know what. Say nothing to no one. I'll sneak you in. They can kiss my butt."
"I don't want to get you in trouble."
"Nah-nah-nah, no trouble for me. You just be here." At that moment an older man in a modern and somewhat futuristic suit walks up to Ricio.
"Sorry to interrupt. We need you at the signing table. We're about to begin."
"All-right. I'll be there." Rico responds to the man than looks back to Andee. "Got to go. Autograph time. So tomorrow, behind dome rock. At noon. Be there." Andee nods.
Andee and Nayaa are leaning on the mezzanine banister. The space around the stairs is getting ever more crowded. Everyone is waiting in line to get up and meet their favorite pilots and get their autographs. The dance floor is again half empty.
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"Lets go dance." Nayaa nods to Andee eager to move again.
"You go ahead. I just want to watch the crowd for a while."
"Come on, I've been dancing by myself all night."
Andee gives her a long look. "I will, just give me some time to myself. It's been a crazy day."
"Fine." Nayaa a bit disappointed takes off, but rather than climb down the crowed steps she leaps over the banister, grabs onto the side rails of the stairs, then scampers down the outside of them. The crowd roars with cheers. Andee watches her with an amused smirk, and in the crowed notices Gono, Dirin, and their buddies waiting in the line. Andee heads for the bouncers controlling the velvet rope at the top of the steps.
"Is it OK if I bring my friends up here?"
The bouncer looks at him suspiciously for a moment.
"Sure that will be fine."
Like Nayaa, Andee leaps over the banister onto the side of the staircase, and climbs down on the outside of it. The crowd on the steps cheer directing all the attention to him. Gono sees him and waves catching Andee's eye. He stops, still above the crowd, and waves at Gono to come over. He does, with Dirin and his other two buddies behind him. After a struggle through the crowd on the steps, they get to the top and Andee gets them past security onto the mezzanine.
"Wow, I didn't know you were here." Gono looks at him surprised. "And VIP? How did you pull this off?"
"Hey, I'm famous. Did you forget?"
"Ha."
"You want to meet the pilots?"
"Are you kidding! Hell yeah."
"Which one?"
"All of them."
"They want you to pick one."
"Ok, I'm curious to see the