Lunarisation II - Part I

15th March

Spaceport Connector, near Artemis, Freehold territory

Trains in New Zealand are rackety, horrible, outdated things, that make you feel like throwing up constantly. By comparison, the train from the spaceport to the city, was smooth. I believe it's called a monorail. I didn't even realise that we were moving at first until I looked out the window. To top it off, there's even a vending machine. I thought about buying a soft drink, but I don't have any money. What do they even use for money here? I feel so awkward. Even with the weighted boots they give you at the spaceport, I feel so light. I can still jump almost two metres off the ground, while wearing the boots. I don't like it. It makes me feel a little bit nauseous.

Kyle explained that since he was quite recognisable on the moon, it would be best for us to separate before we reached the city. So, I'm all alone in a place as weird and strange as this. Even if I didn't know him well, Kyle wasn't a bad travelling companion. He had seemed a little subdued or preoccupied the whole time we were travelling, but I can't blame him with everything that's been going on since we left Christchurch. Especially since he's so closely involved in it all, as one of father's most trusted allies. Trusted? Maybe that isn't the right word. It doesn't seem like it from what Kyle has said to me. I don't think he even knows father's goal. Just something vague about a dream. Since father trusted Kyle with finding and bringing me here, that means one of two things. Either Kyle is one of father's closest allies, but father doesn't trust anyone at all. Or what happens to me isn't that important to father. Both seem plausible to me.

According to Kyle, I'm meeting my father later today. As expected, he is quite busy with all that has been going on recently. Until then I'm being looked after, or rather babysat, by another of father's close allies. A man named Jazz Connolly. When I asked Kyle what he was like, all he said was 'well, for someone from the Earth, he might come across as a bit eccentric'. I'm not sure what he means by someone from Earth, but I suppose the moon and the people here might be quite different from what I'm used to. I've purposefully avoided learning about what it's like on the moon, because of father, but the little I do know is that the society here is nothing like anything on Earth. Some kind of amalgamation of all the cultures and people that have gathered here, and then mixed up to create something entirely new. Is that what my father wants? What is he after? Why does he want me here?

I make my way slowly through the station, walking lightly on my feet, like many of the others around me, who are also struggling to stay rooted to the ground, even with the weighted boots. I notice that those who are struggling most, tend to be younger or fitter. I suppose that makes sense. People with a greater muscle mass will find it harder to walk in low gravity than others, even if we all came from the same place. I can see one person ahead of the group. Kyle of course. He's been to the moon multiple times by now, so I guess he's used to the low gravity. Crap, there goes my stomach again. Toilets, toilets, where are the toilets?

After a quick trip to the bathrooms, I make my way towards the exit. Around the exit are a number of different groups made up mostly of passengers from the same shuttle I took to the moon. I see that most of them are grouped around one or two locals, often holding a placate, wearing a suit, and a nametag. Different corporations or embassies, I realise. One man, however, holds a placate and stands by the entrance on his own. On the placate is my name. Alexander Giovanna: my pseudonym. I guess enough people on the moon would know my father's old surname, so it makes sense to take the precaution. The man holding the placate must be Jazz Connolly. At a guess, he's in his thirties or forties. He's short, shorter than me anyway, dark skinned, and sporting a small beard. I walk up towards him.

He smiles at me as I approach, "you must be Alexander? I'm Jazz Connolly."

He has a London accent. I wonder if he used to live there, or was taught English by someone from there.

"Nice to meet you."

He frowns, "what's with the school uniform?"

"I don't have any formal clothes. This was the closest I could find to something that was appropriate."

Jazz sighed at that, "you're meeting your father, aren't you? Don't tell me you're like him."

He sighed again at the end of his sentence. What does he mean by that? Is this something father would do? Before I can ask Jazz what he meant, he starts speaking again.

"Come on, let's go."

"Huh? Where are we going?"