Chapter 3: Flip of Luck

The ship now stays at a fixed speed above trees. Inside it, the engine's sound is muffled down into a calming tone. Sitting back into her chair, Alecia folds her arms.

"Let's break the silence." Booker said pressing a button on a small console, and the sound of music plays.

Alecia turns her attention to him for a moment. Turning her gaze to the console, she looks up at Booker, his attention still focused ahead.

"I have a small question," he said, his words urges her to blink in response.

"You were going to walk all that way, and yet you didn't think to pack yourself some food or anything?"

"Oh?" Narrowing her eyes, she brings her hand near her face, with her fingers near her lips, only for her to look at him.

"Just trying to start a conversation," he said, looking at her briefly with a calm smile.

"Oh, well-" she said looking down with a thoughtful look in her eyes.

"Since I was too upset at the time, I didn't think." She looks at the window beside her.

Looking at her for a moment, he turns his gaze ahead once more with a sigh.

"I know a nice place not too far from here, where we can get something to eat if you get hungry," he said, his fingers gently tapping on the steering wheel.

"I'm sure you'll be hungry by then."

"Okay," Alecia simply said, with her gaze still fixed at the window beside her. If she thinks about it, she does feel a bit hungry.

Turning his gaze to her, Booker forms a slght smile, and looks ahead.

"So...?" He said, urging Alecia to look at him with irritated look on her face.

"Are the stories about you, true?"

"What stories?" Alecia asied, with a curious look in her eyes, only to look at him.

"There's stories about me?"

"You don't know?" He said with a wide-eyed look, and forms a smile.

"The stories of you going on grand adventures across the stars, making sure our world is safe."

He looks at her for brief moment to catch her glaring at him. He quickly looks ahead once more

"Okay, sorry."

"The stories you heard, sound like I'm some kind of heroine," she said looking at the window, watching as the remaining forest pass by, as she gathers her thoughts together.

"As if it is some kind of glorified tale." She continued, her words causing Booker's smile to fade.

"You weren't there, and you don't know what I really did during those times."

Staring at the windscreen, she looks down at her lap, and turns to him with a sigh.

"Yes, it is all true," shee said, hoping to humour him, and turns her gaze ahead with her eyes twinkling.

"It feels like it was yesterday when thinking abou-"

"What was your most memorable experiences out there?" He said, just before she can complete her sentence.

Looking at him with an irritated glare, she turns her gaze to the window once more.

"So... is there?" He asked, looking at her, his cheerful expression fades away.

"Let's rather not talk about it, okay?" Alecia said, placing her hand under her chin, and leans on it.

"Sure," Booker said with a neutral look on his face. He leans in and turns the volume of the music higher.

Alecia raises her eyebrows slightly with her eyes averted in his direction, turns to the window once more. The one finger on her cheek starts tapping to the same rythim as the music playing.

---

The red ship, flies near a large gray two-story building, a large screen on the front of it, advertising images of food of all varieties. Above the screen, is a balcony floor with railings on each corner.

The ship descends into the parking lot with a few other ships parked in. Booker turns off the engines, and stares at the building with a slight smirk.

"Here's the place I told you about." he said looking at Alecia, and notices her to have fallen asleep, her head resting against the window with her hand on her cheek, urging him to have a gentle smile.

"Hey wake up, we're here," he said, shaking her shoulder slightly.

Alecia moves her head off the window, and sits up.

"Already?" She asked in a groaning tone while rubbing her eye, only to stretch her shoulders back.

"Not in Senteria, not yet," he said, opening the door.

"I'm hungry, and I think you are as well." He climbs out the ship and closes the door.

Alecia climbs out the ship as well, and looks up at the large screen on the building, and sees the next pictures to appear, now having an art of a red-head woman, dressed in uniform, with a tray of food in her one hand. With a smile on her face, the woman is seen handing a snack to a small boy with a joyful look on his face. Above them a text animates which reads. "Eating well, is what keeps you strong!"

"Today there's a nice special on," Booker said, looking ahead at the building. He turns to his vehicle to see Alecia staring at the screen.

"Hey, priestess?"

Alecia looks at Booker with a slight frown, her lips pinch together.

"Don't call me that," she said walking forward, and passes in front of him.

"Why, don't you like that title?" He asked, walking behind her and slowly catches up.

"No..." she said, looking at him.

"I mean no, that's not it." She slightly shakes her head.

"I just don't feel I deserve to be Her servent." She looks down at the concrete ground passing under her feet.

"Who?" He asked with a puzzled look on his face.

"Are you talking about Angelica?" He narrows his eyes as he waits for an answer, only to see a slight nod from her.

They both walk near the entrance of the restaurant, and notices two individuals, a man and a woman dressed in matching black clothes, with neon lights along their collars, and sleeves with a large screen devices in their hands. Their devices has an image of a circle with an intricate pattern..

"Heads?" The woman said, bluntly and shows them her device.

"Or tails?" The man added, with same blunt tone as the woman herself.

"What?" Alecia said, with a stunned look on her face while darting her eyes between them.

"Pick one," the woman said.

"Luck is in your favor," the man added once more.

"Luck is in anyone's favor."

"Don't be a spoil," the man said, looking at the woman beside him with a narrowed look.

"Whatever makes you happy," he said, still with the same calm look on her face.

"What are you two on about?" Alecia asked with her one eyebrow raised.

"It's a game, Alecia." Booker said stepping in, and swipes across the screen, making the circle spin.

"Heads." He taps on the screen, and waits as the coin on the screen stops spinning.

The man looks at the the screen, and turns to the woman beside him.

"Luck favors him this time." He said with a smile.

"Whatever you say." The woman said, scrolling on her own screen, and types in the score.

"So, how about you miss?" The woman asked, looking at her with a cheerful smile.

"What, is it my turn?" Alecia asked with a slight frown.

"Yes," the man said.

"Do you want to try your luck as well?" The woman added.

"Uhmm, okay." Alecia, said reaching her hand to the woman's screen.

"Wait, you must pick before you start." Booker said, placing his hand over hers. Noticing a glare from Alecia, he withdraws his hand.

"What he said." The woman noted.

"Heads."

"Or tails." The man added once again.

"Hmmm." Alecia looks at the screen with a thoughtful gaze. Heads, or tails, Booker picked heads.

"Tails," she said, swiping on the screen, watching as the virtual coin spins, only to tap the screen.

The woman looks at her screen, and lets out a small sigh.

"Sorry miss," the woman said.

"Luck is not in your favor." She swipes her screen, and starts typing once more. The woman steps out of their way.

"I'm beginning to think people make their own luck," the man said, standing next to the woman.

"So, that's your final conclusion?" The woman asked.

"It is just a thought," he said once more.

Alecia turns her attention away from them, and walks into the entrance of the restaurant with Booker. Entering in the dining room, she notices small groups of people seated at their own table.

"He then said, I can't tell anymore!" A male voice is heard, and the others within the group laughs in unison.

"Shhh... keep it down," the woman said calmly within the group of three others.

"Hey," Booker said, tapping her shoulder, which brings her attention to him.

"There's a free table." He points towards the one table at the corner.

Looking at Booker with a smile, she follows him to the table, and takes a seat on the leather chair in the corner across him.

"This is very cozy, isn't it?" Booker said, adjusting his chair, and looks over his shoulder at the people in the back for a moment, only look ahead at Alecia, who is scanning her eyes around the restaurant.

The walls painted in red, with lights that are lit along the walls, the tables and chairs around the restaurant are matte-black.

"I see that you like this place." His words urges Alecia to look at him.

"It is..." Alecia said, with a pause, scanning the restaurant around her once more.

"Different." She looks at him.

"Oh, how so?" Booker said, leaning back with his arms crossed and his head slightly tilted.

Alecia, looks at his folded arms for a moment and looks at him. It wouldn't hurt to answer him. She rests her hand on the edge of the table, staring at it as her finger taps the surface.

"It's been a very long time since I've been to a public settlement." She looks away from booker, and sets her sight on a couple holding hands, walking along the passage of tables.

"Let alone, seen other faces." She looks at Booker with a neutral expression on her face.

Booker widens his eyes and adjusts himself on the chair.

"Wow, if you put it that way, then it must've been a long time hasn't it," he said, forming a slight smile.

"You have no idea," she said, her lips twist into a gentle smile. Looking around him, her smile fades.

"Good morning," said, a woman's voice near them.

Booker looks to his right to see a young waitress with a pleasant look on her face.

"I'll be your waiter today, is there anything I could get you two?" She flicks her eyes between them.

"Hmm," Booker said, tapping his finger on his arm.

"I'll have the Green-Orbit, for now."

The waitress types on her device and looks at Alecia.

"How about you, miss?"

"Oh, uhmmm?" Alecia gives a downcast look with her eyes, and takes her hand sway from the table.

"I think I'll have that Green-Orbit too." She looks at the waitress.

"So it's two Green-Orbits," the waitress said, looking at her device's screen.

"Anything else?" She looks at them once more.

"We're good thank you," Booker said, nodding with a smile.

Alecia watches the waitress walk out of view, only to look at Booker once more.

"You'll enjoy the Green-Orbit, he said with a cheerful smile.

"I'll take your word for it," Alecia said and smiles briefly.

"I was wondering," Booker said, with a downcast look.

"When was the last time you saw your own sister?" He looks at Alecia with a curious gaze.

"My sister?" Alecia's eyes widen slightly.

"It's been a very long time." She averts her eyes.

"She probably thinks I stopped caring, or that I'm dead." She turns her gaze to him once more.

"Why?" Booker said with a curious frown.

Alecia shakes her head slightly with a downcast look. What's with all the questions?

"It's a long story." She said, looking up at him and smiles slightly.

The waitress returns with two glasses of green liquid on a tray.

"Hello there, here's your two Green-Orbits." She said, placing the two glasses on the table near them.

"Do you want to place an order?" She asked.

"No thanks, we're good for now." Booker said, looking up at her.

"Okay, enjoy your drinks." She said with a cheerful tone, and walks away.

Booker picks up the glass.

"I guess we all have a long story behind us, hey?" He said, and takes a sip from his glass.

Chuckling, Alecia picks up the glass.

"True," she said with a slight smile, and takes a sip while looking at him.