Aya woke up choking on the strong unnatural scents that lingered around the bed. Not only did they smell like flowers, but flowers lingering with a strong magnification of body odor. She never despised the smell of sweat, having been around it as farmers worked in the orchids back home, but the smell that bothered her was ten times as obnoxious and seemed artificial as well. “Aya, are you ok?” Her friend asked from down below her. “Are you still sick?”

“Just sick from this smell?” she responded, trying to cram parts of her baggy space suit up her nose.

“Ah,” Taylor said, “I see you smell my hormone cologne. The unadulterated smell of raw man. ‘Mones that make you moan.”

“Raw man? It smells like rotten eggs,” Aya groaned trying to swat the smell away. “And I don’t mind the smell of someone who works up a healthy sweat.”

“I agree with you Aya,” Flora responded. “If we’re going to stay here. We gotta get that smell out.”

Taylor attempted to raise his hands up in objection. “Hold on. You’re going to live here now? Am I just going to be your prisoner forever?”

Aya slipped out of her baggy astronaut outfit to reveal her middrift bearing top and tribal skirt combo. It had gotten very sweaty in the artificial heating and she wondered if her own body had contributed to the smell. She walked down the stairs and Taylor blew out a whistle seemingly forgetting his previous objections. Aya pointed her fingers to the man who was tied up with his face and hair matted on the floor. “Look, we don’t want to run your life. What you did was pretty unforgivable, and now you’re going to make amends for it before we let you do anything again.”

Taylor gave a laugh that was very deep and cruel, but it was unknown who he was laughing at until he spoke. “I’m going to take this as a test from the great beyond. I obviously messed with some cosmic fate on your planet and it landed me in this lovely situation.”

Aya’s bright blue eyes were taken by his words and they gazed at him with less harshness. “I never figured you were spiritual. Men like you thrive on nihilism and refuse to believe in consequences.”

“I’m not spiritual,” Taylor responded before he paused. “But these recent happenings smack too much of divine meddling. My big dream sure turned into a big nightmare.”

Aya put her bare feet that were small for an Aquan but big for a human in front of Taylor’s head as she walked over him and squatted down beside him.

“What are you going to do about it?” she asked with a tilt of her head.

Taylor struggled to get upright. Aya could see there was a big bump on his head from where Flora had smashed him unconscious. “I’m going to see what happens when I do something right for a change” he said, and Aya grabbed his roped legs.

She unraveled them, much to her friend’s surprise. Flora notice how she was surprisingly lenient to a man who stabbed her with a dagger when they got into a fight, but she chalked it up to Taylor’s born again narrative having an effect on Aya. Aya was a devout Aquan. Of the three elven species’ that once inhabited the planet of Tarabos, the Aquans were the most spiritual. Nearly all of them believed everyone and everything was part of the Big Dream, a vision held by a divine Creator, and Aya proudly upheld these beliefs.

“Thanks,” Taylor said, struggling to his legs. “You won’t regret this.”

“Great,” Aya responded. “Now get yourself ready; we’re going to the Electra Company.”

Taylor leapt to his feet with surprisingly balance in spite of his tied hands. “Wait hold the phone. Are you really going like that?”

“Going like what?” Aya pointed at herself.

Taylor scoffed to himself. “First things first, we have to teach this naïve Aquan about the world’s decorum. For one, you should never walk around with your chest and your butt exposed in the civilized world of business.”

“Why?” Aya said, more curious than offended. “I like showing off my diamond fish tattoos. They are a sign of pride among my people.”

“Yeah, but unfortunately, you also have your chest and butt exposed, and that will attract a lot of attention.”

“From who?”

“Leering men.”

“Oh, I get that all the time in my village tavern”—Aya took her fist and smacked her fist into the palm of her opposing hand—”If a farmer in the tavern gets drunk and reaches for me, I smash him across the table. I’ve started some of the best bar fights that way.”

Taylor side eyed away from Aya and murmured, “I’m not worried about you, I’m worried about other people.”

“You mean other women who can’t defend themselves? I firmly believe that all women should take a self-defense class or carry a weapon to protect…”

“You don’t understand,” Taylor spoke with worry in his eyes. “If people see me with you, dressed like that, they’re going to think I’m with some trick.”

“I promise not to practice any magic in front of these people. It took people on my planetoid several years to get used to it.”

“Let me clarify,” Taylor responded. “They’re going to think you’re some woman of the night.”

“I maintain a strict curfew of 9, most nights” Aya said with an oblivious look of confidence.

“Ugh, they’re going to think you’re some woman that I pay to love me.”

Aya frowned with the sudden burst of clarity in Taylor’s words. She placed her hands on her hips and said, “Funny how you liked my body on my planet and now you want to hide it on yours. Let’s just say, I wouldn’t be inclined to listen to you if it wasn’t so cold here.”

All the while Flora was watching the conversation lightly amused by her friend’s ignorance and Taylor’s secret insecurities.

“Don’t worry,” she said softly to Aya. “I found some very nice coats laid on his dresser.”

The dresser with an enormous mirror stood to the left of the raised platform. It had two coats hanging slumped off of it, a man’s and a woman’s. The man’s had a tanned fringe made of yellow leather and the woman’s was insulated, black, and draped all the way down to where someone’s legs would be. There was a cylindrical black hat made of fluffy material to match the coat. Aya and Flora made no bones about donning these coats, with Aya squeezing into the tall black overcoat, and Flora donning the equally thick yellow coat. All the while Taylor grumbled about those clothes being a “gift” for him and his little streak of lightning.

Keeping Taylor in his space suit, they lead him to the Blue Thunder and seated themselves comfortably in the ship. Aya wasn’t as uncomfortable as she was last time, having been informed that the ride would be a short one over to the parking garage of Electra Towers. It loomed in the distance; it was a short mile from the penthouse. She simply relaxed, took deep breaths and closed her eyes, letting Flora say the coordinates as they sailed through a snowy morning.

The three felt the subtemperate chill of the morning before the spaceship warmed up. It was enough of a waker-upper for the three riders. “G-g-g-g-eez, Louise, does this snow ever stop?” Flora said shivering.

Her body, used to the warm sunlight of her planetoid, rejected the cold and made it hard for her to talk. Taylor responded, “Yes, it’s been winter for a long time. They say this might be the start of an ice age for our little berg.”

“G-g-g-great,” Flora responded. “I’m glad I don’t have to d-d-d-d-rive. I’d be way too jittery.”

The ship flew to a towering parking garage next to the four pronged Electra Towers. It had at least 16 entrances for spaceships like the Blue Thunder but a beam of red electricity blocked the entrance on each floor. “W-w-what are we going to do that?” Flora asked.

“You’re lucky I’m a card carrying member of Electra Towers,” Taylor said in a snide tone. “And that little decal on my ship isn’t just a beauty mark, it’s our ticket in.”

The ship lunged into the beam of electricity and was caught up in it. A mechanical male baritone boomed over the speakers. “Thunder pass scanned. Welcome Mr. Lunsford.”

The beam dissipated allowing the ship to fly through and park between yellow and green variants of the Blue Thunder. The ship lowered itself and let out a crackle of electricity. “I think I know why Taylor likes machines so much,” said Aya, opening her eyes with a wry look.

“Why?” Flora asked.

“They’re the only one who trust him.”

“Ha ha,” Taylor vocalized without actually laughing. “The Taylor jokes are starting to get a little tired around here.”

Aya punched his shoulder. “This time, I’m only teasing. I’m actually in a good mood. Everything’s actually working out, and if you behave yourself, things will work out for you too.”

Taylor smirked. “I’ll try to keep that in mind.”

Taylor led the two women down thirteen flights of stone stairs, and when they reached the bottom side walk, they realized they were on the inside of a force field protected fortress-like enclosure that prevented people from merely walking into Electra Towers. They stood at the front entrance. A large black rotating door with gold plating lined it in gaudy fashion. It stood between them and the towers of Electra. “Welcome ladies,” Taylor said, “to the generator of this world’s power.

“It sure is a big building,” Aya said, with her mouth agape. “Its bigger than the white mountains back home.”

“This place makes your mountain look like a child’s toy,” Taylor boasted. “Just do me favor.”

“What?”

“Remove these binds, please. You’re going to look mighty suspicious having me all tied up. Especially in front of my madame.”

“Flora and I talked about this,” Aya responded. “And we are going to let you free; but remember, Flora still has your remote thingy. She can activate your ship and blow your apartment to bits if you get out of hand.”

Taylor let out an agitated sigh. “You ladies really think of everything don’t you. Ok. I will. I’ll be on my best behavior.”

Flora loosened the binds on his arms and Aya stared at him, ready to jump if he pulled some deadly trick. Instead, Taylor just shook his arms free and began to wiggle and shake them. “Aw man, feels so good to get some blood up in these joints!”

He continued to flap his hands until he received disproving looks from both Aya and Flora. He quickly swished his hands to the side. “Uh, sorry. Ladies, you go first.”

Aya stood inside the rotating door. The door was divided into three separate areas and when Aya stepped on the accessible one, the platform spun causing Aya to wobble and holler, holding on to the support bar for what she perceived to be her dear life. As soon as the door allowed her into the interior of Electra Towers, she leapt out and watched both Flora and Taylor calmly enter and exit.

“Whee, I kinda like that thing,” Flora said in a flighty yet happy voice.

“That things crazy,” Aya said, breathing heavily. “Wouldn’t it have been easier just to push yourself inside?”

“No need to when everything is Electra charged,” Taylor said, raising his arms to showcase the enormous inside world of Electra Towers.

The main lobby had a ceiling that towered like a throne room with yellow and green banners to match. The thunderbolt with high heels insignia on Taylor’s ship emblazoned the center of the large banners letting the Tower’s corporate logo be known to anyone as soon as they entered the rotating door. Aya was reminded of the time her teacher and caretaker, Jeeg took her to the ocean palace of the Aquan king. Patrons were allowed inside the large center chamber when the king was away and the Electra Towers commanded the same powerful presence. On each side of Aya, were large see-through pillars with rainbow colored electric energy running up and down through them. The front desk where the secretary sat seemed miles away in comparison.

As the three began their trek to the front desk, Eterna spoke to Aya with concern, “Child, you see these pillars?”—Aya pulled her hand closer so Eterna could be heard better—"Somehow these humans have harnessed a powerful magic that is contained with them. Magic like this doesn’t come for free and there must have been a sacrifice taken for this to be achieved.”

Aya talked into her arm so Taylor wouldn’t hear her. “Do you want me to find out how?”

“Of course, I still don’t trust that knave and I surely don’t trust the humans who reared him.”

Aya nodded and lowered Eterna down. They had reached the front desk. To the left and the right were chambered doors. The secretary with lengthy white blond hair resembled someone who had been charged full of electricity many times, even though Aya could see it had more to do with the beverage she was drinking out of a bright yellow cup. Every time she drank it she jittered more. Her cheerfully manic eyes lit up brighter than a flash of lightning when she saw Taylor. “Ooh, look its Tay-Tay, he’s returned back from his trip.”

Taylor grumbled, but quickly summoned his charm with a suave millionaire smile, “Yes,ahem ,Tay-Tay is back, baby. Ready to greet uh…what’s your name again?”

“Sasha Chargerson,” the girl said without feeling the slightest bit offended.

“Right. The fact that Electra Co. only hires platinum blonds gets me confused sometimes.”

“Well, Taytay, I heard some news about you,” the secretary announced while leaning on the desk and rattling it with jittering hands. “I heard from the girls on the seventh floor who heard from the girls three floors down who heard from the girls four floors up who heard from the boys five floors down who…”

Aya held her head, and said aloud, “Agh, why is math involved with this gossip?”

“Who heard from people who aren’t even in this building but read the tabloids that the madame said after you left her to go on your little voyage that she’s going to find herself another boy toy.”

Taylor gave a sleazy smile that looked more like a wince. “If you cut through all that he-said-she-said nonsense, you’ll find the ice-cold heart of my little streak of lightning. I guess if she can’t have me right now, she won’t have me at all.”

“Sounds like it but now there’s more of you to go around for all of us,” the secretary said in a singsong voice. “By the way, Taytay who are these two girls? Oh my!”

The secretary pointed at Aya who was decked out in the fashion forward overcoat and hat and quickly ran out to her. “Is that a really posh elven woman? I thought they were only in myths and fairy tales.”

Her tiny body was dwarfed by Aya’s height, but she leapt up and touched Aya’s ears with her hands stretched out. “Her ears are so pointy, how quaint.”

“I’d rather you not touch those,” Aya said, grimacing at the secretary. “Unless you want me to tug on yours.”

Aya outstretched her hands to grab the secretary but she shuffled backwards towards Taylor. “She’s a very grumpy elf too. Is she the duchess of Fairyland?”

Taylor put his arms on the secretary who seemed very pleased with his action. “She acts like a snooty duchess but really she’s…”

“I’m one of the last remaining people of Tarabos,” Aya said, retaining her stern expression but now adding some emotionality into her voice. “And the people of the planetoid I live on are in desperate need of help. We’d like to request an audience with the madame”

“Oh,” the secretary said, moving her hand to her mouth. “Well if that’s why these women are here, Taytay, I’ll call the madame for you.”

She dashed to the intercom and paged it with a slap of her hand on the button. “Heya this is Sasha. I’ve two other women from a neighboring planetoid…”

“The madame isn’t here,” said a deep, middle aged male voice “And you know she doesn’t take solicitors.”

Sasha was startled by the harshness and her voice shot up an octave, “But Taylor brought them here and…and…”

“Taylor? Mr. Lunsford is there?”

“Yes, Tay-Tay and these two other women.”

“Send them up. The madame has been expecting Mr. Lunsford. She penciled him in for groveling and pleading for her forgiveness a week ago.”

“Great!” Sasha shouted with coffee stimulated excitement.

“Ok see you in a half hour,” the man responded and hung up.

Sasha put her hands together and twiddled her fingers happily. “Get right up there, Tiger. Oh and if I may suggest a little something, the first-timers in Electra Towers should take the door on the left.”

“I’ve never been in there,” Taylor said. “This will be a new experience for me as well.”

The group thanking Sasha proceeded up the staircase to the left of her desk to a large grey door guarded by burly men in yellow and black uniforms. They wore hats resembling police caps but instead were marked with their company logo. Dark shades covered their eyes and to Flora, they looked as intimidating as men dressed as bees could possibly look. Aya, on the other hand, believed she could take both of them on even with the dark cannon looking weapons strapped around their backs.

They both stepped aside when they saw Taylor. “Hey boys, the Yellow Jacket corp never looked snazzier,” he said winking and flicking his fingers.

“Mr. Lunsford, let me work the elevator for you and your friends,” the Yellow Jacket on the left said.

“Well if you insist, Barry.”

Barry pressed a button and the elevator came down in a matter of seconds with the grey doors sliding open with a ding. The elevator was barely large enough for the whole group as well as Barry and he stepped inside with them.

“Golly day, I sure hope none of us are claustrophobic,” Flora said softly.

“Not me. I live the party life on crowded dance floors,” Taylor responded back smoothly.

Aya pressed her body tightly up against the wall to avoid touching anyone else. “I’ll…be ok,” she said, being reminded of being packed tightly in the spaceship.

Barry pressed the single button on the elevator and it illuminated with a yellow glow. The whole time Barry stood with a stern look on his face as the elevator jerked upward startling the Aquan who wasn’t used to any mechanical technology. However, when the elevator reached the top, Barry unfolded his hands and turned to share a somewhat goofy grin with the group. “Well, you’re here at the Bio-Coaster. Be sure to hold onto your belongings and enjoy the ride.”

“Bio, what?” Aya asked after a moment’s hesitation.

Barry ushered everyone out and they stood alone on a dark room with only a small lightened platform to guide them. “Man, I wish I was as lucky as you, kids,” he said as the elevator closed and dropped down.

As they walked further, the platform began to light up and lead their way, and after walking up a small three step metal platform, they reached a strange vehicle. It resembled a metal cart with six different rows of seats, and each two seats connected by a segment that kept them separate. On the side of the cart was a yellow thunderbolt with a light green background. The cart seemed to be on a set of rails that were barely illuminated. “I guess this is the bio-coaster,” Taylor said, “It’s kinda like a roller coaster but I’ve heard it’s a bit more informative.”

“What is a rolla-costa?” Aya asked, her bright blue eyes illuminated by the glow of the floor.

“Well Miss Aquan, step inside, and you’ll get to experience one first hand,” Taylor said, “Oh and maybe it’s better if you sit behind Sunflower and I knowing how excitable you are.”

“Why?” Aya wondered, but when Flora nodded in agreement with Taylor, she did what he said.

As soon as everyone was seated and a large metallic safety bar tethered them to their seats, a figure appeared in front of them on the tracks. The figure almost seemed spectral in how it appeared from a golden glowing projector on the rails. It was the white-blond haired business woman that Aya and Flora had seen in Taylor’s photograph. She had a very confident and bold expression on her impossibly smooth face. In a husky voice that echoed around the room she announced, “Welcome one and all, to Electra Tower’s Bio-Coaster in 4D. An amusement ride and auto-biography all rolled into one. Buckle up, baby. You’re in for the ride of my life!”