Solanum hash and something that looked like a Baragara, but the small and cheap version. It became popular in Xylos in no time. But the food was still lackluster compared to what Neville knew he could make with access to proper ingredients. Still, it was warm, filling, and most importantly, affordable.

"You know," Liam said between bites, "you could have let me pay for some of this. I have money."

"That defeats the purpose of treating you." Neville stabbed at his hash with perhaps more force than necessary. "When I want to do something nice, just accept it, okay?"

"And I appreciate that. But watching you have a minor breakdown over menu prices wasn’t exactly the carefree celebration I think you were going for."

Neville groaned, dropping his head into his hands. "Is it that obvious?"

"A little." Liam’s voice was gentle. "But I get it."

Neville lifted his head, adjusting his glasses, and offered a small smile. "You’re annoyingly perceptive."

"It’s literally my job to read people."

"Point taken."

They finished their meal in comfortable silence, the ambient noise of the shopping center filling the gaps in their conversation. Neville found himself relaxing despite the earlier awkwardness. He was really comfortable spending time with Liam.

He was halfway through his second cup of interstellar coffee that was brewed from what looked like roasted English Yew seeds. It tasted nothing like the coffee he knew, but it was close enough to trigger a pang of nostalgia.

Then his light brain chimed with an incoming message.

Neville glanced at the notification hovering above his wrist, fully intending to dismiss it. He already promised himself that he wouldn’t check his work today. No emails, no reports, no last-minute requests from demanding executives who didn’t understand the concept of personal time—

The sender’s name stopped him cold.

B.Stewart: Hope you’re enjoying your day off. Quick question—how do you feel about starships?

Neville stared at the message, his coffee forgotten. Bryan was a cunning fox of a man who never asked "quick questions" without an ulterior motive.

YourHope: That depends. Are we talking theoretically, or is there a point in talking about this?

The response came almost immediately.

B.Stewart: Material inspection trip next week. The CEO needs a team to accompany him to verify some components for the new project. Your name came up.

B.Stewart: You will be riding in one of the company’s passenger starships. The biggest one.

B.Stewart: Interested? 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Neville’s fingers hovered over the holographic keyboard, his heart hammering against his ribs.

A starship. An actual starship trip. Off-planet travel.

Something he had never experienced in either of his lives.

I’m going to ride a starship, Neville thought back, unable to keep his giddiness from showing—an actual, real starship.

Neville quickly typed out a response, thinking he couldn’t possibly miss this opportunity.

YourHope: When do I need to confirm?

B.Stewart: Before clocking off tomorrow. Enjoy your day off, Hope. You’ve earned it.

The message thread closed, leaving Neville staring at the place where the holographic screen had once been. His ocean-blue eyes were bright with anticipation, the small red mole under his right eye seeming to stand out more than usual against his flushed cheeks.

"Good news?"

Liam’s voice snapped him back to reality. He was watching him with curiosity, his own meal finished and pushed aside.

"The best news!"

Neville couldn’t keep the excitement from his voice even if he tried. Without thinking, he reached across the table and grabbed Liam’s hands, squeezing them tightly.

"I’m going to ride a starship. An actual starship! Off-planet!"

Liam blinked, a faint flush creeping across his cheekbones at the sudden contact. "That’s... you seem really excited about this."

"I’ve never been off-planet before."

Neville released his hands, suddenly aware of how enthusiastic he must look. He tried to compose himself, adjusting his glasses and clearing his throat.

"I mean. It’s a work trip. It was for material inspection. But still, to travel in a starship..."

Liam gave a soft expression of understanding and smiled warmly, "Growing up on Xylos, I forget sometimes that not everyone gets to travel outside."

"The military shipped me all over the Imperial Galaxy during my service years." He paused. "If you have any questions about what to expect, bring or the process, I’m happy to help."

"Really?" Neville perked up. "What’s it like? Is the takeoff scary? Do you feel the acceleration? I’ve read that some people get dizzy—"

"Slow down." Liam held up his hands, laughing. "One question at a time. But honestly, if you want to know everything, there’s a place near the shopping center that might help."

"What kind of place?"

"It was a building dedicated to starship history and the like."

"A museum?"

Liam tilted his head as if he had never heard of that word and said, "No, it’s called Xing Heritage Facility."

...

The Xing Heritage Facility had three more levels than the shopping center. Its entrance was marked by a full-scale replica of the first interstellar vessel ever constructed by humanity. Neville walked beneath its massive hull with his neck craned back, trying to take in every detail of the ancient design.

"This thing actually flew out in space?" he asked with an incredulous expression. "It looks like a tin can with engines strapped to it."

"Several hundreds of years ago, it was cutting-edge." Liam guided him past the entrance and into the main exhibition hall. "The first colonizers used ships like this. It took them decades to reach the Imperial Star system."

"Decades inside this thing?" Neville shuddered. "I would have lost my mind."

"Most of them were in cryo-sleep for the journey. But yeah, it wasn’t exactly a luxury cruise."

The museum was a treasure trove of interstellar history, each exhibit more fascinating than the last.

Neville found himself drawn to the evolution displays, watching holographic recreations of ships transforming from primitive rockets to sleek cruisers to the massive motherships that now dominated military fleets. Interactive stations let visitors experience simulated warp travel, feel the rumble of engine ignition, and even pilot basic navigation exercises.

"You’re really into this."