Finlay laid still on the synthetic grass of the park watching the stars... as best he could in his current state of medically doped up, Spec had tried to tell him something earlier but he'd already forgotten what. He'd forgotten alot of things in the 20 minutes since the shot from the EMT's really kicked in. Like that he was currently in-between Hada and Lu who had stayed with him, to make sure his high dumbass didn't get into any trouble. That he had been in a race that triggered some kind of bodily harm alert. That he was in a massive fuck-off spaceship hurtling god knows how fast to the rim of his solar system... What was his last name again? it started with an R...

Hada: "Aaaaaand he's out." Waving a finger in front of the drugged chefs' eyes but seeing no real response.

Lu: "They really over reacted, most he need was a few bandages." Looking over Finlay's fingers, he had gripped that board for dear life during those hairpins, so much that he had torn skin. "G-force and Jerk? Isn't he a Jamaican food specialist? I thought Jerk was his thing..."

Hada: "Not Jerk Chicken, Himbo. Jerk force is basically the same as G-force, it's just how fast or severely someone goes into G-force... or something like that. Doesn't really bother us too much... but I can see how that'd be a medical issue for some squishier races."

Lu: "Oooooh, so they just don't know how badly we'd react, if at all... but didn't you-"

Hada: "Yeah, but Spec managed to tell them off before I got jabbed with a needle.... Kinda sad I'm missing out though. He is on a Trip."

Finlay: "buh idden pak, nuffin."

Hada: "Oh he can still hear us, neat."

Lu: "What was in that shot anyway?"

Hada: "Dunno, said it was a whole mix of stuff. Blood thinners to avoid clots, muscle relaxant in case of he had seizures... a mild sedative to let him sleep... looks like he's fighting that though...And Losing."

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MEANWHILE... In Finlay's Mind.

Finlay in short bouts of unconsciousness found himself standing on a sandbar in a vast ocean. It was an uneasy purchase in the rough waves that threatened to push him off into the deeper waters, In to a deeper sleep.

Finlay: "This is fucking ridiculous." Kneeling back down as a wave rushed over and pulled at him, trying to drag him to rest.

Finlay?: "I agree, You'd think they'd have known better after years of studying us."

Finlay: "That's not what I'm talking about." Finlay ignored what he could only guess was some corner of his mind given shape... while he had to struggle and fight the water to stay for the most part... awake. This doppelgänger merely floated beside him, the lucky bastard.

"I've experimented with some edibles but I've never had a trip like this." more uneasy steps, his goal wasn't exactly clear... he wasn't even sure there was a goal. Walking just gave him something to do between the waves.

F?: "Oh... right. I suppose this is more like blacking out after a night drinking, Body just sorta on auto pilot... Penny really did like her Gin."

F: "Let's not talk about her, yeah? ...or any of them! none of them would be good."

F?: "Are you sure? I know it hurts sometimes... but the stories are fun!"

F: "Nevermind if they're fun! it's not the Goddamn Time!" Bracing for another wave as it passed and the crawling forward... there's something in the distance... Land... Please let it be land.

==================================================================================

Berthold and Kathy sat in what they felt was probably their last stop for the night... really should of stopped after the pseudo space Mexican tacos. It was fun, with the almost cloud soft and puffy tortillas, and some turquoise flan. Unfortunately it settled like concrete, so for their last stop... Cocktails, or just a single cocktail... maybe a shot... okay just a place to sit.

Kathy: "I'm not sure if it was worth it..." Holding a hand over her full stomach, it felt like the tortilla cloud was just soaking up any liquid she could get down. Worsening the issue.

Berthold: "There's always a hefty price for what is good in the world... but yeah maybe we give that a pass in the future." It was delicious of course, but maybe not quite geared for human consumption Juuuust yet.

Kathy looked over her notifications from Nunny, so far she had gone 2000 calories over her desired intake, which wasn't a big deal... this can be a cheat day. Some spam from earth... extended warranty garbage, because of course. Finally, an Alert that she had been assigned bed 2 Hall 06 Room D. at least she'd have a place to wait this out.

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

Berthold had done the same His bed would be 01, Hall 40, Room J. Quite a walk.... is there a taxi service? public transit of any sort? or is he stuck just hiking it over? Where did the others get those vehicles? a little moped to get around would be nice, maybe.... An ATV? He couldn't have one at home because it would tear up the woodlands.... but if Xiao Lu could have a motorcycle, why not?

Conversation died down between the two as they considered their individual plans and ruminating on the cuisine they sampled throughout the evening.

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F?: "Oh hey! you made it!" The apparition of Finlay's subconscious waited as the soggy haggard man dragged themselves onto the beach. It felt like it had been hours, though the Sun had never moved, nor the clouds in the sky. "Thought we were gonna go full asleep at this rate... you are Slooooow."

Finlay: "Go fuck yerself." flopping and rolling up the beach to the middle of the small island, finally taking a moment to rest from the water whipping he endured.

F?: "Maybe you'd have less Ex's if you weren't such a careless flirt." Faking a blush and turning away, taking Finlay's provocation the entirely wrong way on purpose.

Finlay: "You know what I meant."

F?: "Well yes... still fun to be an Asshole though, even to myself."

Finlay: "I don't even flirt that much."

F?: "My man, it's me.... you, Are you really going to lie to yourself?"

Finlay: "But I DON'T-"

F?: "Let's see in the past year alone you've had... 9 relationships that lasted longer than a month?"

Finlay: "... Ow. Okay, yeah... I need to work on my long term game."

F?: "Short game is a Fucking Masterpiece though, I'll give myself that. Even if you were drunk every time. Wonder whose pants you'll get into this time."

Finlay: "Noooooo, I made up our mind before I-we?- came up here remember? I'm here to cook and make cool alien friends."

F?: "You said that when you met Lisa's sister too and how did that end up?"

Finlay: "They were TWINS and I mixed them up ONE TIME!"

F?: "They dyed their hair different colours... you knew damn well what I was doing."

Finlay: "Alright! I'm ready to leave! I did not crawl on this island to be Kink shamed by me!"

F?: "Oh you're stuck here buddy, until that little shot works it's way out of you or someone shakes you out of this little Fugue state... I think. We've never been fucked up like this before."

???: "You doing okay there buddy? Bad trip?"

Finlay: "JESUS!" The strange new Voice managed to scare Finlay enough to a standing position, only to be greeted by a lone... he didn't know what it was. A spiky turtle man? Er... Khokalm! just.... laying down on the sands, eating some kind of cactus fruit. Dusty yellow scales with a slightly darker shell around their torso.

???: "Nice Mind you got here... Very warm...pretty too."

Finlay: "Uhm.... Thank you?" Noticing that his floaty heckler self had seemingly evaporated.

???: "No bro, Thank you! this is a good place to sunbathe."

Finlay:" Is.... Is this that High mind connection thing?"

???: "Probably.... Oh heeeeey.... You're one of those Human people guys! We just finished picking you all up! Already find a Dippy?"

Finlay: "Uh...No? I don't think I have, considering I don't know what that is."

???: "Ohhhhh, must a hurt yourself some then. They really do their best every time.... but I guess when you have drugs, you use them." Taking a bite of the Cactus and relaxing on the beach.

Finlay: "I wasn't even hur-" Finlay gasped as the sand below him fell away into a pit and he fell inside.

By the time he opened his eyes, he was being Hefted into a fireman carry by Hada. With Lu walking his cycle next to them, Finlay's board turned off and laid on the seat. Much of the odd fever dream already being forgotten and lost in the confusion.

Finlay: "Woooah... Am I - oh, Hi Lu, Hi Hada-bahada... Your name is fun."

Hada: "Thank you Fin. We got our room assignments, so we're just gonna take you to yours... let you rest this off. That okay?"

Finlay: "Yeeeee, that sounds gud... I had the weirdest dream."

Lu: "What happened?"

Finlay: "Dunno.... just weird... met Bowser, he seemed nice. Ha-da-da-da~ Take a look at my new friends~ They're the first ones I got!~ You're really strong Hada, what's your routine?" Waving like a limp noodle on Hada's shoulders, he felt... Awesome. All the energy in the world but his body just didn't seem to listen. Such a shame too, he was in such a huggy mood.

Hada: "I'll tell you after you take a good nap, okay?"

Finlay: "Oki, I'mma start now then... just a little kitty nap" Sleep was very nearly instant, finally succumbing to the drug cocktail fully. It'll be a dreamless deep sleep, but sleep nonetheless.

Lu: "... I kinda want a dose of what he got, it seems like a good time."

Hada: "Meh, A little experimentation is okay at our age... as long as it's legal."

Walking next to each other for a good while, for the most part ignoring the odd looks from other new arrivals and explaining the situation to the more curious. Their hall was a good 20 minutes away, so they had time to chat.

Lu: "You sure you're good with him? We can swap if you want."

Hada: "Nah, He's super light. I bench more than this."

Lu: "You're strong alright, strongest... they I've ever met? I'm still kinda lost on the subject..."

Hada: "Okay quicky crash course on Gender-Fluidity. Some days I feel like a woman, some days I feel more like a man."

Lu: "...But... which are you er, were?"

Hada: "Lu... Let me ask you something... Are we dating?"

Lu: "No! I mean, not that you aren't pretty, like in an objective sense... not that you're an object!"

Hada: "I get it, And since we aren't dating... Does it really matter which I am or was before we met?"

Lu: "...No?"

Hada: "Then don't worry about it."

Lu: "Okay.... Can I ask another question?"

Hada: "Go for it."

Lu: "If you're a Man some days and a Woman on others... how does your.... attraction? orientation?"

Hada: "...OH! yeah no, that's unrelated. I'm Bisexual. So... I'm good either way."

Lu: "Ahhhh, okay... I think. But do your.... What's the word... tastes change?"

Hada: "Tastes? hmmmm, no not really."

Some other races walking behind the trio shared equally confused looks amongst each other. They didn't mean to eavesdrop, but the conversation was so odd. If they did in fact change gender like clothes than what does her sexual attraction matter? Mating with either or both genders would definitely help with populace growth.

Random Ouzonn: "OH, I get it!"