I woke up in a different hostel. I was alone, on the bottom part of a bunkbed. Quietly, I got up and left. My augments were dead but the first person I asked quickly pointed me in the direction of 'Hostel Rocio'.

I put in the pin for the front gate and walked in to the bar where my few memories of the night had been conceived. The group was already up, sitting at the same table, sipping more cerzis.

"Where'd you go?" Jeremy asked before I even sat down.

I grabbed a cerzi and told them about my weird morning.

"Were the girls in there at least decent?" Zak asked.

"I only saw guys. But the pillow was covered with long hairs that were definitely not mine." I replied.

"We're not judging-" Tammy started, "but, if you are, I think you have to tell us."

"I'm not. Neither is drunk me. I've tried." I replied.

"You've tried?" Jeremy asked.

"One time; in college. Awful night. Don't want to talk about it." I said.

"Well, the mystery remains. You have a lighter?" Tammy asked.

"I should." I reached in to my pocket and pulled out a folded note.

"That's not a lighter." Tammy said.

"No shit. That wasn't in my pocket last night." I said.

"We have a clue?" Jeremy asked.

They all inched closer as I unfolded the note.

- Reciv in: 502 Diagonel 14, Zone 5, Colona Viviban.

Clavi: 120156

Inriqu ten il entregou. Ten hal cou Saline prim. Dil qí lou pid il Sacerzi fer le mis.

Entreg: Cementeru Cristou Rí e 00:03 -

"What does it say?" Jeremy asked.

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

"It's an invitation to church." Tammy confidently said.

Almost synchronously; Zak and I said, "No."

I looked at him and he stared back. Without saying a word we agreed and I went in to my explanation.

"It's instructions for picking up and delivering a package. It says: 'Inriqu has the package. You have to talk with Saline first. Tell her the Priest is requesting it for mass.' No clue who the 'Priest' is. Or, what kind of mass we're talking about."

"It's probably drugs." Zak said.

"Then we should definitely go." Jeremy said.

"Seconded." Tammy said.

She'd gotten a lighter from Jeremy. The 'cigar' smell from her 'cigar' smelled strongly of 'something other than tobacco'.

"You want to mess with Central Arcadian drug cartels?" Zak asked.

"C'mon, it's hardly messing. We go, get the package, nab a bit for ourselves, then deliver it." Jeremy suggested.

"Deliver it? Why deliver it? We take the whole thing and head to the coast!" Tammy said.

Zak looked at me for help. I shrugged. I was curious as to where the night had taken me.

"Why not. We don't have any other plans. It'll be interesting." I said.

"Interesting? It could get us killed!" Zak exclaimed.

"Zak, sweetie, remember when I wanted to go zip lining?" Tammy asked.

"In Sen Jos?" He asked.

"Yes. Remember how you were scared and swore the safety equipment would fail and we'd die."

"What does this hav-"

"And, how- after a day of persuading you- it was so much fun once you actually got the balls to do it?"

Zak didn't reply.

"We're in agreement?" She asked the group.

Jeremy and I nodded. Zak hesitated. Reluctantly, he nodded.

She stood up.

"We'll, seems we're going on an adventure. Use the bathroom, get ready, jack off. Be back in 15." Her words were slightly slurred. I suspected she'd been sipping cerzis long before I'd woken up.

I stood up and headed towards my room. Zak followed me up to the second floor. When I opened the door, he quickly dashed in ahead of me.

"Guess we're roommates." I followed him in.

"Guess we are. Which one's yours?" He asked.

I pointed to a bunkbed on the right side of the room.

"You're in for a good time if you're bunkmate's still booked for tonight. He was snoring really loud last night." He said.

"Just my luck." I muttered.

I plugged my phone in, used the bathroom, changed, and was the first one waiting at the bar.

"A moudi's fine." I said to the bartender.

"Where comi' from?" He asked me as he poured the drink in to a glass.

"I've been earthside for the past few months." He set the drink down in front of me.

"Not many Tierrens lately. Here for work?" He asked.

I took a long sip before replying.

"No. Work's back on earth. I'm just traveling for fun."

"Here?! So much fun on earth and you come here?"

"Well, I'm used to earth. Here's fresh. It's not my first time in Arcadia. I've lived in Guate, Tarres, and Soste." I said.

"You like Arcadia then? Most Terrans say it's no more than a rock." He said.

"It's definitely not like earth. But there's something about you Arcadians that's so different from the rest of the federation. It makes this an interesting corner of the world."

"'Intresti' is a definite way to describe Arcadia. Your friends are here."

"Thanks. Till later." I said.

I took a large gulp, finished the drink, and stood up.

"We ready?" I asked the group.

"Yeah. I just called an Aventon." Tammy said.