Entry 58

"You don't serve humans?" I asked, honestly perplexed. "But our Artificial Cognizant said you do."

"We do serve humans," the hostess said. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"Come on, Carlee," John took me by the arm and pulled me from the restaurant. His face was contorted in an angry scowl. It had been a while since I had seen John so angry.

"I'm so sorry," Blaue said with agitation. "I didn't realize - I mean I should have asked. I just never though. They're always so nice to Ven."

"It's not your fault, Blaue," John said, his voice oddly detached and cold. "But yes, you should have asked."

"I'm sorry," Blaue said. "I'm not used to dealing with these sorts of things."

"What is going on?" I demanded, pulling my arm away from him. "Why wouldn't they serve us? What are you two talking about?"

"They wouldn't serve us because I am an android," John answered, his anger fading and being replaced by his usual mask.

"What? That's crazy. We're paying customers," I said. "No on turns away a paying customer."

"They can and they did," Blaue said. "Some restaurants refuse to serve androids because they don't think they should be wasting precious food resources on synthetic sentients when there are so many organic ones going hungry."

"But John needs food too," I protested. "He has to eat just like the rest of us."

"But I'm not a real person in their eyes," John said. "I didn't have to be made and by existing I'm stealing food from someone's hungry child."

"Well taht child didn't have to be born," I said. "Children can't help being born, true, but neither could you help being made. They shouldn't punish you for existing."

"Maybe it would be best if you came back for lunch," Blaue suggested.

"Let me guess. No one here serves androids," John said.

"I'm really sorry," Blaue apologized again. "I've never had a synthetic organic stay with me before. I'm not used to the necessary protocols."

"It's not your fault, Blaue," John said, "but there is no reason for Carlee to suffer just because I can't eat here..."

"Maybe neither of you have to suffer," Blaue interrupted. "I apprised Ven of the situation. He's ordering two lunches and having them sent to me. You'll have to eat with me but at least you'll get your cheeseburgers."

"Ven is going out of his way to do something for me?" John sounded like I felt: flabbergasted.

"Seems so," Blaue answered cheerfully.

Entry 57

We got John a few more undershirts and pants after that. We only needed the one pair of shoes and jacket, as both changed color so it would seem as if he owned multiple. It turns out he didn't need a "real" jacket (you know with sleeves) because the shirts and the like are made to regulate body temperature. It's pretty cool. You can wear just a think undershirt in freezing weather and be fine. [John would like to note that the clothes are only rated for -50 degrees Fahrenheit].

Perhaps one of the great parts of shopping on an alien spacestation was that we didn't need to carry around any bags. Blaue arranged it with the shop's Artifical Cognizant so that the stuff we bought would be delivered directly to her. We could enjoy our time on the space station without worrying about losing our stuff.

"Shopping is such taxing work," John said over dramatically after we visited a pet shop. [Blaue strongly reminded us in that shop that we weren't allowed pets - not that I would buy any of those strange creatures. I couldn't even begin to figure out how to care for them]. "I think we need a break. How about lunch?"

"Is it that time already?" I asked in surprise. I went to grab my cell phone out of my pocket to check the time, and then remembered I didn't have my cell phone. It's not like it worked in an alien time zone.

"It is approximately the time when we would have lunch on the ship," Blaue concurred.

"Do we come back to the ship to eat?" John asked Blaue. "Or do the restaurants here actually serve food we can digest?" I had not thought of that. Leave it to John to remember that what's food for one alien might be poison for us. The restaurants may not serve anything we could eat.

"You can eat at a restaurant," Blaue said. "Ven really enjoys one that is not very far away. I will call ahead and alert them of your dietary needs and you should get served fairly quickly. What do you feel like eating?"

"I could really go for just a classic cheeseburger," John responded. And I agreed. You forget how awesome plain old American food is until your in space eating who knows what for eons.

"Cheeseburgers it is," Blaue said. She then gave us the directions to the restaurant.

"My friends at home would never believe this," I commented as John and I strolled through the space station.

"Your friends also believe that Say Yes to the Dress is the best show in television," John said. "Somehow I don't think what they believe really matters."

"Like your friends are so much cooler," I retorted. "Watching reruns of Stargate and avidly awaiting the next Terminator movie**."

"Says the girl who is avidly awaiting the next Harry Potter movie!"

"Hey, so are you!" I playfully shoved John, and he laughed, ruffling my hair to annoy me. And I was annoyed by his action, but at the same time I was happier than I had been in a long time. This was normal. This was me and John teasing and playing while at the mall.

We got to the restaurant, all smiles, and as I stepped through the open doorway, I was greeted by what seemed to be a human hostess.

"Greetings," the young woman said. "I am the Artificial Cognizant of this facility. Your cognizant called ahead with your reservation."

"Yes, we need a table for two," John said, crossing the restaurant's threshhold. Suddenly the smiling face of the Artificial Cognizant turned grim.

"I'm sorry," she said. "We don't serve your kind here."

**I realize that Terminator Salvation and Harry Potter have both been out for a while, but this was like last October. It wasn't out yet.

Entry 56

Back on Earth, I can't say I was much into fashion, but I did watch America's Next Top Model, so I was fairly certain that there was little about fashion I did not know. Just because I didn't obey the rules did not mean I didn't know the rules existed. However, shopping in the mall at the space station I learned one important thing:

Humans have not yet even begun to discover fashion.

There are so many accessories that humans haven't fathomed, because they can't. We're just - by nature - limited by our humanity. I'm not sure I can begin to explain the accessories I saw, but here is one example.

Now on Earth we can get tattoos. Getting them is painful and people often regret them later in life. However, tehy are the only way we've managed to accessorize our actual skin (discounting facial makeup, which is a very limited form of accessorizing).

These aliens, however, have invented a small patch that you can place on your skin/scales/fur/feathers. This patch could then display predetermined patterns, photos, art, or even movies (minus the sound) across your skin. I tested one by putting it on (just stuck it on the back of my hand). It turned my entire skin blue with yellow stars. It looked exactly like I'd tattooed my entire body, not just some light projected pattern. I have no idea how it worked, but it was awesome.

There were other equally stunning accessories but that one should give you an idea.

Like typical American teenagers, John and I went from shop to shop, trying on clothes and playing with gadgets but not actually buying anything. We were used to window shopping and the windows here were so awesome that buying never really crossed our minds.

"I'm glad you two are having fun," Blaue interjected into our laughter in a hat shop. (Some species really like very strange hats. Or at least what I would describe as hats). "But don't forget that unless John wants to spend eternity wearing Ven's discarded clothes, you better buy some."

"Will Ven really let a mere android spend his money?" John said, and I was surprised by the touch of bitterness in his tone. Secretly a part of me said, "Aha! I knew John could not be as OK with everything as he seemed," and another part of me hurt because of his hurt.

"He won't like it, but Carlee can spend the money you've been allotted as she pleases," Blaue said. After a moment, she added, "within reason, You can't buy a pet. No pets in my halls."

"Where can we go that we'll find clothes to fit John?" I asked Blaue. "All the shops seem to only have clothes for exotic alien creatures."

"There is a humanoid store three shops down," Blaue answered. "Of course, they don't call it a humanoid store because they don't know what humans are - but you get the idea." We did, so we went to the store, which was created for people with two arms, two legs, and one head.

John was immediately attracted to the rack of blue pants that were similar in coloration to jeans. I rolled my eyes at my brother's unwillingness to try new things. By the time John had gathered clothes to try on (clothes that were the closest to Earth clothes he could fine) I had gathered a few outfits for him that Blaue said were fashionable on the human colony.

"What is this?" John sounded scandalized as he looked at the neon yellow jacket with short sleeves that I had picked out for him.

"It's a jacket," I said. "Blaue says its fashionable."

"It can't be a jacket - it has short sleeves," John pointed out. "And can't it be fashionable in a more calm color?" I rolled my eyes. Boys! Never willing to try something new.

"Just try it on and when it fits then we will discuss color." I shoved him into the dressing room. John always had been a reluctant shopper.

I waited impatiently for John to come out. I was putting all of my energy into shopping for him, and I wanted to see the results. It wasn't everyday I had the resources of an intergalactic mall at my fingertips to remake my brother.

"OK, I'm coming out," John called and then he stepped out of the dressing room.

I had to admit. My brother was dashing. he wore blue slacks that fit almost exactly like boot cut jeans, except that the shoes peeking out from underneath were not Reebok's. They were neon blue. (Apparently its stylish for your shoes to be some God forbidden bright color). He wore the jacket except it was no longer yellow. He had somehow found one that was exactly the same but it was neon blue to match the shoes. Beneath the jacket he wore a tight fitting long sleeved shirt that was blue like the jeans and made of a material remarkably similar to Under Armor.

"The jacket!" I exclaimed. "You switch it!"

"No, it can change color to be the color you want," John responded. "I still feel ridiculous, even if the color is somewhat better."

"But your the image of a young human colonist," Bluae said. "Buy it. And don't forget to get a few more outfits."

Entry 55

“There is the exit,” John pointed ahead. I could see it, an opening in the lime green. Beyond, I could see dozens of aliens going about their business.

“How many people are here? How big is this place?” I asked.

“Oh, not very big for a space station,” Blaue answered. “Only around a hundred thousand organic sentients are currently here.” My jaw dropped. One hundred thousand people on a space station? And Earth thought the International Space Station (ISS) was so amazing.

John and I moved out of the landing area and into the main area. I paused, a little disappointed. What I could see of this spacestation looked exactly like a large mall. Shops and cafes lined the pedestration walkway and all the aliens seemed to be shopping. Somehow I expected something a little more alien.

“An intergalactic mall,” I said flatly.

“More like an intergalactic city,” John responded. “This is the main level – the mall level, I guess we could call it. The next level is a business level of all offices and conference rooms. The level above that is the residential area.”

“People live here?” I asked. I don’t know why that surprised me. After all, people lived on Deep Space Nine. Ender lived in Battle School. Astronauts live in the ISS. My only explanation for my surprise is that I expected it to be more spacey and less suburban.

“Of course,” John answered. Undoubtedly he knew that if I just thought about my comment I would realize how stupid it was. He was right.

[John would like to note that he usually is right. He claims that correctness and accuracy are part of his programming. I think he just enjoys being a know-it-all.]

“So what should we do?” I asked. John glanced at me with a look of disbelief.

“We’re in a mall. You’re a girl,” he said. “I don’t know. What do you think we should do?” I glared at him. It was an alien spacestation. Creatures I could not fathom were walking around us, communicating in manners I could not begin to imagine. Did John really think we could just act like this was West Oaks Mall?

My eyes slid past John to a shop that was displaying what appeared to be fashion accessories – the Claire’s of the galaxy. Perhaps we could behave like two teenagers dropped in a mall.

“That store appears interesting,” I pointed to the accessory store. John smiled, shaking his head.

“Told you,” he said. “Girls and malls are the same all over the universe.”

“I’m rather fond of them myself,” Blaue piped in. “Must be my feminine nature.” John and I both laughed and headed towards the store.

FYI

So after a long discussion with John about my schedule, this blog, Anthropologists, and belligerent anti-organic andriods (among other things), I've decided to only post every MWF. I'm hoping another incident won't occur like in September when I was with the Barker's and I just didn't have time. I really hope the incident that kept me out of the blogosphere for months doesn't recur, mainly because I don't think I could handle that again.

So tomorrow, I will post the next update to my story. And once again, I really apologize to everyone for being out of contact for so long. I just have no idea how to make up for it. Perhaps you have suggestions? Is there something I can do via this blog or facebook (other than post more often than MWF) to make up for my long absence?

See you all tomorrow!

Entry 54

It's been a long time, I know, so I'm going to give a short recap. Here we go:

I learned my brother was an android when he was shot in a convenience store. We were immediately transported to a ship and taken to the headquarters of the Society of Anthropologists. There I was put in a zoo and John was essentially waiting to be killed.

We were then rescued by the dashing, android-hating Ven Barker. I forced him to rescue John as well, even though he did not want to. Ven is supposed to take me to the human colony but can't because androids aren't allowed. So instead we've been residing on Ven's ship, Blaue. Blaue is pretty much an awesome Artificial Cognizant. An Artificial Cognizant is a sort of like bodiless android - just the mind. Though they can create hologram projections of bodies.

Now we are stopped on a space station so Ven can do business. He has set John and I free to do as we like while on teh space station. Currently, we are standing outside of Blaue, but we're still in the ever annoying Ven's way. He wants us to move.

Got it? Good. Now let's move on.

"We're going to be in someone's way no matter where we go," I protested. Aliens and cargo were everywhere. Stepping out of Ven's way would put us in someone else's way.

"We need to get out of the cargo area," John said. "Follow me." John grabbed my wrist and led me through the maze of ships.

"See the black pathway?" He pointed towards the black strip of floor that ran between the ships. "That's the pedestrian walkway. It will take us out of here." I did not respond. I simply let John lead me as I marveled at the ships and aliens.

We were passing a sleek, lime green ship, no bigger than a fighter jet. This I imagined was the sports car of spaceships. Why else would someone paint it the danger color? The ship screamed, "hey, look at me. I'm dangerous."

An alien was walking ahead of us on the black pathway. The alien walked across the ground with dozens of legs, like a centipede, but it was covered in blue feathers and about six feet long. Instead of a beak or mouth it seemed to have a trunk like an elephant, but I could not begin to guess what sense the trunk was used for. What strange evolutionary path had led to this?

"Star Trek always made aliens look so human," I said as my eyes landed on an alien that seemed to be dripping mucus from every orifice.

"Well, Star Trek didn't get everything right," John responded. "And they had a low budget. Not to mention the lack of CGI. Even Next Generation's graphic weren't good. You can't expect better considering the time period."

"How do so many strange aliens get along?" I asked. "How can we talk to an alien if it doesn't have ears?"

"Artificial Cognizants," Blaue answered in my ear. "Almost everyone has one and we're programmed to understand most anything. The alien without ears would haven an Artificial Cognizant who would hear your words and translate them into whatever sensory mode the alien could understand."

"Cognizants are very necessary to every day life in the Universe," John said. "Without them, it would probably fall apart."

"I don't control physics," Blaue joked.

"No, but you do allow everyone to understand each other," John answered. "Without you thtere would be no government." I'm still sure to this day if that comment was foreshadowing, but it sure felt like it at the time. I could just imagine Artificial Cognizants pulling out of society - refusing to participate - and the government falling apart.

It seems strange that a society that needs Artificial Cognizants so bad and relies on them so desperately would despise androids.

Yeah....

So, I've been a bit out of touch. I'll be the first to admit it. But it's not my fault I swear.

I mean when the psychiatrist tells your foster parents that blogging is only helping to keep the delusions going, what can you do?

But I'm back, and its not a delusion.

I think.

But that's all part of the story later on. Right now we're still on the spacestation with Ven and John.

So once again, I really apologize for not keeping up the blog. I think if my brother really loved me he would have continued writing the story even while I was on my internet hiatus.

Of course, my brother thinks he demonstrated his love by, you know, rescuing me. Like whatever, John. You keep thinking that. I real, loving android brother would have been able to do both.

The story will continue, once I've figured out where exactly I left off.