Two Worlds at a Time

To one side, a small kitchenette, equipped with the latest in culinary technology, allowed for personal meal preparation if desired. This technology would fit any species and was top of the line. Aric had seen this once in a restaurant he had visited in Echorysia, though that instrument wasn’t as advanced as this model.

But then again, Aric was just curious at that time, and money was still an issue for him.

Elara continued the tour, leading Aric to the bedroom. The bed was double king-sized, draped in sumptuous fabrics and adorned with pillows of various sizes and textures. Soft, ambient lighting could be adjusted to create the perfect atmosphere for relaxation. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a mesmerizing view of the stars, with adjustable shades for privacy.

"The bathroom is through here," Elara said, gesturing to a door on the far side of the bedroom. Inside, Aric found a lavishly appointed space with a deep soaking tub, a rainfall shower, and more.

After the small tour, Aric was more than satisfied. Though he felt a small attraction to Elara, he didn’t let his thoughts get the better of him. He was an old man of almost 30 to begin with. He might not have enough experience, but he knew when to stop. Additionally, she was an alien. It was morally wrong for him.

After a wait of about 10 minutes, with a gentle hum, the spaceship’s engines roared to life. Aric felt a surge of excitement and anticipation as the ship lifted off, leaving the spaceport and Echorysia behind. The view outside shifted from the familiar blue sky to the infinite expanse of space, the stars shining brightly against the dark canvas. The spaceship didn’t seem to give Aric enough time to soak in the dark space and rushed off into the void-filled universe.

He wasn’t sure how they were traveling because, after a few minutes of scenery, there was nothing to see outside except darkness. They were traveling faster than light, but he wasn’t sure how or what the technology behind it was. He had read that different spaceships used various technologies related to space travel. Some used wormhole technology while others used different kinds that Aric had a hard time understanding.

The wormhole technology was called the rich people’s technology because the spaceships capable of opening wormholes needed to be well-equipped, and the people who bought them needed to have deep pockets and connections. All other technologies could travel from galaxy to galaxy for sure, but it would take a long time, which was not true for wormholes. With this, the spaceship could reach very long distances and cross multiple galaxies faster.

But it came at a price; this technology was dangerous because one could sneak alongside the spaceship, creating a security issue, and many empires had limited its use. Thus, it was said that every spaceship that used wormhole technology needed to have deep pockets and be well-connected to even start the business in a civilization.

This spaceship definitely didn’t have wormhole technology, or it was said that the scenery was one of the most beautiful from the windows. Aric wasn’t disappointed, though, as he felt one day he might get the chance to travel in those spaceships with wormhole technology.

The journey would take two Earth days, and thus he needed to be on the spaceship for some time, which was also why he couldn’t be at home. He couldn’t teleport back, because if he did, the coordinates of the spaceship would change, and he wouldn’t ever be able to get back to the ship.