Zora's Aurora 2 - Silver Veil
Copyright© 2025 by Art Samms
Chapter 9
The terminal at Las Estrellas Spaceport bustled with organized chaos—shuttles docking, luggage bots gliding past, and the low chatter of departing travelers echoing beneath the transparent dome. Through the great window, Luna’s horizon shimmered faintly, a silver line that seemed to pulse with memory.
Zora’s Aurora—plus their small entourage—occupied one of the private departure lounges. A table in the center was cluttered with coffee cups, holo-tickets, and the half-empty box of MoonPuffs that Zora and Natalia were demolishing like kids at a sleepover.
Delta stood by the window, raising a glass of sparkling hydration tonic. “To another successful tour,” she said, her tone crisp but the warmth unmistakable. “And to the two most annoyingly persistent investigators I’ve ever managed.”
Zora grinned, saluting with her half-eaten pastry. “Hey, we just have a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time.”
Finn raised his own cup. “Hear, hear. Though next time, can we all agree to bring earplugs? Just in case Zora decides to defend the galaxy with her air horn of doom again?”
That earned a round of laughter. Zora swatted him lightly with her napkin. “Don’t mock the horn—it saved lives!”
Natalia giggled. “It also shattered my eardrum. I still hear in stereo echo.”
Zora pointed her MoonPuff at her like a wand. “Then that seals it, Nat—you’re my MoonPuff sister for life.”
Natalia cracked up. “I accept. I’m duly honored.”
Finn smirked. “Oh great. There are two of you now. That’s terrifying.”
From the corner, Nigel polished his lenses with unnecessary care. “I’d call it evolution of chaos.”
“Yeah?” Finn shot back. “I’d call it breakfast.”
Nigel sniffed. “Your vocabulary’s as refined as a gravity wrench.”
“And yours is as fun as a malfunction alarm,” Finn retorted, grinning.
Zora made a mock drumroll on the table, earning another burst of laughter that even coaxed a smile from Delta.
“Well,” Delta said, glancing at her wrist display, “before we board, I suppose I shouldn’t be the source of gossip...”
That, of course, caught everyone’s attention immediately.
“ ... but I did happen to notice Leo DeMartini and our friend Dulce Esperanza walking hand-in-hand through the Plaza de Lunas last night.”
Zora blinked, mid-bite. “Wait—Leo and Dulce? Seriously?”
Before she could continue, Sophie spoke up dryly from the other side of the table. “Looks like Leo got over his attraction to women with blue hair.”
Zora raised a brow, eyes twinkling. “Ooh, sick burn.”
Nigel sighed dramatically. “Oh well, a loss for one shade, a gain for another.” He turned toward Sophie with an exaggeratedly smooth tone. “You know, you’d look splendid under moonlight, if you’d ever let someone tell you that properly.”
Sophie didn’t even glance up from her travel case. “If you ever learn to deliver a compliment without footnotes, I’ll consider it.”
Finn nearly choked on his meat gravel.
Zora burst out laughing and leaned back in her chair. “Looks like everything’s back to normal.”
Sophie rolled her eyes—but there was the faintest curl of a smile tugging at her lips.
Delta checked the time again. “Alright, everyone—let’s move. Shuttle 7A is boarding.”
They gathered their things amid the easy rhythm of goodbyes, teasing, and small talk. Outside, the docking corridor glowed in alternating stripes of white and amber as the shuttle’s engines cycled up.
As they stepped aboard, Zora paused by the hatch window for one last look. The lunar surface stretched out below them—an endless quilt of soft silver shadow.
Behind her, Sophie joined her silently. For a moment, they just stood there—the twin reflections of their faces framed by the glow of Luna.
Zora gave a faint, thoughtful smile. “Goodbye, MoonPuff sisterland.”
Sophie smirked. “You’re incorrigible.”
The hatch sealed with a hiss. The shuttle’s thrusters engaged, lifting smoothly toward the upper dome. Below, Las Estrellas shrank into a patchwork of lights and dreams, fading beneath the pale shimmer of the Silver Veil.
Luna glowed behind them—a silent, luminous witness to another strange, beautiful adventure.