New faces and new experiences.

Glimmer steps out, hugging herself as a cold breeze cuts through the throng of people on the sidewalk. The cool air burns her eyes as she steps forward. She’s lost, even if she doesn’t look like it. She’s never done anything like this before, and is now stumbling through this situation like she’s done it before.

There’s a well-dressed man inside the booth smoking, talking to a younger girl beside him in a matching uniform. Crimson red blazer and dark slacks that complement her frame. The man smothers his cigarette and grins up at Glimmer as she comes close.

“How may I be of service?” There’s a sadistic afternote to his smile that Glimmer is familiar with, but she doesn’t flirt or toy with the notion of seducing him. He was not a client, and this was not Pink Heat.

“I need a ticket to Porttown.”

“It’s a late ticket,” the man says, looking at his coworker briefly as she shifts to a nearby terminal. “So, the prices are reduced, but you’ll have to run to make it on time. Costs 750 credits. Have you been here before?”

“First time,” Glimmer felt the rush.

The girl behind the counter hands a slip of paper to the man, who hands it over the counter ot Glimmer. “Take this. Don’t lose it, and follow the Wheeler.”

“Wheeler?” Glimmer asks, but as she does, a mono-wheeled robot comes out and takes her backpack. It was 6 feet tall, slim, white, and with little detail. The monitor had a face that looked like too-jolly Santa. Without a voice, it simply stared soullessly, “I… follow it?”

“Yes, and hurry up, because you only have a few minutes. Food, water, and a bunk are provided. No telling who you’re sharing the space with, though.”

The questions she intended to ask went without even being heard. The robot moved swiftly, surprising even Glimmer as it skidded past crowds and slowed through the holiday traffic. Despite all that, she managed to keep up and not get lost in the new, crazy platform. In just a handful of minutes, she promptly ended her chase at the entrance of an immaculate-looking sliding glass door to a double-decked red and white train.

The robot turned, handed the backpack back to her, then rolled off as a security guard stepped out and gave Glimmer a scrutinizing glance. He was tall, well-groomed, and serious-looking. His name tag was golden, much like the ring she quickly spotted on his finger. His eyes were a sharp blue, and his hair was combed to one side, golden with specks of gray. “Just you?” he asked, looking around the crowd behind her, searching for possible companions.

“Just me,” she said, fumbling with the papers the other workers had given her. “Do I give these to you?”

He takes them, shaking his head. “Not technically, but I’ll make sure these fall into the right hands.”

Glimmer eyed his nametag closer. “Thank you, Sam.”

He paused, following her gaze to his name tag before giving a weak smile that looked ****. “Don’t mention it. I’ll take you to your room. There’s someone else in here already.”

“I’m not scared of new people,” Glimmer remarked, causing Sam to glance over his shoulder as he guided her to the top deck. Rows of doors and fine interior greeted them through the skylights. Classical music played somewhere, too. However, it was Chopin, not the memory-evoking keys from the cab.

“Rich types,” Sam said, taking her as someone poorer than she looked. “He won’t talk much, and unless you want to be dumped at the next stop, you’ll keep to yourself. And I’d do that to someone so pretty.”

Glimmer grinned up at him. “I could convince you to let me stay.”

He wiggled the ring on his hand. “No, you couldn’t.”

Glimmer had dealt with married men before, often finding them the noisiest. A dozen men came to her mind suddenly, many of them curling their toes in orgasm as their wives had failed them to do. However, something about Sam told her he was more loyal than the ones who begged and bought their way to her Pleasure Cube– VIP rooms– whatever.

Sam gestured to the dorm. “Livingroom 15,” it said. He dug through his pocket and flipped a smaller-than-usual keycard to her. On it was the same thing as on the door—living room 15.

“I’m head security,” he told her. “If there are any problems, it’ll fall in my lap to deal with it. I’m nice until I’m reminded I’m paid not to be. So stay out of trouble. Do you have questions?”

“I do,” Glimmer sighed, before she could say anything, Sam nodded.

“I don’t answer questions. One of the many other staff members can help you, though. Safe travels, Miss.”

“Asshole,” she muttered, despite her earlier appreciation. She used the card and stepped in, finding a man there staring at a laptop screen. He poked her head over the top and glared. His expression softened somewhat, however, when he saw Glimmer. It was obvious where his mind had traveled after seeing her.

Glimmer smiled at her, though her back tensed slightly. Not wanting to do anything serious with anyone. This was for David, and she wasn’t about to do anything more than teasing with guards betting on kisses to keep her place on board. He was older, too. Too old for her type, and his body was not impressive. She could see past these imperfections in clients who paid, not strangers. She set her pack on the bed across from his, not saying anything.

“What’s bringing you to Porttown?” the man asked.

“Boyfriend,” she answered quickly. “I’m going to see my boyfriend.”

“Lucky man,” the man said, his eyes focused on her legs as they crossed. “However, a real boyfriend should be visiting the girl, not the other way around.”

“He’s busy,” she jumps to David’s defense, not really sure what he was. Boyfriend definitely seemed far-fetched. “I’m also visiting as a surprise.”

“A surprise?” the man licked his bottom lip, closing and then setting the laptop aside. “Birthday?”

“Just… haven’t seen each other for a while. That’s all.”

The man rolled his eyes, irritating Glimmer. “A real boyfriend would be the one doing the surprise.”

“As I said, he’s busy. Work keeps him moving all the time, and he doesn’t have much time to plan things out.”

“Not even for the holidays? I’d know what I’d be doing for you. I’d be messaging on an hourly basis, sending you gifts, and making sure you knew you were always on my mind,” the man said, intending to sound sweet, but the tone of his voice sounded controlling.

“We’ve been talking,” she lied. “We’re both busy with work.”

The man eyed her legs. “What do you do for work?”