When they had finished their meal, the five girls left while Bernard paid for the food. Then they walked down several more streets where merchants of all kinds sold all things to all creatures. Finally they reached one street that had every kind of store anyone could think of.

     First, the girls went into a clothing store called “Models, Majestic”. Apparently tunics were the new style here. The tunics were pretty much just small sheets that had a hole for your head and a belt in the middle. You wore tight-fitting pants and a tight-fitting long-sleeved or tight-fitting T-shirt, underneath them.

     The tunics, themselves, had all kinds of designs on them. Dragons, rainbows, unicorns, some kind of squishy-looking alien, flowers, and solid colors. There were many, many different designs and to list them all would take up an entire book.

     Tia decided on two tunics. One had a picture of the ram, her zodiac sign, on a red background and one was neon red. She bought one black belt and two sets of red under-clothes.

     Felicia took two blue tunics, one blue belt and two sets of blue under-clothes.

     Dienna decided on one red-and-black, checked tunic and one black tunic. She bought two sets of black under-clothes.

     Giselle wanted a light green tunic that had flowers scattered about it, and a plain green tunic. She took one green belt, and green under-clothes.

     Corazon took one tunic that had a golden lion on a purple background and one tunic that was purple. She also took a purple belt and purple under-clothes.

     Then Giselle discovered a section that was reserved for personal hygiene. Luckily for the girls, some aliens had the same kind of hair/skin needs that they did. So, they stocked up on necessities.

     After buying the new outfits and hygiene items, Bernard took the girls to a music store, where they could look at some of the songs they had. Not a one was in English. So, they left the music store and looked around. Felicia spotted a bookstore and Dienna spotted an arcade. Bernard gave Tia and Dienna some copper for arcade games and then went with the others to see if there were any English-translated books in the bookstore.

     There were none lying around, but you could order one. So, the girls wound up having to ask Bernard what one book said when they saw a cover they liked.

     Meanwhile, at the arcade, Dienna and Tia found a game that was somewhat like their escape from Earth. So, Tia piloted, and Dienna manned the gun. After their first game, they found that they had placed first on the record.

     “Hey, we’ll play against you.” A couple of boys said when they saw what had happened.

     “You’re on!” Dienna agreed.

     Soon the battle was on. The girls versus the boys. It was a heated battle, with a lot of firing at each other and a lot of fast piloting. A crowd had gathered around a screen where you could see the ships battle from the outside. It was all an electronic video game, of course, but it was exciting.

     Dienna and Tia were piloting a ship called “The Phantom of the Heavens”. The boys were piloting a ship called “Red Dragon”. The first contest was an enemy-infested race to a planetary base. Dienna shot down every single enemy and Tia was the most skilled pilot anyone had ever seen. The second contest was combat between the two ships.

     “I’m out of guns!” Dienna said to Tia when they had taken out about half of the boys’ shields and energy.

     “Use the combat arms!” Tia said as she dodged a barrage of lasers.

     “I’m on it.” Dienna said, punching a few buttons.

When the combat arms came out the crowd reacted loud enough for Dienna and Tia to notice. Dienna grinned and told Tia to swing by the Red Dragon. As she slipped by the enemy ship, Dienna’s arms tore at the shield. In one swipe, Dienna had taken down 10% more of their shield.

     “Yes!” Dienna yelled. “Bring me around again!”

     “Wait a minute!” Tia said when she saw the Red Dragon pause.

     Then they brought out their combat arms as well.

     “This, I like.” Dienna remarked ambitiously. “Let’s go over and say ‘Hello’.”

     “You got it.” Tia agreed.

     The arms locked, and then the ships swung around and around and around. Everyone got dizzy. Then the Red Dragon let go of the Phantom of the Heavens. Tia and Dienna went flying. The boys had won that match.

     The third, tie-breaking contest was a contest to see who could get into a base, rescue the hostages, and destroy the most drones. Tia and Dienna won that part easily.

     “Hey!” One of boys said as he pulled off his helmet.

     “Not fair!” The other insisted.

     “Good game, guys!” Tia said, holding out her hand to shake.

     “Too bad you lost!” Dienna added.

     “Dienna.” Tia snapped.

     “Tia.” Dienna snapped back.

     “I’m Tia.” She said to the boys. “And this is Dienna.”

     “I’m Ray.” Said one.

     “I’m Tom.” Said the other.

     “Do you two live around here?” Tia asked.

     “No, we’re just in for the week, getting repairs.” They replied.

     “Hey, so are we!” Tia exclaimed.

     “Talk about coincidence.” Dienna added.

     “Yeah.” Tom glumly replied. “See you around, I guess.” Then he and Ray left the arcade.

     The two girls were left laughing and smiling. Then they went to meet up with the others at the bookstore.

     “How was the arcade?” Giselle asked.

     “Great.” Dienna said. “We kicked a-“

     “Couple of boys.” Tia interrupted and glared at Dienna.

     “What?” Dienna replied defensively. “I haven’t cussed in a week!”

     “You almost did just then.” Tia said. “Remember how you told us you were going to stop because you were driving us crazy by cussing non-stop in one sentence?”

     “It’s been a week!” Dienna whined.

     “Hey guys!” Corazon said, walking up to them. “How was the arcade.”

     “We beat some boys into the dust.” Tia said.

     “Sounds like Dienna was behind the gun.” Corazon remarked.

     “You bet I was!” Dienna snapped.

     “Was what?” Felicia asked as she arrived with Bernard.

     “Was and is the best gunman this universe has ever seen.” Dienna boasted.

     Corazon rolled her eyes as Giselle grinned back.