Are you using internet right now? To talk to people? I still have no idea how that works except pocket everythings do it.

Yes, I am, to ask about putting you on the train. I don't know a lot about how exactly it works either, except that I think radio signal is involved.

I bet Seeker took one look at the planet and understood it instantly. He's an Elder for good reason. -You can talk to Amseli from here! So I don't have to go back to ask about the theater thing!

Yes, I can! Though she actually delegated the details of the theater thing to other people, so I'll just talk to them. - Looks like they've narrowed it down to four places, do you want to see pictures?

Sure! Also how close are they?

They're all in the greater metropolitan area of the nearest city. She displays pictures of four different small outdoor amphitheaters.

She picks the one with the most vegetation visible nearby.

I still need to decide what songs to Sing over, and what story to tell...

They say they'll hold the theater for you till you're ready.

I have a story idea, it just needs details. And songs. It's getting a little late, but tomorrow for sure.

I'll let them know you're expecting to be ready tomorrow!

Tomorrow at midday. If I'm not ready by then I'll just do the best I can and fix it for next time. I think you can make the songs come up right once I pick some, right? It's nice, being in someone's place and them not chasing me away but actually answering questions and stuff. Where am I going to sleep? I usually sleep in caves so anywhere quiet is fine. Everything's kind of loud here. And smelly.

Yes, it shouldn't be hard to queue up some music for you, the theater purples will know how to do that. It sounds like they've gotten you a hotel room on the top floor of a hotel, since some of those are pretty big. The top floor won't be too close to street noises and they've probably cleared the top two floors so you won't have neighbors bothering you either.

Good! Thanks! Buildings are kind of flat on top, I wonder if I can fly from the top of one?

Are they off the base yet?

Yup, here's the checkpoint at the edge of the base, there's the train station. I can ask about roof access! And they say putting you on this next train will be fine, they cleared out a car.

Thanks, they sound crowded. Does everywhere in a city have so few plants? 

We like plants as decoration, and there are parks, but most space in cities is for buildings. This train station is aboveground, though it goes into a tunnel in short order. A train pulls up and the chaperone points out the empty car.

It's a little overwhelming being here. We don't have cities. We barely ever have buildings.

She's a bit tense (though it might be difficult to tell if you don't know tail body language) and hesitates, peering at the train.

It's probably more overwhelming in the city proper. Do you want to stay here instead?

I don't want to give up the chance to see it. I can leave if it's too much, right?

Yes, of course. I can point out the direction to this base and you can fly back to it if you need to.

I'm no Emerald but I've got a good sense of direction. Won't say no to hints though!

She scurries towards the train car.

The train picks up speed and heads toward the city. Its next stop is a shipping hub; they don't get out here, but continue through two suburban stops and finally get out at a stop at the city's edge. "Here we are!"

She slips on the smooth floor the first time it accelerates and grabs hold of the nearest grabbable surface, possibly damaging it.

Sorry! Everything's so breakable around here.

That's way faster than walking, I see why you like them.

The pole holds, but she does scratch the plastic. It's okay, the chaperone assures her, that's just cosmetic damage, looks like. Welcome to Pahuia!

So many of you! I can wander for days and not see anything smarter than an owl sometimes.