Tarik, Kassia, and Tiyanna were the only ones boarding the cruise ship SS Decadence from SB901, although there were about two dozen passengers disembarking. Third-class passengers, recent émigrés to the frontier. Tourism wasn't yet a major concern for SB901, although many passengers liked to watch the glowing nebulae and subspace distortions that characterized the Briar Patch.
A steward clad in a white uniform gaudy with gold braid led them to their stateroom. On the station, it would have qualified as junior officer's quarters, with a partition so that the adults would have at least some privacy. Tarik tipped the steward for bringing their baggage.
"This -- this is fantastic!" Kassia exclaimed. A portal afforded them a view of the outside, which showed little more than the berth at which the Decadence was docked, and the yeomen who were working the dock. The bathroom sported real plumbing -- a turn of the knob on the sink caused water to issue forth from the spigot. "I can't believe you went all out like this!" she said. The quarters, though not really elaborate, were far more luxurious than the conditions to which Kassia had been accustomed.
"This is only second-class," Tarik said. "I tried to get first-class but there wasn't anything available on such short notice."
"'Only second-class' he says! This is amazing!" she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
Tiyanna, meanwhile, was thoroughly fascinated with the plumbing, turning the water on and off and giggling as she splashed in the sink. "Don't make a mess, honey," Kassia scolded. "Someone will have to clean that up!"
"Oh, okay..." Tiyanna said, stepping dejectedly away from the sink.
A chime at the door interrupted the interchange. Tarik stepped to the door and was greeted by another steward, carrying a genuine vellum envelope. "Captain Steubenberg requests your presence at his table for dinner tonight," he said.
Tarik opened the envelope, which contained an engraved invitation. "Compliments to the captain, and inform him that we accept his invitation," Tarik said.
"Very good, sir." The steward turned and left.
"Don't tell me you arranged that, too!" Kassia said with surprise.
"Actually I had no idea why we're being invited. I'd hoped we'd be able to travel incognito, just to get away from everything," Tarik replied with some disappointment.
"Oh, I think it'll be wonderful!"
"I want to come too!" Tiyanna said, not really sure what she wanted to come to but entirely sure she wanted to be wherever the big people were.
"You'll have to be on your very best manners," Kassia told her.
"Oh, I will!"
"Looks like our formal wear will be getting a bit of a workout," Tarik said. In truth, he was looking forward to it as well.