{"id":80,"date":"2026-02-04T00:18:34","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T00:18:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tnf.ola.mybluehost.me\/rw\/2025-autumn\/?page_id=80"},"modified":"2026-02-04T22:54:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T22:54:57","slug":"ahabs-seafood-galley","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/societyforritualarts.com\/rw\/2025-autumn\/ahabs-seafood-galley\/","title":{"rendered":"Ahab&#8217;s Seafood Galley"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style>\n.bodyRight {\n  float: right;\n  margin: 0 0 32px 32px;\n  max-width: 520px;\n  width: 100%;\n}\n.marginBottom {\n  margin-bottom: 48px;\n}\n.seperator {\n  font-weight: 700;\n  margin: 32px 0;\n  text-align: center;\n  text-indent: 0px;\n}\nh1, h2, h3 {\n  margin-block-end: .5em;\n  margin-block-start: .5em;\n  text-align: center;\n}\np {\n  text-indent: 32px;\n}\n@media (max-width: 1280px) {\n  .bodyRight {\n    margin: 0 0 16px 32px;\n    max-width: 360px;\n  }\n}\n@media (max-width: 640px) {\n  .bodyRight {\n    margin: 16px auto;\n  }\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"container\">\n\t<section class=\"backNext\">\n\t  <h4><a href=\"https:\/\/societyforritualarts.com\/coreopsis\/\">Back to Journals<br> Home<\/a><\/h4>\n\t  <h4><a href=\"\/rw\/2025-autumn\/the-tunnel-to-forever\/\">Next Wonderous<br> Story<\/a><\/h4>\n\t<\/section>\n\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t<main>\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"bodyRight\" src=\"\/rw\/2025-autumn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Ahab.jpg\"\/>\n\t\t\t<h1>Captain Ahab\u2019s Seafood Galley<\/h1>\n\t\t\t<h2>By Mark Mitchell<\/h2>\n                        <h3 class=\"marginBottom\">Illustrated by Thana Meejinda<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<p>When Veronica heard they were hiring at Captain Ahab\u2019s Seafood Galley, and at the Moonport location no less, she took the first shuttle she could book to apply in person. If she was ever going to live out her dream of exploring the Cosmos, she would need to raise the money.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>She received an interview right on the spot. Normal protocol called for an electronic submission to apply for the position (because, let\u2019s be honest, who would ever travel so far for a fast-food job?), but Veronica viewed the job as a stepping-stone on her journey to the stars, so no matter how low the pay or how bad the benefits, it would only be temporary. She hoped.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>As the manager of the Moonport location looked over her resume, Veronica moved her sweaty hands under the table and played with her fingers as she looked around the restaurant. Most Ahab\u2019s restaurants had the same decor and color schemes: cookie-cutter versions of one another so that wherever people traveled, they knew what to expect when they stopped in. None of the other locations could rival this one, however, because of the view.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Veronica had to tilt her head to see under the ad stickers on the windows and capture the breath-taking spectacle. Outside the double-paned glass, Earth rose on the horizon.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>The sight could be jarring for those who didn\u2019t anticipate seeing their native planet so far away (those that had never traveled off-world before), but Veronica had been to the Moon several times over her formative years. Mostly for school field trips and once to visit her grandparents, who lived in a condo not far from Ahab\u2019s. Should Veronica be offered the job, she would ask them for a place to sleep until she could afford something of her own, most likely on one of the low-income orbiting substations.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>As the manager read over her resume, his lips pulled back to expose his pink gums as if he\u2019d smelled something horrid. The way his face twitched while he did it made Veronica wonder if it was some sort of involuntary tic. He set the application aside and folded his hands in front of him.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cThis is most irregular,\u201d he said, before adjusting his red tie that was hanging in a loose knot around his throat. \u201cI mean, conducting an interview in person. Usually we do it via tele-screen.\u201d He picked up the application again. \u201cThough I must say I\u2019m glad you came. We are in desperate need of help. Have you ever worked a register before?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cI had a Fisher-Price one when I was younger?\u201d Veronica offered. \u201cBut if it\u2019s any consolation, I never lost any of the plastic coins or bills that came with it.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>The manager laughed. \u201cThat is something, and I will certainly take it into consideration. Luckily here though we don\u2019t deal with physical money often. As you can imagine, we get customers from all over the Cosmos, so it would be infinitely impossible to keep change on hand for all those different currencies.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cYes, of course.\u201d Veronica felt warmth in her cheeks. She could certainly believe they received all types here, judging from the staff alone. The manager was human, but was that a dinosaur working the fly-thru window?<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cShould you get the job,\u201d the manager said, \u201cyou\u2019d only take electronic payments. Much easier.\u201d He smiled, which put Veronica more at ease. \u201cTell me, why do you want to work here?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cWell.\u201d Veronica shifted in the plastic booth and raised herself up. She had been slouching to see out the window. \u201cI think it would be a great opportunity for me. I\u2019ve always loved Captain Ahab\u2019s since I was a kid. We would go every Thursday night back home. I guess I\u2019d like to recapture a bit of my childhood again. You know, for the nostalgia.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>The manager lifted his chin with regard to her answer. He pushed himself out of the booth and adjusted his shirt, which had come untucked in the back from sitting. \u201cHere at Ahab\u2019s, along with quality burgers and fries, we sell nostalgia. I have a good feeling about this.\u201d He held his hand out to her. \u201cWelcome aboard, matey!\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>She looked at his hand, then up to his smiling countenance. \u201cYou mean I got the job? Just like that?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>The manager faltered a bit. \u201cYou mean you don\u2019t want it anymore?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cNo,\u201d Veronica said and scooted out of the booth. \u201cOf course I do. I just can\u2019t believe it is all.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cWell, believe it,\u201d he said and they shook hands. \u201cWhen can you start? Now?\u201d He raised an eyebrow.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>She nodded frantically. \u201cAbsolutely, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>His lips pulled back again. \u201cNo need for all the formalities. Unlike a real ship, there are no rankings here. We\u2019re all on the same team, got it? Please, call me Bill.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cOk,\u201d Veronica said, timid to call her new boss by his first name. \u201cBill.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cGreat.\u201d He clapped his hands. \u201cNow let\u2019s see about finding you a uniform. I think we have some spares in the back room. This way.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>She wobbled after him, not quite relinquishing her \u201csea-legs\u201d as it were. Bill noticed and gave a knowing smile.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cYou\u2019ll get used to the GEM soon enough.\u201d Before Veronica could ask, he added, \u201cThat\u2019s the Gravity Enhancer Machine. Helps keep us grounded and not jumping around all the time. More conducive to food preparation. Come on.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>He led her to the back room.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"seperator\">#<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Since she had come straight from the shuttle station to the restaurant, Veronica had her duffel bag with her. She changed into her uniform and stuffed her own clothes into the bag, then hung the bag in her locker. Before leaving the changing room, or at least what served as one (it was also where they stored dry goods like boxes of extra napkins and straws), she took out a series of brochures from the smaller zipper section of her bag and thumbed through them.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>There were pictures of the Milky Way galaxy, and Saturn with its brilliant rings. Then there were the alien planets, only now known to mankind, but from which creatures had traveled to visit Earth and its surrounding sights. Some of those creatures stopped in at Ahab\u2019s a time or two to sample the local fare. There were brochures for jungle planets and ice planets, barren planets and lush landscapes.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>She let out a sigh and replaced the brochures, forgetting to zip up the bag in her haste to appear on the sales floor.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Veronica stepped out of the locker room and adjusted her short-sleeved button-up shirt with the patches that made it appear as if she was a sailor on a 19th-century whaling vessel. How anyone ever wore something so uncomfortable was beyond her. She looked down at her pants, which hovered about six inches above her shoes.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cAh, the look of a model employee,\u201d Bill said. \u201cFits you perfectly.\u201d She would disagree with him, but being her first day, she decided to stow any qualms she had until they all knew each other better.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Standing next to Bill behind the counter was a younger man, around a similar age as her if Veronica had to guess. He had messy brown hair sticking out from under his paper pirate hat, but it was his sparkling eyes she noticed first off. She felt weak in her knees when he waved at her. She gave a wave back, though they were only a few feet apart, and immediately felt embarrassed.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cThis is Zack,\u201d Bill said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Again Zack waved. She fought the urge to wave back. Once had been weird enough.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cHe\u2019ll be showing you the ropes.\u201d Bill placed an arm around Zack\u2019s shoulder. \u201cYou\u2019re in good hands, but should you need something, I\u2019ll be in my office.\u201d Bill let out a sigh. \u201cBalancing the books.\u201d He got a faraway look on his face, then shook it off and gave Veronica an encouraging smile before shuffling off to do the accounting.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cBill didn\u2019t say your name,\u201d Zack said after the manager left. \u201cIt\u2019s not Gork is it?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>She got a puzzled look on her face.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Zack pointed to her nametag. \u201cSomeone probably forgot to remove it. Gork used to work here a few moon phases ago. He quit to move back home. Mother got sick, you know?\u201d He added, \u201cWhat is your name?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cVeronica.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cVeronica,\u201d Zack said, seeming to test it out. \u201cI like it. Suits you better than Gork does.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>A customer walked through the airlock, saving her from any embarrassment she might have been showing. Zack gave her a wink as if to say, watch this, and took his place behind the register. The customer, a large male with green skin and three red eyes, scanned the menu. Behind his ears, flaps of skin popped open and closed while he thought about what to order.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cWelcome to Ahab\u2019s,\u201d Zack said with a level of artificial enthusiasm that was lacking in his voice a moment before. \u201cWould you be interested in trying our new Harpooner\u2019s Burger? Made with two patties of Earth-produced beef, caramelized white pearl onions, two slices of melty white cheddar, and a generous spread of white garlic-aioli on a toasted seedless bun. It\u2019s one whale of a burg\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cNo,\u201d the man said. His ear flaps popped. \u201cGive me the Clamdigger&#8217;s Delight with a side of Pegleg Tots.\u201d <i>Pop. Pop. Pop.<\/i><\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cCertainly, sir.\u201d Zack keyed the order on the register. \u201cWould you like that made with chicken or asteroid-raised fungus?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p><i>Pop. Pop.<\/i> \u201cHow fresh is the fungus?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cCame in yesterday,\u201d Zack said with pride.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cGive me the fungus then.\u201d <i>Pop. Pop.<\/i><\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cAnything to drink?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>The man waved one webbed hand in the air. Zack rang him up and waited for the green man to figure out where to pay with his intergalactic credit card.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cWe\u2019ll have that right out to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>The man turned and walked away to find a seat, popping with every step.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cPretty easy, right?\u201d Zack said to Veronica on his way to the warming chutes. \u201cThe order goes to the kitchen where Slop and Cuspid will put it together before sending the food here,\u201d he pointed to the chutes, \u201cfor us to put on a tray and take it over to the customer.\u201d Zack drummed his hands on the metal counter while they waited.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Veronica found herself getting overwhelmed already. Zack had such a laid back, easy style, and she longed to have that kind of confidence. But for her, everything was new, like the speech he gave and how to work the register, then those names, Slop and Cuspid. Who were\u2014?<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Movement on the other side of the warming chutes caught her attention. A humanoid man made out of mud or tar, something dark and liquid-y, dropped an order of Clamdigger\u2019s Delight into the fryers. The hot oil sputtered and hissed. The mud man sighed and moved his lips as if to speak, but the oozing liquid of his skin fell across his mouth and he could only make some sort of bubbling noise.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>She felt she\u2019d seen someone like this before, but where was that? Then it came to her. On a school trip to the capital, they had visited one of the Smithsonian museums, this particular one covering pop culture. There had been a board game kids played many years ago where they moved plastic gingerbread men along a multi-colored path. One of the characters on the board (was his name Gloopy? Gluey? Something like that?) looked just like the fry cook.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Something moved along the ceiling and Veronica turned her gaze up to find a man hanging from the air ducts. He yawned and stretched his arms, which were connected to a large fan. On a second look, she realized it wasn\u2019t a fan, but wings. The man seemed to keep to the shadows, though she could just make out his pale features well enough. He had dark, intense eyes, and two sharp fangs that rested over his bottom, rosy lip.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cThat\u2019s Cuspid up there,\u201d Zack said, leaning over to whisper to Veronica.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Veronica fought off a shudder, both from looking at the man hanging upside down and from being startled by Zack\u2019s warm breath in her ear. The hanging man must have had acute hearing, because he opened one beady eye at them before closing it again.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cHe cooks all the meat patties,\u201d Zack continued. He lowered his voice a little more to add, \u201cAnd he likes to drink the leftover blood mixture from the packaging. Strange, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Veronica found herself nodding, though she barely heard the words. She was too transfixed on the man working the fryer. He lifted the basket from the bubbling oil and dumped the contents into a paper tray.\n\t\t\t<p>She started to ask, \u201cWhy do they call him\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>And then she got her answer. As he carried the tray of fried fungus pieces over to the warming chutes, his feet made a sucking, squishy sound with every step. It sounded a lot like <i>Slop. Slop. Slop.<\/i> He gurgled some sort of phrase and his vacant, dark eyes looked out at Veronica from his side of the kitchen.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cSlop said \u2018order\u2019s up,\u2019\u201d Zack translated.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cOh,\u201d Veronica said and stepped up to the chute. \u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>The melting man nodded and gurgled something else. Then <i>slop, slop, slop<\/i> back over to the fryer to await the next order.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Veronica picked up the paper tray and held it out, afraid to touch the edges. From the corner, drops of wet sand fell onto the counter.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cYeah, he does that.\u201d Zack took the paper tray from her and placed it on the plastic one to be carried over to the gill man. \u201cShoot, I almost forgot about the tots. Would you mind?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>She looked around until he pointed to the other side of the counter, near the airlock window of the fly-thru.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cUse one of the medium-sized boxes,\u201d Zack said over his shoulder while he loaded the tray with napkins and condiment packets.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Veronica started toward the containers for tots and fries, when a Velociraptor with a headset on pushed her out of the way. The dinosaur\u2019s feathers raised all over her body like a puffed-up cockatoo and she emitted a loud screech. It sounded like nails across a chalkboard. She tapped the long claws of her feet on the floor.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Veronica didn\u2019t know what to do or say. She\u2019d never seen a dinosaur before, at least not one that still had its skin and muscles and everything else that made it a living breathing animal. She\u2019d only seen the skeletal remains in the museum.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cSorry, Nancy,\u201d Zack said, coming to Veronica\u2019s rescue. Nancy gave another cringe-inducing screech before stomping over to the fly-thru window.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Veronica stood, transfixed. Zack scooped up the order of tots and filled a paper box. As he brought the item over to the tray, he smiled at Veronica\u2019s stunned appearance.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cDon\u2019t mind Nancy,\u201d he said. \u201cShe takes a little while to get used to the new employees. I think it took me a few months before she would give me the time of day.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Veronica kept her eyes on the raptor working the register at the fly-thru. Nancy used her smaller arm to switch the headset on and screeched into the microphone to the spacecraft waiting to order. Veronica stumbled over to receive the plastic tray from Zack.\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cThat thing is called Nancy?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Zack smirked. \u201cAs far as we can tell. Her name\u2019s too hard for us humans to pronounce, so we call her Nancy. It\u2019s the closest we can come to what it sounds like to our ears. She doesn\u2019t seem to mind.\u201d Zack gave Veronica a slight push from behind to get her moving with the order for the gill man.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>She tripped over her feet looking back at Nancy. The dinosaur snapped her jaws and hissed into her headset.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Veronica slid the tray on the table to the gill man. He mumbled something about fast food not being very fast, but she didn\u2019t really hear him. There was plenty else to fill her attention with. The icy edges of doubt had crept into her mind over accepting this position, because she was starting to think she was out of her league.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"seperator\">#<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>As the day wore on, and the moon shifted into darkness, Veronica continued to watch Zack at the register. She learned which buttons to press to send the orders back to Slop and Cuspid. Having eaten at Captain Ahab\u2019s many times back in the states where she grew up, she knew the menu backwards and forwards, but her knowledge grew with the alterations the customers ordered. Extra this. Less of that. Most importantly, Veronica learned how to work around her fellow co-workers.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Slop and Cuspid weren\u2019t such an issue since she didn\u2019t have much reason to go on the other side of the warming chutes, but Nancy proved to be the one to watch out for. She had a short fuse when it came to the newbies. Veronica could feel her leering reptilian eye on her anytime she came over to get Pegleg Tots or Rapier Blades (fried zucchini fingers). Veronica worked fast to get what she needed and then vacated the area before she could incur Nancy\u2019s wrath.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>After a couple hours working hard at the books, Bill ventured out of his office to check on Veronica\u2019s progress. His tie had come even further loosened around his neck and he sported smudges of ink on his chin.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cHow\u2019s it going out here?\u201d Bill asked. He stuffed his shirt back into his pants and surveyed the restaurant. The lunch rush, or what constituted for one, had died down and only a handful of customers now ate in booths spread out from one another. A fuzzy woman, like a five-foot beaver, was reading on a tablet near the play area while her young weasel son scampered on the foam platforms before doing a cannonball into the ball pit. \u201cThings seem to be under control,\u201d Bill said, turning to face Veronica. He gave her a pat on the shoulder. \u201cHow\u2019s the first day?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cGood,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cHave you had a turn on the register yet?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Veronica exchanged a nervous glance with Zack. She swallowed a lump.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cNo, not yet,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve been memorizing the buttons and how to work the card reader so far.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Bill smiled, but Veronica sensed a feeling of disappointment behind it.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cI would like you to give it a go,\u201d Bill said. \u201cJump right in.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>The airlock hissed and a huge hulk of a man walked in. Bill glanced at the new customer for a brief moment before holding up triumphant fists as encouragement.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cWhy don\u2019t you take this one,\u201d he said to Veronica. \u201cYou got this.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Zack stepped away from the register so that Veronica could greet the man. She slipped into the spot he had vacated and put two sweaty hands on either side of the keyboard, ready to take the order.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>The airlock sealed behind the man, holding back the vacuum of space. The man removed his helmet to show he wasn\u2019t a man at all, but a red-skinned alien. He had a pair of glowing neon eyes and a hard stare to him. Veronica wondered if he ever smiled. She guessed probably not.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>The man lumbered over, crunching the moon rocks stuck in the tread of his boots and leaving behind footprints of gray dust. He dropped his helmet on the counter with a loud thud. Veronica jumped from the impact and glanced back at her boss.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Bill held up two thumbs at her.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Veronica swallowed another lump and faced forward.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cHi,\u201d she said, a little shaky. \u201cWelcome to Ahab\u2019s. Would you care to try the Harpooner\u2019s Burger?\u201d Her mouth went dry. \u201cIt consists of two quarter-pound patties and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cNo,\u201d the red alien said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cAlright,\u201d Veronica said. \u201cWhat can I get you then?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cGive me three Sea-Faring Sandwiches,\u201d he growled, \u201cbut without all that muck in there?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cDo you mean the lettuce, tomato, and on\u2013\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cThe muck.\u201d The alien leaned down. He towered over Veronica by a full meter and a half.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cNo muck,\u201d she reiterated and searched the keyboard for the proper buttons to press. She was made so nervous by the hulking alien, she failed to realize her fellow co-workers were all watching her. Even Cuspid came down from the ceiling to get a better view of the exchange. She asked, \u201cAnything else?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cYeah,\u201d the alien man said. \u201cGive me a Bilge-Watermelon Milkshake. I don\u2019t want cow\u2019s milk neither. Make it with Fereax milk.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>He unzipped the lapel pocket of his jumpsuit and thumbed out his payment card. She gave him his total and asked if he would require a receipt.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cNo.\u201d Foam dribbled from the corner of his crimson mouth.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cWe\u2019ll bring that out to you shortly.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>The man slid his helmet off the counter and stomped over to the nearest booth where he proceeded to stare at Veronica as she went about putting his order together.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cYou did great,\u201d Bill said as Veronica set napkins and a straw on the plastic tray. \u201cA natural.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Veronica fought off a shudder. \u201cWhy does he keep staring at me?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Bill had already gone back to his office, which left Zack to fill her in.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cThat guy comes in here all the time,\u201d he said. He filled a canister from the ice cream machine. Once the noise of the rotating blades died down, he added, \u201cDon\u2019t know his name, but he treats everyone that way. Real friendly guy.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Zack fished a Cherry-Crab (delivered fresh from the edges of the Cosmos) from the aquarium and placed it on top of the shake. The crab fought back with its pinchers against the metal tongs Zack used to grab it. Then the crab rolled into their signature shape, that of a cherry complete with antenna stem. Zack placed the completed beverage on the tray.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cMaybe you should let me take this over.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cNah, it\u2019s ok,\u201d Veronica said. \u201cIf he comes in all the time, I should try to win him over with kindness.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Zack said, \u201cI wouldn\u2019t do that if\u2026\u201d But she was already on her way.\n\t\t\t<p>Veronica stopped by the table and slid the tray in front of the red alien. He looked down at the tray, then up at her.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d he said. He had indicated the drink.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cYour shake.\u201d She furrowed her brow. \u201cSomething the matter with it?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>He pulled the tray closer and leaned over the shake to give it a deep sniff. His head jerked back. \u201cI said to make it with Fereax milk.\u201d He clutched the beverage and made as if to hand it back to her. She reached out to receive it.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cI\u2019m terribly sorry,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ll make sure it\u2019s made properly next time.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cThere shouldn\u2019t be a next time,\u201d he growled.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>The alien splashed the shake on the front of Veronica\u2019s uniform. Pink ice cream splattered all over the floor, leaving behind a perfect outline of her slender frame. She gasped from the shock.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cI want my money back,\u201d the alien said. \u201cAnd I want this made right. Got that, Gork?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Zack ran out from behind the counter to aid Veronica. He grabbed her by the shoulders, careful not to slip in the mess. Her expression stayed fixed with a big O for a mouth.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cSorry about that, sir,\u201d Zack said, leading Veronica away. \u201cI\u2019ll get the manager out here.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cYou better.\u201d The alien ripped into the wrapper of one of his sandwiches and took an enormous bite. Secret sauce splotched on both his cheeks as his mandibles set to chewing the seafood-alternative protein patty.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Bill watched from the safety of his office.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cIs he mad?\u201d he asked as Zack led Veronica to the back room to change.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cLivid,\u201d Zack said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cOh, dear.\u201d Bill tightened his tie and muttered some sort of pep talk to himself before walking over to the frustrated alien.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>In the changing room, Veronica slumped down onto the bench. The smell of the shake was already beginning to turn and the putrid vapors assaulted her nostrils. The stench brought her back to the moment.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cWhy did he do that?\u201d She hung her head. Zack handed her a clean towel.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cThe guy\u2019s an asshole,\u201d he said. \u201cDon\u2019t let him get to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cThis is my first day.\u201d Veronica slapped her thighs in defeat and wiped her face and arms with the towel.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cWe all have bad days around here,\u201d Zack said in an attempt to comfort. \u201cComes with the territory unfortunately. Some people, creatures, think because it\u2019s customer service, they can treat us like shit.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Veronica tossed the soiled towel into the hamper for dirty uniforms. Her shirt stuck to her as she pulled it away from her body. The cold had seeped through to her skin.\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cLet me get you a clean shirt,\u201d Zack said. He opened her locker to get a fresh shirt when her bag fell to the floor, spilling the contents. \u201cShit, I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Veronica didn\u2019t even look up.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Zack collected the array of items: her Chapstick, feminine products, wallet, and a stack of travel brochures. Before Zack could flip through them, Bill walked in.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know if I\u2019ve ever seen a customer so irate.\u201d Bill put his arms akimbo and made a clucking sound. \u201cI comped his meal and said we\u2019d make him a fresh Bilge-Watermelon Milkshake.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cI\u2019ll make sure he gets it,\u201d Zack said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cThanks.\u201d Bill let out a sigh. \u201cWhat a day, huh?\u201d He shook his head. \u201cThat\u2019s why they pay me the big bucks though. Anyway, I have to step out for a bit while the dust settles. Can you watch this place while I\u2019m gone?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cSure.\u201d Zack stuffed the items back into Veronica\u2019s bag, but he held onto the brochures.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cAre you alright?\u201d Bill asked Veronica. She didn\u2019t respond. He shrugged at Zack and left.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Zack rifled through the brochures, stopping on each one for a brief second before proceeding on to the next. He squared them up and stuffed them into Veronica\u2019s bag.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cDidn\u2019t realize you were such a universe-traveler,\u201d he said in a failed attempt at a joke.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cI\u2019m not.\u201d She pressed her chin to her chest. \u201cAnd I never will be. I took this job to save up for passage out of the galaxy, but I don\u2019t think I\u2019m cut out for this line of work.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cThe universe isn\u2019t all that great,\u201d he said and sat down next to her. \u201cIt\u2019s pretty much the same everywhere you go. Money-grubbing corporations utilizing cheap labor and blowing through resources faster than they can be replenished. If you ask me, you don\u2019t need to travel light-years away. You can get all that right here.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cYeah well, ever since I was a little girl, I\u2019ve dreamed of seeing those places for myself.\u201d She shrugged. \u201cMaybe a stupid dream, but it was mine.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cIf it\u2019s really your dream to see the universe, then you shouldn\u2019t let one stupid alien prevent you from that.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Tears welled in her eyes. \u201cThat\u2019s easy for you to say.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Zack was taken aback. \u201cWhy would it be easy for me?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cBecause you\u2019re so confident in everything you do. I wish I could be that way, but I\u2019m not. I\u2019m a weak, frightened girl who never should have left earth.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Zack wandered over to the door to watch Slop\u2014with his bucket\u2014mop the floor and leave the alien by himself to drum his digits on the table while waiting for the replacement shake.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cYou want to get back at that alien who threw the milkshake at you?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Veronica lifted her face. \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>A smile spread across Zack\u2019s face. \u201cI\u2019ve got an idea. Why don\u2019t you get cleaned up? Meet me by the shake machine. That guy\u2019s picked on us for the last time.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"seperator\">#<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Veronica put a new shirt on and emerged from the back room. Zack stood by the ice cream machine in a huddle with Slop, Cuspid, and Nancy. Their lips moved but Veronica was too far away to hear what they said. Zack cradled a milkshake out of view from the customers as Veronica approached them.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cSorry about your shirt,\u201d Cuspid said. Veronica hadn\u2019t expected his voice to be so high-pitched, but then again, her own voice sounded strange to her ears in the artificial atmosphere of the restaurant.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cThanks,\u201d she replied. She held her arms over her mid-section, giving her that frightened appearance.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Nancy tilted her oblong head and made a soft metallic screech. She pounded one tiny fist into her other three-fingered hand.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cNancy says \u2018let\u2019s get this bastard,\u2019\u201d Zack translated. The sentiment made Veronica crack a smile.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Zack held the milkshake out to Veronica. \u201cI think you should do the honors,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Veronica was reluctant to take it from him. \u201cWhat did you do to it?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cWe added a surprise.\u201d Zack got a mischievous grin. \u201cI don\u2019t think we\u2019ll see him in here again after this.\u201d<\/p> \n\t\t\t<p>Veronica took the shake from him. \u201cWe\u2019re not going to kill him are we?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>The group laughed. Even Slop looked like he had a smile, though the constant stream of bubbling mud quickly covered it again.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Veronica looked over at the red alien. He stared daggers back at her, his gaze intense and burning with rage. The encouragement of her co-workers gave her all the resolve she needed to approach him again. She had been humiliated by his actions and it was time she stood up for herself.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cOk,\u201d she said, banishing the thought of chickening out. \u201cHere goes.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cYou got this,\u201d Zack said as she walked away.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>She approached the alien\u2019s booth, holding the shake out in front of her. She had no idea what Zack and the others had done to it, and she didn\u2019t really care either, as long as it embarrassed the alien like he\u2019d done to her.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cSorry for the wait,\u201d she said, and placed the shake on the table. The alien\u2019s eyes flicked from the drink to her. \u201cWe had to search for some Fereax milk that hasn\u2019t perished already.\u201d She did her best to smile, though her lips fought against it.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>He snatched the shake and sniffed it. His eyes rolled over to Veronica\u2019s co-workers. They had gone back to work, but clearly still took an interest with occasional glances over at the table. The alien\u2019s lips stretched out to the straw for a tentative sip.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cTo your satisfaction?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cBe gone,\u201d the alien commanded and turned from her. He greedily sucked at the drink. Veronica patted her hands against her thighs and made her retreat. When she got behind the counter, her co-workers once again gathered around.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cWhat\u2019s going to happen?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cWatch,\u201d Zack said. His voice bubbled with excitement.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>The alien finished the drink with an obnoxious slurp. He belched, sending droplets of Fereax milk onto the table.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cAny second now,\u201d Zack said. He had his hand on Veronica\u2019s shoulder and dug his nails in. She winced and brushed his hand from her. \u201cSorry,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>The alien picked at his teeth and examined his digit after. He brushed his findings on the front of his jumpsuit and slid from the booth, cradling his helmet under one arm. As he walked toward the airlock to go out to his spacecraft, he stopped for a moment to grin at the Ahab employees.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cFair winds and following seas,\u201d Zack said with a salute. \u201cAnd thanks for dropping by.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>The alien sneered at him and placed his helmet over his head. The solar visor hid his menacing look as the alien twisted the helmet till it snapped into place.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cI don\u2019t understand,\u201d Veronica said. \u201cWhat\u2019s supposed to happen?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Zack shrugged and appealed to his fellow workers. Cuspid met his shrug.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cI added plenty,\u201d Cuspid said. \u201cIt should have worked.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>They all looked back at the alien making his exit. The inside door of the airlock hissed open and the man raised his leg to take a step, but then froze in place. He moved back from the door and it slid shut again.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Zack reached out and grabbed a fistful of both Veronica and Cuspid\u2019s uniforms. He grinned when he said, \u201cShowtime.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>The alien staggered back and fumbled at the release buttons for his helmet. All he could manage to do was flip the solar visor up. His fiery eyes went wide behind the clear plastic bubble.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Nancy pushed past her human co-workers, unable to see over them with her short stature. They all pressed together, watching the alien struggle.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>He fought to get the helmet off, but it remained firmly intact. Then he froze in place again, as if he knew what was going to come next.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>The clear plastic became opaque with a blueish film, the blue dye coming from the Lohmel sauce added to the milkshake. The alien kept vomiting more and more, adding coat after coat of blue paint to the inside of his helmet. His screams of anguish came out in syrupy bubbles as it seemed he would never stop heaving. The inside of his jumpsuit bulged outward as the discharge had nowhere else to go. The alien staggered in place, going weak in the knees. The contents of his suit sloshed around with every step.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>The weasel kid crept out of the ball pit, over to his beaver mother, and clutched at her dress. She pressed his head to her side and covered the young boy\u2019s ears from the obscenities the alien man spewed out along with three Sea-Faring Sandwiches and his Bilge-Watermelon Milkshake.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>The alien groped in the darkness of his own making for the front counter. Finding it, he pulled himself over to the group of Ahab employees laughing at his misfortune.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cWhat did you do to me?\u201d the alien said through burps of nausea. He found the release latch for his helmet &#8211; all too late &#8211; and lifted it off his head. A wave of sickness washed down the front of his jumpsuit and spilled all over the counter. He wiped vomit from his eyes and flung the liquid toward Veronica. Leaning over the counter, he pointed at her and said, \u201cI know it was you.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Veronica felt like shrinking away, but sensing her co-workers had her back, she raised her chin and actually took a step toward the infuriated alien.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cSomething the matter with your drink,\u201d she said, adding a curt, <i>\u201csir?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>The alien slammed his fists down on the counter, creating twin dents.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>He said, \u201cI want to speak with your manager. You\u2019ll all be fired. The customer is always right.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cNot today though.\u201d Zack stepped forward. \u201cThe way you treat the staff, we don\u2019t want you here. Now, kindly, get the fuck out.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>The alien\u2019s eyes narrowed as close as they could. Heat radiated off his body. \u201cYou dare to speak to me that way?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Nancy jumped up onto the counter and hissed at the alien. Her talons clicked against the metal as she snarled. The feathers on her hackles raised and shook. Cuspid joined suit and displayed his fangs. Slop made a menacing posture, slamming one hand into the other, both disappearing in the cascading flow of muck.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cYou haven\u2019t seen the last of me,\u201d the alien threatened.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cPiss off,\u201d Veronica said and gave him a one-finger salute.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>With nothing left to say, the alien stomped over to the airlock, dumped the rest of his helmet\u2019s contents on the floor and went out. The door hissed shut.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Slop mumbled something unintelligible and followed Cuspid back into the kitchen. Nancy gave a nod to Veronica before jumping down from the counter and assuming her position by the fly-thru window. That was as far as the celebration went. Veronica couldn\u2019t help but smile, however. She had stood up to her bully. It warmed her insides to know she had been accepted into the group. A new family from the one she left behind on Earth.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Zack gazed at the mess and shook his head. \u201cBetter get this cleaned up before Bill gets back.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cLet me help you,\u201d Veronica said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Together they retrieved a bucket and mop from the back room.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"seperator\">#<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>The other customers had left by the time Veronica and Zack had gotten most of the mess taken care of. A quiet pervaded over the empty dining area, allowing Veronica to listen to her own thoughts.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cLooks about done,\u201d Zack said. He swept up the last of the crushed moon rock from in front of the airlock and dropped the debris into the waste-can. Veronica paused her mopping and placed both hands on the top of the handle to rest.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cThanks,\u201d she said. \u201cFor\u2026you know, helping me out.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cDon\u2019t mention it.\u201d He walked over to her. \u201cThat\u2019s what co-workers do for one another. Besides, I\u2019ve been wanting to mess with that guy for a while now. Hopefully he doesn\u2019t come back.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>They both turned to the sound of the airlock opening, Veronica fearing the alien had returned and possibly with reinforcements this time, but it was only their manager. Bill flashed his gums to the smell of disinfectant.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cPlace looks pretty good,\u201d he said. \u201cGlad to see you didn\u2019t burn it down.\u201d He walked in, careful to avoid the wet floor. He asked Veronica, \u201cAnything happen while I was gone?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cIt was pretty uneventful.\u201d She caught Zack looking at her and they both fought against laughing. She said, \u201cBut good, nonetheless. I think I\u2019ll stick around for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\u201cGood to hear,\u201d Bill said and went into his office.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>Zack sidled up to her. \u201cYou\u2019re not going to quit then?\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>She took a deep breath and a reflective look came over her. \u201cThere are worse ways to earn money.\u201d <\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>END<\/p>\n\t\t<\/main>\n\t\t<section class=\"authorBio\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/rw\/2025-autumn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Mitchell-Ahab.jpeg\">\n\t\t\t<p>Mark Mitchell graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a degree in Screenwriting. He currently lives in the Greater Los Angeles area where he is a member of The Blank Page Writers Club. His short fiction has appeared in Hightower Magazine, Illustrated Worlds, and Canyon Voices Literary Magazine as well as the anthologies Nightmare Fuel: Body Horror (Cloaked Press) and Through the Briar Patch (Hollow Oak Press). 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