impact
- As the group gets off the ship, they're bombarded by all kinds of banner ads from their feeds: hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues, and even places where you can rent extra arms. Because who doesn't need extra arms?
- Anyway, our dude notices that the ads show a happy, sparkly, fun moon, but he notices some of the surrounding scenery is streaked with black and is kind of dingy.
- What?? Advertising is not always strictly accurate? We don't believe it.
- Now we find out that the narrator Titus is with two bro friends (Marty and Link) and three girls: Calista, Loga and Quendy.
- It's some kind of school break, so there are tons of kids on the moon.
- Once at the hotel, the guys watch football (some things never change!), and the girls chat with each other. This is probably done on their smartphones or computers or whatever they have, because the guys can't hear what they're saying.
- After ordering some "fancy nutrient IVs" from room service, the group decides to head over to a restaurant that serves "electrolyte chunkies" (2.5). It's no Bloomin' Onion , but… yum?
- So, the group ends up at J.P. Barnigan's Family Extravaganza, which sounds like a kind of near-future Applebee's. Or Friday's. Or... you get the picture.
- On the rest of the moon complex, there is decent artificial gravity (compared to the hotel, which has little, so people are all float-y).
- Our gang tries to get into a ragin' college-kid party, but no luck.
- Maybe it's their appearance: they've been traveling and their hair is all greasy.
- Oh, and they have lesions. That's right, lesions. They're apparently sores that "people were getting" (2.8), and right now these kids are looking pretty gross because of them.
- They make the sound decision to shower and change clothes, then groove on over to The Ricochet Lounge where the main attraction is basically a free-for-all game of bumper cars—but without the cars. So, bumper bodies.
- Everyone dons a stuffed suit and helmet, and whams into others at high speed in the low- or no-gravity environment. The business's slogan is: "Slam the Ones You Love" (2.9).
- This place used to be pretty hip (no, seriously), but is now looking rather shabby and run-down.
- We find out that Link is part of a "secret patriotic experiment" and that's why he's so tall and lanky (2.10). You know, like Captain America.
- Loga and Titus apparently had a thing about six months ago. Now they're just friends, but Titus isn't discounting the possibility of anemergency hook-up with her if no other prospects come their way.
- And besides: he's kind of jealous of the way Link is slamming his body into Loga's.
- The guys start to play a game with a ball, but soon get bored. Again.
- We're starting to sense a pattern.
- Very soon, Link and Marty start arguing about whether or not this place sucks, when Titus notices someone watching them.
- And this someone is only the most beautiful girl Titus has ever seen.
- She's looking at them like "they were shit" (2.24). Titus still thinks she's awesome, and thinks it must be something abouther spine, but he struggles to come up with an adjective.
- The feed (smartphone? computer?) gives him the word he is looking for: "supple" (2.26).