NOVPUBUsually, or according to the map and Rodney's information at least, reaching specific Domes would require switching trains in certain nodes.
However, Khan had chosen a popular and easy-to-reach location for his first real trip through Merth 290. Dome 100 was his destination, and the train taken from Dome 56 stopped right under it.
Sadly, for many passengers, Dome 100 was also their destination. They could ignore the hooded strangers while they sat silently and affectionately on the train, but their survival instincts rang again as soon as they stood up.
Exiting such crowded vehicles often led to chaotic, hurried moments, but the area under Dome 100 was unusually calm and orderly that day. The passengers feigned ignorance but also waited for Khan and Liiza to leave the train before going on with their businesses. They also avoided joining the queues for the elevators, allowing the two to resurface quickly.
Khan and Liiza were still hand in hand when the elevator brought them to a short hall featuring many landing areas. People resurfaced from both sides, heading to the many transparent doors before them. Holograms also shone beside those openings, featuring more maps and other services.
The couple approached the holograms but didn't waste much time studying them before leaving the building. Maps were extremely useful, but Khan still lacked money, so the trip to Dome 100 mainly aimed at killing time.
Khan and Liiza finally became able to see the bottom of one of Merth 290's domes after exiting the building. A curved ceiling illuminated by white light stood far above them, shining on a series of ample streets and various buildings with bright banners.
The buildings weren't too big or fancy. Khan couldn't see all of them from his position, but that initial impression already provided a general idea of the place.
The structures reminded Khan of the Slums. Dome 100 was far cleaner and well-made, but its buildings resembled a messy pile of ordinary stands connected through staircases on their insides and outsides.
Each of those stands acted as an individual shop described by glowing holograms and banners. That created a multicolored, shining scene that went beyond the definition of light pollution, almost turning it into a blinding assault on people's vision.
Luckily, the streets lacked individual stands but were far from orderly. Groups of humans and Orlats roamed them, often deciding to enter one of the open shops. The place was crowded and flourishing with life, as well as enveloped in a loud cacophony of whispers and shouts.
Khan couldn't help but draw new comparisons with Milia 222. He couldn't see the entire dome from his position, but his senses gave him an idea of its size. It was nothing more than a block compared to Milia 222's cities, and its quality looked inferior to the random stands he had seen on the asteroids' first floors.
Nevertheless, Khan knew he was in a public dome that required no entrance fee. The more private and costly areas were bound to have higher-quality shops and services. Moreover, Merth 290 was far bigger than Milia 222, so its overall options had to be wider.
Of course, Liiza's thoughts went in a completely different direction. She was a stranger to those multicolored, dizziness-inducing scenes. She also found that ugly arrangement of lights and technology distasteful, but her eyes couldn't help but commit every detail to memory.
"This is a shopping district," Khan explained, referring to what he had read from Rodney's information. "It's where you can buy all kinds of stuff."
"I know what a shopping district is," Liiza scoffed. "We might have spent most of our time together on mountains or inside caves, but the Niqols had cities. You saw one, too."
Khan chuckled. He didn't want to treat Liiza as a clueless toddler, but the innocent curiosity that seeped through the mental connection made him exploit those moments. Liiza had always been the wiser and more knowledgeable of the two, but that was Khan's world.
"Should we talk about what happened with the Orlats?" Khan couldn't help but mention.
"They were indeed Orlats then," Liiza muttered, confirming her guess. "What about them?"
"I don't really like them as a species," Khan revealed, "But that arm will take a while to recover."
Liiza diverted her gaze from the multicolored display of banners to look at Khan. Her hood hid it, but Khan still felt able to see her slight perplexity. Somehow, she was failing to spot the issue Khan was mentioning.
"I'm your wife," Liiza exclaimed. "I decide when and if someone can touch you."
Liiza seemed to have said the most normal thing in the world, and Khan didn't know what was scarier. Her words had been quite troubling, but that casual mindset was probably far worse.
Still, some twisted parts of Khan's brain also found that extreme behavior reassuring. After all, Liiza had been ready to kill Azni because of a misunderstanding back then. Khan only had himself to blame if he expected anything to be different after marrying that very girl.
Also, a specific memory resurfaced, updating Khan of a hypocritical truth. He had come close to doing something similar to Lucian in the Harbor during his harmless flirting with Monica. Khan was in no position to judge Liiza there.
"You truly did some weird magic on me in Nitis," Khan sighed. "I was such a pure, virtuous boy before you."
Liiza giggled, letting go of Khan's hand to take his arm. "I told you to climb mountains and warned you in every conceivable way, but you still killed yourself just to spend a few more minutes with me."
"I blame it all on you," Khan shook his head. "You kissed me first."
"And you brazenly flirted with me even after Paul scolded you," Liiza pointed out. "You kept being all honest and doing that cute gesticulating thing."
"Ah, Paul, Paul," Khan dramatically said. "I should have heeded your warnings. Look at me now, married to the love of my life. No one will believe my tragic hero act anymore."
"You are an idiot," Liiza said, refraining from exploding into a loud laugh in that public space. "And thank you for being one. No one else could have forced me to accept happiness when I had given up on it."
Khan had a joke ready but couldn't voice it. He only glanced at the figure clinging to his arm, realizing how dangerous that mood was.
"If I reply," Khan warned, "We'd put the entire dome at risk, and everyone is already staring at us."
The couple had yet to move from the elevator building's entrance. Khan and Liiza didn't block anyone's path, but standing still and their unique attire inevitably earned them a great deal of curious looks.
"That's how it should be," Liiza pouted. "It's not the same as dragging you among the trees in front of everyone, and we are still hiding, but it's enough for now."
Liiza tried to hide it, but Khan felt how happy she was about that public date, and he couldn't help but share that sentiment.
"Well," Khan called. "Shall we look around before I try to find ways to get between your legs?"
"I'm sure you'll try that in the meantime anyway," Liiza giggled, agreeing to the offer and letting Khan guide her into the shopping district.
"Keep an eye out for mantles, hoodies, and scarves," Khan mentioned. "I also wouldn't mind if you took a liking to some skirts."
"Why skirts?" Liiza wondered. "Aren't they too revealing for this place?"
"Ah," Khan gasped, realizing his mistake. "That's a story for another time."
Obviously, mere words couldn't trick Liiza. Her jealousy seeped past the mental connection, and the hand on Khan's arm grew far colder.
"Husband," Liiza called, her fake calm tone unable to trick Khan. "I think this is the perfect time for that story."
