The Taco Pod by M87

The jump, as expected, was pretty much instantaneous. It's in the final trial phase, and it does the job pretty well. Much quicker than the long travel times we were used to until now. You can so very subtly feel what's happening and you feel the jitters, even in the short time the jump takes. I'm fairly confident they'll fix these issues and we'll get better at this.

Of course, as is always the case, I spend more time waiting for the jump than the jump itself.

It's bright out here, especially considering where we really are. It appears not everyone has arrived yet. I notice a few familiar faces and a lot of unfamiliar faces. The host, my friend who invited me here today, is behind the cooking station. The smell of cooked meat fills the pod and it's making me hungry.

As soon as I greet the host, they look up, smile and give me a taco. I say hi to their partner who is standing nearby. We have a quick chat about how things are going and they ask if I'm still employed. I sheepishly say yes and we grin at each other, knowingly. I want to eat the taco, so I step away from the station to try and find a place to sit and eat.

Nearby, there's some unfamiliar faces seated around a table. I say hi to them, sit myself on a chair nearby and introduce myself. We get chatting and I finish the taco, as we talk. It is delicious, by the way, and I want more. I continue chatting with them. A woman joins the group and I sense her discomfort. I don't introduce myself and neither does she. What stopped me, I wonder? What stopped her? We never really connect all the while we are there. Clearly, it bothers me.

More people start to trickle in. I chat with some of them, get to know their names, meet their partners and a baby too. Somewhere during all of that, I go back to the cooking station, get myself couple more tacos and talk to my friend. They tell me they're doing alright, that they are going to take some time off, and figure out their next venture. I feel inspired and glad they're doing alright, not that there was anything to worry.

They are not my best friend, but a good friend. We used to work together, and so here I am, not really an insider and not really an outsider either - in this weird kind of no person's land. When I first arrived, I felt like they were being nonchalant, but I realize now they were in their groove, deeply engrossed in the work and giving their all.

I feel energized and joyful. I'm glad I took the time to come out here, meet my friend and their friends, and enjoy some good food. Around two hours of being there, I start feeling jittery and I have some work to catch up. So, I bid my goodbyes - not as awkward as my hellos and leave.

As I head out, and wait at the jump station, I get a message asking me if I had saved any tacos. I wince and feel regret and shame. I tell him the half-truth that I had forgotten and it was my fault that he may not have any tacos left when he arrives. The other half of the truth is that the no person's land had stopped me asking my friend to save some tacos. I realize I have to make up to him somehow.

The light blinks. It's my turn to jump.