Chapter 3 - (part two)

Two squat, round drone pods swiftly appeared on opposite sides of the Luna Moth and formed a virtual net with their tractor beams, slowing the craft's descent and guiding it to a gentle landing. They touched down in a circular clearing surrounded by a wooded park enclosure--it appeared to be a sort of picnic area, in fact.

From the cockpit of the Luna Moth, two young women disembarked, as slender and graceful as the craft from which they emerged. Daesti, petite but curvaceous, olive-skinned, tawny-haired, amber-eyed. Lina, lithe and a full head taller than her friend, had flaxen hair and ice-blue eyes, hallmarks of her forebears, who had been hearty stock from some icy homeworld. The two stepped down from the craft and surveyed their surroundings.

Some distance away, a small crowd began to gather round and stare. Before long, the bystanders started to murmur among themselves. They were nudging each other, pointing, and whispering.

"What's *their* problem?" said Lina. She put her hands on her hips defiantly. "It looks to me like they're the ones with the problem. A *weight* problem."

Daesti looked towards the group. It was true: Everyone in the crowd was fat. Cumbrously fat. Stranger still, they all appeared to be wearing pajama-like suits with ridiculous patterns printed on them--images of cakes and slices of pie and candy and lollipops. And everyone was eating something. Some held ice cream cones; others held thick sandwiches. All held colorful bottled beverages.

"I think we've figured out why they call this place Fatropolis," Daesti said at last.

Daesti had barely spoken when a hovercraft with flashing headlights and an open cockpit appeared further down the pathway and began to approach her and Lina. The vehicle was driven by an enormously fat man dressed in a loose-fitting uniform. He had on a white helmet with a silvery visor that obscured his eyes.

"Fatropolis Police!" said the man, rather redundantly, because the decals emblazoned on the hood of the hovercraft said as much, and the flashing lights reinforced it. The officer pointed to a large badge on the front of his jacket. He gave Daesti and Lina the once over. "Looks like you ladies are in clear violation of the law."

"We don't want any trouble," said Daesti, matter-of-factly. "We're just here to get our engine patched well enough to take us to Corus Sigma and then we'll leave without a fuss."

"Sorry, ma'am. City ordinance," said the officer. "Just because you're visitors doesn't exempt you from the law."

"And what law is that?" snapped Lina.

"Fatropolis City Code, Criminal Article, Section 9-503, paragraph 1, sub-paragraph A,"said the officer, as if merely citing it explained everything.

"Oh, of course," said Lina, derisively. "Sub-paragraph A. Look, we've been here all of 30 decaseconds. What could we possibly have done wrong, except almost crash-land into this backwards burg?"

"Excuse my friend's sarcasm," said Daesti apologetically, as she shot Lina an exasperated look. "We'll have to plead ignorance. Can you please tell us how we're breaking law...Section 9-503, paragraph...?"

"You're...und erweight." The officer said the latter word with a touch of disgust.

"And that's some sort of crime here?" asked Daesti.

"Obviously," said Lina. "Take a look around."

"Absolutely," said the officer. "By order of the Mayor herself. You're thin, so I'm taking you in."

The officer spoke into his communicator. "Yeah, Control? This is Badge 67302. I got a coupla skinnies here."

An incredulous voice came back: "Skinnies? You sure, 67302?"

"That's affirmative, Control. Sure as I'm sitting here. I know a skinny when I see one, and I got two of 'em."

"A pair of real live skinnies, huh? Well, I'll be fragged. Bring 'em in to the station right away. I'm sure we'd all like to see 'em."

"Come with me, ladies. And don't try anything cute."

Lina was irate. "So what now? You're seriously gonna throw us in jail for being too skinny?"

"No, no, not *jail*. The Fattenarium."

"The *Fattenarium*?" yelled Lina. "And what happens there?"

"You eat!"