Still wide awake after making planet fall Kee decided to make herself comfortable in her new home. The apartment was a ways off from the central hub of the colony. She'd requested it that way. She was still raw from her parents' death and wasn't ready for major socialization. So the outskirts served her just right. The housing unit was nothing special, but it was efficient and utilitarian. She quickly distributed her possessions, sorted out her clothes in wardrobes and armoires. Her toiletries went into the bathroom. The kitchenette was fully equipped so she didn't need to buy anything except out of personal preference. She took out her data pad, hooked it to the computer system in the office room and downloaded a schematic map of the colony.

	Since she wasn't sleepy at all she decided to go exploring. There was, of course the main admin and science building of Weylan-Yutani. It's where the science labs would be, as well as the offices of the scientists and the administration personnel. Then there was the office of the Colonial Marshal Bureau, where she supposed worked the representatives of the Sol Law. Besides those there were all sorts of other miscellaneous buildings. Residential sectors, business sectors, even a shopping district. She studied the map carefully trying to memorize important landmarks. It was an occupational hazard. She mapped out a route for herself, grabbed her jacket, her keys and her pad and went out.

	The sun was gently setting beyond the horizon and night was slowly overtaking the peaceful looking colony. Bathed by the artificial lighting it was difficult for Q to really feel as if she was on an alien planet. She made her way towards the official buildings first. The Colonial Marshal Bureau appeared to be closed, its windows dark. She went past it, continuing her stroll, approaching the administration building and science labs. There were still lit windows here and there, but she wasn't surprised. The scientists were probably just burning the midnight oil. There were probably security guards, as well, doing sweeps. She continued ahead to her next target. The shopping district. She didn't know if the actual shops would be opened so late, but there would probably be entertainment locals that should be still open. A bar, a night club, a restaurant. Something. She wasn't wrong. True, most of the stores were closed for the day, but there was a bar opened. And even a 24/7 restaurant that boasted international and interplanetary cuisine. The aromas carried on the wind from the inside of the building tickled Kee's nostrils tantalizingly. She was a bit of a foodie and a sort of culinary adventurer. Plus, she was a wee bit hungry.

	"In we go, then." She decided.

	A ruddy looking middle-aged woman approached her quickly with a warm disposition and a welcoming smile on her face.

	"Evening, luv, what can I do you for?" She handed Kee a couple of menu pads. One read 'International human cuisine', another 'Interplanetary cuisine', yet another 'Human beverages', and the last one 'Interplanetary beverages'. "Whenever you're ready tap the order icon on any of the menus..." She indicated the appropriate icon. "And I'll be here in a jiff." She winked at Caoimhe and strode off towards the inner sections of the restaurant.

	Kee was smiling while perusing the menus. The atmosphere of the restaurant was pleasant and welcoming. It had the feel of an old Earth family restaurant. The furnishing was yet again simple, efficient and utilitarian. Hestia Prime was a relatively young colony and everything carried the feel of necessary efficiency without too much fluff. That would come, she supposed, later on. Still, there were personal touches here and there, embellishments, quirky objects and whatnot. Anything to remove the sterile feel of the interior.

	She began browsing through the menu pads and quickly found they had some functionalities, which were quite agreeable. There would, of course, be a detailed description of each interplanetary dish and beverage. But you could also call out parallels to more familiar dishes for reference. Also each dish would come with recommendations for certain beverages.

	Kee took her time exploring the menus. As a foodie she often lost herself perusing the menus. Especially if the selection was as wide-ranged as it was in this restaurant. 'The Hestia Delights' it was called. Finally, reluctantly, she settled on an Ethiopian dish, which presumably went well with a certain interplanetary non-alcoholic beverage dubbed 'Fire Chaser'. She tapped the 'order' icon on her menu pad and the ruddy looking woman reappeared in a flash.

	"What'll it be, luv?" She asked smiling.

	"I'll have the doro wat and the Fire Chaser." Kee answered liking how the woman called her 'luv'. It drew her in and made her feel as if she wasn't eating out, but at the house of friends.

	"Excellent choice!" The woman exclaimed. "We mix our very own brand of berbere, would you like a taste test?"

	"Yes, please." Kee agreed.

	"I'll be right back." She disappeared and quickly returned with a minuscule looking cup containing a quarter teaspoonful of berbere. She handed it to Kee. "There you go."

	Caoimhe, a fan of the Ethiopian cuisine first sniffed carefully the spice. Ethiopian berbere was extremely spicy. She then proceeded to lick a finger and dip it into the spice and promptly transferring the power onto her tongue. The appendage immediately exploded in a shock of fiery pain and pleasure. She blinked a couple of times to chase the watery mist that had covered her eyes. "Excellent!" She exclaimed.

	The ruddy woman nodded in pleasure. "Would you like us to prepare the doro wat with the full dose or..." She trailed off not finishing the question.

	"Let's start off a bit conservative." Q grinned in answer.

	"Seventy percent than?" The woman quickly suggested.

	"Yes, that would be perfect, thank you."

	"I will be back with your meal shortly." She assured and walked away.

	And just as promised the woman returned shortly with Kee's order. A steaming hot doro wat and her Fire Chaser. After her first few mouthfuls she quickly understood how aptly named this Fire Chaser was. Even at only 70% her mouth quickly exploded in that sweet mix of pain and pleasure that all spicy foods produced. Her eyes and nose watered in nanoseconds. She ate and drank with gusto. When she finished she was red in the face, there were tears in her eyes and her nose was runny. She couldn't have been happier in that particular moment.

	She called her bill and the ruddy woman reappeared out of nowhere. "Was that to your liking than?" She asked politely, the wink still present.

	"It was magnificent!" Kee enthused. "You've won me as a client for life."

	"We'll do our best to keep you then." The woman beamed.

	Her bill settled, Kee exited the restaurant and opted for a leisure stroll back to her place to provide her stomach with ample time to begin digesting the doro wat and the Fire Chaser.

	She pretty much retraced her route back to her home. Passing by closed shops, business buildings, the admin building and science labs with the sporadically lit windows, the still dark Colonial Marshal Bureau and finally her own place. She entered, made sure to lock and secure her windows, performed her evening hygiene rituals and went straight to bed thinking [i]It's peaceful here if nothing else.[/i]