"Welcome to Universal City Walk Lucas!" Sean said, throwing open his arms at the entrance to what looked like a bustling street.
"Whoa…" Lucas said.
"They have everything here! Food, shopping, entertainment, and excellent people watching opportunities!" Ellie exclaimed.
There were lights everywhere, fountains, carts full of things for sale and music blaring loudly over speakers. True to her description, there were people milling about everywhere, laughing, talking, and shopping.
"I've gotta get something for Sam," he said to Ellie.
"Okay! We'll find her something great here!"
They walked around, Lucas trying to drink it all in so that he could tell everyone about it when he got back to the ship. He wished he'd brought a camera.
"I've got one," Ellie whispered in his ear.
"How do you keep doing that?"
"Jedi mind trick," she replied.
Lucas burst out laughing at the remark and Ellie pulled a small, thin camera out of her pocket.
"Go stand over there with Sean," she said, pointing to a giant guitar proudly announcing the name of the restaurant, The Hard Rock Café. Dutifully, both posed in front of the sign, Sean's arm over Lucas' shoulders as Ellie snapped the picture.
They spent the next two hours visiting every shop, cart and stand located there. Ellie took dozens of pictures of Lucas; trying on silly hats, playing with wind up toys and more. Lucas was always on the look out for a present for Sam, and he found it in the last store they entered.
There on the counter was a clear glass ball containing a dolphin carved out of crystal. Lucas picked it up and studied it, wondering if Sam would like it.
"It lights up," the lady behind the counter said to him.
"It does?" Lucas asked, turning it over and over and looking for a switch, and not finding one, shaking it.
The woman laughed. "Put it back on the base and I'll show you."
Lucas set it back down on the base as the woman pressed a button on a small remote. Instantly, the ball was lit up with a soft blue light, reminiscent of the color cast into the hallways of the SeaQuest from the sea tubes running along the ship.
"I'll take it," Lucas said, knowing that Sam would love it.
"Good choice Lucas, I think she'll like it." Ellie said.
"I think so too," he replied. Pulling some money out of his pocket, he paid the woman and waited while she boxed and wrapped it. Lucas counted the money, he only had so much to last him this two weeks. He'd sent a request to the bank that held the money that Lawrence and Cynthia had set aside for him for his use while at Stanford. He'd known there was still money in the account, and he'd asked for the money to be mailed to him when he knew what he wanted to do. The woman came back and thanked him, handing him Sam's gift in a small bag.
"Where to next?" Sean asked.
"I'm hungry," Lucas said.
"Sean, is NFC still standing?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Let's go there; I want Lucas to have something."
"Okay, sounds great."
The trio headed out of the store and back to the car. As they climbed in, Lucas asked, "What's NFC?"
"Northridge Fashion Center," Ellie replied.
"What's that?"
Ellie turned and looked at him like he'd grown a second head. "Haven't you ever been to the mall Lucas?"
"No."
"Wow, that's crazy!" Sean said.
"Just wait Lucas, you'll see."
Sean pulled the car out of the parking space and headed back to the freeway. After what seemed like an eternity, they got off the freeway and headed through a residential area. They turned into a large parking lot and as they drove through it, Lucas realized that the parking lot was huge and completely surrounded a series of buildings. Sean quickly found a parking spot, and they headed for one of the buildings. Walking through the glass doors, Lucas just stopped to look around him.
"Wow, look at this place!" he said. He had never been to a mall, he'd heard of them, but had never really gone.
Ellie smiled. "A shopping paradise for some," she replied. "But come on, if you're hungry I've got a treat for you. I just hope it's still here."
Lucas and Sean followed her as she moved through the crowds with ease. Lucas scanned the fronts of the stores they passed, seeing if they contained anything that interested him.
"There it is!" Ellie cried out happily.
"Cinnabon?" Sean replied.
"Yes Cinnabon! I bet you've never had one of these have you Lucas."
"No," he replied; as his mouth started watering at the sweet smell drifting toward him.
"Oh man, you're missing out then," Sean said. "This was Gavin's all time favorite dessert."
They walked into the small store, Ellie ordering for Lucas and Sean paying as he ordered one for himself. The cashier handed them the gooey confections on a tray, and as Sean walked past Lucas, the smell of cinnamon reached his nose and his stomach growled.
Sitting down at a small table, Sean slid a small plate toward Lucas. Lucas stared at the mass of sugar, cinnamon and frosting for only a second before sticking his fork in and ripping a piece out. Stuffing it in his mouth, he closed his eyes and let out a groan of satisfaction. Ellie and Sean laughed, and he chewed slowly. Boy was he going to miss these when he went back to the SeaQuest.
"This is so good," Lucas said before sticking another piece in his mouth.
"Yeah I remember," Ellie said.
It was silent as both Lucas and Sean scarfed down the cinnamon rolls. Ellie once again occupied herself by watching people. Suddenly, looking behind Lucas, her brow furrowed.
"Who is that?" she asked Sean.
Sean looked up and Lucas turned around to see a young man with a video camera and a camera crew behind him walking toward them. He was talking into the camera and describing some of the stores, which ones he liked, what he did when he came here. Behind him about 20 feet, were a group of young girls, most of them not more than 9 or 10, following behind him and reverently stopping in the places he'd stopped and touching the things he'd touched.
"Oh that's Jason Barnham. He's a really popular actor on some TV show."
"Oh," Ellie said, turning her attention elsewhere.
Lucas was fascinated. How come those girls were following him like that? Why was he talking into that camera with another camera crew behind him? What did he have that Lucas didn't? He turned back and looked at Ellie, who was giving him a strange look. He slowly slid his foot out into the walkway as Jason neared.
"Lucas, don't!" Ellie whispered fiercely, but it was too late.
Jason tripped over Lucas' extended foot, sending him sprawling to the floor. Lucas turned to look at him, feigning surprise. "Sorry man," Lucas said before standing up and extending a hand to Jason.
"Uh, it's ok, it was an accident. No harm, no foul," Jason replied, accepting the hand up. Lucas looked to the girls following Jason, who had been looking on in mute fascination until their eyes settled on Lucas. Suddenly, Ellie noticed, they couldn't decide which boy they wanted to look at.
"I'm Lucas," he said, addressing Jason.
"Jason Barnham," the young man replied, shaking Lucas' hand.
"Why are all these people following you around?"
"Oh, I'm filming this video for one of the teen magazines. They want me to do a 'Day in the Life' sort of thing," Jason replied. Then, leaning closer to Lucas he whispered, "I think it's kind of lame though."
Lucas nodded. "Not to mention annoying," he replied, slightly jerking his heads toward the girls.
"Oh, them? Harmless. Comes with the territory I guess."
"What territory?"
"Being on T.V."
"Oh, I wouldn't know. I don't think I've ever been on T.V. unless being on a videoconference counts."
The young man looked intrigued. "What do you do?"
"I'm the Chief Computer Analyst on board the SeaQuest."
"No way!"
"Yeah, but I bet being on T.V. is pretty cool."
"I'd trade for your job any day. But how did you get that? You can't be much older than I am."
"I'm not. I'm 17."
"Wow, that's awesome," Jason replied, before suddenly remembering the camera crew. "I'd love to stay and talk to you more about your job, you seem really cool, but I have to finish this," he said sadly.
"Hey, no problem man, I understand. Look, I'll be in town for another two weeks," Lucas said, pulling out his wallet and taking one of the business type cards the UEO had given him out. "My email address is there. Send me an email and we'll talk more."
Jason accepted it with a grin. "Definitely. I'll send you a message soon. It was nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too," Lucas replied as Jason walked away.
The girls trailing behind him stopped in front of Lucas. "Can we have your email too?" one asked.
"Uh, no, sorry, my girlfriend wouldn't like it," Lucas said, glancing at Ellie.
Ellie's eyes widened as the girl's moaned in disappointment and moved on. "I thought that freaked you out?" she asked.
"Well the thought of having to give my email address out to 9 year old freaks me out even more."
"Point taken. Why did you trip him?"
"Oh, easy to explain. I'm going to use him in my plan."
"How?"
"You'll see," Lucas said, sitting down and finishing up his cinnamon roll.
Ellie shrugged. "You guys finished?"
"I am," Sean said.
"Me too," replied Lucas.
They stood up left, walking around the mall and looking in the stores. Ellie dragged Lucas into a store called "GAP" and had him try on clothes. He actually bought a couple of pairs of jeans that he'd liked.
Sean looked at his watch. "It's getting late guys, we'd better get going."
Ellie nodded and they began to head for the entrance where they'd come in. As they walked, two young men walked past them, looking Ellie up and down. It absolutely infuriated Lucas for reasons he couldn't even explain.
"Seriously sweet ass," one said to the other in Russian.
Before he could say a word, Ellie turned around. "Keep dreaming," she responded in perfect Russian. Lucas stared at her in shock. "What?" she asked innocently.
"You speak Russian?" Lucas asked.
"Yeah. Italian, German, Spanish and Arabic too."
"You always were good at languages Elle," Sean said.
Lucas decided to test her, saying "Like mother like son," in Arabic.
Ellie smiled. "As always," she replied.
"Unbelievable," Lucas said, shaking his head.
As they reached the car and slid in, Lucas realized how tired he was. It had been a full day and he'd seen so much. He leaned his head back against the seat and was asleep before they'd left the parking lot.