From the bottom of the canyon the cliff extends up disappearing into wispy clouds and the glare of the sun. Across the bottom, it looks like Moab http://gallery.unicyclist.com/mmf05/P0002495 but at larger scale.
Exhausted and hot, they decide it’s best to find a local shelter so they can stop and rest for the first time since they left Earth. Harper points out a cavern in the mesa a short distance off and on they cycle.
The cavern is huge, seems that the scale of the terrain is hard to judge, everything is gigantic, the cavern is wide, high and extends deep disappearing into the darkness. They practically craw from their uni’s into the cave, lie back, and immediately dose off.
A short while later, “TESTING, TESTING 1 2 3, TESTING. DUDE, OK ON THE RIGHT? OK, LEFT? GOOD…” Blast through the cave over the sound system being installed.
Jolted awake by the shock of the amplified sound. Just as in a reoccurring nightmare they recognize that voice, “That’s Obie” say’s Debbie.
Chrashing half asleep wonders maybe that’s a good idea, “A right and left testicle check” after the incredible ride down.
“CENTER OK?”
Chrashing is startled awake.
”IT’S A SOUND CHECK DUDES! GEZZ.”,
“DUDES! YOU MADE IT TO THE BOTTOM. ODDS WERE 50/50 ON ANY OF YOU SURVIVING. WHAT A SURPRISE, AND SUCH GOOD TIME YOU MADE, SOME SORT OF A RECORD. NO ONE GUESSED EIGHT HOURS. YOU’ll HAVE TO FORGIVE US FOR BEING LATE, WE’RE GETTING THE FOOD ON, AND THE BANDS WILL START SHORTLY.”
Food! With the shock of speeding down the escarpment trail, and the resulting exhaustion they hadn’t noticed how hungry they’d become. Looking around they see BBQ grills and tables of food set up along the other wall. As they walk over, there is loud feedback, guitar rifts, drums and busy voices from the gigantic speakers at the entrance to the cave.
The grills have chicken, beef, and vegetables roasting. Neighboring tables are full of chips, salads, fruit, soda, beer, ice and deserts. Deserts include pie, cake, ice cream and cookies. All in great abundance.
With the coolness of the evening, sitting with their full plates, the first band begins,
Pink, begins with ‘Get this party started’, I’m coming up so you better get this party started…
Followed with,
Led Zeppelin, ‘Stairway to Heaven”,There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold, And she’s buying the stairway to heaven…
“How great is this!” They think, as they rock into the night.
On with Eric Clapton, Aerosmith, and even Elton John with “Rocket Man”.
Later Obie interrupts the music; “ OK I need your attention for a few minutes. It’s time to vote. You’ll need to vote some to be expelled out of the group.”
Evil Nick speaks for the team, “That wasn’t part of deal, why do we need to vote…” Obie interrupts by pulling his phaser out of his vest into clear view. The team backs off, and decides they’ll have to go along.
Obie insists the voting is to be done quickly, with little time for consideration. The votes are tallied.
Obie announces, “OK, Seems that little slip-up at the top of the cliff is gonna cost ya Chrashing. They’ve voted you out. So tomorrow you’re off on your own.”
“OK, Hey, now so let’s rock.”
Pink Floyd begins with ‘Comfortably Numb’, ” Hello? Is there anybody in there? Just nod if you can hear me.”
[OK, I can see attendance is low, and participation to the story thread is less. ?]