Lost & Found (A Human X Anthro Shark story) - Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Arca was getting out of the private AFIA-sponsored and yet-funded aircraft that landed in one of the local airports, which was close to where she would be working and investigating.
But the aircraft wasn't like the ones on Earth; they resembled spaceships from a sci-fi genre, and instead of using a turbine propulsion system, they employed a different thruster system that was called an ion engine system, which was a space-satellite craft used for space travel back on Earth, but somehow that this world they were able to use it for both airspace, in atmospheric planets and space itself.
She was out of the side door from which the aircraft deployed a set of steps that helped any passenger get off the plane that Arca had flown in from. Walking with her small, yet only, luggage, carrying it with her free hand.
She took easy steps as she descended from them. Once she was on the clean grey concrete of the outside parts of the airport, she looked around a bit, looking for the main building where she could grab her rental and head over to the hotel that her boss assigned her to be in.
She was wearing her undercover clothing, letting others think she was on a private vacation just for herself.
She wore beach clothing, a long white silk beach dress, and a pair of brown, slightly lowered heels that were easily enough for her toes and feet to fit perfectly in the shoes she was wearing. And wore a straw-constructed sun hat that covered over beak and face and a pair of circle frames that had neon orange faded sunglasses.
The wind greeted her, causing the clothing she was wearing to brush against her slightly. The drapes she wore were moving, the same dynamic as a small, easy-as-you-hang-flag on-the-pole system. Then, it is lifted by the wind and is dragged and dangling and glided by the air itself, similar to that kind of effect.
Walking across the concrete ground to the small yet intricate building of the airport. Walking through the sliding doors that led her inside, she saw a few other civilians waiting in the waiting chairs for their next departure or waiting for other relatives to arrive from their flight.
Staying focused, Arca left the airport and, at the front entrance of the airport, noticed a small parking lot and a few vehicles that were parked. One of those vehicles was the one that the agency provided for her to use in her investigation.
A source of transport while she scopes out the area in hopes of finding what she was looking for.
Pulling the keys to the car, clicking one of the buttons, and hearing the vehicle's horn beep to life helped her identify which car was hers.
Walking to it, she clicked on the remote receiver, and with that, the driver door flipped open like a Tesla or a Delorean, in a way.
Once the driver's side door was opened, she pressed another button. She watched as the trunk of the vehicle extended itself for her to put her luggage in.
It didn't take her any effort as she lifted the traveling case slightly up and set it down gently in the trunk. After loading the trunk, it automatically started to retract itself and close on its own.
The vehicle she was assigned resembled a futuristic cyber vehicle and was coated in both light and dark grey colors. As the driver's side door opened, she easily got in, and with that, the door closed by itself and started up.
Every known vehicle had a built-in AI system that operated the car, so the passenger wouldn't have to drive themselves to their destination.
However, they could if they wanted to. But Arca felt exhausted from the flight, so she thought it would be best for her to wait it out and take a moment to rest until the vehicle reached her hotel.
While it was on autopilot, she took a minute to take off her sunglasses. She realized that the windows to her transport, which had tinted windows, included the windscreen as well.
After taking a small sip from the hot beverage that Kira kindly let me try, I felt the strong chemistry from the drink rush through my body, as the adrenaline and caffeine caused a sugar-like rush inside me.
Remembering a small scene from the DreamWorks animation company movie called Turbo, a small snail drinks an incredibly high-dose energy drink. Once the cartoon character takes a sip, he mutters in pain, "That tastes awesome." And that was me in that kind of situation, or should I say scenario.
I recited that same sentence from the dialogue of the movie, and assuming Kira didn't find that humorous, because back on Earth, when I was a kid, I made that same joke similar to that. They would stare at me plainly like I had just said something stupid.
Because back on Earth, we were so serious, and I was a slinky type of person on Earth, and I tried to fit in because I was so awkward.
But after I said that to Kira, she laughed a genuine laugh that made me feel warm. Wait, why was this making me feel warm? She's an alien to me, and yet I was an alien to her as well, and I never thought it would work. But it turns out it did.
After a little moment of coffee drinking and the sudden rush crashing my body, causing me to be 'Jacked up!'
We drank in silence, but I could tell she was looking at me intently, not out of sight with a predatory gaze but a look of curiosity.
Once both of us were slightly finished, my coffee still half full and Kara's coffee drained to a pulp, she sighed in satisfaction as she brought her now empty cup to the kitchen sink. Turning on the faucet, she let it be rinsed with the water coming out of the faucet. Kara then turned to me and looked in my direction with that same caring gaze.
"Are you finished?" she asked, her tone gentle. I nodded, and even though there was still a half-filled cup of coffee in my hand, I thought I had enough for today. So, with that, I handed it to her, and she was able to grasp it with one fish-webbed hand easily. She brought it over to the sink, poured the last residue of coffee down the drain, and rinsed it out as well.
The two cups were rinsed and cleaned, then placed on a drying rack beside the sink.
After that was taken care of, she returned her gaze to me.
"Do you need anything before I go to my office?"
"Um, I don't think so. Also, before I forget, would it be okay, if I maybe take a walk around the island?" I asked, hoping I could take a moment to enjoy the scenery, not just from inside the beach house but also outside near the beach.
Kara looked at me hesitantly for a moment before making up her mind, "Okay, just be careful where you go."
I nodded knowingly, understanding what she was telling me.
"Okay, I can do that," I said knowingly.
After taking a moment to readjust, Kara left to do her work in her office. This allowed me to go barefoot, and that's precisely what I did. I was able to open the door for myself and walk out to feel the cold breeze.
I took a moment to walk and absorb the magnificent view before me, the waves and the water, so blue and clear. It was like something out of a dream after taking a moment to stand there and watch everything. The nature of what it was like to be at the edge of the beach. This tree hung over the edge of the water, brushing through the wind, the sound of the waves brushing against the sand...it was paradise and...peace. It was challenging for me when I was on Earth to find a place where I experienced inner peace, joy, and happiness.
I don't know how many times I have to say it, but it was truly magnificent.
Not having to worry about anything, and just being happy, heh, I guess Bob Marley was right after all, 'don't worry about a thing, because every little thing is going to be alright.'
Taking one more look out at the scenery, I renewed my focus on walking, humming one of the tunes I remembered listening to when I was a kid, which was called Jamming, by Bob Marley as well.
Looking around as I walked, I was so relaxed and enjoying the view of everything that was here, around me.
I felt like I was in the universe of Surf's Up or somewhere even more beautiful than that.
I didn't know how long I had been surrounding myself in this part of the island I was on, and I realized how far I was. I decided to return to the beach house and see if Kara wasn't there for the day.
Returning to the beach house, my feet were already covered from the rock particles sticking to the soles of my feet, and I brushed my sandy-covered feet on the rug that I happened to notice near the edge of the front door. After my feet were clean enough, I entered the house and saw that the fuel rod was still where it stood at the end of the front door.