Galactic gastronomic fantasy tour.
Burger joint "Hot tentacles"

While I was passionately scribbling ideas for creating the Community and planning their implementation, the Electronic brought us to a new point in cosmic space. What a structure! Something semi-living, semi-artificial is flying towards our spaceship.
No, of course not. It's hanging in near-planetary orbit. We're flying to it.

We approach. The burger joint "Hot Tentacles."
Interesting…
We've docked.

The Electronic eagerly selects a new utility for disembarkation. I sternly wag my finger at him, remembering his recent flirtations with the blue-eyed stranger. He lowers five of his six glowing eyes.
Clicks on the "Gastronomic Taster" utility and glances at me with the sixth eye, tracking my reaction. I smile. The Taster suits me just fine. We disembark.

The burger joint is noisy, appetizing, and dynamic. Multi-armed waiters fling orders onto the tables of the travelers who dropped by for a bite. Various alien creatures dart around.

Under the tables, a couple of small, chemically pink octopuses are spinning. Ah, I get it... It's something like the local equivalent of our cats. They've attached themselves here and are snacking on the guests' leftovers.

We sit down, and a helpful and attentive tentacle-bearer materializes near us. Here it's simpler with pictures. They at least have them at the order pickup counter. We generously pick out a bunch of colorful, unusual dishes and anticipate a feast.

The Electronic modestly glances around, demonstratively skipping over the charming ladies. Diligently examining the food on others' tables, he makes every effort to show me that he's here on business. I amuse myself silently.

We've picked up quite a bit of food. We'll have to take some with us.

This time, the Electronic shoves the offered food into all three mouths, tasting, analyzing, containerizing samples, and saving the results on the go. Yes, you are my diligent little helper...

There’s a squeak from below. A local variety of cat, fuchsia-colored, is begging for its portion of treats, adorably stretching thin tentacles towards our plates. Amusing.

Somehow, our meal feels a bit dull today. Maybe I was too harsh on the Electronic for his romantic escapades in the "Blue Delight"?

We're full. Collected samples. Noted what we can offer this establishment when we launch our Community project. Asked the waiter for a basket for the leftovers. And headed home.

The Electronic is still demonstratively composed. Switched to the flight utility. Busily sat in the pilot's seat. I even feel awkward. I approach the neighboring seat.

"A-a-a-a!"—I scream childishly in surprise. A small, brightly pink octopus nipped my heel and is now watching warily from a slight distance.

The mischievous look of the Electronic brings me to my senses. "Did you bring him?"—I sternly screech at his three cheeky faces. "Take him back!"
I try to grab the basket with provisions from which the octopus escaped and shove him back.

Yeah, right! He surprisingly strongly pushes my hand away, grabs the basket handle with his head, and, puffing, drags it behind the Electronic's chair. Turned all crimson. The Electronic is laughing out loud. What an assistant we have— "if it's not one thing, it's another".

I bark as loud as I can. Complete silence falls. And I catch the reproachful gaze of four pairs of eyes—three glowing electronic ones and one innocent pink one framed by curly tentacles.
I surrender.

Rascals…
As soon as I wave my hand, the fuchsia-colored creature slips towards the Electronic. Nimbly climbs up his legs, clinging with suckers. Slips higher. And settles on his central head, sprawling out and hugging it from all sides.

My turn to laugh: "And how will you woo ladies now with this attachment?"
Ha-ha! One to one!


The name Fuchs didn't stick to the octopus. It quickly transformed into Kiss-Kiss and remained so. Kiss-Kiss doesn't mind. He responds to anything as long as it’s followed by chocolate chip cookies from our onboard supplies.

The three of us fly on.



To be continued…