The inside of the building was nothing like the dusty yellow landscape outside. Its walls and floors were made of beautiful white metal, with floating displays and virtual flowers scattered throughout. The towering dome filtered the sunlight, keeping the place bright without letting it get hot.
"Ah, air-conditioning. This feels so good." Harley slumped against Su Ming's shoulder as if she could no longer walk.
He settled her on a bench in the waiting area to enjoy the cool air. All sorts of aliens were lined up nearby to deliver goods, including some hideous ones, but she did not care in the slightest. She was not nervous at all.
"I'm going to ask around. Don't wander off." Su Ming handed her a Plasma Pistol for protection.
"Mm, go on. And ask where I can get ice cream." Harley took the weapon, closed her eyes, and leaned back to doze, looking perfectly obedient.
The metal floor was polished enough to reflect people's faces. Su Ming's footsteps rang crisply through the hall as he approached a robot at the information desk. It looked rather like a silver Robot WALL-E, with two enormous blinking eyes.
"Hello, and welcome to the Milky Way Archaeology Association. How may I help you?"
It spoke so fast that English seemed to burn its mouth, and its voice had an electronic edge.
"I'm looking for someone. Dr. Aphra is on this planet, right? Can you contact her, or give me her exact location?"
Deathstroke studied the robot's head. It was square, without a curve to it.
"There are currently 150,333 association members on this planet. Aphra was once one of them." The robot rolled its eyes upward as it searched its database, and a wisp of heat rose from its head. "But her last visit to the association