EPISODE 5: THE TRADITION ## CHAPTER 1: THE REQUEST The Elder arrived without warning. She was human—old, impossibly old by spacer standards—with silver hair wound into an elaborate configuration and robes that somehow looked both ancient and space-adapted. She entered the Waypoint during morning rush and stood near the door, surveying the café with eyes that missed nothing. Mei felt the shift in the room before she understood it. Something about the Elder commanded attention without demanding it. "You are the proprietor," the Elder said. Not a question. "Mei Chen. Yes." "I am Zhou Wei-Lin. I represent the Ancient Tea Ceremony Preservation Society." She produced a small card, physical paper with elegant calligraphy. "We have been searching for a suitable establishment to host our Interstellar Ceremony—the adaptation of Earth's traditional tea ceremony for space-age practice. Your café has been recommended." Mei's mind raced. "I'm honored, but I should be honest—I serve coffee, primarily. Tea is available, but it's not my specialty." "Tea is not the point. The ceremony is the point. We require a space that honors tradition while embracing change. A place where multiple species can participate in an Earth ritual without that ritual losing its essential nature." "Why the Waypoint?" Elder Zhou's expression softened slightly. "Because you understand accommodation. You modify without losing essence. That is precisely...