Chapter 7

Gabriel and Azriel made their way through the twisting green corridors of the bowels of the ship. This place was a maze of vines, branches, and leaves. After a short walk he was sure that even if he tried, he would not be able to make it back to the bridge. After the short walk they seemingly made it to their destination. A smooth wall of smooth polished wood in the side of a corridor. Unlike the other passages, this one didn't just open for Azriel, he walked up and knocked on the wood, and after a few seconds, the wood swung inward like an actual door. Gabriel had begun to think that these people didn't know what they were. Inside the room felt like a world of magic, Moreso then the other chambers on the ship. They were all foliage and wood; this chamber was different. Dominating the room was a large pool of clear, unmoving water that was fed by a small stream of water trickling down from the far wall. The pool was rimmed by wooden roots forming its outer edges. The floor was grass similar to the bridge, but someone had brought in flat stones to form a circular path around the pool. The only instruments in the room were analog. Compasses, protractors, and measuring devices were strewn about the room in some chaotic form of order. There was a telescope in the back of the room that looked like it hadn't been used in ages. As he entered, he noticed a figure scribbling behind a flat wooden desk that seems to have been grown from the ground. The man had a bald head and bespectacled green eyes. 

"Oh Azriel, I was just about to go and find you. I was looking at this situation, and it seems that the crew was headed to the forbidden zone." The said as he finally looked up from what he was working on. "Oh, we have someone new on board, welcome. My name is Silas, and I cover the navigational responsibilities on Talitha. Am I to assume that you are a survivor from the wreck we just encountered?" Before Gabriel could open his mouth to respond, Azriel chimed in. 

"He is the only survivor. Apparently also the navigator for the ship." He said pointedly. "I know I don't have to say this to you, but please be respectful Silas. Levi and Ruth have already made a fool of themselves." the man looked back down at whatever he was working on and kept writing. 

"That is to be expected. Those two are always liable to get on each other's nerves. It's a wonder how they work so well together." Silas said absentmindedly. 

"I have some things I need to check on so I will leave you both to it. Silas, when you are finished would you kindly show our new friend where the guest quarters are."

"Of course, captain." Silas said, and with that Azriel left the room, closing the polished wooden door behind him. It didn't seem to have a visible latch that he could see which was strange. Silas had so many questions and this seemed like the time to ask them, but most of them were overshadowed by interest in how this man navigated a ship like this. The two were silent for a minute. Silas working on something behind his desk, Gabriel just taking in the room. Finally, Gabriel decided to break the silence. 

"My name is Gabriel. It is nice to meet you." he said. 

"What? Oh yes, hello Gabriel. Sorry, give me a moment. I just need to finish something." Silas said absentmindedly as he continued to work. Gabriel went silent, letting him finish whatever he was doing. Gabriel was certainly curious, but he didn't want to be rude. Instead, he stepped up to the pool in the middle of the room. As he looked into the waters his eyes opened wide. It was a map of the celestial bodies around them. In real time, he could see the remains of the Fortuna drifting apart in space. Talitha was flying over; tendrils slowly unfurled from the ship and were grabbing onto what was left of the crew and passengers. Carrying them into the ship. It really did look like the ship was eating his people, and in the grand scheme of things, that was what was happening he thought. They were not his people anymore, he told himself, they belong to the void. 

"Alright and done!" Silas exclaimed from behind him, and Gabriel whipped around. Unsure if he was looking at something he was not supposed to. 

"Oh, feel free to take a look. If you fancy a swim you can step in if you like. Sometimes it helps visualize if you are among the stars instead of looking down at them." Silas said with a light chuckle. 

"I am just fascinated by your methods. On my ship I had a similar set up, but it was more digital." Gabriel said in awe. Silas considered for a moment. 

"I would be interested to see how our people's navigational techniques differ, and how they are similar. I suspect that the underlying calculations of it are the same. Unless physics are different where you are from, but I sincerely doubt that. You seem like a normal human to me which is evidence of that. In any case, I believe we should table that discussion for another time. I would like to extend my sympathies for what you have gone through. It must have been a trying ordeal, and I am sure that none of the interactions with our crew have been easy so far, but you seem to be bearing it well. Even so, I am sorry for their rudeness. Just know that while they may seem like they lack empathy, I can assure you that this is not the case. You see, we have been together without any new faces for so long that many start to forget what it is like to interact with people they are unacquainted with in a non-hostile manor. With all that being said, I know you must have many queries, and I would be happy to answer any of them for you, or if you wish I can show you to a room where you can rest." Silas said. This man's pattern of speech was so different from the rest of the crew. He spoke like a scientist or a lecturer. It made Gabriels head spin a bit, but this seemed like the best time to ask all the questions he had been holding in until now. It was probably best to start slow. 

"When I introduced myself to everyone, I shook their arms like normal. Everyone seemed to be surprised by this, and I am not sure why." Gabriel asked. 

"Hmm." Silas considered. "Could you demonstrate for me." He said as he came out from around his desk and offered Gabriel his arm, which he took by grasping the forearm which was customary. 

"Ah, I see the disconnect. I assume your culture calls this an armshake or something similar. Out here we do what is known as a handshake. Please extend your hand and I will demonstrate." Gabriel obliged, and Silas clasped his hand around him like someone might if they were helping a friend to their feet. Instead of pulling him, he just gave a single firm shake. "See, that is how you execute a handshake." He finished. 

"Thank you for showing me. You said 'out here' earlier. Where is 'here'? Where are we exactly?" Gabriel asked. 

"Currently we are in a region of the Teval Galaxy known as the far reaches. A dangerous place where many of the more unsavory types take up their residence. To find a crew like yours out here is a shock indeed. I infer that you were no military vessel, and by your line of questioning it is clear that you did not originate from this region. Is that correct?" Silas continued. 

"That is correct. We are not from Teval Galaxy." 

"I am curious as to your aim in coming here, but I will not pry if you do not wish me to." Gabriel did not want to talk about the colony mission yet. He would tell them in time, but he was still unsure about the nature of this crew. They were definitely not military people, except for maybe Levi, and the fact that they were out here in the first place was reason to be suspicious. He decided to continue with the questioning. 

"How is it that the ship moves on its own? how does it know to open passageways? How do you navigate the corridors?" Questions spilled out of Gabriel like water from faucet. 

"I must ask that you refrain from asking about the specific workings of the ship. Such things are taboo, but if you prove to be a trustworthy individual, I am sure that Talitha will reveal herself in time. As for navigating the corridors, you need only to follow the ceiling. There are colored roots and leaves on the ceilings of each corridor. They will lead you to your desired location. Green for the aft, blue for the bridge, red for the flight deck, and yellow for the crew quarters which is where we are now, and orange for storage." Silas replied. Gabriel made a mental note to write that down so he could make it to the aft later. 

"What were you all doing in the far reaches anyway?" he continued. 

"We had finished a job delivering cargo, but that is not important. Your implied question is if the only people out here are criminals, then what does that make us? And I will ease your fears on that account. We are not pirates or criminals; we are more in line with the term privateer, but that does not cover the full definition. We operate as an independent crew that take jobs from a variety of different clients. Some are private entities; some are governmental bodies. We always have a choice in what jobs we take on. Normally we are hired for cargo hauling since Talitha is uniquely suited for sustaining her crew for long journeys with little need for expensive or rare fuels. Generally, the captain likes to keep us out of national conflicts, but he is not against hunting down criminals. I hope that answers your question and alleviates any fears you have about our crew. After all, if we were criminals, you would be in shackles right now, and you are free to do as you please." Silas answered. 

"Understood. I have another question; how did people make it all the way out here? Our expedition was the first. Where did your people originate from?" Gabriel asked. 

"Huh, in truth I do not think I have ever considered myself with that question. I assume we have always been here. I know where my ancestors came from, but where they originated from has been lost to my people. Perhaps ask the captain? He may know more, but I confess I cannot provide a satisfactory answer. I wonder where your people came from?" Silas said ashamed. 

"We came from the mother planet, but she has been all but destroyed by exploitation. At least, that is what they taught us in school. I have never been." Gabriel confessed. 

"Human greed knows no bounds it is true." Silas mused. "Did you have any other questions? Or should I show you to your new living space for the time being?" 

"I don't think I have any other questions for now. I don't really have any things to put down, but I guess it would be good to get out of this suit and know where my room is." Gabriel said. 

"Well then let me take you there." Silas replied as he moved to the door, opening it. "Follow me." Silas led Gabriel down the hall to another polished wooden door. This one had a 'G' carved into it. They entered, and it looked homier than Gabriel was expecting. There was a chest of draws and a bed, with a mirror hung on the wall and a desk at the end of the bed. None of these items were grown into the ship other than the bed frame. The walls and ceiling were roots and foliage, but the floor was a smooth wood. Gabriel turned to Silas and asked one final question. 

"Where can I get something to eat?"