Everyone was up early and waiting in the airlock.

Becky seemed most excited, “We finally get to meet a local!”

Mayu nodded and smiled, “Yes. I am wanting to meet her too.”

Anton ribbed Mikan, “Bringing your girlfriend over?”

Mikan scowled and pouted, “She is not my girlfriend!”

Anton laughed, “Sure… you just chose a cute elf chick to teach you.”

Mikan crossed her arms and turned her back to Anton, “Yeah, she’s cute, but she’s way too young for me.”

Chie shifted her legs and leaned forward on the bench she sat on, “If I recall the history correctly, elves are usually much older than they look. It is quite possible for her to be older than I.”

Sashae waited near the entrance and focused all her attention on listening.

Anton patted Mikan on the head, “There ya go! No need to hold back on makin’ moves on her.”

Mikan’s shoulders drooped, “It’s a waste of time. I’m a brain in a jar. There’s no way she’d want to be with someone like that.”

Anton pulled his hand back and shrugged, “She might be into fairies…”

Becky nodded to herself, “Yeah, she took to Mikan pretty fast. Maybe she swings that way.”

Mikan shook her head, “I want to date her as a man.”

Chie’s interest in the conversation waned, and she lay down on the bench.

Aoi flitted to Mayu, “Aoi bored! Let’s play!”

Saki looked pretty bored too, “Can draw?”

Ryan made a drawing hologram for Saki, “Here you go, Saki.”

Saki smiled and started drawing a crude crab.

Aoi flitted to Mikan, “Let’s play!”

Mikan turned to Aoi, thanking her silently for the change of subject, “Meeting new friend soon.”

Aoi puffed her cheeks, “New friend not fairy. Don’t care.”

Mikan smiled, “I think you like. She can do tricks.”

Aoi perked up, “Tricks? Show Aoi?”

Mikan nodded, “Yup!”

Aoi smiled, “Hurry! Bring friend! Hurry!”

Ryan checked, and Étién had entered the forest, “She’s almost there.”

Becky turned to the airlock, “Are you sure they won’t see Luna?”

Ryan didn’t care, “Eh, it’s still pretty early and it’ll only take a few seconds to get up to Luna, so we should be long gone before anyone has time to reach us.”

Ryan lowered the Mk. II into Étién’s practice area and waited.

Anton nodded, “Yeah, even a dragon can’t catch Luna.”

Mayu shook her head, “We are needing to be careful! Being too pride is dangerous!”

Becky nodded in agreement, “Yeah, I mean fairies can turn invisible, so who knows what else is out there.”

Mikan shook her head, “Not here. The adventurers kill anything dangerous before it gets that close to the city.”

Chie lifted her head and looked at the others, “I am in agreement with Mayu. There may not be any monsters, but these adventurers pose an even greater threat than they.”

Ryan couldn’t argue with that, and recalled the adventurers that attacked the Mk. I, “Fine, but it really will only take a few seconds for her to get on board.”

Étién reached the clearing, “Mikan!” She saw the Mk. II, “I am ready!”

Ryan lifted Luna off the ground, “She’s there. I’ll open the airlock doors as soon as we arrive.”

Luna jumped and the airlock doors opened.

Everyone backed away as they waited for the doors.

Anton hadn’t gotten to fixing the airlock doors, so they jammed before fully deploying.

Étién immediately saw Luna arrive.

Ryan, through the Mk. II, spoke, “Can you see the opening in the back? Everyone is waiting for you there.”

Ryan showed the others what the Mk. II was seeing.

Anton whistled, “If you don’t ask her out, I will.”

Becky nudged Anton in the ribs, “What makes you think she’ll like big ugly Klingons?”

Anton spun toward Becky and pointed a finger at her while rubbing his ribs, “Hey! I’m cool looking!”

Mayu giggled, “Maybe being strong and ugly she likes?”

Anton looked hurt as he turned to Mayu, “Not you too…”

Becky shrugged, “Hey, maybe she’s one of those girls that finds ugly things endearing…”

Étién jumped onto a branch, then another, before breaking through the foliage and landing in the open airlock.

Mayu jumped in fright, as she hadn’t seen Étién through the hologram, and spun towards her.

Saki turned invisible.

Aoi looked impressed, “Tricks!”

Chie sat up quickly, but clutched her head from the sudden movement.

Becky turned towards Étién and smiled, “That really was amazing.”

Anton turned towards Étién as well, “That was awesome!”

Ryan had already taught the others how to greet Étién in her language and went first as a refresher, “Good morning!”

The others, except the fairies, did the same in near unison.

Étién bowed and looked at the others in turn, pausing on Anton, “Good morning, friends.”

Mikan flitted towards Étién as the airlock closed.

Étién hugged Mikan and held her to her chest facing forward, before speaking in English, “My name is Étién.”

The others introduced themselves in Étién’s language the way he had taught them.

Étién greeted them again and repeated their names, her attention lingering on Anton the longest as she studied his face.

Ryan returned Luna to their island.

Anton whispered to Becky, “Did ya see that? She looked at me the longest. Think she likes me?”

Becky let out a muffled laugh and snorted several times.

Anton rolled his eyes, “Whatever.”

Étién noticed the interaction but didn’t press.

With introductions complete, Mikan looked up at Étién’s face, “Ready for a tour of Luna? We can talk as we go.”

Étién smiled and nodded, “That sounds absolutely delightful. Thank you.”

Mikan turned to the others, “Alright, let’s start the tour.”

Mikan gestured at the surrounding room, “This is the entrance.”

Étién nodded.

Becky cautiously moved next to Etien, “Hi.”

Étién turned her head to Becky and returned the greeting in English, “Hi.”

Becky pursed her lips and seemed to consider something, “Ryan…”

Ryan answered over the speakers in his normal voice since she wasn’t addressing Mikan, “Yes?”

Étién looked up curiously, searching for the source of the voice.

Becky winced, “Right. Habit.” She turned to Mikan, “Ask Étién how old she is.”

Mikan let out a deep sigh, “Of course you’re asking that.” She looked up at Étién, who was now looking at her for a translation, “Becky wants to know how old you are.”

Étién nodded, “Yes, that is important?” She thought for half a minute as she seemed to run something through her mind, “I believe our years are of the same length? What was it? Three hundred and sixty five days and a quarter long? That is what the Builder taught the Ancestors.”

This impressed Ryan, and Mikan showed it on her face. This Builder had gone to great lengths to keep things like Earth.

Mikan nodded, “Yes, that sounds right.”

Étién smiled, “Good. I am glad I remembered correctly.” She turned to Becky, “Tell her I am thirty-two years old.”

She was older than he was!?

Ryan translated.

Becky’s eyes went wide, “She’s almost as old as I am!”

Anton smirked, “Do ya like older women, Ryan?”

Chie nodded, “Perhaps Elves age slower than humans?”

Étién giggled as she watched the reactions, “Adventurers always react the same when hearing my age.”

Mikan nodded in agreement, “Yes, you look like you’re only like thirteen.”

Étién didn’t look happy at that and pouted, “I assure you I am nearly fully grown. It is not my fault I am short of stature for my age.”

Ryan felt he’d hit a nerve, “Oh. Well, short women are cute too.”

Étién blushed.

The group stopped at the hatches leading to the other decks.

Ryan opened the hatch leading to the deck below, and Mikan pointed at it, “That is where the…” he did not know if Étién’s language even had a word to describe it, “the machine that makes Luna fly is.”

Étién nodded, “I am sure the Dwergaz would love to look at it.”

Ryan recognized the word, but didn’t know what it meant, “What is a Dwergaz?”

Étién thought for a moment, “Hmm, they are a small race of people with long beards that like building and digging. I believe the Adventurers call them… Dorfs?”

Ryan had seen Lord of the Rings enough to know what race of people she described, “Dwarf?”

Étién nodded and smiled, “Yes! That is the word! Dwarf!”

Anton’s eyes lit up in excitement, “Dwarf? Why are you talkin’ about dwarves?”

Becky seemed interested too, but stayed quiet and turned her attention to Mikan.

Mikan nodded, “Yep! Sounds like they have dwarves around here, too. Haven’t seen one, though.”

Chie didn’t seem very surprised, “We have elves, fairies, and dragons, so I see no reason dwarves would not also exist here.”

Becky nodded in agreement at Chie’s comment, “Chie’s right.”

Anton leaned towards Mikan, “Ask her where they live. I might want to see what kinda stuff they’re buildin’.”

Mikan nodded, then looked at Étién, “He wants to know where the dwarves live.”

Étién answered immediately, “There is a small group laboring at Ildathach’s docks. The rest live under the mountains and other cities.”

Mikan nodded and turned to Anton, “There are some at the docks in the city.”

Anton smiled in satisfaction, “Sweet! Can’t wait to show off Luna’s tech!”

Becky laughed.

Chie shook her head, but also seemed amused.

Étién saw the others weren’t asking any more questions and peered through the hatch at the barely visible FTL drive, then looked at the hatch above them.

Mikan gestured down the hallway, then at the hatch above them, “Ready to go up? The rest of this deck is storage we can’t enter.”

Étién looked down the hallway, her eyes lingering on the small maintenance hatches leading to the hydrogen fuel tanks, “That is fine.”

Becky climbed up first, followed by Anton, Étién, Chie, Mayu and the fairies, and finally Sashae.

Ryan opened the door to the resurrection chamber. He debated if he should show it to her and tell him more about himself, and decided it was better to tell her so it wouldn’t cause complications later.

Becky looked at Mikan, her face asking if he was sure about showing Étién.

Mikan nodded, then pointed to the now open door, “This is the room that… where we come back after we die.”

Étién looked at Mikan, “You would show me such a sacred(?) place?”

Mikan looked down, then back up, “I trust you, and I wouldn’t say it’s… sacred(?).”

Étién smiled, “It makes me happy to know that you trust me so.”

Ryan still felt uncertain if he made the right choice, and the uncertainty showed on Mikan’s face, “It… doesn’t feel right not telling you about who… what I really am.”

Étién seemed unsure, “Who you really are?”

Mikan turned her gaze to the resurrection room, “It will be easier to show you.”

Étién nodded and walked into the room.

Ryan noticed recognition on her face as she studied the resurrection pods, “Are these what the Adventurers revive in?”

Étién nodded, “I have never seen them like this. They come from beneath the ground so I have not seen what the bottom looks like until this time, but the rest looks much the same.” Her attention turned to Ryan’s brain jar, “This I do not recognize this.”

Mikan freed herself from Étién’s grasp and flitted to the brain jar, “This… this is where the real me is.”

Étién looked between Mikan and the brain jar several times, then waited for Ryan to continue.

Ryan opened the metal shield covering the middle of the jar, revealing his brain floating in the liquid inside, “Mikan is not my real body. She is… She is a tool I use to see the world.”

Étién’s face remained neutral as she took in the sight before her.

Ryan felt shame at deceiving her so far, and his shame showed on Mikan’s face, “I am sorry. I have tricked you.”

Étién shook her head, “I… Why have you become like this?”

Mikan gestured to the surrounding bulkheads, “I am the ship, Luna’s, brain. Without me, Luna cannot move. Luna cannot do anything.”

Étién walked to the brain jar and put her hand on the window. Her expression was hard to read as she studied his brain, and Mikan started squirming in embarrassment.

Étién slowly turned as she looked across the room before stopping at Mikan.

Étién scooped Mikan in her arms again and squeezed her, “Why are you feeling sad?”

Mikan looked at the floor, “I know how much you love Mikan, this body. I thought you would hate me for tricking you.”

Étién shook her head, “We could not even speak a few days ago. How could you tell me?”

Mikan looked back up to Étién, and saw her smiling gently at her, “Thank you.”

Étién nodded and looked back at the brain, “Man or woman?”

Ryan switched back to talking over Luna’s comms, “Hello, Étién. My name is Ryan.” He made a hologram showing his old form, “And this is what I looked like before.”

Étién turned to the hologram and began studying it.

It was then that Ryan remembered the others in the room.

Becky looked absolutely delighted, and her gaze seemed to take in the scene as much as she could.

Anton was lightly banging his head against the wall and was muttering, “Too mushy… too mushy.”

Chie was leaning in the door frame, and her gaze lingered at seemingly nothing down the hall.

Mayu was in the hall trying to keep Aoi quiet, “Shhhh…”

Aoi pulled on Mayu’s shirt, “Let’s go outside!”

Saki seemed jealous of Mikan and gave Étién the occasional glare as she pouted.

Sashae peeked through the door and seemed to take in the scene like Becky.

Étién turned away from the hologram with a smile on her face, “You are handsome.”

Mikan blushed, “Ah, you think so?”

She nodded, “Yes, for a human.”

Ryan wondered if all of Étién’s people were as attractive, or more so than Étién.

Ryan opened the door to med bay, “Should we continue?”

Étién turned to the door, “Very well.” She took one more glance at Ryan’s hologram, and walked away.

Becky whispered to Ryan, “Lookin’ comfortable right now. Does it feel that good getting hugged by a beautiful woman?”

Ryan whispered back, “Yes! It’s awesome!”

Anton gagged, “I’m rememberin’ why I stopped carin’ about datin’.”

Becky shook her head and rolled her eyes as she walked past Anton, “I’m sure there’s someone out there for you if you tried.”

Anton clenched his fists, and put his back to the wall, “Yeah, right.”

Mayu regarded Anton with some sadness, “Dating is hard, yes.” She turned to the fairies, “But family is worth the hard.”

Anton humphed and left the room, “Let’s get on with this tour.”

Aoi pulled on Mayu’s hair, “Mama! Let’s play outside!”

Saki peered out the doorway and watched Étién as she walked toward med bay.

Ryan looked up to Étién when they entered med bay, “Um… do you want me to talk as Ryan or Mikan?”

Étién hugged Mikan a little harder, “Ryan as Mikan is cuter.”

Mikan didn’t look the least bit surprised, “I thought so.” She looked forward and gestured around med bay, “This is where we go when hurt. Mayu is the worker here.”

Étién turned to Mayu, then entered the room and looked around, “This is… unusual. Are there no magic tools?”

Mikan shook her head as she turned on a scanner, “I do not know what magic is, but we do not think this is.”

Mikan pushed herself from Étién’s embrace and flit to the bed and lay down, “This sees inside the body.”

Étién watched as the bed’s scanner arm emerged from the wall and moved above Mikan.

Ryan made a hologram appear next to Étién showing Mikan’s scan, “This shows what is found.”

Étién studied the image, “Yes, this is like Healer(?) Fawinn when she tends to me.”

Ryan wondered if Mayu would want to visit the healer, “Do you think they would let Mayu visit?”

Étién considered the question for a moment, then shook her head, “I cannot say. I do not know Healer Fawinn more than what my visits allow, but she may.”

Ryan stopped the scan and got Mayu’s attention, and spoke in Japanese, “Étién said there is a healer that might talk to you if you want.”

Mayu was pulling a bored Aoi from her sleeve, and took a moment before she could consider the question, “I would like that.”

When Mikan turned back to Étién, she was lost in thought, “Étién?”

Étién turned to Mayu then back to Mikan, “I have heard that language before.”

Ryan immediately realized the implications of this, “Do you remember where?”

Étién smiled, “Yes. It is an interesting shop. I will show you when you visit Ildathach. It is outside so we will pass it on the way.”

Ryan was sure Mayu would want to go there first thing if it meant meeting Japanese people, “We should.”

Étién laughed and seemed to remember something.

Ryan was curious but instead Mikan flitted to Mayu, “Étién said she might know someone that speaks Japanese!”

Mayu immediately forgot about Aoi, “Really!?”

Mikan grinned, “She said she would take us there when we visit the city.”

Anton perked up, “When are we visiting the city?”

Becky became excited too, “I would love to come too! It will be nice not having to see the same faces all the time. No offense.”

Chie only seemed mildly interested.

Ryan laughed at the sudden enthusiasm, “We can probably go after the tour. I can talk to them now, and there’s others from earth like us, so…”

Étién joined the others, having lost interest in med bay, and listened.

Anton moved to the side and held his arm out, encouraging Étién to leave the room, “Then let’s hurry.”

Étién grabbed Mikan and hugged her again as she left the room, “They seem excited.”

Mikan nodded, “We all are. It’s… we haven’t been in a city or seen many people since we died.”

Étién’s expression saddened, “That’s… Perhaps I can guide you tomorrow? I need to get permission from my mother or I will get in trouble.”

Ryan felt a little confused, “You still live with your mother?”

Étién nodded, “Yes. We Aes Sídhe do not leave our parents until we are forty years of age.”

Ryan hated the thought of living with his parents until he turned forty, “Wow, that sucks.”

Étién pursed her lips together, “Yes, but it is only a short time for Aes Sídhe.”

A thought came to Ryan, “How long do Aes Sídhe live?”

Étién shook her head, “That is not known. No Aes Sídhe had died from age.”

Mikan’s eyes practically bugged out of her head from surprise, “You… you are…”

Étién giggled, “That face when I tell never gets tiresome.”

Ryan could imagine that, “Yeah, I can see how that would be funny.”

Étién looked at the others, “How old are the others?”

Ryan recalled the conversations he’d heard since waking up on Luna, “I was… am, twenty-nine, Anton is thirty-four, Becky is a year older than Anton, Mayu is thirty, and Chie is seventy-four. The fairies are like five days old.” Mikan turned to Sashae and switched to her language, “How long live?”

Sashae shrunk back at the sudden attention and only shook her head.

Ryan wondered if he’d asked right and switched back to Étién’s language, “I don’t know Sashae’s age. She’s… not the easiest to talk to so I don’t know much of her language and she just started learning English.”

Étién smiled and nodded, “I see. Everyone was an adult before and now looks so young. Chie must be especially thankful for receiving a youthful body.”

They walked into the fabrication room and Mikan nodded, “Chie was a man before so it is a little awkward, but she likes being younger, yes.”

Étién glanced at Chie, “Other Adventurers have changed like that.” She turned to Anton, “But he is different.”

Mikan shrugged, “He wanted to look like a race from a story.”

Étién’s face showed she didn’t approve, “I see.”

Mikan pointed to the fabrication machine and commanded it to print a communication device, “This is where I make things. It’s got its limits, but it’s more than enough for fixing Luna.”

Étién watched the printing arm deploy and do its thing, “I believe the dwarves use something similar.” She looked at the incomplete communication device, “What manner of item is it producing?”

Ryan queued up three more communication devices so he wouldn’t have to rely on the Mk. II anymore when the others went out, “It is something that will let us talk from far away.”

Étién smiled, “Thank you, I am happy to receive such a gift.”

Saki appeared next to Étién and grabbed Mikan, “Mikan play with Saki!”

Saki glared at Étién as she tried to pull Mikan from her embrace.

Étién seemed confused, “What is she doing?”

Mikan pulled back on Saki and patted her head, “Mikan will play later.”

Mayu grabbed Saki and pulled her to her chest, then bowed, “I apologize! I will take her until she listens.”

Mayu left the room in a brisk walk, scolding Saki.

Once the fairy’s crying died down as Mayu headed for her room, Mikan shrugged, “I think she was mad I am spending a lot of time with you.”

Étién smiled softly, “I see. You are very close?”

Mikan shook her head, “She’s just a couple days old, and she’s pretty shy. Maybe she’s worried you are taking me away?”

Étién shook her head, “I think she is ***.” She noticed Mikan’s confusion, “Oh? hmm... Maybe she is unhappy I am holding you?”

Did she mean Saki was jealous?

Mikan nodded, “Yes, that makes sense.”

Étién knelt next to the nearly finished comm device, then picked it up as the machine’s arms retracted, “I will keep this safe.” She stood up and looked around the room then turned to the door, “We should hasten ourselves.”

Becky moved in step next to Étién, “Can you ask her about the city?”

Ryan thought for a moment, “I’ve already talked to her about that a lot while she was teaching me so I can tell you later.” Mikan looked up, “She wants to know about the city but I told her I'll tell her later.”

Étién glanced at Becky, “That is fine.”

They stopped at the mess hall and Mikan pointed inside, “This is where we eat.”

She didn’t need to know about the food dispenser. Ryan didn’t want to give her the temptation to try what it made.

Anton came forward, “Ask her how she can move so crazy.”

Ryan wanted to know too, “Anton wants to know how you move so fast.”

Étién thought about it, but didn’t answer.

Ryan opened the doors to the bathroom and storage rooms while she thought, “This room is where you relieve yourself, and the other is for the machine that makes things.”

They headed towards the bedrooms, “Becky, can I show her your room? I… don’t think Anton’s is a great choice and Chie’s is a bit boring.”

Becky jogged ahead and waited next to her door, “Sure!”

Étién looked into Becky’s bedroom, “These bedrooms are pleasant, but a little sparse.”

Mikan nodded in agreement, “Sashae’s bedroom is the only one with things for making it pretty.”

Étién said a word that Ryan thought he got the gist of, “Decorations?”

Mikan nodded, “Yes, decorations. I could make some, but we had more important things to talk about.”

Étién seemed like she understood, “I can show you some fine establishments(?) once you are settled.”

Mikan smiled, “I’m sure the others would like that.”

Étién turned away from the room and saw the Usual Breach down the hallway, “What caused that?”

Mikan shook her head, “I think someone attacked and killed Luna’s old owners.”

Étién looked back at Mikan, “What is next?”

Mikan pointed to the door leading to the secondary reactor and opened the door, “That room is where Luna gets some… strength? No… uh…”

Étién seemed to get the gist, “I see.”

Ryan didn't think the room was important, “It still needs fixing.” He opened the storage room doors, “These are for storing metals and has machines for washing clothes.” Mikan pointed to the starboard T-section and the hallway leading to the fore of Luna, “The next place is special.”

Étién started walking and seemed intrigued, “Oh?”

“Yep!”

Étién’s attention wandered as they walked.

Anton tsked, “How long is she gonna think about answerin’ my question?”

Mikan gave Anton an annoyed look, “She’s still thinking. She’ll answer when she wants to.”

Ryan opened the door to the wormhole device, “This is Luna’s most important room.”

Étién’s eyes zeroed in on the crystal device in the center, “That is magic crystals?”

Mikan shrugged, “We have no idea. We’re too worried we’ll break it if we take it apart and look.”

They couldn’t get to the device the way they’d come, so Étién had to look from a distance, “This resembles a Gateway, but larger.”

Yet another surprise, “Hey guys, Étién sorta knows what this is.”

Anton’s irritation turned to interest, “Ya mean they have wormhole generators too?”

Becky also seemed interested, “That is interesting. I wonder what else they have.”

Chie tapped her chin, then nodded, “Perhaps they have something to aid us in our search for Earth?”

Becky’s eyes went wide, “Yes! That is a great idea!”

Étién watched their conversation curiously, then turned back to the wormhole device, “Your question earlier, regarding how I can move at great speeds. I do not know a lot, but I know someone that can assist you.”

The others stopped talking upon hearing Étién speak.

Mikan turned back to the others, “She says she knows someone that can answer Anton’s question better than she can.”

Anton tsked again, “Great, more waitin’.”

Ryan pointed back the way they’d come, “Let’s go to the science deck.” He looked up at Étién, “Just two more rooms. Well, three, but there is nothing interesting there.”

Étién nodded, “Okay.” She looked back to the Usual Breach as they passed that hallway, “Where was Luna when you woke up?”

Ryan wondered how much she knew about astronomy. He’d tried mapping the stars around this half world and found something surprising, “It is hard to say. You only have one… uh… island of stars.”

Étién cocked her head to the side, “Island of stars?”

Ryan brought up an image of the galaxy they’d found Luna next to, “An island of stars.”

Étién recognized it, “Oh, yes. I am familiar with...” Her eyes opened as she realized something, “There is more than one?”

Ryan wasn’t sure how to explain the multiverse to her, “It is… hard to talk about.” and changed the hologram to show the image he’d seen in the place between universes, “These hold different islands.” He zoomed in on this universe, “Yours is small and only has one island.” The view shifted to a different universe, “Some have…” He didn’t know any large numbers yet, “too many to count. Our universe is like that and Luna was in the space between the islands.”

Becky immediately recognized the holograms and what he was doing, “Oh, he’s telling her about the multiverse.”

Étién’s face showed she didn’t understand, “I… This is difficult.”

Mikan laughed, “I feel the same.”

Anton stopped walking and turned around, “I’m gonna get back to work. Let me know when somethin’ interestin’ happens.”

Becky shrugged, but didn’t seem to care too much.

Chie ignored him.

Étién stopped and waved, and in English said, “Goodbye.”

Anton stopped and returned her wave, “Oh, uh… bye.”

Étién bowed, then turned around.

Becky caught up to Étién, “Can you ask her about her family?”

Mikan nodded, “Becky wants to know about your family.”

Étién paused, “Oh…” she started walking again, “I reside with my mother. My father resides in Ui Breasil.”

Ryan guessed her parents were divorced, “They are no longer together?”

Étién shook her head, “They are. My mother talks for Ui Braesil with the humans and elves. My father leads some who protect the island from those not welcome.”

Ryan translated this for Becky.

They reached the hatches to the other decks.

Chie climbed to the science deck.

Becky thought about Étién’s explanation for a moment, “Her parents seem important. It must be hard being separated.”

Ryan thought about the best way to translate the question, “Your parents do not see each other often?”

Étién nodded and she looked pained, “They are are still bonded(?) but my mother cannot return to Ui Braesil and my father is often busy.”

Ryan felt she was leaving something out, but chose not to press, and told Becky what Étién said.

Becky gave Étién a sympathetic look, “Reminds me a little of my childhood. My dad got deployed a few times, so we didn’t see him a lot.”

Étién released Mikan and started climbing.

Ryan could tell they’d touched on a subject she was uncomfortable with and wondered if she had family issues, “Maybe we should drop the thing about her family.”

Becky nodded, “Yeah.”

The science deck still had lots of damage around the bridge, and Étién regarded it with interest, “There is still much to be done.”

Mikan shrugged, “Yeah, but we are working on it.” She pat the aft bulkhead, “More storage here.” The door to the bridge wasn’t far off and now that the deck had power, Ryan could open it, “This is the… uh… place where Luna was guided.”

Étién seemed to understand his explanation, “The bridge(?)?”

Mikan looked inside at the untouched bridge, “Everything is broken and we do not need to fix them, so we do not come here.”

Étién looked inside, “Many people died in here?”

Mikan shook her head, “We did not see any bodies, so no idea.”

Étién grabbed Mikan and held her against her chest again as she moved towards the Usual Breach, “Maybe they escaped?”

Becky looked slightly amused, “Is she always this clingy with Mikan?”

Mikan nodded, “Yep…”

Ryan didn’t mind. It felt soft, warm, comforting, and made him nostalgic for his mother. How long had it been since someone held him like this? When was the last time he’d hugged his mother?

Chie started walking to the science lab, “I will prepare a demonstration for our guest.”

Ryan closed the door to the bridge and Mikan pointed to the Usual Breach, “Let us look there next.”

Repairy McRepair Face was here, replacing some missing floor.

Étién stopped next to the drone, “This is a magic tool for repairing?”

Mikan nodded, “Mmhmm. Sometime Anton will make it so it can fly.”

Anton’s voice came from the deck below, “You guys talkin’ about me?”

Étién peered over the edge, and she and Mikan saw him welding a new piece of hull onto Luna.

Mikan nodded, “Just tellin’ her you’ll get to working on making Repairy fly sometime.”

Anton shrugged, “Yeah, I should get to that.”

Étién hadn’t paid attention to the conversation and was looking at the island scenery, “Where is this?”

Ryan brought up a rough map of the area, “Here.”

She studied the map, “Did Luna use the Gateway to travel here?”

Mikan shook her head, “We have another way. Hard to explain.”

Étién nodded, “I see.”

Mikan pointed towards the science room.

There, Chie showed Étién how the scanner worked and some of the other neglected machines they hadn’t quite figured out yet.

After some quick questions from Étién, they went to the main reactor.

Étién studied the reactor, “Are there no power crystals? How does this make power?”

Mikan didn’t know how to answer, “You would have to ask Chie that. I know how it's built, but not how it works. I am not even sure she knows.”

Étién looked around, “Perhaps you should request the assistance of the dwarves? They would help greatly in repairing Luna.”

Ryan didn’t feel comfortable having strangers pulling Luna apart and putting her back together, “I’ll think about it, but we need money before that.”

Étién left the room, “That should not be an issue. Hunting valuable monsters should not prove difficult with a ship such as this.”

Ryan liked that idea, “That sounds fun.”

Étién looked down the hallway, “I should take my leave. My mother will notice my absence if I take too much longer and I would like to get some practice.”

Mikan pointed port, “The hole in Luna will be the fastest.” He turned to the others, “Étién says she needs to leave now.”

Becky looked a little disappointed, “I was hoping to ask her more questions after the tour, but I can ask them later.”

Étién started walking, “I will ask my mother when I return if she can assist you.” She held up the comm, “With this.”

Ryan wondered if there was anything else he could give her, “Thank you.”

Becky jogged a little ahead, “Ask her what food she likes.”

Étién considered the question, “Elven bread with herbs together with a stew.”

That sounded delicious, “That sounds amazing. The food Luna makes would make you cry.”

Becky had the same reaction, “That does sound amazing!”

Chie’s gaze became distant, and it wasn’t hard to imagine why.

Saki appeared next to Étién and grabbed Mikan, “Give Mikan to Saki!”

Becky looked amused, “Looks like Saki’s run out of patience.”

Mayu ran towards them, “Saki! Stop that!”

Aoi followed behind Mayu and cackled excitedly, “Saki in trouble! Saki in trouble!”

Étién giggled and let Mikan go, “I do not think she likes me after all.”

Saki pulled Mikan away from Étién and blew a raspberry, “No more touch Mikan!”

Étién smiled and waved at Saki. She looked like she was enjoying it.

Mayu stopped running and gave Étién a low bow, “I am sorry. She was being good and wanted to come.” She pointed a finger angrily at Saki, “No fish tonight for dinner.”

Saki held onto Mikan even tighter, “Don’t care! Don’t like fish!”

Mikan waved both her hands in front of her, “It’s okay. We done now.”

Mayu shook her head and grabbed Saki’s right arm, “Not okay. Children will become trouble if not punished.”

Saki started pouting, “No, stay with Mikan.”

Étién reached the Usual Breach and looked outside.

Ryan lifted Luna from the ground and turned on the FTL.

Étién stumbled backwards at the sudden shift in scenery on top of the FTL’s visual effects, “What is this magic!?”

Anton laughed, “Looks like she wasn’t expectin’ that!”

Becky helped Étién regain her footing, and it was obvious she was trying to hold back a smile, “Whoa! Careful!”

Étién looked back outside, “This magic is amazing! Such fast travel without a Gateway!”

Ryan wondered how these people could make wormholes but not warp drives, “The Gateway is still better, but this uses less… uh… magic and is better for short trips.”

Étién looked towards the city, “Maybe sell to the dwarves. I believe they will give you many things for this.”

Ryan guessed they could, “Maybe.”

Étién looked at the clearing below, then back to the others, “I better go.” She switched to English, “Goodbye.”

The others waved goodbye, and she jumped out.

Becky watched Étién disappear into the trees, “I like her already.” She turned to Mikan, “Maybe you can teach me some of her language.”

Chie shook her head, “If we choose to reside here, it would be worth the effort, but for now we have more important matters.”

Anton went back to welding, “I’ll pass too. If I need talkin’ to someone Ryan can help me out.”

Mayu looked conflicted, “I want to, but I am thinking it is hard between teaching and studying.”

Becky groaned, “Am I the only one that doesn’t have anything to do?”

Just before Ryan jumped Luna back to the island, he noticed a light in the forest nearby. It was hard to make out what it was, but he thought he saw a person walk into it before it disappeared.

The Mk. II wasn’t far away, so he jumped Luna away and the drone to the spot.

There was another blood trail and pool of blood. It was fresh, and this time it looked like whoever or whatever was here had left in a hurry, as he found a fallen knife and two sets of footprints next to the pool of blood.

It looked like Luna’s arrival had spooked someone and they left in a hurry.

Maybe it was time to let Étién know.