Zero took a moment to look Louise from head to toe. "Like What you see big fella?" she said sarcastically. "I am sorry"he said sounding a little too apologetic. "My Saurian friends are great engineers and warriors but they have never seen a human female and are not used to someone so obviously mammalian, and to answer your question, I have not seen a human female in nearly nine of your years, so yes you look wonderful!" Louise blushed started to reply with a snappy comeback but Zero turned and motioned her to follow. "Let's get you something to eat" he said over his shoulder. It dawned on her that she had not eaten in some time, she was ravenous.
As she exited her room she got her first look at the great airship. As a globe hopping field engineer she had experienced just about every aerial conveyance known to man; but this was something else altogether. The first thing she noticed was how many Saurians there were. The two or three she had met so far were one thing but the hundreds she encountering now was on a whole other plane. She was also surprised at the riot of colors. On the wide walkways she encountered the dull green of Dr. Bazz and his assistants plus emerald green, iridescent blue and a dull blood red. She touched Zero on the arm and whispered"They come in so many colors" He nodded " yes and as a rule of thumb, the bright colored Saurians tend to be males and the duller ones female.""You mean Dr.Bazz is a female?"she asked. "yes but their gender makes no difference until the female comes in season every 12 to 18 months. The rest of the time it is of no or little significance" he pointed out.
A few more turns and they found themselves at what would be recognized as a cafeteria on any world. "This ship is huge, Just how big is it?"Louise asked. Zero paused a moment and consulted the readout on his arm. "In your worlds measuring system it is approximately 1000 feet long and 175 feet wide" he replied. "When we finish our discussion and you have eaten I will take you on a proper tour"he promised and then added"with your technical background you will appreciate the advanced technology of my ship." He led her to a wall mounted combination console and touch sensitive display. One area of the display had an outline of what was obviously a saurian hand the other shaped like a human hand. "Place your hand on the appropriate shape" he directed. Louise place her hand as instructed, she detected a slight tingling sensation. Within seconds a container was dispensed from an opening adjacent to the console. "go ahead take it"he urged. He led her to the only table and chairs in the room that was tailored for human use. The other chairs and tables were shaped and sized for the saurians and had an allowance for a tail.
"As you have probably already guessed we two are the only humans on board"he pointed out. Aren't you eating?" she asked. No was his reply"I have already eaten." She looked bewilderdedly at the white box in front of her. The only distinguishing features on the box was a red tab and blue tab. Zero sensed Her confusion . "I am sorry I should have given you instructions, it's been along time since I have had a dinner guest" with that he pointed out the tabs on top of the box. "pull the red tab and the food container will self heat then open"pointing to red tab he said"pull the blue tab and the box will open but the food will remain cold." "You will find that hot will be better"he concluded.
Louise pulled the tab, the container opened to reveal six cubes. A spicy warm odor was emitted by the box. "No utensils are required, you will find that they are hot enough to enhance flavor and promote a sense of well being but not hot enough to burn. " Louise found that each cube was a different color as well as a different flavor and texture. "Our food synthesizer automatically creates food with the exact amount of nutrients and caloric content for optimum health for each individual"he said as he looked on appreciatively at her obvious good appetite.
After she finished a plastic cup rose from the center of the table and filled as if by magic from the bottom up with water. She picked up the glass and held it up to the light, she could not figure out how it was done , she made a mental note to ask about it later.
Feeling refreshed she was now determined to get some answers. "Why do you go around looking like a cut rate Darth Vader? " she asked pointedly. "I do not know what a Darth Vader is but I assume you mean my mask and goggles."she nodded affirmation. "That is all part and parcel to the situation that the crew of the Albatross and the people of your word find themselves in" "the world I come from was the home of a great advanced and peaceful civilised people. Wars and starvation were of unheard in my world. Disease was virtually eradicated . Lifespans were counted in centuries. We developed interdemensional travel when your world was undergoing what you called the dark ages. We had known peace for Millenia and that is why we were unprepared for what happened. About ten of your years ago.We came in contact with another advanced civilization.At first we welcomed them, some of them even lived among us. We thought all was well for awhile until the coming of the plagues. We found later that those strangers that had lived among us were spreading a biological weapon. We had never even considered the possibility of such a thing. "
"Such was our naivete that it wasn't until after they attacked us directly, after we were sufficiently weakened, that we realized the truth. They took what they wanted and moved on to conquer and destroy others. After the ravages of the plagues and the radiation, my people became extinct. I am the sole survivor of my people. I alone for some unknown reason was immune to the virulent infection, I had hoped to use my blood to create a serum to save my people. The authorities of my world before they succumbed, hid me away in secret hidden laboratory at our south pole. But our efforts were too little too late as they say on your home world. Even though I had survived, my face was so disfigured and my body so damaged that I need to wear this breath mask to aid my respiration, these goggles protect my damaged eyes and amplify the light so that I can see normally." "This exoskeleton amplifies my strength to aid my disease damaged muscles"
"But doesn't your advanced science have a way to restore your health?"she asked. "There maybe hope for that in the future after we defeat the Goddess and her Philistines!"he replied. A saurian at a near by table had evidently overheard the word Philistine and uttered a loud hiss and exposed his teeth. These Philistines were not a popular group she thought. It was at that moment that a loud tone was heard from the Tannoy system. Lights flashed and everyones universal translator buzzed. "All crew to weapons stations, Tactical Alert!" a disembodied voice emplored. "Come with me"Zero said as he pulled Louise after him as he preceded toward the bridge.
Next Time: An Albatross Shows Her Fangs!
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