Chapter Two: A Whole Old World

[Akirapryde]

As the party continued to get to know each other, the thick door leading in to the medical bay unlocked and slowly opened. The young nurse walked in to the medical bay while the doctor remained just on the other side of the door. The two guards seemed upset as the Doctor explained something to them in Japanese. A conversation that caught Suki’s ear. She raised an eyebrow as the words hit her ears. Once the short conversation was over the doctor entered the medical bay while the guards vanished from the doorway.

“Good afternoon” the doctor said in broken English. “I am sure that many of you have your questions. I will do my best to answer them.” He walked over to the center of the room where the young nurse was standing. “First let give you some information that will help you. You are aboard the Draconis Combine ship Kawakaze.” He fell silent for a moment as if getting his thoughts together. “We are currently traveling through a recent combat zone. Because of the danger, tensions are high among our crew. When we detected your shuttle, this did little to ease the tensions.”

“Your ship was found three days ago completely lifeless. If it wasn’t for the EM signature of the death of your Jumpship, we wouldn’t have detected your shuttle at all. At first we were hopeful. There were so many escape pods littered around your shuttle. We expected more survivors then we actually found. Most of the pods were just empty, others held the those who you see here. From what we could tell, the pods came from three ships. Two Jumpships and a dropship” the Doctor explained as a frown came over his face. “We did our best to save as many as possible. But some simply couldn’t be saved.” It was clear that the doctor was speaking the truth as the emotions were written across his face.

“According to the local system control, there were no Jumpships due to arrive in the area.” The Doctor paused for a moment then continued, “we had fears that you were Lyran spies or worse, Lyran assassins. This is the reason why you were subject to such harsh interrogation. But you will not have to face this again. It has been decided that you are not Lyran spies. Just people who happen to be in need of help. For the time being, you will have free access to this deck of the ship. There is a lounge on this deck where you and your friends can get food and unwind. There will be no guards following you around. However, you cannot leave this deck.”

He looked down and for the first time lied. “I am sorry but we don’t have any free rooms to move your group in to. You will have to remain here till we arrive at our destination. Through that door is a bathroom for you to use.”

He looked at the nurse as the two tried to make sure that they didn’t miss anything. He turned back to the group, “okay so do you have any questions?”