“So what now?” asked Gemma.
“I suggest we show you around this level,” said Matias.
“Lead on,” said Laura, as the others nodded agreement.
They followed the Aliens out of the lounge back onto the curved walkway, its industrial mesh floor ringing slightly beneath their feet. Ahead, the corridor curved gently to the left. To their right were smooth walls punctuated by hatchways.
"This walkway," explained Cymon, "runs entirely round the inner rim of the wheel. It allows access to the workspaces and living spaces which are all situated in the outer rim to our right, looking spacewards.”
"Like the room we just left," added Teo.
"It also connects with the spokes that lead to the core - like this one,” said Matias as they reached an open hatch on their left. Through it they could see a straight corridor and above the entrance was a single alien symbol.
"What does that stand for?" asked Gemma.
"Very boring," answered Irvn, with the smallest of smiles, "it means ‘Number 2’ and it’s where Laura and Kate's quarters are. The next spoke we come to - Number 3 - are yours and Amisha's.
They walked on, passing several closed hatchways.
"What's behind these?" asked Gemma again.
"Mostly stores," said Teo, "Voyages can last for months, even years, so a Ship like this must carry everything needed - food mostly. Especially since the ship would usually be carrying many more people.”
They passed a narrow viewport and Laura stopped to look out. She was looking inwards from the wheel towards the central axis and they seemed to be moving around it.
“Is this wheel turning?” she asked.
Teo and the others fell back to stand beside her.
“It is,” he said, “Both wheels rotate around the centre. It helps to create artificial gravity. Otherwise we'd be floating, weightless."
"I've always wanted to know what that felt like," she said, "it must be amazing."
“It is,” said Teo, “and I think that might be arranged.” He glanced at his companions, who nodded.
"Really?" she said, excited. "What - like spacewalking."
"That might be a step too far," replied Teo, "but you can try the Zero Gravity Chamber. It's where the crew practice for when we have to go outside the ship."
“Cool,” said Laura.
"Why do you go outside?" asked Kate.
"Maintenance." said Matias simply.
"Must take a while to paint," said Amisha.
The others laughed. Even Irvn smiled.
A couple of metres further on the Aliens led them through another hatchway into a longish room that was obviously a kitchen. It had only one small viewport looking out to space and was mostly lined with storage cupboards. The centre was taken up by a long steel work surface, dotted with surprisingly familiar plates and utensils. It was pretty much like any ultra-modern kitchen on Earth.
“This is the Galley or kitchen,” said Matias.
“I never knew Ikea delivered this far,” said Gemma.
They moved on and reached a section of wall that was glass. The room beyond was obviously a gym, with treadmills and all the usual exercise machines.
“Ah,” said Kate, “home from home.”
She looked at Matias enquiringly.
“You can use it anytime you like,” he said.
“As soon we finish the tour then?” she asked.
“Agreed.”
The next area they came to was another lounge area, with comfortable looking chairs and another panoramic view of space. At one end, was a large screen.
“For entertainment,” explained Irvn “We have a very good movie library.”
“And do you have any favourites?” asked Gemma.
“I do,” he said with a suggestion of smile.
“Which are?”
“Oh - Alien…Predator…War of the Worlds… Mars Attacks…”
The women stared at him appalled.
“Joke,” he said, with a smile “I much prefer The Sound of Music.”
“Now that’s really scary,” said Amisha.
They all laughed.
Moving on, they reached a hatch way that was different from the rest. It had a heavily reinforced frame with a small circle of glass set into the door.
“Behind this hatch is the Zero Gravity Chamber,” said Teo. “It’s double-doored, like an airlock and the interior is isolated from the artificial gravity of the rest of the ship.”
“Do you have to wear anything special inside,” asked Laura, “like a - a - spacesuit?”
“No,” said Teo, “it’s just weightless in there, not airless.”
“Can we go in? Can we try it now?” asked Laura like an excited child.
“Only two people at a time can use it,” replied Teo, “and one of us should be with you.”
“Maybe we should split up,” said Matias. “You can give Laura her first lesson in weightlessness, Kate wants to use the gym and maybe Cymon and Irvn could show Gemma and Amisha more of the Ship?”
The women looked at each other, each wondering how the rest felt about this.
“I have to program our course away from the Moon.” said Irvn, looking at Gemma. “Perhaps you’d like to see the Control Centre?”
“Boys and their toys,” sighed Gemma, “Why not?”
Cymon turned to Amisha.
“You might enjoy the Ship’s telescope,” he said. “The view of the stars is a million times clearer than from earth.”
“There’s a new one, “said Amisha, drily, “a guy promising a girl the stars.”
© Adriana Nicolas 2014