[ VIDEO ]

[embellishing]

[When the video transmission starts, there’s a rather neat and tidy man in a suit, seated in one of the passenger quarters.]

I’ll give it to this place, this has to be one of the oddest awakenings I’ve had. Still doesn’t beat Nepal though…

[The last part is muttered, almost to himself, before he turned back to the camera, all business.]

Not to ask the same question twice, but I’d like to go home as much as the next person, so perhaps I’ll save on some of the legwork and reach out. How can I help make sure this ship reaches its destination in one piece? I do have military training and my information gathering skills can be useful.

[There’s a small pause, and then he smiles, a small almost innocent look.]

Also I’m rather decent at poker, if that will help us any. So, who’s recruiting?

Comments

[embellishing]

The anticipation might finish me off if you just leave things like this.

[Still, there's no sense in prying.]

Odd, my impression so far was that there was little fun to be had here.

[seidhr]

So far.

You've only just arrived.

[embellishing]

True enough. So is your idea of fun mass hallucinations and vampires?

[seidhr]

Not exclusively.

[embellishing]

Dare I ask what is or should I continue to shudder in anticipation? There must be a good reason for you to stay here when you can go home at will.

[seidhr]

Why, any man could name countless reasons to enjoy such a placement. There's the company—adequately diverting, [he adds as an aside,] there's the spirited atmosphere, the occasional threat to your life... this fruit, whatever its name... to say nothing of the thrill to be had by making erratic leaps through intergalactic space, and perhaps even through time, whilst sealed within a massive, mazelike tomb, its depths un-mappable, its very nature unfriendly at best. Add to that the absence of any self-evident reason for being here, and you'd be hard-pressed to name a comparable state of affairs. Would you not.

[embellishing]

[Wow well when you put it that way it almost sounds like a typical dream sharing job. Sans the being in actual space.]

Typically when I find myself in these sort of circumstances, I have the comfort of knowing I put myself there and with the promise of a hefty paycheck at the end.

[His tone is a bit wry. Yes he's been in comparable straights and he's not too pleased to be here.]

[seidhr]

Spirited away to distant realms on a regular basis, are you?

[embellishing]

In a sense.

[But he's not going to provide bore you with the details.]

Though I can't say I've been on an actual murderous space ship before.

[seidhr]

Welcome, then, to your impending doom.

[Spoken with a very neighbourly sarcasm. One might imagine a smile, hands spread wide to receive a guest.]

[embellishing]

You're most kind. I appreciate the warm welcome.

[He excuses neighborly kindness, this guy does.]