What in the world is this? She puzzled over them for a while, not able to place either the one with the two cups or the other slip of cloth with anything she’d seen anyone else wear. Finally, she just shrugged and tossed them aside. If they’re important, I’m sure someone will tell me.

Weston smiled as Milla stepped out of her bathroom, wearing a basic crew member’s uniform with no insignias. The Odyssey’s wardrobe supply was limited, but they had standard uniforms in pretty much any size.

“Ithan,” he said as she pinched and pulled at the clothes.

Beside him, Dr. Palin, who had shown up a short while earlier, was silent.

“Captaine. Docteur.” Milla nodded back. “My apologies for my…motions. I’m afraid that this clothing doesn’t feel exactly right. It is stiff in…odd places.”

Weston nodded, smiling. “It takes a while to wear them in so that they are just right for you. Don’t worry about it too much.”

“Very well,” she said, not happy with it, but determined not to complain, either.

“I was wondering if I might interest you in a tour of the ship’s facilities, Ithan,” Weston offered. He’d been debating that since he’d talked to her, but it seemed like a harmless way to converse with her and see what her reactions would be. More importantly, it would let him try to get her measure, and that was something he found himself feeling in desperate need of.

Milla nodded. “I would be most fascinated, Capitaine.”

“Good.” Weston tapped the side of the induction mic on his jaw to connect with Commander Roberts. “Commander, I’m taking our guest on a short tour of the ship. Contact me if I’m needed.”

“Yes, sir.”

“This way, Milla.” Weston gestured down the curving hallway, noting her unsure steps as she accustomed herself to the corridors. “We noted that your vessels have artificial gravity included in the design. Unfortunately, we don’t have that ability yet. You’re standing in a huge rotation drum, which serves as one of the two primary habitats on board the Odyssey.”

Milla looked down the corridor and glanced back along the curve that she had just traversed. “I see, I don’t think that my people have ever used such a technique. Our first ship designs were null-gravity freighters. The artificial-gravity technology came along quickly and was incorporated into our second-generation ships.”

“Well, I suppose we weren’t content to wait,” Weston said. “We do have some ideas on creating an artificial-gravity field, but they are still in the design stage. The Odyssey was created after we discovered technology that allows us to travel faster than light.”

Milla acknowledged his words, and all three continued on their walk through the habitat.

“This section contains laboratories and some living quarters. The forward module houses the command staff, bridge, the rest of the living quarters, and recreation facilities. Engineering is a null-gravity area and is off limits to most personnel,” Weston said. “They don’t even like me going in there.”