“I’m not sure. Normally we’d drop you off at Meditreme Station and charge you for the transportation – you can’t be sentimental in this business – but the captain has an inquisitive mind, and you’re an enigma, so if you keep her interested, you might be able to exert a bit more control over your destiny. That’s a bit of free advice from me to you. Would you like to meet the crew? They’ve finished the formal arguing part of their meeting and have fallen into more informal bickering, and can be safely interrupted.”

Elena stood up again. She felt steadier this time – in body, if not in mind. After waking up, the crew was supposed to stay in their pods for a few hours until their vitals were completely stabilized. Part of that long process involved the administration of drugs that helped with cognitive and memory impairments. She understood why her rescuers had taken her out of the pod early – they probably had no choice if the Anjou was wrecked. That made sense, didn’t it? She couldn’t be sure of her own judgment, which was part of the problem, and quite frustrating. She was used to trusting her own mind. “I guess I should meet them. I can’t stay in here forever.”

Five hundred years. Would the people of this time view her the way she would view a visitor from the time of Shakespeare? Strange and colorful characters from a history that looked romantic at first glance but became barbaric the longer you thought about it?

Shall coughed again. “Should I alert the crew that you’re coming, or would you like to sneak up and spy on them a bit first? Maybe see what they’re saying about you when they don’t realize you’re listening?”

She laughed, startling herself with the sound. “Why would you make that offer? They’re your colleagues. Shouldn’t you be on their side?”

“Yes, but they outnumber you. They’re good people, but even so, you seem like you could use a friend, Doctor Oh. Someone to be on your side while you get your bearings.”

“You can call me Elena. It would be nice to make my own way, yes, and my own introductions. Will you show me where to go?”

The door slid open, smooth and soundless. “Of course. Start with ‘out.’”