Awake 5

Luxurious was the best descriptor for the Oberlux's interior Diana could think of. She was confident that there might be a better grouping of syllables to perfectly encapsulate the furnishing's of the halls, but for the moment it escaped her.

This was not a surprise, of course. Being a big part in the communication and relay effort, she had heard the Oberlux's appearance described both inside and out.

While it was true that it was a ship primarily focused around combat, specifically subduing stars (a concept until just very recently she viewed as being metaphorical), it also served an extremely important diplomatic role.

This ship would be the first contact with extraterrestrial intelligence for the worlds it came across, and a show of wealth and power was an excellent way to give a good first impression.

Still, this level of material wealth was far beyond what she could have dreamed of ever having.

For one, the abundance of wood. She understood that the Oberlux was made of a branch of a colossal tree, so it wood being a primary theme was not at all surprising. The issue was that, on modern day Earth, having wood furnishings was a sign of extreme wealth or connections.

Trees just took too long to grow, and there weren't enough of them to make a dresser for everyone.

The carpets were also made of some very vibrant, likely natural, fiber. They covered the wooden floors, which seemed like a waste to her, but their deep red hue and pale green trim complimented the color of the wood's grain.

What stood out the most was the shear quantity of extremely high quality artistic goods. Every few steps there was another display, to the point it felt like she was perusing one of the art museums of old. Paintings of landscapes that, to her, seemed quite fantastical. Sculptures of people and creatures that seemed to have lives of their own. Outfits of clothing and jewelry that perfectly complimented one another placed on display mannequins in graceful positions.

They just went on and on, to the point that it made her a little sick.

"Is the display not to your liking? I can have the features that are not to your fancy changed or removed from view. I understand that other cultures may have a different aesthetic appreciation than my own." The Captain was trying to accommodate her.

"No, it's fine. I have just never seen so much wealth in one hall. It just made me realize how out of place I am."

"Are you not one of he wealthier citizens of your nation? Surely you must have visited some sort of gathering of culture at some point, yes?"

"I am afraid not." She shook her head and closed her eyes, trying not to remember the pitiful few number of times she was permitted to visit cultural caches. "Our society reached a point where we could not value the physical as much as you clearly do."

"So your culture is monastic? Or are you referring to sensations and pleasures which cannot be touched or seen?"

"Neither really. I am not sure you will understand this problem, but what we had was limited. We could not afford wealth."

"You could not afford to be rich? Was this a problem spurned from the absence of Split?"

"Perhaps. I will be unable to tell you until I learn about this 'Split' myself."

"Quite right. But before you can do that you must meet with the Great Csillacra." The Captain stopped and held open a door for her. Evidently, they had arrived at their destination. "Have you yet felt the effects of Split decay?"

"I do not think so, but I will have to take a medicine for it still. I haven't yet forgotten your warnings."

"For that I thank you, it will make things much easier. Healer! I have brought the other one. How fare the patients?"

A woman returned his summons with a curse, one which Diana could not attach a word to, but one she recognized as an exclamation of discontent. "I have managed to stop the effects of Split decay in both of them, but the poison is in the boy's blood. I am unable to get it out without worsening his situation."

The source of the voice came stomping around the corner. She was agitated, but likely because she was tired rather than anything of substance.

"It is strange though. The extent to which the two have experienced the decomposition are drastically different. And you, young lady, you don't look like you have suffered from it at all!" She hustled up to her and pulled a small black bean from a pouch around her waist. "Eat this. It is bitter, and the aftertaste is simply horrendous, but it will grant you immunity for a period of time. Trust me, you would rather deal with a bitter bean than your body falling apart."

Obediently, and without a spoken word, Diana placed the legume in her mouth and chewed down on it. It was bitter, true, but no more so than a cup of black coffee or a bar of unsweetened chocolate. Unpleasant, sure, but not unbearable.

If she had a bit of honey with her she felt that this might actually make quite the treat, though she did have some concerns about the aftertaste.

"Good, good. It is so nice to have a patient that listens when I give them instructions. I am the Healer." The woman with some stains from fluids of questionable origins gave a small bow. "I would like your opinion on their conditions. I know more than you about their condition in regards to the decay, but I have no idea what this poison is or how to get it out. Captain, I will need you to translate."

"That is why I am here."

"Good. Come." She dragged Diana by the arm to the pair of beds where Donovan, and a dog? were laying down. "First question, do you know what that animal is?"