On the third day, Verdie took a lesson on the command deck.

“What do you know about the Kuku’s? "

“They’re bandits that attack our ships and colonies. They have some kind of cloaking device that hides them from our scanners and use abandoned ships as weapons.”

“That’s all?"

“Yes Sir, I never had much access to the Net at home, but when my uncle visited, he shared his experiences. He even showed me a small token he had- a rock, much heavier than it looked, that when exposed to bright sunlight emmitted weird tones.”

“Hum, some day I should like to talk to your uncle” said the Captain, while standing up and opening his arms to show off the ship “He talk to you about this? About space? Our ships? Cannons?”

“In some ways, yes. If he hadn’t told me of decks and airlocks, I never would have made it on board.”

“And about the Kuku’s? I’m sure he told you that they’re not human, but did he tell you that we don’t understand what they are? Or where they are from? And that the remains always are disappointing?