AN: The third update.

OSCOSCOSCOSC

Chapter Ten: The Tour

The Bridge of the Nautilus

"That's not 'ow I left them, Cap'n. S'all I'm saying," First Mate Ishmael said as he and Nemo examined the controls and dials up on the bridge.

Nemo glanced down at the deck as his companion spoke, then he silently knelt down to look at something there.

"You think it might be sabotage?" Ishmael asked. "We ain't that far off course- I caught it in time." He frowned uncertainly, with a glance at the quiet Daria. "Still," he added in a lower tone, "there's too many strangers aboard this boat if you ask me."

"You apprehension is quite understandable, Mr. Ishmael," Daria said calmly.

"Pleas do not refer to my Lady as a mere 'boat', Ishmael."

Nemo brushed at a powdery residue he found on the floor with his fingertips, than sniffed them cautiously. "I don't recognize the smell," he said. "Perhaps Mrs. Harker will be able to-"

He paused, sensing a faint stirring somewhere in the control room. "Mr. Skinner? Are you here skulking about?"

Daria cast her gaze around the control room herself. "I don't detect anything, Captain," she said quietly. 'Not now, anyway."

A loud gunshot from outside startled them all. Daria and Nemo both stuck their heads out into the hall, preparing to demand just what was going on when Sawyer ran up to the ladder that lead to the conning tower, grinning from ear to ear.

"He said he wouldn't start without me!" he said brightly as another shot rang out from above them.

Daria made a face. "If he's going to be shooting things, then I'd best stay inside."

Nemo noted her grimace. "In that case, would you care for a tour?" When she nodded, he directed Ishmael to give Mina the sample of powder and led the way out the door on the way to the engine room, explaining the various features of the Nautilus as they went. He had to stop every once in a while to define a technical term, but was pleased to find that Daria understood the basic principals of the ship with very little prompting.

They paused a moment so she could study a large, many-armed Indian statue. "Kali," Nemo explained. "Goddess of—"

"Death and destruction so that creation can take place," Daria interrupted. "I know about her." She decided not to risk offending her host by commenting that, for a Goa'uld, Kali wasn't half bad. She usually didn't go in for the extensive torture of captives, for one thing.

Nemo raised a quizzical eyebrow. "You seem to know much about the ancient gods," he commented. When she didn't respond, he merely bowed to the statue and walked on. Daria also offered the idol a respectful nod and followed the captain.

Though Nemo was usually the quiet, mysterious type, he reminded Daria of a proud youngster showing off a beloved toy as he described the functions on the various pieces of equipment in the engine room, displaying an enthusiasm she had rarely seen in anybody. He chattered for more than an hour before a crewman came up and spoke to him in Hindi. Nemo nodded in response to the crewman before turning back to Daria. "It appears that my attention is needed elsewhere."

She bowed slightly. "Thank you for the tour," she said politely. "The Nautilus is a lovely vessel indeed, and I appreciate you bringing me down here."