Chapter three
The two appeared in a small alcove off of a large, circular room. The walls were aglow with a series of sunken lights, and rough stone pillars arched overhead to the heights above. A raised dais housed what looked like a control panel, although the controls appeared to be patched up and cobbled together from scavenged components made to fit. Nests of cables drooped from the ceiling.
"Where am I?" asked Joan.
"My ship, " said the old man as he sat on the edge of the dais, took off his boot, and massaged his ankle.
"This isn't a sailing ship, is it?"
"It's a time ship. We got here by a teleporter I installed. I keep the Ship in a temporal orbit. Best not to take it into battle. I try to keep it hidden from the Enemy."
Looking at a microscope on the panel, Joan asked, "Is this a lab? Are you some kind of scientist?"
"I was once every kind of scientist. Now, I'm just a warrior. My place is in the trenches. Put your telephone away. I don't think your mobile will get any coverage here. I suppose I need to prove to you all that I'm saying is true. "