Koons Lou and Ezel made their way to level 24. 12 locks held each side in place. A total of 44. They decided to make their way clockwise and end back at this level hatch. They would make their way to level 25 then. Ezel would go back to level 24 collect the runabout and dock it with level 25.

Approaching the runabout he heard some voices. Peering around he say Tech Doc and the two native discussing something. None understanding the other. "Can I help?"

Tech.
I have no clue. These two started going nuts. Waving ducking hiding, all mumbo jumbo to me.

Ezel. When did this start?

Doc.
About 20 minutes maybe half an hour ago. We brought down this load of boxes and all this started. There was nothing different to any of the other trips. Similar boxes nothing heavier. They just started complaining.

Tech.
We motioned for them to come get more stuff. They motioned the other way. We tried to tell them the cargo we need is this way. They just mimic our gestures though to go the other way. There's not even anything over there.

Ezel.
Where? Over where?

Tech.
Over by the barrier shield. I don't know, maybe they are scared of heights.

Communication on the planet were improving. With recent event. Much of the work the aliens would have been doing is on hold. Although most do not understand the words of the natives. Many are letting the natives take the lead and show them things. In a few small cases, the natives are enquiring about items the aliens have brought. All and all the exchange of information appears to be equally beneficial.

On one particular instance, a cadet Toby. Along with two other aliens and 4 natives. The natives were showing them the trees. The fruits of the trees and which were good to eat and not. Over by one of the hills that rose a few hundred meters. Some rocky outcrops and then rose suddenly with a cliff face beyond the clouds. While showing the group some roots. Toby noticed some what he thought was silver.

Reaching down, removing more soil. A vein of silver went back into the rock face. Asking them about the silver, he was nudged on the back. Turning he said. We took enough from these people. this is theirs. We might need some. But they will get a fair trade for it, or we will not get it.

This spread like wildfire in a droughted forest. It set the tone for how the natives would be treated from then on. As our hosts and us their guests. At all times to remember. This is theirs not ours. We are lucky they do not mind to share instead of war.

Lou and Koons made they way to the control center for level 25. There was in fact three of these, two were meant as back ups. They had agreed to meet Ezel at the operational center. Lou asked Koons how she came to be here.

Koons.
Here. I didn't want to be. Suppose,, better being on the right side I guess.

Lou.
No, I mean on the ship. What did you do? You seem to know a lot about the ship and how it works.

Koons.
Ha well I might know this ship better than anyone else. Even those who built it. But there's none of them around to test that.

Lou.
Are you military? I don't recognise your name from the officers list. I am sure I have met them all more than once too.

Koons.
Oh you wouldn't know me. I am from the philosophers line. They stopped generations ago. Great grandpa he thought it best to pass on the tradition. Since then philosophy has been shared in secret. Until my dad that is. For a man that did not teach philosophy she sure did say a lot. He told me Philosophers talk too much to do anything. The key to life is the l. Love laugh look listen learn.

I was probably 7 or 8. Things changed then. All of a sudden out of the blue. Dad was making me do everything. I thought I was getting prepared for a ceremony at first. Later I found out he started to prepare me for life.

Dad had said he did not want me to be a philosopher. Instead he wanted me to be able to learn about anything. And if I wanted, I could then learn about philosophy. Once I knew how to learn. When I was 10. He moved us down to level one. There is one corner of level one that gets used. And it doesn't get used, cause this thing never broke down.

All the information about everything is stored down there. Unlike say farming. If you are on level 17 for construction. You have no access to the farming files. Down on one. you can access everything and cross reference.

There are thousands of maps for the ship and hundreds for each level. The military level you need a code for. So I never went into that one. But all of the other levels have the same core structure. It has to be the same on that level too right? Well it is, cause I snuck in through one of the cables vents and explored a bit. They are some messy slobs those guys.

Dad would pick a place on the ship. I would have to record me getting there with no one seeing me. I did do some medical things too. Oh! did you ever hear about that rumour of the angel saving the boy with the lung? That was me.

Lou.
WOW! So that was real? I talked with the medical team about that. They didn't believe in the angel, but couldn't figure out how the boy punctured his own lung. So that was you go figure.

Lou checked his watch