"It was good stuff, yeah. And it's relaxing to eat together once in a while."

"Indeed. Would you like that safety lesson I promised earlier, Sandra?"

"People should eat together more. It helps build connections."

At the mention of the safety lesson Sandra perks up and nods vigorously.

"Yes please!"

Nick gives her a safety lesson, apparently unperturbed by the little confrontation earlier. He is thorough and not a particularly skilled teacher, but the various safety rules and how to use the harness correctly are simple enough. "Shall we go out for a few minutes to get you acclimated? Tonight or tomorrow at some point I'd like your help putting the radar on a mast."

Sandra also seems to have forgotten the older conversation. She follows the instructions carefully. "Yes, I'd like to try it, of course I'll help."

They go out onto the side of the ship. There are handholds and footholds. Nick shows her how to attach the clips to new holds as she moves over the ship. It's a fair bit like rock climbing.

The view is great. The island below them has a thickly overgrown patch of woods on it. The ship sways against its ropes a bit in the breeze.

Sandra is having the time of her life. She loves the view, she loves how she can feel the ship's swaying. She's quite a natural.

"This is amazing."

"This is why I have a ship. This feeling. The freedom. I get it even just standing at the controls. You're surprisingly good at this."

"Thank you, do you have rock climbing here? It's quite similar." That and her powers help quite a bit.

"I think freedom is something we agree on. Freedom is the best. No people trying to make you do bad things."

"Rock climbing? Climbing is an essential Cloudbank skill. We do a lot of different kinds of climbing, sometimes over rock faces." He sighs a bit, looking tired.

"You look tired, are you feeling alright? We can head back if we need to." 

"I'm fine. Just stressed. Probably a good idea to go back in, though, it's getting dark."

Sandra will start the climb back into the ship.

"I'm sorry if I stressed you out, I got overheated. I just don't want anyone getting hurt."

"These things happen. I don't know if you got the full story... Anyway I think I will play with the radar unit a little more and then catch up on sleep."

She nods. "I still don't know what's going on." She frowns. "I'll head to sleep myself." She doesn't feel tired, but her senses tell her that her body is starting to be worn out.

"Good night, then. I'll put up your clambering gear." He's stowing away his own as they speak.

On her way to bed, Sandra goes to find Walta.

Walta is writing in a notebook in the her cabin. "Hey, Sandra. What's up?"

"Hey Walta. I know it's probably none of my business, but I was talking to Nick and... He keeps acting as if you should already be wanting to leave, or that you're leaving soon. He said you would leave as soon as you had learned everything you could from him. But I think there's more to the story. I pressed him, but he said that I lacked context and to ask you. Is it something you would want to tell me? I know we've just met, but it could be good for you to get it off your chest."

"Well I think I know what he's talking about. It's kind of embarrassing. Kind of very embarrassing."

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to right now. But no matter how embarrassing it is, I will understand, I promise." The last part she says with absolute conviction.

"Remember my philosophy? Everything in harmony? I believe that 100%, and I see a situation not in harmony, but I want to help, if you want me too."

"I... Probably should talk about it at some point. We stop at ports and all but it's hard to get to know someone in the one or two days we hang out there. But it's..." She shrugs. "Embarrassing. I don't know."

"Well, how long until we land at Halth? It doesn't have to be today. We can take as long as you need. I don't want to rush you."

"Halth? Three, four days? ...Yeah. I think if I take a day to think about it and maybe tell you tomorrow it'd be for the best. I'm probably too tired to work though issues like this right now anyway."

"Sure, take your time, and if you don't feel comfortable about it, don't tell me. This isn't about me, it's about what's best for you." She says gently.