Nikolai's eyes flashed with mute surprise as the captain's words sank in, resounding with great importance in the deathly-quiet place. The program had claimed that the U.S. Columbus was supposed to be at Athena within two days, not two months. Not that he was complaining; the more time he spent away from civilization, the better. Yet something about the whole thing made him uncertain.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Why would the captain only reveal this information now?</span>he thought, uncertain fears skittering about in the back of his mind.<br/><br/>Standing at the back of the group of crewmembers that had filed into the room some time after the beginning of the assembly, Nikolai made a few furtive glances at the equally-shocked faces of the crew and passengers. He adjusted his standard-issue technician's uniform uncomfortably, unused to the stiff, tight clothing. To him, it was a costume. A falsehood. He had lied to get his position on board the U.S. Columbus; doctored a résumé and invented an identity just so that he might leave Earth and flee the underworld that welcomed him no longer. With this new information, he wondered if the lies were worth it.<br/><br/>Looking back up, he saw the panic spread like wildfire among the passengers, forcing some members of the crew to step in and control the situation. Skirmishes broke out among the passengers and crew until someone had stepped in and made threats of execution if the objectors did not comply. It was too late to flee, so crew and passenger alike had nothing to but accept the situation, whatever that may be. Nikolai didn't plan to revolt any time soon, but that they were so quick to announce execution as an option worried him greatly.<br/><br/>Resolutely dragging his mind back to the matter at hand, he stood back as the security and other crewmembers put the passengers against the wall and let out a hesitant sigh of relief as the passengers began to calm down, signaling the end of the first of what he expected to be many incidents in the weeks to come. His bright blue-green eyes scanned the scene, agitation beginning to subside.<br/><br/>Once the passengers had been calmed and brought back into line, the captain showed them around the vessel, indicating the dorms and other such utilities. As Nikolai had already taken the time to study the vessel's layout before boarding, he was already aware of these things. Following the group with short, even strides, he was preoccupied with the reason behind the captain's deceit. His footfalls fell into a rhythmic pace as he considered the possibilities, but in the end he could only hazard guesses at what the agenda might be, or if there was even an agenda at all.<br/><br/>He paid for his concentration when he crashed into a passenger in front of him. Nikolai looked up in surprise to see the large, black worgen towering over him, staring down at him down with furious crimson eyes. He stammered out a quick apology, remembering the ease with which the worgen had subdued one of the rioting passengers.<br/><br/>"Oh, sorry. I... I wasn't looking where I was going. Completely my fault." Nikolai said as he took a prompt step backward.<br/><br/>Snarling and unappeased by his apology. the large creature made another graceful step towards him. Nikolai made another step in retreat, but she stepped even closer until she quite literally standing over him. Her nose twitched at she took in his scent, and her mouth looked like it had begun to water. Nikolai looked about to see that all the other passengers had moved on, leaving him alone with the powerful worgen.<br/><br/>After a few torturous seconds, she shook her head and left Nikolai in her tracks. As he watched the worgen's powerful stride quickly leave him behind, he hoped that the display was simply a demonstration and not genuine anger.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">I don't want to make an enemy of her</span>, he thought, not brave enough to say it aloud. He stood alone in the empty hall for a moment, struck frozen by uncertainty, before running after the other passengers.