I was dumbfounded. How had I ended up in space? More importantly, when did humans manage to create spaceships? Surely I would have known about such advanced technology. Not even the government could keep something that big hidden. None of it made sense.
I was then reminded of the weapon pointed at me when the large man yelled, "Hey! Pay attention!"
Right now, I needed to find a way out of this situation, I could focus on where I was later. That's when I noticed somethin ggv strange about the man's gun.
He had backed up a few steps so that I could see right down the barrel of the gun. What I realized confused me.
"Your gun," I said, nodding my head towards it.
"What about it?" he responded.
"It doesn't have any rifling."
If he tried to shoot at me from his current distance with. no riffling to guide the bullet, it was doubtful he could hit his mark. Chances were he would miss me.
The man froze, "Rifling? What the hell are ya talkin' about ladey?"
He didn't know what rifling was? Did his gun not shot bullets, but something else? I was on a spaceship, so right now, anything seemed possible.
"All I'm saying," I began shakily, "Is if your really intended to kill me, your gun would have proper rifling."
What the hell was I doing? I didn't really know what I was talking about, I was just trying to keep the man talking so I could figure out a way to get myself out of the dangerous situation.
"Ladey..." the man began, he didn't seem to know how to continue. "Who are you?"
I was taken aback somewhat, and didn't know how else to respond but with my name, "Well, my name's Asher, sir."
"Ain't ever heard such a name, ya sure ya ain't lyin'?"
"I'm sure sir."
Much to my surprise, the man lowered his gun, and looked me up and down, "I don't think ya're much of a threat ladey."
One of the men that had been standing around watching said, "Ya sure captain?"
The captain shot a glance at the speaker and he instantly retreated into the crowd, afraid to say another word. He then offered his hand to me, and I took it. When I had been lifted from the ground, quite forcibly I might add, the man turned to me, "Why don't we have a seat in my quarters and ya can tell me yar story ladey."
"Alright." I responded curtly. I was still somewhat disconcerted at being held to gunpoint, but I was trying my best not to show it.
The man then led me down another one of the long corridors until we reached a room at the end. When the doors were open I couldn't help but stare at the splendor of it. The entire room was furnished in the most lavish of decorations. There was red velvet carpet draped both on the ground and over the windows, and the art lining the walls was spectacular. Replicas of the Mona Lisa, Starry Night, and other famous works. At least, I assumed them to be replicas. But I wouldn't be surprised if the captain had told me otherwise, I was ready to believe anything after the day I'd had so far.
The furniture was all a dark oak, obviously real wood, and finely polished too. The whole place gave off a very vintage sort of feel. There was even a chandelier hanging somewhat low in the center of the room. I couldn't tell whether or not it was made of real gold. Every immaculate detail was precisely in place, not a single object was obscure. I had really never seen anything quite like it.
"Please, sit." the captain gestured to a chair sitting in front of an old 20th century desk.
I sat and he asked, "So, tell me exactly what has happened to ya in these past twenty-four hours."
"Why the past twenty-four?"
"Ya ask a lot of questions don't ya ladey?"
"I could say the same thing for you."
The captain stared at me for a little while, then burst into a very hearty laugh.
"Please, just answer my question. It's all to help ya figure out exactly how ya got on me ship." he said, with much politness.
"Okay," I relented, "Well, this might be hard for you to believe, but twenty-four hours ago, I was not on your ship."
"Yes, and where were ya?"
"Well, I suppose I must have been at home."
"And where is home exactly?"
I was starting to grow a little uncomfortable. "Well, I can't exactly tell you the address, now can I?"
"Adress? No, what planet were ya on?" the captain said with a very serious face.
I thought he must have been joking, but I answered anyway, "Earth."
The captain froze, and suddenly his face went dark.
"What? What is it? What's wrong?" I asked frantically.
"Earth," he said, "Was destroyed. Two thousand years ago."
"What?"