“So… is it Mr. Gizmo, or just Gizmo? That other man from the walkway called you, mister.”

The big man’s chuckles helped ease the tension between Lorenzo and the giant of a man before him. With each step down the ship’s corridor, Lorenzo could hear the wheeze and click of the mechanics hidden within the man’s clothing. For as large as he was, the intimidation factor that he wore like a second skin and add to that he had almost shot Lorenzo earlier. He found the big man to be quite agreeable and nice, if a little gruffly.

“Just call me Gizmo. The captain found me tinkering with a few things back in the day before he asked me to join his crew. Those were the days; you should have seen the trouble we got into. Thanks to the captain, I have this new arm even.”

Without turning around, Lorenzo watched as Gizmo extended a mechanical arm that was as large and bulky as the man himself. It was quite fitting to him and his personality and it growled with gears as much as Gizmo himself had at first when being told to take Lorenzo to see someone about his injuries.

“I have to say, kid, you remind me of the big man himself.”

“The big man?”

There was a pregnant pause that pulled out between the two men. When Gizmo stopped at a random metal door, he finally turned to meet Lorenzo’s eyes when he replied.

“The captain. You will find him a generous man. He is the type that once you meet him, you feel you have always known him. Do well and he will surely treat you correctly. Work hard not to forget that, ya hear?”

Reaching over, Gizmo pulled the metal door open with a hydraulic hiss. Within the open portal appeared to be a pure white room with random shelving units lining the one wall Lorenzo could see. Before stepping inside, both out of curiosity and to give his throbbing ankle a chance to rest.

“Can I ask you something? There are a few things that I am confused about.”

Seeing Gizmo nod was reassuring, but when he did not reply after a short time, Lorenzo felt compelled to continue his thoughts.

“We are on a spaceship. People haven’t used powder style guns for hundreds of years. Why use things like a shotgun on the ship? Doesn’t that seem a little backward to you, since you could just as easily use a laser or other weapons with more punch?”

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As a way of an answer, Gizmo rapped his metal knuckles on the hallway, leaving a metallic ring running through the open space. This reaction left Lorenzo raising an eyebrow, and a confused look on his face that had Gizmo smiling broadly.

“You know, back in the days that we used to sail on the oceans, they were always careful what guns they used because if you punched a hole in the ship, the entire thing could go down.”

“Okay. That makes sense, but at worst, if they did damage those old ships, couldn’t most sailors swim?”

Gizmo scratched his chin thoughtfully before answering.

“Sure. I am sure most had to learn that, or die trying. But the problem is, no matter how technology changes, sometimes the old stuff is the best idea there ever was.”

“What do you mean?”

“Have you ever punched a hole through a wall and sucked on nothing but space? I promise you it is not pretty; you see, back in the day, there was this time- “A loud clap reverberated off the metal walls, making a sharp statement that Gizmo and Lorenzo were no longer alone.

A tall man stood in the doorway dressed in a tailored dress pants, white shirt and gray vest hidden under a white apron. He finished the outfit with white rubber gloves that looked a little too pristine. He had combed his hair back perfectly. The sharp lines of the man’s face looked familiar, and it took a long moment to remember where Lorenzo had seen it before. It was the same man who had been standing with the captain earlier, before the captain had saved Lorenzo’s life.

Gizmo stood rigidly, suddenly coming to attention, as he shed all pretense of his easy-going manners.

“Hello Corvus sir. I have brought our newest shipwright here, as requested. Is there anything else, sir?”

Lorenzo swallowed hard upon seeing the new man’s evil smile. One moment the smile was there, and the next it was gone as if it had never existed.

“Thank you, my good sir, Gizmo. You have done all the captain, and I have asked of you. I hope today is treating you well?”

“Yes sir. Thank you, sir.”

The transformation of this laid-back guy into whatever was standing before Lorenzo had him looking at Gizmo differently. The moment shattered as Corvus and Gizmo burst into laughter. Unsure what to do, Lorenzo stood there in the middle of the hall, looking back and forth between the two men until Corvus waved him into the white room before stepping further into it and giving Lorenzo the ability to enter. As he passed Gizmo, the big man nodded and winked.

“Now you treat this new shipwright well, Corvus, or you are going to have to talk to me.”

From within, the tall, well-dressed man commented, but it left Lorenzo with a chill running down his spine.

“I will treat the new shipwright like his is my best friend. I am sure we will become long-time friends, given time…”