IMMOR(T)AL RAIGAN.

Normally, he had no reason to return to a ship already explored. Yet, there he was - curiosity beckoning him forth once again, hoping to fill in the nameless blank space within his thoughts. With it came an unmistakable feeling, a notion he'd since found hard to ignore.

Once, long ago, he had seen such surroundings. Had walked them. No memories ever sprang forth to confirm such a thing, but he was regardless certain of its truth.

And so, there he lingered. He kept coming back, time and time again. It wasn't as if he were a sentimental person, but he couldn't help but be fascinated by that far away world now so unknown to him.

That being said, he wasn't there to simply remain standing in place. With a relaxed glance around the open area he began to walk, taking note of one of the mechanical workers ever present within the seemingly natural habitat. The caretaker did little to acknowledge him, merely looking up once as he offered a "Hello!" before returning to their previous chore.

Other lifeforms, however, were much more reactive.

He heard the rotund beast long before he saw it, turning as the creature tumbled out of a nearby tangle of plant life nearby. It quickly righted itself before barreling towards him, ramming its head into his thigh in an affectionate - if not a bit rough - nuzzle.

In a matter of seconds other such beasts made themselves known, crowding around him and nipping lightly at his legs as they vied for his attention.

A smile tipped up the corners of his lips.

"Hello again!" he greeted, crouching down to fondly pat the first creature on the head. Behind him, he could feel the others going for his ponytail, a few braver beasts attempting to nibble at his ears.

These beings, too, held that same sense of distant nostalgia. His smile softened as the one in front pushed its head against his chest, offering another pat before reaching his arm around to pet the other members of the robust herd.

It took a while, but eventually they allowed him to rise, satisfied with the provided affection enough to dissipate from the mob they'd formed around him. With his newfound freedom he continued on, at least far enough to give another series of greetings to the other inhabitants of the ship, the process repeating several times over as he made his way from one side of the habitat to the other.

It was only once he'd finished the now-intrinsic rounds that he changed course, a soft hum escaping him as he made his way over to a small pond. At some point, it had become one of his favorite areas aboard the ship. There was something relaxing about it, watching the distorted reflections and listening to the cheerful babble of water as it flowed nearby. Often, he found himself contemplating his surroundings as he sat, staring up at the countless entwined roots as the ship drifted slowly through space.

Today, however, as he approached the pond's edge there was something else that caught his eye.

....There was a hallway.

By itself, that was nothing unusual. Up to this point, he'd witnessed a wide variety of them, and, in turn, had found himself traveling down just as many.

This hallway, however...

Well, it hadn't existed before.

His head tilted, eyebrows bobbing curiously as he navigated the pond's border. Before long he'd made his way over to the new opening, gaze passing up and around to better take in the material and size of the space.

It looked the same as every other hall in the ship.

Still, he was sure this one was new. Perhaps, then, the ship could change its form? Such a notion hardly seemed outlandish, given the organic nature of the vessel.

Whatever the case, though, it was an unexplored branch. He needed no further reason than that to step forward.

As he'd observed prior, the hallway looked just as similar inside as it did from out. Aside from its mysterious appearance, there was really nothing unusual about it. That being said, however -

Were it truly the same as the others, it would eventually lead him somewhere else.

It was an assumption soon proved true. Ahead he could make out a doorway, the shape of which was just as new as the path itself. He padded carefully towards it, stopping just outside to better observe the frame.

He couldn't identify any traps or security. Looking to begin with was more habit than anything else, years of his occupation having long ago ground the practice into his head. Not that he was complaining - it had saved him more than once before.

Regardless, here there was no need.

With a careful motion he moved to open the door, allowing only a few inches of light to leak into the space before peering in to see what lay behind.

A twinge of awareness flickered to life within him.

It took a moment further for his eyes to adjust enough to see. Once they did, he could begin to make out several different shapes from within the room - most notable of which he could only think to identify as a bed.

Perhaps it was a bedroom, then?

The start of a question drifted softly through his mind as he finally made his way into the darkened space. Once through, he turned to shut the door quietly behind him, cutting off the glare of the hallway that had led him this far. All that remained now was the dim lighting of the room.

He blinked, allowing his eyes to fully adjust.

It was definitely a bedroom. As he walked forward - footsteps completely silent - he could see the various amenities associated with such a place, in addition to a few pieces of furniture he didn't recognize. Some of it might have been valuable, had he ever felt inclined to steal anything from aboard.

But no. It would remain as it was.

Eventually, he made his way over to the bed, his pace slowing once he was near enough to better observe the various pillows and blankets. Another blink followed, the multicolored glow of his eyes disappearing before returning to gaze upon the mattress.

There was a person there, nestled amid the fabrics.

Currently, they seemed to be asleep. How long this had been the case, however, he had no way to determine. It could have been hours....days.

Decades.

As he searched the stranger's face, not a hint of recognition sparked to life. He wasn't surprised by it, really. Only a few of the ship-bound creatures evoked the nostalgic thrum in the back of his mind, the rest as new and unfamiliar to him as the vast expanse of space.

Perhaps they were unlike the beings he'd once known. Or, perhaps, those details had simply faded along with everything else. Either way...

He stared a moment longer, the earlier half formed question swirling forth once more. From it further queries branched, each tugging at his curiosity, narrowing in inevitably on the being left softly breathing before him.

It was very possible they held answers to all his questions.

Yet....

....

....He couldn't bring himself to disturb their slumber.

Other considerations flashed through his mind, a minute twitch of his features following the unbidden memories. He turned, then, silently making his way back to the door he'd left closed.