Life in the slums had rules -- rules of survival. Rules; that were not actually made by her or anyone.

In the Provision, things were different. There were no concrete rules -- there was no set pattern to follow, there was no set role that she was expected to play. Kez had told her to be a team player -- that was the first, clear piece that was given to her. What else was she supposed to do?

Foxy knew that she should be roaming around -- learning about the ship that was her new home. Yet, she found herself in her room, on the bed. She needed to establish rules -- for herself -- in the hopes to find some structure in her life. Right now, she felt like a dry, floating leaf, that got picked by one breeze, and got toyed around by another. Is that what the men were doing?

She saw Isa and was envious of him; he seemed like he had everything figured out. He knew the men, he knew their world; he was the boy with all the answers to her questions. But for some reason, he didn't like her -- no, she had to correct herself  -- it was not that he didn't like her. He didn't deem herself important. She could go to Kez, and maybe he would be patient with her, but it was hard to explain herself to him. She had another option -- Idris. But he had been too absent. Would he give her attention?

Foxy sighed as she rolled to one side of the bed.

She had so many questions. For instance; what purpose did she have in this ship? And most importantly; how could she serve that purpose? Was there a reason she was chosen?

She could see why Isa was chosen. He was smart -- it was so evident. Was she too?

"Provision, why was I chosen?"

"Foxy, I am afraid I don't understand your question."

Foxy sighed, rolling to her back, and placing her hand on her stomach. She had asked the ship to dim her lighting. It looked like the ship was going to her true friend. Foxy was never good at making them.

"Provision, tell me about the First Alliance."

Foxy was not dumb. She knew what First Alliance was. Yet, she was in the mood to listen to the nice, serene tone of the ship.

"The First Alliance treaty was signed between two warring planets -- Ard and Raye -- eight decades ago. Both these planets had their resources depleted in the war so the leaders of the planets sought peace and that's when the First Alliance was formed. First Alliance is an inter-planetory government based on Ard, comprising of four council members each from Ard and Raye, two from Xerbia, and one from their recently acquired planet, Omnia. The policies on these planets are made on the basis of vote -- each policy requires three-fourth vote to pass -- with veto powers to council members of Ard and Raye. The council members are rotated every four years."

Foxy mused at the words spoken by the ship. She didn't know so much about First Alliance. She didn't know how they worked.

"How are Idris and Kez enemies to the First Alliance?"

Again, Foxy was not dumb. She could piece two and two together. Kez's speech in the tent had helped her with that. The men despised the First Alliance; and she assumed the feeling was mutual.

"I am afraid you do not have access to that answer."

Foxy sat up straight. She wasn't expecting the ship to reply. How much did the ship know?

She tried again, curious, "Do you know who these men are?"

She had wondered about the little sob story in the tent that they had said. She was not sure if it was true. Now that she knew the men better, she understood, that they wouldn't simply tell their life story to a crowd. Words travelled fast; and if First Alliance were their enemy, it wouldn't take much time for the words to reach them. She wondered how they had managed to hide from First Alliance for so long.

"I am afraid you do not have access to that answer."

She did not expect an answer. But she tried, anyway; how safe was storing information in a ship? Couldn't the people in First Alliance just strip the ship and learn everything? Surely, they didn't need access to do that? Or was she simply exaggerating the power?

"Provision, what exactly do these men do?"

"Foxy, these men are traders."

Foxy resigned -- that was a very vague answer. They even had the ship well trained. There was no way that Isa would give her these answers. Foxy decided that she would have to find another way to ensure some structure in her life. But, for now, she decided to go to sleep.

"Provision, could you--" however, she could not complete the instruction, and she heard a soft knock at her door. Foxy glanced at her mirror, it was quarter past six, it was not really late.

Someone knocked again; Foxy jumped from her bed and ran to open the door. She was surprised to find Idris on the other side. The same soft smile on his face. He wore the same green overcoat.

"Foxy, can I come in? Am I disturbing you?"

She stared at him wide-eyed. He was the last person she expected to find on the other side of the door. She had hoped for Kez and expected Isa. But not Idris.

"Sure." She said when she found her voice.

He nodded, marched inside, and pulled out a chair to sit. He looked around, reminding her the way he looked at Emma's hut, "Is this comfortable?"

She nodded. She still stood near the door. She felt tiny and scared.

"I'm assuming you understood why I'm here." Idris said.

"Maybe." Foxy replied.

He smiled, "You've been trying to gain information from the ship. Information that are not accessible to you. The Provision is programmed to ping us when such activities happen. Since, I'm the one in the ship, and Kez is out, I decided to give you a visit. You have questions . . .?"

"I wanted to know about First Alliance . . ."

Idris smiled again, "I saw your record Foxy. Those are question that the ship has given answers to. There are some questions, however . . . "

She didn't like the way he was keeping his sentences hanging. He didn't seem annoyed by her. Yet, he was here.

"You want me to ask them?" Foxy asked after a while of silence.

"Yes, I'll decide if I want to answer."

Foxy lifted her chin, "So why should I ask them?"

"To give yourself the satisfaction that you did try to gather information." He continued smiling. "Sometimes, the questions are more important to people than their answers."

"Will you ever tell me your name?"

Idris pondered over that, "I'm known in the First Alliance as a Ghost. It's a name that will be brought up quite often. I'm a man that they seek obsessively." He lifted a finger before she could ask the obvious question, he smiled, "Why? I'm an outlaw. I don't define myself based on their rule. They don't like that . . . they don't like they have someone like me who cannot be controlled."

And then he added, "When I say me . . . I mean us. I mean whoever is part of the organisation. Us; people with no names, no identity, no individuality. Yet, somehow, when united; we become an unavoidable force." He lifted his shoulder. "I am merely representing them."

Foxy chewed on that information.

"But what do you do that . . . " she couldn't form the word. She wondered where he had got this flair from. She hadn't seen it in the tent. It was Kez with all the flair and the dramatics.

"That makes First Alliance want my head?" He chuckled. "I disobey them. Can you imagine that? Simple acts. But they are scared of me . . . oh, the irony . . ."

He continued laughing. It was like she was seeing a different side to him. He was no more the silent thinker, the word-less genius. He had become more expressive.

"Kez said that you will be receiving a shipment. Does that relate to your business?"

"Yes, as a trader, it is my responsibility to ensure that the customer gets what they bought. Some customers are important, so we give the product to them, personally."

Foxy nodded. "Does this lead to too much money?"

Idris grinned wider, "More than you can imagine!"

She feared this man in front of her. For some reason, she wanted to go back to the familiarity of Kez and the cold-ness of Isa. At least, they behaved the way she expected them to. Idris kept changing. He cared, and then he didn't care. He was cold, expressionless, then he became expressive. He could be understanding. He could be ignorant. He could be anything.

"I told you Foxy. I was not going to dissappoint you and I don't plan to. However, some things are need-to-know only. You will not come to know our name. But you will understand our trade. Soon, you will have all the access that is related to our business." He smiled. "Imagine it as living, breathing thing -- our business -- and we -- you and me -- are simply fodder for it to keep living. We need to fit it enough that it manages to survive even after we die. It's why you and Isa come, Foxy. You are the inheritors."

"I can see Isa." Foxy said biting her lip. "But why me?"

Idris' eyes sparkled in the dark. How did he have so much control to ensure when it sparkled?

He grinned, in the dark, he looked fearsome. "Because I said so."

Suddenly, as if done with the conversation, he stood up. "Get some sleep, after dinner. Tomorrow, we will be leaving for Nobu."

Then, he did the most unexpected thing. He patted her back, as if pleased with her, and walked out of the room. She was about to close the door to her room, when she heard another odd thing.

Idris was singing!

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Looks like Idris has done a full 360 to his character? What do you think? XD