All Apologies

     "I am awfully sorry, Let's go replace it?" B'eight says genuinely.

     Slightly taken aback, and feeling robbed of a possible confrontation, Efften is not quite sure how to proceed.  Looking between B'eight, the salmon on the floor, and Tenjay, it is clear to see the gears of anger are still turning.

     "I am already LATE! I don't have TIME to stand here and wait for you and your slow friend."  A few more moments of pause pass by, the tension continues to grow.

"Why don't I meet you back here tomorrow and buy you new one, And a hard drink for the trouble?" B'eight offers, hoping to avoid one of Efften's famous punches.

     Efften thinks about this for a moment.  "Yeah... I guess that would work....." the reply is slow and made while continuing to look up and down the potential prey, clearly waiting for an excuse to escalate things.  When nothing happens the realization of the aforementioned lateness seems to reoccur and Efften begins to storm out of the room.

     Tenjay looks at the floor and then, almost as an after thought, calls to Efften: "Thank you."

while picking up the salmon.

     Thankfully, Efften does not turn back but calls over his shoulder in their general direction "Shove it up your ass!"  More angry mumbling follows, but it is all incoherent due to the growing distance.

      Tenjay picks up the salmon and looks it in the eyes and appears to have a moment of connection with the fish.  B'eight looks on in disbelief, unsure of what is about to follow.

    "You're not real, ya know?"  Ten jay says, seemingly to the fish.  "Just a chemical reaction put into a fish shaped mold, made from the exact same stuff as a standard ration."

     B'eight notices that this dialogue is spoken normally. Well, as normally as one can speak while talking to a fish.  No stuttering, no stumbling for words, and in a tone that is matter of fact and not that of a 'raspy harbinger' like the previous conversation.

  "Shaped and colored but you have no bones, you're not real."  Ten jay's eyes turn toward B'eight while saying the last part.  After a long pause, Still looking unblinkingly at B'eight 

"None of us, none of this is what it seems..."

     There is a moment where B'eight gets a very uneasy feeling, as if Tenjay is looking not only at, but into.

       Then, like the previous moment never happened, Tenjay reassumes a look of panic and distracted confusion.  "Oh, no! It's here!!"

   "What's h...?" but B'eight does not get a chance to finish the question.  There is a loud crash from somewhere below and the entire vessel shudders. 

B'eight looks to Tenyjay "What is going on?!"

B'eight braces against a nearby table