"I understand your meaning," Alessa said. "I understand that everything in the world has a pulse, radiating in what most people find beautiful. Even in its alien form, this place clearly had a tangible beauty in it, the fora and fauna in peaceful coexistence. But you know that I am a demon, and a very specific kind. The backdrops I like are the ones that are bare, or even ravaged: in its own way, it has a beauty all its own. However, like many other things on the ship, that perspective is limited to only a few."

She shrugged. "Do you...feel comfortable on this ship?"