“It is a pleasure to meet you, Faith. If you ever need anything, just use the communication box on the wall to call my office. I will make sure you get it.”
“I appreciate it,” Faith said, giving the other woman a smile.
“Now, if you are ready, I am happy to give you a tour.”
Logan placed a hand on the small of Faith’s back. “A quick tour for today. I don’t want to tire Faith.”
“Of course. Come this way.”
Logan kept his hand on her back. She could feel his warmth, and it comforted her. Even though there were many eyes watching them as they walked through the corridors, she felt safe. Logan would let no one hurt her. Warrior Powers followed them, so if anyone tried to attack, she had two very strong and determined warriors that would protect her.
It made her stand straighter and pull her shoulders back. Logan didn’t look at her like she was scum or less than human. He treated her like a real person to be respected. If he, an alien, could see her that way, then she should be able to see herself that way as well. She held her head up and looked right back at those she passed until they turned their faces away first.
They arrived at the atrium she’d seen little of when she first arrived. Standing in the center of the lower level, she stared up, amazed at the lighting and archway above.
“Incredible,” she whispered.
Logan looked up and shrugged. “We have something similar on our ship.”
She smiled. Her alien was competitive. “I’m sure your ship is amazing.”
He puffed his chest. “It is.”
“Oh, look how pretty the garden is,” Faith exclaimed as she rushed over to a nearby bush. She was afraid to touch it. “It’s real!”
Mary smiled at her excitement. “It is, but this isn’t the garden. We call this the main courtyard. Here we set up open markets to trade. We have the farmland, orchards, and gardens on the lower levels.”
Faith looked at her in confusion. “Farmland?”
“Come and see.” Mary motioned them to follow her to the elevator.
Something caught her attention. She stopped walking and just stared. Right there, hanging on the wall to the right of the elevator was the famous stained-glass window from Brooklyn’s Museum.
“What is that?” Logan asked, coming to stand right behind her.
“It’s a large stained-glass window by J&R Lamb Studios called the Religion Enthroned. It was in the Brooklyn Museum the last time I visited. How did it survive?”
Mary stepped to her other side. “We brought some pieces of art to the dome before the nukes hit. I’m not sure who decided what was to be saved, but I am so glad they brought this. Were you a visitor to the museum before?”
“Yes. In fact, my art class had visited a museum the day the nukes hit.”
“Are you an artist as well?”
Faith blushed. “I studied to be one before the nukes. It has been hard to continue, dabbling here and there, but it’s near impossible to find paints and other supplies when living in the subway.”
Mary and Logan looked at each other with a knowing expression. What was that about?
“Are you ready to visit the farmland?”
“Yes.”
They followed Mary into the elevator. The farmland was not what she expected. She expected a large indoor atrium. When the doors opened to one of the lower levels, the lighting struck her.
“It’s so bright,” she said, blinking her eyes.
“We use full-spectrum LED grow lights all throughout.”
“Solar power?” Faith asked.
