Long lost marigold

Floating, drifting, endlessly. On and on they went. Not that it mattered to the inhabitants of the space cruiser. They were happy enough with their lifestyles. It did not matter how long it would take to reach their destination. All that mattered was the journey. Some aboard couldn't even remember why they had started on this voyage. It started a long time ago and would continue for a long time more.

"Do you fancy going for a drink after Harry? Really do fancy a knee's up at Percy's pit stop" Richard asked with a grin on his face

"No not Percy's Pitt stop!? Do you really wanna hang around those from the east deck? No, tonight I fancy heading up to Mid-deck" Harry chirped back at him

"Well, I guess we can...." Richard responded with a slightly puzzled look on his face. "I guess it is Friday, but how can you afford Mid-deck prices?"

"Well I've been saving haven't I ? Anyway I know a place up there it's not so bad...." Harry said in a confident tone

"Not so bad? I tell you what if the first one is on you then I don't mind so much" Richard joked

"I've got some good news," Harry said pleased with himself

"Well that is fucking brilliant" Richard retorted as he began to turn and walk away. "That's really great. I'll see you later" He finished off as his words trailed away in the clamly room and then died off suddenly. Harry was alone. It wouldn't be long before both we're done for the day. The pair both worked in maintenance, but on different sections. A steady and worthwhile job to spent their time on, but not very well respected. They might have been on a floating cruiser travelling through space, but there were still jobs to be done. As more and more time went on more and more things needed fixing. Richard had already been working for months here by the time Harry had applied to join. The department had grown rapidly since then. When Harry had started there had to have been 50 workers now there was 500. Year on year growth. Of course, a few had come and gone better jobs had become available, but still, the maintenance team grew. Still despite year upon year of service Harry didn't really know how to fix much at all. In fact, he was mostly useless. He was responsible for logging stock in and out. Organisation was his key skill. He was busy here and then when he was asked of it, but mostly he did very little. When no one was around he liked to read and write. Old comics from the times before the journey began were his favourite. He used to frequently listen to the ships radio, but he had got bored of that a long time ago. His life was very easy. Money had no real importance to him, there was a lot of ways you could spend it aboard this giant ship. Food, endless entertainment, gambling and buying rare and exotic off-ship items were to name a few, but most of it was wasteful he thought. All the money earned was to be spent as there was no point saving it as no one knew when they would actually get to their destination. Was that destination even out there? Harry thought as he was bashing away on the keyboard attached to his monitor.

The mid-ship deck was open to all the inhabitants of the ship although some of the prices drove off people from the lower levels. It was after all built for the more wealthy on the ship's construction. The truth was it was more peaceful and more easygoing than the lower levels. Those who lived on this level didn't necessarily get their entertainment from this section. There was many 'Visitors' down to the whorehouses and cesspit bars down below in the bottom sections. Most had got bored with the clean nature of it. It had become too boring for them. And after all entertainment in whatever form was key on this ship.

"It is nice here, isn't it. Spacious and whatnot, but it's pretty boring don't you think? Big waste in a lot of ways" Richard observed as it looked up at the high ceiling and clean street. "I just don't get why they need all that room" You can't take the lower deck out of a man Harry thought as he responded "Stop staring and let's just get there, okay"

The duo moved quickly and without talking down the main boulevard; Filled with the safest and cleanest entertainment. Cinemas, eateries, shops. It was busy, filled with the inhabitants seemingly walking around with no purpose taking in the sights, the sights that they would have in no doubt seen hundreds of times before. A key feature was the water fountains. A pretty sight, but ultimately useless. They took a right off the main drag and continued for quite away. Richard had a troubled expression on his face. He looked uncomfortable. Harry wasn't surprised, after all despite how many years they had been on this ship floating through space he doubted that Richard had ever been up here more than a handful of times. As they walked farther away from the strip the pomp seemed to reduce and there were plenty more living quarters and less fancy looking shops. They arrived at the destination on the far starboard side.

"Oh fuck me Gloria's? I've heard about this place" Richard said with awe. Its neon sign flickered. It didn't look out of place from something you would see on the lower levels. It was rough on the outside but ever so inviting to the pair.

They both sat down at a metal table outside. Despite its rustic charm, it wasn't the most popular of places. Avoided by most of the locals it sat on the outskirts. It was quiet and that's exactly why Harry liked it. No fights, no unnecessary drama and despite being on Mid-deck it didn't have the same pomp about it.

"What does a place like this even sell?" inquired Richard

"Well they have a vintage produced in 2450" Harry joked

"No, I'm being serious. What do they fucking sell because I'm thirsty" Richard said with an air of aggression in his tone

"They sell super slurp just the same as everywhere else. As you said it's my round so I'll go and get it." Harry admitted. He wasn't wrong, even though the scenery was vastly different everywhere sold the same items. Didn't matter if you were on lower levels or Mid-deck everything was the same it was just an illusion of choice. Before Harry could get to his feet they were greeted by an old lady whose smile was friendly if you could ignore the missing teeth. She wrote their order down in her notebook and scuttled away.

"So this news" Richard begins "It's been troubling me ever since you told me. You don't have news, Harry. You're the quiet one. I can only think you've found a woman. So, what is her name?" It wasn't a surprise Harry thought that Richard would have thought this way. His only interests were women and drinking, his world revolved around that.

"No, it isn't anything to do with that" responded Harry.

"Then what is it?" Richard said impatiently

"Well, it--" Harry began but was interrupted by the old woman who was back again with their drinks. Brightly coloured cans with straws. Super slurp was served. Before he continued he took a gulp. It was chilling and refreshing. It would take the edge off before saying what he was about to.

"Do you know that there was a break at the higher decks two weeks back ?"

"Yes, I'm well aware serves those fuckers right" Richard responded joyfully

"Well, although no one has been up there for years and it's shut uptight. Someone got in. Did you hear what they stole?" Harry questioned

"What they stole? No clue. Hopefully lots of money. Rich bastards" Richard scoffed

"No, no, not money. Not money at all. A flower" Exclaimed Harry

"A fucking flower? Are you on something other than super slurp" Richard laughed scornfully

"No, a flower. It's true. A real-life flower" Harry claimed

"How can it be if that were true. A fucking plant? We have been out here for decades. It just couldn't be growing. Nothing grows, nothing has grown" Richard said as if it were fact

"But, up there" Harry pointed upwards "Up there they could have them. No one seems for sure"

"Okay, so they've got flowers up there. They properly have their own food and their own booze. So what. They might have a lot of shit up there we don't have" Richard said standing firm on his beliefs.

"Well, you know. They remind me of her" Harry admitted.

"Are you joking? Tell me you must be joking. You've been on about her for years. I thought you were over that" Richard said angrily

Harry looked around. The bar was still deserted and the little old woman had long dispersed inside. He hushed his tone and spoke softly "I've got a plan. Will you help me? You can get your money and I can find my marigold"