Treasure for All

5. The Quest

One by one, the crew members entered through the bronze door.

"You can hang your coats and hats on the hangers to your left," the woman instructed, and they followed suit.

The interior of the house had a luxurious aspect to it. The furniture was covered in white fabric, the fireplace had a carved, wooden mantle with a buffalo's head hanging over it, and the walls were lined with various paintings and marble statues. The floor was a white and black marble with intricately designed carpets covering various spots in the main area. A marble staircase was leading up to a second floor, the railing being a polished wood; and a crystal chandelier glittered from the ceiling.

"Fancy," Phoebe commented after hanging her coat and setting her umbrella in the umbrella holder.

"I'll alert the professor you've arrived," the woman said.

"No need, Dalia," a voice objected from the top of the stairs. "I saw them walking up the path."

A fairly tall man stood at the top of the staircase. He appeared to be middle-aged with chestnut brown hair and graying at the temples. A dark mustache sat right above his top lip, and his glasses were placed firmly on his nose. He was dressed in light khaki pants, a brown sweater, and a white lab coat with brown dress shoes covering his feet.

"Dr. Steinbeck," Hongjoong bowed, the rest of crew copying him.

"My goodness, Hongjoong," the professor smiled as he stepped down the stairs. "How long has it been since I last saw you? Twelve years?"

"I believe so." He shook the professor's hand.

"Your father, God rest his soul, often spoke about how you wanted to be the captain of the ship someday."

"I just hope I am making him proud by doing so."

"And who are your friends?" Dr. Steinbeck noticed the crew behind the captain.

Hongjoong brought Dahae forward. "This is my fiancée, Dahae."

"Nice to meet you, professor," she greeted.

"Pleasure's all mine, my dear," the professor returned.

Hongjoong went down the line as he introduced his members. "This is my first mate Seonghwa and his fiancée Grace-Anne. Our quartermaster and medic Yeosang and his girlfriend Phoebe. Our engineer Yunho. Our weapons master and gunman Jongho. The HALA's pilot Mingi and his girlfriend Taeran. Our physicist Wooyoung and his girlfriend and barrelman Dinah. And our navigation expert San and his wife Celestia." The captain motioned towards her baby bump. "And this is their daughter."

The professor's eyes immediately went to Celestia's necklace. San took note and scooted closer to her, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"Quite a team you have, I must say."

"Thank you."

"Shall we head to my lab?" The professor began to lead the way.

The woman, now identified as Dalia, walked up to Celestia and asked, "Do you need to sit down, darling?"

"I appreciate it, but I'm alright," Celestia politely declined. "I'll let you know if I do."

Dalia nodded and walked into another room.

...

The house seemed like any normal would be. A few pictures hung on the wall displaying family pictures and some achievements. Awards were also displayed some of the professors accomplishments, and a few doors in the hallway lead to various rooms. They entered another living room, decorated just as luxuriously as the first one, and they were lead to a pair of double doors. A black screen brightened up next to the doors. The professor punched in a code, and a voice said, "Welcome, professor."