An Excess of Interest (Main Thread)

[Wired*Nun]

For the day or two before landfall, time seems suspended in a warm cocoon, like the feeling of being snowed in to a cabin on New Years. No matter that that metaphor is lost on some of the crew; everyone has their equivalents. Summer vacation, perhaps, that feeling that nothing can happen now, but something is waiting to happen then.

The run from Pesephone to Beaumonde is four days. Greta joins the rest in the eternal job of ship maintenance. On the day of landing, Hiram does something a little different. He gathers them all in the lounge.

Usually he handles all the ship business himself. Sometimes the crew pitches in to load, unload or deliver at one of the outer worlds or undeveloped moons, but on Beaumonde, the longshoremen's union has a lock on anything larger than a duffel bag. But it's not loading duties that he talks about.

"This run's gonna be pretty routine. But y'all are crew now, an' crew need to larn summat about ship's business. So, here's the docket. Greta, you'll be 'companyin' me to sell them surplus machine tools we picked up on Persephone. I'll be dickerin' but feel free to whisper what you think of in mah ear. Also feel free to charm them with yer feminine wiles if'n you can. Whatever gets the job done, dong ma?"

"Earl, you gonna come along as pertection, 'cause I gotta handle some cash this time. I know you's a gentle soul, but you gonna have ta look right fierce when you're out an about with us, unnerstan? Bring along a nice piece of pipe to swing. Best to scare off trouble, and if anyone give it, you gotta give some back. You okay with that? Just try not to kill anyone that don't need killin. Don't need no Alliance trouble."

"Sam, you're goin' heeled. Anybody gets the bulge on me, you do what you gotta. You think you can shoot a man if you have to? 'Cause after we get paid for the cargo, I gotta make a payment on them fine engine parts that kept us in the air, and it ain't no bank I'm dealin' with, get me?"

"Arthur, Doc, I'd appreciate it if'n you stayed handy in case we need. Take a comm if ya gotta go ashore. If'n anyone gets that hankerin', don't go alone, and one of you stays aboard ship locked in at all times."

"Any questions?"

[Candleman]

Arthur shakes his head, good arm folded into the bad one.

"Nah, jus' stay 'ere and crank 'er up quick if yah come back with uglies. I can remembeh tha'."

[Fulmen]

"Sam, you're goin' heeled. Anybody gets the bulge on me, you do what you gotta. You think you can shoot a man if you have to? 'Cause after we get paid for the cargo, I gotta make a payment on them fine engine parts that kept us in the air, and it ain't no bank I'm dealin' with, get me?"

"Any questions?"

Sam keeps things short and sweet. He can handle the assignment and see no need to make things difficult. "Yeah, I got one question. Pistol or Shotgun? S'pose I can take both as well if that is more to yur likin'"

[Wired*Nun]

"Carryin' what more than a pistol's unlawful in town, so if'n you kin keep it unseen, bring it. Ah kin handle to local law 'bout that if'n you get tagged."

[Left-Handed Bandit]

Will listens to the conversation with interest. His role was clear: pray they don't get hurt and be ready to work if they do.

"What if we need to come and get you? Is that possible where the deal is going down?"

[TreyKincaide]

Earl looks crestfallen, "I's don' like being ugly ta people." His demeanor hardens and without meaning to the gentle giant grows intimidating, "But nobody's gonna hurt Boss or my friends.

"Nobody."

[Left-Handed Bandit]

Will sympathizes with the big man; he doesn't need to be able to look into men's souls to know that being a "tough" is against -- no, more than that -- almost diametrically opposed to Earl's nature.

He takes a step to stand just to Earl's right and puts a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I don't think you need to try to be something you're not," the Black Friar says quietly. "Just focus on the fact that it's your job to protect the captain, Greta and Sam, and to be there to make the other fellas think twice about starting something. Can you do that, Earl?"

[Wired*Nun]

Hiram runs his palm along his stubbled jaw. "Yeah," he says musingly in response to Will's question. "Possible. Ya mean like with the big mule? We'll take one crate for a sample in the pony, an' the local's gonna pick up and deliver the rest 'sumin we got a deal. We'll go over the location on the big display...but if'n summat does go down, best we can do is be on foot then all pile into the pony. It'll hold four in a pinch, hit fifty k's on a straight. More'n enough in the city. Kin ya drive a hover mule?"

[TreyKincaide]

Earl nods slowly and repeats, "Nobody's gonna hurt my friends."

He smiles sadly at the friar, "You und'rstand. Boss under'stand too. People expect me ta be mean jes' cause I'm big. Always has. I's had ta hurt mean folks afore, but I's feel like it hurts me more. Never like it none. If'n' that ever change, then mebbe I's become a mean man meself."

[Left-Handed Bandit]

"...Kin ya drive a hover mule?"

"I'm no expert, but I've driven hovercraft before," Will replies. "Not in combat, though. Well, not well in combat..."

The Black Friar's mind drifts back to some harrowing days during the war, Will trying to dodge enemy artillery in a hover mule in an attempt to reach an ambulance that had gone off the road several miles from his mobile surgical hospital.

When it had become clear that the Alliance had locked onto the mule, Will and a fellow surgeon bailed out and took cover as the mule was blasted to bits. They somehow reached the ambulance that afternoon and were able to stabilize several soldiers as the medics and driver were able to right the vehicle and get it running.

It was one small victory against that river of blood...

If'n' that ever change, then mebbe I's become a mean man meself."

"Earl, I doubt your heart will ever let you become a 'mean man,'" he offers with a pat on the other's shoulder.

[Wired*Nun]

"All right, then keep 'er warmed up and ready, just in case. Cain't hurt. Sam, let's land her and git to work."

Setting down should be a routine task, but this time, things don't go smooth. A stray bit of shear at the last minute drops the left-front strut onto the pad first. Sam can feel it overstress, and there comes a loud pop before he gets it leveled and down. Hiram shoots him an angry look. "Gorram it, boy..." He doesn't continue, throwing his beer can into the bin. "Let's take a look. Arthur!"

Outside, they see the fitting of the shock absorber crumpled, and a couple of the bolts sheared off. Disgustedly, he glares at Sam. "Good thing you ain't got no pay coming, or you'd be losin' some of it. You better hope the new girl got some palaverin' skills an' we get a good price for the load. Arthur, there's yer first order o' business. Get the money you need from the old lady. We gotta get started."

They load the sample case on the pony mule, and Greta, Hiram, Sam and Earl pile in. Hiram makes sure they're armed as specified.

Out on the pads, it's warm and busy. Hiram has Sam drive - "So's you can get the layout," he says. They make their way slowly through the chaos, then exit the docks area down one of the many surface streets, into industrial traffic. Big rigs, small trucks, and cargo carriers push freight, big and small, through and past industrial concerns and warehouses.

About a mile later, Hiram directs them into a nondescript alley and up to a loading ramp. "Hop out, be alert. Shouldn't be no trouble, but what yer ready for less likely to come."

[Candleman]

Arthur looks over the shock absorber while the rest of the crew drives into the crowd. It looks to him like the shock absorber itself isn't damaged, just the plating covering it, but he won't know until he gets the twisted metal off. The damaged plating is bad enough, though; without it, the shock absorber won't make it through re-entry.

He gets his toolbox from the engine room and hides his shotgun in his coat in the crook of his bad arm. Before he heads outside, he sticks his head in the infirmary door to let Brother Will know what he's up to.

"Oy, I'll be fixen' up the shocks. Imma close 'er up, though, while I work, so holler if ya need meh." He shows the doctor his radio. "Shouldn't be too long."

He gets outside and closes up the airlock, not forgetting to bring a ladder. He eyes the crowd as they surge past and around, then sets up the ladder and starts cutting the crumpled up metal away.

[TreyKincaide]

Earl hops out happy to be out of the cramped mule. Although, he didn't have to scrunch up in the front like the last time, it was still distressing.

He lugs the big pipe over one should, does his best to put on his not nice face, and looks up and down the alleyway.

[Fulmen]

Sam parks the mule and hops out as instructed. He checks his pistol (he decided to leave the shotgun behind) to make sure everything looks good and then gets ready to follow Hiram.

[Left-Handed Bandit]

"All right, Arthur. I'll probably help you better by staying out of the way, anyway," Will responds good naturedly. "If you need anything, just let me know."

Will goes to the infirmary to check the readiness of the room one final time before finding his way up to the crew deck to see if he can find Mrs. Price. He wants to discuss with her some possible changes to Mr. Price's diet that may help alleviate some of his symptoms...

[Wired*Nun]

Hiram bangs on the personnel door next to the drive-in. A small window opens for a moment, then the cargo door rolls up. A portly fellow in coveralls with a shock of salt-and-pepper hair waves them in, saying, "Good to see you again, Hiram."

Hiram nods at Sam, saying, "Bring her in, son."

Once everyone's inside and the door is shut, Hiram introduces. "Relax, folks. This here's Dietmar Solvang. Friend of mine from way back. Tool and die man. Some of my crew - Sam Collison, Earl Henry, Greta Falsafi."

Dietmar cocks his head at Hiram. "Crew, huh? You never had much crew before. And no need for muscle here, Hiram. What's the story?"

"You're givin' me cash - lotta cash - and I aim to get it where it's goin'. Also, they need seasonin'. An' I want you to know 'em so's I can send 'em in my place if'n I need to."

Dietmar looks a bit uncomfortable, sighing. "Boss is gonna be cranky. He's always cranky anything changes, you know that."

Hiram smiles. "When's he not? But I got two things goin' for me. One, these is the best merchandise you seen in a while. Two...Greta'll sweeten him up a li'l."

Dietmar takes a closer look at Greta. "That's a fine line, there. He don't like to be played with."

"Never you mind, Dee. You just take a look at the merchandise."

Hiram signals Earl to open the case. Inside, packed in cutout foam, gleam complex, angled, sharp metal alloys. Earl and Greta can't make heads of them, but they do look high-quality. Sam can tell that they are dies for cutting and high-tolerance shaping, good enough for the fineness needed in precision machinery - like race engines, perhaps. No way to tell exactly what would be manufactured.

"And here's the kicker - they're blank. All ready to take a number. Untraceable. You do have numbers, don't you?"

Dietmar licks his lips like a hungry man at a buffet. "Yeah. I got numbers."

"All right, then." He looks at his chrono. "Shelton be here in ten, then?"

"Yeah," replies Dietmar. "Di-rec-ly."

"Got coffee then?"

"Sure. Over there." They all stroll across the small, near-empty warehouse to a counter, where stands a battered urn and some condiments, a mismatch of mugs. Huram fills up one, then tips a bit of old spice into his from a flask. Dietmar heads the other way, into a glassed-in office. They can see him pick up the comm.

[samirah]

Will goes to the infirmary to check the readiness of the room one final time before finding his way up to the crew deck to see if he can find Mrs. Price.


Yusheng sits at a small desk in the Captain's quarters meticulously poring over the accounting and inventory books, making sure everything is in order. Her face looks grim as she sees the reality of their current financial situation. "I hope this deal goes well," she thinks to herself, "We need the money."

She hears the buzzer and opens the door to see Will standing in the corridor.

Redirect -

http://online-roleplaying.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9646

[LynMars]

Greta has mostly been quiet, nodding assuredly to Hiram on the bridge when he ran down the plan for the job. She stands with her hands loosely clasped behind her back, looking calm and relaxed on the surface.

Once they leave the ship and show up to the warehouse where they hop out of the mule, Greta is taking in the surroundings and the measure of the man who greets them.
Dietmar takes a closer look at Greta. "That's a fine line, there. He don't like to be played with." The blond smiles reassuringly as Hiram and Dietmar make their exchange.

"I assure you, Mr. Solvang, I don't 'play.' We're here to do business, after all, even if new faces do take some initial getting used to." She says pleasantly.

Greta also avails herself of the coffee, managing to not wrinkle her nose at what comes out of the pot. She does it mainly to have something in hand and have the appearance of ease more than she really needs the caffeine at the moment.

[Wired*Nun]

Hiram gulps his doctored coffee enthusiastically, and checks to make sure the other three have their eyes open and are paying attention to the layout - exits, cover, and so on.

Dietmar gets off the comm and come back over to the group. "He's on schedule." He drifts back over to the merchandise, handling pieces of metal lovingly.

"Dietmar's gonna give it a good rec. The trick is gonna be to let him push it, and hold out for a little extra. You chime in when you're ready. Be pleasant. Shelton likes pleasant. Like to be magnanimous, play the big shot."

It isn't long before Shelton arrives. A limousine drives in the cargo door, which shuts behind. Out steps a large, corpulent man of perhaps fifty, well-dressed in the style of business. He has a bodyguard with him, who keeps a close eye on Earl. He seems to be impressed with the size of the man, and regard him as the main threat, if there is one.

Shelton greets Dietmar, then they call Hiram over to sit down in the office. Hiram brings Greta along. He introduces himself as Rickhard Shelton, Esquire. There's still petty aristocracy on most of the worlds of the Verse, though most of it is meaningless beyond the cachet. Greta knows "Esquire" is the lowest level, equivalent to an untitled knighthood. Usually it just indicates substantial land-ownership going back to colonization times.

Introductions around, they get down to dickering. Dietmar gives a high recommendation to the merchandise. It takes an hour or more, but at the end, they get a price settled at 2600 credits, about 200 more than Hiram had said was his target. He doesn't seem pleased, though that's probably just about not letting the other guys know. (Greta gets 1 plot point for successful action)

Shelton counts out hard coin rather than bills, and slides the rather large sum of money over. Greta is surprised, both by the coin, and by the apparent trust between the two men. The transaction is obviously only quasi-legal - she's fuzzy on the laws but they are at least probably evading taxes, possibly smuggling controlled items.

Hiram divides them money into two equal sums. One amount he puts in a cheap drawstring bag, which he puts in his pocket. The other he slides into a leather purse, which he slides securely into his vest, buttoning it tight. "Next time, might just be Greta here talkin', hope that's all right."

Shelton smiles a pleasant smile at Hiram and Greta, a politician's smile. "Of course. She's certainly easier on the eyes than you are, mister Price. Of course, that's why you brought her? I look forward to it."

Outside, the bodyguard parks himself by the door, keeping an eye on the others, who are left to hang around their mule, drink coffee, and pass the time.

Business concluded, they leave the sample case, giving Earl something to lift, at least for a moment. Hiram hands Earl the drawstring bag. "Put that deep in your pocket, Earl. Don't let anyone take it, don't give it to anyone less'n I say so, hear?"

They exit out the cargo doors and down the ramp, then wend their way through the streets for some distance, going around to the other, seedier side of the docks.

[TreyKincaide]

"Yess'm Boss. Nobody's gonna take it. No's they h'ain't." He squirrels the money away in his pocket. "You's have my word on that."

He smiles and hops in the mule.

[Wired*Nun]

They arrive at a brick building along a street of mixed flop-houses, bars and small businesses. It's not quite a slum, but almost. "Sam, watch the mule. Come runnin if there's a ruckus inside. Should be okay in daylight."

Indeed, nothing about the neighborhood looks more threatening than a group of neighborhood punks good-naturedly harrassing a streetwalker.

Hiram leads them into a bar, heading to a door in the back. Earl gets some looks from the patrons, between respect, fear and, in a couple cases, interest, from both men and women. Greta just gets the interest.

Hiram raps on the red-painted metal door. A grilled window opens for a moment, then the door. A bearded, dark-skinned fellow ushers them into the back. Some muscle sits around and watches the vid. They check weapons and look more alert when they see Earl come through the door with his pipe, but nobody says anything more about it.

They are shown through another door into a room that looks like it's used for card games - felt-covered table, dry bar on the wall. A couple of the thugs follow them in, to stand behind them with weapons handy.

Inside sits a man wearing a ruffled shirt, a bolo tie and a black western hat. "Captain Price," he drawls. He has a spread of cards in front of him, though it's no obvious game anyone recognizes.

"Texas," replies Hiram. Greta remembers from her studies that Texas was one of the nation-states on Earth-That-Was, known for its independent-minded citizens and longhorn cattle.

"You came here last time you didn't have a posse," the man says in an affected drawl.

"Some a my crew. Carryin' cash around, makes me feel better to have backup."

"I imagine. What you got for me?" He deals some more cards out into the spread, then starts gathering them together.

"Thirteen hunnerd. Leaves eleven." Hiram draws out the leather wallet, slides the coin out onto the table in front of Texas. The man pushes the mostly-ordered deck aside to deftly stack the coins in front of him by denomination, as if stacking poker chips.

"Thirteen hundred was correct. Unfortunately, Bunratty wants it all. Said the next time you came in, you have to square us." He looks up sympathetically from under the hat. Greta thnks he might be at least half-sincere. "Said he needs it right away. Twenty-six."

The tension in the room rises a notch, and Hiram's jaw starts working. "Twenty-four. He say why?"

"Said somebody came 'round asking about all y'all...the Folly, you, the crew...not Alliance, but somebody with enough cred to make Bunratty nervous. I imagine the other two hundred is to keep everyone from answerin' those questions. Which ain't been answered yet, if you get my drift."

Hiram looks like he's going to blow a gasket. "We been doin' business for a long time, Tex. Now you stretch me over a barrel?"

"That's you and me, Hiram. Bunratty, he's more...objective. I convinced him not to sell you out. If you need a little air, I can float you a few hundred myself...but it ain't my call."

Hiram chews on this with an angry look for a moment more, then gestures to Earl. "Gimme that bag, Earl."

Hiram tosses the cloth bag on the table, picking up his leather purse and slipping it into his vest. "Just happen to have that much. Mebbe I heard about all this. Mebbe I was hopin' you coulda done me right." He glares at the gambler, who shrugs.

"Sorry. Gotta play the hands we're dealt."

"Fine. We're square now. Be not seein' ya." He spits on the floor between.

"Come on," Hiram barks at the other two, turning to give the two thugs a look that could melt steel. They step out of his way, let the crew of Folly pass.

"Wasn't nothin' personal, Hiram!" Texas calls as they leave.

Outside, they rejoin Sam and the mule. "Drive," growls Hiram savagely as he gets in. "Back to the ship."

**************************

Arthur cuts off the crumpled allow plating to expose the innards of the shock-absorbing strut. Deep inside the articulated piece, he sees a bent axle-bearing. It's going to be a bitch to tear down, a bitch to get to, and he has to get a new part if Hiram wants it faster than two days. That's what it would take for him to rebuild it himself.

When the mule drives up, he's got it mostly disassembled, and is getting ready to remove the damaged part.

"How's it going, Art?" Hiram asks. He looks unhappy, and trying not to show it.

[Candleman]

Arthur half-turns to see the group arrive, not wanting to fall off the ladder. He motions to the plating on the ground around him.

"We got a bent axle-bearin', Captin. Bad news is we gotta replace i' if yeh wanna survive landin'. Good news is it's no more'n a few hundred, or I can rebuild it if you've got the time."

As he speaks, he makes his way down the ladder, so he comes to a stop in front of Hiram and the group. He doesn't want to ask how business went, even though he can't really tell how angry Hiram is.

[Wired*Nun]

Hiram looks it up and down, at a loss. Finally, with a beaten expression on his face, he says, "Leave it. Take a break. Bring everything inside, drop it on the cargo deck. We gotta have a town meetin'. Y'all help. I gotta talk to the old lady. Gather up in the lounge."

He goes inside, looking around for Yusheng.

[Candleman]

Arthur looks a tad surprised, but shrugs and tosses his toolbox into the cargo bay. He picks up a chunk of sheared metal.

"What happened?" he asks, to the group at large.

[samirah]

Yusheng is in the garden, with Nan Ching attending her. She sees his expression.

"Something is wrong, honorable husband?" she asks formally.

[TreyKincaide]

Earl hops of the cart, "I's guess things went purty bad." He mutters as he lopes up the ramp. He heads to the lounge and takes a load off. He hums as he waits.

[Wired*Nun]

Hiram makes a face at Yusheng. "Bunratty called in my marker. Had to pay him off all at once. Lucky in a way, the new girl got us a good price...but we got no working capital. Nothin' to buy some trade. Maybe not enough to cover the damage to the strut, the fuel, everythin'."

Seeing her look of concern, he goes on. "I'm of a mind to sell the crew shares. Only thing I can think of, raise some workin' cash. Thought I'd say somethin' to you first."

This was as close as he every got to asking her directly about ship decisions - "say somethin'" to her.

[Candleman]

Arthur furrows his brow, not liking where this is going.

He deposits his gear where he got it and heads up to the lounge.

[LynMars]

Greta is pretty pleased with how the negotiations for the cargo goes. While she's a little fuzzy on the legal details, she tells herself that's for the best; plausible deniability is a handy thing to have sometimes.

As the group walks through the run-down neighborhood, she tries to ignore the conditions around her. She can't quite help but turn her nose up and look away from the streetwalker being teased by the punks. 'Wouldn't happen if she was properly licensed. Wouldn't be here in the dregs either, if she could cut it...'

The confrontation with Texas is a different matter. When he mentions someone with cred asking after the crew and ship, she stiffens, though manages to keep her expression neutral. She gives Texas a look of disappointment as the Folly crew turns to leave, focusing on getting back to the mule and the ship and not on shaking like a leaf at the thought of being followed already.

While Hiram talks to his wife, Greta heads to the kitchen to get a cup of tea to calm her nerves, taking comfort in the familiar process, even lacking the formality of ritual. She moves into the lounge to sit near Earl, stirring her tea absently.

[samirah]

"I'm of a mind to sell the crew shares. Only thing I can think of, raise some workin' cash. Thought I'd say somethin' to you first."



Yusheng lets out a long sigh. "I go over books. It look pretty bad, not much money. If you say that what we need to do then we do it. You old, but you wise."

She looks at Hiram with concern. He doesn't need all this stress, it's not good for him. I don't really want to give up part ownership of the ship, but if it will help relieve some of Hiram's worries...

[Wired*Nun]

Hiram blinks, surprised that he didn't get any argument. He had taken out to loan without telling her where from, because he knew she wouldn't stand for dealing with loan sharks...and now they were in a bit of a spot.

It could be worse...at least Bunratty wasn't after them...but someone else was. For something....He couldn't think of anyone that was serious trouble that would be sniffin' around, unless someone had figured out the caper back on Regina...but that would have been local...unless the Alliance had gotten wind of where the machine tools were going. If so, they needed to leave soon, and he needed to warn Dietmar.

Or maybe it's something to do with one of the crew...he'd done a little checking. Sam's family had a pretty good racing business here on Beaumonde, but he wasn't bucking to visit. Maybe they were looking for him, he hadn't told them he was leavin? Or Greta...that lover trouble she as much as admitted to. Might be more to it than she let on...or even the doc or Arthur. No tellin. He couldn't see one escaped slave bein' worth chasin offworld, though.

Shaking himself out of his woolgathering, he leans over to kiss Yusheng's cheek. "Thank you, my flower. You're the best wife a man could have. And you're still the most beautiful."

He turns to go, then stops. "I'm going to get the crew together. Maybe you ought to be there too."

After checking to see that everything is inside the ship and they are secure, he addresses the crew in the lounge.

"Got good news an' bad news and worse news, folks. Good news, the loan for the engine repairs is paid off. Bad news, it warn't exackly voluntary, and took all the ship's workin' capital."

"Now mostly I don't like to take contract jobs - prefer to buy and sell goods. So I got a proposition for everyone. I'm offerin' shares in the ship. Raise some cash. I reckon some of y'all got some money, if you want to take a chance."

"I figger she's worth pert near eight thousand, with everything in her. That's one percent every eighty cred."

"We got mebbe 400 left in the accounts fer fuel, service, food, an' suchlike. Yusheng keeps my books. As shareholders you'd be able to look at the books if'n you got a mind to."

"If we can't raise the the money that way, we need to look fer some kinda contract. Cargo consignment, passengers, something."

"Worse news - what percipitated all this is somebody spooked my unofficial banker. Somebody askin' questions about Folly an' her crew. Now I don't know what that's about, and I ain't of a mind to wait around an' find out. So if anyone here got summat to tell your captain an' crew, I'd be purely interested to hear."

He crosses his arms and waits for the questions.

[Candleman]

Arthur sighed. This was getting worse and worse. He wasn't an overly sympathetic person, but there was something about seeing a man at the end of his rope.

"Well," he started, "I ain't goin' nowhere but here. I got five-hunnerd and fifty credits I ain't seein' any use for. Hell, I'm spendin' my foreseeable future on this boat and I might 'preciate havin' some say in what goes on."

He smiles wryly at Captain Price. "I hope that'll help, eh?"

Arthur didn't know what his shipmate's plans were, but he thought of himself as a more permanent fixture on this ship than them. As long as Folly was up, plying the Black, he'd be there, like some benevolent organism repairing and tending to her innards.

The other news was not so easily handled. Arthur didn't think anyone was looking for him, but then he couldn't really be sure. The Alliance military wanted nothing to do with him after he lost the use of his arm, so he didn't think it was them, and he'd been out of contact with his family for so long he didn't think they'd remember him.

He steps back, leaning against the wall with his coat open. He's got his usual air of cynicsm, but slightly lessened due to the circumstances at hand.

[Wired*Nun]

"That's a big help, Arthur. Much obliged. My arithmetickin says that's seven percent, more or less. You got the way with my - our - machinery, and I sorely do appreciate that."

[TreyKincaide]

Earl turns looks carefully at the group and settles on Hiram, "Boss, I's got some money squirreled away. I's don' know how much is there, but I's gots it from Mama and from my friend. He gave it to me when he..he.." The big man turns away from the group to wipe away tears. "I's was holding on to it in case I's ever happen on his family."

Earl sniffles loudly and collects hisself, "I's don' whatcha means 'bout sellin', but you and Ma'am's done better fer me than anybody but Mama, so if'n you needs it you can have it." His smile leaves little doubt that he'd give the shirt right off of his back if someone was shiverin'.

Earl hops up and reappears shortly thereafter with a dirty crumbled wad of cash. He plops down 700 credits on the table, "I's hope this helps Boss and Ma'am."

[LynMars]

Greta sips her tea contemplatively as Hiram talks, and Arthur and Earl offer their help. She blinks a little in surprise at the amount Earl puts forth, smiling sadly at the big, gentle man.

She sets her tea down and considers, before finally clearing her throat to speak up. "I have about 400 I can offer if it will help keep the ship flying. Assuming you believe I've earned my keep and may stay." She takes a breath.

"Which brings me to the last part. It may be possible that I'm the reason uncomfortable questions are being asked. There's a former business acquaintance of mine who I stopped doing business with years ago, and his temper is such that he doesn't like being told no. Especially by someone he thinks below him. I ended up on Persephone, where he lives, almost by accident and it may have drawn his attention my way again. Hard to say, unless anyone else has someone possibly looking for them.

"So it's up to all of you, if you think it's too much trouble, I can find another ship to let you go on your way in more or less safety."

She sits straight in her seat, hands clasped loosely on her lap, watching each man and Yusheng in turn with her bright blue eyes.

[Wired*Nun]

Hiram turns away for a moment as Earl talks, his throat working a bit. He shakes his head and rubs his eyes for a moment before turning back.

"Now Earl, that's right neighborly of you. If we ever run across your friend's family, we'll try to help them out too. But right now, this c-...this crew is what needs yore help, cause a crew ain't a crew without a ship and a reason to fly. So this - " he gestures at the cash on the table, "this here's for everyone, not just me and Yusheng. This means you're part owner of Folly, unnerstan? 'Bout one eleventh part. This means you got rights. Dunno if that means somethin' to ya...but I hope it do."


She sets her tea down and considers, before finally clearing her throat to speak up. "I have about 400 I can offer if it will help keep the ship flying. Assuming you believe I've earned my keep and may stay." She takes a breath.


"Yes, miss, you sorely have. Every bit. Your deposit is yours back...is that four hunnerd with that, or without? Makes five percent, I believe."


"So it's up to all of you, if you think it's too much trouble, I can find another ship to let you go on your way in more or less safety."


Hiram looks around grimly, as if gauging the mood. "All y'all that buys in can have a say in that. Otherwise, keep yer yaps shut. Far as I'm concerned, we kin stay away from Persephone and Beaumonde and anywheres else if we needs; I don't give up my crew to no gorram chong bao ho tse wong bah duhn (monkey-raping son of a bitch).

[Fulmen]

Sam sits a little more upright from his relaxed, slouched position. "I got 300 creds layin around. I'll buy in." He looks Greta up and down casually, "I got no problem keeping you aborad. How big of a pain can one guy make anyway?"

[LynMars]

"Keep the deposit, it will go along with the rest of my creds." Greta picks up her tea cup again.

"His name is Maxwell Leong. He's a lord back on Persephone, old money moved to the Border to take advantage of investment opportunities. In his case firearms, something most settlers to wild new worlds make use of. He's rumored to hold some military contracts now as well. He's wealthy, powerful, and has a mean streak the size of an asteroid belt. That was part of the reason I ended our association. So now that ire is turned my way."

She holds the tea cup carefully in her smooth hands. "This is all assuming it is Maxwell who's turned his attention on us. Unless anyone else has troubles of their own they wish to disclose. But that's my story anyway." Greta seems calm enough as she takes another sip of her tea.

[Left-Handed Bandit]

Will steps forward and offers, "I have about 650 Credits available myself, left over from my time at the clinic. If it'll help, I'll gladly add it to the pot."

[Wired*Nun]

Hiram looks more and more relieved at the credits being ponied up. Clearly, he didn't expect such a reaction. "Sam, Doc, that's...I'm sorely obliged, that's a fact. I'll do my best not to let everyone down in our dealins. Now we'll have enough to buy some legit cargo and make a good profitable run, lords willin'. An' all the rest."

He puts on a scowl, continuing. "Don't mean I ain't the Captain no more, though. Cain't vote on who cleans the fresher every day." The scowl fades away pretty soon.

"I heard a this Leong guy. Might be we kin do him some dirty. If it's him sniffin' around, might kill two crows with one shot. If not, we'll deal with things seperate. See, it occurs to me that Shelton's what might be said to be a competitor of mister Lord Leong." He passes his eyes over the group.

"See what I'm drivin' at?" Some get the impression he's soliciting input, ideas or feedback...maybe easing into an idea of his own.

[TreyKincaide]

Earl narrows his eyes trying his best to conjure, "I's not sure, Boss, but I's think you mean that we do some work fer Shelton? If'n this Lord is mean, then I's don' see nothin' wrong with dealing with someone's who's not. I could be wrong, though. I'm not real good at conjurin'."

[Wired*Nun]

"Pretty close there, Earl. See here, if'n Shelton was to hear that somebody - maybe Leong - is tryin to horn in on his stew-pot, he might not take kindly to it. He'll posse up and find out. If'n it is Leong, he'll handle the situation his way, fair good for us. It'n it's not, he'll still find out. Either way, he'd probably be obliged to us that tipped him off, and tell us what he uncovered."

"Either way, it's our favor, an' we kin figger our next move. And my instinct is to do it all from deep orbit."

[samirah]

Yusheng sits quietly at the table, Nan Ching in her lap dozing happily. She takes out pen and paper, briefly noting in Chinese what is said in the meeting. Her handwriting is neat and precise. It could even be described as artistic.

Maybe this will take some of the stress off of Hiram's shoulders. It's good that everyone seems willing to contribute. I just hope none of them causes trouble when it comes time to make decisions regarding the ship.

She looks around the room carefully studying each member of the crew.

[Candleman]

Arthur nods. "I'm all for whatever keeps us in the air. Bu' I don't like the idea of goin' and meetin' someone who's lookin' for us. What if 'ee ain't as welcomin' as we think?"

[Fulmen]

"I'm up for whatever. Like ya said, your still tha cappin and all. Just lead the way."

[Wired*Nun]

"Oh, I ain't counselin' meetin' anybody. Not now. Just let the stevedores handle the cargo, tellin' Shelton what we just talked about, then blastin' fer orbit. Kin we land on that strut?"

Arthur knows they can, but it will probably result in a couple hundred creds more damage when they land again, unless they can repair it in space, which is a damn sight harder than doing it on the ground. If he can go buy the parts new, and everyone that's handy helps him work on it, he can probably finish it in a couple of hours. Used parts will probably take more time, first finding in a scrap yard, then taking the axle bearing off intact.

[Candleman]

Arthur shakes his head, gesturing with his good arm.

"Nah. Doin' that'll cost us 'bout double to fix what it does now. If we can get noo parts now, and with all a' ya's helpin', we can get it Black-ready in a few hours."

[Wired*Nun]

(((lost a post, so this one's a lot shorter than the first)))

"All right, here's the drill. Arthur, take Earl, the pony and some of this cash, go to Universal Parts and get what you need. Get a receipt."

"Sam, wave for a fuel truck and supervise. Doc, shadow him, I want you to learn how the fueling works, and nobody goes outside alone."

"Greta, get on the Cortex and look for some kinda trade goods and somewhere to take them to make a profit. Once you got a good idea for that, look for some couriering, small cargo or passengers to go along with it. Could be from here, or somewheres else."

A buzz comes from the comm. "Here for the cargo, Hiram," says Dietmar's voice.

"Be there directly," he replies. "All right, get to work."

Hiram goes down to the cargo bay and opens the doors after checking. Dietmar and a couple longshoremen are there witha 5-ton truck and a forklift. They start loading the cargo. Hiram watches, palm on the worn handgrip of his .45.

[TreyKincaide]

Earl grins happy to be of use, "I'll ride in the back on the ways there. Cain't fit in the front too awful well. If'n I's be of any he'p lemme know."

He bounds down to the mule and hops in eying the cargo offloading and Hiram's stance warily.

[samirah]

Before Earl exits Yusheng hands him a receipt for the 700 credits. She pats him on the shoulder. "You very kind give big money." She then turns to address Arthur, Greta, Sam and Will. "Thank you all for contribute to ship. You bring credit to me when you ready. I put away in safe and give you receipt."

[Candleman]

Arthur nods to Captain Price and takes a wallet of credits. He figures it shouldn't be more than 300 cr for the parts he needs.

However, when he gets to the mule and finds Earl waiting happily on the back, he smiles sadly.

"Earl... You think you can drive this thin'?" He gestures to his dead arm. "I sure can't."

[TreyKincaide]

"Wells, I don' fit too well but I's can try. I's operated machinery in da' mines, so as long as I goes slow..." he looks at the controls uncertainly.

Earl hops out the back and scrunches into the driver's seat, "This thang ain't made fer big folks. Mebbe we's think about gettin' a bigger one if'n we do this offin' down the road."

"We'll take it nice and slow," Earl eases the mule down the ramp. "Ya knows how ta gets where we's a goin'?"

[Fulmen]

Sam heads off to find a fuel truck. Things are busy in the port and it takes sam a full 10 minutes to find one that is free. He manages to wave it down, points to the Folly, and heads over to make sure the refueling process goes smoothly.

[Candleman]

Arthur nods, usual wry smile returning.

"Yeh, I got directions. Shouldn't be too far away from the landin' area, though."

He directs Earl through the crowd to where he saw the parts dealer, and pats his pocket to make sure the credits are still there.

[samirah]

Uncertain and confused as to why no one responds to her statement, Yusheng grabs her papers and the credits Earl laid on the table. Head down and muttering to herself she takes them down to the Captain's quarters filing the papers in her desk and placing the credits in the ship's safe.

Maybe I'm invisible. Or nobody hears me? Ai Yah Tien Ah! (merciless hell) I try to talk to them. I try to be nice. She lets out a long sigh.

Then she makes her rounds through the ship checking to see that all is in order in case they take on passengers.

Once finished, she slips behind a door marked "Private. Do Not Enter!"
Her garden. Her little sanctuary. She breaths in the damp, earthy air. Aaaahhhh!!! Kneeling on the ground she begins harvesting beans, their hulls swollen to bursting. Working quickly she soon has enough to prepare for dinner. She moves on to the yellow squash, scallions and red bell peppers.

Nan Ching pokes around in the garden, sniffing and pawing at the dirt. She barks and jumps at the earth worms slithering through the soil.

[Left-Handed Bandit]

OOC: Geez, you have a difficult time responding to one post and everyone passes you by... :P

Now, Will is just a healer -- he wasn't born into the clergy, but he certainly had no experience in this kind of action -- and he spends several moments trying to wrap his head around what the captain intends to do...including the consequences of raising the ire of either party, if the rumors are to be believed about Leong's ruthless reputation. And Alliance contracts mean Alliance contacts. The crew should tread carefully here.

The Black Friar misses Yusheng's comment entirely and nearly misses seeing Sam get up and head out of the lounge. He quickly follows, making a mental note to get his contribution to Mrs. Price when he has a chance to during the refueling process, catching up to the young pilot as he exits the ship and flags down a truck.

Will spends the time carefully observing the process, asking questions as necessary.

[LynMars]

Greta breathes a sigh of relief as no one seems to want to boot her off the ship. She nods to Yusheng as the older woman comments about receipts for the credits. The blond finishes her tea before standing smoothly as the others leave to do their duties. She takes the cup back over to the galley and rinses it and the tea pot before heading to the Cortex console.

Greta sets up a notice looking for passengers as she pages through job listings, making occasional contact via message or wave with potential clients. There's a familiarity that's almost eerie, but handy as she screens jobs. She follows some leads and puts in a bid to take a load of crop supplements from this world to Bernadette to sell to a settler group on their way out to the Rim to a newly (somewhat stabilized) terraformed moon.

After that she heads down to the cargo doors, staying out of the longshoremen as they continue to unload the original cargo to meet the prospects for passengers. An aspiring young actor wanting to head to the Core, a businessman wanting to head home in a low key--and cheaper than a liner--manner. They seem straight forward enough, but she'll know better when she's talked to them.

[Wired*Nun]

Yusheng tends her garden, which is what she usually does when upset. Or when happy, or in any number of other circumstances. Nan Ching's antics are always a welcome diversion. Afterwards, some Tai Chi brings further calm.

She hears the cago being unloaded, and people moving about on their errands, the sounds of the fuel being pumped in, the roar of ships arriving and departing. She brings her harvest to the galley and begins a leisurely preparation, the better to watch the comings and goings.

Sam tries to wave for a truck but keeps getting an error message on the Cortex terminal. So, he decides to flag one down personally. It's not that unusual, and a couple of credits gratuity gets the driver to come to Folly first, rather than follow his schedule. With Will watching the process, they get the fuel topped off in record time. Fortunately Folly wasn't empty, but Hiram always wants a full tank when lifting, and Sam can't say he disagrees.

Arthur and Earl go to pick up the part, which ends up costing 220 cred straight out of the factory. He hates to pay new price, knowing that a used one would do just fine, but right now it seems that speed is essential. Earl carries the heavy box without difficulty to the mule and straps it down, then drives them slowly back to the ship. He's getting more comfortable driving at easy speed, kinda like operating an ore loader in the mines.

Arthur and Sam get started on the strut repairs, with Earl standing by to steady the ladder, move pieces of plating, and watch out for trouble. Will observes as well, amazed at how well the wiry mechanic does with just the one arm. He wonders whether he could do anything about a prosthetic or some other method of helping with the arm. He's been remiss in not taking a look at Arthur, focusing on the Captain's disease.

Since Greta deliberately chose a short-notice job, Folly gets the bid for the crop supplements. She arranges for the cargo to be delivered to the ship, through the well-oiled machine of the longshoreman's union. The delivery charge is much higher than most worlds, but she can't complain about the quality of service. The stuff is due to arrive in about three hours.

The two passengers arrive a few minutes apart. The young actor introduces himself as Fairbanks DeNiro, which she strongly suspects is a stage name. She remembers those names from her Ancient Media studies as video celebrities from Earth-That-Was. He's a tall, impressive, square-jawed fellow perfectly suited to be a minor action hero or regional newscaster - or perhaps a leading man in local theatre. He turns on the charm when he sees her, almost as a matter of policy, bowing extravagantly and saying, "It is a most exquisite pleasure to meet you, Miss Falsafi. I look forward to our conversations in the next day or two." She is thoroughly familiar with the effects of testosterone on the brain, and takes it as her due. She shows him to one of the two suites, as she expects only the two passengers, and briefs him on the basic rules of the ship.

The second passenger is named Wilhelm Genning, a mouse of a man almost the diametric opposite of the other. He blinks through thick glasses, reaching hesitantly to take her fingers in a dead-fish grip. His hand is cold and dry, soft and bony at the same time. "Thank you for waving me, Miss. I do prefer a certain amount of solitude, and appreciate your low transportation fee. My wife will be happy I saved some money."

She shows him to his suite, explains the rules of the ship, then brings them both to the lounge terminal to process their payments. The credits will be deposited to Folly's CorBank account, though she doesn't have the authorization to do more than direct the deposits. After escorting them back to the passenger deck, she heads back down to the cargo bay.

When the pallets of standard crop supplements start arriving, Hiram asks, "How much you pay a ton?"

[Candleman]

Arthur is grateful for the help, although he sure doesn't show it. The everything is fixed up, even the plating, by the time the crop shipments arrive.

Walking back though the cargo bay, he takes a look at the mule. It's got some extra, structurally superfluous plates and bars that he could probably remove without hurting anything, and that way, Earl could sit more comfortably.

Arthur decided later would be a better time, maybe when they get off-ground and the boredom sets in.

[LynMars]

Greta shifts on her feet. "It's actually contract. We make a transport profit. A bit more paperwork, but less overhead than the other jobs I looked at." She pauses a moment considering that. "If that's not acceptable, then let me know how to fix it for future jobs."

"In the meantime, I've seen to our passengers. One, Genning, will likely keep to himself for the most part. Seems fairly quiet, just looking to get home to his family. Mr. DeNiro, as he calls himself, is a bit more outgoing. He's a younger man, an actor apparently."

[Wired*Nun]

Hiram shoots Greta his displeased-Captain glare. His jaw works on a bit of tobacco he sometimes chews. He spits over the ramp onto the tarmac. "Don't like contracts. Contracts mean files, an' deadlines an' schedules an' bein' beholden to others. And taxes! Whole pointa raisin' that capital is to buy an' sell, girl. And how're we s'posed to hold in deep orbit when we got a contract to fill? You done a good job with Shelton, but you better listen fair in the future."

He turns to look at her straight in they eye, being as he's no taller than she. He lowers his voice. "Allat training you got don't mean nothin' if'n you ain't put it to use. So next time, look for some kinda somethin' we kin buy an' sell. 'Cause contracts mean somebody knows where we're goin'...and that includes you." He drives his point home with a sledge. "Less'n you want to be Leong's concubine after all."

Hiram turns away with an air of disgust. She knows it's partly his personality, partly the role of Captain...but partly, he's right. Legit contracts are accessible by anyone that can hack the Cortex, and that would include Leong and his minions.


"In the meantime, I've seen to our passengers. One, Genning, will likely keep to himself for the most part. Seems fairly quiet, just looking to get home to his family. Mr. DeNiro, as he calls himself, is a bit more outgoing. He's a younger man, an actor apparently."


Over his shoulder he replies, "Just keep them outa our hair. They stay to the passenger deck. Keep an eye on them close. If'n whoever's sniffin' around got smart or lucky, one of 'em could be a plant. Might wanna keep summat on ya just in case, blade mebbe. I'll pass the word around the crew, too. G'wan."

Once the cargo is loaded and the repairs made, Hiram tells Sam, "We're keepin' the bridge hatch bolted when we're on watch, no external code access even. Stay heeled, and beware of the passengers. Go start the lift sequence. I'll join you directly."

Hiram talks to each crew member in turn as he encounters them, telling them to stay armed and wary, and that the passengers are to stay to their deck. He finishes with Yusheng, explaining the situation. "Somebody can carry them their meals in the passenger lounge. Cain't be sure of anything at this point."

Once questions are answered and assignments are given, he joins Sam on the bridge, knocking on the hatch to be let in. "Get 'er done," he says after bolting the hatch behind himself and sitting down in the copilot seat. He pulls out his hip flask and a pill bottle, washes down a tablet with a swig of whiskey. He doesn't offer any to Sam.

[Fulmen]

Sam nods at Hiram and begins the takeoff sequence. "So are we expecting trouble from the passengers or are we just staying comfortably paranoid?"

[Wired*Nun]

"The latter, I reckon. Dadblamed woman warn't listenin' close when I said we raise us some capital and get a load of something, now there's a record a' where we're headed. Howsomever, I got me a plan for that too. Now you're my pilot, and you got a important part of the plan. Let's play a guessing game." He leans forward with a shark smile.

"'Sume it's Leong or somebody like him. 'Sume he has our contract details. 'Sumin' you wanna throw a wrench into his plans. What'd you do in my shoes?"

[Fulmen]

Sam thinks for a moment and then gives a slight grin to Hiram. "Well, I 'spose I'd go somewhere else. Maybe go the opposite direction, maybe go halfway and drop our clients off there for them to find another means of transportation to their destination. Maybe find out how much our clients know about where they are headed, and 'summin it ain't much, tell them we're there and drop 'em off somewhere else. The possibilities are endless, but the results are all the same wid us not goin' to our contractual destination."

[Wired*Nun]

" 'Sume that I don't drop contracts - I allas hold up my end, fer passengers an' cargo. Then what?"

[Fulmen]

"Hmmm... that makes things a bit more tricky."

Sam thinks for a moment then snaps his fingers. "We go pick us up another contract right quick." At this point Hiram probably looks at him a bit funny. "Let me explain. Go grab another contract for a planet as eqidistant as possible as the planet we are headed. Same due date too. Would make him either guess or split up his resources. Either way, the odds improve for us. Then once we get planet side, we could consider hiring a bit of extra muscle or pay off the docking official, I'd guess the docking official would cost less."

[Wired*Nun]

Hiram smiles. "Now that's a right devious idear, Sam. But since we're pert' near in the air, that would be hard. I like it, though, keep it in yer hip pocket fer some other time. You'll make a real freighter jock yet." He thumps Sam on his knee. "Go on, lift."

As soon as the initial, most-dangerous stages of lifting are over and they're climbing out of atmo, he goes on, "No, what we're gonna do is steal a march on whoever might be tryin' to ambush us. Soon as we get beyond the planetary sensor grid, we're goin' full burn full inertial for Bernadette. Set it up as soon as you can. Should be able to make it in twelve hours or so 'steada forty. Gonna dry us outa fuel, but we'll be there afore anyone expects. Hopeful we get in and out slicker'n shit through a goose, then we're on our merry. Don't say nothin' 'bout this, though, 'specially to the passengers."

[Wired*Nun]

Soon enough, they break orbit and begin the run to Bernadette. They start out leisurely, but as soon as they clear the planetary sensor grid, Hiram lets Arthur know they're going to full burn for the majority of the journey. "Gonna need you in that engine room for the next twelve hours or so, case anything hiccups. Call the old lady for yer meals." He snapps off the comm, gives Sam a thumbs-up and unbolts the bridge hatch after checking through the window. He closes it behind him, and thumps it.

His first stop is with Earl. "Earl, my friend, when we get to Bernadette we're gonna have to move fast. Exacly eleven hours from now, I want the first load of cargo standing by on the mule. Sam will drive, you gotta push the crates. Get the stuff off the ship. Pile it as close as you can without it bein' in the takeoff blast." He claps Earl on a bicep, which is about all the high he can reach. "We got you fattened up a bit now, you gotta put them muscles to work."

Next stop is Greta. "All right, slick, get in touch with the settlers one hour before touchdown. Tell them their cargo is going to be on the tarmac an' to have someone come get it if'n they don' want it heisted off the pad. Right after that, you wake up the passengers an' tell them they're arrived a bit early. No need to say why. When we touch down, they're off the ship, lickety-split."

Then to the infirmary. "Doc, I told you the plan. I'm hopin neither of these right fine fellows we're haulin' is anything more'n what he says, but you never know. So I want you to be ready for injuries, an' maybe for a bit of dopin' in case we got to put one out. You got anythin' that interferes with short-term memory? That rape drug? Might be best."

After talking with Will, he drops by the engine room to see how things are running, then to talk with Yusheng. He finds her in their quarters, picking up Nan Ching and putting her in his lap as he sits. "Ni how ma, wife o' mine? We're on our way runnin' flat out for Bernadette - anythin' you need? Feel better with some money in the safe?"

[Candleman]

Arthur gets out a "Right, Cap'n" before Hiram shuts the comm off, and when he hears the engines go to a full roar he does some tinkering and shuts off the fuel filter. Sure, they'll be running a bit less efficiently, but the extra speed will do them good. Hopefully there isn't any large chunks of anything that got in while they were refuelling, or there will be all kinds of trouble.

[Fulmen]

Sam kicks the ship into full gear. The ship responds by forcing Sam back into his seat a bit. Sam smiles, he loves the speed. He focus on the flight ahead as he figures running into something at these speeds would probably not be good.

[Wired*Nun]

Running into anything at any speed in space is a bad idea. That's what forward buffer panels are for, their short-range inertia-cancelling fields sucking the mass out of anything smaller than about half the size of the ship. Sam keeps his eyes on the forward radar. Every ten or twenty minutes, he hears, "Proximity. Alarm." from Folly's computer, along with a cue to the radar display, where Sam has to decide how to adjust their course. Most of the time he goes with the computer-plotted path around the asteroid or piece of space junk.

One piece of something interests him, and he runs the low-rate video back after they blow by it. It looks like a standard external cargo pod from a short-range bulk hauler. Normally these pods are secured to the outside of the sip for slow, short-range orbital runs. They would never survive in atmo. What's it doing in the deep Black? Might be worth a look later.

Arthur pats himself on the back for having bought brand-name fuel, telling himself it will be all right. It looks like they are getting three percent more speed out of the engines, gaining them twenty minutes or so. You never knew, that might be the difference between triouble and tranquility. Wonder what else I can do, and whether it's worth the trouble or risk?

[Fulmen]

Sam glances over the video feed and figures it might be worth mentioning. He saves the footage and gets on the intercom. "Hiram, I picked up some video that you may want to see."

[samirah]

Ni how ma, wife o' mine? We're on our way runnin' flat out for Bernadette - anythin' you need? Feel better with some money in the safe?


Yusheng's eyes twinkle at the mention of money. "I feel much better with money in safe. Books no look too bad now. Maybe we be okay. You need me do anything with passenger or you want me stay away?? Maybe Earl can take food. He big. Nobody mess with him."

Yusheng waits for Hiram's reply, then leaves to search for Greta. It's been a long time since she's had the company of another female and she's thinking it would be nice to have tea and conversation while getting to know her fellow crew member.

[Candleman]

Arthur looks around the engine room, trying to think. He can't do too much, with the engines already going, but maybe he could use the ruined plating from the shock absorber as extra front buffer panels, now that the shock absorber is fixed.

Then, Arthur remembers his plan to fix up the Mule to make it comfortable for Earl. He takes one look around the engine room, and decides to take the engine temperature gauge with him, in case something screws up while he's down in the cargo bay.

[TreyKincaide]

"No worries, boss. I's get right on it." Earl says eagerly happy to have something to do while in the Black. Aside from maintenance, and playing around with the spare bit of scrap, he's been starting to get a mite res'less outa dock.

He bounds down to the cargo bay, and carefully begins loading the mule. He takes his time to make sure that between trips everything's safely battoned down in case of any added jostling from the hard burn.

[Wired*Nun]

Hiram punches the comm on the wall. "All right, be up there directly."

He replies to Yusheng, "Sure, you know what to do. You make the trays, someone else can bring 'em. I'm wanting two together at all times when dealin' with passengers, so mebbe Earl 'n Greta kin take care of it. "

He watches her leave with affection. Hope she's making the adjustment to having a crew...hopefully they'll take care of her when I'm gone." A stab of pain in his side reminds him he hasn't imbibed enough lately, and he takes a nip off of his hip flask.

He makes rounds after she leaves, on the way up to the bridge. Observed behavior is changed behavior, his instructors at Flight Academy used to say, and part of being a good captain was observing, and being everywhere at once. Good thing, too, as he spots Arthur descending the cargo bay ladder with a temp guage in his hand. "Got trouble already?" Hiram asks. "Don' want you outside that engine room for very long, not with us at full burn."

He also observes Earl approvingly as he loads the mule, well ahead of schedule.. How in the world this man every brought out any meanness in anyone is beyond me. He's almost pathetically eager to please...if I was his boss...oh, yeah, I am his boss...I'd be pretty haoppy to have a man like that on my crew.

"Load the pony, too, when you're done, and position the rest of the cargo for rapid unload. We can all pitch in when we set down, get it off quick an' clean."

[TreyKincaide]

"Sure 'nough, Boss," Earl nods. "When are ya wantin' me to serve up chow ta our passengers?" the big man deduces that he'd likely be the one to serve. "Yer twitchy as a rabbit, Boss. I's the likely choice 'n case they get rowdy."

[Wired*Nun]

"Right enough. I want two at all times when dealing with the passengers. You and whoever else - Greta or the Old Lady probably."

[Left-Handed Bandit]

Then to the infirmary. "Doc, I told you the plan. I'm hopin neither of these right fine fellows we're haulin' is anything more'n what he says, but you never know. So I want you to be ready for injuries, an' maybe for a bit of dopin' in case we got to put one out. You got anythin' that interferes with short-term memory? That rape drug? Might be best."

Brother Will frowns at the mention of inducing a short-term memory loss in the passengers. It was one thing to find a non-lethal way to disable an opponent in a dangerous situation, but it was something else entirely to erase memories for all but the most severe cases of psychological trauma -- like rape.

To induce a memory loss to keep a person from incriminating you is, well, unconscionable.

"Captain, it's unethical, at best, to administer that sort of drug without a medical necessity," Will replies, turning from the medcomp to address Hiram. "How dangerous would it be for these two passengers to know when we landed and ushered them ashore? They won't know our next destination."

[LynMars]

Greta is a bit annoyed about the reception of the job gotten on such short notice and with funds so tight. A big part is annoyance at herself for not finding something more suitable, as Hiram is right about the ability to track the Folly's current load. Still, no use crying about it, and the Captain wasn't looking to boot her off at Bernadette for one thing.

For now, however, Greta's duties are done, with little else to do until they get closer to their destination and she can send the wave to the settlers, and inform their passengers of the early arrival. Once she can check the Cortex again, she can look for a job to make up for this run as well as keep them moving.

If Yusheng comes looking for the younger woman, she'll find Greta in her quarters, the door open. She's straightening up the small space, not that it's in terrible need of it at the moment. But it gives her something to do for the moment while avoiding her current embarrassment.

[samirah]

Yusheng decides to make a pot of tea in hopes that Greta will share it with her. Then she heads toward Greta's cabin. Once there, she finds the door open. She peeks in and queries,"Greta, it Yusheng, you like have a cup of tea?" Yusheng feels a bit awkward, not having had much interaction with anyone but Hiram for a long time, much less another woman. Maybe she has news of what has been happening on some of the worlds she's visited. I stay on this ship so much and don't get to hear first-hand what's happening out there.

[Wired*Nun]

"Might be unethical for me ta have ta shoot 'em, too. Might be a kindness to just wake up not knowin' what happened." Looking at the doc, Hiram realizes he might have misunderstood.

"This is just in case one of 'em turns out to be a plant, doc, not if they're just bystandin'. If one of them wants to do us harm, they might get a shot, or they might get shot, that's my thinkin'. If they're just what they seem, then they get off a mite early, none the worse." Hiram rubs his hand over his unshaven face.

"I didn't survive twenny years in the military an' thirty more in the Black by leavin' nothin' to chance, doc. You hold your objections, but you be ready to do what's necessary."

[LynMars]

Greta looks up from her cleaning when she hears Yusheng's voice. "Come on in. Tea would be lovely, thank you." She clears a spot on the bunk for the older woman to sit, gesturing for her to do so.

"Just taking the opportunity to keep this space neat. And keeps me out of the way for now, which seems prudent all things considered."

[TreyKincaide]

"Right enough. I want two at all times when dealing with the passengers. You and whoever else - Greta or the Old Lady probably."

"H'okay Boss. I's be here. Jess have 'em fetch me when they's ready," Earl continues his labors.

[samirah]

Yusheng steps inside Greta's quarters. She takes a seat on the bunk near Greta and carefully places a tray between them. On the tray is a pot of green tea, two delicate porcelain tea cups, hand embroidered napkins and a plate of crispy, sweet almond cookies. Yusheng skillfully pours tea in the two cups and hands one to Greta. She pauses a moment, then looks at Greta. "Don't be worry. Hiram get over thing quick. He figure out how to fix so it all be okay."

Yusheng waits for a response, then continues..."How you adjust to life on Folly? You like? It must be big change from what you life was like before." She looks at Greta knowingly, but without judgment.

[Left-Handed Bandit]

"I didn't survive twenny years in the military an' thirty more in the Black by leavin' nothin' to chance, doc. You hold your objections, but you be ready to do what's necessary."Will holds the captain's gaze for a moment longer, then turns back to his work on the medcomp, muttering to himself as the captain exits. "Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..."

The old man was adamant on this course of action, and no amount of counsel from Will would change his mind, it seemed.

You know how a military outfit operates, Will; you voiced your objections - now just do your duty to the crew.

The Black Friar frowned again; just the thought of that left a bad taste in his mouth. He was no longer a pragmatic military surgeon, making do with the orders given him. His calling came from a higher power, one that did not allow for moral shades of gray. There must be something he can do.

Even if one of the passengers turns out to be an agent of some kind for either of the two opponents, administering a roofer shouldn't be necessary. He would have to think on this for a while and see if he could find an alternative solution.

OOC: Will is going to use his knowledge to determine another way around using a roofer against one of the passengers.

[LynMars]

Greta watches Yusheng pour the tea quietly. Her quarters are fairly sparse at the moment. Secured behind netting on a shelf is a good sized box with traditional Japanese designs decorating it. Hiding partially obscured by other clothes were two fine gowns under dustcovers. The blond woman glances at the rich items, incongruous with the work clothes and the holster for the pistols she now wears, before shrugging at Yusheng's words.

"I haven't really lived any other way since the War ended. It's not the worst life a girl could have. I should have been a bit more careful about catching attention, but I've shaken it before." She smiles disarmingly as she picks up a mug.

"What about you? How'd you come to meet a transport captain and become mistress of a boat like this?"

[Wired*Nun]

As Hiram swings back through the ship on the way to the bridge, he calls to Arthur, "Engine room, dammit! You need to make water, get somebody to bring you a bottle!" He climbs the stairs mumbling to himself about deaf one-armed mechanics, morally rigid doctors and business factors with too much initiative. He bangs on the hatch to the bridge, deliberately stepping out of the view of the hardglass window.

[samirah]

What about you? How'd you come to meet a transport captain and become mistress of a boat like this?

Hearing the question Yusheng smiles and a faraway look comes over her face.

She sighs a wistful sigh,"Oh.....that a loooong, loooong story. After I finish university, my parent push me to marry someone with title, an aristocrat. My family have lots of money, but no kind of title, so they want to make connection with good family. We go to ball to do dancing and for me and my sisters to meet men. At the ball I meet Hiram. I think he very handsome. He very, very good dancer. He was still military officer then. He was older but he still look niiiccce in his uniform."

Yusheng's eyes twinkle as she remembers how he looked. "Anyway, my parent no like him. His family have title, but they not good enough for my parent. Hiram no care about title anyway. His older brother get title. Well...I fall in love with Hiram and he with me. We see each other in secret. Hiram was ready to retire from military, so he put in papers, retire and buy Folly. He want to marry me before he leave with Folly. My parent find out. They get very upset and tell me I can't see him anymore. They tell me if I no find good man to marry they find one for me. We have BIG fight. Later I sneak away to Hiram. We get married anyway, then we leave on Folly. My parent never speak to me again."

Yusheng chuckles. "You know, funny thing is, I find out one of my sister fall in love with Hiram brother. She marry him too!!"

[Candleman]

Arthur jumps, dropping his tools. He watches the captain leave and grumbles, but he packs up his things and starts back to the engine room. All the way up the steps he's trying to think of things to speed them up, if only to get Hiram off his back.

[Fulmen]

Sam swings around to get the door when he hears the bang. As he is about to open it he realizes he can't see anyone outside. Must be Hiram... Probably testing me since he wanted this thing sealed off. Or I suppose there is the off chance that someone is gonna sneak attack me when I open the door... A few moments pass and the door opens. Hiram finds the barrel of a shotgun 6 inches from his face and a smiling Sam holding the other end. "Howdy cap'n." Sam lowers the gun and returns to his chair. "Can't be too careful with unknowns on board. Have a seat and check this out on the monitor." Sam presses the 'play' button with the shotgun barrel and then places the gun back in its home. "Picked that up a few minutes ago. Thought it looked right peculiar, so figgurd I'd run it past ya."

[Wired*Nun]

Since Hiram can't get in to the bolted door until Sam opens it, he waits until it opens. Seeing the business end of the shotgun, he grunts.

"Hunh. Yer half right. Cocky gonna get you killed someday, son. Don't open the hatch less'n you know who's on the other side. If'n I was of a mind to, I coulda rolled a grenade or a gasser in there and' never been in yer line of fire. Or just stuck my piece in the gap and commenced to shooting."

Lesson over, he bolts the hatch behind him and plops himself down in the copilot's chair. He stares at the video.

"Bulk cargo pod...look at the spin. Funny. See how it's wobblin'? Off-center? What's that mean to you?" Socratic method always makes the teaching stick.

[Fulmen]

Sam glances down at the screen for a moment before giving his assesment, "I'd say it's a malfunctioning stabalizer. Either that or one side weighs a lot more than the other."

[Wired*Nun]

"Maybe on the first, absolutely on the second. Unnerstand? If it warn't unbalanced, it wouldn't matter if a stabilizer was workin' or not, even if it had one, which these things usually don't. An empty bulk pod, or one that was full of something all the same - like grain or lumber - wouldn't wobble."

"Everythin' moves around its center of gravity. Only if the COG is far off its geometric center will it wobble or tumble strange. So to me, this thing ain't empty, and it ain't full of bulk cargo."

"Now somethin' strange coulda happened - somethin' that squarshed all the bulk stuff into one end, but there's no damage visible. So it's interesting. An' you din't pick up any beacon, right? We more or less just lucked across it...that makes it innerstin'...and inneretin' things innerest me. 'Specially when they're likely to be legally salvageable. So as soon as we drop these folks and stuff off, and get fuelled again, let's come back an' check it out. So you keep a good locator log an' I'll show you how to set up an astrophysical reconstruction plot later."

[Fulmen]

"Sounds good ta me cap'n." Sam does a double check on the coordinates and vector and marks them down for future reference. He, like the captain, is very interested in what the pod contains. "It's interesting to me why someone would just leave it floating out here. Someone has to know that it's here, or atleast what vector it's on. Right cap'n? I mean, it's not like it coulda just fallen outta the back of the cargohold in mid flight with noone noticing."

[Wired*Nun]

"Well, these things is made to strap on the outside, but you're right. Not like a credit fallin' outa yer pocket. Could be off some wreck, got detached an' drifted for a while...or it could be there deliberate. But without even a short-range beacon...I dunno. Got me a powerful curiosity about it now." He grins, and a bit of what the old Master Pilot Price must have looked like shows through.

"Good job, hotshot. Never know, might be really juicy." He claps Sam on the shoulder, then flinches a bit as he stands. He pulls out his flask and takes a swallow, staring out at the Black. He puts it away after a moment, then takes a look out the window before unbolting the hatch, hand falling naturally onto his holster.

"I'll be back in a bit," he says as he leaves.

[LynMars]

Greta listens to Yusheng's story, her smile widening. "Sounds like the romance stories my friends and I would read in our dormitory at night. You and Hiram were very lucky to find each other, and stay together despite everything."

She turns her cup in her hand and stares at the brown liquid inside. "My own story is more like a tragedy. I'm not quite ready to share it though. Let's just say this is not at all how I imagined things turning out when I was a girl." She smiles again, humorlessly.

[samirah]

Yusheng delicately sips her tea and enjoys a cookie as she listens to Greta.

"My own story is more like a tragedy. I'm not quite ready to share it though."

"That okay. You can tell me when you ready. We have plenty time for many other conversation here on Folly." Yusheng smiles, then continues...

"What kind of news you hear from worlds you visit before you come here. You know...the kind of news that not make it into Cortex because Alliance no want everyone to know. I love to hear, if you have something to tell me." Yusheng puts down her tea cup and leans forward looking eager and hopeful.

As they talk, Nan Ching prances in, happy that she's located her mistress. She pokes around Greta's quarters sniffing and snorting. Satisfied with her "investigation" she rubs her face on Yusheng's pants leg then sits down at her feet and stares at the two ladies. She cocks her head and tries to look as cute as possible. Her little dog brain longs for a tidbit of almond cookie.

[Wired*Nun]

Things hum along for an hour or two. The muted thrum of full burn is there but everyone gets used to it after a while, except for Arthur, who is acutely aware of it within the confines of the engine room and the core rotates rapidly, processing fuel and powering the low-inertial drive.

Engine's doing just fine, no need to stay here all the time lookin' at it.

Because of the sound, the first indication something is out of place coems when the hatch opens. Arthur catches the motion out of the corner of his eye. He knows he locked the hatch from the inside. That wouldn't stop Hiram with the override code - hell, it wouldn't stop Arthur with a minute to fiddle with the electronics under the control cover - but it should have stopped a passenger.

The younger of the two passengers - DeNuncio or something, what was it? stands in the hatchway, looking confused or speculative, wide-eyed at the whirling machinery and shout-over sound.

Arthur is to the right of the door as the man stands in it, somewhat behind the end of the moving core, about twenty feet away. The man doesn't seem to have noticed him yet.

[Wired*Nun]

The two women chatting in Greta's quarters hear a querelous voice coming from down the corridor. "Hellooo? Is anyone there? I'd like a cup of tea if I may, or at least some fresh boiled water so i can make one."

A glance out the door sees the older man, Mr. Genning, framed in the doorway of the lounge area, wringing his hands. Greta knows she told him - both of them - that they weren't allowed off the passenger deck until she told them so. Perhaps she should have checked up on them sooner.

[Left-Handed Bandit]

Brother Will continues to consider the current problem, and realizes that, if he puts a sleep aid in their food about half a day from arrival, they would sleep through touchdown and be groggy enough not to be a problem.

It was still somewhat unethical, but Hiram was still generally a good man trying to do right by his wife and crew and the Black Friar could more easily reconcile this with his conscience than he could wiping someone's memory.

He'll have to talk to Yusheng first, but he believes she would go along with the idea to prevent a problem.

Collecting his thoughts, Will heads out of the infirmary onto the cargo deck catwalks and winds his way up to the common area to find the proprietor's wife...

[Candleman]

Arthur doesn't know what would be more prudent: Stay out of sight and see what the man does, or shoo him away. His insticts take over and he steps into view, walking toward the shotgun on the wall.

"Oy! What're yeh doin' in 'ere?" He stops short of the doorway, within grabbing distance of the mounted weapon, gesticulating toward the door. "I locked tha' 'atch. How'd yeh get in?" His voice is angry, and somewhat disdainful. Like always, he's hoping to intimidate the man with words, since Arthur isn't the fighting type.

[Wired*Nun]

The man backs out of the engine room, holding up his hands in apology. His eyes flick to the weapon in Arthur's reach. He smiles, saying loudly over the engine noise, "Sorry, old chap, just wanted to see one of these places. Didn't know it was off-limits."

He turns and walks rapidly down the ladder to the passenger deck, dropping out of sight.

[samirah]

A glance out the door sees the older man, Mr. Genning, framed in the doorway of the lounge area, wringing his hands.


Hearing a strange voice Nan Ching takes off like a blond streak. She rounds the corner, her back feet slipping and scratching on the floor. She gains her footing and her speed and makes it to the feet of Mr. Genning in 2 seconds flat.

She begins barking ferociously and darting around his feet.

Yusheng whispers to Greta, "We go in there, keep eye on him. I fix tea for passengers. You call Earl on intercom to come help take trays and Mr. Genning back to passenger level."

Yusheng steps into the corridor. Walking toward the passenger she points to the couches in the lounge. Addressing him with authority in her voice she says,"Mr. Genning you sit! I fix tea!"

"Nan Ching!!" She calls the dog off the man and continues on to the galley. Nan Ching follows obediently, laying down in a strategic spot in the galley where she can watch the unknown man and her mistress as well. She senses something in her mistress that makes her wary.

Yusheng busies herself heating water and preparing the tea tray. She watches Genning closely out of the corner of her eye while she waits for Greta to summon Earl.
http://www.online-roleplaying.com/forums/images/coal/misc/progress.gif

[Wired*Nun]

Through the engine room hatch, Arthur can see some of this byplay, though not hear it - Mr. Genning in the entrance between the pasageway and the common area, Nan Ching, and Yusheng bustling into the area.

Both passangers out of their area at one time...Arthur's natural dour and suspicious Scots nose wonders about this.

[Candleman]

Arthur leans out of the hatch, brows furrowed. He steps inside and re-seals the hatch, locking it again. He quickly picks up the comm and buzzes for Hiram.

"Both a' them passengeh's are out n' about, Cap. One of 'em got in the engine room with meh, somehow cracked the door. I don't like it one bit."

[Wired*Nun]

Mr. Genning avoids Nan Ching carefully and sits down obediently on the sofa, puttnig his hands on his knees and wiping the palms on his kneecaps nervously. "I don't really like space travel, and this ship is louder than any I've ever traveled on," he says to no one in particular. He takes out a handkerchief and blows his nose, then folds it to expose clean surfaces and begins polishing his glasses.

Hiam answers Arthur. "Lock it up tight. Spot-weld the door shut if you have to. Something is goin' on and I aim to find out what." He appears in the cargo bay a moment later, waving to Earl. "Come with me, big man. Put on yer scary face."

They walk over to the passenger deck, where they find Mr. DeNiro apparently rehearsing for a play. He has a cane in one hand, waving it like a sword at a bulkhead. "Unhand the woman, varlet! Or I shall let slip my dog of war!" he recites melodramatically. "Oh, hello Captain. Sir." He bows to the two of them, saluting with his cane. "Just rehearsing."

"All well and good. But we're burnin' hard for Bernadette, and I can't have you interferin' with my crew. So you stay on the passenger deck. Got it?" He rests his hand on the grip of his pistol, and DeNiro gulps slightly, then smiles without sincerity.

"Of course, Captain. I apologise profusely. I will be the soul of discretion from now on. Oh...did you say we were 'burning hard?' Does that mean we are going faster than normal? I'd thought so from the vibrations..."

"Yep," confirms Hiram. "We're gettin' there a bit early, save you some time."

DeNiro brightens up, responding, "That's wonderful. I'll have more time to rehearse at the venue, and enjoy the female company. Now, if you'll excuse me..." He turns away, starting with more lines.

Hiram stares at him for a moment more, then returns to the cargo bay with Earl. "You stay here in the cargo bay as much as you can, Earl. Keep the passengers outa it. There's somethin' off about this guy. Keep on yer toes."

He heads up to the infirmary, finding the doc where he'd hoped. "Doc, I'm still suspicious about our passenger, DeNiro specifically. He got into the engine room when Arthur says he had the hatch sealed from inside. Now mebbe Arthur just forgot, but he ain't the type. But it's nothin' anyone can prove. Do me a favor, stick a syringe of dope in yer pocket and go make like a shepherd with him - convert him to the holy church or whatever, but keep him busy, under yer eye, and see what you can find out."

[TreyKincaide]

"Sure thang, Boss. If'n ya ask me, that guy is off. I's see no dogs around here," he winks jokingly pulling the Captain's leg.

"I's be planning on being in the hold getting alls the stuff done anyways. If'n somethin' happens, I's come a runnin'."

[LynMars]

Greta nods in response, frowning at Genning's presense a little. She quietly speaks into the intercom from the crew berths.

"Earl, if you have a moment, we could use a hand up in the kitchen. Yusheng would like you to carry some things for Mr. Genning."

She then joins Yusheng and Nan-Ching in the kitchen with their passenger. "Mr. Genning, I thought I'd mentioned that the Captain would prefer you and Mr. DeNiro to stay in the passenger deck while we're in transit. There's some work to be done, you understand, and we wouldn't want anything to happen to you while we're moving things about." She smiles disrmingly as possible as she moves to help Yusheng.

[TreyKincaide]

Earl hears Greta's words through the intercom, "Wells, it looks likes there needs ta be two of me." He chuckles, "I goes to he'p the women-folk, Boss. At this rate I mebbe need some he'p ta get all d'is loaded up in time."

He pulls his muscular frame up the steps on his way to the kitchen.

[Wired*Nun]

Hiram waves approval at Earl's parting comment, disappearing up the ladder.

Genning sits quietly, polishing his glasses, waiting for the tea. He listens to Greta's gentle admonishment, bobbing his head in agreement. "Yes, I'm sorry, but Mister DeNiro said it was all right, you see, and so I decided to ask. I couldn't figure out how to use the intercom, you see, and I don't do well without my tea. In fact, I have some tea bags myself but I needed some hot water, you see, and..." he natters on about his health, digestion and delicate constitution.

He looks up when Earl arrives, then puts the glasses back on and squints at the big man. He licks his lips, then lowers his eyes, like a delta male when the alpha shows up, visibly cringing.

After giving his instructions to the doc, Hiram heads back down to the cargo bay to cover for Earl.

[samirah]

Yusheng hands the lemons to Greta to slice as she arranges almond cookies on a plate for the tea tray. Speaking in low tones so Mr. Genning can't hear them she says,"Greta, you go with Earl to take trays? I worry if he by himself. He big, but if anybody have evil intention they might take advantage. He maybe not always see bad thing coming his way, you know?"

As they put the finishing touches on the tea tray, Yusheng looks around to see if she spots Earl arriving to complete his mission.

Nan Ching is now pacing around the lounge and galley area, back and forth, back and forth. She looks at her mistress and Greta, then heads over to check on the strange man sitting in the lounge. She senses so many things from the humans. It is unsettling to her doggy senses.
http://www.online-roleplaying.com/forums/images/coal/misc/progress.gif

[TreyKincaide]

Earl tromps upstairs doing his best to put on his 'mean face' managing to look comical to Greta and Yusheng who know the big man doesn't have a mean bone in his body.

"Ma'am. I's here as requested."

He sizes up the passenger, "If'n ya come with me, I's make sure ya gets all ya needs." He crosses his arms waiting pointedly.

[Wired*Nun]

Genning looks from Earl to Yusheng to Greta to Nan Ching worriedly, then stands up. "I...where are we going?" he asks Earl.

[LynMars]

"Earl will just be escorting you back to the passenger dorms," Greta says soothingly. "It's on our way to other work as it is. Thank you Earl, if you'd get the tray please?" She doesn't think Genning is a problem himself, but won't take the chance. She wonders about his comment on DeNiro, though, and decides to look in on it. In the meantime, she nods minimally to Yusheng and is ready to walk with Genning and Earl, smiling disarmingly.

[TreyKincaide]

"Yes'm ma'am," He walks over to Yusheng, "Thank ya, Ma'am. I's bring the tray back." He shifts and on the short trip back to the passenger's quarters he positions himself between Genning and Greta.

[Wired*Nun]

Earl, Greta, Nan Ching and Genning proceed back down the ladder to the passenger deck, where Mr. Genning sits down on the small sofa provided for that purpose, puuting his hands on his knees submissively. He blinks, saying brightly, "I'll have that tea, now. Oh, yes, very nice indeed." He busies himself with the arrangements, unless Greta chooses to do it herself.

Nan Ching puts her paws up on the sofa front beside the man's knee, doing her best puppy eyes in hopes of a treat. Genning rubs the top of her head with his fingers in a precise motion for a moment, then he pushes her gently away. "Shoo." Nan Ching looks at him a moment more, then rabbit-hops up the ladder back to her mistress.

The two hear the sound of oratory coming from behind them, apparently from the cargo deck. Down the corridor they see DeNiro posturing with his cane, reciting something apparently derived from Hamlet, though badly garbled by some populist hack writer, to Greta's thinking. She has a reasonable familiarity with classic theatre of Earth-That-Was, of course. His delivery is better than the writing, and he moves like he's had fencing training as well.

[samirah]

After the others leave Yusheng contacts Hiram via the intercom. "Hiram, Earl and Greta take Mr. Genning back to passenger quarter now. Greta remind him no come up here. I think he under control. He seem nervous though."

She waits for Hiram's reply, then busies herself in the galley getting dinner preparations underway. The previous day she had decided to prepare red bean soup and hua juan (Chinese flower rolls). Dried azuki beans have bean soaking in a pot water since last night. She drains the beans and sets them aside. Then she places dried lotus seeds in bowl of water to soak. She prepares the yeast dough for the rolls and, while the dough is rising, she chops dried tangerine peel for the soup and scallions for the rolls. She deposits all the ingredients for the soup into a huge pot and puts it on the stove. Then she skillfully forms the dough into small rolls that look like flowers, setting them aside to rise.
http://www.online-roleplaying.com/forums/images/coal/misc/progress.gif

[TreyKincaide]

Earl sits the tray down, "Here ya go." He looks at the sounds coming from down the hall. "Ya hit the button on the box an' I'll be back fer yer dishes. Ya be needin' ta stay in here or ya might have an accident. Boss don't like it when people have accidents."

Earl looks at Greta and waits for her to say anything before escorting her out and towards the wayward actor.

[LynMars]

Greta smiles to Earl. "Thank you, Earl. Mr Genning, if you need anything else, I'll be back in an hour or so to check on things here. Earl's right; the Captain doesn't want you wandering in case of an accident with the cargo. I'll remind Mr. DeNiro of that as well."

She looks out to where the sounds of DeNiro's oration and mock-combat take place, studying the motions he makes.

Greta motions for Earl to follow her, and goes into the corridor within view of DeNiro, arms crossed and expression carefully kept somewhere between amused and annoyed.

"Mr. DeNiro! While I hate to interrupt, I believe I did inform you that the Captain would like passengers to remain in the designated areas for safety reasons. If there's anything you need, Earl and I can get it for you," she offers helpfully, inclining her head toward the big man.

[TreyKincaide]

Earl crosses his arms doing his best to look like an over sized bulldog.

[Wired*Nun]

The two stand on the catwalk to be visible to DeNiro on the main cargo bay floor.

She looks out to where the sounds of DeNiro's oration and mock-combat take place, studying the motions he makes.

It's impossible to say for sure, for what he is doing is not fighting or practicing or forms, but rather stage-rehearsal. Still, she's pretty sure he's had fencing training. Combined with his athletic physique, he could be quite a dangerous man with a sword.

"Mr. DeNiro! While I hate to interrupt, I believe I did inform you that the Captain would like passengers to remain in the designated areas for safety reasons. If there's anything you need, Earl and I can get it for you," she offers helpfully, inclining her head toward the big man.

DeNiro turns, surprised out of his rehearsal. "Ahh, the fair miss Falsafi. And the faithful and...very large, mister...?" He walks toward the base of the cargo bay stairway, which happens to be the way they want him to come, of course, out of the cargo bay and toward the passenger lounge. "What I really need is more space to rehearse."

It occurs to Greta that the hatch between the passenger deck and the cargo bay should have been closed and locked, with crew-only access...but it now stands open.

Will can hear the byplay faintly through the infirmary door. He contemplates coming out to get involved.

DeNiro climbs the stairs to the catwalk, moving lightly and athletically. He reaches the top and strolls along the catwalk toward the two, cane swinging jauntily back and forth. He stops at long arms' length and motions, as if to induce a decision - who first to go back through the hatch and into the passenger area.

[TreyKincaide]

"I's Earl, and I's apologize ta be inconvenin' yor practicin'. I's likes play-acting meself an seein' stories, but I's afraid ya be needin' ta stay in yor quarters fer the duration of this flight. We's well ahead of schedule, so ya will be having time ta practice dirt side.

"The Boss is worried that ya might be having an accident 'cause we's under a hard burn. The Boss don' like no accidents."

Earl stands his ground making it clear that the actor will have to go around.

[LynMars]

"I'm sure rehearsing can wait a few more hours," Greta says pleasantly, stepping smoothly aside to give DeNiro room to pass by her at least.

"And Earl is right, we do not want any accidents, particularly here in the cargo bay. This door really should have been locked to prevent such concerns." She continues mildly, gesturing to the passenger lounge while watching him.

'And I know that it was. So how did he get out here?' Warnings are flagging in her mind; she'd have to keep an eye on this one for the remaining hours until Bernadette.

[Wired*Nun]

DeNiro shrugs and steps smoothly around the two. As he does, his cane swings up and the end jabs Earl in the calf. The motion is natural and surprising enough that he fails to react until too late. [see roll]

Despite the naturalness of the motion, Greta's training allows her to discern that it was intentional. The next happening confirms it. The cane swings her direction, jabbing at her thigh. [see roll]

In spite of the warning, Greta makes the wrong move. Expecting some kind of traditional blow, her dodge takes her right into the path of the cane's point.

Each feels a sharp sting as the cane's tip breaks the skin, and a burning sensation as some kind of poision or drug is delivered. They both figure they have only a short time to do anything before they are affected.

[TreyKincaide]

"Get help!" Earl roars like an injured lion. A growl works it's way out of his throat as his mitts curl into iron fists. Earl starts a swinging.

[LynMars]

'I knew I should have wore the guns,' Greta thinks. It's just not a habit for her yet. She stumbles back away from the fight; without a weapon of her own, she's not going to be much help to Earl.

Greta tries to get to the nearest comm, likely back through the hatch into the passenger dorm, hoping Earl's bellow would have gotten someone's attention as well. If she can make it and slap the comm panel, she's making a general ship call for help.

[Wired*Nun]

Earl tries to simply hammer the man down before whatever happens happens. Deniro shifts to all-out defense mode, obviously trying to wait for the drugs to kick in. However, despite DeNiro's plan, Earl connects with the rock he uses for a hand. Straight on the blow might have felled lesser men, but DeNiro seems to be a skilled fighter, and rolls with the punch. He grunts in pain, though, and he redoubles his efforts to defend himself.

Greta lunges at the comm, but Genning stands suddenly, stepping between her and the button. The compact pistol that Genning is pointing at her and the abruptly non-mousy expression on his face give her pause. "Please don't do anything foolish, miss Falsafi."

She could lunge for the comm but it might be a sacrificial action. Depends on whether Genning would really shoot her, or what the pistol is loaded with for that matter.

[Wired*Nun]

Yushing, attuned the the sounds of the ship, barely hears Earl's bellow of rage. She's not quite sure what it is but she knows it was a voice and the voice was not happy. No one else has any inkling of the scene.

Nan Ching, however, is certain something is amiss. She charges down the passageway and onto the ladder leading down, barking furiously.

[TreyKincaide]

Earl throws his weight towards DeNiro like a locomotive wrapping his powerful iron arms around the skinnier and smaller man. He tries to wrestle DeNiro into a headlock so he can pound with impunity like a jack hammer

[samirah]

Yusheng springs over to the Comm unit to call Hiram.

She reaches the Comm and presses the button. "Hiram! Greta and Earl are still on passenger level. I hear loud yell from Earl! Something wrong!"

[LynMars]

Greta inwardly winces as she draws herself up best she can, wondering about the poison working in her and Earl already. She takes a few steadying breaths as she coolly stares back at Genning.

"Depends on what one considers foolish," she replies evenly. "What exactly is this little spectacle about? And how far with this do you really think you are going to get on a small ship, anyway?"

[Wired*Nun]

Yusheng, Sam and Arthur hear Hiram come over the intercom. "Thanks, hun. Boys, some kinda trouble brewin' on the lower decks. Stay buttoned up. If we can't handle it, don't want the bridge or the engine room unsecured. 'sheng, stay outta sight, all right?"

Nan Ching tumbles down the ladder, righting herself to look uncertainly at Greta and Genning. "Wuff," she vocalizes uncertainly.

Gening replies to Greta, "Not your concern. Just go to sleep and it will all be over soon. You won't be harmed." His voice is soothing, and she feels - imagined or real - a heaviness stealing over her.

[Candleman]

Arthur grimaces and kicks at the air. "I fookin' knew it!"

He stomps over to the shotgun on the wall, and stuffs it into his jacket. Over the intercom, he growls "I got 'er all sealed up, Cap. No 'actor's gettin' in 'ere."

[Fulmen]

Sam double checks the cockpit door to make sure it is sealed tight. He then grabs his shotgun from underneath the control panel and double checks that it is loaded. Satisfied he gets on the Comm, "All sealed up 'ere as well. Let me know if I need ta bring the boomstick."

[samirah]

Yusheng makes sure the stove is turned off before bolting to her garden room, shutting the heavy metal door and locking it down tight. She walks to the wall beside the garden until she reaches a specific panel. Her fingers carefully slide along its edge searching for a hidden latch. Click! The panel opens revealing a secret compartment large enough to hide her away. Yusheng enters the compartment sealing the panel behind her and locking it as well. She presses the button on the Comm unit inside. Speaking in hushed tones she says, "Hiram, I am safe. You know where to find me if you need me." She sits, waiting, gripping her metal baton.

[Wired*Nun]

Hiram calls back to Yusheng, "All right, sweets. You know what to do. I love you." Later, she would cherish those words as his last.

[Wired*Nun]

DeNiro dodges back down the passageway, slipping under Earl's tackle, skipping past Greta and Genning, to stand beside the smaller man. Nan Ching begins barking furiously at the excitement.

Genning raises his weapon to point at Greta's forehead, point-blank, but looks past her at Earl. "Stand down, sir! Or there will be bloodshed."

The infirmary door opens behind the two men, and DeNiro turns to face the doctor standing in the door. "Back to your place, doctor," DeNiro commands, prodding at him with the tip of his cane. Will backs up, rather than be poked, and shuts the door. DeNiro punches a code into the lock, apparently sealing it from outside.

[LynMars]

Greta fights the urge to give in to the suggestion and the poison. "There's no need for any of this. What could we possibly have that you would want on this little ship? Threatening preachers and unarmed women seems a little excessive. We could just talk," she says, struggling to not slur her words as she tries to be convincing.

[Wired*Nun]

[there is zero chance of Greta persuading these men.]

DeNiro reaches under his jacket and pulls out a pistol of his own, one with a large caliber and menacing appearance. About that time, a shot rings out from above, on the ladder leading up to the crew deck. Hiram has just put a .45 round into DeNiro, who sags and groans, dropping the pistol he just drew.

Snakelike, Genning whips around and unleashes a fusillade of shots at Hiram, who falls onto the ladder steps, wounded.

Temporarily distracted, this is probably Greta and Earl's one chance to take Genning down, as his weapon is pointed away and possibly needs reloading.

Will begins banging on the infirmary hatch, yelling, "Let me out! I need to treat the wounded!"

[TreyKincaide]

Earl roars in anger as the man who showed him kindness falls to the ground. There's a mean look in his eye as he charges Genning as a change overtakes the gentle giant. The large man screams, "No body hurts my friends! No body!" as he barrels Genning to the ground and bashes the weasley gunman's head into the metal bulkhead over and over.

[Wired*Nun]

Earl tackles Genning from behind, nearly knocking Greta over as he pushes by. She is feeling woozy, and has to sit down on the nearby sofa. Nan Ching, still barking and growling furiously, dodges the falling men then leaps upon the semiconscious and bleeding DeNiro, biting him savagely on the hand. It's pretty much all that she can reach, standing all of eight inches at the shoulder.

Earl bears the small man to the deck plating. A shot rings out as Genning reaches around himself and jams the barrel of his pistol into Earl's side, pulling the trigger. Earl hardly feels the shot in his current state of berserkergang. Genning pulls the trigger again, but there is only a click. He is out of ammo.

Earl slams Genning's head against the bulkhead. Genning twists like a wiry eel but isn't able to avoid a good hard knock. Earl can feel his vision blurring, however, as the drugs finally take hold. He has just a few seconds more before he goes out.

[Wired*Nun]

The general comm comes to life with Hiram's weak, raspy voice. "Ever'body to the pass'nger deck..." His words trail off, and Yusheng, Arthur and Sam can hear labored breathing coming over the open comm, the sound of a gunshot, barking, shouting and mayhem in the background.

[Candleman]

Arthur's expression hardens as he hears Hiram's message. He's not angry and worried anymore, just angry. He punches in the door code to the engine room and heads down the steps to the passenger deck, shotgun in hand. As frail as he looks, there's no hesitation in his eyes as he jogs down the steps.

[Wired*Nun]

Arthur immediately encounters Hiram sparawled on the landing between the crew and passenger decks. His .45 is clutched in one hand and the hand comm in the other. His nerveless fingers are trying to draw a bead on something below, down the ladder, and he is bleeding from several gunshot wounds. He looks to be in a bad way.

[Candleman]

"Oh no..." Arthur whispers, kneeling next to him. "What the hell hap'ned? Cap, don' move. I'll take care ah them."

Arthur doesn't quite know what to do with Hiram, and also doesn't know where the two men infiltrating them are. He continues down the steps, making the Infirmary his next priority after blowing away those responsible.

[Fulmen]

Sam grabs his shotgun and quickly heads out the door. He takes time to make sure that the door to the cockpit is properly locked before he heads on down to the passenger deck. He is expecting trouble, but he more concerned about getting there in a hurry than he is about being cautious.

[samirah]

Yusheng hears Hiram's voice and realizes instantly that something is terribly wrong. She flings open her secret compartment and runs to the garden room door. Opening it as fast as her nimble hands will allow she dashes down the corridor cursing to herself in Chinese. She descends the ladder quickly to find Hiram lying on the landing. "Wuo Du Tian!!" (Oh my god!) She kneels beside him and carefully takes his head in her arms, cradling him gently she whispers,"Bao Bei...Bao Bei..." (Sweetheart...sweetheart...)

Realizing how bad his wounds are she shouts,"Hiram need doctor now!! Somebody get doctor quick, PLEASE!! Ai Yah Tien An!! Lao Gohn speak to me..." (Merciless hell!! Husband speak to me...) Tears flow down her face as she holds her beloved Hiram.

[TreyKincaide]

Knowing that he's about to falter, Earl puts his hand around the weasel's throat in a death lock, "I's...not gon...gonna let you hurt my friends ever again."

[Wired*Nun]

Earl locks his hands around Genning and rolls his body onto the man to immobilize him as long as possible, then his vision goes dark. Genning closes his eyes and scrabbles under his coat, coming up with a short, double-bladed combat knife.

Greta falls unconscious.

Arthur moves carefully down the stairs, to see a tangle of Earl and Genning on the deck, and DeNiro on the ground on his back pointing a pistol unsteadily up the ladder at him. It's a Mexican standoff. Arthur can fire and hope his shotgun outguns the pistol, he can retreat up the ladder, or he could charge forward all but ensuring somebody gets hit. "Put it down, wrenchman, and I'll let the doctor treat your wounded," DeNiro rasps.

Hiram drops his pistol and clutches Yusheng with weakened hands. He opens his mouth, to gasp out one word. "Sorry..." He falls unconscious, bleeding badly. He won't last long without treatment.

There's still pounding coming from the infirmary door, along with Will's faint yelling.

Sam arrives on the crew deck, the sounds of mayhem getting closer. He hears Yusheng's cries and words quite clearly.

[samirah]

Yusheng realizes the doctor is trapped in the infirmary and knows that she must do something to help Hiram herself. She quickly checks to see where the blood is coming from. She locates his wounds and does her best to apply pressure and slow down the bleeding.

"Joo Koh! (stop talking) Keep your strength! Hang on Bao Bei! I no let you go! Ping Ming...Ping Ming..." (literally means to fight for your life).

[Fulmen]

Sam hurrys down to the cargo bay where he can reach the passenger deck from the catwalk. This way DeNiro will have people on both sides of him and Sam will hopefully be able to open the infirmary door.

[Candleman]

Arthur doesn't fully process DeNiro's words, and as soon as his mind registers the man laying on the floor talking to him, he lets out a short yell and pulls the trigger. He doesn't give a thought to his own safety, but just wants to see the other man dead.

[Wired*Nun]

As Arthur fires, DeNiro rolls frantically to get out of the way, but to no avail. The blast takes him in the neck, and he sprawls unconscious and bleeding profusely on the deck. His pistol slides to within reach of the other man, who is currently prying Earl's fingers from his throat and trying to scramble from under three hundred pounds of dead weight.

Words come over the PA - it's the doc. "Someone let me out of here!"

Running as fast as he can, Sam pounds down the ladder then along the catwalk. He hears the shotgun roar and the voice on the PA, but can't yet see into the hatch into the passenger deck.

Yusheng's frantic efforts seem to slow the bleeding some, but Hiram remains unconscious. Earl and Greta remain unconscious.

Nan Ching charges at Genning, latching onto his sleeve and snarling viciously.

[Fulmen]

Hearing the shotgun fire and nothing in return, Sam assumes things are going there way. He continues towards the infirmary door to let the Doc out.

[Candleman]

Arthur steps gingerly around DeNiro's body, making no move to check his vitals or even look too closely at him. He steps up to Genning, scrabbling as he is, and points the shotgun at any visible bit.

"Don' move," he says, grimly.

Raising his voice, he calls "Sam! They're down! Get the doctor for the Cap, I'll 'old these go neong yung duh 'ere."

[Wired*Nun]

Genning freezes, dropping the knife to the deck. "All right," he says mildly. "Don't shoot me yet, please, or your friends may die."

Sam rounds the corner to see Arthur's grim visage and weapon pointing at the tangle of flesh on the deck. He quickly puts in the override code and Will pops out of the infirmary. He starts at the closest first, briefly checking Earl and Genning, then DeNiro. He clamps his hand over DeNiro's wound, then looks around at Sam and Arthur. "Get him on the table! I have to stop the bleeding or he'll die. Shoo, dog! Stop!"

Nan Ching ceases her growling and tugging, backing a step or two and sitting down, looking pleased with herself.

[Fulmen]

Sam points to Hiram, "Screw this guy! He can bleed to death for all I care. Check the cap'n out first."

[Wired*Nun]

Hiram isn't really visible from their location, being as he's on the landing in the ladder well.

Will replies in a whipsaw voice. "The captain can't be any worse off than this man, and I'm not going to debate medical ethics with you. The quicker you two help me get him on the table, the quicker you can get the captain into the infirmary and I can see to them both! Now move!"

Unexpectedly, Genning speaks up from the floor. "I have some medical training..."

[Fulmen]

Sam gives off a sigh as he moves to pick DeNiro up off of the floor.

[Candleman]

Arthur glares at Genning. "Really? Then you get ta help." He struggles to roll Earl off him with his boot, stows his shotgun in his coat.

"I'll get tha' one, and you get the Captain," he says to Will.

As he stoops to help Sam with DeNiro, he nods at the bleeding 'actor' and mutters "Damn dead weight. Shoulda' killed him ou'right." just loud enough for Sam to hear.

[Wired*Nun]

Genning helps roll Earl off, moving carefully as the muzzle of Arthur's shotgun hovers in his vicinity. Earl lays like a lump, bleeding from his woulds, but mercifully unconscious from whatever drug was adminhistered.

Genning relaxes a bit when Sam stows the shotgun, moving to DeNiro's side next to the doctor. He doesn't make any hostile moves, even as no weapons are now trainied on him.

The four men get DeNiro onto the operating table, and Genning takes over applying pressure on the gaping neck wound while the doc grabs quickly dumps out a box of combat dressings onto the countertop. He tears one open, slapping it onto the wound and placing Genning's hands back on the wound. He quickly checks and clears his airway, then hangs an IV and sticks DeNiro, all within the space of 20 seconds. It's like a ballet, with no wasted motion. He points at Arthur. "Help him, we'll be right back."

Genning keeps pressure on the wound with one hand, seemingly comfortable despite the blood and trauma. With the other he lifts DeNiro's eyelids, and shifts his head position slightly.

Will grabs his med-bag and goes out the door and up the ladder, waving Sam to follow. He falls to his knees beside Hiram, saying to Yusheng, "All right, all right, good, keep the pressure right there." He checks Hiram's breathing, then pulse with a finger to the throat, lifts his eyelids.

"Okay, let's bring him in." Will's face looks grim as he moves to grab Hiram's jacket at the shoulders. "Get his feet," he instructs Sam.

They move him into the infirmary, laying him on a clear counter. Will repeats his motions with the IV, also giving Hiram two separate injections, then another dose of something into the IV drip.

There follows a frantic half-hour of sewing of wounds, with Genning serving as a very competent assistant. His fingers are sure, and he understands all of the medical jargon the doc throws at him. He does nothing untoward and seems to be striving to avoid giving offense. Maybe he hopes to deflect the crew's fury at having shot their captain. During this time Will has the two men bring Earl in as well, who gets a relatively cursory patching-up with combat dressings, skin-seal, and a saline drip. "Get some pillows and blankets and keep him warm, he should be fine," Will instructs. "Check on Greta, make her comfortable. She wasn't hit, right?"

They shift the men around at Will's instructions, putting DeNiro onto the counter, leaving Earl on the floor, whilst getting Hiram onto the operating table to pull out bullets, seal wounds shut, and run the diagnostic imager. After the doc has done all he can, he leaves the holo-image up and explains matter-of-factly to everyone there, arms crossed.

"I'm sorry, everyone, missus Price. Everyone. I've done everything I can, but the captain is in critical condition. Even in a full Core World ICU it would be dicey. He took five small-caliber jacketed rounds to his left and right upper torso, liver, and two through the left thigh. I've got his lungs on drainage, but his liver is non-functional. I don't have sustained dialysis capability. He may code any time, his blood pressure is very low...and he won't live long anyway without either biotic liver or a transplant. So...hours to days. I'm sorry."

He uncrosses his arms. "As far as Mr. DeNiro, he should make it, but it's not cetain. He's young and healthy and apparently has some med-aug virus treatments recently, so he's stabilizing nicely. Earl will be okay in a few days, fully functional in perhaps two weeks. Except for whatever is in his and Geta's systems..."

[Fulmen]

After helping with the wounded and hearing Doc's assessment of the situation Sam decides it is best if he heads back to the cockpit. "Ok, I'm heading back to my post. I figure we are still heading to the same place, but we can probably cut back on the hard burn. Doesn't really seem necessary any more. Let me know if you want to change course. Also, just to keep everyone informed, we past some salvage a few hours ago that I plan on heading back for once we finish up on planetside." With the Sam turns and begins the walk back to the cockpit.

[Wired*Nun]

The doc responds, "Best we have someone flying, I imagine. Thank you, Sam. There's still the matter of what Greta and Earl were drugged with..." He turns to Genning. "And the fact that we have you and your compatriot to thank for our wounded. Care to elaborate on that?"

Genning licks his lips, the only sign of nervousness that can be seen. In a steady voice he says "As might be surmised, we were hired to bring miss Falsafi back to her husband. Hired separately, I might add. I argued against anything rash, preferring to wait until we arrived and had a planet to hide in. But he acted precipitously. As for shooting the Captain...I am sorry, but he did shoot first."

"And the drug?" asks Will?

"It's a slow-acting poison. In a few hours your friends will start to sustain permanent damage. In twenty-four they will be dead. I have the antidote and I know the treatment regime - but I've hidden it well."

[Candleman]

Arthur bristles at Genning's cryptic words about the poison. He gestures with the shotgun, speaking through clenched teeth.

"Yeh, and yeh'd best be givin' the doc all the info on that poison, then, if yeh want to be keepin' yeh legs. And o'course the captain's gonna shoot at some men goin' around stabbin' their crew. Hell, if I were Captain, I'da airlocked the lot of yeh alreadeh."

He sighs, almost theatrically. "Ah'd best get to the engine room, see if anythin's not been mucked with."

[Wired*Nun]

Will contorts his forehead theatrically, looking sideways at Arthur in obvious disbelief. "I suppose I can guard Genning here while trying to keep four patients alive, simultaneously trying to persuade him to give up the secret of the poison and stop Mrs. Price from killing him..."

[Candleman]

Arthur grimaces. "You're right, o'course. I'll stick around here as long as I'm needed. Gettin' the secret out a' that snake isn't too hard, neitheh; Every hour he keeps his trap shut, I'll blow off anotheh fingeh." He looks at Genning severely, and it's clear he's serious.

He gives the doctor a look. "Ah promise not to hurt any patients, thoo."

[Wired*Nun]

"Only problem is after the first finger he becomes a patient..." Will mutters. "Look, Sam is flying the ship. Maybe he ought to come off of full burn, but we still need to make all deliberate speed to landfall. I'm guessing Mr. Genning here wants to make a deal against his life and freedom for the cure." He looks at Genning inquiringly.

"Correct. Though I find most everyone here remarkably free of rancor. I'm willing to give it up now if we can come to a deal. You may find it hard to believe but I am an honorable man, in my own way."

Will stops what he's doing to focus on Genning. "And what's the deal? Don't make the mistake of thinking I'm going to be able to stop Arthur or Mrs. Price from carrying through their threats."

Genning holds up a hand. "Of course. The deal is this. I'll provide you with everything you need. You let me off the ship at landfall in port and give me a five minute head start. Keep DeNiro - turn him over to the authorities, or whatever vengeance demands. I never saw him before now and don't wish to again. He is arrogant and stupid."

"What makes you think we won't do whatever we like after we get the antidote?"

"Your word, Shepherd. You're a man to be trusted, and I respect that."

Will makes a sour face, looking sideways at Arthur and Yusheng. "Seems reasonable. You'll have to be restrained until then. Arthur? Yusheng? Will you agree?"

[Candleman]

Arthur nods, stowing his shotgun again. "Shoore, Ah'll agree to tha'."

[Wired*Nun]

If he doesn't have anything more to say, Sam makes his way back to the cockpit. Everything is in order, and with Arthur not in the engine room, it's probably a good idea to cut back on the burn rate just a bit. Then again, they do need to get to planetfall and hospital facilities if they have any chance of saving the captain.

[Fulmen]

Sam sits back in the pilot seat and reduces the speed a bit. They aren't going full burn, but they are still going close to 100% normally. As the ship approaches Bernadette Sam calls ahead to have police and medical personel on the ground when they land.

[samirah]

Throughout the whole ordeal Yusheng is in shock. She follows the doctor's orders mechaically, and sits quietly holding Hiram's hand as he lies unconscious on the medbed. When Will tells them all about Hiram's condition, she shakes her head sadly. "He dead longtime ago inside. Nothing but iron will and love keep him going so long. Only for me..." she starts to weep, softly.

When Genning speaks, she stops crying and focuses a dragon glare on him. "My husband dying, I know that long time. But young people here no need to die. If they die, you die too." She starts mumbling under her breath in Chinese, something about thirteen hells and unending pain.

When Will asks about the deal, Yusheng responds, "If mister Earl and miss Greta safe, I let you go five minutes, no problem."

[Wired*Nun]

"It's settled, then. Mr. Genning, get the antidote. Arthur, please escort him to do so." Will turns to prepare another injection.

Genning nods at Will, looks at Arthur, then leaves the infirmary, moving slowly. Maybe he's in pain, or maybe he doesn't want to make sudden moves with Arthur's shotgun hovering in his direction. He retrieves a handbag from his quarters, dumping the contents on the counter before picking up three innocuous tubes - after shave, toothpaste, and skin cream. He takes a glass beaker, pouring the contents of the three into it and placing the beaker in the medical microwave heater. It melts within seconds, and he hands the beaker to the doc.

"Six milliliters each IM, once every hour for the next four hours and they will be fine."

Will immediately prepares the injections, saying, "And I hope for your sake you are a man of your word as well, mister Genning...that this is what you say it is."

"I understand. Everything should be fine," he says soothingly. "You should see some results by the second hour. If not, feel free to loose the hounds."



Will calls Sam and informs him about the deal with Genning. "Please only tell the police about the one assailant, DeNiro. I gave him my word."

**********************************

Four hours later, Earl and Greta receive their final injection. Both feel shaky and weak, and despite the crowded state of the infirmary, feel no need to flee it. They are soon filled in on the current state of affairs. Genning sits with one hand wired to a thick water pipe, resigned to his fate.

Arthur has therefore been able to alternate between checking the engines and checking the state of the prisoner and patients, while giving periodic reports to Sam in the cockpit. He's relieved that they have come off full burn. The engines are doing fine as they make the transition to intertia and orbit preparatory to descent.

Sam passes basic information on to Bernadette while debating within himself whether he should honor the Shepherd's deal with Genning. Police and medical will be standing by. They are also getting low on fuel thanks to the fast trip, and a ship low on fuel is a ship without options. It strikes him forcefully that, without a ship captain, the others will be depending on him to fly and run the aero- and astrobatic operation of the ship, if not the ordering of its crew. He's never had this much responsibility, not really. It makes him nervous in a way nothing else ever has.

They will also have to transfer the cargo, get the payment...he's glad Greta will be all right, if only for the business of it. And she's cute.

[TreyKincaide]

Earl blubbers feebly as he lies there on his back, "Poor Boss. I's let him down. I didn't stop them from hurtin' him."

[Fulmen]

Sam is annoyed about letting Gennings go free. If the situation wasn't as it currently was Sam may be willing to give Gennings over to the police anyway. With emotions already on the fritz however, Sam feels it is best to just go along with it. Sam makes all the preparations necessary for landing and goes about his standard landing routine, trying to talk as little as possible over the intercom to the others, he is a bit upset and nervous at the moment and talking will only add an unneeded distraction.

Once he has the ship on the ground Sam will go out to help the police and medical personnel with whatever they need. All the other things that need to be taken care of can wait until they get this whole mess squared away.

[LynMars]

"Don't fret, Earl. If we play the blame game, I should have been smarter about picking jobs and screening the passengers. They made their own choices to bring violence on this crew." Greta soothes the big man from her reclined position as she recovers, reaching over to Yusheng to offer the other woman a supportive hand clasp.

Listening to the catch-up of events, she scoffs. "Husband? Only in his twisted, lonely dreams. And actually, not even then. Leong wanted the prestige of having me as a possession." She curls her lip in disgust. "Black Marking didn't do anything but make him more persistent."

[Wired*Nun]

Genning reacts to Greta's comments by lifting an eyebrow in mild surprise. "Interesting." He has the aspect of a man filing away information, processing it. It occurs to her that he is a much more competent operative than his appearance would suggest. Had not the Captain taken down DeNiro, and Earl occupied Genning's attention, they might have succeeded.

"I thought you might have Companion training. And he must have worked through an intermediary. My contact claimed you had embezzled and hidden a large chunk of assets from your husband - no offense, that's simply what he said - and they showed me a planetary warrant for your arrest. Useless on Bernadette, of course, but Alliance judges are harder to buy, I suppose." He sighs.

"What's a humble bounty hunter to do?" His eyes twinkle, charmingly for his fiftyish years.

[TreyKincaide]

Earl listens without much in the way of comprehension. His ruffled brows hood reddened, teary eyes, "I's don' want tae be in the same room as that man right now."

[Wired*Nun]

Will eyeballs Earl for a moment, then reaches down to help him to his feet. "I think you're okay, Earl. Why don't you go get some food and rest a bit. Yusheng," he says gently, "Could you fix us all something? Some soup, maybe?" He covers her hand, clenched around Hiram's, for a moment. "I'll take care of him. The crew needs you now. Please."

[LynMars]

Greta wrinkles her nose. "More research perhaps, but lying certainly isn't outside of Leong's abilities."

She gets up slowly and goes to Yusheng. "He's right. Let's take care of Earl and the others while the doctor takes care of the Captain. We'll be planetside soon enough."

[samirah]

Yusheng releases her grip on Hiram's hand and leans over to kiss his forehead. She gains her composure and turns to Greta and Earl. "We go to kitchen and finish making food." She pats Earl's arm and speaks gently,"It not you fault Hiram get shot. You a good man. You do best you can." Yusheng gives Greta a thankful look as they continue toward the kitchen.

[Wired*Nun]

"We were on a fast timeline," says Genning, leaning his head back against the bulkhead and closing his eyes.

Earl, Greta and Yusheng fix food in the kitchen. For once, Yusheng doesn't seem to mind help in her domain. Her face is bleak and her thoughts are clearly with the man dying below.

By the time food is fixed and brought around to everyone - Sam in the cockpit, Arthur in the engine room, those in the infirmary - they start to make their descent. It's smooth enough to eat soup as Sam's steady grip on the controls slots them gently into their landing vector.

They come to a stop on the pad with a whine and the snap-crackle-pop of cooling metal. The silence that descends over the ship is odd after the loud background noise of hard burn for so long.

Will calls over the general comm, "Earl, Sam, come help carry Hiram out to the medics please." He turns to Genning. "Mister Genning, I'm going to take off that handcuff. You and I will take DeNiro to the authorities. Once we hand him over you are free to make your way." His face is mild, but his tone is intense.

"Of course," agrees Genning.

[Fulmen]

Sam flips a switch, opening up the loading ramp, and heads down to help with Hiram. Sam quickly reaches the infirmary and helps to life Hiram up. Hiram doesn't look good at all, but Sam says nothing, lugging Hiram's bodt in silence.

[TreyKincaide]

Earl eases up out of the chair and stows his dishes. He towers over Yusheng and bows his head, "Thank ya ma'am fer the kind words, but I's cain't help but feel bad I's didn't stop 'em. You and da Boss are the kindest folks I's met since I's left Mama."

He turns to Will, "I's do as you want, Sirrah." He lumbers off towards the med until favoring his injured side.

[Wired*Nun]

The crew get the two men on stretchers to the medical crews waiting on the loading ramp. After a brief explanation, the local law cuffs DeNiro's drugged body to his gurney.

Yusheng stays with Hiram, gripping his hand tightly. The med crew that attends Hiram checks his vitals. The senior medic look cautiously at Yusheng and says, "I'm sorry, ma'am. He's gone." They don't even transfer him to their gurney, but leave the stretcher with his body on it there on the ramp. A couple of deputies shoo the rubberneckers back. "Nothing to see here, g'wan about yer business."

Will squats down by Hiram, pulling out his cross and completing the last rites he began in the infirmary, once it became clear that he wasn't going to pull through. He keeps one eye on Yusheng as she grieves.

A lean man with a star on his chest looks over the crew as they mourn their fallen captain. He coughs politely. "Ah'm sorry, folks, but I'm going to need a statement as to what took place from someone."

[TreyKincaide]

Dropping off the fugitive was the last thing Abigail Cross had to do before moving on. Bernadette was getting stale somehow, and bounty hunting was too. Retirement was gettin' a mite wearisome. Paid better, though, if it was actually more dangerous.

"I hear tell, the Folly's already hit the dirt, so you best be getting on with it boy," the dirty white coated woman advises from under the matching dirty white wide brimmed hat pulled low. She turns a mean eye at the deputy and rolls the black backwoods cigar between her teeth. A yank on the reins keeps her bounty in line, "I've a ship to catch dong ma?"

As the young wet behind the ears law pup fumbles with the credits, she goes on. "Guay boy. Maybe you should take the time to polish that new shiny badge of your'n while yer at it," she sighs and scoops up some chits--not what the piece of luh-suh tethered to her was worth, but enough to persuade that old stubborn hwun dan to let her aboard.

Cross hands over the leash, "Your problem now," she tips her hat, blows a puff of smoke in farewell, and turns on one heel disappearing into the crowd off to find Price's Folly.

[Wired*Nun]

There is a real crowd at the landing pad. Now she sees why they left the rookie back at the station - several of the department's best are right here, including Sherriff Tayback hisself. A couple of the deps are carting off a guy cuffed to a gurney with the medics in tow. Another team of medics is packing up their wagon. Tayback is at the ramp, where the crew of the Folly is gathered around a stretcher. She can't see who's on it...she can't see Hiram either, though the colorfully garbed woman crumpled beside it might be Yusheng.

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail narrows her eyes sizing up the crowd. She shoulders her way through until she props one foot upon the ramp revealing an etched ivory handled hogleg strapped to her thigh. Pulling her dirty white wide brimmed hat back shows off a pert face framed by hair of gold. Streaks of gray and lines of hard living transform beauty into mature handsome. Hawish eyes of green, a nose that'd been broken and reset several times, and a scar over her left eye betray hard times. A hefty duffle hangs heavily on one shoulder.

Abigail clears her throat drawing Tayback's attention, "What seems to be the problem Sheriff?" Her eyes drift over to the crew. She blinks as a terrible certainty settles into the pit of her belly accompanying recognizance of Yusheng.

[Wired*Nun]

The Sherriff looks over the crew of the Folly, who seem to be consumed in their grief and shock. He grows more insistent, politely, taking a step up on to the ramp to emphasize his authority.

"You there. Young feller." He points at Sam. "Who's in charge here?" He catches sight of Greta, gives her the professional once-over, then looks at Arthur, Earl and Yusheng in turn.


When Abigail catches Tayback's attention, he half-turns, keeping eyes on everyone, it seems. "Oh, hey, Abi. Heard this here ship had some trouble on the way. One o' the passengers did somethin'. Maybe even kilt this here fella. But I ain't got the story outta them yet." He shoots a look back in the crew's direction.

Then he does something of a double take at her duffel and traveling gear. "What you rolled up for, Abi? Takin' a trip?"

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail eyes the group, "Yeah George. I was aiming to see the Black with what good years I have left. You boys usually do too good a job to keep a ree-tiree like this old bird busy. Starting to get soft. Need to have words with you about that fei fei de piyan you left working the counter, though. He doesn't know his head from a hole in the ground.

"This bucket of bolts belongs to Hiram Price, and if'n I don't miss my guess, there's no one in charge. Now.

The old Marshall in her taking charge of the situation, "Split 'em up and get their statements. I'll take the widow."

[samirah]

Yusheng seems frozen as she lingers next to Hiram. The shocking news slowly penetrates her thoughts. A sharp stabbing pain of emotion sweeps over her body. She wishes everyone would go away and leave her to grieve over her beloved, but she knows that isn't possible right now.

She tries to imagine how she will go on without Hiram. There's was not an easy life and their marriage had not been smooth, but she and Hiram loved each other deeply. He was her only true friend.

At this moment Yusheng wants to give in to weakness, to give up, to run away... She has survived too many things in her life and was too strong for that. Even as she grieves she resolvs to be strong, to continue on with her life, to help keep Folly afloat, since that was all she has left of Hiram.

She hardly even notices the people around, the sherriff asking questions. She just sits there and holds his lifeless hand.

[LynMars]

Greta stands near Yusheng somewhat protectively, wanting to be near if the grieving woman needs anything more. She eyes the newcomer warily, relaxing only slightly when it seems the Sheriff knows the older woman.

"I'll give a statement, sir, though there are some things the others will have to fill in for you after a point as I'm afraid I spent some of the altercation unconscious." She gives a practiced if strained smile to the Sheriff as she steps forward.

[Wired*Nun]

"He's my nephew. We'll get him squared away. You were never that green, right?" He chuckles.

The old Marshall in her taking charge of the situation, "Split 'em up and get their statements. I'll take the widow."

Tayback gives Abigail the eye, but apparently decides not to make a point of her assertiveness. "Right. Widow. You know these people." It isn't a question, the way he says it. He sighs.


"I'll give a statement, sir, though there are some things the others will have to fill in for you after a point as I'm afraid I spent some of the altercation unconscious." She gives a practiced if strained smile to the Sheriff as she steps forward.


"Right. I might as well take you, pretty one, or Enos' gonna be all over you like mustard on a hot dog. Come here and talk to me." He puts on a professional-friendly smile. "Enos, take that young feller there." He points to Sam.

They pull out pocket recorders, and take the statements of the crew.

[Greta, Sam, Arthur, Earl please relate what they might say, put in/leave out etc., in summary. Abigail and Yusheng can RP out theirs somewhat if they like.]

[TreyKincaide]

She eyes the newcomer warily, relaxing only slightly when it seems the Sheriff knows the older woman.

Abigail catches the young woman's eye with hard gaze as she steps forward. Still spooked. Not real trusting of the authorities by her demeanor. Probably on the run and expecting the shoe to drop.

The old woman shakes her head. Tayback's problem now.

You were never that green, right?

"Never," Abigail grunts and walks with an almost eerie calm up the ramp to Hiram and Yusheng. Her voice softens, "It's been a long time, Yu." She takes off her white hat and holds it with a sombre grace as she lifts the sheet to look over the body.

Gut shot. In a bad way. Probably wouldn't have lived much longer anyway. Hiram, you were a bastard, but you deserved to go out better than this. What'd you get mixed up in now?

Abigail stares lost in remberance of a young girl's foolishness, a heart that was broken, and the one time she purposely didn't get her man until Yusheng's and Earl's sobs break her memories into a thousand pieces. The old marshall lets the sheet drop back in place and pulls out her recorder.

"Yu. It's me. Abi. I need to ask you a few questions."

[TreyKincaide]

Earl's gives a blubbery statement with red eyes and strained voice interrupted by "He was my friend and I couldn't help him. Those bad men hurted him." Not a creature of guile, Earl pretty much spills everything that happened from his point of view.

[samirah]

Yusheng looks up in a daze. There is recognition in her foggy stare and she acknowledges Abigail's presence but is unable to feign any interest in seeing this old aquaintance.

[Fulmen]

Sam gives a brief statement, but nothing that is very helpful. He begins by saying that the shooter was a passenger on the ship and then basically relays that he was in the cockpit and missed most of the action. By the time he got into the bay the shooting had already happened.

[Candleman]

Arthur's statement is as complete as he can make it, but full of wild one-handed arm gestures and barely contained rage. He is a little fuzzy on how Greta and Earl were wounded, but he knows damn sure the man he shot deserved it, and he knows damn sure the other one killed his Captain.

[LynMars]

"Of course Sheriff. Thank you."

Greta is unnaturally calm and reserved as she relates what she knows, though the tension is still evident. So is some manner of guilt and self-blame for the whole thing.

She explains how the passengers were where they shouldn't have been, and she Earl asked them to return--at which point, they were attacked, Earl injured and and the both of them poisoned with a knock-out drug, hence missing the rest of the fight and the Captain getting killed trying to defend his crewmen.

"I should have been more careful in vetting our passengers and job options," she says with a sigh.

[Wired*Nun]

"Sometimes thing just go bad, ma'am." Tayback says to Greta with slightly more deference than she would expect. She chalks it up to her natural and trained attractiveness, and it occurs to her that, if she were in the business again, she wouldn't mind spending time with this man. There's an old-fashioned steadiness about him.

The local law takes all the statements, without much commentary. The Sherriff does a bit of probing over the identity of the passenger that got away, and isn't happy that he did, for no obvious reason. After he talks to the Doctor, he seems to have come to some accomodation with the situation, though. Abigail's keen sense of the dynamics of things tells her that something is being swept under the rug, at least officially.

Before he leaves, Tayback comes over to have a chat and retrieve Abigail's notes. "Looks like the shooter got away...but the doc - Shepherd too - let 'im go. Some kinda honor among thieves crap. Doesn't mean I can't hunt him down, I got a pretty good description. When you get on board, see if you can get me some footage of this guy off the vid logs, would help a lot. You know my Cortex address. Good luck out there." He puts out his hand for a firm, dry shake, before preparing to leave. "Keep in touch."

The crowd of onlookers disperses as soon as the coroner shows up to load Hiram's mortal shell into the blood wagon.

Will hangs onto Yusheng, talking to her in a low voice, convincing her to let Hiram go, that it wouldn't be good for her to try to be there for even the cursory autopsy required in death by confirmed violence. "I'll make the mortuary arrangements. Just let me know if there is anywhere particular you want him laid to rest."

The departure of the body and of the law leaves the crew hanging in a kind of limbo inside the cargo bay. Greta knows she needs to get the transaction completed and the cargo delivered. Yusheng still seems stunned. Arthur knows he needs to give the ship's systems a thorough going-over after the hard usage they got this trip...and check to see that the gunfire didn't cause any critical damage.

Will carries the empty stretchers back to the infirmary and methodically begins getting things back in order. In passing Greta, he says, "I don't think Mrs. Price is in any shape to deal with this, so perhaps when you acquire payment for the cargo you can pass over about sixty credits to restock our medical supplies."

[samirah]

"I'll make the mortuary arrangements. Just let me know if there is anywhere particular you want him laid to rest."



Yusheng numbly responds to Will, "He want be cremated. That way he always stay on Folly..." Her voice trails off weakly.

Yusheng stumbles onto the ship and heads for the galley.

[Wired*Nun]

"Of course. I will handle it." Will rests a hand briefly on her arm before breaking the contact and going about his business.

[David]

Xavier awakens with a scream, drenched in sweat, bedclothes all atangle. “Ta Ma Duh.” the young man says, blinking, as he looks around the small, dim, room. “Well, I reckon 's time to git.” he thinks as his eyes come to rest on the pile of rucksacks piled in the corner by the door.




Xavier makes his way to the docks, where he looks around a bit before spotting a newly-arrived ship, labeled "La Folies" on the side. The cargo bay is open and the crew seems to be engaged in preparing for unloading cargo, so he figures it's a good a time as any to look for a berth. He chats up a bystander for a moment for any news, hearing about the law and the medics and the coroner's visit, along with some speculation as to why.

Looking over the obviously distraught crew for someone who looks to be in charge, his eyes settle on Greta as a likely candidate, what with the calm, collected air 'bout her.
Taking a breath Xavier gathers his focus, puts on a serious, some would call intimidatin, face and walks up to her.


Not a particularly tall man, Xavier Ingvar stands 5' 11” in his boots. His is a wiry build, perhaps not overly strong but his step is sure and steady, almost graceful. His short blond hair is mostly concealed by the black oilskin hat he wares. His blue eyes could be described as icy, the expression steely. Between the Collar of his faded, worn, and once light blue duster, the faded red bandanna, and the black oilskin hat, most of his face is obscured. Above the bandanna covering his mouth and nose can be seen an ugly mass of old scar tissue around his left eye and over his forehead. The duster has seen its fair share of sun, wind, and rain. Not to mention mud, brambles, and stains from other fluids that have left the original color in doubt.
As he walks a pistol can occasionally be seen slung low on his right leg through the open duster. Recognizable as a gunslingers rig to those what as know.


Approaching the ramp to the ship Xavier keeps his hands visible, and visibly away from his weapon.
Reaching the foot of the ramp he raises his right hand in a sign of greeting and says, “Ni How. Names Xavier, an' I be a-lookin for transport. I have a little money in case you need me to pay my fare, but I hope to earn my keep by providing security for the ship...which it seems like you could have used lately, from what I hear. Now would you be the one to talk to 'bout this, or kin ya point out the right party?”


As he speaks he pulls the bandanna down so it is just around his neck, thus revealing the maze of burn scars covering the left side, and much of the lower right side of his face. While it appears that his lips escaped the worst of it, his nose is little more than a twisted ruin.


As he finishes he produces a small bag from a pocket of the coat and bounces it once in his left hand, the klinking of coins being recognizable. Then he drops it back into the same pocket.

[TreyKincaide]

At the mention of the word cargo, Earl lumbers inside wordlessly and determined not to let his injury get in the way of at least doing the one thing he feels himself to be good at this moment in time. He starts stacking crates almost daring for the world to punish 'im--his only way to work out the feelin' of helplessness that takes ahold in his gut. He wipes his tears with a hand and looks away so no one can see him cry.

[TreyKincaide]

Abigial watches Yusheng go. Her attention shifts as she chews the image of the new one over--don't get to looking that way without having sand, being where you don't belong, or dealing with the wrong people--as she saunters up to Greta seeing as the rest weren't being talkative.

"Name's Marshal Abigail Cross," she says smoothly as she adjusts the strap around her neck and adds as an after thought, "reetired. I'm an old...well I suppose...friend of Yu's and Hiram's. I came here to talk the old go-" she stops. "I'm booking passage. Intending on something semi-permanent." She draws a stiff eye at the young thing if she decides to disagree.

[Fulmen]

Sam goes to help Earl load cargo onto the mule, "Alright big fella' just let's just toss as much as we can on here. I'm wanting to get all this cargo taken care of as quickly as possible so that we can move on from this whole mess."

[Candleman]

Arthur sweeps a cautious eye over the two newcomers both vying for Greta's attention, but decides not to do anything about him. Hiram's death is fresh in his mind. Arthur never could bring himself to dislike the old man, despite his flaws. At least he died standing, boots on the ground, protecting his ship.

Arthur heads back up the ramp and into the engine room, where the silent engine unnerves him. He takes the time to replace the fuel filter, but not before checking all of his instruments (and peeking inside the intake with a flashlight, just to be sure). Barring any problems, he'll grab a ladder and check out the exhaust system. Full burn isn't great for the engine, but it's especially damaging to the outtake.

[LynMars]

Greta picks up a pad, knowing the cargo has to be dropped off, the client needs to be spoken with--on her own now, without Price there to give a final say. She's still trying to think of how to make this work when the scarred man and the older woman who helped the Sheriff both walk up to vy for her attention.

Habit kicks in, and she smiles calmly. "We really don't know yet where we're going, but I would guess that doesn't matter much to either of you." She states, studying the man a bit more than Abigail. Then she turns to the older woman.

"I'm sure Yusheng could use an old friend right now, though if you had an agreement with Captain Price, I'm afraid I'm unaware of it. We could likely get things sorted quickly, however."

The blond woman turns to the gunslinger, a bit more wary. He hadn't been working with the Sheriff like the retired Marshall, nor did he have Yusheng's recognition. "You'll understand if I'm leery about accepting a new passenger at the moment, since the last ones to come aboard caused us this misery." She pauses, considering as she carefully studies the man with her trained eye. She knows they need the money, especially if the engine took a beating from the fast burn. And Will's mention of medical stock was quite fresh in her mind.

"Tell you what. You pass along any credentials you have on you, and if you really want to work security, you can come with Earl and me to deliver our cargo." She nods toward the very large, dark man working with the crates rather easily despite their size. "And we'll see how you acquit yourself."

'I need to remember to wear my own rig now. Even on the ship. Can't be caught off guard again.'

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail grunts and nods grouchily but satisfied with the answer for now.

Girl's got sand, though you wouldn't tell from first glance. Not letting on she's in over her head.

"Then I'll speak to your pilot until you get back to get this matter straightened out. Tayback wanted your ship vids of the man that..." she spits out the word, "got away. I'll show myself the way."

Abigail hefts her duffle and walks aboard. She takes a moment to orient herself. It had been a long time since she'd stepped on this rust bucket and as she recalled that parting, or any of Hiram and her partings really, went smooth.

[David]

So far so good. Might be I found a trip outta here first try.

Xavier removes his hat and holds it in both hands as he says, “Well mam, I'm right sorry to here about yer troubles. I heard that there was some injured, and possible dead aboard when y'all arrived. I saw how broke up y'all looked when I got here, musta been a right good 'un y'all lost to cause such sufferin to you and yours. I do hate to see such as that, I surely do.”

With that said Xavier puts his hat back on, tilted back a bit on his head.


These must be either decent folk, or very good actors, as broken up over their loss as they seem. Think I might like to travel with them for a while.


Rubbing the back of his neck with his with his right hand, “As far as credentials go, I can't say as I rightly have much in my possession. Least not if its papers you be a-lookin fer anyway. I been a-movin around too much as makes it convenient to recount all my employers of late.”
Then relaxing a bit, “I can tell you this though, if it pleases you: I'm a straight shooter, a right quick draw, and I'll not be lettin any one I'm be protectin come to harm. Least not if there be anythin ol' Betsy and I c'n say 'bout it.” The last said while patting the gun at his side.
“Now, if you be feeling particular needful of them papers, I could probably dig some up.”


Nodding to the young woman, and the large man, “As fer escortin you 'n yours on this deliv'ry, I say that sounds mor 'in right fair. I thank you for the chance to prove m'self.” he says as he steps closer extending his right hand.

Then in a somewhat quieter voice, “There be suspicions of particular trouble? Or is this just general caution? Your a-wantin me along on the deliv'ry I mean.”
“Would it be terrible presumptuous to ask to leave m' bags on board when we go for this deliv'ry? It's just that I done checked out this mornin, an' I ain't 'xactly got nowhere else to stash 'em.”

[Wired*Nun]

The engine room checks out fine. It takes him a good hour to be fairly confident that there was no sabotage...but you never know.

There's plenty of routine maintenance to be done on a rattletrap like Folly, but nothing seems to be out of place. Looks like the kid didn't bust anything this time on the landing, either. He takes his time outside, too, soaking up the sunlight and keeping an eye on the crowds while he climbs around the exterior.

Earl and Sam load up the agsups on the big mule. Earl gets to feeling woozy after he's done - fresh wounds are nothing to be ignored or worked through - and though he's not happy about it, he feels that maybe he ought to go lie down. he's conflicted, though, wanting to protect the others when they leave the ship. Still, he's feeling pretty poorly after being poisoned and poked holes in.

Sam notices the big man isn't anywhere near full strength. He also watches the byplay on the ramp as he loads, taking a look at the two new arrivals.

The leathery older woman and the younger man share a kind of look, a dusty, well-worn wariness. The fall of a hand onto the belt, within easy reach of shooting iron, the looks to the left and right even when talking directly to someone, the poise on the feet, weight evenly distributed rather than flatfooted. They stay just out of arm's reach of each other, too...something instinctive, a bubble of personal space.

Greta has a similar impression - both of them confident - Abigail in her competence, Xavier in his dangerousness. The man has a pile of duffels dumped near the ramp from a mule-tax, and they clanked heavily as they were dumped unceremoniously on the tarmac by the hack. The hard part is to figure out who to trust, she thinks for the tenth time.

She has an immediate good impression of both of them, unlike the earlier two passengers, who didn't strike her either way. The fact the Sherriff knew Abigail and her apparent status as a retired lawman seems to speak well of her...but the snatch of conversation she overheard seemed to indicate she had been working as a bounty hunter as well, which givers her pause as well as a shiver. Your average bounty hunter didn't seem too fussy about the niceties of the law or even right and wrong when it came to executing a warrant, and judges could be bought by people like Leong, especially outside the Core. But Xavier...he seemed to be carrying a bit too much baggage to be a bounty hunter or operative, unless it was a clever cover.

Abigail's impression of Xavier is that he's a mercenary. He may have a conscience or maybe just trying to create a good impression, she needs more time to figure it out. But her initial impression is that's he's a steady fellow, whatever his underlying morals. And while youth and reaction time are valuable in a fight, old age and treachery are more dependable.

Xavier sees Greta is a knockout, far too classy for this well-worn ship. Even dressed down, she oozes appeal and competence, a hard combination to resist. Right now she's sizing him and the woman in the whitish coat up. That woman is another thing. It's as automatic as breathing for him to run the checklist on everyone - strengths, weaknesses, dangers to him, weapons, propensities, awareness. He's pretty sure he could take her, but he'd really rather not have to try...she's set herself exactly where he himself is, like a mirror - just out of reach with hand or knife, back to the hydraulic plungers that support the cargo door and the wall, with a good view of everything, including himself, in peripheral vision.

[samirah]

Yusheng begins mechanically preparing a meal for the crew. She's distraught, but knows the everyday tasks must be performed for the ship to run smoothly. She's no slacker, even when things seem to be crumbling around her.

She knocks back a shot of rice wine to calm her nerves and chops the vegetables that had been waiting on the counter since before... She shakes it off. She has to keep her mind in the present. No sense dwelling on her loss right now. There'll be plenty of time to continue her mourning in private later on.

Yusheng finishes the meal preparations and makes an announcement over the Comm unit, "Hot food ready in galley now if you hungry."

[TreyKincaide]

"I's mite woozy," Earl steadies himself with one arm on the bulkhead. The other arm cradles his bandaged gut. A broken stitch steeps white in seeping red. "I's think I'm going have to lie down. I's a sorry. Ask Ma'am to hold something back for me." The big man stumbles and hand walks himself towards his bunk.

***

Abigail watches the big man go. "Boy needs to see the doc," she mutters. "And you need another hand to deliver this cargo. I'm going. After a cup of Yu's coffee."

She makes her way up the stairs.

Yu's coping the only way she knows how. Can't be rude and take off before chow.

She files into the mess and drops her duffle off letting it fall to the couch with a thud. She nods to Yu and without word eats and drinks her fill.

[Fulmen]

Sam was about to ask Earl if he was feeling okay when Earl spoke up himself. Sam finished what little was left and then headed up to grab some food, informing Yusheng of Earl going to rest when he arrives.

[samirah]

Yusheng looks up and nods as Abigail enters the galley. She dishes up a plate of food and sets it on the table for her long-time acquaintance.
"You travel with us now." It is more of a statement than a question. An acknowledgment, if you will. Yusheng feels some comfort knowing Abigail is joining them, someone else who knew Hiram well.

Yusheng pauses as Sam enters the galley. Sam tells her Earl is not feeling well and is resting in his bunk. "Thank you Sam for let me know. I save some food for Earl."

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail grunts as she stares down her coffee, "They forced me out Yu. Said I was getting too old." She snorts, "Snot nosed fei fei de piyan barely out of diapers waltzing around in a five dollar suit tried to tell me my business." She waves it away, "And I'll be chou ma niao if I eke out the rest of my years wasting away chasing bounty like the rest of them ben tianshen de yi dui rou. Not a fitting end to a near spotless career. I reckoned on bouncing the Black with you'uns."

[Candleman]

Arthur hears the announcement of food and wipes off his good hand, heading up into the mess. He almost considers bringing his shotgun with him, just in case, but waves away the notion. He should really try to give the newcomers the benefit of the doubt, assuming they join up.

Upon entering the galley, he takes a hearty dose of suspicion. It's gotten him this far, and unfortunately he's usually been right.

[samirah]

I reckoned on bouncing the Black with you'uns.


"You welcome here with us. We need help now that Hiram is gone..." Yusheng's eyes begin to mist. She turns and busies herself in the kitchen dishing up food for Arthur.

As she hands the plate to Arthur she queries,"Everything looking okay with ship? You need any part or supply?" Thinking about these things brings her comfort and relief from her sad thoughts.

She decides a cup of tea and a bit of something might be just what Earl needs to regain his strength. She prepares a tray with tea and a few small finger foods. "Anyone be able take this to Earl? Maybe it help him feel better."

[Candleman]

Arthur takes the plate from Yusheng gingerly, not knowing whether he should be openly sorry for her loss, or act as if nothing happened.

"Nah, she's fine. Jus' a little banged up from the full burn." He smiles, and it looks a little out of place on his usually scowling face. "We'll be up an' at 'em in no time."

[samirah]

Yusheng looks at Arthur with a relieved expression. "That good. Thank you Arthur. You can take tea to Earl when you are going back to engine room?"

[LynMars]

Greta turns to glance at Earl as the big man makes his way inside. She reaches over and hits a comm. "Will, Earl looks like he needs some attention." She says, and then listens to Yusheng's announcement. She sighs, and turns back to the others. Abigail kind of just goes on in, making her purse her lips, but otherwise say nothing to the older woman.

And so her attention comes back to Xavier. "All right. Toss your stuff here in the cargo bay for now. Once we've had something to eat, we'll get this job done. I doubt Will is going to let Earl come along after all, so I'll have to ask one of the others anyway." She doesn't turn her back to him, rather stepping aside and gesturing to where he can leave his bags, watching him carefully.

[David]

Xavier tips his hat as he says, “Thankee ma'am.” He then proceeds to carry the bags one at a time over to one side of the cargo bay. Once finished, he glances over at Greta, noting how she seems to be keeping a close eye on him. Must still be wary from that trouble with those last passengers she mentioned. Turning so his body faces the wall, with face turned to her, then glancing further into the ship,“Which way to the galley?” Then thinking she may not want another unknown element at the table just yet he looks back at her and glances out the cargo bay door, “Or 'd you rather I wait outside fer now?”


If Greta indicates that he should stay, he proceeds her, following her directions to the table.


If she asks him to wait outside Xavier nods and walks down the ramp, and finds a place to sit near the ship, from where he can watch the cargo ramp.

[Wired*Nun]

Will checks in on Earl, and leaves him a small bottle of antibiotics. "I want you on bedrest for a day or two, then very light duty for a week, then we'll see how you feel." He preps a small syringe and gives him a couple of injections near his wounds, if Earl has no objections to it.

"This is a mild steroid, it will speed your healing around the wound sites. Now get some rest. Someone else or I will get your meals, you just relax. You took care of us, Earl. You saved Greta from bring kidnapped or worse. You saved the ship and crew from worse grief than we have right now. Now let us take care of you." He comforts the big man as best he can before going up to the common deck.

"Hey, everyone," he says by way of greeting. He walks over to Abigail, holding out his hand. "Hello. I'm Will, ship's doctor. And shepherd, if it comes to that." He reaches up to touch his collar. Once introductions are over, he says to whatever crew are gathered there, "Earl is all right but I told him I want him on bed rest for a day or two. Knowing him, he'll want to be loading cargo or lifting weights sooner than his body can really handle. He'll need his meals taken to him - Mrs. Price, perhaps you can take care of that, or I will be happy to if you'd rather." He looks at Yusheng for a moment longer. "I'd also like to talk to you a bit later, when you get a chance, about the arrangements."

*************

Xavier notices nothing out of the ordinary as far as the traffic around the ship. Once the excitement of the law and medics are gone, the port authority security seems to have everything under their usual control. Mostly they focus on keeping things running smoothly and protecting property. He knows from experience that they turn over any investigations to the sherriffs or the feds, if it comes to that.

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail takes the shepherd's hand, "Nice to meet you Preacher. Abigail Cross. Marshal-retired. I'll be staying on here." She gives a firm up and down shake.

The older woman returns her attention to her coffee draining in one sure drink. She settles into the chair slightly drawing her hat up so as not to be crushed. Abigail folds her arms and tilts her head, "You want me to oversee things, Yu, until something more permanent can be arranged?"

[LynMars]

Greta considers a moment, and then gestures to the stairs. "Come on. I shouldn't let this ruin our hospitality. Besides, it lets us keep an eye on you. And you get to try Mrs. Price's cooking as well." She smiles, long practice making it seem natural and maybe even genuine.

Greta lets Xavier go first, making good on her idea to keep an eye on him. Secretly, she's waiting to see Nan Ching's reaction to the man. The little dog seemed to respond to their previous guests when she'd finally gotten near them, and Greta understands how very intuitive animals are when it comes to possible harm to their humans.

When they do enter the galley, she nods around the room. "This is Xavier. He wants to book passage and help us out as well. I know we're not all that anxious at this point, but we could use the help, especially with Earl in traction."

[Candleman]

Arthur eats in silence, listening to the conversations around the room. He never was one for casual conversation, but he's not afraid to speak his mind when he feels like it. He slips Nan Ching some egg (he can't stand the stuff) and nearly cuts his mouth open when Greta introduces Xavier.

"Wha', we got another passenger? After wha' happen to the last lot?" He's rather surprised, even though he knows he shouldn't be. They need extra hands with Hiram gone, but logic doesn't easily sway his suspicion.

He looks over the man, trying to see if there's anything trustworthy about him. His wary gunslinger looks don't do much by way of a good first impression.

[David]

Arriving at the table: Well, better get this over with.
Nodding to Greta, “Thanks for the introduction.” Then, standing a little straighter he turns to those at the table, meeting the eyes of each in turn, as he says “I dont know much 'a what befell y'all out in the black, but from what ah done put t'gether you had some sort'ta trouble with yer last passengers. Looked to me like as there was a firefight or somesuch out there. Whats more, looked to me like ye took some casualties. Now, ah don't see as that y'all have much reason to put yer trust in me yet, but ah means to be a-changin that. As to my profession, I reckon ye could call me a gunslinger. Ah don't 'xactly like the term, but ah guess it fits what I do as well as any other. What I believe ah can offer you is a measure of protectin, there ain't a whole lotta them as what can out draw, or out shoot, me. Ah'm not bad at spottin trouble afore it starts, and ah'm willin ta put meself between it and those ah call m' Se Duhng.”


Taking a breath Xavier continues, “Also, ah never work for any Ching Soh Huen Dahn, and ah always try to part on reasonable terms with those as what I do choose to employ me.”
Relaxing his features a bit, “While ah may not be to good at flyin, or rebuildin an engine, ah do know m'way around a ship, and ah knows enough to lend a hand here and there as needed. Whats more ah may not be no Doc, but ah do know a thing or two about patchin people up as what needs it.”
Looking around trying to get a feel for reactions to what he has said he finishes with, “Ah be thinkin that y'all could use someone of mah talents aboard, whether it be me or 'nuther is up to you.”


Putting on a somewhat more serious face, “Now, that be what ah have t' offer you. What I be seekin fer is a ship ah can call home, and a crew I can call Frinds. I been wandern for a time, an ah don't see any reason to quit now. I seen mah fair share a trouble, ahn ah found it be a might easier to face when ye got some as ye can trust at yer back.”
Looking a bit whistful, “Ah like it in the Black, an ah'd like a longterm deal with a ship. If possible, ah'd like to eventually buy me own, or if ah can find a good ship and crew, buy my way into partial ownership. But thats for the future.”


Looking around at those as are present once more, “I suggest we work togetha for a while and get a feel for one a'nutha. If you like what you see, and ah be likin what Ah see, mabe we can come to some sortta arangement that we can all call fair”


With that Xavier takes a seat, glancing around quickly to see if anyone looks like they have a question.

That was more of a speech then I meant to give, but at least it's all out there now. I wonder what happened out there to make them so suspicious? Best let them tell me in their own time, if they ever decide to, I guess.

[samirah]

He'll need his meals taken to him - Mrs. Price, perhaps you can take care of that, or I will be happy to if you'd rather." He looks at Yusheng for a moment longer. "I'd also like to talk to you a bit later, when you get a chance, about the arrangements."


Yusheng nods at Will and begins rearranging Earl's tea tray to include a generous portion of food to help him gain strength. "I take food to him myself. I want check on him too."

Abigail folds her arms and tilts her head, "You want me to oversee things, Yu, until something more permanent can be arranged?"


Yusheng looks kindly at Abigail,"Thank you for offer. I must have meeting with crew first to talk about what we need do. They have say in how ship is run. I will discuss with them your offer and let you know what we decide."

When they do enter the galley, she (Greta) nods around the room. "This is Xavier. He wants to book passage and help us out as well. I know we're not all that anxious at this point, but we could use the help, especially with Earl in traction."


Yusheng greets Greta and Xavier then addresses the crew,"We need have meeting to discuss and make decisions. I take food to Earl now. You take care of other business. Then you can all meet together with me this evening?" Yusheng waits for replies then exits to take the tray to Earl.

She gently taps on Earl's door then enters his quarters. She places the tray next to his bunk then rubs his forehead with her hand the way mothers do when their children are sick. "You no feel well Earl? I bring you food. You need eat something so you get strong." She reaches down to help him sit up and hands him the tray. "You want me sit with you while you eat?"

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail nods and pulls her hat up. She stands and crosses to put the empty cup away. She eyes the crew rolling her tongue into the side of her cheek, "I'll be down in the bay when you're ready to go." She tips her brim and walks down out of the galley. She finds a convenient bulkhead to put her back to and leans.

Damn fine mess you've left us all in, you old buzzard.

***

Earl wipes away tears and nods sullenly, "Yes'm Ma'am. Doc says I's tore my stitches, but I was only trying to do what Boss tole' me to." He hangs his head, "Doc tole' me I saved Ms. Greta. Doesn't make it any easier though. You and Boss have been the only folks that been decent to me in a long while, and I's cain't he'p but feel like I's let you both down." He hangs his head.

At her insistence the gentle giant takes a bite and nods, "I'd like it if'n you'd stay with me."

[samirah]

Yusheng sits down next to Earl and continues to prod him to eat his meal. "Earl you no let us down. You do best you could, but those were just bad men. You have good heart." She pats him on the shoulder.

Once he finishes his meal she takes the tray. On her way out she says,"I come check on you many time. You rest and get better. Call me on Comm if you need me for anything."

Yusheng walks around until she finds Greta. "Please take charge of delivery, miss Greta. Take who you need. We will have meeting tonight at dinner when you come back. Be careful, Hi-Hiram worry that there is trouble. He say, be early and get money quick."

[LynMars]

Greta eats as quickly as her propriety and decorum allows. She takes the time to study Xavier more, and Abigail until the older woman goes below. The blond turns to Sam and Arthur, expression passive. "One of you should come along to the delivery. We'll see how Mister Xavier fares on that run."

When Yusheng returns, Greta nods. "Already planning on it, Yusheng. We'll be careful." She stands, primly placing her napkin down after dabbing at her lip. She looks at the others. "Two minutes in the cargo bay, this has sat in our hold long enough. We're early, but the client's still waiting."

Greta then makes a brief detour to her bunk, sighing as she draws on the gun belt she'd rather not have to rely on. But after today, it looks like she's going to have to get more used to wearing it--even on the ship.

Then she's in the cargo bay, expecting Sam more than likely to come down if either of them do; Arthur will probably want to finish maintenance. Xavier and Abigail would in theory be more than enough, if she knew them better.

She smiles tightly to the ex-marshall and works on prepping the cargo as best she can, after the lifting Earl's already done.

[David]

When Greta leaves the table Xavier will walk back to the cargo bay and take a seat on the deck by his gear. While he waits for Greta to arrive he will take a minute to give his Luggage a once over, making sure it is out of the way. He will then pat down his pockets and make sure his usual load out is present and accounted for.


When the Mule is ready to go, he will hop on the back.

[Candleman]

Arthur finishes his meal and stands, shaking his head. "Sorry, no can do. Aye gotta stay 'ere and make sure them stupid gits didnae break anythin' we need to fly."

He steps gingerly around Xavier. "Nothin' personal, eh laddie? I jus' don't like new people."

He sets his plate on the mess counter and heads off into the engine room, replacing the fuel filter and checking up on the intake pipes.

[Fulmen]

Sam simply nods to Greta's request and quickly finishes his meal. He runs over to his room quickly and grabs a few things. First he fastens on a holster and places his pistol in it. After recent events he felt the firepower may be needed and his shotgun didn't seem very subtle. He then grabs his tool kit. He was expecting to need it, but the day had been rough enough already. No need to add to it by being stuck away from the ship on a broke down mule. Better safe than sorry. After he gets his gear ready he heads down to meet Greta.

As he approaches the mule he gives Greta a nod and a smile. "I'm ready 'ever you are. I'll take car 'o the drivin', but I think I'll be leavin' you in charge of the whole transaction if'n that is fine wit you."

[LynMars]

Greta nods to the small group as she double-checks the info. "Not a lot to this; supplies for outbound colonists to get their start. We deliver the goods, get paid so Arthur can make repairs, we fuel up, find a new job, and get moving again. Preferably before anyone else is sent after us."

'Sent after me. I'm just putting the rest of them in danger, if that's the sort of thing Leong's willing to do. Someone's dead already...'

None of Greta's doubts show in her expression or body language as she gets into the mule's front passenger seat. "Let's go then, Sam. And like he said, I'm the one they're expecting to deal with." She gives the others a look as she gives Sam the directions to the dropoff and they leave the cargo bay.

[David]

Xavier Keep his mouth shut and eyes open during the ride over.

[Wired*Nun]

Xavier gets his gear strapped down. You never know when you might need to move ship in a hurry. Everyone helps get the most expensive of the cargo on the mule, then preps the bulk for the big truck.

It's something of a surprise when the delivery goes smoothly. The longshoremans' crew loads their ten-ton truck of agsups with smooth efficiency, asking no questions and giving Greta a receipt for the delivery fee. The crew follows them over to the delivery address, which turns out to be a nearby bonded warehouse. The warehouse super signs for the delivery without comment about it's being a day early - there's a lot of activity around, a lot of business to deal with. Greta makes sure she gets the release code for the funds. The economy at the Border of Rim and Core seems to be booming, which is why small outfits like they can pick up some crumbs.

No tails, no trouble, as far as anyone can see. Xavier figures his first provisional security detail is a success.

**********************************

Earl drifts off to sleep, with Yusheng watching him as long as she will. Will checks on him once, smiling as he sees his patient sleeping.

Arthur takes care of as much of the maintenance as he figures he can before they lift, and arranges for the refueling.

A small package is delivered to the ship from the mortuary services, containing a beautiful faux-teak box containing Hiram's remains.

*********************************

Upon returning to the ship, they button up and lock down. The delivery fee is transferred without any hassles into the ship's account, six hundred credits. At least that part of the deal went smooth.

[samirah]

Yusheng uses the Cortex to order some food and household supplies for the ship. She hates to use the delivery service but speed is needed.

Once everyone is inside, Yusheng tells Sam to lift ship as soon as practical. "We need to get into Black, away from bad people. I know Abigail, she Hiram's friend from long time." Yusheng's lips press together disapprovingly, belieing her words a bit. It might be jealousy, but with Hiram dead that doesn't matter anymore. "Tell others and get into orbit. We safer there."

Once the ship is in orbit Yusheng will call for a crew meeting. She will set out some snacks and drinks. Hiram won't be drinking anymore, so she might as well use up some the the stocks. She waits in the lounge for everyone to show up.

[David]

When he hears Yusheng call the crew to the meeting Xavier heads up stairs and leans against the wall of the hallway looking into the lounge, waiting for some indication as to whether he should wait elsewhere, or join them in the lounge.

[Fulmen]

Sam gets settled in the cockpit and calls down to Arthur to make sure they are go for launch. Once they are he calls over the intercom, "This is your pilot speaking. We will be taking off in one minute. Please have a seat and keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times." Once they break atmosphere Sam locks in the autopilot and goes to meet with the rest of the crew. "Ok, so I got us flying, but I have no idea where we are heading."

[Wired*Nun]

When he hears Yusheng call the crew to the meeting Xavier heads up stairs and leans against the wall of the hallway looking into the lounge, waiting for some indication as to whether he should wait elsewhere, or join them in the lounge.

[she meant for everyone including potential crew]

[Wired*Nun]

Sam gets settled in the cockpit and calls down to Arthur to make sure they are go for launch. Once they are he calls over the intercom, "This is your pilot speaking. We will be taking off in one minute. Please have a seat and keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times." Once they break atmosphere Sam locks in the autopilot and goes to meet with the rest of the crew. "Ok, so I got us flying, but I have no idea where we are heading."

The ship lifts more or less smoothly, though Sam does manage to find some bumpy air for a moment or two. Once they are safely in high orbit, with proximity sensors on and their transponder on for planetary ground control to see, Sam can be confident in leaving the cockpit. He does feel a bit concerned about the lack of backup, and wonders who among them might also be able to fly in a pinch, or should they look for a copilot to hire?

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail filters in wearing fresh white clothes after stowing her gear and nice shower. Her six shooter is strapped to her side, but her blonde lightly streaked hair is down around her shoulders. Without the dirt of the trail, the woman is handsome and likely a looker in her day.

She sits down sipping another cup of coffee.

[LynMars]

Greta is relieved that the deal goes smoothly. She keeps a close rein on her expressions though as they head back to the ship, already debating what to do for work next. But they have money for now, and it may be best to vanish from Bernadette and find work elsewhere.

"Thank you for the help today," she says to Xavier and Abigail as they hop out of the mule back in the cargo bay of the Folly. "Yusheng apparently wants a meeting, and no wonder. Everyone meet up there as soon as you're ready."

Greta likewise cleans up once they've lifted off and the dust of Bernadette is little more than a trail in the Folly's wake. Her eyes linger a moment on the two exquisite dresses hanging in the back of what passes for her closet space before she grabs fresh pants and shirt, strapping on her gunbelt again last thing, reluctantly.

She heads for the lounge, noting Xavier in the corridor. "Come on in; this will affect you too, more than likely, whether you're a simple passenger for just this run, or decide to stay on as crew. And if everyone agrees to it," she says, smiling politely. It doesn't quite reach her blue eyes yet; those are guarded and wary still.

Greta goes into the lounge, getting a cup of tea and having a seat, sipping her drink primly as she automatically watches the others in the room and waits for what Yusheng has to say first.

[Wired*Nun]

Will goes to check on Earl and see if he wants to get up to participate in the meeting. As a doctor, he'd rather he did not, but Will realizes that everyone has a right to speak up about potential new crew or changing arrangements. He finds Nan Ching snuggled into the curve of the man's body, enjoying the free warmth and, perhaps, giving back some comfort. He knows that dogs can often sense when someone his hurt, and respond with pack instincts to console and aid healing. He strokes the little dog for a moment before getting up.

With or without Earl, he will join the crew in the lounge, settling down with Ryrie and his reading glasses. Nan Ching follows him in and begins sniffing around for dropped tit-bits before eventually choosing Abigail's lap to settle on, if she'll allow it.

[David]

After Greta invites him to join the meeting Xavier nods to her, then steps into the lounge and takes an empty seat. This continues his near silence, almost as if, with all that talking earlier, he had used up the days allotment of words.

[samirah]

Yusheng waits until everyone is present, then stands up to address the group. She looks small and tired but straightens her 5 foot frame to show she is determined to get on with whatever needs to be done now that her beloved Hiram is gone.

"Thank you for come here. Since Hiram die everything have change for us. Now we no have a captain and we cannot run ship without a captain. Arthur, Sam, Greta, Earl, Will...you all own part of ship, so you have say in making decision along with me. Abigail say she is willing to take over and be in charge, to be captain. I want know what you think, so you say what you think here and we take a vote. I can tell you I know Abigail well. She old friend of Hiram and me. She a good gal and we can trust her. She have good experience and she know Hiram well enough to understand how he do things and how to take over where he leave off. Now you each can talk and say what you think. Then we can vote."

She finishes speaking, then takes a seat. She's glad that part is over. She doesn't mind speaking, but prefers it to be one-on-one rather than being in any sort of spotlight. As soon as she sits Nan Ching trots over and hops in her lap. She senses her mistress' sadness and wants to make sure she's all right. Yusheng strokes the dog's soft blonde coat. Nan Ching shifts around in Yu's lap getting into a comfortable spot and begins to drift off to sleep. Yusheng listens as the crew speaks their mind.

[TreyKincaide]

Abigail pets the dog's soft blonde coat until Nan Ching hops down to join her owner. She sits there sipping her coffee quietly.

***

Earl hobbles in taking a lounging position on the couch. He holds his side and grunts as he eases himself down listening to Yu's speech. He blinks and scratches his head looking at the group. He eyes the former Marshal and then looks to Greta and the rest for their decision.

[David]

Xavier continues to sit quietly. This question being directed to the crew, he feels that he should keep quit for now. However he can not help his eyes widening in surprise when he hears that it was the Captain that died. Well, thats something! Sure does explain some things. These people may need my services worse'en I thought if they lost their Captain to a couple of passengers.

[Fulmen]

Sam looks over at Abigail in silence for a moment. "If you say we can trust her, than I believe it, but I can't be sure of her competencies as a captain. We are currently floating out here in space. I'm waiting for a Where and a What before we can get to moving again. So Abigail, tell me, to you have any ideas or plans for the short-term future of this ship?"