Sophia smiled inwardly, he had taken the bait, "What makes you feel the need to deny it?" she asked, "It’s nothing to be ashamed about - we all have pasts ... yours just involves you being the cause of the deaths of a few thousand people." she noticed Kale's features hardened immediately and smirked, "... ooh, I touched a nerve.”

Kale's face hardened and he suddenly didn't know why he had allowed this woman to talk this much.  It was stupid of him.  He pulled out his gun and pointed it at her, "Get out of my bunk." she took a step back from him but didn't make any move for the door, "Get out of my bunk now." he said coldly.

Sophia was delighted, so this is what made this man tick, she mused.  She wasn't phased at all when he pulled the gun out - he wouldn't shoot her, and it wasn't the first time she'd had a gun pointed at her, after the twentieth time or so you stopped flinching and got used to it, "You don't mean that." she said to him, adopting her seductive voice again.

"Miss, I only say what I mean." Kale said, using his gun to motion with and get her towards the door.  He swallowed hard, he was done with this conversation - he was done with it right now.

Sophia pouted a little then sighed and began moving towards the door, but before she left she turned back around.  Kale tried to yell at her to keep walking but she cut him off, "Captain Kale Galway ... you named your ship Destiny.  How ironic considering you've been traveling the 'verse trying to avoid yours." she watched his face for a moment before sighing, "Don't try deciphering what I said - no one ever can." she walked right up to him then, pushing the gun aside as she came in close - Kale allowed her to.  She stared up into his eyes for a moment of silence before patting his cheek, "And don't flatter yourself Captain ... you won't be the one who does." she said and then walked out of the room and straight to the dining hall where she took a seat.

[To Destiny: Dining Hall]

Kale just stood there as she moved in closer, not sure what to do, not sure what to say.  He was furious and intrigued and by God the gorram woman was leaning right up close ... and then she was gone.  Kale stood there for a moment, staring at his now empty bunk.  Then he pulled the stamp out of his pocket - but he didn't grin as he said quietly, "Game over ... you lose." and stored the stamp in the safe in his bunk before heading back to the dining hall.

[To Destiny: Dining Hall]

After successfully delivering the stamp to the Professor and despite the loss of their first mate, the crew of Destiny headed back into the black.  Back to work.  A few jobs later has left them with a crate from Xiaygin to be delivered to Torrance Station.  They've just docked at the space station located on the rim.

Its now been almost a month since the museum job and Rhaef leaving - the wounds are healing but they haven't been forgotten yet.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:33, Sat 13 Oct 2007.

After their daring escape from Torrance Station the crew of Destiny was left broken and beaten ... and one crew member short.  The mourning had just begun for the crew but they had to press on.  They dropped the young boy which Kale, Geoff, and Wei-Li had saved off with his father and then turned to Paquin for Ren's funeral.  It was a short trip that left all of them with heavy hearts but Ren's death had effected no one as hard as Acacia.  So two weeks later found the crew of Destiny on Osiris saying goodbye to their doctor.

And although he was millions of miles away, as Destiny and her crew suffered ... so did Rhaef ...
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:34, Sat 13 Oct 2007.

[From Destiny: Dining Hall]

Kale stepped into his bunk, kicking the door shut behind him - he didn't give enough force to it however so it bumped against the frame and came to rest a few inches open.  Kale didn't notice.  He stood there in the middle of the small room - the cumulation of his entire life was here in this room.  The few scarce belongings and the ship whose walls contained them was what he had to show for himself.  That and a million and one regrets.  He didn't normally let himself think about them but now looking around the room everything he owned reminded him of something he'd lost.  Some stupid decision he'd made.

The brown duster hung over his chair reminded him of the war, of that night sitting up in the ship over Hera.  Battle of Serenity.  The ground troops had called for help.  They'd needed back-up and Kale had been there, ready to move in before he'd been given the 'no-go'.  He should have gone anyway - that thought haunted him everyday.  It could have been different if he'd just followed his gut.  Instead the 42nd had been massacred down there.  Only two had survived, guy named Malcolm Reynolds and his second Zoe Alleyn.  Now those were two folk he knew he could never face.

Kale's eyes moved from the brown coat to the top of the desk.  Sitting a top it was an old photo from back when he'd first gotten Destiny.  He, Charlie, and Rhaef stood outside of cargo bay squinting in the sunlight.  Just one more regret.  Rhaef had been with him from the beginning - he was probably the closest thing Kale really had to a good friend, even if their relationship was sometimes strained.  He'd been his number one and he'd driven him off.

Probably Kale's greatest regret of all however lay folded at the bottom of his closet.  He moved there now and retrieved the folded up bundle.  Holding it carefully he set it on the desk and took a seat.  Un-folding the thick fabric of Nate's old uniform he pulled out the small medal.  He was supposed to have given both the uniform and the medal to Nate's family but he hadn't.  He'd kept it all these years - and this was the first time he'd even looked at it.  The medal had been awarded Nate just a few months before his death, it had been awarded to him for saving Kale's sorry ass while on Athens.  Nate would never let him forget that, kept rubbing it in.  Kale smiled, "Nate 'ol boy - ya still won't let me ferget ..." he muttered.  He missed his old friend something fierce.  The two had been closer then brothers.  They'd done everything together - but it had been Kale's idea to join up with the Independents.  Nate hadn't even wanted to.  No one knew that.  To his family and their friends he sounded just as enthusiastic as any of the young recruits but Kale would never forget the night before they'd shipped off ...

They'd been sitting up on the roof, up underneath the sparkling stars.  They used to do that all the time, ever since they were little kids.  It was like a secret getaway.  He remembered the two of them snickering up there while Mrs. Collins came outside and hollered for them - never knowing that they were sitting right up out of sight.  But that night they hadn't been children anymore.  They had thought themselves men.  They had the whole live before them and the world was theirs.  The two of them had always been daring, and charismatic - everything they did always seemed to work out.  Everyone loved them and now they were heading off to be war heroes.

Kale could still feel the soft breeze washing over him and hear the crickets chirping in the distance.  He was laying on his back, the rough surface of the roof shingles making light imprints in his skin.  Nate was sitting beside him idly prying one of the shingles loose with his fingers.

"Ya know Kale, I been thinkin' ... we're big fish here.  We get away with murder, like when stole all them bottles from Mr. Marlin's liquor store -"

Kale laughed, "- an' then returned all the empty bottles.  Poor 'ol drunk was convinced he musta drank 'em all himself."

Nate laughed as well but it was a bit half-hearted.  He looked at Kale, "What I'm sayin' is that, we've been kinda lucky so far."

"Kinda lucky?  We're the luckiest gorram sonabitch's there ever was." Kale wasn't picking up on Nate's serious tone.

"Tha's just it though, Kale.  We've been lucky, but how long do ya think we can keep just bettin' on our luck an' hopin' it all just works itself out?  Think 'bout it.  We got a good thing here.  We're goin' ta school an' everyone in town likes us - you got pretty lil' Claire wrapped 'round yer finger.  I mean, we could really settle down here an' live.  I don't think it ain't so bad bein' on Santo."

Kale sat up and looked at Nate, "What're you sayin'?  What happened ta us goin' out an' livin' big?  Explorin' the 'verse some, instead 'o just wastin' away here in this little town?  Remember, we're gonna be war heroes, Nate.  You an' me.  They'll put our name in the history books.  Doncha want that?"

Nate looked over at Kale, "Ya, ya - I want that but ... aw hell Kale, I dunno.  Just havin' second thoughts, ya know?  We're big fish in this here pond but there's an ocean out there.  We don't know nothin' about it."

"That's half the fun 'o it.  It'll be an adventure.  Don' tell me yer gonna be a pussy on me." Kale said, knocking Nate on the shoulder, trying to joke with him, but Nate was serious.  Kale's smile disappeared, "Ya really don' want ta go, do ya?" he said.

Nate looked at him, met his eyes and just looked at him.  It felt like a really long time passed before they said anything, "I don' know ..."

"Well hell, Nate.  I can't do this without ya.  I mean, it's s'pose ta be you an' me.  I can't - I can't go on off an' join the war an' just leave ya here.  Ya gotta come too, Nate.  It's what we've always talked 'bout."

Nate swallowed hard, "If ya really need me to go with ya, if it has ta be you an' me ... then I'll go.  I'll go if ya ask me to."

"Go with me." Kale said and Nate nodded.  Kale would give just about anything now to take back those three words.

"Alrigh' Kale, I'll go with ya.  We'll go be war heroes an' give the Alliance hell." he grinned but it was forced, Kale didn't notice.  He leaned back.

"By this time tomorrow we'll be out in the black.  We'll actually be up there in the stars and finding our destiny."

Nate went back to prying the shingle loose - six months later he was dead.  He was dead it was all Kale's fault.  He couldn't face that, and he most certainly couldn't face Nate's family, least of all Dake.  And yet he had to.  Pretty soon Dake would be sittin' up in his dining hall, lookin' just like Nate, and reminding him of everything he wanted to forget.

Kale folded the uniform up and realized that his eyes were wet with unshed tears.  He wiped his hand across them and stood up, knocking his chair over with a loud clang, "Ruttin' hell!"

[From Destiny: Dining Hall]

Geoff moved down the corridor towards the Captain's bunk wonderin' what the hell he was supposed to say to the man.  The door was open a bit and Geoff was about to push his way in when he heard the clatter of Kale's chair hitting the ground followed shortly by his curses.  Maybe nows not the best time fer a talk ... Geoff thought, Ya, I think I'll just let him be alone fer now, talkin' can come later ... ya know, when he's not throwin' stuff ... Geoff moved on to his own bunk.

[To Destiny: Geoff's Bunk]

Kale wasn't entirely sure how much time had passed before he heard voices drifting down the hall from the dining hall.  His heart sank, he recognized Dake's voice immediately and the one small shred of hope that he'd decide to just not show up slipped away.  Kale paced his room again, each time almost making it out the door before turning back around.  Come on, Kale old boy, don' be a ruttin' child 'bout this, just go out there, play nice fer an' hour or so and send the kid on his way.  It's just a few hours ...

Kale stared his door, still slightly ajar and then swallowed and made his way towards it, this time throwing it open stepping through the threshold and out into the hall where the voices were louder.  He could here Kyoko speaking now as he moved toward the dining hall, bracing himself for the meal.

[To Destiny: Dining Hall]

With the bay doors shut and Dake's capable hands at the yoke Destiny left Osiris behind - if only they could leave the painful memories there with it ...

The black was a welcome change from the core world which always made the crew uneasy.  But they all knew that peril lay ahead.  Rhaef was in danger and it there job to go save him.  However this was the most divided the crew had been since the first day Destiny took to the sky.  There was a lot of patching up to do before they reached Beaumonde and had to once again work as a team.

(From Destiny: Kyoko's Shuttle)

Kyoko stood outside the door of Kale's bunk for a moment, collecting her thoughts before knocking. She was angry, and damned if she didn't have the right to be. However, her anger should be presented as dignified and wrathful, not random and barbaric. Guild training would not permit her to act baseless.

Besides, presenting a logical argument would most likely give her the better chance to back Kale into a corner first...

[From Destiny: Cargo Bay]

As Kale entered the corridor outside his bunk he found Kyoko already waiting there for him.  That woman wastes no time ... he thought, noticing that she had already taken the time to change her clothes and re-prettify herself.  It was actually rather impressive.  She looked livid though, Kale had half the mind to try and duck back into the dining hall and go hide.

He was the Captain though, "Miss Monroe." he said with a nod, as he opened his bunk door and offered her entrance first.  Following her in he took a deep breath - this would be interesting.

Kyoko nodded and entered first. Once she'd was in, she turned around, her arms crossed and looked at Kale.

"So...captain, would you care to explain why what happened, happened?"

Kale's eyes widened, she was blaming him for this, "Now wait here just one gorram second, I had nothin' to do with this.  You want to be pointing fingers I suggest you point them elsewhere.  I came to be civilized an' offer you an' apology for Dake's behavior - but I sure as hell ain't takin' the blame."

Kyoko looked at him incredulously.

"Captain, you hired that man, despite an opposition by none other than yourself. He's your pilot, therefore, the blame falls equally on you."

She cleared her throat.

"Because we've been through so much, I'm going to take your apology...and your assurance that something like this won't happen again."

She kept her face neutral.

"Oh, and Kale...if anything happens to me that happened today, I will be gone, and you'll find yourself and your ship on a black list..."

Kale sighed in frustration as Kyoko went on, "You think I don't know who's it is that hired him?" Kale sulked, "An' he ain't my pilot.  We were just needin' a lift to Beaumonde an' unless you think that you can fly this ship better then I'd not be complainin'.  Got no intention of keepin' him on for permanent.  No intention at all."

Kale grimaced at Kyoko's condescending tone as she accepted his apology but tried to keep his mouth shut.

He scoffed at Kyoko's last statement though, "Blacklist?  Well won't that be a damn pity." he said sarcastically.

Kyoko's eyes narrowed.

"Yes, captain, and all those planets you so enjoy going to would either become vastly more expensive, or cut off completely..."

She sighed frustratedly.

"Tell me, captain, can you recall the last time I was able to take a real job? Sure, Osiris was fine and dandy, but before that, how long had it been? Because while we may not keep track, the Guild does, and then they complain to me. Believe it or not, I'm quite attached to this ship, however, if my working capabilities aren't able to increase..."

She lapsed into silence for a moment.

"Perhaps I spoke rashly, or out of turn with the blacklist, but Kale...things need to change..."

Kale studied the woman across from him for a moment.  She was right, although Kale forbid anyone on board to partake in Kyoko's "services" and had no notion of needing a companions services in the even that she left - it was true that her connections and diplomacy, which the rest of the crew lacked, had come in useful on more then one occasion.

"Here's the deal, Kyoko," Kale said, completely on the level now, "We can't afford to lose you.  So you got me backed up against the wall - congratulations - you won.  But that don't mean that I can afford to be changin' my crews plans to fit your schedules.  One way or another this boats gotta keep flyin' and if keepin' her in the black means I gotta move from one place to the next, or take on dangerous jobs where you can't find respectable clients, well that's the way it is.  You knew this when you signed on.  This ain't no luxury cruiser."

Kyoko shook her head.

"That's fine Kale, and yes, I know that this ship needs the odd job to keep flying, but how many missions have you had where we've suddenly had to jet off before getting into a fight with the Alliance? The museum job wasn't a cake walk...and the station wasn't anyone's fault..."

She sighed.

"You know I'm here to chart out the outer rim worlds for the Guild...how can I do that when we never stay in one place long enough? I have no trouble finding clients, Kale, it's keeping the dates..."

"Well, we'll - we'll work on that." Kale said, then added firmly, "Once we get Rhaef back." his voice said that there was to be absolutely no arguing this point.

"Yeah ... once we get Rhaef back everything will go back to normal." he added more to himself then Kyoko now.

Kyoko looked at Kale for a moment, then nodded her head.

"That sounds fair to me."

She nodded to Kale, then made her way towards the door, pausing right before the steps.

"Kale...if you need anything from me for this mission, anything whatsoever, just let me know."

It was interesting really. Kyoko, for whatever reason, felt that the conversation had gone...better than expected. She gave a final look to Kale, and a slight smile before ascending the ladder and making her way back to her shuttle.

(Kyoko to Destiny: Dining Hall)
This message was last edited by the player at 05:42, Mon 22 Oct 2007.

Well that went well. was the dumbstruck thought that went through Kale's mind as the companion left the room.  Hadn't really been expecting that.  His usual discussion with Kyoko tended to lean more towards the argument side then anything.  Sometimes people surprise you though.

Kale moved towards his door then, there was still a lot to do before they touched down.

[To Destiny: Dining Hall]

The crew of Destiny has finally managed to get itself back on its feet.  After a trying past few months things are starting to go back to normal.  The absence of Ren and Acacia is still felt but the ships newest members have begun to find a home on board the old freighter.  Most relationships have been mended and although there are still some unanswered questions between members of the crew life has been peaceful.

However, after a few months of excitement and trials the crew has discovered that the cash flow has come to a sputtering halt.  The crew needs a job and soon.  First rule of the black is to keep flying.  Fortunately, one of Kale's contacts managed to put him in touch with the infamous Sin Twins.  The girls are probably the most ... unpredictable of contacts, one can never be quite certain what they're getting into when dealing with them.  But one thing is for certain, the pay-out is always good.  The crew has set up a meeting with the twins in a casino on Santo to get more details about the possible job.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:44, Fri 25 Apr 2014.