COMM: Ren, take off is gonna be delayed.

[From Destiny: Cargo Bay]

Ren had just barely sat down in the pilots chair to start up the engines when he got Kale's comm, What the hell was goin' on? before standing up to go see.  Something was up - something always was ...

[To Destiny:Cargo Bay]

Lei had watched as Ren came in and then ran out, her ears picking up on the yelling down in the cargo bay.  This had kept her up in the cockpit for the past ten minutes or so.  She had no desire to be around yelling.  Anger was something else she didn't understand - it just didn't make sense.  Why bother?  The yelling seemed to have subsided now and she could pick up Geoff's voice just down the hall ... and also one which she did not recognize.

She slipped silently out of the cockpit and down the three steps.

[To Destiny: Dining Hall]

Ren moved back up to the bridge, wondering what the heck was happening, Ren had left and Kale had not after him which was not exactly like either man, and now Kale and Charlie were fighting. And to top that off, they had a new player on board which disrupted everything. He clicked on the consoles and plotted the path to get them to Regina. He hit the comm, "Captain, we're ready to break atmo as soon as Charlie gives the all clear. Best everyone start buckling in."

With Charlie's confirmation, Ren eased the ship into atmo and then into the black. With them on the way, he clicked on the intercomm again, "Well folks, we back in the black, unless there's trouble, we should be at the professor's in a couple of hours."

Ren stayed in the cockpit, with Acacia treating Kyoko and Charlie working on the engines, wasn't much of a reason for him to leave.  They had nearly reached their destination. "Captain, we've nearly reached the Professor's, do you want to  wave him with our arrival or should I?" Ren added over the intercomm.

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 01:26, Sat 13 Oct 2007.

The image of Diego on the screen flickered slightly, "You're breaking up Kale.  It's these pieces of la suh* that they insist on calling communicators." he sighed in a lightly accented voice, Torrance Station seemed to be falling to pieces around him - it used to be the hottest spot on the rim.  Now it was just a rotting space station, "You'll meet me at Sparks though, yes?"

_*garbage

Kale grinned slightly at Diego's assessment of the equipment aboard Torrance Station - Kale himself had noticed that over the years service here just got worse and worse.  Just docking Destiny had been an interesting experience, problems with the landing platform or something, "There ain't been any change in plans on my end so ya can expect me there."

"Good, good." he took a sip from a small glass full of dark liquid, "It's been a long time, I look forward to doing business again. You just don't let any of those fly boy patrol officers give you any trouble, you hear?  And if they do - a little name dropping should do the trick." he laughed good naturedly, "It pays to have contacts, my friend.  Since last time you come by I've worked my way up.  Most larger operations have left - so, looks like I'm the big man." he grinned, "Anyway, I ramble on.  I'll see you shortly." the screen flickered once more, then blinked out altogether.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:07, Sat 16 Sept 2006.

Kale watched as Diego disappeared from the screen, he was a good man - Kale liked doing business with him.  Most folk seemed to think you had to throw your humanity away completely in order to live a life of crime - Diego was one of the few who hadn't.  Ran a family business out of Torrance Station ... and when Kale said family ... well - it was something to rival the infamous Latrans.  When Kale had gotten the wave from him he'd jumped at the job - although that wasn't saying too much.  Lately Kale had jumped at every single job that had come their way - no matter how big or small.  In the past three weeks they'd done almost 8 jobs.  It was unheard of for his crew.

Kale reached a hand up to help crack his neck ... it was starting to wear on him.  Kale was tired - he could feel it in his bones.  The fact of the matter was though, the busier he kept himself - the less he had time to think.  And thinking wasn't something that was too high up on his list of things to do.  Thinking meant remembering Rhaef, remembering how he'd left, remembering the bits and pieces his crew had fallen to.  Granted things had begun to patch up, Geoff had taken over as first mate - and all these jobs had made them have to push all their differences aside and focus on just working as a team.  It also had the fortunate side affect of providing them with more money then they'd had since - well hell, since Kale could remember.  The crew was excited about this trip cause it was the first time they'd actually have the funds to enjoy their stay on Torrance Station.

Kale looked over at Ren then, "Well, looks like we're all parked.  Torrance Station's well guarded so if ya just wanna lock the ship up an' come on out with the rest I think that'd be alrigh' - unless ya don' wanna.  Yer choice." Kale said, things were still a little awkward between him and the pilot, but at least they had stopped acting coldly professional with one another.

Ren shurgged, "That won't be my decision to make Kale," he said with a smirk, "that'll be up to Red. She wants to go aboard we will, she wants to have the ship to ourselves, well you won't hear me complainin'."

Kale smiled slightly - Ren and Acacia's relationship had been of some concern to him initially, although it was certainly better now that it was out in the open then when they were sneakin' about the ship at all hours, still shipboard romance complicated things, Kale respected the way they'd been handling it though, "Well, like said - the option's there." he said, "An' if ya do stay jus' - make sure we don' all come back an' walk in on ya doin' ... things." it had almost happened once and the experience had been all sorts of embarrassing for everyone involved.  He nodded to Ren then and headed off the bridge, knocking on Geoff's bunk door as he did so to see if he was in there an' ready to go, looking up though he noticed the man in the dining hall and headed into the room.

[To Destiny: Dining Hall]

Ren shurgged and nodded, "Aye Captain, although I could remind you all to knock before comin' into people's bunks, unless its a emergency." He added as Kale walked out of the room.

Kale hadn't been gone for more than a minute by the time Acacia found her way into the room, sliding in through the door and sneaking up behind Ren, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.  "Hey baby."  She smiled, her breath warm in his ear as she spoke, and she lightly kissed the side of his neck.  "What orders did Kale give you, hmm?  Stay put with the ship, or are we gonna go out shopping?"

Ren spun her around so she was facing him, kissing her deeply as he did. "Its up to you babe, we're on R&R. We can hit the station or stay here, although the Captain would like us to lock the doors where we are, if we stay here. Don't think he wants to walk in on us again." He said with a mischievious grin, "We need to find him a woman."

Acacia kissed him back, keeping her eyes closed for a long moment as he withdrew, smiling as she put her arms back around his shoulders.  "Mmm...he needs more than a woman, babe.  He needs a whole vacation, a chance to relax.  I'm sure he'll eventually find an excuse to enjoy himself."  She nuzzled his neck slightly with her forehead, her hair tickling at his jaw.

"You tell me what we're doing, hun.  I chose last time we had a night out, and now you do..."

"I say we get off ship then, its been awhile since I've stretched my legs and I could use some real food, you know something that does not taste like protein paste." He said with a smile.

"Mmm...a hot bowl of food, a chair that's actually cushioned...I hear there are places here where you can get a hot bath."  She smiled again, her eyes slightly narrowing.  "Now what would you say to that, hmm?"

"A hot bath would be nice, only if you're in the tub with me," Ren said with a smirk. "Shall we head out then?"

"Well, I thought that was implied, silly."  She lightly slapped him on the chest, casting another dangerous smile as she did.  "Come on, if we go now we'll get more time out there.  I want to have you all to myself, if I get the chance, and for as long as I get to."  Acacia took Ren's hand, pulling him out of the cockpit, intent on getting off the ship and back onto foot.


---->to Cargo Bay

Charlie burst into the Bridge, nearly tackling the floor as she ran through the doorway, using the doorframe to keep from making a facefirst dive into the back of the pilot chair.  She blinked for a moment, looking around frantically as her fingers twitched at her side.  Buttons, lights, switches, toggles...something here has to get the engines started.  She sat down in Ren's pilot chair, turning quickly to look over the controls, her hands poised over the dash.

"Ai Chr Jze Se Duh Fohn Diang Gho!"  Charlie cursed at the controls, taking in the panel.  "Y'got a gorram button fer alls'f every thing tha'cha be needin'cept the gorram one ah'm needin!"  She lifted the radio off her belt, looking back to the doorway she just ran up from.

"Bear, how d'ya start th'gorram engines?!"

"Green switch, second panel, third console, Jei Jei, but have somebody at the door, Red and I are comin' your way, right now."

"Jei Jei, get them doors, we're here."

"Yea, someone's doin'."  Charlie spoke the last part, but didn't depress the radio button as she was already looking over the controls to find what she needed.  Green switch, second panel.  Second panel.  One, two...second panel, third console.  Green.  Her fingers found the switch, flicking the button and watching the entire board light up as it came to life.  There was a moment where she closed her eyes and let out a breath, a tear rolling out of the corner of her eyes.  We're going to make it.  This will happen, and everything will be okay.

Charlie got out of the seat as the engines were beginning to warm up, spinning and tucking the radio on her belt, heading out through the doors again.  The engines would take a minute or two, and she didn't know the rest of the pre-flight procedure.  Ren was on the way, however...and she would be needed at the door to make sure things unhinged and that the ship wasn't going to blow up.  She jumped through the entrance, hitting the ground running again back towards the cargo bay.


----------->to Dining Room--------->to Cargo Bay