A cold grey building with top Alliance security guarding all perimeters.  No one comes in or out without first being thoroughly searched.
This message was last updated by the GM at 07:01, Sat 22 Apr 2006.

The armed men escorted the crew of Destiny into a small holding cell.  The walls were just as gray and dreary inside as they were out.  Along all the walls were benches which they instructed the crew to sit down on and then ordered them not to talk. Another officer came into the room "Mr. Geoff Wolfe." he said and looked expectantly into the room.

Ren sat down slightly woodenly.  He moved so that if Acacia wanted she could sit with him while they waited for their turn in the hot seat.

Geoff had sat down on the bench and had been rather surly about the whole situation, grumbling and not talking to anybody. When the officer came in and called his name Geoff cursed inwardly and stood up. "Oh, yeah? Did I win somethin' or did ya just know I like hearin' the sound o' my own name? Like music to my ears, I swear.", he said with a sigh and looked to the officer, "Yeah, yeah. That's me then. Let's get this ruttin' over with...."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:50, Tue 31 Jan 2006.

Acacia moved and sat down next to Ren. She siged and rested her head on her hands.  This is fun

Charlie sat on one of the benches, remaining quiet and looking down at her hands, folded in her lap.  This isn't where she wanted to be...this is never where she wanted to be.  She wanted to be back on Destiny, in the black.  If it weren't for Wei-Li getting shot...if it weren't for Kyron...if it weren't for a lot of things, she could be anywhere but here...

Ren moved closer, putting an arm around Acacia, partially to comfort her, but also to reassure himself that she was there.

Officer Vincent Darhin escorted the man out of the small holding cell without so much as acknowledging his sarcastic remarks.  His face was stony and set as he led Geoff into the interregation room.  He motioned for him to take a seat at the small grey table and sat opposite him.  He said nothing for about five minutes as he looked over the paper work in the folder that he had been given, then he looked up.  "Looks like today's your lucky day." he tapped the papers on the table to align the edges and cleared his throat, "So Mr. Wolfe, how long have you been on the ship?"

Geoff had taken the seat that was offered to him and had placed his feet up on the small grey table, his legs crossed at the ankle. He looked about the room with lazy disinterest until the officer spoke up. Geoff chuckled lightly at the man and shrugged. "Heh. You and I must have really different definitions o' a lucky day. Mine involves at least 3 gallons of liqour and 3 women. But, ta each his own, right?", he said and looked thoughtful for a second as he thought over the question,"Well, lessee....the barfight in Persephone....then the gettin' the dirty look from the cap'n 'bout me lookin' at Charlie the wrong way....hmmm, then there was the thing on Valon.....then all that other stuff....then Paquin....then the talk with Wei-li that I realy gotta see 'bout finishin' when she's better....then Kyron tried to kill us...then here. Lessee, that's 'bout a month. Seems longer sometimes though..."

Vincent frowned as the man put his feet up onto the table but said nothing.  His brow furrowed as Geoff made out his list and his frown deepened with each addition, "Seems you've done a lot for merely a month on board the vessel, would you mind elaborating on exactly what it is you do on the ship ... I have here public relations ..." he eyed the man somehow doubting his people skills, especially considering the amount of weaponry they had removed from his person and found in his bunk when searching the ship.

Geoff chuckled lightly at that, wryly amused by his title. Public relations seemed to suit what he did. He did relate to the public....with bullets and his fists and other lethal instruments. "Ah, yeah. That's me. Public relations. Well, ya know, I watch out fer the people on the ship. Make sure passengers are nice and comfy and all o' that. Make sure the crew is all clean and tidy and tucked in fer the night. I even read 'em bedtime stories and have little activities fer 'em. Ya shoulda been there fer the luau. It was great. Grass skirts and coconut bras all over the place. Ya woulda liked it....", he said with a wide grin.

"I'm sure ..." Vincent said dryly. "And do you often take fugitives as passengers on board your illegal ship and then leave them tied up in your airlock?"

Geoff shrugged and smiled lightly. "Well, not often, but, ya know, ya gotta do somethin' ta have fun on a Saturday night. Heh.", he remarked wryly and then shrugged,"Nah, honestly? We didn't know he was anythin' like a fugitive. I just thought he was an asshole. How're we supposed ta know what he does in his free time? Soon as we did find out, we shoved him in the airlock and were bringin' him ta y'all straight off, like good little citizens. As fer the ship, I don't know nothin' 'bout it bein' stolen. But, if the cap'n says he bought it fair and square, I believe him."

Vincent nodded and wrote a few notes on the paper in front of him, without looking up he asked, "And you trust Kale Galway?  You've been with him for a relatively short span of time - what causes you to believe that he did not steal the ship and lie to you about it?"

Geoff stopped grinning at that and looked serious for once as he met the man's gaze to answer the question. "I trust the cap'n with my life. I don't believe he would lie to me anymore than I believe he would steal a ship. He loves that ship too much fer it to be stolen. Only a boat earned with the blood, sweat and tears of a man can inspire that sorta feelin'.", he said with a nod full of conviction,"Besides, the cap'n's a good man. I ain't seen many o' them in the 'verse, but Kale Galway is most definitely one of 'em."

Vincent sneered, "Is that so?  Not many petty thieves these days tend to be 'good men'.  It seems he has done quite the number on you however."  He straightened his papers again.  "That is all." he said briskly.  And the armed man at the door gestured for Geoff to follow him out.

Geoff stood up and followed walked to the door to follow the man out. Before he left though, he paused at the door and looked over his shoulder to Vincent. "....I'll thank ya not ta speak that way o' the captain. I don't take kindly to it, ya see. The man gave me a chance when very few would. So I owe him a bit. So...keep a civil tongue when ya speak of him or I might just get angry.....", he said simply and walked out after the guard.

The guard led Geoff back into the holding cell, eyeing him somewhat nervously as he towered over the smaller man.  He looked down at his paper and read, "Ms. Charlene Bourdain."

Charlie's head popped up when she heard her name spoken, looking back at the guard...and Geoff was back, not cuffed and looking especially as smug as he always did.  They weren't processing people or anything like that...they were talking.  Just talking, they'll probably say.

She stood up, brushing her arm against Kale as she passed him, making eye contact with him for a moment as she walked off with the guard.

Kale tried to offer Charlie a comforting smile as she made her way out of the room but found it a lot more dificult then usual.  He didn't feel comfortable, truth be known he was crawling out of his skin.  There was nothing he couldn't stand more then the Alliance, and nothing he feared more then losing his ship and his crew ... looked like it just wasn't his day.

Vincent looked up as Charlene stepped into the interregation room. "Why don't you take a seat." he said, motioning the chair opposite him, "No feet on the table." he added.  Watching her closely as she sat down, then he leaned forward, his arms resting on the table.  "So you're the mechanic I take it.  Not many woman in your profession - especially on freighters like the one which we just confiscated.  You do the maintainence yourself?" he asked with raised brows.

"I...thanks."  Charlie sat in the chair, pulling up her legs in front of her, wrapping her arms around her shins as she looked back at Vincent.  She felt tiny in this room, and without anything that needed to be fixed here, she felt almost completely helpless.

"I'm fixin' the ship, yeah.  It's what I'm always doin'.  You think you're seein' someone else who'd be able to fix a ship?"  She shook her head, watching her knees as she spoke.  "So what if I'm a woman..."

Vincent nodded and smirked slightly, he highly doubted the small woman before him did all the mechanical work on board the ship but he'd allow her to entertain her illusions.

"How long have you been aboard the vessel?" he asked.

"I, ah...it's been goin' on two years, I think.  I'm one of th'original crew hired by the Cap'n, along with Rhaef."  She let go of her legs for a long enough moment to scratch the back of her neck, going right back to holding them against her chest.

Vincent raised his eye brows, "So you were there when Kale Galway stole the vessle?  Did you have a part in it or was this his own endevor?  Be honest." he could tell from the way the woman was shifting that she was nervous ... good, he thought.

"What?  No, no, Cap'n didn't steal nothin'."  Charlie shook her head, looking at Vincent finally.  "He bought it square and hired me next planet he hit, seein' as how he couldn't get it off Whitefall without so much's my help.  I'm bein' honest, y'know."

"Yes - it appears you all seem to have a high opinion of your noble Captain." he looked up at her, "And what of the fugitive?" he said nothing more, leaving it up to the woman as to what she'd say.  Typically the nervous ones always divulged more when you left them to their own devices.

"The...you mean Kyron?"  Charlie watched Vincent, a bit curious at first, the gravity of things slowly seeping into her head.  Charlie watched Vincent for a moment, looking back at her legs.  "I didn't do nothin'.  Nobody did nothin'.  That...that ben tian sheng de yi dui rou doesn't deserve nothin' more than bein' locked up.  He tried to steal Destiny right out from under us, y'know?  Sent us all off t'die, y'know..."

"Tried to steal the ship and sent you all of to die?  Is that right?  How did he end up tied up in the air lock then with a bullet wound?" Vincent asked, watching the woman very closely now.

"Well, not all'f us.  He was holdin' Ren and Acacia, makin' them fly the boat out to wherever he wanted to be goin'.  He'd locked me in the Engine Room, thinkin' I couldn't get out or nothin'.  Wei-Li let me out...the one you've got in your hospital n'all.  He'd thrown the rest out in a shuttle n'all, y'know?"  She sighed, closing her eyes.

Ren pulled Acacial closer trying to both comfort and protect her.  He rested his head next to her's and watched the door.

There was nothing to say, even if they were allowed to talk.

Kendra sits with her legs crossed on the hard and uncomfortable chair. the top foot moves back and forth impatiently. Her arms are crossed and she sighs quietly but often.

"...I see..." Vincent said, nodding his head.  Not exactly liking all the stories he was getting out of this crew of miscreants.  "I believe that is all"  He looked back at his papers and allowed the guard to escort the girl out.

The man lead Charlie back into the detention cell.

The guard looked down at his paper, then into the room, then back at his paper again before stepping out for a moment.  A different man came back and called out, "Amber Wheat.  If you would come with me please."

Kale looked around.  Amber Wheat?  Who the hell was Amber Wheat?  There wasn't anyone he didn't know in the room.

Kendra instinctively looks up at the sound of her name, She looks down again quickly, hoping tthe man did not notice this. Panic sets in, inside she's trembling. She then looks up and around as if to see who this Amber Wheat person is? She looks over at Kale and gives him a quizzicle(sp??) look and shrugs.

Ren looks at the man and has to keep from laughing.

'Amber Wheat??' he thinks to himself.   "I think someone's seriously messing with us now... he mutters.

'This has got to be a joke.'
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:31, Thu 02 Feb 2006.

The man glances around the room and notices the blonde woman look up in panic then around.  "Amber." he says now looking directly at her, "Let's go." he says.

Amber looks away, and back, her shoulders sag in defeat. Who was I kiddling, she thinks. This is the alliance. Slowly she stands up, tall and straight eyes forward and walks toward the man who called out her name.

Ren stares in disbelief and then looks from Kendra to Kale.  He mouths the name Amber with a very confused look on his face.

He looks around almost like he's trying to figure out who else isn't who he thought they were

The guard escorts Amber down the grey hallway and into a small room, this ones different from the one that the others had been taken to however.  She's told to sit and a man in Alliance military garb walks into the small room.

"Ah, Amber Wheat.  Well isn't this a surpise." he sneered, he hadn't expected to see her again.  Most soldiers who went AWOL were smart enough not to end up in Alliance hands.  He specifically remembered Amber however, always defiant - had a real problem with authority.  He was only too happy to see her under Alliance control again.

Amber sits down, both feet planted on the ground, hands folded in front of her and she stares straight ahead, and does not acknowledge the guards comment.

"Ah, as insobordinate as ever." he commented, "However, you will answer my questions and you will answer them promptly an with respect. How did you come to be on board the stolen vessel?"

"Sir,she says curtly, I paid the usual fair to aboard this ship just as any of the other passengers did to take me to The Georgia System. Sir

The man behind the desk nodded, as he read through her file.  "And how long have you been on board?" He asked, not looking up at Amber.

"About three months, sir"

He nods, giving her a knowing look.  "Three months is an awfully long time to get to the Georgia system... would you care to try again?"

Sir, it feels like it's been three months, I believe that it has been approximately one, maybe one and a half months."

He looks at her over his papers for a moment and then shakes his head.  "And what was your invovlement with the fellon Dutton?"

He looks at her, watching her reaction, trying to catch her in the lie the others had been telling.

Sir I tried to keep my distance. He was never very friendly and I defenately had no involvement with him" She grimices as she voices this.

He nods.  "Then tell me Wheat, what happened onboard? How was Datton Cord involved with the ship and what transpired onboard that left three people shot?"

"Sir, I don't know as I was forced at gunpoint by Kyron er.. ah Dutton with the others to board Shuttle number 2. I don't think our return was expected. When we returned people had gotten shot, trying to remove the threat and rescue us."

He looked at her and shook his head.  It was obvious that they'd disccused their story once they were given their landing co-ordinates.

He looked at her.  "How many of them knew your .. status?"

"Please remember that you are facing court martial charges.  Any co-operation here will be taken into consideration."
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:58, Thu 02 Feb 2006.

"Nobody knew, sir"She states in a slightly lower tone, almost remorseful.

"And a fellon managed to get the drop on you.. it would seem that you're not only AWOL, but you didn't really pay attention in training, did you soldier?"

He gives her a very dour look.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 07:11, Thu 02 Feb 2006.

Amber tightens her lips together at the insult, nostrils flairing "No comment"

He signals two guards to enter the room.

"Amber Wheat you are hereby ordered to be bound by law until such a time as a court martial can be conviened.  You are charged with desertion, and treason."

He gave a bored nod to the guards and a dismissive wave to Amber.

The guards signaled Amber to stand and placed cuffs on her wrists, then nodded towards the door.  "Ma'am."


As the left the room he called out, "Next!"

"Yes, I may be guilty of desertion but NOT treason, I have done nothing wrong in that regard" Amber yells, struggling a bit as the guards grab her cuffed arms and escort her towards the door. She turns her head around as she exits "I saw what you were doing to those people, and children, I wonder how you can sleep at night!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:05, Fri 03 Feb 2006.

The guard stepped back into the holding cell but he did not bring Kendra back with him like he had the others.  He looked down at his paper and read off, "Doctor Acacia Keese." and looked up expectantly.

Acacia looked up at her name, she smiled at Ren she squeezed his hand.  She then  stood quietly and walked over to the man.  That would be me, She said looking the man steadily in the eye.

"Ah, yes, well follow me." he escorted Acacia down the grey hallways into the small interogation room.  Vincent looked up and smiled.  "Dr. Keese, why don't you take a seat - I have a few questions for you."  He waited for the small woman to sit and then looked at her.  "Rather unusual for a vessle of this kind to have a full fledge, core trained doctor on board.  You want to tell me why you choose to take up as part of this wayward crew?"

I felt that there were more then enough doctors in the core.  I had headed out to border planets and beyond where doctors are scarce.  I wanted to be able to help people on a lot of planets.  I had helped out the captain when he had a hurt crew member.  He offered me a stocked infirmary, plus I've been able to help all sorts of people on the planets we've landed on.   She answered evenly and expressionless.  Her thoughts were a turmoil inside.

Vincent nodded, "Is that so, a regular martyr, give up a life of wealth to help the poor border worlds and a crew of criminals.  I wonder if you were aware of the nature of the crews activities - cannot see how you could not be.  Dingo class frieghters are ideal for their kind of work.  Stolen vessle and fugitive on board is not even surprising to me.  Why don't you tell me about your involvment in the events concerning Datton Corg."

Who? Acacia had never heard the name before.

"Don't play dumb, the rest of your crew has already acknowledged that they did indeed know about Datton Corg, the man tied up in your airlock when Alliance officials boarded."

Oh, I had only heard his name as Kyron,  I'm sorry I wasn't trying to play dumb, sometimes I'm not told everything.  Well it started I was eating some lunch, and the captain called a bunch of people on the bridge.  He snuck up behind me and put a gun to my head.  It is one of the worst experiences of my life.  He shot Rheaf and using me as a hostage loaded eveyone up in the shuttle and made them take off.  Then he tried to use me as leverage to make Ren take him to somewhere I can't remember.  Then Charlie helped out by shooting Kyron to save me.    She started crying softly.

The man rolled his eyes and sighed as Acacia started crying.  'i>Waterworks</i>,' he thought to himself.

He looked over his notes and handed Acacia a tissue.

"Very nice.. very convincing... " he said in a monotone under his breath.

"And 'Ren' would be... he paused looking over his notes. "Reiner Harrison?... Charlie... Charlene Bourdain?"

He looked up at her. "See-- this is where I start to have problems...You're a core trained Physician, but judging by what I've seen and heard of Corg's injuries... you did an amazingly bad job of treating him."

That is cause I didn't get to treat him.   Acacia said flatly.

"And this would have been the decision of the wonderful Captain Kale Galway you all speak so highly of?  Leave a man to bleed to death in your air lock?  Did you know that you were on a stolen ship?  The Captain Kalway was nothing but a thief?" Vincent leaned forward watching her intently.

No, that was my choice.  I was and am scared of that man.  I thought he was going to kill me.  The captain has saved my life, and is a good man, I would thank you kindly not speak so highly of him.  Your precious alliance was the death of my ENTIRE family and my brother believed in you, and you made him fight his only brother.  If you were do great I wouldn't have to go out to the rim to help people, I wouldn't have to. So ya know what I'm done talking to you Her hands are shaking she is so mad.

He looks at her, a satisifed smile crossing his face.  "Now we get to the heart of it... "

"Thank you Dr. Keese, your outburst explains quite a bit.  It would seem that you travel with this band of theives because you get satisfaction out of thumbing your nose at the law... "

He looks at her, his smile broadening.

Whatever I told you I'm done with you.  Quite frankly you can think whatever you want of me.  I'm done talking though   She said not batting an eye.

"On the contrary, I am done speaking with you Dr. Keese.  Lead her out." he said firmly.  The guard escorted Acacia back to the room.

"Reiner Harrison." he called out.

Acacia smiled, smugly at the bastard.  He had nothing to stand on, so he had to say what he did. But she felt she got the better of him.  She sat down and let her emotions break, thinking about her past had really upset her she began to sob quietly.

Ren ignored the man calling his name, moving rather to hold Acacia as she cried.  He stroked her back and kissed her on top of the head, trying to make sure she knew he was there.

"Its okay Red... "

The guard scowled, "Mr. Harrison!  We do not have all day."

Ren snarled at them.  "I'll be there in a minute," he said, then turned back to Acacia.

"Everythings going to be all right," he told her, holding her tighter, and resting his head against hers.

"You hear me?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:27, Fri 03 Feb 2006.

I'm fine, just bad memories, you go ahead I don't want to lose you to prison Acacia said trying to force a smile.

"No, you will come now." the guard says angrily, "You are in no position to be telling us what you will and will not do, listen to the lady."

Ren looks at her and gives her a gentle loving smile, and kissed her again.  "It'll be over soon enough... you just hang on.  Okay?"

He gets up, still looking at Acacia.  He gives her a gentle nod, and then leaves as directed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:26, Fri 03 Feb 2006.

The guard leads Ren down the hall and into the interrogation room, "This ones been causing a bit of problems." he said to Vincent and stepped out of the room.

"Problems?" Vincent raised an eyebrow.  "I assure you, it would be in your best interest to cooporate."  He looked down at his paper.  "You are the pilot I see, and how long have you been with the ship?"

"That depends sir.  What did you do to the doctor?"  While Ren is controlling his anger, he isn't doing anything to hide it.

"What?" Vincent said, his brow wrinkling then it dawned on him that he was concerned about the red head who had just left.  "Ah, you mean old water works.  I did nothing.  Answer the question."

"Water Works?  You got her shaking so bad in there.  She says its bad memories, that means you've got reliving what that Da xiang  bao zha shi de la du zi- did to us."

His tone is tense, and his eyes have narrowed some as he talks to Vincent.

"You got a job to do, I understand that, but that woman deserves nothing but respect.  You think you know everything, you don't know jack.  If you did, you'd be pinning a medal on that woman rather than belittling her."

"So you tell me, what you said to set her off, and I'll co-operate.  Answer anything you want."




Da xiang  bao zha shi de la du zi- The explosive diarrhea of an elephant!

Vincent narrowed his eyes at the man. "You will refrain from telling me what to do and answer my very simple question.  How long have you been on the ship?"  Vincent was not about to take some petty theif ordering him around.

Ren tilted his head slightly.  "A year.

"What did you say to her?"

Vincent ignored the mans question.  "And in that time how often would you say the life of you and the crew were put into danger by your Captain?"

Ren sighed.  "The Captain, never.  He's a good man.  Circumstances put us in danger... life puts us in danger.."

"You never know when someones' going to slip in and press the muzzle of a gun to your temple. You never know how you're going to react to seeing someone you love completely lose it."

"You never know how you're going to feel about the hou zi de pi gu that did it to her."




hou zi de pi gu- Monkeys butt.

Vincent frowned, the opinion they all had of this Kale Galway fellow was awfully high considering the mess he had just landed them all in.

"You seem awfully concerned about the doctor, care to explain the nature of your relationship?"

Ren smiled slightly since the man was at least asking about the Doc.

"She's a rare woman," he answerd.  "She could have any job she wants... and she's out heping people that need her... "

"How can you not appreciate that?"

"One does wonder." Vincent commented wryly.  "So you were in charge of flying the ship, where was it that Datton Corg wished to go?"

Ren's jaw clenched reflexively at the mention of Kyron's name.  His expression grew grim as he remembered Corg's words, and the gun pressed to Acacia's temple.

"Beaumonde."

Vincent nodded and wrote on his pad of paper once more.  "And you were there when Datton was shot were you not?  What happened then?"

Ren nodded grimmly.  "Two shots... he shot the passenger, Wei-li... Charlie.. " he sighs, knowing how hard what had happened had effected her.  He should have been there for her.

"She shot him--  Acacia went to help Wei-Li.. I took the gun from Charile... "  He shakes his head.  "It was bad... as bad as it gets."

"Acacia needed to get the girl to the infirmary.  We couldn't do anything until we secured Kyron.  He'd already shot Rhaef, tried to kill the others... I couldn't let him do that to Acacia again.  So I K.O'd him... trussed him up and put him in the one secure room on the ship."

"I see, and the Captain, is it common for him to take on fugitives?  He put you and the rest of your crew in quite a lot of danger.  You harbor no ill will that he endangered teh pretty doctor?  Not to mention got you caught by the law for traveling on a stolen ship."

Ren looks at him in disbelief.  "Unlike you, we can't afford to do full background checks on everyone who books passage..."

"Kyron.. your man Corg put us in danger.  Your alert on the cortex is what set him off.  I don't go blaming you for his actions, and he was running from you.  Why should I blame Kale?  His life was in as much danger of any of us."

"You go into the black, your life's in danger, anybody tell you different, they're an accident waiting to happen."

He sighs and shakes his head.  "You don't get it do you?"

"Kale bought that ship, and he bought it in good faith.  You want to crucify someone, find the Liu kou shui de biao zi he hou zi de ben er zi what sold it to him."



Liu kou shui de biao zi he hou zi de ben er zi- Stupid son of a drooling whore and a monkey.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:34, Fri 03 Feb 2006.

Vincent looked quite taken aback for a few moments.  "Yes, well, we are merely trying to get all of the information Mr. Harrison." he frowned then, the crew had quite an attitude when it came to the Captain.  "You are excused."  The guard waited for Ren to get up and then led him back to the holding cell.

"Kale Galway."

Red nodded and stood, following the guard back to the cell.  He was almost amused at the way the guard watched him: like he'd run away while the others were still here.

Once the door was open he immdeately moved back to Acacia, and smiled at her.  "See.. I behaved."

Kale was sitting with his elbows resting on his knees, he looked up when he finally heard his name called.  "'Bout gorram time ya stopped antagonizin' my crew an' got ta askin' me." Kale said, standing up.  He offered what he hoped was a comforting look to his crew and went to follow the man.  His mind racing - wondering what exactly the Alliance had on him.

The guard ushered him into a room and closed the door behind him.

Vincent sat at the desk, going over his files and making notes from his convesation with Harrison.  He looked up and nodded.

"Finally, the Captain himself," he said.  "Take a seat."

Kale calmly sat opposite the man, placing his hands on the table in front of him, "Ya know yer makin' a mistake." he said, looking evenly at the Alliance official.  "I didn't steal my ship."

Vincent looked at Kale and raised an eyebrow.  "Well, you're riding in a stolen ship, calling said ship your own.. its an easy mistake to make.. seeing as how you're in posession of a a stolen Dingo class freighter."

Kale shook his head, "If you'd look at my paper work, you'll see that I bought my ship fair and square.  I worked fer the money ta buy her back on Santo.  Ain't never even been ta Orisis before now - don't imagine how I coulda stole her off this rock."  He didn't much like the way the man insinuated he was some criminal ... I mean, perhaps his work wasn't the most honest, but he'd never steal his ship.  He loved Destiny and it was his.

Vincent looked at Kale for a long while.  "Mr. Galway," he said, emphasising the 'Mr.'.  "I deal all the time with forged documents, and people, like yourself, who are as innocent as a snowflake... or a puppy. "

He shakes his head.  "Excuse me if I seem a bit jaded."

His expression indicated that he didn't really care what Kale said or thought.

"Look at it from our standpoint.  You arrive with a known fellon.. injured, and wrapped up like a Chrismas pressent... in a stolen ship and a crew of... "

He looked at the pile of files he had on the crew.  "Misfits, who seem to think you walk on water..

"Its all a little too practiced, a little too smooth,
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:27, Fri 03 Feb 2006.

Kale frowned, this was not going to go well, he could tell the man wasn't even listening to a word he said. "My crew are some of the finest people you'll ever meet out in the 'verse, so I'd thank ya kindly ta be leavin' them outta it.   As to yer cuddly felon, it ain't really my concern that you can't keep yer crooks under control, 'cept when they come wanderin' onta my ship.  Then they're in my territory.  I think you should be thankin' us fer returnin' him to ya.  'Stead of questionin' us and bein' all suspicious like."

Vincent listened to Kale's tirade and sighed.  "Mr. Galway, Datton Cord is only part of the problem with this whole thing...You took a known fellon on your ship.  Had you not done this, he never would have been a problem for you and yours."

He sighs.  "But you took him on, gave him passage.  We have no record of ID check requests from the Sparkler, no record of filed flight plans etc.  The Ident numbers have always been those of the Sparkler so.. you're either too dumb to change Idents when you steal a ship.. or you're clever enough to try and say you bought it..."

He waves off any comment Kale may have at this point.  "It is up to me to determine exactly what happened here, and from what I've seen of your crew... "

He picks up the first folder.  "You 'freindly' Pilot, from Paquin... with a family well known with the local authorites there..

He points to the others.  "A Core trained doctor that seems to harbor some rather subversive feeligns towards the allince... a slip of a girl pretending to by a mechanic.. a military diserter and a 'PR' man that has hired gun all but tattooed to his forehead.. so yes... I'm looking at your crew.  You can tell a lot about a man by the company he keeps... "

"So, rather than telling me who not to talk to and proclaiming your innocnecne here, help me.. help me understand what's happened... answer my questions..."

"How long have you 'owned' the Sparkler?"

Kale cringed slightly at the name 'The Sparkler', and sighed heavily.  There really was not much that he could do but cooperate with the man.  He knew he was innocent - now he just had to convince the Alliance hun dun's.  Which did not promise to be an easy endevor.

"I bought Destiny back on Santo two years ago.  Man in New Lorin sold it ta me.  You've got the paperwork.  It was a fair transaction -" suddenly Kale had a thought, the man on Santo - he must have been the theif, sold him a gorram stolen ship.  "Do you have anythin' on Georgio Norton, man that sold Destiny ta me?  He might be yer man." Kale said leaning forward.

Vincent schooled his expression.  This was where the perp usually tried to help him with his investigation and Kale was sitting there 'suggesting' where they should take the investigation..

"Mr. Galway, the documents are currently being reviewed, and once they are reviewed they shall be investigated accordingly."

"So.. you've been on The Sparkler for 2 years... In that time you've had how many crew changes?  How many other criminal elements on board.. other than the ones we know of.  I'm speaking of the deserter, and the fellon?"

Kale leaned forward, "One." he said simply, "Surprise ya?  Didn't think a common crook like me could hold onta a crew that long?  Had an old public relations officer.  Sheila Kavin.  Difference of opinions and she went her way an' I went mine."

Kale looked hard at the man, "As to taken on criminals I do not make it a habit ta put me an' my own inta harms way.  It was unknown ta me that those two were anything but what they said they were.  Perhaps, I'm too trustin', we just had a bad spell of luck lately, looks like ta me.  'Side's they was both passengers, not my crew.  We was just takin' 'em ta where they needed ta be gettin'.  Honest work.  Just tryin' to get by."

"Mr. Galway, I think you are many things, but I sincerly doubt that 'common' could be justly applied to any of them."

He studied Kale for a very long time.  "There's just one other thing I don't understand... with the whole Datton Corg incident, he stated finally.

"After everything eveyone says happened...After everything he did... why didn't you space him?"

Kale looked at him levely, "Because I'm not a murderer." he replied.

Vincent sat calmly but he was moved slightly by the conviction in the mans voice.  The fact that he had not killed Datton Corg - despite the fact that the fellon had tried to kill his entire crew - coupled with the fact that there had been a murder when the Sparkler was stolen made Vincent slightly suspicous.  This Kale Galway, although not the most favorable of characters did not strike him as a murderer.  Perhaps he would have to look more closely into the documents concerning the ships purchase.  "That is all Mr. Galway." he said.  "You and your crew will be held in custody until what time I can finish the investigation and see to the verdict."

The guard motioned for Kale to follow and led him back to the holding cell.

Kale entered the small holding cell where the rest of his crew was seated and sat down as well.  The guard didn't say anything more to them.  Just shut the door, and Kale could here the quiet click of the magnetic lock.  Kale sighed heavily then.  He was sure there was a guard at the door, and probably camera's and voice recording equipment in the room.  He felt awful, he felt frustrated, he felt like he had let his entire crew down.  He looked around at all of them.  "I'm sorry 'bout all this." he said, "Really, I am."

Geoff had been sitting down with his eyes closed and his head resting against a wall when everybody else went to go be interviewed. He didn't look up or talk at all about anything at all. He just sat quietly. He didn't look to be bothered by their situation at all, though. If anything, he looked rather relaxed. When the captain walked in and spoke an apology, Geoff finally opened his eyes and fixed the captain with a lazy and amused smile.

"Sorry? Ain't no need ta be sorry, Cap'n. Hell, this is like a little vacation. Can't ya tell by the luxury we're surrounded with? Like a goram resort suite somewhere.", he said and laughed lightly before looking a bit more seriously to the captain and shrugging,"But, ruttin' screw it, Cap'n. Ain't like ya had any control over any o' this. Ain't no reason ta be sorry 'tween all o' us anyway. We're part o' the same crew. Makes us like family...heh...right?"

"Cap'n, no one's blaming ya.  Even if on, y'know, some fluke of a chance y'did steal Destiny...you've surely made up for it'n blood and work by now."  Charlie managed a smile, her legs tucked up against her chest, arms around her legs.  It was cold, and she was doing her best not to cry again.  There had been more than enough of that from her over the past week.

"So...what's gonna happen to us?  I mean, if they decide that we're all sorts'f disreputable folks, they're not just gonna turn us loose, right?"

"Boss, sounds to me like you've been listening to the Luh Suh that interrigator was dishing out."

"You're guilty of buying a ship.  If it was stolen, you weren't the one who did it."



* Garbage
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:04, Mon 06 Feb 2006.

Kale smiled at his crew, but it was half-hearted and they all knew it even though Kale tried to make it as genuine as possible.  They were all right - they were family, he hadn't stolen his ship, and he had earned it.  But that seemed of very little importance in light of their current situation.

He looked at Charlie, her question was just what he himself had been thinking, what were they going to do with them?  If they found some way to make these charges stick would they really throw the whole crew in jail.  "Hopefully they'll see reason ... if not, well I'm thinkin' ya'll be let go.  They really only got grounds ta hold me.  An' it ain't too solid ground at that."

"Cap'n, I'm not meanin' to sound paranoid."  Charlie lowered her voice, leaning forward a little as she spoke.  "Regardless of whether he's bein' thought of as some kinda criminal'n such, y'think that it's gonna come up that I shot someone?  He's gonna tell'm that, y'know..."

Geoff shook his head and scoffed at the captain's words. "No ruttin' way they should take ya in, Cap'n. Ya wouldn't steal that ship. I mean, I may not have been on the ship a long time, but even I can see how much ya love that boat. No man has that much love fer somethin' they stole. That only comes ta somethin' they earn with blood and sweat.", he said and then grinned,"And, if they do decide ta take ya in, they're gonna hafta be takin' me too. Ain't lettin' ya get locked up without someone ta watch yer back..."

He then looked over to Charlie and shrugged at her question with a grin. "But ya shot him in self defense. Won't mean nothin' bad on ya. I should know. That there claim o' self defense has saved my ruttin' ass more times than one...", he remarked lightly.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:17, Mon 06 Feb 2006.

Ren kissed Acacia on top of the head then looked at Charlie.

"You listen to me little bear," he said.

"You save Acacia's life.  You did something.. I didn't have the guts to do.. and I wish to god I had.  Would have save us all a lot of heart ache.. but.."

He looks at Acacia, and then back at Charlie.  "I coudn't... You did what I couldn't.. it was you Charlie, I wish I could have but... "

Then he looked at everyone.  "I couldn't.. I couldn't let him hurt... " he closed his eyes.

"I chose keeping Acacia alive... I would have gotten us all killed if it weren't for you Charlie."

"Ain't no one gonna be takin' ya anywhere, lil' Charlie, so don't you worry.  None of us would let 'em.  'Sides, Geoff's right, it was self defense.  I'm not thinkin' that they're gonna be takin' Kyron's side 'a nothin'." the name felt awful to even utter.  Kale was almost wishing that he had had the gall to space the hun dun.  Now he might talk - and he'd been on the ship long enough ta know some interestin' stuff.  'Course, given his situation the odds that he'd be believed were pretty low, but ya never knew.

Kale was touched by Geoff's loyalty to him, willing to take a fall with him even it if it was for no reason at all.  He shook his head however, "If'n they do take me in yer gonna have yer hands full with all the rest, I ain't needin' someone watchin' my back, I'd rather make sure yer all alrigh'"

Then Ren spoke up and Kale fixed him with a meaningful look.  He had known from the get go that the recent sequence of events had really hit hard for the usually upbeat pilot.  "You done good Ren, ain't no one expectin' anything more of ya.  You kept Acacia alive an' I wouldn't have asked ya to do nothin' more."

Ren hugged Acacia a little tighter and smiled saddly.  "Except for the part where I got Rhaef shot...."  He said wit a wry smile.

He looked at them all and swallowed, trying to get up the courange to say something, but realizing this was the wrong time.

As the silence continues, Ren could all but feel Acacia's sadness and tension.  He held her tigher as if he could block whatever was hurting her so much, but he knew it was inside her... something he couldn't remove or undo.  He wished there was something to take her mind off of whatever it was that was bothering her.

If they were on the ship, he would have taken her to his quarters... or Kyoko's shuttle.  Here he could only hold her...

He rocked her gently wishing there was something he could say or do...

He closed his eyes, realizng what he could do.  He kissed her forehead gently and then looked at the others.

"I was waiting for the right time to bring this up... and that's never going to happen so...

He looked down at Acacia, love shining in his eyes.  Then he looked at the others, not bothering to hide the look.

"Acacia and I.. that is.. I... we.. "

He sighed then tried again.  "Boss, I know you got a rule against crew dating crew but... "

He looked at Acacia and then back at Kale.  "Uhm... I think I've broken that rule.... big time
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:36, Thu 09 Feb 2006.

Kale for a moment debated on holding a grim and serious expression, but he couldn't do it.  A smile spread across his face as Ren finally confessed that he and Acacia were together.  The grin became a laugh as he looked at Charlie, then Geoff, then back to the couple.  "Well, ruttin' hell, it's 'bout gorram time you got that off yer chest." he chuckled again, glad for the moment of happiness in the midst of this whole mess.  When Kale had first discovered that the two of them were dating in secret he had been concerned.  But watching them he knew that it was love, and who was he to stand in the way of that.

Ren stopped, and actually did a double take.  Then he shook his head in disbelief.

"You knew?"

Then he looked at the others almost in desperation.

"You all.. knew?"

He wasn't sure if he was happy, relieved or disappointed that the big secret that had been tearing him appart and putting a wedge between him and Acacia... wasn't a secret at all.

Geoff had to laugh lightly and shake his head to Ren's shock at their knowledge of his relationship with the doc. Sure, he hadn't known at the beginning, but, after the whole thing with Kyron, how could he not have known? "Ruttin' hell, Ren. I've only been here 'bout a month and even I knew. 'Specially after all o' that with that bastard Kyron. I mean, c'mon, ya ain't exactly a master o' subtlety and secrecy...", he said with a light grin,"But, even then, I think it's great fer ya. At least one o' us should be gettin' ta have some fun on the ship that don't incvolve fighting or stealin'. Plus, now, I think I have a free pass ta be tryin' my luck with whatever passenger we pick up now. I'd been barred from that, but now I think ya done opened the way!"

Kale laughed again at Ren's obvious shock that they had all known.  But Geoff was right, there was no way anyone could have been on the ship with the two of them and not realized that they were together.  "It was a bit obvious, Ren." Kale said good naturdly, then he narrowed his eyes slightly at Geoff - still smiling however.  "Ah, now look what you gone done.  Now there'll be no controlin' that one." he laughed, and it felt good to laugh.  This here was his family, they needed to get back there home.

Acacia looked at Ren, I told you  She said.  Then laid her head on his shoulder.  You are easy to read She said quietly.

Ren sighed.  "Looks like it was a secret in my own mind," he said looking at the others.

"Remind me not to play cards with you guys... ever."

So, captain when we get the ship back can me and Ren share a bunk? Acacia asks.  She doesn't raise her head up.  Even in a jail cell this was nice.

Kale paused, encouraged by Acacia's phrasing of the question.  Not 'if we get the ship back' but 'when'.  He wished he could be so optimistic, but he just didn't have it in him.

He found it odd that it was his crew that was giving him hope now.

He smiled.  "We get the ship back... I'll even help you move.

Charlie smiled lightly at Ren and Acacia.  They'd been through more than their share, and if they were about to spend some time in this cell, it was definitely time that they didn't have to hide what they had become of.  Not that it had become anything even resembling a secret, but it still was nice to see love in the world.  She sighed, feeling a bit alone in the room...not that she had anyone, or did anymore, but it would be nice.  Those were things long since past, though.  She rested her head on her knees, looking back out of the bars.

"Ya figure that Rhaef's gettin' treated well?  'n Wei-Li too?"

Acacia ran and hugged Kale, then realizing what she did jumped back Sorry captain,   She jumped back quickly, Thanks She said and ran back to Ren.  She looked at him ahouls have tol d sooner, this is nicer She said then kissed him.

Geoff grinned lightly to the captain wen he said that he wouldn't be able to be controlled now that Ren and Acacia had paved the way for him. In truth, there was probably very little the captain could have done to control that aspect of Geoff. The captain could tell him not to engage in relations with crew or passengers, but what Geoff was told to do and what he would do were two different matters altogether. Geoff is a man of few wants and needs and that would be one big one right there...

Geoff looked to Charlie as she asked about Rhaef and Wei-li and part of him felt bad for her. She didn't exactly look to be in the best of spirits at the moment. Not that he could blame her for not being all that happy with the situation. They were technically under arrest and separated from the only place any of them consider home at this point. But Charlie had been pretty down ever since the events with Kyron. That was something Geoff couldn't understand. Couldn't understand feeling bad about shooting a bastard like that like Charlie did. He guessed that probably made her a better person than him, but that wasn't exactly a surprise either.

In any case, such thoughts weren't the kind that Geoff usually shared so he just smiled lightly to her and nodded. "Sure, they are, Charlie. They're probably gettin' all fixed up and everythin'. I mean, yeah, they ain't enjoyin' the same luxurious suite we are, but hey, guess we're just lucky like that, ain't we?", he said with a light laugh.

Charlie managed a bit of a smirk, her eyes flitting back to Geoff.  "Mmm...I'm sure.  I'm thinkin' we need to call room service, we're runnin' out of clean towels'n stuff, y'know?"  She let out a sigh, blowing a lock of hair out of her face.  There were really two options at this point.  One was to be down on herself and feel horrible about the turn that life has taken.  The other would be to simply think about something else.

"I'd ask ya what's gotcha so calm n'all, but I'm guessin' I could be answerin' that m'self."  Charlie tucked a dark lock away from her face, speaking with a half-hearted smile.  "Not the first time ya've been in a cell, right?"

Geoff had to laugh sheepishly and smile rather knowingly at her question. "Me? In a cell before? That's crazy talk, Charlie. Crazy. Almost downright insultin'.", he said with mock hurt in his voice before grinning wryly,"'Sides, they were more liike cages or holds than actual cells. One time it was a pretty big crate, but that was only fer a little while when I got a bit too drunk fer my own good..."

He then shrugs as he chuckles a bit at that. "But, ya know, truth be told, I ain't never too nervous 'bout stuff like this. Gotta be calm 'bout it in the line o' business we're in. Take everythin' in stride and don't let nothin' shake ya, dong ma?", he said and smiled warmly as he gestured around,"Not ta mention there ain't any other people I'd want ta be locked up with more than all of ya. Makes it feel like home..."

There's finally a real smile when she hears his last comment, closing her eyes for a moment.  "You remember what I toldja 'bout family, don'cha?  I mean, nothin' word fer word, that's not how I'm rememberin' things...but, y'know, nontheless."  She lifts her head up finally, setting her feet down on the ground for a change, stretching out her arms.  "I just...y'know, this isn't what I'm usually doin', anythin' of th'sorts.  I'm used t'spendin' most'f my time in th'ship.  Any time I'm not in the ship, goin' back's always an option that I can take, no matter the spout'f trouble we'd be finding ourselves in n'all."

Charlie traces a line along the bench she's sitting on, looking down at her finger, leaving a little bit of oil that's still sticking to her finger.  "I'm just...y'know, Destiny's like family.  I miss her an'all that."

Geoff smiled fondly at Charlie then ad shrugs. "Yeah, family and all o' that. Like ya said...", he said and sighed lightly,"Ya know, Charlie, now that I think 'bout it, ya really have been havin' ta go above and beyond yer duties the past couple o' times, haven't ya? Been sorta outta yer depth, I'd reckon. Heh. Too many things happenin' at once, I'd say. Remind me that we gotta get a vacation after this....or at least get good and drunk...."

He then shrugged lightly as she spoke of missing Destiny and he had to agree. He missed the ship too and that struck him as strange, having only been on the ship for a month. But he had started to think of it as home too. "Well, ya know, ya just gotta have faith that we're gonna be gettin' outta here and back ta the ship....back home. I got faith in that. I ruttin' know that we're gonna get back on Destiny eventually. Ain't no force in the 'verse gonna stop us, if'n ya ask me.",he said and smiled warmly to her,"Everythin' will turn out right shiny, Charlie. Ya'll see...."

"Y'know, call it crazy, but I'm thinkin' a drink doesn't sound like so much'f a bad idea or nothin'.  Don't be thinkin' that I'm goin' above what I do.  Ya gotta know, I keep Destiny runnin', much like Acacia does.  I mean, with Kyron'n all...I can't have him takin' my ship.  Nor can I have him killin' my crew, sendin' them out inta space n'all, throwin' them to th'death that none'f them are deservin'.  'Course, no one's deservin' death, 'less they did something straight and clean that deserves it."

"I'm...yeah, I know.  I'm supposin' that bein' around the likes of you'n Ren and th'Cap'n, I wouldn't have t'worry about any harm comin' my way.  I'm lucky like that..."

The car pulled up to the Capitol City judicial sector and stopped in front of Detention block C.  Alec was already clearing his mind of all thoughts, preparing to focus on the task at hand.  He had loved Kyoko's mother and father dearly and would do anything to support their only daughter and if she said that the crew of Destiny were innocent then he would believe her and fight to have them released.  He got out first, holding the door for Lady Monroe.  As they began walking towards the building he spoke quietly to her, "I'll begin doing the talking, if things get sticky we'll use your influence."

They approached the door and were promptly stopped by Alliance officers and searched.  They were asked for their ident numbers and were run through a basic background check before they were even allowed to step foot over the threshold.

"And what is the nature of your visit?" a very young man asked.

"I'm here to speak to someone about the recent detainment of the crew of the Dingo Class Freighter 1-1169er123-D.  I believe that they are currently being held in this block.  If I could please speak with whomever is in charge of the investigation that would be greatly appreciated, I have reason to believe that they were falsely accused."

The young man looked at him for a moment, "And you are?"

"Alec Quinlin and this is Lady Monroe."

The young officer perked up, he recongnized the name. He knew enough to know that Lady Monroe was the heir of the very sizable and prosperous not to mention vital Kyraki-Monroe Enterprise.  He leaned over and sent in their request.

'Lady' Monroe smiles thinly as she enters. Her bearing is confident, regal and with a slight undertone of impatience and menance. She let Alec do the talking for now, knowing he'd clue her in when to talk. She knew that Alec was loyal, her father's legendary judgment had left possibly the only truly honest man on Osiris to care for her massive assets. Not that she'd ever have to worry about losing them, but with Alec Quinlin at the helm of her trust, she knew it would be much smoother and without a need for her constant observation.

After a good fifteen minutes or so in which Alec and Kyoko were forced to sit and wait in the rather uncomfortable lobby and tall man with slightly greying hair stepped into the room.

"Hello Mr. Quinlin.  Lady Monroe." he said, lightly kissing her hand.  "I'm Captain Vincent Tyrgrin, why don't you follow me and we can discuss your ... issues with the recent detainment ordered." he chose his words carefully watching the pair closely, wondering what exactly they were after.

Kyoko looks at him coolly. "Captain do I look like an idiot?" she asks quietly. "Or the type of woman to openly and or unknowingly consort with a shipjacker?"

Vincent arches his eyebrow, slightly taken aback by the woman's firm and accusing questions.  "I really said nothing of the sort." he tried to keep the distaste from his voice.  "We may discuss this further inside."

He lead them down a grey hall and into a small, but very comfortable and tasteful office.  He motioned for the two of them to sit in the high backed leather chairs opposite his desk.  "So, you have a complaint against us holding the crew in detainment?  I do not wish to insult your judgement Lady Monroe, but the vessel which we took in earlier today clearly belonged to a Mr. Brently Caddigan, who reported it stolen not long before Captain Kale Galway assumed possession of it by his own accounts.  Not to mention the fact that there as a wanted fugitive on board and an Alliance deserter.  I believe that the Alliance has every right to hold the crew until our investigation into the matter is complete and then place them in jail should it prove to be true that they are indeed criminals.  Surely a respectable lady such as yourself would be pleased to see that such characters are placed behind bars and not out among the population where they could do harm."

Alec looked to Kyoko, letting her know that this was her arena and she should do the talking now.  Her name required respect while Alec's did not.  And respect was what they needed right now ... not to mention the power behind it.

"So, you assume that I AM a fool? That given my presence on the ship for several months at a time that I did not do a proper check on the ship and it's crew? I did. As Mr. Quinlin will tell you and  your men, I did an EXTENSIVE investigation of the ship, and crew, before engaging the services of Captain Galway and the Destiny. At that time, I found nothing of what you said about the Destiny to be true. Now, given who I am, what does that tell you Captain?" Kyoko says in a quiet nearly serene voice.

Vicent could barely conceal his anger at being addressed in such a way and knowing that he could really do nothing.  "Well then, perhaps you would care to share some light on the matter?  In your extensive search did you encounter why Mr. Galway's papers are forged?"

"Actually," Alec said leaning forward, "I would like to direct your search to the man whom sold Captain Galway his ship.  The name on the papers is forged.  But I managed to do some investigating and discovered that a Mr. Troy Cordell had possession of the ship before Captain Galway.  Look into the docking records of Santo and I'm sure you will find the same.  Captain Galway may have a stolen ship - but he is not the theif."

Kyoko looks to the captain, waiting for a response to Alec's question. She knew the man was doing his job, it just seemed he took things a bit personally and with far too much fever. "Alec, I imagine that we could get the issue of the deserter taken care of yes? And once this mistake with the Destiny's owner is resolved, the rest of the crew would be free to leave the planet." Kyoko stops for a second and looks back at the captain. "How much is the bond for everyone you're holding Captain? I'm sure my expenses can hold it. No need to have them cluttering your cells."

Vincent stared tersely at the two of them not liking being told where to direct his search and how to do his job.  "200 credits." he said shortly.  "And they would not be allowed to leave the planet until teh investigation is over."

"Captain, I have been.. quite nice up to this point. I could have dealt directly with your superiors as is the custom of those of my station. I am quite sure you'd have far less fun with a general or minister asking you questions on my behalf. I have tried to point out that my own initial investigations of the Destiny revealed a much different story and that you are being misled. I could have simply sent my information to your superiors, and let them take it out on you." Kyoko says in her calm aristocratic manner. "I think, if you wish me to. That there is still time for me to do just that. Is that your wish? Or would you have me send an enthusiatic letter to them, praising the stalwant and vigalant captain who was more than willing to listen to my information and avoid unnessecary and false accusations?"

Vincent frowned, he did not want this woman to go to his surperiors.  "I will let them out on parole, but I stand by that no one is allowed to leave this planet until the investigation has been finished and their names cleared - or they are found guilty." he stood up then leaving no room for discussion and turned to another officer standing by the door.  "Please escort Lady Monroe and her companion to holding sell 12534-D."

"I am quite sure Captain that if things go well and you find that my assertions are indeed true, that perhaps we can see you making Major very soon." Kyoko says as she collects herself and let's herself and Alec be led to the cell. As they walk she speaks with Alec.

"We'll put them up in my penthouse, have you started getting everything in line for a building an ID for someone if needed?"

Alec felt that that meeting had actually gone remarkably well.  He nodded to Kyoko as they made their way down the grey halls.  "I have, Lady Monroe." then he paused, "Exactly how many passengers are we now expecting, I may have to call another car."

"Make arrangements for twelve, that way we have plenty of space to pick up the others at the medical center and see about getting any assistance we might need for them set up. Will there be enough room at the building for that? I am sure we can get more rooms on the floors below." Kyoko says as she considers how to play this situation with the crew. "Additionally, I'd prefer to keep things about my standing .. quiet if it's possible."

Alec nodded as Kyoko listed off what needed to be done. "I will go do all of that right now while you gather up the crew.  And don't worry, I won't disclose your position if you wish it to remain quiet." He took his leave then to go arrange transportation.

The Alliance official stopped outside of the holding cell where Destiny's crew was being detained and unlocked the door, allowing Kyoko to step inside.

Kyoko steps into the cell with a smile. "I've gotten you all released into my custody. You'll have to wait till we can clear things up to leave Osiris but I have someplace to house everyone till my contacts can fix things."

Kale looked up as he heard footsteps outside the cell door and someone opening the magnetic lock, and in stepped Kyoko.  Kale had never been happier to see the companion in his life, he grinned and stood up, "Ah, ruttin' hell, what took ya so long?" he said in jest to her, but his look said what he could not.  Thank you.  Thank you a hundred, thousand times over.

He still didn't have his ship back, but getting out of this cell was certainly a start.  "Well, ain't that shiny." he said, looking specifically at the guard, "Looks like yer all not so certain we're low-down criminals after all, just like we was tryin' ta tell ya.  Come on guys, ya heard the lady, let's get out of here."

"Captain, discresion would be greatly appreciated. I can do a lot here, with the help of my contacts." Kyoko nods towards the departing Alec, "But it would be prudent not to antagonize the officers. Come, I've posted bond for everyone and hopefully my associates will be able to prove that your ship records are the legal copy I know them to be."

Ren gives a relieved smile to Kyoko and then stood offering Acacia a hand up.  Then he impetuously picked her up and spun her around before setting her gently on the ground.

He smiled at her, then bent to kiss her.

"Glad to see something good is coming of this. Shall we take you ring shoping Reiner?" Kyoko says with a teasing smile.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:01, Sun 12 Feb 2006.

Ren turned, startled by her comment.  He gave her his best deer in the headlights look and then looked around desperately at the others, yet there was an odd soft look in his eyes too.

Geoff stood from where he was sitting when Kyoko came to spring them from captivity. Geoff wanted to say thank you or that he appreciated the help. He wanted to say that he was sorry for acting like an ass before now that she had done him and everybody else a solid like this. He would have liked to say something like that, but, of course, there was no way in hell he was going to. He was nothing if not proud and stubborn. these were two traits that he knew were sort of stupid to be proud of, but that was the way he was and he didn't apologize for it at all.

As he looked to Kyoko, he frowned lightly as his gaze searched around and behind the companion, searching for somebody he knew should be accompanying her. Lei. Lei was nowhere to be seen and that made him nervous. If she wasn't being watched by Kyoko, he didn't know who was watching her and whether or not the people who were watching her were capable or trustworthy. This caused him a lot of worry and that showed on the expression on his face. He wanted to ask about Lei, but knew that it wouldn't do to talk about such things in the middle of this place. Better not to give away anything he didn't have to, after all. So he just stayed silent, his mind clouded with concern for Lei and worry for her safety.

Acacia gasped when Ren picked her up.  She enjoyed the kiss so much, this openess was nice.  She slid her arm around his waist.  She gave playful laugh at Kyoko's comment and Ren's reaction.  Aw Ren, remember darling, you need to breath

Kyoko meets Acacia's laugh with a gentle smile before looking to Geoff. "I told her to stay where I went, she didn't need to come. She was happily studying how to get you out when I left." she says calmly to reassure him.

Geoff is slightly surprised that he had allowed his worry to be so easily read upon his face and that she had read him so easily. He didn't like thinking that he had allowed his emotions and thoughts to be so easily guessed at by the expression upon his face. That unsettled him a bit. Still, it was good to hear those words from Kyoko. That Lei was somewhere safe and that she was okay. That was all he had wanted to hear.

He looked to the companion with a firm set to his jaw and an even expression on his face. He took a deep breath and let it out before nodding and meeting her gaze. ".....Thank you...", he said in a soft and earnest voice before dropping his gaze and moving to head out the door. That had been one of the hardest things he had had to do, but he had had to do it. She had taken care of Lei and that was something he needed to thank her for. Still, he would most likely rather take a bullet than have to say thank you to anybody again and actually mean it...

Charlie watched Geoff's exchange with Kyoko as she stood up, smiling a bit as she tucked her hair back behind her ears.  It was different to see the big man so touched, and it made her feel better.  It was good to see him feeling good without the tough man act that he usually had.  She crossed her arms, looking around the others in the cell as they began to file out, placing a hand on the cell wall and looking at it.  It wasn't the first time she'd been in a cell, but it defintely was one of the closer calls that she'd had.

"Kyoko...thank you."  Charlie looked back at the companion, smiling again.  "You're...lookin' out for th'family, y'know?  I'm just...y'know, thanks."  She speaks clearly, scratching the back of her neck for a moment.

"Someone has to fix the snafus we get into. Glad to be of help." Kyoko says as she enfolds Charlene in a hug, then takes her by the arm and leads the way out. "Let's get moving folks, I got a place for us, and we still need to check on our injured."

The crew of Destiny made there way outside the Detention center, the eyes of the Alliance officials lingering on them with distaste.  When they finally made it out  Alec was standing there with two luxury cars waiting for them.

"It's a pleasure to meet all of you." Alec said, nodding his head politely. "I suggest we all get out of here quickly before anyone changes their minds." he motioned for everyone to file into the cars.

Ren moved forward with the others, doing his best to stay with Acacia.  Now that he knew he didn't have to hide it, never mind having to... He shook his head.

The all had known... everyone of them.  He smiled as he put his arm around Acacia.  On the bright side, he could now be open about his feelings.

When they reache the cars, he followed Acacia's lead, making sure he was in the same car.

Geoff moved with the rest of the group, giving the Alliance officials who looked at them a look right back everytime he passed them. Sometimes it was a surly glare and sometimes the same cool, mocking grin he had always given Kyron, but he always met the gazes that were thrown at them either way. He wasn't going to be intimidated by a bunch of arrogant Feds who looked down on him as if he were trash.

As they are herded to the cars, Geoff looks dubiously at them. If the ship was a bit too enclosed to him, then these cars were way too close for him. Being enclosed for too long tended to irritate Geoff quite a bit. If he knew better, he would think he was a bit claustrophobic. However, not knowing what that word meant, he never thought about it.

Mild Claustrophobia or not, he knew that he had to get in the car to get where they needed to go. So he entered the car that was the most empty and waited with a bit of anxiety for them to get a move on. The sooner they got to where they were going, the sooner he got out of the car and got to make sure Lei was all right.

Kale walked alongside Kyoko as they exited the detention block, "I don't know how you did it," he said, shaking his head.  He almost said thank you - but well ... that would have been too much from him.  He wasn't at all the gentlemanly type, so instead he continued to speak in low tones, "Are you sure you got somwhere fer the crew ta stay, I hate ta be imposing.  First thing I do is gonna be ta get Destiny back if it means I have ta storm the Alliance central office myself." this was a very stupid idea in practicality, but in his head the thought of just barging in through those high security doors and blasting away seemed like the best idea he'd had in a long time.  "They got all my papers on her, seein' as how they were on the boat, ya know I didn' steal her.  Bought her fair an' square, it was the other fella, swindling hun dun."

Then Kale stepped outside and noticed the fancy cars. Most definitly Kyoko, sleek and elegant.  If it have been up to him they would have been riding horses through the posh streets of Osiris.  Probably better Kyoko had been in charge of this little escapade, she had the dignified, civilized touch that he and most of his crew lacked.  "Shiny." he said in reference to the cars, and slid in beside Geoff into the first one.

"Have a care Captain, my resources aren't infinite. YOu go getting into trouble I might have to do much to coax my sponsor to bail you out again, and I'm sure our dear jailor Captain won't like hearing from a general or the planetary representive." Kyoko says with a wry smile.

As they enter the car, a thought hits Kyoko. "If I could put you in touch with the original owner, and you do things the way I suggest, we could definitely have this situation sorted out and if that is done.. the whole shipjacking charge won't stick."

Charlie sat down in the car, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked back at the rest of thm.  "That's unless, by some strange happenin of th'sort, that he did claim that Destiny's stolen'n such.  This may be more'n a misunderstandin', y'know?"  She trailed off at the end, not feeling very comfortable saying things that negative about the ship out loud...but it was something that she felt it was important to suggest.

"Trust me.. my associate can be quite .. persuasive when it is needed. And I've been assured that to help me, there can be lots of persuasion applied. However I think we need to let him see how much the Destiny means to us. I'm sure that combined with some help from others, we'll be able to get things settled. And, if you like, we can dress you up all nice and pretty like I've been wanting to."

Kale nodded his head slightly at Kyoko's suggestion.  "Going right to the source, get him ta drop the charges ..." he said thoughtfully, "'Course, I'm not so sure I'll be able to get the time 'o say with a fancy core-worlder.  If'n we can arrange some chance ta talk with him though I can be mighty charmin' when I want ta be." Kale gave his best winning smile and looked around at the rest of his crew.

"That would require a bit more..tact than you typically use Captain Galway. Not to mention a wardrobe that will assist you in getting him to listen to you.. truly listen to you."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:56, Thu 16 Feb 2006.

Kale frowned - pouted was actually more like it and looked at the Companion. "Ah, come on now, what's wrong with the way I dress?" he dusted off the shoulders of his grey t-shirt as though it were a fancy suit and pulled his pants and holster up a bit. "An' I'm insulted ya'd even think me ta not be tactful, I got all sorts a tact ya ain't never seen.  Real gentleman-like.  An' if that doesn't work, well I always got my pistol ta get my point across nice an' clear."

Geoff smirked lightly and laughed a bit as he looked to the captain. "Well, c;mon, Cap'n. This type o' thing takes a lot o' that there tact people always talk 'bout and, no offense, but ya ain't exactly the master o' that. Which is why ya should let me talk to the fella. I clean up nice and such and I got all the tact that a person could take. Yeah, I'm full o' tact. Tact all over, ya know?", he said with a wide grin before looking about a bit and then leaning in to whisper to the captain,"Psst. Cap'n. What's 'tact' anyway? Never had the occasion ta hear 'bout it."

Kyoko's look says it all. She didn't buy it in a second. "This is about presence, presentation, charisma and diplomacy. My field. Trust me, they won't let you within 500 meters with a gun, and looking like that defeats our purpose." Kyoko pours herself a glass of water, pausing to add some ice as she sits back. "We need you to look reputable, Core-wise, to pull this off Captain. Make you look as much the agreived party as he is. We need to build a platform where your appearence and manner appeal to his sense of sympathy. Make it clear you aren't the man who robbed him. Remember, he most likely feels a bit insulted by this whole affair."

Kyoko smiles as she sips the water and gets a crafty look on her face. "Of course, we are also going to appeal to his greed a bit. He's already been compensated for his loss. I'm quite sure, the insurance for the Sparkler is quite.. impressive. Large enough I'm sure he wouldn't want to repay it upon the return of his ship."

"Well, I don't know what'cha thinkin', then."  Charlie sat back a bit, looking at the others in the car.  "'Sides Kyoko, th'most respectable one here's Acacia, bein' a doctor n'all.  After that, y'know...I'm not sure who's passin as civilized folk 'round here.  You're gonna hafta do some work t'get one'f the rest'f us up t'speed n'all, y'know..."

Kale laughed when Geoff spoke, "Only man that's got less tact then me here, would probably be you." he said with a grin to the man, "'Course I hope ya can take that as a compliment since I don't think tact's a whole lotta gorram le se, if'n yer askin' me."

Then he looked to Kyoko, trying to be serious now, as in reality this really was a serious matter, and if anyone knew how to handle them on a core world it was going to be Kyoko.  Charlie was right, with the exception of the Doc, ain't no one in his crew much good for civilized company.  "Well, I don' rightly know what you got in mind, dress me up fancy-like an' I'll still be the same man.  But I s'pose I could try an' learn a thing or two from ya.  That is if ya can arrange a meetin'.  Don' think this Mr. Caddigan fella is gonna want ta be speakin' with me.  But if it'll get Destiny back, you know I'll do what it takes."

"Not to worry, I know you'll be the same person. But looks do matter here, they speak of things like skill, merit, influence and occasionally things like honesty. Now I know that is not true actually, but it's like those games you play with your contacts. You have a role in the negotiations and you have to look and sound like it. That means proper english and chinesse not the slang you use. Accents are acceptable, but proper diction puts the other parties at ease. With them at ease, they're more open to fairer terms. Think of it as a poker game, but one you can't stab or shoot the other player." Kyoko smiles as she looks to Geoff and Charlene. "And I think you can come along you two. Simply to lend presence to the Captain as his load master and Cheif Engineer."

Geoff quirked a brow at Kyoko when she mentioned something about a load master. That just confused Geoff a bit. "Ok, wait, wait. Load master? What the hell is a load master? Ain't that just a fancy way o' sayin' I carry heavy things? 'Cause I do lots more than that. Seriously, I'm full o' talent and skills that y'all ain't even seen yet and some that y'all probably won't ever get occasion ta see. Some o' them are private-like, dong ma?", he said with a light grin,"'Sides, if'n I need a fancy title, I liked that one that the Alliance said I had. Public relations or some such thing. I like ta think I relate ta the public really good. Nobody relates ta public better....and if anybody tells ya different I'll be "relatin'" ta them with my fists."

"Geoff, Load Master is the person responsible for the SHIP's inventory. It is an important." Kyoko says primly. "Honestly we need to train you about ship's duties a bit."

Charlie raised an eyebrow at Kyoko's suggestion that she be part of this plan, somehow adding respectability for the ship.  "Um...ah'm sure that you're havin' a plan n'all, but I'm thinkin', y'know...maybe I'm best sittin' this one out?"

"The more official titles and people we tie to them, the more respectable the captain will look. If it's any help, I promise to keep the frills and ruffles to a minimun." Kyoko says with a wry smile

Geoff shrugged and scoffed a bit at Kyoko's suggestion. "Aw, I don't think that's all that important. In charge o' inventory. What's that mean? I sit 'round with a list an say what's there? Ain't nearly as important as what I actually do.", he said and then grinned lightly,"Ain't no need ta train me in ship's duties. I only got one duty and I do that well enough. Leastwise, I would if'n I ever got the chance before people ambushed us..."

He looked to Charlie and Kyok as they spoke and grinned lightly. "Heh. That'd be somethin' ta see. Dress Charlie up all nice and such. Quite a sight ta see, I'd think.", he said and then looked a bit indignantly to Kyoko as something suddenly came to mind,"Hey! What's wrong with frills and ruffles? I thought girls liked that sorta thing. I got Lei a dress that had loads o' them when we were on Paquin. Bows and ribbons and all o' that too. Thought it looked right nice..."

The car glided down the road until it stopped in front of a very impressive  building, with nicely dressed men in front of every doorway.  One man bent down and opened the door for the lot of them, nodding politely as Kyoko stepped from the vehicle followed by the rest of the rat tag crew.  Acacia and Ren emerged with Alec from the other car.

--------- Osiris Downtown Capitol City ------>

"Are you being purposely dense? The loadmaster handles the material that makes the ship MONEY. I can't introduce you as a hired gun with grabby hands. You want to get us ALL off this planet and not into a penal colony?" Kyoko says with an exasperated air.

Sgt Davis looked over the paperwork before signing the forms to transfer the prisoner from the Detention area, to the MP's station.

He looked over the paperwork and then nodded to the guard.  "Open 'er up," he said and waited for the guard to do so.

He looked inside at the solitary woman and consulted his clipboard.

"Amber, will you come with me please?"

Amber looks up, nods to the Sgt. swings her legs from the bunk sits, stands and practically runs towards the door, almost as if the Sgt. was going to slam it in her face. She asks "Where am I going?"

"You're being released from this facility, and being transfered to the brig Ma'am," he said gently.  "Once you've been processed, a JAG laywer will be meeting with you to discuss your situation and the charges you're currently facing," he informed her in a gentle tone.

"Please remember that any attempt to escape custody will only make your situation worse.  If you work with me, I will keep the confinement to a minimum."

Following him,arms crossed, she sighs, "yeah ok, I'll keep that in mind."

He gives her an appologetic smile.  "Sorry Ma'am, but orders are orders, and you know the drill..."

He guides her past the Sgt that had been questioning the crew and gives him a smiple nod.  The man gets up and is about to complain about the lack of restraints on the prisoner when Sgt. Davis simply gave him a nod.

"She understands the consequences of her actions and right now it is in her best interest and mine that she behave.  She's an intelligent lady and understands that, he answered before the man could say anything.  "I believe you have some transfer papers for me to sign?"

He waits, a slight musle tick in his cheek the only sign of his impatience.  It twitched even more when the Sgt decided to start lecturing his prisoner and him about the ... he lost track of the lecture, but as soon as he signed the paperwork, he nodded and nudged Amber forward.

Once they were in the parking lot he stopped.  "Sorry about the brusqueness Ma'am, but if I had stayed in there a moment longer, I'd be joining you in the brig..."

She stares straight ahead while her paperwork is being processed. She shrugs her shoulders upon being nudged, but walks forward without further incident. Out in the parking lot amber smiles at his comment and murmers "Humm, I can only guess. So, why would you have been thrown in the Brig too?"

He thinks for a moment, still leading Amger to his transport vehicle.  He opened the door for her and smiled, nodding.

"... I think it would probalby be assualt.... can't really see him as a superior... "

He gestured towards the open door.  "Ma'am?"

Amber smiles, seductively, and without any resistance bends down and enters the vehicle.As she sits in the vehicle she works on pushing her nervousness and fear to the far corners of her mind.

Sgt Davis closes the door behind her, then walks to the driver's side of the vehicle and climbs in behind the wheel.

"Better strap in Ma'am, the ride can be a little tricky."

He starts the engine and moves out, heading deeper into the military district.

She straps on her seat belt and settles into the seat, arms at her side to brace herself if need be. She stares straight ahead.

The ride is uneventful.  As he pulls into the MP's station he turns towards Kendra.  "Ma'am, just so you know, once inside, you will be processed, and then taken to an interrogation room.  The listening devices will be turned off as to give you privacy."

"A JAG officer has already been notified and is on their way here.  Once they have met with you you will be taken to the brig, where you will be issued personal supplies and a jumpsuit.  Your personal effects shall be taken and sealed in a locker on this side."

He paused as he pulled into a parking space.  "Don't mean to sound stupid, but I hope your stay is a good one."

Amber purses her lips into a smile. Oh, yes I do look so forward to this adventure. You know what?  You do sound stupid, it's easy for you to tell me to have a good stay-you're not the one going to be interrogated and thrown into a jail cell and have to deal with other assholes such as yourself!" she voices sarcastically. She gets out of the auto without any sign of resistance.

"I'm sorry feel that way ma'am."  His tone changed from understanding and calm to that of the asshole she accused him of being.  He strode around to her, stun batton in hand.

"But considering your record in this man's military, I believe I was treating you with kindness and respect.  Since that is not the case, you will kindly lay face down on the ground so I can cuff you and treat you how you obviously want to be treated."

And sign of kindess or friendliness is gone from his expression.

Sighing with exasperation, Amber faces the guard grits her teeth and exclaims "I'm just exercising my right to free speech, I'm not resisting arrest. There's no need for me to get on the floor. She holds out her hands in front of her, wrist together. Cuff me if you're so concerned."

Sgt Davis looks at her, trying to figure out if she's arrogant or stupid.

"Private Wheat, You seem to have forgotten where and who you are.  You are a Private in the service of the Alliance Military.  You have no rights, you have privaleges and you lost those when you went AWOL.  DESERTION is a crime, of which you are guilty unless proven otherwise."

"It is this ASSHOLE's job to take you in so that you can talk to your ASSHOLE Attourney... and if you have half a brain in that head of yours you'll not 'Express yourself' to him as you did me, because he is now YOUR ONLY friend in this installation.  DO YOU UNDERSTAND!?"

 "I understand, SIR" said in a tight, crisp voice. Looks straight ahead, stands tall and firm. Hands at her side, palms/fingers pointed and against her legs in a standard military pose.

Sgt Davis stands ram-rod straight, staring Kendra down.  When she doesn't move, he growls out his orders.

"On the ground, face first.  NOW!" Sgt Davis leaves no room for argument in his tone.

Kendra, purses her lips, bottom lip quivers as she struggles to stifle the smile/sneer that wants to form. She bends over, provocatively and gently lowers herself to the ground, face first. Hands at her sides. Her expression remains neutral.

Davis watches her, an exasperated frown forming on his face.  Her inability to follow simple orders without turning it into some twisted little game only makes him sterner and more professional.

When she is down, he sheaths his stun batton, and approaches her so that the batton is furthest away from her.  He moves in, resting his knee against the small of her back.

From there he takes her left hand and pulls it behind her, locking one of the cuffs to it and pinning it before bringing the other back and repeating the process.  Once she is cuffed he moves back.

"You may sit up."

She struggles to rolls herself onto her side.  On her side, she finds it easier to bring her self to a sitting position. Once in a sitting position she waits. It is impossible for her to bring herself into a standing position from here. She doesn't say anything and continues to stare straight ahead.

Sgt. Davis let Kendra sit there long enough for her to think about how serious her situation was.

"Now, do you THINK you can walk through the doors, be processed and talk to you lawyer like a soldier... or do you feel the need to make more of a fool of yourself?

"SIR, Yes, I am ready SIR" As she is handcuffed, she nods her head to make some sort of salute. She stares straight ahead, but makes a quick serious glance at him.

Sergeant Davis nodded, his expression stern but accepting.  He helps her up and then indicates the door.  "Let's do this."

He half leads, half follows her to the automatic doors.  The station looks like most police stations, with a main desk, and offices beyond.  Davis places a hand on her arm to guide her through the maze.

Finally they reach the booking room.  There is a station for fingerprinting and another for photos.  He leads her to a desk and removes one cuff, attaching it to the chair in front of the desk.

"Please be seated."

She seats herself, a bit awkwardly, Then waits for further instuctions or to meet with whomever she's supposed to talk with. I can't believe Destiny got caught, I've got to get out of here. I will die for sure, If I don't.

Once Kendra was seated, and clearly planning on remaining seated, Davis went to work filling out the require paperwork.

"I'll be sending a copy of this to your JAG lawyer," he told her.  "He should handle everything for you, but if you are interested, a copy will be available for you as well."

He continued to type, then finally saved his work.  The output device created a disk with her information as well as printing a film for use with her pictures and prints.

Satisifed, he placed them in a clear plastic envelope and nodded.  "All right, Pictures and prints, and then your lawyer."  His tone was cool.  The friendly tone was gone, but so was the hard assed tone.  He was completely professional.

He waited, seeing if she needed a hand or not.

Yes I would like a copy. Thank You. Where do I go to get my photo taken? She attempts to pull her hands up, instinctively as if to get up, but is met with resistance from the cuffs. She looks at Sgt. Davis and nods to the cuffs.

Sgt Davis nods back the way they'd come.  "That's the processing room. he answered indicating the room to the side of the back entrance where they'd entered.

He looked at her for a moment, studying her.  "You are aware that this is a military brig, and that any attempt to escape will be met with force?"

"Don't worry I won't escape. I realize this IS the military brig." She paints on the most precious smile she can muster.

Davis looks at her and rolls his eyes.  "Private, could you, for the remainder of our time together not try anything cute, or seductive or provocitive... 'cause as I recall, that's not part of being a solider?"

She sits up as straight as she possibly can and stares straight ahead, attempting to settle into the most professional position as a soldier she can muster. SIR, you are duely noted, SIR. She barks out.

Davis lets out a heavy sigh and looks at her sternly.  "Thank you"

He shakes his head, and then helps her up, and directs her towards processing.  She is led to a platform with a camera aimed at it.  Davis hands the camera's operator the film which he slips in front of the lense.

"Face foward." the opperator calls out.  Once the picture is taken he calls "Face left."

Davis stands to the side watching Kendra's reactions.

She turns her face to the left. Expression neutral and bland.
"Such irony. I'm the one about to be thrown in the brig , after all that I've been through and what I saw at the hands of the Alliance." When the pictures are taken she lets out a long drawn out sigh.

Davis took the output from the camera and added it to the folder he was carrying.  Then he led Kendra to the fingerprint station.

"Now, I have to uncuff you to take your prints.  Considering your past behaviour, I should cuff one hand to the station, process one hand then the other.  But its long, and tedious, and I hear quite uncomforable." he says.

"Will you behave?" he asked, knowing he couldn't trust her word.  She'd given her word to serve in the military... a word she'd broken, a long time ago, and obviously thought nothing of it.

She glances at Sgt. Davis, her eyes sad. The fight having left for the moment. "SIR there will be no trouble, SIR"

Davis studies her for a moment then finally nods, uncuffing her hands.  He allows her a few minutes to get the cirulcation back in her arms and hands and then slips the pad under the reader.

He takes her left hand, and proceeds to take the print of her thumb and fingers.  Then he moves down to another part of the form where he takes another thumb print and all four fingers together.

Then he repeats the process with the right hand.  Then he slips the pad into his folder and nods.  "Now, your Lawyer is waiting in room 3, as stated, the room's listening devices shall be turned off.  Remember that in the service, you are guilty until proven innocent... "

That said he gestured towards the door.

She stands up, rubs her and hands together. Nods and heads off towards Room 3. Just as she is about to pass through the door way out of this room she turns to the Sgt. and whispers, loudly "Be careful, nothing is what it seems" without further word she leaves.

Davis simply nodded and made sure that she was secured in the right room and that her lawyer was indeed there waiting for her.

When he saw that Captain Harris was there, he saluted and handed him Wheat's file.

Harris nodded and then returned the salute.  "Thank you Sgt, I'll take it from here," he said.

Davis nodded and then gave Kendra one last warning look before leaving.  At least she was out of his hair-- for now.

Amber takes her seat across from her lawyer. She sits there quietly and waits for Mr. Harris to speak.

"Private Wheat-- I know you have been away from the service for sometime-- but if we are to get you through this.. you aren going to need to remember protocol."

He looked over her papers and then over at her.  "This is about the point where I would tell you to have a seat."

"Sir, yes I will remember protocal, sir." Kendra stands up and at attention and waits for his instructions.

Harris looked up at her and pointed to a seat shaking his head.  "PLease--"

He reviewed her paperwork again then looked over at her.  "All right Wheat... You are in quite a mess.  AWOL is bad enough, but you've been gone lone enough that its termed Desertion and desertion is a Felony.  My job is to somehow get you out of this mess-- or at the very least make it a smaller mess.  From what I've read we're going to have our work cut out for us."

He studied her for a few minutes before continuing.  "Let's start with your background shall we... you enlisted rather late... why don't we start with what you did before you enlisted?"

Amber takes her seat as instructed. "Sir, before I joined the military I was a registered companion, Sir." She stares straight ahead. She hopes he cannot look into her mind-Inside she's a mess, barely able to hold in her fear, anger, grief, and tears.

He nods as he writes it down then gives her a very confused look.  The progression just didn't make sense.

"Why did you enlist?"

She looks at Captain Harris with intensity, "Sir, do you see this scar that runs down my face. It had something to do with why I am not a companion anymore.Sir" She looks away in embarrasement, hoping he won't ask for the details. It was too painful to remember.

Harris looked up and looked at the scar.  "Okay.. so that's why you're not a companion... but you still haven't told me why you enlisted... unless you're telling me that a scar made you enlist."  he shook his head and set his pen down.

"Private-- I'm coming in on the end of this little play.  It is my job to defend you and I can't do that unless I have the full cast list... do you understand... I am trying to help you and I can't if you don't answer me completely and thoroughly... "

He picked his pen up again and sighed.  "Why did you enlist?"

Amber sighs softly, "Sir, I thought the military would teach me things, like how to fight and be strong, so I would never be vulnerable again. I also had nowhere else to go.Sir"

Captain Harris looked at her and paused.

"Private Wheat... You're giving me part of the picture and telling me to fill in the blanks, but I can't afford to fill in the blanks.. I need facts.. cold hard detailed facts.. no implications, no allusions... talk to me.  Tell me everything..."

"Ok, Sir you want the whole truth - I was born on the planet of Persephone and was abondoned by my mother who gave birth to me illegitimately. I never heard about a father,though I must have one, anyway shortly after I was born she left me on the doorstep of Aquarelle orphanage. Before I was to graduate the orphanage counselor asked what I wanted to do and since I didnt know what I wanted to do and didn't have any family or anyone to take me in, they thought I would make an excellent companion and set me on this path, however I only followed because it was the only thing I knew. We trained in a little bit of everything, including fighting with swords and guns. I realized I had a strong passion for hand held weapons and would practice in the shooting range whenever a chance came about. Her voice, dropping quieter she goes on - When I was 25 years old while in the process of entertaining a guest, he was killed by assassins who stormed into his residence at the hight of our lovemaking. I was taken advantage of harshly,-raped, cut and left for dead. Though I lived, After that I decided that I wanted out of that life. I left the guild and joined the military to become a warrior. I never wanted to be vulnerable again. The military went well for awhile, then I learned things and saw people doing horrible experiments to others-causing them great pain and death. I didn't want to be a part of an organization that tolerated this kind of thing. I tried to leave through legitimate means, but I hadn't served my four years. My lover was one of those killed. I was trapped, so I decided to take matters into my own hands and just ran." That's it, those are the facts."

Harris listened to her and held up his hand.  "I need names, Ms. Wheat... names, dates places... It is my job to defend you and if I'm going to do that I need to have rock solid proof..."

He studied her for a minute and poured some water into a cup and handed it to her.  "Now-- if you'd rather write it down, I can let you do that and we can go from there-- but I have to know all the details... "

Amber gratefully accepts the cup of water being offered. She drinks it all down, and sets it gently down on the table. She clears her throat. "Three years ago on May 19 I accepted a meeting with Sir Owen John Northrope, a nobleman. I had entertained him once before and found him to be a very wonderful client. I didn't often have sleep with my clients, but Owen was special.  On that horrific day, as we were having sex four men stormed into his grand apartment. When he saw them he cried out one name in surprise: Cain Forrester. The men looked like Alliance officials except they wore blue gloves.  She shudders, as she recalls their image. One of the men drew out this wand like device and the next thing I see, is Owen on the bed, bleeding out from every oraface, he was in such pain. Tears start to trickle down Ambers cheeks, but her voice is still strong. Then, they noticed me and take me by force. Physically and sexually. The one who killed owen, I believe it was the man he called out as Forrester. Took out the wand and was going to do the same thing to me, but I managed to kick it out of his hand. We struggled and...I don't know who cut my face. Then they beat me...I lost unconscience..I thought I was dying. She pauses to gather her thoughts, I remember this one thing, as they were having their way with me one of them calls the other one Frank Stevens and says to him "maybe we should keep her, give her to Horace - she's a fighter she might make a good one" I don't know what they were referring to. I woke up in a hospital. It took me only a few weeks to recover from my physical injuries, though emotionally it will take a lifetime, maybe even then some, to recover. About four months after that I am talking with one of my guy friends Jason Frost who is in the Alliance Military and encourages me to join. I was running low on funds, too scared to take more clients - I thought it would be a good way to make some money, and get a roof over my head. I go through boot camp and I'm enjoying my time in the Army. Five months ago I was preparing to become a field medic. I had just started my training. I walk into my first training class and the officer who is to teach the class is none other than the guy called Cain Forrester. I don't know if he recognized me or if he just acted like he'd never seen me before. That's when I tried to transfer and couldn't. Finally after about one month I couldn't stand it anymore. Then the evening, before I fled I witnessed Cain and another man beating the man, another sargent, who I was seriously dating, and shoved him into a vehicle. I saw him take out the wand, She sobs, they killed him. That's it, I just ran and then found passage on Destiny. She's done, she just sits there wiping at her falling tears.

Harris takes notes as she talks then looks up.

"Did this Seargent have a name?  when did you see him beaten?  Do you have a date?... "

He paused and looked at her. "I'm sorry if I'm being rather abrupt here, but I have to deal with facts and I have to be able to present them... in order to do that I have to act as lawyer and investigator."

""You trained as a companion... where, what house?  Will you allow me to see any profiles they have on you?"

"umm.. His name, the seargent, is Anthony Howard. I know he must be dead, because I saw Cain pull out the "wand" but I didn't see him bleed out, they shoved him him the vehicle and sped off. She bows her head and shutters in remebrance. The beating took place in the parking lot behind the training facility, it was three months ago on October 13. Yes, you may see my records-Amber Wheat is my true name as I know it. I was registered with the La Croix Montval Guild. Glenda Ladouceur is the head mistress, you will want to talk with her.

Harris writes everything down and then sets his pen down.

"All right, I'm going to reserach what you've told me-- try and find out what I can and see how we need to prepare your defence.   This is going to take quite some time."

During this time you will be in the brig.  If you behave, you will be assigned duties to keep you busy.  You are allowed 1 pound of personal effects.  If you have them, or can tell me what you need, I will see what I can do," He told her.

"But, if you want my help, you are going to have to remember where you are.  Say nothing unless asked, do nothing unless asked." He warned her.

"Clear?"

Yes, I understand Sir."

He nodded, then looked at her one more time.  "And I want you to repeat that to yourself any time you think of acting up."

He then turned and signalled that he was through.  Two female MPs entered the room to escort her to her cell.

She stands up, solutes Harris, turns around, and heads towards the two MP's with her back facing Harris. She rolls her eyes at his remark, subtly and hopefully escaping his notice. She allows the females to escort her to her cell without any resistance.