This beautiful boat rests on Lake Ceaurel, and is decked out for the biggest extravaganza of the season.  All the most wealthy, powerful and influential people will be in attendance.  The boat has a very high tech security system so absolutely no weapons or electronical devices of any kind are allowed on board.  Hovering candles are everywhere, and beautiful artwork and decorations adorn the entire ship.
This message was last updated by the GM at 06:58, Sat 22 Apr 2006.

"Captain, one last time. Please behave." Kyoko says as theya re let on board, her face a pleasent smile that doesn't show what she is thinking. Which is how like releaasing a madden bull into an china musuen this was.

Kale offered Kyoko one of his signature roughish grins, but nodded seriously.  He held out his arm to Kyoko once they were both scanned for any weapons or electronic devices.  Allowing her to entwine her arm with his they both walked into the grand ballroom of the enormous yacht.  "Floatin' candles, huh?" Kale said out of the side of his mouth in a low voice, smirking at the sheer elaboratness of the place.  Kale bet he could keep Destiny fueled and her crew fed for months on what it cost these wealthy hun duns to have floating candles.

"Ah, Lady Monroe!" a woman with hair piled so high atop her head that Kale was given the impression that she might just fall over practically shoved her way (in the politest way possible) through the crowd and up to him and Kyoko, dragging a rather bored looking gentleman in her wake.  "It's such a pleasure to see you back on Osiris, I've heard the most terrible rumors of you traveling about on the most god forsaken vessel.  But I said to myself, surely Kyoko Monroe would never do that, she is far to sophisticated.  Really, the things people do say." she barely paused for a breath before turning her scrutinizing gaze on Kale.  "And who is this?" she seemed to be trying desperately to recall Kale's face, sure that she couldn't possibly not know one of the people at the Grand Yacht Party.  Bitsy Valtree made it her business to know absolutely everyone of any importance.  "Are you that new young artist everyones been raving about?  I'm sure I must have seen your photo in the daily bulletien!"

Kale looked over at Kyoko and tried desperately not to laugh right out at this woman.  He turned back to her with a polite incline of his head, "I surely am not, Miss.  I Captain a ship.  Captain Kale Galway.  It really is the most terrible vessel." Kale said, his tone was completely polite but his grin was completely contemptuous and mocking.  "Ah, they have wine, I'll get us a glass." Kale said, to excuse himself.  He nodded again to the two woman and the man who was still hardly paying any attention to his surroundings, and went off to the alcove where three men in white suits were pouring wine into sparkling glasses.

Bitsy was left staring after Kale, then she looked to Kyoko with a very snobbish expression, "Charming." she said dryly.

"Now Bitsy, I would look on it as a great personal favor if you helped my friend the captain to blend in. He's not too bad a person, just not ready for this setting." Kyoko says as she takes Bitsy's arm and leads her off to one side as she whispers the rest. "After all, I did help you out two years ago with that business with the news net. Silly reporters misconstrued everything didn't they? Also, you will discover if you're inspecting management out on the rim, sometimes it's easier to see what they are doing when they don't see distinquished names on a luxury yahts' manifest." She says with a smile that indicates that it was a 'trade secret'.

Bitsy's eyes narrowed for a moment when Kyoko suggested having to actually help out that inconsiderate man.  Bitsy Valtree was no fool.  That Captain fellow was making a deliberate snub.  But when Kyoko assured her that he was new to this sort of gathering Bitsy nodded happily.  "Ah, of course, new money.  I see, dear, don't say another word. I knew that he just wasn't aware of who he was speaking with.

Her eyes widened slightly when Kyoko pressed on however and spoke of that dreadful business with the news net .... Bitsy shuddered.  Dreadful.  However Kyoko was quite right, they really had miscontrued the whole affair and Bitsy felt a lot better knowing that Kyoko Monroe understood that.  She really had been all sorts of helpful.  "Say no more," Bitsy held up a hand, mostly because she just did not want anyone else to hear what they were speaking about, no use dragging up all of that nonsense at a party such as this.  "And I see, I knew you were going out for business purposes.  I said to myself, everyone else is wrong, Lady Monroe is a smart girl with a good head on her shoulders.  She knows exactly what she's doing.  Of course it is easier to inspect management while being undercover.  I'm sure it was terribly exciting - I wonder, how do less fortunate manage to travel these days and here you've actually traveled with them.  I will certainly make every effort to make your friend feel welcome.  Most proper really."

"Well keep an eye on him at least, I'm sure there are others who will want to talk with me while I'm here. Now, remember do not tell him who I am.. he isn't aware of my family's standing and I'd like to keep from overwelming him at the moment." Kyoko says with a smile as she turns to collect Kale before he gets into too much mischeif.

"Now that was nice Captain, getting me a glass of such a nice claret." Kyoko says as she collects the wine with one hand and pulls Kale away from the drink table with the other. "You're as subtle as a reaver raiding party at a fuel refinery." she adds in a whisper to just him.

Kale looks up at Kyoko with a hurt expression, "Ah, now see I was going for a bull in a china shop ..." Kale grinned, but let Kyoko lead him away from the table.  In truth he didn't even want a drink.  He needed to keep all his wits about him ... and truth be told he could probably do with a few extra if that could be arranged.

He allowed his eyes to scan the crowd then for Mr. Caddigan.  It didn't take long to spot him, standing back around the dancefloor, his eyes watching what Kale assumed were most likely his daughters twirling about.  Kale watched them for a few moments.  It was true, no amount of finery could make the girls look anything other then plain.

Kale nudged Kyoko with his elbow ... a little harder then was probably neccessary.  "Over there, 2 o'clock.  That's him." he looked at her then, "Care to make the introductions?"

"Fair enough.. remember BEHAVE." Kyoko says as she gently uses the point of her shoe's hell to bring that up in his instep. After all he could be a little less rough with his elbows.

She led the way to the man in question. "Ah, Mr. Caddigan, it has been some time since our last occasion together. May I introduce my escort for the night, Captain Kale Galway." Kyoko smiles to the two daughters. "Ladies.. it has been some time since I last saw you as well, how are you?" she asks politely to them.

Mr. Caddigan looked up as Kyoko and Kale approached.  He doesn't smile ... Brently Caddigan very rarely smiles, however he is rather pleased to see Lady Monroe.  By merely being in conversation with the woman his status was sure to rise.  She was a very important young lady.  "Ah, Lady Monroe." he said in a deep voice, "Aren't you a vision." he then turned his scrutinizing glare on Kale.  He looked him up and down, he was all dresseed up like a gentleman but he was no gentleman.  He could see it in the way Kale stood.  Too sloppy.

"I don't like you." he said simply.  Mr. Brently Caddigan was never praised as a nice man.  And this is exactly why ...

He seemed to forget about Kale completely as his two daughters came from the dance floor to stand beside him.  He gave one of his very rare smiles to the two girls.  They curtsied politely to Lady Monroe.

"Well." was all one of them said.

Kale stood by Kyoko's side smiling politely, he was about to make his own introductions when Mr. Caddigan proclaimed that he didn't like him.  Kale was honestly shocked for a few moments, his eyes wide as the man then turned his attention away from Kale and onto his daughters.

Kale exchanged a glance with Kyoko and tried to mend the situation.  He grinned at Mr. Caddigan, "I like a man who can make up his mind.  Solid thinking is a virtue."

Kyoko sighs as she considers this. "Why don't we dance Bently, I am sure that you've asked me once or twice to do so." Kyoko says as she holds out a hand for him to take.

"And I incidently do not care to know what you like." Mr. Caddigan replied stoutly, then he looked at Kyoko, "A dance would be lovely." he said and took her hand.

Kale was left standing between Mr. Caddigan's too daughters.

Kale watched Kyoko and Mr. Caddigan move out onto the dance floor.  Well, this isn't going well at all, he mused, he looked to the two women then.  They were both exceedingly plain and their reputation marked them as equally boring, but they were hopefully the key to getting into Mr. Caddigan's good graces so Kale bowed politely to them.

"Would either one of you lovely ladies care to dance?" he asked.

The eldest, Nadia, quirked a brow.  "You don't need to try flattery, Mr. Galway.  We know perfectly well that we are plain ... I'm inclined to except your invitation however because you are the only person here whom I have not already met - and it would most certainly displease my father which is a goal to be obtained at all possible opportunities." her sister nodded and Kale grinned.

"That's my kind of thinking." he said.

Nadia's brows arched in surprise, "You don't find it perfectly awful that I think that way?  It is disrespectful to wish to anger ones father."

"When one's father is an egotistical fool, the crimes worth it." he was taking a huge risk by actually being himself.  Nadia's laughter rung out though, clear as a bell.

"Unlike my father, Mr. Galway.  I believe that I have taken a liking to you." she said, "Come, let's dance.  I hope you are a perfectly dreadful dancer." she commented as she led him to the dance floor.

"Two left feet, I assure you." Kale said with a laugh and Nadia joined in.

Larry's car rolled to a stop as he peered out the darkly tinted window.  It was night now and the brilliant lights from the silly little yacht shone brighter then all the lights of the city.  The spectacle could not be outdone, even in its visibility.

Without a word from him, his men were already filing out of the cars and getting into position.  Larry smiled, tonight would be a night to remember.  The fall of The Burnt Hand and the rise of a new order.  A new order with Curio at its head once more and he, Larry, at his side - where he belonged.  Not that pitiful Rhaef Sorandash.  He looked to the young girl seated beside him, a gag pressed firmly against her mouth and her hands tied tightly behind her back.  Morgan sat on the other side of her, a gun pressed firmly to her temple.  She had tried struggling and kicking earlier ... a smack to the face with the heavy weapon and the reminder of what other pains it could cause her had put an end to that however.

Larry smirked at the tears sliding silently down her cheeks.  "We'll be back for you in a moment, got some business to attend to first." he said, and stepped out of the car as well.  "Keep an eye on her." he told Morgan as he closed the car door.

Most of his men were already dispatched around the perimeters of the party, Larry stood back aways, between the cars and the party.  He didn't make his move until he had been radiod that the perimeter was secure and they had successfully invaded the party.  Those pathetic doddering, rich fools didn't even know what was coming.

Lei moved slightly, just to try and get in a more comofortable position, and the man beside her pressed the gun more firmly against her head.  She sobbed again.  The crude ropes were biting into her wrists harshly and she could feel the skin rubbed raw.  Her mouth felt like cotton.  But none of this physical pain mattered much in comparison to the fear that was overwhelming her.

They were going to take her back, back to that place.  The white place.  Lei sobbed again just thinking about it.  She couldn't go back there ...

Blue Sun.  That's what the men had been talking about.  She wasn't entirely sure what they meant, but she remembered the name from her search on the tablet.  Her father was supposed to work for Blue Sun.  Given what was happening to her now though, she wasn't so sure she wanted to meet her father ... if it was even true and she had one.  She wanted Geoff.  Tears started streaming down her face even more when she thought of him.  Geoff would make this all better ...  He had told her that he would always protect her and that Destiny was her home.  Lei wanted to go home.

Then she thought of Rhaef and the fear returned.  If she went back to Destiny, he'd be there.  And he was friends with the bad men.  He'd winked at her happily when he'd seen her in the room, and the mean man had called him "old friend".  Lei wondered if Geoff knew that Rhaef was one of the bad men ...

Rhaef paid the cabbie with a generous type to disavow the presence of his fares and sat watched the situation unfold. "Wonder what the gorram is going on here?" He hissed quietly, and the men began to move into position. Thankfully Lei was not with them. He hoped that Larry had continued to underestimate him, and left her lightly guarded.

Rhaef's problem was Lei's reaction to him, he had played the monster before, and she had no way of knowing that was not who he was. He turned to Wei-Li, and pointed to the car Larry had exited from. "If I know Larry, Lei's in there. Probably lighty guarded too, but how do we get her out, without her loosing it. I mean there's a good chance she thinks I'm a monster."

Wei-Li nods and listens to Rhaef, all the while watching the men as they moved away from the cars.  "I don't know-- but I know she's better off angry at us then held by them.."

Her eyes narrowed as she watched the men move.  "He's holding back-- but the others are disbursing... something's going on.. but we might be able to use that to our advantage..."

The man in the car with Lei, suddenly moved the pistol from against her head.  He hit her with it then and Lei gasped in pain and surprise.  "Justa lil' reminder." the man said, "Now I'm gonna step outta this here car fer a bit an' if ya don' want more'n that then you'll stay put like a good lil' girl." he said, then he opened the door and stepped outside.

Fumbling in his pockets he pulled out a box of cigarettes.  He grabbed one, put the box back and lit the one in his hand, taking a long drag off it.  So he was stuck baby-sitting ... this wasn't at all to his liking.

" Wo Bu Shin Wo Dah Yan Jing" Rhaef said quietly, "these guys may well be dumber than I thought." He smiled as they moved closer.

He turned to Wei-Li, "I have two plans, but I want you to make the final choice because one is more risky to you. Plan 1 - I try to get close and shoot him without one hearing, we grab Lei, and run like hell. Or plan 2, we hope he has not seen you before, you seduce him enough to distract him, and he does look pretty bored, and then I come out up, knock him out, and you grab Lei and run like hell for the ship, and I go see if you I can put a stop to Larry's little game."

Wei-Li nodded as Rhaef spoke and then by way of an answer she straightened herself up and began a slow seductive walk towards the man.

She moved slowly enough so that Rhaef could get into position, then when she was close enough she smiled and tilted her head slightly.  "Hey there," she asked batting her eyes.  "You got another cigarette?" she asked in a low husky tone.

Morgan looked up in surprise as Wei-Li strutted towards him.  His look of surprise quickly shifted to an expression of amusement and pleasure however.  His eyes trailed up and down Wei-Li's body, a slow smile spreading across his face.  "Sure do." he said.  He cast a quick glance over the car to where Larry stood, but found that he was almost out of eye sight at this point ... he grinned even wider as he pulled out a cigarette and handed it to the lady.

"So what brings a pretty lil' thang like you here? I'ma guessin' ya ain't here fer the fancy party." Morgan chuckled.

Rhaef marveled at the young woman's courage, and prayed they would not regret not going with plan one, he slipped quietly around the back of the car, very thankful that the stealth skills Curio had taught him had not been lost over the years. His eyes followed Morgan's to Larry, and the man seemed be walking further away, a few more minutes and every thing would be okay. He quietly drew one of his blasters, and flipped it over, to use like a club, and waited. Wei was in no man's land for a few more minutes, while he waited for the right moment to spring their trap.

Wei-Li gave a throaty laugh at his question.  She took the cigarette and gave him a coy look as she ran a finger down his arm.

"I don't think I'm dressed for a big party like that.. but..." she asked placeing the tip of her tounge on the outside of her teeth for a moment as she looked him over.

"Maybe.. a slightly smaller gathering?"

Morgan's jaw dropped, almost loosing his cigarette before he noticed.  He took it in hand and smiled, moving closer.

"I have a smaller party... " he offered hopefully

At that moment, Rhaef saw that Larry had moved far enough away to spring the trap, he moved with lighting speed, almost a blur in the deepening dark of Osiris. He sprung from behind the car silently and brought down his gun on the man's temple hard, knocking him out cold and holstering the gun, he slid to his side to help ease him to the ground as he collapsed into Wei-Li. He immediately searched the man, found the communicator he was using to stay coordinated with the other, turned off the mike, and placed in his ear, so he could listen to Larry's plans. Then he found the cars keys in the man's coat pockets. He looked up at Wei-Li, moving the mike away from his mouth to be sure, "Get Lei."

Wei-li smiled coyly at Morgan turning her head to the side.  When he fell into her she gave a slight gasp and then eased him to the ground as much as she could.  She gave Rhaef a relieved smile and took the keys.

She took a quick look around the lot to make sure the coast was clear and reached for the knob.

Lei closed her eyes against the pain, not even attempting to hold back the tears however.  Her head was still ringing from the blow when the man stepped out of the car.  She had to get out of here ... and she didn't have much options.

Lei quickly positioned herself with her feet pointed at the door.  The second the man opened it again she'd kick him with everything she had in her and then make a run for it ... or at least that's what she hoped.

Geoff and Charlie finally came to the docks of Lake Ceaurel.  The moon shone high overhead casting a shimmering ray of light onto the silent lake.  The boat where the party was being held stood out against the dark sky and symbol of beauty, wealth and power.  These docks just reeked core world ... nothing like Geoff and Charlie were used to.  A small expanse of wooden planking led aboard the boat where two men stood.  They were both elequontely dressed but were huge, and held themselves like armed men.

It was a bit of a trek to make, but Geoff and Charlie finally made it where they needed to go. The sight that lay in front of them was quite awe-inspiring and impressive and Geoff would normally have been gaping quite openly at the elegant and rich looking surroundings. But, at this moment, he didn't care. All he wanted to do was find the captain or, failing that, find something strong to drink to erase a few brain cells and make things hazy.

He looked about and spotted the wooden planking that led up to the boat. He noted the two men that were at the end of the plank and aboard the boat, but he didn't care much about them. He knew that they probably wouldn't take kindly to him and Charlie trying to get into the party, looking as out of place as they did, but he didn't care about that either. He had to find the captain and that meant getting onto the boat. So he walked slowly to the wooden plank and started up towards the boat at a slow pace.

"Geoff...they're not gonna let us just walk on'n."  Charlie spoke softly, seeing the guards as they walked.  She let out a sigh, looking around the boat...no other way on.  "Jus' promise me one thing, y'know?  This isn't gonna get any sortsa violent.  There's been enough'a that today..."  It's said almost more like an afterthought, looking back at him.  And this is as it was, it seemed.  She let the silence drop betweent he two of thme, letting out a sigh as she pushed on.

They came in distance of the gaurds, and while Charlie felt like it should probably be her doing the talking, she keeps her mouth shut.  In truth, not only is she dressed in greasy overalls, but she still had rosy cheeks and blurred vision, and could easily break out into tears at any moment...

The two men at the door eye Geoff and Charlie suspiciously as they approach.  Their appearance alone makes it very evident that they do not belong at a party such as this.

"Do you have business here?" one of the men state in a deep, hard voice.  The other takes a step in front of the door, blocking the beautiful candle lit room from view, as though Geoff and Charlie weren't even worthy enough to lay eyes on the spectacle.

Geoff didn't respond to Charlie's words. He only continued up the plank until the guards stopped them. Geoff looked up to the two men then, his eyes cold and hard and his expression blank. "Kale Galway....and Kyoko Monroe. Gotta talk to 'em. They're in there and we gotta talk to 'em.", he said in his low monotone,"So we gotta get in there. ....That gonna be a problem?"

The men just stared at the two of them increduously for a few moments, looking back and forth from one to the other.

"You two stupid or something?  Of course you can't come in here."

His friend was stifling a laugh beside him, "Yeah, but if you leave a message after the tone we'll be sure to get it to them." he said, still laughing.

"Get outta here." the first man said, casting a stern look at his friend.  "You can talk to them once they get out and not a second before.  Now get."

"C'mon...we can always be catchin'em when they're outta th'dance, n'all."  Charlie let out a bit of a sigh, pulling on Geoff's arm.  "Les' you feel like swimmin' up'n about r'something, I'm thinkin' we've not got any better sorta ideas.  I mean, ah'm sure that you'd be able'ta knock skulls 'til they're all clear'n sorts, but they're tryin' t'get Destiny back.  I'm not thinkin' it'd be th'best of a plan t'be muckin' that up..."

Charlie's words were ignored for a moment as a red hot flash of anger rushed through Geoff. He felt like taking the two bastads in front of him apart piece by piece with his bare hands. He felt like just dxrawing his pistols and riddling the two with bullets right then and there. He glared at the two men with murderous intent and he clenched his fists tight, nearly trembling with rage. He was just a hair's breadth away from letting himself go and letting the consequences be damned.

But, almost as soon as the feeling came, it drained away. He couldn't bring himself to care as he normally would have. It didn't matter. Nothing much mattered right now. He sighed as the brief fire that had been in his eyes left, leaving behind a dull and glassy gaze, and his body became slack as anger gave way to indifference and depression. "Yeah....sure. Whatever ya say, Charlie.", he replied to her in a soft tone before looking to the two men again"Look...if ya could just tell 'em that Geoff an' Charlie are here an' waitin'. That's all I ask. Ok?" With that, he finally gave in to Charlie's tugging of his arm and turned to walk away, his shoulders drooped and his stride slow. He looked altogether more defeated and weary than aguy his age should look or feel.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:27, Fri 31 Mar 2006.

One of the guards laughed, "Heh, ya ... right." he said as Geoff and Charlie walked away ... he had no intention of hunting down people for those two.

The rest of the docks were pretty vacant at this time.  Again a huge contrast to the docks that Geoff and Charlie were used to seeing that were normally just coming to life at this hour.  There were a few trucks parked along the side, none of them were being watched ... and one had emblazoned across the side: GEORGIAN BREWERY - MAKING FINE LIQUOR FOR THE PAST 500 YEARS.

Geoff walked away from the men and the boat without much of an aim at all. Where was there to go? He didn't have anywhere to go or anything to do. Everything of importance to Geoff was gone now. He didn't have anything left. And that's when Geoff noticed the unattended brewery truck. It seemed that he did have something left, after all. There was always drinking. No matter what happened, drinking would make it better. It always had before so why should now be any different.

He nodded to himself at that and moved toward the truck at a faster pace than he had been walking before. He was going to get blind drunk and forget about everything. That was what he was going to do. Hell, that was all he had left to do. He reached the truck and looked around to see if there was a driver or a worker nearby before trying to open up the back to check out what there was.

There was no one near by ... damn core-worlders were so used to everything being safe and secure in their pristine little world that they couldn't even be bothered with locking the damn doors to their vehicles.

Geoff was grateful for the fact that there was nobody around and even more grateful that the doors were unlocked. Stupid of them to just leave things unattended and unlocked. If Geoff had been in better spirits, he probably would have taken the whole truck so he could take all of the liqour in the truck for later consumption. Probably take it to Kyoko's place and try to talk them into believing that it was Kyoko's liqour so that people would help him unload it into her place.

But he wasn't in better spirits. He wasn't even in slightly good spirits. Soi all he wanted to do now was drink. He didn't care what it was he would be drinking or the fact that he was stealing the liqour. He just wanted alcohol and lots of it. Considering it was a whole truck full before him, it seemed he would get just that. Geoff opened up the doors to get to the liqour inside. He didn't care what it was or how it was packaged, he was going to get it and drink it. He looked to Charlie then and gestured toward the open doors of the truck. "...Ya gonna want some o' this? I'm drinkin' it either way, stolen or not, so I figure ya might as well take it while ya can. 'Cause, I don't know 'bout ya, but drinkin' is the only thing that's gonna be keepin' me goin' fer a long while...", he said and then moved to climb up into the back of the truck for better access to the liqour.

Charlie stood outside the truck, her arms crossed as Geoff began breaking into the truck.  The context of the action never really passed her mind, about it being wrong or that they could easily get caught.  All she could feel was her heart sinking in her chest, and the sadness that was becoming greater and greater.

"Geoff, I-...yeah."  Her mind turned around, leaning up against the edge of the truck.  "Somethin' strong, if it's in there."

Geoff dug through the back of the truck and took an armful of bottles with him as he moved to sit on the edge of the truck. He put the bottles down by him and passed one to Charlie as he opened one for himself. He hadn't looked through the bottles. All he had cared about was that it was liqour. If it wasn't strong, well....quantity often made up for quality in the long run. At least in his way of looking at things. At the moment though, his way of looking at things could be considered a bit skewed. As he drank deep and long from the bottle, it seemed that it was going to become even more skewed if he had his way about things.

He finished the first bottle fast and tossed the empty away, flinging it hard and far away, not caring about where it landed so much as he cared about the sound of it breaking. That's what he wanted to hear. The sound of something breaking would make him feel better. It always did before. And, if it didn't this time, there was always more liqour. "Yeah. Always more liqour.", he muttered as he took another bottle from the pile he had next to him.

Charlie took the bottle handed to her, looking at the label for a second.  Truth told, her eyes hurt from crying, and were turning red at the edges...she was having trouble making out what it said.  Nothing that looked like it would indicate poison, surely, which was good enough for her at this point.  She couldn't handle the pain like maybe some of the others could, surely enough...it wasn't what she was good at.  Fixing things was what she was good at.  Sometimes, though, things required a quick fix as opposed to one that actually worked.

Charlie screwed the top off the bottle, tilting her head back and taking a long pull...it burned the entire way down, leaving a trail of fire from her throat to her stomach, and the taste wouldn't leave her mouth.  However, she followed suit from Geoff, and if he could finish a bottle, then why couldn't she?  She leaned her head back, drinking and swallowing as long as she could, finally pulling it back when there was about two fingers at the bottom of the bottle.  "Gorram...that's...tha's horrible stuff.  Wha's this?"  She spoke as she breathed, feeling the burning of alcohol all through her mouth and throat.

Geoff was already tossing the second empty bottle away as he answered Charlie with a shrug. "Dunno. Don't rightly care much either. It's liqour. That's enough fer me...", he said as he grabbed a third bottle. Geoff didn't know what he was drinking at all, but he didn't care, as he said. He just wanted the alcohol in him. He just wanted the haze. That's all. The stuff was hard though, and that was good. That was real good. The harder it was, the faster he didn't have to think so much anymore. The faster everything became a blur, the better. The thought of a drunken haze actually brought the ghost of a smile to his face, but it was shortlived. It would take a lot more liqour before he was even able to fake a smile so he'd have to work on that. So he got started on the third bottle right then and there, chugging it down as fast as he could.

"Yeah, I'm sure...enough fer th'both of us, yeah."  Charlie nodded again, finishing the bottle and taking a second one.  Much like Geoff did, she stopped caring about what it was, and just gave into it.  She opened the second bottle, shaking the liquid in the bottle for a moment, and then began to drink.


...several bottles later...


Charlie sat on the ground, holding the half-finished bottle in her lap, her back against the back of the truck.  Tears were sliding down her cheek, but she had some remnants of a smile on her face.  "An' another thing..."  She spoke, squinting her eyes as she focused on the words.  "I mean...ah'm guessin' we're never gettin' off this rock, at this point, y'know?  Guess we'll hafta...wha's people on Osiris do?  Doctorin'?  I could do that..."

Geoff tossed his next empty away from where he was laying down on the edge of the truck. He took a new bottle up, but didn't quite open it yet as he looked to Charlie and nodded, a slight smile on his face. "Ya betcha, Charlie. Yer...smart an' such. Ya could do any o' those....fancy-schmancy jobs these core worlders could do. I mean, I'd letcha do the doctorin' ta me. I trust ya more than...any o' the core world docs. Screw 'em, I say!", he said with an emphatic nod.

He then looked wistful as he opened up the next bottle and took a sip this time. "Ya know, if'n we're stuck here, I don't even...even know what I'm-a gonaa be doin' fer...uh..one o' those things....a job! I don't got much in the way o'....pro...prof..profitable skills.", he said with a shake of his head,"...Maybe I could be a companion. I think I could do that. Do...do they even have companions that're fellas? Naw, screw it. I could be the first. That'd work out gooood..."

"Whatever."  Charlie chuckled, raising the bottle and taking another drink, spilling over the mouth of the bottle as she sets it back down.  "You, Geoff...bein' th'skilled type...you'll be findin' a new ship, I think.  Your not t'be grounded.  I mean...Cap'n has gotta own me, y'know?  Years'f service, an' severance fee.  I'll be collectin', an'then I'll get a ride.  I'll...go back t'Paquin.  Wake up'n the sun, walk without shoes on, getta move around'n go swimmin' every day...who knows what ah'll do.  Somethin' just...nice, n'relaxed."

Charlie sighed, leaning her head back as she thought about the last time they were on Paquin.  The feeling of swimming in the middle of the day...staring at clouds in the sky...being in Rhaef's arms, if only for a moment.  She took a slow breath, holding up the bottle and swirling the liquid, looking at how much she had left.  "Ren'n Acacia'll get professional jobs, th'right an'proper like...Kyoko'll find a new ship...everyone'll make amends.  The cap'n...well, ah'm not sure.  He'd maybe have th'likes t'find a new boat, perhaps..."

Geoff looked up at the roof of the truck and shrugged as he took another swallow fromt he bottle. "Yeah....I'm s'posin' yer right, Charlie. Everybody would do somethin'. Everybody has got somethin'...after all. Somethin' ta fall back on.", he said in a soft tone,"I guess...I guess I'd find 'nother ship. Do more dirty work....fer fellas don't care a lick 'bout me, one way or 'nother. Just drift and drift and drift from one place to the next....'til I die. 'Til I get shot or stabbed or killed in some other way. Keep on goin' 'til somethin' stops me. Isn't that always the way..."

He then shook his head as he drank the last of the liqour and tossed the empty bottle away. "...I don't wanna go out like that. All the rest o' ya can go on ta nice lives...but I gotta die alone and bleedin' somewhere with people who don't give a damn 'bout me? Naw. I don't wanna go out like that.", he said in a low tone,".....I wanna get back on Destiny. Even if I gotta...I gotta kill some people, I'm gonna get back on Destiny... Ya ruttin' hear me, Charlie? Gonna get back on that boat. It's the gorram least the damn 'verse can give me after it done took everythin'...everythin' else..." He shook his head again and got another bottle to drink. The liqour was loosening his tongue and making him talk about things he would be embarrassed to talk about normally, but he was too far gone to care about that. He just wanted to drink.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:49, Fri 31 Mar 2006.

Charlie felt tears welling up as he talked about being back at Destiny, at the cost of anything.  She wiped at her eyes with the back of a hand, chasing the feelings with the rest of the bottle.  She finally finishes it, setting the bottle next to the other empty ones she has lined up next to her.  "Listen, Geoff...y'know, the Cap'n has never let m'down.  Never has, an' I'm sure for one thin' that he's never gonna.  I can tell ya, if gettin' that ship back's possible, ya'd better believe that it'd be happenin'.  He's never let m'down, an'I am sure he ain't gonna now."

She got up on her knees, keeping her arms on the edge of the truck to keep herself steady...which doesn't really work out so well, and she loses her balance, falling back onto the ground.  While most would worry, it just lets out a chorus of giggles, which causes her to cover her mouth quickly.  Standing, as it would seem, isn't quite the option it seemed a moment ago.  Maybe it was better just to stay on the ground.  "How'm I set out fer life in th'black.  I can't even stand, y'know?"

Geoff nodded to Charlie's words about the captain not letting her down. "Yeah, I jus' bet he never letcha down. Been on...lotta crews and seen...seen lotta captains, but he's one o' the first...first I'd seen gives a damn 'bout anythin' beyond profit. It's nice ta see. Nice. Real nice.", he said and smiled to himself,"Yeah. He'll get Destiny back an'...an' things'll move. 'Verse will go on...and...things'll get good.....eventually."

Geoff then laughed outright when Charlie fell down and started giggling. "Heh...way I see it, standin' ain't a huge ruttin' deal in the black. Standin'. Who...who ruttin' needs it? Legs are all....funny lookin' anyway. Not yer legs,, mind ya, just...in general. Look weird. All....dangly and such. Yeah, that's right.", he said and laughed again,"Pffft. Legs and standin' both...wastes o' time. Much rather sit or lay down. Things're better layin' down and sittin'. Lotsa interestin' things ta do from those positions. Screw standin'! We'll...we'll boycott it! Yeah...wit' protestin' and signs....yeah. I like signs."

"Yeah, a boycott'f standin'.  How'm I supposed t'be gettin' a new bottle, though.  You're forgettin' about that."  Charlie rolled over, grabbing the edge of the truck and pulling herself up, being at some sort of eye level with Geoff.  "'Sides, you can do all sortsa stuff when you're standin' up.  I dunno, like...well...reachin' things that're high up.  Or goin' up stairs without bruisin' up yer legs, y'know?"  She reaches out, managing to get another bottle in her hand.  She slid back down onto the ground, leaning back against the truck again as she opened the top.

"So...y'think...y'know..."  She let out a sigh, looking into the liquid in the bottle.  "Can I tell y'somethin, Geoff?  Yeah, I can...meanin', y'know, you'd let me...I dunno, talk.  I gotta get it outta me, 'for I just die, y'know?"

Geoff merely chuckled. "Well, there'd be....ya know...machines ta get yer drinks fer ya. Yeah. Like...with...wires and such. It'd be highly technological. All advanced. That's how things would be workin' in the standin' free places. Yeah.", he said and then shrugged,"But, yer right. 'Til we get 'round ta makin' those machines, gotta put up with the standin'. One o' these days though..." He laughed a bit then and then sighed as he took another drink.

He looked over the edge of the truck to look down at Charlie and nodded. "Sure...sure 'nuff, Charlie. Tell me whatever...whatever ya want. Tha's what I'm here fer. I can listen like a pro...a pro who...listens. Yeah. So ya can talk all ya want and I'll listen.", he said and then looked to her curiously,"So....what's on yer mind, Charlie?"

Charlie smiled widely when Geoff asked what was on her mind.  "Tha's just th'way the Cap'n says it."  She took a drink from the bottle, sighing a bit.  "I wrote a bunch'f letters, y'know?  I mean...th'first few months that ah'd been on Destiny...I got cut out'n a job by...ah dun'remember his name, but the wound, y'know...kinda bad.  Don' ask what happened, just...it was kinda nasty, y'know?  Gotta scar'n everything.  Lotta blood...'fore we had Acacia on th'ship, not a whole lotta doctorin 'til we got t'a planet."  Charlie took another pull from the bottle, swallowing the liqour hard.

"I figured, y'know...none'f us are gonna die'f old age.  Everyone on th'boat, we're gonna end up gettin' shot 'r sucked inta space, or whatever.  I should be th'glad one, never gonna hafta go gray'r nothin'.  Doesn't matter."  She shook her head, motioning with the bottle.  "I've got a trunk'n th'engine room, an'it's full'f letters.  Every couple months'r so, I write new ones...one t'everyone, so if'n somethin' happens, y'know...I'll get a chance t'say what I needed t'say, jus'n case somethin' happens t'me.  I always thought, y'know...I was gonna get a chance t'say goodbye, if even in that kinda way.  It's a bit disconnected, ah'm sure...but it kept me thinkin' that there would be some sorta...y'know...closure for whoever ah'd leave behind.  Now I'm, y'know...now Lei, 'n Wei-Lei...'n Rhaef...they're gone, an' that's that..."

Geoff drank slowly as he listened to Charlie speak of letters and closure. Geof thought that the letters were probably a good idea. He might have to do that. Well, if he had anybody who would give a damn, he might. As it stood, he didn't have anybody who would care one way or another if he died and nobody to leave letters behind to. Charlie, on the other hand, would have people who would want to read those letters and know what her last words to them would have been. Geoff smiled wistfully at that. Must be nice to have somebody to care enough about you to even want closure.

Geoff looked to Charlie and shrugged. "Letters, eh? Letters ta the people who care. It's a good sentiment, Charlie. Ta be able ta say goodbye an'...an' all.", he said in a soft tone,"But...guessin' the 'verse don't always work that way. Don't...don't want everybody ta have goodbyes. But...tha's life, right? Yeah. Tha's...life. Things...things and people...they go 'way without warnin'. People die. It...it shouldn't be a big deal. But it is. Lei. Wei-li. Rhaef. I only knew 'em fer a little bit....but I wish I coulda said goodbye to 'em. I wish...I wish I had been able ta say goodbye, at least. Heh. Actually, I wish I didn't hafta say goodbye at all. Had to say that...too many times in my life. Goodbye. But I guess that's life too. In the end, though, least they had people that cared if they lived or died. That's somethin', at least. Better than some get." He sighed heavily then and went back to drinking.

"Well...I'll be honest, y'know, I only knew Wei-Li an' Lei for...well, y'know, not very long at all.  Rhaef, though...y'know...I've been crew with him since Kale first got th'ship.  Now it's just me'n Kale, left from th'original.  It's just kinda...bit'sa strange t'think about.  I remember when we'd all gotten'n board th'first time.  I remember gettin' m'bunk, puttin' m'stuff in th'first time...ah'm just thinkin' about all th'memories I've got'f him."  Charlie pulled up her knees, resting her head on them, setting the bottle back on the ground.

"I'm guessin'...it's just...ah, I'm jus'drunk.  Y'should stop listenin' to me.  Here I'm just heartbroken'n sobbin' my life out, an'tomorrow, we're gonna get back on Destiny like none'f it ever happened.  We'll all know it happened, but we're not gonna think 'bout it.  Hey, not even t'talk about it."  She let out a sigh, running her thumb over her eyes, getting the tears out of the corner.  "Surely...'cept ah'll be nursin' a headache tomorrow, an' whatever.  Ah dunno what ah'm even sayin' anymore..."

A waltz started up in the ballroom of the yacht and soon Kyoko and Kale were twirling about the floor with all the others.  Kyoko graceful as a swan, Kale ... well, he was trying.  Nadia didn't seem to mind at all however, even when he stepped on her foot.

Mr. Caddigan, had been being his usual terse self, although slightly less so due to the fact that Kyoko was such an esteemed guest.

"So, Bently, what would it take for me to ask a favor of you to greet Captain Galway with some amount of favortism? I have it on good authority that he was tricked into buy The Sparkler from the owners he thought was legitamate. And before you make a response of the buyer beware, know that it was good enough to pass my staff's intial enquires." Kyoko asks quietly as she lets him lead, her body language and poise that of a woman perfectly at ease. "He's rough, and you are right no gentleman, but an honorable business man and I can assure you he keeps his word once given."

Mr. Caddigan's frown lines deepen, "You shouldn't discuss business while dancing Lady Monroe ... it is most unbecoming." he responds.  "I find it odd to see a lady of your stature here with a ship captain - a captain of a stolen vessel like The Sparkler no less.  First of all because he is a theif ... although I will take into consideration what he have said.  Second of all, The Sparkler is an utter piece of fei wu.  It was Nadia who bid me buy it ... odd tastes that girl ..." Brently loved his daughters dearly but he could not even pretend to understand them.  He honestly had no idea how he had ended up purchasing The Sparkler.  One moment he was disdainfully mentioning the vulgarity of the older ships ... the next Nadia was telling him what a fine idea it was to purchase The Sparkler ... odd girl.

Mr. Caddigan arched a brow then, "I am assuming you wish be to drop the charges on the man ... your motives are transparent, my dear." he said, "However, I wouldn't dream of it, Nadia was far too upset when it was stolen."

"The Captain didn't take it, I can tell you what he was doing when it was stolen, and I'm asking nicely Brently, not discussing business, merely asking a favor from a freind of the family. I confess to being attached to the ship myself, it's.. special and I know that you can defintely do better. Name your price or what sort of ship you think Nadia would like.. I'll secure it for you." Kyoko says calmly.

"Careful, I can stand a step on my foot, not a rip in my dress, you keep treading on the bottom." Nadia said, her voice was serene though and held only amusement, "Not that it much matters I suppose.  My father was horrified but I had him purchase it from a department store.  Silly man wanted one made special."

The two of them continued dancing and making small talk.  Nadia found this new man to be of exceptional company - by far the most interesting person to ever grace a party such as this.  "So tell me, Mr. Galway, whatever brings a man like to you to an engagement like this?  It hardly seems appropriate."

Kale looked down at the woman, her sharp wit and personality had made her far more beautiful in his eyes.  It came as no surprise when she asked him candidly what he was doing here, "Eh, I look that outta place, huh?" he said with a grin, then paused for a moment before deciding it was best for him to be up front and honest with this woman.  "Honest, I'm here to try an' get in your good favor.  Ya see you have somethin' 'o mine ... or I s'pose it's yours, or more precisely yer fathers ... but its also mine ... what I mean ta say is I lost my ship yesterday, real beauty too.  Destiny ... The Sparkler as you know her.  I came ta see if I could get her back.  Have the charges dropped against me." he looked right into Nadia's eyes.  "I didn't steal her Miss Caddigan.  I was swindled ... bought the 'ol girl after she was already stolen from yer father.  Bought her with everything I had.  Destiny ... well, she means everything ta me, I'd do anything ta get her back." Kale watched Nadia closely, he had just laid it all out on the line ... now he could only wait for her reaction.

Mr. Caddigan laughed, "You want to buy that ship from me?" he said, and laughed again, "Well, that has got to be the best thing I've heard all night.  Whatever could you want with a ship such as that?  You could afford the very best Lady Monroe, I assure that is not The Sparkler.  Besides, Nadia was very particular about getting that ship, and I cant' even pretend to know what sort of other ship she would like ..."

Nadia literally stopped dancing.  The two of them were just standing in the middle of the crowded dance floor while other couples floated around them, much like the floating candles.  Nadia didn't even give the odd looks she was recieving a second thought as she looked at Kale.  Her gaze was steady and even, the amusement gone from her eyes to be replaced with something else ... something a bit sad and distant.

"I envy you, Mr. Galway." she said, slowly.  Not at all with the ease of their earlier conversation.  "I've never cared for anything the way you care about that ship.  I fear I have not the capacity for it." she held his gaze for a moment longer and then grabbed his arm once more, a gay smile filling her face.

"Listen to me speaking rubbish." she chortled, "I hardly ever say what I mean, or mean what I say." she said, but for a moment that look in her eyes still lingered. "The Sparkler, is in fact my ship, hidious name isn't it?  I thought it worked quite nicely.  You say it's your ship?  Heaven knows I should probably take your word for it, I am after all only a woman, what would I know of such matters?  And honestly what will I ever do with a ship?" she laughed.  "I'll speak to father."

"Brently, do you know why I want that ship in Captain Galway's hands? Not because he lets me lease a shuttle while I do the job I was tasked to do by the Companion's guild or subtly investigating company managers for my father's company. He loves that ship and I wish someone who truly loves it.. like my mother and father did, to run it." Kyoko smiles as she leans in close and whispers to him. "It was where my mother and father met, fell in love and had me."

She steps back and lets him spin her as she smiles most graciously.

Kale was not even entirely sure what had just happened.  But something had passed between him and Nadia ... something inexplicable ... something that he did not - could not comprehend.  There was a moment of complete understanding, just a moment, when the world literally stopped - or at least their world.  Now it was moving again but it was not the same world, some small piece, too small to even be percieved, but there none the less had changed, and would remain changed forever.

Kale had been there with Nadia in the moment, but now it was gone and as they gaily twirled about the floor again he smiled, and acted the way he usually did.  "It certainly is a right hideous name." he nodded, and "Well, I'm sure woman are far more capable then anyone gives them credit, more capable then a man that's fer sure, and especially a woman like yerself" and a small wink, "You know exactly what you'd do with a ship I have no doubts that you ever lack any plan."

Then she said that she'd speak with her father and Kale nodded, "I thank you." he said, and the music came to an end.  They held each other gaze again and then Nadia began leading him off back to where her father and Kyoko were.

Mr. Caddigan stopped dancing for a moment, pulling back, a stunned and touched expression on his face at the mention of elder Monroes.   He simply looked at Kyoko and smiled before moving again.

"My dear child... " he said softly as he danced.  He could not understand why she would speak on behalf of such a man, and now he understood.  It was not him-- it wasn't even really the ship-- but her parents.

Who was he to deny a child's memory.. unless it denied his own dear Nadia's...

He sighed.  "I will see what I can do-- but it is for Nadia to decide...

As the music ended he paused breaking away from Lady Monroe and applauding the performers.  Then he offered Kyoko his arm to walk her back to where his daughters were waiting.

"Fair enough Brently, all I ask is if she is willing, that you deal fairly with the Captain. I know you are a shrewd businessman, and a loving father, perhaps we can find a way for both to prosper." Kyoko says giving his arm a gentle squeeze.

Nadia led Kale towards her father as gracefully as ever.  What Nadia had seen in Kale's eyes when he had spoken about the ship was love, real love.  Love like she had never known and perhaps never would.  But she would not be the one to deny someone who could love so greatly.

"Father!  Well, that was perfectly lovely was it not?" she said, "I find Mr. Galways to be quite the remarkable man, I do say you should rethink your first impression ... although I dare say you already have.  Yes, that's right, I can tell right now.  You really do like Mr. Galway!  Very wise, Father, I always knew you were the best judge of character1" she cooed, in this way she had always manipulated her father.  "I have something of hte utmost importance to discuss with you now, Father, so pray listen closely.  Mr. Galway has -"

She was cut off then buy a loud crash.

Shrill screams filled the immaculate ballroom as men in dark clothing and masks flooded onto the yacht.  It seemed inconceivable but soon the frightened rich, famous and powerful were all herded into the center of the room eyeing the well-armed men fearfully.

"Now we can do this the easy way ... or the hard way..." said one man, "An' I prefer the hard way, so play nice."

Looking around the parking lot Rhaef could still make out Larry watching the yacht and not the car.  The radio remained silent and everything seemed in order.

As Wei-Li went to get Lei, Rhaef adjusted the ear piece, nothing as yet, which he could decide if it was a good thing or not. He checked his guns, and popped the trunk, and found a blade. He removed, stuck it his boot, and then picked up Larry's unconscious stooge, and dumped in the truck. He closed the trunk, and stole along the side of the car, slicing two tires on each car.

He turned back to Wei-Li, and waited for her to spring Lei. Right now the child needed to see a friendly face, and in all likelihood, that was not him.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:23, Fri 31 Mar 2006.

Inside the car Lei waited.  She could hear the man moving around, and at one point talking to someone.  If there were more than just him, she knew she was in trouble.  Even if it was just him, she was in trouble.  She didn't want to get hit again, but she knew she definitely didn't want to go back to the white place...  That enough to scare her into action.

She had to act, and act quickly.  She tensed as she heard someone pulling up on the door handle.  It was time.

Wei-Li nodded and opened the door.  When she saw Lei, she had just enough time to open her mouth before Lei's feet connected with her abdomen.

The car seemed to explode around her as a flash of pain, so bright and intense took her breath away, she tried to scream, but there was nothing to scream with.  She fell back, her arms folding over her belly protectively.

She was oblivious to the blur that was Lei running from the car.  Even the sharp stones in the parking lot didn't register.  Just the pain that brought tears to her eyes and silenced her scream before it formed.

Rhaef watched Wei-Li go down, and Lei fly out of the car, and was torn, but then decided to catch Lei, he sprinted up behind her, and caught by the wrist. And prayed. He bent down so she could look in her the eyes, "Lei, I know you don't trust me, that place you were, that's my bad place, I don't want to go back. But I need you to trust me for five minutes. After that if you don't believe me, I'll give you my gun, and you can shoot me yourself, and then at least you'll be armed and have a fighting chance to get back to Geoff." He prayed that the girl, even in her heighten state of fear, in some part of her, would at least listen to reason.

Lei, running on instinct tried to pull free from Rhaef's grasp.  He was with the bad men, and now he was hurting her, holding her like the big men had done in the white place.

She twisted and turned, finally kicking him as hard as she could and running away.  He was one of the big men, but he was also like the men in white, telling her sweet things and then hurting her.

She was not going back.

Rhaef stepped back, surpressing a yelp as Lei kicked him, limping slightly he caught up with her again. He grabbed her by her shoulders, and turned her to him. "I know you're scared and probably hate me, and to be honest I don't blame you, but you're not safe on your own. I am asking you to trust me, and to prove that I can be trusted, I'll trust you." He removed a gun, and placed in her hands, and let her go. "There if you run, you'll at least be armed, and you can shoot anyone who'd try to stop you. You can even shoot me, if you'd like. But if I was a bad man, would I have fought so hard to stop Kyron and the others?" Rhaef waited, he'd done everything could, the ball was in her coat, at best, she'd listen to reason, at worst, she'd shoot him, but at least she'd be armed and have a fighting chance to get back to the others.

Lei could feel her blood boil as Rhaef wheeled her around, and then he handed her a gun.  Even as part of her tried to convince herself that it wasn't loaded, that it was a trick, she hefted it, realzing that it was fully loaded.

Her chin trembled as she tried to figure things out and then she realized that if she did shoot him, it would bring all the other bad men to her and that was the last thing she wanted.  She backed away from him.

Kyron wanted to kill her... the bad men wanted to take her back...

She continued backing away then threw the gun at him.  It was probably tagged... they'd follow her through it...   She turned and ran for all she was worth dodging between cars until there were no more... and she was left to find another path.

Rhaef picked up the gun, and gave up. The girl was so scared she was being comepletely irrational, he could not blame her, but he tried twice to reason with her, and now he'd have to trust her to survive on her own. If anyone questioned him later, he could say he'd done his best, and some of the problem has to fall on the girl. It was a hollow victory yes, but he could not leave Wei-Li alone to chase Lei all over the city.

He ran back to Wei-Li and knelt beside her, to see if she was okay.

Wei-Li shuddered slightly as she finally began to catch her breath and the color returned to her face.  She gave Rhaef a worried look.

"where?" she whispered raggedly.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 20:50, Fri 31 Mar 2006.

Rhaef pointed in the direction that Lei had taken off, "I tried to reason with her, and even tried to give a gun and let her shoot me. I did everything I could to try to get her back, and all she saw was the monster." Rhaef's voiced seemed to almost crack, like the exhaustion of the day's events had taken its toll, and Lei's rejection had been the last straw.

As he moved closer, the radio sparked to life.   "Move!"

There was heaving breathing and the sound of breaking glass.  Then a voice came over the radio as everything else seemed to stop.

""Now we can do this the easy way ... or the hard way...An' I prefer the hard way, so play nice."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 20:54, Fri 31 Mar 2006.

Rhaef heard the voices, and his nerved steeled. "I can't chase her any more, Wei, those people may need my help. I cannot leave them to Larry and his thugs, if I do, some kid's gonna end like me without parents and in the hands of monsters. I won't let that happen again." He voice still tinged with emotion because hard, like this had gone beyond an escape attmept and now was some great personal quest.

"I can't tell what to do. I can't say go after Lei, I can't say go to guards and make sure you are at least safe, but I have to go. And I can't have you follow me, I may have already lost Lei, I can't afford to lose you for the others as well."

Wei-Li looked at him as she moved to a squating position.  "What? what people? What's happening?" she asked as she tried to get her bearings.

Without realizing it, she kept her arm bent, with the forarm pushing against her stomach were Lei had kicked her.  She took a deep breath and looked him in the eyes.  "What are you talking about?"
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 21:23, Fri 31 Mar 2006.

"Larry and his men, they're attacking some sort of party on the boat, they surrounded. I can hear the voices, they are threatening and bullying people, and someone not qualified is going play hero, and get themselves, shot or worse."

Rhaef paused and noticed that Wei-Li was holding her stomach, "My god, are you okay? How is your wound?"

Wei-li nodded, still holding her stomach and let out a slow breath.  "That kid packs a mean whallop," she told him.  Then she moved forward, looking towards Larry and his men.

"Which boat?"

Rhaef sighed deeply, relieved to hear she was okay. "You have no idea, don't think I'll be walking straight for a week from the way she kicked me."

He paused and his eyes from the well-lit boat in the harbor and he guided Wei-Li's eyes toward it, "that one."

Wei-Li followed his gaze and gasped.  "Omigod... she said, pointing towards one of the moring lines, where a small figure walked it from the peir to the ship.

"Lei...

Rhaef let loose a string of curses as he saw the child walking toward the boat. For a kid afraid of bad situations, she had a knack for walking into them. Rhaef turned to Wei-Li, "Think you're up to following her, cause she won't listen to me."

His face darkened, "Plus I think its time for me to pay Larry another visit anyway."

Charlie and Geoff were both completely wasted by this point as they lounged about by the back of the liquor truck, empty bottles strewn about them.  They were lucky that no one had come by.

Charlie was mostly strewn out on the ground, laying on her back as she looked up at the stars, the truck obstructing any lighting that had been erected around where they were.  She could feel the world moving in a slow circle around her...or maybe she was moving, and the world was still.  All that she knew was that she wasn't 100% sure if she would be able to get up and move anytime soon.

"We...need'ta move't some point, y'know."  Charlie spoke through a haze, somewhere between wasted and falling asleep.  "They're gonna find us, n'notice that we'd...never paid'r nuthin'.  Where'r we gonna go, Geoff..."

Geoff was laying in the back of the truck, muttering to himself about nothing in particular, when Charlie spoke. Geoff didn't answer for a few moments, but eventually shook his head to Charlie's words. "Naaww. Dun...don't wanna move. We'll jus' stay righ' here. What...what're they gun...gonna do that's worse than what's been...done 'ready?", he said in a slow and soft tone, as if speaking in his sleep,"'Sides, ain't...ain't got nowhere...ta be goin'. Nowhere. So...jus' stay here. Yeah. Righ' here is goood. Yeah...goooood."

A loud crashing sound of breaking glass reached Geoff and Charlie's ears followed by screams and the sounds of general hysteria.  The noises were coming from the boat where Kale and Kyoko were ....

Even drunk as he is, Geoff's attention is drawn by the sounds of the crash and the sudden commotion coming from the boat. Sounds of that sort are things that always get his attention, after all, since most of his jobs were to cause such noises...and he had been drunk more than once while having to pull one of those jobs. So he turned his head to look toward the boat and see what was going on. "Wha'...wha' the hell? Is somethin' happenin'....happenin' over there? I ain' even...even over there ta start stuff.....am I? No, I'm here. Then who's...who's startin' stuff over there?", he mumbled in a confused manner.

As Lei emerged from the sea of cars she found herself on the edge of a pier.  Ahead of her was nothing but water.  Lei had to blink for a few moments.  She had never seen anything like it.  The water seemed to stretch on for miles and miles before fading away to meet the sky.  She glanced behind her then and saw one of the bad men.  He hadn't spotted her ... yet.  But she had no where to go, unless ...

Lei looked at the rope tied to the pier, it lead up onto the big boat that was floating just a few feet away.  She could be like the ladies in the bar on Paquin that Geoff had thought were so good.  Very carefully, and cautiously she placed one foot onto the thick rope.  She tested it for a moment, it felt sturdy enough.  Now Lei just hoped she could keep her balance.  She brought her other foot off the solid ground and onto the rope as well, throwing both hands out on either side to keep her balance.  This wasn't so hard.  Lei quickly calculated the distance she needed to travel across the rope in her head.  This was like a math problem, she had to make sure that she and the rope stayed in equilibrium.

Slowly she took another step, then another.  Her eyes were trained on the rope ahead of her.  The moonlight shone behind her, silhoutting her smale frame against the night sky, the water shimmered beneath her.  She reached the other end then and pulled herself up over the side of the boat and onto the deck.

As Geoff's gaze traveled over the boat, trying to figure out what it was that was going on, he suddenly spotted a shape moving on the pier. His breath caught in his throat and he sat up straight and stiff as he watched the slim figure sillhoueted by the moon move up one of the mooring ropes like an acrobat. The figure was one that he recognized, but he couldn't believe it. He had to be wrong or just drunk. But he knew he wasn't that drunk yet. He wasn't seeing things. He couldn't be. He had to be right in what he saw. The figure could only be....

"..Lei? Lei?!", he cried out as he jumped from the back of the truck, stumbling badly on his unsteady legs and falling to his hands and knees. His gaze never left the small figure, Lei's figure, as she finished her tight rope walk onto the boat. He lifted himself up to a standing position, unsteadily keeping to his feet, and looked to Charlie, pointing towards the boat."It's Lei, Charlie!! Lei's on the boat!! I saw her!! I saw her!! C'mon!!", he exclaimed as he grasped Charlie by the shoulder to lift her up so she could come with him to the boat so they could get Lei. He had seen Lei. She had gone to the boat. So that's where he was going. He would bust those two guards up if they got in his way this time. Bust them up good.

It was at that point that the crashing from before suddenly made a connection in his alcohol hazed mind. The crashing and screaming had come from the boat. The boat that Lei was now on. His grip on Charlie's shoulder became urgently tight and he looked to her with alarm in his sleepy gaze. "The boat! All that crashin'! Lei's there now!! Lei's with the...we gotta go!! We gotta go help her!!", he said and began to move at a stumbling lope back towards the boat.

"Geoff!"  Charlie hadn't been paying attention to what Geoff had been saying, anything about what was happening on the boat or what he was seeing in the distance.  In fact, she hadn't been listening at all.  In her head, she had been entertaining a third encounter with the authorities, were they to find that she and Geoff had drank this much of their stock.  Would they dive into the water, swim away?  Would they have to climb another building?  Would he whip out his pistol and kill everybody, and then they'd run after that?  The events slowly played out in her minds eye, them running again and again.  The life on Paquin, as it seemed, just sounded better and better every day.

So when she was grabbed by the shoulder and nearly pulled onto her feet from where she lay by Geoff, it was quite a sobering moment.  She opened her eyes as best she can, moving with Geoff as the world swam like a tumbulant ocean beneath them...it was hard to tell if she was moving straight behind him, or if they were zig-zagging back and forth.  The whole world seemed to tumble about, like they were in a dryer.

"Wait a...wait a sec!"  She pulled Geoff's arm, digging her heels into the ground, doing her best to get him immobile for a moment.  "You'n I aren't goin' up a rope.  Neither'f us are in any sort'f..what th'hell are y'gonna do?  Give't a moment, think 'fore y'act.  I mean..."  Charlie cut off, feeling her stomach begin to do leaps into her throat, the movement starting to sit worse with her.  She let go of Geoff, putting her hands on her knees and bending over, taking a moment to breathe and make sure she wasn't going to lose it here...

Geoff didn't pause at all, even as Charlie tried to stop him. He just pulled her along with him until she let go. He wasn't going to stop. He had to go help Lei. Had to! "Ain't gonna go on no rope!! Gonna go straight in through those gorram guards!!", he called over his shoulder as he headed in the direction of the boat,"Sayin' tha...that, ya should be stayin' here, Charlie. It's gonna get messy..."

With that, he continued towards the boat with his shaky and ambling stride, stumbling in his drunkeness every so often but always continuing onwards. When he got to the planking that led up to the boat, he just walked on forward. He wasn't going to stop for anything and that included any guards in his way.

Oddly enough the two guards that had stopped Charlie and Geoff earlier were no longer there.  They walked right up the gangplank and onto the boat unhindered.  As they stepped onto the deck Geoff scanned both directions.  One of the windows leading into the grand ballroom was open and he could have sworn he saw someone slipping through it ... although it could have been the drunken haze.

The window however was far to small for him to pass through.  A few feet to his left was a door ... three very large, and heavily armed figures stood with their back to him, blocking the doorway.  They each had their guns out and aimed inside. Screams could still be heard from the room that lay beyond although they were beginning to die down.  A loud mans voice could be heard barking out orders.

Inside the ballroom the atmosphere was that of general chaos.  At nearly every window and at all the doors were men in dark masks wearing black gloves.  The man who had spoken earlier stood at the front of the room atop the gilded stairwell.  He was still speaking as the rest of the men herded the parties guests into the center of the ballroom.  All crammed together like sheep in a pen.

"Here's what's going to happen." the man said in his deep booming voice.  "Yer all gonna shut the hell up first..." he waited a moment, a woman literally draped in pearls was hit harshly by one of the men with the back of his gun.  She let out one last squeal before the entire room fell silent ... these men obviously meant business. "Thank you." the man said, "Now, my friends here are gonna be comin' 'round.  You will all kindly give them yer account access codes and transfer all of your funds into our account.  Ya'll do just as yer told an' no one gets hurt.  Step a toe outta line an' well ... I'll get ta have a lil' fun." he laughed then and his laugh was frightening to all in attendance.

A few of the men then took out portable tablets and began working their way through the room.  One man would hold a gun to the guests head while the other walked them through the process of emptying their account.  They moved quickly and efficiently.

Kale looked up as he heard the crash of glass and screams and men in dark masks began flooding the room.  This was not good, not good at all.  "Gorram hell," he muttered, "Nothin' can ever go smooth, not ever." he said.  Just when he thought he was about to get Destiny back ... BOOM, men in masks waving pretty pistols around.  His gaze met Kyoko's as they were herded into the center of hte room with the others.  No one here was fit to deal with these sort of folk.  They were all whimpering and cowering away.

Kale didn't whimper or cower, but he did do what the men said.  Not having much of anything in his account to begin with this really didn't feel like that great of a loss to him.  As long as no one was getting hurt Kale reasoned that this was not his fight.

He looked over to Nadia then, she was grinning delightedly, Kale arched an eyebrow and shook his head ... then his gaze fell onto her father.  His frown was deeper then ever.  The thought crossed Kale's mind that if Mr. Caddigan lost all his money Kale might not be getting Destiny back after all.  As it was though, he was unarmed and greatly outnumbered.  Odds could have been worse ... they normally were.  Kale was a browncoat afterall, to him situations like this were like fighting in the war all over again.  That familiar feeling of looking around, knowing that you had lost before you even made your first move ... and then fighting anyways.  Fighting because that's all you could do.  Fighting because it was the only thing you had left.  Fighting because as long as you still stood - there was hope.

Kale hated that feeling ... and he lived for it.  He began watching the men closely, he really didn't know exactly what he would try to do ... but when then got close to him - something would be done ...

Geoff was partly glad and partly dissapointed that the guards were gone. Now that he had the thought that Lei was alive, his old instinct and joy of violence was coming back to him and he found himself itching for a fight. Especially since it sounded like there was trouble brewing around the place. Trouble and Geoff got along quite well together and he could usually add some of his own when it came right down to it. In fact, he was quite good at stirring up more trouble and took a bit of pride in that fact.

He moved clumsily onto the boat and looked around, trying to figure where to go from here. He noticed the window and thought that he had seen movement, but couldn't be too sure. The drunken haze that troubled and pleased him at the same time made it quite hard to figure if he was seeing straight. What he was quite sure that he was seeing straight was the three heavily armed men with their backs to him. They most definitely didn't belong here and he was pretty sure that they were what had caused the screaming and crashing from before.

If Geoff had been a little less drunk, he might have decided to stop and assess the situation further before making a move. Hell, to be honest, Geoff would have to be a lot less drunk and a bit more smart to do that. He was neither of those things, however, so he did the first thing that came to his mind. He drew both of his pistols and walked right towards the three men, placing his guns to the backs of the skulls of the two men on either side. Geoff did basic math then and came to the conclusion that two guns was not enough to kill three men at once. So, when he pulled the triggers on his two pistols, he also kicked upwards, aiming between the legs of the man in the middle. If he couldn't kill him, he was going to make damn sure that walking, moving and even breathing would be hard for him and a kick to the groin, as ty a move as it may be, is effective.

He smiled and laughed in a bit of a drunken giddiness as he did this. "Whoooo-eeee! You core world fellas sure do know how ta throw a party!!", he exclaimed with a laugh,"So come on then!! Let's party!!"
This message was last edited by the player at 07:39, Sun 02 Apr 2006.

Kyoko arched an eyebrow as she took in the man's demands. Silly fool thought that he could rob them like a back alley credjacker? Each person here had multible codes, redudancies and oversight. For her 'real' monies to be moved would require a vast amount of work, time and a lot more IQ points than these men hand. Still, it would be inconvient, and this fool was quite likely to consider killing them after getting the access numers.

"Sir, I fear you will find the access codes will avail you little. There are multible layers of security to most of the accounts here, far and away you've seized hold of the most securely funds on the planet or in the case of some of us like myself, mere pittances." She smiled as she played up her companion role over her heiress role.

Seeing Kale frown she shook her head and waited for the gun man to respond.

While Geoff had taken off to do his part to find Lei in th ship, Charlie had stayed behind, sitting down at the edge of the pier and looking over the side, keeping her arms wrapped around herself.  She was halfway between sickness and sleep, and it certainly wouldn't do for her to be running around and helping Geoff gun people down...truly, that was the last thing she wanted to be seeing.  It also was contributed by the fact that she wasn't even sure if she could make it up the ramp to the ship, and the thought on being on something that would be constantly moving like that...well, odds are it would be worse than better.  So while the loud noises continued on the boat, Charlie stayed back outside where she was, trying to breathe in the night air and fight off the sensation of nausea...

The man didn't get a chance to respond to Kyoko's comments as just then Geoff came bursting in the room ... literally.  Two men fell to the floor, framing Geoff as he kicked the other man to the ground in front of him.  This attracted no small amount of attention as the entrance he came through was right at the top of one of the grand stairwells leading down into the ballroom.

All eyes swiveled to slight above the man who had been speaking earlier to where Geoff stood, including the eyes of all the gunmen in dark masks.  There were screams echoing through the ballroom at the sound of the gunshots and there stood Geoff grinning, two pistols in hand.  He took a few steps into the room and the man on the stairs looked completely shocked for a few dumbfounded minutes before he shouted, "Well what are you all waiting for?!" he raised his gun to shoot Geoff, as did the man behind Geoff on the second floor of the ballrooms balcony.

Kale looked up with the rest of the room wondering who in their right mind would pull so stupid of a stunt.  His eyes widened as he saw Geoff emerge from the doorway. "Mei Yong Ma Duh Txe Gu Yong!" Kale said as he realized who it was.  What the hell is he doing here? Kale thought.  If he had even been thinking that things weren't going smooth before ... well this took the cake.  The man who seemed to be in charge spoke and raised his gun.

In a second Kale's hand flashed out and twisted the arm of the masked man in front of him.  He heard the sound of the bone break but he didn't give it a second thought as he grabbed the mans gun and fired a shot at the man behind Geoff.  He crumpled into a heap on the ground and Kale took aim at the three other men who were rushing up the stairs to join the first.

"Geoff, I don' even wanna know what yer doin' here!" Kale shouted, as he ran forward, "But we need ta get the hell out!  Kyoko!" he shouted, turning to see where she went.

The ballroom had broken out into sheer pandemonium.  People were running every which way and it was very clear that not all of the masked men were trained to be dealing with a situation like this.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:07, Sun 02 Apr 2006.

"Brently, you and the girls need to leave ahead of us." Kyoko says as shs gestrues for an entrance that leads away from the gunman, "Captain, if you can cover them and I wouldn't mind a sidearm myself either." she says as she bends down to the injured man and frees up his ammo from his belt to help the captain.

Geoff smiled a dumbly amused smile and raised a hand to wave to the captain as he saw him take down another gunman and take his gun. "Well, howdy, Cap'n! Nice ta see ya! Ya likin' yer fancy party?", he said as he stumbled forward and looked over his shoulder to where the captain shot a guy Geof hadn't even noticed,"Nice shot, Cap'n! Didn't even see that guy. I see those fellas though." With that, he lifted his pistols and opened fire on the three men rushing up the stairs.

He shook his head to the captain and shook his head as he said they had to leave. "No way, Cap'n. Can't leave. I saw Lei. Lei's here. Gotta get Lei. She's back from the dead, after all, so I can't be leavin' her behind. Can't. Gotta find her. I know I saw her.", he rambled on with an emphatic nod. It crossed his mind to tell Kale about Rhaef and Wei Li, but that thought soon passed from his mind with the pandemonium that erupted. Not noww. He'd tell him later. Right now it was time to do what he did best. Then he'd find Lei and then he'd tell the captian the bad news.

Kale gritted his teeth ... Geoff was drunk.  He could tell by his manner, but mostly by the fact that a sober Geoff wouldn't have missed a man aiming a gun at him - even if he was sneaking up behind him.  He took out one of the men rushing up the stairs, as Geoff took out the other two.  Then he heard Kyoko's voice behind him.  Good thinking on her part to get the Caddigan's to safety.  This is why he loved his crew.  He quickly elbowed a man that had just managed to throw a punch at him, it had connected solidy with Kale's left cheek, but did little other then piss him off. "Well, now that just wasn't to smart." he commented, then kicked the man in the stomach and wrestled his pistol from him.  Turning around he tossed it to Kyoko.  "Get them out of here, if someone raises a gun at ya, don' hesitate to shoot first." he shouted over the noise.

Then he turned back to Geoff who was doing a fair amount of damage on his own, even drunk.  They were almost right next to each other at this point and Kale was about to yell at him for saying he wasnt' going to try to get out of here when he heard Geoff's reasoning.  "Lei?!  The gorram girl's in here?!" Kale cast a look out over the ballroom.  This was no place for a little girl.  "Okay, we find the girl ... try ta stay alive in the meantime." a few bullets came whizzing by then, just missing the two of them.  "An' let's get off this stairwell, we're like target practice up here." Kale said, and grabbing a little end table that had been holding a very pretty plant he used it as a battering ram to make his way back down the stairwell.

Nadia grinned at Kyoko as Kale tossed her the gun, and then looked around the ballroom, the smile never leaving her face.  "This is by far the most splendid party we've ever been to, wouldn't you agree father?" she said, and then began following Kyoko.

Lei had slipped in through the first available opening to get out of the open ... a decision she was seriously regretting.  As she climbed through the window she found herself in a room full of the bad men.  She was immediately frozen with fear.  She didn't dare even to breathe.

Then she looked up as a very familiar voice began yelling.  "Geoff!" she shouted, but she couldn't be heard over the screams and shouts and gunblasts that were going on all around her.  Plucking up all her courage she began running right through the middle of the battle zone, intent on reaching Geoff, that's all she wanted.  To reach Geoff, Geoff would make it all better.

She ducked around a group of woman dressed in pretty dressed and wondered vaguely where exactly she was and why everyone was dressed up so much.  No one on Destiny ever wore things like that.  All of Lei's senses were peaked.  She could literally hear the sound of the bullets flying through the air and could easily avoid their path's based on that sense alone.  Then she noticed that Captain standing up next to Geoff, he looked angry.  Lei was frightened for a moment, but she didn't think that he was angry with her this time.  And he seemed to be helping Geoff.  "Geoff!" she yelled again, hoping maybe he'd hear her.

Kale managed to push back a few men rushing up the stairs with the table he had grabbed and was soon on the lower level of the ballroom.  Two men were firing at Geoff from the top of the balcony although there were not very good aim.  Geoff figured as long as they were aiming to actually hit him he was pretty damn safe.
The man who seemed to be in charge of this operation as he had been talking earlier had not gone down when Geoff had fired at him.  He had dodged the shot and it had only grazed his arm.  He had however dropped his weapon, this was not stopping him however as he pulled out a blade and threw it.  It landed in Geoff's left shoulder.  He then proceded to punch Geoff in the gut.

On the lower level one of the masked men spun around to find Kyoko and the Caddigan's trying to run out, he raised his gun but then realized that the armed person facing him was a woman ... a very beautiful, well-bred looking woman and he hestitated.

Geoff smiled as the captain said they would stay until they found Lei and he watched as he made his way down the stairs. It never really occured to Geoff that standing around and watching things was probably not a good idea at the moment, considering the shooting and everything going on. At least it didn't occur to him until the shots came from the balcony.

He looked up and shot a few rounds off at the two men when the sound of his name being called reached his ears. The voice was familiar so he looked about for the source of it, hoping that he wasn't just hearing things. "Lei? Lei?!", he called out as he looked about frantically. He couldn't look for long though as a knife thudded into his shoulder and was soon followed by the thrower of the knife slamming his fist into Geoff's gut.

Geoff grunted at the blow and staggered back a bit on his unsteady legs. He caught his balance and glared at the man in front of him them. "You dirty ruttin' bastard!!", he said and charged the man, slamming his shoulder into him and grabbing him in a tackle. This didn't register as a serious lapse in judgement until he realized he was heading down the stairs. He and the man both rolled down the stairs and Geoff landed heavily at the foot of the stairs, losing his grip on his guns as they slid away from him.

Kale felt someone knocking into him as he stood fighting at the base of the stairwell.  That something turned out to be Geoff.  "Ruttin' hell!" Kale yelled, in the moment he took to look over at the two men who were now sprawled on the ground the two men he had been fighting made their move.  One delivered a blow to Kale's head that left his ears ringing while the other disarmed him.  They were now pointing two guns at Kale.  He threw his arms up and began backing up against Geoff.

"Well this is a happy development." Kale said, "Yer gonna wanna be careful there with them pistols, no need fer anyone ta be gettin' trigger happy.  We can settle this all nice an' civil-like, right folks?" he glanced over his shoulder, "Geoff, a lil' help right now would not go amiss."

The man who Geoff had been fighting tumbled down the stairs as well almost landing on top of Geoff at the bottom.  He quickly scrambled to his feet, kicking one of Geoff's pistols away and grabbing the other one up in his right hand.  He pointed it at Geoff.

Both Geoff and Kale were unarmed, and surrounded.

"Ya know, situations like this are just gettin' a mite too familiar fer my liking." Kale commented.

Geoff cursed as he had his own pistol pointed at him. "Didn't nobody ever teach ya not ta take what don't belong to ya?", he remarked as he held his hands up and silently promised that he'd give the man that particular lesson in not messing with another man's guns in the most violent way possible. Well, if he got out of this, he would.

He looked over his shoulder to Kale and gave a short laugh. "Ain't that funny? I was 'bout ta be sayin' the same thing.", he said and then sighed with a shake of his head,"Damn. Ain't this a kick in the head? Looks like the whole crew is gonna end up dyin' on this gorram rock. At least Charlie should still be okay..."

Kyoko shook her head at Nadia. "Not now dear, we can discuss how exciting this is later, AFTER I keep you and your family from being shot." she says as she motions for them to move down the hall and looks to Brently with a warning in her eye. "Let's find you all a stateroom and get you looked in safely." She adds as she keeps watch on the hall as they retreat, the sooner she gets the Caddigan's safely hidden the faster she can go back to save the Captain and his foolish thug.

Rhaef and Wei-Li watched as Lei climbed over the edge of the boat and onto the deck from their spot by the cars.  Looking around Rhaef could see Larry set up on the pier, a hand held computer terminal in his hand which he was working on.  He seemed to have no interest in entering the party with the other members of the Hand.

Charlie stood outside the ship trying to stop the world from spinning all around her.

OOC: Charlie you are at the front entrance of the ship, Rhaef and Wei are going to be coming up along the side, unless you are looking there you won't see them.

Larry stared down at the computer in his hands, a smile crossing his face as he the money began rolling into the account he and Smalls had set up for the Hand.  Larry's job was to quickly transfer the money directly out of that account and into another ... this one untraceable.  Curio would then transfer the money out and into hard cash.  This would be the end of the Burnt Hand.  This was to be their undoing and the rise of a new order.  None of Larry's actual men were inside that party. Most of his men had left headquarters months ago with the exception of the few he had sent on the hospital run, who would be seeking passage off planet as soon as the theft was completed, and Smalls who was busy erasing all record of any of Curio's men from the Hand's database.  It would be a clean sweep.  All those with Curio would bet out scotch free ... the rest would be spending the remainder of their lives in a federal prison.  And finally the 'verse would be a safe place for Curio once more.

As they crept closer to the boat, Rhaef saw a man standing far afield from the others, not getting his hands dirty, "Larry," he hissed. He turned to Wei-Li to see if she was still with him or had pursued Lei, he saw that she was still there and whispered, "Last chance to turn back, and get safe, I wish you would, but I can't make you."

She looks at him and smiles.  "Lei is on that ship-- and two stand a better chance than one"

That was all she said.  That was all that needed to be said.

"Okay, I understand." Although he had seen Lei heading toward the ship, Rhaef had been blinded by revenge enough to not process what that meant. They had to get inside, and they had to do it quickly. He leveled his gun on Larry's knees, and with his other hand, flipped on the mike, "You know, Larry, I'm so glad you took the hard way." He snarled. He then fired the gun, once into Larry's kneee, and the next into his shoulder.

As though Rhaef's shot was the first chord of a symphony it was followed by the sound of gun fire from inside the boat ... quite a lot of gun fire as a matter of fact.  Larry started up the second symphony with his scream that was shortly echoed by those on the boat as he slumped to the ground.

Larry froze the second he heard Rhaef's voice come over the radio, before he had even finished speaking Larry's head was whipping around, trying to figure out where the hell the bastard was ... he was too slow.  In a second a bullet pierced through his knee, followed swiftly by another to the shoulder.  Larry couldn't even think as she collapsed to the ground, letting out a cry of agony as he did so.  The pain was absolutely excrutiating and for a moment that was his entire world - pain.

Then came the hatred, the loss, the fear.  More then anything in that moment he wanted Rhaef Sorandash dead.  He wanted to personally drive a knife through his skull, nice and slowly.  He hated that man.  Hated everything he did, everything he stood for, everything about him.  He hated him most for ruining this however.  Larry's moment of glory - gone.  Snatched away from him by that hun dun.  He had failed now, it was over.

Rhaef found no joy in shooting Larry, it was simply that had to be done. Rhaef wished he had the time to make sure he died, but Lei was heading into the middle of a fire fight, and even if she was afraid of him, he needed to protect her.

He walked up to Larry, "Larry, you'll never learn, you'll never be better than me. As much as I'd like to watch you die, ruining your heist will mean so much more." As he said, Rhaef spun the gun he taken from the guard earlier, and had shot Larry with, and cracked it down on Larry's temple, knocking him out cold. If Rhaef was lucky, he bleed out before help found him. Rhaef, stripped the Hawaiian shirt he was wearing, wiping the gun down and dropped at Larry's feet.

He turned to Wei-li and pointed at the plank, that looks like the only way in or out. I'm going that way, if you know of a better way with your skills, take it. Because I have feeling I'm going to walking into the teeth of a firefight."

"I could take the rope, cover the high ground, but it might be better that we stick together and watch each other's back... "

After a pause she took a deep breat.  "I'm much better with the sneaking and the not being seen, but I think its too late for that."

Rhaef sighed, he hated bring her into the firefight, but she was right. "You follow me, cover my back, hopefully, I'll draw most of the fire, if we get any, okay?" Rhaef replied as they began moving toward the gangplank.

Wei-Li gave Rheaf a solemn nod.  Keeping her her weapon in a low ready stance, she followed him towards the gang plank.  She kept her pistol trained the ship aft of where they would be entering.

"Ready when you are..."

As Rhaef and Wei-Li walked around to the front entrance they noticed that Larry's men must had set up an makeshift gangplank along the side of the boat for their own boarding purposes.  No one seemed to be up on the deck by it anymore however.

Rhaef taps Wei-Li's shoulder and points out the second gangplank, his guns drawn he steps down on to it his weapons trained on the path ahead of them, and his eyes open to area around the deck. All the while, he continues to listen the earpiece to see if anything more can be gleaned.

Wei-Li follows him trusting him to cover what was ahead of them, she watched the parking lot in case someone came out of the shadows.  Though she still moved gracefully it was clear that she was being carful of pushing her injuries.

Rhaef and Wei-Li followed the sounds of gun fire until they reached a doorway.  Rhaef pulled Wei-Li inside and the two of them emerged into the ballroom.  From their spot at the top of the grand stairwell they could see the sheer chaos that had enveloped the room.  And there at the bottom of the stairs were Kale and Geoff, surrounded by five men, all pointing guns at their unarmed crew mates.  Lei was also running across the room, darting in and out of the crowd.  Kyoko was no where to be seen as of now as she had darted into one of the adjacent corridors.

Rhaef turns to Wei-Li, "Cover me, please don't let anyone shoot me in the back if possible." There's almost a joyful gleam in his eyes. As he levels his guns on the men surrounding Kale and Geoff, he shouts, as he pulls the triggers, "Geoff, Kale, duck." He is aiming for the lower back of the two men behind them, so that he should hit his crew mates any way.

Kale has only a moment to register the voice he hears before he is flinging himself to the ground, his arm pulling Geoff down with him, afraid that in his drunken state he wouldn't move quick enough.

Rhaef's bullets connect solidly with the two of the men.  The others all look up at Rhaef ... this was not something they had expected.

"Rhaef!" Kale said from his spot on the floor, "Nice of ya to join us."  Still on his stomach Kale swipes his gun back from one of the fallen men, he rolls onto his back and from his lying down position shoots up at one of the men still staring stupidly up at Rhaef.

Wei-Li tried to watch everything at once, The stairs behind her, ground level, and those on upper levels that could snipe.

She forced herself to relax and take it all in, watching everyone... not only where they were, but where they were heading, and what they were carrying. She saw one man, who seemed to be running away, but his angle was wrong.. he was turning, aiming.

She squeezed off two rounds, realizing that that was probably a mistake, but it was too late now.  She moved from where she shot now that her location was given away-- or would have been if not for the mayhem below.

Geoff could only stupidly gape as he heard Rhaef's voice and looked up to see him. "Hey...ya were s'posed ta be dead too. Weird...", he muttered even as Kale pulled him down with him. Geoff hit the deck when the captain pulled him down and watched two of the men fall from Rhaef's shots.

While it probably would have been wise to pick up one of the guns from the fallen men, Geoff had never claimed to be wise even when sober. So his first reaction was to launch himself up from the floor and at the guy who had taken his gun. Geoff had a fondness for his guns and had promised himself he would put a hurting on the bastard who had taken it. Now was as good a time as any, he figured, as he slammed his fist into the man's gut and grabbed for his gun, intent on taking back what was his.

The two men Rhaef shot went down, as did the one Kale shot.  However, the one not being pummeled to the ground by Geoff was now firing up at Rhaef.  His first shot missed but the second slightly grazed Rhaef's upper arm, just a clip though.

The man Geoff had taken on stumbled backward as Geoff's fist connected with his stomach.  He dropped the gun, but as Geoff bent to pick it up he made a grab for the knife still sticking out of Geoff's shoulder and gave it a twist.  His attempt to pull it free failed however.

The man Wei-Li had fired at took a graze to his shoulder, which seemed to do little but piss him off as he began firing up at her.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:39, Tue 04 Apr 2006.

Rhaef twisted to dodge the bullets coming at him, and as the second one grazed him, he turned and leveled a blast at the man who had fired on him. As he did, he back to make his way down the stairwell, back to the wall, with guns pointed in either direction, trying to cover both Wei-Li and Kale amd Geoff.

Wei-Li let her breath out in a determined huff as she dove away from where the man was firing and came up with her gun leveled at his head.  She fired another shot then flattened herself of the ground trying to make as little of a target as possible.

Kale pushed himself to his feet as the men began falling down all around him.  He looked up at Rhaef and grinned, "Did I ever tell you that you have impeccable timing?" he asked, "If I had the money, I'd give ya a raise ... maybe ..."  Kale then glanced around, to his right he saw a man aiming up at the stairwell firing off rounds at Wei-Li.  He took aim and shot the man down.

As drunk as Geoff might have been, the twisting of the knife dug deep into his shoulder caused him to cry out and he had to grit his teeth against the sharp pain that shot through his shoulder. He growled slightly at the man before him and grabbed the hand that the man had twisted the knife with. "Ben tian sheng de yi dui rou!! I'll ruttin' kill ya!!", he said as he gripped the man's arm tightly before driving his head forward to impact with the man's skull in a headbutt. Geoff would feel that later, but since when did he care about that?

Lei had just about reached Geoff when Rhaef came bursting into the room.  She had half the mind to run in the other direction, but the bad men were everyone and there was only one Geoff and she wanted to get to Geoff.

It was confusing to her that Rhaef seemed to be shooting the bad men in masks.  Wasn't he one of them?  She'd have to think on that later.  For now she was almost to Geoff.  She came alongside him right as the man was twisting the knife in his shoulder.  Lei screamed.  And then looked down as Geoff's gun clattered to her feet. She looked down at it for a second and then picked it up.  Geoff needed his guns.  She remembered how he had told her that that was what he used to protect people with.  "Geoff, gun!" she said and held it out to him.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:51, Tue 04 Apr 2006.

Rhaef's man hit the floor and the man firing at Wei-Li was met with not only her shot, but Kale and Rhaef's as well ... needless to say he went down.

Geoff's man hit the floor with the force of his head butt and was scrambling for the gun when he realized that the little girl was holding it.

Rhaef reachs Kale, "Good to see you Captain, but I did not know this was your kind of party." He moved back to back with the Captain, and turned to cover Wei-Li's way down the stairs, shooting down a sniper who was targeting her. "Wei, move, I'll cover you."

Wei-li fought to catch her breath as she once again scanned the area for any threats.  From her vantage point she couldn't see any, but she knew that didn't mean there weren't any, and it was time to move.

She eased her way down the stairs, keeping her gun ready in case she'd missed someone, she continually scanned the area.  She gave Rhaef a relieved smile, and nodded to Kale, but did not lower her weapon... instead she continued to scan the area.

"It ain't." Kale said, taking up the familiar fighting stance that him and Rhaef used often when things went south ... which they usually did.  "But it is the type 'o party that the folk who got Destiny go to." a thought crossed his mind then, "Ain't you supposed ta be in the hospital?"

Geoff grinned with feral glee as the man fell and was about to pounce on him and pummel him repeatedly when he heard Lei's voice. He turned to her and smiled warmly, more glad than he thought he would be to see her alive and well. He would have said as such, but there was still the guy in front of him to deal with. So he took the offered gun from Lei with a nod of thanks before pointing it to the man on the ground.

"Close yer eyes, Lei. You don't need ta see this.", he said before giving the man on the ground a grin,"Didn't I tell ya 'bout takin' what didn't belong ta ya? Now ya gotta pay fer it. Nobody ever listens to me." With that, he fired three times into the man's midsection before lowering his gun a bit, still cautious but not entirely as much as he should be.

His lack of worry at things was evidenced by how he turned to Lei with a wide smile and a laugh of relief and he grabbed the girl to hug her tightly to him "Ha, ha!!! Gorramit, it is good to see ya!!", he said as he lifted the girl clean off her feet in his one armed bear hug.

Rhaef's mouth formed a smirk, "Aren't you supposed to be in jail? Wei and I got out of the hospital, and long story short, Kale, visited some old enemies, got us disappeared from the system, tried to rescue Lei who kicked both of us hard, and then joined here, trying to stop the Hand from robbing the folks who might have the old girl."

Kale laughed at Rhaef's comment and then listened with slightly wide eyes at his account of what had happened.  "Hell I got off easy this trip looks like." he said, although he was mentally kickin himself for landing his crew in so much trouble while he danced at some fancy party.  Now wasn't the time for one of his infamous guilt trips however.  "We gotta find Kyoko an' get the folks who got the papers ta my ship outta here."

As Geoff noticed Rhaef and Wei Li, he smiled even wider and put Lei down on her feet with a pat to her head and a tousling of her hair before heading over to the two. "Hey!! Y'all ain't dead!! Ya ain't even remotely dead!! Yer all alive and such! Damn glad to see that!", he said and clapped the captain on the back as he moved past hm,"See that, Cap'n? They're alive Ha, ha!! This is great!"

He moved past the captain and to Wei Li, grabbing her and hugging her as tightly as he had Lei. "Gorram glad ya ain't dead!! Gave me a scare and such when I saw that report! Thought ya were lost!! Couldn't stand that. All sad and such. Damn glad yer not dead...", he said in an enthusiastic tone and nodded as he then turned away from her and moved to face Rhaef with his arms outstretched,"RHAEF!! Come here, ya not dead lug ya!"

Rhaef allowed Geoff to hug him, in part because the large man was drunk and was doing whatever he wanted, and in part because he saw one of the last Hand snipers, targeting Geoff, as Geoff reached him, Rhaef ducked one arm under Geoff's forearm and plugged the man in the heart. "Um, Geoff, I'm as glad as anyone to not be dead, but let's wait for the celebration til we get the ship back." Then he paused, the ship, the crew, Charlie... "Where's Charlie? Is she okay?" As exhausted as he was, Rhaef was not sure he was able to completely hide the concern in his voice and eyes.

Geoff smiled a wide and almost stupidly happy smile as he clapped Rhaef on the bck. "Damned if ya ain't right! Wait 'til we get ta the ship! Let's get the ship and such. Yeah!!", he said and then nodded as he mentioned Charlie,"Charlie? Yeah, we gotta go tell Charlie yer not dead! She'll be so happy. She was all sad and such too. Had ta drink ta take the edge off. She's outside now. We gotta go tell her yer alive!"

Kale laughed as Geoff went around and began hugging everyone in turn.  "I'm glad ta see ya too." he said, casting a look over at Rhaef and Wei-Li as the huge man hugged him.  He noticed that he kept rambling on about everyone being dead though, "Geoff, what in the gorram hell are ya talkin' 'bout?" he asked.

Geoff looked to the captain with a sudden look of realization upon his face, realizing the captain didn't know anything of what had happened. Geoff would have to explain it to him. Unfortunately, being drunk as he was, that would be a bit of a roundabout endeavor. But it was too late to stop him because he was off.

"Oh, Cap'n! It was a helluva a day! It's like this, right? Me an' Charlie left like ya told us to, right? Took that car o' Kyoko's and left. That's a nice car, by the way, Cap'n, we should invest in gettin' one. It outran that cop that chased after me and Charlie really well. Took those corners and such like a pro. Anyway, we got away from that there cop I mentioned by climbin' up a buildin' and such. Ya shoulda seen Charlie. She's a trooper, she is. Didn't pause or falter or nothin'. Went right ahead and found a way out o' that alley we were in and such. She was a good choice ta go with me.", he said with a nod.

He continued onward with his story from there. "But, right, from there we went walkin' ta where Lei was s'posed ta be last. We got there and there weren't nobody there! So Charlie looked at that there tablet thing fer directions, but she saw some report that said that Wei Li and Rhaef were killed! Yeah, in an accident or some such stuff! She broke down right there and I felt real bad, Cap'n. I mean, Wei Li is a good gal and she's easy on the eyes and such and Rhaef...well, ya know, he's Rhaef. But, in any case, I still wanted ta find Lei, right? But then these two fellas came by talkin' 'bout some girl they found on the fire escape and that they finished off and we had seen a scrap of Lei's dress on the fire escape. So I done put two and two together and, damn, I felt bad. I thought I had lost everythin'. It was bad, Cap'n.Real bad..."

He shook his head and looked slightly disturbed from the memory of how he had felt when he had thought Lei was dead, but went on with his story. "So, 'cause we didn't know what else ta do, we came to this here party ta find ya and tell ya 'bout the unfortunate news. The two guards outside wouldn't let us in though. I guess we ain't exactly fancy party material, ya know? But, eh, screw the core world party. Ain't no fun....normally, anyway. This one seems better than others. But, anyway, we couldn't get in so we went ta find somewhere ta wait. Luckily, we found a liqour truck! Ain't nothin' better than liqour when ya think everybody close ta ya is dead, if'n ya ask me. So we drank...a lot....a hell of a lot. But then all the crashin' and shootin' and such starte over here and I saw Lei sneakin' aboard so I came rushin'. Ya know, to the rescue and such. Uh...and well, ya know what happened from there..."

Kale just nodded his head along with Geoff's story not even knowing what to say, and not really given any chance to interject anyway as the man rambled on.  There were more then a few points that he would be wanting clarified later, but for now it was enough to know that his crew had been through a whole hell of a lot since they had touched down on Osiris and now it was his job to get them off this damn rock and back home.  Back onto Destiny.

"Geoff, Rhaef get Wei-Li and the lil' one outta here an' go find Charlie.  I'm gonna get Kyoko and see what we can do 'bout gettin' Destiny back right quick.  An' they core worlds are pleasant ..." Kale scoffed as he shot his way to the side hall where he had seen Kyoko disappear down earlier.

"Gotcha Kale," Rhaef replied, eager to get out the door and find Charlie. He paused, "Kale, here. You might need this more than us," he said as he handed Kale one of his guns, this way he'd have two or he could Kyoko one, if they ran into to trouble. With that he holstered the other gun. He turned to Wei-Li, Geoff, and Lei, "I'm going to find Charlie, make sure were covered outside, don't know if Larry's got any more Hand minions hanging around, and I don't want to get surprised."

With that, Rhaef took off down the main gangplank.

Rhaef left the party, and saw Charlie at the edge of the lake, and his heart jumped. He was so happy to see her alive and okay, but he also felt a wave of guilt, he had not expected any of the crew to see the wave about the crash, and he certainly had not meant to upset any of them.

As he approached her, he wondered about something Geoff had said about her crying when she saw the wave. Rhaef steeled his mind, trying not to get his hopes up, remembering their discussions when they first set out on the Destiny three years ago.

He reached Charlie who was sitting on the edge of the lake. He looked around to ensure that none of the Hand were waiting to surprise them, and then sat down next to her, placing his arm around her shoulders, and spoke quietly. "Hey Charlie, are you okay?"

"Yeah'm..."  Charlie began to spoke, lifting up her head when someone came close.  At first, she thought it was probably Geoff, coming back from the boat...but that wasn't likely, and he wasn't this soft.  It had to be Kale, hearing the news, checking up on her much like he has on several occasions.  But it's not Kale's voice...no, it's someone else's voice.  She would recognize anyone else in a heartbeat.  She turns her head slowly, making eye contact with Rhaef, her eyes watering again...although it looks like she hasn't stopped crying in a while, her cheeks wet with her own tears (and flush with alcohol).

"Rhaef, you're...m'god, I'm drunk, you're...you're dead."  She spoke softly, reaching up a hand and touching the side of his face, her touch light as if she were afraid that he would disappear at the feeling of her fingers.

A few tears escaped Rhaef's eyes, his first sign of real emotion, in many years. He gently moved his hand to Charlie's face to wipe away the tears on her cheeks and in her eyes. "No, Charlie, I'm alive. I'm so sorry you had to see the wave, I never meant for you to, never meant to hurt you..." His voice trailed off, not sure what else to say.

"...oh god, you're alive!"  Charlie exclaimed, a smile cracking out of the sides of her mouth.  It seems to be a weight lifted off her shoulders once she realizes that he's not a drunk vision, and her eyes continue to well up more tears as the smile lights up her face.  She nearly tackles Rhaef as she finds her footing, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and burying her face into his shoulder, letting out another sob.  "I thought you were dead'n...'n Geoff an'I...an' we looked, an', an'..."

Words seem to finally fail her as she pulled her head away, not giving him a chance to respond before she kisses Rhaef.  Charlie held onto him tightly, as if she were afraid that if she let go, he would leave...

Kale ran down the hallway.  Where had that girl gotten to?

"Kyoko!" he called out, periodically as he passed by the doors which assumed contained rooms for passengers.  "Kyoko! ... Lady Monroe?" he called with a slight smirk on his face.  He'd found that new title fun and interesting ... he'd have to get her to tell him about that sometime.  Kale's gun was still drawn but all this seemed to be doing was leave a trail of frightened party guests in his wake, all thinking that he was one of the bad guys.

Kyoko's presence registered a second after the touch of her gun was felt in his back. She sighed as she stepped back a step. "I'm sorry Captain, didn't realize it was you running around like an idiot yelling my name, I thought it was some of the hijackers." She says as she eases the hammer back down and looks at him. "Given your.. expeditous manner, I'm assuming we're saved?" she asks as she glances back and forth down the hall.

Kale froze for a second as he felt the touch of Kyoko's gun, then she spoke a grin broke out across his face.  "Nah, no hijackers, just me. although you best be careful, I may start takin' yer insults personally ... hurt my feelin's an' all." Then he glanced around.  "Where's the Caddigan's at?  We ain't exactly saved, but we did our fair share of damage an' I'm thinkin' its time ta get off this hear boat an' back onta ours.  Assumin' we got one ta get back onta." Kale said.

"Don't worry, I'm sure they're fine, I sent them to hide. I hinted that with you risking your life and all, that it might be considered fair to continue your payments for the Destiny to them and let the difference be their way of saying 'thank you'." Kyoko says as she puts away her sidearm. "The thugs, I take it, are taken care of?"

Kale nodded at Kyoko and offered a smile of gratitude that she had talked with the Caddigan's while he dealt with the mess in the ballroom.  Now was not the time for a friendly chat however.  Things were still going south back in the ballroom and Kale was pretty sure he and the rest had managed to tick off the men in masks.  "Bad guys ain't all gone, we gotta get out of here, grab the Caddigan's and lets go." he said, glancing back up and down the hall.

Rhaef is a bit stunned by Charlie's reaction but as she tackles him, he wraps her protectively in his arms. This was reason he did what he did, there was not avoiding it. This is why he fought so hard to get back to the ship.

Then Charlie kissed him.

Rhaef gave moment's pause, not sure to actually believe this was happening, and then felt the softness of her lips against his, and new it was real. He returned the kiss with equal passion. When they broke, he continued to hold Charlie close, as he brushed the hair from her eyes, wiping the fresh tears away. He was at a loss for words, and stammered, "Wow, Charlie, Wow..."

Charlie pulled her head back, breathing slowly and keeping her eyes lowered for a second.  Her smile was still at the edges of her lips, though her mouth was still slightly parted from the kiss.  There's a moment where all she can hear is her heart beating in her ears, the alcohol simmering in her blood and seeming to make the moment all that much more surreal.  Slowly, the smile took back over her face, not looking at him as she turns slightly more red.

"I...thought that, y'know, y'were gone n'all."  She spoke in a whisper, her fingers playing with the hair at the back of his head slowly, more an unconscious action than anything.  Whether it was the need to be close or just the alcohol, she tilted forward, her forehead touching his.  "I had th'thought of losin' you...and, Rhaef...I-..."  Her words choked in her throat, and she finally made eye contact with him.  "Rhaef, ah'm...I've always-..."

Rhaef allowed himself to be lost in Charlie's eyes, and listened to her speaking, a part of him could not believe this was actually happening, his rational mind suggesting it was the alcohol and the emotion of the moment. "Its okay, Charlie. I have too, for as long as I've known you, I have too." He paused, "I just was never sure about how you felt..." He lifted her chin and kissed her again lightly on the mouth.

"Rhaef..."  She managed to say his name just before he kissed her, as her mind began to take on the ecstacy of the moment.  She was tucked safely in his arms, and his body was warm in the cold night.  She kissed him back lightly, moving her head back onto his shoulder, her nose nuzzling the side of his neck.  "Ah...ah just feel so...you're so warm...you're, y'know...so safe..."  Her words were beginning to drift, the excitement and relief and all finally wearing her body to the point that she can't fight the intoxication.

And by the time she's uttered the last word, her eyes have closed and her breathing slowed.  Rhaef can feel her body relax in his arms as she passed out, letting out a soft moan as she exhaled...

Even as he held Charlie close, his mind was already spinning, "Safe? Warm?" He thought to himself and began to wonder if he'd made a gorram fool of himself. That it was the emotion and the alcohol talking, and they both got overwhelmed by the moment, and it did not mean what he hoped.

Just as the crew of Destiny left the Grand Yacht Party and headed to Kyoko's flat to regroup the authorities finally showed up.  Although Larry and Curio's plan to get all of the parties guests money had failed, they had still succeeded in their main goal.  The Alliance now had the largest lead on the Burnt Hand organization they had ever had and as Destiny took back to the black, the Alliance systematically destroyed and imprisoned the remnants of the Hand.

But Larry was not there to see what he had worked so hard for the past few years ...

Lying on the pier Larry eventually passed out from the pain and loss of blood from Rhaef's bullets.  He did not see the authorities show up ... he did not see the van pull up alongside him, nor did he awake when four strong hands lifted him from the docks and shoved him unceremoniously into the back of the car.

The van drove through the streets of Osiris until it came before the gates of Blue Sun Corporation, a place very few ever entered.

Larry woke up hours later.  He squinted his eyes against the bright light focused down on him where he was lying on his back ... someone had bandaged his shoulder and leg.  He tried to reach up a hand to touch the white cloth but found he could not move.  His hands and feet were strapped securely to the table he laid upon.  Larry struggled for a second but found it did nothing but increase the pain in his leg and shoulder.  "Hey!" he shouted, suddenly realizing that he could speak, "Get me the hell outta here!"

The crisp click of shoes against a tiled floor greeted his ears.  They moved slowly, methodically from the far side of the room and were coming near him.  "Ah, you are awake.  That is good.  I was afraid you would sleep for a long time and then my job is no fun.  You understand I'm sure." a man's voice said.  Larry twisted to see where the voice was coming from but it seemed that the rest of the room did not exist for him.  It just faded into darkness.  Only he, and the table and the spot of light surrounding him seemed real.

"Juh Shi Suh Mo Go Dohng Shee?!" Larry uttered, "Who are you?"

"That is of no importance to you." the voice said.  He was very close now.  "You made an arrangement with a certain organization Mr. Ducket.  We trusted you, put our faith in your returning something of infinite value to us." the voice let out a long, low, disappointed sigh, "It seems that you were no good on your word.  This does not make us happy, Mr. Ducket.  No, not happy at all." he stepped into the light then and Larry could make out a tall man.  He was clean cut and smiling down at Larry.  But what drew Larry’s attention was his eyes … they were like two vacant holes.  The smile on his lips did not reach them, they were dead eyes.  Cold, hard, uncaring.  It was then the fear set in.  It held Larry speechless as he looked up at those eyes.

The man above him chuckled, this was a response he got often.  “Now, you and I are to have a friendly chat.” the man continued.   “I ask you questions, and you answer them.  There is a catch, oh yes.  It’s what makes the game fun.  When you give an answer I don’t like then-” the man plunged a blade into Larry’s already injured shoulder and Larry screamed out in agony.  The man waited patiently for Larry to quiet down before speaking again, “That was just an example, Mr. Ducket, no need to get so excited so quickly, they’ll be plenty of time for screaming later.” he could have been speaking about the weather.  “Now, the girl, what happened?”

Larry gritted his teeth against the pain in his shoulder, “I don’ ruttin’ know!”

“Wrong answer.”  the man plunged a second blade into Larry uninjured shoulder and Larry screamed again.  “Where is the girl?”

Larry closed his eyes against the pain and the man hit him hard across the face.  His eyes snapped open and suddenly he knew exactly who to blame for his.  He knew exactly who had done this to him.  “Sorandash …. Rhaef Sorandash ….” he said.

“See … now we’re getting somewhere.”