"Yeah, isn't it amazing, Ty?  Like how someone hides right next to their own ship," Yas replies deadpan, winking at Lucky.

"Those two are, well, involved.  To what degree I don't even want to know.  He's a bit protective, evidently," she chuckles and then shrugs, "I understand your actions.  I'd do the exact same thing.  I'm sure she's safe with the local law either way until we can get her back to us."

"Any way, duty calls, take care now and keep your eyes peeled for sneak thieves."

With a wave of her hand in parting Yas turns back toward the Margin, shaking her head and chortling all the way.

If there is no reply from Shui's com, Tylen puts in a call to Security Central.

"Best not to get hit with either one, Boss." Ash ventures rather ruefully to Jago, as the latter muses about which firearm wound hurts less.  His right hand moves to his right leg, rubbing it unconsciously in sympathy; a slightly enigmatic and slightly pained look crosses his gaunt features.

He can only nod to the Captain's ramblings with respect to his dietary and lifestyle restrictions that have been 'strongly suggested' by their ship's doctor.  Ash is extremely careful not to say anything about the extra bacon nicked by Jago at any meal featuring it.  Nor is he all that inclined to defend Shui per se; he definitely sees the irony in the situation.  It did seem to him that few free traders necessarily died of chronic illnesses or old age.  Not that one shouldn't try to plan for it, but the odds weren't always the best.

Anyways, he'd played his part and that overshadowed his thoughts for the moment.  "Still," the thin navigator for the Profit Margin ventures, "it would have been nice to have Shui here to tend to you."  Ship's doctors had their uses.

"Shot at" he offers as a slightly correction, tapping the armoured vest that appears to have taken most of the brunt of the explosion.  The acrid smell of vaporizing amides and poly-carbonate layers still tickling his nose.  "Without this baby," Ash wagers, "you'd have lost a lot of weight, right quick."  Perhaps fatally so...  In his experience, most who have an 'up close and personal' encounter with an explosive round don't live to tell the tale.

He pauses for a pregnant moment before speaking again. "I..." Ash notes with more than a touch of guild in his voice, "I am sorry to have put you in harm's way, Boss.  It was rash of me.  And it turned out to be for nothing."  Even if they were trying to do the right thing.  And even if it was random who got shot, it still wasn't a Good Thing™.

"I completely understand, Senior Prefect Kehra," Shui replies after listening through the entire speech without interruption. "Better for them to be safe than sorry, I bear no ill-will.  And I appreciate your understanding, as well.  My only regret is that I was not free to assist my crew, were I needed." She bends forward in her chair, a slight bow.  "Thank you."

"Security Central." comes a rapid response to Tylen's call, "How can we help you?"

Jago sighs and winces.  "Don't worry Ash.  As long as you learned something from it, then it's all good.  Nobody died.  Maybe I'll end up with an impressive scar, and I can tell people that I got it during the war."

"Tanj!  I wish I had a cigar."

"I'm sorry Crow!  Never meant to be bothering your crew.  Honestly thought she was a thief waiting for a chance to pilfer something from the... from the cargo deliveries."  Carter seems nervous, as he apologises to Yas.

"You'll be able to leave as soon as we've processed the documentation, and  have your signature on it."  Ashtel picks up the dataglove again, turning the clear plastic bag over and examining the device inside from different angles.  "Wonder if there's anywhere nearby that would ship one of these here.  Could be useful in my line of work.  I don't suppose you'd consider selling it, would you?"

"Thank you, Senior Prefect."  A pained look crosses her face; the woman has been decent, and Shui detests disappointing people. "Sadly, the dataglove is far too useful for my work as ship's doctor and interfacing with the equipment.  If I were certain to go to a port next where one might be found, I would be happy to offer it, but..."  Another bow. "I can research, of course, and send you the results of such - I know the proper companies and subsidiaries, it might be more easy for me."

One never knows.

Another question, this time from her. "I don't suppose you are aware of any problems with other members of the Profit Margin crew?" she inquires, worried. "It was a crew emergency alarm, concerning something off the ship, to which I was responding.  And I have no idea what transpired."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:13, Thu 20 Apr 2017.

"Hello Security central this is Ship's Security Officer Ogresh of The Profit Margin.  A couple of your officers visited our docking bay and left with our ship's Doctor, I wanted to know if she is available to return to the ship yet." Tylen goes on to supply the bay number and the number from the security vehicle, if he could see it.

"Oh, as I said, I'd done the same.  Don't sweat it," Yas says with a chuckle and a grin at Mr Something-or-other.  She gives him a once over and then turns and waves, walking back to the Margin.

"Don't be a stranger now!" she calls over her shoulder before walking up the ramp to check whether there has been any progress made on locating the errant doctor.

Carter waves a hand in Yas' general direction as she makes her way back to the Margin.  The last thing she sees as she enters the ship is him, still standing at Lady Luck's hatch, talking to somebody via a communicator.

There is a brief pause, and then Security Central comes back on the channel, "Hello Officer Orgesh.  One of our Prefects is currently interviewing somebody who claimed to be your ship's medic.  I'm afraid that I can't give you any further information at this time, as I just don't have it."

Ashtel sighs, "No, didn't think so.  If I had one of these, I probably wouldn't want to sell it either."

Shui's question brings a blank stare, then, "Not that I've heard.  I can check though."  She pushes herself up from her chair and walks over to an intercom panel set in the wall.  Standing between Shui and the panel she does something with her hand - possibly entering an access code.  Then she speaks quietly, and waits for a reply.  Shui can only make out the words "Profit Margin" and "incident", while the response from the speaker is either too distorted to hear clearly, or in another language.

Seating herself at the table again, Ashtel says nothing for a few seconds, then, "There was an incident, an attempted robbery.  Shots were fired, and your Captain is currently receiving attention at MedCentral.  The perpetrators have been arrested.  The officers who were called to the incident reported that the Captain received first aid at the scene, and was able to speak, and even joke a little, as he was transferred to a hovermed."
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:33, Sun 23 Apr 2017.

"Can you arrange for our medic to call the ship as soon as she is available? Or for your prefect to call us? Our captain was ambushed and shot, in an attempted mugging, on the way back to the ship earlier, and we would like to send an escort to make sure that our medic arrives back here safely."  Tylen responds.

However, knowing that Shui is currently with a Security Officer reassures him somewhat.  It also means that there is no risk to Shui if her Comm goes off at an inappropriate time.  Consequently,  he users the ships computer to send a message to her com, and then call until it gets a response.  He records a short message asking Shui to call the ship as soon as she is able.

Shui appears calm.  She isn't.  Inside, her gut is twisting as she awaits word.  When it comes, it's worse and better than she expected, both.

A long moment passes as she sits quietly, parsing the information received.  Then Shui releases a shuddering sigh; while her body never quite 'slumps', there's a hint of that in the change of posture.  "Thank you, Senior Prefect," she finally states.  People hurt.  Possibly almost killed, but possibly Jago is in recovery.  Bad...and good.  "I am...I am pleased to hear Captain Lanza seems to have not been seriously injured."

Seems.  He could easily have developed some kind of complications.

One hand rises to swipe the shine from her forehead.  "You have been most kind, in ferreting out that information.  Again, my thanks."  Now her fingers itch; she wants to be THERE, at whatever hospital to which they have taken Jago.  Shui is fully aware that the doctors will be more skilled than she, herself, but still.  She needs to see for herself.

"We'll pass on a message for you as soon as we can."

"No problem.  I can understand why you might be concerned."

The intercom chimes, and Ashtel pushes herself away from the table again to go and answer it.  A brief conversation, and she returns to the table.

She puts the dataglove back in the box, then places the papers on top before picking up the whole lot.

"Come with me please.  You're free to go, but the front desk needs a signature for your property."

Then she leads the way out of the door, and into the maze of corridors that seems to be the bulk of Security Central.

Jago sighs, "I wonder how long they plan to keep me in here.  A stay in a medical facility wasn't on my itinerary for my visit to Dinomn."

"She is still at Security Central." Tylen uses his data glove to update Yas, "Being interviewed by a prefect.  They have agreed to ask her to call us, I told them we would want to make sure she had an escort, oif she was going to be walking around out there."

Message sent, he settles down in his seat and starts fiddling with the controls.  He pulls up the camera feeds and sets markers against various points and fiddles with the recording mode to track movement around the dock area like a CCTV system.  Just in case the fella in the next berth is right about petty thieves and stock pilfering.

Shui is more than happy to follow the Senior Prefect, and put this situation behind her.  Off she goes, after the officer, tension again beginning to build.  How IS Jago?  Has he responded to the medical care?  Has his situation deteriorated?

Ash chuckled, "Well, getting shot wasn't on the agenda either..."  He smiled slightly ruefully, "So, it's poor planning on our part all around."

He pats the captain gently on the shoulder.  "You stay put." says Navigator Obvious, while he stands and brushes off his duster for a moment, "Let me go and see if I can find out how long they intend to keep us..."  He doesn't say it, but sometimes hospital staff want you to be under observation for days at a time; not an idea that Ash relishes.  He trundles off to find a staff nurse that might be able to tell him when they might be able to go.

Ash leaves the room and looks about for anybody who can answer his questions.  As luck (or perhaps good design) would have it, there is a nurses' station just a few metres down the corridor.  The nurse on duty checks the records on his console.

"You can go whenever you like, but Kehr Lanza will need to stay here for at least 24 hours.  He has a relatively minor injury, but we need to check that he doesn't have a reaction to his medication.  We usually set a minimum of 24 hours observation.  Added to that, he'll need regular doses of Quatranalgesan and Synthetic chondroitin to help with the pain and augment bone knitting during those 24 hours."

"Good work Ty.  Hopefully Sushi will be back soon.  Unless she does a Saskia, and picks a fight with a port cop." Yas makes sure the ramp is closed and locked.  "We're secure out here.  You can stand down for now."

Shui signs the requisite paperwork, which turns out to require no fewer than four copies of her signature.  "Do you need a ride back to your ship?  Or anywhere else for that matter?" Ashtel asks, as Shui pushes the finishe documents back across the counter.

"Senior Prefect, the crew of Profit Margin would like you, or Kehra Tiesi, to contact them as soon as possible." the officer behind the desk interrupts.

Shui considers.  She'd normally demur, but she would like to get back to the ship as soon as possible.  And if the Senior Prefect is offering...

...then comes the interruption.

"Oh." Shui slowly nods.  "Senior Prefect, I would appreciate that ride back to the ship - you have been most helpful, thank you - but I do need to contact my people as soon as possible to determine the situation."

"Iepra, get somebody to bring a vehicle around to take Kehra Tiesi to Docking Bay 12, as soon as possible."

"Yes, Senior Prefect." the officer at the desk says, setting the papers in a neat stack for processing after the vehicle has been ordered.  A quick call, and, "A vehicle will be here in three minutes Khera."

"If you'll excuse me, I have work to do.  You can wait here for your transport.  Your dataglove's communication system should work from here.  This part of the station is not shielded."

"Thank you very much, Senior Prefect," Shui replies with a bow.  "For everything.  I wish you the best."

That said, and with the Senior Prefect leaving the area, she immediately tests her dataglove's connection.  Should she find it working, the steward immediately contacts the ship.

+ Shui, reporting in. + The next question follows without preamble.  + What is Captain Lanza's situation? +

Ash nods slowly to the nurses instructions, his brow furrowed in thought.  He didn't think that Jago (as per his previous statements) or the rest of the crew was going to like the timing.  But, sitting on the information wasn't going to improve the situation.  His fingers began to work his wrist computer, typing in the medications that the nurse had listed.  The thin navigator double-checked his spelling with the health care professional before thanking her profusely for her time and patience.  He also confirms their location so that he can inform the other crew members as necessary.

Then he retreated back to Jago's room to relate his findings to the Captain.  "Well, boss..." Ash started rather tentatively, "there is a twenty-four hour observation period for the medications they gave ... are giving ... you."  He was starting to list out the drugs they'd given him, while also pulling up any public information that might be on the data sheets for said medications.  It was then that he noticed Shui's missive coming over the crew channel.

Ash ran his long fingers through his short-cropped hair before he started to narrate as he typed up what he understood to be both the prognosis and the treatment.  ++Captain was shot at close range during attempted robbery.  Wearing vest, but received broken ribs and significant bruising.  At the station's MedCentral for 24-hour observation in case of adverse reaction to medications; being given periodic doses of Quatranalgesan and synthetic Chondroitin; a pain-killer and an enhanced bone repair recovery drug.++

Still sitting at his panel, Tylen sees Shui's message as soon as it comes in and responds immediately.

Jago is with local meds.  Broken Clavicle and bruises but walking.  Do you need an escort home?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:49, Thu 04 May 2017.

At Security Central, Shui thinks about the information she's getting. 

As she checks the information, an officer approaches the counter, then comes over to her after a brief conversation with the duty officer.

"Kehra Tiesi?" he enquires, "I'm to take you back to your ship."

Jago scowls, and starts chewing on his non-existent cigar.  He stops, with an angry shake of his head, "Damn!  Oh well, can't be helped I suppose.  My shirt is ruined, of course.  Can you arrange for somebody to bring a clean one in for me Ash?"

Yas pats Tylen on the shoulder and gestures towards his work with the security monitors, still showing on the display while he talks to Shui.  She gives him the ages-old "thumbs up" signal of approval.

Receiving both messages, Shui takes a moment to process.  The captain is receiving off-world medication; this is interesting but, outside of any fees, of little import.  The interruption by the officer focuses her attention upon him.

"Thank you, Officer...?" she replies, hoping for a name.  "I am ready to proceed.  One of my crew is suffering a medical emergency, and I'll need to reply to a message as we go."

Once they begin walking, and it would no longer be rude, she does just that.

+ Thank you, Mr. Orgesh, Mr. Tescali.  It seems Captain Lanza is receiving appropriate care.  The police are escorting me back to the ship, at which point I would like an escort from ship's security to visit Captain Lanza...should security concur. +

Finished typing, she continues walking...and a wave of sudden nausea floods her.  Jago shot?  Saved by his vest?  So close, so very close.  And Jago had been out with Ash.

+ Are you well, Mr. Tescali? + 

The officer, who gives his name as Enigaakam, escorts Shui to a vehicle similar to the one she arrived in - a lightly armoured, four seat vehicle which appears to use a magnetic field to hover four or five centimetres above the smooth deck.

Once they are inside, he starts driving, and speaks to Shui over his shoulder.  "I heard you met Kher Carter, Khera?  I have some advice for you... watch out for him.  He has a reputation on this orbital.  Others too, from what we hear.  Let's just say that he can be... over-zealous... when it comes to protecting his ship, and its crew and cargo."

"Every time he comes here, he has a new incident to report.  Even if he has to go out of his way to find one."

Awaiting return on her messaging, Shui ponders the officer's words.  "I see.  Thank you, Officer Enigaakam, for more than the drive.  I shall show more caution dealing with Mr. Carter in the future, and will warn my shipmates to do so as well.  Without naming any names," she quickly notes.  "How curious.  And disturbing."

She presses her lips together.  "Of course, I am now concerned for the future.  While he did not use his weapons, I worry about a misunderstanding with an innocent where he feels provoked."

As for the man's reasons, Shui cannot begin to guess.  Overzealous protectiveness of his ship due to a past incident?  Actual paranoia?  Need for attention?  Desire for power?  A simple string of unfortunate coincidences?  Who can say?  Judgement, she considers, is beyond her.  And she will refrain.