From here you can really see into the black.  Transparent paneling makes up most of the front three walls and the ceiling so the person in the pilots seat can see everything.  Two chairs that look rather comfortable are seated next to each other surrounded by huge control panels for the pilot and co-pilot(if need be).  There's also a metal bench attached to the back wall where others can sit.
This message was last updated by the GM at 06:56, Sat 22 Apr 2006.

Ren strides in feeling right at home. He takes a seat in the pilots chair and neglects to strap himself in, he always perfered to fly by the seat of his pants. Surveying the displays around him he slowly began manipulating the nobs, switches, and dials that would bring his flying home to life.

Acacia quietly snuck up behind Ren and she puts her hands over his eyes, she whispers in his ear Guess who? She say lleaning over so her hair is just brushing Ren's forehead.

Ha! Hey there... what are you doin up here? Sounding a bit startled and makin sure he didn't accidentaly turn the engines on he then looks up behind him happily at Accacia.

COMM: "We're online, Ren.  Don't take us through atmo too fast, though...we're not necessarily short on fuel cells, but depending on how backwater our next destination is, I don't know if we'll get a chance to reload there..."

Acacia sits in the chair next to him, I was thinkin,  yeah I know that never ends well, but I was thinkin how you were alllll alone up here, so I thought, unless someone told me to leave, I was thinkin bout watchin takeoff from someone's lap, ya know like we did the one time, when we took off from Whitefall?  She looked up at him hopefully.  She gave him her best, hopeful little girl espression.

Picking up the commlink ren replies "Sure thing mia mia, oh and hey, power was a little weird in engine two last time we took off, sure you handled it, but just wanted to let you know, so you can keep your eye open"

COMM: "Aww, someone not man enough to handle our little baby?  Everything is good here.  When we land in Valon, I'll get outboard the ship, take a look at things from there, make sure that everything is in shape.  Until then, try not to kill us...can you do that, baby bear?"

Over the comm in reply ren says "We'll i'll do my best, no accountin for skill though"

"So ya up here to see the sights sweetheart?" ren says to acacia while going through the pre-flight check and slowly powering the engines up.

Acacia a little surpirsed at her own fowardness, but not upset about it.  She sighs and stays in the seat next to Ren.  She reaches over and rubs his nearby shoulder. here we go baby, I know you are the best.  She leans over and rest her head on her shoulder.

"This is nice, risky... but nice" Ren says as he turns his head to kiss Acacia on the cheek.

Acacia whispers I guess we would just have to come clean   She giggles.  As long as no one was hurt she pretty much only had to keep her area in order, and help out with whaatever the Cap came up with so fer now she had the time open.  She rubbed her cheek on his shoulder.

ren laughed alitte "And then we'd die... cause the cap' would have a fit, while i'm tyrin to take us out of atmo, and then we'd crash and die... all poetical like..."

Kale hears quiet voices coming from the bridge and grins, then stomped loudly down the hallway to the bridge.

Ren jerks quikly away from acacia and beginns chekcing random gagues "Now i don't know if there are any medical supplies where we are goin' you best ask the cap' 'bout that"

Acacia straightens up,  I hear someone, She looks out the window.  Wow Ren you were right you really do get the best view from up here.   She sat trying to look proper, like she was sight-seeing.

"Acacia, what are you doin' on my gorram bridge?" Kale asks as he enters the room. Smooth, guys. he thinks with a wry smile as they both pretend to carry on two completely different conversations.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:51, Tue 03 Jan 2006.

"well you know, there are windows here, can see out of 'em an' everythin, ya know for a doctor...." Ren chuckels a little to himself and he begins to pilot the ship up and out of persephone.

Oh Captain, I didn't know I wasn't allowed up here, Ren had told me the other day the amazing sight you get from the bridge as you go through the atmosphere.   Acacia didn't move to get up.  But now that Renn mentions it, do you think that we are gettin some med supplies   The only thing to do right now was keep lying, she guessed.

"Ain't really no rule against it but I don't see a Doc havin' much business up on the bridge, pilots got some flying to do.  An' I dunno about med supplies, far as I know they don't got no decent medical facilities on that planet at all.  You runnin' low?"

Nah, just always want to know, in case I have to use a lot on this voyage  Acacia looked back.  Ren I see why you decided to be a pilot it is this view.  It is incredible.  Captain, is there something I'm getting in the way of

Lookin out over the stars Ren says, "Well the view, and the insurance... great coverage bein a pilot mainly cause we rarely leave the ship"

"'Spose not." Kale says to Acacia, he runs a hand through his hair and turns to Ren, "Looks like alls in order up here, smooth sailin' to Valon.  If you need me, I'll be in my bunk." he smiles at them both, "Enjoy the view." he says and leaves the bridge.

-----------Kale's Bunk-------->

So now we are alone, should I lock the door to the bridge? She says quietly once the captain has departed.  She looks longly at Ren, she really needs to be touching him right now
This message was last edited by the player at 10:11, Tue 03 Jan 2006.

this is my favorite part  Ren chuckles gets up and grabs acacia by the waist giving her a warm kiss.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:13, Tue 03 Jan 2006.

She straddles him on the seat and returns the kiss, before settling with her feet over the arm rest and lounges comfortably.  Ah, let's ride the whole way like this

"As nice as that sounds, and trust me, it sounds nice... we should probably go be sociable with the rest of the crew and passengers" Ren kisses acacia again and then sets her down, stands up, sets the auto pilot up to alert him if anything he ain't expectin is coming and then starts to head out to the dining hall.

On his out way ren grabs the intercomm "Ladies and gentlemen, it's offical, no one is piloting this crate"


-------->Dining Room------->

Ren steps into the bridge and immediately feels at home, he plops himself down in his seat, pulls out the key board and begins surfin the cortex for information on valon and any alliance activity in the region.

Ren stops surfing the cortex for a moment and looks out into the  black "perfect, there really is nothing better than that, open space, a great crew, a beautiful woman at my side, what more could the 'verse give a man" he thought. The worlds he visited were no more than stops on a larger journey through the black, his only home was the bridge at the controls of destiny.

"What's the word?" Kale said as he entered the bridge, coming to stand behind Ren's chair and leaning over his shoulder to look at the terminal.

"The Word is Shiny cap' ain't nothin doin, light alliance presence but no where near us" Ren says while prepping the ship for landing only dicey part of the whole flight... that's why it's my favorite he thinks.

"Shiny's a good word to hear." Kale comments, "We're all go for landing then, righ'?"

"Good to go cap'" Ren says absently mindedly as he goes through the regular and well practiced pre-landing procedures

"An' there wasn't anything suspicious?" Kale asks, it didn't seem right to him.  200 up front and there wasn't even heavy Alliance.  What made this transport so damn special?

"ain't even my job to know sir... though I am  might curious... oh and no alliance to be seen" Ren did worry about the job but figured this was the worst point to bring up questiohns about it

"Alright, well you get 'er down." he said and walked to the microphone, pulling it to himself he, set the transmition for ship wide intercomm.  "This is your Captain speaking, we are due to land on Valon shortly, no one is to leave this ship unless yer on the sightseeing tour Geoff's leading ... and that means none of my crew." Kale replaced the mic and gave Ren a quick grin before heading to find Rhaef.

Acacia creeps up looking around, she stands by the doorway quietly seeing how long it takes before she is noticed.  She watches out the window at what is going on front.

In a big booming voice and with a joking grin on his face Ren bellows "Who is creeping into my chamber?"

No one of importance, at least I don't think so She said shutting the door behind her.  She came and sits next to Ren, in the chair next to him.

"How ya doin doc?" Ren says as he turns in his chair to face her. The most welcoming face i ever known he thought when he caught her startilingly beautiful and intellegent eyes.

pretty good, so ace when we landing this tub   She always loved it when looked into her eyes.  Something about it always made her feel completely naked in front of him everytime he did it.  calm down, no jumping on him while he is landing, you don't want you both to di in a horrible fiery crash. she thought.  She leaned on the panel next to the chair, carefully avoiding any of the buttons.

"THought 'bout orbitin for the next week or so... ya know... it's kind of a pretty planet from up here... but yeah here in a sec the fun begins" Ren quickly gives acacia a peck on the cheek as he leans over her to check the landing azimuth... "Ya see that... to deep or shallow, we burn up into a cinder" he said pointing at the display.

Ren sweetie, I all in favor of not burning up, also I tend to not like thinking about it, so if I am being a distraction, let me know.   Acacia says standing up walking over and leans on his shoulder.

"Not at all love, not at all" Settling himself back in his seat ren pulls the straps from the side of the chair across his chest and fastens them tightly he then looks to Accacia and says, "Might want to buckle up, ride gets a bit bumpy up here" giving her a little nudge. He then picks up the intercomm and says "Ladies and gentlemen please buckle in, sit down, or do somethin so ya don't fall on your ass, we're about hit atmo and winds are lookin a bit tetchy down there. Thank you for flying destiny space lines"

Ren does his best to put her down into atmo, expertly using the wind and destiny to cut through the high atmosperic weather, when they finally break cloud the port stretches out before them, within a few minutes Destiny is safely down and ren begins a post flight check of systems, enjoying acacia's company the whole time.

Acacia wasn't paying m8ch creed to the warning and decided to risk the landing standing behind her man.  She stumbled a couple time but kept her balence, after Ren was done with the post landing stuff she came over and straddled him, and flung her arms around him and gave him a huge kiss. after one kiss she pulled her head back nice flying ace and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again.

enjoying the warmth of her arms around him and the wieght of her ren stays silent for a for a few seconds enjoying the moment "Mmmm. baby, that was the best part of the landing right there. You headin off the ship or are ya stayin around?"

Nope staying here, what about you?  Care to join me in the staying here   She hoped to God that she didn't sound dopey again.  She seemed to be queen of the bad comeons.

"That suits me just fine, don't wanna get out on that dustball when the scenery and company are way better right here in our little can" ren began to relax, allowing his eyes to adjust to the change in light being on the ground brought.

Acacia interupts each of the following phrases with a kiss That......was....the correct.....answer...you wonderful...wonderfull.....guy   Acacia rubs her hands through his hair as she does.

"Now... that... is... what... I... call...a checkup..." Ren says, returning the favor "now, what do ya want to do? stay here, or relax in the fine comfort of the dining hall?"

Well it isn't very comfortable in here but it is very private,  and after this I'm not sure I can keep my hands off you, no matter who is around, but I will let the choice be yours,  for now I'll be right here. Acacia says as she lean against Ren and snuggles her head against his cheast her hair just below his chin. She sigh contentedly

"Well then, let the snuggling commence" ren says as he pulls acacia even closer

It is too bad not everyone knows cause this would be much more romantic if we could do this while we were in the black, with all the stars twinkling.   Acacia slides her self down so her but is right on Ren's crotch What I want I know you won't do She says looking up at him.

Ren groans a little in pleasure and puts his hands on acacia's hips then says"Baby you know I love you... just don't want the extra pressure while we're on a job, ya know?"

So he doesn't want pressure?   Acacia says grinning her best evil grin, maybe I should just get up then.  She very slowly starts to get up, and starts to try to creep away. god I am so tacky, but I guess I wouldn't be me without the stupidness she thinks.

"Oh no no no no you get back here little girl" Ren says chuckling as he grabs her by the waist and plants her firmly on his lap. "you don't get away that easy"

Acacia lets out a yelp when he grabs her, and let's him place her on his lap again, it was really where she wanted to be anyway then he talked. Little girl?  I'm not thhat little, I mean I know I'm quite petite, but little girl? I think I'm almost hurt   She sits on his lap arms folded refusing to look at him but also trying desperately not to laugh

"Awww... poor baby, you've got great qualities no matter your size" ren said half jokingly, half lovingly as he poked his head next to hers and kissed her on the neck.

Acacia just leans back and rests her head against Ren.  She can't help but feel small next to Ren.  She scoots up long enough to remove the lab coat she was wearing. She smooths out her skirt, and lays against her lovers body, she listens to his heartbeat and it is very soothing.  Have you ever wished thata moment could last forever?  Cause this one is very nice

"this one is definately not bad" Ren says just enjoying the few moments he finally has alone with acacia. It really would be better not to pretend anymore... but just not yet he thinks as he sadly ponders the state of their relationship

Acacia from the warmth of Rens body starts to drift off a little.  She feels the little bit of eneregy she had begin to sap out of her.  How long till someone comes up here and ruins this she says with a yawn.  She closes her eyes and keeps listening to beat of Ren's heart.

"We got awhile i bet, everyones' got jobs to be done"

mmhm is all that acacia says.  She is definately falling asleep.

ren starts slowly stroking acacias hair and as he does he to begins to doze off, feeling content and happy

Acacia falls asleep completely sighing contendly.

Acacia woke up and noticed that Ren was still sleepin under her.  She stirred and slowly woke up she leaned over and kissed him on the forehead picked up her coat and walked out, she walked through the dining area and the cargo area, she figured she wanted to go talk to Kyoko.

[through dining to cargo bay]

COMM: Ren I better start hearing those engines purring or so help you-

COMM:  "Oh Baby Bear...hope you're still awake.  You think you could do me the biggest favour and get things started up?  Pretty please?"

At the sound of charlies voice over the comm ren startledly wakes up jumps off the chair and falls straight on his ass. "Da xiang  bao zha shi de la du zi" he starts to say to him self as he starts Picking himself up. He then grabs the comm with one hand and say's "...zha shi de la du zi I'm on it, every one on? i can have us up in 2 minutes." while with the other he begins the pre-flight spool up of the engines

COMM:  "The faster the better.  If you can't have us up in two minutes, best not try anymore at all, come that point."

Ren frantically went through the pre flight prep, and suddenly ren remembered why he loved being a part of this crew, the rush of a quick liftoff was one of the greatest feelings in the world, and ren knew in his bones that no one could do it better, as the engines jumped to life ren felt connected to the machine surrounding him, no longer was he just flesh, he was avionics, he was fuel running into the engines, he was the flight controls jumping like an angry stallion ready to leap free of it's dusty corral. Not even thinking about the action ren grabbed the intercomm and said "This is your pilot speaking, we're takin off in 30, brace yourself" and with that he waited for his engines to tell him it was time to break the surley bonds of gravity and hit the black.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:36, Sat 07 Jan 2006.

COMM: Ren hows if comin?

Ren, still trance like, straped himself in and thought here we go again as he laid his hands on the flight controls and feelt himself meld again with the createure of metal and ceramic around him. He then began to lift the ship off the ground and into the air and a sensation of pure extasy filled his entire being.

COMM:  "You need a stronger burn, Bear, shout and it's yours."

The comm chatter from charlie snapped ren out of his preternatural reverie, he looked up at the speaker for a moment no comprehending anything but the feeling of the ship around him, once it translanted he said into the intercomm "No need mia, you're beautiful as ever"

COMM:  "Don't toy with my heart, Baby Bear...you don't want it breakin' on ya.  You know where to find me."

As the small rocky moon slowly faded away behind him Ren began to relax a little, he picked up the comm to let everyone else know that they were out of atmo and again in the wide open freedom of space "Breathe easy, we've broken atmo, now someone has a story to tell me and someone else needs to tell me where i'm flyin"

COMM: Londium.

Nodding as if Kale were there Ren begins to plot a course keeping an eye on the cortex for any undue activity or reports about the ship and or crew.

Making sure everything is set to head to londinium and then seeting the proximity and wave alarms to warn if if they get to close to anything or any one calls into the ship ren then unstrapps himself from his seat and sets out for the cargo bay

--->Dining Room---->

ren walked onto the bridge and suddenly felt quite weary, slumping into his chair, he checked the cortex and adjusted the course to keep the ship well clear of any sort of interfearance, then slowly drifted off to sleep staring at the black

Ren slowly came out of his post sleepy stupor checked the comm for incoming waves and the cortex for any trouble, almost expecting to see a warrant out for the class of ship he was flying leaving the planet he just left at the time he did, but oddly there was no undue cortex chatter, feeling slightly relieved he picked himself up out of his chair and headed back towards the dining hall.

------->Dining Hall----->

Ren made it to the bridge and slowed down the ship, and then he waited, enjoying the silence and lack of chaos in his little part of the 'verse, to keep his mind off things he began to check out the cortex see if anything weird was goin on.

Ren finally came out of his stupor and obsessively check the cortex for about five minutes. When he finally felt satisfied that they weren't being followed or hunted down by angry crooks much like themselves he decided to go check on the rest of the crew.

------->Passengers Quarters---->

COMM: "Cap' doc says we need to be quarrantined and to get us somewhere with doctors mighty fast, sounds kind of earnest 'bout to"

Kale emerged onto the bridge right as Ren's comm came through, he picked up the mike, "I'm on it, Ren, tell Acacia not ta worry ... much.  I'm tryin' ta get this figured out.  Does Acacia know yet what we're dealing with?" As he put the mike down he turned to Rhaef, "Get Cortez on."

Rhaef sits in the pilot chair and starts messing with the cortex.  Alright Captain He says after a few tries, I made a wave to send Cortez, a message about all that has gone on the kids, the sickness, and asked him how much he kne, sound good   He said waiting for Kale to give the order to send.

"I don't think we have time to wait for a response, see if you can get him on screen, I need to talk to him now." Kale says, everything just seemed to be getting worse and worse.

Geoff stepped onto the bridge after having searched through every other room for the captain. He spotted him standing on the bridge and approached him with a nod. "Cap'n. I was down there talkin' to the kids and seems like they're really familiar with what's happenin' 'round here. Seems two of 'em were sick just like Charlie and them are now. The boy, Tate, and the older girl. They said they got these shots and that they got better. That they weren't sick no more. Said these doctors gave 'em all o' these injections that got 'em better. Thought ya might wanna know so ya can tell the doc...or so ya can ask somebody 'bout where these kids came from so we can get some o' those shots ourselves. ", he said in a low and quiet tone, hearing that the captain was about to try and contact Cortez and not wanting to interrupt.

Ok, cap got him on the screen   Rhaef was impressed he got Cortez so easily. Go ahead he is waiting

ON SCREEN: Hola. How can I help you Captain Galway?  You look tense.

Comm: Kale, Ren is sick too, and I bet you all are infected to, through contact with me or from one of the kids which is where I suspect this virus came from.

Rhaef grabbed the comm,"Now is not the time Doc, for a chat." he said to Acacia, staring at the screen.  Cortez seemed too smug in his greeting, he knew something.  "Captain-" he began.

"I know." Kale said, cutting Rhaef off.  Then he turned his attention to the screen.

"I am a might tense, Cortez.  Care to take a gander as to why?" Kale asked, barely concealing how much hatred he was harboring for the man right about now.  "I got me a boat full of sick people and a coupla kids wanderin' around, and I'm askin' myself why that is."

COMM: I thought you smarter, Captain Galway.  I thought you do job. *the mans eyes narrowed* You opened the crate, you got big surprise, no?

"Yeah, one big fat surprise party over here, we're just missin' the confetti." Rhaef muttered under his breath.

Geoff stays silent as the captain talks to Cortez, glaring at the man on he screen all the while. The bastard had known all along what it was they were transporting and hadn't said a damn thing. He had treated the whole thing so lightly and now everybody on the ship may end up sick and dying. Geoff had to bite his tounge not to curse the man out right then, but he knew the captain needed to get answers out of him so he kept his cool. As it was, he promised himself that the next time he saw the man, he would put a hurt on him in a big way....

"Yes, I opened it." Kale admitted, didn't matter much now, he was humped no matter what he did, and right now his crew mattered more then this damn job.  "You knew that there were kids in there." Kale accused Cortez.

COMM: Yes, what was important though was that you didn't.  You had known, you'd not take job.

"Ruttin' right we wouldn'tve taken the gorram job....", Geoff muttered lightly, still glaring.

"Damn straight we wouldn't have!" Kale practically exploded, then he took a deep breath, it would do no good to get all worked up right now, he had his crew to think about.  "What do I got ta do?"

COMM: You put the kids back in their boxes and go to Londinium.  They have vaccine there.  You deliver cargo, they give you vaccine.  Business, plain and simple. *the man grinned as the threw Kale's own words back at him*

Geoff couldn't hold in his words anymore at that point. "Jian ta de gui!! Ain't no way we can give those kids to those bastards who were messin' with 'em! Ain't right!", he yelled.

Rhaef immediately started pulling up their trajectory when Cortez suggested they go to Londinium for an antidote. "Ren's got us goin' all back ways, but if I re-route us, give her a hard burn we can make Londinium before the day's out.  Course we'll be traveling through Alliance patroled space..." Rhaef said.

COMM:*smirking at Geoff's outburst* You are no match for this, amigo.  This is a virus like no one has ever seen, you try to get help somewhere else and you and your crew die, see.  You make trade, you live.  The kids are nothing to you, they are everything to those in Londinium.  Be smart, Captain Galway.

Kale looked from Rhaef to Geoff, then back at the screen.  If they could make it to Londinium then they could get the antidote, and he could save his crew.  There'd be the Alliance to avoid, not to mention the fact that Kale didn't trust Cortez in the slightest and for all he knew he could be lying about everything.  It made it all a shot in the dark ... but it was the only shot they had.
"Alright." Kale said, "You tell them we want a case of that vaccine of there's, and in return we give them the case 'a kids.  Even trade."

COMM: Smart man, Captain Galway.  We do trade.

*the screen blinks out*

Geff looked to the captain with a mixture of anger and sorrow. He was more than a little angry that the captain was thinking about trading the kids, but he knew that there was little choice. If the captain had to choose between his crew or some kids, it didn't seem like it would be much of a choice at all. He kept silent until the screen blinked out. Then he looked to the captain and spoke in a low and even tone. "So that's it? We give 'em the kids like that? Let 'em do their ruttin' crazy torture on 'em? That's the ruttin' plan?!"

"Course not." Kale said, "You re-route us and give us that hard burn to Londinium, I want us there in the next few hours if possible." Kale instructed Rhaef. "Geoff, come with me.  We're gonna put that crate back together again.  Cortez ain't gonna tell them we opened it.  Whatever the payment is it's big.  If the crates been tampered with there's no deal.  An' he knows I won't hand over the crate til I got the meds, so he'll tell them somethin' to make them give me the antidote, probably that the virus went airborne or somethin'.  So we'll make a trade, box 'a meds ... for a box 'a nothin'." he grinned at Geoff.  "We'll be ready for a shoot out, but most likely they won't realize that they got nothin' til we're headin' off planet, least wise that's what I hope ... an' we gotta have somethin' to hope fer- we can't send them kids back."

"That's your brilliant plan?  Yep, this is gonna go greeeaaaattt." Rhaef said and set about changing course.

Geoff looked to the captain with surprise and then smiled widely as he clapped the man on the shoulder. "See, now, I knew there was a reason I signed up with ya. Yer the kinda crazy and ballsy hun dun with just the right amount o' conscience in ya that I get along with!", he said and then laughed loudly,"All right then! Let's ruttin' get this gorram show on the road!" This was definitely a plan that Geoff could get behind 100 percent.

Kale offered Geoff a tight and slightly weary smile before heading to the cargo bay.

--------------Cargo Bay----------->

Geoff followed after the captain with a confident stride and renewed vigor. Now that he knew they were going to be taking some sort of action and not just wait to die or give up, he was feeling much better than he had previously.

--------->Cargo Bay

COMM: "Rhaef, what's the status on gettin' to Londinium anytime soon?"

Rhaef grabbed the mike as he fingers flew over the familiar controls ... it'd been a long time since he'd flown this 'ol girl, it was funny how it all came back.

"We're lookin good, Kale, should be touching down in a little less then an hour.  Also, I got a wave giving us our cooridinates for landing and few instructions.  They say they want just one of us to come out with the crate, and they'll send one man as well.  We trade the crates and both men walk away.  I just  hope this'll work."

COMM: Thank you, Rhaef.

Rhaef recieves the co-ordinates for landing and prepares the ship to hit atmo, hoping to hell that the Captain's jing cai plan worked.  He picks up the mike.

"Kale, we're going to be hitting atmo now in the next five minutes or so, everyone hold on."

A mechanical voice came over the radio giving Rhaef the go ahead for docking, he gently guided the ship down.  With a slight thump it hit the ground.  No sooner had he landed that he began prepping Destiny for flight again, if all went well they only be here twenty minutes tops.

"Captain, you let me know the second Geoff's back on."

Rhaef gives them a hard burn and jerks the ship into motion.

"Ladies and gentleman hold onto your seats this is not going to be a gentle ride."

Kale jogs onto the bridge and holds onto the back of Rhaef's chair to steady himself.

"Are we being followed?" he asks.

"That would be an affirmative, Captain." Rhaef said through clenched teeth, jerking the wheel hard to the left. "Two of them-"

"Can we lose them?" Kale asked.  Could nothing go right?

"I'm working on the Captain, can't concentrate if you keep asking me questions." Rhaef practically barked back.

Two sleek, small ships were hot on his tail, they had to have been launched only moments after Destiny had taken off.

"I'd say they figured out that the gorram crate was empty."

"Yeah, well that tends to happen when the kid that's supposed to be all boxed up comes runnin' down the gorram ramp." Kale says, trying to ignore the pang of grief that shot through him.  The kid was so young ...

Rhaef didn't respond but focused on the task at hand: lose the ships.  If he could just get them out of atmo then he could make a jump and they could find some nice place to lay low for a while.  The ships however kept crossing in front of him, blocking his path.

Rhaef slammed the stick down hard and forced Destiny into a backward spin as both ships, far faster then Destiny came around in front of him.  The manuver caught them off guard and Rhaef took off towards the black with the ship upside down.  As he neared the point of breaking atmo he spun the ship upright again.

"Here we go!" he said and they left Londinium behind them.

As Destiny made its way into the black Kale let out a sigh of relief.  It was over ... well at least for now.  Rhaef asked him where to set course, they needed to land and re-fuel and give the rest of the crew time to get better.  Kale thought for a moment. "Paquin." he said, very light Alliance presence there and a strict 'ask no questions' policy was just what they needed. ... Now hopefully they'd be able to hang onto their belongings.

Having precured the meds from Londinium all onboard Destiny have been vaccinated.  The recovering crew took refuge on the Gypsy planet Paquin where they buried the two children, Sephone and Tate, who were lost on their last mission.  Now that everyone is back on their feet Destiny is looking for work once more, while trying to avoid a very angry Cortez, Alliance patrols, and Bosik's men.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:23, Sat 13 Oct 2007.

Ren smiled as he entered the Bridge.  "It's been awhile, 'ol girl." he said as he sat down in his chair, running his fingers over the control panel. First, he checked the cortex for anything the might cause them problems, seeing nothing though he set about planning the routes they could take for this next job.

Kale stepped onto the bridge to find Ren diligently going about his job.  "So how's it look?" he asked, coming to stand behind the man, placing one hand on the back of his chair the other on the control panel surrounding it.  He liked Paquin, but he was eager to get back out into the black - and even more eager for the pay-off.  Money had been tight, not uncommon, but with their last disaster of a job they needed this work, and they needed it to go well.

"Hey Cap'n!" Ren said as Kale walked onto the bridge then looked back to his work, "Coast is clear ... this girls got her crystal growers well out of the way of Alliance - we should be able to just go from point A to point B no problem." he looked back up at the Captain, "So unless these units got some diabolical disease we should be a-okay."

Kale nodded and looked at the routes Ren had plotted out on the screen, "Right here," he said, pointing at the screen, "That one brings us awful close to Beaumonde, can we do a quick re-route, drop off our friendly core-worlder.  He's startin' to become a pain in my ass."  Which was the understatement of the decade.  Any prissy, rich kid who could manage to land him with a bullet wound was more trouble then he was worth.

"Starting to?" Ren said with a slight eyebrow raise and a grin.  His fingers flew over the controls, "Should be no problem, it'll take us a a few hours outta the way but that ain't nothin'." he said as he set the new course.

Kale nodded and started to head off the bridge before he had another thought, "Did you check the cortex for any flags on Destiny?  Stolen cargo or the like?" he'd been worried about that for a while but just kept forgetting to check.  Those ships that had chased them off Londinium had been high tech.  Alliance high tech.  "The flag would mostly likely be Alliance."

Ren turned back to the cortex and started searching through, "Hmm, not Alliance flags ... must not have pissed them off enough, better luck next time, Cap." he said with a light laugh, then he paused, "Wait a sec ... we do got something.  Ain't Alliance though, it ain't even a flag on Destiny by name but it's got our numbers-" he hit a few more buttons, "It's dated though ... huh, guess I haven't checked on flags on us for awhile.  It's old.  I don't think its anything to worry about.  Not even Alliance."

Kale peered over his shoulder at the screen.  The old flag was a bit odd but the jobs that he and his crew pulled it wasn't exactly surprising to see they'd been flagged a ways back.  "Alright," Kale said, "Well I'm heading back out, if you think of anything we need, let me know."

-------------Dining Hall---------->

   ((From: Dining hall <- cargo bay <- Passenger lounge))
   Lei crept onto the bridge. She knew that this was one of the places that the captain didn't like people wandering around, but it should be one of the places things were happening. It looked like Ren was there, working at one of the consoles. She hadn't really spoken to him at all, he seemed to only ever go to the bridge or his bunk, so Lei still hadn't decided what she thought oof him...
   Lei leaned against the back wall beside the hatch, and quietly watched him at work.

Rhaef wandered away from the Passenger Quarters toward the bridge, taking his time. He was looking at the ship differently. He was looking at like a thief or con artist would. Casing avenues, trick path ways, and the such to see what he could learn to execute his charge. Then he saw Geoff's new friend outside the hatch, watching Ren work on the bridge.

He walked by, and said quietly, "Hey, kid. Having fun? Where's your playmate?" After this, Rhaef walked into the bridge.

"Hey Ren. Captain wanted me to get you this. Should help set the flight-plan and find the guests beacons. Guess there's more to it later, but I'll let the Captain explain that."

His delivery done, Rhaef exited the bridge and returned to his bunk.

---> To Rhaef's bunk

OCC - Hey gang - this should keep Rhaef out of the way - while I'm gone. Black - if you need to move and NPC this weekend - feel free.

Kale enters the bridge after hearing Charlie's message, "You hear that, looks like we're all fuled and ready to go." he says, coming to stand behind Ren.  It was about time too, he was ready to get back out in the 'verse.

Ren smiled and grabbed the mike, "Roger that Little bear, Captain has said 'word'.  Please put your seats into the upright and locked position as flight will soon commence." Ren set the mike down and looked over his shoulder at the Captain, "May want to grab a seat on the bench there, Captain, could be a bit bumpy - actually it will be a bit bumpy cause, well, it always is, ain't it?"  His fingers flew over the controls and the engine roared to life.  Ren smiled, "I'm comin' home, baby." he said and Destiny took to the sky.

Kale grabbed onto one of the pipes on the ceiling and braced himself between it and Ren's chair as Destiny broke atmo and he was finally back out among the stars,  "Ain't anything quite like it." Kale said, Ren was probably the only one on this ship that truly appreaciated the black the way he did.

"No there ain't." he said with a smile.  Then he checked all the controls and made sure the ship was on course.  "Looks like its smooth sailing to our first rendevous."  He set the auto-pilot, and turned to the Captain.  "Well if the ship crashes now, you blame the ship, not me, I ain't piloting her." then he left with the vague idea of going to try and find Acacia.

-----------Acacia's Bunk--------->

   Lei nods yes to Rhaef's first question, but starts to frown at his second. Playmate?
   Lei was fascinated by the button pushing rituals Ren was going through to prepare the ship for launch. It seemed to be a fairly involved process, for the short time it lasted. Not exactly knowing what to expect when the ship lifted off, she was pushed against the back wall roughly by the G-force.
   The ship rose, punching through the clouds. Lei watched as the blue sky outside the canopy slowly deepened in colour and faded to black, and filled with thousands of distant pinpricks of light. Ren set the autopilot then left the bridge.
   Rushing fowards to the bridge window Lei leaned over the consoles as far as she could, carefully placing her hands at the back of the console away from the buttons on it, and tried to look back behind the ship at the receding planet.

Kale smiles as he watches Lei rush forward from her spot on the bench at the back of the bridge, and lean over the controls to look out at the stars and the planet quickly dissappearing into the distance.

"You like it too?" he asked gently, Lei was afraid of him, so he tried to keep is voice soft and soothing.  "This is home." he said, and sat down on the bench at the back of the bridge, watching as Lei sat down behind the controls, he just stared up at the stars.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:18, Mon 23 Jan 2006.

   "Yes... It's..."
   Lei gave up on watching the planet disappear, as it was almost totally hidden by the ship now. She watched the stars shift a little as the autopilot adjusted the ship's attitude. No-one was at the controls... Now was a good time to try to figure out what everything up here did.
   Lei kneeled on the pilot's chair and started looking over the consoles. Manual control. Long range sensors? Engine readouts. Fuel reserves. She remembered reading about some of these things when she first came aboard, Charlie had left some interesting books in her bunk...
   Navigation. Lei examined the course information that was still printed out on the screen. She started frowning slightly, and her fingers started tapping out a strange rythem on the edge of the console.  This was just like the tests that they used to give her... Plot a course from point A to point B which uses as little fuel as possible, without taking up more time.
   After a short time she says "This is wrong. Inefficient."

Kale looked back at Lei when she spoke.  She wasn't looking out at the stars anymore, she was staring intently at the nav system.  Kale stood up and crossed to the controls.  "Oh, Lei, honey, you don't want to be touchin' those, those are for the grown-up's, see?  This is where Ren works, its not for young girls." he said, looking down at the young girl.  She was tapping her fingers in an odd rhythm and still staring at the panel.  Kale furrowed his brow and added, "... what's inefficent?"

   Without looking up, Lei points at the navigation data and says "This. Uses too much fuel. Wrong answer..."
   She looks up and sees an odd look on the Captain's face. "We're going out like this. Should go full thrust in that direction for two minutes thirtyseven seconds... Loop around like that... Put on a little more thrust here... Get there using 31% less fuel... And slightly quicker..." Lei had held a fist up to represent the planet, and had pointed to a place near it to represent the ship. Her finger had done a whole lap around the 'planet' before flying off again in it's original direction.
   "It needs to be changed now..."

Kale looked down at the girl quizzically, her words still hanging in the air, some of them soaring over his head.  She seemed to know more about flying Destiny then he did.  How was that possible?  He leaned over the controls and looked over the course Ren had set, trying to do the calculations in his head that the girl had done ... what Lei said made sense ...

"How did you..." he looked at her hard and then trailed off and started typing in the adjustments to take into account the planets gravitational pull and utilize it to slingshot the ship to their destination quicker.  She was right, if they were goign to do this they had to do it now.  The engines roared as he gave the ship a hard burn and soon they were shooting out into the black.

Kale pulled away from the controls and looked at Lei again.  She was now busy looking at the other control panels.  "That was some pretty fancy thinkin' you did there." he commented, still not entirely sure, how a little girl who had spent her life in some hospital could know how to pilot a space ship.

   Lei watched as the captain entered the new data, and then told the autopilot to execute it. So, that's how to do it...
   "... Easy test. Only one planet. Big planet with lots of moons harder..."
   Lei stopped looking at the consoles as soon as the ship had spun around to start the slingshot. They were now headed back towards the planet for a short while, and she could get a good look at it now. Grinning, she watched the planet's surface speed by below, before it was hidden behind Destiny a short time later.
   The show bieng over, she went back to trying to figure out what all the controls did.

Kale watched Lei for a moment longer, wondering what had happened to her on that facility, wondering what her past was.  No way could she know all that, but Kale no way of figuring anything out now so he pushed the thoughts to the back of his mind.  "Well, you be careful up here.  No touching, okay?"  At first he had been worried she'd mess something up and kill them all.  Now he was half afraid that she'd try to fix their whole control system so no one on board knew how to work it anymore.  With one last parting look he sat back down on the bench and closed his eyes, letting himself doze lightly.

Rhaef reached the bridge, and saw Lei sitting fascinated by the controls as Rhaef worked. There was something off bout that girl, but he couldn't put his finger on it as of yet. He saw the Captain reclining on the bench. He walked into the bridge and leaned against the doorframe. "Excuse me, Captain. Got a minute?

Kale looked up as Rhaef came onto the bridge a while later.  Looking over he noticed Lei was still at the controls ... odd girl. He sat up straight, "What's up?"

   Lei answered the captain without looking up. "Ok."
   She looked over the console again. Most of the controls looked fairly simple. Her gaze fell on the one control that looked like it could do more than any of the others... The cortex.

Rhaef looked at the Captain, then to the girl at the controls. Figuring Ren and Kale knew what they were doing, he said, "A word, in private, Captain." As he said this, Rhaef walked out into the corridor outside the bridge.

Kale shrugged, "Be good." he said to Lei and followed Rhaef out into the hall, curious as to what was on the mans mind.

Rhaef led him out into the hallway where they were far enough to be out of earshot of Lei.  "What's on your mind?" he asked.  Rhaef was a fairly quiet man, if he needed to talk to Kale about something it was most likely important.

"Well, Captain, it may be none of my business. But considering that "other" order you gave me regarding our new fare, figured I best tell ya." He paused, and removed a cigarette and lit it. "It appears our fare already has Geoff wrapped around her little finger. And based on her background, at least as much as you told me, I thought you should probably know." Rhaef added with a shurg. It seemed stupid now that it was out in the air, but still orders are what they are.

Kale nodded thoughtfully, "I'd suspected that ... she's an attractive girl and well - Geoff's a young man.  Put the two together ... " Kale trailed off, he didn't think that Wei-Li was a danger - but he couldn't be sure and right now caution was the name of the game. "Do you feel it's something we should be worryin' about?" He asked his first mate, relying like he had so many times before on Rhaef's keen ability to read people.

   Lei didn't even look up as the captain and Rhaef stepped out the door. She could hear them murmuring to each other on the other side of it, so they hadn't gone far. She started to concentrate on the cortex.
   The captain had told her not to touch anything, but she wasn't going to learn anything that way... She wouldn't change anything, just look around some. Her hands went to the cortex controls. This model seemed somewhat older than what she was used to, but it was connected with the rest of the ship. From here, she could find out at least a little about what is happening with all the ship's systems. There was so much more freedom here. The system back there had been connected to nothing, and only served to teach the children the basic controls.
   She ignored the sound of voices from the hallway, it didn't concern her.

"Ain't rightly sure, Cap." Rhaef replied. "Geoff seems pretty taken, and I ain't been able to get much of a read on the girl. Worry no, but I'm thinking maybe you might just want to have a chat with Geoff. Make sure he understands the risks involved, when you mix business and pleasure, board ship." Rhaef replied honestly.

Kale bit his lower lip and nodded. "Alright, I'll have a talk with Geoff, make sure the rules are all nice and understood.  In the meantime, we'll both keep an eye on Wei-Li - make sure she's who she says she is and not robbing us blind."  He glanced back onto the bridge, Lei looked to be touching things.  "I need to watch the girl" he said to Rhaef and went back onto the bridge.

"Understood, Cap." Rhaef said to the order. Looking over at Lei who now had her hands on the cortex, he added, "You know, Cap, I think you do. Looks to me like she's got herself into the Cortex."

With that Rhaed walked back toward his bunk, wondering about the fact that things continued to get curiouser and curiouser.

Kale walked on the bridge and went straight to the controls.  "Lei, what did I tell you?  No touching." he quickly looked down at what she was pulling up, something about the signals feeding into Destiny's computers.  He didn't even care right now how she had navigated through the cortex to get that information without ever having used the cortex before.

He closed her out of it, "This is my gorram ship and I do not run it like a ruttin' day-care.  Now yer free ta stay here - but the bridge is off-limits, ya hear me?"

   Lei jumped when the captain started shouting at her. She didn't understand what she'd done wrong, she couldn't look at the cortex properly without using the controls. She'd only been looking, and hadn't changed anything... Wasn't that all the captain had wanted?
   She wanted to ask why the systems were set up the way they were, since she'd spotted something odd. But the Captain was angry with her. Starting to cry, she sprang from the seat and bolted out of the bridge.

   ((To: Dining hall -> Cargo bay. ))

Kale sighed as he watched the girl run out of the room.  Ai ya, he thought, he hadn't meant to make her cry.  He just - well, she shouldn't be touching things on the bridge, she could have messed up all sorts of things.  He sat behind the controls and noticed that they were coming up on their destination, and grabbed the mike.  No time to worry about crying children.

"Ren, it looks like its time to pull this boat over, if I could have you on the bridge please."

Ren entered the bridge to see the Captain sitting at the controls, "Um, is there something I've been missin'?  I don't recall flying this boat all the way ta our first stop off." he said in confusion.

"You didn't." Kale said, stepping away from the controls to allow Ren to do his thing.  "The girl gave us a boost, used the planets gravity to sling us farther faster ... it was some mighty good thinkin'.  Gives me the willies - don' quite know how she did that, wasn't behind the controls fer more then a few minutes ..." he trailed off.  "We're here now though."

"Lei?" Ren said, taking a seat and going over the controls, "The kid?"  He eased up on the thrusters,  "She ever been up in a boat like this before even?" he brought Destiny to a near stop and transmitted the code on the pocket computer Rhaef had given him earlier through the frequency and began following the beacon as it came back.  He looked at Kale "Well, you can let our employer know we're there." he said as he got a visual.

Kale grabbed the mike "Looks like we've reached our destination, all acrobatic, waitressing, theif-catching black walkers to the airlock please."

He set the mike down, "I got some work ta do."

-----------Cargo Bay----------->

Slinking in the shadows as he was want to do, Rhaef saw Lei come flying out of the bridge tears streaming down her face. Moments later, the Captain was following her. Rhaef shook his head, he knew where, or more exactly to whom, the girl was going. Suddenly Rhaef was more than a bit concerned about if the girl had overheard what he and Kale were discussing. He simply shook his head, he couldn't really worry about people's feeling being hurt. He simply doing his job. That being said, might be time to fine a place to let everyone cool down a bit, and do a little more work on Kale's other orders for him.

Rhaef jumped down to the mezzanine below him, and started to wind his way back toward the engine room.

Ren could hear arguing coming from the dining hall and decided it would be best to sit tight and not go wandering into a battle zone.  Hopefully the Captain would be able to set whatever was amiss straight.

He glanced back down at the system readings and frowned, there was something funny going on with engine 1.  He grabbed the mike.

"Hey, mei mei, I'm gettin' some funny readings on engine 1, everything shiny in there?"

Kale stepped onto the bridge and came to stand behind Ren's chair.  "Engine problems?" he asked.  He never liked to hear that Destiny wasn't shiny, especially when they were out in the black.

"Nothin' to be too concerned about Cap'n.  Just a little glitch, I got Charlie workin' on it right now." he looked back at the Captain, "Everything shiny out there?" Ren said, motioning to the dining hall.  "Heard some yelling."

Kale shrugged, "Don' know about shiny, but we'll get by.  Just a bit 'a problems with the little one.  I apparently ain't her favorite person right now."  He shook his head, he'd have to remember to not yell at the little thing - apparently that scares children - who knew?

He looked back at Ren.  "So we'll be able to head out in a bit right?  I'll leave you to look over things." Kale said, and started for the dining hall once more.

Ren looked back down at the controls and his eyes widened, "Uh, Cap, there's something here you might want to see..."

                                  Reward for information leading to
                                              the apprehention of Datton Corg -

WANTED

                            DATTON CORG

http://rpolportraits.shannara-rose.com/mmc493.jpg" data-lightbox="images-msg-177">http://rpolportraits.shannara-rose.com/mmc493.jpg" alt=''>

                            Wanted for:

                                     Felony Fraud
                                     Felony Evasion
                                     12 Counts of Aggravated Assualt

WARNING:

                Subject may be armed and dangerous.

                     Has been known to carry firearms.

If seen, do not approach. Contact your local Federal Marshal's office.

"O, zhe zhen shi ge kuai le de jin zhan." Kale said as he stard down at Kyron ... or Datton's face.  "Ta ma de hun dan!"

Kale walked to the doorway of the bridge and yelled out of it, "Rhaef!"

He looked back to Ren, "Never did like that guy."

Rhaef reached the bridge at full speed, not bothering to check to see if Kendra had followed him, he skidded to a stop just short of Kale who was standing over the Cortex. "What's going on, Captain?"

Few seconds later, Kendra runs up besides Rhaef. What's the matter? Kendra sensing the tension, looks around, assumes fighting stands, and remains on guard.

"Look what we got." Kale said and motioned to the Cortex, moving aside so Rhaef could see for himself.  "Trouble."

Kendra peers over Rheaf's shoulder Cai bu shi!

"Gao yang zhong de gu yang...do we have any gorram clue where this piece of trash is right now?" Rhaef growls after reading the warrant on the cortex. As he did he drew his gun and made sure the safety was off - before re-holstering it for the moment.

Rhaef moved to the door and talked to Lei and shouted something at Acacia.

"His room." Kale said, "That's where the son of a bitch always is.  Rhaef you go guard the door, we'll look him in and turn him over.  I ain't about to help that scum out."

Kendra looking around - movement catches her eye shit! in the dining hall, he's got Acacia! she whispers loudly.

Ren was on his feet the second he heard Acacia scream and pushed past the rest of the men and woman on the bridge. "Liu kou shui de biao zi he hou zi de ben er zi!" he shouted, his heart starting to race.  If that hun dun hurt Acacia at all he would die.  And Ren was not a violent man, so that was saying something.

----------Very quickly to the Dining Hall========>

"That gorram son of bitch is dead - Captain, reward or no reward."

Kendra walks towards towards the dining hall, gun forward-walking quietly and looks for a place to stake out the scum bag.

Rhaef stumbled as Ren pushed by him, this situation was going from bad to worse. The pilot was about to do something stupid, he knew it. He paused and his eyes when the mezz and wire racks above the bridge. He nodded to Kale, and tried to get the Captain to motion his up.

Kendra walks, slowly, using her stealth, bit by bit towards the dining hall -trying to get a clear line of sight. I could really use my sniper rifle. Kendra thought to herself.

Rhaef turned to Kale, and whispered, "This is going from bad to worse, Captain. Any plans?"

Maybe if I could somehow sneak behind Kyron. Kendra looks towards the dining hall to for a possible way.

Kale heard the screaming and tried to grab Ren before he made a dash out the door.  Rhaef had the right idea of trying to sneak up on the bastard but there was no way any of them were going to fit in the ventlation systems.  He looked at Rhaef, "I hate that you're always right."  He could hear Kyron and the rest talking and peered out into the dining hall - he had Acacia and Kale would die before he let one of his crew take a fall.

"We play this safe.  Maybe if we can reason with him - just let him go, take the shuttle and we'll be on our way."  He looked at Rhaef, "Put down your weapon, I don't want him to get trigger happy and men get trigger happy when their nervous."  He frowned and motioned for Kendra and Rhaef to follow him into the dining hall.


----------Dining Hall-------->

This message was deleted by the player at 05:27, Wed 25 Jan 2006.

"Your call, Captain." Rhaef said as he re-holstered his gun. He removed the glove on his charred hand again, in hopes that the thug might recognize it, and give them even a bit more negiotating power.

Kendra follows, face and body tense with concentration. Gun out in front, she walks briefly likening this a wartime mission.

Kyron pulled the woman up the few steps into the bridge and stood behind the pilots chair.  "Now, if you would please set course for Beaumonde, there is some business that I need to attend to.  You play nice, and the little lady lives ... if not - well, you get the picture."

Ren sat down woodenly.  The console, his home, now felt so wrong and dead.  He started to look at Acacia but he knew it would only make things worse.

He looked at the screen, only to see Kyron's picture staring back at him.  Angrily he flicked it off and started plotting the best course.  It was a day out.  He felt a chill go down his spine... He had left the others to die.  Trading their lives for a chance to save Acacia, and he hated himself for it.

Acacia stood back against the wall.  She tried to not see what happening.  She was trying so hard not to cry anymore.  She was going to make it easier for Ren.  She felt scared, she couldn't come up with any way to help.

Ren worked the control, his mind racing.  He had to get the crew back on board.  If he didn't, they were all dead.

"Kyron.. uhm.. Datton... whatever you've done... it can't be worth 5 lives... "

He holds his breath.  Its a slim chance-- but its a chance... get him thinking about the price, the escallation...

"Ah, here comes the hero act.  Get him talking, make him feel pity on the poor lost souls.  It's over-played, flyboy, besides - the money really was worth it.  And you can't spend money very well if you're dead or in prison now can you?  I regret trying Persephone however, one just gets so tired of the uncivilized rim colonies though." Kyron smiled wistfully, "I suppose now I'll have to retire."

He looked back to Ren then, "I'm not a good man - so don't try morality on me, boy.  I've been playing the border worlds for years and have met dozens like you.  Everytime I come to a new town they welcome me in with open arms, and everytime I hold a noble benefit for the orphans, or the homeless, or the disabled - men just like you flock to it.  Pitiful really.  They have hardly a penny to their name and yet they will give it to me to help those they deem less fortunate then themselves.  The world is full of fools - like your Captain.  If it were me - I would have let the lovely lady die." he pushed the gun tighter to the womans head with a smirk as the man looked as though he were going to stand up and hit him.  "Ah, ah, ah." he said.

Ren swallows hard and sits back down, wondering if he can put the ship into enough of a dive to throw Kyron around... give Acacia a chance.

He knew his life was forfeit.

Kyron narrowed his eyes at the man, he could see the wheels turning in that thick skull of his.  "Don't try anything stupid - you've already gotten one man shot today ... do you really want to end her life as well?"

Ren swallowed at the bile rising in his throat.  Kyron was right.  He'd gotten Rhaef shot... He'd been the one who ruined everyone else's chances.

His shoulders sagged and he nodded.  "I'll do whatever you say... just... take the gun off her please... I.. I can't think straight when all I can think of is that...

"You don't need to think - you just need to fly this ship to Beaumonde.  You're a pilot, yes?  This should be a no brainer really.  Or is everyone on this ship as mentally inept as the giant?" he smirked, keeping the gun where it was - at Acacia's temple.

Ren closes his eyes, trying to squeeze the image out of his mind, but he can't.  He turns away.  Acacia doen't need to see what this is doing to him.

Kyron has him, and he knows it.

Charlie took one of the handguns from the table, holding it a bit awkwardly and looking it over, making sure the safety wasn't on.  She'd fired a gun before...a few times...back before she was on the ship.  Still, it had to be like riding a bike, right?  Right.  She stepped light-footed through the Dining Hall, reaching the steps to the Bridge and taking them as slow as she could, doing her best to be as quiet as possible.

Finally, just outside the door to the Bridge, Charlie flattened herself against the outside of the doorframe and out of view.  She could feel her heart racing in her chest, pounding louder than any other noise that she could possibly make...the light-headedness that came with it was starting to blur the edges of her vision.  It'll all be over soon, she told herself.  Just stay calm.  She looked at Wei-Li, making eye contact and raising the gun, giving her a nod.

Wei-Li meets Charlie's eyes.  For a moment all her fear and concerns are showing but as she nods, her expression changes to one of complete focus-- the same expression she had when she was performing.

She pushed off the stairs and hatchway, giving her the momentum needed to carry her into the middle of the room.

She rolled and came up standing.

Charlie's head peeked around the side, watching Wei-Li spring into action.  It had been a good move, jumping into the room like that.  Charlie probably would have just tiptoed in and knocked him out with a wrench.  It doesn't hit her until now what an easier plan that would have been, all things considered...but then again, it was too late for that.

With a quick breath, Charlie stepped out from around the door with taking Kyron's distraction as her opening.  She held the firearm out with both hands and pointed it at him, doing her best not to let her hands shake the gun back onto the floor.  "You...you just..."  She's at a loss for words, angry at herself for not having anything good to say.  She never was good at this stuff.  "Let Acacia go."

Kyron grins as the defeat he sees in the pilot, all is going so well, so very -

Suddenly, that piece of Paquin trash comes barreling into the room along with the little mechanic.  "How did you -" there's no time though as he realizes that they're both armed.  He's not getting caught. He immediately takes his gun and fires.

He's Shooting!  At us!  Somewhere, in the back of her head, Charlie's defensive mode flips on.  She holds the gun out straight at Kyron and squeezes the trigger, closing her eyes tightly as the gun fires.

Two gun shots ring out - one right after the other ..... and then the bridge is deathly silent.

When everyone looks around again Wei-Li has been shot in the stomach and Kyron has been shot in the left shoulder.

Ren froze as time seemed to stand still.  He caught movement behind him, turning to see the passenger in the middle of the room, and Charlie in the doorway.  He started to yell, only to be silenced by the sound of the two shots.  He stared in disbelief as Acacia started to move.

"NO!".  He moved then despiration and fear as he grabbed her into his arms and he began checking frantically for wounds.  Baby?  Acacia.. honey???"

His hands were shaking as he held her, and then turned... if she was alright.. who....

Kyron's eyes widened in disbelief.  She shot him ... the tiny little mechanic had shot him.  The gun dropped from his hand as he felt himself falling back against the wall.  His eyes were welling with tears of pain.  The little bitch!  He couldn't breathe ... he tried desperately to get in a good breath but the pain was overwhelming him - he'd never experienced anything like it before - he'd never been shot before.  He slumped to the ground his hands now covering the wound, coming back covered in blood.  He just sat there gasping.

Wei-Li stood for a moment, unsure of what had happened.    She blinked, looking around.  She was having trouble focusing again.  Something was wrong.

  She looked down, shock and surprise registering on her face.  Her mouth opened as she lifted her hand and saw the blood on it.

She tried to say something... and fell.

Charlie opened her eyes, seeing where Kyron lay against the wall, a bullet wound bleeding from her shoulder.  She hadn't even noticed Wei-Li, too afraid to look away from Kyron, that he might try something.  She stepped up to him, holding the gun towards his head, narrowing her eyes as best she can.  "Ren?"  She spoke in an eerily calming tone, not looking away from Kyron.  "You should be callin' Kale.  Turn the ship so we can go'n get him."  It felt like she was going to collapse at any second, but she wouldn't let that happen now.  She wouldn't let her gaurd down this easily.  The second someone else had the weapon, of course...well, she had something to do elsewhere, and it didn't require anyone else to be around.

Acacia felt tears rolling down her cheeks as Ren held her and she never ever ever wanted him to let go ever again.  But over his shoulder she could see Wei-Li slumping to the floor and knew that now was not the time to fall to pieces - right now she needed to be strong. She pulled aways from Ren and motioned for him to check on Charlie as she crawled over to Wei-Li.

Ren shivered when Acacia pushed him away, but he nodded.  Her expression said it all.  Now was not the time.

He moved over to Charlie, wincing at the look in her eyes.  She shouldn't have had to do this.  It was his job to protect her.  He put his hand on hers, easing the gun from her hands.

"Easy little bear... I've got you... you're going to be fine... "

He placed a hand on her shoulder and took the gun from her, then picked up Kyron's gun as well.  He felt completely numb as he looked around at the aftermath.  With a look of disgust he slugged Kyron in the jaw, knocking him out.

Charlie kept her hands still, nearly crying, biting her lower lip with the gun held out at Kyron.  She doesn't respond to what Ren says for a second, allowing him to lower the gun...it was all a bit too much for her.  She'd never done so much as hit somebody.  It seems like she doesn't even blink as Ren knocks out Kyron, shivering a bit and rubbing one of her arms.

"Ren...you gonna...you can call th'ship, right?  I..."  She spoke through a wavering voice, raising a hand to her eyes, doing her best to get through what she has to say.  "Call me if you...y'need help to dock th'shuttle.  I need ta...go check on the, ah...the engines."  She managed to get through the last few words as she choked back her tears, coming because of her anger, her fear, her exhaustion...everything.  Before he could say anything, she turned around and left, covering her face...


---------->Dining Hall--------->Cargo Bay--------->Engine Room 1

Acacia's hands shake as she runs to Wei-li.  She sniffs trying to clear her mind.  She looks at the wound, Ren, Her voice shaking.  I need to get her to the infirmary.  I-I-I can't carry her alone  Her voice trembling as she tries to force her training to take over.

Ren gave Charlie a worried look as she left the bridge.  He knew she was going to need to talk to someone, but right now he had to deal with Kyron.  He wasn't about to let Charlie and Wei-Li's sacrifices go for naught.

He also never wanted Kyron anywhere near Acacia again.

He let out a ragged breath.  "I know... I just have to put thisWei Shian Dohn Woo where he can't hurt anyone... "

He grabbed some duct tape and wound it around the man's arms and torso before picking him up and carrying him to the airlock.

------ To Cargo Bay ----->

Acacia watched him go by thought about saying something, but honestly she was glad Kyron was no longer around.  She looked back down to Wei-li, Hold on, your a healthy young woman, don't worry, I'll fix ya up good.   Acacia said.  Her hands were still shaking from the whole situation.  She hated guns all they did was hurt.

Wei-Li looks up at her, pain showing in her eyes as she tries to say something and fails.

She reaches out with her hand, flailing against the pain.

Ren comes back in, out of breath from the exertion.  He knelt down next to Acacia,  putting a gentle hand on her shoulder.

“How should I hold her? He asked, unsure how to keep from hurting the injured woman more.

actually let's try to stop the bleeding some,  Acacia took off her tank, she bundled it up and put it over the wound, that was bleeding badly.  Ren I think, well now that I can, run and get my med bag from the infirmary.   She pressed with shirt not hard but firmly on the wound, the blood was on her hand some.  She needed to get the bullet out.  Wei-li are you still awake,

Ren looked at her and nodded.  As he stood he ran his hand over her head, just to assure himself that she was still there, that she was all right.

Then he was runing again.

----- to infirmary ----->

Wei-Li tried to focus on the Doc and nodded.  "_{Didn't...plan... this...   Is... alright?}"

She winced, fighting to keep her breathing steady.

Ren set the bag down next to Acacia.  "What else can I do?

He knew he should be working on finding the shuttle, but the woman laying there deserved a chance to live too.

Acacia looks over to Ren, sweat matting her hair to her forehead. Get our family back   She said.  She pulls over the kit, she really needed her in the infirmary, but one person moving her would cause more damage.  She put a gauze on it she needed to move her but how.

Ren nodded, bending down and kissing her on top of the head.  "You're amazing, he whispred and then moved back to the controls, recalculating their original point when they changed direction and slowly turning the ship around.

He began running ever scan he could think of-- searching for the shuttle.

Ren just try callin em, don't thay have a radio   She calls over after not hearing anything from him for awhile.  When you get a chance I think she is stable enough to move.  I need to you to cradle her and carry her down to my equipment in the infirmary

Ren sets the auto controls and turns towards Acacia.  "Not quite in range yet... He tells her as he gets out of the pilots chair and kneels beside her again.

He can't help but put his arm around Acacia and kiss the top of her head.  "We'll find them... but for now," he says.  "Lets get her when you can work on her proper-like."

He slips his arms under her and gently picks Wei-Li up. He's expression hardens as he hears her painful breaths.  She's like this because of Kyron... because he couldn't stand up to him...

Let me go first then follow  Acacia said as Ren picked up Wei.  She took off for the infirmary, she had to keep her emotions in check.







[to Infirmary]

Ren swallowed hard against the lump he felt in his throat.  They needed time to get through this, but it was time they didn't have.

He held Wei-Li carefully as he followed Acacia.  He found himself praying their relationship would survive this.

---- To Infirmary----->

Wei-Li groaned softly as she felt someone pick her up.  She tried to open her eyes, but closed them quickly, feeling even worse.

"_{Kyron... did something to... shuttle.    Beacon... Units... 2 and 3...} "

She clenched her fist against the pain, grabbing the pilot's shirt.

------ Going where she's carried ----->

Charlie walked into the Bridge, looking around for the navsat controls, only having had to mess with them a few times.  She runs her hands over the walls, lights and meters giving readouts from all over the ship.  She could keep her healthy from the Engine Room, but to those who don't know how to listen to the way an engine turns, this is where Destiny talked back.  Where she talked about how she was hurting, or what made her happy, or anything like that.  Right now, it was going to show her how to call for her friends.

Charlie crouched down on the floor, looking at the controls...pausing when she sees the splashes of blood on the metal flooring, her eyes passing over the wet spots that still remain.  She turns a lighter shade, closing her eyes and breathing through her nose for a second, doing her best to keep it together.  Kyron had it coming, she told herself.  He earned his face, and Wei-Li will be okay.  She muttered under her breath, taking hold of the edge of the console and pulling herself underneath, rooting through the cables until she found the transmissions box.  She clicked open the hatch on it, dislocating the com functions and plugging in the navigations primary echo, twisting it in tight before she slides back out from under the console.

"Well...here goes nothin."  Charlie sat back into the pilot's chair, clicking on the comm and setting it to broadcast at broad sweep, waiting for it to bring up anything.  It was just a matter of waiting to see what it would find...

Ren moved to the controls, checking their trajectory and speed.  They were still a good hour or two out from their start point.

He adjusted the speed and cleared off his console.  Then he moved out of Charlie's way.  This was her show now.

He looked around the Cockpit, picking up the guns and locking them in one of the cabinets. They didn't need them anymore.  Abscentmindedly he began fiddling with Wei-Li's handheld computer.

Ren watched Charlie as she worked the wiring and tried to boost the signal.  Praying they would find the others in time.  There was no telling what Kyron had done...

It had started so simply.  Take Wei-Li out to her 'growing units'  Pick them up... drop Kyron off...


... units...

'Units 2 and 3'  Wei-Li's words echoed in his mind.. Units.

He turned on the device, calling up the frequencies and commands.

"Charlie!?" he called moving over to the console.  "Try sending these codes on the specified frequency...

He handed her Wei-Li's handheld with the frequencies and codes on it.

"She said.. units 2 and 3"

"I'm not askin' where you're gettin' this idea.  I'm not findin' anything on this scan, so I'm up'ta tryin' anything."  She reached under the console, pulling the nav system and the comm system back apart, able to re-attatch them with only a glance.  She sat back up, opening up the manual commands on the ship's communications beacon, boosting towards the specificed frequency.  She holds the handheld up with one hand, using the other to type in the codes.  "I'm...yeah, lesse what this does."

Charlie sent out the signal, getting out of the pilot's chair and motioning for him to take it.  "Your show now, baby bear."

Ren slipped into the seat and turned the scanner to foucs on the frequency in Wei-Li's computer.  He had never been so aware of his own heart beat as he watched the scanner for any sign of the beacons associated with the units.

He shook his head and reached for the scanner to switch it back to search mode.  Then he saw it-- the beacons' answer... almost at the edge of the screen.

He moved with purpose now, doing quick mental calculations.  "Hang on little bear... we're going for a ride..."

He turned off the auto controls and turned the ship back to his control, pushing the ship as he did so.  "Charlie.. we're going to need as much power as we've got..."
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:23, Fri 27 Jan 2006.

"You don't need t'tell me twice, Ren."  She turned around, heading back towards the engine room, set on a purpose now...


--------->Dining Hall-------->Cargo Bay--------->Engine Room 1

COMM:  Well, I've shut down our protocol for entering atmo, the power to our landing structure, all'f the forward pressure manifolds, and I'm shuttin' down the aquafiers for th'time being.  S'all I can give you that we're not gonna need.  Set it t'burn as much as y'need.

Ren hoped it was enough, but it was going to be close.  The shuttle was still moving away from them and once he caught up, they still had to mauever themselves into docking.

Watching the beacon's he realized that ship wasn't varying in direction.  That shàng dì jiào shao ér zi shui zhì hadn't even been willing to give them a chance.  His hand hovered over the airlock controls for a minute, shaking.

He finally pulled away from the controls.  If he blamed Kyron for it, he knew that he was even more guilty-- chosing Acacia and Charlie over the rest of the crew.  He prayed they would reach them in time.

He could hear the engines protest as he pushed the ship to her limits, betting their lives on saving the others'.

Ren's hands flew over the controls as he adjusted the course to meet up with the shuttle.  There was no way to tell if they were even still alive on the shuttle-- but they had to be.

Anything else was unacceptable.  He'd let them down once, he wasn't about to do it again.

It took them almost an hour to catch up with the shuttle, and he wasn't about to let her get away.  As he adusted Destiny's pitch and yaw, he realized there was still one problem.  The shuttle's engines were still firing.

He couldn't dock properly with the shuttle if the engines were on.

"Destiny to Destiny-Shuttle 2, do you copy? he called, then repeated the call.

He waited trying to watch the ship and swore.  They weren't answering.

"Gao yang zhong de gu yang"  He shook his head, and then got on the intercom.

"Little Bear, 'Cacia...we're here.. but they're still firing .. I"m going to try and get their attention...hold on

Ren manuevered around the shuttle matching its speed and direection.  Hoping someone was still at the controlls.

Ren bit his lip-- either someone was still in there and had turned off the engines, or they'd run out of fuel-- either way the crew was coming home.

He positioned destiny under and ahead of the shuttle slightly, then activated the intercom.

"Ladies... hold on... I'm brining them aboard."

He let his breat out slowly, almost seeing the shuttle as she moved in beind him.  He eased the controls up, allowing destiny to drift up, into the shuttle's path.

He watched the controls and scanner as he performed the final calcuations, gave a quick prayer and felt the nose of the shuttle bump against Destiny's Hull.

Two more bumps, and she was in position.  Then it was only a question of meeting her speed and then starting to slow.

1... He checked the controls and let his breath out slowly
2... He inched up and eased back on the throttle
3... He let the shuttle latch into place.
4... He activated the secondary catch.

"... We've got you....

He let out a sign and picked up the mic. again.

"We got em...

He only hoped they were still alive.

Ren quickly calcuated their next possible desinations, picked the nearest one and engaged the autopilot.  He adjusted the sensors so that he'd be able to get to bridge if they detected anything long before it became a problem.

Then he moved the cargo bay, hoping that they were still all right.

----- To Cargo Bay ----->

Charlie sat on the floor, her back against lockers, staring off at the floor.  She had sat there the whole time that Ren brought the shuttles in, and even as she left with Acacia and Wei-Li.  Maybe it was weak, maybe she was even tired.  There was no telling when it came to certain things, and sometimes, she just needed to shut down.  She'd been staring at the blood spilled on the floor, thinking about all the times this ship had seen blood.  About the whole crew had spilled some on the floor by now, even those who weren't fighters.

All of a sudden, staying on Paquin seemed like an even better idea...

Kale stepped into the room, his footsteps for once not ringing on the metal flooring.  Charlie was just sitting there - staring at the floor and it didn't take a genius to recognize that her focus was on the puddle of blood.  He stood there for a moment, just watching her feeling awkward, but wanting to comfort her to make everything that had just happened go away.

"You shouldn't have had to do that." he said quietly, staring at the blood now himself.  Out of everyone on this boat Charlie was not a killer - he sometimes saw her as the one pure and good thing.  The little ray of sunlight in their sky of black.  He came and slumped down on the floor beside her - not looking at her, but at his hands.

"Ah...Cap'n."  Charlie sighed, leaning her head back on the locker, still watching the blood on the floor.  She was happy to be seeing that they were alive, and in good time, she would be able to bring those emotions closer to the surface.  For now, though, they weren't the things on her mind.

"I had to, Cap'n.  Other people were gonna get hurt.  'Sides, who else was gonna do it?"  She managed a half-smirk when she finished, closing her eyes for a moment.  "Did they kill him?"

Kale admired how strong she was being - and was grateful that she did what had to be done.  "You done good lil' Charlie, you done good." he said, and leaned his head back against the lockers as well.

Then he frowned when she mentioned Kyron and shook his head.  "No, no he's still tied up in the air-lock." Kale said coldly.  The thought of the man made his stomach churn.

"I know, I'm...y'know, I know."  She looked over at Kale, giving him a tired smile, shrugging.  She was even more tired, and could feel it in her arms and legs.  "Anyone woulda done it for me, I'm sure.  Even someone new, like Geoff'r so.  So...what're we gonna do with him?"

Kale let out a long sigh and crossed his arms over his knees.  "I dunno.  Haven't decided yet - I just thought it'd be the smart thing to do ta wait til we're all cooled down a bit before dealin' with him.  Right now I got about 9 votes ta space him, but ... ah ruttin' hell, the no good hun dun does a number on me and my own and I find it neccessary to show him mercy." he shook his head and rested it in his hands.

Charlie reached out, scratching the back of Kale's head, leaning in next to him.  "Well, if it helps...I'm thinkin' maybe we don't shoot him out.  I know I'm one 'gainst the whole crew, but...I dunno.  I just get to thinking 'bout how I came close'ta killin' him, and, y'know...I'm not sayin' he didn't do no wrong, but...maybe there's been enough hurtin'."  She looked back at the blood on the floor, sighing again.

"Is Wei-Li gonna be okay?"

Kale let out a forced chuckle, well at least someone saw things his way, now to convince the rest of the crew. As to Wei-Li, he sure hoped she was alright.

"She's not good, but I think she'll make it - Doc got her stable.  And Rhaef lost a lotta blood but they're patchin' him up right good." He looked at Charlie, "What about you?  You gonna be okay?"

Charlie managed a smile, looking back at Kale.  "Yeah, I'm good.  It's funny, y'know?  Knowin' that Kyron's not dead actually makes me feel kinda better.  Y'know, I'm just...I didn't get anyone killed.  Nobody was killed, and no one died.  That's somethin' we've been needin' a bit of on the boat.  Everyone's okay, all under one roof'n such."  She kept contact with Kale a moment longer, and then looked back at the blood.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:08, Sun 29 Jan 2006.

After getting their ship back the crew of Destiny began to pick up the pieces that Kyron had shattered.  Against most of the crews wishes Kyron was kept alive - although no official plans had yet been made for what to do with him when it became apparent that Wei-Li was falling into critical condition. Destiny needed medical help and fast.  They made way for the nearest planet at the time - Orisis.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:24, Sat 13 Oct 2007.

Ren runs a hand through his hair and sighs as he checks the controls.  They are finally in range.

He picked up the microphone and transmitted the ship's signature and information.

"This is Destiny, a Dingo Class Freighter, registration number 1-1169er123-D, requesting emergency landing on Osiris.""

He waited only a few seconds before the voice returned.  "Copy  1-116niner123-D, please state the nature of your emergency."

Ren looks at Kale for a moment before answering.  "We have a medical emergency, we have an injured passenger, repeat, we have an injured passenger."

There was a longer pause, and a different voice took over.  "1-116 niner 123 Dee, please proceed to grid co-ordinates G-7-5.  Follow landing beacon 1-13A.  Do not deviate from the beacon.  Outer beacon should be reached in Ten minutes."

Ren acknowlded in the same tone of voice he used while communicating and punched in the marker's sequence.  Then he turned to Kale.

"Boss... G secort is not medical, not commerse... that's in the law enforcement sector."

He looked at the controls for a second. "We hit thier control in just under nine minutes."

Kale frowned, "We said medical, gorram Alliance hun dun's ... I knew this was a bad idea." Kale leaned his hands on the back of Ren's chairs and closed his eyes for a second to think.  If they were sending them to the law enforcement sector odds are they saw Kyron on their passenger lists - probably ID'd him as Datton.  If that was the case they'd have to turn him over - only problem was he might talk about Lei and if they found her on board ...an idea dawned.

"Proceed with landing, try to keep it slow though." he grabbed the mike then and turned the comm on. "Kyoko I need you to take Lei onto your shuttle and go.  Now.  You have five minutes.  Don't care where you take her - we'll be in touch within the next few hours.  Acacia, get Wei-Li ready for medical transport - I want all hands in the cargo bay."

He set down the mike and turned to Ren, "Meet us down there once we're landed." he said, and headed out off the bridge.

------------ Dining Hall---------->

Ren nodded then went to work, slowing the ship without looking like she was slowing.  It felt so alien trying to slow down his arrival, he'd spend so many years learning how to speed it up.

Still he understood.  With their declared emergency-- they should have been in the Medical sector instead of where they were going.

He feathered the fuel mix and cut back on the power, setting the system for a diagnostic run.

There wasn't much he could do without making it obvious, but at least it was something.

Ren looked down at the controls, they were getting close and Kyoko still hadn't left.  He grabbed the comm and paged her shuttle.  "Kyoko, now would be the time for you to take off, I'm hitting landing in 5 minutes about."

Ren looked back down at the controls and watched as Kyoko's shuttle departed, then he began preparing the ship for landing.  He felt a little more then nervous about this, but there wasn't much they could do - Wei-Li needed the medical attention.

"Alright and landing in three, two, one." Destiny landed with a light bump and Ren began checking all controls to make sure everything was shiny. "And we're down."

After the fire fight at the Grand Yacht Party Kale worked out an arrangement with the Caddigan's.  Conveniently, the crews good friend Kyron Bates footed the bill with his bank card that he accidently dropped during his hijack attempt and which Wei-Li luckily found.  So finally the crew returned home ... back to Destiny.  Although slightly worse for wear.

They had been out in the black for a few days when Kale recieved a wave from his good friend and old professor, Walton Squires.  It was a pleasant surprise to recieve an invitation to his home on Regina and also to hear that he had a job for them ...
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:25, Sat 13 Oct 2007.

Ren smiled as he reviewed his calculations.  Everything was spot on.  He flicked on the intercom and smiled as he let the rest of the crew know their status.

"Ladies and Gentlemen.. and Rhaef... we will be landing in just under 8 minutes, so smile and offer it up to the crew who brought us here."

Kale steps on the bridge and comes to stand behind Ren, "Always makin' a fuss ..." Kale was commenting still half laughing at everyones apprasial of his cooking.  He thought they were being unfair, he wasn't that bad.  He looked up at Ren then, "You remember where ta set down this girl?" he asked, although it appeared that Ren did as he was busy at the controls.

Ren's fingers danced along the console as he brought the ship around and moved into landing position.  He smiled at Kale.  "Hey boss," he said by way of greeting.

When Kale asked him about landing, he smiled.  "Lets see.. its Fall here... local time 17:08..." he moved his hands like he was weighing something.  "Winds out of the north... "

He turned to face Kale.  "I belive that means the south 40... and .. right about..."

He turned back to the controls and set Destiny gently down on the surface of Regina.  "Now..."

Without thinking about it, he turned the intercom so he had a direct link to Charlie.  "And that would be landfall Mei Mei..." He told her.

Then he turned back to Kale.  "You want to make the announcement?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:40, Sun 09 Apr 2006.

Kale smiled at Ren as he watched through the window at Destiny's descent onto Regina.  It was cloudy out but Kale didn't care.  He could see the Squire's house off in the distance a little ways and that made him happy.

By way of answering Ren's question Kale grabbed the mic and hit the switch for shipwide comm.  "Well folks, looks like we are planetside.  Evenin' here on Regina so I believe dinner's in store.  If yer ready I'll meet everyone down in teh cargo bay." he set the mic down and turned to Ren, "Meet ya down there once you got system down." he said and headed out of the cockpit.

-------> Dining Hall
This message was last edited by the player at 19:00, Wed 12 Apr 2006.

Ren nodded, but was quickly distracted by Charlie's response to his announcement.

"Mei Mei," he called back.  "Shutting down up here.. you need any help?"

Charlie heard Ren's reply, clicking on the comm again.  "No, the...uh..."  There was a long moment of silence, but before Ren had a chance to speak, Charlie's voice came back on.  "Nah, ah'm just...everythin's goin' fine, gonna shut down all but th'power manifold.  I'll see ya out'n th'bay, Kale's callin' roll'n such."

"Be there as soon as I can, he answered as he finished shutting down the controls.

"Just as soon as I can," he added as he took a quick peek at the cargo bay and saw Acacia and the others gathering there.

Setting the last switch he gave the cockpit one last loving look before heading out.

----->to the Dining  Room
This message was last edited by the player at 16:00, Thu 13 Apr 2006.

[From Regina: The Professor's House]

Acacia stepped onto the bridge in front of Ren, her fingers intertwined with his.  As he entered behind her she pushed him up against the lockers, her other hand resting lightly on his chest and planted a kiss on his lips.  Then pulled away, giggling slightly, blushing.  She felt like a giggly school girl sometimes, but she couldn't help it.  She was still giddy over this new freedom to be so open about their relationship.

She crossed to the center console between the pilot and co-pilots chairs, "We still have to move my bookshelf up into your room, which means getting it up the cargo bay stairs." she commented, thinking about the recent move of all of her stuff from her room to his.

[From Regina: The Professor's House]

Ren had never felt so complete in his life than he did holding Acacia's hand.  Now more than every he knew what he wanted to do.  When they made it into the cockpit he was completely surprised when she pushed him, and pleasantly surprised when she started kissing him.

He never wanted it to end.

He smiled and sighed when she pulled away.  She was right of course-- he was supposed to be going through preflight for the ship not for... other things.

He laughed when she mentioned her book case.  "'Cacia, I don't think any of us could survive trying to move it as it is... are you sure it can't be taken apart?"

He sat down and began going through the checks.

"Aw, come on.  Big, strong pilot like you?" she came to stand behind him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and talking in a sweet voice.  "I'm sure you can handle a tiny bookshelf."

Ren shook his head.

"Tiny?  No.  You dear.. are tiny... that thing is ... gargantuan, humoungous, gigantic... No, they don't even begin to describe that book case of yours..."  He said, lauging and shaking his head.

He put his hand on hers and kissed her arm.  "We could build you a new one..."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:54, Fri 02 June 2006.

Acacia attempted a pout but ended up laughing anyway, knowing that Ren was right.    "Don't worry, Ace, it comes apart." She placed her hand over his, just looking into his eyes for a moment before pulling away, and placing her hands on her hips, "Now shouldn't you be working, mister?"

::Ren, you're gonna want to be calling our esteemed companion home.  Hopefully you won't be interrupting her strenuous work.::

Ren rolled his eyes at her in mock frustration, then laughed as he heard Kale's page.  "Will do," he answered, then switched to the shuttle's radio frequency.

"Destiny to Kyoko, are you there Kyoko?"

As he waited for her reply he set to work running the preflight checks, looking at Acacia as if to say "See...I'm working"

"I'm in orbit waiting on you Destiny. I only took one client, dropped him off last night and settled down for a nice rest in zero-g. Waiting for approach vectors, shouldn't you still be in bed entertaining your lady love?" Kyoko's voice cames back over the frequency, clearly the companion has been up for some time.

Ren was about to send the co-ordinates when he heard Kyoko's question.  "Right now I'm entertaining her in the cockpit.." There was a pause as he realized how that sounded.

"Uhm... entertianing amusing, not entertaining... entertaining... he gave Acacia a sheepish look as he cut off communication long enough to regain his composure.

"Uhm.. transfering co-ordinates now.." he said as the transmission began.

"I'll see you there Destiny, and I dont suppose you've got a final destination for our next trip out? It would be nice to have more than 12 hours notice on where and for how long we are staying at someplace." Kyoko's voice holds a hint of mischeivousness in it. "And Reiner, I could give you lessons on what to say and do if you like.

Ren proceeded to turn several shades of red before answering.

"Athens... and... uh.. thanks but ... I think I'm doing all right" he answered his tone slightly abrupt.  He was pretty sure he knew what he was doing when it came to Acacia.

He looked at Acacia for confirmation.

Acacia kissed him on the cheek and gave him a reassuring smile - she was turning bright red from Kyoko's comment as well.  Inwardly she was laughing, that's what she got for telling a companion about her love life, unabashed honesty.  Acacia wished she could be as comfortable with herself and sexuality as Kyoko was - Kyoko could teach her a thing or two ... but when it came down to it she'd still just be her bumbling self. "You're perfect." she whispered to Ren.

"I meant computer courses, books and vids of course.See you in 30 minutes Destiny, Monroe out." Kyoko's reply comes. Clearly the Companion is in an exceptionally good mood this morning.

::"That's it Ren, we got a full boat.  Let's go rendevous with our fair lady and head on out ta Athens."::

Ren smiled and flicked on the local intercom.  "Copy that boss..." he said, then switched over to Kyoko's frequency.

"Kyoko, we're lifting off in two," he informed her, then transfered over to the engine room.

"We ready Mei-Mei?"

He began running the final checks now that the crew was on board and the doors were closed as he wated for the word from Charlene

"I'll be waiting for you to hit orbit." Kyoko replies as she starts up her navigation plot.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 03:25, Fri 09 June 2006.

Ren nodded as he heard Kyoko's response.  He continued his checks and without missing a beat her replied.  "Copy that shuttle one.. waiting for firing sequence and we're of.."

He nodded as the results came in and smiled.  Everyting was go.  All he needed now was the go-ahead from Charlie.

COMM:  "We've been more'n ready, Bear.  Jus'be doin' me a favour'n take 'er out nice'n slow, don't be breakin' anythin' on th'ship.  I ain't gonna be havin' time to fix every little thing gone breakin' on th'ship."

Ren gave the speaker a worried smile, then answered in a gently yet teasing voice.  "But mei-mei... you love it when I take off... you love working on the ship...  that's why I do it like that..."

He hoped he'd get her to laugh, but he wasn't sure anymore.  She'd seemed better at the professor's, but now... something was really bothering her, and that bothered him.

He clicked over to the shipwide intercomm before she could respond and announced, "This is your pilot speaking."

He throttled up the engines enough to get a slightly lift.  "We are about to take off for Athens, if you weren't planning on going there... Well, its too late as we are off the ground... eta 90 mintues."

That said he took off gently in defference to Charlie.

Acacia smiled and planted herself on the armrest of Ren's chair, "This is my favorite part." she whispered to him as they broke atmo.

Ren smiled and nodded. It was his too, made better by being able to share it with her. He did the mental calculations needed to get Destiny to the rondezvous point.

The lift off was perfect, and he gave a satisfied chuckle.  "Beautiful ain't it? he asked, but he wasn't looking at the black.

[From Destiny: Cargo Bay]

Kale's mind was still very much on Rhaef as he stepped up onto the bridge where Ren and Acacia were sitting.  He didn't even manage a smirk as Acacia startled for a second at him coming him, probably instinct from before when they were still trying to hide the fact that they were together from him and were always having to come up with excuses for her to be on the bridge.  Kale didn't say anything about it though, just turned to Ren, "I need you to pull up a wave to this Mr. Sullivan so we can get landing coordinates cleared up and make contact with him."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:23, Sun 11 June 2006.

Acacia felt like an idiot for startling as the Captain stepped onto the bridge, it was force of habit.  She was so used to having to hide from him.  She immediately noticed that he was not happy however and decided she'd rather be elsewhere.  She gave Ren a quick peck on the cheek, "I'll see you later, looks like there's work to do, I'd only be in the way." then she left with the intention of going to visit Kyoko who had just reconnected with Destiny.

[To Destiny: Kyoko's Shuttle]

"Copy that, Ren answered as he started the wave without a second thought.

He was started by Acacia's kiss and her sudden departure.  "but... he called after he and sighed when he saw it was too late.

"Sullivan..." he repeated as he activated the wave.    "You talking or am I?"

"I'll do the talkin', just pull him up." Kale said somewhat shortly.  He sounded slightly distracted - he was.  He took a breath and pushed his other thoughts to the back of his mind.  This was business, and a contact he had never worked with before - he needed to be on top of his game.

Ren raised an eyebrow, but gave no further indication of reaction to Kale's tone.  Captain had a lot on his mind. and it wasn't Ren's place to comment, just to initiate the wave.

"Here you go," he said.  "Route it to the Co-pilot's console?"
This message was lightly edited by the player at 03:03, Mon 12 June 2006.

"Ya, that'd be great." Kale said and slumped down in the co-pilot's seat as Ren transfered the wave to his terminal.  Kale waited for the connection to complete and Connor's face to appear on the screen.

A face appeared on screen.
"Connor O'Sullivan speaking...what can I do for you?"

Kale watched a mans face appear on screen, trying to decipher what he could merely from his appearance, "Mr. O'Sullivan this is Captain Kale Galway of Destiny, Dingo class transport.  I was directed to ya by Walton Squires - I believe he informed you of my comin'?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:27, Mon 12 June 2006.

"That is correct Captain. And I'm more than willing to help you and your crew out. However, the security on these channels are fleetingly secure at best and I'd like to meet face to face...did the good professor give you the address to my apartment?"

Kale nodded, "He did.  Said ta give you a wave 'fore we headed on down though.  Our eta currently is 'bout an' hour now.  We'll be hittin' the Paratel Docks then.  Should I head right on over an' is the place secure or am I lookin' at extra security measures ta make sure me an' my own don't get double crossed?" he said, coming right out and telling the man his fears.

"Captain, proceed straight from the docks to my location...it is about as secure from the Alliance as you'll get on this world...and if you bring anyone extra...just make sure they're well armed...see you in a few Captain..." The transmission cut off abruptly...

"Will -" the connection cut out, "...do." Kale finished to no one.  "Well, he' an abrupt fellow." he commented mostly to himself.  Then he looked at Ren.  "Just let me know when we're touchin' down, I got some other business ta handle." he said, thinking of his talk with Rhaef.  "I'll be in my bunk."

Kale stepped down the few steps and into the hall below where Rhaef was already standing outside his bunk door.  Kale didn't say anything as he pushed the man slightly aside and opened his door leading the way inside.

[To Destiny: Kale's Bunk]

Ren nodded.  "You've got at least 20 minutes.  I'll call you when I reach the outer mark..." He promised as Kale left.

While there was time, Ren ran a scan of the Cortex, looking for anything out of the ordinary, or anything that might mean trouble.

Ren smiled as he looked at the navigation computer and the clock: Twenty minutes on the dot.

He turned on the intercom and paused for a second before announcing, "and that would be the outer mark for Athens.  If you want to hide any goodies or grab a quick nap... you have five minutes..."

He smiled as he switched over to Athens control for landing insturctions.

[From Destiny: Kale's Bunk]

Kale stepped onto the bridge determined not to let his agitation show, they were just hitting atmo so he reached up an arm to brace himself, "Just send O'Sullivan a message that we're landin' now and will be at his place in 'bout twenty minutes."

Then he grabbed the mic, "I need all hands in the cargo bay for briefing in the next five minutes, Kale out." he said, and left the room.

[To Destiny: Cargo Bay]

Ren finished the post flight checks and finished filling out the flight log before getting up and heading towards the Cargo Bay.

--->To Cargo Bay

Acacia walked into the bridge, where Ren was on watch for the time being as the captain and the others were on their mission.  She slid up behind the pilot's chair, leaning over and wrapping her arms around his neck, giving him a kiss on the cheek.  "Any word from the kids yet?  Or are we still...waiting."

Ren relaxed slightly at her touch.  "Nothing yet," he answered turning to catch her eye.  "Which hopefully is a good thing."

He didn't realy like waiting, in fact he hated it, but having Acacia there with him made it tollerable.  "They'll be fine, he assured her.

"<blue>And if they aren't we're here to get them out...<?blue>"

"You mean you're here to get them out.  I'm here to treat the laser burns and bullet wounds when they return."  She smirked a bit, leaning back up and placing her hands on his shoulders, starting to rub them.  "I'm sure they'll be fine, it seems they always are.  I'm more worried about what trouble they'll bring with them."

He rested his head against her left hand for a moment and shook it. "Patching them up is a very imporant part of getting them out of trouble," he said softly.  "A very imporatant part."

When she mentioned her concern he turned and met her gaze.  "Boss may bight off more than he can chew at times, but rarely more than we can deal with together... and you've been a big part of getting us through... getting me through..."

"Hey now, hey now...don't speak like I'm trivializing my part.  I know what I do is important."  She gave a smug smile, patting his cheek.  "Nothing more than patch tape and staples would be holding Kale together if I weren't here.  I'm just saying that there's some unnecessary trouble that they drag in.  You're usually here, you understand.  Rhaef will come in with another bullet, and I'll have to ask him 'Now Rhaef, was it necessary to get shot?  Again?'"  She chuckled lightly, going back to rubbing his shoulders.

"Relax, babe.  I'm not saying I'm not important.  I know I am every time I hear your voice."

Ren smiled at her, and laughed about the image of Kale held together with staples and about Rhaef getting shot... again.  But her last comment left him dumbfounded.

How could someone who meant so much to him, who was so caring and giving be otherwise.  He looked at her, giving her a contented sigh.  "That... is because you are amazing..."

For a moment Ren was lost in Acacia's eyes but became cognizant of a flashing light on his console. Sliding over to it, he looked over and was somewhat shocked. He reached for the intercom, "Um, Captain, y'all forget to shut the cargo bays doors when you came back, cause we're sitting open to the world right now?"

COMM: "Ren we gonna be headin' out here shortly, make sure this 'ol girl is all locked up an' don't go openin' the door ta no strangers."

Ren returned to tbe bridge and sat down, and began reviewing his charts and equipment. Something was off, Charlie was way to upset for something minor, and Kale seemed off too as well. Yet, nobody was telling him. He figured he'd press Kale when they got back. He earned that right, been on his gorram crew almost since the beginning.

COMM: "The bad men are back."

Ren was running pre-flight checks, when he heard Lei's comm. "Ah hell," he breathed breathlessly. The only people on board were Lei, Red, Kyoko and Charlie and him. This was bad news. He walked to cabinet in the cabin and grabbed a hogsleg.

He quickly switched on the comm to the engine, "Head's up Charlie, we've got trouble. Get out of sight."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:14, Wed 23 Aug 2006.

Acacia looked up from the co-pilot's seat when she heard Lei's message, which she didn't think much of...Lei didn't seem to trust parts of the crew, maybe she was referring to them.  Ren took it seriously, however, which was enough for her to do the same.  "What is it, hun?"

"Don't know baby, but I don't want to be too careless. Get yourself out of sight and stay hid, til I tell you its okay." He walked over and kissed her on the forehead, "Do this for me, please." He couldn't stomach another repeat of the events with Kyron.

"I know, I know...stay put.  Let the men do the hard stuff.  Go make sure that we're still safe, baby."  She stood up from the chair, patting the door.  "Why don't I just lock this door behind you when you go out.  You can comm if you need to be let back in, okay?"

"Fair enough, thank you baby, if I see Lei, I'll tell her the same thing, and tell her to tell Kyron's with her if there's trouble." He paused and kissed her quickly, but deeply, "I love you."

With that Ren slipped out of the bridge, and her the door seal behind him. He crept toward the bunks, trying to keep his eyes for the trouble.

---> To Charlie's Bunk

She kissed Ren back, walking to the door with him.  "Be careful, hun."  Once he stepped out, she shut the door and turned the heavy lock behind it, letting out a sigh.  Hopefully, it was nothing...but there had been a few supposed "nothings" that had turned out to be "somethings" in the past few months, and it never hurt to be over-prepared...

[From Destiny: Charlie's Bunk]

Lei sprinted up the few steps and her knuckles rapped quietly on the locked door.  She waited, then realized that Acacia didn't know who she was and wouldn't let her in if she didn't.  Summoning her voice - which she felt had been scared away - she said, "It's me, Lei.  Ren told me to come here." she wanted to get inside the room and now, this hallway wasn't safe.

Acacia hadn't moved far from the door when she heard the knocking.  There was a hesitant moment as she stared at it...would Ren say anything?  She was smart enough to know not to open the door without him saying something, especially if things were in trouble...the only way the ship could be piloted off the ground was from here, and it was an important place to keep closed off.

When she heard Lei's voice, however, she switched the lock off and slid open the door wide enough to Lei to slip through, waving her in.  "Come on, sweetie...we have to keep things closed off here."

Lei nodded her head and slipped inside the small opening.  Once inside she moved as far from the door as possible, curling her feet up underneath herself in the co-pilot seat.  Nervously she bit her lower lip, "I wish Geoff was here ..." she said quietly, almost more to herself then to Acacia.

It felt like ages that Lei sat curled up in the co-pilots chair, staring anxiously at the door - but in fact it was only eleven minutes and fifty-five seconds.  Her heart pounding as she heard the gunshots and her small fingers grasped the sides of the chair.  This wasn't good - not at all.  She waited almost two minutes after the sounds of fighting stopped and slipped one foot slowly from the chair and stood up.  She took no mind of Acacia as she walked silently to the door and pressed her ear against it, straining to hear into the rest of the ship.  Feet were moving about in the cargo bay and none seemed to be running.  The vague sound of voices floated up to her ... and she waited, before whispering, "I think the bad men are gone ..."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:19, Wed 30 Aug 2006.

[From Destiny: Cargo Bay]

He reached the bridge and pounded on the door,  "Acacia, baby, let me in. Its Ren, the intruders are dead, but we've got other problems."

"You think they're gone?"  Acacia turned to speak to Lei from where she stood.  She'd been pacing back and forth for the past several minutes, waiting for any kind of sign of what was happening...nothing being revealed to her until the last moment, just like it always was.  "Sweetie, we can't open up just because you're having some sort of premonition...there are bad men out there, and if they get in here, then we're in for all sorts of trouble.  So just understand when I'm not so ready to-..."

Acacia was cut off by Ren pounding on the door, looking back.  Alright, maybe she was right...but that didn't mean anything.  Acacia headed to the door, unlocking the magnetic bolt and sliding open the door.  "Ren, baby...what's wrong now?"

Ren collapsed against the door frame, and leaned slightly on Acacia, as he caught his breath. His mind was swirling. If Kyoko was telling him the ship needed to go black, then Charlie had found something majorly wrong.

"O God, Acacia, I don't know. There's something wrong in the engine room, and we need to shut everything down....And Kyoko's hurt...and two men are dead...and I killed one of them..."   The gravity of the situation finally hitting him, he pulled Acacia close, and held her tight, kissing the top of her head.  "Just hold me, baby, just for a sec."

"Ren, you...shh.  Shh, take a breath."  Acacia nearly had to stand on her tiptos to come close to Ren's height, but she held him close, running her hand along his hair and whispering into his chest.  "It's okay, hun.  Just take a breath.  It's almost over, you're here, everyone is okay.  No one's hurt, right?"  She tried to comfort him as best she could, speaking softly into his ear, much like a mother would console a child.

Lei had stepped calmly back from the door a few seconds before Ren knocked having heard his footsteps heading their way.  She stood alone, her arms at her side, her head cocked slightly to the side as she watched Ren and Acacia embrace.  They loved each other very much - this much she knew ... but she didn't understand.

From a scientific standpoint it was merely the acculmation of three physiological emotional categories: lust, attraction, and attachment.  Estrogen and androgens are associated with the lust stage - the human body chemically craving to mate with another on the most basic human levels.  Attraction limits the human interaction with just one person this effect normally associated with monoamines such as seratonin - attachement the hardest to pinpoint on a chemical level but having some neuro-correlation ... but watching Ren and Acacia ... it didn't look like just chemicals and equations.

Lei bit her lips slightly.  Geoff said that they were a family.  Families loved each other ... where was the physiological emotional catagories in that?  And did she love?

Lei suddenly felt very alone and very scared in this big world that made no sense.  Did she love?

Ren having got the emotions out of his system, straightened up. "You're right, hon. Thanks, I needed that." He paused and kissed her deeply and passionately. "Kyoko says she's got cracked ribs, but nothing else. I have to shut the ship down, so you'll have to wait to patch her up."

He turned to Lei, "Hey Lei, stand on the bridge for a bit okay, we're going complete black, and its not exactly safe, okay?"

He jumped into his seat, and punched the intercom, "Okay folks, we're going dark. Interior lighting the system to go off line. Charlie, get you tools. Kyoko, open the cargo bay door a bit, we'll need the fresh air."

With that Ren began flipping the switches that would shut the ship's systems, probably five minutes from the ship would be completely dark.

"You're right, I will need power to do that.  Make it dark, babe."  Acacia stood next to Lei, brushing a hand through the girl's hair as she watched Ren power down the ship.  Hopefully it wouldn't be too long...there was no telling, though, unfortunately...

Lei held her breath as power to the ship was shut down.  It was dark now.  She looked up as Acacia ruffled her hair, the womans features still perfectly clear to her eyes - even in the darkness.  "The bad men hurt Destiny?" she asked.

"I don't know, honey."  Acacia spoke softly, soothing Lei's hair more to make herself feel comfortable than the girl  "If they did, I'm sure Charlie's working on it.  She'll have everything right in no time."

After several minutes of the darkness, Charlie came up to the bridge.  She looked around somewhat anxiously as she stepped in, her face and arms covering in black oil.  "Hey, y'can turn th'power back on, Bear.  Got th'device pulled offa th'block."  She turned to Acacia, letting out a sigh as she wiped the back of her neck with a hand, spreading more oil there as well.  "Kyoko's passed n'tha second bay.  Y'all okay?"

Ren turned to Charlie, "Okay, Charlie, sounds, powering the old girl back up now. Starting with life support and  lights first." He brought the ship slowly back online with a little trepidation. Slowly the ship blinked to life, he began reading the reports and responses. He turned back to Charlie, "Any thing I should favor or now about?" He paused and turned to Acacia, "I'll help you get Kyoko to med bay, and then I need to get rid of former guests. Charlie, can you stay up here for a bit? Make sure there's no problems?"

"Yeah, ah can stay up here'n make sure we're all runnin' pretty."  Charlie stepped into the room, sitting down on the floor so she wouldn't get the grease she was covered in all over the seats.  "Best'f luck."

"I'll go check on Kyoko, make sure she's okay.  You said she's hurt, right>?"  She looked at Ren, asking him.  "Bullet wounds, knife wounds, anything you can give me so I know what to get from the infirmary?"

"Thanks Charlie," he said wearily, "and Charlie, you might want to steer clear of the cargo bay for a bit too."

As they moved to exit the bridge, "Kyoko said her ribs were cracked, she did not say how. And I ain't smart to try to guess what happened."

---> To Engine Room 2

"Cracked ribs...I've seen worse, hun."  Acacia smirked, following Ren out.  "And knowing this ship, there's probably a story in it that we'll get when it's all over..."

[------>Engine Room 2]

Charlie got up from where she sat, letting out a sigh.  She heard the others running up...it would be time to get back to work.  More importantly, however, she'd want to stay out of Ren's way when he got back to work.  She slowly stood up, heading out the door and back to the cargo bay.

----------->to Cargo Bay

---> From Cargo bay

Ren flew back up the cat walks to the bridge, practically diving into his seat. He saw Lei, "Geoff's back, Lei. But we're talking off right quick, so best go get strapped in."

Ren began switching any number of switches and dials, getting Destiny ready for flight. His mind wandered where was Rhaef.

He hit the intercom, "Captain, everyone aboard and accounted for?"

COMM: Ren, take off is gonna be delayed.

[From Destiny: Cargo Bay]

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

[To Destiny:Cargo Bay]

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

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

[To Destiny: Dining Hall]

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

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

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

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

Its now been almost a month since the museum job and Rhaef leaving - the wounds are healing but they haven't been forgotten yet.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:26, Sat 13 Oct 2007.