While the Captain is Away

Vertigo Hawks nods to Gabe, "By the way where is the Cap'n anyways?"

Gabriel Keats: "Cap'n's stuck on her business. She's tryin' to get back here."

Vertigo Hawks: Sabrina, How's Shen doing?

Sabrina McGee sighs. “No change.. still out.”

Vertigo Hawks: Bad business this.

Sabrina McGee: She doesn't have much hope without proper medical care, and with us having not seen that new doc we were supposed to have..

Katerina Rau wanders straight through the center of the group, muttering. She stops when she notices the individuals around her, but doesn't seem to be looking at anyone in particular as she addresses the air around her. "Too nice to be inside... they should nap outside."

Ariel Liveoak raises an eyebrow in curiosity.

Vertigo Hawks stares at Katerina

Tillery Woodhen: this town is getting interesting all of a sudden

Ariel Liveoak: Though I do agree, it is quite nice today.

Katerina Rau looks up at the image of Wash. "You should tell them. They'd listen to you."

Ariel Liveoak glances at the image and then back.

Tillery Woodhen does the same

Ariel Liveoak: um.

Tillery Woodhen: she with you guys?

Katerina Rau licks her hand like a cat grooming its paw.

Gabriel Keats: "If thin--" He stops, confused. "He ain't talking, honey."

Sabrina McGee: Not likely..

Vertigo Hawks: I've never seen her before

Sabrina McGee: although I'm likely to go just as addle-pated..

Ariel Liveoak nods slowly. "Yesss... Are you alright, Miss?"

Katerina Rau nods. "Yes. Aren't you?"

Tillery Woodhen mutters, "Boo-tai jung-tzahng-duh."

Gabriel Keats sighs. "What should he tell us?"

Katerina Rau: What should... who... tell you?

Gabriel Keats: "Hoban Washburne." He nods, feeling quite foolish.

Ariel Liveoak says quietly to no one in particular "Kuangzhe de?"

Katerina Rau looks over her shoulder at the image of Wash. "I... don't know what he should tell you. He can't tell you anything. It's a statue. Are you certain you're feeling all right?"

Katerina Rau wanders over to Ariel and shoves her gently, almost experimentally. "You don't fall..."

Gabriel Keats: "You were just ruttin' talking to it, kid. . ."

Tillery Woodhen: I suddenly feel a need for a drink

Ariel Liveoak staggers a bit, looking baffled.

Vertigo Hawks coughs, "Um excuse me miss"

Ariel Liveoak: Would you like to sit down, Miss?

Vertigo Hawks: perhaps you should not push our crew...

Katerina Rau looks back at the ground and mutters. "They stand and fall... and yet they stand again. I ask them why and they say nothing. Just stare and stand. And fall..."
Katerina Rau begins pacing.

Gabriel Keats: "See, this is why I ain't got kids."

Katerina Rau stops and turns. "It's quiet here..."

Tillery Woodhen: tell me about it

Sabrina McGee: Well, I should go check on Shen.. and then I've gotta recalibate the fusion injectors on the port-side engine..

Tillery Woodhen: my offer for a ride still stands

Katerina Rau smiles. "It's loud there! They won't talk to me because they're deaf. Even when it's quiet, they can't hear me. It's always quiet for them. Deafened..."

Tillery Woodhen: 'kay

Sabrina McGee: And then I've gotta clean out all of the port locks... and after all that, gotta grease up the inline fuel junctions..

Gabriel Keats thinks to himself, "was I *this* irritating when I was crazy?"

Katerina Rau blinks. "A ship... I need a ship. I'll take them somewhere quiet."
Katerina Rau wanders off.

Tillery Woodhen: I remember when this was a quiet boring moon

Gabriel Keats: "She better not be lookin' to steal a ship. Ruttin' hell."

Sabrina McGee: And I remember this moon being a lot less cold and lonely.
Sabrina McGee sighs

Vertigo Hawks: does she look like she could?

Tillery Woodhen: I heard rumors about kids like that... some kind of experimentation in the core. did things to their heads

Sabrina McGee: Oh goody.

Vertigo Hawks: Too true dat!

Tillery Woodhen: Oh she could just be loopy, we have plenty of those here.

Ariel Liveoak: How very odd.

Anton Machin: Hello, friends.

Vertigo Hawks looks at Anton with suspicion

Ariel Liveoak: Good day, sir.

Tillery Woodhen nudges Gabriel

Anton Machin smiles at Tillery. "I believe we've met."

Gabriel Keats nods. "evening."

Anton Machin: But we haven't been properly introduced.

Tillery Woodhen: I'm Tillery. I run the local paper and you are?

Vertigo Hawks shifts nervously

Anton Machin turns and smiles at his six armed companions. "My name is of little concern. You ah.. know these fine people?" *gestures to the crew*

Tillery Woodhen: yes.

Ariel Liveoak raises an eyebrow and looks sharply at the newcomer.

Tillery Woodhen: the call to the port on occasion

Vertigo Hawks eyes the bodyguards

Gabriel Keats stretches, doesn't say anything.

Anton Machin nods. "As I told you before, I'm here on business. I don't normally make housecalls, but it seems that something has gone awry. I'm simply here to see if I can correct the situation."

Tillery Woodhen: i'd still like to know your business here

Anton Machin looks around. "Now then... who here wants to tell me something good? My boss loves good news."

Gabriel Keats: "Your boss has a lovely set of eyes. They compliment his shirt."

Vertigo Hawks: good news?

Sabrina McGee: Do we care? Are we caring at this point?

Ariel Liveoak looks nervously around, at a total loss.

Gabriel Keats arches his eyebrows. "Why don't you tell us what went awry, and we can go from there."

Anton Machin sighs. "Don't play stupid... though I'm sure it's not a stretch. Where's your captain?"

Sabrina McGee: On business. That's all need be said.

Gabriel Keats: "You can deal with me."

Ariel Liveoak blinks

Anton Machin rolls his eyes. "So you're in charge then?"

Ariel Liveoak: Now, I'm sure, whatever the problem is, it can be settled amicably.

Sabrina McGee: I'm about all outta patience here, and I ain't no doctor.

Vertigo Hawks: Yes, we are all professionals here

Gabriel Keats: "You can deal with me in the captain's stead, yes."

Anton Machin approaches Gabriel. "You uh... qualified to make big decisions while the captain's away?"

Gabriel Keats crosses his arms. "Mmhmm. Now, quit stalling and make yourself plain."

Anton Machin looks Gabe's thin body up and down. "Heh... I guess you'd have to be qualified for the job. You certainly didn't get it by sleeping with anybody."

Gabriel Keats just smiles. "Pure talent."

Anton Machin: You know why I'm here. If I don't leave with either money or the merchandise, some people are going to be very upset, and they're not exactly people you want to see grumpy.

Ariel Liveoak blinks.

Anton Machin: I heard about your friend's little "accident," and I don't buy it. Kinda convenient that the stuff would get lost that way, ain't it?

Sabrina McGee: Watch. Your. Mouth.

Vertigo Hawks raises an eyebrow

Anton Machin spins on his heel. "You threatening me?"

Gabriel Keats: "Hm. We take in a lot of cargo. If you can get me a list of inventory, I can see what we can do. Cross check our lists." He shoots a look at Sabrina. "Bizh Jwai."

Anton Machin turns to his boys. "Hey, boys... this one's a live wire.."

Sabrina McGee: I'm advising you to not speak on people you don't know.

Ariel Liveoak: There was no "accident", sir. There was an attack on one of our people.

Ariel Liveoak: She is in the infirmary at this moment. Now, just what is it that seems to be missing?

Gabriel Keats: "See if we might've picked up something by mistake."

Anton Machin from Sabrina to Gabe to Ariel. "I don't have to know the girl to know smugglers... so the plan went bad and she got herself a booboo... Not my problem. You took on certain responsibilities when you decided to carry -my- shipment. Certain pharmaceuticals and other therapeutic substances... I live to help people."

Ariel Liveoak: I...see.

Sabrina McGee: Okay.. I'm not really sure what the gorram hell you're talking about, 'cos we delivered our last shipment fine and dandy. But you go take whatever it is you're looking for and get the gorram hell off this rock.

Gabriel Keats: "'Brina. . ."

Anton Machin laughs. "If I could just take what I was looking for, I wouldn't be here talking to you fine individuals. The drugs. The girl had them. Where are they now?"

Gabriel Keats: "Move away from her. Right now."

Tillery Woodhen mutters quietly.

Gabriel Keats: "You give me a list of what's missing, and I will work with you."

Anton Machin walks back to Gabriel. "Oh... so you do have some balls. Maybe you can fill the captain's pants while she's away better than I thought."

Gabriel Keats: "You threaten us, and this isn't going to go well." He pauses. "I think you already know that."

Anton Machin frowns. "The boss... he doesn't like to leave a paper trail. You know what's missing, or you'd better damn well find out fast. Ask the girl in your infirmary. I'd advise you to get the information you need from her quickly, because you don't want my boys extracting it from her. Our way is less cordial."

Vertigo Hawks eyes the six gunmen, "uh, boss?'

Gabriel Keats looks at Vertigo, not entirely sure he should be answering to that. "Yeah?"

Vertigo Hawks: “I just think he has the upper hand here, is all.”

Gabriel Keats: "Which is why I want to do what I can to help these fine folks. But I wanna make sure I do it right. Get them what they need.."

Vertigo Hawks nods

Anton Machin points to Raven. "That's better... but just so we're clear... You see that rust bucket over there? Don't try leaving before we've settled this. That ship is ours if you can't pay up... not that it's much of a ship... but we'd make almost as much from the scrapyards as we would've on that shipment your girl lost."

Sabrina McGee: Rust.. bucket..?!?!?

Anton Machin ignores the engineer.

Ariel Liveoak rests her hand on Bri's shoulder. "Easy, hon. It's just talk."

Gabriel Keats: "So we have an understanding, yes?"

Sabrina McGee starts muttering.. "See what he thinks of her after he meets the business end of this wrench.. "

Gabriel Keats: "Brina. Ship. Now."

Ariel Liveoak holds Bri's wrist. "Hush, hon. Breathe."

Anton Machin looks over at Ariel then back to Gabriel. "It's not that I don't trust you, see... but I need some collateral. Something to guarantee that you're committed to this."

Gabriel Keats: "You will *not* be holding one of ours hostage."

Ariel Liveoak blinks.

Anton Machin smiles. "No, but I -will- be entertaining a guest."

Sabrina McGee: Okay, why are we just standing here talking? Just go to the damn ship, find the stuff and let's be done with this. Oh, and Sod off.
Sabrina heads to the ship.

Gabriel Keats smiles, though it's more a baring of teeth. "No, you won't."
Gabriel Keats: "We will return with the cargo in due time. You have more than enough men to take us."

Anton Machin looks around. "If it's all the same to you, I think the girl here is old enough to make up her own mind."

Ariel Liveoak: Excuse me?
Ariel Liveoak blinks.

Gabriel Keats: "Ariel, you don't have to do this."

Anton Machin faces Ariel. "What do you say, darling? You seem like you could use some refined company for a while."

Ariel Liveoak looks around.
Ariel Liveoak: Oh dear.
Ariel Liveoak looks at the gunmen... looks at her friends... looks at Anton. She sighs quietly.
Ariel Liveoak: Would it mean anything at all if I said no?
Ariel Liveoak shakes her head. "Don't bother answering.”

Xiao Li Marshel aproaches the group cautiously.
Xiao Li sidles up to Vertigo and whispers, "What the tian xiao de is going on here?"

Vertigo Hawks hushes Xiao Li, "He wants his drugs, Shen never delivered them"

Anton Machin smiles the fakest smile ever. "The choice is yours to make. I am, after all, a civilized individual. My boys here, though... they're not all so refined, and they ultimately take orders from my boss just like I do. He's easily offended."

Ariel Liveoak: Alright. It doesn't appear that I really have much choice anyway.

Anton Machin: I knew you'd see it my way! You'll have a good time.

Xiao Li watches the armed men warily.

Anton Machin looks at Gabriel. "I'll see to that..."

Gabriel Keats: "You touch her, without her consent, and you're dead. That isn't business. That's morals. And that's you and me."

Anton Machin nods. "You have my word as a... gentleman."

Vertigo Hawks feels like he should do something, but just watches as the gangster prepares to take Raven's companion away.

In this amount of time, Sabrina has walked to the Raven, gotten inside, and navigated to the bridge... anyone caring to look will notice the ship's cannons turning to train on this spot.

Xiao Li hears a distant sound, glances over her shoulder... and smirks privately to herself.

Anton Machin gestures for Ariel to follow him. "We should be leaving now. Your friends here have work to do."

Gabriel Keats: "You will allow the lady to get her effects?"

Ariel Liveoak pulls her arm out of a gunman's grip, giving him a look that would kill. "Alright. Let's keep this civil."

Anton Machin looks at Gabriel. "You're expecting this to take long enough for the lady to need her personal effects?"

Gabriel Keats smiles. "No, I'm not. But, again, to keep the pretense of civility. . ."

Anton Machin: If it takes that long, the last thing that'll be on her mind is powdering her nose. You people have a way for me to contact you while we wait? To check on your progress?

Gabriel Keats reaches in his pocket, pulls out a beat-up looking comm unit. Gabriel Keats tosses it to him. "I assume you know how to use this."

Anton Machin nods and interfaces the old comm with his own unit before tossing the old one back. "Yeah. I do. You can keep that junk. All I needed was your comm ID."

Gabriel Keats: "Good."

Anton Machin shouts over his shoulder as he leaves with Ariel. "Make it quick. I'm sure you cargo people understand that time is money, and your ship isn't going anywhere until we're finished with this."

Gabriel Keats stalks back towards the ship.

Tillery Woodhen: Taikong suoyou de xingqiu saijin wo de pigu! You traded drugs here?

Gabriel Keats: "Till, this ain't the time." He slips back into the accent.

Vertigo Hawks: the question now is WHERE are those drugs?

Xiao Li gives Till a sharp look.

Tillery Woodhen looks pointedly at the Alliance office.

Vertigo Hawks: What do we know? Last time I saw the satchel was just as Shen ran off.

Tillery Woodhen:Oh gose, don't you guys read the paper?

Vertigo Hawks shakes his head

Gabriel Keats: "When I get a chance. Been a mite busy, what with crew gettin' shot."

Tillery Woodhen: Someone was seen walking off with a brown bag of some sort just after Shen was attacked, as in out of town!

Vertigo Hawks: Someone?

Xiao Li curses violently.

Vertigo Hawks: what someone?

Tillery Woodhen: I don't know. I couldn't get a description.

Gabriel Keats: "Ruttin' hell. You got a sex, at least?"

Tillery Woodhen: let me look

Xiao Li: I'll bet you anything it was that blonde jian huo come lookin' for Shen.

Tillery Woodhen: no details at all, just that it was a woman.

Gabriel Keats: "Fucking bitch. . . I can get some money." He pauses. "Ain't gonna be enough. But it might buy us time to find the little floozy."

Tillery Woodhen: That guy said earlier if business was good, his boss would be coming here.

Vertigo Hawks: Are you talking about that opera singer that was looking for Shen?

Gabriel Keats: "Yeah."

***** Meanwhile, in a run down section of Blackburn the criminal and the companion arrive at their destination.*****

Anton Machin gestures at the cavernous room around him. "Welcome to my home away from home."

Ariel Liveoak looks around. "Charming. So. You ...collect things for your boss. What was his name again?”

Anton Machin: I do, but as you can see, I do not make a habit of collecting things for myself. This place is rather spartan, as I'm sure you've noticed. A man who seeks nothing but material wealth would neglect his... personal enrichment.
Anton Machin smirks. "You can't have again what you never had a first time. His name is unimportant, though I am inclined to disclose my own name to you. Withholding it from your temporary leader was a matter of pride, not of business. I simply didn't want him to have the satisfaction of knowing who had him by the balls... excuse the expression."

Ariel Liveoak smiles blandly.

Anton Machin bows slightly. "My name is Anton. And as you noted, I am... a collector. Among other things."

Ariel Liveoak sketches a bow of her head. "Anton. Charmed."

Anton Machin: May I assume from your clothing and your lack of grime and scars that you are not a boomer like your friends?

Ariel Liveoak: Though I'm not certain what a "boomer" is, I can guess from the context. No, I am a registered Companion. And whoever your boss is, I think he would not like to gain the ire of the Academy.

Anton Machin smiles. "It's a colloquial term... slang. Refers to the crew of a cargo ship. And I'm sure you're right about that, though... I'm puzzled as to what you're doing all the way out here. Can't be for the charming company or the mobs of rich clients."

Ariel Liveoak chuckles softly. "No, indeed. I ...wished to travel. I rent a shuttle on the Raven. It allows me to visit other planets and expand my client base, and in turn, I can help to open certain doors for them that would otherwise not be available."
Anton Machin: What is it that brings you to this... charming corner of space?

*******Back at Washtown: *************

Vertigo Hawks: My buddy Tach said he has had some work lately flying around some rich clients... using Usurper's shuttle, and he mentioned an opera singer.

Gabriel Keats: "Can you Wave him?"

Tillery Woodhen: What kind of trouble have you brought here?

Gabriel Keats: "The kind of trouble that happens when you've got a crew stuck on a moon with no gorram *work*!"

Vertigo Hawks: Hell, I think he's working for Miss Ana at the Hoban...

Tillery Woodhen: Have you guys transported drugs before?

Vertigo Hawks coughs
Vertigo Hawks: perhaps we should talk to him?

Gabriel Keats: "Till, you're a reporter through and through, ain't you? Yeah, let's."

Tillery Woodhen: This isn't for a story. Alliance customs and possible drug lord moving in. Do the math.

Tach Hathaway: Hey V! how goes it?
Tach Hathaway eyes the Raven crew, "What's up? How's the cook?"

Vertigo Hawks: Hi Tach, we have some, er questions about your recent clients...

Xiao Li: *interrupting* Where's the opera singer gone?

Tach Hathaway looks at Xiao Li startled, "I don't usually talk about my private clients."

Vertigo Hawks: Come on Mon! this is important!

Tach Hathaway hesitates

Xiao Li: This "private client" may have gotten Shen stabbed and *us* in deep go se.

Tach Hathaway looks at Xiao Li in horror, "Really?"

Xiao Li: Do I *look* like I'm kidding?

Tach Hathaway: “Well, there's not much to tell. I got a job to fly her up here from planet-side for a big surprise... she seemed nice enough, it was a cozy ride. Strange thing is, no luggage. Then in the middle of the night my pager goes off, and she's begging me to take her back down, all rush-rush, she said there was a roach in her room. That's about it.

Xiao Li snorts derisively.

Gabriel Keats: "So, think you could tell us whereabouts you dropped her off on that rock?"

Xiao Li: And did she have any more luggage goin' the other direction?

Tach Hathaway: Strangest thing, but no. Look Keats, I've already said more than I should have.

Gabriel Keats: "No, you really haven't."

Vertigo Hawks: Well, at least she left empty handed.

Gabriel Keats: "‘Preciate your help."

Xiao Li frowns and taps her headset.

Gabriel Keats: "S'wrong, Xiao Li?"

Tach Hathaway: Look, Cap'n MIKKI runs a tight ship. She lets me have a few odd jobs that pay well, and if I'm told to keep it quiet, I'll do just that, Cap'n Mikki ain't all warm and fuzzy like your Cap'n.

Xiao Li raises an eyebrow at something she's hearing over her comm earpiece.

Vertigo Hawks: what's up?

Xiao Li: 'Scuse me a sec, gentlemen.
Xiao Li walks over to a corner and pulls her Cortex goggles down

Gabriel Keats: "You helped us not waste time."

Tach Hathaway: My pleasure, anyone care for a drink?

Vertigo Hawks considers for a half a second.

Xiao Li goes pale. "Gaoyang zhong de guyang..."

Vertigo Hawks: What?

Xiao Li: Guys, you better see this...

Gabriel Keats walks over to take the goggles and look.

Xiao Li shows the crew an image of Ariel bound and chained with Anton looking on.

Vertigo Hawks: Holy shit!

Gabriel Keats doesn't say a word, just hands the goggles back and draws his guns.
Vertigo Hawks: We better find that bag! What do we know? Let's go through this.

Xiao Li: Chick came here lookin' for Shen, then Shen gets stabbed an' her cargo goes missing...

Tillery Woodhen: I so need a drink

Tach Hathaway: OK then
Tach Hathaway stands up and eventually finds his way behind the bar.

Xiao Li: She's planetside someplace but we don't know where... And the drugs are most likely still here.

The insane girl wanders back into the bar, a spacey look in her eyes.
Katerina Rau: They still won't say anything. Maybe deaf. Maybe rude. Maybe grumpy from being shot...

Tillery Woodhen: that didn't sound good

Gabriel Keats: "You. Crazy girl!"

Katerina Rau: Nobody says anything. Tin soldiers. Sleeping girl. Chose the wrong place to sleep. Popped her lung like a balloon. But lungs aren't like that. Not sacks of air. More like sponges. Steel toothpick through a fleshy sponge.

Xiao Li: Ai ya...

Gabriel Keats: "Grab. Her."

Tillery Woodhen: creepy and mortifying

Vertigo Hawks turns and places a hand on Katerina,
Vertigo Hawks: “Now come here girl, we want to talk to you.”

Katerina Rau looks down at the hand. "Five fingers. The others don't have arms. They never talk. That's why I leave my things with them. They keep my secrets. Even when you pull guns on them."

Vertigo Hawks: Now ain't that interesting.

Tach Hathaway: What can I get you Till?

Tillery Woodhen: beer
Tach Hathaway rummages in the cooler, and finding nothing, "How about an Ale?"

Gabriel Keats: "That's sure pretty, hon. But. . . do you think you could. . . be a little less metaphorical?"

Tillery Woodhen: that'll work

Vertigo Hawks: Now honey, did you see anything unusual the other night?

Katerina Rau cocks her head to one side and starts humming. "I see something unusual every night. There was a cloud shaped like a dog today. I saw it when I was cleaning the blood off my shirt."

Tillery Woodhen spits out his ale.

Gabriel Keats: "Whose blood? Can you show us where you got the blood on you?"

Vertigo Hawks: Now sweetheart, it's OK we just want to see.

Xiao Li: No one's going to hurt you.

Tillery Woodhen: maybe I should have gotten whiskey

Katerina Rau wipes at her shirt. "I didn't get it all off. That girl with the sword bled a lot. Maybe she'll give me a new shirt..."

Tach Hathaway rummages among the bottles under the bar, pushing aside some with big Xs on the label.

Tillery Woodhen: might want one for yourself

Tach Hathaway pours two whiskeys.

Katerina Rau: I told the tin men about the girl after I gave them her things for safe keeping. They must have told somebody else, because later the girl was gone. But why won't they talk to me? So rude...

Vertigo Hawks: what on earth is she talking about?

Xioa Li: The 'tin men'?

Gabriel Keats: "Can we meet the tin men?"

Katerina Rau: Why? They're rude.

Xiao Li: Because we need to get the girl's things back. It's very important.

Gabriel Keats: "Well, you gave them her things. She's going to get better." He smiles.

Katerina Rau: I can see why you people shoot them. At first I was sorry for them. Now I don't know... The tin men are lazy and rude. When they're not standing around, they're laying down. Sometimes it's loud there. Sometimes deathly quiet. No in between. I'd go crazy too if I lived like they do... good thing I don't.
Katerina Rau licks her hand like a cat's paw again.

Tillery Woodhen: any luck?

Gabriel Keats: "Why don't you *show* us?"

Vertigo Hawks: this girl is going on about tin men

Xiao Li leans down to be at the same level as the rambling girl. "Can you show us where the 'tin men' live?"

Tillery Woodhen: She talking about the shooting range?

Vertigo Hawks looks up

Katerina Rau looks at the news man. "That's not their name for it. That's what you people call it. The tin men don't call it anything. I think they hate it there."

Vertigo Hawks: is that where you sleep dear?

Tillery Woodhen: Kat, are the tin men near here?

Katerina Rau: Sleep? Sleep is when dreams happen. I don't sleep. Why would I want that? The tin men sleep, and look what happens to them. They get shot when they wake up.

Tillery Woodhen: It's next door. the shooting range. The targets are metal.

Xiao Li bolts for the shooting range

Katerina Rau looks around. "Take the poked sponge's things. Not my things. My things are mine."

Xiao Li, Tillery Woodhen and Vertigo Hawks dash to the shooting range.

Tillery Woodhen: Tin men!

Vertigo Hawks: Those are tin men.

Xiao Li ducks into the back and finds a satchel stuck in the corner. "Bingo!"

Vertigo Hawks: What ya got there?

Xiao Li: We got it!

Vertigo Hawks: Excellent!

Katerina Rau seems agitated. "Take the leaking girl's things! Not mine! My things are mine."

Vertigo Hawks: It's OK, we won't touch your stuff.

Katerina Rau: They're my treasures. I'm a collector.

Xiao Li opens the satchel and peers inside...

Vertigo Hawks: Is it all there?

Katerina Rau: This treasure isn't valuable to me. It looked like medicine. I gave one to a tin man and he didn't get up. I took one and I fell down.

Tillery Woodhen: That would explain a lot.

Xiao Li: You shouldn't take medicine if you don't know what it is.

Katerina Rau: You shouldn't talk to strangers.
Katerina Rau walks away.

Xiao Li: Okayyyyyy....

Tillery Woodhen rubs temples.

Vertigo Hawks: I guess we get to go get Ariel.

Tillery Woodhen: Hope that's everything.

Vertigo Hawks: Xiao Li, can you call that Anton guy?

Xiao Li turns on her comm. "Anton? We got the goods. Come an' get 'em."

Vertigo Hawks: What does he say?

Xiao Li taps her earpiece. "Nothing yet..."

Xiao Li: He says we have to come to him.

Vertigo Hawks: We should take one of the shuttles, where are they?

*****And back in Blackburne:*****

Anton Machin unlocks the chains from Ariel's ankles and wrists. "You can get up now. As long as your friends back on the ship see you bound up, it doesn't matter if you really are or not, does it?"

Ariel Liveoak sighs in relief, sitting up and rubbing her wrists.

Anton Machin smiles thinly. "You see... some elements of my business are rather unsavory, but I prefer to make things as pleasant as possible where I can."
Anton Machin maintains his distance from Ariel, perhaps because he is a gentleman... but perhaps because of the well-known martial arts training that Companions receive.

Ariel Liveoak sits on the floor, eyeing Anton guardedly, still rubbing her wrists and ankles.

Anton Machin: You know, if your friends don't come up with what the boss wants, there really won't be anything left to go back to. I'm sure we could find opportunities for travel for you in our little organization.

Ariel Liveoak: That's... an interesting suggestion.
Ariel Liveoak maintains a neutral expression.

Anton Machin nods as his comm unit chirps. "'Scuse me. I got to take this... Your friends are on their way to get you. Looks like our deal will have to wait. But keep it in mind. The offer stands.”

Ariel Liveoak nods briefly.

Xiao Li waves the satchel in the air. "Awright, we got yer drugs, now let her go."

Vertigo Hawks looks to Ariel, "You OK Hon?"

Anton Machin holds out his hand to grab Ariel. "Not so fast. You stay over here 'till I've made sure the stuff's all accounted for.”

Vertigo Hawks: What?

Anton Machin: Toss the bag.

Vertigo Hawks: we got you your stuff

Ariel Liveoak: I'm...fine, Vertigo.

Vertigo Hawks: Go ahead Xiao Li.

Xioa Li tosses the bag to Anton.

Xiao Li: Might be a pill or two missin'... some street girl thought they were candy or some such.

Anton Machin rifles through the bag. "Yeah... but most of it's here. So you guys get off easy."
Anton Machin pulls his gun and smiles at Ariel. "Which one gets it for the missing pills, sweetheart?"

Ariel Liveoak looks stunned.

Vertigo Hawks: Hey now, Dat's not cool...

Xiao Li doesn't blink. "You wanna put a bullet in someone, save it for the jian huo who stole the stuff in the first place."

Vertigo Hawks: We went and found your stuff, we did our best...

Xiao li: What was her name again?

Vertigo Hawks: We're all professionals here, we encountered some unforeseen circumstances...

Anton Machin shrugs. "I'll be sure to tell my boss that you did your best. Maybe he'll leave your face alone so your family will recognize you."

Vertigo Hawks: Look, we already have one of ours in the med bay... who was tryin' to deliver this go-se in the first place

Anton Machin looks at Ariel. "Well... choose one. One of these guys has gotta get on your nerves, right?"

Xioa Li: You're looking for a woman named Jenna Kasei. Opera singer from the Core, should be somewhere on this rock. She's the one responsible for losing your pharmaceuticals.

Vertigo Hawks: Look mister, we all live on this moon, we have to work together Mon!

Anton Machin laughs at Xiao Li. "You sayin' some opera singer came out here to steal drugs, pop a couple, and kill a member of a cargo crew? Yeah. I might just shoot you for that one."

Xiao Li raises an eyebrow. "You think I'd make this shit UP?"

Ariel Liveoak moves closer, slowly. Her hand reaches out and rests lightly on Anton's gun arm. She gently rubs his arm, smiling. "That isn't necessary, is it?"

Xiao Li: If I was gonna lie to you, I'd at least make it convincin'.

Anton Machin swings his gun back to face Vertigo. "Or I might shoot you, Mister Red Stripe..."

Vertigo Hawks: I'm sure the Cap'n will be willing to deal with you on the shortage of merchandise, it's just a few pills, Mon.

Xiao Li: Maybe do somethin' with ninjas.

Vertigo Hawks: You could find us better allies than enemies.

Ariel Liveoak continues to caress Anton's arm, ever so gently pushing down. "Come now, Anton. Civilized people get along with each other. You want to get along, don't you?"

Anton Machin smirks. "I think you'd make lousy allies. You let an opera singer steal your cargo and stab one of your people."
Anton Machin glances at Ariel. "Well... yeah... civilized people like you and me do. What's that got to do with them?"

Vertigo Hawks: We ain't convinced she really is an opera singer.

Xiao Li: An' even if she was, so what? Adlai Niska used ta work as a stagehand at the Sihnon Metropolitan before he got big.

Vertigo Hawks: Really? I didn't know that

Xiao Li: S'what I heard

Vertigo Hawks nods in approval, "Learn somethin' new every day."

Ariel Liveoak: "I'd miss them, Anton. I like them. I'd be EVER so sad if you killed any of them."
Ariel Liveoak moves closer, pressing up against Anton.

Vertigo Hawks: Come on Mon, be reasonable, you look like the reasonable sort.

Anton Machin raises one eyebrow. "You really like these folks? Even though they never shut up?"

Xiao li: *muttering* No he doesn't.

Vertigo hawks: Biz wey

Anton Machin clears his throat and notices an involuntary physiological reaction to Ariel's ah... proximity.

Ariel Liveoak nods. "I do, I really do. They're really good people, when you get to know them."

Anton Machin: If it means... that much to you... uh... yeah. I'll just cut off a couple of Vinny's fingers and say they're that guy's. Boss'll take it.

Vertigo Hawks: What!!!??!!

Ariel Liveoak's hand continues to caress the gun arm. With her other hand, she twines her fingers in Anton's hair.

Anton Machin looks over at Xiao and Vert. "You two are... free to go."

Vertigo Hawks asides, "looks like the captivity wasn't too traumatic"

Xiao Li: mmm.

Vertigo Hawks: 'bout time

Anton Machin looks at Ariel. "You can stay a while if you want. I'll give you a ride back whenever you like..."

Ariel Liveoak gives a dazzling smile. 'Thank you, Anton." She leans in and kisses him on the cheek, then goes to join her friends, trailing her fingers along his arm as she goes.

Anton Machin watches her walk away. "or... you know... later. I mean... if not now."

Ariel Liveoak: Be well, Anton.

Anton Machin: Yeah... well. I will.
Anton Machin holsters his gun.

Ariel Liveoak smiles.

Vertigo Hawks: Come on Ariel, you can visit your new friend whenever you want.

Xiao Li whispers, "What the gorram hell did you DO to that man? Dip his cock in chocolate?"

Vertigo Hawks: Let's get her home Xiao Li

Ariel Liveoak keeps smiling, and says quietly out of the corner of her mouth "Get me the gorram hell out of here"

Vertigo Hawks motions to the shuttle

Anton Machin picks up the bag. "Yeah. You guys better get moving. I got something here I need to take care of. Right away. In private."

Ariel Liveoak waves to Anton. "Sweet dreams, Anton."

Anton Machin waves back stupidly.