You've got all the help you need here, mei mei.

The Story So Far: When we last saw our intrepid explorers, they had landed in the mining colony where Xiao Li had been a slave. Whip Cracker, was negotiating with Shen over the cargo. Rae Overholt was stewing in the background and plotting. Xiao Li was having a minor panic attack on the bridge.

Shen Jiutai gestures to the merchandise, "Look, Why don't you confirm with your Boss about this stuff.."

Whip Cracker clears off the com-link, looking less than pleased. "Wallace is off world... but it's a check.. we need it."

Rae Overholt: Yeah, why don't you have her trot on down to meet us like she said she'd do?

Shen Jiutai looks to Rae, "Actually Cap'n I think she wanted the her cut wired to her... she gave us the account.."

Xiao Li Marshall shifts restlessly in her seat in the cockpit, wishing she'd bought that hip flask she'd meant to buy after the last gig.

Rae Overholt frowns.

Shen Jiutai opens a case and starts fiddling with a dial, "This sure is some fine lookin' gear here..."

Rae Overholt kicks a box. "reckon if they don’t want it we can offload it somewhere else. Plenty of colonies be proud ta get it."

Whip Cracker folds his arms, looking over at the one that seems to be running the show. "That's just more fuel burnt... we need it...just hold your horses." He picks up the com-link again. “Jake... find that damn slave girl what knows this go suh.... tell her to hurry her ass up.”

Shen Jiutai glances to the Captain, then back to Whip, "You let a slave use this stuff?

Whip Cracker smirks, "You don't think we're gonna do the work, do ya?" He brings a cigarette to his lips, lighting a match on the nearest crate. "That's what slaves are for, girly."

Rae Overholt: 'magine that. Takes a little girl to do a man's job here.

Shen Jiutai's eyes narrow on Whip, "I kinda thought that was something the authorities frowned upon."

Whip Cracker eyerolls. "You here to sell or here to lecture?" he asks gruffly. "Ain'a person on this dustball that ain't here legal and all... they can't pay their bills, they can dig."

Shen Jiutai shuts up and nods her head. After a pause, "So I guess everyone here is just a paycheck or two away from the mines then?"

Rae Overholt crosses her arms and looks at him. The look says she isn’t one to be fooled so easily and she knows the con he's runnin’.

Whip Cracker says flatly, "Such is life on the rim... " He draws deeply from the cigarette, then blows a billowing cloud skyward. Tendrils of smoke continue to trail from the cigarette, carrying the smell throughout the hold.

Li Mei coughs.

Rae Overholt: You can step outside to finish that.

Shen Jiutai: If you don't mind waiting out side for a sec... we'll just have a small chat, if that's OK with you...

Whip Cracker drops the butt to the deck, snuffing it with a toe. "No need", he says quietly, turning to walk out onto the ramp. The com comes to his lips again, and with unmistakable impatience, he shouts, "JAKE! GET HER OUT HERE IF YOU HAVE TO BEAT HER ALL THE WAY UP THE RAMP!"

Shen Jiutai watches the small-time tyrant leave, "Cap'n I think this Hu-dan is going to try to talk us down, We’re already short two cases.”

Rae Overholt: He ain’t gettin’ nothin’ unless he pays our price. I think we should charge him extra for the work our O2 scrubbers are gonna have to do to get his stink out of the air.

Shen Jiutai: and I didn't like the way he was eyeing the condition of the ones that were closest to the blast...

Rae Overholt: Well then distract him.

Shen Jiutai scowls, "Yeah, How?"

Rae Overholt: jiggle for 'im. I don't care. Or maybe Li here?

Shen Jiutai frowns, "Yeah, right!"

Rae Overholt: Think he's got enough fake class to try to be charming to a companion Li?

Shen Jiutai: What did that woman pay us for this trip?

Li Mei smiles, "I believe I can keep him occupied for a bit."

Rae Overholt: Would you mind? ::she smiles at Li::

Shen Jiutai looks to Li Mei, "Yeah, at least she has something to jiggle." She folds her arms across her chest, a little self-consciously.

Li Mei grins and nods her head, "I'd be glad to help. But you owe me for this, Captain."

Rae Overholt giggles despite herself at Shen. “I owe a lot of people, no big surprise.”

Li Mei heads out of the cargo bay to have a discussion with Whip. Portions of the conversation drift into the cargo bay: "No, I was just bored and decided to get some fresh air... And your ‘nethers’ as you so colorfully call them, are the least of my concern."

Whip Cracker nods, turning away to look out over the landing pad. He says nothing, though he can't help but to sneak another peek. He lets the comment slip right on past, deciding instead to ask, "So what is it you do aboard this... ship?"

Li Mei notices Whip peeking at her, but pretends not to notice. Looking back at the ship she says, "I conduct my own affairs, I am merely a renter of a shuttle, not a crew member of that ... ship."

Whip Cracker grumbles, "Where is that girl? I can't be standin' around all night with this... there's work to do."

Fan makes her way through the security gate, with Jake as her escort, as they get near enough to Whip, Jake waves and Fan proceeds towards the Firefly. She walks up to Whip, "Yeah, What is it?"

Whip Cracker looks up as they approach, a scowl on his face. "Get your ass inside and look over that gear! You got five minutes to tell me what it's worth."

Fan rolls her eyes a little, "What in the 'Verse are you talking about?"

Whip Cracker smiles over to Li Mei, "So hard to find decent help these days... enough to drive a man batty." He gives the girl a shove towards the vessel, pushing her along. "Inside! Hurry up!"

Xiao Li Marshall has taken to pacing restlessly across the bridge.

Fan walks towards the ship, "Yeah, right, whatever..."

Li Mei follows Whip back inside the Raven.

Fan looks around the Cargo bay, as if she had never been inside a ship before, or at least for ten years.

Rae Overholt watches the girl, face blank.

Whip Cracker points Fan towards the crates, "I need to know if this go suh is worth what they're askin'" He gives her a pat on the ass, letting his hand linger a little longer than polite.

Rae Overholt: So I reckon this here girl who's what? 18? Couldn't pay her bill what? When she's about 15? And it got her a slavery tag in the mines? ::she gives Whip a flat look::

Fan glances at the cook, and the captain, her eyes linger on the fine clothing of the companion. She jumps at Whip's touch, "Ya know accidents happen all the time...ah never mind..."

Fan opens one of the boxes and shakes her head.

Whip Cracker folds his arms again, smiling at Rae without saying a word.

Xiao Li Marshall 's pacing has extended down the fore corridor, far enough that she can pick up bits of what's being said in the cargo bay...

Rae Overholt 's eyes go strangely blank as she looks at Whip, adding him to her mental list.

Fan goes to next box, breaks the seal, opens it and powers the scanner up. She fiddles with the dials, "Yeah... these things look like they're in good enough shape, it's just I can't tell for sure..."

Whip Cracker frowns, "Why not?"

Fan moves to the next case, "Well the sensors ain't calibrated on the electromagnetic spectrum... I'm gonna need the Analytical Reference Diagnosis Meter." She Grins, “You wouldn't mind getting that for me, would you... that security guard gives me the creeps."

Rae Overholt looks to Fan.

Fan grins as Whip walks out of the cargo bay.

Rae Overholt: Well?

Xiao Li Marshall stands in the fore stairwell, just out of sight.

Fan turns to Rae, "I thought he'd never leave!"

Rae Overholt: Me too.

Fan smiles, "This gear is in perfect shape... no problem there... it's just... well... Hi, I'm Fan."

Rae Overholt: I'm Rae.

Rae Overholt: This here is Li, That there is Shen.

Shen Jiutai looks at Fan, "Hi."

Li Mei bows her head slightly at Fan and smiles, "A pleasure to meet you, Fan."

Fan lowers her voice and steps closer, "Who's the Captain of this boat?"

Rae Overholt: That'd be me.

Fan grins, relieved by the kind look on Rae's face. "Well, I know I work here and all... but it's not like I chose to come here, if you catch my drift..."

Rae Overholt: Oh I catch it. You thinkin we can get you out of here somehow?

Fan gestures to the scanners, "I guess 'cause I can use this stuff, they trust me a little, otherwise I'd never be left alone on a boat... but I guess they got you locked down tight..." Fan's eyes go wide, "Well... since you brought it up..."

Rae Overholt: And yeah, lockdown.

Fan waves to the expanse of the bay, "Man, a boat like this!!! I've only been on one once before... but ever since Xiao left... they're kinda careful."

Xiao Li Marshall jumps a little at the mention of her name.

Rae Overholt smirks at Xiao's name. "Famous is she? The only one what got away?"

Fan grins to herself, "Heck yeah!! Man was that something to see... she did it!!! She figured out how!!!"

Rae Overholt: And have you figured out how?

Fan looks down, "I can't do it alone, not like her... she could just learn the machines... well I did that too, and there's no way... not without help."

Rae Overholt: What kind of help?

Xiao Li Marshall finally steps out onto the catwalk. "You've got all the help you need here, mei mei."

Rae Overholt grins up at Xiao Li.

Fan looks to the Mechanic, Cook, Companion... Doc and Co-pilot "Well, we could figure somethin’ out... There's some waste needs haulin' away..."

Rae Overholt nods

Rae Overholt: How many folks you figure can smuggle out in a tub of waste.

Xiao Li Marshall: Not near enough. There were *hundreds* of slaves down in the mines when I was there.

Fan follows Rae's eyes and glances back to the catwalk, "How many? Heck we'd be lucky to just get me out!"

Rae Overholt: Well, its a start.

Fan sees Xiao Li, "You!!! Here again!!! OH MY GOD!!! If they saw you!!!"

Rae Overholt: ‘Preciate it if you wouldn’t yell it all out Fan.

Xiao Li Marshall: They won't as long as you don't go *advertisin'* that I'm here.

Fan is shaking, "You came back!!!" She shakes her head, "No, no I won't say a thing... but MY GOD (and lots of Chinese expressions) YOU!!! I never thought I'd see you again!!"

Xiao Li Marshall: What about you? I thought you were dead, along with everyone else here.

Rae Overholt: Catch up later. Business first. That fella wont be gone long.

Fan: Well they bombed us, that's for sure... but that's the thing about mines... Right... well there's this Waste we gotta get rid 'a.

Rae Overholt nods, "They always ship it off world??"

Fan:"I put on a suit, climb inside... exactly...But someone's gotta seal me in."

Rae Overholt: Someone here. They wont let us out. How you suggest we do it? She looks to Li.

Li Mei raises an eyebrow at Rae, "What?"

Shen Jiutai: Fan: Oh, they'll let you out... the fence is to keep us from getting in.

Rae Overholt: Ok then. Go on. She wonders if they ever figured miners could tunnel under a fence.

Shen Jiutai: Fan: They'll just give you IDs to come back... This stuff is kinda nasty.... You could say you want to see it before accepting it onboard.

Rae Overholt: Okay.

Whip Cracker strolls back in, meter in hand.

Xiao Li Marshall freezes in place, hoping she won't be noticed.

Fan reaches out for the Meter without looking up from the scanner she's examining.

Rae Overholt stands there again, arms crossed and frowns at Whip.

Fan: Find that thing alright?

Whip Cracker's eyes go to the task at hand, with little interest in the others in the hold. He hands over the meter and grumbles, "You got this figured out yet? I've got more important things to do that grapple with this all day."

Xiao Li Marshall starts edging, very quietly, up toward the stairwell again.

Fan takes the Meter, plugs in a few wires, and looks out the door... "What's that?"

Whip Cracker turns, staring out into the field.

Xiao Li Marshall dashes up the stairs.

Fan spins up some dials and makes impressive electronic noises.

Xiao Li Marshall presses herself against the corridor wall, breathing heavily. That was TOO GORRAM CLOSE.

Fan goes down the row of scanners, one by one, all making impressive whirring noises... She closes the lid on her meter, "They all check out boss."

Rae Overholt continues to watch stony faced.

Fan begins to close the cases with the scanners inside, taking care to stack them carefully, like precious items.

Whip Cracker looks back, pursing his lips. "Well... ten cases new checks out to just shy of 850... but this is used." He looks to the ringleader and says, "I'll lose my ass on this, but I'll give ya six"

Rae Overholt: No, it isn’t used.

Shen Jiutai scoffs, "Six!!!!"

Rae Overholt: You must not need it that bad then.

Whip Cracker frowns, looking towards the nearest unit. He points out an unmistakable bit of wear on the unit where dirty hands have rubbed away a bit of paint. "Bit of an echo in here, mmm?"

Shen Jiutai gestures wildly, "What do you expect !!!! They were in a rutting shipwreck!!!"

Rae Overholt: No deal. Risked our life to get this for you.

Whip Cracker headshakes, "I expected better than this.... damn sure ain't gonna pay full price for what... something that's half used up already?"

Rae Overholt: Eight.

Shen Jiutai nods her head and stands firm.

Rae Overholt: We both know you got free labor to work these here mines, and you're rakin’ in money hand over fist. Eight's not gonna make you starve.

Whip Cracker shakes his head. "Let's be reasonable, captain.... You're short and the gear's less than new... Six is a fair price. besides.… Gettin' greedy ain't gonna raise your standin' for future work... little rock like this be needin' cartage on a regular basis. We deal with them that don't hold a gun to our head over a couple hundred cred."

Fan: They are in good shape boss, ain't been used... just a little micro-meteorite damage on the boxes 'sall.

Rae Overholt: Six is thievery

Shen Jiutai asides again, "I think we gotta go to seven Cap."

Rae Overholt: Not greedy tryin’ to feed my crew and get enough creds to get back home.

Whip Cracker looks between the women. "Seven. Take it or leave it."

Rae Overholt looks at Shen then back at Whip.

Shen Jiutai: Fan fiddles with her meter.

Rae Overholt: Fine then.

Fan sighs in relief, "Uh, Boss?"

Whip Cracker looks over, no longer quite so impatient with the girl. "What is it?"

Fan, "Remember all of that Clorophilic-Hydro-Clorinate? That stuff that leaked and knocked out have the town?"

Whip Cracker frowns, "I remember... I remember we weren't gonna talk about that, either."

Fan: “Well, it's still there, and just as likely to leak again, if the wind is right, it could be your barracks that get it next time... why don't we get this boat to haul it away... dump it in space?"

Whip Cracker ponders for all of about 20 seconds. "If they'll do it for a hundred cred.... why not?"

Shen Jiutai glances to the Cap'n...

Rae Overholt: Fine, I'll wanna see what we're getting first though.

Fan grins at the exchange.

Whip Cracker lifts the com-link. "Jake... wheel up that CHC... and cut a draft for eight hundred cred to the Raven.... " He lowers the microphone and says to Fan, smiling. "Good job, darlin'... get this stuff boxed up and I'll let you sleep in MY bed tonight."

Shen Jiutai: Fan rolls her eyes, "Yeah, right! Don't you think these people should look at the stuff before we load it? They might want to take some special precautions...”

Whip Cracker turns back to the ramp, pausing to take another look around the hold. His eyes rest on the young Fan and he tells her, "I told him to bring it to the ramp. If they don't take it, we'll push it off on the next desperate sap." He looks at the captain. "Fan here will see to the transfer... if you'll excuse me."

Rae Overholt frowns. "Whatever" and mumbles something about cheap under her breath.

Whip Cracker strolls off, already mentally spending the hundred creds he just saved the operation.

Fan heads after him.