Do we head in to look for survivors?

Shen Jiutai surveys Rae's new jacket, "Have you had that long?, I don't think I've seen you wearing it before."

Rae Overholt: New. Figured I'd hide my back in style.

Shen: Looks good Cap'n... I reckon Paquin has something for all sorts.

Rae Overholt nods.

Xiao Li Marshall: Nice. Didja mug an Independent Vet or somethin'?

Rae Overholt: Well, he was giving me the eye.

Shen Jiutai who is an Independant Vet frowns at Xiao Li's remark.

Xiao Li Marshall: Anybody seen Rol? He on board yet?

Shen Jiutai glances at the door to shuttle #2, "Is that companion gonna show up? Ain't we coming up on that revdezvous?"

Rae Overholt: Haven't seen 'im. How about Li? gabe?

Shen: I think Gabe is crashed out in the longue.

Xiao Li Marshall: Gorrammit. Might as well install a revolvin' door, way people keep comin' and goin'...

Rae Overholt sighs, "Long as Gabe stay's I'm ok with it."

Shen: Can't hardly blame them. Heck everything Paquin has to offer... Did he really do Mime on the street to eat?

Rae Overholt: Kinda what he says.

Xiao Li Marshall: Kinda hard to keep the ship in the air without a mechanic, Cap'n.

Rae Overholt: I agree Xiao li. Might have to learn it myself.

Shen: They say Fireflys ain't that hard to keep up... but it's not like I'd know.

Xiao Li Marshall: I c'n do minor fixes but it ain't really my thing...

Rae Overholt: Well. Let's hope they arent.

Shen: The way Kevin goes on about everything he can do in that shop of his... you'd think we didn't need anyone else.

Xiao Li Marshall: Except that Kevin's always disappearin' too.

Shen Jiutai nods.

Rae Overholt: Maybe we should get one of them tracker implants and put it on them.

Shen: Well, I think I got enough of the rations taken care of for a while, I should be able to come up with a suprise meal or two ya might like.

Rae Overholt: That sounds shiny Shen.

Xiao Li Marshall nods. She tilts her head as she hears clanking and cursing from the general direction of the engine room. "Ah, sound's like Rol's on board after all." She clomps up the stairs and down the hall to the cockpit.

Shen Jiutai checks over the three mystery crates in their hidy-hole before closing it up. She shouts up the gangway, "Everything looks secure here Cap'n!"

Xiao Li Marshall starts flipping switches and grabs the comm. "This is your pilot speaking. I'd suggest everybody buckle up right about now."

Rae Overholt goes to get secure herself "Good Job Shen, buckle up"

Shen Jiutai heads over to her bunk and sits on it, unconcerned, reading a new magazine.

Xiao Li Marshall: Taking off in 3...2...1...

Rae Overholt stares up at the ceiling, wondering what surprises they'll get next.

Xiao Li Marshall pulls back on the throttle and the Raven takes to the sky

Shen Jiutai feels the lurch as the ship's Gravity fights with the moon's gravity, rolling her belly around a bit.

Xiao Li Marshall: Breaking atmo in ten seconds...

Rae Overholt grips the handles of her seat, nails digging in to release some of her pent up anxiety.

Xiao Li Marshall: And we are officially in the black. The pilot has not turned of the 'fasten seat belt' sign, 'cuz we ain't got one.

Shen Jiutai breathes a sigh of relief as Raven soars out into the black, somehow feeling more at home here than on any particular world. She drops the Magazine-sheet and heads up to the Galley. Punching the intercom she asks, "How far out are we Xiao Li?"

Xiao Li Marshall: 'bout five minutes from the renezvous point, give or take.

Shen: "That fast? Hunh, no time to cook anything. for some reason I always get hungry after breakin' atmo." She decides to watch the show and wanders up to the cockpit to gawk out the windows.

Xiao Li Marshall: I work fast.

Shen: I'll say you do. We gettin' there early?

Xiao Li Marshall: I make it a point to show up early. Easier to scout for trouble that way.

Shen: Good plan.

Xiao Li Marshall: Nothin' out of the ordinary on the long-range scanners yet...

Shen Jiutai shifts uncomfortably, "I mean, that Cap'n that gave us this job seemed honset enough, but what do we know 'bout 'im? Did you get a chance to give him the once over?"

Xiao Li Marshall: Seems legit as far as I c'n tell. Either he's who he says he is or he's got a damn good forger workin' for him.

Rae Overholt: And any idea why someone would want us recorded?

Shen Jiutai shakes her head, "Place like that who knows? Prolly lookin' for some kind of advantage over the competition."

Rae Overholt: Shouldn't have gotten much though.

Xiao Li Marshall: I can think of a few reasons. Most of which are marked on our bodes in one way or 'nother.

Shen: Let's hope we're still fairly unknown... not many have seen my Tat.

Rae Overholt: Me either. How the hell did we end up in this anyway?

Shen: Don't look at me, you were the one that took Locum's offer.

Xiao Li Marshall: You'll have to be more specific. We're 'in' a lot of different things right now.

Shen: Good point.

Rae Overholt: Half of us slaves on the run, indebted to a serial killer, nowhere safe in the verse for us?

Shen: There's alot of 'Verse out there...

Rae Overholt: Yeah, all crawling with alliance and dragons.

Shen: yeah..

Raven has arrived at the rendezvous point, and has been waiting for around an hour.

Xiao Li Marshall starts her seventeenth game of Tetris.

Shen Jiutai paces back and forth, bored with the long wait, "Any sign of them yet Cap'n?"

Rae Overholt flips through one of Gabe's books, not really getting why he likes them. "Not Yet Shen. What ya reckon's the holdup? Anything showing on our panels?"

Xiao Li Marshall: "Not so much as a blip. ...wait..." She pauses the Tetris game and leans over toward the comm speakers. "We got a set of headphones someplace?"

Rae Overholt reaches over on the cabinet, flips open a pannel and pulls out a set, tossing it to Xiao Li.

Xiao Li Marshall: "Xiexie." She slips them over her ears and plugs them into the audio-out jack. She frowns. "That can't be good."

Rae Overholt waits, watching her closely.

Xiao Li Marshall: I'm picking up someone else's comm chatter. Real faint, but it sounds like somebody's in trouble.

Rae Overholt 's eyebrows go up. "What? What are they saying? how far out is it?"

Xiao Li Marshall: I can't tell. Any of it. Somebody sounds mad and the other's tryin' to stall, but I can't make out acutal words.

Rae Overholt: Think it could be our party?

Shen Jiutai paces, "Cap'n, this don't sound good, for once I wish Kevin still had those blasted thermopics."

Rae Overholt nods to Shen, "Everyone arm up."

Shen Jiutai nods and checks her magazine.

Xiao Li Marshall looks up abruptly as one of the display screens starts flashing. "We got incoming. Ophelia's just come into sensor range."

Rae Overholt: "The voices you're hearing getting stronger as she comes?"

Xiao Li Marshall: Yeah. Still can't make anything out yet... you want me to pop 'em a wave, make sure everything's shiny?

Rae Overholt: yeah, that'd be good.

Xiao Li Marshall nods, pulls one side of the earphones off so she can hear both comms at once, then punches up the code to open a channel to the incoming ship. "This is Firefly class transport Raven calling the Ophelia... do you read me?...I say again, do you read me, Ophelia?"

Shen Jiutai paces further, "Cap'n I know Kevin would want us to do someting barely within our abilities, but don't ya think it might be better if we laid low to see what's going on?"

Rae Overholt: Fine, but I still want us all armed.

Xiao Li Marshall picks up the comm one more time. "This is the Raven calling the Ophelia. Is anyone there? ...Cap'n? Now the radio chatter's gone dead. This don't smell right."

Rae Overholt curses in chinese, "Well reckon we'd better be prepared for anything."

Shen: Cap'n if this guy is in trouble, perhaps we should go quiet, I mean it ain't like we got ship to ship guns anymore.

Rae Overholt: Let's go dark and watch, see what happens. Fool them if we can then.

Xiao Li Marshall nods and starts powering down the ship's systems. "ROL! We're goin' black!"

<><>Ophelia is now within visual range, she appears to be heading in at high speed, almost as if she isn't intending to stop.<><>

Rae Overholt waits, silent and watching.

Xiao Li Marshall 's jaw clenches.

Shen: She don't look like she's slowing down, is she Xiao LI?

Rae Overholt frowns, puzzled and turns to look for anything chasing the ship, "She being followed? We sure that's her?"

Xiao Li Marshall: Not slowin' down... nothing else on radar... yet.

Xiao Li Marshall: Definitely Ophelia.

Rae Overholt: Did we get her close enough to get any life readings on her before we shut down?

Xiao Li Marshall shakes her head. "That's a neg."

<><>A second ship, black and armed with two rather intimidating looking cannon, appears behind Ophelia, there is no indication of a pulse beacon signal, Raven's active scanners have automatically picked it up and displayed it's speed and heading. It is closing on Ophelia.<><>



Xiao Li Marshall: ...wo de tian a...

Rae Overholt shakes her head and grits her teeth, "Hold tight people. We'll see if there are survivors after its over. We don't have the power to stop this."

<><>As soon as the second ship has closed to within 500 meters, bursts of light appear from the guns and visible tracer rounds fly towards Ophelia, which starts to burn and leak gas into the void.<><>




Xiao Li Marshall 's jaw clenches even tighter.

Rae Overholt: Maybe they'll leave her now.

<><>A few seconds later, there is an explosion, and Ophelia disintegrates before your eyes.<><>




Rae Overholt curses again and covers her eyes a moment. "Hope they didn't see us."

Xiao Li Marshall: Well, fuck. So much for that job.

<><>The predator veers to avoid the wreckage of it's prey, narrowly missing the parts of what was once a well loved and well-tended freighter.<><>



Rae Overholt shakes her head, still watching closely incase they've been discovered.

<><>As the wreckage continues to disperse, the gunboat changes course, and speeds off in the direction of the planet before leaving sensor and visual range.<><>

Rae Overholt: No markings on that other ship? Fit any discriptions you've all heard? Anything?

Xiao Li Marshall: Don't look likely, Cap'n...

<><>From the direction of the wreckage of the Ophelia, a distress beacon is detected, however soon after the signal goes quiet.<><>

Xiao Li Marshall: There was a distress beacon but it's gone dead. Could be just out of power...

Rae Overholt sighs.

Xiao Li Marshall: Do we head in to look for survivors?

Rae Overholt: Let's try. Won't hurt.

<><> As Raven approaches, it becomes clear that there is an escape pod transmitting a weak signal.<><>

Rae Overholt smacks her hand on the control panel, "Yes! Let's get it."

<><>(((Standard rescue protocol allows the rescuing vessel to automatically guide the Escape-Pod in for capture, once they are in close proximity. This was established during the migration from Earth That Was when it was discovered that not all ship-wreck survivors who made it into Escape-Pods could be relied upon to pilot themselves successfully to the variety of different ships that might be giving aid. One unfortunate incident involved a rather enthusiastic teenager who attempted to dock at an un-recommended velocity with an Ark's main reactor core, fortunately the core breach was contained, and the young pilot was the only casualty.)))<><>

Xiao Li Marshall: I need someone down in the cargo bay, please...

Shen Jiutai runs to the gangway, "I'm on it!"

Rae Overholt jumps up and runs down the corridor to the gangplank and cargo area, eager to spot what they have as well.

Xiao Li Marshall grabs the yoke in one hand and the comm in the other. "Okay, Shen, we're doin' a Barn Swallow into the airlock. When I say 'go,' open the outer door, dong ma?"

Shen Jiutai comms back, "Gotchya!"

<><>As Raven approaches, offering sanctuary from the darkness of the black, the wayward pod lingers in space, providing a simple target for Xiao Li to capture.<><>




Xiao Li Marshall steers the ship to within meters of the approaching pod.

Xiao Li Marshall: GO!

Shen Jiutai opens the outer cargo door.

Xiao Li Marshall pushes the ship forward, neatly catching the escape pod in the airlock. There's a loud THUD as it hits the inner door. "Okay, close 'er up."

<><>As the Escape Pod thuds against the inner door of the airlock, Shen hits the red button and the outer door closes. The pressurization procedure is started, and pod drops to the deck as the gravity comes on.<><>

Rae Overholt dashes down the plank to the cargo floor and over to the inner doors. Peering through she looks to see if there's any way to tell what's inside the pod.

Shen Jiutai waits for the airlock to pressurize before opening the inner door..

Xiao Li Marshall locks the console and gallops down the stairs to the cargo bay

<><> A loud alarm sounds.<><>

Rae Overholt: What tha?? Serve me right if that ends up exploding in my cargo bay.

Shen Jiutai walks over to the console and switches off the alarm, looking at Xiao Li.

Xiao Li Marshall freezes in place on the catwalk. "What??"

Rae Overholt breaths a sign of relief and goes for the escape pod, knocking on it she waits to see what happens. She draws her gun, just in case.

<><> A hollow thud comes from inside. <><>

Rae Overholt: Guess they're alive. Let's open 'er up.

Shen Jiutai starts the pressure equalization sequence on the escape pod.

<><> A proximity alarm starts sounding. <><>

Rae Overholt: Xiao Li?

Xiao Li Marshall looks up. "Shit." She gallops up the stairs again.

Rae Overholt nods.

Shen: What the hell is that?

Rae Overholt: With our luck? Terrifying space monkeys. Followed by reavers. No, REAVER space monkeys!

Shen Jiutai shudders at the mention of Reavers. "Cap'n Reavers ain't funny... I lost what was the closest thing I had to a family to 'um."

Xiao Li Marshall 's face falls when she sees the radar screen.

Rae Overholt: Yeah I know. It wasn't ajoke.

Xiao Li Marshall pulls down the comm. "We got the ship that just shot the Ophelia on our tail..."

Rae Overholt: Can we lose them?

Xiao Li Marshall: We can outrun 'em if we start moving now. Everybody brace yourselves!

Rae Overholt braces against the wall of the cargo bay, clinging for dear life.

Xiao Li Marshall is already powering up, and pulls back on the throttle as she finishes speaking.

<><>Not long after Raven has been traveling at hard burn, the pursuing ship is no longer closing distance, but begins to fall behind. Apparently it had expended it's short-duration burst of speed chasing Ophelia.<><>

Xiao Li Marshall: They're fallin' back... gonna keep up the hard burn for another ninety seconds an' we should be home free!

Rae Overholt nods, "Sounds like a plan" :: she grits out through her clenched teeth::

Shen Jiutai stands clutching the Catwalk railing, breathing heavily.

Xiao Li Marshall: "Dropping out of hard burn in 3...2...1..." She eases off and the ship's thrust returns to something more reasonable.

Rae Overholt is thrown forward and lands with a thunk, sliding on the cargo floor. Standing up she dusts her self off and heads back to the airlock. "Guess we should get our guest out now? We sure we lost them?"

Xiao Li Marshall: Got a whole lot o' nothin' on the long-range scanners. Think I'd better stay up here just in case, though.

Rae Overholt: I agree.

Shen Jiutai sighs with relief and goes to help Rae with the escape pod.

<><>Upon opening the pod, a young girl, of about 16 is discovered inside. Apparently of Asian decent, she is unconscious, but appears unharmed.<><>

Rae Overholt: "Damn, reckon she lost her family on that ship?" She leans in and taps her, trying to wake her.

Shen: Dunno, perhaps she was the passenger we were supposed to pick up afterall, I mean our luck has to change eventually...

Rae Overholt: Let's hope so.

Sean M. carries the unconsious visiter to the Med bay.

"Companions don't "bolt", anyway. Companions "retreat strategically"

Shen Jiutai relaxes into the leather chair upstairs at the dive bar that has become the hang-out on Paquin, "Ya know, visiting this place is kinda different than livin' here..."

Xiao Li Marshall shrugs. "I wouldn't know, never been to Paquin before this."

Shen Jiutai reaches for the semi-drinkable local brew, "It was a few years back, but while I was wanderin' after the war... not a bad place, overall..."

Xiao Li Marshall just grunts into her drink

Shen Jiutai stairs at the suds of her beer, "Met Jenna here..." she trails off.

Li Mei walks in and looks at Shen and Xioa Li, "You two look a bit glum."

Shen Jiutai grins briefly as Li Mie enters, "What about you, Paquin been good to you? any good sex?"

Li Mei rolls her eyes but smiles a little, "Paquin has been good ... and the sex is none of your business."

Li Mei: Oh I do enjoy my work ... most of the time.

Shen Jiutai nods to Rae, "Need a drink, Cap'n?" she frowns at Li Mei, "I was just askin', no shame in enjoying one's work..."

Rae Overholt: I could do with a drink, yeah.

Xiao Li Marshall: We got any good reason NOT to feel glum, Cap'n?

Rae Overholt: Can't think of nary a one Xiao Li.

Shen Jiutai wanders over to the railing and gestures to the waitress, "Got a few more up here!"

Rae Overholt looks over to everyone, "Where's Rol? Gabe?"

Shen Jiutai shurgs, "Ain't seen Gabe, not my day to watch Rol..."

Li Mei shrugs, "I just walked in here myself, I haven't seen anyone."

Rae Overholt: Who's that guy? ::she points to Niemack::

Li Mei looks around the room at each of the crew, "So, did anything interesting happen while I was at the ball?"

Rae Overholt: The usual, I got insulted and threatened. So, we got how many jobs lined up? One where we're finishin a run delivering some mysterious cargo. Two more right?

Shen: Well, I guess it's just that cargo to Beaumonde, and the passenger to Newhall..

Xiao Li Marshall: Two definite and one potential, if I heard right.

Rae Overholt: Thats what I was thinking Xiao Li, you ever find out what that thing in my pocket was?

Li Mei lifts her eyebrows, "You got jobs? That doesn't sound like the usual."

Rae Overholt: Hey, we get jobs!! They just dont ever go as planned.

Xiao Li Marshall: 'S a bug. Listening device. I junked it.

Rae Overholt: No tracing it?

Xiao Li Marshall: Set up to self destruct if it was tampered with.

Shen Jiutai gestures to the surly waitress who finally shows up, "Another for me, and a round for these folks, beer OK Cap? Xiao LI?" she glances at Li Mei.

Xiao Li Marshall: Fine by me.

Li Mei smiles, "Tea would be great."

Rae Overholt: Coffee. Ain't that just special.

Shen Jiutai nods at li Mei with a "Thought so" air about her, and the waitress saunters down the stairs. "A bug?"

Xiao Li Marshall: S'what I said, ain't it?

Rae Overholt: S' what she said, aint it? ::grins at Shen:: "What I'm wanting to know is, why are we so important lately that people have to listen in on us? What do we suddenly have?

Shen: Now how does that make sense? who planted it?

Xiao Li Marshall: That hun dan who was tryin' to get us to transport slaves, that's who. Slipped it inta Rae's pocket when they shook hands.

Shen: Ain't that just like someplace like Paquin, everybody's workin' an angle.

Xiao Li Marshall: What do we have, Cap'n? Well, *you*, for one thing, an' *me,* for another. Seems like half the crew is made up of ex-slaves on the run, now.

Rae Overholt: That may be Xiao Li, but in truth, we worth all that fuss?

Shen: I doubt Niska is lookin' for me too hard, after alla this time. 'Just don't wanna go announcing m'self...

Rae Overholt: Can't say I blame you there Shen. I'd prefer not to have one more thing to worry about either.

Shen Jiutai grins at Li Mei, didn't know you were shipping with so many wanted folks, didja?

Li Mei shrugs, "It doesn't matter. Everyone's running from something."

Xiao Li Marshall: "On that note...." Xiao Li turns to Li Mei. "I hear tell there was a certain mining magnate at that shindig..."

Li Mei looks at Xiao Li, "Yes, I believe there was."

Shen: Yeah, the guy said he was Ole' Rohan Wallace...

Li Mei nods, "indeed he was. I'm afraid my attentions were focussed on my client ... I don't know much else that went on there."

Shen Jiutai shakes her head, "Figures we catch up to him when the security is tighter than a..." she looks embarrased, "Well, tight."

Li Mei laughs.

Shen: Wallace and that Miss Small, both lookin' as smug as a cat with feathers stickin' outa their mouths.

Xiao Li Marshall curses under her breath.

Li Mei nods, "Smugness is often common at those affairs."

Shen: Seems like we made a real friend with Miss Small, but Wallace said he's have us blown out of the sky if we ever flew within 100 Km of his place again.

Xiao Li Marshall: Ta ma de...

Li Mei: Do any of you actually want to fly that close to his place?

Xiao Li Marshall: I shoulda been there. If I could get my hands on that bastard...

Shen Jiutai watches as the waitress finally returns with beers for Xiao Li and herself, as well as some tea and rather weak coffee for Rae, "Cream and sugar with that?" The waitress doesn't wait for an answer, but saunters back down the stairs.

Shen Jiutai nods as she picks up her beer, "Asshole had six body guards! Six!"

Xiao Li Marshall snorts a laugh as she opens the beer bottle. "Least he's smart enough to know he ain't well liked."

Shen Jiutai nods and takes a sip.

Li Mei takes a sip from her tea, "Hmm, this is surprisingly good for a place like this."

Rae Overholt takes her coffee and sips it, making a face.

Shen Jiutai sets her bottle down, "Come on Li Mei, at least you can tell us if'n the meals were good, if ya can't talk about the sex?"

Rae Overholt: There was sex? I missed the sex?

Xiao Li Marshall rolls her eyes. "*Companion,* Cap'n. You do recall what that means?"

Li Mei chuckles, "Well ... food was not exactly on the menu, so to speak."

Rae Overholt: What was? Were there strawberries? It was a ball! Was there time for sex?

Li Mei grins, "We left a bit early."

Rae Overholt: ohhhh

Shen Jiutai grins, "Knew it..."

Li Mei smiles, "My client was a bit inexperienced, I needed more time than with most, so we left early. I hate to rush my job."

Shen Jiutai chuckles.

Li Mei laughs, "I do have to say he was a bit of a 'momma's boy', though. I suspect he may be sly and not know it yet."

Rae Overholt lets out a heavy sigh and sets her coffee down, disgusted by it. She turns to poke the drunk guy next to her, "Anyone concerned this guy is out cold here? Especially after we got a bug planted on us?"

Xiao Li Marshall: You want me to search 'im?

Rae Overholt: Yeah. Do that. Was he handsome atleast Li?

Li Mei: Oh yes, very handsome.

Shen: Guess every client has his reasons for hiring a companion...

Li Mei looks at Shen, "Actually, his mother hired me."

Xiao Li Marshall stands and walks over to the drunk man, leans down to listen to his breathing (making sure he's actually asleep), then commences rifling through his pockets.

Shen Jiutai stands and works her way behind the 'passed out' patron, just to be safe.

Li Mei leans back and sips her tea in silence

Shen Jiutai murruers, "Yup, just like Paquin' 'cept now we're the ones riffeling pockets..."

Niemack Saarinen cocks his head back and stares as he grabs the hand.

Xiao Li Marshall yelps in surprise and tries to jump back

Shen Jiutai places a hand on one shoulder, and a blade on the other. "Sorry, 'bout that..."

Rae Overholt leans and smiles all friendly like at the stranger, "Hi there, meet my friends."

Niemack Saarinen turns his head to the side exposing his lone blue eye as his other hand grabs the item "zhat is not yours" pauses and stares to his right raising his eyebrow "some friends"

Li Mei looks over at the commotion, shakes her head and takes another sip of tea

Rae Overholt gives him a shrug, "I like them. What you doing all passed out up here alone?"

Shen Jiutai squeezes hes shoulder, "We ain't takin' nuthin', now just let go of her, and everything will..."

Xiao Li Marshall wriggles loose from the man's grip and rubs her wrist. "Yeah, 's a good way to get robbed."

Niemack Saarinen: "zhought it was apparently a quiet place to sleep off a hang over, apparently not" holds his hand still where it was before cracking his knuckle against his thigh and draping it accross his stomach the other on his knee, turning and seeing a hand on his shoulder not noticing the hand through his layers "mind?"

Shen Jiutai returns her blade to its sheath, "Hangover, eh? 'suppose we owe ya a bit of the hair of the dog."

Rae Overholt shrugs, "Alright then."

Xiao Li Marshall backs away, keeping her eye on the drunk man.

Shen Jiutai returns to her beer, waiting for a response.

Xiao Li Marshall: *muttering* No one breathes like that when they're awake... ain't natural...

Niemack Saarinen brings his leather wrapped hand up rubbing between his eyes biting the corner of his lip

Shen Jiutai places her bottle on the cocktail napkin and spins it, "Sorry, we just can't be too careful, eaves droppers an' such."

Niemack Saarinen turns his head surveying the room turning back towards Xiao Li before looking down at himself, then back up replying "Vell I'm not natural" turns around at the rest then nodding at Shen.

Rae Overholt continues to survey him, "Well he certainly looks drunk. So, where were we? Finding out about the Ball. Were there strawberries?"

Li Mei smiles as she takes another sip of her tea, "No ... but there may have been some cream involved."

Shen Jiutai can't figure out if Li Mei is refering to the banquet or the client, "Mmmm Hmmmm, " she sips her beer.

Rae Overholt coughs at Li's comment before bursting into laughter.

Shen Jiutai follows Rae, beer coming out her nose.

Xiao Li Marshall is too busy staring at the drunk man to respond to Li's comment. She's *that* rattled.

Rae Overholt ends her laughter with little chuckles, hands over her stomach as she watches Li, wondering what else will come out of her mouth. Turning back to Shen she asks, "Whats our finances like now?"

Shen Jiutai reaches for her cocktail napkin, which is woefully inadequite for the job of cleaning herself up, "Well, Cap'n, no body's paid us anything yet..."

Rae Overholt: So coffee is my dinner tonight then?

Shen: We got protien onboard, but yeah, other than that, we're on our own... which reminds me...

Rae Overholt: Well atleast we got a place to sleep.

Shen: If Miss Jadi wants me to keep the books, an' such, I gotta know what everybody gets paid... I mean who's salary, and who's percentage?

Niemack Saarinen stretches his neck to the left and right draping his right hand accross his stomach again near his pistol before leaning his head against the wall, falling back asleep within seconds, his eye still open

Rae Overholt: We're all percentage, or we were till now. I don't think she allots any for salary per say. She gives us a percentage and what we have left after supplies and maitenance is split. Rae Overholt glances over to Nie and shakes her head, "That's just ..."

Shen: I think she said she wants 50% after the expenses, don't leave that much for us, 'cept now that Locum is paying the monthly... I guess transporting the odd crate here and there will be worth it, course we're prolly gonna run into every Dragon in the 'Verse...

Rae Overholt: Yeah, which will be reported to the dragon back in Burnet. Well, what kind of expenses do we have?

Shen: Well, keepin' her flyin' ain't cheap, and the food, ammo, med supplies... the list goes on...

Xiao Li Marshall: Guess if it comes to that we c'n eat the cat...

Li Mei looks over at the Captain, "Speaking of finances, the Guild has been kind enough to provide me with a list of candidates. How much longer will we be here?"

Rae Overholt: Couple days I'm thinking to get things fixed up.

Shen Jiutai pickes up her beer, "At least someone's gettin' some" she mutters as she sips.

Rae Overholt: Ain't that the truth.

Li Mei frowns slightly, "I'm not sure I can make arrangements with any of them on such short notice. But I can try."

Rae Overholt: You wanted to stay here longer Li?

Shen: What did that guy say was the rendezvous date? the 30th? We got some time...

Li Mei shrugs her shoulders slightly, "I do need the business. I would appreciate it it Captain."

Xiao Li Marshall: Yeah, so we stay here drinkin' overpriced beer an' not bringin' in any cash...

Rae Overholt: How long would you like to stay Li?

Li Mei: I think 4 or 5 days would give me enough time to arrange something.

Rae Overholt: Alright then. Maybe we'll get some time to go down to Persephone.

Shen: You're from there, ain't ya Cap'n?

Rae Overholt: Was a time I was a dock rat there.

Shen Jiutai grins, "Who ain't been a dock-rat? some of the best times I had was... well working for my father..." She trails off, "Back before the war..."

Xiao Li Marshall: Hell, spent most of my childhood pickin' pockets at the port in New Baltimore...

Rae Overholt nods, swinging her foot against the couch.

Shen Jiutai grins, "It's a kick, ain't it?"

Rae Overholt: Yeah, it was. Learned a lot in that place.

Xiao Li Marshall: Yeah. 'Specially the food vendors. Ever try ta grab a kebab off a hot griddle without burnin' yourself or bein' spotted by the cook?

Shen Jiutai laughs and looks to Li Mie, "Would you have ever guessed this would be the company you'd keep?"

Li Mei looks down at her cup of tea, now empty, and stares at it in silence.

Ariel LiveOak, Raven's previous companion appears in the bar.

Shen Jiutai glances up, "Ariel!"

Ariel Liveoak smiles. Hello, old friends."

Shen: "Long time no see!!! this is our new companion... Li Mei! How have you been?"

Ariel Liveoak: I've been well, and you?

Rae Overholt: Hello Ariel.

Shen: things are lookin' up, if they ain't lookin to dark...

Li Mei looks up from her empty cup and smiles, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Shen Jiutai grins, "Guess Paquin is the happening spot for alla the companions!"

Ariel Liveoak smiles. "And you. Are you finding the arrangements beneficial?"

Li Mei: The arrangements have begun to be beneficial, yes.

Ariel Liveoak: Ah, good. These things can take time.

Shen: "She ain't talked about bolting yet."

Li Mei grins, "No, but if you guys keep making more enemies, I may have to."

Ariel Liveoak chuckles. "Companions don't "bolt", anyway. Companions "retreat strategically".

Li Mei laughs.

Ariel Liveoak: And gracefully.

Xiao Li Marshall: An' we ain't been *making* enemies. If anything, they've been making *us.*

Ariel Liveoak smiles.

Shen: "What have you been up to, Ariel? ain't seen you, well, since before my 'accident'."

Ariel Liveoak: Rebuilding a life, Shen. There was much from which to recover. Things are good, now.

Shen Jiutai plays with the lable on her beer bottle, "Rebuilding a life, I know that tune."

Li Mei raises an eyebrow at Ariel's comment about rebuilding a life, but says nothing

Rae Overholt glances back to the stranger, she lifts a hand and waves it in front of his eye.

Shen: Things are going well for you?

Niemack Saarinen eye rattles in REM sleep, unmoving.

Ariel Liveoak smiles gently. "There are still things that need to happen, but yes. Generally, things are good."

Shen Jiutai's eyes drift across Ariel's gown, "It looks like!"

Ariel Liveoak smiles.

Rae Overholt: Well, we do have an empty shuttle.

Shen Jiutai glances at the Captain.

Ariel Liveoak: Oh?

Rae Overholt: Yeah.

Ariel Liveoak looks at the captain for several moments with a thoughtful expression.

Xiao Li Marshall: We could definitely use the rent money these days...

Shen Jiutai nods

Rae Overholt: Yeah, we'll make due either way though.

Li Mei looks at Xioa Li with a blank expression, "Weren't you just complaining about the way I earn my rent interfering with your jobs?"

Xiao Li Marshall: I was complainin' about how *staying at this bar* is interferin' with jobs. I'm afraid to leave the gorram building.

Rae Overholt: Well then, head to ship maybe and the rest of us head out looking for more work?

Shen Jiutai looks to Xiao Li, "C'mon, if'n I'm with you, I'd like to see them try to mess with you! I don't care how many, but I bet Ole' Wallace is long gone by now!"

Ariel Liveoak: If that is ...an invitation, Captain... I'm afraid I'll have to decline. For one thing, you already have a Companion on your ship. Any more would be...awkward.

Rae Overholt: Alright then Ariel. Like I said though, other shuttle is empty.

Ariel Liveoak nods, smiling warmly. "I'll remember, Captain. Thank you."

Rae Overholt: "Maybe Li can answer that, Any word on when Wallace was headed out?" She nods her head at Ariel.

Shen Jiutai wonders what it would be like flying a cargo ship full of companions around the frontier would be like.

Li Mei shrugs, "I believe Wallace left right after the ball."

Shen Jiutai walks home a groggy Xiao Li, leaving the companions to go on about the Giuld.