Li Mei shakes her head, "I don't think you've thought this through, girl."

Shen Jiutai pulls down the comm, and after a little feedback announces: "OK, we have some 'Seafood' Udon ready in the Galley, for thems that's hungry."

Li Mei heads for the Galley, "Ooh .. yummy."

Rae Overholt sets down the gun she was cleaning and climbs out of her bunk, heading for the galley.

Shen Jiutai produces a bowl and ladles Li Mei some soup.

Li Mei takes the soup and smiles, "Thank you."

Shen Jiutai stirs the udon, deeply inhaling the aroma, "My Ma taught me how to make this."

Li Mei sits down at the table and tried the soup, "Mmm. This is good. Your mother must have been a good cook."

Shen Jiutai ladles another bowl for herself, and joins Li Mei at the table. She grins, "She's be glad to hear that." Shen Jiutai nods to Xiao Li, "It's on the counter, help yourself."

Xiao Li Marshall just grunts and heads for the soup pot. "Don't s'pose our passenger's awake yet?"

Shen Jiutai shakes her head, "I dunno, I've been cooking," she looks at Li Mei.

Li Mei shakes her head as she takes another sip of the soup, "She was still out when I headed up here."

Shen Jiutai slurps an Udon noodle and glances at Xiao Li, "The Cap'n make up her mind where we're headin'?"

Xiao Li Marshall: Persephone. Figure we can deliver our cargo at least.

Shen Jiutai nods, "Good, I always liked Persephone."She watches as Rae enters the galley and makes a face at the noodles. "You don't like the Udon, Cap'n?" She looks concerned.

Rae Overholt shakes her head and continues to eat her noodles, "Like 'um jus fine. Specially when I dont have to cook them."

Xiao Li Marshall mutters through her mouthful, "If taftes fine to me."

Shen Jiutai sighs a sigh of relief.

Li Mei nods as she finishes her bowl, "This is better than my mother's. Of course, she was only ever good at burning toast."

Dana Maelstrom's eyes begin to flutter, and as they open she sees the concerned face Dr. Sean. After a brief once over and a few questions, Sean finally succumbs to Dana's assertions that she's "OK but hungry." He shows her to the galley.

Rae Overholt looks up to spot the young girl, "Looks like our visitor is up."

Shen Jiutai looks up to see Sean escort Dana into the Galley.

Xiao Li Marshall 's eyebrows go up as Dana enters. "Well, look who's up an' about."

Li Mei looks over at the young girl, "How are you feeling?"

Dana Maelstrom grins at the roomful of new people, "I'm fine, thanks for asking, that nice Doctor you have told me I'd get my questions answered up here..." She moves to the closest chair and sits down.

Xiao Li Marshall: I think we've got a few questions for *you* first.

Li Mei leans back in her chair and just listens

Dana Maelstrom looks from face to face, "Um, I guess I should thank you for picking me up..."

Rae Overholt nods, "That you do, want to tell us why you were out there?"

Dana Maelstrom: "Is the Captain around?"

Rae Overholt points to Li, "That'd be her."

Shen Jiutai raises an eyebrow.

Xiao Li Marshall blinks at Rae, but says nothing.

Li Mei remains in the same position in her chair, her expression not changing

Dana Maelstrom grins at Li Mei, "Well, I owe you my life, Captain...?"

Rae Overholt smirks as she continues to eat her noodles, acting like she doesn't have a care in the world.

Li Mei smiles, "You're welcome. Now who are you?"

Kevin Cliffe looks at the new arrival...after the last one, he has an urge to get into his pressure suit. Just an aversion to being gassed.

Shen Jiutai gestures to the counter, "Have some Udon... Oh and where are my manners, Are you hungry Miss...?"

Dana Maelstrom stands and walks to shake Li Mei's hand, "Dana Maelstrom, and you are?"

Shen Jiutai stands and starts preparing two more bowls of soup, leaving a chair for Kevin.

Li Mei pauses a moment, then take's Dana's hand, "You can call me Li."

Xiao Li Marshall, while Dana is distracted, shoots Rae a 'What are you planning and why aren't I in on it?' look.

Kevin Cliffe: Thanks anyway... not too hungry. Actually I was wondering how we were doing on reactor fuel and propellant.

Rae Overholt gives Xiao Li a shit eattin' grin and shrugs before going back to her noodles.

Dana Maelstrom shakes Li Mei's hand firmly, "OK, Captain... Li it is... It's a miracle you were there... unless... were you the ship we were supposed to meet?"

Li Mei: So, Dana, what were you doing on that ship?

Dana Maelstrom: We were supposed to do a deep space transfer... How they knew where to find us I have no idea.

Li Mei nods, "Yeah, that would have been us you were supposed to meet up with."

Dana Maelstrom: Captain Able assured me only he and his old friend knew the coordinates...

Xiao Li Marshall: Old friend?

Dana Maelstrom: Are you Captain Able's old war buddy?

Li Mei raises an eyebrow, "And his old friend was ...?"

Rae Overholt ' eyes dart to Xiao Li and she gives her a look, wondering if the listening device had something to do with this.

Dana Maelstrom: I don't remember his name... but you don't exactly look like you've seen a tour of duty.

Li Mei chuckles, "Looks can be deceiving. I've probably seen more action than anyone else on this boat."

Rae Overholt chuckles into her soup.

Dana Maelstrom grunts, "Well.. OK, mind if I ask what ship we're on?"

Li Mei: She's called The Raven

Shen Jiutai picks up the Com, "Rol, you hungry, Kevin says he ain't and I got some soup up here." She takes a bowl and places it in front of Dana.

Dana Maelstrom: Raven? I thought this was a firefly...

Kevin Cliffe: "Raven. Like the trickster spirit of the Northwest US from Earth That Was." (whew)

Dana Maelstrom: Did you guys happen to come to Newhall a few months back?

Rae Overholt looks to Li, wondering how she'd handle this.

Li Mei: Uhh .. this is a firefly. What's that got to do with the name?

Roland Josephus over the com: ...........Who made it?

Dana Maelstrom: Well, my brother.. Lum... well, Nigel wrote me about his "marriage"

Shen Jiutai coms back, "I did, and it's my mom's recipe!"

Rae Overholt: What'd he say? ::she asks around a noodle::

Li Mei shrugs, "We've been lots of places."

Dana Maelstrom: He said you guys pulled a fast one on Sadi... he said he never laughed so hard!

Roland Josephus: Alright.. Give me a minute.. I have to close things up back here.

Rae Overholt: How'd we do that?

Dana Maelstrom: "Let me see... what did he say... no, I think he said it was the bodyguard, sent him swimming!!!" She chuckles. "But he did definitely say it was the Raven, and there was this cute guy on it..."

Shen Jiutai snorts.

Rae Overholt snickers, "See any cute guys? Kevin here maybe?"

Li Mei looks at Kevin for a moment, then shakes her head, "Nope. No cute guys in sight."

Shen Jiutai suppresses a giggle.

Rae Overholt winks at Kevin.

Kevin Cliffe shrugs....

Xiao Li Marshall rolls her eyes.

Rae Overholt turns to Dana, "You look a little nervous, you doing ok? Guess getting blown up will make you nervous though."

Dana Maelstrom eats a few noodles ravenously, nodding her head at Rae's comments.

Kevin Cliffe: Didn't come here to be cute. *he smirks*

Li Mei grins, "Good. Let the cute ones be boy whores."

Dana Maelstrom looks up expectantly at the mention of boy whores.

Roland Josephus makes his way to the galley from the engine room, and sits at the table.

Rae Overholt: Well? Whats got you all so nervous? Other than being blown up.

Shen Jiutai nods at Rol and places a bowl of Udon in front of him.

Kevin Cliffe: I guess being blown up would make someone pretty nervous. That and it might kinda hurt.

Rae Overholt: So why'd they blow you up?

Roland Josephus picks up the bowl,. and starts to eat without a word to anyone.

Dana Maelstrom looks to Li Mei, then to Rae, "I think it might have been the Tigers, did they see you?"

Rae Overholt: Who are the tigers?

Shen Jiutai shoots Rae a look, "Another Triad."

Dana Maelstrom shoots Shen a look. "She's right."

Rae Overholt: We going to have bears next?

Xiao Li Marshall: *deadpan* Oh my.

Shen Jiutai diverts her eyes from Dana.

Kevin Cliffe: Great. Does this mean I can get more vests to add to my collection?

Shen Jiutai sits on the counter, "There are the White Cranes, the Black Hands, the Dragons, the Tigers, every kid knows of 'um."

Rae Overholt shoots Kevin a look. "This here is Mr. Maelstrom's daughter. Dragon representative for Newhall."

Dana Maelstrom blushes, "Well, yeah, I guess... wow I never thought I'd hear it put that way..."

Rae Overholt: What'd you think it'd be put like?

Dana Maelstrom looks serious, "Captain Li, it's important you take me to Liann Juin, in the Persephone system,"

Li Mei: And what way would you put it, Dana?

Dana Maelstrom: I guess I never really thought of it...

Kevin Cliffe sighs..."right. Open mouth, insert foot."

Xiao Li Marshall raises an eyebrow. "Thought we were s'posed to take ya to Newhall..."

Dana Maelstrom: I mean, I never wanted to follow in Daddy's footsteps...

Li Mei: Does Daddy know that?

Dana Maelstrom looks to Xiao Li, "Well... I can't go home, not just yet."

Rae Overholt: Who's going to pay for the gas for this here trip?

Dana Maelstrom looks to Li Mei, "I guess that's why I ran away."

Kevin Cliffe: I guess I can relate to that.

Li Mei nods, "We're not a charity transport service, Miss Maelstrom"

Roland Josephus just grunts and set his empty bowl aside.

Dana Maelstrom looks to Rae, "Oh, Heir will pay, he'll be so proud when I show him what I've gotten for him..."

Rae Overholt: What's that you're getting for 'im?

Dana Maelstrom: "Well, I have it actually, " She points to her arm, "Right here, in my blood..."

Li Mei squints her eyes a little, "For someone not wanting to follow in Daddy's footsteps, you seem awful eager to please him."

Dana Maelstrom looks back to Li Mei, confused, "Well he is my Daddy... and I think he'll be soooo proud of me..."

Rae Overholt: What do you have in your blood? Something catchy? And we dont fly on dreams, hopes and promises. We fly with cold hard credits.

Dana Maelstrom looks a little uncertain, "Well my daddy will pay you, of that you can be sure, but I'm not sure I should go on blabbing."

Rae Overholt: Why? What are we gonnna do about it?

Dana Maelstrom: Well, I just came onboard, how do I know you're who you say you are... I mean I've heard of Raven before... but can I trust you?

Xiao Li Marshall: I'd say you ain't got much of a choice, have ya?

Shen Jiutai clears her throat, "You can trust us girl, we're on your team, ever hear of Locum Tenens?"

Kevin Cliffe: I'll lose the vest before we make port, then. Don't want to antagonize anyone.

Dana Maelstrom grins, "Cousin Locum?"

Shen Jiutai nods, "He's payin' the bills on this boat." She glances at Rae.

Rae Overholt shrugs and puts her bowl down on the table, leaning back in the chair.

Xiao Li Marshall stands up. "I should prob'ly make sure we're still on course..."

Dana Maelstrom grins, "Well, then I guess you're in the family!!! Wow!! I didn't expect Asa would have used family boats..."

Li Mei looks at Rae, then back at Dana, "You still haven't told us what's in your blood. I think we have a right to know what you brought on board our ship."

Dana Maelstrom: "Anyways, I'm carrying something in my blood that will make us more powerful, and strong, but don't worry, it's in my DNA, it's not catching.

Rae Overholt: That so? Don't make you nervous with foreigners hitching a ride on your ladder?

Kevin Cliffe: "Wait, huh? Something in your DNA that will make us more powerful and strong?" He has no idea what the hell is going on but it sounds like alliance meddling...

Dana Maelstrom shakes her head, "No, these are professionals, Blue Sun, on Osiris! I stole this from them!"

Rae Overholt: hmm.

Li Mei rolls here eyes, "Oh yeah, Blue Sun... very trustworthy"

Roland Josephus: This is getting worse, and worse.

Li Mei nods

Dana Maelstrom: They were sending me out to the rim with this well... test of the technique...

Kevin Cliffe: The human genome has three billion base pairs of code...lots of places to hide information.

Dana Maelstrom looks at Kevin, "Exactly! I jumped ship and started heading home, Daddy will be soooo proud!"

Kevin Cliffe: What kind of information?

Dana Maelstrom: Well, if I understand it correctly, any fetus treated with the sequence I'm carrying will grow up to be a superman! But the information will degrade before too long...

Kevin Cliffe: Oh this is so not good. What would happen if it were introduced into a full grown adult?

Dana Maelstrom steadies herself on the table, looking pale.

Rae Overholt: Kid, if that information is degrading, what do you think will happen to you?

Li Mei leans forward in her chair, "Now .. let me get this straight. You've stolen something very important from the most powerful corporation in the verse .. and you're bringing those stolen goods to your Daddy ... attracting the attention of said corporation, and you think he'll be pleased?"

Dana Maelstrom looks back at Kevin and clears her head, "Sorry, I kinda get dizzy from time to time..." She looks to Li Mei, "Yeah! They won't know where I went, and He'll have something to make him stronger!!! He'll be soooo proud!"

Kevin Cliffe: Oh ta ma de...it sounds like something the alliance would do.

Li Mei shakes her head, "I don't think you've thought this through, girl."

Kevin Cliffe: Does our doc have the capacity to take and freeze tissue samples?

Dana Maelstrom looks concerned, "But Dr Miles said I should see her first..."

Roland Josephus just shakes his head.

Li Mei: Who's Dr. Miles?

Dana Maelstrom grins, "She's this nice lady at the clinic, before I left she slipped me a piece of paper with a Cortex address on it..."

Roland Josephus: I don't think she's the only one ain't thought things through.

Dana Maelstrom: "She said lives were in danger, and that I'd been lied to..."

Li Mei: That I don't doubt.

Kevin Cliffe: No kidding... How close are we to Persephone and how much fuel can we spare?

Dana Maelstrom: She needs me to meet her on Liann Juin. She's going to save the worlds!!!

Li Mei rolls her eyes again, "Yeah .. of course she is."

Shen Jiutai looks to Gabe as he enters the room, and nods to Dana, "Her brother said something about a cute boy... " she murrmers so that only Gabe can hear.

Kevin Cliffe: "Hang on..." He stabs the com button..."Xiao?"

Xiao Li Marshall looks up and grabs the comm. "Wei?"

Kevin Cliffe coms: How close are we to Persephone and how much fuel do we have?

Gabriel Keats looks at Shen, eyebrows raised, and tilts his head

Xiao Li Marshall: 'Nother day or so, and we got just enough fuel to get to Newhall after that. Why?

Shen Jiutai grins at Gabe and offers him a bowl of Udon.

Kevin Cliffe coms: "Stand by..." "Cap'n...I'm not sure about what she's carrying, but we're in the dark here. I think we need the doc to look her over and also consider the possibility of speeding this trip up."

Gabriel Keats: "M'not ruttin' hung over." And he takes the Udon.

Roland Josephus just shakes his head.

Kevin Cliffe: I hope I'm just overreacting, but I'd like to plan ahead a bit.

Rae Overholt looks to Li, "Well cap'n. what do you say?"

Gabriel Keats takes the bowl and starts eating it slowly, eyes flickering over everyone in the room. He finally settles on staring at a place about two inches above and to the left of Dana's left ear

Li Mei shrugs, " I don't know. We still have a lot of unanswered questions. What do you think?"

Dana Maelstrom looks over to Gabe and slides her chair away some, confused.

Roland Josephus: Look... She's right folks... One of the most powerful companies in the verse is after her.. And they got enough creds to hunt us down for as long as it takes..... Then there's her Pa... She's made herself sick with somethen'.. If we're lucky.. If we're not.. It'll kill her.. Then her Dad will be after us... We know how forgiving that clan is.

Rae Overholt: I think we should get the doc to look at her, take a sample of her blood, then we should get her to a clinic see if they can't get it out of her before it kills her and her daddy kills us for her stupidity.

Dana Maelstrom shoots Rae a dirty look, "I'm sitting right here!"

Rae Overholt looks back at her, "Good, hope ya learn somethin'."

Roland Josephus: All this for a vague amount of credits that we might or might not get.... Even if we do deliver her.. and she survives... Who's going to tell Blue Sun we handed her off?

Xiao Li Marshall drums her fingers on the dashboard impatiently.

Dana Maelstrom: Besides, I'm not so sure I should let you take some of my blood...

Li Mei: So what do you suggest we do, Roland? Eject her into space?"

Roland Josephus shrugs, "That ain't' for me to decide.....But I say she gets off this boat quick, and we forgot we saw her."

Kevin Cliffe: Frankly I think we'd better figure out what we're dealing with. *he looks at the girl* you might be carrying something that's killing you.

Gabriel Keats grins and closes his eyes, puts a hand to his temples.

Rae Overholt watches Gabe and then Dana, waiting.

Gabriel Keats: "Couldn't hurt."

Dana Maelstrom looks towards Kevin with his last remark, slowly stands and makes her way to the comfy chairs next to the galley, where she collapses in a heap. "I'm just going to sit here for a bit..."

Kevin Cliffe looks to Shen... "get the doc." He looks to Rae..."Orders?"

Shen Jiutai nods and wanders to the stairs and yells down to the sickbay, "Sean!!!! Kevin wants you!!!"

Xiao Li Marshall pulls down the com again. "Mind tellin'' me what I'm standin'' by *for*?"

Li Mei Leans over to whisper to Rae, "Next time you want to pretend I'm the captain, how about if you give me a little warning."

Sean M. grumbles something in Spanish and puts away the vid he was watching, slowly making his way upstairs.

Rae Overholt shrugs, "I've saids my peace."

Kevin Cliffe coms: Yeah. We're going to see if we need to put the pedal to the metal.

Xiao Li Marshall coms: ...lovely.

Li Mei: This is still your ship. What we do next is your decision.

Kevin Cliffe: How fast do you want us to get her to a clinic, ma'am?

Dana Maelstrom slowly and gently drifts off to sleep.

Rae Overholt whispers back to Li, "Thats no fun."

Li Mei whispers back, "No one ever said it was supposed to be."

Gabriel Keats looks at a point between Rae and Li. "We should be all right." He shrugs. "Don't think she's nervous. Don't know we've got aught else we can do."

Rae Overholt: You didn't get anything Gabe?

Gabriel Keats: "She ain't nervous. Got a sense of entitlement a mile wide, but. . .she ain't runnin' scared, and I don't think she means to harm."

Kevin Cliffe: Cap'n, should we go for hard burn?

Rae Overholt: We should be 'bout there shouldn't we? Do we need hard burn?

Sean M. appears at the Galley, "Hard Burn? Why?"

Roland Josephus: Someone want to explain to me how this all turns out good for the Raven?

Kevin Cliffe: Another day or so, Xiao says.

Rae Overholt: OK then. She looks to Li again, "You enjoyed it."

Sean M. goes to check on the unconscious Dana, then helps himself to a bowl of Udon as Shen watches.

Kevin Cliffe: All right...

Li Mei grins at Rae, "Maybe a little."

Kevin Cliffe coms: Xiao, you said we were a day our so out from Persephone... we need to cut that time down.

Xiao Li Marshall coms: How far down?

Rae Overholt nods to Li, "Might be nice if you keep on with it. And if I hide out on duty so to speak."

Kevin Cliffe coms: "Depends. How fast can Raven fly in a medical emergency?" Kevin Cliffe already has a fair idea of that answer, but he knows Xiao Li can do it in a heartbeat...

Shen Jiutai stands and goes around the table collecting the empty bowls.

Roland Josephus: Anyone? Even a little?

Li Mei nods and sighs, "Ok, but I need someway to talk to you. I am not making any decisions"

Xiao Li Marshall coms: I can get 'er there in five hours, but we'll be runnin' on fumes by the end...

Rae Overholt: Well Roland, it seems we dont have a choice. Six one day half a dozen another. Unless you can offer me a solution, stop complaining.

Li Mei: Roland, I don't see anyway this turns out good. I think it's too late for that.

Roland Josephus: Like hell we don't have a choice.. We find a place to set down that has transport, and we leave... Hope the blue billion folks that are chasing her.. IF she's telling the truth dont' find out it was us.

Kevin Cliffe: Cap'n, Xiao says we can floor it but we'll be pretty dry in the tanks if we do.

Shen: "And what would our BOSS say about dumping his DAUGHTER!!!???!!!"

Rae Overholt: Then we take our time. I'd prefer us alive, and dying in space wont do us any good. Neither will having no gas to get to our next spot.

Kevin Cliffe: "Aye." He coms: "Maintain heading and speed..."

Xiao Li Marshall: Roger that. Any other orders?

Kevin Cliffe: Negative.

Dana Maelstrom settles into her sleep comfortable with the notion that she is safe.