Tin Cans and Guns

Dana Maelstrom plays with 'Whitey" and 'Bandit' quietly on the catwalk.
Dana Maelstrom looks at Bandit, "I'm sooo glad I finally got you away from that nasty cook, I think she was going to serve you for dinner."
Rae Overholt walks into the cockpit and looks at the panels, "We about there yet?"
Xiao Li Marshall: Three hours, give or take.
Rae Overholt nods, "Find anymore damage from that last varmint we have loose in the ship? Any sightings?"
Dana Maelstrom places Bandit and Whitey in the cage that Kevin built, it's an all-out affair, with water bottle and running wheel.
Xiao Li Marshall: Not yet. Still hear the little fucker scrabblin' around in the middle of the night, though.
Rae Overholt: Well at least it isn’t a rat.
Xiao Li Marshall: A rat that the gorram cat would actually catch?
Rae Overholt sighs loudly, "Guess we should have a game plan for when we go to set our guest down eh?"
Johanna Zerbino sends a text wave to the ship Raven: "Greetings. I have an embarrassing confession to make and a question to ask. Due to not finding a caretaker while I was off world, I secreted aboard some small pets. During the confusion of the ship troubles, I had not noticed they had escaped their habitat. They enjoy hiding in small places, but are otherwise harmless. If you see these furry creatures and are back in Downing, I would be glad to pay for their return. Humbly yours, Johanna.
Shen Jiutai goes through the galley, inventorying the goods, making a shopping list.
Xiao Li Marshall turns to the console and calls up the incoming message... "Huh."
Rae Overholt snorts at the message, "pay for our repairs is more like it."
Xiao Li Marshall: You wanna tell 'im that Shen used one for target practice or should I?
Rae Overholt: We'll tell 'im that it crawled into the engine.
Xiao Li Marshall: Gotcha.
Xiao Li Marshall: Guess we really gotta find that last one now.
Shen Jiutai goes into the pantry, and after moving aside a large can of pears, big enough to knock a merc. out cold, she checks the cat's kibble.
Rae Overholt: We'll get Dana on it. She can find it I'm sure.
Shen Jiutai scratches her head, and makes a note, "Damn, that critter can put it away..."
Xiao Li Marshall: Maybe the guy knows how to lure it out?
Rae Overholt Gets up and decides to look for Dana, "We'll check with him if she cant get it. I'm going to find her."
Shen Jiutai takes the list forward in search of Rae, finding her in the hallway...
Shen Jiutai: "I've got a list of food-stuffs, any requests?
Rae Overholt stops short as Shen comes up to her, "Hey, um. Looks like we need more rice. Otherwise nothin specific."
Xiao Li Marshall shouts from the cockpit, "Something that the gorram rodents can't get into!"
Shen Jiutai nods, "Yeah, I got that..."
Shen Jiutai looks back to the cockpit, and with a slight roll of her eyes, "OK, whatever you say Xiao Li."
Rae Overholt: I can't think of anything I'm craving more than any other time. Don't know what creds we got to stock up. Might have to conserve a bit just in case. Ask the others maybe? But be realistic?
Shen Jiutai turns to follow Rae towards the Cargo Bay. "Yeah, until pappy pays us for his daughter, things are tight, we should prolly look for some simple cargo runs for a spell."
Rae Overholt: Yeah, that wouldn't hurt.
Rae Overholt enters the cargo area and looks around, "Dana! Front and center!"
Shen Jiutai: "I'll just go make one last check of the list... " Shen heads back up the stairs.
Dana Maelstrom, surprised and a little excited, pops up straight, a little confused, "Um, Hi?"
Dana Maelstrom: "Where is the front?"
Rae Overholt: Any word on that third space hamster?
Rae Overholt points in front of herself at the walkway.
Dana Maelstrom looks at the cage, "I think I heard him... but I think Nigel's keeping him hiding."
Rae Overholt: well stow the cat, find the hamster then.
Dana Maelstrom stands and walks over to Rae, fidgeting and looking awkward.
Dana Maelstrom nods, "Um, How does one 'Stow' a cat?"
Luke Hu: its called a locker
Luke Hu: :P
Dana Maelstrom a bit confused, but not wanting to look stupid, smiles and wanders off in search of Nigel.
Luke Hu: or an airlock
Luke Hu: either way...
Shen Jiutai grins at Li Mei as she reenters the Galley.
Shen Jiutai: Any special requests while I'm restocking?
Li Mei looks up at Shen as she walk in, "No, I don't think so. What are you grinning about?"
Shen Jiutai: Just bein' all plesant-like, I could grouse like the pilot, if'n ya like...
Li Mei laughs, "No, I think one grump is enough."
Shen Jiutai goes back into the pantry and starts examining the supplies on the lower shelves.

*There's that scurrying sound that's become all too common over the last day and a bit, as Shen is back in the pantry. A greyish-looking fuzzy lil' head pops up over the can of 'Merc Killer' pears... And there's a smug-sounding 'wheek!' before there's a metallic scraping.*

Li Mei shouts, "Shen! Look out!"
Shen Jiutai takes the can to the small of the skull, and passes out cold.
Li Mei jumps up from her seat and goes to check on Shen
Xiao Li Marshall turns in her seat. What was that loud 'clunk' from the galley?
Li Mei shouts for the dcotor, "Dr. Hu! Could you come here please, we've had an accident."
Luke Hu stands down in the cargo bay completely oblivious to the drama unfolding just several feet above him
Luke Hu: on my way
Luke Hu heads up to the galley.
Li Mei gets up and walks over to the sink, looking around for a rag
Shen Jiutai is lying face down in the pantry, a dented can of pears rolling nearby. The shopping list is still clutched in her hand, and a small bead of drool begins to form at the corner of her mouth.
Li Mei finds a rag, wets it in the sink, and kneels back down by Shen, wiping the drool off her mouth
Dana Maelstrom climbs the back stairway and heads aft, looking for Nigel.
Li Mei checks Shen's head for any signs of bleeding while waiting for the doctor to arrive

*Nigel is helpful! He peeks out of his corner to pad over towards Shen and... flops out across her backside.*

Li Mei shoos Nigel away
Luke Hu enters the galley and moves over to Shay's lifeless body lying limp on the floor. Her life force slowly ebbing away. I lift her in my arms and shake a fist to the heavens and cry out WHY? WHY? WHHHHHY?
Luke Hu then notices she is breathing
Luke Hu breathes a sigh of relief, lays her back down gently and says
Luke Hu: Yeah...um ..shes out cold
Xiao Li Marshall raises an eyebrow. Dramatic much, Doc?

*Nigel just whines at Li Mei- But the Doctor's ham and cheese scares 'im away towards Dana.*

Li Mei scowls at Dr Hu, "Help me get her up into a chair"
Dana Maelstrom hears the commotion in the common room and makes her way forward, to rubberneck.
Luke Hu:
Luke Hu: Lifts her eyes and pulls out light pen and shines light and watches pupils contract to light
Luke Hu: She might have a concussion. We should get her to med-bay
Li Mei: I'll help you take her down there.
Dana Maelstrom notices, in the midst of all of this, that Nigel is in the pantry, so she decides that that's as good a place as any to 'stow' him., so she shuts the door, not thinking that Ninjaster might be in there as well.

*Nigel gives a startled yowl! - Then starts purring for some reason.*

Shen Jiutai is carried down the stairs, head lolloing from side to side as Luke decends.
Li Mei follows Dr. Hu and the floppy, unconscious Shen to the medbay
Li Mei: "Watch her head, you don't want to give her a second concussion"
Luke Hu brings her into med-bay and sets her down on the table
Luke Hu begins checking her vitals
Li Mei suddenly realizes Dr. Hu didn't see what happened, "Oh, a can of food fell out from the pantry and hit her on the head."
Li Mei: "It was a big can."
Luke Hu: Ah
Li Mei: It was the strangest thing, the can just kind of slid off the shelf and fell. Almost like it was pushed.
Luke Hu: That explains the the GREEN GIANT logo imprinted on her forehead
Luke Hu: Thought she pissed off a Corporation and they altered her skull to mark her
Dana Maelstrom , after watching Shen being carted away with some concern, decides to move forward, on her hands and knees, looking for the last hamster.
Li Mei looks at the doctor like he's lost his mind
Dana Maelstrom crawls up towards the cockpit, making "shh...shhh" noises.
Rae Overholt follows everyone to the medbay and pokes her head in, "What in the diyu happened?"
Li Mei looks over at Rae as she walks in, "A can fell of the shelf and knocked her out."
Li Mei: "If I didn't know better, I'd say something pushed it off the shelf"
Shen Jiutai begins to snore, rather loudly.
Xiao Li Marshall shifts in her seat in the cockpit, idly wondering what everyone else is up to.
Rae Overholt: A can fell.... Is she okay??? Ahhh DIYU! ::she turns and rushes upstairs to the galley, figuring they have shen well in hand. She bursts in and spots dana yelling,:: "It's in the pantry!!"
Dana Maelstrom looks up in fright, "But that's where I put Nigel!"
Rae Overholt dashes over to the pantry and then looks at dana, not about to open it without dana there to catch whatever flies out.
Dana Maelstrom stands and runs to follow Rae.

*From inside the pantry, there's that contented purring sound...*
*- Loud, too. Can hear it clear through the doors!*

Rae Overholt frowns, "Well, guess we'll just have to see" ::she reaches out and puts her hand on the doors then gives Dana a nod to let her know to get into position::
Dana Maelstrom looks at Rae with a combination of shock and horror.
Dana Maelstrom squats by the door, waiting.
Rae Overholt snatches the doors open, hoping to surprise whatever is inside and get it before it can come flying outside. She automatically reaches for Nigel and hopes Dana gets ninja.

*Inside...! - A sleek (for a hamster) grey rodent is curled up with Nigel's tail around it, one paw resting on the cat's nose, both apparently sleeping. At least until the door comes -flying- open. Both critters freeze and stare at the humans in surprise.*

Dana Maelstrom gasps.
Rae Overholt freezes in her reach and blinks before choking out a laugh and reaching for Ninja.
Dana Maelstrom reaches down and gently picks up the Hamster, petting Nigel behind the ear, and giving a puzzled look to Rae.

*Shock! Horror! - And fleeing! Ninjamster abandons Nigel, who's just a little -too- slow to avoid Rae, and -scampers- straight out! - Towards the bridge and the apparently bored Xiao Li...*

Xiao Li Marshall is playing Tetris on the console screen and not paying any attention to the happenings in the galley
Rae Overholt sighs and puts the cat back down.
Dana Maelstrom goes to follow the hamster to the bridge, "Have you seen...?" she starts to ask Xiao Li.
Rae Overholt closes the pantry, leaving Nigel in for the time being and goes back to check on Shen, "You catch it Dana"
Xiao Li Marshall: mm? Seen what?
Dana Maelstrom is quiet, looking and listening.
Xiao Li Marshall: What's goin' on?

*From somewhere up above... Ninjamster wheeks in a brief panic, before -plopping- right onto Xiao Li's screen, looking kinda stunned.*

Xiao Li Marshall jerks away from the screen with a yelp of surprise
Dana Maelstrom blurts out, in a rapid fire... "Well first this guy, oh here he is..." She goes to quickly pick him up.

*The last of the furry troublemakers finally goes quietly. Nothing like slipping off the overhead cables to settle a critter down!*

Dana Maelstrom continues, "First he knocked Shen out, then I shut the door with nigel inside, then the captain said he was in there with Nigel, then we found them sleeping together, then he ran out here..."
Dana Maelstrom looks at the grey hamster and grins, "Come on, let's find your friends, and some food too, you'd like that Hmmm?"
Dana Maelstrom heads down to the cargo bay to 'stow' the new hamster, forgetting completely about Nigel in the pantry.
Rae Overholt pokes her head back in the medbay, "So, update?"
Shen Jiutai drools and snores some more.
Xiao Li Marshall stares at Dana's retreating back for a long moment.
Xiao Li Marshall rises from her seat and stalks toward the galley. "I am WAY too sober for this goushi."
Li Mei looks up as Rae walks in, "Yes, she's out cold"
Luke Hu: Dabs forhead with cloth....She is still out but alright for now
Dana Maelstrom heads toward her bunk, carrying the hamster cage, looking to find a secure place to stow it, knowing that they will be arriving at Hera any minute.
Rae Overholt: well, everyone get secured we're getting close to Hera and we should be landing soon.
Li Mei finds a seat just outside the medbay and straps in

Meanwhile on Hera, Arex Koltai continues to scan the sky from behind his cover, waiting for the sight of an approaching ship

Xiao Li Marshall stops just as she's about to pour herself a glass of Scotch. Oh, yeah, that's right, she's supposed to be *driving*!
Luke Hu: secures Shay and holds on
Xiao Li Marshall gallops up the fore corridor and hops into the pilot's seat just in time to start the entry sequence.
Rae Overholt secures herself in the cargo bay, leaning back and looking at the ceiling, thinking.

*And... No anti-aircraft rockets fire out from supposedly abandoned warehouses, no interceptors swoop in over the horizon... No random bits fall off of the ship... Though that dented-up can of pears goes rolling down the stairs. Thump-ump-ump!*

Xiao Li Marshall: Touching down in 3...2...1...
Xiao Li Marshall touches the ship down gently
Rae Overholt unbuckles as soon as they land and goes to get Dana. "Dana, grab your gear. You're here."
Arex Koltai watches the firefly touch down safely, but stays stationary and watches the horizon.
Dana Maelstrom looks up, "OK, Um... did anyone call Dr Miles?"
Rae Overholt: You can do it yourself.
Dana Maelstrom nods and looks around, "Um, which cortex terminal should I use?"
Rae Overholt nods towards the cockpit, "That one, make it secure with xiao li"
Li Mei unbuckles and returns to the medbay to see if Shen is still out
Dana Maelstrom heads up to the Cockpit, "Captain says I need a secure terminal to call Dr. Miles."
Arex Koltai satisfied, stands up and walks to the firefly's cargo door, keeping an eye on the surroundings
Xiao Li Marshall: Okay, deng yi mao...
Xiao Li Marshall steps over to the copilot's console and types in a complex sequence of characters.
Xiao Li Marshall steps back. "She's all yours."
Dana Maelstrom punches in the cortex address of her friend, and former testor at the Blue Sun facility on Osiris. She waits impatiently for someone to answer.
Arex Koltai tightens his lips at the still-closed doors, thinking to himself, 'Don't invite me in, I prefer to stay out here as sniper bait...' He takes his kukri out of its holster and absently runs his left thumb over the edge of the blade.

*The signal goes out... Goes out... - And returns with an 'address has been disconnected' automated message.*

Dana Maelstrom looks at Xiao Li, then back at the screen, "Wha? I don't understand... I'm sure I put it in correctly..." She reenters the address.
Xiao Li Marshall's expression is grim. "I'm thinkin' it's not our end that's the problem, girl."
Arex Koltai steps up onto the ramp and looks over the console and pounds his fist against the "Call" button
Rae Overholt heads down to the cargo bay and exits by the side door, not bothering to open the main hanger doors. She looks around at the location for anything amiss.
Xiao Li Marshall pulls down the ship's comm. "Cap'n, I think we got a problem..."
Dana Maelstrom: But I don't understand, this was the only way I knew contact her...
Xiao Li Marshall: Who else knew where she was located?
Rae Overholt doesnt respond to the ships com but stares at the man pounding on her ships call button, "Needing some help there Mr.?"

*And of course, the guy looks Military, and has a big knife...*

Dana Maelstrom begins to panic, slowly her breath quickens, her heart rate speeds up, "No one!!! She was afraid! She thought someone was out to hurt her!"
Arex Koltai raises his eyebrow and turns to face Merasu, "...Koltai. I am here to escort your cargo."
Xiao Li Marshall: And she was probably right.
Rae Overholt: "Doesn't ring a bell. " ::she eyes him steadily, taking in the hardware::
Arex Koltai returns his knife to his holster, and responds cryptically, but with a smile, "I would hope not."
Dana Maelstrom starts to totally freak out... "But if she's hurt... then I'll get sick... alot of people will die!"
Rae Overholt: "fraid I can't help you then."
Arex Koltai narrows his eyes slightly, trying to figure out if he is being tested or not, "I am to escort one Dana Maelstrom to Sarah Miles...does that clear up anything?"
Xiao Li Marshall: Calm down. Is there *any* other means of getting in contact with this woman?
Rae Overholt: Depends, who is Sarah Miles?
Rae Overholt: and, you got any proof?
Dana Maelstrom curls up into a fetal position in the chair, hugging her knees, "No" her voice is quiet, subdued, distant
Arex Koltai parses his lips and juts his jaw off to the side, "...perhaps you should ask Dana if the name is familiar."
Rae Overholt: Uh huh. Wait here. ::she marches back in and up to the cockpit and looks at Dana:: "Do you know a Koltai who might be escorting you to Sarah Miles?"
Xiao Li Marshall sighs.
Arex Koltai rubs the bridge of his nose and inserts an unlit cigarette into his mouth, bringing out a lighter to ignite the item.
Dana Maelstrom: "K...Koltai?" She looks confused, "Does he know where Dr. Miles is?"
Dana Maelstrom: Her address is disconnected!
Rae Overholt: So he says. You want to risk it or not? Your call.
Dana Maelstrom begins to look more hopeful, like she's being brought back from the grave, "He knows where she is?" "Does he look trustworthy?"
Arex Koltai absently picks something out of his teeth with his fingers in a very un-couth way
Dana Maelstrom once again places her life in Rae's hands.
Rae Overholt not in the least, but then again, who does nowdays. Let's give it a go. I'll come with.
Dana Maelstrom gets to her feet, her legs still a little shaky, and follows Rae.
Arex Koltai sighs audibly. At least in the Xi Detachment he didn't have to deal with escort missions.
Rae Overholt makes her way back down to the cargo with Dana in tow, along with her things and out to the Koltai feller waiting for them.
Arex Koltai turns and ambles back out into the open, scanning the surroundings again as he waits
Luke Hu continues tending to Shay
Dana Maelstrom glances back at Raven, and with a small sigh and heads towards the docks outside.
Rae Overholt: I could have snuck right up on you and shot you, what kind of escourt are you?
Arex Koltai holds up his hand to Rae as he focuses on the surrounding land, "...quiet..."
Rae Overholt raises an eyebrow and waits, wondering if the ninja next to her senses something. She'd almost ask about his spidey sense if she had any clue about that old earth movie. Instead she continues to watch him.
Arex Koltai places his hand on the knife holster, flexing his fingers as he does so.
Arex Koltai: ...we aren't alone here
Rae Overholt places her own hand on her gun, flexing those fingers, "Nope, imagine we aren’t. You've been here waiting, what else is here?"
Arex Koltai frowns slightly as he inhales on the cigarette deeply
Arex Koltai exhales and responds tersely, "Someone who was here before me...."
Shiro Jiagu apears out of nowhere, getting the drop on Arex, he grins at Rae and Dana, "Well what have we here? and look who's brought her to my world!"
Shiro Jiagu's eyes linger on the necklass around Rae's neck, "Long time no see, mei mei."
Rae Overholt crinkles her nose, looking a bit disgusted. Rolling her eyes she gets ready to dismiss him, "Oh, him."
Rae Overholt curses.
Xiao Li Marshall shifts restlessly in her seat. She's happy to have Dana off the ship, but things still aren't exactly shiny...
Rae Overholt spits.
Rae Overholt looks at Koltai and says, "Some escort you are."
Arex Koltai tightens his lips as the unseen people come out of the very cover he had been watching absently. God damn escort missions....

Dinner is served?

Rae Overholt makes her way to the common room

Li Mei is passed out on top of the table

Xioa Li Marshall freezes as the lights die. "...I didn't do it."

Shen Jiutai is cursing in the darkness and fumbling around for something that produces light.

Rae Overholt is staying absolutely still so as not to damage any body parts or step on anything furry and squeakish.

Xioa Li Marshall pulls her goggles down and turns them on. A soft green glow emanates from them. "Okay, deng yi mao, I think I c'n fix this..."

Rae Overholt kneels by the grate, waiting for a sign of a spark or a light or something to navigate by.

Shen Jiutai curses "Why DID we bring that gorram cat on board? to get these ruttin' things? does he? NO!!!"

Shen's fingers brush across one of the small furry invaders, but it's moving quickly towards the spilled rice. - And judging by the patter of tiny feets, so are the rest of the mobile ones. There's a bit of a scraping sound as they raid the fallen wok for rice, wheeking in victory.

Li Mei begins to stir awake, groaning

Xioa Li Marshall fumbles in the tangle of wires, trying to find the one she pulled out

Gabriel Keats tilts his head. "They're about as cute as the gorram cat..."

Rae Overholt: If you can catch it you can keep it, Gabe.

Rae Overholt: Hell, get us out of this and I might grapple with you tonight.

Xioa Li Marshall: Anybody wanna rescue our dinner or are we gonna have to eat the rodents?

Rae Overholt: Shen's closest! I cant SEE to rescue!

Li Mei comes fully awake and sits up quickly, slapping at her legs to see if the hamster is still there

Gabriel Keats finds himself suddenly motivated. He stalks over to the sound of scrabbling claws. "Are these tame? D'you have any seeds, Shen?"

Xioa Li Marshall: She has the gorram RICE. That's what they've been eating!

Shen Jiutai pulls her katana out of it's sheath and swings in the dark towards where she thought the rice landed.

Scrabble scrabble- CLANGWHEEKSCREECH! - The end of the katana hits the wok- But doesn't slow it down enough to keep it from going through one of the softer targets.

Rae Overholt winces, hearing the swish of the blade and figuring if she hit one that the rice was a goner.

Gabriel Keats: "Ni tamade tianxia suoyou de ren dou gaisi!" He jumps backwards.

Xioa Li Marshall: HA! Got it! ....now if I can just work out where it was *plugged in*...

Li Mei brings her knees up to her chest and wraps her arms around them, and rocks back and forth, "Let me know when they're all dead. I'll be on the table cowering."

Gabriel Keats: "You nearly cut me in two!"

Rae Overholt stumbles over to Xiao li, holding out her wrist and pressing a button to light up its display, "Not much help am I?"

Gabriel Keats is perhaps overreacting a little.

Xioa Li Marshall: Xiexie, Cap'n. Point it upward, wouldja? Tryin' ta find the socket this came out of.

Rae Overholt swivels her wrist, aiming the dull illumination up.

Gabriel Keats moves back in--QUICKLY--and scoops up a little pile of the rice. Scatters it in a pile at his feet, keeps his hands splayed just above, listening. Yeah. This is going to work.

Xioa Li Marshall: Hold it right there... for just a... THERE!

Xioa Li Marshall sticks the cable back into what she hopes is the right spot.

Rae Overholt lets out a noise of jubilation.

There's still that warm little furry lump on the table next to Li Mei, though thankfully -that- one isn't moving. There's no more rodent sounds... Though on the other side of the door, the cat is all mewling mournfully at being left out.

And of course, that's when the lights flicker back on due to Xiao Li's tinkering. It's... messy. Half of the gold-and-cream hamster has a forlorn look on its face. - The other half is in Gabe's hand, along with the stained rice. It's leaking, too.

Shen Jiutai pulls her sword back and places it at the base of the cabinets, "Sorry!" she reaches for a lighter and flicks it on, the flame lights some of the carnage.

Gabriel Keats looks down at his hands. Looks back up at Shen. Whistles in awed appreciation.

Rae Overholt stands up, nose crinkling at the surprise in Gabe's hand.

Xioa Li Marshall looks back at the murder scene behind her and cringes. "Suddenly I ain't so hungry."

Rae Overholt: I don't think I"m going to be able to sleep after this.

Li Mei looks around as the lights come back on and jumps a little on seeing the furry lump next to her

Gabriel Keats: "Can you use these for anything?"

Xioa Li Marshall: Okay, let's try this again. I think *this* wire controls the doors...

Xioa Li Marshall carefully disconnects a different wire

Shen Jiutai grins as she picks up the sword and wipes it clean, "The places I've lived, heck in the war we ate rats..."

Xioa Li Marshall: 'kay, try opening the door now.

The bandit-masked hamster by Li Mei... Is still stunned. But, if one looks closely enough, is still breathing! - And the doors 'ka-chunk' as the safety lock disengages between the sides.

Gabriel Keats: "They're kinda cute when they're all intact."

Shen Jiutai walks to the table and grabs the "hamster" by the scruff of the neck.

Li Mei shudders as she gets a close look at the little beastie

Rae Overholt: tries to open the door with the panel, waiting for results.

Shen Jiutai picks up one of it's little paws and waves it at Lena, "Anyone still hungry?"

Rae Overholt: AH no way!

Gabriel Keats: "If you're gonna make it wave, it ain't gonna be dinner. . ."

Li Mei scoots back on the table away from Shen and the hamster and shakes her head

Li Mei: Get it away from me!

Gabriel Keats mutters. "It's just a gorram pet. . ."

Xioa Li Marshall: Wonder if we could get any money for these li'l hun dans on the black market.

Rae Overholt: For what? pets? Food?

Shen Jiutai: "Black- Market Hamsters?"

Xioa Li Marshall: Hell, I don't care.

The -panel- is non responsive, due to all the fiddling. But the cat claws at the door on the other side. Scraaaape. With a 'let me in!' mowl.

Gabriel Keats: "There's more meat on the cat."

Gabriel Keats rubs his temples.

Rae Overholt peers out the window and looks down at the cat, "Gorram varmit"

Xioa Li Marshall: Oh for--

Xioa Li Marshall steps sideways and shoves the doors apart

Li Mei: I don't care what you do with them either .. as long as they don't have anything to do with me.

The doors open! Angels chorus! - Well, not really, but the cat bolts for the free meal of hamster-head on the floor over there...

Rae Overholt aims a kick at the cats posterior as it flys past.

Shen Jiutai: Any ideas? I'm sure Kevin would love to make a cage... with a little exercise wheel...

Gabriel Keats gives it the hamster-ass, too

Xioa Li Marshall: Oh sure, and NOW the cat starts doin' its job.

Rae Overholt: Now, how many do you think are left?

The feline purrrrs (and sheds) all over Gabe's leg with the offering, taking it back to the corner to start noisly chomping at it.

Li Mei: Ewww!

Xioa Li Marshall cocks her head to one side, listening to the scrabbling sounds still echoing through the ship

Rae Overholt: Maybe we need a new cat?

Shen Jiutai: Mabye they just had a litter...

The sounds are rather faint, now... But, they -sound- like they're coming from the 'guest' quarters section. Maybe?

Gabriel Keats: "Or a better mousetrap. . .how in the gorram hell is it gonna have a litter if there's nothing for it to rut with?"

Xioa Li Marshall: ...somethin' tells me we oughta check on our 'patient.'

Rae Overholt: Who's going to do that?

Rae Overholt looks around, "Li Mei?"

Gabriel Keats: "Couldn't we just open the gorram door?"

Li Mei shakes her head vigorously back and forth, "No way! I'm not moving from here!"

Rae Overholt: Ok, Ok, I'll go do it. ::she heads for the now open dow, making her way downstairs for the guest quarters:: ((but stays here so she can hear))

A shreak is heard echoing up the stairway from the passenger dorm.

Rae hops down the stairway, going in the direction of the shriek. She is now somewhat enjoying this as evidenced by the big grin on her face.

Shen Jiutai walks to the galley, places the hamster in a jar, and starts to clean up the spilled rice and hamster bits.

Xioa Li Marshall sighs. "I'd better go check an' make sure they haven't chewed the engine apart..."

Xioa Li Marshall tromps toward the engine room

Li Mei looks over at Shen cleaning up, "I'd offer to help, but .. I'm not going to."

Rae stops in her travel, hitting a com on the way down, "Gabe? bring me some rice?"

Gabriel Keats scoops up a handful from the floor silently, jumps down the steps and clatters over to where Rae is standing

Gabriel Keats kneels down, makes what he assumes are hamster noises

Shen Jiutai curses under her breath in a collection of expressions fit for the dock-yards as she tidys up her galley.

Xioa Li Marshall sighs and starts gathering the tools up off of the floor. "Kevin's gonna have *kittens*..."

Dana Maelstrom shrieks again and pounds on her door<"What the?!!!! LET ME OUTTA HERE!!! there's something in here with me!!"

Rae would be all to happy if Kevin had kittens, apparently more are needed. She taps on the locked door and tries to speak to Dana, "Hey we got hampsters, dont go all reaver on us in there over it okay? If you can catch some and keep 'um still for us we'd appreciate it." ::she holds out her hand for the rice and decides to scatter it near the closest vent, after wrenching the cover off. She then stands back waiting::

Dana Maelstrom: Catch one??? What the??? It's in here with me!!!!

Rae Overholt: Well, CATCH IT!

Gabriel Keats: "Do you have any luggage, Dana?"

Dana Maelstrom kicks at the pile of clothes strewn about the cabin floor, "Are you NUTS!!!???"

Dana Maelstrom: Luggage, Yeah I had time to pack as I got in that escape pod...

Rae Overholt: well can you at least count them for us????

Gabriel Keats: "Well, you are a woman."

Rae elbows Gabe at that comment.

Shen Jiutai snorts, "I loaned her a few things."

Gabriel Keats gives Rae a "what" look.

Gabriel Keats: "Do you have anything you can slam down around it?"

Rae rolls her eyes and looks back to the closed door. "Well? How many?"

Dana's quarters: Though it's hard to hear over the shouting and pounding, there's a, well, -tiny- wheeking sound from under some of the laundry. And... Dana's second-best underthings go scurrying towards the other side of the room! -- Of course, the sound of all this echoes up into the engine room, for Xiao Li's amusement during the clean-up. - How'd they get teeth-marks into a screwdriver?! -- Scraaaape, scraaaape. Bandit-mask hamster is awake! And is pawing at the glass barrier about him

Dana Maelstrom pounds at te door with increasing urgency, "Will someone over-ride the lock down and let me out?"

Shen Jiutai picks up the jar and looks at the 'prisoner'

Gabriel Keats: "It's just a gorram hamster!"

Rae bluffs, hoping that xiao li is working on that as quickly as she can, "We're getting there, but we want those hampsters stopped first and you are our last line of defense. Go get 'um hampster girl!"

Dana Maelstrom: Hamster? We've had hamsters onboard the ship the whole time?

Li Mei shudders again, "I hate small furry things!"

Gabriel Keats mouths to Rae, "Hamster girl?"

Dana Maelstrom remembers the hamsters she had as a little girl, which wasn't that long ago.

Rae shrugs her shoulders and gives him a 'help me out' look as she jerks her head towards the door.

Xioa Li Marshall tosses the last wrench into the toolbox and slaps the comm control. "Everything's shiny back here--what the HELL are you guys doin' down there?"

Rae presses the com and says, "Hampster hearding, you working on the override yet?"

Dana Maelstrom sits on the floor making "Shhh-Shhhh" noises as she methodically lifts each piece of clothing.

Xioa Li Marshall: Almost...

Xioa Li Marshall reaches down beneath the engine and fumbles for the panel where the hard reset switch is located

Gabriel Keats: "C'mon, girl. Bet you can catch at least one. Can name 'em after."

Dana Maelstrom sees her panties start to move, she slowly aproaches them and gently cups her hand over the small, white scared hamster underneath.

Rae dashes off to find a container for the ones dana may manage to catch. She comes back hauling an empty cargo container about the size of a large fish tank and sets it outside dana's door.

Xioa Li Marshall flips the panel open and pokes the switch

Dana Maelstrom: "there there she says as she holds the petrified rodent, "Ain't you a cutie!"

Gabriel Keats: "What color is it?"

The cat decides to be helpful- While leaving behind a half-eaten hampster rump -right- on the rug- And leaps up onto the counter, scrabbing a bit to get his furry pi gu over the edge. The bandit-mask is trying to give Shen the 'I'm cute, don't eat me!' eyes... But that turns into panic when being stared at by Nigel, and tries to push the jar over! Escaaaaape! -- There's a skittering from the vent while Rae dashes off- Hey, some of the rice is missing! Unless Gabe is -really- fast... -- The klaxon braps once when Xiao Li hits the switch- Then ker-chunks come from all the doors about the ship, as they once more allow free movement.

Gabriel Keats tries to grab the hamster. Misses.

Dana Maelstrom: thank Budda

Gabriel Keats: "Gorramit, STAY STILL."

Xioa Li Marshall shouts "Okay, I think we're good!"

Rae flips the lid of the cargo container open, "Ok, load 'um up. Dana, looks like you're in charge of hampster rescue."

Shen Jiutai rolls her eyes, "Gorram cat! at least do your job all proper-like this time!"

Mocking hamster sounds come from the vents, going towards the other end of the ship... Dana's captive is trembling all over, though! Not nearly as brave as the other compatriots.

Xioa Li Marshall scrabbles her way back out from under the engine.

Dana Maelstrom opens her door and gently lowers the hamster into the box, "I used to have a white one like you, her name was Snowflake."

Shen Jiutai swats Nigel away, "Hey this 'uns mine!!"

Nigel is affronted! Rebuffed, he lifts his tail in Shen's direction and goes back to 'his' meal.

Something- about the box freaks out the little white hammy- Maybe it smells off? Either way, it tries scrabbling up Dana's arm.

Li Mei looks over at Shen as she swats at Nigel, "You're not keeping that thing are you?"

Li Mei's stomach grumbles loudly

Xioa Li Marshall pokes her head back into the kitchen. "Everything shiny in here?"

Dana Maelstrom catches the hamster and holds it up to her face, something transports her back to a happy childhood on Newhall, where life was simple, "Oo don wanna go inna box, do oo?"

Li Mei: As long as there are no hamsters on the table, I'm shiny.

Rae frowns as she watches the hampster crawl up Dana's arm, "Well you find a spot for it and all its friends. Let me know when you catch them all."

Dana Maelstrom: What?

Xioa Li Marshall: I'ma go check the cockpit, make sure everything's still intact.

Dana Maelstrom: how many is "All?"

Xioa Li Marshall heads across the galley to the opposite door, not waiting for a response.

Rae Overholt: We don't know but I heard them in this vent here. ::she kicks the open vent next to dana's door::

Shen Jiutai places 'Bandit' on a high shelf, out of Nigel's reach, "You know, they ate Guinnea pigs on Earth that Was, I think I have a few recipies..."

Shen Jiutai: Spice 'um right... they're kinda scrawny, though...

Shen Jiutai: these things, I mean.

Li Mei groans, "Oh wonderful. Now I'm going to starve."

Li Mei: I am not eating a furball!

Shen Jiutai: Well, I'll take the fur off first won't I

Xioa Li Marshall tentatively pokes her head into the cockpit, afraid of what she might find there.

Shen Jiutai looks at Li Mei as if she were stupid.

Li Mei: You can take the fur off .. but that doesn't change the fact that it's a furball.

In the cockpit... It's terrible! The horror! - The only damage seems to be that the comms are receiving the Best of Blue Sun infomercial stream. And it's on that -really- annoying one.

Xioa Li Marshall: ...SON of a...

Dana Maelstrom picks up one of the T-shirts on the floor that has her scent on it and places it in the box with one hand, then resumes stroking 'Whitie' under the chin, and calming it down.

Dana Maelstrom tries again, slowly lowering the hamster into the box, "There, is that better?"

Xioa Li Marshall leans under the console and starts reconnecting loose wires, cursing under her breath.

Shen Jiutai surveys the damage overall, inspects Nigel's progress on the but end, and finds the rest of the hamster and tosses it in his direction.

Shen Jiutai goes to the sink to wash her hands before attempting to salvage what's left of dinner.

Li Mei looks around the galley, scanning for anymore live hamsters roaming around

The white hamster finally submits to her capture, all snuggled up in warm/safe. Oh, how little she knows... -- The wok's a little dented, and the rice was all over the floor and/or bled on, but other than that...! Nigel keeps doin' what he does. Which is be a lil' pig, apparently. -- Annnnd, up on the bridge, the damage is easily fixed, at least. More of just furry menaces running around than actually chewing.

Li Mei decides it's safe, and climbs down off the table

Shen Jiutai curses as she finds the dent in the wok, she immediately pulls her katana out and inspects the edge.

There's a slight skittering sound in the ducts, but it sounds like it's from a central point somewhere. And isn't really going anywhere...

Li Mei begins to relax and takes a seat

Dana Maelstrom grins as 'Whitie' settels into the crate. Shanding she approaches Rae, "Where DID these things come from, anyway?"

Xioa Li Marshall connects the last wire, and breathes a sigh of relief as the infomercial babble cuts off.

Shen Jiutai: satisfied that no damage occurred to her weapon, she re-sheaths it and starts dinner over from scratch.

Rae shrugs and gives her a 'ya got me' look before again asking, "So you round up as many as you can catch ok?"

Dana Maelstrom grins, happy to have something to do, and feeling useful and *almost* as if she is a part of the crew, "OK."

Rae nods and turns to head back up to the cabin, "We probably got one upstairs you can get from shen too."

Dana Maelstrom: Really?

Dana Maelstrom follows Rae up the stairs, beaming.

Rae nods and continues, going through the galley and into the walkway to the cockpit, she calls out, "Xiao Li, whats the status?"

Xioa Li Marshall: Got 'er back up and running on this end, Cap'n!

Rae Overholt: Shiny, we can head on out to our destination then?

Xioa Li Marshall: Dang ran, jus' lemmie make sure we're still on course.

Dana Maelstrom approaches Shen tentatively, "Um, the Captain said you might have another..."

Shen Jiutai ignores Dana as she busies herself with dinner.

Xioa Li Marshall taps a few controls to correct for the drift. "We're good!"

Dana Maelstrom swallows, blushes and sits next to Li Mei.

Xioa Li Marshall: ...if any o' those rats got inta my booze...

Dana Maelstrom noticed the Jar-O-Hamster, but is still quite a bit frightened of the cook, and decides to grin at Li Mei instead.

Rae Overholt: "How far out are we from our destination Xiao Li?"

Li Mei smiles weakly at Dana, "You're not scared of hamsters?"

Xioa Li Marshall: Same as it was 'fore this whole mess started, Cap'n.

Rae sighs, having hoped maybe they'd made it a little farther, "Alright then. Guess we finish finding Hampsters, have some dinner and maybe play some cards."

Dana Maelstrom grins, "Me? no! I love them, I used to have a few on Newhall growing up."

Li Mei nods her head slowly, "I had a friend when I was young who had hamsters. He used to torment me with them. I have a phobia about small furry things"

Xioa Li Marshall sags back in her seat. She's not getting near the galley again for a while.

Shen Jiutai grins, and hides it.

Dana Maelstrom: That's awful!!

Li Mei shrugs, "I got him back. He was scared of blood. I dumped a whole lot of cans of tomato soup into his bed one night. While he was in it"

Dana Maelstrom is shocked, apparently her assessment of Li Mei needs fine tuning.

Dana Maelstrom sighs, any brief feelings she might have had of being a part of this family were dashed by the cold shoulder she received from the cook.

Shen Jiutai looks up at Li Mei's last comment, "Tomatoe Juice! how does a Ragu sauce sound?"

Li Mei's stomach grumbles again, "Oh, that sounds delicious. Um .. unless .. what meat are you serving?"

Shen Jiutai busies herself with the pots and pans, humming to herself, "Why not the basic Blue Sun 'beef flavor' protein?"

Li Mei laughs, "Not the most flavorful meat, but better than hamster."

Li Mei wonders why the doctor's been so quiet through all this commotion

Rae plops down in the copilots chair and props her feet up, staring out at the stars.

Dana Maelstrom shifts nervously in her seat, then stands and looks around, "Anyone have any idea how many of those..". her eyes land on Nigel and his 'treat'

Li Mei shakes her head, "I was too busy being scared senseless to count."

Dana Maelstrom suppresses the urge to vomit and turns away.

Luke Hu: I doubt they've had time to establish a breeding colony

Shen Jiutai chuckles silently at Dana's distress.

Luke Hu: then again the gestation period is 16 days so if any came on board WHILE pregnant...

Dana Maelstrom looks to the Doctor, "Heck, it doesn't take them long to have babies..."

Li Mei shudders, "Oh God no, I hope those things haven't bred here."

Luke Hu: nope

Li Mei looks at the doctor and gives him her best puppy dog look, "I don't suppose you would go check my shuttle and make sure it's hamsterless, would you?"

Luke Hu: so if there is a mother hidden somewhere we will have another pack running aorund in a bout a month

Dana Maelstrom: I can do that for you, unless...

Luke Hu: Sure. I am feeling generous today

Li Mei: Oh thank you, Doctor

Dana Maelstrom glances at the doctor to see if Li Mei is putting the moves on him.

Dana Maelstrom: never-mind.

Luke Hu: gets up and leaves to go to shuttle

Dana Maelstrom: I guess i could look around the rest of the ship, if you people don't mind my looking, that is..

Shen Jiutai ignored Dana again.

Li Mei: That would be up to the captain

Dana Maelstrom: She did want me to catch them.

Dana Maelstrom sighs heavily, and gets up, "well... I'll just start in the Cargo bay, no body would mind that, I'm sure."

Li Mei: I'd offer to help, Dana ... but I think I'm safer here

Dana Maelstrom sighs and stands, leaving the room and descending the stairs crestfallen compared to the way she bounced up them.

The Companion's shuttle is... well, not -really- all that bad. Though there's something rather shiny and purple slightly covered by a corner of blanket. Rather eye-catching, in fact! - Is that glitter?

Luke Hu investigates the shiney object.

Amazing! One might never expect Li Mei to be interested in canine anatomy. Though the rest of the model seems to be missing, with just the phallus there. A rather remarkable recreation... But still. Why the glitter embedded into the surface? Not scientific at all.

Luke Hu carefully replaces the cover, checks the rest of shuttle and leaves.

Shen Jiutai contunies to fix dinner, without any 'special' ingredients.

Li Mei breathes a sigh of relief, "Thank you doctor."

Terrifyin Space ... Rats?

Shen Jiutai rummages through the extra storage in the cargo bay, looking for more flame cubes.

Xioa Li pushes back from the pilot's console, stands, stretches, and walks down to the galley for a pick-me-up.

Li Mei is sitting in the galley, sipping tea and reading a book

Shen Jiutai finds the cubes and collects a handful to take upstairs to the Galley.

Li Mei looks up from her book as Xioa Li walks in

Xioa Li strides over to the cabinet where the Fruity Oaty Bars are stashed. "How was the harem?" she comments as she pulls out a bar and fumbles with the wrapper.

Rae Overholt sits on the work bench in the cargo bay, leaning back and thinking. Her eyes watch Shen as she rummages for fire cubes.

Li Mei laughs, "They were a bit .. inexperienced, I think."

Li Mei: But they'll be ok.

Shen Jiutai walks into the Galley, noticing Li Mei, she grins, "Yeah, they did seem that way, we all were young once."

Li Mei raises an eyebrow at Shen's comment, "Young once? I'm not old yet!"

Li Mei: How far are we from Hera?

Luke Hu: lays down and takes nap on couch

Xioa Li: 'nother day an' a half, so long as we don't run into any more girls what need rescuin'.

Shen Jiutai smirks and pulls the brazer pot from the cupboard and sets it in the middle of the table, seting a cube underneath.

Li Mei laughs

Li Mei takes a sip of her tea and goes back to reading her book

Xioa Li takes a big bite out of the Fruity Oaty Bar and chews pensively.

Li Mei's stomach growls, "Do we have anything to eat other than those disgusting fruit bars?"

Shen Jiutai checks the rice in the cooker and places a wok on the burner, bringing up the gas.

Shen Jiutai: "Dinner will be in about 15 minutes.

Li Mei: Oh, good. Do you need any help?

Shen Jiutai: Nah, I got it covered.

Rae Overholt slowly stands up and makes her way to her bunk, pressing the latch to open the door so she can climb down into it. She closes it once inside and goes to sit on her bunk a moment before leaning over and rummaging under it. She pulls out a small box, opening it and finding a few things inside, mostly rocks of various sizes, collected from all over. There is also a tiny envelope, resting safely atop the rocks, in it there is a chocolate wrapper and a few other scraps of paper. She smiles as she takes it out and holds it between her fingers a moment before sliding it back in. She takes stock of the various rocks, turning them and labeling them again in her head. This one came from, ah yes, and that one..hmm. She mumbles to herself as she works, face frowned in concentration.

Xioa Li: Whaf wrong wif fruit bars?

Li Mei looks up from her book at Xioa Li, "What's wrong with them? What's not wrong with them?"

Rae Overholt shoves her box back under the bunk and stands, stretching before heading to the galley to socialize.

Xioa Li: Hey, I *lived* on this stuff when I was startin' out on my own. Not all of us get a space whore's salary, y'know.

Li Mei: They taste like cardboard and have the consistency of Yak jerky

Li Mei shakes her head and mumbles, "not a whore"

Shen Jiutai pulls out some protein that is made to resemble tofu and throws it into the hot oil at the bottom of the wok.

Rae Overholt plops in a chair and stretches her legs out, "Hey folks, where's our passenger?"

Li Mei looks around and shrugs, "Good question."

Just as Dr. Hu gets comfortable and his eyes close, he feels like something light just -runs- up his leg and chest, and something whisks the air by his face a half-moment later.

Nigel meanders out towards the engine room, tail swishing.

Shen Jiutai: I think she's passed out again.

Rae Overholt: hope this whole thing works out.

Shen Jiutai: that one can sleep...

Li Mei nods, "I do too, captain. It would be nice for things to work out for a change."

Rae Overholt: Buddah wishes I could sleep that well.

Luke Hu looks around to see what it was

Luke Hu looks for the cat

Shen Jiutai pulls some freeze dried vegetables from the cupboard and sets about re-constituting them.

Luke Hu: looks in corridor and stairs

Rae Overholt watches the cat wander out, "hope that cat's smart enough not to get stuck in the engine. I'm not cleanin it if she does."

Luke Hu: leans into medbay looking for source of noise

Xioa Li takes another bite of her Fruity Oaty Bar... then makes a face and spits it out. "What the tian xiao de--?!"

Li Mei laughs, "I thought you liked those?"

In the medbay, a bottle of painkillers, the lid popped off, rolls across the floor, scattering the lil' goodies in a trail behind it.

Luke Hu: closes med bay doors and locks it from outside

Rae Overholt lets out a disgusted sound and reaches back to touch the back of her head, "UGH XIAO LI YOU SPIT ON ME??"

Luke Hu: mumbles that the cat needs to be locked up. Now have proof that it is a hazard

Xioa Li: Sorry, Cap'n, but looks like SOMEbody 'sides me has been eatin' on this...

Luke Hu: Turns from med bay and begins to walk to stairs

Rae Overholt: That's just, gorramit, what does that cat eat??????

Li Mei looks perplexed, "Another good question. Does anyone feed it?"

Xioa Li grimaces at the marks on the other end of the bar. "Not sure it *was* the cat."

There's a low feline growl from the engine room. Followed by a clatter, a YOWL!, and the beastie -bolting- out, down the stairs past Dr. Hu, and to the cargo bay.

Luke Hu: reaches stairs and heads up them to talk to others for someone to get the cat and decide where to lock it up at

Rae Overholt: What the di yu??

Luke Hu jumps as cat flies by

Luke Hu: "What the..."

Xioa Li: ...the hell was that?

Luke Hu: heads up stairs

Li Mei sits up straight, sets down her tea and looks over towards the engine room

Rae Overholt: We got RATS??? WE GOT RATS?? What the hell use is that cat if we got rats?????

Luke Hu: OK. When did we get 2 cats?

Xioa Li raises an eyebrow. "Musta been one ruttin' big rat..."

A socket wrench skitters across the floor of the engine room, spinning with a little grating sound before clunking into the other side.

Li Mei laughs, "Ok, is it another cat? Or big rats?"

Rae Overholt: Someone go check that noise, I'm not going in there, rats disgust me. Li, you do it! ::she grins widely::

Luke Hu: I thought the cat was in the med bay and I closed door and locked it but then the cat came down the stairs

Luke Hu: Rats?

Xioa Li: *I* ain't goin' in there.

Li Mei shakes her head, "Oh hell no, No way am I going in there!"

Luke Hu: If we have rats or even cats rummaging through the medical supplies then THAT has to be addressed immediately

Li Mei stares at Dr. Hu, "Well then, address it!"

The lights flicker for a brief moment, following a soft *FZZT* sound.

Rae Overholt nods, "I'd go check Dr. Hu, and hope they ate some sedatives and not antibiotics"

Rae Overholt: Ohh hell.

Rae Overholt: I'm going to shoot that cat.

Luke Hu: sighs

Rae Overholt: Worthless as tits on a boar hog.

Luke Hu: turns to head back down to med bay

Rae Overholt pulls her gun and heads back towards the engine, not planning on firing it but, having a vague hope it'll make her look intimidating.

The pressure warning goes off, sealing the doors out of the galley. Good ol' safety measures!*

Rae Overholt: Aw hell.

Xioa Li: SON of a--

Rae Overholt looks to Xiao li, "Would that lock Dana in?"

Luke Hu: turns to head through front of galley and through cargo bay to get back to med bay

Li Mei sighs, "This is beginning to get tiresome"

Rae Overholt: Yeah. You want first dibs on the cat?

Xioa Li: If she's still in her room, then yeah. *turns to the doc* IS she still in her room?

Luke Hu: heads to back table and sits

Luke Hu: Last I saw

Rae Overholt: Well, suggestions on how we get out of this? After we eat of course.

Rae Overholt reaches out to stir at whatever Shen was cooking.

Li Mei: I suggest someone get the doors open.

*Flicker. *FZZT* The warning stops, though the doors are still closed. ... Something scritches about in a cabinet under the wok.

Xioa Li: GorRAM it. I better not have to redo all the wiring again.

Rae Overholt kicks the cabinet, not about to open it and reach for a rat.

Rae Overholt: HEY, good news is we got plenty of fresh meat probably.

Rae Overholt kicks the cabinet again, peering nervously down at it.

Li Mei turns around, hearing the noises from the cabinets, "What's in there?"

Xioa Li: It's not THERE anymore, Cap'n!

Rae Overholt: It's not WHERE?

There's a mournful kitty yowl from down in the cargo bay.

Rae Overholt watches the last spot she heard skittering from, still and tense, mumbling to herself about it not being a big rat.

Li Mei looks up, "Oh that doesn't sound good."

Luke Hu: Alright. Everyone into the suits. Draw the breathing air back into the tanks, then break open the airlocks and suck out what ever is running around. It has to breath...right?

Luke Hu: looks ate everyones stunned reaction

Rae Overholt: What could it be? its too small for terrible space monkeys and if it ate everything else I bet it ate holes in our suits.

Luke Hu: Joking!.....

Xioa Li: Yeah, an' so do WE. Suit tanks ain't gonna last a day an'd a half!

Li Mei stares at the doctor in disbelief and shakes her head

*MEEEER! MEER MEER MEER!* - Followed by a scratching at the door leading to the cargo bay.

Xioa Li peers out the window, then looks back. "We got anythin' might be used for a crowbar?"

Rae Overholt holds up a ladle.

Li Mei: I have a crowbar .. but it's in my shuttle

Luke Hu: Do we still have any of that Tack Bread Sticks that we couldn't eat

Xioa Li: ...cap'n, next time we get paid, c'n we budget some money t' get crowbars put in every room?

Li Mei looks at the captain, "And don't ask"

Luke Hu: hard enough to break a frying pan

Rae Overholt: sure, crowbars, grenades and some pop rocks.

Xioa Li: Thought we used the tack bread as ammo.

Luke Hu: Ahh....Well I know we put it to some good use

Xioa Li 's eyes drift toward the paneling next to the door...

... Meeer! Scratch, scratch.

Xioa Li: Hang on. I *might* be able to get that open.

Xioa Li pulls a screwdriver out of her belt and starts to work on opening a panel next to the door

Rae Overholt: Leave that cat's pigu out here till it eats some rats anyway!

Li Mei's brow furrows, "Are we sure it's rats?"

Rae Overholt: Well, what could it be? small hairy children?

Xioa Li manages to get all of the screws loose (ha!) and lifts the panel off to reveal a mess of wires

A tiny little face, with cream-and-gold fur peers -right- at Xiao Li once she gets the panel off. All out of proportion to its size, the critter goes 'WHEEK!'. - Like a very, very loud hamster, really.

Rae Overholt crinkles her nose, then raises her eyebrows, "HEY lets put it in a tank and keep it for a pet!"

Xioa Li yells in surprise, jumps back about six feet, and chucks her screwdriver at the furry thing, all at the same time.

Li Mei: What is it, Xioa Li?

'Wheek!' Skitterskitter. The fuzzy lil' intruder skitters back down in the paneling until it's out of sight.

Rae Overholt contrarily darts forward, belaying her earlier comment about rats freaking her out.

Xioa Li: ...I HAVE NO RUTTING IDEA.

Rae Overholt: Is it a guinea pig?

Rae Overholt: I've heard tell of them?

Rae Overholt: Thought they'd have less hair though.

Xioa Li presses herself against the pillar next to the stove until her heart rate gets back to something approaching normal.

Rae Overholt leans over, peering into the open hatch.

Luke Hu: Theres something by the Wok

Li Mei squeals and jumps up on the table, "Where?!"

Rae Overholt looks at the wiring, making sure there aren't any breaks or spots she can get electrocuted on. She then leans further in, trying to slide the wires away so she can peer in.

Xioa Li jumps back away from the stove

Sitting right in the middle of the cooking rice? Another gold-colored rodent, though it has a black 'mask' of fur covering half its face. And it's holding a glob of your dinner between two paws. Smugly: 'Wheek!'*

Rae Overholt lets out a screech that would shame a banshee before she reaches up, trying to grab whats on her head.

Li Mei looks around the room, rapidly glancing from the wok, to the floor, over to the paneling, and back, "How many are there?"

This one was actually pure black, that landed on Cap'n's head- And -runs- down her back before making a -leap- for the table. ... And running right for that floral-print cover it sees. Which, unfortunately, belongs to Li.*

Xioa Li picks up the ladle from earlier and FLINGS it at the black hamster as hard as she can

Li Mei screams and begins jumping up and down, swatting at the furry black thing

Li Mei: "Get it off!! Get it off!! Get it off!!"

Li Mei's eyes roll back in her head as she faints, falling down onto the table

The black one dodges! It skitters! - It wheeks in panic, before Li Mei faints on top of it. - It doesn't wheek, after that.

Xioa Li scrambles over to the opened panel and yanks on a wire at random, hoping to disengage the door lock...

The lights go out. And the wok topples over with a loud clatter.

Xioa Li: Daxiang baozhashi de laduzi...