Sam’s gut had been twisting since before they’d dusted off from Beylix.

No surprise there.

The tussle in the bar had gone some way to getting his head on straight and allowing him to see the events of the past weeks with a bit more clarity, of course, but, as was the way of the perpetually twitchy, there was always that nagging heaviness in the pit of his stomach that served as a constant reminder that someone, somewhere was out to see him done in and somehow, someday, when he was fool enough to let his guard down a mite too far, they was gonna manage to do it…

The passenger manifest Roc had of late didn’t make his paranoia sit any easier, either. On those rare occasions in the time he’d been driving her that Rocinante had taken on travelers of even the garden variety, Sam had the tendency to be skittish at best; gruff and crude, at worst. This latest batch, to Sam’s way of thinking, included what amounted to little more than an assemblage of lying, conniving politicians (and, with the inclusion of Luke Pearson, murderous, trigger-happy goons) and, in his experience, those were the type of folk one was best advised to steer clear of… being as they’d be the sort most inclined to sell a person’s life right out from under ‘em if the price was right and the palms were greased proper…So, given those perceptions and the fact that none of them had been anywhere near disproved in the weeks between Regina and Beylix, Dash had gotten himself on the tetchy side of twitchy by the time they hot-dropped one of the shuttles, loaded with the Frisco suits and their newly bought, murderin’, wong bah duhn of a lawman, in orbit of Regina and broke off to make the back-run to the Lullabelle Mine.

The pilot’s caginess had throttled back a little since that drop off…

Nothin’ but crew left on board… outsiders outside where they belong… ‘cept fer Andy… don’t figger he’s much an outsider, though, bein’ kin ta Wyatt an’ sech… an’ th’ way him an th’ Cap’re chewin’ th’ fat, I reckon, he’ll be sailin’ wit’ us a spell…
…and he’d even started to get back to bein’ almost respectable company, again; spending less time holed up on the bridge and in his bunk, and more time roaming the ship and interacting with the rest with a more noticeable (if not completely appropriate) civility. By the time Roc was two days out from the mine, Sam had distracted himself enough by imagining the fresh produce that Hawkes, Ryan, and, now, Kora, would likely have available when they roped themselves to the comet that he even seemed to be creeping up on chipper and the twitchiness had ebbed into the background of his personality, again… until, less than a full day out, the engine popped and suddenly left Rocinante adrift in the Black… When that had happened, Sam virtually came unhinged…

*Pop*
“No, no, no! Juh shi suh mo go dohng shee,” he’d exclaimed, first trying to finesse and, then, manhandle some kind of response from the controls. “Aw, gorramit! Ya gotta ruttin’ be strokin’ me,” the tirade continued when none of his efforts proved fruitful and he’d resorted to pounding, kicking, and growling at the yoke and various consoles that surrounded him, “C’mon ya dirty go neong yung duh, lio coh jwei ji neong hur ho deh yung duh buhn jah j’wohn, ta mah de…”

“Someone mind tellin’ me what’s goin’ on?” Wyatt’s voice slipped in through Dash’s tirade…

“Wuo mun duh cao, is what, Cap,” Sam snarled in reply, giving his seat one final kick before abandoning the futile attempts at getting the ship to respond and storming off the bridge, “We’re seriously, ruttin’ humped!!!”

…Twitchy didn’t come trickling back, then, it came crashing back like a tidal wave. It didn’t make any sense for Roc to have shut down the way she had… anything that would’ve caused these kind of problems would have - should have - been picked up while they were docked at Newhouse… and, even if them guild goons had missed something, the way Wolf had taken to hovering over the mechanicals since he’d come aboard to replace Kora left no doubt in Sam’s mistrusting mind that the only thing that could’ve caused all of this was sabotage… he’d felt it even before Wolf and Bowman had gone out to repair the damages … before the suspicious outgoing transmission he had just tried unsuccessfully to jam… and before Andrew had come back inside with the device of their undoing with the red-lipstick-signature on it…

“Here is what we found… nasty device designed to kill us in about 8 days after dustoff” Bowman lifted the scrapper’s gel pack carefully and turned it over showing the lipstick mark, “whomever it was couldn’t resist leaving their calling card.”

Wyatt tilted his head to the right side just a bit as he digested the lipstick mark and the explosive.

For his part, Sam hung his head and shook it slowly… almost shamefully… Gu wo jwo lu, he scowled internally, feeling about an inch tall when he saw it, Ain’t no mistaken them lips, is there? Let yer little head outthink yer big one, din’cha Sammy? Ya dumb sumbitch!…

“Everyone to the bridge, pronto,” Wyatt said into the com as Sam growled something profane under his breath and set back to trying to track the suspicious transmission.

“I don’t think we've got pending visitation no more,” the Cap continued, evoking a short but angry nod from Sam in response, “Seems to me that we was expected to blow, and I'd be willing to bet good credit to gold that the outgoing message we just witnessed was a notification to our saboteur that their little device had been discovered. All the same, keep an eye on the sensors.”

“You got it, Cap. A-holes an’ eyeballs it is, puhn yoh.”



Once everyone arrived, Wyatt very carefully revealed the lipstick to the lot of them.

“This is trouble with a capital T,” he said, scanning the crew with a level eye. “The evidence points to Bridgette in my mind, and that puts Asher at risk. Sam's still checkin' but I believe that a message was sent out by way of a warnin' lettin' our little school marm know her explosives had been disarmed.

If my suspicions are correct, then we need to be prepared for more shenanigans comin' from all angles. Everyone goes armed from this point on. Let's get Rocinante on the move again. I don't take kindly to being set to explodin' and want to get back to Frisco as quick as possible so as I can address this situation proper.

I aim to make trouble now.”

“We’ll get on finishing those repairs,” Bowman said as he glanced at Wolf as he turned to leave, “have things in order shortly Captain.”

Sam nodded again, turning his eyes from the sensors and other instrumentation he’d been monitoring to sweep over Bowman, Wolf and the rest before meeting Wyatt’s gaze… The pilot’s gut told him to run, of course; that this whole situation stunk to high heaven of a conspiracy that he’d be best off just removing himself from all together and, a couple of years ago, Dash might’ve been inclined to do just that very thing. Now, though, Dash wouldn’t be the only one to be affected by a decision to high-tail it out of the frying pan before he fell into the fire… No, he had friends now… family… and the Kid was still suckin’ dirt on Regina; in the fire already… Running wasn’t gonna help none of them, was it? “Trouble ain’t gonna be the half of it, Wyungsung,” he smirked, “a whole lot o’ folk just went an’ gave me a case of th’ I don’ give a s#!ts…

You boys just holler when this girl’s up to runnin’, Wolfy,” he called after Fenris and Bowman, “and we’ll see if’n we can’t set us a gorram speed record gettin’ back to Frisco…”

((OOC: Okay, again, not my best work by far but at least I finally got something posted… Sam, of course, will do whatever he can to help get the boat back in shape but, as I’m reading these last posts, he’d likely be best served monitoring the sensors and the comm. and, probably, trying to figure out a way to cut travel time off the return trip to Frisco and figuring out some sneaky dekey ways about getting Roc around the blockade and planetside on Regina without landing in the arms of a none-too-friendly welcome wagon…))

Willow hurried to the bridge at the Captain's summons, worry and concern wafting from her as easily as her fragrance of jasmine and spice. Once everyone arrived, Wyatt very carefully revealed the lipstick to the lot of them.

"This is trouble with a capital T," he said, scanning the crew with a level eye. "The evidence points to Bridgette in my mind, and that puts Asher at risk. Sam's still checkin' but I believe that a message was sent out by way of a warnin' lettin' our little school marm know her explosives had been disarmed.

"If my suspicions are correct, then we need to be prepared for more shenanigans comin' from all angles. Everyone goes armed from this point on. Let's get Rocinante on the move again. I don't take kindly to being set to explodin' and want to get back to Frisco as quick as possible so as I can address this situation proper.

"I aim to make trouble now."

“We’ll get on finishing those repairs,” Bowman simply said as he glanced at Wolf as he turned to leave, “have things in order shortly Captain.”

You boys just holler when this girl’s up to runnin’, Wolfy,” Sam called after Fenris and Bowman, “and we’ll see if’n we can’t set us a gorram speed record gettin’ back to Frisco…”

Willow had looked at the lipstick stain and didn't bother to fight the anger rising inside. She'd hated her mother's habit of lashing out at whatever was in her way, the histrionics and then the tears and (seemingly) heartfelt pleas for forgiveness, but had to admit the same blood ran her own veins, and that blood was now set to a low simmer.

She hadn't missed Sam's hangdog look hidden behind his usual manic twitchiness - the same look her first lover had when slinking off home to his wife - Sam had been fooling with someone he shouldn't have gone near - a certain red-headed schoolmarm. The question was, what to do about it?

Once the others left to do their bits to get the ship back in order, Wyatt pulled Willow aside. "You got a wave, Willow. Marked urgent. 'Spect you should likely look to it."

Willow seated herself in front of the unit and tapped it to life. The object of her thoughts appeared, the school's chalkboard behind her.

"Well, Miss Willow. I have to say that you completely fooled me. I thought you were just the decoration but you have messed up my plans real good. Oh hello Captain Wyatt! I take it Wolf found my little present for you? Hope you aren't too sore. I did give you plenty of chances to find it - never meant any real harm. Okay Willow - you have the key, I found the door - what do you want to do about it?"

Willow held up a forestalling hand to the Captain and murmured to the pixellated face before her, "One minute, please, Miss Brigitte? "She paused the wave so that Brigitte would see and hear nothing, but know that they were still connected.

"Captain, Sam, I don't often hold to my mother's beliefs, but as she would tell you, sometimes you just have to restore karmic balance. We've been played enough by this little so and so, and I'm of a mind to give karma a bit of a push. Trust me?"

(OOC: Assuming so). Willow waved to the Captain and Sam to move away out of the wave console's lens, and cautioned them to silence. She then turned back to the console and thumbed it live again, her original pose of meek submissive morphed into knowing seductress.

"Now, now, Miss Brigitte, don't be ruining my play with the Captain here and I won't be telling JW about any extracurricular activities, hmm? Your big problem here was sending a boy to do a woman's job. What on earth possessed you to send Jimmy? He was babbling all he knew after a single kiss...not that he knew much. So...I have what you want, and you have what we both want. How about we team up? I'll need to know where to direct the Captain, though...best we not let him near you any time soon. That scrapper's gel was defective, and ate through Wolf's protective gear while he was removing your present. He'll have the use of his hand again, eventually, but the Captain takes attacks on his people seriously."

She shrugged idly and rolled her eyes, vaguely amused at what mattered to some people. She then smiled wickedly and leaned into the console, filling the lens with her lovely face. "So Brigitte, tell me where to send this crew, and we can both be rich!"

Drifting in the Black, Day Eight 2:45 pm Ship Time
"Now, now, Miss Brigitte, don't be ruining my play with the Captain here and I won't be telling JW about any extracurricular activities, hmm? Your big problem here was sending a boy to do a woman's job. What on earth possessed you to send Jimmy? He was babbling all he knew after a single kiss...not that he knew much. So...I have what you want, and you have what we both want. How about we team up? I'll need to know where to direct the Captain, though...best we not let him near you any time soon. That scrapper's gel was defective, and ate through Wolf's protective gear while he was removing your present. He'll have the use of his hand again, eventually, but the Captain takes attacks on his people seriously."

Willow shrugged idly and rolled her eyes, vaguely amused at what mattered to some people. She then smiled wickedly and leaned into the console, filling the lens with her lovely face. "So Brigitte, tell me where to send this crew, and we can both be rich!"

A moment passes and a brief flicker of annoyance passes over Brigitte's face. She knows that Willow isn't telling the truth but she wouldn't tell the truth either given the roles reversed. "Well give Wolfie my sympathies then darling but he must have done something stupid to release the gel. I wrapped that myself." She brushes her hair back, to give herself time to think, "Well once you get yourselves moving again, you and the men can meet me at the mines here on Frisco. Guess where I found the Lucius Newberry? But we need the key to opened the doorway and we need the code. I assume you got both from Benny?"

(Wait Answer)

"Well don't bother with the Ice. I wasn't gonna pay for it and if you got the key and code, then there is no need for the blockade anymore. Just get back as soon as you can."

(Answer)

"And Willow dear? If what I hear was on the LN is half of the truth, it will be more than enough to share so let's not be greedy about this. I don't mind sharing as I am sure Sam will tell you. See you soon Sugar."

Drifting in the Black, Day Eight 2:45 - Day Nine 2:00 am Ship Time
Wolf and Andrew work continuously on the repairs. The aft alternator had to be stripped down completely and each part degreased, cleaned, and separated. It took time but the part was needed to bring full power to the ship. They ran into a small setback when a steel disc that was part of the drive cracked in two in Andrew's hands. But Wolf found a similar disc in an compressor shaft and was able to tool it into the right size and shape. Ma brought them hot coffee and protein paste sandwiches that passed tasteless across their palettes. After seven hours of continuous work, they had the piece back together and in the engine again. Wolf drew the lever down to start the engine spinning and like a Unification day parade, the light came on and the power returned to the ship.

After that they worked on the filaments of the Grav Dampener and between the two of them, it didn't take nearly as long. Steering restored, Sam was able to start plotting a course. He could shave a half day off easily and get them to Regina in 24 hours.

Regina, Frisco, Day Seven, 10:00 pm Planet Time
Asher sat up in bed quickly and pulled on his boots., Ernestina May shifted beside him but felt back to sleep again. Since becoming the temporary sheriff of this town, Asher had no end of bed partners - like the women of the town never saw a fresh face before. But this new Lawman - Luke, he wasn't very keen on the ladies - except Brigit that. He was often seen around her, staring her and not in a good way.

Wasn't interested in Asher's offer to help out or give the lay of the land. Wanted to see and do things himself he had said.

Asher wanted to send a wave to the Captain but the blockade was monitoring transmissions and Asher wasn't sure how to ask the questions without asking the questions. But he was thinking that it would be better to try now.

BLAM. BLAM BLAM BLAM. BLAM.

Gunfire close by? What the ...? A small fear that Asher had suddenly grew rapidly. He'd been sheriff for five days before Luke without drawing a gun once. He scuffled with a few but never a need to draw. What was Pearson thinking?

Drifting in the Black, Day Eight 2:45 pm Ship Time
Always a proponent of privacy, especially in Willow's case, Wyatt was inclined to leave her to her wave, but he also wanted to discuss with Sam the route they were to take. So when the doctor sat and accessed her message with the two of them right there, and he caught a glimpse of the chalkboard in the background, the captain was determined to stay. He had some of his own business to attend to with that woman.

"Well, Miss Willow," that woman appeared on the screen. "I have to say that you completely fooled me. I thought you were just the decoration but you have messed up my plans real good. Oh hello Captain Wyatt! I take it Wolf found my little present for you? Hope you aren't too sore. I did give you plenty of chances to find it - never meant any real harm. Okay Willow - you have the key, I found the door - what do you want to do about it?"

Wyatt was about to predict Bridgette's future when Willow held up a forestalling hand and murmured to the pixellated face before her, "One minute, please, Miss Brigitte?" She paused the wave.

"Captain, Sam, I don't often hold to my mother's beliefs, but as she would tell you, sometimes you just have to restore karmic balance. We've been played enough by this little so and so, and I'm of a mind to give karma a bit of a push. Trust me?"

Wyatt gave her a brief nod, though his brow was furrowed and his lips were a thin line. Stepping away from the monitor he made his way to the front of the cockpit where he stood with his arms folded across his chest as he stared out into the Black.

"Now, now, Miss Brigitte, don't be ruining my play with the Captain here and I won't be telling JW about any extracurricular activities, hmm? Your big problem here was sending a boy to do a woman's job. What on earth possessed you to send Jimmy? He was babbling all he knew after a single kiss...not that he knew much. So...I have what you want, and you have what we both want. How about we team up? I'll need to know where to direct the Captain, though...best we not let him near you any time soon. That scrapper's gel was defective, and ate through Wolf's protective gear while he was removing your present. He'll have the use of his hand again, eventually, but the Captain takes attacks on his people seriously. So Brigitte, tell me where to send this crew, and we can both be rich!"

A moment passes and a brief flicker of annoyance passes over Brigitte's face. She knows that Willow isn't telling the truth but she wouldn't tell the truth either given the roles reversed. "Well give Wolfie my sympathies then darling but he must have done something stupid to release the gel. I wrapped that myself." She brushes her hair back, to give herself time to think, "Well once you get yourselves moving again, you and the men can meet me at the mines here on Frisco. Guess where I found the Lucius Newberry? But we need the key to opened the doorway and we need the code. I assume you got both from Benny?"

(Insert Willow's answer here.)

"Well don't bother with the Ice. I wasn't gonna pay for it and if you got the key and code, then there is no need for the blockade anymore. Just get back as soon as you can."

(Insert Willow's answer here.)

"And Willow dear? If what I hear was on the LN is half of the truth, it will be more than enough to share so let's not be greedy about this. I don't mind sharing as I am sure Sam will tell you. See you soon Sugar."

"Willow," Wyatt stated without turning around or changing stance. "If I conjure correct, The Lucius Newberry was a ship that Kora got mixed up with, an' now Miss Bridgette speaks of it. What more do we need to know abou' this situation, and what's the plan yer cookin' up in that pretty little brainpan o' yers?"

(Insert Willow's answer, and any commentary by Sam.)

Drifting in the Black, Day Eight 2:45 - Day Nine 2:00 am Ship Time
Steering restored, Wyatt entered the bridge and dropped into the copilot's seat. He didn't say much of anything other than a simple greeting to Sam as the man began plotting their return course to Regina, nor did he look over his shoulder. When Sam finally declared his work, Wyatt stood, gave his friend a pat on the shoulder, and returned to the galley where he began tending the garden bunk. They were on their way back to face Bridgette, and he was very calm...very calm indeed.

With the repairs all but complete, thanks to Bowman’s help, Wolf was happy to say that the two of them had bonded. What was the old saying in times of stress people of like beliefs bond in the face of adversity, or something like that. With the Rocinante once more moving and this time back towards Regina, Wolf could not wait to get into Brigitte’s face and let her know she had messed with the wrong ship.

However truth be told it was a wise bet that Wyatt would beat him to her. Wolf still could not believe in some ways that she was capable of this, after all he had lived in the same town with her, lusted after her somewhat too, but sabotage/possibly murder. Well no matter Rocinante was his ship now and he would be damned if he would let that fracking whore get away with this attempt.

Getting back to his cabin, after thanking Bowmen for his help, he pulled out his cleaning kits and began the slow loving cleaning of his machine pistols and shotgun. Like the ship these three were his loves and what better way to use them then to fill that liou mahng full of holes.......

Regina, Frisco, Day Seven, 10:00 pm Planet Time
Darkness seemed to come early in this world. The clear nights were filled with stars and a gentle quiet seemed so peaceful you could forget …
The ranch on Ezra was all he knew, it was filled with family and the good honest work that brought folk together. Matt and Ben had showed him how milk a cow, teasing him about pulling down that cow teat to make it squirt in the bucket. “You just grab it and squeeze, if you do it smooth enough Bessy here will give you a big facelick and follow you all day.” They laughed as he tried and tried but nothing came out. “Now Ash just squeeze it from top to end, like rolling your finger, not full fist.” They all roared as the milk shot out this time missing the bucket and covering his boots. “Ma’s gonna have a fit if try to bring milk home in your boots instead of the pail.” They all laughed again.
Those were good times, Ma took care of her “baby boy”. Most of house chores were his and his little sisters. “The bigger boys could tend the farm”, she used say, “I need you here to keep things straight, your time will come soon enough.”
It came all too soon, the Alliance started pushing it weight round way out there in Ezra. Matt and Ben didn’t think it right and they joined Independents movement. They looked mighty fine in their Browncoats. But even on a dusty old farming world like Ezra the Alliance came in force. They didn’t seem to care where they bombed or strafed. The day those ships came over the farm, Ma was running out to get Miriam to the tornado shelter. Matt and Ben were visiting and all three had just got to the front porch as something big rocketed in. The roar and flash took the whole front of house off, leaving only smoke , fire and large creator. The ships just kept on going, they never even circled back to see their damage. Pa screamed and crawled through rubble, but there wasn’t nothing left. The porch, Matt ,Ben and Ma were just gone.

Things got bad then, Pa just couldn’t take loosing Ma. Pa would sit or wander, always a bottle in his hand. Jacob and Andy took to running the ranch. Time had come to learn to ride, plant, harvest, herd and all the other things the “bigger boys” used to do. Miriam took care of Pa and tended to house now.

It wasn't long before the land jumpers started coming in stealing folk’s ranches and homes. It wasn’t right and that’s when Jacob brought out the guns. Enough was enough and it was time to stand up for what was right and protect those you loved. It didn’t take long to learn how use pistols, rifles and few other toys that were left over from the war. The folk around the farm appreciated what the Talhomes did and joined in to help. Soon there were enough to push the land grabber back. But right comes with a price sometimes, Jacob and Andrew gave up their lives protecting friend and innocents. They died honorably and were missed by many. That seemed to shake Pa out his grief, but he sent his last son away to try to protect him from vengeance.

That sense of doing right and helping others never left , Guess why it felt so good walking with Wyatt and hearing the people….
“Good Afternoon Sheriff.”

“Howdy Sheriff. Mighty nice to have you in town.”

“Sheriff. Good to see you.”

“I baked my special apple pie for you sheriff! Just to make you fell comfy here.”

It was that feeling from back home; it was that feeling that this was so much like back home that when he heard them talking that night about needed a sheriff and what to do while they waited for the return.
“What are we gonna do until then?” Charles ask, “Two weeks of this lawlessness getting worse and worse. If the bank job wasn’t bad enough? What if a bunch decides to grab the payroll?”

Those feeling just swelled up and he heard himself saying;

“I’ll stay. I’ll be sheriff until they come back. They need help Captain and I can’t stand by. Anyway, it will just be until the shuttle comes and then I can keep an eye on it until you return. I ain’t leaving the ship, just – just want to help these people, that’s all, Captain. I know what its like to be alone and no one to look out for ya. It ain’t right.”

He’d been sheriff for less than week, but the people seemed so grateful, especially the ladies. The toughs must have heard about how all of them had handled the bank robbery and no one seemed to challenge him.

Now the new sheriff was in town and he didn’t much care for help. So it’s been a few days of quiet. They didn’t need him anymore. The void of now was filed with just sitting and wondering what they were doing on the Roc. Gee but it would be nice to have some of Ma’s cooking.
Asher sat up in bed quickly and pulled on his boots., Ernestina May shifted beside him but felt back to sleep again. Since becoming the temporary sheriff of this town, Asher had no end of bed partners - like the women of the town never saw a fresh face before. But this new Lawman - Luke, he wasn't very keen on the ladies - except Brigit that. He was often seen around her, staring her and not in a good way.

Wasn't interested in Asher's offer to help out or give the lay of the land. Wanted to see and do things himself he had said.

Asher wanted to send a wave to the Captain but the blockade was monitoring transmissions and Asher wasn't sure how to ask the questions without asking the questions. But he was thinking that it would be better to try now.

BLAM. BLAM BLAM BLAM. BLAM.

Gunfire close by? What the ...? A small fear that Asher had suddenly grew rapidly. He'd been sheriff for five days before Luke without drawing a gun once. He scuffled with a few but never a need to draw. What was Pearson thinking?

(OOC: Ok so I didn't move forward but at least I'm in the game. I'll add to the what's going on in the next post. You folk are so good at this, I can't believe how you all post such great stuff. Well I hope practice make better. )

Drifting in the Black, Day Eight 2:45 pm Ship Time

I’m gorram sick an’ ruttin’ tired o’ bein’ used by ever’one in the motherhumpin’ Verse!
Dash’s recently improving demeanor hadn’t necessarily gotten worse… he wasn’t storming the decks kicking and cussing or, for that matter, being any sort of unbearable as far as he could tell… but it had nudged the pilot off course and into a grim (and, possibly, somewhat humiliated) silence while he stewed over how to get Roc back to Regina with a quickness. If he said anything, it was grumbled under his breath and punctuated with derisive snorts or heavy-handed button mashing and switch flipping… So, it wasn’t too hard of a thing for Sam to keep his head down and mouth shut while Miss Wil was chatting Bridget up on the wave…

Shoulda ruttin’ seen this go se comin’, I reckon! Gorram Alliance used me ta do their dirty work same way as this meh lien duh jyah jee Bridget used me ta get ‘er hooks inta Wyatt an’ them… Just say some purdy words ta Sam… Give ‘im the ol’ reach around… an’ he’ll fall fer whatever da bian hua ya wanna run down his throat… Go ahead, he’s too gorram stupid ta know th’ ruttin differ’nce til it’s too late, anyhoo!
“…If what I hear was on the LN is half of the truth, it will be more than enough to share so let's not be greedy about this. I don't mind sharing as I am sure Sam will tell you. See you soon Sugar.”

It was just a little tricky for him to keep his mouth shut at that, though, but he gritted his teeth and held back until the transmission between the two women had ended. “Chwee ni duh, whore,” he growled not a nanosecond after the screen winked into darkness, “I hope yer gorram ya-ya falls out.”

"Willow," Wyatt stated without turning around or changing stance. "If I conjure correct, The Lucius Newberry was a ship that Kora got mixed up with, an' now Miss Bridgette speaks of it. What more do we need to know abou' this situation, and what's the plan yer cookin' up in that pretty little brainpan o' yers?"

Sam almost glanced at Wyatt, then but he was having a really hard time meeting anyone else’s eyes, right now… especially Wyatt’s… so he hid that by keeping his attentions to sensors and nav-calculations while Willow expounded on her plan. As angry as Dash was about this whole situation, he was that much and half again ashamed of the part he had played in getting them into it… he regretted, now, not listening to all the cautions about that jien huo Bridget from the Captain (and Willow) and for not taking the opportunities he’d been given to cut himself loose from the problem… he’d let Wyatt down, this time… Just like he’d let all those innocents down all those years ago in that other life… for damn near the same reasons and with damn near the same outcome…

Folks always seem ta end up neck deep in trouble an’ pain as they don’t deserve cuz of my bad decisions… Don’t matter where I run… or who I say I am… innocent or not…
(Assuming no major events between here and the time everyone else leaves the bridge, backposts as necessary, however…)

Sam stayed on the bridge for a better part of the night, working his brain double-time with figuring and calculating and plotting, and, by the time he finally forced himself to abandon his seat in favor of sleep, he’d managed to get the trip back to Regina shaved down to twenty-four hours. It wasn’t quite as fast as he would have liked, of course, but this crap wasn’t science fiction, was it… Ya can’t just flip a ruttin’ switch and go tearin’ across the Verse at lightspeed, can ya?… and, given their distance from that particular rock, now, twenty-four hours was a damn impressive run for a Firefly. It would do…

The sleep Sam thought to get once he retired to his bunk didn’t come easily. He tossed and turned and grumbled and fumed for a good spell before he finally tore himself from the bunk and hauled a trunk out of its hiding place under the bed. He thumbed quickly through the combination on the lock and, after flipping the lid open, pulled out the chameleon suit that he hadn’t used in Buddha-knew-how-long… Might come in handy, he smirked tossing the thing onto the mattress before once more reaching into the trunk and retrieving the sniper rifle he’d kept there, an’, I reckon, you an’ me are gonna have some playtime, too, darlin’…
Sam passed the next hours cleaning the rifle, checking to ensure that the chameleon suit still worked, and, then, cleaning the rest of his weapons… He’d second guessed his calculations once or twice, as well, and passed back and forth between his bunk and the bridge more than once in the night but, finally, with nothing left but the waiting, he finally managed to close his eyes and nap out for a while...

Day Nine 2:00 am Ship Time
...And it wasn’t long after he awoke and joined Wyatt on the bridge that Wolf announced that Rocinante was in fine enough shape to get underway again.

“All I needed to hear,” the pilot grumbled, pouring a cup of coffee down his throat as he stomped across the deck and tossed himself into the pilot’s seat, “You folks might wanna buckle up er somethin’, I fixin’ to put some spur ta ass, here… We’ll be burnin’ atmo over Frisco in 24 or less…”

Wyatt clapped him on the shoulder, then, and Sam was finally able to at least look in the man’s direction, again… Wyatt hadn’t said anything, of course… hadn’t really needed to… and Sam didn’t figure he needed to, either, but still…

“Wyatt…”

(Assuming the Cap pauses a step or two…)

“…I ain’t so sure that there’s many innocent folk left in the Verse… but… uh… you an’ this crew… yer as close as it comes, way I figger it, puhn yoh… an’ I’m right sorry fer anythin’ I done ta hump things up…”

It was about that long that Sam was able to manage and he turned his gaze back to the console in front of him… “I aim ta fix that, Cap…. But, like I sez… I ain’t so sure there’s many innocent folk left… might get all kinds o’ ugly, get me?...”

((Sorry gang... headache had me out most of yesterday but I finally got this one done... Off we go to Frisco, full burn... ))

“Miss Ernestina…………. Ernestina May”…….Asher gently but firmly nudged the sleeping maiden that had so warmly filled his evening. “Miss Ernestina, you really need to get up, I don’t mean to be rude, but there something happening out there and I need to go find out what’s it is?”

Ernestina May’s eyes fluttered open and as she focuses on Asher’s face, she smiles playfully and reached up to pull him back down to her. “Ernestina May, please I need to go and help. ” Asher pleaded.

Her eyes narrowed and she pushed Ash away. Flinging the sheet off of her, Ernestina May stood slowly, squaring her shoulders to expose her ample treats. “Well if you’d rather go play in the street, “she said. Ash had to turn his head, if he didn’t he’d never leave that room tonight. Ernestina dressed, almost as temptingly as she had done getting undressed. Ash had never noticed that women put their stockings on first and did they always have to lift their legs so high to pull them smooth? Ernestina May giggled as she heard Asher whimpered as he turned to finish pulling on his jeans.

Ash strapped his combat knife, that had been lying on the floor, above his right ankle before he slide on his boots. His could feel the pocket knife and brass knuckles that were still in his pocket.

“The back stairs might be the safest for you if there’s trouble in the street, “ Ash said over his shoulder. After dressing, Ash opened the closet door. There sat the athletic bag he’d pack that day they left the Roc to handle the trouble at the bank. With practiced hands he opened the bag and lifted out the thigh holsters.

Ernestina May watched as Ash smoothly wrapper the belt around his waist, then pulling and strapping the holsters to his muscular legs. A wistful sigh escaped her lips as she admired his firm backside when Ash bent over to tighten the holsters. She finished dressing and glided out of small room Ash given. This was small but tidy hotel and it was located not too far up the street from the town’s jail. “You be careful out there,” she whispered as she closed the door behind her.

Ash sensed Ernestina May leave but now he was focused on the real girls in his life. The shining Python 6 GLs slide into their familiar places. Next he pulled the light weight shoulder holsters from the bag. Quickly he positioned it over his shoulders and tightened them securely. The twin PK 12 Peacekeepers nestled tenderly under his arms. Extra magazines of ammo were placed on the straps of all the holsters for quick and easy access. The holsters had been custom fitted to Ash’s body and they did fit him so well.

Grabbing his long duster off the hook in the closet Asher slipping it on and pulled snugly so as to hide his guns yet allowed for quick access. He turned and headed across the room, taking his hat from the dresser. He opened the door and turned down the hall toward the front stairs.

Using the banisters to support him, he took the stairs two at a time as he rushed down the two flights to the small lobby. Ash nodded to the night clerk as he opened the front door to step out into the street. Ash didn’t notice the knowing grin on the clerk face, the clerk had heard the young lady hurrying down the back stairs and the squeak when the back door close.

It took Asher a few seconds for his eyes to adjust to the dark of street as he step cautiously from the lobby. He scanned up and down the street for a sign of from where the gun shots had been fired.

A brief flicker of annoyance passes over Brigitte's face, and Willow worries a moment that she’s overplayed her hand.
"Well give Wolfie my sympathies then darling but he must have done something stupid to release the gel. I wrapped that myself." Brigitte finally responds, brushing her hair back, "Well once you get yourselves moving again, you and the men can meet me at the mines here on Frisco. Guess where I found the Lucius Newberry? But we need the key to open the doorway and we need the code. I assume you got both from Benny?"

“I have everything Benny could give me, including maybe just a little bit of his heart, honey, don’t worry about that,” Willow responded smoothly. Even those who knew her would be hard pressed to tell that she had no clue about any code.

"Well don't bother with the Ice. I wasn't gonna pay for it and if you got the key and code, then there is no need for the blockade anymore. Just get back as soon as you can."

Willow frowned prettily, a little moue pursing her lips as she made a show of thinking it over, “We’ll do the best we can…though something you did sure did a number on the engine. Even before he got hurt Wolf was using language not fit for a lady such as myself. I heard him say we’ll be limping at half speed until he can replace a whole bunch of I-don’t- know-whatall. Of course, the way this old gal breaks down, it may have had nothing to do with your present. Anyway…the mines it is. I’ll send you a wave when we’re getting close, wouldn’t want you waiting longer’n you have to.”

"And Willow dear?” Brigitte finished,” If what I hear was on the LN is half of the truth, it will be more than enough to share so let's not be greedy about this. I don't mind sharing as I am sure Sam will tell you. See you soon Sugar."
“You bet, honey. I can share,” Willow let her lashes droop lazily over a smouldering look,” And I am very open-minded. Looking forward to getting to know you….better.”

Willow thumbed the wave closed and pushed back from the console, giving the Captain and Sam an unreadable look. “Now why do I feel the need to shower?! Meh! You know, her mentioning the blockade has me thinking….maybe she was behind sending the Ludlows to Lullabelle, and she’s got her hooks in Daddy Ludlow, too. Something to consider. ”

“I said we weren’t moving fast in order to buy us time. I’m thinking that if Miss Brigitte doesn’t want us to go to Lullabelle, then I have a sudden need to see that dustball again. Sam and Kora may know something more about this, and I’m sure they’d be happy to join us. Extra people on our side should be useful if we decided to do something underhanded and sneaky. Problem is,” Willow’s face cleared to her more customary half smile, “I can only plan an illusion on so grand of a scale. I think I’ll need to defer to the greater sneakiness of those onboard the Rocinante.”

“I said we weren’t moving fast in order to buy us time. I’m thinking that if Miss Brigitte doesn’t want us to go to Lullabelle, then I have a sudden need to see that dustball again. Sam and Kora may know something more about this, and I’m sure they’d be happy to join us. Extra people on our side should be useful if we decided to do something underhanded and sneaky. Problem is,” Willow’s face cleared to her more customary half smile, “I can only plan an illusion on so grand of a scale. I think I’ll need to defer to the greater sneakiness of those onboard the Rocinante.”

Wyatt continued to stare at a distant star while he thought things through. For perhaps thirty seconds he remained stoically silent, and when he finally spoke his tone was low and dangerous.

"As I conjure, Bridgette has a pretty good bearing on our crew compliment. The ace up our sleeve is Bowman...she don't know nothin' of Bowman.

"If'n the Meh Lien Duh Jyah Jee really controls the blockade, and sends it off like she says she's gonna then we can skin a shuttle off 'fore we arrive and have Andrew waltz into town of his own accord with nothin' pointin' association to us. He could even get word to Ash without so much as a hello to Bridgette or her Se Duhng.

"If necessary we could run the blockade like we did 'afore and put down outside of town ourselves..." he continued to think out loud as he watched a far off comet move slowly across the Black. "We need t' gather scope on that mine t' see what Joo Fuen Chse we're gonna step into, and I have a feelin' a scan ain't gonna give us what we need seein' how its taken this long to discover the missin' ship. So, we need eyes on the ground."

Turning from the window he walked back to the console and leaned against it whilst tilting his hat back on his head and meeting Sam's and Willow's gaze in turn. "If'n she has them Nien Mohn in her pocket as she claims, then things could get mighty Jing Tian Dwohn Di mighty quick. Sam, show Ma how to keep Roc's eyes on the Alliance ships so she can warn us o' movement.

"Now, let's get a coded wave off t' Kora askin' what she knows and if'n her and Sam can be of any assistance," this he directed to Willow even though he knew Sam would have to help with the coding. "We'll talk again come mealtime with the whole of the crew and conjure up a solid plan...if'n there's such a thing."

Regina, Frisco, Day Seven, 10:30 pm Planet Time
It did not take long for Asher to find the source of the gunfire. The main street was illuminated by the light from the saloons and shops along the way. The street was clear of people except Luke Pearson, standing like all was well as he loaded his pistol. Around him on the ground were three men, all Asian, and all dresses in the black and red outfits that identified them as members of the Tong. As Ash approached, Pearson whirled around quickly, pointing the newly loaded gun his way. The man was fast – real fast, but he lowered his weapon just as quick as he drew.

“You scared the gorram piss outta me!’ Pearson laughed, “You shouldn’t be hulking around at dark, you’ll get yourself killed.” He gestured to the men on the ground, “Seems like we have some criminal element in these parts. I found these low-life scum in Newhouse too. Bet there is a whole mess of them around too. “

(Assuming Asher starts to reply)

His eyes never look away from Ash as the young man tries to speak but Pearson’s left hand comes up quickly as he fires two quick shots down the alleyway without looking. The smoke from the gun clings to the night air forming an unholy halo around Pearson. The kid hears the sound of a body hitting the ground down the alleyway.

“I’m sorry. You were saying something?’ Luke asked, as if inquiring about the weather.

Rocinante, Day Eight 3:30 pm Ship Time
It had taken some time for Sam to feel sufficiently sure that his wave would not be traced or bounced. Willow had noticed long ago that Sam was a bit twitchy about such things and it was best to let him reach his comfort level. After a good while and some restrained cussing, Sam had patched her through to the Lullabelle Mine and the image on the screen was of Kora and Sam, side by side. There was a tension missing from Kora that Willow immediately noticed, and happiness in her eyes.

At first the conversation is light. Willow speaks of the events that have occurred after they left the mine and the who-what-where’s of the last few days. To Willow, Kora was still part of the crew and she needed Sam Hawkes’ trust so she didn’t hold much back.

“You know,” Sam pondered, “This Brigit sounds a lot like the woman that was clinging on Colonel Maddoc before the Lucius took off. Only then she was called Elizabeth. The crates we loaded were very heavy but I never looked inside them. I have heard all sorts of rumours of platinum bars but Maddoc wasn’t the type to take the money and run. Either way, we loaded the crates into the main vault of the ship.”

“How much could it have been?” Kora asked.

Sam shrugged, “30,000 bars would be a conservative guess. At 100 each that would be a lot of reasons to find it. You know … it sorta makes sense. JW won the Hornsilver mine in a card game before the war and no one thought there was anything left – tapped out. If the Newberry crashed, it could have opened and shifted the ground, possibly opening up a new vein. But the vault was double titanium reinforced chamber within the ship, so it could have survived the crash and been buried. I hate to say this but this Brigit might be telling you the truth.”

(assuming you ask about them meeting up with you)

“Sorry Willow but no can do.” Kora shakes he head, “We don’t have a ship worthy of travel. The shuttle we got won’t move fast enough or far enough. We had to let the Fulton’s leave – they were more problem than they were worth and just too many mouths to feed.”

Andrew Bowman opened up his console and attached the key to the adapter. He started slow, simple queries and probe to determine what was this key was for and why. The level of protection on it wasn’t great – after all, it was a door key for a mid-level security vault. It would, when attached to the vault console, prompt for a code and wait for its entry before releasing the door.

Then Andrew, feeling more confident, got into the source code within. There were names within that immediate showed him he was on the right track. The programmer had added commentary, confirming it was for the Lucius Newberry cargo vault. But the code was not there, not within the key as the sequence was an algorithm depending on the keypad attached. All he could tell was that it would be a four digit sequence. There was a note on the source code “Zaihai” but that didn’t mean anything to Bowman.

Rocinante, Day Nine 2:00 am Ship Time
Sam plotted a course and moved the ship into a hard burn. The ship jumped so fast that the usual gallop down the length of the ship seemed like a stampede. To get to Regina fast would burn a lot of fuel, but they would be there in 24 hours.

In the engine room, Wolf adjusted the manifold and worked the calculations again to adjust for maximum efficiency. But the book, they were operating at about 25% above defined safety limits. But Wolf knew that she would hold. Rocinante would always hold for them.

OOC: Meeting time? And we have to get Ash to the same time as you.

Wyatt remained quiet during the exchange with Kora and Sam. It wasn't that he didn't miss the mechanic. His mind was just absorbing the information and calculating the possibilities. He seriously doubted that Bridgette was the type of woman to share anything, and he also doubted that her husband knew of her discovery. She was likely the type to keep things between her and those that needed knowin' such as the Ludlows. Even then she was likely to only provide them with the information she felt they needed to know in order to do her bidding.

When Kora admitted their inability to join in the ruckus Wyatt was somewhat surprised that he wasn't surprised. When Kora had decided to stay on the rock he had to come to grips with one of his crew leaving, and he'd done so rather well if he said so himself. So, he was prepared for the answer. After the wave Wyatt stepped out of the room saying as he went, "Dinner at six. We got business."

Rocinante, Day Nine 6:00 pm Ship Time

Wyatt Sung sat at the head of the table as Ma set the plates full of grub. He didn't even pay much attention what was being served, but he did wait until the food had been started into after respective prayers had been said before starting into the plan.

"So, as I conjure we'll be planetside this time tomorrow, so we better be solid with our plan of action as it is."

He proceeded to outline the following in as much detail as he could muster (check QA as the discussion is already underway).

Ash saw movement down the street past the saloon. The glow through the window was enough for him see a silhouette in the street. He had only met the man few days ago but there was no mistaking that image. Pearson stood out in a crowd so alone in the street he was unmistakable. Asher hadn’t liked it when he was turned away. Luke seemed aloof and cold, but Ash had just figured he wanted to establish himself as the man in charge. The bodies lying at his feet were telling a new story.

As Ash approached, Pearson whirled around quickly, pointing the newly loaded gun his way.
“You scared the gorram piss outta me!’ Pearson laughed, “You shouldn’t be hulking around at dark, you’ll get yourself killed.” He gestured to the men on the ground, “Seems like we have some criminal element in these parts. I found these low-life scum in Newhouse too. Bet there is a whole mess of them around too. “

"Tzuh muh luh?", Ash blurted as he saw the Tong dead on the ground. Miss willow had helped him by getting on their good side now this was going turn that all around.

His eyes never look away from Ash as the young man tries to speak but Pearson’s left hand comes up quickly as he fires two quick shots down the alleyway without looking. The smoke from the gun clings to the night air forming an unholy halo around Pearson. The kid hears the sound of a body hitting the ground down the alleyway.

“I’m sorry. You were saying something?’ Luke asked, as if inquiring about the weather.

"Wuh de tyen, ah.", this doesn’t look like its going to go well Ash mused.

“What were they doing? Why did you have to kill them?” Geez, this guy is one shiong-mung duh kwong-run, Ash thought as he looked down the alley where the fourth body now lay.

“What were they doing? Why did you have to kill them?”

Luke's voice was calm but there was an edge to his voice, "Why? Why? They're Tong. You don't need a reason beyond that. Sure you can wait for your due process and proper authority until the cows come home, but that ain't gonna help none. These fellas are a disease, and me - I'm the cure." The sheriff holsters his pistol and looked across the roadway at Asher as if he was some kind of bug. "So who's side you on there Ash? Your captain seems a soft type - but what about you?"

Before Ash can answer there is the sound of people coming down the street. A group of town folk lead by John Blake and JW McClarrin. They are very distressed and JW is calling out "Mr. Pearson! What have you done?"

In a moment seemingly frozen in time, Ash sees the lawman hands reach for his guns. He is gonna shoot down these men as they call him out.

Rocinante, Day Nine 6:00 pm Ship Time
"So, as I conjure we'll be planetside this time tomorrow, so we better be solid with our plan of action as it is."
Bowman thanks Ma as she set the food before him… he had to admit it was far better far than he had in a while… the woman had a way of taking almost nothing and making it very palatable.

He listened as Wyatt laid out part of his plan.. He heard mention of setting him down planetside separate from the rest .. But.. He furrowed his brow as he chewed his food and then swallowed.

“Ok Wyatt,” he said wiping his mouth with a napkin, “I have no problem going it alone or with anyone else you want to send with me… only.. I’m not clear on what you want me to do down there at this mine?”

He kind of liked the idea of helping out by being the unknown cog in the machine… but he wanted to be clear … or Solid … as Wyatt had said on what was expected of him. He imagined he would be an unexpected element… that was always a good thing.

(OOC: Sorry if I am a little slow... just trying to get back in play here. )