Grasping Ash's right arm in a grip not unlike that he'd seen on the old earth show Sparticus, Wolf looked the young Gunfighter in the eye.

"Only reason John or I don't return these puppies to you is if we are both dead. Sheh-sheh xiongdì"
As they headed back into Rocinante's gangway John's voice came over the general crew comm net.

"Wolf, we're taking the other shuttle. Ash, get to the starboard shuttle with Willow or the Captain. There's a situation you guys need to deal with."
Wolf called to Wyatt as both he and the ship's gunfighter started moving in that direction........"Captain I'm with Ash right now we'll check it out"
The kid sighed as he shook his head, he didn’t mind helping out crew mates but it rubbed him a bit wrong that the new crew mate felt he could order him and other around.
“I’ll go check this out…..maybe you should head to the other shuttle before John orders you to meet him there.” Ash gave Wolf a shrug as he headed to the shuttle.

Heading down the gangway Ash saw John moving into the starboard shuttle, so figuring the problem was in the the other he stepping into the port shuttle. Ash heard the grunting of a couple engaged aggressive "boinking".

Inside the small compartment there were the two caught up in their sexual coupling and even with Asher now standing there they refused to stop. Ash reckoned that this didn't seem right even for rich folk. The kid had heard of this sorta thing before in a house of pleasure and figured pulling them apart wouldn’t stop the frenzy. Keying the comm, “Miss Willow… we’re gonna a med kit with tranquilizers.. and maybe antidotes in the port shuttle. We got a couple high on some sort of love drug and if we don’t slow um down this old guy is gonna hurt himself.”

Captain I'm with Ash right now we'll check it out"
“I’ll go check this out...maybe you should head to the other shuttle before John orders you to meet him there.” Ash gave Wolf a shrug as he headed to the shuttle.

“Nay he can wait, he can’t leave without the mission commander now can he” Wolf replied with a big grin as he followed Ash to the shuttle bay. As he and the ships gunfighter reached the port shuttle both heard the grunting of a couple engaged in aggressive ‘boinking‘

“Oh hell no not in my shuttle“ Wolf exclaimed in an angry voice as he moved up the ramp to enter the shuttle interior. Inside the small compartment were two of the ’guests’ caught up in a sexual coupling and even with Wolf and Asher now standing there they refused to stop. Moving quickly Wolf grabbed the girl by the back of her neck and physically tossed her out of the shuttle to land on the ramp behind him. Then turning to Ash he asked for his help.

“Help me get this ‘sex animal’ off our shuttle”

After both were off the shuttle and contained by the big mechanic, even as they tried to get loose, Ash called for Willow.

“Miss Willow... we’re gonna a med kit with tranquilizers.. and maybe antidotes in the port shuttle. We got a couple high on some sort of love drug and if we don’t slow um down this old guy is gonna hurt himself.”................

Appearance took a large piece of the pie when leading, and for Wyatt, it had always been a benefit that he could be torn up inside, but on the outside he appeared nonplussed. That’s how it was as Ash drove him about the sparse, barren landscape on parameter patrol. Captain Sung was as calm as the desertscape around them, his steely blue eyes merely scanning the lichen-covered rocks with a casual ease that completely belied the tumultuous thoughts spattering about in his brainpan like hot grease.

The information Sifu had delivered to him just before leaving on patrol did not sit easy with him–it had nearly made him cancel the patrol. It fed the fire that had been burning in his gut concerning the fact that they’d been jammed. He felt certain that the jamming of their signal was not due to any damage they’d sustained, nor was it due to some device held by whomever it was that the little monk had sensed, as weird as that was to the Browncoat. No, Wyatt felt it in his gut, and his gut was rarely wrong: there was another ship out there blocking their signal, and that meant that whoever it was that had blown up the Star was still circling.

“We’re good,” Wyatt stated as they came full circle. “Let’s head back.”

Continuing his thoughts as Ash turned towards the ship, Wyatt considered what that meant. Would the thieves have blown up the Star in the hopes of getting on board and stealing whatever valuable they were after before it went to oblivion? Thinking a job like that through, Sung was certain that he would never put his crew, or the target, at risk like that. He would have snuck himself, Willow, and possibly John and Ash on board the cruiseliner, pretending at being prettier than they were, so that they could get close to the target and make the take. Then he would have had a way to exit without blowing everything up... probably at the end of the trip unless things got noticed. Then Roc would be nearby to pick them up if they needed to jettison prior to docking. Blowing up the Star was what then? An accident?

Rocinante came into view as they passed over a moss-covered rise. She sat docile and hurt in a painful way while the refugees milled about outside the cargo bay clumped into small groups. Like confused sheep, Wyatt thought. Confused sheep with a wolf ‘r two in their midst.
It had to be an accident–the destruction of the Star. That was the only way Wyatt could figure it. Something had gone terribly wrong and now there were complications. Complications made people twitchy, as Sam would say, and that made them even more dangerous. Resting his eyes on each one of the refugees for a moment Wyatt considered which of them were likely to be the inside man Sifu had mentioned. How in the gorram hell am I to weed out such a fella tha’ they’d trust ‘im t’ be on board? Could he play out an act that would draw them out? Perhaps lure them into action where he could have set a trap? In this wasteland?
“Stay alert, Kid,” Wyatt instructed his public relations officer as they glided by the first of the refugees and up into the cargo bay. “Real alert–near twitchy-like.”

Those instructions given, Sung placed Willow and Sifu wandering through the crowd. All he needed was a look from Willow to confirm that there’d been some trouble afoot while he’d been away. Jao gao, he sighed mentally and jumped down from the mule.

“What happened?” Approaching the petite doctor and the small monk, Wyatt sheathed his shotgun in it’s back holster and adjusted his hat so that it rested back a little on his head.

(OOC: assuming something that indicates the trouble with the guy getting slapped, and that they’ve taken care of it...)

“Rung Tse Fwo Tzoo Bao Yo Wuo Muhn,” he muttered his prayer to Buddha and shook his head. “Anythin’ new on that other business we talked ‘bout?”

(OOC: I’m leaving this open as I don’t know... I’ll continue the conversation as necessary.)

With the conversation between himself, Willow, and Sifu fresh on his mind, Wyatt began searching for Wolf and John. He wanted to know exactly what shape they were in as soon as possible. They’d have to begin to formulate a plan of action to rein in those that blew up the Star before others began dying, and being able to fly again was high on Sung’s priority list. Spotting the two men talking over their notes near the stairs leading up to the catwalk, Wyatt joined them.

“Tell me she’ll fly again,” he said with no small amount of concern in his pale blue eyes.

(Assuming a full report and something like, we need to go to the processor and see what parts we can commandeer.)

“Right,” Wyatt turned and looked out at the crowd once more. “Be about it, and be about it quick. I want you back before nightfall. Don’ want noone out an’ about after that.

“We’ll need t’ set up camp fer them folk. Won’t due t’ have them all millin’ about Roc steppin’ in yer business during repairs. Saw some caves off yonder, but I’d prefer t’ see ‘em all indoors an’ out of the way, so if’n y’all see it as a possibility once ya git t’ the processor; let me know if’n we can start moving them there. Don muh?”

As the two men went their way, Wyatt turned about and spots Tess talking to a young lady on the ramp. He also noticed easily enough the two large men eyeballing them with no small amount of rapt attention. Closing his eyes for a moment, he dropped his head and uttered his prayer to Buddha once more before approaching his pilot and her new friend.

“Everything’ shiny here, Tess?”

(OOC: I’ll continue this conversation as needs be too.)

”"Wolf, we're taking the other shuttle. Ash, get to the starboard shuttle with Willow or the Captain. There's a situation you guys need to deal with." John’s voice came over the comm drawing Wyatt’s attention from the conversation at hand.

Wolf called to Wyatt as both he and the ship's gunfighter started moving in that direction, "Captain I'm with Ash right now we'll check it out"

“Ta Mah Duh!” Sung adjusted his hat so that the brim rode low and started after the two. The last thing he needed was to have his strong arm presence removed from the cargo bay right then, and Wolf had business to take care of. “I got it,” he called after them. “Ash, stick around an’ keep an eye on things fer me. Wolf, you an’ John git on ‘bout fixin’ Roc. Don La Ma?”

Stepping quickly up the stairs, he turned down the hall and strode through the shuttle door where he immediately had to admit he wasn’t prepared for what he saw. “What is this Tian Fuhn Di Fu?”

When the two didn’t respond, Wyatt was a little taken aback. Cocking his head to the side he frowned. That ain’t usual, he thought. Even a back-water whore would have the decency to cover up in his opinion. Feeling quite done with the whole affair, Captain Sung stepped forward and grabbed the girl by the arm, attempting to haul her from the older man’s grip and put some space between them.

“I said,” he grunted with the exertion. “What is this pandamonium? This here’s my shuttle not some whorehouse.”

(OOC: Leaving off here so I don’t overstep my bounds.)

Willow turned to the monk on her arm and muttered in a low voice that wouldn't carry. "I'd start with that fellow."

Sifu nodded and the two of them walked towards the group. Fu Sheung whispered back, “I am not at my best right now, I have to admit. I can not ... feel what I would normally. I think it maybe is the injury is hampering my gift. However I can see he is clearly agitated.”

Willow squeezed his arm in a manner that was meant to comfort. "You haven't had the best day, Sifu, and the anaesthetic won't have fully cleared your system for another 24 hours. A little "numbness" may be what you need to heal."

Willow didn't say anything more on it, but she knew she was deeply curious as to how Sifu "felt" what he did. She was a highly trained student of body language and human behaviour...but she was still only guessing...what was it like to know?

As they approached the subject of their curiosity, Willow realized that they'd been too direct, the nervous young man backed away to be among his fellows and a portly man, also dressed as a band member, stepped into their path, his intent obvious.

“Hello. I am Roland of the Star’s orchestra. Please allow me to thank you for your timely rescue and efforts. No doubt we’d not be here without them.” He says and smiles a smile that is sincere but his eyes flash concern for his fellow band member. Both Willow and Sifu can see that his shoulders tense as if fearing a fight but hoping for not.
"We are all that any of us have out here in the Black," Willow replied smoothly," who could possibly see a ship in distress and not help? I hope that you've all recovered somewhat from the shock of it all. I don't recall having to treat anyone from the band...I trust you are all uninjured?"

“We are well. Hoping that we will be able to go home soon. Have you managed to get a signal out?”
"Our communications specialist is doing what he can...he mentioned something about interference from the explosion, but honestly, I couldn't follow half of it," Willow laughed carelessly, "he keeps the diagnostic equipment running for me, so that's all that matters. Seriously, though, are you sure everyone's ok, Roland, dear? That young man with the case seems rather anxious...is there anything I can do?<"Willow leaned in and lowered her voice confidentially. "We need to keep people as calm as possible - panic is more infectious than a Reaver's bite."

“Ahh... Well. He has something on his mind. He will be fine once the rescue team comes. “The big man replies and looks back at the other man, “Justin? Perhaps if you talk to these people you’d feel better?”

“You know I can’t Roland!” He calls back, hugging the briefcase protectively.

“Justin! This seems to be a special situation. I do not think a monk and a Doctor are trying to steal it?”

Justin shakes his head but then the others start to reassure him that it is okay. He seems to mull it over and then begins to step forward with the case still held tightly in his grip.
Just as Justin had started to tentatively move towards Willow and Sifu, the sharp crack of an open palm on skin came from behind Willow, and she spun to see the "Queen Bee" (as Willow'd come to think of the woman with the flock of young girls) rubbing her hand as the lanky youngster who'd been carried back from the engine room by his friends rubbed his own face.

“Ow! Help Me! This lady is assaulting my face! Someone protect my face!”

Willow looked back at Justin, sighing as he melted back into the crowd - she'd have to start over with him, later. Turning back to the two combattants, she mustered a bland smile and stepped between them.

"Now what's the matter here? What did you say," Willow addressed the young man," that could possibly deserve a slapping?"

LV-426 Outside of Rocinante’s Cargo Bay 7:00 am PT
"Now what's the matter here? What did you say," Willow addressed the young man," that could possibly deserve a slapping?"

“He made a grossly indecent proposition to me involving my daughter and her friends!” The lady said indignantly.

“I did not!” The tall thin young man protested, “I merely suggested that if we were stuck here for the rest of our lives, that her charges are young and no doubt fertile so they should engage propagation with my friends here.” He gestured to the three other boys who were looking on but trying not to be noticed. “If we are going to populate the planet, they are relatively smart and willing – eager even.”

“Are we stuck here?!” one of the very similar girls whined.

“No we are not.” Said Beatrice firmly. “Now Heathers, just stay calm!”

“We can’t be stuck here, we have the prom in a month!” another cried.

“I don’t want to be a mom yet!” the other girl sobbed hysterically.

(Assuming Willow says something about not being stuck, stop panicking the passengers and the logistics of populating the planet)

“Ma’am. I have an IQ quite a bit higher than everyone here and I can assure you that ship is going nowhere without a drive pod. It is essential we must ensure the survival of the people.” The young man declared self-importantly, “Besides, this lady is obvious well past her child bearing years.”

*SLAP*

“OW! She hit me again! I will be forced to defend myself woman! Lenard! Come here and save me from her!”

The three young men come running over with the shorter one heading directly to Willow’s side while the one wearing glasses steps cautiously between his friend and Beatrice. “Yeah. Listen. I’m sorry for whatever my friend here suggested.” He says while adjusting his glasses, and then whispers, “He is really quite crazy.”

“No I’m not! My mother had me tested!”

The shorter man smiles in a poor attempt to be seductive and says to Willow, “Vous êtes si chaud et délicieux que je veux pour courir ma langue partout dans vous.” He looks smug and says, “I’m sorry, have you never been told that you are beautiful before in Earth that Was French?”

(I will let Willow take it from here. At 7:23 she gets the call from Ash - “Miss Willow... we’re gonna a med kit with tranquilizers.. and maybe antidotes in the port shuttle. We got a couple high on some sort of love drug and if we don’t slow um down this old guy is gonna hurt himself.”



LV-426, Inside of Rocinante Cargo Bay and Port Shuttle 7:15 am PT
“Do you think I might speak to your Captain when he has a minute?” the young lady asked at last, sounding frightened and alone. Tess looked her over quickly and smiled gently. She did not buy the courier story, it was unlikely for someone to pay the price for a luxury liner when you could find an Arrowhead service at a quarter the price and five times as fast. But one think was for sure, whatever the story was, the young lady was scared. These men looked like goons - hired goons. At first guess Tess thought that Beatrix here had gotten herself into a mess she couldn't handle. Plenty of times that Tess had done that during the war and a few times someone helped her out without too many a question.

"I am sure we can arrange that in time." Tess said and at that moment she saw Captain Wyatt enter the Cargo bay. He walked towards with a hunch in his shoulder like all the world rested upon it.

“Everything’ shiny here, Tess?” Wyatt asked.

"Yes sir Captain. This here is Kiddo, Beatrix Kiddo. Licensed to Courier. She's got some attention from those big boys hanging on the gate and their master in the white duds."

(Assuming Jessie steps forward to introduce herself and give a bit of the story. She will only get a few sentences out before being interrupted by ...)

”"Wolf, we're taking the other shuttle. Ash, get to the starboard shuttle with Willow or the Captain. There's a situation you guys need to deal with." John’s voice came over the comm drawing Wyatt’s attention from the story that Beatrix was telling.

Wolf called, "Captain I'm with Ash right now we'll check it out"

“Ta Mah Duh!” Sung adjusted his hat so that the brim rode low and started up toward the catwalk in a hurry without so much as a goodbye. He met up with both Wolf and Ash at the top “I got it,” he called to them. “Ash, stick around an’ keep an eye on things fer me. Wolf, you an’ John git on ‘bout fixin’ Roc. Don La Ma?”

Wolf didn't like leaving the scene but he wasn't about to disobey an order from the Captain now so he turned and headed off to the other shuttle with the guns and toolkit in hand.

Stepping quickly up the stairs, Wyatt turned down the hall and strode through the shuttle door where he immediately had to admit he wasn’t prepared for what he saw. “What is this Tian Fuhn Di Fu?”

When the couple engaged in the shuttle didn’t respond, Wyatt was a little taken aback. Cocking his head to the side he frowned. That ain’t usual, he thought. Captain Sung stepped forward and grabbed the girl by the arm, attempting to haul her from the older man’s grip and put some space between them.

“I said,” he grunted with the exertion. “What is this pandamonium? This here’s my shuttle not some whorehouse.”

The man fell backwards as the young lady disengaged from him. His breathing was rapid and his body was covered with sweat. He looked unfocused upwards and his body began to shudder violently. As the captain looked at him with surprise, he felt something in his arm, like the smallest of pin pricks and he turned to face the lady. In an instant, pleasure and ecstasy flooded through the Captain like something he had not felt in many years. He tried to shake his head and clear his mind but the sheer magnitude of the pleasure tearing through his body was completely overwhelming. Like a bottle of whiskey to take away his pain, lust filled the captain and he was completely impassioned by this young lady beside him, so willing to share his needs and desire.

Asher watched in amazement as the older man fell to the floor and started to shake. He quickly called Willow on the comm, '“Miss Willow... we’re gonna a med kit with tranquilizers.. and maybe antidotes in the port shuttle. We got a couple high on some sort of love drug and if we don’t slow um down this old guy is gonna hurt himself.”

As he did though, suddenly the captain did something ... unexpected.

Wyatt pulled the young Amber into an embrace and the two were kissing passionately like ... well like her and the other guy were just a few minutes ago. Amber tore open Wyatt’s shirt as he struggle to get his arms under his suspenders and undo his gunbelt.

As Ash stared in disbelief he saw a small amount of blood on the sleeve of the captain where the girl was holding him. There was something on her finger digging into his arm and he was sure that was the cause of all this ... fruitfulness and multiplying.

It didn't take a gorram genius to see that captain was in trouble and that girl had just inflicted some kind injection on his arm. Moving quickly Ash used one of the moves he'd learned from Miss Willow with a bit of improvise. Raising a leg as if side kick he placed boot on Wyatt's hip as he grabbed the girl's forearm. A quick push, pull and twist. Ash shoved Wyatt away as he spun pulling the girl away, twisting her arm out around and backing it up behind her back. Keeping a tight grip on her wrist he grabbed her free arm and pull back behind too. "Miss, don't struggle, I don't mean to hurt you but you've just hurt the wrong man." As he succeeded in making the move, the device on her finger fell off and landed on the floor of the shuttle, rolling in a circle toward Wyatt who was standing there for a few seconds in shock of what just happened. He rubbed the arm that had been pricked by the device but gave Asher a quick nod to show that he was still in control of faculties – or at least was once again in control.

Amber fell to the floor crying, “No! Give that to me! I have to have it! You ... don’t know what it is like to ... Please.” She looked up from a kneeling position to Asher, “I’ll do anything just give it back.” She crumpled to the ground in a fetus position crying while shaking. There was blood on her fingertip as well, just like the needle hole in Wyatt’s arm. Asher had seen someone in the grips of drug dependency once act like this before but this was something beyond anything the young gunfighter had ever witness in his short lifetime.

Ash watched Wyatt as he started to recover but he knew should get the girl out there. It seemed the kid's face was a bit redder and not from the exertion to separate the girl from Wyatt. He quickly stepped over to a storage bin and pulled out two emergency blankets (The silver lined thermal ones) to toss one over Cameron and wrap the other around Amber.

"Miss you need to get to Miss Willow. I sure hope she heard me and is on her way."


LV-426, The Atmo Processors 7:30 am PT
John and Wolf have a short ride to the AP in the shuttle. Together they had gathered to toolkits from the ship, as well as the welding equipments they would most likely have to remove anything from its moorings. They were more interested in finding a suitable match right now, if they needed something from the ship, it could be here in minutes.

The doorway into the huge building was locked with a large padlock only. Not the highest of security but then again, then terra-formers worried about security for the most expensive of parts only. Who was gonna steal an atmo processor? Wolf took the lock off with a pair of bolt cutters easily and opened the door. It was very dark inside and the echoing of the doorway suggested it was mostly empty inside. John found the breakers close by and flipped on a series of lights. Florescent bulbs on wired racks lit up to reveal inside was a huge circular room that would have normal housed equipment and vehicles needed for initial terra-forming, but of course, it was empty now. In the centre of the build was a domed chamber with shafts leading up and all over the upper reaches. The main processor would be in there and that would be highly secured. But what the two crew members wanted wasn’t inside the dome, it was up the shafts near the top of the building.

LV-426 Outside of Rocinante’s Cargo Bay 7:00 am PT
"Now what's the matter here? What did you say," Willow addressed the young man," that could possibly deserve a slapping?"
Willow listened with bemusement as the older woman and lanky young man related their earlier exchange about populating the planet. It was with some effort that she maintained her calm and cool manner as the identical girls threatened to become hysterical at the prospect of missing prom.

"Now, now, everyone, let's keep some perspective. We're here temporarily while we make some repairs, and won't be here long enough to need to worry about such things. Besides, my good sir, there's hardly enough of us to ensure genetic diversity. The gene pool's a bit shallow if I'm doing my math right. "

“Ma’am. I have an IQ quite a bit higher than everyone here and I can assure you that ship is going nowhere without a drive pod. It is essential we must ensure the survival of the people.” The young man declared self-importantly, “Besides, this lady is obvious well past her child bearing years.”

Willow had raised her eyebrows at being called Ma'am, but Beatrice had clearly had enough, lashing out again to deliver another ringing slap.

“OW! She hit me again! I will be forced to defend myself woman! Lenard! Come here and save me from her!”

The three young men come running over with the shorter one heading directly to Willow’s side while the one wearing glasses steps cautiously between his friend and Beatrice. “Yeah. Listen. I’m sorry for whatever my friend here suggested.” He says while adjusting his glasses, and then whispers, “He is really quite crazy.”

“No I’m not! My mother had me tested!”

The shorter man smiles in a poor attempt to be seductive and says to Willow, “Vous êtes si chaud et délicieux que je veux pour courir ma langue partout dans vous.” He looks smug and says, “I’m sorry, have you never been told that you are beautiful before in Earth that Was French?”

Willow blinked in horror at the short fellow standing much too close to her and stepped sideways enough to put a discernible space between herself and the puppy dog eyed Romeo.

"There will be this much space, if not more, between us at all times, or I will be forced to sedate you, don ma?" she said sharply, her patience beginning to wear thin. As "Romeo"'s jaw dropped, Willow turned to the one called Leonard and pulled her composure back together with some effort.

"Leonard, is it? Leonard, love, we have more passengers that this ship should be able to carry, yet she got us here safe at a great cost to herself. We need to get her fixed and back in the Black, and we can't do that with scared passengers fighting amongst themselves...or trying to breed, or," and she threw a sharp look at her erstwhile seducer, "or licking each other. If you have any brilliant ideas on keeping your friends out of trouble..."

Willow's voice trailed off as she spotted Lord Hood and Captain Havelock making their way among the passengers, stopping at each little group to speak briefly before moving on. She caught Havelock's eye and waved them over.

"Captain Havelock! Just the man I was looking for! These four young men are eager, as they've told me, to do what they can to help. Aren't we in need of latrines to be dug or piles of rock to be built? Something, " she waved her hands as a light dawned in Havelock's eyes and Lord Hood hid a smile, " to wear young bodies out and keep idle hands busy?"

"I know just the thing, milady, just the thing! Right, men! Follow me!"

Willow sighed in relief as Havelock hustled the protesting young men off, his battered air of command still too much for the youngsters to ignore. She spent a few minutes smoothing things over with Beatrice and her young women, and was just about to resume her pursuit of the musician with the silver case when a call came over the com tucked in her lab coat pocket.

“Miss Willow." Ash's voice crackled, "We’re gonna need a med kit with tranquilizers.. and maybe antidotes in the port shuttle. We got a couple high on some sort of love drug and if we don’t slow 'em down this old guy is gonna hurt himself.”

" Gossah! " Willow muttered to herself, "That must be Amber....I lost track of her in all the fuss." She looked over to where Sifu was sitting near the musicians, and the little monk must have read her expression, as he quickly waved her off with a thumbs up gesture.

Willow hustled back to the ship, one hand rummaging through the med kit slung over her shoulder, each touch reminding her of the contents she'd so carefully kept stocked. She did have a couple of doses of a narcotic for field emergencies, and of course, in a pinch, there was the knockout drug on her hairpin. Praying she wouldn't need any of it, she scrambled to the port shuttle and slid to a stop, her eyes wide.

Cameron Bridges and Amber Portia were both crumbled on the ground and covered with emergency blankets, but it was clear from the clothing scattered around that neither had a stitch on under the blankets. Ash was trying to comfort the girl, and Cameron lay dazed, his eyes unfocused and his face covered in sweat. It was the Captain that flummoxed Willow. He stood like his usual implacable self, but he was breathing heavily as if he'd run a mile and his shirt was wide open...and blood on his arm.

"Captain? I .... uh....let's get these two to my medical bay - I know both of these people, but I'm pretty certain they didn't know each other...before today, that is. I'd seen Amber earlier and was worried about her. She seemed to be under the influence of something," Willow had crouched beside Amber to check her hand, but then spotted the device on the shuttle floor.

"This is the likely culprit, though I have no idea what it is, " Willow knew she was babbling as she scooped up the device and dropped it in her pocket, but she was fighting the feeling this was all her fault. If only she'd kept Amber with her, if only she'd not given Cameron the slip, if, if, if, if rang through her brain.

"Are they going to be ok?" Ash asked, and that helped Willow focus. She shot him a look of pure gratitude (likely puzzling the poor man), and smiled as reassuringly as she could.

"I'll need to get them stabilized - I don't like Cameron-san's colour, but I don't think this is a drug. That thing had no reservoir for a liquid, so I suspect it's a neuro-stimulator of some kind. Can you carry Amber, Ash? We'll have to get help with Cameron-san. Captain-san," Willow asked without looking at him directly," Are you able to walk to the bay unassisted? I'm thinking I'd better check you, as well."

“Everything’ shiny here, Tess?” Wyatt asked.

"Yes sir Captain. This here is Kiddo, Beatrix Kiddo. Licensed to Courier. She's got some attention from those big boys hanging on the gate and their master in the white duds."
“Glad to meet you Captain,” Jessy said with a faint smile, fear clearly on her face as her eyes cast a furtive glance towards the big goons at the hatchway, “I was trying to explain to your Pilot here is that I believe those men along with their employer are after my case here and I.. well frankly Captain they frighten me and … “

”"Wolf, we're taking the other shuttle. Ash, get to the starboard shuttle with Willow or the Captain. There's a situation you guys need to deal with." John’s voice came over the comm drawing Wyatt’s attention from the story that Beatrix was telling.
Jessy nodded to the Captain as he turned to handle a more critical situation. She sighed and looked at the two men by the hatch.

“Perhaps a more direct approach would work,” she said to no one in particular though Tess was still standing there. She looked at Tess, “Excuse me, I think I will go see what it is these men want.” She started walking over towards the men.

"Captain?” Willow’s look was all Wyatt needed to fight through the fog. She looked shocked, and a bit confused, and having just dealt with a euphoric release that he’d been longing for but avoiding for the sake of his crew, Sung felt ashamed and disappointed. He could hear Summer’s voice like a distant echo through the canyon saying, “It wasn’t your fault,” and though it carried some logic, the forgiveness he imagined from his late wife was not enough to relieve the guilt. Clenching his jaw he watched as the little doctor continued her work. “I .... uh....let's get these two to my medical bay - I know both of these people, but I'm pretty certain they didn't know each other...before today, that is. I'd seen Amber earlier and was worried about her. She seemed to be under the influence of something," Willow had crouched beside Amber to check her hand, but then spotted the device on the shuttle floor.

"This is the likely culprit, though I have no idea what it is," Willow scooped up the device and dropped it in her pocket. Wyatt stared at the folds of clothing where it had disappeared and fought back the urge to request it from Willow. He wanted more of what it provided, and hated himself for it.

"Are they going to be ok?" Ash asked in his innocence.

"I'll need to get them stabilized - I don't like Cameron-san's colour, but I don't think this is a drug. That thing had no reservoir for a liquid, so I suspect it's a neuro-stimulator of some kind. Can you carry Amber, Ash? We'll have to get help with Cameron-san. Captain-san," Willow asked without looking at him directly," Are you able to walk to the bay unassisted? I'm thinking I'd better check you, as well."

“I’ll make the bay,” Wyatt forced through dry lips, still eyeballing the pocket where the little device had vanished. “Once we get there, an’ yer sure you no longer need that kuh wu device; destroy it. Wipe the gorram thing from the ‘Verse, don ma?”

Closing up his shirt and righting himself as quickly as he could, Wyatt avoided eye contact with his friends. When he was presentable once more, he made to assist in moving the man, still wanting nothing to do with the young girl as the charged feeling was still somewhat present.

“Remind me,” he muttered to Willow as they made their way to the medical bay. “To never answer a distress call again.”

“Everything’ shiny here, Tess?” Wyatt asked.

Tess tossed her eyes over on Wyatt, keeping the look simple and clean. No need to get him involved yet, unless there was something involved. Enough panties found themselves all twisted up without somewhere nice to head on to, or real excitement it seemd to enjoy.

"Yes sir Captain. This here is Kiddo, Beatrix Kiddo. Licensed to Courier. She's got some attention from those big boys hanging on the gate and their master in the white duds."

She gave Wyatt a flat look like usual, as if this was nothing more than the usual dog and pony show. She had a bit more to say, but the girl found her voice.

The timid little creature came forward then, giving her piece though it needed more time to warrent out a real response. “Glad to meet you Captain.” She seemed all sorts of afraid, not all of it an act far as Tess could reckon. “I was trying to explain to your Pilot here is that I believe those men along with their employer are after my case here and I.. well frankly Captain they frighten me and … “

”Wolf, we're taking the other shuttle. Ash, get to the starboard shuttle with Willow or the Captain. There's a situation you guys need to deal with." John’s voice came over the comm drawing Wyatt’s attention from the story unfolding. But a story it was that Tess had to ferret out.

“Perhaps a more direct approach would work." Those eyes widened like porridge bowls, staring up at her with this sort of silent plea. Normally the heart strips didn't pull, but something about her left Tess eager to toss her behind and yank a gun. “Excuse me, I think I will go see what it is these men want.”

Tess knew better. The girl hadn't gotten a step or two before she got her feet moving. Leaning in, she spoke matter of factly. "'Course, ah think checking into their interests a mighty fine investment of time." Fingers pulled just enough at Jessy's arm to speak the intention. That smile of her kept nicey nice, all shiny. But the eyes weren't as flat as usual. They gave a nice reply.

Get behind me if you need. Else you have a copilot on this juncture.

LV-426, Inside of Rocinante Port Shuttle 7:25 am PT No sooner had Ash called Willow for help when the couple separated. The man fell backwards and the girl reached out grabbing Wyatt’s arm. Then suddenly the captain did something ... unexpected.

Wyatt pulled the young Amber into an embrace and the two were kissing passionately like ... well like her and the other guy were just a few minutes ago. Amber tore open Wyatt’s shirt as he struggle to get his arms under his suspenders and undo his gunbelt.

The kid stared in disbelief he saw a small amount of blood on the sleeve of the captain where the girl was holding him. There was something on her finger digging into his arm and he was sure that was the cause of all this ... fruitfulness and multiplying.

It didn't take a gorram genius to see that captain was in trouble and that girl had just inflicted some kind injection on his arm. Moving quickly Ash used one of the moves he'd learned from Miss Willow with a bit of improvise.

Raising a leg as if side kick he placed boot on Wyatt's hip as he grabbed the girl's forearm. A quick push, pull and twist. Ash shoved Wyatt away as he spun pulling the girl away, twisting her arm out around and backing it up behind her back. Keeping a tight grip on her wrist he grabbed her free arm and pull back behind too.

"Miss, don't struggle, I don't mean to hurt you but you've just hurt the wrong man." As he succeeded in making the move, the device on her finger fell off and landed on the floor of the shuttle, rolling in a circle toward Wyatt who was standing there for a few seconds in shock of what just happened. He rubbed the arm that had been pricked by the device but gave Asher a quick nod to show that he was still in control of faculties – or at least was once again in control.
The girl fell to the floor crying, “No! Give that to me! I have to have it! You ... don’t know what it is like to ... Please.” From a kneeling position in front of Asher, she looked up mumbling, “I’ll do anything just give it back.” She crumpled to the ground in a fetal position crying and shaking. There was blood on her fingertip as well, just like the needle hole in Wyatt’s arm. Asher had seen someone in the grips of drug dependency once act like this before but this was something beyond anything he had ever witness in his life.

As Wyatt started to recover he knew he should get the girl out there. Seeing the girl laying naked there Ash felt his face was redder and not from the exertion to separate the girl from Wyatt. He quickly stepped over to a storage bin and pulled out two emergency blankets (The silver lined thermal ones) to toss one over Cameron and wrap the other around Amber.

"Miss you need to get to Miss Willow. I sure hope she heard me and is on her way."

No sooner had he placed the blankets around the man and over the girl when Willow appeared in the shuttle doorway. She quickly surveyed scene, she seemed to recognize people.

"Captain? I .... uh....let's get these two to my medical bay - I know both of these people, but I'm pretty certain they didn't know each other...before today, that is. I'd seen Amber earlier and was worried about her. She seemed to be under the influence of something,"
Willow had crouched beside Amber to check her hand, but then spotted the device on the shuttle floor."This is the likely culprit, though I have no idea what it is." She scooped up the device and dropped it in her pocket.

The gunslinger stepped over toward Miss Willow, "Are they going to be ok?" The ships medical expect looked up and smiled. The kid had seem that look before from folk that weren’t sure how to say “Thank You.”

Willow continued, "I'll need to get them stabilized - I don't like Cameron-san's colour, but I don't think this is a drug. That thing had no reservoir for a liquid, so I suspect it's a neuro-stimulator of some kind. Can you carry Amber, Ash?
The kid bent down, wrapped the girl securely in the blanket and lifted her gently. Cradling the trembling young lady Ash waited to follow as Miss Willow continued.

We'll have to get help with Cameron-san. Captain-san, are you able to walk to the bay unassisted? I'm thinking I'd better check you, as well."

(OOC: The following is a collaboration between the GM, Yanamari and myself. )

Jessy gave Tess an appreciative smile as they walked over to the goons standing by the hatch. Tess responded with a smile and nod, but went serious as death in the face. Even if these two were thick-skulled louts, they seemed well paid for. She had to think of a plan fast if this went poorly.

“I would like to talk to your boss if you please,” she addressed the men as she stood before them with Tess next to her. She didn’t expect Tess to have to do anything really, just be there as insurance that they wouldn’t try anything with a crewman as witness.

The hired man looks over across the gangway at his partner with a confused look on his face. "Can she do that?" He asked.

The other man shrugs, "I don't know. Boss said keep an eye on her and don't engage. Didn't say nuthin' bout her engaging."

"Hack! I already got a girlback home. I ain't getting engaged!"

"Not that kinda engaged you knucklehead!"

"Don't call me a knucklehead you knucklehead!"

“Gentlemen?” she interrupted their back and forth tirade, “perhaps you can go and just tell your boss that I wish to speak with him, dong ma?”

Tess cleared her throat rather than smack the upside their heads. Who knew how close this boss was watching, and just who he could be.

"You go Slash. I'll stay here." Hack, the wiser of the two says and his tone suggests no argument will be tolerated. The other goon nods and walks away, looking around for his employer like it would be tough to find a man in a white tuxedo in this crowd. Sure enough, he returns in a few minutes with his employer in tow.

The man in the tux smiles broadly as he reaches the base of the gangway without stepping upon it, looking at Tess and Beatrix. "Good day ladies." He says cheerfully, waving his walking stick in an arc as if to survey the landscape. Both women note that he holds the stick with a grip that suggests a familiarity with it as a weapon. "My name is Matherson. and you are?"

Tess tossed out her credentials low and even, nothing more than the extreme basics before giving the girl the stage. Tuxes and rich folk weren't her usual fare. Better by far that the captain deal with this one. He definitely seemed miles ahead of the lugknuts he sent. "Tess Zhou, pilot of the Rocinante, sir."

“My name is Beatrix Kiddo,” she said keeping her countenance even and serious, “and I wish to talk to you about this.” She raised the silver case from her side to hold it before her.

“One of the crewmen told me that you said this case belonged to you,” she said watching him closely, “and I have said this one is mine. Now I know there are many similar cases such as this and in the turmoil of the escape I will not deny that it is possible items could have been accidentally switched. I am here to give you the chance.”

She lifted the case up before her holding it horizontally and nodded her head to it.

To Tess, it all seemed pretty clear cut logic, and fast thinking for a gal that had dropped a few ill-timed lies. Maybe she rushed the cover story, but there was something slick and easy about the way Kiddo handled herself in this here predicament. The pilot made sure not to grin or guff, keeping cool with the ploy.

“If this case is yours as you say, prove it by opening the combination now,” she said, raising an eyebrow, “it the lock pops open than I will hand over this case to you without hesitation and try to find out what happened to mine.” She waited to see if he was going to do it, here with Tess the ship’s pilot as witness.

Even Tess had to whistle low, giving the suit a couple raised brows and reaching up to rub a black feather in her hair. She had a weapon to yank and a shout to give if this went south, but the whole situation left her a tad ancy. Suits meant bad relaxtions would end in grand fashions. Explosions in here would be bad luck indeed. And they the others seemed pretty intent on other business at the moment.

Yet there was every damned possibility he would just grin and enter the code. If that happened, they would be up to their eyes with a real issue, and one that would require the captain and few others. So she did what could best be done, keep Kiddo's back and lean on the luck in these old charms.

Matherson smiled broadly like a cat that just ate the canary, drank the milk and locked the dog outside in the rain. “Well that is very civilized of you. I would be most pleased to open the case and end any misunderstanding we may have had.” He took the case out of Beatrix’s hand and then brought it down to the ground to move the combination locks deftly, as someone who had done this many times before. After he did he reached to the locking bolts and pushed then inwards, looking up with that smile of confidence.

But the lock did not open.

The smile vanished. He checked the combo, flipped the locks again and nothing happened. Spun the combo lock and re- entered the combination and still it did not open. After three attempts, he sighed and stood up to face the two ladies and viewed them without a smile. “It appears that I am in error. I apologize for any ... accusations I may have made. If you’ll excuse me.” He straightens his tux jacket and turns to his two flunkies, “the other man with the case. Get him and it. Now!”

Just as he made the declaration, the buzzer alarm went off on Tess's multiband.

Jessy said nothing, only gave a faint smile as she reached down and picked up the case and took a couple steps back. It had been a gamble but she figured what did she have to lose really if he had opened the case? It might be something valuable inside but was it worth being hounded by this man and his hired thugs? She didnt think so, therefore she had taken a risk and so far it had paid off. She still wasnt out of the woods yet.

Jessy looked at Tess wondering what the alarm was for ...


OOC - Just took out a line that Jessie would not have known.

With John piloting and Wolf in the Co-pilot seat they made good time to the Atmos Processor. As they landed Wolf eyed the multi-leveled building before them and could not help feel a chill go down his back as to the black of it. Standing and grabbing the JC he turned to John, grabbed the SPAS30, and handed it to the ships tech guy.

“You ready?”

John takes the shotgun, ensures he has a confortable grip, and nods. "Let's hope nobody's home."

“Ok let’s do this, once I take care of the lock we go in file first. I’ll go in first you cover me, and then I’ll find cover. Once in cover you enter move past me till you find cover and so on till were sure the AP is empty.”

"Seems a bit excessive, if it's locked from the outside I can't think why we'd need those precautions. Wouldn't it be best to just sweep the building quick hugging the walls?"

“Yeah we could do that but the processor is huge no telling what has crept in here in the years it’s been here. Better safe then sorry.”

As Wolf reached the doorway into the huge building was he saw it was only locked with a large padlock. Though clear this was not a high sec building still the lack of any electrical security still made Wolf nervous. Then again, who was going steal an atmosphere processor? All the way out here. The parts maybe but the processor itself?

Then Wolf caught himself laughing as he realized the comedy of that thought. Who would steal one? why they were, the crew of the Rocinante, a Serenity class ship.

Bolt cutters in hand Wolf took the lock off easily opening the door. As decided the two moved forward until the breakers were found and John tripped them flooding the interior with light from florescent bulbs on wired racks to reveal that the Fixer and Tech guy stood inside a huge circular room that would have normally housed equipment and vehicles needed for initial terra-forming, but of course, it was empty now. In the center of this large area was a domed chamber with shafts leading up and all over the upper reaches. The main processor would be in there and would be secured but they were after the Atmos Processor not the main and it was up the shafts near the top of the building.

“Any ideas?"

LV-426, Outside of Rocinante Cargo hold 7:45 am PT
The man in the white tux looked rather upset, “It appears that I am in error. I apologize for any ... accusations I may have made. If you’ll excuse me.” He straightens his tux jacket and turns to his two flunkies, “The other man with the case. Get him and it. Now!”

Just as he made the declaration, the buzzer alarm went off on Tess's multiband.

Tess looked at her wrist and them looked up. She spoke into her comm, "Company's coming! A ship just broke atmo!". Sure enough, as she finished the call, the thunderous roar of a ship breaking the sound barrier sounded overhead.


LV-426, Inside of Rocinante Infirmary 7:30-7:45 am PT
We'll have to get help with Cameron-san. Captain-san, are you able to walk to the bay unassisted? I'm thinking I'd better check you, as well." Willow said.

“I’ll make the bay,” Wyatt forced through dry lips, still eyeballing the pocket where the little device had vanished. “Once we get there, an’ yer sure you no longer need that kuh wu device; destroy it. Wipe the gorram thing from the ‘Verse, don ma?”

Closing up his shirt and righting himself as quickly as he could, Wyatt avoided eye contact with his friends. When he was presentable once more, he made to assist in moving the man, still wanting nothing to do with the young girl as the charged feeling was still somewhat present.

“Remind me,” he muttered to Willow as they made their way to the medical bay. “To never answer a distress call again.”

Moving down the catwalk, the infirmary wasn't far from the shuttles actually. Ash put Amber on the one bed while Wyatt put Cameron on the side bench. Willow put the finger sleeve into the medical device that was normally used to run diagnostics. She put the machine into "connect with device - find" mode and let it run as she moved to her patients.

Amber was in a heightened state of anxiety and begging to have her toy back. Willow could not cope with her like this so elected to give her a quick sedative to calm her down so Willow could examine her using the MedComp. As it ran through her tests, Willow moved to the Captain and looked at him with stern no-nonsense of looks as she scanned him with her portable MedAcad tool.

Cameron's colour was beginning to return as she finally moved to examine him. He didn't want to look at Willow, avoided eye contact as he said quietly, "I really don't know what happened. She came on to me, I said know and then next thing I knew I ...couldn't stop myself. This overwhelming desire and lust took over. I'm sorry."

All three of the patients showed heightened cerebral stimulation, with Amber being the most "over stimulated". Cameron was ... well exhausted from pushing his body well past the point of pain or personal limits. The captain was most recently affected and his septum pellucidium and the hypothalamus were almost raw with stimulation. As well his dopamine levels were high - very high. The fact that the captain was standing here, instead of acting on baser instincts, spoke volumes to his self control. The diagnostic on the device came back as Unknown device - Cortical Stimulator. Sensory amplifier present, cannot connect to RF unit access code unknown.
Just as Willow was reading the data and pondering what all this means, the comm crackled with Tess' voice, 'Company's coming! A ship just broke atmo!"

LV-426, Atmo Processor 7:45 am PT
Bolt cutters in hand Wolf took the lock off easily opening the door. As decided the two moved forward until the breakers were found and John tripped them flooding the interior with light from florescent bulbs on wired racks to reveal that the Fixer and Tech guy stood inside a huge circular room that would have normally housed equipment and vehicles needed for initial terra-forming, but of course, it was empty now. In the center of this large area was a domed chamber with shafts leading up and all over the upper reaches. The main processor would be in there and would be secured but they were after the Atmos Processor not the main and it was up the shafts near the top of the building.

“Any ideas?"

(Map is on the way)

Suddenly, both John and Wolf's comm activated to the sound of Tess' voice. "Company's coming! A ship just broke atmo!". Sure enough, as she finished the call, the thunderous roar of a ship breaking the sound barrier sounded, loud enough to hear through the walls of the AP.

(assuming both of you head to the door to look out)


LV-426, Emergency Landing Field 7:50 am PT (8:00 am landing and disembark)
A ship appeared overhead and quickly swooped around the landing field and Rocinante. It was a ASREV with federal Marshall emblems on it. It did not land immediately but moved around the processor and Rocinante for awhile - as if scouting out the area and doing a recon of the area.

The passengers all began to get up, cheering and happy that they were saved. The authorities had come for them. The ASREV did a final parameter sweep and then landed, lowering onto the landing field directly behind Rocinante.

As the engines powered down, the landing ramp lowered and out walked a man in the black uniform and trench coat of the federal Marshalls. He was a tall man, handsome in a rugged sort of way with brown hair and an easy smile. He had a sidearm at his right and machine pistol on other. Behind him came two other men, dressed in full Alliance military armor and carrying assault rifles slung over their shoulders.

LV-426, Outside of Rocinante Cargo hold 7:45 am PT
Tess looked at her wrist and them looked up. She spoke into her comm, "Company's coming! A ship just broke atmo!" Sure enough, as she finished the call, the thunderous roar of a ship breaking the sound barrier sounded overhead.
Holding on to the silver case again, Jessy’s eyes grew wide at Tess’s announcement into her comm unit. The thunderous boom overhead caused her to look up and she saw twin trails streaking across the sky as the ship swooped down and began to circle the area.

“An ASREV,” she said softly, shock evident in her voice, “they found me.” She said this not seeming to realize that Tess was still standing next to her.

An Alliance Short Range Enforcement Vessel, Feds, here? Her first thought had been that had they tracked her here. But then she thought she was too small time for them to be after her for what she had done back on Ariel. But what about what was in this case?

At the thought she looked at the case and then up towards the man who had been after the case, Matherson. She easily saw the white tux as the man appeared to be quite nervous as he watched the ASREV prepare to land. He was gathering his two large goons close and, as the other passengers cheered at their supposed rescue, he appeared to be moving towards the back of the welcoming mob.

Well she didn’t plan to greet the Feds, instead she turned and hurried back into the cargo hold and watched the ship land behind the Rocinante. She peered out trying to stay out of sight, she saw the familiar sight of the Black uniforms and shrunk back further inside the cargo hold. She had to find someplace to hide, or at least hide this case. She thought it more likely that they were here for something other than her and it just might be this case.

She began to move through the ship, she was looking for a common area, a galley, or even guest or crews quarters; she would have the best chance of being able to hide this case there especially with the crew no doubt busy with the problem of the Feds arrival.

(OOC: She will try to sneak someplace other than the cargo hold. A sleeping area, a lounge, or even dining area perhaps. If she sees crew running around she will try to stay out of sight or at least out of the way; counting on them rushing to handle the more pressing emergency of the Feds ship. If she is successful to reach an empty room of any sort, she will enter and hide the case someplace not so obvious. If you want to keep the location secret, you can always PM where she managed to hide it. )

“I’ll make the bay,” Wyatt rasped, not looking directly at Willow and fixating instead on her labcoat pocket. “Once we get there, an’ yer sure you no longer need that kuh wu device; destroy it. Wipe the gorram thing from the ‘Verse, don ma?”

"Of course, Captain-san," Willow replied carefully, saying nothing more as Wyatt re-arranged his clothing and prepared to help move Bridges, Willow moving to lift Bridges arm around her shoulders and help carry his weight.

“Remind me,” he muttered to Willow as they made their way to the medical bay. “To never answer a distress call again.”

Willow laughed a little at that, hearing more of her Captain return to himself, and ducked her head forward to look past Bridges' head at Wyatt.

" Dang-ran (Certainly) Captain-san, the day you turn your back on folks in need is the day I take a vow of celibacy. Here we are....let's set Cameron-san on the side bench and Amber on the bed, shall we?"

As the men settled their charges, Willow slipped the finger sleeve out of her pocket and set it into her diagnostics system, tabbing the command for "connect with device-find" and letting the smart machine have its way with the offender. She then tugged on yet another pair of medical gloves today and turned back to her patients, considering.

Amber was panicky and near hysterical, and Willow knew she wouldn't get more than three coherent words out of her. Murmuring reassuring nothings, Willow administered a light sedative, but was unsurprised when Amber slid into unconsciousness. She lowered the girl back onto the bed and tucked one of the surgical sheets and blankets around the slumbering girl's body, setting the silver emergency blanket aside. She set the MedComp on full scan on Amber while she moved onto the Captain.

"We need our Captain running things, and not hanging out here, but I want to be certain you've taken no harm before you run off, don'ma?" she started out firmly as she scanned Wyatt with the portable MedAcad. He merely grunted, his face set as usual but his eyes were haunted.

This contradicted the readings she was getting from the MedAcad, and she started to move back to the MedComp to see if it indicated the same thing about Amber. Cameron stopped her as she went by," "I really don't know what happened. She came on to me, I said no and then next thing I knew I ...couldn't stop myself. This overwhelming desire and lust took over. I'm sorry."

"Cameron-san, please, just a moment. You needn't apologize to me," Willow said distractedly as she hurriedly scanned Cameron and compared his readings to Amber and the Captain's.

All three of the patients showed heightened cerebral stimulation, with Amber being the most "over stimulated". Cameron was ... well exhausted from pushing his body well past the point of pain or personal limits. The captain was most recently affected and his septum pellucidium and the hypothalamus were almost raw with stimulation. As well his dopamine levels were high - very high. The fact that the captain was standing here, instead of acting on baser instincts, spoke volumes to his self control.
"No-one need apologize," Willow said at last, looking first at Cameron, then Wyatt." This wasn't something you did...it was done TO you." Wyatt's haunted look made sense now, and Willow moved back to stand in front of her Captain. Understanding the chemical conflict raging through him, she kept her voice and face stern, so as to not provoke him further.

"Hear me, Wyatt? YOU didn't do this....what you feel isn't real. It's a cheat. A damned ugly one. This," and she took one of his hands and pinched hard on the web of flesh between thumb and hand," THIS is real. We need you awake, so I can't knock you out to sleep it off. Do this, or bite your lip, whatever, to send real signals to your brain, overriding what your brain thinks it feels and that should help clear your thinking. I'll see what more I can safely do later, alright?"

The diagnostic system chose that moment to signal its failure to connect, flashing "Unknown device - Cortical Stimulator. Sensory amplifier present, cannot connect to RF unit access code unknown" with an entirely inappropriately cheerful chirp.

"'Company's coming! A ship just broke atmo!" Crackled Tess over the comm.