Tantalizing smells wafted through the corridors. Tess inhaled deeply as she walked into the galley. She was feeling irritable. All of this screwy business with the Feds searching the ship, a contract with a guy who was about as twitchy as Grace could be at times, and the confrontation with Ken put her in a foul mood. Jon looked up and invited her to take some stew. It looked like the Doc was busy too, so she took a bowl and sat down out of the way. The pilot nodded to Jason, and without standing on ceremony, plowed into her meal. The hearty food lifted her spirits a bit. The stew was gone almost as quickly as it had been filled. Tess never kicked the habit of eating at high speeds since the war.

“Sheh sheh, Capt’n,” Tess said as she set the bowl on the counter out of Steph’s way, “A little late for dinner, but I ain’t complaining.” She turned to return to her seat as Ken walked in a winked at her. Side stepping him once again, Tess sat down and stretched.

“Ummmm, smells good Cap,” Ken muttered and sat down at the table. He began eating with quite a bit of enthusiasm. The captain really did make good chow. Jon was speaking quietly with Steph as Grace came in and sat down next to her with her own bowl. Ken looked pointedly at Tess, winked, and nodded towards the two still bustling around in the kitchen. Her ire rose immediately. How many times was that chwen joo going to wink at her today?

“Got summit wrong with your eye, Ken?” she asked, flipping out her knife from her belt, “I’m always ready to help a pal out. Might’n be able to fix that nasty twitch of yours if you ask nice.” She regarded the blade for a few more seconds before sticking it back into its sheath.

---

((OOC: I’m going to wait for Phelan’s response before jumping into the ‘big picture’ conversation that Grace has started.))

“Got summit wrong with your eye, Ken?” she asked, flipping out her knife from her belt, “I’m always ready to help a pal out. Might’n be able to fix that nasty twitch of yours if you ask nice.” She regarded the blade for a few more seconds before sticking it back into its sheath.

Jason watched the silent banter that Ken aimed at Tess and her response with an in-ward grin. Careful there Ken, you might not want to push that too far. You never can tell what’ll happen if you piss that girl off. Having served himself a decent portion of stew and asked his opening question, Jason leaned against the counter and started to eat. Grace entered served herself and proceeded to answer his question,

"I can answer that," Grace replied to Jason’s query, "It's her wave transmitter. Kind of like a companion’s S.O.S signal. She sent a message to her guild before she passed out. I have no clue what, the machine doesn't save it. If you really wanted to know, I would have to dissect her transmitter which would piss her and her guild off."

“I highly doubt that we want the Companion’s guild, with all of their money and connections, upset with us,” Jason said his eyes still on his stew.

He looked up from his bowl and Grace locked eyes with him and said, "You might want to send a message to the Guild. Tell them where she is and warn them that she might be in danger. I did some research on her. Looks like someone using Higgin's code is trying to see if anyone died recently. She should be safe on Greenleaf. The place is crawling with Alliance."

Grace looked at the Captain and said "I think after the party we should return to Greenleaf. I found this medical card in her case." Grace pulled the card out of the pocket on her jeans and handed him the card "Stephanie says it's for organ donors. I think she won't needing it any time soon but the sooner we give it to her, the better" She said

“Or, we could post it to her from Osiris, and keep our noses out of other people’s business that is no concern of ours.” Jason spoke quietly, “It might be unwise to interfere in the affairs of the ultra rich and well connected.”

"Finally I think we should be carefully. I think the Feds will be coming back. They came in looking for fugitives but the leader started talking about smugglers when he tapped against the wine. I thought it was strange so I checked out the cases. Size wise, they aren't correct. A little too big. And when I leaned against it moved. With its size and weight that should have been impossible. Plus it looks like there is a hidden door on each barrel. I also noticed Norm made sure when we were loading them, none of us actually touched them. Rich Folks aren't in the habit of lending out equipment unless they got something to hide." Grace explained. If there was any startled looks or anything, Grace didn't notice and took another mouth full of food. As she chewed, a thought crossed her mind and she glanced at Stephanie.

"Hey Stephanie, would it be okay if I borrowed the X-ray machine?" Grace asked the doc.

“I’d just like to point out that as of this time, we, as a crew, have plausible deny-ability,” Jason stated starting to get just a touch annoyed, “As it stands the feds may just be onto Norm and Howard’s little side operation. So, the faster we get this job done and find another one the faster we can be out of this little mess that we’ve found our way into the middle of. Unless of course you all think that we can cross the Tong, The Alliance Aristocracy, and the Military, without repercussion?”

Jason’s aggravation had made him restless and setting his bowl on the counter he began to pace as he spoke. Jason thought hard while he paced. He was trying to figure out the best way to put all of his experiences with the both crime and aristocracy into a viable whole and draw a conclusion from all of the various bits and pieces info he’d gathered or been given. After a few seconds he began to speak again, “First, we don’t know that Norm is involved. Second, the feds may or may not come back while we have this cargo, but if they do I’d like to be able to look that Colonel in the eye and honestly tell him we have and have had NO knowledge of anything other wine in those barrels. Third, if we start digging and somehow interfere with the Tong’s business, how long do you think it’ll take them to come after us?” Jason stopped pacing and took a deep breath calming himself, “Look, I’m not trying to aggravate anybody but we need to look at this from all the angles, and then find the best way out.

“Anyone have any other tidbits of information to add?” Jason asked, “I’ve got some messages out and I’m checking into appropriating a guest list for Otello’s party. From what I could gather quickly the guest list looks like a who’s who of the Parliament, the Aristocracy, and the top level Tong,” Letting out a sigh the face scrubbed his face with his hands and continued, “I suppose that if we want to dig deeper into this mess I could always look into at the party. Norm did arrange for a pair of tickets for us,” Jason paused and took stock of the crew, “However, I think that the Doc is the best choice to accompany me into the party. No offence Tess, Grace,” Jason nodded to the pair, “but you two ladies wouldn’t blend in very well,” Jason shook his head continuing, “Ken, well you’re just a bit too rough around the edges. And while I know you’d try cap,” Jason met Jon’s eyes as he finished up, “we both know this is my kind of game. Besides, the Doc knows the ropes of high society. She’ll probably have an easier time of it.”

Finished speaking for the moment Jason leaned back against the counter and resumed eating waiting for the inevitable explosion from the rest of the crew.

“Got summit wrong with your eye, Ken?” Tess asked, flipping out her knife from her belt, “I’m always ready to help a pal out. Might’n be able to fix that nasty twitch of yours if you ask nice.” She regarded the blade for a few more seconds before sticking it back into its sheath.

Ken raised a brow and then chuckled at Tess as she put away he knife; he wiped his mouth on his napkin and then gave her a familiar smug grin.

“Well hon,” he said knowing how she hated when he called her that, “I’m always ready to help you out too. When ever you run outta batteries and feeling frisky just come knock on my door.”

Ken continued on with his stew and listened to what Grace had to report and he found the thought of the wine not being wine interesting he knitted his brows for a moment.

“While I think the Marshal Sanders is a sharp cookie,” he said as he finished his second bowl of stew, “I also think if he suspected the wine was something else he would have investigated it right then and there.”

He stood up and took his dishes to the sink and washed them up as was expected and listened to what Jason was saying of his plans.

Jason shook his head continuing, “Ken, well you’re just a bit too rough around the edges.”

“You got that right,” Ken replied, “besides those kind of affairs don’t usually let you carry any iron; not my kind of place.” He said as he helped himself to some of Doc's sweet Boa when it was done.

He never liked to go anyplace he could carry a weapon, or a dozen. While he could usually handle himself in a straight up hand to hand bout he preferred to have some cold steel in his hands if the need arose.

After making his announcement to the crew Jon went to finishing his preparations.

Loosing himself in the simple tasks of preparing the food gave Jon the time he needed to clear his mind. As he worked someone enter to galley. The familiar fragrance that now filled his senses was not from the bubbling concoction on the heating area.

Jon flashed back to the morning when he awoke in the hospital bed with an angel‘s face hovering over him. It was Doctor Stephanie Young; her perfume and the smell of her hair filled his senses. She gently touch him as she examined the dressing she had placed over his wounds. Jon had gotten himself shot up pretty badly and Doctor Stephanie had saved his life. He had always been grateful to her but there was something more. Whenever she came around, well he just felt better; no that’s not it, he felt….. well …something nice.
Now somehow the Doc had asked to join.. his crew. She said she needed to get away and find herself, well that was fine with Jon.

Her softly accented voice asked, "Great mind or fools?" .... "I was thinking the same thing. Mind if I make some sweet Boa alongside you?"

Jon looked over his should and saw Stephanie’s smiling face. As he opened his mouth the words plopped out in their usual clumsy way when he tried to talk casually to the doctor, “Sure.. ah .. I mean. . No.. ah… no I mean it’s fine, yeah sure come on.” Jon sighed heavily as he blushed and turned back to the stew. They continued to work side by side in small cooking area of the galley.

Jon turned to get some more water and found himself face to face with the doctor, they had both turned to move at the same time. Jon had stepped forward, pitcher in one hand, ladle in the other, Stephanie had a pot in one hand and spoon it other; they stood there arm out like wings. Jon gasp as Stephanie’s soft body was pressed up against him.

As the doctor smiled up at him Jon said, Ah.. sorry.. okay.. you go left and I’ll go right.” Stephanie laughed and said, “That will just keep us in the position only over there.” Jon blushed again and said,” Oh..yeah…right … ah…well you stay there and I’ll go around.” With their arms still out to the sides Jon slide across Stephanie as he move causing her to laugh softly, Jon blushed again. At this rate the heat from his face would have been enough to cook the stew.

Although Jon was a bit embarrassed he had enjoyed the closeness, he had momentarily looked into Stephanie’s clear green eyes as they stood face to face, there had not been any alarm or displeasure. Jon set the pitcher in the sink and turned to speak to Stephanie. As she walked away from him he was struck again by her beauty. The words were forming on his lips as Ken bounded into galley.

Recovering quickly Jon said to the crewman, “If you’re hungry grab a bowl, let’s sit and talk.” Jon hoped the redness was gone from his face or at least it looked like he was working hard to make the meal.

As the rest of the crew arrived they each grabbed some food and started telling what saw and felt. Jon listened closely as his crew went over the events of evening.

Grace’s assessment of the barrels alarmed him. If she could feel something odd about them then so could the marshal, but why hadn’t he said anything, especially after that remark about smuggling. Grace was right to be twitchy this time.

Jason seemed to be a bit over political, but then he seemed did know that world better than the rest of them. When Jason have finished Jon step forward.

“Thanks, we all need to be sharing our thoughts, I hope no one got offended by honest assessments. I didn’t hear any bitter talk so let’s just chew on the facts. Grace, you got a point about them barrels and Jason I’m sorry but we need to know if they’re hiding something. Feds won’t care if we say we didn’t know, we’d be guilty until proven innocent. So Doc if your stuff will help see inside those things then I feel we got to do that. We’ll decide what to do after a peek.

As for the party, well we still need to get there first before we worry about who goes, who stays, who talks and such, but I remember that there are invites for all of us. So if we go, we all go, heck we may never get the chance to see that kind of thing again. Jason, for what its worth we’ll let you tell us some about proper party manners, but it ain’t like it would become a regular thing. If they get their wine to them, the Baron will be happy, so we don’t have to hobnob, just smile, eat , drink and tell'um how fast we can deliver. Good place to find more work from folks with credits. We just try to stay out of trouble, right Ken?” Jon shot a quick smile as his PR man.

“Okay, so if you think of anything else bring it, we don’t need any surprises that from something we didn’t mention because we didn’t think it was important.” With that Jon grabbed his own bowl of stew and started to chow down. “Say, this boat has a hellava good cook, hope its captain is as good.”

When Jason have finished Jon step forward.

“Thanks, we all need to be sharing our thoughts, I hope no one got offended by honest assessments. I didn’t hear any bitter talk so let’s just chew on the facts. Grace, you got a point about them barrels and Jason I’m sorry but we need to know if they’re hiding something. Feds won’t care if we say we didn’t know, we’d be guilty until proven innocent. So Doc if your stuff will help see inside those things then I feel we got to do that. We’ll decide what to do after a peek.

As for the party, well we still need to get there first before we worry about who goes, who stays, who talks and such, but I remember that there are invites for all of us. So if we go, we all go, heck we may never get the chance to see that kind of thing again. Jason, for what its worth we’ll let you tell us some about proper party manners, but it ain’t like it would become a regular thing. If they get their wine to them, the Baron will be happy, so we don’t have to hobnob, just smile, eat , drink and tell'um how fast we can deliver. Good place to find more work from folks with credits. We just try to stay out of trouble, right Ken?” Jon shot a quick smile as his PR man.

Ken looked up from the Boa and put on a hurt look, “What? Why Captain I…” he paused then shrugged, “yeah who am I kidding you're right.” He grinned and then started in on the Boa again before he paused again.

“You know Captain, I don’t do well in functions and well if you’re going there to sniff out some contacts or jobs then you shouldn’t be needing my type of services; maybe it best if I just stick with the ship and keep an eye on things.”

(OOC: Just realize that this character is Kenny McCormick; the character from South Park. I didnt realize that until I called him Kenny. Whomever made up this character had a sense of humor. )

"Hey Stephanie would it be okay if I borrowed the X-ray machine?" Grace asked,

The doctor laughed, "My dear dear Grace, would it matter if I said no? You would just borrow it anyway if I know you and I do, so go ahead but please don't "enhance it" like last time. I almost neutered poor Ken unknowingly."

(Assuming a short smarmy answer from Grace)

"However, I think that the Doc is the best choice to accompany me into the party. No offense Tess, Grace,” Jason nodded to the pair, “but you two ladies wouldn’t blend in very well,”

"Thank you very much for the invitation Jason, it has been a long time since I had a reason to dress formally, but I would decline. I no longer have the heart or patience to deal with the aristocracy and I would be more dangerous there with my tongue than Ken would be with all his iron." The doctor said shaking her head.

Stephanie stood up and picked up the key that was found in the guest quarters. "I looked up the serial number of this key in the Ariel Hospital cortex database. I couldn't find much, even with my credentials which didn't surprise me, patient confidentiality and all that. But I did find one thing that is important. The key is not for organs, the serial is actually for maternity. Now when I examined her for TOX, tests showed she took Neurojenvuium, which made sense as she obviously worked the "young" side of her market."

(assuming Blank stares and a what is .....)

"It a youth drug. Keep the body from maturing. You can't take it long but you can look like a teenager for 20, maybe 25 years. Companions working that market usually charge a lot and get out fast so they take it for a short time. Thing is, you can't take the normal contraception drugs with NJM. You have to take the more modified versions which are hard to get outside core. Higgin's Moon as Grace mentioned, is about as far from the core as you can get."

(assuming some discussion, and Ken making a crude comment about "getting out fast")

The Doctor went on, "I have a feeling that our passenger was once pregnant, and someone wanted her to abort the child. She instead, had the baby removed and put in cyro-stasis until she was ready to have the child."

(assuming some shock and disbelief)

"Oh yes. It can be done and is done in the core hospitals, but you have to be very rich or very influential. But most important for us, with this key and a sample of Priscilla's DNA, someone could get that child and do whatever they wish. So I don't think we can send it to her by post. We could be figuratively speaking, carrying someone's baby here. If whomever was willing to kill a companion for this..." She left the thought hanging there for all to contemplate.

Ken finished up the Boa as he listened to the Doc go on about why she couldn’t be part of the party as Jason had suggested. He nodded at her words, seemed the Doc knew her stuff when it came to such things.

“It a youth drug. Keep the body from maturing. You can't take it long but you can look like a teenager for 20, maybe 25 years. Companions working that market usually charge a lot and get out fast so they take it for a short time.”

“Get out fast?” Ken chuckled, “sounds like a personal problem.” The Doc ignored his remark and continued as if she hadn’t heard him.

“Thing is, you can't take the normal contraception drugs with NJM. You have to take the more modified versions which are hard to get outside core. Higgin's Moon as Grace mentioned, is about as far from the core as you can get.”

The Doctor went on, “I have a feeling that our passenger was once pregnant, and someone wanted her to abort the child. She instead, had the baby removed and put in cyro-stasis until she was ready to have the child.”

“Shun-Sheng duh gao-Wahn,” Ken exclaimed in disbelief as he washed up his own dishes and dried his hands, “Rich people are so strange.”

“Oh yes. It can be done and is done in the core hospitals, but you have to be very rich or very influential. But most important for us, with this key and a sample of Priscilla's DNA, someone could get that child and do whatever they wish. So I don't think we can send it to her by post. We could be figuratively speaking, carrying someone's baby here. If whomever was willing to kill a companion for this..." She left the thought hanging there for all to contemplate.

“Well that is a pickle for the whore,” Ken said before anyone else spoke up, “but do we give a Goushí? I mean what is in it for us?”

“Oh yes. It can be done and is done in the core hospitals, but you have to be very rich or very influential. But most important for us, with this key and a sample of Priscilla's DNA, someone could get that child and do whatever they wish. So I don't think we can send it to her by post. We could be figuratively speaking, carrying someone's baby here. If whomever was willing to kill a companion for this..." Doc left the thought hanging there for all to contemplate.

“Well that is a pickle for the whore,” Ken said before anyone else spoke up, “but do we give a Goushí? I mean what is in it for us?”
Dropping his spoon into his stew and shooting Ken a dark stare, “ First of all Priscilla is not a whore,…. she’s following a trained profession and not the usual doxy you sniff after. Would you think it fair if she told folks you’re just my hired murderer? You’re member of this boat and I hope you don’t act like some gorram berk when we ain’t here to keep an eye on you”……….then raising an eyebrow…. “ or are you just try’n to prove why you ain’t goin to the party?...........Laughing Jon cracks a smile and says, “either you’re a Guay Toh Guay Nown, or a Yi Dwei Da Buen Chuo Roh.”

“So anyway, like it or not you’re sort of an Uncle now, so let’s just try to find a good side on this.”

Then Jon addressed the rest of crew. “Well we got plenty of time afor we need to worry about the party. But this baby thing adds a whole new angle to this trip. Maybe Priscilla’s sickness had been planned to scuttle whatever plan she had for that baby….someone doesn’t want an heir and you can bet there’s some fancy fed or bureaucrat involved. That Marshall could be on anyone’s payroll….. and if he is this won’t be an easy run. I agree that he’s smart and if he wants what’s on this boat then I wouldn’t be surprised to see Marauders to do his dirty work. “

“Tess, I don’t want to seem too twitchy, but don’t trust any boat that comes near….. and if we get buzzed we go on alert. We can out run most so I’d rather not giv’m time to lock on or be boxed in. Also let me know if it seems like we’re be’in followed.”

Turning to Doc Jon smiled, “If there’s any left I’d be pleased to try some of your sweet Boa.”

Tess settled back into her chair as the Doc waved around the key they found in the guest quarters and began talking about Priscilla. She felt a little rebuffed at the way that Jason had dismissed her as an escort. Sure, it had been a while since she had gotten all dolled up, but that didn’t mean she didn’t remember how.

Right?

"I looked up the serial number of this key in the Ariel Hospital cortex database,” Stephanie was saying, “ I couldn't find much, even with my credentials which didn't surprise me, patient confidentiality and all that. But I did find one thing that is important. The key is not for organs, the serial is actually for maternity. Now when I examined her for TOX, tests showed she took Neurojenvuium, which made sense as she obviously worked the "young" side of her market."

She had tried to follow what the Doctor meant, but it sounded garbled like a comm. message from a ship losing power. Must be all those damn technical words, she thought as she frowned at the Doc. “Neuro-juvie? What the devil is that, Stephanie?”

"It a youth drug. Keep the body from maturing. You can't take it long but you can look like a teenager for 20, maybe 25 years. Companions working that market usually charge a lot and get out fast so they take it for a short time. Thing is, you can't take the normal contraception drugs with NJM. You have to take the more modified versions which are hard to get outside core. Higgin's Moon as Grace mentioned, is about as far from the core as you can get."

“Get out fast?” Ken laughed, “sounds like a personal problem.”

“One you’re intimately familiar with, Ken,” Tess flung at him. Her irritability had far from dissipated, and she felt a little pleasure at being able to release some of her frustrations on him. Even if it was just verbally.

Stephanie plowed on, "I have a feeling that our passenger was once pregnant, and someone wanted her to abort the child. She instead, had the baby removed and put in cyro-stasis until she was ready to have the child."

“Mei Yong Ma Duh Tse Gu Yong!” Tess swore. There was a general round of exclamation around the room at the Doc's words.

“Oh yes. It can be done” Stephanie continued, “and is done in the core hospitals, but you have to be very rich or very influential. But most important for us, with this key and a sample of Priscilla's DNA, someone could get that child and do whatever they wish. So I don't think we can send it to her by post. We could be figuratively speaking, carrying someone's baby here. If whomever was willing to kill a companion for this..."

“Well that is a pickle for the whore,” Ken said immediately, “but do we give a Goushí? I mean what is in it for us?”

Tess winced as Jon’s spoon clacked into his bowl. “ First of all Priscilla is not a whore” he started, “she’s following a trained profession and not the usual doxy you sniff after…” She remained silent as Jon drove his point home with Ken. It sounded like he had finally had enough of the back and fourth bickering that the crew had digressed to. That was one steadfast quality about Jon; when he had enough, he stuck his boot in all the way up to the cuff and would say he had enough. She smirked. And usually followed that immediately with orders.
“Well we got plenty of time afor we need to worry about the party. But this baby thing adds a whole new angle to this trip. Maybe Priscilla’s sickness had been planned to scuttle whatever plan she had for that baby….someone doesn’t want an heir and you can bet there’s some fancy fed or bureaucrat involved. That Marshall could be on anyone’s payroll….. and if he is this won’t be an easy run. I agree that he’s smart and if he wants what’s on this boat then I wouldn’t be surprised to see Marauders to do his dirty work. “

“Agreed,” she replied.

“Tess, I don’t want to seem too twitchy, but don’t trust any boat that comes near….. and if we get buzzed we go on alert. We can out run most so I’d rather not giv’m time to lock on or be boxed in. Also let me know if it seems like we’re be’in followed.”

“Jon, you ain’t being too twitchy. Something stinks in Chinatown, and it’s starting to leak into Destiny. If it’s alright with you, Capt’n, I’m gonna get a few hours of shut eye so I can be bright eyed when we get into the main drift of the shipping lane.”

“Get out fast?” Ken laughed, “sounds like a personal problem.”

“One you’re intimately familiar with, Ken,” Tess flung at him. Her irritability had far from dissipated, and she felt a little pleasure at being able to release some of her frustrations on him. Even if it was just verbally.
Ken smirked at Tess but otherwise let her have her verbal jab; he realized that he had been hard on her today and she was sounding irritated and while he did enjoy it sometimes he didn’t want to go too far.

“Well that is a pickle for the whore,” Ken said before anyone else spoke up, “but do we give a Goushí? I mean what is in it for us?”

Dropping his spoon into his stew and shooting Ken a dark stare, “ First of all Priscilla is not a whore,…. she’s following a trained profession and not the usual doxy you sniff after. Would you think it fair if she told folks you’re just my hired murderer? You’re member of this boat and I hope you don’t act like some gorram berk when we ain’t here to keep an eye on you”……….then raising an eyebrow…. “ or are you just try’n to prove why you ain’t goin to the party?...........Laughing Jon cracks a smile and says, “either you’re a Guay Toh Guay Nown, or a Yi Dwei Da Buen Chuo Roh.”
Ken didn’t argue with the Captain, he knew the man was partly right. He was a killer, he knew it, and he didn’t try to hide it. It was his job here aboard, to take care of problems with extreme prejudice. He had no qualms with killing, well that wasn’t exactly true, he wouldn’t kill children and killing women wasn’t something he relished doing. Not that he hadn’t killed a woman before; there was that bounty hunter bitch that had given him no choice a few years back. He had felt bad for that one, for about two minutes.

But he wouldn’t hesitate to kill a man in a fair fight, or if he thought he was going to start a fair fight, or if a woman or money was involved. It was something he did and did well; every man had their skills and there was nothing wrong with playing to your strengths.

“So anyway, like it or not you’re sort of an Uncle now, so let’s just try to find a good side on this.” the Captain finished
“Don’t count on it,” Ken mumbled as he finished cleaning up his own dishes and putting them away while the Captain finished speaking to the group. He didn’t see any profit in this deal with the baby; he didn’t plan to do anything about it himself unless situations changed and some money became involved.

Jon, you ain’t being too twitchy. Something stinks in Chinatown, and it’s starting to leak into Destiny. If it’s alright with you, Capt’n, I’m gonna get a few hours of shut eye so I can be bright eyed when we get into the main drift of the shipping lane.” Tess stated
Ken decided to turn in himself; as Tess was stating her intentions he turned and headed towards the stairwell.

“Sounds like an idea.” he said to no one in particular. He left the galley and headed up to his room without another word to anyone. Once there he stripped down to his shorts; made sure his weapons were secured and close to hand before turning in for a little shut eye.

Jason leaned against the counter and listened silently; pondering what they might run afoul of if the information got out that Destiny had possession of this ta ma duh card. Oh yeah, he thought as the Jon got all fired up over Ken calling Priscilla a whore,this is just jing chai! We just find out that we’ve been dropped smack into the middle of a heap of ma fuhn and now you two are arguing over the implications of a word!?! The face’s features never gave a glimmer of his thoughts.

After his little tiff over the whore comment, Jon laid out some orders for Tess and Grace. Tess responded and headed off for a couple of winks with Ken following after her. After Ken and Tess had cleared the room, Jason shifted back onto the balls of his feet. Walking over to the dish pit he took care of his own dinner things and left them to dry. Nodding his fare well to Jon and Stephanie, he headed for his room to change into his workout gear. He grabbed a towel and draped it over one shoulder heading for the weight pile and the speed bag. He was brooding and didn’t want to explode on his crew. I’ll just go work it off…and maybe then I’ll be able to look at this problem more rationally
Jason started of his workout with a routine that could have almost been mistaken for a form of dance. Progressing further into his warm-up, his speed increased even as his movements became more complex. Soon Jason was pushing himself hard enough that sweat stated to glisten on his face and trickle down his back making his loose shirt stick to him. Feeling his breathing start to go ragged, Jason began to end his routine. As he came to the end of his warm up he made sure to finish his stretching and then went about his usual workout vigorously enough to tire himself.

An hour and half later Jason was toweling the sweat off himself and getting ready for bed himself. I wonder what watch I have tonight? he thought as he relaxed into his bunk, Oh well, I’m sure they’ll wake me. was his last conscious thought as sleep took him into its gentle embrace.

Destiny Bridge, Day One of Journey, 11:30 - 2am ST
The news of the key and all it implies weighs heavily on the minds of the crew but you are out in the black and little you can do about it now. Turning back really isn't an option with a big payout on the line. so the dinner and dessert is eaten and everyone goes about their business for the evening. As his normal routine, the Captain takes first watch on the bridge so Tess can get some shut eye. Not that the captain is much of a pilot but this far out the auto can handles the flight and mostly all he does is watch the lights flicker on the monitor. Destiny is a good ship, faster than almost anything one there, except some short range interceptors and the alliance big guns.

As the night moves on, the Captain suddenly realizes he is not alone as a mist swirls to his left and he sees the lady in white that haunts to ship appear. She is looking toward the front, towards the stars and the black. She seems a little sad to Jon's eye, as if waiting for bad news. The mist swirls a bit and she fades away again as she always does. It is only after a few moments that Jon remembers that she has never appeared on the bridge before, normally only where the coolant vents are throughout the ship.


Destiny Cargo Bay, Day Two of Journey 9:00am ST
In the morning, Grace is up and wheeling the Doctor's x-ray equipment over to the wine barrels. She moves with the intensity of purpose that brokers no objection and anyone in the cargo bay soon moves out of the engineer's way as she is setting up.

After several shots at different angles, Grace has a 3d image of the casks in hand. She looks at them confused at first as they show the interior of the casks have a hourglass shaped chamber that holds the wine with the cask. The hollow area is around the centre of the cask and appears to be filled with wines, roots and dirt. But as she expands the image is finds packets hidden within the these vines. The packets are filled with many hard objects with a crystal like structure. Diamonds!
(Assuming Grace will tell crew at this point. Post from this point as the action below will happen no matter what)

Destiny Bridge, Day Two of Journey 1:00pm ST
Tess checks the navigation computer as lights on her console tell her they are entering the main shipping corridor. Alliance satellites and signal buoys ping off the pulse beacon of Destiny indicating that big brother is always watching.

About an hour into the corridor and the wave transmitter lights up. A live wave coming in - for the captain. Tess automatically checks the source, and it is a Courier ship, Arrowhead class, registered to the Lim Wine Corporation.

The doctor laughed, "My dear dear Grace, would it matter if I said no? You would just borrow it anyway if I know you and I do, so go ahead but please don't "enhance it" like last time. I almost neutered poor Ken unknowingly."

Grace face went a little red at the comment and she said in a defensive tone. "The thing kept making funny noises. In my area of expertise, things don't make funny noise unless they're broken."

"However, I think that the Doc is the best choice to accompany me into the party. No offense Tess, Grace,” Jason nodded to the pair, “but you two ladies wouldn’t blend in very well,”

Grace nodded in agreement. She had no interest in going to that party. Her Father was always invited to that party. She had very bad memories of that place...

"Thank you very much for the invitation Jason, it has been a long time since I had a reason to dress formally, but I would decline. I no longer have the heart or patience to deal with the aristocracy and I would be more dangerous there with my tongue than Ken would be with all his iron." The doctor said shaking her head.

Stephanie stood up and picked up the key that was found in the guest quarters. "I looked up the serial number of this key in the Ariel Hospital cortex database. I couldn't find much, even with my credentials which didn't surprise me, patient confidentiality and all that. But I did find one thing that is important. The key is not for organs, the serial is actually for maternity. Now when I examined her for TOX, tests showed she took Neurojenvuium, which made sense as she obviously worked the "young" side of her market."

Grace blinked at the word 'maternity.' That was the last thing she expected to be in the same sentence as companion. Tess frowned and asked " “Neuro-juvie? What the devil is that, Stephanie?”

"It a youth drug. Keep the body from maturing. You can't take it long but you can look like a teenager for 20, maybe 25 years. Companions working that market usually charge a lot and get out fast so they take it for a short time. Thing is, you can't take the normal contraception drugs with NJM. You have to take the more modified versions which are hard to get outside core. Higgin's Moon as Grace mentioned, is about as far from the core as you can get."

“Get out fast?” Ken laughed, “sounds like a personal problem.”

“One you’re intimately familiar with, Ken,” Tess flung at him. Grace shifted slightly so she wasn't sitting between the two yellers. Grace was good at ignoring Ken's loud comments but she didn't like it any more than anyone else in the room. In fact, Ken sometimes reminded her of her old comrade Roger. They both could be a little crude.

Stephanie plowed on, "I have a feeling that our passenger was once pregnant, and someone wanted her to abort the child. She instead, had the baby removed and put in cyro-stasis until she was ready to have the child."

Grace felt something twist in her chest. Poor thing, it didn't even draw its first breath and people already are after it.
“Mei Yong Ma Duh Tse Gu Yong!” Tess swore

“Oh yes. It can be done” Stephanie continued, “and is done in the core hospitals, but you have to be very rich or very influential. But most important for us, with this key and a sample of Priscilla's DNA, someone could get that child and do whatever they wish. So I don't think we can send it to her by post. We could be figuratively speaking, carrying someone's baby here. If whomever was willing to kill a companion for this..."

“Well that is a pickle for the whore,” Ken said immediately, “but do we give a Goushí? I mean what is in it for us?”

Grace eyes went wide and she looked at Ken in pure disbelief and shock. "It's a baby, Ken. Why wouldn't we care? It's barely even began its life and its now in the care of people who just look at it like it's a source of money!"

Jon dropped his spoon with a clatter “ First of all Priscilla is not a whore,…. she’s following a trained profession and not the usual doxy you sniff after. Would you think it fair if she told folks you’re just my hired murderer? You’re member of this boat and I hope you don’t act like some gorram berk when we ain’t here to keep an eye on you”……….then raising an eyebrow…. “ or are you just try’n to prove why you ain’t goin to the party?...........Laughing Jon cracks a smile and says, “either you’re a Guay Toh Guay Nown, or a Yi Dwei Da Buen Chuo Roh.”

“So anyway, like it or not you’re sort of an Uncle now, so let’s just try to find a good side on this.” the Captain finished

“Don’t count on it,” Ken mumbled as Grace shot him another glare.

“Well we got plenty of time afor we need to worry about the party. But this baby thing adds a whole new angle to this trip. Maybe Priscilla’s sickness had been planned to scuttle whatever plan she had for that baby….someone doesn’t want an heir and you can bet there’s some fancy fed or bureaucrat involved. That Marshall could be on anyone’s payroll….. and if he is this won’t be an easy run. I agree that he’s smart and if he wants what’s on this boat then I wouldn’t be surprised to see Marauders to do his dirty work. “ stated Jon

“Agreed,” Tess replied. Grace nodded in agreement

“Tess, I don’t want to seem too twitchy, but don’t trust any boat that comes near….. and if we get buzzed we go on alert. We can out run most so I’d rather not giv’m time to lock on or be boxed in. Also let me know if it seems like we’re be’in followed.” said Jon

“Jon, you ain’t being too twitchy. Something stinks in Chinatown, and it’s starting to leak into Destiny. If it’s alright with you, Capt’n, I’m gonna get a few hours of shut eye so I can be bright eyed when we get into the main drift of the shipping lane.” commented Tess

“Sounds like an idea.” Ken said

"If there is anyone who is being too twitchy on this boat; it is probably me." Stated Grace who didn't have any chores so she was going to head to her room.

By the time she had reached her room. Grace was feeling too hyper to sleep. She had already napped and the whirlwind of feeling in her head; Sleep wasn't in the plans tonight.

" Grace, your hair is a disgrace!" proclaimed Nanny. Grace looked up at nanny with a frown and glanced at her hair. It was no longer in the neat braid it was this morning, now it fell down her back. But more important things were on her mind.

"Nanny! I found a nest!" Grace exclaimed. Nanny gave her a baffled look and repeated "A nest?"

"Yeah a nest! Mommy's birds made a nest and there are baby birds! Come see!" exclaimed Grace as she grabbed Nanny's hand. Grace pulled Nanny into the bird room.

"See! A nest!" pointed Grace who was feeling proud of herself. In the large case was the tree and the two blue jays. Nestled close enough for both Grace and Nanny to see was a small nest where three little baby birds were cheeping. Nanny made a hump sound and then using her phone, sent a message to someone.

"What are you doing?" asked Grace.

"I'm letting your Father know. Baby birds are worth a lot of credits. I'll probably get a bonus." explained Nanny

"You're going to sell them?!" Yelped Grace "But what about the Mommy and Daddy birds? They will be sad if you take away their babies."

"Grace, they're birds. They don't care about their babies." Said Nanny Calmly "Now we have to get you to your lessons."

"Can't I stay and watch the birds? Sensei won't care that I miss one lesson!" Begged Grace who was starting to cry. She felt awful about showing Nanny the nest. She didn't mean to take the baby birds away!

"He's paid to care for you. Now come on." stated Nanny as if she didn't notice Grace's tears. Grace looked at her Nanny looking for some hint that she didn't mean it.

"Nanny, do you care for me?" Asked Grace hoping to explain why she should stay with the birds.

Nanny looked down at Grace and said calmly "Of course I care about you Grace. I am paid to care. Now come on, it's time for lessons."
Grace sighed and flopped on her bed. Her plan was simple: read one or her many mechanical books, possible sleep, then get up and check out those barrels. Only she end up reading all of her books and then drink one of her secret stash of caffeinated soda to stay awake. It was some time after four that she fell asleep and then woke up at eight thirty. Grace got up and went to go get the X-ray. If she bumped into anyone she made her usual greeting when she had a rough night. A mixture of a grunt, Chinese and English greetings. She pulled out the machine and one of the lead blankets. She had no desire to get radiation poison or start glowing in the dark.

She took several pictures at different angles and resisted the temptation to fix the rumbling machine. Didn't stop her from giving it some suspicious looks. Finally she had her image. Grace looked at the 3D image in confusion. It looked like an hour-glass with the narrow spot filled with dirt, wine and roots.

"Must be Drugs." Commented Grace and she reached over to the channel and called into it "Quing Ting and Stephanie? Can you come into the Cargo bay? I need you guys to come see this." Tess knew plants well and Stephanie knew drugs. Maybe either one of them would recognised the roots. She pulled up a closer image of the roots. That when she notice that in the roosts were packets of crystal like object. She zoomed in closer and....

"WUO DUH TIAN AH!" She yelped in surprise. They were diamonds! She hit the channel again and said "Um, Captain? you might want to come to the cargo bay. We are in Ma Fuhn!"

(OOC: Quing ting means Dragonfly. That Grace's nick name for Tess. I should have metioned that)

Room 11 of Destiny, Day Two of Journey 6:00am ST
The night passed uneventfully for the pilot. During the war, Tess had developed the ability to sleep when it was required without much fuss; one never knew the next time rest would be possible. Her eyes popped open seconds before the tinny beep of her alarm went off. Tess immediately flung the covers off her and swung her legs out of her bunk. That was another thing she hadn’t be able to shake: the abrupt alertness right after sleep. Or at least the façade of alertness; it was more like an automaton functioning without much in the way of conversation.

She dressed without much thought, her morning rituals far beyond thinking. 35 brushes through her hair, re-affix the feather, one, two, three trinkets into the right pocket, then two more to the left. Tess shivered, anxious to be done, and after touching the top of her door frame for good luck, she quickly stuck her bare feet into a pair of clean socks and into her boots. She grabbed a zip-up hoodie to ward off the chill; Destiny was usually kept at least five degrees below normal running temperature at night to conserve power.

Jon looked half asleep by the time she had gotten to the bridge to relieve him. With teapot and cup in hand, she waved him out with a, “Zao an, Cap’n.” After about two hours of staring at her panels and sucking down mediocre jasmine, Tess made her way back down to the galley to refill her pot with more leaves and boiling water. She passed a bleary eyed Grace in the hallway on her way back to the bridge, and she had to step around her in order to not be run over.

“Zao an, Xiao Ya,” she said to the mechanic as she shambled by.

“Mmuuhhh… Zao morn-Ting,” Grace muttered in reply. Tess smiled in response as Gracie continued down the hall. She was so darn cute in the morning. As she walked by the storage room, Tess trailed her fingers across the door, wondering if anything would be ready for dinner. Doubtful, but that didn’t mean she could just neglect it. Maybe if she cut her lunch short it would give her enough time to at least linger a little over the garden bunk.

Destiny Bridge, Day Two of Journey 9:00am ST
It hadn’t been very long since she had passed Grace in the hall when Tess heard her voice over the comm, "Quing Ting and Stephanie? Can you come into the Cargo bay? I need you guys to come see this." Tess splashed a warm-up into her mug before she swung out the door of the bridge.

The doors to the lift were just creaking open when Grace’s voice echoed around the cargo bay, "WUO DUH TIAN AH! Um, Captain? You might want to come to the cargo bay. We are in Ma Fuhn!" "

“Language, mei mei,” Tess said as she set her mug of tea on the nearest wine cask and leaned on it, “What’er you all fussed up about?”

Destiny, Room 10, Day Two of Journey 9:00am ST

Ken sat in his room, his guns laid out on his table atop of cleaning mat as he cleaned and oiled guns that really didn’t need it. It was just something he did when he felt uncomfortable or anxious about something.

After coming back to his room last night he had drug out a glass and a hidden bottle of whiskey and poured himself a stiff drink which he had sipped on for about an hour before he had turned in for the night.

Awakening this morning, he had threw on his pants before deciding to clean his guns one more time. He round it relaxing and right now he was still a little distressed about how everyone had jumped all over him last night for calling Priscilla a whore. He wasn’t a learned man but he was pretty sure that the definition of whore was a woman who took money for sex. Was that not what a companion did?

Even Grace had jumped on him for it; the only one that hadn’t said something had been Jason, but he knew the man often kept his own thoughts to himself and during Jon’s rant he thought he saw a look of disgust from their Face man.

Normally Ken didn’t mind when people got irritated at him, but it seemed everyone was on his back lately. What did he do? He just spoke his mind. Perhaps that was the problem, people didn’t like hearing the truth. Ken, if anything, was a man of action and one who spoke his mind regardless of what others might think.

He paused as he reassembled the last handgun by reflex; perhaps he was being a bit crude sometimes with his remarks? Naw, it wasn’t that, they were just being too sensitive. Sometimes he wondered how they survived sometimes; well they did have him along so that helped.

He finished assembling the gun and slapped a loaded magazine into the butt and cycled the action to charge it. Standing up he slipped the gun into his holster and was reaching for his shirt when the intercom came on.

"Quing Ting and Stephanie? Can you come into the Cargo bay? I need you guys to come see this."
He was thinking of going to see what he could dig up for a little breakfast but wondered if whatever Grace wanted in the Cargo bay might be interesting enough, but before he decided the intercom crackled again.

Um, Captain? You might want to come to the cargo bay. We are in Ma Fuhn!"
Hmmm, Grace didn’t get that excited usually unless she was pretty sure there was trouble. He slipped on his shirt and left his room and made his way down to the cargo bay. If they were in trouble then he might be needed.



Destiny, Cargo Bay, Day Two of Journey 9:05am ST
Ken came into the cargo bay and saw a few others had arrived hearing Grace’s call; he took in the situation and didn’t see anything that required any immediate action and relaxed a little bit.

“What’s going on?” he asked as he took in the x-ray equipment next to the wine casks; he raised an eyebrow in wonder.

(will wait till the story is told before Ken gives his opinion, though I dont think it will be a big surprise what he says )