S2E10 - Greenleaf Skyplex Stopover

Started by Lin Kuei, July 25, 2019, 08:14:41 PM

Lin Kuei

Lin guided Ronin toward the docking ring of the Greenleaf Skyplex. After briefly confirming with the dockmaster which bay to park in, he eased the ship in slowly. Better to take it slow and safe than accidentally ram into the Skyplex. That would have done no one any good. The sound of the locking mechanism engaging allowed Lin to let out an internal sigh of relief, none of which he portrayed on his face. Climbing out of the pilot's seat, he triggered the internal comms for the ship. "Monty, Ava ... we are at the Greenleaf Skyplex. There may be a person of interest coming by to look for a job as a technician or comp spec. They are also supposed to have some combat training."

Lin made his way to his quarters, grabbed a jacket then headed over to the Med Bay. He cracked open the door, slipped in and knocked on Ava's door. "Doctor, we have docked. I'll be in the cargo bay." He slipped back out. Putting his jacket on, Lin stopped by the door to Monty's room at the top of the stairs and banged on the door. "We're on the Greenleaf Skyplex. I'll be at the door. Feel free to come out." Lin quietly and quickly descended the stairs to the cargo bay.

Lin got to the door panel and triggered it to open. The dockmaster was already there waiting for him. There was a quick exchange of pleasantries followed by business. Lin ignored the crowds outside on the docking area and paid for a three day stay as a precaution. He could not be sure they would not need to be here longer than twenty-four hours and wanted to hedge his bets.


Minato Kaneshiro

As Minato's transport ship docked into the station, he linked into the cortex and pulled up a map of the area. He also spent some time listen to the chatter that was going on over the common channels. Minato didn't want any unexpected surprises, so he just makes sure the coast is clear. When he felt comfortable, Minato headed out from the vessel navigating dock toward the Ronin. Once he got near the Ronin, He shut down his data pad and composed himself a bit. After taking a deep breath, Minato made his way up the Ronin and waited beside it.

Ava Gray

If Ava had ever played video games, she would have been a completionist; scouring every corner of the map, completing every side quest, reading every bit of lore.  The lack of video games in her life didn't erase the tendency, it simply meant that it had to manifest in other ways.

At the present, the tendency had been triggered by the conversation with the captain at the cafe.  The talk of human resources issues had left Ava with an obvious side quest, and now the doctor was curled up on a couch in the galley, staring intently at a datapad which was displaying an article from the online periodical Consummate Professional that had appeared as one of the search results for her latest cortex query.

She scrolled one by one through the list of 9 Tips to Help You Choose the Perfect Candidate, lips pursed in deep concentration.  She paused at tip number five, frowning slightly, and after re-reading it, looked up at Monty.

"It says in order to find the best candidate for a job, you're supposed to make the interview fun, so... in the context of this ship and this job, would a fun interview mean cracking jokes, or starting a fight?  What is fun? she asked with all the bafflement of an archaeologist who kept running into a foreign but seemingly important phrase while translating texts.

The conversation was shortly interrupted by an announcement over the speakers.

Quote from: Lin Kuei on July 25, 2019, 08:14:41 PM
"Monty, Ava ... we are at the Greenleaf Skyplex. There may be a person of interest coming by to look for a job as a technician or comp spec. They are also supposed to have some combat training."

"Already? Ai..."  Ava thumbed the screen off and jumped to her feet.  "But it's okay!" she called out as she headed out of the room, "Being on time to the interview isn't on the list!"

She jogged to her room and was pulling on a jacket when she heard the captain's knock at the door. 

Quote from: Lin Kuei on July 25, 2019, 08:14:41 PM
"Doctor, we have docked. I'll be in the cargo bay."

"I'm right behind you," she called back.  The doctor took a moment to look in the mirror and smooth back her hair, then grabbed a hat to finish off her ensemble and set off for the cargo room at a pace that wouldn't leave her winded when she got there.  Lin was talking with a dockmaster, so Ava hung back a few steps, giving the men space to finish their business.

Lin Kuei

With the pleasantries over with and payment made, Lin watched as the dockmaster moved toward another bay of ship that just docked after Ronin. The docking ring was packed with people moving, stumbling and bumping into each other. It had been a while since he had seen it this busy. There must have been another exodus from the Core of people looking for either passage or work or both to get to the Rim. Compared to Ronin, and especially New Melbourne, it was loud and noisy. Gone were the waves of water and seagulls only to be replaced by merchants with stalls on the ring trying to be loud enough to attract attention so travelers would buy something they might not even need. Occam's razor came to Lin's mind when thinking of attire as a couple that appeared to be from the Core still dressed and pressed in all sorts of accouterments passed in front of the ship. They were so obviously waiting to get robbed and did not even know it.

Lin spotted Ava out of the corner of his eye and was about to say something when he spotted a man break from the crowd and walk up to the ship. He had blended in well enough that if Lin had not been paying attention then might not have seen him when he broke out of the stream. Lin was confident enough in his own abilities but remained reserved at the new arrival to the gangplank. For a few moments, Lin pondered the situation. He could not be sure if Nikola had sent an individual to try and take him and the ship out. He laughed to himself, given the amount of damage he had done to her organization, she would have sent one hundred against him and certainly not here. Lin raised and just before speaking calmly. "Did you just want to look at the ship? Or are you someone in particular?" Another thought struck him. "MK I presume?"

Minato Kaneshiro

Absorbed into his data pad, it took Minato a moment realized the captain had addressed. When it clicked in his head, Minato with a look of surprise and shoved the data pad back into his pouch. "My apologies, sir. I am the MK from the message. I only use that tag for communication over the cortex. I never know who could be reading or listening to tell the truth, so it's just a precaution." Minato took a chance take the captain as they stood there. He didn't know make of the man just yet but felt he could probably trust him. "I go by Minato to general conversation." Minato extended his hand to him, "It is a pleasure to make your acquittance."

Travis Chao

Ten months.

Shameful really, an old tracker like him. Lost in the jungle.
Ten months.

Travis had gone out with a new partner, some local lad, to bring in or put down some bad boys that called themselves the Conquistadors. They found them quick enough. They didn't want to come peaceable. Travis killed one. The local boy killed another. And one of them killed the local boy. The other two skedaddled. Travis left a tracking marker bleeping for the Local Marshal and followed.

Travis tracked them, but the jungle wood was forgiving to those that didn't want to be found. He lost them. And found himself lost. His comm didn't seem to have any use far out as he was. He lived off the land for a month and then found some hunter gatherers. They took him to some tribers.

He'd lived with the tribers, or squatters, for a while. Private folk that wanted to live away from everyone and everything. They weren't any help in getting back to civilization. Fortunately they had come across some jungle harvesters and they were more than accommodating on giving him a ride back to civilization.

The tribers let him keep an old jungle burro that he had nursed to heath, a fair amount of hides and some trade goods. He had not been dead weight and they wanted him to stay.

The Whiskey Bar
He left old Myrtle the burro out front and went in.
Next to what looked to be a regular day drinker he put down his coin and got his drink. He sipped and looked up at the vid screen. Some talking heads were yakking on about Miranda and war and outrage.

"Miranda?" he asked the day drinker next to him.
The drinker explained.
"Never heard of it." Travis replied and bought him a drink.
Between the vid and drinker Travis didn't quite get the whole situation.
"So there's going to be another war?" Travis asked.
The drinker just shrugged. He didn't know. Or care.
Travis nodded.
"Yeah." He said. "My sentiments exactly." He tossed back his whiskey and left a nice tip for the bartender well out of reach of the drinker.

The Church
Travis took half a dozen steps inside. Took off his hat. The church was mostly empty. After a couple minutes looking down the main aisle at the man on the cross he mumbled to himself. "What now?"
He stepped aside for a couple of women walking to the front. "Ladies," he nodded his head politely. They didn't seem to pleased at his dirty clothes and... maybe the smell.

"Right." He said to the man on the cross.
After lighting a candle for the dead local boy that had been his partner for all of three day he put some coins in the poor box, put his hat on and left.

The Outfitters and Hotel
Travis sold his hides and goods.
And Myrtle the burro. "See ya old girl. Hope ya don't end up in a bowl of soup."
From the coin he got, he spent. A new set of clothes, a little ammo for his pistol, a new rifle and ammo for it, a new set of boots. He didn't need much more. He had a duffel stored at the Harbormaster. Hopefully.

At the hotel he got a hot bath and put his old clothes in the trash. The new suit was nice. Nothing fancy of course. It fit well. So did the boots.

He paid for a room. The man at the desk asked if he wanted a woman.
Travis smiled. "In the morning."
She arrived at dawn. Left quickly after. Travis went back to sleep.

The Harbormaster
Travis' duffel was still there. Apparently it was not uncommon for folk to be out in the jungle wood for months or even years at a time.
And there was an envelope of cash for the bounty on the two dead Conquistadors. A note indicated that the locals had given half of the bounty to the family of the local boy that had died. He made a note of the address. Figured he ought to send a wave about how well the boy had died. Which in Travis's mind, he had.

It was decent money for a couple weeks work. Not ten months. At least the expenses were minimal. Travis smiled to himself.

Travis went to the public comm and let it be made known on the local job board he was available for work. Security, bodyguard, bounty. Whatever. He didn't care much for staying on the jungle planet though, so he routed it up to the Skyplex. Maybe a little down time on a space ship would put him in a better place.

Opening the heavy duffel up he looked over his golf clubs. It would take a while before he'd likely get a reply to his job inquiry.

"Hey, you guys got a decent golf course around here?"



"When you give a personal lesson in meanness to a critter or person, don't be surprised they learn the lesson."

Monty

[Deep In The Bowels Of Ronin]

Leroy was head to toe grime, grease and whatever else was living inside the deep passages of Ronin. The Chief Mechanic had been tracking down some odd power loss readings. Still nursing a sore back from the casino job made crawling through narrow passages difficult but he still managed to find himself working instead of resting. Sleep was a scarce commodity for Leroy as of late and he found it best to fill his time with work then just sitting about. He was crouched in a cylindrical section of duct work when he heard the Captain over his earpiece.

"Monty, Ava ... we are at the Greenleaf Skyplex. There may be a person of interest coming by to look for a job as a technician or comp spec. They are also supposed to have some combat training."

Nice, I could use a good Tech to help with diagnostics. The filthy Engineer muttered to himself. Fingering his comm he responded...I'll be along in a bit Cap.





Ava Gray

Lin Kuei had finished his conversation and the dockmaster headed off to his next task.  Ava started forward to join the captain, but when his attention suddenly fixed on a man approaching the ship, the doctor slowed to a stop.  She looked between the two, something in the captain's body language suggesting a level of alertness that made her nervous.

Quote from: Lin Kuei on August 01, 2019, 01:22:10 PM
"Did you just want to look at the ship? Or are you someone in particular?"

Ava shifted her weight back, prepared to make herself scarce should things escalate.  Then the captain's tone changed.

Quote from: Lin Kuei on August 01, 2019, 01:22:10 PM
"MK I presume?"

The doctor looked at the stranger with new interest, wondering if this might be the person they were here to see.

Quote from: Minato Kaneshiro on August 02, 2019, 06:25:52 AM
"My apologies, sir. I am the MK from the message. I only use that tag for communication over the cortex. I never know who could be reading or listening to tell the truth, so it's just a precaution."   "I go by Minato to general conversation.  It is a pleasure to make your acquittance."

With the introductions started, Ava padded forward once more, quietly taking up place just behind and to the captain's left, giving a slight smile to the stranger.  She left the conversation to the captain while she looked the potential recruit over, formulating her first impression.  He seemed pleasant enough, and she absolutely approved of his talk of taking precautions.  She analyzed whether she found him to be more likely to consider jokes or fighting to make for a more enjoyable interview experience and her lips twitched into a larger smile; her instincts were telling her that she wouldn't need to get out any boxing gloves.  That was a relief.

Ava's glance flicked to the captain, prepared to follow his lead through the encounter.

Lin Kuei

Lin noted Minato's hand and shook it. He turned and indicated Ava. "This is our medic, Ava. ... So you know, there is no politics allowed on this ship. I do not care what side of the Unification you fought on. It is years in the past." Lin eyed him for a second as his wrist comm pulsed letting him know another job just appeared on the local job boards in the System. He would take a few moments before looking at it. "Go ahead set your stuff down just inside the cargo bay here for the moment."

Lin keyed the comm button on the wall. "Monty, are you on your way?" He turned to Ava and pointed in Minato's direction. "We can place him in one of the rooms with bunk beds." Lin took a moment, stepped away and checked the newest listing on the local jobs board. Travis Chao, bounty hunter, and gunhand. Lin triggered an acceptance of his job request and sent it for the docking bay location on the Skyplex as he turned around. "Ava, can you hold Minato here until Monty arrives and then show him to one of those rooms? ... I need to make an errand into the Skyplex. Should not be more than thirty minutes at most." He nodded at here before stepping down the gangplank and disappearing into the crowd.

Minato Kaneshiro

Minato liked someone who got straight to the point. The captain seemed honest on the surface, but he didn't truly know the man yet. Minato glanced over at the woman who walked up and gave her a nod before replying to the Lin.

"Thank you, sir. I will take my belongings promptly to allow you to handle the rest of your business."

With that said, Minato gathered up his bags and made his way into the cargo bay. He had realized though he hadn't introduced to the lady properly. He turned to Ava in a quick and sloppy about-face and extended his hand.

"I'm quite sorry, ma'am. Where are my manners? My name is Minato Kaneshiro and I look forward to working with you all."

Monty

Back in his quarters Leroy peeled off his grubby ensemble as fast as possible and with a few splashes of water at the wash basin was ready to don a somewhat fresher set of garb. Loose fitting khaki trousers with the knees tirelessly worn, a once brown t-shirt heavily faded with the words PAQUIN CARNIVAL boldly penned across the front. A multi-colored baggy button up followed which helped conceal his shoulder holster, he wasn't sure if they were to arm up or not but better to be safe than sorry.

"Monty, are you on your way?" The Captain's voice burst over the ship's comm.

Leroy responded as he hit the passageway..."En route now Cap, sorry for the delay."
Ronin's mechanic hustled his way to the cargo bay arriving in time to see Kuei disappear down the ramp leaving behind the Doctor speaking with someone new.

Ava Gray

Quote from: Lin Kuei on August 03, 2019, 12:33:09 PM
"This is our medic, Ava. ... So you know, there is no politics allowed on this ship. I do not care what side of the Unification you fought on. It is years in the past."

"We can place him in one of the rooms with bunk beds."

Ava lifted her hand in a quick wave as she was introduced and took a step back, prepared to escort Minato into the ship.  "Sounds good," she commented with a friendly smile to their new crewmate.

Quote from: Lin Kuei on August 03, 2019, 12:33:09 PM
"Ava, can you hold Minato here until Monty arrives and then show him to one of those rooms? ... I need to make an errand into the Skyplex. Should not be more than thirty minutes at most."

"Sure thing," she answered, recentering herself and shifting gears, prepared to run a stalling action as long as necessary.

Quote from: Minato Kaneshiro on August 03, 2019, 01:56:10 PM
"I'm quite sorry, ma'am. Where are my manners? My name is Minato Kaneshiro and I look forward to working with you all."

Ava's smile brightened, looking genuinely pleased by the introduction and she shook his hand.  "Ava Gray.  We're glad to have you on board. I understand you're our new computer specialist?"

There was the sound of approaching footsteps and Ava looked back to see Monty had joined them.  She waved him over and explained to Minato, "This is Monty.  He's the one who keeps us in the sky."  She looked back to Monty, nodding toward the newcomer.  "This is Minato.  He's the one the captain's hired to help with all that technical, computer stuff."

Minato Kaneshiro

Minato gave Ava a quick nod and said,

"Yes, Ma'am. I am going to handling the computer systems aboard your vessel. I do like look forward to getting a chance to look your systems so that I know what I am dealing with."

Minato soon well into explaining details about the possible it issues that he could run into. He continued to talk in his techno babble for quite bit be realizing there was another person here now. Minato turned to see the man and take him in.

"Mr. Monty, it is a pleasure to meet you. I look forward to working with you on this vessel."

Travis Chao

August 11, 2019, 02:01:09 PM #13 Last Edit: August 13, 2019, 06:22:52 PM by Travis Chao
Quote from: Lin Kuei on August 03, 2019, 12:33:09 PM
... Lin took a moment, stepped away and checked the newest listing on the local jobs board. Travis Chao, bounty hunter, and gunhand. Lin triggered an acceptance of his job request and sent it for the docking bay location on the Skyplex ....

Travis was about halfway through the local golf course when he got a notice that his job posting had been accepted. He took a look at the offer. Not much detail other than, the employer. Lin Kuei? Ronin?
Travis took a couple practice swings and looked toward the so called green just over the sand trap.

The course was weeds and dirt. The green in front of him was brown with divots showing from fifty meters away. 

Lin Kuei and Ronin were criminals. Were.
Now what were they? They had been wanted, then pardoned was it?
He couldn't recall the exact nature because he'd never known it. There were official news reports, legal postings, and speculation. A lot of rumor.

Travis leaned down and picked up his ball. After putting his chipping wedge back in his bag he shouldered it and headed off the course. 
The Ronin. Gangster, former gangsters, something on the fringe. Something...

... interesting...
........................

After purchasingt some good pipe tobacco and having one last smoke he boarded the shuttle up to the skyplex. The ride seemed bumpy and for a couple moments he was sure they'd be crashing. Looking around suggested it was not the case. Everyone else seemed quite relaxed. "Mm."

On the skyplex directions were given and in short order Travis Chao found himself at the
Ronin dock.

(Add/edit)

Travis looks around. He's dressed in the new suit, though it's nothing to show new. Plain brown, a similar colored bolo tie with a five pointed star slide to hold it together. The boots are new, again brown with a lot of inlay of various swirls and flowery looking decor and silver tipped toes. The hat is old, but not the one he had in the jungle; that one is in the trash. Instead it's a bit weathered western hat.

He had a big long duffle in his hand, but he has set in on the deck of the dock. It's big and heavy. It has all his belongings from clothing to rifle. On his hip is his pistol, it sits at arm length for a fast draw, the belt is weathered and the holster tied down.

The man looks weathered in the face. He maybe needs a shave. There's a bit of intimidation to one that could read his posture, but yet he shows no threat to a common good member of the skyplex.


"When you give a personal lesson in meanness to a critter or person, don't be surprised they learn the lesson."

Monty

"This is Monty.  He's the one who keeps us in the sky." She looked back to Monty, nodding toward the newcomer. "This is Minato.  He's the one the captain's hired to help with all that technical, computer stuff."

Leroy closed in on the two as Ava began a quick introduction. "Hey Doc!" The Mechanic offered in a cheerful tone. Leroy turned toward the new recruit and offered his hand. "Welcome aboard Minato."

"Mr. Monty, it is a pleasure to meet you. I look forward to working with you on this vessel."

Leroy's grin widened...."Nice, Budda knows I can use all the help I can get with Ronin's computer diagnostic interface."

Ava Gray

Quote from: Minato Kaneshiro on August 06, 2019, 04:08:39 PM
Minato gave Ava a quick nod and said,

"Yes, Ma'am. I am going to handling the computer systems aboard your vessel. I do like look forward to getting a chance to look your systems so that I know what I am dealing with."

Minato soon well into explaining details about the possible it issues that he could run into. He continued to talk in his techno babble for quite bit be realizing there was another person here now. Minato turned to see the man and take him in.

Ava opened her mouth to respond but before she could, Minato had launched into a soliloquy about subjects far beyond the young doctor's comprehension, so she changed her attempt to reply into a smile, adding an occasional "Mmhmm," or "Interesting," to keep the man talking, though it didn't seem that he needed the cues.  This certainly made her job of keeping him occupied until Monty showed up easy as pie, and she did listen, her expression turning more serious, on the off chance that she might actually hear something spelled out with sufficient simplicity to be grasped by an utter novice.  After all, if whatever slim knowledge she gleaned from the conversation didn't end up helping her increase her ability to understand his work, she could doubtlessly use it to start a conversation with him in the future.

Quote from: Monty on August 12, 2019, 06:47:29 PM
"Hey Doc!"

Ava turned her head at the sound of Monty's voice and gave the mechanic a smile that suggested she was perfectly delighted to see him.  As introductions proceeded apace, she glanced at the hallway down which the captain had vanished and noted a man at the dock who seemed to be looking the scene over. 

Quote from: Monty on August 12, 2019, 06:47:29 PM
Leroy's grin widened...."Nice, Budda knows I can use all the help I can get with Ronin's computer diagnostic interface."

Monty's comment brought Ava's attention away from the stranger and back to the conversation at hand.  "Oh, Minato has you covered there, for sure," she said with a little chuckle.  "By the way," she added, turning her attention to their new comp specialist, "Since I'm hooking you up with a room, you've got a bit of choice in where you end up.  If you like a little more privacy, we can stick you downstairs by the hydroponics, otherwise you'll be in the main area with the rest of us."

As Minato voiced his preference, Ava glanced back at the exit, noting that the stranger was still there, still looking.  "Monty, if you could get a headstart with Minato to drop off his luggage, I'll catch up in just a second," she promised.

Leaving the menfolk to find their way, she turned, straightening her shoulders and adopting a more professional demeanor, and walked toward the stranger.  She felt a quick tightening of her stomach.  For all her hour and twenty-six minutes spent reading blogs about Human Resources before they'd docked, that wasn't her actual position on the ship, she didn't have anything approaching authority onboard, but... the man looked like he had business and it didn't seem at all like a good idea to leave him there alone.  She'd seen Lin address one stranger, so she took as much as she could from that encounter and stopped at a comfortable distance to address the man calmly.  "Hi, can I help you?"

Michael Becker

Greenleaf Skyplex - Quiet Bar

Last job had run its course. Not running into trouble had been a welcome occurrence, but all that time stuck in the black with nothing to do had worn on him. More accurately the people had worn him. It was pot luck, sometimes you got the right crew and sometimes you didn't, and you were always too far out by the time you discovered which was which. Mike hadn't thrown himself out of an airlock. They wouldn't give him the code. But when they docked for a routine stopover, he elected to cash his cheque, make no goodbyes and put himself in the quietest bar he could find on station.

Mike lost a day before a mental budget reminded him why he had to seek out work. The way the 'verse ran on credits was a chore, but since he wasn't ready to die he had to comply. Becker hadn't been fussy in shooting out messages. If there were credits, a bed and something vaguely edible in it for him, he reached out. People were always on the look out for a little security, so he expected a few offers back. He even took a shot at a text only listing that included a need for piloting skills. Now his piloting skills were questionable, but he could get the job done. When it reached that point stranded in the black that he realised he hated the crew, it would be some small conciliation that they would just be realising they were in a floating death-trap.

Mike took to sobering up. He could be meeting a captain within the next few hours. He ordered one last whiskey and nursed it with a vacant stare. To the best of his ability, he tried not to think about anything at all.

Mylena Yee

August 17, 2019, 10:34:50 AM #17 Last Edit: August 17, 2019, 01:16:02 PM by Lomari
   Traveling to the Greenleaf Skyplex was a journey of several days.  Mylena passed some of the time resting and meditating in her cabin, but she spent more out in the common area, watching the other travelers as they went about their business.  It was in her nature to observe and make use of that knowledge.  She used some of her free time to gamble with the crew, playing Plum and Poker, both with a fair amount of skill.  She was careful not to win too much, but she recouped the cost of her flight over several days time. 

   By the last day of the flight she had her things packed and stowed, killing time in the common area for the last few hours before they landed.  She had struck up conversation with a young woman travelling with friends, but they were resting before the ship landed, leaving her alone.  After a bit of idle chatter Mylena offered to tell her fortune.

   She shuffled the cards with the deft movements of a practiced hand.  The soft sound of the plasticoated cardboard as she bridged the deck, then cut it in half and shuffled it once more before fanning them out face down across the table the only sounds in the room.  The young woman sitting across from her picked five cards from the deck and as she did so Mylena laid them out in a cross shaped pattern face up on the table. Mylena's almond shaped eyes studied the images on the cards seriously for a few long moments before she spoke, her tone soft and measured.

   "This card is The Master of Wisdom.  It indicates a wise and intelligent management of affairs and budget. You are a valuable advisor. Sometimes you are a bit too prudent, but you make wise choices." The other woman was nodding as Mylena spoke and Mylena was covertly watching her response to the reading.

     She tapped the next card with a slender forefinger. "The Harvest card is auspicious; it indicates that the you will reap the fruit of your efforts. Whatever deal or project you've been working on is either coming to a close or has just finished up.  You deserve to take a little rest, a maybe a vacation. It is advisable for you to rest before heading back to a new task. This will allow your energy to recharge and your chakras to realign."  Perhaps a true reading, but not a hard thing to guess given the young woman was clearly on holiday.

     Her finger slide to the third card. "Most people think the Death card is a bad omen, but in this instance, it indicates a challenge you've recently faced.  Perhaps of a situation or just of a way of seeing things.  It puts an end to a situation that cannot continue and rebirth in another direction." Mylena canted her head slightly, then straightened it. "No, not just a situation, an end of a relationship, an important one." The woman looked shocked and surprised, her right hand moving to cover her left hand, the lighter patch of skin on her finger indicating where a ring had sat until very recently. 

     Mylena frowned slightly, bringing her hand up to tap her temple thoughtfully as she studied the next card. "The Apprentice could be good or bad, but it depends on your inner nature. It indicates a new beginning, and it invites learning, but if you are resistant it could be a hardship for you." The younger woman was nodding slightly, as if this was something that made sense to her.

     "The last card, Synthesis, promises a success, some honors, or a reward. A victory against an opponent or a competitor. Generally speaking, victory against adversity.  But synthesis doesn't come by just existing, one must seek it out, the way a plant seeks sunlight.  Growth can be painful, but if you persevere you will have great success."  The young woman was smiling now and nodding in agreement.  She tried to give Mylena a few credits, thanking her for the reading but she wouldn't accept them.  The young woman eventually gave up went back to her friends, leaving Mylena sitting alone.  Mylena didn't mind though; she hoped she'd helped the young woman take the right path.

   She had heard the young woman talking with her friends.  She knew about her graduation and the decision to accept a position far away from home at a paid internship.  She knew about the cheating fiancĂ© and the recent break up and how the girls had decided to take one last big holiday together before the internship started.  And she knew that the young woman was having doubts about it all, had even overheard the wave from the cheating scumbag, begging her to come back.  Could tell she'd been considering it.  Was the reading real? Well, the cards had their own meanings and the young woman had picked them at random of her own free will, but the telling of the tale, the way the meanings were spun into the intricate web of the reading, that was up to the one spinning the thread.

   The ship docked a short time later and she disembarked, carrying two cases slung over her shoulder. She was feeling optimistic overall.  She let herself blend into the press of humanity on the skyplex.  She looked no different than so many other travelers hustling by.  Perhaps a bit cleaner than some.  Her walk was quick, an efficiency of movement that made her seem to almost glide along.  She had memorized the coordinates of where to meet her potential employer and she had looked over the layout of Greenleaf before landing so she was confidant as to where she was going. 

     She bypassed the ship at first, circling around the Ronin, giving it a discreet once over.  She didn't immediately get a bad feeling about the ship.  A gunboat...slammer class if memory served from her lessons.  She liked the lines of the ship, the feel of it. Had she sensed anything amiss she simply would have kept moving.  She wondered how the ship had been named.  It made her think of a story, a Chūshingura she'd heard long ago, one that started with a fair and honorable lord, betrayed and dead, his loyal warriors left to seek revenge. 

     She had no interest in revenge per se, or punishing the wicked, in truth she had protected many wealthy and wicked people in her life.  That had been before Maria though.  Before she had been granted her freedom.  To go where she wished and do as she liked.  To serve any master that she found worthy.  She had made a conscious decision not to search the Cortex for information on Ronin's captain.  She preferred to meet the man himself to look him in the eye to take the measure of him.

     As she approached the Ronin once more, she broke from the throng of people going about their business and headed towards the cargo bay.
Pale death visits with impartial foot, the cottages of the poor and the castles of the rich.

Michael Becker

Greenleaf Skyplex - Docking Ring

Becker found the nearest bathroom to clean himself up in. Tap water splashed on his face, then swilled in his mouth and was spat out with the remnants of his most recent drink. He coughed heavily as it somehow felt like a good way to clear his system, but if anything he felt worse after. Then Mike was left staring in a mirror, in a long moment of contemplation. Every time he met his own gaze, it took longer and longer to accept life and get back on the move. But Mike did it. The guy looking back at him was still breathing, it was time to earn that guy a good meal and some rest.

With an uneasy walk, he worked out the ache in his left leg until he found a decent stride that lied about his ailments. A quick word with the appropriate member of staff got him pointed in the direction of Ronin. He tugged on various edges of his clothing, as if it was enough to make him look neat. He patted at his hat, trying to get it straight. Then he stroked his chin, ineffectively grooming the hairs of his beard. He didn't actually look that bad, just noticeably scruffy around the edges.

Within a few minutes, Mike was walking up to the spacious cargo bay that Ronin boasted, though he wasn't too keen on the headcount occupying it. There was an array of characters present, a complete welcome party by the looks of it. Only person he really needed to talk to though was the captain. Going off the name, he looked to those of Asian decent, but with names being as gender neutral as they were these days he couldn't narrow it down to one person. Guess there was but one way to do it.

Ronin - Cargo Bay

"Err..." That was his way of announcing himself as he stepped aboard the ship. Down to business, "Captain Lin..." and the realisation that he had only seen the surname written down. "Coo-eee-e?" His interpretation was phonetic and drawn out. Becker winced, then shook it off with a shrug. "Of course, I'll just call ya Lin from now on."

Travis Chao


Quote from: Ava Gray on August 15, 2019, 04:22:33 PM
... the man looked like he had business and it didn't seem at all like a good idea to leave him there alone.  She'd seen Lin address one stranger, so she took as much as she could from that encounter and stopped at a comfortable distance to address the man calmly.  "Hi, can I help you?"

Travis Chao was about to move forward when a woman emerged from the belly of the ship and approached him. He looked around, others were converging on the ship. He figured they must be other crew. Best to look non-threatening.  He took his hat off with his right hand, his gun hand. His duffle was at his feet.

"Miss." He made a slight polite bow. "I'm Travis Chow. Captain Lin Kuei sent me a wave to come and serve on Ronin. Security and protection I believe was his intention."

Travis looked at the others up in the cargo bay and those around the doors and on the dock. He shifted a little, taking a bit of a more defensive stance. His eyes narrowed just a little. Were these friends and crew of Ronin? Now he wasn't so sure. The woman had taken that attitude of a ship's officer, but concerning the others he was wary.


"When you give a personal lesson in meanness to a critter or person, don't be surprised they learn the lesson."

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