[I]"I understand, family is very important, I don't blame you." he said, then he recalled Valko looking him up and down and asking if Loire was the one "fuckin'" Viva. "I sure am glad you didn't lash out at me back there, since you thought I was sleeping with Viva, you're a pretty tough guy. You do know I'm not sleeping with her right? And that I'd never hurt her, just so we're clear."[/i] "Oh sure you're not sleeping with [b]her[/b]," Valko said, his overly toothy smile never wavering, "I was mostly yankin' Vee's chain- gotta keep her on her toes. But you..." Valko trailed off, a knowing glint in his eyes as he repeated his earlier wandering gaze and took in Loire's still disheveled appearance. He'd noticed that the doctor hadn't reacted to his earlier teasing until he'd mentioned lads- the man's slight smile a mix of relief and disbelief was very telling, "You've been bumping uglies with [b]somebody[/b] for sure. I've got three good guesses who and the first two don't count." He laughed at the doctor's expression, taking delight in treading all over whatever delicate sensibilities the educated man may have. "Now Noah," He continued after his mirth subsided, although he did flash a grin at the mention of his prime suspect, "Unlike Viva, Noah can take care of himself more often than not. Noah wants to play "Doctor" with a Doctor I ain't gonna tell him no. So If you wanna play 'Cabin boy' to his Captain well then have at it..." "Just you keep in mind our little discussion yeah?" Val's voice remained casal, but had taken on a dark timbre, "Fuck around all you want, but Noah is as much my kin as Viva is. And if anybody, Anybody [b]Fucks[/b] with my family... [B]"I'll end em."[/b] Valko bit the words out with savage relish. Then smiling innocently at the doctor, "Just so we're in the clear ya know." [I]"Naomi babe, howya been?" Noah asked nonchalantly, "You look good, though I can't say the same about the company you keep." he looked up at one of the big henchmen she'd dragged along and added as a side note "No offence buddy." He looked over to Viva and motioned for her not to draw her weapon, "It's alright Vee, Naomi's a civilised woman. I'm sure we can work something out without making a mess of the Lucidae's lovely cargo hold, and Ms. Dybbuk's lovely dress."[/i] The big man, either Brody or Craven, merely snarled at Noah's cheek and continued to pat him down for concealed weapons- being a little rougher than necessary. The other man approached Viva, leering at her as he groped through her pockets. The plasma pistol taken from her pocket and was thrown to the floor where it was kicked down the hall and well out of reach- along with any other weapons that were found on them. "How considerate," Naomi purred as she watched them, "I see my reputation has preceded me... " Switching her legs she ruched up a bit of her lacy skirt, flashing a tantalizing peek of creamy thigh, "I've heard quite a bit of your own reputation Noah Rhoads, Captain of the light freight star cruiser Lucidae." She recited it with ease, enunciating it clearly as if to a small child. Standing up she slinked towards them as she continued, "You, Captain, are a small time smuggler. A criminal with delusions of grandeur. Which is the absolute worst kind of criminal you could be. "A humble criminal lives longer..." She crooned, running her elegantly manicured nails down his cheek, "But you have too much ego to ever be satisfied with Humble, don't you. Just look at you, how young and handsome. Tsk, such a shame. " "You thought it would be a good idea to play with the big boys," She said stepping aside as the two brutes secured their arms behind their back, "And ended up stepping on the wrong person's toes. Mar Sullivan doesn't suffer fools, Captain. And that is what you are..." Naomi turned to Viva and repeated her caress on the girl's cheek, "So now you are going to suffer the consequences of your foolishness." "Is this the one, Pet?" Looking Viva over with an impersonal judging eye Naomi asked the filthy creature that was still back at the crates,"She's the one that struck you, yes? Well now, we just can't have that can we." Quick as a flash, Naomi struck Viva a vicious slap across the cheek that whipped her head to one side. "Oh no," Ms. Dybbuk said in dismay as she turned away, "I've broken a nail- That's going to [b]cost[/b] you." At a wave of her hand, the grunt that had Viva's hands behind her back quickly pulled them up into a painful looking hold. Dragging her head to one side with a grip on her hair, the man shoved a knife to her neck before she could do more than yelp. Returning to her original perch on top of the crates, she seated herself like it was a throne, "You are not in a position to negotiate Captain Rhoads, so I am going to dictate the terms. You are going to Tell me where the Nth is, or your little crewmember here is going to suffer greatly for your arrogance. You've already lost one Crux twin after all... can you really afford to lose another?"