Rolling off the bed, Valko moved to land noiselessly on his hands and knees; If there was one thing he knew, it was how to take a fall. Soldier crawling his way across the floor, he kept low and out of sight- making his way to the hall where he could get a look around. The plasma pistol lying just beside the small lounge’s couch was a big giveaway that all was not well (as if he hadn’t noticed), and snagging it he made his way to peek around the doorway. 

Three large assailants- judging from the pair of bulky shoulders and shadows cast on the floor and the ugly mug of the spacer holding a gun aimed at the center of the cargo hold... Make that four, as a bombshell blonde currently had a grip on their new doc. From their positions, he could guess that both Noah and Viva had got themselves nabbed as well. Joy. 

Quick assessment over, he pulled back and quickly scurried back to the medbay and out of sight. Getting to his feet he deliberated for a second, checking the pistol’s charges- a full set, excellent, with the sound of things out there, these delightful warm-body targets were looking for their cargo... so that killed the lower approach, as that would be the first place they’d check- frontal assault was out likewise for even more obvious reasons- damn Noah getting caught. He would have loved a chance to double team that blonde bitch for stepping on their turf... 
But that was besides the point (and there was also Viva to consider too, their folks would never let him live it down if she got hurt on his watch). 
If you can’t go through, go under and if you can’t do that... Well, nobody ever looks up, not even in space it turns out. 

Putting the gun in his pants behind his back Valko reached up and undid the mesh covering that doubled as the ceiling and exposed the Lucidae’s upper rigging. With a silent hop he pulled himself up in a deadlift, the strain pulling at his stitches and his rest-fatigued muscles. A quick swing, and a tuck and he looped his legs up as well, hanging upside down before a twist had him upright in the rafters. 

His teeth flashed briefly in the dark, the light coming up through the mesh casting odd shadows on his face. It would take but a moment to work his way around to the cargo bay, and then he’d not only have the benefit of an advantageous position in cover with a bird's- eye-view... he’d take these fuckers entirely by surprise as well before he shot them dead.

His favorite kind of surprise. 

Viva closed her eyes in frustration dismay as their newest crewmember got snagged by Naomi’s goons. And still Noah just would Not Shut UP. His fierce denial that Loire was anyway associated with the crew would only make this crazy bitch more certain that he was lying- which he was. This situation was just getting worse and worse, goddamnit. They shouldn’t even Be in this situation, wouldn’t have ever been if it hadn’t been for that thrice damned Nth! THIS WAS ALL NOAH’S FAULT! And if they died because of this she was so going to haunt his ass.  

[i]"Do we have a deal or not? 60/40 is a fair cut, stop messing around Naomi" Noah said, unfortunately, negotiation and patience were certainly not two of his strong points and he knew the longer they lingered, the more chances Naomi had to discover Val wasn't dead and once she figured out he'd lied ... well she'd certainly not accept a 60 percent cut that's for sure.[/i]

“It seems that despite my efforts there is still a misunderstanding between us, Captain,” Naomi said as she looked up at Noah, a positively displeased look in her eye and her hand’s grip on Liore’s scalp tightened painfully. “The negotiations we are discussing was never over the Nth- cut or otherwise... and certainly nothing [b]Fair[/b].”

A manicured hand slid the skirt covering her thighs aside and she delicately plucked a wicked looking stiletto knife from it’s hiding place and flicked it open with practiced ease, “We are negotiating whether or not you can convince me that you value [b]your lives[/b] enough for me to allow you to keep them.”

“And I must say Captain Noah, you have done a very good job of showing me exactly what you value. Your life, perhaps, but the lives of your companions...” the stiletto grazed its way down Liore’s cheek leaving a faint red line behind, ”No, not so much.”

“Still,” She continued, staring directly into Loire’s eyes where that secret gleam of madness could easily be seen hiding in their depths, her voice almost soft, “You’d be amazed what a few hours of agonizing screaming can do to sway someone’s priorities- if only to make it stop. And I do so love it when they beg.” 

“I will have your [b]entire[/b] shipment of Nth, Captain,” She said louder for all to hear, but still not breaking her unnerving gaze, “Whether or not I Have to bathe the whole of this vessel in blood to get it is immaterial. I could easily deliver the cargo to its rightful owner- ship and all for Sullivan to go scrabbling through your cold dead bodies to find it himself... and if it is NOT here like you so eagerly suggested well...” her smile was deadly, “He’ll be glad to see that I tied up at least one loose end for him [b]permanently[/b].”