[color=00746b][/color]“[color=8dc73f]WE ARE SEPARATING!?!?!?![/color]” Takashi yelled quite angrily. 

Ursa flinched slightly as she kept her eyes on the sleek pad computer in her hands, reading quietly some information Dill had collected on both Juniper’s planet and some background info on Mr. Handsome. She spoke quietly, “[color=00746b]Yes...Like I just said. I am the one who chose Bob as a client and I am the one who brought Juniper on this ship. Half of your bounty warrants barely changed apart from mine. He wants me...hence why I am going alone.[/color]” 

Anna spoke up next, “[color=fff79a]We have your back Captain! We are your crew! You need us![/color]” 

Ursa sighed lowering the computer down as she rubbed her sore eyes, “[color=00746b]Look guys. I get it. Honestly I want you to come with me. I know we work better as a group. I am not doing this because I find it’s my responsibility to protect you. We are criminals, and at the end of the day we take care of ourselves first. My first priority is not your lives. It’s the business. It’s your wallets. We joined together for money and I am going to be damned losing it because some asshole thinks he can get rid of me so easily. We already missed two shipments and if we lose anymore Donny and his boys are going to steal our routes.[/color]” 

She stood up, leaning forward slowly, “[color=00746b]I want you to do what I pay you to do. Smuggle. I want us to make sure our shipments are on time and undamaged, and to make sure our competitors don’t use this slip up to push us off the table. Jerry and I have dedicated too much to just shrink away now.[/color]”

Takashi shook his head turning to Mac, “[color=8dc73f]I can’t believe this shit. Will you talk some sense into her?[/color]” 

Mac had remained silent for a while his steel eyes staring at her across the table, before he spoke, “[color=fff200]She’s right.[/color]” 

Ursa let out a breath and stood up straight as Takashi screamed, “[color=8dc73f]WHAT THE HELL MAC!!![/color]”

Mac looked at the group, “[color=fff200]She’s right about the business. We need to separate and keep up orders. Jerry is depending on us and we can’t let him down either. We can also find out more through the systems and make contact as soon as possible. I don’t like separating either but it’s smart...also it helps with the other problem.[/color]” 

Ursa’s eyes dropped to the table, as Damian perked up, “[color=a0410d]Which is?[/color]” 

Mac kept his eyes on Ursa, “[color=fff200]The cop.[/color]”

Ursa blinked, her heart beating fast, “[color=00746b]He’s not a problem.[/color]” 

Mac shook his head, “[color=fff200]He is. You don’t think he’s gonna send a raid the moment you leave this outpost...or better yet arrests you as soon as he gets a free moment. I read those files, the moment Dill uploaded them. Squeaky clean. He’s moral..He’s..[/color]”

Ursa lifted her head, anger filling her words, “[color=00746b]My problem...and he saved my life mind you. You forgot that. He saved Takashi’s life as well![/color]”

Mac nodded, “[color=fff200]He did. Hence why I didn’t say anything when we brought him here, but he is going to turn the tables on you one day. It’s inevitable toots. You get too close to him and he will betray you. He doesn’t see the gray. He’s black and white and you know it.[/color]” 

Ursa grabbed the pad, her expression guarded. She knew that Mac was right. Jean was on the wrong side of her world, but she was both enamored and smitten with his courage and charm. There was a chemistry there that excited and scared her. She didn’t feel any connection with anyone, over the course of her travels, but he was different. The attraction was electric and she knew that inevitably it would burn her. She couldn’t help herself though. She wanted him, and the fact that the world told her she couldn’t, made her want him even more. She hid all this though and just nodded, “[color=00746b]I know. I’ll lose him, or I’ll find something to blackmail him with…[/color]” 

Mac didn’t relent, “[color=fff200]And if you can’t?[/color]”

Ursa grew angrier, knowing he pushed her into a corner she couldn’t escape from, so she gave him the answer he wanted, even though it tasted like poison on her lips, “[color=00746b]I’ll kill him. Crew first. Always.[/color]” 

The thought made her feel such a horrid disgust leaving her feeling sick and confused. She didn’t understand her feelings and felt as if the words were a betrayal. How could it be though? She barely even knew this guy..so why did it matter. She slumped back into her seat knowing the answer was what her second mate wanted. Mac nodded then stood up turning to Aquaria, “G[color=fff200]orgeous, you know the procedure for a raid. I suggest you prepare for it.[/color]”

Ursa shook her head, “[color=00746b]You are so damn paranoid. We have an understanding. He won’t...I think.[/color]”

Mac shook his head, “[color=fff200]Just be ready.[/color]”

Aquaria smiled, “[color=00aeef]No problem sugar bear. If things go south, we know what to do. Jim and I are always prepared. Now Ursa you come with me. We found a caseload of Aurara collections on Agrathea and I think there are a few pieces you would like.[/color]”

Ursa smiled at her, “[color=00746b]Sounds good Aquaria. So everyone is clear about the plan. We will be staying in touch but it has to be off the grid. When you find information about Bob. I want to know. Also, I need you to relay Jerry when you are safely out of our reach. I don’t want him near any of this. Everyone got it?[/color]”

The crew grumbled a few, 'Yes’ and Got it’s!’ before they were sent off to prepare the ships and perform a few other tasks. Ursa gave Mac a look before he walked off then turned to Aquaria who gave her a warm smirk, “[color=00aeef]You are way too easy to read Ursa.[/color]”

She turned heading into the hallway as Ursa let out a sigh then started following her, “[color=00746b]Well it’s not like I need to lie for my job or anything...oh wait.[/color]” 

Aquaria laughed before heading back into the larger warehouse to where a load of large purple crates was shoved against a wall, "[color=00aeef]You can lie extremely well, Ursa..you just can’t do it to people you care about. Don’t worry though. No judgment. Now let’s get you fixed up. I thought you would like these.[/color]” 

Aquaria stepped inside a crate and pulled out a few carts, while Ursa began to look through the packaged outfits. She pulled out a few items from the lower priced choices and began to get changed. A few moments later she was suited up in some black knee-high boots, a pair of tight black leather shorts, a black and purple “Strutz Rule” crop top and a light blue denim jacket over top. She turned to Aquaria, “[color=00746b]Ta-da![/color]”

Aquaria laughed, “[color=00aeef]Seriously! You have choices like these and you go with the clearance? You know no one’s going to want to sleep with you in that get-up![/color]"

Ursa pursed her lips, “[color=00746b]I’m not trying to get laid, Aquaria. I’m trying to save a friend. Who the hell fights in a 3000 dollar dress. Plus I think I look good, for having my face purple with bruises and a few stab wounds in my leg.[/color]”

Aquaria rolled her eyes, “[color=00aeef]Whatever you say, miss fashion forward. Anyway I have to go check to see if Jim loaded your ship. Holler if you need me.[/color]”

Ursa nodded before she headed to her office, running her fingers through her hair. When she reached it, she put on her gun holster, happy that Mac had retrieved it from Nefario’s ship. She then moved over to a large metal cupboard opening it up to show an array of guns and other nifty objects. She pulled out her earbuds and replaced them with a different pair, she also pulled on some interesting metal bracelets and pulled on a garter with one nasty knife just barely visible from her boot. She also grabbed a backpack and threw a few more things inside before she moved to her desk and pulled out a first aid kit. She opened it to look at the mirror and winced, before pulling out a green band-aid which she placed just beneath her slightly black eyes across the bridge of her nose, “[color=00746b]Alright...better than nothing I guess.[/color]” 

Moments later, with Aquaria's words stuck in her head she was heading to meet the boys. She grabbed a ‘Tony Treo’s ball cap’ to pop on her head, turning it back as she caught Jean mentioning his change of dress to being more relative to the company. She walked in and gave an awkward smile, looking him up and down, “[color=00746b]Not too shabby for wearing the fruits of my evil deeds. You could always come to the dark side, we have all the fun toys.[/color]"

She turned to Emmett and gave him a smirk, “[color=00746b]You aren't too bad either, handsome.[/color]"

She moved over to a crate and awkwardly jumped up to sit on it, rubbing her chest lightly before she spoke again, "[color=00746b]Hopefully, you found everything you will need. Can’t be over prepared when travelling to Deianira. Jim and Aquaria are just loading up, the ‘Sea Dog’ for us to use for transport. It’s smaller than the Ranger but it’s faster and has a better cloaking device. The rest of the crew will not be joining us, and my ship is too familiar so this should be a better option for us in case we get held up again.[/color]”