Tentacles are a bit freaky, aren't they? The way they wiggle on their own. Nick was standing just to the left of Ambassador Lunarius, who was in a very formal uniform and addressing the face-full of tentacle known as Captain Du-Vos. And Du-Vos was... big. But not quite big enough to take up the bridge's entire viewscreen. So when Francesca's eyes wander off to the side, looking at a very angry pirate with a plasma rifle, Nick's eyes follow her.

While Lunarius was gently breaking the news that, [i]of course[/i], the pirates will not be getting their bounty, that pirate rifleman was trembling with anger. That's not normal. Pirates are typically unstable, of course, and unresolved anger is practically a requirement. But most of them are still sociable enough to work on a crew with others. So what's going on with this one? While Du-Vos rambles about demands, Nick tries to subtly keep on eye on the rifleman.

And the rifleman takes notice. He meets Nick's eyes through the viewscreen. Before Carabello can react, the pirate [i]winks[/i] at him, and storms off through a side door. 

Now that can't be good. Winking pirates is never, ever good. It's something you see right before a hidden bomb goes off. 

"[b]So what do you think, Captain... Carabello?[/b]" Du-Vos was talking. He had a deep and loud voice. It was nearly as big as him. "[b]Is ISA going to give me what I need? Or are 20 humans going to be on the slave market?[/b]"

Alright, back to the matter at hand. Carabello dives into the negotiations. ISA Credit payments, supplies, bars of gold (bit of a cliche), protection from the law, etc. This squid has a sea of demands. In the midst of it, Nick nearly forgets about Winky the Rifleman. 

At least, until Winky comes barging back in. This time, he's not alone. There's a young human boy- maybe 10?- dragged by the wrist behind him. The boy is small, scared, and doing a very brave job at not screaming.

Until Winky shoves that rifle between his eyes, anyway. Then he screams. So does a Prize crewman, somewhere behind Nick. Winky smiles, in a way that isn't really a smile. Then he talks: "Stop. Stalling. Are you listening now?"

"Yes," Nick replies. There's nothing else to say.