[center][i](Addressing: [@datadogie], [@IceHeart], [@Korkoa])[/i][/center]

And so the negotiations chugged on. Du-Vos was not a brilliant negotiator, but he was smart about ISA's system, and very greedy. Greedy, but not a child killer. That was Winky's job, apparently. Now that the boy was safe back in the holding cells (Du-Vos assured that he was, and Nick cautiously decided he could be trusted) what would happen to Winky? 

Just as Nick thinks this, Du-Vos suddenly juts in- "Now, if you'll excuse me for a moment, I have to go [i]deal [/i]with my crewman." Well, that's ominous. The records show that Du-Vos keeps his crew loyal, but not how. Is it with threats or bribes? Or violence? Whatever it is, it's coming for Winky. Du-Vos's hulking form squeezes through the side-door, just as the viewscreen cuts out from the pirate's end. And as it does, Nick breathes a sigh of genuine relief. That was intense. Nick was never going to read an adventure story about "charming rogue" pirates again. 

Okay, well, not for a while.

The Captain gets his bearings, straightens his uniform, and turns to his crew. Time to be the Captain again. "I'm proud of all of you. Good work. Franscesca, you were invaluable- and Cake, could you check in on Beta team? It's about time for a progress report." After a pause, where glances across the still-tense faces of his assembled bridge crew, Carabello continues: "Now, who is the one who shouted? Are you alright?"