[center][h2]The Reckoning - Part 4[/h2][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/wYQHIrH.jpg[/img] [/center] JP/Collab from [@Xandrya], [@Gunther], [@wanderingwolf], and [@sail3695] [b]Rex Black[/b] is a character created by [@Psych0pomp] Cal entered the galley, followed by Rex and Hook. He moved to the head of the table, jaw set, as all eyes were upon him. After waiting for the first mate and cook to take their seats, the Captain rested hands upon a chair back, took a breath, and spoke. As soon as Cal made himself seen, Alana instinctively tightened her grip on the mug with hands cupping either side of it. The expression on his face alerted her as to the gravity of the situation, and what awaited them was going to be far from good news. She glanced at him nervously, not moving in her spot as she waited for an explanation. “Here’s how it is. Our pilot left the boat. She’s got family and a yen to mend fences. Can’t think of a finer reason for quittin’ the life. Rex here’ll steer us to Osiris. But,” Cal’s eyes swept across the attentive faces, “we got big trouble.” The very air seemed to thicken as he laid out their situation. “Turns out the plum job we landed put us crossways with a bunch ‘o’ bikers who had prior claim. Tough enough gristle,” he admitted, “but it didn’t help when one of theirs got killed in a scrap with one of ours. Now they’re lookin’ for both blood and money…and to make sure they get it, they shanghai’d our deckhand right off our cargo ramp.” Edina gasped. “What?” His words hit her immediately. "She's gone..." That was Alana's first response. It made sense now, the fact that Abby didn't seem to be around. And then she realized something. Alana turned to Hook, recalling her little rescue mission from earlier that morning. Gently pushing the mug aside, she leaned in closer to him. "Did you have anything to do with this?" Her voice was low despite her seething rage. Yuri felt the blood draining from his face as a single word passed his lips. “Bikers.” He’d had his own experience with their kind. The 88’s were one of Niska’s chosen dirty work squads. When not on the job, they roamed the Skyplex, amusing themselves by choosing low value targets whose suffering wouldn’t rouse the great man’s ire. He looked up, eyes riveted upon the captain. “What they’ll do to her…we’ve got to get her back…now…what do you need?” Rex’s palm slapped down hard upon the table. “Quiet…quiet! Let the Captain finish.” “They sent us a wave. Abigail’s alive. We saw her,” the Captain answered the question before it could escape anyone’s lips. “And we’re gonna do everything to make sure we get ‘er back in one piece. Now, these bikers,” he continued, “want us to load and haul just as we planned, and that’s what I intend to do. We’re gonna carry the cargo to Osiris, make the drop, and get paid, all easy peasy normal. They tell us we make that go off without Five-Oh or the Feds catchin’ wise, they’ll be there to take coin and hand over our girl. I aim to make that meetup.” [i]She’s just a child,[/i] Edina shook her head. Fear took hold, a great icy lump which seemed to spread from her core and up her back. [i]Just a child…[/i] “Roger that,” Yuri blurted out. “The boat’ll be ready.” "It can't be that easy..." Cal hushed them with a raised hand. “Here’s the thing. Bike gangs ain’t exactly Reavers, but once their blood’s up it can be a might hard tellin’ one from t’other. Whole thing could go smooth as a babe’s bottom, or it could turn all kindsa bad..killin’ bad. Rex, Hook, and me…we’re bound to see this through. But you’ve all got a choice.” The Captain’s eyes traveled from one person to the next, their silent urgency conveying an unmistakable message. “You can pack your kit and step off now, and there’ll be no ill will between us. But if you stay,” his brows gave a slight lift, “I conjure you’ll end this chapter with a pistol in your hand. Can’t speak beyond that.” The cigarette case saw daylight, it’s silver flashing as he flipped it open. “Anybody got a mind to leave, now’s your moment.” He turned, his face in profile as the match flared in his cupped hands. A rescue mission or two...she'd partaken in that before. And now it wasn't even up to debate, despite the challenges they had to face. Alana glanced at the others. She knew her choice, and whatever they decided on went over just as well. "I hope you have a solid plan worked up prior to the approach. I'll get working on some med kits in case, you know... this thing goes belly up against them trigger-happy freaks." The mechanic nodded agreement. “Sounds like we’re on a hard burn to Osiris,” he met the Captain’s eye. “I’ll make sure you’ve got all the power you need, coming and going.” Sensing a lull in the conversation, a visibly shaken Edina Wyman looked up from the nervous study of her hands. “I don’t know a thing about what any of you do,” her voice trembled slightly as she looked from one crewmember to the next. “But I’m not afraid of working or getting dirty…and I have my own gun.” As Yuri gave her shoulder a squeeze, she said, “Let’s go get Abby back.” Cal regarded these people, his eyes softening with fresh appreciation. “Shiny. Ms. Wyman, I think we got a couple passengers didn’t show. Could you check the Skyes’ shuttle…and that preacher man? Let ‘em know what’s what. They got questions, send ‘em to me.” Edina joined the others as they took to their feet. “Right away, sir.” “Much obliged. Rex, cockpit. One-Arm, spin her up. Get us off shore power. Doc,” Cal glanced toward Alana, “you got kit to test for chemicals? Think I’ve got an extra job for you.” She nodded to confirm, some slight urgency in her tone. "Whatever you need, captain; I'm at your disposal." Even though Alana sounded as sure as the night is dark and the day is light, a lump formed in her throat. The crew was diving into the unknown with quite a lot at stake, and that was chipping away at her confidence little by little. The Captain nodded. “I’ll fill you in when we break atmo. Hook,” his gaze landed on the silent cook, “you’re with me. We got cargo in five ticks.”