[center][h2]Escape Velocity[/h2][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/HwEPcyo.jpg[/img] [/center] [b]S.A.M.A.N.T.H.A.[/b] appears courtesy of [@wanderingwolf] [b]Rex Black[/b] is a character created by [@Psych0pomp] China Doll made quite a show of lifting off. Unlike the elegant finesse of her former pilot’s touch, Rex’s ham handed maneuvering caused the boat to lurch upward. She swayed left, a drunken wobble veering her to within a meter’s distance of a neighboring Trans-U. An overcorrection to the right was met with better fortune. The Yōu sun parked in the adjoining berth cast a low, sleek posture which permitted the hapless Firefly to meander overhead. [i]Oops,[/i] Rex thought of the scorch marks left upon her hull as he goosed the boat upward. China Doll powered skyward, her engines firewalled as she burst through afternoon cloud toward the deepening blue. “Oh yeah,” the First Mate dropped a nervous chuckle as he tightened a hand crank, “forgot to set the yolk tension.” “Everything alright up there?” That new mechanic sounded worried enough for two. Rex keyed the mic. “It’s all shiny,” he answered in a voice silky smooth as that passenger lady’s panties. “Like ridin’ a bicycle, my man.” “Okay,” Yuri’s tone read ‘dubious’ in big neon letters. “Don’t forget to feather your atmo engines at sixty-K altitude. Full reactor thrust by seventy-five.” “What?” the First Mate grinned. “You afraid I’m gonna stall her out?” “No…yes.” “Have a little faith, baby. I mean, c’mon. You just went down on one ship. What are the odds it could happen again? Wait. Too soon?” The smirk on his face evaporated with the flashing of a cockpit alarm. His eyes darted toward the gauges, their RPM indications falling in time with the sound of both turbines whining down toward a complete halt. Through the forward viewports was Greenleaf, her surface beginning to rise as the Firefly’s nose pitched forward. “Oh..yeah,” Rex throttled up the reactor thrust and eased the yolk back. “We’re okay…we’re all shiny.” Yuri’s voice was droll. “Shut the atmos down before you burn out the solenoids.” “Done and done.” Yeah, it might’ve been a few years since he’d handled this old girl. For true he was a touch rusty. [i]But,[/i] Rex conjured as he laid in the course for Osiris, [i]three and a half days’ steady flying oughta jump start the old muscle memory[/i], in addition to giving him ample time to cozy up to SAMANTHA. “Hey Sam,” he said casually, “you listening?” “I’m online,” the AI responded. “China Doll has just received two citations from Khao Yai Traffic Control. Two charges of Unsafe Operation.” As she settled upon her course, the boat’s autopilot was engaged. Meanwhile, her flesh and blood pilot attempted negotiation with the prickly digital conscience. “So hey,” he settled back in his chair, “think you can do something about those?” “What is it you’re requesting?” “You know,” he gently cajolled the unseen presence. “Make ‘em…go away?” “I [i]should[/i] report these citations to the captain.” “Or not..c’mon, we’re all having a rough time here,” Rex beseeched. “Nobody’s gonna be right til we get the kid back. You gonna make me beg?” “In light of your efforts to locate our missing deckhand, no,” Sam replied. “I will attempt a few discreet queries of their database.” “Thanks. You’re a doll. While you’re doin’ that,” Rex leaned forward, “what’s the chances of you slippin’ into the cops’ and feds’ records? I want to know everything there is about the Headhunters Motorcycle Club.” If the machine had a face, he’d have sworn it just perked up. “I’ve been waiting for someone to ask me that,” the AI responded. “Headhunters MC has actually very few mentions in the law enforcement database. Several sealed files. Yes, I’m attempting decryption. Of the visible record, there are physical altercations, several incidents of public drunkenness, domestic disputes. The club is a frequent donor to the Police Benevolent and Pension Fund, sometimes participating in fundraising efforts with Hafez Nadal.” “No [i]la shi,[/i]” Rex said. “Now, some homework, sweetie. In that capture they sent, pull the face of the guy our cook was punching. I want everything you can find, criminal history, affiliation with the MC, anything.” “We’re outside Greenleaf’s orbital network,” Sam replied. “Untraceable inquiries from the deep black are more difficult to obtain, due to fewer relay points and routing delays. This will take some time.” Rex nodded thoughtfully. “How long do you think?” “Twelve-point-two-five-seconds,” she answered. “You little tease.”