[center][h2]Setting The Stage[/h2][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/U2BLHNj.png[/img] [/center] “Here we are,” the driver announced, an unnecessary gesture given the sight of China Doll was plain as day to his passenger. The luxury shuttle glided onto its’ skids for a touchdown so smooth that Yuri could feel nothing beyond the overstuffed plush leather seat. As the door ghosted open, he leaned forward to offer the driver a tip. “Thank you much!” the man cheerfully pocketed the coin, a bit of money not to be traced by the credit pinching bastards he worked for. China Doll’s first mate stepped onto the pavement, shopping bags in hand. Among his treasures were an RFID chip programmer and forty veterinary grade ident chips. “Startin’ a puppy mill?” the clerk had asked. When Yuri delivered the god’s own truth with a smirk, the man had laughed. “You picked the right ones!” [i]No risk, no reward,[/i] he thought as he stepped up the cargo ramp. Still clad in his crisp new suit, he lugged his treasures into the space to find Edina and Abby, busily sorting a large pile of bedding and bathroom linens. “How do?” he greeted the women. “I brought a couple blank…” “Hooo, lookit yew!” Abby grinned ear tah ear at sight ‘o’ the usually shabby mechanic/first mate. She put ‘er hands on ‘er hips, eyein’ him up an’ down. “All suited up an’ way too purty!” “What she said!” Edina laughed. “I’d give a wolf whistle if I knew how!” Her eyes carried a private sparkle as she grinned. “Lookin’ very sharp, Mr. Antonov.” “Thank you kindly, Ms. Wyman,” he smiled in return. “I had some good advice.” “I’ll say,” Abby took notice the way they’s lookin’ at each other. “What’dja bring us?” “Oh.” Yuri lifted the larger bag. “Two more blankets. Should I just…” “I’ll take ‘em,” Edina reached for the bag. “They should finish off the kits we need for today. How many folks will Hook bring in?” “Fourteen, by his count.” Edina nodded. “Then I need to build two more.” “And I need to get out of this suit,” Yuri agreed. “There’s real work to get done before they arrive.” “C’mon, Pretty Boy,” Edina teased. “Walk with me.” “Sure thing. Abby, I had an idea about a hiding place for some of our folk.” He pointed toward the two deck plates that concealed the boat’s belly hatch. “What do you think about down there?” Tha girl frowned as she thought on it. “Not when we’s in tha black, [i]dohn mah?”[/i] “Strictly on the ground,” he replied. “I thought if we stacked cargo on top it’d conceal the two hatch plates from…surprise visitors.” “Surprise visitors,” Abby took wise. “Yew expectin’ trouble?” “Always.” Tha deckhand stood there, head bobbin’ slightly as she sussed out what she knew an’ what she conjured might work. “Uncle Bob’s boat got boarded sometimes,” she’s thinkin’ out loud. “Alliance knows most places on Fireflies where smugglers stash stuff…leastways on tha cargo deck. I seen ‘em open up ever’ bulkhead panel, but now that yah say, ain’t none of ‘em yet gone fer tha belly hatch.” Her eyebrows lifted on that idea. “What sorta cargo?” “We’re about to have alot of bricks on our hands,” Yuri smiled. “You can wrap and band them down to pallets for flight. About as boring a thing to search as there is, I’d guess.” “Worth a try,” Abby agreed. “Could be a might heavy fer them hydraulic deck panels, but we can test it fer sure.” “Shiny. I’ll be back in two shakes. Ms. Wyman? Are we walking?” Edina took Yuri’s arm. “How could I refuse, Mr. Antonov? And cheers for getting the cast off.” The pair headed off toward the upper deck stairway. Once through the aft hatch, Edina spoke. “Yuri,” she asked, “how much do I owe for the next run?” “Captain and I haven’t spoken on it, but I’m pretty certain that’ll be zero,” he answered. “But I’m a passenger…” she protested. “...Who’s put in work all over this boat, stood shoulder to shoulder with us to help bring Abby home,” he interrupted. “As far as I’m concerned, we should be cutting you in on a crew share.” “You’ve all been good to me,” Edina said as they rose to the galley deck. “I owed her one for the way she treated me when I came aboard…a bruised up, blackeyed mess.” She shook her head. “I can’t imagine being anywhere else now.” “Good,” he offered s sidelong glance and a smile. “We could use more of your help in the future. Captain and I have plans for that girl back there,” he confided. “She knows a little bit about everything to run one of these boats. We aim to get her off the cargo deck. Keep that between us, if you would.” She nodded her understanding. “Mum’s the word.” As they passed the passenger lounge with it’s arranged refugee supplies, she stopped. “So, Mr. Antonov,” Edina grinned mischievously, “got any plans for Pelorum?” It seemed that Yuri’s smile came of its’ own accord whenever he looked her way. “Come to think of it, I do. We’re delivering artifacts to the Earth-That-Was museum. Thought I might finagle my way in. How about it, Ms. Wyman?” he teased. “Care to crawl around a dusty old museum with me?” She laughed. “You sure know how to show a girl a good time.”