[center][h2]Freedom, or Frying Pan?[/h2][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/qEZu58W.jpg[/img] [/center] He’d failed them. Failed them all. Yuri thought he’d considered everything, covered all the angles of this caper. The wheelbarrows and bricks. The privileged student volunteers. Removal of the tracking chips. But at the end, something as simple as a coughing fit up ended the entire scheme, and would now destroy the lives of his shipmates and their smuggled passengers. Hekubah’s triumphal rant barely touched upon his conscious mind, burdened as it was under suffocating guilt. One by one, he met the eyes of his shipmates. One by one, he silently mouthed the words. [i]I’m sorry…[/i] Edina held his gaze. The eyes that met his were softened, yet quietly defiant of her captors. “It’s shiny,” she whispered, her hushed response drowned by the din of the detective and soldiers. “We’re shiny.” He still had most of his money. Maybe he could contact Lenny Booth, his slippery lawyer from Greenleaf. Mayhaps he could get Edina, Abby, and some of the crew cut loose on bail. A full confession on his part as bargain for slaps on the wrist for as many others as he could finagle… And then came the miracle. He could only gape at the sight of Quill Cassidy as she waded right in, flipping the Alliance raid on its’ collective ear with an unflappable air of self assurance. After a moment’s shouted denial, Detective Hekubah had been reduced to sputtering bile as a stoic Captain Kondo ordered their release. As his own cuffs snapped loose, Yuri caught the welcome sight of Edina, rubbing at her now liberated wrists, along with their shipmates. Corporal Dunn hurried about, returning ident cards and other personal effects, as the first mate looked past the furious detective. “I take it,” he said, eyeing the folder in the captain’s hand, “that we’re free to go?” “With our apologies for the inconvenience.” Hideki Kondo promptly offered the documents. “Sergeant,” he turned his head, “form them up. We’re returning to our garrison.” “Yes, sir.” “A word, Mr. Antonov,” Kondo whispered. He tucked hands behind his back, strolling slowly across the cargo deck as Yuri fell in at his side. “The documents your Ms. Cassidy so fortuitously secured do provide adequate legal protection for you and your crew. You’re free from any liabilities concerning those you’re carrying off planet.” A relieved Yuri offered a nod. “That’s good news.” “They do not, however, absolve Sister Lyen Giu of her alleged activities in the Blackout Zone. A warrant has been issued for her arrest.” Kondo halted, turning to meet the younger man with a steady gaze. “There are further complications. As we scanned your idents, certain individuals…Deborah Yo and Edina Wyman…were flagged.” The surprise was evident on Yuri’s face. He’d never heard of Deborah Yo…but Edina? What official alert could she possibly trigger? “Oh?” he asked. “Why?” “I’m not at liberty to divulge that,” the captain replied. “What I am able to tell you is that I’ve got a fairly busy schedule for the rest of today. Chances are that I won’t be able to file my operational report until later this evening.” From beneath the bill of his cap, Kondo’s eyes exuded meaning. “I hope you understand.” “Yes,” the mate issued a solemn nod. “I do.” “Bon voyage.” ……………………………………………….. Yuri watched them go. The cadre of soldiers moved in practiced order, climbing into their lorries as their captain took to the open topped staff shuttle. He gestured for Detective Hekubah to follow. The cop sullenly obeyed, stepping from China Doll’s cargo ramp onto the dusty asphalt of the docking berth. Antonov followed, more from a need to bar this man from ever coming back aboard than any logical reason he could suss. As he reached the foot, he saw the detective whirl before him, an infuriated scowl upon his face. Yuri soon realized the police detective’s ire was directed beyond him. Quill stood at the top, her contented little smirk every bit of the cat that ate the canary. Yuri waited until the raiding party’s engines carried them away before heading up to join her, affectionate hands landing upon the woman’s shoulders as a broad grin blossomed on his face. “I don’t know how you pulled that off,” he laughed, “but as long as you’re aboard this boat I’m buying your drinks!” Thanks to the mysterious, elegant passenger in their midsts, China Doll had dodged the bullet and could now get their precious human cargo away to safety. As he greeted a happily relieved crew, Yuri found himself thankful for Quill’s unforeseen providence. For the first time in a few days, Abby smiled as he congratulated her on her part. He delivered a back slapping hug to Hook, before Edina appeared. Her eyes shone gladdened welcome as he moved toward her. Though disheveled from her arrest, in this moment she had never been more beautiful. Yuri’s arms opened. He would kiss her right now. By god, if this wasn’t the right time, he didn’t know when… His cortex chirped, the persistent S-O-S cadence S.A.M.A.N.T.H.A. would use for appropriately dire circumstances. The first mate abruptly stopped, annoyance flickering over his features as he pulled the little reader to his ear. “Sam?” He lifted a hand to still the happy voices around him. “Yes, they’re gone. What’s happening?” He turned, his profile toward the others as he listened to the AI’s response. “Where are they?...................................shiny,” he said. “Tell him we’re there in ten ticks.” China Doll’s First Mate turned, pocketing the little device as he spoke. “Listen up!” he ordered. “Captain’s in a scrape. We’re skids up in five ticks. Hook, Quill, Edina, kindly get these new folks topside and make sure all our passengers are set for upthrust. Abby,” he faced the deckhand, “Rig this deck for flight. Tommy,” he gestured toward the pilot, “Spin ‘er up.” As the crew all made haste, Yuri stepped toward the tall newcomer. “Elias,” he looked up into piercing eyes wreathed by the man’s face covering, “we need a mechanic. If you want the job, it’s yours.”