<div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/0/0a/Rudy_reyes.jpeg)</div><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">Santiago,</span><em>First Mate and "Public Relations"</em><br/>2519, present day<br/><em>Man's Ruin</em>, Eavesdown Docks, Persephone<br/>Tagging - Thalia Linnea, Babette Lafayette, Aaron Shaw<br/>Location -<em>Man's Ruin</em><br/><hr/><br/>Worked all day on the ship.  I kept myself in good shape, but I done much more than usual.  I was really exhausted, tired enough that I wouldn't usually go to this high brow poker party, but Thalia was going, and Shey was going to be there too, and I didn't want to miss the sight of that.<br/><br/>Was surprised Samson invited me to come along.  Figured he would want me to stay with the ship, but he probably knew I could use more time on land.  Reckon he wanted me to watch his back, too, make sure he didn't have to cut off a head again.<br/><br/>I wasn't sore at the moment, but I could feel that I was going to be all an-aching and a-paining tomorrow.<br/><br/>After a shower and a nap, I got dressed for the party.  Wore my suit.  Fancy, but not too fancy, just enough to fit in, not enough to stand out.<br/><br/>I looked in the mirror, facing forward at first, turning to the side second, and then spinning around, crouching, pointing my finger like a gun at my reflection.<br/><br/>I straightened up, twisted my neck to work out the cracks, and talked at myself.<br/><br/>"Shiny."<br/><br/>Only under bright light would anyone be able to notice the black thread on the black sleeve of my suit jacket where I got slashed last month while at the dance club with Thalia.<br/><br/>I put my pistol, hand cannon more like, into the shoulder rig I had under my suit on one side.<br/><br/>Usually I'd feel better bringing a knife and grenades, too, but I settled for a single throwing knife.  Always felt better knowing I had something with a sharp edge on my person if not in my hand.<br/><br/>Chances are there would be security and scanners.  Giving up a pistol, even a large caliber one, along with a small blade wouldn't raise too many eyebrows.  Traveling with an arsenal I would prefer wouldn't get me in at all.<br/><br/>Still had my bare hands though.  And feet.  And knees.  And elbows.  And whatever I could grab and improvise into a club.<br/><br/>I climbed up the ladder out of my bunk and kicked at Samson's door.<br/><br/>"Ready when you are, I'll be in the cockpit."<br/><br/>I brought up a map on a screen to see how far we was from Southdown Hills, which was near some monastery called Southdown Abbey.  Heard of that place, some way some how.<br/><br/>Specifically, in one story I heard, there was some former Browncoat legendary spy posing as an Alliance ship captain, who then found God and became a preacher.<br/><br/>Also, supposedly there was a preacher from Southdown Abbey who was on<em>Serenity</em>, whose crew exposed the Alliance for the incident on Miranda and the creation of the Reavers.<br/><br/>I wondered how we would get to Southdown from Eavesdown.  Driving the mule wouldn't be very stylish and the dust may ruin our outfits.  At least the shuttle was going to work.<br/><br/>Wasn't sure how I felt having Samson fly again, though.<br/>