<div align="center"><strong>-=Vincent Kincaid - Longing for a less tense environment - Sasha's quarters, The Gamble=-</strong></div><br/>Vincent felt more than a little foolish in the wake of his outburst, especially with Sasha's reply that pointed out how he had misread the remark about his family.  Though it hadn't been too surprising in hindsight that it was a tender topic.  Today had been the first time he got to see any of them for months when he had been used to seeing them daily before joining the crew.  It had been a reminder of just how much he missed them and resented the situation that tore him away from them.  Between that and the way his Commanding Officers seemed to have it out for him in the wake of his mistake, Vincent felt cornered and a reaction was inevitable.<br/><br/>Fortunately Si stepped in and disarmed the situation before the co-pilot could say anything else that would get him in even deeper.  From there he grabbed his seat and proceeded to explain his story with wounded hand cradled in the opposing arm.  When he looked at Sasha after having finished his report, he could see that she had calmed down considerably, but still felt a little nervous when she approached him once more.  It wasn't that he was afraid that she'd berate him again in the same terse manner as before, her posture was enough to portray that.  Perhaps it was guilt for having allowed her to get under his skin like that.<br/><br/><em>”Vincent...I’m...intimately familiar with how guilt and regret can tear you up inside, and I surely don’t wish that hell on you. It’s not your fault that those bastards hurt Mae. But it IS your fault for not coming clean on it right up front, when you should have. Especially knowing how often we get to Persephone. Especially with us splitting up planetside like we do.  Not that it would have guaranteed we would have been able to avoid any trouble, but at least we would have been aware of potential danger and could have taken better precautions. Forewarned is forearmed, and all that crap.”</em><br/><br/>A somber sigh was the initial response to Sasha's words, knowing that such logic was irrefutable.  "Touché...  I did tell Griff a more vague version back when I first signed on to the crew, but it should have been my responsibility to remind him.  It's a part of my past that I don't like bringing up and I'm hesitant telling people since questions are likely to follow.  Some of the answers of which have the potential to change the way people think of me or put loved ones at risk."  A bitter chuckle interjected his line of thought.  "I never considered that I'd be taking that risk by not telling you all."<em>Gotta love those damned if you do, damned if you don't situations...</em><br/><br/><em>“Unless Si wants to get a full debriefing from you first, go let Dani mother-hen you to her heart’s content. I’m sure she’s less than pleased with me strong-arming her patient, if I know our lovely doctor.”</em><br/><br/>Looking down at his hand again, Vincent noticed most of the bandage was thoroughly soaked in blood.  He could only imagine how bad it looked underneath.  If the pain was any indicator, Dani was likely going to be inspired to give him quite the lecture about knowing better than to punch steel plating.  Normally such a topic should be self-explanatory, but there are times when particularly standoffish walls need to be put in their place.<em>“Take care of yourself, Vincent. Take care of Mae.”</em><br/><br/>The corners of Vincent's lips curled into a shallow smile as he envisioned just how beat up he must look at the moment.  "Fortunately I'm infinitely better at the latter than I am with the former."  Shooting an inquisitive glance towards Si, he declined the opportunity to dig into further detail and the co-pilot was officially dismissed.  He had made it as far as the stairs when he heard the familiar sounds of the Gamble's engines powering up.<em>There's no way in Hell Dani would allow Mae to fly the ship with a concussion.  Which means...  Time to step lively towards the infirmary where I can strap myself to something sturdy.  Preferably both bolted and welded to the ship's superstructure.</em><br/><br/>It wasn't that he didn't trust Griff's flying, but breaking atmosphere is a jerky ride for even experienced pilots who are familiar with handling the ship.  Somebody who had hired on two able hands to do just that for the past several months likely meant that things were likely to get a little rough.  A few moments later, Vincent rounded into the infirmary at a healthy stride.  He noticed that Mae had already been secured to her bed and couldn't help but smile mischievously as a few naughty ideas came to mind.  Then came the metallic clanks and hisses as the dock's anchors released their hold upon the hull of the ship.  "Just in time for the ride to start."  Wasting little time, he climbed up in the vacant bed and fastened the built-in belt around his waist just as the engines began spooling up.  Casting a quick glance to Dani to make sure she had also secured herself, he began making the necessary announcement.<br/><br/>"Please keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times.  In the event that the contents of your stomach shifts during takeoff, please locate the nearest bucket, bag, or easily cleaned surface.  In the moments following takeoff, should you suffer from vertigo or lightheadedness, chances are that the Captain forgot to reengage artificial gravity and we must all do our part in thoroughly tease him about it."<br/><br/>Then came the roar of the thrusters and the sudden shift in momentum as The Gamble lurched off the ground.  Vincent promptly lifted his hands directly above his head as one would expect anybody to do on a wild rollercoaster and beamed a wide grin towards Mae.  "Oh, this is going to be good."