<div align="center"><strong>~ Sasha Dearing, First Officer - In her cabin - en route to Persephone ~</strong></div><br/>At the soft knock, Sasha’s long stride brought her to her cabin door in just a few measured steps. The creaking scrape of metal announced the door’s opening, revealing the ship’s medic standing just outside the entry to her cabin.  The light scent of spicy jasmine wafted gently out into the open passageway, and Dani offered her a small smile. Handing her a couple ragged pieces of paper, the medic softly explained they were lists of needed items she hoped Sasha would be able to bring back from her excursion on Persephone.<br/><br/>Sasha’s expression unconsciously softened slightly at the sight of Dani; of all the crew aboard The Gamble, the quiet young medic was perhaps the one person who had managed to slip past at least a portion of Sasha’s emotional defenses. It wasn’t just the fact that the woman had saved her life, either. Absolutely, she was grateful for Dani’s timely skills in that regard.  But also, the fact that both women had suffered unspeakable trauma and lost loved ones to senseless violence - a quiet understanding had somehow settled between them. Perhaps the younger woman even helped to fill at least a small portion of the agonizing void that was left in Sasha’s heart from the loss of all her family in one fell swoop. Dani’s vulnerability brought out protective instincts within Sasha, and she made it a point to keep her eye on her, even encouraging her where she could.<br/><br/>Blue eyes quickly scanning the lists, Sasha nodded her head at Dani’s comments about the medications. She knew all too well how vital medical supplies could be; but also how gorram difficult it was to get them.  “Don’t you worry - if there’s any to be had, I’ll find a way to get my hands on them,” she reassured Dani. Sasha had found long ago that projecting rock-solid confidence herself - whether or not that was how she truly felt - went a long way toward instilling confidence in others; whether during business negotiations, fulfilling her role as First Officer on The Gamble, and even in one-on-one personal interactions.<br/><br/><strong>"How long do you think we'll be planetside?"</strong><br/><br/>Sasha folded the papers and slipped them into an inside pocket of her jacket as she answered Dani’s question. “Well, it all depends on how our first meeting goes, and how quickly we can track down everything on your Christmas list. Why?  You interested in coming along this trip?”  A hint of a smile played along her lips as she waited for the expected reply from Dani. At the same time, she wondered where Griff was; they should be reaching Persephone soon, and she and the Captain needed to get their ducks in a row for the upcoming job meet.<br/>