<div align="center"><strong>-=Griffin Kingston, Captain of The Gamble – In the Galley with Dani, Lex, and Anwar=-</strong></div><br/>Griff had recognized the disquieting expression growing on Dani’s face as he introduced Anwar. He knew she would not receive the news yet another new male crew member amiably, but there was little he could do to change the facts. Fact number one, Griff had suddenly and expectedly found himself up a big, nasty creek without a mechanic. Fact number two, Anwar was a mechanic, and a darn good one who had been vouched for by someone he trusted. Fact number three, he needed a mechanic before he could, in good conscience, allow The Gamble to leave port.<br/><br/>Glancing knowingly to Lex, Griff forced a disarming and soothing smile as he looked once again to Dani. Gently placing a hand at the back of her arm he guided her as he moved with her to the far corner of the galley where she’d motioned. Turning to face her, his expression was uncharacteristically soft as his eyes found hers. “I know what you’re gonna say Dani,” he began with a low and calming voice, “and I’m sorry, but we need a mech…” Shouts of help erupting from the cargo hold interrupted his talk with Dani and sent him into combat mode in the twinkling of an eye. His protective instincts kicked in and in one fluid motion his right hand drew the Colt. 45 DX pistol while his left arm extended in front of Dani, essentially scooping around her and directing her behind him. He recognized the voice as belonging to his young and witty copilot, but was in the dark as to the reason for his call for help.<br/><br/>Most people instinctively run towards someone when a call for help goes out, but Griff had fought in the war and had learned to assess the situation before rushing to the aide of your comrades. Situational awareness, they called it. For all Griff or anyone else knew, a group of men might be holding Vince at gunpoint, forcing him to call out to the rest of the crew for help so they could get the drop on them and steal the ship. That was his first thought. His second thought was far less instinctive and more emotional; Mae.<br/><br/>Suppressing the urge to sprint outright and learn of Mae’s well being, he held his pistol out before him as he quietly but quickly made his way to from the galley and lounge area and down the short hallway between Sasha’s room and the operations room. Signaling with his hand for the others to stay back, he stealthily crept to the railing and peeked down into the cargo hold. His heart sank into the pit of his stomach as he saw Mae’s limp body cradled in Vince’s arms. “Dani! With me! Hurry!” He had already holstered his weapon and was sprinting around to the stairs leading down to the cargo hold. He nearly vaulted down the stairs in three long strides, arriving just in time to scoop Mae from Vince before the last bit of his strength left him. “Lex! Help Vince to the infirmary,” he yelled as he pivoted, making a dash through the cargo hold, around the skiff and through the starboard side door directly into the infirmary.<br/><br/>Once inside the infirmary, Griff quickly, but carefully laid Mae on the examination table before backing away to give Dani room to do her work. He stood frozen in place as he looked on helplessly, his heart racing, the rush of blood and adrenaline pounding in his ears as a lump formed and stuck in the base of his throat.<br/>