<strong>Stephen McPherson - Accompanying Si and Sasha to the Best Little Hot House in Persephone</strong><br/><br/><br/><br/>Steve had been through too much in his life to be easily<em>punked out</em>by this xiao mei mei of a first officer of a freelance cargo ship, and smiled at the thought of how much fun it would be to escalate the situation.  Still, he was, if nothing else, rank conscious.  However she had gone about getting the position, she was in that position, and he respected that.  As always, he would continue to respect the rank until someone did something to lose his respect.  And he had to admit, he liked the way she handled herself.  While he wasn't about to grovel for a job, no matter how hungry he might be, he'd rather not get kicked off this particular ship just yet.<br/><br/><strong>I know you were expecting to head out with the Cap’n, and I apologize for the short notice. That’s the first lesson, I suppose - you gotta always be ready for anything, willing to follow the lead and roll with the punches.</strong><em>(Lassie, you are preachin' to the choir about rolling with the punches.)</em><strong>And for the record - you’re not needed on this meet, you’re wanted ~ you understand the difference?”</strong><br/><br/>"Not really, Ma'am, but I liked what you did with the cigar.  It was a nice touch, nobody ever thought to do that before.  Anyhow, needed.. wanted.. it don't matter to me.  Long as I know who the bad guys are, you should come back alive."<br/><br/>Her stride was a bit faster than Steve had anticipated, and while he didn't have trouble keeping up, it was possible Si would notice a little limp developing.<br/><br/>The Alliance guy, that was a different story.  Steve had decided he didn't much care for him.  It was one thing to offer up advice to the new guy -- it was a way of letting the new guy know somebody cares.  It was another thing altogether to do it with an air of superiority.  The Captain was former Alliance, and Steve didn't have a problem with that.  Besides, he had gotten some hints here and there about the Captain's history which softened Steve's attitude toward him considerably.  But Si?  All he could say for sure was that Si wasn't an Alliance plant on board the ship.  Even they wouldn't be stupid enough to send someone so uptight and obnoxious.<br/><br/>"Pictures, huh? How very gao gan of you, Laddie.  I've heard one can be worth a thousand words.  When we get back, you'll have to show me how to draw a picture that says<em>the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought.</em>I think I read that on a men's room wall once.  So, what do I call you?"<br/><br/>-----------<br/><br/>Steve glanced up at the sign for only a moment as the other two were discussing it. Most of his focus, however, was on security.  Only now did he retrieve the cigar from the pocket where Sasha had placed it.<br/><br/>"Hmmm, potentially dangerous dealings with women who can't be trusted, slave labor, and wasted lives.  I've been warned about this, but I believe they called it marriage."  He flashed Sasha a little smile then followed them into the shop.<br/><br/>If Si went right, he would go left, going through the mental checklist.  Threats, cover, means of egress, and back to threats.  As he understood his role, it was primarily to make sure the deal went down without violence.  Ideally, the mere presence of a couple of guys who could handle themselves if violence ensued would do the trick.  If that didn't' happen, it was to ensure Sasha got back to the ship alive.  As for Si ... well, they were shipmates now, so his personal feelings would be put aside and he would do his duty.  Should it be necessary, he would watch Si's back and yes, risk his life to get him back, too.<br/><br/>If he had a choice, though, he'd really rather not die in a place called the "best little hot house".  Surely, he's pulled himself up above that level.<br/><br/>---------------------------<br/><br/>Young lady: Xiao Mei Mei<br/>Extraordinarily clever: Gao gan<br/>