<div align="center"><strong>-=the stowaway – aboard the Gamble, Eavesdown Docks – delicious=-</strong></div><br/>Semi-consciously listening for alarmed voices, the raggedy girl slept off and on through the vague noises around her. Someone tramped over the docking ramp’s door several times, unseen by her because of her hidden position. She didn’t care who they were – she didn’t know these people and had no plans to get to know them. She was going to be gone before liftoff, looking for a ride to take her anywhere further away… safely away from her starting point. Who knows how much later, she felt the last of her headache ebb and breathed a little deeper.<br/><br/>Drowsily she looked down at her hand, the fruit protected inside her palm, smiling as she considered her prize. The girl rested her head backward, pulling the thin-skinned fruit up to her lips, just smelling it for a moment. As her mouth tingled with the production of saliva, she slid her open lips around the skin, licking at the fruit with her eyes closed. Unable to wait any longer, she slowly bit into the flesh, letting the juice run into her mouth and swallowing, hoping she wouldn’t end up ill from the sweetness upon her nearly empty stomach.<br/><br/>Moving as slowly as she could manage to lessen the noise of her enjoyment, she ate and drank of the fruit, her eyes closed the whole time. Distant noises, both on and off the ship, surrounded her and she paid them no attention. Her senses completely captivated by the refreshing nourishment, she explored the pit left in her fingertips with her tongue, lapping up every last drop of natural syrup.<br/><br/>Somehow tired again, she cupped the pit in her hand before tucking it into her jumpsuit, its small weight making her feel secure. Moving carefully to avoid making noise, she remained ducked behind the pallets but worked to improve her position. She shifted to the floor, looking out around the lower corner of the stack to survey the room.<br/>