<div align="center"><strong>-=Griffin Kingston - In the Captain's Stateroom shower- washing away the dirt and grime ... and hopefully the sickening feeling over Si and Sasha=-</strong></div><br/>Griff had stripped off his dirty, sweaty clothes after the long day's unfortunate events, tossing them into the hamper. Grabbing a clean towel from the small, narrow closet by the bathroom, he draped it over the hook just outside the shower door. Adjusting the temperature of the water, Griff's mind was centered on the events that had transpired in the last hour or so, wondering if there was anything he could've done to prevent Si's serious wound and the split in his crew. Perhaps Sasha had been right all along. Perhaps he should never have taken this fucking job to begin with. He could've found work elsewhere. Sure, the pay wouldn't be as disrepair, but it probably wouldn't have been as dangerous as this one either. He knew that dealings with Abernathy were dangerous, and the days events spoke as a clear testimony to that fact.<br/><br/>He growled in frustration as he stepped under the hot water, lathering up quickly, so as not to waste their precious water reserves. Once lathered, he would turn off the water while he scrubbed, waiting until he was done to turn the water back on again to rinse off. It was during this time, while the water was off and he was scrubbing, that he heard the ship-wide intercom channel chirp to life with the familiar static that always preceded the voice that followed. For a heartbeat, he almost expected to hear Sasha's voice calling him over the intercom. Suffice it to say that he was surprised at the unfamiliar voice that sifted through, following a nervous clearing of throat. That the voice was foreign was surprise enough; the message caused a rush of adrenalin as she called for<em>'Vinnie'</em>. Mae was the only one who called him 'Vinnie.' Everyone else called him Vince or Kincaid. So why was this strange woman's voice calling for 'Vinnie?' Ice ran through his veins as the possibilities ran through is mind. Had the other ship's captain and her man escaped. Did they have Mae? Did they hurt her?<strong>"...I'll tear them to pieces,"</strong>He growled aloud angrily at the enraging thought.<br/><br/>Still lathered with the soap, Griff hurried from the shower, grabbing his towel as an afterthought and cinching it about his waist. He heard Vince outside his door calling to him, reporting he would meet him down there. Griff yelled back, though he was certain that Vince had rushed ahead, realizing as he had the implications of  the use of 'Vinnie.'<strong>"Vince! Wait! It might be an ambush!"</strong>Grabbing his Colt. 45 DX from its holster that draped the corner post of his bed, Griff hurried from his room undressed, eager to get below decks. He didn't want Vince facing this unknown variable alone... and he was desperate to get to Mae, to ensure her safety.<br/><br/>Bolting from his room, Vince was nowhere to be seen. He hurried down the corridor to the first set of stairs that lead to the cargo hold and lower decks. Gripping his handgun in a tactical grip, he turned the corner, aiming down the stairs cautiously.<strong>"Vince!"</strong>There was no reply.<strong>"Mae!"</strong>Still nothing. He was careful as he hurried down the stairs, checking his corners as he moved as quickly as he could without rushing in blind. Leaning against the bulkhead, he peeked through the window of the door that opened to the corridor where the staterooms were located. He saw Vince just as he turned into stateroom number two. Pushing the door open, Griff held his gun outstretched as he moved down the narrow corridor. He must've looked funny wrapped in a towel and lathered all over, slowly running down his bare torso and arms.<br/><br/>Just then, Vince came from the room holding a bundle of sheet and blanket... and a distraught Mae. He could feel his blood boiling already. He reached up a hand, gently stroking her blond hair from her face. His face twisted into a hate filled grimace as he saw the bruise on her cheek. He was ready to kill. He glanced up to Vince as he explained their was an unconscious man and ... what? He gave Vince a confused look, though instantly aimed his gun towards the room as he reached out his other arm trying to usher them behind him protectively. He wouldn't have any more of his crew getting hurt. As he started to move into the room, Vince asked Mae what had happened. He paused, listening to her, though he never lowered his weapon from the room. He listened as Mae recapped what had happened. He was going to torture who ever. Leaning over, he pressed a tender kiss to Mae's forehead.<strong>"It's okay now, Mei Mei. Vince and I are here and we're not going to let anyone else hurt you ever again, Okay? You just rest now."</strong>He glanced back up to Vince, gesturing to him with a subtle shift of his eyes and nod of his head to take her away from here.<br/><br/>He waited until Vince cleared the corridor before he turned his attention to the open door of Stateroom two once more. He snarled angrily as he called out<strong>"Raise your hands high and show yourself."</strong>