<strong>Sebastien - Bernadette - Shipyard - Evening</strong><br/><br/>Sebastien sighed.  The initial excitement of owning his own ship, and, by extension, his own business, was wearing off.  Rather, it was turning into fear.  The ship was paid for, and he was assured it was flyable (and he hadn't seen anything to suggest otherwise, though he was not the most knowledgeable on such matters), meaning that all he needed was crew.  That was the easy part, right?  Wasn't Bernadette<em>filled</em>with space hands looking for regular income?<br/><br/>He'd posted flyers with his cell phone number and placed an ad on a Cortex forum devoted to travel aficionados mentioning his desire for employees.  He'd spent the majority of the day with his phone handy, frequently checking the thread for responses, which did exist.  Unfortunately, few of the responses expressed interest in working for him (the majority wanted to buy it from him), and those that did were not helpful.<em>I'd be interested in signing up, but I am currently about 80 days away.</em>He would be calling his account for money before he ever took off.<br/><br/>So now he had only tonight and until mid day the following day to leave the shipyard, or his contract was void, and with only a partial refund after penalties.  He'd thought the penalty rather steep, but he never expected it to be an issue.  Even now, he knew he could technically fly the ship himself, and the more adventurous aspects of his personality were eager to do so, but they'd had their turn in getting him to buy the ship in the first place and were now placed in emotional time out by the emerging panic and paranoia that currently governed him.<br/><br/><em>If I went to the ship and took off, first there would be the possibility of maintenance problems.  After all, this ship hasn't flown in some time.  Something could fail in takeoff.  I could destroy the ship with one faulty move whilst in takeoff or landing.  Best case scenario, I am fortunate in both endeavors, only to land at the docks whereupon I am obligated to dispense with twenty-four credits for docking fees, immediately commencing my business venture with a loss of credits, truly an ominus development.  In</em>addition<em>to that, I then have to repost every flyer, as the ship will no longer be available for inspection in the advertised location, thus calling my credibility as captain and employer in dire question.  No.  That shan't be the course of action.</em><br/><br/>After several such internal arguments, Sebastien decided to return to the shipyard and attempt to negotiate an extension with the manager of the shipyard, but he had gone home for the day.  His attempt to work with the night shift man had not proved fruitful.<br/><br/><strong>"Excuse me, chap, but I wish to contact your manager regarding the details of our earlier arrangement and inquire about the possibility of extension or renegotiation."</strong><br/><br/>"Sorry to disappoint, but I was warned you would come back scared and was told to tell you a deal is a deal."<br/><br/><strong>"You were <em>warned</em> of my return?  I find that a preposterous claim, as I have neither introduced myself nor explained to you the nature of said agreement originally negotiated with your employer."</strong><br/><br/>"Trust me.  You are exactly the person he told me about.  No changes.  Get the ship out by noon tomorrow or you lose it."