Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno)
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		<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Non-Adult Sandbox =&gt; Non-Adult Roleplays =&gt; Topic started by: Reno on March 27, 2011, 02:15:51 pm</h2>
		<dl id="posts">
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Reno</strong> on <strong>March 27, 2011, 02:15:51 pm</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Eric Fuoco ignored the nasty look that the grizzled bartender shot at him when he rested his heels on the table. The fine leather boots were polished to perfection and gleamed in the sickly, yellow light as his stormcloud-gray eyes swept over the unsavory crowd. As usual, the beer tasted more like stale water, but in spite of the lousy quality, this particular pub was the best place on this particular rock to find a billet on an outbound ship. Usually, at least. Today, it seemed, the crowd was thinner than the beer. He tossed a few credit slips contemptuously onto the table beside the barely-emptied mug and shook his head, muttering in frustration as he made his way back out into the street. <br><br>It was several blocks away when he saw a small group of people gathered around a notice board, arguing animatedly among themselves. He wandered over to them, brushing his dark hair back from his forehead with one hand as he stepped through the wind that blew down the center of the narrow, high-walled valley of the street. He tuned out the bickering strangers as he read, over their shoulders, the notice that they were bickering about, and then smiled to himself. Perhaps something interesting would come about, after all.&nbsp; His long arm shot out between the men and tore the notice down, ignoring their squawks of protest and outrage. He crumpled the paper in one hand and tossed it back over his shoulder to bounce and roll in the wind until it ended up in the gutter sludge, as he made his way toward the specified location, glad that it was a much nicer pub than the one he'd just left.<br><br>Much nicer, indeed, Eric reflected as he pushed open the heavy door with the gilded handles. Not where one usually expected to find the sort of trash he usually worked for, but anything was better than being stuck planetside for too long. He could see the group of waiting hopefuls standing some paces away from one of the small tables, watching impatiently as an attractive, if bored-looking young woman sat speaking with a spindly, tow-headed kid. He shook his head and walked to the bar with a grin, and pointed to a bottle on the top shelf, without a word. When the barman turned to get it, he leaned over the counter and reached behind it, and his fingers quickly found what they were looking for. He pressed the silent alarm button, then straightened quickly and dropped the sizable bunch of credit slips into the man's hand. "Thanks." He said, then waited. As expected, the sound of the security force sirens approached a few minutes later, and the throng that had been waiting to speak to the girl thinned out and disappeared as his less than reputable competition made their way to the nearest rear exits. <br><br>He strode across the room to the table and set down the bottle before claiming the now vacant seat across from her. Flashing his most winning smile, he reached across the table for her hand and lowered his head to kiss it. "It's nice to meet such a lovely lady," he said, raising his head and meeting her gaze without reservation. "My name is Eric Fuoco, and I'm going to be your boss' new apprentice." 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SxyCowgirl</strong> on <strong>March 27, 2011, 02:36:21 pm</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"So what makes you think you're qualified to be her apprentice?" The woman asked the blond in front of her.<br><br>The boy muttered something inaudibly.<br><br>"Speak up kid! If you don't have the guts to talk about even yourself, how are you supposed to defend yourself from a man trying to kill you?!"<br><br>The boy blushed bright red and looked at her, afraid. "I am good with mechanics and I learn quick."<br><br>With a sigh, the woman scratched something down on the paper in front of her, shooing him away with the other. "I'll send for you if I need you." She mumbled, not intending to ever send for him. "Ne--"<br><br>The alarm rang and she looked over at the bar where the alarm button usually was and saw as a young man was pulling his hand back from the spot. Turning her head, she watched as all the other people left the building except for the one she had seen pulling his hand back. Boldly he walked over to the table and sat down, grabbing her hand and kissing it, telling her in no uncertain terms, his intentions and convictions.<br><br>"Uh. Yeah." She said, pulling her hand away. After a few moments of silence, she leaned back in her chair and looked at him, her face stern. "That was a dirty thing you did." Waiting a few more moments, she smirked and continued. "I like it. What's your name again kid?" She asked, nodding at him.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Reno</strong> on <strong>March 27, 2011, 03:22:15 pm</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Eric Fuoco," he repeated when she asked his name, and grinned with a nonchalant shrug. "What you call dirty, I call effective. It got the rest of those simpletons out of my way so that we could have this nice little chat." He opened the bottle and poured out two glasses of the quality rum, then lifted his own. He swirled it idly as he regarded the woman keenly, taking in her amused smirk and the sharp awareness of her eyes. <br><br>He let the 'kid' remark slide by, because she was cute, though if she was older than him, it was by fewer years than he had fingers. "So, what do they call you?" he asked airily before taking his first sip of his drink. "And how do we get the technicalities out of the way so that we can get the party started?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SxyCowgirl</strong> on <strong>March 27, 2011, 03:33:57 pm</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Eric. Good name. And you are indeed right. Effective is good." She nodded, coming forward again in her seat. She smiled when he poured the rum into two glasses. Picking it up, she held it up in a short toast and then took a sip. It was good stuff. Guy certainly had good taste in drinks. Setting the glass back down, she studied him. He was interesting enough, and relatively easy on the eyes but cocky. Confidence was a good thing, but too much could be a major downfall.<br><br>She nodded at his question of what her name was and she laughed a bit to herself. "My name is of no importance until I decide weather you are good enough to be Andy's apprentice or not." She said, the wry smirk staying right where it was. "So. What makes you think you're good enough to be Andy's apprentice?" She asked, leaning forward and laying her arms on the table.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Reno</strong> on <strong>March 27, 2011, 03:38:28 pm</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Eric cocked an eyebrow, then shrugged. "Suit yourself, but it makes it tougher to have a conversation," he said, then grinned. "But I'll adapt. It's one of the things I'm good at, adapting and thinking on my feet. I'm bright, I know which end of my arm goes toward the other guy in a fight, and I have a knack for pulling things off that I shouldn't be able to. Why <em>wouldn't</em> he want me as his apprentice?" 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SxyCowgirl</strong> on <strong>March 27, 2011, 03:46:08 pm</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She listened to his reasons and laughed. "Alright. Well you certainly have the confidence, and so I think you've got the guts." After a few short moments, she stood, finished what was left in her glass with a gulp and stuck out her hand towards him. "Now for introduction. I'm Andy, and I'm your new boss. That is, if you pass your test. I gotta know that you can take orders and make sure you really <em>can</em> think on your feet."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Reno</strong> on <strong>March 27, 2011, 04:21:11 pm</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Eric took her hand and grinned, mildly surprised that the young woman was the master mechanic the posted notice described. Of course, she could always have been padding things a bit. He downed the rest of his own drink and set the glass down, then leaned back and hooked his arms over the back of his chair. "All right, Andy.&nbsp; Give me your best shot." He said, at last. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SxyCowgirl</strong> on <strong>March 28, 2011, 10:11:35 am</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				With a smirk, she reached behind her and picked up two bags and set them with a thud on the table. Dumping the contents of the larger of the two bags onto the table, she pushed the metal parts towards him. "Show me what you can do with these. Get as far as you can and then I'll jump in. If you can get enough done on your own and take the orders I give you for the rest, you're hired. The smaller bag is your tools." Reaching into the smaller bag, she pulled out an old copper stop watch. "And begin.....Now!" She said, clicking one of the buttons to start the timer.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Reno</strong> on <strong>March 28, 2011, 10:47:02 am</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Eric raised an eyebrow and looked down at the pile of bits on the table in front of him. He was about to ask if she was kidding when she started the watch. His smile faded into a scowl as he glowered down at the table top. What the hell was he supposed to do with random bits of machine parts? What kind of... Hold on... that long, round bit was notched the same way as the hole in that flat bit, so he fit them together and it seemed snug. Why the hell not? <br><br>He kept working that way, treating it as a jagged metal jigsaw puzzle inasmuch as he could. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SxyCowgirl</strong> on <strong>March 29, 2011, 08:26:19 am</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She watched as his expression changed as soon as she started the timer. She couldn't tell if it was a concentration scowl or if it was an 'I can't believe you're making me do this' scowl. Either way, he began picking up pieces and putting them together, most of them in the correct place. As she watched, she noted a few places he didn't quite get.<br><br>"Good." She said, sounding slightly pleased, watching as he tried to problem solve with the task set before him. "Now this right here goes on the side closest to you. That band goes around that and the other end goes around that." She began instructing him. "Put that bolt there on that side. And This actually goes here."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Reno</strong> on <strong>March 29, 2011, 08:41:08 am</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Eric's fingers were, fortunately, far more nimble than his very basic aptitude for this sort of work, and no sooner would Andy tell him where a bit went than he would put it there. As the component took form, he had no more idea of what it was for then when he'd been randomly putting pieces together, but he assumed she knew what she was talking about.&nbsp; <br><br>When the last part slid into place, he set the weighty hunk of clockwork down on the table and brushed his hands against each other. "And there you go, one completely assembled... whatever the hell it is," he said sourly as he poured himself another drink, rankling at his failure and, what he felt, the condescending way she directed him on how to put it together. <em>Anything to get off the surface</em>, he reminded himself, and lifted the glass to his lips. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SxyCowgirl</strong> on <strong>March 29, 2011, 08:53:38 am</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As he finished putting the last piece into place, Andy clicked the timer and looked at it with a nod. Without a word, she picked up the small engine and inspected it carefully and thoroughly. Apparently satisfied with the work, she set it back down and smiled on one side of her mouth at Eric.<br><br>"Welcome to the crew kid." She said, putting the engine back in the bag the parts had come from. "I'll show you what this is for. Follow me. Take the drink. We just brought a new shipment of the stuff for here anyway. They won't miss that bottle." She said picking it up, taking a large gulp and handing it to him.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Reno</strong> on <strong>March 29, 2011, 08:58:40 am</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Damn right I'm taking it," he said, his light and flippant tone returning, "considering what I paid for that jug of rocket fuel." After she took her swig, he jammed the cork back into the bottle and tucked it under his arm as he stood up. "So, how big of a crew are we talking about here?" he asked as he followed her away from the table, taking the opportunity of having her back to him to perform his own appraisal of <em>her</em>, now.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SxyCowgirl</strong> on <strong>March 29, 2011, 09:08:59 am</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I've been told around about fifty to seventy five." She said, nonchalantly, stepping out of the bar and into the street. "There's a venture I've been invited on that should prove a rather interesting one. Our job will be to keep the engines in tip top shape and, working on one at a time, make them faster. That is mainly what you will be learning. Though we may be asked to fight as well. Another thing they told me is to expect some trouble, which usually means the take, and our pay, are good." She could feel his eyes on her but she let it slide for the moment as the ship would be leaving not too long from now. She had originally been planning on leaving for this venture and then actually choosing her apprentice when she returned, but having already decided, she didn't really see the point in leaving him here. Plus it would make the training a bit easier she thought.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Reno</strong> on <strong>March 29, 2011, 09:47:54 am</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Eric blinked and pulled himself out of his curve-induced reverie. "Wait, 'you've been told'? A 'venture?'&nbsp; You mean they're not your crew?" he asked, then grinned. "Kind of brassy of you to welcome me aboard then, wasn't it?" he noted with a chuckle. "I'm going to need to grab my gear from the boarding house near the 'port when we get there. Shouldn't take but a minute or so." He frowned slightly. She wasn't much for conversation, was she? "So, um, what is this 'venture' all about anyway? What kind of trouble are we looking at?" he asked, trying to coax her into talking. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SxyCowgirl</strong> on <strong>March 29, 2011, 09:56:56 am</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I don't have one specific crew, I work on engines for various ships. That's how my name has gotten around. And maybe brassy, but as long as you pull your weight won't have to throw you overboard. Get your stuff as quick as you can when we get there. Meet me on the ship. Her name is The Nebular Dawn. She should be the biggest one docked." She said quickly in reply to his questions and statement about his stuff. "It's some sort of treasure hunt. Who knows what treasure they are going after now." She shrugged, not slowing her pace at all.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Reno</strong> on <strong>March 29, 2011, 10:16:03 am</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I hope it's actual treasure and not some dusty archeology project or something," he mused. When they approached the spaceport, he angled away from her as the boarding house came into view. "There's my room. I'll meet you at the ship in a few minutes." He told her, then disappeared into the doorway without so much as a by-your-leave. He spent a few minutes inside, gathering what few possessions he carried with him into his rucksack; a few changes of clothes and a spare set of boots, and a notched old pocketknife. He settled his bill and headed toward the docking bays, intending to check the directory for the Nebular Dawn. <br><br>He needn't have bothered. When Andy had told him she'd be the biggest one docked, he'd expected something on the lines of a heavy freighter. This thing looked like it could tow a small moon. Whistling through his teeth, Eric wended his way through the checkpoint and made for the gangway, scowling when he was stopped by a brick wall masquerading as a dark-skinned, half-balding man. "Where d'you think you're going, chum?" the mobile mortarwork demanded. <br><br>Eric glared up, and up, and up at the giant defiantly. "To work. I'm with Andy, and I'm already running late, so can we get on with this?" 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SxyCowgirl</strong> on <strong>March 29, 2011, 10:46:37 am</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Andy nodded as he walked towards the boarding house. The truth about the treasure was she had no idea what it was either. All she knew that she was offered quite a large sum of money for this, she assumed, due to the size of the ship and therefor the engines. She walked up to the gang way and was stopped by a very large man.<br><br>"And where do you think YOU'RE going little miss?" He asked, smirking down at her.<br><br>She looked up right into his eyes, her face like stone. "I'm Andy. The one who was hired to make the engines in this ship faster." She said, as if it were no big deal.<br><br>Throwing his head back the man let out a bellowing laugh. "That's a good one little miss. So how would I know you are who you say you are hm?" He asked, putting his hands on his hips and peering down at her, an amused smirk still on his lips.<br><br>"Do you understand anything about the geothermal reactors near the combustion chamber? No I suppose you do not. You seem to be the one who lifts heavy objects. Well you have to keep outside of the reactors cool or the entire engine will blow up. How that is typically done is with a vacuum or water circulation but those are both rather dangerous, if the vacuum seal is broken or the water pump stops working i--"<br><br>"Alright alright. So <em>you're</em> Andy. It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Ben. Heavy lifter and second in command on this ship." He said, sticking his large hand out to shake hers.<br><br>She took his hand and shook it and he let her pass up onto the gangway. Just before she got to the top, a mast swung by her and she leaped forward, rolling onto the deck, the small engine in her arms.<br><br>"Hey! Watch it!" She yelled, standing up and dusting herself off. Just then she heard Ben yelling again and looked down to see Eric standing in front of him.<br><br>"It's alright Ben. He's with me." She yelled. The man seemed to grumble and move to the side for Eric to get past.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Reno</strong> on <strong>March 29, 2011, 11:23:57 am</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Eric shouldered his way past the meat-wall and climbed the gangplank up onto the ship, resettling his pack on his shoulder. He smiled at Andy as he reached the top, blissfully unaware of her near brush with being brained. "Thanks, boss. I thought, for a second, that things were going to have to get ugly down there." He glanced around at his surroundings before looking back at her. "So we're supposed to soup up this overgrown bath toy for a big paycheck, huh? That seems pretty straightforward to me, so when do we start?" 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SxyCowgirl</strong> on <strong>March 29, 2011, 03:22:48 pm</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"As soon as I meet everyone of significance on this ship. Already met the first mate, now to meet the Captain, Quartermaster, bos'n, gunner and carpenter." She said, putting her hand on her hip and looking around as well. It was a very large ship indeed, but she could hear yelling coming from somewhere below the main deck. "I assume that's where one of them is." She said turning to look towards the cargo hold. Quickly she walked in the direction of the shouting, a smile on her face. Readjusting the straps over her head to the opposite shoulders, crossing her chest, she stepped up to the edge of the cargo hold and only a few seconds after getting near the edge, she jumped. About halfway down to the second deck, she grabbed a hanging rope and swung in to where the shouting was coming from.<br><br>"You! What are you doing here?!" The voice was decidedly feminine but very commanding and that question was clearly directed at Andy.<br><br>"I'm Andy." She said, stepping up to them and holding out her hand.<br><br>"Oh! Andy! Welcome to The Nebular Dawn. I am Captain Deana." The woman said, taking Andy's hand and shaking it strongly.<br><br>"Thanks Cap. So where are the pretties I'll be playing with?"<br><br>"Pretties?" Deana asked, clearly confused.<br><br>"Main crew members. Quartermaster, bos'n, gunner, carpenter." She explained.<br><br>"Ah yes. I will introduce you." Looking over her shoulder, she lifted one eyebrow. "And who is this? I assume the....apprentice you took?" Deana said, looking the man up and down. Andy turned around to find him standing behind her.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Reno</strong> on <strong>March 29, 2011, 03:57:18 pm</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Eric had followed Andy's lead and made the swing one-handed. He was still hanging lazily on the rope when she turned to see him there, and he grinned flippantly. "A little heavy on the landing there, boss., but I'm sure you'll get the hang of it."&nbsp; He turned his attention to the captain and gave a sloppy half-salute. "That's me, Captain. Eric Fuoco." he said, sizing up the Captain even as she did him. She was a little thick in the hard, steel-bending sort of way, and could probably have tied any two of Eric's long, lithe limbs into a perfect stopper knot and he wouldn't have a word to say about it. In spite of that, there was no denying that the captain was all woman; her snug-fitting made that obvious to the eye, and the fact that she wore them told him that she knew it, too. Still, Eric knew better than to try anything. If there was only one thing seafarers and spacefarers had in common, it was that they quickly did very ugly things to people who messed with their captain. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SxyCowgirl</strong> on <strong>March 29, 2011, 04:24:05 pm</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"You better watch your mouth. Remember I am your boss and I can throw you off into space any time I want." She threatened, annoyed at his cocky remark. "You want to carry the engine twinkle toes? No? Then shut your yap and show some respect."<br><br>Turning back to the Captain, she rolled her eyes. "It's going to be a long trip."<br><br>Deana nodded once and stepped to the edge of the edge of the cargo hold area and yelled down "Mark, get Dom, Brick and Soa and meet me on the forecastle!" She yelled, her voice ringing clear even over all the shouts of the crewmen both above and below. An inaudible reply sounded up from the lower deck and Deana nodded and turned back to the two.<br><br>"They will meet us on top. For now, I will show you your quarters and the engine room." The Captain said, turning around and heading towards an elevator of sorts nearby. Andy followed closely behind.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Reno</strong> on <strong>March 29, 2011, 04:30:46 pm</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"No need to be nasty," he said as he fell into step behind the two women. "I'm surprised you <em>didn't</em> make me carry it, tell you the truth. Not that it would be a big deal," he shrugged as they went below decks. Eric found himself ducking fairly often as his tall stature made navigating through the passages a bit hazardous if he didn't pay attention. Fortunately, he'd long since become used to it, and slipping through hatchways apparently designed for people half his size was second nature to him by now.&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SxyCowgirl</strong> on <strong>March 29, 2011, 05:12:01 pm</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The three of them took the elevator down to the lower deck and then made their way to the back of the ship where the engines were. Upon seeing them, Andy ran up to them, excited. "Oh! I've heard of these engines but this is the first time seeing them! They're amazing!" She said, looking from the enormous engines to the Captain and back. "I can not wait to do some work on these!"<br><br>"I am glad you are happy Andy. But you can examine them later, once we've taken to the skies." Deana said, stepping up beside her. "Here are your quarters. They may be a bit small, but they are close to the elevator back here and right next to the engines to help make it easier to get to them. Now lets go up top and meet the boys shall we?" She suggested, walking towards the elevator to their left.<br><br>Andy quickly went into the room and put the bags she had on her in the room, her own things having been transferred here by one of the crewmen of the ship she had been on last. With a big smile, she ran back out and entered the elevator behind Deana.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Reno</strong> on <strong>March 29, 2011, 05:49:02 pm</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Eric raised an eyebrow at Andy's excitement. He wasn't sure what she was seeing that he wasn't. The engines were huge, noisy, and reeked of fuel and lubricant. How so very thrilling. He shrugged to himself and backed down the passage as the captain and the mechanic both came out of the engine room, until his own 'cabin' was indicated to him. He ducked inside&nbsp; long enough to throw his pack down on his bunk and take a look around. He sighed. It was a matchbox, and spitting distance from the engines to boot. He made a mental note that he would definitely have to find an alternate location to spend the night shifts. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SxyCowgirl</strong> on <strong>March 31, 2011, 05:52:16 pm</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Having made their way to the top deck and across it to the forecastle, Deana and Andy walked up the stairs to see four men waiting for them.<br><br>"This is Mark our gunner, Dom our bos'n, Brick our Quartermaster, and Soa our carpenter."&nbsp; Deana said walking past and motioning to each of them in turn. "And this, is Andy our engineer." She said, turning to face Andy. As Deana introduced each of the men, they looked up from talking to each other to look at their captain and then to Andy with a bit of confusion. Andy stepped up to Mark, the first one introduced, with her hand out to shake his. Looking at the other men, Mark smiled and began to laugh.<br><br>"<em>This</em> is the infamous Andy? You have <em>got</em> to be kidding me! That's a good one Cap. Now where is he?" He asked, the other men laughing now. Angered by their disrespect, Andy grabbed his hand and twisted it behind his back and putting her foot on the back of his neck, causing him to fall to his knees with a yell. "Yes. <em>This</em> is Andy. Anyone else got any issues with it?" She asked looking at the other men.<br><br>"Now Andy, don't go hurting my gunner yet. Mark runs his mouth off again like that, I'll have him castrated. Got that? She's the best of the best and we must show her respect and she will do the same. Anger her too much and with her knowledge, she could blow us all to kingdom come. So lets all just get along shall we?" Deana said, walking over to Andy and her prisoner, a smirk on her face.<br><br>Andy nodded and let Mark stand back up. "Sounds fair to me." She said smirking as well and looking at the others. They had long since stopped laughing and looked at each other before smiling and holding out their hands to greet Andy. "He deserves it. He's always running his mouth of so don't mind him." the man named Brick said.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Reno</strong> on <strong>April 01, 2011, 10:19:16 am</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Eric hooked his fingers behind his back impatiently at the unfolding scene. It looked like the new boss had some self-esteem issues, and the gunner wouldn't be much use in a real fight if he fell for a move like that. He shrugged. She moved well and looked good doing it, he had to admit, but was there any compelling reason that <em>he</em> needed to be on this little tour? He knew where the engine room was already, now he just needed to know where the chow line started, since he'd clearly be meeting the crew on his own time instead of during the little meet-and-greet. He turned away from the others and looked boredly off the forecastle, squinting his eyes into the distance.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SxyCowgirl</strong> on <strong>April 01, 2011, 10:45:45 am</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Right well now that we're all acquainted, I think it would be nice to have one last meal on land." The captain said with a smile. "My treat tonight gentlemen."<br><br>The four she had just met whooped and headed for the gangway in a sort of awkward trot. Andy laughed and followed behind with the captain and then noticed that Eric had come at some point. "I only assume that means you too." She said, motioning for him to follow. "We'll introduce you there if need be."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Reno</strong> on <strong>April 01, 2011, 11:17:52 am</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Eric blinked, completely bemused. He'd followed them through the entire ship, and she'd <em>forgotten he was there.</em>&nbsp; He felt a sharp pain between his eyes. <em>Oh, this is going to be a <strong>great</strong> job,</em> his mind groaned. He just waved dismissively. <br><br>"You go on ahead," he said, heading toward the gangplank himself. "If we've got enough time for dinner, then that means I've got some time to wrap up a few things planetside," he explained. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SxyCowgirl</strong> on <strong>April 01, 2011, 11:48:50 am</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Andy shrugged. "Alright. Just don't get in trouble. When you're done meet us at the tavern." She said. <em>Wrap a few things up?</em> She wondered, the words hanging only lightly in her mind. <em>Huh. Wonder what he means by that. Better not get into too much trouble.</em><br><br>She and the captain walked wordlessly behind the four men ahead of them. By the time they had gotten into the tavern, the four of them were already sitting and ordering their food. Andy sat between the captain and an empty chair and ordered a good ale and a steak. There was no point in turning down a generous offer to pay.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Reno</strong> on <strong>April 01, 2011, 12:20:29 pm</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Eric grinned as they parted ways at the bottom of the gangway. "Yes, mom, I'll behave," he said, turning away from the group and heading off on his own. <br><br>He snorted to himself as he made his way to a nearby lodging house. <em>Meet us at the tavern when you're done?</em> He wasn't about to rush to socialize with his employer. Some things were more interesting than a meal, he thought as he knocked on one of the beat-up apartment doors. He smiled as a pretty redheaded lass opened the door and looked at him with wide eyes. <br><br>"Eric? I thought you were leaving today," she said, confused. <br><br>"I am," he nodded, "but the captain has a soft spot for eating on land, apparently, so we don't shove off for a little while. I thought I'd come over and say a proper goodbye." He grinned winningly.&nbsp; The girl smiled and stepped aside to let him in, closing the door behind him. <br><br>When he emerged from the apartment, the sun was directly in his eyes. It had been some time, but not enough.He'd hated feeling rushed, but it was better than being stranded on this dust ball any longer than he had to be.&nbsp; He made his way back to the dock and figured that he'd beaten Andy and the Captain back, since the gangway was still down. He stood at the foot of it and lit a cigarette as he waited, smoothing his rumpled clothing and trying unsuccessfully&nbsp; to neaten his bedraggled hair. <br><br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SxyCowgirl</strong> on <strong>April 01, 2011, 12:46:46 pm</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Having finished their meal, all six of them walked back to the ship. Eric was already waiting there for them, a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. Andy led the way up the gang plank and up onto deck, grabbing the cigarette from Eric's mouth. "You want to fight and work at your best. These will only make your life shorter, especially with the amount of fighting I have a feeling we're going to be doing." She said, throwing it over the side of the ship. "With what our lungs already go through as mechanics, it's a wonder we aren't already slower than we should be."<br><br>The Captain laughed lightly at this, the other men having simply returned to their own business. "We will be taking off shortly." She said to the two of them before turning and bellowing in a voice that should not have been as loud as it was. "WEIGH ANCHOR!"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Reno</strong> on <strong>April 01, 2011, 01:08:19 pm</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Eric bristled and gritted his teeth in annoyance. "With what our lungs go through already, it hardly matters," he snapped in counter. He considered pulling out another and lighting it on the principle of it, but he decided against it. He'd been just about done anyway, and cigarettes were too hard to come by aboard ship to waste them on a measuring contest with an uppity boss. When the captain bellowed, he turned without another word and headed for the aftcastle to make his way below decks before they hit space. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SxyCowgirl</strong> on <strong>April 03, 2011, 07:14:34 pm</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"What we deal with, doesn't kill our lungs, just makes them work a bit harder." She half said, half mumbled. She just turned and watched as he went below deck. Standing near the captain, Andy watched as the gangway was removed and every other crew member rushed this way and that to get everything ready to take off. She could hear the whir of the forcefield generators and the gravatrons starting up in preparation of take-off. In what seemed like no time at all, the ship was ready and the captain yelled to cast off, and then they were in space. It felt good, the cool air on her skin, the wind in her face.<br><br>The stars surrounded them as the ship moved quickly and steadily away from the planet where they had just been. For what seemed like a long time, they stood and looked at the stars before Andy excused herself. Though the view was nice, as it always was, there was work to be done. She could only hope that Eric would be somewhere near the engines so she could begin his training.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Reno</strong> on <strong>April 04, 2011, 08:28:23 am</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Eric had only just made it to his bunk when the deck lurched beneath his feet and the ship lifted off. His stomach flipped as he reached out to grasp a nearby conduit and closed his eyes against the wave of nausea. This was why part of why he hated going planetside. He loved being in space, but taking off just <em>sucked</em>. When the Dawn finally broke through the atmosphere, his grip slackened and he sat back, settling himself with a few long, deep breaths until his guts settled from their gymnastics and the green tinge faded from his face. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SxyCowgirl</strong> on <strong>April 28, 2011, 10:28:06 pm</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Andy took a deep breath of the now oxygen rich air, held in by the forcefield. It cooled significantly on the starboard side facing away from the sun of the system as they headed away from the planet. Clapping her hands, she smiled and said "Wellp. Celebrate a good take-off?" Andy turned towards where the captain had been and her shoulders drooped a bit as she noticed she was no longer there. Shrugging, she walked off and back down to their quarters. "So. What do you think of the ship?" She yelled over the engines.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Reno</strong> on <strong>April 29, 2011, 10:27:03 pm</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Eric was only just getting back to his feet when the boss reappeared, looking far too thrilled with the entire takeoff experience. "I haven't seen much of it," he called back, shrugging. "Just the deck and down here!"&nbsp; His stomach had found its proper orientation now, and he was more pleasantly disposed toward the overgrown tuna-trawler already. "It's big!" he allowed, fatuously. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Adrift Among Stars (SxyCowgirl/Reno) </strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>SxyCowgirl</strong> on <strong>October 21, 2011, 10:35:56 pm</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"It is. And it's our job to make sure it and every other piece of machinery in this place works smoothly." She yelled. "Well for the moment I think we should get some shut-eye. It seems like the best time. Nothing ever goes wrong right after departure." With that she turned and walked into the bunk room, pulling her jacket off and tossing it onto one of the chairs in the back corner. Flopping onto the bed, she sighed happily.
			</dd>
		</dl>
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