Editing Episode 502: Reacquisitions, Part Three

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[[Episode 502: Reacquisitions| Part 1]]<br>
[[Episode 502: Reacquisitions, Part Two| Part 2]]<br>
[[Episode 502: Reacquisitions, Part Four| Part 4]]<br>
[[Episode 502: Reacquisitions, Part Five| Part 5]]<br>
[[Episode 502: Reacquisitions, Special Features| Reacquisitions, Special Features]] <br> <br>


Huh. Fancy name.  Nika clears her throat, tries clearing her head.  Her eyes stab her for her trouble.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' What are we doing here?<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' You are not having your eyes done?<br>
'''Nika:''' What are ''you'' doing here?<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' I too just had my eyes done.<br>
'''Nika:''' Okay…<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' Apologies. I found you when I was looking for my things.<br>
'''Nika:''' … Okay …<br><br>

Nika’s eyes might be bandaged but there’s nothing wrong with her nose.  She can smell Jeanne-Christienne’s perfume and it is not cheap.  Expensive. Core-expensive.  Like Christian’s. <br><br>

'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' You were sleeping and I heard a noise.  I-I am afraid… I am embarrassed. I did not know what to do in this place.  I know I am supposed to wait but .. is a man to come for me … I did not want to do it alone.<br>
'''Nika:''' All right. Let me get upright. And figure out what the heck’s going on. Did you just wake up?<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' About… I do not know how much time has passed.  Fifteen minutes perhaps? I was, I was lying down and I heard someone at the door … They were knocking and calling to see if anyone was in here. I didn’t respond but no one should have—he said that no one would come.  He had put out a Do Not Disturb sign.  No one should come. (a breath) That means housekeeping should not arrive but perhaps …?<br><br>

Jeanne-Christienne seems frightened and Nika’s heard enough.<br><br> 

'''Nika:''' Yeah.  We need to move.  Come on.<br><br>

She sits up and realizes she’s on a bed.  She finds the floor with her feet and stands up.  She’s very groggy but she’s up.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' Can you see?<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' No. Can you see?<br>
'''Nika:''' No.<br><br>

And incongruously, Nika starts to chuckle.  ''The blonde leading the blind.  This’ll be good''.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' All right then. Do you have any idea ''where'' we are?<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' I went to a window? a door?  A window.  And I opened it and it smelled of the sea.<br>
'''Nika:''' So somewhere near the coast.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' Perhaps. It seems logical to me.<br>
'''Nika:''' Okay. (thinks)  Have you moved around in the room enough to figure out if there’s a local Cortex feed of any kind?<br><br>

Jeanne-Christienne breathes a laugh.<br><br> 

'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' No. I do not find a Cortex feed.  There is a comm of some kind but I do not know who I would call.  I tried to find my bag and I couldn’t find it.  That’s how I came across you.<br><br>

Nika feels her way carefully around the room, stretching her hands and her senses in all directions, looking for the furniture.  And that comms unit.  She finds she’s in a room with two queen beds.  It’s very large, a hotel suite.  Very nice.  Good quality—nothing cheap.  The furniture is solid and wood.  The beds are very nice—nothing that vibrates when you plug in coin. Everything smells and feels clean. Nothing smells bad. Nika turns to address Jeanne-Christienne and hopes she’s facing in the right direction and not toward, say, the closet.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' So you’ve only been awake for half an hour? <br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' Yes.  I … I don’t know exactly how long I’ve been awake.<br>
'''Nika:''' Okay.  <br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' I should tell you … (hesitates) … I believe that there are men after me.  That is why I had my eyes done. I worry that if they find me … (small voice) … it will be bad.<br>
'''Nika:''' Yeahhhh, I kinda figured I knew who you were.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' You know who I am?<br>
'''Nika:''' Well, at least insofar as the doctor who was doing your eyes was also doing mine and he was unwilling to expose you in any fashion.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' Are you … are you also running from a man?<br>
'''Nika:''' No, I had an accident.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' Oh.  So … you are … you got new eyes because your eyes were destroyed?<br>
'''Nika:''' Yes.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:'''  Oh.  (a beat) Mine is more shameful. <br>
Nika: You know, why you got your eyes don’t really matter much. What matters is getting’ us both the heck outa here. Let’s see if we can’t find that comms station and see if we can’t get my friends to get us.<br><br>

Nika stops and considers it.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' I’d ''prefer'' to get in the next room over if at all possible. I don’t like the fact that someone’s already been knocking.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:'''  You mean … just try the door? I don’t know how … ?<br>
'''Nika:''' Yeah. Basically I’m thinking we should just try the door and go next door.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' Don’t you think … it will be locked?<br>
'''Nika:''' Ehh.  (shrugs)  Maybe.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' Oh … okay …<br><br>

Nika manages to find her way to the door.  The locks are pretty standard hotel locks.  There is also that hinged safety bar that hooks over a ball post, too, and Nika takes the precaution to swing it across the jamb to keep their door ajar in case they need to get back inside. Nika opens the door and fresh air and sunlight and sound hits her face.  She reflexively goes for the bandages around her eyes and stops—Chu told her to keep them on until she can get to a doctor.  She’ll have to leave them on for the time being.  Nika turns back and checks the bar—it’s in place—and sticks her head back in the room where Jeanne-Christienne waits.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' Stay in here. Stay out of sight.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' Okay.<br><br>

Nika steps back outside and leans against the door, soaking in the sounds and the sensations, letting them paint a picture of her surroundings in her head.  Nothing unusual, no, just another guest enjoying the air.  After a moment, Nika thinks she’s on an upper floor, because there are sounds coming at her from below.  A balcony maybe?  There’s air and it’s moving.  Is she standing in a breezeway? A courtyard?  Faintly in the background she can hear the hiss and boom of the ocean.  The sound echoes from several directions.  Maybe she’s in a cluster of buildings.  Resorts tend to bungalows and by definition, townhouses typically have more than one floor.  A beach condo, perhaps? Maybe she’s in of one of those?  Putting everything together, Nika surmises she’s on the second floor of a two floor unit, with the entrance facing away from the ocean and with the room balconies overlooking the sea. The breeze off the water is coming from the other side of her unit, further lending credence to her theory.<br><br>

Nika goes back inside and hears something clinking. It sounds as if Jeanne-Christienne is in the kitchen. Nika closes the door all the way before saying anything.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' Did you find your bag?<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' Yes, I did. <br><br>

Nika feels her way to the comm unit, thinking to find it on a table next to the bed.  It’s right where she expects it. She stops for a moment and considers who to call.  Chu told her the place was paid up for the entire week.  She picks up and waits for the front desk to come on at the other end.  Nothing hits her ear but a dial tone.<br><br>  

Huh.<br><br>

Normally, front desk will pick up.  Dial 0?  Her hunch pays off and someone picks up.  A pleasant male voice asks: <br><br>

'''Concierge:''' Concierge desk.  How may I help you? <br> 
'''Nika:''' Yes, sir. I need to make an outgoing call and I’m having trouble figuring out the system.<br>
'''Concierge:''' It’s a standard Cortex box. Just type in the Cortex number you need and attach your ident card and you’ll be all set.<br>
'''Nika:''' And if I don’t know the Cortex number I need? Is there a directory assistance?<br>
'''Concierge:''' The monitor should be able to find local numbers if you’re looking for those.  If you’re looking for a Cortex number off-planet or—<br>
'''Nika:''' I’m afraid that won’t work for me. Is there a voice recognition on the monitor?  
'''Concierge:''' Well, yes—oh we were not informed there would be a visually impaired guest staying with—<br>
'''Nika:''' My apologies. I was expecting my husband to be here. But you know …<br>
'''Concierge:''' If you wish I can activate it for you. I can have someone activate it for you.<br>
'''Nika:''' Yes. Please.<br>
'''Concierge:''' Okay, they should be by shortly.<br>
'''Nika:''' Thanks.<br><br>

She hangs up. <br><br>

'''Nika:''' Jeanne-Christienne. We gotta go. Now. Come on.<br> 
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' What … what’s happening?<br>
'''Nika:''' C’mon, c’mon, c’mon. We’re going out the front door. We’re going out the front door and going around the right-hand side of the building.<br><br>

She hustles them to the door.<br><br>

'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' Why …. why are we going?<br>   
'''Nika:''' Because I don’t want anyone to see ''you''.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' … Okay …<br><br>

Nika starts feeling around for the card keys for the door.  She feels what she thinks are card keys on the kitchenette bar and gets them out of there. Once outside, she starts feeling around for the stairs.  Walking as fast as she dares, she starts down them, taking Jeanne-Christienne with her. Coming off the bottom tread, Nika encounters a wall coming off the side of the building and from the wind and the sound, it’s along a cliff face.  Holding her hand past the edge of the wall, there is no updraft hitting her palm and listening a little closer, Nika thinks there is a lip of about maybe a hundred feet or so sloping down toward the actual cliff edge. <br><br>

Sighted, it would be a walk in the park, but blind? Nope. <br><br> 

Nika strikes out a little farther, following the wall. It ends at an opening and careful examination shows it’s another set of stairs going down.  The picture’s getting clearer now.  The hotel units are about 100 feet  away from a cliff leading down to the sea and these are the stairs that will lead down to the beach.  Nika can feel the ocean breeze funneling up the staircase run.  She smells the salt on it. Nika turns to Jeanne-Christienne.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' Can you … I wanna go down and across here, it sounds like there’s gonna be a set of slopes or stairs headed down toward the beach. I want you to go sit over there and just looking out on the beach.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' (softly) But I can’t see anything.   <br>
'''Nika:''' I understand that. I want you to sit. Take no more than twenty-five steps from these stairs. And go sit off on the side where it looks like you’re looking at the beach. I’m going to go back upstairs and I’m going to see who comes. If it’s just the maintenance man I will come back and get you. If it’s someone chasing you I would prefer you weren’t in the apartment. Let me know when you are seated and settled.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' I will.<br><br>

Nika hears the woman shuffle down the way indicated, hears the high-sign delivered, and Nika gets herself back up those stairs. Before she can make it to her door, however, she hears a man say:<br><br>

'''Clerk:''' Oh, miss.  Let me help you.<br>
'''Nika:''' (relieved) Oh, thank you. (embarrassed) I wanted to step out in the sunshine and I can’t find my way back.<br>
'''Clerk:''' Well, you’re here.<br><br>

She hears a key slide into the lock and the clack as the handle is set to and the door opens. The echoes change and the door yawns wide and Nika can sense the dark waiting for her inside. <br><br>

'''Clerk:''' Do you want me to hold your elbow or how do you like…?<br>
'''Nika:''' Oh no. Go right ahead.  I’ll follow in behind you.<br>
'''Clerk:''' You want to make a phone call? Come over here and I can show you comm is. (intones)  ‘Set: Receive voice commands’. (a beat) You’ll have to take the receiver off the hook and you should be able to give the voice command, ‘call number’, and then give the number.<br>   
'''Nika:''' Okay.<br>
'''Clerk:''' If you want information, you say, ‘Cortex: Information’.<br>
'''Nika:''' Oh, okay. <br><br>

Nika hears the man step back and his voice subtly changes pitch as he speaks, as if he’s looking this way and that.<br><br>

'''Clerk:''' Do you want me to open some windows in here? It’s a little stuffy.<br>
'''Nika:''' (smiling) No, no thank you.<br>
'''Clerk:''' You sure?<br>
'''Nika:''' (still smiling) Yeah. I’ll open them in a few minutes. It’s not like I can see it anyway. I’m hoping though.<br>
'''Clerk:''' Okay.  All right.  Do you want to keep the Do Not Disturb sign on the door or are you expecting your friend?<br>
'''Nika:''' I expect my husband will be back soon. Thank you.<br>
'''Clerk:''' Okay.<br><br>

He walks out.  The door shuts.  Nika ghosts over to it and puts her ear to the door, listens hard for his departure.  Nothing. She cracks it—and hears his step on the stairs.  She waits until his steps fade off into the distance and gives it a slow count to 50 before she leaves to fetch Jeanne-Christienne.  Back down the stairs Nika goes and she runs into Jeanne-Christienne coming back up.  They sort themselves out.<br><br>

'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' (softly) Are we okay?<br>
'''Nika:''' I think we’re okay. Come on up.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' I don’t think we should stay here very long.<br>
'''Nika:''' No, not very long at all. Come on.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' Perhaps we can call a taxi or something to take us someplace?<br>
'''Nika:''' Sounds like a plan to me.<br><br>

They get inside their room and shut the door. Nika puts her hands on the comm station.<br><br>

'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' Where would we go? And how do we know we are not being watched?  How do you do these things?<br>
'''Nika:''' What do you have in your bag?  For being able to cover your hair? Keep yourself from looking like … yourself.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' Ahh … well, I have … <br>
'''Nika:''' How recognizable are you, Jeanne-Christienne?<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' What do you mean?<br>
'''Nika:''' Well, let me phrase myself this way.  Are you a … a … you know, six foot tall luscious redhead that the guys looking for you are going to—you know, you’re going to stand out in a crowd?  And they’re going to spot you from six miles? Or are you a, you know, an average looking young lady, a brunette who you could probably just cover your hair and no one would notice? <br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' I am not six feet tall, but you are close to that, are you not?<br>
'''Nika:''' I am.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' I am not as tall as you but I am … some say I am pretty … I do not know … (sighs)<br><br>
 
Nika can tell the woman is hesitant to say more.  Why?<br><br>

'''Nika:''' Are you someone famous?  Is someone in the crowd going to be able to point you out to the men looking for you?<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' Well … if my … my former fiancé, if he … he has photos of me and I am sure the men he has sent after me would recognize me.<br>
'''Nika:''' Okay. So the best thing we can do for you is to dress you in a fashion that you would not normally be dressed in. What have you in your bag that we could in terms of clothing alter enough that you don’t look as wealthy as you sound.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' You want me to blindly cut my clothes …?<br>
'''Nika:''' No. We are going to blindly wrap your clothing. And then I’m going to give you my jacket. Mostly we’re going to attempt to disguise you in a minimal fashion because people see what they expect to see.<br><br>

They go through the woman’s bag and Nika can feel from the cut and the material that it’s expensive Core-side clothing—rich and fashionable.  Jeanne-Christienne also did not bring a wide variety, as if she’d had very little time to pack.  God only knows what sort of color combination they’ve pulled higgledy-piggledy out of the assortment.  At best, Jeanne-Christienne had chosen colors and styles that would blend harmoniously. At worst, it would look like a blind person dressed her.<br><br>

Apropos, but still …<br><br> 

'''Nika:''' How long is your hair?<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' Ah … it is shoulder length.<br>
'''Nika:''' Do you more often wear it up or wear it down? Most often.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' If it is an occasion I would wear it up. If it is not, a pony tail perhaps. It would depend on what I am doing.  Am I riding a horse, or am I …? You see?<br>
'''Nika:''' Right. Did you bring any of your more casual clothing for such things?<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' Yes. These are my casual clothes.<br><br>

Silk? Casual?  Wow.  That’s some kinda casual you got going there, darlin’. Jeanne-Christienne realizes her mistake.<br><br>

'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' Ohh… I did not think about wearing clothes of the—<br>
'''Nika:''' (soothing) No. It’s fine, it’s fine. We’ll work it out. Okay?<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' Oh, it is so stupid of me. I—<br>
'''Nika:''' No, take a deep breath. We’re going to work it out. Take a deep breath. Hang on one second.  You know what. I’m going to get on the Cortex Assistance and—<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' I am afraid. <br>
'''Nika:''' No, I have—<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' Don’t tell anyone!<br>
'''Nika:''' (firmly) I am not going to tell anyone.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' If you call someone you know, or you know someone, they might …<br>
'''Nika:''' But if it’s someone '''''I''''' know and not someone '''''you''''' know.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' But, but …<br>
'''Nika:''' How tall are you?<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' But the people are …<br>
'''Nika:''' How tall are you?<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' I am … five-seven.<br><br>

Nika’s thinking she’s about Kiera’s size.  This is looking good.<br><br>

'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' But if you came here, then they know you came to see Doctor—<br>
'''Nika:''' It’s okay.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' —Doctor Chu.<br>
'''Nika:''' Actually, I’m not entirely sure anyone knows where I am.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' But your friends know that.<br>
'''Nika:''' My friends know that, but my friend also worked with Doctor Chu for quite some time.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:'''  That is why I am afraid of you contacting anyone…<br><br>

This is getting them nowhere fast.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' Well, you get your choice. You can take your chance on me.  Or you can take your chance alone. Because I don’t have any other options to offer. (a beat) I can get you out of here.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' Can I … Can I … I have some credits. Can I buy your clothes?<br>
'''Nika:''' I’m going to have someone bring you clothes.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' I am afraid if your friends are followed here …<br><br>

Oh, for cryin’ out loud.<br><br>

'''Nika:''' My friends are good enough to make that not happen.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' Did you meet with Doctor Chu before you came here?<br>
'''Nika:''' He picked me up.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' And did your friends … you went by yourself to see Chu?<br>
'''Nika:''' My companions dropped me off in the square.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' So they met you.  Did you—did you arrange this before you came to Athens?<br>
'''Nika:''' No.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' You arranged it here on Athens. Yes?<br>
'''Nika:''' Yes.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' It is—it is a ship?<br>
'''Nika:''' Yes.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' So if this ship is watched, they would know that you’re—that you …?<br>
'''Nika:''' You know what? We can pick up a car and go to a public area.  We’ll just them meet us.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' I do not know a public area will stop him.<br>
'''Nika:''' I don’t know if any area will stop him. If you’re on the run from a guy who’s insistent that he’s going to get you back … (sighs) … You’re going to have to trust someone sometime.  I can get you out of here. It might require a bit of a fight, but how were you going to get out of here in the first place?<br><br>

Good question.<br><br>
 
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' No one was supposed to know that I was here and so I was supposed to wake up and I would have my eyes and I was to sneak away.  I have some money—<br>
'''Nika:''' And did you have a contingency, for example if they were banging on the door when you woke up?<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' No, that wasn’t supposed to happen.<br>
'''Nika:''' Yeah. So it was a good plan, there was just no contingency, yeah?<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' So your contingency was to … you weren’t afraid.<br>
'''Nika:''' No. I wasn’t afraid.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' I do not know. Of course not.<br>
'''Nika:''' Listen. One of my crewmates is about your height. And I think her clothing will fit you. So if I call and I have her—just her—come to us, then worst case the two of you can leave and I will just remain here until they can come back for me. Cuz no one’s looking for me.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' So you think that they would see you and  … oh, they would come here and see you and realize …they were in the wrong place? And look for me elsewhere?<br>
'''Nika:''' Yeah.<br><br>

Jeanne-Christienne thinks about it.<br><br>

'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' But when they saw the eyes … (shuts up)<br> 
'''Nika:''' It’s a relatively elaborate shell game.  That’s about all that is. But I think we can make it work. My friend is very good at making people look different.<br>
'''Jeanne-Christienne:''' Hmm. (a beat) Okay.  I’ll trust you.<br><br>

Finally.  Can we hear an amen?  Nika goes to the comms station and patches a call via Cortex Assistance to the port, where ''Equinox'' is waiting.  She puts the call through and waits impatiently for someone to ''pick up the phone''.<br><br>   


'''''A day earlier …'''''<br><br>

In the walk back from ''Garretson''’s berth, Rina’s trying to puzzle out what Reich had said to her. Did they make her talk? If so, what did she say? Did they physically do anything to her when she was under? If so, what? She surreptitiously inspects herself. Aside from feeling a little hung over, nothing ''seems'' off.  Then again, given her pain tolerance, what would she miss that someone else would notice? Ohhhh, she is not happy, nope.  Her paranoia is edging closer and closer off the charts.<br><br>  

Kiera’s watching this with a sharp eye because this entire kidnapping business is really odd, as is Rina’s measured responses to the mercs. So, you know, Kiera’s keeping an eye on the engineer. For his part, Joshua’s walking beside Rina and as they step aboard ''Equinox'', he hears her voicing her thoughts out loud.<br><br>

'''Rina:''' (undertone) Yeah, they said the interrogation’s mostly over but what did they ask me?<br>
'''Joshua:''' Well, I don’t know if that went really well or really poorly.<br>
'''Arden:''' Does it really matter?  We’re done.  We’re away.<br>
'''Joshua:''' No, we’re not away. We’re not away yet. Not until we have Nika.<br><br>

Beglan comes off the stairs from the upper decks and meets us in the hold.  We take the stairs up to the crew deck and fill each other in.<br><br>

'''Beglan:''' Hey! You got Rina!  (racing up) Good to see ya. <br>
'''Rina:''' Yeah.<br>
'''Beglan:''' You look a little shell shocked. You all right?<br>
'''Rina:''' (deep breath) I don’t know.<br>
'''Beglan:''' (to Joshua) I got some news.  I didn’t want to call you while you were in the middle of a mission but Chu’s ship has left.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Okay.  Thank you, Beggar.<br>
'''Arden:''' Good riddance.<br>
'''Rina:''' (very quietly) What about Nika?<br>
'''Joshua:''' She’s not done yet, or if she is done, she hasn’t contacted us yet. (to self) I’ve got Rina … still have to get Nika …<br><br>

Arden’s already moved to the conference room comm to pick up in case it rings. Kiera suggests maybe we should post a watch schedule so someone will always be on duty to take Nika’s call when it comes in. Also could we look into getting some of our Browncoat dock friends to keep an eye on our ship.  Heck, she’d be willing to pay them in credits to do it. She goes out onto the tarmac to see to just that.  They seem amenable to the idea. In fact, they’ve got some intel for her right now. <br><br>

'''Browncoat:''' I don’t know if it means anything to you now that you got your friend back, but it looks like they were getting ready to launch their shuttle.<br>
'''Kiera:''' Oh? You mean the people we just left?<br><br>

Hell, yes, it means something!  She runs right back to ''Equinox'' to tell everyone.<br><br>

'''Arden:''' They’re probably going to follow Chu’s ship which just took off and try to capture his client.<br>
'''Kiera:''' But we don’t know who else they’ve left behind, either.<br>
'''Arden:''' I’m done with them as far as I’m concerned.<br>
'''Kiera:''' Fair enough.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Not that I don’t like your friend, yeah, but if they capture Chu, then that means—it’s bad for us if we don’t hear from Nika soon. Chu might give up Nika instead of…<br>
'''Arden:''' We’ll hear from her soon.<br><br>

Maybe.  Maybe not.<br><br>

'''Arden:''' Think positive. Leave it alone.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Do we want to fly after them?<br>
'''Arden:''' No.<br>
'''Joshua:''' We’ve got a no. Have we got a—<br>
'''Kiera:''' I don’t know what good it’ll do. I mean we can …<br>
'''Beglan:''' Rina? You look awfully, ah … Did they abuse you?<br><br>

She flashes him a grim smile but doesn’t pursue it. Instead she jumps into the topic at hand.<br><br>

'''Rina:''' So we’re flying basically to a car chase?<br>
'''Beglan:''' You don’t bring a plane to a car chase.<br>
'''Rina:''' I—of course not.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Good to know.<br>
'''Kiera:''' (what?) You’re bringing a spaceship to a car chase?<br>
'''Rina:''' Look, the only reason I would assume we would chase after Chu is to rescue him and then grill the bastard for Nika’s location.
'''Kiera:''' But I don’t think Chu’s on that ship.  They’re going to follow her to see who she goes to and—<br>
'''Rina:''' Then she’s the diversion and we want her to draw them off.<br>
'''Kiera:''' Right.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Then that’s fine.<br>
'''Rina:''' Yeah. I know.<br>
'''Joshua:''' We’ll wait for her call. And if she doesn’t call within … How long has it been since we’ve dropped her off?<br><br>

Five, six hours.<br><br>

'''Joshua:''' Give it a day.  Probably even less.<br>
'''Arden:''' (oh contraire) Having your eyes removed and replaced is major surgery.<br>
'''Joshua:''' I understand it’s major surgery but to be honest the fact that she’s still aimlessly wandering around—<br>
'''Kiera:''' I hope she’s still down in bed, still out, because she shouldn’t be waking up that quick.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Of course she shouldn’t. <br>
'''Rina:''' Yeah, but this is Nika.<br>
'''Joshua:''' So what are the odds that she actually will? I would give them 175%.<br>
'''Beglan:''' Rina’s the bad one for doctors.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Well, neither of them are particularly good about that.<br>
'''Beglan:''' You should speak Joshua.  What did you do when you were—<br>
'''Joshua:''' I didn’t say I wasn’t.  I’m not excluding myself from them but I’m also not having my eyes done currently.<br>
'''Kiera:''' If Chu does what Chu normally does, he’s going to make sure that they start coming up and then he’ll leave. Cuz you don’t leave them when they’re out. You’re gonna see if they come up from the anesthetic.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Okay.<br>
'''Arden:''' Most doctors don’t.<br><br>

Hey, wasn’t it Arden who wanted to stay positive?<br><br>

'''Kiera:''' (annoyed) Yeah, but most doctors aren’t the anesthesiologist and the doctor at the same time.<br>
'''Arden:''' I’m just saying most doctors don’t.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Let’s wait for her call.<br><br>

Time passes.  One, two, four hours.<br><br>

'''Arden:''' I’m really getting tired of this waiting.  Did we try all the names she remembered were his aliases? Has he booked any hotels?<br><br>

Meaning Kiera’s collection of Chu’s false names.<br><br>

'''Kiera:''' Uh-uh. But where you kept centering in was somewhere on the coast.<br>
'''Arden:''' (tapping the smart table holo) In this bay over here.<br>
'''Kiera:''' It wouldn’t hurt to maybe fly toward the bay instead of sitting here.<br><br>

Maybe not ''Equinox'', but perhaps ''Lagniappe'' could blend in with the air traffic that would normally fly over such places.  Arden looks into which facilities offer accommodations and amenities for the visually impaired.  Just about all of them do.  So we’re back to square one.<br><br> 

'''Joshua:''' If we take ''Lagniappe'', what are we trying to do with it?<br>
'''Rina:''' Recon and rescue.<br>
'''Joshua:''' I’m sorry?<br>
'''Rina:''' Recon and rescue.<br>
'''Kiera:''' Aside from being on the safe side, actually nothing. It’s something to do because everybody’s killing time now.<br>
'''Joshua:''' I’d rather not do something just to do it.<br>
'''Kiera:''' You asked for suggestions and that was my only suggestion.<br>
'''Joshua:''' No, that’s fine and I’m happy to listen. If I thought there was a way to nail down her location, I’d …<br>
'''Arden:''' Why don’t we look for some cargo for us to carry someplace else? Get ready to leave?<br>
'''Kiera:''' That might be something to do, at least. Give us some money to get off with.<br>
'''Rina:''' I— (gives up)<br>
'''Joshua:''' (sees) Yes? Rina.<br>
'''Rina:''' (slowly) Why don’t we … (deep breath) … take the minimum number of people we need to do a rescue, get in ''Lagniappe'', fly up and down the coast like we’re sightseeing.  Wait for the call.  When she calls—<br>
'''Kiera:''' But we don’t know it’s the coast.  That’s the problem.<br>
'''Rina:''' Okay, but at least we’ll be in the air and we’ll be in better shape to respond. Air travel is certainly faster than ground travel, yes?<br>
'''Kiera:''' But we don’t know what she needs. We don’t know where she is and we don’t know where we’re landing.  We may not be able to land ''Lagniappe'' where she is.<br>
'''Joshua:''' How long does it take you to get the ''Lagniappe'' off the ground here?<br>
'''Rina:''' (to Kiera) ''We have the abseiling equipment''.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Abseiling ….<br>
'''Kiera:''' (off his look) Oh God, now he’s thinking—<br>
'''Joshua:''' No, no. I just don’t understand.  We’ve somehow gone from waiting for Nika to call to come pick her up to abseiling down to rescue her from mysterious forces that I’m not—<br><br>

Kiera goes to the galley and returns with coffee, shoves a cup of Joe in Joshua’s hand.  The man must be getting punchy from lack of sleep. Hell, they all are.  It’s late into the evening by then and she starts putting coffee in front of everyone all around the conference table.<br><br>

'''Arden:''' Abseiling?<br>
'''Joshua:''' No, I don’t ''want'' to abseil.<br>
'''Kiera:''' Anybody want coffee?<br>
'''Beglan:''' Abseiling sounds awesome.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Look, my point is—(to Rina)—how long will it take you to get the ''Lagniappe'' off the ground? From here?<br>
'''Rina:''' Not long.<br>
'''Joshua:''' How long is ''not long''?<br>
'''Rina:''' (gusting a sigh) Starting from cold, fifteen minutes for preflight.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Okay.<br>
'''Kiera:''' Cream? Sugar? Coffee?<br>
'''Beglan:''' We can prep it in advance if you want to.<br><br>

Rina starts to rise to do just that.<br><br>

'''Arden:''' (to Rina) Actually I need to look you over first. I need to runs some scans to make sure nothing’s been implanted in her or … <br>
'''Rina:''' Or?<br>
'''Arden:''' (off her look) Not that ''that’s'' ever happened before.<br>
'''Rina:''' In fact, I’m going to insist on that.  (glares) Thank you ''so much'' for bringing it up.<br>
'''Kiera:''' Would you like some coffee?<br><br>

Rina gets up and moves aft for med bay. Arden follows her.  Everyone in the conference room hears her ask from the hallway:<br><br> 

'''Rina:''' Tell me, Arden. Did you stock a rape kit, while you were at it?<br><br>


Jump to: <br>
[[Episode 502: Reacquisitions| Part 1]]<br>
[[Episode 502: Reacquisitions, Part Two| Part 2]]<br>
[[Episode 502: Reacquisitions, Part Four| Part 4]]<br>
[[Episode 502: Reacquisitions, Part Five| Part 5]]<br>
[[Episode 502: Reacquisitions, Special Features| Reacquisitions, Special Features]]<br><br>

Go back to: '''''[[Episode 501: Shakedown Cruise|Shakedown Cruise]]''''' | Go Foward to '''''[[Episode 503: Old Secrets, New Chances|Old Secrets, New Chances]]'''''<br>
Back to [[Mutineers Season Five | Season Five: Realignment]]<br>
Back to [[EPISODES]] or [[Mutineers Timeline|TIMELINE]]<br>