Editing Last Voyage of Delilah, Episode 104: Home Fires Burning, Part 2

Jump to: [[Last Voyage of Delilah, Episode 104: Home Fires Burning|''' Part 1''']] | [[Last Voyage of Delilah, Episode 104: Home Fires Burning, Part 2|''' Part 2''']] | [[Last Voyage of Delilah, Episode 104: Home Fires Burning, Part 3|''' Part 3''']] | [[Last Voyage of Delilah, Episode 104: Home Fires Burning, Part 4|''' Part 4''']] | [[Last Voyage of Delilah, Episode 104: Home Fires Burning, Part 5|''' Part 5''']] |  [[Last Voyage of Delilah, Episode 104: Home Fires Burning, Special Features|''' Special Features''']]<br><br> 

Valentine has to tread carefully. Lying requires the ability to keep track of truth and falsehood simultaneously without forgetting the details.  Valentine is habitually cool under pressure but he is also fully aware that he's not a terribly great liar. The consequences of lying to Jann Wei would be painful and deadly. The consequences of telling the truth could be painful and deadly, as well.<br><br> 

Valentine hedges his bet.<br><br>
 
'''Valentine:''' We were on Anson's World and we were supposed to distribute the cargo. We ran into the Lord of the village that we were in and he was insane. And I say that literally. He was insane. Some sort of disease, I believe. We unfortunately lost the cargo in our frantic escape from the planet. <br><br>

It's a fine mix of truth and lies.<br><br> 

'''Valentine:''' (fervently) To be honest, sir, I knew they had some interest in the cargo but all I really wanted to do was get rid of the ship. It was keeping me from getting back to doing my job. <br><br> 

And here, Valentine is back on solid ground. Everything in his last statement is 100% true and he takes no pains to hide his loathing for the ship. Showing his emotions is highly unusual for him. Normally he's calm and collected in front of his bosses, giving nothing of his inner landscape away. Not this time.<br><br>

'''Valentine:''' The cargo was incidental and unfortunate that I even had it. So I wasn't bemoaning its loss when we couldn't hold on to it.<br><br>

Valentine says nothing more. It's up to Jann Wei whether he gets out of here alive or dead. Jann Wei says nothing for a moment, clearly weighing Valentine's merits as an employee. Then:<br><br>

'''Jann Wei:''' As luck would have it, I am … (thinks, continues) … It just so happens I have need of a difficult-to-trace transport. <br><br>

Not entirely certain if Jann Wei isn't pulling his leg before killing him—because really, as Jann Wei even ''seen'' the ship?—Valentine defaults to good manners. If he's going to die, it will be with his dignity intact.<br><br>

'''Valentine:''' Yes, sir.<br>
'''Jann Wei:''' So, I forgive you.<br>
'''Valentine:''' Thank you, sir.<br>
'''Jann Wei:''' You will take a passenger and her cargo to Beaumonde.<br>
'''Valentine:''' Yes, sir. Does the passenger need comfort?<br>
'''Jann Wei:''' You will make her as comfortable as you can.<br>
'''Valentine:''' Yes, sir. Is there anything I need to know to make this go smoothly, sir.<br>
'''Jann Wei:''' Her … wishes with regards to the cargo should be … honored.<br>
'''Valentine:''' Yes, sir. Is there anything I can be told about the cargo or should I …? <br>
'''Jann Wei:''' (very quietly) You will have to consult with her.<br>
'''Valentine:''' Yes, sir.<br>
'''Jann Wei:''' When you return, we will discuss the future.<br>
'''Valentine:''' Yes, sir.<br><br>

Future? As a Casino Floor Manager? As a Triad smuggler? Valentine puts the questions aside. It's enough for him that Jann Wei pretty much allowed that he would ''have'' a future to discuss. <br><br> 

'''Jann Wei:''' It will be delivered in the next day or two. You are to see to it that it gets delivered to Beaumonde safely.<br>
'''Valentine:''' Yes, sir. <br><br>

Bullet dodged, Valentine considers his next move. He knows the condition of his ship—crappy—and the state of the fuel tank—running low. Neither bodes well for carrying out his mission to successful completion if he doesn't do something about either. He's also broke. Jann Wei is a rich  man. Dare he ask his boss for an advance?<br><br> 

'''Valentine:''' Is there the potential to get a small amount of funds to purchase fuel so as to—<br>
'''Jann Wei:''' Mr. Quick. Do you recall me in the past writing checks or handing cash to people? <br>
'''Valentine:''' No, sir.<br>
'''Jann Wei:''' Go see the Exchequer if you need cash.<br>
'''Valentine:''' Yes, sir. <br><br>

Valentine recognizes the dismissal when it's given and he exits. He knows asking for a blank check is not an option. He will return to his crew to make his shopping list before going to the Exchequer. Valentine leaves the casino as he arrived, calm and collected, alive and in one piece. He gets into his aircar and drives for his mother's apartment. <br><br>

Might as well take care of all his outstanding business in one go.<br><br>

He stops along the way to buy her groceries. No liquor or cigarettes. If she wants those, she can pay for them herself. He mounts the stairs to her door, still trying to decide if it would be better to take her with him when he leaves Paquin or if it would be safer to leave her behind. Either scenario has its pros and cons. If she were aboard the ship with him, he wouldn't have to worry about the criminal elements killing her while he was away. Then again, if she were aboard the ship with him, he'd have to worry about her getting caught in the crossfire if the job goes south. She would be equally safe, regardless. All risks being equal, Valentine chooses to side with maintaining his inner peace. His mother is not the most delightful of company. The possibility of being cooped up in a tin can enduring her cutting remarks and tantrums is enough to decide the matter.<br><br>

He knocks on her door, noting its condition. Like everything in this building, it's seen better days.  Including his mother. The woman who answers the door is worn with worry and looks older than her actual years. She hugs Valentine on the doorstep and draws him inside. <br><br>

'''Delilah:''' (shuts door) Oh god, you're okay.<br>
'''Valentine:''' (sincerely) I'm sorry. I really am.<br>
'''Delilah:''' They've been calling here about you.<br>
'''Valentine:''' The … casino?<br>
'''Delilah:''' Yes, your boss … friend … Dean …?<br>
'''Valentine:''' Yes. Anyone else?<br>
'''Delilah:''' He dropped by, by the way. He brought some cash.<br>
'''Valentine:''' I'll have to tell him thank you. Did anyone else call that I …?<br>
'''Delilah:''' Um … yes, but I don't remember who it was. I just said I didn't know where you were.<br>
'''Valentine:''' (quietly) Thank you. Sorry.<br>
'''Delilah:''' I really didn't know where you were. You could have waved me. I guess they don't have Cortex in the Core.<br><br>

So much for the tender mother-son moment. Delilah reverts to her usual bitter self. Valentine internally sighs and puts the groceries on the table. He doesn't relish what's coming next but there's nothing he can do but get through it.<br><br> 

'''Valentine:''' I wasn't in the Core. Not for long. So, I ended up having to take an unexpected detour to Anson's World. (off her look) Yeah. It turns out Dad's ship is … not sale-able or scrappable. I couldn't sell it. <br>
'''Delilah:''' Couldn't you just write it off? Junk it?<br>
'''Valentine:''' I wish. The problem is that wherever it's parked, it's going to run up port fees. I'm honestly surprised that I made it back alive.<br>
'''Delilah:''' Listen, Val.<br>
'''Valentine:''' Yes?<br>
'''Delilah:''' I know you want to do things the right way. You can't stay on that boat. You don't know what it's going to do to you.<br>
'''Valentine:''' I don't want to stay on that boat. It's falling apart everywhere I look. I don't want to stay there, Mother, but circumstances at the moment have forced me to take one more job with it.<br>
'''Delilah:''' Do you remember that girl you were with for a while? What was her name?<br> 
'''Valentine:''' I do. <br>
'''Delilah:''' You know, the ''case''.<br>
'''Valentine:''' Marie.<br>
'''Delilah:''' You have a thing for lost causes. Whatever happened to her?<br>
'''Valentine:''' I don't know. She moved on with her life and I hope she's doing well for herself.<br><br>

Delilah sniffs. <br><br>

'''Delilah:''' Hmph. Probably back on the street. <br>
'''Valentine:''' (evenly) Mother.<br>
'''Delilah:''' (archly) You can invest in these things … or can you ''help'' yourself, like you couldn't with Marie?<br>
'''Valentine:''' I can help myself. Do you think I ''want'' to invest in this? ''Do you really think I want to invest in this?'' Do you think I really didn't just want to scrap it and come back to the life that I made—(pointed look at his mother)—as occasionally painful and irritating as it is? I don't ''want'' to be on this ship. I don't want to be running cargo for my boss.<br>
'''Delilah:''' What, so you're running cargo now? Oh God … ''Perfect''.<br><br>

No one can push his buttons quite like his mother. Valentine takes a deep breath and gets a grip. <br><br>

'''Valentine:''' Look. I run this and then maybe I can dump the ship somewhere. Or maybe I can get somebody at the Casino to help me figure out a way to get rid of it. Scrap it. Convince them it's evidence that needs to be washed clean. I don't know. But it's my responsibility to deal with right now. I can't dump it without figuring out a way to get rid of it, responsibly.<br> 
'''Delilah:''' (quietly) I'm just worried. It's … (scrubs her face) … This will do things to you. You're more like your father than I let on.<br>
'''Valentine:''' (appalled) … I don't even have the words.<br>
'''Delilah:''' Just make it quick. If you say you're going to get rid of it, just get rid of it.<br>
'''Valentine:''' What do you expect me to do?<br>
'''Delilah:''' (angry again) How could you work this long for these people without having some ''means''?<br>
'''Valentine:''' Because I was trying to keep myself ''clean'' of those ties. If it wasn't for—<br>
'''Delilah:''' No one can keep themselves clean.<br>
'''Valentine:''' Thanks to my dad, that seems that's true. (sighs) I don't know what to tell you. Unreasonable expectations of what I'm capable of and what can be done—what's your ''problem''? (off her look) I love you too.<br>
'''Delilah:''' I'm not angry with you.<br><br>

Oh yes she is. <br><br>

'''Valentine:''' (resigned) You're not angry with me. Go on. <br>
'''Delilah:''' I don't know if I told you about my life before I met your father. <br>
'''Valentine:''' Once or twice.<br>
'''Delilah:''' How he lures me out with promises of adventure and stranded me on that ranch with you—not that I didn't love you—but where was ''he'' to help?<br>
'''Valentine:''' I know.<br><br>

It's nothing Valentine hasn't heard a hundred times before.<br><br> 

'''Valentine:''' I know.<br>
'''Delilah:''' And there were all these ''promises''. He would tell me this job would be the last one. It would be big money … and then he would fritter it away somewhere. Or there would be some ''other'' woman … or on some lost cause. So when I see you about to do the same thing—<br>
'''Valentine:''' Do you think that I ''like'' myself when I look in the ship mirror and see my father looking back at me? I'm going to do everything I can to get rid of this thing and come back … but I got people that I'm ''responsible'' for, now. Not through my own ''fault'', but I am. What do you want me to do? Do you want me to tell them to bugger off, good luck, I hope you survive? Without a way to get off-planet?<br>
'''Delilah:''' You know what? I'll tell you what I told your father, because if you ''are'' different, you will have different results: Val, you do what you think is right.<br><br>

It doesn't take a genius to see she doesn't believe it for a damned second. It's a gut-stab and frustrated and trapped, Val swallows his bitterness down. <br><br>

'''Valentine:''' ''Yeah.'' (a beat) I brought you some groceries.<br>
'''Delilah:''' Thank you. (looks in the bags) I can't have yogurt anymore.<br>
'''Valentine:''' I'm going to go now. Do you need anything else? Can I get you anything else?<br>
'''Delilah:''' Just come back.<br>
'''Valentine:''' I'll do my best. But I'm not going to promise you, because I know how you feel about that sort of thing.<br><br>

Valentine knows she would rather argue, to relieve the pressure of her isolation and bitterness, but he can't accommodate her today. Not today. He resolutely turns for the door out of there, before he ends up saying something he's going to regret. ''Really'' regret.<br><br> 

''Delilah'' sits on the tarmac like a bad penny, impossible to get rid of, complicating his life to no end. Valentine takes a good long look at it, internally shoveling all the various messes it's caused into their proper boxes and slamming the lids down tight. When he's satisfied, he strides up the ramp.<br><br>

Excess in control. Chin up. Onward. <br><br>

He looks for Rachel. <br><br>

Rachel is on the bridge. She's all dolled up for a night out. She makes one last check of the consoles and settles Mortimer in the pilot's chair.<br><br>

'''Rachel:''' Guard, rat. <br><br>

Mortimer is trained to bite anyone who dares sitting in that chair while Rachel's away. He curls up contently in the hollow years of use has made in the seat, ready for a good snooze. Rachel pets him affectionately and takes the stairs down. Bridge is taking her out to dinner and he might come up with a job her ship can take. Or he might not. She shrugs. No matter. She'll have a nice evening out and maybe a nicer evening in, afterwards. Either way, it's a win. <br><br>

She encounters Valentine on the ramp.<br><br>

'''Rachel:''' I'm going out to dinner.<br>
'''Valentine:''' (nodding ) I won't hold you.  Don't go looking for any jobs. We don't need them. We've got one. I'll talk to you when you get back.<br>
'''Rachel:''' Oh, well, congratulations—<br>
'''Valentine:''' Don't. (shakes head) ''Don't''. Just have a nice night, okay?<br>
'''Rachel:''' Thanks, Val.  Keep Anatoly busy, if you can.<br>
'''Valentine:''' Okay.<br><br>

She leaves. Bridge is an old rascal of a friend of hers and she's kept in touch with him for the possibilities of jobs and favors. Keeping what Valentine told her on the way out, she knows she isn't going to actually walk away from the evening with a job from him. And in truth, she's not really interested in taking him up on any job he might offer that doesn't involve ''Delilah''. He's making a decent go of it with his shuttle business but his shuttles are small and his runs are too short to be interesting. If she took him up on his job offer, she'd never really enjoy it. That won't keep her from enjoying his company, however, and she intends to enjoy him well into the night.<br><br> 

At some point, she inquires if he knew of a reliable source for parts at a reasonable price—read: inexpensive enough to buy on her budget but good enough not to fail. Say, a reliable source at a junk yard or a parts garage who might be able to supply her with what ''Delilah'' needs from time to time? After all, he's got a bunch'a shuttles and they're breaking down and needing parts, right? Bridge considers it before answering.<br><br>

'''Bridge:''' I try to keep things on the up and up. These ships are pretty reliable so it's frustrating when one of them goes down.<br>
'''Rachel:''' Maybe I'll catch you on my next time through, cuz it seems the Captain's—<br>
'''Bridge:''' Let's not talk about this stuff. Let's go dancin'.<br><br>

Rachel goes dancing. Life's too short to worry about petty stuff someone else is already handling anyway, right?<br><br> 

Meanwhile, Val discovers only Tian and Anatole are still on the ship. Vikki has gone off to find a bathhouse to soak the grime of the day off her. He looks for Tian. He finds her in her quarters on the passenger deck. He closes the door.<br><br>

'''Valentine:''' So. Researching the stuff in the cargo.<br>
'''Tian:''' What about it?<br>
'''Valentine:''' What do you need to be able to do that? Quietly.<br>
'''Tian:''' A lab. Someone who's not going to ask any questions when I use their lab.<br> 
'''Valentine:''' Do you have anybody like that?<br>
'''Tian:''' In the Core.<br>
'''Valentine:''' Anybody in Beaumonde?<br>
'''Tian:''' Anybody in Beaumonde? I don't even know anybody in Beaumonde. I know maybe some people out of Georgia, but …<br>  
'''Valentine:''' So you don't know anyone? In Beaumonde.<br> 
'''Tian:''' I'm at a complete loss here. Now, that said, maybe ''they'' know someone down here but I don't know if we should get them involved in this because then it's going to turn into this whole ''oh-look-you-have-something-cool-we're-going-to-sell-it''. What it comes down to is do we want to sell it? Or do we want to get rid of it? Or what the hell do we want to do?<br> 
'''Valentine:''' I don't want to sell it without knowing what it is that I'm selling, for a variety of reasons. Also, do you have a spare set of hands on you at the moment? We've got all your cargo in the hold and we're about to gain new cargo. I would like the old cargo to look like it's not there when the new cargo arrives. Or at least look different than it does now.<br> 
'''Tian:''' Wait. What? What have you done?<br>
'''Valentine:''' (irony) What have I done? "What I had to do", is the correct answer. Or alternatively, "What has been done to me?" I got a job. We're going to Beaumonde. We're taking on a passenger and her cargo.<br> 
'''Tian:''' (wide eyed) That's not a good idea.<br>
'''Valentine:''' It is not only not a good idea, it is also something we are going to have to do.<br>
'''Tian:''' Why?<br>
'''Valentine:''' My boss's boss, the head of the Golden Dragon—<br>
'''Tian:''' Oh! '''Bugger'''.<br>
'''Valentine:''' Yes. He and his associates—<br>
'''Tian:''' And you think that I've got poor taste in contacts.<br>
'''Valentine:''' I didn't say you had poor taste in contacts. I'm perfectly happy with whoever your contacts are.<br> 
'''Tian:''' You're starting to scare me. So you're running merchandise for …?<br>
'''Valentine:''' We're running ''something''.<br>
'''Tian:''' Oh my Godddddd ... .<br><br>

We're running … ''something'' … on top of the illicit ''something'' we're already running. Could it get any worse?<br><br> 

Yes. It can.<br><br>

'''Valentine:''' Here's the complication. He knew that we had a cargo that was hunted for by his associates. By his Triad associates. But he didn't ''know'' what it was and he ''asked'' me if I still have it. My answer was: no, we lost it on Anson's World. However, that particular mistruth—<br> 
'''Tian:''' (riiiiight) Mistruth.<br>
'''Valentine:''' My point is that it's quite possible that this passenger and her cargo—which I'm not sure what it is, but I'm told I have to make sure her wishes about the cargo are obeyed, whatever that means—the point is they're going to arrive and there's a good chance that there will be people from the Casino from my boss's crew. If they help load the cargo in and see that we've already have a cargo, there's ''some'' chance that they're going to make the connection and shoot us all in the head.<br>
'''Tian:''' ''Some'' chance.<br><br>

How about making that a big chance? Unavoidable, even? The IRP containers are boldly labeled as such, to make their affiliation clear from a distance. The contents of the containers are likewise labeled. Part of her mission is to drum up brand recognition and by extension, foster goodwill for the Core. How the hell can they hide that?<br><br>

We have two cargo decks, upper and lower. The upper is pretty much an afterthought for most people, an intermediary level on their way to the crew and engineering deck. If we can get our cargo winch working, we can hoist the IRP contents to the upper cargo deck and hide it easily behind the copious amounts of scrap and junk already littering the ship. Of course, it doesn't rule out our passenger subsequently finding the cargo while en route, but Valentine feels that is a bridge best crossed only if we come to it. Of more immediate concern is having the cargo discovered while they are still on the ground and in the range of the Triad's guns.<br><br>

'''Valentine:''' You want to help me with the winch and help me move it?<br>
'''Tian:''' Okay. How long are we on Paquin for?<br>
'''Valentine:''' The cargo's supposed to arrive in a day or two. So, not long. <br>
'''Tian:''' Maybe I can—no, I can't, ''because you've already told them the cargo's not here.''<br>
'''Valentine:''' I told my boss, yes.<br>
'''Tian:''' Yes, and if I open my doors to practice, guess what? The lie is exposed.<br>
'''Valentine:''' In flight, we'll worry about that when that happens. <br>
'''Tian:''' No, when I take my cargo out ''now'' and go do what I'm supposed to be doing here …<br><br>

Meaning she can't practice medicine with medical supplies that aren't supposed to exist. Scratch the current stay on Paquin from the IRP treatment list. On the plus side, Paquin's population numbers and proximity to the Core make it likely that it's been fairly well inoculated by now. Tian can reasonably let the opportunity slide. Still, it rankles that she'd been prevented from even making the choice to practice. She sighs and lets the matter go. Valentine and Tian go take a look at what they've got to stash the cargo.<br><br>

Meanwhile, Poco is off looking for a buyer for ''Delilah'', unaware that Valentine already has a job and needs the ship for a little bit longer. He looks up a contact of his, Fast Eddie. He and Fast Eddie ripped engines together in the past. Eddie since settled on Paquin. Poco reckons as he hasn't betrayed Eddie—yet—and Eddie hasn't betrayed him, it might be safe to approach him. <br><br>

('''OOC:'''Poco is unaware that Eddie owes the Triad. We'll see how that turns out.)<br><br>

Poco shows up at Eddie's office above a ramshackle garage with a bottle of cheap liquor and knocks on the door. Eddie answers it.<br><br>

'''Poco:''' Hey, Eddie.<br>
'''Fast Eddie:''' Well, well. Poco.<br>
'''Poco:''' Howzit goin'? I haven't see you since that job went south on Dyton.<br><br>

Eddie rubs his arm where he got shot on that job as the men step inside. Eddie closes the door.<br><br>

'''Fast Eddie:''' I remember that.<br>  
'''Poco:''' Remember, that went through your arm and into my arm.<br>
'''Fast Eddie:''' I hear things are a little hot for you, Poco. I'm not sure I've got any work I can put you on.<br>
'''Poco:''' Things are hot for ''me''? Whatcha talkin' 'bout. I'm not lookin' for work anyway. I got a ''deal''.<br>
'''Fast Eddie:''' Oh yeah? What's your deal?<br>
'''Poco:''' I came in on a ship and the Captain's lookin' to get rid of her. She looks a ''little'' homely. You know, she's like Old Rouge Sue. She looks a little bit homely but she's got it where it counts.<br> 
'''Fast Eddie:''' He sent you out to unload this old ship?<br>
'''Poco:''' Well, she's got an HWN so they need to move her on the inside channels.<br>
'''Fast Eddie:''' Well, that's a bit more challenging.<br>
'''Poco:''' Yeah it is.<br><br>

The drinks are poured. Sips taken.<br><br>  

'''Poco:''' Anyway, I'm just lookin' to see if you know anyone who would buy. And then I gotta take the offer back to ''him'' … (sighs, 'talks' with fingers) … and yadda-yadda-yadda … He's pretty desperate so he'll probably take it.<br>
'''Fast Eddie:''' Wave me the ship's stats and what dock you're in and I'll see what I can do.<br>
'''Poco:''' All right.<br><br>

Poco tells him right then and there.<br><br>
 
'''Fast Eddie:''' Okay. Got it. I'll see what I can do. You gonna be around town for a bit?<br>
'''Poco:''' Yeah, I'll hang close to the ship so I can get my finder's fee. And then I'm outa that rust b—I mean, wonderful vessel.<br>
'''Fast Eddie:''' Yeah, this might be one'a those, you know,  reverse buyin'-sellin' kinda deals.<br>
'''Poco:'''  Yeah I know. I understand. We'll run it as a shell through the Department of Property. Yeah, no problem.<br>
'''Fast Eddie:''' Just understand you might end up havin' to pay more in fees than you get in returns.<br>
'''Poco:''' Now I don't think that's part'a the bargin.<br>
'''Fast Eddie:''' You got a HWN on it.<br>
'''Poco:''' Yeah but you don't need a ''legitimate'' HWN cancel—<br> 
'''Fast Eddie:''' I am a ''respectable'' businessman.<br>
'''Poco:''' Eddie, I seen you do coke off a hooker.<br>
'''Fast Eddie:''' She was a legitimate hooker. (relents) I'll see what I can do.<br>
'''Poco:''' If there's money to be made in it, there's interest. If there's no money to be made, there's no interest.<br><br>

Of course, Poco doesn't give a scrawny rat's [[Last Voyage of Delilah, Episode 104: Home Fires Burning, Special Features#HOW TO SPEAK CHINESE|''pìgu'']] if Valentine makes any money on this. Poco only cares if ''he'' makes money on this. <br><br>

Back aboard ''Delilah'', Valentine and Tian are sweating over the cargo. They've got some of the cargo loaded on a pallet and are currently hauling on the manual winch chain, hand over hand. As they work (and pull), they talk. <br><br>

'''Valentine:''' You know those guys that you kicked out of the truck that you were telling me about?<br>
'''Tian:''' Yeah.<br>
'''Valentine:''' Triad.<br>
'''Tian:''' ''What?''<br>
'''Valentine:''' Triad. So … I'm trying to count the number of people that—''Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!''<br><br>

Tian has lost her grip on the winch in her shock and nearly creams Val as the cargo drops several fast feet. She recovers.<br><br>

'''Tian:''' ''Are you kidding me?''<br>
'''Valentine:''' Okay, let's see. You got Triad issues. Tinkerbell's got Triad issues. I got Triad issues. Maybe Rachel's got Triad issues.<br>
'''Tian:''' You realize Tinkerbell's ''killed'' one of these guys, right?<br>
'''Valentine:''' I seem to remember that in the story, yes. (off her look) Can't undo what's been done—Hold on to that winch!<br>
'''Tian:''' (sputters) … Uhh …<br>
'''Valentine:''' This is why I told you now, so you couldn't strangle me while I was telling you.<br><br>

Under her breath, Tian is cursing a steady blue streak. There are terms in there that Valentine has never heard before. Very creative Chinese cursing he's never heard before.<br><br>

'''Valentine:''' Look, there's nothing to be done about it. Wouldn't you rather know, so that when you see them coming you'll know to run? Isn't that better than not knowing and being surprised?<br>
'''Tian:''' '''''Right!''''' Because '''I''' need to be running from the Alliance Feds '''and''' the Triad.<br>
'''Valentine:''' I hate to say this but you ''were'' running from the Alliance Feds and the Triad. You just didn't know it.<br><br>

More cursing. Of course, Poco walks right into the middle of this as Tian stalks off to work her mad off with more cursing. Poco shrugs and turns on the motor winch sitting unnoticed to the side. It whines and lowers its hook from the cargo bay's ceiling. When the winch hook draws even with the hand chain, he and Valentine secure the pallet to it and let the motor lift it the rest of the way.<br><br>

'''Valentine:''' I didn't think it actually works.<br>
'''Poco:''' Of course it works. Whaddya mean you didn't think it works?<br> 	
'''Valentine:''' If I were to take one of any one hundred things on this ship and go 'Does it work?' what's the likelihood that it's going to work? <br>
'''Poco:''' Well, the question you gotta ask yourself is, is it useful for makin' money. If you can't get cargo on and off a ship … ? <br><br>

Poco drags on his ever-present cigarette and blows the smoke at the pallet.<br><br>

'''Valentine:''' That's actually a really good way of thinking about it, Poco.<br>
'''Poco:''' I mean, what other way would you think about it?<br>
'''Valentine:''' You realize this is the first ship I've ever owned.<br>
'''Poco:''' No, I mean about everything.<br>
'''Valentine:''' I like you. For your single focus sort of way. By the way, you don't need to sell this ship. You can't sell it, yet.<br>
'''Poco:''' (drags, blows) Well, be prepared to woo some buyers. Cuz they may come around. <br>
'''Valentine:''' I'll tell them it's no longer for sale.<br>
'''Poco:''' All right. I'll not be there when you do that.<br><br>

Poco laughs and it's got a ''better-you-than-me'' edge to it.<br><br>

'''Valentine:''' We won't be here for more than a day or two. We've got cargo coming. And a passenger and a job. A ''non-paying'' job, mind you. Unless you consider payment my skull being detached from the rest of me. <br>
'''Poco:''' Oh … (drags, blows, shrugs) … Good luck with that.<br><br>

Tian cools off and starts to think. She gets on the Cortex and starts trawling through the news feeds, updating herself on the Core. She checks to see if she's any emails from her son with any updates on what the hell is going on. Basically, she wants to know if her son's trying to get a hold of her and if he is what his life is like. For instance, is there anything in the news about her suddenly being a traitor? You know, that sort of thing.<br><br>

The feeds are pretty quiet. Nothing but the usual ads about Blue Sun cola and how to invest for your retirement and so on.  She's not on the news as a traitor or anything. Hmm. To be sure, the illegal guns haven't been found yet. We still have them under wraps. <br><br>

Tian considers and then decides against sending anything to the IRP on what she's done so far. She hasn't anything she really can send, unless it's news that someone's tried to hijack the cargo before it left Persephone. If the guns really were an inside job, she can't afford to let that insider know she knows. Instead she sends an email home, making sure it's innocuous. Just the usual sort of vacationer's sort of email, I'm doing fine, wish you were here, etc. Tian is paranoid enough not to mention the names of any places she's been, however. She only lets on that she's okay and doing fine.<br><br>

Vikki, meanwhile, has found and survived a trip to the bath house. Now much cleaner, she finds a cyber café and gets on the Cortex to check messages. She sends one home to her parents, assuring them she's all right. She sends her journalist friend, Sonia Chen, a couple of pointers on what they've encountered so far: there's evidence of TSE—oh my gosh, that's so three years ago!—on Anson's World. Oh and violence. You can find it on Persephone. Nearly got truck jacked. She clicks "No Reply Needed" on her messages, pays for her coffee, and heads back to the ship.<br><br>

Rachel shows up some hours later, a little tipsy, smiling, clearly having enjoyed herself. Bridge is an old friend and a good friend, and knows how to show a gal a good time. Rachel is practically floating in her fancy boots as she comes up the ramp. <br><br>

Valentine mentions the current job to the crew as they return but reviews everything with them assembled in the top deck lounge once all are aboard. Tian says nothing but puts her blank face on.<br><br> 

'''Vikki:''' So where are we going?<br>
'''Valentine:''' We're going to Beaumonde. We have a passenger and some cargo.<br>
'''Rachel:''' Mmm, I need to go to bed. (yawns) Oh, that's nice. <br>
'''Valentine:''' No. It's not.<br>
'''Rachel:''' You have such a strange thing about getting' jobs.<br>
'''Anatole:''' I thought we were going to Anson's World.<br>
'''Valentine:''' Yes, there have been some discussions about going to Anson's World and there may be some  more discussions about going to Anson's World ''but'' since I value my brain matter and keeping it in my head, we're going to go to Beaumonde, we're going to drop this passenger and her cargo off so that the Triad doesn't get unhappy—<br>
'''Tian:''' And there it is. <br>
'''Vikki:''' What?<br>
'''Poco:''' So, I just want to level the set …<br>
'''Valentine:''' Please. Go right ahead.<br>
'''Poco:''' So, you're keeping the guns?<br>
'''Valentine:'''  And I told the Triad that they didn't exist.<br>
'''Poco:''' And you ''lied'' to the Triad.<br>
'''Valentine:''' Yep.<br>
'''Poco:''' All right. I got that. And you're taking on a Triad passenger.<br>
'''Valentine:''' Not willingly, but yes.<br>
'''Poco:''' Okay.  And you're not sellin' the ship.<br>
'''Valentine:''' Because I have to use it to take the Triad passenger. You see how this works.<br>
'''Poco:''' (drags, blows) … You have fun with that.<br>
'''Valentine:''' We're supposed to keep her in as comfort as possible, as we can.<br><br>

No one points out that this might be a problem, given the condition of the ship.<br><br>

'''Rachel:''' Val? <br>
'''Valentine:''' Yes, Rachel.<br>
'''Rachel:''' I'm gonna say this once, but my standin' thing in my younger days was if this was happenin' on the ship I was flyin', I went … (gestures don't-know-don't-see-nothin') … and I kept on walkin'. Cuz the less I know about it, the better it was. So, g'night. I'll keep on walkin'.<br><br>

She rises and turns for the bridge. Poco stands up as well.<br><br>

'''Poco:''' I'm gonna keep on walkin' as well in a different way. I'll see y'all later. <br>
'''Vikki:''' 'Night. Pleasant dreams.<br>
'''Rachel:''' 'Night, Tink. 'Night, Doctor. 'Night, Val.<br>
'''Vikki:''' 'Night, Poppa Bear.<br><br>

Anatole stays Rachel by rising, his expression clear that he's not sure where he stands. <br><br>

'''Anatole:''' But I thought that we were going to—<br>
'''Rachel:''' (gently) I don't mind you sharin' the bed, but you just gotta understand it ain't permanent.<br>
'''Valentine:''' I'm not getting into that.<br>
'''Anatole:''' I wasn't asking about that.<br>
'''Valentine:''' (groks) Are you asking if you're staying aboard the ship?<br>
'''Anatole:''' I think I'm going to head into town and allow you to travel on your way.<br>	
'''Valentine:''' (evenly) Are you sure?<br>
'''Anatole:''' Yes.<br>
'''Vikki:''' (softly) Aww…<br>
'''Anatole:''' Well, I think that my difficulties is local. I don't think that the amount of money I owe would lure them out there.  <br>
'''Valentine:''' That's … You have to make your own decisions and if that's yours, that's fine. We'll be leaving in a day or two. If you decide to change your mind, we might as well have a berth open for you. You're welcome to come back but I understand if you don't.<br>
'''Anatole:''' It doesn't seem that you're really moving in a direction away from the people I need to move away from.<br>
'''Valentine:''' Yeah. It's unfortunate. To be honest, I am somewhat jealous that you can afford to move in that direction away from the people and the problems that plague you.<br><br>

Anatole and Valentine trade a look. Vikki watches back and forth like following a tennis match and says into the silence that follows.<br><br>

'''Vikki:''' Well … It was nice ....<br>
'''Anatole:''' And of course, I'm sure we'll meet again.<br>
'''Rachel:''' Oh, of course.<br> 
'''Anatole:''' I'll find my way. I always do.<br><br>
	
Rachel gives him a quick hug and Anatole takes the stairs down to the lower decks. Rachel takes off for the bridge and shuts herself up in her quarters. The sound of various doors and hatches opening and closing echoes mournfully through the ship.<br><br>





Jump to: [[Last Voyage of Delilah, Episode 104: Home Fires Burning|''' Part 1''']] | [[Last Voyage of Delilah, Episode 104: Home Fires Burning, Part 2|''' Part 2''']] | [[Last Voyage of Delilah, Episode 104: Home Fires Burning, Part 3|''' Part 3''']] | [[Last Voyage of Delilah, Episode 104: Home Fires Burning, Part 4|''' Part 4''']] | [[Last Voyage of Delilah, Episode 104: Home Fires Burning, Part 5|''' Part 5''']] |  [[Last Voyage of Delilah, Episode 104: Home Fires Burning, Special Features|''' Special Features''']]<br> <br> 

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