" Dang-ran (Certainly) Captain-san, the day you turn your back on folks in need is the day I take a vow of celibacy. Here we are....let's set Cameron-san on the side bench and Amber on the bed, shall we?"

Wyatt practically dropped the man on the bench. His mind was still very much aware of the proximity of the women and he was fighting the sensations surging through him with everything he had. His jaw was clenched so tightly at times that he imagined hearing his teeth crack under the pressure. When he straightened again and backed against the counter, Willow was just finishing with one of her devices and snatching up an all-to-familiar hypospray.

The cause of all of this trouble was panicky and near hysterical, and Wyatt focused his energies on feeling anger towards her to draw the effects of his sudden and confusing primal instincts. Willow was murmuring reassuring nothings as she administered the sedative. She lowered the girl back onto the bed and tucked one of the surgical sheets and blankets around the slumbering body, setting the silver emergency blanket aside. She set the MedComp on full scan on Amber while she moved onto the Captain.

"We need our Captain running things, and not hanging out here, but I want to be certain you've taken no harm before you run off, don'ma?" she started out firmly as she scanned Wyatt with the portable MedAcad.

Wyatt grunted a non-committed response and waited for the diagnosis. He was itching to touch, desiring to smell, and more...it bothered him immensely.

Having received what she needed, Willow started to move back to the MedComp to see if it indicated the same thing about Amber. Cameron stopped her as she went by," "I really don't know what happened. She came on to me, I said no and then next thing I knew I ...couldn't stop myself. This overwhelming desire and lust took over. I'm sorry." Wyatt could sympathize, unfortunately.

"Cameron-san, please, just a moment. You needn't apologize to me," Willow said distractedly as she hurriedly scanned Cameron and studied her findings.

"No-one need apologize," Willow said at last, looking first at Cameron, then Wyatt."This wasn't something you did...it was done TO you." Willow moved back to stand in front of Sung. She kept her voice and face stern as she spoke to him. "Hear me, Wyatt? YOU didn't do this....what you feel isn't real. It's a cheat. A damned ugly one. This," and she took one of his hands and pinched hard on the web of flesh between thumb and hand," THIS is real. We need you awake, so I can't knock you out to sleep it off. Do this, or bite your lip, whatever, to send real signals to your brain, overriding what your brain thinks it feels and that should help clear your thinking. I'll see what more I can safely do later, alright?"

"'Company's coming! A ship just broke atmo!" Crackled Tess over the comm.

Wyatt glanced at the speaker and then gave Willow a brief nod, “Keep these two out of the way. I’ll deal with ‘em later.”

Using the energy he’d discovered from whatever that device did, Wyatt jogged out of the room and through to the cargo bay. By the time he’d arrived the crowd was cheering. It was clear that they liked what they saw, but the captain wasn’t one to assume good things were happening. After all, they were still in the three negatives--”Two down, one to go,” he thought as he gracefully stumbled down the stairs while holding tightly to the rail.

Stepping out into the pale sunlight, Wyatt quickly located the ship--an ASREV bearing Fed sigils--and then caught Asher’s attention, motioning him over.

“That’s no rescue,” he said as it started two sweep back towards them. “Why send one ship t’ help with the evacuation? Get outta sight and make sure ya got something with range an’ accuracy in case things go south, don ma? an’ git the others here ready t’ assist.” He didn’t think he could convince the passengers of the Star to get out of sight and out of the way, so he let that go.

Slipping his shotgun from his sheathe, Wyatt pushed past the crowd and stood waiting to meet the ship’s occupants. The ASREV did a final parameter sweep and then landed, lowering onto the landing field directly behind Rocinante.

As the engines powered down, the landing ramp lowered and out walked a man in the black uniform and trench coat of the federal Marshals. He was a tall man, handsome in a rugged sort of way with brown hair and an easy smile. He had a sidearm at his right and machine pistol on other. Behind him came two other men, dressed in full Alliance military armor and carrying assault rifles slung over their shoulders.

Wyatt left the shotgun barrel down as he gave the marshal a nod. “Glad you boys could make it,” he intoned casually though he felt the tension from the recent encounter threatening to explode. “We were wondering when help fer these good folk was t’ arrive.”

As Wolf watched the ASREV float down into a landing next to the Rocinante he and John were too far away to read its markings. Wolf could only hope it was help arriving for the stranded Cruise Liner passengers and not pirates or worse yet Marshals.
Well as much as Wolf wanted to head back to help Wyatt and the rest of the crew out. The captain had set the recovery of the processor as a high priority and if he needed them he would call.

Turning back to his fellow crewmate, he started moving back inside.

“Ok nothing we can do right now unless the Cap’n needs us so we stick to the mission at hand and get us a nice lil Atmos Processor.”

Not waiting to see if John followed Wolf once more went beck to the job at hand.

LV-426, Emergency Landing Field 8:00 am PT
The sunlight crept up ramp and Ash and Wyatt stood in the cargo bay. As they watched an ASREV came into view behind the Roc and the kid notes that that put its guns right on them. As the dust was settling Wyatt commented, “That’s no rescue, ……Why send one ship t’ help with the evacuation? Get outta sight and make sure ya got something with range an’ accuracy in case things go south, don ma? an’ git the others here ready t’ assist.”
Asher nodded and slipped the GRZ 1 around so Wyatt could see it, “Gotcha covered boss.”

Wyatt headed down the ramp and the kid backup a bit to watched the ASREV land. After it had settled a man in the black uniform and trench coat of the federal Marshalls stepped followed by other men, dressed in full Alliance military armor and carrying assault rifles slung over their shoulder.

“That don’t look good!” the kid said to himself. As he watched he notice there were only three coming down the ASREV ramp. Keying his comm., ”Cap’t, there’s only three there, should be four. They’re leav’in one on the guns.” The gunslinger thought quickly, “Maybe I got a little sumptum,… them EMP’s might come in handy here.”

He rushed back to his room and dug out two EMP grenadesf, some flash bangs and smokers. Heading back toward the cargo he met Tess and Ma. Rushing up to them he handed them each one.

“There’s a ASREV out there with its gun trained on us…it don’t look like no rescue party… if thing start to turn to Joo Fuen Chse try to toss one these inside that thing near the controls…..they’re EMPs and it should shut down their guns.” Ash didn’t wait for their comments as he rushed to find a spot where he could cover Wyatt.

"'Company's coming! A ship just broke atmo!" Crackled Tess over the comm.

Wyatt glanced at the speaker and then gave Willow a brief nod, “Keep these two out of the way. I’ll deal with ‘em later.”

Before Willow could do much more than blink, the Captain was gone.

“Well, isn’t that a fine to do?” Willow asked herself, then blinked again when she realized that Cameron Bridges was still looking at her, and clearly puzzled by her question.

“I’m sorry, Cameron-san, talking to myself. I do that more than I’d like,” Willow turned to Cameron and smiled, masking her unease of facing him once more after the previous scene. She pondered how to deal with him, so that she could hurry after the Captain. Amber wasn’t going to awaken soon, given her state of exhaustion, but how to keep Cameron out of sight? She busied herself with pulling a set of surgical scrubs from her supply closet and handing them to Bridges.

“We haven’t had a chance to retrieve your clothes from the shuttle, so how about you put these on while I turn my back and tidy up a bit?” Willow put words into action, moving to the diagnostic unit and retrieving the finger tip device. While Cameron was busy changing, she put the device into the narcotics cabinet, keying the lock sequence on the sturdy cabinet door.

She made a show of putting away equipment and tidying up until Cameron settled back onto the side bench. “You are likely exhausted, Cameron-san, the scan told me as much, so rest is what you need the most. Do you think you could sleep, or would you like a mild sedative to help? That bench is more comfortable than it looks; I’ve passed many a night there watching over a patient.”

OOC: Will leave room for NPC response. Essentially Willow is looking for a way to get Cameron to agree to stay put 

Willow took off the lab coat and hung it up in the supply closet, briskly tugging away any wrinkles before they could settle into the fabric. She retrieved the dulpatta from it’s place and deftly wound it over her shoulder to drape over her blouse. A quick tousle of her hair and a touch of lipstick, and Willow-the-medic was once again Willow-the-visual-distraction.

She hurried back out to the cargo bay, walking down the ramp to see the ASREV looming over the three men standing in front of Wyatt…who was carrying a shotgun?!

“Merciful Buddha! Don’t let things go south too soon!” Willow muttered to herself, scanning the crowd for Lord Hood.

OOC: If she can spot him, she’ll go to him and suggest he accompany her in speaking with the rescue party. Otherwise, she’ll head to stand by Wyatt’s side, and whether alone or with Hood, she’ll walk with her best boneless slink.

“Well now, what have we here?, “ Willow purred as she looked the marshal up and down frankly. “You are most definitely a sight for sore eyes, Admiral ….?”

Asher ran down the corridor to the ladder up to the EVA hatch. Quickly climbing up he opened the Eva hatch that lead to the outside of the Roc. Cautiously he opened the hatch crawled out carefully across the upper haul. Working his way aft he crawled over the Gravity Rotor Housing. The kid knew that would most likely be someone still in the command seat of the ASREV and he needed to stay low. Maneuvering behind the Reaction Control Tower and RCS Thruster Housing Ash caught sight of Wyatt crossing to meet the federal Marshall. Swinging his GRZ 1 Assault Rifle into position the kid was ready to provide the needed public relations.

LV-426, Emergency Landing Field 8:10am PT
As the engines powered down, the landing ramp lowered and out walked a man in the black uniform and trench coat of the federal Marshals. He was a tall man, handsome in a rugged sort of way with brown hair and an easy smile. (James Arness in his 30's) He had a sidearm at his right and machine pistol on other. Behind him came two other men, dressed in full Alliance military armor and carrying assault rifles slung over their shoulders.

Wyatt left the shotgun barrel down as he gave the marshal a nod. “Glad you boys could make it,” he intoned casually though he felt the tension from the recent encounter threatening to explode. “We were wondering when help fer these good folk was t’ arrive.”

The man looked at the Captain with a bemused smile and his eyes shifted from the shotgun to Wyatt’s face. He didn’t seem intimidated but the two guards behind him immediately dropped their assault rifles from shoulder the hands in a fast smooth motion that spoke volumes of their training. The man in black raised his hand in a “Hold” signal without turning his head from the captain.

“Whoa rancher!” He said with a light chuckle, “We ain’t here to steal your cattle. We been asked by the Five Star Co. to come and help with the search and rescue. No interest is what’s in your hold or business, Dohn ma? There is cortex interference so we were sweeping possible havens and glad we did cause we found you. So the big carrier is coming, hang tight. We are just looking to pick up some VIP that the execs are sweating about.

“My name is Dillon. Matt Dillon – Federal Marshall.” He looks around the area appreciatively.”I must say I admire your crew and ingenuity to be able to land the ship that damaged and not be burying people. Do you have a manifest of the passengers you have with you?”

(assuming a introduction and a negative on a manifest)

Tess moved to the side of the crowd that was moving towards the new visitors and looked for a place to support the Captain. The crowd however was going to make that difficult. She saw Sifu was among the crowd but hanging to the back with a small man with a silver case. The monk looked concerned and was gently holding back the man from running forward.

Asher got himself into position on top of Rocinante It was a good place to be, as he was looking down. He put his sight on the man in black and kept himself ready in case anything went south in a hurry.

As the crowd moved forward with the hoops and hollers of the passengers, they people pressed forward asking questions and cheering the presences of the marshalls. Havelock moves behind and to the side of Captain Wyatt, a look of disapproval firmly etched on his face. The old soldier reflectively puts his hand where his gun would have been had this not been peace time and traveling on a cruise. Armed or not though, he stood by the Captain.

As Hood moved out towards the marshall, Willow moved in with a grace and presence to the side of the Lord , “Well now, what have we here?, “ Willow purred as she looked the marshal up and down frankly. “You are most definitely a sight for sore eyes, Admiral ….?”

The marshall looked at Willow with some surprise and interest, “Admiral? No Ma’am. "Matt Dillon, Federal Marshal -- the first man they look for and the last they want to meet. It's a chancy job, and it makes a man watchful . . . and a little lonely." He said with an easy smile and turns back to Wyatt, “No manifest? Okay. Do you have any members of the Five Star Orchestra? The musicians?”

LV-426, Inside of Rocinante Cargo hold 8:10 am PT
Jessie moved into the cargo hold and moved in behind the catwalk closest to her and farthest from the feds. She waited for a moment as people moved out of the ship like the Captain and the Lady Doctor. Once clear she moved up the stair to the interior of the ship. Once nearing the top, she could hear someone moving around and the air began to fill with the mouth watering aroma of a soup cooking. Jessie’s stomach growled at the aroma but she had more pressing things to worry about. Where to hide the case? The older lady that everyone called Ma passed by the stairs carrying a pink shotgun but heading towards the stairs on the other side of the common room, leaving Jessie alone in the hallway between the crew dorms , the bridge and the kitchen/common room.


(I will post the going-ons at the Atmo Processors soon. I just wanted to get this posted)

Wyatt left the shotgun barrel down as he gave the marshal a welcoming nod. “Glad you boys could make it,” he intoned casually though he felt the tension from the recent encounter threatening to explode. “We were wondering when help fer these good folk was t’ arrive.”

The man’s bemused smile did not sit well with Captain Sung; neither did the two Blue-Bellies quick disregard for decorum and immediate defensive action. But, Wyatt wasn’t no backbirth, and held steady without even a flinch indicating the way he felt as the marshal raised his hand to steady the dogs.

“Whoa rancher!” the marshal said with a light chuckle, “We ain’t here to steal your cattle. We been asked by the Five Star Co. to come and help with the search and rescue. No interest is what’s in your hold or business, Dohn ma? There is cortex interference so we were sweeping possible havens and glad we did cause we found you. So the big carrier is coming, hang tight. We are just looking to pick up some VIP that the execs are sweating about.

“My name is Dillon. Matt Dillon – Federal Marshall.” He looks around the area appreciatively.”I must say I admire your crew and ingenuity to be able to land the ship that damaged and not be burying people. Do you have a manifest of the passengers you have with you?”

“I appreciate the niceties, Marshal Dillon. I ain’t no rancher, an’ these are no cattle. Truth be told, I’m not so fond of the imposition that’s been placed on me an’ mine, let alone the damage t’ my ship that keeps me rooted t’ this mudball barely livin’. We’ve been busy seeing t’ the likes o’ shelter an’ rescue; a manifest would have been shiny, but we’ve not had Buddha’s Blessing so far as being able to find the time t’ put one together.” Wyatt used his left hand to slowly adjust his hat so that the brim rested lower across his brow. “Funny that this Five Star Company--Zhufu ni fer showing up--would send a fully manned ASREV that’s capable of nothin’ more than the relative comfort of those that are currently before more an’ what’s surely left aboard t’ retrieve these very fine people that are causing no end of sweating instead of a shuttle. Oh. An’ you noticed that there’s some sort of static on the signal have you? We was wonderin’ after that ourselves.”

That was about as much as Wyatt could get out before the sophisticated riff-raff that he’d shuttled to the surface of this little moon pressed in on his play with a cacophony of right hopeful sentiment and hurrahs that struck Wyatt as funny considering the feeling he held firmly in his gut like a child embracing a doll. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Havelock stand fast next to him, and silently thanked Buddha for the unconsidered support.

As Hood moved out towards the marshall, Willow moved in with a grace and presence to the side of the Lord, surprising Wyatt enough that he very nearly raised his eyebrows...nearly.

“Well now, what have we here?,“ Willow purred as she looked the marshal up and down frankly. “You are most definitely a sight for sore eyes, Admiral ….?”

The marshall looked at Willow with a registered expression of unexpected interest that Wyatt took to mean the man had very little intel on them and their numbers.

“Admiral?” the marshal questioned. “No Ma’am. Matt Dillon, Federal Marshal--the first man they look for and the last they want to meet. It's a chancy job, and it makes a man watchful...and a little lonely." He said with an easy smile before turning back to Wyatt, “No manifest? Okay. Do you have any members of the Five Star Orchestra? The musicians?”

Wyatt’s head tilted just slightly to the side, “We’ve the sort that toots horns and puts a bow to string, Marshal. Though, I’d never heard of an orchestra being referred t’ as VIP. Wouldn’t you be more interested in the likes of Lord High-n’-Mighty Hood here, or that blessed little hen that’s been followed about by a bunch of chickadees what since we plucked them from the wreckage?”

The marshal was a well-trained Ja Who, of that Wyatt was certain. Likely could even draw either of his weapons just as quickly as Wyatt could raise his shotgun to bear. An’ if that weren’t Ma Fuhn enough, those two boys behind weren’t any less capable despite their affiliation. Sung could practically hear Eden’s voice in his head warning him to watch himself and play nice as she’d done on so many mornings before he’d gone to town to deal. ‘Might’ve already shown yer hand, Shwei Shian Shen,’ she’d have been saying right about then.

Well, thought the captain as he kept a close eye on the proceedings. Let’s see how much more Wu Toh Wu Now things can get.

LV-426, Inside of Rocinante Cargo hold 8:10 am PT
Jessie moved into the cargo hold and moved in behind the catwalk closest to her and farthest from the feds. She waited for a moment as people moved out of the ship like the Captain and the Lady Doctor. Once clear she moved up the stair to the interior of the ship. Once nearing the top, she could hear someone moving around and the air began to fill with the mouth watering aroma of a soup cooking. Jessie’s stomach growled at the aroma but she had more pressing things to worry about. Where to hide the case? The older lady that everyone called Ma passed by the stairs carrying a pink shotgun but heading towards the stairs on the other side of the common room, leaving Jessie alone in the hallway between the crew dorms , the bridge and the kitchen/common room.

LV-426, Inside of Rocinante Kitchen/Common Room 8:15 am PT
Jessie waited a full minute after the woman called Ma had passed before stepping up to the hatchway to the Kitchen and peering in. She hoped the woman had left as she seemed to be doing. She glanced back up the hallway towards what appeared to be crew quarters, she shook her head and sighed. She had discarded the idea of putting the case in any of those rooms, even if they were open. It would be too difficult to retrieve the case later if they were in one of those rooms. She needed a place she could get back to later, she hoped.

If the woman had indeed left the kitchen, then Jessie would slip inside as quietly as possible. She quickly scanned the area and saw an obvious dining table and cooking area. Off to one side was what appeared to be a seating area; this could be a good place. Keeping an eye, and an ear, out for anyone, she slipped quickly into the seating area on the starboard side just aft of the cooking area.

Several chairs and a couch were arranged around the small octagonal room; this could be perfect. She quickly went over to the couch and peered behind it, it looked just perfect. Hefting the case she slipped it behind the couch where it fit just barely between the couch and the bulkhead. Pushing the case all the way to the floor so that it wouldn’t be see and shouldn’t become dislodged during the ships maneuvering.

Stepping back she looked at it and smiled, it would do for now. She just hoped she would be able to retrieve it later. Her plan at the moment was unknown, but she was hoping she might be able to barter passage on this ship, she certainly didn’t want to go with the Feds or the other survivors. Something about this ship interested her; she didn’t yet know much about the crew but for the most part they seemed friendly enough. Maybe she might be of use to this ship and its crew; she just hope they all survived this mess and got off this planet and clear of these Feds outside.

The case hidden, her stomach growled and she remembered the aroma of something wonderful cooking. She wandered over to the kitchen area to see what it was that had drawn her hunger.

LV-426, Atmo Processor Interior 8:10am PT
John and Wolf entered the building, neither one of them too interested in getting tangled up with Federal Marshalls unless it was absolutely necessary. The fusion chamber was locked up tight and the lights flashed on a newtech security system on the doorway. that mean the core was still in there and was probably running low enough just for lights and monitors.

Np the steel stairs to the second floor, a 60 foot wide catwalk that hugged the circumference of the building with two personal lifting platforms in either end. The catwalk had rows of rows of lockers set up. Places for the terraformers to keep their equipment and valuables. As you walk around, many are decorated with cards, ribbons and the black ink of farewell messages to those that lost their lives on the planet. Terraforming was a lucrative job but the risks were plentiful and many never made it home. The presences of the notes gives a haunted and forlorn sense to this level.

As the two men move to the personal lifters that are directly above the main doorways below, they see the panels have no power but there is a iron bar ladder built into the shaft beside the lifts.

"Have they got ... hear .."

John and Wolf look at each other with the same question - did you just hear that? Above you a voice can be heard, faintly, but definitely talking. As soon as you try to listen to it, it is gone again but you are sure you heard it above you.

As Wolf led and John followed to the personal lifters directly above the main doorways they both could easily see the panels powering them were clearly without power. Having no choice but to climb the iron bar ladder built into the shaft beside the lifts the two men were about too when an eerie voice was heard by both above them.

A quick look at one another with the same question - did you just hear that? Wolf put his finger to his mouth to stop any talking between the two of them. Trading the assault rifle for the shotgun he signaled to John to place himself in a covering position. Then Wolf slowly proceeded up the iron ladder alone.

(OOC: Gonna be real cautious and on alert. John is hopefully in a coving position with the AR.)

Hunkered down behind the thruster house the kid did his best to maintain a low profile. His GRZ1 was propped to cover Wyatt as the Capt’n addressed the Marshall. When the two armor clad lackies drew down on Wyatt Asher sighted the throat of the Marshall. The switching to the slow breathing pattern that steadied the nerves and the gun was now automatic. The gun slinger slowly squeezed the trigger.

The marshall raised his hand and the guards pulled back their weapons. Ash exhaled releasing the pressure on the trigger, but he kept the man sighted. Movement near Wyatt showed that others were coming to his aide. Havelock and Miss Willow were now in view and it worried the kid that they might get caught in a cross fire if thing went bad. As long as the Feds stayed in view Ash would hold his position, but if they moved into the Roc he’d hot foot it back inside.

“Admiral?” the marshal questioned. “No Ma’am. Matt Dillon, Federal Marshal--the first man they look for and the last they want to meet. It's a chancy job, and it makes a man watchful...and a little lonely." He said with an easy smile before turning back to Wyatt, “No manifest? Okay. Do you have any members of the Five Star Orchestra? The musicians?”

Wyatt’s head tilted just slightly to the side, “We’ve the sort that toots horns and puts a bow to string, Marshal. Though, I’d never heard of an orchestra being referred t’ as VIP. Wouldn’t you be more interested in the likes of Lord High-n’-Mighty Hood here, or that blessed little hen that’s been followed about by a bunch of chickadees what since we plucked them from the wreckage?”
Willow groaned inwardly at Wyatt's directness while keeping her expression as warmly vapid as before, but something was bothering her. The Marshall's interest in the musicians sounded a sour note, and the memory of nervous Justin and protective Roland also hummed in the background of her thoughts. When she remembered the details of the e-brochure Cameron had sent her, the realization rocked her, and she swayed just a bit against Lord Hood.

"Miss Willow? Are you unwell?" Lord Hood asked anxiously, and Willow bit her lip to bring tears welling up to her eyes.

"No, no, I'm fine, Lord Hood, just remembering the last moments before the ship blew. So many brave crew members, bringing out passengers....and running back in to save more! It was just horrible, wasn't it, Lord Hood, " Willow dabbed at her eyes delicately, even as her voice rose slightly," I don't think a single crew member made it onto our ship. I do hope some made it onto the lifeboats. We did see some clear the blast, didn't we, Captain?"

LV-426, Emergency Landing Field 8:15 am PT
“I appreciate the niceties, Marshal Dillon. I ain’t no rancher, an’ these are no cattle. Truth be told, I’m not so fond of the imposition that’s been placed on me an’ mine, let alone the damage t’ my ship that keeps me rooted t’ this mudball barely livin’. We’ve been busy seeing t’ the likes o’ shelter an’ rescue; a manifest would have been shiny, but we’ve not had Buddha’s Blessing so far as being able to find the time t’ put one together.” Wyatt used his left hand to slowly adjust his hat so that the brim rested lower across his brow. “Funny that this Five Star Company--Zhufu ni fer showing up--would send a fully manned ASREV that’s capable of nothin’ more than the relative comfort of those that are currently before more an’ what’s surely left aboard t’ retrieve these very fine people that are causing no end of sweating instead of a shuttle. Oh. An’ you noticed that there’s some sort of static on the signal have you? We was wonderin’ after that ourselves.”

As Hood moved out towards the Marshall, Willow moved in with a grace and presence to the side of the Lord, “Well now, what have we here?“ Willow purred as she looked the marshal up and down frankly. “You are most definitely a sight for sore eyes, Admiral ….?”

“Admiral?” the marshal questioned. “No Ma’am. Matt Dillon, Federal Marshal--the first man they look for and the last they want to meet. It's a chancy job, and it makes a man watchful...and a little lonely." He said with an easy smile before turning back to Wyatt, “No manifest? Okay. Do you have any members of the Five Star Orchestra? The musicians?”

Wyatt’s head tilted just slightly to the side, “We’ve the sort that toots horns and puts a bow to string, Marshal. Though, I’d never heard of an orchestra being referred t’ as VIP. Wouldn’t you be more interested in the likes of Lord High-n’-Mighty Hood here, or that blessed little hen that’s been followed about by a bunch of chickadees what since we plucked them from the wreckage?”

“Whoa. Relax Captain. Just doing what I’ve been told.” Dillon replied looking around him at the crowd forming, it was clearly putting him on edge to have so many people close up to him. He raised his hands and called out in a loud voice, “CAN I ASK EVERYONETO TAKE A FEW STEPS BACK PLEASE!!!”

The crowd shuffled around a bit but no one really moved. They were all a buzz about being rescued and how they were all gonna fit into the one ship.

Willow swayed just a bit against Lord Hood. "Miss Willow? Are you unwell?" Lord Hood asked anxiously, seeing tears in the doctor’s eyes.

"No, no, I'm fine, Lord Hood, just remembering the last moments before the ship blew. So many brave crew members, bringing out passengers....and running back in to save more! It was just horrible, wasn't it, Lord Hood,“ Willow dabbed at her eyes delicately, even as her voice rose slightly," I don't think a single crew member made it onto our ship. I do hope some made it onto the lifeboats. We did see some clear the blast, didn't we, Captain?"

“Look here Captain, I don’t have time for this. “ Dillon said curtly, looking around at the crowd, and beyond a glance at Willow’s fallen form, ignoring her distress. “I need the first violin player and I need him here now! He’ll have a case on him and trust me when I say, he is very important, Dohn ma?”

“That would be me sir!” a voice called out and the small man named Justin carrying the silver case stepped forward with Sifu following him closely, “Trust me Captain Sung, the Marshall is correct. What I carry is very valuable.”

Dillon stepped forward to approach the Musician but at that moment Portia Amber moved out of the crowd to come right in front of the Marshall and stop him in his tracks.”What do you mean you are here for some useless fiddle player! There is no way that I and my daughter are staying on this dirtball for a minute longer. You will transport us to the nearest civilized outpost immediately, do you hear me! Do you know who I am?”

*SMACK*

Dillion backhands Portia across the face so hard that blood gushes from her nose as she spins to the ground, or would have if the Marshall didn’t grab her in mid spin and draw her to his side and, gun now in hand pressed it to Portia’s head. The two guards immediately drop to the ground in prone positions, one ready to fire into the crowd, the other trained directly on Lord Hood and Willow. “OKAY! YOU!” Maestro! Get on my ship now! Everyone else, Stay where you are!!! Anyone goes hero on me or gets me and my men hurt, and I blast that piece of Go Sa to bits and leave you here to die. NOW MOVE!”

LV-426, Hunkered down behind the thruster house of Rocinante, 8:15 am PT
Asher watched the goings on down below with gun ready but he was caught flatfooted by the slap across the face to the Amber lady. Now the Marshall had a his head and body protected with a human shield and the other two were ready to open fire on crowd or Miss Willow. He could hear the leader calling out, “OKAY! YOU!” Maestro! Get on my ship now! Everyone else, Stay where you are!!! Anyone goes hero on me or gets me and my men hurt, and I blast that piece of Go Sa to bits and leave you here to die. NOW MOVE!”

LV-426, Inside Rocinante, Kitchen 8:15 am PT
Jessie looked around the kitchen. There was an enormous stockpot venting steam and aroma that was arousing her stomach and hunger. She thought food on a ship like this would be mundane but this lady who ran the kitchen on this ship was working wonders.

LV-426, Emergency Landing Field 8:15 am PT
Tess watched as the musician moved forward but her attention was drawn to the sight of Matherson and his two men moving through the crowd and towards the musician as well. Originally, Matherson seemed to want to stay away from the Marshall but now he was moving forward as if his life depended on it. Both Hack and Slash had their jackets undone and one hands inside as they approached the confrontation.

Tess wanted to shout into the comm as she brought it to her lips but she keyed it to Wolf's line and said, "Wolf! John! We got a situation. Some thrilling heroics might not go amiss soon! Real soon. No talkie back."

LV-426, Atmo Processor Interior 8:15 am PT
Wolf moved to the ladder with john covering him, then Wolf slowly proceeded up the iron ladder alone.
The voices had stopped for now and soon Wolf was up on the next level. The centre area was still the shaft from the fusion generator, but this area was all corridors and doors to barrack style dorm rooms. Wolf checked the immediate area and there was no sign of life. John moved up the ladder to join him on this residential level. There was a another stairsways up on both sides of the central shaft.

The area seemed deserted. Bunks upon bunks and cot frames remain behind of the living quarters that were used to house the workers at one point. No personal possessions left behind but there are mattress and sleeping spaces for more than what the ship brought to this moon.

“Going South! Repeat Going South! Request ... *crackle*” the voice is above you but louder and clearer this time. Not a live person though, sounds like it is coming from a radio or receiver. Next level is the centralized controls for the processors.

Suddenly Wolf's comm came to life,""Wolf! John! We got a situation. Some thrilling heroics might not go amiss soon! Real soon. No talkie back."

“Whoa. Relax Captain. Just doing what I’ve been told.” Dillon replied looking around him at the crowd forming, it was clearly putting him on edge to have so many people close up to him. He raised his hands and called out in a loud voice, “CAN I ASK EVERYONE TO TAKE A FEW STEPS BACK PLEASE!!!”

Wyatt didn’t bother looking to see if the refugees obeyed the marshal’s words. He was pretty sure that in the face of a possible rescue they were only going to follow instructions on how to board an evacuation ship. Sure as snow in winter the crowd shuffled around a bit, but no one really moved.

Suddenly Willow swayed into Lord Hood causing him to exclaim in a concerned manner, "Miss Willow? Are you unwell?"

Wyatt’s blue eyes moved quickly and briefly to register Willow’s play. He knew the ship’s doctor wasn’t a weak woman, and wouldn’t likely be faint in any situation, let alone one such as this. Deductive reasoning put her move (which he missed and was just catching the aftermath of) as some sort of move to ease the tension, or draw attention away from the something, and focus the marshall’s on her. Whatever it was, it took just a peripheral glance for the captain to determine that she was, in fact, all right.

"No, no, I'm fine, Lord Hood, just remembering the last moments before the ship blew. So many brave crew members, bringing out passengers....and running back in to save more! It was just horrible, wasn't it, Lord Hood,“ Willow dabbed at her eyes delicately, even as her voice rose slightly," I don't think a single crew member made it onto our ship. I do hope some made it onto the lifeboats. We did see some clear the blast, didn't we, Captain?"

“I don’t recall none of the crew stepping aboard, Mei Mei,” Wyatt responded dryly playing along.

“Look here Captain, I don’t have time for this,“ Marshall Dillon curtly interrupted. He appeared to be looking past Willow’s ruse and nervously eyeballing the fine citizens. “I need the first violin player and I need him here now! He’ll have a case on him and trust me when I say, he is very important, Dohn ma?”

Before Wyatt could respond a voice from the crowd called out, “That would be me sir!” A small man clutching a silver case to his chest stepped forward with Sifu following him closely, “Trust me Captain Sung, the Marshall is correct. What I carry is very valuable.”

“Mei Wen Ti,” Wyatt responded while making absolutely no other movement than to turn his head slightly.

Marshall Dillon stepped forward to approach the Musician but at that moment Portia Amber moved out of the crowd to come right in front and stopped him in his tracks.”What do you mean you are here for some useless fiddle player! There is no way that I and my daughter are staying on this dirtball for a minute longer. You will transport us to the nearest civilized outpost immediately, do you hear me! Do you know who I am?”

*SMACK*

Dillon’s backhand across Portia’s face caused blood to gush from her nose. She spun about with the impact, and would have fallen to the ground if the Marshall didn’t grab her in mid spin and draw her to his side; gun now in hand pressed to Portia’s temple. The two guards immediately drop to the ground in prone positions, one ready to fire into the crowd, the other trained directly on Lord Hood and Willow.

“OKAY!” Marshall Dillon bellowed. “YOU! Maestro! Get on my ship now! Everyone else, Stay where you are!!! Anyone goes hero on me or gets me and my men hurt, and I blast that piece of Go Sa to bits and leave you here to die. NOW MOVE!”

Wyatt blinked nonchalantly and looked at the marshall as though he were completely unconcerned. “Ain’t no one here about to play hero, Dillon. I got no concerns ‘cept getting my boat back in the sky. So, you aren’t gonna receive no trouble from me and mine at this point. Ain’t no need to take the Shao Jeh in such a rough manner though. Why not leave her be so as her daughter don’t give me no more trouble?”

Wyatt prayed that his crew would see him standing calm and not do anything rash. And though his thoughts were drifting about to various prayers to Buddha, his crew’s actions, and unfortunate possibilities, his exterior was calm, cool, and relaxed in appearance.

"Willow, Mei Mei," Wyatt said softly. "Perhaps Ma can see to your sensibilities seeing as how you're feeling faint an' all."

Remembering Trish's penchant for dealing with hostage situations the hard way, Wyatt suddenly felt a sense of urgency towards making sure the ex-actress was on her best behavior. He hoped Willow could play it out well enough to gain a leave of absence.

LV-426, Inside Rocinante, Kitchen 8:15 am PT

Jessie’s stomach growled loudly at the smell of whatever it was in the stockpot on the stove. She slowly lifted the lid and took a deep breath of the wondrous aromas. Setting the lid aside she looked around in the cupboards till she found a bowl and a spoon. Turning back to the pot she spooned out a bowl full of the stew, or whatever it was, replaced the lid and then walked over to the table and sat down.

Her plan here was two fold, one she was hungry as hell and this smelled wonderful; the other thing was if she didn’t try to sneak out of here and instead let herself be found here then her presence here was less likely to attach attention.

So, here she sat, taking a tentative bite of the food and once she found how great tasting it was, she dug in savoring the favor as she tried to chew slowly so as not to seem a pig.

Unknown to her, outside a dangerous situation involving the other silver case was unfolding. Even if she knew there was nothing she would do about it; Jessie was only interested in her own survival and wouldn’t try to be a hero, it wasn’t in her nature.