Firefly: The Artful Dodger

"Henri, get us the hell out of here," the dark haired man said as he walked through the doorway onto the bridge. The blonde woman stared at him, her eyes probing the deepest recesses of his mind as if she were searching his soul for answers. Actually, it was either that or she was imagining the beating that she would surely give him wen they were out of atmo. "Stop staring at me and steer this boat, gorramit!" He sat in the co-pilot's seat and pulled the buckle across his chest, a loud groan escaping him as bits and pieces of other Firefly freighters and disemboweled Browncoats flew past them.

"Yes, oh great Captain," she grumbled, setting the ship into motion. "I'd be just happy to save our asses after you just about got us blown to bits over your sweet side." There was a faint rumble as the thrusters rotated and pushed the Firefly's nose towards the sky. Alliance fighters criss-crossed in elaborate arcs through the clouds. Henri pushed the ship into a steep curve to barely miss a loose thruster from a broken boat before pushing them towards the sky once again.

The ship shook and the temperature dropped as the Artful Dodger forced it way through the weakening atmosphere. The sky darkened as the Black came into view, the stars twinkling in and out of view as Henri flipped on the exterior lights and set the auto-pilot. Her eyes caught him once again, but his gaze was glued to Hera.

From up here, the chaos in Serenity Valley was nothing more than several gnats on the blue-green world. To think that, just moments ago, his entire world was being torn apart.... He sighed and pulled the buckle from around his abdomen, slowly standing to move towards the comm. link. Henri's fist crashed into the side of his face and he toppled to the ground, his head spinning.

"Zhe shi shen me lan dong xi," he exclaimed, his hand running across his face. "What the hell was I supposed to do, Henri? Was I supposed to let her die? Was I supposed to sit and watch as another person died while I sat there, knowing that I could have actually saved her?"

"We could have been killed, J.W.," she screamed. "You'd rather save a stranger than your crew? Chu fei wo si le!" He jumped to his feet, his finger just inches away from her face. He wanted to say something else, wanted to put her in her place...but she was right. He sighed again and moved back towards the comm. link once again.

"Just point this boat in a direction and get us somewhere,' he said softly. "I don't really care where, just get us somewhere." He pulled a handset from the ceiling and flipped three switches before pressing the button on the side. "Attention, boys and girls. Firstly, I'd like to thank our newest passenger for flying Air Dodger. Secondly, Zee, make sure to check everything in case anything broke, loosened or generally malfunctioned on our way out of atmo. Thirdly, I'm gonna need Little Joe and our new friend to make their way to the bridge ASAP."

"Oh, and Joe...no guns."

"Well, at least he's listening," J.W. said softly, turning away from the woman to put his attention back on Henri for a moment. "Keep an eye on things and keep us out of trouble. If we get buzzed by any Alliance, go ahead and go to blackout." The blonde nodded silently as she turned her head to look at the captain. Her eyes caught sight of the newcomer and she forced a smile before turning back to the black in front of them.

J.W. turned his attention back to the woman behind him and smiled softly. "Now, miss," he said, "I'm in a bit of a pickle. You see, my pilot here is a might bit pissed off at me that I almost got us blown up for some random pretty lady. In all honesty, she's right. Truth be told, it might've been a better idea for us to have just gone on about our business and left you standing on Hera for the Alliance to deal with you. Alas, I'm not a heartless bastard and I couldn't do that, but you're gonna have to pick up your share of the weight around here as payment for my kindness, you hear?"

The door to the bridge slid open quickly and a rather large black man stepped through, a toothpick still stuck between his teeth. He was grinning about something, and it didn't take J.W. too long to figure out what: A hefty leather belt was strapped around his waist, grenades stuck to it like ornaments on a Christmas tree. "Joe, what'd I s-"

"You said no guns," Joe replied smugly. "You didn't a damn thing about grenades. You better be happy that I left the flamethrower down there, too. Didn't say nuthin about flamethrowers eit-"

"I know, I know," J.W. replied, exasperated. His attention turned back to the woman. "Little Joe here is gonna take you back to your room, but I'm gonna need to ear a little about yourself before you go anywhere."

J.W. scoffed as the woman demanded the information. "If you've got enough brass to think you're entitled to that information, then why not," he said. "My name is Johnathan Winthrope, J.W. for short, and I'm the captain of this boat. This boat happens to be the Artful Dodger, a Series 4 Firefly freighter that has just undergone a serious overhaul, as you can see. The people around you are Little Joe Ezekiel-"

"Public relations," the gargantuan man stated flatly as he pulled the toothpick from his teeth.

"-Henrietta Jacobson, our beautiful pilot and somewhere around here we've got-"

"Zhi Huang," came a voice at the door, "but you can call me Zee. I'm the man that keeps the baby going. Speaking of which, J.W., the quick take-off made the generators go into overtime. The engine room is so hot that I think I got scalded just a bit."

J.W. chuckled at the redness that covered the man's face. "Yeah, just a bit," he said through the laughter. "What do we need to do about the generators?"

"Let 'em cool down, I 'spose," Zee responded. "Long as we drift for about an hour, we should be alright to get going again." J.W. nodded and turned back to Henri.

"I'm about ten steps ahead of you, captain," she said, cutting the auto-pilot and the power to the engine. "With the drift, we should be in good enough range of Persephone to make it there by morning."

"Sounds like a plan," J.W. said. "So, to answer your second question, we're going to Persephone. Joe, take her to her cabin and make sure she's comfortable. We'll get supplies in when we dock, so we'll make sure to get the pretty lady some fitting clothes so she doesn't have to tear up that pretty dress of hers."

The rest of the night went off without a hitch and everyone hit their pillows without so much as another word about their newest crew member. J.W. was the last to his bunk and was definitely the last to finally fall asleep. His time in the Alliance had stressed physical conditioning, no matter if all he did was captain a boat. Two-hundred push-ups and one thousand sit-ups before bed every night, no matter what. By the end of it all, the light burned his eyes and his mind swam in the drowsiness, but he forced his way under the sheets and into his bed. Seconds later, his eyes shut tightly and sleep finally took him.

The sleep was rough and filled with dreams of the massacre from the day before, but it at least it was something. He'd spent nearly three days before awake helping Mal plan the attack, but it just wasn't in the stars, was it? He wondered if Mal was even still alive, but it was close to an impossibility in his eyes.

The next morning, the lights in his cabin snapped on and his eyes fluttered open. "Wake up, Cap," a sing-song voice filled his ears from all around. "We're beginning docking procedures and heading into Persephone right as we speak."

"Thank you, Henri," he said, his voice muffled by his pillow. "I'll be up there in just a few minutes...." His eyes started to close again, but Henri just chuckled over the speaker.

"Fine then," she said. "Three, two...one-"

Three loud bangs radiated from the area above the ladder into his cabin and suddenly there was Joe's voice. "Do as the lady says or I'm gonna drop a flashbang down there and wake your ass up myself, gorramit."

"Liu kou shui de biao zi he hou zi de ben er zi," he yelled before sitting up in bed. "I'm up, I'm up. Now get the hell away from my door before I open up an airlock up there!"



The door dropped and the sunlight and dust meeting his face, making him shield his eyes. He wore his brown coat and a white button-down shirt, a red bandanna tied around his neck. He turned his head and smirked at his crew. "Welcome to Persephone, boys and girls," he said, his voice raised over the clamoring crowds that walked past. "Henri, Zee, it's your turn to find us some passengers so we can make a little bit of cash on this trip. Joe, Sally, you're coming with me: We've got some shopping to do."

“Why can’t I stay with you Simon? I’m sure Reynolds will understand, you know I have nowhere else to go!” Her voice was frantic, and her eyes were wide as a doe before the final shot. Theo had been certain that after their quick to flight fleeing of and on the Serenity that perhaps the crew that had saved her would be sympathetic to her cause. Instead they were dumping on her some the God forsaken border planet known as Persephone.

The otherwise bright brunette who had accompanied Simon and Theo to the docks, now stood with her arms crossed frigidly to her front and with her eyes narrowed irritably. “The capt’n don’t care and neither do I.” She added under breath. “Simon we’ve got bigger fish a fryin’ here than some ornery pretty thing from your past! We need to get while the gettin’s still good.” It was no news to Theo that Kaylee felt threatened by her presence, but what was between her and her former was nothing more than what a brother and sister would feel for one another.

And it seemed like everyone but the Kaylee herself, knew this.

He rolled his eyes, his lashes fluttering as he turned back to Theo, his hand apologetically encompassing hers as like it had when they were still but two school children. “I wish you could Theo, but Kaylee has a point. Mal isn’t particularly fond of strangers on his boat who haven’t earned their passage. Believe me. Besides right now we’re in direct line of the Alliance’s fury and I can’t get you mixed up in all this.”

Theo gaped lightly and flung her free hand in the air, “Take a look around Simon, I already am! I have been since the start of this, since before even you two were involved and I’ve never been able to turn my back. You know that.”

“Theo you left so long ago,” he whispered lowly, releasing her hand. “I can’t hardly say that I do know you anymore. I’m sorry. As soon as it’s safe I’ll send you a wave. Until then…just be careful. Please Theo.”

Returning the present, Theo Kinsley found herself sitting on some crate next to a coop of chickens. She’d been so wrapped up in her thoughts that she hadn’t even noticed that people were starring at her. How long had she been sitting there? How long had she even been on Persephone now? Not too long, or at least not long enough. Or was that even why they were starring at her? Lifting her gaze from the multitude of decorative bracelets that encompassed her right wrist, Theo found that a goat had wandered over to her and was happily snacking on the long brown coat that fell well down her sides. The coat wasn’t even hers, in fact she wasn’t entirely certain whose it was but regardless for some reason Simon had handed it to her before they took off back to the black.

Maybe it had been Zoe’s, she wondered.

Standing and struggling to reclaim the bit of cloth that the small farm animal seemed all too reluctant to release, she furrowed her brow. “Bu lang bu you!” she exclaimed finally freeing herself from the clenches of the ever menacing little beast. It neighed at her and she hissed back like some feral cat. Nearby someone laughed, and a blush crept up her neck and spread about her face like wild fire. Since when had she settled for being seen as some crazy lady hissing at a goat?

“You got a problem, hun?” Her green eyes smoldered as she turned sharp on her heel and challenged the one who’d laughed.

“Well I’m not exactly the one hissin’ at a goat, now am I?”

"Stop being an asshole to her, Joe," J.W. chided as the giant man caught up to him. "Just because she's new doesn't mean that you can haze her, and I mean it." Joe rolled his eyes and chuckled at the captain. There was something about being out in the open that seemed to make them all a little bit happier. Hell, J.W. even cracked a bit of a smile.

"You're just sweet on her, boss," Joe replied. "She's done went and got your motor running on high ain't she?" Joe's chest shook with laughter as he brought a hand up to wipe a tear from his eyes. "Well alright, Cap. I'll leave your little girlfriend alone. You must've spent waaaaay too much time with Mal on Hera, because his little soft spot for Inara must've rubbed off on you."

"What the hell are you talking about, Joe," J.W. exclaimed. "She's not a Companion or anything, and I'm not sweet on her or anybody else for that matter." Joe faked a gasp.

"Not even for me," he asked. "You heartless bastard!" Another bout of laughter and then the smile left his face. "I dunno, Cap....Why else would we have some dolled up femme fatale in with us if she wasn't close to Inara or someone else?"

"Just shut it, Joe," J.W. stated flatly. "Keep walking."



Why was he always the one that had to try and sucker people into getting on board? Zee sighed and ran a hand through his hair, not caring about the grease that covered his tanned skin. He looked over at Henri and shook his head, but she only laughed at him. Zee smiled and pulled down the zipper on the front of his coveralls and pulled the top down, letting the upper half of the suit hang down at his waist.

Minutes passed with no signs of anyone interested, so he took a seat and just watched the people that passed. A woman caught his attention as she fought with a goat nearby. He laughed out loud and moved to point her out to Henri, but the woman turned to him, a blush covering her cheeks.

“You got a problem, hun?”

"Well," he said, "I'm not the one hissin' at a goat, now am I?" He chuckled and moved closer to her, waving the goat away from her as he neared. "I'll tell you what, how's about I get you offa this rock so that goat won't be able to bother you anymore? It'll jus' cost you a little bit of money, and you'll be riding nicely on the Artful Dodger."

"Well, let's see," he said, a mischievous smile crossing his face, though he kept his gaze focused in front of him. "We're going to need food, clothes, tools and...maybe some more firepower. Gotta be prepared after what happened on Hera."

He could have sworn that he'd seen the scowl vanish from Joe's face at the mention of weapons, but he couldn't be entirely sure. People were avoiding them like the plague as they moved through the streets. Fingers were pointing, gasps were heard but he didn't really care. Every so often, another brown coat would be seen and smiles or nods would be exchanged. Simple things like that were what made his day, and he couldn't let them down. He wasn't entirely sure what they'd do, but he had to figure out something.

The Alliance wasn't getting away scotch free for what they did.

They neared a mess of cargo crates piled around each other, with cloth tarps covering the center. "Cap," Joe said, "you sure Badger is our best bet in this instance? That punk isn't the cleanest man we know in this area."

"That's because he's a criminal, Joe," J.W. replied. "And we're just going to have to deal with it because we've got no time to stop anywhere else right now: The Alliance is probably high-tailing it around the Verse looking for anyone in a brown coat."

"Aye, sir," Joe said, sighing. J.W. stopped and turned to Sally.

"I need you to go fill up on as much food you can get with 500 platinum. After that, you've got 250 platinum to get clothes with," he said plainly. "Joe and I are going to go and get this done as quickly as possible. Be careful and stay low."

“I beg your pardon?” Wide eyed and flabbergasted, Theo folded her arms across her chest and looked around sheepishly. “I hate to break it to ya, but I’m not exactly the Companion type. I appreciate your…help,” She waved at the now fleeing goat and continued. “But why in the Verse do you think that I would be willing to place good money on a lame mule? I mean just because the little flea bag was having away at my coat like some kid at a corn fair, don’t mean I’m all that incapable of fending for myself. Not that I should have too of course, just desperate times calls for desperate situations, and desperate situations calls for acts of desperation…”

Theo looked away thoughtfully, her tone having gone from harsh to indecisive faster than a flash of lightening. If she took the offer maybe they could help her. Maybe she could use them to locate Serenity and Simon and possibly see about turning Mal’s head in her favor. She didn’t like being manipulative but where else did she possibly have to go? Seeing Simon like that again reminded her of her sisters, and shortly after she left Ariel so did her family so now she had no sort of notion as to where they might have gone too. It was like she no longer had a family, and that feeling wasn’t the best of feelings in the world to feel. It felt worse than a knife in the heart.

“What was the name of your boat again?” Theo asked then. “The Hurtful Rodger? Was it? How much would you say I’d have to pay to get aboard?”

The long and winding pathway through the cargo crates made J.W. a little disoriented, but he kept his pace with Joe till they met an armed guard in the threshold of a makeshift door that led into a makeshift room. Men stood around the room like silent sentries waiting for their marching orders. Towards the back, a smallish man sat behind a cluttered desk, a stack of Alliance credits shuffling between his hands like a deck of cards in the care of a gifted Pharaoh dealer. The armed man took a shoulder-width stance in front of them, proudly displaying the weapon across his chest.

"Who are you," the man asked. "The boss ain't got any appointments with anybody today."

"Trust me, big boy," J.W. said, smiling. "He's gonna want to hear from me. I've got an offer for him that he might like to hear about." The guard glared at him briefly, but only till Joe took a step forward to stand directly beside the captain. The man's eyes widened and Joe chuckled. "Exactly," J.W. said "Now get the hell out of my way before I set Little Joe here off of his leash, shiney?"

The man growled and stepped away, letting the two pass through without so much as a second look. Other men dropped their hands to their wastes, itchy trigger fingers yearning for their skin to touch iron again. The small man behind the desk held up on single hand and they all stopped, even J.W. and Joe. "It's aw'right, boys," said the smooth British drawl that escaped the man behind the desk, "I knew Mr. Winthrope would be here to see me after what happened in Serenity Valley." He finally looked up from the mountain of cash and motioned them up a little further. They obliged.

"How'd you know we were gonna be here, Badger," J.W. said, his eyes never leaving the man.

"Well," the man said, standing from his seat to make his way around the desk, "it was either gonna be you or Mal, an' I wasn' entirely sure which of you would survive after all that. Seems as if you're the lucky man though, J.W."

"I'd hardly call what happened on Hera lucky," he said, the bitter venom evident in his voice. "Still, if it could be considered that...then yeah, I guess I am."

"No guessin' about it, mate," Badger replied. "Stronger man made it out alive, didn' he? Frankly, I'm surprised Mal made it as far as he did without gettin' himself blown up already." J.W.'s fists clenched as he heard Badger speak, but Joe was the first to move. Thus, guns were drawn. It's an odd feeling when you've got the better part of 12 pistols aimed at your face, but J.W. just gulped it down and grabbed hold of Joe's shirt, yanking him back with as much force as he could.

"Not meaning any trouble, Badger," J.W. said. "I came here with an offer that I need filled, and you're the only one I know that could get it done for me. I've got the money if you're willing to cooperate." The pistols never fell, the gunmen never losing sight of their would-be targets. Joe finally pulled away from the captain's grasp, his own gaze never leaving the Englishman.

Badger seemed interested enough in the idea of money, but he cocked his head to the side before taking a look around the room. Another wave of his hand and the guns were holstered. "I'm listenin', but this 'ad betta be a gorram good offer, or I'll have 'em kill you on the spot."

"I need guns, and lots of them," J.W. said. "I've got 1,000 platinum that says you've got some stored in unmarked crates just waiting for some sap to come and taken them off of your hands. I want to be that sap, Badger, but I need the best stuff you can give me."

"Where's the money," came the near instant question. J.W. help up a small sack, the coins jangling against one another as he moved the bag. "Well then" Badger replied, "I think I might have just the thing fer you...."

"The Hurtful Rodger?" The corners of the man's eyes wrinkled as he smiled. "Well as far as I’m concerned it’s hardly painful – unless you’re on the receivin’ end of one of our guns – and I must admit that I’m a might disappointed in not I havin’ had the pleasure of meetin’ this Rodger fellow. What about you Henri? You ever met ‘im?” He asked. The blonde beside him rolled her eyes nonchalantly and shrugged, “Reckon not. Hardly matters seein’ as how it’s not the name of our boat. I believe you meant the Artful Dodger?” She corrected.

Zee scoffed and placed his hands over his left breast feigning hurt, “Your words do offend the dearly deceased. Rodger is for shamed!” He said and bowed his head. Henri pretended not to hear him and Theo only mustered an offhanded glance before shaking her head.

“Whatever the name, or its name sake, it was a simple question.” She countered coolly. “How much for a room and board off this damnable rock? I haven’t much but what I can’t supply, I can make up for in services.”

“Hey now! I thought you said you weren’t a Companion?” He interrupted quickly, wide eyed, with a crooked smile.

“Yeah and I thought you said it was ‘hardly painful,’ yet it seems that every time you get to openin’ your trap to speak I can feel myself becomin’ dumber, and slightly more sarcastic, in the process!” Henri added, her eyes turning towards the newcomer as he stepped into the conversation. What were they holding some sort of fair now or something? Zee had been stupid to open his mouth in the first place and she could only imagine what J.W. would say when they came back to find two new members of the Dodger.

"Ain't never heard a boat named anything like that before, but I got money for passage, you be willing." The newcomer said gruffly.

"But we haven't even set a price yet!" Zee exclaimed softly.

Theo met the gaze of the man beside her and shrugged turning back to Zee, "Well regardless it appears you've got yourself two new passengers. If'n that's a problem I'm sure we could always take our business elsewhere but I doubt that'd be the case. Oh, and for the record," She added. "I'm not a companion. I'm a doctor. I'm not sure if that's more or less the same thing in your opinion nor do I entirely care, just clearin' the air that way when you come creepin' in my room some night you know fair and well that I'm liable to shoot that head of yours clean of your shoulders. Dong ma?"

Turning and gathering her bag, Theo looked then to Henri who extended her arm in an 'after you' sort of manner, and together the two headed off towards the Firefly leaving a gawking yet enthusiastic Zee behind with the other man. "You know I've always wanted to make it with doctor." He smiled and thudded his arm against Leon's chest. "I wonder what she looks like wrapped in bedsheets..."

One of Badger's men drove the ATV out of their little hideout, Joe and J.W. ride along in the trailer that it pulled behind it. His eyes scanned the crowd in the dimming sunlight and then his gaze fell back onto Joe, a smile finally on his face. "What're you grinnin' 'bout, Cap," Joe said, chuckling. J.W. shrugged and craned his neck trying to catch a view of the Dodger. He could barely see Henri and some new person walking back onto the ship together and then Zee with someone else. Looks like they'd found some passengers, which was good.

"I don't know," J.W. said, finally resettling. "I guess it just seems like it's all working out for right now. Now all we have to do is get the hell off of this rock and find someone else...."

"I don't think Serenity made it off of Hera, sir, and I know you're talkin' 'bout Mal when you say someone like that," Joe said. J.W. nodded and closed his eyes tightly, trying his best to push the idea of Serenity laying in pieces on Hera out of his mind. He leaned forward and pecked the driver on the shoulder to get his attention.

"Gun it, friend," he said. "I want to get my boat out of atmo as soon as possible." The driver nodded and laid down on the throttle, speeding through the clearing streets of of the city.



Four large crates, each one packed to the brim with ever kind of weapon and ammunition imaginable. J.W. threw up a small wave as the driver backed the ATV and trailer out of the ship. "Lock it up, Zee," he called out from the second level of the cargo bay. He scanned the faces around him, accounting for everyone that he could: Zee was closing everything up in the back, Joe was inspecting the weapons crates, Sally was checking through the crates she'd bought and the passengers...well....They were just there, really.

"I'd like to welcome all of the new faces onto the Artful Dodger. My name is Johnathan Winthrope and this is my boat. In laymen's terms, I'm running this tin can and I'm in charge. The trip shouldn't be a terrible one, and we'll drop you off wherever you need to go unless it's in the middle of Reaver space or anywhere that we need a Companion to land. Fare is 100 platinum each. Joe and Zee will show you to your rooms, but in the mean time....Just...I'unno....Chat personably?"

He turned and walked out of the cargo bay and made his way towards the bridge, his mind nowehre in particular.

As the captain and everyone else filed back onto the Dodger, Theo distanced herself and played with the fringed edges of one of her sleeves. Her mind was racing a mile a minute and she couldn't seem to join everyone else as the gathered around J.W. and listened to his cookie cutter introduction. The mention of payment seemed to be the only thing that brought her attention back to the group and she made a mental notation to catch the captain later and see if more practical arrangements could be made. Just as everyone began wandering off Theo made to go after the captain when the other woman she did not know approached her and introduced herself.

Theo looked around as the woman approached her, and folded her arms across her chest, "Um, I'm Theo," She smiled taking in the woman. "Theo Kinsley. No offense, and all, but I need to catch a word with the cap'n, so if you'll please excuse me. "

She didn't want to be rude but it was better to catch the captain now before the Firefly took off rather than risk being stranded on a more desolate planet. Theo wasn't sure what sort of man he was, but she had a notion that he was more of a shoot first ask questions later sort of guy.

"Excuse me," She called coming up a ways behind him. "J.W.? I was hoping I could talk to you for a minute?"

He stopped and turned to look at the woman that had followed him from the cargo hold. His eyes scanned over her and he nodded. "I reckon I've got enough time to stop for a spell," e said, leaning against a nearby wall. "You know, it's been a while since I've seen that color on anyone weren't carrying a rifle. I'm guessing you've got a reason for practically begging the Alliance to kill you, am I right?"

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a hand-rolled cigarette, sticking the end of it in his mouth and lighting it slowly with a lighter he'd concealed in his shirt pocket. One long drag was all he needed before he started the questioning again. "You're looking for a job, but I've got a full crew and no need for a second of anything. Unless you can convince me, you're gonna get off of my boat as soon as I can get you off of it."

x

Raising a brow the dark haired woman forced a smile and, while lacing her fingers together in front of her, spoke softly, "This color and those who wear it represent a sort of hope that many have given up on Mr. Winthrope. We live in a totalitarian based society where he who has power is mighty but those who have none? Who's to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves?" She paused her gaze flickering elsewhere as if her thoughts were not concurrent before finding his once more. "I joined the war out of spite and anger, but I stayed because when all's said 'n done at the end of the day, the Alliance just don't give a gorram about anyone but themselves. I stayed because I cared."

Shifting then, and rolling her eyes in the process Theo twisted her arm with ease towards her lower back and just as quickly as her hand had disappeared it had reappeared with 9 MM revolver; the barrel a stunning silver while the handle was smooth black. Truth was the gun had hardly ever been used to it was in tip condition. And aside from the engravings on the handle beginning to wear away from being put and taken from the waste line of the back of her pants, it looked it as well. "It may not be no rifle, but it sure as hell gets the job done. Which, speaking of job," She replaced the gun in it's spot. "Maybehaps you do have all the typical components of a crew and I'm not looking to take anyone's job, just give you an option or two when things are lookin' grim. I studied at some of the finest schools on Ariel and although I never made it to full medical in the sense that I never took a job before leaving home, I am more than qualified at what I do."

A smile crept up around the cigarette and he chuckled. "A medic," he said, shaking his head slowly. "Well, miss, I've got to say that you've got me stuck 'twixt a rock and a pretty damn nice place to be, because I might just have a place for you yet." His eyes drifted to a button on the wall, his hand drifting from his waist to the wall to press the button. "Joe," he said sternly.

"That'd be my name, Cap," a deep voice called out through the speakers around him. J.W. could hear the sounds of the other two chattering in the background somewhere, but he couldn't here Zee. Eh, he was probably checking some of the mechanics out around the cargo bay. "What do you need, sir?"

"I need you to get up to the bridge and help miss," he turned and looked at the woman that stood before him and frowned. "Well...the other miss that ain't Sally or Henri."

"You really give me confidence about being on your crew when you talk like that, Cap," Joe replied. "I'll be right up, sir."

J.W. let go of the button and started on his way towards the bridge once again, not even tossing a look towards her. "Follow me, darlin'," he said. "You'll need to wait up here with me till Joe can take you to get situated."