Greeting the morning (open)

[Deleted]

0715 Hours April 16th 2582

Outfit

Kalli had been awake for the last three hours. She had slept horrible, barely sleeping at all really, and how could she. It had been what almost four years that she had been on a ship where she shared a room. Last night though Elijah had been on guard duty since something like zero-two hundred. Kalli had grown to used to having someone else around especially Elijah.

So she did what any reasonable woman would do. First lay there for a few hours trying to get back to sleep. When that failed it was time for plan B. She went to work finding what to wear and doing her hair for the day. That had carried her through till about six in the morning. She had hoped Elijah would have made it back by than to give her someone to talk to but that had not panned out, and with that it was time for plan C.

Plan C was simply to start cleaning and organizing their room. Well kalli never was one to let her room be much of a mess so cleaning turned to organizing And that turned looking through thing (snooping some might say). There wasn't much to hide really but it did lead her to an old picture of the pair in Elijah's collection of photos. It was the two of them back in high school on Haven sitting out in front of Sidney's old ship. She could remember how close they were back before Sidney died. It was sad to think about how things had changed. It wasn't like they weren't close now but it was different. Things had changed so much back then.

Kalli stood up and stuffed the picture in her pocket and walked out of the room and down the hall. The smell of fresh made food filled the halls pulling her toward the galley. Kalli walked in with and slumped down in to an open chair laying her head down on to the table that filled the center of the room. Muffled through her arms she spoke. "Morning Jericho. How's everyone doing this morning?" she asked but with little heart behind it. Her head popped back up when she heard the sounds of coffee dripping in to the pop. That was exactly what she needed right now, something to put a bit of spunk back in her step.

[Deleted]

The Digs

Jericho woke up bright and early, stretching and crawling out of bed in a groggy state. Despite what most of the crew thought Jeri did not wake up in the jolly happy mood they saw each morning. No, in fact, Jeri woke up disgruntled and unapproachable. The darling 20 year old woman was not someone you wanted to meet on her way to take a shower. Before her morning routine she was positively morose. But seeing as she was the cook Jeri was usually the only person up at this ungodly hour. And once she'd gone through the process of showering and getting ready for her day she was back to her jolly ol' self. Thus the mornings processions could begin.

Jericho hummed to herself, dancing around the kitchen and galley as per her usual morning routine. This was about the time that the early risers would be making an appearance. Most of her beloved crew didn't seem to like mornings much, but there were those that always seemed make an appearance. So she proceeded to make the table and cook up that mornings menu. Thankfully supplies had been on the cheaper side of things so she had splurged just a tiny bit. The auburn haired chef went about the counters and tables setting out the choices. Pancakes stacked nearly as high as the ceiling, sausage links, bacon strips, a station where she could make omlettes, as well as a few various things. There were also home made muffins, jams, and the like spread across every surface.

Jericho Montgomery did not disappoint.

She grinned widely at Kalli as she came in, pushing one of her two braids off her shoulders. "Mornin' dollface." She said sweetly. "Ah ain't seen you up this early ina whahle." She commented, pouring freshly brewed coffee into a cup and handing it to her. "Ya got a large variety this mornin', and yous tha first perons in this mornin' ain't that a peach?" She beamed, pouring herself her own cup of coffee. She retrieved the milk and sugar setting them on the bar and stirring some into her own cup'o'joe. "You ain't havin' trouble sleepin are ya?" She asked, concern leaking into her voice. Jericho was like the mamabear among the crew, despite the fact that she was treated like everyones kid sister. She didn't mind much, they were all family to her.

[Deleted]

Elijah had been dismissed from watching over Keller's room early and had made his way down to the chow hall. He had been up all night and was ready for a good meal followed by a few hours of shut eye to get him ready for the day. Normally he would have already made it in to the galley by now sitting down with a cup of coffee while he waited for Jeri to finish up breakfast.

Running now forty-five minutes behind his usual day and on no sleep he was dragging more than normal. By the time he reached the great big room Kalli had already made it there and look to be in as sad of shape as Elijah. He didn't say a word just went straight for the coffee pot and poured himself and Kalli a cup like he did every morning.  

With the miss matched set, of coffee cups steaming Elijah walked over and slapped one cup, a floral printed one, on the table to Kallis right. Then the other in place in front of the chair next to her. Having not heard what had been said just moments before his entrance he spoke up. "Mornin' Jeri how ya hangin' in there this morning?" After Jericho replied Elijah turned and smiled at Kalli. 

"Kalli ya look like hell, ya have a bad high or something'?" He could still see the bags under her eye. He knew she wasn't the most energetic morning person but he couldn't I'll this was more than normal. He reached over and wrapped his arm around her and pulled her in for a hug. "Cheer up well be on Sweethome soon and we can get some fresh air there. Elijah said as if he knew for sure that was the issue.

[Deleted]

Vitale had been up for over an hour, and so far hadn't gotten past the gym in the cargo bay. He and Del' Rio had done a three miler on the deck, and while many might imagine that flat run as something to scoff at, Charles and Vitale were no slouches. They had set up the extra crates some weeks ago, and used them like hills, hills that were only three feet across, and required one to jump two feet at the time. Before the run, they'd done minor strength training, concentrating primarily on arms. But weights had been the day before, or would have been, had they had the time. Today, it was cardio, and man, that was some run. Ollie had joined them at the start of the run, but he always kept the same slow stride, and mostly kept his headset in, so there was no talking to the man in the mornings. Vitale's light clothes were wet from perspiration, and his hair was slicked back, or as much as it could be when kept so short. Unlike some of the crew, the mechanics in particular, Davis preferred that his fighters stay in shape, and nothing kept the body young like good old fashioned exercise. Vi had already drank two bottlefulls of water, as had Del' Rio, and the two had decided to grab breakfast together. On the way up, Del' Rio grabbed his clipboard and started going through the day's plans, telling Vitale what they needed to knock out before Sweethome the next day.

"Yew gotta get eh torpedoes squared 'way 'gain," Del' Rio was saying, as he handed Vi the clipboard. Vi flipped the first page, this all looked like diognastic stuff. Great, so much for getting Lewis to help.

"What is this, an update," He asked looking at walls of code on the pages.

"Yea, hit's eh latest clearances. 'ust check eh numbas, standad fare."

"Why again? We just did this what, two months ago," Vi said irritated, not at Charles, just at the bureaucratic crap he was sure was the answer.

"Yeah tell me abo't it," Charles answered, "Down't feel too bad 'bout it, oi 'ad to pry 'at out of ah three 'our wave yestiday."

"Who do I get with me," Vi asked.

"Who did ja wont?" Del' Rio answered.

Vitale's answer was it's own explanation. Inputting codes for explosives, easy button! "Uh, I'll take Rio and Desmond."

Del' Rio smiled as the elevator stopped, "No can do brotha, Davy's got 'em both loc'ed up in 'he armarie for the day."

"Shit," Was Vitale's logical reply.

"Yew kin 'ave Lewis," Del' Rio joked, as Vitale flipped to the last page, smirking unsatisfied. So much for fast and easy. Under the last page was an indention about the size of a standard photograph. Vi flipped the page out of the way to see what it was, and found himself staring at a sight he'd long since forgotten. "Where'd you dig this up from?" Del' Rio smiled, and nodded at it, as Luther called, "Charles!" from down the hall, almost as soon as the doors had slid open.

"Does he have a GPS up your piqu or something," Vitale said under his breath.

Del' Rio breathed out exasperated and also said under his breath, "I guess... Yeah 'Old on Vandy!" He said, adding, "Wankar," under his breath again before going to see what was up. He hollared over his shoulder as he walked away, "Don't loose me clipbored mate!"

"Yeah I got you," Vi answered pulling the picture free from the board, and walking into the galley holding it out. It was an old picture with the words 'Truxchild' scribbled on the front in red ink, and bunched together so tight, they were really one word. Vi smiled as he remembered the moment. He saw Elijah at the table, and asked, "Dude, you remember this?" That was about the time that Jeri saw him, and ran straight at him for their morning ritual. Vi braced for impact, and Jeri smashed into him squealing all the way, mid air, wrapping against him. It was one-in-three odds that she would simply cling to him and force him to carry her, which was today's occurrence. "Gooood morning shorty!" he said, folding his arm around, and dragging her to his back, then pulling her against his sweat, so she'd regret it. About a half second passed before hands were swinging as she saw the picture in his hand, "Oh look at ma sweet baby Trux. Ain't he just grown so muuuuuch! Ah could just snuggle 'im all day."

Vi's hands were fast, but 'grabbies' hands were faster, she got her hand on it, and nearly ripped it, before he bit her arm until she released. They pointed at each other at the same time with stern faces. "Don't touch it." Followed by, "Yew're no tha' boss uh me."

She made one last attempt at the pic, before Vitale got it to Elijah. He and Eli shared a moment of silent humor, as Jeri asked the question, "Wha's tha' joke darlin?"

"It's the dog,"

"Trux?"

"It's not Trux," Eli started to explain, but Vitale cut him off in a loud voice, sounding like his best impression of the Captain when he was excited.

"Trux Is On High Alert Gorramit! Get Yur Asses In Gear!" Eli laughed right away, and followed it up with "That's the sign son!" in his own impression of Davis, and Vitale repeated him even louder, and they both thought that this was more funny than the last bit. As they died down to chuckling, Vi started walking towards the door, only stopping long enough to snatch up one of the two cups of coffee in front of Kalli, and nodding to the zombie eye'd greasemonkey, "Sup lil' bit." With that, he hauled Jericho out with him, heading to the bridge to see if Davis was about yet, and try to pawn off this coding job to anyone else. He hollered one last time towards Eli, "That's The Sign Son!"

[Deleted]

Desmond had been awake for hours, he'd already done his turn in the gym, showered, and had been in the armory for a while. Davis had told him to get some rest, and he had, but he hadn't had enough. He'd figure out what work they needed to get done today, then push the rest off till later. Rio would appreciate that he was sure. There was something about that woman too, he always enjoyed working with her.. He wished he could just put his finger on what it was. Course, if his finger got close, the rest of him would too... Best to end this trail of thought here while everything was still set for him to eat breakfast in front of the impressionable youths.

Dez arrived in the galley with enough time to hear Vitale yell; "Trux Is On High Alert Gorramit! Get Yur Asses In Gear!" Which did nothing more than cause Desmond to start laughing right along with Eli. As Vitale was leaving, he yelled right back over to him "That's the sign son!" Chuckling under his breath, he poured himself a cup of tea before grabbing a plate and starting to load it with food. "I had almost forgotten that job, what brought this up?" He managed to ask shortly before he started digging into his food.

Desmond rolled his neck before looking back down at his food and digging in, he couldn't help but wonder how annoyed Davis would be if he and Rio avoided their work and had fun instead. Two demolitions experts locked in an armory... It was almost like the start of a joke, which one would come out alive? Would either come out again? How many explosions does it take to reach the center of the ship? These were questions better left unanswered for the time being... They had jobs to do.. And decompression was a very bad thing he was told.

[Deleted]

For a moment as Jericho spoke Kalli eyed the coffee with all her will as if by some mysterious all powerful force it was simply going to levitate over to her. O moment passed and Jericho had finished speaking and it was time for kalli to give in on her futile efforts and accept the coffee would have to wait till she was ready to get it or Elijah showed up. "Not to much trouble sleeping just getting back to sleep after Elijah Got up at two this morning."

Kalli flung her head backover the rear of her chair dramatically. Just as she readied,to go in to more detail of her morning she looked back and saw Elijah had come in and was getting her coffee. She smiled as he walked over with the two cups and set them down in front of her. Her hand slide across the table as she too in the aroma with a deep breath. Her smile was replaced with his comment about her looking like hell.

"Elijah! Don't be an ass." Kalli said as she slapped him on the arm. Just then Vitals came in the room raising quiet the commotion over some picture that at first she though was trux. Once he noted that Elijah was there she realized the puppy in the picture was to small to have been Trux after they had joined the crew. None the less as the three men laughed about it and Kalli had no idea what was going on Kalli looked between them waiting for someone to reveal what the story was behind the picture.

"What's so funny about the picture? Come on what did I miss?" She said loud enough for all of them to hear. Just as she turned to Desmond to demand answers Vitals kidnapped her coffee cup drawing her attention to him for a quick icy glare as her hand reached over and to Elijah's cup. "Desmond come on what's the story?

[Deleted]

Elijah laughted at Kalli's excitement about hearing the story. He sat there and smiled a moment while she asked Dez for the scoop on it all in her usual excited way. Just before Desmond had a chance to speak up though Elijah jumped in and started telling it all. Dez would have his reasons to keep it brief but Elijah planed to cover it all. "Simma down Kalli I'll get ya all caught up. So this was like just a few months after we got here and we were out on this shit-hole of a world, out in the middle of no where."

Elijah looked at Desmond before continuing, then stood up as he really got in to the story. "You remember that guy Davis had us workin for? We were all just there waitin for 'im to figure out what he wanted us ta be doing." Elijah threw his hands up in the air as he told the next part, doing his best impression of the old bearded man. "Davis' your men are sittin round jus' jaw jacket an' watchin your useless guard dog. There's your sign son. There's your sign."

They had been sitting there listening to to Roger and Mr. Whats-his-face talk about their job. Which mainly consisted of him complaining about anything and everything they were doing. It appeared Charles, who had just walked in as Elijah was giving his best impression of the old man. remembered that day also.

Charles belted from across the room "Trux is on high alert gorramit. Get off your asses."

Elijah laughed along with Charles as he showed the picture with 'Truxchild' scribbled across it to kalli. "Remember how Vi told us about Trux and how he shit in Dez's room... you remember that right Dez?" Elijah was laughing all the while between each word. "Well the little dog was the highlight of the job. Everyone was feeding him and constantly mess with him. Hell he even slept with this orphan dog right at the foot of Roger's cot. Well that first night we kept 'im, he got up and shit right there next to Dez's cot and boom! The next morning Dez gets up and steps right in it."

Elijah jumped up on to his chair grabbing Desmond's hat as he did and placing it on his head before starting in on his best Desmond impression. "Hump this dog, he's the gorram illegitimate child of Trux." Elijah said it loud enough that even Vi and Jericho who had left a moment ago would still be able to hear it.

"And that my friend is how Truxchild got his name." Elijah nearly feel from his vantage point from a combination of laughing and Desmond grabbing hold of him and stealing his hat back.

[Deleted]

Desmond was about to start telling the story, when Eli broke in and started telling it in his place. The smith leaned forward on the table and smiled as he started. "I still say he wanted us to find the gorram stick up his pigu." He stated with a laugh, putting his tea back on the table before he spilled it all over the table. Dez couldn't stop the laugh when the sign comment came around, that was always the best part of the story as far as he was concerned. "There's your sign alright. Yi Dwei Da Buen Chuo Roh." Despite the name calling he was still laughing his ass off.

Dez couldn't help but laugh at remembering stepping in the crap, it hadn't been funny at the time, but it was now. He still shuddered slightly at the memory, "To this day, I still check the floor before I get out of bed." Of course Elijah had to go and ruin the joke. He grabbed Desmond's hat, worse yet he put it on and imitated him. This was now war. He barely let the man get his mocking out of the way before he grabbed his hat back. "And you have just started a war you can't hope to win." With that Desmond grabbed his tea and his food and left the galley.

Desmond was already plotting his revenge, no one but himself and Rio touched the hat. And she didn't even realize why she was allowed to touch the hat without Dez vowing revenge. Desmond was a man you wanted at your side, not plotting behind your back. He could invent one device to embarrass you ten times and hide it so it would never be found. And then Rio would help make it worse. They were the best team ever, Elijah was about to find out the hard way that this mistake was one he would never want to make again.

[Abigail Gunn]

Gunn felt like a prisoner who'd just been pardoned from death row walking past her victims. It had occurred to her to feel guilty in the lies before, but it had felt like a necessary evil for which she'd never have to answer. This marked the first time she felt really and truly exposed, that she was now known as a sham. It wasn't so much humiliating as uncomfortable. Most of the crew wouldn't know that she was outed, but she did, and in her knowing, she could project that onto everyone else. Smiles now seemed to lack genuine intent. Such was the burden of a guilty conscience.

To beat it all, there sat the very man who'd guarded her through the night, laughing and joking. Her mood wasn't particularly jovial when she followed Captain Davis out of her room and into the populated galley, but she faked a smile and nodded in Elijah's direction. No hard feelings between guardian and guarded, at least on the side of the guarded. Her room opened right into the galley, which was normally a good thing—closer to the food, in the action, but this particular moment gave her more dread than anything.

”Morning folks,” she said, though it was a bit lackluster. Gunn had a habit of waking up early, and she had for years even before the Shoda that all the Syndicate's rippers used to stay awake. Gunn often beat her alarm clocks, to the point of rendering setting them obsolete. She had been high tension low rest for several years now. The Shoda really was a good cover for an insomniac who thought about a little too much, a little too often.

Hence the quest for vengeance, which the captain had more or less washed his hands of, on the condition that she not carry it out while under his command. That really sounded like the only issue he had with it: don't kill our paycheck while you're on my ship.

She didn't feel particularly hungry, but she settled down with a plate that was mostly proteins anyway. She would need her energy if she was going to divulge her deepest, darkest secret to the rest of the crew.

[Roger Davis]

The captain exited out onto the galley along with Gunn. Since he'd gone in to have his little chat, the crew had begun to rouse and gather. The serious and somber tone of the early meeting was contrasted greatly with the fun and joking atmosphere around the breakfast table even if Desmond was threatening revenge as they entered.

Roger wasn't sure how Gunn wanted to go about nor was he going to push her into things. Thus he approached the kitchen as if nothing was out of the ordinary, grabbing a small plate and filling it with only a muffin and a few strips of bacon before turning to sit down at the table. An approaching pitter-patter caused him to take an extra handful of bacon as Trux soon appeared from the stairwell and navigated his way toward his master.

"We'll stop at Dukkha this evening before leaving the system." he announced to no one in particular as he sat down. The Peerless wasn't a pleasure cruise, but most people liked to have some idea where they were headed. And even a few hours in port could help break the monotony of space travel. All too frequently they couldn't really enjoy a stop because they were on mission, but Dukkha would be a genuine rest stop, unterraformed and relatively lawless though it may be. Under the lax eye of the Persephone Dukkha was home to a bustling bazaar of both legal and illegal wares. Overall it was an interesting place to shop, and a dangerous place to travel alone.

[Deleted]

Vitale and his towed cook had been to the bridge and sat around for a few minutes shootin the breeze before finding out that Davis had already been through, and had gone to see about Keller, Gunn, why was it so hard to replace the name? He'd only known her a week! He had known of her though, talk travels and all, and there were a couple of guys about that had known her both in reputation and in person, but good grief. Vitale internally laughed at himself for the continuing name swap problems. At any rate, that did explain why he hadn't seen a guard at her door, although to be frank, he hadn't noticed until he thought about it. That little chat was likely to take a while, so Vi hung about the bridge a little longer, but it quickly became apparent it was a bad choice. Well, not bad, but not good either. Jericho... it's complicated, Vitale didn't mind hurting the enemy, but he didn't want to be a bad figure... okay, let's just break it down how it happened. The conversation had quickly turned to their new pickup, then moved to Desmond and Vitale's two 'inquiries' of the slaver, then despite Vi trying to change the subject numerous times, the pickup's health condition. Vi ended it there, as Jericho was listening to every word said, and he didn't want her to know some things. She wasn't a little kid, but neither was she a heartless killer, and if Vi had anything to say on the matter, she would stay that way. So when she started to show interest along the lines of topics like Patricio Corvey, that was just the final straw, and Vi decided to remove her from the bridge, and come back in a few minutes and explain, with irritation, just what was and was not proper to talk about in front of the girl.

Don't get it twisted, Jericho wasn't his daughter or his kid sister, but over the last few years, she'd sort of taken that role in his life. She looked up to him in that sense, that older brother role, and it made him feel better about himself. Petty, isn't it? But again, it was the truth. And it helped him in ways he hadn't expected, things he could never have foreseen or predicted. He enjoyed her unbreakable smile, and warm nature. On this ship of all places she was safe, and whats more, she held her innocence like a shield against all the misery that life had thrown at her. Vitale admired that about her, and every morning, every morning, she was happy not just to see everyone, but to be a part of what made them feel better about being alive. That was so completely important to him, life had more color to it, and the dark of the world just didn't exsist on this ship called Peerless. Davis had worked very hard to create an atmosphere that felt like home, and he could remember the times that he and the Captain had discussed whether or not Jericho wouldn't be better off someplace else, less dangerous, less... Well, just more befitting a girl like her. But they'd agreed that she made the place better. Hell even Ollie, who was one of the ones obliviously talking about murder, corruption and the breaking of laws, was the first to step up and help foot the bill when Jeri had asked Davis for some quote, "Real fixins ta cook." Vi tried harder to be a better man knowing that there was a young, impressionable, red headed gal who was watching and learning about the world with a Vitale filter on it. She asked him questions he didn't want to answer, talked to him about feelings for her family he wished he could take away from her. Asked his opinion about guys she liked, which made him fear them doing to her what he had done to others. She brought him a sense of foundation, and that meant he had to re-establish his foundations for her betterment. And it was because she looked up to him, and watched, and listened, and learned from him, that talking about him taking part in the torture of another man, no matter how deserving, was simply not going to happen.

So Vitale packed up his little cook, and took her back to her lair. He'd handle the repercussions later. When they got back to the galley, there were some changes. For one thing, Gunn and the Captain were out and having breakfast, so.. that was new. But also, the mood seemed different. Less, well, less enthusiastic than when he'd left it not five minutes before. And this was what he and Davis had been talking about a year or so ago, you take Jericho from the assholes for five minutes, and they turn right back into a large grumpy mess! "Captain," Vitale said, breaking the odd silence that had befallen the room, "About this re-coding deal. I gotta be honest boss," He said with a smile as he turned a chair around backwards and sat down next to the Captain. "I think it would be better if we had the experts handle it, I mean..." But before he could list off the many ingenious and practical reasons he was sure he would have come up with a moment later, the Captain shut him down.

"If I had wanted someone else to do it I wouldn't have assigned it to you." Well. Wasn't that just very Roger Davis of him? Could have at least let him finish... Vitale started to reach for the middle platter to pull the whole thing over to him, as was his custom, when Davis added, "And I need it all done by tonight. So unless that plate of bacon doubles as torpedo guidance and a cortex terminal, you should be on the move."

Vitale stopped his hand where it was and gave Davis a hard look, "What about a cortex terminal?"

"Doctor Willows' data. How's that comin?" The Captain asked looking straight through the lie Vi was fully prepared to tell about the forward progress. After reconsideration, Vi decided that he agreed, and there wouldn't be enough time to sit down for breakfast today. Or lunch. Or dinner.

"So much for the afternoon off," He grumbled standing up and grabbing a drink for the road. As he headed out to get started, he leaned down between Gunn and Kalli, and whispered in Gunn's ear for her to meet him in the torpedo room later. He didn't take the time to explain then, but he wanted to know what was going on, and what the final word was on her situation. However, he did not want to say just anything about it, and let more slip out than was necessary. As he stood, Vi happened to notice the best thing he'd seen since the end of his run, and sealed his fate with action. He snagged the plate that Kalli had just finished preparing for herself in it's fullness, and just took the whole thing with him. It was a process for the mechanic, like all things she did, and the plate was a hell of a presentation, too much to resist as it were. Not every day a pretty lass makes a plate full of Montgomery's finest bacon cuisine ripe for the taking, so one has to take advantage of special little moments like that, when one can. Kalli of course, was her usual morning self, if not a bit more chipper now that Eli was no longer armed, and presently sitting with her. Still though, she found the normally lacking morning strength, to yell at his backside as he scuttled out of the galley, her over-groomed plate of breakfast in hand.

[Deleted]

Upon entering the room once more her eyes widened at the new inhabitants. She boxed Vitales ears sternly. "Lookit! Lookit all yew made me miss!" She hollered, doing her best to look mean. It didn't work, clearly. She finally popped a grin and went about her usual hellos, starting with the Captain. Jericho approached the captain, standing at the very least a head shorter than him. The young woman saluted him before giving him a firm hug whether he wanted it or not. "Mornin' Cap!" She said in her usual chipper manner. She turned to Elijah, grinning ear to ear. "Ah heard yew all the way in the bridge, 'Lijah. But Ah missed the actual story... Yew gone have to retell it to me." Jeri nodded, as if the decision were already made for him. That being decided she peered around the room, a confused look tugging at her lips. "Ah thought Ah heard Dez." She pouted. He was also brotherly, or fatherly, whichever. He was family. So much so that to his dismay she often called him Dezzy. 

Not seeing the old grump of a man she turned her eyes back on the rooms participants. She paused on Keller. Gunn? Keller? Whatever. She flashed a bright smile at the older woman. Jericho understood the importance of family. If she were a braver sort she might have done the same thing for her daddy. But he had died in the line of duty, so it was near impossible to find his murderer. And his killer had been a soldier following orders, could she really be angry at him for killing her father?

Well... yes.

Hell, Harper was, but Harper had also already killed that particular gentleman. So problem solved. 

Jericho scurried around, checking on all the temperatures of the food. She slid a cup of coffee in front of Gunn and thought for a moment. She had a list for days like this. Jericho moved across to the kitchen, opening a drawer that had a small device with all her silly lists. Grocery lists, food allergies, recipes she liked, recipes she hated, and of course the list of everyones favorite goodies. So, naturally, she searched through for Keller.

Gunn...

Keller...

THE WOMAN OVER THERE.

She grinned upon finding it and peered into what can only be described as their fridge. And after a few moments of humming she found exactly what she was looking for. Jericho turned back towards them all, placing the cold slice of homemade pizza on a plate. "Yew want it cold darlin or ya want me to heat it up?" She asked sweetly. It was Jerichos subtle way of saying 'I get it. You're still family.' And if she didn't think Davis and the rest of the monkeys in the room wouldn't flip their shit she would have said so right then and there.

And then hugged her, regardless of whether she wanted it or not.

That sounds a little rapey.... Forced hugs.

She turned to Kalli, still grinning. You'd think her face would hurt by now... "Where was we doll? Oh rahght. Yew was talkin' 'bout sleep." She said sweetly, pouring herself another cup of coffee and starting another pot. "Ain't'chall just up all bright and early. This don't happ'n often." She teased. "Ya bunch'o'lazy bones."

[Deleted]

The Fashion

Pacifica had been up on the bridge with Nate and Ollie for the last few hours they were set in for a stop over on Dukkha. They had their course plotted in and were all set by the time the smell of breakfast made its way through the hall to her. Now Pacifica wasn't a breakfast person, in fact she skipped it all together most mornings, this morning would likely be the same. it did remind her though that she needed to stop in for a refill on her coffee. 

"Alright boys, i'll be right back, just need to refuel." She stated to the pair and then stood and walked out. She had heard a few voices coming from the galley a bit ago but the only one she could make out for sure was the boisterous sound of Elijah telling some story again. She made her way down to the galley and realized the second she walked in they were all just in there jaw jacking and having fun. Normally this would be no issue but they already had a pit stop set and in a few days they would be to their next location and making a move. She wasn't sure exactly what the future of this mission would bring but after Santo she could tell it was going to be nothing but trouble.


Pacifica's light mood changed just as Vitale was walking out the door. Elijah was laghing about whatever he had amused himself with, Kalli was just sitting around talking to Jericho and the Captain and Keller were just sitting their. Pacifica walked over quickly, limping all the way, not even stopping to get her mug refilled. "What in the hell is going on out here?" She said as she pointed to Elijah and Kalli. "I get you are sitting down for breakfast but I don't see either of you eatin. Kalli you don't even have a plate. We are on the clock. Now I don't know if you two have noticed but we are not dealing with a simple target. Now odds are we are going to be facing a serious fight ahead of us and you should be getting your shit together for a fight Elijah."

Oh she had only begun her little rampage, her attention quickly turned to Kalli with a glare. "And Kalli, if we get in to hot water and we need to get out of this situation, I expect the ship to be ready to go, have you completed your checks on the engine room? Last I knew the report wasn't turned in to the bridge, and when your done with that I am sure Vitale would love a hand as well." She didn't even wait for an answer from either of them before she moved on to the rest of the room. Lewis and Del' Marco who were both just sitting back eating. They were all here to eat so she couldn't get on them to much but that didn't mean she was going to pass them over as well. "Lewis, Del' Marco. You two finish up and get to it." Pacifica pointed over to Keller while standing in front of the two. "And what is she doing out and about, I thought she was on lock down?"

Pacifica stormed over to the coffee pot and filled her mug then looked back at the group now staring at her. "Come on now lets get to it. The captain isn't paying us all to stand around." Pacifica didn't even address Davis, he was the captain after all, what was she going to be telling him to do. Pacifica walked back to the hall down to the bridge and back to work. They could take some time fore themselves when they got to Dukkha for now they needed to be prepping. The others are just lucky they were not there as well or she really would have flipped. 
 

[Abigail Gunn]

When Jericho offered the pizza, Gunn felt two things: one appreciative, one guilty. She did take the pizza cold, though, so as not to put Jericho out anymore on her own behalf. "Thanks, Jeri." The girl always acted as though her veins were pumping sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes Gunn envied her that, as opposed to a callous and unexcitable exterior. "You're a doll."

When Vitale passed by her, he dipped in to whisper in her ear that he wanted her to meet him in the torpedo room. She felt both excited and anxious at the idea of speaking to him alone. She didn't even particularly know what she would say, but figured whatever she did, she'd just speak from the heart at the time.

Enter Hurricane Pacifica.

What? I'm out of lockdown? Someone tell the cap—oh yeah, he's here. Fancy that. It was what she thought, not what she said. She was in a much too precarious position to feel comfortable going full smartass, but watching bitchzilla ripping apart Tokyo in search of midol (the 'Verse equivalent of course) would have gotten a rise out of Keller normally. Right now, she just didn't particularly care to mince words with that hormonal force of nature. She ate faster for the interruption, though, lest the woman counter the captain's orders and try to put her back under guard.

”I got somewhere I gotta be.” She said somewhat briefly, leaving behind a finished pizza and barely touched proteins. She gave a polite nod to the group and headed out after Vitale. They had some things to discuss. However it went, it would just have to go that way; otherwise, her stomach would be in knots until they were alone to hash it out... or whatever Vitale's intentions were.

[Deleted]

"Just doin' ma job, sweetheart." Jericho replied, grinning that lopsided grin at Gunn. She had turned back to Kalli until Pacifica entered. And suddenly the sweet hearted Jericho that everyone knew and love vanished. If there was anything that could turn the tiny woman into a spitfire it was that kind of attitude. She understood Pacifica meant well. She meant for them to get a move on and perform as all good soldiers did. But no one, and I mean no one, came into Jericho Montgomery's kitchen/galley and did that. She was surprised that after all these years the Operator had done so. And she could be so very petty for a grown woman.. or mostly grown woman.

Okay she was a child in many sorts.

Jericho approached Pacifica like she would any of the crew. Except she looked about as pissed off as a mama bear guarding her cubs. "Yew best be darn mad to come in MA galley act'n a fool Miss Alexander." First sign she was ticked, not calling her Pacifica or whatever other pet name she'd devised. They all had one. "Now.. Ah get you's just tryna make sure everythin is ship shape. But HOW DARE YOU." She snapped coldly, those usually bright cornflower blue eyes taking a darker hue. They swirled with the rage the young woman felt like the clouds of a hurricane building into their destruction. "HOW DARE YOU!!" She repeated angrily, nearly flying at the woman. "Ain't no one gone come into MA kitchen and talk to these fine ladies and gentleman lahke 'at! They 'bout to go risk their damn lives. Ah thank they deserve an easy morn'n." She barked. Jericho pointed at her crew, her fingers quaking in anger. 

"THEY'S the ones that's gone be down'ere get'n shot at. THEY'S the ones that's gotta deal with that. And Kalli? Ain't no better mechanic for this here vessel, yew know that! Yew's gone be up'ere safe'n sound with us. While THEY listen to you bark in their ears. SO SAVE IT PACIFICA!"

Jericho huffed in her rage grabbing the coffee pot, her hands shaking. She poured the steaming liquid into Pacificas mug and pointed at the door. "Yew gotchur breakfast. Now git!" She glared damn near hollering at the top of her lungs, "And Ah mean it. Yew ain't welcome till you's got somethin' nice to say." She barked coldly. Pacifica was lucky she didn't have a hot frying pan sailing at her head with pieces of bacon falling to the floor. It was probably the angriest anyone had ever seen Jericho. But the young woman prided herself in keeping this particular part of the ship homey and lighthearted. She worked her ass off to make their lives easier. She provided them each with their favorites when her paycheck allowed and she'd be dead before anyone came in and started hollering while people were doing exactly what she'd worked her ass off for.

Laughter, smiles, camaraderie. This was her kitchen. Her galley. Her place of work. But most of all, her home. And regardless of whatever punishment she might get from her Captain for the outburst she'd take it to make a point.

You better come in here respectfully, and looking for some happiness or don't come in at all. Jericho wasn't in the business of yelling, or anger, or unhappiness. She was in the business of making her crew happy. If you come in upset it better be to spill your troubles a'laJericho. But you damn sure better not instigate foul behavior.

No bacon was harmed in the making of this post.