Pins & Needles [Esmay/Gunn]

[Deleted]

It was a smooth, silent transition from shuttle bay to the infirmary. Just straight ahead, left, right and then the first door on the right. Rosalind knew where to find it almost as well as whoever had fitted it in the first place. With her were Keller and the new girl - the former prisoner. Merrick wasn't entirely sure what she was to them now. Passenger? A stranger held by Corvey and his men, but no treatment had been made similar to what she would have assumed their captives to have gone through. Had to be a fresh catch for them. While she seemed a little skittish and somewhat off, Ros didn't see any kind of behavioural conditioning. Sadly, that had been something the medic had seen before, back on Beaumonde. Any kind of human trafficking was extremely hard to follow, but sometimes one of the victims turned up in her clinic. Young men and women conditioned not to fight back, and do as they were told. It caused a rise in Ros, under the surface. Sickened and disgusted by the memory. So whoever this girl was, she still had enough bark to ask for things she couldn't really demand. Not that they would intentionally hurt her... but she didn't know that.

Pressure and movement sensitive lights winked on in the very shiny medical bay. Off to towards the back was a desk, console and high-back stool. Papers and results were strewn about the surface in physical form - even some old books Ros had carried with her for some time. One was even a journal of sorts. Doctor-related scribbles inside that no one could read. A motion with her hand was made towards the examination bed, a suggestion that the younger woman sit and cause no fuss. And if she did - well, that was why Keller was at her back.

"I'm sure you'd appreciate if we make this all as quick and as painless as possible." Ros started, scrubbing her hands and forearms roughly in the small, metal sink. Her skin was near-pink before she was even done, "Captain will be joining us soon to ask you questions - and answer yours. Meanwhile, you are stuck with Keller and I."

Rosalind was a very professional sort. Impersonal to a fault and rather impervious to all the things she had seen over the years, "Going to start by asking all the simple questions. Did they inject you with anything, give you anything that might have been a drug?"

The medic was done with her wash-up, passing a look across to Keller before she added in a more severe tone, but pulled no punches in the asking, "Did they rape you?"

It was best to ask off the bat what might have been done to the girl that neither of the two other women in the room could see. As far as Ros knew, the girl would not have openly talked about anything in the shuttle surrounded by armed men and women. This was a calmer place - safer. Hopefully, there would be no hiding her problems. Ros snapped on some gloves, gathering a pen-light and sliding a tray across holding an assortment of goodies. Ever patient as she waited for answers.

[Abigail Gunn]

She was one hundred and ten percent ready to shoot the girl if that proved necessary. Frankly, she didn't see any signs that the rescue wasn't going to cooperate. Her physical attributes alone didn't lend themselves to much of a revolt. She looked under-developed in some aspects, very young, but she was older than she looked, Gunn was reasonably certain. Rosalind wasn't exactly a pacifist, either. She had that no-nonsense attitude that meant that she could pretty much veer a social situation wherever she wanted it to go by intimidating everyone else's inner child. Gunn admired her in that way. She wasn't the one who shut people down with stern composure. She was the person who belittled and berated them to crawling away like wounded animals. Or, in Lewis's case, casually loping around without much consideration. It was a good system. Not as classy as Rosalind's, but it suited her purposes.

She was in no kind of mood for babysitting. She really did want Rosalind to be safe, and as long as Ros was in the lead with the stranger lagging behind, she would be right there ready to open fire. Every step was rigid, and her expression wasn't the friendliest in the world considering the load she carried. Vitale knew her secret. That meant that every moment she was with Rosalind was a moment he could be rethinking their hasty and tentative truce and turning her in to Roger.

The girl did have a mannerism different from other of Sutton's 'meat'. The girls were usually so high on a cocktail of drugs that they were basically comatose dolls for their first few weeks in service. Unfortunate, but true. Some of them were whores at the start, sweet-talked into more 'benefits' for the work and ending up waiting on their next fix from their pimps, or whatever. She didn't know how personal Sutton got with them himself, but he was a figure they feared. This girl, though... she wasn't petrified, or drugged. She wasn't crying or showing any apparent signs of pain in her expression.

When Rosalind introduced her as Keller, she paused before saying, ”Rachel.” It was two things... more personal, and a lie that actually stung to say knowing that Vitale could counteract her now. Still, that wasn't a thing for the girl to worry about. Not right now... hopefully not ever.

Ros got straight to the point in her line of questioning. Keller looked at her, and she looked back, before she finally asked the question that had been burning in all of their minds. Had she been raped? Keller wasn't talkative, or friendly per se, at least not right now, but she had enough sensitivity to have some empathy.

”You don't have to be afraid here. Rosalind's just here to help---and so am I.” With guns and body armor. They didn't really have to elaborate on that, though.

She was having a bad enough week as it was.

[Deleted]

Esmay walked the hall with the other two women. Something about it was comforting, not that they weren't able to be a threat, but the presence of only women made it easier for her. The doctor was a good ten years older then her and as far as Esmay could tell she was friendly and social. The second of them was a bit more rough and tumble and around the same age as Esmay was. Esmay always liked blonde hair, in fact wishing some time she had had it. She had learned over the years that the stereotypes about blondes was only true with roughly thirty present of them that she met.

Most importantly for her was the fact that she loved the number three. If the concept of luck wasn't just completely absurd three would have been her lucky number. In Chinese culture three is commonly linked with life or to live. In her current situation that made it that much more comforting. that significance in the number had her counting her steps in groups of three.

That was until they finally made their way down the hall to the infirmary on the ship. As they walked in Esmay's emerald eyes skimmed the room for all it had to offer. It was no different then any other ship infirmary, of course she only had one other ship infirmary to compare it to. The room liked like it had been kept as sterile as possible for such a low end place. The counters were clear and clean. The examination table was clean with out noticeable dirt. All that really had clutter on it was the desk at the back of the room. It was covered in papers and files of sorts. That is what had become the focal point of Esmay's survey of the room. Instinct told her she should proceed to those files and use them to learn what she needed of where she was. Even with the other two women in the room she had no hesitation to move toward them. That was until the gesture for her to take a seat on the examination table was given.

Esmay had not spent much time in for medical attention herself, but she had been in medical facilities more then enough to know what was expected. Esmay nodded at the woman and hopped up on to the examination table. "I agree quick and painless would be best, for that though you would have to accept that I have already completed a self evaluation." She replied matter-of-factly as she looked the woman in the eyes. Esmay couldn't help but noticed how beautiful eyes she had.

"I was injected with one dose of Amytal Sodium, about 200mg." She paused a moment debating if she needed to go further on that seeing as she was a doctor, but she decided it was better to be safe. "It's a barbiturate based sedative commonly found to creat addiction in prolonged use only." That would be enough to make sure they were on the same page. 'Its molecular weight is 248.26.' she added in side her head.

The follow up question caught her off guard. After her experience there it wasn't a surprise they asked though when she thought about it. One of the guards had made more then one threat of what he was going to do to her that would have involved raping her. She actually expected before they turned her over to the feds for the bounty that it was going to happen. The fact stood that they had threatened to and with her situation it wasn't unlikely that they would get away with it. The feds would be more concerned with getting her back to the core to interrogate her for what had happened and allow those men walk away unquestioned.

"The drugs were not able to render me unconscious though I am sure had I been there to much longer that would have been the case." Her voice didn't waiver or show any sign that the thought of being raped bothered her. In reality it had her nearly petrified when she was facing that threat but it was over now. It was now just a learning experience that she could look back on. "I appreciate the show of concern, is there any other questions you have for me?"

Esmay wanted them to just accept that she was fine and had moved passed the issues and was fine but she knew as a doctor herself you had to have your own original research to be sure. For now she would have to provide the information requested of her to get her face time with the captain. Had she been a prisoner to be taken back to the feds they would not have her in such a casual situation, no for now she was safe from facing that threat.

[Deleted]

Everyone had their way of dealing with others. Both women were probably just as capable as the other at defending themselves, but in different formats. Keller, Rosalind had come to trust a little bit. She knew the other wasn't going to bullshit her about a situation and would be quicker to act over anything else. So she had no worries about this scenario - but then, she didn't expect too much trouble from the girl. Just on size alone the pair of them could pin her down with ease. Though, Keller had opted to get on a more personal level - her voice even sounded a touch more reassuring that Ros's cold tone - and first names were used.

Ros herself might have cast off the light armour issued her back on the shuttle, or in the shuttle bay. It wasn't certain when she'd taken it off, but it was probably around when she knew she'd need to be in the infirmary upon their return. So she had Keller to stand there all intimidating, and yet not act it at all. It wasn't needed, in essence, but it was best to have that reinforcement of a certain kind of authority. The girl could take advantage of a kinder nature and think herself entitled to more than they were going to give. They were here to help, sure, but they also didn't know who she was - probably should have asked, to be honest.

The girl seemed confident enough to look around - even so much as almost wandering too far from where she was told. Rosalind wasn't overly fond of someone going through her infirmary, but at least she was pulled back easily with a stern word. Nothing was touched, so it was all fine. Whatever was scattered across that desk, was not personally pertaining to the actual crew themselves. It was all research - constantly brushing up on conditions of the planets they were visiting. Any diseases common to here and there, or anything health-related of note. Mostly just Ros keeping on top of anything she was probably missing in her knowledge, since her life had been mostly centred around Beaumonde - the most common thing people caught there being bullets. Really, she could apply that to most worlds.

In response to her self-evaluation, "That is all well and good, but it doesn't really help me with confirming things for myself. A second opinion never hurts."

But she had mentioned that before - knowing her own health and what-have-you. So, clearly a medical background. Or she was just a savant for memorising medical information. Then she rattled off what they had given her, and Ros's eyebrows perked up just a little bit. She had motioned for the girl to roll up her sleeve, and despite her explanation didn't stop in her examination.

"I'm familiar with it and it's uses." The medic assured her in a rather clipped tone.

With trusty inoc-gun in hand - also used for drawing as well as injecting - Ros wasted in no time taking a sample of blood - depending on if she did as instructed and didn't kick up a fuss. The 'gun' left a quick, pin-prick feeling and gave a soft hiss as it filed the small vial loaded inside with a small amount of Esmay's blood. Testing wouldn't take too long with the fine equipment the Peerless had itself kitted out with - one reason for the medic to actually enjoy her work a little more. Ros never really 'enjoyed it', no matter any assumption of sadism with needles or delicate infections obtained by the crew. It was the work she was good at, and maybe even took pride in when pain is eased or illness cured. Not that she was some angel of mercy or anything silly like that. Ros was still a cold piece.

"If you notice any side effects, let me know. You do seem pretty unharmed, though. I'd count that lucky, considering what had been expected." And wasn't that the truth.

"So, no dizziness, headaches, nausea, lethargy, nor pains of any kind?" Just to be sure. Ros did like routine. She could already tell that she was looking to be in good health.

And as for any more questions, Ros knew Davis was going to be the one wanting to hear everything about who she was and what happened to her, but at least the medic could ask one thing, "How about a name?"

That was pretty much the length and reach of Ros being more personable. There might have even been a small smirk, a swab of wool placed over where the needle gun had drawn from. To be fair, though, she was starting to warm to her crew-mates. They were... an interesting bunch, after all.

[Roger Davis]

"That would be a good start." Roger said as he entered the infirmary just as Ros was finishing up. The captain was still dressed all in black but he had removed most of his other equipment over the past few minutes, dropped orderly on his trip to the bridge. Only a single pistol in a thigh holster remained from his previous setup.

On first impression it seemed that everything was in order, unless Ros was doing a fine job at concealing some secret concern. The doctor was in control and despite those previous questions that were likely still burning in their new passenger's mind, she seemed to be cooperating. Notably, however, was that Keller wasn't present. The way things were, there didn't seem to be much of a need for her, and Roger planned to dismiss her when he arrived anyway, but her absence was still odd.

"Now that we're actually conversing, I'm Davis, captain of this ship." he stated as he stepped further into the center of the room. "The rules are simple. You answer all of my questions, no games. Then, and only then, do you get to ask your own." he began. It was one more reminder that she was not in charge here. As much as Roger wanted information, he didn't care nearly enough to trade question for question nor was he going to blab to what could potentially be a serious security thread.

"Let's start with why you were there." Davis stated. "You're not what I expected to find. Do you know why they took you?" Roger was no expert in human trafficking nor the specifics of Cobalt operations, but she had apparently been handled very gently compared to what most experienced. "Where are you from, and what do you do? Tell us anything and everything that would be relevant."

[Deleted]

Esmay sat on the table and listened to Rosalind ask her questions of her while doing what she needed for the exam. Esmay watched carefully from start to finish. Every hand motion. Her approach to drawing blood. It all seemed professional enough, she was not new to the whole process, not rushed or uncoordinated. Whatever her medical degree was in there was something for Esmay to learn from her and while she was here on this ship she would try and learn what she could.

All and all she had been lucky, they had not done anything horrible to her or harmed her. The medications they had given her had mostly passed through her system but she could still feel it. She had a headache, and she felt a little dizzy from time to time. Like when they were running through them building after they had let her out of the cell. "Other then the rough handling, and a slight headache I am fine. With a little time I should be back in top shape again."

Esmay slid to the edge of the cold steel table ready to get down and start asking her own questions. She had plenty she needed to know and as soon as possible. Before she could eek out her first question though Rosalind fired off with her next one. To most people this question would be simple enough to answer, after all what's in a name.

She had already used had two different cover names and failed to keep her true identity kept hidden. The question was could she use either of them her. Esmay's mouth opened slowly to answer the question as she though over the odds in her head. "Tem..." She paused mid word as the captain finally walked in and chimed in to the conversation, again requesting the name and demanding she answer his questions.

"Of Course Mr. Davis." She quickly decided to skip the attempt to hide who she was. "I am Doctor Esmay Williows. The reasoning as to why I was taken by them is a long story but I am more then willing to explain." She wasn't out to play any games and have little leverage if any at all. What she needed now was some way to gain amnisty from being turned over to the alliance for the bounty.

"I am from Osiris. Up until a few weeks ago I was working as a biomedical researcher for the Alliance through the Orin Research Instatute. To keep the story from going to long I put my research to use long before the Alliance or the parent corporation was ready. I found myself in dire need of leaving the core and made it here to Santo. It turns out that the alliance put out a bounty for me and the men you saved me from had intended to collect on it."

She paused as she stood up from the table and stood resting against it. Esmay was not the type to a stand down when she wanted something, but the captain intimidated her. There was nothing about the man that seemed forgiving or willing to deal with any trouble from her. "I will do what I can to remember anything about my ordeal with them and report it to you Mr. Davis.If there is anything else you need to know or anything I can help with I will do everything I can."

Esmay began yo count up and down her fingers in her head. 'One two three four, four three two one.' She wanted to demand her safe passage from him but was not sure how to do that right here and now. "I am sure somehow I could server to assist your crew for the time I am on the ship in return for safe passage to the rim."

[Deleted]

Rosalind was particularly grateful for the lack of a fight being put up in the wake of her simple examination. The woman was used to struggle and fuss, complaints and back-talk, that it almost pleasantly surprised her not to have to hold someone down and try and take their blood at the same time. It was also not too much of a problem when, somewhere between one needle going in and a small vial turning a sanguine colour, Keller had excused herself. The way she had gone about it, however, had piqued a small amount of concern in Rosalind. There hadn't been much of an explanation as to why - and the quickness with which the other woman had dismissed herself was either concerning or just something bad eaten prior to the mission. Whatever it was, it wasn't Ros's main concern. She had a job to do, and she was sure enough that she could handle the girl alone.

It would be pretty embarrassing if the girl did manage to overpower her and escape, though.

Confident enough that their guest was in good health - baring the slight headache and maybe a few bruises from poor care - Ros went to remove her gloves, just as the other woman was about to reveal her name finally. Tem-something had started to come out, but then she head both the door, and Davis. Gloves were dropped into the disposal unit that popped out of the wall, the medic's attention on both the Captain and their rescuee.

"Captain." She pitched him a small nod in greeting moving to stand off to the side.

"She's in better health than you'd expect. Nothing serious and nothing contagious." The medic went on to explain, prior to the questioning she had promised the Captain would handle.

She almost took Keller's earlier role in this little light interrogation, arms folded across her chest as she took a lean against the counter behind her. There was hesitation, but then the girl was spilling everything she felt Roger needed to know. Esmay Willows, was apparently who she was, and bio-med researcher would explain a handful of reasons why she knew exactly what she'd been injected with. Amongst other very 'doctor' related habits. The information was quite a lot to take in, and Ros's only reaction was the slight raise of both eyebrows.

Oddly enough, she probably had far more qualifications and no doubt certificates that Rosalind herself would probably never have - or really need. All she had was good, hard-working experience and on-the-job training. An unorthodox development of her skills, but we couldn't all be Core-trained doctors, right?

There was a lot of apprehension in her tensed stance from the idea of the girl helping out around here - what with the trouble she might be bringing with her. A glance was passed Roger's way, hoping he knew how to handle this delicate situation.

[Roger Davis]

Roger returned a nod to Ros's brief report before Esmay went into her story. It was mostly basic biographical info, opening the door with more new questions than answers. Why had she started her project beforehand and incurred the wrath of the Alliance? What the hell kind of genetics was she working on? What use would the Peerless have with a genetic researcher?

In the end, the first question that came out of the captain's mouth was, How old are you?" The girl certainly looked young and of course people often looked younger than they truly were, but if this girl was to believed, she had to be of a certain age for the story to make sense. You didn't leave high school and become a genetic researcher. They didn't exactly have tons of genetic researchers out in the Rim, but typically such jobs had nearly a decade of schooling and interning required. She must have been some sort of genius and/or liar.

After that initial, question of clarification, Roger continued, "You're lucky then. We weren't expecting to find a legitimate bounty in those cells." He paused, glanced at Ros, and then back to Esmay. He wasn't sure how relevant the information was or whether it would be "appropriate," but if she were being honest with him then he'd be honest with her and give her some sort of foundation for what the hell had just happened. "That office deals in human trafficking. You must have just been a target of opportunity I suppose."

Back on topic, he asked, "What kind of work did you do exactly?" This was probably the most important answer she could give. It would pretty much decide her fate. Was she a part of the problem, a genetic research designing super soldiers, pandemic type viruses, or even the rumored PAX? Or was her work actually something that, you know, helped people? Roger wasn't so paranoid as to believe most doctors and scientists were evil, but if the Alliance was so intent on getting her then it increased the chances significantly of her being dirty. Following up, "And what did you do to piss them off?"

Lies could be easy. Whatever she said would be investigated and double-checked. Hopefully she wouldn't give them any reason to let her off before they reached their next destination, or even just to turn her in for the bounty themselves.

[Deleted]

Esmay considered herself lucky as she hear more and more about her original captors. This new group wasn't holding her captive per-say, just limiting her options s of yet. No matter the outcome it seemed she was in better hands if nothing else. Though she wanted to tell him it was none of his business to ask her age, Esmay was not going to push the captain. Sociological studies suggest that people are more agreeable when all involved in the conversation are agreeable. It was in her best interest to offer him everything he wanted and he would return the favor.

"I am twenty-four Mr. Davis, almost twenty-five." She replied to him with a smile. The smile was important, it showed a positive view on the conversation and the building 'friendship' between them. "I suppose your right Captain, they most likely just saw a chance to gain an extra pay check."

She really had no idea how lucky she was to have been pulled out of the situation. In fact she really had no idea who the people who had captured her were. With a bounty as big as hers though it was no doubt that when they found out about it that she had been saved from being part of the human trafficking ring they were running. It made her wonder what was going to happen when Captain Davis found out how much it was. "As I mentioned I am a bio-medical researcher. I worked with my father in the field on a study in chemically-induced genetic therapies and gene manipulation. The experiment was conducted for the Alliance and the military. The applications of our research could change the face of the verse itself."

Esmay became more animated as she spoke of her work. She had a passion for her work and it showed when she had a reason to talk about. "We had proven in animal trials that it showed great medical potential. It could slow the effects of bone degeneration, strengthen bones even. Obviously it would have military applications to as well as being able to be advanced for many other applications in the future." Esmays hands gestured around. She even when as far as to grab a note pad for not far off and begin to scribble in to the book. A string of numbers and several diagrams of molecular structures were scrolled down before moving to the next question as to how she pissed them off.

"I am not sure why they made such a big deal about it really. I took the tests to the next level. Jeremiah was going to die with out the use of the research so he was our first test subject." Esmay's demeanor changed as she spoke of him. He was important to her and she cared for him. She showed little emotion while she spoke of him though. in that moment he had become more then just a loved one, he had become part of the project and had to be looked at objectively. "The test showed great potential and I believe it bought him more time. I personally would have thought they would have been happy to see the success first hand but it was a breach of protocol and they reacted more strongly then I had expected."

Esmay set the note pad down and crossed her arms in front of her an watched on as she waited for the captains reaction to all she had told him. "May I ask as to why your crew was in the building I was being held in?" Maybe it would give her a little more insight in to the people she was now on a ship with or an avenue as to how she could make herself of use to them so they would not turn her over to the alliance.

[Roger Davis]

Twenty-four. That was a little older than Roger had expected, still young for what she claimed she did especially if she was running breakthrough projects on her own. Wasn't exactly what you'd expect from a fresh-out-of-school doctor. As she started to go into greater detail about her work and especially with her chicken scratch of diagrams and equations, it was fairly evident that she was some sort of gifted.

She seemed open enough about the questions and kept a friendly demeanor save for the more personal portions of her brief story. Roger was slow to trust most and Esmay was far from earning trust, but she was doing well so far. Everything had a military application of course. That's how you got funding and once the military R&D was done those little gadgets made civilian life better... or at least that's how most things went. It seemed that this gene research was mostly aimed at saving lives, like that of this Jeremiah fellow.

The actual science started to go slightly over Roger's head at. He knew enough about medicine and biology to know what she did in a general sense, but he wasn't going to be debating the finer points of chemically induced genetic therapies any time soon. That's the kind of thing maybe you'd learn in college, that is if you went to college instead of joining the war on your eighteenth birthday.

Ros wasn't exactly a bio-medical researcher, but Roger was trusting her to try and digest it all. He gave her another look as Esmay spoke in an attempt to convey as much. Hell, Esmay could just be bullshiting them for all Roger knew. Ros would be in charge of vetting out that side of her story.

Finally, Esmay turned the tables back on Roger. It wasn't her "turn" yet, but there was little harm in giving her the one question, just as he'd given a bit about the human trafficking already. "We're in the business of taking down those kinds of folk, the kind of people who profit from the suffering of others." he explained. They weren't exactly at the point of explaining Cobalt and Marcus Lee, but that would do for now. "The fellow wearing the hood was their commander. He'll lead us to their next operation wherever that may be."

"Well, you've got a mighty fine story." Roger continued. "Assuming it's true." There was always that. He wasn't going to pretend he trusted her completely and wasn't going to check up on every gorram thing she'd said. "We wouldn't have gone through the trouble or taken the risk to pull you out of there if we were going to just hand you back over to feds." Or just space you. "The Rim's a big place. You got anywhere in particular? Not that I can promise you anything. We've got business of our own of course. This ain't a taxi service." They could dump the girl at the next place they made landfall, but she was a "soft" little Core girl with no practical skills or experience. If she could manage to survive on her own, she would still stick out like a sore thumb and get picked up sooner rather than later unless she actually had some contacts.

"And I don't rightly know what we could use a genetic researcher for in the meantime." Roger stated frankly. She'd mentioned earlier that she was willing to work to pay her fare, but no one on board had a degenerative bone disease. For what practical doctoring skill she might have had, they already had Ros. At least at their current level of wounds, they didn't need two medics.

[Deleted]

There was a lot to take in. As the back and forth between Davis and Willows continued, Rosalind found her senses battered by the woman's claims to what she had been involved with prior to becoming a meal ticket for any bounty hunter or just someone with the ability to capture one small researcher. A big part of Ros expected that even she - with her failed attempts at the hunter life - could have captured her with no fuss. The whole point here was the knowing. You had to know who she was, how to track her and what she was worth.

If she really was worth all of that.

The mental cogs were turning as she listened to all that Esmay's research had entailed, and tried not to get distracted by the idea that people like her parents would have, once upon a time, tracked a young thing like her for better gain. No matter how much young Rosalind had disillusioned herself to the idea they only went after people that deserved it, that probably was not the case. Ever. In fact, she wouldn't be surprised if Old Man Merrick surfaced just to try and get a quick buck to help him live out his remaining days in whatever hole he had disappeared down... If he had disappeared down anything. Or fallen into his grave.

Back in the now, if the research Esmay had been doing happened to be both for the Alliance and their military, then it was doubtful a border-world medic like herself could confirm that part. But everything she was saying sounded believable in theory. The girl was getting into her shop-talk, and you didn't see genuine passion like that unless someone was telling the truth. Or a very good liar.

The stoic medic exchanged another glance with the Captain, unsure how all this was meant to be taken.

"So you were working on a cure for osteoporosis. Now you're wanted for almost curing it." Ros spoke up, only mildly, her eyes had locked on the girl when she grabbed the notepad, though. A light frown on her features.

"Can't say I expected to hear a sound Alliance response to finishing their attempt at making super-soldiers."

Sure, the story was believable, but that didn't mean Ros trusted it exclusively. The way the girl acted, though, and her explanations being sound... Ros just couldn't find a reason why she would make this up as her story. Unless there was more to her supposed innocence than that.

"So you knew what the military were going to do with it? Didn't that worry you?"

The real question was why the Alliance thought they needed this edge. They were still top of the board in military strength in the 'Verse. Or did they hope this cure would earn them back some credibility? Some parts of this didn't add up in Rosalind's head, but so far found no reason to disprove the girl's story until more could be found out on Davis's side of things.

The Captain finished with a choice for her to be dropped somewhere safe. They weren't going to cash in that bounty, and a part of Ros was relieved for that. As much as she cared little what happened to the girl for her own problems, she would rather they weren't the cause of it. Keeping her around might cause an unwanted risk to the crew if the Feds were actively seeking her out, but they didn't have much use for her genetic skills. Everything here was Roger's call, of course. Ros would respect that.

[Deleted]

The fact that the captain and doctor were asking questions about her instead of just sticking her in a cell seemed like a good sign to her. She was no sociologist but from her limited experience in life it would seem that were actually decent people. That thought was reaffirmed by the fact that Captain Davis spoke about how they were hunting people like the ones that had captured her.

With each passing word from the captain Esmay could feel herself calming down more and more. "I do appreciate all your efforts captain. I count myself lucky for the way things turned out. The odds were not in my favor." Esmays face lit up when the Doctor mentioned more about her experiments. Though Esmay had the knowledge about her work to go on for hours she knew the captain would not want to listen to her ramble for an eternity about it. "osteoporosis, Osteogenesis imperfect, Paget's disease, and many others along with the ability to strengthen bones beyond the levels typically seen in humans. The research is tied to a secondary research on muscle strength that would needed the enhanced development of the bones. there was no reason to worry about what the military was going to do with it. They had been very clear with what the applications of this new discovery would mean for them. Had my father and I not taken on the task someone else would have, it would have just taken a decade or so longer."

It didn't take someone with a genius level IQ like her to figure out the practical applications for the military with all this. The fact that what she had conducted was a medical break through the military looked down on using their special top secret tech with out their permission. For now it was time to get back to the topic the captain wanted to talk about. "Right Captain, yes of course I have sat down and looked over the options for my future. Statistically speaking Haven offers the best opportunity for me. I have an uncle there and if what I have heard about it is true it has become a great place for those on the run to hide at. I have taken the time to calculate my odds and if I can get to Haven I should have no trouble hiding out long enough to clear things up. I also have an ace up my sleeve."

Esmay pulled a small data card from the cup of her bra. She may not have been the wisest person in the world when it came to the way the real world worked but she knew from her time around her father and the military that you kept extra copies of ever little thing was good, and that one should keep it where they can keep an eye on it all the time. "I managed to get a copy of the data from our efforts, along with a list of contracts that had worked with our department for the military." She had thought it would be good to have something to fight back with not that she knew how to use it to her advantage but her uncle might be able to help.

As far as her use on the ship, that was a hard one not many non-alliance needed a genetic researcher. "I would be willing to pay for the time I am aboard you ship if you can get me close to Haven eventually. In the mean time I will do whatever work around the ship that is needed. Cook, clean, assist any crew with tasks around the ship whatever you want." Esmay had to make herself of what use she could till they got her there.

[Roger Davis]

The girl wasn't exactly "growing on" Davis, but every word she said made her story more and more believable. All of her responses, especially those regarding her work had that queer genius quality to them, the kind of thing that made it abundantly clear who the smartest person in the room was. She didn't come across as intentionally demeaning. It was probably just her way, and it didn't seem like something likely to change. The responses to Ros's questions also soured the girl a bit, that is her rationalizing Alliance military R&D. If you could get past the clear intentions of their benefactors, they were doing good work, but it could be hard for someone like Roger to get past that.

Roger was about to reply about her poor luck in terms of destinations, but remained silent at the mention of Esmay's "ace." The girl was clever and apparently not just when it came to "book smarts." It clearly hadn't done her any good while on Santo but if she got established someplace like Haven it could be what saves her life, a hidden insurance policy to keep the feds away.

"We're pretty full up as is." Roger began once Esmay had finished. They already had a cook with Chuck and Lewis doing just about everything else. "If people find work for you then I have no issue with that." Assuming she didn't end up getting in the way going from helpful to nuisance.

"Haven's a long way off." the captain continued. "Near 200 AU and we're headed in the opposite direction." Corvey of course hadn't given anything up yet about a new target, but the Peerless was headed back toward Persephone currently and most potential destinations were also in that direction, the polar opposite from the distant Blue Sun system. "You can jump ship or stay aboard until we find our way out there."

He paused a moment and then pointed at the card in her hand. "Tell you what. You let my man take a peak at that and it'll go a long way toward paying off your debt." Research on strengthening bones wasn't exactly Peerless's area of expertise, but there was a chance that buried in all that data were ties to Cobalt and potentially Marcus Lee. It was a long shot, but it could be worth a look. "Not asking for a full copy... just a look to see if there is anything in there tying back to the men who took you." Hopefully that would make her more agreeable to the idea. Whatever was found would be used against people she had no reason to love, and the rest would be left alone. An insurance policy lost its value the second someone else also had it and was fighting over your power to blackmail. A few copied portions with the vast majority remaining hers alone should be plenty. "You keep your ace and we might get a lead. What do you say?"

[Deleted]

In a way Esmay was a little disappointed that the captain had put together such a well rounded crew that they didn't have a need for anyone else. On the other hand though it was reassuring that it was all covered. She would make herself available for everyone on the crew to help along the way if they ever did need her for anything.

Though the Peerless was a long way off from Haven and heading in the wrong direction it seemed the captain was willing to allow her to tag along till they were out there. She thought over the idea of hopping ships, but there was risk in that. The ship could end up being like the first one she was on and try to cash in on the bounty. For the time being she would stay here on the Peerless and in time she would reevaluate if it would be in her best interest to stay. "Thank you captain."

Esmay's hand pulled against her chest when Davis pointed to the card. Esmay was more then a little reluctant to turn over the card to the captain. Not only was it her one ace she had to negotiate with but it was also sensitive alliance information she would be allowing them to go through. She might be in trouble with the alliance right now but she was still alliance born and raised. She had a loyalty to them that had not been completely destroyed yet, weakened yes but not gone yet.

Even though it was a hard sell for him to convince her to turn it over she could see the merit in what he was suggesting. If he would hold true to only taking information that would assist them in their mission and she would be allowed to stay aboard and eventually make it to safety. "I think that is a fair trade captain." Esmay reached out with the card in the palm of her hand for the captain to take.

"I hope you will respect that I need this information for my safety. If there is anything on there you would like to know further information about I will do my best to fill in gaps along the way." Once the captain had taken the card from her hand she offered him a hand shake. This seemed like it might just be her opportunity to get herself to Haven with the least amount of hassle. Now it was just a matter of getting beyond the point of being a captive of the ship and settled in like part of the crew.

[Roger Davis]

Roger wasn't expecting that. He thought she'd most likely consent, but handing it over like that showed a great deal of trust... or foolishness. Or eagerness? Ever distrusting, the thought that it was actually some sort of malicious bug came to mind. Unlikely, but he'd remember to take the necessary precautions.

The basic plan Roger had in mind was to go through the info on a disconnected terminal in front of Esmay so she'd know there was no unwanted copying going on. This, however, would certainly make things easier and allow them more time with it as well, perhaps to also examine it to make sure her story as a researcher checked out from yet one more angle.

The captain extended his hand and accepted the card, then shook the young woman's hand. "Looks like we have ourselves a deal." he concluded before pocketing the treasure trove of data. "There's likely to be food in the galley if you're hungry. Aside from that, I'd suggest getting some rest. It's well past midnight standard time."

He turned to Rosalind and ordered, "Show her the galley, restroom, and then to the passenger dorm. Let her have her pick of what's available." Turning back to Esmay he added, "And I'd ask you to keep from wandering tonight. Things aren't exactly settled." There was Corvey of course and the general wind-down from the mission, but Roger wanted to at least start a background check on their fugitive researcher before he gave her free leave of the ship.