I didn’t know you cared. *He moves and reveals yet another mini-fridge hidden in the room and offers her a can of beer.* So we now what the problem is: revenge with as little risk of dying as possible–at least until we get it, anyways. All the more reason to get this hunk of tin fixed, get to Osaka 9, and find some real transportation.
MacBeth: *Opens a can of his own and takes a chug of it! He studies her for a moment. Yep, a Shadowstar through and through. Hardhead and all.* True. Does it bother you to know that’s exactly what Morgan wants?
-04:01 Jan 20
Bronwen: Of course, but there’s really not anything left to lose. I go could strapped to the nines with explosives. Would be pretty impressive. *There’s a very annoying melancholy feeling… It was her own fault for bringing it up. She snapped open the beer to take a drink.* -04:07 Jan 20
MacBeth: *Another chug of the beer. A moment of thought.* Maybe … But you have unfinished business elsewhere. You still have to find your brothers. They may–or may not–still be out there. I think they deserve to at least know you’re not rotting away somewhere, collecting dust. Believe me, there’s nothing worst than *not* knowing what happened to your family. At least go out knowing what happened to them, where they are, what they’re doing. I’m sure there’s a lot they wish they could tell you. Hell, I’m sure they’re still looking for you right now. -04:11 Jan 20
Bronwen: *She cracks a smile behind the beer.* A voice of reason. Have I mentioned that I really like you? -04:13 Jan 20
MacBeth: *Chuckles softly.* Heh. It’s what we first-mates do. Keep hardheaded Shadowstars like yourself out of trouble. *He glances over his shoulder.* I think I hear Flyboy wailing. *He leaves to check on him!* -04:17 Jan 20
[Duncan has indeed just woken up and needs some help here!] -04:17 Jan 20
Duncan: Hey! Lemme out of here! *He bumps into something and winces! Man, that smarts! Where is everyone anyways? And who turned out the lights! And where the hell is that crazy thing that attacked him!* -04:19 Jan 20
Bronwen: *He really was a valuable crew mate, and she was happy she had someone to trus-… Bronwen blinked! No… It was a figure of speach. It’s not like MacBeth was crew with her family, she didn’t remember him and he’s not shockingly old… But… Hey! He always did seem to know a lot more about them than he should! Bronwen stalked after him!* -04:20 Jan 20
MacBeth: *He puts the beer down and with a little effort, gets the door up. Then it’s down the ladder to go check on him! He finds Duncan wandering around, bumping into things!* It’s about time you woke up, Flyboy. -04:24 Jan 20
Duncan: Huh? Matey? *He turns away from the panel he hit his head on.* Ow, my nose! And my head! Did something happen? And where’s that flying creature-thing? And the Cap’n! Is she alright? She need medical attention of the pilot sort? -04:25 Jan 20
MacBeth: Don’t you remember? You took out the bat-thing and got knocked unconcious right after. I told Shadowstar I couldn’t move you because you’re far too heavy for just me to carry. She’s so grateful, she wants to thank you herself. She’s waiting in your room and said to send for you. -04:27 Jan 20
Bronwen: *She set down the beer next the one on the floor and dropped down the hatch with a quick jump!* …. *She was going to question Macbeth first… but…* Duncan! I couldn’t wait, I had to see you! -04:28 Jan 20
Duncan: *Could it be?! Had she finally come to her senses?! His face lights up and he slicks his hair back and straightens his clothes!* I’m here, Cap’n. Just making sure this foul beast was dead and wouldn’t trouble you any longer! No one touches the Cap’n while I’m around! *There’s a big grin on his face!* -04:30 Jan 20
MacBeth: *Decides to leave these two alone. If she does decide to screw Duncan, he can only hope she lets him know afterwards so he can go jump off a cliff somewhere. He’s up the ladder and back to grab those parts he’d retrieved from what they got from the warehouse.* -04:31 Jan 20
Bronwen: I am so eternally greatfull for your help! It’s.. it’s a shame my wound is mortally fatal and I am doomed to die any moment now… *She watched as MacBeth escaped… And here she thought he might enjoy harass Duncan a bit. Hmm. She’ll get to that in a minute…* -04:35 Jan 20
Duncan: *His face falls!* Oh no! *He takes her hands!* Dear Cap’n! This can’t be! Why, you are too beautiful to die! -04:39 Jan 20
Bronwen: If only I could have told you how much I… I… Oh! *She places a hand to her head in a dramatic… faint!* -04:42 Jan 20
Duncan: *He gasps and attempts to catch her!* No, Cap’n! You can’t! You can’t leave me! There are so many things we haven’t done together yet! *He crumbles to the floor with her in his arms, before throwing his head back!* NNNNNNOOOOOO!! -04:45 Jan 20
Bronwen: *So hard not to… She can’t help herself, but to cackle like a madwoman! Duncan made it so very easy! Completely ruined her death scene!* -04:47 Jan 20
Duncan: ?! *Blink … blink … He stops and looks down at her! Oh no! Has she gone mad?!* My fairest beauty, no! *This is worst than he’d feared! She was going to lose her sanity and then her life!* Goodbye … my love … *He sniffles and attempts to kiss her right on the lips!* -04:50 Jan 20
Bronwen: Ha..! *SMACK! Hand to the forhead!* Not today, stupid. I live. Now search this place for any more beasties so we can take off in safty. *She gives his head a shoves and climbs neatly to her feet. Dusting herself off.* -04:53 Jan 20
Duncan: Ow! *He rubs his forehead and topples over! He certainly wasn’t expecting that! He looks up as she climbs to her feet!* But … Cap’n! Kitten! My darling of love! My kiss has healed you! -04:54 Jan 20
Bronwen: You didn’t even kiss me! Get your ass off the floor! -04:55 Jan 20
Duncan: Yes, ma’am! *He scrambles to his feet but then grins broadly!* So … how about we uh, try a real kiss this time? *He leans forward …* -04:56 Jan 20
Bronwen: *Oh, she’s going to hit him. Hit him reeeaaaal good. But… Bronwen sighs!* I do appreciate you fighting the beast. *She covers his mouth with her hand and turns his face to kiss him on the cheek!* The only kiss you’re gonna get out of me. Now search for more beasties so we can leave. -04:59 Jan 20
Duncan: *His heart sings! It’s not the kiss he wanted but it’ll do all the same! He grins and salutes smartly!* Yes, ma’am! *He scrambles up the ladder, only to have to scramble back down to retrieve his flashlight! Then he scrambles back up, with that stupid grin still plastered on his face and disappears to be her knight-in-shining armor!* -05:00 Jan 20
Bronwen: *Well, that was mornic! She rolls her eyes, exiting the engine room… Now it’s time to grill MacBeth for every bit of information he knows about her family. Because something doesn’t quite fit!* Maaaa-aaac. -05:01 Jan 20
MacBeth: *Is at work making some talkies from scratch! Thankfully, they only need three. For now, at least. But it should last them until they get somewhere with some real technology. He’s still hard at work when Shadowstar comes up from the engine room.* -05:03 Jan 20
Bronwen: Isn’t amazing how Cassius could take some wire, a couple of old talkies and a toaster and make a voice activated hand bomb? *She asks ever so conversationally in teh doorway!* -05:05 Jan 20
MacBeth: *Is hunched over the table, connecting wires to each other and too busy focusing on what he’s doing. If he doesn’t get every ounce of the wires tied correctly, the talkie might shortcircuit and they can’t afford something like that happening.* … Now if only he could tie his shoes without getting his fingers tangled in the laces and actually cook something in that stupid thing he calls a toaster. *He mutters without looking up. -05:07 Jan 20
Bronwen: Yeha. But Aaron made up for that. Somehow he made meatcubes in to a three course meal… What did he call dish again…? -05:09 Jan 20
Bronwen: *THAT dish.. oooh… -05:09 Jan 20
MacBeth: Caaromar. *He replies, still connecting wires. He finishes and places the wires into a small black, plastic box where a dozen more wires identical to the ones he was working on is waiting.* -05:12 Jan 20
Bronwen: That’s the one… It was the best thing. &She placed her hands on his shoulders. It might’ve felt like she was going to massage them, but she was glancing down at his head seriously thinking about strangling him.* It must have been an adventure on their crew, hmm? -05:14 Jan 20
MacBeth: *He pauses and turns to glance at her.* Pass me that proxy over there. Just a couple more adjustments and this thing should be working. -05:16 Jan 20
Bronwen: *A twitch of her fingers before she moved away to get the proxy.* I forget the name of that ship though… was it Tempest? -05:18 Jan 20
MacBeth: *Suddenly there’s a gun to Shadowstar’s head and Mac is out of the chair.* No need to prod anymore, Shadowstar. You already figured it out. *The gun goes back into the holster and he picks up the beer, taking a chug of it.* -05:21 Jan 20
Bronwen: *She hissed…!* So when were you going to tell me you knew my brothers, first mate. -05:22 Jan 20
MacBeth: When you figured it out yourself. Wouldn’t be any fun if I just came out and told you. Besides, I promised them I wouldn’t give so much as a peep. And chances were, you wouldn’t believe me anyways. You’d end up thinking I was a spy for the bitch. -05:26 Jan 20
Bronwen: Oh right… That just explains everything doesn’t it. How the shit am I suposed to trust now?! You’re as good as a babysitter! Yes, poor lil sissy Brownie gets sent a babysitter of all the damned things! *She remained stationary while she shouted at him.. She hadn’t decided herself if she was going to kick his ass, shoot him, worse!* -05:30 Jan 20
MacBeth: I didn’t come to babysit you. I was only supposed to find you and make sure you were safe and out of Morgan’s claws. Then Malenk had this bright idea to bring some special package on board and it turned out to be you. And then all hell broke loose when Morgan realized where you were. -05:32 Jan 20
Bronwen: Sure as hell sounds like babysitting to me. Don’t tell Brownie important information so she can do something other than flailing around space like a madwoman! What’s next? Duncan gets to be bodyguard ande we prance around somewhere safe and sound while Cassius and Aaron do their manly thing?! -05:35 Jan 20
MacBeth: Important information. Like the fact that Cassius and Aaron can’t bail you out no matter how much they’d love to. They are worried sick about you, Shadowstar. For years it’s all I’ve ever heard them talk about. The only reason they still have to live is you. They didn’t send me on this little mission. I wanted to help them out and I volunteered. They couldn’t send someone or ask anyone because it was too dangerous for all of you. -05:40 Jan 20
Bronwen: It doesn’t negate the fact I am not six years old and I deserve to be told the truth. *She was very apparently struggling with deciding just how pissed off she was. It’s not that she didn’t understand… but she wasn’t without pride!* You knew the truth and you didn’t tell me… That is unacceptable. If you ever keep information from me again… *It didn’t mean she wasn’t about to hit him…* -05:46 Jan 20
MacBeth: … Yes, Captain. Suppose I should lay everything down. The four heads of Morgan’s Brigade are your brothers. For the past 20 years, she’s been using you as a pawn to get your brothers to cooperate. If they didn’t work for her, she’d kill you. Until they see you for themselves, they’ll assume she still has you. -05:51 Jan 20
Bronwen: It really would have been helpful to know that from the beginning. *Grrrr. Now she really wants to hit him. She could have gotten herself killed with all that kamikaze stuff she was pulling! It seems she has plenty to lose!* Anything else I need to know? -05:56 Jan 20
MacBeth: … Duncan is right behind you and he’s about to grope your ass. -05:59 Jan 20
Bronwen: What? *It was so out of the blue she actually turned to glare over her shoulder!* -06:00 Jan 20
[Bronwen enters.had just fell for MacBeth’s decoy and turned around!] -02:04 Jan 25
[MacBeth is already gone!] -02:06 Jan 25
Bronwen: … Damnit! -02:06 Jan 25
MacBeth: *Heads for the cockpit and drops into the co-pilot’s seat after helping himself to a beer! He’s going to be needing it real soon! Damn stubborn Shadowstars …* -02:07 Jan 25
Bronwen: *Growling… and possibly packing a knife, she goes stomping after MacBeth!* You good for nothing creature I call a first mate..! I wasn’t finished with you…! -02:08 Jan 25
MacBeth: I figured. *He swerves the chair around to face Shadowstar and takes another sip of the beer.* You know, you shouldn’t get so tense, Shadowstar. It’s bad for your health. -02:11 Jan 25
Bronwen: HA HA HA.. Me, tense. *She points accusingly!* I haven’t fire you yet! No drinking on the job! -02:12 Jan 25
MacBeth: Oops. Did you want a drink? There’s still plenty in the fridge. ‘Sides, it’s not like we have fresh water to drink. Beer is the next best thing. -02:14 Jan 25
Bronwen: Don’t think I don’t know that you’re trying to bow me off and escape telling me things I should know! -02:15 Jan 25
MacBeth: You already figured out I served with your brothers. And they’re working for Morgan. What else do you want to know? *It was a really big mistake to let slip that he’d known the Shadowstar men. He’d just been so damn busy trying to get those communicators up and running that he hadn’t realized until it was too late.* -02:20 Jan 25
Bronwen: Where they are for starters. Then I can adjust my entire plans accordingly. -02:21 Jan 25
MacBeth: *She was going to get them killed for sure! He was about to point out that her going for her brothers was exactly what Morgan was expecting. But he also had to trust her. She was the captain, after all.* Fine. The last I heard, Cassius was the closest. He was stationed at Lunas 034, just past Osaka 9. -02:31 Jan 25
Bronwen: *Bronwen leaned against the wall, tapping her chin with thought…* But she doesn’t know that I know they are alive… And better, she won’t expect me to be stealthy… I think we’ll put guns-a-blazin’ Shadowstar away for awhile, and do something a little more sneaky. -02:33 Jan 25
MacBeth: *Stealthy or not, she was bound to get them killed. But after spending time with her brothers, the thought of death didn’t phase him the way it should have.* Let’s hope we can find you a better disguise. By the way, Lunas 034 is a hot spot for slavers and traders. *He swerved his chair back to face outside.* Thought you’d like to know. -02:36 Jan 25
Bronwen: Good! One of use gets to be the Trader, the other the slave.. And I guess one of us is the armed guard! We won’t venturing in to any actual sales, unless we’re forced to. We find Cassius, grab him, and get out. -02:38 Jan 25
MacBeth: … I vote Flyboy for the slave. *He swerves the seat slightly again.* He has that “whipped” quality. -02:41 Jan 25
Bronwen: Then I will be armed guard. You know the common talk here now, I might say something stupid. -02:42 Jan 25
[Duncan pops his head in just in time to hear them discussing some … role play!] -02:43 Jan 25
Duncan: I am here, sweet Cap’n! How may I be of service? *He steps inside and salutes!* Every room, corner, nook, and cranny is clear of vermin! -02:43 Jan 25
Bronwen: You’re going to be MacBeth’s slave from now on, Duncan. -02:44 Jan 25
Duncan: *Falls to his knees, hands clasped!* What?! No! It can’t be! Anything! Anything but that, Cap’n! Anyone but him! -02:46 Jan 25
Bronwen: *She’s eyeing her fingernails, with her otherhand hooked in her belt loop.* I can’t be a slave trader, I don’t have the know-how. I’m going to protect him from you tryin’ to escape. -02:48 Jan 25
MacBeth: *He manages not to smirk. He almost feels sorry for Duncan but these things can’t be helped.* Seems you’ve been a bad slave so we’re off to sell your hide. -02:49 Jan 25
Duncan: *His face falls! It’s obvious he’d have much rather preferred SHE was the master–er, mistress! He glances at Mac and then back at the Cap’n!* But … why? Why can’t I be the trader or the uh, the armed guard? That sounds good! -02:50 Jan 25
Bronwen: What would happen to your poor captain if she were the slave, and ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time? We can’t have me getting killed. -02:51 Jan 25
Duncan: *He blinks.* Yeah but uh … how long do I have to be the slave? You’re not really going to sell me, are you? I mean, I am the pilot. And I did save your lives. Not once but twice already! *That had to count for something!* -02:53 Jan 25
Bronwen: Maybe if you’re a good slave, Duncan. -02:55 Jan 25
Duncan: *He sighs and huffs, then runs his fingers through his hair.* I … don’t really have much of a choice, do I, Cap’n? *He looks so sad and forlorn but he’s obviously trying to put on a good front. Maybe the Cap’n would be so sad at any thought of selling him, she’d finally play around with him for a bit!* -02:57 Jan 25
Bronwen: *Aaaw… He is so much like a puppy it’s almost cute! Bronwen can’t help but give a genuine grin!* No worries. You’re safe with me. -02:59 Jan 25
MacBeth: Cute. *He says from his place in the seat.* But let’s get off this chunk of rock and get some things straight before we dwell on our little disguises. -03:05 Jan 25
Duncan: *What a spoil sport Mac was being! His face falls again! He was just about to ask the Cap’n for a kiss, too! Just a little peck on the cheek, or the lips, or the nose … or any other part of his body she might wish to worship with those lips of hers!* -03:07 Jan 25
Bronwen: Hmm. Yep. Start flying, flyboy. I am going to work on my guard disguise… If anything flashes, or makes a horrible noise alert me so I can fix it. *She moves to leave but hesitates in the doorway…* Uh…. are we sure all the little devils are gone? -03:08 Jan 25
Duncan: *He jumps to his feet and proudly salutes again! If one didn’t know better, one could swear he’d saved some poor orphans from a burning building or the human race from extinction!* Aye aye, Cap’n! I got into every nook and cranny I could and made sure the nasty buggers were away! None of those flying, biting, hideous things on me ol’ Briar Rose! -03:10 Jan 25
Bronwen: Good. Cause if I find another one, I’m feeding you to it… *She mutters as she leaves Duncan alone with his new master!* -03:11 Jan 25
Duncan: *He blinks, blinks, and blinks again as he watches her leave. Then he gets into the pilot’s chair and gets the ship started. He turns to Mac and nods.* She wants me. *He says and in no time the ship takes off.* -03:14 Jan 25
Bronwen: *Stalking back to Duncan’s room… a slow…. devilish grin splashing across her face! Bronwen is on a mission, and it is so much more fulfilling than simply revenge on Morgan. Oh yes, this is going to be good! Cackling of the captain heard from all the wat in the back!* -03:16 Jan 25
MacBeth: … Be afraid. *He says simply at Duncan’s questioning look.* Be very afraid. -03:17 Jan 25