Taking On, Part 2
It took me two weeks to write up the second piece of this episode, which is a disappointingly slow rate. We finished playing the entire episode, and it will take about six pieces to post.
Pilot Episode, Taking On, Part 2
Mei Yi went to the galley for ice and checked her bruises in a mirror. Her comm chimed again.
Wen Li: My brother is most upset with you.
Mei Yi: He told me.
Wen Li: Managing the violent side is hard on him. He prefers more elegant pursuits. The tong waits for a new manager so he can return to those pursuits. When are you coming back, Mei Yi?
Mei Yi: My brother was the one trained for that duty. Have you found him yet?
Wen Li: Mei Yi, Mei Yi, The child in the house must do her duty. You should smooth things with Kai Fa.
Mei Yi: He does not want smooth.
Wen Li: The family needs peace.
Mei Yi: And the price of peace?
Wen Li: The family bears the shame of failure. I hope you can correct it. You must find Richard Swift.
Mei Yi: And when I find him?
Wen Li: You simply call us. We will send a team to handle him. Or, if you prefer, you can take care of Swift yourself. We will show our appreciation.
Mei Yi: What of Carson? He is the major challenge.
Wen Li: Carson Wu is a separate matter. But you could take care of him too. We have offered a 1000 credit premium for eliminating him.
Mei Yi: A thousand credits gains my attention. Send me the information you have on the man.
Wen Li: And on Swift?
Mei Yi: That too. How did Swift earn our wrath?
Wen Li: You have not met Swift, have you? I will send you what you need to identify him. Will you lift soon?
Mei Yi: Once I know where to go.
Wen Li: Their ship headed in the direction of Whitefall.
Mei Yi: That is not a short hop. I will have to take on cargo to pay my expenses.
Wen Li: Playing a merchant is wise. You do not want to draw attention.
Mei Yi: One thing I do request. Carson's Falcon is fast, my Golden Lotus is not. I will require a better pilot than me.
Wen Li: We have a pilot on hand, a worn-out man not good for much else. We will send him to you.
Mei Yi: He will do. Sheh Sheh, uncle.
Wen Yi: Yi Lu Shwen Fohn.
Mei Yi calls the remote link to the ship's comm.
Ecclesiastes: Hello.
Mei Yi: Time to cut your scavenging trip short. We have an assignment to reach Whitefall as soon as possible.
Ecclesiastes: With the current alignment, a fast trip to Whitefall is eight days.
Mei Yi: Buy some food on your way in. You have time for that, because I need to find a cargo. Buy enough for three: we are taking on a pilot.
Ecclesiastes: Fast trip with a pilot? This must be from your investors.
Mei Yi: Yes. I tried a little socializing while you were out, and things got complicated. I was foolish to play around without the good luck you bring.
Ecclesiastes: I'll hurry.
Mei Yi calls Jamal Brown, a arms dealer of her acquaintance.
Mei Yi: Hello, Jamal. My investors are sending me to Whitefall with empty cargo space. I would love if you could fill that space with something profitable.
Jamal: A cargo for plain sight, then? Or do you want some extra to hide away?
Mei Yi: I had best look squeaky-clean for this.
Jamal: I do have one speculation load ought to fit your bill. A bloke cleaned up a heap of old shotguns, reckoning to sell them on the Rim. Good as new.
Mei Yi: How many?
Jamal: Two thousand shotguns. The bloke bundled them with a hundred buckshot shells for each gun, too. And a box of cleaning kits.
Mei Yi: Jamal, I'm going to Whitefall, a small moon. It might not have two thousand people on it.
Jamal: You know those transport captains: they see a good small load, and they grab it and tuck it in between their crates. You want a small cargo, you take pot luck and pray for profit. It's the medium loads where the money is. Those shotguns fit right well into two conexes, just like your ship can carry.
Mei Yi: What's the price?
Jamal: A hundred thousand platinum for all the guns, and ten thousand more for the ammo.
Mei Yi: That's forty-four thousand credits!
Jamal: For you, Mei-mei, I'll let you take the load on consignment. Just sign a letter against your inheritance to cover unforeseen problems, and we have a deal. You keep ten percent of the price in profit: that's eleven thousand plat!
Mei Yi: We have a deal. Can you deliver, ASAP?
Jamal: How about tonight?
Mei Yi: I can't wait that long. May I land Golden Lotus at your place and pick up directly?
Jamal: Saves me the cost of delivery, Mei-mei. You are good for business.
Mei Yi: Pleasure dealing with a fine businessman. I'll call you when I am ready to lift.
Mei Yi opened the files that Uncle Wen Li sent her. The images of two men appeared on the screen. One was Carson, the other was unfamiliar.
Mei Yi: Carson Wu and Richard Swift. Let's see what secrets Carson holds. (At Mei Yi's keystroke the image changed to a military record for Carson.) Fought for the Independents. So you did earn that brown coat you wear. (The screen magnified some text.) Enlisted young. Family presumed dead on Shadow when the Alliance burned that planet. My sympathies for your loss, Carson. You lost your family even younger than I did. (Flicked to the next file.) Bounty-hunter license, S-class rating. Most impressive. Issued two years ago: you've survived that long in a dangerous game. (Next file was a list.) Ah, the bounties you brought in. If only I had followed the news. No catches recently. Are you short on money, Carson? Is that why you took this little bodyguard job? Or are you just tired of hunting down men?
Mei Yi straightened up.
Mei Yi: Carson Thomas Wu. You are very dangerous to hunt for my uncles. But if I capture you for myself? A risky hunt as well, but one with great potential reward. Whatever am I to do with you? Perhaps I should let you answer for yourself.
Mei Yi pulled out the slip with Carson's comm number on it. She fussed with her hair a moment, checked her clothes, and adjusted the lens over the video screen.
Mei Yi: Record. (She smiled.) Gohn Shi, Carson. You are most skilled to have succeeded in your task. It must have been a sight to see. I am grateful for your kindness considering me. It was ... unexpected given my behavior. I apologize for my rudeness. Persephone is a difficult place for me. My loyalties become much more ... complex. Perhaps we could have that dinner I spoke of one day on some planet besides Persephone. My deepest respect, Mei Yi. (She pressed a button.) Send.
She called up the picture of Richard Swift.
Mei Yi: Now to work on Swift and to figure out just what he did.
The proximity alarm went off. Mei Yi closed the records and called up an outside image. An old man hauling a wheeled spacer's chest by its retractable handle was standing beside the ship. He thumbed the outside intercom.
George: I heard you were looking for a pilot.
Mei Yi was surprised that the man her uncle sent was of European stock. He even dressed in a formal black suit. She opened the airlock to talk to him face to face.
Mei Yi: Yes. I am the captain of Golden Lotus. Call me Mei-mei.
George: I am George Lovas, Captain Mei-mei. I have my credentials here: registered pilot for medium and light spacecraft.
Mei Yi: Bring them up.
George bumped his wheeled luggage up the folding stairs to the bridge airlock. A violin case was strapped atop the chest. He handed Mei Yi his papers. Mei Yi eyed the case, then examined the papers.
Mei Yi: We will lift as soon as my engineer gets back. First on the agenda is a trip to Jamal Brown's warehouse for cargo, and then we lift for Whitefall.
George: So I am hired?
Mei Yi: Of course.
George: About my fee?
Mei Yi: How about 25 credits, room, and board for the journey to Whitefall? If you do well, maybe a bonus or we can extend the position. Given the size of the cargo, I may make runs to several moons, and might need a permanent pilot.
George: Trial rates until I prove myself? I can live with that. A local run to start with is good. I need to familiarize myself with the controls.
Mei Yi: Let me show you a cabin for your gear.
Later, Ecclesiastes arrived, and noticed the pilot at the bridge.
Ecclesiastes: Uh, hello.
Mei Yi: George Lovas, this is our engineer.
George: Glad to meet you, young man.
Ecclesiastes: Ecclesiastes. Zee. Glad to meet you too. Excuse me. I have to stow this food.
Ecclesiastes headed up to the galley. Mei Yi followed him off the bridge.
Ecclesiastes: What's going on?! You have a bruise on the side of your face!
Mei Yi: Remember that Raptor-class ship that landed before you left?
Ecclesiastes: Yes.
Mei Yi: I went over to meet its captain, Carson Thomas Wu, a most fascinating man. Young, masculine, owns his own ship, fights well too.
Ecclesiastes: You fought him?
Mei Yi: He was opposed to the Water Dragon Associates. He spirited away a man that they were after. So our investors are sending me after them to track them.
Ecclesiastes: That's all? (He gave her a knowing look.)
Mei Yi: They sent us a pilot, too. We have to keep up with that Raptor.
Ecclesiastes: Mei-mei, that ain't going to happen. The Raptor-class cruises faster than us at hard burn.
Mei Yi: I was hoping that if they sent a pilot, they would pay for him. They didn't. Mostly I wanted time to think instead of having to fly this ship. Dealing with our investors is complicated, and Carson and Swift are mysteries.
George Lovas hollered up from the bridge.
George: A message has arrived from a Mr. Wu for the captain.
Mei Yi: I don't want to receive that in front of the pilot. He might be a little insurance from our investors.
Ecclesiastes: Insurance?
Mei Yi: The man carried a violin case. The Water Dragon deals with guns, not violins. He might not be just a pilot, no matter what they said.
Ecclesiastes: You can take the call in my room on the source box.
Mei Yi: Will you make sure that he doesn't listen in?
Ecclesiastes: Sure, I'll ask him some questions.
Mei Yi headed down to Ecclesiastes' cabin and cleared away some stuffed toys to take the call on the source box.
Carson: (recorded message): Xiao shao jeh, my apologies for leaving you without saying good-bye. I left you in friendly hands, that was all I could do in the rush of the moment. I would like to have that dinner with you, when not entangled by complex loyalties. Perhaps we will see each other again, somewhere in the 'Verse. Wu out.
Mei Yi: Save message to permanent file. Now, let's check the message header and find out where he sent it from.
Mei Yi fiddled with the source box, nodded in satisfaction, and departed Ecclesiastes' cabin. She headed to the bridge.
Mei Yi: Time to pick up our cargo.
With Mei Yi's guidance, George lifted the ship and started off at cruising altitude. As they departed the area of the Eavesdown docks, the view dipped down to show a bleary-eyed Chinese man walking into the docks checking a map.
Golden Lotus flew to Jamal Brown's warehouse. Jamal had two conexes, full-size cargo containers marked with the ubiquitous Blue Sun logo, laying out ready for aerial pickup. Mei Yi headed out to talk with Jamal, and then called George via her remote comm to load the conexes.
On the bridge, Ecclesiastes was pointing out some switches and cameras to George.
Ecclesiastes: These haul the conexes up into the cargo bays.
George: So you don't have a cargo hold?
Ecclesiastes: No, this ship is a retrofit from a missile boat. We don't do things the easy way. We haul up cargo containers into the former missile bays.
George: While hovering.
Ecclesiastes: No, the cranes can't reach down that far. You have to land on top of them. Mei-mei hates that.
George: Okay, I'll see what I can do.
Golden Lotus lifted into the air and then slid over above the paired conexes. Then it slowly and carefully descended down.
Mei Yi (wincing): Jamal, are both conexes exactly the right distance apart?
Jamal: Don't worry. At least this pilot takes both at once, instead of one at a time like you.
The cargo bay hatches on Golden Lotus opened up and the ship descended onto the conexes. The roar of the thrusters died down and was replaced by the quiet whine of unseen cranes lifting the conexes into the cargo bays. The cargo bay hatches closed.
Jamal: See, no trouble.
Mei Yi: Sheh sheh. I hope we have no trouble selling these shotguns, either.
Mei Yi returned to Golden Lotus. The ship lifted again, but instead of cruising as it did before, its rear primary thruster fired and the ship accelerated and soared high.
Ecclesiastes walked off the bridge to see to the engines for the hard burn.
Soon Golden Lotus cruised in the black of space, and then its rear thruster burst into the bright shining lights of a hard burn, kicking them into interplanetary speed.
Mei Yi was sitting at the comm seat when a message chimed in.
Mei Yi: It's from our investors. I'd best take this one silent.
Mei Yi put on some headphones. Uncle Wen Li's face could be seen speaking, but no sound was heard. He was upset.
The call ended. Mei Yi put down the headphones with grim determination on her face. She stood up, stepped to George, and pressed her derringer to his temple.
Mei Yi: Who are you?! And who do you work for?
Commercial break
Pilot Episode, Taking On, Part 2
Mei Yi went to the galley for ice and checked her bruises in a mirror. Her comm chimed again.
Wen Li: My brother is most upset with you.
Mei Yi: He told me.
Wen Li: Managing the violent side is hard on him. He prefers more elegant pursuits. The tong waits for a new manager so he can return to those pursuits. When are you coming back, Mei Yi?
Mei Yi: My brother was the one trained for that duty. Have you found him yet?
Wen Li: Mei Yi, Mei Yi, The child in the house must do her duty. You should smooth things with Kai Fa.
Mei Yi: He does not want smooth.
Wen Li: The family needs peace.
Mei Yi: And the price of peace?
Wen Li: The family bears the shame of failure. I hope you can correct it. You must find Richard Swift.
Mei Yi: And when I find him?
Wen Li: You simply call us. We will send a team to handle him. Or, if you prefer, you can take care of Swift yourself. We will show our appreciation.
Mei Yi: What of Carson? He is the major challenge.
Wen Li: Carson Wu is a separate matter. But you could take care of him too. We have offered a 1000 credit premium for eliminating him.
Mei Yi: A thousand credits gains my attention. Send me the information you have on the man.
Wen Li: And on Swift?
Mei Yi: That too. How did Swift earn our wrath?
Wen Li: You have not met Swift, have you? I will send you what you need to identify him. Will you lift soon?
Mei Yi: Once I know where to go.
Wen Li: Their ship headed in the direction of Whitefall.
Mei Yi: That is not a short hop. I will have to take on cargo to pay my expenses.
Wen Li: Playing a merchant is wise. You do not want to draw attention.
Mei Yi: One thing I do request. Carson's Falcon is fast, my Golden Lotus is not. I will require a better pilot than me.
Wen Li: We have a pilot on hand, a worn-out man not good for much else. We will send him to you.
Mei Yi: He will do. Sheh Sheh, uncle.
Wen Yi: Yi Lu Shwen Fohn.
Mei Yi calls the remote link to the ship's comm.
Ecclesiastes: Hello.
Mei Yi: Time to cut your scavenging trip short. We have an assignment to reach Whitefall as soon as possible.
Ecclesiastes: With the current alignment, a fast trip to Whitefall is eight days.
Mei Yi: Buy some food on your way in. You have time for that, because I need to find a cargo. Buy enough for three: we are taking on a pilot.
Ecclesiastes: Fast trip with a pilot? This must be from your investors.
Mei Yi: Yes. I tried a little socializing while you were out, and things got complicated. I was foolish to play around without the good luck you bring.
Ecclesiastes: I'll hurry.
Mei Yi calls Jamal Brown, a arms dealer of her acquaintance.
Mei Yi: Hello, Jamal. My investors are sending me to Whitefall with empty cargo space. I would love if you could fill that space with something profitable.
Jamal: A cargo for plain sight, then? Or do you want some extra to hide away?
Mei Yi: I had best look squeaky-clean for this.
Jamal: I do have one speculation load ought to fit your bill. A bloke cleaned up a heap of old shotguns, reckoning to sell them on the Rim. Good as new.
Mei Yi: How many?
Jamal: Two thousand shotguns. The bloke bundled them with a hundred buckshot shells for each gun, too. And a box of cleaning kits.
Mei Yi: Jamal, I'm going to Whitefall, a small moon. It might not have two thousand people on it.
Jamal: You know those transport captains: they see a good small load, and they grab it and tuck it in between their crates. You want a small cargo, you take pot luck and pray for profit. It's the medium loads where the money is. Those shotguns fit right well into two conexes, just like your ship can carry.
Mei Yi: What's the price?
Jamal: A hundred thousand platinum for all the guns, and ten thousand more for the ammo.
Mei Yi: That's forty-four thousand credits!
Jamal: For you, Mei-mei, I'll let you take the load on consignment. Just sign a letter against your inheritance to cover unforeseen problems, and we have a deal. You keep ten percent of the price in profit: that's eleven thousand plat!
Mei Yi: We have a deal. Can you deliver, ASAP?
Jamal: How about tonight?
Mei Yi: I can't wait that long. May I land Golden Lotus at your place and pick up directly?
Jamal: Saves me the cost of delivery, Mei-mei. You are good for business.
Mei Yi: Pleasure dealing with a fine businessman. I'll call you when I am ready to lift.
Mei Yi opened the files that Uncle Wen Li sent her. The images of two men appeared on the screen. One was Carson, the other was unfamiliar.
Mei Yi: Carson Wu and Richard Swift. Let's see what secrets Carson holds. (At Mei Yi's keystroke the image changed to a military record for Carson.) Fought for the Independents. So you did earn that brown coat you wear. (The screen magnified some text.) Enlisted young. Family presumed dead on Shadow when the Alliance burned that planet. My sympathies for your loss, Carson. You lost your family even younger than I did. (Flicked to the next file.) Bounty-hunter license, S-class rating. Most impressive. Issued two years ago: you've survived that long in a dangerous game. (Next file was a list.) Ah, the bounties you brought in. If only I had followed the news. No catches recently. Are you short on money, Carson? Is that why you took this little bodyguard job? Or are you just tired of hunting down men?
Mei Yi straightened up.
Mei Yi: Carson Thomas Wu. You are very dangerous to hunt for my uncles. But if I capture you for myself? A risky hunt as well, but one with great potential reward. Whatever am I to do with you? Perhaps I should let you answer for yourself.
Mei Yi pulled out the slip with Carson's comm number on it. She fussed with her hair a moment, checked her clothes, and adjusted the lens over the video screen.
Mei Yi: Record. (She smiled.) Gohn Shi, Carson. You are most skilled to have succeeded in your task. It must have been a sight to see. I am grateful for your kindness considering me. It was ... unexpected given my behavior. I apologize for my rudeness. Persephone is a difficult place for me. My loyalties become much more ... complex. Perhaps we could have that dinner I spoke of one day on some planet besides Persephone. My deepest respect, Mei Yi. (She pressed a button.) Send.
She called up the picture of Richard Swift.
Mei Yi: Now to work on Swift and to figure out just what he did.
The proximity alarm went off. Mei Yi closed the records and called up an outside image. An old man hauling a wheeled spacer's chest by its retractable handle was standing beside the ship. He thumbed the outside intercom.
George: I heard you were looking for a pilot.
Mei Yi was surprised that the man her uncle sent was of European stock. He even dressed in a formal black suit. She opened the airlock to talk to him face to face.
Mei Yi: Yes. I am the captain of Golden Lotus. Call me Mei-mei.
George: I am George Lovas, Captain Mei-mei. I have my credentials here: registered pilot for medium and light spacecraft.
Mei Yi: Bring them up.
George bumped his wheeled luggage up the folding stairs to the bridge airlock. A violin case was strapped atop the chest. He handed Mei Yi his papers. Mei Yi eyed the case, then examined the papers.
Mei Yi: We will lift as soon as my engineer gets back. First on the agenda is a trip to Jamal Brown's warehouse for cargo, and then we lift for Whitefall.
George: So I am hired?
Mei Yi: Of course.
George: About my fee?
Mei Yi: How about 25 credits, room, and board for the journey to Whitefall? If you do well, maybe a bonus or we can extend the position. Given the size of the cargo, I may make runs to several moons, and might need a permanent pilot.
George: Trial rates until I prove myself? I can live with that. A local run to start with is good. I need to familiarize myself with the controls.
Mei Yi: Let me show you a cabin for your gear.
Later, Ecclesiastes arrived, and noticed the pilot at the bridge.
Ecclesiastes: Uh, hello.
Mei Yi: George Lovas, this is our engineer.
George: Glad to meet you, young man.
Ecclesiastes: Ecclesiastes. Zee. Glad to meet you too. Excuse me. I have to stow this food.
Ecclesiastes headed up to the galley. Mei Yi followed him off the bridge.
Ecclesiastes: What's going on?! You have a bruise on the side of your face!
Mei Yi: Remember that Raptor-class ship that landed before you left?
Ecclesiastes: Yes.
Mei Yi: I went over to meet its captain, Carson Thomas Wu, a most fascinating man. Young, masculine, owns his own ship, fights well too.
Ecclesiastes: You fought him?
Mei Yi: He was opposed to the Water Dragon Associates. He spirited away a man that they were after. So our investors are sending me after them to track them.
Ecclesiastes: That's all? (He gave her a knowing look.)
Mei Yi: They sent us a pilot, too. We have to keep up with that Raptor.
Ecclesiastes: Mei-mei, that ain't going to happen. The Raptor-class cruises faster than us at hard burn.
Mei Yi: I was hoping that if they sent a pilot, they would pay for him. They didn't. Mostly I wanted time to think instead of having to fly this ship. Dealing with our investors is complicated, and Carson and Swift are mysteries.
George Lovas hollered up from the bridge.
George: A message has arrived from a Mr. Wu for the captain.
Mei Yi: I don't want to receive that in front of the pilot. He might be a little insurance from our investors.
Ecclesiastes: Insurance?
Mei Yi: The man carried a violin case. The Water Dragon deals with guns, not violins. He might not be just a pilot, no matter what they said.
Ecclesiastes: You can take the call in my room on the source box.
Mei Yi: Will you make sure that he doesn't listen in?
Ecclesiastes: Sure, I'll ask him some questions.
Mei Yi headed down to Ecclesiastes' cabin and cleared away some stuffed toys to take the call on the source box.
Carson: (recorded message): Xiao shao jeh, my apologies for leaving you without saying good-bye. I left you in friendly hands, that was all I could do in the rush of the moment. I would like to have that dinner with you, when not entangled by complex loyalties. Perhaps we will see each other again, somewhere in the 'Verse. Wu out.
Mei Yi: Save message to permanent file. Now, let's check the message header and find out where he sent it from.
Mei Yi fiddled with the source box, nodded in satisfaction, and departed Ecclesiastes' cabin. She headed to the bridge.
Mei Yi: Time to pick up our cargo.
With Mei Yi's guidance, George lifted the ship and started off at cruising altitude. As they departed the area of the Eavesdown docks, the view dipped down to show a bleary-eyed Chinese man walking into the docks checking a map.
Golden Lotus flew to Jamal Brown's warehouse. Jamal had two conexes, full-size cargo containers marked with the ubiquitous Blue Sun logo, laying out ready for aerial pickup. Mei Yi headed out to talk with Jamal, and then called George via her remote comm to load the conexes.
On the bridge, Ecclesiastes was pointing out some switches and cameras to George.
Ecclesiastes: These haul the conexes up into the cargo bays.
George: So you don't have a cargo hold?
Ecclesiastes: No, this ship is a retrofit from a missile boat. We don't do things the easy way. We haul up cargo containers into the former missile bays.
George: While hovering.
Ecclesiastes: No, the cranes can't reach down that far. You have to land on top of them. Mei-mei hates that.
George: Okay, I'll see what I can do.
Golden Lotus lifted into the air and then slid over above the paired conexes. Then it slowly and carefully descended down.
Mei Yi (wincing): Jamal, are both conexes exactly the right distance apart?
Jamal: Don't worry. At least this pilot takes both at once, instead of one at a time like you.
The cargo bay hatches on Golden Lotus opened up and the ship descended onto the conexes. The roar of the thrusters died down and was replaced by the quiet whine of unseen cranes lifting the conexes into the cargo bays. The cargo bay hatches closed.
Jamal: See, no trouble.
Mei Yi: Sheh sheh. I hope we have no trouble selling these shotguns, either.
Mei Yi returned to Golden Lotus. The ship lifted again, but instead of cruising as it did before, its rear primary thruster fired and the ship accelerated and soared high.
Ecclesiastes walked off the bridge to see to the engines for the hard burn.
Soon Golden Lotus cruised in the black of space, and then its rear thruster burst into the bright shining lights of a hard burn, kicking them into interplanetary speed.
Mei Yi was sitting at the comm seat when a message chimed in.
Mei Yi: It's from our investors. I'd best take this one silent.
Mei Yi put on some headphones. Uncle Wen Li's face could be seen speaking, but no sound was heard. He was upset.
The call ended. Mei Yi put down the headphones with grim determination on her face. She stood up, stepped to George, and pressed her derringer to his temple.
Mei Yi: Who are you?! And who do you work for?
Commercial break