Whirrr.... CLUNK

"That's not good."

Amira and Rand immediately strapped themselves in as Adam jumped down the ladder to the engine room. "Switch power to backup engines," Rand ordered.

Amira flipped a few switches. "Got it." The entire airship shook and a plume of white smoke billowed out of the engine.

"Steer us to the docks. We can still make it."

"Right."

Rand switched on the channel to the engine room as Amira guided them through the sky. "How's it going, Adam?"

"We should make it," Adam shouted over the noise in the background. "But don't take your eyes off that altitude meter."

"Roger." Amira glanced at it as she brought them closer to the docks.

"We'll need some repairs, but we shouldn't drop," Adam continued.

"Keep us in the sky for now," Rand ordered. "We'll talk later."

--

They made it in relative safety to the docks, the engine still smoking. "Good news and bad news," Adam told them after speaking to a local mechanic. "I can get the parts we need, but they don't sell them here and we don't have the space on the scout ship. Who wants to see about getting a ride?"

Both of them looked at Amira. "Three to Galeton, then."

"And quickly," Rand added. "I don't want to get too far behind schedule."

Amira nodded and headed off to find someone to talk to.

"Don't forget soups. And Dee needs more wet food. She's got plenty of crunchies. And we need beer."

The young man exhaled shortly in amusement and switched the communicator to his other hand. ”I’ll get what I can carry, all right?" he said, approaching the small dry goods and light-grocery store in the a small, but busy alleyway in the sky-port section of Renescentia.

"You shoulda brought the Sky-Board. Put stuff on it and -"

"I'll see you in a bit." He quickly ended the call and slid the communicator back into the pouch at his waist. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "That man talks way too much," he murmured as he rapped on the door loudly. Within a moment, the middle-aged owner was at the door and unlatching it.

"Tal! Buddy, you're back in town!" the man exclaimed, pulling the young man into a quick embrace. The owner looked at the digital display behind the counter. "A few minutes earlier than last time, eh? You were here quarter to two the other... How long's it been?"

Tal chuckled as he stepped into the store. "It's been about three months since I was last in Renescentia, Owen," he answered, paying a quarter-tayl to rent a shopping cart.

Owen walked around the counter and leaned on it. "How's work? Still staying right side of the law, I hope?"

Tal nodded while he selected a large package of canned cat food. "Mostly," he replied cryptically, moving onto canned soups. Since none of the shelves were much higher than his shoulders, it was easy enough to maintain eye contact with the owner while he shopped, though he had to raise his voice in order for the man to hear him.

"Any military favors?"

"A few - You know that’s all classified info, Owen." Tal stopped talking so that he could focus on reading the ingredients listed in a box of sauce mix. Tal continued to scoot around the store, looking for items that he could carry with him back to the airship. "A few calls here and there,” he continued, “Mostly just checking in and what not. Making sure I’m still up to date on training."

"Your ship still airborne or has it become a rust bucket?" Owen fiddled with the register and tidied up the counter while he waited.

Tal made his way back to the front and stopped at the counter. He began unloading his cart. "She's flying fine. Needs a few parts to keep her from rumbling too loudly, but I'll have to get those in Galeton. This place is too expensive. Got any work for me?"

Owen began tallying the items and calculating the final cost. "What's your fancy?”

Tal shrugged and helped package the supplies into a carrying carton. “Nothing too terrible. Preferably something heading to Galeton, since that’s where we’re going anyways.”

Owen checked a scrolling chart by the register. “Nothing headed that way. But I’ll give you a heads up, if I get anything. How long’re you gonna be in town?”

Tal fiddled with his credit card while he thought. “Rei’s got a class he’s attending on Thursday… So that’s… We’ll be here about a week and a half, maybe? We have a show we want to see on Saturday.”

"Danny still visiting her parents?" Owen craned his neck around to look at the calendar behind him. “Not too many days for me to get something for you,” he commented. “But you always luck out somehow.” Owen waggled his fingers at Tal for payment. “Thirty-four fifty.”

Tal handed over his credit card and stared out the double-glass windows at the opposite wall of the alley. “Lucky in strange ways, I guess. We’ve had a few close calls. Yeah, she's with her dad. Oh!” He looked back at Owen as the man slid his credit card through the card reader. "We upgraded Sparrow with a few new rooms, more storage... Might not be a bad deal to have a few extra hands. Could allow us to take on larger work orders. So if you’ve got anyone looking for a ride, we could do some short term stuff.”

Owen handed the card back and raised both hands. “I’ll see what I can do, kid. It’s not like I get out of this shop that often, you know that.”

Tal nodded, "I know that.” He picked up his groceries box and headed for the door. He paused before opening the door and turned back. “Just, uh… Owen? This time? Make sure they’ve been on an airship before."

Owen laughed and waved him out of the store. “Will do! Will do!”

Adam and Rand looked at each other once Amira had run off. "I should probably put out that coolant fire," Adam mentioned.

"Probably?" Rand asked, but Adam was already on his way back into the ship.

Rand pulled out his phone and dialed his boss. "We made it to Renescentia, but we're stuck here with engine trouble until we can get parts in Galeton."

"So you're behind schedule?"

"We're about to be."

"Can you get to Galeton?"

"Amira's looking for a ride. I'm going to stock up on supplies while she's gone. Adam's putting out a fire. We'll stay in touch."

"All right. Talk to you later."

"You too."

--

Three looking for passage to Galeton

Pilot, navigator, and mechanic will pay for
passage on airship to pick up large parts in
Galeton. Will negotiate for price.
Contact Amira at XXX-XXX

~

Amira hung the notice on a bulletin board near the docks. She perused the other notices, not finding exactly what she was looking for, and then headed back to look for the others.

Rand hadn't returned, but Adam had emerged dirty and smelling a little singed. He headed off to the shower while Amira waited by the phone for a call.

It was a long walk back to where he had parked his airship; the supplies getting heavier by the minute. By the time he reached the base of the entry ladder on the side of the ship to rest, he was yawning widely and his shoulders were aching. He managed to flip open the protective cover for the intercom system and leaned his elbow against the call button. He waited a long moment, shifting the box’s weight from hip to hip, before the camera zoomed in on his face and the speaker crackled.

“Sup, cap?”

“Open the side door and lower the ramp from the cargo bay, please. Before my arms fall off.”

The man chuckled. “Will do. Half a moment.”

The intercom shut off. Tal struggled to close the protective cover again. With a tired and slightly annoyed grunt, he smacked it with his elbow and was rewarded with a loud click as the cover snapped back into place. He readjusted the heavy supply box once again and then made his way to the back of the ship. As he rounded the corner, he saw the regular-sized door open and a ramp slid down for him. “Thanks, Rei.” He walked up the relatively steep incline onto the ship.

The silhouette of a tall, broad-shouldered man formed in the soft lights from the cargo hold, his face shadowed because of the low light. He retracted the ramp and shut the door. “Want me to take that? You looked wiped.”

“I am. And, please.” Tal handed off the box of supplies to the taller man. He followed him to the elevator and stepped inside, massaging his shoulders. “I saw Owner at the shop.”

“Mm… How he’s doing?”

“He’s doing pretty well. I told him to keep an eye out for any odd jobs that we could take on heading to Galeton. Probably gonna get some new crew for a bit.”

Rei raised an eyebrow. “Oh? We in the hiring gig now? Thought you said we’d hold off for a while.”

Tal rubbed his face and stepped out onto the main level. He made his way to the small kitchen and rummaged in the fridge. “We could use the extra income with Danny and her books on hiatus for a few weeks. You know things have been a bit tight with Rin’s expenses. Anything’ll help for now until Danny gets back.”

Rei carried the box over to the low step-stool and set it down. He looked through the items and moved the perishable things to the fridge. “D’you know how many? We only got so much room on this rig.”

Tal pulled out a bottle of flavored water. “I am well aware of that, but, like I said, it’ll just be until Danny gets back. You can leave the rest for later. We had better turn in or we won’t be up for the meeting tomorrow.”

“Roger that. I’ll do the last rounds and make sure we’re locked up for the night.”

“Night.”



Owen made his way towards the docks early the next morning. He had a shipment coming in by water and was anxious to make sure it had arrived. The last time he had purchased any of his merchandise from their neighbor to the south, his items had arrived four months late, soaked, and could not be sold. As he passed the large collective of bulletin boards lining the entrance to the dock walkway, he decided to see if anything new had popped up for his favorite shippers. He perused the many slips of papers, a thin curl of smoke from his cigarette trailing upwards. After a moment, he reached up and smoothed down one of the newest notes. He took a deep breath of his cigarette while he thought. Then he slipped the note off of the bulletin board and took it with him, tucking it down into the inner pocket of his jacket.

After checking on his merchandise, Owen headed back to his little shop. He reached into his inner pocket for his lighter and rediscovered the bulletin note. He pulled it out and looked at the contact number. He slid his communicator out of his other pocket and flipped it open. He dialed the young captain’s code and waited for someone to answer. After a moment, he heard someone pick up.

“Good morning. Sparrow Transport Services. How may I help you?”

Owen chuckled. “Mornin’, Rei.”

The voice on the other end snorted. “Hey, old man. What’chu want?”

Owen stopped outside his shop and finished up his cigarette. “Might have found a job for you kids. Is your cap around?”

“He’s just finishing up some notes from the meeting this morning. Half a sec. Lemme see if he can come chat.” There was the sound of muted footsteps across polished metal flooring and a door sliding open.

Owen waited patiently and in within the minute, he heard the young captain approach the communicator.

“Hi, Owen?”

“I got a crew looking for a trip to Galeton,” Owen said, reading off of the note in his hand. “Three members: pilot, mechanic, and navigator. Says they need transport for large parts and will negotiate a price. You got any interest?”

“Large parts? How large?”

“Doesn’t say specifically. Interested?” Owen finished his cigarette and switched his communicator to his other hand. There was a long pause. He could swear he could something vibrating near the microphone and then realized it was a cat purring. There was a crash somewhere in the background. When Tal spoke again, he sounded as though he were anxious to get off the com.

“Find out what they’re willing to pay - specifically find out their highest and their minimum. Contact me when you know. Don’t tell them who you’re calling for. I need to go.”

“Got it. Take care.” Owen had barely finished talking when he heard the connection drop. The shop owner sighed and closed his communicator. “Busy kids.” He read the contact info on the note and took a deep breath. He inputted the code into his communicator and waited for someone on the other end to answer.

:: See OOC post 2 ::