"And I thought getting out of bed was going to be the most difficult thing I'd be doing today." Booker smirked at the young man in front of him and looked around the alleyway they were in. He had just been asked to preform a task and help the homeless, and Booker wasn't one to shy away from his good deed for the day. "Alright, I'll do it." He nodded and the young man's face light up. He a part of the homeless community that made up DC, which had been turning in to an interplanetary hub for more than several species. The city had docking yards for ships every couple blocks, and housed the Earth Branch of the Peace Alliance. Many important people lived and worked here, and so many things were happening under their noses.

The two humans walked out of the alleyway and were stopped by The Alliance Police. The young man too a step back in fear that they had overheard what he had said, and Booker took a step back to see just how many of the Police were there. He had been preparing to launch a kick at one of the police members, but he wasn't sure how good it would do. The member in front grabbed one of Booker's arms and started to pull him in to the streets, in the direction of a small hover vehicle. "Hey! I didn't do anything wrong this time! Let go!" Booker struggled, but the Police member was not human, and much stronger than Booker was. The door opened in the vehicle and Booker was thrown in. It had do windows, so he could see out, but it was well light in the passengers area.

Another human was there sitting opposite of him. He was in a dark red suit and had clean cut hair. By looks, he appeared well in to his fifties, but Booker wasn't so sure about his actual age since technology could make anyone look 22 again. The man extended out a hand and gave a calm smile. Booker nodded his head and shook the mans hand in respect, it obvious that the man was very important if he had his own squad of Police force members and a vehicle this fancy. "Booker." He started out. "You and I both know that you've been on both sides of the law, and I was somewhat sad to hear that you left the task force a few months ago." His statement made Booker uncomfortable and confused. He didn't know the man immediately, but if he knew that he was on the Earth Peace Task Force, then the man was more important than he appeared. The task force went to great lengths to keep all of the members classified, ever from each other. All given fake names and faces to make sure that they couldn't ever be traced if captured.

"Booker, I know you aren't comfortable with the law, but we need you right now." He was almost sympathetic, but Booker knew better and also knew that this was only business, and nothing else. "Why me? Can't you just use Warren, or Guardian-"
"No. We need you. and this offer will get you off this planet and in to the stars. Just follow my directions and do what we say, when we occasionally say it." He knew more than he was letting on, and Booker didn't say anything because he knew well that he wouldn't get all of the answers he wanted. The man then handed him a few cards. All of them were labeled, and they were all pass cards, used like credit cards, but only given out by the government. The one in the back though was weird, it seemed like a pass card, but it also said ETU, meaning it was for a ship of some sort. Booker looked up at the man and nodded. "Alright, I'm in. But where and I going to find a crew?"

Doctor Deepwater Ambyss moved about his clinic with the confident stride of a being in complete control of his situation. He would stop occassionally to make corrections here and there to those of his assistants that hadn't yet gotten the sort of experience the good doctor had, or chat on a more personal level with a patient to provide a lift when he think they needed one or just as a way to better gauge their mental and emotional states. Overall, he was very pleased with how his little clinic had progressed over the last year or so.

He was now providing reliable medicine and health advice to one of DCs poorest yet most diverse little sections, often to beings who would otherwise have had no other options. Yes, over the past year he'd fixed up travelers, the elderly, the homeless, the just plain poor, he'd even taken in one or two orphans who'd shown promise as healers and taught them the tricks of his ever-changing trade, along with anyone else who was willing to learn from a five foot tall, over-one-hundred pound "slimy lizard' as he'd occasionally been called. With their help, as word spread of what he was doing he had managed to do even more good. His clientele had expanded to include wealthy landlords looking to get treated on the cheap and even many members of the city's criminal element, seeking treatment from Ambyss when the causes of their ailments and injuries weren't strictly speaking legal. Why just a few weeks ago, the senior members of two of DCs largest street gangs had negotiated a truce right in his little building's front lobby. While waiting to have their wounds treated, naturally.

The doctor had done without ever asking for payment. Ambyss would hardly need the money anyways. Despite his work in the clinic, his research findings were still regularly published in the form of papers and treatises in several different medical journals and other such academic nonsense that were actually willing to pay him for the privilege, as well as the occasional even more prominent former colleague looking to 'borrow' his unique insight. To those in such lofty positions his insight did not come cheaply. Yes, Deepwater Ambyss was certainly pleased with his clinic, his patients and his students.

But in terms of his life, he was barely content. For a while the challenge of setting up shop here, in one of the worst parts of a bustling city, had been enough for him. There had been much to learn about human physiology, and the other local difficulties of corrupt government officials and gangs who didn't understand or approve of his vision had kept him occupied for a time. But now, with things finally going well he was feeling the need to move on again to some other desperate place. Anywhere that wasn't Caudela anyways, seeing as he'd had his fill of trying to help his homeworld some time ago.

Of course Ambyss couldn't leave quite yet. His students were certainly capable enough of taking his place, but rumors had suddenly started flying in that the local noble thief upon which many of his patients depended had gotten himself arrested. That would mean crackdowns on the populace to set an example of what happened when you supported those who stole, if Ambyss interpreted things right, and that would mean a sudden influx of patients, some of whom might only live or die in the very best hands.

So for a while, Ambyss would have to stay.

The NAPA dive bar, 'The Brown Jug', was packed that evening, wall-to-wall with young men and women in shining Academy uniforms, and the air was full of cheer and revelry as the class of 3025 celebrated its graduation after six long and difficult years. It was a small and grimy place, beneath the New Orleans Port Authority building where hundreds upon hundreds of intraspace crafts from all over the known universe would dock and unload their goods and passengers, but it was a favorite of the Academy students. That night drinks flowed freely, shots were in hand the instant they touched the bar, and just about everyone was red-faced and merry as they grasped the shoulders of the classmates and handed out hearty 'Congratulations!' like it was going out of style. At the bar was sat a beautiful young woman in a pristine cadet's uniform, her curly crimson locks overflowed over her shoulders and down her back and made her crystal blue eyes shine all the brighter as her red heart-shaped lips curled ever-so-slightly as she turned away yet another drunken man offering to buy her a drink.

He'd watched her for the past few minutes: carefully studying the way her hand used a straw to twirl the ice-cubes in her glass, the way her unclouded eyes searched the face of every man who stumbled into her presence. She was looking, but these run-of-the-mill drunkards weren't enough to interest her and the way she slowly sipped at her drink meant she was too smart to be an easy score. He liked a good chase and so, like another challenger entering the ring, he downed the last bit of beer in his glass and slid up to the bar just a few feet away from her. With a flick of a few fingers he ordered another beer from the over-worked bartenders and then settled into looking the red-head's way with a perfectly practiced expression of perturbed curiosity. After a few moment she noticed his glances and a meticulously manicured eyebrow arched in curiosity but he pretended not to notice her attention, as if his mind was working through a puzzle. This sort of tactic might have turned some women off immediately but he was smart and he knew her own curiosity mixed with her boredom would get the better of her and so it was that after a pause she slid closer with a slightly annoyed expression, one she was working hard to maintain, and her ruby lips pursed. "Is there a problem?"

He blinked rapidly as if being shaken from his thoughts and refocused on her with an expression that said he was shocked to find her speaking to him. "Oh, I'm sorry, miss! I was lost in thought." His dialect was distinctly southern, distinctly Texan if you knew what you were listening for, and after hearing his excuse the red-head simply rolled her eyes and turned away.

"I'm sure your mind is quite a cavernous place and easy to get lost in. I hope you find your way home."

The corner of his thin mouth turned up for just an instant as her eyes left him and he spoke up quickly. "Actually, you know I do have a problem." She looked back, clearly caught off guard by the bold remark. Grabbing his beer and dropping a few credits on the bar, he slid closer so that every word would be heard. "Ya'know I spent six years bein' taught about every known corner of th'universe an' not one textbook... not one holoslide ever mentioned anything as beautiful as you." The cornyness of it took a moment to register but when it did her mouth curled into an amused smirk. "It just really makes me wonder where they're allocatin' all them tuition dollars we paid."

"Has that line ever worked?" She asked with a genuine smile, blue eyes searching him even more intently as if trying to figure out if there was something behind the obvious facade.

He took a sip of his drink and flashed a brilliant white-teethed smile. "I'll let'ya know as soon as the results from the trial run are in."

Never losing her bemused smirk, she extended a delicate hand. "Christine."

"Th'name's Leo." He replied as they shook.

--------------------

The following morning, Leo was awoken rather abruptly by a pounding at his apartment door. He rolled to the edge of the bed, blinking in the sunlight that seemed painfully bright, while his cloudy mind tried to make sense of where he was and how he got there. The pounding proved persistent, however, and after having enough sense to throw on a pair of faded blue jeans in case whoever thought to bother him at 11am didn't appreciate seeing him in the nude, he flung the door open with a groggy, "What the hell is'it?"

"Mr. Leo Erickson." The short, thirty-something year old woman standing in the doorway responded with a hard, emotionless look as her eyes analysed him in an instant. "Your assigment has come in and we've come to collect you. Please dress yourself appropriately and I will escort you to the transport."

"Wh-wait what?" Leo replied as he tried to force his mind to sober in light of this surprising and rather unorthodox situation. "M-my assignment? Command told me I'd have'ta wait two weeks for my assignment! 'Also assumed they'd give me a holocall... or send an email at least."

Her expression never faltered in the slightest as she gave him a stoney-gaze. "Your assignment is... unique and you are to report immediately. I have the order here if you'd like to take a look at it but our superiors don't like to wait." She flashed a PDA Holopad but Leo simply blinked and shook his head.

"Okay, well I guess I'll start packin' or somethin'..." He was about to turn away but she immediately stepped forward in typical military fashion.

"That won't be necessary. All that is currently required is your uniform and any PDA or personal effects. We will see that your possession are safely packed and delivered to your post." Turning stiffly, she signaled to the row of expressionless men, all wearing military fatigue and carrying large crates marked with the 'Alliance Property' stamp, that Leo had not even noticed standing in the hall. They moved through the door and immediately went about gathering his possessions without so much as a word to him.

"H-hey, what the hell y'all doin'!" The Texan began to protest as his annoyance boiled through his hangover. "Hey! Be careful with that! Now c'mon, what the hell-"

"Mr. Erickson." The woman interrupted with a stern tone that showed she was clearly not amused. "We will see to your things, if you'd please go get dressed? I have orders to assist you if that proves to be too difficult for you."

Not missing the hidden meaning behind her words, Leo's mouth drew into an annoyed line but before he could respond a groggy call came from the bedroom door. "Leo...?" The red-head muttered, one hand clinging to the sheet wrapped around her curvy form while the other rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "What the... what the hell is going on?"

With an apologetic smirk and a shrug to the military commander who now narrowed her eyes, Leo looked to the red-head and flashed his brilliant, mischievous smile. "Sorry darlin'... duty calls."

"You'll get one. You always seem to find a group of some sort, whether it be as a cadet, in the task force, or on the streets. I know you can assemble a crew" The man looked to Booker and nodded. It just seemed to get more and more of for him, as this man knew Booker inside and out. it frightened him, but he knew it was expected since the man in front of him was probably a part of the military, or Alliance. He had more questions to ask the man, but he knew he wouldn't get the answers he wanted. after sitting in the silence for a moment, the man leaned forward and looked at soon to be Captain. "You're dismissed." He said simply, telling Booker that he had no more business with him and the door opened with a Alliance Policeman on the other side.

Booker nodded to the man and stepped out of the vehicle. "I assume I'll be hearing more from you, sir?" He asked the man. He only nodded before the door was shut and the vehicle took off. the policemen that were just around him disappeared in to the crowds around him and just left Booker to be by himself. He looked down and at the cards in his hand, examining them again. He looked to the one in the back, the one marked ETU, and knew that was the first thing on his shopping list.

It didn't take long for the young man that was present earlier to return, and he looked at Booker with a worried face. Booker simply shook his had at the young man as he continued to walk through the streets. "Don't worry, I didn't get in trouble or anything, it was just...." He drifted off when he remembered that the alliance loved secrecy when it came to some things, especially when it came to low key units. It was starting to make a little sense to him, but some things he still couldn't figure out.

"Well, Booker, is seems you have quite the cash on you now." He young man looked down to the cards in Booker hand, which forced Booker to put them in the pocket of his pants. It wasn't to hide them from the boy, but just so people couldn't steal them. Booker nodded and continued to walk the streets, making his way down to one of the best dock yards in D.C. He also loved this certain one since it was Alliance funded, and he could use all of his new earned money there. He didn't know what to tell the boy, so he simply kept quiet the rest of the way and went to the Alliance Docks.

Sarthis stared at his computer monitor. Reading the thirty-two page security report he'd spend the day writing, re-comparing everything he'd written to the notes that lay scattered about his desk. He'd spent the two days previous taking these notes for a navigational components manufacturer that wanted a second opinion. The companies security was contracted to Dynamic Securities, they held security contract for most of the major corporations in DC but managers of individual facilities were encouraged to get second opinions from smaller contractors just to keep their main contractor honest.

He started comparing some suggestions he'd made on the security entrance to the north of the facility to the official grounds layout, remembering how the head of security had looked when Sarthis had requested them. You'd think he'd asked the man to part with one of his arms, and was understandable now that Sarthis had had gotten the plan thanks in part to the building manager contacting one of his higher ups. Turns out that the scanners the security contractors had installed were far from adequate as they were only designed to detect stolen merchandise, despite the fact that companies involved in the manufacture and distribution of parts involved in the creation of space faring vessels were required to have sensors capable of detecting weapons and explosives.

Sarthis had called yesterday informing his client of this, seeing as how they were probably going to file a civil suit against their security contractor this report was going to need to be flawless. He reached for the mug sitting on his desk as it added to the plethora of rings that had accumulated over the day and drained the last of the black coffee. One of the few foods he'd grown to truly enjoy that was native to earth. He typed out the last few paragraphs of his report before sighing in triumph at its completion and inserted it in an email, including the bill for the three days work. After sending it he checked the time on his computer, it read 19:46, Sarthis had some trouble getting used to the shorter days here. Having to switch from a thirty-four to a twenty-four hour day meant having to stay awake for less and sleep for only six or eight hours instead of his usual ten.
He shut down the computer and filed away his notes and the schematics in his over-stuffed filing cabinet. He made a note to get another cabinet before he closed up his his small rented office, locking the door with the words "Security Consultant" on the door. After taking public transit back to his apartment he heated some leftover food that he'd gotten from the one of the only grocers in the area that sold food from his home world.

As he sat and ate, Sarthis wondered if this was enough. His latest client was about as exciting as things got, though part of him was okay with it. But then he thought back to when he'd joined his planets security forces, how he'd done it because he was doing good and not just keeping companies investments safe. He found himself missing that, missing that feeling of knowing you've done something good today. He thought of what he wouldn't give to feel like that again.