Captain Crowe & William Harper
Harper had the notion that he was completely alone inside that ship. It took him just a little by surprise when the magnetic docking clamps let go of the newly christened
Prometheus, though logically, that would indicate that the final papers had been signed and they would be ready to depart as soon as they wished. All he had to do now was take in the feel of the vessel. It kind of felt like freedom.
What he
didn't know was that Anisa was already on board, waiting for her moment to startle her pilot half to death. When she appeared, seemingly solidifying from the shadows, and mentioned that they were ahead of schedule, he very nearly leapt out of his skin. Perhaps it was an overly cautious instinct from his very recent years, but it was a little unnerving that he didn't notice her board the ship, apparently shortly after himself. The more relaxed and mildly unhinged Harper tightened into something a little more professional as soon as he heard Captain Crowe, though when she suggested that he take the Prometheus out for a test spin, just the two of them, a semi-deranged grin began to part his features.
"The reactors are powered up and diagnostics are almost finished. Would the Captain of the Prometheus care to ignite the engines, Ma'am?" Anisa glanced over towards Harper and noted the expression on his features. She hadn't noticed she had caught him off guard, far too busy taking in the bridge at the time when she came in. Yet now she wasn't sure if he was about to go serial killer on her or just feeling like a child on a holiday morning about to open presents. She went with the latter considering she was feeling the same way. It wasn't everyday a Captain was able to purchase a new ship free and clear. A slow grin crept across her lips as her eyes locked with Harpers. Stepping over Anisa set in the key sequence and the engines ignited, coming to life.
"Shiny," she said as she took a seat in the co-pilots chair. Sure she was the captain but Harper was her Lead Pilot now, she wanted to see not only what her ship could do but what he could as well.
"Show me what's she got." "Yes ma'am." Harper responded with restrained enthusiasm, already moving to sit at the helm. He could feel the hum of the engine through his hands, its return to life coursing through him like adrenaline in his blood. His eyes scanned the sensor console, noting local atmospheric traffic. Clear enough. Now was as good a time as any to get this machine in the air. Harper shifted the ship's two main thrusters to vertical takeoff position and dialed up the power. Coupled with basic grav assist, the Prometheus lifted gently into the sky. As they rose, Harper put the ship into a gentle rotation, giving himself and Anisa a sweeping, panoramic view of Newhope.
"Engine is operating optimally and we are fully open to hit the Black. Once around the planet then, Captain?" Anisa's face broke into a sly grin as the corner of her mouth curled upward. It was a rare thing for Anisa to look happy in any respect but once again it wasn't every day that a captain got a new ship. Lacing her fingers together she leaned up a bit as her head turned slightly to face Harper.
"If you push this gorham ship enough we might get two rounds about the planet before wes need to be back," she said in a cocky voice as a single brow rose.
"Like I said, show me what she's got. I mean really got," she added as she leaned back in her seat and got comfortable. She wanted to see not only what the ship had but what Harper had.
Harper recorded their present planetary coordinates and confirmed the beacon signal from the Newhope Docks. When he took this grand machine off for his joyride, he was going to want to be able to locate their landing point without having to pull in someplace and ask for directions. It just wouldn't be fitting for their first outing. Naturally, it wasn't the most dignified thing in the 'Verse to seize upon the first section of clear sky and punch it, realigning the thrusters horizontally and pushing the Prometheus from a passive hover into a directed
charge, parting the skyways around them. The ship screamed skyward, and for a moment, there was only the three of them: Harper, Anisa - and Prometheus.
To begin with, he kept it at moderate altitude and watched the landscape change from urban/residential to the as yet untouched wilderness of grass, water, and mountain. He slid the vessel back and forth laterally, occasionally dipping low to buzz the ground, only to funnel more power into the grav system and take them up high. He followed a generally straightforward course, until he realized with a smile that he was still only using atmospheric thrust. Still smiling, he turned to Anisa.
"You might want to buckle up, Captain. The boot's about to arm wrestle with local gravity." He returned his attention to the console and visuals, quickly moving one hand to take his own advice. He clasped the belt at his waist and the two over his shoulders, and sat back, waiting for his moment.
Anisa smirked a bit but nodded and slipped on her restraints, locking herself into place. Seemed that Harper was finally going to get serious with this little test fly they were doing. In all honesty she had already taken the Prometheus out for a test flight before she purchased it. What type of captain would buy a ship without a test drive? One that wouldn't be captain for long that was for sure. Yet she hadn't pushed the vessel as hard as it could go, she knew that. Sure she had piloting skills but piloting wasn't what she did on a day to day basis. She needed an actual pilot for that. She had wanted to bring Daphne along but her attitude as of late was less than optimal. The girl had a few things to learn before she would be handed over another ship of Anisa's fully.
The moment came as they were approaching a rock face, a grey, craggy barricade designed by Providence to destroy anything that was stupid enough to fly directly into it. One might have heard a sly, slightly crazed chuckle issue from the ordinarily stalwart man's lips. Granted, it wasn't the last possible second that Harper pulled the ship into a steep climb, but it might have seemed like it. For a second, all that was visible from the windows was mountainside, but the next, all one could see was sky. He pushed the Prometheus as hard as its atmospheric thrust would allow until at long last they broke free of Newhope's atmosphere, revealing the infinite expanse of star dotted blackness stretching beyond the perception of man or technology.
"Someone's enjoying himself," Anisa said with a chuckle. It wasn't something she did often and it didn't even occur to her that she had yet to actually laugh around Harper. This was a first. Then again, this was the first time she was just allowing herself to enjoy what a ship could do in a very long time. Last time had been when she bought the Vengeance, such a long time ago. Maybe this was something she needed to do more often.
The light from the planet below was still illuminating the edges of their vision, and while Harper took in the sight of it all, he realized that he couldn't just
keep going, no matter how much the idea appealed to him. Slowly, he reoriented the ship parallel to the surface of Newhope and kept going just outside of the atmosphere, with the Black above them and the planet below, glowing white-blue like a vast, illuminated ocean.
Now he could take full advantage of the craft's engine, now that they were unencumbered by atmosphere. Seamlessly, Harper spurred the Prometheus to maximum speed. The clearer view of the planet below began to race by as they traversed land and weather systems at rapid pace, circumnavigating the great, spinning globe of Newhope.
"Now that is quite the view," Anisa mused to herself as the watched the scenery go by. Yes, this ship was perfect for her and her crew. Whoever that ended up being. Right then she didn't really know anymore but from the looks of things and how Harper was acting flying Prometheus, he was at least going to be part of it. Leaning back in her seat Anisa's mind went to Jackson. She missed him. Maybe it was good that she had decided not to try to go back and retrieve the Vengeance. Captaining that ship just wouldn't seem right without him by her side.
Harper brought the ship down to the lowest point possible without actually touching the edge of the denser atmosphere, then inexplicably turned the engines to idle, cutting power to the thrusters altogether. The Prometheus, still coasting at near top speed, dipped into the stratosphere and was immediately flung back upward, skipping like a stone upon the water. Once, twice, three times Prometheus skipped upon the thickening air of Newhope before Harper re-fired the thrusters. He chuckled to himself. It was a silly, childish thing to do, one that got many newbie pilots grounded or kicked out of the Alliance training program altogether. Damn it was fun, though. And speaking of fun, after that third jump, Harper piloted the ship into a high loop and descended back toward the planet's surface.
Noting the coordinates on his display, Harper brought the Prometheus in line for their jumping-off point.
"We're coming up on the Docks in approximately two minutes, Captain. Orders?" Coming out of her thoughts of Jackson and the time they had spent together on the Vengeance, Anisa snapped back into captain mode. All joy she had let slip through the cracks vanishing from her expression as she looked straight ahead.
"The Retribution should have been picked up by now by the buyer. Set Prometheus down at the docks so we can get her loaded." Her voice was still and even as she spoke.
"Your room will be the second on the left from the Bridge as you exit, across from my quarters," she added out of the blue. Seemed Harpers position as her main pilot had just been solidified considering he would be bunking alongside the Captain and her second now.
"Aye aye, Captain." His earlier slip into hysterical glee was tucked aside, covered by his more dominant persona of the dutiful officer. Harper cleared his throat and reduced speed to something more fitting the circumstance of coming up on an inhabited, urban area. He picked up the beacon leading them to the Newhope Docks and followed it in, sending a request to land to their control tower. When he received confirmation, Harper looked at the dock number and location with some disbelief.
"Strange." he said aloud, motioning to Anisa,
"I already landed a boat in that exact location today. Go figure." The Prometheus descended onto the space in the Newhope Docks very recently occupied by the
I.A.V. Retribution, powered down, and opened its main Cargo door. Time to introduce the crew to their new home.
Dr. Dorothy & His Foyness
Fu... sion... HA!
Dorothy took in Foy's advice and mulled over the options. There was little sense in ducking into a shop that sold books or toys. A bleeding woman would both stand out and be unable to find much in the way of aid there. The dress shop and the leather shop both would have something that could be used to bind a wound. Overhearing some well dressed women making comments about how they hoped the dressmaker's shop would stay closed, Dorothy frowned.
"Does it strike you as funny that a dress shop is closed this time of day?" Dorothy asked. The leather maker's shop was open and almost seemed cheerful. But the dress shop would have both shelter and something to bind the wound with. Dorothy hadn't spotted the blood on the ground in the leather maker's shop.
"I reckon we should start with the dress shop." "Without question, dear woman." Foy's voice was quieter. He glanced around the crowd for a second, trying to ascertain if anyone in particular was watching the pair. They were a bit disheveled, Foy in particular, and hoped that they were not given too much in the way of scrutiny. To avoid being any more conspicuous than they already might be, the wiry gentleman stepped in close to Dorothy, even going so far as to place a hand on her waist in a manner that suggested more intimacy than they felt for each other. His quiet voice continued,
"Do not mistake my intentions, Doctor. My druthers are that we be viewed a tourist couple rather than ardent trackers, at least for social eyes at the present." He put on a bright, smiling face and drew his posture tall, pointing out toward a couple of the busier merchants as if to indicate willingness to take his "ladyfriend" to these places.
Despite Foy's explanation for his actions, Dorothy couldn't help but blush. It had been a while since a man had placed his hand on her waist. She did her very best to appear relaxed and at ease with his company, allowing herself to be in close proximity to him, smiling even.
"Were any shop closed up tight during a day of fiscal activity, I would pose query." he was still smiling, still pointing, though now at a different store he had no actual intention of visiting.
"But if madame would surreptitiously view the open-air purveyor of hides and furs directly across the thoroughfare from the Dressmaker's... One might see a smattering of trampled sanguineous fluid. If I might hazard a suggestion? I shall give a cursory perusal of the Leather Goods Shop, and you pry into the Dressmaker's business." Foy's voice returned to his normal, cocky levels.
"Come along then, my little Plum Dumpling! What say you? Later on, I shall take us for some sugared butter shavings! Ho hooo...." Dorothy blinked for a moment. She felt sorry for any girl that Foy
actually was trying to woo, if he called them a little Plum Dumpling.
"That sounds shiny," Dorothy replied, barely stomaching Foy's fake flirtations. It was taking all the stamina she had to not say
gorrham it and to just head off by herself. But it was the most efficient way to catch the spy, so she'd tolerate it for now.
Foy was no fool, and a generally astute observer of the human scene. Dorothy's nuances of something bordering on actual revulsion were apparent to the man, but he was beginning to delight in this improvised back-and-forth.
"Oh it positively is shiny, is it not, dearest? I must admit, I'm finding your outing quite invigorating! Despite my misgivings, Nummy Muffins, I'm having quite the occasion!" he laughed, stepping back toward the open Leatherworker's Shop.
"Just give a mild clamor if you need me, yes?" A tip of the cap back to Dorothy, and Foy edged into the shop. He inquired of the ragged man inside,
"I say, sir... I'm looking for something in the way of a Madison or a McKay, possibly even an Oxford style shoe, if you've it. Foy did actually want, nay,
require a new pair of shoes right then, but it also served to open potentially lucrative conversation. He pulled out his wallet, then motioned to the stains on the ground.
"Oh I say, is someone injured?" The older man looked up and over towards Foy, his eyes giving the man the once over and his brow cocking as he noticed the man had one shoe on. "I should be asking you the same gorham question," he said motioning towards the double socked covers extremity. Setting down the needle and thread he shook his head. "It's none of your concern," he added as he tossed a rag down over the blood and stepped closer to the dapperly dressed gentleman. "Let me see your feet," he said motioning towards the sock covered one.
Having Foy wander off by himself did wonders for Dorothy's move. She had nearly vomited a little in her mouth at Foy's continued use of pet names. A brutal scolding by Anisa was almost preferable to Foy's so called charm at this point. Straightening herself up a little bit in order to look a bit more respectable, Dorothy headed over to the dressmaker's shop. The place was clearly shut down and Dorothy put her hand on the door knob, testing it delicately to see if it was unlocked or not. Entering with a bit of stealth likely would have been best. But if it was locked, she'd just have to pretend to be just another of Newhope's tourists and get entry that way.
"Ah yes, I did stumble into a bit of misadventure, shopkeep, heartily explaining requirement for new footwear!" Foy bent down and peeled off the unfortunate pair of socks from his foot. He used the opportunity to take a closer look area surrounding the spotting of blood on the floor (as the blood itself was now concealed by a rag), curious to see if this was an unrelated injury sustained by the haggard man, or if this could have anything to do with their present activity.
"Though to be curt about circumstances, my merchantly fellow, sufficiency presents itself with an black pair of accommodating size 11 regulars." Nevertheless, he brought his foot up as the man requested.
"Curiously, old fellow, I happened to spy a young lady this way just earlier, had pressing difficulty walking. She possessed the most alarmed look upon her face; I do hope nothing amiss transpired. I don't suppose you witnessed where she'd gotten off to?" "Ah, and might one purchase socks here?" he inquired with typical nonchalance.
The dressmaker's was locked up tight. Dorothy had surmised as much, but she didn't want to be that
one person who didn't test the door to see if it was open. But with the curtains drawn and the door locked, it only made her more suspicious of the dressmaker's shop. Glancing around, she noted that Foy hadn't emerged yet from his own attempt at finding the spy. She couldn't help but wonder if he knew how to pick a lock, since she sadly did not. One main idea was coming to mind at the moment: she could always try to shoot the lock and see if it'd open that way. But Dorothy figured she'd refrain from that for another few seconds, just in case Foy was on his way.
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