sail3695

Firefly - Second 'Verse

I saw the PM. Will delay posting launch until this one is up.

sail

Firefly - Second 'Verse

The Reckoning - Part 4

JP/Collab from @Xandrya, @Gunther, @wanderingwolf, and @sail3695

Rex Black is a character created by @Psych0pomp



Cal entered the galley, followed by Rex and Hook. He moved to the head of the table, jaw set, as all eyes were upon him. After waiting for the first mate and cook to take their seats, the Captain rested hands upon a chair back, took a breath, and spoke.

As soon as Cal made himself seen, Alana instinctively tightened her grip on the mug with hands cupping either side of it. The expression on his face alerted her as to the gravity of the situation, and what awaited them was going to be far from good news. She glanced at him nervously, not moving in her spot as she waited for an explanation.

“Here’s how it is. Our pilot left the boat. She’s got family and a yen to mend fences. Can’t think of a finer reason for quittin’ the life. Rex here’ll steer us to Osiris. But,” Cal’s eyes swept across the attentive faces, “we got big trouble.”

The very air seemed to thicken as he laid out their situation. “Turns out the plum job we landed put us crossways with a bunch ‘o’ bikers who had prior claim. Tough enough gristle,” he admitted, “but it didn’t help when one of theirs got killed in a scrap with one of ours. Now they’re lookin’ for both blood and money…and to make sure they get it, they shanghai’d our deckhand right off our cargo ramp.”

Edina gasped. “What?”

His words hit her immediately.

"She's gone..." That was Alana's first response. It made sense now, the fact that Abby didn't seem to be around. And then she realized something. Alana turned to Hook, recalling her little rescue mission from earlier that morning. Gently pushing the mug aside, she leaned in closer to him. "Did you have anything to do with this?" Her voice was low despite her seething rage.

Yuri felt the blood draining from his face as a single word passed his lips. “Bikers.” He’d had his own experience with their kind. The 88’s were one of Niska’s chosen dirty work squads. When not on the job, they roamed the Skyplex, amusing themselves by choosing low value targets whose suffering wouldn’t rouse the great man’s ire. He looked up, eyes riveted upon the captain. “What they’ll do to her…we’ve got to get her back…now…what do you need?”

Rex’s palm slapped down hard upon the table. “Quiet…quiet! Let the Captain finish.”

“They sent us a wave. Abigail’s alive. We saw her,” the Captain answered the question before it could escape anyone’s lips. “And we’re gonna do everything to make sure we get ‘er back in one piece. Now, these bikers,” he continued, “want us to load and haul just as we planned, and that’s what I intend to do. We’re gonna carry the cargo to Osiris, make the drop, and get paid, all easy peasy normal. They tell us we make that go off without Five-Oh or the Feds catchin’ wise, they’ll be there to take coin and hand over our girl. I aim to make that meetup.”

She’s just a child, Edina shook her head. Fear took hold, a great icy lump which seemed to spread from her core and up her back. Just a child…

“Roger that,” Yuri blurted out. “The boat’ll be ready.”

"It can't be that easy..."

Cal hushed them with a raised hand. “Here’s the thing. Bike gangs ain’t exactly Reavers, but once their blood’s up it can be a might hard tellin’ one from t’other. Whole thing could go smooth as a babe’s bottom, or it could turn all kindsa bad..killin’ bad. Rex, Hook, and me…we’re bound to see this through. But you’ve all got a choice.” The Captain’s eyes traveled from one person to the next, their silent urgency conveying an unmistakable message. “You can pack your kit and step off now, and there’ll be no ill will between us. But if you stay,” his brows gave a slight lift, “I conjure you’ll end this chapter with a pistol in your hand. Can’t speak beyond that.”

The cigarette case saw daylight, it’s silver flashing as he flipped it open. “Anybody got a mind to leave, now’s your moment.” He turned, his face in profile as the match flared in his cupped hands.

A rescue mission or two...she'd partaken in that before. And now it wasn't even up to debate, despite the challenges they had to face. Alana glanced at the others. She knew her choice, and whatever they decided on went over just as well. "I hope you have a solid plan worked up prior to the approach. I'll get working on some med kits in case, you know... this thing goes belly up against them trigger-happy freaks."

The mechanic nodded agreement. “Sounds like we’re on a hard burn to Osiris,” he met the Captain’s eye. “I’ll make sure you’ve got all the power you need, coming and going.”

Sensing a lull in the conversation, a visibly shaken Edina Wyman looked up from the nervous study of her hands. “I don’t know a thing about what any of you do,” her voice trembled slightly as she looked from one crewmember to the next. “But I’m not afraid of working or getting dirty…and I have my own gun.” As Yuri gave her shoulder a squeeze, she said, “Let’s go get Abby back.”

Cal regarded these people, his eyes softening with fresh appreciation. “Shiny. Ms. Wyman, I think we got a couple passengers didn’t show. Could you check the Skyes’ shuttle…and that preacher man? Let ‘em know what’s what. They got questions, send ‘em to me.”

Edina joined the others as they took to their feet. “Right away, sir.”

“Much obliged. Rex, cockpit. One-Arm, spin her up. Get us off shore power. Doc,” Cal glanced toward Alana, “you got kit to test for chemicals? Think I’ve got an extra job for you.”

She nodded to confirm, some slight urgency in her tone. "Whatever you need, captain; I'm at your disposal." Even though Alana sounded as sure as the night is dark and the day is light, a lump formed in her throat. The crew was diving into the unknown with quite a lot at stake, and that was chipping away at her confidence little by little.

The Captain nodded. “I’ll fill you in when we break atmo. Hook,” his gaze landed on the silent cook, “you’re with me. We got cargo in five ticks.”

Firefly - Second 'Verse

The Reckoning - Part 3

JP/collab from @Gunther, @wanderingwolf, and @sail3695

Rex Black is a character created by @Psych0pomp



Rex spoke from his place beside the cockpit’s entrance. “You want the room, Cap?”

“Stick around.” Cal’s voice held the cold edge of a scythe. “Dog that hatch.” As Rex sealed them into the cockpit, the Captain’s eyes fixed upon the cook. “Caught a wave a couple ticks back,” he said as he stepped clear of the pilot’s console screen. “You might oughta have a gander.” As Hook watched the video, the captain pulled a fresh cigarette. When the image cut to black, Cal released a cloud of smoke. “Now talk.”

Joe watched the video of what he had done last night. If it weren’t for waking up in a mud puddle this morning, he would have thought it a nightmare. “Ah dunno what to tell ya, Cap’n,” Joe watched the capture. The proof was right there. He couldn’t get out of this. “When everyone leff’ las’ night, ah went to another place. Ah was drunk. Ah muss a’ been feelin ready for a fight. Sometimes when ah gets drunk, ah get angry and let mah feelins go. Ah found this fella and he was an asshole tah me. He took a poke at me. Knocked me upside the head. The bouncers kicked us out. We went to what ah thought was a deserted alley. When we got there, we started tah fight. Only, ah got the advantage right away and ah muss have let loose with all mah anger.” Joe was very ashamed of his behavior. He couldn’t look the captain in the eye. “Ya think when ya do somethin like this, it would take that anger away, but no. Ah juss felt bad. Real bad. Is that guy alright? Ah dunno. Ah was pretty out of it.” Joe was losing it. His eyes were welling up. “Tell me that guy is alright.” Joe was filled with remorse. He needed to sit down. He reached for one of the seats on the bridge and dropped into it.

From his place leaning against the entry hatch, Rex couldn’t see the cook’s face to read truth in him. He just had the man’s words and body language to feel his way through to anything that might help Cal and their kidnapped deckhand. “Man said we took two things from him,” the First Mate replied. “Spent a fair good time talking about the cargo. Judging by his interest in having you at the meet and the beat down they gave the kid, I conjure it’s a safe bet you killed one of theirs.”

Wanted Man

Joe dropped his head into his hands, elbows upon his thighs. He felt horrible upon hearing the man he beat died as a result of his injuries. “Not again,” he mumbled to himself. He shook his head in anger. “Cap’n the night before I met you on Persephone, ah did the same thing. It's the alcohol that does it ta me. Ah lose control of mahself.” Joe was very upset with himself. “Ah need to see a Shepherd before I die. Ah juss hope no one else was affected by mah lack of control.”

Cal pulled on the cigarette, hardly taking any smoke for the way his teeth clinched the filter. When Hook’s tale came to an end, he expelled what little smoke he had managed to inhale. “Sam,” he said as the ruined butt was ground under a boot heel. “Backtrack that wave.”

The AI complied, whirling the kidnappers’ video in high speed reverse. The captain watched, his jaw locked down tight, arms folded as the biker, Root, seemed to jabber like an animal from a kids’ capture, before an abrupt scene change.

“Stop.” Cal turned to face Joe Hooker. “How about that for someone else?” He pointed toward Abby’s face, frozen on the little screen. “Mayhaps you don’t recognize her, all bruised and swole up as she is. Care to take a guess?”

Joe looked at the capture display. He struggled to see it properly. He recognized the red hair. Obviously it was a female. Since he had not seen her yet this morning, it could be only one person. “Oh mah lord. Is that Miss Abby?” Joe was shook to the core. “We gots to get her. Who has her? Is this someone akin to the fellah I kilt?” Joe felt very bad. He was shook to the core. “We gots to get her, Cap’n! What do they want? Me? They can have me. Ah’ll trade places with Miss Abby!”

Rex feigned a diffident shrug. “Might come to that.”

“No,” Cal’s voice was firm. “This pooch was screwed before you threw hands in a bar. That’s not to say you didn’t make things a whole lot worse.” His eyes took in the screen. The girl was just a kid…just a gorram kid. “Hook,” he said, holding his gaze, “mark my words. If I’d had half a mind of your little homicide fetish you’da found yourself off this boat on New Melbourne. Not sayin’ that won’t happen on Osiris, but for now, you’re in this thing with us all the way. I need every gun hand I can get,” he faced off with the cook as he spoke. “What I don’t need is hot heads, drunkards, or moon brains who freelance a trigger before I say. You can take it as fact that this la shi is business you’n me are gonna settle, but that won’t come ‘til after we get her back. So tell me straight,” the Captain demanded, “can this boat count on you doin’ your part?”

Joe felt really bad about the situation. He knew it was his fault. His and his alone. He felt bad for Abby and wanted to help get her back. He looked down into his hands as if the answer were written there. Alas, it was not in the palms of his hands. Then he looked up at the captain, right in his eyes. In a very deadpan serious tone, “Yes sah!” He hoped he could stop the drinkin’ and the killin’. Maybe a shepherd could straighten him out. If the captain needed him to do more killing to get Abby back, then killing is what he would do. He didn’t like it, but it appeared to be a damn necessity to fix things straight.

Cal’s eyes were a combination of mistrust and cold resolve. As a long moment passed between the two men on the now silent bridge, he finally spoke. “Enough for now. Let’s go.” The cockpit hatch whined protest as Rex pulled it open, permitting his captain passage to the galley.

……………To Be Continued……………

Firefly - Second 'Verse

Happy Memorial Day weekend from the cargo bay!

I hope you've all got the benefit of a three day weekend. I learned at the last minute that my wife was dragging me from one social gathering to the next. Today, it's a pool party. Truth be told, I don't do particularly well in large group events like this. I'm usually the guy you'll find in the back corner, playing with the dog. Trouble is, today's hosts don't have pets. "Hey, how about that sports team?" Pray to your chosen deity for me...

We've received a couple of CS's that I really enjoyed. As of now there are two prospective characters looking to join the boat. Wolf and I will compare notes when we're both back in the world. Another great reason for us to go full afterburners toward Osiris. More on that soon.

Speaking of, your writing in the bridge and galley JP segments has been nothing short of amazing. We are so close to dropping the final posts and hightailing it to the black, with just a couple tags remaining. We'll hold the door open for contribution to both through the Memorial Day holiday. Both will post as soon as they're complete or on this coming Tuesday, whichever comes first.

Greenleaf to Osiris is just over 3.5 days' flight time. To speed things along, we'll engage in a time skip or two. The determining factor is you. If you've got a great post in mind or a character subplot that needs inflight development, let us know and we'll work in all the time you need.

In the meantime, here's wishing you and yours a time to rest and recharge. It's been a terrible week that's left us all feeling degrees of sorrow and helplessness. While the underlying issues of Uvalde and other similar acts of violence are both thorny and divisive, I know that we all are feeling the weight of this senseless tragedy, and the frustration of not knowing how to react in a meaningful fashion. My suggestion is simple. Let's start by being good to one another.

WWIF,

sail

Firefly - Second 'Verse

The Reckoning - Part 2

JP/Collab from @Xandrya and @sail3695

Something was definitely up. Except for conversations she’d had with Abby the deckhand, Edina really hadn’t cultivated relationships beyond friendly nods and cordial greetings. Still, even a neophyte like her could sense the tension in the air as one by one, Hook and Rex hurried past on their way to China Doll’s bridge. Like her, the doctor appeared none the wiser as she sniffed for bacon and settled for a granola bar. “Good morning,” she offered a smile to the medic. “We haven’t met. I’m Edina Wyman, one of the passengers.”

Crunching away at her breakfast for the day, Alana gazed up to a woman entering the galley who introduced herself as Edina. She swallowed the mouthful before her expression brightened in kind. "Pleasure to meet you, I'm Alana, AKA the doctor." She stood halfway up to shake the woman's hand before sitting back down, the opposite hand motioning towards the bacon. "Food's been cooked but no one has claimed it yet; the reason for this meeting must be quite something I imagine."

Learning this boat…understanding her systems and how they interacted, was exactly like his first listen to a new jazz capture. He’d often compared the Mick’s workings to Monk, Garner, and Coleman. But his first day as China Doll’s mechanic was pure Miles. She was an intricate weave of unknowns and mysteries. He knew the functions of each system, but as any of the greats would say, “knowin’ what a horn is don’t tell you what you’re gonna hear.”

But he’d been given some great clues. SAMANTHA’s shipwide schematic was music on the page, to be studied and savored in depth. He’d already put hours into the living diagram, identifying the necessary interface junctions to further integrate the AI into the boat’s functions. Then, there were some pretty helpful notes in the engineering log. A previous mechanic, somebody named Baker, had left a well written list of procedures and settings. The guideposts had made preflight check remarkably simple. He thought they might’ve been written for Abby, but the concise language lent its’ own stylings to the music that was China Doll.

So engrossed was he that he nearly missed the call for everyone to meet in the galley. With systems and numbers playing the tune in his head, Yuri made his way forward, to find two folk already seated at the table. Dr. Lysanger was munching a bar of some sort as the other woman sipped at some aromatic coffee. “Good morning,” Yuri greeted both as he reached for a mug. “What’s going on?”

"I was hoping you'd tell us...and good morning to you too."

“Not a clue.” Smiling at the doctor came naturally to him. Despite her obvious good looks he wasn’t one to forget the kindness she’d bestowed upon him after hauling him, broken and shivering, from a cruel sea. If there was one person who warranted a grateful smile, that was Alana Lysanger.

The previous evening had been fun. From what she could gather, Yuri had had a hell of a night, though it didn't show then. Maybe he was one of the lucky ones who bounced right back without much of a struggle. "Haven't really seen the others though I'm sure some are moving more sluggish than the rest."

He nodded as coffee splashed into his mug. “I was wondering about that. Anybody seen Abby this morning?” His grin waxed mischievous toward the medic, before greeting the third member of their company. “Did we meet already? Yuri Antonov,” he offered his good hand. “The new mechanic.”

Taking the last bite, Alana crumpled the empty wrapper in her fist. The thought of having some caffeine crossed her mind as she mindlessly watched Yuri pour himself his beverage, but the combination with the meds would not work in her favor.

“Edina Wyman,” she accepted the offered hand. “She was up and about. I heard something heavy being shoved around in the cargo bay, so I guess she survived your big night.”

A quick nod followed in response. "I believe we all survived, no casualties there."

She found it funny, referencing a night out drinking the way they did. Of course,given the age gap, if anyone could survive their big night it was Abby. "Gotta give it to the girl...up nice and early doing all that physical work. The captain sure picked a tough cookie with her."

Yuri chuckled and tapped the cast on his left arm. “That’s good news, seeing as she’s my extra hands until I can get out of this.” Suddenly reminded, he leaned toward Alana. “Is it true that on Osiris they’ve got bone repair tech that’d heal this back in a single day?”

Alana rested her forearms on the table. "You bet they do," she confirmed with somewhat of a smirk, her voice then lowering some. "Word is, the right connections will get you in and out at lightspeed. But otherwise, the wait for the procedure isn't terrible."

More hearsay than not, Alana was relaying what she'd heard from someone who'd apparently heard it from someone else. "Lucky for you, instead of that tech fixing you up, you've got one of the best doctors on this side of the 'verse to care for you."

Edina clinked her coffee mug against Alana’s. “That’s what I heard from a certain deckhand.”

"And that deckhand would be correct," she played along, shooting Edina a smug smile as if she herself had just cured every disease known to man.

The mechanic’s jaw dropped. “You’ve got…” he stammered. “You can do that here?”

Alana then shifted her gaze. "Yuri, there isn't any miracle I can't perform..." Taking a sip, she shrugged her shoulders as if she were speaking matter-of-factly.

He glanced from one toward the other. The two women smiled sweetly as their victim wrestled with the dilemma. He was obviously being put on, but to call them on their ruse…especially the doctor who just days earlier had plucked him from a sure death…bordered on the sort of faux pas one simply didn’t commit on their first day of work. In the end, it was parental wisdom that came to his rescue. Yuri smiled and shook his head. “My father warned me that you hunt in packs.”

"While there are strength in numbers, you should never turn your back on the lone-wolf types neither. Edina can back me on that, isn't that so?"

Yuri didn't stand a chance. He was clearly outmatched and for his sake, he better hope someone else walked into the galley soon.

“She’s the doctor,” the passenger laughed at the mechanic’s bemused expression. “And I conjure our resident lone wolf should come bounding up those steps any sec now.”

Their revelry halted with the metallic ring of the cockpit hatch. The corridor soon echoed with the sound of bootheels. The three fell quiet, expectant faces turned forward to catch sight of their captain.

…………To Be Continued………….

Firefly - Second 'Verse

The Reckoning - Part 1

JP/collab from @Gunther, @wanderingwolf, and @sail3695

Rex Black is a character created by @Psych0pomp




Cal waited.

His hands occupied themselves with the hinge of his silver cigarette case.

flip

Of all the people they could have taken; her the youngest, brightest kid onboard.

flip

That eye, swollen double. That jaw, taped shut. That gash across her cheek.

flip

And Joseph Hooker lay somewhere in the middle of it with the leader’s condition: “Have him at the meet. He skips out, you can kiss your little girl goodbye.” The thought made his blood boil. Joe's face on that capture. His blurred fist as it painted a target on Abigail. Even as it sent them all straight into Da Shiong La Se La Ch’wohn Tian. (tr: The explosive diarrhea of an elephant)

He pulled a cigarette from the case.

"You shouldn't smoke in here," came Sam’s a resolute voice from behind his shoulder.

"I'm the captain. Mean's I get to do what I want." The lighter's flame punctuated his statement.

"That stuff will kill you, you know."

"Somethin's gotta." He took a long drag, "But not afore I hear the part Hook played in bringing this la shi to my door."

Finding the cook was more challenging than he reckoned. Usually about this time, Hook would be in the galley, putting the spurs to some sort of lunch plan. But today, there was just a woman he’d not seen before. On any other day, the sight of some pretty would’ve changed his course a bit…but not today. Not after what he’d just seen. “Beg pardon, ma’am,” the First Mate said. “Have you seen Hook?”

Edina Wyman turned from the frying pan she’d found lying next to the stove. “No,” she gave the familiar face a smile. “Just got here myself. You’re Rex.”

“All day long,” he nodded as he shook the offered hand.

“Edina,” she answered the unvoiced question. “I got on at New Melbourne. Gonna fly with you to Osiris. The friendly smile held steady, though she noted a more serious veil behind the man’s eyes. “Care to share what’s on the captain’s mind?”

Rex turned. “That’s for the captain to say, ma’am. Can I ask a favor? If you see Hook, Let ‘im know the Captain needs him in the cockpit?”

“Count on me,” she said to his back as he hurried off. “Nice meeting you, Rex.”

Well Hook had been in the galley earlier. He started a pot of coffee and was going to work on making some coffee rolls, but then decided he needed to take that shower instead. He was a bit exhausted from the night he had, but cleaning up took priority.

Once the shower ended, he strolled back to his quarters unaware of what was going on in the ship. He needed to get dressed before he returned to the galley to make the coffee rolls and anything else the crew or its passengers might need.

“Hey, Hook,” Rex caught up to the man. “Captain needs you on the bridge. Now.”

“No problem, Mistah Black.” Joe went back to his quarters. He dressed in navy blue coveralls, his usual work boots and then slipped the gunbelt containing the Ruger Redhawk in its holster. The gunbelt was just a standard appliance he was accustomed to wearing. He had it on him the night before, but never considered using it.

Within a few minutes, He was up on the bridge, “You wanna see me, Cap’n?”

………….To Be Continued…………

Firefly - Second 'Verse

is the mechanic spot still open? i'm a little hesitant about hopping into an ongoing rp, but this seems especially interesting.

@udonoodles

Yes, we have a place filler mechanic holding down the fort until someone comes along. Please PM us if you're still interested in the position.

@wanderingwolf and @sail3695

Firefly - Second 'Verse

Sounds like a good trip. Another reason I'm sticking to the home front this summer is the dearth of overdue projects on my plate. With luck, I'll get them caught up and be back on schedule to put the house on the market in a couple years.

Firefly - Second 'Verse

Happy Sunday from the cargo bay!

So, as folk are gathering in the galley, we caught a glimpse of Abby's current situation.

BTW, doc invites went out for the shipwide JP/collab. Check your emails, and you'll also find a link in the game chat. Yuri and Edina left tags for Alana there. No reason we can't get some good conversation rolling in the galley while the bridge JP gets wrapped up.

So, once these two JP's are posted, expect a few time skips. I have been told that Abby might have a post or two from aboard the Headhunters' ship 'Road Angel,' so there will be opportunities for everyone to post inflight. As we've always said in the past, "we've got a plan, but if you've got a character subplot that needs more time in the black, let us know and we'll do everything we can to help make it happen."

We're also easing toward summer. If you've got any major vacation plans (or if one of us is becoming a new mom,) let us know your dates and we'll work on different scenes while you're away. As for myself, while I'm sure there might be a long weekend somewhere, my next real time away won't happen til mid October...because hurricane season is the best time to rent a beach house.

I never claimed wisdom or intelligence. WWIF.

sail

Firefly - Second 'Verse

Hostage

She listened tah this fella…this ‘Root’ as he’s called, givin’ tha Cap’n what for. Didn’t make no sense to Abby as she’s dumped on tha floor. Them as took her done slugged ‘er somethin’ righteous. Her whole head was throbbin’ away an’ one eye weren’t comin’ open. She didn’t taste no blood, so nobody walloped ‘er mouth…yet. The girl struggled tah dust away ‘er cobwebs, while tha spy from Uncle Bob’s shows was tellin’ her how it was.

“…For a captured spy, the equation is simple. A violent capture equals a violent interrogation equals a death sentence. Despite what they say, despite their bargaining, the hostage taker’s goal is to end your captivity in blood. Do your best to make it theirs…”

Didn’t right kin how she might do such a thing, what with her wrists bound behind ‘er back an’ such…an’ a knot ‘o’ fear what grew outta her stomach an’ terrified her still. They’s part ‘o’ her wanted tah cry…wanted tah beg these folk whose boots was clompin’ all around her fer some kinda mercy…but no. She’d be gorramed if she showed that side tah these Joo Fuen Chse.

“Get her up,” Root ordered.

Hands grabbed her, near jerkin’ an arm right out tha socket as she’s picked up an’ dropped inta a chair. Abby got ‘er first look at ‘em. Despite what they done tah her face, she couldn’t help but sneer as that Root fella leaned over her. Soon’s tha tape come off ‘er mouth, she had one ready. “Is it ‘Dress Like a Pirate’ day? I can getcha a parrot.”

“Funny kid,” the MC president squatted at eye level. “What’s your name, Sweetie?”

“Notcher sweetie.”

“Shiny,” he said as he reached for the printed capture. “Let’s try another one. What’s this guy’s name?”

She looked on a pitcher ‘o’ Hook. By golly, he was wailin’ tha ever lovin’ tar outta some fella. But what really caught ‘er was his face. Granted, she ain’t known Hook any too long, but tha look on him reminded ‘er of tha bear what killed Mei Lin’s pa in ‘er book. All kinda wild fury in them eyes…

Root lowered the capture. “So you know him, then.”

“Nope.” She seen Root glance tah his right an’ nod, afore her head was knocked all pigglety. Took awhile for them stars tah clear out til she could lift ‘er face an’ look ‘im in the eye.

“You wanna tell me again?”

“Yeah…yeah…I know ‘im,” Abby tilted ‘er head tah coax a mem’ry. “Fella got one ‘em Asian names….goes by ‘Yu’. She paused, thinkin’ on it. “First name is uhhh..,I’m thinkin’....ummm…oh yeah,” her eye brightened. “Fuk,” she answered. “That’s it. Fuk Yu.”
Next blow like tah rattled ‘er teeth out.

“Enough for now.” Root stood up as the girl slowly shook her head. “Time to bounce. Cottonmouth, get her on the Angel.”

“Copy, Prez.” As Root and the others left the room, the man named fer some kinda snake leaned over her. “Wanna go for a ride?” Afore Abby could answer that, tha sack come down over her face.