Date: December 27, 2011
Game date: November 2, EY217
Location: Providence system, McNeely station
Previous events: Rescuing John, evading gunships, messages aplenty
It's afternoon and after three weeks away there's lots to do on the station. The crew split up and head off on their various errands, Bishop electing to remain on the Steel Hummingbird and lead Vob around the ship now that the alien can freely examine it.
Jillian has made an appointment with Lt. Cmdr. Phoebe Rubin and makes it to the naval offices with some time to spare. Sitting in the waiting room she could swear that all the magazines are the exact same ones that she saw here almost a month ago. She refuses to make contact with the Art! magazine that's still on top of the pile, tempting her.
The meeting with Phoebe Rubin is much more pleasant than has been usual and the naval officer seems less exasperated with Jillian than previously. They talk for a bit about the Hummingbird's trip out to Ingraham and back and Jillian can't help but bring up the ruins and aliens, which gets an understandably surprised reaction out of Phoebe. Perhaps hoping for approval Jillian also mentions the alien ship seen in the Vishnu system and selling photos of it to the Sun. Phoebe nods and mentions that the Homeworld Office for the Acquisition of Xenotechnology has been active on the station and it now makes sense that they demanded Phoebe turn over any information that she might have about the Steel Hummingbird's crew to them. As can be seen by the piles of folders in front of her Phoebe is an assiduous investigator and has compiled lots of details. She might not like the Office -- no one seems to, really -- but they have enough power that she complied with their request.
When Jillian brings up John's rescue and the escape from Stillwater Mine's gunships Phoebe shrugs it off. Although Franken will complain about it John seems to have been willing and there's not much the mine can legally do. Franken's attitude and past actions haven't made it many friends in the system and they don't have the resources to do much about John's escape. Phoebe comments on Jillian's obvious bleeding heart and comments that at least this time no one was grievously injured or killed.
Then it's on to the important topic of the Varnsen slaughter on Beck. Phoebe has been stonewalled by both Selden Auto Parts and the Bauer Mining corporations, both of whom had executives on Beck involved in activities that were dubious to say the least. Both companies have heavily hinted that they'd rather not have the subject looked into. To make things harder for her a Commodore Marcus Blith, stationed in Aiscapo, wrote her a letter lauding Malcolm's character in particular and bluntly stating that he hoped that the investigation would be handled "impartially", which Phoebe knows isn't at all the case.
Phoebe visited Beck while the Hummingbird was on its trip and to make things harder for her the extensive Varnsen family, straddling many levels of local power on Beck, also seem to want to hide the details of the events leading to Kel Varnsen's death and his previous activities. She's undertaken enough investigations to know when her cause is lost and she tells Jillian that the investigation has been indefinitely suspended. Kel seems to have been a right bastard, she says, and it's probably fine if his death has no legal consequences for Jillian and her crew regardless of what Phoebe thinks of them.
There is the outstanding matter of the automobile that Malcolm rented from Varnsen Rentals in Mechanicville on Beck and wrecked while fleeing police officer Varnsen. Varnsen Rentals is asking for the replacement value of the car, which comes out to more than the Hummingbird made on entire the trip to Ingraham, but Jillian brings up several reasons why *Varnsen* Rentals wouldn't want her to make the details of what happened and Phoebe agrees that the cost will almost certainly be waived.
Finally there's the matter of Emily's "rescue". When Phoebe was on Beck she spoke to Emily's father, Frederick Varnsen, about the incident. He seems to be willing to drop charges if they pay for the damages to his house and the medical care for his son, Billy, whom Jillian shotgunned in the legs. He also demands to meet the "man who shot my son" face-to-face if he's going to not pursue legal consequences. Phoebe wryly mentions that he seems to think that his son is a football prodigy but from her investigations this is definitely not the case. Regardless, Jillian should contact him in the next few days to take advantage of his offer unless she wants to end up in court after all.
It seems like the meeting is almost over when Jillian brings up the Gurg, the disabled putative pirate ship that the Steel Hummingbird helped back in Vishnu, and the Black Rose Syndicate tattoo that one of the dead crew members sported. Jillian admits that she didn't add this at the time to her official report but now thinks that it's important enough to mention as she previously didn't think that the Black Rose was in this cluster. Phoebe thanks Jillian and makes a note; organized crime in other systems isn't her beat but she'll pass the information on.
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While Jillian's meeting is awkward but ultimately a relief Malcolm is having a much more pleasant meeting with his mother. After renting a motorcycle he heads over to the Queen Elizabeth hotel in Little Piccadilly. His mother is in, along with two other members of the Devereaux Daredevils who have come along: Riley O'Connor and Michael Schmitz. Ms. Evangelina Devereaux appears to be in her late forties, slim, with a tight platinum blonde perm and natural elegance. Riley is much younger, a gangly, impatient Piccadillian pilot with a blond crew cut, ugly nose piercing, and no patience to speak of. Malcolm has met Riley before but doesn't know Michael, a Walküren with curly brown hair to his shoulders, an impressive handlebar moustache, and a typical build for his origin: a little on the short and wide side, though his width stems largely from muscles that his shirt can't hide. Michael has a slightly menacing air to him that Malcolm isn't terribly affected by in the circumstances.
Evangelina greets Malcolm with a hug, a kiss, and a probing "You're looking well" that he doesn't react to. She's in town in response to his letter about the original Varnsen issue, here to give him whatever support she can. She can't do much at the moment with the investigation chugging its way along and so Malcolm fills her in with the other recent events. She's understandably excited by his story about the trip to Ingraham and the aliens met there, rolls her eyes at Emily's "rescue", and impressed by his maneuvering while rescuing John on Hannity. Malcolm's not very emotionally involved in the retelling, which doesn't escape her notice, and admits that he's been thinking of rejoining the flying circus. When he tells her about being ripped off by Flint Cardesco -- again -- her eyes narrow and she's gripped with fury at the news that he's taken advantage of a Devereaux *again*.
Malcolm remembers that the Deccan Driller's crew had found something about Cardesco and gives them a ring at their ship while his mother seethes. The only one on that ship to take the call is Zethembe, who's in an odd state of mind and admits to not especially knowing what the private investigator found. He and the rest of his crew will meet Malcolm at The Jump Gate, McNeely's pilot bar, that evening and tell them everything, though. Malcolm agrees and calls the Steel Hummingbird to leave a message about the meeting. Jillian's back at the ship and Evangelina insists on going out to tea with Malcolm and inviting Jillian as well. Jillian agrees and Malcolm and his mother hop on the motorcycle to meet her.
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It's the first time in quite a while that Vob has had free reign of the Steel Hummingbird and the alien spends most of its time in engineering. Bishop does his best to provide words of the various parts but he doesn't know himself and in the end Vob does a lot of poking around on its own while Bishop is bored at being stuck in what he considers the most boring part of the ship.
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Volkova shows up at the flat in Little Piccadilly with no warning. Gabi answers the pounding at the door and welcomes the engineer in. The place is definitely less crowded than when the Hummingbird's crew also lived here and Volkova notices that the furnishings have been noticeably upgraded. Harry makes a brief appearance in his doorway but then heads back into his room and shuts the door. Emily, who is living in Bishop's room, gets woken by Gabi and immediately asks if Bishop is all right. The answer that she gets is one of Volkova's recent rambling ones but Emily's pretty sure at the end of it that he is indeed alive and with all his limbs intact. She also finds out that the Hummingbird's docked in bay six, a complete lie on Volkova's part.
Gabi offers Volkova a drink of bourbon and gives her the rundown on what's been going on over the past few weeks. Harry is a fair bit calmer and is now simply sullen. Emily's been taken around by Gabi and shown the sights of the station to try to broaden her horizons a bit and she's not pining for Bishop quite as much as she originally was. Gabi says that she's got a job without mentioning any details and is managing to pay for the flat and even get a few things for it but offers the crew the flat if they want it, as they've been good to her and Harry and it only seems fair. Volkova thanks her for her generosity but can't say what the crew's going to do. Seeing as they have a spare room -- Jillian's old one -- Gabi gives Volkova keys to the flat as well as for the pickup and minibus. Any of the crew is welcome to stay any time.
Volkova also can't be definite on getting Gabi and Harry to Walküren given the possible upcoming trial and prison sentence. Gabi understands and the two have another drink before Volkova heads back to the ship.
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Evangelina greets Jillian at the Victoria Tea House like a member of the family and the three of them find a table. it's obvious that Evangelina has been trying to get Malcolm to open up about what's wrong and she and Jillian soon end up in the washroom together having a frank discussion on the matter out of earshot. Jillian tells Malcolm's mother that she's been trying to work out what's going on with Malcolm herself and mentions that it's probably from the device that Vob shot them with; she too was affected and has been having a few sporadic dizzy spells herself thanks to whatever it did to her, but they're clearing up.
When they return to the table it's obvious from the smell that Malcolm's spiked his tea. The conversation gets awkward, eventually peters out, and they eventually head off in different directions. Evangelina will meet them at the Jump Gate later; she's eager to find out more about Flint Cardesco. Malcolm's not too drunk to keep him from riding the motorcycle and Jillian, sitting behind him, works on him some more on the way back in an effort to get some therapy for him.
Soon enough the crew is back at the Steel Hummingbird. Everyone shares what they've been up to and what they've found out. The investigation's suspension makes everyone happy, though they're not sure how to set up the meeting with Frederick Varnsen with minimal risk. They haven't had the best luck with interactions with the Varnsens being nonviolent. Gabi seems to have things largely under control in the flat and also seems to have a decent income, which is also welcome news. Everyone's also happy to find out more about Flint Cardesco later although Bishop whinges about having to get the information is a bar for old people. After more discussion and hammering by Jillian there is a breakthrough when both Malcolm and Volkova agree that they need therapy, making Jillian smile more than she has in a while.
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Later that evening Malcolm drives the crew to the Jump Gate in the minibus. On the way Jillian notices a large ad for the Alexei Rusanov exhibit at the McNeely Museum of Fine Art and slumps in her seat, her short-lived sunny mood abruptly deflated. Bishop notices the connection and offers to dump the toxic waste that they still have in storage on the exhibit, or to mail the barrels to notable art critics with labels reading "From Alexei" or... he tries to find ways to advance his Life Quest to ruin the artist but his ideas quickly become nonsensical and Jillian doesn't seem supportive.
When they get to The Jump Gate Evangelina's waiting for them outside, alone. Quick introductions are made and everyone heads inside. Bishop drags his feet inside but perks up when they're hailed by the Resplendent Dragon's crew, including Olivia. Chairs are pulled up and everyone breaks into different conversations about recent activities. The Hummingbird's crew doesn't mention meeting or harbouring aliens. They do bring up other aspects of the trip to Ingraham and when Volkova mentions firing a grenade launcher at some attacking worms despite not having any training in it whatsoever Olivia shows wide-eyed shock and offers to give her a quick schooling in heavy weapons, something Olivia trained in when she was in the military. She's a member of the Big Boom firing range on Beck, where lots of high-powered weapons are available for use. Volkova agrees and Olivia tells her that the Dragon is in bay six and to call her whenever Volkova wants to learn how to blow things up safely.
Bishop's ears perk up when he hears that the Dragon is in bay six, where Volkova told Emily that the Hummingbird was berthed. He not so subtly asks Olivia if she wants to "check out the Dragon" and when she agrees they immediately head out, ignoring the eyes rolling behind them. If all goes well, thinks Bishop, Emily will see the two of them together and he'll be rid of her at last. Breaking her heart is a small price to pay for freedom!
Back in the bar the abrupt departure has changed the atmosphere at the table. Evangelina and the Hummingbird's crew feel more businesslike and start looking for the Deccan Driller, hoping that their private investigator has found something useful.
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Bishop's Bedpost Notch Count: 0 (running total: 12)
Volkova's Bedpost Notch Count: 0 (running total: 1)