Gypsy Sunsets

[Corran Boid]

The hues of red and gold mixed with the ever darkening grays and purples flared through the evening sky as a lone cargo runner made it's way to a outer landing pad of a local gathering of tents and circus. The ship landed with the grace of a well gifted pilot and ease only seen by the top rim runners in the verse.

Staying just inside the fading lights of the carnival so as to give shadow to it exit ramp so that if leaving by quiet means one would not be seen, just heard as they flared their engines and made for deep space. Two shadowy figures stepped down the ramp and flowed the ships graceful curves to it's well lit nose section. As the golden glow of the last rays of sun light shown upon the ship mixed with the ever color changing strobe light from the carnival one Ai Tsuchiya stood wide eyed and happy.

It had been a great while since she had been planet side for a sunset or even a sunrise for that matter. Stretching out her arms into the light she let the tension of the ride leave her. Bringing her arms back to her and let her hands smooth down the fake furred collar of her silver horse hide leather jacket, she sighed so gently. The almost silent foot steps slowly came closely as her pilot and dearest friend came up behind her.

Looking back---So what up first, business or pleasure? I hope pleasure for most of the business we've had lately end up in us running. Besides you promised me a sunrise and a sunset. This one don't count.

A soft chuckle came from the darkness----Not to worry the business is nothing for running this time. Just dropping some spices and wine and getting a bit of info for the Iron Maiden, nothing special that can't wait till we're ready.

Entering the failing light Corran Boid a rugged and time worn pilot of the Iron Maiden moved with the grace and silence of a cat. Placing his arm around her shoulder he lead her into the rows of carnival tents. The first few barkers tried to get them to play a few rigged games. The prizes were not anything eye catching for Ai that was until they came to a booth that had unicorns hanging from the eves. So pink and fluffy a one would die if they could not posses one.

The barker saw it in her eyes that she was hooked and made his play.

"Howdy Howdy Howdiiiiieeeee. I see heres a very fine lady with a most discerning eye. Yes indeedy do. This little beauty can be yours if you can manage to take down my machine. Most common muscle can't compete but I see that your bo is a manly of the manly men. Please sir see if you can match your muscle in a best outta two take downs in an arm wrestling. Either hand would be your choice of course. Just for a small bit of spare change. What do-ya say to that shall were getter done or not?"

Corran looked at the machine and then back at Ai. Ai nodded for him to go for it. Setting down after paying a bit more than spare change he rested his right hand. The machine was already set for a right hander so no need to force and trouble by using his left hand. The first match was not any competition but the second match the power up of the machine was obvious to him, putting him down twice. Corran then knew that the machine was rigged but started to leave letting the barker to try for the re-hook. Making a hard to sell play Corran finally gave in when the barker said he would refund him along with a unicorn prize.

Slowly setting back down he gently set his left arm upon the machine. Looking over to Ai he smiled and with Ai rolling her eyes started once again with a win. The second he felt the machine power up and backed that charge with his own. It was a bit of a stalemate until he saw out of the corner of his eye the barker turning a knob which triggered another power up but the machine. Feeling it start up Corran shifted and tightened his grip upon the machine. Slowly it started to smoke and then a mechanical grinding was heard then a clang as a part failed some where with in the machine.

Slamming the machine's arm down to the table Corran let out a great deal of breath that he had been holding. Letting go the the machine he stood and moved over to the barker which was staring with his mouth open. Corran took back his moneys and picked the best looking unicorn and handed it over to Ai who squealed in delight.

It's so FLUFFY!!!!!

The two of them walked away from the barker who was still staring at his smoking machine.

[Jin Caron]

To a veteran soldier, a carnival is one of the worst tactical situations ever. It provides very little cover that would hold up to bullets, no overwatch placements, too crowded of an area and the sounds make it very easy to cover up the sound of a suppressed pistol. But for a veteran soldier looking to hide from certain factions and trying to finish a simple pick-up/drop-off job, it was as close to ideal as one could get. This didn't change the fact that Jin just plainly hated carnivals.

Walking through the crowd, Jin kept his hands by his side, his pistol holsters unlatched to allow him to quickly draw his guns. Out of instinct, the ex-Alliance officer kept glancing at possible hostiles as he made his way through the thick crowd. "Where in the hell are they..." Jin muttered as he pulled out a picture from his inner jacket pocket and scanned the two pictures of the delivery team. A man and a woman, they looked harmless, but looks could definitely be deceiving. And yet this job Jin had taken was also the least harmless and simplest job he had ever taken up. The job was to move crates of commodities to a nearby planet. The pick up point was designated nearby the carnival and the meet up point was the-

"It's so FLUFFY!!!!!"

Jin put the pictures away in his pocket and glanced over to spot a woman hugging a unicorn plush tightly and grinning from ear to ear. From the looks of the broken machine that the couple were walking away from, he assumed that one of the two had beaten the rigged machine. Seeing that it was an arm wrestling machine and was set to play against a lefty when it broke, he knew that the one who played the game was a lefty, and a very strong left at that. Slowly coming to a stop, Jin caught himself in his train of thought and chuckled.

"This is a simple pickup mission, no need to size up these two..." Jin allowed himself a second more of his paranoia as he glanced all around to see if anyone was watching, then seeing that nothing seemed out of the ordinary, walked up towards the couple. Smiling softly, Jin stopped a few feet in front of the two and bowed ever so slightly. "I take it you would be the delivery team?" Jin spoke looking at the man about his height. And looking over at the lady holding the unicorn he realized that her posture gave off a sense of honor. "Ms. Tsuchiya..." Jin said as he bowed fully to her.

"I know of your work in the past with cybernetics. I... Have indirectly been affected by your work, but it is not something I can speak of out in the open, nor is it really the time to speak of such things." Jin slowly realized by the unicorn plush that the two were enjoying themselves before going onto business. "I apologize for intruding on your R&R, we'll talk about business later. Please, go enjoy yourselves." Smiling, Jin began to walk away past the couple and towards the broken machine until he realized that he didn't know what to do. He didn't have a mission or job, he didn't have anyone or anything to worry about, he actually had free time for the first time in ages. Looking around, Jin realized that the real reason he disliked carnivals is because he never knew how to enjoy himself. Turning back around, Jin walked over to the two and cleared his throat. "This may sound very odd and intrusive, but I don't suppose I could join you two? I'm not too sure of what to do at a carnival..." Jin would shoot a target from miles away, could nimbly fly a fighter jet, sneak himself into a highly-guarded facility, take out multiple targets in a few seconds, yet when it came to enjoyment, he simply knew nothing at all.

[Ai Tsuchiya]

Ai was very giddy with enjoyment over getting such a gift. Also knowing that it was her cybernetics that made it all possible. Turning on her toes she threw her arms open and hugged Corran leaving the stuffed toy smashed between the two of them.

See in't this fun. you get to break things and I get new stuff.

She stared into Corran's eyes but he was not fully there. In fact he gaze was behind her and a cold feeling was coming from him. As she shifted to see behind her over her right shoulder she felt the solid resistance of Corran's dessert eagle drawn and ready to fire, yet hidden within her jacket.

In a whisper to Corran....You put a hole in my jacket and you'll by me two new ones.

She heard Corran grut an OK as she turned fully.

"I take it you would be the delivery team? I know of your work in the past with cybernetics. I... Have indirectly been affected by your work, but it is not something I can speak of out in the open, nor is it really the time to speak of such things. . . . . I apologize for intruding on your R&R, we'll talk about business later. Please, go enjoy yourselves."

She listened as their contact one Jin Caron spoke well of them and of her work. A quiet blush rose upon her cheeks as he spoke. It must have be a bit more noticable for Corran moved to put himself between the two of them. Jealosy, from Corran how odd that with all the time they had been together he would act this way or was she being gullable again. Corran nodded as Jin turned away. She noticed that his steps seemed to faulter with in a few feet of movement. Then is when the oddest word she had ever heard were spoken.

"This may sound very odd and intrusive, but I don't suppose I could join you two? I'm not too sure of what to do at a carnival..."

An evil girlish grin broke from her lips. Ah another victom of Nofunland. Thankfully the Docor was in. She stepped forward with a sultry wiggle and a low soft tone voice shoving the doll into Corran's open arms and agaped mouth.

Looking eye to eye....Well then thank goodness that the doctor is in for it looks like you need a dose of non-stop fun for a few hours. Turning her back to him and walking back to Corran. With a look over her left shoulder she said. Walk this way please.

Hooking hre arm into corran's she moved them forward toward the fun houses.

Upon getting them there she looked over the best ones upon a board list. Which really did not matter much for her because she had remembered what was there before they even had left the Maiden. This was just a decider as to which were closer. She finally desided upon the gravity well maze as the best for it had a sound void barrior center. Which would act like a scanner and bug free place to make the exchange of the drop for the two stick in the muds and she could try her hand at zero g fun.

This way Mr. Caron, the two of you should get the work done while the two of you aren't having to shot each other or someone else while your here, hmmm. Mr. Boid to the Maw Cluster.

Moving off with out her doll she did a high stepping march mocking the two for job first fun never attitude.

Looking at Jin .....-Corran-Sorry about this, she gets this way when she been in space for to long.

Hurring up to follow Corran tries to rejoin Ai before she looses herself in the moment and where she is going.

[Jin Caron]

Jin was taken by surprise with the lady's very uppity attitude. Happiness was something he had not personally interacted with in ages. The past few years had involved Jin taking up messy jobs and getting them done with efficiency all the while dodging the Alliance soldiers. The years before that involved him working for the Alliance soldiers. "Sorry about this, she gets this way when she been in space for too long." Jin smiled and shook his head as he turned to face Corran. "I do not mind, it is refreshing to say the least." The faces passing by began to blur as the group picked up pace, Ai visibly getting more and more anxious as they got closer to their destination.

((OOC: I'm really at a loss as to what to write, I apologize for the very short post ^^;; ))

[Corran Boid]

(Occ-not a prob I didn't give to much info on the maw and for got to get a responce from your char......sorry *formal bow*.)


'Maw Maze- Zero G fun for all.'

Corran read the sign for the second time wondering where in the verse did they get such a machine. To him it smelled Aliance and special forces as well. A very small engraving Corran could see of a old style downward pointing broad sword with a pair of up stretched angelic wings over set by a deep band of copper circles. He had never seen this symbol before but would keep this in mind for future information.

The squeals of joy were coming from one very giddy and upside down Tsuchiya as she tried to right herself. Corran noticed she was wobbling between two gravity wells. He smiled Looked over to Jin and then back into the vast openess of the fifty yard spherical room.

Picking up a dropped bucket of stale popcorn Corran smiled and said... See you in the middle.

Grabbing a handfull of popcorn he tossed it into the open void of the maze. Taking a few seconds to watch as the popcorn traveled a short while before being locked into the gravity wells that were formed. Then stepping off on a direction that the popcorn went the furthest and continued to toss and go letting the gravity of the maw masses drag him ever so close to the center only to be pulled back near the edge of the room.

The two of them were floating and moving with in the sphere Ai giddling and Corran watching with a seriousness on his face but a glinting happyness to his eyes.

[Jin Caron]

Jin stood at the very edge of the Maw Maze, watching as the couple floated around the existing gravity wells. "Peculiar... This is not public technology last time I checked... Artificial gravity wells..? This was still a prototype back during my service.." Something was off, and he could tell that Corran had the same suspicions when Jin saw him looking over the sign of the building oddly long. His thoughts were interrupted as the a popcorn floated a few inches from his eyes. Remembering that he had decided to try and have some fun before conducting business, Jin took a step into the gravity well and floated. Immediately memories of his Zero-G training flooded into his mind, of much happier times during his service. Jin smiled as closed his eyes and floated in air, spinning his body gracefully and letting his body float parallel to the ground around the gravity well's center, arching his back to match his curved path. Opening his eyes, Jin leveled himself slightly as he spun to face the ceiling, placing his hands behind his head and sighing as he let himself lazily float around with no specific path.

Jin definitely enjoyed relaxing for once and his fears of the Alliance soldiers catching up to him or of Juliet's death faded momentarily from his mind. Turning his head, he watched as the couple floated around, Ai grinning and giggling and Corran floating in place watching Ai as her protector, but at the same time Jin could see the happiness in Corran's eyes from just watching her. It reminded him of the happiness he felt with Juliet. Of when they would just lay in bed in the morning before they both left to their own jobs. They would simply stare into each other's eyes and smile, just enjoying the company of the other. As he finished daydreaming, Jin closed his eyes again, until Ai and Corran were prepared to talk business or continue onto the next ride.

[Ai Tsuchiya]

Oh lov would it be OK if we got the work over with for Jin's sake? I forgot that he might be on a schedule of a senitive nature. Beside I'm getting that too relaxed feeling you talk about for once.

Ai watched Corran's expression change. She looked around as well but could not see what he was looking for. When he was done he tossed a single popcorn in a thiry degree direction from the center. She watched it with intrest as it caught each maw and was shifted to the next vector till it passed her and made a
B-line to the center to drop to the platform's floor.

Smiling she turned to see him fly past her towards the center and land feet first. He removed a few papers of a shipping list and a hatch key made of a weak plastic. The Key made for one use to open and break. He waver her down and she followed his path to the center. With a wee she thudded upon the metal gratting.

I've got to try my hand at making one of these thing you think the captain would be interested in me modifying the cargo bay just a bit?

She watched Corran smile and say.... "Doubtful but who knows with her."

[Jin Caron]

Jin looked opened his eyes and looked over to see that the couple had finished having their fun and were ready to get down to business. Unfolding his arms, he gracefully floated himself upright relative to the floor. "I guess it's time to get this business thing out of the way then." Jin spoke simply as he didn't want eavesdroppers to be tipped off of their dealings, even if they were out of earshot of anyone. There was still an odd feeling that kept nagging at Jin as they proceeded to go over the details of what was being traded and for how much. This specific fun house was the perfect place for holding shady dealings because of the sound void barriers and the zero-g field that gave them all a chance to run away in any direction they chose, as well as ultimately the fact that they could see 50-yards in the distance for anybody. But it seemed too perfect, and the technology involved to make an artificial zero-g area wasn't public yet. It felt too much like a trap, but he couldn't risk having the job go south, Jin had already been having too much trouble financially to mess up another chance at earning money. "So what's the cargo?" Jin had honestly no idea what the cargo was at this point, all he knew was that someone needed a courier and he was just the guy that they chose for the job.

[Corran Boid]

Corran could feel the nervousness of Jin which in turn made him a bit twitchy. Every fiber in his being senced that this maze was just a staging or training ground for some thing bigger. So the less time spent here the better.

As far as the manifest shown on the crates it's to be non-taxed wine and high end cooking spices. Beleive me when I say that the some are just that while others are probably not, simply due to the weight of the crates. The less we know the better, in some cases. But I've had a feeling that others would want this cargo more than we do. The closer you are to the point of no return the easier it is to escape. At least that is what I've come to know when dealing with common trouble and reavers.

Passing the break key to Jin and the manifest Corran turned to leave the void.

this in case we get separated. The ship is a patch work Aliance cargo hauler with the name 'Reclaimer' on it's nose. It's settled on the far rim of the landing pads on the south east pads. No money will change hands here or there when you get delivored and paid is when we get paid. This trip was not about the money for us, just time planet side. So meet you there in a bit.

Corran and Ai jumped off the platform and headed toward the exit.

Upon getting there a thugish looking fellow came from a hideout spot and blocked their way out. His muscle structure and the same looking tattoo, except that the sword was a reaper's scythe, gave him the look of a well trained soilder. Corran had eased his gun out of it's holster but Ai we between him and the thug. How was he going to get around the problem before him? He did not have to think on it for to long for Ai ask to pass and the thug pointed at the no food sign.

Turning a bit red in the face Corran let Ai applogise for the error and paid a few credits for the mess. When they got well out of ear shot of the thug Ai said.

He was not normal. I don't mean as in mentally but that he was altered. I could hear the bad cyborg elector connectors singing. Let's get the cargo gone and find another place to party that does not involve spec-ops flunkies.

Corran nodded as well and made a bee line for the 'Reclaimer', hoping that Jin had as an easy time with the thug as they did.