Hitching a Ride (Kara, Open)

[Roger Davis]

Roger didn't really like Paquin. To be honest he didn't like most places... too many people and too impersonal. At least the culture on Paquin was a little more friendly and rural than most but it couldn't be home. It was just too different. Roger enjoyed a small community like the one he was raised in, or his platoon in the war, or even a ship traveling through space. He was anxious to get out of this place as soon as he was able whether that was with a crew or not. That's always how it went for him since this career started. Take any passing ship with the hope that if it didn't work out then it would take him to the next opportunity rather than simply sitting around waiting for opportunity to find you.

Luckily he didn't need much help this time. Roger had been trying to keep in contact with the others and heard from Sofia about the new ship she'd just joined on with. It was a Dragonfly class, huge compared to most vessels. Even with a full crew they'd have plenty of room for a passenger and his baggage train. Armed with that knowledge as well as the intelligence that the ship would not be on Paquin for long, Roger briskly made his way to the docks and picked out the ship without ever sending any type of message to the captain or crew. It would be a walk on and hope for the best situation. Captains always enjoyed surprises... right?

The cargo door was down, typical for a ship in port, so Roger stepped up onto the ramp. He could hear movement inside, almost as if there were kids running around, so someone had to be home and active. He dropped his assortment of luggage so he wasn't over burdened by all the bags. With the bags as well as his coat off, he might seem a bit intimidating showing up with four weapons visible on his person. That became five weapons when he picked up a shotgun still in the scabbard and used it to knock on the cargo door's frame as if ringing the doorbell. "Hello?" he called into the cargo bay after the clanging from his knocking stopped.

[Kara Monroe]

Kara growled at the children as they ran about, she didn’t want to deal with their games, however, she had to remind herself, the ship came first. Taking them on saved her more money than she wanted to even think about. Running her hand though her long black hair Kara was still moving around several cargo boxes when she heard a tapping against her ship. Well it was more like a ringing that happened with metal tapped metal, the ships own doorbell in a way.

The seasoned fighter put her hand on her revolver and approached the ramp slowly. She was not impressed by what she saw. A man, almost armed to the teeth was standing at the bottom of her ramp. Normally not the best of signs considering where they were. “If ya’ are lookin for trouble, try a few docks over.” Her hand never moved, and she tried her best to remain calm.

She allowed her eyes to take in everything around him, now that the beginning startle of his appearance was taken in account. He was traveling it seemed, though asking for a ride armed as he was, not the best plan. Kara had to wonder how Fletcher would have handled such a situation. Her sister, well, she would have been a bubbly mess already offering him a hand, or a hug, what ever it was that she did to put people at ease. Kara was not her sister however, the weapons, the bags, well, it could spell trouble or traveler, he would have the next move.

[Roger Davis]

A woman soon made her way to the ramp. She was cautious yet clearly forceful and of course armed, not the type to mess with. Roger gave an extended and exaggerated look to the left down the row of ships before looking back at her. "Naw... I saw my share of trouble down there years ago." Back in the war he'd spent a week fighting to hold this very spaceport. He smiled to himself at his little inside joke that was shared with no one. Roger dropped the shotgun scabbard back onto his bags. Perhaps it would be seen as a sign of good faith that he was now down to four holstered weapons instead of five.

"And what if I'm not lookin' for trouble?" he asked. Certainly he was armed more than most but he was also dragging around his luggage which should have indicated that he was not a major threat. No law man or bounty hunter would come calling and just happen to have a few suitcases of clothes too. Rather than drag this minor standoff out, however, Roger cut to the chase after only a brief pause. "I'm looking to get out of this place sooner rather than later. Sofia informed me that your vessel is still taking on crew and passengers." He then offered her his hand. With his holster configuration the way it was his hand had never really been near one of his guns but for most it was the best way to diffuse a hostile situation... or to get shot in the gut when at a disadvantage. He'd risk it. "Roger Davis. You must be Miss Monroe." He actually didn't know who the woman was but figured the odds were good that the person answering the door and acting protective was the captain. The fact that the ship roster had a second Monroe sister allowed his introduction to cover either person. He didn't think there were any other young women on board other than Sofia and of course he knew what she looked like.

[Kara Monroe]

“Sofia?” There was a question in her voice, she was horrible at names, and when they were passengers even more so. It wasn’t that she didn’t care. Alright, it was that, the soldier only cared about those that would be of use to her. This was one of those times, where she wasn’t sure if this man or the companion would be of much use. The companion brought her a monthly allotment of money, useful, but not enough for her to feel friendly. Once again, something her sister was for.

Though Kara might warm up to a few, like she was starting to with Fletcher, a man that she could understand that itched for adventure and gun fights. She wasn’t sure about this one, other than she admired his armament. She took his hand and shook if firmly, and they both seemed to release at the same time. “Kara Monroe.” As their hands left each other Kara looked over his bags one more time. He must have been living on a ship before this, it seemed he carried his whole life in those bags. “Where are you headed? We have a job on Ariel, all other stops will have to be after it’s complete.” She wanted to be clear, if he was looking for a drop off to a remote location that was going to have to wait. After all, her first concern was getting the job finished, after all, she needed the funding.

[Roger Davis]

"Yes, the companion. She's a passenger on board the Rayya, correct?" Roger replied to her question. He wasn't sure if the woman simply didn't recognize the name or if she was merely questioning his story of being contacted was legitimate and not a load of crap. Luckily she seemed trusting enough to accept his introduction even if she wasn't warming up at all. "Good to know ya."

The news about their destination being in the Core wasn't the best news but it wasn't a deal breaker. "Don't really matter much where we're headed. I just wanna keep moving, looking for opportunity... get out of this place." Roger answered. "'S'pose I might get off if we hit Verbena but other than that I'm drifting, takin' what comes my way." Having said his piece he stood there looking around at the visible section of the ship's interior. "So... can I come aboard?"

[Kara Monroe]

Kara looked him up and down, she needed passangers, that was for sure, and one that was heavily armed… Well, it shouldn’t be to much of a problem. “She is renting the first shuttle.” She listened to him for another moment, trying to debate if she truly wanted him on her ship, but the part of her that needed money, and well, lets face it something to fill up the rooms was better than having empty ones. That and who knew, he might come in handy.

“Come on then, I’ll show you to your room.” She took a few steps down and offered her hand to take one of his bags. “With all of your things, I think a double would be easier on you. How long have you been living from ship to ship?” It was a strange question, one she wouldn’t ask many, however, he seemed to carry more than most. She saw him as the type that made his home on a ship, never wanting to leave, though, she had been wrong in the past. Her asking price for traveling with the ship was reasonable, and lower than most, she wanted passengers.

If he handed her a bag or not, she would lead him through the cargo bay and to a doubled room, she placed him in the far back corner, not wanting the children near the front to much of a bother to him. She thought he might enjoy the solitude. “My sister or the children cook three meals a day. You are welcome to join if you wish. If not, then the kitchen is always open.”

[Roger Davis]

Luckily the captain confirmed that Sofia indeed was on board. This was the correct place alright. Roger had a tendency to dive in head first without testing the water. It would have been quite the story if this turned out to be the wrong ship entirely. Luckily he couldn't remember a time that he had ever guessed wrong... probably why he still kept doing it.

"Thanks. The extra space would probably be useful." Roger said as he offered her one of the lighter bags containing most of his clothing and then saddled himself up with the rest of the gear. It took a
while to get everything back on and the missing bag actually left him a little lopsided and unbalanced. "Maybe... ten years." Roger answered a little unsure of the correct answer. Ten sounded about
right although it was probably more like nine if you didn't count all the time spent traveling during the war from planet to planet.

He recalled his experience out loud for her. "'Bout six years as a gunhand split in half by three years as a privateer. Plenty of time to accumulate some baggage and I suppose I'm more sentimental than
most." In addition to the basics that could probably fit in one or two bags, Roger also had also his gear including guns, ammo, rigs, and other equipment. Most of his earnings over the years had been
reinvested into his work rather than thrown away on women, booze, and the like. He also carried quite a few souvenirs from his time of service as a soldier and later as a lawman. He couldn't throw those things away and it didn't feel right just leaving them someplace.

They neared the far room, a good assignment and one he'd probably request if it wasn't given to him from the start. It was always better to have your "back to the wall" not that Roger really expected there to be any trouble on the ship. Security reasons aside, it was good to be out of the way. The confirmation that there were indeed children on board made it even better to be tucked away. Roger had no issue with kids but raising them on a ship seemed wrong. In addition to what he thought to be a "lost childhood" it would also restrict the kids and exaggerate their need to stay active and explore into places they don't belong. "Don't take my armament and haste to leave this world as a sign that I'm a recluse, captain. I'll be there, thank you."

[Kara Monroe]

Kara liked him, well, at least the man that he was showing her. She respected that man. It was hard for her to get a real reading on him, at least so far. After all there was the sides that people show you when you meet them, and then there was the person. Though she never bought into the whole idea you never know someone until they were about to die, she did understand that everyone had their things to hide. A reason to why everything seemed to fall apart or the baggage that they carried with him. This man, she wasn’t sure if he was running or just looking for a home. That, well, that would remain to be seen she guessed.

Moving away from him she set his beg just inside the door and moved out of the way for him to walk inside. She allowed him to move inside and set his belongings down before she spoke again. “We all have things we carry with us Mr. Davis.” She meant that in a good way, though at times she knew her words could be mistaken into other things. She nodded towards him and left him in his room. He would need time to settle, and her ship seemed to be filling up quickly. A good sign, at least as far as she was concerned.