What a Beautiful Disaster

[Anonymous]

It was rather funny how Mouse found himself being drawn back to the dark and grimy world of the Space Station Cancer. Especially when he had such a distaste for it. No, it wasn’t because of the criminals, coming in all shapes and forms, lurking around each corner- he was a part of that very group after all - it was how nothing ever grew on the station. Besides mold. And rust. And rusty mold. As an amateur botanist who grew up on the lush terraforming planet of Edanith, some preferences simply stuck with him. His crew would know from the potted plants decorating many parts of his ship and late at night, one might even hear his voice in the air; talking to those very flowers. Every time he docked it was difficult to leave them. If he could pick one thing that was ensured not to be stolen from his ship while he was apart from it, it would be those.

   Nevertheless.

   Mouse radioed in to Cancer’s port, there was no such thing as live video on his ship. All they would ever hear was his voice. As a space pirate of some infamy he’d rather not have his face broadcasted where possible authorities may see. If they even existed on the space station. Competitors on the other hand, they were fun to egg on. However, he wasn’t here for that either. It was a drop off. The job had gone smoothly and he had told his crew the minimalist of what they had to know. All they needed to do for it was be his getaway while he did the legwork. No one was hurt.

   This however was the tough part. He didn’t know whether his employer would backstab him after or even before he gave him the stolen company information and loot it off of his corpse. It was a rough business and Mouse couldn’t wait to get started. As they were docking, he pressed the com-button to announce to his crew to get ready to disembark .

   Perhaps if he was lucky, it would be a beautiful disaster.

[Anonymous]

Alice strapped the gun down to her thigh, having double checked the weapons she was bringing. She wasn't totally sure what was going to be waiting for them, but she wanted to be ready. No one was going to lay a hand on Mouse. In the space station, it was hard to reply too heavily on guns. They got you noticed, as no one wanted a stray bullet piercing the hull, so Alice had an impressively huge knife across her back, the fall of her vivid pink ponytail obscuring the hilt.

Heading down to meet Mouse, Alice absently stroked the leaf of a plant she passed. She wasn't used to such greenery and when Mouse had first shown her the ship, she had squealed with excitement and begged him to teach her how to help take care of them. Her next goal was to find a pretty flowering plant for her room.

She wasn't likely to find one here, but maybe after they got paid Mouse would take her somewhere they could find a pretty one.

"Mooouse. Do you need any help?"

[Anonymous]

Shyla didn't really understand it.

How could someone hold a conversation with a plant? Even as she sat on her haunches in front of one of the many potted plants on the ship she just couldn't figure it out. Of course, she hadn't tried to say anything to said plant. Staring at it instead worked just nicely. She also didn't dare to touch it. She wasn't the best with plants and it'd be best to say that anything she touched, plant wise, would die. After Mouse went through such hard work to take care of them it would be a shame to be the one that ended them. She would just stick to handled the electronics and mechanical things. The worst they could do was break or well depending on the pieces and other components, explode.

Shyla blinked and glanced towards the ceiling when she heard Mouse's announcement over the intercoms. That was a lot faster than she had expected. Had she really just spent so much time staring at one of the plants...?

The girl gave a slight shrug and checked her boots to make sure the knifes hidden beneath the material were there and of course wouldn't shift too much when she stood up. She was always careful with their placement but it didn't hurt to be a bit cautious. She didn't want to cut herself after all. Shyla wasn't one to use guns, she had no where to hold the bullets or other replacement ammo of sorts. She did just find with any sort of small bladed weapon and it was safe to say she had more than enough hidden in various places under her clothes. Had to be prepared for anything right?

Once she had made sure everything was okay, she pushed herself to her feet and headed down to meet Mouse.

Once there she wasn't surprised to see the bright pink haired Alice already there. She usually happened to be the last person to show up because usually she had to finish something up just real quick. It never seemed to be a problem because it wasn't like she was late and holding everyone else up. "We get to help out more this time?"

[Anonymous]

When the ship was properly docked, he too made checks on what he was bringing. Including setting up the ship's security alert. Mouse would activate it fully once he and his crew were outside, of course, but for now a tiny piece of machinery looking nearly identical to a microchip was clipped to a device attached to the back of one of his ears. And further covered by his greying hair. It made sure if any breach were made, he would be alerted instantly.

   He heard the footfalls of his crew approaching the bridge and finished fastening up his vest-like jacket; a sleek black article of clothing with a collar that drooped into V and showed off his arms. Alice was there first, looking mighty well prepared. Almost as if she was going to war. He gave her a smile. That was definitely the enthusiasm he liked to see. And Shyla appeared quickly after her.

   “Actually,” he said and turned to pull out a data disc from a drive, handing it to Shyla. The woman was good with electronics, engineering; anything to do with the technical ongoing of a ship. Things that were far over his head, as he would sorely admit. She would understand the importance of keeping it safe. “I need you to keep this from view at all times. Don’t give it up unless I, personally, say the word.”

   “And Alice, you know I’ll always need your help. Who’s going to get us out of the trouble my mouth gets us in?” He said, taking a glance down at his watch. They were cutting it close. “Shall we get down to business?”

[Anonymous]

"Awww, but you're so nice Mouse. I don't know why you always act like you aren't. Everyone loves you." Alice laughed, jiggling as she did so, one hand resting against his arm. She liked when he wore that vest, he looked amazing in it.

Though, Alice just couldn't figure out if he liked her too! Most Captains were always very friendly with her and Mouse just...wasn't. Well, he was friendly, but not friendly and she kept trying to flirt with him but he was always so good with words and she got so lost!

"Yessir! Though, I donno where we're going." Heading down the gangplank, Alice glanced around, as if the answer was just going to magically appear for her.

[Anonymous]

Shyla blinked and looked at the disc as soon as she was handed it. She flipped the little circle item over and looked at the shiny side for a moment, listening to the instructions Mouse was giving. "Easy." she said simply. She then carefully slid the disc beneath the hem of her pants. Since it wouldn't be good if it broke, she moved her leg a little to make sure she'd be able to walk without damaging it.

Yep seemed okay.

She then glanced at Alice again when the girl spoke up once more. She was always so obvious with her flirtatious advances towards Mouse. Not that Shyla cared at all. Their relationship was none of her business but she always just found it amusing about how obvious Alice was with her feelings. Part of her did wonder though why Mouse said nothing nor responded to the flirts. But again that was also none of her business. She wouldn't ask.

"We just follow." Shyla stated when Alice questioned where they were going pretty much. "And ready to go when you are."

[Anonymous]

"That's very nice of you to say, Alice." He said, the woman had a habit of giving him compliments he did not rightly deserve. That was fine. So long as he had her on the hook and she was not about to betray him. Very pinkly so.

"We've docked in Cancer," He said and started to lead them out of the ship. It was a small ship, as ships go. No luxury here, enough to get by comfortably. It was more for practical use than anything else. Mouse had learned to sacrifice a lot of things. And he asked it of his crew, too. "And we are going to go to a party!"

He flashed a smile, his signature smile that let him sweet-talk through nearly anything, to the ladies as they debarked, and touched the device behind his ear which sent Whiskers into lockdown. Now, it was time for the rendezvous.

[Anonymous]

"A party? Really?" Alice's eyes widened and excitement raced through her, "Like, a real party? Where we get to dress us and stuff? Is that part of the job?"

She followed Mouse down, a little puzzled, her nose wrinkling as she tried to work her brain through it, "Are we like...sneaking in?"

[Anonymous]

Shyla gave Alice a complete blank expression when she asked about a party. Since she was usually working on stuff in the ship she usually wasn't around Alice too often so she really had no idea that the pink haired girl was actually this dense. "Its not a real party." she said simply.

After that though she opted not to say anything else. She'd just let Mouse explain. What else could she say anyway?

[Anonymous]

"Oh, it's a real party." Mouse said. "In a sense." Well, perhaps not in the traditional sense. Or any sense at all other than his own. But a party - gathering - all the same. The ladies companying him didn't need to know the details of it, the dress code so to speak. It made them less liable should things fall flat and they ended up in the hands of authority. Not that he had plans to fall into those very hands himself, he'd throw them to the wolves before he found a nice pair of space-age 'cuffs to call his own. Shyla and Alice could play the role of manipulated vessels and get off as being victims instead of instigators.

It also saved him. If they cracked under pressure, they wouldn't have any information to give.

Soon enough the sounds of Cancer, a familiarity that he never liked, filled his ears. As well as the smells - body order, rust and other general unsanitary nuances - sights and unfortunately, taste. Like most places in space, it would never feel like home. That Edani blood ran strong in him. Mouse kept looking back to check if Alice and Shyla were still following close behind. His heart was beating quicker than the seconds passing on his watch. Were they ever cutting it close. It was fantastic.

[Anonymous]

Shyla's comment had Alice flushing. And Mouse just confused her more, "Wait, so is it a party or not?" She kept close to Mouse, not wanting to lose him in the crowd. It was always hard to move around Cancer.

[Anonymous]

Now even she was a little confused with what he was saying. How could what they were doing be considered a party..even in a sense? Shyla shook her head a little. No..she wouldn't think about it. It would just prove to give her a headache. There were some things Mouse, though usually Alice, said that she just had to let go and pretend she understood.

She made sure to stick close to the other two though it wasn't easy to lose Alice in the crowd. Who else had that bright pink hair? Not many or at least not that she has come across. "Should we quicken the pace a little? We're cutting it pretty close aren't we?"

[Tally]

Nathan was exiting a shop, and he turned just as he left the doorway to wave goodbye to the attendant, a long-time contact of his.  He ran backwards into someone, a chick with pink hair.

"Oh, sorry hon.  Y' all right?"

[Anonymous]

Alice smashed into the back of the small man before she realized he had come out of the store in front of her. Her hands came up to grab his arms to steady herself, blinking up at him, "Oh! What? I'm fine! Are you okay?"

[Anonymous]

Shyla and went to looking around a little, taking in the various sights of well...people. She didn't get to go to Cancer much, not that she cared either way but it was nice to look around at places you hadn't been to often to see if they had changed at all.

However, when Alice came to a sudden stop, she too ended up running into the bright pink haired girl. She stumbled back a little afterwards but quickly caught her balance. Falling would no doubt cause harm to the disc and that was a big no no. "What's going on?" she asked, peeking out from behind the bubble gum woman to see who had caused the sudden stop.

[Anonymous]

Mouse had wandered forward a few more steps before he glanced over his shoulder, the precautionary gesture, to see his crew stopping amidst the people shuffling past. And from what he could garner from the few quick words, Alice had, unsurprisingly, run into someone. Or perhaps it was the other way around? Oh dear. Nonetheless, Mouse would play damage-control. He traced his steps and placed himself near the small commotion.

"Well now," he said, adjusting his glasses, "What's the matter?"

[Anonymous]

When Mouse came back, Alice wanted to die! She was messing up the mission and now Mouse was seeing it. She shook her head, gesturing the short man she had run into, "Nothing's the matter. Just a little bump is all..."

[Tally]

"Yeah, yeah.  I'm fine."  Nathan gave a little wave to the two who he guessed were her friends.  "Sorry, my fault.  Wasn't watching where I was going."

[Anonymous]

Mouse didn’t forget the time. It was ticking down in his mind without having to glance to the watch on his arm. He kept his eyes on the new stranger, subtlety sizing him up and locking information into place. This fellow sent his bells ringing. He knew him from somewhere, not personally or he would have remembered quickly, but perhaps in rumours, or a previous face in the crowd. It was too early to tell, however, his interest was perked.
   
   “Better check your pockets.” He said, maybe in jest or not it was difficult to tell from his even tone of voice. “You didn’t steal anything, did you Alice?”

[Tally]

Nathan made a mock show of checking all his pockets.  "Nope, everything's here!"

Truth was, he didn't have much of anything to steal on him anyway.