BoTH Chpt 29

==Blood on the Horizon - Chapter 29 -==
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===Background Checks===
Date: March 4th, 3002
Location: New Syrtis, Capellan March Capital, Federated Suns
So," I looked at the woman sitting across from me. "You just got fired from a major shipping company. Why should I hire you as a DropShip captain instead of the other five candidates I've got?"
 
"Because I'm the only one who's served in a military organization," Victoria Jewel leaned back in her chair. "Because Kaylee Frye vouches for me, and because my entire crew followed me when I was fired from the last company," she leaned forward. "Which given the DropShips you have available, would mean that you get to crew both of your remaining ships for the cost of one crew."
 
"The shipping company didn't exactly leave you with a sterling review," I raised an eyebrow. "They actually went out of their way to blacklist you."
 
"That's what happens when you piss off the wrong people for speaking the truth," she shrugged. "They were using Quikscell parts to maintain their Mules, and I called them out on their bullshit. Told them that it wasn't safe for my crews to use those spare parts, and then I committed the cardinal sin after they told me to suck it up."
 
"And the cardinal sin was?" I asked.
 
"I paid to replace the spare parts with quality components with my own money and had the scrap that Quikscell has for sale documented and tested," She smirked. "Then I reported them to the FedSuns inspection teams. They didn't take too kindly to that."
 
"So, I should be able to get confirmation from the authorities then," I looked her directly in the eye. "I trust you, but I want to verify this before we continue with the hiring process."
 
"Totally understood," She pulled a small wallet out of her purse, a small glint showing a concealed pistol and knife before it closed again. "Here, you can contact me here for the next few weeks," she handed me a small card with the address of a local bed and breakfast joint. "If you haven't made a decision by then, my crew and I are going to be moving on, we can't afford to stay here long term."
 
"Got it," I stood up and shook her hand. "I'll get back to you by the end of this week with my decision."
 
"Glad to hear it," She stood up to leave. "Thanks for being willing to meet with me at all, not many have been willing to let me through to an interview after I was blacklisted."
 
"I figured I should at least hear you out," I held the door for her. "After all, you're coming with a crew, and that's not something most can say."
 
I closed the door of my rented office and sat back down behind the desk that had been provided and then checked the time.
 
"The FedSuns local branch of federal law enforcement should still be open," I muttered to myself as I opened the phone book that had been provided. "Let's see what they have to say about Miss Jewel."
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===Story over steak with interesting Company===
Date: March 7, 3002
 
"What can I get started for you?" a young waitress stepped up to my table.
 
"Some water to drink and a menu if you have it," I replied, looking out across the crowd of people with a small smile on my face.
 
"Here's a menu, and I'll be right back with the water," she smiled and slid a laminated sheet over before vanishing.
 
I had interviewed over thirty people in the last two days and I needed a break. So I had come here, a local steakhouse that had been open since around the colonization of the planet as a whole.
 
"Decide what you want yet?" The woman came back and set the glass of water in front of me.
 
"I think I'll take this," I pointed to the steak on the menu. "And I'll take both of the normal sides with it."
 
"Will you be needing any steaksauce?" She asked.
 
"I'm not a heretic," I chuckled. "Just make sure the steak is medium-rare and we'll be fine."
 
"Sounds good," she jotted everything down and then gave me a short nod before heading to the next table.
 
I leaned back and smiled as I watched people interact, the warm atmosphere at odds with the cold planet. Life would never be perfect, but the moments like this where I could slow down and look at the joy of others brought a sort of peace over me. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, opening them again to see someone sliding into the booth across from me.
 
"Can I help you?" I asked the young woman.
 
"Uh," she blushed from her nose to the tips of her ears, the red glow almost shining as her embarrassment was clear. "Hi, I'm Emily."
 
"Evening," I raised my glass as I tried my best not to laugh noting a small group of college age girls looking intently at our interaction. "Your friends put you up to this?"
 
"Yes, no," She shook her head. "Kinda?" she raised an eyebrow. "I think you're cute, and they said I should come see if I can get your number or something."
 
"Well Emily, I'm not really looking to date someone at the moment," I lifted my hand to show the wedding band still on my left hand, wincing as she seemed to deflate instantly. "But I'll gladly share the rest of the meal with you."
 
"Thank you," she whispered. "I'm sorry for preposition you like this."
 
"Don't be," I smiled at her. "I'm actually flattered. Now, if you want, you can invite your friends over so I can explain what happened."
 
"Yeah," she perked up. "I'll go get them," She stood and walked over to the table of girls, her hands moving as she spoke.
 
"So much for a quiet evening," I laughed a bit before catching sight of my ring, my mood sobering immediately as the memory of my last date with my wife flashed through my mind.
 
"Your steak," the Waitress's voice broke me out of my reverie as she refilled my water and set the plate down, the massive steak looking glorious on the plate.
 
"Lotta steak on that plate," the flock of girls sat across from me, one of them smirking as she spoke. "You sure you can handle all that meat."
 
"You don't want to play that game with me," I looked at the one who had spoken the innuendo. "I have stockpiles of dad jokes that have been unused for the last two years. I'm perfectly willing to open that vault."
 
"Oh really," She leaned forward. "I'll take that as a chall-mph," her voice was muffled as Emily shoved a scarf into it.
 
"NO!" She smacked her friend with a glove. "We are not going to sit here and listen to bad jokes and your awful puns. Bad Jenny, bad."
 
"I'm not a cat you know," the redhead removed the scarf from her mouth. "Now, I don't think any of us got your name, stranger."
 
"Mark Hull," I replied, dipping my head a bit in greeting. "Pleasure to meet you."
 
"You got any cool stories to go with the tall mysterious angle, or are you just an average guy?"
 
"I think I've got a pretty interesting story," I shrugged as I slowly savored a bite of my steak. "But whether you'll believe me or not isn't exactly up to me."
 
"Well, if I have to be here, I might as well hear a story."
 
"Alright," I took a sip of water. "Where do I begin?"
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Chapter 29