Welding

Over the next few days, the PCs settled into their new ship. With spare parts procured, Wombat welded enough patches on to remedy the Short Walk's weakened hull. Nevada toured the scrapyards and parts dealers before stretching their resources enough to afford a dual turret with a single beam laser - one careful owner, honest!

While getting the intercity grav taxi resprayed to conceal its origins, they elected to give the 'Walk a paint job too, both in black and silver with nifty pink highlights.

Feaysen

Feng was hard at work to improve their high-end passenger facilities, installing extra features and hiring an apprentice steward - ex-bartender Feaysen Bentsen. Together the pair succeeded in selling all six High staterooms and sixteen of the Low berths for the trip to Tarsus.

Most of their hold they filled with freight rather than spec' cargos, though Feng picked up a few bits and pieces she thought would sell well on Tarsus. Finally they were ready, but as they were finishing up loading two figures appeared in the bay.

The man was in his late twenties and looked harried and rumpled. He was leading a blonde moppet girl child of around 5, who simply looked scared. He begged for passage - anywhere, all he had for it - as he had given evidence against criminals and had a death mark from the gang. Nevada and Feng didn't think this sounded fishy at all; while Feng kept the man talking, Nevada and Wombat checked their ID and found them to be well-made fakes. On confronting the passenger, he confessed to his real name, Chris Pavek, and his story came out - a very minor cog in the Bluey operation, not yet arrested and fleeing to start over somewhere else.

This presented a moral quandary. While inclined to help the man, who seemed like a devoted father who'd made poor choices, they knew only too well how terrible the consequences of the Bluey trade had been. They felt he should be turned in. However, even on enlightened worlds, the daughter's outcome in the orphanage system would very likely have been poor. On a low-law world like Collace, it would be bleak indeed.

"Low passage is all we have left," said Nevada firmly, and Pavek blanched at adding even more risk to his daughter's life. Then he shoved all his money into Nevada's hands, and the pair were settled into their berths. Their stress and fear eased from their faces as cold sleep took them.

Feng and Feaysen went to considerable lengths during the trip to make the high passengers at home, including a gambling night.

After an exceptionally smooth trip, the 'Walk refuelled at Tarsus' gas giant and then headed into the inner system.

After landing and trading - including selling some freight whose recipient had gone out of business! - they had enough to add the second turret. They debarked their passengers, including the Paveks who were deeply grateful, espcially when Nevada relented a bit and gave them some of their money back. Wombat's skilled care had kept every one of theior Low passengers alive. So far, so good!