2020.08.01 - Pleasure Dome Hijinks
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This log is lovingly dedicated to Batwulf, seen here as Luke Skywalker. |
Luke Skywalker hums tunelessly to himself as he pushes a large hoverbin filled with starship parts. How he paid for them is a bit of a mystery, though the larceny-minded Crank rolling at his heels might provide at least some explanation.
Galen Marek has arrived at the station in search of Anakin Skywalker, whom he'd left here to lay low while Galen tended to Rebellion business everywhere. Now, he's just stepping out of the docking area, in search of Anakin, when he spots another familiar face -- Luke. So, looking slightly surprised, Galen crosses the concourse and approaches Luke, offering a polite nod. "I didn't expect to see you here," he offers as a neutral-toned greeting.
The Pleasure Dome isn't exactly the sort of place a crown prince or Galactic Senator should be spending a lot of free time, if one is being honest. But, it's the kind of place that appeals to a rebellious young man who holds those titles. Lael has escaped his security detail -- mostly for fun, but there might be the opportunity to meet up with other people who aren't on the official itinerary.
Currently, the young Senator is moving down the concourse, a blue-and-silver 3PO unit following behind, grousing as they go along. "I don't see why we've left the group," the droid says huffily. "We would be much more secure."
"Reep, you have no sense of adventure," Lael says brightly, rolling his eyes and grinning. "We're on one of the biggest recreation spots in the galaxy. Live a little!"
"Except I'm not alive," Reep mutters, but falls silent, clearly knowing which battles to pick.
Lael comes around a bend, then, and squeaks as he nearly collides with a hover bin full of parts. "Oh! Excuse me!"
Luke lets out a small squeak of surprise, quickly halting the hoverbin. "I'm sorry!" he says rather too enthusiastically. "I wasn't watching where Crank was steering me. Oh hi, Galen! I was just picking up some parts for the Krayt Howl. Okay, a lot of parts. That ancient ship needs nearly every part replaced!" He glances over Lael and Reep, one brow cocked. "Have we met? You seem really familiar."
At the edge of the concourse, Galen has just bumped into Luke, who's pushing a hover bin full of parts and is being followed by his astromech droid, Clank. Just as Galen has noticed Luke and approached him to say hello, Lael, who is accompanied by a blue and silver protocol droid, has turned around a corner and bumped into the bin, bringing the three into contact. Galen, looking between the two with a fairly unreadable expression, ends up looking at Lael for a longer moment. After a few beats, he says in a quiet, even, and just slightly sardonic tone, "The Force moves in mysterious ways." He came here looking for one Force-user, and if his insight serves him as well as he thinks, then he's instead found two...and Anakin would make three.
"That's quite all right!" The young senator grins reassuringly at the blonde young man, waving off his apology. "It's a crowded concourse." Lael frowns at the question, and he studies Luke's face, tilting his head thoughtfully. Unfortunately, Reep is less thoughtful in his response to the question.
"I would hope he looks familiar! He's Prince Lael Organa of Alderaan, and a galactic Senator! His face is very important!"
Lael has the good grace to look embarrassed, and he nods mutely with Galen's sentiment. It does, indeed. Sometimes through the mouths of stupid droids.
Anakin Skywalker dropped R2-D2.
Not long after this chance meeting, Anakin and R2-D2 make their way along to right where Luke and Galen have all but run into the famous royal senator. R2 flatly beeps a sardonic comment, which makes Anakin grin, just a little, and place a hand on the droid's dome. "We'll have to introduce him to Threepio," Anakin answers this commentary.
R2-D2's lens shifts to the redder end of the spectrum.
Luke leans just a bit closer, studying Lael. "Oh yeah, I've seen you in holovids. Your public comments are sometimes dangerously close to rebellion. All the commentators say so." And then he gives a sunny grin, thrusting out his right hand (which is only a little grease-stained). "I'm Luke Skywalker, and I'm here to rescue you!"
Galen's about to speak to Lael, when he notices Anakin and brightens. "Anakin," he says, sounding almost cheerful. "I was looking for you." He also reaches out to lightly pat Artoo on the dome affectionately. He does dart a look at Lael at the introduction, looking slightly surprised, and he asks guardedly, "Does the viceroy know you're here, senator?" Luke gets an odd look, but Luke usually does. Galen's just not used to anyone with such a sunny disposition.
The look that Lael gives Luke is one hundred percent innocent. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about," he says smoothly. "I take my duties very seriously and speak passionately to those subjects I feel strongly about, which involve taking care of those most in need. I can't help it if compassion sounds like dissension." Then he flashes the blonde a sunny grin, and turns to close one eye slowly at Galen, giving Anakin a nod of greeting.
Reep makes an indignant noise at Artoo's comment, and straightens huffily. "I am not a 3PO unit. Why do people always assume that?"
"I'm the one that mentioned that, actually." Anakin answers Reep, keeping his hand on R2's dome. He's fairly sure that a droid fight is something to be avoided. Artoo's been in a mood lately. His other hand, he raises with a smile and a little wave. "Don't let me interrupt you."
Luke just keeps grinning. "Oh, I'm not the one who says that. It's all the talking heads on the holonews that say it. I'm all in favor of compassion and helping those who need help the most. That's why I'm here to rescue you! You obviously work too hard, Senator. You need a vacation."
Crank looks up at Reep and lets out an electronic raspberry.*
(* OOC Note: Which is the only word in the English language in which the letters s-p-b appear in a row like that)
"You can't believe everything, or sometimes anything, you hear on the news," Galen observes dryly. Nodding to Lael, he simply says, "It's a pleasure to meet you in person. I believe there are some matters we should discuss soon, once it's convenient." He too keeps his hand on Artoo's dome, almost protectively, which of course has nothing at all to do with it being near Anakin's. He glances back to Luke, though, and says, "A...vacation...of certain sort might be wise. I can think of a place we might all visit that could be...very meaningful."
Reep makes a shocked noise at Crank's raspberry, and steps back. "Well, I didn't think I was going to be the target of abusive mech droids," he says frostily, looking between Artoo and Crank.
Lael puts a hand on the droid's arm. "Why don't you go on ahead?" he suggests. "Make sure our packages get delivered to the ship." He doesn't wait for Reep to argue, instead turning back to the other three men. "I'm glad to meet you as well," he says to Garek. "A vacation sounds like a perfect idea," he says with a nod. "I could use a few days of actual...relaxation...somewhere as opposed to a few hours here."
Anakin looks between Lael and Luke, frowning softly as he turns to Galen, a silent question unasked but occurring to him. There's something he'll want to talk about later.
R2-D2 makes a sound much like a human would sigh.
Luke's eyes brighten, and he quickly offers, "You can ride in the Howl! You don't mind sitting in the gunner's seat, do you? I mean, it's not very luxurious, compared to your consular ship, but it's cozy!" Crank makes an even more exasperated sounding sigh, his cylindrical dome turning back and forth.
"I've got room enough for a fighter and several passengers," Galen offers quietly. "And my ship is very good for...moving undetected." He glances at Anakin, as if in appeal. Perhaps he thinks that Anakin will have a more personable way of expressing things. He does add, looking at Lael, "I do think it's...a very good idea, yes." He tries to put some subtle urgency into his expression.
Lael smirks at Luke's suggestion, eyeing the bin of parts and raising an eyebrow. "Is the Howl the ship you've bought all of this for?" he asks, his tone wary. Luckily, Galen is there with his suggestion, and Lael nods solemnly, somehow getting the older man's subtle nuance. "Then we should absolutely get away," he says. "No time like the present. My delegates can manage things for a few cycles."
"It would be our pleasure," Anakin picks up, glancing to Galen briefly. They're depending on him to be personable?! "The ship is very accommodating and a very good ship. I've worked on it myself." If that carries any weight, which Anakin can't imagine it does. But he tries anyway. Though it doesn't seem that the prince needs much persuasion.
R2-D2 beep-chirps to Anakin, with a sardonic quality to his voice.
Anakin just purses his lips and slowly nods.
Luke gives a casual shrug of one shoulder, looking down at the overflowing bin of bits and bobs. "Well...yeah. Maybe we should all take Galen's ship after all. Then we can all...." His voice drifts off as he spies a female trandoshan stomping toward him, with a hovering, silver ovoid trailing behind. "Stop, you!" she shouts, sounding all gutteral and reptilian.
Glancing back at the approaching trandoshan, Galen frowns and says to the others, "Get to the docking bay, berth 49. Hurry!" He makes a subtle gesture, and a stack of crates tumbles over, just "happening" to scatter in front of the charging woman. Galen hesitates in place, waiting for the others to get going, and clearly intends to bring up the rear and make sure everyone gets away.
Lael blinks as the trandoshan comes barrelling up, and when Galen gives him a destination, he moves around the bin beside Luke, putting his weight against it and shoving. "You heard the man," he says, grinning at the other youth. "We've got to get moving." He looks over the bin at Anakin and Artoo, then. "You do know where we're going, right?" It's not entirely clear which one he's asking.
Anakin very nearly draws his lightsaber, but seeing Galen's actions, he holds himself back. Once Luke and Lael are out of the immediate line of fire, he hangs back. Must be that he intends to stay behind too, to contribute his own power to slowing down any pursuers.
"Artoo can make sure you get there." Anakin pats R2's dome, glancing back and then to his droid friend again. "Lael, make sure your droid keeps up. All of you, be careful."
R2-D2 glides along at a steady speed, leading the way!
But Luke is frozen in place, wide eyes staring at the trandoshan, who dodges most of the crates and leaps over others, until she and the hovering sphere are right in front of Luke. "A deal is a deal," she croaks. "And a bet is a bet."
Luke's shoulders slump, and he lets out a long sigh. "Yeah, okay," he says in a small voice, eyes downcast.
This seems to satisify her, and she presses a small remote control into Luke's hand before turning and stomping off the way she game, leaving the sphere behind. Luke gives Galen and Anakin a sheepish sort of look. "I um...may have won a hand of sabacc."
Galen tenses up, clearly ready to act, but then just...stares at Luke. After a moment, he lets out a low grunt of mild frustration, then he reaches out to grab Luke by the collar of his shirt (or tunic, as it happens) and starts to bodily haul him after the others, glancing at Anakin in exasperation as if to ask Can you believe this? But otherwise he just heads determinedly for the docking bay, after the others, presumably with Anakin in tow.
Coming out from one of the nearby gambling dens is a Zabrak, dressed in what would be best described as maintenance or work clothes. He is replacing a few tools in a belt as he steps out onto the main concourse.
Lael makes a noise of frustration when that Trandoshan comes charging up and...gives Luke a remote? He frowns deeply just in time for Galen to haul Luke along, and the senator follows, his eyes tracking Artoo and following the droid in the direction he rolled off. Thankfully, Reep has already left, blissfully unaware of the change of plans or...any of this. "This is relaxing?" he asks as they go along. "I guess it's at least not boring!"
Luke whimpers just a bit, one hand grabbing the hover-bin while the other works the remote, so the sphere follows them. "It's not my fault!" he protests. "All I wanted was the horizontal booster pins, but she insisted on raising me!"
It's almost unbelievable to Anakin, but this does seem to be how things often turn out: unpredictably. If he had to talk about it, he's sure hardly anyone would believe him about his life, either. He can just shrug to Galen, shaking his head and hurrying, jogging a short distance to catch up with R2-D2. They converse quietly, following the others...and keeping an eye out, Anakin keeping his senses open and careful, for any other, not-so-innocuous pursuers.
When everyone manages to regroup outside Docking Bay 49, Galen pulls Anakin and Lael aside for a moment. "Sorry about that," he says, seeming a little embarrassed. "I'm used to people running after me for reasons that don't involve giving anyone credits." His smile is tight and a little grim, but he doesn't linger on the point. "My ship's berthed here," he explains, tapping the door control. As it cycles open, the berth inside is revealed, containing a ship that looks quite like a starfighter scaled up to the size of a transport. Beneath its unassuming paint job, it also has a shape that a keen eye will recognize as borrowing from Imperial military design specs. As they approach the ship, Galen says, "The Rogue Shadow." He pauses, looking from Anakin and then a bit sidelong toward Lael, then he holds up his hand for the senator to see. He's slipped a ring onto his finger, which bears a crest very familiar to some: it's the starbird emblem that's come to be associated with the Rebellion. He watches to carefully gauge Lael's reaction, trusting that Anakin, who has seen Galen's house crest before, won't be bothered by it.
Anakin certainly isn't bothered by it, giving a nod to Galen as if he were just discussing the weather with the upstanding and prominent Galactic Senator and royal of Alderaan. He just walks along with R2-D2 gliding beside him.
Once they get close enough, there is the sound of a tremendous fussing that heralds the arrival of none other than the gold-plated protocol droid, C-3PO, lightly waving his hands as he trots off the ship, to meet with Anakin. It would seem that he is trying to shoo a small bird who has, very sassily, made a perch out of the droid's head.
"This is most unorthodox, Kitchit!" C-3PO, in a slightly long-suffering tone, states as he approaches. "Master Anakin, this insane little avian would not listen to the slightest of reason!"
Lael doesn't seem overly bothered by the bit of exercise, although he's secretly glad he sent Reep to the Tantive IV. Not that hearing the modified CNX unit complain about it doesn't have its appeal. But not on 'vacation.' He nods, waving off Galen's apology with a flash of a smile. "I've had to run a time or two myself," he says, following the older man as he opens the berth doors. He can't help a low whistle as the Rogue Shadow is revealed. "Impressive," he says, nodding once. "I wish my own transport was as attractive." When the droid and avian appear, Lael's eyebrows lift, and he's suddenly very glad Reep isn't there. Then Galen's ring is revealed, and the young senator nods his understanding before turning back to the ship. "I imagine with a ship like this, I could be very productive, indeed."
An antique Striker-class interceptor moves slowly through the magnetic field between the docking bay and open space. It isn't a pretty ship, and smoke belches from one of its thrusters. As it slowly approaches the Rogue Shadow, the transport's launch bay doors open, allowing the starfighter to come in for a rather bumpy landing. Crank launches himself from the droid socket, warbling electronic complaints as he rolls down the ramp and confronts Galen. As soon as the fighter is shut down (and the smoke ends), Luke strides down the ramp himself, followed by the silvery ovoid hovering a good meter off the deck.
Dylan Moonwood whistles for his pets to come to his side.
Galen gives Lael a grateful nod, slipping the ring back into a pocket, and then he goes up to the ship and touches a control, opening up the hangar bay so Luke can get his fighter inside. "Well," Galen says with a tight smile, "Let's get aboard. I'd like to be off as soon as possible." As he moves to go up the ramp, he reaches out to gently lift Kitchit from Threepio's head, letting the little porg perch on his own shoulder instead, just as natural as can be. "Relax, Threepio," Galen says evenly to the distressed droid. "Not even Kitchit could put a dent in your unbreakable dignity." Is he being sarcastic? His tone doesn't suggest it. As with so many other things, there's a lot of gravity and seriousness to the words. He proceeds up the ramp to lead the others aboard.
"Oh, Master Galen! You simply do not know how hard I strive to maintain the utmost level of dignity and respectability in young Master Anakin!" C-3PO walks along beside Galen, gesticulating as he talks.
R2-D2 repeats that binary equivalent of a sigh and just starts to glide behind them. Anakin smirks and shakes his head, walking behind R2 and smiling softly to Lael. "I think your droid and Threepio could just sit down and talk about us for days."
Lael laughs at Anakin's aside as they follow Galen, and nods. "No doubt," he says wryly. "I'm very glad Reep is back at the ship, covering for me." At least, one hopes that the CNX unit is covering and not kvetching. (Do they have kvetching in Galaxy 1138? Reep probably invented it.)
When Luke's ship appears, the young senator stares in stark horror at the smoke belching from it and the bumpy landing. He stops and watches as Luke and his envoy disembark, and he waits for the blonde to catch up with them. "That's the ship you wanted me to ride gunner in?" he asks, his eyebrows lifting. "You'd probably drop me in space at the first jump!"
Luke gives a sheepish little grin as he turns and follows the others into the ship. "She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts. I'm practically rebuilding her from scratch!" Did he say 'scratch' or 'scraps'? Meanwhile, Crank attempts to engage Artoo in a game of competitive complaints about the recklessness of their masters.
The sound of iddy-biddy hands slapping at the inside of the hovering sphere can barely be heard.
Dylan is enjoying his time in the relative comfort of Galen's ship, spending is time as he usually does by fiddling around with his datapad while IM-P3PR whirs about this way and that, performing scans on the ship seemingly at random. As people start returning to the ship, the little droid offers a chipper beep and begins scanning the group.
Moments later, Dylan peeks out to look at everyone. He lifts a hand slowly, giving it a slight shake, then reaches for his droid to pull it close. "Pepper said people were coming, and you did," Dylan says quietly, factually.
"Just...lock it down in the hangar," Galen says to Luke, wary but not inclined to bicker about its spaceworthiness. He gives Dylan a nod as they all enter, saying, "Maybe you can help Luke get his...starfighter...locked down. We don't want anything falling off when we jump to Hyperspace." Looking to Threepio, Galen says, "Threepio, you know Luke. This is Lael Organa, a respected galactic senator. We're all going to travel together to see some of our old friends." He glances back to Lael and Anakin, then Luke, and gives everyone a terse but friendly nod, welcoming them aboard the Rogue Shadow.
"Isn't Reep coming with us?" Anakin walks beside Lael, onto the ship, and waits while introductions are made. R2-D2 has no such concerns and just continues into the ship. You are all weirdos. Which he probably says in his binary language, but far enough away that it's plausibly deniable in case anyone overhears.
C-3PO, on the other hand, stays around and immediately walks to Lael, entreating a stiff, quirky bow and gesticulating to illustrate his words. "Of course! Anyone who is remotely aware of galactic affairs knows the prominent and regal Prince Lael Organa of Alderaan. It will be my pleasure to serve, Your Highness!"
"My other droid companion is R2-D2," Anakin chimes in, staying on the sidelines for now.
Lael looks dubiously at Luke's assurances, but decides not to say anything. Not that his look isn't saying it all for him. On the subject of Reep: "He's nice to have on hand for official functions," Lael explains to Anakin as they board the ship. "But he's not the best for informal groups." He wrinkles his nose as Threepio identifies him, and he shakes his head. "Just Lael," he says to just-appeared Dylan (and the others) helpfully, wincing a bit. "Or Prince Lael, if you must. The rest is a bit heavy for everyday use." Artoo gets a polite nod, the young senator bending at the waist and reaching out to stroke the mech droids dome. "It's nice to meet you," he says sincerely.
The clapping hands from the sphere make him straighten again, and move in that direction, frowning. "So, what exactly did you win?" he asks Luke. "It sounds alive."
Luke grabs the small remove from where it hangs on his belt, then aims it at the sphere. With a hydraulic hiss, two panels slide aside, revealing the interior and its lone occupant. "Almost forgot about my new pet," Luke says with a grin. "It's a frog...I think." Galen may recognize the species, but Anakin most certainly does. The tiny, green, elfin creature with long, pointy ears and large brown eyes is unmistakably a member of Master Yoda's species, though this specimen is much younger. Centuries younger. It's still a wee babe. Luke prattles on, "I'm going to name him Hoppy, though I haven't seen him actually hop yet. But that's what frogs do, right?"
Dylan blinks slowly as he looks at everyone. His attention nearly immediately shifts toward C-3P0 and R2-D2, each of who gets a half-smile twitching at the fellow's lip. "It is good to see you both. Have they been behaving?" he asks the droids, presumably of the group. At Galen's suggestion, Dylan and IM-P3PR head to check on Luke's new ship so that he can help get the ship locked in magnetically. Of course, as Dylan begins to work at this, he looks nervously toward the 'frog', then back to his work, and Pepper begins to scan Luke's starship, beeping and whirring anxiously. "Maybe he's going to sell it for scrap," Dylan wonders to his droid companion.
Galen gives Lael an agreeable nod, and he starts to turn back to Anakin to say something when the "frog" is revealed. Galen blinks at it several times. He's not familiar with the species, but he's seen enough different creatures to be able to say, with confidence, "That's no frog." And, frown deepening, "I think...I'll go get ready for takeoff. I'll be in the cockpit if anyone needs me." And with that, he turns and heads that way, muttering quietly to Kitchit, "This is gonna be an interesting trip."
Galen Marek seals Rogue Shadow's boarding ramp.
"Of course, Master Lael!" C-3PO effusively spouts, walking alongside the young man as if they'd been joined at the hip. "Master Luke, I cautioned you time and again about the dangers of gambling games! Master Anakin, your experience in this matter would be most invaluable."
Anakin just looks a little sheepish about all of this. In a way, he's grateful that Luke's new companion is much more attention-grabbing than him. "I, uh, used to podrace...and I won a component that got me off of Tatooine, so..." He's sure that's not at all what Threepio wanted to hear.
It's a happy chance that Dylan comes up just then, and Threepio immediately engages him. "Oh Master Dylan, Master Luke has been engaging in such dangerous activities, with suspicious sorts. It is almost too much to bear!"
R2-D2 is waiting in the cockpit. He, Kitchit, and Galen will probably be commiserating later.
Lael's eyebrows shoot up when the spheroid opens, and the child inside is revealed. "That is not a frog," he says, echoing Galen's statement. Then he's moving forward, shouldering Luke out of the way so he can get a better look at the occupant. "You bet a sentient being?" he asks, his tone a bit aggrieved and annoyed at this sudden instance of...well, everyone can see what it looks like. He reaches out to hold out a finger for the child, offering the toddler a warm smile and ignoring droid chatter in the background. "Hi there," he says softly. "I'm Lael. Where'd you come from?"
Luke holds up his hands, backing away from Lael and the pram. "I didn't bet him, the Trandoshan did! I just won him. What do you mean, sentient? Pets aren't sentient! That'd be cruel. And if he isn't a frog, what is he? Can't very well call him Hoppy if he isn't a frog. Well, unless he hops anyway."
The child, meanwhile, reaches a tiny, three-fingered hand to Lael's finger, making small happy sounds.
Dylan observes everyone with mild interest, his attention settled on Luke's ship until he and Pepper can ensure it is secure. He quietly moves toward the group, tapping away at his datapad while IM-P3PR begins to scan the child. After a few moments, he finishes whatever he's taking care of and looks to his droid. "Pepper, please project scan results. IM-P3PR projects a holgraphic screen with some information based on a basic scan.
Looking to C-3PO, Dylan's demeanor brightens up and he smiles softly. "I think it is good that he is here and clearly is safe, at least. That is what is important." Dylan looks over at everyone, shrinking away slightly as he begins to fiddle with IM-P3PR. "If he loses any of his original parts, I can try to come up with some replacements," he mentions off-handedly in regards to Luke.
In the cockpit, Galen gets clearance to launch, then performs the startup sequence. Soon enough, he's flying them smoothly out of the hangar and into open space. He cruises away from the Pleasure Dome, then starts the calculations for the jump to Hyperspace. He glances over to the astromech droid, saying, "Artoo? Want to help me plot that course to Dantooine?" He flicks on the inter-ship comlink, so he can listen in to what's being said and, if needs be, comment. But, for the moment, he's making it his priority to get them away and to safety as quickly as possible.
R2-D2 immediately shifts into action, closing with the panel nearest him and extending an interface arm that he locks into the terminal. A series of flowing, rushing beeps and hums later, and the course is plotted with incredible precision. R2 is a quirky droid, to be sure, but he's also an exceptional one, masterful in all his fields of special knowledge.
Meanwhile, with the others, C-3PO is encouraged and comforted, clearly, by Dylan's sympathies. "Oh, Master Dylan! It seems sometimes like you are the only one who truly understands me!"
"Luke, of course pets can be sentient. This..." Anakin trails off, looking to the child in the sphere. "He's...the Force is with him."
He doesn't really even know where it came from. It was unexpected, but Anakin is sure of it. This child is Force-sensitive. To look at him, memories come flooding back of a desert planet, so long ago now, and all the things that took place there. There's a storm stirring inside Anakin's mind and his heart, but it's the kind of storm that blows in on a summer day and makes everything quiet and a little melancholy, as the sun sets and night rolls invisibly in.
Lael is charmed by the child in the pram, and reaches out so that those tiny fingers can wrap around his. He can feel...something special about the child, but he can't put a name to it. Anakin does, though, and Lael frowns. "He has the Force?" he asks, his tone both a bit awed and a bit skeptic. "He's so young. And tiny." He turns to look at both Skywalkers. "And not a pet." He moves to pick up the toddler, then, and perch him on a hip awkwardly. "He's probably hungry. Is there anything to eat onboard?"
"You mean, it's a child?" Luke asks, eyes widening as he takes another few steps backward. "Oh well, that's...Er...Looks like you have things well in hand, your Highnessness. I'll just...go make sure all the ship parts I found are secured. Wouldn't want them rattling around while we're in hyperspace, right?" Before anyone can respond, he turns and runs deeper into the ship, with Crank right on his heels, calling him a variety of names in Binary.