"Abisselfa."

He managed to slip away long enough to buy him some time.  The crew of Valhalla was off in the small backwater town, collecting supplies for their next run.  Dav was there not ten minutes ago, using his pay from the last job to secure a private transport off this rock that was leaving within the hour.  He had little time, and until he found Fensen, every second counted.

Standing at the entrance to the cargo bay, he glanced around with dull, emotionless eyes; even a dead man's eyes.  Someone who didn't want to see this place as a home.

He walked in further, hands fumbling with the three notes he'd manage to scribble while at a saloon table with the crew.  Little did they know some were meant for them.  He had a chance to stare at each of the letters' recipients; none paying him any mind.  It was tough writing them, and even tougher walking the quiet ship to play delivery boy.

 First stop was the bridge.  Not to drop off a letter, but to sit in his chair one last time.  Sure he wasn't with this crew for too long, but this was his chair and they were family for those few months.  He reclined in it, throwing his arms over his head, before getting a swift kick back to reality.  His time table was being compromised.  He had to move.

He passed back down the ramp and headed into Meyer's office.  He unfolded the paper and placed it on the stack of papers in the middle of his desk.  It wasn't messy by any means; business just hadn't been tended to yet.

     "MEYERS,
THANKS FOR BEING A GOOD CAP'N, MAKING SURE WE GOT PAID AND ALL.  HOPE TO WORK WITH YOU AGAIN.
                                                           ~DAV"

He headed back downstairs, en route to the Preacher's quarters.  He wasn't much for religion, but just in case, he thought.  "Better to be safe than sorry."

     "MINX,
SAY A PRAYER OR THREE FOR ME.
                                                             ~DAV"

His final stop left him dazed in front of a sealed door.  He grimaced, spouting what Chinese cusses he knew well.  He knew what laid beyond the door; he just had to get to them.  Removing his ship key card, he prayed to Minx's gods for a show of good faith, as he slid the card in.  And when that door slid open.....

It was the first time he had smiled all day while he helped himself.

     "IMRHIEN,
HAD TO BORROW SOME OF YOUR GUNS FOR A MATTER OF PERSONAL BUSINESS.  SURE YOU'LL UNDERSTAND.  TOOK A BIT OF AMMO TOO.  MIGHT NEED IT.  DON'T TRY TO FIND ME.
                                                             ~DAV"

If she'd inspect further, as any weapons collector would, she'd realize he creatively-edited out the acquisition of a grenade into his arsenal.  Maybe his pen just ran out of ink, or the paper wasn't long enough.

He spoke to himself privately, dust and dirt being kicked up as the smallish shuttle landed outside Valhalla.  The bigger transport waited in orbit, en route to planets closer to the Core.  He stepped down the ramp and into the grass, walking stoically for the shuttle.

"Time to hunt the hunter." He spoke amidst the roaring engine exhaust.

"All Beer & Skittles."

The night before on Colchester was…. eventful.  Davion got his first taste of "bird-watching;" the underground fighting club below the Blue Dragon Bar.  His body ached, his nose crooked, knuckles swollen.  He was a walking pile of pain, glaring about the walkway through blackened eyes.  He found Calina Tereshchenko: the most gorgeous of Companions, who had attended the previous night's festivities.

"How are you... after yesterday's bird watcher's meeting?" She asks.  He shrugs a bit, squinting at her from a blackened eye. "Sore in a lot of places, swollen in others. I'll survive. How was the view?"

"It was entertaining. I'm glad no one was hurt too terribly."
He rubs at the back of his shoulder through his jacket. "They teach you first aid at the Academy?"

She nods "Yes, some basic first aid."
He nods in return. "By the time we got back to the ship, everyone else was passed out. Ain't had a chance to check everything."
Calina chuckles and waves her hand. "Come on to the Guild House. There is a first aid kit there."

A short, pain-filled stroll later...

 "Have a seat, Dav. I'll get the med kit." She disappears behind the screen and rummages through the cabinets.  Davion glances around, smelling incense. "Where's your room?" He asks as he sits, removing his jacket and shirt.

"This is only a way station, of sorts. There are some bedrooms in the back for Companions to use but we do not entertain clients here. Just a place for Companions to rest while waiting for their transports."

He nods gently, lifting his head to see her again. Aiming his face directly at hers, she'd notice his nose was slightly crooked from last night's 'bird watching.'"Didn't ask for entertainment... asked for your room."  The Companion moves behind him after setting the small bag on the counter, looking over the scratches, cuts and bruises "They aren't too bad... you'll be black and blue for a while, though. Don't go entering any modeling contests." She pauses and listens to his response "Why do you want my room?"

Dav feels the soreness and bruising burning at the skin on his back. Looking away, he took a deep breath. "Don't matter much, forget it."  She kneels down and looks looks at his nose "You'll need to see a doctor about your nose. It looks like it is broken. Now, now... you asked a question... I did... and I'd like an answer. Why did you want to know where my room was?"

Davion smirks out of one side of mouth, bringing a hand to his lips, "locking them," and "throwing away the key." Watching the imaginary key bounce along the flooring, his gentle eyes rise to meet hers again. "How's the client list?"

Calina pulls some bandages and medicine out of the kit, chuckling at his response "Not that I can share it with you... but it's been feast or famine. Extremely busy or nothing at all. How are things on your new boat? with your new crew?"

Davion dances his head a bit back and forth. "Can't complain with the new crew... I get on, I move stuff around, secure it, we land, I take it off, deliver it. I get paid...always a plus." Keeping his head low, he pondered her "drought" in business, seeing as she's at a 'way station' for Companions.

Calina pours some alcohol on one of the bandages and starts to dab the open wounds.  "Sorry... if it stings." She remains silent for a moment, cleaning the dried blood away from his shoulders and away from the cut on his ear. "Don't bleed on me... this dress is rather expensive." She says with a half smile.

The brute cringes a bit, but chuckles at her comment. "I'll try not ..." but he cringes again; a deeper gash getting properly cleaned. "...been nice seein' ya'gain."  She nods and tears off a piece of tape and places a bandage over a cut. "It's good to see you, too."

She reaches over and tilts his chin up and looks again. "You should most assuredly go to the hospital and have your nose looked at. Could eventually cause problems with breathing if not properly cared for."  He straightens his back some as he feels the bandage placed against his skin, then lowers his head once her touch abandons it. "You know I'm going to find him, right? Make him pay for what he did to you."

Calina takes a sharp breath and looks away. She near daily said prayers of thanks that the fight between she and the bounty hunter had not left any permanent scars. Her long hair fell across her face as she moved around... reaching for the med kit and rummaging through, almost as though she were trying to distract herself "I... if you think that is necessary."

He turns his head to the side, seeing her barely in his peripheral vision. "Its more than necessary. You should'a never been involved. I'm'a see to it that it never happens again."  After a long while in silence, pondering what happened and why and how... it was part of the reason for her drought in clients. It scared her such that she rarely saw anyone new despite a full inbox of requests. She turned down an offer to join another Guild House as a teacher because she feared staying in one place too long. "Thank you," she whispered quietly.

Davion leans over, reaching for his shirt and pulling it back on. Running a bruised hand through his hair, he flexed his digits gently, still feeling the puffiness in his knuckles. Standing up, he glanced back to her. "It'll be like it was. No more worryin' 'bout Fensen showing up.... I promise."  She stands, smiling softly "Don't get yourself shot in the process."  He forces a grin. "Never... wouldn't want to come back and risk ruining your dress."

He smiles sincerely this time, still withholding feelings of shame for not killing this bastard sooner. "Thanks for checking me out, Miss Calina."  She nods, "Glad to help out, Davion. I think most of them should heal without scarring."

The Valhalla Security Guard half-bows, showing her the courtesy she deserves. Twisting around, he drapes his jacket over his forearm, waving to her gently. "Not everyone deserves 'em..." He left the main room, rounding the corner. "... but I do."

She packs up the kit and cleans up the used bandages and tosses them in the trash.

Outside, he finds a young lady, perhaps an Acolyte, stopping her outside. "Little miss... I need a favor..." He lifts one of her hands, and deposits money into it; the prize money from the night previous. "See that this gets to Miss Calina... when she ain't lookin.' She wouldn't tell me which room was hers... can you believe that, with a face like this?" He points to his kisser, catching himself post-thought. "Well ... it don't always look like this... but make sure she gets it, yeah?"  He watches the semi-confused look on the young Acolyte's face, but she needs anyway and heads into the Guild building.

The startled young woman nods "Shi, shi." she responds and takes the money, disappearing back inside.  Davion starts on his way back to the ship., aiming to find a medic in his travels.

*Special thanks to Minx for playing the Young Acolyte!