Estay and Rullin sat in Andromeda's Mess Hall inhaling as much food as they could. "Slow down or you'll make yourselves sick," Trance warned. She set two steaming mugs down on the table in front of them. "I made you some tea."

"Thanks," Estay said, eyeing the tea warily. She took a sip and nodded to Rully, signifying that it was okay. "So you guys sure have a lot of food here."

"Oh, yes," Trance answered enthusiastically. "If you want, after you eat I'll take you to Hydroponics and show you where some of it is grown."

"Thanks, but I've already seen it," Estay replied. "I took a quick tour when I broke in the other night."

"I didn't get to see it!" Rully protested. "I'd like a tour," he said to Trance.

"Sure! I'll take you as soon as you're done eating," Trance said.

"Oh, I'm done. We can go," Rulllin said.

"Coming?" Trance asked Estay. Rully shook his head from behind Trance's back.

Estay tried not to smile. "You two go ahead. I want to talk to the Captain." As soon as the two were out of the room, Estay couldn't help but chuckle a little. "His first crush," she muttered as she left the Mess Hall.

******************************

Estay knocked on the door to Captain Hunt's office. It slid open to reveal him sitting at his desk reading a Floppy. He looked up. "Oh, hi. How was your dinner."

"Best one I've had in days," Estay answered. "Come to think of it, it was the only one I've had in days." She sat down in the chair opposite his.

"Did you need something?" the Captain asked in a tone that told her he had been expecting this.

"I don't know if they told you, but two of your crew members made a deal. Rullin and I agreed to rescue you in return for a favor from you," Estay explained.

Dylan crossed his arms. "What kind of favor?"

"Rully and me want to join the crew."

"What?" Dylan demanded, caught completely off guard.

"We want to come with you."

"I can't do that," Dylan answered.

"Why not? You owe us."

Dylan sighed. "I realize that, but life on this ship can be very dangerous. I couldn't expose two children to that."

"We can handle it," Estay assured him.

Dylan shook his head. "I really couldn't do that."

"If you leave us here, Merdy'll kill us!"

"How about this," Dylan said, "in return for your rescue, we'll drop you anywhere in the galaxy you want to go."

"Fine." Estay stood up and marched out of the room, trying not to show her anger.

*************************

Estay found Rullin waiting in the Mess Hall. "How was your date?" she asked, grinning and poking him in the ribs.

"It wasn't a date it was a tour!" he exclaimed angrily.

"Sure," Estay replied still grinning.

"So how'd your meeting with the Captain go?" Rullin asked, changing the subject.

Estay frowned. "Not as well as I'd hoped, but don't worry I have a plan."

"Oh, I hate it when you say that!" Rullin exclaimed.

"Oh come on, I have good plans!"

"Yeah? Name one," Rullin retorted.

Estay thought for a moment. "Shut up."

"So, what's your plan?" Rullin asked.

"We're going to go find Cad."

"Cad!!! But he's a psycho! He's got multiple personalities!"

"Yeah, but they all like me...except for Kel. And he hardly ever surfaces. Cad'll take us in and give us a nice cushy job. Like raiding merchant ships or running casino cons."

"This is not a good plan! Cad's insane! He's killed people for looking at him the wrong way!"

"Stop exagerating. He's not that bad. Relax, it'll turn out all right," Estay soothed. She smiled. "Trust me."

"Oh, I hate it when you say that, too!"


Sorry it took so long. Thanks for the reviews. :)