The Drunken Junker

[JunkerTown]

Mia sat beside James in their private room, she had been worried about him for a while and it was beginning to show. The look of concern was unusual for her.

"James, babe, talk to me."

The occasional rumor, overhearing conversations in the halls, she had a good understanding of what was happening whether he wanted her to or not. It wasn't hard to see he was stressed. She stole a kiss before cuddling into him. With a sigh, eventually she broke the silence.

"You know this is has become too much for you to deal with on your own.... where is you're Deputy Arbiter?"

James picks up his glass of whiskey and slowly swirls the liquor.
His eyes are locked on the drink while his thoughts turn to James Mckenna.
As he is the current Deputy Arbiter for the Congress.
Mckenna has been missing in action for some time and this isn't the first time.
Following Mckenna's last complete medical review and physical the report was alarming.
While the irregularities displayed some rather strange anomalies none seem to be life threatening.
Subsequently he was given a 'clean bill' and returned to his duties as Deputy.
Still it was only after the medical examination results were given to JT and he approved his return.
He has some strong suspicions about what these oddities maybe.
Even going as far as to place a secret remote tracker on Mckenna's ship before releasing him from med lab.
Shortly after his ship departed from San Juan the tracker went offline.
There would be no way that it could've been done from inside the ship.
Plus before the device was disabled the ship was not docked and in flight.
No damage was indicated before it shut down either so the vessel wasn't under attack.
Whatever shut it down did it from the outside while the ship was in full cruise.
All attempts to contact Mckenna or his ship were never responded to.
This made James very nervous and increased his suspicions surrounding his current Deputy Arbiter.
James ponders...
Do I tell her the whole truth?
Do I reveal what I suspect to be happening??
Should I tell her everything and have her sharing in my stress???
Then he remembers..
There isn't enough proof and he is just speculating.
He must be sure before he reveals anything to anyone about this.
Still he does trust her completely and knows she would keep it quiet.
Finally he decides.. Ok perhaps it is best she know now just in case someth...
Just then JT's communicator lights up and an emergency message from San Juan begins.



Sir.. San Juan operations here.
We have picked up Marcus's homing beacon.
He appears to have full life support and is need of extract.
His cranium ejector worked as intended with the brain intact.
Should we send out search and rescue?
James replies
Negative San Juan.
Just stand by I will retrieve him on the JunkTown.
Prepare another combat droid for brain transplantation.
I will contact you once were underway.
Aye, aye sir we will await your transmission.
Signing off.
James turns to his wife and says..
Sorry babe, were gonna have to discuss this later.
I cannot trust anyone to do this or risk losing him now.
She says..
Yes honey I understand..
So since I wouldn't be able to talk you out of going.
Please take me with you!
NO.. Baby I need you here now more than ever.
I am going to be running cloaked under radio silence to do this.
Once were back on SJ I'll be in the lab where no communications are allowed.
It's going to take me at least a week to get him operational again.
So I am going to need to do something I never wanted to do.
But this is an emergency situation and requires my immediate attention.
With everything that is happening I cannot leave the Congress leaderless for a day much less a full week.
Since I cannot find Jim I am going to ask you to watch over things until I get back.
I will grant you the rank of Deputy Arbiter so you can keep an eye on things for me.
It's alot to ask but there isn't much time and my trust these days is in short supply.
Of course I trust you to do what I would want and whats best for the Congress.
So whataya say.. Can you do this for me.. Will you be my DA till I return?

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