Pete wanders into the VIP bar, wiping the remains of a packet of crisps on his flight suit. Benjamin is there, and he and Sophie are giggling at something in the newspaper. Pete know better than to ask what. Derek is there also, sitting on his own and looking a bit sullen.
"Hey-yoop everyone! How's tricks?"
"Well well, Mr.P!" says Sophie happily. "Long time no see. What'll it be then?"
"The usual if you please, my dear."
"Right. I see you've wasted no time in stowing some cargo in your midriff, after all that weight you lost."
"Well I was wasting away. And we, that is the crew and I, we had a bit of a windfall, although it wasn't without some trepidation I tell you. Running H-fuel from Kusari to Rhineland. Of course if the Brets ever find out about it, I might as well paint a big bull's-eye on my ship."
Sophie has poured Pete a tall ale and put the fryer on. She then notices the monitor above the bar has static on the screen, and she starts smacking it with annoyance.
"What's up?" asks Pete.
"Ah, monitor's on the fritz again. Those maintenance idiots already fixed it twice, so they reckon. I think I'm gonna have to buy a new one."
"Nah don't do that." Pete gets up and sticks his head back into the general bar area. "Oi, Junji! Bring yourself in here."
A gopher-faced little Kusari fellow hops in. "Hey, Misser Pete! Wassup?"
"See that monitor over there? Reckon you can fix it?"
"Hey what? You want me to fix?" Junji goes over to the monitor and points at it. "This is it? You want me to fix this one?"
"Yes, that one, that one right there."
Junji smiles a big grin, hops back over to Pete and claps him on the back. "Hey, no worry mate! I fix it good, ok?"
He then skips behind the bar and proceeds to pull all manner of tools, screwdrivers and components from various pockets and places in his overalls, plonking them on the bar next to a bewildered Sophie. She looks quizzically at Pete, who returns her a wink and thumbs up.
While Junji begins work she speaks to Pete. "Say, where's that sweet little crew member of yours? What's her name?"
"Who, Fran? She's out in the main bar area, I expect, washing the grease off with Dublin Stout."
Sophie shoots Pete an evil glance, and he looks shame faced. Meanwhile over in the corner, Derek's ears prick up.
