Never gonna stop the rain by complaining

Posted on Fri Oct 15th, 2021 @ 1:56am by Kindra Graham & Jonas Bailey

Mission: Back in Black
Location: Fortune's Echo, En route Santo to Ghost
Timeline: Day 26 - two days from Santo

Kindra made her way to the cargo level, then past the infirmary to the crew bunks. She'd wanted to talk with Jonas ever since she'd come on board Fortune's Echo and discovered he was a member of the crew. The two of them had shared close quarters for a time, and he'd saved her life. There were details Jonas knew about her that she wasn't ready for the whole Echo crew to hear. Especially not Alden. Not that she'd want Jonas to lie, and not that the big man had even the slightest inclination toward gossip. Not at all.

But they did have some catching up to do. Kindra tapped softly on the door to crew cabin 12-2, Jonas' bunk.

Jonas was laying on his bunk, just relaxing, when he heard a little tap at his door. There weren't too many people onboard that'd make that kind of sound. But the only way he'd know is to let them in. So in response to the tap, he banged the wall next to his bunk several times and yelled, "Come on in!"

Kindra chuckled to herself. So much for discretion. She entered Jonas' personal space and closed the door behind her. "Hey there, Da-ghuh. Do you have time for a chat?" Without waiting for an answer, Kindra took the chair from the desk, turned it toward him and sat down.

Jonas rolled over and watched Kindra enter. He was about to answer her and then she just sat right down. He grinned and sat up, reaching for a nearby t-shirt and pulling it on. "Well, ain't you a sight for sore eyes, mei mei. Of course I have time for a chat with you. What's on your mind?"

With both hands she made a gesture that took in their surroundings. "I can't believe we're both here, on the Fortune's Echo. It's good to see you, Jonas. I thought we might talk and catch up." The last time she'd seen him, Jonas had been wearing a three-piece suit and his dreads had been neatly fashioned in a way that made him look elegant, but no less dangerous. And yet, this was the same man who had turned so many society women's heads at that ball on Ariel. "You're looking well."

He nodded. "Yeah, quite the little bit of surprise when I saw you walking up. Been a bit." He remembered how awkward he felt when she'd fancied him up for that ball. It was the last time he'd seen her. "And you're looking just as beautiful as ever, little one," said the honest giant. "Time's been good to ya." He reached over and patted her knee before setting back and settling in on the bunk.

"And you are shwai as ever." She gave him a fond smile. "You saved my life more times than you know, Jonas, with everything you taught me on Albion and after. Watching my perimeter… anticipating folks behaving at their worst… shooting and maintaining a firearm." Well, one particular firearm, the one he'd picked out for her. "I still have that piece. You took good care of me."

"Did your big hit and big payday pan out?" Kindra asked, recalling part of the reason they'd parted ways. "How did you end up on the Echo?"

Jonas grinned. "Glad to hear you still have it. Keep it clean and it'll serve you well. But yeah, the hit and payday was well worth it. Gave me enough to lay back for a while and take some small jobs to keep my skills sharp."

He paused a moment and considered her next question. "Ending up on the Echo is a bit of a long story. To make it short, though...money was running out from the big payday. I took a job and didn't ask questions as usual...I was to take out the captain of a Firefly class. Got a portion of the payment up front. And boy was I glad I did. Turned out that captain was Alden. No way I was gonna put a bullet in my bro from years ago. Gave him the down payment for passage on his ship. And here we are."

Several long moments passed as Kindra took in this information. Alden was… his bro from years ago? And… someone had hired Jonas to kill Alden? "Turns out… I'm here because of Alden too." She swallowed, no doubt in her mind that Jonas could have carried out that job if he'd wanted. "What happens to the job now, since you decided not to carry it out? Will the person who hired you send someone else after Alden? Or after both of you, since you quit but took partial payment?"

Jonas waved a hand in the air. "Eh, I wouldn't worry about that. If Wilson sends someone after me or him, I'll just put 'em down. One way or another. And for every merc I put down, Wilson loses a finger. Little weasel will quit sending 'em when he can't wipe his backside anymore." Jonas laughed heartily and settled back down. "So Alden is patient zero when it comes to filling this boat with people. Did you know him from before we met or after I left?"

If it was anyone other than Jonas talking so casually about handling an assassin that may or may not show up at any time for him and Alden, Kindra would have been beside herself with worry. But this was Jonas, and she'd seen him in action. Just being in the same room with him made her feel safe.

"I spent a few days with Alden three years ago, then bumped into him and Alison a year after that. When you and I first met, I, uh… think I mentioned him. Not his name, just my regrets. I'm hoping he'll accept my apology." Kindra's cheeks warmed at the admission. She supposed that feeling of safety Jonas generated was the reason she felt comfortable sharing personal details with him. "Plus, the Echo got me off Santo."

Jonas nodded. "Yeah," he said quietly, "I remember you mentioning someone and some regrets. Never figured on it being somebody we both knew. But I hope he does, too. Accept your apology, I mean. Never really picked up if he was a grudge-holding person. I can say neither of us looked to kindly to someone that was stealing from us or trying to pull a fast one back then. Anyhoo, getting off Santo is a good thing. What were you doing in a place like that anyway?"

Kindra briefly examined the calluses on her fingertips. She hadn't thought of that. Did Alden hold a grudge against her? Softly she murmured, "It wasn't about money." Refocusing on Jonas, she answered his question. "I've been following some clues, looking for Kinmont Armstrong – my father. He was supposed to be on Santo, but about the same time I figured out he'd left the planet, Jim Buccleuch sent me a wave demanding I wait there and meet him at a soiree. I declined… and exited Santo before he could, uh, persuade me."

"I think," she started, then hesitated for a moment. She didn't want to involve Jonas, but she valued his perspective. "I think looking for my father may have made my stepbrother suspicious, and now Buccleuch is looking for me again. I'm hoping this random trip to Ghost will throw him off my trail."

Jonas nodded silently to her murmured answer and let it rest. "I'm glad you got away from there as soon as you did, then. Word of your search might have made it's way back to him...makes me think Buccleuch might have eyes and ears on Santo for some reason. Might also be the reason your father high-tailed it outta there." He paused for a second. "You know, my gut tells me you're pretty safe on this boat with me and Alden. And if we ever have to land at Santo again, I'm not letting you outta my sight, mei mei. This one's on the house," he added with a smile.

She nodded, thinking of the slave trade Santo was infamously known for. "You may be right about Santo, Jim Buccleuch could well have business interests there. And it's, uh… comforting to believe he's the reason my father high-tailed it out of there." Kindra only half-believed that. If Kinmont ever had wanted to see her, he could easily have found her.

"Thank you for the offer, Jonas. But next time I need a bodyguard, I'll want to pay you. We are both professionals, after all." She gave him a fond smile. Jonas, more than most non-companions, understood professional boundaries. "Besides, it seems unlikely the Echo will go back to Santo anytime soon. With you, Alden, and Alison on the ship, I agree… it's pretty safe here." She raised an eyebrow when mentioning Alison. The ex-companion had told her she was interested in Jonas, and Kindra wondered if either of them had made a move.

"I can respect that, Kindra," he said with a smile and a nod. She was truly top-notch. At the mention of Alison, he grinned. "Yeah, Alison, she can put up a good bout, that's for sure." He chuckled before continuing. "Bet she's pretty good fight, too. What with the working out and stretching she likes to do."

"I'm sure she is." Kindra grinned, pleased that it seemed Jonas was equally attracted to Alison. Life was all too short, and both deserved whatever enjoyment they found in each other. "I don't mind saying that finding you here on Fortunes Echo fills me with a sense of comfort, Jonas. I'm glad you're here."

"Well, I'm glad it worked out. The 'Verse seems to have a way making things fit from time to time," said Jonas. "I wish it were more often than not, though. It's good to see you again, too. And you know where to find me if you need anything."

"And you know that if you need anything I can help with, you only have to ask." She got to her feet and paused in front of Jonas. "I have a good feeling about Fortune's Echo. Just seems like this is meant to be - you and I, Alden and Alison, all the good folks on this ship." She held her arms out for a hug.

He silently acknowledged her offer with a smile and a nod. "Me too," said Jonas, while getting up from his bunk. "Seems to be a real good fit around here." He took a step closer and put his burly arms around the shorter woman for a hug. "Sure is good to see you safe and sound, little one," he whispered. The untrained ear may not have caught the slight hint of sincerity and perhaps...compassion...in the hardened mercenary's voice. But then this was Kindra, this was mei mei.

Kindra relaxed into Jonas' warm embrace. He was her safe harbor, her da-ghuh.

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