Brimstone Sabacc Anyone? By Alison and Sylvana ------ Hobbie gently lay Sylvana down on the cot and strapped her down so she wouldn't fall when they got to Terra. He looked up to see Alison and Wes leaving the cockpit area, and raised an eyebrow with a small smile at Wes. "Why do we always end up with insane girlfriends?" "Because you're both insane," Face responded, following right behind the two. Alison turned and glared over her shoulder. "I'm not insane - that's Wes' job," Hobbie deadpanned. "One of many, I assure you." Wes smiled, his arm around Alison securely. It was his unconcious effort to remind himself that she was there, standing next to him, and he wasn't going to lose her again. "How's Syl doing?" Alison asked, kneeling down a bit. Hobbie sighed, leaning against the cot. "Other than Contrary As Usual - I think she'll be okay. I gave her a sedative, though... she needed it." He rubbed at the back of his neck tiredly, then folded his arms with a sigh as he looked down at her. "I'm not looking forward to how she takes things when she fully realises what happened to her, though." "Remind me not to be in the room when that happens," Face stated. "Me neither," Alison stood back up. "Looks like you're kriffed, pal," Wes stated. Hobbie looked at them as though he'd been betrayed. "But... I'm the boyfriend, you," he pointed at Face, "are the cousin; and you're the best friend," he finished, nodding to Alison. "Why do I have to do this alone?" "Because we know better," Alison and Face stated at the same time. Hobbie started to reply, then stopped to think a moment. "But, Alison - who better out of all of us, but you, to explain how natural the prosthetics we have are? I mean-" Alison just gave Hobbie a look that stopped him cold. "How about I get a Phanan clone. He'd be even better." Face winced. "I didn't mean it like that," he apologised. "I hate to admit it, but I have absolutely no idea how to handle this." "That's all part of growing up, Hobbie. You learn. One day, you'll be able to teach Wes." "Hey!" Wes gave a hurt look. Hobbie glared a moment, then laughed at the punchline. Then he sighed. "So... what do you think the odds are for? Lots of screaming, or sullen?" He wanted to know. "So I can prepare or something." Alison thought a moment. "More like silent determination to overcome it. Won't want anyone to make a big deal. Probably would sooner shoot a support group than listen to them." She nodded. "Normal Syl response," Face stated. "I see she hasn't changed." "I should have known this," Hobbie frowned. "This whole us being an Us is rather new, you know." He pursed his lips and sighed, glancing to where Sylvana lay. The woman twitched in her medicated sleep, a frown marring her features. "Wish I knew how to make the dreams go away, though." "Give her reason to have better images in her head at night," Wes said, wrapping his arm around Alison again. "Dreams are based off the emotional level you fall asleep with at night. If you're angry or sad, or extreamly tired, your brain manifests that into negative feelings in your dream cycle, which is what causes nightmares." Alison just turned and looked at him. "Thank you, Professor Loran." "Or... stop her from meeting people who are consistantly in life and death danger. Oh wait, that's her new profession," Hobbie said, reaching down and smoothing her dusty and sweaty hair back out of her face, trying to calm her. To make it go away. "Why do you think I'm glad I'm not there anymore," Alison stated. "At least in NRI, it's not all life and death." "Sure. Sometimes it's stabbings and we're dealing the death and stuff," Face stated. "Don't you have a ship to fly?" Wes asked, shaking his head. "Gotta love autopilot." Face grinned. "Lets me not miss out on the taunting." "I want to blow something up..." Hobbie muttered. "We could throw Face out the airlock and you can try to hit him." Wes offered. "Ha ha ha." Face rolled his eyes. Hobbie rolled his eyes. "Yes, of course, that's the answer to everything. If it doesn't work, I'll toss you out next and keep the lovely ladies to myself," he deadpanned. Alison just gave him a look. "I can kill you, you know." "Yes, Alison. I know," Hobbie nodded seriously... trying not to chuckle. Alison just grinned, and Wes leaned over and kissed her. Face sighed. "So, Sabacc anyone?" "You're kidding, right?" Hobbie shook his head. "Two things being a pilot's taught me. One - get the other guy first. Two - never play Sabacc with a Corellian OR a Lorrdian." "He sucks anyway," Alison said, elbowing Face in the ribs. "He takes all my creds," Wes stated. "Well, you're worse," Alison laughed. "We could play Go Fish... maybe I'll win this time?" "Hobbie, I'm never letting you anywhere near any type of fish, real or metaphorical. You nearly crashed into that whale!" Wes laughed. "I missed this?!" "You were dead at the time... again." Hobbie pursed his lips momentarily, then shrugged. "Besides - it was in the way." "Aren't whales the largest mammal species on Terra?" Face asked. "Yup." He just snickered. "Oh shut up," Hobbie frowned. "YOU try piloting blind without a control panel sometime, see how well YOU do." Alison was going to say That's why you look out the viewport windows, but a hand wrapped around her mouth to keep it shut. She bit Wes anyway. Hobbie crossed his arms and looked sullen as he muttered. "I only clipped its tail, anyway...." "Okay, come on guys, let's stop picking on Hobbie," Wes stated. "THANK YOU!" Hobbie replied. "So should we turn our attention to you then?" Alison looked at Wes mischeviously. "No, let's pick on Face instead!" "Works for me," Hobbie stated. "Oh kriff no!" Face replied. "You get enough laughs at my expense." "What's one more?" Alison asked. "Rikki?" Face just growled. Hobbie gives a look. "Um... what?" Wes chuckled. "Rikki, huh?" "Don't EVER say that word around me," he stated, glaring at all three of them. "Why not?" Hobbie asked innocently. "Because if you do, you will know pain and suffering that you have never felt before." His eyes narrowed to show that he would follow through on it too. "But that doesn't answer my question. Why?" Face just growled and walked away. Alison laughed. Hobbie looked at Alison. "So what aren't you telling us?" "Let's just say he's not that fond of his pet name," Alison replied with a smile. "Who gave him the pet name?" Wes laughed. "A very special relative." Alison grinned and looked down at Sylvana. Hobbie followed her gaze and smiled. "I'm assuming the whole 'pain and suffering' thing doesn't apply to her?" "He tried. Didn't work too well, from what I gather." "Ah," Hobbie nodded. "I'd love to hear the backstory on that." Wes had gone a little quiet, his mouth moving as though he were thinking aloud... without being loud. His hands even made small calculating motions, as though he were actually drawing lines between ideas. Hobbie looked at him curiously. "What?" "You know Fes?" "Yeah...?" "He's related to Face!" It was as though a lightbulb had gone off in his head. Wes grinned, he was quite proud of himself. "Wes, what are you on?" "No, hear me out. If Syl's related, then Fes is." "And which planet did you get that geneology from?" "Well, he's Syl's brother." "Arrek is Syl's brother, Wes," Hobbie chuckled, then sobered. "And her other... oh." "Exactly." "And how do you know this?" "Fes told me." "Why would he tell you this? He never tells anyone ANYTHING." "Uhm..." "Wes..." Hobbie had a warning tone to his voice now, glaring at him from where he was perched on the edge of Syl's bed like an avenging angel. "I-hired-him-to-find-Syl-and-then-keep-an-eye-on-her-when-she-disappeared- last-summer-because-you-were-worried,-and-so-was-I,-and-who-better-to-" "WES!" "Well, he DID find her." "So why did she end up on Perdition?" Wes scowled. "I'm going to find out when next I kick his ass." Alison just stood there, a hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh. It made a lot of sense. "You know, if I had choosen Fes over you, Wes, I could be Syl's sister-in-law then." "Good point," Hobbie pointed out. "Related to your best friend... not a bad idea." "Don't be giving her ideas!" Wes pouted. Hobbie coughed. "Let's see... I'm already related to Wedge... going to maybe marry Wes..." She counted off on her fingers. "Maybe?" Wes sniffled. "At this rate, I might find out I'm related to half the squadron!" "You sure being related to our lot's a good idea?" Hobbie asked with a chuckle. He stood away from Syl's bed and lightly shoved Wes' shoulder. "Relax." "Killer..." Syl mumbled through grit teeth in her drugged sleep, her face scrunching up as she tossed her head slightly in her dreams. "You guys are better than most other people I've had the honor of knowing." She growled a bit, then softened, walking over to the cot. "Why don't you boys go rest a bit. I'll stay with Syl." She sat down, taking her hand with her flesh one, and squeezing gently while pushing mussed hair out of the sleeping woman's face. Hobbie promptly sat back down on the side of Syl's cot. "Nope. Stayin'." Wes pouted. "Everyone wants her. My best friend, my fiancee... I bet even Face wants her, but he can't because he's related." "Your brain works in mysterious and disturbing ways, Wes," Hobbie told him. "Nobody said you had to leave." "I could say it," Face stuck his head back in. Wes glared at him. "I'm so glad I'm not related to you in this whole mess of family ties here." "Depends on your point of view," Hobbie pointed out. "I'm sure we could find one that makes you related to this 'mess of family ties', as you so succinctly put it." "I'll deal being related to Wedge. You get to have Face as a cousin- in-law." Alison just raised an eyebrow at Wes. "What's wrong with being related to me?" Face asked. "Dunno... I'm still trying to figure out how a week-old relationship got me married already." "It's inevitable." Wes shrugged. "The women just get their way." Alison grinned. Yup, she was whipping Wes into shape. "I'm doomed," Hobbie sighed, but the glance he gave to Syl's still form, once more sleeping peacefully, said he probably wouldn't mind too much if he were. "So... Sabacc?" Face asked, shuffling them in his hands. Wes shrugged. "We could play on the floor here." "We could," Hobbie agreed. "Then what are we waiting for?" Face asked, as he and Wes sat on the floor.