The man laughs at your inquiry, Thrash. "I think that you've got more to worry about than your stuff right now. Get going to the deck, the Captain doesn't like to be kept waiting."

2

Individually, we're both unspectacular. It seems noteworthy. Combining our ingredients, Darren's lean height with my overt shortness, makes no sense. Alone in a crowd, I feel condensed, over-lookable. Darren, despite his height, also blends into a crowd. When we're together, though, I notice people looking at us. Not at him, not at me, but at us. Individually, I blend in. So does he. As a couple, we stand out.

Within six days of meeting at the bar, we'd had three proper meals together, gone for two walks, met for coffee, and watched a sunset. We talked all the time. We'd been intimate. Darren told me twice after seeing me naked that I looked like, in a good way, he stressed, like a young librarian. He's never called me sexy. Which is fine. He's called me pretty and he said "beautiful" once or twice, the way guys do. I have dark eyes. My hair is straight, long, and deep reddish brown. I have a big smile. My skin is somewhat pale since I live in space, and I have a few beauty marks. A few on my arms, one on my leg. One on my upper stomach. I'm slender. He says I have nice legs, and "curves in the right places", whatever that means.

He once even called me therapeutic. That was his word. It was right after we fooled around. We were drinking a bottle of wine like kids in a back alley before a school dance. Passing it back and forth. Taking swigs. We started making out. He took me to the bed. He took off my top and I took off his pants. He let me do what I wanted. "Let's just use our hands." he said. I couldn't see him very well. I thought we were going to have sex. I didn't know what to say so I just went along with it. I'd never done that before. When we were finished he collapsed on top of me. We stayed like that for a bit, eyes closed, breathing. Then he rolled over and sighed. I don't know how long it was after that, but eventually Darren got up and went to the bathroom. I lay there, watching him walk, listening to the water run. I heard him use the toilet. He was in there for quite a while. I was looking at my toes, wiggling them. A strange amount of time passed. He was in there for so long, I had to call out his name. There was no answer. Eventually he came out like nothing happened. 

NOW

Talking. Arguing? They're speaking. I can barely focus. Two..women? A lizardman. Everything is fuzzy. I feel drugged. The lizard's talking to me. I try to speak, but i'm too tired. I'm too weak. I'm not feeling well. The door opens. Someone new, now, ordering us. 

I try and get up. It takes a tremendous amount of energy. I try and push myself up, claw at the walls, it's clumsy movements, awkward, unsure. I'm on my feet, finally. I'm holding on to the wall like the whole room is spinning. Everything hurts. 

Toni looks to Gin, then back to the strange man, "What do you expect us to do on the deck? and where is it?"

Thrash would shake his head slowly.. tilting it back and forth as the sound of his neck cracking can be heard by those around him. "Alright no need to get yer shiny teeth all bent out of shape.. I'd hate your momma to have to make you a new set" He'd say with a grin as he moves towards the now opened door. "I bet she used almost all her silverware makin the first set by the looks of it." he would add with a wink and a grin as he makes his way towards the exit, hoping to be first out the door. 

As Thrash turns his back to the other captives to head out the door, they see that his back is covered with dozens of deep long scars crossing up and down along his back where a section of his orange frill is badly damaged. Some of the scars seem older than others with the most recent of the wounds looking to be only a week or so old. 

Speak as little as possible. Every word has strategy. You cannot defeat a well-placed dagger with a club. Quality over quantity.

Dani doesn't say a word, and starts for the tunnel to the deck when Thrash makes his joke. She immediately slows her pace so as not to be near him when the inevitable retaliation occurs, disguising her intentions by moving to help the other quiet woman (Ashley) stay upright.

Someone is helping me. My heart races. My eyes are open but I can barely see. It's like gravity in this place is dialed to eleven. It brings me down. Holds me. Weighs me down. I look blankly at who's helping me. It takes all my effort. I don't know her. She's quiet, like me. I want to say something but my voice is nothing but a croak. A dry, cracking sound. Nothing is working. I'm surprised I can stand. I try and look around. It might be dark. I don't know. Any light I see blinds me. Hurts my eyes.

But I can hear. 

The lizard keeps talking. It makes my head throb. Whatever is happening to me - it's not because of what I did last night. What DID I do last night?

I can't remember.

I lean on my helper like a dead weight. It's tough to stand, to move. I want to thank her, to say something, but all I can do is wait.

Wait.

Nothing is working. I can't decide if I want to cry or get mad.

As you make your way to the exit, the man's whip cracks in front of your face. "Give me lip again and you'll get real familiar with this." You all are marched up to the main deck of this ship. As you move through the ship, it becomes very clear that you are somewhere in the middle of the Diaspora, far from Port Peril. On the main deck, you see the captain with his officers. A middle aged woman with auburn hair and a pilots jacket works on a console, keeping the ship on course.  In the captain's chair sits a bearded man with dark skin. He's wearing an armored vest and a pair of dark pants. Across his chest is a bandolier and at his waist is a very nasty looking knife and a large pistol. Next to him, in the First Mate's seat is a young man with his hair tied back in a rat tail wearing an open jacket with no shirt underneath and leather pants. The expression on his face is very unpleasant.

Everyone make a DC13 Perception check. Anyone who succeeds can make a DC13 Survival check.

I'm the BEST at these: 4

Thrash Perception check! 22

Thrash wouldn't flinch at the man as he cracks his whip and simply points to his back with his clawed thumb as he makes his way to see the captain..

My vision begins to clear a bit. I'm carried to the crew deck. There's people here. More talking. I try and make sense of it all.

DC13 Ashleyception: 16

Survival: 6

I have to do something. Anything. I cough. It hurts. Bad. I shudder and hold on. Almost. I cough again. I swallow. 

"I'm Ashley.." she tells Dani, trying to look up to her.

Ashley is able to discern the aftertaste of salty nutmeg on her tongue, but can't make out the significance of it.

Perceppy: 23

Survival: 9

"Dani," Dani says to Ashley, very quietly, as she keeps a careful eye on everything around them, gears spinning wildly in her mind.

Observe. Always observe, Danielle. A choice is meaningless if it is not informed to the greatest possible extent.

Thank her. Wait. What? What is that taste in my mouth? I wince. Salt. And..nutmeg? My mouth is so dry. I quietly try to wet it. The taste is strong. 

Dani. That's what she said. I've got to do something. I can't just ragdoll on her. Try and stand. Come on.

I try. It's difficult. I waver. It's like i'm not used to my own body. I'm so weak. One more time.

Perception check: 5

Survival: 8

Toni follows the group up to the main deck, keeping Gin close to her, like a protective owlbear. Her eyes just about pop out of her head at the sight of the first mate, she leans down to Gin and whispers, “dibs on rat tail.”

Gin sticks her tongue out in disgust at her sisters words. “Bleugh. We gotta talk about your taste in men, Toni.” She side eyes the first mate and captain, then looks to the whip man. “Hey, Jared Leto, I’m guessing that’s the Captain? Hey!” She shouts to them. “What’s the big deal?!”

Gin is similarly able to sense the aftertaste on her tongue, but can't discern its' significance. "Jared Leto" cracks his whip in front of your face, obviously not appreciating being called that, despite not knowing who that is.

Toni is able to sense the aftertaste on her tongue and identify it as a lingering effect from ingesting oil of taggit, a very strong sedative. 

As you all ponder this, the Captain begins to speak. "Glad you could join us at last! Welcome to the Wormwood! My thanks for ‘volunteering’ to join my crew. I’m Barnabas Harrigan. That’s Captain Barnabas Harrigan to you, not that you’ll ever need to address me. I have only one rule—don’t speak to me. I like talk, but I don’t like your talk. Follow that rule and we’ll all get along fine. Oh, and one more thing. Even with you new recruits, we’re still short-handed, and I aim to keep what crew I have. There’ll be a spacin’ for anyone caught killin’ anyone. Mr. Plugg! If you’d be so kind as to make pirates out of these landlubbers, it’ll save me having to put them in the Hot Room for a year and a day before I make pies out of ’em.” The Captain then leaves for his quarters. 

Mr. Plugg walks towards the five of you. He paces in front of all of you, looking you up and down with disdain.

"You." He says, pointing at Thrash. "You'll be working in garbage disposal. Anything that isn't foodstuff or fit to be incinerated will be tossed into the compactor."

"You." He says, pointing at Dani. "You'll be working with the engineers."

"You." He says, pointing at Ashley. "You'll be working as a swab. Hopefully you can keep from keeling over."

"You." He says, pointing at Toni. "You'll be working with the Life Support staff. Make sure the air filters are fresh, I don't want this ship smelling like socks."

"You." He says, pointing at Gin. "Fishguts could use a new assistant in the Mess Hall. His cooking has been rubbish lately."

Everything is a blur. The room is spinning. I try and shake it off. Something is very wrong. With me. It's hard to gain control. 

There's more talking. It's not the lizardman this time.

I hang on to Dani for as long as she'll let me. I use the time to try and focus. Get my footing.

I do feel drugged. But it's something else. Something more.

I'm thinking of ending things.

It lingers.

As the captain turns to leave, Thrash would quickly look to mr. Plugg with a look of excitement on his face. "Well today ain't so bad after all!" he would say with a grin as lets out a small sigh of relief. "I was looking to join up with a new crew... why do ya think I came to Diaspora to begin with!" he would add as he claps his scaly hands together. "I'm ready to get started.. so will you all be giving me back my gear now or do I need to get it from somewhere else?" The lizardfolk would ask as he begins to eagerly look around the room, his thick neck twisting and turning as his rough tail scraps across the deck.. swinging back and forth excitedly.

Talking is pointless. There are many who talk too much without ever truly saying anything. You must speak, and your every word must mean worlds.

Dani continues supporting Ashley carefully, waiting for the next retaliation. Evidently the lizardfolk still hadn't realized the full extent of the situation.