#MSVJackOfDiamonds – November 28, 2017

Elena drives the truck over to another hangar in the spaceport, and aboard the cargo ramp of the ship inside. The MSV Jack of Diamonds. A beat-up old freighter that's clearly seen its fair share of excitement, but has been caringly patched up each time. Four large, bulky engine pods can be seen at the back of the ship before they enter the ramp in the front. The cargo hold itself has some crates stacked along the

Halisi slips out with Elena's help, and the same aid is offered to Ilyna.

Ilyna leaves the truck with Elena's help, though she still have to focus on her steps. She pays thus no mind to the new faces among Elena's crew. Tears are still rolling down her worried face.

Lucy 's expression is one of frustrated confusion and concern as she shouts out "What in the hell happened, Elena?! Where's James? What the hell are ya sayin' about a ship?" while walking up towards them.

Elena doesn't respond immediately, guiding Ilyna and Halisi to a nearby crate to sit on before turning towards Lucy. She grabs her helmet and yanks it off, tossing it aside. She shakes head. "I-... he-... he's gone. He went on the ship with her. Had us kidnap these two..." she says with a nod back at Ilyna and Halisi. "...and opened fire when I questioned him! He's gone loco. That-... that woman, she did

Senya hurries up to Ilyna and Halisi, unzipping her satchel and wrapping each of them in a blanket before activating her omni-tool. "Any injuries?" she asks, looking them over with her good eye. A fairly simple eyepatch covers the others, adorned by children's band-aids.

Lucy blinks. "Wh-... he shot-... that's not my Jimmy, I don't-... we have ta..." she trails off, looking rather distraught. "We-... we have ta do somethin'. What do we do? What the hell did she do?! We... gotta go after 'em. Before they jump." she says, immediately starting to back towards the stairs with sudden urgency.

Ilyna grits her teeth, but she offers no explanation to the red-haired woman before she's lead to a crate. The first thing she does after sitting down is tear off her socks, tossing them aside before grabbing her right foot. She gives a slight shake of her head to the asari doctor, but the scan will find her body temperature have fallen into the range of mild hypothermia and her feet show signs of first degree

Elena shakes her head, walking after Lucy. "No way we can catch up, but I think their fuel tank's busted. Might be able to track 'em. I'll get on it and fill you in." she says, heading off with Lucy, both of them going up the stairs in a hurry, speaking as they go.

Senya forgoes a scan after Halisi shakes her head as well, and she notices Ilyna's foot, opting for treatment immediately. After hastily spreading another blanket across the floor for the sake of their feet she produces a thermos of hot tea, looking to Ilyna. "Can you hold this?"

Ilyna gives a faint nod and carefly grabs the thermos with trembling hands. She still doesn't say anything.

Senya kneels down, retrieving a pack of liquid from her satchel, using her omni-tool to heat it before placing it under Ilyna's feet. "Just stay here. And drink that. You're both hypothermic. It will pass. Your feett shows some signs of frostbite, don't put pressure on them." she says, remaining professional and offering no comment on Ilyna's tears, or the situation in general.

Halisi is still shaking, and remaining quiet, but places a hand on Ilyna's leg, perhaps trying to offer some measure of assurance or comfort even in her rattled state. "W-... we'll get her back." she says quietly.

Ilyna looks down at the floor, barely showing any reaction to the asari doctor's words. As much as she wanted to believe Halisi, she can't understand how they'll track a ship in space. "She's g-gone," she cries. "I didn't even get a chance to have the... the conversation...."

Halisi shakes her head, hypothermia the only think keeping her from grabbing Ilyna's shoulders and shaking her. "We will get her back. J-... Jason... and the others. They're coming."

Senya seems to pay no attention to their exchange as she performs a quick scan of Ilyna's feet to make sure there's no long-term damage. Once satisfied that there isn't she types something into her omni-tool.

Ilyna gives an unsure hum between sobs at Halisi's reassurance. "She... could... be anywhere," she whispers.

Senya stands up, looking over the two of them. "Just sit her, let your bodies warm. And drink." she urges. "I'll be back to check on you." she adds before heading off, she too going up the stairs and walkways suspened in the hangar.

Halisi continues her efforts to reassure Ilyna as they sit and warm up, her attempts mostly wordless, as she is still short of energy, and shaken by everything that just happened. After a while, Lucy returns to the cargo hold, approaching the two of them. A worried frown is etched into her face, and she seems to struggle with her words as she nears them.

Lucy lets out a heavy sigh, looking between the two of them. "I'm... Lucy Crawford." she starts, glancing around briefly. "You're in my ship. The Jack of Diamonds. I-... I can't even begin to tell ya how sorry I am for everythin' that's happened today. Elena told me, and... I don't know what's gotten in my Jimmy. He's the sweetest man, this-... this don't make no sense." she says, her voice starting to crack. She

Ilyna hasn't shown any signs of calming down, but she has taken the asari doctor's orders judging by the thermos cup in her hand. She doesn't even acknowledge the woman approaching them at first, only looking up when she finishes speaking. "I... warned her," she mutters bitterly.

Lucy bites her lips, looking back at Ilyna. "I'm not makin' excuses." she says with another sigh, shaking her head slightly. "I just wanna sort this mess out and get my husband back. I was hopin' we could help each other. Elena, she-... she said you told her somethin' about the lady that asked our help. Becomin' clear she's not exactly who she said, if what Elena's sayin' is true. I-... can ya tell me more?" She

Halisi has turned her attention to Lucy, but remains silent as Ilyna speaks, giving the asari's leg a light squeeze as she hears the bitterness in her voice, shooting her a sympathetic glance.

Ilyna takes a long, uneven breath. "These... these artifacts, they... change people, turns them into monsters," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "If... if... if she brought something to... t-to you ship, you need to remove it." She sighs, and grits her teeth. "That's... what you condemned my daughter to, she.. she... she....," she brings a hand up to her forehead, and says, "Leave me alone."

Lucy mostly just seems far more confused after Ilyna's words. She let sout a frustrated sigh, lowering her head, but as she goes over what the asari said one word catches her attention, and she looks back up. "Daughter...?" she asks quietly, her frown deepening as potential implications run through her mind.

Halisi winces slightly as she hears Ilyna, patting her leg. "The girl your people kidnapped. She rescued her from a cult compound. They... they were insane. Murderous. She's raised her since. And now-... that woman... it must be one of the cultists."

Ilyna doesn't intend to answer her, the fact that Elena hasn't told her makes her only think less of them. She does not at Halisi's words, though, but her eyes are still closed.

Lucy lets out a heavy sigh, shaking her head. "That wasn't-... she asked us to save her daughter. We didn't know anythin' about any cult... James and my crew, they-... they thought they were doin' a good thing here. I-... I can't begin to tell ya how sorry I am about this whole business. I can tell you're hurtin'. And Elena says she believes you're tellin' the truth. We're gonna help ya. I jus-... James. My

Ilyna looks up at her, frustration clear on her face. "You can talk to Jason," she says, her voice raised compared her previous mutters, "just... leave me alone."

Halisi seems to have warmed up better than Ilyna. She adjusts so they're sharing the blankets, wrapping her arms around her and rubbing her far upper arm while shooting Lucy a stare that supports Ilyna's words. "Our people are coming. Talk to them." she agrees.

Lucy bites back her frustration, and desperation. The woman's pain is obvious. Best left alone for now, then. She nods a few times. "Alright." she says as she rises to her feet. "Doc will be back to check on ya soon." she says, a resigned tone to her voice as she heads over to the ramp, looking out into the winter and taking a deep breath as she struggles to keep her calm.

Ilyna leans on Halisi when her arm is wound around her, not seeming to acknowledge Lucy at all. "This is why... why... I... worry so much," she says between sobs once the other woman has left them, her words barely understandable. "I... I... c-can't deal with loss. When Alyssa-... I..., I-I almost-...." She trails off.

Halisi frowns, biting her lips as she hears Ilyna sobs, struggling and failing to keep her composure in her current state. She lets out a sniffle, shaking her head several times and turning to wrap her other arm around Ilyna as well, hugging her. "Nobody's lost. We're getting. Her. Back. I promise." It's hardly a promise within her power to make, but there's convinction in her voice regardless.

Ilyna doesn't say anything as she's hugged, a slight hum the closest thing to an immediate verbal response. Guilt shows up among the mess of emotions, the guilt that her lack of cooperation may be a detriment to the mission; the guilt that she's leaning too heavily on Halisi for emotional support. No matter how irrational she knows she is being, she feels powerless to stop it. Another few seconds pass before a

Halisi shakes her head slightly, the motion felt more than seen. "It'll be okay..." she whispers in response, doing her best to hide her own doubt and worry from her voice. She tightens the hug, keeping it for as long as Ilyna shows no sign of wanting to break away.