From The Fryin' Pan.....

"When you get lucky, you go for it. Wasn't much work of late, but this here job pretty much fell into my lap... Was talkin' to Jai a few weeks back on Al Raqis. Was hopin' for some work from her. Most times she can help out when the work slows on Hale's." Openin' the hatch on the shuttle sent the rotten smellin' air inside. 'Nother batch of miners needin' a ride up, "While we got to talkin' Jo Massenberg showed up. Was needin' to lose some cargo she.... Aquired. Jai said she'd take it all, so I offered to take some off Jai's hands to take to a couple places what could use good liquor. With the deal done, all I had to do was wait for it to come to the docks. Easy 'nough. Went back to the station to fetch the Phoenix and load up. So back to the dry hot world... Again."

The ground shifted again as the miners and their families loaded in. Some covered in ash. "Laodin' the cargo was easy 'nough. Even has space for Jai's stasis freezers. She likes her fish fresh. Locked down the cargo then set 'bout leavin' the desert world for cooler climates", Thinkin' on that, had to groan lookin' out the forward viewport. "Out of the fryin' pan.... Hell you could fry an egg on the deck platin' just inside the ship."

"The trip was pretty much uneventful... for the most part. Made a stop off to get a few hands to help offload the cargo. Found a few willin' folk who needed the coin. Next stop, Colchester. Mikie was there to help us bring the cargo up to the bar. Once we got the stuff unloaded we took a few to swap some news then had to go get a few papers from the clinic there. No one was 'round.... so sorta took the papers needed to move the stuff I had without folks nosin' in Jai's business." Took a mo to make sure folks were strapped in. The ride was startin' to get a little choppy with the hot updrafts.

"Don't know.... When I got back to Hale's with the cargo for Jai... The air smelled a little off. Even the ground felt a little.... Different. Just somethin' I couldn't put a finger to. That night was havin' some pretty strange dreams... or nightmares. Coulda been AuroraBlue tryin' to tell me somethin' was goin' to happen or was happenin'." Cyclin' up the engines, the shuttle chuffed a mite... Gorram engine intakes startin' to clog with the stuff in the air. "Didn't help with reaver activity. Yeah, had a couple of em land and attack folks. Hell, one of em took the Phoenix b'fore I could shoot him. They were gettin' a mite bold now. Lily helped track the ship down and get it back b'fore they started to chop into the Phoenix." The ride was bouncin' folks 'til we left atmo. Lookin' out you could see the fires. "Takin' ships, huntin' folk.... Looks like they were regroupin'. I saw me a ship come outa atmo. Big one too. I guess a few folks saw it on the ground. The doc even made comment on seein' it landed. She even cussed to make a point of it...."

"After we got the ship back, had to head for the cargo stores to see what all mighta been rifled through by the reavers. They'd take anythin' they could use for weapons, or ship repairs... if you can call it repairs.... They didn't touch the cargo containers. Not like em to grab and run." The flyin' back and forth were startin' to blur into a routine. Drop and go back.... "On the way back from a small salvage run, the radio starts to squakin' 'bout tremors and such on Hale's... That's a first.... Landin' left me a mite surprised... Comin' home to not just tremors.... But gorram fires.... and lava flows in town.... Even Fooks wasn't untouched..."

"Seein' the town like this sorta brought up memories of MacLarens Drift's Prosperity in flames... Shadow..... and Blackburne. It wasn't just in one part of town.... It was goin' on everywhere. Ain't ever been this close to volcano.... Hell I ain't even seen a real volcano! Seems fire's been a good way of takin' everythin' you have and scatterin' it to the wind. My ma used to say somethin' like....'teaches us humility' and 'helpin' those who got nothin'. You don't learn that 'til you lose what all you got. Then you can say you understand the other feller." Dockin' at the station was easy 'nough.. Offloadin' this bunch was slow. Some elders were needin' the extra hand to get inside after the rough ride.

The ride back was no cake walk. Had to find a safe place to land the shuttle... what wasn't on fire or too uneven, "Volunteered to shuttle folks to the Blue Sun station in orbit. The thing was hauled in by super tugs and stuck in geo-sinc. Seems Xoxo's got a soft spot in her armor... She was offerin' the place as a refuge while stuff was goin' on the ground. Seana had sent out a message to folks to be ready in case it got worse.... Got a feelin' this ain't the worst of it yet. By nightfall the place was lit by fires in half the businesses and a couple homes.

"When there was no one 'round the evac area, I decided to check on places... See if folks were ok or needed help. One feller was sorta 'shell shocked'. Had to guide him to the shuttle and strap him in. Then saw Xoxo, Nick, and Gwen. Seems Nick got himself hurt. Got him to the shuttle then headed to the station so he could get some help. Doc wasn't 'round. Had to put a call in to see if one was available somewhere." The ground was off and on shakin'.. not bad.. but 'nough to feel it through your boots. "Took a look see at the hangar. One big old volcano was just settin' almost on the doorstep....smokin'.... The inside of the hangar was a mess. Took a few to grab what tools and equipment wasn't busted. Most like would need the stuff b'fore long."

"More folks started to wander in. Some covered in dirty of ash.... Some just lookin' scared. Went to check see if G was 'round. He wasn't in the Hanso office so checked the sheriff's office. Nada. he musta evacced in his ship already. Xoxo was lookin' for Catherine but no one's seen her for weeks now. AuroraBlue was 'round.... But stayin' outa reach. She was ok. That much I knew for sure. She was lettin' me know she was."

The streets were bein' lit more now by fires then lightin'. Aiya...."Talked to Seana on the folks that got lifted. Her and Xoxo were talkin' on stuff. Told em to get packed if thats what they were doin'. No sense in waitin' 'til the last mo. Hell, its a good way to get your own self ended. Xoxo went to finish what all she was takin' with her. Seana stayed for a few to talk with me on what all was goin' on b'fore she headed to finish what all she needed to do. Dav showed up with a few folks for transportin' up. Xoxo'd let us know 'bout the animals...... Livestock. Called on a few of the crew to help load em and move em in the Monster."

Somewhere down under our feet, the dragon was movin'...... Belchin' fire and growlin'. My dragon's down there. I know..... "Once everyone was in for this next trip, I cycled the engines. The heated air wasn't helpin' with the ride. Didn't help much lookin' down on Hale's Moon.... Lit by the volcanic activity and fires. The smoke and ash in the air was makin' ground visibility bad. What all was gonna happen next is anyone's guess....... Could almost say.... From the fryin' pan into the fire...."