Issue 1 Downtime

Aboard the docked Snarling Wolf, Jack rapped on the door to the captain's quarters.

"What do you want?" The voice sounded incredibly irritated.

"I have good news, Captain."

"Can it wait?" The captain's voice had retained its irritation.

"It can," he said sheepishly.

There was some muffled conversation followed by an exasperated "Fine." There was some movement and some thumping and then the captain opened the door just enough to poke his head out. "What is it?"

Jack pieced together what was going on.

"It's okay... I'll just come back later," he offered.

"No, you're here now and I'm under orders to find out what it is you have to say," Nate said.

"Very well," he answered, mentally chuckling.

"Before I saw that ship and got... distracted..." he said, "I went to check out that shipmaker you said was too expensive. Well... we struck up a conversation."

"Aaand If I can help him get his personal project airborne, we can get free docking and repairs..." he said, slowly grinning, "...for life."

"Sounds reasonable. Are you sure you can help him on this project?"

"By which, I assume you mean am I sure I won't blow him up? Yes."

"...well... maybe few singed hairs..."

"Try not to singe him. As long as you're not trying to install anything experimental on my ship right now, I'm okay with it. If you need to go to his workshop, get one of the crew to escort you. I'm still trying to figure out how to deal with that other little issue."

"Thank you Captain!" he grinned, "I'll make you proud, I promise!"

"I know you will," Nate said. "Is there anything else?"

"No sir. Nothing else," he answered, still brimming with enthusiasm.

"Then get about it," he said, shutting the door without waiting for a response from Jack.