Job Offer

[Admiral Hart]

Jo started reading off a list as she stepped into the brig, signaling that Butch could leave for the moment rather than watch th prisoner.

"So, you snuck onboard a pirate ship without anyone noticing, ransacked it, got captured by UE, slipped out, disabled several crew members and ransacked the ship before getting caught by Dagger." Jo paused. "Not a bad list."

The young man in the brig looked up at her.

"Name's Josetta Hart. Most infamous pirate in the solar system, heir to John Melrose, and Captain of the Plunder's Heart." She turned off the energy bars and extended a hand.

"Uly Grante." He said with a smile. "Don't suppose I could get an action figure or two, maybe one of those sweet rolls."

"I'll see what I can do. In the meanwhile, I came in here because you're a talented young man, and I'm going to need more crew real soon--I need more crew already, infact. So, I was wondering if you'd be interested in joining my crew?"

[Ulysses Grante]

Ulysses had been alone for a long time, and not entirely by choice. Most people he interacted with tended to think he had a touch of Space Dementia. Yet this woman--another incredibly attractive one he discovered with a slight uncomfortable shift--seemed genuinely impressed with his abilities. He almost didn't know how to react to the idea that someone wanted to include him in their group. And a real-life pirate crew, to boot, one of the best if the gruff old Butch's boasts over the past few days were to be believed. It was like one of his daydream adventures come true.

And she had mentioned John Melrose, though he wasn't entirely sure just what she meant by being his heir. Still, it meant she was a fan. And that meant that she was already half-way to becoming his best friend.

"I'd be very interested," he finally pronounced at length. "Though I do have a few small requests. I want the stuff out of my ship back." Then he winced. "And you have to promise that that girl with the mismatched eyes won't punch me in the face anymore." He rubbed somewhat ruefully at his nose. "She is a very angry woman."

"You can have your whole ship back if you want," Hart replied to that. "But unfortunately, I'm not Dagger's keeper, and that lady has both a chip on her shoulder and a tendency to solve her problems with violence. But she probably won't hit you again." She seemed to think about that for a moment, then, "probably."

Ulysses grimaced. "Well I guess that's better than nothing." While inwardly he was musing, her name is Dagger, huh. Somehow it fits. "So I'm free to go then?"

"Yep," she assured cheerily, stepping aside and leaving the way free and clear to exit his cell. "Crew's friendly enough, and I had a feeling you'd want to join up." Jo gave him a warm smile, with a hint of understanding in her clear blue eye. "Person's alone for long enough, it's good to have company."

Ulysses got to his feet and grinned. "You got that right."

The taller woman began leading him out of the brig. "So just how did you manage all of that business on the Mjollnir and the Heart Breaker, if you don't mind me asking. I know the Captains of both ships, and neither are slouches."

Ulysses shrugged a little, caught somewhere between self-consciousness and humor. "My mom and dad taught me some clever uses of my powers from an early age. I can control magnetic fields," he clarified at her curious glance. Her expression started clearing into a look of amused awe, already putting the puzzle together, and he chuckled. "I can manipulate metal objects that are magnetic, and I can also generate a distortion field in a radius around me. If the ship's small enough I can pretty much jam up every system on board in one way or another. Though the bigger they are, the more of a headache it gives me. But that's how we stayed out on the fringe so long. I'd just cloak our shuttle from the radar of any passing vessel, and we'd board what small freighters we could for supplies and the like when they came along."

The Captain just smirked, nodding. "Impressive."

Ulysses, for whatever reason, suddenly felt about three feet taller from the praise of this charismatic woman. His chest puffed out a little and he grinned. "Thanks."

After that she excused herself, and gave him permission to roam about and explore his new surroundings, though cautioning him with a playful smirk, "it's best if you don't try and palm anything from your fellow crewmates. Pirates tend to take personal affront to that sort of thing. You might end up with more than a broken nose."

Ulysses took that warning to heart, strolling around with his hands stuffed in his pockets just in case they tried to stray somewhere without his knowledge. The other crewmen he passed eyed him curiously. Not entirely unfriendly, though more than one stared at his brightly colored shirt and red scarf with a mutter. At least that's what he thought they were muttering about. They could also be muttering about his gray metallic skin and yellow eyes too. It was kind've hard to tell.

The first indication that he had perhaps gotten a better deal out of this arrangement than he had originally anticipated was when he saw another extremely attractive female pass him in the halls. She looked a lot like the Captain, but her red hair was pulled back in an elegant twist and her two dancing eyes were green instead of Josetta's one blue one. Yet she was just as gorgeous, dressed in a tight black uniform that left very little to his rather overactive imagination.

She smirked somewhat playfully as she passed. "Summer Year 182 issue of Playboy," she purred at him along the way before turning down another corner.

Ulysses almost tripped over his boots, eyes wide. He'd have to maybe look that up later . . . .

And then, shortly after that, he passed through the med-bay. And did a double-take at the two women inside. One was very slender and leggy, her dark hair pulled back into a neat bun with golden brown eyes that seemed almost naturally sultry, and a dusky copper complexion. The other was a dark-skinned girl with lavender-pink curly hair and matching eyes. He started somewhat guiltily when they noticed him staring. He felt himself blushing a little, lifting his hand and giving them a wave.

"Uh, h-hey. Just passing through. I just joined the crew," he continued to explain somewhat lamely. "Thought I'd have a look around."

The dark-haired female smiled at him soothingly. "Well welcome aboard, mister . . . ?"

"Ah, G-Grante. Ulysses Augustine Grante." She nodded.

"Welcome, Mr. Grate. I'm Dr. Reyes, and this is my assistant nurse Katy. If you ever have any medical problems, please don't hesitate to ask either of us for help."

"A-alright. Thanks. I-I'll just . . . I'll leave you guys alone to your stuff," he finally fumbled before turning and continuing on his way.

Man, he thought to himself somewhat dazedly. Did they grab up all the hottest women in the solar system and then plunk them down in one ship?

And then he really forgot how to think coherently, when what was possibly the sexist creature he'd ever seen suddenly came loping down the halls. She was young, maybe in her late teens, with long golden hair cascading down her back, silver eyes, elfin-like pointed ears and then more curves draping her slender frame than should have been legal. A man couldn't stare at a body like that without thinking smutty, even for one who had a decided lack of experience. The girl noticed him staring and smiled wide, expression kind and cheerful.

"Heya," she called as she passed.

"Hey," Ulysses mumbled, still somewhat dazed. He even found himself turning around to keep watching her while she walked the other way. And the view as just as impressive from behind as it was the front.

And then he was colliding with something hard. He jerked, whirling, at first thinking he'd run into a wall but instead it seemed he'd run into another person. A rather large person, a black man who stood near to six and a half feet tall, long dreadlocks hanging down his back, light brown eyes faintly curious.

"Oh, hey," Ulysses murmured. "S-sorry about that. It's just . . . " he glanced back to where the gorgeous girl had nearly moved out of sight. "Holy crap did you see that girl that just passed by here?" the young mage questioned then, tone awed.

The stoic black man merely raised an eyebrow. "Who, my girlfriend? Yah, every night."

Ulysses stiffened, blanching. Wide eyes falling down to stare at the man's massive muscular arms before he danced out of reach with a nervous chuckle. "And what a lucky man you are! Pretty girl! Totally not my type though. I'm just gonna be on my way now. You know, off in this opposite direction, completely on the other side of the ship from her. And your very big fists. Bye bye now."

And then he scurried off as fast as his feet could carry him, leaving the larger man to snort slightly and roll his eyes a little before continuing on his own path.

After a while his stomach began rumbling, so he found his way into the galley. And the wonderful man named Happy hooked him up with a whole plate of sweet rolls. The place was pretty crowded at the moment, the only free spot it seemed was at a table with two smaller-sized women. Both of which were just as gorgeous as all the rest of the ones he'd been seeing, much to his nervous chagrin. The one mixed girl with the curly hair had a baby in her arms, which--after his last scare--convinced Ulysses to do as little staring at her as humanely possible. The other was slender and pale, slightly Asian features with blue eyes and black hair and wearing a top that was nearly indecent.

It seemed the two of them were arguing rather heatedly over the benefits of a Rapier class over a Starflyer.

Ulysses neared. "Uh, actually . . . both of them are about the same, just in different ways."

Both women turned to him, their eyes narrowing. "Who the hell is this?" the curvier one with the baby demanded. The other rolled her eyes.

"Some fresh meat we picked up on the Breaker. Captain gave him a job on the crew. I think he's gonna end up flying this ship after we get the Captain's new baby."

"Hmph," was the other's assessment. The two women continued to stare at him for a moment longer before the curly-haired girl sighed somewhat loudly. "Well are you gonna sit down and eat or just stand there and gape all day?"

Ulysses nearly jumped in place before he started forward. "Ah, thanks," he managed.

"Don't thank me yet," she returned, a small smirk pulling at her mouth. "Not until you explain your earlier defaming of my fighter, lumping it in the same category as this slut's piece of shit shuttle."

"Bitch," the other shot back directly after.

"Hoe-bag."

Ulysses just blinked at them, not sure if they were playing or fighting. Something told him neither of them probably knew the difference either.

"The name's Willie, by the way," she announced.

"Jane," the other also introduced and he smiled.

"Ulysses Grante. My friends call me Uly." He hesitated then before shrugging. "Or at least they probably would if I had any."

Jane leaned forward on the table then, and he did his best not to stare at the way her top drooped down somewhat dangerously. "Alright then Uly, get to explainin."

He chuckled at that before doing his best to explain his theory. Even though the both of them protested it loudly, by the end they were staring at him with what might have been grudging respect in their eyes. He was just about to point out the superiority of his own shuttle when his attention was suddenly grabbed by the arrival of the girl who had apprehended him off the Heart Breaker.

All the other females that he'd seen and gawked at were slowly shoved aside as Ulysses stared his fill, as she hadn't seemed to notice him on her way to getting herself something to eat for lunch. Willie noticed where his eyes had gone to and she snorted loudly.

"Don't even go there, Uly." He glanced back, blinking, ignoring the faint blush in his cheeks from having been caught.

"Why not?" he demanded, trying to sound playful and confident. "Have you seen those legs?"

Jane scoffed. "Oh please. You wouldn't know what to do with them if they were wrapped around your waist and locked at the ankle."

Willie took note of his wince and gaped. "Holy shit, you're a virgin?"

To Ulysses it seemed as though every person in the galley suddenly stopped speaking and turned to stare at him. Including the gorgeous female mage with the mis-matched eyes. He felt his face turning purple. "A little louder, Willie," he groaned. "I don't think they quite heard you on the bridge."

Yet Willie was turning back to Jane, flabbergasted. "How in the hell did you know?"

The slender pilot just grinned, tapping the side of her nose smugly. "I can smell 'em a mile away."