One hour and quite a lot poorer than before he came, Eirik left the bar with Freja. He had the name of the prison holding his brothers and he was going to go there as soon as he could.

When they returned to the ship, Eirik got a hold of David and together they decided that the crew would get another 20 hours in port before they left.

The decision was met with much grumbling and groaning from the crew but a quick reminder that they had recently spent a month in port was enough to stifle any further complaints. Eirik sought out Trasti and together they planned out the temporary staying of his family, here on the station, until everything regarding the land could be taken care of. Eirik didn't mention his findings to Lasse. No need to occupy his mind with something that was out of his hands.

Eirik was restless as he waited for time to pass so his crew would return to the ship. He was stalking the corridors of his ship, looking for... Something. Anything that could take his mind off of this period of waiting. Suddenly his datapad pinged. Freja had sent him a message.

Found your stash. Rolled one up. Come kill some time?

"I can think of worse ways to pass the time," Eirik thought to himself as he turned around and headed for his room.

__________________________

20 hours later Eirik was standing with David, waiting for the stragglers to return. Half an hour past the time limit for return, one name had still not been signed off on the list. "I'm going to kill that kid!" Eirik growled as he looked out towards the dock area. Jimmie was still absent. He started typing furiously on his datapad and then called his brother. "Lasse," he said as soon as the phone was picked up, "I'm missing a crew member. I sent you all the info, can you get your guards on it?"

"Sure thing, give me 20 minutes. If he is still on station, we will find him." Lasse replied and ended the call.

15 minutes later Eirik received a call. "We found him," Lasse said. "He is located at Red Velvet the most recent whorehouse on station."

"Thanks, I got it from here." Eirik ended the call and summoned Jesper.

"Why are we not underway, Captain? Sitting here is boring!" Jesper called out as he entered the hangar. Eirik just held out the clipboard with the name lists and Jesper looked it over, his expression darkening as he saw the unchecked name. "When I find that kid..." He sneered to himself as he stared angrily out over the dock. The few workers milling about near Eirik's ship hurried to do some work at the other end of the area when they saw Jesper's face.

"Red Velvet. That is where he is at, Jesper. Would you, or should I?" Eirik asked in a dry voice that spoke volumes about his irritation with this situation. Jesper never answered. He was halfway towards the exit to the dock when Eirik finished his question.

__________________________

The room was dimly lit, though it was hardly dark. More of an intimate lighting. The red wallpaper and Bordeaux carpets made the room warm and inviting to be in. The females of all species were attractive in their own way, but the Terran females were more than gorgeous If Jimmie had anything to say about it. Ever since the Captain had dragged that woman on board the ship he had found himself frustrated and angry with the Captain, more so than usual. He knew why. He wanted that woman. He desired her and he WOULD have her. When the time was right and Dalle sent word, he would have, not only her but whoever else among the crew he desired.

Sure, Dalle had warned him against being a pain in the ass for the ship as the unwanted attention could ruin the plans, but he didn't care. The one thing he liked about Eirik was that the man paid well. And right now he was spending credits to his heart's content. Women, booze, drugs, whatever he wanted. This was how he was destined to live. He deserved nothing less than to be treated like a king. He wrapped his arm around the woman who was giggling in his lap and took his drink with the other. The woman grabbed his head and pressed it against her chest, making him snort the cocaine she had lined up on top of her breasts.

At that moment the door to the Whorehouse was kicked open with a thunderous slam and someone came stomping in. Jimmie had just enough time to look up and recognize Jesper before he was pulled forcefully from the couch he had been sitting on and had his head slammed into the table in front of him. With Jesper's hand pressing his face into the table, he could do nothing but accept the situation.

"WHEN YOU ARE ISSUED ORDERS TO RETURN TO SHIP AT A CERTAIN TIME, YOU WILL FUCKING RETURN TO THE SHIP WITHIN THE DESIGNATED YOU YOU WORTHLESS MAGGOT-DICK MOTHERFUCKER!!" Jesper screamed into Jimmie's ear before he slammed his head into the table again for good measure and started dragging the dazed man out, blood streaming from his mouth and nose, mixing with the cocaine still smeared on his face.

On the way out, Jesper stopped at the door and turned his head to face the greeter who was covering in the corner. "If you would follow me, I will make sure any damages are reimbursed immediately. I apologize for causing a scene, but disciplinary action was needed. I hope that I may continue to send crew members to make use of the establishment in the future, despite our little situation here."

The greeter slowly rose and cleared his voice. "If you could wait just 2 minutes for us to tally the damage, we could simply get a credit transfer?"

"Trust me, my Captain will appreciate the chance to apologize for my behavior, himself," Jesper said and turned towards the door and started dragging Jimmie onwards. The greeter shrugged helplessly and started following along.

Eirik's frown became a scowl as he saw Jimmie being dragged along by Jesper, blood, and cocaine smeared across his face. The bleeding had slowed to a trickle, but there was a steady dripping, making it easy to follow their way back, should one desire to do so. A man in a shirt and vest was following behind them.

"What is this?" Eirik asked as they got close enough.

"I caused some property damage during the discipline part of my retrieval. I told him you would appreciate the chance to apologize on my behalf." Jesper said as he threw Jimmie to the ground in front of Eirik.

"You told him correctly." Eirik turned to the stranger. "I formally apologize on behalf of my crew's behavior. Any damage that may have been done will be covered, just give me a number."

The greeter from the whorehouse tapped a few times at a datapad and turned it around to show Eirik.

"500 credits in damage?? That's it? Are you sick, Jesper? Or did you get kidnapped and replaced?" Eirik started laughing.

"Ha, Ha, Ha. Captain. Very funny." Jesper said with a voice full of sarcasm. "I see that it was your humor that won over Freja:"

"Low blow" Eirik retorted. To the greeter, he said, "I'm transferring 5000 for the trouble and the chance for my crew to make use of your services in the future. I trust this is agreeable?"

The greeter was smiling from ear to ear as he bowed and thanked Eirik profusely. Eirik sent him on his way and turned towards Jimmie who was still laying on the ground.

"Explain yourself!" Eirik's voice had become aggressive and uncompromising at the flick of a switch.

Jimmie slurred out his response, still influenced by several substances and groggy from Jesper's rather forceful approach to bringing him back, "I lost track of time Captain."

"Not good enough! Explain yourself!" Eirik pressed him. This was something more, he knew it.

"I lost track of time, Captain!!" Jimmie slurred out again, anger working its way into his voice.

"Last chance, explain yourself!" Eirik was done with this. He had more important things to deal with.

"I. Lost. Track. Of. Time. Captain!" Jimmie insisted, now visibly angry.

"I'm done. 2 weeks in the brig and no leave next time we hit port!" Eirik delivered his judgment and turned on his heel. "LET*S GET THIS SHIP MOVING!!" He shouted as people jumped into action all around him. 30 minutes later he was sitting in the captain's chair, watching the final undocking procedures take place. As his ship entered the void once more, had confirmed their destination with David and leaned back in his chair.

"I'm coming to free you brothers. I'm coming to bring you home" He mumbled to himself. This journey was going to be the longest he had ever taken, despite it only being 7 days of Travel back to Terra to pick up the diplomat and then 15 days travel to the Plyxii system. He was going to spend every possible minute preparing for the conflict, so he left the bridge once they were underway and headed straight for the combat training area.