Quiet

‘Stop it’ Amanda told herself firmly as she caught herself sneaking a look at Cord as he leaned over the pool table, she stared determinedly into her drink. She could hear Ruth laughing out on the dance floor as James spun her around expertly.

Amanda heard a voice from behind her, “We’re here for a meetin’ that means not trouble from you all dong ma?” a chorus of voices rose in disagreement as to how they never got into any trouble what so ever. Amanda looked back over her shoulder to see a group of people entering the bar.

First to enter was a handsome brown haired man who was pinching the bridge of his nose as the extremely large man beside him tried to convince him of his inability to get in any sort of trouble, a blonde man in a shirt that even Amanda deemed hideous, kept calling a beautiful woman who looked very dangerous ‘lambietoes’, something that Amanda had to give the man courage for. The brown haired man spoke to someone who was outside, “Kaylee you keep her safe you hear, Doc you don’t have to worry about your sister all the time”

A bright voice called out “Everythings gonna be shiny Captain” at the Captains long suffering sigh, two young girls voices called out “we love our Captain” before dissolving into giggles that faded as they moved away.

The large man surveyed the bar, calling out as he did so, “Hey Doc, your’ not gonna welsh on your bet are ya?” He moved toward the bar revealing the smaller young man who had until this moment been hidden in the middle of the group.

“No Jayne, I will buy you your drink”

“Drinks” Jayne replied, Simon rolled his eyes and simply nodded.

Amanda recognized Simon at the same moment Ruth did, the crew of Serenity and Katie’s Pride stared in shock as the twins engulfed Simon.

Ruth and Amanda’s questions stumbled over each other as they tried to find out why Simon was still alive and where was River, and where had he been and why in the nine hells did he never contact them.

Shock, fear and happiness warred for a place on Simon’s face; he was saved from answering as Mal manoeuvred him out of the twins embrace. “So Doc, care to introduce us to these young ladies?”

As he spoke Mal and Jayne moved so that Simon had a clear passage to the door, clearing his throat a few times in order to get his voice to work, the adrenaline in his system let Simon know that Wash had also fallen back as Zoë moved up to cover her Captains flank and that there was an extremely large man who had moved up beside Amanda as if to protect her. A slim red haired man had moved up beside Ruth who fairly vibrated with the need to do something, anything.

Amanda eyed the way that the other people had come to ensure Simon’s safety from her and Ruth; the rumours that she had heard must be true she thought to herself.

Before the tension escalated any further Ruth held out her hand and with a smile said, “And as usual Simon has forgotten his manners, I’m Ruth and this is my sister Amanda, we grew up with and attended Medacade training with Simon.”

Mal shook hands, relaxing slightly, “Long way from the Core aren’t you?” he asked easily.

“Needed to find my sister a man before she dried up and blew away Captain” Ruth laughed as Amanda turned bright red and spluttered, thankfully no one had heard Cord’s muttered, “No chance of that”

Chloe moved forward, “Captain Reynolds? I’m Chloe Reid, Captain of the Katie’s Pride. It seems members of our crew have some catching up to do, shall we talk business while they do so?”

Mal glanced at Simon, question clear in his eyes, ‘Can we trust these women?’ Simon finally found his voice, “Captain I would very much appreciate having a chance to catch up with my friends if you find it does not unduly inconvenience you.”

“Seein as how you asked so nicely and all, don’t see why I should be a grumpy old cap’n and not allow you to run along and play with your friends.” Mal drawled, eliciting a grunt of laughter from Jayne and Wash.

Ruth grabbed Simon’s hand and pulled him toward a table littered with glasses, Simon cast a helpless glance over his shoulder at Jayne and Wash, who without prompting followed and settled themselves down at the table.

Wash looked eagerly between the women and Simon, “So does this mean we’re finally going’ to hear all about Simon’s wild escapades at the Medacade?”

“Doc don’t do wild, annoying’, stupifyin’ and dull but not wild” Jayne interjected as he grabbed the glasses from the waitresses tray.

Ruth held up her hand, “Are we talking about the same Simon Tam, the one who danced naked through the ER?”

Wash sprayed his drink across the table, “Naked?” he finally managed to choke out.

Blushing furiously, Simon tried to explain, but somehow as usual only made things even worse. Wash kept Ruth telling outrageous stories about Simon; Amanda interjected a comment here and there as seemed appropriate.

The stories finally wound down, Mal and Chloe concluded business to the satisfaction of both parties and joined everyone at the table, Wash asked Zoë to dance, and James whisked Ruth out onto the floor.

Simon sat back in his chair overcome by a feeling of nostalgia as he watched Ruth being squired around the dance floor, Amanda playing pool, though the huge merc was a new touch, Jayne was playing darts with Chloe and Jules and didn’t seem to be making an ass of himself.

Mal placed two bottles on the table; taking a drink of his beer he eyed Simon who had a far away look in his eyes, “Homesick?” Mal asked softly.

“No. Serenity’s home, just nostalgic” Simon answered absently as he reached for his beer, the bottle stopped halfway to his mouth when he realized what he had said. A look of horror appeared on his face, before he turned to look at Mal.

“Took you long enough to realize your part of my crew.” Was all Mal had to say in regards to Simon’s revelation, “Will they turn you in?”

“The twins, no” Simon paused for a breath, “They certainly don’t need the money and they don’t need the Alliances favour.” Taking a drink of his beer, Simon studied the bottle as if it held the answers to the universe. “Captain remember when I said that I was in the top”

“Three percent yeah, one don’t often forget meetin’ a genius Doc” Mal interrupted

“Ruth and Amanda were the top two percent, Amanda would have matched Ruth if she actually wanted to be a doctor. Those two women out there come very close to making River’s intelligence seem normal.” At Mal’s look of surprise, Simon nodded, “Yes, both Ruth and Amanda come very close to making me look like a babbling idiot.”

“Huh, they both seem normal” Jayne said as he sat down heavily in his chair, “Not anything like you Doc”

River and Kaylee walked through the door loaded down with packages, spotting the men sitting at the table they made their way across the room.

“Tamade” Simon whispered, his gaze flying between River and the twins, but it was to late.

“Rootin’ Mandy” River squealed as she threw her packages toward Jayne and Simon who had both risen to their feet in order to try and stave off a pending disaster.

The three women met at the edge of the dance floor in a group hug, hearing them speak what sounded like gibberish Mal cast his eye toward Simon, “Twin speak Captain” at Mal’s blank look. Simon sat back down rearranging the packages so they did not fall as he did so, “It is a phenomenon among multiple birth sets, they often make up their own language that excludes everyone else. River of course broke the code the first time she heard Ruth and Amanda speak it.”

Still speaking in gibberish with plenty of hand motions the women returned to the table, Ruth sat beside James, Amanda found herself beside Cord, before Simon could get up and grab another chair River sat herself down on Jayne’s lap as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Surprising everyone at the table Jayne didn’t say a word against River; he simply turned to Simon and asked, “Where’s my whiskey?”

Conversation started up among the remaining adults, Kaylee was introduced to everyone and immediately involved James in a conversation about engines, which to everyone else was just as indecipherable as the twin’s and Rivers conversation.

The more River talked the quieter the twins became, a hard look came over Ruth’s face as tears started to run down Amanda’s, Ruth interjected with what was clearly a question from her tone of voice. River replied with a few words in gibberish that ended with ‘Jayne’.

River turned and put her hand on Jayne’s shoulder, “Half of a whole, no longer” with that pronouncement she grasped his glass of whiskey and took a drink before leaning back, seeming exhausted she murmured something to Jayne before closing her eyes and falling asleep.

Mal looked from face to face, finally settling on Ruth, “Care to tell me what the hell just happened here?”

Amanda continued crying, the horror of what River told her she simply could not comprehend, she did not even realize when Cord simply lifted her out of her chair and cuddled her into his lap.

Ruth took a deep breath, “Simon, mei mei says she cannot often make you understand and she is not sure how long this clarity is going to last. I simply cannot process what has been done to her in the name of science by men that dare to call themselves doctors, butchers is more like it. I think I have some meds aboard Katie’s Pride that will help some, but what she really needs is an anchor.”

James returned to the table carrying a tray full of whiskey filled glasses. He placed one in front of Ruth, she drank the whole glass down in one swallow before continuing. “They were to be pairs, the anchor and the cohort, River is a cohort, but Simon got her out of that slaughterhouse before they attached her to an anchor, before they finished cutting out parts of her brain.”

Serenity’s crew winced, Simon had explained part of what he had found on Ariel, but his explanations were more technical than graphic. Without realizing he was even doing it Jayne wrapped one arm around the sleeping River.

Ruth continued, “They usually took twins, but River was too much to ignore, they knew she had the capabilities that would put every other pair to shame, only they couldn’t find an anchor for her, they all burned out within the first few weeks.”

Mal interrupted, “I understand that they were messin’ around in the girl’s brain, but for what reason?”

Ruth closed her eyes, “Partly because they could Captain, and because they wanted a perfect killing machine.”

A low growling cut across the swearing that came from virtually every person at the table, Kaylee looked around trying to figure out where it was coming from, she finally realized it was the large man who held the woman called Amanda and Jayne?

Mal looked up when he stopped swearing, his gaze shifting between the two mercs, who held the sleeping women so gently. “Jayne, somethin’ you care to share?” Mal asked softly as he moved his chair back from the table.

The blind look of fury in Jayne’s eyes when he swung his face towards Mal stopped everyone from breathing for a moment; River’s small hand came up and moved Jayne’s face towards hers.

River said something in a different language as she stroked Jayne’s chest with her hand, leaning down Jayne sniffed her neck before seeming to come back to himself; shaking his whole body as if he rose from a dream, he glared back at Mal, “What?”

“Huh, that’s new even for you Jayne” Mal looked at Ruth, “You said somethin’ about having meds that will help her until we find this here anchor she needs?”

At Ruth’s nod, Mal stood “Simon you go with Ruth, grab what you need for River, we’re out of here in the morning. Captain Harrison.” With a nod to Zoë Mal left the bar, Zoë grabbed Wash’s hand and touched Kaylee on the shoulder. Without a word they grabbed the packages and left, Jayne trailed behind still carrying a sleeping River.

Simon sat in shock the events of the last few minutes completely dumbfounding him, not only had River explained to Ruth and Amanda what had been done to her, but she had also found the solution, and her interaction with Jayne that was simply to much to contemplate on top of everything else.

Shaking herself out of her shock induced stupor Amanda was embarrassed to find herself in Cords lap, with a minimum of fuss she moved back over to her own chair. Still reeling from River’s revelations she simply nodded in acknowledgement when Ruth told her that she was taking Simon back to Katie’s Pride for some meds that would help River.

James, Chloe and Jules followed Ruth and Simon out the door; Amanda sat there cradling a glass of whiskey between her palms, staring at the tabletop.

She jumped when a warm hand covered hers, “Will you be alright” Amanda turned to look at Cord, and she couldn’t understand why he was being so nice and why he had kissed her the other morning.

A smile broke out across Cords’ face, Amanda realized that she had spoken aloud; with a groan she placed her head on the table. Her self-mortification was interrupted by the sound of gunfire and a woman screaming.

Amanda flung herself away from the table and ran out the door, screaming her sister’s name. She arrived to see her sister and Simon being pulled into a hovercar. With a detached part of her mind she saw Captain Reynolds, Zoë and Jayne firing at the retreating hovercar. Amanda sank to her knees in the middle of the road, repeating over and over, my fault; it’s all my fault.

A babble of voices converged all asking the same question, what in the gorram hell had just happened. Getting to her feet slowly Amanda started to explain, only to be interrupted.

“Not here, come on over to Serenity I think we all need to hear this.” Mal led the way down the street to where Book and River waited on Serenity’s ramp. River seemed unnaturally calm considering her brother had just been kidnapped. Spotting Jayne, River broke free of the Shepard’s loose hold and ran down the ramp. Jumping she wrapped her arms and legs around the big merc, babbling in the strange gibberish that she had spoken to him before.

With a startled look Jayne answered her in kind, this strangeness on top of everything else that had happened the past few hours went unnoticed by all except Kaylee.

Once everyone was sitting around Serenity’s mess Mal asked Amanda to explain what she had meant by it being all her fault.

Taking a deep breath Amanda explained, “I have been working for Blue Sun Synth Products for the past five years, this branch produces all their virtual reality products.”

Zoë slapped Wash on the arm as he started to outline how much he liked a certain game, in order to shut him up.

Amanda continued as if she had not been interrupted, “I was in charge of a project called Version 7, this is, was going to be the latest in virtual holo technology, it was light years ahead of anything the competition has out there. Right now when you are in virtual reality holo’s you know your playing in a holo, with my programs you wouldn’t know that you were. It would seem to you to be the same as real life.”

“What’s wrong with that,” Chloe asked, “The holo’s all time out, don’t they, and this doesn’t explain why they grabbed your sister.”

“Yes, the holo’s do time out, and it isn’t a problem for any of the VR holo’s except for the one I stole. I thought they would be satisfied with all the games I had left even if I did take my programming protocols with me.”

Still not following Mal asked the question that was on everyone’s mind, “What exactly did you steal and why is it so dangerous?”

“I stole the Self Satisfaction VR Module, this particular module interacts more directly with the pain/pleasure centres of the brain, causing anyone who plays for more than a few hours to become addicted to it. It will cause a feeling of such great pleasure that you don’t want to leave and you will do anything to go back in, your life, your loved ones cease to exist, all you want is to return to that perfect world, where your every wish is granted a hundredfold.” Amanda paused to take a drink of coffee, “This is the worst swill I have ever tasted,” she noted absently.

“I knew I couldn’t let my creation loose on the world, I tried to reason with my superiors and was removed as head of the project. It was given over to my cousin Gerald, who has absolutely no scruples what so ever, only they couldn’t complete the hardware that is required to play the VR properly, they still needed me and I refused and handed in my resignation.

That’s when the threats started, they were small at first; being jostled when I was out in public, messages left on my public contact number, blank screens of course.

Then they started to bug my apartment and they ran traces on who I spoke to, my friends started being fired, their homes were being broken into nothing was ever stolen just rearranged so security simply put it down to vandals having fun.

Finally one day Gerald showed up at a family gathering, he cornered me in an out of the way room and outlined exactly what would happen to my friends if I didn’t go back to work. I went back the next day of course.

I had been naive to think that just because I had resigned the project would end, for six month I kept my head down and worked like a good little drone. The project never actually made any headway because for every problem I fixed, I actually created six more. It was very fortuitous that Ruth announced to one and all that Director Rayelle did not have any idea how to use the equipment the goddess gave him and was summarily drummed out of the hospital.”

“Whole planet knows he has a limp dick” River announced from her perch in Jayne’s lap, her announcement broke the tension in the room as everyone erupted in laughter.

Once everyone recovered Chloe asked, “So how do we find your sister and Simon? Do you have any idea where they would have been taken?”

Blushing Amanda muttered, “trans dermal tracking device in Ruth’s gluteus”

Chloe stared at her in shock, “Your telling me you planted a tracking device in your sister ass?”

Amanda simply nodded to embarrassed to speak.

Once everyone got themselves back under control Chloe continued, “I’m taking a wild shot in the dark here, but I’m guessing that you have the receiver in your bunk, back on Katie’s Pride.”

Worry over her sister and embarrassment over the fact that Cord had once again pulled her into his lap, flushed Amanda’s features. “Actually it’s right here, I can track Ruth up to 500 km on planet, I am not sure how far the beacon will go in space.”

Kaylee leaned forward to examine the small device, that to the casual observer looked like a wide silver armband, when Amanda pressed on the filigree the surface changed to a tracking map. Whistling in admiration Kaylee ran her fingers over the surface, “Cap’n I think we could patch this into Serenity’s comp without to much trouble.”

Mal nodded, “Do it, Wash we were in the air fifteen minutes ago”

Chloe held up her hand, “Wait one minute, that’s my cousin, I am going after them in Katie’s Pride”

“We ain’t hit atmo yet, your welcome to leave,” with that Mal left the common room calling back over his shoulder, “Jayne I think Vera would like to come out and play.”

Grunting his assent Jayne rose to his feet, he moved across the common room, River’s voice stopped him at the door, “The bear and the tiger are both needed to fight.”

Jayne turned around, “huh, you think so” pointing at Cord Jayne ordered, “Crazy Girl says I gotta give you weapons,” muttering how the ‘verse had turned on its ear and how he must be just as crazy Jayne led Cord through the ship to his bunk.

Jayne was mollified by Cord’s appreciation of all his weaponry, most especially Vera.

Mal’s voice came over the com, “They’re being held at a space station about 20 minutes from our current position, we have to get in and get out our people without a fuss. Be ready people.”

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Ruth squirmed trying to get comfortable, she ran her tongue around her teeth, as she slowly became aware of her surroundings, surely she hadn’t indulged that much that she was on the floor. Ruth moved experimentally, bumping into a warm body that was curled up behind her.

Praying it was James and not some húndàn (asshole/bastard) she picked up, Ruth rolled over and pried open eyelids that felt as if Katie’s Pride was docked on them.

“Simon” she croaked, “what in the hell are you doing here?” Taking a look around, “Where in the hell is here anyway.”

Simon groaned, his head felt like Mal had hit him again, he tried to remember what he had done this time to incite the Captains ire; from a distance he heard a woman’s voice calling out his name waking up a little further, he managed to utter “tianna” as he rolled over to see Ruth lying beside him, and from the look on her face her head felt the same way.


“Ni meí shì bà?” (Are you okay?) He managed to croak out as he sat up.

“I’m fine, I think, just one yaoguài (monster) of a headache,” Ruth answered as she clambered to her feet as the door opened.

“So sorry about that dear cousin, you wouldn’t be in this mess if Amanda here hadn’t run off with my employer’s property.” A tall slim man said as he walked into the room, Simon studied the man. Not much older than himself, good looking but somehow still giving off a sense of something slimy that crawled out from under a rock.

“You qingwa cào de liúmáng (frog-humping sumbitch)” Ruth snarled, she started to charge but stopped short when a gun appeared. “What do you want Gerald?”

“Now, now Ruth,” Gerald tsked, “I see running about with all sorts has not improved your manners in anyway.” Shaking his head, Gerald gestured to someone outside the door, a small slim silvery case was slid through the opening.

With difficulty Simon rose to his feet, “What do you want with us?”

Finally taking a good look at Simon the man started to curse in Chinese, “Who the hell are you?” he finally managed to grind out between clenched teeth.

Before Simon could think of an answer, Ruth barked out a laugh, “bèn dàn! ([you)] idiot) Your thugs were after Amanda, not me and the luckiest guy in the bar.” With a grace that would have done any society matriarch proud, Ruth introduced the two men, “Simon Lang I would like you to meet my liúmáng (bastard/asshole/criminal/gangster) cousin Gerald Reid, Gerald I would like to introduce you to”

Before she could finish, Gerald waved the gun, “I don’t want to meet the latest chûnrén (fool, jerk) who was planning on crawling between your legs.” Turning he left the cell, the door clanged shut behind him they could hear him yelling at the guards stationed outside the door.

Simon moved to the wall and slid down to sit, his legs no longer able to support him, he listened as Ruth called her cousin every name imaginable before she to sank down beside him.

Conversationally Ruth said, “you know he must have been listening to me and Amanda all those times”

“Huh”

“Gerald, he must have been listening when we were kids, cause I really don’t know where else he would have learned the phrase dāì ruò mù jī (dumb as a wooden chicken). That was what he told the guard wasn’t it.”

“Hmm, I’m not sure I was to busy trying to figure out how to stay alive.”

“Sarcasm Simon, at a time like this” Ruth rolled her head to look at her cell mate, “Is it even appropriate in this situation? I mean everything has its time and place.”

Simon laughed at the oft repeated maxim, as Ruth continued, “I mean really Simon what do we do? Amanda will be pulling her hair out trying to figure out where we are, Chloe might or might not be able to come after us, I know that Gerald has no love for me, chances are he’ll keep me alive long enough to contact Amanda, then he’ll kill me.”

Ruth shuddered, she was a strong woman but in this situation she did not know what to do, to her immense surprise Simon pulled her into her arms.

“If it’s one thing I have learned over the past few months it’s that Captain Reynolds never leaves a man behind. He will find us.” Simon was surprised at the conviction he felt making that announcement, “He will come.”

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“Wash we’re probably going to be doing a fast takeoff from here so be ready.” Looking over the motley assortment of people standing behind him, Mal shook his head, River and Amanda stood behind Zoë, the two women had simply not argued about going they just would not leave, neither would say a word, they just waited to follow Zoë. Jayne and Cord looked ridiculous in heavy coats that they were wearing to hide their armaments. Kaylee simply looked frightened and hopeful at the same time.

“All right people let’s move out” Mal led the rescue group out through the cargo door and into the station. As promised by Chloe’s contact they emerged into a little used corridor, they swiftly moved toward a door set on the far end, without attracting undue attention the group managed to merge with the foot traffic that was browsing around the market stalls.

Amanda discreetly pulled up the tracking imager on her bracelet, as River distracted the vendor by bargaining for a sheer scarf, Mal stifled a laugh as River made Jayne pay for the scarf.

Amanda led the way to a dingier part of the station; more lights were burnt out or simply broken, she gasped as a man stepped out of a hidden doorway, Amanda used Cord’s body as a shield when he passed.

River who was off to one side cooed at him to get his attention, “ooh your shuài (hansome/snazzy)”

Jayne rolled his eyes as River batted her lashes and tried to swing her non-existent hips, he threw and arm around her shoulders and glared at the piece of slime who was curling his lip. “Ah c’mon girl, ya got me, ya don’t need him.”

River wrapped her arms around Jayne’s waist, as Cord slipped past them, nonchalantly hiding Amanda under his arm. “But qin ài de (dear, darling) I want him to come and cào (v/t screw, fuck)”

Without batting an eyelash Jayne retorted, “Nah, how bout we get another woman?”

Gerald edged his way around the big man and woman who had draped a gauzy scarf over her head, ‘probably as ugly as everything else out on the rim’ he thought, not even giving her a second glance. Gerald did cast a nervous glance at the man, who was giving him an evil eye. He had learned the hard way that all his money and looks didn’t count for anything out here on the rim, the first day he landed.

River watched him walk away with a pout on her face, as soon as he was out of site she released Jayne and walked down the corridor to the hidden door. Pulling the scarf off so she could see better, River pushed a series of nearly invisible buttons around the edge of the door.

Stepping back with a huge smile on her face, she gestured the others through.

Mal stopped in front of her, “Don’t think this little bit of trickery excuses that stunt you just pulled.”

Rolling her eyes River followed Mal through the door, moving quickly the group did not receive any resistance, in fact there were no guards. River patted what appeared to be another section of the station, turning to Jayne she said, “Locked”

Before anyone could even react the merc had fired a few rounds where River had patted, quickly the young woman pushed on the correct sequence of buttons and the door slowly ground open, sticking at the halfway point.

Cursing under his breath Mal shot Jayne a glare, at the big man’s “What?” Mal just shook his head and followed River through the door.

Catching up with Amanda and River, Mal saw that the two women had taken down three guards and were in the process of opening up the cell door. “Huh, looks like we aren’t rightly needed here gentlemen.” He noted to Jayne and Cord, they just looked proudly at the guards who were out cold on the floor.

Grabbing Ruth in a tight hug Amanda started to ask, “Who kidnapped,” only to be cut off by Mal’s sharp “Later, right now we have to mâshàng (on the double/quickly/right away/immediately)

Quickly they moved through the station, they slipped unnoticed through the shopping crowd and back onto Serenity.

Zoë, Chloë, James and Kaylee met them in the cargo hold, Mal commed Wash “take off we’re all here”

On the flight back to Katie’s Pride, Ruth outlined who had kidnapped them and why.

“That no good, chùsheng xai-jiao de xiang huo (animal fucking bastard),” Amanda spat, “I knew I should have done something to him when I had the chance.”

Ruth looked thoughtful for a moment and started to chuckle, “Sister do you recall who sits on the Board”

As everybody stared as Amanda started laughing, “Sister you are down right evil.”

Ruth turned and explained, “the majority of the stockholders and board members of Blue Sun Synth also hold stock in Harrison Pharmaceuticals, Amanda and I hold every patent of every drug that is made at Harrison Pharmaceuticals. All we have to do is refuse to let the company use our patents, the stakeholders will be out billions.”

At the blank looks she received from all except Simon, Ruth continued. “They won’t want to lose the money, if I tell them not to release Version 7 and to leave Amanda and me alone, they will listen.”

Serenity landed safely and the crew of Katie’s Pride got ready to disembark, Chloe and Mal confirmed another job, Jayne and Cord shook hands, River hugged the twins goodbye, and Zoë looked impassively on as the women hugged and kissed every man on Serenity’s crew goodbye.