Maxx leaned back and cleared his throat. "It was a job we were on. Blue Sun had hired us four times the usual price to haul some cargo. Four times the price! Jack wasn't about to let that go, and even though we don't usually let the Alliance shove us around, we agreed. When we actually got the cargo, we thought it was a joke."

Maxx paused. "Well, I know you probably searched the ship. You saw that one crate. That's all they gave us. We thought they had messed up on shipping us the stuff, but they said, 'no, that's it.'" Maxx shook his head. "Little did I know, that wasn't it."

He looked at his hands, which were clenched. "That yi dwei da buen chuo roh decided to take the crate. I was flying the ship, and I heard gunshots go off. Knowin' that the crew didn't argue that much, and knowin' that we don't usually fire at each other. I went to check it out."

"I found Ramona standing over three dead people, and holding Joe at gunpoint. She looked at me; a smug smile on her face. That's what made me angry. That smile. I didn't see what she did with Joe. I ran back to the cockpit to try and piece together a distress call. She followed me, though, and shot me. I guess she thought I was dead. She left, and that's when I typed up the log and sent out the code. I fully expected to die."

He looked over at Jade. "That's when you saved me. I thank you."

"Maxx," Kane began slowly, "When did all this happen? We check your ship out on the Cortex and Aces and Eights has not been seen for three months.

"And was this Ramona Cortez, was she a new addition to the crew? Had she been with you for a while? What would make her suddenly change loyalties like that?

"More importantly, do you have any idea what was in that crate and why, after all of that, she would leave it behind?"

Maxx shook his head. "I don't know what is in that crate. I can tell that it isn't normal, whatever it is. We were afraid to open it." He glared at the wall. "And that woman had been with us for a while. I think she got greedy, or she was offered something else. Blue Sun was pretty adament about us getting that crate to the destination."

"Then," he continued. "Joe and Ramona were fighting a lot more than usual about something. They would get quite when I walked into the room. I never learned about what they were talking about." He closed his eyes. "I should have been a better captain. We had been missing for three months because of some jobs. We had to stay clear of the Cortex for a while."

He shook his head again. "I wish I could tell you what's in the gorram crate."

Wash's voice came in on the speaker again. "Cap'n, we're at the spot you said to go to. I'll park her and come down."

"Ok, Wash,"Kane said into the microphone," I need you to get on the Cortex and get me everything you can on Ramona Cortez including pictures, aliases, associates, etc. Also, Whatever you can about that Henderson fellow. Finally, see if Blue Sun has been raising a fuss about Aces & Eights and/or their missing cargo."

Hitting a switch, he called to Sanka, "Sanka, make sure we are ready to roll as soon as we can. Our tanks need to be topped off and anything you can replace quickly with those parts we liberated, replace 'em. I want to be in top form."

"Jade," Kane said turning off the PA and turning to his wife," I need you to find one of your medical buddies or nurses or whatever, that we can leave Mister Williams with while he recovers. Then I need you to get to that box and figure out what the stuff is inside, but follow haz-mat procedures."

" I'll get right on it," Jade replied.

"Maxx," he said stepping over to the injured man,"I hope you understand, I don't want to drag you all across the 'verse in your present state. Once I find the person responsible for this, you will have your day."

With that, Kane excused himself and left the room to take care of business in his quarters.

XXXXXX

"Cap'n, I've got a slew of information comin' up. I had to dig a little deeper than they usually allow, but I was able to bring up some things. It looks as though Ramona is a master of disguise. I was able to get a semi-decent picture of her, but she could be anybody, male or female. I also got some interesting things on Henderson. Henderson was a mechanic on the Aces, and it seems he likes explosives. He's pretty elusive on the Cortex, though; can't get anything else on him."

Wash continued. "I also found a bulletin that Blue Sun put up. Seems you're right; they are looking for their missing cargo. They don't mention the Aces, though."

XXXXXX

Jade studied Maxx for a minute, sensing he was hiding something. Whether or not he was deliberately being devious or merely witholding inconsequential information Jade could not tell, but she knew he knew more about the box than he was letting on. Before she ran any diagnostics, she needed to get this information to Kane.

"Maxx, I know how stressful all this has been for you. I promise you, Kane will do whatever he can to get you back to your wife and daughter." She crossed to him and, reaching into her back, pulled out a hypo. She smoothed his brow and gently pressed it into his neck, injecting him with corzine.

"Are you comfortable?" she asked, smiling gently. He nodded. smiling back. "Good. I need to gather some supplies in the next room, and I'll be right back."

Making sure he was resting comfortably, she stepped into the next room. Setting her communicator on hers and Kane's private channel, she spoke softly into the com, "I need to see you as soon as possible..."

Kane was just flushing the toilet in his quarters when he got the message from Jade. He could tell from her wording that something was up.

He finished his business while Jade filled him in on everything that she had felt and was aware of via the microtransmitter. Once he was clear on what was going on, he worked his way back to the infirmary. She also let Kane know that she had given Maxx Williams some corzine to loosen him up. Kane knew Maxx would be much more willing to share what was really going on with this Blue Sun box.

Kane met Jade out side the infirmary with her arms full of supplies. Rather than tell her everything he had in mind, he merely thought it to himself. He knew she was listening and would be ready.

The plan was simple: Kane would get Maxx talking about the mission, the box, Blue Sun, etc and would give him the opportunity to share more information. While this was going on, Jade would be eaves-dropping and would help guide the conversation.

Kane and Jade entered the infirmary. Jade went about putting away supplies while kane pulled up a stool next to Maxx.

"So, Maxx. Let's talk..."

Kane sat on the stool next to Maxx. Maxx looked at him and smiled, clearly very relaxed now.

"Maxx, I'm gettin' the feeling that you're not tellin' the whole truth. Now, I don't like bein' lied to, and I'm getting all kinds of lied to with you. Can you tell me what's going on with the box?"

Maxx blinked slowly, showing his relaxed state. He started to chuckle. "I didn't think you were a trusting man, Kane. I don't know anything else."

Kane leaned over the bed, staring straight into the man's eyes. "I don't want to hurt you. I made you a promise, and I'm gonna keep it, but if this secret is going to harm me or mine, then I need the information you're keeping from me."

Maxx frowned and looked away. "I'm sorry, Kane, but I was trying to protect my family. I...I do know something about the box. I know that it effects the mind in some way, but I can't say how much or anything really. I think it might have effected Joe, my mechanic in some way. He's usually a pretty happy guy, but this past week since we picked up that box from Blue Sun, he's been broody and staying in the engine room all the time. Then he and that woman started fighting. They spent the most time around that box, and Joe's the one who loaded it onto the ship. He probably knows more, but he was captured by that woman."

He looked up, seeming to think. "I heard something about Osiris, I have to admit. They might be there."

Kane was interrupted by Wash again. "Oh Fearless Leader, I've got a wave from Higgins' Moon. Can you pry yourself from our not-dying man and come up to take the wave? It's specifically for you, and I can't stall 'em with shadow puppets any longer."

Kane sat back and looked at Maxx for a moment. He wanted to drive home the point with his eyes that as long as Maxx was on his ship, he was not to keep things like this from Kane. When the moment was complete, he nodded to him and then stood facing Jade.

"Make sure he rests quietly, Jade," Kane said.

Jade understood what he meant when he said this. It was his subtle way of saying "knock him out and keep him out".

"I am going to the bridge to see what this wave is about. We'll be lifting off soon to get this guy home."

With that, Kane left the infirmary and headed for the flight deck. He hated the interruption and certainly didn't know why anyone from Higgin's Moon would be waving at him, but better to answer than put it off. Besides, maybe it was a job.

Kane nearly tripped over Salt who was chasing Pepper as Kane moved through the Galley. Pepper was after something which always tended to get Salt worked up.

I hope that isn't a omen or a metaphore for us, Kane thought to himself.