Mona blinked. "Wow." As the ship came to rest, nestled between the hills outside the glowing city of Xiao Chou, Mona released the controls and leaned back, taking in the panoramic sight as the sinking sun met the ocean that stretched out in front of the ship.

Dex skipped up the stairs ahead of Rachel and, when he looked up through the cockpit glass, let out a low whistle.

Mona nodded in agreement, eyes still fixed on the seemingly infinite variations of pink, orange, and purple splashing across the sky. "I mean…I'd heard the sunsets on Paquin were beautiful, but…"

Dex collapsed into the copilot's chair. "Wow."

"Exactly."

In spite of herself, Rachel shook her head in amazement. "'Verse never does stop surprisin' a body, does it?" Reluctantly, she tore her vision away from the reflected lights splayed across the water below them. "Mona, put us down for four hours in port. You wanna walk the grounds a little, feel free, but I want Saul with you. Vacation spot or not, Paquin's got more'n its share of disreputable folk."

Mona frowned. "Yes, Miss Wu."

A soft buzzing wafted from the console to his left, and Dex tapped the controls. "Speaking of disreputable folk, the captain of the Morningstar just sent us a wave. Says he's waiting for the shipment at the wet-docks on the north spit. Pier six."

Rachel nodded, gesturing for Dex to come with her, and taking one last, longing gaze at the setting sun before turning back down the stairs.

As they followed the stairs into the cargo bay, Dex nudged Rachel's shoulder. "Rachel, I was thinkin'…I know you don't consider her crew, but could be Mariah might help us out on this one." Rachel cast a skeptical glance back at her mechanic. "I mean, from what I heard, Captain Farr, man owns the Morningstar, he's an an ru pan shi bargainer, likely try to haggle us down."

Rachel landed on the cargo bay catwalk and turned on her heel to face the redheaded man above her. "And?"

"Well…Mariah's good with people as you are, and you know I ain't no help at negotiatin'."

"That's it? Cou