RP: "Adventures in Gunrunning" - Act 12 by FrauDirektor

OOC: New thread yey! and ve saw dat it vas goet.
Boomer- sorry, it's Damon's turn to be blowing up at someone. plus Kaylee's been raggin on him for hours now and he's getting a bit frustrated with her.

Damon's turn:
LOCATION - BRIDGE

Damon starts to wonder where he would be most useful and then hears a distant cannon shot, followed by an impact not far from the ship.

"Hey, Wash, you got word from your captain yet?"

He looks up as Kaylee enters the bridge and walks right past him. She looks around, inspecting Damon's, Merz's, and Rowan's work.

"Ah, this mus' be where that Damon fella loaded the cannon," she mutters resentfully.

Apparently, she hadn't seen him standing there.

"Well, I could take it back off if you want me to," he says, matching her tone. But apparently she can't hear him either. She seems to be listening for something. He jumps when she suddenly screams and grabs some tools from a nearby locker. She dashes over to the crawlspace and begins removing the deckplating.

Damon walks up behind her wondering what the hell she was doing. "I don't think we did that bad of a job."

"The Captain oughta know better 'en ta let some stranger mess around with Serenity," she says to herself. "Shoulda done it m'self in the first gorram place."

Damon glares at Kaylee as she disappears into the crawlspace muttering to herself again.

"Tai-kong suo-yo duh shing-chiou sai-jin wuh duh pee-goo, you're still pissed at me. You know, from what I've seen in the engine room, your a damn fine mechanic but no matter how brilliant you are, it would still have taken you at least an hour to assemble that thing by yourself. Now I don't know what you've been doing for the last hour but I've been making sure that we don't get our asses busted by those patrol boats."

He turns around and notices Book for the first time standing in the corner watching him. His glare withers as he looks at him for a moment. So far he and Inara were the only two crew members who hasn't yelled at him or threatened to kill him or criticised his best efforts to help out.

Damon opens his mouth to say something but is interrupted when the ship gets jolted by two more shots, knocking him off balance. He hits injured side against the computer consol with a grunt and inhales sharply as pain rips through his body. Tzao gao, that was not good, he thinks to himself. He slumps to the floor with his back to the consol, holding his side, and closes his eyes.

"Can someone please shoot those hwoon dahns out of the sky?" he manages through gritted teeth.

Tai-kong suo-yo duh shing-chiou sai-jin wuh duh pee-goo = All the planets in space flushed into my butt
tzao gao = shit/damn it
hwoon dahns = bastards

I'm not broken, in my dream I win...

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Monday, March 15, 2004 2:18 AM

Keep the Shiny side up

Thorne's/Mal's Move:

Location: Bridge

DAMON asks "Can someone please shoot those hwoon dahns out of the sky?"

THORNE:"Just a sec, sonny. Give my babies time to get a lock an'..."

[THORNE is interrupted by the Nimbus launcher going into action. It disappears in a billowing cloud of hot gas and dust as the missles leap from their launch rails. The blue sky is corkscrewed with smoke trails as the fighters evade and the missles follow. ]

THORNE:"That'll keep 'em off for a while, anyway. Just be dumb luck, or dumb pilot, if any of 'em actually get shot down, but hope springs eternal."

[MAL arrives at the bridge as the missles chase the Alliance ships away. He looks over WASH's shoulder at the scanner, and sees his chance to launch.]

MAL:"Okay, WASH, prove you're a nan ren zhong de nan ren and show us some fancy flyin'. MERZ, you ready to kick some Alliance Pigu?

[Scanning the bridge, he notices KAYLEE in a corner, looking strangely at THORNE.]

MAL:"Kaywinnit Frye, get your bottom down to the engine room where I told you to be. You're no good to us up here."

EOM

Nan ren zhong de nan ren = A man among men.
Pigu = Butt.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Monday, March 15, 2004 2:24 AM

LOCATION - BRIDGE

MERZ enters the bridge, again, and this time stops to address the pilot. "Mr. Wash, the Captain has requested that I man the cannon."

She then sits at the other console and starts the cannon, working out the stiff, new controls and running a very, short sim run to warm both herself and the gun up. And then, back to battle mode, bringing up the crosshairs and watching for the incoming targets.

in her minds ear she is hearing:
'Rabbit Run. You have a suspicious target on the ground. Make your first pass fast and noisy - scare them. A good rabbit will run - then you have a viable 'escaping' target.

If they don't run, so much the better - a sitting target is easier to hit.

Second pass, do it again a little closer but use a different flight path, never retrace your steps. This sets you up for the chase if they bunny. If they don't, third pass is the kill pass for a ground target.'

lets hope they are by the book

Another person has entered the bridge area. MERZ is mostly absorbed in the cannon and misses her actions, but cannot miss the ramp up in the cannons power load. She glances up and mutters "Thanks," to the stranger, but most of her attention is on three incoming targets. They are in a V formation and coming fast.

She takes a deep breath wait for it and three things happen simultaneously. The incoming fighters drop their first missle load. THORNEs Surface-to-Air missles fire. MERZ triggers off the first cannon shot.

Serenity rocks. DAMON smacks a console and goes down in obvious pain.

Quote:
Can someone please shoot shoot those hwoon dahns out of the sky?"

"I'm trying, *petit frère" MERZ whispers, and triggers the cannon again.

EOM

hwoon dahns = bastards
*petit frère = little brother (French)

OOC
I have decided that while it is cool that I get to shoot the cannon at our enemies, the person doing the shooting should NOT be the person determining the effectiveness of the shots. Otherwise, why I might not ever miss and how likely would that be. I have tossed the dice. So I stop this here and wait with baited breath along with the rest of you to see the results. OOH, I can hardly wait. DEBS

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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Monday, March 15, 2004 5:20 AM

ASTRIANA

ZOE'S MOVE:
LOCATION - CARGO BAY to BRIDGE

MAL and ZOE arrive at the bridge as three things occur close enough to seem simultaneous. The incoming fighters drop their first missle load, THORNE's Surface-to-Air missles fire, and MERZ triggers off the first cannon shot. MAL looks over WASH's shoulder at the scanner, while ZOE crosses to her usual spot behind WASH's right side, and puts a hand on his shoulder.

As Serenity rocks, Damon falls to the floor, obviously hurt. ZOE sees the blood drain from his face, and turns to BOOK, standing at the back of the bridge.

ZOE: "Shepherd, why don't you take DAMON down to the infirmary, let's give our folks room to work? 'Sides, the kid might've reopened his wounds with all that runnin' about."

ZOE turns her attention back to the scanners, and sees their opening to launch, as MAL speaks.

MAL:"Okay, WASH, prove you're a nan ren zhong de nan ren* and show us some fancy flyin'. MERZ, you ready to kick some Alliance Pigu*? Kaywinnit Frye, get your bottom down to the engine room where I told you to be. You're no good to us up here."

ZOE looks up and gives KAYLEE an understanding look, as WASH flips his three switches and various other dials, lifting Serenity from the ground easily. ZOE checks the scanners again, and sees the fighters. One has sustained some damage, but both look to be on another attack run.

ZOE: "Ai ya, wo mun wan leh!*"

EOM

Nan ren zhong de nan ren = A man among men.
Pigu = Butt.
Ai ya, wo mun wan leh = We're in big trouble.

~A~

...I'm still free,
You can't take the sky from me.

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Monday, March 15, 2004 6:05 AM

Keep the Shiny side up

Thorne's/Mal's Move

Location: Bridge

ZOE: "Ai ya, wo mun wan leh!"

[Suddenly, THORNE’s voice cuts cleanly through the din of takeoff. It's a tone no one on board has heard him use before, a sure and steady voice of command that must be obeyed.]

THORNE: “Pilot! On my command, give us max lift. Align the bow with that pair of ships. The other will be trying to get behind us. Gunner! Fire two quick bursts at the pair on the bow as soon as they’re in range...shake them up, then look dead astern. You should find the third about 30 degrees above horizon setting up his pass. You have two seconds to burn him, wing root or cockpit's best, then get back on the pair. Execute!”

[The ship lifts and pivots left as MERZ watches the range close. MAL Is torn between admiration of THORNE's skillful tactics and anger that he presumes to give orders on MAL's bridge, and that they're being obeyed. Anger is winning out.]

MAL:"Who do you think...

[MAL falls silent as the laser starts to hum. A burst of smoke appears from the left ship in the flight, as a glancing beam vaporizes half the ablative coating from the nose. The craft break left and right, jinxing to avoid followup shots, but the turret is already spinning aft.]

MAL: "Good shot!"

THORNE: "Well done, Gunner! Now cook that bastard on our tail."

EOM

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Monday, March 15, 2004 6:09 AM

BOOMERGOODHEART

Kaylee's Move
Location: Bridge to Engine Room

Kaylee snaps her eyes to the Captain as he yells at her to get down to the Engine Room. Narrowing her eyes at him, she sticks out her tongue and leaves the bridge.

"Oh, we'll have a talk later 'bout how he's been actin' towards me taday...yes we will..." she thinks. "An' did...what was his name...Thorne, call me Kaylee-girl? Ain't heard that in a long time."

End Move

BoomerGoodheart
"I love my Captain."

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Monday, March 15, 2004 6:58 AM

i DO aim to misbehave

Rowan's Move:
LOCATION - BRIDGE

Once he gets to it, Damon's a capable enough tech. One quick adjustment under the console under the jury-rigged firing controls and the situation seems in hand. Maybe he resolved it a little too quickly, but she decides to save that little thought process for later.

No sooner has she gone off to throw herself at Reynolds' mercy, Merz is back and turns to the pilot like a military officer checking in.
------------------------------
MERZ: "Mr. Wash, the Captain has requested that I man the cannon."
------------------------------

Pilot's name is Wash, is it? Interesting. And just how did Merz find herself in Reynolds' good graces in less than five minutes? That doesn't seem likely, more along the lines of too much to do and not enough time to do it, so the captain's making use of everyone and sorting out the details later. That would be either a sign of true leadership or foolhardiness.

Moving out of the second seat, Rowan moves back to the rear of the bridge where Book has been quietly observing. Holding the dedicated source pad like a clipboard in one arm, she continues to monitor the situation, allowing Book to peer over her shoulder. Merz begins working the firing console, and Serenity speaks.

SERENITY (into Rowan's earpiece): Unable to process request. Please re-enter.

Rowan feels her blood go cold as she realizes the firing controls aren't wired the way they're supposed to be. Damon may know the innards of the guns, but judging by the modified specs on the screen in front of her, Rowan can plainly see Serenity has far surpassed her original design. Looking out the view port, Rowan sees the Alliance ships drawing nearer and speaks softly to Book.

ROWAN: "Shephard? Any insight on what being blown to hell might feel like?"

In that same instance, Kaylee comes in. Reminiscent of a military inspector, she looks around, taking stock of the work done on HER ship. Hearing her mutter disdainfully about Damon and the cannon, Rowan can tell by her tone that she's pissed at the young interloper. Sensing Damon tensing up, Rowan can tell he also heard every word and can't help being annoyed at Kaylee's careless dismissal of his work. He tries to offer to remove the firing controls, but Kaylee ignores him. Her head is tipped slightly to one side and her eyes are unfocused, as if she's listening for something.

SERENITY (into earpiece): Warning. Power build up in secondary conduit. Self-destruct imminent in ten seconds.

Damon about hits the ceiling at Kaylee's sharp squeal, and jumps back, allowing Kaylee room to bound to a nearby locker and grab some tools. Then she drops down to remove deck plating from the crawlspace that Merz had just finished closing up.

EOM

OOC: To be continued - it was getting too big!

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Monday, March 15, 2004 7:11 AM

i DO aim to misbehave

Rowan's Move:
LOCATION - BRIDGE

Ignoring Damon's indignant spouting off to Kaylee, Rowan automatically adjusts her feet to compensate for the sudden ominous ground tremor as the Alliance begins warming fire well away from the ship. Rowan silently blesses Kaylee's intervention as she makes quick work of the problem and the gun begins powering up as if it had been factory-installed. Looking pleased with herself and her ship, Kaylee replaces the deck plating and looks up at Merz and Wash, as if everything is A-okay.
------------------------------
KAYLEE: "What?"
------------------------------
SERENITY (into earpiece): Power build up averted. All systems are ready.

Rowan smiles, and glances over her shoulder to trade looks with Book who is just as amused by Kaylee's ease with just having performed a minor miracle. Alliance fire moves closer, shaking Serenity harder and Rowan is nearly tossed off balance. With quick reflexes, Book keeps her from falling, taking her arm and putting a hand at her waist to steady her. Damon, of course, isn't quite so lucky, and gets himself tossed down to the deck, ramming into the console on the way down. Hearing his hiss of pain and seeing the hand he's holding at his side, Rowan realizes the young man is in worse shape than he's let on.

DAMON (with difficulty): "Can someone please shoot those hwoon dahns out of the sky?"

Just like that, everything is happening at once. Just as Rowan is just considering finding a quiet place to hunker down for a bit, the fella from the Hera Cary walks onto the bridge and assists Merz in returning fire. Shortly thereafter, Mal and Zoe arrive. While Mal's attention is focused on the battle and escape, Zoe takes the initiative to deal with the personnel.
------------------------------
ZOE: "Shepherd, why don't you take DAMON down to the infirmary, let's give our folks room to work? 'Sides, the kid might've reopened his wounds with all that runnin' about."
------------------------------
Rowan moves the same time as Book. He goes to Damon, while she retrieves the attache and tucks the source pad away. Slinging the attache's strap over her body diagonally so she can cary the heft of it on her back, she returns to help Book with Damon. Each taking an arm, they lift him up and maneuver him out just as Serenity starts to move.

ROWAN: "Well, this should be fun. Trying to get a fella down to the infirmary during a daring escape. You'll be able to wow your grandkids with this one, xiâo dì dì."

EOM

OOC: WHEW! That'll learn me to be offline for a couple days. Rowan will be calling Damon "little brother" pretty much throughout the RP - levels of affection will vary.

We have art so as not to die of truth ~ Neitzsche
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

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Monday, March 15, 2004 7:14 AM

OOC-sorry I haven't posted in a while, power outage (may PNM join Fox in it's hellish destiation)

Wash's move:
Wash pilots with care and precision, but at the same time maniacal, cheering with the hit. "Wooyah! That was fun!"

Slights move:
Slight grabs his gothus, the weapon of the Blue Sun Powers. He'd thought it might come in handy.
Abruptly, the ship grinds into movement, and Slight can see the Alliance ship, outlined in white along the hull, like a shadow. Slight makes a snapping decision-it is time to go.
He heads to the airlock, and withouut hesitating, he opens the door, leaping down the hundred or so yards to the ground. As he falls, he allows the trenchcoat to fall of, revealing a metallic armor. The curve along the back opens, unfolding into a clear, unreflective parachute that is virtually invisble. Nonetheless, the impact is jarring. Even as he lands, Slight cuts from the parachute and hits the ground running, flying towards the obs craft. He activates the chameleon armor, and it shifts, blending in with the ground, so that he virtually disappears. you could spot him from ten yards, but from the sky is impossible.
Slight is in his element. His eyes have shifted back to the pure, bloody red that is needed. His face is hardened into a primal expression of bloodlust. He might kill anyone, if they interfere with his goal. Above him, he hears an explosion, and sees a ship land right in front of him. Well, not land-crash. As he leaps over the nose, and runs directly across the ship, an Alliance fed climbs out of the ship, airshock rifle in front. Slight doesn't even break pace-a claw extends from the arm of his armor, and he cuts laterally.
he hits the ground, continuing along, as the feds skull crashs into the dirt.
Slight continues on, not even blinking.

I'm talking about geese.

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Monday, March 15, 2004 8:10 AM

Books Move

Location: Bridge to Galley

Book tries not to think about what Hell is like as he goes to Damon. He feels he might be a little too bitter in his description at the moment, so he says nothing. Instead, Book supports Damon on one side while Rowan supports his other and they lead him lumberingly down the hallway. Stopping at the galley, Book pauses long enough to lower Damon into a chair.

"If he has reopened his wounds, we'd better check them before we move him any further. We could be doing damage right now."

Book motions for Damon to lift up his shirt to reveal the wound. Sure enough it has started to leak blood again.

"Rowan, would you mind getting a med bag from the infirmary?

Book watches the grimace on Damon's face as Book examines the wound for the third time. Damon continues to mutter under his breath about the quality of his work and Book goes to a refrigerated cubby hole, returning with a beer.

"Lucky that isn't a stomach wound, or there'd be none of this." Book hands him the beer.

EM

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Monday, March 15, 2004 9:08 AM

Damon's turn:
LOCATION - BRIDGE

Damon's eyes snap open as he feels a pair of hands on each arm. He jerks back, bumping into the computer consol and balls his hands into fists defensively. He looks up to see Book and Rowan trying to help him to his feet.

"Tzao gao..." he mutters letting his muscles relax again. "You two damn near gave me a heart attack."

He looks around as they lift him up and maneuver him toward the door. Serenity’s bridge seems to have gotten crowded since he dozed off. How long was he out? He starts to pull away from Book and Rowan but the room suddenly sways, throwing his regained balance back off. Book and Rowan catch him again before he can hit anything else. Either the ship was taking off or he was in worse condition than he would like to admit. Probably both.

Rowan: "Well, this should be fun. Trying to get a fella down to the infirmary during a daring escape. You'll be able to wow your grandkids this one, xiâo dì dì."

Damon gives a halfhearted grunt of a laugh. “Grandkids, right. And cows can fly.”

Did she just call me xiâo dì dì?

They arrive in the galley and Book stops to lower him into a chair. “If he has reopened his wounds, we'd better check them before we move him any further. We could be doing damage right now."

Book motions for Damon to lift up his shirt to reveal the wound. Sure enough it has started to leak blood again. "Rowan, would you mind getting a med bag from the infirmary?

Damon grimaces as Book examines the wound for the third time. “Maybe I shoulda just let Kaylee install that damn cannon. Woulda saved myself a lot of energy and then she wouldn’t of been able to complain about my work.”

Book goes to a refrigerated cubby hole, returning with a beer. "Lucky that isn't a stomach wound, or there'd be none of this." Book hands him the beer.

Damon smiles gratefully and downs half of it in a few seconds. He lets out a tired sigh and rests his head against the chair. “Thanks again, Old Man.”

I'm not broken, in my dream I win...

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Monday, March 15, 2004 10:54 AM

i DO aim to misbehave

Rowan's Move
LOCATION - Start/End DINING ROOM through AFT PASSAGEWAY down to COMMON AREA AND PASSENGER DORMS to INFIRMARY
OOC: Looks kind of like Walt Disney threw up, doesn't it? This might be an example of how NOT to use the color tags.
------------------------------
BOOK: "Rowan, would you mind getting a med bag from the infirmary?"
------------------------------
ROWAN: "Not at all Shephard. Be right back."

Giving Damon's arm a quick squeeze, she heads for the rear hatchway and takes the back stairs down to the common area. Heading up to the passenger dorms first, she stows the attaché bag back under her bunk, checking her duffle first to insure the money pouch is still right where she left it before heading back out. Another thing besides a two-person lift - the Firefly really should have included personal locks on the passenger dorm doors.

Her balance is better than before, but there's also a dull ache in her eye, likely indicating the recent work done. Hopefully it won't be very long before the bandage can be removed. Then she'll have to work out how to explain her use of the contact lenses, but she figures she can jump out that airlock when she gets to it.

EOM

OOC: Holding further movement until we determine when Capn's getting back, and where Simon is right now.

We have art so as not to die of truth ~ Neitzsche
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

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Monday, March 15, 2004 1:43 PM

CIARA

Inara's turn

LOCATION - BRIDGETO DINING ROOM

Inara goes a bit dodgy

Inara drifted just outside the door to the helm, fists clenched and shaking, watching...trying not to stumble as the blasts rocked Serenity. She winced every time the ship groaned in protest.

They had it all well in hand...she truly wasn't needed, and that chafed most of all---Mal standing in their midst, looking stern and barking orders...Kaylee had just left, a bereft, pouting look on her face. Wash, perched in his usual chair--arms clenched in concentration, Zoe standing behind him like a guardian goddess--lending him strength through her fingertips on his shoulder. The new woman...she didn't even know her name...long blonde hair, and a gaze of iron...manning the new controls on the bridge....

Her eyes kept returning to Mal. Even when Rowan and Book carried Damon out--his face drawn, and the smell of fresh-spilt blood on him, she couldn't tear her eyes away...

There he stood, silhouetted against the front viewport, all ruffled hair and strong shoulders, seemingly unaffected as Serenity bucked and rolled under him...she hated him, she adored him, her heart burned and froze at the same time for him....love shouldn't be this complicated.

Finally, Inara turned away, following Rowan and Book down the halls into the galley, where Damon is now draped across one of the hard chairs, his shirt lifted, exposing an expanse of pale flesh, and a bandage soaked in blood. Damon swigs deeply from a can of beer, and relaxes against his seat--Book kneels before him.

Book murmurs to Rowan, she squeezes Damon's arm briefly before she sets off--Inara assumes she's going to fetch more bandages.

INARA:
Shepherd, have you seen Simon? Last time I saw him was in the Infirmary--shouldn't we be taking Damon to him?

End Inara's turn

ooc a lot of babbling for just one line :P

Just a humble supplicant in service to all things Joss

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Monday, March 15, 2004 2:32 PM

LOCATION - BRIDGE
As...

Quote:
MERZ, you ready to kick some Alliance Pigu*?

aye aye, sir Some deep and cautious part of her kept that from coming out.

MERZ is concentrating, ranging on the incoming targets ahead when an unknown voice claims part of her attention. She may not know who is speaking, but that tone she has heard before, and there is no question that it will be obeyed.

Quote:

“Pilot! On my command, give us max lift. Align the bow with that pair of ships. The other will be trying to get behind us. Gunner! Fire two quick bursts at the pair on the bow as soon as they’re in range...shake them up, then look dead astern. You should find the third about 30 degrees above horizon setting up his pass. You have two seconds to burn him, wing root or cockpit's best, then get back on the pair. Execute!”

She has fired off two shots in quick succession before he has finished speaking and swung the targeting around to the aft target, which is right where he ought to be. She hears the Captain’s "Good shot!" and is satisfied that he is on the bridge and that no one would be giving orders without his sayso.

She triggers a long burst at the aft target and swings back to the incoming from the fore. They have jinked right and left; as the gun is swinging from right to left she pulls off another shot at the right fighter as she swings by and then sets up a more aimed shot at the leftmost ship and does a long burn down the side as it flashes to the rear.

now i have two in the rear and one in the front. i have a few seconds while they turn for the next pass and the pilot is going to have to watch the one in front. can’t afford that many back shots.

MERZ quickly returns targeting to the rear and watches the rangefinder.

EOM

OOC
Well, I was right, this IS exciting. Now to wait until we have a clear idea on just how many ships are left. With any luck, now that Brink is headed for the os craft, Simon is already there waiting for him.

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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Monday, March 15, 2004 4:33 PM

TEELABROWN

Yay! I'm posting! Hoo-ra! Hoo-ra! Hoo-ra!
__________
River is in the infirmary, as far as anyone knows. She decides to leave. She wanders down to the bridge. She looks at Damon, then at his arm.

It hurt. More than just physical pain. They tore you down. But you kept building yourself up. But every time they tore you down a little more. And it got harder to rebuild.

River goes to the kitchen.
__________

Okay, Squee, hope this flys with you. I can change it if you want.

_____________
"Freedom is the Freedom to say that 2+2 makes 4. If that is granted, all else follws"-Winston, 1984
Teela Brown, keeper of bad typing.
"No one reads these things any way."- Bart on Blackboard

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Monday, March 15, 2004 4:49 PM

Keep the Shiny side up

Thorne's Move:

Location: Bridge

[THORNE casts a quick, rueful look in MAL's direction. He knows he's out of line, but instinct has taken over. Besides, he's done this many times, and the Captain has probably never fought a ship out of atmo before. The screens call his attention back to the fight.

The ventral camera shows a ground attack craft crash-landed near the waiting Gyrfalcon. The scans never noticed it, probably flying nap-of-the-earth, but a Nimbus managed to clip it. Smart missle. Not a problem for the Serenity any more. The others...]

THORNE: "Pilot. Turn to port and bear on those two cripples. Close as fast as you can. Be ready to 'Crazy Ivan' if I call it. Let engineering know. Gunner. Don't let them get set up. Fire as you bear, and keep them dodging. If one turns away, try to kill the other. You're both doing a great job."

[The ship spins and the laser hums once again. The fighters try to evade. One of them suddenly turns from a spacecraft into a cloud of laminate shards and pieces of what was once a man.]

THORNE: "Dead 'un! Drop it! Let's get another."

[A close miss from astern rattles the Firefly.]

Thorne:"Pilot! Crazy Ivan!"

EOM

'night, all.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Monday, March 15, 2004 5:22 PM

OOC: Shiny Teela!

Damon's turn:
LOCATION - DINING ROOM

Damon shifts in his chair uncomfortably as Rowan gently squeezs his arm and walks out of the galley. He takes another drink of his beer and turns when Inara walks in.

Inara: "Shepherd, have you seen Simon? Last time I saw him was in the Infirmary--shouldn't we be taking Damon to him?"

Damon sighs inwardly. He's seen more doctor in one day than he did in eight years of enslavement. At least doctor meant more painkillers.

He turns back to Book, who is still inspecting his injuries, and notices a young girl looking at him. He hadn't even heard her come in. What was her name again?

Before he has a chance to ask her, her gaze shifts down to his right arm.

Quote:
Originally posted by TeelaBrown:

It hurt. More than just physical pain. They tore you down. But you kept building yourself up. But every time they tore you down a little more. And it got harder to rebuild.

Damon pales when he realizes what she is referring to and gets even paler when he realizes that she was stating much more than what was availible on the cortex. He doesn't hear his beer bottle hit the floor of the galley.

Quote:

Rough hands pulled Damon off the floor of the shuttle and shoved him hard. He felt the floor disappear from under his feet but with his hands cuffed behind his back, he couldn’t catch himself when he hit the dirt. He mumbled a curse through his gag as the hands grabbed him again and hauled him to his feet. One of them pulled the blindfold from his face, blinding him with the sudden exposure to the bright afternoon sunlight. He squeezed his eyes closed and turned his head away, trying to adjust to the brilliance.

“Name?” someone asked.

Damon was forced to his knees. A hand grabbed a fistful of his hair and yanked his head back sharply.

“Damon Boster,” another answered.

“Age?”

“Twenty-one.”

Damon opened his eyes and squinted at two men standing in front of him. One carried a clipboard and was writing on it, the other looked rich and in charge. The rich ones were always in charge. In the distance were hundreds of workers going in and out of several mines. He cursed his father silently, swearing again that he would kill him the next time he laid eyes on him.

“Background?” the man with the clipboard asked.

“Sold into service three years ago. Worked in an Alliance weapons and military vehicles factory until sold here.”

The rich man smiled. “Not much profit in making weapons and tanks now that the war is over is there?”

Damon tried to speak through the gag, but none of it was audible. The rich man nodded to one of the men behind Damon. His hair was released and the gag was removed.

Damon spat in the man’s face and tried to pull free from the men holding him. They grabbed his hair again and pulled his head back until his neck felt like it would snap. The man with the clipboard stepped up and kneed him in the gut.

“That’s enough,” the rich man said to the man with the clipboard, “Go get the iron.” He stepped up to Damon and leaned forward until his face was only an inch from Damon’s. His breath stank of expensive wine. “Well, Damon, welcome to your new home. My name is Crofton Trinh, but you will call me either sir or master. You will speak when spoken to, you will come when I or any of my men call, two meals a day are rewarded for obedience and if you disobey, you will be punished. Your kind don’t last around here. Break fast or break hard.”

Damon wished they would let go of his head so that he could spit at him again, or maybe break his nose. “Chur ni-duh, hwoon dahn,” he glared at him defiantly, “I’m not afraid of you, and nothing you can do will ever change that.”

Crofton smiled and stood back as the man with the clipboard came into view, only now he was holding branding iron with a two-inch, red-hot Chinese symbol for ‘Trinh’ at the end.

Damon’s eyes went wide for a moment and then he pulled at the handcuffs behind his back. “No… you son of a bitch, you can’t do this…” His words became meaningless muffled noises as they forced the gag back in his mouth. He watched as it got closer and felt someone pull up his right sleeve and grab his arm. His body went ridged as the hot metal was pressed into his arm, scorching his skin with a sharp hiss. A soft groan of pain escaped his throat. He squeezed his eyes shut, refusing to shed the tears his soul was screaming to release.

Ages passed before the burning metal left his arm. His head was released with a shove. His jaw felt like it was going to break and he realized he had been biting down on the gag. He opened his eyes to see Crofton crouching in front of him with a smirk on his face.

“I will do as I please. I own you, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Dong ma?”

Chur ni-duh, hwoon dahn = Screw you, bastard
Dong ma = understand

I'm not broken, in my dream I win...

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Monday, March 15, 2004 7:54 PM

CIARA

Inara's turn

LOCATION - DINING ROOM

Inara: "Shepherd, have you seen Simon? Last time I saw him was in the Infirmary--shouldn't we be taking Damon to him?"

Book shakes his head--Inara can't decide if it's because he doesn't know what to do with Damon, or that he doesn't know where Simon is--either way, it troubles Inara.

Damon turns as River floats in, and speaks to him, her voice soft with her usual brand of all-knowing wisdom.

RIVER: It hurt. More than just physical pain. They tore you down. But you kept building yourself up. But every time they tore you down a little more. And it got harder to rebuild.

Inar keeps her eyes focused on River for a moment, mulling the words over in her mind: She turns to Damon--mouth open to query him on his status, and freezes.

Damon's dark brown eyes are glazed and hazy--the pupil nearly eclipsing the iris. His face is pale, paler than Inara has seen it thus far--making his wound and his wide, unblinking eyes stand out all the more. As Inara begins to step forward, to touch Damon, do anything to pull him from the reverie he seems to be stuck in--Damon's body relaxes, falling bonelessly into the chair, the hand holding the beer goes limp and the bottle crashes to the floor near Book's knee.

Book starts back a little--eyes also on Damon's face..."Son...son can you hear me?" Book shakes Damon gently, Damon's head lolls on the headrest.

Inara is now crouched at Damon's side as well--waving her fingers in front of his staring eyes. "Book, please....where is Simon?"

End Inara's turn

ooc waiting to see when Damon wants to waken from his nightmare....let me know if you want me to downplay it, Squee...I can re-do

Just a humble supplicant in service to all things Joss

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Monday, March 15, 2004 9:58 PM

OOC: maybe down play that a little Ciara. He's definately shocked and creepified- River brought back a memory, but he's not completely lost in space.

great writing though. I'll work with it.

Damon's turn:
LOCATION - DINING ROOM

"Son...son can you hear me?"

Damon feels someone shake him gently. He shoves his memory aside and finds himself still staring at the girl in the kitchen.

"Wuh duh ma huh ta duh fung-kwong duh wai-shung doh," he mutters, absently rubbing his burn. He glances down at his arm, wondering if she had seen it. But, like always, it was covered by his shirt sleeve. He looks back up at River.

How did she know any of that? She did say it right? I didn't imagine it. I'm not crazy. I've lost a lot of things over the years but not my mind. Gorramit, how did she know?

He pulls his gaze away from River and tries to stand up, but two pairs of hands gently keep him in the chair. He immediately shrugs the hands off and looks up at Inara and Book warily.

Wuh duh ma huh ta duh fung-kwong duh wai-shung doh = Holy mother of god and all her wacky Nephews

I'm not broken, in my dream I win...

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Monday, March 15, 2004 11:09 PM

Book's Move

LOCATION - Galley

Book pulls Inara back a step as Damon comes back to himself and swings out an arm. Gently leading Inara to an alcove in a corner of the galley, Book gets a towel from a drawer and takes the memory stick from his pocket.

"Simon's gone. You and I need to watch out for River."

Book hands Inara the memory stick as she starts to protest. Book hushes Inara down and says in a quick whisper.

"This is a retina and dna encoded memory stick. It has a message for each of the crew. I was planning to give it to the captain first, but... well, give it to the captain when you've looked at it."

Book pauses and looks meaningfully at Inara.

"If you want me to give it to him instead, I will understand. Just return it to me quickly. I feel a great weight on my shoulders."

Book leaves Inara in the alcove with the memory stick in her hand, and he goes out to the spilled beer. Dropping the towel on the mess, he goes back over to Damon, who appears to be giving River the evil eye.

EM

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 2:00 AM

SIMONs Move – created and posted with permission.

LOCATION - SERENITY VALLEY

He is out of sight, next to the Gyrfalcon, watching Serenity battle the fighters. He is a doctor and he does not rejoice in anyone’s death. But when the laser cannon fires for the first time, he is obscurely glad that they managed to get it installed – that Serenity can defend herself.

They must have been working on it while he was saying the last goodbye and before . . .

Quote:

On the way out of the engine room he picks up the rucksack he left at the door, the taste of her still on his lips. ‘Time to go’, he thinks, ‘it is something that must be done.’

He heads for the Cargo Bay and the open hatch. When he arrives it is a bustle of activity, final preparation for leaving. Captain Reynolds is speaking to Inara and a woman he does not know. Everyone has his or her back to him for the moment and he slips out of the door.

SLIGHT left a note on his pack explaining about the waiting Gyrfalcon and where to find it. SIMON has said all of the goodbyes he needed to – the rest are on the memory stick in BOOKs hands. He trusts in their delivery. He has reached the Gyrfalcon when he hears the engines of the incoming ships ramp up for their first high speed pass and is rocked by the initial volley of ground fire. But it is far enough away to be safe.

He has left everything that has any meaning to him aboard that ship. He watches tensely as two of the attacking ships lose to the cannon fire. And the third has positioned itself so that Serenity herself is between the fighter and the cannon, and is taking potshots at her tail.

Suddenly, Serenity maneuvers, a fast directional change that has left her in the clear, the fighter in their sights, and SIMON with closed eyes. “Crazy Ivan”, he thinks. “That is almost as hard to watch as it is to experience.”

There is a touch on his elbow. He opens his eyes to see Serenity blasting into the black. When he turns around, SLIGHT is just disappearing into the pilots chair of the little ship. “Time to go”. He gives one more look at the departing ship as he moves around to the other door and raises a hand to wave, not caring that no one will see. “Until we meet again,” he thinks, and seats himself. He closes the door, and they lift smoothly away.

EOM

OOC when Simon returns this may well end up edited

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 3:00 AM

Mercedes Move

LOCATION: BRIDGE

Quote:
"Dead 'un! Drop it! Let's get another."

Serenity rattles as something either impacts or nearly misses the stern.

good, one down one behind She swings the crosshairs aft and all she gets is ‘no target, no target, no target’ . he’s sussed the gun placement. he knows how to stay hidden in our own silhouette There isn’t time enough to worry before she hears

Quote:
"Pilot! Crazy Ivan!"

*wode tìan.a sudden realization of not fastening fighting straps when she sat down, too late now even if there are any. this is going to hurt someone She gets one leg wrapped as best she can around the chair and thinks heavy thoughts. MERZ keeps the crosshairs in the direction of Serenity’s bow and holds.

Serenity pirouettes.

‘no target, no target, no target, target, target, target lock’ at the same time she is losing her battle with gravity and momentum. Merz fires as long as she can reach the controls and then she is no longer facing the controls, but deck plates instead.

All her training remains with her, and MERZ turns in mid-air, managing to hit the deck in a three-point landing, left foot, right knee and right hand. MERZ hits hard enough to ring the deck and it takes an instant to recover her equilibrium before springing up and back at the chair. talk to me someone, do we still have a target

“Pilot, Report” she barks.

EOM

*wode tìan = oh sky!(colloquial: Oh God!)

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 5:39 AM

Keep the Shiny side up

Thorne's move:

Location: Bridge.

THORNE:"...Crazy Ivan"

[The instant the words leave his mouth THORNE realizes that he has no idea if WASH can do a 'Crazy Ivan', or even knows what it is. As the ship yaws from the reversing engine, he drops that worry, even as his grip on the back of WASH's seat tightens.

No need to direct the gunner. She's already targeting the piece of sky the fighter will fill in a second. She braces in her chair through the turn, opening up as soon as she receives a firing solution from the computer.

A final jerk of Serenity throws her to the floor, but she's back up in an instant.]

MERZ:“Pilot, Report”

[WASH is still talking to the engine room, so THORNE speaks.]

THORNE:"We're good. You burned off his left wing and he hit the silk. Two down, and the last a cripple. Pilot. Stay on this course and head for the black. I don't think the damaged one can catch us in a stern chase. It's tempting to hang around and try for a hat trick, but now's the time to run. If they don't have anything in low orbit above us, we're home free. Excellent work all 'round."

[THORNE relaxes his grip on the pilot seat. Damn! He hasn't felt this alive in years! After Serenity Valley he thought he'd put his love of command behind him, but it was back like the best drug ever. Have to be careful on another man's ship, though. Figure how to make up to the captain for usurping his authority, and try not to do it again. When we get to New Hokkaido maybe go look for a boat of his on. Still..Damn, that feels good. Now to set a time with INARA, and life couldn't get much better.]

EOM

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 6:48 AM

ASTRIANA

ZOE'S MOVE:
LOCATION - BRIDGE
As...

ZOE watches as BOOK and ROWAN take DAMON off the bridge, then turns to the comm controls.

ZOE: "Doc, you might wanna get a bed ready. Shepherd's on his way down with DAMON.

ZOE turns to watch the Alliance ships' progress on the monitors, waiting with half an ear for an acknowledgement or one of SIMON's inevitable questions about what's happening.

THORNE:"...Crazy Ivan"

ZOE switches the comm channel to include the entire ship.

ZOE: "This is ZOE. Everybody find somethin' to hang on to."

ZOE braces herself against the console to her right as WASH swings the ship around. As she prepares for the inevitable jolt of the Ivan, ZOE notices that the "Airlock Open" light flashes and then goes dark. She mentally tucks that info away, figuring that the ex-Blue Sun op jumped ship, the way he'd been threatening. She takes a closer look at the scanners, and sees not one but two life signs heading away from Serenity and toward the ops vehicle. Figuring SLIGHT must've met a friend along the way, ZOE turns her attention back to the fight.

MERZ fires a volley, then is tossed from her seat by WASH's maneuvering. ZOE admires how quickly the woman recovered and got back to work.

MERZ:“Pilot, Report”

ZOE bristles slightly at the woman's tone, but WASH is still talking to KAYLEE in the engine room. ZOE hears THORNE's reply as she turns her attention back to the scanners.

THORNE: "We're good. You burned off his left wing and he hit the silk. Two down, and the last a cripple. Pilot. Stay on this course and head for the black. I don't think the damaged one can catch us in a stern chase. It's tempting to hang around and try for a hat trick, but now's the time to run. If they don't have anything in low orbit above us, we're home free. Excellent work all 'round."

As THORNE relaxes his grip on WASH's seat, ZOE sees that the life signs are no longer on the ground, and it looks like they've appeared on the ops vehicle. Wondering who SLIGHT's friend might be, ZOE's mind starts working to suss out if he's a possible threat, all the while feeling a niggling discomfort in the back of her mind.

Suddenly, all the piece come together: SLIGHT's talk about jumping ship, the air lock opening and closing, the camaraderie between SLIGHT and SIMON when she left the infirmary, SIMON's lack of response to impending injuries, and two life signs heading toward the ops vehicle. A chill runs down her spine as she turns toward MAL.

ZOE: "Sir, I don't think the doc and that SLIGHT are on the boat."

As WASH begins his next set of course corrections, ZOE locks eyes with MAL as they come to the same question: If SIMON's gone, where's RIVER?

~A~

...I'm still free,
You can't take the sky from me.

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 7:58 AM

Wash's move:
Wash takes a deep breathe. He's never flown a hairball before, and Serenity has taken a lot of stress over the last few minutes. "We should be fine, but Kaylee is gonna be earning her pay for the next few days." Then he hears Zoes statement, and, while he's still piloting the ship, he turns back. "Where in the 'Verse could they be headed? and how in the world did that Blue Sun guy get off the ship?"

Slight's move:
Slight straps in.
He'd honestly wanted Merz to come along, but there's no hope for that now. "What do you see, Brink Helsing. . .?"
With a mental note, he sends a message through the feedback monitors as he launches the craft. "Better grab something, doctor, this is gonna take a bit of wild turning."
His armor responds to his mental urgings, as various chemicals are surged into his bloodstream.

The armor was a special design by the Blue Sun. On Earth that Was, the scientists had experimented with the idea of nano-technology. With some special modifications, the Sun had perfected it. Crawling across his back and latched under his clothes are trillions of robots, machines with barely enough memory to work a remote alone. Together, they rival a ships entire onboard systems. They are multi-functional, from camoflauge to chaff, dispersing bullets, to the blade that he had killed the fed with. It's self-contained-one unit can regenerate the enitre armor in a matter of hours. And they're loaded with regeration chemicals, stimulants, and painkillers. That required a special system to restock, one that is built into his belt. He has only to stick a vial in, and in five minutes it can be discharged into his system equally and to specific areas. It is an armor that can do anything he can imagine it to.

>Until we meet again<
Slight feels the mental comment. "Won't be long doctor, this will be fairly in and out." He can feel the shock and inevitable rage of a norm at his mental intrusion. In response, he fishes out the inhaler, to give him the hour or so of peace. He makes a mental note that during a mission, the control chemicals fade quickly.
Slight kicks the obs craft into overdrive, and flies to the coordinates. Thorne and Merz can catch up later, if they want. He has work that needs to be done.

I'm talking about geese.

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 8:45 AM

i DO aim to misbehave

Rowan’s Move:
LOCATION: Infirmary

Stepping inside, she fully expects to find Simon there, busily checking his supplies in response to the battle sounds outside, calculating his inventory in his head in expectation of casualties. She’s seen more than one medic in the process before, and was often comforted by their foresight.

But the infirmary is empty - not just empty, but vacant. It has the definite feel of abandonment that reminds her of how the Independent operations control facility felt ten minutes after the division generals warned them that the Alliance was on its way. Xiang ordered the evacuation instantly, and she had fully intended to comply.
------------------------------
FLASHBACK

Of all the stupid things to do. Leaving behind the only memory stick with all the command codes for the Revolution? Good thing she had an “in” with the liaison or there surely would have been hell to pay.

He came up the stairs behind her, and she could feel his rage even as he called to her in Chinese. “What do you think you are doing?”

“I will be right there,” she replied. Having reached her station, she opened the top right hand drawer and plucked it from the front of the storage unit. Beyond the door leading into the hall, she heard Alliance forces entering from the elevator.

“They will be through that door in one minute,” he informed her urgently.

Holding up the memory stick, she nodded and then bolted back across the room to him beaming. “Do you know you’re beautiful when you’re angry?”

He angled his gaze accusingly, not about to be placated by her idea of sweet talk. He truly was beautiful - darkly handsome with the bearing of the kings he was descended from. She had to wonder what his reaction would be if she admitted the way he glared at her was a more potent aphrodisiac than anything any companion would have come up with. He reached out for her as she approached and she put her hand into his, feeling his strength and his warmth.

“You will be the death of me one day,” he muttered irritably as he gave her a little shove to escort her down the back stairs.
------------------------------
Pushing the memory aside, Rowan rummages about the infirmary as the medic training she took on board the Rembrandt comes flooding back. Snatching up a red bag, she finds it fortified with the basics, including a sucher kit and is about to head back upstairs when the deck tips and spins as if the Almighty himself reached down to take hold of Serenity, pick her up, twist her around and set her down again backwards. Rowan was lifted right of her feet and tossed onto the counter, slamming against the glass window like a wet dishrag. All the air was pushed out of her lungs and she tipped off again to land on the floor only to slide across to the other side of the infirmary before coming to a halt.

Gasping for breath, she wonders if Wash was always a maniac, or if it’s just something he picked up since coming on board Serenity.

EOM

OOC: Ever have one of those words you can never spell right? "Sucher" is one of mine.

We have art so as not to die of truth ~ Neitzsche
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 9:06 AM

Keep the Shiny side up

Thorne's/Mal's Move:

Location: Bridge

[The sky outside the ports turns from blue to black as Serenity breaks atmo. Stars appear. Scans show no Alliance ships in pursuit range. THORNE stands between MERZ and WASH and rests a hand on each one's shoulder.]

THORNE:"Stand down. We're well away now, thanks to you. I'd fly with you people any day. WASH, pass that on to KAYLEE too, if you'd please.

(turning to MAL) Captain, I'm sorry. Old fire horses still answer the bell, and my instincts just took over. I assure you it won't happen again. Please forgive me."

[MAL answers THORNE with a vague wave of his hand. His mind is too full of questions. Where did he learn to fight a spaceship like that? Obviously ex-military, was he Alliance or Brown-coat? How could he get such instant obedience from folk he'd never met before, with just the confident and commanding tone of his voice? MAL's orders often as not just started a debate. Anger was fading, replaced by curiosity.]

ZOE: "Sir, I don't think the doc and that SLIGHT are on the boat."

[What? Well, here's a chance to try that commanding voice. Mal walks to the comm.]

MAL: "Shepherd, JAYNE. Round up everybody not on the bridge an' move 'em to the galley. Let's see if we're missing any sheep. WASH. Set course for New Hokkaido an' then follow us. Everybody else in here head for the mess hall too. We got some headcountin' and sortin' out to do."

[MAL turns and walks for the galley, hoping that the rest are following him.]

EOM

OOC: Well, anybody want to argue with Mal right now and further abuse his already battered ego? I thought not.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 9:18 AM

Wash's move:
Wash progra,s in the coordinates, and slides the wheel into the locked position. He stands and stretches, exhausted by the flying he's just commited.

He hears Thornes compliment as though from a waking dream.
"Stand down. We're well away now, thanks to you. I'd fly with you people any day. WASH, pass that on to KAYLEE too, if you'd please."
Wash shrugs it off. He's flown easier skies, and harder. He grins a bit, remembering that flight on St. Albans. But this was the first time he'd flown a hotzone packing heat, and his knees are still a little shakey. He reaches out to grab Zoes shoulder, hoping to siphon some of her incredible strength of character. "I hope we get paid on New Hokkaido, cuz I won't mind some diapers the next time I fly like that," he mutters, half joking and half mentally checking himself for any moistness he feels. He takes a deep breath. He could afford some drink right now.

I'm talking about geese.

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 10:37 AM

CIARA

Inara's turn, supplemental

*slight flashback*

Inara stands in the corner of the galley, memory stick in hand, looking after Book in a very confused manner. Her gaze travels from the stick to Book and back again. She's not sure she WANTS to see what's on it.

Seeing Damon try to stand, she forgets the stick for a moment, nestling it snugly in a hidden pocket in the front of her dress.

Stepping forward and adding her hands to Book's on Damon's shoulder, Inara urges the man back down into the chair.

"Rowan will be back soon with supplies, and after we fix you up again, you can wander the halls tearing stitches all you want. Until then, please stay put."

Damon glares up at she and Book warily, and Inara slides to her knees by Book, picking up the towel and finishing the cleanup he had started before Damon's escape attempt.

Suddenly, Serenity gives a hard spin, making Inara feel as if gravity has been suspended for a moment. Inara finds herself on her back near Damon's chair, covered in beer and with the crunch of broken glass under her shoulders. Something else is amiss...Inara can't decide what it is. Her eyes regain focus and she realizes hers aren't the only eyes in the vicinity....she looks up into Shepherd Book's suprised face--he's pressing her into the deck plating, their bodies touching from breast to foot.

Book jumps to his feet and pulls Inara up after him.

**letting Maniac take Books side of this if he wants**

End Inara's turn

Just a humble supplicant in service to all things Joss

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 10:49 AM

i DO aim to misbehave

Rowan’s Move
LOCATION: INFIRMARY

Dragging herself off the deck, she braces herself on hands and knees and manages to force air back into her lungs.
------------------------------
FLASHBACK

He moved too fast to be seen, catching her behind the knees and effortlessly yanking her right off her feet. Striking the floor on her back, she felt the air knocked out of her lungs and had a hard time pulling it back. He moved down to her, setting the bo staff aside before lifting her head onto his lap and stroking her hair.

“I’m sorry, “ he said softly. “I didn’t mean to catch you off guard.”

He had always caught her off guard, and if she could breathe, she would have told him so. It might be overly sentimental - all right, it would be downright sappy, but nothing could be more true. When he was merely her professor she found herself interested in words and topics that had bored her to tears in the past. When they were colleagues, his overwhelming presence and quiet charisma affected her long before their eyes met in a timeless moment and her heart leapt for joy.

But since she couldn’t speak, she glared up at him and managed to rasp in Chinese. “You will get yours.”

Only he saw the look in her eyes and wasn’t the least bit fooled. With a smile curving his lips, he bent down to press a kiss to her brow.
------------------------------
Rowan shook her head violently, dispelling another tender memory. Seven years of trying not to think about him and now she can’t stop?

ROWAN (muttering): "Wode tìan - what next?"

Scrambling to her feet, she gathers up the bag that she had managed to hold onto, and heads out. Dragging herself back up the aft stairs, she makes her way back to the galley.

EOM

We have art so as not to die of truth ~ Neitzsche
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 11:06 AM

Damon's turn:
LOCATION - DINING ROOM

"Rowan will be back soon with supplies, and after we fix you up again, you can wander the halls tearing stitches all you want. Until then, please stay put."

Damon turns his attention back to River, who is now staring at him again. He stares back, not sure what to expect.

How much more did she know? That worried him more than anything. He hadn't been entirely truthful to the captain about why he was on the run and he didn't think that the captain would like that if he found out.

River breaks their gaze as she looks toward the bridge with another one of her creepy looks.

"Turning backwards. Don't fall," she says to no in particular and sits herself down on the floor.

Before Damon has a chance to wonder what she was talking about, the ship lurches out from under them. Damon gets thrown out of his chair and hits the deck with a hard thud. Pots and pans, water kettles, tea cups, cooking utensils and food items rain down from the kitchen counters. The ship moves again, rolling Damon across the floor until he meets the wall with another thud.

He lays there for a moment, pulling breaths in short pained gasps. His eyes are closed, but he can still feel the room spinning around him. When his head clears enough to pull his thoughts back together, he opens his eyes and finds himself laying face down on the kitchen floor. River kneels beside him, watching him silently.

Come on, Damon, get up.

His arms move but they refuse to lift him off of the floor.

Get up.

Again nothing. He closes his eyes, letting his mind drift toward unconsciousness.

Quote:
It hurt. More than just physical pain. They tore you down. But you kept building yourself up. But every time they tore you down a little more. And it got harder to rebuild.

Crofton's voice whispers in his ear, "Are you ready to give up yet?"

Damon's eyes snap open. He turns over and swings at someone that isn't there, his pain and injuries forgotten in a wave of fury and adrenaline. He pushes himself back against the wall and stands up. Looking around, he recognizes Book and Inara tangled together on the floor.

River stands up next to him, beaming up at him. "Not broken."

He looks away from her. "No nothing's broken," he says, though he knows that wasn't what she was reffering to.

OOC: Teela, hope you don't mind my minor River lines. I can change it if you want. I thought River forseeing the Crazy Ivan would be appropriate though.

I'm not broken, in my dream I win...

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 11:18 AM

Book's Move

Location: Galley

A sudden wavering, a twist in the air, and Book wobbles, spins and catches something on his way to the floor. When the room stops twirling, and the ship lurches back into normal gravity, Book lets out a soft grunt and finds himself on the floor, pressed deep into Inara's body.

Immediately aware of her entire body, Book pulls himself hastily off of Inara, and hears the captain's voice over the intercom asking him and Jayne to gather the crew together in the galley. Helping Inara to her feet, Book offers her an apology and goes quickly to the rear door of the galley. Pausing next to River, he says, "Stay here, alright River?"

Not waiting for an answer, he goes out through the doorway and calls down the hall to the engine room.
"Kaylee, come on down to the galley"
Book turns and walks slowly down the aft stairs, thinking hopelessly how he should tell the crew that Simon is gone.

EM

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 2:00 PM

LOCATION – LEFT BEHIND, IN SERENITY VALLEY

Hidden under Hlastoni’s fighter, in Serenity Valley, there are two new objects. It is not likely they should have ended in this odd location by accident.

One is a unit patch, torn from a uniform jacket. It has been not only removed, but also mutilated. It can’t be read but you can still see A.*** L. across the top.

The other is a square of thin metal about the size of a book page. It has been carefully etched, polished and then coated against tarnish. The etching is language – and it reads:

Maro: I am in need of an explanation.

Hlas: I always gave you the same answer; perhaps it is time to ask the question again.

Veila: You taught me the meaning of comfort food. Is the galley still open?

Heropa: I think I’ve broken it beyond all hope of repair.

Milla: It always did gave me a headache trying to keep up with you.

Kara: So many things I have to show you . . . and build with you

Gigi: and you too, if you will just stop and sit with me awhile

I am looking for you.

Find me, please.

***********************************************

How long before the dust covers the message?

Does anyone come here anymore?

Time will tell.

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 2:37 PM

MERZ’s Move

LOCATION - BRIDGE
to HALLWAY TO DINING ROOM

Quote:
THORNE: "Stand down. We're well away now, thanks to you. I'd fly with you people any day. WASH, pass that on to KAYLEE too, if you'd please.

MERZ accepts the hand on her shoulder, it is brief enough and as celebrations go, it could be worse. She closes her eyes and concentrates on flushing the rest of the adrenalin out of her system before standing. slow down mercedes, nice and easy now, its all over She rubs her right knee where it is hidden under the console. slowin’ down old girl. you better put in some hard time training just as soon as you get the chance. MERZ stands and puts weight on the leg, deciding it should only be a bruise. Before leaving the console, she locks down the firing controls.

She has hung back until everyone else has left the bridge, before following. Now comes the part she dreads. Now there will be questions. maybe i should have left with Brink? A pointless exercise in speculation. For better or worse she is here now and it is time to follow the Captains orders and assemble. Captain . . .Captain what? Merz has not caught his name.

i never wanted to do that again. so why does it come back so easily? i just can’t fight what i am; what I was made. can it be enough to also be something else, when i can?

She reaches the dining area and settles down, hopefully out of sight, out of mind leaning on the wall just barely inside the door. From here she can hear everything, but maybe they will forget about her for a while.

Dining room. Yes, fuel would be welcome.

MERZ listens.

EOM

{edited to correct MERZ location}

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 3:42 PM

i DO aim to misbehave

Rowan's Move
LOCATION - AFT STAIRS AND PASSAGEWAY to DINING ROOM

She's on the landing and more than halfway up when she hears the Shepherd's voice and looks up to see him standing at the top of the aft stairs.

BOOK: "Kaylee, come on down to the galley."

He turns then and starts a slow descent, looking as if he's carrying the weight of the 'verse on his shoulders. The ship's aspect seems to have leveled off and smoothed out. Rowan can't even hear gunfire anymore, which poses the question - when all is calm, what could possibly be bad enough to send a Shepherd to worrying?

ROWAN: "Hey, Shepherd. I think I have everything we need. As soon as we locate Simon, I'll be happy to assist putting xiâo dì dì back together."

EOM

We have art so as not to die of truth ~ Neitzsche
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 4:19 PM

Keep the Shiny side up

Mal's Move:

Location: Galley

[Folk are starting to assemble in the galley, but there's still a few coming. MAL sees MERZ sitting alone in a corner, and walks over to her.]

MAL:"That was some mighty fancy shootin' back there. I'd guess this wasn't your first fight. Hate to seem ungrateful after what you did, but I gotta ask. What were you doing out in that God-forsaken valley, anyway?"

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 5:08 PM

LOCATION - GALLEY

i can’t catch a break

It does not take long for the Captain to notice her and approach.

Quote:
MAL:"That was some mighty fancy shootin' back there. I'd guess this wasn't your first fight. Hate to seem ungrateful after what you did, but I gotta ask. What were you doing out in that God-forsaken valley, anyway?"

He still has that ‘I’m gonna be obeyed’ tone in his voice. aye aye, sir

MERZ speaks after a brief pause. There is no inflection, no life in her voice. It might as well be a machine speaking. “I am searching for . . . friends I have not seen in many years. It is important that I find them, important to me at least. There was a possibility that a clue to where they have gone might have been there. I was there to search. I appear to have been mistaken.”

She stops there. It is all the answer she has.

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 5:33 PM

ASTRIANA

ZOE'S MOVE:
LOCATION - BRIDGE to DINING ROOM

ZOE follows MAL from the bridge to the galley, and finds herself a spot against the wall. From here, she knows she has the best vantage point to watch everyone arrive, and will have a good view of everyone once they're gathered. ZOE sees RIVER leaning over DAMON, sprawled on the floor, and watches quietly as MAL walks to MERZ, who has taken up a spot in the corner, looking like she hopes to go unnoticed.

MAL: "That was some mighty fancy shootin' back there. I'd guess this wasn't your first fight. Hate to seem ungrateful after what you did, but I gotta ask. What were you doing out in that God-forsaken valley, anyway?"

ZOE (to herself): "That's somethin' I'd like to know. I wonder where she learned to shoot like that?"

Taking in MERZ's response, ZOE settles herself a little more comfortably against the wall and watches as BOOK enters looking forlorn with ROWAN on his heels. As the passengers and crew assembles, ZOE keeps track of who's still missing and where they might be. Just this once, she'd like to be wrong, like to see the doctor come sauntering into the galley looking for all the world like nothing was the matter. Unfortunately, the longer she stands there - and the more folks come to be accounted for - the less likely her hope becomes.

End Move.

~A~

...I'm still free,
You can't take the sky from me.

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 7:17 PM

Damon's turn:
LOCATION - DINING ROOM

Damon stands in a corner of the kitchen watching the dinning room get fuller by the second. The Captain is talking to Merz, Book and Rowan are coming in from the hall, Inara is picking up various items that fell on the floor, and Wash stands with an arm around Zoe, who is watching everyone. Their eyes meet for a moment, Zoe's gaze saying: I'm sorry you're hurt, but I still don't trust you with that firearm. Damon's saying: I'm too gorram tired to move let alone squeeze a gun trigger.
He can barely make out a voice coming up from the stairwell: "The Hero of Canton..."

Judging by the overal positive attitude of the crew, Damon guesses that they are once again Fed free. He's not sure if he was lucky that they were around to save him or if he was unlucky to end up on a ship that attracts Feds as easily as he does. At least the ship is armed now. And with so many defensive crew members, he shouldn't have to worry about the ship being boarded in the middle of the night.

Now all I need is some food and I'll be set for some sleep. He spots Rowan making her way over to him with the red med bag. Oh yeah... and maybe a bandage or two.

He lifts up his shirt enough to see his reopened wound was bleeding again. The damn thing is never going to heal at this rate and those bandages aren't doing anything. I'll take care of it proper as soon as the galley is empty. Proper? This space talk is getting to me. Couple more years and I won't even know that I was core raised.

I'm not broken, in my dream I win...

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Tuesday, March 16, 2004 11:15 PM

Book's Move

LOCATION - Aft Hallway, entering Galley

Book stops short near the top of the stairs and looks up from studying his hands as Rowan addresses him.

--------
"Hey, Shepherd. I think I have everything we need. As soon as we locate Simon, I'll be happy to assist putting xiâo dì dì back together."
--------

"I think we'll have to manage by ourselves... Damon's not too bad off, he just needs to sit still for a few hours after we sew him up again."

Book gestures for Rowan to take the lead into the Galley at the same time that she offers it to him. He finds himself diverted and happy for a moment, by such a small thing, but the task ahead pushes the moment's pleasant forgetfulness away. "It's strange," Book thinks to himself, as he and Rowan go together through the doorway, "that it's the little things that make us the happiest, that keep us going from day to day."

Book lets go of his fear as he walks through the doorway. "It's foolish," He says. (He supposes that he says this to himself, but he actually says it out loud.)

EM

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Wednesday, March 17, 2004 2:32 AM

Keep the Shiny side up

Mal's Move:

Location: Galley

MERZ:“I am searching for . . . friends I have not seen in many years. It is important that I find them, important to me at least. There was a possibility that a clue to where they have gone might have been there. I was there to search. I appear to have been mistaken.”

[Well, another answer that just leads to more questions, but not right now. MAL looks around to see that everyone is finally here, except SLIGHT and SIMON. It's sortin' time.]

MAL:"Everybody quiet down! Been a busy day an' we're all tired, but we got a few more problems. First off, can somebody get us some chow goin'?

Second, we done picked up another stray, MERZ TROY, over there. Seems like our hitchers have done us good so far, so we'll keep 'em for a while.

Third, if this is all that's on the ship, we're missin' a couple. SLIGHT said he was gettin' off in the Valley, so that's no surprise, but where in Hell's the Doc? Does any of you know? Who saw him last?

EOM

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Wednesday, March 17, 2004 8:08 AM

Book's Move

Location: Galley

Book, finally having decided to let it out, approaches Mal.

"They're gone, captain. They left while we were in Serenity Valley. Simon came to me earlier... said he had to leave right away if he wanted to catch his chance of helping River."

Book pauses for a moment and looks aroound.

"I tried to stop him. I asked him many questions. but he had no time to answer... He said he encoded messages for each of the crew on a memory stick."

Book looks up at Inara.

"I already viewed what Simon had to say to me, and I gave the memory stick to Inara."

Book goes to the large table and sits down.

"Brink Helsing went with him."

EM

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Wednesday, March 17, 2004 8:14 AM

i DO aim to misbehave

Rowan’s Move
LOCATION - Aft Hallway, entering Galley
------------------------------
BOOK: "I think we'll have to manage by ourselves... Damon's not too bad off, he just needs to sit still for a few hours after we sew him up again.”
------------------------------

Rowan didn’t have to be too keenly observant to notice the Shepherd’s concern over Simon’s disappearance. Yet he’s not concerned enough to indicate Simon may have come to harm, or been pinched under protest. It’s more like he’s aware of what Simon’s up to and the reason for it, but doesn’t entirely approve. Now isn’t that just like a preacher?

Since she’s still moving slow, Rowan gestures for the Shepherd to go first just has he does the same thing. Smiling at the silliness, she gives him a slow nod and waits for him to take the lead. She follows him into the dining room where it seems everyone on the ship has been assembled, or just about. Noting Simon’s absence, she’s also aware that Slight isn’t among the group either. Hoping he’s managed to find an alternate occupation - permanently - she turns to the chair Damon was in only to find him leaning heavily on the back wall instead. His shirt is pulled up to reveal the lean muscle over his abdomen and a large area of red irritation set off by a small amount of blood. He’s about to touch it when she catches his hand and shifts it aside.

When Damon looks at her, showing her how weary he is, she shifts to his uninjured side and gently takes his arm. Ignoring Reynolds’ speechifying isn’t hard in the face of someone in need.

ROWAN: “Don’t you think you better sit down before you fall down?”

EOM

We have art so as not to die of truth ~ Neitzsche
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

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Wednesday, March 17, 2004 8:44 AM

Wash moves in next to Zoe, as plainly confused as everyone else. "What kind of chance would there be to save her here? And how in the 'Verse did he get off the ship in mid-Ivan? I had difficulty keeping my lunch in, I can't imagine it being easy to leap off a moving ship."
Wash notices that Merz seems a little lost, but she isn't focusing too hard on the conversation. What else could there be? It couldn't be over a Blue Sun exec. That man was trouble in the most basic of times.

I'm talking about geese.

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Wednesday, March 17, 2004 8:53 AM

BOOMERGOODHEART

Kaylee's Move
Location: Galley

After the exhilirating ride that Wash just gave--she'll never get tired of the Crazy Ivan--Kaylee putters around the engine room, making minor adjustments here and there.

Hearing Book calling down the passageway for her, she makes her way to the Galley, hair all messed up and cheeks flushed with pleasure.

Entering the Galley, she takes in that everyone is there except for Simon & that Slight fella. When the Captain asks after the doctor, Book regretfully informs the crew that he's gone.

Sucking in a deep breath, she closes her eyes. She knew that something was up with Simon when he came to see her. Now she knows what it was. No matter how hard she tries, though, she can't bring herself to be worried about him. Something inside of her says that they have unfinished business, and that the 'Verse will never let that stand.

Opening her eyes, she says to no one in particular, "He has work to do. He'll be back."

With one significant look at River, Kaylee heads back to the engine room.

End Move

BoomerGoodheart
"I love my Captain."

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Wednesday, March 17, 2004 9:09 AM

Slight types in the coordinates, and looks back to see Simon staring out the window, lost in thought. "Don't suppose you're up for conversation."
Simon smiles just a little, and shakes his head. Slight can't even be sure it's in response to his question. The drugs the armor has given him are a little confusing that way. "Cristo, yo odio esta sopa,*" he mutters, slipping into the Spanish he'd learned. It was his favorite tongue to speak in, with all the smacking and rolling sounds. "Puede estar loco, pero yo lo quiero.*"
He sighs. Then he pats his pocket. "¡Mierda!*" he hisses, trying hard not to let the doctor hear him. Why in the Void did he ever leave that behind?!
His demon voice answers for him. "You got distracted," snears the voice of his father. "That blond tchen hua-"
"Bi zuie." He snaps the word out loud, but Simon doesn't even blink. He reaches for the Cortex com. Maybe he can call Thorne, explain the situation to him, and hope to all Hells he finds it before the rest of the crew.

EOM
Cristo, yo odio esta sopa-Christ, I hate this soup.
Puede estar loco, pero yo lo quiero-It may be crazy, but I like it
¡Mierda! - Spanish version of go-se

I'm talking about geese.

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Wednesday, March 17, 2004 10:11 AM

Keep the Shiny side up

Mal's Move:

Location: Galley

BOOK:"I already viewed what Simon had to say to me, and I gave the memory stick to Inara."

[MAL crosses the galley to INARA and holds out his hand. She softly places the memory stick on his palm. He raises it to his eye, and, after verifiying his identity, it plays the written message.]

MAL:(half to himself)"Wish he'd talked to me first. It's a risk, but his hand to play." (to the room at large)"Well, Doc's off on his on for a while, so try not to get banged up too much. You can all read your messages in a while.

(to RIVER) Mei-mei, your brother's gone for a while to get you some help. We'll all look out for you while he's gone. OK?"

[No visible reaction at all from RIVER]

"OK. It's at least two days to New Hokkaido and the quarters are all full, so 'less she wants to sleep on the couch downstairs we need someone to let MERZ double up. Not you, JAYNE!

There's some Blue Sun in the cooler, an' a couple bottles of tequila, so everybody help yourself, get a bite to eat, an' bag out. We'll get more organized tomorrow when we're not walkin' in our sleep. WASH, you just been sittin' 'round. Take the first watch."

[MAL looks for KAYLEE, wanting to give her the message stick, but she's already gone back to her engines. He sets it on the table, grabs a bottle, and starts looking for food.]

EOM

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Wednesday, March 17, 2004 11:02 AM