VFF The Book Continues Part 6

POSTED BY: Colt99
UPDATED: Friday, June 3, 2016 04:01
VIEWED: 92887
PAGE 1 of 2

Time for a new thread

Where we started:

http://www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=17&t=33104

Where we moved to:

http://www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=17&t=33308
http://www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=17&t=33361
http://www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=21&t=33451

Heres the one we are leaving:

http://www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=21&t=33796

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Colt paced back and forth in Jacey's office. The two goons she had placed outside the door had disarmed him and just locked him in. He had thought he heard Abbey scream and rushed past them only to be introduced to the floor a few feet from the door. Another thing bothering him had been something he heard the Doctor say when she had left him. Slavers.

Siringo might not have the reach that Badger did but he sure as hell had some imformants out there, and if the Doctor turned out to be one of them this would turn ugly in a hurry.

He had tried to raise Mobbex several times but no luck. Colt heard the door unlock behind him. Dr. Garner entered.

Colt: Was that Abbey screaming?

Jacey: Why do you ask? Afraid someone else has taken up where you left off?

Colt confused: What do you mean?

Jacey: Listen Captain I understand that there are places in the Verse where what you do is perfectly legal, sometimes encouraged. This is not one of those places.
When these people are well enough to identify you as their attacker I will make sure the authorities deal with you.

Colt: Lady I don't know what you got in your head but I didn't attack anyone (Colt paused) well at least not them.

Jacey: So you attacked someone and they just got in the way.

Colt: That aint the case at all.

Jacey: I wouldn't imagine it is. I'm sure we can sort it all out when the feds arrive.

Colt: You don't want to do that

Jacey: Yes...I do and I will. I know your type. At some point you'll produce legal or illegal papers for them and they will probably go right back to getting beat again, but a few months sorting it out in jail might give you a taste of your own medicine.

Colt didnt take much relief from the fact that she thought he was a slaver, but at least she wasn't an informant

Colt: You being a Doctor and all I would have thought you would have more brains than this.
These people are my crew. And its just sweeet as a grape how you are looking out for em but I aint a slaver and I didn't beat attack any of them.

Colt turned and slammed the door and slide the chair under the handle. Jacey raced to the comm on her desk but Colt was faster. He grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back, just as the orderlies busted in.

Colt: Stay back (holding a letter opener to Jaceys throat)

Jacey: What did you say about not attcking people?

Colt: I said I don't attack my crew... well maybe my merc from time to time, but not the rest. You (Pointing to one of the orderlies) Toss my piece on the table.

He hesitated for a second until Jacey nodded for him to do so.

Pistol in hand Colt ripped out the comm connection and locked all 3 inside the office.
He ran back to the room he had heard Abbeys voice in. When he rounded the corner he saw her resting in the bed.

Abbey: Hey you. Did you talk to the Doctor?

Colt: You could say that. She said you were free to go

Abbey: Not without Oram.

Colt: We're all going...now.

Colt took Abbey in his arms and started for the door. Before he reached it Abbey kissed him.
At the same time Jacey and more muscle than Colt could count blocked the door.

Abbey: Doctor, this is our Captain.

Jacey realizing the mistake she had made: Yes we met.

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sorry, posted too soon

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The mule rumbles to a halt before the hospital building, acrid black smoke oozing off the air inlet slits that run down either side of the engine compartment. Its blown rear left tire clings to the rim in a mass of tangled ribbons bound together only by the heat of friction, and its partially detached rear bumper rakes the ground in its wake, producing a screeching grind as metal scrapes over craggy pavement.

Mobbex throws his leg over the mule's back and alights, prompting a squeak from the four wheel's suspension as he relieves his weight from the seat. He is disheveled and sweaty, and a ragged strip of blood-splotched cloth is tightly wound around his calf, but his eyes are shining with a feral glint, and his innate swagger is magnified by the zest of the recent kill.

"Sure hope that drunkard's got her head screwed on on straight 'cause I ain't trustin' 'em core dandies with takin' that shot outta my leg." He sets off with a slight limp in his step, making a beeline for the health center. Colt sure ain't gonna be jolly when he sees the state the cart's in, but he oughta know I all but got myself shot dead trying to get it back, I mean that's gotta amount to somethin' right? . . . Plus who says I gotta take crap from that midget? He gets mouthy w'me, I'll show him. . .

He groans as a sharp pain shoots up his injured leg. Uggh... gonna need to get that looked at when we're back in the air. Ruttin' boozer had to run off on her own too. . . s'all her fault, every damn bit of it. Oh, the minute I get ahold o' that loony b. . . The sliding doors hiss apart to grant him passage, and he hobbles over to the reception desk.

Receptionist: *does a quick double take, glancing him up and down once, twice, three times* What... seems to be the problem?

Mobbex: Problem? *pushes up a guiltless expression* I don't got no problem. M'jes' payin' a gal a visit is all.

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*Although she was granted consciousness every now and again, Oram wasn’t fully aware of where she was, what was happening or whether she was in safe and trusted hands.

When her mind deemed it ready to join the land of the conscious, it was with the nausea that comes from being given anaesthetic. Dear god she hurt all over… especially her back and left side, like she’d been hit by a freight train and then dragged across shards of broken glass with sprinklings of salt to add insult to injury.

She felt a mattress under her body, a blanket over her legs and a gown over her torso. Opening her eyes to the blurry vision around her, the room was dark and cool, but she could hear people out in the corridor and couldn’t understand what they were on about, nor did she care all the much.

Overlooking herself she found her shoulder was massively bandaged, her left arm in a sling as well as a cast… the cast was purple for some odd reason.

Trying not to groan and not think about what it meant, she dropped her head back, wincing at the dazzling light display in her vision and turned her head away from seeing her injured arm… and froze.

Oram felt the pit of her stomach drop as adrenaline rushed her system. Without thinking she pushed herself away from the intruder as fast as she could. Seeing that she couldn’t get anywhere with the IV in, she ripped the line from her arm and tried to hurriedly get off the bed, only succeeding in backing herself against the wall.*

Oram: Dear god… they’ve sent you to kill me because I went and wandered off….

*Mobbex merely raised an eyebrow and dropped the pillow he was holding*

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"So he is your Captain?" Jacey asked abbey as she laid her head tiredly onto Colt's shoulder. "And he hasn't... hurt you... in any way?"

abbey snorted.

"Of course not," abbey responded. "He saved my life. If he didn't come looking for me, I would have drowned."

"But you were afraid slavers were coming to get you," Jacey sputtered a bit. "I was sure that..."

Colt leaned down to her ear.

"She seemed to think I was a slaver and I beat you up," he said still eying them warily. "Those orderlies must have taken boxing classes."

abbey's eyes grew wide and she looked up at him. Then she looked at Jacey, then the orderlies and back at Colt.

"They hit you?" she exclaimed as she kicked a little making Colt put her down. He winced a bit. "You need medical attention."

"I DO not!" Colt retorted. "I can take a couple of punches."

"A couple? You definitely need medical attention," she insisted. She turned to Jacey. "Do you at least make sure he was OK after your boys pulverized him?"

"I didn't get pulverized!" Colt insisted, his voice rising up an octave. "It was a couple of punches and then the floor. The floor has a nice design if you look close enough."

abbey looked at Jacey again with disapproval in her eyes.

"I know you thought you were doing right by me, Oram and even Stan, but doesn't that go a little against the Hippocratic Oath?" she asked a little upset. "Why didn't you call the feds instead?"

Colt cleared his throat a little and abbey looked up at him.

"Well... OK... That would have been bad too..." she corrected herself as Colt smirked at Jacey. "Why don't you just check him out now, OK?"

Jacey nodded and came towards Colt who backed up and hid behind abbey.

"I'm fine," Colt insisted. He pointed at Jacey. "Why don't you just stay over there. So I can keep my eye on you *points at orderlies* They can go though."

abbey turned to Colt and put her hands on her hips (or at least one) and glared at him.

"Get yourself checked out. Or so help me..."

"You'll what?" Colt glared back. "Punch me yourself?"

abbey set her jaw, reached out and pinched him in the ribs.

"Ow!" Colt exclaimed, wincing again. "Hey! What was that for?"

"Check him out," abbey ordered Jacey. Colt started to object, but abbey reached out to pinch him again.

"Fine," Colt said finally, wrapping his arms around his sore abdomen, trying to protect himself from abbey's pinches.

Jacey smiled at the two and it was clear as day that they were more than friends.

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Mobbex: *angles his head, arms folded across his chest* Now there's a fanciful notion.

Oram: *edges herself away from him, pressing her back against the bed's head* Then just what are you doing here?

The mercenary shrugs his massive shoulders, letting his arms fall by his hips.

Mobbex: M'jes' being thorough. Colt put me in to track ye down... *snatches up an apple from the stainless food tray sitting at the edge of the bed and bites a mouthful from it* ...hmm, n'that reminds me: there's sum'in I's been meanin' to ask ya. S'it possible fer ya to kick up more in the space o' one day or that pretty much yer max?

Oram: This is a bad day, I'll let you know tomorrow.

Mobbex gives a dry, humorless chuckle, then turns to lay a kick into a nearby trolley, sending it careening through the air.

Oram: Did that help?

Mobbex grumbles something unintelligible.

Oram: Did that hurt?

Mobbex: *throws an angry index finger at her face* Ye check that lil' sassy 'tude o' yers! I offed people for less, ye know! Heck, not even an hour ago I fed a guy the buckshot 'cause he looked at me funny!

Oram: Yeah, yeah, that's all impressive.

Mobbex: Gorram it! *hurls the apple at the floor, causing for the fruit to splatter with a crisp splash* Jes' what is it with ya? Gettin' stoned outta yer gourd an wanderin' off in the wilderness? You on some death wish type deal or sum'in? 'That it?

Oram: It's your fault, you bastards left me forgotten in a locked medi-bay.

Mobbex: UGH! *casts about for something he can maul and tear apart with his bare hands* Y'know what? Fine, be a nut, see if I care. But next time, ya jes' chew on a barrel an' save me the trouble. *does a quick about-face and stalks out in a huff*

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Oram and abbey were moved back to the ER to finish up the treatment they were getting. With her convincing, Colt had let Dr. Garner check him out.

"You have some bruised ribs," she announced as she taped up his abdomen in order to stabilize the area.

"Really?" Colt asked poking a little at the tape and wincing.

"Don't do that," Jacey sternly told him.

"I told you..." abbey sing-songed. "Pulverized."

Colt looked over at her and glared at her.

"It's not a big deal," he huffed. Jacey lightly poked him in the ribs, he winced again and abbey smirked at him.

"Yep. Pulverized," confirmed abbey.

"I'm not... HEY!" Colt exclaimed as he turned to Jacey. "You POKED me! Isn't that against some kind of oath that all you doctors take?"

"Didn't hurt you," she smiled as she placed the last bit of bandage on his ribs. "Just trying to prove a point."

Colt looked at her, then at abbey. He pointed to both of them.

"You two related?" he asked in mock suspicion. "Cause you act the same. Always a thorn in my side."

abbey giggled at the mention. They all turned at the sound of the big merc swearing and threatening the life of whoever was with him. Colt had ordered him to get his leg looked at while they were there and apparently he thought they weren't doing good enough.

"I shoulda' took his gun away while he was here," Colt mused. "Man is going to shoot someone."

"Already did. On the way here," Oram whispered, loud enough for only abbey and Colt to hear.

"Ai ya!" Colt muttered. "Did he get up on the wrong side of the bed today?"

Someone whispered into Jacey's ear. She smiled and addressed the group.

"Seems Stan is out of surgery," she told them. "He's got complications, but he's gonna be OK. Captain, Sky and the others would like to see you up in recovery to discuss his condition."

Colt looked at both Oram and abbey with apprehension.

"You two gonna be OK for a few?"

"Should be," abbey said. "After all, we have orderlies down here and we know they are quite capable of causing someone damage."

"Shut it, abbey," Colt snipped at her. abbey, Oram and Jacey all snorted at his quip. "I reconsider it, you ALL are related."

"I'll show you up to the surgical suite," Jacey offered and Colt got up to follow her.

On their way out, Colt stopped by where Mobbex was causing woe and asked him to keep an eye on the others down there. Mobbex swore at him too, but agreed to do just that. Then Colt and Jacey disappeared from the area.

abbey and Oram laid back on the gurneys where they were, trying to rest, but that rest was short lived. There was some commotion at the doorway between the waiting room and the ER room itself.

"It would have been a few people. Come in with bullet wounds and such," the man threatened. "I'm especially interested if a woman with a tattoo on her back came in here. The tattoo is in chinese and means 'Home'."

abbey's eyes widened as she pulled back the curtain just a touch to look out. There they stood, trying to push themselves in. Some orderlies and security guards were blocking their way, but weapons were quickly drawn.

"Siringo," she whispered. She started removing the IV from her arm as she turned to Oram. "Slavers. They've come looking for us. We have to get out of here."

She hopped off the bed and stealthily grabbed a wheelchair that was sitting next to their area. She helped Oram into it, grabbed their clothes and placed them in Oram's lap. She glanced down at the file that was barely showing out from underneath her pillow and paused to think of what to do with it. Deciding to leave it behind and with a considerable amount of shoulder pain, she pushed Oram out of their makeshift room. Mobbex must have heard them too, because he slid up behind them and took over for pushing Oram.

"We have to warn the others," abbey whispered to them as they quickened their pace, turned a corner and moved down a hallway.

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Colt, Sky, Jacey and Stan's three friends stood next to a holoimage that was being projected of Stan's injuries. The surgeon was giving them the run down.

"When we got in to repair the damage, we found more here... here... and here," he said as he pointed to the spots on the holoimage.

"What does that mean?" Colt asked.

"That means that we had to put him in a coma to make sure that he didn't jar anything before it had time to heal some."

"What does that mean?" Colt asked again.

The surgeon sighed.

"Any kind of jarring could undo the repairs we did."

"So what do we have to do? We have a doc on board. We just have to keep him still for a while?"

"No, Captain," the surgeon said in a condescending tone. "That means he won't be leaving here for at least two weeks and then he'll have extensive rehab to do."

Colt swore as he turned around to Sky, his mind looking for a solution.

"Any thoughts?" he asked her quietly. She shook her head.

"I just know we don't have that much coin," she said.

"You think?"

"You'll have to leave him behind," the older man of Stan's friends said. "We will care for him."

Not having any other choice in the matter, Colt nodded.

"You tell Joey Li that I expect regular updates on his condition," Colt ordered him. "And make sure that Stan knows that when he is able and willing, he is still a member of my crew and we'll come get him."

"Of course. It will be done as you say," the older man agreed.

"Now I don't know you from Adam, so I am taking a big leap here. Don't make me regret this, dong ma?" Colt warned as he pointed his finger at the three.

"Dang ran," the man reassured him.

Colt took a deep breath in as a hospital worker anxiously came up to Jacey and excitedly whispered into her ear.

"There is men with guns in the ER? And they are tearing the place apart?" she asked, almost not believing what she was being told. Colt and Sky's attention trained onto Jacey'e words. The worker went on to tell her more. "But I don't have a patient with a tattoo on her shoulder-"

"Chinese symbol for Home?" Colt interrupted. The worker nodded. Colt swore some more. "That's abbey. They've come looking for us. We need to get out of here."

"Who has come looking for you?" Jacey asked, slightly bewildered.

"Slavers," Sky said as she drew her gun, checking to make sure it was fully loaded.

"Keep Stan safe," Colt ordered the old man and his two companions. They nodded in agreement.

Colt drew his and checked his bullets as he pulled a comm from his pocket. He clicked the button on it a couple of times and waited. If he used his voice, he could have given their position away if they had avoided capture. A few seconds later, he received a similar answer.

"They're on the move," he announced as he turned to look at Jacey. "Where could they have gone if they could get out of the ER?"

"This way," Jacey called to them as she started running down the hallway. Sky and Colt started running too, following her lead.

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Colt and Sky followed Jacey though the maze of halls in the hospital. The employee only access areas she took them through would slow the slavers. Abbey and the others wouldn't have the same option.

Mobbex turned and drew his pistol as the sounds arguing slavers drew closer. Shadows could be seen moving closer to the hall they occupied. He had leveled his weapon at the end of the hall way when Abbey rammed him from behind with Orams wheel chair. The big man fell back on top of Oram. Both let out a grunt and Abbey shoved hard pushing them into the room beside them. Once inside Mobbex got to his feet and spun to see Abbey holding a finger to her lips.
He bit off the string of cuss words trying to escape his mouth.
Abbey leaned to the door and listened as the group of slavers and orderlies went by.

Mobbex: Gorramit girl. I could a took em.

Abbey: Yeah or gotten us killed. You want to play around with your life go ahead. Just don't do it around us.

She kneeled down next to Oram: You ok?

Oram: I either need more alcohol or fewer things causing me pain. (Eyeing Mobbex)

Mobbex: Hell she pushed me into you.


Jacey told them to wait in the hall as she searched the shuttle entrance to the ER. She returned quickly.

Jacey: No sign of them. I checked and they haven't been found yet.

Colt started to push past her but she stopped him.

Jacey: There's one watching the door.


Abbey lead the group around the final turn just in time to see Sky, wearing Dr. Garner’s coat, smash what she assumed was a slavers head into the wall he was leaning against. He went down like a sack of potatoes and Sky headed for the shuttle. She was about to call out to her when she saw Colt and Dr. Garner enter from a side door.

Colt: You made it.

He moved to hug her but caught himself.

Colt: Everyone ok?

Abbey: Be a lot better once we're out of here.

Colt turned to Jacey: Well Doc...

Oram: What?

Colt: Other Doc. Appreciate what you done for us. You had no call to stick your neck out for us.

Jacey: Tell you what. Next time half you crew is in need of medical help, go somewhere else and we'll call it even.

Both grinned and shook hands, then the crew headed for the shuttle.


Colt: Ok Sky get our people home. Mobbex and I will be along directly in the mule.

Mobbex: Huh? I...I aint so sure we shouldn't just skin outta here with them.

Colt: What? Leave the Mule? No...Much as I'd like to leave now, we need the mule. Port shuttle still busted up. Mules the only way we got to move goods.

Before Mobbex could come clean or come up with a better lie, Colt had headed off around the hospital towards the mule.
He heard the shuttle lift off behind him as he limped to catch up.


Colt stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the mule, or what was left of it. The large puddle growing under the engine, the small trail of smoke creeping out from under the hood. The flatten rim that barely had any tire remaining.

Colt: Juhguh Jee Hua jun kuhpah! How the hell did they know which mule was ours?

Mobbex: Whaaa...yeah...yeah those bastards. They must a had a look out. Someone saw me pull up. Sorry Colt.

Colt was contemplating calling the shuttle back when heard the voice behind him.

Booming voice: You can’t park that piece of gos se here.

Colt spun around and came face to chest with a bearded mountain. As he looked up to see the man face he noticed the tin star pinned to his vest. The man was huge. Half a head taller than Mobbex. The two bookends accompanying him weren't small either. They wore the similar badges.

Sheriff Sasquatch: You hear me mister?

Colt: Oh...this this piece of gos se. No...no this isn't ours. We were just passing by when we saw a bunch of guys pull up in this, yanked out some guns and ran into the hospital. Said something about getting the guy that ran em off the road or something like that *looking to Mobbex for support*

Mobbex: Yeah mean looking lot.


Sheriff Sasquatch: Come on boys. Lets git in there before something bad happens.

As s

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Siringo Estate

Getting updated information, Grayson arrived directly at the Siringo estate. He hated slavers. Had more than one of his loved one touched by slavers in one way or another.

The estate was abandoned. With bodies littering the tarmac and interior rooms, he knew Siringo wouldn't be back for a while. He'd let the authorities clean up the mess and after a bit, he'd slip back into this location and resume business as usual. It was common practice, especially as you moved further away from the Core. Granted Newhall was a border planet, but with the population so widely spread out (living on small island chains and floating ocean towns), it made the task of keeping slavers from repopulating their previous sites almost impossible.

Grayson walked up to the lead investigator, showed his credentials and started asking questions.

"What's the body count?" he asked.

"About a dozen give or take," the investigator said. "We've been through the 2nd and 3rd floor. One thing is that it all seems to be Siringo's people. Haven't seen anyone other than uniformed guards."

"Well, that's good," Grayson commented.

Another guard came up to the two of them, with a large CorePad in his hands.

"We have a feed on the whole thing," he announced as he turned it on.

Grayson moved so he could look over the shoulder of the lead investigator.

"Here's where it starts," he guard said.

What Grayson saw caused his mouth to go dry. Oram, abbey and an unknown man walk into the entryway.

"Rutting Hell," he whispered.

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When they docked her shuttle, everyone went their own way. abbey went out on the catwalk just outside her shuttle and waited. She waited for Colt and Mobbex to return. She wanted to get off this rock as fast as possible. The day's events were overwhelming.

Sky helped Oram to wherever she wanted to go before taking up guard at the door. She was armed and waiting for anything to go wrong, but hoping that the Captain and Mobbex would return without notice shortly.

Wash was waiting anxiously on the bridge. She was more than ready to leave Newhall. The planet had not done the crew any favors. They had in fact lost a member of the crew there. Although it was comforting that Stan was merely injured and was expecting to recover sooner or later.

Spots was in the engine room, making final repairs. Every once in a while he would stop and look at the file they had found with his sister's information in it. Just reading it gave him the renewed resolve to keep looking for her. The find had boosted his morale.

Brit was hovering at the entrance of the passenger dorms alternately looking out of the cargo bay doors and up at abbey. She had the most perplexed look on her face.

After a while, Colt and Mobbex finally arrived. They were riding of all things, a tandem bike. It was actually quite comical. She smiled as Sky closed the bay doors, hit the comm and announced to Wash that all crew members were aboard. abbey felt the ship take off almost immediately.

Still weary from the ordeal at the Estate and the time she spent in the water, she turned to retire to her shuttle. She closed and locked the door behind her and was heading to the bed, when she paused to look at herself in the mirror.

She looked at herself for the longest time. Finally, tears started to stream down her face. Things had gone wrong. Horribly wrong. And she didn't know how to fix it.

Stressed, exhausted and emotionally raw, she collapsed onto the bed, wrapped herself up in her blanket and sobbed.

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Abbey dried her tears and touched up her make up. She was tired, physically and mentally. She just wanted things to feel normal again. Or at least what past for normal on the Book.
She decided to go to the galley and get a something to eat.
She had just sat down to a bowl of warm soup when Colt walked into the room.

Colt: Hi Punkin.

Abbeys hands moved to her stomach instinctivly: What are you implying?

He spun a chair around backwards and straddeled it.

Colt: Huh? Nothing just trying out a new endearing nickname s'all. How ya feeling?


Abbey: Comparing me to a bloated goard is endearing?

Colt: Well I didn't mean it like...

Abbey: Why not tubby?

Colt standing back up: Easy now. I didn't mean To rub you the wrong way.

Abbey mumbeling to herself: We already rubbed the wrong way.

Colt: What was that?

Abbey: Nothing. Why don't we NOT talk right now.

Colt getting angry: Look I just came in to see how you were. Your acting like I came in poking you with a stick.

Abbey: I think you have poked enough (She stands and gets right in Colts face) I cannot believe this is happening.

Colt clueless: I cant either. Did Brit hold some kinda "How to be crazy" class I don't know about.

Abbey: Maybe she did. She just knew you didn't need it.

She grabbed her bowl, walked over to the recycler and dumped out the contents before tossing the bowl into the sink.

Colt utterly confused: How bout I go out, come back in and we try this again?

Abbey: I got a better idea. How bout I go out and just don't come back.

She pushed past Colt in a huff and headed out the door almost knocking Mobbex over as she leaves.

Mobbex to Colt: What ya do this time?

Colt: Nothing. Just walked in here and she lit into me.

Mobbex: You do have that way about you.

Colt shot Mobbex a look that the merc dismissed with a easy grin.

Colt walked past him and towards Abbeys shuttle: And to think I used to like this job.

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Colt entered abbey's shuttle unannounced.

"I didn’t say you could come in," she said flatly.

She turned her back to him, busying herself by straightening up the room. Colt thought that was odd since the place was as neat as a pin, even with the trip to the hospital a few hours ago.

"I didn’t plan on asking," he told her. "We have to talk."

"I'm not in the mood," abbey huffed, obviously avoiding him. She'd been fluffing the same pillow repeatedly.

"I could tell that," Colt answered. "I’m not an idiot."

abbey snorted at his comment. Colt went up to her and turned her to face him. He decided to get straight to the point.

"I don't know what is going on in your head, but I do know that whatever it is, I think I can help."

"I don’t want to talk about it right now," abbey said, pushing him away. "Not with anyone and most of all, not with you. I've had enough drama for the day."

"So this does have to do with me?" Colt surmised. When abbey didn't answer, he continued. "You know, I have done some pretty dumb things in the past when it has come to you, but I am sure as hell that this time I didn't cause it!"

abbey snorted again.

"You didn't cause it?"

"Yes. I'm sure!" Colt maintained.

"Whatever," abbey whispered as she kept fluffing the same pillow. "Just leave me alone."

Colt took the pillow from her hand and tossed it away from her.

"WHAT. IS. YOUR. PROBLEM?" he yelled at her.

"I THINK I'M PREGNANT!" abbey yelled back at him, moving a bit forward into his personal space.

She quickly clapped her hand over her mouth as they looked into each other’s eyes. Both of them fell silent and time seemed to come to a complete halt. Finally Colt came out of shock enough to ask a question.

"You wha-?"

"I think I'm pregnant," abbey said softly as she walked over and picked up the pillow he had tossed aside.

Colt stood rooted in place as he tried to process what she just said.

"You wha-?"

abbey went back to straightening things again, trying to busy herself, not wanting to see his reaction.

"I'm late," she explained.

Colt crossed the room and turned her to face him again.

"Define 'late'," he asked, getting more alarmed by the passing moment.

"Oh God, oh God, what have we done?" abbey answered, sarcastically.

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Quote:

---

Originally posted by abbeygirl:


"Define 'late'," he asked, getting more alarmed by the passing moment.

"Oh God, oh God, what have we done?" abbey answered, sarcastically.

---

Colt: ahhh.....so......your late......ahhh....

abbey nodded.

Colt: ahhh.....so......your late?

abbey nodded again.

Colt: ahhh.....so......your...

abbey: Do you think repeating it is going to change the outcome?

Colt leaned against the wall, his legs were having a hard time holding him up.
Colt: No..I suppose it won't...but your sure your late?

abbey: Your doing it again

Colt: Sorry...has the Doc checked you out?

abbey: I was...waiting.

Colt: Think that would change the outcome?

Abbey smiled: No I guess it won't.

Colt: Well let's go see it she's up to checking you over.

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OOC: Made colors for everyone involved in the post for easier reading.

Colt made his way down to the infirmary with abbey in tow. He looked around, expecting Oram to be there, but she wasn’t.

“She’s wouldn’t be here, Colt,” abbey reminded him.

“Why the Hell not?” he asked with a frantic edge to his voice. “I’m paying her to be the doc on this boat!”

“She was injured pretty bad at the Estate. Let’s check her room.”

“Yeah,” Colt said quietly. “Injured. I guess there is that.”

They went to Oram’s room and she was indeed there, but she was sleeping. They entered and Colt closed the door behind them.

“Doc? We need a little help from you,” Colt said to her. Oram snored a bit and didn’t answer him. “Doc?”

Oram stirred, but went back to sleep.

“DOC!” Colt yelled at her while slapping her foot. Her foot fell off the bed with a thud and she roused while Colt peeked out the door, checking the hallway for passers by.

“What?” Oram asked, her speech slightly slurred by pain medication, plus being brought out of a nice slumber. Oram looked up and eyed the couple. They both looked a little green. “What’s up?”

“We need your help with something,” abbey told her.

“Not feeling well?”

“You could say that,” Colt said as abbey turned and glared at him. He saw her and looked down at the floor.

“Spill it. I can use a distraction,” Oram spoke, regarding the two a little closer. Then she added sarcastically. “Oh wait… I was sleeping. That was a distraction.”

abbey took a deep breath before answering.

“I’m late,” she admitted, looking down at the floor.

“What? I couldn’t hear you,” Oram asked, sitting up a little straighter.

“I’m late,” abbey said a little louder.

In shock, Oram sat up all the way, wincing as she did.

“You’re what?”

“Gorram it, doc!” Colt impatiently exclaimed. “We think she’s pregnant!”

“You’re what?” Oram repeated, still shocked. “How did this happen?”

“You’re the doctor,” abbey glared. “I hope I don’t have to explain the mechanics to you.”

“You two?” Oram started giggling as she pointed back and forth between the two.

“Doc, no need to discuss our relationship right now…” Colt started.

“We have a relationship?” abbey questioned, turning to him.

Colt motioned towards her stomach.

“Isn’t that obvious given the reason why we are visiting the good doctor?”

abbey glared at him again.

“Aren’t you on the shot?” Oram asked, breaking the tension with medical questions.

“Yes,” abbey answered.

“It can happen,” Oram confirmed. “There are reported cases where people have become pregnant on the shot.”

“They should tell people about that,” Colt mumbled. Oram and abbey ignored his remark.

“How late are you?”

“About four weeks.”

Oram looked at abbey, a little annoyed that abbey had been hiding it that long.

“Is that bad?”

Both abbey and Oram gave him a dirty look.

“How you feeling?”

“Nauseous. Tired. Moody. A bit dizzy at times,”

“Is that bad?” Colt asked again, earning him another loo

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( sorry guys my internet was down)



*** starts up the engines , hits the comm***

everyone one board? Were to capt?


*** thinks to myself what the hell took them so long.***





I am a leaf on the wind

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In Oram's Bedroom

abbey suddenly stood up.

"How can this be happening?" she asked aloud.

"We don't know if anything is happening," Colt answered, still clutching to the hope that the test would be negative.

"But the home tests... Jesus, Colt! I took twelve of them!"

"Let's not jump to any conclusions yet-"

"TWELVE OF THEM, COLT!"

The room got unnaturally silent for a minute before abbey spoke.

"I can't deal with this right now," she said as she started towards the door.

Colt caught her by the wrist and stood up.

"We're gonna have to. One way or t'other."

abbey looked up into his eyes.

"It will complicate things."

"Well, when our whole thing started I told you it would be complicated," Colt reminded her.

He didn't know that she wasn't talking about their relationship, she was talking about her past. Right now, she was so freaked out that she entertained the thought of calling Grayson, but decided that she would wait for confirmation and then deal with it.

"But then again," Colt continued. "When I was talking about complicated, I was thinking more along the lines of the crew finding out and being the subject of numerous jokes at our expense."

That actually got a smile out of abbey. Colt let go of her wrist and instead took her hand in his.

"Like I said. I'll be there every step of the way, no matter what."

The tenseness and emotion of this situation, combined with the ordeal from the Estate, was getting to her. She couldn't think. And he was being so nice to her. Her eyes traced from their hands up his arm.

Those arms. She thought back to all the times when he held her with them: when they had been kidnapped and she nearly died during a drug induced asthma attack, the port shuttle the first time they were together and all the other times...

Her eyes moved up to his. She couldn't think and she could barely breathe now.

"Are you OK?" he asked, a concerned look furrowing his brow.

She didn't know why she did it, but she did. She launched herself into his arms and kissed him. She might have been horribly embarassed by the lack of focus on their current situation if it weren't for the fact that Colt wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back.

Then they heard Oram shuffling back towards them. Quickly they parted.

"Um... Sorry..." abbey started. "I didn't mean..."

"Yeah... Well..." Colt stammered.

Before Oram returned, they sat back down in their original position, their finger's relacing through the other's to wait for what could possibly be the most important news of their lives.

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*muttering to herself about being woken from her sleep, Oram shuffled to a nearby cortex link and sent a wave to Dr Garner’s office. Shifting a yawn and the fuzziness that came with the headache Oram curled herself more into the seat as she waited for the Doctor to answer. After a moment or two, she did just that.*

Jacey *eyes widening*: What are you doing up? You should be resting.

*Oram shrugged to herself, and shifted a yawn.*

Oram: I was, but then I was told to get up and wave you. Did you run a pregnancy test on Abbey when we were there?

Jacey *ruffles through paperwork*: Yes, but I don’t think she even looked at it. We found it shoved under the pillow on the gurney she was on.

Oram: Well, they’re ready to hear the results now.

Jacey: They?

Oram: Her and the Captain.

Jacey: I knew it! One look at those two fighting and I knew it had to be him. Then again, my judgment has been a little off; I also thought he was a slaver who was trying take the two of you away.

Oram started to laugh, but it hurt.

Oram: You thought wha-? Ow… No laughing, that hurts.

Jacey: But after that, I knew just by the way the talked that it was him.

*Oram thought back to past encounters between Abbey and the Captain and wondered how none of them onboard ever caught on. There were times when Oram had suspicions, but nothing concrete.*

Oram: Well what were the results?

Jacey: I never looked. I wanted her to do that. I’ll have records send them over to you though.

Oram *fidgeting painfully*: OK. I’ll be waiting.

*Oram ended the wave and sat gingerly on a nearby chair. A baby would really change Abbey’s life. And Colt’s. If Abbey ever had to relocate in a hurry, it would make things very complicated. Oram knew that if Abbey was indeed pregnant, she would have to call Grayson so he would be able to anticipate any needs that might arise. She wasn’t looking forward to making that phone call, but it still had to be done. Grayson was going to have a hissy fit.*

*Oram heard the chime of the wave arriving. She pressed the print button and waited for it to print. Without looking at it, she carried it back to her room where the couple sat.*

Oram *holding up the report*: I have the results.

*Abbey and Colt stand to hear the results. Abbey’s hand gripped Colt’s.*

Abbey *hopeful*: Well?

*Oram looks down at the report, then up at them, then back at the report.*

Colt *impatiently*: Gorram it, Doc! What’s it say?

*Oram smiled as she looked Colt full in the face.*

Oram: Well, Daddy-

*That’s all she got out before he turned white as a sheet and passed out on the floor. Abbey looked down at him, burst into tears and ran out of the room.*

Oram *yelling after Abbey*: Wait!

She looked down at Colt and quickly ascertained that he’d be OK. Knowing that she was in no condition to run after the pregnant gamer, she lay down on her bed and waited for Colt to wake up.

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*** hears abbey crying as she runs towards the cockpit to her bunk at the same time she hears a Big thud. puts the book on auto pilot and runs down to oram office***


What in 神名字
happened in here???


***notices the capt on the floor. picks him up and lays him on orams ocuch .***


Damn oram what did you tell him??? what happened???


*** brit comes in with the bobcat and sits down ****


holy shi oram are you ok what happened planet side?

I am a leaf on the wind

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Colt woke up to Wash holding smelling salt under his nose.

Colt: What...where...

Wash: Oram said you were ok just past out.

Colt looked at Oram who had returned to her bunk.

Oram: I didn't get around to why you past out. Not yet.

Colt: See that you dont. (turning to Wash) You supposed to flying?

Wash: Hey, I was just concerned bystander but this does seem to have a greater potential for laughs.

Colt got up off the ground and saw Brit was in the room as well.

Colt: If everyones finished staring at me on the floor, where's Abbey?

Oram: She went to her shuttle Romeo.

Colt headed towards the door when Brit stepped in front of him.

Brit: What you think you know isn't whats factual. Reality and perception are mixed and tangled.

Colt: Might want a sniff of those salts yourself little one...your babbling (moving past her)


Colt stood outside abbeys shuttle talking to his self. "I don't think passing out instilled a lot of confidence, but you got nothing to worry over." He shook his head "That passing out thing...I was just caught off guard is all"

Colt opened the door and went inside.

Colt: Abbey? I just thought we should talk.

He looked over at the empty bed. He heard what sounded like crying coming from the cockpit. He went inside to see abbey curled up in the pilots seat with her arms wrapped around her legs.

Colt: You planning on flying somewhere?

Abbey: If I was was would you even be awake?

Colt: abbey I was just...taken back a little. Not like it will happen again.

Abbey: You get in shootouts, crew bleeding all over, stand down slavers and alliance a like without blinking but the second you find out about your a father and you pass straight out.

Colt: Hey your not taking it that well either.

Abbey got out of the chair and stormed back to her room. Colt followed.

abbey: Your right I'm not taking well. Did you not hear what I just said. Bullets, slavers, blood. How am I supposed to take it?

Colt: This life ain't one you complained about before.

abbey: Thats because we chose this life. I can't bring up a child like this.

Colt: I? Think you mean we darlin. Or do I not have a say in that?

Abbey: Look around you Colt. If it wasn't for my lease money you would have been grounded a long time ago.

Colt: Oh so now I'm not a good provider?

abbey sarcasticly: Noooo if I ever need trouble I know right where to come. But just what was our take on the last heist?

Colt: You mean the the extremely dangerous heist that you willing went on, even though you thought you might be pregnant?

Abbey glared at Colt: GET OUT

Colt: Gladly. If you come around to being senseable I'll be in my bunk.

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OOC: Sorry about the epicness... But you know...

---

Abbey stormed out of the shuttle after him.

“Now you’re running away?” she yelled. “Is this how it’s going to be?”

Colt stopped on the catwalk, spun and tromped back up to her.

“What?” he asked incredulously. “YOU threw ME out!”

“And you went all too easily,” she countered angrily. During the next few seconds of silence, she clenched her jaw a bit. Her eyes watered up and she finished in a softer voice. “I guess that tells me what I need to know, doesn’t it?”

She looked at him in an accusatory tone.

“I gave you a test and you didn’t pass. You only did what I told you to,” she informed him. “I can pay for someone to do that.”

“That’s not fair.”

“No, it isn’t,” she agreed. “A child should have more than that for a father.”

With that, she spun on her heel and went into the shuttle, shut the door and locked it. Colt stood there for a moment, seething from anger, before stalking off to his bunk to think.

When abbey got inside, she heard the chime of an incoming wave. She wiped the tears from her eyes and hastily answered it. She was greeted by the face of Grayson Cornwell.

“What in the Hell is happening? I just saw you and Oram on footage placing you smack dab in the middle of a slaver operation. Are you both rutting stu–” he started before he was cut off.

“Not now Grayson,” she simply said. She disconnected the feed. Another chime sounded with a new incoming wave. Grayson again. She answered it again.

“Don’t you disconnect me like that again–” he started, his face contorted in anger.

“Grayson,” she said, taking in a deep breath. “Did we not have this discussion already?”

“I am quite sure we have not discussed your choice of visitation…” his words fell on deaf ears as her mind wandered.

Visitation.

It wouldn’t be fair to cut Colt completely out. He should be able to visit his child. Get to know them. Maybe even spend some time on the Book – dirtside of course – with them. What she had said to Colt was unfair. She’d had weeks to think about the possibilities. She had gone and given him a “test” when he had barely an hour’s worth of notice.

“abbey!” Grayson’s voice boomed out at her. “Are you listening to me?”

She focused on Grayson’s face for a moment and re-emphasized what she had told him during their last discussion.

“Grayson, as you see, I am fine. Oram is fine too,” she told him. “I don’t need your permission to go anywhere. And as for you, I told you the last time we talked that I would call YOU if I were in trouble.

“I’m not, so I am wondering why you are bothering me and not one of your other charges. Let me make this abundantly clear to you. I will contact YOU. Not the other way around. Get used to it. Don’t wave me again.”

With that she disconnected the feed again and turned the chime down so it wouldn’t be heard. Colt wandered back into her head. Thinking for just a second, she opened her drawer, grabbed out a bag of coin and raced out. When she arrived outside his bunk, his door was closed, so she had to knock.

“Can I come in?” she asked as nice as she could.

The hatch opened, but he didn’t say anything. She climbed down and found him at the bottom of the ladder, hand out to assist her onto the floor. Once she was there, he closed the hatch back, parted from her and retreated to the other side of the room.

“What do you want?” he asked as he poured himself a drink.

“I… uh… I brought my rent to you. It’s due soon,” she said as she held out the bag of coin to him.

“Not due for another month,” he said as he looked at her strangely.

“Oh… well…” she stammered. She tossed it at him anyway. “Just… uh… take it.”

“You being sensible now?” he asked as he studied her some more, half wanting to talk about the situation calmly, half wanting to throttle her.

“I’ve had a while to ponder on this whole thing.”

“Yes, you have,” he agreed. He looked at his watch. “I’ve had… 46 minut

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*** trying really hard not to laugh i turn to ORam***



So why did our capt pass out so nicely of the floor for?

*** oram Looks at me shrugs her shoulders ,wince after she does it.***


oram - that will be up to them to say as to why.

Wash- I just hope it is nothing to serious.



***i turn to brit brit ***


hey sweety want to help me in the cockpit you and the little one can both come if you want?

I am a leaf on the wind

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Dr. Jacey Garner was at the end a very long shift and she was finishing up the paperwork from the day.

“abbey Road,” she whispered, chuckling to herself. Did the captain give that name to cover her identity or did he really not know what her last name was? If it was the latter, it was a little comical due to the fact that the couple were on their way to becoming parents and didn’t know the simplest of details about one another. “abbey Road. How lame is that?”

“abbey Road?” a man’s voice questioned, coming her direction. “Did you have a patient by the name of abbey today?”

“If I did, I wouldn’t tell you,” Jacey said as she studied this man. His dress was impeccable, obviously core bred and wealthy. He didn’t look like the locals that were taking care of Stan, he didn’t look like one of Colt’s crew and he definitely did not look like a slaver. “Just for the record, who are you?”

“My name is Grayson Cornwell with Allied Law Enforcement,” he introduced himself as he flashed her his badge. “I am looking for a woman named abbey who may have come through here. I am also looking for one called Oram. I know that a third crew member, Stan, is definitely here and has been admitted, so we can drop the pretenses of that doctor/patient thing.”

“Pretenses?” Jacey retorted. “Doctor/Patient confidentiality is not a pretense. It is a part of the job.”

“So Colt and his merry men did come through here,” Grayson surmised, giving her a smug smile. “What was their condition?”

It didn’t take a genius to catch the definite disdain Grayson had for Colt… and a bit a jealousy.

“I’m not saying they were or were not,” countered Jacey, standing her ground. “And if they were, I’d certainly never discuss anything with you without their permission.”

“I could get a warrant for their records,” he threatened. “They could be admitted as evidence of a crime.”

“You could try,” Jacey told him.

Grayson looked at her with venom. He was very close to finding them and this woman was standing in his way.

“I have been charged to track down those miscreants and this only stonewalls my efforts,” Grayson said narrowing his eyes at her. “Perhaps I should have you bound on the charge of obstruction.”

“Listen, lawman,” Jacey told him, now getting a little agitated. “I’m not saying anything and until I see a warrant in your hands, you will get out of my ER, stop lobbing around threats that you can’t back up and go make yourself useful elsewhere.”

Grayson was a stubborn man, but Jacey was just as stubborn as he. Grayson knew she was right about him having her bound. He has no cause and doing that would land him in deep go se with the upper brass. He set his jaw and glared at her.

“Where’s the waiting room?”

Jacey pointed back towards the entrance, raised her eyebrows and motioned him to leave.

Oh, boy, she thought as Grayson stomped towards the waiting room. I better hang around until he is gone.

She didn’t know the Book’s crew very well, but she could tell they were each immensely loyal to each other and that kind of endeared them to her. Nope, she was going to stay around to stall this guy as long as possible. If she left, he could easily threaten a staff member who was less fearless than she.



Like Firefly? Like online role playing? If so, check out these two forums: bigdamnverse.net and theverseonline.com.

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Grayson sat in the waiting room of Vanteel Medical Facility's Emergency Triage Area. It had picked up a little, a couple of sick people came in to be treated, along with an injury or two. It wasn't anything near being busy, but a man came and sat directly next to Grayson. After a couple of minutes, the man turned to Grayson.

"Does this look infected to you?" he asked shoving his hand with a nasty looking sore on it into his face.

It did look infected and Grayson grimaced at it before batting the man's hand away. He stood up, left the area and waited by the door. Impatiently, he checked his watch every few minutes, but finally smiled when he saw an officer come in holding the warrant he was waiting for. Grayson thanked the guy, sent him off and walked through the doors that led into the treatment area of the ER. Looking to the side, he spotted Dr. Garner, who merely looked like she was waiting.

Grayson stalked up to her, thrust the warrant towards her and smiled smugly.

"I told you I would get a warrant," he smirked.

"I had no doubt that you would," she answered, surprising Grayson a little. "I just stayed around to make sure you went through proper channels before you violate their rights to keep their medical records sealed."

"Well, since you are still here, you can be my interpreter."

Jacey rolled her eyes and led Grayson into a room with a records terminal.

"Now show me everything," Grayson told her. "And I mean everything."

Jacey frowned, but brought up Stan's records first. Grayson reviewed them, asking a couple of questions as he went.

"He's critical, correct?" he asked.

"Yes, but he'll live. And he'll have a long road to recovery. He's had surgery to repair damaged done here *points at screen*, here *points again* and here," she explained. "He won't be waking up anytime soon, so don't even bother trying to interrogate him. Plus, they didn't like it when they had to leave him here."

"I'm sure they didn't," Grayson grumbled under his breath. He moved on to Oram's record. He pointed at a lab test that was performed. "What's this?"

"Tox screen," Jacey answered. "Apparently, the good doctor tried to self medicate and was a little bit off in her calculations. Nearly took enough pain meds to kill herself."

"I see alcohol listed here as well," Grayson stated.

"Apparently, self medication of a different kind," Jacey mused.

Grayson shook his head. He had hoped Oram was past that, but he guessed he was wrong. He made a mental note to speak to her about it later.

"She was banged up a bunch, but we fixed her up good. She'll be laid up for a couple of weeks, but she'll heal," Jacey summarized. She thought about the fact that Oram had already called her about abbey. "I'm sure she'll be up to doctor duty in no time."

Grayson nodded and moved on to abbey's file.

"Dislocated shoulder, dehydration and exhaustion were her problems," Jacey informed him. She hoped that he didn't see the lab report on the bottom. Stuff like a pregnancy test should be for the eyes of the people involved only. "We rehydrated her and reduced the shoulder. She had improved greatly by the time she walked out of here."

"Good," Grayson said as he scanned down the record. He looked up at Jacey. "See that wasn't so bad, was it?"

"I still don't have to like it."

"I supposed not," he agreed. "The Captain have any injuries?"

"He didn't come in with any," Jacey said, skirting the issue. Due to her involvement, the Captain acquired some while he was there.

"Figures," Grayson muttered again. He reached up to turn off the monitor, but paused when he looked at the screen. To Jacey's dismay, he clicked to open the lab report. He seemed to read it over and over and over. It even looked like the color had drained from his face. "She's pregnant?"

"Yes," Jacey confirmed.

"How far along?"

"We estimate her to be at 8 or 9 weeks."

Jacey watched as she saw Grayson's jaw clench, his face start turning a bit red ad the vein on his temple pulse. Was he a

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*Everybody had finally left her alone. Settling herself under her own warm covers, Oram let her exhausted mind begin to wander before she fell unconscious.*

Wash: Oram!

*She ignored the pilot.*

Wash: DOC!!!

Oram *thoroughly pissed*: WHAT??!!

Wash: You awake?

Oram: What the hell do you think?

Wash: I think I have a WAVE for you. Sending it to the infirmary for you.

Oram *as she slowly gets up, her whole left side and back cramping from the pain*: Tian xiz shou you de ren dou gai si . *flicks on the screen to see Grayson, but doesn’t take him too seriously, rubbing her eyes and yawning* Hey, Grayson, what’s up?

Grayson: What’s up? Would you care to tell me why I came here to look into some disturbance at the estate of some slave traders and when I accessed the video feed, I was greeted with the image of you and abbey walking in like nothing was amiss?

Oram *to herself in sarcasm*: Oh, go se. This is going to be a joyous chat.

Grayson: I want to know how it came to be that I saw you with a gun at the guards and actually shooting a couple?

Oram *shrugs to herself, rather pleased with that feat*: I’m getting better?

Grayson *thoroughly pissed*: THIS ISN’T FUNNY!! And I also want to know why a gun that was proven to kill 6 men was found on the floor with abbey’s prints all over it.”

Oram: We had a job to do, Grayson. And it needed done.

Grayson: Look at yourself! You got injured! Do I need to remind you what could have happened? You both could have gotten killed… or worse! Did you know there was a ship en route to make a special pick up?

Oram *this gets her attention*: Special pick up?

Grayson: Yes. Apparently someone was caught that was reported to have known Catherine.

Oram *to herself*: Ohhh, crap.

Grayson: And if they found out, how long do you think it would have been before they were on your tail too. Abbey might be in the forefront of his mind, but you are right up there with her. *Gives the young woman a pointed look* He wants you found. He thinks you were a part of the whole thing.

Oram *situation dawning on her fast*: A part of it? Grayson, I was twelve when it all went down. How could I have been a part of it?

Grayson: He’s not exactly rational, which makes him dangerous. But then again, neither of you are acting exactly rational either.

Oram: We are, just in our own way.

Grayson: Yeah, sure you are. When I told abbey that you needed a job and she immediately jumped on the chance to have you there on the Book, I thought that her presence would have had a calming effect. I thought that you had given up the idiotic and slightly suicidal choices you had been exhibiting after what happened with Geoff and Daniel. It just goes to show.

*The mention of those two made Oram’s face darken, as well as reopened some wounds that were still raw. She started to open her mouth, when he continued his tirade.*

Grayson: And I find out about her condition when I went poking around at the hospital? Were you gonna tell me?

Oram: Not my place. And it wasn’t your place to be poking around her records either.

Grayson *snorting*: It sure as Hell is my place. It’s my place to keep you both safe. In the past couple of months, I’ve come to expect it from her. But you? I wasn’t expecting that. It’s that rutting captain, isn’t it? All of this has been his doing. If I ever get my hands on that hun dan, I’m gonna… *Grayson’s voice trailed off. He shuffled some papers on his desk in front of him.* Both of you need to get your bags packed. When I catch up to you, you’re getting relocated. I’m not taking ‘no’ for an answer this time. Do you understand me?

Oram *doesn’t even argue*: Whatever boss-man. Look, I’ve been woken the last 2 or so times I've tried to sleep, so I'm going now.

*Before he can reply, Oram turns off the WAVE. She goes to her room, gets a pillow and blanket then heads for a hidden area where no one will even think to find her. Mobbex’s bunk.*

Oram *opens Mobbex'

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Their clothes had come off faster than either of them imagined possible, so they were literally thrown around the room. Their actions had been frenzied, brought on by the stress of everything that had happened and now they lay side by side in Colt’s bed, both drenched in sweat and out of breath.

Colt: That was…

Abbey: I know…

Colt rolled over and awkwardly put his hand on her stomach.

Colt: So… A baby… In there…

Abbey *as her hand covered his*: Yes.

Colt just stared at her stomach like it was going to do something like get up and dance. abbey closed her eyes and took a deep breath as realization of their very recent antics dawned on her.

Abbey *as she swatted his hand away*: Jesus Christ! *she climbed over top of him and started searching for her clothes.* I can’t believe you!

Colt *sitting up*: Wha? Can’t believe who?

Abbey *very slowly as if she was talking to a child*: I. Can’t. Believe. You.

Colt: What did I do?

abbey snorted.

Abbey: You took advantage of me!

Colt *swinging his feet to the floor*: Advantage? Advantage when?

Abbey *yelling*: RIGHT NOW! *she turned around to face him.* We just had sex!

Colt: I believe I was there. *A smile played across his face.* And it was fantastic!

Abbey: Fantastic? How could you?

Colt: What? Be fantastic?

She groaned in frustration as she found her shirt and hastily slid it on.

Colt: What is wrong with you?

Abbey *huffing*: You took advantage of my… condition! That was low. Even for you!

Colt: What? You act like…*the full meaning crossed his mind.* Hey! I didn’t take advantage! I fully remember you being a vital participant! Especially when you… *another smile came over his face*

A boot flew across the room and hit him in the shoulder.

Colt: OW! What was that for?

Abbey *angry*: For being… being… Argh! You make me so mad!

Colt *yelling back*: Feeling’s mutual, punkin’!

abbey moved so she was standing toe to toe with him.

Abbey: You knew I was vulnerable! I’m pregnant for God’s sake!

Colt: I am quite aware that you’re pregnant! What difference does that make now anyway?

Abbey *flustered*: There’s… there’s hormones… and… and… I can’t be held responsible! *pauses the accuses him further* “You lured me into bed!”

Colt *voice a little higher than normal*: Lured? You basically shoved me! There was definitely no luring. I. Did. Not. Lure.

Abbey: Well, you should have known better! You should have…

Colt: Been the voice of reason?

Abbey: YES!

Colt *surprised*: Now you want me to be the voice of reason?

Abbey *completely emotional*: YES!

abbey leaned down, grabbed her skirt and slid it on.

Colt *trying to understand*: And my reasoning should have said…

Abbey: You should have stopped this! We don’t need to be doing this! This confuses things!

Colt reached out and pulled her towards him. She was getting too upset.

Colt *quietly*: Calm down abbey. Everything will be OK.

She looked up at him until she found herself staring into his eyes. They stood there for a couple of seconds before they slowly kissed again. Once. Twice. Three times.

Then Colt felt her boot stomp down on top of his foot. He screamed out in pain and she pushed him backwards, landing him on his rear end.

Abbey *screaming*: THAT’S WHAT I MEAN! ADVANTAGE!

She made her way quickly to the ladder, found her other boot, slid it on and tromped up and out of Colt’s cabin.

Colt stood up, gingerly walked back to the bed and climbed in.

Colt *grousing*: Maybe if I go to sleep, I’ll wake up and it’ll all be a dream. ‘Cause if I have to deal with this kind of thing for the next few months, I’m gonna die.

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*** puts the ship on auto pilot and heads to the galley to get somehting to eat. over hears capt and abbey shouting at each other.****


What the heck!?! Who drank all my Gorram tea!!

*** turns around and sees brit brit making a map of the shipe using my tea leaves. i walk up and look at it. noticing how detailed it is.****


What are you doing brit brit? that lookslike our ship , you are doing a great job.

* brit - well we have to make room it won't be long we need room.


room for what sweety (as i squat down next to her) what is wrong?

*brit- they are small and wiggle they cry so many thoughts then none at all. no time .....

( mumble to her self. )

*** i turn and get a glass of water instead and head back towards the bridge , when I go to check on oram***

you ok doc? if you get a chance you might want to go check on brit brit she is talking gibberish and she is using my tea to make a map of the ship.









I am a leaf on the wind

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(Spots in his room, lays down for a nap. he begins to dream)

[Spots finds himself in a white hallway only the buzz florescent lights filling his ears]

Spots: Hello???

[only echos]

Spots: Anybody???

Girls voice :Spots (echos along the hall)

Spots: Izzy?? Where are you (Spots now running down the hall trying to find a door)

Isabel: Here (very calm and cold)

Spots: Where here ....where are you?(with increasing panic in his voice)

Isabel: Here here

Spots: Izzy!!!! (Spots thrashing wildly pounding on the walls)

[Spots waking in a cold sweat finding he was punching at noting but air, tries to steady his heart. rising to splash water on his face he looks up the latter to find the faces of Sky,Wash, and Brit staring very concerned at him]

Spots; what?

Sky: son your were screaming like a man possessed.

Spots: just a dream

Brit; No dream, you lost something you cant find.

Spots; quite you, I gave my word to find her and by god I will.

Wash: well as long as your ok, the main spring has come lose again could you get that for me

Spots: (grabbing the Wrench) sure thing wash.

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They had stopped on some backwater moon for some needed repairs. Things went badly from the start. It all ended with a full out argument with the parts dealer in town. He was trying to squeeze them for every last coin they had and they didn't have much. After things settled, they did get the parts they needed, but Colt also got himself landed in the local jail.

Hazel Rock Jail

Colt watch the two deputies playing checkers from behind bars, just as he had done the last 3 days. Neither man was particulaly good at checkers and each had a habit they enjoyed so much Colt had decided to give them nick names.

Colt: How bout you hurry up over there.

Deputy nose picker: Hush up. I'm trying to think.

Deputy butt scratcher: Boss said we had to kick you loose today. Didn't say we had to stop our game to do it.

After they had complete their game Colt was processed and released.

He had been locked up for 3 days in what past for a jail in the small town of Hazel Rock. He had made it clear to the crew to stay clear, confident that the magistrate would have to release him once they sweated him out for a few days.

Still it would have been nice if they had come picked him up after he was released. At least they couldn’t spend all the coin they had made on this little rock.

“Now they decide to listen to me.” Colt muttered to himself as he walked through the desert.

He had been walking for most of the day. He stopped and drained the last of the canteen he had filled before he left town. Sun would be going down in a couple of hours, he thought. He scanned the plateau that had come into view. The ship should be on the other side. He squinted, hoping to see someone making their way towards him. No such luck.

(later)

“What the hells going on here? Where’s my gorram shuttles?” He walks up the ramp and the stench almost drives him back outside. The cargo bay was turned upside down. The smell filling his nostrils was one he knew from the war. He drew his pistol and moved to the infirmary. The Doc was there, what was left of her. She lay naked on the floor of the infirmary, half of her head was stripped to the bone, making a gruesome grin. She had been gutted and her calf muscles cut from her legs. Colt fought the urge to heave and lost.

“The shuttle was gone. She had to get away” he said running up the steps. He fell to his knees when he saw her lifeless body. “Where are her arms?”

He moved room to room, stopping only long enough to identify the person or the body part left behind. He sat in his chair, numb. The headless corpse next to him was his pilots.

“Casey!” Colt jumped out of the chair. The images of the carnage fresh in his mind, Carol,gutted in the infirmary, Matty headless on the bridge, Serena…..Serena on the catwalk, Rory, jammed into the engine. Casey wasn’t here. Did the Reavers take him? No they don’t take prisoners.

“Casey” Colt shouted through the ship. He searched all the rooms again. Nothing.

Colt found him in one of the smugglers holds. He shined the torch on his bare back. “Casey…Casey its Colt. Come on out, their gone.” Casey turned towards the light and Colt recoiled as he saw the young cook chewing on what he could only assume was Serena’s arm. He tripped and fell to the catwalk. Everything moved in slow motion as he watched Casey lunge at him with a cooking knife...

Colt sat up in his bunk, dripping with sweat.

Wash: Captain did you hear me? You awake?

He keyed the comm.: Huh?

Wash: I said you might want to get up here. I got a ship changing course, looks like it’s following us.

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Grayson paced in the cockpit of his ship.

She's pregnant, he thought. What was she thinking about?

If he had to relocate her quickly, it was bound to be delicate, especially if it ended up being around her due date. The slavers had gotten way too close to her on Newhall. It would only have taken a close look by someone in the know to reveal her true identity. And if she was ever found out, she'd be dead or worse. He could picture her being turned into a slave herself and sold to the highest bidder.

And now there was a child to think about. Things had suddenly got more complicated. Way too complicated.

"She can't go through with this pregnancy," he muttered. "It's too dangerous. She's got to see that."

He sat down and waved his team.

"We need to finish up the relocation papers for case#GC3498A name is abbey. I also need to add a relocation request for case#GC3499Y name is Oram. Put them together," he explained. "Let's plan for a fast extraction, taking them by force if needed. Danger is at the highest level and subjects are unaware or unwilling to recognize their predictament."

He paused for a second, then added.

"And have a doctor standing by. One of them needs medical attention."

He disconnected the wave and paced a little more.

"She'll understand," he said aloud. "She's got to see that this cannot come to fruition."

He felt it was too dangerous for her and if she was ever found with a child, the fate of that child would be tragic.

Now... He just had to figure out where they had went.

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Colt quickly got dressed and ran to the cockpit.

Wash They're coming up from behind us.

Colt moving to the console: Gimme the vid.

What he saw behind them made his blood run cold.

Colt whispering: Ai ya! Women wanle.

Wash: What is it?

Colt: Reavers.

Colt walked over to the loadspeaker.

Colt: Sky and Mobbex. Come on up to the bridge. Ma shong.

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abbey was standing on the catwalk overlooking the cargo bay lost in thought about her and Colt's predictament when she heard the page for Sky and Mobbex.

That can't be good, she thought and started on her way up there too.

When she got to the foredeck, she saw Sky climbing out of her bunk just a few feet before her. abbey followed her up into the bridge.

"What are you doing here?" Colt asked her, slightly annoyed. "Did I call for you? Go back to your shuttle."

abbey was slightly taken aback at his deameanor. Hurt, she took a couple of steps backwards when she heard Wash speak.

"The Reavers are gaining on us," Wash said with a little anxiousness and fear in her voice.

"Reavers?" abbey asked, her hand slightly covering her mouth.

Colt ignored her.

"How far?"

"Almost at door knocking distance."

Colt looked backwards towards the foredeck and still didn't see Mobbex.

"Where in the Hell is Mobbex?"

abbey backpeddled into the foredeck and pounded on Mobbex's bunk hatch before kicking it open.

"Mobbex! Get up here!" she yelled. "We got Reavers!"

Sky leaned over and whispered into Colt's ear.

"I guess this is as good of time as any to tell you that I'm getting off at Ezra," she said. "That is if we don't become their main course tonight."

Colt just looked straight ahead and said nothing to her. He had more important things to think about right now; mainly abbey, their child and the intense need for him to save this crew like he couldn't with his last.
********************
Meanwhile, down in the engine room. Brit was watching Spots work as he did some basic maintenance.

"You should clean that contact there," she said pointing at a small piece that only worked when they were at hard burn.

"It's fine Brit," Spots told her.

"No. It's not. Clean it or we can't go to hard burn."

"It's fine Brit," he repeated.

With an annoyed look on her face, Brit reached around him and yanked out the contact component.

"See? Dirty," she showed him. "They're hungry."

"Yeah, I'm hungry too," Spots grumbled as he cleaned the component. To his chagrin, she was right.

"No. Not you," Brit said with a far off look. "They're hungry. We let them eat and no one will be able to help Issy."

Spots gaze snapped to Brit's.

"Hurry!" she pleaded.

He cleaned it well and slammed it back in place just as he heard abbey yelling for Mobbex and announcing they had Reavers on their tail. Spots and Brit both got up and ran for the bridge.


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Something had woken her…

Wincing in pain as her injuries reminded her not to sleep in a curled up position, Oram opened her eyes and looked around, monetarily confused of where the hell she was and why a foot was in her face.

“Mobbex!” someone screamed from above, “We got Reavers!”

At those words, Oram's blood ran cold. Oh, she'd heard about those monsters and what they did and didn’t want to find out if the tales and rumours of men gone wild on experiments were true.

With his name being screamed, the Merch jolted awake, stared at Oram in confusion for a few seconds, before racing up the ladder in only his boxer shorts. Following him as best as she could, Oram ignored the looks she got from the crew, especially Abbey and took a deep breath as she stood just behind Mobbex as they took in the situation.

It certainly wasn’t her fault she was only wearing a red tank top that had crawled up her side, exposing her injured back and skin, with rumpled purple sleeping shorts that had also decided to try escape by climbing upwards.

Blinking, she tried to assess the situation. Where they going to run? Hide, or was the Doctor going to have to be forced to do the unthinkable to the crew as the monsters brayed for their blood at the front door…

She really wished Abbey would stop looking at her like that though.

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Mobbex jerked awake as he heard the combination of his name with the word Reavers. He then noticed Oram in his bed. He wondered how much he had to drink the night before, but dismissed any kindof sexual activities since he still had his boxers on and she still had a modest amount of clothing on too. Later, he'll have to ask her what the rutt she was doing in his bunk.

Not really waiting to get dressed, Mobbex scrambled up the ladder just wearing his boxers. When he got to the bridge, he looked down at the vid and saw the danger behind them.

"Rutting hell, as if'n our last day or two couldn't get any worse..."

Then he heard a voice from behind him.

"They're hungry," Brit stated matter of factly.

Mobbex turned and looked at her.

"You think?"

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Wash: Captain their closing on us. What are we doing?

Mobbex: I’ll tell ya what we’re doing we’re getting the hell out of here.

Colt checks the screens again: No we can’t out run em. *he goes to place a comm to Spots but notices the whole crew on the bridge. He takes a double look at Mobbex and wonders why he just has his boxers on* Spots get to the engine room. We may need some on the fly modifications. Sky, go help him. *Turning to Wash* Let them get in closer.

Wash: Closer?

Mobbex: Closer! You’re going to get us all killed.

Colt moved close to the big merc and spoke softly: You don’t get it? We were dead the minute they turned in after us. Might be able to buy some time dancing around them but we can’t outrun them. We ain’t got the guns to shoot em down. Now listen. Time comes they have us I want you to take Brit, Abbey and the Doc and cut loose in Abbeys shuttle. Sky and I will hold them as long as we can but you got no place you can reach from here with the shuttles range. Maybe they chase you maybe they dont, but if they catch up to you….you make sure those animals don’t get my crew alive. Sky and I will do the same for Wash and Spots.

Mobbex stepped back and swallowed hard before answering. I’ll take care of it Captain.

Wash: You wanted them closer Captain. Their right on top of us.

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Running back to the engine room each step sounding like thunder in his head, because he knew the consequences of what he was about to do.

In the engine room his hand became a flurry of switches, dials, and connections. than his eyes fell on the button, it was about the size of his palm. Over it he had put a yellow sticky note that read "if all hell brakes"

Spots "over the com" : Captain I need to show you something back here.

{In moments Colt arrives}

Colt: what is it?

Spots: it looks like your gona put up a fight, i had this rigged for a while now (points to the button) but I never thought it would get used.

Colt; Spots i need plan speak here we're kinda busy

Spots: you mash that button and boom. it works on the same Principal of the burn, but instead of shooting the explosion out it contains the blast and will wipe out any thing in a size able proximity, Reavers anit no way to die and I dont want my girl falling into the hands of those mad men to be twisted to some sort of monstrosity.
so if you find yourself pushed back to here push it and be done with it.

Colt:well have a talk about the why later but thanks for the offer, but everyone is gonna be ok including the book

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abbey couldn't help but stare at the sight she saw when Mobbex's bunk hatch opened. He was the first one through, wearing only his boxers and after him slowly, came Oram at the same time straightening her clothes (which pretty much amounted to underwear).

Were they...? Would they...? abbey tried to banish the thought in her mind, but was so shocked she couldn't.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Colt whisper something to Mobbex then left to go follow Spots.

Then her gaze went back to the two. What was Oram thinking? And him? Didn't he know that she was hurt? Surely, they couldn't...

abbey was brought out of her thoughts when Mobbex touched her arm.

"Cap'n said I have to take you, the doc and Brit to your shuttle and get ready to bolt if needed."

"No," abbey said absently. Then she jerked her arm away from him, stumbling back a couple of feet. "No."

Colt chose that time to reappear. He shot an annoyed look over at Mobbex as he went over to the comm and turn it to the "always on" position.

"Why aren't they gone?" he asked.

"She won't-" Mobbex started but abbey interrupted.

"I'm not leaving," she stated firmly.

Colt leaned up and whispered into her ear.

"This is not the time to question me. You have... we have other things to think about," he said.

She knew exactly what he meant... the baby.

"No," she stated firmly again. "If I die, and you know we will most probably will, I want to stand at your side."

"abbey, stop being so..." Colt started in a louder voice. "Being so... YOU!"

"I'm not-" abbey started to say again, but a sharp climb by Wash sent her careening towards the stairs that lead to the bridge.

With lightning reflexes, Colt reached out and grabbed her shoulders to keep her from falling.

"YOU WILL GO WITH MOBBEX!" he yelled at her. "I WANT YOU AND THE BABY TO HAVE A CHANCE!"

Everyone on the bridge and throughout the ship heard him blurt out the revelation. The crew in the bridge gaped at him, except for Oram and Sky and of course Brit.

"I knew you were rutting her!" Sky exclaimed as she turned and left the bridge. "I'll be with Spots."

Colt placed his hand tenderly on abbey's stomach.

"Please go..." he pleaded. "Mobbex will make sure those monsters don't take you... or the others."

abbey looked at him, her expression softened and her eyes filled with tears.

"OK," she relented as she turned away from him and started down the stairs.


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Mobbex shooed abbey, Oram and Brit into abbey's shuttle.

"Sooo..." Mobbex said as abbey shakily got the shuttle prepped to go. "Cap'n knocked you up, huh? I didn't see that comin'."

abbey glared at him.

"So was it a one time thing?" he continued. "Or have the two of you been rutting like bunnies for a while now?"

Mobbex suddenly chuckled.

"The grav failure? Now I know why you had no undies on!" he laughed harder. "You were shagging the Captain, weren't you?"

abbey walked over to him and slapped him... hard.

"Ching-wah tsao duh liou mahng," she hissed. "Our personal life is none of your business."

"Soooo..." Mobbex smirked at her. "Obviously, you've been doing the Captain for a while then."

He punctuated it with a big guffaw.

abbey turn and bolted from the shuttle. Mobbex turned to Oram.

"She'll be back in a minute. No sense on running after her."

"You're a jerk," Oram told him.

"Mebbe," he admitted. He focused his attention on her then. "What the good gorram were you doing in my bunk last night?"

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Wash: You wanted them closer Captain. Their right on top of us.

Colt checked the screens again: Wash they are going to try and grab us with that magnetic grappler. *pointing the screen capture of the Reaver vessel* They do and this is a short fight. We should be able to see a power spike before when they turn on the mag. You see it you need to get us under them. Close as you can. You need to match their maneuvering best you can to keep us under or behind them. Don’t think they will use the top gun, they want us alive, but lets not find out *Checking the screens again* Get ready. *He spoke loud enough that the comm he had set on 'always on' would easily pick it up.* Strap in people.

Wash reacted so quickly Colt didn’t even see the power spike. Before he could blink she had flipped the Book over and cut the thrusters. With a jerk of the controls the Book settled right underneath the large ship.

The Reaver ship didn’t react immediately. The Book glided safely underneath them for almost a minute before they made their move. They banked back and forth but Wash easily matched them. They try to roll over and cut speed but again Wash meets the challenge. The battle plays out for another 20 minutes. Each time Wash keeps the Book safe.

Colt: You ok?

Wash: Their feeling us out. Trying to suss out how maneuverable we are.

Colt: You sure bout that?

Just then the Reavers blasted away from the Book. Wash couldn’t match their speed as they banked around and headed back to towards them. Wash turned hard away and they turned to intercept. Soon they were chasing the Book into a wide turn. Wash was able to maneuver back into under them eventually but no sooner than she did they blasted away again.

This time they fired their cannon at the Book when they came about. The bright streaks filled the windows as Wash dove the ship narrowly avoiding the blast.

Wash: Looks like a definite there.

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The young doctor simply sniffed and didn’t answer the mercs question. Wasn’t her fault he was too dense to remember her telling him before she’d gone to sleep in his bunk that she wanted a place to hide to get a decent nights sleep and a chance to recover from her wounds. Now bloody Reavers were going to ruin it and cause the death of the entire crew.

Oram: Ok, here’s the thing… I'm not going to die via bullet in my damn head. Knowing my luck, you’ll miss and shoot me in the foot and they’ll start nawing on my brains like Zombies from Night of the Living Dead. I don’t know about you, but I've already got a damn headache.

Mobbex: *sarcastic* What’r propose, ask em nice to not eat us?

Oram: No, but I can at least give us an overdose of anaesthetic, we’ll die, but it wont be painful.

*She goes to leave but Mobbex stops her by grabbing her arm roughly*

Mobbex: Captain orders to us to stay on the shuttle.

*Oram rips her arm away from him, giving him a death glare*

Oram: I don’t give a la shi what the captain says! I’m dying like that if given the choice!

*Mobbex only nodds, but doesn’t say anything as she races out of the shuttle and to the infirmary, he sits on the bead heavily and waits for her to return.*

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The reavers kept pushing and shooting

Wash: Don’t think I can keep this up much longer Captain. You think they might give up?

Colt: No they aint giving up. * Colt thought about just ordering Wash into the cannon blast. It would be better than what would happen when they caught them* Just do what you can.

Wash interrupting: Captain I got another ship on the scope!

Colt *his heart sinking*: More Reavers?

He moved to the screen and looked over the scan.

Wash: Well?

Colt: It’s a freighter! Big one *Colt scanned the distance between them* Their way out but if we can get close maybe the Reavers will take the bigger target..

Wash *shocked*: But won’t they be killed.

Colt: Not likely. It’s a big ship they can out run em. *he spoke loud enough that the folks in the shuttle, as well as Spots and Sky could hear.* We have another ship ahead of us. It’s a freighter. We’re gonna head for it and hope that they decide to take off after the bigger ship. If they don’t take the bait, I want those of you in the shuttle to make a run for that freighter.

Abbey *standing in doorway*: Colt! You can’t do this! What if there are settlers on that ship or if they are unarmed? Your just going to throw them to the wolves?

Colt: I can and if it’s at all possible I will.

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She wasn’t going to die like a still alive piece of meat being torn apart.

With shaking hands, Oram drew the liquid, remembering that Mobbex needed more, but also she didn’t want Abbey to experience a miscarriage before dying herself. She wouldn’t let it happen to another.

Taking a deep breath, she drew the last vial then took another vial of painkillers for herself to ease her fear and stop her goddamn shoulder and back from hurting.

The ship lurched to the side, causing Oram to fall unsteadily, her head slamming onto the cabinet. Stars exploded in her vision and Oram tried everything to keep herself from falling again. The nausea caused her to lose her last merger meal.

Getting up unsteadily and grabbing the vials and needles, Oram cleaned herself up with a rag and made it back towards the shuttle to hear Colt’s call-over of another ship spotted.

Oram: We’re going to hell.

Making her way to Abbey's secured alcohol closest, she looked around for a heavy blunt object before finding a bust of a hand holding a sequence of a straight flush. Breaking off the padlock, she threw both the bust and lock aside and could only stare at awe at the selection before her.

Oram: So, this is where she keeps the good stuff...

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Quote:

---

Originally posted by Colt99:
Abbey *standing in doorway*: Colt! You can’t do this! What if there are settlers on that ship or if they are unarmed? Your just going to throw them to the wolves?

Colt: I can and if it’s at all possible I will.

---

"But there could be children on that ship, Colt," abbey said softly.

"I know that," he said just as soft as he turned his back on her. "But I won't lose another crew to Reavers and I definitely won't lose my own child."

"Colt..." she said as she came up behind him and touched him softly on his arm. "You lost crew to Reavers? When? How? Is that what happened to your last ship?"

"I'm not looking to go down memory lane, abbey. Not now. Not ever," he said firmly and with resolve. "I've made my decision, we're heading for that freighter. If I am lucky, they will be armed."

"But, Colt..."

"Not your call right now, abbey," he said to her, turning around to face her. "And this is all on me. No matter what happens. It won't be your fault, nor any of the others. It is all on me and if we live through this, then I will carry it all."

"Colt..."

"But we will still be alive. And our child will come in a couple of months," he said as he laid his hand on her stomach. "For that, I can live with the repercussions."

"Colt..." she started again as he became engrossed with staring her stomach. "What if it doesn't work? What if they don't take the bait?"

"Then I guess we will be the bait so the rest of you can get away," he said sadly. "But it will double the chances of survival for those of you in the shuttle."

"I don't want to leave you!"

"I know," he said smiling. This woman can infuriate him, but she was loyal to the end. "But you can make sure that my legacy lives on. Please? Will you do that for me?"

A tear slid down abbey's face as she nodded just a little. He reached out and pulled her close, planting a tender kiss on her lips, followed by one that was very passionate. His hands ran through her hair as it seemed to last forever. When they parted, he breathed in deeply, trying to memorize the smell of her perfume.

"Now get out of here," he said as he pushed her gently towards the door. She reluctantly turned then started to run for the shuttle. He turned his back again, not wanting so see her retreat. He put on his game face. "How are we doing, Wash?"


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Colt was relieved that Abbey had joined the others in the shuttle. She had gone reluctantly once he had brought up the pregnancy. He was going to at least get close enough to the freighter to give them a chance to escape in the shuttle. If his plan worked that wouldn’t ever be necessary. The Reavers would chase the larger ship and they could escape. He thought again about risking the lives of the other crew. He didn’t want to do it but he saw no other way. He had to look after his. That Captain will have to do the same.

He looked over at Wash. The game of cat and mouse and now mouse had Wash, not only trying to keep the Book from being caught, but also move closer to the freighter. The fight had been going on for over 30 minutes. Wash had pulled on a pair of ridiculous flight goggles and was chewing on the tail of one of her plastic dinos. Colt checked the screens again, expecting the freighter to shoot away any second. Someone wasn’t paying attention on the freighter or they would have ran already. That wouldn’t last long. They would trip the freighters collision sensors soon. Then he would either have to run for it or launch the shuttle.

*BOOOOM * The Book shook violently. The boards on the starboard console exploded with sparks and a small fire broke out behind a panel.

Wash: We’re hit

Colt: How bad *grabbing an extinguisher and dousing the fire*

Wash: I think they grazed the hull. I’m showing nominal readings on everything except the scrubbers and they are resetting.

Mobbex on the comm: Captain, Wash, ya’ll still with us?

Colt keying the comm.: Yeah how’s the shuttle?

Colt hears Mobbex ask his question: Abbey says green lights cross the board.

Wash: Captain CAPTAIN!

Colt turned to see a horrified look on Wash’s face. As the reaver ship shot past again.

Wash: I’m losing starboard stabilizing thrust. The blast musta took it out.

Colt: What does that mean? Can we fix it?

Wash:  We’re humped. Can’t fix it without going outside. They’re going to get us.

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Ezra - Komar Dock - A Private Docking Area

Rune stood at attention as the latest slave ship landed in his area. He expected this shipment to be Badger's, but instead it was that dude who had been stealing Badger's business from him.

He half chuckled as he adjusted the automatic rifle that he was holding.

The slaves looked normal. Scared, cowering, you know, the usual. He shrugged it off and kept scanning the area for potential trouble. There had been some interlopers quite often lately, always mounting some kind of "rescue" mission to free these people. Stupid rutting idea. They never do succeed and all they do is raise the hopes of the slaves, only to drive them deeper into hopelessness as they are sold. Often at a reduced price. Good for those that want to buy, but very bad to those who are selling. And the guys he worked for were sellers and had basically threatened bodily harm to whoever perpetuated this behavior.

So Rune stood at attention, resolving to himself that he wasn't going to be made an example of.

This shipment was a little different. There were a couple of divisions. Most were regular worker types, but there was another smaller sect of about 20 slaves set off to the side and guarded a little more than the rest. Standing on his tippy toes, he noticed that they were all women and they were all naked.

Sex slaves.

It had been a while since he'd seen a large group of those types. He shrugged and went back to looking around. Some movement towards him caught his attention. This was definitely different. Alliance military types. Six in total.

What are they doing on a slave ship?

They could be looking to bust the entire operation. Not wanting to get bound, killed or blamed for the loss of slaves on this shipment, he gripped his gun a little tighter and stepped forward.

To his surprise, they were greeted by none other than Adlei Niska. He was all smiles and very, very courteous.

Strange.

They stayed in tight formation as they came closer, walking right by him. Being that close to Niska made him more than nervous; he knew of the man's reputation. But he was most curious as to what the soldiers were protecting.

Standing on his tippy toes again, he looked and saw a girl. Tall, but gaunt and sporting a nice shiner on her right eye. Her shoulder length dark brown hair was mussed, looking like she hadn't combed it in a week. But the thing that struck him as most odd was that she seemed to display no emotions. She blindly followed the soldiers wherever they went, but showed none of the anxiety that every other slave he'd ever seen. He was intrigued.

And why did it take 6 soldiers to accompany a slave so compliant as well as one who didn't look like she could put up any kind of fight at all? She was obviously malnourished. And where did the bruise come from? Was she less compliant before? Maybe she was drugged into compliancy?

Right before they disappeared through the door that led to the VIP docking area, she turned and looked at him, locking eyes for just a few seconds. But in those few seconds, he could have sworn her heard her speak although her mouth didn't move.

It was just one word he heard.

SPOTS

He shook his head after the door closed behind him and went back about his business.

I need some more gorram sleep.


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Quote:

---

Originally posted by Oram:
Oram: So, this is where she keeps the good stuff...

---

Mobbex pushed past Oram and used the butt of his gun to forcefully break the lock off abbey's liquor cabinet.

Taking out a bottle of whiskey, he opened the bottle, took a long draw before licking the outside of the bottle from the opening down the neck to chase some wayward spill.

"Wouldn't want to waste any," he said, shrugging. "Seeins' we're probably gonna die."

He held the bottle out to Oram.

"You want some?"

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abbey ran towards her shuttle, thinking the whole way.

Colt didn't plan on living. He was going to do everything he could to make sure she, the baby and anyone else on the shuttle got away.

Even if he died in the process. Eaten by Reavers in his last few moments in this verse.

That meant something to her.

But she didn't want to leave him. She had lost too many people in her life already. Losing someone else, someone who would have been pivotal in her life, it made her heart ache.

When she entered her shuttle, she saw that Oram and Mobbex had broken into her liquor cabinet. She would have been angry under different circumstances, but now, she didn't really care. Instead, she grabbed a bottle of d'Orange, opened the cap and drank straight out of the bottle.

Oram looked at her with a "what the Hell are you doing? You're pregnant!" look.

Tears streamed down abbey's face.

"If I am going to lose him, I need something to take the edge off," she said barely above a whisper. "Anyway, the kid can take a couple of glasses. It ain't like we have a good chance of living through this either."


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Colt: How long?

Wash: This will be over real soon. Five, maybe ten minutes depending on how hard they push.

Colt: Are we close enough to run for the freighter?

Wash checked the screens, looked up at Colt and shook her head: Even at full burn they will get a shot with the grappler. If the keep using the cannon...it will be over much sooner.

Colt: Wash set up for a full burn. *keying the comm* Ok listen up, Sky you and Spots get up to Abbeys shuttle. Wash will be along directly. Soon as your own board swing out and launch on my signal.

Sky on the comm: Not happening Cap-i-tan. Spots feels the same way. We’re sticking it out.

Wash: I came this far might as well see it through. Besides I don’t have time to pack up my dino’s

Mobbex: We’ll be ready to launch on your word Captain *forgetting to key the mike off* Bunch of moon brains want to die let em. We’re going to hitch with that freighter.

Colt: That’s an order get to the shuttle and get in launch position * Colt paused as a crazy idea entered his head* Forget that order everyone stay put. Wash I’m going to need all ten minutes. * Running to the engine room.

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Brit sat in abbey's shuttle watching Oram, Mobbex and abbey's behavior.

"They are hungry," she stated matter of factly. "They want to eat us... among other things."

"We are very aware of what Reavers will do if they board," abbey said flatly as she took another drink of d'Orange. "Reminding us is not helping the situation."

Brit looked closely at abbey.

"You shouldn't drink that," she told her. "It will only make things worse."

abbey snorted and started the pre-flight check.

Brit walked over to the side of the shuttle as the place shook again from a close shot. She put her hand on the wall and cocked her head.

"They are getting closer," she continued as she started to get agitated. "The things that they are thinking about... hunger... sexual perversity... trophy taking... It's repulsive."

Brit shuddered and sat down on the floor.

"I don't want to get ate," she said, unshed tears in her eyes. "I can see what they will do... what we will endure..."

She started to rap her temples with the heels of both hands.

"I don't want to... I don't want to... It's ugly... I don't want to..."

And she melted down, whispering and rocking herself back and forth.

And no one said anything about her reaction. Grim looks set in instead.

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OUTSIDE

The Book’s hull reflects the light of the cannon fire as it streaks past. The Reaver ship looms behind them firing round after round into the blackness.

The Book rolls on her side and banks to avoid the fire. Movement can be seen on the wings as the shuttles move into launch position.

BRIDGE

Wash: You think it will work?

Colt: Sure it will work. *Sounding less than confident*

SHUTTLE

Mobbex: That sweetie of yours is going to get us all killed.

Abbey takes another swig of d'Orange, ignores him and preps the shuttle for launch.

UNDER THE FORWARD DECK PLATING

Sky and Spots wiggle through the small space towards the main hydraulic coupleling

Spots: We’re almost there.

BRIDGE

Colt just finished recording a quick warning message to send to the freighter if they get the chance.

Colt: You ready Wash? *She nods* Spots? *over the comm.*

Spots: In position just have to locate it

Colt: Make it fast we’re starting the count.

The automated countdown recording began.

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(moments earlier in the engine room)
spots is moving frantically about trying to set the engine for the burn.

Colt: Son you're coming with me and bring the wrench

Spots: ok (he grabs up his tools and follows the captain)

the Floor clang under their boots as the run headlong into the cargo bay and up the stairs to the second shuttle. Sky is waiting for them there

Sky: so whats the plan this time Colt

Colt: we are gonna use this shuttle as bait for those hungry sonsabitchs. Spots can you get this thing uncoupled

Spots: yeah I think I can..

Colt;Sky help him the best you can and son dont think do (he turn and moves quickly to the bridge)

Minuets later
both Sky and Spots are in the waist deep in the ship trying to get the shuttle to come off

Sky: come on I aint dieing like this

Spots; Im almost through... I got it.... I got it [Thunk] I dont go it..

Sky: well get it again!

Spots: working on it

Sky: Work harder!!!

Spots; you really thing shouting gonna help!

Sky: No but it makes me FEEL BETTER GORAMIT!!!!


Colt {over com}: Will you 2 shut up and work


Colt {over com}: Make it fast we’re starting the count.

Spots GOD DAMIT GOD DAMIT GOD DAMIT.... I goit hahaha i got it woohoo!!!

Sky: thats great son now lets do this


the voice of the onboard computer sound the numbers like the ticking of a clock

5
4
3
2
1

Colt: Do it now
[a loud thud sounds through out the ship as the wrench falls and the damaged shuttle floats out of its bay]

Colt; (muttering to himself) work work work

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As the countdown ended, Colt pushed the transmit button, sending the warning message to the freighter.

OUTSIDE

A yellow glow emitting from the tail of the Book starts to illuminate the sky. The Reaver ship stops firing its cannon and moves in for the kill. The glow continues to grow into a blinding light.

On the port wing the shuttle begins to hover just a few inches off of its docking platform.
Electricity fires through the Reaver’s grappler. The Reavers fire, just as the rear of the Firefly explodes propelling the small ship away.  

The magnetic grappler shoots into space and connects. The vibration of the contact travels up the cable and can be felt through the large ship. The Reaver pilot immediately yanks the controls spinning the large ship over like an alligator’s death roll. To his surprise there is no resistance. His co pilot checks his screen and then looks out into the black.

The yellow streak is still shooting away. Attached to their grappler is the mangled remains of the port side shuttle.

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Colt listened to the cheers echo through the Book. Everyone near a com was hooting it up, happy to live another day. He had relieved Wash, and as much as she had earned a rest, it wouldn’t come soon. His ship was still hurt and the full burn had made matters much worse. On top of the damage the Reavers had caused, the burn with both shuttle in launch position had jammed up Abbey’s shuttle, preventing them from docking. Spots and Sky were seeing to it while Wash suited up to check the damage outside.

Colt checked the monitors again. They were in the clear…but.

He moved around the console, opened a storage bin and pulled a display with a tangle of cords from the box.

Sitting back in Wash’s seat he plugged in the various cables and launched a program on the portable screen. The tapped away at the screen, deleting the scroll of numbers, and entering new data. When he finished he went to the Cortex feed and plugged in again repeating the process.

He finished as Wash returned from her space walk.

Wash: Not as bad as it feels. I think we can limp her planet side to repair.

Colt: Glad to hear it.

Wash: Everything ok Cap? I mean most people live what we just did tend to be more… jovial.

Colt: Adrenalin must be wearing off. Get the suit stored and take a break. You earned it. Sky and I will get us dirt side.

Wash: Sure thing Cap. I heard Abbey opened up the liquor cabinet. Maybe I can score a stiff drink before she comes to her senses.


Sky enters and Wash exits.

Sky: Spots says Abby’s shuttle should be….

The distinct thud of the docking procedure interrupts her.

Sky: … docked now.

Colt: Ain’t you leaving?

Sky: Looks that way. Come on Colt you know…

Colt: *hearing the crew in the galley* I get it Sky. Take over here and we’ll talk later.

Colt heads toward the galley stopping by his bunk and lowering the portable screen down the ladder by the cables.

In the galley Abbey rushes into his arms. They share a deep kiss.

Colt: You been drinking?

Abbey: Well…a…a little

Colt: No drinking.

Abbey *smiling* Yes Captain

Mobbex comes over and slaps Colt too hard on the back.

Mobbex: I’d like to see the look on their goram faces when they latched onto that shuttle.

Oram: You’d have to be in eating distance to see that.

Mobbex shivers: Goram girl we’re celebrating don’t go ruining it like that.

Colt looks over at Brit who has sitting on the table, swinging her legs back and forth. She looks at him with a sympathetic smile and a nod.

Abbey grabs onto Colt’s arm: You heard the big man, feel like celebrating?

Colt: *somewhat distant*: I need to..see to some things. Sorry I’m a little spent here..I

Abbey: It’s ok …really.
They share another kiss and Colt heads back to the bridge.

Sky: Colt might want Spots to take a look at this.

Colt: What?

Sky: The NavSat and radar are glitchy. The Cortex is out. Everything is resetting but we can’t read anything behind us.

Colt: Don’t bother him with it right now. Let it reset.

Colt climbs down into his bunk. He went to the sink and filled a bowl with water then cups both hands and splashes the water on his face. He stares at the display on the floor. He looks in the mirror and shakes his head.

Moving to his bunk he takes up the display and switches it on. Leaning back in his bunk he stares at the real radar image, the one he had erased from the Book. It showed the freighters emergency beacon. Next to it was the flashing ping of the Reaver ship. He tapped the screen and the hours old Cortex recording he had removed began to play.

Freighter Captain: This is the Catalina. We are under attack by Reavers. Please send help.

Muffled female voice: OH GAWD

Voice: Their boarding

Freighter Captain: This is the Catalina. We are being boarded by Reavers. Lord help us

Muffled female screaming

Gun shots


The transmission stopped.

Colt flung the display hard against the wall, shattering it.

Colt: Gorammit


http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/rr360/shan_i_am/BookMasterSig

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sits silently in shock as the last tranmission hits home

That could have been us oh god .......


turns around and see a big fluffy y ellow bunny that look san awful lot like mobbex hopping on down the hall.......


Hits comm

****Oram you free??? *******


( sorry guys the mother board on my comp died finally g t it replaced)

I am a leaf on the wind

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abbey puttered around the shuttle for a while. Cleaning things, then rearranging then putting them back in their original place.

She sighed after a while, knowing that she was only doing it because she was too keyed up and very slightly tipsy. They had dodged a big bullet today. And the adrenaline was still pumping for her.

She couldn't stand being in the shuttle for a minute longer, so she exited it and made a beeline for the person she really wanted to see... Colt.

They had a lot to talk about, although now would not be the time. She just wanted to be near him. To tell him thank you. To...

She shook her head, clearing her thoughts and knocked on his door.

"Colt? Can I come in?" she asked.


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Colt hears the knock at the hatch. It’s Abbey. He doesn’t move, he doesn’t answer. Torn.

No one he would rather see right now but the last person he wants to face.

Those folks are dead because of me. Why the hell didn’t they run? They should have gotten away clean. Maybe they had engine trouble. I should have scanned them. Hell there was no time to scan them. Why the hell didn’t they..

KNOCK KNOCK

Abbey: Colt? You in there?

He took a deep breath and went to the ladder. “Come on down.”

Once inside she moved to hold him. He tensed up to her touch. She noticed.

Abbey: What’s wrong with you?

Colt: Nothing Darlin *Thinking It’s mine to bear*

Abbey: Oh I get it! You’re all over me when it’s a secret but now that it’s out in the open the thrill is gone.

She moves away from him. Crossing the small room and leaning against the dresser.

Colt: Wha…? No what are you saying? It’s not that.

Abbey: You don’t get to do this Colt. You don’t get to tell me you care about us. The THREE of us then push me away.

Colt: Abbey it’s not like that.

Abbey: Then what is it Colt? You practically shunned me when I was in the galley now you don’t want me near. Grayson said this was a mistake but I said he had it all wrong.

Colt: Grayson? That son of a…..*the full implication of what abbey is saying sinks in* Do…you think this was a mistake?

Abbey: Oh no you don’t. You don’t get to turn this around. You’re the one acting different. You are…

Colt: *almost a whisper* abbey you were right.

Abbey: You are a piece of work. Do you….what? Right about what?

Colt: The freighter. They didn’t make it. I thought…they could….they didn’t make it. You were right I shouldn’t have used them like that. *His body trembling*

Abbey looked at Colt. She ached inside but not for the freighter crew, not yet, Colt was her only concern. She moved to him and wrapped her arms around him. She could feel his clenched jaw still shivering.
She thought of what to say, you wouldn’t have put them in harm’s way if you knew they couldn’t get away. You did it for to save us all. You couldn’t have known they wouldn’t escape. In the end she went with the only words that would come out.

Abbey: I’m so sorry Colt.

They held each other through the night. They woke the next morning to Sky announcing they were beginning the landing sequence on Ezra.

Lying there feeling her warmth against him Colt was reminded of an old war saying. When you can’t walk you crawl, when you can’t crawl you get someone to carry you. Abbey had carried him through it last night.

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She woke up in the morning, she was laying on her back with Colt lying next to her, his head resting on her shoulder as her arms wrapped around him. Interestingly, his one hand was laying on her stomach like he was trying to connect with their child somehow. She didn't know if it was actually for that reason, but if he was trying to draw some support from anywhere he could, it would not surprise her.

It had been a tough night for him. He was restless, mumbling in his sleep or waking up with a jerk, terror in his eyes. She would comfort him any way she could when he did awake. He finally succumbed to a prolonged sleep about two hours ago.

So she didn't try to wake him. She just laid there and let him sleep, watching his face. He still looked troubled, which was understandable. It was a hard call. She didn't know what she would have done. Well, she knew, but then again, they'd be dead right now, so it didn't matter.

He shifted his weight again, moaning in mental agony, his grip on her moving to encircle her waist and then it tightened, drawing her close to him. it was a little snug, but she didn't try to escape. She only stroked his shoulder trying to comfort him.

"Sssshhhh..." she whispered to him. "It will be OK. I'm here with you... I'll always be here with you."

Then there was the announcement from Wash that they were about to land on Ezra. Colt stirred and woke up.


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He had been searching for them for a while, but it seems they had almost vanished into thin air. That is... almost.

Grayson got a wave from a contact of his.

"What have you got for me?" he answered gruffly, pleasantry dispatched as The Book's absence went on.

"We got a distress call from a freighter a few hours back. They were requesting help for a Firefly that was under attack from a Reaver ship," his contact told him. "It was the Book."

Dear God... Reavers, Grayson thought, his heart jumping into his throat.

"Are they...?"

"No, Sir. Seems they used the freighter that made the distress call to make their escape. They crossed their flight path and the Reavers changed targets and went after the larger ship."

"So they escaped?"

"Yes, Sir," his contact paused. "But the other ship, Sir. They stayed around to try to help the Book. Making that distress call for them. Well, all were lost. The Reavers boarded and killed them all."

Grayson swore under his breath, but it was a definite slam on Colt's character.

"Do you know where the Book went?"

"They are getting ready to land on Ezra."

Ezra. Definitely the wrong place for abbey and Oram to be. A major hub for slave traders. And the home base for Adlei Niska.

"Call an extraction team. I'm laying course right now."

"Yes, Sir."

Grayson cut the transmission at set course for Ezra.

"Just a few hours and this whole unfortunate experience will be behind us."


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Her stomach was still doing summersaults from the near miss with the Reavers. Much too close for her liking. Stumbling out of the docked shuttle, Oram decided that maybe sleep was the best option rather than anything else, so clutching the bottle that Mobbex had cracked open she wandered down to the kitchen area knowing they’d be in Ezra soon enough to fill on supplies and hopefully find some trail of Spots missing sibling.

The galley was an utter disaster, anything that wasn’t nailed down was thrown around and Oram groaned inwardly knowing the mess would be her job to clean the mess. She shuddered to think how the cupboards looked. She didn’t even dare contemplate what the damn infirmary looked like nor how much it was going to cost to replace broken supplies.

Easing herself onto one of the spare couches, she relaxed with a pillow that was surprisingly comfy. Taking a deep swig of the amber liquid, she let her mind begin to drift.

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The announcement over the com had woken Colt. Abbey was drifting in and out of sleep while he was started his day. It had been a rough night, but she had made it bearable. He pulled the sink down and splashed the cold water on his face, then reached for the mouthpiece on the shelf above him. He bit down on it low hum and bright blue light escaped between his lips. After a minute he removed the piece and set it back on the shelf.
Abbey stirred and he knelt next to the bed and gave her a kiss.

Abbey: Mmmm minty

Colt: Ewww funky

She slapped him playfully on the cheek and started to rise but before she could Colt had slipped back in bed next to her. He slid his arm behind her head and pulled her close.

Abbey: Don’t you have Captainy things to do?

Colt: Best part of being Captain is I get to do what I want. Besides the crew knows about us now, no reason to pretend you didn’t stay the night.

He moved his hand over her tummy, his finger circling her belly button.

Colt: Shouldn’t this… be bigger?

Abbey: Are you saying I have a big belly? *pushing his hand away*

Colt: No not big.

Abbey: You said BIGGER!

Colt: You forgetting your pregnant?

She started to speak but Colt put a finger to her lips.

Colt: Darlin you’re beautiful. You could swell up the size of a pumpkin and you’d still be beautiful.

Abbey: A pumpkin? *laughing softly* You really should spend some time formulating your compliments.

Colt:*grinning* And if I told you I did think that through?

Abbey: Then I’d be afraid to ask what your first thought was.

He moved his hand back to her tummy “I just want to make sure everything’s right in there. You should have the Doc check you out. “

Abbey: If you say so.

Colt jerked straight up in the bunk almost falling out. Balancing himself he put his palm to Abbeys forehead.

Abbey: What’s wrong?

Colt: You just agreeing like that. No arguing. Something has to be wrong.

Abbey shoved him in the chest and he fell from the bunk. Both burst into laughter as she helped him back into bed.

Colt: Think it’s time I get a bigger bunk in here.

Abbey: *rolling him on his back* I don’t know, this one does have its advantages.


Later Colt climbed the ladder to start his day, again.

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it had been a long night for the young mechanic, he had undone the self-destruct mechanism and set about repairing the cooling system that were showing signs of failing. after long hours work done he sat down head making a thunk sound on the bulkhead.

Spots: oye

Sky: hey kid (siting down next to him smoking a cigarette)

Spots: hey Sky, so where are you planing to go after this (taking the lit Cigarette out of her mouth and taking a drag)

Sky; you since when do you smoke? (pulling out another one and lighting it)

Spots: Since now, there plenty of things about be that you dont know

Sky:here i thought i had you all figured out, as for me I dont know, I'll try to lineup so exciting new crime, I just came back here to tell you what a good job you did with the shuttle i wasnt looking forward to being dinner for a Reaver.


Spots: well i did what i could, good luck out there she'll miss ya. (I pounding his fist against the bulk head)

Sky: ill miss her to but its time to go (standing)

Spots:(standing as well) its time for something that is pretending to be food, and rack time

Spontaneously Sky hugged Spots, uncharacteristically of her Spots was surprised then wrapped his arms around her and squeezed. the non-verbal good bye was powerful it had been along year and a half since she had come aboard and this my be the last time he saw her. She was more that just the first mate she was family.

they ended the embrace

Sky: ill see ya Kid

Spots: yeah see ya around

the 2 part ways Spots headed to the galley as Sky headed to the cargo hold

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Colt was standing near the cargo door when Sky entered the bay. She had a duffle sack slung over her shoulder and her rifle resting comfortably in the crook of her free arm. She had a confidence that Colt had always admired. There was no talking her out of this but Colt knew he had to go through the show of trying.

Colt: You ain’t taking much.

Sky: Could be we didn’t acquire much for me to take. You really should give up this life of crime. You’re not that good at it.

Colt smiled and took the bag off her shoulder setting it next to the door. Then sat down on a crate and motioned for her to do the same.

Colt: Won’t argue that. Used to be easier.

Sky: You used to do it without bringing your family along.

Colt: So that’s what this is about, the baby?

Sky: Just found out about that, I’m talking bout all of them. You and Abbey, drunk Aunt Oram, nutty Aunt Wash, one big dysfunctional family.

Colt: You and I have a history not that different.

Sky: True but that was a long time ago. Besides you didn’t coddle me. When it was dangerous we both took the risk, with them you hesitate. You don’t want them hurt.

Colt: Not Mobbex.

She smiled "It affects the job." Standing up she continued "Listen you have a good thing here, just not right for me."

Colt stood and picked up her bag. They walked down the ramp to a waiting cab.

Sky: You call him?

Colt: Thought you would be carrying more. *They both laughed* Where you heading?

Sky: I’m going to hitch a ride to the core and find me a proper crime to do.

Colt: If you need a place… *Colt started*

Sky: I know

She threw her bag into the back of the hover and climbed up into the seat. Colt reached into his wallet and pulled the few remaining notes from inside.

Colt: Here’s your cut from the last job. It’s a little light but I’ll make it up to you.

Sky: You keep it.

Colt: Take it I got a little tucked back, for “Just in case”

She took the money and tucked it into her shirt. “I know you do. Don’t set off any alarms Colt’

Colt: You either.

Colt watched the cab pull away and out of site. He knew they would cross paths again. They always did. It was one of those inevitable … Colt’s thoughts were cut off. She said “I know you do”

Colt ran up the ramp and though the Book. He took the stairs two at the time and shot through the galley to his bunk. Down the ladder he ran to the hide he had under the floor. He opened it and counted the cash he had left. Half of it was gone and there was a note scribbled on a piece of paper.

I know you set off that alarm on Bellerophon
Take care
Sky

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abbey heard Colt swear under his breath. She had been nearly asleep, but not all the way. She turned over to face him, keeping the sheet over her. She was kinda cold.

"Something wrong?" she asked.

Something was wrong. It was obvious, but as she looked at him, she couldn't shake the thought of what she should call him.

Are they really together now? Are they boyfriend and girlfriend? Are they in a relationship beyond the child she was carrying? Perhaps landlord/tenant with benefits, plus a baby on the way?

Things had gone well last night, even with the turmoil and guilt Colt was feeling, but she didn't want it to end in a fight because she wanted a definition of who they were.

So she concentrated on the task at hand.

"What's in the box?"


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Colt moved to the bunk and sat down next to Abbey. He held the open box up for her to see. Inside was a small collection of cash and coin.

Colt: Emergency funds. Enough to top off the tanks, maybe a meal or two.

Abbey peeked inside: Not much there. You must be planning a light meal.

Colt: Was more. Sky took her severance package.

Abbey sat up: She robbed you! With a baby on the way? How could she...

Colt put his finger to her lips: She wasn't out to harm us, just wanted to show she could. And she left us this.

Colt held up the scrap piece of paper Sky had left her note on. On the other side was the name of a local contact.

Colt: She lined us up a job.

Abbey: What kind of job?

Colt: Won't know that till I get there. We'll meet Badger's people, end this nast bit of business with him, then I'll take Mobbex and check it out.

Colt leaned in and gave Abbey a kiss then stood and started towards the ladder.

Abbey: When do you think she took the money?

Colt: My guess, last night when we were sleeping

Abbey: LAST NIGHT! (jerking the blanket tight around her body)We were....naked.

Colt: Thats true. You keep flashing the crew like that and I might get jealous.

Colt didn't see what Abbey threw at him, because he was half way up the ladder when it hit him in the back. It did have some heft to it, but not enough to wipe the grin off his face as he headed to the galley.

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Now that Colt was gone, abbey decided to go back to her shuttle. Although everyone knew about their... whatever they have... now, she just didn't quite feel comfortable hanging out in his cabin when he wasn't there.

She got cleaned up and was looking around the shuttle, straightening things up and taking inventory of her gambling supplies as she went along. sooner or later, she would need to start working, even if it was to help Colt make repairs. With a baby on the way, this would be her home too.

Can you baby proof a firefly? she thought to herself.

She was brought out of her musings by an incoming wave. She went over and answered it only to be greeted by someone she never planned on seeing again.

"Mr. Niska..." she nearly stammered, but she kept it toghether. "What a surprise!"


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“Won’t be a sec” Colt said to Mobbex as he went down the ladder to his bunk. The two were off to meet the contact Sky had left.

Colt reached the bottom of the ladder and turned to see an empty bed. He went to the com and keyed in Abbey’s shuttle. He listened to the low tone notification beep, but she didn’t answer. He started to try again when Mobbex banged the butt of his rifle against the bulkhead.

“Aint got time to be ruttin round Captain”

Colt glared up the ladder to Mobbex, the big man took a step back. “Take your time, just want to get paid s’all”

Must have gone back to her shuttle and fallen asleep Colt thought. I’ll check in on her when we get back.

Later

Colt sat on the bar stool waiting to take his shot. The two men they were playing pool with were losing just enough money to keep up with the bar tab Mobbex was building. Colt held his cue out in front of Mobbex as he returned from the bar, a beer in each hand.

“No more after that one” he said taking one of the stouts from his hand.

“Why not? We been here two hours. This guy ain’t showing. Sky stiffed you.”

“Could be, but no more all the same.” He replied taking a long draw from the cold brew, before getting up to take his turn.

As he was lining up the shot, a loud and seemingly intoxicated individual, stumbled into the table, spilling his drink on the felt. The introduction of the liquid shorted out the table and the balls disappeared. The man turned and tripped into a passing waitress trying to take her bar rag. She fell into the table, spilling her tray of drinks on the unsuspecting patrons. He pulled the bar rag from her belt and fell back into the table.

As he tried to dry the felt, he whispered to Colt “Meet me out back in five minutes”

Colt caught a wink from the drunk then turned to hear Mobbex at the other end of the table. He was arguing with the two men they had been shooting pool with. Mobbex and one of the men both had their hands covering the wager on the table.

“The balls shorted out, games over”

“But we were winning” Mobbex replied cooly.

Before Colt could say anything he heard “Look out” come from the drunk. The man had just ducked a punch from one of the liquor soaked patrons. The punch hit Colt square in the jaw. He stumbled back into the rail and caught himself in time to hear “Fight”

The man arguing with Mobbex took a step back and swung his pool cue breaking against the side of Mobbex’s head.

“That’s the only one you get little man” Mobbex said.

True to his word the other man never landed another punch as Mobbex tossed him around the bar. His partner thought better of coming to his rescue and instead tackled Colt, who was still reeling from the sucker punch, and both men went to the ground.

Colt swung a leg quickly around the man’s waist and got him in a scissor lock. He leaned back squeezed his legs until the other man let out a scream. Then he reached up and grabbed an empty mug and smashed into the man’s head. He kicked loose from the unconscious pool player and rose to his feet in time to be knocked back down by the flying body of his partner.

“Oops” Mobbex said right before a chair got broken over his shoulder.

Colt looked around the bar. The place was in chaos. Bottles breaking, tables flipped over, bodies wailing away at each other. Then he spotted the drunk, pistol drawn, leading the bartender into the back room.

Mobbex helped Colt to his feet somehow managing to keep another man in a headlock.

“Settling down done made you soft” He said as he bashed headlock man into the edge of the pool table, leaving him in a lump on the floor.

“I met our contact. We need to get out of here, before he rabbits on us”

Colt and Mobbex turned toward the door and a sea of angry individuals, set on making sure no one got out of there without taking a proper thumping.
Colt looked at Mobbex. The big man just shrugged his shoulders and they both waded into the brawl.

Outback of the saloon

The drunk came crawling out of the window to. He landed so

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It didn't take long for Grayson and his extraction team to find the Book. Grayson made note on how beat up the ship looked from their Reaver battle.

He smiled as he saw Colt and Mobbex exit the ship, leaving the cargo bay ramp open. He waited a couple of minutes then made his move.

"Let's go," he instructed the Extraction Team. "There are two targets. One rents the starboard side shuttle and the other is their doctor. We need to get them and their stuff off that boat asap."

They walked in and started. Grayson stood in the cargo bay and supervised. The one team supervisor that went to find Oram came back quickly.

"Sir, we'll need a gurney for the Doc," he told him. Then he said in a hushed voice. "I think she's drunk."

Grayson set his jaw at the news that Oram was drinking herself into unconciousness again.

"Gorram that girl-" he muttered as he nodded his approval to get one. His verbal instructions were cut off by the screaming that emanated from abbey's shuttle.


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It was Autumn on this part of Ezra, the cold wind blew the leafs around the busy streets of the city market. Spots turned up the collar of his jacket and hunched behind the thin protection of the wool. he trudged past the artisans pedaling there wears, he was looking for a machine shop, because of the damage that the Reavers brought to the ship he needed to refit the seals and the docking arm for the sacrificed shuttle. As he continued down the street there was a young girl of 16-17 standing on a street corner singing for the money that passerby would toss into here worn cap. The melody floated high over the din of the crowds. When Spots heard it touched a cord deep with in him, he hadn't heard the song sense he was a boy. they stood by old Ireland and they never feared danger

Spots muttered; Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian Men

His mother would sing this song to him as a child, and after the death of his father and brother he would sang those words to Issy to comfort her.

Spots walked close putting some coins in her hat. when she had finished, he applauded then asked her where she had learned the song.

Girl: I was a Slave till I ran when we were off loaded here.

Spots: yes but the song?

Girl; Ok [very confused] On the ship ride here to Ezra, I was crying because I was taken from my parents to repay a debt, and this other girl with eyes like ice, came close and sat next to me and began to sing that song. she was the only comfort I had on that trip.

Spots: [very excited] when when did you get here

Girl; oh i dont know 2 3 days ago t'was sure lucky I run off

Spots muttering; then she might still be here

Girl; what

Spots: did you see what happened to her?

Girl; yeah some Alliance troopers took her away in irons

Spots; god damit god damit... thank you that you so much (as he ran off to find the Captain)


I'll find her I will


o.o.c
this is the song

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She had just cut the wave from Niska when she heard someone behind her, she turned, thinking it was Colt, but was instead greeted by four uniformed law enforcement officers.

"What is going on here?" she asked.

"We are the Extraction Team, ma'am," the lead guy said. "We've been sent to get you out of this dangerous situation. Come with us and we'll be able to move faster."

"Extraction team...?" abbey mouthed as the men started to pick up her belongings and place them in boxes. "Dangerous situation...?"

Then she caught sight of one of the men's ident tag. The division he worked for was the one Grayson did. Her eyes narrowed.

"Did Grayson Cornwell send you here?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am. He's downstairs coordinating your and the other woman's extraction."

"Whoa.. Whoa.. Whoa..." she started. "I am not leaving. He has no r-"

"Take her downstairs," the leader said, cutting her off. "Mr. Cornwell has the doctor standing by to handle things for you."

"A doctor? Handle things for w-" Then abbey saw red. "Now wait just a minute..."

"No time ma'am. We need to get you out of here," the leader said, interrupting her again. abbey watched as the others started carting her stuff out of her shuttle. "Mr. Cornwell said you might resist."

To her surprise, he threw her over his shoulder and proceeded to walk out.

abbey began to scream, knowing that Grayson was behind this. That he planned all this. That he was taking her away from a place she felt safe for the first time in a long while. And he wanted to "handle" her child. Their child. Colt and hers. Together.

"COLT! HELP ME! COLT!" she screamed as she kicked her legs. This was not going to end this way. She was finally experiencing happiness and she was about to lose it all. Her hands reached up and grabbed hold of the catwalk railing. "PUT ME DOWN! NOW!"

As she held tight, she looked down and saw Grayson standing in the cargo bay.

"You ching-wah tsao duh liou mahng! You have no right!" she yelled at him.

The man carrying her managed to get her hands free and returned to carrying her downstairs.

"You seem to forget that as your handler, I most certainly do," Grayson reminded her. "This whole thing is unsafe. Unsafe for you and unsafe for Oram."

She knew he had his mind made up and he was going to do everything he could to make this move possible.

"COLT!"


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the doorbell Rattled as Spots entered the store

Clerk: (not looking up from his duties) Hello and welcome to Sullivan's ship supply how can I help you....(Looking up and seeing Spots face)... Misha they said you died.

Spots: And they were right Misha Andreevich Died that night. Its Spots now, i would like you to keep my return under your hat Tony (tapping the brim of his hat, Tony nodded) thanks

Tony: So what can I do for you?

Spots: Im shipped out on a Firefly that's in need of some repair

Tony: yeah we have plent of Firefly stuff laying around

Spots: Good, I need 2 docking clamps and a extender rail, and about 70 square feet of Solar Panels

Tony; yeah thats a can do... got money?

Spots: yeah (he pulls out a card a swipes it)

Tony: ok your all set, where is it getting delivered

Spots: Delivered?

Tony: yeah i owe you that much

Spots: Thanks Tony (tuning to leave)
I'll see you around


Tony: Hey Mish....Spots before you go, Roy would like to see you, he was crushed when you left.

Spots:... yeah if hes up to his old tricks, where can i see him?

Tony: here (handing spots a piece of paper with an address on it)

Spots: (at the door) Thanks again Tony... its good to see you

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Something shifting in her surrounds caused Oram to groggily open her eyes. The first thing she noticed was that the damn room was too bright before seeing that two uniform clad men were currently trudging through the galley.

What they were searching for was beyond her, but the panic that rose up her back and throat made her sober up pretty damn fast. She glanced around but couldn’t find her damn glasses and this time they weren’t on her face. Tugging her tank top down, she winced at the hiss of pain that escaped her lips.

One of the strangers swung around and pointed his gun at her. Not wanting to be shot in the face just yet, Oram slowly raised her hands as much as stiff, sore and injured muscles would allow.

Man: Rick, she’s awake. Makes the job easier not having to haul her pi gu off this sorry piece of crap.

Oram: The piece of crap is my home.

Rick: According to the boss, it ain’t anymore.

Oram felt the blood drain from her face. Taking her chances, she made to get up and escape but her foot caught on a fallen pillow and she fell to the ground with a pained cry. ‘Rick’, if that was his name, went to grab her shoulder not realising the recent injuries Oram had taken were still raw and that the pain medication had long since worn off. She couldn’t help the bloodcurdling scream of pain that escaped, but she did mean for her foot to connect with his knee and then his abdomen, he fell to his knees, dropping his gun.

Taking the split second she grabbed his weapon, but he was too fast and knocked it from her loose grip, his knee knocking some cracked ribs as he straddled her to try and get her limbs under some sort of control. Now she was fighting dirty and in response she spat in his face, blinding him but it didn’t stop her from head-butting him, doing nothing but mostly likely giving herself a mild concussion and a bleeding wound on her forehead.

Rick: Adrian, gorram help me! She’s high on something!

The two of them managed to force the small woman onto her front where they pulled her arms around to her back and using tie-wires to bound her hands together so she didn’t cause anymore trouble. She naturally swore and screamed at them in anger and pain, feeling her head swim from them jostling her injuries around, nor could she prevent the hot tears from falling in frustration and fear. Of course it wasn’t the first time she’d been subdued and bound by the law, but usually it was while being dragged away from a confrontation while drunk and disorderly from some musky bar.

Well, then again…

The men picked her up and dragged her non-too-gently down to the cargo bay and her swimming head could register another set of raised voices that she knew were Abbey’s … and Grayson.

Instantly she knew the bastard was behind this and she swore to kick him in the crutch next chance she got.

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At first Colt didn’t give the large truck parked in front of the Book a second thought. Spots had gone into town for parts. It was probably just a delivery. It was when he saw the hover parked next to it come into view that he locked up the brakes on the mule. Hovers in general were expensive. This one was very expensive, more for a show than for work. Whoever it belonged to wasn’t dropping off parts.

He pulled the mule off the road into a ditch. Mobbex spotted the sentries, one near the truck, the other at the rear of the Book. Not only were they not dropping off parts, they were expecting trouble.

Colt assessed the situation and gave Mobbex the plan. The two men split off in different directions. Colt circled high and out of sight toward the truck. Once he was in position near the truck, he waited for the Mobbex. He cringed as he heard the engine of the new Mule rev high. It came flying down the road and veered toward the rear of the Book. Mobbex had the throttle peg as he closed the final few meters to the guard. The man spun towards him and raised his rifle. He was too late. Mobbex leaped from the Mule and caught the guard with an elbow to the chin, turning off his lights.

The driver of the truck jumped out and started towards the back of the Book. He was about to use the comm, when Colt knocked him out with the butt of his gun.

“Two down and who knows how many left on board” Colt said as he turned headed up the ramp, his pistol, holstered, his hands raised high.

He was met on the ramp by two uniformed officers. They locked their weapons on him and began to shout orders. Colt stopped dropped his gun belt,and placed his hands on his head. Then he heard Abbey scream his name.

Mobbex added the guard’s weapons to his own and did the same with the cash he was carrying. He stuck to the plan hoping that Colt wasn’t already dead. Not so much because he respected, cared or even much liked him, but it would just be easier to get out of this mess with an extra gun around. Once he made it up the ladder to the top of the Book he glanced down at the Mule, it had flipped a few times after he jumped off and from the amount of smoke pouring out of it, the engine would be ruined. It might be better if Colt was already dead, the merc thought as he made it the airlock.

Colt tried to keep his cool as he was led the rest of the way up the ramp. His muscles tensed as he heard Abbey scream his name again. He stepped inside the cargo bay. He eyes adjusted swiftly to the lighting. He saw Oram covered by one officer, Brit and Wash were nowhere to be seen. He heard Abbey’s voice again. It was coming from her shuttle. He started to jerk free from the escorts, but froze in his steps as he saw the man leading Wash into the bay, Grayson.

“Captain” He nodded smugly.

“What are you doing on my ship? Where is Abbey?" Colt said angrily.

“I’m doing my job” Grayson replied shoving Wash down to the floor. “Those women are my responsibility and although I have neglected my duty as of late I assure you I will not again.”

“Sorry Colt, they caught me napping” She said.

“Where are the others? Your first mate, mechanic, and that man ape you keep around?” Grayson said calmly as he trained his pistol on Colt.

At that moment Abbey came out on the catwalk. She was being carried by two officers, fighting the whole way.

“Grayson you can't do this” she pleaded almost in tears. She saw Colt and redoubled her efforts to escape her captures. “Colt don’t let him do this….Grayson, he…he wants to abort the baby.”

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Quote:

---

Originally posted by Colt99:
“Grayson you can't do this” abbey pleaded almost in tears. She saw Colt and redoubled her efforts to escape her captures. “Colt don’t let him do this….Grayson, he…he wants to abort the baby.”

---

"Oh give me a BREAK!" Grayson laughed cynically. "You don't actually believe you were going to go through with it, did you?"

He waved the gun wildly back and forth between Colt and abbey.

"You know it isn't smart, abbey," he said in an patronizing manner. "If you needed to bolt, could you do it while carrying an infant or even a small child? Please..."

He motioned outside with his head.

"So I decided what needed done in case you were considering on being stupid," Grayson continued smugly. "Maybe I should have him fix it so you won't have to worry about this kind of thing ever again. It's not smart and you know it abbey."

Grayson turned to Colt and steadied the gun on him.

"And I blame you."




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After a city bus ride Spots found himself back in St. Peters square, unaware of the strife back at the book. It was Evening now and the Statue of Peter the Great was lit up casting a foreboding figure against the dwindling light of the skyline. The rattle of Balalaika music floating out of one of the nearby cafes, Ezra was populated by mostly people of Russian decent, with all the shops signage in 3 languages Russian, English, and Chinese. It had seemed like a life time ago,some say it was, when he first came here after his "Graduation" from the Alliance Facility. He stood on this very corner of the square and seen the Hero from earth that was. It was here that he took a new name and began a life control by the "organization" or as most folk called it the "thief's guild." about 2 years ago at the bar at the corner of Gorokhovaya and Krazanskaya streets that he "died" for leaving the "guild" leaving 6 dead and 3 wounded men around him he left the bar only to collapsed from the wounds that he had received. For months he was under the care of an old woman, that picked him up off of the street. after a full recovery he ran for a year he though they would find him but they did not, his "price tag" was too much to pay.

With his thoughts returning to the present he opened the note that Tony had scribbled Roy's Address 121 Lyoni Street. Quickly covering the 3 blocks to the address, Spots found himself standing in front of an Inn, smelling of Cheep Vodka and Shashlik

Spots entered slowly scanning the mostly empty public house. a man sat alone at the bar, Spots walked over and sat next to the man.

Spots: (to the barkeep) Comerade, I'll have a Beer and some shashlik with peppers and mushrooms

the Barkeep nods

Roy: funny... i knew a guy that used to order shashlik like that

Spots: Im sure its fairly common. (not looking up)

Roy: no not around here

Spots: well then what are the odds....

Roy; no (he mutters to himself)

Spots (looking up from his drink) its good to see you Roy

Roy: Misha its not possible your dead!!!

Spots: it is... Misha is dead... Roy I need some help.

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Grayson seemed not quite sane. He had a gun and waving it around a little too much.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by GraysonCornwell:
"You know it isn't smart, abbey," he said in an patronizing manner. "If you needed to bolt, could you do it while carrying an infant or even a small child? Please..."

---

He was running off at the mouth, very nearly spilling her secrets to anyone standing nearby. She cast a sideways glance at Colt to see what his reaction was, but saw nothing to be concerned with... yet.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by GraysonCornwell:
"So I decided what needed done in case you were considering on being stupid," Grayson continued smugly. "Maybe I should have him fix it so you won't have to worry about this kind of thing ever again. It's not smart and you know it abbey."

---

abbey's jaw just dropped. He couldn't be serious... could he? She looked back at Colt again, fear evident in her eyes. Then the situation got worse. Grayson had trained his gun on Colt.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by GraysonCornwell:
"And I blame you."

---

This couldn't be happening. Grayson had been such a good friend once. He had even been more than that a long time ago in their past. Now he seemed jealous beyond reason.

"Grayson... Don't hurt him!" she yelled as she wrenched herself free from the guard carrying her and ran towards the two men.


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Quote:

---

Originally posted by abbey:
"Grayson... Don't hurt him!" she yelled as she wrenched herself free from the guard carrying her and ran towards the two men.

---

abbey ran towards Grayson in particular, wanting to get the gun off of Colt. As she got near him, he sidestepped her and grabbed her arm to stop her. As she spun around, he delivered a strong backhand to her face, knocking her back a couple of feet and onto the ground.

All the while, the gun still trained on Colt.


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Roy: This is as far as I go pal.
Spots: thanks Roy… for everything
Roy; well consider us even I always pay a debt.
Spots: well I happen to know you don’t but it’s a nice sentiment. (Stepping out of the car placing his Jericho pistol in his waist band)
Roy; yeah well.. I do what I can. Ok remember Rune should be waiting for you in the by warehouse #6
Spots; well I still don’t trust it but I have to do this I made a promise.
Roy; it will be fine Rune doesn’t like his job much anyhow.
Short silence
Roy: good luck Misha.
Spots: thanks Roy… see you on the other side.
( Roy turns the car about and Spots runs off into the darkness.

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Warehouse #6

Rune was waiting for his contact. He had a favor to do for Roy and Roy had said this guy was genuine. Roy had never steered him wrong, but he was still on edge.

On edge was mainly due to not knowing who the guy was. Roy said he went by a couple of names, but he didn't know which one he was using now and he didn't want to compromise any identity his friend was using.

Roy owed him as much.

So Rune leaned up against the building at the appointed place and waited. He was on guard though. The uncertainty still making his concerned.

But he trusted Roy and he hoped that if things went wrong, he would still be alive just so he could plug the hundan with a couple of holes.




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Abbey hit the floor and Colt instinctively moved towards her. A shot rang out and Colt braced for the bullet's impact. There was none. He turned to Grayson only to see him looking up to the catwalk. There stood Mobbex, auto rifle in one hand scatter gun in the other.

“Didn’t see that coming did ya? ” Mobbex said smiling broadly.

Grayson spun his side arm back to Colt, but he was too late, Colt had closed the space between the two and gripped his pistol hand at the same time he landed a vicious blow to Grayson’s ribs. Colt smashed Grayson’s gun hand into a support shaft and the pistol skittered across the cargo bay floor. Wash kicked the guard neatest her hard in the knee and rolled across the floor coming up with the loose firearm. More strafing fire let loose from the catwalk freezing the extraction team in place.

Colt and Grayson were blind to all of this, they only saw blood. Grayson came at Colt with a flurry of blows most of which found their mark. Colt's body reeled back and he dropped to one knee. As Grayson came in for a quick finish Colt met him with a punch to the abdomen, then grabbed the back of his ankle and pulled him off balance. Rising he caught him across the bridge of his nose with an elbow and Grayson fell back, blood gushing from his freshly broken nose. He charged again with a wild swing that Colt ducked easily. It was a sucker play and Colt paid for it when Grayson connected with a roundhouse kick that sent Colt to the deck.

Grayson stood over him ““I seem to recall this didn’t work out well for you last time. You can’t hide behind Abbey this time”

“I assume you have a Doctor on your ship? You’ll be needing him” Colt replied.

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Quote:

---

Originally posted by Colt99:
“I assume you have a Doctor on your ship? You’ll be needing him” Colt replied.

---

"And it is too bad your doctor is injured, it's not like she'll be able to help you much," Grayson said chuckling a bit. He looked up at Mobbex and sighed. "Since you have your watchdog up there, what do you say we handle this man-to-man."

Grayson remembered the last time they fought. He would have won if abbey didn't interfere. After all, he was a trained professional law man. Colt was just some poser. A wannabe. Someone who just wanted to be in abbey's life. He had to knock her up to do it.

Colt shouldn't be in her life. It should've been him. And he'd already decided that if he couldn't be in her life, then no one could. No matter how he did it. Plan A was to take out Colt and Plan B was something he'd rather not do.

"What about it?" Grayson asked as he handed his gun to one of his lackeys. "Are you man enough?"


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Quote:

---

Originally posted by GraysonCornwell:

"What about it?" Grayson asked as he handed his gun to one of his lackeys. "Are you man enough?"

B]

---

“I think you’ll find I’m up to the task.” Colt said coldly.

The two men moved cautiously to the center of the cargo hold, each sizing up the other.

“Uh….Captain?” Mobbex interrupted “When he kicks your ass, do I shoot him, or let him go?”

Colt stared angrily up at the merc “He’s not kicking my…” His string of words was cut off as Grayson landed a hard right hook to Colt’s jaw.

Colt spun with the punch and got his hands up in time to block the follow up kick. Grayson feinted with his left and followed with another solid right, pounding Colt to the deck. He stomped down on Colt’s head, the sole of his boot splitting Colt’s cheek.

Colt swung and caught Grayson behind the knee toppeling him. Colt rolled away and slowly rose. He pressed the palm of his hand to the gash on his face and turned towards Grayson.

Grayson got to his feet and brushed off his pants. “This won’t take long” he said to Abbey. “Then I’ll deal with you”

Colt charged. Grayson easily sidestepped, then spun and landed a vicious kick to Colt’s back, sending him sprawling across the deck again. This time he didn’t get up.

Grayson looked from Colt to Mobbex. “This fight is over. I’m putting a bullet into his skull and taking Oram and Abbey off this boat. You can stop me or take your new ship and be on your way… Captain.”

“Hmmm“ Mobbex contemplated ”Tempting offer, to be sure. There’re a couple of problems with that. Abbey’s rent, well that’s just about the only thing keeps us afloat. ‘Tween that and this fight not being quite over, I think I’m gonna have to pass.”

Grayson turned to see Colt, beaten, bloody but standing right behind him. Colt grabbed Grayson’s hair and head butted him in his already broken nose. Grayson threw a punch and Colt easily grabbed his wrist. Twisting his body away he pinned Grayson’s arm. Colt pried open Grayson’s fist and pushed his fingers back until he heard the satisfying “pop” of all four fingers. Grayson screamed, but Colt continued, sweeping the back of his leg and forcing the man to his knees. Once there Colt pulled up, dislocating Grayson’s elbow. Grayson’s world went black.


Grayson came too bound, along with the extraction team. Colt was standing over him gun in hand.

“So you’re going to shoot me now?” he said.

“Can’t think of a compelling reason not to” Colt said leveling his pistol at Grayson. “You meant the same for me and mine.

“I have a job to do. I was doing my job. You can’t protect her.” Grayson looked at Colt then smiled “She hasn’t even told you, has she?”

Abbey approached, Colt started to object but Abbey touched him gently on the arm and gave him assuring nod"

“Grayson, don’t contact me again. I’m not your property. You of all people should know better than that. I’m no longer your job”

“Abbey you are making a huge mistake." Grayson protested "I have been able to keep you off the radar. He’s an outlaw, a petty thief. The attention he draws will get you noticed. I can protect you.”

“How is taking my child protecting me?” Abbey said hatefully.

“I should have discussed with you my reasons. It’s was only…” Abbey interrupted him.

“Go Grayson, We’re done” She said coldly “As far as I’m concerned, I’ll take my chances. And don’t think about turning the Alliance on us because of this. I still have my insurance, and I will use it if you force me to”

Wash and Mobbex got the team to their feet and started them towards the door. Grayson stopped and looked at Oram. "My offer still stands Oram. You can walk away from this insanity"

Oram shot him the finger.

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Colt closed up the ramp when Grayson and his team were ushered out, just in case they decided to come back.

Spots was still out, but he could get back in if he wanted to.

Colt touched his cheek to see he was bleeding, but he turned to look at abbey.

"Are you OK?" he asked since she had her hand on her stomach. She nodded to say that she was, then he went on to the other question he wanted to know. "So... What haven't you told me yet?”

abbey cringed inside and then took a breath. She wasn't ready to tell him. Sure, they were having a baby, but it was a part of her life she really wanted to be done with.

She took a deep breath and the lying began...

"A couple of years ago, I worked at a large casino on Ariel. I did a private gaming session with some local folk. Turned out that they were less than nice people. Well they had a bad night, lost a lot of money to me and took exception to that. They were a little more than miffed and decided that they wanted to make an example of me. Hired a hit man and everything. The guy was very good. It was only through an incredible streak of luck that I am still here to tell the tale.

"There was nothing that could be traced back to the men in question so I was relocated to this kind of position; one that was always on the move. Grayson was the one who monitors where I am and forwards any info along to me. Kinda like a case worker. His job is to check in on me. He usually does it by scheduling a game. Perfect cover. He also keeps an eye out on these people’s movements in case they are still looking for retribution.

"That's it. Nothing much."

One of these days, she would tell him. She just couldn't do it right now.



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Colt stared at Abbey. She looked exhausted, worn out from the whole ordeal. Still it gnawed at him that she wasn’t telling the truth, at least not all the facts. Grayson had been dogging their heels since she set foot on his vessel. Hard to believe the fed would take this much interest over a gambling confrontation.

He mulled over confronting her. It did occur to him that Grayson might be right. He couldn’t safeguard her if he didn’t know from what, but he decided to wait. He had enough fighting for today. However, before the baby was born, he would have the truth of it.

He turned to Oram “Doc, you think you can battle through the pain and patch me up?”

He half expected her to shoot him the finger, but she grimaced and led him to the infirmary. Abbey didn’t leave his side and assisted Oram in stitching up his face. When she finished Colt examined her work in the mirror. It would scar but not too bad.

“Now check her out” Colt said motioning to Abbey.

“I’m fine” Abbey started but Colt was having none of that.

“Doc’s up and around until her next dose, you took quite a fall back there. I want you checked out.” Colt ordered.

He told the Doc to rest when she finished examining Abbey and went back into the cargo hold. Mobbex was coming up the ramp with what looked to be the busted mule they had just purchased.

"Oops" Mobbex said sheepishly.

“Push it back outside” Colt said shaking his head “Spots has enough to do without adding that to the list.”

He reached into his wallet and pulled out his remaining cash. “Can’t work without transport, find what you can with this” he said handing Mobbex the money.

“I could just steal us one” The big merc replied.

“No, feds aren’t here by now, means Grayson didn’t turn us in, but no doubt their watching us close. Let’s not go giving them a reason.”

Mobbex nodded and pushed the wreck back down the ramp. As he was leaving Brit came walking in her arms full of wildflowers.

“So you were out picking daisies?” Colt questioned.

Brit looked at the collection of flowers in her arms. “I didn’t find any Bellis Perennes, but I could go look again.”

She started back down the ramp but Colt quickly caught up to her. “No that’s ok those will do fine. No more wandering off. Why don’t you go find a vase…” Colt looked at the flowers again “A bunch of vases and put them in.”

Colt saw abbey coming out of the infirmary “Everything ok?”

“Oram said I’m fine. Just another bruise, I’m getting quite the collection.” She said smiling.

Her smile warmed Colt. He took her hand, they walked towards her shuttle. Once inside he pulled her close. The two kissed. The notification beep from her comm went off. She started to pull away.

“Ignore it” Colt said pulling her back.

“It could be work and I think you just gave Mobbex the last of our money”

“Our money” Colt said with a smile of his own.

Abbey moved to the vid screen and pushed the button. The screen flashed and Adelia Niska appeared. “My dearest Abbey, I was calling to confirm our game”

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Never mind... There is nothing to see here... Move along!

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abbey was so happy that Oram checked everything out and besides the bruise on her face, the baby was just where a 'peanut' of nine weeks should be. It was almost too cute the way that Colt had ordered her to get checked out.

Maybe this could work out, she thought.

He walked her to her shuttle, holding her hand and once inside, he pulled her close and they kissed. It felt so good. Like this was the way things should be. Things were about to get hot and heavy when the notification beeper signified a wave was coming in.

He wanted her to ignore it and she seriously considered it for a moment, but they needed cash.

They... She smiled.

When she turned on the screen things went from good to bad. The face of Adelei Niska looked back at her.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Colt99:
“My dearest Abbey, I was calling to confirm our game”

---

"Mr. Niska... I didn't expect to hear from you so soon," she said putting on a friendly smile. "You have the requisite number of players?"

"Yes," Niska said. "Four including myself. This should be a very interesting evening, yes?"

"Of course, Mr. Niska," abbey said congenially. "I look forward to it."

abbey cut off the wave and stood there without turning around.

"I had to Colt," she said softly. "He made me an offer I couldn't refuse. And when I said I couldn't refuse it, I was literal."


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The Sky was moonless as Spots ran down the alley ways between warehouses. Ducking into the shadows when ships flew over, his mind was racing with the this adventure will play out, is it a double cross from the old man was Roy still working for him, would he find his sister in time, and every variation his mind could see. Then he saw it Warehouse #6, Spots scanned the exterior for any persons or a door. There was light coming out from a door on the western side of the building so Spots crept up to the door, a figure began to move out of the door,
He covered the distance between them quickly grabbing the back of the man’s shirt and slamming him against some adjacent boxes. With his gun already drawn and placed to the man’s temple he began to question his new prisoner.

Spots: WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
Man: Jesus Christ?
Spots: I doubt that!
Man: What?
Spots: Never Mind who are you?
Man: my name is Steven
Spots: Well Steve I’m looking for a guy named Rune {holstering his pistol and truing Steve to so they were face to face}
Steve: Rune… Rune… yeah he’s one of the guys guarding the warehouse,
Spots: well Steve could you find him for me?
Steve: well…
Spots: and I will let you leave this place with your life.
Steve: oook
Spots released Steve and minuets later he returned with the man called Rune.
Rune: So you’re the one that Roy told me about.
Spots: yeah I am
Steve: can I go now….
Spots: I would suggest that… get out of here.
Steve: don’t have to tell me twice [Steve ran off into the darkness]
Rune: So what do you want?
Spots: I heard that there was a shipment of Slaves that might interest me
Rune: So it’s a girl you want eh
Spots: it’s my sister.
Rune: well I can help you with that. Let me guess about 5’ 6” and scary as all get out… I can see the family resemblance.
Spots: Sounds about right…So where his she?

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Quote:

---

Originally posted by Spots74:
Spots: Sounds about right…So where his she?

---

"Well the last I saw of her, a not so nice guy by the name of Niska had her," Rune told Spots. "She's in big trouble if he's interested."

Rune thought about the girl when he saw her.

"She didn't look too good either," he continued. "She was thin. She looked like she got a beating not too long ago. She was unkempt and looked just..."

She had no emotion.

"Well... she looked like they broke her, you know what I mean?" Rune continued. "No fight in her at all."

Then he remembered the look in her eyes when he caught sight of her. There was something special, but he couldn't figure out what it was. Then he remembered what he heard her say. But he knew she didn't actually say anything, but...

It was all so confusing.

"Hey..." Rune said nervously, not wanting to sound like he was fong luh. "Does the word 'Spots' mean anything to you?"


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“No” Colt said far too loud “Not going to happen”

“I don’t have that luxury Colt” Abbey replied moving close to him “I accepted the game. If I cancel, he can register a complaint”

“Let him complain. Do I have to bring to mind, he cut off my finger?” Colt waved his right hand in front of Abbey’s face. “And he was just getting started. Not to mention you took up arms against his men in the ruckus. You think he’s just going to look over that?”

Abbey moved to the liquor cabinet and started inspecting the contents. “I doubt he knows of my participation, but if he does he can’t act against me. Game regulations, I’m allowed safe passage and there is no confrontation allowed during the game, from any party.”

“What about after the game? Didn’t you just inform me about a hit man coming after you because of a game?”

Abbey tensed. She was no more ready to tell Colt the truth now than she had been in the cargo bay, but he made a good point.
“That was a long time ago and completely different circumstances.” She went to the supply locker and started counting out chips. “I’ll be fine”

“Then I’ll come along” Colt said.

Panic swept through Abbey, she would be fine, at least she should be, but Colt could likely end up under Niska’s knife. “You’ll do nothing of the sort”

Colt crossed to her side and took the chips from her hand “I seem to recall telling you something along those lines, not two minutes ago. You said yourself , no confrontations from any party.”

Abbey snatched the chips back. She had had enough of this. “That protection is only for players, which you are not. This is my business. We had an agreement when I signed my lease that you would not interfere.”

“Things have changed Darlin’” Colt said as he moved his hand towards her stomach.

“They haven’t changed that much” Abbey said firmly pushing his hand away. “You don’t get to do that. I’m not some barefoot housewife, strapped to a stove. I’m taking this game because it’s my job. So unless you have the 5000 credit buy in. You're staying here, and that final.”

Colt stiffened and stepped away from her. “So you’re giving orders on my boat now?”

“Colt” Abbey said falteringly.

“No. Shiny, I’ll be back with my buy in, and once we're past this little hurdle, maybe it’s time we take another look at that lease.” Colt stomped out of the shuttle.

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How could she tell him that the reason she took Niska's game was not as simple as "it's a game" or the fact he could file a complaint.

Niska knew whose ship she was on. And he was still none too happy that he lost a great deal of coin to her the last time they met. So when he called the first time, she had two options.

One would be to not take the game. Niska explained to her that if that was the way she was going to go about it, then he could only surmise that she had cheated him. He didn't like cheaters. Cheaters needed to be dealt with and not by reporting them to the House. They would be dealt with by Niska's choice.

The other would be to take the game. Even though she would be stepping into the "belly of the beast," it would probably be safer. Taking the game meant that she had nothing to hide from Niska. But then again, she didn't know whether or not he would honor the House's rules on safe passage and playage. She had an inkling he would. If he didn't and she didn't report back in, he could be blacklisted. Not good for his reputation. But you could never be sure with a man like Niska.

She thought about telling him the reason why, but didn't want to since it would only heighten his anxiety. But she knew she had to explain some. She couldn't exactly allow him to do something crazy like pick her up and tie her to a chair somewhere so she couldn't go.

So again, she didn't have a choice, so she turned and followed Colt, nearly running to catch up with him.

"I have to take this game, Colt," she tried to explain. "I don't have any other choice! He knows that I rent a shuttle from you. He lost a lot of money to me last time. He said if I didn't take the game, that he could only assume that I was cheating. And he doesn't like cheaters. Could you imagine if he decided to come after me too?"

She could have slapped herself as soon as the word 'too' slipped from her mouth. Hopefully she could cover by making him madder.

"So, no matter what, you cannot come," she said insistently. "Not unless you have the buy in and I know you don't, so just drop it! I can take care of myself."


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“Five thousand credits. Might as well be a million” Colt muttered to himself. If Spots were back and the Book was patched up Colt would have locked down her shuttle and gotten as far away from here as possible.

Abbey came up behind him.

Quote:

---

"I have to take this game, Colt," she tried to explain. "I don't have any other choice! He knows that I rent a shuttle from you. He lost a lot of money to me last time. He said if I didn't take the game, that he could only assume that I was cheating. And he doesn't like cheaters. Could you imagine if he decided to come after me too?"

She could have slapped herself as soon as the word 'too' slipped from her mouth. Hopefully she could cover by making him madder.

"So, no matter what, you cannot come," she said insistently. "Not unless you have the buy in and I know you don't, so just drop it! I can take care of myself."

---

“You are treading on dangerous ground Abbey” Colt said coldly.

She wondered if he was talking about Niska or himself now. He was clearly angry. “Colt…” Before she could say another word, he cut her off.

“You said your piece.” Colt said and continued down the catwalk.

As Colt entered the cargo hold Mobbex was driving up the ramp in with the weirdest looking vehicle Colt had seen. It was small with a dome shaped roof. The seat in the rear had been flipped around so anyone riding; there would be facing backwards. This modification allowed for a very small storage bed to be added to the rear. The dome shape continued down the hood and huge round headlights gave the whole thing a very bug like appearance. Colt approached the rolling eyesore as Mobbex was prying himself from behind the wheel.

“What ya think?” Mobbex said proudly.

Colt kicked one of the tires and anticipated it popping. “You gave the last of our money for this?”

“Well it wasn’t like you gave me much to work with” Mobbex said perturbed. “But you ain’t seen the best part” Mobbex went to the other side of the bug and motioned for Colt to follow.

Colt circled the other side of the vehicle and saw an additional storage deck fastened like a sidecar. The deck had bins in front and a timber rail around the top to keep in cargo. Unfortunately, this addition meant everyone had to board from the other side of the vehicle.

Mobbex beamed “They threw that in for nothing, on account of my intimidating nature.”

Colt went to the drivers side and wedged hinself behind the wheel "Give me the keys"

Mobbex leaned in the window, grinning and dangling the keys “Want to take her for a test drive huh?”

"Something like that” Colt winced trying to get comfortable “When Spots gets back tell him to get those repairs done.”

Who on this rock would have five thousand credits Colt wondered as he headed off into the night.

LATER

Wade Accord woke up tied to the copilot seat of his own ship. He turned to see Colt flipping various toggles prepping the ship for flight.

“Sky didn’t mention you were a hijacker when she told me to hire you” He said, straining against his bonds.

“Doubt that’s the only thing she forgot to mention” Colt replied as he tossed a large sack on money onto the console in front of him.

“So you’re robbing me as well” Wade said angrily

Colt moved beside him and flips the docking release switches over his head. “Actually…no, this is a loan. One I wasn’t all together sure you would be willing to give so, I didn’t ask.” Colt smiled easily and continued to prep the ship. “As to the hijacking, I’m just hitching a ride. I need to get to the Skyplex and I was certain you would be in a hurry to get off world yourself after that incident in the bar.”

“You’re a dead man” Wade said.

“Maybe haps, but I’m hoping not. You heard of Niska?” he didn’t wait for a response. “That’s who I’m going to meet. I’m hoping that some of this cash will buy me some bygones, but if I miss my mark, he’s going to be first in line to see me dead.” Colt paused and thought of Abbey “Well maybe second”

Wade sank back into his chair “Sounding more li

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As soon as she heard Colt leave the ship, she readied the shuttle and took off for Niska's skyplex. With no other shuttle available, he'd be hard pressed to follow her. He'd never get the buy in, but he would still follow because of nobility's sake.

She arrived and once docked went about getting dressed for the game. She put on a short black skirt, with a fitted white button up shirt with sheer sleeves. She wore her hair down long and her make up was expertly applied (with some major cover-up to conceal the bruise Grayson gave her). Last was the pair of 3 inch heels that went on her feet.

She thought about dressing more sensibly, but it Niska wanted to do anything, even having a pair of sweats and sneakers on wouldn't help her. Might as well go out looking stunning.

abbey looked into the mirror and ran her hand over her belly.

"Well this won't fit much longer," she mused to herself. She smiled, gathered up her suitcase and left the shuttle, only to come face to face with the waiting Niska. She was surprised and a little scared at that fact, but kept it hidden. "Good Evening Mr. Niska."

"Surprised that I wait for you outside your door, yes?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Does it make you nervous?"

Yes, abbey wanted to say, but she managed to say something else.

"Of course not, why would I? I think it was very gentlemanly," she lied. She tilted her head slightly to indicate one of his henchmen standing behind him. "Could I borrow on of your employees to pull my case? I'd like to go to the gaming area as soon as possible. I have set up to do.'

Niska nodded at one of his guards and the man quickly came and took abbey's case off her load. As Niska lead her away from the shuttle, he spoke.

"I heard of your situation. You are pregnant, yes?"

abbey felt her stomach lurch into her throat.

"Y-yes..." she stammered. How did he know?

Niska merely smiled and led her further into the skyplex. He got her to the room where she set up and some time later her players started to show up. Her heart pounded as each arrived and they sat down. The first was Li Chang, a well known slaver in the Georgia System. The second was Tony Siringo who incidentally owned the facility that the Book's crew just trashed. abbey was glad that she had been wearing a wig when they had been there. He didn't seem to take any notice of her. The third was of course Niska and the last person through the door was of all people, Grayson. She didn't show any outward emotion, but she was still seething at the man. Was he the one who told Niska about the baby?

They were about to get started when one of Niska's men came up behind them and whispered into his ear.

"Interesting... I'll be right there," Niska said back to him. He got up and addressed abbey. "I apologize... I have to take a wave. We may have another player."

With that he left, leaving abbey in a room of slavers and a disgruntled law enforcement officer.

Juh jen sh guh kwai luh duh jean jan*, abbey thought to herself.

* This is a happy development (sarcastic)


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Quote:

---

"Does the word 'Spots' mean anything to you?"

---

Spots: Yes its my name.... well thank you for the info and good luck with what ever you doing. (Turns to leave)

Rune: HEY! Im coming with you... thats part of the deal with Roy.

Spots: {Roy always playing the angles}Ok well have to see what the Captain says, But let me tell you this... your employer will not be pleased and its hard road to make him forget.

Rune:Im ready. (following Spots as he walks)

Spots: (turning to face Rune) You damned well better be.

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Sorry about the extra post it was giving me a error

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When asked about the word "Spots" that he had 'heard' when the girl walked by, he was surprised and creeped out to find out that Spots was the man's name.

He'd been wanting to get out of his current line of work. Being a guard for the slave market was a decent enough job, but it didn't pay well. He had thought about buying a slave himself one day for personal pleasure, but it would take a while to save up for one that was pretty. He had barely saved anything so far.

Too bad he couldn't find another way to make some fast cash. Maybe this ship Spots talked about could be a way. You never know.

"The girl... I could have sworn she said the word Spots as she passed by, but it was weird because her mouth never moved," he told Spots. He shrugged. "Must be imagining things... even if it's a big ole coincidence."

He grabbed his duffle bag that sat near the door.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Spots74:
Spots: (turning to face Rune) You damned well better be.

---

"Wouldn't have brought my worldly belongings with me if I wasn't," he said as he slung his duffle over his shoulder. "Soooo... take me to your leader. This captain of yours. What's his name?"


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“Captain Colt…are you avake Captain Colt?” A thick accented voice asked.

Colt stiffened in the chair he was bound to. The hood over his head made it impossible to see who was speaking but he didn’t need to see him. He knew it was Niska. He had barely touched down on the Skyplex before Niska’s men had grabbed him.

Niska removed the hood. Colt squinted as his eyes adjusted to the light. Niska grabbed him under the chin and leaned in close. He turned his head side to side then stepped back and backhanded the thug standing closest to him. “I told you he was not to be harmed yet”

The thug rubbed his cheek “He was like that when we took him Mr. Niska. No one hit him”

“Ahh” Niska said leaning back into Colt. “You have had a busy day yes?”

‘I’m sorry still a little distracted by the “Yet” part of your last sentence. Thought we parlayed an agreement?” Colt resisted the urge to head butt the evil bastard. “Last time you had me under your knife you cut me loose on your own accord.”

“Yes..and I was handsomely rewarded for my kindness.” Niska turned and moved to the doorway “But your benefactor not so eager to come to your rescue now.” Niska let the threat hang in the air. “You brought the money you took, yes?”

“Minus my stake in the game” Colt nodded towards a bag sitting on the floor.

The chastised thug opened the bag for Niska’s inspection. The old man looked at the contents “This is not enough” reaching in the bag he pulled out two large stacks. “Now you loan money from Niska. I learned much about you after out last visit. You also have reputation, yes? Very protective of your crew. Willing to make hard choices where other men might hesitate, to protect them.” The old man move back to Colt and set the money in his lap. “Soon you will do job for Niska. If you refuse, you not be able to protect them anymore. Release him”

Colt rubbed his wrists where the cuff’s had bit into him. “Let’s play”

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abbey was already nervous being in a room with Niska, Siringo, the other slaver and Grayson, but she had no idea how much more uncomfortable things were about to get.

Niska came back from his "wave" and indeed brought another player. She was livid, annoyed, terrified and a bunch of other emotions all at once.

It was Colt. And he had that smirky look on his face. Like he was proud of the fact he was probably gonna end up dead because of this game.

All sort of swear words came to mind, but none seemed strong enough.

As people started to take their seats, abbey walked over to him, putting on a fake show of introducing herself to him.

"Hello, Captain. Welcome to the game," she said loud enough for everyone to hear. Then in a hushed tone she leaned a little closer. "Why are you rutting here? Are you stupid? Where'd you get the coin for the buy in?"

Then she spoke again loudly.

"When you are ready, you may choose a seat," followed with another hushed speech to him. "Not only do I have Niska, some slaver, Siringo and Grayson to worry about, now I have to worry about you? Niska and Grayson would have way too much fun making sure you became dead and Siringo? You know the guy we just practically destroyed his home and killed half his staff? Oh... This is gonna go so well."

Back to the public speech...

"I am making final preparations for the beginning of the game. It will just be a moment," she said before delivering the last little bit to him. Something he needed to know. "Oh, and Niska knows about the baby."

She gave him a hard, dirty look, turned and went to her station to finish up final tasks.


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