GR RP "Adventures in Gunrunning" ACT 21

POSTED BY: CapnRahn
UPDATED: Thursday, October 14, 2004 13:08
VIEWED: 20077
PAGE 1 of 1

PREVIOUSLY ON FIREFLY:
ACT 20: http://fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=17&t=6793

CREDITS & BIOS:
http://fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=17&t=3498

RPing TOOLS:
Tools and tricks for the hip RPer.
http://fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=17&t=4266

GREEN ROOM:
Storyline work and a place for the acKtors to hang out.

OOC 21 http://fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=17&t=7150

ARCHIVE:
Includes episode synopses and links to all the threads for prior acts
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=17&t=3681

MECHANICS OF RPing:
Tips and tricks and preferred RP methods, developed by the Gunrunners and Hitchers themselves
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=17&t=4266

DIRECTORIAL STAFF:
Guest DireKtor - DragonflyDireKtor { CapnRahn@aol.com AIM, MSN }
Guest Asst. DireKtor - MercedesTroy { tampa.cyberose@verizon.net AIM}
GameMaster - Geezer { fireflygeezer@cox.net }
Co-Director - FrauDirektor { htempe@hotmail.com, MSN, AIM: MissAstriana, Yahoo!: MissAstriana, ICQ: 9592266}
Co-Director - Channain { channain@yahoo.com; AIM}
Minion - DirektorsSmeagol { DirektorsSmeagol@aol.com } , MSN, AIM)

STUDIO OWNER & RP DISTRIBUTION:
FireflyFans.net produced by Haken

GENERAL POST GUIDELINES
None have been established yet. Each player has a unique style for posting a move that is consistent within itself. You'll catch on!

ACRONYM DEFINITIONS & TERMS
EOM = End of Move
OOC = Out Of Character
POV = Point Of View

Last but not least, the Gunrunners and Hitchers would like to extend a big THANK YOU to Joss Whedon for creating a whole new 'verse for us to play in, and to Haken for giving us a bright, shiny new sandbox theater!

JossGunrunners & Hitchers
HakenGunrunners & Hitchers

"Remember, there is only ONE absolute - There ARE NO absolutes!!!"

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW >>>
Roundabouts 1945hrs/ 7:45 PM AMT

MAL & BOOK - Mal's dorm

INARA & THORNE - Her Shuttle.

WASH, ZOE, KAYLEE & DAMON - On the bridge.

MERZ, ROWAN & RIVER - In the Infirmary.

JAYNE - Welding in the Cargo Bay.

SIMON, CORVAIR - Off on a tangent.

SLIGHT - Still in the GryFalcon - Dead?

JONAS HEXX - In New Hokkaido, casing the villa of The Shop

FROST - Still on ice.

NISKA - Hera - passed out on ly a kliometer from the city.

EARLY - Tied to a Reavers 'Kings Cross' and awaiting his Ceremony.

SAFFRON - Trying to hide from the same Reavers.

OR'SHA - Waiting for Hexx.

XIANG - Oroboros, beginning to feel the 'pressure' of the coup happening to the Enclave.

BOOMER - Selling leather-goods at the Uchigatana ReinAct Faire - unaware of her impending meeting with Nicoallez after the Faire closes

NICOALLEZ - Taking a break from telling stories at the entrance of the ReinAct Faire on New Hokkaido and checking out the Faire grounds.

"Observe Analyze & Respond"
Motto of the A.P.E.s
Alliance Protean Engineers

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Damon’s turn:
LOCATION - BRIDGE

Quote:

---

KAYLEE
"Just set 'em in the Engine Room, thanks. I will put 'em up later."

(Wash points to the tool bag, and asks Damon): “Hand her the soldering iron, please…”

---

Damon kneels down next to the toolbox and hands Kaylee the soldering iron and the spool of wire she’s reaching for. Knowing she’ll need some wire snips, he hands her those too.

“Need anything else from the engine room while I’m in there?”

He moves over to his pile of cleaning stuff and starts picking it up.



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

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KAYLEE’S move,

LOCATION - BRIDGE

DAMON reaches into her toolbox and fetches up the soldering iron and some other stuff she was needing. Mighty nice of him ta give her a hand. She plugs the iron in a handy socket and sets it down carefully away from any skin or other meltable items. She fetches the solder from her pocket where it had hidden.

DAMON
Need anything else from the engine room while I’m in there?

KAYLEE considers his question very carefully, while her hands continue to work on the console. Suddenly a thought hits her, something that came across her mind earlier, and was distracted clean away.

She stops what she is doing, and turns to face him. He has moved over to the cleaning supplies and is picking them up to put away.

KAYLEE
Ya know, I think I lied when I said there was nothin’ more to be done. But something got me thinking. Mr. Thorne says that conex is a little fragile to be slingin’ it about, and it’d be a bunch of effort emptying crates and re-packing that cargo.

She smiles brightly at Damon. We have some of those really long rubber bungee cords, as long as the bay is, ‘bout, say 60 feet or so. Kinda had a thought that half a dozen of those sorta braided together would make a nice brake for that box. Once it gets to the end and kinda stops before slinging back, cut the cords and it drops neat as ya please. See what I mean? But we need ta get it set up tonight. Are you game?

Oh and thanks for the clean-up in here, she motions towards the console. WASH turns a little pink himself, though not so much as the lightbulbs. It looks really good.

EOM



If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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Location: GyraFalcon
Time-not important.

The DeepRED detects that the strings have attached themselves, and plugged into the organs. Utilizing the power source, the DeepRED grinds these systems into action. Then it makes a horrible discovery-
These systems are in need of repair. Desperate need.
The DeepRED comes to another conclusion. There are limited supplies. The necessary componants are within this very ship. It sends 71 nanytes to scout for possible parts, and the needed supplies. The swarm lifts. As the it disperses, it resembles a cloud of smoke. . .or perhaps a soul, disappearing into the ether. . .

We can't all be heroes, since some of us have to sit at the curb and clap as they go by.

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Rowan’s Move
LOCATION - INFIRMARY
Rowan and Merz Blended Post

ROWAN (inwardly): Aunty Merz?

Charmed, Rowan bites her lips to hold back the smile, not wanting Merz to feel embarrassed and curious as to where she would have heard such vernacular, especially in this particular context. Would Troys think of themselves as a family unit?

RIVER: Fa-Zhou Rowan, River Tam.

Hearing her last name, Rowan blinks in surprise, wondering if River just knows, or if Rowan might have let it slip. She can't recall giving it to Reynolds or mentioning it to anyone else. How long, she wonders, would it take for them to guess who her father is?

MERZ begins her examination of the girl. MERZ gazes carefully into her eyes and inhales deeply, catching her exhalations. Finding nothing particularly troubling, except for indications of the stress she is clearly under, MERZ moves on. Carefully and slowly, beginning with her head, she runs light fingers over RIVER’s skin; feeling for warm spots or other discontinuities, gently moving the joints, pressing lightly on various junctions and nerve bundles. It is a methodical and apparently long practiced analysis of her physical condition.

Rowan frowns, watching Merz's meticulous examination with interest. So maybe the theories on Troy biotech is true?

ROWAN: "I could hook her up to the physio-analysis system. Wouldn't take but a minute."

MERZ looks at ROWAN, head tilted to one side. She raises up her left hand and forms a fist in front of her own eyes.

MERZ: "This equipment is a luxury I normally do not have. Machines can malfunction, can lie."

She slowly opens her hand and turns the palm toward ROWAN, turning her face toward her at the same time.

MERZ: "This I can trust above all things. Not perfect. Don't claim that. But a known quantity." She lowers her eyes and her hand. "I need that, right now."

Thinking of her own installation of the holo-billiards system in the galley, Rowan can heartily agree. There is something to be said for the comfort of situations and conditions that are wholly and completely understood.

ROWAN (softly): "shì...wánquán dŏng." She breathes a long sigh. "Well, you won't mind if I try to render a second opinion, will you? I should probably see if I remember how this system works."

Moving over to the controls, she pulls up the system, activates it and returns with two wireless electrodes. Looking at the two bits of metal and plastic in her hands, she glances at River and considers what bringing medical instruments close to the girl might do. One could only guess what may have been done to her in the Academy with the assistance of instruments similar to these. And they had just gotten her calmed down.

When River looks over, Rowan already has her hands behind her back, hiding the electrodes.

ROWAN: On second thought, why don't you be the diagnostician. I'll take notes."

EOM

shì...wánquán dong = yes...understand completely


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

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Malachi's Move
Location: so close, but yet so far.



Holding it up above his head and looking through it into the muted white light, Malachi flicks a bubble to the top of a syringe and squirts the excess fluid into the air. His nostrils widen slightly as he slides the needle into the vein on his arm. Book. Malachi's eye twiches in derision I will cause him to suffer if I don't find that card. The fool... letting it go.

Letting out a great breath, he releases the strap on his bicep and feels the drug rush through his system. His face and hands quickly turn a shade of blue, and for a few minutes euphoria overwhelms his senses. As the color fades from his skin, a signal light flashes and a voice in Chinese chimes emotionlessly from the comm speakers, "10 hours."


EM

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MERZ move

LOCATION - INFIRMARY

MERZ watches ROWAN reassess using the lab’s diagnostic equipment. By the time RIVER glances in her direction, ROWAN has already reconsidered.

ROWAN
On second thought, why don't you be the diagnostician. I'll take notes.

… good thought. too many reasons to leave that machine out of the equation …

MERZ
Examination shows some evidence of cranial intrusion in the past, but well healed and not of particular note at this time. If causing this distress, is beyond my ability to alleviate. No visible or hidden trauma detected other than the slight scrapes on her knees. Those I will clean now. Unable to find physical reason for her misery. I lack the … understanding … of … she trails off into silence. How to explain that she cannot understand how these civilians process thought enough to tell what is normal or abnormal for them? She and I do not really understand one another. I thought you might comprehend her better.

She approaches the cabinets and locates some swabs and disinfectant, and busies herself cleaning the shallow wounds on RIVER’s knees.

EOM



If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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River
LOCATION - INFIRMARY

River lies on the medical bed with Rowan on one side and Merz on the other. She seems to have completely tuned them out as she idely braids a small piece of her hair while staring up at the ceiling. Kaylee is better, Book is with Mal, Rowan is better, Damon isn't so worried. Things are almost back to where they are supposed to be. If only Simon were here...

"Nightmares are gone but they'll be back."



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

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Damon's turn:
LOCATION - BRIDGE

Quote:

---

KAYLEE
Ya know, I think I lied when I said there was nothin’ more to be done. But something got me thinking. Mr. Thorne says that conex is a little fragile to be slingin’ it about, and it’d be a bunch of effort emptying crates and re-packing that cargo.

She smiles brightly at Damon. We have some of those really long rubber bungee cords, as long as the bay is, ‘bout, say 60 feet or so. Kinda had a thought that half a dozen of those sorta braided together would make a nice brake for that box. Once it gets to the end and kinda stops before slinging back, cut the cords and it drops neat as ya please. See what I mean? But we need ta get it set up tonight. Are you game?

---

There is no end of work on this ship. Least I'm not dead weight or they wouldn't need me around.

Damon picks up the last of the cleaning supplies and stands up. Truth be told, he's glad to have work to keep him busy. Free time only lets his mind wander to where it oughtn't and it's not like he has anything better to be doing.

"Yeah, sure. I'll see what Jayne and Merz are up to."

Quote:

---

KAYLEE
Oh and thanks for the clean-up in here, she motions towards the console. It looks really good.

---

Damon smiles. Getting thanked and complimented for his work is still something he's getting used to. "Thanks, but next time I think we should make the mess makers do their own dirty work." He throws a smile at Wash and heads for the engine room.




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

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Rowan’s Move
LOCATION - INFIRMARY

Taking out the hand-held, Rowan sets up a new audio file and sets it to record. In a sub window, she pulls up a note file and uses a stylus to begin jotting down notes. Observation, possible Troy - Academy refugee.

MERZ: Examination shows some evidence of cranial intrusion in the past, but well healed and not of particular note at this time. If causing this distress, is beyond my ability to alleviate. No visible or hidden trauma detected other than the slight scrapes on her knees. Those I will clean now. Unable to find physical reason for her misery. I lack the … understanding … of …

ROWAN's NOTES: Almost autonomic knowledge of anatomy and first aid. Approach is more similar to a mechanic's attitude toward the workings of a hover trans than a human.

MERZ: She and I do not really understand one another. I thought you might comprehend her better.

Merz approaches the cabinets and locates some swabs and disinfectant, and busies herself cleaning the shallow wounds on RIVER’s knees.

ROWAN: "Oh, I don't know about that. I have a feeling you two might have a lot more in common than you might expect."

Glancing up, Rowan sees River lying quietly on the bed as Merz takes care of the knee scrapes. Braiding her hair like that, with the singular self-distraction more reminiscent of a small child than a teenager, Rowan can't help but feel animosity to the all-powerful THEM that put her into this condition. What Merz said about the cranial intrusion only leans Rowan toward the confirmation that River is indeed a victim of the Academy. Rowan would, however, stalwartly disagree that it is "not of particular note at this time," as Merz so succinctly put it.

FLASHBACK
She walked into his office while still reading the data sheet in front of her, and didn't notice how the conversation stopped the minute she stepped in. "I finished the next wave if you want to take a look at it. I think I managed to find that angle we were…"

Realizing there was another person in the room, she looked at Robert and realized. "Oh, sorry, I'm interrupting."

He looked over at Robert and the two shared a significant look that made her frown.

"What's going on?" she asked.

He picked up a data sheet from the desk and held it out for her. Moving forward, she took it and saw that it contained the latest intelligence information about the Alliance institution called The Academy. Thinking of Ru, she smiled at first and pictured her brother there as a star student impressing the hell out of the academic community. That smile faded as she read on, and eventually felt the frown form.

"This can't be right," she said. Looking up, she met his eyes and seeing bald truth, switched to Robert. He had the same look. "My brother went there when he was sixteen."

He got up from behind the desk and moved around toward her. "Rowan."
She ignored him. "That means they've had their hooks into him for over a decade."

He tried again. "Mêilì Long."

"Gûnkai," she replied succinctly, and switched to Chinese. "Look me in the eye and try to tell me my brother has not been changed into some kind of monster. I defy you."

He couldn't do either one. He could only stand there, looking at her. He wanted to say he was sorry, but knew she wouldn't accept that from him either. So he held out his arms to her instead. Rowan wanted to scream, she wanted him to fight with her, to help her exorcise her rage. Instead she went to him, held on to him and crumpled that datasheet in one hand as she sobbed silently into his strong shoulder.

END FLASHBACK

ROWAN: (inwardly): And it's happened all over again, hasn't it?

Rowan swallowed hard to dislodge the lump in her throat. It helped work through the stab of p

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JAYNE'S move
LOCATION – CARGO BAY

ROWAN
"You can try to be as bad as you want to be, Jayne Cobb, but you and I both know when it comes down to it, you know where you stand. That is indeed a rare thing."

Jayne doesn't know quite what to make of that, and is content to just mull it over in his head as Rowan disappears from the cargo bay. Ah, soon they'd all be gone and everyone could settle down again, all nice and normal.

Now, where was he? Right, the work. Jayne breathes deeply, powers up the stick welder, and continues his work.

Jayne quickly becomes lost in the welding again. The sweat of his chest and back shimmer in the light of the welder, and he starts humming a tune his father taught him.

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MERZ move

LOCATION - INFIRMARY

ROWAN: "Merz, I've been having some pain I can't identify. Are you by any chance able to identify narcotics in the blood stream with those magic fingers of yours?"

MERZ just looks at Rowan with her head tilted to one side.
MERZ: "I do not have the skill to perform a chemical analysis in the same fashion as a physical assesment. If you do, I would appreciate being shown the technique. I can do a simple assesment by taste and smell - if it is something I am trained to recognize, that would be sufficient. For anything complex or uncatagorized, I would want to use the equipment. Let's get a blood sample."

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress.

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LOCATION - MALs DORMS
As ...

BOOK
"You have much on your mind. And you obviously haven't slept in far too long."
Reaching down, Book opens a drawer and sets the gun inside. He raises his eyebrows and looks questioningly at Mal
"I'll have Inara bring you something for your head. She has quite a stockpile of soothing teas."

Mal hold up a hand, indicating he wants Book to 'hold on'.

MAL
his voice drops deeper - constricted
"Wait ... si ... I mean, Please Sit."

Mal continues, unheeding of Book's response. Through his clenched jaw with barely constrained furor, Mal's words course. A veritable palette of raw seething emotion paints these softly spoken words. Crimson anger boiling in the forge of known and potential betrayal. A vile fog, the shade of puce, layers the shades of emotion as a veil of indecision. Mixing this miasma, a muddy brown tide of frustration swirls and distorts the other feelings within Mal. Neon green flashes of lightning hold the presence of Inara and Mal's unsettling connection with her. Darklighted on the fringes of all this burning, a shadow flits and flashes. Hopelessness seems to devour the other sensations a tiny particle at a time. Book is nearly set back on his heels from the non-verbal onslaught. In all the conversations, spoken and otherwise, Book has shared with Mal, he never sensed the full force of these brutal flares of loathing and depression.

MAL
Eyes locked on Book - hard and flinty edged in challenge, as if expecting ... more
"Is a man supposed to pay for his past sins in the here-and-now or in the afterlife?"

EOM

OOC
Pretentious, ain't it!

"Remember, there is only ONE absolute - There ARE NO absolutes!!!"

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The DeepRED suddenly gives off a warning:
POWER LOW! RECHARGE!
The fuel cells in the biologics body whould have lasted for several years more. But the combined distortion of the initial EMP attack and the accelerated generation of a new nanyte brood have drawn heavily on the mutated biological soup that generates energy.
The DeepRED reviews data on the power cells. Spheres, with energy "poles" at opposite ends. These poles collect energy from the carefully cultured bacteria. The bacteria is similar to the bioluminescent bacteria from Earth that Was. The bacteria was tailored to generate a more effecient energy type than light itself. If drawn at a set rate, the bacteria will keep itself maintained and create enough power to maintain, and will even charge at times to have a backup when neccessary. However, the bacteria, if drained, will "dim," and eventually go out unless an electrical surge is maintained for twelve minutes. The DeepRED considers options, and reviews the reports from the scouts. There is a terminal nearby, with its own power source. The nanyte brood, now numbering 17,823,402 units, begins to collect at the back of the neck, forming an umbilical. It slowly grows, slithering like a dying man to water, towards the terminal. . .

We can't all be heroes, since some of us have to sit at the curb and clap as they go by.

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River

River lies on the medical bed, lost in thoughts and memories of Simon. If she could only know that he'll be alright... She soon drifts into sleep.

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

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Damon's turn:
LOCATION - CARGO BAY

After dropping off the cleaning supplies in the engine room, Damon makes his way down to the cargo bay. Mal is still talking to Book, which is fine. Damon's not in a hurry to get in there, Mal will call again when he needs to.

Looking down from the catwalks, Damon sees Jayne hard at work. By the looks of it, he's been working a while. Damon makes short work of the stairs and walks over to Jayne.

"Hey, Jayne, how's it goin?"

(pause for Jayne's answer)

"Need any help 'fore I get started on my next job?"




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

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JAYNE'S move
LOCATION – CARGO BAY

More clattering of feet. Jayne turns his head to see who it. He sees absolutely nothing directly in front of him, temporarily blinded as his eyes adjust. It's a big guy, though, and the unfamiliar gait tells Jayne that it may be Damon.

DAMON
"Hey, Jayne, how's it goin?"

JAYNE
"Makin' progress", he says plainly. Damon's features finally become recognizable.

DAMON
"Need any help 'fore I get started on my next job?"

JAYNE
"Ya found more work ta do? Well, I was gonna get you to look into how we can drop this here load for Thorne, but I guess I can..."

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Book's Move
Location: Mal's Dorm


--------
MAL
Eyes locked on Book - hard and flinty edged in challenge, as if expecting ... more
"Is a man supposed to pay for his past sins in the here-and-now or in the afterlife?"

--------


"Some believe... that the here-and-now and the afterlife aren't so very different." Book, who had been standing next to Mal's cot, sinks down onto it, the hard pad very much like the one in his own quarters, the blanket coarse. "Heaven or Hell or whereever you end up when you die, is what you make of it, and so is this life. A man's guilt will haunt him forever. If you don't accept responsibility for your sins and allow them to be taken from you... they will keep you from what you want."


EM

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Damon's turn:
LOCATION – CARGO BAY to INFIRMERY

JAYNE
"Ya found more work ta do? Well, I was gonna get you to look into how we can drop this here load for Thorne, but I guess I can..."

Jayne pauses long enough for Damon to step in.

"Kaylee's already a few steps ahead of you. She asked me to braid some bungee cords for the drop. I think I might be needin some help though so lemme go find Merz."

Damon turns and heads for the passenger dorms. He didn't see Merz anywhere on the upper deck so he assumes that's where she's got to be. Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a protein bar he picked up on his way through the galley, pulls it free from his wrapper and takes a bite. Not as good as dinner was, but food just the same. He almost discards the wrapper on the floor but thinks better of it and pockets it instead.

Halfway through the common room, he comes to a stop when he hears Merz's voice drifting out from the infirmery. He walks to the doorway and finds her talking to Rowan with River lying on the medical bed between them.

Merz
"...if it is something I am trained to recognize, that would be sufficient. For anything complex or uncatagorized, I would want to use the equipment. Let's get a blood sample."

Damon takes another bite of his protein bar as he walks into the room and throws the wrapper in the garbage when he frees it from his pocket.

"Jus stick a Rapiheal patch on it- I hear they work wonders."




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

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JAYNE'S move
LOCATION – CARGO BAY

DAMON
"Kaylee's already a few steps ahead of you. She asked me to braid some bungee cords for the drop." Jayne scrunches up his face and mouthes the word "bungee?" "I think I might be needin some help though so lemme go find Merz."

Jayne just stares at Damon's back. Bungee cords? That wasn't what he was thinking at all. Did they even have any bungee cords? And if so, why weren't they set up around the cargo bay for fun yet speedy decent from the catwalk?

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Rowan’s Move
LOCATION - INFIRMARY

Merz "...if it is something I am trained to recognize, that would be sufficient. For anything complex or uncatagorized, I would want to use the equipment. Let's get a blood sample."

Damon takes another bite of his protein bar as he walks into the room and throws the wrapper in the garbage when he frees it from his pocket.

DAMON: "Jus stick a Rapiheal patch on it- I hear they work wonders."

Rowan raises an eyebrow at Damon's snide tone as her mouth curls into an affectionate smile.

ROWAN: "Smart ass. I suppose you're here to pester me about how come I haven't done that diagnostic yet, aren'tcha?"

Turning to Merz, she watches as the other woman moves to the cabinets. Taking into account the storage space of the average Firefly and habits of most medical personnel, Rowan makes an educated guess.

ROWAN: "Try the third drawer on your left. There's probably a blood kit in there."

OOC: Six more days. Just six more days. Reserving the right to edit for Chinese later. Dictionary's at home.


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

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Damon's turn:
LOCATION - INFIRMARY

ROWAN: "Smart ass. I suppose you're here to pester me about how come I haven't done that diagnostic yet, aren'tcha?"

Damon shakes his head. "Naa, not my place to fuss about who does what. Though I hear Mal won't be happy if stuff's not finihsed."

He continues eating and looks over to Merz. "But work is why I'm hear. Kaylee asked me to braid some bungee cords for dropping the container and I thought maybe you could give me a hand if you weren't busy."



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

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MERZ move

LOCATION - INFIRMARY

She is glad that ROWAN decided to cooperate, would not have liked to force the issue. MERZ turned towards the cabinet to locate what she needs to take a blood sample. Behind her she hears someone enter the room.

DAMON
"Jus stick a Rapiheal patch on it - I hear they work wonders."

She smiles just a little bit at his words, he is trying to be helpful after all. She does not listen particularly to ROWAN's reply to DAMON, it is of no interest to her at this time, but is filed away in case need develops later. But ROWAN's suggestion as to where she might find what she seeks is heard and noted. Moving to the drawers, she does find the kit in the third drawer on the left.

She removes the kit from its drawer and turns back towards ROWAN. Glancing at the bed, she also notes RIVER has fallen asleep, and appears to be resting quietly. Good, she needs that.

ROWAN and DAMON have continued to converse for a bit before DAMON turns his attention back to MERZ. Through a mouthful of protein bar, he says, "... Kaylee asked me to braid some bungee cords for dropping the container and I thought maybe you could give me a hand if you weren't busy."

MERZ
Busy for a moment Damon, not for long. Happy to give you a hand in about 15 minutes. Where would you like me to meet you? I must finish here first.

She turns her whole attention back to ROWAN and begins laying out the necessary equipment to draw a blood sample. Once all is laid out and prepared she reaches for ROWAN's right arm. ROWAN places her right wrist in MERZ hand and relaxes for the procedure. MERZ positions ROWAN's arm in a comfortable position and ties off her arm above the elbow. After locating the vein with careful fingers and swabbing the target area on the inside of the elbow with antiseptic, she seats the needle and draws a single ampoule of blood. Deciding that will be sufficient, MERZ sets the sample carefully aside, removes the needle, cleanses the area again and places a cotton ball over the small wound. ROWAN, knowing the next step places a finger over the cotton, putting pressure on the area, and MERZ unties her arm.

I will run a full TOX scan on this, Rowan. Do you wish to wait?

EOM



If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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Rowan’s Move
LOCATION - INFIRMARY

DAMON: "Naa, not my place to fuss about who does what. Though I hear Mal won't be happy if stuff's not finished."

Rowan rolls her eyes briefly at that and raises her right hand to do a mock salute in the general direction of the captain’s quarters. Then she lowers it as Merz returns with the blood kid and takes one long breath to relax. Blood draws are nothing, generally--one quick stick, maybe two, depending on the skill of the person doing it. Considering the background of the person doing it now, Rowan figures the stick will be so precise, she won’t even feel it.

Turning her eyes from Merz so she won’t tense up in anticipation of the needle, she watches Damon continue eating the protein bar with more relish than the substance deserves. Her nose wrinkles of it’s own accord.

ROWAN: “You know that stuff is just low grade protein with Blue Sun supplements, right? Cardboard tastes better than that.”

MERZ: “Busy for a moment Damon, not for long. Happy to give you a hand in about 15 minutes. Where would you like me to meet you? I must finish here first.”

Feeling the tiniest prick after that, Rowan counts to ten before she looks down, just before Merz applies the cotton ball to the entry site. Ready for it, Rowan puts one finger over it to apply pressure as Merz unties the tourniquet.

MERZ: I will run a full TOX scan on this, Rowan. Do you wish to wait?

Rowan breathes a sigh and reaches for the small rapiheal patch herself. She manages to take the cotton ball away and swiftly apply the bandage one-handed. Funny the skills a girl could acquire.

ROWAN: “No, I’ll catch up with you later. I better get my little buns in gear and test out the cannon. Wouldn’t want the captain to have a kenipshen.”

Moving out, she nudges Damon’s shoulder playfully, just as he’s taking his last bite of the protein bar. When he scowls at her, she just smiles, winks and heads out.

Funny how the air seems different outside the infirmary. It’s that way on most ships--cold, sterile, antiseptic inside, warm and inviting outside--but on Serenity, it seems more intensified.

Heading up the auxiliary hall to the dorms, Rowan steps inside and is pleased to see everything in its place, as if no one had felt the need to further ransack her room in search of lipstick. She shakes her head, smiling at the absurdity of Jayne wearing the deep red shade she affectionately called “bitch stick.” If he wanted makeup tips, all he had to do was ask.

Giggling to herself over the image (“Uh, Miss Rowan, uh, y’got anything this side of mauve?”), Rowan grabs the source pad and ear piece and turns to head back out. The source-pad activates with a light touch to the power switch. Tucking the earpiece in place as she moves along, she remembers the message signal she received while she was in the galley and works her way through touch-screens to her personal message center.

EOM

END LOCATION: On her way to the bridge.

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

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Damon's turn:
LOCATION - INFIRMARY

Quote:

---

ROWAN: “You know that stuff is just low grade protein with Blue Sun supplements, right? Cardboard tastes better than that.”

---

Damon shrugs and keeps eating as he leans against the wall next to the door. “It’s not as good as your cooking was for sure but it’s not so bad. Fills the stomach.”

Quote:

---

DAMON turns his attention back to MERZ. Through a mouthful of protein bar, he says, "... Kaylee asked me to braid some bungee cords for dropping the container and I thought maybe you could give me a hand if you weren't busy."

MERZ
Busy for a moment Damon, not for long. Happy to give you a hand in about 15 minutes. Where would you like me to meet you? I must finish here first.

---

Damon watches as Merz turns her attention back to her equipment, realizing for the first time that it’s intended for Rowan. Silly me for thinking the one on the med table was the one bein fixed. He swallows his food.

“No rush. I’ll be in the cargo bay either helpin Jayne or findin the cords.”

Merz nods and addresses Rowan.

Quote:

---

MERZ: I will run a full TOX scan on this, Rowan. Do you wish to wait?

ROWAN: “No, I’ll catch up with you later. I better get my little buns in gear and test out the cannon. Wouldn’t want the captain to have a kenipshen.”

Moving out, she nudges Damon’s shoulder playfully, just as he’s taking his last bite of the protein bar. When he scowls at her, she just smiles, winks and heads out.

---

Damon watches Rowan go, his muscles relaxing from the tightened state they instinctively jumped to on their own accord. It takes him a second to remember he still has food in his mouth and he swallows it after releasing his breath. He sighs and turns back to Merz, idly rubbing his wrist with the opposite hand.

“I don’t suppose you know how to braid do you?.”




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

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The DeepRED reviews all available protocols. Clearly, any methods of rejuvination will not be a viable course of action. As such, a repair matrix is out of the question. With such options, the DeepRED must depend on the biologic. It has its own repair protocols, juxtaposed with a survival instinct that outweighs any A.I. It begins to review.

We can't all be heroes, since some of us have to sit at the curb and clap as they go by.

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MERZ move

LOCATION - INFIRMARY

ROWAN heads out of the door, after chiding DAMON on his snack choice. Means nothing to MERZ, who still regards eating as a necessity most of the time, and does not care what she eats. (Although that is changing under the influence of food that is lovingly prepared, if not precisely real.)

Observing DAMON reaction to ROWAN’s casual contact with him, MERZ realizes that his earlier reaction to her touch was not entirely a reaction to her specifically. …ah, he dislikes contact. a bit unusual, but not greatly so … She files it away in the database for further consideration.
DAMON
I don’t suppose you know how to braid do you?

MERZ just stared at him, perplexed. Did the fact that she had not re-braided her hair lead him to believe she could not do so? Interesting. She decides a simple response will be sufficient.

MERZ
Yes.

All the while, her hands keep up their motion, setting up the diagnostic equipment to test ROWAN’s blood sample. First step, to turn off the activated system and then relocate the wireless electrodes a distance away from her own position, and make sure they are also deactivated. She prepares a shallow, sterile glass dish with the decanted blood sample, leaving a very small sample still in the tube. Placing the dish in position, she turns the diagnostic device back on and proceeds to carefully program it with the proper parameters. It is clear that while she is able to perform this function, it is not done so as automatically as some things she has been observed doing. The machine begins to hum away, processing the sample.

She picks up the tube once again, contemplating the amount she left. With the equipment there, surely no more is needed. Does not matter. ROWAN is her saathi. She will get nothing less than MERZ best efforts. Decision made, she opens another drawer and removes a thin glass pipette from a sterile wrapper. She lowers it into the remaining blood sample and removes a couple of drops. These she carefully place upon her tongue.

EOM

saathi = friend (Nepali)




If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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Damon’s turn:
LOCATION - INFIRMARY

Merz works busily with the blood she just got from Rowan and Damon wonders for the second time since she started drawing it what’s wrong with Rowan. Again, he considers asking but again decides it’s none of his business.

MERZ
Yes.

Damon reddens a bit at Merz’s expression, feeling embarrassed at the question and stupid for having to ask. Everyone knows how to braid- it’s probably as easy as tying your shoe.

Merz goes back to her blood work and Damon tries to find an easy way to say what he needs to without making himself look like an idiot. After a moment, he comes to the conclusion that there isn’t any way around it.

“Well, um… you think you could teach me? cuz I’m all up for braidin cords but…”

Damon slows to a pause when he sees Merz put a couple drops of blood on her tongue. A brow disappears beneath his hair that’s almost long enough to get in his eyes. He tries to keep talking while his brain tries to figure out what the guay she’s doing- not that he has a problem with blood, he just can’t figure why someone would deliberately put someone else’s blood in her mouth.

“…I just don’t…” Screw it. “What are you doing?”



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

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MERZ move

LOCATION - INFIRMARY

DAMON
Well, um… you think you could teach me? cuz I’m all up for braidin' cords but… {pause}

MERZ mind is on other things, foremost being the sample in her mouth. She has closed her eyes and turned all of her analytical skills inward. She savors the sample, and lifts the tube with the remaining blood to her nostrils - scenting it and adding the results to her analysis.

…I just don’t… {pause} What are you doing?

MERZ snaps her eyes open. DAMON sounds very confused. Why? It is a normal enough procedure if diagnostic equipment is not available. And a good way to keep skills honed if it is.

MERZ
ROWAN requested some bloodwork. There are substances that test similar to that machine but leave different aftertaste. Just being thorough. To answer your question - yes, I can teach you to braid. Is there something else you require here?

MERZ dips the pipette once more and applies a couple more drops to her tongue. Closing her eyes once again, she returns her attention to the analysis, scent and taste.

EOM


If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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Damon’s turn:
LOCATION - INFIRMARY to CARGO BAY

Quote:

---

MERZ
ROWAN requested some bloodwork. There are substances that test similar to that machine but leave different aftertaste. Just being thorough. To answer your question - yes, I can teach you to braid. Is there something else you require here?

MERZ dips the pipette once more and applies a couple more drops to her tongue. Closing her eyes once again, she returns her attention to the analysis, scent and taste.

---

Damon’s expression seems to get even more confused at Merz’s attempted explanation. But the last part he did understand: he’s disrupting her work. He takes a step back toward the door.

“No, I’ll be in the cargo bay and leave you to it.”

Merz is too busy concentrating to give an answer so he turns and heads for the cargo bay. By the time he gets there, his confusion is dismissed. No point in trying to figure something out if it’s not important. If anything, he can ask about it later.

He walks into the cargo bay, looking around for these bungee cords Kaylee spoke of.

“Jayne, you know where the bungee cords are?”




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

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BLENDED POST – KAYLEE and WASH

LOCATION - BRIDGE


DAMON
Thanks, but next time I think we should make the mess makers do their own dirty work. He grins at WASH, and exits the bridge, with new work on his mind.

KAYLEE
Boy’s got a point. She gives WASH a mildly evil smirk over the smoking iron in her right hand. WASH cringes a little and smiles back.

WASH
OK, I’m sorry. It was an accident. It won’t happen again. I promise. Again.

Yeah, yeah. It’s OK. I love my pilot. Just a little, mind you.

Behind them, still seated at the gunnery controls, ZOË smiles to herself, chuckling faintly. What a pair of idiots.

They work in silence for a while, both utterly familiar with the job and with each other’s abilities. On her back, arms buried in wires and cables, KAYLEE works away, separating the still good components from the blown parts and shorted wires. Watching him from floor level, she can tell WASH has something on his mind. She is about to drag it out of him, when he decides to spill it on his own.

Kaylee, about those … pink … lights. Do you suppose we could do something about, say, replacin’ them with something more … suitable? Like a nice, normal red? He smiles hopefully at her.

I don’t think so.

You don’t think so? Other pilots get red lights. It’s traditional! It’s manly and full of testosterone. Pink is so … well … embarrassing. What if someone saw us like that? Through the view port. How could I live it down?

KAYLEE looks pointedly at the fuchsia hibiscus flowers surrounding the hula dancers on his aloha shirt.

Wash shakes his right forefinger at her. Hey, hey – that is entirely different! Don’t go dissin’ the shirt now. That’s traditional too. No really, Kaylee. Why can’t I have my red bulbs back?

For starters, because we don’t have any.

We don’t have any? How can we not have any? Did we have some before? Can you get some? Kaylee, that makes no sense, unless the guy flyin’ this boat before us was no guy.

Kaylee shakes the soldering iron at him. Look, it’s like this. Remember that fire a while back? We lost a few lights when we vac’d the ship. I replaced them when I could, some of which had to wait for the next landfall. The pink lights were cheaper and we were under a budget. As usual. I don’t … have … any red ones, unless there are a couple of the original lights that are still working somewhere.

Good. That is good. Would you look? Can you just replace the one on the bridge for me? I would like that. Really. So anyone looking in knows what a hard case I really am.

KAYLEE looks at WASH, and shakes her head. Her expression is difficult to interpret.

Wash, I can’t change the bridge light even if I can find another one. That one is an engineering nightmare. Some gorram designer frelled that one up big time. She looks up at him; at the pitiful expression on his boyish face and sighs. It’s like this. That light is shielded, and cannot be reached from inside Serenity. In order to change the alert bulb I have to go outside, through an access plate on the hull and then disconnect and remove part of the life support system. Now, I might be persuaded to go EVA for your ego, but the rest of the crew gotta breathe. So you are just gonna have to wait.

‘Sides, I’m gonna disable the thing again anyway. We don’t need a battle stations alert on a cargo transport. Who’s got a battle station in this crew?

EOM



If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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JAYNE'S move
LOCATION – CARGO BAY

DAMON
"Jayne, you know where the bungee cords are?"

JAYNE
Jayne keeps a steady eye on the stick welder and the slag, and replies without looking up, "Nope."

As Damon turns to try his luck elsewhere, Jayne adds, "If ya can't find no rubber bands, ya can always try my idear." Jayne keeps working and continues, "A 900 square foot parachute, with a drogue chute. Course, that's only gonna work if Thorne's box is under 1,200 pounds. Maybe with airbags on the bottom."

Jayne retracts the welding torch and spits right onto the near molten slag, vapourizing it with a quick hiss.

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LOCATION: MINDSCAPE OF A DYING MAN
The Ending of Brink Helsing

As the ultimate audience and voyeurs, we now look to the fragile web of tissue and electricity that comprises the corporeal mind of Brink 'Slight' Helsing. This web is failing. Flickers of neural energy pulse sluggishly along their chemical pathways. Whole sections of brain cells darken with the advent of decay, their food and air supply cut off at the moment of Slight's physical death. A vicious murder accomplished by the hands of Corvair Troy, directed by a bizarre version of Adali Niska.

Following a weak, luminescent crimson memory trigger, we see it approach a cluster of neural cells covered in a fine netting of tiny red dots. At closer inspection, these dots resolve into a network of interconnected figures - Nanites. These particular units look like a bizarre combination of squid and scorpion. Using claw and tail, they form a substructure to support the flagging information nodes. Neural energy flashes from nanite to nanite, until the electro-pulse reaches its intended destination. There the pulse is stored chemically within a nearly comatose brain cell.

The pulse that we have been following reaches this area of intense reconstruction. Its substance shatters into thousands of fireflies that bob and flit across the nanite network. Much like an infusion of adrenalin to a muscle, the cell network is rejuvenated and enervated. Cell growth and regeneration fairly explodes. Nanites are dragged apart as new pathways are created to accommodate the growth. Inspired by this surprising reaction to a memory trigger, a new plan of action by the DeepRED is initiated. Active stimulation of the memory in order to revive the lagging brain tissues seemed the appropriate action. It triggers the most traumatic recent fresh memory it can access. The Biologic witnessing its own Discorporation would do adequately.

ACTION INIATIED

A Man awoke to Chaos - an observer to a passion play within the Mindscape of Brink Helsing. The Man fails to realize he is witnessing his own demise, that he is indeed Brink Helsing. Thunderstruck, he can only watch the scene unfold, as shifts and flows to become the Observer. Frozen figures in front of the Observer appear to be the actors in this scene. The Observer continues to watch, anticipation surging from him in palatable waves.

They all stand staunchly arrayed in a shifting landscape. Alternating between metal panels and dust-fine debris, a kaleidoscope comprised of the backdrops of personal history swim by. Sections of life memories tumble around the legs of all. Balls of withered earthly distractions that are unheeded by the Actors and the Observer. Three face off in a nearly perfect triangle. A prim and proper looking doctor - Simon, another man dressed in a futuristic armor with glowing red eyes - Slight, and a frail looking old man that radiates a great darkness - Niska. A fourth presence hovers near the frail looking oldster -- not much more that a silhouette of a huge man, etched as if in the heat haze of a desert highway. His essence cannot be identified by the Observer. It/he is a wildcard.

A silent call from the unseen director signals: ACTION ...

Slight suddenly drops to his knees. "And despite it all, I thought you were a God. I thought … I blindly thought that someday, it would be over, and I could start differently."

Apparently divorced from the scene playing out with Slight, Niska and Simon face each other. The fourth non-presence drifts towards the kneeling figure of Slight. The figure of Simon is obviously attempting to move, but fails. Niska seems to be working nonexistent controls and speaking to someone off-stage.

Simon, still paralyzed, can only watch as Niska makes his calls, and works his deals. So far, he has tried to remain calm - what else can he do? "Maybe Slight will wake up," he thinks desperately. "Maybe he'll wake up, and secure him. Find some way to get me bac

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ZOE'S MOVE:
LOCATION - BRIDGE

ZOE crosses her arms and leans back against the console in her favorite spot in the corner - just to WASH's right, where she can see everything - and listens to the interchange between KAYLEE and WASH, amazed and amused at WASH's apparent foray into machismo.

KAYLEE: "‘Sides, I’m gonna disable the thing again anyway. We don’t need a battle stations alert on a cargo transport. Who’s got a battle station in this crew?"

ZOE straightens and puts one hand on WASH's shoulder, the other propped on her left hip.

ZOE: "Actually, KAYLEE, might not be a bad idea to leave it connected. Way this job's been goin' so far, way may need it." --beat as ZOE looks at WASH-- "Just make sure the switch is good and red..."

As she speaks this last, the corner of ZOE's mouth lifts in a wry grin.

END MOVE.

**********
OOC: I'm Baaaaaack!! Woo hoo! *happy chair dance of joy*
And Merz: Thanks for putting that tag in to let me know where Zoe was - made it easier to pick up...

~Astriana~
~Mostly-Invisible Long-Winded Goddess of Inter-Board Communication and Diplomacy a/k/a El Jefe Magnifico's Mistress... of Communications and Harems~

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

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Damon's turn:
LOCATION – CARGO BAY

Quote:

---

JAYNE
Jayne keeps a steady eye on the stick welder and the slag, and replies without looking up, "Nope."

As Damon turns to try his luck elsewhere, Jayne adds, "If ya can't find no rubber bands, ya can always try my idear." Jayne keeps working and continues, "A 900 square foot parachute, with a drogue chute. Course, that's only gonna work if Thorne's box is under 1,200 pounds. Maybe with airbags on the bottom."

Jayne retracts the welding torch and spits right onto the near molten slag, vapourizing it with a quick hiss.

---

Damon turns back to Jayne with a slight look of confusion. "Do we have a 900 square foot parachute? or a drogue chute or air bags? or the materials to make them? and how are we going to weigh the thing? I think braidin cords would be a might easier don't you?"





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

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JAYNE'S move
LOCATION – CARGO BAY

DAMON
"I think braidin cords would be a might easier don't you?"

JAYNE
"Hey, I don't mean ta be pissin on yer parade here. Jus I never seen a cargo drop done with rubber bands afore." Jayne fishes behind him with one hand for another metal beam. "I really can't help ya out here. I woulnd't even know where ta begin figurin' how much the cord would hold an' how far it'll stretch. So, best of luck. You ain't thinking of tying the cord to the crane up there, is ya?" Jayne listens, then breaks in suddenly, "say, who's idea is this anyhow?"

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Damon's turn:
LOCATION – CARGO BAY

Quote:

---

JAYNE
"Hey, I don't mean ta be pissin on yer parade here. Jus I never seen a cargo drop done with rubber bands afore." Jayne fishes behind him with one hand for another metal beam. "I really can't help ya out here. I woulnd't even know where ta begin figurin' how much the cord would hold an' how far it'll stretch. So, best of luck. You ain't thinking of tying the cord to the crane up there, is ya?" Jayne listens, then breaks in suddenly, "say, who's idea is this anyhow?"

---

"Kaylee gave me the job. I assume its her idea. I get paid to do the jobs I'm given, not to ask if they are going to work. I assume she's smart enough to know whether her ideas will work or not. an I don't know where we are attatching the cords to yet, she jus told me to braid them."

Damon turns, walks toward the com and turns it on.

"Kaylee, where're the cords at?" Mutters quietly to himself: "an please don't say I gotta dig through more gorram boxes..."




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

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Alliance Force Declaration:

Wanted Dead or Alive:
Albino male, five foot eleven inches, age sixty-three. Red eyes, white skin, white or black hair. Uses following aliases: Brink Helsing, Brian Howards, Pedro Chavez, Weilong Ran, Hrünta, and Blue Child. Wanted for treason against the Allied planets of the ‘Verse, the deaths of Core representatives Elizabeth Warrick and Gerald Hoffman, Baron Lee Tsung, and Baroness Cleopatra Delacroix Tsung, and unrelated, recently passed CEO of Blue Sun Corporation Harold Helsing, as well as uncounted civilians, grand theft vessel and embezzlement.
WARNING: EXTREMELY LETHAL. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO APPREHEND UNLESS PROFESSIONAL AND PREPARED.
There is a possibility that the suspect is already dead consorting with radicals and/or criminals. If so, do not tamper with the body, and report on the Cortex immediately.
Reward for suspect: 7,000,000 credits
Penalty for fraud: 50,000

Wanted Dead or Alive:
White female, five foot three inches, age seventeen. Last seen with shoulder length lavender hair, eyes are white flecked with purple. Uses the following aliases: Silver Sun, Serena Garrison, Candy Seraph, and Blue Daughter. Wanted for treason against the Allied planets of the ‘Verse, conspiracy with radical terrorists and criminals, minor theft, murder in the first, second and third degree, grand theft vessel, theft against major corporate allies, impersonation of Alliance federal agents, aiding and abetting other criminals and supporting crimes against the Allied planets.
WARNING: EXTREMELY LETHAL. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO APPREHEND UNLESS PROFESSIONAL AND PREPARED.
Reward for suspect alive and healthy: 500,000 credits.
Reward for suspect dead or severely injured: 412,000 credits.
Penalty for fraud: 400,00


OOC: Notice how it's AFD, instead of APD

We can't all be heroes, since some of us have to sit at the curb and clap as they go by.

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FINAL BLEND - KAYLEE AND WASH

LOCATION - BRIDGE

Time. Time is everywhere the same, and everywhere different. It’s a point of view thing. From my point of view, right here and right now, it is 18:03 AMT (6:03 PM). The date (if I am not mistaken) Year 2518 ~ Day 023/January 23 ~


ZOË
Actually, KAYLEE, might not be a bad idea to leave it connected. Way this job's been goin' so far, way may need it. ZOE looks fondly at WASH Just make sure the switch is good and red.

Kaylee thinks about that for a moment. An idea strikes her suddenly and she giggles out loud. She slithers out from under the console and knee-walks over to her toolbox, after sending an evil grin toward ZOË. Scattering tools and still giggling, she digs down to the bottom of the box, and lifts out a small blister pack. Seated so that no one can see what she is doing, she begins opening it.

KAYLEE
I got something even better than a red switch. I found this down in parts storage when I first came aboard. Reckon my Captain isn’t the only one who considered arming this boat.

She holds it up. It appears to be one of those fancy firing trigger thingy’s, with a flip-top lid securing the button/toggle/switch that is the important part.

WASH’s eyes pop at the sight. He is almost jittering with excitement, his face beaming.
WASH
Wow! Hook it up! Hook it up … ! Shiny! Thanks Kaylee! I owe you one, or several.

He turns toward ZOË and snatches a kiss. Now that has a really high cool factor, don’t you think bao-bei?

As WASH is obviously ready to place his new switch, KAYLEE reaches to hand it to him, and goes to dive back down for her soldering iron. The comm comes on suddenly.

DAMON
Kaylee, where're the cords at? … There is some further muttering, too soft for the comm to pick up.

Aahhh, poo. ZOË can you hit the comm for me?

DAMON, the bungees are in a locker under the stairs leading from the cargo area to the dining area. There is a K painted on the latch. Just push in on the center of the letter and release. The door should open. Don’t mess with anything but the bungees, OK?

Thanks ZOË.

KAYLEE and WASH return back to work contentedly, and even as they move on to other parts of the helm console, WASH’s eyes keep straying back to his new toy. The one he just KNOWS he will be forever forbidden to touch – on pain of mutilation. Ah, he just loves it when things are ... interesting. REX will love it too.

EOM


Bao-bei = baby


If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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Damon's turn:
LOCATION - CARGO BAY

DAMON, the bungees are in a locker under the stairs leading from the cargo area to the dining area. There is a K painted on the latch. Just push in on the center of the letter and release. The door should open. Don’t mess with anything but the bungees, OK?

---

Damon waits a moment before answering as he silently repeats Kaylee's instructions to himself, making sure he didn't miss anything.

"Sure."

He switches off the com and turns toward the stairs. After a few moments of searching, he spots K and opens the locker. If not for the fact that he knew it would be here, he probably wouldn't have found it. Reaching into the dark storage space, the scent of something sweet and chocolate fills his lungs. His eyes roll closed as he exhales with a moan. He sits back on his heels, savoring the aroma with deep breaths

(in Chinese:)"Damn, that has got to be the best gorram thing I've smelled in almost a decade..."

He opens his eyes and spots a small box of candybars- real candycars- in the corner of the locker. To say he isn't tempted to take one would be a lie. He would trade his boots for even a small reminder of what chocolate tastes like. But they aren't his and wheteher he likes it or not, he needs his boots. The smell will have to suffice.

"Ruttin' hwoon dahn," he mutters as he grabs for the rubber cords neatly coiled in the back, "Makin me scrape for change an spend all I have on erasin you from my life, when I could be buying chocolate."

A beautiful picture of killing Crofton comes to mind but he reluctantly pushes that aside too. Killing Crofton would mean seeing him again and that is one thing he is determined never to do.

Damon picks up the large bundle of cords and gently kicks the door of the locker closed as he stands up. Walking over to an empty area on the floor, he drops the coils and starts unwinding one of them. Once again, he finds his thoughts on his upcoming talk with Mal.





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

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MERZ move

LOCATION - INFIRMARY As ...

Once the diagnostic function finished, the machine grinds to a halt. MERZ leans over to look at the readout. She is already sure what it will say. And she is not mistaken.

… i can still do a adequate analysis. mission complete …

She requests a printout of the results and after scrounging for a pen, adds her own analysis to the bottom of the page.

Negative, negative, negative, negative. And printed at the bottom, hardly distinguishable from the typed words.

Negative.

This is not to say there was no data found. MERZ knows for certain now, that ROWAN is fatigued, stressed and in pain. But she is not suffering from any chemical or biological hazard, no toxin, and no venom, nothing discernable at all.

… will she consent to a physical exam, i wonder? …

MERZ tucks the paper into a breast pocket. She will give it to ROWAN as soon as she sees her. Turning off the diagnostic machine she prepares to leave the room. She has a momentary concern for RIVER, but judges that leaving her asleep in the darkened infirmary will not be either dangerous or frightening for her. She looks down at RIVER one hand almost reaching out. But not quite.

Turning off the light as she leaves the room she glances back once again to make sure RIVER is calm for the moment. MERZ exits into the corridor, closing the door softly after her.

Time to assist DAMON with his new endeavor. Anything to keep busy.


EOM
18:05 AMT (6:05 PM)



If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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Location : Mal's Dorm

BOOK
"Heaven or Hell or whereever you end up when you die, is what you make of it, and so is this life. A man's guilt will haunt him forever. If you don't accept responsibility for your sins and allow them to be taken from you... they will keep you from what you want."


MAL
Very weary
"Taken from you ... I think I see what you mean."
shakes himself a bit as if coming to a descision

"OK, I'll take your advice and not cogitate on things. If you see Damon tell him to come to my room as soon as he has finished work."
Mal pauses a moment
"It'd be best if the crew loosen up a tad before the run tomarrow ... check with kaylee and tell her to "open up the cabinet". She has got a mighty fine inter-engine brandy that should be ready to uncask. Let 'em have fun t'nite."

EOM

"Remember, there is only ONE absolute - There ARE NO absolutes!!!"

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Rowan’s Move
LOCATION - PASSENGER DORMS.

The personal message center on her source pad indicates a message has finally come in from the UBA.

Greetings Tournament Participant;
The Storm virus has been successfully thwarted. Therefore, your tournament information and complimentary guest package is now available for your access. We apologize again for the inconvenience this may have caused you.
Best Regards
UBA Administration

Translation: they managed to contain the Storm virus for the time being, long enough to get the general messages and packages properly routed. Rowan grins, picturing a somnolent technician somewhere draped over his or her source box, still mumbling incoherent frustrations over a full-proof virus while simultaneously cursing and praising the name Exile.

Climbing the steps, Rowan reaches the first landing just as she's filing the UBA message away, and another message blinks in. This one is from the Selene with a simple text message from Aislin.

Rowan:
Givan - Captain Arshagouni - has received his membership package. He informed me with tremendous enthusiasm as to the date and location of the UBA reception. It is difficult to say who is more impatient - Givan or me. Only three more days, xiâo long.
Aislin

ROWAN (inwardly): So she gets to call her captain by first name, does she?

Rowan lifts an eyebrow at that, wondering over the nature of their relationship. The situation on board a luxury liner would be dramatically different from the one on a ship like Serenity, and not just in the more obvious measure of opulence, or--glancing up at the exposed pipes and wiring in the companionway overhead, Rowan has to concede--the lack thereof. A companion contingent is a requirement on board such vessels, and the women holding that title are treated the same as if they were living in a companion house on any planet lucky enough to have one. That means the captain would have the same privileges as any other civilian customer, but usually they also have the same restrictions. Under those circumstances, neither Aislin nor Captain Arshagouni - Givan - should have broken the boundaries of title and position. Yet Aislin obviously has.

Then again, Reynolds and Inara seem to have stepped past that boundary themselves. Granted, Serenity is smaller, the crew more close-knit and involved in each other's lives, to the point of a family dynamic. The tension couldn't be any more obvious between them, yet they still manage to skirt the boundaries just enough to keep from breaking whatever rules Inara feels she has to adhere to. Companions are strong by nature, they have to be to compromise their personal emotions to perform the professional duties of their occupation without building an attachment. Nonetheless, strong women often have an unfortunate tendency to respond to strong men, a point Rowan understands only too well.

Xiang.

Pausing, she reaches one hand out to the railing as a sharp spear of pain cuts through her right temple again. Vastly duller than the last time, it's still proving to be something of a nuisance--bèn dàn wúnéug de rén yíge yīshēng. It also serves to remind her of one thing she needs to do before she gets to New Hokkaido.

As the pain slowly subsides, Rowan starts up the stairs again. Accessing the public cortex, she pulls up the contact information of the optometrist and lens specialist she's used in the past to obtain her colored lenses and fires off an order. With luck, he'll be able to pop the request to an affiliate on New Hokkaido.

At the top of the stairs, she takes a right and heads down the hall into the galley (wasn't she just in there for something like hours?). The cue case is right where she left it in the lounge area. Detouring just a bit, she grabs the strap and slings it over one shoulder before continuing on. One hand drifts down and she rubs

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KAYLEE’s move

LOCATION - BRIDGE

ROWAN
Makes one wonder what else a girl would have in her locker. Rowan winked at her. I believe I was asked to do a diagnostic on the captain's new big damn gun. Is this a good time?

KAYLEE grins back at ROWAN, her mood as chirpy as it ever has been. Doin’ stuff like this, is just what the Doctor ordered. She sighs. Her face falls just the least little bit … just can’t stop thinkin’ bout Simon, not really … She pushes the thought away for now, really needing to keep her mind on the job at hand.

KAYLEE
Can’t see any reason why not, s’long as ZOË is done, and since she already stood up – go for it. And appreciate the hand. Been such a busy day I don’t know what we would have done without all you extra folks.

No, no, WASH. That don’t go there. Haul it back out and move it back a notch. OK, better.

Go ahead ROWAN, do your stuff.

EOM


If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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MERZ move

LOCATION – TRAVELING: INFIRMARY TO CARGO BAY As ...

MERZ closes the door softly behind her, and turns in the direction of the Cargo Bay. DAMON has apparently located what he was looking for and is unrolling the coiled cargo straps. Braiding those should prove … interesting.

She speaks as she approaches him from behind, so as not to startle him. DAMON, I see you found what we needed. Let me help stretch those out and we will see about making a thicker cord out of it. She takes another one of the coils, and starts unrolling it across the length of the bay.

MERZ
Do you know what KAYLEE has in mind?

EOM


If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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Alliance Force Declaration:

Wanted Dead or Alive:
White male, 5’ 11”, age 27. Brown eyes, brown hair. Rouhgly 170 pounds. Named Damon Boster.

Escaped slave wanted for the murder of 19 Feds and 2 civilians in the second degree, resisting arrest, grand theft vessel.
Property of Crofton Trinh

WARNING: EXPERIENCED ESCAPE ARTIST AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. CAUTION AND SECURE RESTRAINTS ADVISED AT ALL TIMES
Reward for suspect: 50,000 credits
Penalty for fraud: 8,450 credits, and siezing of any space vessels owned by any guilty parties.

We can't all be heroes, since some of us have to sit at the curb and clap as they go by.

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JAYNE'S move
LOCATION – CARGO BAY

Jayne is mindful of the noises in the cargo bay. Since he's not alone, he keeps his singing to himself and only lightly hums the fiddle portion of a lively old dance tune.

His shirt and handkerchief are both as wet as he is now, and further brow-mopping in the uncomfortable heat created by the welder seems pointless. Jayne shakes his head violently instead and picks up the last metal rod he has left. Running out of material is a good reason to take a break. It'll give him a chance to cool off while looking for more.

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Damon's turn:
LOCATION - CARGO BAY or CATWALKS

DAMON, I see you found what we needed. Let me help stretch those out and we will see about making a thicker cord out of it. She takes another one of the coils, and starts unrolling in across the length of the bay.

MERZ
Do you know what KAYLEE has in mind?

Damon looks up and tosses Merz the legth of cord he has uncoiled as she walks down the cargo bay.

"I am under the impression that she wants us to braid 6 of these cords together to slow the container down when it drops. She said something about cutting it before it starts coming back up. I figure we can just start braiding and get further instructions later."

He picks up a third coil and starts unraveling it. Again, he tosses Merz the loose end when he gets enough length.

"So how does this braiding thing work?"



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

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Blended post DAMON and MERZ

LOCATION - CARGO BAY

She pauses in unrolling the coil of cord as DAMON tosses her a free end on the one he has, and then selects a third coil, frees one end and tosses her that one too. He plays out the cords for her as she walks three ends down the bay.

DAMON
So how does this braiding thing work?

MERZ considers how to answer the question. She learned by example as all her family does. It is not something she can really describe. Civilians, she has decided, may be limited but they are not all ignorant by any means. If she shows him, as she was shown, will be interesting to see if he can learn.

MERZ
Let me get these straightened out and I will show you. The process does not lend itself easily to description, but is fairly simple.

Once the cords are at full extension she returns to the other end and reaches for the three free ends. She hooks them onto the stair railing, about waist height and looks at DAMON.

It starts like this. With her right hand she takes the cord on the far right, and shifts it over between the center strap and the left-most one. At the same time, she moves the left strap over between what has become the right most strap and the new center one. She repeats the procedure with each hand once again, and then stops to glance at DAMON. There, can you see how it works? Would you like to try it?

DAMON nods and takes the cords from MERZ. He looks down at them a moment and then continues where Merz left off, slow at first and not nearly as tight. He back tracks a little, determined to get it right, and then starts again, making sure it doesn’t get too loose. It’s harder than it looks, but he is already starting to get the hang of the hand movements.

Behind him, Merz watches his progress carefully, while doing the other half of the job, that being keeping 60 feet of cord from tangling miserably while the forward edge is being dealt with. When he unravels and re-does part of the braid, she nods with approval at his professional attitude, but worries a bit. He won’t be able to keep it up that tight for long, he probably does not have her hand strength. Besides it is not needed.

You need not keep it tight or even, you are not braiding a companion’s hair. This is just a means to an end. But you are doing quite well.

Damon gives half a smile at her compliment, and loosens up a bit as he continues. After a few minutes, he is moving at a steady pace. Merz keeps up with him, assuring that the cords are straight and taut behind him and come freely as he need them. Between the two of them, a full braid is accomplished in about 10 minutes.

Near the end, MERZ becomes aware of something tickling her nose, a scent that really does not belong in this context. She lowers her head and sniffs at the cords. The smell of the rubber does not quite overcome the other scent, which is almost heady. I wonder what that is, she mutters, almost familiar, and so indescribable.

What?

That smell. On the cords. Nice.

“Smell? Damon suddenly remembers the chocolate but can’t believe that’s what she could mean. He frowns. You don’t mean the chocolate do you?

Chocolate? Yes, yes that is it. How interesting. I have smelled that before, long ago. It is a … pleasant scent and quite evocative. I don’t know what it is evoking though. Odd.

Damon looks at Merz, his confusion quite apparent. You’ve never tasted chocolate, yet you can smell it on this cord? He sniffs the cord but only smells rubber.

Now it is Merz’ turn to look confused. You can’t smell it? Once you ignore the rubber it is quite str

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Damon's turn:
LOCATION - CARGO BAY

Little brother?

Certainly the nicest nickname he's been given- Rowan has been calling him that off and on too in Chinese.

Damon watches as Merz turns away, deliberately avoiding him for whatever reason- which, to him, implies that there is a deeper meaning to the use than just a buddy-buddy nickname. Questions begin bubbling to the surface of his mind but he pushes them aside- family is neither a safe or a necessary topic to talk about.

Damon follows Merz back to their pile of coiled cords and begins unraveling one. As the seconds drag on, he decides this silence needs to be broken.

"So how many of these are we going to make? Could we braid three braids or...?"




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

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LOCATION - MALs DORM
As ...

Mal pauses a moment
"It'd be best if the crew loosen up a tad before the run tomorrow ... check with Kaylee and tell her to "open up the cabinet". She has got a mighty fine inter-engine brandy that should be ready to uncask. Let 'em have fun t'nite."

From the bunk, Book looks over his steepled fingers at Mal. Both Book's eyebrows slowly climb towards his hairline, as if Book is unsatisfied with Mal's evasion. Meeting Book's eyes, Mal remains resolute. His mind made up, he slaps his thighs and stands up.

MAL
Not only as if convincing Book, but himself as well.
"Yep, fun is what we need about now." ...he stops a moment then adds with a wry grin ... "Well, leastwise it will be, after work is done."

EOM

"Remember, there is only ONE absolute - There ARE NO absolutes!!!"

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Rowan’s Move
LOCATION: BRIDGE

Seeing the girl's electric smile fade somewhat, Rowan becomes aware that not all is as well as it might seem on the surface. Complicated dynamics, she figures - small ship, small crew. They usually go one of two ways; either they hate each other and certain individuals find themselves tossed into the black for just breathing, or they grow close during long tedious hours in space, becoming more like a family than business associates. Rowan has only seen the former version once, and managed to survive it by getting on the executive officer's really good side right before the mutiny. Serenity is showing itself to be by far the latter dynamic, cranky frustrated captain or not.

Only one thing could dim Kaylee's thousand-watt smile, or that is to say, one person. Question is, which crew member is she holding in her heart?

KAYLEE: Go ahead ROWAN, do your stuff.

Rowan nods at the permission given and moves to drop down into the gunner's chair, putting her feet up on the console as she brings up the interface to Serenity on her source pad.

EOM

OOC: Shorty-post!

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

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JAYNE'S move
LOCATION – CARGO BAY

DAMON
"So how many of these are we going to make? Could we braid three braids or...?"

JAYNE
"Shee-oot, ya really found some, didn'tcha? And yer braidin' em up like ya been doing girls' hair fer years." Jayne's obviously not making too fine a point about his sarcasm. He walks towards Merz and Damon with slow, tired strides. "Yer mama'd be proud."

He stops at the bungee braid and a curious expression crosses his face. Jayne sniffs twice at the air with flaring nostrels. Is that...? Nah, must just be the rubber. He stoops down and pokes in with his finger, then squeezes it in his hand, getting a sense for its structure and strength.

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Damon’s turn:
LOCATION - CARGO BAY or CATWALKS

JAYNE
"Shee-oot, ya really found some, didn'tcha? And yer braidin' em up like ya been doing girls' hair fer years." Jayne's obviously not making too fine a point about his sarcasm.

Damon is squatting in front of the pile of cords, pulling an end free one arm length at a time. He can think of a few replies- most of which have to do with make-up- but he decides not to say anything and smiles at his own unsaid comment.

Jayne walks towards Merz and Damon with slow, tired strides. "Yer mama'd be proud."

Damon’s gaze breaks from his work, slipping to some distant point below the metal grate under his feet. The smile has already faded.

Quote:

---

Damon awoke to the sound of the phone ringing and found a wall staring him in the face. He started to turn over and immediately regretted it, as pain shot through his small, broken body from seemingly everywhere at once, hitting him like a bucket of ice water. He relaxed and lay there until the sharp pains melted into one dull ache, but even then it was difficult to breathe without the tears forcing their way into the corners of his eyes.

He was prepared for the pain the second time, and managed to sit up. He looked around. The wood floor was littered with empty bottles, crumpled cans and used napkins. The vid tables were over turned along with the dishes and dinner that had been interrupted the night before. The vid unit was still on, though it had been muted. Snoring could be heard from the kitchen. His mother lay passed out on the sofa with a bottle of whiskey tucked safely under her arm.

Damon quickly got up, no longer caring about his injuries, and walked over to his mother. He was glad to see that she didn’t appear to be injured; the alcohol had done more damage than anything else. He placed a hand on her shoulder and shook it gently.

“Mom,” he whispered. No response. He shook her again, raising his voice slightly. “Mom, wake up.”

She moaned softly and slowly opened her eyes. She muttered something about a drink and let her eyes drift closed again. Damon took the bottle from her hand and slowly made his way to the kitchen, trying to rub some feeling back into his stiff limbs. The big man lay hunched over the kitchen table, snoring loudly, still clutching a mostly empty bottle. Damon entertained the idea of putting a cup of Tabasco sauce in his bottle, but decided against it. He quietly filled a cup with water and returned to the living room.

“Mom,” he shook her again, trying to encourage her to sit up. After a few attempts, he managed to get her into a mostly upright position. He gave her the cup and watched her drain it greedily. She lay back down, letting the cup fall to the floor. When he stood up, she took his hand and looked up at him. “Don’t go… please.”

He looked at the stairs longingly. His room was up there, where he could lock the door and fall safely asleep on his bed. “I was just grabbing the remote.” He picked up the remote control, eased himself down onto the floor with his back to the couch and flipped to the Saturday morning cartoons.

---

He would like to think she’d be proud, or grateful but in all honesty, and with the experience with alcohol he has now, he doesn’t think she was even aware half the time. Her sober moments were spent in the stores buying more booze. She had given up the fight but he couldn’t. Somewhere along the way, he made a promise to both her and himself. It was never spoken, but it never needed to be. Now, more than 15 years later… Now things are different. He is different- so much has changed. But she is no doubt the same- always will be. Just like them…

Quote:

---

Damon sits up as more slaves continue to enter the barracks, one more starved and beaten than the last. The room becomes a bit brighter as a few more dim, barely functioning lights are turn

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ZOË'S MOVE:
LOCATION - BRIDGE As...

KAYLEE giggles, then pulls out small blister pack and - carefully hiding what she's doing - opens up the pack.

KAYLEE: "I got something even better than a red switch. I found this down in parts storage when I first came aboard. Reckon my Captain isn’t the only one who considered arming this boat."

KAYLEE beams, and ZOË feels WASH's shoulder tense with excitement under her hand.

WASH: "Wow! Hook it up! Hook it up … ! Shiny! Thanks Kaylee! I owe you one, or several."

ZOË chuckles at WASH's enthusiasm, then laughs out loud as he snatches a kiss.

WASH: "Now that has a really high cool factor, don't you think, baobei*?"

ZOË: (barely stifling a giggle) "That it does, dear."

As WASH grins and begins planning where he'd like to put his new toy, ZOË taps the comm at KAYLEE's request, then shuts it off when the conversation is obviously over.

ZOË's begins to sober as she starts thinking about the implications of having such a "toy" on the bridge - not to mention the idea of her WASH having to use it. However, she's still wearing a soft smile at WASH's excitement when ROWAN enters the bridge to run the diagnostic on the new laser cannon. That wipes what's left of the smile right off ZOË's face, and she's instantly every inch the soldier again - all business and taking care of her crew.

ROWAN: "Makes one wonder what else a girl would have in her locker. I believe I was asked to do a diagnostic on the captain's new big damn gun. Is this a good time?

ZOË sees KAYLEE's face fall - obviously she was thinkin' 'bout SIMON and what he might'a got himself into.

KAYLEE: "Can’t see any reason why not, s’long as ZOË is done, and since she already stood up – go for it. And appreciate the hand. Been such a busy day I don’t know what we would have done without all you extra folks.

No, no, WASH. That don’t go there. Haul it back out and move it back a notch. OK, better.

Go ahead ROWAN, do your stuff.

ZOË watches the look on ROWAN's face as the newcomer takes in KAYLEE's subtle mood shift, and sees a chase of emotion running there. ZOË nods as ROWAN drops into the gunner's chair and begins the diagnostic.

ZOË: (internal) Seems like that girl's seen a bit o' trouble herself, maybe even found herself longin' for someone who ain't around - how else could she see what KAYLEE's goin' through so easy? I'm thinkin' I'd like to sit her down for a talk sometime soon... Assumin' she stays with us long enough - seems like she might be the kind to disappear when the ride's through, too..."

ZOË crosses her arms and leans back against WASH's section of console, careful to stay out of his and KAYLEE's way and watching ROWAN all the while.

END MOVE.

*****
Chinese:
baobei: term of endearment, i.e.: baby, darling, sweetheart, sweetcakes, lambytoes
*****
OOC: Woo hoo! I actually managed to post - twice! In the same scene!!
~Astriana~
~Mostly-Invisible Long-Winded Goddess of Inter-Board Communication and Diplomacy a/k/a El Jefe Magnifico's Mistress... of Communications and Harems~

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

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JAYNE'S move
LOCATION – CARGO BAY

DAMON
"Actually, I don't think she gives a shi."

Whoops, it sounds like Damon is just about ready to get all mushy and talkative. Jayne decides to put an end to that quickly by commenting under his breath, "Yeah, her an' me both. I'll be back in half a shake, gotta go bleed the lizard an' find some more bars." Jayne pulls himself back to his feet and turns to leave.

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Book's Move
Location: Mal's Quarter's


Certain that Mal was going to finally tell him a little more about himself, Book had been prepared to also divulge a portion of his own life in return... but following Mal's que, Book stands. Perhaps tonight... after inter-engine brandy. "Very well, Captain." Cracking his serious demeanor, Book lets out a soft laugh. "Perhaps you're right. A little fun is maybe just what we need."

Going to the ladder, Book quickly ascends and looks up and down the hallway. He notices Kaylee bustling amongst a crowd on the bridge and walks unobtrusively to stand at the back of group and peer down at the Rowan in the Gunner's chair. Folding his arms across his chest and making a somewhat concerned look appear on his face, he leans over and whispers to Zoe. "What are we doing?"

EM

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LOCATION - CARGO BAY

MERZ continues to lay out the cords for a second braid, while Jayne and Damon speak to each other. For one moment, she thought Jayne was sniffing something, smelling something unusual, but the moment passed.

Jayne’s final comment before he turns and … flees … the area.

JAYNE
Yeah, her and me both. I’ll be back in half a shake, gotta go bleed the lizard an' find some more bars.

Once again, MERZ finds herself baffled. All of the words are in English, but the syntax is not clear to her. Jayne has a lizard? That needs to bleed? She sighs. She is never going to understand …

Once she and Damon have the cords ready, they start the second braid; this time MERZ handles the braid and DAMON gets to rest his hands and control the cords.

Halfway through, MERZ breaks the silence. OK, Damon. You have questions. Please ask them, if you would care to. If I can answer, I will.

EOM


If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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LOCATION - MALs DORM
As ...

Book ascends the ladder, Mal allows a frown to settle on his features. Feeling like he has missed an opportunity Mal wait till Book has cleared the ladder then he hits the close button. Dimming the lights, he sits down to make a call - This Hlastoni, or Jax fella need to be updated. And Thorne was ... Mal clamps down on his jealousy ... Thorne was ... engaged. Even more weary, Mal punches up the 'Received Waves' queue and selects the one Thorne received from a ship called ... 'Rubicon' and the sender ID of 'Squire'.

He punches up the address and has the auto-comm set to beep him when the connection was made.

Mal looks again to the closed hatch, wondering. "Why is it the only person I can trust for a clear perspective is probably an Alliance spook," he ponders. Still lost in thought he strokes at his neck. Right at the place where his old crufix used to hang. Sadly he shifts his gaze back to the closed hatch.

MAL
sighing softly & whispering unconsciously...
"Guide me Shepherd, for I have strayed..."

EOM

"Remember, there is only ONE absolute - There ARE NO absolutes!!!"

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Damon’s turn:
LOCATION - CARGO BAY or CATWALKS

JAYNE
"Yeah, her an' me both. I'll be back in half a shake, gotta go bleed the lizard an' find some more bars." Jayne pulls himself back to his feet and turns to leave.

Damon can’t help but give a slight smile. Jayne’s becoming more and more comfortable to be around, being so familiar to the kind of men Damon spent the previous eight years living with- though many had mouths that would probably make even Jayne blush.

Returning to his work, Damon sets his mind on figuring out the best way to tie these cords to the container. He doesn’t get far before Merz breaks the silence.

MERZ: OK, Damon. You have questions. Please ask them, if you would care to. If I can answer, I will.

Questions?

Damon has to backtrack for a moment. Remembering what they had been talking about- him asking what bhaai means- brings some of the questions back to mind. How did she know? He frowns, wondering for a brief moment if she’s a reader like River. But he dismisses the idea- if she could read minds, she’d understand more than she does about… well, the weird stuff most people seem to get, like wearing clothes or how to show gratitude or the concepts of freedom and liberty.

No, not a reader, just… very observant. He remembers her list of smells. Very observant. Shi, I gotta watch how I breathe and what I think on this boat.

Questions… He hates questions; they tend to lead to answers and then more questions. He repeats her words over in his mind, not even sure if they were a request or a demand. There are so many questions he has- some of which he is saving for Mal- but the ones concerning Merz? There are a lot of those too, but like all the other questions he doesn’t ask, they aren’t important. Just questions that fill in gaps of curiosity mostly- the kind of questions you ask yourself, not expecting to ever get an answer, if there even is one. But more importantly, most of them are questions he would dread answering himself. She has already bared so much of herself to him, and the fact that he is unwilling to do the same makes asking questions seem… unfair and hypocritical.

He is silent for several seconds as this tumbles through his mind. Finally, he decides he’d be ok to give the family topic a try. His pride has taken beatings far worse than alcoholic parents and if he’s ever going to get comfortable with talking about any of his past, he might as well start with the easy stuff.

He pauses his work to give her a sincere smile, if not a little nervous. He can’t help but feel like he’s setting himself up to be shot, but then, she probably feels the same way. “So will I, if you have questions I mean. Jus let me know if I cross a line and I’ll do the same. Deal?”




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

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Rowan’s Move
LOCATION: BRIDGE

Rowan has the diagnostic running even before she leans back in the chair.

SERENITY (in Rowan's earpiece): "Diagnostic of primary and secondary systems engaged."

Watching the on-screen display, Rowan watches Serenity's systematic self-diagnostic of all her internal systems, starting oldest to newest. A few notations appear along the way, documenting Kaylee's modifications, but all in all it goes about as she hoped. With the strange bunch of folk they've hand on board of late, it wouldn't surprise her to see something strange appear. Happily, it seems no one had any mischief planned toward the ship. At least, not yet.

Glancing at Wash and feeling Zoe behind her, Rowan finds some interest in a pair who seem as different as night and day and just happen to be husband and wife.

ROWAN: "He's a colorful fella, that husband of yours."

Then she hears Book's voice from somewhere in the rear.

BOOK: "What are we doing?"

ROWAN: "The diagnostic is running. Anything special I should be keeping an eye out for?"

EOM

I draw...therefore I am.
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

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Book's Move
Location: Bridge


A proud smile appearing on his face, Book steps forward and looks at the monitor with the diagnostic information zipping by. "Not likely, unless the newly installed gun has caused some undue stress on the secondary power relays. Something like that won't show up on this diagnostic, only the implication of it. We'll see. Someone small may need to crawl into the belly of our beast and make a visual inspection."

Turning around to survey the damage of his words on the mood of the crew, Book laughs. "But like I said, unlikely, very unlikely. Especially since..." he turns to Kaylee with a sly grin. "the Captain has ordered the opening of the cabinet. Tonight." Turning back to include the rest of the crew and getting slightly dramatic. "By popular demand, we shall all be fortunate enough to swell ourselves with our own Kaylee's recipe. Spoken of before usually only in hushed tones, delighting travellers, lovers and preachers (ahem) the verse over, the finest inter-engine brandy to ever fill a snifter."

EM

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JAYNE'S move
LOCATION – COMMON AREA

Jayne stalks into the common area, pausing at the landing to toss his shirt into the laundry machine, but - someone's closed the door. Jayne's stature slumps a little out of disappointment, but after a moment he hoists the sweaty, balled-up shirt to eye level and launches it.

The shirt lands with a splatter of moisture, slides across the laundry machine and wedges between it and the wall. Jayne gives an approving grunt. If helpin' out was always this much fun, I'd do more of it.

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LOCATION - MALs DORM
As ...

Mal sits up abruptly in the dark. Realizing that he is beginning to wallow, he vows to get back to basics. To focus on the current, the future will have to sort itself out when it gets here. Still in the dark, he moves towards the ladder and ascends. The hatch opens on his approach and the harsh light of the front hall pours down, stinging his eyes.

Quietly climbing up to the deck, he notices laughter and Book's bass story telling voice rolling down the stairs. Unconsciously smiling a tiny smile at the mood Book can generate, Mal closes his hatch and seals it. Even more unconsciously, he heads down the fore starboard gangway.

Passing near Inara's shuttle, he resolutely refuses to look at the tightly shut portal. That fish will have to be fried later. ...None'o my business... that very thought nearly shatters his newly shored up resolve. Too many blocked shut doors had been broken into these past few days. ...Gettin' my priorities confused... Mal chews that idea over slowly.

Fighting this setback, Mal meanders over the upper transverse catwalk, from below he hears Damon's voice drift upwards ...

DAMON
“So will I, if you have questions I mean. Jus let me know if I cross a line and I’ll do the same. Deal?”

These words piquing his curiosity, Mal steps back out of view from those below. He settles his rump on the top rail and hooks his left bootheel over the mid-rail. Quietly he balances on the deck with his right leg. Mal settles in and gets comfortable. He then focuses on listening to the voices from down below in the bay.

EOM

"Remember, there is only ONE absolute - There ARE NO absolutes!!!"

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Rowan’s Move
LOCATION: BRIDGE

BOOK: "Not likely, unless the newly installed gun has caused some undue stress on the secondary power relays. Something like that won't show up on this diagnostic, only the implication of it. We'll see. Someone small may need to crawl into the belly of our beast and make a visual inspection."

Wishing there was an audio interface, Rowan hastily keys in a search parameter and adds it to the diagnostic.

SERENITY (in Rowan's earpiece): "Addition of parameter acknowledged. Resuming diagnostic of primary and secondary systems."

BOOK: "But like I said, unlikely, very unlikely."

Of that, Rowan has no doubt. Kaylee kept a tight ship.

ROWAN to Book: "Thanks Shepherd. I'll keep an eye out."

BOOK: "the Captain has ordered the opening of the cabinet. Tonight." Turning back to include the rest of the crew and getting slightly dramatic. "By popular demand, we shall all be fortunate enough to swell ourselves with our own Kaylee's recipe. Spoken of before usually only in hushed tones, delighting travelers, lovers and preachers (ahem) the verse over, the finest inter-engine brandy to ever fill a snifter."

Still watching the display on the source pad, Rowan grins, as much over the shepherd's delivery than the prospect of getting to taste Kaylee's special brew. Maybe she'll get some sleep tonight after all. Seems the only way to do that these days--without dreaming--is through over-consumption of alcohol.

FLASHBACK

She was tipsy - was that the word? No, not quite. What did Walker used to say? Hammered--yes, that was the word. Only if she really was, would she be aware that she was?

"Madame, you should probably take it easy."

After her fourth long drink of the scotch--which Li had surrendered after taking his fill to numb the pain in his side--Rowan wiped her mouth with the back of her hand as she glared at him and shook her head.

She put a hand over her heart, where the ache was the worst. In her mind was the last thing she'd seen when Li took her out of Revolution control--those beautiful eyes, laden with sorrow and determination. He'd planned it all along. He had said that they would face whatever came together, but in the end he had her taken away. Now she was supposed to face the reality of life without him?

Tamade húndàn. How dare he?

"Not yet," she said. "I can still feel something."

"Madame." Li's eyes were looking sluggish. "He wanted...he wanted me to take you to Osiris. To your parents."

"He wanted--who gives a holy hump what he wanted. HE isn't here, is he?"

"Madame. The bleeding...it isn't going to stop."

He started to topple over, and just like that, she was sober again. "Li!"

He fell gracefully to the deck and landed with a thud. Other passengers in the compartment with them took note that something was amiss, but not a single one came forward. They were content to only stare and quietly comment amongst themselves

Li was a giant of a man, and she had a hard time getting him turned over, which is why she had blood all over her hands and clothes once she did manage it. Holding him in his arms, cradling his close-shaven head against her breast, she put her hand down over the bandage he'd manufactured after the got out of the compound. It was soaking wet. "Li?"

He stared up at her, his eyes already growing dim, and swallowed with some difficulty. "Never...in all my life...have I seen such love as he had...for you."

And even as the last remaining life went out of his eyes, she felt her heart torn asunder. The tears that refused to come before crashed forward. She was still sobbing when the conductor tore her from him.

END FLASHBACK

Rowan swallowed hard and fought to keep her eyes open. Her head twitched involuntarily as the pain arched through her head again. She

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Blended post for Damon and Merz:
LOCATION - CARGO BAY or CATWALKS

Quote:

---

He pauses his work to give her a sincere smile, if not a little nervous. He can't help but feel like he's setting himself up to be shot, but then, she probably feels the same way. So will I, if you have questions I mean. Just let me know if I cross a line and I'll do the same. Deal?

---

Merz nods. “Acceptable.”

Damon takes a moment to formulate his first question, the most obvious in his mind. "Why do you call me bhaai?"

"I ... am not sure. I have been thinking about that. Does it offend you?”

He shakes his head. "No, it's just... surprising I guess."

"I have left my team; my family. I have never been … alone before. It is new, and I think perhaps I do not care for it."

"And I remind you of your brother?"

Merz almost smiled at that. . “You are nothing like Corvair. I think that is a point in your favor."

"What was he like?"

Merz sighs. Almost she does not speak. But what can it hurt now. They can do no more damage to her than she has already earned. “He is large. He is the largest of us as I am the smallest. My size has been an issue with him, I am despised for being … substandard. He is smarter than I am, and stronger. I am faster. He cannot trail me efficiently. This disturbs him that I should excel at anything. He is my leader." … he is coming …
" You are more like Ben-Wa. I ... miss him."

"Who is he?"

Her face is vacant. He is also family, he is Or'Sha's scout, as I am Corvair's. If we could be said to have friends, Ben'Wa is my friend. She looks at Damon curiously. “Query? How many persons are in a family?”

"How many? Depends I guess. Some families live together as parents and children, other families also live with grandparents and uncles... I'd say three minimal: mother, father, child."

"What is it like, knowing a mother, a father? Do you have … parents?”

Tzao gao, there it is: the inescapable result of indulging in conversation. He lets out a humorless chuckle and sighs, letting the seconds pass as he carefully forms a response. "Yeah, I have parents, technically at least, but I wouldn't base your opinion of anything on the general scale off of my answer cuz..." He swallows, obviously having a hard time getting the words out. His face reddens, though no clear emotion can be read. "Well, my parents weren't normal, they... drank. He got drunk and violent and she drank some more and let it happen..." He pauses before continuing, speaking a little softer. "I was just caught in the middle... an accident. I don't think she ever intended to get pregnant but..."

That is a lot for Merz to digest. Quite a lot is just words … drunk … accident … pregnant. She places the entire speech in the databank for later consideration. Damon is clearly tense and upset. What would a sister do? One hand starts to extend and then halts before any true movement can be detected. No, that is not right.

She cannot comfort him as she did River. She begins to understand that different situations require different reactions. But what is correct here?

Damon takes a slow breath, keeping himself focused on his work. But that doesn't work too well when Merz stops braiding. He waits a second and then raises his gaze to meet hers.

“Damon, I am sorry … That was intruding.”

He shakes his head and picks up the cords again, already starting to calm down. "Told you I'd let you know if you crossed a

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BLENDED POST, KAYLEE AND WASH

LOCATION - BRIDGE

KAYLEE works happily aside WASH, and the job goes quickly. But his eyes keep straying to the shiny chrome box of power on his console. Kaylee is watching him out of the corners of her eyes, sure she will spot the minute his will begins to break.

After ROWAN has started her diagnostic, BOOK also enters the bridge area. It might be getting a bit crowded, but everyone is in a splendid mood and everything is fine.

BOOK
Especially since the Captain has ordered the opening of the cabinet. Tonight, by popular demand, we shall all be fortunate enough to swell ourselves with our own Kaylee's recipe. Spoken of before usually only in hushed tones, delighting travelers, lovers and preachers (ahem) the verse over, the finest inter-engine brandy to ever fill a snifter."

KAYLEE stops and looks at BOOK. Truly, Preacher? Whoo! Hoo! I will be pleased to share this tonight, has been a long day of many jobs. She thinks for a second. Ya know, I think I have something else I can share tonight too. No promises, but lemme look around. She pauses. I don’t think we have any snifters, though.

Just a bit more time, a little more wire and this job is now over. Wash smiles and settles back into his chair, while Kaylee replaces the tools in their box. He takes another, non-distracted look at the new coolness on his console. When he finally realizes what he is seeing and before disappointment can cripple him, Kaylee has stepped in. I believe you need a key for that, and holds it out to him.

His smile could ignite a sun. He takes the key reverently and turns to ZOË. She has given me the key. Now I have real power!He glances at BOOK. I'm sorry, but this is something I must do... Bless me Shepherd, for I must sin. as he slowly moves the key towards the empty slot. He looks over at KAYLEE who is already looking at him.

KAYLEE
Here’s the deal. That is for emergency use only. You play around with that and I will disconnect it and make it go away again, OK? But it does have to be tested. So … you get one shot. Hang on.

She dips back into her toolbox and comes up with a cordless drill, which she proceeds to carry over to the intercom. With one hand on the trigger and the other on the comm, KAYLEE announces to the ship at large: Attention crew. This is a drill. She then places the drill next to the speaker and sends the sound of it running all over Serenity. Grinning widely at WASH she turns off the tool and addresses the ship once again. WASH grins at ZOË. He knows what is coming. Now that I have your attention, this is also a drill.

WASH pushes the little silver key into the slot, and watches as the wide lid pops up from the glowing red light. He presses the ‘button of power’, holding REX close so he can see too.

Well, they have wired it correctly and Serenity once again booms the need for the crew to assume their battle stations all around the ship. Once it is established that it functions, WASH turns it off and closes the lock down, contented.

KAYLEE was looking up, at that pink light behind it’s clear shield. The one WASH was so offended by. She turns to ROWAN, busy enough with the diagnostic but distracted by the wire check.

KAYLEE
Serenity should pick up the changes in that helm, and diagnose them too. ROWAN, by any chance, do you have a whole LOT of red nail polish I could buy?


EOM


OOC: edited because I left out some WASH stuff and he was not a happy camper.

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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Rowan’s Move
LOCATION: BRIDGE

KAYLEE: Serenity should pick up the changes in that helm, and diagnose them too. ROWAN, by any chance, do you have a whole LOT of red nail polish I could buy?

Seeing the pretty girl standing before her in mechanic's overalls, smudges on her face, with her hair bound up and out of the way as was best for working on engines--that was one thing. Hearing her ask for nail polish, RED no less, was something else. And yet, Rowan had a sneaking suspicion that the girl's intentions for the polish had nothing whatsoever to do with prettying up the tips of her fingers.

ROWAN: "I have three different shades. Are we talking about Danger red, Look at ME red or, Hi Spacer red?"

SERENITY (in Rowan's earpiece): Helm modifications detected. Additions to diagnostic accepted.

ROWAN (absently): "Our girl's running like a top."

Realizing she said "our" and not "your" Rowan looks up at Kaylee. Mechanics tended to be posessive of their ships. Crew or not, Rowan had no intention of making presumptions.

EDITED: To add the last paragraph.

EOM

I draw...therefore I am.
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

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Mal's Move

LOCATION - UPPER TRANSVERSE CATWALK
As ...

DAMON
"No, I don't mind." His smile widens a little as he looks up at her. "If you ever call me somethin I don't like, you'll know it."

MERZ
"Acceptable".

Suddenly the shipwide clicks on and Kaylee's voice rings throughout the ship

KAYLEE
"Attention crew. This is a drill." ...her voice is replaced by the cantankerous sound of an electric drill droning on next to the mic ... "Now that I have your attention, this is also a drill.

ALERT VOICE SYNTH
sound begins to skip - as if a needle is jumping on a phonograph, then settles down to the normal calm cadence
"RedRedRed Reeed Alert ... All Crew to Battle Stations ... Red Alert ... All Crew ..." the shipwide, just as suddenly, clicks off.

Mal chuckles silently ...I suppose I should get around ta assignin' these suppose'd 'battle stations'...

Settling back comfortable again Mal mulls over the implications of Merz and Damon's words so far.

EOM

"Remember, there is only ONE absolute - There ARE NO absolutes!!!"

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JAYNE'S move
LOCATION – COMMON AREA

"... All Crew to Battle Stations ... Red Alert ... All Crew ..."

The noise always gave Jayne a spiraling, dropping feeling for an instant. His mind flashes back to one of his first big jobs where he and some fellas blew an airlock to get to at a ship's cargo - and the men that had locked themselves up with it, desperate to defend their livelihood.

Jayne had dropped in first. The tension of the situation mixed with the flashing lights and droning computer voice had made for an unhappy combination. He was jumpy. None of the crew were armed, as it turned out, but he didn't know that at the time. When one of them charged out from a hatchway and surprised him, well...

In a fluid motion, Jayne pulls out his piece, aims and empties it. When done, he pushes the toilet back into the wall and slaps cooling water across his face, chest and arms. Felt good.

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Damon’s turn:
LOCATION - CARGO BAY or CATWALKS

Damon looks up from his work when Kaylee’s voice comes on over the com.

Attention crew. This is a drill. She then places the drill next to the speaker and sends the sound of it running all over Serenity. Now that I have your attention, this is also a drill.

The battle stations alert sounds once and then switches off.

“Ha. Drill, very funny. At least they warned us- damn near gave me a heart attack the first time.” He resumes braiding and soon reaches the end. He hooks it onto the crate next to the first. Looking down the length of the braids, he spots the remaining two cords still coiled on the floor. Can’t braid with only two, but Kaylee said six cords so they might not need to do another. He sighs, running a hand through his hair as he stretches his fingers.

“Well, I guess that’s that. Kaylee said six cords… I gotta go talk to Mal before he notices I’m avoiding him, though I’d just as soon braid bungees all night.” He walks over to the remaining cords, still not in any hurry, and picks them up. “How long have you been on the run, Merz?”




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

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MERZ move,

LOCATION - CARGO BAY

SERENITY
RedRedRed Reeed Alert ... All Crew to Battle Stations ... Red Alert ... All Crew …

Even knowing it was a drill, MERZ tenses as the alert goes off. But it is of very short duration, and she controls the urge/need to rush back to the bridge for no apparent reason.

She is no longer needed for the cording; DAMON has reached the point where he can finish without assistance. While he finishes up, she stretches and while DAMON has his back to her, casts a casual glance upwards, towards the one who has been listening to their conversation. Did he really think he had sneaked up on her?

DAMON
Well, I guess that’s that. Kaylee said six cords… I gotta go talk to Mal before he notices I’m avoiding him, though I’d just as soon braid bungees all night. He pauses. How long have you been on the run, Merz

She has caught MAL’s eyes and quietly returned his gaze. He nods gently at her, in acknowledgement. She turns back to DAMON to answer the question, knowing that MAL would also have some interest in her response.

MERZ
I left the “Geste” a little over 6 months ago. I have been moving ever since. I won’t be able to stay long. These people, she considers her words. You people don’t need the kind of heat I could bring down. But … She sighs.

She does not look back to MAL, allowing him to remain lurking, if that is his desire. His face, his attitude, his scent however, so familiar. He was fairly radiating that kind of pre-battle feeling she has known before. Not among the TROY’s, which is different altogether, but certainly among the APE’s. Tomorrow’s run has him worried.

She looks towards DAMON then, to judge the reaction to her next question. She has a feeling that “line” he spoke of may be going to be crossed.

How long have you been running, DAMON?

EOM


If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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JAYNE'S move
LOCATION – COMMON AREA

Jayne sinks into the couch for a moment's rest. As he rubs his temples, he sees that there is someone in the infirmary, lying on the table. He knows those feet. And he's glad River will be sleeping it off while he is busy finishing up his work.

Jayne stands and steps slowly into the doorway. Yup, it's her, sound asleep. He only hopes she isn't awakened by his rummaging for parts in the storage area that encircles the infirmary.

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Damon's turn:
LOCATION - CARGO BAY

How long have you been running, DAMON?

Damon kneels down in front of Kaylee's locker and opens it. Unlike Merz, he is completely unaware of Mal's presense. He drops the cords in the corner of the locker where he got them from and closes it before he can be tempted to sneak a chocolate bar out of Kaylee's stash.

His eyes light up a bit as he smiles pridefully at her and stands. "One year, one month, three weeks, five days and counting. Course, one of these days it'd be nice to not have to run."




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

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Book's Move
Location: Bridge to Cargo Bay


Pleased at everyone's reception of his announcement, Book decides to leave the heathens to their diagnostics and go to his quarters to do something about the purple-lit comm that keeps tormenting him. Very inopportune moment for that thing to go off. he thinks as he exits the bridge. What must the captain have thought? Turning back for a moment, he calls into the bridge with a smile. "Finish your work quickly, so we can tap that cask!"

Whistling down the hallway to the fore stairway, he rolls quickly over what he still needs to do. Contact "them" and get them to stop waving him - imperative. Meditate and change for the night's festivities - I have just the thing in mind. and, ah yes, one more thing," He thinks as he steps off the bottom step to the metal grating of the higher catwalk and sees the Captain, a little lower than him on a catwalk and Damon and Merz on the Cargo Bay floor. "Excuse me, Captain, is there anything else you'd like me to do before I prepare for the cabinet opening?"


EM

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JAYNE'S move
LOCATION – COMMON AREA

Jayne's face is nearly burried into the floor as he gropes in a crawlspace for just a few more steel bars. If he can't find anything out here, he might have to canablize what he needs elsewhere. The slide-out trays in the infirmary's storage closet might do the trick.

Aha! A light grunt of approval escapes Jayne's mouth as his eyes flash across the storage area and spy some more metal lying trapped under a stack of flats. He replaces the crawl space cover and moves over to collect them.

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KAYLEE’s move

LOCATION - BRIDGE As...

ROWAN looked up at her, a very slightly puzzled look in her eyes.

ROWAN
I have three different shades. Are we talking about Danger red, Look at ME red or, Hi Spacer red?

KAYLEE thinks about it for a moment, hands on her hips, biting her lip in concentration.

KAYLEE
I like the sound of Danger red, but I don’t know as it matters. Whatever you have the most of or are willin’ to part with. ‘Cause it’s not like I can give it back.


KAYLEE places the rest of her tools, and the drill back into her toolbox. Well, it is not as critical as other things I have to do before we can have some fun and let our hair down, so to speak. I’ll see what you have later. Right now, I gotta go check on Damon and whoever’s working on our brake for that conex. With any luck we are just about there – that and Jayne’s little project is the last we have to finish.

She heads for the door and then pauses and looks back at Rowan. You said “our” girl’s running like a top. Want you to know; it’s OK. I have been unfair and I appreciate all the help I have had today. Thanks.

She holds out her free hand to Rowan.

EOM


If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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River
LOCATION - INFIRMARY

Quote:

---

River sits on the floor of the cargo bay, studying the ball in her hand and the jacks on the floor in front of her. Not far away, Mal, Simon, Book and Jayne are playing cards on a crate. Things are as they should be. River smiles and looks up at Kaylee.

“This time, I’ll get four.”

Kaylee laughs kindheartedly. “Jien tah duh guay!”

River holds up the small ball. “Watch.” She lets it drop from her hand and begins scooping up jacks as it bounces. She looks up at Jayne for a moment, her hand still moving. “No cheating.”

Jayne’s expression feigns innocent. “Cheating! I don’t cheat. Mal, tell ‘er how I don’t cheat.”

River grabs her forth jack and grins at Kaylee as she hands her the ball.

Mal puts a card on the crate but doesn’t look up as he speaks. “Jayne? Jayne never cheats.” Jayne grins and reaches for his beer. Mal puts another card on the table. “He just likes takin’ advantage of those who aren’t payin’ too close attention. Full house.”

“What?!”

Mal flashes Jayne a smug smile and reaches for the chips.

“Pardon me, captain, but I believe the winnings are mine.” Simon lays his cards on the table.

Jayne stares and points a finger. “Now that’s cheating. I think we oughtta-”

"RedRedRed Reeed Alert ... All Crew to Battle Stations ... Red Alert ... All Crew ..."

Before anyone has time to react, the air lock door swings open. Two Blue Sun agents step into the bay, each carrying a gun. The sound of metal scraping against the floor echos through the walls. Simon, Book and Mal are only halfway to their feet when a shot goes off, hitting Simon straight in the head.

---

River screams as she sits up from the med bed with a start.

“SIMON!"




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

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Wash's Move:
Location - Bridge of his Spaceship

Kaylee (to Rowan): "You said “our” girl’s running like a top. Want you to know; it’s OK. I have been unfair and I appreciate all the help I have had today. Thanks."

(Wash spins a 360 degree arc in his helm chair, and says to both Kaylee and Rowan): "You know better, Kaylee... It's my girl. From her shiny new laser, to the best little engineroom in the verse... It's all mine... and no, you haven't been unfair, I know that you've had a lot on your mind lately, and I haven't been the best of help... Let's try to make it all better tonight, ok?"

Out in the 'verse... past the farthest planet ever even glimpsed by aided human vision, a small rift forms... a glowing neon yellow sign pops into existance... written there, as if it were the secret to life itself: 19:00AMT (7:00pm).
The rift closes, and the sign naturally glows no more, being cut off from it's natural universe... It falls into the planet below, to be forgotten... As time is still passing as it should... And all is well in the 'verse again.

... 1-1... actual probability established...



Decoy, they make me go first, because I have my towel always at the ready.

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JAYNE – COMMON AREA

Five... six... seven... he counts as he collects lengths of sturdy metal rod.

RIVER
"SIMON!"

JAYNE
"Na shi shen me?"¹

Jayne leisurely grabs a couple more rods, pretty sure that there's nothing more than a bad dream causing that ruckus. Girl's old enough to be screamin' out other boys' names, he thinks callously, and makes his way to the side of the infirmary where he pauses to look in on her through a window.

---

¹ What is that?

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Slights move

Slight rolls over, blind. He feels a shift in his stomach, slowly moving up his chest. It's warm.

Slight hacks up blood as his organs try to function again. But a lot is torn, and there's a lot of damage.
He grits his teeth, as he tries to focus. What happened?

In a rush, he remembers his life. His training, his epiphany, the years underground. Researching the Academy.
Dying.
Slight growls. And then he realizes he can't see.
He gently probes around his eyes, and feels the fine, metallic threads leading from his eyes into nowhere. Slight swallows the sudden terror.

We can't all be heroes, since some of us have to sit at the curb and clap as they go by.

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MERZ move

LOCATION – TRAVELING: CARGO BAY TO INFIRMARY

RIVER
SIMON!

Once again, as soon as the voice and the stress is determined MERZ is on the move. She drops everything and sprints for the infirmary, going around anything and anyone between them with a totally unconsious grace, and at her best speed.

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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LOCATION - UPPER TRANSVERSE CATWALK
As ...

DAMON
Well, I guess that’s that. Kaylee said six cords… I gotta go talk to Mal before he notices I’m avoiding him, though I’d just as soon braid bungees all night. He pauses. How long have you been on the run, Merz?"

Mal suddenly had 'that' feeling. The prickle that warned that he was about to be caught spying. Mal flashed back to the time the Pit Boss caught him eavesdropping on the planned assault on a no-so friendly neighbor of Mal's Mom - Mal barely got out of that one with his can intact.

At that same moment Damon turns to collect some thick braided bungee cords that are coiled on the floor. Mal thinks ...OK, meebe my instincts are more'n a tad rusty... On the heels of that thought, Merz, in precise motion, turns her head and locks eyes with Mal. Only slightly startled, Mal nods his head once at Merz. She returns the favor and inclines her head back in Damon's direction.

MERZ
"I left the “Geste” a little over 6 months ago. I have been moving ever since. I won’t be able to stay long. These people, she considers her words. You people don’t need the kind of heat I could bring down. But …

A soft sigh from Merz drifts upward, then she continues after a few moments pause. In that pause, Damon carries the coiled bungees and disappears into the Passenger section.

MERZ
... increasing her voice strength just enough to reach Damon...
"How long have you been running, DAMON?

From somewhere near the lockers, Damon's voice rolls with pride.

DAMON
"One year, one month, three weeks, five days and counting. Course, one of these days it'd be nice to not have to run."

Mal notices Book entering the starboard upper gangway and proceed to the stairs. As Book begins to descend, he hails Mal.

BOOK
"Excuse me, Captain, is there anything else you'd like me to do before I prepare for the cabinet opening?"

Before Mal can answer, River's voice shatters the momentary silence.

RIVER
SIMON!

Suddenly Merz is in motion towards the Infirmary. After sharing a knowing look with Mal, Book is barely a second behind her as he charges down the stairs. Mal jogs aft to the mid platform stairs. Disdaining the stairs Mal drops down to the next level and hops over the back rail. He lands just outside the Dorm hatch, using his knees to absorb the impact and then accelerate him through the portal.

EOM

"Remember, there is only ONE absolute - There ARE NO absolutes!!!"

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MERZ move

LOCATION - INFIRMARY

There is no one between her and her destination and it takes very little time for MERZ to reach RIVER’s location. River is sitting upright on the bed, hands flailing and her head scanning from side to side as if looking for something.

Merz moves in and takes her hands gently, trying to engage her attention, to return her mind to the present instead of where her dreams have taken her. Stilling her motion somewhat Merz attempts to pull her in close again, to show River she is protected and safe; wordless communication.

Others are approaching. MERZ, in this protective mode that is wholly novel to her, turns her head to face these incoming individuals. She is not concentrating on her mask, only on River, on making sure nothing will harm her. Facing River, her expression is gentle; when she turns there is a change - warning those approaching that certain lines will not be crossed. Her expression is … feral.

EOM


If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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River
LOCATION - INFIRMARY

River's frightened gaze darts around the dark room, unsure of where she is. Before she has a chance to get off of the bed, a door opens and form comes running toward her.

"Simon?"

No, it's not Simon. She tries to fight off the hands reaching for her.

"No, Simon!"

The hands finally take her arms, gently pulling her into a comforting embrace. River recognizes this person, the invisible stranger. She burries her face in Merz's shirt and cries.

"Move too fast... couldn't save him. Jayne's cheating but he lost. They're coming... always coming... Simon's gone. lost. Can't escape." She opens her eyes to see more people entering the room. "Too dark."




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

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Damon's turn:
LOCATION - CARGO BAY

Damon thought he heard someone on the catwalks but the noise is interrupted by a scream from the next room.

"SIMON!"

Suddenly, everything is moving. Merz runs passed him in a dead run. Footsteps can be heard running down the stairs and Mal drops from the air, landing with practiced ease before running after Merz. Apparently this ship has multiple alarms.

Damon lets Book past before he gets run over and walks into the common room. He stands on the top of the stairs, where he'll be out of the way, and watches the commotion below him.



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

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INARA’s move.

Note: The flashbacks are lifted almost entirely from a post Ciara sent me that she and Geezer wrote, but didn’t get the chance to post as it was set the next morning. I’m extrapolating from their content and restructuring it in order to get Inara back into the game…

Location(s): Shuttle One, Cargo Bay, Infirmary.


INARA is stretched out on her side, watching a sleeping THORNE, idly running her fingers along his arm. He was an incredible lover, tender and powerful, and she enjoyed herself more than she has done with a client in a very long time. But more than that, they connected – something extremely rare. Something healing… In more than one sense of the word.

Quote:

---

Flashback:

Inara snuggles down into the crook of Thorne’s arm, pulls the coverlet up once again, and sighs contentedly.

“I had wondered if your natural empathy and my store-bought version would complement or clash, but I never expected anything so intense, so complete. The bond was amazingly deep. I hope that you felt the same?”

A soft chuckle emerges from the depths of the coverlet; Inara's face appears from a fold to give Thorne a significant look of agreement.

The two lay quiet for a while, and then Thorne becomes serious, as though he has made a difficult choice. He rolls on his side to face Inara and speaks.

“When minds and souls are as close as ours have just been, sometimes other things can be sensed. I ask this only because I wish to help. What else is it that troubles you, besides your love for the Captain?”

The pleasantly satisfied glow seeps from Inara's face, and she sits up in bed, resting her head against the high pillows. Refusing to meet Thorne's eyes for a moment, Inara shrugs. "Love? The Captain? I don't know what you mean, Thorne." There are some things a Companion should never discuss.

“Please. It doesn’t take an empath to see you love him, and he you. Everyone who’s been on the ship for more than a day knows, except the Captain. There’s probably some stray Puritan gene in his makeup that won’t allow him to admit it. The same one that doesn’t allow him to separate love from sex.”

Indifferent to her nakedness, Inara slides from the bed and retrieves her long robe. When she turns around, Thorne has donned a robe as well.

"It's not right, you know...to love someone when you know it can never work…” Inara picks at the edge of her robe sash, eyes downcast.“...To let them know how much you love them...when you know both your hearts will be broken eventually. It's easier, and kinder to just suffer it all alone.”

Thorne walks to her and takes her hand.

“I have had some experience with unrequited love, and wish now that I had acted on it. The heartbreak of never knowing what could have been is far worse, and lasts longer.” He releases her hand and begins to dress. “You and I will be great friends, and may share good times together. We have much in common and enjoy each other’s company. But the feelings between you and the Captain can be on a whole other level. It would be a shame not to give them a chance to blossom. I do sense, though, that you’re not yet ready to make that decision.”

With a tiny nod, acknowledging Thorne’s point, Inara replies. “I don't share my true emotions lightly, Thorne...I don't generally share them at all. But, when one empath comes in contact with another...perhaps it’s fate? You do have the truth of it, but my other problem may make it a moot point anyway.”

Inara strides over to the bedside table. Roughly pulling the drawer open, she throws a box of syringes and tiny vials onto the bed. As one vial rolls across and off the bed, Throne catches it surely, holding the label up to the light. With a harshness he can scarcely credit, she continues.

“Van Dreen’s Syndrome. A little genetic gift from earth-that-was. If I can stay on my drug regimen I do all right, but miss a dose and the nosebleeds start, and the headaches. Miss two and there are seizures. Miss three and you’re in a coma. Four…No one ever misses more than four...”

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MERZ move

LOCATION - INFIRMARY

RIVER
“Move too fast... couldn't save him. Jayne's cheating but he lost. They're coming... always coming... Simon's gone. lost. Can't escape. Too dark.”

MERZ does not understand. But she understands enough. She understands that the driving force behind making her a predator is the same as that which has hurt RIVER. This disturbs her. No civilian should be treated in such a manner. They are not … strong enough.

The doorway and the corridor outside, is filling with people. RIVER’s people, MERZ knows this. These are the persons that RIVER and her SIMON trust to take care of her. The people with the right to do so.

MERZ holds RIVER, carefully, one hand on her cheek. She turns to face the oncoming crowd, her head slightly lowered between her shoulders. She simply stares at them.

INARA is the first to speak, concern evident on her face. "RIVER, sweetie? What is it?" She checks all motion for an instant and then holds out empty hands. "No one here is going to hurt her, Merz. I promise. Is she alright?”

MERZ
"What is all right? How am I supposed to judge what is all right for her? For any of you?" Unconsciously MERZ is rocking RIVER gently, as she has seen others do, but never done herself. It just seems … right.

MERZ
"DAMON says that things have been … done to her. Bad things. If she has been in Alliance hands, then we are KIN. I have an obligation to her." MERZ lifts her voice, trying to make a point, to respond as one of them. Maybe she can make herself understood. "How can I help her? What do I need to do? How can I protect her?" . She lowers her head and her voice, but it carries to the back of the surrounding crowd anyway. "Help me."

EOM


If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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Slight can taste the bile of fear around the taste of blood.
Again, he prods his eyes. He is totally blind. His mind tells him his eyes are open. He still can't see anything.
He tries to refocus his eyes. Tries to see thing on the slight. Slowly, the ship around him takes form. He bases it from heat.
Most of the obs craft is cold, but variations of heat, pockets of air help him to see the world in a bubble-like format.
"I'm in a lot of trouble here."
His voice is ragged, reflecting his damaged insides. What's more, the auto-tourniquet has restricted his breathing, holding him together, but also prisoner. He can feel it.
He staggers to what seems like a consol, and realizes the wires lead to it. He understands-the DeepRED is recharging his power cells. Fine. It should only be a little while longer.
Using the feedback systems, he has the nanyte swarm form a sort of "speaker." He uses his mind, shaping it into a clear, coherent command to review the past few hours.
"Biologic (that's me, Slight thinks) became unresponsive. Fourteen procedures were attempted to revive and repair biologic. Failed. Fifteenth attempt used nueral interface to re-enact death, using Gestalts psychological theory of association through memory overlay. At twelth attempt, power was reported failing. optical extension was calculated to be the most efficient means of recharging.
"Probes were extended from the ring and little finger of both hands, to observe and analyze to environmental conditions."
Slight has the nanytes return to their duties. He frowns. Luh-suh.

We can't all be heroes, since some of us have to sit at the curb and clap as they go by.

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Book's Move
Location: Infirmary


Book takes a deep slow breath. The infirmary lights flicker uncharacteristically. Help her? Indeed. But who needs more help? Merz continues to rock back and forth, cradling River in her arms. River appears almost sleepy and content... as if she has just woken from a dream and is settling back in again. I should have seen it before. What is making me so blind to other people's needs?

Stepping in between Mal and Inara, Book slowly approaches Merz and River, his arms held slightly out to his sides in a very real show of an open, trusting gesture. "Inara is telling you the truth child, no one here would hurt her... or you." Book blinks and lowers his eyes for a fraction of a second even if we wished, only words seem to penetrate her deeply. "You don't need to do anything to protect River right now. I'm afraid the future is quite uncertain though... we may all need you then."


EM

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Malachi's Move
Location: Nearby the vessel containing Brink Helsing's body


A pleasant itch tickles his mind as he watches his spatial flow analyzer retrieve several probable destinations for the ship that deserted this one not long ago. Someone went to a bit of trouble to conceal leaving the area. Likely a trap waiting inside. He would of course go into this ship. The signal from the homing beacon was strong. He would locate card and holder soon. The drifting, vacant-looking ship was bad though.

Standing from the hunched position he had adopted, he growls inwardly at the close confines of the ship. He had never liked being in a small ship. At the back of his tiny ship, he opens an access port and deploys one of three miniature surveillance robots (msr). Quick and safe. I love quick and safe. Returning to his console bank he switches on another screen and watches the progress, in streaming data, of his msr. Soon the data stream changes consistency and knowing the cause is his msr's success, Malachi flips over to video mode to inspect the inside of the "beast" he hunts.

EM

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Slight sighs. Well, at the moment he's stuck. Until his cells recharge, he can't move very far. Only thing to do now is wait.
Suddenly, he feels the cold breath behind his shoulder. He looks up, and sees the bright blob of heat. Another ship. Largish. the shape is too amorphous to see the model, and too blurred to see how many could be inside. He sighs again. A weapon. He needs a weapon. Could be hostile. For the first time, he inspects his chest wound with his hand. Some sort of pipe. No, a handle. To the engine compartment. In his mind, he inspects his surroundings. best point for a throw-he figures that's the best option-is in the engine doorway, angled towards the hatch when it swings inwards. He reformats the nanytes-most are in his hand quickly, creating a tri-bladed throwing weapon. Lightweight, and it'll correct to inflict the most damamge to the target. Slight waits to strike.

We can't all be heroes, since some of us have to sit at the curb and clap as they go by.

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Rowan's Move
LOCATION: BRIDGE

Kaylee (to Rowan): "You said “our” girl’s running like a top. Want you to know; it’s OK. I have been unfair and I appreciate all the help I have had today. Thanks."

Wash: (spins a 360 degree arc in his helm chair, and says to both Kaylee and Rowan): "You know better, Kaylee... It's my girl. From her shiny new laser, to the best little engine room in the verse... It's all mine... and no, you haven't been unfair, I know that you've had a lot on your mind lately, and I haven't been the best of help... Let's try to make it all better tonight, ok?"

As Wash speaks, Rowan's eyebrows rise over his assumption of ownership. You'd think a pilot would know better. Everyone who works in space knows who really owns the ship. The captain may or may not have his hands on the deed, and the pilot may have control on where it goes, but when it comes down to it, if the engineer deems the ship isn't going anywhere, that's the be-all, end-all. Looking up at Kaylee, she shares a look with the young mechanic that she finds agreeable and reaches out to take that slim, capable hand in her own firm grip. The handshake is one part acknowledgement, one part reassurance. Rowan knows the score and by her return look she knows that Kaylee does too. Their hands come apart and Kaylee adds a little pat on Rowan's shoulder.

Rowan: "I appreciate that, Kaylee - you haven't been unfair so much as protective. I never met an engineer who wasn't. And Wash, I look forward to lifting a cup or two with you while we discuss the laws of possession."
And if she lifts a cup or two with all the crew--with the possible exception of Merz--she stands a good chance of passing out for the rest of the evening and into tomorrow. Rowan wonders how the captain would take the notion that she could be indisposed for a few hours in the morning.

Glancing back at the source pad screen, she takes note of Serenity's diagnostic progress.

SERENITY (into Rowan's earpiece): "Diagnostic ongoing. Results compiling. Please stand by."

Rowan (smiles): "She's thorough, isn't she? You must have hung on to the Solo Systems package. Funny how folks quit using it because it's slow. It's still the best diagnostic for a ship like this. Checks out all the nooks and crannies, whether you've been in them or not."

Rowan crosses her right ankle over her left, and leans back to get a look at the view out the forward window. She finds herself trying to recall if black is the absence of all color, or the inclusion of all color. It had to do with light versus matter.

EOM

I draw...therefore I am.
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

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Damon’s turn:
LOCATION - COMMON AREA

Quote:

---

INARA is the first to speak, concern evident on her face. "RIVER, sweetie? What is it?" She checks all motion for an instant and then holds out empty hands. "No one here is going to hurt her, Merz. I promise. Is she alright?”

---

Damon makes his way down the stairs, now that the rush is over, and stands near the couch in the common room, looking through one of the windows into the infirmary. Merz is in there, holding River protectively. River looks upset, a look Damon is all too familiar with- her dark eyes still haunted by the nightmare that interrupted her sleep.

Quote:

---

MERZ
"What is all right? How am I supposed to judge what is all right for her? For any of you? DAMON says that things have been … done to her. Bad things. If she has been in Alliance hands, then we are KIN. I have an obligation to her." MERZ lifts her voice, trying to make a point, to respond as one of them. Maybe she can make herself understood. "How can I help her? What do I need to do? How can I protect her?" . She lowers her head and her voice, but it carries to the back of the surrounding crowd anyway. "Help me."

---

Book moves into the infirmary, trying to talk to Merz. Damon watches silently, wondering if there’s something else he should be doing- after all, there’s not much he can do here anyway. He’d be more useful in the engine room. He glances at Jayne, noticing the metal bars in his hands. Maybe Jayne will need some help but then again, Mal’s done talking to Book- maybe he’s wanting to talk soon. Not knowing what else to do, Damon decides to wait until things are settled here before making plans.



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

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JAYNE – COMMON AREA

Jayne's brow raises at the mention of his name. He wonders what cheating River's refering to, but keeps watching silently from outside the infirmary. His face shows something more like disgust, but he doesn't feel any - only a little confusion as he thinks through what could be wrong this time. He pays close attention to Merz's strange behaviour. It's not so much mother-like any more; perhaps a little more wild.

There is an exchange between Inara and Merz. "No one here is going to hurt her, Merz. I promise. Is she alright?"

"What is all right? How am I supposed to judge what is all right for her? For any of you?"

Whoa-kay, things seem to be getting a little more emotional now. Jayne slowly circles to the front of the infirmary, still eying the going-ons inside with a modicum of concern, and nearly bumping into Damon on his way in.

After Merz says "help me", Jayne decides his particullar skills aren't going to be of much value here. He turns to Damon. "That's my cue ta skeedadle."

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River
LOCATION - INFIRMARY

River sits comfortably wrapped in Merz's arms, lost in her own thoughts. Most of them revolve around Simon, it kills her to not know where he, or how he's doing. After a few minutes she seems to have calmed down. She sits up from Merz's embrace and looks around the infirmery sadly.

"He's gone again. It's the second time he's had to leave home for me." She looks at Mal. "If the letters stop coming we must find him."

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

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MERZ move

LOCATION - INFIRMARY

She listens to River’s words, retaining them, but for the moment letting them pass without comprehension. That’s easy, there are many things she has failed to comprehend today. As RIVER straightens up and pulls away from her, Merz lets her go. She is no longer needed here, if she ever was.

The room and the hallway are a miasma of conflicting scents, the emotional content is high and overwhelming. MERZ is not used to such a concentration of feelings; that her’s are among them does not signify as MERZ is all but oblivious to her own scent most of the time. ~ help me ... i have never asked for help before. what is wrong with me? is this what being a civilian is? confusion, pain, conflict, fear … ~

MERZ steps back from RIVER, and straightens up. She looks at the assembled crew, noting their positions, who is here, who has moved off. Jayne circling around the edges of the area, concern on his face. Concern for River? She considers INARA’s words, and BOOK’S, each in the context of their gestalt as she sees it. There is nothing there but sincerity – for the stranger in their midst, as well as for River?

BOOK … no one here would hurt her... or you. You don't need to do anything to protect River right now. I'm afraid the future is quite uncertain though... we may all need you then."

She considers his words, her thoughts very slightly chasing across her face, as emotion and confusion have lowered her control. Some of it is unimportant; she is not sure any person here could hurt her significantly. Her training was too intense. She does not want to consider these civilians put into any position that would require her brand of help – that would make them in more danger than she chooses to contemplate right now. Coupled with the fear that the reason might be her fault … .

MERZ straightens up, air passing through her clenched teeth, not a hiss, but not missing it by much. The mask drops back across her features, not so much calm as blank. She scans across the crowd catching each eye in turn. When she reaches MAL, she stops for a moment, caught in the odd expression on his face. She address him directly.

“The interruption in my duties was an momentary occurrence. I will return to work now.”

She pushes forward through the assembled crew, rather trusting them to get out of her way rather than attempting to avoid them. Never realizing that she turned her face briefly toward RIVER as she left and smiled gently at her.

EOM


If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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NEW ACT THREAD!!!

ACT 22
http://fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=17&t=7532

"Remember, there is only ONE absolute - There ARE NO absolutes!!!"

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