On the Way to Persephone #3- Life On Board Serenity
POSTED BY: SameErtia
UPDATED: Monday, May 1, 2006 22:29
VIEWED: 29489
PAGE 9 of 18
*13 finally drags himself out of his bunk, and wheels (jesus I HATE that f&*king word!!) himself into the galley*
Where'd everybody go?
*He then sees the empty bottles...*
Oh...wish I could get drunk..
*To test this theory, he nabs a three-quarters empty (pessimist..cough.) bottle and takes a swig, almost immediately spitting it out*
Fried my sensors...*continues to look for someone to talk to*
I think a little chaos is in order.
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*Pain almost runs into Jayne carrying a very drunk Ertia over his shoulder. Pain moves out of the way as Jayne opens the hatch to Kaylee's bunk. Ertia looks up, sees Pain and with a drunken smile she says to an unhappy Jayne*
Oohhs takes mes to Pains's room insteads.
*Jayne's response is muffled as the two of the enter the bunk. Pain decides to head off to the cargo bay and try to do some clean up before all the alcohol he drank takes effect. He heads to the stairs leading to the cargo bay as his vision starts to go blurry. He thinks he sees 13 in the galley but shrugs it off. Pain is almost to the stairs as the alcohol rushing through his bloodstream takes its toll. The last thing Pain remembers before passing out at the top of the stairs is Ertia's drunken plea to Jayne to take her to Pain's bunk.*
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WWJD: What Would Jayne Do?
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oops. reckon we're all in trouble...
Ertia wakes with a start as a shooting pain travels up her shoulder. "OUCH! WHAT THE!!!!"
Opening her eyes, she sees the smiling face of Dr. Tam. She realizes she feels like she NEEDS a doctor. "oooooooooff."
"Good morning. How are you feeling?" Why do doctors gotta be so cheerful when they're telling you you're about to die?
"I'm dying." Ertia groans, covering her aching head and her bloodshot eyes.
"Nope. Just feeling the affects of trying to outdrink Pain and Fly." Simon reassures, none to reassuringly. "Captain's looking for you, and Kaylee said you needed a pick-me-up."
"What did you give me?" She's actually feeling better already.
"Endorphins, painkillers, A and B vitamins, and a nausea supressant. Works wonders for med-school students after final exams, too." Simon stands up heads for the ladder.
"Captains looking for me?" Ertia's brow creases in concern as she realizes she's on her make-shift mattress on the floor of Kaylee's bunk and doesn't remember how she got there. Piece by piece memories come back. "Oh, sweet Buddha, did I really fall on his feet and call him Cappy Tightspants?"
Simon's smile is as close to wicked as it ever gets. "That IS the rumor, yes."
With a groan, Ertia pushes to her feet and splashes some water on her face and over her hair. Best to face the Captain like a.. like a.. a umm.. well, best to just face him and get it over with.
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Location: Infirmary
*Pain wakes up in the infirmary with a sharp pain in his head. He reaches for his forehead and touches what seems to be a bandage on his head. He notices he's slumped in a chair in the corner and looks to see the occupant from the pod is stiil in the exam chair unconcious. The doctor notices Pain is awake and says*
Hello Pain. Have a good sleep?
*Pain blinks his eyes, looks at the doc and says*
Wha....? How'd I get here?
*Simon says to Pain*
Zoe and Wash found you passed out near the stairs to the cargo bay. They brought you here and waited for me to get here and then they left.
*Pain blinks and says*
I reckon it was Zoe who did most of the carryin'.
*Simon nods as he injects Pain with a cocktail of meds. Pain only grunts as the doc takes the needle out and says to Simon*
What did you just give me?
*Simon replies*
Just something to help with your hangover and to dull the pain of that gash on your head.
*Pain nods and gets up, feeling somewhat better already he points to the man in the exam chair and says*
How's he doing doc? Is he ever going wake up soon?
*Simon says to Pain*
He's doing fine. His vitals are good. He should be awake in a matter of a day or two. Why do you ask?
*Pain looks at the doc and says*
No reason at all just askin'. Well I guess I better go help clean the cargo bay now thanks for patchin' up my hurt doc I appreciate it.
*Before Simon can tell Pain that he needs to see the Captain, Pain heads out of the infirmary and into the cargo bay to help the other crew members with the cleaning.*
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WWJD: What Would Jayne Do?
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Oops! Pain had to be carried to bed, too! Now I don't feel so bad. 
sorry, 'kinda long expo here.
Ertia climbs out into the passage and heads for the bridge.
Zoe passes her. "Captain wants you."
"Yeah. Thanks." She makes it another three feet when Shepherd Book pokes his head in from the stairway.
"There you are. The Captain is looking for you." Wow, even the Shepherd looks disapproving!
"Thanks." Ertia gets half-way through the galley where 13 is is sitting with a pair of pliers adjusting something in his wrist.
"I think the Captain was looking for you."
"YAH! GOT IT!" Ertia finally snaps.
He looks at her for a long moment through non-human eyes and finally says, "Don't shoot the messenger."
Remembering what Pain said the night before, about not knowing how much of 13 the man was still inside the robot, she apologies, "Sorry. Just... Yah, sorry."
Tentatively she steps up into the bridge. "You wanted to see me?"
"Shut the door and sit down." Mal flips on the auto-pilot and stands up.
"Sir?" She slumps into the co-pilot chair.
"Now, I ain't gonna mince words. I can't be havin a crew that goes getting smashed after every little firefight."
She can't even meet his eye, "Sir, I..."
"It's one thing getting a little wrecked once in a while, but you are makin' a habit of it. I needed my ship ship-shape, and I got a crew dead-drunk and useless!"
"Sir, I'm sorry, I'm..." She pauses, waiting for him to interrupt, then continues, her shame bubbling out of her. "I just... I told you, I'm no good in battle. I crack. I can't... I'm not... I'm not good at killin' folks."
Mal's expression softens a tad, "You killed 18 men yesterday, mei mei. Don't tell me yer no good at it."
"Eighteen?" The number staggers her. She took eighteen lives? "And how many of them were ours?"
"None. You maybe shot Arizona, but I think he just got in crossfire. No tellin' for sure if the lead came from you."
"But I freeze up! I can't function! I'm..." Tears well in her eyes, but she doesn't dare wipe them away. "I get in a melee situation and I panic, just start pullin' the trigger!"
"Exactly." Now Mal is staring straight at her. "I put you where I need a melee situation and you always come through. We get in outnumbered in an ugly way, I know I can drop you down there with a repeater and see our body count triple."
"You... you did that on purpose?" Ertia stares at him.
"Well, not exactly purposeful. Didn't mean for you to get pinned down behind that tire. Thought you had more charge left on your little zoom-gun."
Mal shakes his head as he sits back down. "Point is, everyone on this crew has their strengths. And out here on the Rim we gotta make every single thing count. You done good yesterday. Until you came back and got liquered up."
She's embarrassed and unsure whether to be angry or not. "I am sorry about that, sir."
"Your gonna be alot sorrier." Mal holds up his hand and starts ticking off points,
"I want that cargo bay cleaned, scrubbed and polished.
-Then I want the exhaust ducts cleaned. Kaylee can show you how.
-After that, you personally attend to our guests; laundry, cooking, room cleaning, anything they need.
-When that's done, then you get started re-working those labels for the cargo we're pickin' up on Persephone. I hired you to forge stuff, not for your ability to shoot people."
"Yes, sir." Ertia tries to think of something else to say.
"Well, get to it." Mal turns back to the helm. "You see Fly or Pain, you tell 'em get their baboon-faces up here, pronto."
"Yes, sir." Ertia heads for the door.
"And Ertia?"
"Yes sir?"
"You ever call me cappy tightspants again, yer on septic vac duty for a month, dong ma?"
"Uh, yes, sir." She runs off of the Bridge before he comes up with anything else.
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Location: Cargo Bay
*Pain is mopping up a spot on the cargo bay floor when he sees Ertia run into the cargo bay with an "I just had my a$$ handed to me by the Captain" look on her face. She sees him and says to Pain*
The Captain's lookin' for you an' Fly. He ain't to happy neither cause he just unloaded a heap of chores on me.
*She looks at the bandage on Pain's forehead and says*
What happened to you?
*Pain hands her the mop and says*
Oh nothin' really just passed out is all and hit my head, nothin' to worry about. So I guess I'll have to go see the Captain huh?
*Ertia looks at him with a worried look on her face and nods. Pain says*
Well guess you should start those chores then. I'll go get Fly and we'll go face the Captain together.
*Pain puts a hand on Ertia's shoulder, smiles and says*
Don't worry me an' Fly will be fine.
*Pain turns around and heads out of the cargo bay to Fly's bunk as Ertia says to noone in particular while resuming Pain's mopping*
I'm not so sure 'bout that.
EDITED TO ADD: OoC: I think I'll let Fly handle hers and Pain's punishment.
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WWJD: What Would Jayne Do?
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Ertia watches Pain go. She's pretty sure Mal won't try to put him out the airlock. Well... kinda sure.
Maybe.
With a sigh, she picks up a bucket and scrub brush and starts near the airlock, working her way across the cargo bay. It's gonna be a long ride to Persephone.
"Need help?" Ari wanders in and leans against the wall. "After all, I think some of that blood's mine."
Ertia shakes her head. "Thanks but nopers. Not interested in lettin' the Captain think I'm pawning off my chores. Doc get those stitches fixed up?"
Ari nods. "Almost like new. You guys got a good doc. How'd you come by him, anyhow?"
A prickle of suspicion runs up Ertia's spine, but she smiles. "Just lucky, I guess."
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She gets up after a long sleep and sits at the edge of her bed….She realizes she still had the letter in her back pocket. She retrieves the letter and holds it in her hands. The seal unbroken…..She holds it up against her light to see if she may be able to see any lettering inside….she can’t…holds it in her right hand and taps it on her left…….She finally says…..
Oh, well and breaks the seal…….
She opens the letter and….wait, what is this….it’s not a letter at all. She can’t make it out…..looks like lines on top of lines…..some lettering she can’t figure out….she looks at it close…..puts it up to the light again….nothing…looks like lettering all around the edges…..can’t see…..She stares at the letter just shapes and lines…..She puts it on her bed and stares at it and begins to day dream….her eyes feel heavy,,,she,,,she,,sees,,,,something,,,,,,,Tap, tap, tap,,,,,,,the sound of someone tapping on her door breaks her daydream…..
Fly: Yea,,,,,*did I just see*
Pain: Can I come in?
Fly: Yea *Pain enters her bunk*
Pain: Hey, ah,,,,the *Fly breaks into his conversation*
Fly: What happened to you? *Her fingers trace the outside of the bandage he was sporting on his head* Does it hurt?
Pain: *Flinches a little* No, I uh,,,well, after I put you to bed,,,,I uh,,,,well…….Um, the captain wants to see us pronto…..We best get going….Ertia just got her butt reamed by him…….he ain’t too happy this morn *he notices the paper on the bed….He walks over to pick,,,,,Fly snatches it first before he could pick it up….
Pain: Whats that?
Fly: Uh,,,,I don’t know actually. This is what I’ve been carrying around for two days…..this was what we thought was a letter. But I could have sworn, I, uh, saw……Never mind,,,,,,we should see the captain. Puts’ the cryptic paper in her back pocket once again.
He and her walk out and head to the bridge……Upon reaching the bridge the captain doesn’t even turn around and says, “Pain, Fly, have a seat”.
Mal: I gather you two know I’ve spoken to Ertia…..did she inform you of her duties?
Fly: We....*Pain quickly interrupts her*
Pain: Yes captain she did *Fly looks at him like good save. She doesn’t know what has transpired at all.*
Mal: Well I want you two to know that I can’t have you guys passing out drunk like you did last night…..Totally uncalled for,,,,,especially when we have a boat full of unknowns here…..What would happen if I needed you two at a moments notice?
Fly: You are right sir, I’m sorry, it won’t happen again
Pain: Yea, what she said
Mal: Well I’m gonna teach you two a hard lesson,,,,You know I’ve given Ertia a boat load of chores…..now I want you to report to HER for your chore duties……You both do exactly what she tells you and needs……Dong Ma?
They both reply Dong Ma?
Fly and Pain walk out from the bridge…..she grabs his arm……
Fly: We, we have to report to Ertia….does she know this?
Pain: Uh, no, but wait until she does,,,,,,she is gonna have a field day with this AND us.
Fly: Yea,,,,,boy do I know that
They make their way to the Cargo Bay to tell Ertia,,,,
"Don't forget to call him "Sir." He likes that."
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*Ari catches up to 13 before he retreats back into his bunk*
Ari: Where are you going?
13: Bunk. Need some sleep.
Ari: We both know you don't sleep. We've got seven of the remaining crew sleeping in the cargo bay, with no clue where to go or who to follow. They need you to kinda..give em a push in the right direction.
13: Since XIII died, Deep-Water is Captain. Let him tell them what to do.
Ari: Say's he won't do it. Says something bout leaving once we dock.
13: You can't captain a ship that doesn't exist, Ari.
*Deep-Water enters the hallway, a look of bad news*
DW: Charity isn't dead, 13. Got a call from Lance...he's still flying. Monid though...You have to do something.
13: Fine. *He pushes past the two High Charity'ers into his bunk, slamming the door closed.
Ari: Well, that went well. I'm gonna see what that Ertia's up to..don't exactly trust her in that state...
DW: If 13 isn't going to accept leadership, then Charity is truly done for.
(OoC: So much has happened since last post. Namely, Mammoth. How was it, by the way? Didn't catch it. Watcha think of my fanfic?)
I think a little chaos is in order.
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*Pain and Fly reach the cargo bay and spot Ertia, they walk over to her with the same "we got our a$$es handed to us" look that Ertia gave Pain. Ertia says to them*
So how'd it go with the Cap'n?
*Fly responds*
Not too good I'm afraid you see the Captain sorta made us your slaves.
*Ertia's shocked and says*
What? I don't understand.
*Pain chimes in and says*
Yeah he said that we should help you with your chores and to follow your orders.
*Ertia looks at both of them with a sly smile on her face and says*
Oh really! Well now this will certainly help me get back at you guys for getting me drunk. *Pain and Fly give each other an "uh-oh" look as Ertia continues* Pain I want you to see to the passengers, follow their every word. Fly I want you to help clean the cargo bay. After you two are finished come see me about what to do next.
*Pain and Fly nod and are about to go do their assigned chores when Ari and Deep Water enter the cargo bay*
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WWJD: What Would Jayne Do?
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