The Sereni-Tree and the Next Big Thing
POSTED BY: TheRealMe
UPDATED: Saturday, April 7, 2007 04:47
VIEWED: 45808
PAGE 11 of 21
Quote:
Originally posted by CallMeSerenity:
Don't worry, SR. Seryn and Finn are with Seraphina and me. We're in my quarters, behind locked and sealed doors. We're both armed and, as you know, we are quite capable of taking care of ourselves. We're just having a bit of a play date, out of harm's way.
We hope.
Serenity,
President of The Juggled Gosling Chatroom
Bride8
Wielder of the Magic Frying Pan of Sleep
"Okay, well give her my love and let her know I'm doing my best to make the make the rest of the ship safe for her and the homonculus."
Quote:
Originally posted by TheRealMe:
“Negative, Bride4. Do not leave Main Engineering. Keep it shut tight. If FemaleReaver gets in there, she could blow up the engines or kill life support or trap us in hyperspace forever!”
“Well, okay, but based on what the DRD readings tell me, she can use these taps to view just about anything from any camera on the ship. Read our e-mails. Things like that. At least when the DRDs get back, I’ll be able to…”
“Negative, Bride4. Do not allow the DRDs to return to Main Engineering. She could follow them inside.”
Jet seems annoyed. “Whatever! Paranoid enough?”
TheRealMe gives a grim smile as he signs off. “No, not nearly enough.”
TheRealMe, Captain of the Sereni-Tree
SR, having lent his cloak to SIr Kei to use as a improvised kilt, had followed TRM up to his office and over heard the bit of his conversation with Jet. When there was a appropriate break he put in his two cents worth,
"I don't think she would blow up the engines or kill life support, Reavers like their food alive, but I don't want her in engineering because they have this concept that reactor containment impairs efficiency, it's true, but the same demented logic also says that racers should remove all the brakes from their cars because they are needless weight and just slow down the car. If If Jett wants to check out locations outside of engineering then I can do that. Likewise I can be the shepherd that brings in the flock DRD's back into engineering, which I wouldn't mind, because all I got for weapons on me is my cuttlass, I have my own arms cache back in my den if you people need some loaners. If I can get someone to partner up with me I'd appreciate it, McQ would be my first choice, but I'll take anyone able. Should I check the DRD's for bugs and booby traps, before I let them into engineering, is that the thing that she would do?"
Scorpion Regent
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by TheRealMe:
TheRealMe addresses Kei, "No, Sir Kei, it is most likely that you had a run-in with our enemy, who is stalking us here. Oh, and this place is our ship, Sereni-Tree. But it is not a ship that sails over the seas; it is a ship that sails between the stars. And... uh... there's no air outside. We have to bring that with us."
He turns to BC07, "And you say that FemaleReaver emits phermones, the lingering trace of which nearly Reaverizes you when you contact them? And you propose to track her by scent? No, I don't think so. I will not have TWO Reavers being the best-armed people on this ship. Stand down, mister, until WE have some way to control you or curb your violent moods! I'll forgive this incident, because you are new and nobody got hurt. But if you ever go wild and harm a member of this ship's company, I'll have you tossed out an air lock, hyperspace or no."
TheRealMe's com-link beeps. "Huh. I have a message waiting for me in my office. Excuse me. I need to see who this is. It might be HER."
TheRealMe, Captain of the Sereni-Tree
Glares sullenly, but understands the command and begins to reign in his emotions
"Ai Cap'n... just don't like the thought of her wandering about at her leisure, seems she can get around locked bulkheads as if they weren't even there and it worries me a bit..."
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by TheRealMe:
TheRealMe sits at his desk in his office, tapping a pen against its smooth surface. “Computer, replay the last message again.”
How long had it been since TheRealMe talked to River-clone? Not in a long time. Too long, perhaps not since Washie vanished. Washie…
River-clone’s face re-appears on the screen. She looks sad, but determined. “A spider weaves its web. Traps us. Traps us all. Fear. Terror. Hate. It feeds on these. Grows stronger. Bolder. Sucks it into itself as it stalks us. It won’t kill us, not yet. It’s having too much fun. A feast of terror. Spiders have many eyes. Many eyes to watch us!” A tear begins to work its way down her face and she nods. “I’m going now. Yes. Got to go. It is coming for me.”
The screen goes dark as the message ends. Then there is a buzz at the door and Soul enters, carrying a bowl. He carefully places it on TheRealMe’s desk.
TheRealMe stares down at the bowl. It is full of dust. He looks up at Soul. “Clone dust? Did River-clone spontaneously dissolve like the rest of them? We’ve seen clones dissolve before. But that would be an amazing coincidence for it to happen now. Or is that what is left if a clone is killed, too?”
“Unknown,” Soul answers quietly. “For all I know she took up smoking and got messy with the ashes. But this is what my people found in River-clone’s room. Dust, but no River-clone.”
“And PsychicRiver?”
Soul places a com-link on the desk. “Here is his assigned com-link, but there was no sign of him.”
TheRealMe ponders this. “So he got taken by FemaleRiver? Kidnapped again? Or did he slip off the ship like he used to?”
“Unknown. But there are no records of anyone leaving in one of the pods or shuttles before the Jump, or since.”
“So this means that every reliable mind-reader that we have is gone?”
“Pretty much.”
“I should have seen this coming. We could have tracked her down with a mind-reader, through any disguise.”
There is a beep. “Jet here. You were right. There are signs of a tap into our information network at three places. But I won’t be able to sort them out unless I go to each site personally.”
“Negative, Bride4. Do not leave Main Engineering. Keep it shut tight. If FemaleReaver gets in there, she could blow up the engines or kill life support or trap us in hyperspace forever!”
“Well, okay, but based on what the DRD readings tell me, she can use these taps to view just about anything from any camera on the ship. Read our e-mails. Things like that. At least when the DRDs get back, I’ll be able to…”
“Negative, Bride4. Do not allow the DRDs to return to Main Engineering. She could follow them inside.”
Jet seems annoyed. “Whatever! Paranoid enough?”
TheRealMe gives a grim smile as he signs off. “No, not nearly enough.”
Mostly to himself, TheRealMe mutters, "And we don't even know if this River-clone message might be a fabrication, a diversion."
“When will we drop out of hyperspace?” Soul asks.
TheRealMe shrugs. “About a week. Whatever FemaleReaver’s plan is, she knows that she has to be finished by then, or I will find her with my dimensional portals.”
“Unless she takes you out before then.”
“Or unless the place we’re headed is more dangerous than she is, and we have more than her to worry about. Have you checked on Bride1’s room, yet? Nobody has seen her in a while.”
Soul places another com-link on the desk. “Yeah, I checked Ace’s room, too. Empty.”
"Okay, without mind-readers, do we dare to use BrownCoat07's nose to track her down?"
"So, would you really have spaced him... into hyperspace?"
"Aw, you know what a softie I am. Probably not. But I would have had him locked up, for his safety and ours. She's probably lying in wait for a driect attack, with all the weapons in your arsenal."
TheRealMe, Captain of the Sereni-Tree
Having snuck up and overheard the last part of the conversation, BC'07 d
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by TheRealMe:
As Bluefishie follows her marker line back the way she came, she meets a bug-shaped robot about the size of a large dog. It is using fluffy spinning disks to buff off and clean up the line she was following!
*stomps her foot*
"Well shit!"
*kicks the robot*
"Don't supposed you can help me find my way back?"
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
I most definitely am Not your mummy. Umm a little help here.
Quote:
"Of course it helps if the helmets not stuck." He added. He started searching his pockets for something before pulling a tube of yellow paste and a tube of green liquid from his jacket. "Right this should work, this is lubricant, very useful in such circumstances, and this stuff'll crack that helmet in two nicely."
Citizen leaned over and started applying the yellow paste to the outside of the helmet. "Hold still, don't want to have this stuff go off on you."
Ok, if you really think that will work. Just don't get any on my shoes. They're new.
Plus, I'd rather just the helmet breaks and you know, not the rest of me.NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
TheRealMe to ScorpionRegent, after deactivating all com units in his office:
"Excellent ideas all, ScorpionRegent. Yes, please coordinate with Jet for analysis of the network taps. Though leave one active. We might be able to use that to our advantage by feeding her information. Good idea to shepherd the DRDs. Any sabotage or trap is possible with FemaleReaver.
"Yes, McQ would make a fine partner.
Whispers: "Oh, it is possible that FemaleReaver might try to get off the ship via a shuttle right after we drop into normal space again. I don't want that to happen. I'm considering either sabotaging all of our shuttles, or blowing the hanger doors to put the hanger in vacuum. Then again, we may be able to trap her there."
TheRealMe, Captain of the Sereni-Tree
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
TheRealMe joins BC07 at the duct exit. He helps BC07 carry Ace to the Infirmary. He is grim and quiet and does not speak. Ace is put under the care of Doctor SimonWho. For a while, TheRealMe just watches him work on her.
He pulls out his com-link. "Bride4?"
Jet's voice comes over the link: "Yes?"
As TheRealMe was talking on his com-link, BC07 starts to depart, but TheRealMe gestures for him to wait.
"Bride4, once we drop out of hyperspace at our destination, how long before we can jump the ship again?"
"Well, space has to relax around us. Also, the capacitors have to recharge before...
"Give me a number. Best guess. I think that the destination that FemaleReaver set for us is not a place we want to stay for long."
Thirty-three minutes.
"I see. Well, just assume that is what we'll do. Be as ready as possible for a quick turnaround."
"Destination?"
"Anyplace."
TheRealMe signs off and turns to BC07.
"So, BrownCoat2007, let's talk about how you can track down this monster on our ship. I really don't like having to worry about you going berserk, but you are right about one thing: she has got to be tracked down. We have to stop her. What is the safest way we can accomplish this? What can you tell me about your abilities and weaknesses in this regard?"
TheRealMe, Captain of the Sereni-Tree
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by Bluefishie:Quote:
Originally posted by TheRealMe:
As Bluefishie follows her marker line back the way she came, she meets a bug-shaped robot about the size of a large dog. It is using fluffy spinning disks to buff off and clean up the line she was following!
*stomps her foot*
"Well shit!"
*kicks the robot*
"Don't supposed you can help me find my way back?"
The Diagnostic Repair Drone pauses after Fishie kicks it. A pair of eyes on metal tentacles seem to focus on her for a moment, then it goes on with its cleaning duties, seemingly ignoring her.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
"Stupid robot."
*kicks it again*
"Gah. I'm so tired of being lost."
*starts wandering around hallways*
"HEY!!! SOMEBODY COME FIIIIIIND ME! PLEASE?!"
*loud echoes toss themselves up and down the hallways*
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
A door opens and a tall, blue-eyed woman with curly blonde hair pokes her head out. She smiles at Bluefishie.
"What's wrong? Are you lost? I get lost all the time, too!" She squeals with glee and jumps up and down. "We're just like sisters!"
Bobbie Sue, Bride6
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME