VFF The Book Continues part 5
POSTED BY: Colt999
UPDATED: Monday, March 16, 2009 23:49
VIEWED: 74804
PAGE 13 of 15
[Colt moves to the shuttles door]
Colt: Mobbex what is it?
Mobbex; Wash wanted to see ya
Colt: ok
[On the bridge Wash is checking local Com traffic, Colt enters the door closing with a clunk behind him]
Colt: Hey wash how are we doing?
[Wash turning to face that captain]
Wash: good sir I need to make a correction to course in about 15 ill need Spots to fire her up again.
Colt: Whats he doin?
Wash: No Idea Capt. Something about a coil or sum such… I just fly
Colt: I hear ya its almost like talking to the doctor. I swear it’s a different language.
Wash: I’ll get him on the com
Colt: Nah ill tell him.
Wash: thanks Capt.
[Colt walks through the galley where Sky and Mobbex are playing cards, and by the look on Mobbex’s face hes losing badly. Soon Colt is outside the engine room]
GORRRAMMITT!!!!!
[Colt sides steps the now infamous wrench as it sails out the engine room’s open door]
Colt( stepping in the door) the Hell is going on did the space monkeys attack again?
Spots: Ooh ha ha… no the Primary Coolant coil from that old 01 don’t fit and I can’t make it fit ( flings the coil across the room)
Colt: So the fling about of things can fix it?
Spots: No but it makes me feel better
Colt: Well I cant fault you for that, but are we ok without it?
Spots: yeah we’ll be fine but its gona need replacing
Colt: well Wash need to make a course correction so get her ready and spool it up
Spots: On it.
Colt (at the door to leave) how are you holding up son
Spots what?
Colt: well you just learned your sister is in slavery and god knows what else
Spots (putting turning from his work) she’s alive that’s all I need, I’ll get her back
Colt: Well get her back son you aren’t alone
Spots: Thanks capt.
[Colt heads back to the Bridge]
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abbey was amazed that Colt had gotten to the door of her shuttle before Mobbex had the chance to come in. That man could be quick when he wanted to.
He had gotten most of her shirt buttoned for her, except for the bottom, but she managed to work through the pain to get the rest of them fastened. Then she switched her wet pants for the nice dry lounge ones and slid her feet into some slippers.
She was tired. Colt was right about the water. It did suck the energy right out of a body. But abbey was on a mission and nothing could deter her. Her mei-mei was hurt and there would be nothing to stop her from going to her side. She exited her shuttle and leaned a bit on the catwalk railing for support. She tucked her injured arm close to her body to keep from jostling it too much. She went slowly, trying to conserve as much energy as possible, but she was tiring quickly.
She finally got to the infirmary and stepped over the threshold. On the main bed lay Stan. Her hand raised to rest on her heart as she looked at him. He was so pale and still. She could tell he wasn’t doing well. It was hard to believe that just a few hours ago, the three of them had walked straight into the Lion's Den. And look where it got them; all three of them were injured. abbey was just lucky enough to be the least injured.
Then she looked over at the bed that sat along the wall. There lay Oram who looked too still for abbey's liking. The air was sucked out of her lungs in fear. abbey went to Oram’s side, pulling a chair up alongside the bed so she could sit. She wrapped her hand around Oram’s.
“Mei-mei?” abbey asked. “You awake? I’m here honey. You’re gonna be OK. I promise.”
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I'm going in for some surgery tomorrow, so I'll be gone for a bit. I only plan on staying at the hospital one night (did you know they had free wifi there?), then be home. It will just be determined by how awful I feel.
Hopefully it won't be long, cause no matter what, I firmly believe that sitting with your laptop somewhere comfy is a viable recovery strategy (or at least I'm telling myself that).
-abbey
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*Whatever Sky had given her was working a fine treat. Now all she had to do was go into a deep sleep and all would be well.
Then she was jerked awake by a cold hand grasping her right one for dear life. Oram didn’t remember how she’d gotten onto the bench and why she was stiff, in incredible pain and why Abbey was all fuzzy and hard to see.*
Abbey: You’ve lost your glasses again.
Oram: *groaning in annoyance* It was my last pair…
Abbey: *shrugging her shoulders in response, visibly wincing at the movement* Have to buy some more then, can't have you operating blindly.
Oram: Don’t know where they went… did I leave them in the shuttle?
Abbey: *giving Oram a weird look, slight concern on her face* Do you remember what happened?
*Oram was quiet for a few moments, and Abbey was worried she’d dropped off into unexpected unconsciousness, but then her friends dark eyes met hers as pieces came into place*
Oram: Gun fire… you took my drink… had to drag Mobbex across the ground because he fell…
Abbey: You what?
Oram: Then there was a table… How did we get back?
*Abbey answered her in an explanation full, but hesitated when she saw her friend close her eyes and give an involuntary shudder.*
Abbey: Mei-mei, what’s wrong?
Oram: ‘M cold… it's just shock, I think. Just get me a think blanket or get me a shot of rum.
Abbey: What?
Oram: Rum works quicker….
Abbey: You've already had painkillers. I shouldn't need to explain how bad an idea that would be. Plus, I'm not adding your addiction.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Oram:
Oram: Rum works quicker….
Abbey: You've already had painkillers. I shouldn't need to explain how bad an idea that would be. Plus, I'm not adding your addiction.
*abbey wearily stood up and grabbed a nearby blanket. Favoring her one shoulder heavily, she spread it out over Oram before sitting down again.*
abbey *sternly*: You’ll just have to deal with a blanket for now. We’ve had enough problems today already, don’t need to be compounding it by adding rum to the mix.
*abbey’s face softened a bit.*
abbey *just above a whisper*: I’m just glad you’re here. That you got back. Things got a little too close for comfort for me.
Oram: Too close? What happened?
*abbey paused and just shook her head.*
Oram *firmer*: What happened?
abbey *even softer*: They asked me where Catherine was.
Oram: What did you say? Did they know?
abbey: I told them I didn’t know anyone by that name. But I don’t want to talk about it. Not now. Not any time soon. It’s behind us.
Oram: Should you call Grayson?
abbey *shaking her head*: Not needed. We’re away from there and it’s behind us. I have other more important problems to deal with…
Oram: Other problems?
*abbey absently straightened and tucked the blanket in around Oram some more.*
abbey *changing the subject*: Feeling warmer?
Oram: Still think rum would be better.
abbey: Well, I’m not going to give you any. I already told you.
Oram: Just a little bit? I have some down in my dorm. If you could just get it for me.
abbey: NO!
*Their conversation hushed as Sky and Mobbex came in and lifted Stan onto a stretcher and started to haul him out of the infirmary.*
Sky: We’ve got coordinates. We’ll be landing the Book a bit outside of town, then flying the shuttle in the rest of the way.
*abbey nodded to them as they left.*
Oram: Where we going?
abbey: A nearby medical facility. I guess a contact of Stan’s gave us the location.
Oram *scoffs*: Probably some backwater dive of a place. Probably unsanitary enough to get us all killed from sepsis.
abbey: I think it’s a decent place. The contact is a friend of Stan’s. I’m sure he wouldn’t direct us to a place where there wasn’t decent facilities.
Oram: Are you sure about that drink? You could get two glasses and join me. We both had a rough day. You look like you need a drink.
abbey: A drink is hardly what I need right now. Especially not now. I said no anyway. No booze Oram. Do you understand me? No booze. We will talk about this issue later, when we are all well.
Oram *muttering*: You ain’t my momma. Stop acting like you are.
*abbey didn’t seem to hear her, instead she seemed intent on looking at the floor.*
Oram *closing her eyes*: Medical facilities… If it were a decent hospital, they would say so. Gonna get us all killed.
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Colt: And how in the sphincter of hell did this happen?
Colt had been on his way to the bridge to check with Wash on their arrival time. He had a lot of hurt on his boat and the sooner they touched down the better chance they had of staying hurt and not dead. He past Sky and Mobbex playing cards when Sky had told him the news.
Sky: Most of the slaver papers were just that, paper. Our little boating trip wasn’t the smoothest ride. They got ruined. Badger is using as a way out. The few we have on disk, he’ll pay. The rest…
Colt: We shoulda walked away the second we saw that little weasel.
Mobbex: Shoulda coulda woulda
Colt shot him look
Mobbex: What? I didn’t’ get no papers wet….well I might a bled on em a little but
Colt cut him off: How much we got left?
Sky: Shuttles dinged up good, patching up the crew won’t be cheap and
Colt: And Spots says we need some part or we’re floating
Sky wrote a figure down on a piece of paper and slid it Colt. He glanced at the alarmingly small figure, running some numbers in his head.
Colt: Fuel, parts, supplies, medical, Crews cut. It’s not enough. *running his hands though this hair* Crews cut. Sorry we’re going to have to cut the Crew. Seven percent.
Wash comes over the comm.: Captain, We’ll be entering atmo in 15 minutes.
Mobbex: Seven percent! I aint taking no sad seven.
Colt: Well I appreciate your understanding in this time of need, and volunteering to take five percent
Mobbex: FIVE!
Colt: Shoulda coulda kept your mouth shut. Go get Stan ready to move.
Mobbex stood quickly and hovered over Colt. For a minute Colt thought he was going to swing and he really didn’t care if the big man did. He had a right to pissed. They all did. But Mobbex turned and left the room.
Colt: Wasn’t this supposed to be a big payday? Instead we’re shot up, busted broke and worse off than when we started.
What does that make us?
Sky: Big Damn Zeros sir
Colt: Aint we just…. Go help Mobbex with Stan, tell him we’ll make up his percentage on the next job. Now Sky shot him a look. Colt shook his head: Ok make him believe will make up his percentage on the next job. Hell we’ll both go lie to him. I need to see Stan and Oram off and then I’ll go check on Abbey.
Sky: Abbeys with Oram now. Saw them when I was coming up.
Colt: She is? I told her to stay in her shuttle and rest.
Sky: I can’t imagine why someone would question your orders.
Colt spun to Sky: Quite less you want that five percent.
Sky smiled and moved past him to go help Mobbex. Colt was about to follow when Brit appeared next to him. “She might have been being sarcastic. I can’t tell.” Colt jumped.
Colt: We’re going to have a talk about sneaking up on folks.
Brit: Confused, not sure how this happened.
Colt: Well not every plan can go perfect.
Brit rolled her eyes: Do any of your plans?
Colt: You too?
Brit: You’ll get it right someday *smiling* I’m not confused
Colt: Who then? Sky?
Brit: No, Abbey. You better hurry I think she may fall down.
Colt shot down the stairs towards the infirmary. He saw Sky and Mobbex trying to make Stan comfortable while they waited to land. He turned the corner just in time to see Abbey start to fall over. He grabbed her arm and pulled back up and leaned her against the table.
Colt: You ok? I told you, you needed some rest.
Oram mumbling : I told her she needed a drink.
Abbey looking up weakly: Colt, I screwed up. I don’t know how to fix it.
Colt: Listen…for once…I’m going to take you to your room. You need some rest, you can barely stand.
Oram slurring her words: She needs a drink
Colt: Has everyone lost their mind in the last hour? You *pointing at Oram* lay there till Sky takes you see the Doc.
Oram: I’m the Doc
Colt: The other Doc. And you *picking up a half conscious Abbey* are going to your shuttle.
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*It wasn’t long after Colt picked abbey up that she lost consciousness.*
Colt *muttering*: Gorram woman’s gonna be the death of me. Never listens to a gorram thing I say.
*Even based off that comment, he looked down into her face and smiled. Her arm slipped and she winced, bringing her back into a semi-conscious state.*
Colt: We’ll have to get that arm checked too.
*abbey looked into Colt’s eyes. He could tell by the look in her eyes that she wasn’t quite there yet.*
abbey *softly and a bit disoriented*: I’m sorry, Colt.
Colt: For what?
abbey: I messed up.
Colt: Job was bad news from the get go. I shoulda known better, darling. Not your fault.
abbey: I thought this couldn’t happen. I don’t know how it did. *closes her eyes for a second before jolting to her semi-conscious state again* I took precautions…
Colt *smiling as he started up another flight of stairs*: That wig was pretty good. I almost didn’t recognize you. Now I don’t want to hear anything else about the job. It’s done and over with. No sense looking behind. It wasn’t your fault.
*Colt got inside and saw that Mobbex and Sky were there, securing Stan on one end of abbey’s sofa. He took her into her living quarters and laid her on the bed. She was out.*
Colt *to Sky*: Get the shuttle prepped to go. Mobbex and I will go get Oram then we'll be able to go. Wash is going to set her down on the edge of town. We’ll take the shuttle from there.
Sky: Got the coordinates from Stan’s friend. I’ll have us ready to go in no time.
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*Oram was again jerked awake as the Book came into land. Holding back a moan so as not to wake the already dreadful looking Stan, Oram gritted her teeth and tried so very hard to take a deep breath to quell the nausea. Laying her head back, she heard footsteps enter the room, and by the movements it was Mobbex and Sky*
Sky: Any faster and we could have burnt the fuel cells and left floating.
Mobbex: Well, the captain seems to want to keep the current shipmates alive for what I don’t -
*She must have blanked out or drifted off because when she next opened her eyes, she was very much by herself… and some bastard had locked the infirmary door.
They’d left her alone.
Feeling a might pissed at being abandoned, Oram somehow got herself off the bench, and headed for the medical cabinet. Taking a syringe in one hand and aiming the needle, she was able to pierce the small medicine bottle one handedly though it was difficult as her hand shook. She drew up what she thought was the correct dosage and aimed for her thigh. Hissing from the burn that the pain-killer gave, Oram threw the used equipment on the small silver trey, unlocked the infirmary door and made her way to her bedroom.
She pulled out the pouch that held her credits, and tied it (with difficultly) to her belt, triple knotted so wandering fingers wouldn’t get anything. Her gun, for obvious intimidation (not that she could shoot), but she hesitated with taking her worn photo … then stuffed the 3 smiling faces in a pocket.
Taking a long drink of whisky, she felt ready to take on the world…
Or at least the trek to the nearest hospital.
**********************
*Twenty minutes had passed as Oram trudged her way slowly to the town, before she realised she had no idea where in the verse she was… let alone which planet… or which way the hospital was…
Deciding not to panic, she simple looked around for anything or anyone who would help.*
Oram: Hey, kid, wanna earn 4 credits?
A dreadlocked boy, probably aged 10, squinted up at her suspiciously.
Kid: Don’t take money from strangers, it's damn right dangerous.
*Sighing at kids wanting to do the right thing, Oram just said*
Oram: Look, I'm kind of in need of medical attention and a stiff drink or two. I only want directions to the hospital or clinic.
Kid: Oh… well, then follow me.
*He got up off the dust riddled street and headed in a direction Oram hoped wasn’t an ambush. The kid was kind enough to keep the pace going for the struggling doctor, the drugs nor the booze wanting to kick in at that point in time.
She was starting to blank out again also, as she next moment they were in a well lit hospital reception area, with everybody looking at her and the kid asking for his money. Reaching into her pouch, she gave him 10 credits and he immediately ran off, most likely to splurge on never before eaten food luxuries.*
Oram: Um… I'm in need of medical attention… [beat]... and I also think I may have overdosed on pain injections….
*Naturally she said this as her knees finally buckled, and she felt the hard cold floor and hundreds of hands seemed to grabbed her as she blacked out again.*
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Mobbex stands with his back to the doorway, his fists clenched taut and his expression sullen.
Mobbex, his voice reduced to a hoarse growl: "Guy's mad as a bag o' hammer if'n he thinks I'ma be takin' a paycut 'cause..."
Sky: "Relax, I talked to him, he says he'll make it up to you, give you a bigger cut next time out."
Mobbex: *snorts* "Yeah, right... I mightn't be the brightest bulb on the tree, but I been around long enough to know a sham when I see one."
Sky, frowning as she objects: "Colt ain't a sham."
Mobbex: "Hah, hah... now that's the first mate talkin' there. Yer buddy, Colt... he's a weasel. A sly. He cons for a living. He's a bandit! An' get this: he's brutal at it!"
Sky's mien remains inscrutable.
Mobbex: "An y'see it too, don't ya?"
Sky, her voice smeared with sarcasm: "Well I'll be damned. Mobbex, shrewd judge of character? Who woulda thunk?"
Mobbex: "Yeah, well... ye live the kinda life I live, yer bound to reap some savvy along the way. You... wisen up, eh?"
Sky: "Yeah, and that's just you. Wise."
Quote:
Originally posted by: ABBEYGIRL
*Colt got inside and saw that Mobbex and Sky were there, securing Stan on one end of abbey’s sofa. He took her into her living quarters and laid her on the bed. She was out.*
Colt *to Sky*: Get the shuttle prepped to go. Mobbex and I will go get Oram then we'll be able to go. Wash is going to set her down on the edge of town. We’ll take the shuttle from there.
Sky: Got the coordinates from Stan’s friend. I’ll have us ready to go in no time.
OOC: Yeah... that's it. Cheap, huh? Well... sue me
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Colt tried to make Abbey comfortable. Stan was secure and Sky had gone to cockpit and began the start up sequence. Mobbex had been eyeing Colt since he walked into the shuttle.
Colt: Let’s go get the Doc.
*Mobbex moved to block the door.* I guess Sky told you what I had to say huh?
*Colt didn’t have a clue what he was talking about. He watch the big man closely . *
Yeah she told me.
I thought it was a bit out of line. Especially that one part…hmmm… what was it?
That you’re a weasel. *Mobbex said defiantly*
Colt: No..no that wasn’t it.
*Mobbex twisted his head slightly* That you con man and you’re playing all of us?
*Colt smiled big and patted Mobbex on the shoulder* I did like that one but no there was something else.
*Mobbex honestly questioning* Was it the part about..you being a sham?
That’s it that’s the one. *Colt said pointing a finger at Mobbex* That one …yeah ..that’s the one.
*Mobbex utterly confused* You aint…you aint mad?
Colt: Mad? Naw its understandable. Bad day, you just got to let some things out. *walking Mobbex out of the shuttle and towards the infirmary* Now let’s be clear. Had you gone about it another way, say you tried to turn the crew about. Get em all stirred up. Well then that would a been munity and well you know what they do to mutineers *slapping him hard on the back* Hell of course you do. But you didn’t you took it Sky..chain of command…right?
Mobbex looked totally lost but nodded his head.
Colt: Right. Tell you what. I’m going to give you that 7% just like we discussed. Now you run on and fetch the Doc. Let’s get these people patched up.
*Mobbex walked the rest of the way to the infirmary scratching his head.*
Mobbex: COLT!
Colt braced himself for the big charge, but it didn’t come.
Mobbex: Docs gone.
Colt ran to the infirmary. It was empty. Mobbex went to the open cargo bay door.
Mobbex: I got tracks. She must a came out. Stumbled out from the looks of it.
Colt: Someone take her?
*Mobbex studied the ground* No just her.
Colt: She must be worse off than we thought. Take the mule, find her and get her to the hospital. We’ll meet you there.
Mobbex hit wench release and began to lower the mule to the floor.
Colt entered the shuttle and saw Abbey still sleeping. Good he thought he had already decided he wasn’t going to tell her about Oram disappearing. She was upset enough already. He hit the com button: Sky we’re on.
The shuttle lifted off.
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