GR RP "Adventures in Gunrunning" Act 20
POSTED BY: Channain
UPDATED: Wednesday, September 8, 2004 13:24
VIEWED: 18914
PAGE 7 of 10
JAYNE'S move
LOCATION – CARGO BAY
RIVER
"BOO! Got you!"
The fiddles playing in Jayne's head stop as he looks down at River, unable to control her outpour of gleeful laughter. Jayne lets her get it out of her system and speaks:
JAYNE
"Hey, what'd you mean when you said I looked like a girl afore?" Jayne stands tall to face River. "Y'ever seen a girl with guns like this?" he says, tensing his arm muscles.
Maybe this means the preacher would be by to collect her. Good, Jayne still wanted to talk to him.
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Blue Sun Headquarters, Corporate District, Londinium.
Blue Sun First Power Harold Helsings Office/Home.
8:22 PM, local time.
Harold Helsing meditatively sits, the feedback sensors glowing as they crawl over his skin. They circle the neck once, disappear under the custom suit, reappear under the wrists of the blue gloves, then leap off and shut down, transmitting their findings to the central system of the building. Tomorrow, the data will be calculated to further his lifetime when he goes for his Davis Treatments, lengthening his life for yet another day.
He swivels his chair, turning from his desk to watch the last of the sunset. In the Corporate District, where the conglomerates housed they're headquarters, rain constantly fell. There were perhaps twenty sightings of the sun in a single year. If one was lucky. Ships pass back and forth beneath him, slowly humming as the last of the day shift go home to various apartment districts across the planet. He watches the sun fade from gold to pink, and leans forward to watch it turn to red.
A sharp chirp from his desk makes him remember, once again, that his entire lifes work required constant maintainence.
Helsing activates his desk, and four projectors rise smoothly, forming a holographic of the Blue Sun Logo. It is replaced by none other than Second Power Davis, who appears distraught.
"First Power Helsing, I-"
Helsing cuts him off with a wave of his hand. "We've known each other for eighty-five years, Carl. You are allowed to call me by my name." Every time, he had to say something.
"Sorry, Hal. It's just. . .The Alliance has sent us a transmission they received, asking if it checked with any of our products. They received it near Hera. I checked our tags, and it matches. . .it matches your sons Last Call signature."
Helsing, for a second, goes blank. He cannot think for that second. Davis appears nervous, unsure of what to say. Slowly, Helsings mind grinds back into action. It only can repeat one word, whispering it through his mind like a slow ricochet. No. No, it can't be. No.
"NO!" Davis looks taken aback, surprised at the emotion. He remember only two other times Helsing was angry. When The Son and when the Daughter left. "I made him PERFECT! FIND HIM! BRING MY SON BACK!" Neither match the rage he can see now. Suddenly, Helsing slumps forward, immobile. Sensors detected the death at the same time Davis knew.
Behind First Power of the Blue Sun Harold Helsing's body, the sun finally set, shining its last rays through the Blue Sun logo tinted onto the window.
EOM
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River
LOCATION – CARGO BAY
JAYNE
"Hey, what'd you mean when you said I looked like a girl afore?" Jayne stands tall to face River. "Y'ever seen a girl with guns like this?" he says, tensing his arm muscles.
River grins and continues giggling. "Y'ever seen a man where make up?" She starts laughing again. "You be careful, Jayne, chasing something that isn't there makes you crazy."
I'm not broken, in my dream I win...
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Book's Move
Location: Mal's Quarters
Backing slowly down the ladder, Book hears papers shuffle and a heavy sigh precede him. Turning to face the captain when he reaches the bottom of the ladder, he notices the burden riding on his shoulders. "How long since you last slept, Captain?" Mal's expression changes from greater to lesser strength and his head slumps a bit as he sighs again.
Book walks over to Mal, sitting at his desk chair, and pulls out Damon's gun. Doing a quick movement, he turns the gun 180 degrees in his hand and offers the handle to Mal. "It's not loaded." Reaching into another pocket, Book pulls out the gun clip and hands it to Mal. As he does, his small comm, given back to him by River falls from his pocket to the floor at their feet... the purple light flashing once again.
EM
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KAYLEE’s move
LOCATION - ENGINE ROOM
She is progressing slower and slower, her concentration is being stolen away. There are thoughts creeping into the back of her mind, robbing her consciousness. Finally, without her even realizing it, the soldering iron is slipped back into its safe cradle, the light is turned off, and the magnifying lens carefully set aside. Her hands drop limply onto her lap, palms up, at rest. Still sitting, KAYLEE falls asleep
LOCATION – DREAMSTATE
First comes the voice. His voice as she heard it just before things … changed.
SIMON(softly and with a very slightly hesitant pace)
“Umm, I would very much like to talk with you. If you have the time”
and later -
“It is time for me to be honest...” “Around you, I lose my words …”
Next come sensations - feather touches on her very nerves. The caress of a hand on her cheek, the butterfly wing touch of his lips caressing hers. When he took her hand and the warmth of his touch was a fire in her veins.
And finally, held in each others arms, fulfilling the promise of that first kiss, the sharp, deep and final melding of two becoming one, like welded steel.
and now
The voice of the stranger
“Time to bleed”
“Easy this will not be, Doctor.”
“The Volcano, Doctor. Must face it, we all do.”
Simon, screaming
“THIS IS NOT HOW IT ENDED!!!”
Visions of blood and death, rage and fear. All things loved trampled underfoot, cast aside bleeding.
Last words spoken, no longer Simon …
Pale Moonlight
The retreating form, the beloved one dragged away from her, hands reaching, mind screaming. The connection between them, forged so quickly and so welcome, stretches … almost … to the breaking point. Too much distance. Too much pain. She is losing him before she had a opportunity to really encompass him. … Ah … anguish and fear fill her … come back, beloved.
He can no longer hear her. But something can. And it feeds on her hurt.
LOCATION - ENGINE ROOM
KAYLEE, awakened, surrenders to her tears.
softly
No Simon, please don’t go. I need you.
EOM
OOC: edited cause I forgot she was supposed to be asleep.
If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress
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LOCATION - MALs DORM
As ...
Quote:Before Book can react, Mal scoops up the purple flashing comm unit and inspects it briefly, yet thoroughly. Turning it over in his hand he notes the compact hi-tech details of the device. Stopping his inspection at the purple flashing diode, Mal's face falls into a carefully etched stony non-expression. He looks up and fixes onto Book's eyes, searching deep. After what seems like an eternity of uncomfortable nonverbal communication between the two, Mal extends the flashing unit with his right hand while extending his left for Damon's weapon and ammo. His demeanor is almost as if he is trading the comm for the pistol.
Book walks over to Mal, sitting at his desk chair, and pulls out Damon's gun. Doing a quick movement, he turns the gun 180 degrees in his hand and offers the handle to Mal. "It's not loaded." Reaching into another pocket, Book pulls out the gun clip and hands it to Mal. As he does, his small comm, given back to him by River falls from his pocket to the floor at their feet ... the purple light flashing once again.
MAL
While maintaining a solid and unflinching eye-lock with Book, he says in a very tight, flat and nearly toneless voice...
"Shepherd, 'peers your old life is'a calling ya back to action."
EOM
OOC
How's dat fer a fharbot response Maniac?!
"Remember, there is only ONE absolute - There ARE NO absolutes!!!"
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River
LOCATION - CARGO BAY to ...
The connection is instantaneous.
River’s laughing stops as suddenly as it started. A rush of visions, memories and emotions flood her mind shadowing everything around her.
Fire, voices screaming. So much pain. Unbearable agony ripping through everything it touches. Blood and death, rage and fear. All things loved trampled underfoot, cast aside bleeding, broken.
“Coming… can’t…”
River’s breath comes in short gasps, her pulse quickening in rising distress. She backs into Jayne, but doesn’t acknowledge him, doesn’t notice him.
Love slipping away. Anguish and fear becoming one, joined like welded steel until all else is gone. Dreams are shattered, hope is lost, strength fading. Only darkness remains.
River buries her face in her hands as she breaks into tears, unaware of her knees hitting the deck. A wail of despair escapes her throat as her frail form sinks to the floor, sobbing inconsolably. She curls herself up, her arms covering her head, lost to her misery, the grief and suffering of those she cares for- much of which she feels is still to come.
I'm not broken, in my dream I win...
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Thorne & Inara's Move
Location: Inara's shuttle
As he finishes the massage with a caressing touch…”Ding” A soft chime sounds from the control area.
______________________
Turning her head to one side on the pillow, Inara blinks dazedly at Thorne. "What was that?"
“Ah, Lovely One, a small surprise for you.” Inara gives him a wry look. “No, not that, I trust.”
Thorne straightens his robe and heads for the control area as Inara languidly dons her shift once again. He returns with an auto-steamer and his duffle bag. The music changes again, to ‘Dawn over Ariel’ by Werner Nguyen.
“Just a light repast to sustain us for the evening.”
With a flourish, he opens the steamer to reveal two huge, perfectly cooked artichokes. Next, he pulls from his bag a chilled bottle of white wine; Regent ’14, a rare vintage. Clasping the edges of her unbound shift in one hand to hold it closed, Inara gives a tiny squeak of delight at the sight of the artichokes.
“Oh Thorne...they're perfect!” Inara lightly touches the soft, lush green petal-like leaves of one of the artichokes. “Wherever did you get such fine specimens?! They're almost impossible to find, and once found, near-impossible to afford!”
“Oh, I have my sources. Nothing but the best for us, Dear One. Would you care to pour the wine while I make the sauce?”
Inara agrees, moving to retrieve a corkscrew. “What kind of sauce?” Artichokes! It's been so long! Inara is bubbling with childlike enthusiasm, a side of her that she seldom reveals. Her demure and elegant demeanor has slipped away, and she's beaming happily--her true age evident.
"You'll see." Thorne replies, as he removes a self-heating saucepan, eggs, butter, salt, and a lemon from the bag. Then a whisk and knife. In a few moments he’s creating Hollandaise sauce. Inara removes two long-stemmed goblets from a velvet box on her shelf, opens the wine with a practiced hand, pours a bit, sniffs and mmmmms in pleasure...very nice vintage.
Sauce finished and wine poured, cushions are rearranged so the pair can sit facing on the floor, reclining. The food is between them to allow each to feed the other. Thorne tears a petal from the ‘choke and dips it in the warm sauce. He offers the morsel to Inara. Her teeth close on the end of the leaf and he pulls the stem back, scraping the soft flesh and sauce into her mouth.
Inara closes her eyes, full mouth holding the morsel, savoring it. A soft smile spreads over her lips. Without opening her eyes, she says "Ahhh. I haven't had these in so many years...since...oh where was it? Ah! Petit Papillion on Sihnon!!! That was just after I graduated from the Academy.”
“Is Jean-Luc still the head chef there?” Thorne asks.
“Oh yes,” she replies “but he's married now, don't you know...the Maitre d’s ex-wife...it seems his steamed artichokes were more of a aphrodisiac than anyone could have guessed.”
They eat slowly, and talk of places and names familiar to both. Theatres, museums, restaurants, clubs. Politicians, entertainers, captains of business, society matrons. Each recollection brings another.
“I often long for the Core.” Thorne muses. “The Rim has it’s diversions, but I miss the elegance of the older worlds. Thank you, sweetling, for bringing it to me here in the wilderness.”
She nods in acknowledgment and replies, “It becomes harder with the passage of time out here...to remember what things were like in the Core. Don't misread me, I truly love Serenity, and all her crew, but...it's as you say, the chivalry, the elegance...I do miss it.”
Inara laughs, “I do go on, don't I?” She plucks a plump leaf from the artichoke, bathing it liberally in the sauce, and holds it out to Thorne. He smiles at her, his eyes holding complete understanding. She can't help but stare as strong white teeth take the leaf, almost nipping her fingers. She brings her finger to her own lips, licking away the remainder of the sauce.
They ea
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JAYNE'S move
LOCATION – CARGO BAY
Jayne's mind jumps with thoughts, defending himself against the make-up-wearing accusation. But, no, they would all just sound like feeble excuses; practically an admission.
RIVER
"You be careful, Jayne, chasing something that isn't there makes you crazy."
So what have you been chasing then? Jayne thinks.
JAYNE
"Well yer here!" Jayne takes a menacing step towards River, slamming his foot loud onto the floor grating, then leans over and picks up the welding torch.
River’s laughing stops as suddenly as it started. This gets Jayne's attention for a moment.
RIVER
"Coming... can't..."
JAYNE
"Don't let me keep you if you got somewhere you gotta be." He studies her face for a moment. For such a pretty little thing, she could certainly distort her face into the most agnonized shapes.
River twists about, eyes wild and hunting. She backs into Jayne, but doesn’t acknowledge him, doesn’t notice him.
JAYNE
"I'd rather be crazy and chasing than crazy and chased." Oh, that was good. his dad'd like that one. Jayne holds the torch far away from River's hair, but other than that doesn't budge. "Hey Book! You there?!"
River buries her face in her hands as she breaks into tears, unaware of her knees hitting the deck. A wail of despair escapes her throat as her frail form sinks to the floor, sobbing inconsolably.
JAYNE
Ah, crap. And you know this is gonna be my fault. "Hey. Hey! Ain't no call ta be acting like that." Jayne places the torch back down, and slides over to River to see if there's something wrong. "Sh sh sh sh... Sh sh sh sh..."
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Book's Move
LOCATION - Mal's Quarters
"My life is right here, Captain." Book says, as he reaches out and trades Mal the gun and clip for the handheld comm. Clicking off the indicator light, Book slips it back into his pocket and walks a few steps backward to the ladder.
"Do you want me to send Damon down? I noticed him in the area on my way in. Doubtless, he knows why I'm here."
EM
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