The Sereni-Tree: Life, the Universe, and Everything
POSTED BY: TheRealMe
UPDATED: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 16:28
VIEWED: 32906
PAGE 7 of 21
Quote:
Originally posted by TheRealMe:
TheRealMe considers this news gravely, chin in hand. "Yes, there is a cargo airlock on this level. But, Soul, Warren, I have to say that unless this situation poses a clear and present danger to the ship, I am reluctant to vent human bodies into space like so much garbage. That's the way reavers would operate... or the Alliance. The families of these soldiers deserve to be able to bury and mourn their dead."
"Is there a risk, yes, any of these bodies could be kinked. The PCC soldiers are the biggest risk because as far as the alliance was concerned they are the cheapest possible expendable shock troops. They had no rights what so ever, so implanting them with bombs or viruses wouldn't even raise a eyebrow. Maybe everyone deserves a funeral and I don't know these men, but it's my suspicion that they were mass murders before they were sentenced. Where I come from burial at sea, in space, under the ground, on a fire, it's still a dead body. If we don't get them of the ship then we might all wind up swimming in space. wel that's my opinion. But you know me I like to err on the of safety."
With the "you know me" TRM realizes that "Warren" is the Scorpion Regent that was ready to throw the popcorn machine out the airlock. His eyes tighten up slightly.
Quote:
He activates his com-link. "Sparky, when Bride6 is safely in the Infirmary, report to the morgue." He touches another control. "Bride4? Can you spare some DRDs? Oh, perhaps ten or a dozen? Six? That will be fine. Send them to cargo bay A5."
"Okay, here is my plan: the three of us will collect the penal soldiers and toss them out of the cargolock immediately. They pose the greatest risk. Then Sparky and six Diangostic Repair Drones will load the rest in a cargo container that we can leave in orbit with a beacon. Do the two of you think that is a reasonable way to proceed, or do you think that the danger is really so great that we must vent them all now?"
TheRealMe, First Officer of the Sereni-Tree
"Sounds good. We should make sure that we are thurough as to their personal affect as well. Any trophies or captured weapons or equipment could be tagged with a tracer. We should only keep what we have examined completely if we keep anything. After we get done with the PCC bodies; I'll go back to engineering and help Jet get the stardrive back on line."
Scorpion Regent
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Despite her best effort to watch what Jadhand is saying, she slips into sleep only to wake up mere minutes later as more people arrive in the infirmary. First a man she doesn't know, but obviously suffering, andother girl, lushly pretty, but with awful wounds to her hands, Mai, and finally LMD, borne by the struggling Simonwho.
'Oh gods, are we being attacked again? whats happening?'
Jadehand listens to whoever replied to her question, then shakes his head, relieved, in her direction. She relaxes, but still climbs off the bed in time for Simonwho to lay LMD down on it.
She stand nervously, not knowing what to do, watching as the doctor examines the Mai and LMD, then moves on to patching up the others wounds.
In the end she settles for handing people stuff, but it doesn't work, showing and pointing taking to long, and she decides to just get the hell out of the way.
Standing outside the infirmary she watches the goings on, motioning for Jadehand to stay and help, and trying to make up the absent sounds in her head.
In the end she grows frustrated, and wanders off to find something to do, finding herself, eventually, back in the cargo bay.
'hey all ...Whats going on?'
**********************************************************
Hodgins: Your robot reminds me of you. You tell it to turn it stops. You tell it to stop it turns. You ask it to take out the garbage it watches reruns of Firefly.
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* Waking in her quarters with no memory of how she got there, Washie doesn't pay it much mind, simply grateful to wake feeling refreshed. "Shower," she says aloud, suiting action to impulse she sheds her slippers and long pale rose gown, draping it on a chair as she steps into the shower that her one spoken word had activated to the perfect pounding flow and temperature. English Lavendar soap, her trademark scent is applied and rubbed in to tired muscles, especially her upper and forearms and hands which bear kneading due to the gathering and dispersing energy during the hellish fight.
Long blonde wavy hair goes darker in the water and heavier with the weight of it as she applies a cupped palm of shampoo to scalp and lathers it in all along the wet mass pulled over one shoulder. Sighing at the scent of clean hair and body, she applies two handfuls of conditioner to her hair, rinses blisfully in perfectly warm water then says, "Done," and the flow stops.
Toweling dry her hair and body, Washie then steps into the coverall uniform Seryn had given her long ago. Lots of work to do today, work clothes are required. As she snaps the buttons in front, liking the roughness of the material against her bare skin underneath, she runs fingers through her long damp hair and spares a thought for Riverclone's new being.
What she had gathered pre-collapse was that the shade had gained corporeal form after selflessly healing the nearly-dead crew member in sick bay. The ex-ghost would need some talking to along with a thorough med-check to see just how human she was now. Was there any information on this kind of transformation?
Wash sat down at an infoterminal in her quarters and fast-typed query after query into this time's version of Google. "Reanimation" brought synopses of Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake literature series. No good. Well, QUITE good, sexy as hell, but not helpful here.
"Re-corporealization" didn't do it for her either, more zombieness lore whipped up onto the screen.
Pushing back from the monitor, Wash stepped into ankle boots and out the door of her cabin, going in search of Riverclone for a little face time.
Despite their no longer riding in the same Washie body, Washie feels a tenuous connection to the girl, something like a Donny Darko wormhole drawing her forward down corridor after corridor, past the medlab, down a right turn and into the cryogenic storage area. The other woman is securing the door on a cryo-drawer, sliding the complicated clasp down. Stepping soundlessly on the balls of her feet, Washie stops a few feet from the loosely gowned ex-ghost's back and waits to be noticed, wondering if the connection she feels is also felt by Riverclone.
"You're quiet but that will never matter. I know where you are, been knowing it e'er since you got on the boat."
Washie smiles and nods as Riverclone turns to face her, no smile on her face, rather a look of sadness. Washie's smile fades too in reaction and she reaches out her right hand to smooth along the girl's bare arm to clasp her hand. River doesn't fight the motion and allows herself to be drawn by their linked hands to an adjoining laboratory where there's a small kitchen table and chairs. Seating River in a comfy chair, she goes to the refrigerated storage box, finds some cookies and a flask of what turns out to be apple juice. Pouring two glasses and placing a plate of cookies on the table in front of Riverclone, Wash sits to face her, elbows on the table, chin in both hands.
Riverclone takes a tentative bite, murmurs, "Mmmm. Chocochip," and slurps noisily at the juice. "Been a long time no tasting. Feels like chunks of styrofoam floating in my mouth, but tastes all fun like a circus." Wash nods her head, processing the words but really wanting to untangle the jumbled thoughts in the head beneath that long soft dark hair across the table.
"River, how do you feel?" The younger girl doesn't reply but continues eating and drinking. Washie delves into her companion's mind as River continues to be d
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As things in the common room return more or less to normal with repairs and clean-ups, McQ decides to check other sections of the 'tree for damages. He departs down a corridor when suddenly he has a strange, unfamiliar thought appear in his mind.
He pauses in the hallway and shakes his head to clear up his line of thinking, but the thought doesn't go way. Suddenly it's not just a thought but more like an intense amount of pressure in his brain along with a warning. A high pitch ringing tone fills his head along with the words encriped message: "Directive 7 violated - prepare to shutdown".
McQ searches his internal database for "Directive 7" and comes up with a classified notice. He takes his right hand and slams his head to get this possible malfunction to stop. For now it does. "I need to get to a computer," he says to himself so he can download what's in his mind and see what's going on with him. He wanders along the corridor until he comes upon a computer lab of some sort. He finds one with a sizable screen and in a Robocop fashion, flicks out an extention in his right wrist and slides it into the computers input jack. He downloads files he has stored within his memory bank into the computer and searches for "Directive 7". Again he comes upon a classified notice but also a password request icon pops up. Using one that's encryped within his memory bank, McQ manages to override the classified screen to find out exactly what "Directive 7" means.
Searching a little further, McQ learns that "Directive 7" is a shutdown order for when he or other cyborgs turn against Alliance troops and forces them to shutdown. It could be activated remotely in case of an escape is attempted. "Hmmm," McQ says and disconnects himself from the computer, which returns to its desktop screen as he does so.
"If this 'Directive 7' was suddenly activated, then somehow they know I'm still alive - they might now where I am and may be tracking me," McQ thinks to himself outloud. "This can't be good for the crew of this ship. My presence may be endangering them. I need to find their leader and inform them of my findings."
He exits the computer room and heads back to the common room, a little more rushed this time. Some of those in the common room turn to McQ as they hear him thumping loudly down the corridor. "Which one of you is in charge?" he asks urgently. "I need to speak with a commanding officer. You all may be in danger."
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*JadeHand remains in the infirmary. He assists with the work required for the patients as much as he can. Changing IV's, recording vitals, and moving food trays in and out until everyone who is able has eaten. Still exhausted and barely able to think, he makes a report to SimonWho and requests he check on Seryn when he's able.
JadeHand shuffles out of the door moving from wall to wall in an attempt to stay verticle. He moves through the common room, and behind the bar, through to the brewery where he begins checking the vats and making repairs to areas that were damaged by wayward rounds. He clears the violated vats of their contents, cleans them, patches them and begins fresh brewing. He knows the crew aren't exactly in the mood for much celebrating, but decides it's best to be ready when they are. After running a thourough check up to confirm all is running smoothly, he pours several bottles from a keg of rum, slips them into his bag and stops by the bar for a bucket of ice before returning to his room.
There he pours the first glass and drinks it quickly. He undresses and showers. The warmth of the water refreshing his body, but not yet his mind. He towels off and returns to his room where he promptly passes out his bed, managing to barely cover himself before he drifts off to what he hopes is a few days of sleep.*
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There's only beauty and caring and truth beyond darkness." -Estonia(This Strange Engine) -Marillion
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he lies on the table, his convulsions mostly under control. Occasionaly he mutters something about the number fourty-two interspersed with seemingly meaningless phrases which often contradict eachother. Something like a wave of calm seems to overtake him when mai is laid next to him in the infirmary.
elsewhere...
he opens his eyes to find himself floating in a dark maelstrom, an amalgamut of dark, sickly gray and infinite black malice. but there is light. he turns to it, begins willing his way towards it, inching. the light is new but familiar, refreshing. he longs for it, hearing its almost-whispers, it's seeming promise of his own completion.
he begins to near it. the light's source is now evident and only brings the longing to bear even more sharply upon him, welling desire. the light...
it's mai.
he's almost to her now, can almost reach out, touch her sweet, shining face. overwhelmed with excitement, he moves to fulfill his need.
his outstretched hand, straining towards her, tingles as it comes nigh. he can feel the warmth emanating from her, the joy spreading to-
pain wracks his body. incomprehensible noise nearly blasts his consciousness from him as the light - his longing and his desire, his hope - is snuffed out, collapsing in on itself as a nova, like that now exploding pain and loss and suffering ten-fold through him.
then, all is quiet. he would weep if he had eyes, would cry out in anguish if he had lips to part, but there is naught there of him left, just his lack. lack of that which is good. lack of hope of happy endings, lack of purpose, of direction...
direction. he clings on to this with the desperation of one fighting for its very survival. direction. mai. his light.
he gathers himself, and sets off with his only purpose, the purpose that will save him. he will find mai.
---
http://www.xffx.net/blog <-inching towards daylight
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Safe shakes the First Officer's hand(TRM). He had a lot he wanted to talk to TRM about but it was obvious he was busy. Safe made a mental note to catch up with him later.
Bride7 had walked off in a huff, Bride6 was taken to the infirmary as was Needy which left Citizen and the two little ones.
"Citizen, you might as well have a look around. I'm going to secure the shuttle and help tidy up here a bit. But at some point you have fill me in on some details."
Safe turns and looks down at the stow-aways. Scooping them up one by one with his good arm, he hoists them onto a nearby crate. Easing out of his jacket, he drapes it over their shoulders.
"I'm going to help here a bit, then I need you to tell how and why you came to be in the back of that shuttle." Safe says as he rips off the blood soaked left sleeve of his shirt, using it to clumsily dress the wound in his arm.
Seeing the worried look in thier eyes, Safe offers a kind smile. "You're safe here. These folks are good people. We'll get things squared away soon enough."
Safeat2nd, Chief Handyman of Destiny
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Quote:
Originally posted by McQ:
He exits the computer room and heads back to the common room, a little more rushed this time. Some of those in the common room turn to McQ as they hear him thumping loudly down the corridor. "Which one of you is in charge?" he asks urgently. "I need to speak with a commanding officer. You all may be in danger."
*Looking up as McQ walks in*
'Damn, another new guy?' N0Skillz thinks to himself.
"Your prolly gonna wanna speak to TRM, I believe he was headed to one of the cargo bays." N0S says as he points in the direction of it, then hands McQ a comm link "You can call him on the comm link if you want?"
-------------------------------
RAF Lakenheath
Security Deputy of the Sereni-Tree
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Shadow and Ghost walked off the craft not hearing the conversations around them, their eyes looking at their new surroundings. Blood, Bodies, Broken furniture, and Machine parts were strewn about. Pulling her sister tighter to her Shadow turned her attention away from the gore and to the new adults. She still wasn't sure this was safe. She still wasnt't sure about anything. No she was sure about two things. She would protect Ghost and they were in deep trouble.
Quote:
Originally posted by safeat2nd:
Safe turns and looks down at the stow-aways. Scooping them up one by one with his good arm, he hoists them onto a nearby crate. Easing out of his jacket, he drapes it over their shoulders.
"I'm going to help here a bit, then I need you to tell how and why you came to be in the back of that shuttle." Safe says as he rips off the blood soaked left sleeve of his shirt, using it to clumsily dress the wound in his arm.
Seeing the worried look in thier eyes, Safe offers a kind smile. "You're safe here. These folks are good people. We'll get things squared away soon enough."
Shadow sat on the crate holding Ghost close. Captain Safe seemed like a good guy, and that lady Bride Bobbi seemed nice too, oh and Mr. Needy who was sick, he seemed like a good guy, but even good adults didn't always treat kids good.
Shadow watched as Safe went to help then slid off the crate pulling Ghost after her. "Come on Ghost, maybe if we help they won't get rid of us."
Quietly the two young sisters followed Safe.
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*The sudden burst of the opening infirmary doors shakes Kelly from her reverie and she watches as more injured people are brought in, some carried, some walking, albeit slowly. Jadehand is rushing like a madman, helping all he can, and Kelly feels guilty for sitting by Ath's side. Suddenly she feels very hungry, and she leaves to go to the kitchen with the vague notion that perhaps others could use some food as well.
Kelly reaches the kitchen and begins preparing light snacks that are easily eaten while doing other work. Tea sandwiches, assorted fruits, homemade potato chips, as well as canteens of iced tea, lemonade and fruit juice soon line the counters, ready for those who need them. Jade pops in every few minutes with new orders, and Kelly works diligently to ensure everyone has what they want. In the back of her mind, Ath's pale face is a constant, but Kelly concentrates on the task at hand, humming a snatch of Elvish tune to keep her heart at ease.
It takes a full minute before Kelly realizes she is being watched, and she chides herself for not being more alert. She turns to speak to the watcher, but at first sees nothing. Then she glances down and sees a tiny girl, barely noticeable in all the commotion going on in the common room. The girl promptly runs away, and Kelly sets down her butter knife to go find her.
Kelly looks everywhere in the common room, but the girl has vanished like a ghost. She is just about to head back to the kitchen when she sees the girl perched on a crate, clinging to a larger girl.
"Aiya, little one. Did the food smell good in my kitchen?" Kelly asks.
The little girl gives a barely perceptable nod, her eyes wide as saucers as she looks at Kelly's flowing dress and pointed ears.
"Tell me, do you like cookies? I could really use some help making some lembas, and you both have the perfect sized hands for baking."
The older one nods this time, but glances over at a soldier straightening up in a shuttle. He looks up, noticing Kelly, and she makes gestures to let him know she's taking them to the kitchen. After his nod, Kelly holds out her hands.
"Come, little ghosts. I have all kinds of good food for you to try."
"I'm not Ghost," the older one says, finally finding her voice.
"Hmm?"
"I'm not Ghost. She's Ghost. I'm Shadow."
"Ah! Á tulë yo ni, come with me, Shadow and Ghost. I'm KellyofLuthien. Do you like chocolate or vanilla ice cream better?"
The girls look at each other, hop off the crate, and each grab one of Kelly's hands as she leads them to the kitchen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love my Captain 
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