GR RP "Adventures in Gunrunning" Act 20
POSTED BY: Channain
UPDATED: Wednesday, September 8, 2004 13:24
VIEWED: 18914
PAGE 5 of 10
Book's Move
Location: Infirmary
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MAL
"Preacher, can you come to my bunk? Please bring Damon’s property with you."
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Stepping back a foot from the comm, Book suddenly feels the weight of Damon's gun in his pocket, and he draws it out. He knows I'll come. No answer is needed. Turning to the door, he finds Merz in his way with a wary look on her face, and River protectively shielded behind her.
She thinks I'm a threat, Book lets the thought float through his mind for a moment before quickly taking the clip out of the gun and returning it to his pocket. "Sorry about that." he says, trying to play off her look as something other than what it seems. "I shouldn't be waving guns around."
EM
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MERZ move
LOCATION - INFIRMARY
Having received a response from the Captain, BOOK is turning around to go. MERZ quickly moves RIVER behind her, and stands between the Shepherd and the girl.
While turning he has taken a firearm out of his pocket and is holding it rather carelessly in his hand. MERZ is aware of it, but that is not the hazard she fears.
Seeing her standing before him, he strips the magazine and pockets both pieces.
BOOK
Sorry about that. I shouldn't be waving guns around.
Once his hands are empty, and before he can make a move to step around her, MERZ halts him with her left hand, stiff fingers tented over his sternum. Her right arm is to the side and behind, sheltering RIVER.
MERZ
Stop. Wait. The gun is of no consequence.
She pauses for his compliance.
MERZ
I am going to ask you three questions. I will require an answer for each. I will know if you are lying to me.
Pause.
MERZ
Do you represent a danger to this child?
Pause.
MERZ
Are you a danger to this ship and her crew?
Pause.
MERZ
Have you spoken of my presence or mentioned my name to your fellow ‘operatives’?
EOM
If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress
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Book's Move
Location: Infirmary
Admirable, that. Already a part of the crew. An easy and practiced smile comes to Book's lips. "I can answer all three questions with one answer... I am probably the best friend anyone on this ship could have."
Quickly sidestepping her outstretched hand, Book slides out the door faster than his age and demeanor should allow. Turning back as Merz starts to follow, he speaks a few more words just for her ears. "Your instincts are sound, but misplaced. Don't worry. We'll speak more... soon. I promise. It's not as though there's anywhere for us to go."
EM
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River
LOCATION - INFIRMARY /COMMON AREA
MERZ
River, is it my thoughts you cannot see?
River drops back to her normal height but keeps her eyes fixed on Merz. This woman is a puzzel to her. She only knows what she can see with her eyes and hear with her ears. But even normal senses can serve the young genius and she can sense that there is more to Merz's uniqueness than just her immunity to River's reading.
"Physical presence is here. Rest is missing." She states simply, as if giving a diagnosis. Her stare is slowly replaced by curiosity. "Where did you go?"
MAL
Preacher, can you come to my bunk? Please bring Damon’s property with you.
River's attention is drawn to the com as she hears Mal. --tired. so much hurt. giving up.--
Reality slowly comes back into focus and River finds herself standing behind Merz, who is talking to Book. She dismisses them. Not relevant. Slipping behind them with graceful ease, she hurries over to the com and turns it on. She smiles at it as if she can see exactly who she's talking to.
"Still flying..."
She walks out of the infirmery beaming as if she had just solved everyone's problems. She sees Merz starting to follow Book to the stairs and runs to take hold of her by the wrist, pulling her to a stop.
"Helping Mal." She looks at Book and smiles at him. "Helping bhaai."
I'm not broken, in my dream I win...
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MERZ move
LOCATION - INFIRMARY and CORRIDOR OUTSIDE As ...
River backs up a step and sinks down still holding MERZ eyes with her own.
RIVER
Physical presence is here. Rest is missing. Where did you go?"
There is only curiosity in her eyes. MERZ moves her back, behind the shelter of herself. River goes peacefully.
MERZ drags her attention back to the Shepherd, back to the danger. He has considered her questions and his answer is swift and untroubled.
BOOK
I can answer all three questions with one answer … I am probably the best friend anyone on this ship could have. He smiles at her, utterly confident that his words will be understood.
… he is telling the truth. i must believe him. but does not compute … insufficient data …
He steps around her hand and out the door more swiftly than she would have given this civilian credit for. How could she have misjudged him this badly? She shifts to follow him and hears him speak again, very softly, for her alone. Your instincts are sound but misplaced. Don’t worry. We’ll speak more … soon. I promise. It’s not as though there’s anywhere for us to go.
She wants to follow, needs answers now. But two things pull her up short. The first is RIVER who has taken her by the hand, tugging her to a halt. Helping Mal, she states cheerfully, Helping bhaai. RIVER is smiling towards BOOKs retreating back.
The second thing is the blanket now pooled at her feet. In freeing both hands for action, to protect the child and stop the Shepherd, MERZ has ignored her lack of conventional clothing, and has paid the price. And BOOK, whom MAL had advised her would be upset at such a lapse, had shown no indication of notice.
… i cannot cope with this. too much, too fast, too … strange. i cannot, no, will not go back either. i must learn to cope. i have no choice. and i do NOT surrender …
She drops and retrieves her covering. RIVER is still next to her, head tilted to one side, watching her.
MERZ
I have no answer for you child. I am what I am and I am here. When you find the rest of me, please let me know where it is. Perhaps it will assist me to understand. MERZ tilts her head back at RIVER and asks her, Does the Shepherd consider MAL to be his bhaai, his little brother?
EOM
If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress
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River
LOCATION - PASSENGER DORMS or COMMON AREA
MERZ
Does the Shepherd consider MAL to be his bhaai, his little brother?
River laughs and shakes her head. "No, helping your bhaai." She walks over to the washing machine and sits down in front of it cross-legged. Realizing she is likely taking Merz's spot, she moves over a little.
I'm not broken, in my dream I win...
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Damon's turn:
LOCATION - BRIDGE
Damon rubs his already dirty cloth over the even dirtier computer console. From the looks of it, it hasn't been cleaned in a very long time. His thoughts had just begun to drift away from Mal and their unavoidable disscussion when Book responds over the com.
Quote:
Originally posted by CapnRahn:
Captain. This is Shepherd Book. I'm here.
MAL
Preacher, can you come to my bunk? Please bring Damon’s property with you.
"Tzao gao..." He drops himself in Wash's chair and shakes his head in disbelief. "This just keeps getting better and better."
He pulls off his gloves, letting them drop to the floor beside the cleaner, and massages his tired right shoulder. His gaze settles on his reflection in the black vid screen, the bruises on his face bringing an unfriendly reminder of the day before.
"How do you always manage to get yourself into this ma lashi?" He sighs. If Mal doesn't give him back his gun, he'll have to spend the money to buy a new one. But money is the least of his concerns. Mal will have questions. They always have questions. Lying to Mal is a risky solution but telling the truth has always gotten him in trouble.
Quote:
“What is that?” Trigger points at Damon’s brand. “You a slave?”
Damon looks up from his work at Trigger and then down at his burn. Somehow the fact that people out here in the verse don’t have brands managed to slip his mind.
“I was. Escaped about a week ago. But don’t worry, he doesn’t know where I am.”
Trigger eyes Damon’s brand and then his other scars before smiling. “Well that’s good.” He turns to a cupboard and starts pulling out various tools. “This Trihn one of those stuck up rich fellows?”
Damon picks up a wrench and turns back to his work. Crofton is one subject he will never talk about with anyone.
“I’ll take that as a yes?” A pistol cocks behind Damon.
Damon feels his muscles tighten in automatic response, an iron grip forming on the wrench in his hand.
“You have a price on your head, nu li?” Trigger takes a careful step closer, looking rather nervous carrying the gun. “Drop the wrench and stand up.”
Damon turns his head to glare at Trigger over his right shoulder, his left hand remaining out of sight and slowly moving down to his boot. The wrench falls to the floor with a heavy clunk.
Trigger takes a shaky step closer, his gun aimed at Damon’s head. In his other hand he carries a pair of crude handcuffs. “I said stand up!”
Damon’s left hand carefully fingers the knife in his boot as he holds up his empty right hand and climbs to his feet. Trigger holds out the handcuffs and takes another step closer. Too close.
With surprising speed, Damon grabs Trigger’s gun, pushing it into a safer direction. A shot is fired over his shoulder. Damon’s left hand comes up with the knife and slices Trigger’s arm. The gun is released and Damon swiftly moves the handle into his palm.
He watches Trigger step away from the gun now aimed at his throat, trying to decide. “Where’s your shuttle bay?”
Trigger glares at Damon. “Chur ni-duh, hwoon d-.”
Damon’s finger moves without a second thought. The room is filled with a loud crack and Trigger drops the ground in a lifeless heap.
“Wrong answer.”
The sound of approaching footsteps pulls Damon back from his dark memories. He quickly stands up to get back to work and sees Book heading for Mal's bunk. He gives the older man a nervous glance before picking up his gloves and turning back to the computer.
ma lashi = horse shit
nu li = slave
Chur ni-duh, hwoon dahn = screw you, jerk
I'm not broken, in my dream I win...
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Wash’s and Zoe’s Moves:
Location – from Upper Front of Serenity, to Lower Rear, and back again.
(Wash is sitting on his bunk, thinking that he’s the most terrible person onboard, then he hears a calm, serene voice wash over him… “Still flying…” Wash realizes that yes, the ship is still flying, and that everyone is still in formation with the ship… still flying. Wash gets up, and spots the memory stick from Simon lying on the floor next to the bed, where Zoe had dropped it. He starts checking off names on his fingers, and says: “Jayne”. Wash leaves the Dorm, and goes below decks to where Jayne is welding the rails, and waits until he is finished with joining two pieces together, he holds out another piece of rail to Jayne, and then hands over the memory sick. Wash goes to the bridge, now deep in thought, trying to think of nothing but the upcoming mission… he sits down at the Navigation/Gunnery console, and begins to program in a series of ‘reminders’, for the run… He glances at Zoe, who had moved over to him, and says to her: “Still flying… nothing is better than flying, especially with you”. He goes back to work, Zoe looking on in amazement, as a series of bright yellow arrows starts to flash rapidly on the screen on the console, she slowly rubs Wash’s neck and back.)
EOM
The 4th dimension of the universe that this whole gorram universe is in is right now currently reading 17:25 AMT (05:25 pm). Really. The whole thing. Right now.
Decoy, they make me go first.
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KAYLEE’s move
LOCATION - ENGINE ROOM
The job is going well, if not swiftly. There is satisfaction in the routine maintenance. KAYLEE snips off another piece of 18-gauge wire, and bends to solder it into place. ‘Nother 30 minutes should see it done and then tackle the helm.
She chuckles to herself. I’ll pull WASH back up to help with that. An evening spent wiring and layin’ lights should give him a bit more respect for his station.
EOM
If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress
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MERZ move
LOCATION - LAUNDRY AREA
MERZ allows RIVER to lead her back to the laundry. RIVER seats herself in front of the machine and then moves to one side, as if to make room for MERZ. Puzzled and intrigued, MERZ goes back into lotus seat besides the girl.
There is a short silence while MERZ considers and sorts the latest impressions and information she has gathered, and then she inhales deeply for a couple of breaths and completes her datafile on RIVER. She stores it carefully, with the rest of her new acquaintances.
There is a lot of suchanaa in the file folder designated ‘for later contemplation’ and it just gets larger each day. Time for consideration of those things she does not understand has been insufficient of late. She does not see the situation improving much.
RIVER has said Book is helping – helping Mal, helping Damon. How can she know this? Can she know it or is she just indulging in baseless speculation? Book says he is a friend, to the crew, to Merz herself. And he believes in his words, he told the truth, as he knows it. She contemplates; she can detect a deliberate untruth easily, but the concept of simply being mistaken … there is no way she knows to verify that. And he never said if he has passed on her name … ma dhyaan diyera hernu, ma parkahhi. For as long as betrayal is not seen, retribution will not occur. Book will have his time to prove himself mero saathi.
MERZ
It is good they help Damon if he requires this. Tell me bahini, is there something I should be doing for my bhaai? Or for you?
… why do i ask her this? curious as to what she might say i suppose. there is something … remarkable about this civilian … not like any other i have met
EOM
Nepali words
suchanaa = information
bhaai = little brother
bahini = little sister
ma dhyaan diyera hernu, ma parkahhi = I watch, I wait
mero saathi = my friend
If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress
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