GR RP "Adventures in Gunrunning" ACT 21
POSTED BY: CapnRahn
UPDATED: Thursday, October 14, 2004 13:08
VIEWED: 20054
PAGE 10 of 10
Book's Move
Location: Infirmary
Book takes a deep slow breath. The infirmary lights flicker uncharacteristically. Help her? Indeed. But who needs more help? Merz continues to rock back and forth, cradling River in her arms. River appears almost sleepy and content... as if she has just woken from a dream and is settling back in again. I should have seen it before. What is making me so blind to other people's needs?
Stepping in between Mal and Inara, Book slowly approaches Merz and River, his arms held slightly out to his sides in a very real show of an open, trusting gesture. "Inara is telling you the truth child, no one here would hurt her... or you." Book blinks and lowers his eyes for a fraction of a second even if we wished, only words seem to penetrate her deeply. "You don't need to do anything to protect River right now. I'm afraid the future is quite uncertain though... we may all need you then."
EM
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Malachi's Move
Location: Nearby the vessel containing Brink Helsing's body
A pleasant itch tickles his mind as he watches his spatial flow analyzer retrieve several probable destinations for the ship that deserted this one not long ago. Someone went to a bit of trouble to conceal leaving the area. Likely a trap waiting inside. He would of course go into this ship. The signal from the homing beacon was strong. He would locate card and holder soon. The drifting, vacant-looking ship was bad though.
Standing from the hunched position he had adopted, he growls inwardly at the close confines of the ship. He had never liked being in a small ship. At the back of his tiny ship, he opens an access port and deploys one of three miniature surveillance robots (msr). Quick and safe. I love quick and safe. Returning to his console bank he switches on another screen and watches the progress, in streaming data, of his msr. Soon the data stream changes consistency and knowing the cause is his msr's success, Malachi flips over to video mode to inspect the inside of the "beast" he hunts.
EM
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Slight sighs. Well, at the moment he's stuck. Until his cells recharge, he can't move very far. Only thing to do now is wait.
Suddenly, he feels the cold breath behind his shoulder. He looks up, and sees the bright blob of heat. Another ship. Largish. the shape is too amorphous to see the model, and too blurred to see how many could be inside. He sighs again. A weapon. He needs a weapon. Could be hostile. For the first time, he inspects his chest wound with his hand. Some sort of pipe. No, a handle. To the engine compartment. In his mind, he inspects his surroundings. best point for a throw-he figures that's the best option-is in the engine doorway, angled towards the hatch when it swings inwards. He reformats the nanytes-most are in his hand quickly, creating a tri-bladed throwing weapon. Lightweight, and it'll correct to inflict the most damamge to the target. Slight waits to strike.
We can't all be heroes, since some of us have to sit at the curb and clap as they go by.
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Rowan's Move
LOCATION: BRIDGE
Kaylee (to Rowan): "You said “our” girl’s running like a top. Want you to know; it’s OK. I have been unfair and I appreciate all the help I have had today. Thanks."
Wash: (spins a 360 degree arc in his helm chair, and says to both Kaylee and Rowan): "You know better, Kaylee... It's my girl. From her shiny new laser, to the best little engine room in the verse... It's all mine... and no, you haven't been unfair, I know that you've had a lot on your mind lately, and I haven't been the best of help... Let's try to make it all better tonight, ok?"
As Wash speaks, Rowan's eyebrows rise over his assumption of ownership. You'd think a pilot would know better. Everyone who works in space knows who really owns the ship. The captain may or may not have his hands on the deed, and the pilot may have control on where it goes, but when it comes down to it, if the engineer deems the ship isn't going anywhere, that's the be-all, end-all. Looking up at Kaylee, she shares a look with the young mechanic that she finds agreeable and reaches out to take that slim, capable hand in her own firm grip. The handshake is one part acknowledgement, one part reassurance. Rowan knows the score and by her return look she knows that Kaylee does too. Their hands come apart and Kaylee adds a little pat on Rowan's shoulder.
Rowan: "I appreciate that, Kaylee - you haven't been unfair so much as protective. I never met an engineer who wasn't. And Wash, I look forward to lifting a cup or two with you while we discuss the laws of possession."
And if she lifts a cup or two with all the crew--with the possible exception of Merz--she stands a good chance of passing out for the rest of the evening and into tomorrow. Rowan wonders how the captain would take the notion that she could be indisposed for a few hours in the morning.
Glancing back at the source pad screen, she takes note of Serenity's diagnostic progress.
SERENITY (into Rowan's earpiece): "Diagnostic ongoing. Results compiling. Please stand by."
Rowan (smiles): "She's thorough, isn't she? You must have hung on to the Solo Systems package. Funny how folks quit using it because it's slow. It's still the best diagnostic for a ship like this. Checks out all the nooks and crannies, whether you've been in them or not."
Rowan crosses her right ankle over her left, and leans back to get a look at the view out the forward window. She finds herself trying to recall if black is the absence of all color, or the inclusion of all color. It had to do with light versus matter.
EOM
I draw...therefore I am.
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922
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Damon’s turn:
LOCATION - COMMON AREA Quote:
INARA is the first to speak, concern evident on her face. "RIVER, sweetie? What is it?" She checks all motion for an instant and then holds out empty hands. "No one here is going to hurt her, Merz. I promise. Is she alright?”
Damon makes his way down the stairs, now that the rush is over, and stands near the couch in the common room, looking through one of the windows into the infirmary. Merz is in there, holding River protectively. River looks upset, a look Damon is all too familiar with- her dark eyes still haunted by the nightmare that interrupted her sleep.
Quote:
MERZ
"What is all right? How am I supposed to judge what is all right for her? For any of you? DAMON says that things have been … done to her. Bad things. If she has been in Alliance hands, then we are KIN. I have an obligation to her." MERZ lifts her voice, trying to make a point, to respond as one of them. Maybe she can make herself understood. "How can I help her? What do I need to do? How can I protect her?" . She lowers her head and her voice, but it carries to the back of the surrounding crowd anyway. "Help me."
Book moves into the infirmary, trying to talk to Merz. Damon watches silently, wondering if there’s something else he should be doing- after all, there’s not much he can do here anyway. He’d be more useful in the engine room. He glances at Jayne, noticing the metal bars in his hands. Maybe Jayne will need some help but then again, Mal’s done talking to Book- maybe he’s wanting to talk soon. Not knowing what else to do, Damon decides to wait until things are settled here before making plans.
I'm not broken, in my dream I win...
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JAYNE – COMMON AREA
Jayne's brow raises at the mention of his name. He wonders what cheating River's refering to, but keeps watching silently from outside the infirmary. His face shows something more like disgust, but he doesn't feel any - only a little confusion as he thinks through what could be wrong this time. He pays close attention to Merz's strange behaviour. It's not so much mother-like any more; perhaps a little more wild.
There is an exchange between Inara and Merz. "No one here is going to hurt her, Merz. I promise. Is she alright?"
"What is all right? How am I supposed to judge what is all right for her? For any of you?"
Whoa-kay, things seem to be getting a little more emotional now. Jayne slowly circles to the front of the infirmary, still eying the going-ons inside with a modicum of concern, and nearly bumping into Damon on his way in.
After Merz says "help me", Jayne decides his particullar skills aren't going to be of much value here. He turns to Damon. "That's my cue ta skeedadle."
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River
LOCATION - INFIRMARY
River sits comfortably wrapped in Merz's arms, lost in her own thoughts. Most of them revolve around Simon, it kills her to not know where he, or how he's doing. After a few minutes she seems to have calmed down. She sits up from Merz's embrace and looks around the infirmery sadly.
"He's gone again. It's the second time he's had to leave home for me." She looks at Mal. "If the letters stop coming we must find him."
I'm not broken, in my dream I win...
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MERZ move
LOCATION - INFIRMARY
She listens to River’s words, retaining them, but for the moment letting them pass without comprehension. That’s easy, there are many things she has failed to comprehend today. As RIVER straightens up and pulls away from her, Merz lets her go. She is no longer needed here, if she ever was.
The room and the hallway are a miasma of conflicting scents, the emotional content is high and overwhelming. MERZ is not used to such a concentration of feelings; that her’s are among them does not signify as MERZ is all but oblivious to her own scent most of the time. ~ help me ... i have never asked for help before. what is wrong with me? is this what being a civilian is? confusion, pain, conflict, fear … ~
MERZ steps back from RIVER, and straightens up. She looks at the assembled crew, noting their positions, who is here, who has moved off. Jayne circling around the edges of the area, concern on his face. Concern for River? She considers INARA’s words, and BOOK’S, each in the context of their gestalt as she sees it. There is nothing there but sincerity – for the stranger in their midst, as well as for River?
BOOK … no one here would hurt her... or you. You don't need to do anything to protect River right now. I'm afraid the future is quite uncertain though... we may all need you then."
She considers his words, her thoughts very slightly chasing across her face, as emotion and confusion have lowered her control. Some of it is unimportant; she is not sure any person here could hurt her significantly. Her training was too intense. She does not want to consider these civilians put into any position that would require her brand of help – that would make them in more danger than she chooses to contemplate right now. Coupled with the fear that the reason might be her fault … .
MERZ straightens up, air passing through her clenched teeth, not a hiss, but not missing it by much. The mask drops back across her features, not so much calm as blank. She scans across the crowd catching each eye in turn. When she reaches MAL, she stops for a moment, caught in the odd expression on his face. She address him directly.
“The interruption in my duties was an momentary occurrence. I will return to work now.”
She pushes forward through the assembled crew, rather trusting them to get out of her way rather than attempting to avoid them. Never realizing that she turned her face briefly toward RIVER as she left and smiled gently at her.
EOM
If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress
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NEW ACT THREAD!!!
ACT 22
http://fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=17&t=7532
"Remember, there is only ONE absolute - There ARE NO absolutes!!!"
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