Firefly: The Next Generation (IC)

[celestialdragon]

Wash smiled at Kylar. "I'm fine with it. I know family doesn't mean anything. I mean, look at my dad's parents. They disowned him when he went and got Aunt River. They still don't understand why he did it." She hugged him back and kissed his cheek. "She has my sympathies, to be quite honest. Now, Joseph said dinner was going to be done in five minutes, so I suggest you get ready to eat."

 

[The Jeffinator]

"Yeah," agreed Kylar. Soon they were all eating, and before they knew it, they were moving towards Haven. Everyone was on edge for the next eighteen days, wondering if a Niska ship would suddenly show up somewhere. Fortunately, they arrived at Haven safely.

"We're preparing to land on Haven," Kylar said over the intercom. "We're going right to the hangar and then we need to lay low for a while. Stay out of the public eye as much as possible. We are landing under the cover of night, so hopefully no one will mention seeing a firefly if the Niskas do show up."

Warlock entered the atmosphere and landed in the designated hangar. As the crew walked down the ramp, Kylar's contact walked towards them.

"Kylar!" he said with a smile.

"Reggie!" he replied. The two friends clasped arms, but then Kylar stared into his eyes for a second. Something was off. "You didn't..."

"Sorry," Reggie replied with a smirk. "Pay off was too good to pass up."

"Run!" yelled Kylar to the others. "We've been sold out!" Suddenly the hangar filled with Niska henchmen, two of which had missile launchers and immediately blasted Warlock's engine. Pulling out his twin pistols, Kylar put a bullet between Reggie's eyes and then ducked behind some nearby crates, emptying his chamber into the Niska men as the room filled with the sound of gunfire and screams as bullets pierced flesh.

 

[celestialdragon]

Wash saw the betrayal and she got the ship revved up. She grabbed the intercom. "Attention, crew of the Warlock. We are under attack, and we're about to die. . . again. Thank you for choosing Leaf Airlines."

She dashed out and grabbed Kylar, getting her own pistol out. "Next time, tell me who your contact is," she hissed in his ear. She made a few shots before dragging him onto the ship. "Dumpin' it and humpin' it!" she called as she dashed back into the engine room to fix the best she could.

 

[The Jeffinator]

"I thought I could trust him!" he barked back at Alexa as she dragged him from the cover of the crates and onto the ship, closing the hatch before the Niska men could board. "What are you doing? Alexa -- the engine is shot! They launched gorram missiles at it! Any minute they are gonna rip open the hatch or blast a hole in the side of the ship!"

As Kylar yelled, they felt the ship shake as the men outside fired more missiles at it. A large group of them focused gunfire at the cockpit, hoping to shatter the glass. So far it was holding out, but barely. "Gorrammit! They just blasted the shuttles too! Everyone, get ready for a shootout!"

Turning and running to his bunk, Kylar grabbed more ammo for his twin pistols, loaded them, and put them in his belt. Then he strapped two assault rifles to his back and grabbed two machine guns. After everyone was armed, they met back in the cargo hold.

"Any second, they are going to bust in here. I don't intent to go down without a fight. We have nowhere to go but out that hatch and out of the hangar. Run for the woods, if you can. I'm going to take out as many of these gorram mother fuckers as I can before they take me out."

He looked to them and saw the fear and anger in their eyes. "These last two months, we've been like a family. I would die for each and every one of you. And there's a good chance that today, I actually will."

Kylar turned towards the hatch as the Niska men finally ripped it open. "Mom? Dad? I'll be with you soon. I'm a leaf on the wind, mother fuckers! WATCH HOW I SOAR!" he screamed, teary eyed, as he aimed both his machine guns and started firing, running towards the intruders.

 

[celestialdragon]

Wash was thrown back when the shuttles were hit. She swore and heard Kylar speaking as she armed herself. She didn't want to die. She had lived too long.

She began shooting as well, sliding up right beside Kylar as she did so.

 

[creampieu444]

xxxxx

 

[AuraSphere]

Jesse pulled his hair back into a ponytail as he began to arm himself to the teeth. Four pistols, five knives, his best machine gun, a shotgun, a grenade launcher, his favorite sniper riffle, and a couple of flash bombs. No one could say he wasn't preparing for what was about to go down. Though not quite on this level, he'd been in his fair share of shootouts back home, against rival gang members back when he smuggled drugs and weapons for a couple years.

Those shootouts would pale in comparison to this, and he wasn't going to go into it half-assed. It wasn't just his life on the line, it was the crew's... his friends'...People he actually cared about.

He held an extra pistol out to Mike. "Stay close to me and watch my six," he whispered. "That's all you have to do... I know you don't like to hurt people, and this is your family we're up against, so if you do that, hopefully you won't have to kill too many of them...or even any at all." He stared at his friend for a brief moment as he handed her the weapon. He trusted her more than anyone.

As soon as Jesse exited the ship, he threw a flash bomb at the mob. The soldiers were taken aback in a daze. He fired the grenade launcher, taking out enemies in groups. When he used up all of the grenades, he tossed the launcher and threw another flash bomb, dazing more troops. He then unloaded every gun he had on him, except for the sniper riffle, as he waded through enemies toward the woods. As he advanced, a stray bullet grazed his left cheek. He winced in pain, but kept moving. Eventually, he and Mike reached the woods; they made it!

Suddenly, another bullet hit his right side in the stomach. Jesse fell to his knees from the blow. Instinctively, he threw a knife in the direction the bullet came from, taking out the one who fired it. Jesse fell to the ground, grasping his side, trying not to bleed out as he desperately crawled for the safety of the woods.

 

[GentleValkyrie]

Mike had calmed down a little during the trip to Haven, but only a little. She spent much more time in her bunk and when they landed she was holed up in the tiny interior space. The landing felt normal and she had started making her way to the cargo bay when the missiles hit, knocking her back down the ladder to the floor. She scrambled up quickly, snagging her pack and running toward the sound of Kylar's shouting.

Kylar had already rushed out when Jesse caught her arm, handing her a pistol, oversized and heavy, the cowboy model in comparison to the sleek little automatic in her pack. She took it and flashed him a smile.

"...this is your family we're up against..."

The words sunk in, colder and heavier than the steel in her fingers. Of course it was. Of course this was her fault. No time to think on it now. She flipped up the dark hood of her jacket, tucking her pale hair away, not wanting to be any different of a target than the others.

She followed Jesse, close and fast, the noise and confusion pressing in on her from all sides. They were headed for the woods, not too far away at all. Not too far away as a sunny afternoon stroll, or even a dash through the rain, but this storm was made of man, not of nature, and was made of fire and iron.

They ran, all the speed and precision they used in sparring toward a different aim. She did watch his six, leaving the groups of soldiers to the heavier armament and firing shots at stray parties who seems to have too much time to pay attention to them. She tried to see the others, thinking she might have caught a glimpse of Amaya, but Jesse flinched and she focused on him and their headlong dash into the trees.

She rejoiced a bit when they made it, reaching for his spare hand with an adrenaline fueled grin. It was too soon and she watched in horror as he fell, then helped carry, mostly drag him into cover. "Too many guns, you're too heavy" she gasped when they got a bit away.

She pressed her hand to his side, her fingers getting warm and wet. "We need to keep moving, and we need to find the others." And we need to stop the bleeding.

 

[The Jeffinator]

Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. Bullets firing, flesh ripping, blood splattering. Somehow, all six of them made it through the hordes of men, out the hangar door, and into the woods. But in their flight from their attackers, the team had gotten separated. Kylar had split off from Alexa to lead some of their pursuers in the opposite direction, and after running across a stream and into a small valley, he was able to climb a tree and finish off the rest of the gunmen that had followed him.

After scavenging what ammo and supplies he could from the fallen gunmen, Kylar made his way back across the stream, and followed the trail of corpses until he found Alexa hidden in a cave. "Alexa! Are you alright? Have you seen the others?" He asked as he hugged her.

 

[celestialdragon]

Wash hugged Kylar back fiercely. "I haven't seen anyone, really. After you split, I just stayed behind and. . ." she breathed deeply. "I came here after I was shot. . . As you can tell, no one made it far following me. . . Kylar. . . I'm scared," she finished and continued to breathe deeply. "My first aid kit. . . Was shot. . . On the way here. . . Do you have yours?"

 

[The Jeffinator]

"Damn," he said as he noticed she was shot. "I have my kit, but the bandages are no good, they got wet in the stream after the case bumped open on a rock. I'm going to rip up some of the cloth from the gunmen's uniforms to use as make shift bandages, then I'm moving the bodies -- they led my right to this cave, and more Niska men will come. Stay here and be safe. Take this." He handed her more ammo and an extra gun, then turned to leave the cave.

 

[celestialdragon]

Wash took Kylar's ammo and gun and waited, loading the gun and aiming it, in case more Niska men would come.

 

[AuraSphere]

Jesse propped himself up against a nearby tree, allowing himself to sit up. He kept pressure on his side. Damn, did that shot hurt. He started laughing to ease the pain he was in and the pressure they were under.

“Too heavy, huh?” He chuckled, recalling her earlier statement. He tossed all of his guns except for two of the empty pistols and the unused sniper rifle. “Sorry I’m such a lardass,” he joked. As he sat back, he reloaded the pistols he kept.

“I really want to take the damn thing out,” he muttered, more to himself than to her. “but I should probably wait to have the doc patch me up…assuming he even made it…or if we even make it…” He caught himself as he started to trail off. He had to stay positive. Mike was too sensitive for him to say things like that. “Eh, of course he’ll make it. The guy can handle himself just fine. In fact…you guys can all handle yourselves just fine. You guys are such good fighters that I’m basically useless. I mean, fighting’s all I know, and it’s all I’ve ever known. And you guys are good enough that you don’t really need me. Hehe…I’m like six-pack abs; I’m not really needed, I’m just there to look cool.”

Jesse tried to get himself to stand, using the tree and Mike for support. “Hey,” he whispered. “Just in case we don’t…you know, we don’t make it out alive, I want you to know… Back home, I didn’t have all that many friends growing up. A lot of people were afraid of me…rightfully so… And I pushed a lot of people away… But this crew… It’s the closest thing I’ve had to a real family… And you’re the best friend I’ve ever had… And if anything ever happened…” He looked down, refusing to meet her eyes as he told her all this. “I just wanted you to know…”

Continuing to use her for support, he began walking, and they started making their way deeper into the woods to try and meet up with the others.

 

[GentleValkyrie]

She forced a grin as he joked and reloaded. "I didn't mean it that way." She looked around, listening for others, friend or foe.

"...I mean, fighting’s all I know, and it’s all I’ve ever known. And you guys are good enough that you don’t really need me. Hehe…I’m like six-pack abs; I’m not really needed, I’m just there to look cool.”

"I'm sure the doctor is alright." Her voice was calm and level, her lying voice. "We'll find the him and he will and take care of you. I've seen people survive worse. Much worse. " She helped him stand up, looping one of his arms over her shoulders and having him lean on her. "You're not useless." she grinned at him, "Someone has to look cool, right? Come on, we need to be moving, the Niska family doesn't tolerate slackers."

And you’re the best friend I’ve ever had… And if anything ever happened…” He looked down, refusing to meet her eyes as he told her all this. “I just wanted you to know…”

She went quiet, listening. "Quiet, nothing is going to happen to you, you'll be fine." They walked into the woods, talking softly and listening hard. "You are going to be fine. I'm probably the worst person to judge family, considering I think mine just had you shot, but I have really enjoyed the last few weeks with the crew. And now we just need to find them."

She heard shuffling in the underbrush and went still and tense. It was a long moment before she heard a soft swear word and recognized Kylar's voice.

She smiled and stepped out into the open. "Captain."

 

[CaramelLuv]

Amaya was a cross between terrified and pissed. She had exchanged billowy pants for her sari skirts, in deep green, grabbed her bow and quivers as well as her bladed staff, her set of throwing knives, and her stash of healing herbs and first aid. Strapping the lance to her back, and the knives across her chest, she was both thankful and alarmed that she had learned to use her weapons. Mistress Inara had stressed versatility and the danger of only being familiar with one type of weapon. Thankfully her parents had raised her with an interest in blade work.

As she moved out of the warlock and into the woods, she notched an arrow into her bow and used the trees for cover. again outcropping of rocks she hid out of sight, heedless of getting herself dirty, but only hoping to remain safe and praying to the gods for her friends.

 

[creampieu444]

xxxxx

 

[The Jeffinator]

Kylar quickly dragged away the bodies leading to Alexa's cave, pushing them into the river to run downstream. He removed each uniform before dumping the bodies, then gathered the clothes in his arms and walked back to the cave. On the way, he tripped on a tree root and dropped the uniforms on the ground, cursing loudly. He heard rustling and suddenly Mikaela appeared before him.

"Captain?"

"Mike!" he said happily, pulling her into a hug. "Thank god you're okay. Do you know if anyone else made it? I'm heading back to Alexa right now, but I haven't seen the others."

 

[AuraSphere]

Jesse fell and landed on his wound as his human support beam was pulled in for a hug and he lost his ballance. "Ow..." he muttered.

Mike! Thank God you're okay. Do you know if anyone else made it?...I haven't seen the others.

The captain didn't even acknowledge he was there. He made it clear that he didn't even see him--when he was leaning on the person he did see. Jesse was just pushed aside like he was nothing.

"Nice to know I'm important," he deadpanned into the ground.

Jesse had his doubts of whether or not he was really considered a member of the group, but this solidified his fears. He was standing right in front of Kylar, bleeding out, and all Kylar seemed to care about was if Mike and everyone else was okay.

Kylar doesn't see me as part of this crew, he thought. I don't belong... Jesse felt more hurt than when his mother died almost a year ago. His so-called friends didn't even notice his presence.

Jesse pulled himself up angrily and began to storm off.

 

[celestialdragon]

Wash made her way to standing, after tearing off a piece of her shirt off with her teeth to bind the bleeding wound on her hip. She'd get Joseph to look at it later.

She picked up what she could, including the gun Kylar gave her and set off. She saw an angry figure storming off and hobbled her way toward it.

"Oi! Where do you think you're goin'?" she barked at Jayne's son. "We still got work to do, you hwoon dahn."

Pain seared through her hip, but she ignored it. Joseph would know what to do, if she could find him.

She saw Kylar and Mike, and gave a nod to them, before standing in front of Jesse with a gun pointed at him. "Look, I know you're hurt, and I know you don't feel like you belong. You know what folk like Kylar need? Someone who can prove themselves. You ain't done that yet. The rest of us he's known since we were all in diapers; we don't need to do that. Now, prove yourself useful. You can help Joseph with the wounded; you can help me repair the Warlock. But don't be a fool. I hate fools."

She sighed. "D'you think your mother would want you to turn your back on folk who need help? We're also missing Joseph and Amaya. And besides, I know you've gotten to be friends with Mike. She needs more than Ky to make her feel safe and wanted. Now, go back to them, and make yourself known to the Captain."

 

[AuraSphere]

Jesse glared at her. He was seething with rage, the adrenaline coursing through his body numbing the pain in his side. The sympathy in his heart had gone. Prove myself?! he thought. What more could I possibly have to prove?!

"In case you haven't noticed, báichī," he said evenly as he drew attention to his wound. (It was starting to look really bad now.) "I'm all but dying, and everyone's too self-absorbed to even notice. I left home to look for people I could actually depend on, and I once again find myself as part of a group that sees me as nothing more than a blindly obedient dog.

"You know what this little 'adventure' has taught me? It's reinforced the notion that you can't rely on anyone but yourself, and I was a fool for thinking anything else! If you need proof, look at Kylar's so-called 'trusted' contact! Sold us out first chance he got! Bonds put you in danger! Bonds get you killed! Friendship is an illusion seen by the weak! I will NOT be weak! I will survive by any means necessary!

"Now, I'm going to go on my own and try to patch myself up, because I'm not going to rely on anyone for help anymore. And if I die on my way there, at least I wasn't, once again, foolish enough to put my faith in someone who would let me down."

He started to continue on his way, limping somewhat, ignoring the gun pointed at him. "And what do you know about me..." he muttered silently. "I haven't told any of you anything about my life..."

After walking a few meters, he began to calm down, bulk of his anger spent on that rant. He turned back to face Wash, her gun still pointed at him. Part of him hoped that she'd try to put him down; partly out of curiosity just to see if she would, and partly so he wouldn't have to live by the last words he spoke. As much as they were true, they were still pretty lonely and depressing...

Jesse sighed and hung his head in defeat. "Just to be fair, I'll look for Joseph and Amaya on my way out and send them your way. And then I'm done with you people. Alright?"

 

[celestialdragon]

Wash kept the gun trained on him, her eyes cold. "Shit happens. It happens in this kind of work. You want to be a blind obedient dog? How 'bout you join the Niskas then? You ain't gave us a chance to show you what kind of folk we are. Kylar, Joseph and I have been joined at the hip since we were born, up until the war started. Kylar went to war; Joseph went off to med school; I joined the flight academy. I haven't heard from either of them in months! I thought Kylar was dead for most of the war! Joseph probably didn't look once my way during the war; he's a highly respected Alliance doctor, he couldn't be found associatin' with a Browncoat like meself."

"Having friends and bonds ain't being weak. It's a method of survival. Us humans are social creatures; those who think otherwise are insane. Which I'm beginnin' to think you are. Yes, Kylar's contact betrayed him. Sometimes, greed overpowers the mind. But you know what? I still trust Kylar. I trust him with my life. Hell, I've known him since I was a baby. Sometimes, as your father once told me, the money's just too good for some people. He should know. Uncle Jayne's always been tellin' stories like that to us when we were young."

She yanked Jesse back by his shirt collar, ignoring the pain in her side. She examined his wound quickly. "You'll die in forty minutes if this ain't cleaned and looked at by a doctor," she told him fiercely. "And it won't be quick. You're bleedin' out and it ain't clottin'. I can prolong it, but I won't be able to do much without Joseph." She forced him to the ground and fished out a syringe of a painkiller. "This won't hurt a bit," she said as she plunged it into his side. She ripped off another part of her shirt, exposing her stomach, and wrapping it around his wound after cleaning it. "Now, don't move."

She called out to Kylar and Mike. "Hey, guys. Found Jesse, he's badly wounded. Got his wound cleaned out and put a tourniquet on it, gave him one of Daddy's syringes. I'm going to go find Joseph and Amaya. Could one of you stay with him?"

 

[CaramelLuv]

A hand clamps down over Amaya's mouth so she doesn't scream but she then immediately hears the soothing tone of Joseph's voice. "Shhh, shhh, it's me." He leans back next to her, his arm already patched up and the bleeding stopped. He looks at her seriously. "Are you ok? Also, you need to ditch the skirts, too easy for me to track you to here. Need to get you a tight fitting pair of pants woman." After looking around for a bit he frowns. "You're not being lookout? Then.. where is everyone else.."

She nearly screamed, and started the thrash around when she heard Joseph's voice. She took a deep breath through her nose and forced herself to relax. Looking over to him as he settled beside her, she nodded slowly. "I don't know where anyone is, and yes, I'm sure you'd love to see me in tight pants." She gave him a lopsided smile, though it was a bit shaky.

"I don't know where anyone is. I just took my stuff and ran, thinking to double back around. The Niskas aren't exactly known for their patronage, and the whole family is blacklisted from the Guild. I don't think they'd be kind to me even if I am a Companion."