Vulcan Sky Falling storyline

The fall of Vulcan Specter. 
== Good Morning, Captain ==
(Harlequin) The morning of ....
Chuck snuffles awake, wonders why her bed is so lumpy and /cold.
The mattress shifts.
Oh.
She's still lying across Jackson and he's still got his head stuffed under her pillow. She smiles, kisses his shoulder.
Jackson sighs.
"Time to wake up and get ready to save the world, Lieutenant," she coos near his ear.
""Cap'n.""
"But—"
""/Cap'n. /Wrath of Khan. Same rank's you.""
"Well then, /Captain, it's time to get up."
""You'll have to get offa me first.""
"You can't move me, strong as you are?"
A beat.
""That a challenge?""
"Maaaaaybe." Chuck goes floppy deadweight—
Jackson grunts, wiggles—
—squishes him as firmly as possible to the mattress—
—huffs, pushes himself up on all fours—
—squawks—
—straightens, folding Chuck over his shoulder—
—flutter kicks her feet.
—eases to standing on the floor and carries Chuck, laughing, to the washroom.
==Green==
/Striker launches fifteen minutes late; a broken lift winch keeping her grounded.
The Jumphawks’ll try to make up time on the flight.
No matter what they manage, /Vulcan’ll be on her own against a Category 4.
Which is never supposed to happen.
In Sydney’s Ranger lounge, Jamie perches on the edge of the couch, elbows on knees, clasped hands bracing up his chin, gnawing his lip.
Derek hugs his knees, pushed back into the cushions, /this short of rocking.
.
Jamie grabs Derek’s tablet, logs in (good thing he stole the password long ago), tries to requisition emergency transport to Brisbane.
/Error
/Permission denied
Blinks.
Tries his own tablet, his own account.
/Error
/Permission denied
“The fuck’s going on?”
Grabs phone, calls ‘Dome Quartermaster.
“No clue. Call Personnel.”
Calls Personnel.
“Marshal’s orders. No travel without his approval.”
Sees red.
Hauls Derek to his feet, drags him toward LOCCENT as fast as they can stumble.
Locked out.
Tracks down the Marshal’s Squire outside the man’s office.
Corners him.
The Squire says … stuff.
“Listen, if Jones and I trade places—I take /Striker, he takes /Vulcan—temporarily, he can go, yea? Be with the team? Squire?”
Marshal’s Squire chews his lip, puts his shoulders back, pulls out his tablet, taps in the authorization for temporary reassignment, releases travel privileges.
“Thanks, mate.” Jamie spins, pulls Derek to the nearest empty room.
Puts through the requisitions for transport.
Releases a locked account, types a note.
Tows Derek to the helipad, stuffs him into the waiting Seahawk.
Shakes his head as the crew help Derek strap in and he’s off.
==Can't==
"I-I can't ... I can't ... go in there." Derek sinks to the floor, pulls his knees to his chest, rocks. "I can't see them ... like that," he whispers.
"S'okay, kiddo. I'll do it." Jamie squares his shoulders. He nods to the medical officer, steps through the clean, white door. Swallows.
Two tables, two familiar faces.
The farther form looks just has he had when he stepped into the Conn-pod.
Aside from a new scratch in his chest armor's paint.
Old scar on his forehead, frown lines at the corners of his lips.
"Officer Walker?"
"He's--" Jamie nods toward the far side of the room "--Ranger Logan Jones, LJON_121.27-G."
"Thank you. And the other ...?"
Silver hairs at his temples, worry line between his eyebrows, crow's feet.
Lower half of his face is covered with blood. Lots of blood.
Armor torn, dented, blood-stained, across his chest down to his hip.
"Ranger Jackson Jones, JJON_689.18-G."
"Thank you, Officer Walker. You're free to go."
Jamie hesitates, fights himself, gives in. "One more thing. What happened to them?"
"He--" the medical officer gestures vaguely toward Logan's body "--has a broken neck. Died instantly. The thing that hit him in the chest did the deed."
Jamie nods.
"And him? Whatever went through his armor--visor glass, shrapnel, claw; I'll figure it out later--broke his ribs, severed major arteries. He bled out into his chest. Held on long enough to tell the rescue team the two of 'em loved their little brother." He shakes his head. "Tough bastard."
Jamie swallows
Hand's on the doorknob.
Through the door.
Folds up next to Derek, pulls the younger man close. "They wanted you to know they love you."
Derek buries his face in Jamie's shoulder.
==Effects==
"Derek," says Jamie quietly, "I brought what you asked." He passes over a duffel.
"Thanks."
"Lemme know if y' need anythin', ay?"
Derek hefts the bag, nods.
"I'll wait here 'til we need to leave."
Another, smaller, nod.
Jamie squeezes his shoulder, retreats to the living room.
Derek pads upstairs to his old bedroom.
Locks the door.
Drops the duffel on the mattress.
Collapses next to it.
Closes his eyes.
Lies still.
Sits up.
Rubs his face.
Eyes the bag.
Deep breath.
Unzips the duffel.
Digs under the pile of Jackson's wool socks.
Removes one of his jumpers.
Sets it aside.
Searches deeper in the bag.
Finds Logan's watch tucked next to his glasses.
Sets it to the current time.
Straps it on.
Pulls the jumper on over his shirt.
It's too big.
Derek shivers.
Wraps his arms around himself.
Stares at the ceiling.
...
His phone chimes.
He silences it.
Stands, straightens.
Shivers again.
Time to go.
.
Derek, Andrea, and Jamie have to pack up Jackson and Logan's things for the last trip home.
They've been in the same place for 8 years at the time of death.
Jackson's stuff:
* tablet
* a few tees
* mountain of sweaters
* wools socks
* long-sleeved shirts for layering
* combat boots
* lightweight running shoes
* flannel pyjama pants
* extra blankets
* wool peacoat
* scarves
So many of his possessions exist to keep out the cold.
Logan's stuff:
* tablet
== Motion ==
(Harlequin)
The Drivesuit team gets them stripped and dressed, and then they blink and the door to their quarters is clanging shut on its lock. 
Pietr takes a deep breath. 
"Chuck, I—" Ducky brushes her hand. 
Chuck flinches. 
"I—" 
"Don't." 
"Just—"
"/Don't." And then she's rushing away, too much motion—
Slams the bathroom door behind her. 
Digs her nails into her palms. 
Presses her fists to her forehead. 
Stares at the floor tiles. 
Takes a shuddering breath. 
Turns on the sink faucet. 
Turns on the shower. 
Slides to the floor. 
Presses her hands to her forehead. 
 
A tiny knock, a tinier voice: "Chuck? Can I—" A soft sound. 
"Door's unlocked," Chuck croaks. 
It creaks open. 
Derek pulls himself in, pushes the door closed.
===Conference===
"Ranger Darling, you're taking the loss of Ranger Jones awfully hard—"
Chuck, eyes bloodshot, sits forward. "I couldn't save my best friend's life. I'll take this as damn hard as I want." 
===Grieve===
"Chuck, you have a responsibility—we can try medication if—"
"I know, and if it comes to that, I'll take meds. I just—I need time to grieve, okay? Just give me some time—"
"We don't have time—"
"I know!" A deep breath. "Just a week, please? Just give me a week by myself. Please." 
== Remember ==
(Harlequin) 
Logan twitches awake, blinks muzzily at the hospital room. ">Where's Jack?" he rasps.
Holly takes a deep, shaky breath. "Jack's died, love."
">Oh." Frowns. ">I'm alive?"
"You are."
">Why?"
"It's a bit of a miracle." Pushes his bangs off his forehead.
Logan leans into her touch. ">Oh." Yawns. ">I'ma gonna go back to sleep now."
"Sweet dreams, love."
His eyes flutter shut and, after two quiet minutes, he's snoring—softly.
Holly slumps back in her chair, picks up her knitting. 
Half a row later, Doctor Tran tiptoes in. "How's he doing?"
"He woke up and asked for Jack again."
"He's only been out of his coma two days; it's to be expected his memory's a bit weak."
"Of course."
Doctor Tran squeezes Holly's shoulder. "He /will start to remember. It'll just take time."
Holly swallows, nods.
==No Good==
(Post-Jones' funeral)
"Uh." Derek swallows. "He, uh, Jack--Jackson--really liked ye, y' know."
"Had a weird way 'a showin' it."
Derek shrugs. "Well, uh ... never said he was good wi' women."
Chuck snorts, rolls her eyes. "Din't need t' be said."
"Um ...," picks a fuzzball off his jumper, "uh, he was outta practice. Hadn't dated since Lily called off th' wedding."
Chuck gapes. "Jackson ... /your /brother Jackson ... almost got /married?!"
==Peace 'n Quiet==
Mid October Sydney, NSW, Australia
Max waddles through the Shatterdome.
Chuck ambles aimlessly behind him.
Until they come to another open door.
In /Vulcan Specter territory.
Max takes this as an invitation.
Chuck follows, leans against the door frame. "They're not coming back."
From behind the low wall of boxes, Jamie says, "Official this morning." He stands up, grabs a double-handful of socks from the table, drops them in a box. "They'll never pass the physical."
/shmff
A box wobbles.
Chuck looks at his shoes.
More socks. "Won't be the same around here without 'em, ay?"
/tump
"Whuff!"
Chuck shrugs. "Be easier for me, at least." Watches a stack of Jackson's stupid fucking jumpers go in. 
"Aw, you'll miss it." Jamie wonders where he put the tape. "Too quiet." 
Snuffling. 
Snorts. "Been hoping for peace 'n quiet for /years."
Jamie studies him, head cocked.
Max takes the fluff-filled box as an opportunity to make himself comfortable.
Chuck ignores the look. "C'mon, boy, outta there."
"'s fine." Leaves the tape, pulls close an empty box. "Can't say the same for Jack." Stares into the cardboard. "Not even sure 'bout him walking again." Sighs. "Even the best prosthetics in the world can't fix nerve damage."
Max pants happily.
Chuck swallows. "They're—" Straightens up, shrugs. "They're tough bastards."
Jamie shrugs.
Max whines.
Chuck snuffs, pushes off.
"Hansen?" calls Jamie.
/clicka-clicka
Turns back.
"For the record, you're a crap actor. Don't quit your day job."
Chuck scowls, tromps off. "C'mon, Max!"
Max scrabbles after him.
==Tired==
(Original date was 2025 April but it doesn't have to be)
Chuck sits up, yawns, and blinks a few times. 
"Hey," says Jackson. 
"Oh my god not again!" Chuck flops back down. "I'm trying to sleep! I'm trying to dream! Dreaming's important!"
"Ooo, burn. I'm not important?" 
"You're an asshat, that's what you are." 
"Feelings're a little hurt, Rapunzel."
"Sorry. I'm just frustrated."
"That's cool. Did we ever apologize? For anything?"
"Nope." 
"You and me, me 'n Logan, you 'n Logan?"
Chuck shakes her head. 
"Your hair's..." 
"/What is your problem?"
"I ... I ... I think yer kinda," he shrugs, "pretty."
"Then just /say that."
"I don't know how!"
Chuck bites back a snap. "Jackson, you have nice eyes." 
Relief. "Chuck, you have nice eyes."
Chuck gestures for him to go on.
"When did you get so mature?"
"It's not maturity, asshat. [List of all the people she's now connected with who are now dead.] I'm /tired."
Category:Martian Sunset storyline
Category:Ficlet
Category:Scraps
Category:Harlequin!UA
Category:Chuck D
Category:Chuck D (ficlet)
Category:Jackson
Category:Jackson (ficlet)
Category:Pietr
Category:Pietr (ficlet)
Category:Chuck H
Category:Chuck H (ficlet)
Category:Sydney Shatterdome (setting)
Category:A hospital (setting)
Category:Nanny
Category:Nanny (ficlet)
Category:Derek
Category:Derek (ficlet)
Category:Ficlets with images
Category:UAs
Category:Indiana Darling fails to set sail in a spectacular fashion
Category:Vulcan Sky Falling storyline
Category:Twigs