recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Empty infirmary, empty heart

The infirmary was an empty shell. She'd stood here for hours, shoulder to shoulder with Adler, but now? Now there would be no one to advise. No one to counsel on which cut to make, and after just three months beside him? She was confident that he'd sown seeds that would bear fruit.

Standing in the center of the room, the basic medical chair was nothing short of spartan. But more than that, it was one of the last things that Marisol laid her hands upon to reinstall for Dorian before... Little had the mechanic known that it would be for Lyen's ministering. Or maybe Marisol had known? The nun-gone-medic shook her head to banish the conspiratorial thought.

A slender hand ran along the leather seat, shiny from sheer use over the years of this Firefly ship. It felt sturdy and unrelenting. Ly felt she could empathize. She recalled seeing a tin of leather polish in the engine room--the breath shot from her lungs again. Breathing in, the new medic took stock of the drawers one at a time. Books from Yeva's tutelage remained, along with materials Adler had procured for himself, some to do with dental work, others geared for general practitioners. These dusty pages would become her sparse Bibles in the coming days.

She moved to the cabinet. Glancing over the ledger, Lyen interrogated the bottles and tinctures, gels and tablets at home in the Veil's medical stores. Just as she had for the last three months, she marked each against the list for Adler to... She placed the ledger face down on the counter. Taking a vial in her hand, the medic raised it against the light. The amber liquid swirled inside. Her mouth went dry, her jaw clenched, and tears fought at the corners of her eyes. The vial went away, the lock replaced. Her stomach turned.

Against Adler's recent habit, Lyen didn't lock the door to the infirmary. The only thing of value in there now was his Denta-kiln, neglected in the corner like a permanent phantom. The knives and medicines were locked separately, so no mischievous little hands could seek out instruments of naughtiness. But that was hardly on her mind now as the nun floated toward the aft of the ship and her quarters.

The door slid closed and she lowered herself onto the bed. Head on her pillow, her hand reached for the book of prayer that lay beneath it, when a slip of paper caught the tip of her finger. Straightening, she lifted the pillow to see a loose envelope upon the book. 'Lyen' the outside read in Marisol's quick hand. Her heart started to pound.

Deftly, the letter was free and her eyes devoured its message. The tears fell in slow rivulets at first, then a gasp for breath gave sound to the tearing in her chest. The nun craned over the letter in her lap, ink spreading and smearing into a watercolor beneath her. Marisol's last farewell was gone from the page, but the searing in Lyen's chest remained, with no one to soothe her.
Great another one

Thomas didn't really think. If it wasn't his engines, no thinking needed.

"Well miss lets start things off right. First, I'm no soldier boy just an Engineer who just happens to only care about this twit because she is part of the crew I joined.
If she dies it is no major loss as she can't do her job anyways. Second, I'm sober so, my chances of hitting anything I'm not aiming at is very slim and I like to gamble. Third, if you want to live then come up slowly with your hands empty. I have absolutely no intentions of harming you in anyway, just protecting myself and the Twit. As for safe passage, that is up to the Captain and I am not in position to offer a deal."

*Why are women so difficult?*

Best way for you to look at it. We are not Pirates, Reavers or Alliance so your best chance for survival is to cooperate and trust me, I can fully believe she tripped into you.
Down Time

*Vas was in and out for the entire trip back the Veil and missed out on Jacy’s antics. The boy had been dumped in the corner and was still bound up. He blinked still glassy-eyed, hungry, cold and tired but at least he could BREATH. He took stock of his surroundings looking around seeing one mess-up girl and a putout blonde in a chair. Alleo. That was her name. The next thing he noticed was his hands and feet where bound.

“Uhhhh …” Vas said shivering. “…what happened?” He asked the only other person in their eyes semi-open in the room.*

Aello looked at the bound boy (Vas) who finally woke up from his brush with asphyxiation and the temperature drop in the old ship. Since Tom fixed the life support before they left Vas just passed out from the strain instead of dying. She recognized him from the ships crew when she boarded and was not to fond of his eyes. She had seen eyes like his among the instructors in her spy school. She was fairly confident Vas had killed before and seen much death at an early age. During her time as a spy she learned that brainwashing the youth was fairly common in the Alliance to make expendable assassins and terrorists. It irked her to know the Alliance was too familiar with the word "Expendable". She wondered if all their supporters would feel the same way if they knew the truth. Sadly that was a loosing battle for her at the moment. She looked at the boy and replied.

Aello: I'm Aello a Missionary Medic. Their was an explosion in the ship while I was in the Med bay. I got lock in when the hull was breached. I heard you were in the cockpit when it happened. I think we are the last two survivors from the last ship since they didn't bring anyone else back here. We are on a ship called the Lunar Veil and they have an armed crew of either salvagers or smugglers. This girl is Jacy and if we want to live we have to make sure she does to. From what I learned they have a Captain named Keller, an engineer named Deveron and a pilot named Thorne. It seems they are dealing with some stowaways right now so you might want to get comfortable since they may be a while.

Aello then checked on Jacy again and examined her IV drip, temperature, stats and made sure she was stable before she left her. She then grabbed a glass and filled it with water, then a blanket and took took out some pain pills before heading to Vas.

Aello: Here. Take this for the pain. I know you are bound, but do the best you can since that Devron guy wants you bound up for now.

Then she put the blanket on him and pulled out a protein bar from her bag and put it by him. She looked at him with her vacant eyes. It was obvious she was used to seeing suffering and her compassion felt empty like her smile.

Aello: Its not much but you will need to eat something since it may be a while before they feed us. The meds will hurt your stomach otherwise.

Aello then returned to her chair and sat as she watched the medical monitoring machines connected to Jacy.

Aello: They said if we play nice......they will drop us off at Persephone. Not after that.
Fine

Henry opted to take his wine and head to the lounge...(tying things back together)...

As the fermentation worked its way through him and the pack eased the discomfort he knew he needed a plan. Vas would be a problem and things hadn't gone as well with Riley as he'd hoped.

Maybe he'd tell her the truth... maybe...
Fess up

*Dorian took a seat, poured out three fingers’ worth, and set the bottle within reach of his new captain.*

The Captain decided he could Captain just fine with a little more alcohol, so he tipped his hat by way of thanks to Dorian, and helped himself to the alcohol.

"Yes. Dimitri. In here. Now. Where's quart and half pint?" He waved it off. He'd speak with Gill and Haddie later. "Good, now, one of you is rabbiting from something or someone. Your putting not only yourself in danger, but me and mine as well. If any of you has anything to fess up that may help us clean this mess up, now is the time to let me know. Anything you can say to me you can say to all of us, because most of you look alike to me anyways, word would get around. Otherwise, when we land, you're on your own." He looked each one in the eye. "No one has anything to say?"
Getting to Know You

The shuddering roar stopped. Now free of the atmosphere’s grip, Lunar Veil’s trek became a silent glide into the black. The primary drive spun up in syncopation with the rhythmic thrumming of the core beneath. Marisol checked the gauges once again. Thrust, coolant pressure, and fuel cell consumption were all close enough. Core temp was a couple degrees warmer than she’d like. A check of the engineering log reflected some recent heat exchanger replacements, but no followup calibrations had been made.

That would be her next job…after finding her bunk and grabbing a bite.

Marisol undid the buttons to her coverall as she opened the locker. Inside was a miniature shrine of sorts, the remnants of Buddha knew how many mechanics who’d personalized the little space. Nude photos were taped to the locker’s side and back walls amid religious icons, fuzzy dice, and post cards. Costume beads hung from a jacket hook, along with a rabbit’s foot. A strange little plastic rat leered at her from the upper shelf, cartoonish hands tucked behind its’ back as if hiding a treasure.

Something lay in a heap on the locker’s floor. At first, she took the black leather for a pair of insulating gloves, maybe a tool mat. Marisol bent at the waist, reaching down to retrieve the object. As the light fell upon it, she realized that she held a pair of women’s leather pants, turned half inside out after the previous occupant’s wriggle to take them off. Worse yet, she was holding the garment by its’ crotch.

*”Mā de!”* she grimaced in disgust. A wholly different impression of the previous mechanic flitted across her mind as she pinched a belt loop with thumb and index finger. “Eww,” Marisol said as she whisked the offending pants off to the engine room trash. She’d have to wash that hand a dozen times before eating…

Returning to the locker, she peeled off the coverall and the heavy boots. Stripped down to a sleeveless black undershirt and panties, the mechanic fished through her bag for a pair of denim jeans and sandals. Once dressed, she hung the coverall on the hook, stowed her boots, and after a moment to let her hair fall free of its’ binding, closed the locker door.

A little girl stood there.

Aside from a pair of new-ish looking red boots, the child was pretty much in tatters. This would normally invoke sympathy from Marisol. However, that impulse was quashed by the stone killer’s coldness in the girl’s eye. Given the youngster’s lethal appraisal, Lunar Veil’s new wrench turner began to wonder if a pistol might come in handy just about now. “Hi,” she said. “I’m Marisol. Are you Haddie?”
Do your job!

“Hell should I know? What’s in it? Or if you could ask Riley …” Vas said flatly climbing the stair. He wondered if he had the sack to ask Riley and if she would trachea punch him for being all kinds of stupid. Oh, that would be a spectacle! “ … gloves are over there man.” Vas added pointing to their location with his nose.
In the Belly of the Beast

Haddie was sat crossed legged in a duct port just beneath engineering. A little while back someone had opened the hatch they had snuck into and Gill had crawled back to seal it shut from the inside. To her immense disappointment he had took the gun with him. He had it tucked into the back of his belt like their Pa used to do back on the Emerson. Thinking of her parents brought a dark shadow over thoughts and she sniffed away the tears that threatened to fall.

She pulled her satchel around to her lap in order to distract herself and began to rifle through its contents. Light was filtering through down through the plates floor above, but other than that it was dark down there. She pulled out a small silver lighter she had picked up at the Noodle Bar and flicked it. Her fingers were small and not very strong so it took several attempts to get it to spark to life.

She sat there then watching the flames flickering back and forth. So intent was she on the flame that it took her several minutes to realise what the light had revealed. In the duct opposite where she sat hiding was a large metal box bound with leather straps. She cocked her head in interest.
How to make a bad situation worse...

Gill was feeling somewhat better after a few hours rest and a little medication. He struggled up to a seated position and pushed the sheet from his legs. Looking over at the mirror he saw his battered reflection and grimaced. He wouldn't be winning any beauty contests any time soon.

"I need to walk." he said to Haddie who had finally finished eating and was looking up at him expectantly. She gave a nod and reached up to help him down from the bed.

Gill stepped down and wobbled unsteadily. Half because of the weakness in his legs and half down to the cotton wool that still filled his brain.

"Ai Ya Jwai Leh."\*

He slumped back against the bed and Haddie grinned up at him brightly before darting out of the room. She was gone for several minutes before returning with a broom handle which she promptly handed over to him.

"A walking stick?"

He stepped forward again with Haddie on one side and the stick on the other. "Better." he murmured as they made their way out of the room.

The ship was quiet. The sound of the engines unbroken by any action from the crew or passengers. Gill wondered where they had gotten to. He shrugged away his curiosity content to stretch his battered muscles and push the clouds of drugs and pain from his addled head.

"Im thirsty lets get something to drink." he said to Haddie and they began to move in the direction of the galley.

As they grew closer they began to hear signs of the other crew. There came a sharp laugh followed by a heated discussion and plenty of cursing. For a moment Gill considered turning back, but his curiosity got the better of him.

They made their way into the room unnoticed. Everyone was seemingly transfixed by an open box in the centre of the group. Gods the smell was horrible, what was... Gill stopped short as he caught sight of movement within. They had a person in there, what kind sick freaks were these people. He leaned forward to get a better look, not noticing that Haddie had slipped ahead between the legs of the adults to get a better view.

Gills eyes widened as he saw the uniform, "Lien Mohn"\*\* Gods the last thing they needed was alliance trouble. If they got hold of them they would be taken and separated, he would never see Haddie again and... horror struck Gill saw that Haddie had seen the same thing and was coming to the same conclusion.

"Haddie no!"

With a silent howl Haddie ignored him as she pulled the bloodied screwdriver from her bag and plunged it down into the box with both hands.

OOC: Sorry about that...
Katya

Katya was a recurring character in Derry Girls.

## History

Katya came to Derry along with other Ukrainian teenagers after the nuclear accident in Chernobyl. She was sent to live with Erin Quinn and her family.

She grew up in Ukraine, and returned there eventually.

## Relationships

### James Maguire

The two of them engaged in a short romantic relationship and Katya and James planned to have sex but this was foiled by the rest of the gang mainly Erin who was determined to prevent this from happening.

It is revealed in Erin's diary that Katya pursued a romantic relationship with David Donnelly and the two of them were in a long-distance relationship.

## Memorable Quotes

You are imbecile!
She is racist, patronising bitch!
Your letters, they bore.
Why does your mother make that noise?
Give up the goods, Lady!

“Honest, that’s all I heard,” Lenora told the Sun on Yee goon who was holding her arm uncomfortably tight. “The Captain was griping about shelling out for dental work on a bumbling Deckhand he was aimin’ to replace. She didn’t look like any deckhand I’ve ever seen so I don’t blame him.” Her voice rose and she grimaced as the thug jerked her arm. Apparently he wasn’t after her opinion on the matter, just the bits and pieces she’d been able to overhear. The two gang members had managed to pick themselves up off the saloon’s floor in time to see Vas wheeling someone out in a chair and Keller’s signature Stetson was enough to track him back to The Lucky Cat’s resident eye candy and attainable escort.

Lenora made a motion to pull her arm free of the man’s grasp without success. “I don’t know who the kid was; never seen him before.” When a knife came out and pressed against her throat she quit beating around the bush and dropped the beans.

“Lunar Veil, Slip 19, ask for Captain Keller; he drinks a little too much and likes it when I tickle his.... They aren’t scheduled for departure until the morning.” She rubbed at her throat when the Sun On Yee set her loose and waved the knife at her menacingly.

“Better not warn him we’re coming, you floozy bitch. And that ship better be at Slip 19 or we’re going to slip something into you.” They knocked over a table just for dramatic good measure and ran out into the street.

None of them knew it, but a very curious young man who sat nearby had taken in everything they said and he looked ready to put it to use himself.
Hungry

Gill was left standing there horrified. If he had been blushing before he was now the colour of a beetroot. Haddie was stood there, her head cocked to one side and a wide grin on her face.

"Shut up." he blurted out which incited a silent giggle from his sister. She scurried off as Gill set about cleaning up his mess. He realised with a groan that in his shock he had not even apologised to the soaked passenger for the drenching. Gods he wanted to die!

Haddie made her way back towards the Galley and soon found her projectile. The engine part she had thrown at that Riley woman. She looked down at the broken component and poked at it a little before shoving it back into her satchel... her stomach rumbled.

Hungry... she entered the Galley.
I'll say it While I can still Speak

Well it didn’t look like Jacy was getting dumped off on Persephone. That didn’t mean she wouldn’t be left behind on the next rock, but at least it wouldn’t be Persephone. Problem was, it could be worse than Persephone and there were plenty places worse than Persephone. In Jacy’s thinking, the further out you flew the worse the planets got, but she’d been born and raised on Londinium and that was about as Core planet as you could get.

“Greetings Dr. Dorian.” Jacy waved her crowbar at the dentist by way of friendly salute. Now that the scuffle was over she gave the iron bar a deft baton twirl to prove she could handle a stick safely and with some style to boot even if the Captain didn’t have any reason to trust her with a loaded firearm. The Captain didn’t seem to have any problem with Dorian flourishing a gun. Men.

Jacy tossed the crowbar into a nearby crate and gingerly prodded at her jaw. The pills were working great, but they couldn’t perform magic and anytime her thoughts dwelled on the pending surgery the pain crept back in.

“Gentlemen, while I have you all here I’d like to make a request. I’d prefer to make it a demand, but I suspect the Captain’s generosity will not extend that far. Once the Doc has put me under, please don’t leave me alone with that blonde medic. I don’t trust her and I don’t want her anywhere near my mouth for a moment longer than absolutely necessary. I would also like to share a few words with Dorian in private before we begin." Jacy looked to the Captain, "That is still the plan?"
Instincts to help

Dillon was the first to the boy's side. The blood was obvious, but where was it coming from? He carefully removed the jacket to find the hilt of a knife in the boy's shoulder.

He hadn't even noticed the other man joining them or heard what he said. "Where's the medical bay?" he asked urgently, slipping his arms under the lad and managing to lift him. "I'll see what I can do."

Dillon knew better than to try and do anything about the knife. The blood flow wasn't heavy yet, but the knife looked deep. The instant it was taken out, there would be a flood.
Helping Deck Hand

“Sure!” Vas said with a boyish smile. ~That should be easy, watching a half pint can't be that hard.~

“Vas Jat.” He said holding out a hand introducing himself. "Have any clue where the short stack is running around." Sure it was a small ship but he figured it would be faster if he had a general idea where the kid was lurking.
Day One Evening - Diva be Damned, Let's Get Drunk!

Dillon may have been too far away to hear the Diva’s words, relying on reading lips or the room, but Jacy had no problem hearing Imani Jat’s comments to her son. Jacy had been standing so near Vas’ side the nature of their relationship may have been brought into question. That Imani was Vas’ mother was undeniable; there was so much resemblance Jacy knew it to be a certainty; this was Vas’ mother. To hear her deny so carelessly to Vas’ face was such a sting. Vas felt it, you could see it strike him as if it were a hand. Jacy felt it for him and though she was not a violent or aggressive woman, she wanted to reach across that table and shake Imani.

Then Dillon was there at Vas’ other side, encouraging him to pursue the matter further, to follow his mother to the dressing rooms. That was a good suggestion, assuming Vas was willing to take another hard blow should Imani deliver it. Honestly, Jacy wanted Vas and the others to head back to the ship while she slipped into the woman’s dressing room and had some private words with her. But they’d just dropped off a dazed and kidnapped Alliance Officer and were supposed to be inconspicuous so as not to be recognized at all. If they went terrorizing the Diva now they’d be in the papers before morning and that could well be enough to have two and two put together in a way that didn’t work out well for any of them. No, if there was a legitimate reason for Imani acting so callous towards her son Vas would find out, but it would have to be later. It wasn’t fair to make him wait, but he didn’t look to be in any shape to learn the truth tonight.

“Dillon, that’s not what Vas needs right now. That’s not what any of us need right now. Gill and Haddie were being turned over to the Feds, that means there’s a price on their heads. You, Vas & I are Cortex free so we wish to remain low key for whatever those reasons may be. If our faces, if MY face is posted on the mornings news and that Alliance Officer Dimitri kidnapped sees it we’ll be made. No, we need to leave this place now and get back to the ship and decide what to do next.”

Jacy moved around to stand in front of Vas and looked up into his face. “Vas, sugarbear, listen to me. We will find out why your mother said those things. There’s more than one reason it could be and it won’t do you any good to speculate on it now. Let’s get back to the ship, open one of these bottles of booze Shanky swiped, start doing shots and cry this whole thing out. But back on the ship, yeah?”

Jacy looked to the others and swatted Haddies hands away from a lamp she’d been trying to stuff into her bag. “Come on, let’s go get drunk.”
Jacy's Shadow

Vas watched the conversation like Jacy’s oversized shadow. It wasn’t like he was an idiot Vas could read and write but this all was all so over his head. So as not to make a fool of himself he kept his mouth shut regarding the whole thing and let the Captain and Doc form the clover handle this. Either way, things were looking up and blissfully uneventful so far! Vas couldn’t wait till they got back to the ship and he could take a sigh of relief with a smoke!
He was surprised to be addressed since he had been doing such a fine job trying to be invisible. Either way, he did what he was asked of. Poor girl looked as bad as she probably felt.
Vas took the compress to the bartender and mumble. "Ice, please." Holding out the half melted soaking wet towel.

"Shénme?" The bartender said giving the mohawked need a once over.

"Ice ... Please." Vas repeated slowly, raising his voice some.

"Oh." The bartender moded taking the towel from the Vas to refill with fresh ice.
Dramatic Exit (Day 6 Morning)

The sooner this got done the sooner he could crash and with the drama that unfolded during the night, no one had been back in the Engine Room. First and most glaring was the drying pool of blood.

Not horrifying at all.

Drake sifted through all the solvents and degreasers until he found an ACTUAL cleaner and off to scrub it all away. It had dried pretty thick so he had to really put some elbow grease into it.

Now that the engine room smelled of lemons and pine, satisfied with his work he turned his attention to the room. It was then he noticed one of the grates was up leading down to maintain the primary thruster.

He closed it putting it back in place.

Firefly engine rooms always felt cramped to the Drake, then again he was taller and bigger than the current mechanic so that went without saying. Roomy to her would come across and claustrophobic to him.

He did the standard check, it was all very dry and dull but all very well recorded. Drake made sure the trouble spots were still working. Noted any issues forming or continuing in the logbook.

With everything really in good order he was glad it didn’t take long to finish. Cleaning the grease from his hand he headed to his bunk to catch some sleep. Hopefully, the current mechanic would make a speedy recovery and with the culprit receiving a thorough beat down ... Things could fall back into its normal rhythms.
I see a cat's tail

"Mind if I join you, péng yǒu?"

Ly had approached the punk while his stare was miles away, the cigarette between his fingers found its way to his mouth and another plume rose in sweet tendrils of clove. Lyen was in the same clothes she'd inherited when she took her room aboard the Veil, and her hair was in a braid that fell over her shoulder. She took a seat beside Vas.

"You've been quite busy this week, I'm sure Riley and the Captain must be pleased. To be honest, I'd be surprised if the ship has ever been this spotless, with a bay full of drogs no less. How are you holding up? I know we haven't had much time to catch up since the Skyplex, and, well, what you've been through..."

She trailed off. She could have been speaking about the Reavers, about him being forced to leave the Lunar Veil, about him being drugged and signed into slavery, or even the macabre state in which he returned to the Veil. In fact, even just one of those would have been loaded enough to need unpacking. But this punk, the ever buoyant spirit of the ship, behaved like not a thing had changed; that they had not already said their final goodbyes; that not one eyefull of sleep had been lost for the blood, for the violation of volition, encountered aboard this Sky Hook. His experiences were somewhat common knowledge now, aboard the Veil.

The drogs were settling down now, looking much like fluffy mountains on their sides, ebbing and flowing to the nightly rhythm of sleep. The smell of Vas' cigarette was inviting, especially the way the scent masked the drog-kri. Ly was fiddling with the silver prayer wheel Adler had gifted her, his own prayer still locked inside.

"I don't mean to intrude. I'm sure other people have tried to ask after you in a similar way. You're a special one, and that fact illicits concern from those, well, concerned about you. I guess I mean to say that if you wanted to talk, I'd be willing to listen. You know, I can be rather unbiased, not unlike one of those fluffy mounds."

She offered the mohawked punk a meek smile. Ly almost asked if she could bum a clove, but stopped short--the drogs, the smoke, the cold metal beneath her concocted a cocktail of past senses she would be remiss to drink in. Especially in another's hour of need.
Day 2, early morning: Responsibilities

Dillon couldn't fight the forlorn look on his face. He'd been able to put on the smiles until Samson showed up. It wasn't even Samson himself. It was what the man's presence meant. It meant his little flight for freedom was over.

Samson sighed yet again, carefully taking the woman's words into consideration. "That may all be true..." he admitted. "But things aren't so simple here. Even if they were, I'm only doing my job, miss. I'm supposed to take him home. Free or not, this is no place for him." He turned back to Dillon. "I'm sure your father would be willing to make a compromise. You need to discuss it with him."

Dillon shook his head. "He doesn't make compromises," he said quietly. "Not halfway. Not far enough. You think I would've come all the way out here if I thought there were other options?"

Samson sighed yet again, sparing the woman a glance. "We can discuss this, alright? All of it. I'll help you make this right. When you're done eating, come find me." He exited the Galley.
Flying Nun

The Lunar Veil was a sight for sore eyes. It had felt like days since she'd seen her. It stood proud and tall even among the other larger and more sophisticated ships. The customary chair and umbrella had been cleared away which indicated that she was right on time.

Lyen was a mess. Her back was still covered in mud and garbage from her run in with Charlie, her hair was an utter ball of tangles, and there was no earthly way to properly shut off this perpetual machine buzzing at her hip. She was quite sure her poor tea leaves would be obliterated by the thing.

The ship was full of activity as she stepped aboard the ramp. Dogs! Beautiful fluffy beasts were eyeing Gill with respect and snuffling Vas's backside. Crates lined the cargo bay of the El Vee and it seemed that there would be quite a bit of work ahead of them this run. There were new faces, too, but no time to dawdle! She needed to make straight for her room to clean herself up.

She waived to Vas and Gill, but didn't delay to her accommodations. Once there, Lyen stripped off the soiled clothes and made her best effort to brush out her hair. She was already in her orange kasaya when she remembered the buzzing in her hip-pouch.

Eyeing the alien object behind closed doors, Ly felt her cheeks flushing, though she was alone. Hastily, she opened a drawer and tossed it inside. The noise was less noticeable, but still a constant hum. She threw her hands in the air and left with her pouch of cracked tea leaves to the mess hall.
Into the Veil

After shaking the tail following him, Morgan made his way to the docks. Looking around at the ships he saw a group arguing at the back of a Firefly class vessel. A few of them seemed to be about to take off as he approached. Upon getting closer they didn't seem to be in high spirits. Morgan stepped up with his bag slung over one shoulder and a gun case in the other arm. “Hello there, I saw the sign that you all might be looking to take on some more crew? I’d like to make myself useful if I can.” He scanned across the lot of them not knowing which person he should be addressing.

Riley raised both of her eyebrows, flipping a page over on her clipboard before looking up to eye the man over. “Depends on what sort of use you can be. What kind of work are you looking for?”

“Well ma’am, I’m good behind a gun and surprisingly so with computers too. I’ve also got a strong back and know when to keep my mouth shut. I’ve a little experience flying but I wouldn’t recommend that unless you’re out of options.” Morgan unslung his bag and set it on the ground. “Honestly, any work you got that’s not here would suit me just fine.”

“You running from something?” Riley asked suspiciously.

“I’ve been running all my life, both to and from things; nothing too serious this time. Just feel like the welcome has worn thin and its best not to test the ice.”

She tapped on the clipboard and considered what he was saying. “All right, well, we don’t have much use for guns since the war’s been ended, and The El-Vee isn’t some fancy, hi tech Alliance Cruiser; she runs on fuel cells and know-how, but we can always use extra hands, and knowing when to shut up is a nice bonus. So I tell you what, if you can find a way to make yourself useful between here and our next stop, we may have a job for you. If you can’t, you’ll get your fair cut of any work you do and we part ways. What’s your name?”

“Apologies, the names Wren, Morgan Wren. Not originally from here I’ve been moving around quite a bit. You’ve gotta go where the work takes you I guess.” Morgan produced his hand in an offer of greeting. “And yours?”

“We get a lot of that.” Riley replied, eyeing his hand before picking up her clipboard. “Lieutenant Thorne, Pilot. You’re going to report to Vas Jat, as soon as I promote him to crew chief. You have until we get to New Kasmir. Plenty on this ship needs done, I suggest you stow your gear and get to it.”
Keeping Up Appearances

Vas: *” Hey, Doc. Good you getting ready, I got the Mule prepped and Riley had me taking you to the hospital ASAP. You need any help there or you got yourself lockdown this time?”*

“Ah’m right as tha mail,” Dorian answered as they joined the crew in the cargo bay. “Come tah think of it, perhaps we might detour by a little saloon Ah know? There’s a Faroe game’s been runnin’ there nonstop since before tha war…”

Suddenly, the boy Gill burst into his vision, his hand outstretched to shake.

Gill: *"I wanted to thank you sir for helping my sister and the boots, the boots are great, but mostly thanks for helping Haddie, she's all I have and... well thanks is all."*

“Think nothin’ of it, Mistah Gill,” Dorian took the boy’s hand in a deliberate grasp. As he shook hands, he continued, “when Ah manage tah escape tha medical fiends on this planet, we should have a conversation ‘bout yah little sistah. She shows promise,” he concluded.

He couldn’t deny it; it felt good to be on his feet again, and standing among the crew. Dorian wasn’t looking forward to the next few days of sterile white sheets, institutional green walls, and open backed gowns. “It’s called Cleo’s,” he whispered, nudging Vas. “They have a whiskey fountain, and fresh made sushi yah pluck right off the belly of a naked geisha. No place like it in tha ‘verse.”
I, Captain.

The Captain walked the length of the ship finishing his notes on what he needed done, Ezra was a good place for it seeing is everything outside the ship was hot as hell.

*"How would you like it if someone went around pointing barrels at you? Fú bāngzhù wǒ,What exactly do you do as apart of the crew?"*

*"Uhh, I do not now... I am Dimitri, I cook and other things. Uh, I uh...."

"I do security. I am not meaning scare you, lady. Sorry."*

"Whoa whoa whoa whoa! " The Captain said, interjecting. "Ma'am, I'm sure he didn't mean it. The hell is this thing?" He asked, looking at the makeshift gun. "Son, we got ourselves an armory with real weapons, don't go an' hurt yerself. We are so, so sorry." He apologized to Lyen. "Deckhands attackin' passengers, security pointing weapons-- RILEY!" He called, but no one answered. Just about the same time, he saw someone at the loading bay doors.

*"Excuse me, I would like to pay for this to be delivered, who would I talk to about that?"*

"Well, you can talk to me, or you can talk to Riley. RILEY!!!" Still no one answered. "Cost depends on where you want it headed." The Captain replied, tipping his hat back on his head. "Rim planet'll cost you less then core, that's for sure. Don't need to know what it is, but need to know how secure it's gotta be. Hot ticket items, we don't need t'know what it is, but a head's up as to how hot would be polite. "
Exit the Alliance

“One more thing -- “ Riley asked, as the Alliance soldiers clamoured off the ship. “I’d really like to get our doc a real doc. Seeing as the ship is clear, do you think you could maybe un-boot us? Be a shame to let a mediocre medicine man bleed out from the brain and all.”

“You’re clear.” The sergeant agreed. “Release the locks, we have a bar to visit.”

The Captain and Riley both let out a collective sigh of relief, and raised the liftgate.

"Find out an ETA for when Devron can have us ready to be airborne," *"Let me hit the bridge for preflight, then I just have to check on Adler"* " I’ll check on quart and half pint to make sure everything is okay." *"see if he’ll take that sedative now."*"Forget the supply run, we need to get our asses out of here before anyone changes their mind" *"I’ll set a course for Valentine, it’s the closest core planet we got"*"or realizes we ain’t sent shit to the Jade Monkey." *"we’ll just have to have our engineer lay low til whatever cools off.*"

*"What about her?*" Both the Captain and Riley turned at the same time to the female police officer, then back to each other.

###### =========================

The panel to the compartment Devron was hiding in was pried open, The captain and his lieutenant worked together to drag out the large crate. Riley jimmied the lid, and the captain offered a hand to Devron.

“They’re gone, son, and sooner we are, I think the happier we’ll all be. I think they did a number on your engine room, though, but hey, at least you’re not a conscript. We ARE going to have a discussion about this though.“ He turned his attention to Lara Walker. “Ma’am? I truly appreciate what you did for us, but I don’t appreciate what you did to our doc. Don’t worry, we ain’t aimin’ to take you with us,I but I can’t chance you blowing whistles til after we’re long gone. We’ll leave you safe and sound in that barn back there. Sorry the box smells like engineer." He pointed his revolver to her and the box, and reluctantly the woman stepped inside. He nodded to Riley to close the lid.

“I’ll be a sonuvabitch.” He said. “I owe that big Slav an apology. *That’s*how you end up with someone in a box.”
Heaven Sent

"Oh... oh," Henry groaned really milking it for all it was worth, "yes miss, I could use some help if you're inclined to offer it. I was attacked by some ruffians when I came to offer them assistance. They said they were in need of funds to buy food for their children and when I produced my coin purse, they beat me up and took near everything I had. Had I known this is how the real world worked, I might never have left the abbey."

She helped him to a sitting position on a nearby crate and he groaned a bit more - seems as if he'd gotten a cracked rib for real - stupid drunk. "I'm indebted to you. I can tell you have places to be and things to do, so I won't keep you..."

And he sat back and put on a good show of agony.
Life of Dimitri

*Whoa whoa whoa whoa! " The Captain said, interjecting. "Ma'am, I'm sure he didn't mean it. The hell is this thing?" He asked, looking at the makeshift gun. "Son, we got ourselves an armory with real weapons, don't go an' hurt yerself. We are so, so sorry." He apologized to Lyen.*

Dimitri was offended. Nikolai was not fake gun. It was modified revolver! Only modification was dummy bullet. He attempted to speak but was silenced by the captains presence... For now. What was it with him and being caught off guard by women? You have Jacy lady taking handfuls of Soviet ass, and now random new lady coming into trial site of in-terror-gation in can. 'It never does well to work without workshop' he guessed.

He saw Lyen smirk at the captain,
*"It's not a problem, Captain. We're just getting to know each other." Ly threw a conspiratorial look at Dimitri.*

"Uhh, I do not now... I am Dimitri, I cook and other things. Uh, I uh...."
"I do security. I am not meaning scare you, lady. Sorry."
Words bubbled forward awkwardly as he sat gun down, and avoided eye contact.
Dimitri you bumbling idiot of Slav. Can't build, can't talk, only good for meat slab. he mentally barreted himself.
at this rate it will be cycle til you are given freedom...

*"Amituofo, Dimitri," the nun said, her hands in the Namaskara mudra (a hand gesture of greeting and respect)*
It was an off, almost incomplete gesture, not that Dimitri would notice, of course
*She shook her head, "Cooking is a life-giving path; and may cause a longer life than pointing weapons at people. Depending on what you're cooking." Lyen smiled at Dimitri.*

Dimitri steeled himself and finally manage in clear voice say
"Spasibo, I make many things. I consider myself maker. As for long life, I find that is recommended to not wander into line of fire when a Slav is testing detonated ammo"
He smirked.

ok maybe I not so stupid as thought

Something about the captain's tipped hat made Lyen cock her head and watch with soft eyes.

*"Don't need to know what it is, but need to know how secure it's gotta be. Hot ticket items, we don't need t'know what it is, but a head's up as to how hot would be polite."*
oppa, business! Opportunity to prove worth and get guns!
*"And by secure you mean, tied down, right? Or do you mean like him secure?" She said, thumb-pointing at Dimitri.*Dimitri puffed out his chest slightly*Ly was half-turned away from Dim, trying to watch Keller's face.*

"Either way I can assure Dimitri can handle box. "
He smile cheeki breeki grin,
"Keller know I am great with boxes" he chuckled at his own joke and went to holster his weapon, flicking safety.

"Speaking of weapon and safety, captain, I require access to armory, and some resources to ah, better utilize talents" he looked at Keller's exasperated expression hopefully.
"It would help out us all, very much"
Last Warning, 1 with a bullet

Riley couldn’t help but give a short laugh before regaining her bearing, stifling a smile behind the clipboard. Every crew had one blow hard, some crews two even. The alliance generally stomped it out pretty quick, but the mechanic never had the benefit of a military background. He’d have lasted all of ten minutes in the academy.

“That was a downright adorable tantrum.” she said flatly. “But let me break this down one more time, because the concept seems to have gone beyond the scope of what you’re capable of understanding, and I don’t want to repeat it a third time.” She deliberately slowed down her speech pattern, punctuating each word, in case he had some undiagnosed comprehension issue.

“You don’t give *me* orders. If your ego can’t handle a bruise, this isn’t the ship for you. I don’t mollycoddle the one-eyed mute little girl, I sure as shit won’t coddle you.” The military in her coming out in full force.

“You work your ass off fixing the ship because that’s your job. What are you looking for a gold star? A ‘thank you’ for doing what you're *paid* to do. You fought for my crew, and my crew risked their gorram necks to save yours, regardless of if you were at fault or not. You’re no more, no less special than any of them.” Riley said in a clipped tone looking down at the mechanic.

“What really chaps me is that the Captain said he didn’t want the ship armed, and you think I’d go against what he decided?” The pilot reminded, her eyes narrowing slightly. “That’s called mutiny.”

“So it seems you have a choice ... decide if you’re too ruttin’ delicate to be part of my crew and walk, or get yourself back to work, but either way, don’t try to play me against the Captain of this ship, ever.” She held up a hand to stop him from answering.

“In case I’ve made it less than crystal clear, the only two acceptable words at this point are yes, lieutenant.” Reily leaned forward a bit and spoke slowly so whatever the mechanic had been huffing that had killed his ability to pay attention might stand a chance of sinking in the porridge that was his brainpan. “*Anything else I’ll take as your resignation.*”
Home, Sweet Cargo Bay

Dorian couldn’t help but hold an amused smile at the expression in her eyes. Not that he actually enjoyed being the object of such scrutiny, but there was something behind the rigid armor that Riley held on display. He wouldn’t be so arrogant to call it concern, but that tiny kernel of emotion could yet be observed.

*”And you look like shit."*

Riley pitched the sign forward, closing up shop as her body language indicated some indecision about walking with, or assisting him, as he made his way up the cargo bay ramp. Despite himself, the medic experienced a sense of gratitude for the ambivalence. Of course, the gesture also meant that there’d be a fairly thorough debrief before he might slip into the infirmary for some meds and a cat nap. *Cum se, cum sa,* he mused as the pair stepped onto metal decking.

*"You want to tell me what happened? Because it looks like you rutted this up. The majority of us go to the hospital to get fixed up. Looks like you went and did the opposite."*

He laughed quietly, shaking his head. “That Ah did,” Dorian nodded as they moved across the cargo bay. The moment carried an odd sense of homecoming for him, perhaps a cautionary note to examine what could be a developing sentimentality. And though he’d love to have left his response where it currently lay, the curiosity in Riley’s gaze would not be denied. “Tha hospital was first rate…if not a tad boring,” he said with a tap to his eye patch. “Released me yesterday aftahnoon. This comes off in about a week, with a full recovery anticipated. As tah mah current dishevelment,” he continued, “perhaps tha most polite way tah put it is *‘cherchez la femme.’* That, and tha fact that mah associate apparently didn’t understand tha use of a safe word.”
Du bist meine Hündin!!

"I.. I have a job helping Vas." Gill replied and then with a quick glance around the place, "See you later." he stopped and turned, "But my little sister Haddie, she loved working down here. Perhaps you could ask Riley if she could help. She's just a kid but she knows here way around the ship and could be real helpful."

Leaving Marisol to her new duties Gill made his way down to the Cargo Bay. Haddie would not be happy with this new situation, he knew that much. He just hoped the new woman was as ready to offer up old ship parts. His sister had been building up quite a trove of the things.

Getting down to the Cargo Bay he was taken aback by the ruckus and the sight of Vas being mauled by a pack of Drog-Kryi. Gills face broke into a wide grin at the sight of the animals and he put both fingers to his lips and released a high pitched whistle. He repeated the sound three times in quick succession and their ears pricked up. They lost interest in the beleaguered Vas as the whole lot of them came padding over to Gills side of the pen tongues lolling.

"They will want feeding now." Gill called over to Vas who was looking at Gill like he had just flown down in a Reaver shuttle and started handing out rainbows.
Et tu, Vas?

Lyen accepted Vas's apology with a deep bow of her own, hands mirroring his. "Amituofo, I accept. Yòng ài zhēngfú fènnù de rén." So the boy knows of the ways of the Buddha, but to behave in such a manner... "May we speak, at another time?" Ly watched the young man, letting her hands rest at her sides.

Riley, who brought calm to the storm, was gone in an instant, and left in the hall was this one here, who had surprised Lyen in more ways than one, a younger boy, and the other passenger (had she overheard that he was a Sheppard from the crew?),

The passenger had introduced himself as Henry last night, she remembered, as they had exchanged pleasantries before bed. He seemed to be alright, looking much sturdier than he was letting on. Lyen felt herself relaxing.

Her eyes strayed from Vas's as she looked Gill up and down. "And hello to you, I'm Lyen; what's your name?" She hadn't caught a glimpse of Haddie yet.

*Translation: Ēmítuófó (Amituofo) is a Chinese Buddhist saying meaning general greetings, good things, and a reminder of our place in the universe, but it is the name of the Amitabha Buddha in Chinese.*

*Yòng ài zhēngfú fènnù de rén: Conquer the angry man by love.*