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Serenity Part Two

In the infirmary, Yang and River slept, Book stood at the foot of Yang's bed, bible folded in his hands as Ozpin's voice came over the com.

"This is the captain."

In his room Jayne was checking over his favorite big guns. Standing outside of Simon's room Qrow stopped to listen as Simon stepped out of his room to listen as well.

"We're passing another ship. Looks to be Reavers. From the size, probably a raiding party. We can't take on that number, if we did and ran into Grimm we'd be all kinds of screwed."

Weiss listened in her room, sitting before a desk.

"Could be they're headed somewhere particular, could be they've already hit someone and they're full up. So everyone stay calm."

Jayne pulled down a decorative blanket to reveal an arsenal on his wall. He was silent and serious.

"We try to run, they'll have to chase us. It's their way. We're holding course. We should be passing 'em in a minute, so we'll see what they do. Qrow, you come on up to the bridge."

Qrow moved to go but Simon stopped with a hand on his forearm. "Wait - I-I don't understand."

Qrow looked over and asked. "You've never heard of Reavers?"

"Well... campfire stories... Men gone savage on the edge of space, killing, and…"

Qrow cut him off. "They're not stories."

"What happens if they board us?" Simon asked wearily.

"If they take the ship, they'll rape us to death, eat our flesh and sew our skins into their clothing and if we're very very lucky, they'll do it in that order." Qrow turned away and raced off to Oz. "Or, if we are really really lucky, we'll be able to bottleneck them at the breach and Oz will be in a bad mood."

"What happens when the captain is in a bad mood?" Simon dared to ask.

"This die." Qrow turned away and raced for the bridge.

Simon raced off to the infirmary going to hold River as he and Book shared a long look.

Weiss dug out a small, hidden box. She opened it and inside is a modern syringe gun, smaller than the one Simon used on Yang, and a vial of black liquid. Unmarked. Weiss started into the box and took a few deep breaths.

Jayne loaded bullets the several centimeters wide into a big-ass rifle. His hands shook slightly.

The ships were almost upon one another. The Reaver ship was nearly twice the size of the Firefly, spewing red light into space.

Qrow entered the bridge and walked up to Oz, he threaded his fingers through the larger man's hand and pressed his head against Oz's shoulder. Oz looked down to him, then back to Ruby. The tall man kissed Qrow's temple the same way he had Ruby's.

Ruby looked up and pointed at the Reaver ship. "There's a magnetic grappler. They get ahold of us with that…"

"Just tell me if they alter course." Ozpin said softly as Ruby moved to look at her instruments, Ozpin's hand lingered on her back.

Everyone waited as the ships pass silently. The Reaver ship comes close enough to cast a shadow on the smaller ship. But it passed and after a few more long seconds Ruby says softly. "They're holding course."

Ozpin let out a long breath and patted Ruby on the back before returning his hand to his side.

Ruby continued. "I guess they weren't hungry. Didn't expect to see them here…"

"They're pushing out further every year, too." Qrow said stepping away from Oz and sitting in the co-pilot's chair.

"And bringing Grimm with them, why they just don't wipe the Reavers out I don't understand." Ozpin leaned on the console crossing his arms.

"Maybe they are smart enough to use the Reavers as guides through the verse?" Ruby asked.

"Suppose that's possible. Grimm aren't stupid, especially with their fucking Grave Minds." Ozpin grumbled, they were a new type of Grimm that had evolved when they went interstellar. He let out a sigh. "I'm gonna check on Yang and River."

When Oz was gone Qrow looked over to Ruby. "You okay?"

"Yeah fine, why wouldn't I be?" Ruby rubbed at her eyes trying to pretend they weren't read.

Qrow got up and walked over. "I know you're more afraid of Reavers then Grimm. If you ever want to talk about what happened… you know to your fokes." He reached out and rested a hand on her shoulder.

The tears welled up in Ruby's eyes but she shook her head. "I'm fine, I just try to forget about it."

"I don't think Tai would want that or Summer." Qrow said.

Ruby got up and hugged him fiercely. "I don't forget them, I just try to forget…"

Qrow held her as she cried again, petting her hair and watching the stars fly by. His older sister Raven had brought him into the Xaio Long household. To bad it hadn't lasted.

Ozpin leaned against a wall in the infirmary, Yang was sleeping on the table while River was sleeping on a makeshift bed on the counter. While Oz studied the new addition to his ship, Yang spoke up still sounding very sleepy. "Hey, Captain."

Oz moved over ot her smiling. "Hey... Hey little Yang, what's the news?"

"I'm shiny, Captain. A-okay. And I can't feel much below my belly, though. It's gettin' cold."

Ozpin stepped away and grabbing a blanket, he laid it over her tucking it around her. Suppressing what he wanted to express hearing her say that. "Well, you just gotta rest. Something's gonna break down on this boat real soon. Who else I got to fix it?"

Well, don't you worry none. Doc fixed me up pretty. He's nice." Yang smiled woozy. "James stayed too."

Ozpin smiled. "Don't go working too hard on that crush, xiao mei-mei. James is a hard one to get close too."

Yang slurred a bit. "You're nice, too."

"No, I'm not. I'm a mean old man." Oz said warmly.

"Doc wasn't gonna let me die. He was just trying to... It's nobody's fault. Okay? Just promise me you'll remember that?"

Ozpin took her hand. "I'll keep it in mind."

Yang smiled up at him. "You are a nice man, Captain. You always looking after us. You just gotta have faith in people." Ozpin didn't say anything just pet over the back of her hand. Yang's eyes drifted over to River. "She is a real beauty, isn't she?" Yang smiled her eyes falling closed. Oz stayed with her a moment before setting her hand on the table.

In Weiss's shuttle she handed him a couple of packets as he stood looking around. "Thank you." Simon said looking over the supplies.

"This is just standard Companion immunization package. I'm not sure it'll help in this -"

"It won't hurt. Supplies down there are pretty rudimentary." Simon said.

"Is there anything else I can do?" Weiss asked she was worried about Yang. She wasn't as close to the elder sister as the younger but they were good friends.

"I don't think so. But I appreciate it." Simon said already thinking about how he could use them.

"Yang's very dear. To all of us." Weiss said trying to get a read on Simon.

"I... I'm sorry. For my part in what happened. See... I've never... I mean, I don't know how to -."

Weiss met him halfway seeing his confusion. "You're lost in the woods. We all are. Even the captain. The only difference is, he likes it that way."

Ozpin entered having finished eavesdropping. "No. No, the difference is, the woods are the only place I can see a clear path." He asked Simon. "What's your business here?"

Weiss cut in. "It's my business. The usual. I gave the boy a free thrust, since he's not

long for this world. What are you doing in my shuttle?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm and irritation.

"It's my shuttle. You rent it." Ozpin said advancing into the space.

"Then when I'm behind on the rent, you can enter unasked." Weiss snapped right back.

Simon sneaked his way out. Ozpin and Weiss stared each other down. Eventually he said. "Thought you were leaving, anyhow."

"Well I guess that depends on you."

Ozpin frowned and left without another word, he wanted to play with the doctor some more. He found Simon quickly stopping him with a hand on his shoulder.. "You'll ruin her, too, you know. This is the thing I see you're uncomprehending on. Everyone on this ship, even a 'legitimate business woman' like her, their lives can be snatched away because of that Fed. You got a solution for that? You got a way round?"

Simon turned and honestly said. "I don't."

"Comes time, someone's gonna have to deal with him. That should be you, but I don't think you got the guts. And I know you don't have the time." Ozpin paused schooling his features into a dead expression.

"What do you mean?" Simon asked worry dawning on him.

"Yang's dead." Ozpin said completely contained watching the shock and devastation run on Simon's face before he turned away and walked towards the bridge. Ozpin heard Simon bolt like someone had lit his ass of fire, a smile played over his lips.

Simon burst into the infirmary to find Yang sitting up and talking weakly but happily with Book. Simon turned to look where Ozpin had left, shock clear in his eyes as he panted. "That man's psychotic."

In the bridge moments later, Ozpin, Ruby, Jayne, Qrow and James are all busting a gut with laughter.

Ruby held her sides as she laughed. "You are psychotic."

"No, but you should have seen his face... Oh... I'm a bad man." Ozpin cleared the tears of laughter from the corners of his eyes.

Qrow asked. "And Yang's really okay?"

"Yeah. Tell the truth, I didn't expect her to heal this quick. Doctor knows his trade, I'll give him that." Ozpin said genuinely impressed.

A beep came from the console and Ruby leaned over in her chair to check it out. "We're being hailed."

Ozpin got off the wall and walked over. "That'd be Patience. We're close enough for vid. Put her up."

Ruby hit a button and on one of her screens, a weathered, pioneer-looking woman of about fifty appeared. She spoke right away. "Ozpin Valen?"

"Hello Patience." Oz said smoothly.

"I have to say I didn't look to be hearing from you anytime soon." Patience said.

"Well, we may not have parted on the best of terms. I realize certain words were exchanged. Also, certain... bullets. But that's air through the engine. It's past. We're business people. Besides, your days of fightin' over salvage rights are long behind you, what I hear. What are you, mayor now?" Ozpin said leaning an arm on the back of Ruby's chair.

"Just about. You telling the truth about that cargo? 'Cause your asking price is a bit too reasonable for that much treasure."

"It's imprinted - Alliance - hence the discount."

"Oh, government goods, huh?"

"That doesn't work for ya, no harm. Just thought you could use-"

The old woman's voice brushed him off. "Alliance don't scare me. Just collating data, as they say. I like that you're up front about it. We can deal. I'll upload coordinates for a rendezvous point outside of town."

"See you in the world." Ozpin said and hit the button ending the call, he stared at the console for a long moment. "I believe that woman's planning to shoot me again."

"She meant to pay you, she'd'a haggled you down some." Jayne said.

Ruby scowled. "Just a little effort to hide it would've been -"

Ozpin shut everybody up as the console crunched slightly under his grip. He hung his head with his shoulders pulled back and tight.

Qrow felt how pissed Ozpin was. "Oz, we don't have to deal with her."

"Yes, we do and she'll bring bigger bullets this time." Oz ground his teeth.

Jayne spoke up cheerily. "Here's a little concept I been workin' on. Why don't we shoot her first?"

Ruby said with a growl. "It is her turn."

"That doesn't get us what we need, either." Ozpin said.

Qrow spoke up."There's moons on this boat we ain't seen. We could try our luck-"

Ozpin rounded on him snapping out. "Our luck? You notice anything particular about our luck these past few days? Any kind of pattern? You depend on luck, you end up on the drift - no fuel, no prospects... beggin' for Alliance make-work. And towed out to the scrap belt. That ain't us. Not ever. Patience has got the money to pay, and she will, one way or another. There's obstacles in our path, and we're gonna deal with them. One by one. We'll get through this. We will."

Since settled over the bridge and James was the first to move. "We should hit more of the outer rim after this Oz, this whole job has gotten way to hot. I'm gonna check on Yang."

Ruby got up too. "Yeah I'm beat, it's been a busy day. With to many bullets already."

One by one they trickled away but Oz remained stepping down the length of the bridge to look at the stars. What a mess this had all become, if only Bagger had just taken the goods. Now he had a Fed on board and his mechanic with a hole in her belly. Now that she was lucid her Aura would patch it up quickly but it still irked him that it happened. He turned and walked silently from the bridge, the ship didn't need a pilot right now.

He watched Ruby and Qrow exchange a few heated words before passing on by. Weiss was in her shuttle, he could hear her talking with the Shepard again. Jayne had retired to his bunk, Ozpin came to the med bay there were windows at eye level with the walkway. He knelt and peered through them. James was with Yang, holding her hand they were talking softly and Oz had to smile.

"You're like a ghost, that never gets to let go."

Ozpin stood and spun, the girl River stood behind him. Her words made his guts twist, they came so close. "I don't know what you mean." He lied.

"You're afraid. Of losing everyone again. Over and over till the stars expire." She tilted her head her big eyes watching him, her voice was flitting and soft.

"You really shouldn't talk about things you don't know anything about." Ozpin said his voice steely.

"But I know now. Goodnight old soul, sleep maybe learn to love again tomorrow." River bounced down the metal walkway to seek out her brother.

Ozpin stared after her. "That was odd."

Ozpin, James, Qrow were staring out over out over the sage bush and low hills. The goods had already been hidden and Serenity was parked a ways away.

"Nice place for an ambush." Qrow grumbled glaring at the desert landscape.

"That it is." Ozpin said looking it over resting a hand on his gun. He had a feeling that he was definitely going to get shot again.

Jayne rushed over tapping a com in his ear. "Testing. Testing, Capitan can you hear me?"

"I'm standing right here." Ozpin said in a complete deadpan.

Jayne spoke into the comm. "You're coming through good and loud."

"Cause I'm standing right here." Ozpin said looking over to Jayne.

Jayne looked momentarily embarrassed and explained. "Yeah, well... but the transmitter's…"

Ozpin rolled his eyes and walked forward looking out over the valley. "All right. Patience is gonna figure we buried the cargo. Which means means putting us to our ease 'fore there's any action. She'll come at us from the east, talk the location out of us. She'll have the coin to show us first. We get it, give the location, snipers hit us from..." He pointed to a hill to the north. "There. And there."

"You figure they're in place yet?" Jayne asked.

"Should be. Feel like taking a walk around the park?" Ozpin asked.

Jayne grinned. "Sure you don't just wanna piss yourself and back down like you did with Badger?"

Ozpin glared at him, Jayne quickly stopped smile and Oz said. "Walk soft. I want Patience thinking they're still in place. Don't kill anyone if you don't have to. We're here to make a deal."

Jayne off into the brush and Qrow said. "Don't think it's a good spot, Oz. She still has the advantage over us."

"Everyone always does." Oz smiled at his lover. "That's what makes us special."

James huffed. "Where do you want me?"

"Pick a spot close by and out of sight. You weren't with me last time Patience and I did business and I've got more interest in your using your Semblance than anything else here."

"Sounds good." James said and started down into the valley.

Back in the passenger dorm in Dobson's room the Shepherd hesitated for a moment then opened the door. "Lawman, it's Shepherd Book, I believe you're in more danger than-."

As soon as Book opened the door Dobson hit him over the head with a stool. He had cut his way free of the duct tape they had used to bind his hands. As the Shepherd fell Dobson hit his head again to make sure he would stay unconscious. He dragged Book into his room.

Ozpin and Qrow stood in the valley basin waiting as Patience and her crew of six crested the hill on horseback. Their clothes were a mess of more modern gear and things that looked they they were out of an old western movie in Oz's opinion. Patience herself was in a weather-beaten duster, grey hair flyblown about her face. She came to a stop about ten meters away from Oz and chuckled. " Oz! How you doin', boy?"

"Walkin' and talkin'." Ozpin said hooking his thumbs into the pockets of his brown coat.

Patience squinted in the hard light. "Is that Qrow? You still sailin' with this trouble magnet?"

"Awful lot of men to haul three crates." Qrow said this time he already had his Aura up.

"Yeah, well, I couldn't be sure my Oz here wouldn't be lookin' for some kinda payback. You understand." Patience drawled.

"We're just on the job, Patience. Not interested in surprises." Ozpin said.

On a ridge a sniper started to get a bead on Oz, only for Jayne to get the drop on him and knock him unconscious. The last one had a machine gun, he had almost taken that guess it was Patience's anti huntsman weapons but he likes sniper rifles better. Jayne watched Oz through the sights with a wicked smile.

Back in the clearing Patience said. "I don't see my cargo anywhere…"

"And you're not gonna, 'til I'm holding two hundred in platinum." Oz said.

"Oh, come on, Valen. I'm supposed to take it on faith you've got the goods?"

Ozpin pulled a gold bar from the crate and tossed it to Patience. The old woman ripped off the foil to reveal a thick dense brown bar she gave it a sniff as Oz spoke. "It's pure, Patience. Genuine A-grade foodstuffs. Protein, vitamins, immunization supplements. One of those'll feed a family for a month. Longer, if they don't like their kids too well."

Patience took a tiny nibble and nodded. "Yeah, that's the stuff." She pulled a small bag from her pocket, tossed it to Oz. "So where's the rest?"

In the infirmary River woke up sharply surprising Yang. "Simon…"

Yang from the bed asked. "What's wrong, sweetie?"

River didn't answer instead picking her way towards the door. She peaked and out Dobson grabbed her sticking a gun to her head. He saw Yang. "Look at you, all woke up." Yang started to move but winced, her Aura hadn't finished mending the bullet hole yet. Dobson pulled another gun and pointed it at her. "Oh, I'm sorry about what happened before. But make so much as a sound, the next one goes through your throat."

Yang glared at him, but didn't move as he pulled River away.

"Then east half a mile, bottom of the first hill. You'll see where it's been dug." Oz said feeling like a plebian. However he would control himself.

"I reckon I will." Patience said.

"Well then." Oz said with a smile.

"Yep." Nobody moved.

"I'd appreciate it y'all turn around and ride out first." Oz said while thinking oh here we go again.

"Well, you see, there's a kind of hitch." Patience rested her hands over her rifle.

"Both made out on this deal. Don't complicate things." Ozpin flared his Aura letting it crackle over his skin.

Patience didn't outwardly respond to his threat. "I got a rule. I never let go of money I don't have to. Which is maybe why I'm running this little world and you're still on that dinky old boat, sniffing for scraps."

Ozpin tightened his grip on the bag of coins. "You ain't got back up, I already took care of it. Shitty gun though, you wouldn't have been able to get through even Jayne's Aura with it."

At that Patience did glare at him. "You're bluffing."

"Nice hat." Ozpin said with a smile.

Jayne shot the top hat off the head of one of her men. Patience whipped her rifle up but James stepped from behind a bolder and flicked his fingers ripping it from her hands and flipping it around to point at her.

Patience raised her hands surrendering. "You've got yourself a new man."

"Something like that, and before you think about shooting him. He's a Huntsman as well." Ozpin activated his Semblance in the next instant Patience was in the dirt and Oz had his cane pressed to her throat. "Now I did a job. I got nothing but trouble since I did it, not to mention more than a few unkind words as regard to my character so let me make this abundantly clear. I do the job." He bent down and retrieved the rest of the coin from another pouch. "I get paid."

Ruby looked over her consol while talking to Simon, they were coming up upon Whitefall so she was required to fly the ship again. "You should think about asking the captain to drop you somewhere else. Whitefall ain't exactly civilization in the strictest sense."

Simon smiled meekly. "You don't have to worry about me."

"When Qrow's out on a deal, I always worry. So.. it's not out of my way-"

Simon bolted from the room, Ruby rose to do the same but a beeping from the proximity warning started. Dread pooled in her stomach. "Oh, don't. Don't you dare."

Meanwhile Simon ran out into the cargo bay and saw Dobson with River below as he backed up to the airlock and hit the release button. Simon jumped down from the walkway and landed right on Dobson and they tumbled away from River. Dobson's guns went flying as the two men lay prone for a moment stunned by just how much hitting the floor hurt.

River backed away her eyes wide with terror.

Ozpin removed his cane from Patience's neck. "Go run your little world."

Jayne raced up to them, panicked and out of breath. "Oz! It's Ruby. We got a ship coming in. They followed us. The gorram Reavers followed us!"

"Move out!" Ozpin roared, leaning on his Aura. The Huntsmen raced away faster then any horse could run.

Dobson was the first to recover and lunged for his gun. Simon threw himself on top of him and they struggled, Simon trying to pull him away from the gun. Until Dobson got an elbow free and smashed it into Simon's nose.

As Simon grabbed at his nose, Dobson made a grab for the gun, changing tactics Simon rolled away and to his feet grabbing the other. Pointing it a Dobson before the Alliance fed grabbed the other one. "No, don't! Don't move!"

Ruby's voiced echoed over the com. "Reavers! Reavers incoming and headed straight for us. We are in the air in one minute." Turning off the com Ruby muttered to herself as she started warming up the ship. "I guess they got hungry again."

Simon held the gun on Dobson his hands starting to shake.

Dobson spoke slowly and calmly. "You gonna do that? You gonna kill a lawman in cold blood. I know what you did for your sister. I understand. It doesn't make you a killer."

Barely conscious Book came to an entrance to the hold, holding on to doorway to stay up.

Dobson continued. "I don't wanna hurt anybody. I have a job to do. To uphold the law - that's what we're talking about here."

Ruby's proximity sensors went off again as the Reaver ship broke atmo and started heading down to the planet. She grabbed the walkie talkie. "Where the hell are you guys?!"

"There's nowhere you can take her the law won't find. Nobody is going to hurt her. Unless you hurt me." Dobson started to stand.

Simon panicked. "No, I said - I said don't-don't move!"

"It's your call."

Simon had no idea what to do, he looked over to his frightened sister.

The airlock started to opened, the noise and motion distracting Simon and Dobson grabbed his gun and fired, but missed Simon as he dove for cover. Weiss raced out of her shuttle, hearing the shot fired just as Dobson grabbed her River and put her between him and Weiss the gun to her head. "I'm not playing anymore."

Ozpin walked up the ramp as Dobson said. "Anybody makes so much as a-" Ozpin shot Dobson in the head without a word, he flew back letting go of River, dead before he hit the ground. Oz walked over and grabbed the man by the front of the shirt lifting him with ease and tossing him out the airlock as James, Qrow and Jayne entered the ship.

Simon lowed his gun and moved to his shocked and silent sister. River whimpered and grabbed at him.

Qrow hit the com by the airlock. "Ruby! We're on!" He hit another button and the cargo bay doors and airlocked closed.

Ozpin, Qrow raced up to Ruby with Jayne following close behind. "How close are they?" Ozpin asked as Ruby flew the ship. "About twenty seconds from spitting distance."

"Well, lose'em!" Jayne snapped.

"Give me rear vid." Ozpin said to Qrow.

He punched it up on the screen next to Ruby. A ship was approaching from behind faster then they were going. "Ai yan, women wanle."

Ozpin asked Ruby. "How close do they need to be to fire those grapples?"

"C'mon, Rubs, you dumbass, dodge'em!" Jayne's fear was plain over his features.

With incredible calm Ruby said. "If everybody could just be quiet a moment…" She veered hard to the right.

The Serenity flew over the hills moving very fast, but the Reavers were right behind them. Ruby said with a serene expertise. "I need Yang in the engine room please."

Qrow looked over to Oz. "Can she even-"

To Jayne Ozpin ordered. "Get her in there. Now."

Jayne flew out of the room passing Weiss in the hall. Ozpin spotted her and left Ruby to fly for a minute.

He spoke quickly to Weiss. "I want you to get in your shuttle. Get the civilians, be ready to go."

"We can't just leave you here." Weiss said looking up to him.

Oz smiled sadly. "Thought that was the plan."

Weiss reached out grabbing his arm. "Oz, don't do this-"

"We get boarded, you take off, head for town. We might be able to stop them from following you." Ozpin dipped his head looking her in the eyes.

"The Grimm will come, they'll kill you." Weiss said, panic edging into her voice.

"Weiss." His voice had changed, warm and kind. The single word become so layered in meaning upon his tongue. He put a hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her away. "Go." He turned and made for the bridge.

Weiss turned away as well but threw a look back at him.

Ozpin moved to Ruby's side and put a hand on her shoulder. "How are we doing?"

Ruby smirked a little focusing on her flying. "I don't mean to alarm anybody... but I think... we're being followed."

Jayne was carrying Yang out when Weiss entered the med bay. She spoke to Simon, River and Book. "You three. Come with me."

Book said with a thinking frown. " I think I can help Yang out."

"Should I-" Simon started but Book cut in, guiding River to her brother. The young women looked confused and frightened. "Take her. Keep her safe."

In the bridge Ozpin said. "We can't keep this up, they get a bead, they're gonna lock us down."

Ruby spoke into the com. "Yang how are we doing?"

In the engine room Yang was propped up by the com, with James, Jayne and Book at the ready to help her. James had already removed several panels, he had an idea of what Ruby wanted already. He had been flying with them long enough to guess at the ideas of the two sisters.

Over the com Ruby said. "Gonna need a little push here."

"You want me to go for full burn?" Yang asked.

"Not just yet, but set it up." Ruby said.

To Book Yang asked. "You know where the press regulator is?"

He looked about and pointed to a part of engine by the back and Yang smiled. "Head of the class." She coughed and winced. James went to her worry covering his features.

Yang's voice in the bridge was a heaven send to Ruby. "We're ready for full burn on your mark."

"Full burn in atmo? Won't cause a blowback? Burn us out?" Qrow asked.

Ozpin said. "Even if it doesn't, they can push just as hard, keep right on us." A tense beat passed and he said. "Ruby, you gotta give me an Ivan."

Ruby smiled. "I'll see what I can do." Into the com she said. "Yang, how would you feel about pulling a Crazy Ivan?"

In the engine room Yang smiled. "Always wanted to try one. Jayne. Port jet control. Cut the hydraulics." She pointed at a panel while James pulled away her shirt and studied her bullet wound.

"Where the hell is -" Jayne looked around not looking at her.

"Look. Look! Look where I'm pointing." Yang said and winced as James pressed on her stomach, all this jostling about was not doing her any favours. Jayne looked at the tangled mess of cables as he knelt beside it. Yang tried to smile. "Okay. Now it's real simple."

Jayne expression showed just how insane he thought she was. Clearly their definitions of simple were VASTLY different.

The Reaver ship locked in on Serenity. The magnetic grappler started to warm up.

Qrow watched the Reaver ship out of a porthole. "They're on us."

Ruby said into the com. "Yang…?" She looked at the rear-view camera feed, the Reaver ship had black smoke billowing out the back as it closed in on Serenity.

Ozpin and Qrow were so tense they looked like they might snap at any second. While Ruby was preternaturally calm. Oz muttered under his breath. "C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon…"

Finally Yang's voice came over the cam. "Okay."

Ruby said quickly to everyone. "Everybody hold on to something." And then more softly to the Reavers. "Here's something you can't do…" She slammed down on a leaver.

Serenity's port jet flipped around and the ship LURCHED into a perfect one-eighty, spinning on a dime, the jet flipped back and they are headed straight for the Reaver ship. Which dodged them at the last second. Ruby shouted into the com. "NOW!"

In the engine room Book hit a button, as Jayne pulled on the leaver at the front of the engine. The engine suddenly turns faster and glows a bright yellow. Jame pulled Yang into his arms and braced himself so she won't lurch with the ship.

The ass-end of the Serenity lights up like a firefly butt, sending ripples of fire bursting into the atmosphere as the ship blasts out, arcing up towards space.

Ruby pulled up on the controls with all her might as they came out of atmo and started soaring through space she eased off and looked quietly pleased.

Ozpin and Qrow were both amazed, after a long moment Oz chuckled and patted Ruby on the shoulder. "Knew I hired you for somethin'."

Jayne looked around the room and pumped his first in the air. "Whoo! Woo-hoo!"

James gently set Yang down, sweat was sticking to her skin and her hair to it as well. He brushed a lock out of her face and she leaned on him.

Qrow smiled relaxing finally. "Ain't no way we they can come around in time to follow us now."

Ozpin hit the com. "We're good, people… We're out of the woods."

Yang pet the hull of the ship as Jayne continued to celebrate. "That's my girl… That's my good girl."

Even Book cracked a smile as Yang looked at them from her place on the floor.

Ruby spoke to Ozpin. "We should have just enough left in us to hit a fuel station. We'll need to do some patching up. I hope we got paid today."

Oz smiled. "We did."

Qrow looked between Ozpin and Ruby then grabbed Oz by the vest pulling hard. The smaller Huntsmen spun them and pinned him to the co-pilots console. Qrow's kiss was fast and fierce.

Ruby had to giggle at Oz's stunned expression, Qrow's hands were making quick work of Ozpin's gun belt and other belt. Oz grabbed Qrow's shoulders, finally gather enough of his wits to kiss the red eyed man back. He grunted as Qrow shoved his pants open and started to stroke his quickly rising erection.

Qrow pulled away from the kiss and dived down. Ruby loved how Oz's brows flew up and he let out a wordless shout as Qrow took his member into his mouth and wasted to time getting to it.

Ruby loved watching the expressions flit over Ozpin's face. For someone so closed off and guarded the openness was very nice to see. Qrow worked Oz with an experts touch, bringing him off for Ruby to see. Then he pulled away, stood and grabbed Oz's hand. "Sorry Rubs but you'll have to keep flying for a bit. I need this man to rip off all my clothes."

Ozpin laughed. "Work work work."

Ruby giggled watching Qrow haul Oz off to his cabin. She let out a long sigh and started flying again, it was nice to see those two relaxed.

Meanwhile in Weiss's shuttle Book was sitting on the touch as she dabbed his head standing before him. "You should really have the young doctor look at this." Weiss said.

"It's not so bad." Book said softly.

"Well, I'm sure you'll be fine." Weiss set her cloth aside.

"I didn't say that." He looked up at he and Weiss could see how upset and lost he was. "Is this what life is, out here?"

"Sometimes." Weiss said softly.

"I've been out of the abbey two days, I've beaten a lawman senseless, I've fallen in with criminals. I watched the captain shoot the man I swore to protect." Book's voice falured. "And I'm not even sure if I think he was wrong."

"Shepherd…" Weiss said as he started to shake slight and tear up. "I believe I just…" He smiled pained. "I think I'm on the wrong ship."

"Maybe. Or maybe you're exactly where you ought to be." Weiss said.

Book lowered his head and Weiss put her hand on a it, a kind of benediction.

Later in Simon and River's room he was tucking her into bed. "The shot I have you will help you sleep."

"I slept for so long…" River's gaze drifted around before settling on him.

Simon spoke softly. "Just a little while. Then we'll find a place. We'll find a safe place." He tried to hide their situation from her, smiling but River suddenly looked terribly sad.

"I didn't think you'd come for me." She said softly.

"Well, you're a dummy." Simon pulled her into his arms and held her tight.

In the bridge Ozpin sat at the helm having relieved Ruby as Jayne did reps with a heavy weight. "That girl's a problem." The gun head said. "The lawman said they'd keep looking for her. Something about her brain being all special. Important to the Alliance brass. Sooner we dump them two, the better."

"Suppose so." Ozpin said as Jayne moved to leave. "Funny how the lawman got out of his room. You having tied him up so well and all."

"I didn't have nothing to do with that. Anyway it all turned out just fine. Buzzards're the only ones gonna find him…" Jayne said getting defensive.

"But he did try to make a deal with you, right?" Oz looked over at Jayne raising a brow. The other man said nothing. "How come you didn't turn on me, Jayne?"

"Money wasn't good enough." Jayne grumbled.

"What happens when it is?" Ozpin asked.

Jayne smiled crookedly. "Well... that'll be an interesting day."

"I imagine it will be." Oz said, turning his gaze back to the stars.

As Jayne left he bumped rudely into Simon who was on his way in. Simon looked Oz over noting he was unharmed. "So the deal went well?"

"Better than we thought it would." Ozpin said.

Silence weighed heavy between them before Simon asked. "So, where do you plan on dumping us?"

Ozpin shrugged. "There's places you might be safe. You want the truth, though, you're probably safer on the move." He looked over at Simon. "And we never stop moving."

"I'm confused. No wait, I - I think maybe you're confused." Simon said starting to follow the captains thinking.

"It may have become apparent to you that the ship could use a medic. You ain't weak. I don't know how bright you are, top three percent, but you ain't weak and that's not nothing.

You live by my rule, you keep your sister from doing anything crazy, you could maybe find a place here. 'Til you find a better." Ozpin said.

Simon's jaw worked up and down, before he found the words. "I'm trying to put this as delicately as I can... How do I know you won't kill me in my sleep?"

Ozpin scoffed and stood staring Simon down. "You don't know me, son. So let me explain this to you once: If I ever kill you, you'll be awake, you'll be facing me, and you'll be armed."

Simoned smiled. "Are you always this sentimental?"

Oz smiled briefly. "Had a good day."

"You had the Alliance on you, criminals and savages... one of your crew was shot, and you're harboring known fugitives." Simon said disbelievingly.

Ozpin turned his attention back to the black sky. "We're still flying."

"That's not much."

"It's enough." Ozpin said almost to himself.