After Macavity, Tugger, and Jemi departed the ship for their meet with Patience, Cohen slipped down to the room where Plato was being kept. He tapped lightly on the door, "Lawman? It's Shepherd Cohen." He slid the door open slightly, "I believe you may be in more danger than-" he was cut off as something caught him hard across the face, sending him back against the opposite wall. Before he could react, Plato knocked him over the head twice more and dragged him into the now empty room.
s-s-s-s
Macavity and Jemima stood together at the end of a long valley as Patience and her boys rode up. Hands hooked in his belt, Mac watched them impassively.
Patience reined her horse in, smirking at them, "Mac! How you doin', boy?"
"Walkin' and talkin'," he replied.
"Is that Jemi, there?" You still sailin' with this bum?"
"Lots of men to haul those crates," Jemi remarked, brushing past any reference to her and Mac working together.
Patience shrugged, "Yeah, well, I couldn't be sure Mac here wouldn't be lookin' for some kinda payback. You understand."
"We're on the job, not lookin' for surprises," Mac replied, eyes straying to where he hoped Tugger was taking out the snipers. The location was ripe for an ambush, and he only hoped Patience thought they were idiots. Having come in early, Mac only hoped Tugger was where he was supposed to be.
Patience looked around, leaning on the saddle horn slightly, "I don't see my cargo anywhere..."
"Not gonna, til I have the two hundred platinum in my hands," Mac replied.
"Oh come on, I'm supposed to take it on faith you got the goods?"
From inside his coat, Mac pulled a bar out, tossing it over. "Pure protein. Protein, vitamins, immunization supplements. One of those feed a family for a month. Or longer, depending on how well they like their kids. It's Alliance grade no less, not the cheap stuff."
Patience peeled back the foil, sniffing at it before taking a tiny nibble. She finally nodded, "Yeah, that's it." She tossed him a small bag from pocket, "So where's the rest?"
"East half a mile, bottom first hill. You'll see where it's been dug," he replied.
"I reckon I will," she responded, not moving.
"I'd appreciate it if y'all turn around and ride out first," Mac said after several tense moments of silence as they stared at each other.
"Well, you see, there's a kind of hitch," Patience drawled. "i got a rule. I never let go of money I don't have to. Which is maybe why I'm runnin' this little ol' world and you're still on that dinky boat, sniffin' for scraps."
Taking a breath, Mac tossed the money between them. "Got it back. Not need for killin'."
"Are we just gonna walk away, sir?" Jemi hissed at him.
"That's up to Patience here. Could get messy after all."
"Not terribly." The older woman chuckled, "Mac, you just ain't very bright, are you?"
He shrugged, taking half a step forward. "That's quite a rifle on that boy. Must be your best shot."
"He's called Two-Fry. Always makes it quick and clean."
"Two-Fry," Mac nodded. "Nice hat."
Right on cue a shot rang out from a sniper rifle, taking the best shot of the group out. Swallowing his relief, Mac got his gun out the same time as Jemi, opening fire on the group as the gun from the hill continued shooting.
Diving behind some bushes for cover, Mac cursed as a shot hit Jemi right in the chest, knocking her flat on her back.
Between the horses panicking and the bullets missing their mark and kicking up dust the two sides were quickly obscured from each other, though Patience was losing men at an alarming rate, both to Mac and to the unseen sniper.
s-s-s-s
Back on the ship, Mistoffelees blinked at Tantomile gave a cry and suddenly sat bolt upright. "Honey?" he started as she rose.
"Coricopat," the girl said.
"What's wrong?" Mistoffelees asked, trying to sit up and with a gasp giving that up. Tantomile wondered toward the door, looking around desperately for her brother.
As soon as the girl reached the door she was grabbed, Plato holding her steady with a gun to her head, "Well, well, look at you, all woke up." He trained a second gun on Mistoffelees, "Sorry about what happened before, but make so much as a sound, and the next one goes through your throat." He dragged Tantomile back with him away from the infirmary.
Mistoffelees stared after him in horror, looking around the infirmary in panic. There was a com there, of course, but that meant he had to get there first of all...
Coricopat was perched in the cock-pit with Pounce, having left his sister and patient sleeping. The pilot was shaking his head, "You should think about asking the captain to drop you off somewhere else. Whitefall ain't exactly civilization in the strictest sense."
"You don't have to worry about me, though thanks."
"Jemi's out on a deal. I always worry, you just happen to be here to be worried over."
The com crackled to life and Mistoffelees' voice came over it, strained. He'd dragged himself off the cot to the counter. "He took Tant..." he said, voice weak.
The doctor bolted, having quickly categorized who the 'he' could be. Pounce rose to follow him, but froze at the sound of a proximity warning going off. He moved over to look at the read out, swearing under his breath, "Don't you dare..."
s-s-s-s
The firefight was still going out in the valley. Jemi lifted her gun from where she was flat on her back to shoot a man trying to get around Mac. The captain was shot in one arm, but they'd gotten to troop down to just Patience at that point, who was hiding behind her horse. "Jems?" Mac grunted.
"Armor's dented," she grunte, pulling her shirt open and glaring down at the black material as if it's dent was a personal failing it really should see to.
"You were right about this bein' a bad idea," Mac said.
"Thanks for sayin' so, sir."
Patience leveled her shotgun at Macavity, "Mac, don't take another step."
He gave her a long look, suddenly bringing his gun up to shoot the horse. It fell over, taking her with it and trapping her there for a moment. Stalking up, Mac pointed the gun at her face. "Now, I did a job. I got nothin' but trouble since this whole thing started, not to mention a few unkind things said as regard to my character, so let me make this abundantly clear. I do a job," he leaned down to take the money back. "And then I get paid."
She glared up at him, but nodded, "There's your pay then."
"Go run your little world," he replied, stepping back as Tugger came bolting down the side of the hill, out of breath.
"Mac! Pounce! We got a ship comin' in and it's the Reavers. The gorram Reavers followed us!"
s-s-s-s
Coricopat reached the cargo bay in time to see Plato trying to make it out of the airlock with Tant. The young doctor leapt down, landing on the cop, sending Plato's guns skittering away and winding both men. Plato caught his breath first, starting toward one of the guns, but Coricopat intercepted him, holding him back until the other managed to knock him in the face with his elbow. The lawman crawled for his primary weapons, but Coricopat rolled over and grabbed the other one, aiming it, "Don't move!"
They were interrupted as the comm came to life, Pounce's voice echoing around the ship, "Reavers incoming and headed straight for us! We are in the air in one minute!" The engines could be felt warming up, a steady hum offsetting the stand-off in the cargo bay.
Plato watched the doctor, seeing how his hand shook, "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. I don't wanna hurt anybody. I have a job to do. To uphold the law - that's what we're talking about here."
Tantomile had screamed, moving back into the corner, especially every time the gun moved. Her mind couldn't comprehend anything, and everything felt too bright and jagged after sleeping so long, being kept inside for so long.
"There's nowhere you can take her the law won't find. Nobody is going to hurt her. Unless you hurt me," Plato tried as he started to stand.
Coricopat steadied his hand, keeping the gun trained on the lawman, "I said - I said don't-don't move!"
Plato looked at him coldly, "It's your call."
The doctor glanced at his sister again, uncertain. The airlock started to open to allow Mac, Jemi and Tugger access. The noise was enough of a distraction for Coricopat that Plato was able to grab the second gun and fire. The shot missed, but the doctor was forced to take cover. Plato was on his feet and had Tant with a gun to her head again quickly, "I'm not playing anymore." His gaze darted around, focusing briefly on Coricopat, on Cohen who was leaning heavily on a doorframe, and on Griddlebone who stood just outside her shuttle, "Anybody makes so much as a-"
Mac just kept striding inside his own ship, not even breaking his pace to shoot the lawman in the head. Tantomile shrieked again as the man holding her died before he hit the ground, though it meant she was free. Jumping back, she turned huge eyes toward Macavity, who was still moving with Tugger.
"Pounce, we're on," Jemi said, hitting the comm.
They picked up Plato's body and carried it back across the hold, dumping it outside even as the cargo bay doors started to close.
Coricopat lowered his gun and moved carefully over to his sister, hoping to calm her even as the ship took off. The hatch wasn't even fully closed as Serenity left the ground.
Mac and Jemi ran up to the bridge, Tugger glancing at Cohen and the brother and sister pair a moment. He approached Coricopat. "Is Misto okay?" he asked, voice low. Since there had been a gun thrown around and the last place he'd noticed Tantomile was the infirmary.
The doctor looked up, "I think so. He was alive last I heard, I haven't made it back to the infirmary since we got word that...man was out." He carefully drew his sister into a half embrace, "We'd best go check."
"Yeah," Tugger hissed. "Go check." He turned to storm onto the bridge, poking his head into the infirmary on the way, only taking the time to note Mistoffelees' condition-which was alive-before running to catch up with the others on the bridge.
Mac burst into the front of the ship. "How close are they?"
"Twenty seconds from spitting distance," Pounce answered, his gaze darting over the instrument panel as he maneuvered the ship away as fast as he could with having just taken off.
"Loose 'em!" Tugger said, reaching the doorway.
"Get me rear vid," Mac demanded of Jemi, who pulled up the screen and cursed as she saw it.
"How close do they need to be to use those grapples?" Mac asked, voice strained.
"C'mon you dumbass, dodge them!" Tugger yelped.
"If everybody could be quiet for just a moment..." Pounce murmured, veering hard for the hills, darting between them. The reavers were still hot on their tail. The pilot didn't bat an eye, outwardly calm, "I need Misto in the engine room, please."
"Can he even-?" Jem started.
"Get him in there," Mac told Tugger. "Now."
Nodding, Tugger jogged out, past Griddlebone.
Grids stepped onto the bridge, "Mac..."
He turned to her, shuffling her back out into the hallway. "Get to your shuttle. Grab the civilians, be ready to take off."
"We can't just lea eyou here," she protested.
"I thought leavin' was the plan," he returned.
"Mac, don't do this..."
"We end up boarded, you take off and head for town. We might have a chance of stoppin' them from following."
"They'll kill you," she couldn't help the note of desperation that crept into her voice.
He stared at her a long moment. "Griddlebone," he said, and it was clear that even that was something he hadn't meant to say. He reached a hand out to her shoulder, leaving it there a moment before pushing her gently away. "Go." Turning, he went back to the bridge without allowing himself to look back.
She looked at him for a long moment before turning and heading for the infirmary.
"How are we doing?" Mac asked Pounce, striding up.
"I don't mean to alarm anybody," he murmured, dryly, "but I think we're being followed." Mac glanced at the rear screen and swallowed.
s-s-s-s
Griddlebone entered the infirmary. She slipped past Tugger, who had Misto in his arms, and focused on the other three, "You all, come with me."
Cohen shook his head, "I think I can help Mistoffelees with the engine."
Coricopat grabbed a couple of things he would need, placing a gentle hand on his sister's shoulder, "Tant, you're going to go with Griddlebone. She'll keep you safe." His eyes locked with Grids'.
The companion frowned, "Go Shepherd. Doctor, what do you think-"
He cut her off as Cohen exited, "I have a patient who should be confined to bed for at least another week working in an engine room. I'm going down to make sure he doesn't cause his heart to shut down."
Tant nodded, following the companion. She recognized it was the companion's robe she was currently wearing.
Tugger meanwhile moved through the ship quickly, cradling the significantly smaller mechanic in his arms, setting him down carefully in a corner. The room, for an engine room, was cheery. There was a hammock in one corner, for when Mistoffelees would rather listen to his engine hum than be in his quarters.
Cohen and Coricopat arrived moments after Tugger and Mistoffelees. Pounce's voice crackled over the comm, "Misto, how we doing? We're gonna need a little push here if you're set."
"Here," Misto rasped. "You want me to go for full burn then?"
"Not just yet, but set it up."
"You know where the press regulator is?" Mistoffelees asked, glancing at Cohen.
The shepherd glanced around and then moved over to a section of the engine, pointing to a panel.
"Top of the class," Mistoffelees smiled but coughed hard and winced in the pain it caused. Coricopat knelt beside the mechanic, keeping an eye on him, and hoping he'd be able to keep the other stable and conscious under the stress.
Mistoffelees glanced at him, a little unsure how to feel about him being there, before hitting the comm. "Ready for full burn on your mark."
On the bridge, Jemi glanced at her husband. "Full burn in atmo? Won't that cause a blowback and burn us out?"
"Even if it doesn't they can push just as hard and keep right on us." The captain paused and continued. "You gotta give me an Ivan."
Pounce glanced at them, "I'll see what I can do." He turned back to the comm, "Misto, how would you feel about pulling a Crazy Ivan?"
Back in the engine room, Mistoffelees blinked, lolling his head against the wall. "Always wanted to try one. Tugger, open the port jet control and cut the hydraulics," he pointed to a panel.
"Where the hell is-" Tugger started, turning around.
"Look, look where I'm pointing!" Finally Tugger followed the hand and pulled open the panel. "Okay, now it's real simple..."
Taking one look at the mess of wires, Tugger gave the mechanic a long look. "Simple if you do what I tell you," Mistoffelees amended.
s-s-s-s
Pounce glanced at the closing ship, seeing their magnetic grappler warming up, "Misto...?"
"Okay," he said over the comm.
"Everybody hold on to something." He glanced at the other ship again, "Here's something you can't do..." Slamming down a lever the pilot kept careful control of the ship as the port jet flipped the other direction, sending Serenity into a perfect 180. The jet returned to its original position, sending them straight at the reavers' ship which dodged at the last second. "Now, Misto! Everything we've got!"
Mistoffelees motioned at Tugger, who pulled on a lever, lighting the entire engine up with a blinding light as it started to turn even faster. Ripples of fire came off the end of the ship as they blasted toward space, hitting the Reaver ship.
Pouncival yanked up on the controls until they broke atmo. He finally eased off, smiling faintly.
"Knew there was a reason I hired you," Mac said, letting out a long breath.
Pounce chuckled, "What, it wasn't my charm and good looks?"
Mac rolled his eyes, picking up the comm. "We're out of the woods, people," he told the ship, handing it back up.
The pilot spoke again, "We should have just enough left in us to hit a fuel station. We'll need to do some patching up so I hope we got paid today."
"We did," Mac nodded.
"Sir," Jemi said. "I'd like you to take the helm please." She reached down, taking the front of her husband's shirt and tugging him up. "I need this man to tear all my clothes off."
Pounce got out of his chair, looping an arm around his wife and smirking a bit, "Work, work, work..."
Mac waved them off, plopping into the pilot's chair and staring off into the stars of space.
In the engine room, Tugger was yelping in joy as Mistoffelees patted the side of the ship. "There's my good girl," he murmured.
Coricopat glanced toward Tugger and then at Mistoffelees, concern lighting his expression, "Tugger. Once you're done there, I need you to help Mistoffelees back to the infirmary."
They both stopped, Tugger leaning down. "You need to go back?" he asked, worry leaking abruptly into his voice.
"Yeah, that'd be good," Mistoffelees nodded, and coughed. "Hell. You know the worst thing about coughing right now?" Tugger shook his head. "Moves my stomach," the mechanic muttered.
"I'll get you something for the cough once we're at the infirmary," Coricopat murmured. "And sleep, you still need it."
Mistoffelees glanced up at him as Tugger reached down to help him to his feet. "Don't carry me," he said and Tugger gave him a long look. "I can still walk! With support..."
The doctor looked skeptical at that as well, "After that much stress?"
"I," the mechanic started and Tugger didn't give him a chance to respond, scooping him up. Opening his mouth to protest again, Mistoffelees gave up, curling up in the other's arms. "Alright, fine."
Coricopat nodded once, hurrying ahead of them to locate what he would need for Misto's cough.
Once back in the infirmary, Tugger set Mistoffelees carefully back down in the bed in the middle of the room. "Now rest," he commanded.
"I think it's the doctor's job to tell me that," Mistoffelees muttered, reaching a hand out to rest on Tugger's arm. "Thanks, though, for the help."
"Yeah, well, I don't wanna be havin' to deal with the engine again. That's your job, hear? So get better and do it," Tugger replied briskly.
Smiling, Mistoffelees just nodded.
The doctor glanced at Tugger, "I'll take good care of him. He could be on his feet again before a week's up, if he takes it easy."
Tugger nodded, turning and slipping out. Infirmary always gave him a bad feeling and he was glad to be out of it. Mistoffelees tilted his head back to watch the doctor, coughing again. "Sorta surprised to see you there..." he started.
"Where?" Coricopat finally found the medicine he'd been seeking and handed a dose to the other to take.
Mistoffelees took it before continuing. "In the engine room. Sorta... thought you'd be with your sister."
"And have to deal with the captain and Tugger if your heart stopped from the stress? Thank you, no."
That got a smile from the mechanic. "Still, thanks."
"You're welcome."
Having slipped away from Griddlebone, Tantomile floated into the infirmary, sitting and watching silently. Mistoffelees blinked at her before looking back at the doctor. "You doing okay?"
"Of course I am," he answered, his gaze drifting to his sister.
She waved a hand at him, as if directing him to pay attention to the other man. "Well," Mistoffelees said, watching the girl too. "It's sorta a hell of a first day on a ship."
That earned a half-laugh, "I'll grant you that."
"Nice you didn't get off at Whitefall," Mistoffelees continued.
"I think the captain was in a bit of a rush at that point."
"Still, means you're here longer," Mistoffelees said with a beaming smile.
Coricopat offered him a bit of a smile at that, "This is true. I'm very glad of that."
"You are?" Mistoffelees brightened.
The doctor nodded slightly, "A hell of a first day, but it was only a first day after all."
"Here's to many more?" Mistoffelees offered.
"Here's to many more," the other man agreed.
"I hope you stay," Mistoffelees murmured, voice soft.
"Well, for now that's the plan. You should rest."
"Not really sure I want to," he said with a smile. "I like it right now." Tantomile tilted her head at him, glancing between the mechanic and her brother once before drawing her knees up to her chest and not moving.
Coricopat shook his head, "As your doctor I insist upon it." He turned his attention from the mechanic, looking toward his sister. She shook her head at him once before returning to her position.
"Can," Mistoffelees stopped and started. "You said I'm not supposed to move for a week. Do I gotta stay here the whole time?"
"No, but until I can get someone to come help you somewhere else then you should."
"Okay," he said, settling down. "Just, it's sorta sterile in here, you know? Not sure it's really inductive to healing... but can you get the capt to do it rather than Tugger this time?"
The doctor paused at that, but nodded, "I'll speak with him about it."
"Thanks," Mistoffelees murmured, starting to fall asleep.
"Sleep well." Making another inarticulate sound, Mistoffelees finally allowed himself to fall back asleep.
Coricopat sighed, moving over to sit down next to his sister, "Do you need something to help you sleep, Tant?"
She gave him a long look. "Been sleeping too much," she said, voice rough with disuse but the words coming quickly. "I don't want to anymore." Glancing at the mechanic, she tilted her head. "His heartbeat is strong."
"I should hope it is. It took enough of a fight to get it to be such."
Tantomile gave him a long look. "It's in time to the ship," she said slowly, as if it should have been obvious.
That garnered an odd look, "It's what?"
Tantomile started tapping a finger, both in time to the beeps coming from the monitor Mistoffelees was hooked too, and the distant thrum of the engine. "His heart beats to the ship-it's strong, so is he. If it's not..." She shook her head. "But it is now."
"If it's not, what, Tant...?" the doctor's worry seeped into his tone.
She tilted her head, smiling. "He might not be so strong. But for now he is." She shrugged. "You got your worry face on now though."
"It's been a long few days," her brother answered.
Reaching a hand out, Tantomile took his, wincing slightly as soon as there was contact but smoothing her expression out. "You sleep too then, silly."
"I still have things to deal with. Then I'll sleep, but only if you do."
She narrowed her eyes. "Stop taking care of everyone else and take care of you."
"I will," he promised. "I need to talk to the captain first, and I can't help but take care of you."
Considering him a long moment, she nodded. "Go talk to the captain then," she shooed him off. "I'll be here." Taking her eyes off him, she went back to tapping the same rhythm she had been earlier while watching Mistoffelees sleep.
"I..." He finally nodded, "I'll be back to check on you both soon, alright?" She nodded, not paying him any attention.
Coricopat hesitated, but finally slipped out of the infirmary, going to find the captain.
Tugger glanced at Mac as he entered the bridge, going to the lockers along one side to fetch what he needed. "The girl could be a problem," he said with no preamble. "The Alliance seemed to want her."
"Suppose so," Mac said, arms crossed and his feet propped up on Pounce's board. When Tugger shrugged and turned to leave, Mac stopped him. "What's surprisin' to me is how that law man got out of his room."
The mercenary froze. "You accusin' me of something, capt?"
"Well," Mac leaned his head back on the seat to consider him. "Should I be?"
"No," Tugger returned. "Didn't sell you out. The money weren't nearly good enough."
"And if the money ever is?" Mac asked with an arched brow.
"Well, on that day, we'll see," Tugger returned, with a small smirk and he turned again to go, seeing Coricopat in the hallway and not making room for him, bumping harshly into his shoulder instead.
The doctor grimaced at that, stepping onto the bridge. His gaze flickered to the blood on Macavity's arm, "Do you need me to look at that?"
Mac looked down, as if just remembering he'd been shot. "Just a graze."
"As long as you're sure..." He paused, "Mistoffelees wanted me to ask if you'd be willing to help him to either his cabin or somewhere else. As long as it's not the infirmary. He's currently asleep, but when he wakes."
Mac nodded. "Course. He's more the type to be happier in a warmer place than there."
There was another long pause before Coricopat spoke again, "So, where do you plan on dumping us then?"
"There's some places you might be safe enough. Though, truth be told, you're probably safest on the move." He paused a beat, glancing back at the man. "And we never stop movin'."
A long blink greeted that, "I'm confused. No, wait, I think maybe you're confused..."
"Aint' confused," Mac returned. "This ship could use a medic and you ain't wake. I don't know how smart you are, top three percent of your class and all, but you ain't wake and that's what matters out in the black. You live under my rules, keep your sister from doin' anything crazy like, and you might find a place here. 'Til you find better."
"I'm trying to put this as delicately as I possibly can," the doctor started. "But how do I know you won't kill me in my sleep?"
Mac gave him a long look, something like anger lurking behind it. "You don't know me. So I'll explain it to you this once: I ever get the hankerin' to kill you, you'll be awake, you'll be facing me, and you'll be armed."
A faint half smile greeted that, "Are you always this sentimental?"
"Had a good day," Mac said, turning back to the stars.
"You had the Alliance on you, criminals and savages... half the people on the ship have been shot or wounded including yourself, and you're harboring known fugitives. This is a good day?"
"We're still flyin'," Macavity said.
Here we are at the end of the first arc! Hope everyone enjoyed, and please leave a review! It means a lot to your authors, especially as VS gears up for dead week followed by Finals. Cheers all, and thank you for reading!