Title: Serenity
Summary: The crew of Serenity are smugglers and general ne'er-do-gooders. And they're about to take on new passengers. Among them, a genius and a doctor...
Rating: T
Author/s: Aldythia Nightmare
AN: I'm really, truly sorry this chapter has taken so long. Life has been pretty hectic, what with the school musical taking up all of my tuesdays and thursdays and homework taking up all other days I haven't had much time to write. Oh, and I've been waiting for Bay to write the fight scene at the end of this chapter. Some how, she couldn't do that without me telling here 'bout it.
Chapter 7: Thought You Could Use Some Help
-John-
"Everyone is to come up to the bridge immediately. This is an order." I say as calmly as I can over the com system, "Jayne, get as many guns and other weapons as you can from your bunk and bring them up here."
I stay as calm as I can while waiting for Zoe, Jayne and Simon to get up here. I am rather surprised when Zoe arrives first, holding many weapons.
"He left his bunk open." she says shortly, responding to my confused look. A few minutes later, Jayne arrives with Simon in tow, Jayne holding many weapons and Simon carrying all the ammo.
"Where's Sherlock?" Wash asks, looking around as if he were expecting the strange man to appear out of the shadows at the sound of his name.
"In the infirmary with Book. They're looking after Kaylee and the Doc's sister." I answer, noticing Simon brighten slightly at the mention of his sister. I frown, "But they've only got my gun. Jayne..."
Jayne nods and takes a round of ammo, a few guns and a knife and leaves the bridge.
"Right, the way I see it we've got maybe two minutes tops before the Reavers come bustin' in here. It'll be every man for himself, can't have anyone worrying as to where someone else is. I say calmly, once Jayne has come back from delivering the weapons."That way, we might all make it through."
-Sherlock-
"Everyone is to come up to the bridge immediately. This is an order." John says as calmly as he can over the com system, "Jayne, get as many guns and other weapons as you can from your bunk and bring them up here."
"Shouldn't we go?" Book asks me, I shake my head
"No. Someone has to look after Kaylee and River." I say firmly. We only have the one gun. And no other weapons. Great. Somehow we'll get through this. I hear someone approach the door, not Reavers there'd be more if it was Reavers. So, one of the crew then. Probably bringing weapons, so...
"Jayne. I say just before he opens the door. Jayne tries not to look unnerved as he chucks the ammo, guns and knife to us. I smirk, it's always fun to upset Jayne. When he doesn't get violent, that is...
I pause for a moment, if we're very lucky, the Reavers won't notice us. But we need to do something lest nerves take over and we become unable to protect the invalids.
"So... I begin, unsure of what to say, "How many stories do you know of Earth-That-Was?"
"Bits and pieces, mostly." Book answers, "I was always interested by the stories of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, though."
"I have been told that Sherlock was put in an asylum for a year."
"Mycroft trying to get something out of him, I suppose."
"Oh no, this was long before he became a detective. He was 20 at the time, I think."
"Then why was he there?"
"Spouted nonsense about a mysterious 'Doctor' and aliens, apparently."
"I find that hard to believe, with all the other stories I've heard of him."
"Well, it's not one of my family's stories, so I don't believe it myself. But even so..."
"Aliens don't exist. Book laughs, "Humanity has gone further into space than the people of Earth thought possible, and never have we encountered aliens. They just don't exist outside of science fiction and conspiracy theories."
"No." I smiled faintly. I frown, Book is looking at me like he's wondering whether to ask a question or not... "Yes?"
"How did you know River was Simon's sister?" Book asks "Why not a cousin, or close friend?"
"He comes from a rich family. He wouldn't have had extended family, and would not have been encouraged to have friends. The only people around his age he would have known would be the children of his parents acquaintances and colleagues. The girls would more often than not be pressed on him as suitors. He may have fallen for one of them, but it's unlikely." I rattle off my deductions from earlier to Book, "So, he knows a girl a bit younger than himself who he's willing to risk his life for. In a family like his the most probable is..."
"A sister! Book finishes my sentence for me, then frowns slightly. Great, he's got another question. "The Holmes family is rich, isn't it? So how are you working- Surely there are jobs that you would prefer over this one?"
"They fell." I answer shortly. Hopefully he won't pry. No, there's the look. He's going to pry. May as well get this over with. "My father gambled. He lost all our family's money. As the youngest of three, I was forced into the highest paying job. Which also happened to be one of the most degrading for someone of my intellect."
"Oh. Book mutters, he looks as if he's about to start again, when I hear something outside. I motion for him to shut up, and then we hear it. The Reavers. If we stay completely silent, they might not notice us.
-John-
"I still don't understand" Simon starts, "Why are you all so afraid?"
"If they take the ship," Zoe begins to explain, "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."
"Oh" Simon's eyes go wide with fear just as the door to the bridge is smashed open.
About fifteen Reavers swarmed into the bridge. The Reavers pause for a split second before attacking. Three split off and head towards Simon who backs very quickly into a corner, clumsily pulling out his gun. Jayne manages to distract another four, shooting bullet after bullet at them. Suddenly his gun clicks as he runs out if ammo. Jayne tries to dodge but one of the Reavers manages to latch onto his arm. He screams as the Reavers fingernails dig into his arm. Zoe, so far, has rolled under the control panel but before I know it a bunch of Reavers are heading towards me. I swear violently before raising my gun. I manage to empty a round into one of their heads, effectively killing it but before I can reload the others are upon me. I drop to the ground and roll under the control panel beside Zoe. Whilst rolling I somehow manage to reload my gun and I start shooting as soon as I can. I quickly scan the rest of the bridge; Jayne is still up and fighting, though his right arm seems to hang limply, Zoe darts out every so often to shoot at the Reavers. Simon is completely terrified but he has managed to take down one Reaver. I emerge from under the control panel and return my attention to the Reavers in front of me. I start shooting again but they move too fast. I swear as one manages to rip my gun out of my hands and bends it beyond recognition before returning its attention to me. It takes a swipe at my head and I only just manage to duck in time. Another Reaver had somehow managed to get behind me and I felt a searing pain down my back before I can pull away. I roll again, ignoring the pain in my back and the blood that I had left on the floor. I glance up and swear again. There're still about eight Reavers left. Jayne is busy using the butt of his gun to break a Reaver's neck; he had obviously run out of ammo. I can feel blood soaking through my shirt and running down my back but I ignore the pain. I glance around and spot another gun lying on the ground. I make a dash for it and manage to grab it before a Reaver tears me open. I swear when I realise that the gun is empty but I still manage to smash in a Reaver's skull as I search for more ammo. Surprisingly, there is a slight lull in the fight and we realise that there are only two more Reavers left.
Suddenly, there is a loud crack as two gunshots ring out at almost the exact same time. The remaining Reavers fall to the ground, revealing Sherlock and Book with guns raised.
Sherlock smirks, "Thought you could use some help."
A/N: So, how did you like the new chapter? I hope it was worth the wait...
Thanks to all my reviewers, I love you guys!)
