Taste
The smoke was harsh and acrid. It tasted the same as she'd always thought poision should, only not as thick. She grabbed the fire extinguisher, unable to imagine exactly what was goin' on elsewheres if she had fires back here. Had to get 'em out or the whole thing might blow.
She turned, focus startin' on the flames crawling towards the engine. If they hit, everything would blow for sure. Kaylee swallowed a rising feeling of nausea and sent clouds of white towards the orange flames. A coughing spell forced her to focus even harder on the fires. Had to get 'em out.
There was a taste in her mouth she could only describe as metallic, though the word didn't quite fit. The taste itself she pinned down easily enough. It was what caused her to feel nauseous, what made her move away from the fires even as they slowly disappeared. That tase was what she'd felt as she lay once before, tied up in the engine room, left helpless with the guilt that she might have turned River in, worried that he would come back. It was fear.
Kaylee crouched down, moving below the level of the smoke. She'd dropped the fire extinguisher, but didn't remember its weight leaving her hands. Just looked down and it wasn't there anymore. The mechanic cringed, the taste of fear overpowering her.
Hearing
"Everybody, strap yourselves into something!" The Captain's voice came suddenly over the comm. Simon looked around. Wash, Zoe,and Mal were on the bridge. No sign of Jayne, who was likely to be near the front of the ship as well.
"Simon, find Kaylee," Inara said. "I'll see to River." Without another word, the doctor nodded his thanks and ran towards the engine room. That was bound to be where he would find Kaylee.
"Kaylee!" He pulled her to her feet, listening briefly to her ragged breathing. Not saying another word, he moved her away from the fire, following close behind. From the engine room came the sound of something exploding. No other serious sounds, like air escaping, followed. They were safe for now.
At the doorway, Simon fell as the ship lurched. A dull thud accompanied by a grunt signaled Jayne's sprawl to the deck from the same move. Both were on their feet in seconds, the merc knocking over the small table as he checked that everyone was strapped in. Simon shut his eyes, listening to the ship's engine's scream as they started to spin out of control.