Chapter 13
Unknown World"I dub this land…Tahiti." Malcolm Shepard said as he reclined under the shade of a tree.
Zoë was sitting cutting old-fashioned spears and gave a snort.
"What?" he asked, "Like you could do better?"
"Not at all sir." Zoë answered. "I am shocked you didn't call it the Good Land and go all caveman on us."
Mal shook his head and pointed at her, "Its talk like that which makes me wonder if you are taking me serious or plotting to overthrow me."
Zoë shook her head, "I wouldn't worry about that sir. Everyone knows where the power really is."
"I'm happy to hear…you funning me Sinclair?" Mal asked in mock anger.
"What's taking so long?" had them turn to see Tylee in a tank top and shorts come around a crop of boulders saving Zoë from tormenting the captain further.
"The Captain was naming things and wondering about the surety of his position." Zoë said grabbing the spears she'd done while Mal had taken in the sights.
"You did assure him no one wants the figurehead role of captain right?" the mechanic asked as she looped arms with the first mate.
"Starting to feel as if none of my crew respects me none." Mal muttered loud enough for the pair to hear.
Tylee giggled and looped her free arm with his, "I love my captain." She proclaimed loudly.
"How can I be mad at that?" Mal asked Zoë nodding at Tylee between them.
"I don't think a Krogan can be mad at our mechanic sir."
The trio entered their camp to see the fourth member of their group working on the shuttle's external communications unit.
"Any luck with getting in touch with shuttle two?" Mal asked.
Illyana B'Accarin huffed. "No, there's something in the air that blocks long range communications and with getting separated by that storm when we entered the upper atmosphere they could be on the other hemisphere." The Asari said and Mal saw the frustration. In the other shuttle was Tika, Miranda, her sister and Sienna.
"Tika's a great pilot, they made it we just have to figure out where." He told her. "And the shuttles sensors are extended a hundred yards so they're not on our island." Mal said.
"We can see several other islands from our patrol." Zoë said sitting before the fire. Once the group had landed Mal ordered them to ration the supplies they had and with Zoë set up a camp encircled by boulders and the shuttle and the sea with the path the only way in.
"Do you want me to do a flyby?" Illyana asked.
"Not yet, we'll save the fuel cells." Mal said. "And the solar generator will power the sensor and communications and the small things."
"And the auto-turret and shield." Tylee added gesturing to the turret atop the shuttle and the shield that could be raised in a moments notice.
"You ever going to tell me where you got that generator lil' Tylee?" The Captain asked his mechanic.
"Traded for two of 'em." Tylee said with a shrug.
"Well I say they were worth whatever you traded Ms. Scott." Illyana said. "Able to use a shower and other things make this experience easier" the Asari said.
Mal had to agree with her as the purifiers cleaned the water and the portable shower and toilet were a godsend in the captain's opinion after being here three days already.
But I will find out where my mechanic has been trading and it can't be anything important otherwise Zoë or I would have noticed.
"Sir?" Zoë intoned breaking him from his thoughts.
"I hope the other shuttle touched down safely and since Ms. Lawson is our doctor she should be able to help Tika if her suit gets compromised." The First Mate said repeating her statement and the Asari's concern.
Mal winced in the thought of the Qunari's suit getting damaged. "Break out the white survival kit." He told Zoë. Looking at Tylee and the Asari, "Zoë and I will take the raft and check the nearest island while the two of you keep an eye on the sensors and data coming from the beacons." He told them before Tylee could argue about leaving them behind.
"From what we saw before we landed all the islands are rather close and roughly the same size so we shouldn't be long searching."
"If they are in this hemisphere." Illyana said crossing her arms.
Mal couldn't voice his opinion.
XX
"I feel so bloody stupid." Miranda said as Oriana changed the bandage around her head. With the rough landing she had been thrown about the shuttle having not secured herself entering the atmosphere. She had managed to not only give herself a concussion but to break her wrist and leg.
Tika had been doing fine in the storm until the shuttle took several lightening strikes shorting out the power.
Thinking of the pilot Miranda looked over to see the Quarian working with the Drell; Sienna setting up the generator they finally managed to dig out of the damaged shuttle.
"Doctor heal thyself." Ori's soft voice pulled Miranda from her thoughts and she gave her sister a smile. "Thank you Ori." She said.
"Its rare that I get to look after you." Oriana said, her gaze meeting her sisters.
"Well as the older sister I am supposed to look after you, and you are the best thing in my life." Miranda said.
"Once the generator is up, we should be able to deal with your injuries." Oriana said.
"Considering I took all the supplies I could from sick bay." Miranda joked.
"I…I want to thank you for coming for me." Oriana said. "When Henry…the man who wanted to be called Father gave me to them for creating the "Perfect Daughter" I don't think he understood what they were aiming for."
Miranda touched her shoulder causing the younger version of herself to look at her. "That bastard doesn't deserve to be called father in any shape or form. Call him Henry. The only reason he has our last name was he took that when he married mother so he could access her money."
Oriana looked to where Sienna and Tika were trying to get the camp organized and powered up. "Do you think the others made it?"
"For the short time I've known Captain Shepard he is not the type to die easily or quietly. They'll find us." Miranda assured her sister.
"For the love of…" Oriana said and as the telltale blue glow enveloped her hand she used her biotics to lift the crate and peel it open. The parts inside were held in the air. "Take your time."
Miranda looked at her sister and shivered mentally at the tone her sister used it mirrored her own at times. What did Cerberus have planned for you Ori?
XX
Mal climbed out of the raft ignoring the water around his legs. "This is the third island." Zoë said as she helped beach the raft after powering down the small motor. Mal checked his pistol and reached into the raft and pulled out "Inara" and clicked the safety off.
"If there are any of those lizards on this island I'll shoot first and study them later."
"They kind of made me think of varren." Zoë said.
"Yeah but these breathed fire and had scales that made me think of crocodiles." Mal took his pack and shouldered it.
Zoë tapped her omni-tool. "Same interference even with the mod that Tylee cobbled together last night sir."
"That girl is a genius, imagine if she went to fleet school." Mal the more he learned about his mechanic wondered if she was throwing her future away by being on his crew.
"If we were still part of the service, we'd be saluting her." Zoë said. "Some of the sketches she's come up with have amazed me with how advanced some of them are." The first mate admitted as they walked from the beach, Mal dropping a locator disc in the raft.
Their search turned up small animals, plants and nothing else. Mal made note of it on his omni-tool. "We'll head back and let Tylee know."
"We might need to use the shuttle, at the very least island hop further out." Zoë suggested.
"Our camp is good, easily defensible and there are no fire breathing lizard varren trying to charbroil my ass." The captain said as he looked around as if one was sneaking up on him as he spoke.
Zoë shook her head at her captain's antics. "Ready to go sir." She said swallowing her laughter as the creatures were no bigger than house cats and their "Flames" were no more intense than a lighter on high.
XX
CampTylee sat making adjustments on the shuttles thrusters while keeping an eye on Illyana. She'd seen the Asari trying to work the communications console and she swore she heard the Asari sending a message but gave a frustrated growl when it didn't go through.
Turning away from the occupied Asari she frowned as she reconnected several wires.
Never interacted with her on Serenity and here it just seems…"Ms. Scott?"
Tylee looked up to see the Asari looking at her. "Yes Ms. B'Accarin?" the mechanic asked as she turned from her work.
"Is there anyway for you to boost the communications? I ask as it seems the reach isn't helpful in that we can't even speak with the captain and Ms. Sinclair, much less the orbit should a rescue ship arrive."
"The beacon we left in orbit is updated via a tight burst transmission." Tylee said. "The captain has the access code and updates it daily so any ship is aware of the interference and the upper atmosphere storms."
"I was not aware of such tactics." Illyana said.
"The captain and Zoë said it wasn't the first time they've been to a world where something there made communications difficult. One of their old squad mates came up with a way to use a beacon in orbit. They would send message up and a ship in orbit would retrieve it and use the beacon as a relay of sorts."
"Hm." The Asari looked thoughtful. "But why the password?"
"Zoë said that was only sending in case we encountered hostiles down here." Tylee answered.
"Thank you Ms. Scott." Illyana said and rose from the communications console and headed towards her tent.
"Asari get stranger every time I meet them." Tylee thought thinking to tell the captain when he got back about the Asari's behavior.
XX
Camp 2The log exploded as Oriana sent a powerful ball of biotic energy at it. "How's that?" she asked her older sister.
"You make a wonderful wrecking ball." Miranda said with a wry grin. It was now a week the island they crashed on held several trees and plants but was mostly rock.
Oriana stuck her tongue out. "This is the first time I got to try something without heavy sedatives or a control collar."
Miranda looked sad, "Ori…"
"It wasn't your fault!" the younger Lawson said.
The sisters had been having the same discussion and neither could agree.
"I left you with him!" Miranda said.
"You were barely a teenager at the time! After all the genetic tweeks he did to you and then me as I got older I'm amazed we turned out sentient." Oriana said in her part of the argument as Miranda kept trying to take the blame.
"Hey you two."
The sisters turned to see Tika and the Quarian sounded tired. "Sienna resurfaced and brought some fish for you all."
Being a dextro dependant Tika had to ration her food more than the others.
"How are you doing today Tika?" Miranda asked. While the others were free to move about and remove their suits, Tika like all Quarian were dependant on their suits and had to stay in them.
"My suits power is still high, and the recharge unit is compatible." The pilot said.
"What about the dextro supplements?" Miranda asked.
"More than enough for a while. The captain made sure before we left." Tika ordered.
"I could use the computer on the shuttle to try and synthesize more." Miranda offered.
"We can keep it as an option."
Oriana laughed, "She's seen you cook."
Miranda rolled her eyes but happy that her sister was in good spirits.
XX
Camp 1"How do we know they aren't using their raft or shuttle to search?" Illyana asked on the dawn of their second week on the planet that seemed riddled with islands.
"Remember the last transmission we got before we were separated was they had taken multiple lightening strikes. If they landed on an island safely their shuttle would be in no condition for flying." Mal answered as they loaded the shuttle.
"And the other shuttle hadn't been stocked with a raft." Zoë said.
"We made sure it had enough supplies for our Quarian pilot." Mal said.
"I did make sure that the other shuttle had a power generator, shield unit and a turret." Tylee supplied, "As well as tools."
"And Lawson crammed what she could from the med-bay into both shuttles." Mal said checking his weapons over. "Zoë and I will check the last island we can reach on the raft and then we'll pack up our camp and move further out."
Illyana bit her lip and asked, "Could we power up Serenity and take the shuttle into the relay?"
"Not knowing where we are is dangerous as the shuttle might run out of fuel before we hit safe and friendly space." Mal told the Asari.
"These aren't military shuttles. They aren't equipped for that." Zoë said rather gently. "The fuel cells aren't converted for recharging like a Kodiak military shuttle. They need to dock with either the mother ship i.e. Serenity or a another ship or dock that can deal with those things. While the shuttle is attached to Serenity the ship draws in energy via collectors to convert into power for the shuttles. Equipment we just don't have."
The Asari sighed. "Is there anything Ms. Scott can do to boost the signal of the communications? I sure we could manage to send something back through the relay a call for real help instead of hoping for a rescue that most likely come from someone less respectable."
Mal laughed, "You mean like us Ms B'Accarin?"
Zoë shook her head and with Mal headed out one more time.
XX
Camp 2"How did you do it?" Oriana asked the Drell across the fire.
"Years of practice." Sienna offered as she turned the spit with the large fish. At the younger Lawson's growl she continued, "My parents were trackers and fishermen. We lived on what they caught and traded for other things. I was learning to fish before I could walk."
"And you became a…monk?" Oriana said in disbelief.
"I'm a monk now, before that I was something else." Sienna said.
The pair turned hearing the hum of a small engine and watched as Miranda returned on the hover board with more fruits she had scavenged. "Where's Tika?" she asked to which the pair gestured to where the Quarian was torso deep in the guts of the shuttle, a muttering could be heard.
"Matika?" Miranda said landing the board near the shuttle and waited until the pilot crawled out of the work she was attempting to do.
"How did it go?" the Quarian asked wiping her hands off on a rag.
"The board is amazing. It lost some altitude over water like you thought, but the power held steady."
Tika pumped her hands in the air. "I got the idea from that sled Tylee salvaged." She admitted as she helped Miranda unload her find.
The doctor scanned her with her omni-tool. "Your scans are better now that you've been sleeping."
"I couldn't those first days." Tika said leaning against the shuttle. "You were injured and the gear was pinned in wreckage."
Miranda shook her head, "And you were exhausted keeping watch as well as effecting repairs."
Tika gestured towards the shuttle "She won't fly without sometime in a dry dock, but I can make a skiff like the board and we can use it as a raft to get to another island. Also boost our signal so if the others are looking they can try and reach us."
"Shame the shuttles communications were burned out by the lightening strikes." Miranda said. "But the omni-tool range is cut down by something in the atmosphere."
They turned to see Oriana rising from the fire and moving towards the water, Sienna's chuckles telling the pair that the Drell had told the younger Lawson something that she was off to disprove.
"Please tell me she's not going to drown herself again." Miranda begged. Ton their fourth night Oriana had tried to follow the Drell underwater and thought her biotics could create an air bubble and she managed but she hadn't counted on pressure and strain and had to be dragged ashore coughing up water.
"As gifted a biotic as she is, Cerberus didn't really teach her limits of her own body." Tika said as they watched Oriana step into the water up to her knees.
"Cerberus is more about pushing their own boundaries than safety of the subject. Subject Zero I heard benefited from the work of the other subjects." Miranda said softly. "I didn't dig more as I was concerned with Oriana but I heard Subject Zero escaped a month ago and Cerberus has a special unit to finding him or her."
Sienna blinked as Oriana raised a sphere of trapped water and began to bounce it in a rough figure eight pattern.
XX
Another week passed and Mal had the shuttle lift off to check another set of islands, his group had moved camp and they were moving again.
"How do we know we're heading the right way?" Illyana asked as Zoë piloted the shuttle.
"The captain figured on direction based on our entry vector." The first mate said while the captain was with Tylee watching the sensors. "We'll search the islands along that path."
"What if they had a water lading? Will the shuttle be able to handle…" Illyana cut herself off at the first mate's look.
XX
"Are all Drell skilled with knives?" Oriana asked as Sienna resurfaced with her catch in a net over her shoulder.
"Some are." The monk answered shaking the water from her and handing the days catch to the young biotic.
"There's so much I don't know. My fath…the bastard that was my father had me genetically enhanced at a young age and then gave me to Cerberus. Neither group was forthcoming on other species."
Sienna nodded, "In many species there are groups and people interested in keeping other species away or believing that their species is the superior. In my travels I have seen the best and the worst."
"What are your travels like?" Oriana asked.
The Drell was saved from answering as the pair heard the hum of a small engine approaching. Oriana jumped up and climbed up onto a nearby boulder.
"It's the captain!" she said as she waved her arms back and forth as she was nearly jumping in place in excitement.
Miranda and Tika came out of the shuttle, the pair had retreated to work on some of the systems that they had hooked up.
"Ori, get down from there before you fall…again." Miranda ordered her sister, who like all younger siblings rolled her eyes and sighed annoyed. "I'm not a child Mira." Oriana said but did as she was told.
"I know you're not, but allow me to be over protective for a bit." Miranda said even as Tika reached the beach as the small raft reached them.
Mal was out of the raft and wading in knee deep water a grin on his face. "Well now, what do my eyes should appear, but my missing passengers and crew. I'd say their out of uniform." Mal said seeing the Lawson sisters and the Drell in cut off tops and shorts.
"I'd join them if I could captain." Tika said gesturing to her suit. "Its good to see you again."
Mal surprised her and pulled her into a one armed hug. "Don't do that again, I like my pilot the way she is."
Tika covered her embarrassment and waved to Zoë.
"Are Ms. Scott and B'Accarin okay?" Miranda asked while keeping her sister from springing at the captain.
"Both are fine." Mal said and nodded at Oriana, "More lively than when we last saw her."
"Hi!" Oriana said and blushed.
Miranda chuckled, "I weaned her off the meds I pumped her full of. She's been bouncing around the small island rather restlessly."
"How are you situated?" Mal asked as they walked up the beach to the downed shuttle and camp.
"The shuttle won't fly without time in a repair bay." Tika reported. "The lightening strikes fried many of the systems and the landing damaged others. I was cannibalizing it to make a hover raft to go to other islands."
Mal looked at the Quarian who gestured to the smaller hover board next to the larger raft shaped one that was in stages of assembly.
"Oh by the seven Buddha's don't let Tylee see this or the schematics." Mal moaned as he thought the mechanic would do to the other shuttle.
He turned to the face the whole group, "How's this island?"
Miranda paused and answered "No animal bigger than your fist. There is an abundance of fruit providing trees and bushes and Sienna has been bringing back a healthy bounty of fish."
The Drell nodded, "The waters are rich with aquatic life." Then shrugged.
Mal nodded at decided to speak with the Drell passenger and thank her for taking care of the others.
"We had to change islands a couple times looking for you, this is the fourth island chain we've checked out. Some are wastelands, some jungle, some like a paradise." Zoë said.
"And some have fire breathing dragons." Mal muttered.
"Sir they weren't that big." Zoë argued.
"Slander and balderdash they were as big as the shuttle." Mal said and gave a look to his first mate to argue to which she didn't.
"Right now we're on a island paradise that is both plentiful in edible plants and fruits as well as small game for fish." Mal said turning to face the other group again after shooting a look at his first mate which she ignored.
"So about your skiff…" Mal said clapping his hands together as ideas were already forming in his mind.
XX
One Month Later…With the group reunited on the island paradise the stranded crew of Serenity passed time making routines and keeping a schedule as if they were still on the ship. Sienna continued her walkabout in exploding underwater and bringing a daily bounty of fish. Tika an Tylee passed the time working on and improving the hover skiff and using it and the raft to explore other islands for hunting small game and various plants for eating and Miranda worked on finding healing properties for some of the plants.
Illyana when she wasn't on the communicator listening for a rescue ship was often in seclusion meditating.
Oriana was a ball of energy learning everything from everybody as she enjoying her freedom and no one denied her that freedom, with Miranda watching over her to make sure she didn't go to far in her "adventures".
Zoë and Mal worked on fortifying their camp and making numerous primitive weapons from spears, stakes and even bows and arrows to making a catapult and with help from Tylee and Tika making explosive orbs using shells from the planets version of coconuts which the group discovered were more like peaches on the inside and chemicals and minerals they found on several islands.
Mal was currently standing on a outcropping of rocks overlooking the vast ocean when he heard it. Looking towards the sky he waited and it was then he heard the unmistakable sound of ships thrusters. Tapping his com-link, "ZOË!"
He rushed back towards camp where his first mate was already moving the non-fighting members into the shuttle.
"Tylee you keep your fingers on turret controls, Tika get the shuttle ready for emergency evac if they aren't friendly." Mal caught Inara clicking the safety off the assault rifle that Sienna tossed him even grabbing a shotgun and using the shuttle door as cover. Miranda got Oriana into the shuttle ignoring the girls protests "But Mira I can fight too!"
Illyana with a pistol stood in the shuttle her free hand shielding her eyes looking up into the sunlit sky.
Miranda rejoined them at the hatch armed with a machine pistol. "Any idea who they are?"
Illyana shook her head, "They sent no signal and since we can hear the engines it means they are past the upper atmosphere." The Asari said and frowned seeing the communications array just out of reach.
"Its an old decommissioned cruiser." Zoë said lowering the scope she had been using to see the ship closing in.
"Which means privateers, mercenaries or worse." Mal said not taking his eyes off to ship exiting the clouds.
Illyana stepped out of the shuttle, "We could try contacting them, it could be something simple as they saw Serenity and came to help."
Zoë and Mal shared a look. "Very well Ms. B'Accarin, make your call."
The Asari Companion stepped over to the communications console and after checking the controls, "I am broadcasting on an open frequency to unidentified cruiser please respond."
"They might still be too far for the signal to get thru the atmospheric interference." Sienna said.
A voice from atop the shuttle drew their attention, "Or they are waiting for the men they sent down in a shuttle to get into position. Drop the weapons."
Mal spotted three men atop his shuttle one armed with a rocket launcher was a Krogan. The smaller one sneered at Mal was technically human. While the third man with a beard and shaggy hair and holding a twin to Mal's Inara.
"I'm sure we can all be reasonable here." Mal said.
The smaller one sneered, "Ya hear that boys, he's gonna talk to us about reason." He laughs.
The grizzled one snorted, "Yeah, that's a joke. Shouldn't we just shoot them and salvage everything Marco?"
In a sotto voice to Zoë Mal said "So, which one do you think tracked us and got thru the traps?"
The first mate tilted her head to the side, "The ugly one, sir."
Mal looks at them, "Could you be more specific?"
The identified Marco cut off the answer "Do we look reasonable to you?"
Mal shrugged, "Looks can be deceiving."
The one with Inara's twin spoke, "Not as deceiving as a low down dirty…deceiver!"
Mal smiled, "Well said. Wasn't that well said, Zoë?"
The first mate kept her face neutral. "Had a kind of poetry to it, sir."
"You want I should shoot 'em now Marco?"
"Wait until they tell us the codes for the ship in orbit." Marco told the rifle wielding merc.
"That's a good idea. Tell us the codes to the ship we found so I can shoot ya."
Mal shook his head, "Point of interest? Offering to shoot us, don't work so well as an incentive as you might imagine. Anyway, not going to tell you and none of the others know so if you kill us you'll never access Serenity."
The merc sneered, "Found you and disabled all your traps. Given time I could do the same to the ship."
Mal nodded. "Yeah, yeah you did, actually," he gets a thoughtful look "How much are they paying you?"
"Wubba…huh?" the merc with the rifle asked confused.
Mal continued, "I mean, let's say you did kill us. Or didn't. There could be torture. Whatever. But somehow you got the codes for my ship, after the salvage what would your cut be?"
The merc seemed proud, "Seven percent, straight off the top."
Mal makes a "wow, that's pathetic" grimace. The merc squints. "What?"
"Hmm? Noting. Not a thing. Just…" he looks at Zoë, "That seem low to you?"
the first mate nods, "It does, sir."
The mercenary growled, "That ain't low…"
Marco scowls "Stop it."
The merc looks at Mal, "Seven percent, that's standard."
"Who told you that? Him?" Mal asked nodding towards Marco, then to Zoë "Okay Zoë, I'm paying you too much."
The merc looked at them, "Why? What does she get?"
"Knock it off." Marco barked while the Krogan with the rocket launcher one shifted his grip.
"Look, forget I said anything. I'm sure you're treated very well. You get the perks. Got your own room…" seeing the merc twitch "No? You share a bunk?"
the merc nods his head towards the Krogan, "With that one."
Mal looks in disbelief, "Really."
Marco shifted, "This ain't funny."
"Yeah, I ain't laughin'." The rifle armed mercenary growled.
Mal continued, "You move on over to this side, we'll not only let you aboard Serenity, we'll see you get a share of our profits that you deserve. Not no sad seven either."
The mercenary looked at him and shifted his stance, "Private room?"
"Hey!" Marco snapped.
"Your own room. Full run of the kitchen. Whole-shot.
Marco now turned "I ain't askin'…"
The mercenary turned and shot Marco in the leg and then the Krogan who was starting to turn all of this without looking. "Shut up." He said to Marco then to Mal, "How big a room?"
Mal relaxed and described the crew quarters. "So what do I call you?" Mal asked the mercenary.
"Garibaldi." The mercenary carrying the rifle said.
XX
AN: Next chapter the crew of Serenity now joined by Garibaldi learn of recent events and Mal gets passage to Noveria to meet Hunt.