Through the Reaver belt
[ Continued from here…]
Having refuelled - thanks to Parker's money - they now had their navigation set for Miranda. But ahead of them, before their destination, lay the largest fleet in the 'verse of Reaver ships. 'Fleet' might not be the most accurate of terms, as it implied some kind of organisation. That seemed lacking among the Reavers, unless you counted some kind of agreement that eating, mutilating and eventually killing people was a good and proper occupation.
As Acorn approached the minefield of Reavers, the only protection they had was Emma's ability to telepathically shield them, making the cannibals oblivious to their presence.
The ships were a mixed collection, but they were all decorated with trophies from previous raids. They just circled around there, occasionally getting too close and crashing into each other, all in complete silence.
Emma was projecting noli me tangere for all she was worth. She couldn't make the ship invisible, but she could make it seem uninteresting, and that was what she was doing to any ships that came within range. She was lying on the floor, staring blankly into the air. Every once in a while, her concentration drifted and she saw bits of Reaver minds. The horrified grimace on her face was very telling.
Parker was watching out the front viewscreen, silent, and glancing from River to Emma every few minutes, one hand on her gun. No, it wouldn't help. But yes, it did make her feel better.
If Reaver territory ringed Miranda, she had to wonder-- what the hell were they going to find when they got there? Something worse?
Sam was concentrating on flying the ship through the field, keeping the speed steady and as fast as she thought she could get away with under the circumstances--it wasn't nearly as maneuverable as she was used to, or preferred. She glanced occasionally at River.
Jack was sitting on the floor next to Sam's chair, leaning back against it, the rifle Rose had given him resting across his knees. He was surprised at how calm he felt - now that they'd committed themselves, they'd either make it or they wouldn't.
As they approached the Reavers River had turned quieter than usual. Now she sat strangely upright in her seat, really leaving the flying to Sam. Her eyes wide, she watched the scene outside their ship, and tried seeing as little as possible through her other senses.
Kaylee glanced at River, making sure she was okay. Or as okay as she was going to be considering what was out there. Every now and then, she looked nervously out the front viewscreen. She shuddered, really hoping this would be over soon and that they'd make it out of this alive.
Bridge doesn't like not being able to help. Which is why, when he looks over at Emma and sees the expression on her face, it doesn't take him long to decide what he needs to do. He moves over to her, holding out a hand and projecting his idea- to let Emma use him as a sort of human battery to boost her own power.
It took her a moment to sort Bridge's voice out of the screaming, but then her hand moved instantly, seizing his. The ships outside were suddenly slightly, but markedly less interested in Acorn. Some of what Emma was seeing, might be seeping over to Bridge.
Buffy was standing up beside Parker, firmly clutching a stake in one hand. She knew it wouldn't be much good, but it made her feel better anyway. She glanced towards her bag to make sure Mr Gordo and her trinkets were still where she'd placed them.
Even with Bridge's help, Emma kept seeing far more of the Reavers' minds than she wanted to. There was nothing there but madness and unrelenting anger and memories Emma really didn't want to see.
She could hold them off for a while, and she did, until they were almost safe, and then she let go of Bridge's hand, rolled over on one side and puked, as her legs began turning into diamond.
Perhaps if she had kept on projecting just a little longer, the lone Reaver ship wouldn't have noticed them. And started following.
The ship kept its distance, but followed Acorn's trajectory down to the planet.
[ooc: pre-played with carbontelepath, mparkerceo, carter_i_am, time_agent, moonbrain_tam, bridge_carson, 1ordinarygirl, and Monsta!]
Having refuelled - thanks to Parker's money - they now had their navigation set for Miranda. But ahead of them, before their destination, lay the largest fleet in the 'verse of Reaver ships. 'Fleet' might not be the most accurate of terms, as it implied some kind of organisation. That seemed lacking among the Reavers, unless you counted some kind of agreement that eating, mutilating and eventually killing people was a good and proper occupation.
As Acorn approached the minefield of Reavers, the only protection they had was Emma's ability to telepathically shield them, making the cannibals oblivious to their presence.
The ships were a mixed collection, but they were all decorated with trophies from previous raids. They just circled around there, occasionally getting too close and crashing into each other, all in complete silence.
Emma was projecting noli me tangere for all she was worth. She couldn't make the ship invisible, but she could make it seem uninteresting, and that was what she was doing to any ships that came within range. She was lying on the floor, staring blankly into the air. Every once in a while, her concentration drifted and she saw bits of Reaver minds. The horrified grimace on her face was very telling.
Parker was watching out the front viewscreen, silent, and glancing from River to Emma every few minutes, one hand on her gun. No, it wouldn't help. But yes, it did make her feel better.
If Reaver territory ringed Miranda, she had to wonder-- what the hell were they going to find when they got there? Something worse?
Sam was concentrating on flying the ship through the field, keeping the speed steady and as fast as she thought she could get away with under the circumstances--it wasn't nearly as maneuverable as she was used to, or preferred. She glanced occasionally at River.
Jack was sitting on the floor next to Sam's chair, leaning back against it, the rifle Rose had given him resting across his knees. He was surprised at how calm he felt - now that they'd committed themselves, they'd either make it or they wouldn't.
As they approached the Reavers River had turned quieter than usual. Now she sat strangely upright in her seat, really leaving the flying to Sam. Her eyes wide, she watched the scene outside their ship, and tried seeing as little as possible through her other senses.
Kaylee glanced at River, making sure she was okay. Or as okay as she was going to be considering what was out there. Every now and then, she looked nervously out the front viewscreen. She shuddered, really hoping this would be over soon and that they'd make it out of this alive.
Bridge doesn't like not being able to help. Which is why, when he looks over at Emma and sees the expression on her face, it doesn't take him long to decide what he needs to do. He moves over to her, holding out a hand and projecting his idea- to let Emma use him as a sort of human battery to boost her own power.
It took her a moment to sort Bridge's voice out of the screaming, but then her hand moved instantly, seizing his. The ships outside were suddenly slightly, but markedly less interested in Acorn. Some of what Emma was seeing, might be seeping over to Bridge.
Buffy was standing up beside Parker, firmly clutching a stake in one hand. She knew it wouldn't be much good, but it made her feel better anyway. She glanced towards her bag to make sure Mr Gordo and her trinkets were still where she'd placed them.
Even with Bridge's help, Emma kept seeing far more of the Reavers' minds than she wanted to. There was nothing there but madness and unrelenting anger and memories Emma really didn't want to see.
She could hold them off for a while, and she did, until they were almost safe, and then she let go of Bridge's hand, rolled over on one side and puked, as her legs began turning into diamond.
Perhaps if she had kept on projecting just a little longer, the lone Reaver ship wouldn't have noticed them. And started following.
The ship kept its distance, but followed Acorn's trajectory down to the planet.
[ooc: pre-played with carbontelepath, mparkerceo, carter_i_am, time_agent, moonbrain_tam, bridge_carson, 1ordinarygirl, and Monsta!]