The Junkyard, Sunday morning
RiverRiver had quietly made her way to the Junkyard. She had to go, she would go, but she preferred it if no one was around to stop her. She didn't want to hurt people.
The doors to the Acorn slid open, and she slipped inside the small but sturdy vessel, hoping it would carry her to Koprulu and back.
LeeLee wasn't known for his stealthiness but, when he wanted to, he could be quiet. So, as soon as he saw River disappear in the ship and waited to make sure she was staying there, he crept silently inside the ship and tucked himself away in some dark, corner.
For once, he was thankful of his height. He could make himself smaller and less of a conspicuous presence.
He just hoped he wouldn't be stuck here too long. His legs would ache if that happened.
RiverUnfortunately for Lee, hiding from a telepath on her guard wasn't that easy. River sensed a presence and reached out, quickly finding out who it was and where he was hiding.
Fortunately for Lee River knew he would want to help, and he might be useful. If not, she could knock him out. However, if he thought he had to hide in a small space for the duration of the journey she saw no reason to tell him otherwise.
RoyRoy hadn't been surprised when the trooper reported having spotted River going into the Junkyard. He was in Fandom so he couldn't not be expecting something as soon he realised that dream hadn't just happened to him.
Luckily the cargo doors were still open and he moved inside, well aware that River would know he was there already. "River?"
RiverRiver looked down at him from the stairs leadin up to the pilot's seat. "Am going. You can't stop me." She said this matter-of-factly, with no hint of anger or stubborness.
RoyHe probably could, he didn't need to know how the ship worked in order to turn it useless, but he'd be lying if there wasn't a part of him that wanted to go too. Well, more than just a part but he didn't much like student having to fight and he knew Kerrigan wouldn't like it either.
"She wouldn't take kindly to me if I didn't try," he replied, but then he knew exactly how useless that could be.
River"You can't make me leave the ship," River told him. "If you try I will fight. Can't stop that." She had a feeling it was probably best not to mention that Lee was hiding on board.
RoyNo, but he could turn the engine into stone and the ship wouldn't be going nowhere then. "I'm not letting you take off alone, River," he replied, moving towards the stairs.
RiverRiver sighed and looked away. With a somewhat sulky expression she said: "You can come with me." It wasn't that she objected to Roy's assistance, but she had a feeling he could be stubborn about what she could and could not do. He would also be less easily dealt with than Lee.
RoyRoy raised an eyebrow, wondering if he'd really just been granted permission by a teenager. He was already ready to argue, but then he was painfully aware that if he was going to help Kerrigan, this was his one chance. There was no way he'd figure out how to fly this thing and bothering Michael or Raynor didn't seem like an option.
He started up the stairs. "If anyone asks, it's the other way around."
RiverRiver shrugged. It wasn't important right now. She was leaving, and if Roy had to be on the ship as well, so be it.
She returned to the pilot's seat, leaving the co-pilot's for Roy if he wanted it. One push on a button and the doors began to slide shut.
RoyHe listened to the doors closing and finally dropped in the seat. "Do you know where to go?" he asked.
River"Yes." Well, she had an idea. Starting the engines, she thought it best to leave as soon as possible, before Roy changed his mind.
The Acorn slowly took off, speed increasing gradually as the shape of the island grew smaller beneath them.
LeeIt was easy to feel that they weren't on the ground anymore and Lee debated just coming out of hiding now since they very well couldn't throw him off the ship.
Could they?
He stayed hidden for awhile longer.
RiverRiver glanced at Roy. Fandom was out of sight and the ship shook as they passed through the outer limits of the Earth's atmosphere.
"Should we ask Lee to come out?" she said, raising an eyebrow.
RoyRoy blinked at the question and it was only years of dealing with Ed that kept him from groaning. "I should have known," he sighed and debate letting the kid stay wherever the hell he was hiding. It probably wasn't the responsible thing to do. "I suppose so."
RiverShe nodded and leaned foward to switch on the rather basic communication system on the ship. There was an almost painful sound from the speakers at first and then River announced: "Lee! You can come out, unless you're comfortable where you are." She smiled at Roy.
RoyThere may have been a hint of amusement coming from Roy, or it was possibly just exasperation as he shook his head. It was followed quickly by the thought that Kerrigan really was going to kill him.
LeeLee contemplated just staying where he was. Maybe they wouldn't notice.
But it was uncomfortable and cramped so he pushed away from the corner and stepped out where they could see him.
"I got lost and ended up on the ship," he lied.
RiverLying to a telepath was pointless, and even more so when the lie was bad. River didn't bother to comment. "You can't fly the ship," she told him.
RoyHe really was stuck on a rescue mission with two teenagers.
"Take a seat, Lee," Roy said. "And remind me to lecture you both on how it's stupid to think you can do everything alone."
Lee"I didn't wanna fly the ship," Lee said, dropping into a seat. "And I don't need a lecture."
River"You would have gone without us if you could," River told Roy. "Thought you liked flying," she added to Lee.
Roy"Of course I would have gone without minors," Roy grumbled. "It's my duty to protect the generation that comes after us."
Lee"I do like flying but not this ship," he said, shrugging. "Not my type of ship."
RiverRiver had set course towards Koprulu, and and now the planet Char appeared in view. "Am a secret weapon," she told Roy, and with a glance at Lee she said: "Just jealous."
RoyRoy let the comment pass him by because there were some things he wasn't willing to explain. Especially not here. He leaned forward in his chair as the planet came into view.
"Now all we've got to do is find Liberty," he murmured. How hard could it be?
Preplayed with the always wonderful
light_a_spark and
stupid_toasters. NFI.