One Genius Mechanic, Chapter 12
Title: One Genius Mechanic, Chapter 12
Author: Kalli
Rating: T
Pairing: Established Jaylee
Thanks: To anyone who is reading or encouraging me
A/N: Have a job that can keep me off the grid for weeks at a time. I am home this week and making the most of it. Earlier chapters were posted on this site, and I appreciate everyone who took the time to read and comment. If you have any suggestions or more detailed feedback, feel free to hit me at kalliopekore@hotmail.com.
Summary: Kaylee was stolen away by the crew of the Tempest to lend her expertise to the kind of crime they pull. The situation has gone from bad to worse as she ship’s first mate Drake has all kinds of designs on Kaylee that have nothing to do with her mechanical aptitude. Jayne and Mal have finally gotten ahead of Kaylee’s captors, and are fighting to bring her home safe and sound.
CHAPTER 12
Kaylee felt the vibration of the thrusters end as the Tempest set down on Kalimdor. She knew Maestro had gotten in touch with Serenity; she could just feel it. Even through the fear and the upheaval of the last five weeks she still had all the faith in the ‘verse that the people she loved would come through for her. While they were working to bring her home, she had one thing left to do on the Tempest to make sure that Trent and Drake weren’t in a position to do her extended family any harm.
Her slow and pained body made a labored trek across the floor. She opened the panel that lead to the electric controls. Carefully exposing the wires for the pulser and main thrust, Kaylee stripped and twisted and reconnected them in a new configuration. The next time this boat broke atmo, the pulser would overheat and discharge. Maestro, Mal and Jayne were gonna get her off this ship, and she was gonna make damn sure that the Tempest didn’t come after them.. The next time Tempest broke atmo would be the last.
As much as she tried to think of it as simple engineering and mathematics, she couldn’t help but stroke the side of the main engine casing.
“Sorry, old girl. Just don’t see another way.”
*
Mal and Jayne were walking the yard for a look at tactics and placement. There were some damn good places to hide a sniper or two or six, and Chamberlain had more then a few on his payroll. He was sparing no expense to make the stand when Trent showed his face.
It was Zoe yelling for them that brought them back to Chamberlain’s office. As they walked through the door Zoe sushed them. Jayne, in his usual contrary way began protesting being told to shut up when Zoe reached up and clamped his mouth shut with her hand. Jayne was fixed to explode when in that split second of silence he heard the unmistakable tenor of Marcus Trent.
“She’s got a lot to do before we head out tomorrow. It’ll stretch my schedule to spare her.”
“Really do think it’s best, though, unless you want to pay for both. Maybe we could work something out to trade one back next time you are around.” Chamberlain struggled to not seem eager.
“Fine. I’ll bring her by.”
“I’ll have her back to you in no time. See you tomorrow.” Chamberlain said with a smile that hid his anger.
Trent spared all pleasantries, and ended the call. It was Mal who asked the question on everyone’s mind as soon as the screen went blank. “Think he bought it?”
“We’ll know tomorrow,” Chamberlain answered, his tone neither ominous nor hopeful. “Plan like he didn’t, sleep like he did, and we’ll be ready no matter what happens.”
*
“Something seem off to you?” Trent sought Drake’s counsel as he disconnected with Chamberlain.
“You know he knows her. Isn’t that far off to guess that he might be looking to check on her. Can’t send her down there looking like she looks now.”
“And who’s fault is that?” Trent quipped.
“They killed Mac. Reynolds brought that on her.”
“I agreed to send a message to Reynolds. You were a might too enthusiastic with your effort.”
“What do you want to do about Chamberlain?” Drake asked ignoring Trent’s comments.
“Well - can’t let him see her like that, and can’t give him enough time to put a plan together. She’ll stay here with me. You head to the yard with some of the crew.” Trent called for some of the muscle on the ship to meet up with Drake in the cargo area.
“What? Now?”
“If we wait till tomorrow and it only gives him more time. Chain her up till this is all over, but then you leave her be and get to the yard.”
*
Kaylee was leaning against a wall in the engine room when Drake entered. She immediately recoiled to protect herself, and Drake actually laughed that she was so afraid. He put his hands up as a peace offering. “Here following orders, Kay. Just clam yourself.” He reached for the shackles on the pole and motioned for her to assume a very familiar position. She shook her head no more in desperation then protest.
“I’m asking as nice as I ask, Kay. Best you take advantage of it.”
Kaylee was still hurting from the beating, and was in no real position to refuse. She still didn’t know what had set him off and would have done just about anything to save herself from a repeat performance.
Getting up hurt too bad, so she never really got off the floor - just crawled her way over on her knees and settled with her back to the pole. He locked her hands up above her head and headed for the door.
“Heading to town for that part of yours. When the boys get back with some supplies and our new cargo we’ll be on out way.”
“Trent said he wanted me to go the yard - see if I could get a better price.”
Drake smiled at her surprise. “Yeah - well we needed to be sure everything was on the level. Now I’m going to the yard with some of the muscle and you get to wait her for me to get back. Not in much condition to travel anyway, huh.”
“I could make it to the yard and back,” Kaylee protested. “You ain’t an engine guy, Drake. I could help you make sure the part is what we need and in good enough condition to use.”
“We been dealing with Chamberlain for a long time, Kay. He’ll do us just fine. I’m gonna get you your precious part and then we’re gonna get us off this rock to someplace a little less conspicuous. Then you are gonna get this boat ready for the job next week. That’s all you need to worry about.”
“It’d be safer for me to make the repairs here before we leave. One less chance for something to go wrong.”
“Kay, enough. Just sit still and shut your mouth.” Drake headed out leaving the engine room doors open behind him throwing one last “I’ll tell Chamberlain you say hi” over his shoulder as he exited.
Kaylee looked around the room. She started to panic that she had put Maestro in danger, or what Drake and the crew might do to Mal and Jayne if they were at the yard like she had been hoping. Or what might happen to her if Drake made it back to the Tempest.
Then her eyes tracked on the panel with the twisted wires. Drake wasn’t going to unhook her before they took off. She was going to stay shackled until they broke atmo, only Kaylee knew that the ship wouldn’t actually break atmo successfully ever again.
*
Maestro, Jayne, Mal and Zoe were eating a late breakfast while they went over the plan for the next day. They had about 36 hours to get ready for Trent and they were going to use every minute of it. They had plenty of fire power, lots of good hiding spots, and back-ups for their back-up plans. They weren’t taking the chance at losing Kaylee again.
Maestro’s radio crackled from one the yard’s security personnel.
“Chamberlain, got eight people approaching from the east.”
The room erupted in chaos as they all armed and began moving to places for the confrontation.
“Sir, Miss Kaylee ain’t with them.”
Then all movement stopped.
Maestro questioned the voice on the radio. “You sure?”
“I’d know Miss Kaylee anywhere, sir. She ain’t here.”
“They’re on to us,” Mal said despite the fact that everyone in the room already had put that two and two together for themselves.
It only took Jayne a second to start looking for a path out of the yard and to the docks. He looked out the window and then at a map of the yard. There was no good way to make it past the group undetected. He was going to have to stay and secure the yard, and then he was going to find Kaylee.
*
Chamberlain greeted Drake outside the office. Between the worried look on Kaylee’s face when he told her she wasn’t coming to the yard and forced grin on Chamberlain’s face as the two shook hands Drake knew he was in trouble. He didn’t have to be all that bright to figure out that someone was up to something.
“Drake! Been a long time. How’s the ‘verse treating you?”
“We’re getting by.”
“A little modest. I hear rumors you’re doing a little better then that.”
Drake smiled. “More comfortable lately than usual.”
Chamberlain feigned amusement. “Where’d Trent and Kaylee get too? I was sure they were gong to come by. Hadn’t settled on the part yet.”
“Trent told me to make you an offer for both and we could trade back another time. Having some crew issues he needed to tend to … personally,” Drake explained ominously.
“And Kaylee?”
”She was the issue.”
Chamberlain led Drake inside. “Girl’s been many things since I’ve known her, and trouble ain’t ever been one of them.”
“That may be true for you, but trouble’s all we ever get outta her.” Drake eyed Chamberlain waiting for him to make a move. He followed Chamberlain over to the desk and watched him lift the parts.
“You looking for another mechanic? I could make some recommendations for you. Some decent talent around here for being as out of the way as it is.”
“Nah - we got it covered. Trent is teaching her a lesso …”
The sound of gunfire outside the office door made Drake flinch, and by the time he had drawn he was staring down the barrel of Chamberlain’s gun. When the gunfire finally died outside Drake was completely surrounded. Zoe. Mal, Jayne and Maestro all had guns trained on him.
“I’m heading to the Tempest. If Kaylee ain’t here then she’s on that boat.” Jayne looked at Drake as he walked by, and then back to Zoe and Mal. “You leave me something for when I get back. Gonna find Kaylee, and then I’m gonna make sure he gets what’s coming.”
*
Trent came up the stairs leading to the engine room slowly and quietly. All he could see was the back of Kaylee as she sat; chained to the pole and softly crying. It was strange to him how easy it had been to go along with Drake’s plan from the beginning. He couldn’t count the number of times in his life he had stretched, bent and flat out broken the law, but this was too far even for him. Never should have agreed to take the girl. Crossed a line that brought him some gold, but also a world of grief.
He knew he had sent Drake into a trap, and knew that when they finished with Drake, they would come for her. And him. He had asked around once they had her: casually inquiring about the girl and Serenity. Wasn’t hard to figure that Reynolds and Cobb were looking to kill him. And the lion’s share of it was for wrong Drake had done.
He could cut her loose and take off, but if Drake made it through Trent knew he would be looking over his shoulder forever.
Trent shook his head in disappointment: disappointment in himself and what he had let his ship become.
He had been at this game long enough to know that when you can’t stack the deck, you best know when to fold. He slung a bag he had with some weapons and cash over his shoulder and headed to town. Reynolds and Cobb were coming for her and he wanted no part of being around when they got there.