13 - A Project Well Finished - 13

[onemanshort]

[Despite her hard work, the careful effort, and all the hours she'd put in to the Mule, Kaylee wasn't actually sure it would work until she turned the key and felt the machinery hum to life under her fingertips. It worked. Four months of effort and blueprints (and maybe a few too many midnight pieces of cake) and she had a bit of home that she'd

Comments

[breakmychest]

[There's a pause before Spike answers.]

We are? When did I volunteer for this? And who are you?

[onemanshort]

*Deng yi-huir? I'm...Kaylee...

[a confused look at this] Who're you?

*hold on a second

[breakmychest]

...Spike.

[And he's got no idea what the first part means.]

[onemanshort]

[in all your unlife, you never bothered to pick up a little Chinese, Spike? Shame on you. :>]

...You ain't Spike.

[a pause, followed by a quick laugh] I mean, I ain't callin' you a liar. But... you ain't the Spike I meant, I'm guessin'. Since he's here.

[Filter]

[someoneto_carry]

We'll be fine.

Just be takin' care of yourself out there.

[Filter]

[onemanshort]

We will. Promise.

Figure, people keep gettin' snatched from here and brought there. Bein' out by the Dead Zone might be the safest bet anyway.

[Filter]

[someoneto_carry]

Good.

Not a bad idea. Let's hope you find somethin'. [or not if it's dangerous >O ]

[Filter]

[onemanshort]

There's a few folks I know, got snatched by whatever's goin' on. Don't know if we'll get that lucky, but it seems worth a shot.

[in person filter]

[gottaknockhard]

[There are very few things that can get Spike Spiegel excited. Flying an untested vehicle into the unknown is definitely one exception. And considering his run of luck lately, it's about damn time he got to do something fun.

He wasn't ever one for goodbyes (and he doesn't expect anyone would notice), so he doesn't leave any on the journal. He's much too busy watching the mule and wondering how fast it runs. Is he taking advantage of the situation? Maybe. But conveniently, with the kidnappings going on, nobody can accuse him of being reckless this time.

He looks back at Kaylee, doing his best to sound casual when he asks--]

Mind if I drive?

[area filter forever]

[onemanshort]

[she's checking supplies in the back of the mule. Food, sleeping bags, a tarp to cover just in case the weather wasn't as shiny out there as it was close to the castle. The Mule wasn't really made for overnight travel, but she wasn't worried about it]

[glancing up from her work, her head tilts and she puts a hand on the metal frame, considering] Don't see why not. She's soundin' good, at an idle, so she probably ain't gonna fall apart on us.

[besides, excited as she is at having finished, she's been working long hours. The idea of someone else driving, at least for a little while, isn't half bad] You sure you don't mind goin' the first stint?

[gottaknockhard]

I think I can manage. [With that, he jumps into the driver's seat, grin still in place. He's been itching to try the mule out since it was still in pieces, his patience had to get rewarded eventually.

His hand stalls over the controls -- that he doesn't completely understand, but thinks he can figure out easily enough -- and calls back to her.] Got everything?

[onemanshort]

I'm thinkin' so. I ain't expectin' we're gonna need more'n a few days worth, but even if we're out there a bit longer, we oughta have enough to-

[luckyvalentine]

...

You and Spike are going to go rescue people?

[onemanshort]

[the voice was slightly familiar, but not enough for Kaylee to recognize. So her response is just friendly] That's the plan... assumin' we can find anyone out there t'rescue, anyway.

[luckyvalentine]

...Spike Spiegel?

[onemanshort]

....yeah?

∞ SereniCrew ∞

[aint_quiteright]

You'll need more water.

Who packed for you? [she's trying to do the 'mothering' thing]

∞ SereniCrew ∞

[onemanshort]

[aww, River]

I'm thinkin' we got plenty, mei-mei. I packed a bit extra, in case we're lucky enough t'find anyone wanderin' lost out there.

Should be more'n enough for a few days of explorin'.

∞ SereniCrew ∞

[aint_quiteright]

[nods] Okay, be careful, though.

∞ SereniCrew ∞

[onemanshort]

We will. Can't know for sure til we got her goin', but it looks like the Mule's runnin' fine. We should be back 'fore anyone has a chance t'miss us.