1/100: Things that Aren't There
Things That Aren't There
Author: MBSugarSweet
Rating: PG? Probably G, but PG
Character(s): Mal/River
Prompt: #1 One Eyed One Horned Flying Purple People Eater
Word Count: Slightly more than 1,000...
River Tam often saw things that weren’t there.
She knew it, the crew knew it, and no one pretended like it didn’t happen. Therefore, when she saw something hovering around the edge of the space ship, she blinked her eyes and tried to tell herself that she couldn’t have seen what she actually saw-even if she was pretty sure that she had seen what she actually saw. She hated feeling crazy, so she stood and walked away from the window, heading towards the mess to join her brother and Kaylee at the table. Outside of the room, however, she paused, hearing brief clips of them in her mind. They were kissing, and she didn’t want to interrupt. She didn’t really want to be alone, though, in case she was starting to have another episode, and so hesitantly made her way to the cockpit, where she knew Captain Malcom Reynolds was playing with Wash’s dinosaur’s-even if he didn’t want to admit it.
Her feet were bare on the cold metal surface, so her steps were silent. She didn’t mean to sneak up on the captain, not that he would see it that way when he finally noticed her standing there. Hesitantly, River stepped further into the room, sitting down in the co-pilot chair.
Mal froze with the teradactyl up in the air, swooping down to attack the t-rex, and slowly turned only his head to look over at her. She returned his look innocently, blankly, watching as he slowly set the dinosaurs down where Wash had left them.
“I’m sure the T-Rex had it coming,” River told him calmly.
Mal smacked his hands on the console. “It did!” he exclaimed. “He terrorized the entire left panel, pushing buttons with that big ol’ tail of his. The buttons never saw it coming.”
River nodded seriously. “Then any actions you took against him were completely justified. You should have shot him.”
Mal leaned back in his chair. “I thought about it,” he told her, sounding dignified, “but then I thought that might be too merciful for him. So I sent my attack bird to take care of him.”
She nodded.
He took a sip of his coffee. “So what brings you up here, little one? I would have thought you’d be getting ready for bed right about now.”
River turned her attention to the window. “I thought I saw something,” she told him. “Something outside.”
Mal frowned, glancing at his monitors. “Nothing’s come up on the radar-“
“I didn’t think it had,” she interrupted quietly. “I thought I was getting better.” She gazed out the window sadly. “Miranda was almost three months ago. I haven’t had an episode since then. I thought I was getting better.”
He leaned his elbows on his knees, facing her. “We could check it out,” he offered. “Do a quick manual scan of the ship-“
“It would be a waste of time,” she said softly. “We know it’s in my head. It’s always in my head.”
He looked doubtful. “You’ve gone too long without seeing things or spouting out nonsense. I can’t imagine that you’re suddenly starting up again after all this time.” That seemed to resolve him, and he turned back to his console and began flipping switches. “I’ll do a quick sensory check. What did you think you saw and where-“
Mal broke off as the power on Serenity went down.
River gasped in terror, her mind whirling with thoughts. Mal was scared, and furious. She could tell that much just from the thoughts he broadcasted. She was reassured by his constant swearing and cursing, but there was another feeling inside of her… A feeling of dread.
“Something’s coming,” she said softly, then, when Mal paused in his tirade, she said louder, “Captain Reynold’s, it’s inside the ship.”
“What is?” she heard him ask. Something encircled her arm and she screamed, stopping only when she realized that it was his hand. “River! It’s okay. It’s just me. What’s inside the ship?”
“I-I don’t know,” she whispered, pleading with him to keep her safe without being able to say the words. “Whatever was outside… It’s inside now. It’s coming for us.”
“Damn it,” he hissed. Then, raising his voice to a shout, he yelled, “Everyone to the cockpit immediately!” She felt him fumbling around in the dark with his free hand. She reached down onto the console, feeling for the drawer, and pulled out the flashlight. She flipped it on, blinding him. He swore again and swiped at the light, pointing it away from his face. “When I can see again, I’ll go find the others,” he growled at her. “You’re going to sit here and get ready to seal off the main deck.”
She nodded, feeling her skin start to crawl. He rubbed a hand over his eyes and took the flashlight, turning to go. He was going to leave her alone… Alone with that… Thing.
“Wait!” she begged, grabbing his arm. He turned back swiftly, gun drawn already. “Don’t leave me alone,” she pleaded, feeling tears of fear spring to her eyes.
He studied her for a moment, then nodded. “Okay. You can come with me until we find someone else to stay with you.”
Someone came smacking into the cockpit. Mal swung the flashlight around, blinding Jayne, who started swearing instantly. Mal quickly dropped the flashlight to his waist.
“Gorramit, Mal, what the hell is wrong with you?” Jayne demanded angrily, his gun still drawn. “And what in the damn hell’s blazes is going on? Why did we lose power?”
“There ain’t no reason for it,” Kaylee said, entering the room. “Everythin’ was workin’ fine, and this ain’t a normal power out, Cap’n.”
Simon appeared behind her, and went straight for River, who clung to him. “River, are you alright?” he asked her gently, checking her over.
She nodded wildly, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I saw it,” she whispered, but everyone stopped and stared at her. “I saw it outside the window and I thought that I was losing my mind, but it’s inside. It’s inside the ship. And oh god, we’re all going to die. We’re all going to die.”
“Stop sayin’ that!” Jayne barked, drawing out another gun. “I don’t like it when you say that. Makes me worry.”
“What did it look like, River?” Simon asked, urgent but calm.
“It was big. Purple. Huge teeth. Fat lips. Hands with stubby fingers and long, sharp claws. Cold, beady eye. Just one. One horn, on its forehead. Wings.”
Mal swore.
“Everyone, stay here,” Mal barked. “I’m going to go find Zoe and Inara and no one is to leave this cockpit or open this door until I come bangin’ on it. Do you all understand?”
“What is it?” Kaylee asked, trembling.
“It’s a one eyed one horned flying purple people eater,” Mal replied flatly. River could read the worry in his mind. “They’re ruthless, evil, and they feast on human flesh.”
“But how did it-“
“Now ain’t the time for questions, Kaylee!” Mal snapped. “There ought to be less talking and more preparing to shoot for your lives!”
“Be careful out there,” Jayne told him, as Mal started out the door. Mal nodded, and then he was gone.
Kaylee clicked on a flashlight and went to the panel for the doors. Her fingers shook as she worked on the doors, trying to rig them to close even without power. River, Jayne, and Mal stood back to back in the middle, keeping their eyes peeled for any sort of movement.
There was a loud scream, and then shots were fired.
River didn’t wait. She swiped Jayne’s gun and took off running at full speed down the hallway, ignoring her brother’s protests. She could feel Inara’s terror-see Mal’s body with blood spurting out of several clawed wounds across his chest. She almost crashed into something, but at the last second sprang back, holding a gun on Zoe. She and Zoe stared at each other for a split second, just enough time for recognition, and then started back toward Inara’s shuttle.
“Sir!” Zoe shouted. “Sir, if you’re okay, answer us!”
There was no answer.
“Inara!” Zoe shouted, pounding on the shuttle door with the butt of her gun. “Inara, open up!”
The doors to the shuttle slowly parted.
River and Zoe each took one side of the door, slowly holding their guns poised to shoot. River watched as Zoe flipped a switch on her gun-the spot.
And there, on the floor, eating a chunk of Captain Malcom Reynold’s stomach, was the creature.
Zoe and River shot simultaneously, firing at the screaming, screeching creature. River didn’t stop firing until the creature was so riddled with holes that it couldn’t even bleed anymore. And then she shot it in it’s one eye.
“Doc!” Zoe shouted. River looked over to see the woman kneeling beside Mal, fear etched into the careful calm of her face. “Doc! Hurry!”
River heard her brother’s footsteps running towards them. There was the bright light of a flashlight, and then Jayne and Simon appeared, Simon holding his doctor’s bag. Her brother’s calculating eyes took in the situation, and then, without hesitation, dove to Mal’s side.
“That is one ugly, ugly creature,” Jayne declared, kicking the 5-foot fat monster with his foot.
“You should have seen it before we gave it so many drainage holes,” Zoe returned.
“No thanks,” Jayne told her, disgusted. “Sure am glad that this is Inara’s shuttle to clean and not mine.”
River looked around for Inara, who was slumped in one corner of the room as if she’d been tossed there and was completely boneless. River slowly walked over to her, despite all the excitement in the middle of the room, and felt for a pulse. Inara was breathing and appeared to be fine, she had just gotten knocked out. She’d probably been thrown out of the way when Mal burst in to save her. She was probably alive because of him.
The power suddenly surged on. Kaylee, no doubt. River looked over her shoulder at the group in the center of the room. Simon was looking relieved, which meant that Mal was going to be okay.
Thank god.
~End 1/100~
Author: MBSugarSweet
Rating: PG? Probably G, but PG
Character(s): Mal/River
Prompt: #1 One Eyed One Horned Flying Purple People Eater
Word Count: Slightly more than 1,000...
River Tam often saw things that weren’t there.
She knew it, the crew knew it, and no one pretended like it didn’t happen. Therefore, when she saw something hovering around the edge of the space ship, she blinked her eyes and tried to tell herself that she couldn’t have seen what she actually saw-even if she was pretty sure that she had seen what she actually saw. She hated feeling crazy, so she stood and walked away from the window, heading towards the mess to join her brother and Kaylee at the table. Outside of the room, however, she paused, hearing brief clips of them in her mind. They were kissing, and she didn’t want to interrupt. She didn’t really want to be alone, though, in case she was starting to have another episode, and so hesitantly made her way to the cockpit, where she knew Captain Malcom Reynolds was playing with Wash’s dinosaur’s-even if he didn’t want to admit it.
Her feet were bare on the cold metal surface, so her steps were silent. She didn’t mean to sneak up on the captain, not that he would see it that way when he finally noticed her standing there. Hesitantly, River stepped further into the room, sitting down in the co-pilot chair.
Mal froze with the teradactyl up in the air, swooping down to attack the t-rex, and slowly turned only his head to look over at her. She returned his look innocently, blankly, watching as he slowly set the dinosaurs down where Wash had left them.
“I’m sure the T-Rex had it coming,” River told him calmly.
Mal smacked his hands on the console. “It did!” he exclaimed. “He terrorized the entire left panel, pushing buttons with that big ol’ tail of his. The buttons never saw it coming.”
River nodded seriously. “Then any actions you took against him were completely justified. You should have shot him.”
Mal leaned back in his chair. “I thought about it,” he told her, sounding dignified, “but then I thought that might be too merciful for him. So I sent my attack bird to take care of him.”
She nodded.
He took a sip of his coffee. “So what brings you up here, little one? I would have thought you’d be getting ready for bed right about now.”
River turned her attention to the window. “I thought I saw something,” she told him. “Something outside.”
Mal frowned, glancing at his monitors. “Nothing’s come up on the radar-“
“I didn’t think it had,” she interrupted quietly. “I thought I was getting better.” She gazed out the window sadly. “Miranda was almost three months ago. I haven’t had an episode since then. I thought I was getting better.”
He leaned his elbows on his knees, facing her. “We could check it out,” he offered. “Do a quick manual scan of the ship-“
“It would be a waste of time,” she said softly. “We know it’s in my head. It’s always in my head.”
He looked doubtful. “You’ve gone too long without seeing things or spouting out nonsense. I can’t imagine that you’re suddenly starting up again after all this time.” That seemed to resolve him, and he turned back to his console and began flipping switches. “I’ll do a quick sensory check. What did you think you saw and where-“
Mal broke off as the power on Serenity went down.
River gasped in terror, her mind whirling with thoughts. Mal was scared, and furious. She could tell that much just from the thoughts he broadcasted. She was reassured by his constant swearing and cursing, but there was another feeling inside of her… A feeling of dread.
“Something’s coming,” she said softly, then, when Mal paused in his tirade, she said louder, “Captain Reynold’s, it’s inside the ship.”
“What is?” she heard him ask. Something encircled her arm and she screamed, stopping only when she realized that it was his hand. “River! It’s okay. It’s just me. What’s inside the ship?”
“I-I don’t know,” she whispered, pleading with him to keep her safe without being able to say the words. “Whatever was outside… It’s inside now. It’s coming for us.”
“Damn it,” he hissed. Then, raising his voice to a shout, he yelled, “Everyone to the cockpit immediately!” She felt him fumbling around in the dark with his free hand. She reached down onto the console, feeling for the drawer, and pulled out the flashlight. She flipped it on, blinding him. He swore again and swiped at the light, pointing it away from his face. “When I can see again, I’ll go find the others,” he growled at her. “You’re going to sit here and get ready to seal off the main deck.”
She nodded, feeling her skin start to crawl. He rubbed a hand over his eyes and took the flashlight, turning to go. He was going to leave her alone… Alone with that… Thing.
“Wait!” she begged, grabbing his arm. He turned back swiftly, gun drawn already. “Don’t leave me alone,” she pleaded, feeling tears of fear spring to her eyes.
He studied her for a moment, then nodded. “Okay. You can come with me until we find someone else to stay with you.”
Someone came smacking into the cockpit. Mal swung the flashlight around, blinding Jayne, who started swearing instantly. Mal quickly dropped the flashlight to his waist.
“Gorramit, Mal, what the hell is wrong with you?” Jayne demanded angrily, his gun still drawn. “And what in the damn hell’s blazes is going on? Why did we lose power?”
“There ain’t no reason for it,” Kaylee said, entering the room. “Everythin’ was workin’ fine, and this ain’t a normal power out, Cap’n.”
Simon appeared behind her, and went straight for River, who clung to him. “River, are you alright?” he asked her gently, checking her over.
She nodded wildly, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I saw it,” she whispered, but everyone stopped and stared at her. “I saw it outside the window and I thought that I was losing my mind, but it’s inside. It’s inside the ship. And oh god, we’re all going to die. We’re all going to die.”
“Stop sayin’ that!” Jayne barked, drawing out another gun. “I don’t like it when you say that. Makes me worry.”
“What did it look like, River?” Simon asked, urgent but calm.
“It was big. Purple. Huge teeth. Fat lips. Hands with stubby fingers and long, sharp claws. Cold, beady eye. Just one. One horn, on its forehead. Wings.”
Mal swore.
“Everyone, stay here,” Mal barked. “I’m going to go find Zoe and Inara and no one is to leave this cockpit or open this door until I come bangin’ on it. Do you all understand?”
“What is it?” Kaylee asked, trembling.
“It’s a one eyed one horned flying purple people eater,” Mal replied flatly. River could read the worry in his mind. “They’re ruthless, evil, and they feast on human flesh.”
“But how did it-“
“Now ain’t the time for questions, Kaylee!” Mal snapped. “There ought to be less talking and more preparing to shoot for your lives!”
“Be careful out there,” Jayne told him, as Mal started out the door. Mal nodded, and then he was gone.
Kaylee clicked on a flashlight and went to the panel for the doors. Her fingers shook as she worked on the doors, trying to rig them to close even without power. River, Jayne, and Mal stood back to back in the middle, keeping their eyes peeled for any sort of movement.
There was a loud scream, and then shots were fired.
River didn’t wait. She swiped Jayne’s gun and took off running at full speed down the hallway, ignoring her brother’s protests. She could feel Inara’s terror-see Mal’s body with blood spurting out of several clawed wounds across his chest. She almost crashed into something, but at the last second sprang back, holding a gun on Zoe. She and Zoe stared at each other for a split second, just enough time for recognition, and then started back toward Inara’s shuttle.
“Sir!” Zoe shouted. “Sir, if you’re okay, answer us!”
There was no answer.
“Inara!” Zoe shouted, pounding on the shuttle door with the butt of her gun. “Inara, open up!”
The doors to the shuttle slowly parted.
River and Zoe each took one side of the door, slowly holding their guns poised to shoot. River watched as Zoe flipped a switch on her gun-the spot.
And there, on the floor, eating a chunk of Captain Malcom Reynold’s stomach, was the creature.
Zoe and River shot simultaneously, firing at the screaming, screeching creature. River didn’t stop firing until the creature was so riddled with holes that it couldn’t even bleed anymore. And then she shot it in it’s one eye.
“Doc!” Zoe shouted. River looked over to see the woman kneeling beside Mal, fear etched into the careful calm of her face. “Doc! Hurry!”
River heard her brother’s footsteps running towards them. There was the bright light of a flashlight, and then Jayne and Simon appeared, Simon holding his doctor’s bag. Her brother’s calculating eyes took in the situation, and then, without hesitation, dove to Mal’s side.
“That is one ugly, ugly creature,” Jayne declared, kicking the 5-foot fat monster with his foot.
“You should have seen it before we gave it so many drainage holes,” Zoe returned.
“No thanks,” Jayne told her, disgusted. “Sure am glad that this is Inara’s shuttle to clean and not mine.”
River looked around for Inara, who was slumped in one corner of the room as if she’d been tossed there and was completely boneless. River slowly walked over to her, despite all the excitement in the middle of the room, and felt for a pulse. Inara was breathing and appeared to be fine, she had just gotten knocked out. She’d probably been thrown out of the way when Mal burst in to save her. She was probably alive because of him.
The power suddenly surged on. Kaylee, no doubt. River looked over her shoulder at the group in the center of the room. Simon was looking relieved, which meant that Mal was going to be okay.
Thank god.
~End 1/100~