Firefly: The Next Generation (IC)

[celestialdragon]

"Maybe once we're on the ship?" Wash suggested in a soft whisper.

 

[creampieu444]

xxxxx

 

[CaramelLuv]

Amaya nodded with a smile to Wash before moving and reaching out a hand to place on Joseph's shoulder. "All your fidgeting is drawing attention. Try to relax." Her voice was a soft murmur to his ear, mindful of eyes on them.

 

[celestialdragon]

Wash gave an indulgent smile and walked over to Joseph and Kylar as well, drawing her arms around her two brothers and friends. "Just like old times," she said, beaming.

 

[The Jeffinator]

Kylar smiled and greeted Amaya, Mal, and Inara as they joined the group. They joked around back and forth a bit and then Joseph turned to Kylar and asked about River. "Honestly? I don't know," he replied. "She never responded to the message I sent out to everyone. I haven't even heard from her in years -- the last time we spoke was during the war when my team was at a medical facility where she was serving as a senior officer. Our last mission had been pretty rough and we were tore up plenty, but she fixed us all up real nice. I heard she works for Blue Sun now in their new biomedical branch, but I don't know for sure."

Kylar felt goosebumps run up his arm as Mikaela's soft hand touched his skin. She asked about the ship, and he looked up to see Joe and Alexa giving him a suggestive look as she mentioned him offering to take her with him. He blushed lightly. "Yes, you are more than welcome to come along. I'm not sure where I am going after the funeral, but where ever it is, you are more than welcome to come along for the ride. And you are not in the way, Mike," he said with a light smile.

Turning to walk back up the ramp, Kylar pointed inside the ship. "It's safe to assume River likely isn't coming, so we should probably get going. All the rooms have beds in them already, and everyone can fight over who gets what room, but mine is the first door on the right facing towards the bridge. Mike, you should pick one of the crew rooms near my room since you will probably be staying a while. The rest of you are free to stay on and travel with us after the funeral if you want, unless you have to get back home right away."

"First door on the right, eh?" said Mal with a grin. "Same place as my room on Serenity."

"I'm the captain, aren't I?" Kylar replied playfully.

"I guess we'll see."

Everyone picked rooms and got settled in. Before they knew it, Warlock was high above Persephone and then sped off in a flash of light. As he flew, Kylar announced over the intercom, "Once again I'd like to welcome you aboard the Warlock, if you would like someone to bring you a drink or salted peanuts, please shut up and get them your gorram self," he said jokingly. "This engine is a bit faster than the one on the old Serenity, and can get us from one end of the system to the other in about five weeks. From here to Mr. Universe's Moon will take us about eighteen days, and after the funeral we will be stopping by Haven to refuel before departing. Enjoy the ride. Oh yeah, hey Alexa, if you come up here I'll let you fly her."

 

[creampieu444]

xxxxx

 

[celestialdragon]

Wash heard that Kylar was letting her fly the Warlock, and she immediately abandoned her unpacking of her quarters, near the engine room, and bounced into the cabin. She hugged Kylar, planting a chaste and very thankful kiss on his cheek, and sat down in the cockpit. She grinned as she took everything in. Plotting in Mr. Universe's moon's coordinates, she gently took the Firefly in that direction.

She was in love with this ship, and she had barely even flown it!!

She looked up at Kylar and beamed. "I've been dreamin' about this my whole life," she said. "Thank you."

 

[CaramelLuv]

Amaya helped Inara set her and Mal's room before moving toward one of the shuttles and making a room, staying out of the way. There were certain rituals and certain lessons to go over, and she didn't want to add stress to an already arduous journey. She had a more embroidered and exquisite white sari she had packed with care for the funeral, and she made sure to get it stowed away, properly. She spent the days learning with Inara, chatting with the others, and meditating or practicing in the shuttle.

 

[AuraSphere]

Jesse heard a loud knock on his shuttle door.

"Hey, squirt," Jayne said. "Just sos ya know, everyone's loadin' up the Warlock so we can take off for the moon we're going to. You might wanna pack up your stuff if you still plan on comin' with."

"I thought the funeral was taking place here," Jesse replied, confused.

"Shows how much you know," Jayne chuckled. "Ya comin' or not?"

Jesse looked to the back of his shuttle. "Do you have something to move all this stuff?"

***

He and Jayne moved 3 large duffel bags and 5 large crates divided between two wagons onto the Warlock. The loads were very heavy, and they just managed to get aboard the ship as its door was closing. As soon as they were in the loading bay, they stopped in exhaustion.

"What the hell do you even have in these things?!" Jayne panted.

"Exercise equipment and weapons," Jesse replied. "Never leave home without 'em."

"Weapons?" Jayne perked up in interest. "Can I see 'em"

Jesse thought for a moment. He could keep being an asshole and say "no." He had every right to resent this guy. The man who abandoned him and his mom. The man who never came back to at least know he existed. The man who wasn't there when his world came crashing down. He had every right to keep him shut out and let him continue to know nothing about him.

But then again, his dad was somewhat justified. And he was sorry. And it kept getting harder and harder to act cold toward him.

He grabbed the smallest of the duffel bags, the only one that DIDN'T hold exercise equipment and weapons. "Maybe once I settle in," he said in an emotionless tone. "I'm going to pick out a room quick so I know where we're taking all this." He began walking to the upper level, but stopped in his tracks. "Oh. And uh...dad," he said to Jayne with his back still facing him.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for helping me move my stuff." Jesse continued on his way, still refusing to face his father.

 

[AuraSphere]

Jesse noticed that the room in the back right hadn't been taken yet. He went down inside and placed his duffel bag on the bed reserving his spot. He went back to the loading bay and had his dad help him bring three of the five crates to his room. They left the other two crates and duffel bags down there, as he'd have to ask Vylar where a good spot to set up his equipment would be. Wherever it was, he'd be there a lot the next eighteen days.

There and his room.

 

[The Jeffinator]

Kylar smiled as he stood and let Alexa sit down. She was in love with Warlock. "I'm glad you like flying her... You know, after the funeral, when we return to Persephone... I'm probably leaving for a while. I'm gonna clean out Mom's house and probably sell it, and then... I dunno. I think I just want to keep moving, I feel like if I stay in one place too long, I'm gonna go crazy..." he explained, scratching his head. "I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'm gonna be traveling a lot, and I could use a good pilot and a friend... And we'd be taking jobs, plus my Mom left me some money... I want you to be my pilot is all..."

 

[creampieu444]

xxxxx

 

[The Jeffinator]

Kylar blushed lightly as Joseph made mention of them looking cute together. "She's like a sister to me," he said with a small grin, then listened as he continued. Kylar smiled at Joe's offer and nodded. "I'd love to have you as well -- it'd be just like old times."

 

[celestialdragon]

Wash also blushed, but she beamed. "I would love to pilot her, Kylar!!" She squealed, got up and hugged Kylar again, the Joseph. "Despite the funereal, I feel like today is the best day of my life," she confessed, wrapping her arms around her two childhood friends. She kissed both of their cheeks and nestled back into the cockpit. "By the way, Joseph, you might want to go check in on Miss Amaya," she added, her voice light and teasing.

 

[GentleValkyrie]

Mike took the room across from Kylar's leaving her bags at the foot of the bed. It wasn't a large space, not at all like her room on the Skyplex, but she was safer here, and that was enough for now.

She climbed back out of the crew room, letting the hatch close behind her. The voices of the others echoed through the halls, from the cockpit, from the cargo hold. She knew the layout of the ship, but there is a difference between recalling a schematic and actually feeling the metal of the deck beneath your feet. She wandered the ship, checking out the engine room, marveling at the old engine, and how strong it still was, strong enough to drive this entire ship safely across the 'Verse. She looked over the railing, down into the cargo hold, looking at the various packages the others brought with them. So many things. So many people. All connected to each other and happy to see each other.

So unlike her family.

She wandered to the kitchen, idly organizing the stores. She could be helpful here. She hoped any way.

 

[creampieu444]

xxxxx

 

[celestialdragon]

Wash chuckled as she watched Joseph leave, and she turned and looked up at Kylar. "I'd be honored to fly her. . . Captain," she teased, her eyes bright. She looked over everything and sighed as she leaned back in the pilot's chair. "You know what we need?" she added softly. "Plastic dinosaurs. Just like back on Serenity."

 

[The Jeffinator]

"Actually," he said with a light smile, "I have some in my bag. My dad's originals were destroyed with Serenity, but Mom bought me ones that looked almost exactly the same, from the same toy store my dad had got them."

Kylar turned and headed out of the cockpit to get the toys, then spied Mike in the kitchen. He walked up to her. "So, how are you liking Warlock so far, Mike?"

 

[GentleValkyrie]

Mike jumped at Kylar's voice and blushed, quickly pulling her hands back out of the cupboard and tucking them behind her.

"I was just...it's... She's a fine ship, sir," she smiled, "And very full of your people. It is good to hear everyone here. If a bit chaotic. More than two weeks is a long time to have this many people, even on a ship this size. Or maybe I'm just used to-" she caught herself and reframed the sentiment, "It will be a lot less lonely here I think."

She tilted her head, "Do you think everyone will settle down once we are moving? Is there anything you want me to be doing? I glanced at the engine room, it seems more than ready."

"I don't want to be a burden on you and yours." she finished softly.

 

[The Jeffinator]

"You won't be a burden," Kylar said, touching her on the shoulder gently. "you'll be one of the family before you know it. Just make yourself comfortable and enjoy the trip."

 

[celestialdragon]

Wash smiled as Kylar mentioned he had some, just like the ones on Serenity, and she watched him leave before turning her attention back to the stars. She checked the charts and the routes before leaning back and watching the stars and the planets fly by her.

She was at peace.

 

[creampieu444]

xxxxx

 

[GentleValkyrie]

Mike tensed up as Kylar touched her shoulder, then blushed and relaxed, feeling the warmth of his fingers through the fabric of her shirt. She nodded in agreement.

"That is very different than the welcome my family gave you. I appreciate that," she smiled softly, "I would like to find space to practice, do you think I could use some of the cargo hold if I'm careful about moving things out of the way? I don't need too much space, but more than is in my bunk."

 

[The Jeffinator]

"Yeah, sure," replied Kylar. He helped her clear a space off to the side. "I designate this space Mikaela's Zone." He smiled at her and then let his eyes gaze into hers for just a moment too long. He blushed lightly and coughed. "Well, uh, I'll leave you to your practice."

Returning to the cockpit with the plastic dinosaurs, he set them in front of Alexa. "You wanna play with them like dad did?" he asked with a laugh. "I remember seeing a show on an old disc that survived from Earth-that-was that had them riding dinos."

 

[AuraSphere]

Jesse went down to the cargo bay to where his crates were. He figured he could at least set up the speed bag in his room so he'd have something to do until he could talk to Kylar about setting up the rest of his exercise equipment.

As he retrieved the bag from the crate, he noticed a blonde-haired girl off in a small area practicing some fighting techniques; she seemed to be really focused. He hadn't been introduced to this member of the crew yet. No harm in introducing himself.

"Hi," he called out.