Not So Perfect Escape

[Admiral Hart]

Under Jane's expert maneuvering, the Plunder's Heart shot towards the shuttle. The 'Heart used its own tractor beam to grab the shuttle on the run and began to make a break for the nearest safe port--in this case, the den of thieves known as The Cove. However, before the red-and-gold vessel could speed up enough to be free of this conflict, the Heart Breaker crested from behind the 'Heart and launched a powerful volley of missiles and laser fire at the ship, before the frieghter's nose tapped the broad side of the ship and sent it careening away.

It was a testament to Jane's skill and the maneuverability of the Serpent-Class of frigates that the Heart and the shuttle were able to avoid as many as they did. However, a few missiles and a couple laser blasts pounded against Plunder's Heart's whole and caused the whole ship to shake. Which, unfortantely, caused the shuttle to shake even more.

"T.K.!" Hart yelled over the com link. "Make sure the engines give us a hundred and fifty percent all the way to the Cove, and..."

Mr. Bell, the scanner operator, interupted him. "Sir, naval blockade coming in fast. They're trying to cut us off from the Cove."

"Damn it. Full about. It may be a few days, but we have to head for Aphrodite Arms. I need two hundred percent on those engines, T.K. Until we get there, everyone will be on full alert and at battle stations. Those UE ships are probably going to stop to render assistance to LeValle, but that won't slow them down for long, and if there were ships ahead of us, chances are there will be ships behind us." Hart ordered. "Besides, my gut's telling me we're going to need those new medical supplies sooner rather than later."

****

At the docking hatch, after the second shuttle and Elsa were retrieved, Morgan's shuttle was finally docked. The hatch rolled open, and a battered crew stepped out of it. Chief among them was the First Mate, his arm hanging at an odd angle and his other arm cradling his ribs.

"Get these men to Sick Bay. I have to go tell the captain..."

One of his crewmen cut him off. "Morgan, you're the most beat up of all of us. Go to Sick Bay."

"I'm fine." He replied. Two of his burlier men flanked him now.

"With all due respect, sir, we will carry you there if you don't go of your own accord." The crewman added. Morgan sighed and rolled his eyes. He grimaced a bit in pain after the sigh.

"Alright. Someone tell Dr. Reyes I'm on my way."

[Dr. Andromeda Reyes]

Andromeda turned when the doors to the sick bay slid open, and the first of her casualties limped inside. Surprisingly it wasn't Dane, but rather Morgan, the First Mate. She grimaced as soon as she saw his arm, and the way he was cradling his side.

"Come in, sir," she prompted briskly, motioning to the nearest exam table.

Grim faced--either from pain, annoyance at having to be here or both--Morgan moved silently to where she'd indicated and gingerly eased himself down into a sitting position. Andromeda gathered up the supplies she'd need herself, as Cassi had ducked out for a moment to check on some of the new arrivals. The older of the Reyes sisters turned to the First Mate with a pair of shears, but he shook his head.

"Not gonna ruin my uniform for a couple of busted ribs, doctor," he bit out through clenched teeth.

"Removing them will hurt like hell," she warned, but he remained firm. Andromeda resisted the urge to roll her eyes at his stubborness. He was her superior officer after all. Therefore she gingerly helped him remove his black coat, black long-sleeved dress shirt and the white muscle-shirt on beneath it, as gently and slowly as she dared. Morgan didn't make a sound throughout the no-doubt excrutiating process, though a clammy sweat began to break out across his face.

Once she'd finally gotten him undressed from the waist up, she eyed his external injuries with a critical eye. Nothing too terribly bad, a few minor scrapes. The biggest issues were his dislocated shoulder and what was probably three fractured ribs on his left side.

She took a hold of his right shoulder, pressing the heel of her left hand into the joint and gripping his bicep with her other.

"Brace yourself," she murmured, glancing up into his face. It was as bland as ever. The younger male gave her a slight nod, and so--with a slight breath of fortification for herself--she firmed her hold and then wrenched the socket back into place. Despite himself, a faint groaning hiss let out from his chest, eyes going a little wide.

Andromeda let him take a small breather from that, pretending to sort through her supplies before she turned back to him. The fingers of one hand began gently but purposefully probing his left flank. As soon as she touched the fourth rib, he jerked and let out another loud hiss, reflexively grabbing her wrist. Andromeda winced at the strength of his grip, which would probably unintentionally leave a bruise in the shape of his fingers around the delicate bone.

Before she could apologize, her sister suddenly swept back into the room.

"Andi, Hank and Sly have a few cuts and bruises--oh!"

The blonde girl froze in the door-way at the sight of Morgan sitting on the examination table. A shirtless Morgan, with his hand curled tight around Andromeda's, seemingly holding it pressed against his chest.

Andromeda didn't have time to really react, let alone think of anything to say. Morgan remained slightly confused but mostly oblivious as Cassi blinked several times, her bright silver eyes growing faintly glassy.

"Oh, I . . . I didn't know you were . . . sorry I . . . I-I'm just gonna go help them, okay?" Then she launched herself forward a little, snatching up a spare first aid kit.


"Cassi," Andromeda tried to call her, "wait!"

But the girl was already back out the door, her long blonde hair swirling in her wake.

[Dane]

Dane sighed as Elsa powered down, was almost anti climatic his part of the escape, he didn't get to play with Elsa to much...oh well there'll always be other times.

He looked over at the sprite, she was bouncing around control panel, the little ball of holographic excitement hummed happily while he chuckled. She suddenly bounced and ran up his leg, before long she bound up to his shoulder again, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Alright Mister, spill it." he gave her a amused smirk, but eventually told her...well near everything. She blinked at him for a moment before shrugging, she sighed happily and gave him a small smile. "Uh Dane...Becca asked me to give you a message if I ever saw you again." he blinked at the sprite, his eyebrow raised in confusion. She jumped off his shoulder and landed on the joystick. When she turned she transformed into a different image, a mini version of Rebeca, he actually had to blink in surprise for once.

Damn...she's still...fucking hawt....

"Dane, if your getting this then you've somehow gotten your girl back." she smirked playfully. " And from what I've heard about your 'new job' it was very illegal." he couldn't help but roll his eyes. The image sighed, a sad look crossed her face. "That being said, I know you've probably moved on by now...hell its been a couple years now. You've probably found another person to rock your world." she wiped away a stray tear and looked at the floor for a moment, after a deep breath she continued. Moving her hands around like she did when she was nervous. "But, if you ever 'find' me again. Or are ever in port and can reach me... You know how to..." she sighed again. "Alright, I better let you go, gotta keep this message short in case they search the archives." she gave a weak wave then the image of her faded. Elsa reappeared looking sad.

Dane sat there numb for a few minutes, for the first time in a long time all the things he gave up doing what he believed in hit him hard in the chest. He took a deep breath and gave a weak smile to Elsa, burying his personal angst below the surface, no need to waste others time with him being a cry baby.

"C'mon girl, I'll introduce you to the crew." with that he grabbed her mobile holo emitter and stuffed it in his pocket, she nodded and jumped up on his shoulder as he left the cockpit, leaving his feels there.

Where they belonged.

[Cassiopeia Reyes-Hart]

Cassi stumbled out of the infirmary, ignoring Andi's attempts to call her back. She panted a little, trying to see through the distorted sea of color that her vision had become. Both because her stupid powers were trying to refocus on Morgan against her will, and because of the tears now swimming in her eyes.

The image of him holding Andromeda's hand to his chest was seared into her brain however, taunting her. Logically she knew it was probably nothing--Morgan was younger than Andromeda after all, and her sister hated complications--but the sight had still shaken her to the core. Shaken her because it was getting harder and harder for her to deal with the fact that he was so completely and utterly uninterested in her.

Feeling like her heart was cracking in her chest, her vision tunneling in and out of the infirmary behind her against her will, Cassi let out a sob and began jogging for the only place she knew that she could maybe find some peace. Ignoring the few that had time enough to call after her, Cassiopeia ran for the observation deck of the ship.

She ran into the large, circular room, the doors sliding shut behind her. She managed to stagger into the center of the room before she finally lost her footing and hit her knees with a small yelp. She dropped the first aid kit, to be forgotten, before fisting both hands into her long hair at either side of her head, mewling in frustration and dejection as she tried to force her now-swirling eyes to close.

"I don't wanna see anymore!" she whimpered into the otherwise silent room. "Please . . . ."

After several more minutes of fighting it, she finally managed to close them and the world went black again. Very slowly, the slender girl drew her legs up to her chest, buried her face in her knees and indulged in several more minutes of misery.

Why aren't I a normal girl?

Why am I too young?

Why won't he love me back?

These and other thoughts chased themselves around in her head until she thought she might be sick. Until finally, after a while, Cassi lifted her tear-streaked face from her knees. She tilted her head back and gradually opened her eyes again. The whites of them were now reddened from crying, her metallic irises seeming almost black against it. A few more tears slowly leaked down the curve of her cheeks as she stared up at the vast blackness of space above her--through the domed see-through cieling of the room.

"Someday," she sang in a whisper-soft voice, warbling with emotion, "someday I'll fly away. So far away, I'll fly away, and never will I hurt again . . . ."

[Admiral Hart]

Captain Hart hummed to himself on the way to the observation deck. Sure, the mission could have gone better, but it could have also gone much, much worse. No deaths, plus a cargo bay at least partially full of military hardware. He had heard about Morgan's injuries. No doubt that he was being stoic and pretending they did not hurt.

Jonah made a note to poke him in the chest at some point in the near future.

When he reached the observation deck, however, thoughts of pranks faded when he saw little Cassi on the floor, quietly crying. Ever the gentleman, Jonah quickly entered and sat down next to her.

"Is everything alright, Princess?" He asked soothingly. She was a bit surprised at his presence, but not terribly, considering this was not the first time she had seen him be both quick and quiet.

"Yes...yes...every.." She sobbed, not quite able to get the words out. Hart put is arm around her in a fatherly manner and made quiet, soothing noises, saying, "I'll all be alright, take your time, just cry. We have a long trip ahead of us. I'm not going anywhere."

She buried her face in his jacket and kept sobbing, and Jonah kept holding her, not asking what the problem was, not trying to make her cheer up, just holding her and patting her and telling her that everything was going to be alright.

[Cassiopeia Reyes-Hart]

Cassi continued to cry into the Captain's coat for a little while longer, heedless to the wet spot she was probably leaving in the expensive velvet. The comforting way he rubbed her shoulders and murmured nonsensical things to soothe her, he'd probably never really understand just how important they were to her. Her own father had barely acknowledge that she was alive apart from how all his friends commented how pretty and valuable she was.

Almost from the very beginning of coming to live on the ship, the Captain had treated her the way she imagined most other fathers would treat their daughters. Affectionate and warm, always making time to talk to her no matter how busy he was, fiercely protective and gentle and spoiling her absolutely rotten in the mean time. Because of this, in just two years' time, Jonah Hart had become a very big and important part of Cassi's world. Her sister Andromeda was the only one who surpassed him in her heart, as she'd come to give him all the love and devotion she'd never wanted to give her real birth parent.

Cassiopeia slowly began to wind down after a bit, only a stray sob or hiccup escaping her. She slowly began to regain her composure, staring off into the darkness of the room while the Captain gently combed her tangled hair from her tear-stained face. She debated saying anything for a while, but finally decided that he would be the best person she could ask.

She trusted the Captain more than anybody else, after all.

"Jonah?" she questioned after a moment.

"Hmm?"

The sixteen year old straightened a little, her metallic eyes lifting to his, finding his expression one of patient understanding. She took a deep breath, then, "Do you . . . do you think I'm pretty?"

A faint flash of sadness flickered across his eyes before he smiled softly, reaching up to gently ruffle her long hair. "Of course you are, Princess. Prettiest girl I've ever seen, and I've seen more than a few."

"Even . . ." her breath hitched on another half of a sob, but she fought it away. "E-even if I have pointed ears, and my eyes are weird--,"

"You're perfect just the way you are," he interrupted then, his tone becoming a little more firm with determination. "You are just as you were meant to be, Cassi, not a millimeter less."

Cassiopeia let out a sigh at that, feeling worlds better despite herself. After all, if Jonah said so, then it had to be true. Still . . . "well then why can't everybody else see that, too?" she muttered under her breath.

He smiled again at that, and something in his expression told her he might've guessed exactly what she meant by that statement. Enough that a spike of embarrassed color flooded her cheeks, and headed north. The Captain gently tweaked her nose.

"Give it a few more years yet, Princess, and you'll be breaking hearts all across the solar system." She rolled her eyes, looking skeptical at that, and he gave a mock-grunt of hurt affront. "Would I lie to you? Trust me," Jonah insisted, chuckling. "I'll even make you a deal. In the extremely unlikely event that you're ever in danger of dying a lonely old maid, I will marry you myself." Cassi made a face at that, but was forced to laugh with him, the imagery was so ridiculous.

She was probably one of the very few females in the universe who would laugh at the thought of marrying Captain Jonah Hart, the most feared and beloved pirate in the solar system. Instead she sighed again, heart much lighter than it had been before, and rested her head back on his larger shoulder. They stayed that way for several minutes more, in companionable silence, staring at the stars as they passed.

[Jane Doherty]

Jane was getting frustrated sitting at the helm of the ship, still monitoring the course. Her relief was supposed to have been there half an hour ago, but had yet to appear. Deciding she was done waiting, Jane used the sensors to locate him, and used the intercom to ask him, "Why the hell aren't you up here Jones? I don't care if your ass is on fire, you get up here and take over or I swear I will come find you and make sure your never late again."

A minute later, the door opened and her relief stepped through, though he wouldn't look at her glaring face. She stood and stepped up to his much taller frame, though she looked quite fierce at the moment. "This happens again and I will shove a clock so far up your ass, you'll see the time every time you blink."

With that, she stormed her way past and off the bridge.

[T.K.]

T.K. had indeed passed out in his room while watching anime. Space Pirate Captain Harlock to be precise. The thought about a space pirate watching a vintage anime about a space pirate amused him. He frowned though as he glanced at the wall-mounted Chronometer. If he hadn't somehow gotten away with sleeping an entire day away, which he seriously doubted, then he'd only been asleep for maybe 3 hours.

Shrugging it off, he quickly stripped his clothes off, and hopped into the shower. Fifteen minutes later, he was clean, and wearing a fresh uniform. A minute later, he was out the door, and heading toward engineering, still trying to figure out what had woken him up.

He was within sight of the door, when the faint vibration in the ship finally clicked in his head.

“Shimatta!”

He bolted for the door, and shoved people out of his way, as he headed for the Port=side Power Converter. He ripped the cover plate off, then quickly fanned the smoke out of his face.

“Kuso, kuso, kuso.”

The engineers currently on duty rushed over as soon as they saw the smoke.

“Something was gonna blow with the strain we put on the engines. It's not as bad as it looks though. I need a new coupler, a plasma torch, some spare Type D wiring, and for the Love of God. Someone go find out where I left my Pocky last shift.







Japanese Translations:
Shimatta! - Damnit!
Kuso – Oh shit!/Damn!