"Aww, hun."  Charlie bent down, looking at the sweetcake as it lay on the ground...completely unsalvagable  A perfectly good treat that they wouldn't get onboard, and while Connor was generous to buy one, he probably wasn't going to buy a second.  Charlie would, but if she was dropping things...well, that wouldn't do with these great treats, would it?

"S'nothin, Connor."  She smiled, looking up at Lei from her crouched position with her free arm crossed over her knee.  "Y'r not in trouble'r nothin, hun.  Nothin' been done wrong.  Here, ah'll let'cha have part'f mine, kay?  Jus' gotta promise me y'aint gonna be droppin' it down'r nothin.  S'tha point'f it bein' sticky..."

Suddenly the normal bustle and sounds of the space station seemed to disappear altogether - completely drowned out beneath the pierching wail of a siren.  It seemed to shake the very air with its intensity and reverberated in everyone's ears.  It also sent the station into complete and utter chaos.  Screams echoed against the walls, people began running in all directions - those that didn't know what the siren meant were left staring dumbly at the odd and terrifying shift in atmosphere.

The man at the bakery was pulling down thick shutters in his windows - there was a look of true terror in his eyes but he didn't say a word.

The panic was beginning to swell around them as the people around them began to react to the noises.  Her instinct, at one time, would have been to cover her ears and wait for them to end.  That was before she knew about certain sounds.  A station like this only set off a danger siren like this for one of two reasons, however.  One, if the atmosphere had been punched and they were dangerously close to depressurizing, in which everyone would run.  And two...well, the other reason that you would run for your life.  Charlie's heart began to beat, feeling as if it were jumping into her throat as it did, and a sweat almost instantly broke out onto her temples.

"Rung Tse Song Di Ching Dai Wuo Tzo."  Charlie muttered under her breath, dropping her sweetcake and taking Lei's hand, standing up quickly and turning back towards the ship.  She didn't look back at Lei or Connor, speaking over her shoulder over the blaring siren as she began to move towards the ship, picking up speed quickly and dragging Lei if she needs to.  "We gotta get back t'Destiny!  Now!"

Connor looked at Charlie, then at the chaos, then back at Charlie...who was at that point dragging Lei back towards Destiny.
"Ta Ma De!" He sprinted after the two, bumping into a man who'd taken advantage of the confusion and stolen a tray full of goods. Connor swore and  got to his feet, hurrying up. He narrowly avoided woman carrying a screaming child.Mass confusion reigned as everyone seemed to be scrambling all around...making it difficult to keep track of Charlie and Lei in the horde of panicking people. What was all this?! He caught up to Charlie and looked at her. "What in the hell is going on?!"

Lei was still straining to hear the sounds of growls and shouts in the distance when suddenly she couldn't hear anything at all - that is except for the siren started up.  Her hands flew to her ears and her breath got short and shallow - panicky.  Fear gripped her chest as people went running in all directions - the big mans eyes weren't crinkling at the corner anymore she noticed - they were now wide.  Lei immediately began to run and hide, her intention to get behind the counters in the bakery - but felt her arm grabbed by Charlie.  She was suddenly being tugged off in the other direction - out into the mass of screaming people.  She tried to wriggle free but Charlie's grip on her arm was like iron - rigid with fear.  She didn't want to be here though.  She didn't want to be around all these screaming people.

She kept getting hit and once tripped over someone that had already been knocked to the ground.  The person was being trampled.  Lei felt pity for him but kept on running - she had to, it was run or be dragged.  There was too much going on - Lei couldn't compute such blind panic - she didn't understand.  The sound of the growls was getting louder though, it was the only thing she could still hear over the siren and the screams.

"Th'worst thing tha'could b'happenin'!"  Charlie shouted as she moved, trying to orient herself as she moved, spying out the loading dock for Destiny from where they stood.  "Reavers!"

Charlie pulled Lei, even as she felt her slipping.  She wasn't going to let go of her, no matter what...just as she wouldn't lose Connor in the pack at all.  She stopped for a second, grabbing Lei and pulling her into her arms, picking her up and turning to run again.  Lei wasn't a light girl, sure...but Charlie had spent the past ten years of her life working on engines, and not picking flowers as her younger sisters had.  The adrenaline buzzed in her ears, and she could feel her heart beat get louder and louder...but she couldn't stop running.  She couldn't stop, because they wouldn't...

Connor heard the word, Reavers. He'd heard stories, horrific tales of savages who didn't stop, didn't rest...just maimed and destroyed.
"Wong Ba Duhn..." Connor pulled out his six-shooter as he ran, if what he heard was true...well, Connor had better save a few bullets then. He had nearly blanched when he'd heard the tales of the carnage Reaver's left in their wake. Why here? Why now? It didn't matter, all that mattered was getting on Destiny and getting away. And making sure Charlie and Lei got on as well. He spun the chamber of gun and clicked it into place, not stopping for the maneveur, just trying to keep pace with Charlie...trying to get the hell out of dodge...
This message was last edited by the player at 17:24, Sun 01 Oct 2006.

Lei found herself suddenly being scooped up by Charlie - she'd given in by now that there was no way in hell Charlie was going to let go of her and had stopped trying to slip away, now she just clung to the woman for dear life.  Reavers.  Charlie said Reavers. Lei had read about them, in the midst of all this chaos Lei tried to regain her calm - it helped to close her eyes and picture the pages of the books she had read - trying to remember the exact pages she had seen that spoke about Reavers.

....When she remembered she immediately wished that she had forgotten that passage.  Reavers were a myth of the 'verse - most believed they didn't really exsist.  Those who knew better said they were men.  Men driven beyond the point of madness.  They weren't men anymore - they were monsters.  Monsters who did nothing but maim and kill - gruesomely.  Lei recalled with vivid detail the sketch she had seen - Reavers skinned their victims alive - mutilated their own bodies.  Reavers were death.

The bay doors to Destiny were just ahead - still down since Kyoko was aboard to keep an eye on the ship.  All around the docking area people were running onto their ships and beginning to take off.  Screams of agony had begun to pierce the air - the Reavers must be somewhere near by.

"Jus'a bit more, hold on..."  Charlie spoke quietly to Lei as she ran, holding tightly into the girl.  She wasn't able to be calm, and there was a good chance that it was more to herself than anything.  She bumped into people, not taking the time to think of anyone else than her crew.  It's not that she didn't care whether anyone else lived or died...but everyone who would be rolling in this station should have the means to protect themselves from such a threat, even if it were so much as being armed.

Nearly sliding off her feet in the process, Charlie managed to stop before running into the bay of Destiny, looking back and pulling her radio off her hip.  "Cap'n, y'comin!?"

Connor skidded into the docking bay and stopped in front of Charlie, holding the gun facing towards the source of the screams. He looked back quickly before facing forward to make sure he didn't miss anything.
"Can I suggest we get on the gorram ship?!"

Radio: "Are you okay?  Are the others - are they ..."

Charlie set Lei down as her fingers went over the keypad that kept Destiny's bay doors up, trying to press buttons as her vision shook and her heart beat loudly in her ears.  The sounds around her had grown deafening, and it seemed like the entire world was screaming all at once.  "Yeah, Cap'n, got Lei'n Connor'n right here.  Hold on, gotta get th'door."  She spoke quickly, taking a deep breath and flexing her hand a few times, trying to get it to react.  She kept meaning to hit the five, but her nerves kept pushing it the eight or the six.  This is not the time to fail, Charlene.  Her voice rang in her head, cutting through the noise.  Don't you dare get your whole gorram crew killed because you got scared.  For the captain, Charlene.

She closed her eyes for a moment, remembering how she'd opened the doors a million times in the dark, holding her breath as she furiously typed in the seven-digit sequence.  The world didn't move for a second as she hit the last button, everything seeming to slow down.  The green light above the console flicked on with a beep, and there was a hiss as the magnetic lock on the bay door unsealed.  She twisted the lock almost too hard, popping open the door and swinging it hard into the rest of the ship.

"Both'f ya, inside now!"  She shouted at the two, grabbing Lei's arm and pulling her into the Cargo Bay with her, jarring hard against the side of the door but paying no mind.  Just get them to safety...


-------->To Destiny: Cargo Bay
This message was last edited by the player at 05:06, Mon 02 Oct 2006.

Connor nodded and felt relief flood over him...they were home free now. He didn't put the gun away, but then again, Charlie didn't have to tell him twice to get inside. Once he was sure Lei and Charlie were in...he followed as quickly as he could, not asking any questions, only waiting...waiting either for action, or for orders...

(To Destiny Cargo Bay)
This message was last edited by the player at 05:26, Mon 02 Oct 2006.

Lei felt herself being dumped uncermoniously onto the ground as Charlie reached for the key lock.  Charlie was scared - but Charlie was doing what she had to do.   She was being strong.  Lei tried to do the same.  She watched intensley as Charlie repeatedly punched in numbers, obviously getting frustrated with herself.  Lei put a small hand on Charlie's shoulder - Geoff did that to her when she was scared or worried, it made her feel better.  Lei was suddenly struck with the very frightening thought that she didn't know where Geoff was.  He wasn't here right now and very bad things were happening.

She felt herself being thrown forward then into the ship.

[To Destiny: Cargo Bay]

Radio:  "Bear, how d'ya start th'gorram engines?!"

Charlie's voice came over the radio, he sighed a quick sigh of relief, he flipped the switch on the radio, "Green switch, second panel, third console, Jei Jei, but have somebody at the door, Red and I are comin' your way, right now."

Ren pulls Acacia around the corner into the commerce bay, and sees the ship, its so close he can almost taste it. Not wanting to waste any more time, Ren picked, "Sorry Cacia, but we need to be on that ship." With that Ren pulled her close and broke into full stride for the ship.
This message was last updated by the player at 05:58, Mon 02 Oct 2006.

"Wha-!"  Acacia couldn't even finish what she was saying as Ren swooped her up, throwing her over shoulder as they went.  She felt the air push out of her lungs, and for the moment, she couldn't scream anymore.  Her body went semi-limp as she tried to regain her breath, taking in air deeply through her nose.  It wasn't until then that she could smell it...blood.  It was in the air, the copper scent that sat like acid on the back of the tongue.  She closed her eyes tightly, allowing all her faith to go to Ren...and praying that they would make it.


--------->to Cargo Bay
This message was last edited by the player at 06:06, Mon 02 Oct 2006.

Ren felt Acacia's body go kind of limp and he prayed he had not hurt her, but his mind was still more focused on the ship. He hit the radio again, "Jei Jei, get them doors, we're here." Ren said as he reached the cargo bay doors and ran in the ship.

---> To Cargo Bay
This message was last edited by the player at 06:13, Mon 02 Oct 2006.

[From Torrance Station: Business Sector]

Kale staggered forward, his legs felt like rubber, his back stung as did his hands.  The blood was mixing with sweat now in his fists ... but he could see the ship.  Destiny was right there.  Just keep running, keep going Kale, come on - keep going ...  His muscles were aching and he kept running.  If he just got to the ship he was sure Rhaef would have everyone ...

A pang even deeper then that in his side hit him.  Rhaef ... Rhaef wasn't there.  There was no one on the ship right now who knew how to handle this type of situation.  Why did he have to be such a gorram stubborn, ruttin' ... why had he made him leave? All this flashed through Kale's mind as he stumbled up the ramp ... Kale couldn't breathe ... Oh God, I can't breathe ... his mind panicked.  And he looked up ... there was Rhaef ....

[To Destiny: Cargo Bay]

Ren went through the airlock, and felt the heat wave and concussive shock of the first grenade exploding, shielding his eyes for a moment, he tossed the second one toward the bay doors. He sure as hell hoped, Connor had followed him out and had not lost his nerve and was getting ready to start firing, cause he was not sure he'd need a third grenade to get the Reaver's attention.

(From Destiny: Dining Hall)

Connor followed Ren out the door and watched the man throw his first grenade. He felt as though they were moving in slow motion, or maybe they were frozen in place. There was a ringing in his ears. It seemed insane. Two months ago, Connor was busy being a know-it-all techie who was fighting a battle against in enemy that would be long in the beating. Now, he was here, away from comfort or luxury, fighting for his life...and, for the first time, others. Yeah, sure, before, he'd fought for "others", but he'd had no friends, no companions. He was perfectly happy doing what he was doing. Here, here was different. Perhaps he considered it a purpose, or maybe he was fighting for a home. Connor was unsure, what Destiny did have though, and what he wanted so badly, unknowingly, was a sense of belonging. And so far, in the month that he had been aboard, Connor had seen it, yet not felt apart of that belonging. It was funny what a crisis could do for people. It tended to bring out things they hadn't realized. Like the fact that Connor didn't need to earn it so much as simply take part in it.

Like right now.

Right now, instead of standing still, Connor couldn't hesitate, he couldn't stop...it was now that he followed Ren into action...or he wouldn't at all. Connor fired his shotgun as Ren tossed his second, then pulled out his own grenades, readying and tossing the first one down towards the Reavers, readying the second one.

The first grenade tossed through the hatch hadn't actually hit any of the Reavers ... infact it had actually bounced off one of the shop carts and landed too close to Destiny scorching the underbelly on the port side.  The damage was minimal though and the goal was achieved.  The Reavers had all turned their attention away from the bay doors, looking around for what had set off the grenade.

Connor and Ren emerged from the airlock then, there were five Reavers right infront of the bay doors. Others were nearby though in the commerce sector, they could hear their growls and more chillingly the screams of their victims ... those that could still scream.  The carnage was sickening and it was everything Ren and Connor could do to focus on their mission and not look at the mutilated corpses littering the floor.

Ren's first make-shift grenade found its mark, landing in the midst of the Reavers.  A loud booming sound echoing around the station, the heat flowing like waves over them ... the Reavers though - they kept on coming.  Two of them were most definitly on fire but it didn't seem to be slowing them down at all.  Connor's grenade came next but the bottle rolled to the side and only ended up really hitting one of the advancing Reavers - however it did take him down.

The Reavers were moving in fast - but at least they were moving away from the starboard side ... Charlie and Kale should be able to make it away.

[From Destiny: Dining Area]

Kale pushed himself up out of the airlock hatch and onto the top of Destiny, he kept low to the roof, trying not to draw any attention to himself as he reached a hand down to help Charlie up.  From his crouched position he could see Ren and Connor who had moved from the hatch further to the port side.  The plan had worked, the Reavers all seemed to have abandoned the bay doors and were moving in their direction - Kale was terrified for them.  He knew he couldn't give into that though.  "Come on, let's go - no time." he breathed in a low voice to Charlie and began half crawling, half sliding off the edge of the ship, trying to move as quickly as possible.

They take too long and Connor and Ren could be dead.

Charlie squeezed Kale's hand as he helped her out of the ship, her palms already a little clammy with sweat.  She was doing the best to stay calm, following Kale as they lay close to the top of the ship, looking down over the tools she had collected.  She was aware of every piece of equipment on her, in fear that she might lose one and that it would ruin everything.  The last thing they needed was that large of a mistake in the plan, anything that would send them sprawling to improvise.  The best plans were the ones that went according to plan, and while that rarely happened...well, it certainly wasn't like she wasn't going to pray for it.

She slid down the side of the ship alongside Kale, her fingers finding the smallest cracks in which she could stop herself from all but falling straight down to the floor.  She didn't see Ren or Connor, and they didn't have a radio...they would have to assume that they would be okay.  it was just a matter of everything relying on them, which is what she hated...having to have the world on her shoulders had never been her strong suit.