Kale's feet hit the metal flooring of the station with a bang that sounded impossibly loud in his ears.  His eyes darted around, positive that he had drawn the Reavers attention.  It was a stupid fear.  No one could here the sound of him landing over the grenades and screaming and growling - but Kale didn't register that.  He reached up to help Charlie down and looked at her, pointing a little ways away, "That's it righ'?" he asked.  They were still hidden behind the ship, the moment they made for the panel they'd be out in the open, racing time for their lives.

Charlie slid down after Kale, allowing his help down.  She unconsciously flattened herself against the side of the ship, looking around just as he did.  She didn't want to have to hear those screams as they turned the corner, or anything else that would be something bad.

"Yea'...tha's...well, 's either tha'one or th'one next t'it.  Can't be knowin' 'til ah'm gettin' it off'n lookin' on th'inside."  She bit her lip, looking back at Kale, the apology already in her eyes.  "Ah'm...s'just without th'maps'f what all's goin' on here, ah'm not one t'say fer sure."

Kale cocked his head sideways for a moment giving Charlie a slightly worried look but an affirming nod.  She was doing the best she could - some of this plan was just going to have to be left up to fate though.

"Alrigh' then.  Ya ready?  We start movin' we don' stop - ya got that?  An' you don't worry 'bout nothin'.  Not anything ya hear, ya just keep at the job - I'll watch yer back." he looked at her seriously, "I'm not gonna let anythin' happen ta ya." he cast another look across the open space they had to travel across and to the panel.  "Let's go." he said and started running full force.  His body groaned in protest, there were pieces of glass still embedding into his back that cut as he used those muscles and his legs ached but they couldn't slow down.  He made sure Charlie was ahead of him and while he told her not to look back and focus on the task at hand he was looking back every few seconds to determine whether the Reavers had taken notice of them or not.  So far, so good.

Charlene bolted when Kale said to go, running hard and ignoring the burning pain in her leg.  When she had hit the side of the Bridge door, there was a good chance she cut something, or would at least be heavily bruised...but this was not the time to be worrying or complaining about it.  Every complaint that surfaced up was pushed quickly to the back of her mind, as she didn't want to think of the million reasons that she could use as to why she wouldn't want to be here.  None of them mattered...she was here for her crew, and she was here for Destiny, and would do whatever was needed.

She had to slide to a stop to keep herself from running face first into the wall, muttering under her breath the whole time.  She wanted to look back and see where the Captain was, where the Reavers were...where they all were.  However, Kale had said not to...he had promised to keep her safe, and she was going to hold that to him.  She closed her eyes for a quick moment, letting out a deep breath before she looked at her wall, her eyes running over the bolts that held the wall paneling in place.  "17/36' panels, right.  17/36's...c'mon, ah've gotta have tha'."  She spoke to herself as she patted herself over, finding the right drill so that she could start to take the station apart...

Ren watched the grenade explode the leveled the shot gun, they were buying time. He fired off a few rounds, knowing they would not do much good, "Get those grenades out there, Connor." He kept count in his head. They'd give the Captain what they could, but eventually, he and Connor would have to decide to make a move for their own lives too.

Connor nodded to Ren and pulled out the grenades. He was beginning to see why men often turned to the life of guns. The shotgun had seemed an extension of himself. Sure, he wasn't the greatest shot, but that wasn't it, was it? It was sickeningly fascinating, the shell sliding into the chamber and then shooting forth, dispensing lead death as it went. Luckily for Connor, one didn't need to be as accurate with a shotgun. He tossed the first down, and moved, always moving. He looked to Ren.

"I've got four shells left, plus what's in the gun...and I'd say my sidearm if it weren't for the fact that it won't do any good..." He tossed the second grenade, and pulled the shotgun back out, a quick prayer issuing forth from his lips. "How much time do you think we can buy with that?"

The whole world became nothing but Reavers.  Reavers closing in on him and for a moment Ren realized that he had stopped breathing.  He had stopped even moving.  Oh God, oh God I'm not movin' at all.  Come on, come on Ren! he shouted at himself.  This was not the time to freeze up, to panick.  There was too much at stake - there was Acacia.  Beautiful Acacia.  Wonderful Acacia.  And if he failed ... Connor's voice interrupted Ren's thoughts, snapping him back to reality.  He looked down almost though he were surprised to see the rifle in his hand.  "Um ... I got a few more shots 'fore I gotta reload." he said, "One 'o these left." he said in reference to the makeshift grenade.  He'd used his first to toss out the hatch and like a ruttin' fool had hit their own damn ship.  His other though had hit its mark somehow - Ren didn't have time to work that out.

"They uh, they're comin' a bit fast aren' they?" he commented in a weak voice, trying to sound lighthearted but just sounding terrified, "Ya don' think there's any chance we just ask 'em nicely they'll leave us alone." he said a poor attempt at a joke.  There was nothing about this situation that was funny.

Oh God, those are Reavers.  Those are Reavers and they're comin' right at us. Ren was trying to figure out why the hell he'd let the Cap'n send him out on this mission.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:23, Sun 19 Nov 2006.

Connor stood still, for the first time stopping since he had left the ship and aimed the shotgun. He pulled the trigger, hearing the resounding blast...and was on the move again. He looked back at Ren...he'd heard the man's response and it seemed he wasn't the only one who was more than a little unnerved by the fact that they were facing down Reavers.

"Look, throw that damn grenade, save a shot or two, and let's get back on the ship."

Ren was right, the Reavers were closing in on them and they were closing in fast.  In the distance Ren and Connor could see Kale and Charlie make a break across the open space for the side panels.  They had to buy them a little more time ... but time didn't really seem an option anymore.  One of the Reavers began to climb atop the ship to where Ren and Connor were standing, although climb is a loose term.  He practically bouned atop in one jump.  And there were still more on the ground.  Connor's shot actually missed the Reaver he was aiming for - but they were group together enough that it took out the one behind him.  There were too many infront of the bay doors still though and the one that had made it atop the ship was now cutting off their exit back to the hatch they had come through.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:46, Sun 19 Nov 2006.

Connor swore, this had turned from bad to worse in literally the blink of an eye. Connor pumped his shotgun and unloaded on the Reaver that had bounded atop the ship, then pumped the gun again, ejecting the shell...and he pulled the trigger...he was empty. He swore and pulled out the four shells, backpedaling as he hastily began reloading. He dropped a shell. He managed to load the other three and looked up to see where all the Reavers were...as well as Ren.

Ren nodded, his face white as Connor shouted at him to throw the grenade.  One of the Reavers had just jumped a top the ship and for a moment Ren almost tossed the grenade at him before realizing what a terrible mistake that would have been and instead tossed it down into the others that were trying to climb atop. With his last grenade thrown he turned back to his shotgun.  The weapon felt heavy and unfamiliar in his hands.  You can do this, come on, you can do this. he told himself as he took aim at the closest Reaver - he missed, took a deep breath and fired again.

"Thank God." he breathed as the shot connected, "I got him.  Ya see that I -" he had hit the Reaver but it was still coming at them, "So you were sayin' 'bout pullin' back." he said, finding himself pushed up against Connor's back as they were beginning to find themselves surrounded, "I think now would be an good time ta initiate that part of the plan."

The Reaver atop the ship didn't die from Connor's shots, but he did fall off.  There were only three left now converging on them, their mutilated faces leering at the two men. Connor and Ren were forced down the hull of the ship, almost to the ground now and as Connor began to reload one of the Reavers on the ground level grabbed ahold of his foot pulling it out from under him, he hit the hull hard on his back and started being pulled down.

In the distance it became apparent that not all the Reavers were preoccupied with Ren and Connor anymore, they had spotted Kale and Charlie.

They had reached the wall, Kale skidding to a stop just before crashing into Charlie.  He trusted her to get right to work and spun around, his shotgun held up and pointed towards the Reavers.  For a few moments its seemed like they might be left alone.  Back by the ship he could see the explosions of Ren and Connor's fight getting more and more desperate ... then he noticed the Reavers turning, "Ruttin' hell." he muttered under his breath, trying to brace himself - they were coming, "How's it comin' Charlie?" he said to her, cause they were rapidly running out of time.

Charlie didn't even want to turn back to look over her shoulder.  She could hear everything she needed to know in Kale's voice, and it was enough to push her further.  Things have gotten worse.  While there was one strong scenario, if she didn't specify what was causing her horror, she could pretend that there weren't monsters running them down while they were trying to physically break into a part of the station.

"Gotta gimme sum'f time, Cap'n."  She spoke through her gritted teeth, her knuckles white on the drill as it slowly broke through the paneling.  No matter how hard she pulled the trigger or how much weight she pushed on it, they were only going to come out as fast as the motor would allow.  "Maybe, ah...ah, 90 sec's or so, y'know?  Gotta make't work..."

Kale heard Charlie's voice come from behind him and just gritted his teeth as he watched two of the Reavers break off from the other group and start heading their way.  This was a ruttin' stupid plan, Kale.  What were ya thinkin', what the hell were ya thinkin'? his mind berated himself.  How could have possibly thought they could come out here and fight Reavers, it was suicide.

Kale's muscles tensed, they were almost within firing range.  His finger wrapped around the trigger and he held his position.  Just a lil' closer ...

He fired, and waited for the shot to connect - it did, practically blew off the closest Reavers entire arm ... but it hardly slowed it down.  Kale cocked the rifle again and prepared to fire once more.

Charlie kept drilling, pulling off another bolt and moving to the next.  If she were able to bend steel, she could have done this in one bolt.  Maybe if Geoff had been here, he could have done it...there was no telling how strong he was, she'd never been one to see that firsthand.  As it stood, this would have to do.

When Kale fired his gun, she nearly dropped the drill, managing to catch it before it hit the floor and broke into a few more pieces.  It was already partially held together with patch tape and adhesives, and there was no way she'd be able to fix it this fast.  It was already slick with the sweat from her hands, but she wouldn't let it slip...there was no way she was going to bring the whole plan crashing down.

"Jus'a bit more, Cap'n...keep'm offa us jus'a bit more."  She more whispered to herself, unsure if Kale could here.  She wasn't even really sure if she could hear it, the sound of her heart and the drill consuming almost her entire world...

Kale didn't hear Charlie, but he knew she was going as fast as she could and all he could do now was hope that it would be fast enough.  The two Reavers were getting closer, Kale fired off another round at the same one and it fell this time.  Kale smiled ever so slightly, and cocked the rifle again.  He was carefully taking aim when he felt it - the pain.  He let out a groan, the rifle fell limply from his hands and clattered onto the floor.  The whole world seemed to dim for a moment and then come into sharp relief.  He wasn't even sure what had happened, then he felt something warm and starting to pour down his left arm.  He looked down and was surprised to see the thick cylinder of solid steel embedded in his shoulder.

"This ain't good ..." he managed to breath out before his knees gave way and he was slumping to the ground his body unable to hold him up.  The pain washing over him in waves.  His eyes registered the Reavers up ahead - they looked far away but somewhere in the back of his mind he knew they were dreadfully close.  He breathed.  In, out, in, out ... the sounds of growls and screams were echoing around in his skull and the warm liquid was pouring down his arm and chest now.  Come one, Charlie, he thought, come on ...

Connor was about to respond to Ren when the ground underneath his feet decided to go away. He landed hard on his back, and was only barely able to hold onto the shotgun, though his sidearm skittered away to somewhere far below, firing off once from the impact against the ground. Shit.

"Wong Ba Duhn!!!" He could feel pain now, his back ached and his neck was sore from having his head bounce against the hull. He could barely see, not to mention the huge problem of he was now being pulled down to waht was most certianly death. He moaned and pointed the shotgun to the source of what was pulling him, looking upwards and pulling the trigger...praying he connected.

Ren spun around as he heard the bang of Connor hitting the hull of the ship and the litany of curses he let out.  This was not good, not good at all. Connor was trying to get his gun into position to shoot at the Reaver pulling him down but Ren knew that that was going to be a dificult shot at best.  A few seconds later Connor's gun, after missing its target was being pulled from his hands and tossed to the ground carelessly.  Connor was now un-armed. Ren fumbled with his own rifle and aimed it as steadily as he could (which wasn't really steady at all because his hands were shaking so badly) and fired.

The shot hit its mark and Ren reached an arm down to help Connor up, "Things just went from bad ta worse I'm thinkin'." he said, "Kale an' Charlie are gonna have ta fend fer themselves we gotta get out of here." Ren could hear his voice cracking but the prospect of running back into the ship was appealing.  And with Connor not armed there wasn't much they could do now anyway.  He looked at Connor waiting for him to give him the nod of approval so he could tell Kyoko and Acacia to open up them doors so they could make a run for it.  Although the thought of making Acacia open up the doors and have to face the Reavers again ... it couldn't be helped though and he knew that no matter what it took, he'd keep her safe.  After all, they had a weddin' to plan now.  This last thought brought the faintest trace of a smile to his lips.  He lived through this and Acacia would be his wife.

Connor grabbed eagerly onto Ren's hand as the man helped pull him back up. Gorram Reavers. Gorram station. Connor took a deep breath and let it out. Ren had his weapon still...but probably not many shots and he, himself, had nothing. Yeah, it was most certainly time to go. He nodded.

"Have the ladies open the doors, we're going in...we did all that we could for the captain and Charlie...and probably then some."

Ren didn't need to be told twice, he handed his rifle to Connor, figuring he'd probably be able to do more with it anyway.  It was actually a relief to be rid of it.  Ren would be happy if he never had to fire a gun again in his life.  He pulled the radio from his hip and hit the button, "Acacia, baby - we're comin' in.  Open her up - be ready.  An' 'Cacia, I love ya." Ren added hastily.  Not being able to stop the words from tumbling from his mouth.  Being out here, facing death - the only thought running though his mind was how much he loved that woman.  He had barely finished what he was saying when he felt something hard hit him from behind.  One of the Reavers had climbed up the back side of the ship and had knocked him hard in the middle of his back.  Ren went flyng, the radio tumbling uselessly through the air.

His arms reached out, trying to grab a hold of something, anything -but finding nothing.  He fell from his spot on the hull to the floor of the station where one of the Reavers was still alive and kicking.  First he felt pain.  Pain shooting through his entire body, especially his head as it landed unceremoniously against the corner of the fueling kiosk.  He could feel blood trickling down into his eyes.

"Shit!"
Connor felt like he was watching something in slow motion. It was horrible. There was a wave of relief that had begun washing over him, knowing that he and Ren were homefree...they'd managed to survive. Then, Ren had been struck from behind, and that floating feeling instantly hit his lower stomach like lead...he jerked the rifle up and squeezed off a shot at the Reaver, it wasn't even a thought at this point, more over instinct.

The Reaver had hit Ren full force, knocking him to the ground.  To Connor however he swung an arm, his fingers curled up like claws, the nails seeking to dig themselves into his flesh.  They connected with Connors upper right arm, tearing flesh from his bicep before he manage to get off the shot.  At this close distance the Reaver explode right in from of him.  Bloody and bits of flesh coating him, clinging to him.

Connor yelled out in pain, barely holding to the rifle as the thing's gorram claws dug into him. Then the shot went off and Connor was covered in gore. Gritting his teeth, Connor slung the rifle over his shoulder and began to go towards the direction Ren had fallen.

_{"Our father, who art in Heaven..."} The prayer came out quietly as Connor looked for the man. "Ren!" He was resigned to the fact that they weren't going to make it now...no, not now, but he sure wasn't about to let Ren die alone...they'd go down swinging...if he could find him... "Ren?!"

_{"...hallowed be thy name..."}

Ren struggled to regain his bearings, Start simple. he thought as the world around him spun in dizzying circles.  His fingers clamped onto the ground, Alrigh' so ya found the ground - nice goin'... he thought sarcastically to himself, but it was an achievement.  Blood then trickled into his eye and he reached a hand up to wipe it away, the motion causing the world to lurch and spin once more, Just stay still there, Ren 'ol boy, slow down.</i>  With the blood out of his eyes he sat perfectly still and waited for the world to stop spinning.  He could make out swirls of silver and grays, the station, and something of a redish hue in the center of his vision.  A shopping kiosk perhaps? ... but it was moving ... no, not a shopping kiosk, "Tian xiao de!" Ren shouted.  It was a Reaver.  Suddenly everything came flooding back as he tried to scramble backwards.

On the ground a few feet away he saw Connor's rifle.  Connor.  Ren looked up, "Connor!" he screamed trying to move towards the gun but knowing speed was not in his favor right now.