Ticks & Tocks
Art by aimsleydale (LJ | e-mail | comment) and Neth Dugan (LJ | e-mail | comment)
Chapter 4
When the doors of the lift opened, the Doctor was immediately overwhelmed. The lobby of the building was bustling with people, women in silk gowns and men in their finest dinner jackets. Stepping off the platform, he slinked through the guests all dressed up in their fine, soft furs and gaudy jewellery. Coughing through a haze of cigarette smoke, he entered the next room.
The Doctor paused. Couples danced across the floor to a lively air played by a string quartet, the ladies ruffled dresses floating with each step. At either end of the room several small cliques had formed. Groups of men, both old and young, talked eagerly about the ships Ulysses Proctor would be debuting, smoking their imported cigars and throwing back hard liquor like it was water. Not far from them, their wives and girlfriends stood in tiny circles, their hands cupping their Shirley Temples, moaning about being dragged to away from the Core for "some yu bun duh space ships."
Suddenly, there was a tap on his shoulder. The Time Lord turned, spotting an oval faced waitress next to him. In one hand, she balanced a tray carrying seven translucent goblets, the liquor moving from side to side in time with her steps.
"Would you like something to drink, sir?" She asked politely, moving the tray toward him.
He opened his mouth, beginning to refuse. However, he stopped himself, suddenly reminded of something. "Do you have banana daiquiris?" The Doctor asked, a hint of excitement in his voice. It was a party, after all. And it didn't matter which part of the universe it was; turning down free drinks was never a good idea.
Lowering the tray, the blonde waitress inspected the glasses. Finally, she grabbed one of the drinks, handing it to him. "A rare delicacy, but a very good choice," she replied. He thanked her and sipped the fruity drink as the waitress walked away. The alcohol content was low and banana flavor overpowering; the Doctor knew that Donna would've mocked him over such a 'sissy drink.'
The dance floor cleared, partners laughing loudly as they approached the walls. Waiters in crimson uniforms and black ties emerged in pairs onto the sides of the small dance floor, carrying round tables. White, linen clothes were set over them, with wooden chairs pushed underneath. A set of young waitresses in matching blazers and trousers stopped at every table, arranging the silverware accordingly. At the centre of each table there was a gold leaf candelabrum, the candles emitting a soft glow.
Investors and their partners made their way to the tables, sitting themselves down. The waiters and waitresses returned, pushing large carts stacked with trays of food. The Doctor sipped his daiquiri, watching the food being served. Half the guests were already sloshed; he didn't think they'd make it to the presentation.
The loud clinking of a spoon being tapped against a glass silenced the room. A lanky man stood in the middle of the room, holding the glass in question. His greyng hair was slicked back and he had a matching moustache and beard. He gave a tight smile.
"Welcome, to one and all. We at Proctor Aircraft thank y'all for comin' out. Many of you came from a-far, and are a mite tired..."
It was a fairly guess that he was Ulysses Proctor. The Doctor quickly found himself becoming slightly bored with his speech, Proctor's country drawl lulling him into a daze. He turned toward the lobby, planning an escape route, when he saw something odd .He had only glanced, but the Doctor felt his hearts pound twice as fast as normal. Several tall figures had entered the lobby, clothed in long, fur cloaks. The smooth fur was dyed a shade of emerald, the most significant colour of all to the Kluvians.
"Boring, isn't he?" The Doctor almost jumped out of his skin. Standing next to him was the blonde waitress who had served him earlier, her arms crossed over her chest. Several other members of the help were leaning back against the wall, listening to Proctor speak with blank stares.
He ran his hand through his spiked out hair. "Well, he's certainly a cure for insomnia."
The waitress glanced back at the guests, only half of whom were listening. "Not good enough for a table, I take it?" she asked.
The Doctor looked over his shoulder again, searching the lobby intently. The Kluvians had vanished. So much for lack of stealth. Cursing under his breath, he offered the girl a weak smile.
"Not necessarily." Digging into his pocket, he produced the psychic paper, flipping it open. "John Smith, reporter for the Sheffield Post, number one news source of Dyton," he said, before closing the paper immediately.
The waitress accepted his explanation. "It's extremely hard to get a press pass for one of Proctor's showcases. How many of his shows have you been to?"
The Time Lord sighed, frustrated. Humans were his favourite species, but really, they could be so annoying. "First timer; not impressed," he commented, scouring the room for Kluvians. They were nowhere to be seen, despite their gargantuan size. He rolled his eyes as the guests laughed politely at one of Procter's weak jokes.
The waitress looked around the room then nodded in understanding. "Oh, don't mind them; they're Proctor's 'boys,'" she said. Confused, the Doctor looked to where her gaze was directed. Several beefy men were strewn about the edges of the room, dressed in what he could only describe as tattered suits. It was mostly brown, with a few other earthly colours mixed in. They were at least clean.
"He doesn't trust anything Alliance, apparently," the waitress, continued, happy to have someone listen to her for once. "And from what I see, they don't trust him either. Alliance guards have been hanging outside all week; they'd love nothing more than to arrest him for something. But since the Allied Spacecraft Corporation went under, they've had to rely more and more on Proctor and Hephaestus. Not that they trust Mathers, either."
The Doctor looked back to her. The girl was no longer a nuisance. In fact, she had been surprisingly informative. "Mathers," he began, "as in Archibald Mathers?"
She nodded her head. "One and the same. He's a relative newcomer to the spaceship industry, and really, it's only a matter of time before-"
Feedback from the microphone reverberated back and drowned out the waitress' sentence. "Now, I'm done wasting your time. Enjoy your meal, because in one hour, Proctor Aircraft will be bringing you the 2519 line of the toughest, most luxurious spacecraft to date!" Proctor finished. Holding a small object in his right hand, he pointed it behind himself. The entire back wall was illuminated, drawing the attention of everyone in the dim room. A set of digital numbers appeared in a flash.
The Doctor was sure both of his hearts skipped beats as he read the date the numbers showed:
09-28-2518
He swallowed dryly as the guests began clapping in unison. "Excuse me," he mumbled, leaving the waitress behind as he ran into the lobby. How could he be so stupid, not figuring it out before? He always was forgetting to check the dates; it was rule number one at the Pydronian Academy. Well, not number one, but it was in the top ten.
"It was around here that Li saw 'em, sir. The boys say that she's scared stiff, crying that she's quitting and everything," a gruff voice stated. Startled, the Doctor ducked behind the side of an information desk that was currently unoccupied. Peeking from behind it he saw Ulysses Proctor walk into the lobby, seven of his burly henchmen trailing behind.
Proctor stroked the ends of his beard as he paced around, staring at the floor. "The showcase is tonight- downright foolish to go after the blueprints," he mused. He lifted his head up, placing his hands on his hips and faced the bald man. "Check floor forty-two first. I don't know how they'd get there, but I ain't one for chances. I hope you haven't lost that key yet, Lefty."
The muscular man known as Lefty held up a set of keys. "Of course not, boss."
Procter nodded. "If they ain't there, then resume normal canvassing procedure. You find 'em, eliminate those joo fuen chse on the spot. Last thing we need is for those rats in uniforms to come a prancing around here," he ordered. Proctor glanced back into the theatre. "The showcase must continue without a hitch. If there are any problems, inform me immediately."
"There will be no problems, sir," Lefty answered, absolutely positive of himself.
He nodded once. "That's what I want to hear." Fixing his white jacket, Proctor walked back into the dining room where his guests were polishing off their host's wine. Lefty and the six other bodyguards began inspecting their guns. The Doctor inhaled; it was very possible that they could locate the Kluvians, saving him the trouble of finding them. However, tagging along would be the problem. As Procter's henchman headed for the lift, it was clear from their expressions that they would not be accepting hangers on.
The Doctor brought his glass to his lips. He paused before he could sip, allowing himself to mull the situation over. A second later he smiled, straightened his tie properly and ran his hand through his hair, flattening it down to one side. Finally, he threw back the rest of his drink.
The Doctor swaggered towards the security men who were still standing by the lift, leaving his empty glass on the help desk. As the lift doors opened, he followed them inside, his back straightening as he approached Lefty.
"Excuse me," He apologized, his accent much more posh. His eyes spotted the control panel; there was no button for floor forty-two.
Lefty glared at him. "Sir, we're gon' hafta ask you to get off the elevator and return to the showcase," he stated, puffing out his chest as he approached the Time Lord.
The Doctor remained where he was, putting on his glasses. "I wouldn't bother you if this wasn't of the upmost importance." He looked Lefty up and down dismissively. "I don't expect you to recognise me."
Lefty's face reddened. "I don't, so you best get off this elevator and get your prissy ass back to the showcase lest I throw you out."
"I'll have you know that I'm an essential part of Mr. Proctor's event," the Doctor spat, moving closer to Lefty. From his coat pocket, he produced the psychic paper once again. "John Smith, newly assigned Head of Advertising for Proctor Aircrafts Some of his showcase's most important designs have been left in my office on the sixty-third floor. They're required immediately."
Lefty looked the Doctor over, raising his eyebrows in suspicion. "I've been working for Proctor for nearly twenty-five years, and I ain't never seen you 'til now."
Closing the psychic paper, the Doctor sighed as he put it away. "As I previously stated, I'm fairly new. I was very recently hired by Mr. Proctor from the Allied Spacecraft Corporation. With my former employers on their way out he felt that I could bring something to his company. However, my presence has been downplayed for quite some time; tonight is my debut," he explained without fault.
Lefty was deflating before the Doctor's eyes. "If I were to ask Mr. Proctor about this, he'd confirm everything you've said?" He asked, unsure of himself, as he narrowed his eyes at the Time Lord.
"Absolutely; I never lie in matters of business." The Doctor looked sombrely at the men; he had successfully convinced them but the lift remained resolutely still. He swallowed. "Is there a reason we're not moving...?"
Lefty glanced back at his underlings, before turning to the Doctor. "We bring you to the sixty-third floor; get your business done, and git on out. As important as your job is, we've been giving very explicit orders by Mr. Proctor. Dong ma?"
The Doctor gave a restrained smile. "I understand perfectly."
Jayne grunted as several waiters pushed past him. He slouched his shoulders as he pushed the cart. Mal and Zoe walked ahead of the mercenary, with Kaylee following closely behind. "Ain't fond of this job already."
"You ain't gotta be fond of nothing, Jayne," Mal shot back, approaching the side door. A petite girl placed a wooden crate at her feet and entered in the code. The door slid open and she picked up her crate before walking inside.
Mal stepped up as the door closed. "Just get this job done, and get it done right." Punching in the numbers on the pad, the door opened once again. Mal held his hand against the door's sensors, allowing Zoe and Kaylee to enter. Jayne wheeled the cart pass him, and Mal followed them in last.
"I need more yuèbing; I can't keep them on the table!" A waiter called out, as he half ran in front of Zoe and Kaylee, entering the kitchen. Zoe inspected the room, looking around as one waiter fixed the bow tie of another.
She turned toward Mal. "Elevator's due north, sir," she said loud enough for him to hear, nodding her head at three men (the older one was giving the other two specific directions about the events for later in the evening). Losing patience, Jayne pushed the cart ahead, nearly running over several unsuspecting waitresses.
The crew paused as they reached the entrance to the main part of the building. The lobby was filled with guests, talking avidly with one another. A middle-aged man puffed his expensive cigar, blowing the smoke away from his pretty, much younger date. Under the loud chatter, an orchestra of pipas and bamboo flutes performing an old Chinese melody.
On the other side of the lobby were the large doors of the elevator, undecorated and unnoticed by the guests. Mal poked his head out: near the entrance to the assembly room, two of Proctor's men stood, carefully keeping their attention on the mass of people. He sighed. "Would it be too much to ask for a distraction 'bout now?"
A glass broke against an adjacent wall, startling the party goers. "Chiu se, you ta ma de hun dan!" a shrill voice cried. The room immediately fell into silence, the crowd eagerly scoping out for the upset attendee. Their search ended as a woman fled through the entrance to the next room, her hand firmly against her mouth. She couldn't have been older than forty-five, with barely a wrinkle on her face. The woman pushed through the crowd, walking desperately toward the building's exit.
Following behind was a man about the same age, his face flustered. "Augustine, darling, you're overreacting," he pleaded, his hand reaching toward her. He grabbed her arm, effectively making her turn to him. "Please, let's talk about this somewhere else."
Augustine wiped away the tears that rolled down her face. "We're not talking about this 'somewhere else,' since you have no problem disgracing me in public!" She pulled away from him, stepping back. "Everyone knows that you've been sleeping with that little whore, Edgar!" She accused.
Edgar, Augustine's husband, stepped closer to her, inches away from her face. "I'm not sleeping with her, we're very good friends! But you don't want me to have friends; just work my pi gu off so you can live comfortably on Londinium!"
"I gave birth your children and supported you fir years, and this is the thanks I get, to be humiliated in front of everyone?" Lifting her hand, Augustine slapped Edgar across his face. Several women gasped, amongst a rising tide of whispers.
Gingerly touching his cheek, Edgar glared at his wife. "Hit me will you!" He growled, lunging towards her. One woman screamed while men pushed past them, grabbing for Edgar. From the other side of the room, the two security men moved through the crowd of people, determined to prevent anymore fighting.
Mal, flabbergasted, turned back to his crew. "A distraction is at hand; let's move," he ordered, walking fully into the lobby. Pretty Core world people and their problems: Mal knew he could count on them. They walked through the crowd of people, sliding through the spaces as best as they could. Mal turned back; Jayne stood in place, watching the commotion eagerly.
"Jayne, keep moving," he warned.
The mercenary looked back, a glint in his eyes. "Core world tussle, Mal! Do you know how rare they-"
"Jayne."
Sighing disappointedly, Jayne pushed through the pedestrians like an aggravated child. The crew successfully slipped past the crowd and made it to the elevator.
With everyone on the elevator's platform, Zoe closed the doors. Kaylee kneeled on the floor and opened her bag. Taking out a screw driver, she began unscrewing the plate underneath the buttons. The cover came off easily, revealing the inner workings of the control panel. She examined the wires, carefully reading the Chinese print near each one of them.
"Hurry, Kaylee; we ain't got all night," Mal said, anxiously.
After disconnecting several wires, Kaylee pressed one of the buttons. The elevator moved abruptly, catching the others off balance. Kaylee couldn't help but giggle.
"Sorry; had to override the system." Quietly, the crew waited as the elevator roared upwards. The floors whizzed past, swiftly reaching double digits, hitting the twenties, thirties...
At floor forty-two, Kaylee stopped the elevator. Moving her hand across the panel, she pressed another button, opening the doors. Jayne pushed the cart out, Zoe following him. Mal stepped into the threshold, preventing the doors from closing.
"Xie xie, Cap'n," Kaylee said brightly. Quickly, she connected all of the pulled wires and placed the cover back onto the control panel, before screwing it into place. She stood up, put her tool away and left the elevator.
At once, the room was illuminated, surprising Kaylee. She covered her face with her arm, shielding her eyes from the light. After blinking hard, she caught sight of what lay in the room. Hundreds of artifacts, from beautiful oil paintings to broken pottery, hung from the walls and sat on podiums, gathering dust. She knew enough history to know that it most certainly dated back to Earth-That-Was.
"Gorram, the coin you'd get from sellin' any of these..." Jayne concluded as he leaned against the cart.
"We take nothin' other than what what's intended; in the event that the job goes south, Mathers will have us covered- so long as we keep to what we're employed to do," Zoe reminded him, only briefly glancing at the room.
Mal walked into the rows of history, looking from his right to his left. "Exactly, so start looking; time ain't on our side," he said to his crew, glancing at the artifacts. Each of them went off in separate directions, inspecting the contents of the shelves for their prize.
Kaylee tilted her head as she examined all of the items, assuring that they weren't the... what was it? She believed it was called the Roselita Stone. Either way, she was sure she hadn't seen it. What she did find, however, made her gasp. On a podium, a thin, gray rabbit sat, wearing plaid green little overalls and a straw hat. In its hand was a small shovel for gardening. She swore it was the downright cutest thing she'd ever laid eyes on.
"Over here!" Mal called out from the back of the room. Looking sadly at the rabbit once more, Kaylee walked toward the captain. When he came in sight, she also could see the large black stone resting on top of a display cushion the glare of the strip lights reflecting off it. Kaylee glanced at the long podium on which the stone rested and saw the extent of the security protecting it. Bending down, she entered the numbers Mathers had fed them; a loud beep echoed round the room -the system had been successfully disengaged.
Jayne approached the stone, parking the cart nearby. He ran his hand down the smooth sides, his fingers following along the contours. Gripping it, he attempted to lift the thing. It wouldn't budge.
"Ruttin' rock's heavy as anything," he gasped. Jayne pulled the cart closer to the stone, the crate still in place. Mal flicked the locks up and opened the crate; it was padded, specially made for carrying delicate objects.
Placing his hands at the stone's base, Mal looked at Jayne. "On three, we lift this together. Jayne, if you drop this, may merciful Buddha help you..." Jayne rolled his eyes, mimicking Mal's position. They kept perfectly still for a moment before Mal gulped.
"Yi, er, san-!" Both men attempted to pick the stone up, their faces contorting from difficulty. They managed to lift it barely off the podium, shuffling closer to the crate. Mal bit his bottom lip, the muscles in his back tightening. Not missing a beat, Zoe moved the cart carrying the crate closer, watching the two very carefully.
Clang, clang, clang.
Kaylee turned her head, looking frantically around the room. Nothing was out of place, nor was there any movement. She glanced nervously back at her crewmates; they had made it to the crate with Stone, and Mal was carefully lowering his end toward the opening, letting the rock slide slowly out of his hands. Zoe was still concentrating on the removal and made no sign that she had heard the noise.
Kaylee jumped when she heard the sounds again. They were becoming increasingly louder. Kaylee listened closely, stepping away from the crew. Breathing out a shaky sigh, she found herself facing a doorway not far from where the Roselita Stone had been on display. Of course there was a set of stairs- there usually was in every building, in case of emergency.
"Cap'n," she began, her voice all but a whisper. Mal and Jayne had successfully placed the stone in the crate without breaking it. The captain was all smiles as he closed it and snicked the locks shut.
Kaylee looked behind her.
"Cap'n, please." This time, they glanced up at her. Kaylee could feel her entire body trembling; there was no way to hide her fear.
Mal stepped away from the crate. "Mei mei, what's -"
Zoe shushed him, holding up her hand. The clangs were now clear. There was no mistaking them now. She turned around. "Sir, what do you deduce that could-"
BOOM!
A bright, yellow-orange light flashed, sending metal flying outward. Zoe grabbed Kaylee immediately, pulling her to the ground. Mal and Jayne were already on their stomachs, covering their heads to protect them from the bits of rubble that landed their way. Dark gray smoke clouds billowed outward, covering the room completely and leaving dust in their wake. The crew began to cough harshly; there were no other exits for the smoke to filter out.
The clangs were now footsteps, and as the smoke cleared, Kaylee could see the silhouettes of three tall figures. However, they were much larger and bulkier than normal people; they were even brawnier than Proctor's men. They wore dark green robes, the hoods long and encompassing their entire faces.
Slowly, they began stalking around the room, shuffling slightly from side to side. With their wide backs turned, Mal and Zoe silently crawled behind the podium. Kaylee continued to stare, her entire body feeling too numb to move. She managed to almost jump, however, when a hand grabbed her arm and another hand covered her mouth. Her eyes glanced over her shoulder; Jayne hovered above her, his blue eyes fixed on the intruders
He looked back down at her. Don't make a peep, he mouthed as he began shimmying toward the podium. Nodding, Kaylee followed him as soundlessly as she could. She watched as the robed figures walked further away into the rows of artifacts.
"Think we can just take everything, make some extra cash?" One of them asked, his voice high pitched, as he eyed several paintings.
One of the others groaned. "Captain only wants the Rosetta Stone. Says that's the only thing they'll pay for. Everything else is a waste of time."
The largest robed figure paused, lifting its head. It sniffed the air twice. Suddenly, it faced the direction of the crew. "I smell apes!" The bass voice roared, stomping toward the 'smell.'
Grabbing his revolver from his side, Mal aimed it at the encroaching figure. He pulled the trigger, shooting the cowled shadow in the stomach. It stumbled backwards, but never fell to its knees. The green fur of the cloak became a darker shade as blood from the wound began to well up. The hood of the figure fell off, the cloth gathering at the figure's shoulders.
Kaylee couldn't help but scream, whilst simultaneously trying to cover her mouth; it did no good. The figure wasn't a man, but a hideous creature. Its skin was a bright, shiny crimson color, hardened like steel. Unkempt, hair stood up from its large, round head, its face long and its nose stout. From its forehead, two long, pointed horns stood upwards, covered in a black sheen. In it mouth, the upper canines were almost as long as the horns, poking out from its lips. The creature's eyes were an eerie yellow, causing goose bumps to rise from Kaylee's skin.
It gave them a foul glare. "It figures the apes would try and stop us!" The creature pulled out what appeared to be a laser gun. Somehow, it was more advanced, with a smaller design and sleeker outer features than any of the weapons carried by the Serenity's crew. Pointing the gun at them, he fired.
The crew ducked behind the podium listening as the laser ricocheted off the ground. Jayne untucked his shirt, revealing his bare stomach, where his guns were taped. Ripping away the medic tape, he grabbed one revolver, quickly turning off the safety. Kneeling, he leaned against the podium, shooting three times before ducking back underneath.
There was a return of fired shots, red streaks of lasers bouncing past them. Closing her eyes, Kaylee could feel the tears burn at her eyes and fear gnaw at her stomach.
"What the-?" Lefty began, pressing his ear against the metal door. He listened closely, hearing the faint sounds of weaponry being fired. Stepping back, he smacked one of the buttons. The elevator abruptly stopped at the thirty-seventh floor. Taking out his keys, he placed one in the slot and turned, the platform moving once again.
He grunted, distracted. "I want you on standby, boys. We scope out the forty-second floor first." Lefty then turned to the Doctor, eyeing him. "You stay put, do ya hear? Don't be wandering out while we're on the floor forty-two, not even a little. You will regret it."
The Doctor raised his hands in defeat. "Do what you must." Secretly, he was greatly relieved; he had no idea how he was going to get to trick them into letting him in on the forty-second floor in the first place.
The elevator chimed, reaching its destination. Stepping back, the Doctor allowed the security to encircle the doors. Each of the men turned off the safety of their guns, aiming them as the elevator stopped.
As the doors slid open, a quick, red beam whizzed inside, nicking the side of the youngest man. He hollered in pain, falling to the floor. The Doctor and the other bodyguards moved to the sides of the elevator, glancing at him as he lay where he fell.
Lefty cocked his gun, looking warily into the room; several of the fluorescent lights were out, leaving the floor half darkened. "We have hostile gunfire- move out with caution!" He ordered. One by one, they exited the elevator, leaving the Doctor and the injured man there. Hesitating, the Time Lord kneeled next to the man, his finger tilting the man's face to the opposite direction.
"Don't squirm; let me look at it." The wound spread across the youngster's cheek, all the way to his ear. Dark red blood was trickling down his face in thin streams. Pulling a handkerchief from his pocket, the Doctor wiped the blood away, moving over the wound. It was very shallow, and it wouldn't take long to completely heal, he concluded.
He dug into his pockets again, looking for some proper medical tools. Instead, he found a handful more of the hot pink Hello Kitty plasters. The Doctor tried to think for the life of him where he could've possibly procured them- perhaps Rose?
No, not Rose, he thought. Jackie. It was her sort of M.O.
A large blast went off, sending clouds of smoke into the lift. Kluvians, the Doctor groaned inwardly. Remembering himself, he pushed most of the plasters back into his pocket before placing two of the obnoxious items across the man's cut; they did little.
"Good enough," he said to himself, standing up and running out into the foray.
Lefty and his men bobbed back and forth between artifacts, swerving to avoid gunfire. All three Kluvians faced the direction of the elevator, firing. The new enemy force was much easier to locate, and much easier to take down.
With the Kluvians' backs turned, Mal edged out from behind the podium. Satisfied with the turn of events, he turned to his crew. "With them things distracted, Jayne, take the elevator and get to the shuttle. Zoe and I will cause some confusion and take the stairs. Kaylee, you go on with Jayne."
Mal and Zoe stood up abruptly, aiming and shooting at the Kluvians. As two of them turned around, the captain and his first mate hid behind the podium again. Several more shots from the laser guns zipped past them before more gunfire was heard from the other side of the room. Staggering up, Jayne gripped his hands around handle of the cart, thrusting it forward as fast as he could. Kaylee followed him, trailing slightly behind.
The Kluvians turned back towards the crew of Serenity. Jayne hunched his back, marching doggedly on and dodging whatever flew past him. He paused briefly, as they neared the position of the Proctor security team. Jayne crouched down, using the cart as a barricade against the lasers. He finally reached the elevator and stood straight, hauling the cart inside.
"What in the hell do you think you're doing?" Jayne looked down and saw the injured security guard there, glaring up at him as he covered his wound. The guard was gawky, too weak to fight a man like him. Bending down Jayne grabbed him by his shirt and belt.
"Git!" He grunted, throwing the man out of the elevator and into the warzone that had erupted so suddenly. The mercenary froze; Kaylee was nowhere to be seen. He scanned the room, ducking inside the elevator doors to avoid being shot. A stray laser beam bounced in, startling him. If Kaylee hadn't made it with him, the captain would've kept her safe. Darting inside, Jayne pressed the lobby button repeatedly until the doors finally closed.
Kaylee was not as fortunate as Jayne would've supposed. Frightened by the Kluvians, she dropped to the floor to avoid being spotted. She looked over, expecting Jayne to be squatting beside her; instead, he kept moving, leaving her behind without a second thought. Her heart pounding faster, Kaylee looked back to Mal and Zoe; they stood up from their shielded position, behind the podium, walking backwards so as to keep their eyes on the gun battle. They glanced back at the rest of the room before jumping to safety over the pile of rubble that used to be a doorway to the stairs.
Her stomach twisted in knots, and Kaylee was sure she was going to be sick. She had been on jobs before, and if there was an ounce of trouble, someone was always there to help her. Bu this time no one was there; everyone had done their part right but her. She was left to fend for herself against the high class thugs that Ulysses Proctor called his security and the horrible, gruesome creatures. All she wanted to do was cry.
Leaning back, Kaylee became alarmed. She was resting on something... warm. Spinning around, her gaze fell on a large, blue box. In all the worlds she travelled to, she was sure that she'd seen nothing like it. Then again, she was in a room filled with items from Earth-That-Was and mentally called herself foolish for forgetting. Immediately, her curiosity was intrigued. Raising her hand, Kaylee placed it against the old wood, perplexed and amazed at the same time. Earth-That-Was was dried up so many years ago, but the blue box was as hot as Serenity's engine.
"The stone- it's gone!" one of the monsters realized, horrified. The pounding in her chest moved toward her throat, she looked back at the box; it was big enough to fit her, she deduced. Kaylee scrambled up, her eyes set on the Kluvians. Enclosing her hand around the metal handle, she pulled open the door, slipping inside and slamming it shut.