Editing Episode 701: Nuptials, Part 2

Part[[Episode 701: Nuptials| 1]], [[Episode 701: Nuptials, Part 2| 2]], [[Episode 701: Nuptials, Special Features| Special Features]] <br>


She opens a comm channel on the table to the bridge. <br><br>

'''Nika:''' Arden. Who have you got so far? <br>
'''Arden:''' Contacted the ''Drakkar'' to start the process of getting uncoupled. And I've called the System Defense Force. <br>
'''Nika:''' Did they give you an ETA? <br>
'''Arden:''' It's going to take a while to scramble. <br>
'''Nika:''' Shit. <br><br>

They are primarily tasked with defending the planet, not any ships in the Black. We aren't as great a priority. It's going to take time before they get here. <br><br>

'''Shyla:''' You should probably get the passengers on one boat. <br>
'''Nika:''' (To Wallin) Get everybody on your ship. We have armor. We'll draw their fire. Keep them busy while you get away. Are you okay with that? <br>
'''Wallin:''' I'll take them down to the planet. <br>
'''Shyla:''' Where's your armory? If we get boarded, you're going to need my help and you're not going to want me on your bridge telling you what to do. And I won't be able to resist telling you what to do. <br>
'''Nika:''' Fair enough. <br><br>

Nika gives Shyla the codes to the weapons locker and goes back down. Very calmly Nika addresses the gathered guests. <br><br>

'''Nika:''' Plans have changed yet again. You know how things go at a wedding, folks.  I need all the civilians to move over on the ''Drakkar''. We don't have enough room to handle all of this. When you get over there, we'll give you more information about what's happening. So if everybody would please very quickly go ahead and cross over into ''Drakkar''. <br><br>

She leaves Kiera and the rest of the ship crews to handle the transfer. Nika goes up the stairs yet again to fill Rina in. The engineer's been sequestered in a passenger cabin and has no idea what's happened. Nika pulls off her uniform tunic as she goes and bangs on the door. Rina pulls it open in a flash. <br><br>

'''Nika:''' I love you. Strip and hit engineering. Right now. <br><br>

Rina takes in Nika's tone and takes off for her quarters. Once inside, she swaps out of her dress and yanks on her loaded coveralls and shoves her feet into her boots. She doesn't yet know what's going on but she knows it's dead serious. Arden's started the warm-up from the bridge and she gets to work finishing the job. Nika, meanwhile, hits the bridge. <br><br>

The evacuation goes rather well, actually. All the passengers transfer over and the respective ship crews make ready to get the hell out of there. Shyla and Harry take up weapons to repel boarding parties. Arden mans the comms. Joshua takes the sensors.
Rina and Beglan get the engines ready. Kiera stands by, ready to go where needed, her dress knotted at her hip to keep it out of her way. Duct tape keeps her bodice upright, thank you, slapped on by Rina on her way aft. Kiera's ditched her ridiculous high heeled shoes and is running barefoot on the deck. She's also got her rifle over her shoulder and two of her pistols stuck in the sash of her dress—she's locked and loaded for bear. <br><br>

Nika gets to the bridge and opens a two-way channel between the bridge and engineering. <br><br>

'''Nika:''' Rina, you in position? <br>
'''Rina:''' Yes, Ma'am. <br>
'''Nika:''' You got Beggar? <br>
'''Beglan:''' I'm here. <br>
'''Rina:''' Yes. <br><br>

Good. <br><br>

'''Nika:''' Joshua. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Yes, Ma'am. <br>
'''Nika:''' You and Rina, just in case—Dear God, don't let this happen—Joshua, do you? Rina, do you? Quickly! <br>
'''Rina:''' Yes. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Hey, hey, hey—!<br>
'''Arden:''' Just say yes. <br>
'''Beglan:''' But his mum's not here, yet. And her mum's gone. <br>
'''Joshua:''' We ain't goin'—we're not gonna die. <br>
'''Nika:''' ''Say yes, Joshua!''<br>
'''Joshua:''' We're not gonna die. <br>
'''Nika:''' I don't care! <br><br>

Really? Are we actually arguing the man into saying yes, for cryin' out loud? Really? <br><br>

'''Nika:''' Just in case we're—<br>
'''Joshua:''' No, no, no. We're not going to die. <br>
'''Arden:''' Then say no, then. <br>
'''Joshua:''' I'm not doing the vows right now is what I'm saying. <br><br>

Nika straps in for more than just some tricky flying. <br><br>

'''Nika:''' Best Man, the Groom is out of his mind. I'm telling you to step forward this moment. <br>
'''Arden:''' And do what? <br>
'''Nika:'''  Speak for the Groom. <br>
'''Arden:''' He says yes. <br>
'''Joshua:''' No! <br><br>

Kiera steps onto the bridge and catches this last. <br><br>

'''Kiera:''' Say yes before I shoot you. <br>
'''Joshua:''' (grins) You love me too much for that. <br>
'''Kiera:''' Really?! <br>
'''Joshua:''' You're not going to shoot me. <br>
'''Rina:''' Joshua. Say yes before '''''I''''' shoot you. <br>
'''Joshua:''' All right, yes. ''Yes''. <br>
'''Nika:''' Okay! <br>
'''Arden:''' See how easy that was? <br>
'''Joshua:''' She was the one who said it. <br>
'''Nika:''' I needed a moment of levity so there you go. <br><br>

And she needs it cuz she's going to be flying us right into the path of the Reaver ship. Joshua throws a look her way. <br><br>

'''Joshua:''' Wow. (feelingly) I hate you. I love you but I hate you. <br><br>

Cuz he'd worked on his vows for days and days, had looked forward to saying them to the woman he loves ''just so'' at their ''wedding''. For a hard-core romantic like Joshua, this is just unacceptable. And not a little heart-crushing. <br><br>

Those friends and allies within earshot of the bridge and engineering snicker at the exchange. Shyla's passed around what weapons can be had from our arms locker and that moment of levity lightens what is otherwise a grim situation: Reavers are coming, we're playing decoy, and chances are good if we're successful, we're going to get boarded. Once inside, the Reavers will rape to us death, eat our flesh, and sew our skin to their clothing. Assuming we're lucky enough to have it done in order. <br><br>

We disengage from ''Drakkar'' and Nika peels away on a fast trajectory. Nika puts the comms on all-ship and orders everyone aboard to sound off. Arden takes a head count off the response. In addition to our crew, we have Shyla and Harry, three from the Aberg clan, Omar Tennison, Rosalie Trahan, and E.Z. Salazaar aboard. Arden tells everyone what to expect—rapid acceleration, deceleration, and related highjinks. Shyla mutters it's been years since she's done this. Rosalie takes herself to the bridge—her fighting skills are virtually nil. Nika tells her she doesn't mind her being there so long as she's out of the way. Rosalie takes a chair at the engineering console to port and straps in. Joshua mans the sensors as Arden quits the bridge for med bay. <br><br>

Nika's plan is simple—get between the yacht and the Reavers, play chicken to get the Reavers attention, and have them pursue. Rina gets everything set up to give the engines a power boost on demand. Joshua keeps a close eye on sensors. <br><br>

'''Joshua:''' Someone's contacted my mother's ship to tell her what we're doing, right? <br>
'''Nika:''' I'm a little busy right now. <br>
Johsua: (hails ship) ''Blue Sun 127''. In case it isn't obvious, we're about to intercept your pursuers. When we do so, get the hell out of the way. <br><br> 

Joshua's looking at the sensor analysis of the Reaver ship and sees it's not much bigger than ours. It's a military model, though modified—Reaverized—and he sees it's a Quan Fu patrol boat. Quan Fus have missile bays and fighter ships. If the Reaver ship has them … we're not just screwed, we are REALLY screwed. And that's on top of being boarded. <br><br>

'''Kiera:''' We'll sacrifice this one and steal that one. <br>
'''Joshua:''' The Reaver one? <br>
'''Kiera:''' Yeah. <br>
'''Joshua:''' It would be pretty awesome. <br>
'''Kiera:''' When they board us, we'll just leave and take their ship. <br>
'''Nika:''' (laughs) Damn. <br>
'''Joshua:''' We're not doing anything complicated are we? <br>
'''Nika:''' Not plannin' on it. <br>
'''Joshua:''' So what do we do when we've got their attention? <br>
'''Nika:''' I don't know. <br><br>

We're getting a radio signal from the Reaver ship. Joshua clears it through. Screaming erupts from our speakers. Joshua turns it off. So much for parlay. <br><br>

'''Joshua:''' See, that was fun. I think I'm getting into the mood. <br>
'''Nika:''' (flying) I hate you Joshua. <br>
'''Joshua:''' You just interrupted my wedding. To intercept Reavers. You are not allowed to tell me—<br>
'''Nika:''' FOR YOUR MOTHER! Who I really prefer to leave to the Reavers! <br>
'''Arden:''' (over comms) I second it! <br>
'''Rina:''' Oops. That mike was live. Would you care to retract that? <br>
'''Joshua:''' Rock on, Captain. Rock on. <br><br>

The sensors breep. Two missiles are incoming.  The fun begins. <br><br>

Nika attempts to evade. Rina boost power to give Nika more agility. Arden leaves med bay to man comms on the bridge and jam the other ship's electronics, hoping to mess up the missile guidance systems. He warns everyone on all-ship to brace for evasive maneuvers. <br><br>

The missiles streak closer. Nika jinks our ship hard aside, drawing on Rina's power boost. The missiles miss us and circle back for another pass. Nika pours on the speed and Rina boosts the power again. Arden gets the jamming signal going. It disrupts the missiles a bit, slowing them down on target reacquisition but they lock on and keep coming. Nika evades one handily and nearly gets hit by the second. <br><br> 

The missiles come round for a third pass and this time Rina flubs the boost. Even so, Nika manages to narrowly evade the missiles. Kiera cheers Arden on as he remotely triggers countermeasures from our weapons bay and one of the missiles falls for it. It's destroyed in the chaff.  Arden fires off another countermeasure and kill the second missile. <br><br>

System Defense Force is still fifteen minutes out. We have to keep the Reavers occupied until then. <br><br>

'''Joshua:''' Oh, man ….<br>
'''Rina:''' Joshua, did you expect our wedding to be anything less than crazy? <br>
'''Joshua:''' I was kinda hoping. <br>
'''Arden:''' Smooth as silk. <br><br>

Joshua cringes at the phrase—our personal nemesis. He's tried very hard today not to say it because he doesn't want to jinx our chances. Speaking of jinxes, Nika recalls a throwaway comment from her engineer on the flight over from Red Sun. <br><br>

'''Nika:''' (to Rina) Remember the sheep raping. <br>
'''Rina:''' I'm lookin' forward to that, ma'am. <br>
'''Arden:''' Sheep raping? <br>
'''Rina:''' Baa-aaaaaaa ….<br><br>
 
No sooner has the engineer's joke cleared our speakers than the Reavers bring their main heavy chain gun to bear on our hull. <br><br>

'''''BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM!'''''<br><br>

Everyone not strapped in gets tossed by the impact, sustaining minor wounds and stun. Rina suffers the worst, seeing as she had to remain free to run around the engine room. Kiera too. Beglan lucked out, suffering the least of those not tied down. Rina picks herself off the deck and maintains ''Equinox'''s power but our ship is wounded—the heavy rounds have badly damaged our armor and the force transference hits us hard. Everything flickers and winds down. Rina works feverishly to keep our girl alive, reducing some of the effects but not all. We've got power but our ability to do anything is reduced by half. On the bridge, everything goes quiet as Joshua and Nika take our readings and gauge our chances. <br><br>

'''Joshua:''' (quiet) Captain …<br>
'''Nika:''' Yeah, no. We're not going to be able to withstand another attack like that. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Wanna try and play dead in the water? <br>
'''Nika:''' Do you want them to board? <br>
'''Joshua:''' It's either that or trying to evade them. I'm afraid if we try to evade them, they're going to rip us apart with that chain gun. Knowing what we know of Reaver behavior—<br>
'''Nika:''' Rina. Shut it down. Play dead. <br>
'''Rina:''' Yes, Ma'am. Kill switch? <br>
'''Nika:''' No. Damage. Make it look like we've just got majorly damaged and stop us. Shut it down but not all the way. Maneuvering thrusters and life support only. <br>
'''Rina:''' Yes, Ma'am. <br><br>

Rina will have to constantly monitor and tweak what's still running to ensure everything doesn't die on us, including life support. She's not doing it alone. She has Beglan in the engine room with her. They grab their tools and get busy. Nika gets on all-ship. <br><br>

'''Nika:''' Prepare for boarding. <br>
'''Rina:''' (bridge-only) Captain? Lock me and Beglan in? <br>
'''Nika:''' Do it. <br><br>

Rina locks the engine room door against all comers, ensuring the Reavers will have to cut their way through to take it. Rina has her gun. If the Reavers get through, she'll shoot Beglan before she'll let them take him. While they're waiting, Rina and Beglan are doing their damndest to repair what damage they can reach. Propulsion is in reasonably good shape, but sensors, damage control, life support, and gravity systems are all in the red. They manage to repair some of the damage, the gauges drift back nearer to green, but we are still down more than half strength across the board. <br><br>

On the bridge, Nika throws off the straps and moves aft. Everyone else checks weapons and readies to fire. Trying to anticipate the enemy, we concentrate on the crew deck's airlocks and access hatches and start gathering around them. A loud boom and scrape thunders overhead and we know the Reavers have attached to our hangar bay. It's not long before we hear the groan of our shuttle bay doors being forced open. <br><br>

Since it's obvious that the port and starboard airlocks have been bypassed in favor of the hangar deck, the crew shifts to meet the threat. The only ways down to our level from the hangar are through the forward tube hatch and the crew deck stairs. Both are excellent bottlenecks and easier to defend than a wide-open airlock door. <br><br>

Nika, Shyla, Omar, and Joshua ready themselves in the crew lounge. Even though Joshua's the only one without a weapon, he has rather decent hand to hand combat skills. Kiera readies herself in the doorway of the corridor to engineering, her sniper rifle aimed and ready for a straight shot across the lounge to the crew deck stairs. The others make sure they aren't in her line of fire. <br><br>

Arden, Harry, E.Z. Salazaar and one of the Åbergs stand watch at the forward hatch. Faria backs his wheelchair into the vestibule of the portside airlock, partially hidden to spring ambush if needed. Rosalie Trahan remains on the bridge to monitor systems and man the comms, locked behind two sets of doors to port and starboard. With luck, none of the Reavers will know she's there. The remaining two Åbergs stand guard at the larger starboard airlock door, just in case the Reavers get creative and try to flank us. This means the two Åbergs are also free to come to the aid of either repelling party as needed. <br><br>

Too soon, we hear the Reavers and track their progress by their snarls and screams. The first Reaver comes around the dogleg turn on the crew deck stairs from above and Kiera shoots it the second she's got a clear shot. She hits.  It falls. She shoots it again, killing it. Smelling blood in the water, the rest of the Reavers on the stairs go a little bit nuts and they rush forward. Everyone opens fire. More Reavers fall and they start to bottleneck. They push at the bodies of their fallen comrades, take more bullets, and keep coming. Up forward at the hatch, Reavers have managed to open the hatch and drop down. The crew adjusts position and continue shooting. The crew deck stairs has a pile of dead and dying Reavers blocking access to the lounge and still more Reavers are coming down from the deck above, jamming on the stairs in their haste to get to us, ignoring the bullets we're sending their way. Of course, the Reavers are not unarmed and they shoot (or slash back) too. Omar is wounded, as is Kiera. The rest of the crew keep shooting. With Reavers, the best thing to do is to keep shooting, keep your distance, and pray you don't run out of bullets. <br><br>

The deck is going cloudy from all the powder from gunfire, silhouetted red and black in the emergency lighting of our powered down ship. Eyes are dazzled by muzzle flash. Ears are ringing from the noise. It's downright hellish, even without the denizens of hell trying to kill us. Our crew takes more damage and in the crew lounge, Nika and the others fall back as the Reavers finally clear the logjam of bodies on the stairs and gain the deck proper. <br><br> 

The Reavers gather for the charge and a low blast of a horn reverberates throughout our ship, sonorous in the near dark. The Reavers halt their advance and all over the ship, our comms speakers crackle. A male voice spits out of them. <br><br>

'''Voice:''' Your lives … for … ''Marina's.''<br>
'''Joshua:''' Okay. Who's speaking? <br><br>

All the screens on our ship—from door panels to bridge screens—flicker to life with snow and resolve into a man's face. A fairly sophisticated looking Reaver. Half shaved head. Scars across the face. There's no mistaking the man, despite the injuries. <br><br> 

It's Mike Carter. <br><br>

'''Joshua:''' (angry) Why is it always about Mike? <br>
'''Mike:''' Send Rina and … Dr. Arden, and the rest of you can live. <br>
'''Arden:''' What? I'm not going. <br><br>

Nika's poleaxed. She looks at Omar and Shyla. ''What the hell?!'' Rina opens the engine room door and marches out. Kiera blocks the aft corridor and threatens her with her rifle. <br><br>

'''Kiera:''' I will shoot you in the gut, so help me God. Get back in that engine room. <br>
'''Rina:''' Do the math. <br>
'''Kiera:''' I will repeat this again: I will shoot you, so help me God, I can hurt you so you get back in the engine room. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Please don't shoot my fiancée. <br>
'''Rina:''' I can gather intel. He is asking for ''me.''<br>
'''Kiera:''' Get back in the engine room or I will shoot you. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Mike, we're gonna need a few minutes. <br><br>

Cuz we're having a discussion. Rina's adamant on giving herself up. Kiera's adamant in keeping her aboard. <br><br>

'''Kiera:''' I can fix you up. I can't fix Reavers. Get back in the engine room. <br>
'''Arden:''' You can fix Reavers? <br>
'''Kiera:''' I can't fix Reavers. I can fix a gunshot and I will shoot you. You know that. <br>
'''Rina:''' How many lives are on this boat? <br>
'''Nika:''' Stop. <br>
'''Rina:''' That we're buying with mine? <br>
'''Joshua:''' Captain says stop. <br>
'''Arden:''' And we always listen to the Captain. <br>
'''Rina:''' (whispers) ''Do the math.''<br>
'''Joshua:''' Really?'' Really?! Don't even '''think''' about it. (Off Rina's look) ''I don't care.''<br>
'''Kiera:''' Take her back to the engine room. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Come back. ''Come back.'' Do you really think I'm going to let Reaver Mike Carter come and steal you away on my freaking ''wedding day''? Do you really think that you're—if you're going to walk past her you're gonna have to walk past me. If you're gonna—in fact, ''no.'' No. <br>
'''Arden:''' (over wall comms) And Rina? I'm not going. Period. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Unless you'd rather have him than me. In which case—no. I'm still not letting him have you. <br>
'''Rina:''' I'd ''rather'' you ''live''. <br>
'''Joshua:''' I'm gonna live regardless. <br>
'''Kiera:''' Um, y'all go argue in the engine room. Let us finish … (gestures to the Reavers standing and waiting) Joshua, take her back. <br>
'''Nika:''' Rina…<br>
'''Joshua:''' Mike, ''fuck off.''<br>
'''Nika:''' Talk to her. You're not going. Talk to her. <br><br>

The screens flicker and steady again. <br><br>

'''Mike:''' You have five minutes. If you don't come, I'll just put enough holes in your ship that you'll all die in the vacuum of space. <br><br>

Rina goes back to the engine room and opens a channel to Mike. <br><br>

'''Rina:''' What are you after, Mike? <br>
'''Mike:''' What I want. You and the Doctor. <br>
'''Rina:''' For what? For what, exactly? <br>

She gets that familiar roguish smug smile of Mike's. The one she hates. <br><br>

'''Mike:''' To enjoy the spoils of the Verse. <br>
'''Rina:''' And who are you spoiling? <br>
'''Mike:''' I've seen things, Rina. I've seen the truth of the Universe. I've seen the truth of the Universe and I can … show you as well. <br>
'''Rina:''' How? <br>
'''Mike:''' Arden can help me. I can help you just as he helped me. <br>
'''Arden:''' What's that? <br>
'''Rina:''' Who did this to you? Who changed you? Who made you? <br>
'''Mike:''' Why, you did of course. <br>
'''Arden:''' (over wall comm) He's blaming me for what happened to him. <br>
'''Mike:''' I'm grateful to Dr. Arden. Which is why he'll have a place on my crew. <br>
'''Arden:''' Joy. <br>
'''Mike:''' The drugs he gave me … made me immune … to the Pax. Better for the Pax. It's a new Verse, now. A Verse without rules. Without laws. <br>
'''Rina:''' How many more like you are there? <br>
'''Mike:''' (smiles) Just as many as I can make. With Arden, there'll be more. <br>
'''Rina:''' So who are you fighting? <br><br>

At which point, Arden turns away from the hatch and the small screen on the controls, and whispers to Harry to check our sensors and see how far away the SDF are. She slips away to the bridge. Rina's keeping Mike talking, hoping to stall until help arrives and to get enough intel out of him so they can figure out what to do. Joshua is following her conversation and not liking it one bit. The XO is actually growling under his breath. <br><br>

'''Rina:''' Mike. Who are you fighting? <br>
'''Mike:''' Anyone who stands in my way. <br>
'''Rina:''' And by what yardstick are you measuring that? <br>
'''Mike:''' (smiles) Whatever I feel like. <br>
'''Rina:''' Uh-huh. <br>
'''Mike:''' We had something once, Rina, and for that … I'm giving you a chance. To live. <br>
'''Rina:''' As? <br>
'''Mike:''' A free being. <br>
'''Rina:''' Like? … You? <br>
'''Mike:''' Mm-hm. I've experienced things you can't imagine. <br>
'''Arden:''' You're a long way from Miranda, Mike. How did you get all the way here? <br>
'''Mike:''' Let's just say … Miranda's changed a lot of people. And it changed me … but … I was already changed. That little concoction you brewed up—that you and your girlfriend brewed up for me … changed me. <br>
'''Arden:''' We were saving your life at the time. <br>
'''Mike:''' Oh and you did. You made me better. Better than you can possibly imagine. Stronger. Smarter. Without all those … cumbersome morals. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Yeah, he's a bigger dick than you remembered him. <br>
'''Arden:''' Well, for me to reduplicate that, it's going to take me a while to gather the things I need. <br>
'''Mike:''' We have some of it prepared. <br>
'''Arden:''' Some, I imagine, but my med bay here is pretty extensive. <br>
'''Mike:''' I think it's three minutes now. <br>
'''Arden:''' It's going to take me more than three minutes to pack up the med bay. <br> 
'''Mike:''' You just need to come forward. We'll get your things. <br>
'''Arden:''' Uhnnn, no. I don't think we want your people on board our ship. <br>
'''Mike:''' It really isn't up to you. We'll take you, one way or the other. You can kill yourself. Which is a man's way out. <br>
'''Arden:''' I know I'm not one of those. <br>
'''Mike:''' Or we'll take you. We have some means, you know. I can make the two of you like me. But I need you to make it more … better. <br>
'''Arden:''' Oh, I like you.  I've always liked you. <br>
'''Joshua:''' (to self) Sonuvabitch, what is the solution here? <br>
'''Rina:'''  Mike. I'll go with you. <br>
'''Arden:''' No you won't. <br>
'''Mike:''' Of course you will. <br>
'''Rina:''' But I won't become you. <br>
'''Mike:''' Okay. <br>
'''Rina:''' I don't want to be augmented. I don't want to be tampered with. <br>
'''Mike:''' I understand. (smiles) I didn't want it either. But … your will is not necessary. But if you feel vengeance, you will be … unfettered … in your vengeance. (smiles wider) It will be glorious. (breathes) Glorious. <br>
'''Rina:''' I had my chance at vengeance. (looks at Kiera) And I threw it away. <br>
'''Mike:''' Oh, and I'm offering you a second chance. <br>
'''Rina:''' I don't want it. <br>
'''Mike:''' Your want isn't necessary. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Yeah, it is. <br><br>

Arden knows Mike's tapped into our comms systems. He wonders if it's possible to track the hack back and get into Mike's comms systems. Arden wants to lock down Mike's ship so he can't tear ours apart. It might be possible on a temporary basis. He whispers his idea to Nika and she whispers back to use the terminal in her quarters. It's just one door away and Arden wastes no time getting through it. He sits down and starts tracing Mike's hack. <br><br>

'''Mike:''' One minute. <br>
'''Rina:''' So you'd force me to be like you. <br>
'''Mike:''' You make it sound like it's wrong. <br>
'''Rina:''' It is. It's not a path I chose for myself. <br>
'''Mike:''' But Will only matters to those who have Power. <br>
'''Rina:''' It matters to each and every one of us. <br>
'''Mike:''' Well, then. You can stay with them but I would probably have to kill you all, then. While you still have your morals, you can try to save your friends. But if you don't want to … my crew will be happy to …enjoy … your bodies while they can. I can keep them at bay for a bit but my command is only … so much as expected. <br>
'''Rina:''' We're only bouncing the rubble. Call your men off. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Excuse me. No. <br><br>

Rina shakes her head and steps away from the screen, turns her back on it so Mike can't see her lips when she talks to Joshua. <br><br>

'''Rina:''' So long as I'm alive, I can work it from my end. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Really? Arden's not going with you and without Arden it all falls apart anyway. <br>
'''Rina:''' He might take me without him. I might be able to delay him. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Might. Will. Kinda. <br>
'''Rina:''' We've already fallen off the cliff. Now it's just figuring out how to avoid hitting the ground. (sighs) You got a better idea? <br>
'''Joshua:''' I don't like this idea, Rina! <br>
'''Rina:''' Do you have a better idea? One with better odds? (evenly) Do the math. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Don't want to do the math at a time like—Maybe he doesn't have that many … Maybe he's faking it. <br>
'''Rina:''' Maybe he is bluffing. Maybe I'm bluffing. <br>
'''Joshua:''' I hate you. I love you, Rina, but I hate you. <br><br>

Rina goes back to the screen and pins Mike with a glare. <br><br>
 
'''Rina:''' Look, I'm in the middle of repairs here. You can tell we don't have weapons that can make a dent in your ship. At least let me go on ahead and make repairs so they can at least limp out of here and have a chance. <br>
'''Mike:''' No. <br>
'''Rina:''' (hard) Goin' back on your word? You said they'd live. <br>
'''Mike:''' They'll live. Somebody will come and rescue them, I'm sure. <br>
'''Rina:''' Uhnn. They aren't here yet. I think they're dragging their feet. <br>
'''Mike:''' I'm going to send my crew now to attack you. <br><br>

Of course, everyone can follow this conversation, since Mike is beaming it to every screen, large and small, that can handle comms. Nika debates shooting the three Reavers in front of her, knowing it might touch off the powder keg but damned if she knows what else to do. From the engine room, Rina calls out. <br><br>

'''Rina:''' Hold your fire. I'm coming out. <br>
'''Arden:''' (over comms) No! You're being … silly. Noble and self-sacrificing. Stop it. <br>
'''Rina:''' What's that? From Mr. Cynical, here? <br>
'''Arden:''' I'm saying if you go, you're dead. <br>
'''Kiera:''' (following along) Or he'll make you a Reaver and you'll wish you were. <br>
'''Arden:''' Yeah. <br>
'''Rina:''' Then delay him. Delay him. <br>
'''Joshua:''' There isn't delay to be had.  Wait. Has he even noticed me at all? <br>
'''Kiera:''' No. You are a bug on is his windshield. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Yeahhh. Okay. <br>
'''Arden:''' Sometimes you're the bug. Sometimes you're the windshield. <br>
'''Kiera:''' He's pretty much the bug in this. <br><br>

Joshua thinks on it. If he's the bug, and therefore beneath Mike's notice, why would Mike cross the Verse just to be the windshield? There's got to be something Mike wants out of this. Joshua doesn't have to look far to see it. Mike knew about the wedding. It wouldn't be impossible for Mike to have access to the commways and Joshua knows the man is a highly skilled covert spy. Rina and Joshua had sent out their word of the wedding to a bunch of people … so picking the time and the place to get his revenge would not have been hard. It's not like Rina and Joshua went to any great lengths to keep it a secret. <br><br>

And that makes Joshua think: obviously something here must be important to him. <br><br>

'''Rina:''' Obviously. He hasn't blown us out of the sky yet. He hasn't sent his men down to slaughter us all. He obviously wants me. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Yeah-yeah-yeah. <br><br>

Joshua checks on the SDF. They're still a couple minutes out. All righty, then. <br><br>

'''Joshua:''' Really, Mike? <br><br>

Nika looks at Omar and Salazar and sees they're waiting before they make their move, waiting for better odds. Joshua nails Mike a hard stare and Reads the man. He doesn't get much. Mike has survived interrogation, torture, had part of his mind eaten away by Chempliant and by having his implanted explosive taken out of his head. As he Reads, Joshua is able to Borrow a part of Mike. Through it he understands that though Mike has become this  … monster … of sorts, he was nevertheless going to get the woman he once loved. Joshua certainly gets a sense of entitlement and arrogance off Mike and that tells him Mike might respond to a challenge. <br><br>

'''Joshua:''' Mike. This is the guy you've been ignoring the entire time. Joshua, the guy that's going to marry the woman that you had. Technically he already has. <br>
'''Mike:''' That boy is long gone. What they've replaced him with … intrigues me. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Whatever you want to think about that, that's your business. But I think—<br>
'''Mike:''' (smiles) Do you like what's in my mind? <br>
'''Joshua:''' It's pretty much like I expected you to be. I think … ''you'' should be coming down here and ''taking her from me'', instead of sitting up there in your piece of crap radioactive ship, with those … whatever you call them, they don't even look like Reavers. They're Reavers but they look kinda like half-assed Reavers. I mean you're talking about this Dominate the Verse—<br>
'''Mike:''' I'm more the man than you can ever be. <br>
'''Joshua:''' ''Bwaaaawk-bwawk-bwawk-'''bwawk!'''' Really? If you're more man than you think I am, get your ass down here. <br>
'''Mike:''' You think you can antagonize me? <br>
'''Joshua:''' I think I can speak the truth. You're basically using a bunch of pawns to get what you want. <br>
'''Mike:''' I can kill you with my bare hands. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Well then get down here and ''do it'', asshole. <br>
'''Mike:''' Rina. Do you love this man so? This pathetic no one? <br>
'''Rina:''' Yes. <br>
'''Mike:''' And if he were dead, you would have nothing to live for, right? Nothing to keep you here. <br>
'''Rina:''' (softly) You're wrong. <br>
'''Mike:''' What's that? <br>
'''Rina:''' ''You're wrong.''<br>
'''Mike:''' Well, then there's no point in the fight. <br>
'''Rina:''' Oh,''really''? <br>
'''Mike:''' I'd fight him, if you were the prize. <br>
'''Rina:''' And if I agree to be the prize? <br>
'''Mike:''' Then I will fight him. <br>
'''Rina:''' Come on down. <br>
'''Mike:''' And when I kill him, you will come with me and you will bring the Doctor with you. Put a gun to his head and bring him. You have to decide. Quickly. <br><br>

Over the wall comm, Joshua hears Arden squawk his surprise and denial. Joshua keys the man's channel and whispers not to worry—we will win. For her part, Rina doesn't appreciate being reduced to a prize but she knows Joshua is delaying until help arrives. So she keeps her temper in check and her voice even. <br><br>

'''Rina:''' ''Bring it.''<br>
'''Mike:''' My men will retreat. We will move to your little …. shuttle bay. <br>
'''Rina:''' All right. <br>
'''Mike:''' Just you, the Doctor, and Joshua. <br>
'''Joshua:''' And just you from your end. <br><br>

The Reavers on our ship actually start pulling back. <br><br>

Rina goes to her quarters and puts on her full complement of gear—all her usual suspects. Arden offers Joshua adrenaline to give him an edge. Joshua doesn't want it. As they debate the merits of the drug, Valerie shows up in Arden's head. <br><br>

Valerie: So … It is sort of intriguing.  Because the drug that I developed for him did have the effect of partially cancelling out the Chempliant … It's possible it could have given him—it's actually reprogrammed his DNA, so it could have given him an entirely new development route for infection by Pax. Pax and Chempliant are not the same and so we may have very well created a kind of superhuman. <br>
'''Arden:''' (to Valerie) ''We?''<br>
Valerie: Well, inadvertently. You weren't really involved all that much in that. <br><br>

Rina's thinking along similar lines. <br><br>

'''Rina:''' You know, Blue Sun would kill to have someone like Mike in their lab as their lab rat. <br>
'''Nika:''' (laughs bitterly) Right about now, most of us are about ready to kill Mike. <br>
'''Arden:''' Yeah, well, I knew he was coming to the wedding. I just knew it. <br>
'''Rina:''' Yeah. I'm the big fat shiny lure. <br>
'''Kiera:''' Gee, I didn't know him and I didn't try to save him so I have no emotional connection to him. So I won't be upset when I shoot him. <br>
'''Joshua:''' (off Rina's look) ''Don't.'' <br>
'''Rina:''' (evenly) I'm trying to figure out a way to get in close so I can kill him. <br>
'''Joshua:''' Don't. Don't ''eff'' this up, is all I ask. <br><br>

Back in the crew lounge, Nika waits until the enemy has retreated all the way up the stairs before turning to Kiera. Her tone is grim. <br><br>

'''Nika:''' ''Clear that gun.''<br>
'''Kiera:''' Gun is clear. <br><br>

Kiera meets Nika's eyes and the order doesn't have to be spoken. The man would not have wanted to live like this, and both women in that moment understand what needs to be done—and are in agreement that Rina is not the one to do it. <br><br>

 
'''''To Be Continued…'''''<br><br>



Part[[Episode 701: Nuptials| 1]], [[Episode 701: Nuptials, Part 2| 2]], [[Episode 701: Nuptials, Special Features| Special Features]] <br>

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