Editing Stairwells Are Great Places To Hide

<span style="color:#800000">''' ''(With thanks to Terri for RPing this with me.  Thanks, Terri!--Maer)'' '''</span>

'''Tuesday, 22 Aug 2519'''<br>
'''Hospital, Bivouac'''<br>
'''Miranda, Blue Sun (Quing Long) system'''<br>
'''13:28 hrs, local time'''<br><BR>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She got them out of the storm with no additional damage, which was a blessing, but the whole flight out, Nika was silent and grim. The life-or-death struggle in the back of the shuttle could not be allowed to distract her even for an instant, or getting out would not be a surety. By the time they got back to the town, to the hospital landing pad itself, there was no time to do anything but move Brian from the shuttle to a room and run around like mad getting power up to allow Arden to help him. Shyla, Harry, and Nika stood in the hallway conversing privately for several long moments even as Rina, Jake, Christian, and Rick all got ready to start their scrounging tasks. And then Nika slipped away toward a stairwell, giving every appearance of being settled on a task.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After Rina found the breaker box and ascertained which breaker went where, she flipped the requisite switches and was rewarded with a hum as the floor lit up. Only at half power, but it told here there was power to be had. She closed the box and sought out the stairs to the upper level where the power equipment would be. If she could boost the power up some, Arden would have enough juice to run what he needed for Brian. She hit the latch to the stairway doors and flung them open.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The sound of the door flinging open made the woman on the landing above tense and go still, muffling any sound instantly. ''Yeah... we hadn't seen any Reavers here, but you never know.'' Nika didn't move a single inch -- if the Reavers were coming for her, well... she'd take 'em to Hell with her? Yeah... she wasn't thinking too straight. The sight of Rina coming up the stairs toward her made the blonde blow out a breath... and the pistol in her hands was immediately turned another direction. She sat in the corner of the landing, squeezed back into the defensible spot so she could see up and down the stairs. "Didn't know you were already down here," she admitted to the engineer, the stairwell lights illuminating her puffy face and red eyes with brutal clarity. The hand that set the pistol down was still shaking slightly as she put her elbow back on her upraised knees.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rina eyed her friend's gun and raised a brow but merely said as she passed on the way up, "I'm going to the generators. Back in a bit."<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And took the stairs up and out of there to give her friend time to settle.<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The generators were housed in a sub-attic below the roof and they were in decent condition. It only took half an hour to make everything run smoothly. Rina put them online with the hospital mains and checked the readings before quitting the attic. She took the stairs down and when she was still a floor distant, she called out to give her friend warning.<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Power's back online. Coming your way."<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Still sitting in almost exactly the same position as when Rina passed through the first time, Nika looked up as the other woman came down the stairs. At least this time she was sitting cross-legged. But if anything her face seemed even puffier than before. "Hey," she greeted quietly. The pistol was out of sight, so probably holstered again.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Hey." Rina sat on the bottom-most tread with a sigh. "Rough day, huh?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nika laughed quietly at her friend. "Not too shabby," she admitted, leaning her head back against the wall. Turning to look at Rina, she commented, "Little bit dicey for a few minutes there, yeah?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"More than." Rina dragged a grimy hand through her hair. "I'm still not sure whether to frag that bastard Mifuni or keep him alive for questioning. I know what Christian'll say if I suggest we question him with my blowtorch."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Won't do us any good," Nika opined, turning her head to look at the ceiling of the stairwell while they talk. "Torture has its place, but given the training he's got, I'd venture to guess it'd be more work than it's worth to actually break him. Not sayin' we shouldn't ask the questions, but..." She shrugged. "We got more important things to do than spend our time obsessing over whatever bits of information he might offer."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Agreed.”  Rina nodded.  “Getting Brian off this rock after Arden stabilizes him is the first priority. Thing is, how many pilots do we have to go around and who's staying behind? And we don't even know where we'll be going once we break atmo."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nika shook her head. "No one's staying behind. Shyla and Harry have some fool notion of fixing up another ship, one of the ones from here. I don't think we've got time to manage fixing two of them, and they're both damn smart women, but there's no way I can see how they're gonna fix up a ship by themselves and fly it out. Shyla's a reasonable pilot and she can repair things with time, but she's not really a full engineer or anything. Harry's specialty is weapons, and she can follow directions and all, but... " She shook her head. "They're spooling up the engines with nowhere to burn 'em. If they want one of the ships from here, I think it's going to be a matter of recruiting people to come back and salvage one with 'em. After Brian's offloaded."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"So, when I'm done here, I'll get back to fixing our baby up. Right." Rina rubbed her eyes, leaving behinds smudges, and let her hands drop between her knees. "Good to know I can maybe count on Shyla and Harry helping me. Between them and Rick, I think I can get us up and running. Can't tell yet how long it'll take. That depends on the quality and the quantity of materials I can scav. But I promise, I'll go as fast as I can for Brian's sake. Not so fast as to risk killing us, but as fast as I can." She flexed her shoulder, wincing. "At least I've got my arm back. That's something."<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She looked at her friend, debating what to say next. ''I'll just put my foot in it again and really, does she need that right now? I could just say the truth.''<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"As for Brian....I'm sorry, Nika. I don't know what to say. I tried to get to Mifuni... but the bastard was too fast for me. I'm sorry."<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nika shook her head. "Don't apologize. We didn't have any options," she says, meeting Rina's eyes. "If he'd got off the island with the shuttle, he would have left us stranded... or worse."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It could always be worse, yes. I still wish I could have just shot the bastard." Rina sighed. "Look, don't mind me. I'm pissed off as hell and right now I want to kill something, but I'll get over it. I'm sure Christian won't be so stupid as to leave me alone with the bastard for the two seconds it would take to waste him."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nika is too drained at this moment to have an emotional response to Rina's comment. "Stay away from him," is all she says, her tone quiet but brooking no argument from the engineer. There was a time when she balked at the idea that she should take on the captain's role, but in that one phrase, she sounds like Shyla Kramer at her most captain-y. It's an order... because eventually, when Christian has whatever it is that he wants from the bastard, Nika's very calmly going to put a bullet between his eyes.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You want me to run interference with Christian for you?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Blue eyes turned to Rina. "For what?" Nika asked calmly.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"What do you think?" Rina matched her tone for tone. "What I'd want you to do if it were Mike on that table instead of Brian."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nika frowned, clearly not following. Her eyes remain on Rina, silently inviting elaboration.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Okay, fine. I'll spell it out for you. It's clear as day to me that when it comes to killing this bastard, you want to do it. I'm fine with that. I'm asking you if you want me to keep Christian out of your hair while you do it."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Enlightenment dawned on Nika's tired features and she smiled faintly. "Nope," she said simply. "Won't matter who does it, as long as it's done. He betrayed his crew, his captain. That's the part that's unacceptable to me, but it is ultimately Shyla's call. Brian's injuries are.... " She trailed off. "Well, they're exactly what the rest of us would have gotten if the damn thing had gone off while we stood there. His reflexes were slow, but his instincts were still intact."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"All right." Rina nodded and leaned back on the stair treads, propping up on her elbows. She jerked a thumb upwards. "When we get a craft repaired well enough to get Brian off this rock, will you stay with him? I expect I could fly the ''Gift'' well enough to do a few milk runs, provided they're all space-side, come back and pick you up on the return."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nika looked away from her friend when she started to speak and by the time Rina reaches the end of her offer, the blonde pilot had wrapped her arms around her knees and begun to cry once more. "Oh God, Rina," she breathed softly on a half sob. "Do you know... those were pretty much Shyla's words to me when they left me on Boros to be with my sister?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Stabbed to the quick, Rina shot off the stairs and got down on the floor with her friend, and held her.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'm sorry...but no, I didn't," Rina said finally, hugging Nika hard. "Is that a 'yes'?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The blonde was shaking so hard, it was a surprise not to have her teeth chattering. When Rina's arms slid around her, Nika uncurled enough to bury her face in the engineer's shoulder and hold onto her with one hand, the other still holding her knees. She soaked Rina's grimy coveralls with tears, and when she finally pulled away there were streaks down her cheeks. "I don't have an answer. I don't even know if he's going to get off this godforsaken chunk of dirt, Rina." She wiped her face with a shaky hand, not doing much to mop up -- more like smearing grime and tears around. "And if I say yes... will the cycle just repeat itself?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"That depends. You planning on braining anybody this time around?" Rina bit her lip. "Sorry. No. I don't believe that. What I believe is sometimes you have to go where you heart is because you can't live in two places at once. Tell me something, how much of you would actually be here if Brian were elsewhere? And no asking me what I'd've done after Mike got snatched--we went and got him and the question never applied."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nika laughed quietly at the qualifier of 'no asking.' "I don't have an answer for that either, Rina. I don't want to leave the Gift. But I don't think Brian can stay, either. I'd like him to... I'd like them all to. But .... I guess it's going to depend on what they want to do." She looked at Rina, wiping again at her face. "He asked me to go with them," she admitted softly.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rina sat back on her heels at the pilot's admission and blinked. "When?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"He wasn't going to come off the island if I wasn't coming back," Nika said softly, rubbing her forehead. So much crying and her head was fit to explode. "He was going to stay there. And I said…," she paused to remember. "He was hedging about whether to come off the island and we tap-danced around it, and I finally yelled at him and said something like 'just quit it, you're coming with!' and he was all about 'so you're coming back?' and I said 'Yes, I'm coming home, we'll just have to negotiate a time frame,'" she said, her face crumpling.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Then you'll negotiate a time frame. ''With'' him. ''After'' he's better. And you may find that he'll look at things differently coming out of all this than when he entered it. It's not the end of everything as you know it. Not yet. And til that happens, you've got time to find a solution. We all do." Rina paused and added, "Remember what I said about figuring out which people you're supposed to keep and which you're supposed to let move on? How it's never easy? Maybe this is one of those times and if it is, if you have to go, Nika, I won't hold it against you. You're still my friend, you'll still have a place with me whenever you show up, I'll still back you. But I won't hold you here for my sake if you have to go. And I'll kick anyone's ass who gives you a hard time over it."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She wiped her face one last time and shoved herself to her feet. "You're assuming right now that he's going to live... and that if he lives, he won't be a vegetable... and that if he's not a vegetable, he's still going want me. That's a whole bucketful of 'ifs' there, darlin... and the first two are doozies," Nika said quietly. "C'mon... we need to finish scavenging the hospital for the list Arden needs, and then it's time to start scaving for the ship's parts. The sooner we do, the sooner we're off this rock."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Sounds like a plan. Come on, I think I passed the pharm room on my way over here. It's this way..."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rina hit the door release and went through to the corridor inside. She didn't wait to see if Nika followed, thinking hand-holding wasn't what her friend needed right now, it was something constructive to do.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''God knows, we've got plenty need of constructive, right now...''
<br><br>

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