During Arc VII: Uncertain Voyage, as Sanctuary continues her journey, Remy LeBeau finds himself facing a nemesis supposed to have died during a failed grab for power on Demaria during Arc II: Walls Fall Down...
LeBeau walks along the row of ship until he reaches the Wolf "Well here id es," He says as he walks to the forwards landing strut and presses in a small section of it which causes the boarding ramp to drop from the middle of the ship down to the deck
Esther observes the entire process with wide eyes and an even wider smile. "It's like an adventure!" she breathes.
LeBeau looks back at her and grins "No dat much o one, ids jus my ship, ids no gonna talk to yu like Galactix. An I hope dare es no one roaming aboud righ now"
Esther tilts her head. "Why would anyone be roamin' bout on it?" she queries, brow furrowed. "An' it's smallish so it's nice. Big ships are kinda...well, big."
LeBeau shrugs "Who knows lods o reasons, somone trying to kill me, Jest wanting to surprise me I don no. Bu I assure yu ids safe"
Esther laughs. Yes, laughs, not giggles. She pokes one of her hands out from her sleeves to brush her hair behind her ear again. "I'd know if it weren't safe I think," she banters back.
LeBeau nods and grins holding out his hand "Shall we begin da tour den?"
Esther nods, beaming as she puts her hand into LeBeau's. "Of course!"
LeBeau squeezes her small hand as she slides it into his and he begins up the ramp
Cockpit <LoneWolf>
A long narrow room with doors coming in from the left, right, and rear of the ship. There are some consoles near the front of the ship and some status panels near the rear of the room. There is a large window looking out towards the front of the ship.
Esther takes her time to peer around the cockpit slowly. "I wouldn't know how t'fly this thing," she says bluntly.
LeBeau motions around the room "Well here es da main attration da cockpid, a bid small bud ids only made to fid a couple people, especially since id es my ship 'm da only one dat flies dis ting and so I on;y need da one console
Dimitri arrives from Air Lock.Dimitri has arrived.
Clack. Clack. "Well, Jesus H. Christ smokin' weed on a church pew." General Dimitri Volstov strides in with his cane, aiming an assault rifle in your general direction.
LeBeau quickly turns as he hears footsteps behind him and his hand dips into his coat reashing for the pistol straped to his leg and pointing it to the person comming up the airlock
Dimitri shakes his head at LeBeau. "Hand off the gun, LeBeau. Have a seat." He gestures with his cane at the nav console.
Esther starts, wrenching her hand away from LeBeau and spinning around, her breath coming short and shallow. Assault rifle and man behind assault rifle are given a wide-eyed stare as she swallows, beginning to back away.
LeBeau moves in front of Esther shielding her. He pulls his hand away from his weapon and shows his empty hand and steps back "Yer a brave man to wander ento my own den an poin a gu ad me. So how di yu avoid capture, yu sell oud Fagin fo mo power...'m surprised yu two bloodsuckers e'en god along dis long.
Dimitri jerks his head toward the nav console. "Get us into space and on a course for Yptarn. Then we can talk."
Esther finds her voice. "W-we're nowhere *near* Y-yptarn," she says with a show of spirit laced with acute nervousness. "H-How'd you get on here? Or didja pick th'lock an'hotwire it?"
LeBeau shakes his head "Perhaps yu took a blow to da head by a falling beam o somting. Di yu no see da probe oud dare dat tore up da hangar wall an da deck. I don tink we could take off e'en if we waned to"
Dimitri curves his mouth into a wry smile. "Mr. LeBeau...do it. I'm in no mood to argue."
Esther's cold little hand touches LeBeau's elbow. "Remy...I think he means it..." she whispers shakily, swallowing hard as she stares at Dimitri with terrified fascination.
Dimitri nods. "Oh, I mean it. And if certain parties don't hear from me quite soon - some terrible things may befall certain friends of yours. Don't test me on this."
LeBeau nods and looks to Esther "Id'll be alrigh" He eases back to the nav console and sits in it and begins the startup sequence
LeBeau mans the Navigation Console.
Esther swallows. All at once her mood shifts from terrified to spirited, as she abruply tosses her head and demands, with a stomp of her foot, "You're a *bad* man, whoever you are, an' you're EVIL. Evil evil EVIL an' you're not gonna get away with it."
Dimitri leans against the bulkhead near the door, still aiming his assault rifle at Remy's back. "Don't make any unauthorized calls or signals. If we're followed, I'll kill you both."
LeBeau looks pver his shoulder "I hope yu hav da coordinade fo da system since I don hav dem. Day ar up en da Sanctuary database an I doubt yu wan me leaveing da ship
Dimitri smiles faintly at the young girl's defiance. "I've gotten away with it this long. Jesus H. Christ kicking the stuffing out of a paisley sofa, I even beat death."
Dimitri nods to LeBeau, smirking. "I can provide them."
LeBeau continues to power up systems "Well e'er on'es luck runs oud sooner o lader"
Esther tilts her chin up at Dimitri. "You won't get away wit' it fer any longer," she flares back. "Jus' coz yer a beaten *dawg* an' you got no place t'run so yer big bully. Yay woo, funky POP."
You feel a sudden rumble as the engines activate.
Dimitri quirks an eyebrow, studying the girl. "You've been hanging around with this tuber for too long."
LeBeau says, "Taxing oud to da main deck"
Dimitri nods to LeBeau.
Esther folds her arms, looking comically small in comparison. She scowls at Dimitri. "An' callin' people names is *rude* Mister Punk," she informs him for all the world like he were a rambunctious 3-year old Zangali. "Toober is th'name fer a potato, an' even THAT'S bad grammar."
LeBeau says, "Undocking from Santuary now""
Dimitri sighs. "It is my lot in life, I'm afraid. Mr. LeBeau, you want the following coordinates: 523669.0/1229587.0/54842.0
LeBeau says, "We ar clear I need dose corrdiande if yu plan on going any where"
Esther stomps her foot again. "No, it's NOT. Yer jus' makin' excuses coz you're a bully. You needta be SPANKED."
Dimitri furrows his brow at the girl. "Perhaps you need a gun in your mouth."
LeBeau looks up "We ar being hailed by Sanctuary, day wish to know our destination
Dimitri glances toward LeBeau. "Just going for a spin, right, Mr. LeBeau? Back in a jiffy."
Esther plunks one of her hands on her hips and stares up at Dimitry defiantly. "An' yer a liar too."
LeBeau says, "We ar clear an course sed en"
Dimitri nods. "Excellent, Mr. LeBeau. Good to see you can still follow orders. So." He smiles wryly. "How have you been?"
LeBeau turns back to the nav console and pushes the throttle up from full stop to max causing hte ship to jump forward jostling the occupants
Dimitri is leaning against the bulkhead, so he's ready for the acceleration. Plus, he's balanced with that cane of his. He just smirks.
Esther's brow is thunderous right now as she begins to pace and almost getting tripped up in her robes in the process. She snatches the skirts up with a very unladylike, "Oh...FISHROT!" and continues her pilgrimage. The jerk shoves her offbalance however and she flails, tipping backwards to land on the floor. Her cheeks flare crimson.
Dimitri chuckles at the girl. "Whoops."
LeBeau says, "Well dat depens on yer idea dare dimitri, 've no been couped up en d ballows o da ship fo da pas few months""
Dimitri shrugs. "We've all dealt with inconveniences since we were denied our rightful homes by the Kretonians, yes? Ah, well. We shall persevere."
Esther scrambles to her feet, her cheeks getting redder and redder. The fall seems to have knocked some of her budding indignation out of her though as she cracks her knuckles nervously and glances at the viewscreen. "Yeh, an' yer related to 'em, you creep," she scowls.
LeBeau after a quick OS jump goes about resetting the nav computer to hone in on the target "So wha aboud yu how di yu survive dat, excuse da pun, empire o yers falling down aroun yu?"
Dimitri smirks. "My usual luck. I was on the right side of the rubble to reach the escape route."
LeBeau says, "An o course being da snake dat yu ar yu lef yer boss to rod an be captured, perhaps hopeing dat yu could take hes place when da dus settled?""
Dimitri chuckles. "Well, honestly, I was counting on some thickheaded moron like yourself to club him to death for me. Sadly, cooler heads handled his rescue. Tsk. Tsk."
Esther deftly avoids a console and slips to stand by LeBeau for a moment, lightly touching his shoulder. "I don't think he'll tell us 'ny more if we insult him, Remy," she says quietly. "If it weren't wrong I'd call him a damned partypoopin' grub."
Dimitri smiles wickedly at Esther. "If I had feelings, they might be hurt."
LeBeau chuckles "Ids alrigh Ess, da selloud am me go way back. So wha da sudden rush to leave da ship, wit Fagin still alive yu tink yer live all o a sudden es en danger?
Esther glares over in Dimitri's direction rebelliously. "Oh I know you ain't got no feelings!" she flashes. "Yer th'stoopid idjut who put viruses inta' stuff. An' you got no conscience either, you...you big faggoty bully!" Likely she has no idea what the words mean, but she's just this side of scared and angry to use them anyway.
Dimitri cradles the rifle, shaking his head. "No, actually. We've got unfinished business. I wanted to settle it where we might be undisturbed." Dimitri jerks his head toward the girl. "Stick a sock in her mouth or something. Better that than the barrel of this gun."
LeBeau looks back with an evil glare "Well wha e'er yu hav en min yu harm her en anyway an i garuntee yu will no liv to regred da mistake." His eyes seem to flare and glow between the mix of red pupils and the lights off the console playing along his face.
Dimitri chuckles. "Oh, I have no intention to hurt her unless she gives me a reason. Like continuing to blather nonsense at me."
Esther swallows, a little daunted by Volstov's rifle. "You c'n try!" she snaps back at him. "Ain't nonsense either, y'shoulda been drowned t'birth."
Dimitri nods grimly. "Gonna be a short trip for you, little girl, if you don't stow the claptrap."
LeBeau says, "So wha was yu had en min, I really hope ids bedder den dragg'n us oud here so dat yu can jus shood me en da back wit dat rifle"
LeBeau looks up the Esther "Ess stay oud o dis, I don wan yu gedding hurd"
Esther glares. "M'NOT little!" she mutters, although she does subside. She rubs her hands together stiffly, her fingers trembling a little.
Dimitri shakes his head, smiling at LeBeau, the general says, "Oh, no. I leave such style-less finales to people like you. Graeber Brenhault - killed with a rock to the back of the head? Really, Remy. Couldn't you do *any* better than that? No, no. I have something else in mind."
LeBeau says, "Gerber had a sof head, nodding en side to keep his skull from cracking. Actully 'm jus as disappoined as yu ar dat id when down like dat an I could no face hem face to face."
"Well, this time, you should be far less disappointed," Volstov replies. "You will, in fact, deal with me face to face."
You feel the ship begin to slow.
Esther stiffens as she shoots a glance in LeBeau's direction, green eyes fearful and worried. She clenches her hands into fists and glares daggers at Volstov. "You better not hurt him..." she mutters, between tightly-clenched teeth.
Esther glowers at Dimitri crossly. "Whatcha need t'go t'Yptarn for 'nyways?"
Dimitri shrugs. "It's isolated. Away from intruding troublemakers like the Vanguard."
LeBeau chuckles almost as if the entire situation is funny to him "He wans to make sur dat wha e'er happen es on da up an up. Hem an me an dats id....which I mus say I e'en fin hard to shallow
Dimitri shrugs. "I'm crushed, Remy. Really, I am."
Esther pushes one side of her bob behind her ear mutinously. "Guess it's t'be expected." She bites her lip as she sidles a glance to LeBeau. "Yeh but Remy, s'no one there," she notes tentatively. "Not even like...Miss Sha's cats."
LeBeau nods and looks up to Esther "I know bu dat es da way id should be, dis es no a figh da Sha and jest an da oders ar a pard o...no dis goes back to Demaria an ids always been between jus da two o us"
Dimitri smiles tightly. "Just so, Remy. You know...I remember that day as if I'd actually been there..."
Esther manages a wavering little smile that's rather more on the side of pathetic than reassuring. "Don't get hurt, k? I wish I'd learned t'box, not ballee now...coz I'm hopeless at fightin'."
Esther reaches a hand up to her hair, muttering something incoherent as she readjusts a pretty silver hairpin that's come loose. "Whatcha gonna do t'him?" she demands of Volstov warily, a little nervous tremor in her voice.
Dimitri hrms. "If I'm lucky, kill him." He smiles broadly. "I'm quite lucky."
Esther's eyes grow wide as the casual words sink in. Her mouth opens, then shuts abruptly. "Nuh UH you will not!" she storms, clenching her hands into fists again. "Yer EVIL."
Dimitri pouts, but is it really sincere?
Esther scowls at Volstov, tilting her chin in flagrant defiance. "An' what gives you th'right t'say who'll get killed an' who won't?" she demands with narrowed eyes.
Dimitri shrugs. "Dunno. Never really thought about it much. Gets in the way of actually *doing* things, y'see."
Esther gives an outraged sort of sniff. "S'plains *everythin'*," she retorts with just a hint of sarcasm.
Dimitri smiles slightly, sighing. "Grim deserved to die, letting you go the way he did, Remy. He and Lord Fagin always *did* underestimate you and your compadres. Not me. No, no. I considered you the wild pack animals that you really are. And the only way to deal with a pack animal is to separate him *from* that pack. Without your friends to blow things up, hack into terminals and cause mischief - well, we'll see what you can really do."
LeBeau grins and still with that unwarented chuckle "Well I di kill yu da firs time wid oud dem. An as much as 'd like to take da credid fo id i had nodding to do wit Grim an da Galore, doh I wsh I di"
Esther can't help giggling just a little at the last bit regarding blowing things up, hacking into terminals and causing mischief. Rather inappropriate, but then again, she's a strange sort to begin with. With a guilty look she abruptly stops herself from any more mirth and listens. "Glycerine, s'all y'need," she breathes randomly.
Dimitri shakes his head. "Actually, you had help from that bastard Yama Nels. Of course, he'll get his, soon enough. The wife, too."
LeBeau shakes his head "Yu say dat like I care o e'en like Yama. Dat guy es an always has godden on my nerves. If id wasn' fo da fact dat Teel was en lov wit hem fo god knows wha reason I would o killed hem myself by now"
Dimitri nods, smiling wryly. "Well, leave that to me and my people. We'll deal with him. And his spawn."
LeBeau says, "Perhaps yu ar underestimading me yerself, already making plans when yu still ahv me to deal wit"
Esther blinks and stares at Dimitri for an incredulous minute before genuine anger flares in her eyes and her expression. "Miss Teel? You're gonna KILL Miss Teel?" she gasps, then spits at the man with pure contempt. "Ooooh jus' how LOW are we gonna sink Mr. Weasel Boy? Oooh...I'd liketa land you a sock in th'jaw if I knew how t'!"
Dimitri shrugs. "Oh, I don't know about killing Senator McGrath. A solid punch to the stomach might do the trick."
LeBeau lets out a very low and deep growl from the back of his throat "Yu will no touch does kids"
Esther brings two small, unpracticed fists up from her side, her green eyes sparking. "Yer a big, big BULLY you...you...you NALL you!" she howls.
Dimitri shakes his head. "Oh, no. No, I won't." He smiles faintly.
Esther tosses her head angrily and glares down at LeBeau. "Remy. Can I hit him?" she demands.
LeBeau simply shakes his head
Dimitri chuckles darkly. "Give it a try."
Esther's shoulders tense up as she glares daggers-drawn at Dimitri. "I will too, you PUNK," she spits.
LeBeau reaches out with one hand and grabs Esther's arm "Don do id Ess, he es try to rile yu up, led me deal wit hem"
Dimitri laughs, smiling broadly. "Well, aren't you just the portrait of prudence, Remy? Throwing random foolishness to the wind and embracing caution? You've come a long way."
LeBeau says, "We ar wit en landing range, firing drop thruders"
Esther stiffens up all the more as LeBeau grabs her elbow but she is surprisingly obedient, although she continues to give Dimitri murderous looks. "Yeh coz he ain't like *you* Mister!"
LeBeau says, "Yer aboud to see jus how far 've come Volstov""
Dimitri nods. "And I'm looking forward to it, believe me, Mr. LeBeau." His own gaze is icy.
LeBeau lands the ship and turns the nav chair to look deathly at Volstov "We ar here, leds step oud side an ged di o'er wit"
The landing causes Esther to lose her balance just a little, tipping her into LeBeau slightly. She turns her wide eyes up to look at him. "...Member Remy...th'Eye. 'Member..." she breathes urgently. "Be careful?"
Dimitri nods, gesturing to the door. "After you."
LeBeau stands and as he does he flips a few switches and buttons, all the while starring at Volstov with those black and red eyes never leaving him
Esther swallows twice. She draws a deep breath with a funny little gulpy sort of noise. Then her chin goes up defiantly and she straightens her back. "M'ready when you are, Remy," she states firmly. Her fingers are shaking slightly as she slides them into the sleeves of her robe.
LeBeau keeps himself between Volstov and Esther as he takes her by the arm and moves her to the airlock
Dimitri smiles slightly, cradling the rifle.
LeBeau heads into Air Lock.
Salt Flat
The cloudy sky churns with dark reddish cloud, filtering the sunlight to a dim, but adequate brightness. The hard ground is made of natural, hardened maroon clay, which is covered with a crusty layer of crystals. The salt flat forms a beach, curving along the edge of an immense, steaming ocean that stretches to the hazy horizon. The air is hot and thick with the smell of salt and foul vapors, but is breathable. Most of the inland is dominated by a large rocky peak, around which the hardened beach curves. A sparse strip of grassy plant life hugs the base of the montain, spreading out from a noticeably greener spot to the east. A cooled flow of hardened lava carves a path up the mountain to the northeast.
Dimitri glances around, smiles slightly, then walks toward the back of the ship.
Esther shivers a little as she disembarks carefully, looking around. Her lips clamp together as she follows Dimitri with set, very glittering green eyes.
CLINK. The general-now-majordomo flips open a long box attached to the underside of the Lone Wolf. Inside the box can be seen two swords.
LeBeau follows Volstov at a decent space, continuing to shield Esther "So jus how di yu plan fo dis to go down"
Dimitri takes one of the swords and tosses it to LeBeau. "An old-fashioned sword fight."
Dimitri places his cane and the assault rifle aside, taking the other sword.
Esther 's breath catches as she studies the swords. "Remy...be careful please?" she says in a small voice. "I can't fly so I need you t'help get us back. K? An' I won't interfere...less yer hurt."
LeBeau catches the sword as its tossed to his and look its over before giving an evil smile to Dimitri "I don tink so, yu chose yer weapon..."He turns and hand the sword to Esther and then turns back takeing a step toward Volstov and stops "...an 'll choose mine." He shift of his foot in his right boot and a foot long baton fire up the side and LeBeau catches it with ease at the hip and twists at the waist and toes and brings the baton parall to the ground and the ends with a jettison of air an a *clink* telescope out forming a 6 foot staff.
Dimitri shrugs. "Fine." He jerks his head toward the mountain path. "After you."
Esther clutches the sword handle tightly, her brow creased as she gets a feel for its weight all of a sudden. It takes her both hands to hang onto it, and she makes a few tentative pokes upwards with the point.
LeBeau keeps his eyes on Volstov and makes his way to the path
Esther follows behind LeBeau, looking more than a little worried.
LeBeau heads into Windy Crevice.LeBeau has left.
Dimitri moves to follow the Mystic girl.
Windy Crevice
The steep path of hardened lava levels out a bit here, the rough rocky features forming a natural rest area to sit at. A constant, moaning sound emits from a short crevice over a small ridge. A powerful gust of wind flows into the mountain here, creating such a force as to make the act of keeping one's footing very difficult near the hole. Other than the wind, the opening seems to be an adequate passage to the caverns under the island.
Dimitri shouts above the wind: "Are you ready, LeBeau?"
LeBeau grips his staff with both hands and glares at Volstov "Come on Mon ami"
Esther follows LeBeau, screwing her face up as the wind flaps her robes every which way. With a *clunk* that would make Dimitri's heart drop if he had any regard for the care of his blades, she dumps the sword onto the ground and fiddles with the cord tie around her robe, settling at a safe distance.
Dimitri grips his long sword in both hands, scowling, the wind doing absolutely *nothing* to his supremely well-plastered silver hair. He moves toward LeBeau, roars and swings.
LeBeau growls and as the wind blow his coat out like a cape his beings the end of his staff to meet the blade in the air
The defense succeeds - LeBeau's staff collides with the blade hard.
Dimitri backs away, stepping back down the trail a bit.
Esther, in the process of disentangling herself from her stubborn robes, catches her breath as she tugs the material off right as the hit is made. Underneath the sack-like garment she's wearing white high-tops, bright pink leggings and a thin bateau-neck cable sweater in cream. Hurriedly she plunks on the ground after throwing her robes down to sit on, and drags the sword to her again, its tip scraping.
LeBeau launches himself into the air and down towards Volstov as he raises his staff over his head bringing it down towards Volstov's head.
Dimitri sneers at LeBeau and brings his sword up to meet the staff, trying to block the blow.
Dimitri's reach is not quite as long as the staff, even with the sword, and LeBeau succeeds in clouting him on the head.
Dimitri winces, then tries swinging his sword at LeBeau's abdomen as blood trickles from the wound on his head.
LeBeau pivots to the side and lets the staff slide thru his hands until it is pointing up verticaly infornt of him as he attempts to block the swinging blade.
The staff takes the bulk of the blow, but Dimitri still manages to put a slice in LeBeau's side with his swing.
Esther's fingers clutch tight on her sword's hilt as LeBeau's injury makes her wince.
Dimitri backs away a step, sword at the ready, grinning ferally. "Ouch."
LeBeau winces slightly as the blade is able to creep thru a weak point of his armor and cuts him. He grips the staff tight in his hands and turns at the waist and pulls the staff along his back for support as he drives the other end towards the small of Volstov's back.
The blow from the staff surprises Volstov, and he growls in shock as the hit knocks him spinning toward the edge of the precipice. He tries to pinwheel his arms near the crevice, manages to turn around and then falls over the edge. His sword plunges into the depths, but he manages to grab hold of the rugged edge of the path with his hands.
Esther gives a gasp as this turn of events startles her completely. She drops the sword and scrambles up onto her feet, grazing her knees and palms of her hands as she does so.
LeBeau stalks over to the edge and looks down as he kneels. An evil glare crosses his face "Seems yu underestimaded me jus like da oders, remember how yu said I was nodding be an animal en a pack dat yu can ged rid o by jus seperading....well yu picked an singled oud da wrong one, yu picked oud da lone wolf o da group an I hav a min to led yu jus fall an leave yer rodding corpse here..."Her reaches down and graps Volstov's arm in his hand "....bu I hav a way to gran yu mercy an ged my revenge ad da same time"
Dimitri clenches his teeth, releases the path and grabs onto LeBeau's arm. "Let me...show you...my idea...of mercy!" He puts his feet against the wall of the crevice and pulls with his arms, grunting, trying to bring LeBeau over the side.
LeBeau grips Volstov's arm will all his strength to keep from falling over by counteracting his action and pulling back up
Esther dashes over, her hair whipped to a wild mess. Just in time to see Dimitri's treacherous little action. "REMY!" she screams and braces herself, grabbing LeBeau around his midsection and hauling away as hard as she can.
Dimitri takes the best swing he can at LeBeau with his left fist.
LeBeau pulls his head back to avoid the blow and with the same action jerks up away from the crevice again
The punch misses, but Dimitri finds his footing again with the wall of the crevasse. Growling like a feral animal, he tugs again.
Esther's teeth are set together as she holds onto LeBeau's waist for dear life and yanks.
LeBeau again continues to pull up, bu this time he tosses his staff back behind him and reaches down to the small of his back and draws out a Demarian Battle Dagger "Kind o ironic es 'n id" HE says as he grips tighter around Volstov's arm before driveing the blade down towards Volstov's upper arm.
Dimitri instinctively tries jerking his hand away, but the blade strikes home, digging into Volstov's upper right arm. The general yowls, throwing his head back, shrieking at the sky.
LeBeau takes hte open oppertunity the plant his feet and pull up and trying to pull Volstov back to solid ground.
Esther curses up an uncommon storm as she strains. "Remy...p'raps...I should go yank...'is other...arm?" she puffs through streaming eyes caused by the wind.
Weakened by his injuries and his prior exertions, Volstov blacks out and becomes little more than dead weight to be dragged onto the path. He's bleeding from a head wound and the impaling of his upper arm.
LeBeau lets out a grunt as he finally manages to pull Volstov back up to the path. He pulls the dagger from his arm and wipes the blood on his clothes before dipping his hand back into his coat to resheath the blade and to re-emerge holding a set of binders in his hand. He looks to Esther and motions with his head to the staff he tossed away "Could yu be a hun an go ged dat fo me?" He then goes about secureing Volstov's arms behind his back and strapping the binders on them.
Dimitri remains unconscious, and is in no condition to resist.
LeBeau finishes straping the binders on and goes about patting him down for any other objects he may have on him
Esther almost falls over right after Dimitri's hauled up, the sudden break in inertia causing her to squeak and tumble. "Sure Remy," she gasps, breathless and a little winded. Off she trots to retrieve the staff. Upon her return, she cocks her head, looking down at the bleeding Volstov. "Can I hit him now, just fer Miss Teel?"
LeBeau takes the staff in his hand and slides it back in his boot and it secures itself with a *click*. He looks up at Esther, his face a bit dirtied and his hair flapping in the wind he can't help himself but laugh "Sur why no, jus don kill hem I wan hem alive, 've god plans fo hem"
Esther rubs a palm cross her face, leaving a smear of dirt and some traces of blood. Her hair is wildly dishevelled and she's shivering from the chill, but she beams. "Thank you Remy!" she trills and pads over to Dimitri, kneeling to straddle him. Then she balls up her small fists and whacks him twice in the jaw as hard as she can. "THIS...is fer bein' a bully!" she growls. "An' THIS...is fer Miss Teel, you...you NALL."
Dimitri groans slightly after the blows, and bleeds rather spectacularly. A tooth tumbles out.
Esther EEPS as she almost falls backwards when the bleeding starts and the tooth plinks out. "Uh-oh..." she mutters as she scrambles off Dimitri's prone form, backing away wide-eyed and scared. And blowing on her painful knuckles.
LeBeau just continues to laugh and he kneels down, once Esther is done, and lifts Volstov up with some effort and sets him over his shoulders. He looks to Esther and grins "Leds ged off dis rock an back home"
Esther shakes her fist a couple more times. "Yeh...let's go h-home..." she chatters. She turns and runs to retrieve her robe and the heavy sword, not bothering to get dressed fully for now. She then follows LeBeau, wide-eyed.
LeBeau winces a bit as the new weight and the addrenilen wearing off makes him realise the slice in his side again before he begins to head back to the path and the trip back to the ship.
Esther troops alongside LeBeau, her own adrenaline rush subsiding as well. As she passes on the way to the Wolf, she bends and scoops up Volstov's cane, then makes a determined heave and almost overbalances as she tries to take the assault rifle too.
LeBeau carries Volstov back to the ship and as they near he motions to where Volstov set his stuff down and is about to say something but is cut off when Esther picks up the gear herself ans he just begins moveing up the bording ramp to the ship.
Esther follows up the ramp, staggering a little at the unaccustomed weight of the rifle. "I needta learn t'use this I s'ppose..." she quips randomly in a small voice.
LeBeau walks in and motions to a door along the left side of the room "Yu can pud da stuff en my quarders fo now while I make sur dat our gues es securely chained up en da cargo hold.
After about 15-20 minutes and Esther and LeBeau both have had some time to clean up…
Esther comes into the cockpit, the dampness of her face and patches of water on her robe indicating she's gotten hastily scrubbed. Over one shoulder she hefts the assault rifle with some difficulty. In one hand, she's carrying a little ivory object and looking at it very thoughtfully.
LeBeau is sitting in the nav chair piloting, his coat off and slung over the back and his armored tunic is fully exposed, the slide on his left side can be seen and the surrounding material is stain with blood.
Esther sets down the rifle on a console inexpertly. As she glances over to LeBeau, the stained cloth and his injury catches her attention. Her brow furrows in concern. "You gotta first aid kit Remy? I'll see t'that cut..." she ventures tentatively.
LeBeau looks over as Esther comes out of his quarter looking at something "Wha es dat yu hav en yer hans?" He winces again and his hand goes to his side and he is cut off as he continues one half of a discussion into the communication ear piece he is wearing.
Esther carefully tucks the little object away in a pocket on the side of her robe, and quietly makes her way over to LeBeau. She drops to her knees and examines the wound, or what she can see of it right now, not interrupting his conversation.
LeBeau nods his head back to the cargo hold "Dare es one en dare"
Esther nods solemnly and comes to her feet quickly. Grabbing her skirts up so she doesn't trip, she darts into the cargo hold, coming back shortly after with the requisite item. "Mister Punk's still out," she says.
LeBeau he looks down at the slice between breaks in both conversations and grimaces. He reaches up to the back of his neck and press a button and the collar brace releases and the upper portion of his tunic goes limp. He slides it off his arms and chest letting it hang on his lap for the time.
Esther opens the first aid kit after coming back to position on her knees beside him and setting the box on her lap. She frowns at the selection, settling on a disinfectant wipe and tearing open the seal. "S'gonna sting a bit Remy..." she mumbles.
LeBeau nods as he doesn't look down but continues to keep the ship on course "No as much as dat blade di"
Esther gingerly begins to clean up the mess. The slice is not as deep as it could be, but it's certainly bled a bit. Her touch is firm and sure. Which, considering her occupation, isn't surprising altogether. Children do have quite a propensity for accidents even in a nursery.
LeBeau finally looks down at her and grins "Ar yu alrigh? Yu di no ged hurd yerself?"
Esther is so absorbed in her task it takes a little bit for the words to sink in. "Umm...no, m'not hurt t'all," she assures LeBeau solemnly. "Jus' grazed m'self gettin' up like a silly." She tosses hair out of her wide green eyes.
LeBeau nods as a new message comes across the comm and he grins " 'm glad, I don know wha I would O don had yu been hurd."
Esther smiles, overcome with shyness again. Her cheeks tinge a little pink. "I'da tried t'hurt him first afore he hurt me," she returns, a frown darkening her brow. She's lost her carefully controlled speech for the moment, the stress totally stripping it away from her. She covers any further embarrassment by proceeding to spread some disinfectant cream over the cut.
LeBeau lets out a low grunt as the medicine takes affect. He gets over it and leans over and kisses Esther's forehead " 'm glad to hear dat, bu I still am glad yu di no ged envolved"
Esther starts a little, surprised by the gesture, but smiles up at LeBeau, cheeks going pinker. "Teach me how t'use that nasty lookin' gun?" she offers. "An' I'll be ok next time."
LeBeau chuckles for a bit but then he stops and winces "I tink yu migh wanna stard wit someting a bid smaller den dat firs"
Esther puts the finishing touches on the cut by sealing it up briskly with a patch of plasti-band. "It don't matter t'me Remy..s'long as I know how t'use somethin' so I'm not a lump inna fight."
LeBeau looks down as she seals up the wound and touches the bandage and grins. " 'll see wha I can do." He slides his arms back into the sleeves of his tunic and pulls it on and secures the collor lock. He takes the ship back into Sanctuary and taxis into the civie hangar before he looks to Esther, "Why don yu go down an tell da General 'm comming as I untie da prisoner."
Esther gets to her feet slowly and swallows. "G-general?" she falters, before heaving a deep breath, hastily attempting to straighten her hair and moving to pick up the assault rifle with clumsy hands. "All right Remy. I'll meetcha down the deck." Towards the hatch she moves, an awkward yet somehow dignified little figure.
Civilian Vessel Hangar
A massive hangar with an arched ceiling, bearing the logos of the various civilian organizations represented aboard the Sanctuary colony vessel. Mechanics and technicians work on fighters and other larger craft, making repairs and providing upgrades. A broad archway leads into the flight deck.
Mern sees that Warrick isn't concentrating on the Asylum and fades farther into the background.
The landing ramp of the Lone Wolf yawns down. A small robe-clad figure comes nervously into view, an assault rifle rather clumsily slung over one shoulder. The weight seems to be bothering her - it's a she, certainly. Down the ramp she goes, big green eyes finally settling on Warrick's distinctive figure. "Umm...General...?" she falters, trying hard to straighten her mess of hair.
Warrick stands near the now-landed Wolf, a squad of Marines in riot gear assembled behind him.
The girl swallows as her gaze darts towards the riot-gear clad Marines, and shrinks just that little bit more, like a wilted violet. "Remy...I mean, Mr. LeBeau's comin' with Mister Punk," she says in an unsteady voice, stopping just shy of getting off the ramp.
LeBeau comes down the boarding ramp with the unconscious body of Dimitri Volstov slung over his shoulder. From this angle you can see that Volstov has a gash across his head with has stoped bleeding but has left his face bloodied, he also has a deep stab wound in his right upper arm that still leaks a bit of blood. He walks down the ramp and walks up to Warrick and looks him in the eyes before uncerimoniously and rather roughly just drops the body of Volstov at Warrick's feet.
Warrick's gaze remains levelly on LeBeau rather than following the body to its resting place. "You're injured," he notes.
Mern catches sight of Volstov, a face well-known on news networks and such. He smirks and nods approvingly.
LeBeau says, "'ll liv, ids nodding dat Sisder Esther here could no patch me up en a few minuds""
Esther hops off the side of the ramp rather than walking down it. Although the assault rifle's weight almost over-balances her and she gives a squeak as she flails to keep her balance. She manages it. "Umm..General. He's lost a tooth. I've got it if y'need it? But...I kinda want t'keep it since well...I hit him."
Warrick smiles, just slightly. "You're not my biggest supporter, LeBeau. Why hand me Volstov? Why not just turn him over to the CPs?
LeBeau shrugs "Yu already hav Fagin I jus though yu would wan a complede sed." He dips into his utility belt and pulls out a data disc and he holds it out to Warrick.
Warrick reaches a calloused hand out to accept the disc, inquiring, "What's this?"
Esther makes her way to stand by LeBeau, hanging back just a pace or so. She shoves her wildly disheveled hair out of her face, solemnly watching the exchange. Although she does give the prone Volstov a look of pure contempt, muttering, "Next time...I'll learn *boxin'*. Punk poopy."
Mern grins with amusement from his vantage point, fingering the hilt of his blade.
LeBeau grins "Jus a bid o discussion dat Volstov an I had while he had me ad gun poin an foced me oud to y'ptarn to ged hes ass whupped. Aboud how he escaped when da rubble cud e'eryone else off from da escape roud an he was hopeing dat some hod headed fool such as myself would ged dare hans on fagin an kill hem leaving hem en prime postion to take o'er da operation. Jus make sur dat yu pud da two o dem en da same cell an play dis fo dem"
Warrick grunts softly, tucking the disc into the front pocket of his uniform. "I'd assumed the old man was buried at last. I should've known better." He looks to Esther. "Nobody's going to blame you for knocking this one's tooth out, ma'am."
Esther blinks, cheeks going pink as she looks *up* at Warrick from her short vantage point. "Thank you!" she says, beaming. "He was gonna be mean t'Miss Teel an' try t'give her a mis-carriage. So I hit him. Well...after he went poop." she amends rather guiltily.
LeBeau says, "Well I had my chance an could o led hem fall to hes death on dat mountain bu i though dat dis had a bid o fun an irony to id""
Warrick nods. "Falling to his death would've left him with too much dignity. This man made a mockery of his oath of service-- he'll learn to regret that.
LeBeau kicks the nearly lifeless body "Well if dare es nodding else den ged dis ball o slime oud o my sigh"
Warrick smiles a bit more broadly. "Just this." He extends a hand towards LeBeau.
Esther glances up at LeBeau, shyness vanishing as she smiles. "Mercy, Remy," she says softly. "M'proud of you."
LeBeau gives a faint grin and takes the general's hand "An aboud dat use o da secure channel, I apoligize fo using id an being a bid harsh wit yer comm officer bu I though id was an emergancy yu would wan to hear aboud, an yu don tink dat I di no leave myself a couple loophole to ged en an oud o Vanguard systems from tim to time di yu"
Warrick says, "No harm done." He lets LeBeau's hand after shaking it firmly. "These are the sort of 'emergencies' that I appreciate."
Esther watches this solemnly before abruptly asking, "General...'bout this Mister Punk-Poopy here, s'somethin' y'need t'do, I think."
LeBeau nods and as his gaze drops to the body of Volstov he snears "Now ged dis son-o-a bitch en a cage where he belongs
Warrick glances to Esther, quirking a brow. As he does so, he bends at the knees, grabbing Volstov by the belt. With an almost obscene ease, he straightens, hoisting the fallen man into the air.
Esther waits until Warrick's done with his manuever, looking very impressed. "Well...I told 'im he's a big ol' bully an' he needs t'be spanked," she explains shyly. "Wouldja do it please? Jus' coz he's too big fer his britches."
Mern blinks a bit, choking back a laugh that makes it out only as a snort.
Warrick says, "Ma'am, rest assured-- something similar will be arranged."
LeBeau turns and ruffles esther's hair with his hand and grins at her "Go ged some res no Ess, yu've had a tough day." He turns and heads back towards teh Wolf's boarding ramp
Esther stifles a giggle, firmly turning it into a chuckle instead as she draws her back up straight, listing a little from the rifle's weight. "I'm goin' to work out Remy," she calls. "I've got some asparagus t'plant still. Come see me if y'like?" She then turns her attention back to Warrick, smiles shyly and curtseys clumsily, the weapon bouncing most unwieldy on her back. "M..gonna go now if that's ok, General an'...an' y'all." This last to the stiff Marines.
Warrick smiles, saying, "Dismissed, miss."
Mern tosses off an unseen salute of respect to the two individuals from the Lone Wolf.
Esther curtseys again and makes her way, with clumsiness, towards the exit. There is a dignity about her however that carries her through, despite her mussed hair and absurdly young features. She dips into a pocket in her robe and brings out a tiny whitish object, beaming down at it. "Whee!" she trills and skips for joy as she reaches the door and dances out.
Mern chuckles slightly at the young woman's actions but remains in the shadows.
Warrick heaves the dangling Volstov up and onto his shoulder like he was a sack of feathers. Turning on his heel, he marches towards the flight deck, his squad in close pursuit.