moragmacpherson (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
moragmacpherson) wrote2009-01-20 02:22 am
moragmacpherson) wrote2009-01-20 02:22 am
Fic: The Lost Age (3/??) (Buffy/DrWho/Firefly)
Title: The Lost Age (3/??)
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
moragmacpherson
Rating: PG-15
Timeline: This story takes place during that sixty year block that I glossed over between chapters three and four of "Another Side of the Sky". Buffy's thirty here. In the Firefly universe, it's at the beginning of the movie.
Disclaimer: If it's a character or a place, I don't own it. Some dialogue is recycled from the film.
Archive: Here, TtH. If you'd like it, let me know.
Betas: Depending on the chapter: MissJulie and/or Mishka,
Summary: Buffy, Jack, and the Doctor accidentally land in a system where aliens fear to tread.
Buffy wasn’t really watching anything while she was carrying River through the streets, the shipyards, and finally onto the ship. She instead monitored her light load, ready to react in half a second if the girl showed any sign of tensing or awakening. But River remained switched off, yes, that was it; she was switched off still when Buffy laid her down in the ship’s infirmary.
The man who’d switched the girl off grabbed a needle and a bottle from one of the infirmary drawers. “I’m not sure how long she’ll remain this way,” he explained.
Buffy eyed the syringe. “Nothing in there you wouldn’t put in yourself, right?”
The man sighed. “Only if I’d been grievously wounded, but yes, I’ve used it on myself before. You can relax. I would never hurt River. She’s my sister.” At this Buffy relented, and he slipped the needle carefully into River’s arm. His gentleness bore truth to his claims, and Buffy relaxed just a bit.
“Hospitals. People like your sister and me, we don’t like them.” She allowed herself a shudder. “Sorry. I’m Buffy.”
The man finished replacing his syringes and medicine. “I’m Simon. Wha-“
“And I’m Captain Jack Harkness. It’s a real pleasure, Simon.” Jack swaggered into the infirmary, offering Simon his hand. Buffy just cleared her throat, knowing Jack would ignore her either way. “We’ll be out of the atmosphere shortly. Nice ship you’ve got here, it’s cute in a quaint sort of way.”
A familiar wooshing noise echoed up the corridor, followed by a woman’s rich voice shouting, “Captain!” Buffy tilted her head at Jack, who ran down to the cargo bay, while Buffy stayed camped by River.
Jack found the woman pointing an impressive mare’s leg shotgun at the rapidly materializing TARDIS. “Whoa girl.” The gun was even more impressive pointed at him, and he held his hands up. “It’s fine, it’s just our friend.”
“And who in gorram hell are you?”
Jack considered this question for a moment, aware that if he gave the wrong answer, this lady would not hesitate a moment to shoot him. “We’re just travelers, got caught up in the same mess as your friends. We’re here to help.” The gun lowered just a bit, and Jack could breathe again.
Mal and Jayne emerged as the TARDIS finished materializing. “What in the name of the monkey king is that?”
“It’s a TARDIS, it’s our ship.” The Doctor pushed open the door. “Well, his ship.”
“Where’s the girl?” asked the Doctor.
“In their infirmary, you can follow me.” Jack waved him up.
“I’m kind of in need of a few answers first,” said Mal.
“Need to help the girl first, just go inside, don’t touch anything!” The Doctor ran up the stairs towards the infirmary.
Mal eyed the box. “Traveling kind of tight like that, all three of them.”
Zoë remained tense and still. “Thing just appeared right before my eyes sir, never seen anything like it. Who are they?”
“No clue. But the girl, Buffy, she fought like none I’ve ever seen before.”
“Fought who, Captain?”
“River.” Mal pushed the door of the box. “Te de ma!” His face went ashen, and he jumped back, then strode around the box. “That’s impossible.”
Jayne watched the display. “What’s impossible, Cap’n? ‘Cause you letting three strangers onto the ship is already shiftin’ my perspective.”
“It’s bigger on the inside. There’s a whole gorram ship in here.” He walked inside, then poked his head out. “Jayne, get Kaylee, oh, she’s going to love this.”
“It’s called a TARDIS. Time and Relative Dimension in Space. Handy little piece of technology.” The gun swung towards Jack again. “Hey now! I’m starting to understand why the Doctor hates guns so much. So what’s the name of the gorgeous lady behind that lovely little piece of death?”
Mal stepped between them. “This is Zoë, she’s my second. Any of those answers forthcoming, ‘cause I just keep getting more questions.”
“Soon, soon, follow us.” The Doctor and Buffy had River’s unconscious body in hand, and carried her into the TARDIS. Everyone followed them through the corridors to a white room that seemed to radiate calm. “Here, Buffy.” They laid her on the floor. “How did you know she was a Slayer?” A stethoscope appeared in his hands.
“How do I ever know? Probably the psychic field.” Buffy retrieved the sonic screwdriver from her pocket, handing it back to the Doctor.
“Not surprising that, this girl’s broadcasting like she’s got no filter at all.”
“She doesn’t,” said Zoë, and the Doctor looked up at her, waiting for an explanation. “Simon, he looked at her brain. The Feds, they took her, what was it?”
Mal pawed through his memories. “Ami-something.”
“Amygdala,” finished Simon, who’d just arrived, bag in tow.
“What?” Buffy wasn’t sure she’d ever seen this expression of horror on the Doctor’s face before.
“They stripped her amygdala, at this special Academy. I still don’t know why.” Simon let his bag drop, staring at his sister’s drawn face.
The Doctor slid his fingers down River’s cheek. “Oh, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”
Buffy squeezed his other hand. “Will it be safe for you to go in, then?”
His eyes were dark. “Not sure. But we have to try.”
She nodded. “It’ll be the desert. I’ll go with you.”
Mal cleared his throat. “May I ask exactly what are we trying on my dear crazy friend here?”
The Doctor looked up at him. “Your friend here’s not just crazy, she’s a Slayer, like my friend here, which is, quite frankly, impossible, but that’s never stopped us before. Slayers are incredibly strong and slightly psychic, but unfortunately, some daft fool’s gone and stripped the girl’s amygdala, rendering her almost completely incapable of shielding herself and vulnerable to any number of psychic triggers, like the one that came through on that fruit bar commercial, in the bar. Fortunately for you lot, I’m psychic too, so me and my Slayer friend are going to – very gently –“ this was for Simon’s benefit, “look into her mind and see if we can patch things up a bit. This may take some time, and will definitely take quiet, so I invite Jack to take you to the TARDIS kitchen for snacks and introductions.”
Mal felt compelled to reply, though overloaded with information. “Okay,” he said dumbly.
The Doctor beamed. “Good. Now, off you go.”
The crew followed Jack’s motions out the door, as the Doctor and Buffy kneeled over River. Jack shut the door softly, then looked at the expressions on their faces. “Yeah, the Doctor can get that way sometimes. Don’t doubt that he’ll help your friend though; the man works miracles. Let’s make a quick stop by the console room.” He peeked in to find three awestruck faces in the doorway. “Hi! I’m Captain Jack Harkness. Follow me, I’m sure I can convince the TARDIS kitchen to pull up a steak or three.”
Jayne’s eyebrows quirked. “Steak?”
Jack grinned as he listened to six stomachs rumble and squeak. Ah, the joys of primitive space travel. “Well, we’ll have to see.”
Next
Author:
moragmacpherson Rating: PG-15
Timeline: This story takes place during that sixty year block that I glossed over between chapters three and four of "Another Side of the Sky". Buffy's thirty here. In the Firefly universe, it's at the beginning of the movie.
Disclaimer: If it's a character or a place, I don't own it. Some dialogue is recycled from the film.
Archive: Here, TtH. If you'd like it, let me know.
Betas: Depending on the chapter: MissJulie and/or Mishka,
Summary: Buffy, Jack, and the Doctor accidentally land in a system where aliens fear to tread.
Buffy wasn’t really watching anything while she was carrying River through the streets, the shipyards, and finally onto the ship. She instead monitored her light load, ready to react in half a second if the girl showed any sign of tensing or awakening. But River remained switched off, yes, that was it; she was switched off still when Buffy laid her down in the ship’s infirmary.
The man who’d switched the girl off grabbed a needle and a bottle from one of the infirmary drawers. “I’m not sure how long she’ll remain this way,” he explained.
Buffy eyed the syringe. “Nothing in there you wouldn’t put in yourself, right?”
The man sighed. “Only if I’d been grievously wounded, but yes, I’ve used it on myself before. You can relax. I would never hurt River. She’s my sister.” At this Buffy relented, and he slipped the needle carefully into River’s arm. His gentleness bore truth to his claims, and Buffy relaxed just a bit.
“Hospitals. People like your sister and me, we don’t like them.” She allowed herself a shudder. “Sorry. I’m Buffy.”
The man finished replacing his syringes and medicine. “I’m Simon. Wha-“
“And I’m Captain Jack Harkness. It’s a real pleasure, Simon.” Jack swaggered into the infirmary, offering Simon his hand. Buffy just cleared her throat, knowing Jack would ignore her either way. “We’ll be out of the atmosphere shortly. Nice ship you’ve got here, it’s cute in a quaint sort of way.”
A familiar wooshing noise echoed up the corridor, followed by a woman’s rich voice shouting, “Captain!” Buffy tilted her head at Jack, who ran down to the cargo bay, while Buffy stayed camped by River.
Jack found the woman pointing an impressive mare’s leg shotgun at the rapidly materializing TARDIS. “Whoa girl.” The gun was even more impressive pointed at him, and he held his hands up. “It’s fine, it’s just our friend.”
“And who in gorram hell are you?”
Jack considered this question for a moment, aware that if he gave the wrong answer, this lady would not hesitate a moment to shoot him. “We’re just travelers, got caught up in the same mess as your friends. We’re here to help.” The gun lowered just a bit, and Jack could breathe again.
Mal and Jayne emerged as the TARDIS finished materializing. “What in the name of the monkey king is that?”
“It’s a TARDIS, it’s our ship.” The Doctor pushed open the door. “Well, his ship.”
“Where’s the girl?” asked the Doctor.
“In their infirmary, you can follow me.” Jack waved him up.
“I’m kind of in need of a few answers first,” said Mal.
“Need to help the girl first, just go inside, don’t touch anything!” The Doctor ran up the stairs towards the infirmary.
Mal eyed the box. “Traveling kind of tight like that, all three of them.”
Zoë remained tense and still. “Thing just appeared right before my eyes sir, never seen anything like it. Who are they?”
“No clue. But the girl, Buffy, she fought like none I’ve ever seen before.”
“Fought who, Captain?”
“River.” Mal pushed the door of the box. “Te de ma!” His face went ashen, and he jumped back, then strode around the box. “That’s impossible.”
Jayne watched the display. “What’s impossible, Cap’n? ‘Cause you letting three strangers onto the ship is already shiftin’ my perspective.”
“It’s bigger on the inside. There’s a whole gorram ship in here.” He walked inside, then poked his head out. “Jayne, get Kaylee, oh, she’s going to love this.”
“It’s called a TARDIS. Time and Relative Dimension in Space. Handy little piece of technology.” The gun swung towards Jack again. “Hey now! I’m starting to understand why the Doctor hates guns so much. So what’s the name of the gorgeous lady behind that lovely little piece of death?”
Mal stepped between them. “This is Zoë, she’s my second. Any of those answers forthcoming, ‘cause I just keep getting more questions.”
“Soon, soon, follow us.” The Doctor and Buffy had River’s unconscious body in hand, and carried her into the TARDIS. Everyone followed them through the corridors to a white room that seemed to radiate calm. “Here, Buffy.” They laid her on the floor. “How did you know she was a Slayer?” A stethoscope appeared in his hands.
“How do I ever know? Probably the psychic field.” Buffy retrieved the sonic screwdriver from her pocket, handing it back to the Doctor.
“Not surprising that, this girl’s broadcasting like she’s got no filter at all.”
“She doesn’t,” said Zoë, and the Doctor looked up at her, waiting for an explanation. “Simon, he looked at her brain. The Feds, they took her, what was it?”
Mal pawed through his memories. “Ami-something.”
“Amygdala,” finished Simon, who’d just arrived, bag in tow.
“What?” Buffy wasn’t sure she’d ever seen this expression of horror on the Doctor’s face before.
“They stripped her amygdala, at this special Academy. I still don’t know why.” Simon let his bag drop, staring at his sister’s drawn face.
The Doctor slid his fingers down River’s cheek. “Oh, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”
Buffy squeezed his other hand. “Will it be safe for you to go in, then?”
His eyes were dark. “Not sure. But we have to try.”
She nodded. “It’ll be the desert. I’ll go with you.”
Mal cleared his throat. “May I ask exactly what are we trying on my dear crazy friend here?”
The Doctor looked up at him. “Your friend here’s not just crazy, she’s a Slayer, like my friend here, which is, quite frankly, impossible, but that’s never stopped us before. Slayers are incredibly strong and slightly psychic, but unfortunately, some daft fool’s gone and stripped the girl’s amygdala, rendering her almost completely incapable of shielding herself and vulnerable to any number of psychic triggers, like the one that came through on that fruit bar commercial, in the bar. Fortunately for you lot, I’m psychic too, so me and my Slayer friend are going to – very gently –“ this was for Simon’s benefit, “look into her mind and see if we can patch things up a bit. This may take some time, and will definitely take quiet, so I invite Jack to take you to the TARDIS kitchen for snacks and introductions.”
Mal felt compelled to reply, though overloaded with information. “Okay,” he said dumbly.
The Doctor beamed. “Good. Now, off you go.”
The crew followed Jack’s motions out the door, as the Doctor and Buffy kneeled over River. Jack shut the door softly, then looked at the expressions on their faces. “Yeah, the Doctor can get that way sometimes. Don’t doubt that he’ll help your friend though; the man works miracles. Let’s make a quick stop by the console room.” He peeked in to find three awestruck faces in the doorway. “Hi! I’m Captain Jack Harkness. Follow me, I’m sure I can convince the TARDIS kitchen to pull up a steak or three.”
Jayne’s eyebrows quirked. “Steak?”
Jack grinned as he listened to six stomachs rumble and squeak. Ah, the joys of primitive space travel. “Well, we’ll have to see.”
Next