[center][h2]Hell Outta Dodge[/h2][/center]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/PH2hVg9.png[/img]
[/center]

Part 2 of the Episode 4 climax by [@wanderingwolf] and [@sail3695]     
                                                                   
The ramp lowered, revealing the familiar, tumbledown scene of their recent standoff with the bike gangs of two worlds. [i]It even smells the same,[/i] Yuri thought as he led three of the crew down onto the abandoned waste.  Several of the brick piles were missing, their contents harvested and serenely stacked in the cargo bay.  In the distance, a lone streetlight winked on, joining the dim pinpoints allowed through nightshades of the ragged tenements bordering the brickyard.  Bits of gravel and shattered glass crunched beneath his boots, their presence felt more than heard for the quiet whine of China Doll’s idling engines.  “Look sharp,” the first mate ordered, his own eyes sweeping the expanse for any sign of movement.

Yuri soon realized that command was hardly necessary.  Without a word, Imani and Hook had taken flanking positions, both dropping to one knee, their weapons drawn and sweeping careful arcs.  A single gunshot turned their heads as it echoed through an opening between buildings.  He gripped his own pistol, eyes peering through gathering darkness toward the sound.  

Another shot rang out, then another. Yuri flinched as a firm hand landed upon his shoulder.  The towering Elias stood beside him, pointing toward heaps of distant rubble.  Following his direction, Yuri stared through the gloom…and saw movement.  A number of shadow figures approached, their heads mere silhouettes as they bobbed up and down.  [i]Running,[/i] Yuri barely had time to think, before a lone figure burst into the open.  The woman, slight of build, sprinted forward, then turned to encourage those who ran in her wake.  Even as twilight surrendered to darkness, the distinctive orange of her kasaya robe removed all doubt.  “Here they come,” he said.  

More gunfire sounded.  This time, a muzzle flash could be seen; the throaty bark of the gun was familiar to China Doll’s crew.  Their captain was bringing up the rear, firing upon the pursuers at their heels.  “Watch our flanks,” Yuri cautioned as Sister Lyen and her flock approached at a dead run.  Yuri fought a powerful urge to rush forward, join Cal in the fray and ward off the attacking slavers.  But no…this was their territory.  He had to protect the boat…couldn’t allow them to slip in behind.  “Come on, come on!”  he waved toward the band.  “Sister,” Yuri greeted the nun, “get them aboard.  Take cover behind those bricks in the hold!”

The refugees hurried past him, each subconsciously ducking their heads with every gunshot.  Yuri recognized several young faces as they sprinted for the ramp.  These were the college students, the body doubles who’d lent their support to saving the Anabaptists from impending slavery.  Last in their group was the lean, angular frame of the Captain.  “We’re ready, sir,” the first mate reported as Cal’s pistol swung to join those of his crew.

The Captain threw an appraising glance over the posse formed at the foot of the China Doll. Yuri, Hook, and the new muscle, Imani, he expected, sure, but the big guy, Elias, was a welcome exception. As they rained cover fire, Cal replied to his mate, "Bang-up job, gentlemen; now let’s git. I think we overstayed our welcome."

Distant muzzle flashes were followed by a metallic ring as one shot ricocheted off a landing strut.  Another fractured the concrete before Yuri’s boot as he held position.  Soon, the captain and his five crew were backing up the ramp, returning fire toward their unseen pursuers.  As Imani, Hook, and Elias kept the wolves from the door, Yuri ran for the ramp controls as Cal barked his order into the intercom.

"Button 'er up, Tommy. It's time to go!"

With a sudden roar, China Doll clawed her way into the air, her cargo bay still open as the ramp and bulkhead slowly moved into place.  Yuri could still hear rounds peppering the hull as Tommy swung her around for a rapid egress.  

In the catwalk, Abby seen the spark when a stray shot ricocheted off the railing.  She heard metal on metal, afore feelin’ a tug on ‘er right shoulder.  “Sumbitch!” she swore out loud, thinkin’ this tah be second time she done took a bullet on this boat.  The deckhand reached up, fingers of ‘er left hand probin’ tha spot.  Din’ feel nothin’, but she conjured that’s how t’was right after gettin’ hit.  She looked upon her fingers, puzzlin’ a skosh over how they ain’t no blood.  After cranin’ ‘er neck real hard an’ reachin’ all about, she unnerstood when the bullet come down it jest clipped ‘er shirt a might.  An’ that pissed ‘er off righteously, seein’s how she liked this shirt.  “Sumbitch!” she spat agin as ‘er fingers found tha rip.

“Abby?”  Yuri called from below as the boat sped upward.  “You shiny?”

“Tolerable,” come the girl’s reply.  “Any y’all know how tah sew a patch?”

The mate chuckled.  “We’ll figure it out.  In the meantime, we’ve got more folk to get settled aboard.  I need you to help Hook and Imani with our new passengers.”  As he finished his orders, the roar of China Doll’s upthrust was suddenly silenced.  They’d made it into the black.  He could heave a sigh of relief.  [i]Pelorum in a day and half,[/i] the first mate thought as he mounted the stairs for the upper deck.  [i]Close quarters for everyone.  Might need the crew to double or triple up…[/i]  He made a mental note to give his quarters to Edina and Abby for the run.  As Yuri stepped into the cockpit, thoughts of asking Hook to offer up deckspace for Elias and himself were dashed aside at sight of the captain’s face.  “We’re getting the rest secured,” he reported.  “What’s going on?”

"We're not out of the woods. Tail's buzzin' us and comin' up fast." Cal jammed a finger at the green blips emanating from the flight controls.  

Yuri’s eyes fixed on the radar screen.  Sure enough, there was someone behind them, a persistent little dot that drew closer with each sweep of the emitter.  “Any idea who that is?” he asked, realizing the silly nature of his question before the words had even escaped his lips.

S.A.M.A.N.T.H.A chose that moment to bring everyone up to speed.  “The radar signature is a profile match for a high speed freighter, designation Trans U.”  The intuitive AI seemed to recognize Yuri’s ‘fish out of water’ stance when it came to details of spacegoing boats when she added, “A stock issue Trans U can outrun a Firefly Class III.  We have a maneuverability advantage, but Reavers and pirates have found the Trans U a versatile platform for weaponry.”

"[i]Huīhuáng, xiànzài wǒmen bèi tuóbèile[/i]," the Captain drew a hand over his face and straightened. (trans. Brilliant, now we're humped.)

**********[b]To Be Continued[/b]**********