(no subject)

[walk_ins]

There are still murmurs and shifting and whispers in the cargo bay, after all is said and done. Guns have been put aside; now there are folks working on calming the students. Making sure they're all right. It's nearly time to put this next part of the plan into action.

Ted has explained to Sheemie what they have in mind -- now that the students have been mostly calmed thanks in some part to what Ted does, they need Sheemie to do what he does. To open a portal in space and time.

He turns to the group in the cargo bay and says quietly, "They wouldn't know how to take care of you at home. And even then...even then the Alliance could just come and find you again. We want to take you to Taos, New Mexico on Earth-that-Was, in the year 2005. There you can get better, and use your gifts for good things and not bad ones. You can be of use, and you're wanted, and you're loved. And I know just as much as you do that that's all we really need, guys like us. Somebody to want us and to love us."

His eyes might be a little bright and he has to clear his throat -- there's a student in the corner over by Susannah who's a dead ringer for Bobby Garfield. "Just guys like us."

Ted falls silent, and the cargo bay is utterly quiet.

He turns to Sheemie, and nods. "Now."

Comments

[pink-sombrera.livejournal.com]

Sheemie nods back, and turns to focus on a particular spot in the cargo bay, concentrating.

[walk_ins]

The silence among the students suddenly ... alters subtly in quality, gains depth, gains texture somehow.

(come)

They're all either watching Sheemie, or watching Ted.

[pink-sombrera.livejournal.com]

Sheemie doesn't notice the attention on him. He's busy.

After a moment, the location taken from Ted's memories, the portal shimmers and opens in front of them. Sheemie staggers just a little, then rights himself, focused.

[walk_ins]

The ripple goes through the students like a swift sharp cool wind, bracing, awakening. Breaths draw in, eyes widen in apprehension and wonder and hope and, in a few cases, in sudden renewed fear.

Beth bites her lower lip and glances up at Sarai, who squeezes her hand. "Going," she says, quiet but firm. "Going back. First time. Going home."

"Yeah," breathes Leon. "Home that was. Is. Green in the desert."

"In the desert," Beth repeats, and her mouth firms. "Send out the people. People you redeemed. Through on dry land."

[pink-sombrera.livejournal.com]

Sheemie nods, once, abstracted. He can feel Ted bolstering his power, helping, supporting, keeping the door open and stable. And then, one by one, the students join their power to his as well.

[walk_ins]

(come)

Avi, a few drops of blood still trickling from his nose, lifts his hand; without looking at him, Mavis takes it. Other students join hands, almost instinctively. Some close their eyes; most watch.

(come)

"Bring joy, bring day of his returning," Zillah whispers. "Lucky with day approaching, with leaning dawn."

(COME)

[pink-sombrera.livejournal.com]

Sheemie raises his hands, and as a point of focus, draws a simple door shape in the air.

The portal stabilises.

[walk_ins]

Ted draws in a deep breath, and says a single word: "Come."

And heads for the portal.

And -- oh, say hallelujah -- the children of the Academy follow him.

[pink-sombrera.livejournal.com]

Sheemie watches them walk through, smiling through the concentration.

On the other side, he can see a little: there's an impression of space, and sunlight, and green in the desert. He's reminded a little of Blue Heaven, but this place is good. He can feel it.

As each student passes through, more of the effort of keeping the portal stable falls on him. He's never kept one going this long before.

His nose starts to bleed.

He barely notices.

[walk_ins]

They're moving in a steady stream, holding hands in twos and threes or alone, through and into the vast sunlit room on the other side.

Serenity's cargo bay is emptying swiftly.

A last few students break their hesitation, fear of being left alone here winning over fear of the strange new place, and hurry to catch up with the others.

[pink-sombrera.livejournal.com]

Sheemie watches the last of them step through.

And then, stumbling, he moves forward to follow them. Sai Brautigan will need a way back, after all.

The portal closes behind him.

[walk_ins]

And on the other side:

-- blinking in the sunlight that streams through the wide high windows and the skylights, dazzled with openness and space and the sight of sky, a blue the color of faded denim, a blue like a promise of freedom kept --

There is a woman waiting there, a brown-haired woman in a casual pale grey pantsuit that sets off her silver-grey eyes. She's there to greet the students -- the former students, may it do ya fine -- of the devar-tel that called itself an Academy; for oh, they are expected, say true, and they are very welcome.

As the portal closes she breaks off speaking to Ted, with a murmured apology, and raises her voice to address them all.

"My name's Kate Welker," she begins, and her voice is warm as a hug. "I know you'll have questions. You've been frightened, and you've been very brave and patient. And if you can be patient a few minutes longer, I'll take you to a lady who'll give you all the answers we have."

And, unspoken but clear in the background good-mind: It's so very good to see you all.

She turns, surveying them, and gives a short satisfied nod. "Mr. Brautigan, Mr. Ruiz, are you well?"

[pink-sombrera.livejournal.com]

Sheemie looks around with wide eyes, taking in everything around him - and everyone: the students, Ted, Kate Welker... and the male nurse at his side, sticking close by. He wipes absently at the blood from his nose.

He half-nods, starts to speak. And then he collapses, knees buckling, and starts to convulse.

[walk_ins]

A few students scream.

The nurse is ready for this; he catches Sheemie deftly as he falls, lowering him carefully. He slides a mouth-guard between Sheemie's teeth, steadying him against the convulsions.

Ted swears under his breath, and hurries to Sheemie's side.

[pink-sombrera.livejournal.com]

It's not very long, really, with Ted at his side murmuring reassurance both aloud and telepathically, before the seizure stops, leaving Sheemie in peaceful unconsciousness. And a few minutes after that that he opens blood-flecked eyes and tries to sit up, looking around in confusion.

[walk_ins]

The nurse steadies him again and helps him to sit up, unobtrusively taking his pulse with two fingers on his inner wrist. He glances up and nods to Welker, who nods back and raises her voice to include the students. "He'll be well. And, I hope and trust, so will all of you."

She steps to an intercom set in the wall, and depresses a button. "Eric? Please tell Ms. McGee that the children from the devar-tel have arrived. We're on our way." There's a quiet acknowledgement, and Welker turns back to the --

We can't keep calling them students, can we? The newcomers, perhaps that will do; for they are new-come here, and well-come indeed, tell god thankya.

"Ms. McGee will see you now," she tells the newcomers, and her smile is genuine, and fiercely joyful. "If you'll all please follow me."