driftfleet | [Open] Motherfucking cannibals on this motherfucking plane-- I mean ship

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[Open] Motherfucking cannibals on this motherfucking plane-- I mean ship

Who: The Blameless crew and whoever wants to help them fight the boarding cannibals
Broadcast: No
Action: Yes, on the Blameless
When: Some random day this week
Notes: Some threads may get a bit bloody, please warn accordingly

[The SS Blameless doesn't have a security augment - hell, it doesn't even have a security officer. Between that and having their engineer on the surface (which means the ship damage isn't completely repaired), the Blameless stands as one of the most vulnerable ships in the fleet right now.

So of course, it's the perfect target for the Vieziri to test the waters when it comes to boarding.

They're covered from head to toes in heavy armor, and they're pretty tough - but so it's this crew. And they aren't going down without a fight.

Bring it on.]

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KEITH!

[One hit isn't enough to completely take Keith down, but it does make him vulnerable for a few moments. And a few moments is all it takes for another enemy to start moving in. Lance quickly aims and pulls the trigger.

Nothing.

Pulls it again. Nothing. He can't have already run out of ammunition, right? Is the gun just jammed? But he doesn't have the luxury of time to check, because the Vieziri's coming up on Keith's blind spot, raising his weapon--

With a loud yell, Lance charges at the alien. He doesn't have any melee weapons, so he improvises, trying to bludgeon the Vieziri with his rifle. Anything to get it distracted while Keith gets back on his feet. He's similarly slammed into a wall hard enough to be dazed even with his helmet, and before he realizes it, there's an armored hand around his neck squeezing.

He still struggles, kicking out at them.]

[Keith got back to his feet as fast as he could. He didn't immediately react to Lance's own charge into the fray because his attention was pretty absorbed by the attacker in front of him. He did, however, see the other fight in his peripheral vision.

He grappled the Vieziri he was fighting into a hold, and, with a yell, drove him back into the one holding Lance's neck as Lance kicked. He slammed them together, managing to knock them both senseless and dropping them into a heap on the floor. That was the last two in this corridor.

Keith took a couple steps back from them, and then turned to Lance, breathing hard and holding his side where he'd been hit.]

You okay?

Just...peachy...

[His voice is a little raspy, and he's taking deep breaths, trying to get oxygen back into his system. Ow. That was definitely going to leave a bruise. He looks Keith over, frowning at him still holding his side.]

Let me see that.

[Keith made a face and lowered his hand, offering it to Lance instead to help him up.]

I'm fine.

[There was no visible wound, at least.]

We should try to keep moving if you can.

[He takes the hand offered, hauling himself up.]

I'm fine. It's you I'm worried about.

It's nothing I haven't dealt with before. That guy almost choked you.

[Okay... was this really going to turn into a 'who's more concerned about who' thing?

And, well... yes, Lance. Keith was being concerned about you. Again.]

[This really is. Lance frowns, swatting lightly at Keith's hand.]

He was about to get the drop on you. My gun jammed. Which...I should fix right now. But just let me see your side, 'cause you know you're the kind of guy who'd, like, have a hole in him and pass it off as a scratch.

[Keith frowned stubbornly.]

They didn't even break through the suit. We don't have time.

Get your gun working first in case more start coming.

Keith. Show it to me.

[But he does get to work on his gun, fiddling around with it to get it unjammed before loading more ammo in.]

Just for peace of mind, okay?

[Keith almost growled.]

There's nothing to see.

[At least, not without pulling off the armor, and he really wasn't up for doing that until he was sure the ship was secure.]

Fine! But you'd better not be super hurt under there, or I am going to get very, very cross with you! Don't just throw yourself into the fight unless you have to, okay?

[Keith didn't look impressed.]

I'm fine.

[Mostly. But they could worry about it later.]

Come on... we have to make sure the ship's clear.

[You don't have to look impressed, Keith. Just healthy.

Lance nods, taking point as they begin walking. There seems to be a lull in the action, at the least, which bodes well; at worst, they'll have time to catch their breath, at best, the boarding party is wiped out by now.]

I don't want see you--you know--getting hurt, okay?

[Keith slowed his pace a little. Fair enough.]

I just want to make sure the ship is safe first, okay? And we can make sure no one gets hurt. Not me... not Shiro... not you...

It'll be okay.

I know. I meant it when I said you were--important, though, so you're not getting hurt any more on my watch.

[He gives a little huff, stepping over a fallen Vieziri as they continue to scout the ship.]

[Keith glanced over, an eyebrow raised in curiosity.]

I'm no more important than anyone else, Lance.

Besides... I don't want you getting hurt, either. [And maybe a little too quickly...] Or anyone else, for that matter.

But you are! I mean, not knocking anyone else's importance, but to me, you're...

[He trails off, groaning.]

Never mind. Just. Keep yourself safe.

[This time, Keith full-on stopped and turned to look at Lance.]

What are you talking about?

[It was really hard to grasp the concept of why he would be so important to someone who, up until a few months ago, Keith had been pretty convinced hated his guts.]

You... You're...

[This is not the optimal time to fess up to his feelings. And he won't, not fully-- This is something that, if it's talked about, needs to be done in a situation where they're both not high on adrenaline and preferably not in danger of being killed by heavily armed cannibals.

But he can say a little, maybe.]

You're special to me. That's all I'm gonna say.

[ ...

Keith had no idea what to do with that. He stared at Lance, almost like his brain had shut down for a moment, and maybe it had, but it wasn't what he was expecting to hear at all. The first thing that came to mind as his thoughts start processing again was maybe this whole 'rival' thing was really important, and Lance didn't want to lose his competition.

But that was dumb.

He frowned a bit, visibly trying to work this out, and then shook his head, turning to continue again.]

Fine. Then we'll talk about it later.

[That was easier. Put it off until later. Lance had insisted on not saying more anyway, so Keith would leave it at that. He needed to focus anyway. Thinking about weird stuff that Lance said would be a distraction.]

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