East Egg, Thugs

[GrimJack]

Area for male prisoners, consisting of a multi-tiered cell block, mess hall, and yard. Movement is restricted by a series of locks controlled by Operations.

[Colonel Harlan Jessup]

”Jeremiah’s dead, Colonel.”

After two months of fighting, Jeremiah, their company Chaplain, had died from pneumonia. The bearded and haggard countenance of Colonel Harlan Jessup regarded the man that had just entered his tent…fighting the nauseous déjà vu that threatened to turn his empty stomach. The simple statement…three words in all, sent him back, as it always did, to the end of the War.

Harlan had been captured near the close of the conflict but instead of joining the rest of his shackled brothers and sisters-in-arms, he found himself detained in a separate facility. Slowly other Browncoats joined him, and when the prisoners were finally allowed to compare notes, they discovered the cause for their separate confinement…they were tacticians and heroes…every man and woman, warriors born. When the Unification War ended, each side returned their prisoners, yet the self-named 666th remained confined…forgotten by both sides.

Strangely the 666th, or the Faceless, escaped execution and unmarked graves and found themselves relocated to Andersonville. Later they would come to learn that certain vengeful members of the Alliance’s War Cabinet wished the Browncoats would find a long and painful death…one that showed them the façade of Independence.

Unlike the other prisoners of Andersonville, the Faceless were not given quarters. Instead they were forced to camp in East Egg’s Yard, and their makeshift tent town became known as Fort Necessity. Medical facilities and the Mess Hall were also off-limits to the soldiers. If they were to eat, they quickly learned that other prisoners, ones with Mess access, would be needed to secure sustenance. Needless to say, each soldier quickly became a walking skeleton, with food being the most elusive of commodities. The sick either fought off the illness or succumbed to it…there were no other possibilities.

Under the commander of Colonel Jessup, the Faceless continued to honor their sacrifice of freedom, living and abiding by military code. They maintained their chain of command, lived the soldier’s life, and died as Browncoats.

”That’s not the worst part, Sir.”

Abe’s voice pulled him from his memories,
”Report, Sergeant.”

The soldier seemed hesitant to begin but speak he did,
”Rhett was forced to shoot one of Man’s men.”

The colonel stood up from behind his makeshift desk,
”The Hell you say!”

Trying to defuse his superior’s fury, Sergeant Abraham Mitchum continued,
”Sir, Rhett’s unit was attacked during our food exchange with Czar’s soldiers. Fearing for the lives of his men, the Corporal drew his sidearm and laid low the leader of the enemy. We have since learned that Adam Man killed Czar and folded his troops into his army, compromising the integrity of our food exchange. It is Major Terrell’s belief that Man’s motive in killing Czar was to cut our supply line, Sir.”

Harlan could hardly keep his composure. His men were already on the verge of starvation and sickness was claiming them as they grew weaker. Very soon they would be too ill to conduct the business of survival, and weakness, in conjunction with their ever dwindling ammunition stores, would lead to their demise…most likely at the hands of this new gang leader, Adam Man.

He responded as only a true leader of men could,
”And Corporal Butler’s unit?”

Briefly a smile touched the corners of the sergeant’s mouth,
”Beyond a few bumps and bruises, all present and accounted for, Sir.”

Jessup nodded his head,
”Thank God. Sergeant, assemble the men and have Major Terrell report to my tent.”

With a crisp salute, returned by the colonel, the soldier spun on his heel and departed.

Clasping his hands behind his back, the colonel turned and looked at the Andersonville Yard surrounding Fort Necessity. Years ago word of Serenity Valley had made it to the ears of the Faceless, giving each forgotten hero the courage needed to continue the fight. To this day, Jessup’s men found strength in the stand of Malcolm Reynolds and his valiant Browncoats…strength that would be needed in the days to come.

His clear eyes surveyed the artificial dome and structure of East Egg, but his heart saw green fields and hillocks. After years of torture and uselessness…the brave Browncoats of the 666th, the Faceless, had found their own Serenity Valley.

[Adam Man]

”Crispin’s dead, Boss.”

A hundred kilos moved in a one hundred and eighty degree arc from Adam Man’s thighs to his shoulders, as his powerful biceps curled the weight bar…over and over again. The familiar movement of the exercise granted the behemoth a measure of calm…allowed him time to think.

”Boss?”

The weight bar crashed to the ground, as Adam threw the heavy load away from him. Several of the nearby men cringed as the giant shifted his attention from his physical labors to the task of running a prison gang,
”Yes.”

”Do you want we should send another crew to bushwhack a few of Jessup’s boys...you know, as payback?”

”Yes.”

”I’ll sends some of the new guys make them show their sacks.”

Another man moved closer a memory stick in his hands,
”This just arrived from West Egg…its another love letter from Evil, Boss.”

Adam grabbed the memory stick and inserted it into the special audio player Evil had sent him. Putting in the unit’s ear buds, Adam smiled as he heard his lover's voice,
”Do you remember the First Commandment, Adam?”

Nodding his head, the giant cast his memory back to their last face to face conversation in the holding cell at the courthouse...

____________________

His lover-friend’s voice whispered in his ear,
”Adam, my love, tell me the First Commandment. It is very important…do you know what I mean when I say ‘important’?”

”Yes, Evil.”

”Good. Now Adam, if you look over your shoulders and I’m not there, what do you do?”

Without hesitation the giant responded,
”I don’t get scared, and I don’t say anything.”

”But what if someone asks you a question?”

”I do like you tells me. I stare at them…scare them.”

”What if they don’t get scared?”

”Then I gives them a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ but not no more.”

”Very good, my love.”

”Evil?”

”Yes, Adam.”

Tears began to fall from the giants eyes,
”I don’t want you to go no where.”

Evil Man caressed her lover’s cheek, wiping away her best friend’s grief,
”If for some reason I’m not behind you, I want you to keep your eyes open because I’ll be back soon as I can. Can you do that for me, my love?”

A dull smile lit the man’s eyes,
”I do anything for you…I loves you.”

Evil kissed him deeply, drawing back long enough to whisper,
”I love you too.”

____________________

Yes, lifting weights gave Adam Man time to think...but thinking was hard…nearly impossible.

Evil had told him the things to say…smart things.

As the audio on the memory stick continued, Adam listened to the words and commands of Evil Man…as he always had.

[Colonel Harlan Jessup]

Major Terrell joined him at the front of the tent, leaned over, and whispered in his ear,
”Jammer’s up, Harlan…the bitch is blind and deaf.”

Nodding, the colonel turned toward his men. Twenty-two pairs of eyes met his, as the leader of the 666th addressed his troops,
”Brothers, the time has come.”

Jessup paused gauging his soldiers’ reactions to his words…to a man relief flooded across their faces. Finally, they would be warriors again.

Nodding in admiration at the unbridled bravery of the Faceless, he continued,
”As I’m sure you know, the Enemy has severed our supply line, leaving us with little recourse…men, the 666th is rejoining the War.”

Twenty-two fists pumped in the air.

Hoo-Rah!

Hoo-Rah!

Hoo-Rah!

”Major Terrell will command Omega Squad, while I lead Alpha. Omega’s primary objective is to acquire adequate foodstuffs to continue the campaign. Alpha will act as rear guard, holding Fort Necessity until you return. Once rations have been found, our combined force will seek a more advantageous position to repel attackers…brothers, we will take the higher ground. From there, we return to the Black…we return to the Rim…we return…Home.”

Hoo-Rah!

Hoo-Rah!

Hoo-Rah!

Motioning for his men to quiet, Harlan proceeded with the plan,
”Our captors will not sit idly by and allow us to overrun this facility, but as you all know, the Faceless have been preparing for this moment since the final days of Serenity Valley…” Jessup’s voice rose in volume and tears welled in his sunken eyes, ”…As Malcolm Reynolds and his steadfast Browncoats fought against the scourge of the Alliance hordes, so shall we punish our oppressors by showing them that walls and bars may break the souls of sheep…but we be MEN…BROWNCOATS…INDEPENDENTS!!!”


HOO-RAH!

Harlan’s fist and voice joined with those of his men.

HOO-RAH!

The men of the 666th were prisoners no more, but neither were they to be soldiers.

HOO-RAH!

No…they were to become Legend.

[Andersonville]

Mancoon and Tibby have their clothes returned to them, and surprisingly, Krylin’s hidden weaponry is still among his belongings.

Without any fanfare, prisoners 181211 and 181213 are led to their eight by ten cell by Andersonville’s lock-system. While they can see the other inmates through the clear plas-steel of the lock-seals, they share no interaction.

Their cell door closes, and for the first time during the mission, they are alone. In one hour they will be inserted into the general population.

For the men of The Ares Shield…the witching hour has arrived.

[Andersonville]

Prompted by an automated voice, Tiberius and Mancoon are shuffled from their cell through a series of locks and deposited into East Egg’s Yard.

When entering the yard, the prisoners have a fairly comprehensive view of the entire dome. Andersonville’s East Yard is nearly a half-mile in diameter, and contains a number of freestanding structures, ranging in purpose from blackmarket goods to gang clubhouses. At any given time, there are usually between three and four hundred inmates counted among the yard population. Some spend their time warring with others…some vent frustration and develop their bodies at the Rec station…others satisfy a more carnal craving by preying on the weak.

At the edge of the yard closest to the prisoner intake and outtake, stands Fort Necessity. The Browncoat bastion consists of a makeshift palisade with several tents and structures inside its walls. The rest of the prisoners cut a wide path around the fort.

Opposite from Fort Necessity at the edge of the dome closest to West Egg, stands the new stronghold of Adam Man. Ringed by his newly acquired gang, the giant can be found in one of two places…lifting in the center of the stronghold or at the dome’s edge staring across at Evil in West Egg.

As soon as Mancoon and Tiberius are inserted into the general population, a contingent of five men, wielding clubs of crude design, approaches the pair.

Without a word the prisoners begin to circle the cops.

[Tiberius Khan]

Things were definitely going from bad to completely FUBAR, as Tiberius eyed the men circling him and Mancoon, like a pack of wild and hungry wolves.


"Well this could be worse. They could be dressed like clowns or like my mother." thought Tiberius, as he whispered to Mancoon from the corner of his mouth "Mr. Kane you take the two on the left while I take the two on the right. The ugly one in the middle, I figure we can both take on. Savvy?"


The two of them had just entered Hell and now had to prove themselves as the killers that they weren't.


<<FUBAR: F***ed up beyond all repair.>>

[Mancoon Krylin]

'Coon watched as the prisoners began to circle them like vultures. He made no move for his weapons, and kept his posture loose and unthreatening, apparently unconcerned with their dire straits.

The person that accused Mancoon of being a good strategist would be a horrific liar, but he understood war well enough. Simple things like the way you stood could change the shape of the entire battle; if they prisoners were stupid, or blinded by mob instincts, they'd think him weak, easy prey. If they weren't, they'd hesitate, be wary. Either way, he'd have an edge.

"Mr. Kane you take the two on the left while I take the two on the right. The ugly one in the middle, I figure we can both take on. Savvy?"

This was it. The establishment of the pecking order, and their own place in it.

Keeping a watchful eye on the prowling convicts he murmered back, "Time fer a show." He started to address Tiberius by his alias, but then he realized that he didn't remember what it was. He'd been too busy remembering his own new name and serial number to pay it much mind at the time.

[Andersonville]

Once the circle had formed the leader, a tall lean man with a hoop piercing his nose moved forward. His voice oozed from his lips like oil from a drum,
”You Greensticks got two choices: get branded into the Brahmas or pay the toll for crossin’ our land. We’ll take goods…or your asses, so turn out them pockets or bend over.”

The leader produced a gap toothed sneer making his appearance even more ominous and pulled up his shirt…revealing a revolver’s grip.

[Tiberius Khan]

"Time fer a show."


"And if they're nice, we'll give them an encore." replied Tiberius out of the corner of his mouth, as he scanned the baddies in front of him.


”You Greensticks got two choices: get branded into the Brahmas or pay the toll for crossin’ our land. We’ll take goods…or your asses, so turn out them pockets or bend over.”


Tiberius looked at the ugly one and the revolver that he had tucked in his waistband. Tiberius smiled and said "Those are some mighty compelling choices there. I hope you won't mind if I talk it over with my friend here."


Tiberius nodded towards Mancoon, who Tiberius turned his attention to, making it look like he was going to talk over their two choices. Instead Tiberius gave Mancoon a wink and with the quickness of a cheetah, launched into a spinkick with his left foot aimed at making the ugly man's face a little more uglier, if not knocking him flat out.

[Andersonville]

Stereotypes are a terrible thing…especially when you make the mistake of deeming a large muscular lawman too slow to get the jump on you.

The crack of the leader’s jaw reverberated like the pop of some giant knuckle. A second later the leader lay unconscious on the ground…his revolver still tucked neatly in his waistband.

After a second of shock the others attack.

<<These boys are redshirts…do what you will. However, it should be said that the leader’s gun, while a six shooter, has only two rounds…use them wisely>>

[Mancoon Krylin]

To his his credit, the convict closest to Mancoon recovered quickly from his surprise -very quickly- and Mancoon was forced into hasty retreat, swinging one arm out wide for balance, to avoid the man's club as it swished menacingly through the space his head had previously inhabited.

Snarling something probably better left unheard, the prisoner lunged forward, swinging the club like an axe at 'Coon's midsection, but this time 'Coon was ready for it. Snapping his hand out like a striking rattler, he snagged the club in mid-air with a wince -that smarted!- and yanked, pulling the prisoner toward him.

They engaged in a brief tug-of-war over the crude club, until 'Coon suddenly released it. The man was expecting resistance, and, naturally, the club obeyed the laws of physics and smashed it's wielder right between the eyes. Dazed by the blow the prisoner wobbled on his feet, and 'Coon had a knife that had -miraculously- still been hidden in his pants out and at the man's throat in a flash, it’s unnaturally sharp edge giving him a second, ghoulish smile.

Thou shalt not kill. Dissapointed eyes, damning words written in a saint's hand and blood...

Blood fountaining from his severed windpipe, the man clapped both hands against his throat with a wet gasp, almost forgetting ‘Coon’s presence against the need to retain the precious fluid. Panicked eyes that were dimming with the encroachment of death attempted to meet his own, but ‘Coon had already turned away to face his next adversary, and barely heard the faint thump behind him as the man fell above the beating of his own heart.

The second man had obviously hung back while the first was being thrashed, and, somewhat more canny that his comrade, took advantage of ‘Coon’s distraction by cracking him over the head with a crude ceramic club. A sharp flare of pain shot through 'Coon's head at the contact that faded swiftly into a dull, throbbing ache as the man drew back his club for another strike.

Mancoon noticed a dark, moist patch on the end of it.

His breath hissing between his teeth, 'Coon made a somewhat unsteady grab for the club, instead latching onto the surprised prisoner's fingers. That was more than good enough. Instead of fighting for the club this time, he changed tactics and bent the stubborn man's fingers back at an angle God had not intended when He had crafted the human body from the very bones of the ancestral planet, Earth That Was. Delicate fingerbones snapped and popped beneath his hand as easily as dry tinder.

The prisoner howled.

Adjusting his grip slightly, Mancoon bent the wrist itself. The man sank to his knees, his face frozen frozen in a rictus of agony. 'Coon leaned closer (the man shrieked anew as the bones in his wrist creaked) and said breathlessly, in more of a croak than a voice, "If'n ye want me to stop, ask me to." It wasn't a threat, or a trick of any sort. If the man asked him to stop, he would.

(Huge thanks to the Zen for editing)

[Major Isaac Terrell]

FORT NECESSITY (East Egg Yard)


”Major Terrell, sir…” the private offered a salute and stood waiting to be addressed.

Returning the salute, Isaac Terrell answered his subordinate,
”What is it Aidan?”

”Sir, two new inmates are being swarmed outside the front gate, and you told us to report as soon as we caught sight of fresh faces.”

Already moving toward the front of Fort Necessity, the major responded,
”Indeed I did, son. Get Banks and Hugo at the wall and ready the gate.”

The private ran in a different direction,
”Yes, sir!”

Within seconds Isaac stood at the fort’s palisade, looking at the life and death struggle just outside the gates. His voice cracked and weak, the major mustered as much volume as he could and yelled to the fighters below,
”Greensticks! The Faceless 666th offer you protection within the walls of Fort Necessity! Just say the word!”

[Tiberius Khan]

Tiberius took a punch to the jaw from one of the Brahmas and staggered back a few steps. Rubbing his jaw and raising an eyebrow, Tiberius said over the screaming and hitting "Is that the best you got? You hit like woman and a very ugly one at that."


Tiberius then charged the man, pummeling him with a left hook, then a right, then another left. Finally as the man staggered back on the brink of unconsciousness, Tiberius rushed the man again using a right uppercut to break the man's jaw, not to mention the few remaining teeth in his mouth. The force of the uppercut picked the man off his feet and sent him flying a good two feet before he hit the ground with a thud.


Tiberius walked over to the man, stood over him and said "That's how you're supposed to hit."


Tiberius got some movement from the corner of his left eye. It was the other Brahma and he was going for the unconscious leader's gun. Tiberius let out a primal scream and ran after the man, in a race to get the gun. The Brahma was quicker and got to it first, pulling the revolver out of the leader's waistband, but unable to aim it as Tiberius's right hand grabbed the man's wrist and started squeezing.


"Let go of the gun little man or I'll snap your wrist." growled Tiberius, looking at the man with cold hard eyes.


The man let out a yell and punched Tiberius in the face. Tiberius took the blow with stride and increased his grip on the man's wrist, the servos in his hand whining as they responded. The audible sound of bones cracking was drowned out by the man's screaming, however he still held onto the gun.


"Let go of the gun and there'll be enough bone in your wrist, that you won't need a replacement." commanded Tiberius, hoping that the man would listen.


He didn't of course and was able to get a shot off before Tiberius pulverized the man's wrist bones into dust. The bullet from the gun struck the leader in the right thigh, causing the man to howl like an injured dog.


"Shut up." replied Tiberius, right before he grabbed the Brahmas member with the shattered wrist by the hair, and slammed his face into that of the leader's.


”Greensticks! The Faceless 666th offer you protection within the walls of Fort Necessity! Just say the word!”


Tiberius took the gun from the now useless hand of the Brahmas member and stood up, the gun pointing downwards to the ground as he looked up to the man who had yelled.


"Well at least he hasn't threatened to rape us...yet. Maybe me and Mancoon should hear him out." thought Tiberius as he said "The word."

[Major Isaac Terrell]

"The word."

Terrell wheeled on the troops gathering just inside the gates. When he yelled his voice held something it hadn’t a moment before…hope,
”Soldiers, the word has been given! Open the gates! Private Banks…Private Hugo give those men some cover!”

Nearly a dozen Brahmas ran from the Yard, moving toward the commotion.

Two figures appeared along the Fort Necessity palisade, produced bows and began to rain arrows down on the advancing Brahmas. Though living skeletons, the soldiers drew the makeshift weapons long and their aim was true. Arrows peppered the gathering mob causing screams and chaos to claim the already ragtag group.

With the advance of the enemy halted, Major Terrell and Private Aidan ran clear of the gates wielding two rifles.

”Inside the walls, men! Hurry!”

As Tiberius and Mancoon dashed into the shelter afforded them by the Samaritans of the 666th, several other Faceless appeared along the palisade and took up longbows against the Brahmas.

Major Terrell looked across the short distance to the floundering gang, and every fiber of his being screamed for him to sound the advance…to charge...to fight. So electric was the feeling that Isaac wept…his limbs twitching with phantom impulses. As the arrows twanged over his head, the major took one last moment to relish the feel of a fight worth fighting. Finally with a heart full of regret, he and Aidan moved back inside the walls of Fort Necessity.

Not bothering to wipe the tears away, Isaac approached the two Greensticks, and when he spoke his voice cracked with emotion,
”A skirmish…nothing more, but a grand skirmish it was. Right this way gentleman. I’ll take you to the Colonel.”

A few moments later, he led the men into the center tent, where a wild haired man poured over a hand-drawn, but extremely well made, map of Andersonville prison.

Seeing the new faces, Colonel Harlan Jessup returned his major’s salute and addressed Mancoon and Tiberius,
”Gentlemen, welcome to Fort Necessity, the last active military base of the Independents. If either of you require medical attention, we will do what we can, but if you sour at the thought of us and be men that favor Unification, we wish no quarrel and will part as friends. However, should you see your coat as Brown, your brothers need your help. What say you, men?”


<<OOC Mancoon and Tibby plot progressed by order of GrimJack...whoever the hell he is>>