roruna (roruna) wrote in roads_diverged, @ 2009-05-16 22:51:00 |
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Entry tags: | discworld, firefly, roruna:vimes/sybil, theme 01: crossover |
"Dragonfly", [Discworld/Firefly], Theme #1: Crossover
Title: Dragonfly
Author: roruna
Fandom: Discworld, Firefly
Characters: Vimes and the Watch mostly.
Warnings: Obscenely long fic. Just the prologue turned into 14 pages when I wasn't looking.
Theme: #1. Meta - Crossover
Rating: PG-13.
Summary: Sam Vimes, captain of the dragonfly class bulk transport ship, "The Watch" is just trying to get by in the 'Verse after the Unification War. He's got a crew made up of a fellow Browncoat (Carrot Ironfoundersson), two ex-coppers from his old police department in Ankh-Morpork, Dyton. (Nobby Nobbs and Detritus) and an engineer (Havelock Vetinari) who is very good friends with the Companion (Rosie Palm) renting Vimes' shuttle. Life in the 'Verse was complicated enough just making ends meet but when an old flame of Vimes' (Sybil Ramkin) turns up needing passage to Athens, Vimes is going to really miss the simple days when he just had to kiss Badger's arse for a job
There was a loud crackle from the intercom and Vimes woke up to Nobby’s voice saying in a tone so calm it must have come through the other side of panic, “Sam?” Vimes’ eyes shot open. The crew only called him Sam when they were really worried. He staggered out of bed and a part of his brain that he wasn’t paying much attention to right now, nudged him. He went to the intercom and yawning hugely asked, “What is it, Nobby?” There was silence and then Nobby said, “Er… could you come up to the bridge, please?” Now the wheels of his brain were turning. Nobby hardly liked Vimes being in the bridge at all and whenever he did need him to look at something there, he rarely said ‘please’. Vimes finally woke up fully. “I’ll be right there.” He started heading for the door and then remembered that he was naked.
He considered looking around the floor for the clothes he’d been wearing but it would be much quicker to just get something else out of a drawer. He pulled a drawer open and pulled out a pair of sweats and a tee shirt and put them on. He rushed out of his bedroom and office. “All right, Nobby what the hell’s going on?” Nobby coughed in that way that Carrot and lately the rest of the crew did when trying to figure out how to shape sentences so they’d fit into Vimes’ not going completely spare space in his head. “Just tell me what’s wrong.” Vimes growled, already making that space much smaller. “Someone just hailed the nearest
“Ching-wah tsao duh liou mahng.” Vimes said. “Please yourself.” Nobby replied. “What are we going to do about our cargo though?” Nobby asked a little more calmly than Vimes thought was appropriate. He didn’t bother to think, he just ran to back into his office and into his room and swore very loudly when he went through his pockets and didn’t find what he wasn’t expecting to find. His keys were gone. Of course. The last thing Nobby heard as Vimes was leaving was, “Godsdamn húli jīng… It’s sodding Mavis all over again…” Then Nobby heard the door slam.
When Vimes went into the cargo bay, he saw Sybil was exactly where he expected her to be. She was bent down and tinkering with the keypad on her safe. Vimes tried not to care too much that she was in his boxers and shirt. It was a strange reminder of went on between them and then he wondered if she’d only slept with him to get his keys. He strode over to her as she was straightening up and she actually jumped back when she turned and saw him standing in her way. Vimes smiled in a not remotely happy way. What’s she going to say? ‘I can explain’. Or ‘this isn’t what it looks like’. “Sam, you startled me.” She said. “Did I?” Vimes said with a cheerfulness his subordinates had learned to dread long ago. “Oh, I’m sorry. You startled me a bit too though. What with waking up and you and my keys being gone and Nobby telling me that someone hailed the nearest
“What?” She cried out. Vimes hesitated this time. She looked… not surprised. More like beside herself with terror. She’d gone ghostly pale. Vimes was sure for a second that he could hear her heart racing. Either she didn’t make the call or the stage had missed a major talent. He took in the image of her, wearing his shirt and boxers, standing almost protectively in front of that safe, holding his keys on her hand. He stared at the keys and remembered all the things she’d said to him earlier, in bed and in the heat of the moment. The stage had missed an extraordinary talent. He grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the cargo bay into that open space near the stairs and infirmary. “You hailed that cruiser!” He shouted. Sybil shook her head. “No! I didn’t! I’d never—”
“Don’t lie!” Vimes shouted and realized that he was squeezing her arm so hard that the joints in his hand had locked up. “Captain.” Said a very calm voice from the chair just outside the infirmary. Vimes turned and saw Sally sitting there. She was wearing a tee shirt that was so big it went past her knees. She looked up at him serenely. “I think you have the wrong person.” She tilted her head toward the hallway that led to the passenger rooms and when Vimes looked, there was Knock holding a pistol. He’s a copper, Vimes’ brain whispered. Damn. There wasn’t really any specific way to tell. He wasn’t in uniform or holding out a badge but Vimes could tell. Coppers can spot each other. Not that he’d spotted Knock soon enough, Vimes’ brain reproached. Vimes let go of Sybil’s arm with exaggerated care.
“No one make a move!” Knock said in what he probably thought was a firm and authoritative voice. Vimes raised his hands slowly. He could tell Knock was nervous and nervous people do stupid things. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Sybil raised her hands too. Sally didn’t move. Knock inched forward, still pointing the pistol at them. “Lady Sybil Ramkin, you’re under arrest—” Vimes wasn’t entirely sure why he laughed. Maybe it was to ease the tension. He turned his head to look at Sybil. Up until like… ten minutes ago, Vimes had thought that Sybil was… well a goody two shoes. She donated money to charities and volunteering was practically her occupation. He couldn’t quite imagine her committing a crime. “Darling, have you been getting involved with those protesters that end up blowing things up?” Sybil glared at him and when she opened her mouth to speak…
“I said don’t move!” Knock yelled. Vimes rolled his eyes. He was far too nervy for this. “Calm down, Winsborough. She’s not going anywhere. It’s not like she knows.” Knock’s brow wrinkled a moment and then Vimes saw in his face that the penny dropped. Every copper knew one thing that was a rather obvious fact but people never quite thought about it. Coppers are always outnumbered. Coppers cannot see a person’s guilty secret written on their forehead. Coppers are only human. And coppers wove all kinds of magic and had all kinds of tricks to keep people from figuring that out. Knock stepped closer. “Sybil, you’re under arrest for…” He hesitated. “A number of charges that will be read out when the
Vimes was only half listening. He saw Sybil move forward. She’s going to charge him. Vimes could tell. “Don’t.” He whispered. “What did you say?” Knock demanded. “You’re not arresting me, you feh feh pi goh!” Sybil shouted. Vimes blinked. He’d never heard her say anything coarser than ‘oh dear’. He heard her mutter under her breath, “Pardon my Mandarin.” Vimes chuckled a little. “You’re resisting arrest?” Knock stepped forward. Sybil drew herself. “Yes! You’re not arresting me and you’re not confiscating anything!” There was a small click as Knock released the safety catch on his pistol. Sybil didn’t flinch. She was staring Knock down, with nothing but the clothes on her back.
Vimes couldn’t say that Sybil didn’t know the meaning of the word ‘fear’. He’d seen fear in her eyes when she learned there was an alliance cruiser on its way. But what could possible make her afraid of being arrested but not afraid of dying? “Everyone please calm down.” Sally said firmly. “If we all just sit down and discuss this, I’m sure we can…” Knock snorted. “There’s nothing to discuss! Everyone on this ship is under arrest for aiding and abetting a fugitive!” This is going to go all pear shaped, Vimes thought. Sybil looked poised to spring; she had for the last several minutes. And Knock’s hand was shaking. She’s going to pounce and he’s going to shoot her… “What’s all the shout—”
In Vimes’ mind, what happened next happened in slow motion. He hadn’t heard Vetinari or Rosie coming down the stairs. Neither had Knock and when Vetinari spoke, Knock’s body reacted automatically. He turned quickly and fired the pistol. It was lucky that Vetinari had reached the bottom steps. He fell back, a bullet wound in his stomach. Vimes heard Rosie scream, “
Then Vimes turned his attention to Knock. The man was coughing painfully and clutching his throat. Vimes patted Knock’s pockets quickly and found a pair of handcuffs. He put Knock in the handcuffs just as Carrot and Detritus ran down the stairs. It took some very careful maneuvering but they managed to reach the bottom of the stairs without disrupting Vetinari and Sybil. Vimes tilted his head to one of the empty double occupancy rooms across the hall. “Lads, get Mister Knock in there. Make sure all the drawers are empty… Damn, I wish I had some duct tape.” Sally raised her hand. “I have some in my room.” She said a little sheepishly. Vimes must have made a face because Sally said, “My suitcases are very old…” Vimes shrugged. “Fine, thank you Miss Von Humperding.”
Sally ran into her room and came out with a roll of duct tape. Vimes wrapped a long stretch of tape around Knock’s ankles and then covered the man’s mouth for good measure. Carrot and Detritus picked Knock up and took him into the empty room. Vimes was vaguely aware of Sybil asking Vetinari if he could move his feet. “What?” Vetinari asked weakly. Rosie said, “Can you move your feet,
“Sorry, was there some change of ownership that I’m not aware of?” Vimes asked viciously. “Because last time I checked, this was still my ship.” Sybil looked at Vimes. There was something strange in her eyes. Determination, defiance, pleading. “Tell Nobby to change course.” She said quietly. Vimes snorted. “Why the hell should I do that?” Sybil’s eyes traveled to Vetinari a second. “Are you threatening my crew, your ladyship?” Vimes growled. Sybil maintained that defiant glare and spoke in deadly calm. “If you don’t run and the
Vimes would have started shouting or possibly threatening to shoot her himself if his brain hadn’t pointed out that she was right. In the time it took the Feds to get a grip on events, Vetinari would have died of his wounds and Sybil had no reason to keep treating him if she thought she was going to jail. He glowered at her. “Sam.” Rosie hissed. “Do what she says.” Vimes walked carefully to the intercom. “Nobby, change course. We’re doing a runner.” He turned to shout at Sybil to see to Vetinari again but she was already kneeling over him again. “I need to get him into the infirmary.” She said. Sally got a stretcher from the infirmary and she and Carrot got Vetinari onto it and inside. Sybil and Rosie followed after them quickly.
Carrot and Detritus were ordered to keep on eye on Knock. The man may be nervy but he was still a copper so Vimes didn’t trust him an inch. Rosie and Sally were helping Sybil in the infirmary. Vimes really wanted a drink right now. But he wasn’t going to let Sybil out of his sight. After all, she was in a room with a wounded crew member, lots of sharp metal pointy things and several cocktails worth of dangerous chemicals. So why wasn’t he in the infirmary instead of just outside glowering at her through the glass? Then he remembered one thing military life had taught him. There are three people you do not cross, the supply orderly, the clerk and the medic.
Sybil had finished whatever it was she did. She was washing her hands at the sink now. She looked at Rosie. “He’s stable. He should recover so long as we keep an eye on him.” She said solemnly. Rosie nodded. “Good. Because if he’d died…” Sybil raised a hand. “I understand.” She looked down at the floor. “I’m sorry by the way… about all of this. I truly am.” Rosie watched Sybil’s face. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen… I just… wanted to go my way.” Sybil admitted. Rosie nodded. She believed her. “Sybil, you’ll notice I haven’t made any mention of you wearing Vimes’ underwear?” She said with a faint smile. Sybil looked down at herself. Then she laughed. “You want to talk about this now?”