Eighteenth Flight

[hot4engines]

I been doing a lot of thinking lately. Because I ain't much of a fighting or investigating type, and I'm feeling kinda useless with everything going on and all. But then, I started thinking that even if I can't do those things, I can still support everyone, and that means something to me. I can't sit and feel sorry for myself- it don't help nobody. But being myself does.

-Kaylee ♥

[Text message to Shepard]

I made you lunch. I also left a buncha cookies and treats and stuff on your desk. They're for everybody to share. [And by that she means a big box of cookies and 3 dozen cupcakes.]

Comments

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

Ah, I see. Five hundred years in the future - and we've spread out among the stars in that time, by the sound of it.

Was your life very different than it is here?

[hot4engines]

Earth-that-was got left behind a long time ago, yup. We're used to being among the stars.

I spent most of my time in a ship named Serenity. I really miss her.

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

Ah - it would be a wonderful adventure to travel among the stars someday.

[Who knows? Perhaps Haruhi will desire to be an astronaut someday.

... On second thought, he'd prefer not to have to deal with closed space in outer space. That could get very messy very quickly.]

But I probably should dream of such things. If I'm not careful, they might just come true.

[hot4engines]

I do miss that part, too. Never staying in one place, going where the wind and work takes us... it was very free. I think it's a real nice dream to have.

Pretend that said "shouldn't".

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

Yes, I have often wished to fly free, without obligation.

[Amusingly, it's the no obligation part of that he hasn't managed. His powers in closed space allow him to fly without difficulty - but where there's closed space, there are Celestials, and when they are destroyed, so is closed space, so he never has time to enjoy the sensation.

He laughs a little self-deprecatingly.]

Ah, but what is man, really, without obligation, without purpose? Who would I be then?

[He closes his eyes and smiles inscrutably.]

But I digress.

[hot4engines]

[Kaylee peers at him a little strangely, but decides not to pry.]

Well, we all still had obligations even with the freedom. Like I said, I fixed stuff... and my pal Wash steered the ship... and we had a Captain. Things like that.

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

I shouldn't have said without obligation. I believe I simply meant to be able to really enjoy and experience the wonders of the freedom of flight.

[hot4engines]

Ah, I getcha now. It is pretty wonderful... and easy to lose yourself in how big and endless it all is.

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

How long have you been here, Kaylee-san?

[hot4engines]

Gosh, close to nine months by now.

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

Oh, I see. That's quite a long time.

How has the island treated you? I've seen some interesting things here, but I've heard there have been things that were much, much stranger.

[hot4engines]

Mostly good. Sometimes bad. Haven't had any of my crew here for months now, except for one little appearance, so I do get kinda lonely sometimes.

But I got a new crew, and I'm dating somebody, so it ain't as bad as it could be.

[Notwithstanding being kidnapped and having to cut Jack's hand off, of course, but she won't mention that.]

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

Ah, well that's good to hear. It seems to me that despite the circumstances, the people here may well be worth it.

[He'll learn about it eventually, once he gets a communications network set up on the island.]

[hot4engines]

They really are. I think a lot of us tend to see it as, we're stuck here together, might as well make the best of it.

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

My thoughts precisely.