A/N: Don't we all wish we owned the 'Verse?
The following is told through Simon's eyes. The events in question occur not long after the BDM.
"Yee-ee-ee-ee-ee-eeeeeeeeeee!" Kaylee squealed as she bounced up and down atop me. Let me stop right there and say I typically wouldn't violate the character of a woman, especially not one as tender and kind hearted as Kaywinnit Lee Tam-Frye, by divulging the details of such a private instance as I'm about to here. However as I've come to realize in the years since that occasion, that is the precise time the story I am telling you here, had begun.
It had been four or five months since we discovered the origin of the Reavers and after putting Serenity back together we had spent those days traveling the Verse paying our respects to our friends killed by the Alliance while we fled to Miranda to help River. We gave Shepherd Book and his neighbors proper burials on Haven while en route from Beaumonde to take Fanty and Mingo's bodies back to their home world of Dyton County. From there it was on to lay Mr. Universe to rest since no one else would have done it, then we flew to Higgins Moon and Greenleaf, Deadwood and so on, at one point letting Zoe off so she could visit Wash's mother and father to tell them about their son's death and give her time to figure her next move. Much to the displeasure of River, myself, Kaylee and Inara, Zoe's departure left Jayne as the Captain's second in command but I'm proud to say our suffering was minimal. Finally we landed on Persephone to regroup and find another job. Captain had also spoken of visiting old wartime buddies on this world to discuss our findings on Miranda and decide whether the Alliance was in need of another uprising of Browncoats in light of this discovery. It also seemed like the proper place for Kaylee and I to exchange our vows, seeing as it was the place where we first met. The ship had practically been keeping adrift on fumes at this point and our rations were down to boring food stuffs for about the billionth time since River and I had been aboard Serenity.
Directly, as I mentioned before, I found myself beneath Kaylee's bare body during our honeymoon together-which was sadly spent on the ship seeing as we hadn't the coin to take a proper one at the time. She collapsed against me, that now familiar, slaphappy grin plastered to her face as she nibbled my neck and I grazed my fingertips along her spinal column.
"You're givin' me goose bumps, Si!" She giggled and shook about, "Cut th-"
"River!" I interrupted my wife's playful plea when I saw my sister poking her head through the ceiling of my quarters, peering down at us. With one swift motion I tossed Kaylee aside and yanked the covers over our exposed bodies to shield us from River's curious eyes.
"Wha-Riv? River!" Kaylee shrieked with fright, disappearing beneath her blanket completely, "How long has she been there?" her words were muffled into the pillow.
River showed no signs of shock or remorse at being caught, no intention of moving as I frantically looked about for my clothes which were scattered haphazardly around the room. She simply stared blankly down at us and plainly announced, "I desire a love like that" as if she were stating that her favorite color was magenta, "And every time you have exchanged fluids since the first time one hundred and twenty-seven days ago. Six times in the engine room. Twice in the dining room. Once in the pilot's-"
"You've been spying on us every time we've-?" I asked, horrified at the idea.
"And I gave you strawberries!" Came another hushed cry from Kaylee.
"Why River?" I was furious but desperately not trying to show it for fear of upsetting her again. She'd been in a strange, reclusive mood the last few days, in fact I couldn't recall if I'd seen her face in the past several hours. She had made progress in leaps and bounds since Miranda like never before, become an obvious great asset to the crew, so it was peculiar that she would suddenly revert back to her shy, fragile self. Which made her present behavior all the more bewildering.
"Taking mental pictures. To replace the returning new ones. Time to go!" River cooed those last few words cheerily before retreating back to wherever she'd come from. Before I could object, the panel she'd apparently removed from up there was once again in place and I could hear her scurry away on her hands and knees. That sound was soon quieted by the Captain over the intercom,
"Strap yourselves in ladies an' gents, we're makin' double time ta Heinlein."
I slapped my face and groaned irritably, before peeking over at Kaylee who's eyes were now poking out from beneath their shelter, and trained on the spot above us where River had been watching our extremely intimate acts. I'm still not sure if I was relieved or mortified that she was just as embarrassed as I had been.
"I am so incredibly sorry about this, Kaylee" Was all I could say for a moment, my voice meek and strained, "I'm not...entirely sure what that was about," but before I had even uttered the last syllable Kaylee had jumped from the bed to the floor, gathering her clothes and pulled them on at light speed.
She turned toward me once she was dressed, smiling bashfully and assured me, "It's no thang darlin'. I 'magine she ain't never had a man herself and was just curious 'bout what to do with one if she ever got 'em twixt the sheets. But it's like she said," she added, stepping toward me, planting a soft, sweet palm against my naked chest and standing on her toes to peck me on the lips, "Gotta go!"
With that, she hurried from the room leaving me alone, barely dressed, with the rumble of Serenity coming back to life.
Once I'd finished haphazardly tossing my clothes back on, I headed toward where I knew I'd find Kaylee. The engine room. Upon entering I was surprised to find River standing above Kaylee, who was seated on the ground, the two of them seemingly in casual, girlish conversation. They both looked at me and immediately went into fits of laughter.
"River...I wasn't expecting to see you here..." I stammered, trying to recall why I'd come in the first place.
"It's alright, sweetie," Kaylee smiled warmly at me, "She just came to apologize. Way I see it, no harm done. I'm a girl m'self and you bein' her brother an' all. I just told her not to let it happen again.
I stood there, most likely looking very stupid for a few moments as I weighed Kaylee's words and decided she was right, not so much because I agreed with her, but because I was too ashamed to carry on a lengthy discussion about the whole ordeal with the two women I loved more dearly than life itself. So I opted to change the subject, "River, I've been meaning to ask you, have you seen my encyclopedia? I used it a few weeks ago, the day Zoe left us and haven't been able to find it since," I explained.
Instantly, River's carefree demeanor shifted drastically. She tightly gripped the sides of her strapless black dress at the knees, scowled to the point that her head seemed it would burst and whispered coldly, "I did not take it. I do not steal from family. Except for fruit. Tis Juicy…and sweet."
"Okay," I raised my hands non threateningly, and responded in a calm manner, "Then can you tell me where it might-"
"You know who does though, but you do not want it back, not really," she snarled and ran past me, nearly knocking me off my feet.
"Wo de tian A, what was that all about?" Kaylee questioned as she tended to some part of the engine while not taking her eyes off me. I usually enjoyed watching her work. It always amazed me how she could carry on entire complex conversations while repairing various odds and ends simultaneously, and thus for a moment I was distracted, gazing at her hands. Oh those hands...even now I digress.
"Si?"
"Hmm?" I quickly met her eyes once more, "Oh, right. I'm sorry, just worried about her. She's acting strange again...like before..." I lowered my voice unintentionally as I again found myself lost in thought.
"Well go easy on her, m'kay? We've all been a wee tense lately what with everythin' that went on with..." Kaylee didn't finish her sentence but she didn't need to. With Wash gone, and even the Captain losing his sense of humor, the mood around the ship had been very bland lately.
"You're right," I nodded.
"I know," She answered matter of factly, "Now, what's this business 'bout your encyclopedia gone missin'? Haven't you told Cap?"
"Oh no," I laughed sheepishly, waving my hand at the thought, "I assumed River had taken it, although now I'm not so sure I believe she did. No matter," I waved my hand, trying to dismiss it, "the Captain has had more pressing matters to tend to, I wouldn't want to worry him about a silly little piece of machinery. He'd probably suggest it was River as well anyway."
"Fei hua," Kaylee quickly rolled her eyes, "What a bunch o' hogwash. You should go alert the Captain if it's been missing that long. He's the only one who's left Serenity since Zoe so it's gotta still be on board her."
"Crew report to the galley now that we're back out of atmo," the Captain ordered over the intercom.
"Captain, can I speak with you for a mome-oh I'm sorry" I had reached the doorway well ahead of the girls to find Jayne whispering to the Captain.
"I uh...got an issue we need ta discuss privately, Cap-" Jayne had started to say when I intruded on their meeting.
"Hold it til later, Jayne. I'd like to address the others an' then we'll tend to yer...personal problem."
"Mal, this is a more pressin' issue-"
Again, Captain interrupted Jayne, "How could you possibly know'f what you got ta say is more pressing than myself, Jayne? Welcome everybody," he nodded toward Inara, Kaylee and I as we joined him, "Now, what could possibly need my attention more'n the poor souls o' Heinlein who are as we speak bein' irradicated while their moon's colonized by Reavers? Yes guys and dolls, you heard, it seems the idiot savantes've our very own trusted an' loved Alliance, those ung jeong jia ching jien soh, have seen it fit that the best method of sortin' out this 'new revelation' that Reavers in fact do live and breathe same's us, is ta gather up stinkin' armada o' their largest ships on the rim o' this fine sky an' fire off every blasted torpedo laser beam they got in the general direction've Miranda in hopes o' blowin' that wall o' ships out've this galaxy an' in ta next. Well by golly, goodness me, I'll be a qing wa cao de liu mang if ever there was one, did you know they missed?"
We all stared, mesmerized, then he went on,
"Well, I'm sure a few a those missiles pro'bly landed their marks but fer the most part all the Alliance's did now's piss off the entire known population've these flesh desecratin' abominations who're now'n the business've making Heinlein their new hell. Been goin' on for more'n a few days now. Gotten to where the Alliance can't keep it hushed. Myself, along with the remaining officers o' the Independents've been personally hailed by Alliance higher ups askin' us ta help rescue any survivors cursed enough to still walk on that rock. They are requesting any an' all firepower in the air that we can provide, an' for civilian transport, medical treatment, rations, that we c'n offer seeing as a significant percentage o' the Alliance supplies've been used up in their jing chai assault on Miranda."
"This is horrible!" Kaylee was the first to speak among us.
"How could the Alliance have dried up so much of it's resources in just a few short days?" Inara questioned skeptically, "Most of the verse couldn't even get within a proton blast of Miranda in under a week."
"Exactly!" Captain clapped, then pointed at Inara, "You've hit the nail on it's gruesome head. The Alliance is usin' this as a ploy to bring all remaining high rankin' officers o' the Independents outta hidin', put 'em in one tight space an' keep us busy, hopefully knocking us outta the sky courtesy o' Reaver firepower an' crushin' any hopes o' us gatherin' our forces against 'em for a second swing at Unification. Guess they caught wind've such plans before we even set down on Persephone."
"I'm confused..." Kaylee confessed, "There are Reavers on Heinlein, or aren't there?"
"There are," Captain affirmed, "And we'll lend a hand because we are not a warfaring vessel. We will take port at Heinlein an' rescue's many civilians Serenity can tolerate. Other ships equipped ta do the job are planning a siege on Alliance gun ships being deployed there."
"If you don't mind me saying so, Captain, isn't that stupid?" I offered my first contribution to the discussion, "Civilian transports including us will get caught in the crossfire between the Independents and Alliance gun ships, not to mention the heavy Reaver presence in the area, which is the cause of all this. I envision the skies surrounding Heinlein look something similar to that around Miranda when we encountered those things last time."
"Right again, Doc," Captain nodded toward me, then addressed the crew again, "Which is why when we reach Heinlein in a couple'a days I'm gonna attempt to talk reason into my bonehead Browncoat brethren in the area. I didn't make the decided upon rules of said siege, but I'm hopin' someone aboard each've those other Independents ships has the brains that the good Dr. Tam here does, who can talk sense in ta their commanding officers. Whatever the end result, we, the crew of Serenity will do our duty in gettin' as many civilians as possible off that godforsaken moon an' onto Triumph, Ezra or Greenleaf. Those spots as well're bein' evac'd but are thought ta be safe fer now."
"Will we really be able to extract a significant amount of survivors on Serenity, Captain?" This came from Inara, "She's crowded enough already, and the more weight we take on, the more fuel we'll burn up."
"We'll be makin' as many runs's we can between Heinlein an' the surrounding safe harbors where fer right now we're allowed ta refuel'n unload as many times we need," Captain explained. "Before we get their you an' Jayne'll each be takin' a shuttle ta Greenleaf ta pick up medical supplies an' whatever else might be've service ta the kind people on Heinlein. I'll also be wavin' Zoe when we're done here askin' her to provide any help she can muster. We've got a major helpin' o' ugly on the horizon people. Look alive. Any other questions? Good. Now Jayne, what, pray tell, could be more important'n what I just explained ta y'all here?"
Everyone turned to Jayne, who hadn't said a word since the rest of us arrived and was now sweating profusely. His eyes scanned all of our eager eyes, awaiting what he had to say, "Sir we uh, need ta talk in private...if'n you don't mind," he managed to choke out, seemingly with great effort.
"Kaylee, wave Zoe fer me, let'r know our present situation an' ask her to look around for a ship or anyone willin' ta lend a hand," Captain instructed her, "Inara, prep the shuttles. We might be ready ta ship 'em out'n less than a day. Get to work, ladies. Doc, you had something you wanted to ask me about?"
He'd caught me off guard. My jaw spilled open but nothing came out.
From the hall outside the dining room Kaylee paused, calling over her shoulder, "His encyclopedia's gone missin'. Small matter now, considerin', but there ya have it, Cap'n."
I glanced toward her giving her a 'Thanks a lot, honey' awkward look, then back at the Captain who, as I suspected, asked, "Encyclopedia? Yer joy've a sister snatch it?"
"No sir, I'm certain of that. I've spoken with her about it more than once. It's been quite a few days and I've been through her things. It hasn't turned up."
"Let me remind you," Captain started, "This is a very large ship, Doc. Many o' places a crafty soul such's yer sister coulda stored away a treasure trove o' pretty trinkets. I'm sure it'll turn up. By the way, where is yer sister? It seems she's been missin' fer some time too. Hasn't reported ta any meetings I've called in the last 48 hours, hasn't shown up at appointed meal times or been tendin' the wheel've our bird, which as we decided, she would split shifts with me."
"Yes sir, I'm sure it will turn up too. It's just...I believe River when she says she doesn't have it and I was using it the day Zoe walked off the ship. It has to be on board, which either means another bounty hunter child molester is among us, or..." I let my words trail off, not wanting to actually verbalize that I was implying one of the crew had taken it, "And River has been under some stress, I'm not sure why. I'll figure it out. Something spooked her at supper last week."
All the while Jayne stood by motionless, almost not breathing.
"Captain I-"
"Yes, Jayne," Captain raised his eyebrows still looking at me, "Doctor I will letchya know if it turns up. Until then let's put this matter on hold fer a spell. I'm gonna be busy fightin' one war an' tryin' to postpone another while avoidin' givin' off the impression that I'm a traitorous bastard to the wrong group o' folks. Jayne, take a walk with me, let's chat, shall we?" He then gripped Jayne at the shoulder steering him toward the cockpit. It was later relayed to me what was said between them once the door was sealed shut behind them.
"What is it?" The Captain asked as they each took a seat beside the controls. Jayne stared back at him for a few seconds like a deer in headlights, "Jayne Cobb. I've things ta do in case you didn't hear everything I just said out there. You wanted my attention, now you got it. This would be the point where you speak."
At that moment Jayne pulled out my encyclopedia, showing it to the Captain who stared, looking somewhat amused.
"You were the one?" Captain chuckled at first, "I wanted ta believe it hadn't been you, Jayne" Captain shook his head in disbelief, then the smile faded, "Haven't you messed with the two've 'em enough?" He reopened the hatch then spoke into the ship's intercom, "Doc, come up to the flight deck."
"Captain no!" Jayne blurted.
"Well then ya have about fifteen seconds ta convince me ta cover fer you," Captain replied.
"I borrowed it the other day an' plugged in ta the Verse Directory ta store away some new...images in the ol' wet whistle memory banks an' well..." Jayne stuttered.
"You seriously aren't helping yer cause here-"
"Gorram it, let me finish..." Jayne was flustered the same as whenever he tried to remember a difficult word that had slipped his mind, "Look!" He held out the screen mere centimeters from the eyes of the Captain who watched images moving about on the screen for a few seconds, raising one eyebrow, confused as to what he was looking at for a moment. Then, eyes still glued to the screen he flipped a switch sealing the door to the cockpit just as I walked up to it.
"We can't let Simon see this," he told Jayne through gritted teeth.
"Er...Captain?" I knocked, perplexed, having heard none of their conversation.
A/N: Chapter 2 shouldn't be far behind as it's in the editing process already. Reviews are welcome of course! The rating will change to M by chapter 4 or so, for very good reason. I appreciate your readership dearly. Thank you.