Alive?
Part One
These characters do not belong to me. These characters are all from Joss Whedon and his show Firefly, I am just borrowing them and Playing with ideas that pop into my head. I make no money doing this, but have a hell of a lot of fun. I hope you enjoy it.
This is the first episode in my version of the continuing saga of Firefly. It takes place about two months after the movie Serenity. I hated that Wash died and I wanted to bring him back. But I didn't want to ignore the movie Serenity because it revealed so much and actually showed River getting better. I also didn't want an unexplainable return of Wash. I started writing this knowing what I wanted in the end but at a loss as to how to get there. I got the idea from playing an old favorite PC game of mine, FALLOUT 2. It seemed to fit so well since the verse has cryo and advanced medicines and medical practices. It's kinda like the blastomeres in The Message. Unapproved and still in testing. I hope you like it.
"I am a leaf on the wind, watch how I" Wash whispered. Suddenly he was no more. The Reavers had impaled him and he was stuck in his own pilot chair. Zöe's scream seemed to last forever, it filled his head. It filled their nightmares.
"Zöe? Zöe hun, wake up."
"Wash? Zhang fu where are you?" Zöe sat up in the bed and looked around the room. "What am I doing? You're gone but I still hear your voice every night."
"No Zöe. I'm not gone bao bei. You need to come for me. I need you." Wash's voice wafted through the bedchamber.
"Where are you, Wash?" Zöe asked.
"You know where to find me."
"Go se. I must be going feng le." Zöe lay back down but couldn't forget her dream.
"You're not crazy Zöe. Talk to River she knows." Wash's voice filled the room making Zöe snap straight up in bed, a motion she regretted instantly as she puked over the side of the bed.
"What the hell is wrong with me?" Zöe asked the room before getting out of bed to clean up the mess and try to get more sleep.
Morning came and Zöe prepared to face the day. As she fastened her vest her hands shook, remembering the night before. Before she could stop it bile rose from her belly and she ran to pull out the toilet. The non contents of her stomach emptied into the basin and she shook from the dry heaving. Closing the toilet she opened the sink and began to wash her face. Zöe dried her face, wiped her hands and put the sink back in its spot. With a calm face she walked to the ladder and started to climb up.
"I still say we should have a lil'un." Zöe's voiced echoed back to her from past.
"Zöe its so dangerous, I don't think it's the right time." Wash argued.
"Zhang Fu, wo men de ying hai mei li! Lets give it a try. Please." Zöe begged.
"Wo bu shi dao zen me wo de dao liao tan hua ru zhe! I must be Feng le to agree to it. Alright bao bei, but you have to be careful. You don't take any chances you don't have to, dong ma?" Wash demanded.
"I love it when my man gets all demanding." Zöe grinned before kissing him. She heads to the ladder saying over her shoulder. "Dinner should be on the table soon!"
"We don't have to go to dinner. We could have a feast of our own down here. On the bed. Hmmm." Wash kept motioning to the bed.
"Now that sounds like a brilliant plan." Zöe ran over to Wash laughing as she jumped on him, making them both fall onto the bed.
"Oooh Yes. I love my warrior woman." Wash kissed Zöe.
"Wash I wish you were here." Quickly Zöe climbed out of her room. Walking to the kitchen she greet Inara and Kaylee with a smile. "Mornin' ladies, how's the verse treating you today?"
"Pretty good I'd say. Food's tastin bettern' usual but I suppose it does after such an experience." Kaylee was smiling as she cleaned up after herself.
"Well being shot and sick for such a time is bound to increase your look on life. Although you are usually so happy it's hard to believe you could get any happier. I suppose a young man named Simon has something to do with it as well." Inara spoke softly but truthfully from her seat. "You look pale Zöe, is something wrong?" Inara asked after looking at Zöe.
"Mei mei, you are lookin mighty sickly. You should have Simon look after you. Actually you look more like you've seen a ghost. My father used to tell me the most wonderful ghost stories when I was young. He made them so scary I swear I peed my pants a time or two. But it could be somethin else. You know, I better be checking on my girl. She's been acting a little wacky lately." Kaylee skipped out the door and down the hall.
"She doesn't seem to be heading to the engine room does she." Inara watched Kaylee leave and chuckled to herself. Turning her attention back to Zöe, Inara asked. "Now, what's bothering you? Have you been having more of the nightmares?"
Zöe walked to the table and grabbed herself a plate of food. "They are getting worse actually. I'm seeing him even when I'm awake. I see things from the past. If feel like he's haunting me. The image keeps telling me he's still here that I need to go get him." Looking at the food before her she pushed it away and tears started to roll down her cheeks. "But he's gone Inara, Wash is gone."
"He's not gone." A little voice seemed to waft through the air.
"River? Bao bei, what are you talking about?" Inara spoke softly, carefully.
"You're not going crazy, Zöe. He's not gone. He's out there in the verse. Evil has got him. I've seen him. Walking through your mind. He's reaching for you Zöe. He needs you." River's voice was soft but it carried. Soon everyone was in the common room. Listening to her speak.
"River don't say such things. You know it can't be true. You saw his body when we buried it. He's still there little one." Inara looked around the room for River. "River where are you? Come out so we can see you."
"Zöe you ok?" Mal asked as he entered the room. "What's going on in here?"
"River's talking nonsense, Boss. I heard her as I left my bunk." Jayne told Mal having entered a moment before him. "Crazy, come on out now."
At Jayne's request, River crawled from her hiding spot and walked into his arms. "Jayne it's the truth. He's reaching to her."
"Just stop it. Lets stop talking about this nonsense. We've got a job coming up in a few hours we need to concentrate on that." Zöe said. She turned to walk out but was stopped by River. "This ain't the time River!"
"We will talk about it again Zöe, but I'll drop it for now." River said in a hushed voice. "Mal you'd better catch Zöe."
"Catch her?" Mal asked confused.
"I don't need him caaa." Zöe said before fainting. Mal stepped up and just barely caught his first mate.
"What's wrong with Zöe?" Jayne asked.
"I don't know but you're taking her place on the job. Someone get Simon outta Kaylee's britches and have him meet us in the infirmary." Mal ordered lifting Zöe higher in his arms and carrying her out the door. Inara was close behind him.
"You'd better go get Simon." Jayne told River.
"Why don't you?" River asked with a laugh.
"You know I can't stand seein them ruttin. It just grosses me out." Jayne said making a face.
River laughed harder, "I thought you used to like thinking of Kaylee like that?"
"Well maybe I had a slight crush on her, but I ain't never wanted to see your dumb brother naked. Seemin like the only naked bodies I been seein most recent been your brother and Kaylee." Jayne turned to leave considering the conversation over, but River stopped him.
"Now you know that's not true. Am I so insignificant in looks you can't remember me?" River kissed him, before going after Simon. She stopped at the door to toss back. "Be careful what you say or Kaylee and Simon WILL be the only two ruttin on this ship."
"Aww come on. You know I was just joking.." Jayne called to her retreating back. "Sometimes I don't know why I even started ruttin with her."
"Because you like me so much." River said dancing back into the room. "Better get ready for the job."
"Weren't you going ta get Simon?" Jayne asked puzzled.
"Cap'n found him already."
"Zöe gunna be ok?" Jayne asked concerned.
"She'll be fine. Cap'n wanna replan since Zöe's not going. You up for some robbin" River joked.
"Always am ready for a good fight." Jayne said grinning. "Or a good grapple."
River just laughs.
"I'll be fine Mal, no need to fuss like this." Zöe said.
"When my rock first mate feints. Feints mind you. There is need to fuss." Mal informed her.
"I just got a touch of the flu. I'll be fine in a few days." Zöe said, sitting up to Mal and Simon's protests.
"She'll be fine if she takes it easy." Simon said. "Like not pulling the job."
"I'll be fine." Zöe said.
"Course you will, cause you'll be here guarding the ship." Mal said.
"What?" Zöe yelled, "Guarding the ship? Just cause I feinted?"
"We'll be fine Zöe. It's a small job, nothin's gonna go bad. You've had a hard time these past few months. Call it a vacation. One you won't be getting too many more of." Mal said, "I need you well, Zöe."
"Yes, Sir."
"So what's this job agin?" Jayne yelled over the wind, as they rode in the larger mule to a small town.
"Smash and grab kinda thing, but without the smashing." Kaylee yelled back. "Ooo look there's the lights from the town. Pretty ain't it."
Mal was driving and slowed as they got closer to the town.
"Yeah but what we going for?" Jayne.
"We're stealing some important documents for Badger. He's paying us on top of what we get from the safe." River said.
They were nearing a solid square that appeared to be some kind of house. At first it looked like a primitive dwelling, but as you got closer you could see major locks on the doors almost making it a fortress.
"We stealing paper now?" Jayne whispered.
"It seems to be very valuable papers. To Badger at least. Backwater go se kong moon that it is." Mal said. "Alright. Kaylee you take care of the locks, while Jayne and I keep watch out the front. River watch the back and keep that mind of yours open."
Kaylee examined the locks with River looking over her shoulder. They shared a small laugh before she quickly grabbed a tool from her pocket. "Sloppy work." She muttered to herself. "Any ape with a brain could da figured a way to bypass that. We're in cap'n. Where's that safe suppose ta be?"
"Behind that painting. Looks like the ugliest man I've never seen." Mal said.
"It's Badger's wife." River said.
"Wait, what? That is a picture of Badger's wife?" Jayne said moving to look at the painting.
"That's wasn't a nice thing to say Cap'n. She's sorta handsome." Kaylee said looking at the painting a little closer. "She's got a mighty strong jaw line, and her eyes ain't half bad."
"If she's handsome, then I'm a 12 year old girl. Get back to crackin the safe. We don't have a lot of time." Mal said. "Jayne watch the front."
River laughed before freezing. She knew something was not right on the ship, "Cap'n we should hurry." She said.
"We got problems?" Mal asked.
"We might if we don't hurry." River said.
"Kaylee hurry up n crack that lock so's we kin get our Gorram asses outta here." Jayne said impatient.
"Who's in charge here? Mr. Gun crazy's trying to take over." Mal said shooting Jayne a look. "How you coming Kaylee?"
"Not moren' a minute cap'n." Kaylee said.
Zöe was on the bridge, sitting in Wash's chair taking it easy, when the console started to light up. "Who they hell is waving us?" Zöe hit a button and an image came up on the screen. Zöe started speaking without looking at the screen. "Badger, the job isn't done yet don't…" The second her eyes saw the image she froze.
Inara was in the kitchen, when she heard Zöe's scream. She came running knocking over the tea pot and spilling hot water all over the floor. When she reached the bridge she saw Zöe pointing speechless at the screen. Inara looked over Zöe's shoulder to see what had he so shocked and nearly fainted herself.
"Simon! Simon! Where are you?" They both yelled.
Simon who had been coming up stairs with more of his things to put in Kaylee's room, dropped them and hurried to the women. "Is something wrong?" He asked them.
"Do you see what we see?" Zöe asked him.
"Where?" Simon asked.
"Look at the cortex screen and tell me what you see?" Inara said.
"Ah well, that's a patients room at some medical facility. Is that? NO! It can't be, can it?" Simon said.
On the screen, they saw the bodies of Wash, and Sheppard. The screen was close to Wash's face and over him they could see Sheppard in another bed. Both men where secured to the beds, by restraint's but Wash had managed to get one hand free. Wash was looking at the screen and they could barely hear him talking.
"Zöe, please come get us. Help us. Book and I don't have much longer. If you don't hurry I don't know what will happen to us. Come get us hun. We need you. Zöe please speak to me."
"Wash, where are you? How are you real." Zöe asked tears rolling down her cheeks.
"I don't have much time. They are coming back. We've been sold to Niska. Find Niska and you'll find us."
"Niska? I don't understand how are you even alive?"
"That's not --"
"What's going on in here?" Another voice boomed into the room before the screen went blank.
"You saw that too right. It wasn't just me. I'm not going crazy. He was actually there on the screen talking to us." Zöe asked fervently standing up quickly, looking at Simon and Inara.
"I saw it to Zöe." Inara said still stunned.
"Zöe you aren't going crazy. Or if you are it's catching." Simon said. "I don't know how it is possible though. One thing I do know is that was an Alliance facility."
"The Alliance has them?" Inara asked.
"Not anymore, he said something about Niska buying them." Zöe said. "Mu qin cao. I'm all sorts of confused. I need to lie down. Tell me when the cap'n gets back."
Zöe seemed excited and nervous at the same time. She slowly left the room, turning and looking back at the monitor every few steps. The usually graceful Zöe tripped her way off the bridge and down to her room.
"I think we're humped cap'n" Kaylee said. "This lock ain't budging."
"Well try again. Get the albatross to help you." Mal turned to look out the window and exclaimed. "de erzi yi mu gou. You need to figure that lock out and it needs to be done 5 minutes ago. We might be getting company."
"Kaylee! Hurry up Gorramit." Jayne said.
"River what am I doin wrong." Kaylee said exasperated.
"You are doing it backwards." River said without even glancing over her shoulder. "You have to disable the power flow to the auto lock before trying to unlock it."
"Gai si! Don't know why I didn see it myself. Was starin me straight in the face, too. We should be shiney just about…now." The sound of the safe opening was music to the crew's ears.
"We're about to get some unfriendly company ladies." Mal said.
"HEY! I ain't no lady." Jayne said.
"I got confused what with the name an all." Mal joked, before getting serious. "We got two coming in the front, any in back River?"
"They've spotted the mule. We got about a minute before this becomes a full out gunfight." River said looking through the backdoor.
"Kaylee you got what we need." Mal asked.
"This is the last Cap'n. Ready when you are." Kaylee said sliding the last of the loot into her bag.
"Alright, once we get out those doors we ain't stopping for anything. We run straight for the mule. Jayne and I will provide cover fire. We got anything for a distraction." Mal asked Jayne.
"I didn't bring anything." Jayne said.
"I got a flash bomb here." River said.
"You been sneaking into my stash crazy." Jayne asked all fired up.
"I thought we'd need it. You gonna use it or stand there being all pissy." River asked.
"She sure has gotten a mouth on her in a short time." Mal said.
"It's all the time she spends round Jayne there." Kaylee said.
"Alright let's get this done with." Jayne said. "I take it we throw this out the front as we run out the back?"
"Yep. Ready?" Mal asked. "Go."
Jayne threw the flash bomb out the front door then turned and ran full out behind the others out the back. Kaylee was the first to reach the mule, and the first one the men standing by it saw. One had a knife and took a swipe at her. Kaylee ducked back and the knife grazed her left shoulder, causing a small cut. River was a second behind her and attacked the other man. He had pulled his gun and aimed it at Kaylee but had his knee kicked out from under him. River hit him hard in the throat and as he fell his arm fell out. River kicked him in the stomach as she stepped over him. The gun went off and Jayne moans. Kaylee's attacker is distracted by River's attack on the other man and she takes advantage of it. Pulling out one of her heavy tools she hit's her attacker, smacking him across the forehead. She kicks him in the groin and slams her knee into his face as he crumple's over. River in the drivers seat engine started, with Kaylee in back as Mal and Jayne approach firing at the men behind them. River notices Jayne is limping.
"What happened to you?" River asked.
"Got shot. What you think happened?" Jayne says.
"We all in. Well then what you waiting for?" Mal said looking around. "Lets go. Unless you wanna give em more time to aim at our heads."
"I'm always gettin shot in this Gorram leg. Third time this year." Jayne grumbled from the back.
"River get us airborne and on our way to Persephone." Mal said before the doors had even closed. "No one was behind us that I saw but lets not take chances."
River looked at Jayne making sure he would be ok before she hopped out of the Mule and ran up the stairs.
Jayne looked grumpy, but he HAD been shot. He slowly climbed out of the Mule and headed to the Infirmary.
"You know all n all that was a pretty shiney job, Cap'n Tightpants." Kaylee said.
"Must you call me that." Mal groaned.
"I thought they were rather fetchin on ya." Kaylee said teasing him.
"It did go pretty well. Except for the safe not opening at first, us being caught, you being sliced and Jayne being shot." Mal said. "So maybe it didn't go quite so well as we thought."
"Well when you put it that way I suppose it wasn't all shiney but bettern' most times." Kaylee said. "An I wasn't sliced. It's a little cut. Less en some I get fixing up Serenity here."
"Just make sure you get Simon to look at it." Mal said heading up the stairs. "Maybe have him look at Jayne's leg too."
Kaylee disappeared into the common room as Mal headed to Inara's shuttle. As usual he just walked right in. Immediately he noticed something was wrong.
"Inara what happened?" Mal asked.
Inara jumped at his voice. She quickly got up from where she had been kneeling and moved around the shuttle. She spoke quickly moving back and forth before almost collapsing onto the couch. "Something good. I think. I don't know how it's even possible. I probably wouldn't believe it if I hadn't been there. It must be a miracle." Inara spoke without actually revealing anything.
"What? What are you talking about?" Mal took a seat next to her on the couch.
"We got a wave. It was from…well it was from Wash." Inara said.
"Wash is dead Inara." Mal said.
"He's not. Somehow he's not. We all saw him. Sheppard was there too." Inara said grasping Mal's hand. "I don't know how or why but they are alive."
"Ok go slow and explain this to me." Mal said.
"While you were gone we got a call over the cortex. Zöe was the one to pick it up and I was in the kitchen. When she screamed I came running. I entered the bridge and she was sitting in Wash's chair staring and pointing at the screen. Someone was talking to her. I looked at the screen and it was Wash." Inara's grip tightened on Mal's hand. "He was in some medical facility strapped to a bed. Sheppard was there in another bed also strapped down. We called for Simon and he came quickly. We all saw and heard the exact same thing. We even managed to record the last bit of it. I've played it at least a dozen times and it's them. It really is."
"Wo wu fa xiang xin ta. Are you serious? Show me the tape!" Mal stood up and followed Inara to the bridge. River was piloting the ship out of the moon's orbit and crowded around the screen were Jayne and Kaylee watching the message. Mal looked over their shoulder's, in complete disbelief. "River, put us on auto to Persephone. We need a meeting now!"
The crew of Serenity were all seated around the table. Every one had a tall glass of Kaylee's engine moonshine in front of them. Not a one spoke. Zöe was the first to speak.
"So it's all been real! All the past nights of dreaming. Everything I dreamed was real." She had tears in her eyes.
"Do you believe me now Zöe? I really wasn't going crazy again." River said. "But the real question now is how do we get them back?"
"That's the real question? How about how are they alive? Why did the Alliance take them in the first place? Is it all a trap? Does Niska really have them? What the hell is going on?" Mal asked. "I would think these are all the real questions."
"That's a lot of questions." Jayne mumbled.
"I just can't believe it all. Wash and Book are alive." Kaylee ignored the men thinking only of what she had seen. She was bubbling over with excitement at the prospect, "Simon how's it possible? I mean do ya know?"
"It has to be an experiment. That's the only thing I can think of." Simon said.
"You mean like those blastomathingers?" Jayne asked. "Like how they was all experimental and unapproved."
"You know you are pretty smart when you aren't so dumb." River teased lightly poking Jayne in the ribs, as he gave her a glare.
"There must be some sort of new experiment. I had heard about this wonder gel they were trying to develop. It was more like a myth though." Simon paused a moment before continuing, "How did they find the bodies?"
"Na wang bao dahn. Could it have something to do with the cryo tubes we buried them in?" Mal asked.
"We got them from the Alliance Operative. Most likely they were from the Alliance too." River said. "They probably had tracking devices on them."
"I done knew somethin wrong with takin those from the same de er zi yi mu gou that tried to kill us." Jayne said, slamming his cup on the table.
"What the hell were we supposed to do? We were stranded and had no way to get what needed done. He helped us fix up Serenity when she was hurting bad. He gave us something proper to bury Sheppard and Wash in when we didn't have a thing." Kaylee said.
"Everyone stop it. There is no need to argue and rehash the past." Inara's soft voice spoke up. "What we need to know now is if it's real, and if so how do we get them back?"
"Do we have anyone we can trust who can find out?" Simon asked.
"Who knows!" Mal said turning to face his first mate. "Zöe you've be awfully quiet. What's your thought on this?"
"I know in my gut that it's real. But I just can't understand how?" Zöe asked looking at River.
"They experimented on them. Those cryo-tubes were for testing. Got sent out on every major ship. If a soldier died, they would be buried. Then the beacon would sound and the research ship would come and get them." River told them.
"How do ya know all that?" Kaylee asked.
"One of the many secrets that got stuck in my head." River said.
"Do you know where? Where they took them, I mean." Zöe asked.
"No." River said, "Sorry, mei-mei."
"On the vid they said something bout Niska." Jayne spoke up. River's face lit up and she nodded.
"Yes they said that Niska has them. Niska will be much easier to steal from then the Alliance." River said.
"Yes. But only if we can find him and a way in." Mal said.
"We've done it before." Simon interjected.
"That's what makes it harder. We have to find Niska and a new way in." Mal told him. "Right now we are going to be patient. We are going to put out our feelers. Find out where Niska is, what he's been up to lately. We wait and gather information. And no more jobs, for any of us, until we find out more." He pointedly looked at Inara before continuing. "It's too dangerous. If they are alive and Niska has them, that means it's a trap. If they aren't alive it means it's a trap. Somebody is trying to trap us and hopefully the bait is worth the risk."
"So no matter what we're going after them, be they imposters or our men?" Zöe asked hopefully.
"Yes we are going after them. I want to know who's after us." Mal pushed back from the table getting ready to leave the room.
"Mal, we are still going to Ariel after Persephone aren't we? I have to get my exam to keep my license. I can't put it off any longer." Inara asked in a quiet voice.
Clearly irritated Mal looked at Inara, "Yes I suppose we are. River call Badger and let him know we have his goods. Tell him to be at the dock waiting if he wants them. I want to be in and out as quickly as possible. No leaving the ship unless there's something we need. Soon as Badger gets his papers we leave and set our course for Ariel. And put out the word we are looking for Niska and any information on him. But quiet like though, only those we can trust." Giving Inara one last irritated look, Mal walked out of the room.
Inara got up quickly to follow him, calling his name.
"You s'pose there's gonna be another fight." Jayne asked.
"Of course." Kaylee said. "Hey where'd Zöe go?"
"She snuck out just before Mal and Inara." Simon said. "I wonder how Wash was projecting to her. I mean she said she's been seeing him in her dreams, before all this happened. But neither of them are gifted in that way."
"Maybe it's their connection. You know because of their love for one nother." Kaylee suggested while looking at Simon.
Mal and Inara had been fighting in the hall, there voices reaching into the room but when it suddenly got quiet everyone took a curious glance into the hall. To their surprise the couple was no longer there.
"You suppose they're ever gonna tell us what really happened on Newhall?" Jayne asked.
"You don't suppose. Do you think they, well you know. I mean ever since, they don't fight nearly as much. The only time they fight is when it's about her companioning, or he did somethin truly stupid. And they do get ta talkin' a lot in his room." Kaylee speculated.
"Talking, yeah right." Jayne muttered.
"It really isn't our business what the Captain and Inara do behind closed doors. Just let them be. I'm not sure I'd want people questioning what I do behind closed doors." Simon said.
"That's because we know what you do, and its not always behind closed doors." Jayne jabbed.
"They talk a lot. But its not always talking." River said.
"Not Kaylee and Simon. They are usually rutting all over the ship. Usin' the infirmary to grapple with Kaylee ain't exactly behind closed doors." Jayne stood up and made himself some tea while he pecked at Simon.
While the men were picking at each other Kaylee and River exchanged a 'Not this again' look.
River got up and followed Jayne to the stove softly asking, "Make me some too." Jayne looked back at River and she just smiled. Without looking he pulled down another cup and started to prepare two cups.
"Don't you have to change course or something?" Jayne asked her.
"Nope already done besides, Zöe's gone to the bridge. She doesn't want to be disturbed."
"Don't stand so close to me." Jayne said.
"Why are you worrying. Nobody notices us anymore and pretty soon Simon and Kaylee will be busy in another part of the ship." Even as River spoke Kaylee pulled Simon up from his chair and out the door. "Enjoy your TALKING."
"Be good mei mei." Simon teased as he left with Kaylee. "If Jayne gives you trouble, don't hurt him. At least not too much."
"You gonna help me fix my engine Simon?" Kaylee asked with a huge smile on her face.
"Don't be grossing me out!" Jayne exclaimed upon hearing that slamming his cup down.
Jayne handed River her cup of tea and followed her to the couch. Instead of sitting down River waited for Jayne to select a seat and then sat across his lap. Jayne wrapped his arm around her back and they just sat there drinking their tea in silence. Jayne was the first to speak.
"Do ya think they've figured it out yet?" he asked her nervously looking at the doors.
"They've been too busy with their own lives to notice us. Simon sees I'm getting better but he thinks it's the medicine. Doesn't even notice I no longer take it." River took his cup and placed it with hers on the small table before repositioning to face him. River kissed him sliding her hands behind his neck. Pulling away she nibbled on his lips.
"Gorramit gurl. You are a tease." Jayne moaned into her ear. "Lao tian, shuai gurl. Stop it now or we'll be giving anyone who walks by a show." Jayne moaned as she ran her fingers over his body. "You are gonna have me kickin afore any man with a gun with your fingers doing things like that. Specially if the cap'n finds out."
"No one is going to come by. I told you they are too busy. Besides I need you Jayne. So we either need to go to your room or I will take you on this couch." River growled in his ear.
"Alright, alright lets go to my room. I don't want to take any chances." Jayne stood up with River wrapped around his hips. He kissed River as he walked toward the door, bumping into objects on the way. He stumbled up the steps into the hall and opened the door to his room. River quickly unwrapped from his body and slid down the ladder. Before he could climb down himself he was stopped by Mal.
"I know what's been going on Jayne. In the morning the three of us are going to have a little chat. That girl is like my daughter so you had better not hurt her or you will be answering to me." Mal left Jayne standing there, open mouthed and shocked.
Only when Mal's door had closed did Jayne climb down his own ladder. "Ching wah tsao duh liou mahng."
"Mal's just looking out for me. He won't tell anyone." Thinking for a second she continued, "Well maybe Inara but she'll keep it to herself. We'll just convince him in the morning to keep it quiet until we're ready."
"I thought you said no one noticed us!" Jayne said still upset.
"I was wrong, but are you really going to dwell on that now. I didn't think so. Now come here and bee-jway." Using her legs she pull Jayne onto the bed with her.
Mal knocked on Jayne's door early the next morning. Jayne rolled out of his bed with a grumble to unlock the door and let Mal down. River was still in the room but instead of getting dressed she had wrapped a sheet around herself. When Mal climbed down the ladder he wasn't expecting to see River at all, especially not dressed only in a sheet.
"Whoa, uh could ya put some clothes on?" Mal turning his head away.
"Do you want me to do it right now? With you in the room?" River teased. Grabbing the edge of her wrap and pretending to start to unwrap it.
"NO! No that's fine." Mal said starting to pace the room. "I came here to talk to Jayne. It's important. It's actually about you."
"Look I ain't gonna hurt her. I didn't seduce her or nothin." Jayne said sitting on his bed.
"Mal, we know why you came here. You came because you thought the big bad Jayne was taking advantage of the little crazy girl." River, who had been standing against the wall, walked over to Jayne and sat across his lap. She kissed him gently before continuing. "You came because you want to protect me. But Captain. Daddy. I'm going to be ok."
"But come on. I mean really? This is Jayne we're talking about." Mal seemed extremely flustered. Pacing the small bunk, avoiding actually looking at Jayne and River.
Jayne who had been looking at River, running his hand through her hair, touching her face gently stopped and turned a puzzled face to Mal. "What's wrong with me? Maybe I ain't zactly civilized but I ain't trash neither."
Mal finally stopped pacing to look at them. "Jayne you tried to sell her to the Alliance. You are the first to say we should dump them, her and her brother, on some planet. You are always putting her down and calling her crazy. You hate her brother. And you talk about sexin women all the time. You aren't exactly KNOWN for being a one woman kinda guy."
"He's changed Mal. No other women for him but me. Right?" River said poking Jayne in the chest.
"She's the only one for me, crazy or sane. She's strong n sexy n smart. Sides my wanting ta kick um off an calling her crazy an stuff's just a cover." Jayne said. "Now."
"You all would have suspected something was up if he all of sudden was fine with Simon and me staying. And if he just stopped calling me names. No one, especially not Simon, is ready for me to be with anyone. Let alone be with Jayne." River explained.
"I guess you're right. I just don't understand it at all. How did this happen?" Mal threw up his arms.
"Got struck by the bug. The Love bug." Jayne kissed River full on the mouth, while Mal jumped up from leaning against the wall.
"You just kissed her. You just said Love bug. It's official the verse has gone crazy." Mal began pacing again. "What the hell am I gonna do? One it just creeps me out and two…. It creeps me out."
"Cap'n, just ignore it." Jayne said.
"Yes I agree. We keep to ourselves, keep it from everyone and you just forget what you've seen and know." River said. "It really is best that way. You don't really want to deal with Simon when he finds out. Especially not now."
"Why not now?" Mal asked.
"We're still goin after Wash and Book right? If'n that's really them." Jayne asked.
"Yes, right. Of course. Fine. I'll try and forget this. For Now. But after we get them and get it all sorted we're gonna have to bring this situation to light. Dong ma?" Mal said.
"Of Course." Jayne and River agreed.
"For now please keep…IT behind closed doors. In fact just don't for a while." Mal turned away from the duo and climbed the ladder, muttering to himself about people who complicate his life.
"Does he really think we're gonna stop?" River asked.
"I bet he's hopin. You sure look mighty sexy wrapped in my sheet." Jayne said getting a hungry glint in his eyes.
"I bet I can think of something you'll like better." River smiled as unhooked the sheet and let it pool around her waist.
"You were right." Jayne smiled. "Should we get in our mornin exercise?"
"Most Certainly." River pushed Jayne backwards onto the bed.
River climbed out of Jayne's room a few hours later and snuck down to her room to change. Jayne climbed out soon after and headed to the kitchen. Inara and Mal were sitting at the table talking. They seemed to be somewhere between having an argument and sharing a joke. Inara eyed Jayne and just said a polite Good morning. Jayne looked between the two and rolled his eyes.
"I see you've told her." Jayne muttered grumpily, "Can't nobody keep a secret board this ship?" He stomped over to the coffee maker and pored himself some.
Inara followed him over and started to make herself a new cup of tea. "I won't tell. I promise." Inara told him, "Even if I don't quite believe it. It's none of my business."
Zöe burst into the room with a bunch of paper's in her hand. She seemed flustered but excited. "We caught a break sir. We now have the exact location of Niska and a way to get in. But it ain't gonna be easy."
"That seems like a big break. Who'd we catch the break from." Mal asked rushing over to her.
"What's going on?" River asked entering the room behind Zöe.
"We've found them." Zöe said.
"Now that you've answered her question how about mine?" Mal said.
"Right, sorry about that sir. A man named Xun Zhao De Rao Shu has provided us with the information. Young Higgins recommended him. Said Rao Shu helped him out a while back. Sir Warwick Harrow said he was a good man too." Zöe told him. "I've been checking up on him too. No one has a picture of the man but he's been going from moon to moon helping people and then just leaving."
"Interesting name. Higgins recommended him." Inara interjected. "He's certainly learned to stand up to his father."
"Well you did help him gain his…confidence" Mal shot out.
"Xun Zhao de Rao Shu. That means seeking forgiveness." River pointed out quick to change the subject as Mal and Inara glared at each other.
"Seeking forgiveness. What the hell kinda name is that?" Jayne asked.
"Who cares! If the info is solid I say we go for it." Mal said. "Is this everything we've got?" Mal asked Zöe indicating the paper. When she nodded he continued. "Well then what we need now is a good plan. Someone get Simon and Kaylee in here. We're going to need everyone for this to work."
"I'll get them." River volunteered quickly leaving the room to find them. When she came back a few minutes later she was smiling. "They are too busy to come up just now."
"I bet they are ruttin again, aren't they?" Jayne said.
"Why does that seem to be their only pastime lately? Suppose we should make something to eat while wait for them." Mal said resigned to the fact.
"I'll make breakfast." River volunteered.
"I'll help I guess." Jayne offered grudgingly.
"Mal can I talk to you privately for a moment." Zöe asked. Mal nodded and they moved into the nearest hallway. "We pulled one over on Niska last time but he's bound to have fixed that. How are we going to get everyone onto the Space Station and off again safely?"
"We'll manage. We always do." Mal said. "If he's there we will get him back Zöe. I promise." Mal put his hand on her shoulder.
By the time Kaylee and Simon entered the kitchen, breakfast was ready and the table set. "Boy am I starving. The food smells wonderful." Kaylee said.
"No wonder you're starving. You've been grappling all mornin'." Jayne said as he carried more food to the table.
Ignoring Jayne's remark Simon asked, "Who cooked all the wonderful food?"
"I did." River said, when Jayne grunted she continued. "Jayne helped. Now lets sit down and eat."
"You cooked??" Simon seemed somewhere between astonished and scared.
"Sheesh Doc. Don' ya think yur sister can do the simple task of cooking?" Jayne said.
"Yeah Simon. I'm sure River cooked us a lovely breakfast. Lets eat." Kaylee said looking at the food on the table.
Everyone took their seats around the table. Mal at the head with Inara to his right and Zöe to his left. Kaylee and Simon were seated next to each other with Kaylee next to Inara. River sat next to Zöe with Jayne on her left. The conversation was kept light as they ate. When everyone was finished eating, Zöe and Kaylee cleared the table.
"Zöe got some news across the cortex. We now know where Niska is and might have a way to get in. What we need is a plan. For that we need everyone together." Mal said.
"So what do we have so far?" Simon asked.
"Niska definitely has them and he's holding them on his skyplex orbiting Ares." Zöe said.
"Wasn't it orbiting in the Georgia system last?" Kaylee asked.
"It was but obviously he moved it." Mal said.
"Why did he move it?" Simon asked.
"Who cares why he moved it, just matters that we know where its at." Jayne snapped.
"Right. What we really need is a way to get on. He's beefed up security since our last visit so it won't be as easy. We also don't know where he's keeping Wash and Book on the Skyplex." Mal spoke after casting a surprised look at Jayne.
"I thought you said we have a way in?" Kaylee asked puzzled.
"We have the blueprints. Some information on the guards and people living there. And some of the security details." Zöe explained. "What we need to do is put all this together and come up with a plan. We also need to try to find out where they are holding them."
"We're going to need everybody on this. We'll need everyone's skills to pull this off. We have to stops to make before we can head to Ares. That gives us time." Mal told them. "So lets get started. Simon you need to narrow down where they might have them locked away. Most likely it'll be heavily guarded and with medical facilities. Lets get our men back."
Hours went by. They moved around the room planning and examining the information. Sometimes they all sat around the table. Sometimes they walked around the room or sat on the couches. Sometimes they sat on the table, well River did. But Jayne joined her there once. Mostly whispers filled the room partners talking quietly to each other. Lunch time came and River made sandwiches which everyone ate wherever they happened to be. It wasn't until late in the afternoon that the break through came.
"YES! Cap'n I figured out how to sneak us in." Kaylee said excitedly. "There's a weak spot in Niska's security. The security system has a flaw. A ship or shuttle can sneak past the systems monitors at this spot." She pointed to the diagram as she explained.
"How did you find that?" Mal asked disbelieving. "Who cares! Good work. Now we have a way in."
"I think I figured out where they are keeping Wash and Book." Simon said joining the group. "He has more power in this section as well as more guards it seems. And see here these look to be prisoner cells next to a medical room. You need more power for medical bays and for prisoner cells."
"Now we just have to make a plan. Find a way to get past the security from the docking bay to get to there." Zöe said.
"Great! I love finding ways to kill people." Jayne said.
"You're gonna get your chance it's up to the four of us to find the weak spots." Mal said.
"The four of us sir?" Zöe asked.
"You, Jayne, Mal and me." River said. "Correct?" Asked looking at Mal.
"Correct." Mal said. "We are definitely going to need you on this rescue mission, little albatross."
"Well while you all have been slaving away over the plans I've been cook and now dinner is ready. Lets set the table." Inara said from the kitchen.
"Perfect timing, Inara. Lets give it a rest for today since dinner's ready and we've all been working hard . Look over the information tonight and tomorrow maybe we'll have a good starting point."
"Mal we should be there in less then a minute. Are you sure about this?" Inara asked.
"I'm sure. We'll be alright. Whatever happens you and Kaylee keep them off this shuttle." Mal told her as he checked his gun. Quickly he kissed her, and went through the curtains to talk to his crew. His family.
"How long?" Jayne asked.
"30 seconds til we dock. We have to hit them hard and fast. Stick to the plan." Mal said. It had taken them almost three weeks to get to this point. The plan had been looked over so many times he had lost count. The hardest part had been the waiting. They had had to wait for the ship to get them here.
"La patience est amère mais c'est le fruit est doux, Cap'n!" River said responding to his inner thoughts.
"Yes Yes I know. 'Patience is bitter but its fruit is sweet.' I'm getting sick of hearing that. And must you read my thoughts albatross." Mal joked with her. "Zöe you ready?"
"Wo zong shi." Zöe braced herself for the doors opening.
"Jayne you protect River and River you keep your brother safe." Mal said. "Lets go." The ship docked and barely two seconds later Mal went barreling through the door with Zöe close behind him.
Gunshots and smoke filled the air. The small docking bay echoed with the cries of the guards as they were shot. Zöe and Mal rushed forward, shooting everyone that got in their way. Carefully they entered the hallway and were almost immediately driven back by more guards. Jayne tossed them a grenade and took cover when they threw it down the hall. Again Mal and Zöe rushed forward this time holding the position. They had chosen this docking bay for a reason. One they wouldn't be detected until they attached and two it had only one hallway leading in so they couldn't be ambushed from behind.
As the five moved into the next hallway without incident, Kaylee rushed forward and locked the bay doors after rewiring them. Now only Kaylee and River could unlock the doors.
Mal lead the way down the halls with Zöe close behind. Jayne was about 10 feet behind them looking in every direction.
"We are almost there." Mal told them.
"Why haven't we run into any more guards?" Zöe asked.
"Somethin ain't right." Jayne grumbled lowering his weapon and looking around in puzzlement. "And where did River go?" He asked looking behind him to find her and her brother gone.
"We'll go on ahead you go find the Tam's." Mal ordered moving ahead.
Zöe was close behind him as they moved further down the hall. "Sir, I don't like this. Niska's men should have been all over us by now."
"I have a bad feeling. Like we are walking into a trap." Mal said rounding the last corner. "Ah crap."
"What is it, Sir?" Zöe asked coming in behind him. "Ai ya women wanle."
"Welcome to my home. It's so nice to see you again." Niska was waiting for them along with about 20 armed guards. "I'm not sure you've met my friend, Xun Zhao de Rao Shu." Stepping forward from the behind Niska was the Operative with a smile upon his face.
"You son of a bitch." Mal lunges forward but is knocked out.
Everything is Black.
End of Part One.
CHINESE:
Zhang Fu - Husband
Bao bei - sweetheart
Go se - shit
Feng Le - crazy
Zhang Fu, wo men de ying hai mei li - Husband our baby would be beautiful
Wo bu shi dao zen me wo de dao liao tan hua ru zhe - I don't know how I got talked into this
Mei Mei - sister or little sister
Go se kong - shit hole
Mu qin cao - mother fucker
De erzi yi mu gou - son of a bitch
Gai si - damn it
Wo wu fa xiang xin at - I can't believe it
Ne ge huai dan - that bastard
Lao tian, shuai - oh god, beautiful
Ching wah tsao duh lios mahng - frog humping son of a bitch
Bee-jway - shut up
Dong Ma - understand
Wo zong shi - I always am
Ai ya women wanle - We're in big trouble
FRENCH:
La patience est amère mais c'est le fruit est doux - Patience is bitter but it's fruit is sweet