Black on Black
Disclaimer: Firefly, Serenity and related materials are copyright Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy Productions, and subsequent companies. This Fan Fiction is not intended for profit. No copyright infringement is intended.
AN: I like the 'verse Joss created, and always wanted to play there. Some hints of other stories, as "What if/Might have been". Ain't thievin', just hintin'. Some characters referenced are off-stage in a Trek RPG/AU. I don't own anything, other than the two lost ones.
Rating: T- Some graphic violence. Implied sex, established couples. No way in hell is this Politically Correct.
Spoilers: Firefly series and Serenity movie.
Language: words Translated from other languages
Setting: Four months after Serenity.
Chapter 1 – Gettin' awful crowded in my sky.
Mal wasn't having a good day, which was about normal. Seemed nothin' went smooth, even honest, non-thievin' runs. The supply trip to newly-resettled Lilac wasn't only easy, it was profitable, both of which, as Jayne put it, damaged his calm. The trip out was proof of that, as someone noticed Serenity, and decided to shoot first then ask about a bounty. The gunfight wasn't anything to speak of, not even a graze; the Alliance gunship on their tail was another thing. At least it ain't that hundan Draedon, Mal thought. He'd'a shot us down, bounty or no.
River's attitude wasn't helping; she was taking it less seriously than he thought she should. She was actually playing, dodging the missiles as they raced to clear atmo. "Darlin', I 'preciate you bein' good, but you're like to annoy them to the point they stop playin' back," Mal said. "Purple-bellies ain't all dumb, dong ma?"
River smiled and tilted her head to one side. "Nothing to worry over, Captain. They won't be with us in a couple."
Mal was about to ask what she meant when— "Wuo de ma!" —something came out of the black directly ahead. River barely maneuvered to get out of its way, and Mal looked at the readout after catching his breath. "They out of control?"
"Sure are. We're going back for them. We need each other," River said as she began a wide, lazy starboard turn. Mal didn't hear her; he watched the other ship – about half Serenity's size – try to reef-turn away, only to slam into the gunship stern first, breaking it in half and scattering wreckage down toward open ground.
"What the gorram di yu we doin', Mal!" Jayne snarled as he stepped onto the bridge. "First we run, now we goin' back?"
"'Cordin' to River, the folk in that other ship need help, Jayne. She did just kinda use 'em to kill that gunship."
Cobb looked at River speculatively, a half-smile on his face. "Well, if'n she can get 'em that smooth, maybe I can take her more serious-like," he said, then left.
Mal wondered what that meant as he reached for the intercom. "All hands, we're goin' back to look for survivors, an' maybe get a little salvage." He didn't think there would be any survivors; that kind of crash was a mite deadly.
"They're alive. Simon needs to be ready," River said, her calm expression marred by worry. "He's fine; she needs fixing."
"You know more 'bout 'em, darlin'?" Mal asked. He sat in the pilot's seat, which River still wouldn't use.
"Some. He's old soul; she's strong soul. Seen and done a lot. Can't tell much more." She looked at him. "Sorry."
"You get us there, we'll help as we can." Mal sat back and thought. Old soul and strong soul. Seems I should know the meanin' o' that. He shook his head. Worry when it comes time.
Serenity came to rest at the edge of the debris field. When the engines cut off, Mal, Zoe, Jayne and Simon walked out. They stopped in surprise at what they saw. "How long did it take us to get here, Jayne?"
"'Bout fifteen minute, Mal." The mercenary shook his head. "Don't see how he could do anythin'."
The other ship was belly-down in the ground, the cockpit four feet above the dirt, smoke just beginning to seep out at the rear; its wings were torn off and lying twenty meters behind. The pilot had moved the co-pilot out of the rear seat and laid her on the ground in the shade of a tree ten meters away, and gone back for equipment and supplies. He sat looking into the woman's face anxiously, and seemed to be talking to her; Mal couldn't be sure over the noise of the fire in what was left of the gunship. He looked up at their approach and watched tensely.
Mal held up his hands. "Easy. You mighta noticed we came from yonder ship that missed you a time ago. We're here to help, if you'll let us," he said calmly, motioning to Zoe and Jayne to lower their weapons. The man looked at them, seemed to sway dizzily, then shook his head to clear it, and nodded. "This is our doctor. He'll help as he can. Simon."
"Right," Tam said as he and Zoe walked over, hands out in plain sight.
"Stay clear of that," the man replied in a voice that spoke of culture; non-Alliance culture. Mal didn't remember hearing anyone speak that way, except maybe on Persephone. "There's likely something hazardous, if the damage is as severe as as I believe it."
Nope, not Alliance at all, Mal thought. "Thanks for the warnin'," he said, then turned to take a quick look at – he couldn't rightly tell what the ship was. Too small for a freighter or gunship. Maybe a courier. It didn't have the right shape for atmo, either. He stopped Jayne from getting inside. "Might be dangerous, Jayne. Don't know what's in here."
"You ain't tellin' me what I cain't see, Mal. Cain't make head or tail o' none o' this." He pointed at a few things without touching them. "Controls is plain, but what's the rest? And why ain't it marked in Chinese, like it oughta be?"
Reynolds looked the ship over carefully. "Ain't Alliance, that's for sure. Shape's wrong." He looked back at the two people Simon and Zoe were taking care of. "We got us a mystery."
"Ah, you know I hate mysteries, Mal. We're as like to get hurt helpin' as leavin' 'em here."
"I know, an' I mean to get to the point o' this, but you know River's usually right about this sort'a thing."
"That ain't no help, neither," Cobb replied. "Wonder if any o' this is still workin'."
"Let's not find out where someone needs buryin'," Reynolds said. "Nobody's seen us. Don't think so, anyways. Ain't no rush, it can sit another few hours." He turned to the wrecked gunship, which had fallen about a hundred meters away, both halves in surprisingly good shape. "We get those fires out, we maybe got plenty to use there."
"You sure, Mal?"
"No, but we're good for a while." Something made him look back to Serenity, and there was River, walking out to her brother's side. He watched carefully, looking for sign she was ready for a fight, but she walked her usual careless, graceful walk. "Maybe we'll get some answers, once the doc's done."
He looked at the young man, then at the woman at his side, his eyes narrowing; both appeared to have been through a harrowing experience not long ago. He recognized them and thought, Yes, I'm in the 'verse. But why am I here? He looked into Brath's face. That can wait.
Simon looked at the couple. He appeared unhurt, but she was pale in a way he'd never liked; he'd seen it too often in the trauma wards. He went to their sides and checked her vital signs as well as he could through the unusual space suit. Her pulse was thready, and she was cold. He looked at the man and said, "I can't say for sure, but she's in shock, and maybe bleeding internally. We need to get her aboard, soon."
Zoe stood watching, trying to figure out what they had. The suits weren't anything like Alliance gear. The equipment the man salvaged wasn't either. And the Alliance wouldn't let a woman looked like her out into the field; she'd be too obvious. What do we have here? she wondered. One thing was sure: A man didn't have that look on his face for just a friend.
Zoe sighed. Don't need to think o' that, right now. Got more important things to tend to. She turned when she heard the slight crunch of dirt to find River walking up, looking at them intently. "You shouldn't be here," Zoe said. "Don't know what we got."
River smiled and said, "I do, a little." She walked to Simon's side, knelt and spoke in a language Zoe had never heard before, but sounded like something from Earth-that-was. Spanish: Greetings, old soul. Can we help you?
The man looked startled, then replied, Spanish: Do you know why we're here?
Spanish: No. Maybe we can figure that out together She reached to pick the woman up.
"River, you can't—" Simon began until River carefully lifted her – she had to out-weigh River by at least twenty kilos – into her arms. "But how?"
"You never saw everything, Simon. Be glad." The woman mumbled as River carefully took her back to Serenity.
"Well," Simon began. "I'm Simon Tam, the ship's doctor. When I know how she is, I promise I'll do the best I can for her, Mister...?"
"Michael Whitmer." He stood and gathered the scattered medical equipment. At least that's what Simon thought it was. He looked around as though lost, then asked, "Where are we?"
"Lilac," Zoe said. "I'm Zoe Washburn, First Mate of Serenity. Over there's Captain Reynolds and Jayne. That was the doc's sister, River." She looked at the wreckage, then at him. "You seem all right, you don't mind my sayin'."
"Crash systems must have malfunctioned," Whitmer said, dropping the accent he'd used earlier. "I'll have to check, once I make sure nothing's going to explode. 'Scuse me?" Zoe nodded, and he walked back to the ship, carefully checked it, then reached in. The smoke stopped and cleared.
"Well, looks like we picked up another couple o' strays," Zoe said, her tone resigned and amused. "Wonder what they're gonna bring." She looked at Simon, and said, "Sorry."
"No, it's all right. I still think River and I brought all this on you, but I don't know if any of it could have been avoided. We can't know." He looked at the First Mate.
"If we could, would it help?" she asked. "I sometimes ask if I could'a done anything, but I don't know." Zoe watched as Whitmer walked back to them, and she recognized the look in his eyes. "Bet he might know a thing or two about it."
Simon looked. "I'd say so. I've seen that look too many times."
Whitmer stopped, collected the case he'd stashed the gear in and turned to them. "What now?"
Zoe nodded toward Serenity. "'Til we know, I guess you're with us. Don't think we're leavin' any time soon." He nodded and followed them back.
Mal and Jayne watched, and Zoe gave the all clear signal. "Well, that's settled. Least for now."
"We takin' 'em with us, Mal?"
"Don't know yet. Won't 'til we get River to talkin' about it, I reckon." Mal looked around. "Might as well see about findin' that stream. Could use some water ain't been drunk two dozen times by us."
Jayne made a face. "Jeez, Mal. Did ya have ta say that?"
Reynolds smiled. "Now you wanna do it, right?"
Simon and Zoe walked through the open cargo door, and Whitmer paused at the end of the ramp. They looked back to see him grimace and shake his head. "You sure you're all right?" Zoe asked.
"Nothing from the crash. I keep seeing … possibilities when I look at things and people," he replied after a pause. "I'm all right. Really."
"I'd feel better if you'd let me examine you," Tam said. "What sort of crash system?"
"It fills the cockpit with resilient foam to keep you from flailing around. It works. I've had to use it before. The back-seat system failed, and I don't know why." Whitmer's gaze hardened. "But I'll surely find out."
"Well, we'll get..." Simon trailed off.
"Brath's her name."
"Brath into the infirmary and see what we can do for her." They followed River inside – Whitmer trailing as he looked around – and found Inara and Kaylee waiting in the common room. "Inara, I need your help."
"Absolutely, Simon." Inara opened the door and stepped back to let River carry the pale, red-haired woman inside. As she passed, her eyes opened sightlessly, and she muttered something unintelligible. Inara saw a brief rainbow flash in her dilated pupils, and a half-remembered legend had her shrinking back against the doorway, her eyes wide in stunned surprise.
"Inara? Are you all right?"
She couldn't speak, but only nodded, trying to keep her expression serene, and barely succeeding. She looked at the black-haired man who followed Zoe, and their eyes met. She knew he knew what she'd seen, and he raised one eyebrow as though saying, Not a word. She gasped, then nodded shakily. He smiled sadly and followed Simon inside.
"You'll have to wait outside," Simon told him. "I need room to work."
"And no doubt you could use another pair of hands," Michael replied. "I'm a doctor, among other things."
"What other things?" Zoe asked.
"I'll answer all your questions after she's been stabilised," he replied in that cultured accent in a tone Zoe recognized, one of command.
"Yes, sir. Mind if I wait out here?" He glanced down at her carbine and smiled, then shook his head. Zoe watched as Inara seemed to shake something off and followed them in, then closed the door behind her.
"What've we got, Zoe?" Kaylee asked as she looked through the windows.
"Don't rightly know," Zoe answered. "We got more questions than we can shake a stick at."
"We'll need to get the suit off," Simon said.
Whitmer looked at River and Inara. "Right. Lift her shoulders when I tell you." He reached around Brath's body and touched something under her arms. The suit's armor split at her shoulders, and the fabric loosened, and he said, "Now." River and Inara gently lifted her, and after removing the boots and gloves, he carefully slipped the suit downward off her, leaving Brath naked on the table.
Kaylee felt herself blushing as she watched. "Why's she naked under that?"
Michael looked at her as though he'd heard. After he set the suit to one side, he found and activated the comm-link as Simon asked the same question. "It's very comfortable and meant to be worn at all times. Clothing would only get in the way."
Simon looked at the bruising on Brath's abdomen with some alarm. I thought so. Serious internal bleeding. When he looked up, he saw Whitmer's face twitch; he knew they'd made the same diagnosis. Inara took a blanket and draped it over Brath as Simon carefully palpitated the area, causing the woman to groan. She reached out and found Michael's hand as he removed his gloves, and her eyes opened. "Michael," she moaned.
"I'm here, Brath. Don't worry. We found some friends, and we're taking care of you." He looked as Simon prepped an injector. "I'll be here, come what may." She smiled as Tam doped her, and soon faded into unconsciousness.
"I'll have to operate immediately," Simon said as Inara laid out instruments, and River put on an oxygen mask. "What's her blood type?"
"It's exotic; treat it as AB negative."
"And yours?"
"O positive, or near enough."
"Well, that's good news. Can you—Oh, I suppose you can," Simon said as Whitmer removed the armor from his left arm and rolled up the sleeve, then touched a control on the other forearm. The fabric tightened as he pumped his hand. "Is that supposed to happen?"
"Design feature," Whitmer replied. He and Simon looked at River when she reached over and traced the birthmark that started at his wrist and ran up his arm to curl over on his bicep. It resembled a snake, Tam saw, but he paid it no more mind as he swabbed Brath's abdomen while Inara brought out the field transfusion rig. "I'll need to sit for this."
Inara pulled up a chair and he sat down, his eyes never leaving Brath's pale face. She swabbed his arm, then inserted the needle into the vein, which he barely seemed to notice. She repeated the process on Brath after the blood reached the other end, and stepped to the side to pass what Simon needed when he asked. "Are you going to be all right?" she asked.
"We've been through worse, Inara, and we're still here," he said, looking at her with a gentle smile.
The Companion blinked. I never told him my name. Who is he? What is he?
Just someone sent to help as he can, she heard as he touched the switch again, and the fabric relaxed.
Simon paused, scalpel poised. "Ready?"
Whitmer smiled. "Not really, but we've no real choice, have we?" Simon nodded, and began.
Mal and Jayne got the last of the fires out, and looked around the gunship's wreckage for anything salvageable. They were still amazed that it was mostly intact. "Don't make sense, Mal," Cobb said. "Should'a broke up more."
"T'weren't far above ground, Jayne, but you ain't wrong." Reynolds looked back at the furrow. "Looks like the hit stopped 'em both dead, an' they just fell out of the sky. Don't rightly see how."
"Still should'a been spread out more," Jayne groused.
Mal gave the mercenary a look. "You wantin' to walk around that much?" Jayne shook his head. "Gift horse. Let's find what we can."
They searched, and found most of the control systems were burned out, but parts were salvageable. The engines were crumpled from the impact, but Mal thought Kaylee could like to work a bit of her magic finding what still worked. When they reached the inverted forward section, Jayne said, "Well, ain't that shiny. We got five missiles, an' it looks like the mounts ain't too banged up. Think we could use 'em?"
"Jayne, even if we could, how'd we mount or launch 'em? Controls are gone."
"Well, you said Kaylee—"
"Let's not get too far ahead o' the herd." Mal looked back at Serenity. "Maybe, but no hurry. We got plenty to worry over."
"Where ya think they're from?"
"I dunno. Saw a glint or two on that red triangle, maybe a unit badge, but nothin' clear. All I conjure is they ain't Alliance."
"How ya figure?"
"Never saw suits like that, an' the ship's too small. Maybe a courier, but it ain't shaped right for atmo. What's left o' the wings ain't right. An' you didn't see nothin' you knew, 'cept the controls."
Jayne scratched his goatee thoughtfully. "An' I ain't too sure o' that. Stick an' throttle, rudder pedals, but that ain't been used, I reckon for a hundred year or more. No thrust vect'rin' I saw."
"I know. I do not like this, not one bit. They knocked the Feds off us, but I don't conjure it was purpose-like."
"Like you said, gift horse, but it still don't make sense."
Mal looked at the wreckage again. "Well, we got a bit o' work. Get the mule. I'll see what else might be o' use. An' bring a couple shovels. Can't leave the bodies lyin' 'round to stink up this pretty country-side."
"Ah, di yu, Mal. They're Feds."
"I know. They ain't friends, but it ain't right to just leave 'em. Like to think they'd do the same, tables was turned."
Jayne looked at him, then nodded. "Hope you're right. I'll check with Zoe, see how our new strays are, while I'm at it."
"Why, Jayne. You goin' soft on me?" Mal asked with a smile.
"No, just wonderin'. Much as I wanna pick through it, that wreck kinda scares me. Could use an idea what's safe."
"Well, I do feel good knowin' you ain't changed."
"Some, but not that much." Jayne smiled, and walked back to Serenity.
Mal looked around the area once more. "Yep, got us one mighty fine mystery, here."
As soon as Simon made the first incision, blood ran everywhere. He suctioned it away, and was finally able the see the bleed. "Worse than I thought. I'll need to stitch her up, then cauterize." Inara gasped as she handed him sponges, while outside Kaylee turned away, hiding her face on Zoe's shoulder.
"Whatever you have to do, Simon." Michael forced himself to stay out of Tam's way. He had the look of a good trauma surgeon: All questions were set aside as he took care of important matters. He knew Inara was no scrub nurse, but she was no less efficient as she passed instruments and kept the area as sterile as possible.
"Be all right. Not losing her." Michael looked past his shoulder to find River standing there, looking at Brath's face calmly. Her eyes flickered down to meet his, and he knew she was certain; her words were probably meant more for Simon. He swayed dizzily from the transfusion, and she steadied him with a firm grip on his shoulder. "Dragon Lady'll be fine."
Inara looked at her. "River?"
"I know, same as you, Inara. Not the same way. Talk about it later," River said almost dreamily.
Jayne walked into the common area and stopped behind Zoe. "How's it goin'?"
"Simon looks a mite worried, but look at River. Calm as a lake, Jayne," Zoe replied. "She said she'll be fine."
"You all right, Kaylee?"
"Ain't seen so much blood since Miranda," the mechanic said into Zoe's shoulder as she looked at him. "Looks horrible-like."
"Well, if'n she says it, got to be true. Y'all know I don't put much into what River says, an' how much I'm wrong," Cobb replied as he looked in. "Y'know, she looks kinda familiar, Zoe. Any red-heads we know?"
"Just Saffron," Zoe replied. She tilted her head. "Might be useful, if she resembles that yúchûn tchen wah. Still need to sell the Lassiter, and she had contacts, some sort or other."
"Yeah, 'bout as trusty, too, I bet. Me an' Mal are tryin' ta see what we can scrounge off the gunship. If'n this is too much, you could come see what we missed, Kaylee."
Kaylee straightened and brightened up; looking at engines and other systems was her second favorite thing, right after fixin' an' playin' with 'em. Well, third, after playin' with Simon. "That'd be shiny, Jayne."
"It's okay. She ain't sittin' up soon, and he's lookin' fit to pass out," Zoe replied. As Kaylee and Jayne left, she watched, her eyes a bit narrower than before. River called her Dragon Lady, and Inara didn't like that. Wonder why. She shrugged. Bet there's a story behind all this.
Simon cauterized the lacerated vein, then suctioned the rest of the blood away and began looking for other damage. He carefully looked and felt, and found nothing else. He nodded to himself and began to close the wound, while glancing at the readouts. "Hmm, she seems to have twisted on impact. Torsion injuries. Her back seems all right, though I expect she'll be very sore." He looked to see Whitmer's eyes begin to glaze over, and River shook him gently.
"Still here, doc. Don't need to see," the man replied softly.
"You're going to pass out."
"Be happy to, long as I'm holdin' her hand." He swayed again. "Better lie down."
River pulled him against the chair back and said, "Don't move." She set up the light gurney as Inara helped Simon finish, then rolled it beside the table. "Here." She helped Michael sit and then lie down. She turned the transfusion rig off, let the blood clear and removed the needles before placing it in the sink. She taped a small square of gauze over the wounds, and placed Brath's hand in his. She smiled when he murmured "Thank you."
Simon secured the bandage, and said, "Is there anything you need?"
"Sleep," Whitmer mumbled before his eyes closed. "Sh'ud be fine in ten hours. We heal fast." His head lolled to one side, and he began to snore quietly.
Simon took his time sterilizing his equipment as Inara and River sat and watched the pair. "What is it?" he asked.
"He knew my name, Simon," Serra replied. "Did you tell him?"
"No. I thought he overheard us."
"Old soul and strong soul see deep," River said quietly. "Dragon and Wolf came to help, just don't know why, yet."
"River?"
"Later, when they're feeling up to talking."
Once they finished burying the four Feds, Mal and Jayne stood back and watched as Kaylee reached and squirmed her way into spaces they wouldn't have dared, pulling out various prizes. "Oh, shiny. Compression coils that ain't half-kilt," she said grinning. She spent as much time as Mal would allow, then followed after he and Jayne loaded their plunder on the mule. She looked at the other ship for a few seconds, then touched it almost reverently. "Definitely ain't Alliance, Cap'n. Nothin' like this for the past couple hundred years," she reported after looking carefully.
"So, we cain't use nothin'?"
"Didn't say that, but I don't rightly know what's what." She slipped into the rear, reached under the seat and pulled out some odd items. "Must be the backpack units for the suits. Helmets in the front seat." She slapped Jayne's hand when he reached for them. "Don't! Ain't yours, Jayne. Not it ever stopped you," she said with her grin.
"Never take a man's suit, Jayne," Mal said as Cobb inspected the helmet. "Like to get you spaced, he finds you got it."
"Wasn't gonna take it, just get a better look. Ain't never seen the like."
Reynolds nodded and took it. "See what you mean. Thing looks like it was molded, Kaylee? Looks like plastic, feels like metal."
The mechanic nodded. "Ceramic, I think. Light as anything, too. Could almost live in them."
"Who'd wanna?" Cobb asked with disgust.
"Might be useful," Reynolds mused. "A suit you could live in, came down to it, might save your life."
Kaylee found and opened a small panel. "Hmm. 'Storage'." She hit the switch, looked around, then shrugged. "Prob'ly under-side. Can't get it open, 'less you wanna dig."
"That can wait."
"Sir, the doc's done. She's gonna be fine. Both are sleepin'," Zoe reported over the com-link.
"Both?"
"He gave her a transfusion, Mal," Simon's voice said. "Wouldn't do it any other way. They're much more than friends."
"He did," Kaylee said, then shuddered. "She needed it."
"Bad?"
"Bad, but she's out of danger." Simon paused. "I don't know if I should tell you over comm, but River seems to know a lot about them. You want to ask?"
Mal paused in thought, then replied, "I'd sorely like to, but it'd be better from him. Not sure River could explain what she knows to us, as much trouble as she's had before."
"I'll let them sleep. They've been through a lot. I'd let them alone for at least a day."
"Do tell. We'll see you in a bit, an' looks as like we'll have somethin' for you, Simon. Tell you when we get in." Mal closed the channel, and helped Kaylee as she climbed out with the suit components. "That a good idea?"
"Can't do anything with 'em, but we can't leave 'em here. Might take hurt from the dew."
"What about the gunship missiles?" Jayne asked.
Kaylee thought it over, then shook her head. "Can, maybe, but won't be easy. Ships talk to me, Jayne, not weapons."
"Right. We done what we can. Let's go home," Mal said after a final glance. They climbed into the mule and were soon back aboard Serenity.
Everyone spent the remaining day taking care of their or Serenity's needs, except for Simon, River and Inara, who took turns keeping a watch on Michael and Brath. When Jayne returned triumphantly with supper – who knew where he found the deer – Mal smiled. "Jayne, I imagine you'll be unbearable to live with after this."
Jayne smiled as he set the carcass on the plastic-covered table and began butchering it. "Looks like, Mal. Ain't had fresh meat in days."
"Know what you mean. Get to missin' it. Sorta like air that ain't been run through the system a hundred times." He turned then stopped and said, "Reminds me. The stream?"
Jayne began cutting as River sat down to watch him work. "Careful, Crazy."
"Don't worry. I'll just watch."
"Stream's where we last saw it. Got the tanks, pump and filters ready by the mule."
Mal's eyebrows tried to meet his hairline. "Why Jayne, you continue to surprise me, an' nicely." He patted his chest and felt his wrist theatrically. "I ain't dead; ain't sleepin', so this ain't no dream."
Jayne chuckled and Mal descended the stairs to the common area, stopping next to Inara and looking in. "How they doin'?"
"No change. Still sleeping." Inara turned, stopped, then shrugged and continued, "There's something about them, Mal. He knew my name, and I don't remember anyone telling him. He wasn't anywhere near us when Simon talked with me. Then there's what River said, calling him Wolf, and her Dragon Lady, and I – I saw it in her eyes. The Rainbow Flash."
Reynolds looked at her, his brows knit with concentration. "Happens I recall sommat o' that, but not all. Old, old legend, ain't it?"
"From Earth-that-was. From the ancient days when dragons were said to walk Earth in human form. I didn't take it very seriously – who would? But I saw it, Mal." Inara shivered under her shawl as she looked in.
"That ain't all, sir," Zoe said as she joined them. "River talked to him in a lingo I ain't heard before, but it sounded kinda familiar. Can't put my finger on it, though."
"You conjure they's a threat?"
"Can't rightly say. My head says maybe, my gut says no; so does my heart," she finished, looking down to hide tears.
"Zoe? You all right?"
She blinked the tears away and met his eyes. "Fine, sir."
"Gou pi," Inara muttered.
"Fair to say, but that's my story. Heart's broke, but still workin', sir. Don't know what it means, but that's it. Might bear watchin', but that's all."
Mal looked at his First Mate and the Companion, then into the Infirmary. "Well, they look to be peaceable folk. Can't say as I think they're a threat, neither. How long did Simon think they'd sleep?"
"Well into tomorrow," Inara replied. "She lost a lot of blood, and he gave her a lot of his." She looked in and said, "Her color's better, but not good. They'll probably wake up ravenous."
"Happens Jayne found us supper, and there'll be plenty to go around," Mal replied. "Still got some daylight. Feel up to goin' in for greens and such? Seems you got more to say."
Inara looked at him, then smiled. "I could be persuaded."
"We got things tight, sir. You both could use some time."
Reynolds looked at Zoe suspiciously, but her face never changed. "I get the feelin' someone's tryin' to get us together, maybe even hitched," he said.
"Never crossed my mind, sir."
"Speaking o' bad liars. Ne'mind. We got time an' coin. Could use a good meal." Mal turned to Inara. "Ready?"
"Five minutes." Serra stood, gave him a peck on the cheek and walked forward, disappearing into the cargo bay.
"Wondered if you both had rocks in the brain-pan, sir."
"Ain't fair to you, Zoe."
"I'll be fine. Ain't over it, but I don't 'spect to be soon." Zoe looked at him neutrally. "Three minutes, sir."
"I can take a hint. See you in an hour," Mal said as he walked forward.
"Enjoy yourself, sir."
Supper was its usual noisy thing. The venison was a welcome change from protein packs, and the vegetables and greens Mal and Inara brought back were much appreciated. Simon left the table once to check his patients, causing Jayne to gripe, "They ain't goin' nowhere, Doc."
"I've seen too many of these go sour to relax. He may be right, but I won't feel better until they're both awake and talking to us," Simon replied as he sat down.
"They'll be fine," Kaylee said with her sunny smile. "You pulled us all back from as bad."
"Like as not, we'll see in the mornin'," Mal replied as River returned from the bridge. "What's got you frettin', River?"
"I checked the Cortex to see if there's a report on that gunship, or if they sent a message. Nothing."
"But that don't mean nothin'," Jayne said. "Prob'ly wanted any bounty fer themselves."
"That's another thing has to wait," Reynolds said. "Can't worry about what ain't happened."
"Then why we still here?"
"Have to learn what's on that ship o' Michael's, if it's safe to leave, or blow it up. Can't 'till he's up. It ain't Alliance, and we don't know what harm might come if the purple-bellies get their hands on it." Mal looked around the table, meeting everyone's eyes. "Might be harmless, but can't take that chance. Can't leave it if'n it kills someone ain't involved."
Jayne nodded as he cut another bite. "Just as soon set fire to it."
River sat beside Cobb and touched his arm, which made Simon start. "Can't do that. Won't burn. Metal, plastic and ceramic laminate. No fire's hot enough."
Mal looked at her in surprise. "How'd you learn that, Albatross?"
Tam looked at Kaylee. "Saw it in your mind. Can't help it, sorry." She turned to Mal and continued, "Saw a hull temperature indicator calibrated in degrees Kelvin, range up to ten thousand. Did some figuring. Easy." She smiled slightly. "Takes an industrial furnace."
"Which don't exist here," Mal finished for her. "Think he's got something?"
"Probably, but we don't want to play in there. Might not be healthy." Jayne sat watching River as she began eating, then noticed Simon watching him. He shrugged instead of growling, and returned to his food.
When they broke up, Mal said, "Talk to you two a minute?" Jayne and Simon followed him and they walked out into the night. "Got somethin' on your mind, doc?"
"Is it that obvious?" Simon replied icily.
"I know ya don' like it, doc," Jayne said. "Cain't make her stop. Like as not she'll throw me 'cross the room, I try anything she don't like. Problem is, what's that?"
"Simon, I don't mean to tell you how to live, but River ain't a little girl no more. Plain as daylight. I know you want to take care o' her, an' you have, but does she need as much? Can't be positive, but visitin' Miranda kinda fixed that. Don't know if the rest can be, though," Reynolds said.
Simon took a deep breath, held and let it go before looking up at the stars. "I know. I wanted to undo what they did, but I can't put back what they took away, and I can't take out what they put in. I'm a doctor, but she needs something only God can do. If he's even out there."
"Doc, the Shepherd'd take sore offense to that."
"I know, Mal. It's just—" He closed his eyes and balled his fists at his side. "That shouldn't be done to anyone. Ever. There's no good in it." He lowered his head. "They made her into a weapon, and I can't do anything about it."
Mal reached out and took his arm. "That took a powerful lot o' will to say, Simon. I was right. You ain't weak. Now hush a second." He turned to Jayne. "Got anythin' to say?"
"Cain't deny she's pretty, fightin' or dancin', Mal. Never saw anythin' so wunnerful in my life. Dunno why she wants anythin' ta do with me. I know I ain't perfect, an' I agree with the doc. She deserves better'n me." Jayne scratched the back of his head as he searched for the right words. "Gotta say she makes me wanna be better. Wanna see her smile, just fer me. Don't know what ta say, or how t' say it."
"Why not let River decide?" Zoe's voice made them start.
"Zoe, this is man-talk," Jayne said, bristling.
"Thought so, to be that stupid," the First Mate replied. "Never 'curred to you she might think different, Simon." Zoe shook her head. "None o' you understand women. Evens out. We don't understand men, half the time."
"Get it said, Zoe."
"Shut up, Mal." He blinked. It was the first time she'd used his name, and told him to do anything. "You ain't no better. Anyone can see you an' Inara got feelin's for each other, but ain't got sense to admit it. You want her, an' it goes from there. That's how it starts, every time. One day, you find out you're in love, an' it's wonderful. I know."
"Still don' know what t' do, or how t' act, Zoe," Jayne replied.
"Ask, you dumb ox. More like the dumb ox you pretend to be." They all turned to see Michael leaning casually against the doorway. The armor was missing from his arms, and the sleeves were rolled up; his birthmark was obvious. He looked and sounded perfectly fine. "Supper was delicious, by the by."
"You shouldn't be up," Simon said.
"I told you we heal fast." He waved Simon away, lit a cigarette and walked out to join them. He looked up at the stars as though trying to locate himself by them. "Zoe's right. It's up to River, not y'all," he said. He looked at Jayne. "You want to be what she wants, right?" Cobb nodded. "Then ask. Won't kill you."
"What makes you the expert?" Mal got a look that reminded him of what his Basic Sergeant once said: That's the stupidest question I ever heard, ya rock! "All right, you got advice?"
"Like the nursery rhyme goes, 'Let them alone, and they'll come home, bringing their tails behind them.' Everything works out, like as not, better if we do nothing." Michael smiled with embarrassment. "Went through the same with my daughter, and it took some time 'fore I got it through my head she was gonna do what she wanted. I told her live for herself, not her stiff-necked daddy. My own damn fault. Still surprised she's talkin' to me."
Zoe chuckled, and walked back inside. "Good night, sir. Jayne, Simon, Michael."
"G'night, Zoe."
"Good night, Corporal. Pleasant dreams." She stopped, looked at Michael, then nodded and went inside.
"Now, that right gets me," Mal said. "You knew Inara's name an' Zoe was a Corporal, an' never heard it. What's goin' on?"
"Tomorrow, Mal. I'll be more inclined to talk when Brath's up and around." Michael looked at Simon. "It's always her choice. Never forget that. Occurs to me you want River talking to you." He looked at Jayne. "Be sure, Jayne. A woman don't need to kick your pi gu to make you miserable." He looked at Mal. "Tell her, then be ready to answer some questions. Nothing else will work." He turned back to enter Serenity. "Good night."
"Just a sec." Michael turned back as Jayne continued, "How d'ya know all this?"
Whitmer smiled. "Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Bullet holes were free." He flicked the butt away and went inside.
"What'd he mean by that?" Mal asked.
"I'd guess he means he's been through it all," Simon replied. "I don't know what to make of him. He's about our age, give or take a few years, right?"
"I'd'a said about thirty, maybe thirty-five," Reynolds answered. "But he talks like a thirty-year man. Thing is, if'n I read that insignia right, he's a high-level officer. That's longer."
"Don't act like no military I seen," Jayne said. "Too easy-goin'. Not like that starched-britches Harken off Dortman."
Simon stood there, thinking, then said, "I wonder if he's even in Cortex. That ship, his suit, his way of speaking. Nothing I recognize. It's like he's from another universe."
Jayne and Mal looked at each other. "Y'know, that makes a weird kinda sense," Cobb said. "Sorta r'member somethin' like that after Early showed up."
"Me too," Reynolds mused. "That badge looked awful familiar, but I can't place it. Got a hazy recall seein' sommat near its like. Like a dream." He looked at the two. "Either o' you mention my name near him?"
"No. I was too busy."
"Never came near me," Jayne said, then blinked. "Used it like he knew ya, too."
"One damn fine mystery."
The next day, Simon walked into the Infirmary to look in on Brath, only to find Michael there, helping her eat. She was sitting up, and seemed in no distress. "I – well, you did say you healed fast, but this is amazing." Her color was the full bloom of health. It was almost as though she hadn't just barely survived a crash.
"Good morning, Simon. Brath, this is Doctor Tam. Simon, this is Brath."
She held out a hand, and Simon took it. She had a very firm, warm grip. "Thank you, doctor."
"You're welcome. Do you mind if I examine you both? I don't really have your information, and it would help if you need more attention."
"Sure, why not?" Michael said. "Do I need to strip down, or would that be too embarrassing?" he added with a grin.
He reminds me a little of Wash, Simon thought. "No, except maybe to the waist."
Michael reached under his arms, and the suit split open. "What do you need?"
"Just sit normally," Simon replied as he retrieved his scanner. He played it over them, occasionally entering the information as he went. "I – this can't be right. I'm getting machine elements, from you especially, Michael."
"That's part of the story," Whitmer replied as he re-closed his suit when Simon finished. "Is everyone else up?"
"No, or I don't think so."
Michael nodded. "We'll wait for everyone. Don't want to tell it twice."
Simon blinked and asked, "Are those accents real, or just a façade?"
"They're real. I haven't decided to favour one over another." Michael grinned lazily. "Might come in handy, bein' able t' fool someone. A man can hide with a change o' clothes an' way o' talkin', doc."
Simon nodded, and flinched when Brath tossed the bloody bandage onto the table. "But—" He looked to see there was no sign he'd operated on her ten hours ago. Her skin was smooth and perfect, even after the mender. "May I?" Brath nodded, and he carefully ran a hand over her abdomen. "How?"
"The machine elements include nanobots," Michael said. "The transfusion."
"But isn't that dangerous?"
"The machines know, doc. That's all I have to say, for now." The steady gaze of the evening-sky blue eyes told Simon he was on thin ice.
Brath smiled. "We'll tell you what we think is safe, but you'll have to work hard at suspending your disbelief, Simon. To us, it's a given. To you, it would sound like very bad space opera mixed with worse sword-and-sorcery."
"And that's the good part," Michael added as he retrieved Brath's suit.
Simon watched as she slipped into it with the ease of long practice. When Michael turned to retrieve the boots and gloves, Simon noticed his suit had an odd fitting at the base of his spine. "What's that for?"
Michael smiled cryptically and said, "More unbelievable nonsense. Show and tell will start when everyone's ready."
"I'd like to go outside," Brath said. "I need to see the sun, and stretch."
"I'll be with you soon," Michael replied before tenderly kissing her. "No hurry."
Everyone gathered in the cargo bay instead of the dining area because Michael had asked. They sat on containers as Michael and Brath stood on the ramp. "This is going to be very hard to believe," he said. "Brath and I aren't from this 'verse."
Mal nodded absently, then spoke up. "There's more'n one?"
"There's a theory – well, proven fact to us, that a single particle experiences every possibility, instead of one. But when you have lots of particles, say in a body, and throw intelligence into the mix, the choices you make or some chance cuts you off from most of them. There's a report I read that one of our ships discovered over two hundred thousand possible outcomes, and that's in my 'verse.
"Another is the idea that every story ever written or done for vid is its own universe. One of my favourite authors used that as a plot point, and it's true. I found a few places that only existed in books or vids, and it turns out my life's a story to them. Another point is you find your universes. Both fit together very nicely: Feynman's sum over histories, and Heinlein's World-As-Myth."
River looked at him, her head tilted to one side. "I see no conflicts," she said.
"It gets worse. In our 'verse, magic exists as well, but in others there isn't much, or any. It doesn't affect me, but Brath couldn't exist there."
"Why not?" Simon asked.
Michael looked at her. "Show them, please?"
Brath removed her suit, stepped off the ramp, closed her eyes and concentrated, and her body began to stretch and expand. Everyone gasped when the process was complete, as she was replaced by a fifty-foot long dragon, her color red with gold undertones. She stretched her legs and wings, then settled to the ground, curling up like a cat, her head atop her front feet, watching Michael with red-gold eyes.
"Wu de tyen ah," Inara breathed, and instinctively grabbed for Mal, who stared with his mouth hanging open. Everyone sat there, stunned, except for River, who stood, walked to Brath and after bowing, wrapped her arms around the dragon's neck. She closed her eyes and smiled.
"There's more," Michael continued. "Simon found machine elements to my make-up. It's because I'm a fusion of very sophisticated technology and a living being." He closed his eyes and concentrated, and his form changed. Standing there was a featureless reddish silver form that filled the suit. "What you see now is my true appearance."
"But that's not possible," Simon protested.
"I mentioned magic, Simon. It helped keep my various elements from separating, at least until the process ran its course. Now my form is stable; before – well, the separation would have been messy and fatal. And the last bit: I'm known by another name. In my 'verse, I was once known as the Lone Wolf. After my change, I became the Black Wolf." As he spoke, his features returned, then lengthened as fur grew into place on his head and exposed arms. Where Michael Whitmer once stood was an anthropomorphic black wolf. His eyes were the same evening-sky blue. "This is how I've appeared for quite a long time, but not for most of my existence."
"Hold that thought," Mal said. He stood and raced up the stairway, reached his bunk and began searching through a trunk he seldom opened. "C'mon, I know it's here," he muttered. He found a wrapped bundle, and returned to the gathering. "I conjure I know part o' the rest." He unwrapped a four-book box set, and Michael's eyes widened when he saw it. Printed in gold letters on the faded green box was The Adventures of the Black Wolf.
"Is that a First Edition?"
Mal blinked. "Yeah."
The Wolf smiled. "Care to have it signed by the author?"
"Andrew DuValle's been dead nearly a thousand years," Inara said as she carefully studied the books.
"That's another part of me. I was Andrew DuValle. Reincarnation is real, in my 'verse, at least. I'm what's called a Spoke Soul; instead of forgetting, I remember all my past lives," Michael said. Behind him, Brath nodded.
"If you was him, you'd know the first lines o' the story," Mal said as he opened the first book to the first page.
Michael closed his eyes and said, "When he was born, his father nearly killed him. The strange, snake-shaped mark on his left arm not only ruined his perfection, seeing it gave the shaman chills. It wasn't until his mother found him protectively wrapped by a large constrictor that had finished off the rats that she named him: She called him Snake."
Mal closed the book and replaced it. "Word for word."
"But what happened, and why?"
Brath said, "It's very unpleasant, Simon. The short version is Michael lost his wife and two very dear friends to an old enemy on his own ship. He was then Chosen by a powerful being most would call a Goddess as her Emissary. He had nothing left to lose, or hold him there." Her voice was melodious, and though deeper than Jayne's, still very feminine. "He's been doing that for a long time."
"Old soul," River said quietly.
"Why you here?" Jayne asked.
"I don't know, but it's usually to do with my mission. Shepherd Book could have told you. Michael is the name of the Archangel of Retribution. I'm literally retribution incarnate. I repay wrongs in kind, seeing to it those doing harm get what they've done back. I don't go by law and 'justice,' I go by right and wrong."
"That's hard to wrap my head around," Zoe said.
"As I told Simon, it sounds like very bad fiction," Brath replied.
"I get the feelin' that ain't half of it," Kaylee said.
"It's not." Michael turned to Brath and gently scratched her eye ridges; Simon noticed his tail protruded through the fitting he'd asked about. When he turned back, he asked, "Any questions?"
"How long ya gonna be here, an' what can ya do?" Jayne asked.
"Mal has an idea what I can do. The books have most of my story, but not all of it." Michael paused, thinking. "Well, I'm obviously a soldier. Marine, actually, most of the time. I've led men and women in combat. I've commanded starships in war and peace-time. I'm a good pilot – ships and small craft – a decent engineer, a good science officer and a good doctor. I can use any weapon I've become familiar with, and I've some experience with strategy and tactics. I'm no stranger to rough-and-tumble fighting or demolitions. My last turn 'round the wheel, I was intelligence and special operations." He looked at River. "I'm also psychic, but born with it. And, though it sounds impossible, I'm a fair magician. The real sort, not stage illusions. "As for how long I'll be here, I can't tell you. I don't know. When I finish what I'm supposed to do, I move on."
"What about Brath?" Kaylee asked.
The dragon snorted, and smoke drifted from her nostrils. "Anything you've heard in legend and myth, except I'm not evil or vicious by nature. The truth's been lost in hype. I'm much stronger than I look in human form, and I'm just as well-trained as Michael. We've been together a long time, and there's a bond between us that's deeper than friendship, or even love."
"If you're leaving when you're done, how will you get back? And how did you get here?" Inara asked.
"For the first, I don't know, although I suspect our family will find us. They always do. As for how we got here, I'm not quite sure. We'd just finished a mission and were returning to base. There were no malfunctions. Not that I recall."
"Fam'ly?"
"The Blackstars are more than a military unit, Jayne; we're a family," Brath answered as Kaylee joined River. She ran her hand over Brath's scales, which overlapped and fitted together like the segments of Inara's dress.
"My former commanding officer, mentor and friend took in various mis-fits and forged them into a family, everywhere he went," Michael added. "We'd have done anything for him, and given our lives for each other." He looked down, his eyes sad. "Some did, but we remember them well. None of us ever thought of counting the cost. I've continued that."
"That's—that's really somethin'," Mal said huskily, and cleared his throat.
"We're not that different, Mal. In some ways, I never left my Serenity Valley. If I did, I'd be saying what they gave up didn't matter." He looked at Reynolds and added, "But I don't let it eat at me. It's done. You can't change the past, and living there will kill you, sooner or later. You have to live in and for now."
Mal blinked. "Don't know if'n I can. Lotta good men an' women died fightin' for their freedom."
"Can we not go there?" Simon asked. He looked at them, Dragon and Wolf, and asked, "What do you plan to do?"
They looked at each other and smiled grimly. It was very interesting to see a dragon smile. "No plans, Simon. We live for every day. Have to. No idea what's coming, so we don't worry what can't be helped."
River straightened abruptly. "He can't fix me, Simon," she said, startling everyone. "The damage is done. No more to do."
"But River..."
"No. Not his burden," she finished as Michael flinched. "He has enough to do."
Simon looked down. Kaylee wrapped her arms around River. "I'm sorry, mei mei."
"It's not a disaster." River looked at Michael as she and Kaylee returned to Simon's side. "He can teach me things I can't learn here. How to cope. How to use it."
"You have only to ask," the Wolf replied gravely as he shifted back to his original form.
Jayne stood and said, "Well, I dunno 'bout anyone else, but looks t' me as we're stuck with ya. Just stay outta my way." He left, and everyone watched him curiously.
Brath chuckled and said, "He's impressed. Won't admit it, though." She raised her head and looked outside. "Are we far enough out that I won't be seen?"
Mal nodded. "Should be. Why?"
"I need to spread my wings. I'll be back." Brath stood, turned and walked into the morning sun. She leapt into the air, her wings spreading, pumping and carrying her up. They all heard her joyous thought: Ah, sky time!
Kaylee's sigh took everyone by surprise. "Ain't that wonderful and shiny?"
"I think the word you want is 'radiant,' Kaylee," Inara said with a wistful smile. "Her joy in life shines like sunlight."
"Yes, now that you mention it, that's true," Michael said as he rolled up Brath's suit, which made a surprisingly small bundle. He walked in and set it down, then looked at it, and said, "We'll need to get into storage. We can't wear these all the time."
"You got clothes that'll pass?" Mal asked.
Michael smiled. "Near enough. Who really looks?"
"That's another thing. Your ship ain't gonna pass for Alliance, an' don't look as it can be fixed."
"With the wings ripped off? No." Michael scowled thoughtfully. "What we can use we'll salvage. Don't know if we can use it on Serenity, but we'll try. What we can't use we'll destroy."
"River said it wouldn't burn, some kinda laminate," Zoe said.
"I have thermite charges for just that reason. Well, shall we have a look?"
"Can I come an' see?" Kaylee bounced on her feet as she asked, and Michael chuckled.
"How do you stand this, Mal?"
"Sometimes—Well, you prob'ly know what was said."
"No, let's not go there. It would be a waste of time and duct tape."
Michael stepped down from the mule after they stopped beside his ship, and walked around the wreck. After a few minutes, he shook his head. "No, this can't be fixed. I can see tears in the fuselage."
"Can't?" Kaylee asked with disappointment. "Not at all?"
"Not in the field without specialised equipment. It's not the same as slapping a patch and welding it on. Skin's not just laminated, it's woven in a specific way, for a specific reason. Some systems are embedded in it." Michael looked at Kaylee. "Not even your special magic can help, Kaylee."
"I wish I could."
"You can. But first, I have to get it up out of the ground." Zoe and Mal noticed the way he said it, as opposed to saying her. That told them more than the words: He'd given up, and hated to. "Right. Well, stand back."
As Michael cracked his knuckles, Mal said, "You ain't liftin' that. Has to weigh at least a ton."
Michael smiled. "I'm much stronger than I look." He walked to the broken port wing-stub, located two lifting points, carefully set his hands and closed his eyes as he literally dead-lifted the ship to where it was no longer half-buried. When he set it down, he grimaced, and put a hand to his back. "And maybe not," he grunted.
"Tzao-gao! " Zoe murmured.
"You okay?" Mal asked. When Michael sat down hard and laid back, he said, "Chuai bu." He grabbed a com-link. "Doc, you might want to get out here. Michael's lookin' a bit poorly."
"I'll be right there," Tam replied.
Kaylee knelt by his side as Zoe looked at the ship and shook her head. "Looks like half the bottom's ripped out, Michael," Washburn said as she looked at the dirt-choked underside. "Front area looks good, though."
"Michael? What did you do?"
"Oohhh, I've strained my back." He looked angry and upset. "I could lift that with no trouble before—Oh, bloody hell." He suddenly looked worried. "Brath."
"What?" Mal asked.
Michael shifted and groaned. "If this is happening to me, she may be having trouble of her own."
"What kind o' trouble?" Mal asked as Simon ran up, bag in hand.
"Uhn! Maybe living."
Brath soared high, feeling wonderful. The sun felt good on her wings and scales, and the blood she'd drained from a wandering steer roiled pleasantly in her stomach, renewing her more than the flesh could. She let the sun's warmth soak in as she studied the ground and the village far, far below, where they couldn't see her. As she lazily turned, she felt a pull in her wing muscles. She noted it, and began to glide back toward Serenity, where she'd ask Simon to check her.
She felt another pull in her back, this time through her rapport with Michael, and it hurt. But what could he do that would hurt him? she wondered as she saw the glint from the ship's hull and began to spiral down.
There was another pull from her back, and this time it felt serious. She steepened her dive, dropping altitude rapidly as she began to feel her stomach churning with nausea. By the time she leveled out and dropped velocity, her back and stomach ached. She touched down with a slight stumble, and convulsed, vomiting up the blood she'd gorged on, and collapsed to the ground, dizzy and in pain. What's happening to me?
With some effort, she shifted to human form and began staggering towards Serenity. After stumbling along on suddenly sore feet, she reached the crash site to find Zoe, Kaylee, Mal and Simon gathered around Michael, who they were helping to his feet. "Michael!"
Brath's cry made everyone look to see her stumbling drunkenly towards them, one hand on her stomach. She looked terrible sick to Mal, who said, "I'll get her. Any salvagin's gonna wait." He trotted to her, and he was surprised when she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and hung on him as though exhausted. "Brath? What's wrong?" He looked at her bleeding feet and said, "Ni shou shang le."
Brath smiled weakly. "Good to know you're not daì ruò mù ji," she whispered. "Is Michael all right?"
"No, an' you don't look too good, bao-bei. Can ya walk?"
"I can now."
Mal let Brath lean on him as he walked slowly back to the mule. "Doc? Got another for ya."
Simon scanned her, and his eyes widened. "Well, it's not just Michael. Something's happened to them, Mal. I don't get any machine or other readings." He looked up and said, "They're human."
"Human?" Jayne looked into the infirmary as Simon treated Michael and Brath. "How's that?"
"We'll know when Doc's finished," Mal replied. "Wonder how an' why it happened, though."
Inara walked out, carrying Michael's rolled-up suit. "I can't believe it," she said. "I saw the readings, Mal. Before and after. Nothing in common, other than some slight trace."
"They gonna be okay?" Kaylee asked.
"Simon thinks so. He's trying to make head or tail of what he's getting," Inara said as River walked to the window and looked in. "Different 'verse, different rules," Tam said.
"Come again, mei mei?" Mal said.
"Our 'verse has rules. Theirs too. They don't match, and ours wins."
"They're not gonna die?" Kaylee asked with a catch in her voice.
"No. Have to adjust to being human; haven't been for a long time," River answered, her eyes never leaving the room's interior.
"Inara." Simon stood in the door. "Bring Michael's suit. He needs something from it."
"They all right, Doc?" Jayne asked.
"Planning to sell their stuff already?"
Cobb looked wounded. "Now, doc. Not 'til they's dead. Won't deny I don't much care for him, but her... Ain't never seen somethin' so … sexy in my life. Shame to lose that."
Mal looked at the mercenary. "Well, I guess my days of underestimatin' you are gettin' near to endin', Jayne."
"Sexy ain't quite right, Mal. Life just seems to shine off her, ya know?" Jayne replied as Inara joined Simon inside.
Reynolds nodded. "Be a shame to lose that, dan nang."
"What did you need?" Simon asked as Inara put the suit down beside Michael.
"Easier to show you." Whitmer removed a device from the belt, opened it and touched a control. He pointed one end at Brath, touched another control and pointed it to himself. He touched it again and looked at its screen, then took a small item from it, handed it to Inara and said, "Point the round end outside for about thirty seconds. I think I know what's happened." Speaking seemed to tire him, and he lay back.
"Right away."
As she passed, Mal asked, "Anything?"
"Not yet. Michael has some idea." She left when Mal nodded, and returned a few minutes later. When she entered the infirmary, Inara said, "Did you get what you needed?"
He held out a hand and she set the device in it. He replaced it in the scanner, touched a few more controls and nodded. "I thought so," he said wearily.
"Michael?" Brath asked weakly as Simon finished cleaning and bandaging her feet.
"Kirlian and blue levels are low; all but non-existent, Brath," Whitmer replied as he closed the scanner and laid back.
"And that means?"
"Basically, it means the magical 'background field' is too low for us to use most of our abilities," Micheal replied as Mal, Jayne and River walked in and sat down. River took their hands and squeezed them gently. "Thank you, mei mei."
"So what's it all mean put together?" Jayne asked.
"We're human, through and through, not only in looks," Brath said as tears formed and ran from her eyes. "I won't be able to fly," she sobbed.
"That's terrible," Kaylee said from the door. "Not gonna be able to see it again."
"It could have been much worse. The level's enough to keep Brath alive," Michael said.
"Keep breathin'," Mal said. "The rest takes care o' itself."
"I believe we have that part down, Mal," Brath said with a wan smile.
Reynolds smiled a little. "Well, happens we have a job. Badger called while you was out. Seems he's got a problem gettin' anyone else."
"Ain't sayin' much for you, Mal," Michael said.
"No, it ain't. But Badger's kinda fun, in a low-life, liou coe shway duh biao-tze huh hoe-tze fuh ur-tze kinda way."
"And I thought we had a problem. How soon?"
"Week the latest. You'll get your chance t' pick through, Mike."
"It's Michael, Captain," Brath said. "He doesn't answer to anything else. Well, he does, but I don't think you'll be sayin' that any time soon."
"Why does that creepify me more'n River ever did?"
"Probably because she implied you might," Inara said with a smile. "Is there anything you need off your ship, and can we get to it now?"
"Kaylee knows where the storage bay controls are. Should open. Two cargo units, not too big," Michael replied, slurring his words with weariness. "Not too heavy."
"We'll get 'em. You see to the rest," Mal said. "Get some sleep. That's an order."
Michael replied softly, "Can't order me around, boy. Ain't one o' your crew."
Mal started, then smiled as he leaned down and looked at them both. "Yes, you are. Now get some sleep," he said gently. He watched as their eyes closed and their breathing slowed slightly. "They really gonna be all right?"
"Once they get more rest," Simon replied. "They may have been able to go with less or without before, but not now." He shook his head as he studied the scanner Michael used. "This is definitely not Alliance. Far too advanced in some directions."
"I know. I kinda recognize this," he said, tapping the badge that had a mis-shaped arrowhead over an oblong shield. What didn't match his almost-memory was the shield was larger and had a black band with a gold and silver line down its center; both ran under the arrowhead, which had an elongated black star on it. Brath's differed only in the line was gold, and the Roman numeral 11 occupied the lowest corner of the arrowhead. "I wonder if he knows what could be comin' our way. Said we're a story to him."
"Don't like the idea o' that, Mal," Jayne said as Inara left the infirmary. "Knowin' what's comin' ain't natural."
"It is, but it's not perfect," River said as she put Brath's hand in Michael's. She sounded more lucid than they remembered, even after Miranda. "It's more like knowing what might happen."
"Hunh. Good an' bad, Albatross?"
"Yes. Avoid the bad, if we can; chase after the good, if we can catch it." River looked at them sadly. "Old and strong need us, now. Later we'll need them. Second law of motion: Equal and opposite reaction."
"I'm not sure that's quite right, mei mei," Simon replied as he covered them with a blanket each.
"I'm guessin' it ain't that far off the mark, doc," Mal said. "Won't know 'til it comes, an' I aim to worry then." He turned to Kaylee. "Ready to open it up an' see what's shiny, Kaylee?"
"Sure, Cap'n. Bet Brath's got some pretties she wouldn' mind sharin', neither," the mechanic said, bright as ever.
"Okay. Doc, when you're done, could I trouble ya to clear a room? Can't see makin' them do it."
"It won't be a problem, Mal." Simon watched as River left, then added, "I think being near them is helping her in ways I can't. I'm not sure I like it, but I won't fight it."
"Good. Like as accept what ya can't fix, Simon." He turned to Jayne. "Look sharp, y'hear?"
"Shouldn' be trouble, Mal. It's all shiny."
"Well, let hope it's smooth, too. Sure could use a bit o' that."
Kaylee hooked a chain to a supporting strut, then waved slowly. When tension had been set she stepped back and said, "Let 'er rip." Mal applied power, and the mule rose, dragging the ship with it, until it was completely exposed. Kaylee waved, and Reynolds lowered and stopped, then helped remove the chain. "Yep, she's tore up somethin' fierce," the mechanic said as she inspected the underside to starboard. "Wings won't go back on right, fer one. Whole bottom's shredded, too." She picked up a piece of the exterior skin and looked at it carefully. "An' this won't go back together right, no how." She tossed the fragment aside with a gusty sigh.
"Let's find their gear, then see," Mal said. He boosted Kaylee up, and she settled into the front seat, studying the controls.
"Power comin' on," she warned. There was a soft hissing sound. "Landin' gear extendin'." There was a grinding sound, and two long skids extended, lifting the ship's body from the ground. "Okay. Openin' up." A large door directly below the cockpits lowered, and Mal saw two metal containers inside the bay. "Um, now how to I get down?"
Mal looked to see Kaylee looking from four meters up. "Ladders?" he suggested. Her head disappeared, and there was a slight whine as two narrow ladders folded out. Kaylee slowly climbed down and joined him, smiling as usual. "Shiny." They stood on the door, looked into the bay, and Kaylee found the locks. The one meter cubes slid out easily, and they found they could move each one between them. "What you think's in 'em?"
"Clothes, an' other things. Maybe weapons," Mal answered. Once the items were out, they inspected the interior. Kaylee pointed to another small door, found the latch and opened it. Inside were two flat cases, and what looked to be a large speaker box. Mal looked and said, "Looks to be an amplifier. Reminds me o' somethin'." He looked at Kaylee, who crawled inside, looking for more surprises; her eyes were shining.
"That's all," she said. Something on the floor caught her eye, and she crouched down to look through a small hole. "Nasty lookin' mess in there, Cap'n. Looks like wires and cables, all of 'em tore through an' dirt ever'where." She sat up and looked fore-and aft with a sigh bigger than she was. "Michael's right. She's a goner."
"Bet that hurts, mei mei," Reynolds answered huskily. The thought of Serenity's condition a few months back made it easy to understand. "Well, let's load up an' see about checkin' over Serenity. Don't need more parts fallin' off my gorram ship."
Kaylee smiled. "Shiny. Got her lots o' parts. Fix her up right."
When they returned, Kaylee went aft as Jayne helped unload the containers. "Y'know, they ain't as heavy as they look," Cobb said. "Somethin' this big oughta weigh more."
"I know," Mal replied as he handed down the cases and speaker box. "Hey, don't—" he began as Jayne opened one.
"This electric?" Jayne found a clean rag, wiped his hands and carefully lifted out a guitar.
"He won't like that, Jayne. Kinda like Vera."
"Ain't gonna even try ta play it." Jayne carefully inspected the guitar. It was black, with silver hardware and mother-of-pearl inlays of the arrowhead on the fretboard. Several switches were placed below the bridge. "Work o' art," he said reverently as he replaced it. "It's beautiful, Mal."
"Huh. Don't recall he mentioned this."
"Why would he? Prob'ly show us, some time." Jayne closed and gently set the case on a container. "Think other's the same?"
"Why two? Brath don't look that kind," Mal replied as he set the other case with the first. "O' course, we don't know what a dragon lady would play."
"Still hard ta believe. Doc says they'll be a'right, come mornin'. Exhaustion."
"Well, Kaylee's doin' work on Serenity, an' we got time afore Badger wants us at Eavesdown." Mal waved to the pumps, filters and tanks. "Let's get some water."
"I'll bring Vera. Might be more deer," Cobb said, smacking his lips.
"That'd be shiny. Let's load up."
Everyone was up early the next morning, as ship and planet time never match. Dawn had just broken when Simon checked on Michael and Brath, who were yawning and stretching. "Good morning. How do you feel?"
"Hungry," they said as one, and laughed.
"Well, I think Kaylee's working on breakfast. While that's happening, let me check you."
Michael rolled his eyes, and River said, "No making faces" from the door. Michael stuck out his tongue. "He's fine, Simon."
Simon grinned as he scanned them. After the readings came up, he said, "Yep, you're both fine." He watched as they wrapped the blankets around themselves and headed for the door. "Doesn't being naked bother you?"
"You ought to see us at home," Brath replied. "Casual doesn't begin to cover it."
"I suppose. Well, your belongings are aboard, and Kaylee was talking about helping you salvage what you can."
"Any idea when we need to be on Persephone?"
"You'll have to ask the captain," Simon answered. "That's not exactly my area."
Brath grinned evilly. "Very nice dodge, Simon. Let's go get decent."
"Well, let's get dressed," Michael replied drolly. River followed them to the cargo bay after they tied the blankets to form something like togas; Mal and Jayne were hoisting the mule down. "Good morning."
"Mornin'," Reynolds answered. "You feelin' up to the job?"
"Depends on the job, but yes." Michael stopped in front of one container and set his hand on it. When it didn't open, he said, "Oh, right. It's not getting what it wants." He thought briefly, then said, "Open up. It's me." The top unlatched and slid open. When it did, he tapped at a small panel set into the inside wall and placed his hand over the scanner plate. It beeped twice. "There." He pulled out two cases and handed them to Brath. "Which room is ours?"
"I'll show you," River said. "Simon cleared it out while you were sleeping."
"Tell him thank you," Brath said as Michael removed two more cases.
"Is that all?" Mal asked.
"Just the essentials. We'll get the rest after we're presentable."
Jayne stopped at their side and said, "If'n I went too far, I'm sorry, but I took a look at your guitar. It's a beauty."
Michael closed the container. "I don't mind, as long as it wasn't damaged."
"Perfect condition. You play much?"
"Off hours, usually. I'm guessin' there'll be some o' that on the trip."
"Pick a way o' talkin', willya?"
"Fahng sheen. Meantime, we'll get dressed an' meet y'all for breakfast."
As they followed River aft, Brath said, "What about ID, Michael? If the Alliance is what we think it is, anyone without will at least be watched."
"I know. We'll have to see if Badger's feeling generous enough to help and not gouge us. Fat chance. He thinks he's something of merit, only because he's a 'businessman.' Nothing's really changed, has it?"
"He's nothing," River said. "He talks bigger than he is. Nuofu."
"I have a better: He's a banty rooster, with a size eight ego for his size three soul," Michael replied as they reached the passenger spaces. River slid the door open and stepped inside. "Not a good idea, mei mei."
"I've seen you both naked. I haven't been blinded," River countered with a smile.
"She's got a point," Brath commented. Michael shrugged, and they walked in. River closed the door behind them.
"I need to talk with you, without Simon hearing. He's a worrier."
"As you say, River. Speak on."
Everyone had just sat down when River, Michael and Brath joined them. "Just in time," Mal said as he looked at their clothing. It was similar to what everyone else wore: Jeans, t-shirts under button-down shirts and calf-high boots. Michael's colors were black, silver and blue, while Brath wore brown, gold and red. "No guns?"
"Haven't gotten them out, yet," Whitmer replied. "Could make Jayne a mite jealous."
"That'll be the day," Cobb replied as he stood and held River's chair, making everyone but Michael and Brath look at him oddly. "What? I cain't be a gentleman?" he said as he sat down.
"I think it's more 'Who are you, and what have you done with Jayne?' " Brath said with a smile. "It's different, for one."
"It's a first for anyone here," Simon replied as Michael held Brath's chair.
Kaylee half-heartedly slapped at him. "Oh, never mind. Ain't none o' us ladies."
"Speak for yourself." Brath leaned over and kissed Michael as he sat beside her, then whispered in his ear. He chuckled, and replied, "No, no teaching them bad habits. They've got plenty."
Inara walked in, made some tea, sat beside Mal and said, "Good morning. I see we're all in a good mood today." She took a few slices of the wonderful bread they made in town, and slathered on butter and very thick cream.
"Just about ready to get started, Inara," Mal said. "We'll get the salvage done, an' it's off to Persephone."
Inara stopped with her fork half-way to her mouth and scowled. "Atherton will be pleased to hear that."
"No need t' deal with him. Likely there's others you can."
"Maybe. After black-listing him, it could be no one will want to deal with me."
"Can't say 'til we get there. You could check for waves 'fore we leave. Take about five days. No reason to go slow."
"Got a question," Michael said after swallowing. "We don't have idents, an' I'm sure the Alliance might take interest. Who can we talk to about gettin' 'em?"
"Dunno. Might be a problem," Mal replied after wiping his mouth. "Y'all ain't in the Cortex. If y'all were replacin' lost idents, they'd just check and give 'em to ya." He sipped his coffee. "Might have to go through Badger, an' it won't be cheap."
"Even if that meiyou muqin de xiao gou is cheaper than dirt," Jayne added with a growl. "Thinks a lot o' himself."
"Sad little king of a sad little hill," River said. "He talks, but says nothing important."
"That's Badger," Zoe agreed. "Got anything you could trade?"
"No coin, that's what you mean," Michael replied. "Might have some rare metals, if they still use 'em. Palladium and rhodium, mostly. Still used for electronics an' such, right?"
"Yep," Kaylee said, nodding. "How much?"
"Maybe a kilogram, all told. Have to strip it out."
Mal and Zoe looked at each other across the table, thinking. Zoe said, "That could do, even if Badger over-charged, sir."
"An' he will," Jayne grumbled. "Gorram cheat."
"He won't get the chance," Brath said. "I have a few valuable odds and ends. Nothing I can't live without."
"I have a few kilos of gold, but I won't mention it unless I have to," Michael said. "Not everyone uses it for money, but it's still used in electronics."
"What about your technology?" Simon asked.
"An' take the chance the Alliance will get aholt of it? And come lookin' for the source? That'd be worse than not having ident in the first place," Mal replied. "We still don't know if'n we're all wanted. Operative said he tried, but couldn' say how it'd go."
" 'They are not gone, and they are not forgiving'," Michael quoted, sounding so much like the Operative that Mal and Inara flinched. "Still have to think about that," he finished as he sat back and enjoyed his second cup of coffee.
"You thinkin' they'll leave us be?"
"Parliament's made o' people, like any gov'ment, Kaylee," Michael answered. "Always lookin' out for themselves." Michael held up a cigarette and looked at Mal, who nodded. As he lit up, he continued, "Hard to say. Some might wanna put it behind 'em an' worry after ridin' out the storm, others might want pay-back for exposin' their mistake. How far they go depends on how bad they was hurt. Or they could make a show of investigatin' and put out a little puppet-theatre for the sheep. They do it right, it'll blow over, and no one will make a fuss, 'specially if they find someone to blame that can't fight back."
Mal nodded. "Could, mei mei. They could wait 'til they felt we was thinkin' it was safe, an' come after us like wolves." He looked at Michael, who nodded. "Could go any o' those ways."
"So, we're not really safe." Inara looked around the table worriedly.
"You still got that record, Mal?" Brath asked.
"No. Left it. Didn't think it mattered."
"It might," Michael said. "Depends on who wins the argument."
"Last I knew, it was still down at the terminal. Operative left it there, wavin' over and over." As Michael leaned on his elbows, thinking, Mal asked, "You thinkin' we should go back for it?"
"Couldn't hurt, but if nothin's happened by now, it won't for more like a year, when they're ready. If that's even what they're doing." Michael shook his head. "That's the hard part, tryin' to get inside someone's head you never met."
"Well, meet us by the mule, an' we'll get started. 'Nara, you could do your lookin' while we're out. River, check the Cortex an' see if anyone's lookin' for us." Mal stood and finished his coffee. "Comin', Kaylee?"
"An' miss this? No way."
"Mind if I come along?" Simon asked. "I'm going to assume any help would be appreciated."
Michael stood and said, "As a matter of fact, I have some medical gear you might want to see. Don't know if you can use it, but you're welcome."
"All right. Half an hour," Mal said. "Zoe, ship's yours."
"Yes, sir. Just r'member last time you said that."
Mal used the mule to drag the wings back to the ship's side as Michael, Kaylee and Simon gathered the other scraps. After that, Michael climbed into the cockpit, opened a hatch in the floor and began tossing survival and medical equipment down to the others. After that, he opened the repair locker, removed all the tools and equipment and began running cables from the power system to the wings. "Will that do any good?" Kaylee asked.
"I'll scan the units, an' scrap what's trashed," Michael replied. He opened a service panel in the port wing, attached a power/data lead, touched a control and the leading edge opened, revealing sensors and other devices. Michael took the scanner from the tool kit and began scanning, then removed each unit that wasn't damaged, and repeated the process on the starboard wing. When he finished, he had a dozen inscrutable devices to hand into the mule.
"Is that all?" Kaylee asked as she inspected them.
"Forward an' topside systems are left. Aft and belly are gone," Michael replied with a grimace. "A hundred-forty million credits reduced to a few hundred thousand."
"How's that translate to ours?" Mal asked as he joined Michael at the ship's nose.
"Something like two metric tons of platinum."
"You're kidding!" Mal and Kaylee said.
"Wish I was. This was a prototype." Whitmer grinned lopsidedly. "It passed, right up to the crash."
"What's coming out of here?" Michael touched a control; doors retracted and a flexible-mount twelve millimeter Gatling gun appeared. "Whoa! Jayne's gonna like that. How do we get it out?"
Michael looked at the mule and said, "One load by itself. It extends and lowers. Stand back." He touched another control and the mount detached and hung on two service points. "I should have brought my suit; it has higher strength." He shrugged. "We're in no hurry."
Kaylee and Simon returned from loading the mule. "Oh, wow. We're gonna need the trailer."
"That we will," Mal agreed. "Anything else?" Michael touched another control and two doors opened, revealing missile cells. "Hunh. Jayne asked about the missiles off the gunship. Think Alliance tech works with yours?"
"I'll know once I get a look," Michael said as Kaylee and Simon returned to Serenity with the first load. "While they're gone, I'll start strippin' sections. Forgot I used platinum for critical systems. Maybe a half to three-quarters kilo. I may be rich; I don't know."
"Have to be, to build this," Mal replied, running a hand over the nose.
Michael chuckled. "Oh, yeah. My corporation's big enough that I forget about money, sometimes. That, an' money ain't a priority in my 'verse. Self-improvement is, since we don't have that kind o' system, and poverty and hunger are gone."
"Really? I'd never 'a thought you was Corporate," Mal replied as Whitmer opened the wings and began stripping out metal, tossing it into a large bin.
"Once upon a time your 'verse an' mine were the same, but changes caused 'em to split. Can't tell you when or why; ain't seen enough o' yours to figure it out," Michael said as he finished and started on the other wing.
"Ain't important."
Michael disconnected the cables, climbed up and repeated the dismantling process on the tail section, then began opening panels and removing metal. By the time the mule returned, he had the bin almost full. "That it?" Kaylee asked.
"Not all of it, but I can't get the rest without takin' another day, which we ain't exactly got."
They backed the trailer under the gun mount and Michael lowered it down, then shifted the ammunition feeds and cases, and began pulling long pieces of cabling from the wreck. After he'd finished that, Michael returned to the cockpit, disconnected and powered down. He reached under his seat and pulled a small case from its socket and handed it to Mal. "The gold. Now to see if the interface still works. Don't know as Serenity's systems are made for this stuff."
"We'll make another run," Simon replied, and they were off.
Mal climbed up and watched as Michael ran diagnostics, then unlatched the control and readout interface, unplugged and set it on the seat, which he'd laid flat. He opened yet another floor panel and removed what Mal thought was some kind of computer, and pulling as much cabling as would come out. When he asked, Michael nodded. "Can't ask Serenity to do all the work, Mal. It's gonna be interestin' just installin' everything. Not sure about the weapons, but I ain't leavin' 'em for someone to mess with."
"Dangerous?"
"Very. High-explosive shells for the guns, and I don't know if the power systems are safe. Got a readin' I didn't like." He straightened and looked around. "Same for the gunship. Best we drag it on top of this one. Send 'em up together. That way, anyone tries figurin' out what's here, they'll find what they recognize, and leave it be. Hope so, anyway."
"You said thermite. How big?"
"Five ten-kilo charges. Should slag everything."
Mal looked at Whitmer as though he'd sprouted another head. "It'd slag three."
"Not takin' any chances, Mal. No one I don't trust is gettin' my tech, 'specially the Alliance. Could change things in a way we don't want it goin', dong ma?"
"That bad?"
"Imagine 'em with faster-than-light travel, and long-range energy weapons. How many more planets could they mess up?"
"You're kiddin'." Reynolds looked at him skeptically.
"No, I ain't. One o' the stories I read – written by fans o' the vid – mentioned the Alliance bein' Machiavellian, run by deceit, cunnin' an' bad faith, manipulatin' everyone to get what ya want. I ain't read Machiavelli's work, but I understand it. Had to do it more'n once, an' hated myself for it." Michael sighed. "If they got one piece, they could figure out the rest. Can't take the chance, Mal."
Mal looked at the console. "Then you might want to destroy all this. They catch us, they get it."
Michael smiled. "Not gonna happen. Got a charge in it. The Alliance ain't the only problems I got."
"You ain't blowin' up my boat!"
"Not that kinda charge. No explosion, just melts. Special materials an' processes."
Reynolds stood there, then shrugged. "If you can do it, Michael." He paused. "Brath said ya answered to other names. Any we can use?"
"Got plenty others I answer to. Best is my first given name: Snake. Don' use it, much, 'cept among friends an' family." He smiled thinly at Mal. "Ain't sure how that applies to crew."
"Nothin's impossible. Might come in handy, we have to tell you somethin' ain't right."
"You think like I do. I'm sorry." They chuckled. Michael finished his work and shut the system down completely. "Well, let's get this down." He passed the system down, and Mal set it on the storage door, which was still open from the day before. When that was done, Michael opened an access in the bay and removed several coils of cabling.
"All that necessary?" Mal asked.
"Might have to run this on the exterior. Can't see makin' holes in Serenity that ain't needed, an' I can do that while we're on the way." Michael paused, looking off into the distance. "That depends on if we have enough power. They don't use much, but I don't know enough about Fireflies to guess."
"Me an' Kaylee be glad t' help," Mal said. "Be good to have two mechanics. An' two pilots. I sure miss Wash." He paused, then asked, "Thinkin' o' that, you a preacher, too?"
"No. I grew up under what's called the Old Religion. Don't care for Johnny-come-latelies." Michael smiled nastily. "They preach peace, love an' understandin' but don't practice it none, like those wanted to burn River. Liars an' bullies, all of 'em."
"You got a problem with this?" Mal took out his cross briefly.
"No, 'cept t' say 'Your rules, you go to hell.' Book believed, an' lived that way when he could, but he fought for his beliefs. Got no quarrel with that," Michael replied as the mule returned.
"You've got more?" Simon asked with disbelief.
"Just about all of it. Just the missile systems, an' what we can take from the gunship," Whitmer said as he lit a cigarette and drank some water. "Maybe two loads." He moved the console, and asked, "Can we install this in flight, Kaylee? Don't want to make us late."
The mechanic looked at everything, then said, "Might, if we have any space. Have to rig somethin' up."
"We'll see. The panel can be set up to do more'n one thing." Michael shrugged. "Worry about it when it comes."
Simon looked at him. "I almost can't tell you're not from this 'verse. Is it that easy?"
Michael smiled as he set the cabling beside the console. "I've been switching accents and behaviours since long before you left Earth-that-was. All I need is to understand the rules," he replied in that cultured accent. "Never fear."
"Just so you keep your stories straight," Mal cautioned.
Michael chuckled. "No problem there. Almost do it in my sleep."
"Just out of curiosity, where do you plan to mount the weapons? Are there places?"
"I figure we can chin-mount the gun," Reynolds said. "The missiles could go on the engine struts. The sensor packages 'most anywhere, I'm guessin'."
"Will ya get outta my head?"
Michael was amused to see Mal and Simon go through what he called the blink-blank-blonk series of expressions: A blink of surprise, a blank expression, and blonk when the thought struck home. Kaylee noticed it, giggled and said, "Now stop it. Ain't fair doin' that to 'em, Michael."
"Maybe, but it's still fun, Kaylee. A little humility won't kill 'em."
"Ain't no help for neither. Cap'n's the Cap'n, an' Simon's no better."
"All right, had your fun; now let's get this done, so's we can leave," Mal groused. "Still got the missiles, yet." He looked up, and continued, "Figure we got six more hours o' daylight."
"We should be done before that. The mounts for that," Michael waved at the gunship, "Should be the hard part. The missile arrays for this," he waved to his ship, "Can go 'most anywhere. Won't worry about it, 'less we get into a hot zone."
"Good enough. Let's move."
Three hours later, Michael tied-down his gear in Serenity's cargo bay as Mal checked the salvage. It took up less space than he'd thought. Still got room for cargo, though not a lot. "We 'bout ready?"
Michael looked out at the piled mess that used to be two ships. "Yep. One last thing." He took out a small device and pressed a button. There was a whump! and both ships were engulfed, and soon began to sag as the heat built up. "Hasta la vista, baby."
Mal watched with him for a few minutes. "Shame about that, Michael."
Whitmer looked away. "I'll live. Ain't the first time I lost a ship. Won't be the last." He turned away and hit the switch, and the ramp lifted. "River, we're ready when you are," he said into the intercom.
"Affirmative." The engines wound up and caught with a dull roar, and Serenity lifted up, heading for the black.
"An' we start the next part o' the adventure," Michael said. "Badger."
"Yep. Badger," Mal agreed.
"Marvelous."
AN: Sorry this is so long; lots to set up and get out of the way. The other chapters should be shorter. The real fun starts then. R&R, please.
Chinese phrases – Thank-you to everyone; I can't find the right translation site; Berlitz helps, but not much.
Bao-bei – baby, sweetheart; Chuai bu – guess not
Daì
ruò mù ji – dumb as a wooden chicken; Dan nang – I'm
certain of it; Di yu – hell
Dong ma –
understand; Fahng sheen – Don't worry
Gou pi –
bullshit; Hundan – bastard or son of a bitch
Liou
coe shway duh biao-tze huh hoe-tze fuh ur-tze – Son of a
drooling whore and a monkey
Mei mei – little sister; Ni shou shang le – you're hurt; Pi gu – Rear end; ass
Tchen wah – slut; Tzao-gao! - Oh crap!; Wuo de ma – Mother of Jesus
Wo de tian ah – God in Heaven; Yúchûn – stupid/ignorant
