Chapter 2- Congratulations it's a Boy
''Zoe get a reading on that ship and please tell me that wreck isn't gonna blow up in five minutes''
''That ship isn't gonna blow up in five minutes Sir'
He hit the com button, "River turn that shuttle around and get back here"
''Sir, that ships gonna start falling apart in 20minutes.''
''River you get your gorram little ass back on this ship in 2 minutes or you are gonna be one sorry little mei mei. DONG MA!"
Simon entered the cock pit. ''Stop threatening her," he shouted.
"Ain't no threat it's a god damn promise," growled Mal.
"Let me try,"River, come on River get back here . It isn't safe. ''
''Sir, She's docking in their bay and the airlock is engaged and functioning; though the rest of the ship is pretty much dead or dying. She won't have long.''
Simon panicked, "River get your ass back here right now or when the captains finished kicking it I'll take my turn. Ma- shong!"
''Sir, I'm getting life readings. Two of them; one's pretty weak ''
''Great, a survivor, a friggin survivor of a Reaver attack!. The last one nearly killed us all and got the Alliance chasin' our tail and then I had to kill the poor insane bastard."
River flicked off the comm. Unit before she heard the captains threats. She didn't have to hear it on loud speaker. They were yelling loud enough in her brain. She tried to block them out. She needed to find him. She needed to get him safe and far, far away.
She could sense his presence in the docking bay. He was scared and he was sick. Simon would fix him. Simon and Wash would fix him. He was hiding. She went up to a large pile of broken crates and freight boxes and crouched down real low. She then laid flat down on the ground facing a small figure huddled in the only space there.
''Round and round the mulberry bush the monkey chased the Weasel.''
The small shaking figure looked up into the large eyes of River as she continued to chant, "The monkey stopped to pull up his socks, And Pop goes the weasel…..I've no time to plead and pine, I've no time to wheedle,'' She sat up and back onto her legs "Kiss me quick, and then I'm gone …"
Suddenly a shaking and hairy little thing jumped right into River's lap and grasped her tightly around the neck.''Pop! Goes the weasel"
She then stood up and skipped back to Inara's shuttle and strapped them both in.
''Sir she's disengaging from the loading bay. And she's' got the life form on board.''
''Shun-SHENG duhgqo-wan ,bai dua an jing yida; holy testicle Tuesday, give me a break," snarled Mal. ''Kaylee; as soon as that shuttles locked get those engines pumping. Zoe; fly us out of here as far away as possible. Simon; you and Inara get to the infirmary. Jayne; you and bertha are with me.''
"It's VERA Mal, Bertha's smaller…"
Simon interrupted Jayne's rant and grabbed Mal '' Not on your god damn life. I'm going with you! And just what do you think you're going to have to do?" he asked pointing to Jayne's weapon. . ''MAKE THE GORRAM CALL ! '' yelled Mal.
''River won't let you, this is all her idea, and she won't let you hurt anyone.''
''Look, I ain't looking forward to this, but it may not be an "any one"; and any of my crew that are in danger, includin River, Jayne's gonna fire his big girlie there, straight through it. It may just be we be doin' it a kindness. So if ya willing to stand beside me and maybe help with River and not try to stop me if I have to something you don't thinks pretty ; ya can come. Dong le mah? ''
''Sir, I don't think there is going be any immediate threat. Rivers vitals are good and the other one's reading like it's asleep," reported Zoe.
Simon went over to the console to study the readings. ''It's more than asleep. It's in a deep vegetative state and its human.''
Just then they heard the familiar sounds of Inara's shuttle locking in.
''Well I ain't taken any chances, neither is Vera here.'' Jayne led the way as all three men stormed off towards the shuttle doors.
As they arrived the door immediately opened and River flew out. Jayne picked her up almost three feet off the ground and handed her to Mal. Jayne entered the shuttle with bertha aimed and ready. River instantly embraced Mal. Mal felt a small wave of relief as the tension and fear for Rivers safety and the rest of his family slowly subsided .He hugged River back and spoke softly.' Thank god nyen ching-duh ; young one''
Jayne called back from the shuttle'' Hey Capt'n the Docs right. It's out cold.
" I hypnotised him'' River said with a giggle and some pride.
Mal picked her up by her shoulders and dropped her firmly on her feet, and then in one swift motion bent her over securing her with his left arm, he propped her on his hip and rained a volley of quick sharp slaps to her backside. With nearly every word that followed he smacked again. "What in the gorram hell did you think you were doing. Ya scared the bejesus ottta the rest of this crew and endangered their life and your own. Now get your sore sorry little butt up to that infirmary so your brother can check you over." Smack, Smack, Smack! He stood her back up and pushed her forward, "GO!"
River had sensed the worry and couldn't help but read everybody's thoughts. They were all coming at her at once. Because of that she hadn't foreseen Mal's actions just now. Well she sort of did, but it seemed everybody was wanting to the exact same thing as Mal, so it wasn't easy to figure out what was an idle threat or thought and what was actually going to happen in reality. The reality was her bottom was now on fire.
Simon looked up ready to speak his mind about the fact the captain had just spanked his 17 year old sister, though he had made the same threat over the comm earlier on. River met his expression and walked passed him, rubbing her backside she then paused, "I'm sorry I scared you, Simon."
"MOVE !" Mal barked and River scooted.
''Hey Mal"' called Jayne. "Ya better come and have a look at what little crazy bought back with her."
Simon and Mal moved into the cock pit of Inara's shuttle; there strapped to the chair was a small long haired child. His clothes were a mix of rags and leather, crudely sewn together or fastened with metal clips. It was hard to work out where cloth met skin, as most of his exposed flesh was dirty and scarred. His small face was spotted with bruises and two ugly gashes, one about two inches long that started at the corner of his mouth and one that almost ran the entire left side of his face . They were held together with crude leather stitches that crusted at their entry points as the healing progressed.
'' TAMADA!... It's a baby Reaver! ''
Mal just stared and wondered; what the hell were we gonna do now. How can this even be? Jesus Christ, Buddha and all the holy fathers, are they breeding?Gwai-gwai long duh dong ?What the hell.!
Simon was checking the child out. ''It's a male child probably about five to six years old.''
"Doc, tell me... they aren't breeding?" asked Jayne.
Mal couldn't imagine that they would have abducted him on one of their raids. Everybody always presumed that the Reavers would eventually die out or get themselves all killed off. It might take fifty years or so, but seeing they were no reported sightings of any female Reavers, though who could tell they were such ugly bastards, they couldn't pro create. Was that possible without a female? They mutilated everybody they'd ever come across. But what if they had taken a kid and exposed him to all the horrors that they were capable of; what chance did he have of living a normal life. This was real nasty, thought Mal and he wanted his crew as far away as possible.
Simon rolled his eyes. ''Well I can pretty much guarantee that that he was not born and bred a Reaver you imbeciles'. It's impossible.''
Mal felt like a dick. ''Hey nothings impossible. I mean who would have thought your sister could take out nearly the entire colony of the Miranda Reavers. We know there's a heap of em still around. Maybe they've mutated again or some hoobligook medical thingy and can now have kids.''
Then Jayne had a bright idea, "Well ifin that's the case we ought to get the Doc here to you know; like dissect him and find out stuff like that."
"FAY-FAY duh PEE-yen." Mal knew Jayne was a bigger dick! "Are you a complete inhumane specimen, sorry definition for a human bein.'' Shouted Mal
'' Chur ni duh ! screw you ! Hey 'use' was the one that was gonna have me blow a hole through it . ''
''That was before I knew it was a harmless infant!Buhn Dahn; moron !
Suddenly a flying, running, hairy, grunting and screeching figure literally ran around the walls of the shuttles cock pit and lunged itself at Jayne.
Jayne and Mal both yelled. Jayne flung the kid off like he was a rattle snake.
''What ya do that for . Get a net or something,'' ordered Mal.
''He attacked me,'' defended Jayne.
''He did not ya big girl. He probably only weighs about forty pounds. He just fast and looks like he can just about climb anything.''
The child was now in the cargo bay scaling the scaffolding, but not knowing where to go. He then paused for a minute on the third platform.
''Quick get a net, we should be able to catch him,'' called Mal.
River and Inara came out onto the mezzanine. River moved to stand on the landing and put her arms out. The boy scaled the scaffolding so fast; it looked like he was flying. He then jumped into Rivers arms. She cradled him humming, "Round and round the Mulberry bush the monkey chased the weasel…His names Anthony' and he's sick Simon." River then turned and headed back towards the infirmary.
Mal felt like a real idiot! "Well at least we know he ain't a born and bred Reaver."
Though he thought to himself, may have been better ifin he was. At least he would had some basic survival instincts. The odds of this kid ever bein healthy and normal were probably a zillion to one.
How W'rin Bu Lai, Whai W'rin Bu Jwo.
Things just never go smooth.
TBC
Chapter 3 Anthony
A.N sorry about the crappy sci fi tech stuff. I've watched every episode heaps of times but I just can't get this stuff right. Like Kalyee flying the ship in chapter one. Still loking for a beta, I keep checking for mistakes, but keep missing them. –
Please review- 'bagg" it 'whatever' , Tell me how to make it better. I'd actually like to finish it. I think it has potential.
