Chapter Two

Serenity settled on the landing pad in a hiss of steam. Shwai's main city of Zhongari was a delicate balance of Chinese and European culture. There were tall buildings that were Roman in architecture and beautiful gardens in the traditional Chinese form. Although it wasn't one of the Central Planets, Shwai was much, much nicer than most of the fringe planets. For that reason, this planet was the main hub this side of the 'verse. Thousands of travelers and traders passed through Zhongari Port every day. Alliance control was minimal, mainly because there was too much are to cover with the few troops stationed there. As soon as the ramp was down and the bay doors opened, Kaylee set off for the nearest spare parts store while Wash and Zoë went to register the ship with the Port Official. Jayne, who had kept to himself the past two days, came out only to sit in his favorite chair in the cargo bay of Serenity reading a magazine. A long, dark red scar was all that remained of his bar injury. Mal passed through the large room on his own way out. He cast a puzzled look in the young man's direction. Whenever they made port, Jayne was one of the first off the ship. If he wasn't hitting the bars he was off with a woman.

He stopped by Simon who was standing in the cargo bay. He rarely ventured out of the ship due mainly to the fact that the Alliance had plastered Simon's face over ever city with any foot traffic.

"Keep an eye on Jayne for me would ya? He's been acting strange as of late."

"You got it," Simon promised.

River watched the exchange quietly from her perch up on the cargo bay's catwalk. She still didn't have any of the answers that she was looking for. She technically wasn't allowed off the ship since Simon wasn't going either, but she had made up her mind. Something was calling her from the city. Something she didn't quite understand. Unfortunately that was happening more and more often. Ever since her escape from the "School" nothing in her life made since. There were whispers, voices crying out for help but she had no way to answer. She slipped quietly down the stairs and waited for her brother to turn his back before making her escape. Out in the streets, there was so much bustle and movement it was hard not to get caught up in the flow. She chose a general direction and set off. She had about three hours before she would start to be missed. Three hours to find whatever was speaking to her. She gazed up at the tall buildings around her. Their architecture was beautiful. Graceful. It reminded her of spring on Osiris. The way the cherry blossoms floated on the breeze and layered the ground in a sweet smelling carpet. She rounded the corner and saw several bars with flashing lights. People were constantly streaming in and out and loud music blared within. One of the bars, called Red Dawn Tavern, stood out to her. This was the source. She wove her way through the crowds and ducked indoors. Inside, it was huge. There were dozens of tables, a long bar, and a huge stage where performances were undoubtedly put on. River walked past the bar and sat at one of the tables in the darkest corner of the room. Overhead the lights were dimmer than the rest of the place, probably for those who wished to remain unseen. Two strangers at a table across from her briefly glanced her way, but seeing that she wasn't old enough to be a fed, Alliance spy, or working girl, they continued with their conversation. She sat silently for a while, trying to clear her mind, but it proved to be futile. Her thoughts whirled around as if caught in a whirlpool. It was hard to focus on what was in front of her or concentrate on anything but the obvious. Just then, it seemed as if the world died away. The music dimmed out and the many conversations became muted. Only two voices were clear and they came from behind her.

"Is it just me or does she look like that fugitive the Alliance has been buzzing about for the past few months?"

"Sure does. Maybe we should go introduce ourselves," the second man sniggered nastily.

River sat stock still. She knew they were talking about her. There was no other person that they could be discussing. Not many girls were wanted by the Alliance these days. Her thoughts were interrupted by two large men sitting down at her table.

"Hello Sweetie. Do you mind if we sit here?" The first man had foul breath and only one eye.

"O' course she don't," the second man answered. He had a beard that had seen better days if it had seen one at all.

This was it. This was the moment when time rippled in plain sight and the sheen of new life died. She didn't say anything. There was nothing to say. She was caught. They would take her and there was nothing she could do about it. At least, not yet. All she had to do now was wait. Wait and be patient.

Simon sifted through his medical bag and sighed. He hated being left behind on the ship. There was nothing to do. Nothing that he hadn't already done in the many hours of flight time. He sighed and got up. He hadn't heard from River in a while and that wasn't necessarily a good thing. When he didn't hear her, she was usually getting into something that she shouldn't. Book usually was the one who kept an eye on her whenever they landed, but since he had left it had once again fallen to Simon to keep a careful eye on her. He headed to her room and knocked softly.

"River? River are you in there?"

Hearing no answer, he opened the door. Empty. He closed it back up and went to the dining room. Empty as well. He quickly checked the bridge and engine room but there was still no sign of River. Now he was starting to worry. He headed down to the cargo bay.

"Jayne! Have you seen River?"

Jayne looked up from his reading. "No. She missing? Again?"

"Looks that way. I've checked the rest of the ship and haven't seen any sign of her."

Jayne tossed his magazine on the ground and got up. "We best start looking for her. The last thing we need is some half-crazy girl wandering the streets of Zhongari telling everyone about the ship she came here on or its passengers."

Too worried about his sister to reprimand Cobb, Simon just nodded and went back to his room to grab a hat and sunglasses. It wasn't much of a disguise but it was all he had. He ran back down and he and Jayne set off on the streets. There was only one way they could walk due to them being stationed on the last pad in a long line so getting started was easy. They walked along, keeping pace with the crowd, carefully scanning every face to try and spot her. They rounded the next corner and came face to face with an Alliance patrol. Fear formed a lump in Simon's throat, but Jayne just grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the way and kept walking down the street. Bar after bar lined up and down both sides of the street. In between them were casinos and money changing stations.

"We'll never find her in this," Jayne muttered.

"We can't stop now! She could be in serious trouble," Simon whispered in despair. Shouting outside one of the bars caught his attention. Two rather large men were escorting a woman out. They had firm grips on her arms. She wasn't struggling, but she wasn't complacent either. It was like she could only walk in slow motion through a river. Simon had seen that before.

"There! Those men have her!" Simon pointed at the small group.

"Let's go!" Jayne fast walked forward and wove his way quickly through the crowd with Simon hard on his heels. The men seemed to sense that they were being followed and ducked down an alley. Jayne stopped right at the edge and motioned for Simon to be quiet. He peeked around the corner and quickly drew back.

"Do you see them?"

"Shut it doc," Jayne whispered furiously. He took a deep breath and then dashed into the alley. Simon ran after him, struggling to keep pace with the surprisingly fast criminal. The two men were literally dragging River along about half-way down the alley. Jayne reached down as he was running and grabbed a discarded beer bottle.

"Hey! Let the girl go," he shouted.

The men stopped and turned around. One held on to River while the other stood in front to face Jayne. Big mistake. Cobb smashed the bottle onto the man's out stretched arm breaking off the end. The jagged ends of the bottle dripped alcohol onto the muddy ground. The man tried to punch Jayne again but received a sharp jab to the nose. A sick crunch followed and the thug howled in pain as blood oozed down his face. Jayne followed up by smashing the remains of the bottle across the man's face. He fell to the ground and clutched his nose, groaning.

Jayne looked at the second man. "You want to go?"

The man looked at his friend on the ground and shook his head.

"Kwai chur hun-rein duh di fahng," Jayne ground out slowly.

The man let go of River and took off running down the alley. River smiled at her brother and Jayne.

"Are you okay River?" Simon hugged his sister.

"I'm fine. I knew you and Jayne would come," River laughed. "Nirvana calls all of us and we are all destined to visit. Nothing this side of the 'verse can alter our course."

"Glad you straightened that up," Jayne said sarcastically. "We need to get back to Serenity now. That other fellow will more than likely tell the authorities about us so we need to split." He reached in his pocket and pulled out a bandanna. "Here. Tie this around your hair. They won't be looking for someone who looks like a servant girl."

Simon grabbed the orange kerchief and tied it over River's hair. Jayne also handed over his green jacket which Simon took gratefully and wrapped it around her also. They quickly made their way back to the ship, tensing up only when they passed yet another Alliance patrol. Once they were back on board a collective sigh of relief could be heard from both Jayne and Simon. River just walked over to Jayne's chair and plopped down. She closed her eyes and fell asleep. Jayne opened up his mouth as if to say something, but he just sighed and went to his bunk. Simon watched, surprise written on his face. Normally Jayne would have said something or made River move. This quiet complacency was so unlike him that Simon felt his concern for the man skyrocket. This must be what the Captain was talking about. Simon would have to talk to him about it when he came back. He was about to go get River but thought better of it and let her be. Better for her to be sleeping than causing more trouble. Simon resigned himself to sit and watch her.

Several hours later, River was still sleeping and Simon had grown tired of watching the crowd outside when he saw Wash, Zoë, Kaylee, and Mal who was carrying a medium sized box. They were talking and laughing with one another when they boarded. Kaylee hit the button to close the ramp and took the box from Mal. Wash headed up to the bridge with Zoë close behind. Simon rose and waved to the Captain to get his attention.

"Is there something I can do for you doctor?" He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw River in Jayne's chair, wearing Jayne's coat and bandanna. "Te ma de, what did you do to Jayne?"

"Uh nothing. That's problem number two. Number one problem is River was grabbed today."

"What do you mean someone grabbed her?!" Concern rose in Mal's voice like a tidal wave.

"River left the ship and two men recognized her and grabbed her," Simon explained "We need to leave as soon as possible. We weren't followed and I'm not sure if they'll talk, but I wouldn't put it past them."

Cursing in Chinese, Malcolm walked over to the intercom. "Wash, as soon as Kaylee has the engine running we need to leave."

"You got it sir!"

Mal walked back over to Simon. "What was she doing off the ship?"

"I don't know! One moment she was here on the ship the next moment we're chasing two thugs down an alley!"

"Wait a minute, who's we?"

"Oh, uh Jayne and I."

"You mean to tell me that Jayne actually helped you." Mal looked over at River once more. "And let her wear his coat?"

"Yes," Simon answered.

Mal sighed. "This is exactly the reason why you aren't to leave the ship! For this exact reason!"

River woke with a start at Mal's shouting. "What's going on?"

"Nothing River. Why don't you go help Kaylee," Simon reassured.

"The Captain's mad. He shouldn't be. Those two won't talk. They're fugitives themselves. It was meant to happen. We were needed for that moment."

Mal looked at River suspiciously. The entire crew believed her to be a Reader. Maybe this was one of her sessions.

"What do you mean?"

River looked at Mal, confused. "Someone was dwelling in a dark place. Needed a distraction. They told me to provide it."

"Who did?"

"Those that still dwell with me. In me. I didn't question them because I could feel it as well. Don't worry, we're safe." River smiled and then headed towards the engine room.

Mal looked over at Simon. "That makes sense. Never again, got it?"

"Got it."

Mal looked at Simon for a few more seconds before turning around and heading towards the bridge. Simon grabbed the hat he had been wearing and headed towards his bunk. Within a few minutes Serenity lifted off of Shwai and headed into space. Nirvana lay millions of miles away in a haze of mystery.