A Mercenary's Tale
Chapter 3
It took almost two weeks to get to Harvest; due, in part, to Mal Reynolds' dislike of flying with an empty cargo hold. Not that Jayne Cobb blamed him none. No cargo meant no money, and everyone Jayne knew liked eating. Fortunately, Zoë knew an old friend from the War, one of the very few Browncoats who had come out on the other side all right. Fellow had built a decent business manufacturing tractors and plows for farming worlds, and was looking to transport some of those to Harvest. The pay was good, and the job was completely legit, tariffs, taxes, and whatnot already paid, and everything on the up and up.
Jayne, he, had followed Doc Simon's instructions to the letter, taking those three days off to let his back, and maybe his brain, too, completely heal. That bit about the Neural Inhibitor worried Jayne some, and it had worried the doc even more. Simon had said the brain was a delicate instrument, and didn't take well to being fiddled around with; his crazy little sister-River-being a prime example of that.
Just earlier today, Simon had scanned Jayne's back and brain one last time. Jayne's back was fine, which meant he could go back to the heavy liftin' and Jayne was pretty sure Mal would be delighted to hear the news; and, as for his brain…
The mercenary was fairly sure he wouldn't be turnin' into an overnight genius; although the doc seemed to be at least halfway expecting it.
At least I ain't worse than I was before…
He had heard horror stories-Urban Myths and the like-about what happened when folk who should know better messed with peoples' brains; and, there was River, of course.
According to the doc, she had been one of those rare geniuses that only happen once in a blue moon, and the Feds had messed with her brain…
She's a little better than she was, but that's only a sometime thing…
She still couldn't really function unless Simon stuffed her full of those medications, and the doctor hated that. He's said there was always the possibility of terrible side-affects to these meds.
Guess I was lucky. They coulda made me crazy 'stead of dumb…
"Jayne"
Shepherd Book's voice brought him out of his reverie. Jayne had always liked the preacher-man. He spoke God's Word, but there was no judgment in him.
"Hi, Shepherd," he replied. "You feel up to the weights today?"
"Certainly, Jayne," Book's smile was, as usual, warm. "How are you feeling today?"
Jayne grunted, just a little annoyed at the preacher's question. Just earlier, Kaylee had asked him the very same question; all wide-eyed and worried-looking, as if he were a fragile set of fine chinaware; like to break at the slightest touch.
"I'm fine, Shepherd," he finally spoke gruffly. "I wish they'd all stop that."
"They're worried about you, Jayne," the Shepherd laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. "They care about you."
"Yeah…"
Jayne sure wished they'd get off this conversational track. It made him feel all sorts of itchy…
"Mal said we should be reaching Harvest sometime early tomorrow morning," Book said. "Looking forward to seeing your folks after all this time?"
"Yeah," Jayne nodded, sitting on the large weights table. "Ya think Doc Simon would take a look at Mattie? Maybe even take him up here and get him scanned? I worry a powerful lot over that boy. What if the Docs there don't know their stuff like Doc Simon does?"
"I'm sure Simon would be happy to help in whatever capacity he can," Book assured him. "Are you ready?"
Jayne nodded, then leaned back to begin his weight-lifting routine…
Everyone was up early as Wash set Serenity down at the lone spaceport at Bethany. The delivery of the plows and tractors went off without a hitch, and Mal-much to his surprise-was paid the agreed upon amount of cash, plus a tidy bonus for early delivery. So, now, Mal was left wondering why-after all these years-his luck had finally begun to change for the better…
Perhaps Shakespeare was right. Maybe Fortune really was a strumpet.
Certainly, it was beginning to look like Fortune had taken an immediate and rather potent dislike to Jayne Cobb…
This, right now, was a case in point…
After the goods had been delivered and payment received, Jayne had given the directions to his mother's farm. Now, they were here; Zoë, Jayne, and Mal, looking at land that had clearly never seen a farm. There weren't even the remains of an outhouse…
"Jayne," Mal had to ask. "You sure we're at the right place?"
Jayne looked around, confusion in his eyes.
"Yeah," he said at last, pointing to a gigantic, gnarled-looking tree. "My Pa put up a swing for me and Mattie when we was little. It was just an old tire on a rope, but we had fun on it."
Mal saw his fists clench.
"What happened to the Farm, Mal? It weren't much, but it's all my Ma and Mattie have."
"Easy, Jayne," Zoë spoke up. "Ain't no sign of a fire, so your folks weren't burned out, and she sent you Post less'n a month ago. Let's go back to Bethany and regroup. There should be folks there who know what happened."
"I got to find them!"
Jayne looked frantically around at the place where his memories said a farm ought to be…
"What if-"
"No what ifs, Jayne," Mal laid a hand on his Merc's shoulder. "We're in this with you. Whatever happens, you ain't alone, dong ma?"
The communicator beeped, and Mal cursed as he answered it. It was Simon, sounding flustered.
"Captain," he said. "I don't want to disturb you, but River-"
"Tadame," Mal growled. "She ain't having one of her crazy fits, is she?"
"Actually, no, Captain. She said you would be wanting her to be your Reader; something about…Jayne's Mother?"
"I see…"
Mal glanced back at his Merc. Jayne Cobb looked…lost. Zoë had thrown a companionable arm around the man's shoulders. Was talking to him, doing her best to keep him on an even keel…
If anything had happened to Jayne's folks…
For such a coarse, crude man, the mercenary had always put an awful lot of stock in his family; he always sent the bulk of his pay on to them, and made damn sure that none of his business came anywhere near them.
If anything had happened to Jayne's folks, there would be hell to pay; and bloodshed aplenty…
"Meet us at Bethany's main Post Office," Mal finally spoke into the communicator. "And tell the Little One to behave herself."
"We'll be there, Captain."
Simon signed off, and Mal continued to drive the Mule back into town. This felt all sorts of wrong…
"The Boy is spiky today," River announced.
"Ah…yes mei-mei," Simon Tam frowned, standing just outside Bethany's Main Post Office. "You might not want to call Jayne the Boy in his hearing; especially if he's feeling…spiky."
"Don't worry, ge-ge," River's smile reminded Simon of how she had been before the Academy. "No red cloths in the bull's face. The Boy has too many fried fish on his plate today."
There Mal was, Jayne and Zoë right behind him. The First Mate was quietly talking to the mercenary, offering words of reassurance, which Jayne looked like he needed. The big man looked…terrified.
Right then, Simon Tam decided that he never wanted to see such a look of terror in Jayne's eyes again…
"Mighty glad you could join us," Mal cast a glance back at Jayne. "We got ourselves a bit of a quandary. I trust you'll keep your head, Little One?"
"Yes, Captain Daddy," River stared up at him with big dark eyes. "She will perform her appointed task to the best of her abilities."
"That's nice…"
Mal proceeded to lead the small group into the Main Post Office…
"Yes," the Post Office Attendant said. "I know Almah Cobb. She comes here every month like clockwork. She's a pretty little thing too."
"Huh?"
Jayne's jaw dropped, and Zoë Washburne surely couldn't blame him…
The Mother of a grown Merc pushing forty, working a poor farm by herself, and looking after a disabled second son…
She had seen such women before; careworn, tired, and old before their time…
"I…uh…" Mal stopped and cleared his throat. "We was given to understand she's an older woman, upwards of sixty…"
"No," the attendant shook his head. "You must be thinking of someone else. Wait…"
He broke off, peering at the main entrance.
"Well.." he said. "Speak of the devil, pardon me, and there she is."
Zoë followed his pointing hand, aware of the others following suit.
The woman who had just entered was petite, and it was clear she was no farmer. Her red hair, pulled back into a severe bun, did nothing to hide the Core-bred purity of her facial structure. She wasn't pretty. She was beautiful, with cobalt-blue eyes, and creamy porcelain skin.
"Dr. Katharine Scully, is that you?"
Simon Tam's amazed outburst had the entire group looking at him. For her part, the woman-Dr. Scully-seemed equally amazed to see him
"Simon! How good to see you," she exclaimed. "I lost track of you after you graduated. How have you been?"
"I'm well, Dr. Scully," Simon motioned to River. "This is my Sister, River."
At that, River dropped a perfect Core curtsey, marred somewhat by loose clothing, and combat boots. Simon continued to introduce the others, saving Jayne Cobb, who had been hanging at the back, for last. When she saw him, when she heard his name, all the color drained from Scully's face, as if she were looking at a ghost…
Jayne glowered at her.
"I don't know you." He rasped. "You ain't no kin of mine. Where's my Ma, and Mattie?"
Scully just stood there, sadness, and wonder, in her eyes. Finally, she spoke.
"Can we speak privately?"
"We're all with Jayne," Mal spoke firmly. "Man's folks have gone missing, and here you are, using his Ma's name. Ain't a nice combination, if you ask me."
"Nothing has happened," Scully said.
"Precisely," River agreed. "Nothing can proceed from nothing."
Scully gave the girl a quizzical stare.
"Don't fret about the Little Albatross," Mal said. "Half the time, she don't make any sense. Other half, though, she makes a decent Reader, so, if you've got things to hide…"
"I see…"
The woman didn't seem all that put out by the revelation that River was a Reader, and that worried Zoë just a little.
Wonder where she's been that a Reader don't faze her none…
"Please come to my house, all of you," Scully insisted. "It's only a block away."
Mal looked at River. The girl nodded, and answered the unspoken question.
"No duplicity," she said. "No intent to inflict harm."
"That's encouraging," Mal said. "Well, Dr. Scully, lead the way."
Jayne Cobb was feeling all sorts of…confliction…right now. Fear over his Ma and Mattie, anger over what might have happened to them, and confusion over this…stranger…who had been using his Ma's name.
"Ya sent me Post in her name, dint ya; my Cunning Hat, the gloves and scarf?"
"Yes," Scully nodded. "I'm sorry for all of this."
She looked up at him, as if committing his features to memory.
"It's good to see you again," she finally said. "I was so afraid, especially in light of the life chosen for you."
"You know me?"
Jayne decided not to ask anything about the chosen life go se…
"When you were little," Scully affirmed. "You were only an infant at the time, so I'm not surprised you don't remember me."
The mercenary brushed all that aside. There was only one thing he was interested in…
"We're here 'cause you were gonna tell me what happened to my Ma and Mattie, where they went."
"They went nowhere," River was staring at Scully with her big dark eyes.
"Y'got somethin' to say, Moony," Jayne snapped. "Say it plain. I ain't got the time to listen to your crazy-talk."
"It seems that Ms. Tam really is a Reader."
Scully's murmur was almost too low to hear. But Jayne could see the visible tears in her eyes, and fear coiled in his guts.
"They…they're…dead?"
Jayne didn't remember leaving his seat in Scully's dainty little parlor. But, there he was, kneeling in front of her, like she was the altar upon which all his hopes rested.
"They didn't die, did they?"
Scully bowed her head, took his hands in her delicate hands, and Jayne felt a wail beginning to keen deep inside his chest. She looked up at him, blue eyes fixed upon his.
"No, Jayne," she spoke softly. "They're not dead."
It was a good thing Jayne was already kneeling, the relief at her words, turned his knees into butter; a relief that died at her next words.
"They were never alive to begin with. They never existed."
He was kneeling there, and he felt the carpeted floor under his knees, Scully's gentle hands holding his; he heard the sounds of the traffic outside, and everyone's breathin'; and he smelled the aromatic tea Scully had insisted on serving everyone, and the smell of her perfume…
They were never alive to begin with. They never existed…
A tiny hand caressed his shoulder; River Tam standing right behind him.
"The girl is sorry," she said. "I am sorry."
"It ain't your fault, Moony," Jayne hauled himself back to his feet. As he did, he heard Mal speak.
"Dr. Scully," Mal said. "I'm having a bit of trouble understanding things. Could you please explain what you just said?"
Looks like I ain't the only one who's head is like to burst…
"My Merc may be a little rough around the edges," Mal continued. "And I know he's more than a mite confused too. He has a right to know-plainly and clearly-what happened to his folks."
"Nothing can happen to them," River spoke softly, her hand still caressing Jayne's upper arm. It was perhaps a measure of Jayne's utter confusion that he hadn't brushed her off yet. River continued to speak.
"The Boy's Ma and Mattie are fictional characters, written and scripted; only real in the b…in Jayne memories."
Mal felt horror crawl up his spine. He'd heard stories-terrifying stories about what the Feds were cranking out of their…special laboratories. He had chalked all of that down to Urban Myth; until he had met River Tam.
If they can do that to a little genius-girl, what else might they be capable of?
"What my Little Albatross is sayin'" he turned back to Scully. "Is that true?"
Scully only bit her lip and bowed her head.
"Oh, my god…" Simon Tam sat there, eyes wide. "They're implanted memories. You planted false memories into him."
"I didn't have much choice," Scully admitted. "The idea was to keep him hidden, under the radar."
"Why?"
Scully sighed.
"How much do you know, Simon?"
Mal saw Simon frown at Scully's question. Then the young doctor began to speak…
"I know Jayne's a clone," he said. "By any standard I know, his blood is toxic-with lethal levels of magnetite. I also know you must have been the one who put that Neural Inhibitor in the back of his neck"
Scully flinched at the harshness of his tone, but met his eyes squarely.
"Yes," she admitted. "I had to do everything I could to keep him hidden from his creators."
"Creators…"
Jayne loomed over her.
"Will someone please tell me what the gorram hell you're all talkin' about? And, tell me plain; no fancy jargon."
Simon closed his eyes briefly, his obvious anger at Scully warring with his equally obvious compassion for the burly mercenary.
"You're a clone, Jayne," he finally said. "As I've already indicated, your blood is toxic to humans; so much so that normal impregnation simply could not occur. Your blood would poison a mother's womb, most likely killing both her and you. You were probably conceived in a test tube, and brought to term in a tank. You never had a biological mother. I'm sorry, Jayne."
Jayne stood there, white as a sheet; and Mal could not recall ever seeing the man look so lost, so vulnerable; not even when that kid had gotten himself killed saving Jayne's life back on Canton…
When Jayne finally spoke, his voice trembled slightly.
"They growed me in a test tube?"
"I'm sorry, Jayne," there was boundless compassion in the Doc's voice. "It does look that way."
"So, you're telling me I ain't natural?"
"I wouldn't go that far, Jayne," Simon hastened to reassure the man.
"Doc, ya just said my blood was toxic to people," Jayne rumbled. "Does that mean I ain't…human?"
It was Dr. Scully who spoke.
"I would have to examine your blood," she said. "But, knowing your origins, and where they got the genetic material from, I would have to classify you a…human/alien hybrid. And heaven help us all if the Feds find you."
Simon Tam felt an almost bewildering array of emotions; anger at yet another life torn apart by the Feds, in their quest for absolute power, sadness at how easily Jayne had lost his…fictitious…family, awe, that there might be sentience out there that wasn't human, and fear at what that sentience might turn out to be…
But, most of all, he felt awe at Scully.
"You took him," he said to her. "You stole him from the Feds."
"I had to," Scully nodded. "They were going to make a weapon out of him. Even though I understood their reasons, they had no right. Same as the aliens, they would've made a soulless killing machine out of him. Jayne had a right to a life of his own."
"So ya put that thing in my neck," Jayne snarled. "Ya made me dumb, and ya gave me fake memories. Is there anything real in me? Anything at all?"
""They are," Scully looked at all the others in the room. "They all care for you."
"Even on his aggravatin' days," Mal Reynolds affirmed. "Like I've already said before, Jayne; we're all with ya. Ain't nothin' changed on account of your origins."
Scully nodded, smiled sadly.
"You've found yourself a family, Jayne, and I'm happy for you."
"Well, then," Mal drawled. "'Cause we're his family and all, maybe you can tell us the rest of it."
"Yes," Zoë nodded. "Anything you know will likely come in handy somewhere along the line."
"Of course…" Scully nodded.
"Jayne was created in a lab owned and operated by Blue Sun on the moon Ma'at."
"That's one of the moons of Osiris," Simon said.
"Yes," Scully nodded. She took a deep breath. "They did this in Twenty-five-Oh-Two Anno Domini…"
"But that would mean…"
Simon trailed off. His mind simply refused to accept the answer…
"Tadame…" Mal breathed. "You're tellin' me my big, dangerous Merc is only fifteen years old?"
"She used a medical-grade stasis cubicle," River supplied helpfully. "And age accelerant."
The thudding sound was Jayne's knees hitting the floor again, and this time, it looked like the mercenary was down for the count.
"Uh…Doc," that was Mal. "If you don't mind, I would like to get my Merc back on his feet…"
Simon knelt by the unconscious mercenary, noticed how his sister had laid the man's head on her lap. She had always called him the boy, as if she had always known the truth about him.
Jayne Cobb was fifteen years old…
No…Simon decided. This is what going mad feels like…