Sorry it took so long to update. I've been so busy with school and stuff... gosh life is so TIRESOME. Enjoy...
IN THE LAST CHAPTER: River met Nori.
IN THIS CHAPTER: Mal does business with Patience.
IN THE NEXT CHAPTER: the flaw in the plan.
---
Chapter 4 – Business is Business
---
'You sure, sir?' Zoe asked. 'She did try to shoot you twice.'
'Why does everyone keep mentioning that?' Mal exclaimed. 'It was just a bit of... miscommunications. That 's'all.'
'It's your choice, sir,' said Zoe obediently. 'But I still don't trust her.'
'She's just a woman.'
'That the whole of Whitefall worship like a goddess.'
'That don't make her one.'
'Has she spoken to you about the job?'
'Says it's confidential, can't talk over the intercom.'
'Don't sound right, sir.'
'Have you spoken to Simon 'bout Hero yet?' Mal changed the subject, instead thinking of the kid they'd rescued that woke up occasionally. Zoe shook her head.
'Somethin' 'bout that kid don't seem right, sir.'
'Nothin' seems right 'bout that kid, Zoe. But you can't blame him, watchin' his family die an' all. Ain't his fault. Besides, River and the doc' are takin' good care of 'im. 'E'll be better in no time.'
'That's not entirely true,' Simon stated as he walked from the catwalk into the cargo bay where Zoe and Mal were sharing their opinions just a moment ago. 'I believe he has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, better known as shellshock in Earth-That-Was. People get it after returning from war or from living in traumatising conditions. Some recovered instantly, some never did. It depends on the person.'
'I didn' get it an' I went to war,' Mal retorted. 'Saw people dyin' 'round me 24/7.'
'And look how you turned out,' Simon hummed, strolling away to the infirmary. Mal shouted something back to him, some defensive insult no doubt, but he didn't listen.
As per usual, River was sitting beside Norihiro as he cried in a human ball sort of shape. She watched him partially from curiosity and partially from sympathy. 'Perhaps you should let him be, meimei,' Simon suggested to his younger sister. She looked over to him and shook her head solemnly. Since he'd saved her from the Alliance he'd learnt not to argue with her sometimes confusing and odd decisions.
'He needs healing,' she replied, looking back towards him compassionately. 'On the inside and out.'
'I know, meimei, I know.'
'They held her down by the arms,' Norihiro informed the two people. 'I begged for their pity, but they have no mercy... Stop, please stop!' He dug his face into his knees and balled his eyes out. Simon stood beside him and patted his back.
'It's alright, Hero,' he reassured him for the millionth time. Norihiro grabbed his arm and pulled Simon closer, forcing the doctor to stumble a bit. He looked straight into his eyes and held him there before speaking again.
'I didn't have a choice, I knew it was wrong,' he admitted as if what he were telling a secret about a terrible crime committed. Loosening his grip on Simon's sore wrist, he looked back at his knees. 'They would have killed me, too.' He was speaking surprisingly coherently, unlike the other times where he mumbled and screamed the words he wanted to come out to everyone except River.
'To live you had to pretend to be what you're not,' River dreamily stated. Simon looked over at her from the opposite side of Norihiro's human ball, and saw her gazing into space like she often did those days. He thought of what the Alliance did to her, what they might have done that he just didn't know about. Which was worse? The Reavers, or the torture?
Rocking back and forth, something Simon had seen far too many times from River, Norihiro vaguely told them of things that they did. Apparently when Reavers got bored they hurt each other. That explains the cuts and bruises on his body and the reason why so many of the Reavers were dead, Simon thought. But it doesn't explain why there wasn't a space ship in Newhall when Serenity arrived.
'They don't wait for the others, they are not a family like us. First in, best dressed.' River explained, answering Simon's silent question. How did she always do that?
Simon was slightly surprised to see that River said such an old metaphor, some people even rumoured that it derived from Earth-That-Was. 'Every man for himself,' River persisted.
'River, Reavers aren't men,' the captain, who was leaning on the doorframe, told River. She looked at him and she looked suddenly scared. As she brushed past him to return to her own quarters, she whispered something incoherently.
'It was the Pax...'
---
'Lading in three... two... ONE!' Wash announced to Mal, who was leaning on his chair while Zoe sat on her husband's lap.
'Mal?' Inara called. Mal turned around, brows raised.
'Thought we weren't on speakin' terms,' Mal said.
'May I talk to you, Mal?' She ignored his comment.
'That is, assuming we're not already talking, right?' Inara lead him to the galley where they sat at the small wooden table with mismatching chairs. 'What is it, 'Nara?'
'I want to go with you,' she said, 'if I can't get a job on this rock and therefore can't pay you for rent, then I must contribute to this ship somehow. Besides, I think it will be best if you had someone like me when you're dealing with Patience, again.'
'Do you, now? Why's that?'
'I can read people. I can... distract people,' suggested Inara hopefully.
'You go out there you got a 50/50 chance of gettin' shot,' Mal reminded her.
'I think she'll be more focused on you, Mal.'
'True.'
'I'm decent with a gun and I can protect myself, anyway.' Inara then added, 'And if she needs work done, I'm a good enough worker.'
'Yeah, I can just see you dealin' with her sorta stuff in your favourite pink gown.'
'Don't mock me, Mal. I need a way to contribute, and I believe this is best.'
'Do you? In that case, feel free. Just stay close to Zoe,' Mal paused and said as an afterthought, 'and far from Jayne.' Inara smiled.
'Thank you, Mal. I know it's hard for you to knowingly put your crew in risk of danger or harm.'
'You have no idea.' Standing up, Mal returned to the bridge and Inara to her shuttle. On the 'com, Mal declared, 'We're now in Whitefall and I'd appreciate it if Jayne, Zoe and 'Nara met me in the cargo bay. Kaylee, Wash, Preacher, stay here an' guard Serenity, Patience may be thinkin' of a mutiny against me. Simon, get the infirmary prepared, just as a precaution.' Then he added, 'And Simon, keep your li'l sis' outta trouble.' Strolling down to the cargo bay where he met Zoe, Jayne and Inara waiting for him, Mal smiled. His third encounter with Patience was about to begin.
---
They met Patience in a deserted place that had flat ground. If she were planning an ambush, it would be extremely difficult. Maybe, just maybe, she was actually doing honest business with Mal. 'Patience,' Mal greeted her. 'My crew were uncertain 'bout meetin' you here, considerin' you've tried killin' me twice. Not very good for your reputation in my boat, you know.'
'I can imagine.' Patience bitterly replied, looking very frustrated about something. Perhaps she's angry she can't shoot me again, Mal thought hopefully. 'I think you killin' all my men sorta called for a truce, don't you?'
'I'd say yes, but one can never trust people like you.'
'If you didn't trust me what are you doin' down here on this godforsaken rishaogoushibing?'
'Oh, you know me, always lookin' for the best in people.'
'I'm sure.' The two looked each other for a few moments, both scowling for their own reasons.
'Did we come to do business or was I mistaken?' Zoe piped in. Mal smiled and nodded his head, one eyebrow raised patiently.
'Of course, you always get straight to the point, Zoe,' Patience stated. Three of her men shifted nervously behind her. 'I got a lot of money I'm willin' to give y'all if you can deliver some people to me, alive.'
'Who would this certain someone be, then?' Mal asked suspiciously.
'That don't matter, just bring me 'im and 'is li'l whore.' She seemed firmly and demandingly, yet deep down Inara could tell she was desperate, especially to be coming to Mal.
'I need t' know who I'm dealin' with to do somethin' like that.'
''E's my husband.'
'Patience went an' got 'erself married?' Mal couldn't help but laugh. He looked back at Zoe, 'Seems she's havin' some marriage issues, maybe you're the one for this job.'
'My pleasure, sir.' Zoe grinned.
'Shut up, Mal. Take it or don't, just tell me now,' Patience hissed. Mal looked back and his grin wiped away as quickly as it had come.
'What makes you think I give a damn 'bout your personal problems?'
''E's got the power to take this moon from me,' Patience replied.
'That ain't much of a problem for me,' Mal said, 'actually, that may be just what I'm lookin' for. Who is this fellow, anyhow?'
'It's not just 'im. 'Is chwen whore is helpin' 'im out. 'E's got the power and allies, she's got the brains. Together, they could rule every ruttin' place in this 'verse. They ain't a friendly bunch, neither; go 'round shootin' people who get on 'is nerves.' At that statement, Inara looked over at Mal and whispered something Patience could not here.
'Reminds me of some arrogant prick I know,' she said in a low voice. Mal smiled bitterly but did not look at Inara or reply with some classically witty remark.
Instead, he replied to Patience while smiling. 'It shocks me how low men can sink. Why, some people could call them heartless.' This time he looked at Inara and kept his grin plastered across his face. She shook her head.
'So are you in?' Patience asked, seeming to Mal to be rather impatient. How impatient of Patience. Mal laughed internally at himself for thinking that stupidly.
'As long as I get payed well and this remains just business,' Mal replied, 'no silly strikes for revenge afterwards?'
'Business is business, Mal. You'll get payed more than enough.'
'How can I trust I have your word?'
Patience trotted her horse slightly closer and shook Mal's hand firmly before giving him a small dose of the payment. 'I promise I won't try an' double cross you again,' she said, angry at herself for saying it. Mal raised his eyebrows. She rolled her eyes and sighed. 'And I won't try and gorram shoot you... again.'
Mal nodded a satisfied nod.
'Good, then we have an agreement.'
