4.0 Endeavor

"Albatross, ya comin'?" Mal demanded into the comm., his voice on an edge.

"Approaching," River responded clearly. She guided Serenity smoothly on the dusty moon, near a bar where Mal and Jayne were stumbling out of, throwing punches at the locals.

"This long-standing…tradition of theirs is ridiculous," Inara scoffed from behind River. Her tight grip on the seat belayed her nonchalant words.

"Tradition is a continuous pattern of actions reflecting on a belief of an individual or society," River said absently, pressing a button.

Zoe suddenly entered the room, seating herself in the co-pilot chair. "Everything solid?"

"Yes," River answered, flicking a switch. "Captain and Jayne have completed their mission to disrupt the peace."

"An' no Feds?"

"None, no local officials either," River replied opening the hatch.

The sound of shots reverberated, and Zoe automatically reached for her gun, her face steely. "Guess locals ain't friendly."

The former soldier stood up, but Inara stopped her with a hand on hers. "Zoe…you shouldn't, not with the baby."

Zoe stoic expression remained the same. "Don't make a difference if I'm dead."

"River and I are leading," Inara said firmly, and all three slowly walked down the hall towards the cargo bay.

There were two more shots, a whoop and then the sound of the hatch closing.

"Lil' albatross, take us outta here!" Mal shouted loudly as he bounded up the stairs with Jayne behind him.

"We good?" Zoe questioned as all five returned to the bridge.

Mal grinned wide despite the bleeding cut on his forehead and his bloody knuckles. "Honest brawl, cashy money an' a job. 'S like Christmas mornin'.

Inara rolled her eyes while Zoe suppressed her small smile. Mal sat in the pilot chair and turned to his left.

"Ya ready, lil' one?"

"Yes."

Mal flicked a switch. "Then let's get the hell offa this rock."

A couple hours later, River found herself with nothing to do. She wandered through Serenity feeling restless. No tasks, nothing needed fixing, the dishes were clean…just nothing.

Everyone else had hobbies, non-ship related pastimes that kept them entertained. She could sense them:

Captain and Inara were dancing, but it was a strange one—one of them took a step forward and the other backed up, then they switched roles. It was confusing and complicated to remember all the steps.

Simon and Kaylee were fastened at the hip, laughing and enjoying the comforts of each others' bodies.

Zoe was at the bridge, her hand resting on the faint rounding of her belly, contemplating the fetus's future and its physical appearance. River wondered if Zoe knew how close her imagination matched reality.

That left Jayne and his guns displayed out on the dinner table, each part being polished to perfection. A ritual before jobs, especially ones with unsavory characters and possible traps.

River exhaled. Before Miranda, she had been an object out of place, out of time and function. A useless tool, a handicap.

Now she had a job, a task to perform: keep Serenity in the sky. It was simple and linear, an equation, but River wondered if she could have something more. She had spent so long just trying to see and speak past the jumbled tangle of thoughts and feelings in her brain that she thought much beyond finding her sense of stability and normalcy—the now.

Old dreams and hopes had faded, tattered at the edges and no longer applicable to her current status. New ones had yet to come, filling in the empty spaces.

So now she was hanging in limbo.

"Everyone gather in the mess." The Captain's voice crackled over the comm.

Her bare feet slid against metal as River skimmed to the mess and slid into a vacant seat, her posture perfect.

"Now," Mal spoke in his captain-y voice, "as ya'll may know, we got a job. But it ain't an easy one. It means movin' crates, distractin' unsavory folk and Alliance, and it means a cover."

Kaylee raised her hand tentatively. "What ya need me for?"

"Cover," Mal responded. "We need to override controls to a safe."

With unsure eyes, Kaylee nodded. "What kind?"

Mal handed the mechanic a template. "All the info I got."

Already pondering and measuring, Kaylee spoke carefully, "I think I can do this. But I'm gonna need help."

"Zoe," Mal jerked his head in the mechanic's direction. "Yer helpin' Kaylee. Doc, I need ya ready an' stocked. I ain't plannin' on any injuries, but—"

"Hell, Mal, we all know yer gonna get shot," Jayne interrupted with a snort. He bit into his apple and spoke with a full mouth, "I's a'ways happ'ns."

Mal glared at Jayne before continuing, "Jayne an' I are gonna be the disguise, and River's our cover."

Simon hesitated. "I'm not sure if River is up for—"

"Don't matter," Mal cut the doctor off. "We need help on this one an' if we wanna keep flyin' we gotta do this right."

"Veil," River spoke up. "An anagram of evil."

Mal stared hard at her for a moment. "Ya understand yer purpose, lil' one?"

"Hide behind a mask," she replied.

"Think ya can do it?" Mal asked.

River paused for a second. "Yes."

Simon glanced between the two. "Wait, what are you doing, River?"

Jayne rolled his eyes at the doctor. "Crazy's gonna pretend she's an evil criminal mastermind," he laughed, "all sorts of entertain' innit?"

Shooting a glare in Jayne's direction, Simon pressed, "So everyone knew except me."

"Not 'xactly," Kaylee tried. "I didn't know."

Simon exhaled forcefully. "River, are you sure you want to do this? Last time…"

"Ain't gonna be like that, Doc," Mal said sharply.

River smiled, trying to reassuring her worried brother. "It's just a game. Afterwards we'll have tea and dumplings."

Inara stepped into the room. "Mal, you needed my assistance?"

The Captain stood up and slung an arm around the Companion's shoulder. "Think ya can make our lil' witch here look like a…" he trailed off looking at the crew for help.

Jayne helpfully inputted, "A genius killer whore?"

"Everyone ready? Kaylee, ya got the code?"

"Yep," Kaylee answered, handing over a small template. "All the directions are on there, but make sure ya follow the blueprint."

"'course," Mal replied and turned to the heavily made up young woman next to him. "Ready, darlin'?"

"Appropriate costume and mask in place," River paused. "It itches a little."

Mal's gaze roved over the black leather pants that looked like they had been painted on, the tiny red silk top and the dangerous looking tattoos that adorned her face and bicep.

"I'd imagine so," he muttered, holding out a hand to help the girl into the mule.

River sat stiffly next to Jayne who was holding Vera. She could feel his eyes straying too long on her. "Avert his gaze, stop staring at the disguise. It's not her."

"Don't need to tell me that," Jayne grumbled, shifting away.

"Yes I do," River countered, smirking a slightly. "You thought I was someone you can touch."

"I didn't!" Jayne protested. "Stop lyin', girlie, or I'll kick ya off."

"It's alright," River said a moment later. "When I saw the reflection I thought I was real too. Opaque and solid."

"Shut up," Jayne snapped, "I ain't gonna listen to yer crazy babble all the way to the drop point."

"Both of ya shut up," Mal shouted over the noise. "Everybody's best friends from now till we get back on the ship with the goods, dong ma?"

"Fine," the pair replied from the back reluctantly.

Not more than ten minutes later, Mal stopped the mule and hopped off. A few men hung around, eyeing the arrivals under the brim of their hats.

With watchfulness, River stepped off the mule. She stood there for a moment, unsure how to proceed. Illustrate grace, she thought, desire and power. River let her walk shift from floating to a more sensual swagger.

Fear nothing, River told herself as moved, sandwiched between Mal and Jayne. To the locals, they looked like bodyguards, protecting a precious individual.

"Howdy there, lady," the largest spoke, nodding.

"Do you have my money?" River asked, getting straight to the point. She resisted the urge to pull down the tiny top or sneeze from the makeup on her nose.

"Ya have the goods?"

River tried to emulate the false smile Inara gave to her clients. "Of course." The two words were Mal's signal to return to the mule and grab the crates. Then, Jayne and River were to distract the man in order for Mal to sneak into the building and get the real money.

Jayne shifted so he was standing besides River, Vera held in a threatening manner. He was doing what he did best—intimidate and shoot.

"So where ya folk's from?" The leader questioned, rubbing his silver-streaked beard.

"No business of yours," River answered, her head tilting slightly. Her hair, straight and silky, spilled over her shoulder like a waterfall. She could feel eyes on her, trying to pull her apart, dissect her intentions.

But then there was Jayne. Her skin burned where his eyes glided. It was illogical, she thought feeling confused. Her head snapped in his direction, but he was facing the men with a hard face.

Imagination, she told herself, product of uncertainty and paranoia.

Mal returned with the crates, setting them on the ground. The leader motioned for a lackey to inspect the cargo.

"It's the stuff," the young man called out.

"Well lady, seems like yer gittin' yer money t'day," the leader drawled, adjusting his brim.

At the gesture, an unseen wave hit River, a powerful feeling that made the hair on her neck stand up and her flesh to burst into goosebumps.

"Liar," she breathed.

Mal's hand slid to his pistol. "Well this ain't good," he muttered under his breath.

"Captain," River replied softly, "the girl suggests you attempt to plunder now."

"Girl an' I got it covered," Jayne added.

Mal took a step back. "'scuse me," he said loudly, gesturing to his pocket 'phone'. "Gotta message that needs attendin' to."

The leader's eyes didn't stray from River. "So, ya'll be wantin' yer money now," he began.

"Yeah," Jayne answered for her.

Ignoring the mercenary, the man kept his gaze on River. "Yer man's gotta mouth on 'em."

"Yes, he often resembles an ape with uncontrolled impulses," River replied coolly, "Especially when it comes to weaponry and threatening situations."

Surprisingly, the man laughed. "Don't doubt it." Lightening fast, he whipped out his gun. "'cept I'm thinkin' he ain't a very good bodyguard."

Jayne cocked his gun at the man. "Well, ya'd be thinkin' wrong."

"Yer out numbered," the leader told him, sounding amused. "An', no offense lady, but I sincerely doubt yer gonna be doin' damage. Hell, yer other bodyguard abandoned ya, the foolish hun-dan."

Jayne jaw tightened, but he didn't lower his weapon. "Girl, git out," he said in a low voice.

"Aw," the man next to the leader jeered, "sweet innit, Charlie? Big guy thinks he's gonna git his cash and save the pretty lady."

River found herself shaking from the tension thick in the air. She gasped, feeling it choke her. Breathing deeply, she tried to push it all away.

No more a wilting flower, she thought resolutely.

Inara had strapped one of her small pistols to River's ankle for safety. It was an elegant and tasteful piece that reflected the Companion herself, but still functional.

Faster than anyone could see, River yanked it out, aiming at the man sneaking up behind Jayne.

The leader shifted, glancing around. "Lady, ya sure ya wanna do that?"

"One-hundred percent sure," she told him, "no margin for error."

The leader made the slightest nod, but River saw before it happened. She shot the man behind Jayne and spun around quickly, gun cocked at the other man coming from behind her. A well-placed jab took out the smaller man coming straight for her.

In the time span of River's action, Jayne just kept his gun on the leader, ignoring the blur of River Tam.

At display of River's deadly accuracy and speed, the leader backed up, fear leaking into his expression.

"Let's go! We don't need this go-se."

The pair refused to lower their weapons until the leader and his remaining two men were out of sight.

River's arm dropped heavily, her whole body quivering. She turned to Jayne. "Intriguing endeavor," she commented. "Girl saved Man-Called-Jayne."

"Hell no ya didn't! All ya did is muck up the job!" He told her, jamming his gun back in its holster.

"Hey!" Mal called out, jogging up to the pair. "Why do we still have the cargo?"

"Got the money?" Jayne asked.

"Disagreeable characters attempted to double-cross," River replied, looking away from the bodies.

Mal looked down then back at River, specifically the pistol in her hands. "Where'd ya git the gun?"

"Ya git the money?" Jayne repeated, agitated.

"Yeah." Mal shot him a look. "Thought we was gittin' rid of the damn cargo."

"Hell, Mal, they double-crossed us. Girl an' I took 'em out." Jayne's foot nudged one of the bodies.

Signing, Mal turned to the cargo. "Help me reload, 'cause we're outta here." He grabbed a crate and headed to the mule.

"Proper response is one of gratitude," River said to Jayne as he picked up the crate. "Say 'thank you'."

"Don't owe ya nothin'," Jayne huffed.

River glared hard. "You refuse to express gratitude to her. She prevented your inevitable gun wound which would undoubtedly strike your brainpan and blow it to pieces."

Jayne blanched.

He hated feng-le Readers and their gorram shiny hair.