Chapter Ten River's Match Part III
Upon landing on Sihnon, Mal had paid the docking fees and departed with Sarah. Not to visit the Guild Temple, but to negotiate a smuggling run and sell some warmer than usual cargo the crew had obtained from a derelict freighter.
The normally even-tempered, controlled Inara had been snippy with everyone at breakfast, leading Jayne to yell at her, suggesting she spend her day in the shuttle. That way the crew could enjoy their day off before Ma Cobb arrived and they had to depart for whatever business Mal and Sarah negotiated.
To everyone's surprise, most of all, the Captain, Inara had stood up and declared that was the first intelligent thing she'd ever heard come from Jayne's mouth. Everyone at the table held their breath, watching to see if Sarah retaliated. A string of Chinese curses, mainly related to petty criminals and their boorish, unwashed underlings could be heard as the normally fair-spoken Inara vanished into her shuttle.
"She needs to learn to be more respectful," Sarah finally replied through clenched teeth. "Jayne didn't start anything."
"Look, Sarah, don't go making things any worse," Mal ordered. "Inara's mad at me, though I don't quite understand why." Mal shrugged in frustration. "Things was goin' smoother, less arguing and such."
Everyone at the table knew the entire story. Nobody understood Inara's anger though Zoe had ventured to guess Inara feared losing her independence. The Companion had been on her own for so long, out of necessity, and had learned neither to depend on nor trust anyone else. The Captain paying her debt was just trading one master for another. If Inara paid her debt, then she'd bought her own freedom. It made sense to everyone but the Captain.
"We're having a girl's day," Cameron announced. "River, Kaylee, and myself are going shopping and then to lunch. John, you and Jayne will be responsible for Kacy."
"Whoa, wait now." John protested. "I had plans. Me and Derek…"
"Drive the mule," Jayne ordered. "Me and Zoe gotta pick up Ma at the passenger terminal. Ma wants to see the youngins right away, specially Kacy, her bein' the first great grandchild and all. Plus, we got to deliver a package for the Captain and collect."
"Collect?" Cameron frowned. "Collections can be dangerous."
"It's okay, Cameron." Zoe smiled. "This is a perfectly legal delivery of a package. Nothing to worry about or I wouldn't be bringing Emma."
"Yeah," Jayne added. "Got some spare parts Kaylee ordered and we need the mule. You drop us off, pick up the parts, and then you and Derek can do whatever."
"There is a medical supply shop in that part of town," Simon said. "I would appreciate a lift on the way over. You could pick me up on your way back."
John looked at Derek who shrugged in response.
"Okay. But once I get back and get everything unloaded, Derek and I are headed out for the day."
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"It's right here," Simon indicated, pointing at the pristine building. "I'll make my way back to Serenity on my own. I'd like the opportunity to walk and take in the sights on my own."
With care, John eased the mule into an open spot and came to a halt. Simon climbed out and waved goodbye to John.
Blocks away, screams erupted, barely loud enough for John and Simon to hear. The gunfire that followed was more than loud enough.
"That's not far from where we left Jayne, and Kacy," John shouted.
Without being told, Simon climbed back in as John reversed the mule and pulled out into the crowded street without warning. Curses and raised fists followed the path of the mule as John hurried back in the direction they'd just come from.
Turning through a broad intersection, the street ahead was devoid of pedestrians. Crowded on the sidewalks and doorways of the shops were the throngs of people who minutes before had been sightseeing and shopping. Now, a deathly silence hung in the air.
Lying in the street were nine dead bodies and a tenth one, still moving every so slightly.
Pulling the mule up feet from the survivor of the gunfight, John engaged the safety breaks while Simon jumped from his seat with medical bag in hand.
"It's Jayne," Simon confirmed. "He's still alive."
"Doc, there was too many of 'em."
"Yes, I can imagine." Simon answered, lifting Jayne's blood soaked t-shirt to examine the chest wound.
"I got nine of 'em."
"Yes, I counted."
"They got the drop on Zoe. She'd a killed some if she coulda got to her piece."
John leaped from the mule, assault rifle at the ready.
"Where's Kacy?" he screamed.
"I was getting' to that," Jayne whispered, losing strength.
"Where's Kacy, Jayne?"
"They took her. Kacy and Emma, that's what I was gonna say." Blood began to run from Jayne's mouth and his breathing became labored. "They took Zoe too. I could only get nine of 'em. Didn't have Vera or I'd got me some more. Gonna find 'em and kill all of 'em, John. Ain't nobody take my granddaughter and not get killed for doin' it."
"John, we have to get him to Serenity," Simon said firmly.
"I have to find, Kacy."
"These people were pros, John."
"Pros?" John glared at Simon with eyes filled with rage and hate. "What are you talking about?"
"John. Think. Jayne killed nine of them and he's still alive. They grabbed Zoe, taking her weapon or disabling her. These are pros. Kidnappers. Anyone else, Jayne and Zoe would have killed them all and gotten away."
John looked down at Jayne and noticed the mercenary was slipping away towards unconsciousness.
"You're right. Jayne would never let anything happen to Kacy. If for no other reason than self-preservation."
"Your belt," Simon demanded.
"My belt?"
"They shot him in the femoral artery. I have to apply a tourniquet."
John pulled off his belt and searched the bodies for papers or anything that could be of use, pocketing the dead men's IDs, money, and weapons.
It took every bit of strength Simon and John could muster to get Jayne into the mule. Simon covered Jayne with the blanket he kept stored in the mule and put a pillow under Jayne's head.
Pausing only to talk to John, Simon spoke tersely. "He's bleeding out. Get us back to Serenity as fast as you can. I'll keep him alive if I can."
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"This one is shiny!"
River hurried over to the counter where Kaylee stood.
"It's in your budget too."
"Girl does not like," River replied, turning her nose up.
"Well, no reason to be mean about it," Kaylee answered, her frustration evident on her face.
"Sorry. Serenity's engineer means well. This should be fun."
"Here's one," Cameron called. River and Kaylee hurried over to the counter where Cameron was examining each ring with her cybernetic vision.
Irritated with the behavior of the three young women, the jeweler followed.
"May I allow the young lady to examine a particular ring?"
"This one," Cameron said, pointing at a specific ring.
"It's perfect," River squealed. Kaylee's smile returned and she let out a squeal of delight equally loud as Rivers.
Wincing, the jeweler unlocked the back of the display case and removed the black velvet display containing the ring in question.
"Your sister has a good eye," the jeweler said, smiling. He smelled a sale and a handsome profit as well. This young man was a fool, sending his fiancé to purchase her own ring.
"No!" River cried. "It costs too much!"
"Incorrect," Cameron asserted. "The stone has a single flaw. It's value lies in the rarity of its color. The price is more than twice what it should be."
"Why, I assure you, this is the lowest possible price I can sell this ring for," the jeweler answered firmly.
"Purple diamonds are rare," Cameron replied with equal firmness. "The band itself you may keep. We have a band and the ability to mount the stone ourselves."
"That will only lower the price slightly," the jeweler replied, frowning as other customers began to pay attention to Cameron's slightly louder than necessary voice.
"The diamond is graded as Flawless," the jeweler insisted.
"Wrong. It should be graded as Very Slightly Included."
"There is nothing wrong with that stone! It is flawless, and rare! Purple diamonds formed in nature are almost impossible to find." (There really is such a thing as purple diamonds and leave it to Cameron with her obsession with all things purple to find such a ring for River).
Cameron opened her purple leather jacket and leaned forward, allowing the jeweler to see the purple grip of her sidearm resting in its shoulder harness. She stood up and stepped back, drawing attention to the pair of Glocks she wore in holsters.
"River, is that your ring?"
"Yes, Twin! It is perfect!"
"No, it is flawed, just as I have described."
"Twin knows what the Girl means," River giggled, hugging Kaylee. "You can mount it for me?"
"Sure!" Kaylee answered, worried by Cameron's stance and attitude.
"The ring is not for sale," the jeweler announced.
"I would not take that approach," Cameron monotoned. "I am an expert in grading gems," she added loudly. "Many of your stones are graded incorrectly. You inflated your prices accordingly as well."
Several customers took heed of Cameron's words and headed for the exit. Noticing one of the women was a long time, valued customer, the jeweler began sputtering.
"Perhaps I have made a mistake. Allow me to examine the stone again."
Fifteen minutes later and their entire budget spent, the trio departed for lunch. River had her purple stone and Kaylee had found a small engagement ring with a small stone mounted solidly in the band.
"Won't lose my rock, even though it's tiny, working on Serenity with that ring," she'd declared happily. "Simon can easily afford it too."