Black on Black

by Blackstar-1

The strangest people drop into the 'verse, and wind up on Serenity. Time for a break. Chapter 13 up.

11. Chapter 11

A/N: Khashi's got some thinking to do, and not a good line to follow. First confrontation, and resolution. Truth and Justice? Ain't that kinda 'Verse.

Chapter 11 – "I know indeed what evil I intend to do, but stronger than all my afterthoughts is my fury, fury that brings upon mortals the greatest evils." – Euripides, Medea

Mal glared forward as they entered the Black, his thoughts just as dark. No ruttin' way. Reggie, Julian, whoever's doin' this ain't gettin' away with it. Gonna be some hurt dished out, an' it ain't on us.

River and Mara glanced at him, their eyes matching his in their hardness. They didn't realize they were in rapport until they thought as one, Damned right. It's time to pay someone back.

Simon sat in the common room, looking at his hands in near despair. I let them down. I should have known something like this could happen. He put his face in his hands, trying not to cry at his failure. How do I make this right?

Clarissa's voice shattered his self-loathing like glass. "It wasn't your fault, Simon. You forget who we're dealing with. It's Snake versus Snake, here. There was nothing you could have done, and if you'd known and tried, you'd probably be dead. I know what I'm talking about, here. I've known him longer than anyone, and even though he's changed, I know what he can do. You're not ready for the big leagues, not at his level."

"That changes nothing," Tam retorted. "I blew it, Clarissa."

DuValle walked to the couch and sat beside him, grabbing his arm and holding him in place as he tried to leave. "You're going to sit here and listen to me, Simon. I only look young. I've lived more lives than most people in the 'Verse have years, and there isn't anything I haven't seen; if there is, it's because I wasn't born in the right places, and I'd just as soon not know. It's got to be horrible," she said in the cultured manner that matched Whitmer's. "I know what he's capable of. I've seen worse than anything you can imagine by living it, and he did his share, not to be vicious, but to survive." She took his chin and forced him to look at her. "So have I. You can't imagine what the Dark Ages were like, and it's a good thing. I don't have to, and I envy your ignorance."

She let go, undid her blouse and pulled it away enough for him to see the dragon-shaped Mark on her chest. "This Mark has been with me for over five thousand years of living and dying. Michael had to have told you about them. This is how we know each other, if we've never met before." She re-buttoned her blouse as she finished, "Can you imagine knowing you're destined for a hard life, every time you look at yourself in a mirror?"

"I … no, I can't. That doesn't change the fact that I – "

"Oh, stop it! You were up against the Varsity, Simon. Does that explain it better?"

Simon recoiled at her vehemence, as well as in surprise. "Yes. Yes, it does. I tried out for track and field, once, and I had to prove myself to them. I have to wonder if I'd have made it, if it had been someone else."

"All right, then. It's still the red-shirt Freshman going against the First String, to use that terminology," Clarissa said in relief. "I told you he's better at this than anyone, simply for the length of experience." She stopped in thought. "And now I see they didn't have to work on him very hard. He could have gotten away and kept Mom and I out of sight, if he'd wanted to." Her eyes hardened in anger. "He didn't even try."

"Kinda 'splains a thing or two," Mal said from the door. "Y'all weren't bein' too quiet, an' left the door open." He sat on Clarissa's other side. "So, guess this means ya got no feelin' for him, 'ceptin' mebbe betrayal?"

"I can't believe I talked myself into believing that, Mal." She wiped away an angry tear. "Like they say, girls adore their fathers, an' guess never really stops, dong ma?"

"No, but don' doubt it's true," he said as he wiped away another. "Okay, got our priorities straight? Get Simon an' River's daddy clear, then find Michael an' Brath. Figure the rest after." She nodded. "Good. Jayne asked ya could shoot. Any good with that Python?"

Clarissa laughed bitterly. "Yeah, an' thought it was shiny, shootin' a gun called a snake. He ain't gonna think so. Taught myself good, Mal. Anyone hurts Michael, they's gonna die. Should'a been what my daddy was, not Julian."

"Okay. It's late, git some shut-eye, an' mebbe have a good cry on Jim. Go on." She nodded, stood up and left after kissing his cheek.

Simon watched her leave, then let out a tension-filled breath. "We're all just one big set of neuroses, Mal. So far, everyone has issues of some kind." He looked through the door aft. "I thought maybe she didn't, but psychology was never my strong point."

"Never heard o' any head-shrinker wasn't messed-up somehow, Simon," Mal said as he looked aft himself. "Ya gonna be okay? Settled?"

"Maybe. I don't know. I still have to come to grips with what she told me. It's one thing to think about it, but being confronted with being second-best isn't any fun."

"What's wrong with second-best?" Mal challenged. "Bein' best means ever'one's after ya, lookin' ta take your place. Ain't thinkin' that's such a great place ta be. Bein' second, ya can relax, 'cause they ain't all after you."

Simon opened his mouth, then closed it again as Mal's words sank in. "I was about to say that doesn't apply to me, but it does. I forgot how vicious the competition as a doctor can be; I never went through it. Always trying to be the top man in your field, fighting for anything to get you recognized, and then having to defend your position." He smiled ruefully. "It's a long time since I played King of the Mountain, but it's still there."

Mal looked at him in surprise, then smiled. "Looks like we got sommat in common after all, Mister Three-Percent. Ain't played that in donkey's years."

"In what?"

"Ne'mind. Thinkin' we's got our clear path; time ta follow. C'mon, time's a'wastin'."

Mal climbed down into his and Inara's bunk to find his wife kneeling before her altar in prayer. Normally he'd chide her for that, but understood and let her be. Too much had happened to let it slide, and he knew she needed the comfort in her rituals. Ain't too diff'rent, he thought. Got some faith left, but ain't sure past that.

Inara finished as he sat down, and she joined him, taking his hand and smoothing his hair. "We'll find them, Mal. It may take some time, but we will," she said gently. "You don't let go, and that once bothered me, but I understand why. As I said before, Miranda changed everything. All I ask is you let me fight at your side, if it comes to that." She smiled. "Brath said you wanted a partner, and I want that, too. Let me do my part."

Reynolds looked at her and nodded, interlacing their fingers. "Ya got it, 'Nara." He looked up and forward. "Don' wanna think o' what this is doin' ta River an' Simon. Might be they ain't related, but they's still brother an' sister."

"What do you mean?" Mal told her briefly what they'd learned on the way from Lilac to Persephone, and her face twisted with disgust. "If there was anything else I needed to convince me I was leading the wrong life, that would have been it. And River knows?"

"Learned it same way as Miranda," he confirmed. "Positive they's more, but ain't sure wanna know, dong ma? Got enough nightmares on my boat, don' need more."

"It will come out, sooner or later. It might help River to know it all, but that can wait, Mal. Too much at once can overwhelm anyone."

Reynolds nodded. "Wouldn' wanna be in their shoes for nothin'."

The next day, Jayne, Gideon and Wainwright sat at the kitchen table, preparing for battle. Marris only had his sword, which he was sharpening with extreme care, while the others had their side-arms stripped, their parts spread out for cleaning. No one said a word, not even when Clarissa walked into the space, took a seat and began disassembling her Python. They worked silently for several minutes, until Jayne said, "Take it ya ain't too thrilled with Julian." He looked at her over Sage and shifted the cigar in his mouth. "Take it Michael's your daddy, now."

Jim glared at him. "Cain't ya say nothin' an' not twist it, Jayne?"

"No, he's right, Jim. Took this long to figure out the truth, or close to it," DuValle replied. "Always wondered why he didn' try to get away, an' just came together. Wonderin' if I wasn' foolin' myself from the beginnin'."

Gideon watched as he wiped his blade, then tested its sharpness. "Does anyone really know anyone? I wondered why Michael was anything but a complete cynic, considering what he's seen and done. Mal's worse, but only by a degree, and that wound's still fresh."

"Doesn' matter," Clarissa said. "We find 'em, gonna ask Julian a few questions. How he answers decides if'n he gets ta walk away, or a bullet b'tween the eyes."

Even as rough and jaded as he was, Jayne stopped and looked at her, open-mouthed in shock. "Ya cain't mean that," he said as he retrieved his cigar. "Even Simon's not ready ta shoot his daddy." He thought briefly, then added, "Might be diff'rent for his ma, what River told me is true." He shivered. "Cain't b'lieve anyone could be so cold."

"Ah, so there's a line you won't cross," Simon said as he took a seat between Gideon and Wainwright. His tone made everyone but Clarissa look up and watch as he stripped the pistols Michael had given him.

"Mebbe they's done terrible wrong, they's still yer folks, Simon. Might be ya wanna hurt 'em, but killin' ain't in the picture." He glanced at Clarissa briefly. "Or wasn', 'til today."

She stopped cleaning her revolver and looked off into space briefly, then resumed. "Won' know 'til I see him, Jayne. Gotta look inta his eyes ta know. No bets how it'll go."

"Same here," Tam said. "I still can't believe it until I hear it from them. You may be right, but I have to know for myself." He glanced toward the bridge. "So does River. I can't feel her the way she can Michael, but I can see there's still some doubt."

Michael woke, and his first considered action was to roll over to vomit on the floor. His stomach heaved until it was empty, and he rolled onto his back, shutting his eyes against the glare of the lights, and the throbbing of his head. What happened, and where am I? His eyes opened and he squinted as he slowly sat up to look around. Blank metal walls told him he was aboard a ship. He looked for Brath, but he was alone. He stood up carefully, then sat down hard, putting his head in his hands until the vertigo passed. The last thing he remembered was reaching for the commset to inform Serenity they were on their way, then falling as he blacked out.

Traces of whatever they'd been hit with still lingered. He carefully sniffed at his sleeve, and the slightly sweet odor told him what they'd used. Nitrous, desflurane and sevoflurane, in high concentration, he thought. He shook his head, blinking back the pain and nausea, and began breathing deeply to clear the remnants from his system. One of the few things that actually works on me. It has to be Julian or Rufus, but how could they have learned? No one knows but me, Vanessa and Selar. No, wait, there's still the link. That has to go.

The door rattled, then squealed open, and a pair of gun-toting thugs stepped inside, their noses wrinkling at the smell. They were followed by a familiar if scarred face, one Michael saw in the mirror every day before his transformation. He coughed to clear his throat. "Julian DuValle, I presume. You'll excuse me if I don't stand."

The man smiled briefly. "Michael Whitmer. I'm so glad to meet you. Rufus has told me a lot about you, at least what I couldn't gather through our link."

Michael snarled. "Where's Brath? She has nothing to do with this. And how did you find us? We lost your tracer on the way in."

"That will stay my little secret," DuValle replied. "As for the woman, she's all right. We're keeping her sedated, just in case. If you behave, she'll stay all right," he added, his face losing its amiability, and a lot of its humanity.

"I've heard that before, and unless I see her, I won't believe it." Michael's eyes narrowed. "What's your stake in this, Julian, or do I need to ask?" He could properly feel his opposite now, and what he found made him tremble with anger. The man facing him was what he could have been, had some things gone differently.

"Oh, the usual. Money, power, that sort of thing," DuValle answered off-handedly. "For example, I've found a few things I'd lost along the way." Michael saw the image in his mind, and it was all he could do to keep still. "Oh, stop pretending you can't see. The information we received was enlightening, and Blue Sun very much wants to talk to you. As for your 'Lady Draco', no one makes those threats unless they can carry them out."

"I'll see all of you in hell first," Whitmer growled. "River Tam wasn't enough? What do they want, an enforcer? I'd have thought they weren't interested in running the Alliance, considering the disadvantages."

"Some are. You'll be meeting them soon." DuValle looked at him, then around the room. "But where are my manners? You'll be moved to more comfortable quarters, but don't for one instant believe you're anything but a prisoner, Michael. As for my personal stake, no one takes what's mine." His face changed, and Whitmer recoiled from the open greed and lust he saw.

"Clarissa's not a possession, you imbecile. That mistake that will be your last."

"There are ways of persuading anyone, Michael. Not all of them are friendly. Let's go. I'm sure you'll want to clean up." Whitmer stood and followed him out into the corridor, followed by the gunsels, then up a few ladderways to the living area. They stopped at an open door, and Julian semi-graciously indicated for Michael to go in. "It's all yours, as is anything inside, but don't get too used to it. You can be down in the hold again in a heart-beat."

After Michael stepped inside, the door closed and locked, and he looked at his new cell. It was fairly luxurious by his standards, with the usual appointments. He found off-the-rack clothing and boots that would fit him on the bed, along with toiletries and other items. He walked through the two-room suite and found no way out, other than the porthole that looked through the hull. At the moment, they appeared to be passing Bellerophon, heading in, and he felt a chill as he deduced the trajectory: they were going to sling-shot from the White Sun to Georgia, which meant DuQuesne. If they didn't get away soon, there was no way Serenity would find them, and no way they could escape. He checked his suit and found the transponder was still in his inside breast pocket. He filed that thought away as he undressed and collected what he needed for a shower. Until he saw Brath again, he knew there was nothing he could do, other than play his role. Until I learn more. Then it's my turn.

Mal grimaced and shook his hand after Simon smashed it with the boken. "Simon," he said through clenched teeth, "Unnerstan' yer mad an' all, but ain't me done it, dong ma? Save it for them as earned it." Simon nodded and looked down at the deck as he tried to calm himself, and Mal saw he couldn't. "Okay, enough practice. Big question: Ya gonna stay calm goin' in? Might be ya can help find your daddy, but not if'n ya cain't keep it wrapped-up. Won' do anyone a mite o' good."

Simon walked back to the containers and set the practice sword down as he sat heavily on a crate. "I know, Mal. I can't help but wonder if they knew, and used my father as a stalking horse; I think that's the term. Worse, I can't stop thinking he's involved in their capture. I know better, but I can't help it. Michael's right, the not knowing can and will kill you."

Mal straightened in surprise. "When he tell ya that?"

"It's in the books. That one line stuck with me, because it's true on so many levels. There's so much we don't know, and you can't help but speculate. Worse, those speculations tend to be bad, and get worse." He looked up and watched as Clarissa passed on her way to the small firing range, her face set in a way he didn't like. "It's probably worse for her. I don't want to imagine what she's putting herself through."

"You two want to move, or do I get some live targets?" DuValle said, her voice sharp and hard. Mal and Simon climbed up to the catwalk as she loaded her Python, her eyes glittering unpleasantly. She raised the weapon, aimed and emptied it rapid-fire, then re-loaded without looking; the empties jingled their way across the deck as the speed-loader slammed home, and she was firing again before the casings came to rest. As the smoke cleared, she looked at her target and smiled.

Reynolds looked, and from what he could see every shot would have killed; the bull's-eye was a tattered hole. "Ai ya," he murmured.

"Thinkin' ya ain't in charge o' this no more, Mal," Jayne said from the kitchen door. "Seen that look once afore. You're Cap'n an' all, but ain't runnin' the show."

Reynolds and Tam looked back at the mercenary, and had to agree. "Stop that, you're making sense," Simon said. "I already don't know what to think, and you're not helping."

Cobb grunted a laugh, then sobered. "River an' Mara's got me worried, Mal. Like they's both thinkin' 'zact same thing. Don' talk, just look at each other an' do it. Thinkin' they's all tore up over Michael, an' didn't know how bad could be 'til he was grabbed." He motioned at DuValle, then at the bridge with his coffee cup as he spoke. "Don' wanna get in their way, neither. Could be unhealthy, dong ma?"

"Ya don' sound worried, Jayne."

"Ain't us they's mad at. Seen River in action, an' thinkin' Mara's jus' like her. Seein' this r'minds me o' some old stories. Don' wanna get in their way, no how, Mal." He took a sip, his eyes bright as he watched Clarissa replace her target with a silhouette. "Ain't no flies on her, neither. She fights as good as she shoots, someone's gonna wish he was dead, 'cause ain't thinkin' they's gonna get off that gorram easy," Cobb finished with a slight shiver.

"You're saying we don't have to be worried, they do," Tam said after Clarissa emptied her revolver into the target's head and chest in a series of double-taps. Jayne nodded, and he shivered. "I wonder what Jim's thinking. No man wants to see someone he loves become a killing machine."

"I'll live," Wainwright said, making them all start. "Knew what Spoke Souls could be like, but didn' see 'til now. She'll be okay once Michael's back. Think they'll all be, but might wanna watch what we say 'til then. One's got me most worried is Zoe. Got feelin's for Michael, 'less I missed somethin', but her goin' quiet ain't a good sign."

Mal couldn't help smiling. "Happens ya could be right. Books say he draws 'em to him." He shook his head. "Wouldn' wanna be in his shoes, dan nang. Don' see how he's still livin, truth be told."

"Uh-oh, could be trouble," Jayne said as River and Mara stepped from the bridge passage onto the catwalk, then descended to the deck. "Thinkin' mebbe we should go. Might not like what we see."

"No, thinkin' we gotta, so we know," Mal countered. "Gonna see it, some time."

River and Mara waited until Clarissa finished and collected her target, then stood in the center of the cargo deck, doing stretching and limbering-up exercises, then stood still as stone with their eyes closed. They moved in near-prefect synchronization, which sent a chill down the men's spines. After about a minute, they moved into ready positions after bowing, and remained still, as though awaiting a signal. Clarissa finished packing her gear away, then turned and said in a soft voice, "Go."

Cobb and Mara seemed to flow as they circled, moving with an almost boneless fluidity that was beautiful and terrible to watch. They began trading blows that never reached their targets, and their audience realized it wasn't meant to be real combat, but a deadly-looking form of sparring. They started when Gideon said, "And now we see how much alike they are."

Mal looked back to see him leaning against the door frame, his eyes focused on the mock combat, and he turned back to watch. He could and couldn't look: Seeing River fighting, even like this, brought back memories of the Maidenhead he didn't want to relive, and seeing Mara act like a hunting animal didn't sit well, either. What bothered him most was Gideon was right. They moved the same, and their eyes held the same deadly light. Even if it was practice, he flinched and shivered at how close they came to each other, and he could tell every strike was meant to do serious hurt. After a few minutes, he turned and walked away, heading for the bridge. It was too much.

Simon felt much the same. He'd never seen River at her full fighting capability, and even the aftermath of Miranda couldn't prepare him for this. Mara's near-perfect matching style didn't help; it only confirmed their suspicion that River had been engineered, and was Mara's source material. This was his darkest fear, that River had been designed as the perfect assassin: Cold, calculating, deadly, and worst of all, undetectable.

Jayne's thoughts weren't as dark, but he was mighty worried. The woman he loved and the mother of his child was a killing machine. He had a passing worry that he might not wake up some morning, but it passed as he watched her move in such a hurtfully beautiful way. Hard ta figure how she can be both, but gotta stan' by her. Ain't none but us she can count on, an' gonna make sure can count on me.

Gideon watched them all, noting the men's reactions to the women almost clinically. He closed his eyes and shook his head slightly as he thought, No, they were not ready for this. Their upbringing never prepared them for the concept that the female of the species is sometimes deadlier than the male. He flashed-back on a line from Rudyard Kipling, who knew something of these matters: "When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains, and the women come out to cut up what remains, jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains and go to your gawd like a soldier." Like the others, he couldn't help shivering at what he saw.

Clarissa looked up as Mal walked away. Her face was blank, but her eyes glittered. The men never know what they're lying beside and sleeping peacefully with at night. If they did, the human race would probably die out in a generation. Perhaps it's a good thing most of us stick to those artificed roles the rest of us despise. She turned back to watch the practice "cat fight" and sighed. They're never ready to find we can be just as strong, capable and dangerous as they are; worse if it's more.

Wainwright watched Clarissa more than the other two, and wondered what was going through her mind. She was the calm one, and everyone with a brain knew the quiet ones were the most dangerous. They didn't talk, boast or make threats; they just went about their business quietly, only breaking cover when they had to. He probably understood her better than the others understood their loves, but only because he was a Watcher. He grunted a laugh to himself. Prob'ly ex-Watcher, now. Don' b'lieve for a second word ain't got back, an' don' really give a flyin' zhou ma. Found sommat special here, an' not just 'cause she's Khashi. He frowned to himself as he leaned against the rail and their eyes met. Nope, more to it than that, an' hope I ain't a disappointment. Ma would flay me alive.

Eventually, the session ended, with River and Mara facing each other, their eyes bright, their hair wild as they panted for air. They smiled as one and came together in an embrace that spoke of more than friendship, but not so far as to hint at being lovers. They didn't see Jayne, Simon and Jim's incredulous expressions, and they'd have laughed if they did. Everyone but idiots knew this was how sisters always were.

Clarissa climbed the stairs as River and Mara broke up and leaned against the rail at Jim's side. "Worried?"

"That obvious?" he replied as Jayne and Gideon returned to the kitchen. He nodded. "Won't lie. Keep forgettin' women-folk ain't as frail as men-folk like to think. Eye-opener."

Clarissa glanced back at the door and nodded. "Not the best way to learn, dan nang, but y'all gotta know we ain't the little girls we look ta be. It's worse for Simon." Tam looked their way when his name was spoken. "She ain't even eighteeen, an' it bothers ya she can do all that."

Simon moved down and joined them. "Yes, it does," he admitted. "I like to think I know what she can do, but seeing it? Would anyone take it in stride? Could they?"

DuValle nodded, then chuckled. "Only one could is Michael. Knows me better'n anyone, even if we just met. Ain't the outside that matters."

"Any idea where they might be taking them?"

"Thinking maybe DuQuesne. It's closer than the Blue Sun, and the Academy has a full research facility near to hand," River said as she climbed the stairs. Mara nodded after looking at nothing for a few seconds. "We might not be able to do anything now, but we might later, if Michael or Brath can get their transponders working."

Simon let out a relieved breath. "That helps." He smiled at his sister, then said, "I believe Mal would say, 'Good job, Albatross.' Let's hope he gets the chance."

Michael stepped out of the bath and was glad he had the towel around his waist. He found a lightly-clothed young woman kneeling at the side of the bed, apparently there to help him dress, and probably more, if DuValle followed current mores. He stopped, then continued on as she looked up, and stopped again. Recognition was immediate as their eyes met. Cheyenne: Raven?

Her eyes flicked to the Mark on his arm, and she smiled, then stood up and moved her shift to uncover the bird-shaped Mark on her right hip. Cheyenne: Yes, it's me, Snake. It's good to see the real you again, she answered, then walked into his arms and sighed as she laid her head against his chest.

Michael was sure they were being watched, and he didn't care. He leaned down and kissed her hard, and used that as cover to slip into rapport. Do you know where she is?

Two rooms down, to the left. They're keeping her under guard and sedated, mostly because they're not sure what she is. Is she really a dragon?

If she ever gets loose – and she will – they'll find out. They broke and he looked at her. She looked exactly as he remembered her from the 1870s, and he could tell there wasn't any surgery involved. I suppose there are some things genetics can't account for, he thought.

Raven looked at him as the rapport closed. He looked like Julian, but didn't feel like him, and she relaxed slightly. Maybe my dreams are finally coming true, and I can get out of this hell. She saw his eyes narrow, and she murmured, "Later, when we can talk freely." He nodded, his eyes darkening in a way she remembered. "Let's get you dressed. He's expecting you for dinner."

"He'll get nothing from me he doesn't already know," Whitmer replied. "Sit down. I can dress myself, and isn't it more fun to watch?"

Raven sat on the bed with a half-smile. "Sometimes. Cheyenne: He's expecting you to focus on me and forget about her, but somehow I don't think that's going to happen. They thought you might in Virginia City, and were they ever wrong, she finished. When he looked at her cautioningly, she added, Cheyenne: No, he seems to have forgotten the People's speech. I wonder why.

Cheyenne: That will have to wait,"Michael replied as he dressed. "Should I ask how he's treated you, or can I make some educated guesses?"

"I'm nothing more than a servant, and that's fine with me. He has more 'interesting' play-toys." Her tone made him look at her as he buttoned his shirt. "He might, if you don't cooperate."

"I'll kill him, if she doesn't. As the old saying goes, 'Never call up what you can't put down', Raven." He stopped as something she said came back. Cheyenne: What did you mean by the real me? The door lock rattling stopped any further conversation. It opened and one of DuValle's gunsels walked in, a snarl on his face. "Start talkin' plain, or yer girl gets a rude awakenin', ya dai dai hundan."

Michael grabbed up one of the boots and threw it into the man's face. It crashed into his nose, and blood sprayed as he yelped in pain, and staggered back. "Are you sure about that?" Michael asked, his eyes going cold. "That was only a boot. Imagine if I should throw something a bit more deadly. I will, if you ever say anything like that again, tian sheng de ye dui rou. If Julian doesn't take care of you himself." The man glanced at Raven and muttered under his breath, and Michael added, "Not even on your best day. I'm sure you've heard this before: What's mine is mine. You keep your hands off, if you want to keep them."

As Michael guessed, the man's face went deathly pale, and he nearly tripped in his haste to leave. "Well, if that's how Julian runs things, this should be easier than I first thought. He says knows me; that's a two-edged sword." He looked at Raven, who watched him with wide, frightened eyes. "No, I won't sink to his level. I don't know what happened, but I know I'm the better man." If that still applies, he thought to himself as she relaxed.

Raven walked to his side and hugged his arm. "We'll talk later tonight," she murmured, then fetched the boot and handed it to him. "Yes, in bed," she replied to the unasked question. "We have a lot of catching up to do."

Day two of the journey found everyone still on edge, but not as bad as he day before. Zoe had finally come out of her bunk, and everyone could tell she'd been crying; they weren't sure why, and didn't want to ask, but Mara wouldn't let the issue alone. When Zoe sat next to her, the Cat said, "Stop worrying, Zoe. If they couldn't blow him up, they're not going to do any worse. If it's Julian, and maybe Blue Sun, they'll try to convince him to join, and that won't happen. Someone always tries to make him do what he doesn't want to. It never works."

Washburne glared at her, then nodded with a wistful smile. "Ain't as sure as y'all, but know that. Cain't help it. Best thing since Wash to drop into my life, an' don't wanna lose him so quick, dong ma?"

Mal, Simon and Jayne looked at each other, then back to find her watching them. "Good enough, Zoe. Meanwhile, are ya here?" Mal asked. When she nodded, he continued, "Prob'ly the hardest part is he's gotta watch out for Brath. Walked right inta the thick o' it a while ago, once ya was safe," he said, looking at Mara, and received a confirming nod. "A'right, we finish the job, but keeps an eye opened, in case we hear sommat, or he signals. Dunno what can do 'til then." He looked around the table at everyone else. "We clear?"

"Clear, Mal," Clarissa said. "But stay outta our way," she added, taking Mara's paw and River's hand in hers. Jim had to lean back as she reached past him, holding his plate out of the way with a bemused expression. He caught Mal's eye and nodded.

"Clear, Mal," Jayne said. "Guessin' we'd best be ready ta go, we get word."

"Clear, Cap'n," Kaylee added. "Me an' Serenity's gonna be ready, ya need us."

As Reynolds looked around, those who didn't speak nodded. "A'right. River, want ya to scan far as possible. Got their signature. Might be can find 'em. We do, keep a lock, but don' chase. Might be expectin' it. Sommat happens we can take advantage, don' hesitate, dong ma?" He looked at everyone else. "Go time, we hit 'em hard an' no let-up." He looked at Simon in particular. "Means no survivors. Cain't afford 'em knowin' was us. Might suspect, but won' know. How we want it to stay, dong ma?"

Simon's face showed warring emotions, but soon the determined expression won. "Got it, Mal. Michael's done too much to help. I'd like to re-pay that a little."

Reynolds nodded. "A'right. Back ta matter at hand. Eat. Cain't do nothin' if'n yer starvin' yerself on account o' worry," he said, looking at Zoe.

Washburne sighed as she picked up her fork. "Yes, sir."

When Raven led Michael out, there were two more armed heavies with the first pair. Only one looked familiar. "What happened to your friend?" Michael asked unpleasantly.

"Infirmary, it's any o' your business," the man snarled.

"If he doesn't want to end up there again, he'll keep his distance," Whitmer replied as they walked forward. He counted doors and did a quick probe as they passed the second. He could just feel Brath, and that was through a kind of mental haze. As Raven had said, she was sedated. Be ready, he sent, knowing she'd get it, even if she couldn't reply. He felt her subconscious mind as it recognized him, and saw a large toothy grin before they passed out of range. He suppressed a shiver; he knew what she'd do if the opportunity presented itself. She'd all but shown everyone at Petaline's.

They passed up a ladderway and reached DuValle's area, which was subtly more opulent, and stopped at an arched and curtained entry, from which the smell of food emanated. Michael took an appreciative sniff, but still checked for obvious food additives. Obvious to him, not anyone else. His stomach rumbled as they entered to find DuValle seated at the head of a ten-place table, seemingly surrounded by women of varying origins and ages, but none over thirty. He mentally added Clarissa's age to Julian's minimum adulthood age and sneered internally. Pathetic. No doubt he'd have had a Corvette, or some other "mid-life-crisis-mobile" back in the twentieth, he thought as DuValle stood and said, "Much better, eh? You must be famished. We can talk while we eat."

Michael took the only other chair and sat down as the heavies retreated behind the curtains. He expected Raven to leave his side, but she stayed, which made DuValle look at her appraisingly. "Raven," he said significantly. She didn't reply, but only looked at him steadily. "So, you've made your choice. Just remember what the consequences will be for your impertinance."

Michael ignored him. Forget his threats, Raven. He won't lay a hand on you while I'm here, and you're leaving with us. Julian doesn't know it yet, but he's made his worst mistake bringing me here. To quote Wolverine, there isn't a cage made that can hold me. Just be ready; there likely won't be time for second thoughts.

I'll be ready. He made it very clear I don't even own what I'm wearing, so I don't have anything to worry about. Not even ident.

"So what should we talk about?" DuValle asked, grossly over-playing the genial host. When Michael didn't reply, he said, "Oh, come now. Surely you've wondered how I know so much about you."

"What you know and think you know could have come from Schwarzchild," Whitmer replied. "That should be suspect, as I've kept my private life very private. What public information there was could be garbled, exaggerated or plain rumour, and my official records would be heavily censored and redacted. As for our link, my thoughts are very guarded. We have psi-talents in the Federation and Starfleet has training to protect us from that." He looked up as he savored his pilaf. "You'd have to be close, and concentrate. There's no way."

"When you're awake. Asleep, you're as unguarded as anyone, plus Blue Sun has developed booster drugs." Michael looked at him, his eyes narrowed. "Yes, I learned quite a lot from your unconscious mind."

Michael tilted his head to the side as he studied Julian, then smiled. "We experimented with similar, once upon a time, but that path was shut down. Deleterious mental effects from the drugs, including neuroses, paranoia and delusions of grandeur, never mind the other health issues. That was with fairly stable subjects. They tended to exacerbate pre-existing conditions. Starfleet determined the draw-backs weren't worth the potential benefits. Unless they made a radical discovery, the useage isn't often or for long." His smile changed, and he added, "So, how long did you spend in detox and psych adjustment?"

DuValle's face went rigid, and the women edged away from him. "You think you've got it all worked out, don't you? Not even close. I know more than enough to keep you in line, and I've all the cards. This has been carefully orchestrated from the start. Even now your friends aboard Serenity are flying into a trap. Family members are so easily manipulated."

Michael set his fork down after looking at it speculatively, then said, "No doubt you've told yourself that many times, as often as your associates have told you the same. You're no different from Badger: You're suffering from delusions of adequacy. When all's said and done, you're nothing more than a pale shadow of me, and I intend to prove it." He wiped his mouth and dropped the napkin on his plate. "From now on I'll take my meals in my cell. Your kind of pathetic despot bores me to tears." He stood. "With your permission, sir."

"Sit down," DuValle said, his face stormy. When Michael's expression said And if I refuse? he added, "Unless you want my men to make sport of your precious companion." He picked up a device and pointed it at a view screen, and an image of Brath sprawled out in a bed with various IV lines running to her appeared. "Be glad I'm having her fed. I imagine she wouldn't be much on arrival if I didn't."

Michael sat down and glared at his plate, apparently cowed, but he took the opportunity of DuValle's loss of control to scan the ship. Besides himself, DuValle, Raven and the other women, there were perhaps two dozen others aboard. Nothing serious, but he was hampered by innocents who might be caught in the cross-fire, as well as Brath's incapacitation. "Fine," he said. "I'm no longer hungry. The gas you used saw to that."

"Right. We're going to have a discussion, and if you don't cooperate, someone will suffer for your intransigence."

"Jawohl, Mein Herr. Zum befehl," Michael snarled. "Seig heil."

"Call me a Nazi, will you?" DuValle glared at him, then said, "Right. Xia." A scantily-clad Chinese woman who looked barely out of her teens nearly ran to his side and looked down. Julian picked up the steak knife and took her arm, his eyes never leaving Whitmer's. "Don't for a moment think I won't," he said, pulling her to her knees; her face was now at table-top level, and her eyes locked on the knife. Her face twitched, then settled into its previous apathetic lines. Her eyes couldn't hide the fear in them.

Michael's eyes bored into Duvalle's when they locked. "You don't need to do anything to her. She's yours to do with as you please, and I know what you're capable of," he said softly, experimentally waving a hand above his plate. Julian released Xia and dismissed her with a toss of his head. "I don't need to do anything to her. She is mine to do with as I please, and you know what I'm capable of." He missed Michael's slight grin of relief as he returned to his food.

"You're tired of this fencing. I should go back to my quarters, and consider my situation. Perhaps in the morning I'll be more amenable," Whitmer murmured.

"I'm tired of this fencing. Go back to your quarters and consider your situation. Perhaps in the morning you'll be more amenable," DuValle repeated irritably. The guards stepped inside and escorted Michael and Raven back to his suite, looking at him suspiciously. Raven's face briefly asked a million questions as they walked back.

It wasn't until the door locked that Michael relaxed, then barely pumped his fist upwards. "Yes!" he said.

Cheyenne: What was that? It looked like—" She stopped and looked at him incredulously. "A Jedi mind trick?"

Michael chuckled. Cheyenne: There are times when life and art become indistinguishable from one another.

DuValle tapped on the commset and said, "Cancel surveillance on Whitmer. Everyone should have their privacy." When the bridge acknowledged, he closed the channel and wondered why he did that, but dismissed it. "There's plenty of time to learn. He'll open up to her. Raven knows what will happen if she doesn't gain his trust."

Michael waited a few moments, then went to his suit and removed the transponder. "Does that porthole have an exterior hatch? It should. Micro-meteoroids." Raven walked over and moved the curtain to reveal the control. "Close it." She nodded, then activated the hatch, which slowly closed. After a few seconds, a green light blinked on.

"What are you going to do?" Michael had a brief thought that she might still be under DuValle's influence, but shoved it aside. Their rapport was as clear as it should have been; there was no way she could have kept that from him. He held up the device, and she nodded. "How far away are they?"

"Not far. They're on the way to Osiris, which means they're probably paralleling us and don't know it, yet." Michael studied the controls, then flipped a switch. The transparency pivoted up and inward, and he inspected the opening. "Yes, just enough room." He did something, and set the transponder in place; it snapped down audibly. "All right. Let's see if I've out-smarted myself." He closed the porthole, watching as it seated. The device was slightly flattened, but nothing else. He opened the hatch, which carried the device up and outward with it. As he watched, the indicator light flashed as it received and returned Serenity's signal. "Right. If they're near, they'll receive that."

Michael sat on the bed, breathing a sigh of relief. Raven sat beside him and took his hand. "How'd you know?"

"I didn't. I always plan for the worst. That's one reason why I always out-lived my enemies, even if it wasn't by much." He took a breath, then said, "There's something I have to try, Raven. Give me some room." She moved a foot away, and Michael held out his hand, concentrating. If he could affect Julian's mind, then the Force had to be strong enough for other things. The problem was, he'd never had to do this before. This had better work, or I'm a poor learner. He reached out, feeling for...There it is. You can't mistake that energy pattern. And now, to bring it back. He "pulled", and felt it come. He smiled.

Raven watched as Michael sat stone-still, his face furrowed. Whatever he was, he couldn't be a Jedi. That was just a movie … wasn't it? As she watched, particles of light seemed to flow in from nowhere, coalescing in his hand until it shined almost too bright to watch. She felt … something, and the light flashed briefly before vanishing. In his palm lay a very plain but recognizable double lightsaber. She all but gawked as he opened his eyes, a tired but very satisfied smile on his face as he separated it into two separate weapons. He held them in his hands, concentrating again. He smiled again. "Good. They're in perfect condition."

"B-but – So it's all true?"

"Do you recall my fascination with Robert Heinlein?" Raven nodded cautiously. "Welcome to the World-As-Myth, Raven. Hmm, sounds as though it should have the registered-trademark symbol following it. Anyway, it's all true. I've been to places we'd only read about, long ago."

"Does that mean we can leave this stupid pleasure barge? If it wasn't for being male, Julian could pass for Cleopatra. His ego's big enough," Raven said as she regained her composure.

Michael sat there, looking at the far bulkhead in thought. "There's more. Do you remember the dreams I told you about? The ones I wrote into novels?" Raven nodded, afraid to speak, lest some spell should break and this all turned out to be a wishing-dream. "Those are true as well. The Black Wolf is real."

As he spoke, his form changed, and sitting there was – Cheyenne: Great Spirit, thank you, Raven said quietly, as though in prayer. She tentatively reached out to touch him, afraid he might vanish. He was solid, warm and furry. She reached for his sleeve, and he obligingly rolled it up to reveal a silver trace that matched his Mark. Raven sighed and sagged against him, tears of relief running down her face. It's not a dream, and I'm not crazy. Thank you again, Great Spirit. She sat up and looked at him. The eyes were the same, as was the light in them.

Michael set the sabers down and gently wiped her tears away. "It's all true." When she looked at him apprehensively, he smiled. "No, they've seen nothing. I did a bit of work on Julian besides what you saw. We're not under surveillance, at least not tonight. I didn't think you wanted to put on a show. I certainly don't," he finished, one eyebrow rising in a familiar way before he kissed her, or what passed for it.

Raven shuddered, and held on. "I told you we had a lot of catching up to do," she husked as she reached over and dimmed the lights. Her shift fell to the floor as she knelt beside him. "Please, Snake. I've missed you so much."

Michael pulled off his boots and hid the sabers in them, then removed his shirt. "As you wish, Raven," he said as he stroked her face.

Mara was bored. Sitting at the controls doing nothing wasn't fun, mostly because Michael wasn't there to talk to. Before she came to Serenity, she'd never thought she'd care about anyone, but her programming had mostly seen to that. Now that it was gone, her emotions and real personality emerged, and what she found was a little mystifying, even frightening. She could still call up the cool detatchment, but unless she was focused on something her mind and feelings were free to roam as they would.

And so she was bored. She couldn't concentrate enough for the games Michael had on the system. Her thoughts wouldn't stay on the task at hand. Is this really what it means to be in love? Everyone makes such a big deal out of it, but it can be a real problem, she thought. Her thoughts inevitably shifted to Michael, and she smiled. But it's worth it. I haven't felt like I belonged until I skittered aboard.

An indicator that hadn't done anything for the past two days suddenly came to life, and she sat up, quivering in uncertainty. Was it just a malfunction, a waking dream or real? She started a systems diagnostic and stood up to walk around as it ran, her tail waving anxiously. No, I'm awake. Oh, please, if there really is a god or goddess, let this be real. I want him back, she thought desperately, not knowing her coloration had shifted, this time to a lighter shade of silver-grey that threatened to blend in with the bridge.

The signal tone brought her back to the pilot's chair – all trace of Wash had finally dissipated – and she swiftly localized the signal to a ship about a day ahead of them. Mara applied a burn that would catch them, but slowly enough that it wouldn't be noticed, and until they reached Osiris' vicinity. Relief and contentment flooded her as the system locked onto the transport. Got you now. She smiled at first, then couldn't contain herself. The joy was too strong.

Everyone looked up as Mara shouted, "I found them!"

Zoe closed her eyes and muttered something grateful and inaudible, while Clarissa and River looked at first joyful, then more focused. Mal summed it up for everyone: "Got us a goal. All we needs now is a plan." He stood up and suddenly found himself caught in a passel of people on their way to the bridge. "Hold it. Know y'all wants to know, but need ta know sommat more. Stay here, an' calm down. Still two days from Osiris, an' need ta plan for that. Lemme learn what's up. Cain't toss out ever'thin' else just yet, dong ma?"

"Mal's right," Gideon said as the others glared at Reynolds. "We're not ready until we know more."

Mal nodded his thanks as his crew sat down, and he continued to the bridge, where he found Mara tracking and plotting the transport's course. He stood there and watched as she worked. Damn if'n she an' River ain't sisters, he thought. Makes a mite o' sense, what Michael learned. Soon the plot showed both courses, and Mal noted they were closing, instead of a few days behind. Ruttin' smart, too. Guess geniuses are useful.

"Thanks, Mal," Mara said with a smile in her voice. "Maybe we can't get too close, but we'll catch up near Osiris. Shouldn't stop us from grabbing Doctor Tam, but I don't know if we can help Michael, and I can't ask. I can feel him, but he's a little far away, and he's … busy." He couldn't see her smile.

Mal leaned down and kissed between her ears. "Good job." He was surprised when she reached up and pulled him down to rub her head against his and purr into his ear. She licked his ear gently and let go. "Hunh. Guess it's true. Albatross an' ship's cat both bring luck." He looked forward, but couldn't see their quarry. "They goin' ta DuQuesne, like Clarissa thought?"

"They are," Mara replied as she displayed the course plot after expanding the view. "That's a long time aboard ship, but I'd guess they think they have plenty." Her ears turned back, flattening against her skull as her voice sharpened. "Like hell, they do." Mara flexed her fingers slightly, and her claws extended.

"A'right. Keep it under control, darlin'. Undue violence is gonna have to wait." Mara's claws retracted. "Guess that'll have ta do." Mal turned and walked back to his crew, his eyes hooded as he thought over their options. Nope, ain't much we can do. Not yet. Keep on with the job.

Everyone turned expectant eyes on him, making Mal stop briefly. That had only happened once before. "Okay, we got a line on 'em, an' Clarissa was right. However, our ship's Cat has us sneakin' up to catch 'em near Osiris. Might be we could help, but don' see how an' gather Doctor Tam, so we'll watch an' wait. Sommat happens ta change that, jump on it." He paused as he considered. "Seein' as how ya wants, Clarissa, River an' Mara stays aboard, watchin' that other boat. Jayne, Gideon, Simon an' me goes after the doc. Kaylee, stay with our girl, make positive she's ready ta do what we ask her. Inara, want ya to keep an eye on Zoe. Ain't sure, but she's close ta her time, an' anythin' could start. Best thing we got to a doc, dong ma? Jim, got an idea ya wanna stay close to Clarissa." He looked around, and everyone nodded, Washburne reluctantly. "A'right. Looks like us Big Damn Heroes gets to bring some Big Damn Hurt, an' what we know o' Julian says he more'n deserves it. Gotta start somewhere. Questions?"

"We're not helping Michael?" Simon asked.

"It happens we can't," Gideon replied. "No one on this ship is checked-out for boarding or EVA combat, and there's a very, very steep learning curve. On the other hand, I doubt Julian's crew is set up to repel boarders. Both are irrelevant. The greatest threats are already aboard. When Michael is ready, he will bring his full power and rage to bear, unless I've completely mis-read him. What we've learned or surmised about Julian makes me think so. Either way, we should concentrate on the job at hand."

"Speakin' o' that, when we gettin' paid?" Jayne growled.

"When the job is finished. And since I'll go to make sure it goes our way, it's in my best interest to stay alive. I've never gone back on my word or any deal. Either way, payment is in my quarters, so you'll have it, should I not come back, or am incapacitated. Fair enough?"

Jayne nodded, then protested when River elbowed him. "Yeah, I know, manners. Still gotta stay on th' important stuff, dong ma?"

"Always good to know some things never change," Jim comented, earning him a glare.

"Ha, ha. Oughta take that act on the road."

"Ya ain't noticed, already have."

Michael and Raven relaxed in the afterglow, gently touching each other's faces in reaffirmation. Michael – still in Wolf form – lay on his back, while Raven lay across his chest, listening to his heartbeat. No, nothing's changed between us, Michael thought with a brief smile. Something Raven said earlier made him ask, "What did you mean by the real me, Raven?"

She stirred, obviously not wanting to leave that quiet, warm place she sometimes went to. "He looks like you, but he's not. He doesn't feel right, and your line never left Earth-that-was, Michael. You stayed behind to try to make what was left livable after the migration, and I think you might have succeeded. There was enough equipment left behind, and the resources weren't completely depleted." She paused, her brows knit as the remembered. "He's close, but something's missing. I think we're dealing with a clone. You're not here because you're still there, back on Earth-that-was. Is, probably, by now. His memories don't seem to be complete, as though someone tried to copy you, and failed."

"Hmm, I think I know how and when. Rufus still had a few of his devices operating, and there was a brief moment when I was questioning one of his operatives that I felt, I don't know, split. That might have been when and how. No one knows the quantum entanglement's range limits, if it has any. It was used over interstellar distances; that we know for a fact." He fell silent, his eyes closed as he reached back for that time and place, his nanomachines helping him access the memories, and they reported an unusual effect they were immune to, but not his organics. Raven watched him until his eyes opened. "He tried, but didn't get what he really wanted," he said. "He got his copy, but only of Michael Whitmer, not the Black Wolf. What memories he has are probably garbled, ghostly ones, and I've no doubt he was given some that would serve Schwarzchild and Blue Sun's purposes."

"But he mentioned Clarissa as though she was his own flesh and blood."

"She probably was, but Khashi still came through. That's nothing special; we follow the genetic pathway. It must have been her time to come." Whitmer closed his eyes and said silently, It's true, isn't it, 'Lena?

There was the faintest response: Yes, it is. This is what you had to learn on your own, Snake. Even though by a convoluted path, Khashi is still your daughter. That never changes. Do what you have to do.

Michael paused before asking, Does that mean killing him?

Nothing else will serve. Imagine if they had succeeded. Just imagine.

Michael didn't have to imagine. Early in his career as the Wolf, he'd encountered one of his opposites. He shivered; that was only one memory he didn't want. Then it will be done. I'll start immediately. Any more delay means they have more chance of getting him "right", and my presence is key. No doubt Rufus discovered that, too late. He barely felt her smile and the parting kiss as she broke contact.

Michael opened his eyes to find Raven watching him. "I'm afraid it's true. Damn it, I hate being right."

"Did you talk to Her?" Michael looked at her in surprise, and she continued, "Mother Earth and Father Sky, remember? As you wrote in the novels, the overall message is the same, with just a few minor differences." When he appeared about to ask, she said, "I remember and kept everything, Michael. I can read and write, but he doesn't know that."

"All right. Let's get some sleep. I have the feeling tomorrow's going to be a long, eventful day." I'll see to it. He closed his eyes, reaching out and finding Brath, who was still heavily sedated for a human, but only mildly for her. He smiled and adjusted a few reagent feeds. They'd appear correct, but were now chemically ineffective. She'd wake in about ten hours, ready for a fight, knowing what had happened, and could have happened. He almost felt sorry for Julian.

Another day brought them closer to Osiris as they slowly crept up on the other ship. Mara had run a search on it, and they had its name: Juggernaut. It fit the image of Julian they managed to piece together from the ident Michael had left, once they found it. His history was spotty; it had more holes than a string bag, but just enough to stand cursory inspection. The fact he was connected to Blue Sun as an advisor probably guaranteed there wouldn't be any thorough checks on him, or detailed study of his ident. Gideon spent hours on Cortex with Mara, both searching for any references of him past a certain point, and couldn't find any older than thirty years ago, when he'd supposedly sold the Maidenhead and left for the Rim. All of it seemed to say he – or his shadowy backers – thought they were unstoppable.

After they'd studied the information, Mal said, "Happens they might be after the same thing, an' that's runnin' the Alliance."

"I have to agree," Simon said. "Everything points to an out-of-control ego. The question remains is it Julian, or someone behind him? I remember Michael saying Rufus was an egotist."

"That hardly matters," Gideon replied. "Most egotists fail because they never consider that possibility. As the phrase from Earth-that-was says, Pride goes before a fall, or some such. I'm not as current with ancient folklore as I probably should be."

Kaylee smiled. "Betcha Michael knows. Said afore he lived back then. Prob'ly all to heart."

Marris smiled in reply. "No doubt you're right." His smile faded as he thought. "That still leaves us no closer to their ultimate goal, or why they want Michael. Certainly something like proving himself better in Julian's case, but that ship is too much of an investment for one man to manage, so there must be more. That still doesn't explain Longshore's involvement."

"Gorramit, almost forgot about him," Mal grumbled. "Wishin' we had Michael here to 'splain it, but maybe he don' know, neither. Or does, but cain't tell anyone. May not have all the facts hisself."

"So we's back ta square one?" Jayne half-complained.

"No, we know where they're going, and the course they'll likely take." Gideon turned to Clarissa. "You said you know him better than anyone. What's he likely to do?"

"Michael or Julian?"

"Michael, of course. We're more or less agreed only he will walk away from this," he replied.

They were mildly worried when her face lost all expression, and her eyes darkened, just as Michael had done. "He'll learn what his limits might be, what advantages and disadvantages he has, and what he can exploit. Any friction between Julian and anyone else he'll note, and use. Any allies he can gain, if possible. He'll play the helpless prisoner, all the while testing his remaining abilities." She looked at River. "Didn't you feel something odd earlier? A slight tingle, but like it was inside your head." Cobb nodded, followed by Mara. "I wonder." She scooped up the tricorder, walked forward and scanned his and Brath's bunk, then all his gear, ending with the containers. When she returned, she said, "Hmm, that's interesting. The inventory list says his lightsabers are missing."

"Wait, what—Did you say lightsabers?" Jim said. When she nodded, Wainwright stood there, thinking. "Damn, somethin' else from the books we missed. They mention Jedi and the Force."

"Aw, gawdamighty!" Jayne said. "Now that ain't real! Just a bunch o' old vids from Earth-that-was."

"Michael said he'd been to other universes," River contradicted. "He never said which ones, but I remember him mentioning he'd taken down a government or two." She tilted her head to the side, almost exactly the way Clarissa and Mara did. "He also said Blue Sun was there, and that seems to mean someone brought them there. I wonder who."

"Bet Michael's wonderin' that," Zoe chimed in. "Prob'ly go 'home' an' fix it, too."

"But that's set in stone, if I understand it," Simon replied. "It can't be changed."

"Only what shows in print or vid," Mal said. "Michael did say some we never saw. What he was involved in was off to the side." Simon thought briefly and nodded as Reynolds smiled. "So, him an' Brath's Jedi? Oughta be some fight. For a few minutes."

Gideon nodded. "Fair to say, Mal. Then all we have to do is concentrate on the job at hand." He took out a record and attached it to the plotter's interface, and their destination sprang up. "Shall we?"

Everyone aboard Juggernaut slept, but one wasn't exactly resting. Michael seemed peaceful, but only on the exterior. The only change was a tear ran from one eye, and his brow furrowed slightly, as though he saw something that couldn't be borne.

Mentally, he did as he had at Eavesdown. He roamed the ship, taking in what he could of those aboard, separating them into two groups. The women were innocent victims, all of whom were playthings for Julian and his crew. Many cried themselves to sleep, silently wishing it was over.

The men varied in their degree of vicious depravity, but enjoyed the power they had under Julian's slightly-benevolent despotism. Two discussed what they'd do with Xia, the girl he'd almost cut up. Any time he did that, he usually tossed them aside for another, and they went on in sadistic detail, planning what she'd go through for a week. Michael recoiled, marking them for a slow, lingering death.

The others were better, but only by degree. All of them enjoyed what they did, and they dreamt of it in their sleep. Michael marked them as examples to be made.

Julian was the worst, and Michael studied him for quite a while, occasionally prodding DuValle's subconscious into revealing his secrets. Raven was right, he wasn't a product of this 'verse. His genetic pattern was identical to his own. He wondered what else they'd done to make him what he was, and stopped speculating. A flawed copy was far easier to manipulate than a true one would have been. Michael marked him for death. There was no way he'd let Julian survive, given the link still existed; that had to be severed.

After two hours, Michael withdrew and relaxed into deeper sleep. The morning would be soon enough.

He woke when he heard the voice he'd been expecting. Michael, they're going to pay Michael didn't move, but he opened the rapport.

Yes, but not just yet, Brath. Rest, if you can, and regain your faculties. You have to be sharp, because there are innocents who must be protected. Julian is mine, and I'll explain when I have time. We still have a problem: He told me Serenity is heading into a trap, and I've no way of knowing if it was a lie to provoke me, or the truth. Either way, we have to be ready to go to their aid, whatever the cost to us. Do I make myself clear, StarDragon Eleven? 'This we will defend'.

He felt her smile, which was worse than her subconscious had done; she had her wits about her, and would bring them to bear. Acknowledged, Blackstar One. I'm going to enjoy myself, Michael. It's what they deserve. The rapport closed and Michael shivered as he drifted back to sleep. Heaven help them if our child was harmed, he thought, images of gruesome violence flashing through his mind. They'll have more than hell to pay.

Raven started awake to hear Michael retching loudly in the bathroom. She got up and dressed, then walked in to find him "praying to the porcelain god", looking haggard. "Oohh, I was hoping that wouldn't happen," he said with a wink and a quick smile after glancing up. "And I so enjoyed that pilaf."

Raven moved to his side, wrapped her arms around his shoulders and said, "Are you all right?" Her eyes asked the same question, but in a different way. I'm fine. This is just a ruse, she heard as he nodded. I want them off their guard. Raven "helped" him to his feet and to the bed, then helped him dress. All right, but be careful. He won't hesitate to use the other women as hostages, and there's still Brath. His smile made her ask Or is she faking, too?

She is now, he replied silently. When the time comes, we'll break on them like a storm-front. I want you to stay here, out of the cross-fire. I can deflect beam weapons with my 'sabres, but not full autofire, and I'm not Diana Prince, he added with a faint smile. Too many variables, and I'm not going to lose you so soon after finding you again.

Raven nodded, and stood up after buttoning his shirt. All right. Let's do this right. She stripped and got back into bed, pulling up the covers and looking distressed. Michael nodded approvingly as he "staggered" to the door, which he rapped on with a paperweight.

The door opened and a guard looked in at him, a nasty smile playing on his face. "Yeah, what ya want?"

"I need to see the doctor. This should have stopped, but it hasn't. I'm sure Julian wants me healthy when I meet his superiors. He won't look as good as he wants, otherwise." The man nodded and took his arm, leading him outside. "Mebbe should keep her company ta make sure ya behave," he said after seeing Raven.

"Do I look like I can do anything? It's about all I can do to stay standing." Michael swayed, and his knees buckled, forcing both men to catch him and put his arms over their shoulders to carry him. "Happens can't let a man that bad off alone." They started moving, and as they turned aft, Michael said, "I'm sure that will count in your favour when you meet your maker."

His suddenly strong voice made them tense, but it was too late. He stood, grabbed their heads and slammed them together with brutal force, and the sound of their skulls cracking through alerted the man guarding Brath's room. He stood, unlocked the door, drew his side-arm and ordered, "Stop, or she gets it!"

The door opened, and he looked at it in shock as a large, clawed hand grabbed him by the throat and dragged him inside. The door slammed, but horrible screams and growling filtered through as Michael calmly picked up his former escort's weapons. Half-way through the noise, an alarm began hooting. Well, so much for complete surprise, but this is better, Snake, Brath told him. They have to know we're coming for them, and learn they can't avoid their fate, as She told us after Chorias. He couldn't miss the unpleasant eating noises that followed.

Michael opened his door to find Raven dressed in some of "his" clothes; she'd rolled up the sleeves and pant-legs, and looked both vulnerable and capable. "Here. They won't be needing them any more," he said. As he remembered from long ago, she merely accepted and checked the weapons. "As I said, stay here." He did something with the door handle, then removed and replaced it with the locking mechanism on the inside. "You should be safe," he said as he shifted into Wolf form.

"But I want to help," she protested as he reached out and his sabers flew from under the bed into his paws.

"I know, but this isn't going to be a clean fight; for them anything goes, including shooting women, and I won't have it. You can help by organising the women, once this is over." She nodded. "All right." He glanced to see Brath emerge in half-dragon form, her dress split in places, blood covering her. She smiled savagely as their eyes met. "You really don't want to see any of this." Raven nodded, her eyes widening as she saw what he saw through the rapport. "Right. See you on the other side."

Michael closed the door, and heard it lock behind him. Her turned to Brath and looked up at her. "No survivors, Brath. She told me, once I deduced the important parts. We're sending a message; we should make it memorable," he said, grinning as his eyes lit with the familiar blue fire.

Brath's eyes glowed with a feral light of their own. "You go forward. The women are aft of here. As you reminded me, 'This we will defend'." They embraced, ignoring the blood, then moved off, each set on their own course of destruction.

Michael pocketed his 'sabers as he stalked forward. Some of the passages weren't wide enough for proper use, and they'd announce his presence long before he reached his opposition. In this instance, he wanted stealth, and in his current mood he didn't need weapons; he'd once said in a previous life, "Who needs a weapon when one's body is a weapon?" He grinned as he ghosted down the passageway, catching the scent of his prey as they prepared to make their last stand. Might as well, lads. Does the name "Custer" mean anything to you?

Running footsteps announced trouble, and he stopped at the base of a ladder. He looked, and saw it was attached only at the top, much like those aboard seagoing warships. He grinned, then carefully crept up and quietly worked the lynch-pins loose enough to collapse under a running man. He stepped back, and ducked back into a doorway. "Move it," he heard someone say. Soon after, there was a loud crash as the ladder collapsed, and a dazed and injured man rolled to a stop almost at his feet. The man's face was a mask of pain as he gripped his leg and ignored the others as they asked how he was or what had happened. He opened his eyes in time to see Michael standing over him before his neck was broken.

The men above stopped and stared briefly, then tried to duck aside as the Wolf grabbed and readied the man's assault carbine. "Look out! He's armed," one managed to shout before Michael fired into the packed bodies. Two fell to the deck below, dead as the rest died where they stood. Michael waited for a moment, then ransacked the bodies for ammunition and checked for other ordnance. He found a half-dozen fragmentation, two smoke and three gas grenades. He took his first victim's stores vest and transferred it all, then switched magazines.

Five down, Brath said through their rapport. How many total?

Four here, and thirty altogether. Evenly split, as I recall, he replied.

I couldn't find the women. Why?

Julian probably has them close enough to cater to his every whim. When you finish, get up here quickly. I'm not sure Raven will stay where she is.

He felt her grin. I understand. She's much like our Raven, isn't she? Would she stay behind when she could help?

You don't need to ask. I can feel them moving your way. Five more, and that's all, Michael warned as he raised and re-secured the ladder. He smiled. "Let the bodies hit the floor."

A gunshot made him spin around in time to see a knife-wielding man fall to reveal Raven, who looked through the smoke leaving the barrel of her handgun. "You're getting careless," she said.

"I was busy." He glared as she joined him after relieving her target of his ammo. "Don't tell me, let me guess: I didn't say how long." Raven only smiled. "All right, but stay back and watch our six. I thought I'd got them all on this deck."

"He came out of the bathroom." Raven secured her gear and nodded at the ladder. "Age before beauty."

Michael snorted, then moved up, pausing to glance fore-and-aft before continuing. Raven paused at the top, then took "tail-end Charlie" as they moved forward. "There's just the three decks, two holds and Engineering. Used to be a commercial transport before he changed it into a luxury yacht."

Michael nodded, but before he could ask a question his victim's comms came on. "Report, Barrows. What's happening?" a voice he didn't recognize demanded. "That's his chief of security," Raven said. "His center is twenty-five meters ahead, to the left."

"Did you have run of the ship?"

"Julian thought he had me completely under his control. He should have known better. That's why I didn't think he was 'you', Snake." She stopped as they moved a few meters, then said, "He's mine. The things he did to the other girls."

Michael shuddered as he saw what she was remembering. "When I'm done with him, he's all yours."

"Barrows. Answer me," the comms demanded again. The voice didn't speak again, and Michael changed channels until he heard " – don't know where he is, but Barrows isn't answering. They may all be dead." Julian's voice replied, "Damn it, be careful. I need them alive. Rufus didn't give me any options."

As Michael lowered the volume, Brath said, Aft section's clear, and Raven's out. She's with you, isn't she? He could feel her smile.

Yes. Get up here, on the double. They may be calling for help. "No one left behind us. Let's go." Michael led with Raven's directions, and she stopped him as they came to a turn inboard. Michael looked at her, and she whispered, "Security check-point just around this corner." Michael risked a quick glance. A barricade had been raised at the check-point, manned by a half-dozen men. The good news was there was no way out, but they had coverage, and were at a cross-junction, which afforded more vantage points.

"Very nice. They have the perfect choke point. Whoever designed this ship knew what they were about." Michael thought briefly. "No way around them, I take it." Raven shook her head, then spun around as Brath reached their position. She stared briefly, then said, "No, there isn't. You have to make a frontal assault."

"Snake? What about this?" Brath said, tapping a claw on a vent opening. Michael looked at it, then smiled. "Do these go forward of them?" she asked, looking at Raven.

"I don't see – oh, wait. I think I get it," she replied as Michael removed and set down his gear. "You should get to the other girls first, Michael. He'll use them as shields, if he gets the chance."

Michael's face changed to silver and his features faded away. No worries, Raven. There's no way in hell I'll let him do that after he threatened Xia. He's definitely unrepentant, so he gets recycled. He took his lightsabers and two grenades and they disappeared. Wait. You'll know when. His body changed completely to silver, and he touched the wall; shortly after that he destabilized completely, flowed up and disappeared into the vent.

Raven shivered as Brath sorted through the weapons. "That's going to take some getting used to. Wait, he only took the smoke grenades," she said as Brath managed to get the vest on.

"He doesn't even need those, but he'll use them to his advantage," Brath replied as she checked the carbines. She looked at Raven for a long moment. "You're just like our Raven. It's too bad you can't come with us when we leave this 'verse."

"I can't? Why not?" Raven asked. She thought Brath wasn't serious, but reminded herself she didn't really know.

"You already exist there; if you met, the results wouldn't be good. Did you ever watch Timecop?" Raven nodded. "What would happen to you would be worse than what happened to Ron Silver's character at the end, and we can't let that happen. I have the impression you're needed here, Raven. You're connected to Snake, the same as Clarissa. Maybe you're supposed to be together. Not now, but in the future."

"Clarissa?"

"Julian's daughter. Later. Get ready. We won't have a long wait."

Michael flowed through the air ducts, pausing at the junction to see how the guards were disposed, then continued on. If he'd had a face, he'd have grinned. He continued until he caught a familiar chemical trace that equated to a scent, and followed it. Xia was somewhere ahead of him, and he'd help her in exchange for her helping him. He wondered how he'd explain that, then put it aside. Focus. We're not even half-way done.

Ami and Xia sat in the middle of the other women, trying to quiet and comfort them. They didn't understand what was happening, but what they'd heard the men talking about seemed to mean it was the other, strange Julian's doing. They didn't care. All they wanted was to live, even if it was as his play-things. It couldn't go on forever. Xia looked up as the door locked. That's it. We're never going to leave. She was surprised when a voice from nowhere said, That's not true, mei-mei. Your life is about to change. She looked around for the voice, and noticed something wasn't quite right: the stand lamp near the far wall seemed thicker and heavier.

Before she could say anything, the door unlocked, and one of Julian's thugs came in, looked around and grabbed Ami's arm. "Julian wants some insurance," he said, and Xia's heart sank. The other Julian wouldn't let her be harmed. He'd give in, and that would be it. She closed her eyes in resignation as the other girls began to whimper.

"I think not, hundan. Time to pay the Piper." Xia opened her eyes, and standing by the lamp was – Wolf. Not the Wolf most people thought of, but the protector of crops, and of his pack. His eyes burned with a blue fire, and he held two brands of the same fire. His angry gaze was on the man, who put his gun to Ami's head. "So be it."

The flames vanished, and Wolf stretched out his paw, and slowly closed it. The man grabbed at his throat, struggling for breath, trying to cry out for help, and failing as his eyes bugged out. There was a crackling sound, and the man went limp and fell to the floor. Wolf stood up straight and looked around. The other women cringed away, but Xia walked to him and heard him say in Julian's voice, "That's what happens when you let the Wolf out of the sack." He looked at Xia, who returned his gaze calmly. He grinned, and the spell of fear broke. "But not today. Stay here. It's time for Man to remember why he fears the Wolf."

Ami stood where she was, staring at the body when Wolf reached her. She started, and stood there staring up at him. He gently pushed her aside, patting her back as Xia took her back to the others. "Zhu-fu ni láng," she said quietly.

He smiled. "Your luck's about to change. Be ready to take control of your life." He opened the door and slipped out. They looked at each other, thinking it was a dream. The body told them otherwise.

Brath and Raven waited, wondering when Michael would spring his trap. The only reason Brath could think of was he'd had to take care of an annoyance. They received their answer when the Ping-Ping! of grenade spoons reached them. A few seconds later, smoke billowed out of the forward-leading passageway, followed by smoke from the aftward. The men looked around, wondering what was happening. "W-who's there?" one asked. "What the di yu's going on?"

Brath. Frag. She took one, pulled the pin and let the spoon loose slowly to keep the noise down, then tossed it after a few seconds. She took the risk of watching, and pulled back around the corner when she saw it enter the smoke. Running footsteps retreated aft and forward before the explosion, and there was a frantic scream that was cut off suddenly, followed by chewing and gobbling noises. "Feeding time," the dragon said sadly. "It had to happen."

Take care of the women. I'm going after our fugitive. Stay sharp. Brath looked around the corner in time to see a shadow pass aft through the smoke, and sighed. Acknowledged, Blackstar One. "Come on, Raven. Let's get them calmed down." Brath led the way cautiously, making sure the bodies were dead, then counted mentally. "Nine left." A scream came from aft and stopped quickly. "Eight." She turned to Raven and asked, "Where's Julian?"

"Probably his rooms, and they have the best security," Raven answered after shivering. She looked behind them. "Is he always like this?"

"Only when someone pushes all the wrong buttons," Brath replied as they reached the door. Raven spoke in Cantonese briefly, and the door opened. A young Chinese woman looked out and asked, "Where is Wolf?" Raven smiled and said, "Hunting the evil, Xia. Are you all right?"

Raven received a hug. "I am now. What do we do?"

Brath put her hand between Raven's shoulders and pushed lightly but firmly. "What he said to do. Raven will stay with you and keep you safe. Wolf and I are going to punish Julian."

Xia looked at Brath in wonder. "Dragon and Wolf together. Our lives are changing."

Raven took her by the arm and walked inside. As she closed the door, she said, "Michael promised Julian was mine when he was done, Brath."

The dragon looked aft and nodded. "And he'll keep it, Raven, like all the others."

As the door locked, Michael came forward, covered in blood, his eyes cerulean vortices. "All right, they're out of the way, but I don't think they're safe, Brath. It occurred to me he might have a way to space them. I'd do the same, were I like him."

"I wouldn't know. You've actually felt him, Michael." Brath paused. "You're sure he would."

"He's what I'd have been, if things had gone differently, and I'll explain the rest." He accepted a pistol and carbine. "Let's go."

Brath nodded as they moved forward, carefully checking doors and side passages as they moved. No one appeared. "They've pulled into their holes. We'll have to go after them."

"That's fine. I'm not in a forgiving mood, not after what I discovered about them last night. They're all scum." His voice gave away his anger.

They continued forward and reached what had to be the security center, as it had an armored door with several sensors on the frame. "Hmm, I wonder if there are concealed guns, or the like. I suppose we'll find out." Michael took a deep breath and shot forward, and the passage erupted in gunfire as gas sprayed out in a cloud. Michael reached the door and a lightsaber flashed out, destroying the sensor packages, then he slashed the door apart. "Shénshèng de kao! Láng!" a man screamed as Michael rushed inside. Even more screaming came out, punctuated by the sound of gunfire and the lightsabers, and it was quickly over. The defense guns fell silent as the gas stopped and was scavenged by the air system. Michael walked out, limping from a vicious gunshot wound to one leg. "The systems are down, at least those for ship defence."

"Why aren't you doing anything about that?" Brath asked.

"Something's stopping me. I'm not sure, but Rufus might have supplied them. All I know is it's not a device; I'd have felt it. It may have been from the gas, or something aboard," Michael said as he bandaged the wound with his shirt. "Uhn! That hurts. We're not up to full power, but we don't really need to be."

"Speak for yourself. I'm good. Maybe you only need more time."

"It hardly matters," Michael said as he finished. "I've got Julian. You take care of the bridge crew." He closed his eyes briefly. "Only four left. Remember, no prisoners, no information left behind. They already know too much," he said as he returned the firearms. "I don't know why I bothered."

"Snake. Look at me." Brath looked into his eyes for a long moment. "All right. You had me worried. I never saw you on Coruscant; I suppose you're in a similar mood."

"Yes, I am. I don't like what I've seen. Let's go." They walked forward and reached what had to be Julian's quarters: The door and frame were chased with gold and silver, with a few gems here and there. "They got him wrong, dan nang. I never went for that." Brath looked at him, wondering what he meant, then continued forward.

Michael watched her go, then tried the door, and wasn't surprised to find it locked. "You may as well surrender, Julian. There's no escaping your just reward," he said loudly. "You haven't won," DuValle shouted back. "I can still space the women, including Raven. It's not hard to see she's taken with you."

Michael located the scanner and punched it into fragments, then removed, activated and slashed the door apart with his lightsaber in one swift move, then crashed through, wrenching his shoulder in his haste. DuValle stood by a small panel, one hand poised above a standard "safety" control. The cover was opened, ready for use. "I warned you," he said, his face stormy again, "And she's going to pay for it."

Michael raised a paw, but DuValle was faster, firing a stunner. The electric bolt hit Michael squarely, and he collapsed to his knees, feeling his non-organics try to overcome the assault. He activated one lightsaber, locked it and threw it with his remaining strength. It hit Julian just above the knees, slicing through with a loud sizzling, and DuValle collapsed with a scream, missing the control as he fell.

Michael stayed where he was, concentrating, calling on his reserves and the Force to stabilize himself enough to get through the next few hours – he hoped. He slowly got to his feet, retrieved his 'saber and carefully re-covered the switch before turning back to DuValle, who half-moaned with shock and horror when he looked at his legs. "You're not going to do anything but pay for what you've already done, Julian," he said as his nanomachines recovered enough to restore his other systems. "You don't threaten me and mine, and expect to be allowed to simply walk away." He walked to the panel, studied it for a moment, then shut down all but critical systems. "You're not the first of my opposites I've had to kill. You won't be the last," Whitmer said as he dragged DuValle into the center of the room, away from anything potentially dangerous.

"You haven't won," Julian groaned through clenched teeth. "I'll come back, and I'll undo everything you've 'fixed'." Michael grabbed his head and made him look into his eyes. He probed hard, forcing DuValle to recall everything he'd only hinted at earlier, including how he'd found them. It was over in a few seconds, and Michael stood and backed away, breathing hard in disgust. He didn't want anything to do with Julian, even kill him. He felt dirtier than he ever had before. "That won't help you," DuValle said. "I'll still make your life hell."

"No, I don't think so." Raven. Come and get him. After a few minutes, she walked in and looked at DuValle. "All yours, as I promised."

"What do you think is going to happen? She's under my complete control." Raven fired a shot, and Julian screamed as he grabbed his shoulder.

"You never really understood us, did you? Spoke Souls can't be re-made by anyone but She who made us." Michael turned and walked out, wearily saying It's done, Brath. We need to get off this ship. See if we have any shuttles, will you? I'm a bit tired.

Of course, Snake. We're clear. "W-what's going on?" DuValle asked. "You can't leave me here like this! I won't go out this way!" he screamed. Michael looked back and saw Raven holding a knife, looking at Julian coldly as she knelt beside him. "Shut up and die like a man, you little worm," she hissed.

Michael turned away as DuValle began begging, then pleading for his life, and a bit old, old of verse echoed through his mind as he turned a corner: "When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains, and the women come out to cut up what remains, jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains and go to your gawd like a soldier."

Mal, Jayne, Simon and Gideon finished loading what they might need aboard Shuttle 1, and returned to the kitchen for one last look at their destination, just to be sure. They ran through their main, secondary and emergenty ingress and egress routes, and as they got coffee Mara's voice said, "Mal, something's happening aboard Juggernaut. They sent a distress call that cut off suddenly, and they look to be drifting. Everything's shut down, as far as I can tell."

Reynolds grabbed a mic and replied, "Be right there." As he racked it he said, "Lemme know when it's time. Sommat might'a changed." He headed to the bridge, and saw what Mara was talking about: The ship they'd been behind was now off to port, and was in a slow starboard roll, and a slight port yaw, with Osiris filling the background. He had to agree, something wasn't right. If they continued as they were, they'd fall into atmo with the wrong attitude, and burn up. "Lemme hear the wave, darlin'."

Mara re-played the call. "This is Juggernaut, declaring an emergency! We have – " The rest was garbled, then there was a scream and it ended. "Ain't no doubt sommat's not right," Mal agreed. "Thinkin' they's broke out?"

"I know they have. I can feel them, and it's not pretty," the Cat replied with a shiver. "Michael … I can't describe it, Mal. His mind is too chaotic. It must be bad."

"Okay. Ya can, get in touch. Close enough for a shuttle to go get 'em, dong ma?" He looked at the ship as it continued on its way. "They gonna crash? Won' be good, they hit a city."

Mara ran a course-and-speed check, then replied, "They won't hit anything big, but they won't go unnoticed. I don't know if anyone got the message. It wasn't on the right channel, and wasn't long enough."

"A'right. We gotta go. Y'all do what ya gotta." Mal left when she nodded and returned to the kitchen. Might be can use the upset for cover, he thought. Even when down, Michael helps. Need ta ask what happened, but has to wait. "Looks like Michael an' Brath got loose. Tol' Mara ta do what's needed. Ready?"

"If we weren't on a time-table, I'd say we should help," Simon answered. "I'm ready." Jayne and Marris nodded. "Let's git on with it, Mal. Be a hornets' nest right quick, dan nang."

"Yep. Let's go be heroes. Bad guys can wait."

It took some time for Julian to die. Michael knew it would when he saw the look in Raven's eyes, and suspected she was getting revenge for more than she'd said. He'd gone to find the infirmary, both for his injuries and to find a clue into what was suppressing his abilities. After re-dressing his leg – and changing clothes – he scanned the medical database. He found the reference to nanite suppression, and was surprised to learn it didn't originally apply to him, but to the Frontier back home. Ah, that's why it wasn't perfect. It wasn't me, it was the Erandi. 'Shortcut to God' indeed. What were they thinking? He located the counter-agent and injected himself; it would work, but he took the rest for good measure. He had a use for it, in case they ever tried that madness again.

He looked up as Raven walked in, spattered with blood. She looked angry, but satisfied. "Ready to leave?" he asked softly. She nodded. "All right. We'll leave, all of us. There should be room aboard Serenity, but that's only temporary. You're all going to Boros, where you'll be safer." When she was about to protest, Michael held up a paw and continued, "You belong here, Raven, and Julian was only one of those after us. I won't put you in danger. That was settled long ago, for me, and I'm sure Brath explained why you can't leave with us. It had to have come up."

Raven nodded. "She did. I don't want to lose you, either, Snake. I just got you back, too."

"I know, but we don't always have a choice. I'm not leaving you and the others for the Alliance to interrogate, either. They're not always nice about it, are they?" She looked at him angrily, then nodded. "You deserve your own lives, and you'll get them. I have friends on Boros who can make that happen, perhaps even send some lost children home. Either way, you're better off away from me. Now that Julian's gone, his allies have plenty of warning, and they won't make the same mistakes he did." He sighed. "I'd love for you to be with us, but it can't be. I won't risk you."

"You've done this before." It wasn't a question. It didn't need to be; he'd left himself wide-open, so she'd know. "I'll go, but don't believe I'll forget." She came to him and hugged him. "I can't, and I don't want to."

He patted her back, and stroked her hair. "We'll have some time, but it can't be forever. Take what you can whilst it's there."

Brath stopped in the door, watching and listening. She'd returned to human form and replaced her clothing. She smiled sadly. "We have one shuttle working. The rest were cannibalized. I don't think they ever used them."

"Right. No rest for the weary. I'll try to contact Serenity, and we'll go from there."

Mara and River sat poised to act, watching Juggernaut as they monitored the shuttle. Two hours had passed since their quarry had gone out of control, and still nothing. They wondered what was taking Michael and Brath so long. "I hope nothing serious happened," River said. "I can feel them, but I can't get any impressions. They're alive, and that's it."

"I know," Mara replied. "Not just that, but what you didn't say." She carefully stretched without taking her eyes off the readouts. "I wish something would happen."

The signal they'd been waiting for came, and River adjusted comms to receive it. Michael's voice said, "Serenity, this is Lone Wolf. Please respond." She flipped a switch and said, "Right here, Uncle Mike. What happened, and when can you get here?"

"Julian made the mistake of bringing two very dangerous fugitives aboard without taking proper precautions. We've been going through their files, and we have a rather good picture of what they're up to," Whitmer replied. "We'll be using their shuttle, and bringing over Julain's 'play-toys'. They need to get away as soon as practicable. What's happening with you?"

"Mal, Jayne, Simon and Gideon went down in a shuttle about an hour ago. Everyone's waiting to leave orbit as soon as they come back." River caught a flash of worry, and a brief snatch of what Julian had told Michael. "If you can get here quickly, we can cover them. How soon?"

"Within five minutes. I'm about to have this scow crash into yon rock." Michael paused. "The re-entry should raise all kinds of alarms and cause havoc, which Mal and company can use, dong ma?"

"Way ahead of you, Michael," Mara answered. "Its current track will miss anything important, but it won't go un-noticed. Please hurry. I miss you."

"That sounds familiar," Raven said as she walked onto the bridge. "All aboard. Waiting on you, Snake." When he looked at her, Raven said silently, I don't need to know who she is until we get there. You can't stay alone. I know that, and I can deal with it.

Michael nodded. "Right." He pressed the talk button and said, "We're leaving now, Mara. Keep Serenity steady; we'll latch onto the cargo door, then dump this piece of go se when and where it'll do the most good. For us, that is. Acknowledge."

"Acknowledged, Blackstar One. We'll be waiting." The channel closed and Michael turned to look at Raven for a long moment. He didn't say anything, but he nodded as though he was agreeing with something. "Let's go. Time to arrange a nasty surprise or five." Raven's expression asked several questions as they left the bridge, and he said, "There's plenty to explain, and you'll get several on the way out. Will that do?"

"Yes. Now let's get off this barge."

Juggernaut had completed three rolls and was just completing the fourth when sensors detected the shuttle leaving. Mara steadied Serenity as it approached, while River went down to the cargo deck, calling for Jim and Inara to help. She did noting but watch the approach, noting whoever was piloting knew what they were doing. She didn't think it was Michael, as he'd never had a reason to use one. She wondered who it was.

Soon, the two ships mated together, and Mara thought, Good lock, River. Let's get this done. The door tell-tale lit, stayed on for about four minutes, then went out, and Mara relaxed. She applied light thrust, then braked, and the shuttle drifted ahead, paralleling Juggernaut as she adjusted their orbit. That done, she exited the bridge to see what was what.

She arrived to find a near-chaotic scene. About twelve women were huddled on the decking, some crying while others comforted them. Michael spoke urgently to Jim, who looked back grimly, while Brath, Inara and another woman treated a few injuries, some a little serious-looking. She saw Clarissa open the infirmary through the open door. She stopped at Michael's side as he said, "That's what he told me. I don't know if he was telling the truth, lying or bluffing, but we can't take the chance. We have to assume it's real, Jim."

Wainwright nodded. "Like Mal likes to say, 'Why can't it go smooth'." He looked Michael over; he looked as though he'd had a rough time, and Mara felt her hackles rising. "A'right. They should be grounded an' on the way. Ya need to be checked-out. Ain't lookin' a hunnerd percent, dong ma?"

"I can wait. This can't. I'm assuming command, and that's final."

River looked at him as she passed, carrying one young woman who had a nasty slash across her face. "You heard him, Mara. Blackstar One has the conn. We've got some work to do," she said as she continued aft, followed by Brath, Inara and the other woman, all of whom helped with their new … personnel or cargo, she wasn't quite sure.

"All right. Let's get going."

They walked quietly as they approached the rendezvous point, eyes peeled. So far, everything was going well, and that made Mal nervous. Sommat ain't right. Goin' too smooth, he thought. He looked at the others, and they nodded their agreement when they saw his expression. He drew his gun and continued cautiously.

Soon, they arrived at the small clearing a kilometer north of the Tam house, which was situated a fair piece outside the city; far enough out for privacy, but close enough for Emergency Response to arrive quickly. As they walked out of the trees, Gabriel Tam stepped in from the east, carrying a satchel and a slung messenger's bag. He looked nervous, and Mal figured he could understand why. Leavin' this fine place an' goin' away can't be easy.

They stopped a few feet away, and Simon said, "Hello, father. Are you ready?"

"I'm afraid not, and I'm sorry, Simon," Tam replied. "They made me do it."

Mal spun around as seven figures stepped out of the shadows below the trees. They didn't look or move like purple-bellies, and Gideon said, "Well, I can see someone of significance and standing has taken interest. I never thought I'd see you again," he said to the leader.

"I never thought I'd see you with criminals," the Operative replied. "Oh, how the mighty have fallen."

Jayne looked around sourly. " Juh jen she guh kwai luh duh jean jan," he muttered as the other men moved in. "Here's what doin' the right thing does for ya, Mal. Told ya wouldn' work."

Mal understood what Cobb was doing: He was setting up a staged argument to put the others off their guard, if they could be fooled. Mal turned and ground out, "Yeah? An' who told ya ta come along? Had time ta back out, but ya got stupid 'cause the money's too good, hundan? Oughta shoot ya, but figgerin' these nice boys'll do it for me, they get what they want." As Jayne was about to continue his part, a loud boom! shattered the night's quiet as Serenity passed overhead. It was all they needed.

Mal leveled his weapon and shot one gun bearer, then dodged aside as his neighbor charged in, swinging a stun baton. He missed, and Reynolds kicked his knee hard. The man collapsed without a sound as he grabbed his knee. Gideon drew and slashed in one swift, smooth motion, nearly decapitating the man nearest him as Jayne and Simon shot twice, bringing down a man apiece as Gabriel dropped prone, covering his head.

Mal stepped inside another's swing, rammed his palm into the man's face and kneed him in the groin, then leapt back, just avoiding the Operative's thrust. Jayne shot Mal's victim, then jumped aside as the last uninjured opponent tried to tackle him. Sage crashed into the back of the man's skull with a dull thunk!, and he fell hard and lay still.

Simon found himself locked-up with another man, and his training with Michael paid off as he broke the hold and sent the man tumbling. One shot finished that problem, but unfortunately he felt a familiar blinding pain as Mal's first attacker shot him in the leg. Simon managed to stay standing steady long enough to put a hole in the man's forehead. His leg collapsed, and he hit the ground, but not before shooting another man who tried to rise and re-join the fight.

Mal looked for more trouble, but six of the seven were down and weren't moving. He scanned the surrounding forest but saw nothing as the clearing was lit with near-daylight as Serenity hovered above them. "Area's clear, Mal," Michael's voice blared. "Ready when y'all are." Whitmer said, "Shénshèng de kao," when Reynolds saw Marris and the Operative locked together, trying to strangle, slash, throw or stab the other, and not really able to; they were evenly matched, and the strain showed as tendons and veins stood out grotesquely, while their faces remained almost calm. Mal shivered.

"Mal?" Janye said as he tried to aim. Reynolds shook his head. They stood there, watching as the two tried to overpower or trick each other, and failed. Another boom! announced Juggernaut's passing, and still Gideon and his antagonist remained locked together, not allowing the noise to distract them. The explosion from the crash didn't faze them. Simon painfully sat up and watched, wondering who would win.

That choice was made for them as a figure dropped from Serenity's belly to land near the fight. The Operative glanced his way, and tried to disengage to attack the new arrival, but Michael calmly waited and shot him with appeared to be a toy. Gideon let go as his opponent's muscles locked into rigidity; he shook his hands to relieve the tingling as the taser froze the Operative in place briefly before he fell. When he hit the ground, Michael fired another odd-looking weapon, and the dart hit between the man's neck and shoulder. He stopped struggling against his own body and went limp.

Michael sat down hard, panting. "Okay, that should do it," he said. "Let's get off this rock." As he spoke, Gabriel looked up to see the fight was over, and Simon's face. He got up and checked his son's injuries, then said, "Can we go? I don't know how long before the authorities will arrive."

A few Emergency Response shuttles flew past, ignoring Serenity. "Don' think that's gonna be a thing," Mal said casually as he helped Michael to his feet. "Can't ya go nowhere an' not look like sommat the cat dragged in?"

"I only wish," Whitmer replied ironically as Marris helped Simon to stand. He tapped his commlink. "Need a lift, gals. Simon's been shot, an' I ain't feelin' so fresh." After a moment, a large metal basket lowered, and Simon, Michael and Gabriel were hauled up first, after Tam had gathered his bags. A minute later, Jim, Gideon and Mal rode up, then Jayne with the unconscious Operative. As soon as the basket was secured, Serenity moved out, picked up altitude and roared away into the black.

Mal looked around and said, "What happened to my gorram boat? This ain't a half-way house for wayward women-folk."

"It is now," said a woman who wore men's clothes. "If you have a problem, take it up with Snake. Take the bad with the good."

Mal looked at Brath, who was wearing something different from what she left in. "These were Julian's play-toys, Mal. He was going to space them to stop us, and that wasn't going to happen. As Raven said, take it up with Michael."

Reynolds looked at her thoughtfully, then looked over the new passengers. Some looked fair, but more than a few looked poorly, and their eyes convinced him Whitmer was right to bring them along. Ain't right, what their eyes say. Need ta know where they's goin'. "A'right. Where's their port?"

"Boros," Michael answered as Raven went aft, helping another young woman walk. He sat on the deck, his back against one of his containers. He watched as Jayne and Jim helped Simon aft. "Julian's done, and I hope the crash destroyed everything. I know why he had a link with me, but it's gone, and that can wait. I have plenty of explaining to do as it is."

Gabriel removed his case from the basket, then looked at them, shame-faced. "I'm sorry. They found me before I could tell you."

"Happens all went our way, but gonna 'splain," Mal said after looking at Tam's face. "Near to got your boy killed, an' don' think River would much approve."

"River's here? How is she?" Gabriel never noticed his daughter as she silently walked up behind him, studying him as though sizing him up for the kill.

"I'm better," River said, startling her father. "Not fine, not cured, but better." She walked to stand beside Michael and looked at her father without expression. "It is true? Did they want Simon, and they got me in trade?" Gabriel affected shock and surprise, but his eyes were guarded, as though he wondered how they knew. "Never mind. Whose idea was it? Yours or hers?"

"How can you ask me that?" the elder Tam demanded. "What makes you believe we could do that?"

"I've seen her genetic pattern, doctor, and it's plain to anyone who knows how to look that River was engineered. Would you like to take another tack?" Michael said as he removed his lightsabers from his pockets and re-joined them. "You can't fool everyone forever, to paraphrase Abe Lincoln. Then there's what Gideon brought to confirm that. You may as well give up and throw yourself on your children's mercy. This isn't one you can talk your way out of."

As they watched, Tam deflated, then sat down where he stood, defeat and resignation plain on his face. "It's true," he said quietly as he scrubbed his face with his palm. "They did want Simon, and Regan made a deal to keep him. Every other child of ours would be theirs to experiment on," he said poisonously. "They'd choose what characteristics they wanted, and we'd do the same." Michael thought, by his words, tone and carriage, Gabriel Tam had hit bottom, and had nowhere to go but up.

It took all of Mal's self-control to keep from exploding. The man talked about what Blue Sun had done quietly, and didn't seem to feel any remorse. "An' that makes it a'right?" he asked with disgust. "Sellin' one child ta keep another? Ya think Simon's gonna like knowin' this?"

"I know he won't. You don't know how hard it was to pretend ignorance, Captain Reynolds. The alternative was losing Simon, and maybe all our children. Blue Sun has more power and influence than most people think, and it's grown since that time. They could take anything they wanted, and as long as they took precautions and kept it hidden, no one would raise an objection. The consequences were too great."

"Goddess, I hate being right," Michael growled as River knelt down and took his hand. "It's okay," she replied softly. "I know. That's all I want for now. The rest can wait." She walked to her father's side, knelt and showed him the ring. "I forgive you, but I can't forget what you did. I'm willing to let it lie, but I want to know all of it, eventually."

Gabriel looked at her, the ring, then back at her incredulously, then slumped in relief. "I'll tell you," he said with a little smile. "You have every right to know." His smile faded as he looked aft. "Simon won't like any of it, and I doubt he'll believe only my word. If I know him at all, he'll want to hear it from her."

"A'right." Mal turned to Gideon. "Need ta figure how they knew. Might wanna get after it." Marris nodded and left for the bridge as Reynolds turned to Michael. "Julian's done?"

"Yep, an' know what he did. Don' ask, 'less ya want a few nightmares, Mal." Whitmer stood up slowly. He rubbed a hand over his face. "That jump took more out o' me than I thought. Need ta crash awhile. Still ain't a hundred percent, an' wasn't anything close ta fun. Later." He slowly climbed the stairs and disappeared into the accessway to the bunks.

Mal turned to Tam and said, "Got rooms, ya want. Might wanna pick one, 'fore they fills up." Gabriel looked at him, then got up and walked aft with River. Mal walked aft, followed by Gideon, who had returned after sending a brief query. They looked in as Clarissa, Brath, Inara and the new arrival worked on the injured, then went up to the kitchen. They sat down, finally letting the reaction take effect.

"Ain't the worst thing happened, but ain't far back," Mal said as he stood up to get some coffee. "Got a feelin' only gonna get worse."

"That may be, but it won't be all bad, Mal," Gideon replied softly. He noticed the taser and dart guns on the table. "Hmm, how did these get here? Never mind. When my former comrade wakes, I believe we'll have more answers. This goes further than what we've gathered and theorized, Mal. It appears Parliament is involved, more likely a small faction."

"Hate ta say, but fits. Question is, who an' why." Mal looked at the steam from his coffee for a few moments, and he looked up suddenly. "Factions. Core worlds, maybe? Wave hurt them more'n any other. Cain't say we's all civilized an' go makin' people all lie down ta die."

"You could be right, but I was thinking in another direction," Marris replied. "Blue Sun has installations nearly everywhere. They seem to be behind it all. They have the influence and resources, but not the muscle, which means Longshore. Schwarzchild brings new and unknown technology, and both Blue Sun and the Alliance military would be interested in that." He shook his head as he looked at the table-top. "Either way,

this will not be pleasant."

"Rather fight an Operative than deal with them," Reynolds said, earning him a smile from Marris. "Well, gettin' there, but still ain't all." He looked forward. "Thinkin' Michael's info could be what breaks it loose. Need ta wait for that. Man went through it, looks ta me."

"Fair to say, Mal." Gideon glanced back to the women who stayed on the cargo deck. "I'm not sure I want to know what they've been through. If Julian is like Michael, I don't want to know what he was like. I can imagine, if I think of Michael in his position, and it's not pleasant."

Mal nodded. "A'right. Michael said Boros was their port; guess this one's goin' on his tab. Can talk it over on the way."

As Reynolds left, Gideon leaned back in his chair with a sigh. A phrase from Lao-Tzu came to him unbidden, and he shivered as he realized it applied not only to their current situation, but the near future: "Heaven and Earth are not humane. They regard all things as straw dogs."

A/N: More surprises, revelations and shocks to come. Reviews are shiny.

Acknowledgments: Rudyard Kipling. (n.d.). . Retrieved December 29, 2011, from Web site: .

Wolverine quote from Uncanny X-Men #121

The German phrase Jawohl, Mein Herr. Zum befehl. Seig heil was fairly common among Wehrmacht personnel. Free translation: "Yes, sir. It will be done. To victory." Thanks to Reverso (http/:.net) for making it easy.

More holes than a string bag lifted from Campion episode Flowers for the Judge. Always steal the best, dong ma? ;)

Chinese phrases: Tah-mah-duh – fucking; zhou ma – damn; shénme? – what?; dai dai – stupid; liumang – bastard/asshole/criminal/gangster; juh jen she guh kwai luh duh jean jan – this is a happy development; dan nang – I'm certain of it; dong ma – understand?; tian sheng de ye dui rou – inbred stack of meat; Ni shi bai chi – you're an idiot; Ai ya – My God; Kao! – Fuck!; hundan – bastard or son of a bitch; Zhu-fu ni – Blessing on you/good luck; láng – wolf; shénshèng de – holy;