A/N:
Rachet: *wink*, but mayhap not as you think and not for awhile yet.
Sabrina1204: River's gonna come out in all her badass glory pretty soon, I have a decent bit of time to play around with our beloved pack since there is a five year gap between Dark Fury and CoR, which we will be headed to eventually in a very roundabout way, but I do plan on doing a bunch of original for the inbetween, a lot of fluff, of course some blood, Jack grows into her mouth, and hopefully some amusing dialogue. And yes this is the update you've been waiting for ENTER SERENITY… Hope it lives up to the hype…much luv…oh and by the by… the cup is not just a random thought….hehehehe
.: I got something kinda similar in a vague type of way to that, let me know what you think, and I'm always opened to suggestions and ideas, and if I can't work it in I like to hoard 'em for rainy days, lol.
GenocideWolf: LOL. Much luv. *Blushes*
DemolitionV: Thanks so much, promise to keep writing as long as you keep reading :D
Zen007: Thanks lol! Got plenty more RnR floatin' in my head :D
Sin1989-Thanks so much! A badass River is so much fun!
*Sniffle* None of it is mine….
Ps-Um, well , yeah, I mentioned Inara in the beginning and then she kinda disappeared, my bad… lol, I aim to fix that now.
The crew of Serenity let out a collective sigh of relief as Mal successfully docked on Pathos. The captain's flying ability was passable, his landing and docking capabilities however, were other matters entirely, and despite the countless opportunities he had to practice since River's departure Zoe still silently thanked Buddha every time they made it safely to the ground or in this case, every time they successfully locked on without ripping a gorram hole in the hull of the ship.
"He's getting better," Inara said optimistically as she opened her eyes.
"I'll just be happy when it's River behind the controls again." Simon answered, releasing the grip he had held on the table.
"How long do you think it will take to stabilize her again?" She asked.
"I won't know until I can examine her, it's been weeks without her meds, not to mention the damage that monster must have done, I could be right back where I started again."
"You mean she," Inara corrected unsure as to why his choice of words bothered her.
"Excuse me?"
"You said you could be right back where you started again, you meant she, she could be right back at the beginning again."
Simon looked confused and more than little angry, "I fail to see the distinction, I have taken care of her completely for almost five years now, I gave up everything for her, she's my responsibility Inara, it will be me cleaning up pools of vomit in the middle of the night, me sitting up with her when her nightmares are too much to bare, me coaxing her out of ventilation shafts and trying to make sense of her ramblings, so yes when I say I'll be right back at the beginning again I mean all our progress will be for naught."
Inara blinked a few times, taken aback by his words, and at an utter loss on anyway to respond, falling back on her years of training merely she replied, "Of course you are right Simon forgive me, my remark meant nothing." Though she did not mean it in the least, but unsure of what to make if anything of it all.
"Never thought I'd be so happy to see a fuckin' space port," Jack yawned stretching as Pathos came into view.
"The girl desires nothing more than a hot shower and to be clean once more." River said wistfully.
"Like my girl dirty," Riddick teased seductively, his voice a low rumble.
"Seriously, I'm going to throw up my survival pill." Jack made a face.
"Bed would be nice," Riddick continued ignoring her.
"The Riddick's thoughts are not conducive to the girl's ability to dock." River smiled.
"So yeah….Um standing right behind you guys."
"Jayne."
"Yeah Zoe?" He huffed loading the last crate onto the mule.
"Gonna head out now, you know the deal."
"Yeah, know what I'm supposed to do Zoe," he snapped.
"Captain and I are gonna start with the docking bays, Doc's got some connections he's gonna check in with on the med levels, and Inara and Kaylee are gonna stay with the ship."
Jayne raised an eyebrow, "Since when does the Doc have connections?"
Zoe shrugged, "Where do ya think he gets River's meds, ain't like he strolls into a pharmacy and places an order, if our boy's been workin' , mayhap he's been hurt, or River has," she paused a second not wanting to think on the matter, "they'd need to see a Doc workin' off the books."
Jayne scratched his head, "Guessin' that leaves the lower levels to me 'gain."
"More likely than not, folks down there will talk to you."
"Gorram tired of scratchin' at dirt."
"Ain't stoppin' 'til we find her."
"Ain't the one that drove her off," he snorted, finding it actually funny he hadn't had a gorram thing to do with it.
"Body can't help what they think." Zoe defended herself.
"Don't think that's the point Zoe, can't help what we think, River girl knows that better than anybody, it's the way ya all were actin', tip toein' 'round the girl like she was a time bomb, treatin' her like she was made of glass 'til one of ya'll needed her to shoot at somethin', 'iffin' none of you noticed, it was me that always gave her the gun, tried to give her one of her own for her birthday, Mal wouldn't let her keep it. Ain't one for thinkin' much Zoe, but that whole ramble 'bout cages seems to make some sense to me now, girl was as much a prisoner on board this ship as she was with the Alliance only we made this one look pretty, made the bars all invisible like."
"Thinkin' ain't what you're bein' paid to do Jayne," Zoe said, her tone a warning.
"Been reminded enough of that Zoe," Jayne said shrugging her off.
"Then don't forget it."
"Body can't help what they think," he smirked, turning her words around on her.
"I'd be gettin' on Jayne, got a lotta ground to cover," she snapped.
"Won't make a lick of difference Zoe and we both know it, only one of us is willin' to admit it."
"Do what you're paid to do Jayne, ain't nothin' good comes from reachin' higher than your worth." She said coldly.
Jayne bit back his anger, though his hands trembled slightly from the effort, he managed to turn his back on the first mate, "I'll be gearin' up then on my way."
"See to it."
"Stay close kid," Riddick rumbled pushing down his goggles as the hatch door hissed open.
"Ain't six Riddick, been in and out of more ports than I can count, think I know had to keep my head low." She snapped back.
"Yeah, but that mouth of yours never seems to want to shut the fuck up."
"Oh fuck you Riddick," she rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.
River found herself only half listening as the two bickered back and forth, a vague nagging sensation tugging at the back of her mind distracting her.
"No wanderin' off," Riddick warned her again, "May not be the first time you been in a port but sure as hell the first time you've walked through with two of the 'verse's most wanted, fact is ain't a merc in the 'verse ain't tempted by as much coin as the Alliance is throwin' up for mine and River's pig gus, always gonna be somebody on us, stick around long enough kid, your head will earn a pretty price too."
"The Riddick is correct," River said stepping past them and out into the small airlock.
Jack merely grunted, doubting anyone would be stupid enough to fuck with them considerin' they'd all looked as though they'd just escaped hell, and they had. Twice.
"The cub is correct as well." River answered absently playing with one of the several tattered ends of her tank.
"'Bout what?" Riddick asked leading Jack by one of his hands on top of her head toward the air lock door.
"'Bout everything," Jack snorted.
"Keep tellin' yourself that kid." He chuckled.
**
"Keep your eyes open for a cred machine, need some coin, 'fore we can do anything," Riddick said as they moved through the crowd, which seemed to instinctively flow around the trio, rather than try to push past. It could have been the condition of their clothing, or the inherent feeling of danger they seemed to emit from their pores, though River who could read the mind of every person around them knew it was more due to their smell than anything else.
Jack snorted, "The great Riddick actually pays for stuff?"
"Easier than stealin'," he shrugged, "draws less attention."
"The cub has been misbehaving," River scolded but the accompanying giggle took away any sting Jack may have felt.
Jack had the grace to look sheepish, "Nobody told me we was actually plannin' on acquirin' shit all legit like."
"What?" Riddick asked, his confusion turning to absolute amusement as Jack fanned out a handful of cred chips. He smirked, kid was good. "We ain't but a hundred feet from the docks, how in the gorram hell did you lift those?" He asked taking the chips, his eyes bulging ever so slightly as he tallied up the value, kid had either been lucky as fuck or she really was that good.
"The cub is just that good," River smirked, plucking the chips from the Riddick's fingers she handed them back to Jack. "The cub has earned them, they are hers to spend, the girl and the Riddick have coin of their own."
Jack beamed, "Saw the casino signs everywhere, figured if I just watched I'd be able to tell who was goin' home a winner."
"Was, being the operative word," River giggled.
Riddick was impressed, kid was observant as hell. Pick pocketing was a tricky business, more often than not it wasn't worth the risk, but kid could pick a target and walk away clean, fuck he hadn't even noticed her makin' her moves. "Might just live up to your mouth Jackie-girl."
"Fuck you."
Riddick chuckled.
***
"Too heavy for you kid," Riddick said as he plucked the shiv from Jack's hand.
"Ain't throwin' it," She shrugged.
"Ain't the point," he told her firmly, picking up a larger yet sleeker curved blade, "your shiv, it ain't just a piece of metal, it's an extension of you," he made several clean liquid swipes through the air, "it's gotta move like you move. River's gonna be teachin' ya how to fight, my ways not good for you I'm bigger and bulker, I have brute force when all else fails, you ain't gonna ever have strength on your side sos you need to rely on speed and agility."
"The curved claw, flows like the River, smooth, fluid. The girl uses kicks and spins, quick movements relying on momentum, the curve carries the slice through, clean, efficient, lethal."
Jack nodded, absorbing every piece of information they gave her and storing it away.
"These," River told her handing her a pair of blades nearly identical to ones she had selected for herself, metal grips which were wrapped in black leather, the edge serrated where it curved around her knuckles and smooth as it extended on. Riddick had also selected similar blades, though his were much larger, and Jack found herself oddly remembering an old story involving a family bears, each with identical possessions varying only in size, though she thought of the pack as more wolf like than bear like it still seemed a good comparison.
"And this," Riddick grunted strapping a back holster over her shoulders.
"What about guns?" She asked eagerly.
Riddick snorted, and River just shook her head, a firm no.
"Why not?" Jack complained.
"Any fool can fire a gun, ain't a drop of skill to it." Riddick told her strapping another sheathed blade around Jack's calf, whom at the moment was beginning to feel like the doll in some world gone mad game of dress up.
"But River uses guns," she whined as River tugged on her, adjusting the holster.
"The girl can also kill with a foam cup."
"Ain't seen it," Jack shot back.
"Missin' the point kid, learn the art, then you can pick your instrument." Riddick smirked, now that he thought 'bout it he kinda like to think of himself as an artist of sorts, maybe that bitch bounty hunter hadn't been so far off the mark.
River shrugged, grabbing several clips for her chosen guns, "The girl is a dancer," oblivious to the fact that Riddick had not spoken aloud, being around those who did not mind half spoken conversations, and kept no secrets from her nor desired to, had caused it to become habit and she noticed less and less the difference between spoken words and unspoken thoughts. Neither Jack nor Riddick ever commented on it beyond a snort or smirk, acceptance she found, was divine.
Jayne stomped through the station byways, the crowd clearing a path, none wishing to be in the way of the hulking hun dan, that looked like he was lookin' to shoot someone or something. He was still seething over Zoe's last remarks, the idea of tellin' her and Mal both to go straight to ruttin' hell looking more and more appealing with every goddamn step he took.
He didn't intend on stopping anywhere to shop but as he passed by a weapon shop that he knew stocked the ammo he needed for Vera, the idea of that and mayhap a new girl to add to his collection cheered him slightly and so he paused and turned into the shop, 'sides he wasn't 'xactly dodgin' his job he'd been in this place 'fore askin' questions, and spendin' a few creds could make a difference in loosening a man's tongue he reasoned.
"Nihao (hello)." The old man by the counter greeted him, "Oh, it's you, you're the one that takes the modified shells for that pretty little lady of yours." He chuckled, "You're in luck, just got a shipment yesterday."
Jayne grunted in acknowledgement.
"You ever find that girl?"
"Nah, can't find a body that don't wanna be found."
"Well, 'iffin' you still care to try, girl by that description was in here earlier."
Jayne's head instantly snapped up, "What?"
"Girl was in here, had a big 'ole hun dan with her, growled at anybody got close to her and the little bit they was in here with, looked like they'd just escaped that special kinda hell."
"You ain't curious as to who they was?" Jayne asked suspiciously, hopin' like hell the man hadn't gotta the idea in his head to turn 'em in to the Alliance.
"Don't ask no questions over man like that, seen a lotta baddie types in my line of business get to be able to tell the difference 'tween a man that's for show and a man liable to rip your throat out and shove yer balls down it for lookin' or talkin' to what was theirs."
"Any talk of where's they was goin'?"
"Not a bit, but they was outfittin' themselves and even the little bit they had with 'em like it was the Unification War all over again, I'd be a mite careful, man looked awful tetchy."
"Why's it yer tellin me all this?"
The old man shrugged, "They was all over the blades, them that fight with blades over guns tend to be a bit unbalanced, ain't lookin' for trouble but man scared off a shop full of customers, 'sides you and yours have spent a decent amount of coin in here last couple of weeks, they's just blown through once, I prefer a steady customer."
Jayne put several boxes of shells on the counter and paid for them, throwin' a few extra creds in, "For yer trouble old man," he said and headed out of the shop.
The girl was on the station. The girl was on the station. Fuck Riddick was on the station. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. He needed a plan, and a drink. A drink first.
"Stay here."
River blinked, "The girl does not believe she heard the Riddick properly."
"Stay. Here." He emphasized dropping the three gorram duffels he'd been shouldering through the station onto the room floor.
"What the fuck for?" Jack demanded.
Riddick took a deep breath, "'Cause I'm gonna go find us a gorram ship, one that I ain't fuckin' payin' for, and it'd be a whole lot easier without you two taggin' along." What he left out was he really didn't want Jack to be around when he broke in a killed the owners, Jack wasn't quick enough yet and he sure as hell wasn't leavin' the girl here by herself.
River arched an eyebrow, "The girl does not tag."
Jack muttered something along the lines of fuck you, before deciding she liked the idea of a shower and bed much more than skulking around the shadows of the docking bays anyway.
"The girl is only allowing this because she agrees with the cub."
Riddick smirked, "Whatever you just thought 'bout kid, thanks."
"Yeah, well do me a favor find us a ship larger than a fucking matchbox with working cortex and we'll call it even."
"Anything for you princess," he snorted and then crossed the room to where River stood and wrapped his arms around her, leaning in to lightly graze her lips, "mean it girl, stay put," he growled.
River rolled her eyes, "He will find the girl and the cub where he leaves them."
"Good," he dropped another kiss on her forehead before leaving.
As soon as the door closed Jack sat up on the bed, "We ain't actually stayin' are we?"
River smiled, "The girl said the Riddick would find them were he left them, never that they would remain there the entirety of his absence, the cub may shower first, but quickly."
Jayne tipped back his whiskey, hoping to hell that Zoe or Mal didn't have a mind to be thirsty and happen to walk into the bar, then again, had to be couple hundred bars on the station considerin' the casinos and all, what were the odds of them walkin' into his? Then again, what were the odds of flippin' sides in the middle of a job cause somebody offered ya a better percent and your own bunk, only to find out you was signin' on to be some big damn hero flyin' straight into a horde of Reavers led by a feng le teen aged girl and a captain with hero complex and a knack for gettin' shot? Pretty gorram good 'iffin' your name was Jayne Cobb.
Technically he was looking for the ruttin' girl, he told himself, wasn't nothin' to feel guilty 'bout, just so happened currently he was looking for her at the bottom of an empty glass, only place left he'd hadn't looked on this damn station, and big fuckin' surprise she wasn't there either, but she was here somewhere, a thought that should have comforted him, but somehow it didn't. A part of 'im, the part that understood what wantin' to be free of it all felt like didn't want the girl found, not for his sake but for hers, 'sides the way he was feelin' 'bout Mal and Zoe at this point he figured they didn't ruttin' deserve her back. Another part of 'im, the one that liked livin' and wasn't quite done with doin' so yet didn't want to be anywhere's near Little Crazy and Big Crazy and whatever miniature version of the two the guy in the gun shop was goin' on 'bout, he'd heard all 'bout what Riddick was capable of, and seen firsthand what the girl could do, still had the fuckin' scar to prove it to.
Jayne signaled the bartender to pour him another, and he sipped it more slowly than the first, though it wasn't long before he was ordering a third, and it was sometime around the fourth when Jayne came to the conclusion he wasn't lookin' anymore, nope, now he was just gettin' drunk, and he was okay with that. Jayne Cobb was officially callin' off the search.
Girl didn't want to be found, couldn't ruttin' blame her, 'iffin' he had the Doc as a brother he'd run off too. Girl found herself some trim, good for her he smirked; in fact, he might go lookin' for some himself in a bit. To trim and crime, he thought and drained the last of his glass, leaning back and lighting a cigar as he signaled for another, feeling mighty gorram pleased with his decision.
On the other hand, he wasn't the only one lookin' for her, and he didn't think the Captain or any of the crew for that matter could be brought around to his way of thinkin', be better 'iffin' he found her first to warn her, but how in the ruttin hell was he gonna do that? It was towards the end of his fifth drink that Jayne Cobb had what he believed to be one of the greatest ideas of his life, girl was a reader, she could hear thoughts, and he chuckled at his own ruttin' genius.
Downing the last of his drink and stubbing out his cigar he squeezed his eyes closed concentrating as much as possible through the haze of whiskey, he silently yelled, "River, River, River, River, River, River, River!"
River giggled, enjoying the satisfaction of her cub as she completed another successful swipe. They had no need for the credits but it was something the little one enjoyed and so she let her have her fun.
"Riddick's gonna freak 'iffin' he finds out we left the room." Jack smirked, scanning the crowd for her next target and settling on a man in a blue silk overcoat.
"The Riddick will never know." River smiled sideways, "Not him, he is more than he seems," she warned her absently, eyeing a dress in a shop window.
Jack quirked an eyebrow but moved her search on, "Sos what's the plan anyway?"
"Profitable employment of course."
"What about my training?" She asked hopefully.
"The Riddick will select a ship large enough to equip a gym, there is no better teacher than experience."
"What kinda of job?" Jack asked.
"Whatever the Riddick deems worthy, though Juno will be avoided."
"That's the job ya'll blew when the HG went down isn't it?"
"Unforeseen circumstances," River answered.
"Well at least wes don't have to worry 'bout Johns."
"Valid assumption, but there will be others."
"Bring it on." Jack smirked, her smiling fading quickly as River swung around, her head jerking to the side and eyes glazing over.
"What is it Riv?" She asked anxiously, worried Riddick had run into trouble, and unsure if River's gift worked that far, "River," she tried again when she received no response.
"The girl has business," she said quietly, after a few more tense moments.
"What kinda of business?"
"Business that cannot be postponed, they wish to cage her and make her sit pretty and quiet, only fly when they tell her to fly, only shoot where they point," River rambled, her mind searching out the source of the whispered tug.
"Mercs?"
"No, the girl's former pack seeks to reclaim her."
"You ain't gonna go back to 'em are you?" Jack asked, although fearful of the answer.
"Their claim is false, the girl has a pack, she wants no other."
"Then we should go back Riv, wait for Riddick then wes can take care of it together."
"No, the Riddick must not know of this, the girl does not wish her keepers dead, only deterred; the Riddick does not understand the difference."
"It don't sit right is all." Jack grumbled.
"The cub must go back and wait for the girl."
"Are you kiddin' me? Ain't lettin' you go nowheres alone, Riddick will skin me alive 'iffin' somethin' happens to you and I just sit around and let it."
River released a sigh, reading quite clearly the girl's resolute determination to follow her, "The girl named Jack will achieve the impossible and remain silent."
Jack snorted, "Fine, but 'iffin' this goes bad, for the record I voted to back for Riddick first."
River rolled her eyes, "Whose side is the girl on?"
"Ain't safe to pick a side 'tween you and Riddick, I'm on Jack's side, which means 'iffin' this goes fine, than al'right ain't nobody gotta know, this goes south and I'm runnin' right back to Riddick and tellin' 'im it was all your idea and you made me do it."
"It will be well, the man named Jayne has no intention of harming the girl, nor does he truly wish for her return, he is doing as he is told."
"And what iffin' he changes his mind?" Jack pressed as they started walking again, this time River leading the way in a semi erratic pattern across the lower levels of the station.
"Then the girl will remind him why he feared her." River stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Sos, you're 'xpectin' it to go south?"
"Too many variables," River paused, and turned to Jack, "The girl must tell the cub a secret, there is a phrase that makes the girl sleep, the girl cannot stop it, she cannot fight it, if they use it the girl will fall into a sleep she cannot escape. The cub must run and find the Riddick, the keepers will take her to a ship, her name is Serenity, though it belies her true course, they are self righteous and angry, their thoughts never cease and swell with suspicion and mistrust, the pack must find her again, and break her free, bring with them a syringe of adrenaline, the Riddick will know how to use it."
"I really think we should wait for Riddick." Jack hesitated, "he really will kill me 'iffin' somethin' happens to you."
River ran a hand through the girl's messy mop of hair, "Our Riddick would sooner destroy himself than hurt the cub, the cub should know this to be true."
Jack snorted, "Okay, sos he might not hurt me, but he'll knock this gorram station spinning into the black 'iffin' somethin' happens to you."
River shook her head, "If the cub wishes to return to him she may, the girl has business."
"Yeah you said that," Jack retorted as they started walking again, not liking the situation in the least, but pretty sure there was no convincin' River. She was however, absolutely, one hundred and ten percent positive about one thing, Riddick was gonna be pissed.
Riddick froze as the door hissed open, not in shock, but in absolute seething rage, the room was silent, pitch black, and utterly void of life. All pleasure and satisfaction of his recent kills forgotten. The beast snarled, all traces of the man vanishing. How god damn hard was it to stay put for a fuckin' hour! He ranted in his head as he slammed his fist against the door controls, closing the door to their room and scenting the air, remembering he had once wondered 'iffin' he'd be able to track River through a city by her smell alone, and absolutely furious he was now being forced to find out.
Jayne cracked one eye open, not entirely surprised to see the bartender looking at him funny. He was after all the biggest gorram ruttin' sha gua (stupid melon head) in the 'verse. The whiskey, he'd blame it on the whiskey and walk away with none the wiser, 'xcept mayhap the bartender, but Jayne was sure he'd seen worse than him anyhow.
"The man-named-Jayne is not such a fool as he thinks."
Jayne froze, unable to turn to face the girl, and unable to believe it had actually worked. Hell, now he'd wished he'd done it sooner, woulda saved them a shit load of fuel and time.
"The girl was detained elsewhere prior she would not have heard you."
"Oh," he said finally turning, "Whose the bit?"
Jack scowled, "Fuck off," she was in no mood to be generous to a potential threat.
Jayne snorted, and signaled for another two drinks, after the bartender poured he slid one across to River, and said to Jack, "Sorry kid, ain't the kind of place where they serve milk and cookies."
"Fuck off." She shot back again, her fingers twitching for the shivs concealed beneath her tank.
"She say anything else?" Jayne quirked an eyebrow.
"Liu kou shui de biao zi he hou zi de ben er zi, sheng de yi dui rou (stupid son of a whore and a drooling monkey, inbred sack of meat)."
"Apparently she does," he toasted his glass to the little bit.
River downed her drink in a single swallow, slamming her glass against the bar. "The man named Jayne called?" She arched an eyebrow.
He snorted, "Didn't really think it woulda worked, and even 'iffin' it did, sure as hell didn't think ya'd show."
"Well it did, so what the fuck do you want?" Jack snapped.
Jayne chuckled, "Got a mouth on her don't she?"
"That is irrelevant." River answered evenly, trying to sort through his whiskey hazed mind for his true purpose, something he did not even know.
"Supposed to bring you in," He finally said, almost absently as he sipped off his glass.
"The fuck you are!" Jack snapped, shrinking back as River shot her a look.
"Didn't say I was," Jayne growled setting down his glass, and looking, for lack of a better word, defeated, "fact is now that you're here ain't got a gorram hell of an idea 'bout what to do on it. Supposed to use the words and bring ya down."
"But he won't." River stated, her voice a bit gentler now that she had found the thoughts and emotions she had been searching for.
"Ways I see it, Mal offerin' me a higher percent for bringin' you in, is the same as when I tried to turn ya into 'em Blue Hands for the reward, man don't make the same mistake twice, may be dumb ain't suicidal. Just figured ya deserved the warning, theys won't stop lookin', and they aim to play dirty and drop ya the minute they lay eyes on ya." This time Jayne toasted to River out loud, "To crime and trim girl."
"The girl has no desire to return to the cage masquerading as a home, the girl has found a new one, and she wishes for nothing of the past." She placed her hand gently on his arm, "She bares them no ill will, only desires what is entitled to her, freedom. They leave her in peace and she shall issue the same."
Jayne eyed the hand on his arm for a moment, "Been tryin' girl, ain't none of 'em will hear a lick of sense, Mal's hell bent, found himself another cause," he snorted, " or more like took up the old one," He went back to his whiskey, "Oww, girl that fuckin' hurts, done said I was sorry," he bitched, as River's nails dug into the side of his arm.
"River," Jack snapped her fingers in front of her face, no response. "River," she tried again, "fuck, knew this shit would happen."
"What the in the ruttin' hell's wrong with her?" Jayne asked looking around nervously, he'd seen that look, knew what it meant, fucking trouble.
"Albatross," Mal seethed, not twenty paces from where they sat.
"Tai kong suo you de xing qiu sai jin wo de pi gu (all the planets shoved up my ass)." Jayne moaned, his head thudding against the bar. "Of all the ruttin' bars."
"Friends of yours?" Jack asked nastily, unconsciously stepping between River and the two brown coats, her eyes not missing the unclipped holsters, or nervous fingers. There went the low profile, Riddick was going to be fuckin' pissed.
The beast paused at a narrow alley way, inhaling deeply, tasting the lingering traces of his, they had been this way. A low growl reverberated through his chest.
"Malcolm Reynolds," River said evenly as he approached, having gained the attention of not only the bartender but a few patrons as well.
"That's Captain," He answered angrily.
"Not anymore," she replied emotionlessly.
"River-girl, gave us all a scare, you're brother's been worried somethin' fierce." Zoe said, trying to ease the conversation.
"That is his issue and not the girl's." her eyes never left Mal's.
Jayne slid off his stool, with less difficulty than one would have thought for having consumed so much whiskey, "There see the girl's fine, ain't wantin' to come home, nothin' to be done."
"Ain't asked for your opinion Jayne."
"Well there it is capt'." Jayne snapped.
"The girl will not return."
"River you need your meds, ain't good for you to be off 'em so long," Zoe pushed, "time to come home and let us take care of you."
"River don't need nobody to take care of her, she's got me and Big Bad, ain't got no need for you!" Jack snapped.
"This ain't none of your business Little Bit," Mal growled, "This here is a family issue, mind you walk away now."
River pushed Jack behind her, "The girl named Jack belongs to River she is her pack, Malcolm Reynolds would be wise to follow his own advice, and return to his."
"Albatross you is one of mine, this is what's best, yer comin' home, ain't hearin' another word on it."
"Fuck you!" Jack spat out from behind River's shoulder, "You touch her and Riddick will rip ya to shreds!"
"Ain't talkin no more," Mal growled but before he could utter his next sentence River silenced him with a quick jab to his throat and ripping his own gun from its holster, she spun through tossing his gun at Jack and drawing her own, leveling directly on Mal's bent over gasping form.
"The girl tires of words, as well actions will suffice." Her voice was ice on glass.
"Eta.." Zoe was silenced by the whisper of a bullet fired so close it nearly kissed her cheek.
"Shut the fuck up!" Jack snarled, "River told me 'bout those words and I swear to shit you open your lips one more time and I'll put a bullet straight through your throat."
"Aw hell," Jayne bitched.
River redirected one of her hand guns in Jayne's direction. "The ape man is not excluded from the no talking rule."
"Ain't do shit to you River, was tryin' to be nice and warn ya."
She cocked back her gun.
"Shuttin' up," Jayne slid back onto his bar stool, and drained his glass.
"Ain't wantin' trouble here," The bartender cut in, "This is your business, ain't mine, take it out, or I call the law."
Jack took her gun off Zoe only long enough to fire a shot close enough to the bartender's head to make him dive for cover, "You call the law won't live long enough to see 'em come," She spat out as she leveled her gun on Zoe once more.
"The girl is taking hers and leaving now, they will not follow, they cease their searching and they will leave her in peace. She does not wish to harm them, but she will not be caged again."
"Are you a girl or a weapon?" Mal rasped the question, pickin' himself up.
River internally flinched against the memory of the last time he had asked that, in the cockpit of Serenity after the Maidenhead Incident, but on the outside, she was of stone, and her words moved past her lips without hesitation, "She is both."
"Can't be both 'Tross," he forced out.
"So says the Malcolm Reynolds, the brown coat and the thief, the hero and the ass, what the girl chooses to name herself is none of his concern. The cub will lower her weapon."
"The fuck she will," Jack snapped.
"Now." River spoke in such a way it left little room for contention, though she did not lower her own.
Jack emptied the barrel and tossed in at Mal's feet, but not without muttering a few choice words as she did so.
"Go in peace Malcolm Reynolds." River spoke as she and Jack side stepped, backing away and towards the door, without turning their backs on the captain and his first mate. "But be warned the next time he tries the words the girl will not be so generous." At the doorway she lowered her guns, turned abruptly and snatching Jack's wrist moved to run.
No sooner than she'd turned her back did Zoe use the words, "Eta kooram nah smech!!"
River locked her eyes onto Jack's and the next moment, her world went dark, blooding her nose as her face slammed into the metal grating of the station's floor.
"You bitch!" Jack shrieked acting on instinct she grabbed for one of River's guns, the whole of the bar taking cover as she fired blindly.
Zoe grabbed Mal and ducked behind a table, her aim much better than Jack's she took one shot.
"Fuck!" Jack swore as fire exploded through her shoulder knocking her back, sending the gun flying, "River, gotta get up, please get the fuck up," she begged through tears, unable to bring her gun hand back up, the world spinning from the pain. Jack may have taken a lotta of beatings in her life but being shot was a whole 'nother world of unexplored pain.
Zoe kicked the gun further away from the little girl and under a far table, "Shouldn't be playin' with guns, quickest way to get yourself shot," she snapped.
"Jayne!" Mal yelled, getting his voice back, "We're gonna have words when we get back to the ship, grab River."
Jayne pushed himself back from the bar, "Ain't knowin' what kind of trouble you're bringin' down on us Mal, shoulda let things be."
"Jayne…"
"Yeah I fuckin' know you ain't payin' me to think." He snapped wobbling only slightly as he bent down to pick up River, "Ya ain't just gonna let the kid bleed to death in a bar doorway are ya?"
"Ain't leaving a thing behind for the fuck to find." He snapped, hoisting a bleeding and semi conscious Jack over his shoulder.
Zoe turned and leveled her gun at the bartender and the few remaining patrons, "Ain't a single one of you seen a gorram thing, dong ma?" A few risked a nod of the head, the others went back to their drinks.
"Rid.. gonna fuckin' kill you," Jack managed a last retort before the pain of being moved caused her world to go black.
The remark was duly ignored by Mal and Zoe, Jayne however felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise and he shifted River's weight uncomfortably, muttering a stream of Mandarin as they headed back to the ship, his eyes darting to every shadow they passed.
The beast paused outside the doorway of a bar, the scent trail continued on outside the bar, but something new was added, blood, laced with gunpowder, someone had shot at his fucking women. The beast snarled, sending a drunk flying as he stormed into the bar heading directly towards the bartender.
"Two girls were in here, I want to know where the fuck they went." He demanded planting a shiv into the bar to emphasize his point.
"Ain't wantin' no more trouble for today lao xiong (pal), ain't got shit to say to you."
Riddick chuckled darkly, and then his arm shot out grabbing the fat fuck by the back of his head he slammed his face into the bar, and pushing up his goggles, he looked the man dead in the eyes, "Thems mine, and I want 'em," he snarled grinding the man's face into the metal bar, "now's you can tell me why the fuck their blood is spilled across your doorway or I can take their price in your skin you fat fuck, choice is yours, warning you lao xiong, my girls' are expensive as hell, don't think you got enough to cover it." He pulled his shiv from the bar and pressed the cool metal against the man's cheek.
"Ren ci de Fo zu (Merciful Buddha), please, came in here, talkin' to a bloke that was three sheets, it was all friendly like, 'xcept the little bit was mouthin' off like hell."
Riddick smirked, it was Jack all right, "Go on," he urged, increasing the pressure of the shiv, a small trickle of blood forming.
"Two brown coats came in, things went south, says they was her people, somethin' 'bout the girl being off her meds or some such, girl got the jump on 'em though. She says she was gonna leave them be, 'iffin' they left her be, went to go, one of the brown coats was a woman, tall dark skinned, said some kinda nonsense dropped the girl liken it was an off switch, little bit starts firing, can't aim for shit though, tore up my bar, the women gets one shot off, blows it through the bit's shoulder, that's the end them took 'em both and left, don't know anymore I swear it!" He pleaded, crying towards the end.
"I don't believe you," Riddick growled, pressing down harder with his knife, relishing the sniveling pig's cries which tickled his ears.
"It's all I swear it! On me ma, I swear it."
"What 'bout that bloke she was talkin' to at first?"
"Said his name was Jayne, whiskey drinker, decent tipper, all I know, I swear it please!"
Riddick lifted the man by his head, smirked and slammed it back down again, "Don't believe you, think hard, real hard, cause them girls is mine, and I swear to fuck 'iffin' I lose 'em cause of you, I will kill you and every fuck that's ever breathed you're name."
"Malcolm Reynolds!" The bartender sobbed, "She called the other brown coat that, he said it was captain, she said not anymore, please, please I don't know anymore."
Riddick eyed the man with disgust, fucking sniveling inbred weasel, he should end it, do the fuckin' 'verse a favor, but his girls were more important and he had some people to kill, so instead he leaned in once more close, and whispered, his voice nothing more than a low gravelly rumble full of violent promise, "I find out you lied, I'm gonna be back, dong ma?"
The man managed a vague terrified nod of the head before Riddick released him, running his tongue along the blade of his shiv, the beast savored it, and hungered for more. The spilt blood of his women required compensation, and he would take it, in blood or flesh, it didn't matter which, but every drop of it would be paid for, he would see to it personally.
Endnote: Cliffy much? Hmmmm Jayne, Jayne, Jayne…what will you do?
Til after now.