"The Monkey Chased The Weasel"
Declaimers': Same as before.
Warnings: Spanking of a minor in this chapter. Third scene if you want to skip it.
A.N. Huge, enormous shout out to MissGuenever for all the help with this chapter. It has given us nothing but grief. Hope it all makes sense, all mistakes are now very much my own. MissGuenever you could only do so much. Thank you.
Previously:
Anthony by this stage was crying out of fear and relief that his adventure had come to an end and Jayne was alright. It turned to despair as Mal marched him pass his now mangled climbing gym, crumpled; a pile of poles on the cargo bay floor. Mal heard the child's wails and transferred him to his shoulders clasping the small boy around his upper thighs and under his bottom. Again Mal took the stairs two at a time, trying to curtail his anger but not his determination to deal with one, soon to be if he already wasn't, sore and sorry little boy.
oOo
Chapter 13 : Another spanner in the works.
Simon and Zoë had appeared on the mezzanine at the sound of Anthony's wailing and the crashing sounds the gym had made. Mal stormed up the stairs carrying the sobbing boy, "SIMON!"He yelled.
"What happened?"Asked the Doc.
Zoë grabbed Anthony from a now breathless and red faced Mal, "Where is he hurt?" she asked.
"Nowhere, I think he's just frightened. He took off in the folk lift and nearly had his gym topple onto us, had Jayne runnin for dear life then near got himself zaogao flattened."
Zoë was bouncing the boy in her arms, trying to calm Anthony and at the same time trying not to laugh at Mal's exasperated expression, "Ai ya, I always miss the fun stuff."
"Tain't funny. Boy got a serious stubborn streak and the understandin' of a six year old."
"Well, we suspected that when we first hired him on, Sir."
"Ain't talking about Jayne; I'm talking about…," Mal realized she was trying to be funny or make light of the situation, "Don't matter how funny it looks now he coulda been hurt, so could have Jayne and me."
With that Jayne burst into the infirmary, "Is he alright, he ain't hurt is he. The jungle-gym, it's done broken, Mal." Jayne's words spilled out of his mouth, jest about running into each other.
Anthony wailed like a wounded soul at Jayne's announcement. Simon rolled his eyes and transferred Anthony to the medi bed. "He seems fine, no bleeding, or broken bones. Here Zoë, help take his pants off; we'll check his legs."
Mal surveyed Jayne, "You alright Jayne?"
"Yah"
"No cuts?"
"Nah."
"Bruises?"
"Nuh."
Mal was still a little breathless and amazed at Jayne's physical fitness, "Jist a little tuckered out, huh after chasin' the mule and then runnin up all these stairs?"
"Huh? Nuh, I'm fine, Mal, really preciate ya concern though, how about you?"
Zaogao the big lug Buhn Dahn was fit, "Yep, Yep jist dandy, fit as…..,"
"Ya first rute, jabba, jabba, right, Mal?" Interrupted Jayne, with a nudge and a wink at his Captain.
Mal rolled his eyes, took a huge breath and stood tall, "as fit as a fiddle, Jayne or as fit as an outta work crude rude and undesirable merc."
"Who's outta work?"
Simon checked Anthony for any damage. He took the boy's temperature with his the new ear probe Ashleigh had given him. "Anthony's fine, Mal just a little shaken up, I suspect."
"Yeah well he's not the only one. He went apeshit out there when we started to move his gym frame. You don't think it was part of the side effects of this morning's therapy? He was sure over active."
"Hyperactive." Simon corrected, "No I don't think so. His energy levels are at their height after a good rest and the therapy, but they are within normal range for a six year old. In actual fact the reason why he is so active is because he is so much better. In medical circles we call it simply, N.B.S. It's really quite a common side effect found in children who have been bed ridden, fighting illnesses and generally bored with the regimented regimes of hospitals."
"For gorram sake, how much more is this little maa lau's supposed to take, now he's got NBS. How bad is that Doc?" asked Jayne an expression of horror on his face.
"Not bad Jayne, It stands for naughty boy syndrome; NBS. I was being facetious." Simon corrected.
"What about naughty girls?" Jayne asked, raising an eyebrow. He didn't know what facetious meant, but it sounded sexy.
Mal slapped Jayne up the back of the head, "Well if that be case, I have a sure fire cure for naughty boys, Doc."
"Jayne naughty!" Anthony declared, "breaked my climber!"
"Ai Ya, I ain't the one who done broked ya climbing frame, jungle gym thingy, you broked it, Anthony is the naughty boy." Jayne spat back bickering with the child.
Anthony's scowl immediately disappeared on hearing the word naughty and it's implication to him, he looked up at Mal, and produced a contrived smile, transforming his expression into big puppy dog eyes and a pout, "No more climbing, jungle dead."
Zoë and Simon had to hide their smirks at the sight of Jayne arguing with a six year old at the same time they were cooing over the naughty child's cuteness as he attempted to gain sympathy.
Mall rolled his eyes and picked Anthony up, "Well, yes little britches if you'd done as Jayne an' I asked; it wouldn't be broke." The lingering frustration of having to deal with everything had Mal slipping into the dialect of his youth "So if you'll all jist stands aside it's time for Anthony's NBS therapy to be administered." The Cap'n added as he started to leave the infirmary.
"Wait Captain, there are several methods for NBS other than a physical chastisement, you know I…."
"I know Simon you don't believe in spanking, so what do you suggest...? We lock him up; maybe chain him so he goes only go so far. Hey, about we deny him some food..."
"Mal you're being ridiculous. There's a difference between punishment and discipline."
"There needs to be both Simon, there needs to be consequences."
"Well his toy is now broken, Sir. That's a consequence." suggested Zoë trying to placate the involved parties.
"For Anthony that will be as bad as locking him up or not feeding him. That thing," Simon punctuated his speech by waving his hands in the air. "It provided the physical activity he needs to stay healthy and fit. It helps develops his dexterity, his problem solving skills, and provokes creative thinking… No, taking his gymnasium away from him would be severely detrimental to both his mental and physical health," lectured Simon in full-on doctor mode.
"Well it's broke."
"Yeah, it's broked Mal, but we can fix it, when Kaylee gets back we can put it up agin."
"Good you fix the frame, I'll fix Anthony. A couple of well placed smacks to his behind should do the trick."
"No cappy, no spank."
"Sorry little britches, but ya need to do as you are told."
Mal headed towards his quarters with the small child whose hands were clasped tightly around his neck. He stopped, drawn up as River stepped from her open door into the path of her captain.
"He needs to understand, but he can easily remember the hurt," she said touching the slowly fading silver scar on the little boys' cheek.
Mal paused. It didn't take much to remember what Anthony looked liked when they first found him, how scared and busted up he was. It didn't take much to imagine what they may have done to him or what he may have done to survive. He held the child closer hand cupped his head and kissed it, leaving his face there and taking in his scent. He was their child now, Serenity's child, and he didn't want to lose him, he just wanted to keep him safe.
Mal hadn't noticed River's soft touch on his own head until she spoke, "Not your quarter's captain. Not the down and the in and the under of the dark with the hatch. He needs to know the difference. He needs to learn to listen. Cap'n Daddy needs to stay till he sleeps knowing he is loved."
"He could have been hurt River, if…."Mal hesitated, not wanting to project the nasty imaginings his mind was producing, but he wasn't sure what River was trying to tell him, "What should I do?"
River started twirling the curls of Anthony's dark hair, lost in a memory, her bazoomaney place and sung, "Round and round the mulberry bush Anthony chased the Reaver, Anthony heads the captain's call… pops goes the Reaver…" She then kissed Anthony on his face. "It's alright naughty one."River glided backwards re-tracing the steps towards her room.
"Mei Mei what are ya tellin me?"
"That's easy, go to a safe place, and whale his ass, captain." She said and vanished; rather like a will o' wisp humming a different tune entirely. "Green eyed monster leaves me in despair."
Mal shook his head; been a while since he'd heard that song. And he could hear the words to the old song in his head. "Green eyed monster's driving me insane. And jealous lovers play a deadly game."
oOo
Kaylee had picked up the thermal-regulators from the repair shop and dropped them into her large purse-y type bag. Her ma had one kind of like it; da had always called them mom-purses; and her brother called them satchels of death. They said you could fit enough food in one of them to feed an entire regiment of brown coats fer a whole month. Well, they hadn't quite phrased it that way; but, the idea was the same.
Picking up and paying for the regulators took less than fifteen minutes and that included haggling the price down a little! She now had a little bit of coinage that she could use for spares and at least thirty minutes before she was expected back vessel side. Despite Mal's orders, Kaylee thought she should at least to get a good look at this Ashleigh Harvey, and stopping by the hospital would let her easily stop by Wang Chung's Part's.
The normally sweet mechanic didn't like the sound of the pretty doctor, but her gut feeling would have only been perceived as a jealous reaction. And in some ways, Kaylee admitted to herself, they were, but not entirely, sides what was the problem she was jist gonna take a look. If she got caught she could always say she was checking out the progress of the cargo that they would be transporting, even offer her assistance, maybe. It's all good; Kaylee justified to herself.
Kaylee entered the large double doors of the Emrata Research and Medical facility. She made her way to the information booth sitting prominently in the atrium like entry, "Excuse me I was wondering if Doctor Harvey was in today?"
"Do you have an appointment?" The rather tall officious looking woman asked.
"Ah…No...Perhaps…Ah, could I make one"?
"I'm afraid there is nothing available for at least two weeks. Doctor Harvey is unavailable."
"Oh, well that's okay; I'll make an appointment then."
"Yes, your name"?
"Oh…. Kay Tam." She said, clarifying a lie.
"Very well, Mrs. Tam we will see you soon."
"Thank you."
Kaylee had no intention keeping the appointment, but, she hoped that the fancy doctor Ashleigh Harvey would take the not so subtle hint when she saw the name. Kaylee walked slowly back towards the doors, Simon had said the doctor wasn't coming with us, that she had too much work to do here at that she didn't want to raise suspicion. So how come she was going away. Somethin' ain't right, sounds fishy ta me, thought Kaylee.
Before she could exit, she heard an announcement; "Dr. Harvey report to the transport bay. Dr. Harvey; report to Medivac in Trans Bay 2."
At the completion of the announcement Kaylee noticed a young woman standing at a nurse's station, dressed in a white coat look up towards the tiny sounding speaker. She completed what she was writing and handed it back to a staff member, then headed down the corridor. Kaylee followed, trying to leave enough space between the two of them so that she wouldn't be noticed.
Doctor Harvey was stopped by another colleague. Kaylee stopped also, trying to act inconspicuous by covering her head.
"Doctor Harvey, those procedures have been completed and are now in stasis. Here's the sample you asked for." Kaylee saw the technician give her a medical vial of some type. Simon had some kinda like that on Serenity.
Ashleigh checked the dial, "Okay that's a good; twelve hours, which should be plenty of time for transport and implantation before any deterioration occurs. Thanks Ben. See you in two weeks."
"Oh. A vacation? That's unlike you, Doctor."
"You're right. But things here are pretty quiet, so I thought I may just disappear for a while." They laughed and continued on in opposite directions.
Kaylee looked up at the hospital signage TRANS BAY 2, BASEMENT, XRAY 4; turn right. The arrows pointed the way and so she followed fast on the heels of Doctor Ashleigh Harvey, convinced that the, doctor was up to no good.
Dr Harvey entered the travelator and closed the doors breathing a sigh of relief as she sagged against the wall. She was relieved to be alone for the few minutes it took to get to the Transport bays. Ash was a little nervous about the arrangements made with Simon and the Serenity crew, but the opportunity that had presented itself over the last couple of weeks was just too good to pass up. Niska's discovery of the sea cucumbers was a real find and to be able to harvest and produce extra SC60 for Emrata and the surrounding Rim worlds was going to be of great benefit. Finding Anthony, however was a real bonus and many of the mysteries that she had run into trying to unearth about Professor Bence study of the lgE2 immune gene was also answered by not only by Anthony's existence and survival but also his parentage. The blood work Ashleigh had performed on Anthony samples concluded that he was indeed one of the children in Bence study and was in fact Doctor Anthony Bence's son.
Mrs. Niska had also found more of the professor's research and organic material that would be sent back in the bio-pods. The details of these were still a mystery to Ashleigh, as per their agreement, she wouldn't send anything by wave or any other cloud comm, for fear of interception. The pretty doc, as Simon had explained her to the crew, only hoped that these discoveries would further enlighten her and knock down the Alliance's brick walls and plug the holes she'd run into regarding her research into the immune gene and the mutations that befell the Reavers.
It had thrown a bit of a spanner in the works and Ashleigh had to re-coordinate additional plans to retrieve the extra information and samples. Ashleigh Harvey hadn't told Simon and the good captain Reynolds about her extensive research on the Reavers. In actual fact very few had any knowledge of it. It was a serious situation. Most people, with good reason wanted the Reavers destroyed. The Alliance wanted them annihilated and forgotten, unless of course they could be controlled or evolved or even cured to be of purpose. Specifically; a military purpose.
Ash didn't want either of those; she just wanted to undo a huge wrong in which she like many others had been a naïve pawn. Having access to Anthony would help that research. Having viable embryos holding the same heightened genealogy was another extra. The vial in her hand would not only be a gift for the mother to be, but another source for the research. But she needed to be in control of that. And, just as importantly, she needed to find a way to intercept Serenity before they returned to Emrata with Niska's cargo.
Upon entering Transport Bay Two Doctor Harvey was met by a junior Alliance officer that immediately handed her the manifest of the cargo which was being loaded onto the hospital transport mules.
Kaylee had been not too far behind the doc; but, when the doors opened she had to quickly pull up and hide when she spotted Ashleigh and the Alliance officer. As far as she was concerned her suspicions were immediately founded and she silently watched, trying to make out their conversation. If only she could read lips or even better read minds.
Ashleigh signed the electronic manifest pad and handed it back to the officer, "Thanks Carl. I can't tell you what it means to me and I might add lots of others, that you have been able to get this passed through without scrutiny."
"I assure You Doctor Harvey, we believe in what you're doing. It has been an honor to help." The officer spoke in the formal tones that Simon and other core educated people used.
"Please Carl, call me Ashleigh, you and Anna have become very special friends to me…Here" Ashleigh handed the officer the medical vial.
"Is this it?" the young man asked eagerly.
"Yes. Just take it to Doctor Humphries; your window of opportunity is narrow though. You have about twelve hours. He's expecting you."
"Sure Doctor Harvey. Umm…Ashleigh. I'll be back to personally deliver the cargo to Serenity for you, we don't want any unnecessary checks from the port authority."
Kaylee watched the Alliance officer leave. The other laborers had finished loading most of the pallets. A scratched up bio-pod was the only thing left.
"Doctor Harvey, you're all done, except for that bio-pod."
"Thanks, I just need to check this and prime it. Give me about fifteen minutes and it should be ready. Why don't you fellas go for coffee break?"
"Sure. Thanks Doc, twenty minutes then?"
Ashleigh laughed, "Sure, thanks."
Kaylee dropped back, and waited for the guys to leave, then walked over to where Doctor Harvey was standing, Excuse me? Doctor Harvey?
Startled Ashleigh turned and took a step backward, frowning at the sudden appearance of a pretty young girl, "Yes. Can I help you? "
"Meybe? Captain Reynolds jist sent me to check on the cargo. I'm Kaywinnet Lee Frye the chief engineer on board Serenity."
"Oh, that really wasn't a good idea. I thought I made it clear to Doctor Tam that I would check and deliver the cargo unencumbered."
"Well, Simon ain't in charge of Serenity." being questioned caused Kaylee to slip back into her familiar speech patterns. She caught herself. "Although he is very well respected in the field of medicine, my duties include… Ah…" She tried to think of something quickly. "My duties include ensuring weight and balance for all my ships loads."
"Your ship?
"Serenity is my ship and her crew is my family, I ain't taken any chances, Doctor Harvey." Kaylee's self-justification of stopping to speak with the doc grew as she listened to her speak.
Ashleigh was confused, "Well you won't be."
"Didn't look like that ta me. What ya doing with that Alliance officer. What ya give him in the medical thingy." accused Kaylee, in full mother-hen mode, her contrived articulation gone and completely forgotten. Serenity was her ship! And gorramit; ain't no fishy Alliance crap goin' on under her watch!
Unperturbed Dr Harvey answered in her best sterile medical tone, "Firstly, Miss Kaywinnet...That's confidential, but I assure you it has nothing to do with you or your contracted transport to the Skyplex."
"Well I ain't so sure I believe you. You may have been good friends with Sim…Doctor Tam when you were younger and prettier, but Simon ain't as gullible as he once was, so ifin ya thinking of doing anything to double cross him or my family; I will find you and rip ya gizzards out with a couple of magneto synchronizers; very nasty," threatened a confident Kaylee, reliving some of her retorts as a youth, when them mean catty girls teased her about her pa bein' outta work. Or the fact that Kaylee always seemed to have engine grease of some sort on her.
For a moment Ashleigh panicked, had a mad woman just threatened her? What was this Serenity crew made up of?...But then something registered with the astute doctor Harvey, "Oh, so you are the Kaylee; Simon's little friend. He did mention you once or twice. Now if you don't mind, Kaylee, your captain is expecting this cargo within the hour. The young Alliance officer that you suspect as an infiltrator is dedicated to benefiting his people on this planet. In short he is on our side and will make sure your Captain, your ship and your family lifts off from this planet free of official Alliance inspection."
"I don't believe you."
"What?" Ashleigh became quite indignant; this little girl could cause some trouble with her over imaginative suspicions. Ashleigh did not have the time to go through all this again with her or the Captain and Simon, she just needed to get this cargo out and the resources back, "Simon may not be so gullible as he once was, though I never found him that way, but I can see his tastes have changed regarding the class and say quality of his love interests."
That was a low blow and Kaylee tried to contain her temper and stifle the temptation to punch this woman fair in the nose, she wasn't usually a violent person. Unfortunately this was not the case this morning, "hurni duh! (screw you!) nǐ snotty bí shang nín zì jǐ de pì gǔ biǎo zi (You snotty nose up your own ass bitch )," she said and threw a left hook, knocking the doctor that Simon called pretty flat on her ass.
Ashleigh pushed herself back up off the ground, stunned, "How dare you, you stupid little fool, I've a good mind to contact your Captain and Simon or do you call him Doctor Tam?" Her ire was up, and she couldn't resist baiting Kaylee with the comment about Simon. "I should speak with them and demand an explanation and your dismissal as the chief engineer."
"You jist go right ahead, you might like ta explain why you's in cahoots with the Alliance."
"I won't need to; Captain Reynolds is already well aware of the plans and is he is also very aware of the officer Bartlebaugh's involvement."
With that bit of information still hanging in the air, Kaylee couldn't help but reveal her nervousness and waving conviction. "Maybe, I've jumped to the wrong conclusions," Damn Mal was gonna kill her if she'd thrown a spanner in the works of this job. Determined to hold her head up high, "You do what ya feel is right Doctor, but ya jist need ta know that Captain Reynolds holds my expert opinion on high, so don't be quick ta jump ta conclusions ya self. Mal…" She quickly converted to what sounded like sophisticated core speech to the mechanic, "Captain Reynolds won't be too quick to dismiss my services, Jist bust my ass. You done adequately explained the situation to me, so I will be on my way."
Kaylee turned on her bright red heavy work boots and swung her large heavy bag back over her shoulder, knocking Doctor Ashleigh Harvey off her feet once again. This time she slipped back into the open cavity of the bio-pod, perched there for moment, stunned in absolute shock.
Kaylee did not looked back, as she hurried away back to the ship hoping that Doctor Harvey did not contact Mal or Simon, sure if she did she would be feeling a little discomfort, and more than a little foolish.
Ashleigh tried to the grab the sides of the pod and pull herself out. A wave of dizziness came over her and she lost her footing, slumping again to the floor of the container, causing its lid to snap shut as she lost consciousness.
oOo
For the second time in as many weeks Mal knocked on Inara's shuttle' hatch
Inara had been meditating when the drama had unfolded in the cargo bay; but, became instantly aware of a serious family dispute when Mal entered her shuttle with a contrite six year old clutched tightly to his chest.
"Mal you knocked, again, becoming a habit?"
"Yep. Inara can I use your shuttle for a moment. Me 'n Anthony need ta have a private little talk."
"Mal?" queried Inara, aware of Mal's intentions.
"Inara, I done jist had a heap of discussion so far on this, so I'm goin' with my instincts. And it ain't like I'd wouldn't be happy to discuss it more with ya, and I'm happy ta keep ya in the know and take ya opinion into sideration. But, Anthony, done near got himself hurt, bein jist plain stubborn and naughty. He needs sortin' out now."
"What's happened?
"Why don't you go take a look at the cargo bay, then come back here. Anthony will be having his morning nap in here and I'd sure appreciate you be here to comfort him."
Inara sensed Mal's concern, and you too it seems, she thought, as she nodded and left the room quietly.
Mal sat on Inara's bed and stood Anthony on the floor in front of him. The child kept his head low, preferring to concentrate on his socks.
Mal lifted the little boys' chin, "Anthony, I called you down from yer gym three times this mornin and ya didn't mind."
"Cappy and Jayne break Anthony's climber. "
"No Anthony, we didn't and we weren't gonna. And ya heard us say that to ya."
"But no change. Is good there. Anthony like."
"What's my name Anthony?"
"Huh?...You Cap—ta-tin ." Anthony very carefully sounded out the word; River and Kaylee had been working with him to increase his vocabulary.
"That's right. Captain. I'm the Captain." Mal carefully enunciated the word captain making sure that Anthony saw how his lips moved. River and Kaylee told him this would help Anthony learn. I'm the Captain. That means I know best. An' the Captain needs to keep everybody safe and not get hurt."
"Captatin keep Anthony safe?"
"Yes, and River, and Jayne, and Kaylee, an…."
"And Zoë, and Doc."Anthony finished.
"Yes, we keep each other safe, Anthony. But we have to listen and we have to trust each other. Dong ma?"
"Trust?"
"Means we gotta believe in each other. Means we listen; follow orders. No arguments…No runnin away, no stomping feet, or hollerin out the word NO! Dong ma?"
Anthony nodded.
"Use your words Anthony." Mal remembered to tell him. It seemed someone was always telling him to make sure that Anthony needed to practice his language skills. Gorram irritating to have all the women folk, including Simon nagging at him 'bout it.
"Anthony say no to Cappy. Anthony not says no to Cappy again."
"That's right little britches, you gonna remember that."Mal picked Anthony up and laid him across his lap. He held him firmly around the waist with one arm while he undid the flap of his under shorts with the other.
Anthony immediately began to kick his legs, "No! No! No!"
Smack, "Ah, tao shen, you sayin, NO, again." Smack
"Ow, Ow, stop, NOW! Cap…." Anthony started whimpering and crying more from the shock, the sound, and feelings emanating from his Captain.
Mal added another four quick sharp smacks to Anthony's bottom. By the fifth smack the small child had progressed from whimpering to crying, kicking and wriggling and trying to free himself from Mal's grasp. Mal held firm. Instinctively and in desperation Anthony bit down into the soft under flesh of Mal's thigh, and then threw his small hand back as Mal yelped in surprise.
"Anthony! NO BITING!"Mal grabbed Anthony's hand and moved it out of the way, applied another volley of paddles to the six year olds bare backside, then stopped.
Anthony was sobbing and rubbing at the tears streaming down his face. Mal took a moment to gently rub the little boys back before lifting him up and cradled him in his arms. Anthony buried himself into Mal's chest and continued to cry.
"I didn't like spanking you , little britches," he crooned, rubbing his back and tussling his dark curls. "It hurts me more than it hurts you." Mal started; he couldn't believe he'd just said that. His ma used to say that, until now he had never really understood what she had meant. But, it was true. It broke his heart to spank Anthony.
"I didn't like!" Anthony declared.
Mal was taken aback at Anthony's self reference. He sat the child back looking into his face, "hurts don't it?"
"Yuh, huh," nodded Anthony in between his hitched sniffles then started to rub his still exposed red bottom.
"Supposed ta, so you remember ta mind. Dong ma?"
Anthony nodded again, "Dong ma. Anthony, ss…orreey. I be good," then shaking his head, "no more tao shen."
Anthony burst into tears again. Mal stood up and rocked with the little boy perched under one forearm as he patted the child's back with the other.
"Shh, shh, now it's over, little britches. I love ya Anthony. Shh, shh," he rocked the little boy, holding him close, mumbling nonsense words into Anthony's hair.
Inara quietly watched from the doorway, immersing herself in the image of the former rebel Sergeant Malcolm Reynolds rocking a baby, a little boy found that now belonged. It wasn't very often this soft side came out; and this was a memory she'd carry with her forever.
oOo
Jayne and Mal were clearing the cargo bay putting aside Anthony's gymnasium poles so that they'd be out of the way until the jungle gym could get fixed. They both turned to see the fuss as Kaylee stomped up the gangplank.
"Kaylee! Might bit tardy there girl."
"Ah sorry. Cap'n. Yeah well, ummm… The thermal-regulator wasn't ready when I got there; but, hey lookey here now, ready to be installed."
"Good, get it in. We lift off as soon as the cargo arrives."
Kaylee surveyed the remnants of Anthony' exercise frame things, "What happened, Cap? "
"A little accident," answered Jayne. Do ya think ya can put it together Kaylee, back there in the corner?" He gestured at a fairly empty spot that was usually pretty empty; and would be out of the way unless a herd of wild space monkeys came in and took over the cargo hold.
"Shouldn't be a problem, we can do it now. Take about an hour."
"Nope not now," said Mal."You get that thingee installed. Cargo's due any minute. You'll have time tomorrow once we're in the black."
"Oh, okay Cap'n."
Just then several mules with Emrata's medical insignia stamped on their sides appeared at the docking bay.
A junior Alliance officer appeared with the paper work and handed it to Mal, "Captain Reynolds?" He asked.
Buddha, kids like this made Mal feel old!, mused Mal at the sight of such a young officer.
Kaylee froze on the spot, recognizing the officer from the transport bay at the hospital. The one she had seen Dr Harvey speak to. The one she had seen Doctor Harvey give the medical container to.
"Thirteen pallets captain, including a bio-pod; all cleared through customs and security. Once loaded you are free to lift-off."
"Bio-Pod?"Asked Mal and Kaylee in unison. Even Jayne looked a little perplexed, passing them to offer his help with the unloading.
Mal looked at Kaylee, puzzled by her interest, "Shouldn't you be installing that thermal-regulator?"
"Uh huh, Cap'n" she answered but still did not move.
Mal signed off on the manifest as the officer signaled for the mule operators to unload.
"You're saying we got a bio-pod."
"Yes Captain." The officer stated. "Doctor Harvey said something about storing the sea cucumbers in it, says it has some environmental settings appropriate for the organic material she's got in mind for it."
"Sounds shiny ta me," nodded Mal, "should it be lit up like that?"
"Lemme have a look Captain," said a nervous Kaylee. She was sure that was the same bio-pod that the Doctor was standing in front of, that one had a big scratch on the bottom; and so did this one. "Mebbe it needs to be primed first."Kaylee wanted to get a closer look, she couldn't make out the details of the dial, but it weren't lit up like that when I was talking to the doctor, I got a bad feelin' " Most equipment like that needs to be primed, ya know like pre-heatin' a oven for cookin' an all, or somethin' like that."
Mal gave Kaylee another quizzical glare, "You know all about Bio-pods, Kaylee, or thermal regulators, cause I reckon we need that ta get off this rock and now's a good enough time ta get it fixed up."
Kaylee paled, yep a bad feelin' but what about she couldn't quite put her finger on, was it her gut warning her about Dr Harvey again or was it that green-eyed monster hoping that it was Doctor Harvey that had done something wrong and not her. Either way she was gonna have to fess up ta the Captain. Mebbe, or mebbe she was jist bein' skitterish agin.
Mal dismissed Kaylee and returned to arranging the cargo, "We'll jist put the Bio-pod in the front. If we have to prime it more than once, I'd like it to be a might easy ta get at. Doc will most probably know what ta do with it."
"Fine Captain. I'll be heading back. Safe trip, Sir."
"Ah, yep, hope to," replied Mal.
Kaylee paused and watched Jayne walk up and stand beside Mal. They all watched the empty mules drive off towards Megaplex central. "Might friendly fer a Purple belly, Eh, Cap'n?" commented Jayne.
"Yeah, Doctor Harvey said there was those here; appreciatin' all the help the doctor been givin'. Called in a few favors; not wantin to draw attention to outsiders and the cargo."
"Handy favors ta have up ya sleeve."
"Very handy. Not sure I feel quite shiny about it. But…" Mal stopped and looked back towards the engine room re-callin' the worried expression on his young engineers face. He shook the uneasy feeling off and hit the comm. "Prepare for takeoff in five minutes. River, Zoë you got the helm."
Mal hit the locking bar that raised and bought the gangplank into its mooring. He initiated the doors to the airlock; completing the checklist for takeoff. "Cargo bay, tight. Ready for takeoff."
oOo
"When challenged by small cramped environments, hypoxia, cells increase the expression of proteins produce the physiological condition of a low oxygen environments which do not produce prolyl-hydroxylase. It is revealed that the phenotype and lack of the prolyl-hydroxylase decreases the prevention of skeletal muscle atrophy and may cause a variety of muscle damages. Add dehydration and serious consequences occur." Pontificated River as she stared at the grey goo that was dinner.
Kaylee looked up eyeing the teen reader, "Jist gonna go check the thermal regulator" she said getting up, heading for the galley' entrance.
"You're turn for KP ain't it Kaylee."Asked Mal; making it more of a statement than a question.
"I won't be long."
"You said that this morning, you hadda been back earlier we mightened had so much trouble with Anthony's gym."
"Don't worry, Cap'n I'll get it assembled, shiny as new in the mornin'," promised Kaylee, "It'll be faster ifin' Jayne helps me." as she left for her engine room.
Anthony clapped with excitement. He would have jumped up and down, but he had made that mistake earlier with the hard wooden chairs in the galley. Proving, yet again, that he was a quick learner; he wasn't going to make that mistake again.
River's eyes tracked Kaylee as she left the room. She then stood up to follow.
"Hey, little Albatross, you on watch tonight? You rested enough?"
"Rested Mal," River's signature vacant thousand mile stare suddenly appeared "getting things wrong but for all the right reasons." …mumbling to herself as she left.
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Zoë.
"Who knows? Normal Moonbrain activity, ifin ya ask me. Jist wish she'd stop hummin' that monkey tune. It's creepin' me out knowing that Anthony's ma probably sang it".
"Why Jayne that's right sensitive and insightful of you".
"Yeah it's a shitty ditty, Cap'n."
"Jayne cussword" cried Anthony pointing at the big merc. "Cappy spank Jayne." He demanded. Jayne just scowled at the little boy; it was a look that didn't bother Anthony. It just made him giggle.
oOo
River found Kaylee in the cargo bay frantically trying to adjust the dials of the bio-pod.
"She must be released."
Kaylee jumped about a mile. "River? I didn't do this on purpose I didn't know she was in there. I had a feelin though when I seen..."
"It was a mistake that wasn't, Kaylee. You must tell. We all need to take our medicine. I don't like needles."
"Help me River. We can get her out, hide her in the engine room, nobody will find us there." Kaylee plaintively begged.
River have smiled, half smirked then crossed her eyes as a response to Kaylee nonsensical and illogical panic driven and idiotic idea, "They need to find her."
"Zaogao! How W'rin Bu Lai, Whai W'rin Bu Jwo.( Things just never go smooth.) bai dua an jing yida , (give me a break)" cursed Kaylee panicking as she spun the dial and the pod started to decompress and then too slowly unlocked, "I'm in so much trouble aren't I?"
"And why would that be, Kaylee. Why ain't things goin' so smooth for you?" Called Mal from the landing above their heads.
Kaylee yelped, "Mal what… Gwai-gwai long duh dong, hell?"
The Bio-pod lid popped opened and slowly rose until the lid flipped sideways and bounced on its hydraulic hinges.
Doctor Ashleigh Harvey dragged herself out of the small cavity, disorientated and unsure of her footing.
Kaylee and River never took their eyes of Mal. Watching his expression transform to utter confusion, " what in the sphincter hell?"
"Nai ta wen bi yaān pái bei zao háo wúkǎoy àn gen jia ta gorram bānzi li lichǎng"
"Is it too much to ask that a plan be made perfect without trials and a gorram spanner thrown in the works."
TBC
CHAPTER 14
Green Eyed Girls.
A.N. Thanks for reading. Hopefully the next chapter will be up soon. We had to sort this one out so it all flowed. Please review, especially if you have any criticism or insights. We have not been very happy with this chapter, but can't seem to put our finger on the problem.