A/N: This continues to follow "Bushwhacked". I may pull in some things from other Doctor Who eras. They are still in a holding cell… And the questioning is ongoing.
Doctor Who and the Great Eclipse and Doctor Who and the Ties that Bind are the first two parts to this tale. If you've not read the other two stories then this one might not make sense to you. Go read them first, Ok?
Jelly Babies? Bananas? Mutant Plot Bunnies? :-D
Welcome tothe Story, Zehrmich. Thanks for the Story Alert.
I'd like to thank OtherMeWriter, Mirth513, and kahuffstix for the reviews. Note that Harken will come around, very soon. Reavers – um, one, at least, will make an appearance. And the Doctor's about to turn on the charm (one chapter away from that gem), hopefully learning a bit about the Alliance's secret programs in the process. You honestly don't think his 'delicate' condition is gonna keep him from kicking arse and taking names, do you?
Also if you are of age and would like to read "adult" versions of these stories I'm posting them in 2 places, LiveJournal and TeaSpoon & an Open Mind. One chapter a week... revised with more gritty details. I'll add a link to the second positng on my author's page...
Summary: The Doctor, the last surviving Time Lord, stumbled into a situation he could not ignore when his TARDIS landed him inside a ship that was clearly in trouble. But everything is not as cut and dry as he might like. His people may be gone, but the stamp he's made on the universe is still there, and he finds himself caught in a web spun of the choices he's made… And there's more than his personal existence at stake.
Who set him up to survive and why do the Elementals now control the Time Web? He must confront the ghosts of his past and gather what remains of his family if he is to have a future.
The ship Serenity becomes his home when he's forced into the long path. But even now forces move against him, working through a critical point of history. Humanity exists in 6 political groups, divided between the Allies of Gallifrey and the Allies of Skaro. Four of these Colonies fought in battles of the Time War (dubbed the Wailing Wars by those who remember). Could the Dalek invasion of Earth in 2164 be responsible for this divide within the human colonies? What impact does his leaving his granddaughter Susan behind on Earth at what proves to be a turning point in history have? The single Colony not involved in the War holds secrets vital to the Doctor's and the Universe's survival. He discovers that Susan's descendants retain a surprising level of Gallifreyan genes, even after eleven generations… And what about his actions that created the Tesh and Sevateem?
A Doctor Who / Firefly / Riddick crossover.
Features Doctor 9, companion Rose Tyler; The cast of Firefly; 'Jack B. Badd' and Richard B. Riddick…
Part TwentyFive
Insight
While Jayne is gone, and really he's gone for quite a while, Mal finds himself dwelling on his vows to himself made when he was not sure that Kaylee would survive the Reaver booby trap. The words haunt him. Buying Kaylee anything she wants shouldn't be a problem. Currently her wants center on engine parts they need anyhow. But no, that shouldn't count. Next time she says she likes some babble or another that is not related to Serenity he'll try to remember that he is looking to buy her something. Then it will be just for her, and not the ship.
Tellin' 'Nara how he feels is slightly more problematic. She's a Companion. Companions get declarations of never ending love and devotion from starry eyed suitors all the time. But his feelings are different. He doesn't want to chain her down. Even though he's made nasty remarks about her job it's been more to distance himself from his own feelings than to really express how he feels. Frankly he does not give a gorram about her work. If it makes her happy to keep doing it he'll not stop her. Although she's made several excuses as of late to avoid taking clients. As if he has not noticed. Mal thinks Jon might be behind that. Then Jon changes everyone he touches. And lately the dark haired woman has been different. More open. He can look into her eyes and see fire flowing through them. She's his sun, his light, the thing that warms his darkness. He knows he must find a real way to let her know how he feels. And once he does he is certain she's going to flee. But he'll deal with that once the time comes.
Then there's the problem of providing safety for Wash and Zoe to start a family, meaning he must find a way to reduce the criminal element of their work. He's not going to cast aside his desire to be free. But the hydroponics garden went a long way toward easing their food bills. Often when they stopped they had produce to trade for fresh killed meat or tea or cloth... The real thing that killed their cash was fuel costs. And engine parts. So far Jon's been more than willing to assist with costs. Mal felt terribly guilty about charging the man rent then asking him to buy bits of the ship. And yet, there seemed no end to the man's resourcefulness. He could out baling-wire and duct-tape Kaylee. The stuff he put together and made work sometimes seemed to have no logical reasoning behind it, but Kaylee usually grinned broadly and pronounced the problem settled so Mal'd stopped fretting over it. So if he offered Co-captaincy to Jon and reduced their rent in favor of actually accepting more of his funds that would go a long way toward making Zoe happy. Jayne might not be. But Zoe would. Wash likely would. He'd like to have some normalcy in his life.
But there was one problem. Would Jon agree? It would be just on paper, really. He wouldn't force any of the decision making on the man. It would keep someone on board he trusted all the time, to keep Jayne in line. He'll just have to ask. He'd feel a lot better if it didn't look like he was using Jon's generosity and not giving the man back anything in return.
And once more, would Rich let him into whatever it was, this 'special' sort of intimacy that Inara had hinted at, that he needed to become part of in order to save the Doctor? Was he ready to let the oddly charismatic alien into his soul? Could he afford not to? Pissing off the ex-ranger was the last thing Mal wanted but he's not willing to back down on those vows. He suspected that the situation would lead to all kinds of tension, personality conflicts, interesting things that he had tried to avoid so as to preserve some sort of peace on his boat. Even so – there was nothing, absolutely nothing, that would keep him from doing what he'd vowed to do. He put his faith in Jon, trusted him with Kaylee's life, with his boat, with so much that he valued... Maybe it was time to trust him with his shattered soul.
Mal moved over to the two men, one pale as moonlight, the other warm and bronze like the sun. He knew Rich was aware of his approach even if he didn't make eye contact. Unlike the others that had moved into the couple's space, the captain was careful to make sure that he was within Rich's line of sight. This was like taming a wild stallion, earning the trust of a skittish colt, and surviving a flash flood all on one. To say he was nervous was a major understatement. But he had to do this. Jon caught his eyes with the slightest of movements, locking his gaze, and Mal followed 'Nara's example, placing his hand over their joined fingers. "How you holdin' up?" somehow he managed to keep his voice from cracking like a hormonal teenager.
Jon snorts, "Everybody's making such a fuss." For a pregnant guy worried about the Alliance finding out and treating him like a lab rat he sure is cool under pressure.
Suddenly Mal wonders if he's the one needing some support here, instead of being the one giving it. Ashamed, he almost takes his hand away, but finds that Rich has placed his hand on top, rather pinning his in place. Somewhat surprised, the captain studies the bronze skinned fingers resting over his. He noticed that they are neatly groomed around the nails but not fussed over. The hand is powerful and warm. Rough with callus from hard work and training. There's something very intimate about the touch, and he's not sure he fully understands how it can be so, when it looks so casual. Just a blind man putting his hand over another. But there is a sensation of being given – something undefinable. As though his nearly dead spiritual self was being supported by solid stone and there's a gentle rain falling over him, wetting him, like a spring rain on Shadow. He's missed that for so long he'd forgotten what it felt like. How can a single touch remind him so strongly of his childhood and how much he's lost? Mal swallows, "You're on my crew. I'm, by rights, concerned about you both. How are you Rich?"
He's graced with a slight shrug. "Might be worried about what these jokers are doing to our stuff, lookin' as they are for something that doesn't exist," the muscular man says in his smooth deep voice. "But it can be replaced." The large hand tightens slightly for a moment giving Mal the sensation that he's been hugged in gratitude. He can't force himself to look away from that hand, until the Doctor nudges his shoe with a toe. Mal blinks and raises his head. Such deep blue eyes catch his gaze and he feels he can fall into them forever. He finds he wants the comradeship he used to have with his squad, the easy ability to touch, to connect, to have the brotherly, yet physical type of relationship he'd cultivated with the men and women under his command in the past. There was a danger to that course of action here, in that he found himself oddly aware of the energy these two men possessed. It was not something he dared to identify, only that he wanted to suck it into the cracks of his soul because it might fuse the shattered pieces back together. He tried to tamp down the urge.
But the Doctor seems to mentally reach for him, and Mal knows, he just knows, that his secret plead has been heard. He feels a light hand settle and rest against his back, a cool palm grounding him. Mal sighs as the energy he's sensing flows through him in such a way as to give him strength to go on, "I'm wishing at this moment that I was as sure as you, Richard. I keep seeing Serenity as she was when I bought her, all wrecked and broken. Everything we've worked for busted and torn open. And why? For once, we've done the right thing, and it seems that it don't make a gorram difference."
Jon pats his side, "Of course it makes a difference. Captain, this will work out, I promise you. Just hold your course, and you'll see."
The Doctor does not look old, not unless you know how to see his great age. Right now, Mal almost feels like he wants a father figure, himself. He's never had one. Not ever. Always he's been the rock, the solid presence that others fall back on, and even shattered like he is he's kept that up. Now though he can look at the powerful man he's standing next to and see how great a toll it's going to take on his own soul to maintain that over time, unless he finds someone that can help form a safety net for both of them. "I was told that six was a special number to your people."
"Um, yes... Six and thirteen. Both have social significance," the pale man tells him.
Mal nods. "I want to help. I don't know how, or if I really have much to offer, but Jon – I do want to help. Just tell me what you need me to do." Those impossible blue eyes still pin him down, searching his soul, his mind, his past and perhaps his future. And while the Doctor does not answer him verbally, Mal feels like something inside him has unclenched and is folding open. It's as if the offer has unlocked something he's always known was there, but that since that fatal day in Serenity Valley he's kept crumpled up and hidden away. The pressure of it moves through his brain like a mild ache, followed by a wave a dizziness. Are you alright, lad? Mal blinks at the voice that flows through his brain like the rush of a thundercloud. It's the Doctor, he knows. All he can do is nod. Your intuition, sense of luck, foresight, if you will... latent and natural. Don't try to lock part of yourself away, you'll end up making your body physically ill if you do. The captain suddenly realizes the nature of his agonizing headaches. He nods, "Ok. We're good then?"
"Thank you for your compassion, Captain," Richard tells him. Mal can feel as the hands fall away that Jayne is approaching. He has just enough time to step away from the pair before the hall door opens and the-gun-for-hire is moved into sight of the three of them. Mal hopes he's not scarlet from his hairline to his toes. Having to explain to Jayne what is going on is not on the top of his 'want to do' list.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Harken is waiting. Someone has to give him some answers. So far he's gotten run around, delays, feints... it seems like each of those he's talked to has provide a very small slice of the puzzle to him, while keeping most of the situation concealed. He knows the Companion told him the truth. And perhaps he should have focused more on what was going on now not the past. But – he had to know what the secret was of the Campbells. Now he wondered if the Tam boy and his sister had taken off because the lad got himself into some physical trouble that his father refused to deal with. It was possible that just having a male friend was enough to run foul of the suspicion if the secret had been disclosed to the Tams before Regan married into the family. Or perhaps he'd run because the head of the Tam household had demanded a termination to that physical problem. With their record locked and there being a male on his ship related to his old school friend that had been in that way at least twice, he can't help but to wonder. In any case, he's not gotten too much in the way of real answers. Maybe the priest will be the one to provide those. He waits until the older man in grey is shown into the room, "Shepherd Derrial Book?"
"Commander Harken," Book goes so far as to shake the man's hand with a firm, warm, but dry grip before he sits. It's enough to shift their interaction into a more favorable one.
Waiting until the man in grey it settled in, the Commander looks over his file. There's more to this man than on might guess. At least he can trust his answers. There are things about this that bother him, "Pirates. Pirates with their own chaplain. There's an oddity."
Book is not sure he likes the crew being called pirates without any benefit of evidence. He's not ready to just counter the Commander's claim yet, however. He gives the fellow a serene expression, "Not the only oddity this end of space, Commander. Way of things not always so plain as on the central planets. Rules can be a mite fuzzier."
Whose rules? Harken has to wonder. He stares at the Shepherd for a moment. "You boarded Serenity on Persephone?"
"That would be right, yes," Book remembers it well. Kaylee had pretty much hooked him. He'd stayed because of Jon and Rich, mostly because they had gone out of their way to make him feel needed and wanted there. He'd had plenty of chances to leave over the months. But he'd learned so much about life on the rim, on the other side of things that he'd never looked at before, he felt that God had placed him in this situation for a reason.
The Commander slides a security shot of a young man, dressed in round solars, a vest and white shirt, cleanly tailored pants, hauling a large white case behind him. Book reaches for it and turns it slightly to get a better look. He'd guess it would pass for an older Simeon, maybe. He can pick out parts of the background including the dog grill stand he passed just shy of Serenity. By the looks of things this was about the same time of day he passed through the area, about an hour before he met Jon and Rich for the first time. There must have been a security camera strung on the power poles that the outdoor vendors used.
He raises an eyebrow at the Alliance officer in question, waiting to see what the point of this is. Another image, one of a girl bedraggled and dressed in a medical gown is shown to him. The words that come with it make him wonder... "These fugitives that we're looking for, the brother and the sister. They were last seen on Persephone."
Ah... that might explain a few things. He'd chosen to go to the port that day because the Sleeper run was passing through and there was the possibility that his journey would take him far from Blue Sun. He never made it as far as the Tower, however. He wonders if the Tam lad had gone that same day for the same reason. If so, Book hadn't seen him. He can't recall actually spotting anyone so distinctive, "That a fact?"
Harken nods. "It was reported that they left port the same day you shipped out with Serenity."
Conformation. This image of the Tam boy was taken minutes before he passed this way. He begin thinking then, trying to remember if he'd seen anything that might help. He drew a blank. Perhaps though he could think of other ways to help the search? "Commander, why haven't you looked over the official passenger manifests? Surely there would be evidence of ticket sales that would tell you what ship they booked passage on. I recall that that particular day was the one that had a ghost run linkup, the one day possible to ship out to Tangiers from Blue Sun this year. Are you sure they didn't board that ghost run?"
"My records indicate an inner system transport... A Firefly-class transport. Of course there was some indication that perhaps Richard B. Riddick had somehow slipped away from his tracker. I'm not sure what to believe, Shepherd."
Book frowned. "It's not up to me to be critical of your sources. However – I'd rethink your tactic. Looking at the security scan here it looks like your fugitive was heading toward the Tower. That indicates, all on it's own, that he took the sleeper ship. There should be scans from the boarding gate you can consult to confirm. Anything else is just hearsay."
Harken concedes. It's exactly the sort of thing he needs to hear and be reminded of. Now they can deal with the second odd report. "There's another unrelated issue. A few days after you shipped out with Serenity there was an operative signal from a Firefly class ship, indicating illegal transport of medicines to the outer moons. This operative was due in port Boros and never arrived. We're not going to find evidence that this was the same ship are we?"
"There's never been an Alliance Operative on Serenity, Commander Harken. All medicines I've witnessed being distributed have been done so under a licensed doctor's care. I'm sure Doctor Smythe has records he's willing to show you. Persephone's a big place, and while I was there I saw no less then five Firefly-class ships at dock. That gives you rather long odds, don't you think?"
The Commander narrowed his eyes. "But Serenity was in route to Boros, was it not?"
Book made a face, "Honestly, Commander, I don't recall. I didn't board the ship because I was looking to go anywhere in particular. I boarded Serenity because it was where I needed to be. Fact is, the route we took was to Whitefall, where Dr Smythe did some minor clinic work, then to several other moons in the same system by request. Serenity did dock in Boros about a month later, picking up supplies at that time. I performed a sermon while we were there. Like I told you, rules on the rim are not the same as on the central planets. Sometimes folks do things out here because their hearts tell them to, not because they want profit from it. Like our stopping here, for example. When we uncovered that there were settlers killed here I insisted that we pay the dead proper respects. It's the least we could have done for them."
Harken pinches the bridge of his nose. This is not looking good for his career. "Shepherd, if there's anything against the law going on here, my men will find evidence of it. I guarantee it. I'm sincerely hoping you are being honest with me and not protecting those crew members that you've fallen in with."
"God will be my judge, Commander. I've witnessed nothing that I'd call wrongdoing here."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
When it is time, and Book has been returned, Richard Smythe is guided into the conference room. Harken finds himself a bit awed by the figure, as he's shown to the chair. In spite the casual clothing it is clear the man is a soldier. Of that there is no doubt. Can his word be trusted? Harken needs to find out. "Your name?" The dark solars settle somewhat his direction, although he guesses the blind man is actually tracking him by sound. Even though he is in a strange room alone, the fellow seems comfortable and relaxed. There's no indication of guilt. By this Harken concludes that he's either unaware of the atrocity committed by the others or he's a stone-cold killer with no remorse. It does not occur to the Alliance officer that perhaps the horrors his men have documented were not something Serenity's crew was guilty of.
Rich listens to Verity whisper into his mind, "Richard 'Rich' Smythe, Commander. Should be on the passport. Unless there's a typo I wasn't told about. Have you been to the derelict?" He knows of course that they have been judged as guilty already. He's not sure how Jon's going to work their way out of this. Then he knows far less about Alliance than he does 'Golls. At least there's no crazy bitch here trying to put them in deep storage. But still... Why does everyone assume guilt?
The bronze skinned man has a mellow deep voice and a fairly open posture. His question effectively sidetracks the Alliance Commander from his previous ideas about getting the man's background. Instead he flips through his file reading what there is. The information is fairly detailed, listing where the man went to school, his military enlistment, parents' names. It's listed that the fellow's 'maiden' name from before he married, was Redguard. Richard A. Redgaurd. Harken stares at that. No wonder he went with Smythe. But then the question is hanging in the air begging for an answer, "I've not been, myself, no. I have holos and reports though. Is that how the bodies were when you found them?"
Richard quirks an eyebrow, "No. The preacher wanted them cut down. Simeon, my oldest son, recorded us moving the bodies. You're treatin' this as a crime scene?"
"Not as such, just trying to understand the timeline here. Who was the first over?"
Oh – shit. What to say? Twist the truth, just a bit. "Captain, first mate, and myself. I have a sensing web. Hooks into my nervous system. Jon's medical sensors detected contamination; he's got allergies, and the sensor web is tuned in to detect particles that might trigger them. The lifesign readings from the ship's sweeps were weak enough that we sorta rushed it. I suppose if it had been recorded you'd have more evidence of what we were saying."
The Commander nods. Now he feels like he's getting some information. "Your son scanned the dead as they were lowered, you said? I suppose Dr. Smythe is the expert here..." there's a rustle of paper again, "Why did you choose Serenity?"
"We didn't. Rather, we were passing through the docks, when an old associate spotted us and offered us passage off Persephone. That would be the pilot, by the way. Wash. Know him from Scorpio One. It was a pleasant surprise to happen upon him again. He said our booking passage on the ship he piloted would help him out." Richard pauses to scratch his ear. "We stayed because the kids like it. Provides them with some stability to not be ship hoppin' every port. Captain's been good enough to let Jon do his doctoring thing where he's needed. It's been a good fit."
"So you have chartered Serenity then as a personal medical base?"
Richard narrows his eye behind the dark lenses, "No. It's our home, Commander. We're paying rent. Jon's got this thing for helping people. Captain prefers to fly the rim. Just happens that there's people out here lacking decent medical care. You know, sometimes we end up helping to build barns, or pull in the harvest? It's the lessons we want to teach our kids, to do good. Sadly you're countering our attempt here by keeping us locked in a tiny cell. Next time there's a ship dead in the water and bio readings, they are gonna be scared if we stop to help."
Harken almost feels guilty. It's easy to forget that there are children involved here. He thinks about moving the Smythe family, and perhaps the Companion, and decides that it won't hurt them to stay where they are for a while longer. He's only got two more interviews, after all.