53) You Can Have My Isolation

Her mate's arms were warm and solid around her, his body heavy and protective as he cradled her against his chest. He held her even tighter as they descended the ladder to the bunk and River could feel the storm of his emotions like a whirlwind around her. Her Riddick was worried, for her, about the crews' reaction to their ritual bloodletting, about everything that had happened and what was to come. He wasn't built for worry. Her powerful husband was built for war, for battle, to face down anything that would strike at their heart. Worry eroded his control, made the animal come out snarling, as if the threads of tension were bars in a cage.

"She will be fine," River forced the words past her tired lips. "Too much all at once. It got tangled up in her head." She felt him sit down on the bed and his hands clutched even tighter at her body.

"I almost lost you," Riddick's voice sounded strangled with the effort of not shouting. "They were this close to taking you away from me." He wasn't shuddering, wasn't trembling but his entire body was coiled tight with the effort of not reacting to what might have happened. Richard B. Riddick did not break down. He did not shake with fear.

River slid her hands from his chest up to his neck and cupped his face in her hands, "Richard B. Riddick is the mightiest hero in the 'Verse. Would he marry so poor a creature as needed rescue from the likes of the Blue Hands?" It was her turn to be strong, her turn to remind him that they were both alive and still free. "Got ourselves caught and got ourselves away. And Richard shot the hunters down. Easy peasy; pudding and pie." She drew his face down to hers and pressed her mouth against his lips.

Heat flashed between them like a flame touched to paper, incendiary and immediate. In one fast turn of his body River found herself under him. His mouth was devouring her, tasting her skin, and his teeth on her throat insisted that she belonged to him. Moans and cries, growls and gasps filled the air around the two of them as they clutched at each other in near mindless desperation.

River felt the need rush over her skin in a hot shudder as Riddick's body pressed down between her thighs. He was hard and heavy over her, his hands fiery over the thin fabric of the hospital scrubs. His mouth was moving downward and the scrubs got in the way of his path. The sound of tearing fabric preceded the touch of cool air against her skin. She couldn't help her moan as her nipples tightened painfully, her breasts swollen with the need for his skin pressing down on her.

He was still wearing the uniform shirt and pants, it resisted all her efforts to touch his skin. "Off," River pulled at the shirt. "Off, off, off!" She tugged the shirt out of his trousers and found the hot flesh of his back with her palms. His groan against her skin was the most perfect sound. He was ignoring everything but his need to taste her, to feel her body under his.

His lips surrounded one nipple and sucked hard on the sensitive flesh while his hand palmed her other breast. She couldn't speak, the only sound that emerged from her lips was an animalistic moan of pleasure at the warm heavy feel of his callused palm on her soft curves. Riddick was breathing deeply, inhaling her scent as he rubbed his body against hers. River moaned again as his diǎo stroked over her mound, wonderfully hard and hot through the thin scrubs.

She fumbled for his waistband, tried to worm her hand in between their bodies to unzip his trousers and couldn't. Riddick was too heavy, too determined to have his way, for her to release any part of his body before he decided it was time. All she could do was arch her back, pushing her breasts up to his mouth and caress his skull and neck and back. How could his skin be so soft under her palms? How could the feel of him be so tender when he was such a strong, hard and oft times violent man?

His lips and mouth felt like the sweetest sting against her skin, the beginnings of his beard abrading her deliciously. River shivered as her body tightened, swelled, ready to burst out of her skin with need. His body was fierce with need as he held her down, grinding his hips to hers in wonderful but not quite enough pressure. She was wordless with need as his lips and tongue seemed to find every sensitized inch of skin to lave and suck and caress.

He teased and tormented her for what felt like hours before his free hand slid down to her hips and found the waist of her pants. One sharp movement later and they were ripped open down the front, her entire body exposed to his gaze and grasp. Riddick pulled back and finally met her gaze. River moaned and reached for the buttons of his shirt but his hands grasped hers tightly one huge hand holding both her wrists. "Mine," His deep voice rasped.

River nodded silently. Those heated glowing eyes held both man and animal. The animal was taking what it needed, reassuring both sides of Riddick that his mate was close and safe. For a moment that gleaming silver gaze faded slightly, the human side of her lover peering out at her, reining in his instincts to reassure himself that she was well. All she could do was smile. This was what he needed, what they both needed.

And then that quicksilver gaze was burning brightly through the twilight of their bunk again and his huge hands were pulling off his shirt, exposing his body to her hungry gaze. Those same hands pulled at the remains of her scrubs, touching her everywhere until she was flat on her back with his powerful body kneeling between her thighs. "Mine," He growled again. Whiskey and coffee and dark chocolate in her ears, Riddick's voice rolled over her skin like fur lined silk. Every part of her reacted to him, to that wonderful voice she'd fallen in love with in the darkness of the Academy. Like threads of silken need pulling through her muscles, winding tighter and tighter until she was helpless against it.

When he pulled off the trousers he still wouldn't let her touch him. His jī ba was hot and hard against her thighs but he simply ignored his need and covered her body with his. His hands touched her everywhere, each scar, every bruise had to be touched and kissed and acknowledged in some way.

By the time Riddick put his mouth between her thighs she was wound so tight that she screamed as a blazingly abrupt fall rolled over her at the first stroke of his tongue and gentle suckle of his lips. And that was only the beginning.

It never failed to amaze her how thorough Riddick's animal could be. Whereas her animal was insistent about blood and sex, wanting to ride or be ridden and filled over and over with her mate's seed, Riddick's animal side seemed to take a strange possessive pleasure in bringing her fall again and again before their bodies were joined. She was weak and trembling with passion when her man finally slid his diǎo inside her body. Inch by inch he filled her to the sound of her hot scream of need.

Stretched full of his cock and pressed down onto the mattress by his body all River could do was embrace the ecstasy of it. Her huge mate was desperate now, sawing back and forth inside her, and his breath hot on her skin. Every moan that fell from her lips was greeted with a kiss or a growl of possession, the man and animal merged completely with one goal. Her world narrowed to the sensations of his body and hers, hot, tight, wet and hard. Trembling skin, convulsing muscles and tender hands on her flesh.

He'd fallen in her, gasping and groaning, only a few minutes after he'd finally joined their bodies. But he hadn't stopped moving or pressing her inexorably towards another fall of her own. She knew, objectively knew, that her lover's body was made for this activity. It was the primal purpose of the animal made flesh, to leave his mark on her, to procreate. If he wasn't so concerned with her pleasure, with proving that she belonged to him overwhelmingly, it might have grown uncomfortable. As it was it felt as if her body was overloading her brain with bliss. For every time he fell, Riddick pressed her to fall again and again, as if he couldn't be satisfied unless she was as mindless and desperate as he.

Up, down, north, south, direction had no meaning. Her world was his skin, hands, mouth and diǎo. The feel of his lips over hers, his fingers gripping her hips, jī ba hard and pounding inside her and his body covering her. His groans in her ears, his teeth on her neck or shoulder, hard palms holding her tightly were growing ever more desperate for release. River felt him shuddering hotly over her, a tormented roar of need on his lips as his final completion drew near. His palm slid down to her pì gu and urged her movements to quicken along with his.

She cried out in ecstasy as he slid impossibly deep inside her and bucked up against his body as every muscle seemed to contract and spasm around him. She heard herself wail his name, heard Riddick's voice shouting into her hair as he clutched her tighter and shuddered violently. His hips pounded against hers as he lost control. Hot, sweet, like lava burning inside her, River felt his seed pour into her womb as he shook and twisted himself hard and deep within her body.

"Mine," His voice was a rough demand in her ear. She shivered and murmured her agreement against his skin, her arms twined up between his shoulder blades as she kissed his salty neck. His voice echoed in her mind as he repeated the claim, "Mine."

River tried to pull him closer even as her eyes fluttered shut, "Mine." She agreed as exhaustion claimed her. "Mine."


The ship was quiet when she woke. Riddick's body was wrapped around her, half on top of her in an obvious effort to protect her even in his sleep. With a frown River listened for the rest of the crew and found them on the bridge and in the galley respectively. Kaylee was worried and so was Wash, though for different reasons. Kaylee feared that they'd done something to push River to such a desperate point. Wash was concerned that Mal would think his reasons for wanting the two of them off the boat even greater now. Zoe was trying to figure out what in the world they'd done. Inara was speculating on the ritualistic qualities of what she'd seen. And Mal…Mal was confused and didn't like the sensation. It happened too often around her for the Captain's taste and it made him irritable.

Jayne, Ciara and Simon weren't terribly concerned. Simon had seen this happen before. Jayne had been able to tell that River was better after the blood ritual and he'd explained Riddick to Ciara, at least in part. River smiled as she shifted and slipped out of Riddick's embrace. He grumbled in his sleep and his hand caught hers before she could entirely leave the bed, "Where're you goin' nǚ ren ."

River kissed his neck before she answered, "Food and exercise. Need both. Also must explain the blood ritual last night. Mal does not like confusion."

"Understatement," Riddick muttered. "You want me there?" His silver eyes were staring at her through the darkness.

"Always want you," The Reader kissed him again. "But you should sleep some more. Four hours until your shift on the bridge. Can have at least another two hours sleep."

"I ain't up in another hour come'n get me," Riddick requested tiredly. River studied him for a moment before tugging her hand out of his grasp and covering him more thoroughly with the quilts. He was more exhausted mentally than he was physically. The events at the hospital had truly terrified him. She'd known before that he'd rather be taken back to the Academy himself than risk her recapture. The amount of pain he'd been holding back at the mere thought of losing her was astonishing. No one, save perhaps Jayne or Simon, would ever believe the sheer force of Richard B. Riddick's passions. No one but their family would understand just how integral she and her mate were to each other's peace of mind.

"If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger: I should not seem a part of it," River murmured as she pulled on her cargo pants and long sleeved tee shirt.

She climbed out of the bunk and walked down to the galley quietly. Most of the crew were sitting around the table or leaning against the cabinets. "Zǎo shang hǎo," She greeted them politely and took a mug down from the shelf. "Must apologize for such a display last night. Mental and physical balance was shaken by the events of the day."

Wash entered the galley and smiled when he saw her, "Hey little one. How're you feelin'?"

"Much better thank you," River grinned at him. "Was just apologizing for the disruption last evening."

The pilot made a 'phft' sound with his lips and shrugged, "Rick's said more'n once you an' him hear everything. Figured it was just all of us and our sounds along with the crazy day."

"Pilot is a very good man. Grateful for your understanding," The diminutive woman bowed her gratitude towards the cheerful man. "But perhaps there are questions?" She looked at the Captain and saw that he was surprised by the offer. "Easier to answer them now, the adrenaline rush has faded."

Mal nodded from where he was leaning against the counter, "Guess we were all just a little surprised by the blood s'all." He was watching her carefully as if concerned the weight of his gaze would drive her back into the chaos of the night before.

She tilted her head and poured herself a mug of tea, "Blood helps me to concentrate. The taste and texture of it, cannot be mistaken for anything else, binds me back to myself." She remembered the first time her husband had helped her through a blood ritual. It had saved her sanity more than once.

"But it was obviously a ritual," Inara observed. "Something Furyan?"

"Blood ritual," River nodded slowly. "Blood is very important to Furyans. It is life. The bonds it creates are powerful. Blood siblings, or spouses, this is not lightly done and can never be taken back. Richard discovered while we were at the Academy that when I became overwhelmed by my senses that he could draw me out of it with his blood."

"You couldn't have had a knife handy in there," Zoe commented curiously.

"That would have been too easy," River agreed with a dry smile. "No, he would harm himself, bite his lip, scratch his skin, draw blood and touch it too my lips. Whisper to me, words of the ritual. Taught me how to do it myself when I felt a spell coming on. With some sweet oblivious antidote cleanse the fraught bosom of that perilous stuff which weighs upon the heart."

"She had to do this on planet. The noise of the creatures, the panic of everyone around her, a man had just been killed," Simon recalled in a not completely steady voice. "She worried even through the sensory overload that the blood would draw the creatures."

"They go off blood," His sister nodded. "Richard told me to do what I must. Solitary version of the ritual, got my breathing under control. Got on my feet." She took a deep breath, "Needs must when the devil drives."

"What was it that brought the spell on," Mal was concerned now. River looked at him and almost winced at how loud the Captain's thoughts were. He worried he'd done this to her. That they were all too loud, too demanding and they were contributing to her unrest. He was afraid that Riddick was more hindrance than help but that River would never see it.

"Too much fear, adrenaline, absence of a routine, and no quiet," River ticked off the reasons on her fingers. "Very little physical exertion but a great deal of emotional stress. Nothing to balance against. Worked too hard in St. Lucy's to control my senses, to not react to everything I heard and saw and smelt. Then came back to Serenity and everything seemed loud and heavy and pushed against my skin. Couldn't find my balance again."

"So this's kinda like on Jiangyin when you were goin' a little loopy 'cause a the cows takin' up space?" Jayne spoke up with his question before Mal could comment. His entire being was aglow with the pleasure of his woman's company and seeing that his friend's wife was well. She felt the last threads of guilt Jayne carried for her breakdown ease and fade as she smiled at him, so obviously feeling better.

"Very like. But worse because on Jiangyin there were no feds. No city full of people with all the noise and buzzing cameras and hissing cortex screens," The slender Core woman nodded. "Core worlds...they have so much to bombard the senses... Persephone is irritating at times, Beaumonde is very annoying but Ariel was the worst. The world is too much with us; late and soon, getting and spending, we lay waste our powers: little we see in Nature that is ours."

"But it ain't like after Verbena when you an' Riddick were goin' after each other all violent like," Mal wanted specificity and River couldn't really blame him. But at the same time she couldn't tell him about the triggers, not yet.

"No, that was me angry with Riddick. Had no quarrel with the rest of the crew. Hadn't felt quite right because he and I were not in agreement," River sighed. She sipped her coffee during the lull in questions and looked at Kaylee.

The mechanic wasn't certain how to say it but she knew what her worry was. Finally the Rim girl just blurted it out, "Was it our fault? That ya got overwhelmed? I mean we were all chatterin' away and pokin' at you an' Rick. Should we a given you some space?"

River smiled at her friend, "Unlikely that the exact circumstances will repeat." She sipped her coffee, "But perhaps in the future, after a stressful day…a good rule of thumb would be to save interrogations for after I have meditated or exercised. Was very afraid yesterday. Richard was very worried. Too many emotions bubbling through us. Did not help my peace of mind."

"That's somethin' we'll have to keep in mind," Mal nodded his understanding. "'Less the boat's gonna fall outa the sky, we'll try to let you have a breather 'tween events and debriefs."

River nodded and finished her coffee, "Will go and meditate and exercise now." She explained as she set her mug in the cleaner. "Richard is still sleeping. Exhausted."

Jayne nodded, "Day he had, not surprised." The big merc set his mug down, "I'll come down, spot for ya if you like mèi mei."

The Reader gave him a pleased and grateful smile. "Kaylee and Ciara should also come. Simon as well. No reason to skip lessons today." She slanted a look at Jayne, "Must begin to teach Kaylee about guns. All of us work on hand to hand combat."

"Your doctor knows how to use a gun?" Ciara blinked as Simon rose from his seat without argument.

"Rick and Jayne taught me," Simon gave her an easy smile. "It didn't take me long to determine that we're all better off if I know enough to not shoot myself in the foot. And let's face it, in an emergency, every gun counts. Better my first time handling one is under controlled circumstances."

"Well I remember what Jayne and my Pa taught me," Ciara murmured. "But they don't exactly let us practice with guns. So I'm pretty rusty I'd guess."

River sent her a grin, "Must first learn to fall."

Ciara's groan was pained, "I don't like the sound of that." Her sweetheart chuckled wickedly while Simon and Kaylee winced in sympathy. River giggled and continued down the stairs. This would be fun.


River grinned at her brother as he pushed the barbell up again. Only Simon could have a conversation of this nature while he was exercising. He and Book were discussing the results of the scan. "I'd never seen that sort of...disregard for the good of a patient."

"Simon doesn't quite understand the nature of the 'scientist experimental vs. subject relationship," River teased as she watched Ciara and Kaylee spar. "Keeps thinking it should be like doctor patient."

"So shoot me, I don't understand sadism," Simon retorted as he pushed the barbell up again.

Book nodded his understanding, "Did you ever read the works of Shan Yu?"

"Shan Yu," Simon took another breath and lowered the barbell before he spoke again. "The psychotic dictator?"

"Yep," The Shepherd glanced at River. She nodded in answer and Book continued, "Fancied himself quite the warrior-poet. Wrote volumes on war, torture... the limits of human endurance."

She could almost hear Simon rolling his eyes. His voice was his mildest 'this conversation is ridiculous and I'm waiting for the point' tone that he possessed. "That's nice."

River shrugged, she knew what Book was getting at. The preacher continued, "He said... 'Live with a man forty years. Share his house, his meals, speak on every subject. Then tie him up and hold him over the volcano's edge, and on that day, you will finally meet the man'."

Simon was pushing the barbell up with a little more vigor now, he really didn't like Shan Yu. "What if you don't live near a volcano," He asked with a facetious smirk River didn't even need to see to know it was there.

"I expect he was being poetical," Book shrugged. "Slow down a bit, you're going to lose momentum."

Simon took a deep breath, River felt him forcing himself calm, regulating his breathing. She studied Kaylee and Ciara again for moment before she gave Simon her attention again. He was moving with purpose still but with more control. "Sadistic crap legitimized by florid prose," He said finally. "Tell me you're not a fan."

Book made a derogatory noise and shook his head, "I'm just wondering if they were. The people who did this to you River." He looked at her and she gave him a slight smile.

Simon struggled for a moment, she could feel the urge he had to shout, to throw the barbell, to rage at what had been done to her. River turned and looked at him calmly and her big brother took another deep breath, "The government did this to her."

The older man had a note of humor in his voice as he replied, "The government is a body of people, usually notably ungoverned."

Simon nearly chuckled, River could hear it in his voice, "Now you're quoting the Captain."

River shrugged, "Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one." Book and Simon glanced at her, neither one arguing the truth of her words.

Book was obviously still thinking, his voice was speculative, almost absent minded, "I'm just wondering if they put her through this just to see how much she could take. To truly 'meet her' as Shan Yu would have said."

River shook her head, "No." She answered the Shepherd. He was truly concerned, worried that she had been damaged beyond any help that could be given. "Torture was...a bi-product, not the intention. The means, but not the end."

Simon was rolling his eyes again, "Well nice to know that wasn't their primary aim." He snarked as steadily lifted the barbell. "Even without River's confirmation, logically speaking, if all they cared about was hurting River, they wouldn't still be after her."

"Is there anything that can be done?" Book was looking back and forth between the two of them.

River shrugged and concentrated more on the two girls practicing in front of her. Simon was answering Book, "River's already doing everything that can be done. Maintaining a solid routine seems to help the most. And we're researching. If we come across something we think will work without incapacitating her we might give it a try. Certainly we've got enough drugs on hand. Even with the way River and Rick can burn through them."

Book chuckled, "Yes, I'd forgotten you're moonlighting as a criminal mastermind now. Got your next heist planned?" His amusement was palpable at the idea of Simon becoming a crime boss and River giggled and exchanged a grin with the shepherd.

Simon had a sly grin in his voice, "No. But I'm thinking about growing a big black mustache." He waited a moment for Book to absorb that before he added, "I'm a traditionalist."

That got Book chuckling and gave Riddick and Jayne a good laugh as well. The two big men were doing their own workout with the older weight bench. One of the first things Riddick had done with his share of the hospital job was to buy a second bench and set of weights. He and Jayne had spent half a day arranging the area and organizing the equipment so anyone could come down and lift. River had contributed to the exercise with skipping ropes, ankle and wrist weights and smaller free weights that she and the other girls would have an easier time using.

That's what she was doing now, slowly lifting a five pound weight in either hand as she watched Ciara and Kaylee spar. Neither of them were very good yet, though at least Ciara was willing to embrace the necessity of the lessons. Kaylee was still reluctant to raise a hand to anyone. Kaylee, a bit shorter but stronger than Ciara from all her work on the ship, needed to learn to use her assets in a fight. And Ciara, graceful and eager though she might be, still lacked to muscle to do much damage to an opponent.

River tilted her head thoughtfully as she replaced her weights on the wall rack and walked around the two women. Riddick's frown caught her eye and she heard his thoughts that both women needed to put more effort into their training. She didn't disagree. Kaylee was reluctant about anything that could possibly have to do with violence while Ciara didn't seem to understand that if she wanted to survive a fight she had to work on her strength as well as her fighting forms.

"Stop," She shook her head in exasperation. Both of them halted their movements, one with an air of relief and the other with a slightly anxious expression. "Kaylee, you are chà shēng . You have no interest in this and it shows."

"I don't wanna hurt anybody 's'all," The pretty mechanic protested.

"What if somebody wants to hurt you?" River nearly snapped back, "We are not doing this for fun. This is to keep you alive, safe and whole." She pinched the bridge of her nose with her fingers and took a deep breath. More calmly she said, "Kaylee, if nothing else, you need to know how to get out of someone's hold. How to escape a captor. How to use a gun even if you can't aim it well yet."

"I ain't the gun totin' type," Kaylee argued. "When'll I ever need to use one?"

"How 'bout when Reavers come callin'," Riddick spoke slowly and quietly from his position of spotting Jayne. Book was still doing the same for Simon though her brother's turn was coming to an end. "I'd like to know I can trust you to hold a gun 'thout shootin' yourself or me."

"But that's what—"

"That's what the Captain an' Zoe an' alla us are for?" Riddick cut off her protest. "You ever seen Reavers up close mèi mei?" Kaylee shook her head slowly, her pretty eyes huge at the thought. "Me an' River have. We've fought 'em. An' trust me when I say that it's nothin' we ever wanna do again."

River shook her head in agreement, "Nothing is certain." She told the girls quietly. "We all have our strengths but we cannot afford to be deliberately weak. There are no children here. Kaylee, we will start again. Beginning with escapes and breaking holds. Riddick will teach you."

"I ain't ever gonna get away from him," Kaylee objected.

"Not if you begin with that attitude, no," River retorted. "Men are weaker than women in that they are very susceptible to pain." She looked at her husband and he winced but nodded his understanding. "Solar plexus, instep, nose, groin."

"Huh?" Kaylee wasn't getting the point and River shook her head.

Simon sat up from his spot on the newer weight bench and grinned, "It's an old self-defense anagram. SING." He and Book traded places with a slight argument about how much weight Book should be lifting.

"Uh huh," The pretty mechanic didn't sound convinced but she sighed and moved over towards Riddick.

"Ciara," River speared the newest crewmember with her gaze and nearly grinned as the elegant Kerry woman stood straighter when she was addressed. "Do you wish to be ruò bù jīn fēng ?" Confused, Ciara shook her head, her braid swinging. "Then you cannot neglect your weight training. You should be able to take Kaylee down but you don't have any strength to your hits. She can outlast you or, if she ever hits you, take you out with one punch."

"I've tried, but everything hurts after I do the weights, then I can't do anything else," Ciara wasn't arguing but she clearly was at a loss as to what she could do.

"New trainers," River decided. "Simon and Book will be your strength trainers. Medical advice and valuable experience. Also caution so you don't hurt so much that you stop."

Ciara nodded, "It's not that I don't want to." She spread her hands, "And Shea's been a fine help."

"Less kissing during weight training and more weights will go far," River caught the mental image Ciara had of kissing her suitor on the weight bench. The other girl blushed and muttered something about distractions and not being made of stone.

Jayne sat up from his bench and shrugged, "So it weren't my best idea." He agreed. "Got her back up to speed with pistols though." He was looking a bit sheepish but proud of his sweetheart.

"Next time we're on the ground, more target practice," River agreed. "Meantime, building stamina." She grinned at the two girls. "Time for a game."


"I don't see why you're all fired up about everyone on this boat bein' as lethal as you are yourself," Mal had remarked after Kaylee had nearly run away from the lesson in firearms.

Riddick had frowned, River had just rolled her eyes and continued to help Ciara with her punches. Ciara was coming right along with pistols and she was a rare shot with a rifle. Kaylee however... no matter how many times River, or Jayne, Riddick or even Simon tried to explain that guns were just little machines, Kaylee had no interest in them and resisted having anything to do with them.

"Because it's dangerous for her to not even know how to hold a gun," Riddick had told the Captain finally. "I know violence isn't her way. I don't expect that to change."

"And how's forcin' her to learn about firearms not expecting that to change?" Mal either really didn't see the need or he was being obtuse out of sheer perversity. Riddick wasn't sure which at this point.

"Maybe a time comes when someone takes Kaylee, did you ever think a that," The Furyan asked calmly as he put his revolver back together. "They put a bullet in whoever's with her, snatch her up and she's long gone. Of course we'd go after her, but if something happened to her like on Jiangyin? Knowin' that if she got hold of a gun she could at least bluff her way out of a situation by holdin' it right would be damn reassuring."

"Kaylee don't hardly leave the boat unless she's in someone's company," The Browncoat was protective of his pretty little mechanic. "And I got no problem with the idea that she never takes up arms."

"You really think that's all there is to it?" Riddick didn't think this was on purpose. Mal really didn't see the need. "If nothing else it'd be nice if she could load a gun and hand it off to someone willing to shoot it. You can't tell me that knowing Kaylee could do that much would be helpful."

"We're not planning to lay siege anywhere that I know of," Mal argued. "Teachin' her how to defend herself, how to squirm out of ropes, I got no problem with. But if she don't want to deal with guns then we can't make her."

"You could," Riddick pointed out. "But I'm getting the idea that you won't. Even if it would be helpful."

Mal had just shrugged at him and that had been the end of Kaylee learning about guns, at least for the time being.

Riddick, Jayne and River had doggedly continued to teach Kaylee how to defend herself at least, painful though that was. He was convinced that Kaylee was doing it on purpose. Every time they practiced she managed to hit him somewhere other than the area she was supposed to hit. He'd gotten a fist in the throat, an elbow to his balls and her foot on his knee more times than he could count. At least that's what he told himself. He was not actually counting. He wasn't.

Jayne was faring a little better with Ciara but not by much, mostly due to Ciara's lack of muscle. Finally Riddick had enough of getting hit in the throat and called a halt to the exercises. "Maybe let's try somethin' else," He suggested. "How are the two of you at getting out of a locked room, or wiggling out of ropes?"

Kaylee just blinked at him like she didn't know what she was talking about. Ciara shook her head, but hers was more a denial of skill rather than ignorance. "All right then," Riddick nodded. "Let's start with rope." He sighed to himself and thought that at least River was doing better with their students in respect to the katas. If nothing else they were building up muscle memory and that could only help.


It was at least a week later that Riddick was leaning against the catwalk railing with Wash, watching as Ciara and Kaylee struggled with a new set of rope bonds. Unlike the first couple days of work this time Riddick hadn't tied them together. So far they were both taking that as an indicator that they should do this alone. He'd blindfolded them too. If River could learn to do this so could they.

"Mind if I ask you a question," Wash kept his voice low so as not to distract the women below them.

"No more than I ever do," Riddick glanced at the pilot with a half smirk. "What's on your mind?"

"Last night…what were you and River doin'," The affable man lowered his voice even more after he'd looked around for anyone else who might hear. "The only time I've seen you two fight like that is…well after Verbena."

"Yeah," Riddick nodded. "We've been trying to keep it quiet. I mean Mal knows she can fight, he got a good look at how she can be after Verbena." He frowned trying to think of how he could phrase his answer without telling a bald faced lie. He could lie. He just didn't much care for it if it wasn't for River's safety. It felt like it had been a long time since he'd had to actually lie to any of the crew rather than simply phrasing something diplomatically or evasively. Finally he looked at Wash, "Know how you said River had PTSD?"

"Yeah," Wash nodded with a frown that sat wrong on his cheerful face.

"Her dreams are gettin' worse," Riddick told that truth without regret. "So I bring her down here, an' we fight. Try to get past the dreams. An' we're tryin' to get past the panic attacks she gets when somethin' reminds her of Blue Sun." He shrugged, "Guess you could say we're tryin' to deliberately trigger the problem and work her way past it."

"Makes sense," The pilot nodded his understanding. "Does it help?" He looked concerned and the convict nearly smiled at how good a man this was. How many people upon being told a young woman had PTSD and panic attacks that had to be dealt with by fighting with blades would instantly be concerned about her and not their own safety? Damn few from Riddick's experience.

"Sometimes," He answered quietly. "If fighting doesn't work…well, you saw how I ended it after Verbena. My teeth on her neck, that usually snaps her out of it. It's something that ain't…associated with what they did to her. Just don't wanna rely on it too much. She needs to come out of the spells on her own."

"I can see how fighting might help her though, let her feel like she's in control, can fight her own demons," Wash said thoughtfully. "Simon able to help at all?"

"Yeah," Riddick nodded. "He knows exactly how to trigger a spell. That way I'm able to be on the ground with River, fightin' with her and he's out of harms way. No distractions you know?"

Wash nodded, obviously thinking for a moment. "Good. You'd lemme know if I could help right?"

It was rare that he was surprised, the Furyan thought in astonishment. But Wash had managed to do it. He could feel the grin pulling at his lips, "Yeah. If there was somethin' you could do that wouldn't get you killed, absolutely we'd ask. Told Mal we'd be doin' this at night sometimes, in the spirit of full communication and disclosure." He added with a mocking twist of his lips. That was one of the phrases Simon had drug out when he'd been talking to the Captain about treatment for River and why she broke down sometimes after high pressure situations. They'd agreed that whatever they did to help River, Mal would know about it. No hiding for them and no surprises for Mal.

"I heard about that," Wash chuckled. "Simon explained it pretty well. I mean we all react to adrenaline differently. And with what the Academy did to River, well, it's not surprising she has a harder time processing everything."

"Yeah," Riddick growled at the thought of what they'd done to his gorgeous woman. "She still don't know what her brain's tryin' to hide either. She knows there's something there, something to do with Blue Sun. But she doesn't know what."

"Gotta admit it was kinda clever of Jayne to peel the labels off the cans and just label them with ink," Wash grinned. "No more mystery meals."

"Cobh isn't stupid," Riddick agreed. "Hasn't ever been. Stupid gets you dead real quick in a war." He slanted a glance at Wash thoughtfully before changing the subject. "So I hear you've got an idea to make more of a profit on the medicines?"

"Yeah I was runnin' it by Zoe the other night, figured you'd heard. With your ears I'm just glad the bunks are pretty sound proofed," The pilot nodded. "What do you think? Selling directly to doctors?"

The escaped murderer looked down at Ciara and Kaylee, the two women had been whispering, the sounds plain in his ears, but almost inaudible to anyone else and scooted closer together. He could see Ciara's hands tugging at Kaylee's bonds and nodded. They were tense, listening for sounds, but concentrating on escape rather than vision. They weren't doing badly but he'd hoped they'd be further along by this point.

Finally he looked at Wash, "Coupla problems I can see. One being that we don't have connections to any medical folk. And the more time we spend looking the more likely we'll end up on the bad end of someone's guns. Really don't like gettin' robbed much." He shrugged, "The other thing is that everybody's gotta make a living. And we don't need to burn bridges bypassing Mal's normal contacts. Bringin' 'em a flush score like this? Says we're reliable, good business, and we're smart. People can make money doin' business with us."

"So it's a bad idea?" Wash was frowning thoughtfully.

"Not bad. Just risky," Riddick said with a shrug. "It would make more money. You're not wrong."

"Yeah," The pilot shrugged. "Zoe hasn't really told me what she thinks yet."

"That could be your answer right there," The Furyan told him dryly.

"Yeah," Shoulders nearly as broad as Riddick's shrugged. "I'm still kinda hoping she'll think its a good idea."

"Well the old saying is that hope springs eternal," Riddick looked back down at the girls. "You got any idea how to get through to Kaylee that learning this might just save her life?"

Wash sighed and accepted the change in subject. "Not sure. Kaylee hasn't had a lot of up close and personal experience with violence. She's seen it but the only time she's gotten hurt was when the Fed shot her." He shook his head, "Honestly I was surprised when River got her learning how to fight. But that started out with katas. Not kicks and punching."

"Yeah," Riddick nodded. "I just don't like the idea that she's helpless if trouble comes lookin'."

"Nobody does," The pilot reminded him. "But you can't force Kaylee to learn."

"You're tellin' me," The convict sighed. "Ciara's comin' along." He watched as the girls finally managed to untie themselves.

"River's game seems to be workin' some," Wash observed. "Even Kaylee chases her."

"That's 'cause she thinks its a game," He rubbed a hand over his jaw. "Maybe we ought let it be for now. She's gettin' better at gettin' out of ropes. And maybe if me an' River back off they can just do katas. The muscle memory will be good for something at least."

"Trick her into learning to fight you mean?" Serenity's pilot sounded truly amused by the idea. "It could work."

"It'd be better than nothin'," Riddick sighed and straightened up. "I'd better get down there, show 'em both a little more. See ya on the bridge in a bit."

"I'll bring the coffee," Wash agreed with a half smile. "You see River, tell her I'm looking forward to another game of digital chess. I'm hoping it takes more than fifteen minutes for her to kick my ass."

Riddick grinned as the pilot walked away and began to head down the stairs to the cargo bay. Time for a few more lessons on escape.


The bushel of apples was taking a place of pride on the galley table. Riddick selected one as he listened for River, Ciara and Kaylee. He could hear his woman leading the other girls on a merry chase, River's laughter followed by Kaylee's threats and Ciara's mutters of determination. Mal and Inara were discussing a client she'd be bringing on board. Apparently whoever it was didn't want to be gaped at.

Riddick chuckled and shook his head as he took a seat at the table and gave half his attention to what was going on below decks. He barely needed his superior hearing the girls were making so much noise. Apparently Mal agreed. His sardonic remark, "Ah, the pitter patter of tiny feet in huge combat boots." Directly preceded his loud command for them to shut up. As if he'd never raised his voice the Captain continued to speak at a normal volume with Inara, humorously promising her that he'd abstain from sword fighting.

The Furyan pulled out one of his many shivs and began to slice up his apple. Wash grinned at him as he munched on his own snack, taking happy bites out of the skin. "Somethin' funny Rick?"

"Listening to Mal and Inara talking," Riddick smiled slightly. "In the middle of the conversation he yells at the girls and then goes back to talking." He tilted his head, "They're runnin' up the stairs to the catwalks now. Listen, you can hear him yell."

Wash obligingly tilted his head towards the stairs where Mal's hollering could be heard, "One of you is gonna fall and die, and I'm not cleanin' it up!"

The female voices were getting closer now, "She took my apple!" Kaylee shouted her explanation for the race.

Inara's voice was a bit puzzled and quieter. Rick had to repeat it for Wash's benefit, "Jayne bought a whole crate of them."

Kaylee's answer was cheerful if a bit insane on the face of it, "And this one's mine."

River laughed, not even out of breath as she came through the corridor, Kaylee and Ciara hot on her heels, "Not anymore!"

Riddick watched as Kaylee finally caught up with River, tackling her onto a chair and wresting the apple away from her. Kaylee grinned, "Okay." She held her apple aloft like a trophy, "No power in the 'verse can stop me."

Ciara paused in the doorway a bit out of breath but grinning. Proudly she removed half of a tongue depressor from her mouth. "Breathed through my nose the whole time," She said proudly. "Didn't even clench my jaw."

River was laughing and hugging both of the other girls, "Doing very well. Stamina is increasing, speed is good."

"And running is always a useful skill," Riddick agreed. He picked up an apple and tossed it to Ciara who grinned and snatched it out of the air. River got a similar treatment as Zoe walked in the room and sat near her husband.

River was turning her apple in her hands, smelling it appreciatively as she moved towards Riddick. One hand rested on the back of the chair beside his as she held the apple to her nose. He grinned and pushed back from the table a bit, making room for her and to his pleasure his woman curled up into his lap, leaning against him. Her apple was set on the table as she took his shiv and half eaten apple.

Zoe's eyes were curious as she looked at them but she refrained from commenting as the two stranger inhabitants of Serenity began to share bites of carved up apple. She plucked one of her own out of the crate and took out a knife. "These really are the genuine article. I could get used to being rich."

Wash was grinning at Riddick and Ciara teasingly, "It's Jayne being so generous with his cut that confuses and frightens me."

Ciara giggled as she sliced her apple into sections and began to eat them one by one. "My man is very cautious with money. None of us had much growing up. But we have a weakness for fruit. Healthy sweets."

Zoe was shaking her head as she popped a piece of apple in her mouth, "It does kind of freeze the blood, at least until you see him smiling at everyone. That's disturbing on a whole different level."

The suit-ee to Jayne's suitor laughed again and shook her head, "I'm still getting used to the idea that Shea is someone to be worried on the matter of betrayal. It seems so funny that none of you know him but you've sailed together for more than two years." Before anyone could explain to her the circumstances in which Jayne had gotten onto the boat Kaylee's voice dropped into the conversation.

The cheerful mechanic was looking at Zoe curiously. Riddick got a flash of steel and silk from River and knew she'd gotten one of her flashes of insight. "Zoe, how come you always cut your apples," The Rim girl asked with a tilt of her head.

Riddick felt River stiffen slightly and then relax and knew that whatever memory that would be brought up wasn't a debilitating one. It would be a story, maybe not a nice one but given Zoe's experiences nice was pretty much out unless she was talking about her childhood or husband.

Wash blinked at his wife curiously, "You do?"

Kaylee nodded, "Her and the Captain both. Whenever we get fresh fruit, they never just munch on 'em." She nodded at Riddick with River in his lap, the way River was carefully cutting the apple as well. "Rick an' River do the same thing."

Zoe shrugged a bit, "Know what a Grizwald is?"

Jayne entered the galley and dropped a kiss on Ciara's head before he busied himself at the stove, "It's a grenade."

Zoe nodded her confirmation of the gunhand's words, "About the size of a battery. Responds to pressure." She carved off another piece as she continued, "Our platoon was stuck in a trench outside of New Kasmir during the winter campaign. More'n a week, completely cut off, and the Alliance entrenched not ten yards away. We even got to talkin' to 'em, yelling across insults and jokes and such, 'cause no ammo to speak of, no orders, so what are you gonna do?" Riddick watched as her eyes grew darker with the memory. "We mentioned that we were out of rations, and ten minutes later, a bunch of apples rained into the trench."

Wash clearly had an idea of where this story was going and interrupted with a bit of desperate cheer, "And they grew into a big tree, and they all climbed up the tree into a magical land with unicorns and a harp." He looked at the three girls with a hopeful nod.

Riddick almost chuckled, maybe Ciara or Kaylee needed that sort of happy ending, River not so much. Jayne finished making his tea and brought a mug over to the table. Flicking open a switchblade he stabbed at an apple and removed it from the bowl. When he took his seat it was next to Ciara and she grinned at him and fed him a slice of her apple from her fingers.

Kaylee wasn't paying attention or she might have grinned. Her mind was still on Zoe's story, "Blew off their heads, huh?"

The First Mate nodded. Her voice was matter of fact, "Cap said wait, but they were so hungry." She didn't quite sigh, she wasn't the type, but her tone was a bit more stoic than normal. "Don't make much noise. Just little pops and there's three guys that kind of just end at the ribcage."

Wash looked at River and then at Ciara and Kaylee, "But these apples are healthsome, good."

Jayne laughed, "Yeah, grenades cost extra."

Kaylee looked over at Ciara and Jayne, their seats next to River and Riddick, all of them carving on the fruit with their knives. "That happened to you too," She wondered.

"Nah," Jayne grinned at her and then nearly laughed through the apple that Ciara shoved playfully into his mouth.

"It was uncommon rare for us to get fresh fruit," Ciara explained as she took Jayne's apple and began to slice it up. "An orange at Christmas, or an apple for a birthday."

"It's too easy to gobble if you bite right in," Riddick offered. "Before you know it the apple's gone and you haven't even really tasted it. Gotta savor the juice, feel it in your hands, taste the difference b'tween the skin and the flesh." He took the knife and apple from River and began to cut a piece out for her. His mate took it and held it between her lips before she leant towards him. Biting off his share brought them together for a sweet apple tasting kiss.

"And one cannot share an apple thusly if it is simply bitten," River offered with a sweet smile. "To be offered an apple is to invite courtship, on certain planets. Enticing fruit. Original sin."

Jayne grinned at Ciara and was given a kiss along with a piece of apple, "So you thinkin' 'bout sinnin' some?" He teased his elegant looking woman.

She was prevented from answering as Mal entered the galley. Riddick paused in his carving of the second apple. He'd made it a practice since Ariel to keep an eye on Mal when he was in River's immediate vicinity. The Captain had gotten better about accepting the general oddness that was River and Riddick's relationship but he still had his moments of idiocy. And he really hated it when he saw River and Riddick sparring in their 'no holds barred looked like Riddick would murder River' way. Mal was getting more and more protective, behaving a great deal as if River was someone who should be sheltered.

"Wish is father to the thought, as the child is father of the man," River murmured in his ear. Riddick nodded and she continued, her soft voice making more sense than his musings could. "Hates what he has heard was done to me. Hates that I am younger than all of them and so capable of violent defense. Wishes he could have kept it from happening. Wishes I was innocent and untouched and he could threaten you with violence for courting me. Wishes to turn back the clock."

"He really does act like an outraged papa doesn't he," Riddick murmured and River giggled as Mal picked up an apple and began to cut it with a knife from the counter.

"Well," Mal was actually in a pretty good mood as he spoke to the crew. "We are about twenty thousand miles from our last drop, people, then we can take a break an' think about spendin' some of this money."

Riddick exchanged a cautiously happy look with River amidst everyone else's pleased exclamations. She wasn't exactly thrilled considering the area of space they were in. They were fast approaching Adlai Niska's territory and neither of them would feel at ease until they were out of it again.

Wash remarked to Zoe, sotto voce, "Could've made more."

Apparently he hadn't been quiet enough because not only did Riddick hear him easily but so did the Captain. Mal nodded an acknowledgment to his pilot, "That wasn't a bad idea, Wash, but eliminating the middle man is never simple as it sounds."

Riddick glanced at Zoe who was looking uncomfortable, to Wash who just seemed surprised. Sure enough the pilot was blinking at Mal, "You heard about..."

The Captain proved he wasn't a complete idiot by bringing up the same points that Riddick had. "About fifty percent of the human race is middle men an' they don't take kindly to bein' eliminated. This quadrant, we play nice. We got enemies enough as it is."

The murderer sighed as the pilot's scent blazed with anger. For a woman with as stoic a face as he'd ever seen Zoe looked very uncomfortable.


River sighed as she felt the ripples of anger and hurt, woven through with insecurity that emanated from the bridge. Her mate regarded her thoughtfully, "Somethin's wrong?"

"Wash and Zoe argued. Zoe is upset and uncertain as to what she could do differently. Wash believes he is second fiddle," River murmured and frowned. "He wishes to accompany the captain on the job. Has taken steps to ensure such a thing. Fifty fifty chance that it will be allowed."

"Uh huh," Riddick was not liking the sound of that. "Doesn't anyone think that we're under Niska's nose? And he's not the type to just forgive and forget?"

River shrugged unhappily, "Captain keeps it in the back of his mind. Doesn't think we'll be noticed." She let Riddick tug her into his lap and rested her cheek against his shoulder. "Put a mask on Serenity but a cortex mask won't help when all that is required is the ocular proof. Niska looks for a Firefly."

"Yeah, and with that skyplex he's got, bound to have sensors to go with it," Riddick frowned. "Think he'll try to take the ship?"

The Reader frowned, "Can't be certain. The villain isn't one for pitched battle. Likes torture, but doesn't want to risk his own skin." Her man wasn't feeling easy about being on this moon at all and she couldn't help but agree with him. Her skin was itchy, like something was tickling her mind and she looked over at the doorway.

Book was watching Jayne and Kaylee who were teasing each other with ever more outrageous bets regarding Inara's client. Ciara and Simon were chuckling over the original crew's jests and occasionally offering suggestions as to actual possibilities.

River shook her head and looked at her husband. He was still deep in thought, analyzing the likelihood of an attack. Where it would come was as important as when. She could hear Mal with Inara walking down the stairs to the airlock and the ramp of the ship. The Captain was quietly assuring the Companion that he would not be insulting and promising once again that he wouldn't start any swordfights.

Book gave the four younger people a reproving look. "Didn't Inara express a wish for privacy?"

Kaylee grinned at him, "We're not gonna spy on her Shepherd. But now we've gotta see who she's got. Bet he's handsome. Think he's gonna bring her flowers?" She looked at Simon curiously.

The doctor shrugged while Jayne took another slice of his apple and offered it to Ciara with a smile. "Sometimes a patron will bring a gift," Simon remarked quietly. "To show appreciation of the honor given him or her." Jayne and Kaylee blinked but Ciara nodded knowingly.

"Oh!" Kaylee's whisper got a little louder. "There he is." Even Book looked up at the entrance to Serenity at the sight of a large man in a suit.

River shook her head and Riddick grinned, "Nah." He nodded towards the fellow, "That's private security. We can hear the earwig he's got in."

Mal was offering his hand in a friendly manner, " Welcome aboard. I'm Captain Malcolm Rey..." Only to be completely ignored.

The security officer was looking around. River watched thoughtfully as his eyes took in the cargo bay, the captain and the lounge at the far end of the bay with people obviously in it. "We're all clear here, Councilor," He spoke into his comm.

Riddick chuckled in her ear, "Not very good if he didn't notice the very well armed crew over here."

"Or he can tell we're not a threat right now," River whispered back with a grin. She was treated to the sight of Mal blinking in shock as a very good looking blonde woman entered the cargo bay. She was very obviously wealthy but she greeted Inara with the respect the Companion was due if not flowers.

River grinned as Book blinked in surprise, "Oh my." The preacher seemed slightly discombobulated.

Kaylee was doing a little blinking of her own. The mechanic was staring after Inara and her patron as if stunned, "Oh, gosh, I... I-I knew she took females as clients... I just..." She paused as if to gather her thoughts, "They look so glamorous together."

Jayne nodded and shifted uncomfortably for a moment to Ciara's amusement, "Uh, bǎo bǎo."

His sweetheart giggled and rose from her chair to sit in his lap, "You always were wonderfully visual Shea." She bent and kissed him gently, startled when his arms banded around her and pulled her tight. River smiled as Ciara relaxed against her sweetheart and let herself be cuddled. The two of them were a romantic sight in her perspective. The big man holding the slender woman with no thought of anything more. They'd been apart so long neither took such embraces for granted.

River grinned and tilted her head upwards, "Time to work." She murmured. "Mal and Zoe are getting ready for the job."

Riddick looked at her, "I think the way Wash is bein'...Mal had a smart idea, me goin' along." The Reader frowned slightly and met his silver gaze to see his concern for the crew. "If any of Niska's people show up... We got a better chance of comin' back if I'm with the Captain."

His mate nodded, still troubled, "Something is not right... But I can't tell what it is. I don't know if it will be worse or better if you're with them." His hand slid up her back to cup her neck and squeeze gently, a possessive caress both dominant and loving.

"Somethin' goes wrong... well you know what to do," He pressed a hard kiss to her lips. "Come see me off?"

"Of course," River looked down at her comfortable slacks and sweater and then over at the rest of the crew. Book was shaking his head in amusement while Jayne kissed Ciara and Kaylee teased Simon about his knowledge of Companions. "Don't think I'll be missed," She added wryly.

Her beloved chuckled his agreement and pressed a kiss to her temple as they quietly ascended the stairs near the infirmary.


River followed her husband into the spare shuttle and leaned against the wall so she could look out at the dusty sunlight that streamed in from the cockpit windows. Zoe was preparing the shuttle for takeoff while Mal made sure the case of drugs wouldn't get knocked around. He gave Riddick a nod of greeting and offered River a half smile as he spoke, "Lucrative as this stuff is, I'll be glad to see the last of it. Kinda makes us a target for every-"

Zoe interrupted him, her voice both annoyed and puzzled, "River were you messing around with the cortex in here? The ignition sequence is all turned about. I can't even..."

River shook her head as Zoe turned to look at her. Before she could offer to make any corrections needed Wash stepped into the shuttle. "I can."

Mal nodded, "Well get it set, would you, Wash? We gotta get moving."

River nearly groaned, Wash was in a defiant mood. He was aggravated and upset with both his wife and the captain. "Here's a funny twist," The pilot suggested. "No."

"No what?" Mal blinked at him and River groaned.

"Nǐ tā mā de tiān xià suǒ yǒu de rén dōu gāi sǐ." River muttered the curse and hid her face in Riddick's chest. Her mate's arm slid around her shoulders as his mind flickered through possible outcomes and what adjustments might be required.

Wash stared at Mal, "No, sir."

Zoe looked at her husband, "Change the sequence?"

Wash nodded, "Didn't want you taking off without me. In fact, didn't want you taking off at all. Thought I might take this run instead. Me and the Captain." River sighed and leaned back against Riddick with a shake of her head. This was so not the time for this gǒu pì.

"The Captain who's standing right here telling you that's not gonna happen?" Mal wasn't quite glaring, but he wasn't pleased. "Not to mention Rick ain't exactly slight an' easy to push over."

Wash's sardonic tones were doing nothing to improve Mal's mood and River could feel Riddick's sense of unease increase. "Well, it's a dangerous mission, sir. I can't stand the thought of something happening that might cause you two to come back with another thrilling tale of bonding and adventure," There was an element of painful truth to the pilot's words as he continued. "I just can't take that right now."

The Captain seemed to be similarly at the point of desperation as he looked back and forth between his first mate and pilot. "Okay, um, I'm lost. Uh, I'm angry, and I'm armed, so if you two have something that you need to work out-"

Zoe shook her head and River could tell simply from her carefully blank face that she was far more upset than she was letting on. "It's all right, sir. We've deal with Bolles before. Shouldn't be a problem." She slanted a glance at her husband after a half beat, "And I wouldn't mind sitting this one out."

Riddick stiffened slightly just as Mal scowled, "Oh, this is a fine fang-tzang fong-kwong duh zie but I don't have time to unwind it. Wash." He gave the pilot a hard look, "Get her started. Rick, say your goodbyes and take your place. Zoe, ship is yours."

River smiled as she was lifted up in Riddick's arms until their faces were level so her mate could give her a memorable kiss. "Don't worry my zhàng fu. Wife will be good while he is gone."

"Keep a sharp eye out," Riddick muttered. "I don't like doing business this close to that old jiān xié."

River nodded solemnly as he let her down. Zoe wrapped an arm around her shoulders and River offered her a smile, "Should we pretend to be Saffron and wash their feet when they return?"

Riddick's bark of laughter and Mal's yelp of dismay at the thought had Zoe's lips upturning. Wash's mockingly happy voice called after them as they left, "Bye, hon! We promise not to stop for beers with the fellas!" As the doors began to slide shut behind them River caught the pilot's last remark, "So, are we gonna sing army songs, or something?"

River shook her head as the engines started and she and Zoe emerged from the airlock, "Cap'n is very irritated. Husband is not thrilled either."

"Well I know why Mal's irked, what's Rick's issue," The stoic woman asked without a hint of curiosity.

"Doesn't like that there is no one to pilot the ship except his wife," The Reader told her solemnly. "Pilot and co-pilot both on the job? Not good tactics. And Niska is not far enough away."

Zoe nodded thoughtfully, "Job should only take coupla hours at most." She looked at River's less than business like clothing. "I'll man the cortex while you change into your workin' clothes."

River tilted her head, listening for Riddick's mind as she considered, "She will tell Jayne to make sure the weapons are all good to go. And Kaylee must check Serenity's heart."

The first mate was frowning a bit but she still nodded, "Don't wanna scare folks, but at the same time..."

The Reader offered a half smile of agreement as she pushed open the hatch to the bunk she and Riddick shared, "Better a little worry and preparation than ease and being caught off guard."

"When you put it that way," Zoe's frown deepened and she increased her pace. As River descended the ladder she heard the first mate's voice on the overhead, "All crew members will look to their areas of responsibility in preparation for boarding."

River gave a satisfied jerk of her head as she shut the hatch and pulled out her 'work' clothes.


Riddick cursed under his breath as the sun lit up the inside of the shuttle. The goggles he was never without came in handy as Mal and Wash were squinting against the harsh light.

Mal seemed to have some idea that now was the time to talk and Riddick kept his groan to himself and concentrated on the terrain and the area they were supposed to do the meet. "Look," Mal started with a glance at Wash. "This thing with you and Zoe..."

Not too surprisingly Wash wasn't terribly interested in a conversation, "Really not looking to talk on that topic."

Predictably enough that got Mal's back up, "Hey. I let that niou-se trick of yours slide because this is a milk run. But when I go on a mission, I'm taking Zoe and that's the drill. You know that. I mean, what happens if we get into a situation here?"

"Thanks Mal, 'cause I love feelin' insignificant," Riddick muttered and got an annoyed look of his own from the Captain.

"Hey, I've been in a firefight before!" Wash subsided slightly as both former military men looked at him with varying expressions of disbelief. "Well, I was in a fire," He qualified. "Actually, I was fired from a fry-cook opportunity." Riddick rolled his eyes behind his goggles as Wash continued, "I can handle myself."

The Captain regarded his pilot with an expression that suggested he did not expect a positive answer to the question he was about to ask. "And you understand what Zoe's job entails?"

Wash, sadly, did not disappoint Mal, "I'll learn as I go."

Riddick cursed again, "Fuckin' wonderful! Huò bù dān xíng." He looked at the pilot, "Are you even carrying?"

"Carrying what?"

In a rare moment of unison Mal and Riddick both sighed, "Tā mā de niǎo."


Author's Note: Wow it's been a while. I hope the little (comparatively) story I've been posting on Fridays has kept all of you entertained. I'm ashamed to say that while I've been plugging away I haven't felt very productive. And since it's been more than two months since I've posted I daresay that all of you would agree. But here we are... Mal's trying to be reasonable... we'll see how long that lasts. Jayne got his sweetie back, and I'm working on filling Ciara's character in a bit more. I don't want she and Jayne to take over but I do like the idea of them being quietly there.

I will warn all of you that while I'm still writing I'm suffering from some health issues that take away a bit of my free time. I've been told to get a few things under control or I'll wind up having a heart attack or stroke so I've been addressing that. I'm an awful penpal lately too. Ask anyone. But I am still writing and if I slow down on some things I try to make up for them in other ways.

I'm really excited about this episode because I've had an idea for this all along and that's what's kept me plugging away when I should be doing other things. Like exercising. I need a keyboard and screen attached to the exercise bike. I really do.

So I hope you all will bear with me and continue to hang in there. You know what they say, when you get to the end of you rope tie a knot and swing.

Chinese Translations:

diǎo - cock

jī ba - dick / penis

pì gu - butt

nǚ ren - wife

Zǎo shang hǎo - Good morning

mèi mei - little sister

chà shēng - weak student

ruò bù jīn fēng - too weak to stand up to the wind - idiom; extremely delicate / fragile state of health

bǎo bǎo - darling / baby

Nǐ tā mā de tiān xià suǒ yǒu de rén dōu gāi sǐ. - Fuck everyone in the universe to death.

gǒu pì - bullshit, nonsense

zhàng fu - husband

jiān xié - crafty and evil / a treacherous villain

Huò bù dān xíng - misfortune does not come singly - idiom / it never rains but it pours

Tā mā de niǎo - goddamn it /lit. 'His mother's dick'

Chinese Script Translations:

fang-tzang fong-kwong duh zie - script - A knot of self indulgent lunacy

niou-se - script urine-shit

Quote Sources:

If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger: I should not seem a part of it, - Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte

With some sweet oblivious antidote cleanse the fraught bosom of that perilous stuff which weighs upon the heart - Hamlet - William Shakespeare

Needs must when the devil drives - William Shakespeare

The world is too much with us; late and soon, getting and spending, we lay waste our powers: little we see in Nature that is ours. - The World Is Too Much With Us - William Wordsworth

Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one. - Thomas Paine

The child is father of the man - My Heart Leaps Up When I Behold - William Wordsworth