Chapter 4

Previously…"Well let's go and get Mal some information," Riddick smiled back at her. He was pretty sure he could handle her if she started to have trouble. And if he couldn't trust her to evaluate her own abilities and resources he'd have to rethink a lot of her training. So far what she said and what he observed fell into line pretty well.

He considered their options for transport as they retreated from the catwalk. They wouldn't be able to take the second shuttle without someone hearing them, but they could 'borrow' a mule so they didn't waste time walking. Leaving the boat might require a trick or two though.

Getting off of Serenity hadn't been as hard as he might have thought. River knew all the ins and outs of the ship. The airlock near the galley wasn't hard to get out of for someone of his abilities and he could boost her up easily enough. From there it was a short hop down to the top of the shuttle. He jumped down to the ground and turned. River jumped right after him, landing more gracefully than he might have thought for someone who'd undergone surgery recently.

"Learnt to suppress discomfort." She shrugged with her good shoulder, "Need to hurry. Duel is at dawn."

"Yeah," He took a look at the sky and noted that it wasn't full dark, but it was dark enough that his eyes would work better than headlights. "Let's find a mule to borrow." He couldn't be sure if it was because she was a Seer or if she was Reading some drunk's thoughts, but she pointed towards a bar with several two wheeled mules parked outside of it.

"The one on the left has a faulty ignition," She murmured. "Should be easy enough to…'borrow'."

"Works for me," He moved at his own pace noting that she was quick enough to keep up with him, the girl had some long legs on her. The mule was a two-seater, the kind one person straddled and drove and the other had to hang onto the first and emblazoned across the side the elaborate script read 'Harley'. He'd seen them before, in the outer systems folks called them bikes or cycles. "Gonna be all right on the back of this?"

"She will hang on tight to Lóng Wáng and not fall off," Actions followed her words as he straddled the mule and expertly hot-wired it. "Drive it like he stole it."

"Just tell me where," He got the engine going and backed it out from the spot it was parked into the street proper before kicking the fuel lever.

"Five klicks east, one klick north, half a klick west on the left side of the road," River murmured in his ear under the roar of the engine. "She will tell you when to turn, with warning before hand."

"Sounds good," He didn't know Persephone or Eavesdown well, but he could figure distance and it was likely her brain worked just as fast or faster than his.

The trip to the hotel took them through Eavesdown to a very swanky neighborhood of the city, elegant shops interspersed with public buildings and hotels. When River pointed out the building Riddick nodded and pulled up in the strangely clean alley alongside of it. Wiping the mule down for prints didn't take long and then they were seeking entrance to the hotel.

Having someone who could speak with a Core accent didn't help as much as it should have. River looked more like a child than a woman and he couldn't look like anything other than what he was. A very large, rough, dangerous man.

"Captain Malcolm Reynolds," River insisted at the desk in her clear elegant tones. "He is here at the behest of Atherton Wing, held for the duel in the morning."

"And as such I cannot interfere in a duel of honor. Mr. Reynolds is not allowed additional guests," The clerk insisted back.

"Yeah?" Riddick leaned forward, "You know that Wing's the one started the fight? He's the challenger. But nobody seems to be acting like that."

River had turned away from the conversation, flicking her fingers at the clerk in an elegantly dismissive wave and nudged Riddick to follow her gaze. A portly, balding man in an elegant suit and sash was speaking to someone else. "Sir Warrick Harrow," She murmured to Riddick.

"That the fella Mal and Kaylee were trying to meet?"

"Hmm…" She nodded. "Acting as Mal's second."

"Well let's talk to him then," Riddick took her hand and blinked when she tugged it out of his grip and wrapped her arm through his as if they were promenading through the park. So long as she was okay with it, that was fine with him. He was forced to slow his stride somewhat, but he guessed that was the point. "Sir Warrick Harrow?"

The man looked up, irritation and fatigue on his face. He was probably a very elegant fellow usually, but now he just looked older than he likely was. "I am. There is something I can do for you?" His tone implied that he doubted it but was too polite to say.

"We are from Captain Reynold's ship," River offered dipping a curtsey. Riddick managed a nod that he hoped didn't look too out of place.

"Then you've been apprised of the situation?" Sir Harrow looked at them more closely, "Atherton Wing claims Captain Reynolds challenged him."

"Actually, we heard it was the other way around," Riddick told him. "Heard tell Wing was spouting all sorts of lè sè and Reynolds was ignoring him. Wing laid hands on him, pulled him around. Then the Captain punched him. We were told there were several witnesses to that effect. Including you."

The portly man rubbed his chin, nodding thoughtfully, "In all the excitement I do believe that little point was missed."

"That means Atherton Wing is the aggressor, the challenger," River murmured. "Has he been secured for the night?"

Sir Warrick glanced at the man to whom he'd been speaking, "He has actually."

"And has anyone explained to Captain Reynolds that the choice of weapons is his?" River's eyes widened. "Or has everyone simply assumed it was to be swords?"

The other man nodded, "Swords are the gentlemen's weapon." He explained, spreading his hands.

"Yeah, think about that for a minute," Riddick shook his head. "Our Captain's a soldier. He knows how to behave polite and all, but he fights with damn near anything besides a sword."

"Then it must be explained to him," Sir Harrow nodded firmly and looked at the other fellow who still hadn't introduced himself. "I'll send you word of the Captain's decision so you may prepare your challenger. Unless Wing wishes to make his apologies." One eyebrow arched upwards skeptically.

"I doubt it," Wing's second sighed. "But I will convey the option." He bowed politely, "My apologies for my rudeness. I am Brighton Davis. If you'll excuse me. I must…prepare the challenger for the…realities of his situation."

River nodded as the man excused himself, regarding Sir Warrick Harrow expectantly. "We wish to see our Captain. As he is not the challenger he would be allowed visitors."

"That he is," The older man nodded with a smile and a much more relaxed air. "Tell me, did the young lady return home safely? In all the fuss I worried no one would escort her but I had my hands full with this mess."

"Badger and his guys brought her back," Riddick told him. "They're also keeping the rest of the crew from making a fuss."

"A fuss?"

"Daring exfiltration," River murmured with a little smile.

"Inspires loyalty, does he?" The older man returned her smile. "That's good to hear."

"He's a good Captain, takes care of his crew," Riddick nodded. A word from Harrow to the desk clerk and they were given the key to Mal's room. A door-knob type fixture that would allow them in. Riddick gave it a look and glanced at River, the closest thing he had to an expert on Core tech.

"Can't get out if there's no doorknob," She shrugged as they followed Harrow.

"Guess it does eliminate the chance of picking the lock," He conceded.

Getting the door open was the easy part. Finding Mal swinging a sword around like he was cutting through high grass nearly got Harrow sliced. Only Riddick's quick hand pushing Mal's arm up sent the blade over the portly man's head. "Geez Mal, if that's how you treat your second I'm a little worried about what you'll do to Wing."

"Ri- Rick," Mal stuttered over the name, and thankfully that could be attributed to his surprise at seeing them. "What're you two doin' here? They said no visitors."

"Believed you to be the challenger," River shrugged. "Events were clarified. Came to give the Captain the news."

"Including the fact that as the one challenged you have the choice of weapons," Harrow told him.

"That puts things in a different light," Mal put the sword back on the wall, folding his arms. "We got any ideas 'bout Wing's expertise?"

"He'll have some experience with pistols," Harrow spread his hands. "Any gentleman's weapon is one he'll have some skill with."

"Mal, you said before, you fought with knives, right?" Riddick grinned at River who smirked back. "How good were you?"

"Good enough to stay alive through a war with a lot of hand to hand combat," Reynolds smiled.

"Also, a very good shot with a pistol," River was grinning,

"And I take it you're no stranger to pugilism either?" Harrow was rubbing his chin to conceal a smile. "It's your choice."

"Doubt Wing has more than passing knowledge of boxing and none of knife fighting," River was looking out the sealed window. "In either skill set the Captain has height and reach exceeding Wing's."

"Knives then," Mal nodded. "Hand to hand. Knives always end up involving fists."

"I'll convey your choice to Atherton's second," Harrow nodded. "I suggest you get some rest. Dawn will come quickly."

River looked over at Riddick, "Return now? Or with the Captain?"

"With him I think," Riddick shrugged. "Can't exactly get back in the way we left." When Mal looked at him curiously, Harrow's gaze following the Captain's, he elaborated, "We climbed out the airlock over the galley and down the side of the ship. Badger never even saw me. And he thinks River is a passenger."

"Not very bright, or clean," River observed with a wrinkle of her nose.

"Wait here, when we get back I'll kick Badger off and you can come on once he leaves," Mal suggested.

Harrow looked a bit confused by the subterfuge and Riddick grinned at him, "Badger's the type you never show the full hand. In this case I'm the ace in the hole."

"Jokers are wild," River grinned.

Mal shook his head at her. "Oh no, we are not passing the time playing cards. Last time you almost won the ship."

Riddick chuckled as River made a face at him, "Hey she trounced me at chess, three games in a row, and I'm no slouch." Mal's expression was almost comical. Harrow simply chuckled and took his leave with a kind admonishment to get some rest.

The duel, such as it was, didn't last very long. Inara stood on the sidelines with Harrow, Riddick and River. Both of the combatants were provided with knives, blades of elegantly folded steel, edges gleaming sharply.

Atherton had no idea how to fight with one, trying to adapt his expertise with a sword to knives didn't work well. Not surprisingly he resorted to punching first.

He wasn't very good at fisticuffs either, as River observed none too quietly. "Overextends himself, punches from his side, not his shoulder." He'd suggested she get some sleep on the couch in Mal's room before dawn and she was definitely the better for it. Mal had caught a couple hours on the bed. Riddick had wandered around the room a bit exploring it while they slept and finally settled down to catnap in an overstuffed armchair.

"Yeah," Riddick nodded his agreement. "An' he don't know shit about blocking."

"Blocking?" Inara asked the question, beating Harrow to it by a half second. From her scent she understood more than she let on, but it was a way to keep the conversation going.

"Arms up, fending off blows. Keeps letting his guard down," River's voice was disapproving. "Lazy. Now remembers he has a knife."

"Not that it'll do him any good," Riddick shrugged.

"If Mal is so much better why is he letting this go on so long?" Inara was sounding worried.

"Evaluating his opponent," Riddick explained.

"Like testing blows, first clash of swords is experimental," River added. "Seeks to learn Wing's skill level. It will not be long now. Captain has his measure."

She was right. As they watched Mal's fist drew back at the shoulder and rocketed forward, his other hand jabbing with the knife, plunging it into Wing's side. It wasn't a killing blow, but between the two Atherton Wing was down. Mal stood over him and then took a step back.

"He's down. You have to finish it, lad. You have to finish it. For a man to lie beaten, and yet breathing?" Harrow nodded at Wing, "It makes him a coward."

Inara nodded her agreement, "It's humiliation."

"Sure, it's humiliating. Having to lie there while the better man refuses to spill your blood," He frowned as he turned away from Wing. "Got no need to kill him though. Just want to go my way."

Inara walked forward with the seconds as Mal returned the knife to the case from which it had come and slipped her hand into the crook of his arm. "Honestly Mal, you never will play by the rules, will you?"

Riddick watched as Atherton struggled to his feet, "Inara. Inara!"

Harrow was shaking his head at the younger man, "You've lost her lad. Be gracious."

Riddick glanced at River who was staring at Wing with a chilly expression while the man shouted, "You set this up, whore. After I bought and paid for you. I should have uglied you up so much no one else'd want you."

Mal had stiffened and Inara had turned to regard Wing as if he were a bug under her heel. "See?" The Captain remarked to the Companion. "How I'm not punching him? I can follow the rules. When I want."

Atherton ignored the byplay, "Well get ready to starve. I'll see that you never work again."

"Xiā xiāzi húshuō bādào," River's lips tilted into a cold smile, her scent flaring with satisfaction, and she slipped her hand around his bicep in imitation of Inara with Mal. "Rì shāo gǒu shǐ bǐng, about to be schooled in reality."

Riddick was the first to admit he didn't know much about Companions. But he did know one of the most basic tenants was that they chose their own clients and their Guild was one of the most powerful in the systems. Simon's encyclopedia had explained that first thing.

Inara's face never changed from its mask of composure, though her scent betrayed her disgust with her former client. "Actually, that's not how it works. You see, you've earned yourself a black mark in the client registry. No Companion is ever going to contract with you, ever again."

Harrow wasn't quite smirking, but he was amused, it was easy to see. "You'll have to rely on your winning personality to get women. God help you." He looked at Mal, "You could have ended that fight anytime. You didn't have to stab him."

Mal shrugged, "Yeah, I know, it was just funny. And if it hurts him to move a few days maybe he'll think twice before throwing challenges at someone he thinks is beneath him and don't know all the rules."

Harrow began walking with Mal and Inara, Riddick grinned at River as they brought up the rear. "You have a loyal and intelligent crew. If you, and they, are willing to fight that hard to protect my property, I'll have it in your hold before midnight."

Mal nodded and offered his hand, Harrow shook it warmly and walked off, presumably to get some well-earned rest. Mal grinned at Inara, Riddick and River, "Mighty fine shindig."

Riddick chuckled and River just grinned, "We had fun." Riddick admitted. "Now we just wait for Badger to leave and we'll sneak back aboard Serenity."

"If I'd known it was cows I might not have been so helpful," Riddick wrinkled his nose as the herd was loaded into the bay.

Simon and River were watching safely out of the way on the catwalk while Mal, Zoë, Jayne and Riddick got the cattle safely inside the ship. He anticipated that the smell would be horrific, and the noise not much better. Hopefully Mal would decide on a hard burn and a short trip.

"Gonna have to scrub out the air filters and hose the whole place down after this," Zoë agreed. "But they'll bring a good price."

"Let's hope." Riddick climbed up the stairs and took a moment to be grateful for a cow's inability to deal with stairs in a consistent fashion.

"Cattle may walk up the stairs but are not able to go down," River told him solemnly as he arrived on the catwalk near she and Simon.

"Wonder why that is?" Riddick had given up trying to keep River from pressing against his side or sliding her hand under his shirt to touch his mark. He had no idea why she found it so reassuring but fact was she did.

Simon slanted a glance at the two of them but simply sighed, "Remind me to do some research on animal husbandry."

"New hobby?" Mal asked as he joined them.

"Doesn't that one near the rear look larger than the others?" Simon pointed at a brown and white cow closer to the door.

"Well damn, she's set to calve in a week or so," Mal clearly recognized the signs of pregnant cow.

"Seems odd," Riddick looked at them. "Maybe we check with Harrow, make sure we didn't get her by mistake?"

Mal nodded and headed towards the bridge, presumably to wave their client. "Wash don't take off yet, gotta check somethin' first," The Captain bellowed as he headed up another set of stairs.

It was near dawn before they took off for Jiangyin. Harrow's foreman came out with another steer and took the pregnant cow away. Harrow sent a couple wheels of cheese and several containers of fresh milk along with him as thanks for their honesty.

The dairy products were more than welcome considering they didn't have much in the way of fresh foodstuffs. Which had put him in mind to do a little bit of hunting while they were on the ground.

"Jiangyin have good hunting?" Riddick asked Wash curiously.

The pilot was checking their course for the final approach to the planet in question, "Lots of hills, trees and grass…" He replied absently. "So, I'd guess there'd be some sort of animal. Not sure what though."

"I'll check the cortex, see what I can shake out. If we can stay on the ground long enough I'd like to try and get some meat for the pantry," The Furyan pulled his goggles down against the glare of the screens and began his searches.

It was harder to work on breaking River's conditioning when the hold was full of cows. They did some work in the observation lounge off the galley. River was making some headway without the subliminal programming the implant had been bombarding her with, but it was slow going. If they wanted to make significant progress they'd have to step up their attempts.

"You want to what?" Mal frowned at him and looked over at River.

"Boot camp," Riddick repeated himself.

"How're you going to create a boot camp on the boat," Zoë was more interested in the practicalities of the thing than the moral implications.

"Won't be hard. Got two soldiers on the boat, I went through it myself, that's the easy part," He shrugged.

"What's the hard part?" Mal was still thinking about the whole thing, rubbing his chin.

"Getting Cobb to stay out of it, getting everyone on board with the idea," He shrugged. "It's not easy to watch if you haven't been through it. If you don't understand the goal or how the training shapes you for that goal."

"You said the point was to break down River's conditioning, the programming they've put in her," Mal looked at him. "How's boot camp gonna help with that?"

"They've built part of it into her muscle memory while they were training her," Riddick sighed. "She moves differently now that some of the programming is breaking down. I doubt she'll ever be able to forget it, but if we can remove the conditioning she'll be able to use the training on her own. She'll be her own person again, not the tool in their box to do their will." He glanced at Mal, "I've got no doubt she has triggers. Rather not see what that would do to her."

"And you're going to retrain her, the way you were trained, so you can give her a different set of memories and skills," Zoë thought she got it.

He nodded, "That's part of it." He rubbed a hand over his scalp and mentally noted he needed to shave. "I think part of why she's having trouble fighting off the mental programming is that she's never tired enough to spend a good amount of time in REM sleep. She dreams just deeply enough to have nightmares and wakes herself up. She doesn't go back to sleep afterwards."

"You want her tired enough that she sleeps deep, doesn't remember her dreams," Mal was getting it.

"Yeah," He nodded. "I'm going to take her through all of my training. Boot camp…probably have to make it last twice as long, so a good four months of it, to be sure it takes. But the rest of it, the regular pace'd probably be too slow for her." The part of him that had been willing to leave Jack, Abu and Carolyn in that cave in the darkness wondered why he was bothering. The girl, her brother, this crew, they were nothing to him.

The part that Carolyn had appealed to, the side that wanted to rejoin the human race, that was the part that found River interesting. The Furyan wondered what it was about her that teased the Wrath awake without making him even the least bit pissed off. Wondered what she'd be like grown up, an actual seventeen (eighteen?)-year-old, how she'd be if she could speak plain, or if she'd find him boring.

He didn't like that thought much at all.

"What happens after boot camp and training and…all of it?" Mal was obviously hoping there was more to this plan than that.

"We get the doc to take that hormone repressing thing out of her and she grows up," Riddick wasn't too sure on this part but telling Mal that wouldn't help. "I'll figure out a training program to help her adjust as she grows, so she has something steady during all of it. That'll help to keep her on track, not backslide when the hormones start to discombobulate her."

"Practicalities-wise, what's this gonna mean," Zoë was frowning over something.

"I figure to work around my shifts," He'd known there'd have to be some adjustments, they had work after all. "But we don't have jobs that go on for days at a time that her training would get too disrupted," He looked at Mal. "Do we? Haven't yet."

"No…not as such," Mal was shaking his head thoughtfully. "Got a thought…when you're working, can't be with her full time, you might have her study."

"Study what," Zoë looked at him as if the man was losing his mind.

"Got plenty of books on the cortex we can download to Doc's encyclopedia," The Captain was thinking. "Ship specs, engine design, piloting… Wash don't mind the company he can give her some practical lessons after a while. If he or you are with her on the bridge she could use the cortex there."

The First Mate still had a 'I-think-you-have-a-problem-with-your-brain-being-missing' expression on her face but Riddick nodded, "So she's learning a trade, something useful. Could give her weapon specs too, Mal, if you'd teach her how to break down, clean and rebuild the guns…unloaded obviously. That'd be something else she could learn. And that's part of basic too."

"Well Rick I'm close to agreeing to this chī xiàn plan," Mal nodded. "With the understanding that the work has to come first. We're of no help to her if we're on the drift and starvin'."

"Yeah, I got that," He nodded.

"Then I'll have a word with Wash," Reynolds smirked. "You get to explain it to her brother."

Getting Simon on board with the idea of boot camp did take a little convincing. Riddick didn't think he'd talked so much in years unless he was trying to get laid. And even then, most women were not interested in his personal history so much as what he could do for or to them. Usually his body did most of the work for him. At least with the type of woman willing to have him.

Simon however…Simon asked questions. Questions that led to longer explanations. About growing up in foster care, taking off at twelve and working on Sigma Three. Going to the Strikeforce Academy at fourteen thinking he was going to make something of himself and finding out it was more like brainwashing with weapons training. The whole mess of the riots and then the Wailing Wars afterwards.

And then going into detail about Strikeforce. Explaining about basic training, the damn near (if not actual) mental programing Strikeforce had as part of its 'schooling' and how he'd shaken it off. How normal basic training should work, and how it could help to override the programming River kept trying to shake off with such limited success. The merits of so much physical and mental activity and how it would let her sleep better and erode the conditioning.

Deep Storage, Johns, the various slams he'd gotten stuck in and escaped over the years led to where he'd been before he'd met them. And he'd given brief mention to the planet where he'd met Abu and Jack.

"Nán wei." Simon had apologized for taking up so much of his time, "But I do understand why you think your training will help River in the long run." He'd half smiled, "I realize that you aren't accustomed to explaining yourself. Thank you for bothering."

Riddick shrugged, "You're her brother."

"I am but you're…well," Doc Simon had chuckled. "Let's face it Rick, you're huge, you're scary, you're dangerous and you're able to break me in half without exerting yourself at all."

He'd shrugged again, thinking of Jack on New Mecca with Abu, the little sister he couldn't be around if he wanted her to have even half a chance at a decent life. "That kid I took off that planet with the Imam, she's… probably the closest I've got to a little sister. If I brought her to you, you'd take the time to explain things to me, unless it was an emergency, right?"

"Of course," Simon nodded.

"Think of this as the same thing," Riddick gave him a grin.

Boot camp started the next day, he and River doing pushups side by side. It gave her the sense that she wasn't alone in the endeavor and it wasn't like he couldn't use the workout. Sit ups and jumping jacks were easy enough in the galley and he managed to rig a removable bar in the doorway so they could do pullups. Mal had insisted on the removable part after he'd knocked himself in the head. And he wouldn't let Riddick wait until Cobb did the same thing, despite acknowledging how funny it might be (and in spite of Wash's outright begging for a chance to witness such an event).

Mal had also requested that until the cattle were offloaded that they not do laps through the ship. He had some concern that spooking the animals would result in a meat grinder effect in the hold. Riddick didn't blame him; they were pretty twitchy for normally placid animals.

The smell was about to kill him though, so he let out a huge sigh of relief as he set the boat down on Jiangyin. Unfortunately, he would have to help offload the cattle and wouldn't that be a delight. River wrinkled her nose as she looked down on the herd from the catwalk. "They will run outside today?"

"Hopefully," He nodded. "Got permission to take you hunting if you don't want to stay on the ship.

"Sun and grass," She nodded. "How dull it is to pause, to make an end, to rust unburnished, not to shine in use! As though to breathe were life! She can be quiet."

"Good. Let's get to work then," He descended the stairs, River following him and stopped Simon from going down to the cargo bay. "Wait 'til the last of the cows are out Simon," He advised. "Easier to avoid the mess they leave behind." Sadly, Riddick would not be able to do the same and headed down to give a few loiterers some encouragement to move.

Jayne sneered at him in amusement," 'S'matter, cowpies bother your nose?" He smacked some of the cattle, "Yah! Get along!"

Ignoring the merc was almost second nature as he patted a few of the cows on the neck, coaxing them forward.

Mal was regarding Cobb with a slightly irked look, "You know, they walk just as easy if you lead 'em."

Typically, the gunhand ignored the advice, "I like smackin' 'em."

Riddick moved forward and gave Book a hand securing the metal gates that made up the corral, "Hope this corral's strong enough to hold them." The older man commented with a smile, "'Shepherd's' a purely figurative title, you know."

"They don't seem to be too inclined to run now that they're in open air," Riddick shrugged and climbed over the barrier to the outside of it. "Figure we'll be fine."

Wash and Zoë were sitting on another section of fence, Zoë nearly chuckling, "Next time we smuggle stock, let's make it something smaller."

"Yeah, we should start dealing in those black-market beagles," Wash nodded his agreement.

"Nah," Riddick grinned as River came out onto the grass while Kaylee, Simon and Inara followed her, carefully avoided the cowpies on the ramp. "Sheep maybe? Or goats?"

"What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." River looked up at the hills with a shiver.

"People out there?" Riddick turned and scanned the trees; the breeze rattled through the branches. He didn't hear anything, but River had been proven, at least to him, to know things she had no way of knowing.

"Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand." River was still staring at the hills. "And they covet fields, and take by violence; and houses, and take away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage."

Mal had drawn closer and was listening with a grim expression, "Is it bad that what she said made perfect sense to me?"

Riddick frowned, "Yeah, I don't much like what I'm hearing either. I'm thinkin'…maybe keep folks close."

Mal nodded, "I'll tell them to head back in, or at least stay by the ship." He strode off to do that, sending Wash inside with a bug in his ear and having a quiet word with Simon, Inara and Kaylee.

The trio went inside again, and River stood, "She will help Kaylee clean the hold until it is time for hunting."

Mal nodded, "Good idea. I expect once business is done and we can spare the escort your brother and anyone else can go into town for a look see. Maybe check what sort of prices they got on supplies."

River gave him a half smile and headed up the ramp, "They take what they want. Don't care if what they want is needed by someone else." She remarked quietly. "Deliver me from the workers of iniquity and save me from bloody men."

"Maybe I'll get lucky, and they'll take Cobb?" Riddick muttered getting a smirk from Mal and an actual chuckle out of Zoë.

"We don't have that kind of luck," She told him with a shake of her head.

The non-gun-toting members of the crew weren't thrilled to be told staying indoors had become the plan of the day. Riddick was pretty sure Mal would have something of a mutiny on is hands if he denied everyone sun, fresh air and sky for too long.

Wash descending the stairs to the cargo hold with a troubled look on his face that put the rebellious clamor on hold, "Uh yeah, folks… this really ain't the rock to go wandering on."

River had seated herself on the steps after running up and down them for ten minutes and Riddick dropped down next to her. She wasn't doing bad so far. They hadn't really pushed too hard since they had work that day but after the deal was done they'd go for a run outside, get some hunting done.

Kaylee looked over at the pilot, "What'd ya mean?"

"Means I checked the posted alerts for this rock," Wash told her before shifting his gaze to the Captain, "Settlers in the hills take people sometimes. Usually tradesmen and the like."

"That settles it," Mal nodded. "Nobody goes out unless someone carrying a gun goes with 'em." He looked over at Riddick and River, "You two go hunting, you keep a sharp eye out. You see anything strikes you as wrong I don't care if you lose an entire side of venison, hightail it back here."

Much as he resented the thought of 'hightailing it' anywhere Riddick could appreciate Mal's concern for his crew. "Don't figure we'd be too tempting, but yeah. We'll take care."

Mal looked over at Shepherd Book, "Book, I'd take it as a kindness if you'd stay inside with Kaylee, Wash, Simon and Inara."

"You don't think the presence of a Shepherd will calm any nerves during the deal?" Book wasn't arguing precisely, and he made a good point. Folks on the Border and Rim tended to regard ships with a preacher aboard a bit more kindly. Like the Core preferred boats that had a Companion aboard.

"It might. But I expect you could be just as soothing sitting in the shade of Serenity, if you wanted to stay in the cargo bay door area," Mal compromised. That didn't seem like him, he must be truly worried.

River was watching the conversation closely, though he couldn't tell just how much of it she was really taking in. "The cows attract attention," She told Mal seriously. "The buyers will bring the law."

"Say what now?" That got Mal's, and Jayne's as he came up the ramp, attention right quick. "What's the moonbrain talkin' on?"

"Uh yeah," Wash rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably. "While I was checking the posts on this moon I saw there's a local warrant out for the Grange brothers. Those are the buyers right?"

"Yī zhī méi yǒu mǔ qīn de shān yáng de ér zi," Mal groaned.

"River, how soon do you think the law will get here?" Wash at least was asking the important questions.

"Interrupt the deal, gunfire, blood, mess," River frowned and spoke eerily like Mal "You're lookin' at the proper owners right there." Her eyes focused again, and she looked at Wash, "Papers for the cows?"

"Which we don't have," Wash reminded Mal.

"Tài kōng suǒ yǒu de xīng qiú sāi jǐn wǒ de pì gu," Mal cursed again with a shake of his head.

"If I may Captain," Book had a thoughtful look on his face. "Mycroft has a large market. During the time to sail there, we could come up with papers."

"What would a Shepherd know about forging papers?" Jayne had a look on his face like he was trying to think hard. It made him look dumber than usual which was saying a lot.

"There's Triumph too," Wash reminded him. "After this little jaunt we were headed there. The Elder mentioned the town has a fair day every other week, livestock, goods, all sorts of things."

"Yeah," Mal nodded. "Let's see how good the papers are. Might could get rid of half the herd on Mycroft and the other half on Triumph."

"Let's start getting the cows loaded back on the boat," Riddick stood and patted River's shoulder. "Maybe Book'll show you how to do some counterfeiting."

"Copies of copies," River nodded.

"Rick's right," Mal nodded. "Much as we can, let's get the hold swept out and the cows loaded up. Rick, you see anybody come by we're just letting the cattle graze while we do a little hunting and shopping at their general store. Ain't fixin' to stay or to sell."

"Right," Riddick nodded and headed down into the corral. "Zoë, we're loadin' the herd up again."

The First Mate gave him a quizzical look, "Was just comin' to say the disreputable men are here."

Mal sighed, "It never goes smooth. Why don't it ever go smooth?" He strode down the ramp, "Don't move any cattle just yet. Let's not irritate them. If there's a warrant out they'll be twitchy enough."

"River, you and anybody else that doesn't carry a gun, you get stay inside and stay inside," Riddick gave her a stern look.

"She will abide in Mother's walls," River nodded and took Simon and Kaylee's hands, urging them further away from the doors. Book, Inara and Wash followed, and Riddick nodded his satisfaction.

The Grange brothers were, contrary to Mal's greeting, not gentlemen. Mal's genial expression and cheerful voice didn't have much of an effect on them. Riddick moved to Mal's other side as the branches rattled again, startling the Grange brothers whose hands went to their guns immediately.

"Just a little jumpy," He muttered and Mal nodded his agreement, continuing his discussion about the cattle as if he really did intend to sell to the men. The elder Grange brother was just handing over a bag of cash and Mal very quickly put it away inside his coat, when the bushes rattled again.

This time a group of lawmen came bursting out of the brush, weapons already drawn, "Marcus and Nathaniel Grange! You are wanted in connection to the illegal killing of Rance Durbin. You are bound by law to stand down!"

Mal shook his head, "You know, I'm starting to find this whole planet very uninviting."

Riddick nodded and in a rare moment of accord Jayne agreed, "Yeah."

He was carefully removing his gunbelt under a lawman's eye while Jayne and Mal did the same, the lawman taking Jayne's dropped it carelessly and predictably enough the merc protested, "Aww, careful with that!"

Mal was clearly playing it by ear, if the law got the idea that this was smuggled beef they were in deep trouble. Of course, the Grange brothers technically having purchased the beef, weren't exactly innocent either. "It appears we have ourselves a situation," Mal remarked calmly to the lawman taking his gun.

"Who are you," The one who looked to be in charge gave Mal a stern glance.

"Just a bystander," Mal shrugged slightly, his hands still firmly held up in surrender.

"This your beef?" The Head Cop was clearly looking for more arrests.

"No, sir," Riddick watched as Mal nodded towards the Grange brothers and hoped fervently that this bluff, half true though it might be, didn't turn around and bite them in the ass. "You're lookin' at the proper owners right there."

The Sheriff or Marshall or whatever he called himself made a thoughtful sound in his throat and regarded the Grange brothers, "I'd like to see some papers on that cattle."

The Grange brothers might have been killers, or wanted for killing, but they weren't completely stupid. The younger looking one punched the Deputy holding him and stole his pistol. Riddick took a half second to be grateful for Zoë on the hill overlooking the corral as she shot the pistol out of the Grange brother's hand before he could shoot any of the lawmen or the rest of them.

The pure chaos of a gunfight could never be matched in song, story or explanation and while it hadn't been precisely recent that he'd been involved in another mess like this, it also wasn't so long ago that he'd forgotten how to belly crawl his way towards his guns. That didn't mean he enjoyed the process or the bullets whizzing overhead during said process. At least there weren't any innocent bystanders around. He couldn't vouch for the reasonableness of his reaction should any of the non-gun-toting members of the crew get shot.

The older Grange brother had gotten hold of a pistol somehow, probably off another of the idiot lawmen, and was shooting off covering fire, yelling at the top of his lungs, "Come on, hurry up!"

He was vaguely aware of Jayne and Mal on the ground doing the same as he so they could increase their own chances of survival. Jayne appeared to have expected things to go fairly wrong while Mal was shaking his head, "Never goes smooth. How come it never goes smooth?" For a moment Riddick had to wonder if he'd overestimated the Captain's intelligence.

The cows had gotten restless, lowing and moving around, disliking the noise and tension in the air. Mal and Jayne closed on one Grange brother along the edge of the corral while Riddick snuck up on the other one. Tackling the man didn't take much effort, although the distinctive searing sensation of a bullet plowing through his shoulder was some distraction. That was going to be an irritant for the next day or so. At least it wasn't likely to kill him unlike if it had hit River or Simon or Kaylee.

Riddick shoved his particular Grange brother at the lawmen and watched as the two troublemakers were arrested. "Thanks for the bullet wound," He snarled in irritation. This would take a half day to heal and hunting with a wound was never a good idea. Apart from reopening it, animals could smell blood. So much for his plan of hunting and getting some fresh meat.

Mal looked over at him and his face creased with worry, "Rick? Got a bit of a hole in ya."

"Yeah," Riddick scowled as the lawmen walked away with the Grange brothers in cuffs. "Better get this beef back onto the boat before they remember and take too much interest."

"You go on and see the Doc about that shoulder," Mal told him. "We'll handle the cows."

He shook his head and climbed over the fence, "It's fine. I've been hurt a lot worse than this."

"Won't be easy until they are gone from the scene of the crime," River's voice was cool and clear as she walked towards them, taking a portion of fence and moving it so it made an opening to lead up the ramp to the hold. "She will help."

Book came down the ramp behind her doing the same thing on the opposite side of the ramp and Riddick began to pat the cows meaningfully, giving them a few nudges to get them going. It didn't take long until they'd managed to get the stock loaded back up.

"Now Rick," Mal's voice had an edge to it that said he was nearly out of patience.

"How come they move so easy for ya," Kaylee was watching as he climbed the stairs to the lounge and infirmary beyond.

"It's an animal thing," Riddick shrugged with his good shoulder, catching the chorus of River's murmur of the same words as she followed behind him.

"Ya hurt," The engineer exclaimed worriedly.

"Odysseus suffered many trials before reaching home," River announced. "But he was not Lóng Wáng."

Simon frowned as Riddick entered the infirmary, "Rick, I hope you're my only casualty?"

"Think one of the cows got grazed," Riddick told him. "Smelt blood besides my own as I was cutting through the herd."

"I'll need the lights in order to work, are you comfortable enough with the goggles on?" Simon's tone was apologetic as he carefully removed Riddick's shirt.

"'S fine Doc, don't worry," He knew the bullet was still in his shoulder. "And don't bother to waste any drugs on me. Just pull the damn thing out and throw a bandage on it."

"Rick, since I doubt, amongst your many other qualifications, that you managed to graduate from MedAcad, would you mind terribly to allow me to decide upon your course of treatment," The Doctor's voice emerged dry as dust as he gently pressed Riddick back into a reclining position.

He could feel River watching from the doorway, "She will bandage the cow that doesn't know it is a cow if Kaylee will find her cleanser." The slender girl suggested.

"Doubt you could get a bandage on an animal," Mal commented over the sounds of the bay doors closing. He strode into the infirmary and grabbed a tube of cleanser, "But I'd appreciate the help. Doc, don't let him up until you're sure he's on the mend." For all the mildness of the tone it was obviously a command.

"I had no intentions of doing so Captain," Simon replied absently as he worked on Riddick's shoulder.

He could feel the ship lift off the ground, hear River talking to the cows and finding the bleeding animal. Mal was certainly embracing the idea of keeping River occupied with teaching as he explained the ins and outs of dealing with a herd and how spooking one made them all move.

"See they're nervy now because they can smell the blood," Mal explained quietly. "We find any of them bleeding, we smear this cleanser antiseptic on 'em and that'll numb the area up and stop the bleeding. They'll calm soon enough."

"Not a hive mind," River sounded fairly certain, though her voice was still a bit quizzical.

"Nah, not like bees or ants or what have you," Mal shook his head. "It's more than they're easily influenced by each other."

"They don't like the ship," She told the Captain solemnly. "They forget what they are, no sun or sky or grass to tell them what to do. Only metal and artificial gravity."

"Yeah, they're not all that bright but they've got instincts," He was agreeing with her, "Even takin' 'em somewhere by mule and trailer, they get tetchy. Cows like everything to stay the same."

"Smelly," He'd bet River was wrinkling her nose.

"Well yeah, usually," Mal had a chuckle in his voice. "But that smell helps 'em, keeps 'em from panicking too much. Something familiar in a scary place."

"Irksome to his senses," The little Seer told him. "If she earns coin, a sourcebox could be found?"

"What'd you want a sourcebox for?" Mal seemed a bit confused at the abrupt turn in the conversation.

"Engage in acts of forgery and counterfeiting once she has learned from the Shepherd of killers and thieves," She told him as if it was obvious. "Generate papers for beef, mutton, goats and beagles. Legal and not legal."

"That's…a thought," Their voices were drawing closer so apparently, they were done doctoring the cattle. "Doc," Mal's voice was quiet in deference to Simon's concentration. "Your sister any good with a cortex?"

"Mal, she's a genius," Simon frowned as he removed the bullet and put it in a bin with a clink. "Of course, she's good with a cortex."

"Ain't what I meant."

"He wants to know if River could actually generate counterfeit paperwork on livestock," Riddick translated.

"Of course, she could, assuming she knew the required parameters," Simons concentration was obviously on his weaves rather than the conversation. "She's very artistic as well as intelligent."

"Hmm…"

"I'm not sure you'd want her on the net though Mal," Riddick wondered when Simon would just call the job done. He hadn't spent this much time fussing over a bullet wound in more than a decade.

"Why's that?" The Captain blinked at him.

"They stuck nanites and a subliminal generator in her, as well as a hormone regulator," The Furyan reminded him. "Told you before, argues for them putting triggers in with the programming. They'd want to make her do things on cue. Triggers are the easiest way to do that. She's fine with one of us on the bridge and ad filters, but without someone who'd notice a change in behavior?"

"That's…unsettling," Mal rubbed his jaw.

"Simon said they were conditioning her for combat," Honestly, how much had the man forgotten? Or was he just preoccupied by the cattle and Riddick's wound? "I'd say a sourcebox with only what we've loaded into it, and no connection to the net, until we've gotten through basic and worked on undoing all that programming would be the safest. So, she could use it by herself."

"I'll see what Kaylee can cobble together," The tall Browncoat was still thinking.

"Scared of her," River mumbled and wandered away.

"River," Riddick frowned and was gratified when she stopped moving. "C'mon back here."

Her steps were reluctant, but she moved to the opposite side of the infirmary door as Mal, "Scared of her."

He ignored Mal's sputtered denial, "Jiàn tā de guǐ, I ain't scared of her."

"Am I?" He looked her in the eyes. "Is your brother?"

"No…" She blinked as she looked back and forth between the two of them. Who knew what she really saw, what they'd done to her perceptions, if she even interpreted visual cues the same as everyone else anymore. "Simon is worried. Lóng Wáng is concerned but not afraid. Annoyed training and hunting have been put on hold."

"Yeah, but we'll work around it," He shrugged with his good shoulder as Simon let him sit up again and sealed a bandage over the wound. "This won't even slow me down a half day." He pointed at Simon, "And before you start, you can check it and see in about eight hours. It'll be at least halfway healed if not more."

"Extraordinary," Simon murmured quietly.

Author's Note: So we've learned more about Riddick's plan. And we avoided Mal getting stabbed. Little things add up eventually. I never understood why the crew would just leave the cows on Jiangyin when the Grange brothers had gotten arrested. Sure, they were in a hurry but they had to go look for Simon anyway. Why not load them back up and sell them again? And we've avoided the kidnapping at least.

Anyway, hope you're enjoying this. Let me know what you think.

Last chapter we had a comment regarding Riddick's opinion of Geisha, equating them to Companions or Concubines. Riddick is (to me anyway) very obviously incorrect in his understanding of what Geisha are. While there is a drift of language over centuries and perhaps Geisha have become part of the Companion's Guild in the Firefly-verse, the proper definition of the profession has never included prostitution.

So I want to make it clear, that any reference to Geisha in this story, as being the same as Companions or prostitutes (by whatever name) is not correct. Riddick will probably continue to make that mistake as so many people do but it is a mistake.

Chinese Translations:

Lóng Wáng (Dragon King (mythology))

lè sè (garbage)

Xiā xiāzi húshuō bādào (blind, foolish man talking nonsense)

Rì shāo gǒu shǐ bǐng (Pile of sun-baked dog poo / Burn dog poop cakes on a daily day)

chī xiàn (crazy / insane)

Nán wei (to bother / to press somebody, usually to do something / it's a tough job / sorry to bother you (polite, used to thank somebody for a favor))

Yī zhī méi yǒu mǔ qīn de shān yáng de ér zi (son of a motherless goat)

Tài kōng suǒ yǒu de xīng qiú sāi jǐn wǒ de pì gu (Shove All the Planets in the universe up my ass)

Jiàn tā de guǐ (damnit/ bloody hell)

Quote Sources:

How dull it is to pause, to make an end, to rust unburnished, not to shine in use! As though to breathe were life! - Ulysses – Alfred, Lord Tennyson

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet – Romans 7:7

Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. – Micah 2:1

And they covet fields, and take by violence; and houses, and take away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage. – Micah 2:2

Deliver me from the workers of iniquity and save me from bloody men. – Psalm 59:2