Chapter 21
Previously… River nodded glumly and Riddick ignored everyone else for a moment and put his hand under her chin, "Hey. Ain't like you tried to poison me Beautiful." His thumb rubbed over her lower lip affectionately, "You can't be good at everything straight off."
"Excellent at cooking real food," She muttered softly. "Protein is…counterintuitive." He barely stopped himself from kissing her, pressing his lips to her forehead at the last minute and inhaling the scent of her.
He was vividly aware of Simon's arched eyebrows, Mal's thoughtful look, Kaylee's smile and Jack acting as if this was perfectly normal. The merc, typically, snorted in derision, "Told ya he weren't ta be trusted 'round decent folks." Well hell, this could be a problem.
"Jayne," Simon's voice cut across the Captain's barely formulated response. "Richard B Riddick has more than once, saved our collective pì gu, including less than two days ago. He kept all of us alive when he surrendered to the mercenary ship when we were adrift. Or did you think they'd have left you breathing once they'd killed all of us who might have protested?"
The Doctor slanted a glance across the table at his sister and Riddick, "Whatever is going on between my sister and Rick is none of your business." From his scent, Simon wasn't any too thrilled about any goings on, but he sure wouldn't say as much in front of Cobb.
"What a pretty thing man is when he goes in his doublet and hose and leaves off his wit," River remarked with a pointed roll of her eyes, not budging from his side.
Jack shrugged and glanced at River as if waiting for further comment before replying to Simon, "Technically, it ain't really anyone's business but theirs is it?" Simon gave her a startled look and Jack shrugged again, "River's an adult right? Sure as hell looks like one."
"She's my sister," Doc Simon had a point, but it was a limited one.
"And you're her brother, but you don't see her poking her nose in anything you're doing," Jack looked at Mal. "You're the Captain, you really think Riddick is doing something River doesn't want? That he would? You think that why'd you ever let him back on the boat?"
"That ain't what I'm thinkin'," Mal was watching River and Riddick thoughtfully. "So far, apart from River hidin' out in Rick's bunk…doesn't seem to be anything to think about. River's a grown woman, or gorram close. Old enough to earn a wage. If Rick were goin' to do something untoward…I suspect River'd be able to stop him or get away pretty easy. He's been teaching her all his tricks."
River didn't help their case by turning and looking at the Captain, one hand pressed to Riddick's chest over his mark. "Alpha Furyan, still more skilled, practiced than she is. Likely could overpower her, speed is equal, but he is stronger." She smiled, "Know him. Trust him. He has done nothing she finds unpleasant or wrong."
Kaylee was working on her own breakfast at the stove, "Cap'n I was two years younger'n River when I started sparkin' with a fella. Weren't too long after his daddy's catchin' us scramblin' for our clothes." She brought her plate to the table along with a mug, "Ain't sayin' its strictly the same, me an' River's pretty different in some ways."
"And in others you're very much alike," Simon agreed quietly. "River is nearly eighteen."
"Bit of an age difference," Mal was still thinking. His quick glance at Jack suggested to Riddick that his thoughts weren't entirely on him and River.
Simon rolled his eyes as he peppered his egg mixture and added a bit of the cheese, sandwiching it between the toast. "Honestly Mal, that's the last thing I find disquieting."
That got stares from everyone, including Cobb and Riddick. River giggled shaking her head, "Made a face." She teased him, fingers patting his cheek affectionately.
"How's that Doc?" The Captain shook his head confusion all over his face.
"Our father is nearly twenty years our mother's senior," Simon shrugged. "It's quite common. Most men want to be firmly established in their careers, have a somewhat settled life before marriage. Ambition drives a lot of it, knowing that in order to carry on the family name you need to be able to take care of a family properly."
"So guys marry girls who are eighteen when they're forty?" Jack's stare would have been funnier of Riddick's goggles didn't hide him doing the same thing. "Girls don't get much of a life do they?"
"Typically yes, though it varies from eighteen to twenty-three or so, they have children, the children grow up and when they're able to attend school and are settled enough the wives continue their education," Simon shrugged as if it made perfect sense. Maybe to him it did. "Some don't choose to do so, but many of my friends in school would be attending university alongside their mothers. Of course, most of them are getting a second degree or refreshing their knowledge. By that time their husband's career has slowed down some, not as much pressure to drive forward, and they support their wives in their endeavors."
"That's…uh…" Mal didn't seem quite so shocked but he wasn't blasé about it either. "Different."
"It makes sense biologically," Simon sipped his tea as he explained. "Men can sire children at any age, so long as they're capable of engaging in sex. A woman's fertility begins to ebb in her early forties." He glanced over at Riddick, "That doesn't mean you get to seduce my sister and move merrily on. It means courtship, commitment…"
Irritation sent a growl through his chest, vibrating under River's palm, "It means promises." He looked at River and then back at her brother. "It means forever."
"Exactly," Simon nodded his satisfaction at Riddick's understanding. "Then we understand each other."
Cobb opened his mouth and the Captain shot him a look that had him shutting it again. "Right," Mal leaned back in his chair, finishing his breakfast sandwich in two bites. "Fun as it was to have that big show a force on Lazarus. I think this time, we leave more than the Doc here on the boat with a gun."
Jack nodded, "Probably wasn't the brightest move." She cracked a smile at the Captain, "Was fun though."
"Woman you have a seriously twisted idea of fun," Mal rubbed his mouth to conceal his smile.
"Hell, ask her favorite game," Riddick laughed and ate the rest of his weird breakfast.
"Another time maybe," The Captain smiled. "For now, let's get to the business we need to get done." Mal looked up as Book entered the galley, "Shepherd."
"I mean to stay aboard," Book offered, clearly having heard some of the conversation. "I'm not sure that it's a good idea to take Zoë away from her husband at the moment."
Simon shook his head, "I really wouldn't advise that Captain. She's shaken up enough. Odd though it may seem to say."
"Right," Mal sighed. "All right, Simon, you're here, obviously. Shepherd, I appreciate you staying. Rick, you're with me and Jayne. Jack, you're on the bridge. River," He looked at her. "You wanna try this again?"
"She would like to make the attempt," River nodded. "Earn coin."
Cobb stood and grumbled to himself as he put his dishes in the cleaner, "Time's the meet?"
"Got more'n an hour," Mal stood. "Won't take but ten minutes to get to the meet. Everybody get cleaned up. Simon, countin' on you to portion out the drugs we're agreed on selling."
Riddick watched as Simon finished his sandwich and gulped down some coffee. "I'll get right on that," He nodded to Mal and the rest of them, kissed his sister's head as he passed and hurried out.
Mal looked after him for a moment and then nodded to Jayne, "Jayne, get the mule prepped. Then gear up." Grumbling Cobb went and the Captain looked at Riddick and River. "Gonna say this once. Don't know what's going on with you two. Not stupid enough to say stop or don't." He pointed a finger at Riddick and got a growl for his trouble.
"Mal, maybe don't…do…that," Jack tugged the Captain's hand down.
The Captain looked at her and Riddick's irritated face and sighed, "All I'm sayin' is you two keep anything my eyes shouldn't see private. And it don't, whatever it is, good or bad, interfere with the runnings of my boat."
"Shouldn't be too hard," Riddick bit back his instinctive reaction, which was to tell his Captain to fuck off. And that no one was going to see River's body but him, possessive yeah, but he couldn't find one tiny part of him willing to compromise on that.
"We're hooked up for water an' sewage exchange," Kaylee informed them. "Figured I'd check out the junk yards, see if I can find a washin' machine, maybe a dryer, an' I can fix 'em up on the cheap."
"I like cheap," Mal nodded. "You don't go out until we get back and then you take Jayne with you." He stood and began to get another meal together, most likely for Zoë. "Finish your meals and get yourselves ready." He turned and looked at Riddick, "An' don't do anything makes me get the Shepherd to lecture you 'bout the special hell."
"Heard that already Mal," Riddick shrugged. "Not terribly concerned."
"Don't believe in Hell son?" Book inquired with a curious lift of his eyebrows.
"'Course I do," Riddick rolled his eyes and took his and River's plates to the cleaner. "Already been, got the tee-shirt and everything. Where'd you think I found Jack?"
Book didn't have a response for that.
The meet on Paquin went a lot better than the one on Lazarus. Mal was smiling when the buyers left with their two crates of drugs and he held a jingling bag of cash. River looked around and nodded, a smile curving her lips and Riddick put a hand at the base of her spine. "No trouble?"
"All is as it should be," River nodded and leaned into his side for a moment.
"Well let's go back to the ship and you can get set for your shopping trip," The Captain had smiled and gestured for Cobb to drive the mule back with the empty crates.
Instinct kept him alert even when they were back on the boat and he only relaxed when they shut the cargo bay doors. Zoë came down the steps, her expression as impassive as ever. "Go well?"
"Pretty well yeah," Mal tossed her the bag of coin. "See that it gets divvied up. River gets five percent."
River beamed at the First Mate and Captain, "Part time crew."
"Yeah," Mal nodded. "Go on an' get changed to your shoppin' clothes. Inara said somethin' about leaving pretty quick after we were done with the job."
Riddick grinned at River, "Go on, get changed, I'll put on something that makes me look more presentable. Bodyguard presentable at least." He watched as she raced up to her room in the passenger dorms and looked at Zoë, "So how's Wash?"
"Doc says he'll be able to start sitting up, today, walkin' tomorrow," Zoë folded her arms. "And he's tellin' me he's throwin' me out of the infirmary."
Riddick nodded, "Yeah. Thought that'd happen. He say if Wash could move to a passenger dorm?"
Zoë nodded, "Got one made up for him. Just waiting on one of you taller folks to come and give us a hand getting him to the bunk."
Riddick looked at Mal, "Feel like playing orderly? That'll leave Simon to supervise and Zoë can get doors open for us."
"Yeah, let's get Wash situated," Mal nodded. "Zoë, since Simon's kicking you out, could you go with Inara, Rick and the girls? I'm thinking it can't hurt to have two people along who're used to guns an' aren't trying to shop."
"If that's what you need Sir," The First Mate nodded.
"It'd make me feel a sight better," Mal told her as they headed for the infirmary. "Inara ain't exactly dangerous. And Rick's not rightly a usual sight 'round a woman's clothing shop."
"How d'you know," Riddick smirked at him. "Got told this morning that a woman deserves courting."
"Who're you thinking of courting," Zoë slanted an incredulous look towards him.
"River," Mal answered her and Riddick had the pleasure of seeing Zoë nearly trip in shock.
Riddick smirked, moving quick enough to catch her arm, "Careful."
Inara had lent River a shirt that was a little more girly than the button downs she'd been borrowing from Simon. And one of the divided skirts Kaylee had worked pretty well with the shirt. More importantly River could get at her guns and knives. She'd done something to her face too, lined her eyes and made them look bigger.
Simon had smiled and told her she looked beautiful before handing Riddick a pair of blue lensed specs. "Here, slightly more discreet than your goggles. They'll block the sun just as well. I checked the strength of your goggle lenses against those. They're my spare set so you should keep them. Anyone looking for Richard B Riddick looks for a man in goggles. Not someone with a set of specs from a shop on Osiris."
"Still like to look into some of those lenses to go on my eyes," Riddick had nodded.
"Could always order a set," Zoë'd suggested. "Get Simon to find the specifications and have them sent through the post to Serenity."
"It should be easy enough," Simon nodded. "I'll look up what you'll need during the shopping trip."
River frowned and looked at him, "His eyes will not shine anymore?"
"At night they will, yes," Simon answered absently, his mind already on the problem. "They'll just be protected from light."
Her frown faded as she nodded her understanding and Riddick pressed his palm to her lower back. "Nothing can hide Furyan eyes Beautiful," He assured her. "Let's go get you some clothes of your own."
Inara leaned down over the railing, "I thought we'd take my shuttle? There are a few places we can go that have wonderful things and I can get you a discount." She smiled, "After we deal with the practical aspects."
"Works for me," Jack shrugged. "Cap'n, I grabbed a coupla earwigs so if you need us we can hightail it back."
"Good thinking," Mal praised.
Riddick took a deep breath and prepared to be alternately frustrated or bored.
Riddick turned and watched as Jack and Kaylee chased River. Three weeks after their shopping trip and the girls had formed a happy little group. Often they'd cajole Inara into sitting with them in the galley to have tea or watch Kaylee teach River, and occasionally Jack, how to cook with protein. Zoë joined them now and then, though Riddick got the impression that they were a bit too giggly for her generally speaking.
He'd enjoyed the shopping trip more than he'd though he would. It had been fun to see River's blushing cheeks when they came out of the shop Inara had recommended. He still hadn't seen what she'd purchased there. Hopefully he'd eventually get to see and then take it off her. Jack had been a little pink too. Inara had been pleased, smiling and saying she hoped they could do this again. She had a client that evening, but they were back in plenty of time for her appointment.
Mal had greeted them all as they came in the galley and teasingly asked what they'd bought. Jack's blush had deepened, and Cobb had leered at her, "Get yerself some fancy underpinnin's? Gonna give us a show? Got somethin' here you can try on for size," He'd cupped himself lewdly.
Jack's Colt had been in her hand before anyone besides Riddick or River could see and aimed straight between Cobb's eyes, "Take a step in that direction merc, try me. You even look at me like that again and I'll put a bullet straight through your forehead. No fuckin' merc is ever going to touch me again."
Her reaction had shocked everyone but Mal, River, Inara and Riddick. Certainly Cobb hadn't expected a handgun aimed at him for a crude remark. Mal had been closest to her, put a careful hand on her shoulder, "Jayne knows better than to touch any of the women on my crew. He'll end up out the airlock and he knows it."
"Tryin' to get a rise out of you," Zoë commented.
Jack hadn't looked at either of them, though she hadn't tensed even more when Mal touched her. "Got it." She stared at Cobb, "So now he knows. Fair warning." She put up her gun, hand starting to tremble and backed up, right into Mal. That wasn't surprising, she was nearly having a panic attack. What was interesting was her reaction. Mal's free hand came down on her other shoulder and he held her steady. Jack didn't jerk away, pressing back against him, spine to the tall man's chest. Her head just brushed his chin.
"S'all right," The Captain looked down at the shaking girl. "You're safe here. Ain't anyone gonna touch you."
"Sir," Zoë's expression was so stoic she might have been stone. "Steps being taken?"
"She already took 'em," Mal nodded at her. Riddick looked over at Cobb and was pleased to see the man looked surprised, then mutinous and, finally understanding as to why Jack would have that reaction, a bit ashamed of himself. Zoë and Mal's communication, another easy read. Clearly Zoë had seen enough during the war that she knew what sort of abuse resulted in a reaction like Jack's.
"Couldn't get all of them," Jack admitted, low and shamed. "Six-man crew, the 'Golls… I could only account for the 'Golls and three of the mercs."
"I want names," Riddick growled the words out and was pleasantly surprised when Mal's voice echoed his.
River narrowed her eyes and he swore he could see the flare of Wrath in their depths before she nodded in satisfaction. "She needs to use the cortex please. With advert filters, just in case."
"I can sit with her on the bridge Sir," Zoë offered.
Riddick shook his head, "Go spend some time with Wash. Tell him how girly and giggly my badass little sister and River were getting. Stuck in bed, he could probably use a laugh." Mal nodded his agreement, hands still protectively resting on Jack's shoulders.
"Jack, I'll make you some tea," Mal kissed the top of her head and guided her to a chair.
Riddick had followed River down to the bridge and turned on the ad filters for her, "Got somethin'?"
"Names," River smiled, cold and furious.
The look sent blood rushing to his groin and he leaned over, pressing his lips to hers. "All three?"
She'd nodded and he'd grinned, "Well, let's go merc hunting."
Merc hunting had to wait for a bit though. First they hopped all over Red Sun before heading out to Kalidasa. They bounced around there for a couple weeks and then finally had gotten to do some very satisfying hunting. Some of the money from the drugs had helped them sail out to Blue Sun where River had located what was left of the clan responsible for selling Riddick's little sister. Zoë had stayed on the ship while Mal, Riddick, Jack and River had taken the shuttle.
Three mercs, plus a few extras who'd obviously joined after Jack had whittled down their ranks, all of them making a big splash at the whorehouse in one of Muir's larger towns. Mal had walked in, smiled at the bartender and quietly suggested that the man close the place early. River and Jack had shut the doors behind them and Riddick had gone in through the back.
It had gone as clean as it could, only one of the whores had been wounded, and another 'patron' had tried to intervene and gotten knocked out for his trouble. The girl would be fine, Simon had stitched her up once he'd gotten the all-clear to come in. The money on the mercs had paid their bar tab and the cost of the whores whose time they'd taken. River had helped herself to the mercs datapad and husked her way into the clan's accounts.
Within two hours she'd located the merc's boat, they'd stripped it of any valuables and she'd sold the boat and all it's contents. Between that and the money from the clan accounts the trip had paid for itself. Mal had been almost as pleased with that as he was the mercs being dead. And Jack had gotten to slit the throats of the men who'd sold her. That had done wonders for her ease of mind. Riddick guessed part of her had always felt unsafe with those men alive. Not that he blamed her one bit. A dead enemy was the best kind.
That 'little chore' (as Mal so quaintly referred to the trip) done, now they were headed out to Ezra for another meet. Cobb had gotten a fit of conscience and bought a bushel full of apples their second stop into Georgia.
And now...Riddick grinned as his woman ran past with one in her hand, Jack and Kaylee in full pursuit. They'd never catch her, but they might be able to cut her off. River was laughing hysterically as she ran past Mal and Inara. Riddick glanced over at them, not terribly interested but unable to simply not hear the conversation. Inara had some appointment she needed privacy for and she was trying to make sure no one would gawk at whoever it was. He grinned as River ran through the cargo bay, chased by the other two. Mal was looking over the railing, "Ah, the pitter patter of tiny feet in huge combat boots." He called down to the girls, "Shut up!" Without missing a beat he turned to Inara, "There's nobody sets foot on my boat that I don't meet 'em." He paused and added, "Don't worry, I'm not gonna get into any fights with your client. Even if he started it, I'm over that phase."
Inara sighed, "Well, I'd appreciate it if you could keep the others from ogling."
The girls scrambled up the stairs after River onto the catwalks and Mal yelled, "One of you is gonna fall and die, and I'm not cleaning it up!
Kaylee's explanation didn't make much sense, "She took my apple!"
Inara attempted to inject reason into the conversation, such as it was, "Jayne bought a crate of them."
Jack laughed, "And that one is Kaylee's."
River laughed as she rounded the catwalks, "Not anymore!"
Riddick grinned and followed them as River ran up the stairs to the galley where Jack cut her off at the stairs to the engine room and Kaylee playfully wrestled the apple out of River's hands. She held it up triumphantly, "No power in the 'verse can stop me."
Kaylee sat at the table as Jack picked up an apple and with one of her ever-present shivs began to slice it up as she took her seat. Riddick looked at Wash who was already sitting down. The pilot had recuperated pretty fast, Simon really knew his business. It was a damn good thing too because people got shot an awful lot on Serenity.
River was lying on the couch and Riddick grinned, picking her up and sitting down with her in his lap. "Beautiful," He kissed her gently. He still hadn't had all of her, time had been short, and they'd been working a lot. It was only in the last day that Simon had cleared Wash for full shifts on the bridge again. But he had made it clear to anyone paying attention that River was his and they were dating or courting or whatever they wanted to call it.
Course, most of the crew had their own concerns so they might have missed the signs. He was sure Mal had it figured out; the Captain's comments had indicated such. Simon knew, though he wasn't aware of the exact progression of the relationship, and he might not be thrilled if (when) he found out. Jack had known from the jump, or close enough. Kaylee's knowledge was peripheral, vague but approving. Book… the man was so close mouthed it was hard to know what he'd observed. Inara could probably tell, to the day when they'd done what, but that was kinda her job and she hadn't offered any comment. Zoë and Wash… well Wash had gotten shot, though he'd been giving date suggestions, so he knew; Zoë had been told outright that Riddick intended to court River, but she didn't seem to be paying much attention to the two of them or the progression of said courtship. River…yeah most likely she knew; it would be hard for her to miss. He grinned at his woman. Cobb… well… if the merc had a clue he didn't give a fuck and Riddick gave less than a fuck about what he knew.
Zoë came in the galley and grabbed an apple, sitting at the table, "These really are the genuine article. I could get used to being rich."
Riddick looked over at his little sister, eating her apple quietly. Inara had set up appointments for Jack via wave, so Jack could talk to a counselor. The Companion's House on Persephone had several and Inara had helped Jack explain what had happened to her. Thankfully with Companions trained as Healers they were held to the same standard of confidentiality as a Doctor so they couldn't spill the beans about Jack's little murder streak.
She wasn't cured, he doubted she'd ever be completely cured, but she wasn't quite as defensive as she had been. She'd likely always retain that edge of suspicion, guarded until someone had earned her trust. And he couldn't bring himself to believe that was a bad thing. Look where blind trust had gotten her last time. He guessed it would take some time before she was able to even try to have some sort of relationship. If she was even into guys after that. Up to her really, though he had some idea that she was wired to like guys, she just didn't trust them anymore. He was glad he was more in the big brother than guy slot. Maybe she could sense that he'd rather fuck Cobb than touch her in any way that was even remotely sexual.
River pinched his side, "Please refrain from thoughts of coitus with the merc." She admonished him with a kiss to his carotid. "Bad pictures in her head."
"Geh," He made a revolted noise and thought of the last time they'd been together, how good she'd felt, how much he'd loved the sounds she'd made. Fuck he wanted a good eight hours alone with her.
His woman shivered against his side and he inhaled, great, now he was frustrating them both with mental pictures. Her soft giggle and palm to his cheek, gently turning his face to look down at her, curved his lips. "She spoke with Inara," River murmured for his ears alone. "Made arrangements for contraception. Last days, countdown of twelve hours until peak effectiveness is reached. They are in the very wrath of love, and they will go together. Clubs cannot part them."
Holy sweet fucking hell… He kissed her hungrily for a moment and pushed the animal, the Furyan, back down so they could both breathe. He could wait that long. Just needed some sort of distraction.
Wash drew his attention again, "It's Jayne being so generous with his cut that confuses and frightens me."
His wife nodded, "It does kind of freeze the blood."
River rested her head on his shoulder, her lips on his neck and he rubbed his palm up and down her spine. "Work soon," She murmured. "Bad things. The xiào miàn hǔ wishes to speak of Shan Yu to the Captain."
"Better make plans to go with on the meet then. Who knows when it'll hit," Riddick sighed. "I'm going to get you back in bed woman, after this job, gonna tell Mal we need a little time off. Need a break now that Wash is back in fighting trim."
River's sigh echoed his as she pressed a kiss to his jaw, "Hope so." That had been one of the most annoying things about Wash being shot. Jack wasn't a good enough pilot for landings or takeoffs, not solo anyway. Mal was all right, qualified, but he was no great shakes. River was still learning. Eventually she'd be as good as he was but that took experience and time, both of which were in short supply. So Riddick was the pilot for the time being. He took the time to remember that Wash had been cleared and when this job was done he and River would have that time to themselves again. Calming thoughts to keep from running amuck. Not that he'd let himself lose control but it was damned tempting.
The conversation at the table pulled his and River's attention back to the rest of the crew as Kaylee asked a question, "Zoë, how come you always cut your apples?" She glanced at Jack who was doing the same thing as if the other girl could provide her an explanation.
Wash blinked, looking at his wife, "You do?"
The little mechanic nodded, "Her and the Captain both. Whenever we get fresh fruit, they never just munch on 'em."
Zoë was slowly and methodically slicing her apple, "Know what a Grizwald is?"
Cobb came in the kitchen, "It's a grenade." He gave Jack a polite, semi-respectful nod, much as he had ever since she'd pulled a gun on him. Book had apparently pulled the man aside and along with Mal, explained that if he was worried about women taking a fit and killing him, he'd better remember that both River and Jack had been traumatized in different ways. Of the two, River had a head start on Jack in dealing with her 'issues'. Riddick could give Cobb credit for taking the advice to heart. He'd noticed that when Book told him something Cobb gave it a lot more respect and credence than he did when Mal gave him the same information. Wherever the merc had been raised, it had been with church going folk most likely.
Cobb still sneered and muttered about murdery psychos and convicts, and loonies but at least there was nothing sexual about it. The one time he'd seemed on the verge of a remark he'd opened his mouth at the dinner table, looked at Jack, then at Book and simply stuffed food in his mouth. An educable merc, who'd have thought.
The First Mate nodded her agreement of Cobb's answer, "About the size of a battery. Responds to pressure. 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." She shrugged, "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?" She took a breath and Riddick had the feeling that he knew what was coming, "We mentioned that we were out of rations, and ten minutes later, a bunch of apples rained into the trench."
Wash, also maybe expecting something horrific, interrupted, looking at Jack and Kaylee, "And they grew into a big tree, and they all climbed up the tree into a magical land with unicorns and a harp."
Jack's head tilted, obviously not getting the visual completely and angled towards Riddick and River, "Harp?"
River kissed his cheek and pushed herself off his lap, probably for the best, he was enjoying her sitting there a bit too much, and moved towards the table. A piece of scrap paper and pencil later she'd drawn a harp and a person holding it and Jack nodded her understanding, "Ah, Abu called it, qithar."
Cobb moved from the counter to the table, flicking open his switchblade and stabbed it into one of the apples in the bowl on the table. Wash jumped slightly at the abrupt appearance of the knife but Cobb, as if he hadn't just produced a hidden weapon in the midst of innocuous conversation, retreated the far end of the table.
Kaylee concluded glumly, "Blew off their heads, huh?"
The Browncoat nodded, "Cap said wait, but they were so hungry." She paused, carving off another piece, "Don't make much noise. Just little pops and there's three guys that kind of just end at the ribcage."
Wash, and Riddick had to give the man credit for perseverance, told the girls, "But these apples are healthsome, good."
Cobb smirked as he carved his up, "Yeah, grenades cost extra."
"Jack, you an' River an' Rick cut your apples up too," Kaylee was full of observations today. "But ya'll didn't fight in the war right?"
"Fought my own war," Riddick reminded her as he came up behind River and Jack and took an apple.
Jack shrugged, "Anything fresh… especially in Slam, 's always suspect." She cut off another slender piece and held it to the light. "Guards decide to mess with the inmates, convicts… whatever… They'd put somethin' in the 'treats'. Wouldn't always kill you. But there's no doctor… so whatever makes you sick…you stay sick 'til it wears off. Weaker ones…sometimes it kills 'em anyway. Or what the others do to 'em kills 'em. If you're weak you're just…somethin' to be used." She held up her slice to the light, "So you learn to cut into whatever it is, see if its discolored, smells odd…that sort of thing."
River nodded, leaning against Riddick, "Watch to be sure others are not effected before eating." Jack nodded.
Mal's talk with Inara must've concluded to someone's satisfaction, likely hers, though his was possible since his mood seemed pretty good as he came into the galley during Jack's explanation and picked up an apple, cutting on it like Zoë and Jack. Though his knife came from the counter rather than a hidden sheath in his belt. "We are about twenty thousand klicks from our last drop, people, then we can take a break and think about spending some of this money."
Riddick grinned at River as she swayed upright from taking her own apple, producing a shiv from her sleeve and cutting it up.
The general chorus of replies to Mal's little announcement were favorable, and Riddick kissed River's neck, "Gonna spend some R&R with me beautiful?" She nearly purred and slender fingers stroked his scalp.
Wash mumbled sotto voice, "Could've made more."
Mal nodded, "That wasn't a bad idea, Wash, but eliminating the middle-man is never simple as it sounds."
Riddick glanced from Zoë to her husband, Zoë was looking a bit uncomfortable and Wash surprised, "You heard about—"
Mal nodded, "About fifty percent of the human race is middle-men and they don't take kindly to being eliminated. This quadrant, we play nice. We got enemies enough as it is."
Riddick slanted a glance over at the Captain, "Enemies?" He deliberately added, "Do tell."
"Uh…" Mal looked over at Zoë for help and was given a shrug. Riddick folded his arms, the fact that River was leaning against his chest, cutting up her apple and his arms were folded over her stomach rather than his chest didn't seem to set the Captain any more at ease. "We had a… falling out with…an employer in this area. Couldn't complete a job."
"Coulda," Cobb muttered. "Decided not to," He gave Mal a glare when the Captain opened his mouth and before he could be reprimanded gave Riddick the particulars. "Niska. Guy's a jiān xié an' Mal decided to give back what we took. Near got pinched, sent one a Niska's men through our engine an' gave the money back." He cut through his apple in irritation, "Might could say he's totin' a grudge 'gainst us."
"And we're in his territory," Riddick looked at Mal. "You know that speech you gave me about my enemies/trouble showing up? Ever think of some quid pro quo?"
"It'll be fine," Mal dismissed his concern. "We'll be in an' out, won't even know we're here. Easy peasy." Fuck he hated when Mal said that. Never failed they had trouble after.
"Yeah," Cobb looked at Riddick and for a brief moment the two of them were in perfect accord. This was not going to be fine. Not by a long shot.
Riddick caught River up in his arms and pressed her against the wall, taking her mouth in his. "Tell me again how many hours," He demanded as he gave her pert ass a squeeze.
"Hmm…two point two," She nipped at his lower lip with her teeth.
"Fuck… might have to shiv me to get me to slow down with you," He growled against her mouth.
"Might have to tie her down to keep her from going too fast," She mewled into his mouth.
Peripherally he was aware of the crew on the lounge steps below them. The cargo bay doors opening, Mal and Inara walking down the stairs and Mal attempting to greet someone. A stranger's voice speaking. Inara greeting a woman a few seconds later, the step of the two of them on the stairs. And he didn't care about any of it, there was only River's mouth and the scent of her and the feel of her body against his.
"Oh my," It had to be Inara's client since he didn't recognize the voice. "Newlyweds?"
Inara's voice was both amused and affectionate, "Courting. Though I think you are correct if a bit premature in your conclusion."
"That's so sweet," The woman had to be smiling. "She's so tiny compared to him."
Inara chuckled, "They appear to make an unlikely pair, but they're perfectly matched." She opened the door to her shuttle, "Here we are."
Riddick grinned against River's mouth as she giggled softly, "Nice to know we got Inara's blessing."
"Hmm…" She kissed him again. "Better get to work."
Riddick carried a crate into the shuttle and set it down, Mal right behind him. Zoë was already there preparing the shuttle for takeoff. River followed Mal and took a seat next to Zoë.
Mal set his crate down, "Lucrative as this stuff is, I'll be glad to see the last of it. Kinda makes us a target for every—"
Zoë interrupted him, "River, were you working on the cortex here for some reason? The ignition sequence is all turned about. I can't even..."
Riddick frowned and Mal looked over at the console, "Zài dì yù de dì qī gè guā yuē jī zhōng shì shén me?"
Riddick snorted a laugh despite their predicament, Mal came up with the best curses. Especially when he was annoyed. Riddick had begun to learn Chinese, with River's help. His pronunciation still wasn't the best but he could understand more. Wash walked into the shuttle as if on cue, "I can."
River was already working on the cortex, but it would likely take her time, whereas Wash knew exactly how to fix whatever it was he'd done. Mal shook his head, "Well get it set, would you, Wash? We gotta get moving."
Wash's expression was a far cry from his usual jovial look, "Here's a funny twist: no."
"No what?" Mal stiffened in annoyance and Riddick sighed. This was no time for Wash to start exercising his macho side.
"No, sir," Wash shook his head.
His wife knew him very well, "Change the sequence?"
"Didn't want you taking off without me," He nodded. "In fact, didn't want you taking off at all. Thought I might take this run instead. Me and the Captain."
River was already working on the problem, while Mal stared at his pilot, "The Captain who's standing right here telling you that's not gonna happen?"
Wash folded his arms, "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. I just can't take that right now."
Riddick met Mal's look and spread his hands, he'd back whatever play Mal made. This was no time for someone inexperienced to try and flex their muscles. He'd talked Mal into bringing him and River along on the strength of River having one of her feelings. Mal had agreed but Riddick had no illusions as to who was calling the shots here. At least until the killing started, Mal was in charge.
"Okay, um, I'm lost," Mal began with a nod to Riddick that he understood. "Uh, I'm angry, and I'm armed, so if you two have something that you need to work out—"
River's fingers were flying over the cortex as Zoë began to speak, "It's all right, sir. We've deal with Bolles before. Shouldn't be a problem," She looked at Wash. "And I wouldn't mind sitting this one out."
Mal was not amused, "Oh this is a fine fàng zòng fēng kuáng de jié but I don't have time to unwind it."
River leaned back, "It is done Cap'n." She smiled up at him and narrowed her eyes at Wash. "Thinks to prove he is valiant. Thinks he must compete with Malcolm Reynolds. Does not realize how he scared the wife when he was shot. Nearly bled to death. Wife did not sleep. Barely ate. Waiting. Waiting for him to wake up. Or to never wake up."
Wash actually looked ashamed of himself and Mal shook his head, "Zhè zhēn shì ge kuàilè de jìnzhǎn. Wash. Talk to your wife. Zoë. Talk to your husband. I don't want to see either of you for twelve hours or until you've gotten this straightened out."
"The job," Wash actually protested and Mal rolled his eyes.
"Makes you feel better, go pound on Jayne's bunk, tell him to get his pì gu up here," Mal motioned with his hand. "Now go on before I change my mind and decide that despite you bein' barely recovered from a belly wound I'm gonna make you tote crates just because I can."
River wrinkled her nose and Riddick mentally agreed with the distaste he smelt in her scent, but Cobb was as good with a gun as Zoë and River was never wrong about trouble.
Riddick took Zoë's seat and began to get the shuttle started on the ignition sequence, "Mal… you got your armor on right?"
"What?" Despite River's feeling, which the last time had alerted them to an ambush, it seemed Mal hadn't taken that precaution seriously.
"Go and put it on. Or do you want Simon to get more practice in bullet removal," Riddick ordered. He heard rather than saw Mal leave the shuttle.
"Believes but does not… conundrum," River murmured.
"Yeah happens that way sometimes," The Furyan nodded. "Folks have trouble with intangibles. Tend to not believe something is possible until it happens, sometimes not even then. Human nature."
Cobb's noisy step sounded on the deck outside and he came in still buckling his gunbelt on, "Where'n the hell's Mal? My bunk got pounded on, Zoë orderin' me up here an' Mal ain't even ready?"
"Puttin' on his body armor," Riddick told him. "Take a seat. Soon's he's here we're gone."
"Cripes 'n' criminy," Cobb sighed and sat on the crate. "What's with all the firepower?" He clearly hadn't missed the repeater at Riddick's hip or the three guns River wore. Riddick had others but the repeater was bigger and tended to stand out.
"River got a bad feeling," It didn't hurt to let Cobb know they might be walking into an ambush. "You'll recall the last time she got a feelin' we got ambushed and the ship was attacked?"
"Jiào nǐ shēng háizi méi pìgu yǎn," Cobb cursed. "'Cause it cain't never be easy."
River turned in her chair and appraised the merc thoughtfully. "Cloth armor will do. The kě wù de lǎo bào jūn will not expect us to be prepared."
"Hey that ain't a nice thing to say 'bout Mal," Cobb was smirking as the Captain stepped into the shuttle.
"River you abusin' me in my absence," Mal sounded half amused half resigned. And more than half irked at the stunt Wash had pulled. "Rick, let's get underway."
"We are gone," Riddick happily got the shuttle loose of Serenity. The sun was damn bright (Mal just had to arrange a meet at noon) and he frowned. "Beautiful, put the screens up on the glass," He was damned if they'd all go into the meet half blinded by sunspots in their vision. The glass dimmed slightly, and he nodded, "Better. Thanks."
River smiled at him before she turned to Mal and Cobb, "Sunshades will be helpful. Very bright. Must see to aim." She didn't, but they didn't need to know that.
"What's goin' on with Zoë an' Wash anyway," Mal sounded more confused than usual.
"Thinkin' Wash's gettin' sick a hearin' 'bout you an' Zoë an' the war," Cobb was actually showing a little bit of thought. Strange and different. "Cain't blame him, hearin' how close you an' Zoë are. Alla that history. History he ain't ever gonna have. Gotta eat at a man." He paused, "Gettin' pretty gorram sick of it myself." Now that…that was not different at all.
"But there ain't ever been anythin' 'tween me an' Zoë," The Captain was honestly bewildered. It'd be funny if it wasn't sad.
"Man with the girl's name is correct," River murmured. There was a disgruntled grumble from Cobb, but she ignored it, "Wash knows, she trusts you. To have her back. You trust her. More than anyone else. Lean on her. Second in command. Doesn't wish to become a gun-toting member of the crew on jobs. Likes flying. Doesn't care for guns. Worries she will stop seeing him. Stop needing him."
"Well that's just…ài chī zìjǐ de fèn de gǒu, that's fākuáng," Mal squawked.
"Captain need not act daì ruò mù ji," River admonished as they flew low over the ground. "Should pay attention. Might not like romance on his boat but opposite genders will lead to attraction."
"Think if she dumps Wash I'd have a shot?" Cobb mused.
Riddick turned and looked at him, for the first time questioning his hearing, "Did you really just say that?"
"What?" Cobb didn't seem to see anything wrong with the question.
River sighed, "Public relations, yúchǔn hé duǎn shì and shàng bù dé tái pán." She shook her head and faced the window again.
"Nearly there," Riddick did a low sweep of the area and nodded. "See anything?"
"See a lotta low hills," Cobb had turned his mind to the job, all business now. "Be easy to sneak up on the meet."
"Yeah," Riddick didn't much like that either. But it was what it was.
The ground wasn't scrub grass as he'd half hoped, it was sand. This part of Ezra was dessert, or the extended beach of a lake in drought. Complete with rocks and bits of scrub grass, as if things had tried to grow and then given up. He'd had enough of sand to last a lifetime. River shrugged and put her own shades over her eyes.
Cobb was elected to carry the plastic crate from the shuttle to the meet. The three heavily armed men approaching from the other direction didn't seem to give the Captain any concern so Riddick would bet the one in front was Bolles.
Cobb put the crate down and flipped open the lid once the two groups were a few feet apart. Bolles looked impressed in spite of himself, "Nice to know you're still trustworthy.
Mal didn't smile but his tone was amiable enough, "I'm not so trustworthy I don't want to see the money you promised me."
One of Bolles men put a bag of coin in his hand, and Bolles tossed it to Mal. While the Captain opened it to take a look Bolles hooked a thumb in his belt. "Man… can't believe you guys knocked over an Alliance hospital. The pair you have."
Cobb grinned and River stiffened beside Riddick as Mal began, "Yeah, the stuff legends are—"
"Down," Riddick pushed the Captain to his knees as River pulled her guns. A red dot appeared on Bolles forehead and River closed her eyes, spun and began firing. There'd been a reason he made sure her guns were automatics and had at least six shots each. Even buried in sand or hiding in rock crevices as the ambushers were didn't compromise River's aim. If the ambushers could shoot at he and River, River could shoot back at them on the same sightline.
One of them got off a lucky shot and hit Cobb, throwing him backwards, blood scent filled the air and Riddick snarled as he caught sight of someone shedding sand as they ran. He took his shot and looked at River then at Mal and Bolles.
"Mal, see to Cobb would ya," He ordered the Captain and nodded at River.
"He got the last," River murmured soft as she could. He'd hear her if no one else did. "Should find the ship."
"Yeah, I think maybe we ought to pay a call."
"Nǐ tā mā de tiān xià suǒ yǒu de rén dōu gāi sǐ." Bolles swore as he got up. "Lewis? Carmes?" He got a 'yeah' from the first and a groan from the second.
"Jayne's got a bullet to his shoulder/collarbone area," Mal called. "Punched right through the cloth armor."
"Carmes's got a bullet buried in his thigh," Bolles reported.
"Rick," When Mal spoke like that Riddick knew what he wanted.
"Yeah, you better get 'em both to the Doc." He agreed and moved towards Bolles' man. "C'mon, I'll get you into the shuttle."
River had scooped up the coin and Bolles the crate, Bolles instructing Lewis, "You get this back an' you bury it. Got me?"
"Yeah boss," Lewis nodded and moved off, presumably towards their mule or horses.
Riddick concentrated on getting the wounded man to the shuttle and did some quick field medicine to keep him from bleeding to death. "Okay, got a pressure bandage on it. Don't let anyone but Simon take it off. That bullet is too close to the femoral for anyone else to go messing around with it."
He stood and Mal blinked at him, "Where're you goin'?"
"River an' me, we're gonna pay a call," Riddick grinned. "We'll give you a shout when we're done."
"River an'—" The Captain wasn't getting it.
"Mal, I don't have time to explain right now," Riddick shook his head. "We've both gotta move."
"Rick I'd like an explanation," Mal wasn't budging.
"Cobb gave it already," Riddick was already moving towards the door. "Damn sad when the merc is smarter than you Captain. Think on what planet we're standin' on and what he said in the galley."
An easy lope back to the ambush site and he found River pulling bodies out of the sand, searching for comms and weapons. "Anything?"
"Comms," She handed him one. "Non vocal, only clicks. Two for positive, one for negative."
"Figure they came in something small, easily hidden," Riddick nodded. "It'd be towards where the last one was running."
"Should load up the bodies," River grinned. "At least take guns and ammunition, money. Good guns, Fifty-four-R sniper rifles, laser sights."
He nodded his agreement, "Wanna play beautiful?"
"Who's the better killer," Her grin tilted wickedly, and he took her mouth, ruthless and hungry before he forced himself to stop.
"You'll have to keep score for the both of us."
Author's Note: I always thought that the age difference between Riddick and River shouldn't matter that much. I mean, of all the objections, criminal, murderer, hunted through the 'verse, (supposed psychotic/sociopath), along with River's mental issues, age really would (or should) be the least of anyone's concerns.
And I wanted something to indicate that they went after what was left of the clan that had sold Jack. It's not a huge episode size plot but once they got a little money I don't see Riddick (or Mal) ever letting the mercs live.
But now… they're off to Niska's station…wonder how that'll go?
Chinese Translations:
pì gu (butt)
xiào miàn hǔ (man with a big smile and evil intentions)
jiān xié (crafty and evil / a treacherous villain)
Zài dì yù de dì qī gè guā yuē jī zhōng shì shén me (What in the seventh sphincter of hell)
fàng zòng fēng kuáng de jié (Self-indulgent knot of lunacy/Indulge in crazy knots)
Zhè zhēn shì ge kuàilè de jìnzhǎn (this is a happy development)
Jiào nǐ shēng háizi méi pìgu yǎn (May your child be born with an imperforate anus)
kě wù de lǎo bào jūn (horrible old tyrant)
ài chī zìjǐ de fèn de gǒu (Crazy dog in love with its own feces / A dog that loves to eat its own)
fākuáng (crazy)
daì ruò mù ji (dumb as a wooden chicken)
yúchǔn hé duǎn shì (foolish/stupid and short sighted)
shàng bù dé tái pán (too uncouth to appear in public (idiom) / unfit for a public role)
Nǐ tā mā de tiān xià suǒ yǒu de rén dōu gāi sǐ. (Fuck everyone in the universe to death)
Arabic Translations:
qithar (harp)
Quote Sources:
What a pretty thing man is when he goes in his doublet and hose and leaves off his wit - Much Ado About Nothing – William Shakespeare
They are in the very wrath of love, and they will go together. Clubs cannot part them. - As You Like It – William Shakespeare