Title: We all have our battles
Part Nine: Readers
Author: You Already Know Who
Disclaimer: Why in the 'verse would I be posting fanfics if I OWNED Firefly? I mean, seriously people, why?
Spoilers: Duh
Summary: Jayne has a younger sister who is now the newest addition to the crew, there's a suspicion that Book ain't really a shepherd and is it possible that the newest addition is a witch or a reader?
A/N: Hope y'all are enjoying this. Nice twist on the end huh? Well, it gets sorted out, sorta, here so just try to pay attention. At least Book is safe and that Jones idiot won't try messing with him again. I hope. But like I've said before, I have no clue whatsoever on what's going to happen. Best way to write a story in my opinion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" He said leave." Tara's voice was heard from behind the three men. When they turned to look at her, her eyes were glowing white.
" What the-" Mal didn't finish his thoughts as a gun was shot.
" TARA!" The girl held up her hand and didn't even flinch as the bullet ripped it's way toward her.
" Stupid human." The bullet had stopped dead, suspended in mid air, inches from the palm of her hand. When she put her hand down, the piece of heated steel clanged metallically to the deck.
" Okay. I'm goin'. I'm goin'." Jones went back through to his own ship like his tail was on fire. The three men never noticed Tara collapse.
~~~~~
" You never told me your sister was a reader." Mal accused Jayne, standing in sickbay.
" That's cause she ain't." Jayne said for the tenth time.
" Then explain how she did that hand thing." River interrupted.
" Her mind opened. She was just trying to help. So were they."
" And who would this 'they' be, exactly?" Mal asked, addressing River for the first time.
" They, the voices. I can hear them, you can't. Tara's mind was open and they were just trying to help. Book's job is not over by far."
" His job? What job?" River closed her eyes and shook her head ever so slightly.
" What?" She asked, seeing Mal's look burning into her.
" What job River?"
" I don't know." She whispered, trying to dredge up the last couple of minutes in her mind.
" What do ya mean ya don't know, you were just spoutin' off about it." Mal was keeping his voice down for the fact that Tara was asleep.
" I don't remember okay?"
" How can ya not remember what ya said five seconds ago?"
" Mal." Simon warned, glaring at him as he did a second check on Tara.
" How is she?" Jayne turned to look at the young man.
" Nothing seriously wrong. Not that I can see anyway. She should be fine."
" Should be?"
" She's just sleeping right now. Exhaustion I'd say. Her stitches are holding so that's a good thing. As long as she doesn't break them again."
" She won't. Tara knows not to do the same stupid thing twice."
" I never said that breaking her stitches was a stupid thing. It just happens sometimes."
" I know ya didn't say that doc, I never said ya did. But she knows not to do that again otherwise she'll have to go through gettin' 'em re-stitched."
" Will y'all shut up?" Tara complained from her bed, getting ready to throw a pillow at the next person who talked.
" Okay, we're leavin'. Night Tara." Everyone filed out and Simon shut off the lights.
" Finally." /No nightmares tonight. Please./
~~~~~
" So Tara, ya any good at anything in particular?" Mal asked over dinner one-night two weeks later.
" Expert thief." She answered absentmindedly, putting food in her mouth.
" What do ya mean, exactly?" Mal leaned forward on his elbows, interested in knowing that the crime gene continued through out the family.
" I can break in anywhere I want and get back out undetected over ninety percent of the time."
" Really? That could come in handy."
" And I can hack my way into any cortex and get blueprints, security codes and the like."
" Tara." Jayne warned, pointing his fork at the girl.
" What? Mom taught me and it should go to some use. Anyway, I need to find some way to earn my keep."
" Your mom taught ya? What is with this family and crime?" Mal commented.
" When Jayne left, he had to get good at guns to get a job. Mom was a thief when she met dad and when she thought I might stand a chance to get away like Jayne, she taught me everything she knew."
" Skills like that should go to some use. Care to give a demonstration some time?"
" No prob Cap'n. When, where and what?" Tara was eager for her first assignment as part of Serenity's crew.
" It's just a demo but I'm sure Wash, Kaylee and I can whip somethin' up for ya ta try and get past, now can't we?" He asked, smiling at Wash and Kaylee as he scooped another forkful of potatoes into his mouth.
" Yes sir." Wash answered, fake saluting.
" 'Course." Kaylee beamed right back, her mind already at work on the scenario.
" When we get it ready, we'll come get ya, okay Tara?"
" Yes sir."
~~~~~
" Okay, I have the blueprints give me a sec and I'll have those security codes."
Tara was sitting a computer, accessing fake Alliance files. It was a simulation of the job on Ariel when they had to get the medicine out of the hospital, except much harder.
" Here, here and here. We need the same security code. In this area we have motion detectors which are deactivated here. I have the codes we need and we can go in when everyone's ready."
" Not bad."
" Thanks Captain."
" Your welcome."
" Thought those blocks could stop anyone." Kaylee was still dazed at the speed with which Tara had extracted the information.
" No offense but a child could've broken through. Not to mention that Alliance scramble their codes. I ran yours through a program I have, ya didn't even TRY to scramble 'em."
" Didn't think we'd have to. Looks like we got us some new talent. Welcome aboard Tara Cobb."
" Thanks Captain Reynolds."
~~~~~
" Looks like Tara's gonna be a good addition to the crew."
" Another thief for the mix."
" A good thief though."
" That would be the assumption."
Part Nine: Readers
Author: You Already Know Who
Disclaimer: Why in the 'verse would I be posting fanfics if I OWNED Firefly? I mean, seriously people, why?
Spoilers: Duh
Summary: Jayne has a younger sister who is now the newest addition to the crew, there's a suspicion that Book ain't really a shepherd and is it possible that the newest addition is a witch or a reader?
A/N: Hope y'all are enjoying this. Nice twist on the end huh? Well, it gets sorted out, sorta, here so just try to pay attention. At least Book is safe and that Jones idiot won't try messing with him again. I hope. But like I've said before, I have no clue whatsoever on what's going to happen. Best way to write a story in my opinion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" He said leave." Tara's voice was heard from behind the three men. When they turned to look at her, her eyes were glowing white.
" What the-" Mal didn't finish his thoughts as a gun was shot.
" TARA!" The girl held up her hand and didn't even flinch as the bullet ripped it's way toward her.
" Stupid human." The bullet had stopped dead, suspended in mid air, inches from the palm of her hand. When she put her hand down, the piece of heated steel clanged metallically to the deck.
" Okay. I'm goin'. I'm goin'." Jones went back through to his own ship like his tail was on fire. The three men never noticed Tara collapse.
~~~~~
" You never told me your sister was a reader." Mal accused Jayne, standing in sickbay.
" That's cause she ain't." Jayne said for the tenth time.
" Then explain how she did that hand thing." River interrupted.
" Her mind opened. She was just trying to help. So were they."
" And who would this 'they' be, exactly?" Mal asked, addressing River for the first time.
" They, the voices. I can hear them, you can't. Tara's mind was open and they were just trying to help. Book's job is not over by far."
" His job? What job?" River closed her eyes and shook her head ever so slightly.
" What?" She asked, seeing Mal's look burning into her.
" What job River?"
" I don't know." She whispered, trying to dredge up the last couple of minutes in her mind.
" What do ya mean ya don't know, you were just spoutin' off about it." Mal was keeping his voice down for the fact that Tara was asleep.
" I don't remember okay?"
" How can ya not remember what ya said five seconds ago?"
" Mal." Simon warned, glaring at him as he did a second check on Tara.
" How is she?" Jayne turned to look at the young man.
" Nothing seriously wrong. Not that I can see anyway. She should be fine."
" Should be?"
" She's just sleeping right now. Exhaustion I'd say. Her stitches are holding so that's a good thing. As long as she doesn't break them again."
" She won't. Tara knows not to do the same stupid thing twice."
" I never said that breaking her stitches was a stupid thing. It just happens sometimes."
" I know ya didn't say that doc, I never said ya did. But she knows not to do that again otherwise she'll have to go through gettin' 'em re-stitched."
" Will y'all shut up?" Tara complained from her bed, getting ready to throw a pillow at the next person who talked.
" Okay, we're leavin'. Night Tara." Everyone filed out and Simon shut off the lights.
" Finally." /No nightmares tonight. Please./
~~~~~
" So Tara, ya any good at anything in particular?" Mal asked over dinner one-night two weeks later.
" Expert thief." She answered absentmindedly, putting food in her mouth.
" What do ya mean, exactly?" Mal leaned forward on his elbows, interested in knowing that the crime gene continued through out the family.
" I can break in anywhere I want and get back out undetected over ninety percent of the time."
" Really? That could come in handy."
" And I can hack my way into any cortex and get blueprints, security codes and the like."
" Tara." Jayne warned, pointing his fork at the girl.
" What? Mom taught me and it should go to some use. Anyway, I need to find some way to earn my keep."
" Your mom taught ya? What is with this family and crime?" Mal commented.
" When Jayne left, he had to get good at guns to get a job. Mom was a thief when she met dad and when she thought I might stand a chance to get away like Jayne, she taught me everything she knew."
" Skills like that should go to some use. Care to give a demonstration some time?"
" No prob Cap'n. When, where and what?" Tara was eager for her first assignment as part of Serenity's crew.
" It's just a demo but I'm sure Wash, Kaylee and I can whip somethin' up for ya ta try and get past, now can't we?" He asked, smiling at Wash and Kaylee as he scooped another forkful of potatoes into his mouth.
" Yes sir." Wash answered, fake saluting.
" 'Course." Kaylee beamed right back, her mind already at work on the scenario.
" When we get it ready, we'll come get ya, okay Tara?"
" Yes sir."
~~~~~
" Okay, I have the blueprints give me a sec and I'll have those security codes."
Tara was sitting a computer, accessing fake Alliance files. It was a simulation of the job on Ariel when they had to get the medicine out of the hospital, except much harder.
" Here, here and here. We need the same security code. In this area we have motion detectors which are deactivated here. I have the codes we need and we can go in when everyone's ready."
" Not bad."
" Thanks Captain."
" Your welcome."
" Thought those blocks could stop anyone." Kaylee was still dazed at the speed with which Tara had extracted the information.
" No offense but a child could've broken through. Not to mention that Alliance scramble their codes. I ran yours through a program I have, ya didn't even TRY to scramble 'em."
" Didn't think we'd have to. Looks like we got us some new talent. Welcome aboard Tara Cobb."
" Thanks Captain Reynolds."
~~~~~
" Looks like Tara's gonna be a good addition to the crew."
" Another thief for the mix."
" A good thief though."
" That would be the assumption."