Notes: So sorry it's been so long. I hope someone's still reading this!
hwoon dahn: bastards
bun tyen-shung duh ee-dway ro: stupid pile of meat
Mal had been roused from his fitful sleep by Jayne's bellowing at his door. The gorram Reavers. He spent a half second wondering exactly what he did to piss off God so much before he scrambled up the ladder. There was no sign of Jayne as he exited his bunk. Mal hoped he was waking the others. He walked to Wash and Zoë's bunk and pounded on the door.
"Everyone decent? We've got company on the way."
The door was immediately opened by Zoë, who was already dressed and strapping on her gun belt. A tousled-headed Wash was rubbing his eyes as he tried to wake up.
"What's the plan, Captain? How're we going to escape the evil Reavers' clutches today?"
Mal sighed with exasperation. "Why's everybody always expect me to come up with the plans? Show some gorram initiative, people!"
Jayne ran through the corridors to go collect River. He'd better get Simon and Book while he was at it. He tightened his grip on his gun. The Reavers were here. They'd probably all die, he acknowledged to himself. Death didn't bother him today. The selfish bout of panic he was used to... it was gone. But he was still afraid. He knew what would happen to the crew once the Reavers boarded. They'd be horribly outnumbered. Reavers would swarm over everything. If anyone survived all the stabbings and shootings and whatnot... God help 'em.
Jayne forced down the bile in his throat. Ain't no gorram way any of those hwoon dahn would touch his River. He'd see to it. With new determination he threw open the door to her room.
"Come on, baby, we gotta move," he said as he barreled into the room, running straight into Simon. Go se.
Simon had been trying to pacify River who was spinning around the room uncontrollably. Jayne had the deer-in-the-headlights expression. Simon, with a great, deprecating sigh, simply rolled his eyes and said:
"It says so much about you that the only affectionate conversation you can hold is with a weapon."
Huh. Jayne, relieved at not having to explain his endearment sneered back.
"Well, Zoë's married, 'Nara's a whore, which leaves Lil' Kaylee and your sister. Which do you want me to affectionate?" He punctuated his comments with lewd, waggling eyebrows. Simon turned a grisly shade of green.
River stopped her spinning, stared at Jayne, then laughed eerily.
"They're swarming. Dry little bodies. Dry little hearts." Her smile melted as she stared hard at Jayne and Simon. "We're all going to die."
Simon turned to placate his sister. "No, mei-mei. It'll be all right. The captain has a plan and we'll all be fine."
River just glared at Simon. "Stop smothering me," she spat.
Simon stepped back, wounded by the venom in her words.
Jayne cleared his throat. "Uh, Mal wants you to go get Kaylee and Book," he fibbed. "I'll bring River and meet you in the cargo bay."
Simon nodded and walked out distractedly.
"Come on, get dressed," Jayne murmured to River. "We got to leave. They'll be here soon."
"I almost escaped the whale. But it has swallowed me whole. No blue fairy," River sighed.
"Hey, it's all right. You'll have more time." Jayne knelt down and began digging through her small chest of clothes, since River made no move to change out of her nightgown. He pulled out a green and black dress and held it up towards her. "Here, this is pretty."
She took the material and crumpled it to her chest. She stared at it for a moment and then dropped to her knees beside Jayne.
"I wanted more time with you." She leaned against his arm, cradling her dress.
Jayne stared down at the top of her head. "Hey, now. Just one day with you... is better than a thousand elsewhere."
River smiled at his pretty words. "Quality, not quantity?"
"Right. Now, arms up."
She obliged and Jayne plucked off her nightgown, thankful she was wearing an undershirt. Once dressed, Jayne took her hand and began leading her through the ship.
"I gotta get Vera and some others. Then we'll see what everyone's doing."
River nodded and followed him quietly, her mind quickly losing focus among the barbaric thoughts that began to plunder her mind.
Smoke filled the air as the crew took their positions on the catwalk in the cargo bay. An angry red line on the cargo bay doors was the only sign of the Reavers. Their ship was slowly – but quite effectively – melting Serenity's last defenses.
Zoë was resigned. She didn't want to die, but at least she'd go down fighting. Her thoughts flickered back to her and Wash's constant argument, and for once she was glad she hadn't yet won him over.
Inara stood close by Malcolm's side; her weapon's strap slung over her silk kimono. A muscle in Mal's cheek twitched as he glanced at her, but he stayed silent, ignoring Inara's perfume.
Book, Kaylee, and Simon crouched in a corner, hidden behind a crate. All were armed, but only Book looked comfortable with the cold weight in his hands. His eyes were narrowed and his jaw set. Kaylee kept shifting her panicked glance from the gun in her hands to the ferocity in the Shepherd's face.
Simon squeezed Kaylee's shoulder.
"A fine trio we make: the doctor and the mechanic are terrified and the Shepherd looks about ready to go on a homicidal spree through the park," he whispered in her ear.
Kaylee was not in the mood for jokes. She smiled uncomfortably.
"Where's River?" she asked.
Simon sighed and pulled away from Kaylee's back. She immediately scooted closer to him again, unconsciously pressing her shoulder blades to his chest, despite her annoyance at his flippancy.
"She's having a fit. She's very angry at me. I have no idea why. She only cooperates for Jayne." He scoffed. "Probably scares her into compliance. There they are." He pointed to the stairs, where Jayne was marching up the steps, making as much noise as possible.
He held River's hand tight in his, half dragging her behind him. She was pulling against his grip, her eyes unfocused and flitting around the room. Her lips were moving randomly and she occasionally would shout out a letter of the Greek alphabet – in descending order.
Jayne was ignoring her outbursts. He continued his path right towards Malcolm and planted himself in front of him.
When Mal's eyes met his, Jayne let loose: "What in the gorram hell are you doing, you self-indulgent bun tyen-shung duh ee-dwah ro?!"
Mal shook his head in confusion at the outburst. "Now, what's going on? We're gonna die, but we'll take some uglies with us. Best we can do." He shrugged his shoulders. Jayne glowered.
"Bad plan," he snarled through his teeth.
"All die. Stripped. Skins flapping in the wind. Pretty shells all broken," River spouted, while leaning backwards over the railing.
Jayne quietly tugged her back against his side.
"See? Bad plan."
Mal glared at Jayne. "Fine. What's your idea?" he asked condescendingly.
"Well, I am taking a shuttle, and heading out. Hopefully, they'll want the ship more. Won't bother chasing us. Can't be two places at once. Rest of you should take the other shuttle and go the other way. Chances are at least one group would live." He ran out of steam and confidence. He glanced down at River. "Right?" he asked her, looking for support.
She smiled prettily up at him. "Knight takes King."
Jayne puffed up, grinning at Mal. "See?"
"See what??"
"The gorram genius thinks my plan beats your plan's ass."
Jayne turned and started towards the shuttle with River in tow.
"See ya."
"Hey! Wait!" Simon tripped out from behind the crate to chase after his sister. Kaylee scrambled after.
Mal sighed. Since when does the muscle think?
Zoë shot a glance at her husband, then sidled up to Mal.
"Might be a better choice," she said quietly.
"Better to get blown up in space like a skeet than to go down fighting?" he asked his first mate disbelievingly.
"Least your ass will be attached," she countered.
Mal sighed and stared at the ever-growing circle in his hull. "All right. Let's take Inara's shuttle."
He grabbed blindly for Inara's arm and trotted off towards the shuttle. Zoë followed. Wash stayed long enough behind to set the ship's self-destruct. Mal wouldn't approve: Serenity was his baby. But Zoë was his and this could increase their odds of escape.
Wash glanced back at the cargo bay doors. The circle was complete. With a hiss, a six foot diameter chunk of hull was pushed through. Wash took off running after his wife as waves of hungry Reavers began to pour onto the ship.