Much Ado About Kaylee

"Have to make sure to wait for the metal to get good and wet before you start with the torch, otherwise you won't get a smooth joint and it'll be visible fifty yards back." Jittery nerves kept Kaylee spouting random instructions and tips without actually making her any less nervous. She weren't sure there was any wisdom in Mal's idea of Riddick helping her now that she was up close to him. The clamps holding the two sides together kept slipping as she welded. Finally she gave up, shut off the torch and went back to trying to get the clamps to grip the metal properly. "Nuishi! Stupid piece of feiwu."

Riddick reached around her to place a hand on each piece and push them together. "Just hurry up with that torch."

She slapped the mask down and started burning. The torch moved as fast as she could push it, melting the primer cord into the edges and then using that as a bond between the two pieces. It weren't the strongest patch in the verse but it'd hold 'til they were long gone.

Once she reached as high as she could, she cut the torch and wiped the sweat off of her forehead. "Should hold itself once it cools and that ain't long. I can get the rest without you havin' to hold it. You good 'til then?"

"Just say when," he answered.

Kaylee froze as she realize that she was trapped between him and the crate, her back up against his chest and a burly arm on either side. To make matters worse, Jayne had chosen that moment to wander off for something he wanted. Her cheeks were already flushed with the heat of the torch and this predicament wasn't helping. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to slip out under his arms without bumping him and possibly causing him to lose his grip on the crate. "Duibuqi, I ain't sure how to get out without riskin' havin' to start over. 'fraid you're stuck with me."

"Don't mind." His breath tickled the back of her neck. "Been a long time since I had a beautiful woman in my arms."

"You think I'm meili?" She pulled the mask off and looked up over her shoulder. "Really? Not just pretty?"

"Meili," he echoed with a faint smile.

"Course, you been in prison. Can't imagine there are a lot of women there. Most anything'd be improvement, right?"

He surprised her by laughing. More of a rumble deep in his throat and chest, rough and out of place with the emotionless rest of him. "Got soot on your face, Kaylee."

"Oh! I am such a sha gwa." Embarrassed, she rubbed at her face.

"Sexy."

"Sexy?" Her cheeks were burning now and she turned away before he could see how red her face was or hear how fast her heart was beating with nervousness. Bad enough being this close to him when Jayne was in the room, it was near terrifying being all alone. She tested the weld and decided it was cold enough that he could let go. "It's good. I'll get the top part."

"I'll look for more." He dropped his arms and moved around to the other side of the crate.

Kaylee leaned back against the crate and took a deep breath. "Ain't that the way? Can't get Simon to barely look at me and first convicted murderer we pick up thinks I'm sexy with soot on my face. Life sure ain't fair." She shook her head and dragged a smaller crate over to reach the rest of the crack.

"Are you all right, Kaylee?" Inara's voice startled her.

"'Nara! Nearly gave me a heart attack." Kaylee glanced around furtively to see if anyone else had heard her but Jayne was still elsewhere and Riddick had vanished between the crates.

"I came down to see how the repairs were going."

"They's coming. Be glad when it's done though, something 'bout those eyes of his gives me the shivers." It was too embarrassing to mention the part about her being beautiful so she yanked her mask down and started welding again. Once she reached the top, she cut the torch again and hopped down from the crate. "Makes me appreciate Simon, you know. He don't scare me none and he ain't been in prison for killin' people."

Inara smiled, "There are a few good men left in the verse."

"What about the Cap'n? He's a good man."

"He's…something."

"There ain't no account for you to leave just cause of him." Kaylee adjusted the throughput on the torch and wrapped up the rest of the primer cord around her shoulder.

"Sometimes we can't see what's right in front of us; we're so blind that we don't see until it's too late. There are reasons that I can't explain but none of them are because I take joy in leaving you. Any of you."

She rubbed her nose with the back of her hand and tried not to be sad. "Meant to ask why you bein' nice to Riddick. Since Cap'n wasn't right about you havin' sex with him…right?"

"There are two reasons." Inara turned to go back up the stairs. "The first is that he knows how much River is worth to the Alliance and he doesn't care. He doesn't want the ship and he doesn't want River. The second is that it's good strategy; something that Mal seems unable to grasp. Even a lion can be tamed by a soft voice and a steady hand."

Kaylee pondered that as she watched Inara retreat to her shuttle. Maybe this was the universe where Jayne had something useful to say and Inara had made a deal with the silver-eyed devil.

"Kaylee."

She jerked and dropped her hand torch when she heard Riddick's voice, whirling around to see him standing behind her. "Tianna! You're the second person's done that to me today. Can't you people learn to warn a girl 'fore you go sneakin' up on her?"

"Duibuqi." He bent down to pick up the torch and handed it to her.

"Mei guanxi, I'm jumpy s'all." She laughed nervously as she took it.

"Kaylee? Are you all right? I thought I heard something." Simon appeared in the doorway, looking concerned.

"Just me droppin' stuff, ain't nothing to worry."

"Xiaoxin," he said before disappearing again.

"I will!" Kaylee called after him, sighing heavily once the echo of her voice had faded away. "Bet you're cursing the day you woke up on this boat."

"Beats the slam." He jerked his head toward the narrow corridor between the crates. "Found another one down the side. These things seem to be weakest at the corners."

"Did you have to break them?" She rubbed her nose again and started into the passageway. "Any idea what you're gonna do once we land?"

"Find a ship," he answered indifferently.

"Where you headed? Other than where we're going."

"Anywhere without people."

"Sounds lonely." Kaylee squinted at the crack. It was at the top of the crate, curling around the corner, and beginning to inch down the side as the insides pressed outward. The passage was too narrow to drag a crate for her to stand on and she wasn't feeling much like hanging over the top. Might make the crack move faster anyhow.

"Climb on." Riddick crouched as low as possible in the cramped space and held out his hand.

"You're not serious."

"You got a better idea?" He tipped his head to the side, his silver eyes unnerving in the shadow.

"No, no. This'll do." She put one foot on his thigh and took his hand. As soon as she'd swung her other leg over his left shoulder, he straightened up and slid her right leg onto his shoulder in a single motion. "Wei! Are you kuangzhe de?"

"Can you reach?"

"I think so." She adjusted her mask and readied the torch, ignoring the fact that his hands were holding onto her thighs to keep her balanced. Hands like that and he could snap her like a tooth pick if he had the mind to. "Ain't gonna apologize cause this was your idea but you might want to watch the firey bits. They burn plenty 'fore they go out."

This crack was such that it didn't need any clamps and she could seal the edges with no more than a little pressure using her free hand. She tried not to think about the rain of sparks, figuring they couldn't feel good but anyone who'd put stuff in their eyeballs on purpose probably didn't bother much with pain. When she finished, she lifted up her mask and surveyed the weld. They'd have to drag the crates out of Serenity somehow; she just hoped the joints were strong enough to handle the torque.

"Didn't find no more?"

"Just the one. Grab on to the top."

"What?" She grabbed onto the crate to steady herself as he reached up and put his hands on her hips. He lifted her up, ducking beneath her and then lowering her down in front of him. It was narrow enough that she had to slide between his body and the crate, which brought back memories of Jubel Early and sent her heart racing fearfully.

"Easy," he cautioned as her feet touched the floor.

"I think I'm stuck." The passage wasn't wide enough to accommodate both of them and her tools. One end of the torch was lodged into one of the grooves in the crate and the other dug painfully into her stomach, refusing to budge. She didn't have enough room to pull it out and began to panic.

"That," Riddick said against her ear, his hands curling over hers to stop her from pulling on the torch. "Ain't the best idea."

"You wanna be stuck in here all night?" His arms around her felt more like a noose around her neck. She braced herself for the possibility of all sorts of unpleasantness, hoping that Simon would hear her scream.

"There're worse things to be stuck with than you."

"That so?" She was about to remind him that Jayne was probably sitting back at the other end of the cargo hold cleaning his guns.

"Before that merc caught me, left a planet full of things came out at night to rip you apart. Claws and teeth. Smelled blood and followed it." He shifted her one direction and moved the other way, twisting the torch around so it came loose from the crate and dropped into her hands.

It was the most she'd heard him say at one time since River had let him out of the box and she felt a little guilty over thinking the worst when he'd just been trying to help. She checked the nozzle of the torch for any unexpected bends; glad to see it had survived without damage. "Why'd you go there if it was so dangerous?"

"Transport ship crash landed. Those of us survived found a skiff before nightfall but only three of us made it off the planet." He was looking at her but she could tell he was light years away.

"I'm sorry. Was they…any of them people you cared for?" She placed her hand on his arm in sympathy.

His jaw tightened and she watched his expression turn cold. "Probably should've been smart and left them when I had the chance."

"How can you say that?"

"I got no reason to kill you, Kaylee. Any of you. Don't mean I won't if you give me one." He leaned in close enough that she could feel his breath hot against her skin. "I don't give a fuck what happens to any of you. Dong ma?"

She forced herself to stare into those terrifying eyes, memories of Niska's men and Jubel Early flashing through her mind. All the times she should've been brave and hadn't been. Weren't going to be that Kaylee no more. She lifted her chin defiantly, "I ain't 'fraid of you."

"You should be."

"Well, I ain't. River never woulda let you out if'n she thought we'd come to harm." She scowled stubbornly at him.

River appeared at their side like a ghost materializing out of thin air. "Crocodile doesn't like the taste of humanity in his mouth. Bitter like chalk, can't swallow it down so he keeps choking."

"Don't push your luck, kid," Riddick snarled.

"She died for you. Died for nothing if you hurt Kaylee. Ripped away, ripped apart, watched her die. Crocodile wants to be human again, doesn't know how. Has to choose." River watched them calmly, eyes wide and unblinking.

Riddick pulled back, his expression oscillating between shock and fury, and his fists clenched tightly as though he couldn't decide whether or not to strike her. Choice made, he turned around and disappeared between the crates. Kaylee stared after him, taking deep breaths now that her chest weren't so constricted.

"What was that about, River?"

"Blood on his hands." River turned away to wander between the crates. "Couldn't save her, blood on his hands he didn't ask for and doesn't want. Doesn't lay idle like the rest, doesn't let him sleep."

"Sure am glad you're on our side, River. You can be mighty creepifying." Kaylee shivered as she hugged her tools protectively.

"I know."

Kaylee peered out from the crates, determined not to come out if Riddick was still around just in case he thought he hadn't threatened her good and proper. Seeing no sign of him, she made sure she had everything and made a beeline for the safety of the engine room. It was easier breathing where everything was familiar.

"Kaylee?"

This time she screamed at the top of her lungs, whirling around to see Mal standing in the doorway. "Wode tian, Cap'n! Don't do that again, you hear? All you fixin' to scare me right to death!"

He looked at her as though she'd lost her mind. "You alright? Seem a mite jumpy."

"Next time there needs fixin', you can be the one doin' it. See how you like havin' his hands all over you." She shuddered as she put the torch and mask away.

"Did he touch you? That qingwa cao de liumang!" He was halfway out of the room before she could get a word in edgewise.

"Cap'n!" She caught his arm and stopped him. "Not more'n was necessary. But you seen the size of him and you seen the size of me. More than a bit of difference 'tween the two and it's mighty disconcerting. He could've broken me into pieces without so much as an effort and no one woulda known."

"Jayne was s'posed to be there watchin' over you."

"He were. He stepped out to get something and don't be mad, weren't Jayne's fault." With a heavy sigh, she sat down beside the heart and soul of Serenity and stared bleakly into the engine core. "I just ain't brave, Cap'n. If River hadn't come when she did, I was fixin' to scream."

"Kaylee, bao bei." He settled down next to her. "Shouldn't have asked it of you. Should've done the repairs myself."

"No offense, Cap'n, but you ain't exactly clever with tools."

"Hey now, I pass fair with a hammer."

She smiled weakly, breathing easier now that she was safe. "Might should know, River said somethin' to him seemed to make him real mad. Didn't hurt her or nothing, just stormed off lookin' real dark."

"She make any sense to you?"

"Something about someone dying and him not savin' her. Near as I can tell, he don't care much about keepin' anyone alive but himself." She shivered again and wrapped her arms tightly around her knees. "Said he crashed on some planet with a bunch of monsters and only three of the passengers made it. Said he shoulda been smart and left 'em there. Like…like he don't even care whether they lived or died."

"We know he ain't exactly a Shepherd, Kaylee."

"There's somethin' about him, Cap'n. Like a snake just waitin' to strike, all coiled and ready. I can't believe River'd let him out if'n she thought he'd hurt us."

"Curiosity's a powerful thing. And it ain't no question of River's intentions, she's shown she's willing to protect the crew and Serenity at risk to herself," he told her reassuringly.

"I'm such a coward."

"No such thing." Mal shook his head. "Man like that gets his fun outta scarin' people, pushin' their buttons. No doubt in my mind he wanted to make you afraid of him."

"How can anyone be that cold, Cap'n? Wantin' to leave people to die like that. Like he ain't got no human left in him."

"Prison can change a man, turn him into an animal. Ain't more complicated than that. Say the word and I'll throw him off this boat faster than you can say zia-jian."

Kaylee shook her head, wiping at her face with her sleeve. "Not on account of me. Just a case of the jitters is all."

"You sure? Won't pain me none to do it."

"I'd feel responsible, Cap'n. And I ain't a monster who don't care like him."

Mal gave her an odd smile but nodded before standing up, "I'll make sure he stays away from you from now on. Don't you worry."

"Thanks, Cap'n. Don't think I'll be sleeping with the door unlocked 'til he's gone. Creepy knowing he can see in the dark, ain't it?" She shivered again, watching the soothing spin of the engine core as his footsteps faded away. No sense telling him that Riddick said she was beautiful, he'd probably just been trying to throw her off balance anyway. She rubbed at her face a little harder, determined to wipe away all the soot and any reminder of Riddick.

Mal's skin crawled with a sick kind of anger as he headed for the cockpit. He'd intended to ask Wash if he could hurry up their schedule a bit and get the gorram psychopath off his boat sooner rather than later. He was surprised to find Zoe sitting in Wash's chair and no sign of her husband.

"Zoe?"

"Just a moment, sir." She raised a hand in acknowledgement but didn't turn around. "Thank you, Mr. Universe. This'll help us."

"I'll keep my eyes open for anything else about our optically enhanced friend. Don't be strangers," the familiar voice called out from the console before the wave went silent.

"Lookin' for something in particular, Zoe?" Mal took a seat across from her.

"More information never hurts, sir."

"And?"

Zoe shook her head. "I don't like the picture that's forming. Lot of people lookin' for this Riddick bad enough they're sending information halfway across the universe. Seems agreed that there ain't a prison in the verse can hold him."

"Not comfortin' in particular."

"River said he'd fought in a war." She looked away as though trying to avoid telling him.

"Something interesting?"

"According to this, he was the only man to return out of a platoon of five hundred, sir. It was a slaughter."

Mal felt his stomach turn and pushed away the images of Serenity Valley before they could take root in his mind. Wouldn't help him none to be thinking of that. "This supposed to make him sympathetic? Cause I just spent time with Kaylee and he's got her holed up in the engine room terrified of closin' her eyes. Ain't much caring what war he fought in."

"Just looking for a better understanding of what we're dealing with is all."

"Worried he might become a problem?"

"There are at least three star systems out there in which he ain't been nothing but." She detached his goggles from her belt, turning them over on her palm as she studied them. "Took these as insurance weren't any of us gonna meet unfortunate ends before the job was done. Near as I can tell, it's the only weakness he has."

"Now you're thinkin' it won't be enough."

"If something goes wrong while we're with the cargo, sir…Serenity will be wide open."

"We'll leave Jayne to watch over the others."

"I ain't saying that's a bad idea but what if it ain't enough? We're gonna be spread too thin as it is."

The idea had already occurred to Mal and he hadn't yet had any brilliant ideas about how to get around it. "Probably right. Most likely, we'll be outgunned and outnumbered. If you're worried about Riddick, then we make sure he ain't gonna be a problem. After what he did to Kaylee, I'll sleep easy."

"What I'm saying, sir, is that we need to conjure a way to get him on our side."

"Come again?"

"If he's everything these bulletins say he is then protectin' Serenity while we're gone won't be a trouble for him." Zoe tucked the goggles away carefully.

"Job could be smooth sailing, no problems at all."

"Could be. Could just be pretty flowers, nothin' more. Are you willing to risk our home on a hope and a prayer, sir?"

"Ain't no way of being sure he won't turn on us even if he does agree to help. Kaylee seems to be under the impression he's ain't for caring about any life but his own." Mal stared out into the black thoughtfully.

"Every man has a price. If we can afford his, it's worth considering."

Mal could see the reason behind her words and he trusted her judgment of a situation enough to spend time turning it over in his mind. Much as he hated to admit it, he'd also been a mite disturbed by what River had said at the table. He'd even caught himself looking extra hard in the mirror half expecting to see scales growing up under his skin.

"Sir?" Zoe's voice pulled him back to the present.

"What do we have that this man could possibly want? Far as I can tell, he's only happy when he's terrorizin' my crew."

"Perhaps River--"

"No." He cut her off and shook his head vehemently. "Don't want her seeing into his head any more than she has already. Nothing but blood and evil in there. No need for her to go digging."

"We need a way to get a better idea of what kind of man he is."

"Other than a cold-blooded killer?"

"Even with all this searchin', I ain't got a clear picture of what drives him. We need someone to try talkin' to him, sir, see if they can get an idea."

"Well, I can," he offered.

"I don't think so, sir. I think you two were born hatin' each other and all that'd come of it is one of you dead. That don't help us none come tomorrow." Zoe was trying not to smile.

"You got another idea?"

"Well, sir, there is someone on this boat trained to read a man."

"To what do I owe this…" Inara trailed off as Mal was followed by Book and Zoe. Just Mal barging into her shuttle wasn't nearly as rare as she'd like but the others, and the combination of them all, was unusual.

"Inara." Mal nodded, standing stiff and uncomfortable. "We come to ask you for one last help. For the crew and for Serenity."

"Somehow I don't think I'm going to like this." She closed the trunk she was packing and sat down on the bench. "Please, make yourselves comfortable." They somewhat awkwardly settled onto various pieces of furniture.

"We come to ask you for somethin' that ain't smart." Mal cleared his throat.

"That's not exactly unusual." Inara smiled.

"We need Riddick on our side." Zoe shifted uncomfortably. "This job could be tricky and we need someone on Serenity who knows somethin' about killin'."

Inara wasn't sure if she was more surprised by the request or by the fact that it was coming from Zoe. "I'm afraid I don't understand what you're asking."

"Need you get a fix on him, maybe help us find something we can use to convince him to help us. Ain't asking any more than a better idea what we're dealin' with and if he's gonna turn on us."

She thought about that for a moment, watching the expressions on Mal's face change as he exchanged glances with Book. That they had brought Book puzzled her somewhat. Zoe, as always, was unreadable. She adjusted her skirt and crossed her ankles elegantly before addressing them. "You're asking me to spend time with a man you know to be an escaped murderer and who you believe to be dangerous."

"Out of all of us, you'd read him clearest and he don't seem to have a dislike for you," Zoe continued.

"That's one way of puttin' it," Mal muttered sarcastically.

"Riddick doesn't frighten me," Inara told them levelly.

"He ought to." Mal met her eyes, staring at her so intently that she wondered if he was trying to look into her soul. "Can't figure for the life of me why he don't. Kaylee's scared half to death of him and she weren't the one watched him kill a man."

"Mal." Inara looked down at her hands.

"You were covered in blood, Inara. Tell me how that don't equate to bein' jinge."

"I was so jingkong I couldn't move!" Inara was stunned at her own voice echoing through the shuttle. "The gun was right beside me and I couldn't even move my hands to reach for it. But I'm glad I didn't."

"You sure pick funny things to be glad over." Mal frowned pensively at her.

She looked away to regain her composure, turning back to them only when she could do so with a calm smile. "I'm willing to speak with him. What are you willing to offer in exchange for his help?"

"Cut of the take," Mal answered without hesitation.

"Can you afford to do that?"

"Might be we can't afford not to," Zoe replied.

"There is one contingency that we should plan for," Book spoke for the first time. He looked to Mal and received a single nod.

"You think he'll ask for something other than money," Inara preempted him quickly. "Believe me, the idea had crossed my mind."

"He know you're a…" Mal's words trailed off.

"He knows what I am, Mal."

"I must say that I have a hard time with this," Book slid closer to Inara. "This is a dangerous man who has been in prison for a very long time. Should he not desire money…well, I don't believe that you are simply a commodity to be bartered and sold."

"Neither do I, Shepherd. Believe me, that won't be an offer I extend. But as you pointed out, he has been in prison and I would be very surprised if he didn't request my services."

"It's a dangerous precedent." Book continued to shake his head.

"I won't be with Serenity much longer, Shepherd, so precedence is hardly the issue." She made a show of glancing around the shuttle. "If you don't mind, I need to prepare. I will speak with him, extend your offer of a cut of the profit from this job, and make an attempt to persuade him. If he desires something beyond your offer, I will consider it for myself and I will decide how to proceed."

"Inara." The Shepherd looked genuinely pained.

"The Companion chooses the client, not the other way around. Should that be his price, it will be my decision alone."

"You'll get all the information we have on him. And I want your screen on; cover it up if you have to. Want to know what's goin' on in case he's hard of hearin' with the word no." Mal seemed disgruntled by her agreement to act as their ambassador.

"We ain't asking you to bed him, Inara. We're willin' to break down that door if need be." The concern in Zoe's voice was strangely comforting.

"I appreciate your concern."

"And if he so much as leaves a mark on you, he'll be dealt with according." All concern was replaced by cold determination as Zoe stood up to leave.

"I'll need a change of clothing."

"Don't you got enough?" Mal looked around, puzzled.

"For Riddick."

Mal's brow furrowed. "Thought we just finished talkin' bout how he ain't gonna be takin' those off."

"Don't ask questions, Mal. Just trust me and get me a change of clothing." Inara tried not to show her amusement.

"Oh. Well, I got some--"

"We'll take somethin' of Jayne's, sir," Zoe cut him off with a half smile.

"You should be armed. Might take us a some time to get to you if he…if he…" Mal trailed off, pulling his gun out of the holster.

"Do you honestly think me foolish enough to face him unarmed? Keep your guns, I have my own weapons. Now if you'll excuse me." Inara kept her smile in place as Mal and Zoe left the shuttle. When Book hesitated, she put a gentle hand on his arm. "I will be careful, Shepherd. And I'm sure most of the crew will be listening."

"This is a dangerous game, Inara."

"A game that I have been taught to play." She drifted back toward the vanity and selected a suitable stick of incense. "Money and status do not always go hand in hand with civility and even the most finely polished veneer can hide a monster. Companions are taught to stay aware of the situation and know when it has become unsafe. We are not helpless."

"I do not believe this is a man who can be manipulated." Book stood quietly with his Bible in his hands.

"Did you fail in your attempt to convert him, Shepherd?" she gently teased.

He smiled and there might have been a touch of color in his cheeks. "I'm afraid I'm guilty of passing judgment. My own fallible nature did not believe that this was a man who could be or wished to be redeemed."

"I'm sure you're not the only one."

"I see a powerful anger in him. I've seen him looking at the Holy Book with murder in his eyes. This is not a man who doesn't believe in God, Inara. This is a man who would tear down the gates of heaven to destroy Him. This is a man who knows only evil." He bowed his head sadly.

"And yet River senses something in him." Inara placed the stick of incense gently in the stand and continued her preparations. "Something that the rest of us either can't see or refuse to see."

"It is possible."

Inara realized she was staring at the delicate teacup in her hand without actually seeing the tiny flowers painted onto the porcelain. Her mind replayed the scene in her shuttle over and over. She could almost feel the warm spray of blood on her skin and Riddick's rough hands as he began wiping it away. It was an odd thing for a killer to do. Rather it was something that an older brother did after spraying a sibling with mud, an awkward attempt at an apology. The word family made him visibly tense and the way he looked at her hadn't changed at all after he'd discovered what she was. A whore was just another face that couldn't be trusted.

"Inara?"

"Forgive me, Shepherd. My mind wandered." She set the teacup down gently. "They aren't so different, Malcolm and Riddick."

"I'm afraid I don't quite follow."

"They're both arrogant," she smiled at him, setting out a carefully chosen selection of teas. "I doubt either of them understand compassion, mercy, or forgiveness. Those are idle words that have no place in their lives. I fear to think what would have happened to Mal if he'd lost Zoe in that valley and if he'd never found this ship."

Book studied her thoughtfully, seeming to ponder her words long and hard. "Perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps you will be able to persuade him."

"I doubt that there are other viable options as I'm the only one who has been willing to show him kindness."

"You are a woman of grace."

"Hardly, Shepherd. I know a dragon when I see one." She met his surprised look with a smile. "I simply choose not to rouse its anger."