NirSighted Chapter Twelve: Make Me An Offer

Battleboury was larger than St. Florin's, but not by much. It would never been known as the pinnacle of scientific research the way St. Florin's was, but it had several industries to its credit, namely soap and paper. It was also the used-book hotbed of the black. If you needed a book, you were more likely to find more copies of it on Battleboury than anywhere else.

Wash set Serenity down at the Full Metal Docks on Battleboury's largest settlement, Breakstaff. None of the crew was surprised to see Stoïque in a dock slot only three over. "Guess we should go figure out what's goin' wrong," Mal said, looking out over the docks.

"Prob'ly should, sir," Zoë agreed.

Mal sighed. "Are we takin' the girl?"

"What girl? We've got too many o' them," Zoë said.

"Nir."

"We kin take her, absolutely, sir," Zoë replied.

"Let's go."

The hatch to Stoïque was open and Antony and Kolya, the ship's emissaries, were standing on the dock, talking to two passers-by. At last the two men moved on and Antony noticed Mal, Zoë, Jayne, and Nir. "Captain Reynolds," he said in his accented voice. "What brings you here?"

"I ain't rightly sure," Mal replied, looking at Nir. "Nir, you wanna explain?"

"Hello, Mr. Brightman, Mr. Anson," Nir said.

"Do we know you?" Kolya asked.

"No, you do not," Nir replied. "My name is Niriel Shatter-Glass, but you may call me Nir. Where are Companion Sage and Ms. Trickey?"

"If you know us, why do you not know them?" Antony asked suspiciously.

"We're here to help you," Nir informed him sharply. "If you decline to help us, you will be stuck here longer."

Kolya glared at Antony. At last, Antony said, "Emilia is onboard the ship. Carole went into town. She should be back shortly."

"It would be of the most kindness for you to lead me to Companion Sage," Nir said, ever polite.

"Where's Doc Rupert?" Zoë asked. No one had mentioned him yet.

Everyone was quiet for a moment. Then Kolya replied softly, "Doctor Pawtucket passed away a week ago."

"I'm so sorry," Zoë said, giving Kolya a pat on the shoulder.

"He lived a good life," Antony said, patting Kolya's other shoulder. "Sometimes it is just difficult for us to understand."

"Death always is," Nir agreed. Then she changed topics. "You mentioned that Ms. Trickey was in town. Would she happen to be in the company of a Mr. Parmin?"

Antony looked at Nir as though she had three heads. "I'm not sure," he replied, but he didn't seem to be telling the truth.

Nir nodded and removed a meter from her bag. She swung it over Kolya and Antony, at the space around their waists, then turned it towards the settlement of Battleboury. "Thank you. I will find her."

"I thought you wanted to speak with Emilia," Kolya said, obviously confused.

"I do, but there is a time and place for everything. I shall return shortly. Captain Reynolds, Mrs. Washburne, Mr. Cobb, please come with me," Nir requested.

"Where're we goin'?" Mal asked.

"We are going to correct a large mistake that will happen unless we have a hand in stopping it," Nir replied.

"Grenades? We need grenades?" Jayne questioned hopefully.

"Your current arsenal should prove sufficient," Nir answered. "This way; let's go."

She led them into Breakstaff, the meter swinging left then right as Nir inspected every building. At last she stopped, almost suddenly, in front of a two-story green building. It was sandwiched between a used-book store on the left and a food co-op on the right. "Ms. Trickey is here," she informed Mal.

"Well, what're we waitin' fer?" Mal wanted to know.

"Nothing, I suppose," Nir replied. She tucked away her meter and strode boldly to the door of the building. Pulling it open, she disappeared inside the building.