Controlling the 'verse ch 2
Author's note: the parts in italics are thoughts, and I beg as nicely as possible for reviews, cause reviews make writing better!
Nope the ceiling hasn't changed in the past hour and doesn't seem to keen on changin' anytime soon. Ai ya this was all her gorram fault. Now that she left she's all I can think about.
With a sigh that he was unable to suppress the man called Malcolm Reynolds climbed out of his bed and started looking for a somewhat cleaner shirt then the one that he had just taken off. Not all that hard a task, considering that the last one was stained with mud dirt and a little bit of blood from the job that they had just completed. This really was the last time that he was going to deal with Patience, the foul woman just seemed to like shooting him way to much. Her aim on the other had was actually getting worse, with him suffering from a slight graze by his ribs that was no more then a scratch
Trying to make as little noise as possible Mal walked up to the cockpit. Whitefall was hours behind them and there was nothing to look at but the black. This was where he was at home, not back on Shadow but here in the blackness of space. This was where he had control, control over the ship, where they were headed and most importantly control over himself.
Thinkin' too much, when did this endless thinkin' start anyway? Well that was easy enough to answer; right after Inara left. The gorram woman might have spun me around in circles but then why does not having her here seem even worse?
With another sigh he pulled himself out of the pilot's seat and over to the gray side compartments that held various things, one such thing being a full bottle of whisky. Hidden in the storage locker to keep Jayne from getting his grimy mitts on it. Not even bothering to get out the glass next to the bottle Mal tipped two large gulps down his throat. His eyes drifted shut, relishing in the feel of the amber liquid as it burned a fiery trail down into the pit of his stomach. Pain like this was what he needed, pain let a body know that they were alive. Not that being alive seemed to be all that of a good thing.
Two more gulps and his head began to spin making sitting down in the chair a necessity. The burning feeling was not so fierce this time, but it still had an effect. Most men would be crazy to drink that much whisky in the span of two minutes, but Mal wasn't most men. He was a man in desperate need of sleep, if he wanted to admit it or not, and drunken passed out sleep was the best sleep in the 'verse. This thought in mind, he took another large swig, before sliding farther down into his seat.
Zoë loved this time of the morning, waking up in her husband's arms, following him into the cockpit so that he could check the systems, before heading down for breakfast with the rest of the crew. But this morning when she pulled open the doors to the cockpit, she was greeted not by the comfort of the black, but the sleeping form of her captain. She stopped in the doorway unsure if she should just turn around, and head back out.
"What is it baby?" Wash's sleepy reply was luckily muffled.
"Look." She whispered pointing at Mal.
"Well, would you look at that, is he finally getting some rest? The shock just might kill me. Best hightail it outta here before his grumpiness returns." Wash's voice was his usual combination of mocking and seriousness.
"I'll just check that the autopilot is still on-line. Go make me some coffee husband."
Zoë continued moving softly into the cockpit, her footfalls were a silent praise to her soldier training. After listening to Mal's breathing and determining that he was indeed still asleep, she reached over his still form to complete her check of the flight systems. It was this action that showed her the bottle of whisky that he held clenched tight in his right hand. More then half gone by the looks of things, guess that explains why he didn't wake up when Wash and I were talking.
In the two months since Inara had left the ship this had to be the most peaceful that she had seen him. As much as Zoë hated to admit it the man sleeping before her was in need of the Companion. With a small sigh she pried the bottle out of his hand and put the stopper back in place, before returning it to the hiding spot that everyone on the boat knew of except of Jayne. Her eyes lit on the army blanket neatly folded on the shelf; removing it gently she placed the worn piece of cloth over him.
Then she followed her husband's advice and made a hasty retreat. Mal may have been the picture of innocence right now, but he would be back to brooding soon, and with one hell of a headache.
The first thing that Mal became aware of was the fact that there was a massive throbbing behind his ears that seemed to be accompanied by a beeping noise. Ai ya, I'm never drinking that much whisky again. Opening his eyes Mal was startled to see that he was covered in a coarse, but warm army blanket. Who saw me sleeping here? Then he glanced at the time and noticed that it was now well past lunch. Musta been Wash, or Zoë commin' in to check on things. Not the best thing that mighta happened but it coulda been much worse.
Sitting up a little straighter, and hastily folding the blanket he noticed that the beeping was coming from the console singling a wave. At the push of a button a man who's scruffy face he didn't think that he would ever forget appeared.
"Malcolm Reynolds. Not disterbin' your beauty sleep am I?"
"Not at all, Will MaCoombs." Taking a deep swallow to rid the scratchiness from his voice, and displaying a wide smile, Mal continued. "What's the meanin' of this wave? You're not in trouble again are you?"
"No, at least not yet." The other man said with a chuckle. "I just wanted to give you the heads up, it's starting, going to breakout probably before the end of the month."
"What? What's starting?" Mal was trying his best to not sound as surprised as he felt.
"Oh nothing major just a little thing called rebellion. Thought you might want to know seeing as you played quiet a part in the last one."
"So did you if I member correctly." Mal was trying to buy time and Will knew it, but decided against calling him out.
Mal's headache was now being joined by an ache that went through his entire body. Independents were planning to rise again after what happened last time they had to be insane. He had no love for the Alliance, nor the trouble that they brought to his line of work, but was another war really what was needed?
"What brought this on? I haven't heard a thing about trouble startin'?" Mal asked after a moments thought.
"Taxes, the Alliance has been piling them on, then there is the part about them building an army, and pushing the Companion Guild to expand out our way. Mostly though it is the taxes." Will's smile was fading away now that he was thinking about all the ways that the Alliance controlled everyone. "We could use you Mal, and Zoë too if she's still with ya."
War, the one thing that he had hoped never to see again, but with his current mind set Mal had to admit that killing a bunch of purple bellies did have it's allure. But things were different this time, he had a crew that he couldn't risk putting in any more danger than what they considered normal. Wuo de ma, why is he springin' this on me when I have a hangover? And what was that about the Guild expanding? Was Inara in danger? Stop thinking thoughts like that she is no longer your responsibility; what happens to her happens.
Lowering his head away from the camera, he replied. "I won't leave my crew to go to war, Serenity is their home, I can't take that away from them." Mal hated making his boat sound like a prison. His head snapped back up suddenly at the sound of Will's laughter.
"Mal Reynolds, a sentimental softie? I never thought that I would see the day. But I wouldn't dare take you off your beloved bucket of bolts. Nah Mal, the Browncoats have other plans for ya, if you're willin' that is."
"Speak your piece, that is of course if I am correct in assumin' that this wave is secure, seeing as you have already told me many a thing."
"Well you best settle back in that chair of yours Mal, cause there's a lot to tell."
