Chapter 3
'This is the galley. You're welcome to share what we got, though it ain't much it fills a gap… well mostly anyhows.' Mal finished derisively, as the trio of passengers peered around the room.
The tour of Serenity was taking longer than he expected. So far bunks had been chosen, Spike and Buffy were to be sharing, whilst Faith had decided to go opposite, rather than next to the pair. Mal had wondered at the face she pulled when told that all the passenger quarters were on the same level. Maybe she was expecting something fancier, but Mal was quick to point out that whilst Serenity weren't luxury, she was serviceable as any vessel. The trio had stored their meagre luggage, just a couple of bags between 'em, so nothing to go in the cargo bay and here they were, ready to sit down to a bite Kaylee was preparing.
'Welcome on board.' She chirped 'Its good to see you folks once more. Always nice to have company for the trip. You must be hungry… have a seat, wont be long.' She said, indicating to the centre of the room which held the table and several chairs.
Spike and Faith both pulled up a chair, Spike immediately slouching into it as though melting, whilst Faith sat side on, one leg flung across the arm, the other stretched in front of her.
'Can I help?' Buffy enquired, reaching out to pick up a stack of bowls by the preparation area. 'Let my put these out for you.'
'That's right helpful, thanks'
'Oh your welcome, I always used to have to help at home so I'm used to it.'
'Cant bloody cook though…' Spike murmured 'you'd think after all these years coulda learnt to cook.'
Next to Spike, Faith snorted her amusement.
A thump of the bowls on the table showed Buffy had heard Spike's comment
'Unless you want to be wearing your food Spikey, I suggest you zip it.' Buffy said, lightly slapping the back of his head, 'Besides it's not like I haven't tried. Cant help it. Cooking and Buffy just don't mix. It's like a fact of nature or something.'
'I used to try all the time, but I always burnt everything. Could never figure the timings out – all mathematical. 'Sides, that's why they invented take out and restaurants.' she said with a beaming smile.
Kaylee beamed back. She liked this woman. She was bubbly and funny, not at all mean like the other real pretty girls she had known in the past.
'Well I can't vouch for top class restaurant meals or nothin' but least it's hot.' She said as she moved the now full, steaming serving dish to the table.
Zoe was the first to arrive, she moved to her usual place left of the table head which Mal always took up. She noted the lazily assured positions of Spike and Faith, who looked for all the world like they owned the place and amazed athow two people could be so relaxed, so quick in a strange place.
'May as well start.'
She said handing the serving spoon to Buffy who had pulled up the chair directly opposite. 'Others will be along shortly.'
Even as she spoke, Simon appeared in the doorway, taking the seat nearest Faith, Jayne looming up the corridor just over his shoulder.
'River joining us?' Kaylee asked as she placed a basket of bread rolls and a handful of cutlery on the table, before sitting down in the next vacant chair between Zoe and Jayne.
'She is a little wired after the excitements of earlier. I had to give her a sedative which should help to alleviate some of the anxiety.'
Turning to face Spike he continued 'whilst I was much appreciative of the way you handled her before, I must express my concerns about how your presence on board may cause her further upsets.'
'Now doc, let's not jump at our fair paying passengers shall we.' Mal walked through the doorway towards his place at the head of the table.
'S'all right. Understand the docs concerned. Not.. ' Spike replied as he passed the dish down the end of the table.
'It's just that, she has moments, flashes which she can not control and her reactions can be, well, let's just say that, she can be a little unpredictable.' Simon interrupted.
'Aint that true.' Said Jayne, a hand rubbing the scar on his chest where River had slashed him with a knife a few months previous.
'Now lets not start talking bout things past.' Mal flashed warning looks to both Jayne and Simon hoping they would pick up on them. It was clear that Spike had already worked out River was a reader, they should be careful not to reveal too much.
'Im sure Spike will stay clear of River, if you can keep her occupied whilst she aint flying?'
A slight nod of agreement was all the captain got before Simonwent on;
'Still, I am keen to know how you connected with her so quickly?'
'Oh, that's totally easy.' Buffy paused from eating to answer, grinning in her seat.
'Spike used to be with this total nut sack who, whilst pretty was basically insane. They together for like forever, until he finally came to his senses.'
An elbow prodded into Spike's side as she continued; 'It's how come he's so good at talking to people who are special, years of dealing with Dru.'
'She was also a seer. Things used to hit her hard, made it difficult to understand what she meant half the time. Guess I got good at hearing what was behind the words.'
As he spoke, Spike smiled softly, his eyes glazing as he remembered the woman who had existed an age away.
'Used to say the stars spoke to her. Each glimmer of light had its own note, each beam its own tone and on special nights, they would sing out a song that only she could hear. Sometimes, when it was clear, she would make us spend hours out gazing up at them. I would just watch her as she swayed like a dark angel surrounded by moonlight, dancing to her own private melody.'
A soft touch on his hand shattered the memory. He saw Buffy smiling gently at his poetic remembrance of his lost love and he smiled back, blue eyes holding green as he brought her hand to softly touch his lips.
'Still sometimes I swore she was totally off her bird.' He said, breaking the silence that held the table as everyone laughed.
Whilst Spike and Buffy's explanation had satisfied Simon, it had only served to increase Kaylee and Zoe's interest in the bleached blonde. Kaylee, hugely drawn by the romantic notion of the love which Spike must have held for this woman, couldn't help comparing it with Simon's devotion to his sister.
Next to her however, the food had stuck in Zoe's throat. Coughing, she took a hasty gulp of water. She had seen the look that had passed between Spike and Buffy and felt like a knife had drawn into her heart. Total acceptance and love. Something so indefinable, it was almost unattainable. She moved to swallow the lump of food, pushing down the swell of jealously that swam through her, balkingas she realised what it meant.
Mal looked up from his food when Zoe coughed and was surprised to see what looked close to hatred flash in her eyes. 'Must be mistaken' he thought 'Zoe's a sensible woman, not one to take to crazy thinking bout other women's men.'
'OK Zoe?' he asked, smiling when she gave him a small smile in reply.
An indignant yelp from the other end of the table drew Mal's attention away from his troubled thoughtsabout Zoe to the conversation which had started up between Jayne, Faith and Simon.
'All im saying is ifin he understands crazy then might be good to let him have her. Keep away from the rest of us. And away from knives.' Said Jayne between mouthfuls, free hand moving to rub again against his scar.
'You overgrown ape. She is not something to be passed on like an unwanted dog.' Simon exclaimed.
'Now hold your tantrums, doc, aint never said nothing bout givin her away. Just thought if blondie there knows someat about living with seers, might be you should push her in his direction some.'
'Yeah Blondie's used to women coming in his direction.' Faith smirked
Simon blushed at the implication of her words.Jayne leered at her.
'It might be that you have a point Jayne, but as you know she can get a little violent at times. I wouldn't want her to harm him.' the doctor conceded.
'Chill out doctor man. Spike can handle spunky women just fine. Might even help, girl needs a guy who can take whatever she got... Give her a good work out now and then…' as she spoke she trailed a finger down one arm and across her bare, flat stomach.
Jayne nearly fell out of his seat 'You need anyone to give you a work out?' he asked eagerly.
Beside him Simon groaned. Trust him to get stuck between the two most hormonal people at the table. Honestly, he knew that Jayne was insatiable, but it was clear that the brunette woman was enjoying enticing him and that would only make Jayne worse. Thankfully Kaylee had started to clear the table so he would be able to make his excuses and get away.
'You not hungry?' Kaylee asked as she noticed Faith's half eaten meal on top of the other dishes.
'Nah. Im good.' Faith replied as Kaylee deposited the dishes in the sink.
'Mind if I head off Captain. Want to try and get started on that fix for tomorrow?' Kaylee asked collecting the serving dish from the table and placing it with the rest of the plates in the kitchen.
'Sure thing little Kaylee. You wantin any help?' Mal asked
'Could do with a hand. Simon you wanna help?' She walked through the doorway bidding everyone a good night with pleasant dreams. Simon followed her out.
'Well I got Captainy things to do. Zoe, you accompany Jayne to do close up checks after Jayne's done his tidy up.' Mal said the tone of his voice making it clear he wanted Jayne kept busy and away from Faith. He had rules about his merc sharing his bunk with strange women, and he figured Faith must be strange to be taking an shine to Jayne.
Mal stood tucking his chair into the table.
'Rest of you, Im happy to show you down to passenger quarters if you'se need a guide?'
'I think we got it.' Buffy smiled at the Captain, knowing that he wanted the two flirts separated for the night. 'What time we heading off in the morning?'
'0900'
'Cool' came the reply they all made their way out of the galley, leaving Jayne to do clean up.
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Nightime on Serenity was rythmicand Mal was well used to the noises on his ship. The soft lulling chugs of the oxygen units. The electronic ping of the automatic pilot which could just be heard from the bridge next to his room. He knew and loved every sound on his boat, which is why when he found himself eyes open at midnight he couldn't figure what had awoken him. As he lay there, everything sounded as normal. Then he heard it. A soft chink, like metal on metal. Then again.
Sighing, he climbed up the ladder leading out of his bunk to the gangway above where he met Jayne, head emerging from his room, Maybelle the pistol clasped in his right hand.
'What is it?' Jayne asked
'Dunno.' Mal replied, moving past the bare chested man towards the source of the noise.
'Sounds like its coming from the cargo bay. You lock up right?'
'Gee Mal, course we did.' Jayne huffed, following the smaller man down toward the gangways of the cargo bay.
The chinking sounds were now clangs of metal against metal. More frequent, they resonated through the darkened passages of Serenity, bouncing from side walls. Through the corridors of the silent vessel the noises built until they became a crescendo as Mal and Jayne stepped through the door to the bay, stopping in surprise at the scene down below them.
On the empty floor of the ships hold stood three warriors. Dressed all in black fitted outfits, each was holding what appeared to be a samurai sword. They stood in a line, the man in centre place, his sword upright in line with his body. His eyes closed.
On either side of him, a woman. One blonde, one brunette. Legs spread slightly wider than shoulder width, back leg bent slightly to balance their weight. Their swords held at shoulder height, perfectly horizontal tips pointing towards the man in the centre, one shoulder leading as they stood. Replica poises, ready to attack.
The Serenity men barely had time to take it all in, when without any warning the two women attacked simultaneously. Swords flashed, reflecting the dimmed strip lights in the ceiling, as the blades lunged in to pierce the man. But he no longer stood in the centre.
Almost as the women moved, as though he had seen their actions coming, he had leapt up, flinging his legs over his head to miss the coming blades and land just mere inches back from where he had just been standing. He brought his blade up to meet the women's swords, driving them both upwards with astonishing strength. As he did so, his weight shifted, spinning him 180 degrees into his original position.
Swiping his sword left, he met the downwards blow from the brunette, the first to recover from his defensive stroke. Metal clanged as they paried, before a strong thrust from him sent her reeling backwards. But he didn't pause. Performing a sideways flip, he avoided the oncoming strike from his blonde opponent who had recovered from her off balance at his earlier repellent of her blade.
Perched on the highest walkway, a speechless Mal and Jayne were ideally placed to witness the battle as it played out. The speed of each opponent astonishing, but it was the man who moved as though only a blur. As the sound of the sword play grew in intensity, the spectators could only hold their breath watching the attacks of both women become more co-ordinated and determined, until they were behaving as mirror images of each other.
Up til this point the women had slowly gaining advantage. The speed and accuracy of their blows forcing the man to react with greater movement, pushing him to jump higher, bend lower to avoid the swishing of those razor edges. As their movements became more aligned however, he began to push back a little more. Anticipating their advances. Resisting their attacks with greater ease.
From their viewpoint on the gangway, Jayne and Mal could see that the man was now combining his retaliations and attacks to press the women closer together. To force them into fighting in tighter circles until they could no longer manoeuvre around each other. In a final sweeping thrust he brought his hands down to the left, as though moving to strike the blonde. As he expected the women moved to separate themselves from each other, but he changed direction at the last minute bringing the base of the weapon to graze the throat of the brunette, the tip to the blonde's, ending the battle as suddenly as it had begun.
It was only then the man opened his eyes.
Up on the gangway two men stood astonished.
'Righto then. You're both dead. Why?' his sword still in position.
The women glared at him. With the blade on them neither could talk for fear the movement would cause fiction against the sword, opening their throats.
'No ideas hmmmm? Well why don't we ask our spectators?' As he spoke, Spike turned to face the gangway where the two stood. Mal was the first to recover and he wasn't happy.
TBC
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