Topher earned his keep-something he found odd because he had been there first-by showing Kaylee how to run everything. He'd begun to bring up his having settler's rights, but one scary look from Zoe shut him right up
He had begun to associate them as people.
Mal was the captain often in a brown coat. He had sexual tension with Inara.
Zoe was second in command, scary, and recently widowed.
Jayne was third seat and had a serious relationship with his gun, Vera. Topher didn't like thinking about it.
Inara was a 'companion'. This meant she was a hooker of sorts who could pick her clients. She also had health insurance. Again, tension between her and the captain.
Kaylee was the mechanic. She was intimate with Simon.
Simon was the ship's doctor. And River's older brother.
River was the psychic warrior woman pilot. Who looked like Bennet. And had something done to her brain.
But Rossum is gone. Topher thought as he collapsed on his office sofa. With the exception of the people living in it, the Dollhouse had been unchanged through the ages.
"The Alliance did it."
Topher lifted his head to see River jumping on the trampoline.
"Pardon?"
"What happened to my brain was a branch of the Alliance. Two by two, hands of blue. Not Rossum."
"I forgot you could read my mind."
River frowned as she sat on the desk.
"Because you keep thinking I'm Bennet. I'm not."
River hadn't avoided him since she'd seen Bennet die in his memory. On the contrary, she'd stuck close to him. He'd taught her to play Battle Ship. She'd taught him humility as a result. Whac a Mole went over better, but she'd beaten his high score. Apparently she thought his office was interesting.
"Let's dance!" River pleaded. Topher sat up and held his head.
"You may not know this...but I don't know how."
"Whats that then?"
Topher followed her pointed finger to his Dance Dance Revolution set.
"That, if it still works, does not count as dancing!"
"It looks fun!" River tilted her head and pouted. "Can we please?"
By some miracle the Playstation 2 was still working. Topher had started on easy songs, but before long River was playing Love Shine on expert, earning a perfect score.
"You're a fast learner." Topher laughed as he took a break and she used both mats.
"Its just a pattern. Once I've seen it once..."
River didn't finish her sentence. She fell to the ground wretching.
"River!" Topher shouted as he ran over. River coughed and shook her head.
"Its not mine." And she passed out. Topher swore as he scooped her up.
"You're brother is going to punch me again."