RSTC/ Firefly:: Lost

Chapter 3:: Users, Pushers

Carl Jenkins lay awake on his bunk counting imaginary sheep. He couldn't sleep, not with so many new minds to get used to and filter out. One really loud thought in particular was broadcasting things like medical text, the exact calculation of the square root of two, waxing about infinity but in abrupt and random jumps from one topic to the next. It didn't help that he was sharing a room with Brutto. The younger trooper might be asleep but his inappropriate dreams were more forceful than usual. It was enough to make him nauseous. Partnered with the uncensored thoughts of River Tam, this whole situation was more than problematic.

It was impossible.

He decided that maybe he could convince Doc or the other Doctor, Simon, to drug him up so that he could get some shut eye. In fact, a chemically induced coma sounded pretty nice about now. He slid the passenger dorm's door open and shut it as he tried to remember his way around the ship. It wasn't hard. He noticed that most of the ways would end up in the cargo hold where there was a doorway leading to the infirmary. Worse comes to worse, he could always self medicate.

The psychic smirked. Of all the things he thought he would be, a drug user, borderline abuser, was not one of them.

He heard a faint but familiar thought pattern emerge as Brutto's faded away. Gossard's mind currently revolved around being amazed and confused about how the ship's mechanic went to keeping the ship afloat. Jenkins chuckled making his way to the engine room. Two Roughnecks can find one of the two medics on board faster than one. Worse case scenario, the mechanic can put him under.

"Gossard." He braced himself on the doorway seeing the mechanic scratching the back of his neck with a wrench.

Jeff Gossard took a quick glance back. "Oh. Hey, Jenkins." He greeted slightly pre occupied.

"Tough time?" He watched a puff of smoke come out from a panel.

There was an audible pause, but not a mental one. In his mind the mechanic was enumerating a number of things wrong, brilliantly missing, or insanely connected together. "You can say that." He finally replied.

"Well, have you seen any of the medics around? I need one of them to knock me out." He took a step back as another puff came out of nowhere.

"The Doctor Tam said he needed Kaylee for something but that was awhile back. If you know what I mean." He grinned suggestively. "I was with Doc a few minutes ago, helping him do his bandages. I left him on the couch down by the infirmary." He answered tossing the wrench back to the box. "Jenkins you don't look so good." He commented.

Understatement.

A hundred different crazy voices suddenly filled his head and he was trying to put it all out. Carl massaged his temples and took a deep breath. "Nah, I'll be--" He had barely said anything when a scream pierced through his mind like it would split it in two. He felt his knees give way as his hands instinctively went to his ears. It didn't help.

It's a good thing Gossard had caught him just in time to prevent him from hitting the metal floor. He really didn't need another injury. "Medic!" He could hear the mechanic's blurry voice yell. And that was the last of reality he knew.

The screaming grew louder.

-- -- - -- -

Zoe Washburne couldn't sleep. She hardly ever slept nowadays. She just closed her eyes and pretended to sleep. She was going through the motions, as they say. Like everything about this ship, she was just drifting from one day to the next. So when the captain paged waking everyone up, probably forgetting that they now had nine other passengers on board, she was ready. All she had to do was will herself to do what she was told.

"Doctor, you might wanna look to your sister right about now. She ain't right." Came the dry voice of Mal Reynolds over the ship's comm. "Everybody else, go back to whatever it is y'all are doing. Zoe, Inara, a word with you fine ladies." He continued on a bit more wryly.

Something's gone wrong. Zoe was sure of it.

So when she went to the bridge, she was ready for everything. Simon was already there trying to calm his wide eyed sister rocking herself in the co- pilot chair. Kaylee was in the corner watching worriedly at the siblings. And the captain was just staring at the back and the dashboard instruments back and forth in disbelief.

"Captain." She greeted formally like she always did. Years of training didn't just wash off just because they did what they did.

"Zoe!" He left his seat and offered it to her. "Tell me your not seeing what I'm seeing." He started pacing behind her.

It only too one second for her heart sank. "That be Alliance cruiser, sir."

She watched him nod knowingly. "Yeah, I know." He said quickly. "Nage nuhai yao women dou zisha! Where's Inara?" He demanded without pausing.

"Stop yelling. I'm right here." The companion in question entered calmly.

"You don't tell me when I should or shouldn't be yelling." Mal pointed at the screen. "You tell us your old boy toy in Canton got a job for us and what do I see? Alliance cruiser. Take a good look. You tellin me this ain't a trap?"

"Fess doesn't even like his father. He wouldn't give us up." She replied eying the Captain. "In fact, he gave the security override codes to free us the last time we were around here."

"Is that how he paid? In kind?" Mal spat back.

"Not looking for not us." River rocked herself on the chair.

"Payment for what?" Jayne poked his head in. "We getting paid? Haven't done nothing yet. Not that I'm complaining."

Inara rolled her eyes in frustration. "Look, we can always not take the job. We can turn back. I'll just tell Fess we were held back somewhere" She suggested easily.

"Not us." The damaged girl shivered.

Kaylee nodded. "We have enough fuel to high tail out of here, Captain." She agreed. "Just give the word and I'll run back to the engine room and get Serenity ready to rabbit off."

"What's that beeping sound?" Jayne said suddenly. "Are we being hailed?"

Zoe groaned. "Captain we're being hailed." She confirmed. She watched her superior run his fingers through his hair nervously.

"Gorram it! Someone stop that thing from beeping. I'm trying to think." He growled but the incessant beeping didn't stop.

"Not looking for not us." River Tam whispered again.

"Not looking for not us." Simon's eyes narrowed before slowly standing to face the captain. "River is right." He placed a finger on his chin. "They're not looking for not us." He stated with much certainty that it surprised even Zoe.

"Ain't got no time for crazy talk, Doc" Jayne countered.

"No!" Simon argued. "It's not crazy talk. If someone that is not us answers then they might not find us." All he gathered were blank stares. "You have nine other people in this ship that can be not us... make something up. A story. Lie." He reiterated.

"You think that would work?" Mal turned to Zoe biting his lower lip with indecision.

The girl shrugged. "As oppose to what exactly, Captain?"

-- -- -

Johnny Rico never thought he would have to stand in the middle of a room being told what to do in rapid fire succession ever again. The last time this had happened, he was getting his share of spit from several drill sergeants in basic. This time, it was from space faring people, that until very recently, he didn't know existed.

"You just bought this ship but you're taking it back coz it ain't worth it. Haven't even had time to change the paint." Captain Reynolds told him as he was dragged up to the bridge.

"That's why ain't registered yet. Bought it off Canton you did." The second in command Zoe Washburne supplied.

"This is ship is a Firefly, model number... " The mechanic tried coaching but the man he recognized as Jayne took him by both shoulders and growled.

"Remember to say 'ain't.'" He emphasized with a nod. "Ain't."

He hadn't even had the chance to answer any of them or ask any questions when he was made to sit on the pilot's seat. Captain Reynolds just gave him a cheeky smile. "Earn your keep lieutenant." He said before flipping the switch and disappeared out of the bridge.

He looked straight ahead into the window panels expecting the officer's face to pop up like it does in the Valley Forge. Instead, the captain's small voice broke through the silence coming from behind. "Look down." He instructed.

The lieutenant did look down and was surprised to see a little screen with a uniformed officer staring right at him. Immediately, he knew what was happening. He didn't have any qualms that the people that had found them didn't everything by the book. The Captain had blatantly say that they were avoiding the authorities. They probably had a good reason. But he needed to get the Roughnecks back to the SICON part of the universe, and here was his opportunity to. The ASA men could most likely transport them to Ariel and send them back with not much fuss. All he had to do was give up the crew.

"Good day, officer." He said formally, deciding to just play along. Biting the hand that literally fed them didn't sit well with him either. Besides, it wasn't like he always played by the book himself.

"Captain, are you aware that your firefly is unregistered." The officer eyed him suspiciously not so different at how Sgt. Zim looks at him every now and then.

The Roughneck just gave the man the same caddish smile he gives the old sergeant-- it never really worked. "Well, I just bought it." He sighed thankful that it wasn't Zim that he was dealing with. "Truth is, officer, I'm trying to fly it back. Trying is the operative word." He crossed his arms. "I'm going to demand a refund. Maybe I'll even sue."

The officer raised his eyebrow at him. "Those are harsh words.".

"Well, there ain't no truth in advertising anymore." He mentally congratulated himself for the incorporation of the word. "The guy said this ship was one, registered. And two, runs fine. Apparently, it's neither. When my mechanic got on board he said that it costs more to repair this junk than buy a shiny new transport." He tried to remember what Gossard had told him earlier that day.

The Alliance officer shook his head and chuckled. "Well where you headed to son?"

"Just off Canton, sir." He smiled.

"Word of advise," The man wagged a finger at the screen. "Don't get a firefly." And just like that the transmission ended.

Johnny Rico sank in his seat completely amazed at how that even worked. He almost felt like he just got himself off a traffic ticket. Policing was apparently very different here. The silence behind him told him that the ship's crew was thinking the same thing.

"Huh. Fine job, Lt. Rico." He heard Zoe enter the bridge once more. "Mighty fine."

"You could've given us up and got back home much faster-- but you didn't." The captain mused out loud. "I'm not sure if that makes you smart or not."

"Yeah, well... I have a question." He relinquished the chair. "Why are you not registered?" He asked curiously.

"Best you don't know the reason as to why, kid." The captain replied grinning.

-- -- - -

"Fresh air!"

"Gravity."

"Sun!"

"Land!"

"You know, there was this guy Sting that had a song about a fields of gold."

"So this is what fake Earth looks like."

"Looks pretty real to me."

"You know what the best part is? No bugs."

Smack.

"No bugs that I have to kill with a morita."

"This is so great."

Simon Tam couldn't help but smile watching the troopers march out the cargo hold. Most of them were just looking up at the blue sky basking at the sunlight. Canton was just a derelict settlement filled with mud, sand and rocks. The place was predominantly brown. Serenity landed on a piece of land in a shadow of a rocky formation on one side and a hilly landscape of tall weeds on the other. Yet the troopers were acting like they had just seen paradise.

"Awww." Kaylee suddenly appeared beside him. "Look at them. Ain't seen happier folk." She grinned lacing her fingers with his

"I guess they really were in space for a long time. This must be like a vacation for them." He watched their psychic take off his black jacket, just to make it into a ball and toss it to the lieutenant.

"Who wants to play?" Johnny Rico announced raising up the makeshift ball.

"I'll referee." Carmen Ibanez hobbled to sit on a rock.

"Brutto! You just got dirt on my lens." The reporter Higgins ran after the younger boy.

"That looks mighty fun," eyed Jayne.

"Kinda makes you feel fuzzy." Kaylee commented as the group started to split into teams.

"Well, fuzzy gets you killed round these parts." Mal crossed his arms against his chest. "But I don't care what they do as long as they ain't get spotted and do it all quiet like." He said loud enough for the troopers to pause for a second and move away from the entrance. Simon watched the captain smirk looking pleased at himself just like he always does when something has gone his way.

"Captain." Zoe reprimanded.

"What? It was a joke." Mal raised both his hands innocently. "Although, it would be nice if they did it quiet like." He started to move back into the ship. "I'm starting to think there's too much people around here. Zoe, Jayne, I want everything of theirs hidden from sight. I don't want the ambassador's guest asking too many questions. Doctor, that includes your sister." His fading voice ordered. "Oh. And don't forget to look pretty."

"I think you maybe have your pants on too tight, Mal." Jayne teased. "Ta zenmeyang?"

"Maybe he just needs some milk." Simon suggested unable to contain the mischievous expression he had been holding back

-- -- - -

The first time Fess Higgins laid his eyes on the companion Inara Serra, he was amazed. She was wonderful. He was a twenty six year old nothing. He thought he would feel different now that he would be seeing her for the second time. After all, some time has passed. Things have changed.

But he knew now that he was wrong.

He had picked the place they were to meet. It was away from from the prying eyes of his father's staff and of course, his over bearing father. Amongst the rocky field of Canton, underneath the hot sun, she looked like a mirage at first glance waiting outside her shuttle. She was a beautiful sight made more so by the juxtaposition. She had invited him and suddenly, he was nervous-- just like he was the very first time.

Fess clutched the documents he had brought with him as they docked with her ship. He felt silly when she had coaxed him out of the shuttle to meet her associates. But the discomfort he felt now was more than he had ever bore before.

Right across the table sat Jayne Cobb, hero of Canton.

He tried to speak but found that no voice came out. To his eternal gratitude, the companion stepped forward to formally introduce them. "Fess Higgins, I'd like you to meet Jayne Cobb," she motioned to the man wearing an orange cap, "Captain Reynolds and Zoe," which was the tall man and grim woman behind the hero.

"What an honour to meet the lady's friends." He said putting his hand out to shake theirs. No one, however, came to reciprocate other than to eye him suspiciously. He took his hand back and simply smiled nervously instead.

"You got a job for us?" Captain Reynolds prompted.

He nodded laying down the documents on the table. "Yes, yes. I need you to steal the contents of my father's safe for me." He smoothed the crumpled edges.

Jayne Cobb's brows furrowed. He was really much bigger than the statue gave him credit for. "Say what?" He eyed him in confusion.

"You'd get your cut of course." He reassured the group as best he can. "It's just that.. my father." He sighed. "I don't really approve on how things are going with my father. And money is—"

"The why's you're business, boy, not ours." The Captain stopped him before he could go any further. "Now, Inara says you have a plan for us to follow? Is that right?" He prompted again.

"Aw C'mon Mal." Jayne complained.

"Now, Jayne. We came all the way here. It's not proper not to at least hear the man out." Captain Reynolds replied.

"Yes," He pointed at the maps he had brought with him. "Things have changed since you," he eyed the hero who merely sneered at him, "um... have been here. The security system has been upgraded." He pointed at the location of the vault. "Now, there will be guards here and here. One of them would have the keys. This is the security code for that would open the vault doors." He handed a slip of paper to the Captain. "Now, the tricky part is this area here behind the vault doors. My father had installed another security measure-- heat sensors that are activated after 10 seconds once the vault doors have opened. There is a keypad on the wall but only my father knows the combination." He sighed. "It changes randomly, I have no way to... However," He wagged a finger when he remembered what it was he was going to say, "However, I was inside with my father today and I have managed to spray a layer of film on top of it. It should buy some time." He finished with an optimistic smile.

"And you want this done tonight. Is that correct?" Zoe exchange her gaze between him and the maps.

"It's my father's birthday tonight." He answered. "Most of the guards will be around the party. Father has invited some politicians from elsewhere at the last minute. My attendance is mandatory."

Zoe held up her hand and started shaking her head. "Hold on there one second. You saying you want us to rob your father when there's Alliance men about?" He nodded and the girl frowned.

"Ge si! I ain't stepping one foot off this ship." Jayne decided haughtily.

"But you're Jayne Cobb!" Fess insisted. "I just want to make things better around here."

The Hero of Canton merely made a face. "Yeah then why don't you steal the money yourself coz I ain't stepping one foot off this ship. Tell him Mal."

"We're doing the job." The Captain announced.

"Mal!" "Captain!" The two reacted at the same time.

"Stealing under the Alliance's noses-- that's what makes us special." Malcom Reynolds replied raising both his hands. The magistrate's son was sure that the man met gazes with the companion. "But we're upping the cut." He said getting back to him.

"Agreed." Fess grinned as he shook the Captain's hand.

-- -- - -

Translations :)

Nage nuhai yao women dou zisha! = That girl wants us all to commit suicide.

Ta zenmeyang?= What's up with him?

Ge si= Shit! [ or something within that realm of expression]