Chapter 11:
Sleep.
Sleep is good.
Sleep would be good right about now.
However, whenever Sergeant Zim closed his eyes, he would see them. He would wake up ready to stare Rico down until he does his pile of paper work while dismissing his pathetic whines and ensure the general welfare of each trooper, physical and mental. He makes sure they all play nice, which more often, involved knowing when to tell the younger Brutto and Flores to zip it, dragging Higgins to the training room, checking if Jenkins' head is in one piece and having interesting conversations with Anderson.
He's tried going back to a routine he knew well-- being a drill sergeant-- but failed. He saw those new recruits in uniform and saw Alpha squad. Miriam had said that maybe it was a step too fast, too soon. That he wasn't done mourning his loss yet. But he knew that very moment he was done. In the few sleepless nights after, he knew what he had to do and decided it was the best option possible.
Starting 0800, Sgt. Charles Zim will no longer be associated with SICON.
-- -- -- -
More than anything, Zoe Washburne wanted to nap. She thought she could at least get some shut eye while it wasn't her turn to watch their latest victim. But no. Everytime she moved away, something happens to pulls her back into duty that keeping her temper was starting to prove difficult.
"Shouldn't you be dying somewhere?" Atherton Wing managed to smirk at their latest capture.
The Operative simply gave him the sweetest smile he could paste on his face. "I just had to witness someone's wings get cut." He replied.
"Great." Zoe lifted an eyebrow at her Captain. "They know each other."
"Mal," Jayne sang from the first landing of the staircase above them. "Can I shoot one of them now?" He grinned aiming two different guns, one for each man.
"For once we agree on something." The young doctor eyed the Operative with disdain. " Captain, doesn't hunting us down like animals warrant several bullets? Especially now."
"So much for the Hippocratic oath." The Operative quickly commented.
"Hey, you're the one who tried to kill us." Kaylee defended.
Inara crossed her arms. "They're right, Mal. It's a wonder how he hasn't reported--"
"Bi zui." The Captain finally growled. "All of you." He ordered. "Why can't you be all quiet like? The private ain't making any noise." He pointed at the girl sitting on one of the crates with a small red hand held device on her hand.
But the trooper just shrugged. "Someone wanted or wants to kill you. Shocker." She said flatly without even looking up.
"You're new and you are not surprised people want to end their lives?" The Operative questioned.
"It seems to be a recurring theme." She answered not as indifferently as her previous reply. Zoe didn't miss that the question made the girl lift her gaze away from her handheld and narrow her eyes at the man. She also didn't witness the former government man nod ever so slightly at the suspicious trooper. "Right." She suddenly jumped off the crate. "Captain, I'm going to hang out outside and perimeter..." She trailed off before disappearing into the darkness outside.
"She seems to have picked up on something." Zoe pointed out making sure her gun was still properly aimed at the operative.
The Captain nodded. "Got that right." He agreed poking the man with his gun. "You could've turned around and went your merry way but you decided to honour us with your presence once again. Looks to me like you got something to say." He finally lowered his gun and placed his hands on his hips. "Coz if it's Ath you wanted," He shrugged, "Well, we both know there would be a lot more guns involved."
"Operative." Atherton Wing called out sharply. "I can get you back into the fold. You don't have to live like a wanderer" He offered.
The former agent just shook his head and slowly walked towards the tied man. It was the calm measured steps that gave Zoe chills. "I'm very sure you are capable of that Mr. Wing." He smiled a familiar serene smile. "But as I made very clear before, I am no longer a dog. I have no master." He turned meeting them all in the eye one by one. "The party that Fanty and Mingo represent will not be able to pay for him." He announced.
"You suggesting that I let him go?" Mal asked.
"I am suggesting for you to keep the advance but save yourself the trouble this one brings." He mysteriously answered. "Dump him."
"If you say one more word, Operative, there will be nowhere to hide in this Verse. We will hunt you down." Atherton threatened.
But the man simply chuckled in reply. "Mr. Wing, do you know what your sin is?" He dropped to one knee so that they could see each other eye to eye. "It's pride." He revealed. " You think you are so great that the world should bow down before you and exult your praise. You think you deserve your position because you are some kind of a gift to mankind. But so involved in your song, you don't clearly see what is happening around you." He shook his head once more. "Do you know why we operate without so much as a title or position?" He asked slyly. "Operatives give up their very identity for one reason." He grinned. "It so we cannot be traced." He almost whispered. "Having a name, serial number, rank-- it's a liability. We have to be ghosts walking amongst beings." He shrugged. "And that is what you're not."
"I am member of parliament!" He argued but the operative just stood up.
"And who made you a member of parliament? Hm?" He questioned. "Who introduced you to your current associate?" He went further.
Several gunshots brought Zoe back to reality. "Captain, the kid's out there alone." She reminded Mal who was transfixed by their to hostages.
"Jayne." He called out pointing towards the door.
"Finally. Shooting." Jayne Cobbs hurried down the stairs and quickly left the cargo hold.
But Zoe couldn't help but notice how pale the parliament man had become. The defiant expression on his face still remained but it seemed like something was sinking in. "Do you fully understand now? There must be no loose ends that can lead anyone back to them. Every operation must be as if it never happened." He said above the muffled sounds of gun fire.
"He wouldn't. They wouldn't." Atherton Wing barely managed to say.
"Oh yes they will." The Operative grinned. "The only person rumoured to have walked away from that sly little man-- his only loose end-- is your captor." He spun around staring straight at the Captain once again. "I were forewarned that they will not stop. You've been a thorn on their side for far too long, Mal. River Tam is not the only target now." His gaze shifted slightly. "What is it they say? The enemy of my enemy is my friend?"
"It can't be!" Atherton shouted outraged. "My orders were specific. It was perfect." He mumbled.
The operative sighed. "Once again, your pride has clouded your judgment. It was far from perfect." He argued.
"I've had enough mumbo jumbo from the both of you." Mal suddenly interrupted the two. "My patience ain't what it used to be. It would be best if someone told me what in gorram hell is going on. My fingers are getting mighty itchy."
"Mr. Wing, Captain, is the reason why, I gather, you have not found work lately. He has applied a deadly combination of money and fear. You have become a pariah of sorts. No one will touch you." He replied.
"Fanty and Mingo did." The Captain countered.
"And what did the bright doctor tell you about what happened to Fanty and Mingo?" The Operative replied confidently. "You will not find Fanty or Mingo out and about any time soon. It doesn't matter if they've already taken River Tam. He will find the twins simply because of his fixation to his reputation."
Zoe groaned. "A man with a reputation..." She said grimly realizing there is only one person in the world that held his name like a religion. "Niska."
The Operative nodded. "Very good." He applauded dryly.
-- -- - - -
"We don't have to do this." Dizzy Flores grumbled as she made her way through the alleys towards the port. She saw the look Gossard shot her. She hated it when people threw that at her. It was that face that said-- "Really? You sure about that?" Of course she was sure. The fact that they haven't compromised their integrity since they seperated from Serenity only proved that she was correct. Only a few hours after they reported the kidnapping to the proper authorities, they find money beside a conscious Rico.
Things were looking up.
"C'mon Diz." Gossard argued. "You know Doc's right. The money couldn't have come from Mr. Wing. If they found him, he would've given it in person since we did report the event."
"Which means, that Wing guy is still lost." Brutto agreed. "And we're still screwed." He added.
Dizzy Flores groaned shoving her hands into her pockets. "But it doesn't mean Andy's right about staying." She complained.
"Finding a way back home is not a competition." The mechanic said. "Besides, Rico seems to think it's a good idea to mend relations with the Captain. That doesn't mean that we go in pleading to take us back."
There was a stifled chuckle from the younger trooper. "Yeah, it just means Flores has to apologize and we get to witness." He snickered.
The red head growled. "Still don't understand what I've got to apologize about." She mumbled while trailing behind the two. Apologizing was accepting defeat. It was like admitting she was wrong. She could make a run for it, but she wouldn't know where to go. She decided she could just say the words and go through the motions. She didn't have to mean it.
There was one turn left. But at the sound of gunshots, they instinctively ducked and hid behind a metal container. They could see it clearly. A dozen men were making their way through the docks towards Serenity while being careful by hiding behind smaller crates. Dizzy placed a finger on her lips and continued watching. Three shots were fired from an unknown location and three men fell to the ground. Her eyes grew wide as she met the other Roughnecks' gazes.
There was no doubt in their mind who was doing the shooting. Hidden somewhere in the darkness was a trooper just waiting for each one of those left to give her an opening for a sure hit. Dizzy knew the men were outmatched. It didn't even need to be Andy. Any one of them, except for Higgins, would be more than they could handle. She could see them shoot aimlessly at the direction where they guessed the last shot was fired but she knew that her squadmate wouldn't be there. It was basic strategy. Take a shot and find a new position. These men weren't acting. They were just reacting.
Two more measured shots and two more men fell. There were just seven left. But then Dizzy saw a complication. Jayne Cobb just made his presence known. "Lovely evening ain't it." He greeted before shooting someone in the chest. In an instant, he attracted the ire of everyone else still standing. He might have quickly found cover but the damage was done.
"Don't you kinda think you folks are disturbing my dinner?" Jayne took several attempts at two men behind the same crate. "Kinda rude ain't you?" He added when one finally fell just before his companion was hit by another bullet. Three more fell randomly making Jayne redouble his efforts to get the last two.
The two men charged at the same time. There were two simultaneous gun shots and just as quickly as they came out from hiding, they were on the ground grasping in pain. Dizzy watched as Jayne turned around trying to find the hidden girl. He went on full circle before he growled in annoyance disturbing the silence that had taken over. "Gorram it little girl, show yourself. There ain't nobody left." He demanded.
"You don't know that." A small voice vaguely drifted through the open space. "Michael Jordan said 'people'. People want you dead. That's plural. More than one person wants you dead." She argued
"Well there's Wing in there and whoever sent these folk." He replied dryly. "I don't count so good but I reckon that's more than one."
Dizzy frowned. "Did he just say Wing?" She whispered to the mechanic beside her. "They're the ones that kidnapped Atherton Wing." She glared at the two with her.
"Fine, I'm over here." A figure stood up from above some stacked crates over at the man's left side. Dizzy could barely believe who she saw. Without the SICON jacket and the military issued boots, Andy could have passed as a local in that pale blue cheongsam and short tights. She watched as the girl stowed her weapon behind her using her belt as a holster before making her way down.
"You know, I thought it was the other one that was mighty dangerous. Flores was it?" He grunted at the thought. "But you ain't half bad." He said nudging the girl to Serenity's direction.
Dizzy saw Andy shrug. "We're in infantry. We train." She replied. "Besides, I'm alright with a gun on hand. But Dizzy is the one dangerous all around." She admitted honestly keeping pace with the larger man. "So. You think that Wing- man knows I'm not from around here?" She asked, concerned.
Jayne chuckled. "Ain't nobody dumb enough to tell him and he obviously ain't that smart."
"Shiny." Andy nodded.
Dizzy tugged on Gossard's jacket just as they were out of sight. "We're going in there." She stood up and dusted her pants. "We're going in there to get Mr. Wing out." She repeated when she saw the uncertain exchange between Brutto and the mechanic.
"You out of your mind?" Brutto gritted his teeth trying to stay silent. "Anderson's in there."
Gossard shook his head shocked that the red head would even suggest the action. "No. Diz, Brutto's right. Besides, Rico sent you here to apologize." He waved a hand across the air.
"Did that look like the same Andy to you?" She argued facing the two troopers. "We can take them by surprise! Who's with me?" She insisted but the deadpanned look of her companions told her that they're not up for the challenge. "Well, I'm not walking in there. Wing might think we helped them out." She stated defiantly. "Bunch of chickens." She grumbled turning her back to head back to the hospital.
-- -- - - -
Captain Reynolds massaged his temples with his fingers. He took a deep breath still eying the former government lackey verbally torture the parliamentarian. Normally, he would approve of this kind of manipulation-- until it gave him a headache. And there was a big one brewing in his head. Everything wrong that could have happened just happened.
"All clear outside, Jayne?" He heard Zoe call out at the two figures entering the ship.
"For now it is." The bigger man answered before a confused expression took over his face as he watched the Operative make Atherton Wing even paler. His lips twitched bemused when Wing growled. "Looks like we didn't miss anything." He gave the girl behind him a pat on the shoulder.
"Jayne, Anderson." Mal faced the two and crossed his arms. "What did they look like?" He asked. Silence took over the ship waiting for their reply.
"Uh.. like bad folk with guns?" Jayne tried.
"Like goons." The trooper offered.
Zoe stepped forward shaking her head lightly. "Anything specific? How they look? How they talk..." She prompted.
"Gorram it Zoe, they looked like people..." He shrugged eying the smaller girl for help.
"Kind of Slavic- ish?" The trooper tried again.
"Well, yeah, you know. Slaves to their master." Jayne added.
Mal groaned. "That ain't what Slavic mean, Jayne. The Slavs are a kind of people." He grimaced staring at Atherton Wing. They were the kind of folk that Adelei Niska prefered due to common ancestry. This little fact just confirmed to him that the Operative was telling the truth. It was unfortunate for them. Yet, he knew the government man had it worse. "You picked a fine choice in partners, Ath." He stated humourlessly.
"They were coming for me." Atherton spat frustrated by his binds.
"Oh yeah, they were coming for you alright." Mal took several steps forward before aiming the nozzle of his gun to the parliament man. "Just like I'm coming for you now." He frowned. "Adelei Niska ain't stupid. He probably knows more about you that you know about you. Probably sent those men to kill you after they finish us off. Now, where's that bug?" He said.
"There's no bug." Atherton Wing adamantly rejected the notion.
"Please." The Operative leaned in to take something from the man's collar and tossing it to Mal. "You were just a pawn. Accept the truth, Mr. Wing. It will set you free." He suggested
Mal stepped on the transmitter shattering it into pieces. "Or I'll set you free." He offered. "You know, whether or not old Niska wanted to save you or wanted you dead, or whoever he worked for wanted you dead, the fact is Niska's men have been incapacitated. Which means, you've failed." He smiled at the trembling man. "One of his guys goes through my engine-- I get torture and my ear cut off. I wonder what he'd do to you now that-- how many Jayne?" He asked.
"Reckon about twelve?" Came the answer.
"Now that twelve of his finest are gone just because of little you." He continued taunting. "Now he's got a great many types of swords, that you might like on occasion, but I'm quite sure you wouldn't like what he's going to use it on you for. Shooting you will be-- I'm trying to find the right words..." The Captain snapped his fingers.
"An act of mercy, sir?" Zoe supplied.
"Couldn't have said it better myself." Mal grinned. "So I reckon everybody wants you dead now." He stated. "But I'm willing to cut you a deal."
"And what's that?" Atherton asked haughtily.
"Obviously, you know where they're keeping my crew. River Tam." He paused and stole a glance at his resident physician's surprised yet thankful face. "Lead us to where they're keeping my little albatross with no tricks, and maybe I'll let you go."
Maybe.