All disclaimers apply
Ch. 24- Serenity's Angels
After binding their hands behind their backs, Mal, Jayne, and David were brought to a back room for holding. It was a small office room with several cubicles and only one door. Which of course had a window and two guards.
"I don't think those are sonic rifles," Jayne commented.
"And the difference to our situation would be?" Mal asked angrily.
"Jus sayin'. Those things hurt like a son ofa…"
"And real bullets are better?" scowled David.
"No, actually, better recon info would have been better," Mal snapped before Jayne had a chance.
David had the grace to hang his head. "I'm sorry. I really didn't have any reason to think anything like this would happen. When those feds boarded us, that was the first indication I had that they were getting close. I really thought your decoy plan worked, Captain."
Mal sniffed and took a moment to think. It hadn't actually been his plan, but Wash and Kaylee were pretty much the technical brains of his operation, and he had approved their plan. Which, as Captain, made it his plan, his responsibility.
"I thought it was a good plan too," he answered. David immediately appreciated that the Captain was taking the responsibility.
"Alright, if'n we're done chit-chatting, can we get to the escape portion of our ev'ning?" Jayne demanded.
"I agree with the big guy," came a voice from behind one of the nearby cubicle walls. All three jumped to their feet to be greeted by a man of medium height flanked by two larger men. None of them had their hands bound.
"I'm Lt. Jay Shaw, 43rd Independent Regiment, Bristol contingent," he introduced himself. He gestured at the two men behind him. "And this is Daniel and Mathis, two of my aides." He turned back to the three surprised men in front of him. "I'm honored, Sergeant Reynolds, that you yourself would ensure young David's safety here. He's very important to our cause."
"Well, now, Lt. Shaw, be that as it may, it's Captain Reynolds now, and I wouldn't say entirely that I took young David here under my wing so much as he fell into my lap." Jayne snorted.
"Captain, you didn't have to walk him here and we all appreciate the protection you have afforded him."
David stepped forward. "You do know I'm standing right in front of you while you're talking about me, right?"
&&&&&&&
River was letting Kaylee win her third round of hearts when she jumped up off her crate seat on the ramp.
"They got them!" she yelled. She turned to run up the ramp into the ship.
"Who got who?" asked Simon, who was just walking onto the ramp.
"Simon, after all this time, ya really have ta ask?" Kaylee jogged past him with the deck of cards in one hand and a folded up lawn chair in the other.
"No," he sighed. "I guess not".
&&&&&&&
River was already on the bridge and had updated Zoe and Wash by the time Kaylee and Simon arrived.
"So what's the big rescue plan?" Kaylee asked brightly. Zoe frowned at her.
"This isn't exactly cake, Kaylee. They're being held by Alliance. We need to be careful."
"Didn't David say this moon was mostly anti-Alliance?" Wash asked.
"Yes, but what that does that have to do with…aahhh," Simon nodded.
"Not Mr. Top Three Percent for nothing I see, Doc," Zoe nodded approvingly. "We're going to need some help, and why not local?"
Inara appeared in the doorway. "I couldn't find anyone, what are you all doing here…oh, they got taken didn't they?"
"And ten points to the pretty lady!" exclaimed Wash. He glanced at Zoe quickly, nervously. "Of course not as pretty as you, dear."
"Yeah, yeah," Zoe brushed the non-slight from her ever-joking husband. "Alright, we need a way in there. Suggestions?"
River suddenly perked from a frown to a wide grin while looking Inara. "I think I've got just the thing." She began bobbing her head up and down enthusiastically. "Oh yes, I know exactly how to get us in there without firing a shot."
Kaylee was interested. "No shooting, huh? Can I come along?"
Simon started to shake his head but River pushed at his arm. "Yes, Kaylee, I think all the girls are needed for this one." She looked pointedly at Inara.
&&&&&&&
"Okay, so everyone's in agreement?" Mal looked around and was greeted with a chorus of yesses.
Jayne came over from where he had been surreptitiously checking on the guards outside. He had, in fact, been over to the doorway to use the frame to scratch an itch along his shoulder blade that he couldn't quite reach.
"So, what's the plan?" he asked. Everyone groaned.
"Have you not been paying attention!?" David snapped. It bothered him that the hired gun was being so cavalier about their situation.
Jayne laughed and clapped David on the back, almost sending him to the ground. "Jus kiddin' 'young man'" he teased. He looked to the Captain. "The usual?" he asked, all business now.
Mal nodded. The six men split and approached the door. Suddenly the door at the end of the hall outside the room slammed open and a young Alliance soldier came running through, grinning from ear to ear. He spoke to the two stationed guards in low tones, gesturing and grinning excitedly. The two guards started grinning like idiots and followed him back out the door, leaving the hallway empty.
Mal and company looked at each other in amazement. "Wow, you guys are good," joked Shaw. He stepped back as Jayne proceeded to pop the door open with his shoulder. "Let's go."
They slipped quietly down to the end of the hall and listened at the door. They heard a few quiet smacks! then silence. Mal nodded to Shaw, and everyone slipped around the corner and down another short corridor back to the main room of the warehouse. As they piled into the room, they came to a sliding stop, effectively bumping into each other as they stared in shock at what they saw.
&&&&&&&
Zoe, Inara, Kaylee, and River turned down the narrow street, Zoe looking around warily. "You sure this is the place, l'il one?"
"Positive," replied River. "I can feel them." They followed her down the side of the long warehouse-looking building and stopped at a non-descript door. Inara stepped forward, turning to appraise each of them. She smiled.
"You all look wonderful," she sighed.
"Great!" Kaylee said. "Now let's go get some booty! I mean, kick some booty!"
Zoe grimaced and adjusted her top uncomfortably. "Kaylee, you just hold back like we discussed."
"Aw, don't worry Zo. I'm electronics, right? I know I'm to go for the lightweight geek."
"River, you okay?" River had had her head tilted to the side as she listened for their men. She righted it with a smile.
"Fine. They are here. They are currently formulating an escape plan." She grinned.
"Well, at the rate they're going we'll have them out before they finish coming up with one. Men!" Inara snorted, in a very unladylike manner. Zoe grinned and shook her head at her.
"What?" Inara demanded.
"Nothing, I just think that maybe we're finally rubbing off on you, that's all."
Inara shook her head ruefully. "Well please tell me I've limited it to the women on the ship." Everyone giggled.
"Okay," Inara tried again. "we ready, Ladies?" A chorus of "yes!", "you betcha!" and "yup! greeted her. She turned to knock resolutely on the door.
&&&&&&&
The young uniformed guard was clearly confused, and Inara was enjoying every moment of it. This was a large part of her training, manipulating people. Sure, it used to be manipulating to make them feel better, but wasn't that what she was doing here? For a couple of minutes, this man was going to feel better, because of her. He would feel worthy, important, special, thinking that a Companion was here for him.
"Ah, ma'am, I really think you have the wrong address…"
"Nonsense young man. Are there not several Alliance officers here? We were expressly requested to arrive at the top of the hour. You wouldn't want us to be late for your commander, now would you?" Inara smiled as only she could, in that way that still set even Mal to spinning. The guard swallowed heavily.
"Yes, ma'am, well, maybe you could wait here while I go check?" he started to back through the door, pulling it shut behind him. Inara stepped forward quickly, grabbing the edge of the door with one hand and placing her left foot out to prevent the door from closing. Zoe jumped right in behind her.
"Young man, I, we, have a reputation to uphold, and I will not have it be known that myself and my girls were late for an appointment!" And with that pronouncement, Inara easily pushed passed the confused and startled young man, closely followed by Zoe and River. Kaylee paused just inside the doorway, flipped her hair over her satin clad shoulder, and giggled at the soldier.
"Hey there, handsome, what's yer name?" she cooed at him. The guard stuttered some unintelligible sounds.
"Manny! what the hell's going on out there?! Oh, hey, ah, Ladies, ah, what's going on?" A second guard had stalked into the room only to be greeted by a sight he had only ever seen before in his dreams. And even there it had never looked so good.
In front of him, spread out in a semi-circle, were four of the most beautiful women he had ever seen. All obviously Companions; that could be assumed just from what they were wearing. The curly-haired brunette in front of him was dressed, if that word could be used with such a lack of clothing, in a red-trimmed, gold silk halter top with a matching skirt that looked slit almost to the top of her thigh. The tall, dark-skinned one was wearing a satin green wrap that looked like it only had one string holding it on.
The two obviously younger ones were each standing off to opposite sides, the taller of the two with the wavy hair and freckles sporting a blue silk tank and mini skirt set. The long-haired one was simply stunning in a complicated purple number that seemed to reveal and hide skin depending on which way she turned.
'Manny' could not believe his eyes. "Wha, wha?" he managed to stutter out.
The girls smiled, following Inara's lead. She stepped forward.
"Good evening, we're here for an appointment with Lt. Trace and his officers?" Manny's face looked as if it was about to split in half.
"Soldier! What kind of op do you think we're running here?!" A sergeant came stomping into the room, jerking to a halt as he saw the four 'Companions'. "Excuse me, Ladies, I believe you may have the incorrect address. Soldier, show the Ladies out."
Inara swept forward and placed a hand flat on his chest. "I do believe we have an appointment, here. Is there someplace more comfortable we can talk?"
The man could do nothing but stutter. By this time a couple more soldiers had drifted into the room to see what was going on. Zoe glanced over at River as they did a silent head count. River nodded slightly and stepped forward, planting herself between two of the men, Zoe imitating her. Kaylee hung back with the first soldier who had opened the door originally.
Inara swung her arm wide, gesturing to include the other women. "We were hired by your superior as a special reward for a job very well done. She ran one finger down the sergeant's chest. Taking his inaction as approval, the other men moved forward. Their mistake.
River started; in a single swinging arc she took out the two men nearest her. Zoe used a one-two combo to take out her two, while Inara simply turned the finger she was tracing down the sergeant's chest, effectively pricking him with a sedative ring. Another stepped forward with a snarl, but her other ringed hand caught him with a flick of her index finger, and he went down as she jumped back.
Meanwhile Zoe and River had finished off the remaining four, River with an opposite sweeping kick to their heads, while Zoe opted for a gut kick and elbow head-bashing. They looked back to check on Kaylee.
Kaylee was still standing next to the door guard. He had her by the arm, but he didn't look like he was restraining her so much as clinging to her. He was wild-eyed.
Kaylee patted him on the arm. "It's okay, everythin's alright now," she said soothingly.
"Alright?!" he squeaked. "Alright?!"
River's head suddenly snapped around and she quickly stepped forward past Inara just as Lt. Trace himself came striding into the room.
"What the!" he roared, as River gracefully leaped into the air and came down with her left foot slamming his head into the wall. His unconscious body slid down.
There was a loud hiss from their right. As their heads whipped around, Mal stepped into the room followed by Jayne, David, and three other men.
"Nice work, Ladies," Mal commented. David was staring in shock at River. Jayne leered at each of them in turn, then made a beeline for River, grabbing her around the waist and swinging her around. "Um, can you maybe keep this outfit on a l'il while longer?"