Story Theme: Becoming A Legend by John Dreamer
Chapter 2: Bendin' Over Backward For The Back-Berth
"Thanks Aang...helpful as ever." Korra muttered as she pondered her new found plight, or rather 'a learning experience' as Tenzin would no doubt call it.
Sensing someone nearby, Korra wasn't all that surprised when she opened her blue eyes and saw that someone was indeed standing over her. The woman was tall, dark skinned, with curly dark hair, and looked physically imposing to boot. The deep frown on her face wasn't exactly encouraging either, and Korra wondered briefly how she'd fare against her if she needed to defend herself in her current bending-less state.
Something in the woman's deep brown eyes held Korra's attention, even as the older woman crossed her arms and stared down at her. "This ain't a zen garden friend, so I suggest you scoot down aways and get off this ship." She canted her head to one side, as if an annoyingly familiar thought had just occurred to her. "'Less you're paying for passage to our next port 'a call and I wasn't told. Be 'bout right, way things have been goin' lately."
"Sorry. I...just needed a moment to collect my thoughts. I've had a rough day." Korra shrugged, managing to look the picture of down right miserable. It didn't take much effort on her part. "As for getting off this ship, honestly, I don't know what to do."
The woman chuckled, pointing towards Korra's fur lined pants. "Well, see, it's real simple like. You got coin in your pocket, you can meditate out here all day till we cast off." She pointed to the open ramp with one hand while the other tapped at the large holster on her hip for emphasis. "If not, you'll be trying to find a zen like state with my boot up your pi gu if you don't up and leave right quick."
"Not much for compromise are ya?" Korra asked, managing a small smirk at the dark skinned woman standing over her. She sobered though and looked away when she didn't so much as blink. "I would go if I could, but apparently a friend of yours says I have to be here. Dark haired girl, has a very creepy vibe about her? River?"
"Oh." The woman's demeanor instantly went from frosty to mildly amused as she grinned down at Korra. "That's our River alright. So I take it you're the one she's been lookin' for. Honestly, I expected someone a little taller, but River hasn't steered us wrong yet. Name's Zoe, and you are?"
"Korra. It's nice to meet you." The Avatar said, perking up a little now that she wasn't being looked at like she had a giant bullseye on her head.
"Don't mention it. You look about as lost as most, more than some. I reckon you'll fit right in before too long. Just try not to kill Jayne, if you can help it." Zoe asked, making it sound more like an order, and managed a small smile as she sat down where River had been sitting not to long ago. "Must say, been tempted to do the deed few times myself."
"I'm starting to wonder how he's still alive. And Jayne? Really? Did his parents hate him or something?" Korra raised an eyebrow in curiosity when Zoe quietly grunted in reply and put a hand on the small of her back. The reason why became apparent when she saw the baby harness resting between her broad shoulders, and the precious bundle she was carrying. Korra waggled her finger in front of the bright eyed child, who giggled in delight, her pale baby blues shining up at her. "What's her name?" Korra quickly held up her palm. "No wait, let me guess. Keiji?"
Zoe chuckled again, and Korra visibly relaxed since she felt like she had already found a friend in this older woman. "No, the beautiful lil darlin' on my back, her name's Emma." Emma giggled and grabbed at Korra's finger, earning a soft smile from the Avatar. "She likes you." Zoe observed, smiling warmly at the sight. "If nothin' else Korra, I could certainly use a babysitter."
"I…. think I can do that." Korra smiled warmly before doing a double take seconds later, jerking her finger away from the entranced child. Not pleased at all with this new development, Emma managed to snatch the retreating limb in her tiny grasp using both hands. "But I just met you!" Korra whispered in a forced upbeat tone, so as not to scare a giggling Emma. "How do you know she'd even be safe with-"
Zoe wasn't so easily deterred as she held up a hand to stop the younger woman's worried tirade in its tracks. "Since you've gotten yourself mixed up with us whether you wanted to or not, let me sum up our merry little band for ya Korra. We have two brainwashed assassins, one of which you already met, River and Iris. I'd keep my distance from Iris for now if I was you. A simple minded but capable gun hand, man we like to call Jayne. Kaylee, our bona fide genius engineer and all around sweet soul. 'Bout the only one here who can make that claim. Then we have Bea, tried to forge a new resistance against the Alliance, didn't work out none too well for her. Our Captain, who I had the honor of serving beside in the War for Independence, well you met him already too. Malcolm Reynolds. Goes by Mal on a good day, Man-who'd-shoot-you-dead on a bad."
"Captain Moron sounds better to me." Korra couldn't tell if the new mother next to her found that more insulting or humorous, probably a bit of both. "River's kick name for him, not mine." She added, just to be on the safe side.
"Yeah, sounds about right. Certainly thought it about him myself, so can't blame her for saying as such." After a moment, Zoe continued on through the list of the crew. "We also got a doctor, Simon, who's on the run for saving his sister, that'd be River, from an Alliance 'school for the gifted'. And a Companion who recently lost her license for associating with us. We're all criminals and runaways here Korra. Well, except for Kaylee, the engineer I mentioned, she's about the only one who doesn't have a record, but I'm sure the Alliance will cook up somethin' nice and forged just for her. They're good at that. Our tax creds hard at work."
"This Alliance sounds like bad news." She hadn't known these people long, but Korra already had a good feeling about them. The more she heard about this Alliance though, the more she didn't trust them as far as she could throw them. If half of what she'd heard was true, then River had been right, she wouldn't have lasted long on her own once she had garnered the wrong attention from the local authorities.
"While you aren't bad news Korra, far as I can see. River vouched for you, and I can tell you're a good kid at heart. Whatever your story is, I have a good feelin' about you. Can't be any worse than ours. Just don't prove me wrong." Korra didn't miss the silent 'or else' Zoe's tone implied.
"Well this is a first. Usually I'm the trouble maker, now I almost feel... boring." Korra wryly replied, and gently pulled her hand away from Emma's small hand.
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that, if half of what River's told us about you is true, I'd be willin' to bet you'll confound us all with your..." Zoe smirked, waving an arm about and waggling her fingers.
"Yeah….hopefully." Korra whispered and looked away.
River's voice echoed from a nearby speaker, briefly interrupting the tense moment. "Zoe, time to close the ramp. Breathing in vacuum will prove highly difficult to impossible."
"What does she mean?" Korra nervously asked, her blue eyes darting around the worn down hold.
Zoe didn't miss the wide eyed look that fell over the young woman as she pointed to the nearby control panel at the rear of the hold. "Go on, seal 'er up before it gets a mite windy in here." Korra got the hint and got up from her seated position before going to the control panel and pressing the indicated button. Once the younger woman had returned and sat down on the crate next to her, Zoe cocked an eyebrow, and gently nudged her in the side just as the ship lifted off from the dock. Korra couldn't help jumping slightly at the unfamiliar feeling. "What's with the moody pout? Doesn't suit you Korra. I expect to see that soon enough in a few years, don't much need it now."
"It's….complicated." Korra replied, drawing her knees up to her chin before wrapping her arms around them. How would she even begin to explain her current dilemma to someone who had no idea what she'd be talking about?
"Yeah, we all have that excuse down pat, but a kid young as you shouldn't." After a moment of thought, Zoe reconsidered her words. "On the other hand, River might disagree with me. Same with the other assassin we recently picked up. Iris went through the same Hell she did, might have had it worse actually. But she's strong, came out of it better than anyone of us would have."
"And your resistance leader?" Korra asked, genuinely curious.
"I wouldn't bother Bea much now if I was you. Rather see you try and chat up Iris first. She's a mite murderous at the moment. Gettin' your whole crew killed and your ship blown up tends to have that effect on people. Know the feeling, we've lost our fair share of people over the last year, let alone durin' the war. Some were more personal than others…." Zoe's voice trailed off and her brown eyes took on a familiar, distant, thousand yard stare that was full of sorrow.
"I'm sorry." Korra replied, guessing that Zoe had lost someone pretty close to her in that same space of time. "Who was he?" She hesitantly asked, hoping she wasn't crossing a line by prying.
"Hoban Washburne... Wash. " Zoe grinned, the distant look in her brown eyes fading a little as they sat in companionable silence for a moment. "He's- was... Emma's father. My Mister was a good man, one of the few left out here in the Verse. No one could fly better than him."
"Sounds like he was lucky to have you Zoe." Korra replied softly.
"You got it all backwards. I was lucky to have him. Least he gave me something to live for after he was taken from me." This was emphasized when Zoe looked over her shoulder. Emma cooed and waved her hands around when her mother's gaze fell on her. "She might keep me up at night, but she's my guidin' star in the black. Wouldn't have fought so hard to get back to Serenity if not for her."
Korra nodded before suddenly tensing up as she realized Zoe had to be the one River and the others had rescued from some horrible prison. It only cemented her opinion about this crew, this strange assortment of criminals. This really odd extended family. Fumbling for something to say to lighten the mood, Korra said the first thing that came to mind. "Um, if you need to rest, or anything really, just let me know. I'm great with kids, just ask my mentor... Oh right, I guess you could just ask River about Tenzin's little rascals since she seems to know a disturbing amount about me..."
Zoe nodded and felt a grin form on her lips again when the conversation turned to River again. "She has that effect on people, knows far too much than's possible by most people's liking. But as I said before, she hasn't steered us wrong yet. As for babysitting Emma, I'll consider it." Zoe's grin faded away though when she spoke again. "I'd worry more about gettin' settled in first Korra. Somethin' tells me our troubles are only just getting started. 'Course us and trouble go way back, best of friends really."
That didn't sound ominous at all. Frowning, Korra distracted herself with less calm damaging thoughts. "Um right, speaking of settling in, could I bother you for a mat or-"
"Room's already prepared for ya. You can thank River for givin' us a bit of warnin' before hand." Zoe told her with a knowing smile. "It might not be much, but it's a little better than a mat on the floor. I'll see to gettin' you a few sets of make-do clothes on our way. Might even have to raid Jayne's bunk since you prefer the sleeveless look and all."
Korra glanced down at her muscular arms with a slight blush. "Anything that fits would be great, really."
"I'm grabbin' one of his shirts for you just the same. Wanna see his face when he spots you filling it out better than he does." Zoe replied with a confident nod and a mischievous gleam in her eyes. "Trust me, he won't complain none either."
Korra's rosey cheeks darkened at Zoe's positively lascivious wink. "Please tell me he's not as bad as I think he is..."
"Nope." Zoe paused a beat as she helped Korra to her feet. "He's much worse, but he's harmless, mostly."
"Great. Don't be surprised if I beat him to a pulp." Korra grumbled, but shot Zoe a small smirk all the same. "Might be a good workout though."
"He might be a dumb greedy ape, but he's a heck of a shot, and loyal in his own conniving way. Saved our bacons more than a few times in the past. That said, my money's on less than day, knocked out for at least five to ten minutes. You make it happen, I'll split the pot with you fifty-fifty." Zoe replied, grinning almost from ear to ear as she led the way out of the cargo hold.
"I'll see what I can do." Korra replied, and shared a light laugh with the older woman. She didn't have to wait long to meet the man named Jayne. Only a few minutes after Zoe had given her a brief tour, minus the bridge and engineering, with a short detour to raid her own and Jayne's quarters for clothing, and showed her to her room. It was a spartan affair with a relatively comfortable single bed against the back wall, with a small dresser next to it.
It was about then a huge, indeed ape looking, man lumbered casually into her room with a lecherous grin plastered all over his face. "Well hi there. Ain't you a fine lookin'-"
With a sigh, Korra bashed the massive, stupidly grinning man in the face, knocking him out cold. "That was Jayne right?" Korra asked, knowing the answer to her question. After the thugs in town had jumped her, she was in no mood to deal with more advances of a similar nature.
"Yup." Zoe replied simply, a little surprised at how easily Jayne had gone down after only one punch.
"Good, I wouldn't want to have your doctor angry at me." Korra grumbled, and dusted herself off before turning to Zoe again.
Zoe stared at the young girl for a moment before her laughter filled the small room and the corridor behind her. Emma giggled and waved her small arms around until Zoe calmed down enough to speak. "Oh, honey, trust me, you'll know Simon when you see him. Cleanest one of the crew, and not just because he's a doctor. Man would faint if he got a speck of dirt on him, but he's an excellent healer, better than most I've seen."
Korra couldn't help but feel the slightest tinge of guilt as she glanced down at the peacefully sleeping oaf. "Um, should we take him to your medical bay or-"
"Nah, he'll be fine. We'll just leave his ornery behind on the deck, let him sleep it off. Remind me to tell you about the time River kicked his pi gu around, twice in about twenty four hours. You let him off lightly by comparison." Zoe held up a small yellow bundle containing a short stack of paper and loose coins. "And look on the bright side, you're now the proud owner of a hundred and ninety-seven creds and one truly ugly shirt."
"Gee, thanks." Korra scoffed as she wrinkled her nose at the smelly yellow tank top, and equally rank smelling currency, Zoe tossed at her.
"Might want to wash it first." Zoe suggested as she wiped her hands on her pants after handing the items over.
Whether she meant the shirt or the money, Korra wasn't sure. "You read my mind." She appreciated the gesture though, even if the results were less than satisfactory. "So, be bluntly honest with me, exactly how much has River told all of you?" Korra hesitantly asked, almost afraid to find out the answer as she tucked the money in her pocket before neatly folding the shirt and setting it aside.
Zoe nodded her head and crossed her arms again before leaning against the doorway. "Enough to give us an idea of who and what you are. You're reckless, arrogant, and have a tendency to charge into danger, but you do all that because of your deeply held beliefs. Which aren't so different from ours, as it happens. The how is a mite more confusin'. Somethin' about being able to Bend the elements? Seems a tad crazier than having a pair of Readers onboard, but that's life out here in the black."
"She didn't happen to mention how I can get my Bending back did she?" Again, Korra had a feeling she knew the answer to her question.
"Well that would be tellin' now, wouldn't it?" Zoe frowned at the less than subtle disappointed expression that got out of Korra. "Didn't say much about you losin' your gifts or how you're supposed to go about reclaiming them. Truly."
Korra sighed, having expected as much, and looked at her hand in frustration before she punched the wall. "This is the second time I've been this...powerless." Korra spat the word out like a foul tasting fried fish. "It's not something I know how to handle well…." Again her mind flashed to when Amon had stripped her of her Bending abilities, and Korra tried to suppress her old fears as she looked away quickly, hoping to hide the panic in her blue eyes from the older woman. Showing weakness was something else she didn't handle well.
"Powerless huh? Let me ask you somethin'. Can you punch a man in the face?" Zoe glanced down at a catatonic Jayne with a satifisied smirk. "On second thought, I reckon you can. Can you shoot?" The woman asked, patting at the large, sleek looking weapon on her hip, tucked away in its leather holster.
Korra managed not to lick her lips as she stared, fascinated with the odd weapon. "I've never used a weapon like that before."
"But you know how to hit a target at a distance." Zoe stated, having figured as much, and noticing Korra hadn't denied it.
"Yeah but-"
"Then I don't see what your problem is Korra. You're only powerless if you allow yourself to think you are." Zoe pushed away from the doorframe and took a step closer, her voice taking on a noticeable edge that told Korra she'd do well to remember everything she had to say. "The fight ain't over just because you lose your main weapon. If you ain't got a rifle, you use your sidearm, if you ain't got that you use a knife. If you ain't got that, you use your hands, your arms, your legs. You do anything you have to to survive. And if you can't do that, you find someone to carry you out of harm's way." Zoe smirked at the unconscious man taking up Korra's floor at that moment. "Jayne makes for a good meat shield if you ever have the need for one."
"I don't know how not to fight, so that shouldn't be a problem." Korra said, remembering some of the fire and determination that had gotten her this far thanks to Zoe's little speech.
"Good to hear. And try not to feel too sorry for yourself kid, think about what you need to do to make it through to tomorrow instead. That's what we all do."
"Living on the raggedy edge huh?" Korra muttered to herself as she took all of two seconds to look over the rest of her accommodations.
Zoe merely stared at Korra for a moment, a knowing grin tugging on her lips. "Smart kid, yeah, we are. And we're barely holding on as it is." What she didn't say, Korra still heard loud and clear. They'd cut her loose if she didn't pull her own weight, and she couldn't blame them for their extreme measures from what she had seen already. Despite whatever mischievous trouble Aang had caused the crew on her behalf along with his Avatar brothers and sisters, Korra was starting to see why she was needed here. It was just like the Hundred Year War that Aang had stopped along with his friends, and these people were somehow at the heart of the impending conflict. She was still putting the pieces together, but that much she knew for sure.
Just as she pondered the fate of these people and how she might fit into it, a handsome, well dressed man walked by, did a double take when he saw Jayne laying on the deck, and quickly dashed into her room. "Why is Jayne drooling on the floor? Usually he at least has the decency to do that in the privacy of his bunk."
"Avatar Korra caused moderate trauma to Jayne Cobb's brain by shoving her lower palm directly into his forehead." Korra jumped for the second time in as many hours when what could only be described as an eerie looking bald girl stepped around the corner right behind the well dressed doctor. The disturbing gaze River had thrown her way was worse somehow, like the bald girl was reaching into her head and picking it apart piece by piece.
Thankfully, Simon's surprised stammering distracted the girl, who could only be Iris given Zoe's description. "Avat- oh, my sister's vision, the one she's been talking about nonstop for the past two and a half weeks. You're her? Huh, I thought you'd be taller, you don't seem all that impressive given her description, but I've learned not to judge a book by its cover."
"A wise choice Doctor Tam. She is far more than either myself or River could ever be." It was only when the girl bowed slightly that Korra saw the hideous scars all along Iris' pale skin at the top of her skull. "Welcome to Serenity. I am Iris. My mentor River, you've met. Both River and Simon have been instrumental in helping me recover who I once was."
"No Iris, all the incredible progress you've made in such a short time, you've done that yourself. We only served to encourage you." A beaming Simon replied, clearly taking pride in Iris, who Korra now realized was obviously his patient.
"You still gave me a way out from the madness. From what the Academy scientists had tried to make me become." Iris countered and smiled warmly at the doctor in praise for what he'd done for her.
"Hello Iris, it's very nice to meet you." Korra blurted out, already feeling uncomfortable enough as it was.
Korra didn't need Simon to tell her Iris could see her discomfort as clearly as a neon sign. "I unnerve you. I apologize, but it is what it is Mistress Korra. Just as you cannot help your nature, neither can I help mine. In this, we are the same. Our abilities and our pasts are the only differences between us. Along with my obvious scarring of course." Iris casually gestured to her scarred scalp. "I will leave you to unpack." Iris stated with the barest hint of a smirk as she pointed to the folded clothing Zoe had earlier tossed on the bed and then promptly turned to leave.
"Um, good to know... Nice talking with you." Korra offered, leaning into the corridor, not knowing what else to say. She wasn't sure whether she wanted to give the girl a hug or get as far from her as humanity possible on the relatively small vessel. Only Amon had unnerved her so easily, and it was an experience she wasn't looking forward to repeating even if Iris wasn't trying to kill her, or worse.
"You get used to her after a little while." Simon offered with a conciliatory shrug once Iris wandered off. "I am however, honored to meet you Korra. You probably guessed this but I've heard a lot about you."
Korra felt a sudden involuntary shiver run down her spine, unconsciously hugging her arms to her body once Iris had left. "I kinda gathered that. It's a little weird, having someone tell me they saw me coming long before I actually show up."
"I know the feeling. My sister's always been….gifted, even before... what was done to her and Iris. And many others..." Simon quietly finished as he glanced at the floor and a snoring Jayne.
The silence that pervaded the room could have been cut with a knife as Zoe was the first to break it. "Well, I think it best we drag Jayne outta here and then let Korra get some rest. Girl's gotta be completely exhausted."
It was Simon's turn to blush and look uncomfortable. "Right. I'll talk to you later Korra. Before I forget however, when you get some time, I would appreciate a chance to examine you and make sure you're properly inoculated. Standard procedure on ships like this."
"Alright. I'll stop by later doctor...Simon." Korra promised before watching Simon casually walk away, giving her a curious smile over his shoulder before going after his very strange patient. "He...wasn't bad. Sort of cute actually."
Zoe frowned, clearly not liking that particular line of thought one bit. "He's taken. To our resident engineer in fact."
"Really? I find that hard to believe." Korra countered with a roll of her eyes, ignoring the disapproving look on Zoe's face. "But good for her, he seems like a nice guy."
"Heh, I'll be sure to keep that to myself. Wouldn't want to give him a bigger head than he's got already." Zoe shot back, a smirk back on her face as she and Korra dragged Jayne to his feet and into the corridor outside. It was a pretty easy with the younger woman at her side, who was indeed as strong as she looked.
A low groan of pain from between them caught their attention a moment later. "Ah cann feeel ma fface..."
"Oh good, you didn't break his neck after all." Zoe said with a snicker as she helped Korra get Jayne to his feet.
"Wwhaaa?! Sshhh pok ma eeck?!" Jayne slurred, drool running out of his mouth as both women dragged him away between them, his boots dragging across the deck. Zoe went to lay him down but stopped Korra shook her head and nodded towards the small alcove that served as the ship's med bay. Returning the nod, Zoe aided her in getting the mercenary comfortable in the single bed in the small but neatly organized infirmary.
With that done, Korra breathed a sigh of relief and mustered up a small smile for the amazonian woman beside her. "Not exactly what I had in mind for pulling my own weight."
"No, but I'm glad those muscles aren't just for show." Zoe gave Korra's right arm a friendly pat. "Don't worry about our resident gun hand, I'll be sure to have Simon look Jayne over before too long. Looks like River was right though."
"Oh great, what now?" Korra said with a huff, her exasperation easy to see as they walked out of the infirmary.
Zoe put a comforting hand on her shoulder before answering her. "You have a good heart underneath that rough and tumble exterior."
"Was there ever any doubt Zoe?" Zoe and Korra turned, and when the dark skinned woman only smiled, the Avatar figured it was another of the crew she hadn't met yet. Korra was taken aback by the woman's almost ethereal beauty and grace she seemed to radiate as naturally as she had been able to Bend.
"Well, that, and River might have given me some betting advice. Told me Jayne was going to end up in the med bay one way or another. Figured I'd spare him a proper beating this time."
"I learned never to bet against a Reader. But I'll thank you for your compassion towards Jayne since I know he certainly won't." The mysterious woman replied in turn, a coy, playful smile on her full lips as she turned to address Korra next. "You must be what has Captain Reynolds all in a fit. I don't think he's stopped pacing up and down the bridge since you came aboard. Are you perhaps this Avatar Korra we've heard so much about?"
"Yeah I am. You're the Companion aren't you?" Korra asked, somehow managing to keep her voice steady through her amazement. Only Asami could have compared to this woman, and that had been before her father had been arrested for treason against Republic City and its citizens. "Whatever that is."
"Former Companion actually, Inara Serra, it's a pleasure to meet you Korra. I must say, this is the first time meeting someone like you, and I've seen a lot in my extensive travels." Korra had seen a lot in the past couple hours, but something in Inara's abyssal brown gaze had the Avatar entranced as their eyes met. She felt like this woman was seeing her in a way that few people had, and the feeling wasn't unpleasant in the slightest as it had been with River and Iris. As if confirming her suspicions, the next words out of Inara's mouth were, "You've seen your share of trials. We all have, so that at least we have in common. If you ever wish to get away from your troubles for a time, or just talk, you know where to find me Korra. I'd be happy to explain to you in detail what serving others as a Companion entails."
"I, um, ah ... is it hot in here or is it just me?" It was all she could do not to sink into the floor as Korra felt her cheeks become bright red at being read so easily.
At least with Inara, she didn't feel like someone was digging around in her head with a fine tooth comb. The quiet snickers she could hear from Zoe wasn't helping her mortifying embarrassment though. Korra spun around to glare at Emma's rather intimidating mother, but Zoe had already walked away. Being left completely alone with Inara, Korra couldn't stop herself from blushing even harder at the former Companion's genuine, comforting smile.
So when Mal showed up, giving her a jolting tap on the shoulder, Korra couldn't have been happier to see the low life rogue. "Sheesh Inara, you got the girl lookin' like a rosy cheeked bride on her weddin' night without even a few shots of liquid courage. Inara tends to have that effect on people darlin'. Don't you go stealin' my girl now though, you hear?" Despite the mildly threatening yet amused tone in his voice, Malcolm was all smiles the second he saw his beet red passenger. "Well ain't this a sight. Didn't strike me as the type to be struck speechless at the drop of a shiny penny."
The captain's smug comment had Korra forgetting her mortified embarrassment as she rounded on Mal, her blue eyes flaring with anger at the drop of a hat. "Excuse me?! I am not some starry eyed-"
"Coulda fooled me." Malcolm retorted, practically grinning as he started to all but swagger down the hall.
Korra winced as she pressed the back of her hand to her brow, pulling it away immediately when she saw the slightest smile on Inara's full inviting lips. "I-I just need some air."
"Oh I highly doubt that particular simmerin' feelin' down below is life support related darlin'." Mal turned to snark back at her, the expression on his face clearly stating, 'Am I the luckiest man in the Verse or what?'
"Enough Mal." Inara retorted, a warning note in her voice that had Mal's grin fading slightly.
"Yes ma'am. But this whole conversation does raise an interestin' point your Avatarness." Mal lost all trace of his grin as he stopped and waited for his newest guest to catch up. "I figure Zoe's clued ya in, but life out here for us brigands ain't exactly easy. I reckon we'll give ya a few days, get settled in. But 'fore too long, might need your kindly assistance on a job, and you don't look like the helpless satin sheets type like our resident doc. He keeps his place by patchin' up my crew, which leaves me in an interestin' place with you." Mal stared at the sweating girl for a moment before crossing his arms. "Just gonna ask ya all blunt like, 'cause I ain't one to waste my time. What are you good at and what can ya offer my ship and her crew?"
"I knocked out Jayne with one punch? ...Only because Zoe paid me to." Korra blurted out before slamming a hand over her mouth. Way to go stupid!
"Huh." Mal gave her an approving smirk. "You don't say? Even River had to use a can of motor oil to do that. And she was hangin' from the ceiling at the time. Still, I'm starting to think you might just fit in after all Miss. Already learned the second rule of livin' on this boat. You do the job, you get paid."
"Great. I'm stuck on a flying junk pile with a bunch of fugitives. Tenzin would just love this." Korra quietly muttered to herself before staring Mal in the eye, her hands on her hips in an openly annoyed stance. "So what's the first rule? Beware being crushed by the big bad Captain's inflated ego?"
That harsh response got a cold, almost menacing glare from Mal as he stopped and turned to look at her. "Food doesn't appear outta thin air here kid. Fuel ain't cheap, air you're taking so much delight in breathin' right now ain't neither. So we take what few jobs we can get, and most of 'em ain't exactly legal. If you're too good for walking on the edge of the law, which gleefully created such fine freakified folk as River and Iris, then you can gorram find your own way. I'd give ya a week before you get picked off by Reavers, some of the local thugs grab ya, or the Alliance gets their purplebelly mitts on you. River might like you, but that don't mean much even if she does say we need ya. If you don't pull your own weight around here, you're in the drift. Whether that happens to be planetside or in the black is just a matter of luck or lack there of." His eerily calm tirade finally ended, Malcolm gave her an almost hurt look. "... And my ego is not nearly that big. Quite the humble sort, most of the time."
"I'd have to agree, it's not very impressive." Inara muttered quietly, just loud enough for Korra to hear her. The Avatar got the impression that hadn't been a compliment, or completely free of innuendo.
"Wow, I'm surprised you have a crew at all with such a thuggish attitude." Korra snapped back, her blue eyes full of indignant rage at this man's cavalier attitude about tossing her out if she didn't prove herself useful.
"Give this Verse a few days. You'll see why I can't afford to be a nice guy." Malcolm stomped off back towards the bridge, only to spin on his heel a second later with a sly grin. "That said, I really am a nice guy, most of the time. Just don't make the mistake of crossing me or my crew darlin'. That don't include you 'less I conjure it does. I put this little group together with the promise of work, which the Alliance makes harder every year. 'Specially now that we might be lookin' at havin' ourselves another fine civil war. So kid, figure you have an easy choice to make, wouldn't you?" Mal turned back to the bridge only to swing back towards Korra yet again. "...And also, every part of me is properly sized... including my cunning mind."
"And you purposely hang around with him...among other things?" Korra asked once Mal had disappeared into another part of the ship, likely the bridge if the direction he had went was anything to go by.
"He can be trying Korra, but he is right about one thing." Inara replied as she stared towards the bridge, an amused little smile on her face which quickly disappeared. "Life out here is incredibly hard these days. We do what we must to keep going."
"What the Hell is all this racket?! Can't a woman get some gorram sleep on this rust bucket!" Korra was shoved aside as a clearly inebriated woman shuffled past her down the corridor connecting the bridge to the rest of the ship, a mostly empty bottle of some very foul smelling alcohol clutched in her right hand. "Who's the new girl 'Nara? Might just have to take her back to my cabin and give her a good ol' time."
"Bea, you should really lay down." The former Companion said, subtly grabbing Korra's upper arm before she could say or do anything drastic. Catching a sympathetic look from the older woman, the Avatar only stood there and let Inara handle her. "You've been through a lot in the last few days and I don't think-"
"Why do ya think I have this?!" Bea growled as she shoved the bottle in Inara's face. "Been tryin' to forget….so far it ain't helpin'. Can still imagine what they likely went through….and I wasn't there when I shoulda been. Cap'n goes down with the ship. It's tradition." With a somber nod, she belted back the last of the bottle's contents finishing it in one gulp. "Ah gorram Hell." With a wince, she chucked the bottle behind her, not even noticing as it smashed into a thousand glittering pieces across the deck, Bea stumbled towards the bridge, shouting with every step. "Mal, you got another one of those moonshines layin' around, wait, you're a gorram smuggler, 'course you do!"
"I take it she's the former resistance leader." Korra stated rather than asked, and when Inara only nodded sadly, the Avatar sighed and gently pulled her arm away from the Companion's grasp. "I can't imagine what she's going through right now."
Nor was she all that surprised by what Inara said next. "Be glad you can't Korra. Pain like ours is not easy to overcome."
"Ah sure it is, just gotta drink enough first!" Bea shot over her shoulder before she started to stumble back to the pair.
Having had enough, Inara grabbed the drunk woman by her upper arm next and started to guide her none too gently towards her quarters on the ship with Korra not far behind. "Bea, you've had enough. You should get some rest."
"Right, right. Wouldn't want me drinkin' myself to death on board now would we? Too much paperwork for the doc." In a flash, her inebriated false cheer vanished before her gleaming light brown eyes took on a hard edge. "And who asked you to look out for me anyway?! You ain't my father!"
"No, but he'd be disappointed his only child was doing this to herself." Inara replied softly, her voice taking on a hard edge to match Bea's anger which cooled a little at the reminder. "Maybe you were wrong to believe the stories, but you weren't wrong in what you tried to do Bea. Their deaths aren't your fault."
"Certainly feels that way….." Bea muttered quietly, guilt all but radiating off of her as she stared blankly at her boots.
Korra had remained quiet long enough as she reached out and put a hand on the girl's shoulder. "The important thing is, you did your best. I might be new here, but I know what it's like to fight against almost impossible odds. Sometimes you fight for any victory you can get, sometimes you aren't that lucky."
Bea jabbed a finger in the younger girl's face, shoving a stray blue highlighted lock of hair out of her vision. "Don't you lecture me you ruttin' little whelp! And to think I was gonna give you a pity-"
"Let's just get you back to bed." Inara hurriedly insisted as she enlisted Zoe to help her get the woman safely back to her bunk. And likely search for anymore hidden bottles of liquor while they were at it.
"Is she gone?" Malcolm asked, sticking his head out from his veritable cocoon on the bridge.
A smug looking River popped out from behind the pilot's chair. "Do you hear her yelling?"
"Well, she's a good ambusher... Bad habit she got from her dad." Mal retorted, much to River's amusement.
"You served together I take it." Korra stated, having pieced that much together already as she brazenly stepped onto the bridge uninvited.
A split second later, her mouth nearly hit the deck and her eyebrows almost managed to reach the dark brown bangs high above her wide, frightened blue eyes. Korra could only blankly stare at the impossible sight before her in a mix of fascination and pure terror, as she gazed out into the black expanse of twinkling stars outside the bridge windows.
Mal continued on as he sat down in the pilot's chair, unaware that Korra had stopped listening. "Yeah, have a bit of a history with a lotta folk that way."
"She's never been in space before." River flatly stated after she turned back to the controls in front of her co-pilot's seat. "Welcome to the black." She stated softly, a serene smile on her face.
Mal turned and grinned in surprise at that bit of news, and from the bug eyed look on Korra's face, he could see it was all too accurate. "Well hell darlin', guess you're a pioneer for you folks, whatever ya call home anyway. She was a mite tight lipped about your personal life and such, but she told us enough to get an idea 'bout ya. Don't worry none though, ship might not look might much, but my girl hasn't failed me yet. Made her a home after a time, and she's paid me back by keepin' my family safe and- you listenin' darlin', look a little green 'bout the gills..." Mal's eyes widened as a pale, disoriented Korra promptly passed out on her feet and began to slump towards the deck. "...Ah crap." The captain was on his feet and dashing to Korra's side in the space of two breaths, catching her just as she started to keel over. "Easy does it darlin'. Let's get ya sat down." He said before helping her to his formerly occupied chair.
"You owe me a hundred credits." River muttered quietly towards Mal, who shot her a withering look over his shoulder for the reminder. "Put them in Korra's right pants pocket with her other winnings."
Korra snapped back to reality in a heartbeat as rising anger quickly replaced the potent combination of confusion and fear. "You bet on the fact I was going to- nevermind."
"It got you to snap out from the virgin spacer shakes didn't it? One down..." River retorted, a smug smirk on her face. "And call it what it was or don't talk at all. You fainted. Passed out like Jayne on a bender..."
Korra shuddered at the mental image River's pun firmly planted in her mind. "I'm the Avatar, I don't faint." Korra growled weakly, still feeling shaky from the revelation she was in space. Such a thought had never once crossed her mind. Of it ever being possible to leave her planet behind, and yet it was apparently an everyday occurrence for these people.
"You passed out on your feet. I'd call that a faint." Mal chimed in, much to Korra's annoyance as he stepped back and crossed his arms over his chest, his smug smirk back in force. "But can't blame ya none if ya weren't ready for the view. Can be a mite intimidating, someone who's never been off their home world before."
"It's….kinda pretty out there." Korra managed to say as she slowly calmed down and truly saw what they were flying through. It was indeed pitch black and vastly empty, devoid of anything and everything that she was familiar with, but her blue eyes found dozens of small lights in the void. Pinpricks in the blackness, guiding lights that she found comforting in some small way.
"It surely is." Mal quietly conceded with just a hint of awe in his voice, as the three gazed out into the black in companionable silence.