Chapter 7
Book looked over at Simon, "They have Inara. Time to get those guards' attention."
Simon nodded and handed Book one of the bags he was carrying. Gesturing to an alleyway to the left of where they were standing, he moved in the opposite direction. They were in the midst of the market. People were milling everywhere and any sort of upset to the peace would have the market explode in chaos – and that would require control from the guards.
"Remember," Simon added, "Just light the fuses and get out of there."
River accompanied Book down the narrow pathway and rounded the corner. "Here," she said whimsically.
They hurriedly unpacked their supplies, spreading them out as far as it would go. Book asked, "How's Simon doing on his end."
River closed her eyes and focused in on her brother. Her empathic abilities were truly remarkable. In her mind, she could see Simon, and feel his excitement – and fear. "Simon is ready."
"Right," said Book, "Here we go."
Lighting the fuses, Book took River's hand and hurried towards Simon, who met them halfway.
"We've got to get back to Serenity, come on!" Simon whispered urgently.
Hurrying alongside, Book said, "Just got word from Kaylee, they're entering the dock."
They had run but a couple meters when the first of the fireworks went off. Within seconds, there was chaos. People were rushing in every direction, disorientated, panicked and agitated.
As they rushed to the ship, people were heard commenting, "Must be those damned O'Loughlin boys again. Damned teenagers, always pullin' these stunts thinking it's amusin'!
Armed forces were already moving in to try and calm the stampeding crowd.
By the time they reached the ship, Wash was ready to take off again.
"Great work!" shouted Kaylee as she rushed in the direction of the engine room.
Simon glanced at Book and Book glanced at River. The three of them made quite an amusing sight, sprawled out on the floor of the hanger bay, chests heaving from the exertion and adrenalin rush.
Simon was the first to start laughing. Then Book started. Then River started. It was the release of nervous tension. Sides splitting, they sobered soon enough.
"You all right Preacher?" asked River.
"My back will get back to you," he said grinning. "Come on, let's see where we can lend a hand."
Helping River to her feet, the trio made their way to the cockpit.
Drawing back a little, Book said to Simon, "Word is, Inara's going to need your Doctoring."
Simon nodded grimly.
--
Mal, Zoë and Jayne didn't even look at each other when they heard the chaos erupt somewhere in the distance. Ignoring it completely, Mal looked at Niska, "How long did it take you to come up with the plan to capture Inara?"
"Not long at all. Would you like to know what else I have planned for you and your crew?"
Mal smiled tightly, "By all means…"
"Well, after our last meeting, it struck me that I never let those who wrong me get away." Niska stood up from his seat across the room and walked towards a cabinet against the wall. "I wondered what would hurt you most Malcolm Reynolds, and I thought of family," he turned and smiled menacingly, "naturally your family is your crew. You crossed me more than once Mal, and nobody crosses me. Do you want to know what I did to the Companion?"
Mal tensed and felt the anger that wasn't buried too far from the surface threaten to overwhelm him. He kept his lips tightly shut, his face impassive.
"She's a strong woman. I admire that about her. And had she not been sullied by living among you, I might have considered keeping her for myself. She held up well… until the cutting started."
Mal leapt from his seat and made for Niska. "You Yi Da Tuo Da Bian!" He had had enough. The rage that simmered so sweetly at the surface burst forth and there was no stopping him. He had hurt her! He had cut at her! He had caused her pain! Qing Wa Cao De Liu Mang!
"Mal!" said Zoë and Jayne simultaneously. They jumped up and restrained Mal. Guns were once again aimed at them.
Niska held up his hand and signaled his officers to stand down. He laughed pleasantly. "How charming Captain. You care for Miss Serra? How delicious. I thought you knew better than to fall for a Companion. This makes it all the more… meaningful."
"You cut her?" he made a go for Niska again. "You cut at her you Feng Le Huen Dahn! I'll kill you!" Mal lost all his composure and shouted, "I swear to God I'll cut you up to as many pieces as I like! Then I'll serve your remains to a reaver!"
"Mal! Gorramit Capn! This aint the time," Zoë whispered, clinging to Mal's arm. Without Jayne there, she would never have been able to hold him back.
The smile was wiped from Niska's face. "Careful Mal. You are hurting my feelings, and believe me," he peered through evil eyes, "you have enough coming your way. No need to make things worse now is there?"
Niska opened the cabinet and removed a pair of scissors, but a really crude, rudimentary pair, made of steel, all silver and shiny. It gleamed horrifically in the sunlight.
Mal tried to jerk free of his captors, "You-!"
Jayne tensed and whispered through tight lips, "he means to clip us with that! Piece by gorram piece! We gotta get outta here Mal." Lowering his voice even further, he said fervently, "Saffron's got I-nara!"
"See these Malcolm?" said Niska, as he sensually caressed the tool. "I got these from my father when I was seventeen years old. I used it to cut at our rabbits. Best practice I could ever have had in discovering its many delightful uses. I used it on the Comp-"
Niska's speech was cut by an abrupt knock at the door. What looked like Niska's Head of Security walked into the room and straight for Niska's desk. They spoke in hushed tones before Niska nodded and he soldier left the room with six of the armed guards.
The black clouding Mal's vision receded enough for him to realise that it was time to get out. Mal looked at Zoë and she nodded.
In a blur of motion, Jayne whisked out Vera and charged two of the remaining guards, shooting one mid-charge. Bullets were flying around the room and Zoë and Mal ducked and rolled behind the sofa.
"Damn you Malcolm Reynolds!" shouted Niska, angry at the turn of events.
"I'll get the guards," Zoë said, knowing Mal was going after Niska. "Beat his ass Sir. The Joo Bah Jeh Wei Shian Dohn Woo took our girl."
"No need for passin' on advice Zoë. I know exactly what I'm doin' to that Gou cao de Ri shao gou shi bing."
Counting to three, Zoë ducked and rolled to the left. Firing as she moved. She took out one of the guards.
Jayne was involved in a brawl with one of the guards while the other made his way to the elevator, presumably to call for backup.
"Not so fast," whispered Zoë. Talking aim, she shot the guard and he dropped before reaching the doors.
Mal looked towards the desk and noticed Niska was about to make an escape via a concealed entrance.
"Not this time you Joo Fuen Chse," whispered Mal. He made a run for it and charged at Niska from behind. Catching the older man by surprise, Mal punched him in the gut and followed it with a hard punch to the face.
Niska retaliated by plunging his scissors into Mal's right arm.
The black rage that had receded darkened Mal's vision once more. Mal pulled out the scissors and advanced on his prey. He threw a vicious punch and Niska's glasses went flying. He couldn't stop hitting. Anywhere and everywhere he could reach. Niska had crumbled like a piece of silk.
He felt a tug on his arm, "Mal! Mal!"
And still Mal kept kicking.
Then he felt a punch in his gut, "Gorramit Mal! Aint no time for this! Soldiers are on their way!" said Jayne.
His vision cleared and pain throbbed from his wrists to his feet. "Dammit Jayne!"
There was a loud roar and all three dove for cover. One of the windows on the opposite side of the room was spectacularly blasted open. Shards of glass was blasted everywhere.
Serenity was hovering outside.
"Our ride is here!" shouted Zoë over the turbulent air. "We need to get out of here now. Guards are on their way up!"
Mal took one last look at the crumbled body of Niska. He was barely breathing and he turned towards Zoë. "Inara?" he shouted.
"Saffron and I-nara jumped down the trash chute," said Jayne, hand to his ear as Kaylee fed him the information. "They're on board," said Jayne.
The elevator was moving. Guards were heading up. Mal, Zoë and Jayne ran towards Serenity as the hanger bay doors opened to receive them.
"We're gonna have to make a jump for it!" shouted Zoë, wind whipping at them from all sides.
Jayne jumped, Zoë looked at Mal and jumped.
"I'll get you for this Malcolm Reynolds! You and your crew will suffer!" shouted Niska from where he lay.
Mal was about to jump then hesitated. He turned back towards his enemy. He was breathing with great difficulty, and from across the room was attempting to claw his way towards the concealed doorway.
"Shi Ma?" asked Mal as he turned and strode back into the room, injured arm hanging limply at his side.
"Mal no!" shouted Zoë, who had already made the successful jump into the hanger bay.
"For Christ's sake! Does he have a death wish?!" shouted Wash over the intercom.
The elevator pinged, signaling the arrival of the guards. Mal stopped, aimed his pistol with his left hand, and shot Niska from where he stood.
Niska looked at Mal, his mouth opened then closed, his eyes glazed with shock. His body stiffened, then went limp and crumbled to the floor.
The guards came out firing. Mal turned and ran for Serenity, her doors already closing.
He landed in the hanger bay and winced. Lying sprawled out on his side, he let out a grunt and tried to move. He'd been hit in the leg, as well as in the already injured arm it would seem, and the pain was washing over him in waves.
"Get us the hell outta here Wash!" he growled as Zoë and Jayne rushed to his aid.
"Zoë? Where's In-" he asked while he could still string together a coherent thought.
"Mal," said Zoë hesitantly, looking over her shoulder.
Mal's vision started to blur, and blackness threatened to claim him. Sheer strength of will kept him conscious. He needed to know. Focusing just a little harder, he noticed Inara lying in Kaylee's arms, the Doctor was buzzing around them frantically - and there was blood everywhere.
Before he passed out, he whispered, "Inara."
Glossary:
Yi Da Tuo Da Bian: Big pile of Shit
Qing Wa Cao De Liu Mang: Frog humping son of a bitch
Feng Le Huen Dahn: Crazy Bastard
Gorramit: Form of God dammit
Joo Bah Jeh Wei Shian Dohn Woo: Ugly animal
Gou cao de Ri shao gou shi bing: Dog fucking pile of sun-baked shit
Joo Fuen Chse: Pool of pig shit
Shi Ma?: Is that so?