Santha's calculations were as complete as she could make them. There were too many unknown variables for her liking. Some of them involving James' reactions to aspects of her plans.
No matter, she would go forward because if she could go back there was no reason to plan. She toyed with space-time calculations for a few moments.
"Do you remember…?" Santha began slowly. "The time I said I could kill you with my brain?"
Uncomfortableness stretched between them. It had a slightly different flavor than she was used to.
"Yeah." James grunted. "Ain't something a body can forget too quick-like. Was it true?"
Santha's eyes popped open almost on their own. She turned to look at him squarely. "Yes."
"But you ain't gonna, right?" James shifted nervously. "On account of us being friends now, right?"
Santha paused. "I never planned to." She said slowly. Odd, seemed like the slower she went, the clearer her words became. Interesting, perhaps excessive velocity of thought was part of her underlying insanity problem.
"You didn't? I mean…" His mouth made some rather unattractive fishlike motions.
"The threat was not empty." She told him. "Rather a warning which you heeded. Given because circumstances indicated you were redeemable. Not hopeless."
"Well, alright… good, but…" He frowned. "Why bring that up now?"
"There is someone aboard this vessel who deserves neither threat nor warning nor chance of redemption." She frowned. Did those words come out too harshly?
"You're gonna kill someone?" James scrambled to sit up a little.
"Yes." Her eyes narrowed slightly
"With your brain?" His voice was pitched higher than normal.
"Yes." Santha wasn't sure if a smile or a frown would be more appropriate so she kept her face neutral.
"Oh."
They stared at each other a moment longer. "How many people have you killed, James?"
He grunted. "Don't reckon 'James' has ever killed a one." He smiled faintly. "Jayne, now, Jayne lost count a long time ago."
"Two hundred and ninety six." She said flatly.
James blinked. "All with your brain?"
Santha laughed. "Not River," She said, still smiling. "The target."
"Oh."
"River's brain has killed twice. Her hands many times more than that and her left foot once." Her eyes got distant. "Most targets are not worth the consequences. This one is an exception. Probability is eighty nine percent that we will both be injured if he is part of the team that releases us into the wild."
"Wait, what consequences?" James panicked just a little. "What will happen to you?"
"I will lose consciousness. A headache is likely." Santha winced. "It is best done on an empty stomach as there may be vomiting." She licked her lips. "May River ask another favor of Jayne?"
"What is it?" He asked suspiciously.
"Hold me while I do it." She said quietly.
How could he refuse those pleading eyes? His gut clenched up.
"Yeah." He agreed after watching her for a moment. "Alright."
Santha sighed. "Thank you." She unhooked her legs and rolled onto her hands and knees.
"Now?" James asked, panic overtaking him.
"I will need time to recover before the ship reaches our planetary destination. According to the pilot, approximately two days remain." She winced. "I apologize in advance for the vomit stench. I must be alert at our destination for events to occur optimally."
"We'll get used to the smell." He said. "Come here." He shifted so he was comfortable.
Santha paused for a brief, analytical moment. Then she chose the half on top of him position she was always in when he woke.
"Are you comfortable like that?" He asked.
"Yes." Santha wrapped her skinny arms around him. "Hold on, please."
His arms hesitated, they felt sort of heavy. He raised them anyway and hugged her loosely.
"Shh," Santha raised her head so their eyes met again. "Clear your mind. Concentrate entirely on just being here. I'll be right back."
Jayne felt her go limp in his arms. The girl was gone. Somehow he could tell that the body he held was an empty shell.
That was even more creepifying than letting her kill some crazy hun dan who probably did deserve it anyway. Hell, Jayne would kill the fellow himself if he'd had a gun and a clean shot. She'd given him enough motive to. Folk like that didn't belong among nice…
Wait, she wanted him to just be there. He grimaced. Like he was on a job that meant waiting, he supposed. Quiet and still and…
Somehow his thoughts wouldn't lie still. Every time he let go of his anxiety about what she was doing, he became extra aware of her body on his.
Maybe he could concentrate on his breathing. Deep breath in, then 'Hmmm' on the way out. That was better.
Couple of years ago he'd have…
No. 'Hmmm' Just breathe.
He lost track of time. Not that he'd had a good sense of it since…
'Hmmm'
He didn't know when he should start worrying. He didn't want to disturb her work…
'Hmmm'
She was floating again, seeking that spot of rottenness. He wasn't difficult to find. River paused near him.
Strange, she could still feel Jayne wrapped around her. Warmth, comfort, safety. When had Jayne come to mean those things?
It was curious, her dream-self had never felt so connected to her physical self.
Fondness filled her, Jayne was humming to her. Excellent. She hadn't considered instructing him to do that.
She turned herself back to the task at hand.
The toad was screening Cortex shows. He gave no thought to the plot or dialogue. His brain supplied both. He fantasized about what he would do with the players if he had them in his power. Torture rape and death were common elements. Actually, once you overcame the gruesomeness, he was surprisingly repetitive.
For the briefest moment, River considered maiming him so he could suffer before he died.
No. Swift, precise. No chance of saving him. That was much better.
River inserted a neurological sequence into the toad's brain. It was poetically similar in construction to computer code. The signal shut him down piece by piece. Conscious brain first, then heart, lungs, lower functions.
River withdrew from his mind. Funny, she didn't feel different.
She probed at the toad. Going. In another ten seconds he would be unreviveable. She waited the long moments. Time often passed oddly when her brain walked alone.
Then she reached for her own body. She was instantly enfolded in Jayne's presence.
She gasped suddenly and her eyes popped open.
"Hey." James said softly. "It's done?"
"Yes." She held him tighter, pressing her whole body against him while she shuddered uncontrollably.
James gritted his teeth and held her close. She needed him.
"You gonna be sick?"
She moaned. "No." She said after a while.
"River?"
"Santha." She corrected.
"Right. Lets shift around a little. Maybe I can do some more of those braids."
River lay still and quiet on top of Jayne. When his arousal made itself known, she ignored it, because he wanted her to.