A/N: This roughly follows "Serenity" Part one (the initial pilot episode for the TV show, not the BDM). I've started adding background info about the Firefly 'Verse to the forum for folks who are feeling a bit lost. I am of course changing stuff… because the Doctor is there. And Rose. And Riddick. Yeah. Also, any scenes recycled from "Rose" still belong to the BBC, even if I completely change them. I'm planning on this reaching thirty-six chapters, but not completing the Serenity plotline (meaning there'll be a cliffy here to lead you all into the next story). Reviews welcome, readers encouraged -- or should that be the other way 'round? Thanks to my reviewers and readers anyway.
Basia Orci, nice to see I've not run you off. Glad you still like it. Real Life Happens, eh? So, do we still want Jelly Babies?
Summary: The Doctor, reeling from the effects of the TimeWar as the last surviving TimeLord, stumbled into a situation he could not ignore when the TARDIS landed him inside a ship that was clearly in trouble. After the rescue, he's left with eight survivors that he must somehow get to safety. But the situation is not as cut and dry as he might like. His people may be gone, but the stamp he's made on the universe is still there, and he finds himself caught in a web spun of the choices he's made in his past…
Something in history has prompted humanity to explode out from their home world. Could the events of 2164 be responsible? Was Earth a myth or was it real? In fleeing Earth-that-Was, humanity scattered to the stars across the galactic arm. Initial survey teams targeted likely planets and systems for habitation and not all of them ended up on the same side of the sector. Blue Sun exists on one side, separated by a patch of 'wild space' filled with exotic binary and triple star systems, from the rest of civilized space. Few ships brave the route. But luck had it that one ship did. Risking a ghost run, the only contact that the two sides have, the Hunter-Gratzner crashed midway through the journey. Original Port of Departure: Eavesdown Docks, Persephone. Mixed Sino-Anglo culture. Original Port of Call: Tangiers-5. Darkside. Mixed Islamic-Anglo culture. Crew complement: Four. Passengers: Forty. Living 'Cargo': Two. Survivors: Eight plus One
So what happens in 2517 to Dr. Simon Tam, his brilliant but damaged sister, a convicted murder by the name of Richard B. Riddick, and Jack B. Badd now that they are on their way home? They end up slightly out of their own Time, on a ship filled with living sculptures and then a 'quiet' trip to 2005 London brings them face to face with living sculptures of another kind… And just how is this related to the TimeWar?
A Doctor Who / Firefly / Riddick crossover.
Features Doctor 9, companion Rose Tyler; The cast of Firefly; 'Jack B. Badd' and Richard B. Riddick…
Doctor Who and the Ties that Bind.
Part Thirty-Three
Vesper
Jon had surprised everyone when he offered to do the dishes and sent the kids down to get their games to share. Mal was surprised to be invited, as was Zoë, but both were quite delighted at the prospect. It was still a long evening in space, before the shift changes and such, and Mal didn't really object to having the passengers where he could see them all.
Zoë stepped in to help dry because Richard was involved in working out which game would be played first. He struck her as a dynamic fellow, one that was emotionally solid, who was capable of great feats of loyalty to those who earned it and great cruelty to any who crossed him wrong. His kids clearly loved him though. She did notice that Simeon and Saritha seemed to use more than simple verbal communication with each other but then most twins did that.
The merchant, Dobson, hung around for a bit while the Smythe kids haggled over whose game should be played first. He was casually watching everything, acting like he was sleepy after a big meal. Strange. It wasn't that late and the meal hadn't been that heavy. Kaylee tried speaking to him, being friendly with him in spite the fact that Dobson was being anti-social. She even offered to partner with him if they needed to team up to play the first game. He begged out and excused himself.
Mal suggested to Book that perhaps a plate of food for Inara wouldn't be amiss, and the Shepherd gladly prepared a tray and took it to her. Then he stepped out if the dining area and back toward his bunk to use the facilities before deciding what he wanted to do for the evening. Joining in on a game or relieving Wash a bit early both sounded equally good. And it might make things smoother with the pilot if he had some time with his wife.
The first mate of Serenity looked at the man who was efficiently scrubbing everything in the small sink. Everything about him had a hint of being more than it seemed at first glance. His smooth skin gave him the look of being pampered, but his movements flatly contradicted this impression. His closely cropped hair and angular features might have been harsh on anyone else, but he often flashed a manic grin that blotted out all thoughts of how odd he looked. He'd certainly charmed Kaylee easy enough. And Inara too, if she remembers correctly. Her eyes wandered to his hands, as he rinsed a glass with a practiced movement. The tendons and muscles under his smooth skin moved evenly. Zoë knew he was much stronger than he appeared, just by that. She took the glass and filed away the sensation of his cool fingers for later analysis. Drying the dish she let her eyes watch him wash the next one.
He had the sleeves of his soft sweater rolled up to his elbows, exposing a rather striking dragon tattoo that was on his inner forearm. He wasn't trying to hide the mark, she noticed. He scarcely seemed aware of it. It's got a tribal look to it, very graceful yet masculine. It struck her as a strange place for a tattoo, as the mark itself would hardly ever been seen. And it was really a very nicely done, understated tattoo that somehow fit him. She noticed that his homogeneous fair toned complexion was unmarred by hair too, like he waxed or was very blonde. Having her own extremely pale man, she knew he must blush up in a phenomenal fashion. Really she shouldn't be thinking of that sort of thing right now. But then, he had a very well formed love bite at the base of his neck that was hard to miss. She took the plate from him and set to drying, "Kaylee made the off-handed comment that you -- glowed."
He glances at her, dipping his elegant hands back into the suds and setting to work on another dish without taking his eyes off her. The intense gaze doesn't quite unsettle her the same way it had before because of the teasing glint in them. However, she can see vast intelligence and great darkness in those deep blue orbs. For a timeless moment she almost forgets who she is as she meets them with a steady sure contact. She knows that he's got more complex layers than anyone has right to have, a depth of pain that rivals Mal's coupled with a sense of childlike wonder that somehow keeps bouncing back no matter what he's been through. And right now his eyes are twinkling at her with amusement so quietly profound that she is positive he's got a massive secret that he's hiding. He's like a boy with a toad in his pocket. After a moment he grins, "This bothers you?"
She finds her voice, "Puzzles me. I don't think she was talking about you being happy."
Jon's very devious and teasing look spreads from his eyes to the rest of his face, "Now that's interesting. What do you think she was talking about, then?" Sure enough there was a certain radiance to him, a sense of power and promise, like he held the future locked inside his very pores. The sensation was quite strong; stronger than she'd ever noticed about anyone before. And she had met others with that sort of energy. Other women mostly.
The dark skinned first mate was quiet for a time, pondering it. She kept coming back to the same conclusion, as to why someone might 'glow' besides being happy. And frankly, Kaylee was right, he was positively glowing, now that she was really focused on him. It didn't make sense though. "Well, it's silly. Not to mention impossible."
"Ah." He handed off another item, "And you just don't do flights of fancy, do you?"
Zoë glanced at him, getting the impression of great age for a moment, "Not usually, no." There was something about Jon though that was different. She took the next plate from his hands and wondered about what it could be. He was compelling, spoke with conviction, was clearly very intelligent, and she had no doubt he could take life as easy as he could save it.
"Five hundred years ago, this was a dream. Can you even begin to imagine what it was like a thousand years ago? Or what it's going to be like five hundred years in the future?" Jon looks away finally. "Who is to say that the impossible today isn't the accepted fact of tomorrow?"
Now she's really curious about a lot of things having to do with his situation. Those beautiful children, for example. Clearly they are his and Richard's flesh and blood. There are too many shared features for it to be otherwise, from the shapes of their lips and bone structure of their faces, to his unusual blue eyes that are the exact same as the oldest boy's. But how did they get from a bundle of shared genes to living babies? "Did you use a surrogate for your children?"
"Oh -- I don't think I'll answer that." He lets the sink drain, towels off his hands, and moves away leaving her to dry the last of it with a perplexed look on her face. She felt like he'd answered her by not answering her. She was left with a riddle. One that he had faith she could unlock. But did she want to?
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Book carried the tray up to the shuttle door and knocked. He was a little nervous about crossing the cargo bay without an escort but seeing as Mal knew where he was headed, he suppose that it was alright to be there. "Ging jin," came the Companion's voice from inside.
He steps into the tapestry and curtain shrouded shuttle and notices that she's bathing, not that he can see much more of her than her back from his angle. He's struck nearly breathless by the beauty of the understated and elegant décor. His reaction has nothing to do with the creamy tan skin that flawlessly covers her torso. No. It does occur to him that perhaps he should leave, that maybe she doesn't want him there, "If I'm intruding..."
Inara continues with her bath, unhurried and unembarrassed. She actually looks serene as she finishes up without lingering, "Not at all. I expected you."
"Couldn't really say the same," he confesses. He's feeling a touch of nerves now, unsure if this is a situation of temptation or redemption.
She is kneeling on the floor; her garment lay out around her. She puts the sponge down and neatly, gracefully, places the toga like silk over her shoulder. She turns to him with a small smile, "So. Would you like to lecture me the wickedness of my ways?" There's the offer of an icebreaker there, an olive branch of a sort. Book is more than willing to take it.
He's not quite sure when she gained her feet; the movement was so graceful. She's setting the bathing items aside, and he finds that he's more at peace with her than he thought he'd be, "I brought you some supper," he says making a motion with the tray, "But if you'd prefer a lecture, I've a few very catchy ones prepped." He jokes lightly, "Sin and hellfire... one has lepers."
She laughs lightly, showing that she gets his humor, "I think I'll pass." He offers her the tray with a smile and she takes it, "I thank you for this."
"The Captain said you might like it. I was surprised at his concern." He watches her as she sets the tray down at a low table then turns to straighten up the pillows on the couch.
"In spite the teasing, Mal means well. It goes both ways. I've gotten him pretty good too. Anyway, I suspect he has more interest in making you uncomfortable than me." She's in constant movement, but managing to not make it seem busy or nervous. She notes that he's not overly eager to leave.
Book takes note of the etched golden charm she's wearing around her neck by a thick chain. He's never see anything like it before. Curious, but likely not safe to ask about until he knows her better. Clearly it's something of great personal value. So, he keeps the conversation on the captain because that does seem to be a safe topic, "He's not wildly interested in ingratiating himself with anyone, yet he seems very protective of his crew." The preacher pauses then says, "It's odd."
"Why are you so fascinated by him?"
The Shepherd says, "Because he's something of a mystery." She looks away. Then he surprises her, "Why are you?"
Inara glances at him, forces her gaze to something else, and smiles to herself. No point in denying it is there? "Because so few men are."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Kaylee, Saritha, Rose, Jacob, Simeon, Zoë, and Richard are gathered around a board game on the table, chasing each other's tokens across the board, drawing funny cards and being instructed to do strange things with their tokens or being forced to switch places with each other. The odd number means adding tokens from other games but no one minds. In general, they are laughing and having a good time. The dice clatters again, "Oh, no… not now! I've almost won!" exclaims Kaylee.
"Take a card," says Rose, teasingly.
The mechanic groans, "Switch with blue. Pick high or low."
Zoë says, "Low, since I've been rolling that all game. And losin'." Simeon laughs being the other 'blue' token. The dice clatters. "Whoot! I'm winning." The second in command gloats like she's shed several decades as Kaylee switches their places. Moments later Saritha eliminates Kaylee from the board. Kaylee mentions something she can use for the next round that is her good luck piece. She keeps it in the engine room and heads off to fetch it.
Jon is siting quietly in the seating area, watching them play and nursing a cup of tea, in spite their attempts to get him to join. He figures it would be too easy to cheat with the dice and he knows he'd win, so he sits it out and simply enjoys the sound of their laugher while he tries to not think about his conversation with the dark skinned woman. He doesn't want to think about the possibilities hinted at in those words or the potential agony that comes with them. Sometimes, he really wishes that his looming into the house of Lungbarrow had eradicated the human genes he carried. In spite getting away from the punishment for Loom Jumping, he'd still been plagued with this annoying fifty-first century mutation from his very human mother that had caused him much grief. And what a surprise that mutation had been the first time it surfaced. But he wasn't going to think about Jamie. Or the CIA. Or his forced regeneration. No, he wasn't. Not right now.
Jayne is in the hallway, just outside his bunk, listening and looking back that direction like he wants to be included but is waiting for an ok by Mal. Mal can hear the game in progress because his door isn't closed all the way. He finishes using the toilet, refashions his trousers, and closes the metal drawer. The toilet flushes. He then pulls out the sink, quickly washes his hands and splashes his face, and closes it. Moments later the com overrides the festive noise, "Mal, you might wanna get up here..."
Wash hasn't even finished before he's climbing up to the foredeck hallway. Without stopping he passes Jayne and moves into the bridge, closing the door as he goes. Wash is focused on one of the screens. "What is it?"
The pilot says, "Signal. Somebody went on the Cortex, hailed the nearest Alliance Cruiser." The man is a bundle of motion while appearing to be calm.
"Tell me you scrambled it."
"All to hell, but I don't know how much got through. Alliance got a pin in us for sure," Wash informs him.
Mal swears, "Ni ta ma de, Tianxia suoyoude ren, Dou gaisi."
"We got a mole on board. And Mal… It's not Rich, but whoever it is might be after him. Be careful."
Mal doesn't stop to think about how Wash would know, or why the target might be the bronze skinned man. All he cares about is that they are in danger, grave danger, and he's going to kill the mole, no matter who it is. Really, there are only two people it could be. Book or Dobson. He's betting on the merchant. Book was with 'Nara.
He opens the door and signals to Jayne. The gun-for-hire knows that expression and automatically falls into line behind him, not asking what or why. Ahead of them, in the dining room, Dobson steps into the opposite doorway, "All of you, away from the table." The gamers stop, the dice bouncing onto the floor, and the group going silent. "Away from the table, now." He advances into the room with his gun drawn.
Richard makes a motion and the raven-headed twins pull others down under the table, Saritha snags Rose and Zoë, while Simon pulls Jacob. Mal's never seen such coordinated movement before in children. The bronze man stands, planting himself in front of the others. "I don't know what the fuck you think you're doing Dobson, but the joke's not funny."
Mal draws his gun, with Jayne right behind him. "You are bound by law, Richard B. Riddick, for outstanding warrants on five planets in three systems," says Dobson, holding up a warrant poster and a fingerprint lift.
"You've got to be kidding," Zoë says from under the table. This is impossible. The cortex alert about Riddick had been pulled two weeks ago because he was in custody. Besides, this man looked different, his resemblance to the convicted serial killer was passing if at all.
"Down on the floor!"
Richard gets down onto the floor of the warm golden toned room, hoping that no one does anything stupid. Thete? Don't go playing hero here.
Nonsense, Amadak. I'm not going to do anything foolish, just kill him is all.
Richard closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. Please don't get in the line of fire, Doctor. It would just figure that as soon as he finds happiness that something would rip it away from him. That's the way it's always been. He's not even been able to really enjoy this new life.
Then Dobson spots Mal and shifts his attention to him, "Drop that firearm, Captain Reynolds."
Jayne has ducked to the side so that he's hidden. Mal steps inside the door and puts the gun down on the floor, "This is not my best day ever."
From under the table Zoë says, "Lawman, you are making a mistake." She sees Jon, who in spite his pale skin has been overlooked in the shadows of the seating area. He's got a look of raw murder on his face, a fury that looks powerful enough to take out an army. She sure wouldn't want to be the focus of that expression. The man is soundlessly and confidently moving with expert precision toward Dobson who is completely unaware that he's there. And while Jon has no weapon in his hand or on his person, Zoë's pretty sure he doesn't need one.
Book appears in the shuttle-to-kitchen port and takes in the situation, "I think everybody could stand to calm down a bit." The gun doesn't move off of Richard, even as Book moves across the room.
"This isn't your business, Shepherd."
"He's not going anywhere, lawman. As I understand it, it's pretty cold outside."
Mal opens his posture, "Look, its no worry. We'll put him in a passenger cell until we can get this ID issue verified. We're willing to work with you, Dobson."
The gun comes up on Mal, "You think I'm a complete backbirth? You're carrying a fugitive across interplanetary borders, and you think I actually believe you're bringing medical supplies to Whitefall? As far as I care, everyone on this ship is culpable."
"Well now. That has an effect on the landscape." Mal's thinking now that they have very little to lose by defying the lawman wholesale. But he doesn't want to kill him, yet. No, he wants to find out how much information has been leaked first.
Book is aiming for something, but it's hard to say what, "Please, we're very close to true stupidity here--"
Mal's noting that he doesn't know where Jon is. He tries not to look around as Dobson says, "I got a cruiser en route for intercept, so talk all you want. You got about twenty minutes."
"Might have less than that."
Dobson says, "Yeah, threaten me…"
Mal shakes his head, "Not me doing the threatening, boy. Stepping in between a 'gator and its family is a dangerous thing to be doin'."
"For God's sake," Book says as he gets even closer, "Listen--"
"You think I wouldn't shoot a Shepherd? Back off!" Dobson says.
"Zoë, help me get the kids onto the foredeck," Mal says.
"You're wrong about my papa!" Jacob says from under the table.
"No! Jack," says Simeon, trying to calm him down.
"Let me go!" the boy screams, "Papa!" Rose curls her arms around the golden haired boy along with the twins clutching him. He breaks into heart-rending sobs.
"Stay with Simeon and Saritha, Jack," orders the bronze man on the floor.
"Have you no heart for the trauma you're causing these children?" Book says to Dobson.
"Stand the hell down, Preacher!"
"Why's everybody--" Dobson spins and his weapon goes off, causing Kaylee, the speaker, to stumble backwards into the wall next to the portal she'd just stepped through, "What..."
Even as she's raising her hand toward her belly everyone else is in motion. Jon steps out of seemingly nowhere. Dobson is moving to fire on Mal who has dived for his gun. Jayne levels his weapon to cover his captain. Jon slams the lawman in the face with an open handed blow that knocks him clean out while he's still on his feet. At the same moment Book grips Dobson's gun and twists it out of his hand. Zoë's gun levels under the table as she moves to block the kids from the line of fire.
The blood splashes over Kaylee's fingers. Simeon lets go of Jack and jumps across the room to her side, somehow vaulting over the chairs without tripping on them. Inara appears at the same door Book entered through having heard the gunshot, "Kaylee!" Both she and Mal rush to the mechanic's side.
Simon is in his element here, he gets Kaylee where he can look at the wound, "How do you feel?"
"A little odd..." she mumbles, "Feet cold."
Behind them Jayne is advancing on Book, Jon and the downed Dobson. Book sees him and steps up to block, "Outta the way." He's pissed that the man shot Kaylee. The rest of it is just icing on the cake.
"You're not killing this man."
"Not right away..." the mercenary agrees.
"He's no threat," Book reasons.
"Oi, he's plenty of threat," Jon says, "Get out of the man's way, Shepherd."
Kaylee whimpers, "Why did he...?" as Simeon opens her clothes up to examine the wound.
"Oh, well, that ain't hardly a mosquito bite." Mal tells her.
She knows better, "Big mosquito..." Inara uses her wrap to pillow Kaylee's head.
"Not gonna happen." Book tells the two others. He's determined to protect Dobson.
"Jayne!" calls Zoë. She's gotten up from under the table. He looks back at her, "Just tie him up. Do it." Jayne looks at her and Jon nods in agreement. The gun-for-hire holsters his weapon and moves to get some duct tape.
Simeon is trying to keep Kaylee aware, "Can you move your feet? Kaylee. Stay with me. Can you move your feet?"
"Are you asking me to dance...?" Her eyes roll back.
"She's going into shock."
Jon turns toward the situation as Inara says, "Kaylee, mei-mei, you have to focus." It only takes the Doctor one look to tell that she's going to die without a miracle, or if she's extremely lucky be reduced to using a wheelchair. He can give her that medical marvel, because of the superior healing factors in his blood. But keeping Richard, Simon, and River safe come first.
Zoë moves over to Book, "The gun, Shepherd. Please." He hands over the weapon without a fuss. Moments later Jayne sets to taping Dobson up.
Kaylee screams as Simeon explores the wound with a professional touch, "The infirmary working?"
"Yeah, we got it stocked," Mal says.
Richard steps up and scoops the wounded woman into his arms. He pays not a whit to the blood, more focused on getting her to the med lab than his clothes, "Go, Simon. We got stairs to cover." Inara darts out ahead of them. Simeon doesn't question, following her. Behind them, Richard, Jack, River, and Rose chase down the stairs.
Mal starts to follow them when the com bleats out, "Captain, we've been hailed by a Cruiser. Ordered to stay on course and dock for prisoner transfer."
Jon catches Mal by the arm locking him into an intense battle of wills, "Change course. Run." His cool hand is like a steel cuff around the captain's arm. Mal knows, without a doubt, that Jon is not what he seems; he's not human. No human could have that look in their eyes, a look like the 'Verse itself is burning. For once Malcolm Reynolds thinks maybe he's in deeper than he thought he was. And he wants out.
"Hell with you. You brought this down on us, I'm dumping you with the law."
Zoe steps in on Jon's side, "No way the Feds'll let us walk."
"Then we dump the lot in the shuttle and leave 'em for the purplebellies to pick up."
"Fine, your little Kaylee dies," Jon says. "Because she'll need my blood to make it. She'll need more medical care than you've got on this boat."
"What?"
"Bullet severed the spine and punctured the stomach. Even if Simeon can get the fragments out she'll be paralyzed for life. Now. Turn. This. Boat. And. Run. Unless you don't mind her not walking again."
"Don't you ever tell me what to do on my--" Mal started, a scream drifted from below cutting him off. He glanced toward the back of the ship where they were taking her to.
"Mal--" begged Jayne from the floor where he was taping Dobson's mouth. He didn't care if it was hogwash or not, if Jon said he could save her then they should run.
Zoë turned on the pale gent, "You let her suffer like that, you'll never make it to the Feds." She doesn't need to say that she'll kill him.
The Time Lord tightens his grip making Mal look back at him, "Do as I ask." Jon locked eyes with Mal. From the depths of Serenity a second scream echoes up at them as the stomach acid begins eating away at Kaylee's insides.
Mal feels the shiver of death haunting him again. He's in the presence of something huge, powerful, and alien. No normal war could leave such a timeless mark on someone's soul. Jon is willing to save Kaylee, and all Mal has to do is break the law again for it to happen. Kaylee can be up an' fine in a few days or she can be dead before the cruiser reaches them. He knows Jon isn't lyin' about saving her. He could do it; the power is in his hands to make it happen. An even trade. They save Richard; he'll save Kaylee. Mal nods, understanding everything all at once. "Zoë. Change course." Jon releases him and moves toward the infirmary inhumanly fast, not waiting for the confirmation. Mal stands there for a tick, feeling still the icy touch of steel bands on his arm before rushing out to follow.
The dark skinned woman punches the com, "Wash, change course and go for hard burn. We're runnin'." Almost without a pause she feels the sensation of the ship making a swing and the thrust as her husband obeys the order. He must have known already and been waiting for the signal.