Chapter Eight
The Browncoat Underground was planning an elaborate smash and grab operation. Williams would lead the team in, they'd wipe the kids' current programming, and lead the kids out through the roof, where transport would be waiting to carry them away.
"Kaylee, Zoe, it's going to be up to you two to make sure the Browncoat transport does not leave the base. It's gotta be grounded for some reason or another. At least give us enough time to get there ahead of them and get away clean," the Captain said.
Kaylee was looking over the specs of an Alliance ship the Browncoats had commandeered for the mission. "Shouldn't be too hard. These models got lots of kinks we can exploit. Could rewire the steering mechs here, make it so they can't turn once airborne. They won't know it's sabotage till their up in the air."
The Captain nodded. "Sounds fine. Just keep them from getting there first."
"How exactly we gonna get Serenity there anyway? What with our pilot being in the Academy with us?" Jayne asked. "Can't exactly find ourselves a new pilot who shares our stupidity levels in forty-eight hours."
"Inara," the Captain said, pointing to his right.
"Pardon?" Inara said, alarmed.
"Been telling me what a good pilot you are for years now. Now's your chance to prove it."
"Serenity's a bit bigger than a shuttle, Mal," Inara said.
"Got a better idea?" the Captain asked. He looked around the kitchen table. "Anyone?" No one answered. "It ain't that hard. And you got a whole two days to learn the ropes. Kind of. And, you'll have Kaylee to help you."
"What?" Simon asked. "I thought Kaylee was going to stay out of this!"
The Captain shook his head. "Things have changed, Doc. We all gotta be on Serenity and ready to get the hell off this rock as soon as those kids get on board. There won't be no landing to pick up the rest of our crew."
"I'm up for it, Captain," Kaylee said, refusing to look at Simon.
The Captain gave her a nod. "We've already told them we want to leave as soon as we get back from the mission, so they'll be movin' the ship back topside early that day. Shouldn't be no trouble for ya from there."
"Okay, fine, we found us a pilot-type. But what are we going to do about Williams?" Jayne asked.
"Just what he wants us to do; knock him out and leave him there so the Academy doesn't suspect he was in on it," the Captain said.
"I still don't like that guy," Jayne said.
"'Course not. He's a weasel," River said with disgust.
"A weasel who's going to get us into the Academy," Zoe said. "What about Smith?"
The Captain shook his head. "I haven't quite figured that part out yet. Figure we should try to keep him from even trying to go."
"He won't like being tossed out of his own mission," Zoe argued.
"He'll like the alternative less," the Captain stated.
"The alternative, Captain?" Kaylee asked.
"We'll have to knock him out and leave him, too," the Captain answered, "Along with any of his men that he decides to take along for the ride."
"I say we glide on past the nice guy act and simply put a bullet in him," Jayne said.
Kaylee glared at the mercenary in shock. "You can't just kill him!"
"I'm pretty sure I can," Jayne countered.
"Killin's a last resort, Jayne," the Captain said. Jayne huffed. The Captain added, "I mean it."
Kaylee sat back in her chair as she listened to the Captain tell everyone for the hundredth time that they were to act as though nothing was out of the ordinary. If the Browncoats caught on to the fact that the crew was less than sincere, they were all humped.
"All right, you all know your jobs. Best get to 'em," the Captain finally said, getting up.
Kaylee went straight to the engine room to gather the tools and plans she would need to sabotage the transport ship. She would also check around, make sure Serenity was feeling shiny so Inara would have smooth sailing when they needed it. Maybe she could tighten up the thrusters and make the ship able to break atmo faster.
"Kaylee!" Simon called after her.
"Ain't you supposed to be working on a counter-program for the kids? Something that will keep the other programming out?" Kaylee asked, annoyed.
"Kaylee, I need to talk to you."
"You are talking to me. I ain't stopping your mouth from moving."
"Kaylee," Simon put a hand on her arm, making her turn to face him. His eyes were pleading.
"Oh, don't do that," Kaylee said.
"Don't do what?"
"I'm still mad at you!" Kaylee said severely.
"But don't do what?" he repeated.
"Don't look at me like that when I'm still mad at you!"
"Kaylee, I'm sorry," Simon said.
"Sorry for what, exactly, this time, Simon? For getting me pregnant? For being with me in the first place, perhaps?" Kaylee turned again, walking to the back of the engine room.
"Kaylee!" Simon followed. "Kaylee, stop. Wait a minute." He was chasing her around the engine room now. He got ahead of her and put both hands on her shoulders. "I love you, Kaylee. I don't regret a moment I've spent with you."
Kaylee rolled her eyes.
"Well, maybe one moment," Simon said. Kaylee glared at him. "I should have asked you to marry me a long time ago."
"Yeah, we've known about the baby for three months."
"No, I mean before that. Way before that," Simon said.
"So, why didn't you?" Kaylee asked angrily. "Why'd you wait so long just to botch it up?"
Simon shook his head. "There are so many things I wanted for us. I wanted you to meet my parents. I wanted to meet your parents. I wanted to ask your father's permission. And there's a ring that should be yours. It belonged to my grandmother, and it was always supposed to go to the girl I married. I kept thinking that maybe, if I waited a little longer, we could have those things." He looked away. "I wanted to do things right."
Kaylee smiled and touched Simon's face. When he looked at her again, she said, "I don't need those things, Simon. I just needed you to want to be with me."
"Kaylee?" Simon asked, his eyes were shining, pleading again. She couldn't take him lookin' at her like that much longer. "Will you marry me?"
Tears started rolling down Kaylee's cheeks. She nodded and leapt into Simon's arms.
The Captain, suddenly appearing in the doorway, cleared his throat. Kaylee and Simon sprang apart. "Ain't there some actual work you two supposed to be getting on with?" he asked, a smile on his face.
Simon nodded, gave Kaylee another quick kiss, and left the engine room.
"Something you needed, Captain?" Kaylee asked, getting back to what she was doing before she'd been interrupted.
"Glad to see you two have worked things out," the Captain said. "Shouldn't go into something like this angry."
Kaylee looked at him. The Captain looked really worried. Usually he tried to hide it a little better. "You all right, Captain?"
"I'm just sorry, Kaylee. I didn't want you anywhere near this mission," he said.
"I ain't helpless, Captain. I'm just pregnant," Kaylee said angrily. The kid glove treatment was starting to wear on her nerves. When she saw the worried expression was still etched on the Captain's face, she softened. "You got me in the safest place in the mission, Captain. I'll be fine onboard Serenity." The Captain nodded. "And so will Inara."
The Captain looked at her, then quickly looked away again. "It ain't Inara I'm worried about," he lied.
"Sure, Captain. You just keep on tellin' yourself that."
"Just, get everything ready, and be careful when you and Zoe go take out the transport ship."
"Yes, Sir, Captain Denial," Kaylee said. The Captain ignored her and left her in the engine room.
It wasn't long after he left that Kaylee realized some of her tools were missing. She must have left them in the hold after trying to fix the mule. It wasn't until she was on the catwalk that she realized the hold was occupied. Even though they were whispering, Kaylee could understand every word they said. She was right above them. She stopped moving and started listening.
"Can't you talk Mal out of this?"
"We must not be thinking of the same Mal, if you have to ask, Jayne," Zoe said.
"But it's suicide!" Jayne whispered gruffly. "You're his first mate; you can't think of some way to get him to change his mind?"
Zoe sighed. "He's got an idea in his head, and it ain't leavin' anytime soon."
"But what about Kaylee? And 'Nara? You sure he's thinkin' about them?" Jayne asked.
"The Captain made a decision, Jayne. River made a decision. We all know you don't like it, but there's nuthin' you can do about it." Zoe paused a moment, then asked, "What's got you so worked up, Jayne? Thought you'd want to pull a fast one on these Browncoats."
"Just gotta bad feelin' 'bout it, is all," Jayne said. "Like I'm gonna be sick. Just know something's not gonna go right."
"It's us, Jayne. Nothing 'round here ever goes according to plan."
"Yeah, but this time it's different," Jayne said. "Listen, you sure you can't talk Mal out of this?"
"Sure as the end of the world, Jayne," she answered. There was a silence. Kaylee figured the idea was finally sinking into Jayne's head. "Jayne," Zoe said after a few moments, "River can take care of herself. You don't have to worry about her."
"Yeah, actually, I do," Jayne said. Kaylee heard him stomping away. He was coming her way.
"Hullo, Jayne," Kaylee said, acting like she'd just got there.
Jayne stopped and narrowed his eyes at her. "You look like the cat what swallowed the canary," he said.
Kaylee looked away. "I don't know what you mean, Jayne. Just came by to get my tools I left in the - "
"Yeah, whatever," Jayne said gruffly, sliding past Kaylee and stomping away.
Kaylee blinked after him.
"You best work on your lying," Zoe said as Kaylee came down the stairs. "Elsewise, we might end up staying in Khonsu City longer than we'd like."
"I really wasn't tryin' to listen, honest!" Kaylee admitted. "It just sorta happened." Zoe put a hand on her shoulder in understanding. Kaylee half-smiled and nodded towards the catwalk. "He's got it bad for her, huh?" she asked.
Zoe shook her head. "Something's got Jayne wound up tight. He's never been like this about a mission before. Not even with Niska."
Kaylee nodded. "Don't fill me with no warm and fuzzy feelin's, seeing Jayne that scared. Don't bode well for us, does it?"
"I imagine not," Zoe admitted. She shook her head again. "Now, don't worry, little Kaylee. River'll sort him out.. He'll come through when we need him. He always does. You just wait and see. In three days, we'll be outta here and far into the black where we belong."
Kaylee hoped she was right, but she didn't quite believe it. They were about to do something incredibly brave and stupid. They needed the old Jayne back. Grenade throwing, sharp-shooting, bullet dodging Jayne. Otherwise, they were humped.