Chapter Nine

"I've been thinkin' on this situation of ours," Colonel Smith said, from his spot at the foot of the kitchen table, "and I will be bringing my own crew along on the mission tomorrow."

It was the evening before the mission, and this emergency meeting had been called by Smith to work out what he felt were wrinkles in the plan. Apparently it had finally occurred to him that personnel were heavily weighted towards the crew of Serenity. It was an understandable about-face, but Zoe still wanted to punch him.

"Are you crazy?" River blurted out.

Smith's right-hand of the day, Jordan Cobb, stifled a laugh. He covered it with a cough, but Zoe wasn't sure it had fooled even the extremely dense Colonel Smith, who was now glaring at River.

"That is to say, Colonel," River started over, changing her tone to sugary sweet, "a mission like this one requires a small infiltration force. the key here being small." She did a very convincing job of presenting a logical argument. Of course, it helped that it happened to be true. The more people on this mission, the harder it would be to pull off.

"If you think I'm going to leave - " the Colonel stole a glance at Jayne, "you all without any support, you've got another think coming."

"We're used to being on our own. More people would just get in the way," Mal said.

"Yeah, we don't need you sorry-ass Browncoats," Jayne said, staring at his brother. Jordan smiled to himself and looked away.

The Colonel was fuming. Zoe imagined smoke coming out of his ears.

River took action before Smith could explode. "We could use your support on the transport ship, Colonel," she said. "We need someone on the Alliance ship who we trust, who we know will keep the second crew calm and in control." The Colonel seemed to like being complimented as a leader. "The thievery we can handle, Colonel. What we really need is a getaway man."

The Colonel took a moment to think on this new plan. Then he nodded. "All right. I'll head the transport crew. You all just make sure you do your part."

"We won't disappoint you, Colonel," River said brightly.

Smith nodded, resisting looking River in the eye. She'd just played him like a violin, and he hadn't even noticed. Jayne was standing behind River's chair, glaring at Smith. He reminded Zoe of a guard dog. He obviously didn't like Colonel Smith's new attitude toward River. It gave Zoe an unpleasant feeling her own self.

They went over the revised plan again, and the meeting adjourned. Dr. Williams, the weasel, stole one last glance at River as he left. River caught Zoe glaring at the sad little man and rolled her eyes, as if to say, "It's so tough being a celebrity."

The Colonel motioned for Jordan Cobb to follow him out, but the younger man held up a hand and nodded towards Jayne. Smith shrugged and left the kitchen. Sensing a family moment fast approaching, the crew abandoned the kitchen.

Zoe went up to the bridge to think. Looking out at the base, it was hard to imagine that it had all been founded on a lie. All the people the Underground had recruited. All the work and lives it had taken them to create this structure hidden and closed off from the rest of the population. It was all based on the supposition that they could take on the Alliance where they lived. But really it was all about that Academy. A tower full of weapons the Browncoats could use to destroy the Alliance once and for all. Zoe wondered how many of the recruits knew that they had signed up to be nothing more than weapons dealers.

"It's Zoe, right?" a voice asked from behind her.

Turning around, Zoe got her first good look at Jordan Cobb. It was amazing how much he looked like Jayne. He was just as tall, if not an inch or two taller. Jordan had the same blue eyes and rough features as Jayne, but he had less bulk to his muscles, like he spent more time running than lifting weights. Jordan was also clean-shaven, and his hair was a few inches longer. There was also a more comical side to Jordan, it seemed. Zoe had seen amusement in his eyes several times during the meeting with Colonel Smith, like he found comedy even in this very serious situation.

Which didn't remind Zoe of anyone at all.

"You need something, Cobb?" she asked.

Jordan shrugged. "Just wanted to meet you is all." He stuck out his hand. "And you can just call me Jordan." He smiled and stopped looking so much like Jayne.

Zoe shook his hand but didn't return the smile. It just seemed too strange. "How'd you end up in Khonsu City, Cobb?" she asked. "Seems a mighty big coincidence you and Jayne would be here at the same time."

"Yeah, bit suspicious, ain't it?" Jordan asked, giving a small laugh.

Zoe was taken aback. "I didn't mean - "

"Yes, you did," Jordan said, waving a dismissive hand. "It's okay. I'd be a bit wary my own self. Especially with what they've got y'all doin'." Zoe didn't respond. "No, well, they've got me here 'cause I'm the best at what I do."

"Sniper," Zoe recalled.

Jordan nodded. "Got me a good pair of eyes, so they tell me." He shrugged. "Joining the Browncoats seemed like the thing to do at the time."

"You weren't needed back home?" Zoe asked. From what she knew of the Cobb family, family was always first. Jayne had only left because he had to.

Jordan shook his head and looked away. "Had nothing left on Achilles," he said. There was an awkward moment of silence. "My, uh, my wife died," he said, voice unsteady for the first time.

"You don't have to - "

"Nah, it's okay," Jordan said. "She was from the mountains, right, and her people hated me. Loathed me with a passion, actually. Well, they hated everyone from the Heel. Anyway, we got married without their permission, 'course, and then her folk found out she was pregnant. They came one night and took her back. Knocked me around pretty good. Woke up a week later. Didn't find out for months that she'd died in childbirth. Our daughter, too." Jordan took a breath.

Zoe didn't know what to say, so she didn't say anything. After a moment, Jordan said, "Anyway, after that, well, I just couldn't stay on Achilles. Wanted to kill someone so badly didn't figure it'd matter much who was on the receivin' end. So, I joined the Browncoats, got real good at shootin' people, and ended up here.

Finally, after another few moments of awkward silence, Zoe said, "I'm sorry."

Jordan nodded. "I believe you."

Zoe shook her head. "Was there something you needed from me?" she asked, hoping that Jordan's point was not just to tell her about his past.

Jordan looked down the corridor, making sure there was no one else around. He didn't realize it didn't matter; River was always listening. "From Jayne's letters, you sound like the level-headed, intelligent one in the group," he said.

"And?"

"And, I just figured you'd be the one who'd actual listen to me. Jayne's just been ignorin' me." Jordan stopped short. Zoe just kept looking at him, waiting for him to reach his point. "I need you to help me keep Jayne from doing anythin' stupid."

"That'll be a might difficult," Zoe said. "Think I'll have to tie him down or drug him or somethin'," she continued.

Jordan smiled. "Can practically see the wheels in his head going 'round. And he ain't tellin' me a damned thing."

"Maybe he thinks you'd just try to talk him out of it," Zoe offered.

"Or maybe he thinks he's protecting me 'cause he knows I'm with him, whatever gorram stupid thing he's doin'," Jordan looked right at her. It felt to Zoe like he knew exactly what was going on. That didn't sit well with her. "Anyway, worth I shot, I guess."

He looked so worried for his brother, Zoe almost told him the truth. That would have been a damned stupid thing to do.

"Well, if I can't stop Jayne, I'll help him," Zoe promised. "How's that?"

Jordan laughed. "I guess it'll have to do." He gave her a smile. "Thanks, Zoe. I knew you were the smart one." He threw her a little wink before turning and leaving the bridge.

Watching him go, Zoe couldn't help but wonder whether he would side with the Underground or with Serenity in the end. He was a difficult one to read. Besides that, something about him made Zoe uncomfortable. She didn't know what. But something.

"Was that Jordan Cobb?" Mal asked, coming onto the bridge.

"It was."

"What do you make of him?"

"He bothers me," Zoe said honestly.

Mal looked surprised. He recovered quickly, commenting, "Bet the fact he looks just like Jayne don't help much."

"He's nothing like Jayne," Zoe muttered.

"You and Kaylee ready to roll?" Mal asked, changing the subject. That meant he was uncomfortable with the current line of conversation. Zoe didn't quite understand why, but since she didn't want to talk about Jordan Cobb anymore, she let it slide.

"Yes, Sir. Just waitin' for first light."

"Good. All according to plan," Mal said.

"It's a first, Captain," Zoe commented.

"We don't have much of a track record with plans, do we, Zoe?"

"Not at all, Sir."

"You're still with me on this, right?"

Zoe looked at him. She hadn't seen Mal this worried in a long time. If ever. "What makes you ask that, Sir?"

"I heard Jayne was tryin' to get you to talk me outta this."

"Try being the right word, Captain," Zoe said.

"Truthful, Zoe. We gonna be able to do this?" Mal asked.

Zoe thought a moment. "I ain't gonna lie, Sir. It's bound to be tricky. But the lack of sanity associated with our plans has never stopped us before. Be a shame to let it start bein' a factor now, so late in our careers and all."

Mal nodded, gave a little chuckle, and took a seat on the bridge. "Go get some rest, Zoe. Got a packed morning ahead of us." Zoe nodded and left him there to think. Knowing Mal, he'd sleep in that chair tonight.

Early the next morning, Kaylee and Zoe snuck onto the Alliance transport ship. They had about half an hour to do their thing and get back to Serenity before the Browncoats moved the ships.

They made their way to the engine room, where Kaylee shook her head and pointed out flaw after flaw to Zoe. Finally, Zoe had to remind her, "Timer contraption, Kaylee."

"Right," Kaylee said, yanking open the engine access panels.

"Tell me again how this thing is going to work?" Zoe asked, handing Kaylee the contraption she'd been working on the last two days.

"It's a timed mechanism that'll gum up their workin's real good just when we want them to," Kaylee said. "'Member what Safron did so we'd miss the Lassiter rendezvous?" Zoe nodded. "Like that, only better. 'Cause it's me doing it," Kaylee said with a smile.

She pulled several wires and pieces out of the works, placed her new contraption inside and put it all back together again. "That'll hump 'em right good just about the time they're supposed to head out to meet us."

"And not before," Zoe said.

Kaylee nodded, "And not before."

"Right then, let's get back to Serenity 'fore they start movin' her outta here." When Zoe turned back to leave the engine room, however, a figure stood in the doorway. "Cobb," she blurted out.

Kaylee stood by, a look of terror and shock on her face. This was not good.

Jordan nodded towards the engine, "She meet your standards?"

Kaylee faltered, "Um, yeah. Wouldn't, uh, wouldn't choose her for my own self, but she'll do." Jordan Cobb nodded again. Kaylee took a deep breath, "Well, I better be gettin' back. You comin', Zoe?"

"I'll be right there, Kaylee," Zoe answered.

Kaylee looked from Jordan to Zoe and back again, quickly maneuvering around Jordan and towards the exit.

When they were alone, Jordan said, "I don't want to know what you're doing, Zoe." His voice was colder than it had been on the bridge. He was also looking right at her. He didn't need her to tell him. Zoe was sure he'd seen and heard everything. Jordan shook his head. "One day I'll figure out why people don't trust me enough to let me in on their moonbrained schemes."

Zoe kept his gaze. "Maybe one day you'll earn that trust."

Jordan nodded. "Fair enough. But I stand by my previous point, Zoe. I'm with Jayne no matter what idiot thing he's got in his head. That sentiment extends to his crew," he said. He hadn't taken his eyes off of her.

"You can't come with us now, you know," she said.

Jordan smiled and the tension in the room relaxed. "Don't particularly wanna," he said. "And, besides. I come with you now, after that cold reception Jayne gave me yesterday, even an idiot like Smith is bound to be suspicious."

Zoe nodded, "Glad we're in agreement."

"Well, good luck," Jordan said, moving aside as Zoe passed. "You'll probably need it."

Zoe gave him a quick smile before running off towards Serenity. Jordan Cobb wasn't a mystery anymore. He was as moonbrained as his brother, and about ten times smarter.