Spartan's Quest – Chapter Seven
Author owns no rights to Firefly, and no copyright infringement is intended. Fanfic only.
--
The news of Given's discovery was difficult for all of them.
Neera was devastated. She had so hoped to find the children, alive, and in some semblance of well being. She had broken down almost completely in Mal's arms, and cried until she went to sleep. Mal had gently lowered her to the bed, and covered her up.
It was times like these, when he looked at her, that he almost forgot who and what Neera was. It was times like these that he could admit that he loved her.
Zoe was stoic as always, but stiff. Brittle. She had walked up to the bridge, sitting there quietly while Julio gave Prim the news. When the hacker had finished, the two of them sat together in silence, staring out at the black. Neither spoke, but enjoyed the silent companionship of the other.
When Prim had contacted Jayne and River, River had held up fine until Prim had broken the wave. After that, she went to pieces. Jayne had carried her to their cabin, and laid in the bed with her, while she sobbed uncontrollably.
The others reactions were somewhat varied. The team members on Serenity, especially Jerl McCann, who had helped search the facility for the missing students, were livid. They cleaned and checked weapons, sharpened knives, and brooded.
And brooding was a bad thing for people like them. Sooner or later they would have to kill something. Or someone.
They knew that Prim and Reynolds were looking for a target. When they found one, they would be the ones to deliver the message.
--
"I can't believe it," Inara said, as tears trickled down her face. "I had so hoped. . . ."
"I know," Prim said softly, gently tucking a stray hair behind her ear. She smiled at his gentle touch, leaning into him.
"These are monsters, Prim," Inara shuddered. "Only a monster would do this."
"You are, I fear, correct," Prim agreed. "But even monsters can be killed, my sweet. And we will find these people, and destroy them."
For the first time in her life, Inara found herself hoping someone would die.
--
"They were children, Jayne!" River cried into his chest. "Children!"
"So were you, mon peu beauté," he murmured. "So were you."
"That was different," River argued.
"Was it? I think not. They care not for whom they hurt." He hugged her tightly to him. "But they will, my love. I promise you, they will."
"Yes," her voice grew firm. "They will." Jayne looked at River as she raised her head, and smiled when he saw that her normally brown eyes were almost black. And that her smile was marred now by small pinpricks of white.
"You are ready," he smiled, kissing her lightly, letting her fangs brush against him. Both shivered at the feeling. River was lost in the senses that began to flood her.
"Jayne," she whispered. "Is this. . .is this how you feel? All the time?"
"Yes," he murmured against her lips.
"So aware," she whispered again. "So sensitive. Sense everything."
"Yes," Jayne nodded. "You have awakened, my love," he told her. "And now, when we find the people who have done this, we will blood you."
"Yes," she whispered, lost in a blood lust that she relished, but could not fully comprehend. "Need," she whispered, lost in a flood of desire that threatened to overwhelm her completely.
"Yes, you do," he whispered. "Take what you need, my precious rose."
Her fangs sank into his shoulder, and she felt Jayne's biting into her own as well. Then she was lost in the tide that washed over her.
--
"I aim to end the people who did this," Mal said darkly the next morning, as everyone gathered in the galley. "Anyone don't want in, best say so now."
"Want in?" Jerl looked at him. "You find us a target, I'll show you in." The members of his team nodded. They were furious.
"We'll set the young'uns down, make sure they're set, and then we start huntin'," Mal told them flatly. "And I mean we don't stop at nothin' till we find out who's responsible for this, and they're on posters that say 'missing'. Dong ma?"
Everyone nodded in agreement. Zoe watched Mal carefully. She'd never seen him so angry, not since the war. He was on the borderline. But then, they all were.
"Cap'n," Willie's voice came over the com. "We got us a problem."
--
"Ship approaching, my Lord," Harry called. Jayne and River were at breakfast. Jayne hit the com.
"Know who it is?" he asked.
"No, My Lord, but she's not tracking us. She's after Serenity."
"Very well. Keep an eye on her. And let's arm all weapons."
"Aye, My Lord." Jayne looked at River.
"Might be that some of that payback begins today," he smiled.
"I'd like that very much," River almost growled.
--
"Any idea who they are?" Mal asked, stepping up on the bridge.
"No, Cap'n," Willie shook her head. "They're flyin' quiet, too. Not for the long range sensors, we'd not be seein'em. I think they ain't up to no good, though," she added.
"Well, maintain course and speed. We'll see what we'll see," Mal ordered. It would be a sadly mistaken individual who boarded this ship, the mood some of these people were in.
"Zoe, let's see about gettin' our wee passengers secured," he ordered. "Place'em in the shuttles. You and Julio in one. Time comes, Yuki and Willie in another. Split the workers between'em. Let Yu see to that, I guess," he added.
"Sir," Zoe nodded, and set off.
"Wonder if they're pirates, or if they know we got the kids?" Mal mused.
"They know," Amanda said softly. Mal looked around to see the girl standing close to him. "They're after them. All of them," she added, looking at him.
"Well, that ain't gonna happen, sweet pea," Mal smiled, and Amanda returned it.
"I know," she told him. Suddenly she rose up on her toes and kissed his rugged jaw.
"If I could pick a father, Malcolm Reynolds, it would be you." With that, the girl turned and ran for the shuttle that Zoe would be on. Mal looked after her, his face a mask of wonder.
--
"Want the children," River said softly, her eyes closed. "Chasing the ship for the children." Her eyes opened abruptly. "They can take us to Brockman," she said, looking at Jayne.
"Good enough," Jayne nodded. He looked at Harry.
"Let's close up on'em."
--
"I think they know we're here."
Wes Jackson looked up at the words from his pilot.
"And what makes you think that?" he demanded.
"They're flying awful loose, suddenly," the pilot told him. "Like they're off auto-pilot. And there ain't no reason for that, this far out into the black."
"Why would they. . . .?" The ship shuddered at that moment, and the lights went out. They flickered and then came back on.
"What the hell was that?" Jackson demanded.
"We're takin' fire!" someone called from the engine room. "Syd's down! And so's the engine!"
"Who in the hell. . . .?" Jackson's tirade was cut off as the screen in front of him come to life on it's own.
"Whoever you are," Jayne said amiably, "now would be a good time to surrender. We can work out something, I'm sure. Otherwise, I will destroy you, and your ship, in one minute."
"Who the hell are you?" Jackson demanded.
"My name really isn't important," Jayne smiled. "You know something I want to know. I'm willing to let you live in order to get it. Or kill you, if you don't give it to me. It's that simple. Forty-five seconds, by the way."
"What? What the hell do I know?" Jackson screeched.
"You know the man who hired you to attack that freighter you're following," Jayne smirked. "And that's what I want to know, as well. Thirty seconds," he added.
"I wasn't going to attack that ship!" Jackson sputtered.
"You're lying," Jayne sounded bored. "Not a good start to our relationship. Fifteen seconds."
Jackson made his decision. He wanted to live. Brockman would kill him, if he found him. But this man would kill him, now.
"Brockman," Jackson blurted, just in time. "His name's Brockman."
"I knew that," Jayne replied calmly. "I want to know what he looks like, and where to find him."
"How the hell can I. . . ."
"I have it," he heard someone say off screen. The man nodded, and looked back at him.
"What were you supposed to do?" Jayne asked.
"Why's that matter?" Jackson asked, suddenly more afraid.
"I want to know," Jayne told him.
"'Sposed to get them kids back," Jackson told him. "They was abducted."
"And give them to Brockman?" Jayne prompted.
"Yeah," Jackson nodded.
"They aren't his children," Jayne pointed out.
"Well," Jackson started.
"Take the children, destroy the ship, no survivors," Jackson heard the voice from off screen again. The man on the screen nodded again, and turned back to Jackson.
"Well, have a nice day," he smiled, and the screen went black.
Jackson took a deep breath, calming himself.
"Sir, we're. . . ."
The pilot never finished, as a quartet of missiles slammed into the ship.
--
Mal blinked as the ship that had been trailing them exploded in a pinprick of light, then disappeared all together.
"What the hell?" Mal muttered, astonished.
"Another ship on the scopes, sir," Willie told him. "Just showed up. Must be a pretty stealthy ride, too. We just now picked them up, and it was their transponder that made that happen."
"So, we ain't got no idea are they're friend or foe," Mal said.
"I'd lean toward foe, at the moment," Jerl McCann said, walking up to the bridge. "Just to be on the safe side."
"Sounds like a plan. Let's finish gettin' the kids loaded, and see what's what."
--
"Guess we oughta give Mal a call," Jayne mused, as River worked feverishly on a sketch of the figure of Brockman, gleaned from Jackson's mind.
"Should," she nodded, never looking up.
"Be a shock, I 'magine," he added, and she nodded again.
"Good for him," she sniggered. "Keep his blood moving."
"True," Jayne smiled, and turned to the screen.
--
"WAVE comin', Captain!" Willie called.
"Answer it," Mal ordered. "I'm on the way." Willie hit the receive button.
"Yes?" she demanded.
"Who are you?" Jayne asked, having never seen Willie before.
"You called me, buddy," Willie shot back. "You oughta know who I am 'fore you call."
"I called Serenity," Jayne pointed out. "I expected someone I know to answer. That does not appear to be the case, however. I need to speak to Mal."
"And I tell him who want's to?" Willie demanded, reminding Jayne just a little of Kaylee.
"Tell him an old friend." Mal walked up on the bridge at just that moment.
"Who is it, Willie?" he asked, moving over next to her.
"An old friend, he says," Willie told him, pointing.
Mal looked at the screen, and went pale.
"Hey, Mal," Jayne smiled. "You look like you seen a ghost."
--
Jayne watched the look on Mal's face go from shock, to anger, to something almost like happiness.
"Jayne!" Mal screeched. "You best have a damn good excuse for not bein' dead!"
"Well, I kinda can't die," Jayne smirked. "Well, I can, but it's really complicated, and, you know, I don't wanna bore you with details, an' all."
Mal laughed at that, hearing the words and voice of Jayne Cobb, instead of a mythical beast named Janos. The world was going mad, he decided, seeing a living, breathing Jayne on the screen.
"Jayne, I don't wanna seem rude," Mal said, "but we kinda got a situation here, and, well, reckon we could just wave ya back, later on?"
"No need," Jayne assured him. "Your situation's been taken care of."
"That you behind us?" Mal asked. Jayne nodded.
"Been trailin' you a spell," Jayne smiled. "Just in case. Glad we did, now."
"You with 'Tross?" Mal asked.
"Where else would he be?" River demanded, moving into the picture. "Sorry about the surprise, Captain Daddy. Had to be that way, for a while."
"I'm so happy to see the two o' ya, I may just forgive ya," Mal chuckled. "'Spect there's a fair few folk like to have a word with you," Mal said finally. "Me among'em," he added, grinning.
"Well, how about me and River pay you a visit, then?"
--
The air lock cycled, and everyone was gathered about, waiting. Neera had looked stunned to hear that Janos was alive, and the others had similar reactions. As the door opened, everyone stiffened a bit.
River walked through first, with Jayne on her heels. Neera and the 'others' started to kneel.
"Oh, get up!" Jayne snapped at them, then smiled. Neera rushed to him, embracing him in a hug that Mal was sure would have broken his back.
"Welcome back, My Lord," she whispered.
"Thanks," Jayne replied, smiling. He shook Jerl's hand, then the others. Clara hugged him tightly, eyes bright.
River walked over to Mal, and hugged him tightly, careful not to hug too tightly.
"How are you, lil Albatross," Mal said softly, returning the embrace warmly.
"I am well, Captain Daddy," River smiled. She hugged Zoe, and was surprised to see that the normally stoic woman's eyes were damp.
"Hey, mei mei," Zoe smiled. "We're you find that stranger?" she nodded to Jayne.
"He was hitchhiking," River sighed theatrically. "Looked lost, so I gave him a ride." Zoe laughed, and stepped up to Jayne.
"I never thought I'd say this," she told him, "but I'm glad to see you."
"Same here, Zo'," Jayne said thickly, and surprised her by hugging her. She surprised him by returning the embrace warmly.
"And why ain't you dead?" Mal demanded, stepping forward.
"Good to see you too, Mal," Jayne grinned. Mal lost his battle with the smile that was threatening, and shook hands with his ex-merc.
"I'm glad to see you," Mal told him sincerely. "Though I'd never admit that."
"I know," Jayne grinned. "It's good to see you, too."
"Well, let's gather round the table, so to speak," Mal ordered, and the group made it's way up to the galley. Yu was waiting there, and she smiled warmly at seeing Jayne.
"Hello, Janos," she hugged him briefly. "Why am I not surprised?"
"You're smart?" Jayne replied, and Yu laughed.
"And you must be River," Yu smiled, offering her hand to River. "You're keeping bad company, you know," she added mischievously.
"Beats traveling alone," River shrugged, then giggled. Yu laughed again.
As everyone took seats around the table, Mal made sure everyone was up to speed.
"So, who is this Brockman, Albatross?" he finally asked. River offered him the drawing she had completed on the trip over. Mal looked at it, frowning.
"I don't know him, or at least I don't recognize him," Mal said, passing the picture around.
"Nor do we," Jayne admitted. "But, River was able to glean a bit from the Captain of the other ship, and found that Brockman frequents Persephone, and usually made contact with Jackson from there."
"So Badger'd be like to know him, then," Mal mused to himself, and River nodded.
"Suspect he got information on you and the children from Badger," she told Mal. "But I would say that Badger didn't willingly give you away. Brockman is feared by all who know him."
"Well, Badger can learn to fear someone sides Brockman, I conjure," Mal told her bluntly. "But taking these young'uns to Nightside is more important than that, at the moment. Once we're sure they're safe, then we worry about explaining things to Mister Brockman. Permanently." Everyone nodded at that.
"Meanwhile, let's us eat," Mal smiled. "And get reacquainted."