Spartan's Quest Chapter 10, a firefly fanfic

Spartan's Quest – Chapter Ten

Author owns no rights to Firefly, and no copyright infringement is intended. Fanfic only.

Two days after leaving Nightside, Athena and Serenity rendevous with the armed corvette Artemis. Mal looked at the sturdy vessel through Serenity's bridge screen, and grudgingly admitted, if only to himself, that the ship was more suited to the task than his own beloved ship.

Another Asgard class ship, like Athena, the Artemis was slightly larger than her sister ship. She would easily accommodate both the people assigned to the mission, and the families she would spirit to safety.

"How many o' these things you got hid away, Jayne?" Mal asked, as the men met aboard the new ship. Jayne shrugged noncommittally.

"A few, here and there," he admitted, almost against his will. Mal snorted.

"Well, I'll have to say, you were right. This tub is more suited to what's needed than Serenity. That don't mean I gotta like it, mind," he added.

"I understand, Mal," Jayne sighed.

"Well, let's get this show on the road," Mal ordered, having satisfied his need to inform all and sundry that he was, as usual, unhappy.

"Agreed," River nodded sharply. "Time is in short supply."

"List of the pickups is on the Nav," Jayne told him. "Don't spare the fuel. We ain't got no way to know how soon Brockman'll make his move."

"We're moving soon as we get shut o' you," Mal nodded. "So git."

"We're going."

"Think they'll get them in time?" River asked as the Artemis moved away at high speed.

"Hope so," Jayne nodded. "We'll see, I guess. Anyway, Brockman'll soon have more to worry about than a few kids spread over the rim," he added, his voice dark.

"Indeed," River nodded, her own voice thick with emotion.

"Harry," Jayne hit the com, "let's get moving. Persephone, top speed."

"Aye, Milord."

Seconds later, the Athena was hurtling for a meeting with a certain weasel.

"It's a nice ship," Neera said neutrally, watching Mal's face as he took in the Artemis' systems.

"That it is," Mal nodded. The ship had come with a crew, so Willie and Lucas had taken Serenity on to Londinium. Mal watched the pilot, a slim dark haired man, expertly putting Artemis on course. He had to admit, the man was good.

"It's only for a few days, Mal," Neera sighed. "We'll be back home before you know it."

"Home?" Mal looked at her, eyes crinkling in amusement.

"Serenity's home to me, too, Mal," Neera told him bluntly. "She will be so long as you're there."

"Oh yeah?" Mal teased, wrapping his arms around her.

"Yeah."

"Hey you two, get a room," Zoe ordered as she walked up onto the bridge. "Rest of us got work to do."

"Still the captain, Zoe," Mal informed her airily.

"Ain't saying otherwise," Zoe said, struggling to keep a straight face. "Just saying you oughta think about the rest of us, and not inflict all this romancin' on the folks workin' so hard to. . ."

"I get it, Zo'," Mal muttered as Neera broke into laughter. "We'll be in my bunk."

"Right, sir," Zoe lost the battle with her smile at that. "We'll let you know when we need you."

"Even on another ship I don't get no respect," Mal grumbled, with Neera still laughing as she followed.

"I don't get no respect," Badger mumbled as he replayed the latest 'request' from Brockman. The man was becoming more insistent about his 'help'.

"I can't 'elp it if Reynolds ain't been 'round," Badger grumbled. "Man's dropped off the grid and I can't be 'elpin' that."

"Trouble, Badger?" The quiet question broke into the little man's thoughts and he whirled around.

"Ow'd you get in. . . ." He trailed off as he realized who was standing there.

"I asked if you had trouble," Jayne Cobb asked softly. Badger's face was pale, and sweat broke out on his brow. His eyes fell to the small woman by Cobb's side.

"What's wrong, Badger?" River asked just as softly. Her face was a cross between a grin and a sneer, out of place on her beautiful features.

"Well, fancy you two showing up!" Badger tried to bluff his way out. "I was just. . . ."

"Just about to tell us what you know about a man named Brockman," Cobb interrupted smoothly. "All about him, Badger. And if you do," the large man smiled, though it wasn't pretty, "I might not hurt you as bad as I'd like. Otherwise. . . ."

"B. . .Brockman?" Badger stammered. "I don't know any one named . . . ."

"Badger, Badger, Badger," Jayne shook his head slowly. "You disappoint me. I know you better than that, and you're lying. Usually I can tell that because your lips are moving. In this case, however, it's because your heart rate has just doubled, and your eyes are dilating."

"And you stink," River added, her nose wrinkling. "Perspiration has increased and whatever you're eating is. . . .ewww."

"'Ey now!" Badger exclaimed.

"I think we were talking about Brockman," Jayne reminded him gently. "I mean it, Badger. I know you put him onto Mal. I know you arranged for a good deal of shipping on Brockman's behalf. And I know you'd sell your mother out for a platinum. So, if you want to keep doing well, and running your little 'hill'," Jayne winked at River, "you better start talkin'. And I'm gettin' tired o' saying that."

With that, Jayne nodded at River, who produced a two inch round bar, three feet in length. Still smiling, River held the bar at each end and slowly began to exert pressure.

Badger watched in amazement as the bar inexorably began to change shape. The waif of a woman before him was . . . .

"Not the first time you've seen something like that, is it?" Jayne asked in amusement as Badger's face showed his shock.

"N. . .no," the little man managed. "It ain't. 'Ow. . . ?"

"That's not really important, Badger," Jayne told him, as River finished creating her circle, and tossed the ornament down on Badger's desk. "The important part is that you placed people that she thinks really highly of in danger. And she's, well, pissed isn't too strong a word, I think."

"Not in the least," River growled, taking a step toward Badger.

"Wait, now!" Badger exclaimed, backpedaling. "Brockman. Yeah, Brockman! I know that bloke! Sure I do!"

"I thought that might jar your memory."

"We're in orbit over the first planet, Sir," Zoe called from the bridge. Mal reached up and touched the com in the galley.

"Okay, Zoe. I'm on the way."

"Made good time," Neera said as she walked beside him to the bridge.

"Sure did," Mal nodded stiffly.

"It's a good ship," Neera added, needling.

"It is," Mal's answer was clipped.

"Mal, for crying out loud, can't you just admit that this was a good idea?" Neera didn't quite laugh.

"I already did," Mal looked hurt. "When I agreed to do it to start with."

"Getting you to say that anyone's idea, other than your's, is like pulling teeth. It's slow, and painful."

"And damn near impossible," Zoe opined, having heard the last as the two approached the bridge.

"Zoe," Mal warned.

"Just agreeing, sir," Zoe said neutrally.

"Right," Mal scoffed. "Are we cleared to land, or what?"

"We are," Zoe nodded. "And we aren't the only ones," she added, handing Mal a sheet of copy from the printer.

"How'd you. . .?" Mal trailed off as his First Mate snorted.

"This ship has systems that the Alliance would kill for," she told him. "All I had to do was ask, ask, and the printer started chirping. This one," she indicated the hard copy, "requested clearance just after we did, and asked for the same general area. And," she pointed to the manifest.

"Badger, huh?" Mal grunted. "Well, that's surely a coincidence, don'cha think?"

"I highly doubt it," Zoe snorted again.

"Okay, get us on the ground, quick as you can," Mal ordered. "Neera, tell everyone to gear up. We may have a bit o' trouble."

"So where can we find your friend, Mister Brockman, Badger?" Jayne asked.

"'E ain't my friend," Badger almost snarled. "'e's a killer, cold and simple. And ain't one I can buck, mind," he added, almost grudgingly.

"No?" River asked.

"No," Badger affirmed. "Right smart o' people that 'ave ain't around no more, missy. And I mean serious folk, too. Brockman ain't one to take 'no' for an answer. Ever."

"Sounds like you're scared of him, Badger," Jayne taunted. The little man's answer surprised him.

"I am. So is anyone who's come across 'im. I'm tellin' ya, Cobb, 'e ain't stable. He ain't human I sometimes think. Ain't no one what's bucked 'im still around to tell of it. I ain't so tired o' livin' that I feel the need to join'em. Know what I mean?"

Jayne thought about that. Badger liked to think he was the king of his little hill. For him to bow under to another could only mean that he was truly afraid.

"Where is he?" Jayne asked.

"I got no idea," Badger admitted. "I know he sometimes operates off of Londinium, and he's called me more than once from Ariel. But I don't know where 'e calls home. Far as I know, no one does."

Jayne cast a quick glance to River, who nodded almost imperceptibly. Badger was telling the truth.

"Badger, I find out you're lying to me, I'll be back," Jayne warned softly, and Badger gulped. "And I won't be in a good mood."

"I ain't lyin', Cobb. And if you're huntin' 'im, I hope you find 'im. And get rid of 'im. He ain't civilized in no way."

"We're on the ground, sir," the pilot, named Johns, informed Mal.

"Good deal," Mal nodded. "People," he hit the comm, "we're on the ground. Let's cut loose and get this job behind us." He headed aft, where Jerl McCann's team was ready to head off ship.

"Ship's yours Zoe," Mal ordered. "They may know who we are, and come after the Artemis."

"Sir," Zoe nodded. Between her and the five crew, the ship was in good hands.

"Let's go," Mal ordered, and the troop set off.

"Man we're lookin' for is named Bellow," Mal reminded the team and Neera. "We'll get his family, whatever foo-foos they aim to take, and get off the planet quick like."

As they approached the small farm house, a small shuttle passed overhead. Neera frowned.

"We might should hurry," Mal added. McCann increased the speed of the hover mule they were riding, his face grim.

Hiram Bellow was scared. Ever since the Doctor's WAVE, he had watched the area around his house with dread. Someone was likely looking for his daughter, Kaitlyn, and aimed to take her from him. He aimed to make sure that didn't happen.

If he could keep her safe until the people the Doctor had sent for them arrived, they'd be okay. At least that was what he hoped.

His thoughts were broken by the howl of a shuttle settling in to land in front of his house. He hoped it was the men coming to protect them. But he couldn't take the chance until they identified themselves.

The shuttle landed softly, and Blecker looked at his team.

"We get in, get the kid, and get out," he ordered tersely. "No survivors. Clear?"

Heads nodded.

"Let's get it done, then." The ramp downed, and the men streamed off the shuttle, ten in all. It was overkill, based on the fact that there was only supposed to be two parents, and three other children.

"Who are you, and what do you want?" a voice yelled from the house. Blecker ignored the challenge and motioned his men forward.

"Stop where ya are, or I'll shoot!" the voice challenged again.

Blecker gauged where the voice was likely coming from, and raise his rifle.

Bellows watched in dismay as the man raised his rifle and opened fire, then ducked as the others opened fire. Clearly this wasn't the men who were being sent by the young Doctor. At least now Bellows knew that the Doctor had been truthful.

There was trouble coming. Bellow hoped that he would be able to hold them off.

He raised his old rifle, sighting carefully, and squeezed the trigger.

"Gunfire," Neera said tersely. Mal nodded, and motioned for McCann to kill the mule. They were about five hundred yards from the house, still, and could see the shuttle on the ground.

"Dismount," he ordered. "We need to move in on foot. I can't keep up with you bunch, so Jerl you're in command. Get up there and take care o' things, and I'll watch the mule."

The four 'others' McCann's team and Neera, sped away in a blur, leaving Mal alone.

Blecker cursed as one of his men fell to the rifle in the house. This wasn't going well. As he turned to yell orders to his men, he saw a blur from the corner of his eye. Startled, he whirled, just in time to see a large knife driving for his throat.

His orders died on his lips at the same time he did.

The Brethren made short work of Blecker's 'team', downing all nine remaining men in under a minute. Two of McCann's men hit the shuttle as well, and easily dispatched the two men still on board.

"Mal, we're clear," Neera called.

"On the way," Mal replied.

Bellow watched as the newcomers loaded the dead men onto the ship they had arrived on. His attention was taken from that by the approach of a hover mule, driven by a lone man. The mule ignored the action at the shuttle, and stopped near the front of the house. The man dismounted, his hands clear of his gun.

"Mister Bellow?" he called. "I'm Malcolm Reynolds. We came to get you and yours. We're a mite late, I guess," he added, looking behind him. "I'm to tell you that Simon says I'm the good guy."

Bellow sighed. That was exactly what he was told the man would say, and the name was right. Bellow stood.

"We're comin' out, Reynolds!" he called.