CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
AuthorownsnorightstoFirefly,writesforhisownamuseme nt,nocopyrightinfringementintended.
FF
"So anyway, the coroner's inquest will be a formality," the lawyer was saying. "There's no question that it was self-defense, most of the altercation was caught on surveillance cameras, so your testimony won't be required for the inquest."
"You will have to be present for the trial, if one is necessary, however. And of course, no charges are being sought against any of you, since everyone has the right to self defense," he finished.
"Well, that's all good news," Jayne sighed. "Thanks."
"That's my job," Nathan Walsh smiled gently. "I've done my best to look into the two survivors, as well, but they have, so far, told the police nothing. They have yet to even ask for representation, I'm told, so there's nothing to report about them right now. I do have a request in to be notified the minute their status changes at all."
"Thank you, Nathan," River smiled gently. "I really appreciate your handling all of this."
"It's part of what you pay me for," Walsh waved her thanks away. "And I'm glad to do it, to be honest. Shooting at a teenage girl, like that. We still have the death penalty for things like that, here."
"Good," Jayne grunted.
"Is there anything else I can do for you today?" Walsh asked. Both Jayne and River shook their heads.
"Well, then, I'll be on my way. Pleasure to meet you, Mister Cobb," he shook hands with Jayne, and then left the ship.
"Seems like a good fella," Jayne said after he was gone.
"He's very highly respected," River nodded. "After what happened with Jenkins, and then Grippen, and so many other problems, I decided we needed a good attorney here, just in case."
"Looks like a good call," Jayne observed neutrally. River didn't wince at that, but she could still feel him struggling with the fact that she had held so much back from him.
"I suppose we can leave, whenever you're ready," Jayne added. "If we ain't got to be here for the inquest, we don't have to stay."
"Are you ready to go?" River asked, deferring to him.
"Sure. Let's make sure we're square, Liam." He started to the bay with Liam following.
River watched them go, then left for the bridge to call Holly. Thirty minutes later they were in the black, on their way home.
FF
Flint was in a quandary about how to handle the two men in custody. If he visited them himself, it would tie him to them. The same was true of his daughter. Yet he needed to get information from them, and to them.
A lawyer would be needed, but how to trust an off world lawyer? Making someone outside his tribe a party to clan business was. . .risky. Finally, he posed the question to his daughter.
"Go yourself, under an assumed name," Annassa Flint suggested. "Pretend to be their attorney. The privilege of attorney and client confidentiality will allow you to speak to them in private. You will be able to speak freely. To be doubly safe, you can purchase a dampener to scramble any listening devices."
"That's very good thinking my daughter," Flint smiled his approval. "What will you do."
"I will be very present in the hotel dining area and lounge, explaining to my attendants that you are not feeling well, and are resting in your room," Annassa shrugged. "If you are sufficiently disguised, perhaps with a wig and glasses, for example, then no one will be the wiser."
"Excellent," Flint smiled even broader.
"I will send someone to acquire the necessary items," Annassa replied.
FF
"Well, there she is," Mal sighed, looking at the newest addition to the Reynolds Shipping Line. New paint, engine rebuilt, interior completely redone. Ready to fly.
"The Muad'Dib," Inara smiled.
"Now we gotta drum up some business for her," Mal observed. "Reckon we can go see how Kaylee's comin' along."
"Good idea," Inara nodded. "I'd like to get things under way before my next class."
"How long is that?" Mal asked.
"Another two months," Inara assured him. "That should give me plenty of time to get things done, or at least mostly done, before the class starts."
"Sounds good. I admit I feel better with you handling the business end o' things."
"Why, thank you, Mal," Inara replied, eliciting a chuckle from him.
"Well, let's us go," he said, offering her his arm.
FF
"No, no, NO!" Kaylee was yelling as they walked into the new factory. "That ain't where I want that! We gotta have everything just right, so's when people are assemblin' the mules they ain't got to look all over for what they need. Give me a air line junction right above this station that'll power all the tools without having to change'em out, and with retriever cables that'll hold the tools up outta the way when they ain't bein' used."
"Yes, ma'am," the two workers nodded, and hurried to obey. Kaylee turned and shouted orders to two other workers as well, who scurried to obey.
"Looks like you got things well in hand," Mal chuckled, as he and Inara walked up behind her. Kaylee jumped slightly, and turned.
"Don't be sneakin' up on me like that, Cap'n!" she demanded, cradling her swollen belly in her arms.
"Are you okay, Kaylee?" Inara asked.
"I'm fine," Kaylee smiled. "Just gettin' a little difficult to get around, that's all."
"You look right pretty, lil Kaylee," Mal smiled, and Kaylee blushed.
"Thank'ee Cap'n," she murmured.
"You do look adorable, sweetie," Inara added.
"I don't feel adorable," the mechanical genius admitted. "My feet is swollen, the baby kicks my bladder 'bout ever fifteen minutes, and my hemorr. . . ."
"I can't be hearin' that!" Mal clapped his hands over his ears, making Inara laugh.
"Well, they are," Kaylee grumped. "Makes it hard to sit comfortable, and with my feet like they are, I want to sit. A lot. That's why Simon got me this here cushion." She held up a fabric 'doughnut', smiling. "Take the pressure off my. . . ."
"Kaylee!" Mal almost shrieked, and Kaylee laughed.
"I'm just needlin' ya," she smiled, kissing him on the cheek. "You know I love my Cap'n."
"So, how long before we can assemble a working proto-type, mei mei?" Inara asked, getting down to business. "We'll need to make a good capture of one in action before I can start to market them."
"Oh, I already did that," Kaylee waved the question aside. "It's in back, you want to see it."
"Please," Inara asked, excited.
"Well, c'mon then," Kaylee waved them along, leading to the rear area of the factory building.
"This here'll be shippin', when we're done," she explained, taking them to a canvas covered item.
"When'll that be?" Mal asked. "Any idea?"
"Another two weeks, three at the outside," Kaylee assured him. "We'll be ready here, in the buildin', by end o' the week, nothin' don't rip, slip, nor tear loose. Just waitin' on parts and equipment for the rest." She stopped, and yanked the canvas cover off, revealing the new Mule.
"Wow," Mal whistled. "That's a nice lookin' machine."
"It's very impressive," Inara agreed.
"This here is the RIT 2000," Kaylee beamed. "Guaranteed to do it all, and do it better than anyone else!"
"RIT?" Mal asked, puzzled.
"Reynolds, Ironhorse, and Tam," Kaylee declared, beaming. "This here is the all around model, good for 'bout anything, including recreation. Especially recreation. High performance engine, re-enforced frame, fly by wire steering, and enough lift to carry two thousand pounds!"
"Wow," Mal repeated. "Time's we could o' used that, ourselves."
"That's what I built," Kaylee assured him. "I thought about all the times we needed more'n we had, and built the perfect Mule for somebody like us. I mean, the us we was before we got here, that is," she added, giggling.
"And this is just the recreational model?" Inara asked.
"Well, it'll work for a hobby farmer, course," Kaylee explained. "I'm designin' a trailer that'll use the Mule's power source to hover behind it, too. Ain't quite ready to build it, yet," she admitted. "Figure time we're geared up, though, I'll have one workin'."
"Kaylee, that's amazing," Inara smiled.
"What about the other models?" Mal asked, also smiling.
"Well, until we get in some of the more powerful engines, I can't really build a workin' model, but the frames are gonna be heavier, and the lift stronger. I asked Blade and Wart and Zoe to think about what all a soldier'd be carryin', and what the weight would be, and think I got the military design down pretty good. She ought to carry six troops, and a heavy gatling gun, once she's ready to go."
"Well, that'll attract some attention, I'd say," Mal nodded in approval.
"Farm and Ranch model'll actually be stronger, though," Kaylee promised. "Lift'll be around five thousand pounds, plus figurin' five hundred extra for a driver and rider. I'm working to see can I build some attachments for it, too, but that's a little behind. I just ain't got the energy I usually do," she admitted, cradling her belly once more.
"I don't want you over tired, mei mei," Mal warned. "Don't you work so hard you have trouble, hear?"
"I won't, Cap'n," she promised. "I done promised Simon, and Momma too, that I'd be good and careful."
"See that you do it, then," Mal ordered.
"Anyway, we're well on our way, I think," she smiled. Inara nodded.
"I'd say so as well. When Liam and Chelsa get back, we'll use them to model this one. I've arranged for a film crew from Mount Talmidge to make us a demonstration vid, and I'll use it to entice potential buyers, and dealers."
"Well, tell Liam to really put her through her paces, then," Kaylee ordered. "In fact, have him do that before you call down the vid crew. I want to know if she can really take it or not. We can do a capture of our own, just to be able to go back and see what things look like."
"Sounds good," Inara agreed. "If the test goes well, I'll call the vid crew in."
"Well, I think we're pretty close to bein' in business," Mal announced. "Reckon we'll leave ya to it, mei mei, 'less you need us to help?"
"Nah, I got it under control. Side's Simon'll be here soon, and daddy'll take over for me. Time for me to lay down a while," she grinned sheepishly.
"Good," Mal nodded. "Well, Inara? Reckon I can interest you in some supper?"
"I feel sure you can," Inara nodded. "We'll see you later, mei mei."
"Bye, 'Nara."
FF
"What you thinkin' 'bout?"
Goldie looked over to where Zoe lay beside him on the ramp of Serenity. When the weather was nice and they didn't have anything that needed doing, they would spread a blanket on the ramp and lay there, watching the world go by. Right now she was propped up on one elbow, hand under her jaw, looking at him intently.
"Just stuff," he told her, smiling.
"What kind o' stuff?" Zoe asked.
"Well, I was thinkin' 'bout how the others are buildin' that factory, and startin' a business an' all. They're makin' money, or will be. But more than that, they're buildin' somethin'. Ya know?"
"Jealous?" Zoe asked, though her voice indicated only curiosity and not any judgment.
"No, just thinkin' about you and me," he replied honestly. "Are we gonna just be shippers forever? I mean, if that's what you want, I got no problem with it, to be honest. I love the life we're livin'. But what about you? Do you want more? More than this, I mean?"
Zoe looked at him, caught by surprise. Things had been so comfortable of late, she hadn't thought much beyond their next run. She and Goldie were practically perfect for each other. He wasn't Wash, but Butler Tarrant had made his own place in her heart. He had never tried to compete with Wash's memory, never tried to make her forget him, never tried to pretend he hadn't been there.
He simply moved forward with her, taking things as they came, and making a place for himself in her life, much the same way Wash had. Perhaps that was the secret to loving her, she almost grinned. You had to make your own place in her life, and then hold tight.
But his question deserved an answer, and she didn't really have one.
"I don't know," she admitted thoughtfully. "I mean, I like things just the way they are, too. To be honest, I haven't thought much further ahead than our next run to Astra. We make pretty good money, nowdays, and since we live on the boat we don't really have any overhead." She lay back on the blanket, staring at the sky, hands behind her head.
"Hey, I didn't mean to drop some big philosophical problem on ya," Goldie said after a minute. "I was just thinkin' outloud, kinda. I mean, like I said, if you're happy, then I'm happy. I can go right on doin' this til the end, Zoe. I just, well, I want to make sure that's what you want. That's all."
"Until you asked, I would have said yes," she admitted. "But I guess part of that is because I never really thought about it. Space is all I know. That and soldiering. And I don't hanker to ever be a soldier again," she added ruefully.
"Me neither," Goldie seconded. "Not ever. I don't have the time in the black you do, but I'm comfortable in it. Like a warm blanket."
"Yeah," Zoe said wistfully. "I think that's it. Embraces you and holds you tight."
The two fell into an easy silence at that, laying side by side, staring at the sky. Soon they were sleeping peacefully.
FF
"We'll be home in another day," River announced, walking into the galley where Jayne was cleaning his guns. River stopped short seeing Vera laid out on the table. Jayne hadn't used the Callahan in a long time.
"Sounds good," he grunted, never taking his eyes off his work.
"What are you doing?" River asked, sitting down across from him.
"Decided I'd make sure ever thing still worked," he told her. "Ain't really gave'em the 'ttention they deserve, of late," he admitted.
"You think you'll need them?" River asked. Jayne stopped at that, looking up at her.
"I will need'em," he told her flatly. "Did you really think I'd let something like this go unanswered? Let Flint's hired thugs shoot at my daughter, and just let him go his merry, scot free?" He shook his head.
"No, there's a bill to pay for that. A steep one." With that he looked down at the rifle, and resumed his work.
"Well, the two still alive are in custody," River reasoned. "Why not wait and. . . ." She stopped as Jayne's head shot up.
"Go on," he encouraged. Her face reddened, but she continued.
"Let the law take it's course, is all I'm saying," River counseled. "There's no reason not to see what comes of that. There will always be time to make the Flints pay for what they have done. If we can get that payment through proxies, then why not do so?"
Jayne looked at her, puzzled. There was more here than she was saying.
"I intend to have my vengeance, too, zhang fu," River told him flatly. "I warned Annassa Flint in no uncertain terms what would happen if she did not drop this foolishness. She did not listen."
"You know as well as I do that Chelsa was not the target," she continued in her flat tone. "I was. This attack was aimed at me, to get me out of the picture so that you would have no reason not to return with them."
"That's not gonna happen," Jayne shook his head.
"I know that," River smiled slightly. "They, do not. They must be taught the error of their ways. And I intend to do just that, my great bear. But I am willing to wait and see what happens on Astra, first. To let others uncover as much as possible for me."
"Are you?" she all but challenged.
"Uncover what?" Jayne demanded.
"Jayne, there has to be something they need you for," River sighed in exasperation. "There is a reason they have traveled so far to find you, and are willing to go to such lengths to get you to return with them as Annassa Flint's husband. I want to know what it is. I want to know why they're here."
Jayne considered that. He'd like to know, too, but he figured he could live without knowing. If Flint was dead, that was.
"River, I've thought about that for a while, now," he sighed, laying the part in his hand down on the table. "There's not a single reason I can think of for them to even know my name, let alone need me for anything on Tokala. There, ain't, nothin', left."
"There has to be something," River replied with equal firmness. "No one does all this for nothing. If you are the unRaised half-breed you say you are, then they should have been thrilled to be shut of an arrangement between George Flint and your Father. Arranged marriages always have benefits for both families, Jayne. There had to be some reason."
"I'm tellin' ya there wasn't no 'rrangement!" Jayne shot back, his temper rising. "My pa would o' tol' me!" Jayne's speech was starting to lapse into the rimspeak he'd used for so long as his temper shortened.
"And I believe you," River nodded. "We have already established that they are lying. What I want to know is why."
"What does it matter!" Jayne wanted to know.
"If the Flint's are willing to go to this extreme, how do we know that others won't be as well?"
River delivered her reason calmly, without any drama. She didn't need to, she saw at once, when Jayne's eyes suddenly lit up with awareness.
"That's why," she finished. "I want this done. Over. That means we have to get to the bottom of it."
"Huh," Jayne grunted, calming down as the import of what River had said sank in. "I hadn't thought about that."
"Apparently," she smirked, and Jayne suddenly laughed. River was shocked to hear it, but thrilled by it as well.
"Now that's my little genius," Jayne laughed again. "And her sassy mouth, too," he added with a raised eyebrow. "Always daring somebody to shut her up."
"Maybe you should spank me," River replied saucily. "If you can, of course."
"Oh, I think I'm just the man for that job," Jayne said casually. Then he leaped from the chair, catching her by surprise. Before she could do more than shriek, Jayne had her across his shoulder, and was headed to their bunk.
"I'll never give in!" River shrieked in delight.
"Good!" Jayne laughed, landing a hard spank on her rear. "I like a fighter!"