Chapter Twenty
No money changing hands, etc.
FF
It was a pensive family group that sat aboard the Muad'dib as it hurtled towards Astra at just under maximum speed. Sammy Bertram was as fine an engineer as had been promised, and the ship was in fine trim. Blade and Wart were on the bridge, leaving the rest of the crew at loose ends for the moment.
Simon predictably fussed over Kaylee until she finally slapped his hands away in exasperation. He relented for the moment, settling for making sure that the ship's infirmary would be ready in the event he was forced to deliver his own child. That had never been the plan, but when had anything ever gone to plan for them?
Mal and Inara sat talking quietly, about what no one else knew. Goldie and Zoe were likewise engaged, though in a more secluded spot as Goldie wanted some privacy.
Liam and Chelsa were in the galley, the former assisting the latter with lunch/supper.
Which left River alone to contemplate the mess she had made. There was no scenario that she could run where things didn't point squarely back at her. She realized, at least from an objective view, that she was being a bit hard on herself. She was not the cause of Flint and his obsession with Jayne's homeland. Nor for the lengths the man was willing to go to get it.
But the trouble between her and Jayne? That was on her. She had made some very poor decisions of late, starting with the worst which was to think that she 'had' to be the one to go after the Slasher. The fact that the Slasher was dead had nothing to do with her, and her injuries and resulting trauma had cost her a great deal, including her memory of the people most dear to her.
Even with her memory restored, she had continued to make decisions that called her intelligence into question. Stupid mistakes that no one with half of her IQ should make. All of them were crystal clear in hindsight. At the point they were made, however, it had seemed a good course of action.
All of this had shaken River's confidence in herself.
And had probably been the reason that Jayne had gone away on his own.
"Mal, there's a wave for you," Blade's voice crackled across the IC. "It's Toby."
Mal headed straight to the bridge, followed my most everyone on the ship. Fortunately the bridge was larger than that of Serenity or Companion.
"Ping has finally tracked Cobb's wave," Toby said at once. "He called an address on Tokala. I had to check a system chart to see where that is, to be honest. It's way the hell over -"
"We know," Mal interrupted. "Jayne's home world, though that ain't common knowledge and we'd prefer it stay that way."
"Okay," Toby nodded. "Anyway, the address is registered to someone named Joseph Many-Horses. Damn odd name, don't you think? No way to tell who he actually spoke with. I tried to wave over there for some background, but. . .these folks ain't really talkative. All I could get was that Joseph Many-Horses was a clan elder. Whatever that is."
"It is a cultural designation," River spoke gently. "His home is dominated by a clan, or tribal system. This Many-Horses is likely part of a clan's governing body."
"Anything else?" Mal asked. Toby shook his head.
"Tried to get a handle on where he might have shipped from, but his name isn't on any rosters anywhere that I could get to. For all I know he's still on Argo."
"No," Mal sighed. "He's not. Jayne's too careful for that. He would have made sure he was ready to head out long before you got the chance to deliver that letter. And he had to know that we'd contact you way before his deadline for you to deliver it, too. He's on his way to wherever he's going."
"You know," Toby rubbed his head, "I can't imagine anyone willfully crossing that man. What kind of idiot would think he could steal from this man and get away with it?"
"One accustomed to power, and getting his way," River replied calmly. "One who had likely never faced an opponent himself, and never expects to. He cannot see the risk he has taken."
"Well, we're on our way to see can we avert disaster," Mal concluded. He liked Toby but this wasn't really any of his business. "Make sure my folks are safe."
"Already on it," Toby nodded. "When Ball lands, he'll have a message waiting."
"Message?" Mal asked.
"I'm having Ryan and Leander deliver it," Toby smirked. "And Ping will be along as well, just for moral support."
"Ah, well, that should do it," Mal nodded. "Be talkin' to ya Tobe." Mal cut the signal and sat back.
"What now?" Blade asked.
"Stay on course," Mal ordered. "Astra is our only lead at the moment. There's no where else Jayne can go from Argo. Even if he's plannin' on goin' home, he'd gonna have to go to Astra to start that way. And we can't rule out his deciding to eliminate Flint and his daughter first, assuming he can do it without being caught out."
"Don't think so," Goldie shook his head. "He seemed pretty adamant that this, whatever this is, had to take place on Tokala. My guess is he'll make a straight line for there. And without Flint even knowing, if he can manage it."
"Sounds more plausible," Wart nodded in agreement. "Kid hunts from the shadows, Mal. Always has."
"I've seen him face plenty of people down face to face," Mal pointed out, not as an objection but simply as an observation.
"He ain't facing nobody down, here," Goldie pointed out, his face grim. "He's huntin'. It ain't the same. Not to him."
"There's a reason they called him Shade," Blade added, and Inara perked up instantly. Goldie opened his mouth to warn Susan but was too late.
"What reason is that?" Inara asked, her face a mask of innocence. Goldie desperately tried to get Susan's attention, but she didn't see him.
"A shade is a vengeful spirit," Blade leaned back, looking directly at the former Companion. "Basically an evil entity that roams the worlds seeking to extract revenge on those who wronged it when it was alive."
"I don't see Jayne as evil," Inara frowned. Goldie sighed, knowing it was too late.
"That's cause you ain't never really seen what he's capable of," Blade told her flatly, shivering slightly. "You see him being threatening and intimidating, and taking down characters like that Zhang. That? That ain't nothin'."
"Blade," Goldie warned. "That's enough. It ain't ours to tell."
"At least she's not lying," Inara said, looking pointedly at Goldie. "I'd like to think we've earned the right to the truth, Goldie. If not before, then at least now."
"Look, I ain't gonna give you a blow by blow," Blade shrugged. "All I'm saying is that you think you know, but you don't. You can't. Not til you've seen it."
"Why do you think the Slasher worried us so?" Wart spoke for the first time. He wasn't looking at anyone, but instead was staring out at the black. "Even with the Kid's help, we barely managed to take the guy down. To think that he might have survived?" Wart shook his head, his mind somewhere far from Astra or Argo.
"You might think we're kiddin' about him just wandering through Alliance camps, killing at random," Blade picked her narration up again. "That was his normal way of doing things. He'd be gone two, three, even four days at a time, hiding right there in their own camp. He'd kill a man sleeping in a tent, leave the other alive, still sleeping. Three men go to the latrine, two come back. Five go to the showers, two come back."
"A patrol goes out with twelve, comes back with nine. Or eight. Or not at all. It was always random when he was like that. It didn't matter that those individual soldiers hadn't had anything to do with what happened to his family. It was guilt by association."
"But the real terror?" Blade shook her head. "That was for the Scorpions. I don't honestly know how any of them survived the war without running for the hills. He would deliberately leave them where they would be found, taunting the rest to come after him. Take their ears, carve messages into their flesh, and that's after he's kept'em alive for two, three days cuttin'em up. I've seen. . . ." She stopped suddenly, realizing what she was saying. And who she was saying it about.
"Anyway," she turned her chair away. "That's why he's called Shade. Don't never think that he won't get his, cause he will. Every time. And if you get in his way, he'll get some o' you too."
"She's right," Goldie sighed, realizing the cat was out at this point. "Look, he ain't. . .he ain't evil, all right? I mean you can see how the Alliance might think that, but you got to remember, we're talkin' about a fifteen, sixteen year old kid who found his whole family, his whole way o' life, dead. You don't unsee that, and you damn sure don't forget it." He let out a long, slow breath.
"And this guy Flint? Not only has he drug all that up to the surface again, he's also tried to stain the Kid's family name. Impugn their Clan's honor. And I can promise you that ain't something he'll let go by, and it don't matter who or how many he kills to make sure it don't, either." He stood, glaring at Susan's back. Her shoulders bunched as if she could feel his glare. She regretted opening her mouth, but it was done before she had thought about what she was doing.
"I'm gonna hit the sack," Goldie said, suddenly seeming defeated. "Wake me when you guys want a relief," he told Wart, who nodded, staying silent. With a look at Zoe, Butler Tarrant stepped off the bridge, headed to the cabin he and Zoe shared. She looked around at the others for a second, then stood.
"Reckon I'll turn in, too," she said to all and no one. "Night." She followed Goldie off the bridge, knowing that tonight would be a night with too little sleep and too many nightmares.
"Well," Mal said into the silence. "Reckon that was more than I really wanted to know 'bout Jayne." He said it gently, in no way criticizing.
"I'm sorry," Blade said softly. "I shouldn't have said all that. And he'll be pissed at me for it, too." Wart rubbed her shoulder reassuringly, but didn't disagree.
"He'll be fine," River said just as softly. "He won't care, one way or another."
"I'm sorry, River," Inara said finally. She had been curious, and now wished she hadn't. One of the few times when she had let her curiosity lead her to acting out of character.
"Do not be," River shook her head slowly, still not really looking at anyone, or anything. "I already knew."
"He told you?" Blade asked, eyebrows raised.
"In a manner," River smiled gently. "It's all right," she stood, placing her own hand on Blade's other shoulder in a comforting manner. "He will not be angry. Nor will he retaliate. I will see to it." With a final pat of the older woman's shoulder, River turned away, leaving the bridge without a farewell and without looking back.
"I think we should turn in," Simon told Kaylee. Both of them had been silent through the discussion. Kaylee nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
"Guess we will, too," Mal shrugged, looking at Inara. She nodded, her face still pensive.
"If there's one person outside River that Jayne won't be mad at, it's you," Mal said kindly. "You should know that by now."
"That doesn't make my prying right," Inara replied. She, too, laid a reassuring hand on Susan Pelham's shoulder.
"It's my fault," she told the pilot. "Goldie had told me some cock and bull story long ago, and I had teased him about it. When you spoke up, I let my curiosity get the better of me. And I'm told I can be very persuasive," she smiled weakly.
"Maybe," Blade nodded. "I gotta big mouth, too. Sometimes," she added.
"'Spect that's true of us all at times," Mal commented kindly. "And I think we're at a point in our relations with Jayne that he ain't gonna care over much about this. And we don't gotta tell him, either," he added, holding out an arm for Inara. "Night you two." With that the owners of Reynolds' Shipping left for their own cabin.
"Don't sweat it," Wart told her softly. "He won't care, and you know it. You shouldn't have done it," he held up a hand to stall her objection. "Not arguing that. But he still won't care. He ain't the same guy no more."
"Flint and his people better hope not," Blade said softly. "Cause this bunch don't know the half of it."
FF
Unaware that his adopted family now knew a great deal more about him than he'd wanted, Jayne Cobb stood outside the ramp of a small vessel docked in Capital City.
The small black ship was about two-thirds the size of Serenity, with an even smaller shuttle atop it's dorsal. He wasn't positive, but the small blisters around the ship looked like concealed weapons ports. Jayne decided this ship would do, provided it was as fast as Gig had promised. The wiry little man had never let him down, so he figured it was.
A lean, almost gaunt looking woman with a slight limp eased down the ramp. Long brown hair pulled into a braid trailed down her back, and even with the limp she moved with the grace of a fighter. She would have been a beautiful woman if not for a long scar that traversed the right side of her face. Even with it she was far from ugly. At least until you looked at her eyes. Black pools that were completely without any emotion of any kind. No love, no hate, no anything.
"Help you?" she not quite demanded, looking Jayne over from head to toe.
"I'm the man hired you," Jayne said simply, and then spoke a single word that he'd given Gig to pass along. The woman nodded, holding out her hand. Without speaking Jayne passed over a bag of coins. The woman looked inside then nodded, apparently satisfied.
"It's just a ride," she told him, her voice slightly gruff, as if she might drink too much. Or yell too loud. Jayne doubted this woman ever had to raise her voice much. "Your troubles are just that; yours. We ain't a part of'em. Got that?"
"All I need is a ride," Jayne nodded, respecting the woman for setting things out at the onset. "A fast one. And it's a one way trip," he added. Her eyes narrowed slightly at that, but she nodded.
"Fair enough," she said finally. She was almost as tall as Jayne himself, he noted idly. While not bulky, she was well muscled. This woman was a warrior, that was certain.
"Get aboard," she demanded. "Ginny!" she called over her shoulder. Another woman, this one much smaller but just as formidable looking, appeared from inside.
"Ma'am."
"Show Mister. . . ." she looked at Jayne.
"Cobb," Jayne supplied, lifting his gear. "Jayne Cobb."
". . .Cobb to his room, please," the woman continued. "We'll lift in fifteen minutes," she told him. Jayne nodded and followed the smaller woman inside. The ship was sparkling clean he noted. Not new, just well cared for and maintained.
"Here we are," the smaller woman told him, pointing to a cabin door. "We serve chow every six hours," she told him. "Showers are on from six to eight in the morning, and again in the evening. Head's in the cabin, showers are down the passageway and to the left," she pointed. Jayne nodded.
"Thanks," he said simply.
"Need anything let me know," the woman didn't smile. He nodded again and she departed, heading back the way she had come. Jayne stepped inside, finding a small but comfortable cabin. The bed looked comfortable, and there was enough room for him to store his gear out of the way.
The captain was true to her word and the vessel lifted in less than fifteen minutes by his count. Less than an hour after he had landed on Astra, Jayne was off again, this time on a far longer trip.
He stretched out on the bunk, noting that it was just as comfortable as it had looked. He was asleep in minutes.
FF
"What's his story you think?" Ginny Caffrey asked her boss, settling into the co-pilot seat. Elaine Bosch shrugged, setting the auto-pilot.
"Didn't say. I didn't ask." It was her policy in cases like this.
"He's good lookin'," Ginny noted.
"He's married," Elaine replied at once. "Wearing a ring."
"That don't mean nothin'," Ginny snorted. Her captain looked at her.
"For that one it will," she said firmly. "That man's dangerous, girl, and you best not forget that for a second."
"What do you mean?" the younger woman asked.
"Gig said, and I quote, 'stay out of his way.' He never says things like that. Ever," she added for emphasis. "This man's a friend o' his, known to him for years. All he'd add was that this Cobb was one of those men that you didn't want to cross."
"He's still good lookin'," Ginny shrugged. "Ain't no harm in lookin'," she added at Elaine's glare. "And that's all I meant," she stressed.
"Keep it that way," Bosch nodded. "We're making a good bit of coin on this job, and it takes us close by for another job. Plus we get a lot of work from Gig. I don't want that screwed up."
"I already said that's all I meant, boss," Ginny looked pained. "You say he's off limits, then he is." She rose from her seat. "I'll get started on supper," she said, heading off the bridge. "Need me for anything just com."
Elaine Bosch nodded, settling into her seat. Her own background gave her a pretty good platform for judging other people, and she was convinced that Gig had in no way exaggerated about her passenger. Cobb had what Bosch called 'the Look'. He looked like a hunter. A killer. For all she knew, she was carrying him to his next job.
That wasn't any of her business. She did a job, she got paid, she moved on. Her involvement in anything her passengers did was nil. It was a rule that had served her well since she'd taken to the black as her own boss with Fury. The sleek little ship was more than just her job, it was her home. She and her two woman crew, Ginny and her engineer, Teena Lindsey, worked anywhere the money took them, ferrying people who needed to move fast and quiet and were willing to pay for it. Carrying small cargoes that needed to get from here to there quickly and without notice.
This was just another job to her. She didn't know what Cobb was about, and didn't want to. The only thing she wondered about was why he wanted to go to Tokala of all places.
But in the end it didn't matter. She would deliver him to his destination and then move on, just like always.
FF
"The shuttle crew said they had a passenger that fit Jayne's description, but he left as soon as they grounded," Inara reported. "No idea where he went. He wasn't very talkative they recalled," she added wryly. She could just imagine.
"Well," Mal sighed. "It was always a gamble. I'm guessing that Jayne's headed to Tokala, but if we strike out that way and I'm wrong, then we're way outta pocket. I'm open to suggestions."
"If he's headed somewhere other than here, he had to arrange transport somewhere," Zoe noted, leaning back against a bulkhead. "There's plenty of liners headed inward, of course, but. . .I'm thinking he'd want something private, and fast. I don't know what that would cost, though," she looked at River.
"It wouldn't matter what it cost," the younger woman said glumly. "The one thing we have is money." A long, sad sigh followed the declaration.
"Uh, what?"
"It's not important," Inara interjected, trying to help. "The point is that Jayne had the resources to buy a ship if he had to. Hiring one would not be a difficulty." As soon as she said it Inara almost cursed aloud. Rather than help River, she'd just made it worse.
"Buy a ship?" Goldie perked up suddenly. "What's that mean?"
"We have money," River repeated, still despondent and not thinking of what she was saying. "Plenty of it. More than enough in fact to do anything he wants to do."
"I, ah, don't mean to be objectionable," Zoe said after a minute, "but unless you two are making a lot more than we are, River, and I know you're not, then -"
"It's not from our pay," River stood suddenly. "Jayne and I are quite wealthy, Zoe. We have been for some time. He can go anywhere he wants, anyway he wants. There's practically no limit to what he can do." With that River walked away, head bowed. No one had ever seen her so dejected that they could recall.
"It's a long story," Inara sighed as the rest looked at her. "Jayne was already quite wealthy, and River made another fortune playing the markets. Jayne had me cash out her portfolio when she was. . .when she was sick," Inara settled for saying. "Trust me, she's not exaggerating. If he wanted to buy a ship, he could have. Several of them," she added, trying to get them to understand.
"What in the hell are they still doin' working for us?" Zoe wondered aloud, looking to where River had disappeared down the passageway.
"We're their family," Mal was looking out the screen. "Jayne told me this a long time ago," he admitted. "He didn't stress how much money," he added, looking around at the stunned faces. "Just that he had plenty. But other than that, why he stayed? I don't know."
"Book asked him to," Simon's voice carried from the doorway, and everyone looked at him.
"Book asked him to watch over us," Simon's face was a mask, which showed how unhappy he was that this was becoming public knowledge.
"That's it?" Zoe asked, eyebrow raised.
"That's it," Simon nodded firmly. "Book told him it was his obligation to protect all of us, or words to that effect. And because it was Book that told him, he did it. I don't think he ever considered not doing it," he admitted. "Even after all this time, Book is still the Shepherd of Serenity."
"I never knew that," Mal said softly.
"You weren't meant to," Simon said plainly. "None of us where. It just so happened that complications kept coming up, forcing him to reveal bits and pieces. I learned about it because of what happened to River. He had to tell me so that I would know that whatever she needed, she would get, and that he could pay for it."
"I learned about it when he paid the Guild what I owed them," Inara said gently, and Mal jerked around to stare.
"I promised not to tell," she said simply, her hand coming to rest on his shoulder. "You had so much on you, and you were in so much pain. And Jayne felt he owed me something for helping him be 'worthy' of River. I refused to accept it, but River threatened to do it behind my back if I did," she smiled weakly. "I tried to make them make it a loan, and Jayne flatly refused to consider it. Said it was just his way of taking care of us."
"The money for Kaylee's family?"
"Yes," Simon fielded that one. "And she still doesn't know that," he added.
"I do now." Simon jumped at the sound of his wife's voice in his ear. He whirled to see her standing behind him, eyes wet with unshed tears.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked softly.
"Because the man who is the closest thing I've ever had to a brother asked me not to," Simon answered truthfully. "He wanted you to be happy, and said that meant your family needed to be happy. And I suspect that he felt guilty over Ethan and wanted to try and ease the pain your family was in. He never said that," Simon added when Kaylee seemed about to object, "I'm just guessing at that part. And he didn't want you to know because he wanted you to be his friend because you wanted to and not because he had helped your family."
"Stupid hundan," Kaylee muttered. "Always been his friend," she added, leaning against Simon. Simon wrapped his arms around her.
"He loves you very much," Simon whispered. "He said you reminded him of one of his sisters. Of his home." That was too much for the pregnant young woman and she burst into tears. Simon guided her away from the bridge, heading for their cabin.
"Well," Mal let out a long exhale, slapping his hands against his thighs. "All this is fine, but still leaves us with where the big hundan went." There was no heat in the words. Just sadness.
"There might be one guy. . . ." Goldie said almost to himself. "If Shade needed a fast way to get somewhere, there's one guy he might call for something like that." He looked around suddenly, as if finally aware he was speaking aloud.
"I, ah, need to get over there," he pointed to the cortex. Mal stood and allowed Goldie to sit down. He quickly punched in an address, and waited.
After several minutes a wiry man with the wildest hair Zoe had ever seen appeared on screen.
"Well, well," the man smiled. "Goldilocks himself! To what do I owe the. . .who is all that?" he frowned. "I only answered this cause it had your code in it, Goldie."
"I know, and I appreciate it," Goldie nodded. "Thing is, they," he pointed behind him, "are friends of Shade. Family like. His wife is here, too, and daughter."
"He ain't got no family, Goldie," Gig's face went hard. "You're lying."
"Now that ain't no charitable attitude, Gig," Goldie whined slightly. "I said family 'like', not blood. Well, I don't know how you figure a wife," he admitted with a frown. "But the girl's adopted. He took her away from slavers on Aberdeen here while back in that mess the Reavers left." Gig's face might have softened slightly at that.
"What you want?" he asked, just short of a demand. Gig didn't trust many people, and one of those might have just given him away. The jury was still out.
"I need to know where Shade went," Goldie said evenly. "He's up against it man, and hard too. We need to be able to help him. He don't think he needs it, but -"
"You know damn well he don't need it," Gig replied flatly. "And I don't work like that."
Before Goldie could answer, Susan moved him to one side and leaned down to the screen.
"Hey, Gig," she smiled, and Gig's face loosened another millimeter. Mal almost snorted. Blade wasn't nearly as smooth as Inara, but she was a damn good looking woman who knew how to get a man's attention.
"Blade, you're lookin' good, sweetheart," the wiry man finally smiled. "How you doing?"
"Well, I'd be fine, Gig, if I knew where Shade was, so I could take his wife to him," Blade was still smiling. "Thing is, I don't know, and so I'm not really in a good mood at the moment." Still smiling.
"And if I don't find out, pretty soon, where he went, I'm gonna be completely pissed off and unreasonable about the whole thing. Know what I mean?" she asked sweetly. Still smiling.
"He went to Tokala," Gig said at once. "There's no way you'll catch him, either," he added. "He's on a fast ship, and I mean fast. Called The Fury. They were supposed to meet him at Astra."
"Thanks, sweetie," Blade's smile grew slightly. "I appreciate that. You take care now, okay?" She blew him a kiss and then cut the signal, standing up straight.
"Well, we know now where he's headed. I assume you want to follow?" she asked Mal. Still stunned by how fast that 'Gig' fella had caved in to her demand, Mal just nodded.
"We'll get it set up," Blade nodded and went back to the navigation console.
"Ta ma de," Mal murmured. "I. . ."
"I told you," was all Goldie said.
It took three hours to make all the arrangements, during which time they took on fuel and made a last minute run through of their supplies. Goldie and Wart slipped away from the ship unnoticed, returning a short while later with two large canvas bags and several crates which they stowed out of sight. Both looked grim faced.
Unbeknownst to them, Liam Greggs had made a similar visit after a brief word with River. He had taken Chelsa with him, and the two were just barely back in time to make the ship without Mal realizing they were gone. They too were carrying newly acquired items, and Liam's face was just a stony as the older men's had been. Chelsa just looked sick.
Soon afterward the Muad'dib was airborne, then in the black cruising for Tokala just short of a full burn.
FF
Barum Ball's face was stony as his ship sat down on Argo. He had no illusions about the man he was here after. He fully expected to lose half his crew doing this job, and that was if everything went well.
He knew things never went that well.
But it was a job, and one that he admitted he would likely enjoy doing just a little more than was completely necessary for professionalism. It was personal in some ways. He knew it was a mistake to think along those lines, but thought that just this once, it would be okay.
He had made a good name for himself over the last little bit. He had started small and worked his way up, hiring more skilled men as his fortunes increased. He had named a steep price for this job, almost hoping the strange man who had hired him would balk and refuse to pay. He hadn't though, and now he had to finish the job. His reputation depended on it.
"Remember what I said," he warned his men as the ramp lowered. "This man is fourteen different kinds of dangerous, and that's just that I know of. I have no idea how many he's killed over the years, and I doubt anyone else does either, and that probably includes him."
"You've never faced anyone like this, so I'm telling you one last time, be on your toes. He'll come at you any way he has to, and you may never see him comin'. Get me?"
A chorus of growled 'yeah's and nods were his answer. Satisfied that any of them who didn't listen couldn't blame him, Ball turned to step off the ship, and froze.
Standing at the bottom of the ramp were two very large deputies, backed by another man carrying a small rocket launcher.
"Ball," Leander Greggs said easily. "You ain't welcome here. Need to just load on back up and head on back to Astra. While you can," he added. Ball didn't miss the easy way the two near giants stood, or the cold eyed look of the man behind them, either.
"Your boss sold you out, Ball," a familiar voice floated to the crime boss, and Ball turned to see Toby Bontrager walking out of the shadows. "Man named Flint, I think. You may not have known his real name, of course. Older fella, black hair shot with gray, talked a little strange at times. Sound familiar?"
"It might," Ball spoke for the first time, holding a hand up to halt the movement of his men behind him.
"Well, he Waved me yesterday, late," Toby continued. "Explained how he was doing his civic duty as a good citizen to warn me that a ship load of hooligans was headed my way to kill several people in my little slice of heaven." Toby stopped just behind and to the side of the trio holding Ball at bay.
"Yeah, I'm Sheriff now," he smiled slightly. "Life's funny like that, ain't it? Here I am Sheriff, and there you are, one of the biggest for hire outfits in the system. Seems like a long way from the old days, don't it?"
"A bit," Ball nodded, measuring the odds. He had more than enough men to take the four, but that rocket launcher was an equalizer he had no answer for.
"I'm giving you one chance to head back out, Barum," Toby lost his smile, and raised a hand. Seven more uniformed men appeared from the shadows, forming a semi-circle around the ramp of Ball's ship. All were carrying rifles. All wore grim faces.
"I don't want any trouble, and anyway, Cobb ain't here no more," Toby went on. "If he was, then he'd likely already have killed you, but then you know that, don't you?" Ball nodded, not trusting himself to speak as the full impact of Bontrager's words sank in. That old man had sold him out!
"I'm assuming you already got paid for this job, yeah?" Toby continued. Ball nodded again, reluctantly.
"Well, you should think about considering this a good day then, and take that money and head on back. Flint set you up, Barum. Why, I don't know. Maybe you can work that out on the trip back."
"I ain't done nothin' for you to be on me about," Ball finally spoke up. "Ain't no call for you even to be here."
"I've got warrants for you from before, Barum," Toby pointed out. "Don't care anything about servin'em, to be honest, but they give me just enough legal leeway to be here. As for 'call'? We're not really here on a legal matter. Are we boys?" he called over his shoulder, louder. As a man they each reached up and pulled the badges from their uniforms, depositing them into pockets. Out of sight.
Ball noticed that the three in front of him hadn't moved. They had already removed their stars before they braced him.
"Go home, Ball," Toby's voice was no longer friendly. "The man that hired you is a snake, and sold you out the minute you left Astra. You want to know something else?" Toby almost smiled. "He called Cobb direct and warned him you were coming. I can't swear on it, but since Flint had pissed Cobb off, I think he was using you to get back in Cobb's good graces. Some kind o' business deal he wanted, and Cobb shot him down." Ball frowned at that. Had the old man played him that hard?
"I'm just saying what could be," Toby continued, seeing that frown. "But I know that it was Cobb who took the call about you being on the way here to do him and his harm." That was technically true. "And he came to me instead of laying for you himself, because he knew you wouldn't know. He's willing to let things lay the way they are, if you are." Okay, that was in no way true. Toby assumed that Ball would meet an untimely death soon enough, but it wouldn't be here so he didn't care.
Ball stood there considering all that Toby had said. It was true that the lawman might be lying, but he damn sure knew far too much not to know what was going on. Ball didn't like being played, and it seemed like he had been. Set up to be slaughtered at Cobb's hand, which no one on Argo would turn a hair over was it to happen.
He looked again at the three men at the foot of the ramp. That rocket launcher hadn't wavered the slightest bit in all the time they'd been jawing. And those two muscle heads were still there, stock still. Both were carrying scatter guns, he noted for the first time. Held hip high and pointed right at him. Both looked extremely confident.
Of course if I was being backed by a rocket launcher I'd look confident too, he thought wryly.
"We're goin' back," he said over his shoulder. "Get squared away. I want to be off world in ten minutes. Move!" His men had hesitated at first, but at his snarled order broke ranks to get resettled and prepare to leave.
"We're goin'," he said again, this time to Bontrager. "I ain't sure you're on the up, Bontrager, but you know entirely too much about my business."
"You've been set up," Toby nodded. "I've had enough excitement recently to last the rest of my days, so this time we did it like this. But I should tell you," Toby walked a little closer. "Most of these fellas, and a lot of others, think pretty highly of Cobb, and higher still of Reynolds. Did you know he was the sheriff until recently? No? Well, he was. Was hurt on the job and took a medical retirement as a hero. I'm pretty safe in saying that if any misfortune was to befall Reynolds or any of his crew, or his ships, then you'd be lucky to make trial. Most likely you'd either be shot on sight or lynched."
"You and me go back a ways, and we wasn't always on opposite sides of things," Toby finished. "Do yourself, and me, a favor Barum, and let this one go. Don't make Cobb come after you. You know he will, and you know what the outcome will be."
Ball nodded almost against his will. That old man had a lot to answer for. And he would, too.
"You got my word this is over," Ball told Bontrager. "You're right, we do go back a ways. You didn't have to give me a chance, but you did. If Reynolds and Cobb are willing to leave things lie, so am I. I knew there was something off about that old man," he added, almost to himself.
"He's a big wheel where he comes from, so I've heard," Toby nodded. "Used to gettin' his way, and not carin' who he steps on to get it. You watch out for him, Barum," Toby added solicitously. "He's poison."
"I'll mind it," Ball nodded again as the engines for his ship began to wind up. "We're gone," he said finally and disappeared into the ship as the ramp began to retract.
The assembled deputies watched until the ship was airborne and headed into the black. Toby looked at Ping and the Greggs.
"You can head on over to Serenity," he ordered. "Consider yourselves part of the crew until this is sorted out. You can fly, right?" he looked at Ping, who nodded.
"Their shuttles are armed," Toby nodded. "If Ball decides to go back on his word, I'll let you decide how to handle it." Ping might have smiled. Just a little.
"Let's go!" Toby turned to the others, waving his hand in a circle above his head. The others returned to their vehicles.
Leander and Ryan followed Ping to their own car, then headed for Guilfords. All three were looking forward to a little R and R on Astra. And on the clock, too.
Was this a great job or what?
FF
Jayne was awake the instant someone knocked on his door.
"Chow's ready Mister Cobb," he heard Ginny say through the door.
"Thanks," he called back, moving to sit up on the bed. He washed up, changed his shirt, and headed to the small galley. The three women were already seated.
"I appreciate it," he offered, taking the seat Ginny pointed him to.
"Part of the service," Bosch grunted.
"Hi, I'm Teena!" a cheery looking redhead said from the far end of the table. "I'm the engineer!"
"Jayne Cobb," he smiled, thinking of how much this girl was like Kaylee.
"Nice ta meet ya!" Teena smiled again, then dug into her own plate. Jayne looked at the casserole looking dish.
"Looks good," he noted, taking a bite. It was good.
"Thanks," Ginny replied. "It's a lot easier to cook when you're near somewhere with fresh food."
"Ain't that the truth," Jayne nodded. "'Fore we came here, it was mostly canned protein. Gotta love a moon that's basically one big farm."
"Live on Argo, then?" Bosch asked, then mentally cursed herself for the weakness. She was not going to involve herself or her crew in whatever this man was doing, no matter who he might be or where he was going.
"Yeah," Jayne nodded. He didn't care for them knowing, since there was no way to use it against him. "Have for a while, in fact. Hate to think about relocatin', since I'd have to give up the food," he chuckled.
"I know that's right!" Teena almost gushed. "Ain't nothin' like good eats!"
"Well said," Jayne saluted her with his cup before taking a drink.
"So what's takin' you from way out here all the way cross the 'verse near 'bouts?" Teena asked.
"Family trouble," Jayne shrugged, missing the glare the Captain shot toward the engineer. At his words, the Captain returned her attention to Jayne.
"Long way to have to travel," she said quietly, watching Cobb very closely.
"Afraid so," Jayne nodded, more wary now. "Is what it is, though," he shrugged casually.
The rest of the meal was eaten in near silence as everyone concentrated on their meal. Jayne finished, and then stood, lifting his empty dishes.
"Just leave'em," Ginny told him with a wave. "I'll do'em when I clean up."
"I don't mind," Jayne offered, but the woman shook her head.
"My job, Mister Cobb. I don't do it, Cap'n might start thinking she can do without me," she smiled.
"Can't have that," Jayne chuckled a bit, placing the dishes back on the table. "That bein' the case, think I'll turn in. Happens I can help you any, I don't mind," Jayne told the Captain. "Helps to pass the time if you stay busy."
"Got weights and a treadmill in the bay," Bosch offered. "That's what I use."
"Sounds like a plan," the big man nodded. "Goodnight, ladies," he said to all, and left the galley.
"He's awful nice," Teena sighed, watching him go. "Wish we got more like that."
"Don't let that fool you," Bosch warned. "That man is as dangerous as a rattler. Maybe more so, since I doubt he announces himself before he strikes."
"You seem awful down on him, Cap'n," Ginny mused. "You know him?"
"I don't think so," Bosch replied more honestly than she meant to. "There is something familiar about him, but it's more the way he moves and speaks than him personally. He reminds me of someone, that's all."
"Someone you don't like?" Teena asked. While a mechanical prodigy, she was not the sharpest knife in the drawer outside the engine room.
"Someone that's long gone," Bosch seemed to remember herself suddenly. "And it's just a thing. A coincidence. That's all." She stood abruptly. "We're into the first watch already, so I'll keep it. You two get your chores finished and get some rest. This is a long trip and he's payin' for fast freight so we gotta keep movin'."
"Yes Cap'n," both women replied. Ginny began clearing away the meal while Teena headed to make a walk through of the ship. Bosch made her way back to the bridge, desperately trying to remember who it was that Cobb put her in mind of.
And wondering again why he needed to go to Tokala. For 'family business' of all things.
FF
Gerald Frye was sitting out of sight when the ground car pulled into the area near the landing pad at Guilford's. He knew the Greggs slightly because of Liam, and the dust-up with the Nine some time back. The other he recognized as one of the men that had come to Argo with Susan and Pete. Ping, or something like that.
All three worked for the Sheriff's office, hired by Mal before he'd been forced to retire. He was still wondering what they were doing when the three of them removed bags from the car's boot and started his way.
"Becca, we got company," he called softly over the IC. "Friendly, but unexpected."
"I'll be right down," Phillips replied. Frye waited until the men were on the ramp to speak.
"What's doin', gents?" he called gently. All three froze.
"Gerry?" Ryan Greggs called out. "Don't be shootin' us, now."
"Wasn't plannin' on it," Gerald chuckled. "What you three up to?" he asked just as Becca arrived.
"We're your new crew," Leander replied. "Toby's orders. We're part o' your crew until Mal gets back and all this, whatever it is, is settled. We had a word with Ball and he decided to hunt greener pastures, if ya know what I mean," he grinned slightly. "Still, ol' Toby ain't the trustin' sort, so here we are."
"Here you are," Becca nodded, grinning. She'd known the Greggs boys pretty much all her life. They didn't come any better, anywhere. Ping she knew only by reputation, but it was a pretty good reputation.
"We're taggin' along until all this is done," Ryan repeated to her. "Admittedly we don't know so much about the black, but we can learn, I reckon. And we'll be around in case Ball changes his mind. Plus Ping here can fly one of them shuttles if Ball tries to hit us on the fly." Ping nodded, but remained silent. He was content to allow the brothers to speak for him.
"Well, get aboard then," Becca waved them on board. "We're set to leave in about a half hour, so you're just in time." She exchanged a look with Gerald Frye, who shrugged and gave her a half-smile. It was better than just being the two of them and Holly. George Harwell had promised to provide the same crew he'd allowed Inara to use back when, but there was no question these three were a much better selection, considering the situation.
As Becca led the three new arrivals to the passenger dorms, Frye sealed the ship. He would wave the plant and tell Mister Harwell his men wouldn't be needed. After that he'd see about helping Liam's brothers get acquainted with working in deep space.
FF
"Any idea yet how long this little excursion may take?" Mal asked, walking up onto the bridge. Blade was at the helm though the auto-pilot was engaged. River was at navigation, working. It pleased Mal to see the young woman doing something besides sitting in a funk the way she had been the last several days.
"Eleven days is likely the best we can do, Baba," River told him, looking up from her calculations. "It is a long way," she added, sighing.
"We knew that, 'Tross," Mal reminded her. "Eleven days ain't so bad, considerin'. I'm assumin' we got the fuel for such a long run?" he looked at Peter Micelli.
"We do," he nodded slowly. "Thing is, we don't know that we'll be able to fuel on Tokala, and we'll be low when we arrive. I suggest stopping over here," Wart pointed to a dot that represented a deep space station that supplied fuel and sundries to ships in a major transit lane. "We can refuel, re-provision as needed, and then head on in. Be about another day out, give or take three hours."
"Sounds workable," Mal nodded, pleased that his people were all on the job. He was often amazed at his own ability to sit and allow others to do their jobs without jogging their elbows. Being Sheriff had cost him a great deal, but had taught him a great deal more. Including to 'delegate'.
"Baba has grown," River smiled gently, and Mal winked at her.
"He has indeed. How you doing, nizi?" he asked, fatherly concern in his voice.
"I am afraid," River said simply, and Mal started at that. He'd rarely heard River admit to being afraid of anything. Ever.
"What of?" he decided to ask.
"That I have lost him," River replied calmly. Too calmly. Mal realized suddenly that what he had taken for River's snapping out of her funk had instead been an acceptance of what she deemed inevitable.
"River, I don't think there's a man nowhere can take that no account man o' yours," he tried to get her to smile. "I doubt you'll lose him."
"Not what I meant," River replied, looking out the screen at the stars. "I have driven him away, Baba," she said softly. "I have made so many mistakes. So many miscalculations." She looked at him suddenly.
"I'm sorry," she told him flatly. "I made things so very hard on you, and I am so sorry. I honestly thought I was the answer to your trouble. I was so certain that I nearly died, and almost lost the memory of the most precious thing I've ever known." She stood and crossed to him, hugging him tightly to her.
"I hurt you, and caused you to be hurt more, and I am so very sorry," she told him again, her voice muffled by his coat. "Please forgive me."
"'Tross," Mal soothed her as best he could, returning her embrace. "Of course I forgive you." He pushed her away slightly so he could look down at her. She looked up, eyes large. She wasn't crying, Mal noted. She probably didn't have any tears left, he figured.
"You're my daughter in every way that matters," Mal told her gently. "I couldn't love you any more if you were my blood, and that's the Lord's truth if it's ever left my lips. I was never mad at you, just scared to death that something would happen to you and I couldn't stop it."
"And it almost did," she nodded. "I really thought I could handle it."
"I know," Mal kissed the top of her head. "And knowing that you did it because of me? River that meant more to me than I can tell you. I still didn't want you to do it, but just the offer of doing something like that, something so dangerous and risky just because you thought it would help me? That's love, my little Albatross."
"I do love you, Baba," River nodded. "You kept me when you should have thrown me away. No one else ever did that."
"I think that's not quite true, and you know it," Mal chided gently. "I may kid you about your 'no account man', but River that man stood by you when you didn't even remember his name. He held on to nothing more than just the hope that one day you'd remember him, and the girl, and the rest of us. Him first, o' course," he smiled, and she almost giggled.
"He'll never 'throw you away' nizi," Mal continued. "Never. Don't read too much into this. Him going off like this on his own." He guided her to a seat and sat down beside her.
"This is somethin' personal, baby girl," Mal told her. "This is a family thing, something that he can't let go of. And I've learned a bit about Jayne over the years, too. When it's his problem, he see's it as his problem. For him to fix, alone. That ain't sayin' he don't care for you, 'Tross, cause he does. I watched that man hurt for weeks while you was recovering, and then weeks more while you was tryin' to remember." River lowered her head at that, but Mal took her chin and lifted her face again.
"Look at me, sweetheart," he told her. "That man loves you, River. More than anything in the entire world. You may not have heard, or maybe you forgot, but this here is a cultural issue for him, too. If he don't handle this a certain way then it starts a blood feud 'tween him and Flint's people. One that'll last for generations. I've seen that kind of war, 'Tross, and it's hard on a family."
"He's lookin' to keep that from happening. He contacted this Elder. I admit I'd love to know what they talked about, but 'ccordin' to Toby, they talked a right long time. I don't figure Jayne left Argo without a plan done made, dong ma? He's already decided on what he aims to do to stop this once and for all."
"Then do we risk upsetting that by following?" River asked. Mal shook his head.
"We ain't gonna interfere, River, just be there to help if he needs it. Jayne has done too much for us, all of us, not to be there for him the one time he needs us. And we will be."
"I do not know why this man can't get what he wants without all this drama," River sighed. "On the other hand it was their confrontation that sparked my memory, so I can't wish it never had happened." She sighed again, frustrated. "I hate even the thought of owing that man a thing. He tried to have me killed, Baba. And in the process almost killed my daughter. I'm finding it difficult to let that go," she grinned a little lopsidedly.
"I can well understand that," Mal nodded.
"Why couldn't he have just given up?" River asked, though she knew Mal had no answer. "Once he realized that Jayne wasn't going to co-operate, why not just go home and try something else? Why make us suffer like this?"
Mal decided right then and there that no matter what Jayne had planned, George Flint was going to die. No one hurt his Albatross and lived. Not like this.
"Some men just can't take no for an answer, darlin'," Mal told her. "But we'll make him wish he had. I promise you that."
River's smile seemed brighter at that, and Mal's heart brightened along with it. This young woman had suffered so much over her young life, it seemed unfair in the extreme that something like this would befall her, and threaten to take away all that she had worked for.
Yep, Flint is a dead man walkin'.
FF
"Ah, Mister Ball," Flint smiled as he saw Barum Ball's face on the screen. "I trust you bring me good news?"
"Oh, I bring you something, all right," Ball replied, suddenly seething. "You turncoat son-of-a-bitch. The law was waitin' for me when I sat down, thanks to you tippin'em off that I was comin'. So you thought to get back into Cobb's good graces by settin' me and my men up to get killed? That it? When I get back to Astra, I'll be looking to nail your hide to the nearest barn door, you back stabbin' hundan!"
"Wh-What?" Flint sputtered. "I did nothing of the sort!" he protested. Caught completely unaware he showed true and honest surprise. "I've spoken to no one about our business other than yourself!"
"Save it, you ta ma de hundan," Ball snarled. "I'm coming for you old man. You and ever man jack with you. That daughter o' yours? Reckon she'll fetch a good price on the market. I told you once, old man, you may be a big he bull where you come from, but this ain't it! I don't even know why I called except to tell you I'm comin' to get you. If you pray, I'd start now." The screen went blank, leaving a spluttering Flint still trying to figure out what had happened.
"Problems, father?" Annassa entered the room, having heard her father's voice raise.
"We must go," Flint rose abruptly. "Somehow, someway, Ball has been convinced that I have sold him out to Ironhorse. He is on his way back intending to wreak vengeance upon us. We cannot fight him as we are."
"We must get the two remaining Fingers, then," Annassa remarked. "The wounded one is well on his way to healed, is he not?" she pointed out when Flint looked ready to object. "We will need them."
"Perhaps it would be prudent," Flint nodded. "Very well, we will see if that is possible. I will look into that while you book us passage out of here. We need to be gone as rapidly as possible. I do not know how far or near Ball is."
"I will see to it," Annassa nodded, her mind racing. If this Ball was intent on killing her father, perhaps there was an opportunity here for her to. . . .
"He has threatened to take you and sell you," Flint told his daughter, almost as if he could read her mind. "I will not let that happen, daughter, I swear it. Once we reach home we are safe. He would never dare come to us, and if he did he would not survive the trip. Do not fear."
"I do not," she managed to stammer. Sell her? As a slave? She knew such things happened, of course. There were slaves on Tokala as well, though it was against the law. Still, powerful men such as her father got away with much that was illegal or that violated custom.
"I am off," Flint said heading for the door. "Walks Plenty will remain, along with Flower in Bloom. I will take the others. Please com me the moment you have made our arrangements, as I may need to take our men directly to the ship you hire." He paused, looking back at her.
"We will prevail," he promised. "This is a minor issue and no more. We will have what is rightfully ours." With that he threw the door open and was gone.
"Rightfully ours?" his daughter murmured, shaking her head. "Father, you have lost your reason. That land was never rightfully ours." She had begun to regret her hasty words with Ironhorse. Had she not spoken so rashly she might have eventually convinced him to return with her. While his wife was attractive, Annassa knew that she was more desirable. She was accustomed to the eyes of men being upon her, and there were times when she relished it. She had learned as a teen to manipulate men with her looks, her body, and her mind.
Ironhorse was obviously more than he had appeared to be, and she wished she had realized that when still aboard his ship. Such a formidable man would be a suitable mate for her as she rose to rule Dos Osos. True, he would be ruler in name, but she was certain she could have manipulated him to do what she desired. And her children would rule once he was gone.
It was regrettable. She promised herself she would not miss another such opportunity, but there was no promise of another. Certainly not with Ironhorse.
But there was always the possibility. She sat down at the desk and began searching for transport. If she could manage to get that done before her father called her, then perhaps she could attempt to reach out to Ironhorse once more. Appeal to him as the victim of a father who would sell his daughter for the chance to acquire the land that rightfully belonged to Ironhorse and the survivors of his clan. That thought made her pause.
Did he know that there were survivors? He had been a mere teen and barely that when his clan had been eliminated. Did he realize that many of his clan members would have been married into other clans?
There might be an opportunity there. A slight one to be sure, but it was a potential straw to grasp. Throw in the theat of being sold into slavery because of her father's foolishness, which she had opposed she could honestly add, and perhaps the great Cuchillo Sangre would see it as his duty to rescue her. If he bit the bait, then it would merely be a matter of time before she convinced him to desert his pathetic wife and be hers.
Yes, this could work out quite well after all, with just a bit of good fortune and some judicious lying.
She began making calls.
FF
Elaine Bosch was a troubled woman. She sat on the bridge of the Fury, looking out at the black, contemplating her situation.
Returning to Tokala was something she'd never planned to do, but this was a high paying fare and it was hard to turn that down. It also took them near another high paying job that was no more dangerous, and such jobs were hard to come by.
There was little risk to her being on Tokala if she chose to land the Fury there. She could also have Ginny take Cobb dirt side in the shuttle if she wanted to.
What is it about him that's so familiar? she wondered yet again. There was something about her fare that was niggling at the back of her mind, something long forgotten or buried. His mannerisms, his movements, whatever it was it had triggered a memory, or at least a shard of one, and now that shard of memory threatened to drive her to distraction.
Who the hell is Jayne Cobb?