Chapter Nine: The Weapons

"What do you mean by that?" Mal questioned. Was this a real feeling or was she exaggerating?

River tilted her head to one side. "Unconfirmed origin. Just slipped out. I have to see Simon. I'm bleeding."

With that, she went into the infirmary and left Mal completely puzzled. River sat on the table beside Zoe, who was next in line for stitches. Kaylee was unharmed and assisting her now-fiancé, as Jayne had a nasty slice on his arm that needed attention. Jayne awkwardly looked at the first mate and looked away again.

Carefully, he mumbled, "I was just kiddin' back there."

"Understood," Zoe acknowledged, though they both knew it was too late to take it back.

Mal appeared in the doorway to get the situation. "Doc?"

"Jayne has the worst injury. I've almost finished treating him. Zoe is next, and then I assume River will need some mending. Do you have anything that requires medical attention?"

"There is a decent sized bite in my neck."

Simon noticed it for the first time and cursed in Chinese. "Why didn't you get in here first? You're next. I have to get to that before it gets infected."

"He's stubborn," River smirked, causing Zoe to chuckle.

Mal grimaced and ignored the comment. "Jayne, once you and Zoe are patched up, I'll need help gettin' those corpses out of the cargo bay. Kaylee, get to fixin' that engine right quick. River, I'll need you and maybehaps your doc brother to look into the Reavers. Get as much information as you can. We need a starting point. We clear?"

Everyone confirmed that they heard him, and then they waited for their turn on the table. By some miracle, the crew had survived the attack with little damage. Mal had the difficult time of working with Jayne and Zoe, which led to Mal sending Jayne away to help Kaylee with the engine. He had to ask Zoe what the hell happened to make his mercenary blush and flutter about like a teenage boy.

"He told me that he wouldn't mind seeing me naked, sir."

That was definitely the end of the subject.

Simon and River sat on the bridge together. He worked on his encyclopedia while she used the cortex. At first, they didn't have much luck. It was Simon's idea to check ship records to see who had registered any beetle class ships in the last two years. River had an idea of her own. She checked into previous Reaver sightings in the last few years and noticed a pattern. After doing some quick mathematics, River figured out that there was one planet that had to be the origin. It also doubled as the current center of the New Independents.

"Five beetle class ships have been registered in the last three years. They're all marked as basic cargo ships to individual owners," Simon informed her, though she already knew what he was going to say.

"Already cross referenced the owners," she told him as she scanned the files. "They each have ties with former Browncoats. All living on the same planet."

Simon blinked at his sister's abilities. "Which planet?"

"Newhall."

"The planet that's almost all oceans? Why would the New Independents be there?"

She glared. "Military base surrounded by water. No possibility of terrain combat. Top security against air or aquatic attack. Away from the heat of battle. Stories of Reavers linked to the planet. Lessens suspicion. And, they like to fish."

"Like to fish?"

"Humorous comment. You're supposed to laugh."

He smiled fondly. "You're such a brat. I can't say that enough."

Later that night, Serenity was able to leave the planet and drift in safe space. They met in the kitchen to discuss what the Tams had learned. Once River told them everything, the Browncoats exchanged glances. Nobody was sure what it meant until Zoe spoke.

"We had something similar during the war. It was a water base away from the fighting. The commanders and top militant officers stayed there to come up with strategies and the like. New weapons. Ships. Guns. Training methods. The Alliance tried to take them out, but it took almost the whole war before they managed it. Those types of bases are locked down tight. They wouldn't of even let me or the captain inside."

"So, there's no way in?" Kaylee wondered aloud.

Mal breathed carefully. "I wouldn't say no way, but it'd be damn near impossible."

"Not impossible," River disagreed.

"What do you reckon, moonbrain? Don't tell me if it's gonna be dangerous and crazy…" Jayne gruffly commented.

She sent daggers with her eyes. "Wait for their next Reaver attack. Follow the ship. Get inside after the Reavers have gone. Force them to recall the Reavers and take us to the base."

"I told you not to tell me somethin' like that. Mal here will be crazy 'nough to do it since you thought it up," Jayne hissed.

Mal shook his head. "Too risky, River. But, I agree with the notion. If we can follow them without being seen, maybe we don't need the base. We could figure it out on our own. Can we tail them without them knowing?"

"Captain, I see without eyes. Can know where they're going before they do. Once the location is known, we can take an alternate route. Nobody will know," River assured him.

"Then it's settled. Head for Newhall. We'll play the waiting game."

River set the course and they had some time to themselves. Simon and Kaylee celebrated their engagement…in their bunk. And, that's all that needed to be said.

Mal made some coffee for everyone, but he never thought he'd see the day that coffee could make Jayne grin so widely. Well, it was the fact that Zoe brought him a mug and sat beside him at the table. Mal reckoned it was a recipe for disaster, especially since everyone knew Zoe was nowhere over their favorite blond in the tacky shirts. Then again, they were only chatting, so maybe there wouldn't be some dramatic fallout between them. If there were, the entire ship would be riddled with holes and Jayne would be in the infirmary. Zoe could best him in a fight any day.

Maybe Zoe's act inspired him. Maybe he was just a gentleman. Maybe he just knew that she liked coffee. Or, maybe he felt like he needed a legitimate excuse to see her. No matter what it was, Mal poured River a cup of coffee and headed for the bridge. Before he could even knock, she held her hand out for the coffee with a cute smile. He grinned automatically and gave her the drink before he settled into the copilot's seat.

"You know about Zoe and Jayne," he wasn't sure if he asked a question or made a statement about it.

"I do. Coffee is an expression of love."

His throat went dry. "What?"

"Many relationships have started in coffee shops or over a cup of java," she simply spoke while taking a dainty sip. She just adored making him nervous. "Not what you think. Zoe and Jayne."

"What is goin' on there? Not that I'm a gossip. I just need to know if I need to duck for cover anytime soon."

"He likes her. She is developing a very tentative sense of affection, but Wash was everything. Always will be. Hearts can learn to love again because every love is different. Doesn't mean one is better or stronger than the other. Just means the past cannot be replaced, though the future does not have to be empty and broken. In time, she might love again. Jayne is…Jayne…but there's more than he likes to show. They've spent a lot of time together. He helped her through after Wash. Didn't say much. Just kept her company. She likes that he's different. That he isn't like everyone else. Doesn't talk like them. Think like them. Dangerous exterior. Intriguing interior. She knows how she feels. Just scared. Scared that if she tries anything at all, no matter how small, she'll forget Wash. Or she'll feel the pain of losing someone again. Remember, fear keeps us alive. Fight or flight. But, it holds us back. Can't be afraid of feelings. I know that more than anyone."

There was a lull. Her words reminded him of himself, and that petrified him the most. Inara was his loss. Wash was hers. Just as stated before, they were both soldiers. No vulnerability. March on. Keep fighting. Never show emotion. Always run the other way. But, River had a point. He couldn't run from himself. Neither could Zoe. They'd have to face it eventually.

But, now was not that time. "Well, I hope Zoe finds something or someone that makes her happy."

"She will," River agreed with disappointment. She was hoping that he might be honest with her. If she could, she'd tell him, yet she knew that we wasn't ready for it. He'd panic and lose all focus. There were more important things. "We'll be near Newhall very shortly, Captain. I found something on the cortex that might be helpful."

"What'd you find?"

"The Reaver attacks have escalated. Nine reports in the last two weeks, not including the one we just witnessed. There has been a consistent increase in Reaver attacks for one year, approximately the same time that the Alliance reported destroying the final Reaver ships."

He hummed. "A mite odd. They are framing the Alliance, but I conjure they've achieved that. What else could they be doing? It's almost like they're preparing for something."

"They are. I can't determine the end result."

"I guess we'll find out eventually, darlin'. Patience isn't my best quality, but at least I don't gotta wait this out in a trench by my lonesome."

She smiled gently. "Never have to."

They arrived not too long after Mal and River had their coffee on the bridge. Then, they simply waited. River rigged an alert system so that they didn't have to keep someone on watch. In the meantime, they attempted to remain calm. Simon was usually off with Kaylee working on the engine, reorganizing the infirmary, or cooking something interesting. Jayne and Zoe were spending more time together than usual with workouts, cleaning guns, and merely having conversations. That left Mal and River far too much time to be together. Not that they minded.

"Stop cheating," River snapped as she grabbed the ball from their game of jacks. "I know you're using both hands."

"I am not. Your readin' ain't right, sweetheart."

She glared and threw the ball at him. He winced and she smirked. "Serves you right, Captain."

The alert sounded and they both darted to the bridge. Soon, everyone else arrived and they had a visual on the ship. River shut her eyes and they flew open with clarity. She seemed disturbed by what she saw, so Mal put a hand on her shoulder and whispered quietly, "Where are we going, darlin'?"

"New Kasmir. So many Reavers. They're ready to kill. Too many people are going to die."

Mal swallowed and made the call. "Follow them."

River did as instructed and they managed to follow the ship to New Kasmir without being detected. How River did it, nobody knew. They waited a few minutes to hit atmo and follow the ship further. When they looked down, they saw a battlefield. Zoe and Mal fought on this planet once before, and it was unsettling to see it all again. What were they doing with a ship full of Reavers in a war zone?

That's when River heard it in her mind. "They're using the Reavers as weapons."