Chapter 7
A/N This chapter turned out longer than I expected, but I'm still resetting our beloved characters, explaining motivations and somesuch.
Jayne's Bunk
"Juh shi suh mo go dohng shee?" Jayne asked the wall of his bunk as the hatch slid shut.
He was all manner a confused, and who coulda blamed him?
Helluva day. First, we don't got our rightful wage for the job we done for Badger. So we gotta haul passengers. One turns out to be a gorram Fed, and, well, runnin' afoul a the law was an occupational hazard for thems that do crime, but it seems the Fed had no interest in them, but in the ruttin' Core Bred Pansy Ass Doctor!
Said gorram Fed had then gut shot Lil Kaylee – Jayne still owed him for that – and the young Doctor had saved her it seemed. So that put him in the good column, at least until you figured on Kaylee only got shot because of the Doc.
So now he really gotta pay the piper too.
Only..only….Mal had opened the Doc's hermetic crate, and tian líng líng, dì líng ling, a gorram melì de xiao jīnglíng had popped right out.
The Doc's sister.
And who the gorram hell is Claire? Ain't the Doc's sister's name, 'twas River weren't it. Yup. And I don't know no one called Claire. Do I? Nope, although River looked to be about Claire's age, 20 or so. What? Where'd that come from? Am I goin' feng le?
River's a sure pretty name though ain't it! Jayne shook his head. Gorram girl.
He'd never been shook so bad by one girl, and quick like too. It'd be ridiculous, big, tough, old Merc instantly smitten by a girl who jumped outta a ruttin' box! It'd be ridiculous if it weren't true. And it weren't cause she was nekkid. Nope. It was those big, hauntingly beautiful eyes. He looked into them and saw…somethin'. That done him in. No, gotta be more to it, surely? Jayne shook his head, again. Gorram girl.
Just have to think on it some and it'll all work out.
Jayne sat on his bunk and was debatin' whether ta lie down or stand up again – so much for deep thought – when there was a loud knock on his hatch.
"Jayne!"
"Yeah Cap?"
"C'mon, crew meetin' in the common room with the Doc – now! I'm gonna get me some answers. Might as well listen in, see what ya think of his tale, dong ma?
"Sure Cap." Jayne replied as he climbed outta his bunk and hope'd he'd be able to catch a glimpse a the girl, just to see how she was doin'. He stopped himself from shakin' his head this time, but still muttered' to hisself "Gorram girl…"
Common Room
The crew, plus Shepherd Book, had gathered in the kitchen and spilled over into the common room.
Simon was to give his big speech, and Jayne sat right out front, wonderin' what the young man had to say for hisself. Whatever it'd be, Jayne was sure it'd be a hellava story. It'd better be.
Simon had his sister under sedation in the Infirmary – prolly best fa now.
"I am very smart." The Doctor started. "I went to the best medicad in Osiris, top three percent of my class."
Jayne weren't impressed. He fixed Kaylee right up, sure, but braggin' ain't gonna get him in any one's good books.
"I finished my internship in eight months." Simon continued. "Gifted, is the term."
Shuffling in his chair Jayne wondered just where the Doc was headin'.
"So when I tell you that my little sister makes me look like an idiot child…I want you to understand my full meaning. "
That's not what Jayne was expectin', and he soured a bit. She's a gorram genius? Hmmm.
"She was a gift." Simon smiled to himself, he couldn't help it. "Everything she did, music, math, theoretical physics, even dance, there was nothing that didn't come as natural to her as breathing does to us." Simon's smile widened as he continued. "And she could be a real brat about it. She used to….."
Jayne wasn't sure what he thought about what he'd heard so far. He needed to do somethin' to calm his nerves so he got up to make hisself a fresh cup a coffee, glarin' at Simon as he did so. That spooked the young Doctor some and he stopped his ramblin's, Hopefully, Jayne thought, he'll get to what the ruttin' hell is goin' on right now.
"There was a school, a government sponsored Academy. We had never even heard of it but it had the most exciting program, the most challenging…"
Jayne looked over at the Cap'n and met his eyes. Cap'n was angry, and he was tryin' his level headed best to give the Doctor a fair hearin'.
"We could have sent her anywhere, we had the money, but…she wanted to go. She wanted to learn. She was fourteen."
Just how long ago did she go to this gorram academy? Jayne asked hisself. Five, six years? And so, what's the big deal?
Simon hesitated, unsure of where to go from here.
"I got a few letters, at first, and then…I didn't hear for months." he shook his head. "Finally I got a letter that made no sense. She talked about things that never happened, jokes that we never….it was a code. It just said "they're hurting us – get me out."
A cipher? Jayne was impressed. Clever thin' to think of to get past any government spooks. And at her age, definite like no counter intelligence training….Jayne's brow furrowed as he thought on unfamiliar words that made all too much sense.
Zoe broke the silence. "How did you do it?" she asked.
"Money." Simon replied. "And luck. For two years I couldn't get near her. Then I was contacted by some men, some underground movement, they said that she was in danger…that the government was…playing with her brain. If I funded them they could sneak her out in cryo, get her to Persephone and from there I could take her ….wherever."
Inara was concerned. "Will she be alright?"
As nice as that was to ask Jayne thought that it was a gorram stupid question to be askin'. If what the Doc said was true – and Jayne could tell from his body language that he was tellin' the truth, mostly – the girl was likely to be damaged in ways he couldn't start to fathom.
"I don't know if she will be alright, I don't know what they did to her – or why. I just have to keep her safe."
Book was pensive. "That's..quite a story, Son."
Cap'n though, was still mad. "Yeah. It's a tale of woe." Mal was clearly unconvinced. "Very stirring. But in the meantime, you heaped a world a trouble on me and mine.."
And he's right Jayne mused. The boy, and the gorram girl, could bring a world a hurt down on Serenity if it was a black government program she was in.
"I never thought.." the Doctor started, but Mal cut him off.
"No I don't imagine you thought." Mal said as he advanced into Simon's personal space. "The consequence of which I got a kidnapped Federal officer onboard, we got the Alliance hard on our trail, and Kaylee…."
"How much does the Alliance know?' Zoe turned and asked her husband.
"I can't say. I killed the message pretty quick, they must just have had our position,…" Wash shrugged as he gave his answer.
Mal turned from Simon to face his crew.
"Or they might have personal profiles on each and every one of us." The Cap'n supplied. "Until that Fed wakes up we won't know."
"So whatta we do?" Jayne asked, He was fairly certain they'd be some interrogatin' to be done, and that'd be his job.
Mal hesitated a few seconds while he thought on a response. "The job. We finish the job. I got word from Patience she's waitin' for us."
Both Jayne and Zoe thought it was the wrong thing to do, right now, but kept silent.
"We slip around to Whitefall, make the deal, and get out. Keep flyin'."
"What about us?" Simon asked – he was thinking the Captain was not convinced to help them out of their predicament.
Turning back to Simon, Mal gave him his answer. "Kaylee comes through, you and your sister get off at Whitefall."
"If she doesn't come through?"
"Then you're getting' off a mite sooner."
The crew erupted in an uproar as everyone gave their point of view. Jayne was silent on what Mal had proclaimed about Simon and River. He didn't think Mal would space 'em, and to be perfectly honest he knew right there and then there was no way he was gonna let Mal space the girl if the Cap'n tried.
None of this was the girls fault at all, and it looked like he'd have an ally or two if a showdown with the Cap'n was needed.
Simon, well, he wasn't that keen on the man. He had balls, sure, to do what he'd done so far. Jayne could relate to the why, but fact is Lil Kaylee was gut shot because of what Simon had done. It were on him, whatever happened. He was the gorram girls' brother though.
Still, his Serenity family came first. He'd make sure the girl was safe – she weren't getting' off a Whitefall neither if Jayne had anythin' to say about it, and he would. She wouldn't last an hour there before she was robbed, or worse. But if it came down to it, Simon was on his own. How he'd separate keepin' the girl safe from throwin' the Doctor off the ship, either on Whitefall or in The Black, was somethin' he'd have to work on later. But for now he'd just have to do some trademark deflectin'.
"The Fed, Cap'n I'm scratchin' my head wonderin' why we ain't dealt with 'im yet." Jayne said over the hullaballoo.
No one, it seemed, 'cept Jayne, was keen on doin' somethin' about the Fed, and this time the uproar continued until Mal had had enough.
"Ni men dou bi zui!" he yelled to get everyone's attention. "We gotta deal with what's in front of us."
Jayne walked back to the kitchen as Inara spoke quietly with Mal. He had his own thinkin', and if it came to that, plannin' to do. He had a powerful need, for some reason, to protect the girl.
You failed Claire his mind whispered and Jayne just shook his head at the stray thought.
He just had to find some way to protect the girl, and protect his family on Serenity. They came first, but there had to be a way to accomplish both goals. There had to be.
It all came down to how much info on the ship and crew the ruttin' Fed had sent to the cruiser. Until they knew that, no plans could be made.
Well, Jayne smirked. Five minutes with that Fed and we'll know what he knows. It was one a Jayne's special talents. "Time to pay the man a visit." Jayne murmured as his smile grew feral.
Dobson's Passenger Dorm
The Cap'n and Jayne had gone to see the gorram Fed, Dobson. Mal roughly pulled the duct tape off the little weasel who then took the opportunity to spit on the floor. Nice.
"I'm in a tricky position," Mal started, "I got me a boatload of terribly strange folk makin' my life a little more interestin' than I generally like. Chief among them, an Alliance mole….."
Mal looked over to Jayne who hadn't moved since takin' his position in the corner. He had his big scary man face on, staring at Dobson with menace and the promise of violence to come.
"..who likes to shoot at girls when he's nervous." Mal advanced on Dobson with menace is his own eyes. "Now I gotta know close the Alliance is, exactly how much you told 'em before Wash scrambled your call."
Dobson looked up from his seat on the bed at Mal and frowned. No way he was going to give this Browncoat Captain the information he wanted.
"So," the Cap'n continued, "I've given Jayne here the job of finding out."
Jayne smirked at Dobson as he drew Binky, his Rough Rider Patrick Henry Liberty Bowie knife, and as he gestured with Binky he looked right into Dobson's eyes and said, "He was non specific as to how.."
Although the man deserved it, Jayne wasn't gonna hurt him none if he could avoid it. The Cap'n wanted him whole, for some reason, and Jayne would abide by those wishes – for now.
Dobson licked his lips in fear as Jayne approached him, nervousness written over his entire body. His first thought was to try some false bravado, and as Jayne sat real close in front of him he stated "Do you have any idea how much trouble you're in?"
Unimpressed, Jayne showed the Fed what real bravado was by replying "Gee, I've never been in trouble with the law before."
"No, not like this you haven't. You think this is just a smuggling rap? The package that boy is carrying…"
"It's a girl." Jayne interrupted. "Cute, too." Gorram girl is more than cute he thought as he started to think on her again. He shook his head internally as thinkin' on the girl was startin' to derail his interrogation.
"That girl's a precious commodity." Dobson stated, to Jayne's surprise. He needed to find out why. "They'll come after her. Long after you bury me, they'll be coming."
Jayne laughed in the man's face, surprising him. He slapped the Fed with Binky as he told him "We're not gonna kill you Dobson….what's your first name?" Time to get the interrogation back on track. Askin' for their first name was a classic technique, if he gave that up that was the start of the slippery slope to tellin' all that needed to be told.
Dobson hesitated for a few seconds. "Lawrence." he finally said.
Too easy thought Jayne. "Lawrence." he smiled. "hmm, just gonna cut on ya until ya tell us how much they know."
Wasting no time Dobson began to spill the beans. "They know everything. They know every name, every record, they know how many….nose hairs you've got."
Jayne accessed the man's body language and sighed.
"Ah see," he said as he stood up, disappointed, "they don't know a damn thing. It's all over your face I ain't even…" Jayne waved Binky menacingly in Dobson's face, "…I was gonna get me an ear too." He was very disappointed in Dobson's resistance, or lack thereof. "Ain't you an Officer of The Law?" Dobson didn't reply. "well don't they teach ya how to withstand interrogation? You can't even tell a damn lie!"
For his part, Dobson decided to change tactics. He'd underestimated Jayne's intelligence, as most did. Jayne had perfectly crafted his demeanour. Playin' a simple man gave him an edge, and you needed every advantage you could get in his line a work.
"OK, I can see you're not an idiot." Dobson said, thinking on his next tactic.
"Wish I could say the same Lawrence, but this is disappointing as hell." Jayne said as he shook his head in frustration.
"Let me speak a language you will understand. Money." Dobson stated, without having the courage to look Jayne in the eye. "This girl is worth a lot of money. I mean a lot. Now you kill me there's nothing." he said as Jayne feigned interest. "But," Dobson continued as he finally looked Jayne in the eyes, "if you help me out, you'll have enough to buy your own ship….a better one than this piece of crap."
"Does helpin' you out mean turnin' on the Cap'n?" Jayne asked.
"Yes it does." was Dobson's simple reply.
Jayne was thoughtful for a few moments. He wasn't thinkin' on betrayin' the Cap'n at all. Fact was, he was livid. Money? He may have started on Serenity as a simple Merc, but his current attitude was as far from mercenary as it could be. It took all of his willpower not to slot the smug kuh wuh Fed. That wouldn'ta been helpful as they may need the yi da dwei bun chou roh later. Besides, Cap'n said not to, and he'd got what he came for anyways.
The Alliance didn't know any specifics. That meant they had some time. Not much, but probably enough to do the job on Whitefall and get clear. They really needed the coin. No coin, no fuel. No fuel, no flyin'. Serenity needed to keep movin' if they were to get outta this mess and his shipboard family were to be safe.
And then there was the girl.
Jayne roughly reapplied the duct tape over the mouth of the weasel, his brow furrowed as he thought on the girl. And he still owed Dobson for Lil Kaylee – that debt had yet to be paid.
Dobson smiled to himself. He was sure the Mercenary's thoughtful look was due to his offer. He was certain he'd have help before long.
Reavers!
Jayne was down in his bunk thinkin' of makin' a visit to the Infirmary, just to see how Lil Kaylee was doin' a course. Before he could decide on whether that was a good idea or not, the Cap's voice came over the speaker.
"This is the Captain. We're passin' another ship. Looks to be Reavers. By the size probably a raiding party. It could be there headed somewhere particular, could be they've already hit someone and they're full up. So, everyone..stay..calm. If we try to run, there apt to chase us – it's their way. We're holdin' course, we should be passin' them in a minute. So we'll see what they do. "
Decision made for him, Jayne weaponed up. Already wearing Boo and Binky, he grabbed his machine gun Lux and for good measure, his favourite heavy assault rifle Vera. Grenades completed his loadout as he left his bunk and headed for the Infirmary to guard Lil Kaylee….and River….as best he could.
Striding in to the Infirmary he saw both girls out cold – Doc had them under sedation. Probably best if'n anythin' untoward happened and Jayne couldn't save 'em. Shepherd Book was there, looking grim and clutching his Bible. Mebbe Yeh Soo would come to the rescue? Couldn't hurt none if Book prayed for a miracle.
Simon was standin' by his sister ready to do what he could. Which was prolly just ta get in the way.
Both men relaxed visibly as Jayne cocked Vera and stood facin' the door to the Infirmary, ready to protect them all if needed.
Reavers scared Jayne. Only an idiot wouldn'ta been scared of 'em. But Jayne was confident he could taken a fair few of 'em. Enough? Who knows? But somethin' else about Reavers other than their combat capability unnerved Jayne – always had. It was if he should know more about 'em than he did. He'd never faced 'em before, he was sure. But sometimes he was sure he had. Yet another conundrum ta pile on all tha others. He was past the head shakin' stage with all a it, and he promptly forgot it all as he concentrated on various tactical strategies.
It was useless to fight the Reavers in the cargo bay. There weren't enough gun hands to stop a whole passell of Reavers from swarmin' them. They'd be outflanked in no time. The Infirmary was a decent defensive position. Only one way the Reavers could get it. A course only one way they could get out if it came ta that. As he automatically calculated defensive fire arcs and blast radii for his grenades, he once again wondered why all this came so natural like to 'im. He was mighty grateful, though, for whatever the reason.
The wait was tense, and after a few minutes the speaker brought Jayne out of his musin's.
"This is the Captain. The Reaver ship has not altered course ta follow us. We appear ta be in the clear."
Jayne heard both The Shepherd and The Doctor sigh audibly. He ignored them and their questioning looks as he took one last look at Kaylee – and River – and marched outta the Infirmary without a word, headin' back to his bunk.
Truth be told he was mighty relieved his ownself.
Bridge Same Time
Mal watched the Reaver ship on the sensor display until it was out of range. He didn't truly relax, even then, but he was as satisfied as he could be.
"Wash, keep us on course to Whitefall…and keep a sharp out our for our friends. No sense getting' slack. I reckon we were plumb lucky this time."
"Sure Mal." the pilot nodded, he had planned to do just that.
"Anyways, gonna check the rest of the ship, make sure it's all shiny." The Captain said as he walked off the bridge, not waitin' for Wash's reply.
He went straight to the Infirmary to check on Kaylee first.
As he entered the Infirmary he noted both girls were sleepin', with the young Doctor standin' guard over his sister.
"Doctor." he nodded to the young man, but before he could continue Simon got in first.
"I must thank you Captain."
The Doctor should have many counts on which to thank Mal. Fact he ain't been spaced top among them. But Mal just looked at him, waiting to see just what the Doctor was talkin' about.
"For sending Jayne in. There wouldn't have been anything The Shepherd and I could have done to defend my patient, my sister, and ourselves of course, if those monsters had boarded us. I will admit to being terrified at the thought, having your man in here allowed me to concentrate on caring for my patients."
Mal was shocked, why would Jayne have come here, out in the open? Surely he would have locked himself away for a last stand? He recovered quickly and nodded to the Doctor.
"It seemed like the right thing to do." And it was – only he hadn't thought of it.
"Well, yes, nevertheless thank you. It was a most…impressive sight. Many, large guns. I did wonder why you'd have such a man as part of your crew on a transport. What is his job on this ship, if I may ask?"
"Public relations." Mal stated.
The Captain then enquired on Kaylee, and his sister. Simon fell in to full lecture mode, and although Mal only got the gist of what the Doctor was sayin', it appeared the gist was that they were doin' well.
"Well Doc, I need to check the rest a the ship. Let me know when Lil Kaylee wakes, dong ma?"
"Certainly Captain."
Mal headed for the engine room, but truth be told his mind was elsewhere. On his Merc, as it happened. The man was full of surprises lately, of the good kind, seems like he was really tryin'. And the more that Mal thought on it, the more he thought maybe he might be able to trust the man, after all.
"I guess we'll just see what we'll see." he said to no one in particular as he entered the engine room.
Whitefall – Georgia System – Next Day
The meet to drop off the goods from the illegal salvage operation was to happen today. Patience, old hag that she was, hadn't bothered to haggle over price. That meant one thing – a trap.
Still, it was the best – the only – option Mal had to make a much needed deal quickly. He'd go ahead with the drop, even if it was a trap. That didn't mean they'd be goin' in like noobs.
The meet was scheduled to take place in a narrow valley, a perfect place for an ambush.
Jayne caught up as the Cap'n and Zoe were surveyin' the valley. He'd been to stash the goods, as per standard procedure.
"I buried 'em good." he said as he past a stolen Alliance protein bar to Mal. It'd be proof they'd got the goods. "Mule's back on the boat." Mal and Jayne would keep in contact via radio, Jayne placed the receiver into his ear and said "Testin', testing…Cap'n can you hear me?"
"I'm standin' right here." deadpanned the Cap'n.
Jayne rolled his eyes. "Sure, Cap, but can you hear me over the radio?" Dumbass.
Mal didn't answer, which was answer enough. He only smiled and went on surveyin' the lay of tha land.
"Patience is gonna figure we buried the cargo. Which means puttin' us to ease before there's any action. She'll come at us from the east," Mal pointed with the protein bar, "talk the location out of us. She'll have the coin to show us first..we get it, give the location, sniper's hit us from there, "Mal pointed left to a spot half way up the valley to the left, "and there." Another spot further back on the same side.
"You figure they's in place yet?" asked Jayne.
"Should be." Mal turned to Jayne. "Feel like takin' a walk around the park?"
"Mei wen ti Cap'n."
"Walk soft, I want Patience thinkin' they're still in place." Mal may not have a whole lot of respect for Jayne as a man, yet, but he had utter confidence in his abilities.
This is what I'm made for, Jayne thought as he took off to hunt the two snipers. Strangely enough, it was always pretty easy, at least for him. The 'Verse seemed to be filled with rank amateurs, compared to Jayne, or so it seemed. Today was no different.
Sniper One was easy to find. Jayne coulda done it with 'is eyes closed, on account a tha man smellin' as bad as he did. His position was poor, at least two ways to sneak up on 'im, easy like. Which he did.
"Knock knock!" Jayne said, and as the startled man turned to face the intruder, he was met with one of Jayne's massive fists. A loud crack and Sniper One was out cold. Jayne quickly tied him up with duct tape. He kept a roll of high quality duct tape, "The Mercenaries Secret Weapon", with him on jobs like this.
"Bei bi shiou ren." Jayne was disappointed. No challenge. As usual. Shakin' his head Jayne kicked Sniper One in his man parts for bein' such a Ri shao gou shi bing as he left to go in search of Sniper Two.
Sniper Two was a mite harder to find, but still no real challenge. He'd picked a decent spot, except for one thing: it was an obviously decent spot. Still, Jayne would use it, Patience and her possie were expectin' to see a sniper here, and they would. Just wouldn't be who they thought it was.
As Jayne stealthily approached Sniper Two he could see Patience and six of her men enter the valley. Five on horseback and one mule. Time was up, he had to get movin. Sniper Two was a small man, and he was sightin' his scope on Mal and Zoe already. That lasted all a two seconds as once Jayne reached him he grabbed him by his boots and pulled him off his rifle. With no time to waste hog tyin' the man, Jayne chopped the him in the throat, hard, and broke his windpipe. He wouldn't be sightin' on anyone no more.
Jayne was happy at what he found. Sniper Two had a good eye for weapons. The sniper rifle was a Blaser R93, a real nice rifle. He smile faded somewhat when he saw the condition it was in. It was in go shi condition. Still, beggars can't be choosers. Settlin' inta the position, Jayne sighted down the rifle and waited for the signal to start takin' down these kuh wu hun dun's.
"Ah, ha ha. " Patience said as she approached Mal and Zoe. The old woman looked real confident. "Mal! How ya doin' boy?"
"Walkin' and talkin'" he replied.
Jayne listened to the banter over the radio but tuned most of it out. He put the scope on each a tha men, catalogin' the distinctive features of each and notin' their weapons. He was pretty sure who needed to go first, but he'd wait from the signal from Mal.
Infirmary – Same Time
River woke with a start. The smoother Simon had given her earlier had clouded her mind. It dulled the minds of others somewhat, but also made her confused and disorientated.
"Simon?" she murmured as she jumped down from the counter which served as the makeshift second bed in the Infirmary.
"What's wrong sweetie?" Kaylee asked. River ignored her.
She could sense something was wrong. No ge ge, and no bao hu zhe! She stumbled out of the Infirmary to look for them, only to be suddenly grabbed by the weasel Fed. Somehow Dobson had escaped!
"Look at you." he said. "All woke up!" as he put a large gun to her head. At this point the Academy training should have kicked in. It didn't. Bao hu zhe was not here, it should have been automatic. It was Simon's drugs. In addition to making her feel unbalanced, the drugs confused her mind to the point where the Academy training could not be triggered. The Academy themselves had used drugs in the same way, for the same purpose.
Dobson threatened Kaylee with her death if she caused any trouble.
"Make so much as a sound and the next one goes through your throat!"
Valley – The Drop
The tone of the banter had changed. The trap was sprung and the fun was about to begin. Patience was sure gonna be mighty surprised.
"That's quite a rifle." Mal said to the man with the top hat to the left of Patience. "Boy must be your best shot to carry that."
Patience indulged Mal. "He's called Two-Fry, he always makes it quick and clean."
"Two-Fry." Mal started. "Nice hat."
The signal! Jayne took a deep breath and smoothly squeezed the trigger as he exhaled. The shoot was perfect, as usual. Two-Fry fell off his horse to the ground plumb dead, a nice big hole through his shiny hat.
Pandemonium broke out.
Mal and Zoe drew their weapons and opened fire. Two more of Patience's men went down – as did Zoe, who took a shotgun blast to the chest, knockin' her out cold.
Mal was livid, wanting to run to check on Zoe he couldn't, he was too busy dodging bullets.
Another of the old crone's men went down, courtesy a Jayne.
That left Patience and two, against Mal and Jayne.
Cargo Bay – Serenity
Dobson dragged River to the cargo ramp controls and opened the massive bay door. River was utterly compliant and at his mercy. She should have easily been able to take him down, but couldn't in her drugged state.
Ge ge! She thought as Simon jumped onto Dobson from the catwalk. Simon was no Jayne. It seemed he hurt himself as much as Dobson. The weasel's guns had fallen to the floor between the two men, who were both currently lying on their backs. One dazed, and one winded.
River saw the weapons and knew she had to do something with them. She just couldn't make the connection, and instead just fell back to the stairs, whimpering.
The Valley
Someone was havin' fun, and that someone was Jayne. He's wounded another man, but as he went to finish him off the rifle jammed.
"Da shiong la se la ch'wohn tian!" he yelled as he tried to clear the jam.
The wounded man was no hero, and he turned his horse and tried to flee. Zoe had just come around as the man on horseback was attemptin' to escape, and she drew her Mare's Leg and shot him down before he could ride away.
As he was about to advance on the old hag, Mal was shot on the arm. He ignored the pain and shot the last of Patience's men in the leg, effectively takin' him outta the fight
That just left old Patience.
Mal looked to Zoe as she got up – her body armor had saved her from serious injury – again.
"Mal don't you take another step!" Patience ordered. She had taken up behind her horse and had a shotgun trained on Mal.
The Browncoat had had enough. He shot the old double crosser's horse which fell to the ground, trapping the old lady underneath. He strode over the pinned woman and cocked his revolver as he pointed it in her face.
"I did a job." he said. "And got nothin' but trouble since I did it. Not to mention a few unkind words as regards to my character. So, let me make this abundantly clear. I do the job. And then I get paid." he stated as he retrieved the pouch with the coin. "Go run your little world." he told Patience as he went to check on Zoe.
At that time Jayne appeared, runnin' full tilt for the duo.
Surprisin', the Cap'n thought, he looks spooked.
"MAL! It's Wash." Jayne yelled as he approached them holding up the radio. "We got a ship comin' in, they followed us. The gorram Reavers followed us!"
Cargo Bay – Serenity
Staring at the guns on the floor of the cargo bay, River could do nothing. She was paralyzed by the confusion, and by fear. Fear for her ge ge, fear for herself, and confusion as to the whereabouts of her bao hu zhe. Maybe she had been dreaming and he existed no where but in her fractured mind? Was she dreaming now? There are guns on the floor, what should I do?
Hide her mind said. And she did. As Simon and the Fed grappled, each trying to get the upper hand, River hid behind a crate and covered her eyes, growing more confused with each passing moment.
Each man striking the other, they both fell to the floor. Simon was lucky – he landed right near the smaller of the Lawman's guns, immediately picking it up and shakily pointed it at the Fed.
Suddenly, Wash's urgent call came over the ships' loudspeakers.
"Reavers! Reavers incoming and heading straight for us. We are in the air in one minute!"
What little confidence Simon had in the situation began to waver at the thought of Reavers.
Dobson, sensing this, tried to put him off balance with talk of the law, and how it would interminably seek them. Reavers, if they existed, he would deal with later.
Unsure of what to do next, Simon was distracted momentarily by the sound of the main cargo ramp opening. The Captain and his two gun hands were back!
The small distraction was all Dobson needed to make his move. He smoothly picked the larger of his guns from the floor of the cargo bay, and in the same movement pulled River out from her hiding place and used her as a shield, putting the gun to her head.
The girl was still totally compliant, unable to act as the drugs coursing through her veins brought her to inaction.
"I'm not playing anymore!" Dobson cried as he stared Simon down, emphasizing his point as continued to menace River's head with his gun.
River suddenly looked at The Fed and smiled. "Bao hu zhe." she simply said, confusing the Lawman.
At that point Mal strode into the cargo bay to be greeted with the sight of the now free Fed holding The Doc's sister hostage. Not what he expected.
Nor was it what Dobson expected, but he knew he had the upper hand.
"Whoa! Hold on Dobson, we got Reavers on us, no time for this."
Dobson was unimpressed, not really believing in Reavers in any event.
Another man unimpressed was Jayne, who, having seen off the horses they had appropriated from the dead men of Patience, was last aboard.
Seein' the girl in danger flipped a switch inside a him and his trainin' took over. In a matter of a few seconds he had assessed the tactical situation. Gun to girls head, twitchy Lawman could shoot her at any sign of anyone goin' for the guns holstered at their hips. So primary armament out. Captain tryin' to talk the Lawman around, only makin' the Fed more nervous. He noted there was no one behind the Fed and the Girl. Good. No need to worry about collateral damage.
Jayne was nothin' if not prepared. When he weaponed up, he did it proper like. He might not be able to use Boo, but he had Ingrid in the small of his back. A Walther PPK, the gun was only 9mm in calibre, low powered and small. Perfect for short range work in places like the cargo bay.
At the exact same moment Jayne drew Ingrid something strange happened. The girl lept away from the Fed as Jayne sighted the small pistol and fired, aiming for a head shot.
A split second later Dobson was dead, with a new orifice in his forehead, courtesy a Ingrid and Jayne. The Ching-wah tsao duh liou mahng Dobson's day a reckonin' had arrived, as Jayne promised.
The whole crew, sans Wash on the bridge and Kaylee in the Infirmary, were witness to the instant justice served out by Jayne and were shocked.
River's strange behaviour was forgotten as Mal went to check on Dobson. He was dead, considerably.
Mal ordered Jayne to help him toss Dobsons' body off the ship as Zoe raised the cargo ramp and commed Wash to get the bird in the air.
The incoming Reavers still had to be dealt with.
Jayne spared a glance at the girl as he went past. She was starin' at him with a small smile on her face. Jayne gave her a equally small wink in reply. That smile dropped as her brother approached and she began to panic. That was weird, Jayne thought, and as he headed for the bridge he scanned the others in the cargo bay. None a them had seemed to see her smilin' at 'im, they was worried on the Reavers it seemed.
He worried on the Reavers his ownself, but mighty relived that the girl was ok. He'd be doin' some more thinkin' on his day next chance he got, if he got one.
River was both content and frantic. Content that her Bao hu zhe was real, and was here, and frantic for everything else. Her best efforts to become functional in this latest situation were thwarted by Simon's drugs, and although a distant part of her mind knew this to be true, the larger, more insistent and less coherent part overwhelmed her with the help of the constant barrage of the mind's of the ship's crew.
The Reaver ship screamed down towards Serenity, with evil purpose. Smoke poured out of its overstressed engines as it bore down on the old mid-bulk transport.
The mood on the bridge was tense as Wash announced they were about 20 seconds away from becoming the Reavers next meal.
"I need Kaylee in the engine room please." he calmly announced.
Mal ordered Jayne, over Zoe's protest, to "Get her in there now!"
Rushing to the Infirmary, Jayne swept Kaylee up, and with The Shepherd's help got her safely to the engine room.
The intention was to go to full burn. In atmo it was a dangerous move. Just as likely to cause a blowback that would engulf Serenity as it was to give the vital boost of speed that would hopefully allow them to escape from the pursuing Reaver ship.
The small rational part of River's mind was not worried. She knew she was safe as long as her Bao hu zhe was near.
Jayne was sure of no such thing his ownself, His confidence was not helped when Kaylee ordered him to do…somethin' with the somethin'. I'm an Operator, not an Engineer his mind screamed as he did his best to follow Lil Kaylee's instructions.
Also doin' their best ta follow were the gorram Reavers. As they flew without containment on their reactor they could produce more power than usual, and that gave them a speed advantage over the old Type 3 Firefly.
The inched closer and closer, and so sure where they of catching up to Serenity they armed their magnetic grapple. They'd use that to snare the old girl.
Just as they were about to fire their grapple, they suddenly went from supremely confident to about as shocked as a Reaver could be.
Kaylee, with the help of Book and Jayne, had bypassed the safeties so that a full burn could be attempted in atmo.
On hearing this, Wash through Serenity into a Crazy Ivan, basically turned the ship around 180 degrees in an instant to rush towards and then past the now stunned Reavers.
As they move passed the gruesome Reaver ship Wash yelled "Now!", Jayne and Book each doing their own parts to push Serenity's engine into full burn.
Stunned Reavers became crispy Reavers, as Serenity went to full burn, her blowback totally engulfing the Reaver Trans U which tumbled towards the ground on fire and out of control, as Serenity herself raced for The Black.
The relief on the mid-bulk was palpable as Mal commed shipwide "We're good, people. We're out of the woods."
Jayne was mighty pleased with the outcome, and ran through the ship yellin' and hollerin' like a demon, a wide smile on his face. Comin' across Inara and the Tams as they exited the rented shuttle, Jayne picked River up and spun her twice, before puttin' her down and continuin' his hollerin' trek through the rest of the ship.
Simon was too surprised to do anything about it in that short time, he stood gaping while the mercenary continued on with his childish antics.
River however was ecstatic. She stood there with a smile on her face as if it was the first time she saw a puppy. When Jayne had touched her, a jolt of electricity had instantly cleared her mind, and for those few brief seconds she was a normal girl again. Even now she could feel some semblance of order in her mind as Jayne's touch lingered on.
That Night – The Bridge
"I hate ta say it, but the girl's a problem." Jayne started. "The Lawman said they'd keep lookin' for her. Somethin' about her brain bein' all special. Important to The Alliance brass. The smart thing would be ta dump them two."
"I suppose so." Mal replied.
"Well, it'd be the smart thing ta do, but it ain't the right thing to do." Jayne continued. As he went to leave a comment from a surprised Mal stopped him in his tracks.
"Funny how the Lawman got out of his room. You havin' tied him up so well an' all." The accusation came out softer than he'd intended, Jayne's "right thing" comment throwing a spanner inta Mal's gears.
"I didn't have nothin' to do with that. The Shepherd was the one who unlocked the door, said so hisself. Anyways, it all turned out just fine. Buzzard's the only one whose gonna find 'im!"
"But he did try and make a deal with you, right?" Mal needed to know.
Jayne remained silent.
Mal turned away and smiled to hisself. "How come ya didn't turn on me Jayne?" he asked.
"Money wasn't good enough."
Turning back to Jayne Mal asked "So what happens when it is?"
"Well," Jayne smirked, "that'll be an interestin' day."
"I imagine it will." his Captain replied as Jayne turned and left the bridge.
Secretly Mal was pleased, very pleased. He'd checked the Cortex for the warrants on the Tam's and found a surprise. The reward for just the girl herself was 200,000 credits, over 20,000 platinum. He'd bought Serenity for just 3,500 platinum, the money comin' from sellin' what was left of the family ranch on Shadow after the War.
Twenty thousand platinum. That'd buy a real nice ship or three, and a real nice base to fly them from. Or any large number a things any Mercenary would love to own.
If Jayne meant what he said, and Mal believed he did, the chances of ever getting' anything over that amount for turnin' on him were as close ta zero as ya could reasonably get.
In short, it seemed like Jayne was sayin' he wasn't gonna betray him. And turning down that much cashy money sure was a sign that the man was serious about wantin' to do the right thing, both by the Tam's, and by his ownself.
Mayhaps it turned out to be a pretty shiny day after all, Mal thought, as he sat down at the pilots chair and looked out inta the vastness of The Black.
3 AM Next Morning
Jayne had spent a the night chasing sleep that never quite came. Ev'ry time he closed his eyes his mind's eye mostly saw deep chocolate eyes and long, dark wavy hair. It weren't right ta be thinkin' on the girl so much. And yet, he was. Not in a sexin' kinda way, fer sure, but lookin' inta them eyes a hers was all sorts of captivatin'. They weren't tha eyes of a normal young woman, there was somethin' goin' on behind them, and he had a powerful need to know just what.
Why? He didn't know, his ownself. On the edge of sleep his mind presented the images of a petite girl with long hair and big eyes, and most times it was The Doc's sister, River, and sometimes it weren't. Almost, but not quite her. Why he'd be thinkin' on the girl lookin' just like herself and also like an almost copy was mystifyin'.
Several hours of not quite sleep provided no answers, nor rest, but Jayne knew he needed some sleep. After today. who knows what might happen tomorrow? He did two things when he couldn't sleep: he cleaned his guns or he lifted weights. Liftin' was more likely to tire him out some so he could get a little sleep, so here he was, lifting weights in the dead a night in the cargo hold. Up, down, up, 10 reps, one set, 10 sets, more.
He enjoyed the simple repetition of liftin'. And he enjoyed the mad gains he got from it. Healthy body, healthy mind and all that.
Up, down, up, down….
3:30 AM Passenger Dorms
River woke with a start. Academy training kicked in and she scanned the dimly lit room, both with her eyes and mind. No threats detected.
She let her mind extend throughout the ship. Seven minds in sleep mode, one in a conscious state. Jayne Cobb, Bao hu zhe! The Academy program terminated as it should.
The girl sat up and surveyed her surroundings. The drugs her ge ge had given her had mostly worn off, for which she was very glad. That, combined with most of the crew being asleep, allowed her some semblance of control over her mind.
The more people in the immediate area, the more minds that pressed upon her. Eight people, including Simon, paled to the dozens in the grounds of the Academy. The inability to block out so many minds had driven her insane, somewhat, but she certainly should have no trouble blocking eight minds. That number, and even slightly more, she had been able to block previously.
Intellectually, she knew it was the drugs Simon had been administering. The Academy doctors – and the Blue Hands – also gave her drugs in an attempt to control her. The Blue Hands had programmed River's mind so that she could not attack them. Amongst other things, they had also programmed the girl to not resist medical procedures, of any kind.
She fought that when she could, of course, but mostly to no avail.
Now, at this moment, she had some ability to work through what had happened.
Wondrously stolen from the Academy, placed in cryogenic sleep, awoken early and abruptly from same. A terrifying and confusing experience. Found her ge ge, who had injected her with drugs in his valiant attempt to help – poor Simon, greater experts than he had found more insidious uses for those drugs. Found herBao hu zhe, who had terminated a Federal Marshall holding her hostage. Unable to activate Academy training due to the drugs, and unable to block the minds of those around for the same reason, leading to a bout of mild insanity.
In all, a full day/night cycle of unprecedented events.
Right now she was lucid, but she knew the reprieve would not last. Simon would look to medicine to help, as he always did, and that medicine would render her unable to have control over her own mind. And she would not, could not, resist the misplaced treatment.
But that was tomorrow, hopefully. She concentrated on the one conscious mind and smiled. Jayne Cobb! She would talk to him while she could, he would surely be able to help. He was, after all, her protector.
Following his curious thoughts, up, down, up, down, one, two ,three, she found him in the cargo bay. Ah, muscular training. Pausing on the steps she studied her Bao hu zhe. If height and mass were indicators of ability, there surely was no finer protector in the 'Verse!
He was also aesthetically pleasing to look at, very pleasing. An excellent choice for a protector.
Suddenly, he sat up, turned his head and looked straight at her, blue eyes locking on to brown. Such piercing eyes, she thought. She had come to talk to him, but at that moment she found herself rendered somewhat speechless.
No one snuck up on Jayne Cobb, and as he turned to see who had tried he was greeted with the sight of his current dilemma. Not who he was expectin'. Still, he had wanted to see her, to see how she was doin', and as she had a habit a doin', the little jingling just popped out from nowhere.
Sitting up, their eyes met and Jayne was immediately lost in the pools of brown.
Neither could say how long they just stared at each other, but Jayne was first to recover.
"Gorrammit girl, don't go sneakin' up on me like that. Coulda shot ya or somethin'."
He was rewarded with a 1000 megawatt smile.
Great, girl don't take me seriously, Jayne thought. Sure, fer some reason I gots a need to see the girl safe, don't mean she should not see what a mean hun dan I is.
Jayne had managed to raise his ire by his ownself, and took it out on the girl.
"So whatchya want, anyways?" he grumbled.
River wasn't fooled by the false bravado, although she did recognise it is a valid defensive measure.
"Bao hu zhe." she said as she approached the large man.
"Of course I am." he said indignantly, "That's my job on this here boat. I protect the boat, the crew, the cargo…"
"The girl's Bao hu zhe." River simply said.
OK, Jayne thought. He had been thinkin' along those lines as he made his short speech, it's as if she knew he was thinkin' that.
The girl continued to approach Jayne and she stopped right in front of his weight bench, no more than spittin' distance away.
"She," River started, "no, the girl." River forced herself to concentrate, and she automatically took Jayne's large hands in hers, instantly clearing her mind.
He did not resist as an electric jolt went though his body at the touch. By the look of the girl she had felt it too. What the ruttin' hell?
"I would like to thank you."
Both of her soft little hands hardly covered one a his, but he couldn'ta broken free if he'd tried. Not that he wanted ta ya understand.
"What fer?" he finally said.
"For being my protector. She, I, know it is your job, but you should be thanked for a job well done." She gave him another 1000 megawatt smile.
Jayne's heart was racin', fer some reason, and it didn't help none when the girl moved even closer to him to stand in between his legs, invadin' his personal space even further. He didn't mind in the slightest.
"And I need your help, desperately. Ge ge."
Jayne's heart sank somewhat. Ge ge, seriously? Is she feng le or somethin', First I'm her personal protector and now she thinks I'm her pansy ass brother?"
River giggled at Jayne's confusion, and bent forward to give him a chaste kiss on the cheek.
Startled, Jayne went to do, well, somethin', when the girl let go of his hands and stepped back.
Then, from out of the darkness came a soft cry.
"River? RIVER!"
She smiled that smile once more at Jayne as she said "Ge ge."
Confusion cleared as Jayne understood what had happened. Before he could question the girl on just how the gorram hell she knew her brother was comin', she wheeled around and walked up the stairs to intercept Simon before he caught sight a Jayne.
"River! There you are. You can't go wandering throughout this garbage scow, you might hurt yourself…"
Jayne was left to his own devices, with more questions, a few answers, and a pleasant burnin' sensation on his cheek. Gorram girl…
A/N Next a reimagining of The Train Job.
Chinese:
Juh shi suh mo go dohng shee?- What the hell is this crap?
Tian líng líng, dì líng ling – Abracadabra - alakazam
Melì de xiao jīnglíng – Beautiful pixie
Feng le - Crazy
Dong ma? – Understand?
Ni men dou bi zui! – Everybody shut the hell up!
kuh wuh - Dispicable
Yi da dwei bun chou roh – Big stupid pile of stinking meat
Yeh Soo - Jesus
Mei wen ti – No problem
Bei bi shiou ren – Pathetic wretch
Ri shao gou shi bing – Pile of sun baked dog crap
Go shi – Crap, useless
Ge ge – Older brother
Bao hu zhe - Protector
Da shiong la se la ch'wohn tian! – Explosive diarrhea of an elephant!
Ching-wah tsao duh liou mahng – Frog humping SOB