Thank you for all the wonderful reviews =) They have made me very happy and it's good to know that people are still excited with they direction I am taking the story =) For those of you who have asked and or wondered if Simon will be making an appearance...he will, but not for a little while longer. Anyways, this is all just for fun people so please don't sue me, I am just borrowing the characters for my own amusement.
Chapter 18 In Pieces
XXX
By the time Mal enters the dining hall everyone else, with the exception of Wash, has already gathered. He steps in and takes a seat at the dining table. Inara and Kaylee decided tea would have calming effect on everyone and are giving cups to the crew of Serenity.
"Shall she begin then?" River asks.
"Just give Wash a minute." Mal says as he accepts a cup of tea from Kaylee.
River nods and remains standing, while Riddick moves to stand against the wall nearest to her. After her little episode earlier he wants to be closer to her, to observe her and see if her behavior changes at all again.
"So did I miss anything?" Wash says as he comes in and stands behind where Zoe is sitting.
"Nope, show's just about to start."
XXX
River's POV
She pauses and looks around to all the faces in the room. She takes a breath. "The girl will try to explain things as best she can, but often has difficulty expressing…she has brain damage that makes her speech patterns…irregular. Please bear with her."
"What kind of brain damage?" Mal asks.
"That will be explained in what the girl has to say."
When she receives a nod from each of the crew she continues on.
"Heroes and bogey men, values and dislikes, are first encountered and labeled in the early environment of childhood. In later years they change faces, places and maybe races, tactics, intensities and goals, but beneath those penetrable masks they wear forever the stocking-capped faces of childhood."
"The girl was always different. She could always hear things she was not meant to, see things she shouldn't, and know things that caused have caused her great pain. She did not choose this…talent…it was not something she asked for. But it is hard to ignore the talents that are bequeathed to us."
"However, not everyone looks at such talents as a gift. Her parents, in their gilded world of gold and ivory towers, saw these gifts as unacceptable. They saw her as an embarrassment, a failure. They sought to lock her up, far away from judgmental eyes. She was taken away…by force, by the hands of blue, the…Alliance." She says as she plays with her hands.
"They drilled into her skull; they played with needles in her brain. This was all in the name of science, in the name of creating the perfect weapon. They coveted the girl's gifts, they wished to mold Pandora from their clay."
"So you are tryin' to say you're some kind of freak of nature? Some gorram feng le weapon the Alliance created?" The ape man asks.
"Affirmative." She says with a nod.
"If that's true, how did you escape somethin' like that?" Mal asks skeptically.
"You are the embodiment of the information you choose to accept and act upon. To change your circumstances you need to change your thinking and subsequent actions." She answers.
"Meaning what… exactly?" Zoe asks.
"The girl became what they wanted me to be. But instead of Pandora, they opened her box, and unleashed something they did not expecy, they…amplified…the girl's talents, and gave her the tools to be their worst nightmare. The Iron Queen, the bringer of destruction. The girl did what she was made for, she….I….destroyed them."
"Then why wasn't this reported? It seems that something of this magnitude would have been reported, at least with a cover up of some sort."
That's when Book begins to fill in pieces for the girl. "Not something like this. The facility she was kept in was most likely top level security clearance, not many people would have known about it to begin with."
"And how would you know this?" Mal asks him.
"It's not hard to understand what they would want to keep any evidence of their greatest weapon on a strictly need to know basis." He replies while skirting the Captain's question. She knows why he did not bring up his own past as proof, and will respect his right to his secrets.
"Okay so you escaped from this government facility, killed a bunch of people, but how do we get from that to the tied up Fed currently sitting in my passenger dorms?" Mal says with growing frustration.
"In a fortuitous turn of events, the girl became acquainted with Riddick and Shepherd Book under…less than ideal circumstances, but they made the best of it." She says with a small chuckle. Book just shakes his head and Riddick does not say anything.
"Okay, but that doesn't explain the Fed." Mal reiterates.
"Girl fucked up on a little con job we pulled on Persephone." Riddick says behind her.
"Repetition is irksome, the girl knows she screwed up," she says as she turns to glare at him. "You do not have to remind her…Richard."
"Well maybe if you hadn't worn that piece cloth out, then WE wouldn't be in this situation…River." He growls back.
"If you two could avoid killing each other for a little while longer it would be appreciated." Mal says trying to avoid the fight brewing.
The girl continues to glare but does not bait him further and turns back to the anxious captain. "Apologies, you still have questions."
"Yeah, chief among them is what kind a trouble I should expect from you three being on my boat."
"At the present time there is not enough available data to give an accurate answer. She is unaware as to reach of the warrant issued for her on Persephone. She also has a warrant for her arrest on Osiris. As far as Hermes and Orpheus go, they are presumed to be dead after the crash of the Hunter Gratzner." She says with nonchalance.
"What's the other warrant for? Being a pain in the ass?" Jayne asks somewhat rudely.
Silly man with girl's name…he really shouldn't ask questions when he won't like the answers. She smiles. "She murdered her parents."
"Sao ni zuzong shiba dai! Now why the fuck would you go telling them that?" Riddick snaps.
"In the interest of full disclosure, and because the Captain presently has two warrants of his own for shooting related incidents, the man with a girl's name has three, and the pilot has a warrant as well."
"What do you mean Wash has one?" Mal looks towards Wash.
Zoe also looks up at her husband. "Baby, what is she talking about?"
Wash for his part holds up his hands in defense. "It was a misunderstanding with a man about some geese." He says nervously.
"Well ain't that just as pretty as daxiang baozhashi de laduzi! We got a murdering psycho woman on board." Jayne yells as he gets up from his seat.
"Jayne." Mal says in warning.
"What? Girl's likely to go wooly and murder us all in out sleep Capn'!"
"Negative, girl only deals retribution to those responsible for her torture. You have nothing to worry about man with a girl's name." She says with a smile.
"Girly if you say I have a girl's name one more time! I swear to God…"
"Watch it ape man." Riddick grumbles from his place behind the girl. He reeks of frustration at the man's idiocy. This is exactly why the girl told him not to bring any knives.
XXX
Riddick's POV
I really wish she would have let me bring my blades into this 'discussion.' She said it would be unnecessary. My ass it was unnecessary. The ape man is just asking to be sliced open.
"What are you gonna do about it? What happens in this world of yours if I don't watch it? Huh?"
I smirk and answer him in an even voice. "You want to find out?"
"76." River says.
The ape man looks at her in confusion now. "What did you say girly?"
"There are 76 different objects in this room that could be used by Riddick to inflict bodily harm to your person. The closest being a tea cup." She practically sings with glee.
"ENOUGH!" Mal says as he stands from his seat as he slams his hands onto the table top. "Wo de ma he ta de fengkuang de waisheng dou! There will be no killin'of anyone right now! Understood?"
"The girl apologies for the threats."
I don't say anything but continue to glare at the merc.
"Jayne, sit down." Mal says as he glares daggers at the hired gun.
He grumbles but does as he's told. "They started it."
XXX
River pauses and looks around the room. "If no one has any more questions…"
"Hang on a minute, lil' bit. We ain't done here yet." Mal interjects. "There is still the issue of the fed tied up on this ship."
Zoe turns to Wash at this. "How much does the Alliance know?"
"I can't say. I killed the message pretty quick, so they might just have had our position." He says with a shrug.
"He tried to say they knew a whole mess of shit when I talked to him. Hell of a disappointin' interrogation. Man can't lie for shit, they got nothin' on us." Jayne says.
"So what is the issue?" River says as all eyes focus on her. "I thought he would be disposed of when…"
And again the room gets loud with people talking over each other...
"That's the first thing girly said that makes any sense." Jayne says with a laugh.
Zoe looks at him in disbelief. "Kill a Fed? Can you think of a stupider thing to do?"
"He can I.D. us all." Jayne replies.
"Can we maybe vote on the whole murdering people issue?" Wash says nervously raising his hand.
"We don't vote on my ship because my ship is not the rutting town hall!"
With a feral grin Riddick puts his two cents in. "Hell, I'll do it for you. It will be fun."
"Are you insane?" Inara asks in shock and disbelief.
"Prison shrinks seems to think so." He says with a shrug.
"This is crazy, Cap'..." Kaylee looks to him with puppy dog eyes.
"Nimen de bizui!" Mal screams and everyone becomes quiet. "Way it is…is the way it is. We got to deal with what's in front of us."
There is a tense moment when no one speaks and then Jayne asks what everyone wants to know.
"So what do we do?"
A moment passes as Mal thinks, looking at people around the dining room.
"The job. We finish the job. I got word from Patience, she's waiting for us. We circle 'round to Whitefall, make the deal, get out. Keep flying." He says as he exits the room, with River right on his heels.
XXX
River's POV
"The girl would like to offer assistance." She says. Everyone turns to where she stands in the doorway, not sure they heard her correctly.
He turns and looks at her puzzled. "Jien tah duh guay. Think you done enough already." He says as he turns to walk away again.
"Consider it an audition."
"An audition?" He says with confusion.
"River, what are you talking about?" Riddick says behind her.
"According to calculations based on observable scar tissue, your crew averages 4.2 bullet wounds, broken bones, and other injuries for every job that you undertake."
"Hey, he gets shot more than I do!" Jayne bellows.
"However, you greatly reduce said average to .65 bullet wounds if you factor in the presence of the girl and Riddick."
"River…" Riddick warns as he approaches behind her.
She doesn't bother to listen to Riddick though and continues addressing Mal. "Allow for a demonstration. Let the girl show you how she dances. You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain from this opportunity."
XXX
Mal stands in front of this tiny girl, who looks like she might just faint at the sight of a gun, and seriously considers her proposition.
Girl could be quite useful if half of what she said was true. "Fine." He says and walks towards the bridge.
"Didn't see that comin'." Jayne says in disbelief echoing the sentiments of everyone else in the room.
XXX
River's POV
She turns from the doorway back into the dining room to watch as Riddick stomps out the other doorway, the sound of metal walls absorbing fists can be heard in his wake. She huffs and shakes her head. That man needs to learn to trust the girl.
"Is he always like that?" Wash asks.
"Like a petulant child who doesn't get his way? Yes, he is." She answers.
"Okay, mental note to stay away from the big scary man when he looks pissed is dully noted." He says as he walks past her with Zoe towards the bridge where the Captain just went.
"Well this ought to be interstin" Jayne says as he glares at the girl and toward the bridge as well.
"Well…welcome aboard Serenity River." Kaylee says as she smiles sheepishly and skirts off towards the engine room. The girl can tell that she makes the sunshine nervous, but there is nothing she can do about that right now.
"You sure about this River?" Book asks.
She looks at Hermes now and smiles. "Affirmative. She is very sure Hermes."
"Excuse me but why does she call you that?" Inara asks from her seat at the table. She had been relatively quiet throughout the entire discussion, soaking in everything the girl said and revealing nothing, and the girl cannot help but feel she was trained well in her arts of seduction.
"It is a nickname. Hermes was the messenger of Greek gods, the patron god of shepherds, travelers, and cunning thieves." River says in a sign song voice.
Inara cannot help but laugh, and that is when her painted mask slips just enough for the girl to peek behind it. But what's behind the mask is confusing, and she can't make sense of it… it's like a melody that shouldn't be there. She looks at the companion a little more seriously now, but neither Book nor the companion seems to notice in their fit of laughter.
Through his chuckles Book manages to comment on the whole situation. "Well looks like we are exactly where we should be then."
XXX
"I ain't sure this is a good idea Mal." Jayne says. "They seem a might unstable."
"You and me both Jayne, but..." But before he can say anything else there is a noise coming from the console.
Wash turns his attention to the noise. "We're being hailed."
"That'd be Patience. We're close enough for vid. Put her up."
Wash pushes a few buttons and then the image of Patience pops up.
"Malcolm Reynolds?" She says.
Now Mal begins to turn on his charm, hoping to avoid unpleasantness from the woman."Hello, Patience."
"I have to say I didn't look to be hearing from you anytime soon." She says as she scratches her chin.
"Well, we may not have parted on the best of terms. I realize certain words were exchanged. Also, certain...bullets. But that's air through the engine. It's past. We're business people. Besides, your days of fightin' over salvage rights are long behind you, what I hear. What are you, mayor now?
"Just about. You telling the truth about that cargo? 'Cause your asking price is a bit too reasonable for that much treasure."
"It's imprinted - Alliance - hence the discount." He answers quickly.
"Oh, government goods, huh?"
"That doesn't work for ya, no harm. Just thought you could use…"
"Alliance don't scare me. Just collating data, as they say." She smirks now. "I like that you're up front about it. We can deal. I'll upload coordinates for a rendezvous point outside of town."
"See you in the world." Mal says as he closes the link. He stares down at the console for a moment.
"I believe that woman's planning to shoot me again." He says with a chuckle.
"She meant to pay you, she'd a haggled you down some." Jayne says nonchalantly.
Wash feels the need to say something now. "Just a little effort to hide it would've been…" But he is quieted by the sound of Mal's fist hitting something off the console.
But just as everyone thinks he is going to start yelling about getting shot or something of the sort he begins to laugh.
"Sir?" Zoe asks with some concern.
"Well, looks like that little witch is going to get the chance to give us one hell of a show." He says as he erupts into more laughter.
XXX
Riddick's POV
"Nee ta ma duh. tyen-shia suoyo duh run doh gai si….qingwa cào de liúmáng..." I say as I repeatedly pound the punching bag in the cargo bay. But no matter how much or how hard I punch nothing makes me any less angry.
"Gorram woman thinks she can make all the decisions around here! I wasn't the one who got us ID'ed on Persephone, but does that change anything?" I say to no one in particular as I keep punching.
"NOOOO! Of course not. Doesn't make any fuckin' difference.…ta shi suoyou diyu de biaozi dema!"
I hear a small chuckle from the upper walkway and turn and look up.
"You know talking to one's self is the first sign of mental illness…or problems with a female." She says as she walks down the stairs.
I grit my teeth and turn back to the punching bag. That's the thing about companions they always try and read the situation.
"I'm curious, if you are so irritated by her then why do you stay?"
"Why do you stay on Serenity? You didn't seem too pleased at being called a whore by the Captain earlier. So why do you put up with it?" I say as I round on her.
I can hear her pulse quicken just a few beats before she collects herself, never giving any change in emotion away. She's very good. "Mal's…interesting."
"I find that hard to believe." I say as I cross my arms and lean against the stairs.
"Anything becomes interesting if you look at it long enough."
Now I have known a fair amount of companions, but something just doesn't sit right with this one. There's something familiar about her… something hidden underneath that façade…
I shrug it off and just turn back towards the punching bag. I'm happy when I hear her walking back up the stairs. One woman and riddles is bad enough. I don't need to try and figure another one out. It doesn't take long though before I hear another set of faint footsteps creeping up the lower corridor, trying to be as quiet as possible. The smell of lavender gives her away though.
"Already know your there girly." I say without stopping my assault on the bag.
"She was letting the music calm before she approached." She says as she steps into the cargo bay.
I turn to face her now. "I have every right to be fucking pissed off at you, you know that."
"The girl has reasons for…"
"No fuck that!" I scream and walk towards her. But she doesn't move away.
"You are keeping shit from me, like what that whole breakdown was earlier! You're fucking making decisions about what WE do without MY input, and for what? An opportunity? I'm sorry sweetheart but I'm gonna need more of an explanation than that!"
XXX
River's POV
There's music swelling around her now; leaching out from her every pore. She wishes he could hear it…it would explain so much.
"The girl thinks they can help…help find something that was taken from the girl."
…There's truth in your lies
doubt in your faith
All I've got's what you didn't take…
"She is damaged, she knows this, knows the Alliance has stolen a great deal from her..."
…So I, I won't be the one
be the one to leave this
In pieces…
"Every morning the girl jumps out of bed and steps on a landmine. The landmine is…me. After the explosion, she spends the rest of the day putting the pieces together. But there are always missing pieces, there is never a big picture...it's always incomplete."
…And you / you will be alone
alone with all your secrets
and regrets, don't lie…
"But out of the fragments she has, a few of them show her something is here, it's what she sees when she closes her eyes, these faces are familiar. So if you want to leave…go….but she can't."
…So I, I won't be the one
be the one to leave this
In pieces…
They don't move for a good five minutes. She doesn't try and persuade him to stay; it would only prove counter intuitive. He has to come to this decision without her words.
…And you / you will be alone
alone with all your secrets
and regrets, don't lie…
It's only when the Captain's voice announces they are preparing to land that he answers her.
"You better be right about this." He says as he turns and walks out of the cargo bay.
She lets out a breath. "She is."
XXX
AN: Okay, I have to say this was one of the harder chapters to write. I ended up throwing out my original outline when a rabid plot bunny chewed on my brain a few days ago and I realized that this chapter needed a huge overhaul if I wanted to use that particular idea in the long run. I hope you guys like the way it turned out =) Till next time.