"Hell of a year, Mal," Monty contemplated as the two of them sat alone in a bar. It was a job with his friend that Mal had been looking forward to. A good chance for a breather. He took a long sip from his pint and sighed, realizing just how right his friend was.
Slowly, but surely, Mal and his crew adjusted to the idea that Serenity was no longer a focus of the Alliance. The Operative had been true to his word, and the ship and crew had no run ins with the law since Shadow. They had even docked on a few core worlds without even a whiff of trouble. Of course, they'd always have Alliance tailing them, with the work they did. But there was no more special interest in them. It was as if the slate had been wiped clean. Mal hated to admit it, but he felt freer than he'd felt since that fateful day Simon Tam had boarded his ship as a passenger along with his fugitive sister and as a result, changed their lives forever.
Unfortunately, this feeling was severely undercut for the painful hole the absences of said fugitive sister left in Mal.
One of the more positive side effects of their new freedom was that jobs were much easier to come by. Reputation was slowly growing that Serenity had a crew that could be relied on, that they worked hard, and dealt fair. Mal was tentatively encouraging his new contacts to refer Serenity to anyone else who needed to do business without too many questions and their contact list was slowly accumulating new names on new planets. There was more coin in their pockets than had been in a good many months.
Mal considered his crew, who sat together a few tables away as he took advantage of the time to speak with his friend alone. The crew had gone on more or less the same too. After a few weeks of uncertainty, Inara had decided to remain on board for good. Things between her and Mal were a little frosty, but starting to heal. As she sat now, chatting animatedly with Kaylee and Zoe, Mal knew it was Inara's other relationships on Serenity that kept her on board, not her relationship with him.
Zoe was largely unchanged, but Mal had noticed subtle changes in her as the sharp pain of Wash's absence began to give way to a more tolerable ache. She spoke of her husband more now, told stories and shared laughs. No longer did the rest of the crew feel they needed to avoid mentioning his name around her. She had taken over a great deal of flying of Serenity in the last months as well, and Mal wondered if the comfort of Wash's old chair wasn't doing his old friend some good too.
Simon and Kaylee had put all their wedding plans on hold, which hadn't really surprised Mal much. Although Kaylee had been disappointed by this, and it had been a bit difficult to change all of the plans made on her family's homestead where the wedding was going to take place, her and Simon agreed to wait for the right time. When their family could be reunited.
As for Jayne, he was as ever a merciful constant in a changing world. Surly, grumpy, but undeniably family. He did all his jobs well, and gone were the days Mal questioned the loyalty of the mercenary. Or at least he didn't question it as much.
xxxx
It was a rare chance to catch up and gossip with Monty. Despite meeting him twice over the last few months, it was the first time Mal had a chance to really sit down with him since Regina. They'd shared some laughs as each of them recounted funny stories, and the talk was light. Eventually however, Monty sobered up as he began to discuss current goings on. glanced around him and lowered his voice so that it could hardly be heard over the din of the busy bar.
"Reavers been coming more often" Monty murmured quietly and Mal leaned in to hear. "Not sure if you heard, but Liann Jiun and Muir were attacked three months ago. Within only a few days of each other. Few hundred civvies killed. Liann Jiun local heat reported to the Core, but all they got was some gorram memoranda with the latest recommendations for improving security. What they didn't get was stuff they did need, like funding, manpower or weapons. Had an attack of our own here few months ago." Mal's eyebrows raised, concerned for his friend and his community.
"Monty, I had no idea. Much damage done? I didn't hear nothin' about any of that on the Cortex." Mal shrewdly thought back to the small community he'd walked through earlier this morning. No signs of mourning or rebuilding. It certainly did seem unscathed, which was miraculous. Although Mal had a sneaking suspicion he knew why.
"Didn't report it," Monty replied with a wave of his hand. "We had no damage done. None. It wasn't long after we last spoke as you might remember. Didn't want to report a Reaver attack to Alliance with nothin' and no one harmed." He met Mals' gaze levelly. "Thought that might draw some unwanted attention."
Mal nodded slowly and was grateful. "Might do." He agreed.
"But reportin' ain't doing much good anyway, 'cept for gettin' word out there to the public," Monty continued on. "We're three years from elections, and Alliance see no value in courtin' the good favour of Rim folk until they need votes. Reavers are a problem Alliance created, and one they ain't dealin' with out here. They're leavin' us to do their dirty work, and they don't venture far enough inward for the Core to take much note. It ain't right. And folk are gettin' damned sick of it. No fancy core civvy has any notion of the damage caused by those Gu."
"No, that they do not," Mal agreed sagely. He took a sip of his beer thoughtfully. Reaver attacks were on the rise, more and more in the last few months. They had died off a bit after Miranda, but in the last couple of years had started building up strength again and were venturing out. His mind had been on so many other things he hadn't had the time to think much on it, but Mal wasn't surprised in the slightest that the Alliance was doing little to protect the outer planets. They really were living in two 'Verses not one. He'd seen it himself when they'd gone into some of the Core worlds the last few months. It was literally night and day comparing those rich planets to the folk out on the borders. He felt a familiar tug at his heart. Words whispering to him quietly but insistently, familiar words that had driven a younger Malcolm Reynolds, like injustice and wrong.
"What you told me about last time we spoke, that school on Osiris... ain't right what they did to just kids." Monty ventured after a few minutes. Mal's attention fixed back to the present as he considered his friend. "Shouldn't be a secret. People should know about this part of the Alliance, the way they know about everything else."
"Can't do that," Mal said firmly. "We've been flyin' without no Alliance trouble for six months now, mean to keep it that way. Had to let go of that when we let go of River. Part of the deal." His heart contracted painfully as he said the name of the woman he'd had to let go of. "Ain't my job to take down the Alliance single handedly. Let some fancy Cortex reporters do some work for a change, investigate instead of just touting government propaganda."
Monty shook his head. "I understand that, Mal. But folks talk. I heard from General Tarkins 'bout a month ago. He's on Santo these days, pretty high up in one of the smaller cities there and's been pretty outspoken 'bout cuts to security and development funding on their planet. He's been startin' to get a following, people are pretty angry, unemployment's been a problem that's gettin' worse there. They set up that fancy college too but there ain't no jobs to be had when kids finish, and no core planets'll take them." He looked at Mal intently. "The General'd like to meet up in a few months time, matter of fact. And he mentioned you by name, would like you at that meeting."
Mal raised his eyebrows. He'd only met General Tarkins on a few occasions during the war as the man far outranked him. Tarkins had been one of the bigwigs on the side of the browncoats. "What kind of a meeting?"
"A meetin' to lay out a formal list of problems faced on the Rim, see which issues are common between settlements and can be shared regardless of the planet or moon you're on out here. People gettin' more and more uneasy these days, it's time to unify some of our goals. Make it easier to challenge the Alliance on some of their methods. Monty didn't beat around the bush, one of the things Mal appreciated about his friend, but he was still surprised by the bluntness of his next words. "Frankly, wouldn't be surprised to see war brewing in a year or so."
"Who else is going?" Mal ignored the implications of Monty's last, but couldn't quite suppress a shiver. More things change the more they stay, he thought darkly.
Monty listed off a few names, most names familiar to Mal from the war. He held up his hand before Mal could respond. "Now I ain't sayin' conflict is our objective. I sure as hell ain't no green eager volunteer no more, just like you. We know exactly what we'd be gettin' ourselves into on that front. But what I also know is somethin's gotta change and we aren't sure how open the Alliance will be to the kind of change that needs to happen out here. You know I'm right on this." Mal didn't reply but gave him a small nod.
"You got good crew, Mal." Monty said after a few moments. "All of you young'n strong. Good skills and used to being on the other side of the law. Easily prepared and made useful if it comes to it."
"Not everyone on my boat's got a soldier's life in'em," Mal snapped, immediately feeling protective of Kaylee, Inara and even to some degree, Simon. "Got some civvies too who got no plans to be changin' that."
"I know that Mal," Monty agreed, his tone placating. "But they aren't in bad trades for civvies to have. Good mechanic, a doctor. Surgeon actually. Even that Companion of yours has pilot skills. They don't have enlist to be of use. But I don't mean to get ahead of myself. I'm talkin' about making some changes out here, just sayin' when it comes down to it, change might not be as simple as winning a few elections."
WIth a sigh, Mal nodded. Kaylee and Simon's worth was indispensible on his boat. Both's ingenuity had saved all of their skins on more than one occasion and he couldn't disagree with Monty's logic. Inara too had plenty of skills, not to mention her weight in gold when it came to connections.
It was just a lot to take in. It made him scared for the future. He had just gained some peace on his boat and this would be sure disruption to that. And there'd been so much strife for his crew for so long. It figured that just as things seemed like they were turning for the better, his friend would bring all this up.
"Anyways, just think about it is all I'm sayin' right now, okay?" Monty said, seeming to sense the direction of Mal's thoughts. "General Tarkins always respected you, said you were a good soldier. It'd mean a lot with him to meet you, hear what you have to say. Will you think about it?
"I will," Mal sighed. "And I do agree with all you said. It's just been non-stop, it seems. Sometimes wish things could calm down a little, you know? But it don't seem to be in the cards for us."
"You really wanted calm, you wouldn't be flyin' that boat around to God knows where, doing all manner of illegal activities." Monty shot back. Mal barked a laugh at that, knew he'd been bested. He picked up his beer and held it out. Monty clinked his glass back and grinned.
"I'll think about it," Mal promised after a minute or two. Monty nodded. More silence passed as they drank under the weight of all they'd discussed.
"How are you doing otherwise? Know you've been busy with jobs." Monty asked.
"Too many to count, that's a fact." Mal responded with a wry grin. They discussed that a long time until a lull in the conversation allowed Monty to change the subject.
"And piloting? How's that going?" Monty was casual. Mal's heart quickened as he looked up sharply at his friend.
"Bit tiring if I'm honest with you, Zoe and I taking turns flying our boat with everything else we have to do. Inara occasionally takes a crack at it too, but it's a lot with everything else to be done."
"Hmmm," Monty was quiet for a moment. Any thoughts about taking on new crew?" Mal couldn't help gaping at his friend. He hadn't known they'd be discussing this today. There were a lot of plans out of his control that he had entrusted to Monty, and he had waved off the hopeful questions of Simon and Kaylee earlier this morning, telling them not to get ahead of themselves.
"Well I reckon it'll be about time, sometime soon," Mal was cautious. He feigned a calm he didn't feel. "Bit hard though, losin' the two best in the verse. I think we're all afraid no one'll measure up."
Monty's eyes twinkled. "Thought you might say that. But you know Mal, I just so happen to have a cousin of mine who has some skill. I've got no need for a pilot, and I know she'd be glad for a chance to take to the sky. How would you feel about me introducin' you? Because I just so happened to make sure she was here today."
Mal looked around, paranoid. No one in the crowded bar was paying special attention to them. "Seems to me last time you mentioned that cousin, she was still in flight training." He said pointedly. "As in a few months left at least."
Monty shrugged. "Finished early, genius that she is. Top of her class too, makin' all the family proud." He looked Mal in the eye and was very deliberate. "Have all her paperwork here if you doubt me."
Mal took his meaning. A new identity and qualifications were secured. There wouldn't be any questions. Mal's already fluttering heart started hammering in his chest. Of all the days...
"Well, top of her class and all, guess I can't say no to that." Mal's voice was hoarse, struggling to maintain his casual demeanour.
"You know, I thought you might say that," Monty replied with an easy smile on his face. He looked away and motioned one of his crew with a slight wave of hand. "She's just here now as a matter of fact. Would you like to meet her?"
Mal looked down into his beer. It was a moment before he could make himself look over. When he did, it took him but a moment to find the person Monty had described. The girl was small, her smile was shy as she approached Monty and Mal. Her hair was honey coloured and hung just below her shoulders, with a wave to it. She even wore makeup, making her look a lot more exotic than he was used to. Her clothes were new but modest. Mal felt a mixture of excitement and insecurity. She looked like the stranger she was supposed to be.
Mal glanced down over himself, second day clothes, unwashed hair. He suddenly felt more aware of his appearance than he'd been in a long time. When he looked back up, she was already standing in front of him. He felt his throat dry up. Monty stood up, apparently oblivious to Mal's discomfiture.
"Mal Reynolds, meet my cousin Iris, Iris Bryson. Been stayin' with my sister these last few months off planet, brought her in special, to meet you. Iris, this is Captain Reynolds, he's looking for a new pilot, and I told him you're about the best in the verse." Monty grinned as he looked between the two. Iris Bryson smiled slightly and slowly reached out her hand. Mal stared at her small hand for a moment before took it gently, his own hand shaking.
"Miss Bryson," He said, his voice uncertain, but hopeful.
"Pleased to meet you, Captain Reynolds." As calm as she was outwardly, Mal didn't mistake the excitement and joy sparkling in her eyes as his hand enveloped hers. All his fear, fear she'd forgotten him, fear she'd move on and not want to come back fell away and love took it's place. Oh, I know you, Darlin, Mal thought, his hand buzzing from the contact with her skin. I'd know you anywhere.
"You too, Miss Bryson." He replied warmly. "Your Uncle here says you're keen to fly. I'll take you up to my boat. Serenity she's called, Firefly class. A fine ship. I'll give you a tour, you can take her for a spin and we'll see if we can work something out. If you'll have me, that is." His last sentence echoed one of their last conversations, and he saw in her eyes she remembered. Her smile widened. He continued gazing at her a few moments, drinking her in, realizing more and more that the changes were only on the surface, and she really was the same person. At Monty's slight cough, Mal gradually became aware of his surroundings again. He shook his head and straightened up. He gestured to a table behind her.
"My crew will all be thrilled to meet you I'm sure." Mal broke away from her face and looked over her shoulder, and River Tam turned to follow his gaze. He wasn't the only one affected by her entrance. There, a few tables down, were Simon, Kaylee, Inara, Jayne and Zoe. They all sat together, pretending to have a casual drink, but she could see her own excitement mirrored in their faces. Kaylee looked like she was about to burst. Simon held his beer so tight, the pint glass would probably break at any second. He looked like he was about to cry. Inara shined as she mouthed Hello, and Zoe raised her glass ever so slightly to River's direction. Even Jayne had a look on his face that in the right light could be construed as a grin.
She smiled at them before looking back to Mal, eyes shining. They held each other's eyes, saying everything in it that they couldn't put into words, at least not in this place.
"It sounds perfect." She replied, feeling her eyes fill with tears. After a moment, she turned to Monty and gave him a big hug. "Thanks for everything," She whispered, emotionally, a few tears escaping onto her cheek. Monty patted her back.
"Anytime sweetheart. And none of that now, this isn't goodbye, not really. Don't be a stranger, you hear?" She shook her head and Mal knew he wasn't mistaking the tear in his gruff friend's eye as well as he said goodbye. Mal shook Monty's hand and the two embraced.
"Thank you," Mal said with feeling. "We owe you more than we could ever repay."
"Nothin' to it," Monty replied, shaking off the gratitude awkwardly. "You and you crew are family, you know that. She's family now. Keep her safe. And love her well."
Mal nodded, unsurprised that Monty had picked up more than he'd been told.
"Take care, we'll be sure to visit soon. Once Miss Bryson here settles in." Mal answered with an almost giddy nod to his new crewmember.
"Good luck, fly true." Monty said with a wink before turning to leave the bar.
As they walked over to the crew, Mal couldn't resist putting his hand on the shoulder of his new crew member. Even though it was still a bit risky to show too much affection in public, he could feel the subtle turn of her into his touch. Even after all this time she fit perfectly. All the past months fell away, and it suddenly felt like they'd never been apart.
"You know Miss Bryson," Mal remarked with a casual drawl as they neared the table where their crew sat. "You sure do remind me a lot of a girl I used to know. Our old pilot in fact." She smiled up at him, her face shining with all the light and love he'd only seen in his memory all these past months.
"What was her name?" She asked.
"Her name was River," Mal said the word like it was a prayer.
He sent a quick thought of thanks to the Operative, who made this day possible. Who died so that River may live.
"River" She murmured, the word rolling off her tongue. "I hope someday you'll tell me about her."
"I just might Darlin'" Mal answered, emotion swelling in his chest. He reluctantly released her so she could make her 'introductions" to the crew. But it was easier letting go knowing that after today, he would never really let go of her again.
He watched as she sat down with the crew and the rightness of the moment was breathtaking. As he took his own seat at the table with his family, She looked at him, eyes shining with love.
And just like that, although life would never be easy for them, and war might be on the horizon whether he wanted it or not, Mal knew things were going to be okay.
The End.
Notes:
Last chapter, thanks for reading. I don't currently have plans to continue writing in this universe, but I know there are many adventures down the line for our favourite crew.
Thanks all for the kind reviews and hope you all enjoyed reading as much as I did writing. Any comments, criticisms and suggestions are always welcome.