Like Blood in the Rayne Chapter 13
Jayne followed River as fast as she went through the common area and up the handful of steps to the cargo hold. Where did she think she was going? Just when he was about to ask her what the hell was going on, River ran straight for the compartment she was supposed to be avoiding. That really got him to wondering. “Should you be gettin’ so close to that thing? We really don’t need you going all hua la shi on us right now.”
“The knights must stand as sentries for the helpless.” She stood right in front of the hidden compartment and looked to Jayne expectantly.
Or, he thought, maybe she’s already lost it. Maybe the pressure was too much for her. A second too late, because of her hurt look, he realized she was in full on reading mode and not going all wooly at all. Great, he was being a jerk to her again. He went to apologize. “Look, River…”
“Apologize later for maximum effect. Busy.” The girl interrupted him. She crooked a finger at him to get him to come stand next to her. “For now, keep them away from the box.”
“Keep who away from the box?” Jayne asked, moving beside her and into a guarded stance.
“Not a who.” River answered seriously. “A what. The shadows are here.”
The sound of nails clicking across metal scaffolding moved along the catwalk above them and four small creatures appeared on the top step. They looked exactly like what River created but the sketch was lacking one important detail, color. The black and white drawing was perfectly rendered but Jayne was unprepared for the blood red skin and the shining red eyes. “Gan ni niang.”
Jayne and River both pulled their guns out and trained them toward the steps but the demonic creatures were too fast for them. The imps scurried down the steps and climbed up under the mule before either of them could pull off a shot. Damn, the little things were fast.
Mal, gun also raised, ran down the steps into the hold with Simon and Kaylee in tow. “Did you see ‘em? Where’d they get off to?” Mal asked.
Jayne gestured his head at the mule. “Ran under there a second ago.” He started to move, intent on taking out the threat.
“They need the stone.” River whispered and motioned him back to her side. He did, as she wanted. “Wait and they’ll come to us.” She said.
She was right, of course, and all four of them came out in a rush, headed straight for the compartment and River. What happened then was a blur of motion and sound. Four shots issued from three guns, two of the shots from River’s new toy, and four creatures went down, although down might not be the right term. They more imploded the instant the bullets hit. All that remained were four puddles that resembled curdled blood a mite too closely.
Kaylee lost the brave face she was wearing and crumpled like a rag doll. Simon caught her on the way down and held her up. “I think I’m gonna be sick.” She said just before she vomited all over the floor and Simon’s shoes. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Simon.”
Simon started walking her toward the infirmary. “Don’t worry about it, Kaylee. I’ll take care of things. I got used to people getting ill a long time ago. Let’s get you something to settle your stomach first.” He helped her down the steps.
Mal called after them. “You just stay with her, doc. Nobody goes anywhere alone, especially now.” He turned to River. “Shouldn’t you be all upset right now? You being all calm makes me think you know something. So, share. What were those things?”
River answered. “They work for him. They’re of him. They are him.” She blinked slowly, as if coming out of a daze.
“And by him you mean Radu what’s his name?” Mal asked, irritated enough that Jayne felt the need to take a step in front of River. Mal looked up at Jayne. “You knew, too? Well, ain’t that just great? Tell you what, you two have any other news to share, I’d prefer you came out with it. I’m getting pretty tired of not knowing things. For instance, just when did you get a gun, little one?”
River got as far as, “I…” before Jayne coughed to drown out her voice. He didn’t want Mal knowing he gave Maggie to her because everyone knew how the Captain felt about River and guns.
Mal looked at Jayne sideways. “Right. Jayne, I’m not stupid. That coughing fit was not gonna keep me from figuring out you gave it to her. I reckon I oughta be mad at you but since she just shot two of ‘em to our one a piece, I’ll let this slide, this time.”
“Jimmy.” River stated out of the blue. Nothing more, she just said a name and stopped.
Jayne and Mal both looked at her funny. What was she on about? Curious, Jayne asked her, “Who’s Jimmy?”
River rolled her eyes at him. “Not a who. Again it’s a what. I didn’t like the name Maggie. It’s Jimmy.”
Didn’t like Maggie? Oh, she didn’t. How could she? “What? You can’t go changing the names of my guns, crazy girl.”
“Not yours.” River argued with him. “Gave her away. My gun, now.”
“See? You just called it a ‘her.’ Guns don’t get boy names.” Jayne countered hotly.
“Yours don’t.” She responded in turn. “Mine do.”
Mal laughed humorlessly. “And here I was thinking you two would stop with all the arguing.” River and Jayne stopped staring each other down and turned their stares his way but didn’t get to respond because Zoe’s voice, over the COM, announced a ship had hailed Serenity. Mal said, “Never mind for now. Looks like we got a new problem.”
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Mal trudged onto the bridge. As usual, he already knew the answer but still asked the question. “Zoe, Inara, you two wanna tell me it’s someone we know hailing us? ‘Cause, honest truth, I ain’t wanting it to be who I think it is.”
“Well,” Zoe started. “Yes and No. We know the ship. I can say it’s one of Badger’s for sure now that’s hailing us.”
“But unfortunately Badger’s back on Persephone. He didn’t look in any shape to set out of atmo.” Mal said.
Zoe went on, “I know that. That’s why I haven’t answered yet. Care to find out, Sir?”
Mal wasn’t certain River and Jayne had followed him from the bay until River spoke. “Chaos, rage, eating them all.” Oh, how he loved it when she got all spooky. No, on second thought, he really didn’t.
Kaylee’s voice piped up. “Are you saying that ship’s full o’ reavers?” She still sounded funny enough Mal had an urge to kick Simon for not keeping Kaylee in the infirmary. Who was he kidding, though? No way the doc could make Kaylee do anything she didn’t want to do any more than he could make Inara follow orders.
“Not just reavers.” River said quietly. “Something much worse.”
“What could be worse than reavers?” Jayne asked her, grabbing her hand, their fight apparently forgotten.
“Radu Vladislas.” River said the name Mal expected to hear all along.
“Zoe,” Mal ordered. “Turn on visual for their end only. Let’s get a peek at what we’re dealing with.”
Kaylee gagged but managed to keep it together. Mal couldn’t blame her that time. It was all he could do to maintain his composure on seeing what pursued them. Compared to this guy, reavers were almost pleasant on the eyes.
Simon muttered, stuttering, “Is that blood dripping down that thing’s chin? I’ve seen a lot of blood and that really looks like…”
Jayne cut him off, saving them all from the nervous babble. “That’s just repulsive.”
Kaylee clapped a hand over her eyes. “His hand looks like the shadow we saw.” Simon pried her hand off her face and held it in his own.
“Which one?” Jayne asked. “One on the right looks bad enough but why ain’t he got fingers on the other hand?”
River responded simply, “He sent them here.”
“Woah!” Mal leaned in for a closer look at the screen. “You telling us those ugly little things were somehow his gorram fingers?” The fingers, or stumps of fingers really, elongated and began to reform as they watched.
“Not somehow. Magic spell.” River clarified. “They reform from the power in his blood.”
“Chou ba guai.” Mal cursed. “Zoe, give us sound and picture on both ends, please.” He plastered on a fake smile. “This is Captain Reynolds. Is there some manner of distress on your boat? Ain’t often you get hailed by strangers in the black.”
Radu sneered at the Captain’s levity. “You know who I am. I can smell your fear.”
“See here now.” Mal took offense. “That part you got wrong. I ain’t afraid of you. Now, turning my stomach, that you got, but fear, I don’t rightly think so.”
“I grow weary of your evasion, human. Give me back the stone and I shall spare all your lives.” Radu pledged. Mal figured he was lying but couldn’t be certain.
“He lies.” River volunteered.
“Ah, I haven’t had the,” Radu paused and wiggled his newly re-grown fingers, “considerable pleasure of a seer in many years.”
Jayne growled out an angry, “You ain’t having it now, either.” And stepped forward.
“Jayne, stand down.” Mal ordered. He needed Jayne keeping a level head. “He ain’t getting his hands on River.” Then, he addressed Radu once more. “And, you. Let’s just say there ain’t no way you’re getting that stone, either.”
“You can’t escape me. I will dine on your organs.” The vampire threatened.
“I wouldn’t make too many bets on that.” Mal challenged. “See, I happen to know how slow that piece of junk you’re flying is. It’s how we got some of our jobs. Only reason you caught up is we weren’t pushing my girl. That’s about to change. Chase all you want. Maybe we’ll see you in hell.” Mal reached past Zoe and turned off the comm.
“Think it was wise baiting him like that?” Inara questioned.
Mal chose to ignore her. “Think we can outrun Badger’s heap?” He asked Zoe.
“If we hammer it, yes.” Zoe offered. “It can’t be much more than a day to Ariel at full speed.”
Mal hoped she was right. “Then, we better hammer it because Inara might be right. I don’t think this Radu fellow likes being told no.”
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I decided you should know the main curse words by now but…
*Help with the new Chinese, just in case:
hua la shi - Monkey shite
Gan ni niang - Motherfucker
Chou ba guai - Ugly as hell