Firefly Fic: The Cobb Women (1/?)
Title: The Cobb Women (1/?)
Chapter Title: Breadcrumbs
Author:
nsahdmdto
Rating: NC17 (though not for a few chapters)
Spoilers: Set after BDM (big damn movie, i.e. Serenity) Any and all canon is fair game
Summary: Just as life was getting back to normal, the crew of Serenity got a new job from the man they knew as the Operative. Their new, precious cargo is headed for a safe haven and for one member of the crew, it's the homecoming he hoped to never face. Jayne Cobb is going home, and for himself and his brothers that may be the best thing that could ever happen . . . if it doesn't kill them first.
Notes and Disclaimers: Response to
literarylemming's bunny toss asking for a Rayne fic inspired by Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (which was in turn loosely based on Stephen Vincent Benet's "The Sobbin' Women"). I own nothing and gain nothing save (hopefully) feedback and the chance to pass on the plot bounders surrounding me. In other words, I brought a shovel but it ain't my sandbox.
It started up again with a wave. Scant weeks after Miranda and all that followed, just when the crew-the family-of firefly class smuggling vessel Serenity started thinking that maybe, just maybe, life might still be out there waiting for them. They’d finished their first real, paying job without so much as a gun barrel aimed at Mal. It was in the middle of dinner, one with real food as celebration over the lack of bloodshed when River dropped her forkful of peas and stood, slipping out of the mess without so much as a glance at anyone else. It was only a minute or two before her voice floated in over the comm. “Wave for you, Captain. You should come now.” Mal, knowin’ Jayne too well to do otherwise, picked up his plate and carried it with him.
“Well now, lil albatross, who’s so important that you’d leave-the gorram hell you want?” The sight of the face on the screen had been enough to stop him cold, wipe the smile right off his face. Only River’s reflexes had saved his dinner, just a few peas and carrots rolling across the floor as she caught the plate in midair.
“My apologies, Captain Reynolds, I believe you have me confused with someone else.” The voice of the man they’d known only as the Operative was as cool and smooth as ever. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of making your acquaintance. My name is Bell, Shepherd Darius Bell, and I was given your contact information by someone who believes you might be able to assist me.” Mal’s fists were clenched by his sides and his jaw ticked as his teeth ground down on one another. He didn’t answer, didn’t think he could have. “I have some cargo, Captain Reynolds, very precious cargo, in need of transport. I understand that you are a man of, discretion shall we say?”
He was moving to terminate the connection when River caught his hand, her grip firm. She leaned in front of him, dark hair obscuring the screen, nimble fingers flying as she plotted a course and answered the man. “Seventeen hours, thirty six minutes, eleven seconds. Be ready.” She ended the transmission before Mal had a chance to realize what she was doing. “Here,” she thrust his plate at him, free hand still flying over keys and controls.
“Wait just a gorram minute, girl! I’m still captain here, and I ain’t-” He was cut off by his roll being shoved into his mouth and he nearly choked as a large chunk broke free.
“No more yelling. Now is not the appropriate time. You may reprimand me later. First, Serenity must be readied.”
Mal sputtered a bit in disbelief, searching for the words to respond when she turned, looking up at him from behind the dark veil of her hair. Something about those eyes made him stop trying to argue and he nodded once, turning to find the rest of his crew crowded in the doorway. He nearly stumbled but caught his balance again before falling into the merc’s chest. “You heard that people, we got us a job to do. Get to it!” He paused, watching them go before turning back to his pilot. “You best be explaining real soon, dong ma?”
River rolled her eyes. “Yes, Captain Daddy, all will be explained in time. Do captainy things and I will finish setting our course.”
It was nigh on two hours before the crew gathered again in the mess, gazes ranging from wary but expectant to untrusting and angry and in Kaylee’s case down right confused as they waited impatiently for River to explain. “Well, crazy, git on with it so’s we can get turned around and head for the far end of the black,” Jayne growled, finger running over the blade of a large knife. Mal, arms crossed, glared at the merc before turning back to River.
“While that might not be a bad idea, I am still captain of this boat.” The words were meant for Jayne, but his eyes were locked on River, wary trust all but hidden in their depths. “Alright, Albatross, we’re waitin’. You best be gettin’ on with that explanation you promised me.”
River nodded and stared at the table, watching her hands as they folded primly on the top. “Acts of contrition. Loss of faith. Harder than falling on the sword.” She looked up then, hair tangled around her face. “Not the same man now. The Shepherd became the Operative became the Shepherd, and it’s time to make up for past transgressions.”
“Well ain’t that nice,” Jayne muttered, cleaning out his fingernails with the knife and turning an insolent glare at Mal. “I still say this is all just a bunch of feng le go se. We oughtta be gettin’ far away as we can.”
River ignored him, voice getting softer and softer as she went on. “All the same. Incomplete. Cracked and broken with pieces missing. Scared. Alone. But no more. The knight in shining armor has toppled the tower, and the sleeping beauties will awake. No longer lost in the woods without bread crumbs to follow, but the thorns scratch out their eyes and the only thing left to see is blood.” She had trailed off to barely a whisper, staring at her hands, but now River raised her head, empty gaze focused on the merc as she stood, hands braced on the tabletop. When she spoke again, her voice was steady and soft, words coming in an angry hiss. “Everything looks better in red.” The girl smirked as the big man flipped his chair over and sprawled in an ungainly heap before scrambling up on all fours and crawling backwards in an effort to get away from her. “Too easy,” she sing-songed before skipping out of the room, the crew staring after her looking more confused than ever.
“So much for my explanation,” Mal muttered, throwing up his hands in frustration.
“Not so, Sir. It weren’t clear, but I think I’m beginning to follow.” Mal looked to his second in command, not liking the grim look on her face as he thought back over what the girl had said. Zoe gripped the edge of the table until her knuckles turned white. Inara had paled and the doc was staring out the doorway and seemingly cursing under his breath.
“I don’t understand,” Kaylee said, looking around her with wide eyes.
Mal narrowed his eyes and studies his crew. “I think I’m beginning to.”
“Huh? What’s going on? She ain’t said nothing but that crazy le se she’s always spoutin’,” Jayne whined, leaning back against the wall, trying to seem relaxed now that the girl was out of the room.
They ignored the merc as Mal scrubbed his hands over his face. Inara tugged her shawl tighter around her shoulders as Simon turned to Kaylee. “I think what River was trying to tell us . . . I think she said that-”
“There’s more of ‘em, more like her from the Academy. And somehow he’s rescued ‘em all and decided to push ‘em off on us,” Zoe ground out, unaware of her own actions as one of her hands splayed protectively over her still-flat belly.
Jayne let out a stream of Mandarin curses most of them had never heard.
It seemed fitting.
Chapter Title: Breadcrumbs
Author:
nsahdmdto
Rating: NC17 (though not for a few chapters)
Spoilers: Set after BDM (big damn movie, i.e. Serenity) Any and all canon is fair game
Summary: Just as life was getting back to normal, the crew of Serenity got a new job from the man they knew as the Operative. Their new, precious cargo is headed for a safe haven and for one member of the crew, it's the homecoming he hoped to never face. Jayne Cobb is going home, and for himself and his brothers that may be the best thing that could ever happen . . . if it doesn't kill them first.
Notes and Disclaimers: Response to
literarylemming's bunny toss asking for a Rayne fic inspired by Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (which was in turn loosely based on Stephen Vincent Benet's "The Sobbin' Women"). I own nothing and gain nothing save (hopefully) feedback and the chance to pass on the plot bounders surrounding me. In other words, I brought a shovel but it ain't my sandbox.
It started up again with a wave. Scant weeks after Miranda and all that followed, just when the crew-the family-of firefly class smuggling vessel Serenity started thinking that maybe, just maybe, life might still be out there waiting for them. They’d finished their first real, paying job without so much as a gun barrel aimed at Mal. It was in the middle of dinner, one with real food as celebration over the lack of bloodshed when River dropped her forkful of peas and stood, slipping out of the mess without so much as a glance at anyone else. It was only a minute or two before her voice floated in over the comm. “Wave for you, Captain. You should come now.” Mal, knowin’ Jayne too well to do otherwise, picked up his plate and carried it with him.
“Well now, lil albatross, who’s so important that you’d leave-the gorram hell you want?” The sight of the face on the screen had been enough to stop him cold, wipe the smile right off his face. Only River’s reflexes had saved his dinner, just a few peas and carrots rolling across the floor as she caught the plate in midair.
“My apologies, Captain Reynolds, I believe you have me confused with someone else.” The voice of the man they’d known only as the Operative was as cool and smooth as ever. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of making your acquaintance. My name is Bell, Shepherd Darius Bell, and I was given your contact information by someone who believes you might be able to assist me.” Mal’s fists were clenched by his sides and his jaw ticked as his teeth ground down on one another. He didn’t answer, didn’t think he could have. “I have some cargo, Captain Reynolds, very precious cargo, in need of transport. I understand that you are a man of, discretion shall we say?”
He was moving to terminate the connection when River caught his hand, her grip firm. She leaned in front of him, dark hair obscuring the screen, nimble fingers flying as she plotted a course and answered the man. “Seventeen hours, thirty six minutes, eleven seconds. Be ready.” She ended the transmission before Mal had a chance to realize what she was doing. “Here,” she thrust his plate at him, free hand still flying over keys and controls.
“Wait just a gorram minute, girl! I’m still captain here, and I ain’t-” He was cut off by his roll being shoved into his mouth and he nearly choked as a large chunk broke free.
“No more yelling. Now is not the appropriate time. You may reprimand me later. First, Serenity must be readied.”
Mal sputtered a bit in disbelief, searching for the words to respond when she turned, looking up at him from behind the dark veil of her hair. Something about those eyes made him stop trying to argue and he nodded once, turning to find the rest of his crew crowded in the doorway. He nearly stumbled but caught his balance again before falling into the merc’s chest. “You heard that people, we got us a job to do. Get to it!” He paused, watching them go before turning back to his pilot. “You best be explaining real soon, dong ma?”
River rolled her eyes. “Yes, Captain Daddy, all will be explained in time. Do captainy things and I will finish setting our course.”
It was nigh on two hours before the crew gathered again in the mess, gazes ranging from wary but expectant to untrusting and angry and in Kaylee’s case down right confused as they waited impatiently for River to explain. “Well, crazy, git on with it so’s we can get turned around and head for the far end of the black,” Jayne growled, finger running over the blade of a large knife. Mal, arms crossed, glared at the merc before turning back to River.
“While that might not be a bad idea, I am still captain of this boat.” The words were meant for Jayne, but his eyes were locked on River, wary trust all but hidden in their depths. “Alright, Albatross, we’re waitin’. You best be gettin’ on with that explanation you promised me.”
River nodded and stared at the table, watching her hands as they folded primly on the top. “Acts of contrition. Loss of faith. Harder than falling on the sword.” She looked up then, hair tangled around her face. “Not the same man now. The Shepherd became the Operative became the Shepherd, and it’s time to make up for past transgressions.”
“Well ain’t that nice,” Jayne muttered, cleaning out his fingernails with the knife and turning an insolent glare at Mal. “I still say this is all just a bunch of feng le go se. We oughtta be gettin’ far away as we can.”
River ignored him, voice getting softer and softer as she went on. “All the same. Incomplete. Cracked and broken with pieces missing. Scared. Alone. But no more. The knight in shining armor has toppled the tower, and the sleeping beauties will awake. No longer lost in the woods without bread crumbs to follow, but the thorns scratch out their eyes and the only thing left to see is blood.” She had trailed off to barely a whisper, staring at her hands, but now River raised her head, empty gaze focused on the merc as she stood, hands braced on the tabletop. When she spoke again, her voice was steady and soft, words coming in an angry hiss. “Everything looks better in red.” The girl smirked as the big man flipped his chair over and sprawled in an ungainly heap before scrambling up on all fours and crawling backwards in an effort to get away from her. “Too easy,” she sing-songed before skipping out of the room, the crew staring after her looking more confused than ever.
“So much for my explanation,” Mal muttered, throwing up his hands in frustration.
“Not so, Sir. It weren’t clear, but I think I’m beginning to follow.” Mal looked to his second in command, not liking the grim look on her face as he thought back over what the girl had said. Zoe gripped the edge of the table until her knuckles turned white. Inara had paled and the doc was staring out the doorway and seemingly cursing under his breath.
“I don’t understand,” Kaylee said, looking around her with wide eyes.
Mal narrowed his eyes and studies his crew. “I think I’m beginning to.”
“Huh? What’s going on? She ain’t said nothing but that crazy le se she’s always spoutin’,” Jayne whined, leaning back against the wall, trying to seem relaxed now that the girl was out of the room.
They ignored the merc as Mal scrubbed his hands over his face. Inara tugged her shawl tighter around her shoulders as Simon turned to Kaylee. “I think what River was trying to tell us . . . I think she said that-”
“There’s more of ‘em, more like her from the Academy. And somehow he’s rescued ‘em all and decided to push ‘em off on us,” Zoe ground out, unaware of her own actions as one of her hands splayed protectively over her still-flat belly.
Jayne let out a stream of Mandarin curses most of them had never heard.
It seemed fitting.