"Evolution." Chapter Three.
Story: Evolution
Chapter: Head Games (3/10)
Character(s)/Pairing: Crew
Prompt: 1: Brown; 2: "Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers." -Lady Macbeth; Macbeth (II.2.55-56)
Rating: PG
Word Count: 3721
Disclaimer: Not mine.
-Author's Notes: For my second claim @ 2by2fics. Blah. I think this was too ambitious. I want this to be awesome, and it's just okay, and that's really just... Ugh. I would make it better if I could! The only real good part is about the kittens, and that's because it's funny. I'm okay with funny. Anyway, I'd like to thank my three marvelous beta-readers (adverbia, mercuryandrain, and modernlove_89). I really, really appreciate all the help; you guys are awesome!. And now... With no further ado, here's the chapter!
Evolution
Three: Head Games
“If… If you’re sure, mei mei. Because - “
“Simon!” Kaylee swatted him gently on the arm. “River ain’t gonna get hurt. She got Mal an’ Zoë lookin’ after her! ‘Sides that, she’s got all ‘er smarts - an’ I bet she can knock a man out ‘fore he could even get to her anyway.” She smiled proudly at the skinny brunette in front of her. “Ain’t that right, River?”
River nodded resolutely; she wanted to live up to the warm surge of Kaylee’s pride. “There are twelve ways to kill a human being with - “
“Hey.” Mal looked up from the other side of the mule. “Thought I had a rule ‘bout the creepifyin’ talk, Albatross.”
“Captain Daddy should appreciate the skill.”
“Oh, make no mistake, River, he does.” Zoë smiled warmly at the girl as she took her seat in the mule. “But we all know the captain’s got a weak constitution.”
“Now Zoë, I am hurt.” Mal’s eyes sparkled though his face was schooled into smooth indignation.
“Oh, I’m sure y’are,” Kaylee broke in, grinning broadly and looking at Mal with mock-commiseration. “Poor, poor cap’n.”
River let herself sway a little, smiling at the unguarded moment. It felt so good to belong.
“Hmm, yes, all that aside,” Simon said stiffly, pulling River’s attention back to him. “Mei mei… Just because you have the training doesn’t mean you have to use it.”
His concern for her pulsed under her skin, ticking like a clock alarm, making her nervous. With a deep, rattling breath she pulled out of every other consciousness and concentrated only on Simon, weighing her mind down with every memory she could identify positively as hers.
“Simon. I am lucky to have your concern, but I have assessed the situation and the possibility of disaster is relatively low.” In an almost ritualized way, she pulled on her goggles. It was not important to her consciously but the consistency of routine - strap on the back of her head, pulling it as far as it would go, gently covering her eyes - helped keep her grounded no matter how turbulent the minds were around her; the thoughts were hazy, but she still knew they were there. “Simon stitches and sews and keeps all our parts working. He does his part; River must do hers.”
Her brother started a little, surprised by the clarity with which she spoke. “Y-you help pilot,” he argued - albeit futilely. “And - “
“Ge ge.” She raised an eyebrow archly. “Kaylee will withhold physical union if you do not allow me to go.”
Simon sputtered and his ears turned a rather impressive shade of red. “River, that’s… That… You shouldn’t…” He sighed, knowing that there was really no use trying to change her mind, especially when his position had such little justification. “Be careful. All right?”
“Hey doc,” Mal drawled. “You done givin’ your little pep talk? Our take ain’t gonna be there for takin’ all day.” River gave Simon’s cheek a little pat; Mal turned to look at her. “Good to go, Albatross?” he asked.
In answer, she clamored into the mule, crawling over an irate Jayne to get in her seat.
“Gorram little monkey,” he whined. “Mal, why I gotta sit back here with her? How come you or Zoë can’t - “
“’Cause she’s drivin’,” Mal said smugly, climbing in himself. “An’ I am the captain. Gotta enjoy all the privileges once in a while.”
“Yeah, privileges,” he said with a scowl, “ain’t like you ever get those.”
“Was that sarcasm I heard, Jayne?” Zoë asked with a smile, cranking up the mule. “Sir, I think you are being accused of abusing your position.”
“Now that’s just slander,” Mal said, acting as though the accusation had truly injured him. “I slave away so my crew can have the best, and this is the thanks I get? Y’all are the most ungrateful bunch o’ - “
“Oh, jus’ ruttin’ shut it, Mal,” Jayne groused. “I’m ready to get this over’n done with.”
“Huh,” Zoë said, sounding vaguely surprised. “Thought you were always up for crime, Jayne.”
“Usually am,” he retorted. “But that’s when we ain’t on a planet with one o’ the most famous whorehouses in the ‘Verse. Been savin’ up. Gonna get me a girl an’ spend the whole night - “
“Hey.” Mal turned to glare at him, gesturing River with a toss of his head. “Little ears, Jayne.”
Jayne sneered. “Psychic, Mal. She c’n just pull it outta my head. Hell, if she’s anywhere near Inara when she’s thinkin’ ‘bout - “
“You don’t wanna finish that, Jayne.” Mal glared. “You really don’t.”
“Puh.” Jayne slunk down in his seat, scowling. ”Yeah, get all noble now,” he thought viciously. ”Hun dan can’t remember that not all o’ us are gettin’ tended to ev’ry night. Gorram, an’ with ‘Nara ? Ain’t fair.”
River cracked her knuckles and surreptitiously glanced at Jayne. Mal fulfilled his paternal duties by attempting to shield her, but she felt it was completely unnecessary. She had a working clinical knowledge of sex and everyone on Serenity had certainly made no attempt to put a hold on the activity on her account. She was curious - almost insatiably so - and she would occasionally listen in when someone was having particularly erotic thoughts. It was inappropriate, she knew, but as long as she avoided anything especially personal she felt very little guilt. Jayne was by far the most crude in his thoughts, though Kaylee nearly rivaled him in frequency.
It surprised her that the merc could find Inara so attractive; she was lovely, River realized, but she was also graceful, intelligent, and refined. Those qualities did not mesh with any of Jayne’s.
They were nearly at the site of the job. Mal was growing slightly antsy, going over his plan. River noted all the problems and immediately thought up a few contingencies. Zoë was thinking, as she often was, of Wash - it still hurt to come back from a job and forget, for half a moment, that he wasn't there waiting for her. She had always watched Mal’s back, but it was suddenly much more imperative that she kept it whole.
Jayne’s mind had lapsed into the realm of the physical and he was imagining what it might be like to be in bed with Inara and a faceless whore - who, if River really cared to dissect the mental picture, looked a little bit like Zoë. It was harder to Read pictures, but she saw enough to know that she didn’t want to see any more. She wrinkled her nose at him and scooted as far away as she could, fervently hoping his body didn’t start to respond to his mental exertions.
“Well,” Mal said, addressing his troops, “we’re ‘bout to go in. Everybody know their parts?”
Jayne grinned viciously. “You got it, Mal.” He patted his gun. “No problem there.”
“Understood,” River said matter-of-factly.
“Good. And…” He hesitated for a moment before reaching down toward his feet and pulling out an old gun. “Since you don’t have none o’ your own, want you to use this. Got a bit of a leanin’ to the right side, but after one shot I figure you can mathematics it out.”
River took the gun in steady hands. Mal felt awkward but proud of himself - he trusted her. Not completely, not yet; but he trusted her, and she made a vow to herself not to violate that trust. She let her fingertips walk over every inch, asking politely for its secrets. Mal did not have the easy relationship Jayne did with guns. To Jayne they were people, they were friends. But Mal had been in war, Mal saw guns as only tools. He was also, however, selectively sentimental, and a gun that had kept poachers away from cattle on Shadow would do just fine keeping those that would do them harm away from their own little herd. “Called?”
“Huh?” Mal looked at her, obviously confused.
Jayne snorted in amusement; he didn’t like the idea of River having any sort of weapon while near him, but guns were much more acceptable than knives. It did, however, amuse him greatly that he understood when Mal didn’t. “Wants a name, Mal. What’s ‘er name?”
“Not everyone names their guns, Jayne, an’ that one don’t - “
“Hester.” River nodded, a pleased smile playing at her lips. “Her name is Hester.”
“Now you don’t gotta name it,” Mal chided. “Jayne don’t - “
“One point on which we are in agreement. Firearm deserves title. Unless Captain Daddy thinks of one more appropriate…” River patted the gun affectionately. “This is Hester.”
“Hester.” Mal just shook his head. “I just gave ya a gun named Hester. Huh.”
“Will treat her with great respect. I will use her to take down our enemies.”
“Um…” Mal scratched his head. “Thanks, Albatross. That’s, uh, good to know.” He shook his head again. “Now. We ready to go?” Everyone nodded tersely and they continued the ride in silence. Jayne got off a little bit away from the meeting site; he’d be waiting to take the buyers out if there was any trouble. Mal had faith in his merc’s abilities, mentally congratulating himself on procuring such an asset. River had her doubts about Jayne, but was willing to admit that she hadn’t been witness to enough of his abilities to really judge. Her thoughts were interrupted, though, because the mule was slowing and up ahead they could see the three men they’d be making the deal with.
Zoë parked and Mal jumped out first. He lifted one box of goods out - they’d not been told what they were transporting and, judging by the heavy locks, Mal thought it was best they didn’t know - and Zoë quickly followed with the second one.
“Stay,” Mal instructed, his voice soft but stern.
River nodded, clamoring down in the seat, Hester clasped firmly in one thin, white-knuckled hand.
Serenity’s captain and first-mate walked over the hard, sun-baked ground towards the buyers. “How do?” Mal asked in a tough voice that sounded friendly but promised harsh punishment for those who crossed it. “Heard you were lookin’ for some cargo. Think this might be it?” He and Zoë set the boxes down on the ground.
The largest of the men grunted. “You Reynolds?”
Mal smiled. “Guilty.”
“They say you’re a truthsome guy. Say you don’t go back on a deal once it’s made.”
Mal was about to humbly agree to all such claims, but another of the men stepped forward. He was cleaner than the others, in nicer clothes, and probably the one who’d actually bought the cargo. “Looks like a ruttin’ Browncoat to me.”
Mal’s jaw tightened and Zoë gave him a quick warning cough. “Don’t see how that matters now,” he said. “I’m the captain of a simple transport, an’ right now I’d like to get paid for what I’ve been transportin’.”
The man who’d spoken first gave a nod, and the third man tossed a small sack of money to Mal.
“Albatross!” Mal called. “Catch.” He threw the little bag of money over towards the mule. River stood quickly and caught it in one outstretched hand.
“Obtained, Captain!” she called.
Mal nodded and he turned back to face the three men in front of them.
The one who appeared to be the leader stared intently at the girl. “Who’s that?” They were far enough away that if River spoke quietly he couldn’t hear her but close enough that he could make out her features, the soft lines of her dress as brown as deer-skin, hints of her lithe, smooth body as the wind gently moved the fabric around her.
Her Captain Daddy did not appreciate the perusal. “Our pilot,” Mal told him, his tone closing the book on that line of inquiry. “None o’ your concern, though. S’why don’t we get back to our little exchange?”
River sank down in the seat, her skin oily and cold from the man’s eager eyes. Mal and Zoë would close the deal soon, she was sure. The men were, if a little unscrupulous, at least willing to hold to the set terms. They’d also heard rumors that Mal’s crew had something to do with the Miranda broadwave, and anyone who could cause that much commotion was not someone likely to lie down and take a double-crossing.
The one who spoke the most was a hired thug. He and his brother - the one who’d thrown the money - were working for the third man, a young land-owner on that moon who dealt in illegal merchandise and, if the scraps of thought she’d been able to catch had meant what she’d gleaned from them, human trafficking. River did not care much for him.
”Hey.”
The comm set crackled unexpectedly and River started a little at the sound of Jayne’s voice. She held the device out a little and sniffed it warily.
”Hey.” He sounded slightly more impatient.
“I receive your message loud and clear, man-called-Jayne.”
She could practically hear him rolling his eyes. ”Well ain’t that jus’ grand? Seen Mal throw you some coin. Deal goin’ down all right?”
“As well as expected, I believe.” She carefully opened her mind, listening for any thoughts of betrayal, but it was exactly as she’d Read previously. “The men only want whatever is in those boxes.”
”Great. Real great. Look, what’s goin’ on? I need to shoot anybody?”
“I do not think - “ River stopped short as a wave of an unfamiliar feeling hit her like a tidal wave. The young man who’d set up the deal was thinking. He’d seen her; he’d liked what he’d seen of her. The man saw women as nothing more than property and he considered her an exceptional specimen. It caught her off guard and her mental walls shattered.
’Little young to be a pilot,’ the man thought as Mal and the thugs continued negotiations. ’Wonder if that’s the only reason Reynolds keeps her around.’ His thoughts turned dark and thick and something turned over in River’s stomach. He liked girls who were young and inexperienced; he liked to break them. Nothing made him prouder than hearing them scream.
River gagged, the taste of acid rising up her throat. She sank down onto the mule’s hard metal floor, curling up into the tightest ball she could. Involuntarily she whimpered.
”Hey!” It was Jayne again; it was likely he’d been trying to get her attention. ”What the hell’s wrong with you? You’re s’posed to be the lookout so’s we know when to - ”
“It hurts,” she said, her voice breaking. The man, bored of the talk, had moved on to picturing himself with her. He saw her on the floor of his bedroom, crying, her voice pleading and high. And he was above her and he was holding down her arms.
River bit into her arm and screamed.
”Crazy…” Jayne sounded vaguely worried. ”Crazy, are you… you ‘bout to go killer-woman on us again? What the hell’s going on?”
“Wants to…” She closed her eyes, bricking up her mind as best she could. The effort it took was tremendous and her whole body shook. “He… Likes… to hurt.” He was providing his own sordid narration, his mental voice amused, and the images he projected had gotten more graphic. “Not strong enough. Walls crumbling down. Can see what he wants to do. Wants to hurt her. Make her scream.”
She had been doing so well. The psychic pressures had been lessened exponentially since Miranda - even more after she’d taken Jayne’s - rather surprisingly perceptive - advice of keeping her mind hardened and impenetrable. Well jus’ stop bein’ a pourin’ cloth or whatever the hell your brainpan’s made out of an’ start bein’ rock.” He had no idea just how helpful that simple piece of advice, regardless of his motives for giving it, had been.
The comm crackled again. ”Wait, you mean one o’ them down there? Wantin’ to do all that… To you? He wants t’hurt you? Like… ?” He paused a moment as River panted, her arm shaking as she tried to get a good grip on Hester. She bit out an affirmative. ”You seein’ it in his head? Like pi’tures an’ all that?”
She whimpered as she was again bombarded and Jayne correctly interpreted that as a “yes”.
”Gorrammit you stupid… Moonbrain, jus’ shoot him!”
“C-can’t.” Her mind was going in circles and she couldn’t break out of the vicious fantasy. “Want to… See him suffer. For hurting others. For wanting to hurt.” She could hardly speak. “Captain Daddy… needs deal.” The men were speaking again; there was insinuation. The pilot… More money if Mal would only let him have a nice talk with the pilot. River heaved a little. The others, though, the hired thugs, wanted no trouble. They knew the kind of man he was; they would not stop him but they would not facilitate. She knew that she could be wrong; it was so hard to Read anything but those images she was in. “They… do not intend to break it.”
Jayne’s silence was like granite. ”Tell me when we got the money. An’ which hun dan it was.”
River couldn’t Read him at such a distance, but the determination in his voice was unmistakable. She rose up and the moment another larger bag of money changed hands she said, “Closest to you.”
A shot rang out and the man crumpled to a dead heap, a bullet lodged in his brain. His mind had still been opened to hers.
River screamed.
“What the hell’s that?” the tall man asked, jumping back in shock. “Your man?”
“You got your cargo,” Mal said, forcing himself not to look towards Jayne. “We got our money. Why would we have cause to shoot at you? Could be that was jus’ a ruttin’ terrible shot, meant for one o’ us!” It was obvious that neither man completely trusted him, but he did have a point.
The tall man grunted. “Let’s get out o’ here,” he said to his partner, sparing the dead man half a glance.
Then they were gone, and the next instant Mal and Zoë came running back towards the mule. “What the hell does Jayne think he’s doin’?” Mal hissed furiously, jumping in right behind Zoë. “We could o’ used that slimy set o’ deep pockets for more jobs!” He noticed River as they shot off, still curled up, covered in sweat, a pool of what looked like vomit beside her. “Albatross… You okay? What - “
“Mal!” Jayne shouted, waving his arms and running towards them as fast as he could. Zoë slowed down enough to let him climb in and then they were headed to Serenity at full speed.
“You wanna tell me what you were thinkin’ with that go se you jus’ pulled, Jayne? That man was the son o’ this moon’s man with the biggest pockets an’ - ”
“Jus’ shut up f’r a ruttin’ second.” The merc scrambled into his seat, putting his guns and ammo on the unoccupied one beside him. “Ain’t my fault, Mal. Y’told me to shoot if’n we had somethin’ bad goin’ down. An’ crazy here good as said the hun dan was mind rapin’ her.”
Even Zoë took in a breath of surprise. “What?”
“What she said. We was on the comm, an’ I was waitin’ for one o’ them to try somethin’, when she goes all quiet. Then she starts whimperin’, goin’ on about how he was hurtin’ her. How much he liked hurtin’. I told her to shoot ‘im, but she couldn’t. So she told me which one it was an’ soon as the deal was done I put a bullet through him.”
“That ruttin’ son of a whore.” Mal cursed under his breath, still angry at Jayne but knowing there was a good chance he would have done the same thing. “Hun dan deserved it. Or worse. I wish - “
“Don’t matter,” Jayne spat. “If you care s’much then just get ‘er to her brother!”
Mal’s look hardened but he didn’t say anything; he knew Jayne was right.
Zoë drove as fast as she could. As soon as they pulled into Serenity Mal jumped out and scooped River out of the mule. She struggled to her feet, Mal’s arm around her.
“Oh, you’re back,” Simon said, looking at the cloth in his hand. “Did everything - “ He looked up and saw River. “What happened? What’s wrong? River… River, are you all right?”
“One o’ the guys we were dealin’ with weren’t a particularly nice one,” the captain explained. “He, uh… was thinkin’ on River - an’ she saw it. He didn’t count on her bein’ a Reader.” Simon looked positively murderous as he held River. “Thugs he was workin’ with prob’ly scared of us now, though, but I’m thinkin’ we - “
The doctor was unconcerned with anything that did not involve his sister. “Stop. What happened to him?”
“Jayne shot him.”
Simon looked to the merc. “Thank you, Jayne,” he said, swallowing, hating the thought of death but unable to feel remorse over the killing. “I…” Jayne had his eyes closed and his face scrunched up, as though he were in deep, painful thought. “Wh-what’s wrong with you?”
Jayne grunted and shifted his weight. “’M thinkin’ about kittens.”
Mal, Simon and Zoë stared at him, dumbfounded. River had stopped crying and was clinging to one of her brother’s arms. Mal cleared his throat. “Uh… what?”
“Kittens,” he reiterated. “They’re nice an’ girls like ‘em right? ‘Cause if gettin’ mind-fucked did that to ‘er, I fig’re somethin’ nice’ll put her back to sorts.”
“Oh, that…” Simon cleared this throat. River was calm and she looked up at him with her brown, baleful eyes. His voice was quiet. “That makes sense.”
Mal sent the doctor a look of inquiry; Simon nodded. River would be fine. “So,” he said, “looks like everything’ll be fine an’ dandy. Doc, why don’t you take her to the infirmary just to check ‘er over. An’ Jayne can go an’ fetch one o’ these cups o’ tea she’s always drinkin’ on.” Simon nodded and started to lead River away. Jayne had started to walk off, as well. “An’ Jayne,” Mal called, stopping him.
“What?” the merc asked gruffly.
“Don’t you stop thinkin’ ‘bout them kittens.”
~~~
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Full tables HERE
Chapter: Head Games (3/10)
Character(s)/Pairing: Crew
Prompt: 1: Brown; 2: "Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers." -Lady Macbeth; Macbeth (II.2.55-56)
Rating: PG
Word Count: 3721
Disclaimer: Not mine.
-Author's Notes: For my second claim @ 2by2fics. Blah. I think this was too ambitious. I want this to be awesome, and it's just okay, and that's really just... Ugh. I would make it better if I could! The only real good part is about the kittens, and that's because it's funny. I'm okay with funny. Anyway, I'd like to thank my three marvelous beta-readers (adverbia, mercuryandrain, and modernlove_89). I really, really appreciate all the help; you guys are awesome!. And now... With no further ado, here's the chapter!
Evolution
Three: Head Games
“If… If you’re sure, mei mei. Because - “
“Simon!” Kaylee swatted him gently on the arm. “River ain’t gonna get hurt. She got Mal an’ Zoë lookin’ after her! ‘Sides that, she’s got all ‘er smarts - an’ I bet she can knock a man out ‘fore he could even get to her anyway.” She smiled proudly at the skinny brunette in front of her. “Ain’t that right, River?”
River nodded resolutely; she wanted to live up to the warm surge of Kaylee’s pride. “There are twelve ways to kill a human being with - “
“Hey.” Mal looked up from the other side of the mule. “Thought I had a rule ‘bout the creepifyin’ talk, Albatross.”
“Captain Daddy should appreciate the skill.”
“Oh, make no mistake, River, he does.” Zoë smiled warmly at the girl as she took her seat in the mule. “But we all know the captain’s got a weak constitution.”
“Now Zoë, I am hurt.” Mal’s eyes sparkled though his face was schooled into smooth indignation.
“Oh, I’m sure y’are,” Kaylee broke in, grinning broadly and looking at Mal with mock-commiseration. “Poor, poor cap’n.”
River let herself sway a little, smiling at the unguarded moment. It felt so good to belong.
“Hmm, yes, all that aside,” Simon said stiffly, pulling River’s attention back to him. “Mei mei… Just because you have the training doesn’t mean you have to use it.”
His concern for her pulsed under her skin, ticking like a clock alarm, making her nervous. With a deep, rattling breath she pulled out of every other consciousness and concentrated only on Simon, weighing her mind down with every memory she could identify positively as hers.
“Simon. I am lucky to have your concern, but I have assessed the situation and the possibility of disaster is relatively low.” In an almost ritualized way, she pulled on her goggles. It was not important to her consciously but the consistency of routine - strap on the back of her head, pulling it as far as it would go, gently covering her eyes - helped keep her grounded no matter how turbulent the minds were around her; the thoughts were hazy, but she still knew they were there. “Simon stitches and sews and keeps all our parts working. He does his part; River must do hers.”
Her brother started a little, surprised by the clarity with which she spoke. “Y-you help pilot,” he argued - albeit futilely. “And - “
“Ge ge.” She raised an eyebrow archly. “Kaylee will withhold physical union if you do not allow me to go.”
Simon sputtered and his ears turned a rather impressive shade of red. “River, that’s… That… You shouldn’t…” He sighed, knowing that there was really no use trying to change her mind, especially when his position had such little justification. “Be careful. All right?”
“Hey doc,” Mal drawled. “You done givin’ your little pep talk? Our take ain’t gonna be there for takin’ all day.” River gave Simon’s cheek a little pat; Mal turned to look at her. “Good to go, Albatross?” he asked.
In answer, she clamored into the mule, crawling over an irate Jayne to get in her seat.
“Gorram little monkey,” he whined. “Mal, why I gotta sit back here with her? How come you or Zoë can’t - “
“’Cause she’s drivin’,” Mal said smugly, climbing in himself. “An’ I am the captain. Gotta enjoy all the privileges once in a while.”
“Yeah, privileges,” he said with a scowl, “ain’t like you ever get those.”
“Was that sarcasm I heard, Jayne?” Zoë asked with a smile, cranking up the mule. “Sir, I think you are being accused of abusing your position.”
“Now that’s just slander,” Mal said, acting as though the accusation had truly injured him. “I slave away so my crew can have the best, and this is the thanks I get? Y’all are the most ungrateful bunch o’ - “
“Oh, jus’ ruttin’ shut it, Mal,” Jayne groused. “I’m ready to get this over’n done with.”
“Huh,” Zoë said, sounding vaguely surprised. “Thought you were always up for crime, Jayne.”
“Usually am,” he retorted. “But that’s when we ain’t on a planet with one o’ the most famous whorehouses in the ‘Verse. Been savin’ up. Gonna get me a girl an’ spend the whole night - “
“Hey.” Mal turned to glare at him, gesturing River with a toss of his head. “Little ears, Jayne.”
Jayne sneered. “Psychic, Mal. She c’n just pull it outta my head. Hell, if she’s anywhere near Inara when she’s thinkin’ ‘bout - “
“You don’t wanna finish that, Jayne.” Mal glared. “You really don’t.”
“Puh.” Jayne slunk down in his seat, scowling. ”Yeah, get all noble now,” he thought viciously. ”Hun dan can’t remember that not all o’ us are gettin’ tended to ev’ry night. Gorram, an’ with ‘Nara ? Ain’t fair.”
River cracked her knuckles and surreptitiously glanced at Jayne. Mal fulfilled his paternal duties by attempting to shield her, but she felt it was completely unnecessary. She had a working clinical knowledge of sex and everyone on Serenity had certainly made no attempt to put a hold on the activity on her account. She was curious - almost insatiably so - and she would occasionally listen in when someone was having particularly erotic thoughts. It was inappropriate, she knew, but as long as she avoided anything especially personal she felt very little guilt. Jayne was by far the most crude in his thoughts, though Kaylee nearly rivaled him in frequency.
It surprised her that the merc could find Inara so attractive; she was lovely, River realized, but she was also graceful, intelligent, and refined. Those qualities did not mesh with any of Jayne’s.
They were nearly at the site of the job. Mal was growing slightly antsy, going over his plan. River noted all the problems and immediately thought up a few contingencies. Zoë was thinking, as she often was, of Wash - it still hurt to come back from a job and forget, for half a moment, that he wasn't there waiting for her. She had always watched Mal’s back, but it was suddenly much more imperative that she kept it whole.
Jayne’s mind had lapsed into the realm of the physical and he was imagining what it might be like to be in bed with Inara and a faceless whore - who, if River really cared to dissect the mental picture, looked a little bit like Zoë. It was harder to Read pictures, but she saw enough to know that she didn’t want to see any more. She wrinkled her nose at him and scooted as far away as she could, fervently hoping his body didn’t start to respond to his mental exertions.
“Well,” Mal said, addressing his troops, “we’re ‘bout to go in. Everybody know their parts?”
Jayne grinned viciously. “You got it, Mal.” He patted his gun. “No problem there.”
“Understood,” River said matter-of-factly.
“Good. And…” He hesitated for a moment before reaching down toward his feet and pulling out an old gun. “Since you don’t have none o’ your own, want you to use this. Got a bit of a leanin’ to the right side, but after one shot I figure you can mathematics it out.”
River took the gun in steady hands. Mal felt awkward but proud of himself - he trusted her. Not completely, not yet; but he trusted her, and she made a vow to herself not to violate that trust. She let her fingertips walk over every inch, asking politely for its secrets. Mal did not have the easy relationship Jayne did with guns. To Jayne they were people, they were friends. But Mal had been in war, Mal saw guns as only tools. He was also, however, selectively sentimental, and a gun that had kept poachers away from cattle on Shadow would do just fine keeping those that would do them harm away from their own little herd. “Called?”
“Huh?” Mal looked at her, obviously confused.
Jayne snorted in amusement; he didn’t like the idea of River having any sort of weapon while near him, but guns were much more acceptable than knives. It did, however, amuse him greatly that he understood when Mal didn’t. “Wants a name, Mal. What’s ‘er name?”
“Not everyone names their guns, Jayne, an’ that one don’t - “
“Hester.” River nodded, a pleased smile playing at her lips. “Her name is Hester.”
“Now you don’t gotta name it,” Mal chided. “Jayne don’t - “
“One point on which we are in agreement. Firearm deserves title. Unless Captain Daddy thinks of one more appropriate…” River patted the gun affectionately. “This is Hester.”
“Hester.” Mal just shook his head. “I just gave ya a gun named Hester. Huh.”
“Will treat her with great respect. I will use her to take down our enemies.”
“Um…” Mal scratched his head. “Thanks, Albatross. That’s, uh, good to know.” He shook his head again. “Now. We ready to go?” Everyone nodded tersely and they continued the ride in silence. Jayne got off a little bit away from the meeting site; he’d be waiting to take the buyers out if there was any trouble. Mal had faith in his merc’s abilities, mentally congratulating himself on procuring such an asset. River had her doubts about Jayne, but was willing to admit that she hadn’t been witness to enough of his abilities to really judge. Her thoughts were interrupted, though, because the mule was slowing and up ahead they could see the three men they’d be making the deal with.
Zoë parked and Mal jumped out first. He lifted one box of goods out - they’d not been told what they were transporting and, judging by the heavy locks, Mal thought it was best they didn’t know - and Zoë quickly followed with the second one.
“Stay,” Mal instructed, his voice soft but stern.
River nodded, clamoring down in the seat, Hester clasped firmly in one thin, white-knuckled hand.
Serenity’s captain and first-mate walked over the hard, sun-baked ground towards the buyers. “How do?” Mal asked in a tough voice that sounded friendly but promised harsh punishment for those who crossed it. “Heard you were lookin’ for some cargo. Think this might be it?” He and Zoë set the boxes down on the ground.
The largest of the men grunted. “You Reynolds?”
Mal smiled. “Guilty.”
“They say you’re a truthsome guy. Say you don’t go back on a deal once it’s made.”
Mal was about to humbly agree to all such claims, but another of the men stepped forward. He was cleaner than the others, in nicer clothes, and probably the one who’d actually bought the cargo. “Looks like a ruttin’ Browncoat to me.”
Mal’s jaw tightened and Zoë gave him a quick warning cough. “Don’t see how that matters now,” he said. “I’m the captain of a simple transport, an’ right now I’d like to get paid for what I’ve been transportin’.”
The man who’d spoken first gave a nod, and the third man tossed a small sack of money to Mal.
“Albatross!” Mal called. “Catch.” He threw the little bag of money over towards the mule. River stood quickly and caught it in one outstretched hand.
“Obtained, Captain!” she called.
Mal nodded and he turned back to face the three men in front of them.
The one who appeared to be the leader stared intently at the girl. “Who’s that?” They were far enough away that if River spoke quietly he couldn’t hear her but close enough that he could make out her features, the soft lines of her dress as brown as deer-skin, hints of her lithe, smooth body as the wind gently moved the fabric around her.
Her Captain Daddy did not appreciate the perusal. “Our pilot,” Mal told him, his tone closing the book on that line of inquiry. “None o’ your concern, though. S’why don’t we get back to our little exchange?”
River sank down in the seat, her skin oily and cold from the man’s eager eyes. Mal and Zoë would close the deal soon, she was sure. The men were, if a little unscrupulous, at least willing to hold to the set terms. They’d also heard rumors that Mal’s crew had something to do with the Miranda broadwave, and anyone who could cause that much commotion was not someone likely to lie down and take a double-crossing.
The one who spoke the most was a hired thug. He and his brother - the one who’d thrown the money - were working for the third man, a young land-owner on that moon who dealt in illegal merchandise and, if the scraps of thought she’d been able to catch had meant what she’d gleaned from them, human trafficking. River did not care much for him.
”Hey.”
The comm set crackled unexpectedly and River started a little at the sound of Jayne’s voice. She held the device out a little and sniffed it warily.
”Hey.” He sounded slightly more impatient.
“I receive your message loud and clear, man-called-Jayne.”
She could practically hear him rolling his eyes. ”Well ain’t that jus’ grand? Seen Mal throw you some coin. Deal goin’ down all right?”
“As well as expected, I believe.” She carefully opened her mind, listening for any thoughts of betrayal, but it was exactly as she’d Read previously. “The men only want whatever is in those boxes.”
”Great. Real great. Look, what’s goin’ on? I need to shoot anybody?”
“I do not think - “ River stopped short as a wave of an unfamiliar feeling hit her like a tidal wave. The young man who’d set up the deal was thinking. He’d seen her; he’d liked what he’d seen of her. The man saw women as nothing more than property and he considered her an exceptional specimen. It caught her off guard and her mental walls shattered.
’Little young to be a pilot,’ the man thought as Mal and the thugs continued negotiations. ’Wonder if that’s the only reason Reynolds keeps her around.’ His thoughts turned dark and thick and something turned over in River’s stomach. He liked girls who were young and inexperienced; he liked to break them. Nothing made him prouder than hearing them scream.
River gagged, the taste of acid rising up her throat. She sank down onto the mule’s hard metal floor, curling up into the tightest ball she could. Involuntarily she whimpered.
”Hey!” It was Jayne again; it was likely he’d been trying to get her attention. ”What the hell’s wrong with you? You’re s’posed to be the lookout so’s we know when to - ”
“It hurts,” she said, her voice breaking. The man, bored of the talk, had moved on to picturing himself with her. He saw her on the floor of his bedroom, crying, her voice pleading and high. And he was above her and he was holding down her arms.
River bit into her arm and screamed.
”Crazy…” Jayne sounded vaguely worried. ”Crazy, are you… you ‘bout to go killer-woman on us again? What the hell’s going on?”
“Wants to…” She closed her eyes, bricking up her mind as best she could. The effort it took was tremendous and her whole body shook. “He… Likes… to hurt.” He was providing his own sordid narration, his mental voice amused, and the images he projected had gotten more graphic. “Not strong enough. Walls crumbling down. Can see what he wants to do. Wants to hurt her. Make her scream.”
She had been doing so well. The psychic pressures had been lessened exponentially since Miranda - even more after she’d taken Jayne’s - rather surprisingly perceptive - advice of keeping her mind hardened and impenetrable. Well jus’ stop bein’ a pourin’ cloth or whatever the hell your brainpan’s made out of an’ start bein’ rock.” He had no idea just how helpful that simple piece of advice, regardless of his motives for giving it, had been.
The comm crackled again. ”Wait, you mean one o’ them down there? Wantin’ to do all that… To you? He wants t’hurt you? Like… ?” He paused a moment as River panted, her arm shaking as she tried to get a good grip on Hester. She bit out an affirmative. ”You seein’ it in his head? Like pi’tures an’ all that?”
She whimpered as she was again bombarded and Jayne correctly interpreted that as a “yes”.
”Gorrammit you stupid… Moonbrain, jus’ shoot him!”
“C-can’t.” Her mind was going in circles and she couldn’t break out of the vicious fantasy. “Want to… See him suffer. For hurting others. For wanting to hurt.” She could hardly speak. “Captain Daddy… needs deal.” The men were speaking again; there was insinuation. The pilot… More money if Mal would only let him have a nice talk with the pilot. River heaved a little. The others, though, the hired thugs, wanted no trouble. They knew the kind of man he was; they would not stop him but they would not facilitate. She knew that she could be wrong; it was so hard to Read anything but those images she was in. “They… do not intend to break it.”
Jayne’s silence was like granite. ”Tell me when we got the money. An’ which hun dan it was.”
River couldn’t Read him at such a distance, but the determination in his voice was unmistakable. She rose up and the moment another larger bag of money changed hands she said, “Closest to you.”
A shot rang out and the man crumpled to a dead heap, a bullet lodged in his brain. His mind had still been opened to hers.
River screamed.
“What the hell’s that?” the tall man asked, jumping back in shock. “Your man?”
“You got your cargo,” Mal said, forcing himself not to look towards Jayne. “We got our money. Why would we have cause to shoot at you? Could be that was jus’ a ruttin’ terrible shot, meant for one o’ us!” It was obvious that neither man completely trusted him, but he did have a point.
The tall man grunted. “Let’s get out o’ here,” he said to his partner, sparing the dead man half a glance.
Then they were gone, and the next instant Mal and Zoë came running back towards the mule. “What the hell does Jayne think he’s doin’?” Mal hissed furiously, jumping in right behind Zoë. “We could o’ used that slimy set o’ deep pockets for more jobs!” He noticed River as they shot off, still curled up, covered in sweat, a pool of what looked like vomit beside her. “Albatross… You okay? What - “
“Mal!” Jayne shouted, waving his arms and running towards them as fast as he could. Zoë slowed down enough to let him climb in and then they were headed to Serenity at full speed.
“You wanna tell me what you were thinkin’ with that go se you jus’ pulled, Jayne? That man was the son o’ this moon’s man with the biggest pockets an’ - ”
“Jus’ shut up f’r a ruttin’ second.” The merc scrambled into his seat, putting his guns and ammo on the unoccupied one beside him. “Ain’t my fault, Mal. Y’told me to shoot if’n we had somethin’ bad goin’ down. An’ crazy here good as said the hun dan was mind rapin’ her.”
Even Zoë took in a breath of surprise. “What?”
“What she said. We was on the comm, an’ I was waitin’ for one o’ them to try somethin’, when she goes all quiet. Then she starts whimperin’, goin’ on about how he was hurtin’ her. How much he liked hurtin’. I told her to shoot ‘im, but she couldn’t. So she told me which one it was an’ soon as the deal was done I put a bullet through him.”
“That ruttin’ son of a whore.” Mal cursed under his breath, still angry at Jayne but knowing there was a good chance he would have done the same thing. “Hun dan deserved it. Or worse. I wish - “
“Don’t matter,” Jayne spat. “If you care s’much then just get ‘er to her brother!”
Mal’s look hardened but he didn’t say anything; he knew Jayne was right.
Zoë drove as fast as she could. As soon as they pulled into Serenity Mal jumped out and scooped River out of the mule. She struggled to her feet, Mal’s arm around her.
“Oh, you’re back,” Simon said, looking at the cloth in his hand. “Did everything - “ He looked up and saw River. “What happened? What’s wrong? River… River, are you all right?”
“One o’ the guys we were dealin’ with weren’t a particularly nice one,” the captain explained. “He, uh… was thinkin’ on River - an’ she saw it. He didn’t count on her bein’ a Reader.” Simon looked positively murderous as he held River. “Thugs he was workin’ with prob’ly scared of us now, though, but I’m thinkin’ we - “
The doctor was unconcerned with anything that did not involve his sister. “Stop. What happened to him?”
“Jayne shot him.”
Simon looked to the merc. “Thank you, Jayne,” he said, swallowing, hating the thought of death but unable to feel remorse over the killing. “I…” Jayne had his eyes closed and his face scrunched up, as though he were in deep, painful thought. “Wh-what’s wrong with you?”
Jayne grunted and shifted his weight. “’M thinkin’ about kittens.”
Mal, Simon and Zoë stared at him, dumbfounded. River had stopped crying and was clinging to one of her brother’s arms. Mal cleared his throat. “Uh… what?”
“Kittens,” he reiterated. “They’re nice an’ girls like ‘em right? ‘Cause if gettin’ mind-fucked did that to ‘er, I fig’re somethin’ nice’ll put her back to sorts.”
“Oh, that…” Simon cleared this throat. River was calm and she looked up at him with her brown, baleful eyes. His voice was quiet. “That makes sense.”
Mal sent the doctor a look of inquiry; Simon nodded. River would be fine. “So,” he said, “looks like everything’ll be fine an’ dandy. Doc, why don’t you take her to the infirmary just to check ‘er over. An’ Jayne can go an’ fetch one o’ these cups o’ tea she’s always drinkin’ on.” Simon nodded and started to lead River away. Jayne had started to walk off, as well. “An’ Jayne,” Mal called, stopping him.
“What?” the merc asked gruffly.
“Don’t you stop thinkin’ ‘bout them kittens.”
~~~
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