Firefly/Pirates crossover fic, part 3
A productive evening! Hurrah!
Part 3 of the mad, untitled crossover. Any thought as to title would be appreciated.
Header info
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
It turned out that the best place to send the wave was from the top of the mast. Once Kaylee had the radio working again, crackling out a signal, she strapped it to her back and set off upwards with her crewmates watching from below. Sparrow had sent one of his pirates aloft with Kaylee, and watched with Mal and Zoe as Kaylee negotiated the tricky fighting-top and kept on going.
“She’s a natural,” Sparrow remarked. “Lucky I ain’t one of them superstitious types who don’t like women aboard a ship, eh?”
“Strikes me you pick the best person for the job,” Mal agreed.
Zoe, shading her eyes against the sun, said it appeared that Kaylee had reached the top of the mast. They squinted up as she waved the radio around, searching for the best signal.
A short while later she was coming back down again, landing on deck with a grin.
“Wash’ll set her down near this Tortuga,” Kaylee reported. “Sounded right glad to hear from me.”
“Is he all right?” Zoe asked.
“Sure is,” Kaylee confirmed. “They’ve been circlin’, looking for the shuttle, but they ain’t found it. But Wash said that River’d told him we weren’t dead. And the shepherd’s been praying for us.”
“Huh,” said Mal. “Nice work, little Kaylee.”
“Can’t stop the signal, cap’t’n,” she said.
Sparrow had been listening intently to the conversation. “So your ship’ll be harboured in Tortuga?” he asked.
“She’ll be close by,” Mal said. “If you’ve got any men need patchin’ up, I’ll be glad to offer our doctor. He’s a clever one. Knows what he’s about.”
“Ta,” said Sparrow. “We’ve a few injuries, but none too serious. No surgeon though - something I’m lacking at present.”
“Well, we’ve a priest too, should you need one of them,” Mal added.
Sparrow shook his head, with a jangle of beads. “No call for a priest.”
“So how long ‘fore we get there, Cap’n Sparrow?” asked Kaylee.
He shrugged. “If the wind keeps fair, p’raps four days, love. Time to teach you t’sail; reckon you’ve got a knack for it.”
Kaylee beamed at him. “Wouldn’t mind that,” she said.
“Just so long as she don’t fall,” said Mal gruffly.
She didn’t fall. Over the next few days Mal felt he had rather lost control of his crew. Kaylee spent the time behaving like nothing so much as the monkey he had once seen in a collection, scampering over the ship, helping the crew with their tasks. Zoe seemed to be spending a lot of time in the company of Sparrow’s mulish-looking mate Anamaria, neither woman saying very much. Jayne, meanwhile, slept in the sun with a contented smile on his face.
Mal himself alternated between following Jayne’s example, leaning on the rail watching the waves go by, and hovering near the helm regarding Sparrow as he hurried about dealing with his ship and his men. The evenings were spent either on deck, listening to the pirates sing songs, or in the company of Sparrow and a bottle of rum in the captain’s cabin. On one night Gibbs, Anamaria and Zoe joined them; fuelled by rum Mal found himself vying with Sparrow for the best stories. The next morning he had another headache, and was the target of Zoe’s most sardonic raised eyebrows.
After lunch on the fifth day since they had been picked up by the Black Pearl, a shout came from high above the deck. “Land ho!”
“Tortuga!” said Sparrow with a glint of golden teeth.
The shipwrecked Serenity crew sat back for much of the rest of the day, out of the way as the pirates hurried about readying the Black Pearl for harbour. Kaylee was the only one to lend a hand, easing and hauling on lines, her cheeks glowing in the wind.
“Reckon we’ll get her back?” Mal remarked.
Jayne grunted.
“She’ll not leave Serenity,” said Zoe.
It seemed to take a long time to sail slowly into the calm bay, and to drop anchor amid a number of other ships. Mal marvelled at the vessels - some small, with one or two masts; others even bigger than the Black Pearl. Many flew a variation of the skull and crossbones flag from the stern.
“Pirate haven,” he said to himself. “Huh.”
“Kinda like Persephone, but with water,” said Kaylee, bouncing up by his side. “Wash oughta be here, somewhere.”
“You look mighty cheerful,” Mal said, looking at her.
“Capt’in Sparrow said my clew gasket was nicely done,” she said, pointing upwards at the end of one of the tidily-furled sails.
Mal turned to her. “If you try and stow away with that piece o’ frippery I’ll haul you back to Serenity my own self. Ain’t goin’ to find another mechanic, not here.”
She smiled up at him. “S’alright, cap’n, I ain’t goin’ to run away to sea. Couldn’t leave Serenity.”
“And I’d not force her,” Sparrow put in, appearing behind them. “Though if she asked …” Mal found himself frowning, and the pirate captain laughed. “Not to worry, Captain Reynolds, I’ll not go stealin’ your crew. Not that sort of pirate. I came to say the men are launchin’ the boat, so you can pop ashore and find the rest of ‘em. I’ll come along, help you search; I know Tortuga well.”
“Will you need the doc?” asked Mal.
Sparrow nodded. “Young Bob’s leg ain’t lookin’ so great. Gibbs’s does what he can, but I’d appreciate it if your surgeon could take a peek.”
They were rowed across the bay by some of Sparrow’s men, and put ashore. Sparrow led the way, sauntering cheerfully towards the bustle of the town. A group of men hustled past; a pair of pretty girls wearing too much makeup and displaying ample flesh blew kisses at the party from the Pearl from a doorway. Jayne would have lingered, but Mal gave him a look and with a grumble he came along.
“We’ll try the ‘Faithful Bride’ for starters,” Sparrow said, over his shoulder. “If your man’s got any sense he’ll be there.”
Zoe squared her shoulders. “If he’s got any sense, he won’t be.”
They followed the pirate’s lead along the street, past a group of brawling men, into a tavern. The noise was deafening, of people talking and laughing and shouting, of pewter tankards clinking on tables. Mal felt Jayne and Zoe close up behind him, in case of trouble, Kaylee hurrying to keep up.
Sparrow led the way to the bar and leaned over it in a familiar sort of way.
“Lookin’ for a bloke,” he told the barman, who wiped his hands on his apron.
“What sort of bloke, Jack Sparrow?” asked the barman.
“Erm …”
Mal stepped up to the bar. “Blond hair, kind of innocent-lookin’.”
“That’d be that bloke over there, then,” said the barman, jerking his thumb over towards the corner of the room. “With the lass. Now she’d be a prize, Jack, but she won’t touch nobody. And they’ve tried.”
All four of them turned to the corner.
“Huh,” said Mal.
Zoe swore in Chinese.
Sparrow whistled. “Harry was right. She is a prize.”
“She won’t have you,” Mal said, starting over to the corner. “You ain’t respectable enough.”
The pair sitting in the corner stood as he came over.
“Inara,” Mal said.
“Hey,” Inara returned, her hands folded in front of her.
“Zoe ain’t happy you’re here,” Mal went on, directing his words at Inara’s male companion.
“No she ain’t,” Zoe put in, coming up to them and throwing her arms around the man. “But I’ll worry ‘bout that later.”
“Nice to see you too, sweetie,” he said.
Mal indicated Sparrow. “Wash, Inara, this here’s Captain Jack Sparrow, who picked us up. Cap’n Sparrow, my pilot Wash, and Inara, who’s a Companion.”
“Charmed,” said Sparrow in his most velvety voice, bending over Inara’s hand and giving Wash a little bow. “Companion?”
“Means she’s a … um …” Mal began, tailing off when he saw the look on Inara’s face.
She smiled at Sparrow. “Means you wouldn’t be able to afford me, Captain.”
“Where’s the ship?” Mal cut in. “The doc?”
Wash disentangled himself from an embrace with Zoe. “Safe nearby. Left her with Simon and River and the shepherd. She’s well hid.” He raised his tankard to his lips.
Mal watched him drink, arms folded. Swallowing, Wash raised his eyebrows. “What, right now?”
“Right now,” said Mal. “Captain Sparrow wants the doc, ‘n I want to check my ship.”
Wash drained his tankard, and stood up. “This way.”
As a group they made their way through the town. Kaylee was chattering to Inara, telling her about the voyage and about sailing. Every now and then Sparrow put in a word or two, correcting a nautical term or adding a joke. Mal listened, and wondered if Inara was warming to the pirate.
After a walk of perhaps fifteen minutes Wash held back some branches and they passed into a quiet clearing in the jungle. There, resting quietly and looking rather out of place, was Serenity. A rush of relief flooded through Mal as he looked at his ship.
“Told you, cap’n, she’s shiny,” Wash said.
“She’s that,” Sparrow agreed, brow furrowed. “How does she sail? Where’s her masts?”
“She don’t have none,” said Mal. “But she sails just fine. Once we’ve fixed your men, we’ll show you. Come aboard.”
The cargo bay was cool and shady after the heat outside. Kaylee patted the side of the ship as they came on board, affectionately. Sparrow followed slowly, gazing up at the high roof and the crates lying around.
“Not much like the Pearl,” he observed.
“Not much,” Mal agreed. “This way.”
He led the pirate up to the mess, where Shepherd Book was sitting reading.
“Captain!” said the preacher, closing his book carefully. “And a guest?”
“Captain Jack Sparrow, Shepherd Book,” said Mal. “Seen the doc, Shepherd?”
“He’s tidying the infirmary,” said Book. “River decided the medicines weren’t in the right order.”
“Ah,” said Mal.
Book nodded. “He’s been down there for some time.” He paused. “Good to have you back, captain.”
“Good to be back,” Mal agreed.
Below decks they found the doctor, looking thin and worried, methodically packing small bottles of medicine back into cabinets. He straightened as Mal and Sparrow appeared, wiping his brow.
“Trouble?” asked Mal.
“No,” Simon insisted. “Everything’s …” He sighed. “River. She’s … having a rough day.” Putting another bottle into the cupboard, he appeared to notice Mal for the first time. “You’re safe. Is Kaylee …?”
“Prob’ly saying ni hao to the engines,” Mal said. “Take a break, son. Help me pay a debt. Captain Sparrow here needs a doc.”
“He looks fine,” said Simon.
“Ain’t me, it’s me crew,” put in Sparrow. “Got a man with a bad leg, and no surgeon. He’s like to lose it.”
Simon sighed, running his hands through his hair. “All right. Let me get my things. But what should I do with River?”
“Can’t the preacher keep her under his eye?”
“She’s … having a bad day,” Simon admitted.
Mal shrugged. “I saw that. Cap’n Sparrow, mind if we bring another along?”
“More the merrier,” said Sparrow.
They waited as Simon gathered together a bag of drugs and tools and bandages, and waited a little longer as he disappeared around the corner to fetch River. There were voices, and shortly afterwards the doctor reappeared with his sister. Mal reckoned she was in one of her stubborn moods; there was a certain set to her mouth he’d come to recognise and usually avoided.
River stopped when she saw Mal and Sparrow.
“Head full of water,” she remarked. “Can’t leave the ocean.”
“River …” said Simon.
Sparrow was regarding River thoughtfully. “See that, do you, love?”
“She won’t ever leave you,” River told him. “Not anymore.”
“I’m sorry,” Simon said. “She does this. She’s just …”
River smiled at him, sweetly. “Mad Jack,” she added. “But you’re not, are you?”
“Not more so ‘n you,” Sparrow agreed. “Fancy comin’ to see her?” He held out his arm, and River took it with a nod of her head and another smile.
Mal and Simon were left staring at each other in dumbfounded astonishment. “Well, now,” said Mal, for want of anything better. “Ain’t seen that comin’.”
Part 3 of the mad, untitled crossover. Any thought as to title would be appreciated.
Header info
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
It turned out that the best place to send the wave was from the top of the mast. Once Kaylee had the radio working again, crackling out a signal, she strapped it to her back and set off upwards with her crewmates watching from below. Sparrow had sent one of his pirates aloft with Kaylee, and watched with Mal and Zoe as Kaylee negotiated the tricky fighting-top and kept on going.
“She’s a natural,” Sparrow remarked. “Lucky I ain’t one of them superstitious types who don’t like women aboard a ship, eh?”
“Strikes me you pick the best person for the job,” Mal agreed.
Zoe, shading her eyes against the sun, said it appeared that Kaylee had reached the top of the mast. They squinted up as she waved the radio around, searching for the best signal.
A short while later she was coming back down again, landing on deck with a grin.
“Wash’ll set her down near this Tortuga,” Kaylee reported. “Sounded right glad to hear from me.”
“Is he all right?” Zoe asked.
“Sure is,” Kaylee confirmed. “They’ve been circlin’, looking for the shuttle, but they ain’t found it. But Wash said that River’d told him we weren’t dead. And the shepherd’s been praying for us.”
“Huh,” said Mal. “Nice work, little Kaylee.”
“Can’t stop the signal, cap’t’n,” she said.
Sparrow had been listening intently to the conversation. “So your ship’ll be harboured in Tortuga?” he asked.
“She’ll be close by,” Mal said. “If you’ve got any men need patchin’ up, I’ll be glad to offer our doctor. He’s a clever one. Knows what he’s about.”
“Ta,” said Sparrow. “We’ve a few injuries, but none too serious. No surgeon though - something I’m lacking at present.”
“Well, we’ve a priest too, should you need one of them,” Mal added.
Sparrow shook his head, with a jangle of beads. “No call for a priest.”
“So how long ‘fore we get there, Cap’n Sparrow?” asked Kaylee.
He shrugged. “If the wind keeps fair, p’raps four days, love. Time to teach you t’sail; reckon you’ve got a knack for it.”
Kaylee beamed at him. “Wouldn’t mind that,” she said.
“Just so long as she don’t fall,” said Mal gruffly.
She didn’t fall. Over the next few days Mal felt he had rather lost control of his crew. Kaylee spent the time behaving like nothing so much as the monkey he had once seen in a collection, scampering over the ship, helping the crew with their tasks. Zoe seemed to be spending a lot of time in the company of Sparrow’s mulish-looking mate Anamaria, neither woman saying very much. Jayne, meanwhile, slept in the sun with a contented smile on his face.
Mal himself alternated between following Jayne’s example, leaning on the rail watching the waves go by, and hovering near the helm regarding Sparrow as he hurried about dealing with his ship and his men. The evenings were spent either on deck, listening to the pirates sing songs, or in the company of Sparrow and a bottle of rum in the captain’s cabin. On one night Gibbs, Anamaria and Zoe joined them; fuelled by rum Mal found himself vying with Sparrow for the best stories. The next morning he had another headache, and was the target of Zoe’s most sardonic raised eyebrows.
After lunch on the fifth day since they had been picked up by the Black Pearl, a shout came from high above the deck. “Land ho!”
“Tortuga!” said Sparrow with a glint of golden teeth.
The shipwrecked Serenity crew sat back for much of the rest of the day, out of the way as the pirates hurried about readying the Black Pearl for harbour. Kaylee was the only one to lend a hand, easing and hauling on lines, her cheeks glowing in the wind.
“Reckon we’ll get her back?” Mal remarked.
Jayne grunted.
“She’ll not leave Serenity,” said Zoe.
It seemed to take a long time to sail slowly into the calm bay, and to drop anchor amid a number of other ships. Mal marvelled at the vessels - some small, with one or two masts; others even bigger than the Black Pearl. Many flew a variation of the skull and crossbones flag from the stern.
“Pirate haven,” he said to himself. “Huh.”
“Kinda like Persephone, but with water,” said Kaylee, bouncing up by his side. “Wash oughta be here, somewhere.”
“You look mighty cheerful,” Mal said, looking at her.
“Capt’in Sparrow said my clew gasket was nicely done,” she said, pointing upwards at the end of one of the tidily-furled sails.
Mal turned to her. “If you try and stow away with that piece o’ frippery I’ll haul you back to Serenity my own self. Ain’t goin’ to find another mechanic, not here.”
She smiled up at him. “S’alright, cap’n, I ain’t goin’ to run away to sea. Couldn’t leave Serenity.”
“And I’d not force her,” Sparrow put in, appearing behind them. “Though if she asked …” Mal found himself frowning, and the pirate captain laughed. “Not to worry, Captain Reynolds, I’ll not go stealin’ your crew. Not that sort of pirate. I came to say the men are launchin’ the boat, so you can pop ashore and find the rest of ‘em. I’ll come along, help you search; I know Tortuga well.”
“Will you need the doc?” asked Mal.
Sparrow nodded. “Young Bob’s leg ain’t lookin’ so great. Gibbs’s does what he can, but I’d appreciate it if your surgeon could take a peek.”
They were rowed across the bay by some of Sparrow’s men, and put ashore. Sparrow led the way, sauntering cheerfully towards the bustle of the town. A group of men hustled past; a pair of pretty girls wearing too much makeup and displaying ample flesh blew kisses at the party from the Pearl from a doorway. Jayne would have lingered, but Mal gave him a look and with a grumble he came along.
“We’ll try the ‘Faithful Bride’ for starters,” Sparrow said, over his shoulder. “If your man’s got any sense he’ll be there.”
Zoe squared her shoulders. “If he’s got any sense, he won’t be.”
They followed the pirate’s lead along the street, past a group of brawling men, into a tavern. The noise was deafening, of people talking and laughing and shouting, of pewter tankards clinking on tables. Mal felt Jayne and Zoe close up behind him, in case of trouble, Kaylee hurrying to keep up.
Sparrow led the way to the bar and leaned over it in a familiar sort of way.
“Lookin’ for a bloke,” he told the barman, who wiped his hands on his apron.
“What sort of bloke, Jack Sparrow?” asked the barman.
“Erm …”
Mal stepped up to the bar. “Blond hair, kind of innocent-lookin’.”
“That’d be that bloke over there, then,” said the barman, jerking his thumb over towards the corner of the room. “With the lass. Now she’d be a prize, Jack, but she won’t touch nobody. And they’ve tried.”
All four of them turned to the corner.
“Huh,” said Mal.
Zoe swore in Chinese.
Sparrow whistled. “Harry was right. She is a prize.”
“She won’t have you,” Mal said, starting over to the corner. “You ain’t respectable enough.”
The pair sitting in the corner stood as he came over.
“Inara,” Mal said.
“Hey,” Inara returned, her hands folded in front of her.
“Zoe ain’t happy you’re here,” Mal went on, directing his words at Inara’s male companion.
“No she ain’t,” Zoe put in, coming up to them and throwing her arms around the man. “But I’ll worry ‘bout that later.”
“Nice to see you too, sweetie,” he said.
Mal indicated Sparrow. “Wash, Inara, this here’s Captain Jack Sparrow, who picked us up. Cap’n Sparrow, my pilot Wash, and Inara, who’s a Companion.”
“Charmed,” said Sparrow in his most velvety voice, bending over Inara’s hand and giving Wash a little bow. “Companion?”
“Means she’s a … um …” Mal began, tailing off when he saw the look on Inara’s face.
She smiled at Sparrow. “Means you wouldn’t be able to afford me, Captain.”
“Where’s the ship?” Mal cut in. “The doc?”
Wash disentangled himself from an embrace with Zoe. “Safe nearby. Left her with Simon and River and the shepherd. She’s well hid.” He raised his tankard to his lips.
Mal watched him drink, arms folded. Swallowing, Wash raised his eyebrows. “What, right now?”
“Right now,” said Mal. “Captain Sparrow wants the doc, ‘n I want to check my ship.”
Wash drained his tankard, and stood up. “This way.”
As a group they made their way through the town. Kaylee was chattering to Inara, telling her about the voyage and about sailing. Every now and then Sparrow put in a word or two, correcting a nautical term or adding a joke. Mal listened, and wondered if Inara was warming to the pirate.
After a walk of perhaps fifteen minutes Wash held back some branches and they passed into a quiet clearing in the jungle. There, resting quietly and looking rather out of place, was Serenity. A rush of relief flooded through Mal as he looked at his ship.
“Told you, cap’n, she’s shiny,” Wash said.
“She’s that,” Sparrow agreed, brow furrowed. “How does she sail? Where’s her masts?”
“She don’t have none,” said Mal. “But she sails just fine. Once we’ve fixed your men, we’ll show you. Come aboard.”
The cargo bay was cool and shady after the heat outside. Kaylee patted the side of the ship as they came on board, affectionately. Sparrow followed slowly, gazing up at the high roof and the crates lying around.
“Not much like the Pearl,” he observed.
“Not much,” Mal agreed. “This way.”
He led the pirate up to the mess, where Shepherd Book was sitting reading.
“Captain!” said the preacher, closing his book carefully. “And a guest?”
“Captain Jack Sparrow, Shepherd Book,” said Mal. “Seen the doc, Shepherd?”
“He’s tidying the infirmary,” said Book. “River decided the medicines weren’t in the right order.”
“Ah,” said Mal.
Book nodded. “He’s been down there for some time.” He paused. “Good to have you back, captain.”
“Good to be back,” Mal agreed.
Below decks they found the doctor, looking thin and worried, methodically packing small bottles of medicine back into cabinets. He straightened as Mal and Sparrow appeared, wiping his brow.
“Trouble?” asked Mal.
“No,” Simon insisted. “Everything’s …” He sighed. “River. She’s … having a rough day.” Putting another bottle into the cupboard, he appeared to notice Mal for the first time. “You’re safe. Is Kaylee …?”
“Prob’ly saying ni hao to the engines,” Mal said. “Take a break, son. Help me pay a debt. Captain Sparrow here needs a doc.”
“He looks fine,” said Simon.
“Ain’t me, it’s me crew,” put in Sparrow. “Got a man with a bad leg, and no surgeon. He’s like to lose it.”
Simon sighed, running his hands through his hair. “All right. Let me get my things. But what should I do with River?”
“Can’t the preacher keep her under his eye?”
“She’s … having a bad day,” Simon admitted.
Mal shrugged. “I saw that. Cap’n Sparrow, mind if we bring another along?”
“More the merrier,” said Sparrow.
They waited as Simon gathered together a bag of drugs and tools and bandages, and waited a little longer as he disappeared around the corner to fetch River. There were voices, and shortly afterwards the doctor reappeared with his sister. Mal reckoned she was in one of her stubborn moods; there was a certain set to her mouth he’d come to recognise and usually avoided.
River stopped when she saw Mal and Sparrow.
“Head full of water,” she remarked. “Can’t leave the ocean.”
“River …” said Simon.
Sparrow was regarding River thoughtfully. “See that, do you, love?”
“She won’t ever leave you,” River told him. “Not anymore.”
“I’m sorry,” Simon said. “She does this. She’s just …”
River smiled at him, sweetly. “Mad Jack,” she added. “But you’re not, are you?”
“Not more so ‘n you,” Sparrow agreed. “Fancy comin’ to see her?” He held out his arm, and River took it with a nod of her head and another smile.
Mal and Simon were left staring at each other in dumbfounded astonishment. “Well, now,” said Mal, for want of anything better. “Ain’t seen that comin’.”