NationStates Jolt Archive

"It ends here," River said quietly as she watched Simon pacing the length and breadth of the shuttle. "No more voices now. Just one, just mine."

"River? What do you mean no more voices?"

"They're all still, lying on the ground." Simon stopped.

"Who, whose lying on the ground River?"

"They are." She said while pointing outside the shuttle door. "Preacher man wants to say his words, I think he enjoys it. The Shepherd loves contradictions. He loves telling us how to die and the dead how to live. His voice..." Simon rushed over to the bed as River started to shake.

"Shhhhhh, everythings going to be okay River; we're safe in here." Simon looked up as Mals head popped through the doorway.

"You're going to have to keep her quite now doctor. These alliance folks ain't here for a kindly visit now."

"His voice, it scares me. It's the loudest one. Always shouting."

"Doctor, you're going to have knock her out of shut her up, we can't afford any messin here. Any of these alliance folks find out you or your sisters on board and we're all going to be spendin a long time in the core planets; and you know how much I hate the core." Simon looked up while he cradled River.

"Don't worry captain. You do your part, I'll do mine."

"The captain won't do his part. Captains voice isn't there any more." Rivers pale face looked up at Mal. "Nope, his voice ain't there no more."

Mal looked at River then glanced at Simon. "Now I'm going to close this here door River. I need you to play your part so I can play mine."

"Always playing, never living. Always playing, never living....." Mal closed the door making sure the air tight locks sealed.

"You know you should knock her out instead of shutting her up. That girls too dangerous to be left awake in this type of situation. She could get us all killed."

"Jayne." Kaylees soft eyes looked offended. "The capin aint gonna knock anyone out, not when there's alliance folk about."

"I'm just syain is all, they're dangerous to me and you. And I'm not getting paid to risk my neck for some crazy kid and her stuck up brother."

"His name is Simon; and you owe him-."

"Hell I owe him all right." Jayne said as he lovingly stroked Veera.

"That'll be enough of that talk now Jayne. We have a job to do just as River has hers."

"But that isn't-"

"I said, that's enough talk Jayne. Now go down to the cargo hold and let our guests in."

"Why have I gotta go down there; it's dangerous-"

"Don't worry, anything happens the doctor will fix you up good as new." Jayne swallowed and glanced around the group.

"Come on now big man, you heard the captain. Go down and greet our guests." Zoe sported a large smile.

"Shepherd?"

"Only the Lord can help you now son." Jayne held Vera unusually tight and started walking down the metal stairs.

"As I walk through the valley of the Shadow of death, I will fear no evil-"

"That's enough from you preacher man. I don't need any help from your God."

"The prayer wasn't for you." Books said smiling.

"Come on now Jayne, just hit the big button. Surely your mighty fists of fury can manage to hit one teensy little button?" Wash was clearly enjoying the moment.

"Just shut up." Jayne mumbled under his breath. Slapping the opening mechanism he waited to greet the alliance.

The double doors pulled away to the side while the exit ramp lowered. Jayne cracked his neck from side to side and raised Vera. "There, is no need for weapons, I am not here to fight." A black sihoulette graced the air lock, the form paused for a moment taking in the situation.. "Captain please, come down from there and let us talk like civilised people."

"This here is mighty civilized enough, now you just say your piece and let us be on our way."

"Captain." The shadow took a few steps forward. "This is not how civilised people deal with each other, now please, allow me to come aboard."

"I don't think so pretty, not this time." Mals finger hovered over the trigger. "Now hows about you take a few steps back and we can talk just fine from here."

"Of course. But if I go back, that leaves us in a dilemma, as to how will I call of my guards from your back?" Mal, Zoe, Wash and Kaylee all turned around in a quick motion.

"Freeze."

"Capin?" Kaylee mumbled. "Howd they get on board?"

"I don't know, but I suggest we be nice and talk it over with the man down stairs."

"Drop your weapons now." Mal glanced at Zoe and Wash, then faced up to the squad of blackcoats.

"Jeez would be sure useful if I were up there right now, now wouldn't it.!" Jayne shouted from below.

"Everythings just fine Jayne. Now just you keep Veera pointed at Mr sinister down there and I'll handle everything up here."

"Captain.... lower your weapons and no harm will come to you and your crew. I am only here to talk. I am here to offer you some work."

"We don't work for no alliance now, we like to keep to honest work here."

"Yes, stealing from a hospital is such a noble enterprise. Captain, lower your weapons or my men will shoot you."

"You do that and Jayne down there is going to make sure you become mighty acquainted with Vera."

"Captain please, you know just as well as I do that I do not fear death."

"I'm afraid I don't know you at all."

'Sir, his voice is really familiar." Zoe glanced down to the hold. "We should let him in, we can't win this." Mal nodded quickly.

"Alright now, we're going to put our guns on this here floor so no funny business, and no ruffling around my crew."

"Captain please, show me some respect. If I wanted you dead I would have shot you from orbit. Now can we please end this foolish game." Mal dropped his gun.

'Okay, lets here what you've got to say."

****

The two places had quickly swapped; now it was River who was pacing the length and breadth of the shuttle while Simon sat exhausted on the bed. "Nasty mans going to silence them. Voices going to scream, preacher man going to say his words." River gave the occasional twitch. "They're wanting me Simon. They're here for me."

"The Alliance?" Simons eyes widened. "But how would they know we're on board?"

'They don't. They don't need to know where I am to find me. They just need to know that I am."

******

The guards backed off from the crew while the officer downstairs walked in. "You." Mal shouted. "I thought I was never going to see you again."

"Things change captain, even in parliament. Apparently I'm their man again."

Mals eyes narrowed slightly; now clearly wishing he had never dropped his gun. "You're their man again." He said with a snorted laugh. "Not enough dead women and children for them? Or perhaps they want the perfect society again? We all we saw how well that went."

"Captain, I thought we had already worked this out. You cannot make me angry; I am here because you have something we need." Mals thoughts instantly turned to River while the operative stepped further inside the ship. "As I said captain, I'm here to talk; perhaps we can do this in more comfortable surroundings?"

Mal scoffed and left the cargo bay. "You ehh, just need to follow him." Kaylee said smiling.

"Thank you young Miss." Walking up the stairs the operative passed the crew. "This I'm afraid is for me and your captain only." His guards blocked any chance of pursuit.

"He's going to tell us anyway you know!" Wash shouted after him. "May as well save everybody some time!"

****

River had calmed down now, the rush of her pounding heart had slowed to a gentle rhythm; her relaxed face smiling back at the concerned stare of her bigger brother. "Simon? Do you think it's quiet out there in the black?" Her hand pointed to spaces edge. "Do you think that's why the Reavers became the way they are? Not because of some Pax, but because of solitude?"

Simon thought on it a moment. "I don't know." He said truthfully. "I know shepherd Book thinks that it's because of the void and not the Pax, but he specalises in contradictions." Rivers smile grew even wider.

"I think that the silence would be golden Simon; I think I would like it in the void. Away from everyone, too far for the alliance to find me, too far for the Reavers to hurt me. Too far for war to circle me. I think the black is a happy place." Simon grew curious.

"Simon?"

"River; we can't go to the black, the captain and the crew need money and supplies, we would all die out there."

"We could take the shuttle?"

"River, we wouldn't get out of the system if we took the shuttle."

Her heart started to beat faster again, the voices flooding back. "It's okay to be afraid Simon, everyone is."

"It's not that I'm afraid River; it's just- that we need to get you medicine and supplies, and I can't do that in the black?"

"Wouldn't need them in the black, no more voices, no more pain. Not for me, not for you, not for anyone-" Simon clasped hands with River and pulled her closer.

"If it were in my power River, I would take you anywhere in the verse if it made you safer. And right now, Serenity is the best place for us."