As always everything belongs to Joss. All of these are written in chronological order, but can be read as stand alones (only vague references to other installments). Ratings are shiny, comments are shinier!

Don't get all excited about the Rayne at the end, it's not what you think. Not exactly anyway... Also, this isn't my best, but I hope some will enjoy it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Intro Tarintino style (part one) -

Her brown eyes were steady and calm as she spoke to him over her shoulder. "Nothing alike. You and I... are nothing alike."

Intro part two -

He had no amends to make to the Reavers, poor innocent bastards that they were. He felt no guilt for the state they were trapped in. There was nothing for him to say to the Alliance and he spoke to them in an automated fashion, using the old habits of response to guide him. Giving no real information about the Tam's or the crew of Serenity, his waves to the Parliament were carefully censored. It would be soon enough that their sights set on him. He didn't relish the thought, but then he didn't care either.

But the crew themselves... it was difficult to explain. How each of them had their own unique star-like gravity that drew him in. None of them were aware of the extent that he had been monitoring them since ordering the assault against the crew to stop. (He was wrong - one person knew how much he watched them).

Fascinated. He was fascinated with them and if asked, he would be unable to say why.

It had been a little over two weeks since the Miranda wave had gone out. Two weeks exactly since he lay on a dirty concrete floor, being pummeled by a woman in the throes of her righteous anger. Two weeks that he kept himself separate from the crew.

He busied himself during this time, not hard to do with so much to accomplish. It started with the Leonis, the closest Alliance cruiser. The situation required technology and trained personnel not available on the little moon. Fortunately most of the repairs to personnel and ships could be held in the upper atmosphere. Only a few were allowed surface side. He set orders for an engineering crew to haul Serenity onto the bay floor and make whatever repairs were in the Alliance's ability to make. Strict orders were given that Kaylee Frye be consulted in all matters of repair. Medical crews were needed surface side and ship side. He made sure that the best were sent surface side and their attention focused on the crew of the Serenity. It seemed the least he could do. And of course the clean up crews to destroy the remainder of the crippled, but not destroyed Reaver ships still floating aimlessly near the moon. Even the Operative was unnerved with reports of surviving Reavers on the surface.

None of these acts distracted him, despite how he threw himself into them. He had great strength of will and it served him to keep his distance. He was content to watch and to learn what made them different from all those who had not escaped him.

It came as a surprise then to find River Tam at the entrance of his shuttle. Of the 30 shuttles of various sizes scattered about the dusty plain surrounding Mr. Universe's home, she knew exactly which one he resided in.

The scene -

She entered the shuttle with a determined and strangely amused look on her face. Looking at her face he recognized the amusement but couldn't fathom the reason for it. Glancing behind her at the few soldiers standing near his shuttle he understood. They were wary, shared the same hesitant fear and were almost reverent towards River. "Ahhh," he thought to himself. "They remember the carnage she left in her wake." It was obvious: some of them still don't believe what their eyes recorded that day. How could such a waif take down at least two squads of Reavers? Impossible! Looking over her shoulder she gave the briefest of nods, a gleeful indication that she would not kill them - today. Looking back to him her eyes took in the surroundings.

Typical Alliance abode. Silver, matte walls that seemed to absorb light. No pictures, no windows except the portholes from navigation at the front of the craft. Small, nondescript bunk with a flip down chair at the base. Table with a source box to the cortex. Files and papers lay neatly organized on the surface.

Moments passed quietly, the two offspring of Alliance training weighing each other. Both were intrigued with this moment in time and allowed it to pass slowly.

"River Tam," he said quietly, almost prayerfully. "These are not the circumstances, nor the surroundings I imagined our introductions would take place. Still, please..." He stopped as she turned from him, pulled the chair out of the base of the bunk and sat down. He smiled and finished his sentence "... feel free to sit."

"I would have been you eventually." The words fell flat from her lips. No question asked, just a simple observation. She tilted her head. "Better though."

"It does appear that you have been somewhat healed..."

The corners of her lips curled gently, "You don't know me so well now. Broken doll..." she looked around again and looked back into his eyes. "A broken doll, you understood her. Didn't expect this one to be put back together. And now it's not the same." She shook her head in mock frustration. "It's not what I mean though. Without Simon, I would have stayed there. I would have been you eventually - only I would have been better." Her voice took on an almost sneering tone, "I wouldn't have let my quarry escape me."

The Operatives pulse hitched a notch. It wasn't fear, although this girl could surely kill him. She wasn't here for violence. This is an interaction with someone who could be, would have been an equal. He felt the love-worn sensation of exhilaration.

He opened his mouth to speak, but never got a chance.

"You have something of mine," she said.

The Operative thought for a moment then nodded. He turned to his desk and placed his thumb over a small pad on the desk. A nearly inaudible click and a drawer slid open. He reached in his hand and pulled out a holospool. Handing it to her he spoke, "I have not shared this with the Parliament, nor with anyone. It would not be... conducive for you or your crew."

"Not my crew. Serenity's crew."

He nodded accepting her correction.

She held the recording in her hands looking at it with an unreadable expression on her face. In her minds eye she remembered. It was such a brief moment in time, just a flash really. The crew had entered into the hold point where they eventually faced the Reavers. Jayne and Mal threw two grenades into the hall slamming the door shut. Zoe was methodically checking her weapon. Simon and Kaylee stood anxiously, hoping the veterans of violence would choose a course to get them through this hell. River looked up, searching for the first wave of Reavers which were already transmitting their screams and rage into her defensless mind. And for just a second she saw and recognized the glint of camera lens, the tiny light indicating it was still recording.

"Not noble. Selfish. It would not be favorable for you either," she said.

"No, it would not. But it will only be a matter of time for the Parliament to start putting things together. My time with them is running short."

"It's not charity, you giving to me what is mine." She stood, holding the holospool in her hand.

Watching her stand he felt cheated. Not enough time, not nearly enough time together. Exhilaration turned quickly to desperation.

"River, wait. Your training was incomplete. But now, with your mind whole and wholly yours, you can choose what to learn. And there is so much I can teach you. About the Alliance, about the Parliament."

"Wrong. You have a lot to learn." For a moment her eyes glazed over with sympathy and pity. Her face softened. "If you had been loved, you might have been me."

She walked towards the shuttle door. Her brown eyes were steady and calm as she spoke to him over her shoulder. "Nothing alike. You and I... are nothing alike."

He sat there, slumped in the chair watching her retreating back. Standing he moved to the door and shouted. "What will you do with it?"

She didn't slow down as she shouted over her shoulder "Training video!"

He turned back to his desk, sat in front of the neatly organized papers and stared. After a while a very small smile formed.

Conclusion -

She found Jayne where Jayne was easiest to find - the make shift dining area in the MedCen.

It was small, only big enough for four tables, but the tables were big enough for Jayne to clean his weapons when he wasn't eating. Every day Jayne would sneak onto Serenity (though he didn't need to be so stealthy), ensure that his weapons cache had not been disturbed and bring a few back to clean. He limited himself to only two or three a day and stretched it out to make the process last as long as possible. It was the act of cleaning, the slow and methodical movements his hands had learned over the years that comforted him. It made him feel safe, well safer what with all the Alliance about. Once he had cleaned them to his satisfaction he would sneak back onto Serenity and place them back in their rightful place.

When she walked through the doors he was working on a hunting knife and two of his favorite bowie knives. There were a few medics eating quietly, giving Jayne a wide berth. He left them alone and instinctually they knew to leave him alone. She walked to his table, being sure to be seen before heard or felt - Jayne was jumpy these days and there was no need to startle him.

She set the holospool down in front on her and put her chin in her hand, watching him at his work. They sat in silence before he spoke.

"Humph. Lil Kaylee's in Simon's room again. Don't know what you said, but she's been doin' a mite better since she whupped up on that ole hun dan."

River rolled her eyes. He was standing right there when she said it. For Kaylee the only thing that needs to be said is 'Simon,' less of course its 'Serenity'. Well, there was really nothing else to be said about it.

A few minutes passed before he spoke again. "Whatcha got there?" he asked, his eyes never leaving the sharp edge he was working.

"Nothing of importance for the time. You'll see it soon enough." she said, her eyes were more intrigued with watching his hands work the metal of the blades.

Jayne's eyes flicked to the holospool. "So where'd ya get it?"

"Operative," she said off-handedly.

Jayne's eyes snapped up, a low fire starting to burn. "Girl, are you a moonbrain? That man'll run you through without blinking."

River's head tilted and one eyebrow went up. She just sat there waiting for him to put it together.

The fire in his eyes died and his eyebrows pulled together. Spitting on the whetting stone he muttered, "Well there is that."

River smiled then stood taking the holospool with her. "I'm gonna go check on Mal."

"Wouldn't. 'Nara's in there."

River pursed her lips. "Well, you know where to find me then." Turning she headed towards Serenity.

After a while Jayne collected his knives and followed.