The Last Spartan – Chapter Six Author owns no rights of any kind to Firefly, and writes without compensation. It’s just for fun, so lawyers, it’s okay not sue me. Thanks :) --------------------- River met them at the airlock, laughing at her brother’s inebriated state. So humored was she, that she failed to note the apprehension swirling about the mercenary. “Look what the cat drug in,” she giggled. Simon smiled a lazy, drunken smile. “Hi,” he said. “Waash ya doin’, mei mei?” “I’m waiting for Jayne to bring you home, ge ge,” she laughed, slipping an arm around her brother. “You seem to have met a drink you liked.” “Good shuff,” Simon said firmly, though slurred. “Need to gesh shome more.” “Think you’ve had enough for tonight, Doc,” Jayne pointed out. “You pro’ly right, Jayne ole buddy,” Simon smiled up at him. “Gotta be fresh ina mornin’ anywaysh. Gotta get workin’ on you. Find out whysh you don’t. . .hic. . .scuesh me. . .don’t get sick, any. We gon’ be famoush, Jayne, ole pal. You’ shee. Ima shmart doc’or. Ain’ I mei mei? Tell him how shmart I am. Top th. . .hic. . .scuesh me. . .three pershent.” “You’re very smart, Simon,” River agreed with a grin. “But you need to rest for a while. Sleep off your night out.” “Yeah. But ina mornin’ Jayne, wan’ yoush down to tha ‘firm’ry. Need to run shome teshs on you, buddy. Find out ‘bout you shome. ‘Kay?” “You say so, Doc,” Jayne nodded, more to humor him than anything else. There was no way that was gonna happen. He was surprised that the doc hadn’t caught on before now. Apparently there’d never been a reason to look for anything odd before. “Are you sick, Jayne?” River asked, concerned. “He ain’ never. . .hic. . .scuesh me, never sick, mei mei,” Simon answered before Jayne could. “An’ I wanna know why ‘at is. Right Jayne?” “Right, Doc,” Jayne laughed. “Ain’t never sick.” He looked at River and shrugged. “Hell if I know.” He hoped she bought it. She didn’t, but could tell that Jayne didn’t want to discuss it. “Come, Simon, time for bed,” she said to her brother instead. Jayne helped her get her drunken sibling to the passenger dorms, and into his bed. Jayne removed his shoes while River took of his coat and shirt, and removed his belt. “That should do, I think,” River nodded, covering Simon with a blanket, then another for good measure. She looked up at the mercenary. “Thank you, Jayne,” she told him softly. “I really appreciate this.” “No problem,” Jayne shrugged. “He’s a funny drunk. Kept me laughing all the way back.” River smiled, but inwardly she sensed the apprehensive mood surrounding the man. “Something wrong?” she asked. He looked sharply at her. “Why?” “Just asking,” she shrugged. “You looked like there was something on your mind.” “What could an ape possibly have on his mind?” Jayne retorted without thinking, instantly regretting it. “I’m for bed, I think. If you go out, wake me if you don’t mind. Good night, River.” Before River could respond, Jayne was gone. --------------------- It was time to go, Jayne knew. The Doc might not remember his plan in the morning, but eventually he would. And now River knew what he’d been talking about. He’d known the day would come, of course. It always did. But he’d pushed it to the back of his mind over the last two years. Jayne Cobb was getting old. Or at least he should be. He’d been aboard Serenity nearly five years now. Sooner or later someone would notice. The Doctor had already noticed, and even though his alcohol induced stupor might prevent him from remembering in the morning, River wouldn’t forget. And sooner or later she’d slip past his blocks. And that would be that. He sighed, a sad and lonely sound in the emptiness of his bunk. He’d never planned to stay here, anyway. If only Kaylee hadn’t looked so much like. . .he shook that off. She wasn’t her. She was simply someone who looked remarkably like the woman he’d once given his heart too. So long ago. Much water had passed beneath bridge since then. And blood. So much blood. He had decided to become a mercenary thinking that he wouldn’t have to fight quite so much as he did as a soldier. And that he could avoid the reavers. He hadn’t planned on Mal being a one man, world saving entity when he’d took the job, though. He laughed at that. Mal liked to pretend that he was as mercenary as Jayne pretended to be, but underneath he was a soft touch for a lost cause. Or a kicked puppy. Sick horse. You name it. There was never any telling what Mal would care about, or do about it. Jayne liked Serenity, and therein lay the problem. He’d not encountered a place that felt more like a home in many a year. Good people, a family, and never too long in one place. True, he wasn’t part of that family, not really, but he wouldn’t have been even if the offer were made. He had long since learned the bitter lesson of emotional attachments. He lay on his bunk, staring at the ceiling. He had promised to teach River the blade. He would have to stay long enough to get her started. She was smart, and fast. She was also a quick study, and a genius. She knew how to handle a sword, at least some, and had good reflexes. Six months? Maybe? He thought about that. Six months wasn’t a fraction of the time needed, but it would set her on the right path, at least. It was time enough to get her started. And she would learn far quicker than a normal student. Her blade would be ready in a month, along with her armor. So. One, perhaps two months of practice blades, then, if she was ready, the true blade. He wouldn’t go back on his word. To her or to Taze. So if it took longer, it took longer. But he hoped it wasn’t much longer. As much as he wanted to stay a little longer, too long would be worse. Much worse. With that unhappy thought, he drifted into a fitful sleep. And dreamed of a time and place from long ago. And a face that haunted him every day. ------------------------ River was in the lounge, idly stroking one of her new knives. Jayne had become almost angry at her, and the ‘ape’ comment had stung. Simon had referred to him that way often, and, she admitted with a grimace, she had done the same more than once. She’d been wrong, not just in fact, but in doing so at all. It was easy to justify, after all Jayne had put them through, but it was still wrong. Was his anger justified? At this point? The two had become friends over the last year, she thought. Perhaps she was mistaken. Everything she’d thought she’d known about Jayne had gone out the airlock the first night she had observed him using his swords. There was no way a man of low intellect and little education could perform such intricate martial arts routines, nor handle two swords, simultaneously, with such grace. It simply wasn’t possible. Which meant that Jayne was a pretender. She had always sensed something buried deep within him, always just out of reach. Her attempts to ferret it out had been frustrated each time, and with little or no effort on Jayne’s part. Blue Sun would find that absurd, she thought with a humorless smile. Their ‘best’ project, unable to see into the mind of an illiterate laborer from a back-water moon. What had Simon been muttering? Oh yes, something about why Jayne was never sick. As she thought about the time she’d been on the ship, well, the times she’d been sane, she couldn’t remember him being sick, either. More than that, she thought of the times he’d been injured. On Universe’s Moon, despite a gunshot wound and numerous broken bones, he’d been on his feet that very day, helping her to remain out of sight, and watching over the rest of the crew. How could he do that? He did have a tremendous constitution, she knew, and he was as stubborn as an operative. But that would not account for all of it. In fact, nothing could. What was it about Jayne that made him that way? Simon had. . .she sat up, suddenly. Jayne was having a nightmare. No. . .not quite a nightmare, she thought, but unwelcome, never-the-less. She sat back and closed her eyes. If she were discovered, Jayne would be furious. But it was worth the risk, she decided, and reached out with her mind, slipping unobserved into his dream. She was totally unprepared for what she saw. ----------------------- “Janos, my love, why do you wear that long face?” “I am sorry, Verana, if it distresses you,” Janos replied. “I am simply worried for you, and for the child.” She smiled up at him from the bed. “Janos, Spartan women have been having babies for far longer than you and I have been alive,” she told him playfully. “This is but the first of many, my soldier. A son.” “You think so?” he asked, a smile coming to his face. “Yes,” she nodded firmly. “He has been marching in the womb for two months, practicing his thrusts and blocks. You and I will soon give Sparta another proud son.” “I care little, son or daughter, so long as he or she is healthy, and the mother of my child is well,” Janos replied truthfully. A son would be wonderful, he’d not deny. But no son was preferable to no Verana. “Your worry will be the death of you, my love,” Verana laughed, or started too. She raised slightly, a low moan escaping her lips. “Verana?” Janos asked, instantly concerned. “It nears time, my Spartan,” Verana whispered. “Summon her, lest we begin alone.” Janos rose and walked to the door. He nodded to the older woman in the adjoining room. “Time draws near, old mother,” he said respectfully. “I suspected as much,” the matron smiled in assurance. “You should wait here, Janos. It will be loud. And messy,” she added. Janos nodded. He could not bear to see Verana in pain at any rate. “I shall,” he bowed, and allowed the woman and her young assistant into the room. He looked to Verana as he closed the door, and smiled. “It will be well, my love,” she called, her breathing labored. -------------------- River gasped at what she saw. Kaylee! Kaylee was lying on the bed, heavy with child! In labor! No wonder. . .there was something wrong. The surroundings were. . .strange. She played the dream over again in her mind. Spartan? Why did that sound familiar? Verana, she rolled the name around in her mind. Vera? Jayne had named the great Callahan rifle after this doppelgänger of Kaylee. Who was she? And why were. . . ---------------------- “I am sorry,” the matron was saying. “She. . .the child was not properly positioned. This is not unusual in first pregnancy’s Janos. But the cord. . .it was a difficult birth, and the child’s passing caused great damage to Verana. She. . .Janos she and the child have died. I am truly sorry, my lord. I did all that. . .” “It is not your fault,” Janos said numbly. “Such is the will of the gods, old one, and you cannot change that. I thank you for your kindness. I would ask that you. . .” he trailed off, looking forlornly at the room where his now dead wife still lay. “Of course, my lord,” the matron nodded at once. “I will take care of everything. Please, might it not be best for you to. . .” “I shall be in the courtyard,” Janos rose to his feet. “Inform me when you are finished.” He walked from the room without another word. ------------------- River felt tears trickle from her eyes. She should not be here. She had no right. But even as she realized that, she could not look away. This explained so much. Why Jayne was the way he was where Kaylee was concerned. It wasn’t love for her! It was the fact that she was so like his own lost love! Poor Kaylee, River thought sadly. In a part of her mind not consumed by sadness, River wondered again at the strange dress. The odd surroundings. Even on a rim world, such things would not be. And there would have been a doctor for the birth of a child on almost any moon, anywhere. Where have I heard that word, Spartan, before? She wondered again. --------------------- “Janos my friend, are you well?” “I am, my king,” Janos nodded, his head bowed. “I am fit.” “It’s not the same thing, Janos,” the man lay a comforting hand upon his shoulder. “You forget that I too, am married.” “Not at all, my King,” Janos smiled faintly. “I. . .hurt, my lord, there is no denying that. But I cannot undo what is done.” He shrugged helplessly. “No,” the ‘king’ acknowledged. “None can. You know that we face a great danger, Janos, do you not?” “I have heard of the Persian horde, my King,” Janos nodded. “When will we meet them?” “Soon. Very soon.” Janos smiled. ‘I shall see you again soon, my love,’ he thought silently. He was unaware that his King noted the look in his eyes as well. ------------------- King? What king? And Persians? As in Persia of ancient Earth-that-was? This was a very strange dream, River decided. ----------------- “We are outnumbered,” the man next to Janos smiled. “So we are,” Janos smiled back, wildly. “Hardly seems fair, them with only a five to one advantage.” “All’s fair in war, Janos,” the man laughed back. “So it is,” Janos laughed himself. As they settled into the line, a horde of screaming soldiers raced toward them across the plain. “For Leonidas!” a cry arose. “For Sparta!” “SPARTA!” the cry was deafening, and the advancing horde slowed somewhat, but kept coming. “ADVANCE THE PHALANX!” was the next cry, and the line of warriors, including Janos, responded. Walking steadily to meet their foes. ------------------ I shouldn’t be seeing this, River thought. So private, so personal, yet it was had captured her completely. Jayne was dreaming of himself in another time. Another place. Another life. How was this possible? Intellectually, she knew of the arguements concerning re-incarnation. The idea that past lives would be re-lived in the future. She didn’t believe it, of course. There was exactly no scientific evidence to support such an idea. But this dream was so articulated, so real, that it had to be more than just the product of a tired mind in the midst of REM. Was it possible that Jayne was dreaming about someone else’s memories, and replacing that someone with himself? Or was this a fabrication of his mind, because of his attachment to Kaylee, or someone who looked remarkably like her? Further study is needed, she told herself. Satisfied that she was justified, at least technically, in what she was doing, she reached back into the dream. -------------------------- “You have chosen well, Spartan,” Neethos said through his teeth. “This gift I give you freely. Use it well.” ---------------------- River screamed aloud as she felt the impact of the teeth upon her own neck. The pain had driven her from the dream, and she sat breathing heavily, bathed in a light sheen of perspiration. What in the all the worlds had. . . “You alright?” she squeaked at the noise, looking to see Jayne, gun in hand, looking at her from the doorway. He had heard her scream. “I. . .I had a bad dream,” she said, almost truthfully. “I couldn’t wake up, then suddenly I was struck, and when I yelled, I woke.” Jayne looked at her in sympathy. “Happens to me some,” he told her quietly. “You okay?” “Yes,” River nodded, her head swimming. His thoughts were pressing her, something they rarely did. “I am fine, though perhaps I should retire. Had I not fallen asleep here, I would not have woke you.” “S’okay,” he shrugged. “I told you to wake me when you turned in. I’ll take the watch. You go on to bed. Maybe you won’t have any more bad dreams.” “Thank you, Jayne,” River said quietly. “For everything.” “Welcome,” he nodded, placing his gun in his waistband. “Get some sleep.”

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The Last Spartan – Chapter Seven Author owns none of the rights to Firefly, which is the creation of Joss Whedon, and receives no compensation for his work, which is a labor of love, done for his own benefit, and that of others who feel cheated ( attn all FOX execs ) that the show is no longer on the air. ------------------------------------------- River was up early the next morning. She had some investigating to do, if she could find time alone on the bridge. Jayne wouldn’t likely be there this time of the morning, and she needed to use the cortex. As she settled into the seat, finding the bridge empty, she kept playing the word Spartan over in her mind. She had heard that word, somewhere, before! She entered a search into the cortex, and waited. Last night had been enlightening in many ways. She still didn’t understand the setting of the dream, why it was so old looking. But the pain surrounding the loss of the wife and child were as real as any she’d endured herself. Of that there was no doubt. So it remained to find. . .She blinked. The cortex had search results already. As she sorted the results, River’s mind began to swim. No wonder she had recognized the term. She had heard it before. She highlighted a historical reference and opened it. As the picture opened, her hand came to her mouth, and it was all she could do not to cry out in wonder. Before her was a picture of a Spartan warrior, more than a millennia old. It was a reproduction, of course, with a model posing in historically accurate uniform. The features were obscured by a helmet, but there was no denying the sword, nor the spear, that the warrior held. Nor the crimson robe he wore. Jayne Cobb owned such weapons. And such a cloak. ------------------- Mal and Inara arrived back at the ship together, having decided during their time in town to stop denying things. There was no point, anyway. Mal was surprised to see Jayne in the bay, door already open, sweeping. “Morning Mal,” Jayne nodded, with a smile. “Inara,” he spoke to her. “Good morning, Jayne,” Inara smiled back, with only a hint of a blush. Inara had come to like Jayne very much. He had been a great help to her when everyone else was hurt after Miranda, and hadn’t gone back to his old behavior since. “Jayne,” Mal said, a little stiffly. “Didn’t ‘spect to find you up and working so early in the day.” “I can see that,” Jayne grinned, and Inara had to stifle a giggle. Mal reddened. “Why ain’t you still laid up in the bed?” Mal asked, almost accusingly. “Captain, are you complaining that I’m working?” Jayne asked, his smile gone. “I just was up, and the bay needed sweeping, that’s all.” “And you lowered the ramp so you could sweep out the dirt?” Mal asked, and Inara turned to look at him. “Mal, what is wrong with you?” she asked quietly. “I’m tired of everyone on this ship wantin’ to know my business!” Mal shot back, and missed the icy look that passed over Jayne’s face. He dropped the broom on the floor, and started forward. Mal almost backpedaled, until Jayne walked past him, out the door. “Where you going?” Mal demanded. “Somewhere I can’t pry into your business, Cap’n. ‘Spect you can finish the sweeping yourself,” came Jayne’s reply. “We leave at eight! You ain’t here, you’re left!” Mal yelled at the departing mercenary. “What a loss that’d be, too,” Jayne shot back, never slowing. “Mal, have you lost your mind?” Inara asked, almost in shock. “You know as well as I do he was waiting here for the two of us to come back together!” Mal huffed. “I’m tired of it.” “Mal, had it been Zoe, Kaylee or River, I’d agree. But Jayne? Since when has he cared what the two of us do?” Mal sobered at that, looking again at Jayne’s diminishing form. He sighed. “You’re right,” he said contritely. “I was just geared up for a buncha razzin’ and there he was. . .” “Working?” Inara asked with an arched eyebrow? “Mal, if this is how things are going to be, maybe we need to think more about this.” “About what?” Mal asked in sudden alarm. “I can’t be like this, Mal,” Inara told him truthfully. “Not having you all flustered by nothing more than Jayne sweeping the floor when you and I just happen to get back to the ship.” “I said I was sorry, Inara,” Mal pointed out, his voice pleading. “I’ll make it right with Jayne, soon’s he gets back. I promise. I’ll tell him what I told you, in fact. He’ll understand.” “Fine,” Inara said, shorter than she meant to. “I hope you’re right. And I hope this is the last time we have to go through something like this, Mal.” “I’ll do my best,” Mal smiled. “Maybe you can help me?” Inara struggled to keep the smile from her face, but it won out in the end. “Maybe I can do something to help you remember.” ------------------ Jayne stalked away from the ship, his anger nearly consuming him. As if I care what he and Inara are doing, in town or anywhere else! he fumed to himself. Stupid. . . So enraged was he that Zoe had to call him three times to get through the fog in his mind. “JAYNE!” He stopped, looking around. Zoe was standing five feet behind him, arms crossed in aggravation. “What? Something wrong, Zoe?” Jayne couldn’t be mad at Zoe. Even though she didn’t like him. Not after what she’d been through. “I know we ain’t exactly friends, Jayne,” Zoe said. “But you ain’t gotta just walk by without speakin’, especially with me callin’ your name.” “I’m sorry, Zoe,” Jayne apologized. “I didn’t. . .I was just kinda lost in thought is all. Didn’t see you. And who says we ain’t friends?” Zoe looked mollified at that. “Have you seen Kaylee?” she asked. Jayne shook his head. “Been on ship till a few minutes ago,” he pointed out, and Zoe nodded, having forgotten that. “She came into town with me, and we were supposed to meet for breakfast, but she didn’t show. I wasn’t worried at first, but it’s gettin’ on for time to leave, and still nothing.” “Check her room?” Jayne asked. “No answer, but the desk clerk said she ain’t checked out, yet.” Jayne frowned at that. Wasn’t like Kaylee to go off alone. “Let’s go see if we can get her to the door.” ------------------------ Jayne knocked three times, each louder than the last. No answer. He looked up and down the hall, then took the knob in his hand. “Watch for me, while I see ‘bout openin’ this,” he told Zoe. She nodded, and turned away, hiding his efforts. Jayne turned the handle slowly, and was rewarded with a snap as the lock gave way. Zoe turned to look at the noise. “What did you do?” she asked. “Just turned the knob,” he shrugged. “Musta been open.” He pushed the door open and walked in, before Zoe could ask anything else. Kaylee was lying in the middle of the room, face down. A half-empty bottle of strong brandy nearby. Jayne rushed to her side, gently rolling her over. She was breathing, he was relieved to see. Just totally lost in the booze. He gently gathered her in his arms, and carried her to the bed. “Whew,” Zoe fanned her face. “Little Kaylee really tied one on.” Jayne nodded, ignoring the apparent callousness of the statement. “Check her over, Zoe,” he ordered. Make sure she ain’t. . .you know. I’ll get her stuff together.” Zoe nodded, and moved to check on Kaylee’s well being. Jayne hurried through the room, placing Kaylee’s things in her bag. Fortunately she hadn’t brought much, as it was just an overnight stay. “She’s okay, Jayne,” Zoe announced while he was in the bathroom. “Just drunk as all get out. Likely have a hell of a hangover.” “I’ll take her back to the ship,” he said, handing the bag to Zoe. “I think I got everything, but you can check one more time, just in case. Can you take care of the clerk?” “Yeah, just take her and go,” Zoe nodded. “I’ll handle things here.” Jayne gathered the unconscious mechanic in his arms once more, and headed for the door without another word. ----------------------- River was still sitting on the bridge when Mal walked in. So engrossed in her reading had she been, she’d never sensed his approach. She quickly shut down the cortex and rose. “Albatross,” Mal nodded. “Seems everyone is up early,” he muttered, careful not to repeat the mistake he made with Jayne. “Except Simon,” River smiled. “What’s ailin’ the doc?” Mal asked in surprise. “Hangover, I’m sure. If he’s awake yet. Jayne rescued him from the Golden Fleece last night, just before he was robbed.” “Jayne left the ship?” Mal asked, suddenly angry again. Was Jayne reverting back to his old, un-trustworthy self? “I watched the ship, Captain,” River told him, almost crossly. “Jayne and I were both here, and I sensed that Simon was in danger. Jayne went in my place, as Simon was likely to need help walking.” Mal’s frown deepened. “You and Jayne were here alone?” he almost yelled. “Yes,” River replied calmly. “You left us that way, yourself, if you recall,” she pointed out. Mal’s disposition eased somewhat. “I think me and Jayne need to have a talk,” he muttered to himself, but River heard it. “Why?” she demanded. “‘Spect that’s ‘tween Jayne and me,” he answered loftily. “Not if it concerns last night,” River shot back, unfazed. “Do not attempt to lay blame upon him for Simon’s shortcomings. Nor mine. Jayne has acted in no way inappropriately.” “He know you wasn’t goin’ into town when he offered to stay on ship?” Mal demanded. River’s face purpled in rage. “How dare you,” her anger pulsed out with each word. “How dare you even insinuate such a thing?” “My job to watch out for. . .” “I don’t need you watching out for me where Jayne is concerned!” River almost shouted. “Jayne is my friend! Has helped me in ways none of the rest of you could, or would. It isn’t Jayne who demands that I be sedated the first time I say something you don’t care for, or cannot understand! It isn’t Jayne who asks if I’m having a ‘relapse’ every time something scares me!” “Jayne treats me as if I am sane, which, you might note, I am, nowadays. He also treats me like an adult, which I also am. And I will not listen to you insult him in such a loath manner, Captain.” With that she turned and left the bridge in a fury. Mal watched her go, his eyes narrowing. He and Jayne definitely needed to have a talk. In the vicinity of the airlock. ---------------------- Jayne arrived at the ship, gratified to see the ramp still down. He entered the cargo bay, and spotted Inara sitting there. “Jayne!” she came to her feet. “What happened?” “Kaylee seems to have drunk her way near into a coma,” Jayne informed her quietly. “I think she’s okay, but. . .” “I’ll get Simon. Take her to the infirmary.” Jayne nodded, forgetting for an instant that Simon probably wasn’t in any shape to help. “Whass?” Kaylee stirred in his arms. He looked down to see her looking back at him. “Jayne?” Kaylee mumbled, smiling. “Where’d you come from?” “Another land, Kaylee girl,” Jayne smiled, relieved to see her awake. “You ‘bout scared me to death, gal. Found you laying in your hotel, face down in the floor.” “Ohhhh,” Kaylee groaned, closing her eyes. “Whasss wrong wi’ my head?” she wondered aloud. “You got a prime case of the hangover, girl,” he laughed gently, carrying her toward the infirmary. “Gonna hurt like hell for a while. Let’s get you some water and a smoother. That’ll help some.” “Thans, Jayne,” Kaylee mumbled, snuggling into his chest as he carried her. Jayne’s heart almost froze in his chest at the sight. Suddenly he was propelled into another time and place. ------------------ “I do not think the gods designed you with strong drink in mind, my love,” Janos said, as Verana heaved again, losing more of her supper from the night before. “The gods have cursed me, Janos,” Verana gasped. Janos was holding her long hair as her body expelled it’s excess. “Not so, dearest,” Janos chuckled. “Was strong wine, and plenty of it, that has placed you in this position.” She sighed. “Ne’er ‘gain, Janos,” she vowed. “You are not to allow me to do this again.” “And how am I to stop you?” he asked in faint amusement. “Are you not a Spartan woman?” “You make sure. Never again, Janos. You hear me? Never again, Janos!” ---------------------- “Jayne!” The big man shook himself free of the images and found himself in the infirmary. Inara was trying to gain his attention, and Kaylee was still in his arms. “Sorry, Inara,” he grinned sheepishly. “I. . .I was thinking ‘bout another time like this. Sorta forgot where I was.” Inara smiled. “It’s okay, Jayne,” she said gently as he lowered Kaylee to the table. “Everyone knows how you feel about Kaylee.” Jayne’s head shot around at that, and Inara was startled by the look in his eyes. “What?” Jayne’s voice was. . .dead. It was all Inara could do not to shiver. “Jayne I didn’t mean that in a bad way,” she hurried to explain. “It’s just that, well, whenever she’s in the room, you seem happier. That’s all.” “Oh,” Jayne mumbled, now embarrassed. “I’m sorry Inara. I didn’t mean to. . .She was awake for a minute,” he went on, going to get a glass of water. “Said her head was hurting,” he added with a smirk. He took a smoother from a drawer, and went back to the girl’s side. “Kaylee gal, you need to open them eyes for me,” he said softly, and Inara watched him closely. As she noted how gentle he was with Kaylee, a light came on in her head. No wonder Jayne had reacted the way he had. Jayne was in love with Kaylee! “Jaaayne,” Kaylee groaned. “I’m sorry, Jayne,” she said, looking up at him sorrowfully. “No need to be sorry, girl,” he told her. “I ain’t the one hurtin’. Here. Take this, and drink as much of that water as you can.” Kaylee took the smoother, and drank about half the water through a straw. “I shoulda chose you, Jayne,” Kaylee said softly, and Jayne froze. Inara covered her mouth with her hand. Neither saw Mal standing in the stairwell, outside. “What?” Jayne asked, confused. “You mean ‘stead o’ Zoe? Nah. I wouldn’a been no help to you. Been too like to get the same way myself, gal,” he laughed. Thad ain’ what I mean, Jayne,” Kaylee shook her head, then groaned with the effort. “Shoulda picked you ‘stead o’ Simon. Too late now, wi’ River an’ all. But I wanted to tell ya. ‘m sorry, Jayne.” “Hush that, Kaylee,” Jayne told her, nearly in a panic. “You don’t know what you’re saying. And there ain’t nothin’ ‘tween me an River neither, ‘cept she’s always worryin’ me to teach her somethin’, or take her somewhere. Now you lay back an’ rest, hear? That smoother’ll help you through the worst of it.” “‘kay, Jayne,” Kaylee said, closing her eyes. Jayne sighed in relief. Suddenly he remembered Inara. He looked up at her. “There ain’t nothin’ ‘tween me and River, Inara,” he said flatly. “I don’t know where she’s gettin’ that go se. I mean, me and the girl are friends, but that’s it.” “I know, Jayne,” Inara nodded. “If there was something between the two of you, I’d know,” she added confidently. Jayne considered that for a moment. “Yeah, guess you would at that,” he nodded finally. “Who you hidin’ from, sir?” they heard Zoe from outside the room. A red faced Mal took the few steps separating him from the infirmary door, as Zoe walked in. “Mal!” Inara said sharply. “Why were you hiding out there!” “How is she, Jayne,” Zoe asked, ignoring the impending lover’s spat. “She come awake as we got to the ship,” Jayne told her, glad for the distraction. “Got a hellacious hangover, but other than that she seems fine.” “Seemed a might confused about her choices, I’d say,” Mal offered, and Jayne shot him a death glare. “You ain’t got no right to hear that, Captain,” he said, and Inara noted the deadness in his voice again. “My ship,” Mal started, but Jayne cut him off. “You don’t own her, Captain,” he snarled. “She’s got a right to some privacy, even drunk like she is. Things she said, she like as not won’t remember when she comes around. And it’ll go badly for anyone who reminds her of what she said.” “You threatenin’ me, Jayne?” Mal asked in astonishment. “I don’t make threats, Captain,” the big man replied. “I need to get to the engine room. With Kaylee out, someone will need to do things for her until she can get up and around. Inara, would you mind stayin’ with her?” “Not at all, Jayne,” Inara said quietly. She hoped Mal would let this. . . “We’re gonna talk about this when we hit the black, Jayne,” Mal said as Jayne left. “I got nothing to say, I ain’t done said, Captain,” the merc tossed over his shoulder as he went. Mal’s face reddened, but he refrained from saying anything else. He turned to the two women, well three, still in the room. “What happened to Kaylee?” he demanded gruffly. Zoe’s eyebrows arched slightly. “She got drunk, sir,” she said flatly. “You let her get drunk?” Mal asked, his tone bordering on anger. “Grown woman, Captain,” Zoe growled. “I didn’t let her do anything. She did it all on her own. ‘Spect she’s got her reasons, same as any of us.” “Mal, what the hell is wrong with you?” Inara demanded, her voice angry. “With me?” he nearly screeched. “Was you not in this very room, just now, when Kaylee said she should have chose Jayne?” “Yes,” Inara replied. “What of it?” “What. . .?” Mal gawked. He looked to Zoe for support, only to see from the look on her face she agreed. “You too?” he demanded. “Grown. Woman. Sir.” Zoe bit out. “Kaylee is twenty-five, twenty-six years old, I reckon. She’d old enough to crew this ship, and keep it flyin’. She’s old enough to make her own decisions, be it about men, booze, or the like.” Mal looked from one woman to the other. “We’ll talk about this later,” he said again, and headed for the bridge. Both women watched him go, and rolled their eyes at each other. Leave it to Mal to spoil a perfectly good morning after.

----------------

The Last Spartan – Chapter Eight Author owns no rights to the Firefly ‘verse, and makes no money from his efforts. ------------------- As Serenity made her way into the black, anger was the chief emotion among the crew. River sat at the helm seething at Mal’s insinuations that Jayne had deliberately took the watch to be alone with her. Mal was right behind her, glaring at her back, his own anger directed at nearly everyone but himself. Inara was sitting in the infirmary with Kaylee, so mad that tears were threatening. She was also going over a mental tongue lashing that Mal would not enjoy. Zoe was in the cargo bay, almost as mad as Inara after the way Mal had laid Kaylee’s being drunk squarely at her feet. She wasn’t a gorram baby sitter, and Kaylee didn’t need one anyway. Jayne was working the engine room in Kaylee’s place, nearly consumed by rage. He concentrated on his work, trying to use it to ease his anger into a more manageable state. Only Simon and Kaylee were not furious at the moment, Kaylee under the influence of the smoother Jayne had given her, and Simon dead to the world sleeping off his first drunk. They were probably the lucky ones, despite the hangovers that would soon make their lives miserable. ---------------------- Once Jayne had set the engine properly for the black, he exited the engine room, and headed into the cargo bay. He retrieved the discarded broom, and was sweeping the refuse into the airlock when a tremendous blow struck him in the back of the head. He fell forward into the airlock, blacking out for a few seconds. When he managed to clear his head, he stood. He turned to see Mal looking at him triumphantly through the window. Rubbing the back of his head, Jayne looked at Mal. “What the hell?” he yelled. Mal hit the comm. “‘Spect we can talk, now,” Mal said, his tone satisfied. “I want some answers, Jayne. And if I don’t like the ones you give me, you’re going for a space walk. Dong ma?” “Open this door, Mal,” Jayne said softly. “Right now.” “Ain’t hap’nin,” Mal smiled an ugly smile. “I had ‘bout enough o’ you today to last me a week, or more. Now, what was Kaylee sayin’ ‘bout she shoulda chose you ‘stead o’ Simon?” “Since she’s the one what said it, I think you’d best ask her,” Jayne snarled, feeling his rage building. “Ain’t askin’ her, I’m askin’ you,” Mal shot back. “And something else. Did you know that River was gonna stay on board last night when you volunteered to stand the watch, all noble like?” “Say what?” Jayne’s voice went deathly soft, and Mal had to strain to hear him. “You heard me,” Mal snarled. “I wanna know did you deliberately fix it so you and River were on board alone, together, last night.” “What is it, exactly, that you’re gettin’ at, Mal?” Jayne was past anger now. Beyond rage. Inside, he could feel power coursing to his limbs and to his mind. “You know what I’m gettin’ at, Jayne!” Mal shot back. “Now I want some answers, and I’m gettin’ tired o’ waitin’. So what’s it gonna be?” “It’s gonna be ugly,” Jayne laughed, looking at the floor. “What?” Mal asked in surprise. Last time he’d had Jayne here, things had gone different. Jayne shuffled to the door, head still down. “I said, it’s gonna be . . . UGLY!” At that his head shot up, and Mal recoiled in fear. Then Jayne started hitting the airlock door. --------------------- River shot up from her seat, terror on her face. Zoe, who had joined her when Mal had left the bridge and come to the cargo bay, looked at her. “What’s wrong, sweetie?” she asked. “I don’t . . . Captain is suddenly very afraid,” she stammered. “And Jayne is . . . Jayne is gone. Something is wrong, Zoe!” “Mal’s in the cargo bay,” Zoe told her, shooting to her own feet. “C’mon.” They had taken two steps when the dull thud was heard, and felt, through the ship. ---------------------- Mal was still reeling from what he’d seen in the airlock. This wasn’t possible! He’d heard tell of such, as a child, but they were just stories old folks made up to scare their children. There was no way this was. . . Three things happened at once. Zoe and River ran into the bay, shouting questions at him for which he had no answer. Inara came running out of the infirmary, doing the same thing. And the inner door of the airlock when flying across the cargo bay. Jayne stepped out of the now ruined airlock, and everyone froze. ------------- “Merciful Bhudda,” Inara whispered, when she saw Jayne. “Holy Mother of God,” Zoe whispered at the same time, her hand falling to her carbine. “The darkness has awakened,” River said in wonder. The being they had once known as Jayne Cobb was standing in front of the now wrecked airlock, seething in fury. Even from the stairs Zoe and River could see that Jayne wasn’t himself. His eyes had gone from their normal blue to a dark purple. So dark they were almost black. His face was contorted into a mask of rage and something else. Something . . . dark. Ugly. Two long fangs now protruded from his upper jaw, gleaming in the lights of the cargo bay. The two purple eyes were looking at only one thing. Malcolm Reynolds. “I told you it would be ugly, little man,” Jayne’s voice was like gravel, a cross between a growl and a whisper. The sound of it sent shivers down every spine in the bay. As Jayne took a step forward, Mal drew his pistol and fired. Jayne stopped, and looked down at the bullet wound in his chest. Miraculously, he laughed, looking back up at Mal. “Have to do better than that, mortal,” he growled, and continued his advance. Mal was back pedaling furiously, firing as he went. The bullets struck home, but had no effect. River could feel the Captain’s terror rolling off him in waves. Zoe was frightened, too, but not nearly so much as Mal. River took an instant to marvel that she could separate their fear from her own. “Zoe,” said River, never taking her eyes from the apparition that had once been Jayne Cobb, “take Inara and go and get Kaylee. She may be able to make him stop.” Zoe looked at River in shock. “No time to explain, please just trust me. Tell her to call him Janos. Got that? Janos. But only if he won’t respond to Jayne. And if he does, don’t let Mal shoot him again. It’s the only chance we have.” When Zoe hesitated, River shook her. “Zoe, hurry. He’ll destroy the ship if she can’t stop him!” Zoe gawked at her for a second, then took another look at Jayne. Finally she moved, and River felt weak with relief. She watched as Zoe and Inara ran to the infirmary. “Well, Simon,” River said as she walked carefully toward Jayne. “You wanted to know what made him tick.” Jayne saw her coming, and stopped. Mal raised his pistol again. “No, Captain!” River called, and Jayne’s head snapped back to Mal. “Lower it, Captain. You cannot harm him that way.” She looked to Jayne. “Jayne, please,” she pleaded softly. “Don’t do this. You may destroy the ship, and that will kill us all, not just Mal.” “I care not, little one,” Jayne growled back. “Do you think I have not watched countless humans perish? What are so few when added to that?” “We are your friends, Jayne,” River said reasonably. “You care about what happens to your friends.” “When have you, or any of the others, been my friend?” he hissed at her, eyes blazing. “When has this one,” he pointed to Mal, who was trying to imitate a crate in the hold, “been my friend? You speak well, child, but your words are dust.” “Don’t judge all of us by him,” River asked, her tone one of begging. “He is often prone to acting before thinking. Do not punish us all because of him.” “Why not?” Jayne demanded, his voice again nothing more than an evil sounding hiss. “You give him succor, support him in his stupidity. Are you not equally to blame?” “We follow orders, Spartan,” River replied, praying that this was the right thing to say, and praying that Zoe and Inara hurried. “Jayne?” River almost wilted in relief at the sound of Kaylee’s voice. Jayne’s head snapped around. “Jayne!” Kaylee gasped, her hand flying to her face. “What happened to you, Jayne?” “Verana?” Jayne’s voice caught for a moment. Distracted, he didn’t see Mal raise his gun. River did. “NO!” she shouted, but it was too late. Jayne pivoted and struck Mal a glancing blow. Glancing in that he barely connected. But the backhanded blow sent Mal flying across the cargo bay like a stuffed toy. “Lies!” Jayne roared, furious beyond reason once more. “You tempt me with lies, deceive me with malice in your heart!” “No, I swear,” River cried, backing away as Jayne stalked toward her. Her plan wasn’t working! Jayne was enraged again, and this time she was the target. “Jayne!” Kaylee shouted. “Jayne, stop it! You hear me, Jayne? You stop this right now!” Kaylee had run forward, and now placed herself between Jayne and River. “I don’t know what’s got into you, Jayne,” Kaylee said softly, her voice stern, “but that’s enough! Now you quit this, and I mean right now! You done scared us all half ta death with all this knockin’ about.” Jayne’s face softened suddenly, and his eyes begin to focus. “Kaylee?” he asked, and the voice sounded more like his own. River held her breath. Everything depended on Kaylee, now. “Yeah, Jayne,” Kaylee crooned softly. “It’s Kaylee. Now you just stop all this, okay? You’re scarin’ me and River. And poor ole ‘nara is about to pass out. And Zoe can’t decided whether to run, or shoot ya,” she smiled. “Course no better’n shootin’ ya worked out for the Cap’n, I’d be more inclined to run, myself.” “Kay. . .Kaylee?” Jayne said again, and River watched in awe as Jayne’s eyes began to return to normal, and the terrible fangs began to recede into his mouth. Suddenly Jayne was weaving. “I. . .I need blood,” he gasped weakly. “Can you make it to the infirmary?” River asked. Jayne nodded. “Kaylee, bring him to the infirmary, please,” River ordered. “Come, Jayne. We’ll get you what you need.” Inara and Zoe watched in stunned silence as the little mechanic led the giant. . .monster, out of the cargo bay. Then both raced to check on Mal, hoping he was alive. So they could kill him. --------------------------- Jayne was growing weaker by the second, and River worked hurriedly to set up a blood transfusion. “I don’t know your blood type, Jayne!” she suddenly recalled. “Matters not, little one,” he gasped out. “Use what is close to hand. It will do me no harm.” “You cannot accept blood that. . .”River trailed off, realizing how stupid that was. She grabbed two pints of blood and hurried to set up the tubes. “I will be weak for a while,” he told them, trying to stay awake. “Do not allow them . . . them to do anything to me, as I recover.” “No one will bother you, Jayne,” River promised him, and Kaylee could hear the steel in her voice. “Thank you, little one,” Jayne smiled weakly, then looked at Kaylee. “‘You and I should speak, when I’m rested,” he told her. “Would that be agreeable to you?” “You bet it is,” Kaylee smiled, taking his hand. He looked at her, even as his eyes dimmed. “Why aren’t you afraid of me, Kaylee?” he asked her, voice faltering. “I’m a monster. You saw. . .” Kaylee gently placed her fingers to his lips. “I ain’t never been afraid o’ you, Jayne Cobb,” she whispered to him. “Ain’t never had to be, and don’t ever expect to be.” She smiled at him, and he lay back, smiling himself. Kaylee looked up at River, who was watching closely. “Blood is being received,” the little genius said firmly. “I do not know how much he will need. His body is apparently able to heal itself, if given time, but I wish to have Simon remove the bullets. Can you go and get him, Kaylee? I would, but I promised him,” she nodded to Jayne. “I’ll go,” Kaylee nodded, getting to her feet. “How’d you know, River? That he’d stop for me?” River looked at Kaylee for a moment, then shrugged. It was as much in defeat and acceptance as anything. “He loves you,” was the only answer she had. For Kaylee, though, it was enough.

----------------- Simon had slept through the excitement in the cargo bay, blissfully unaware. Now, as Kaylee pounded on his door, the bliss came to an end, his head pounding. “What!” he yelled, and instantly regretted it as stars flashed before his eyes. “Simon, get UP!” he heard Kaylee’s voice. “Jayne’s been shot!” “Good!” Simon retorted, burying his head beneath his pillow. Three seconds later the message sank in, and Simon shot up, ignoring the pain he was feeling. He flung the door open, revealing Kaylee standing before him. “What happened?” he asked, heading for the infirmary. “It’s a long story,” Kaylee admitted. “Ain’t sure I know all of it myself.” “We’re in the black?” Simon asked, sensing the different feel of the ship. “Who shot Jayne out here?” he asked, wondering if he’d slept through a pirate attack or something. “Mal,” Kaylee replied, and Simon looked at her in shock. “Told you it was a long story,” Kaylee pointed out, as they entered the infirmary. “Simon,” River said at once, “Jayne has been shot. Do you remember anything from last night?” Simon started at that. How was that. . .he looked at Jayne. “About Jayne?” he said. “Yes, and how fast he heals.” “Well, that’s no longer a mystery,” River said flatly. “I’ll try and explain as we go. First off, he needed blood, and before you say it, the type doesn’t matter. Please Simon,” River raised a hand when Simon went to object, “trust me. There is no time.” “Jayne’s body, I’m fairly sure, has the ability to heal itself, but I suspect it would go faster if the bullets were removed.” Simon was still staring at Jayne, processing information as fast as his hangover would allow. “We’ll explain while you work, Simon,” River promised. Simon nodded, and set to work. ------------------ “Mal, are you hurt?” Inara asked. “Course not,” he scoffed. “I was just thrown across the cargo bay by something hadn’t oughta even exist. I’m fine.” “Good, because I think I’m going to hurt you,” Inara said crossly. “Case you ain’t noticed,” Mal groaned from the floor, where he still lay, “that’s already been done.” Mal struggled to regain his feet, conscious of several aches and pains he’d not had before. “Think I can get some help, here?” he whined. “How much help did you have getting there?” Zoe asked acidly. Mal glared at her. “As I recall, Jayne had some’at to do with me gettin’ here,” he growled. “Where is he, anyway?” “Kaylee and River took him to the infirmary,” Inara told him, still making no move to assist Mal to his feet. “Took him to the infirmary?” Mal whined. “Why him? He’s the cause of all this!” “Seems to me I remember him winding up in the airlock,” Zoe said, her voice still caustic. “Funny how that happens, on this ship. Want to try and explain how that came to be, captain?” “I don’t have to explain things on this ship!” Mal pointed out hotly. “I’m the Captain!” Both women groaned at that. “Well, fine then,” Zoe nodded. “Next time he . . . whatever he did, and comes after you, the rest of us will wait in the galley or something.” “Ain’t gonna be no next time,” Mal said, finally getting to his feet. “He ain’t stayin’ on my boat.” “You gonna shoot him out the airlock, Mal?” Zoe asked. “Cause that worked out really well the last time,” she observed, looking at the shattered airlock, and the door, now lying on the floor. “I just wanted some answers,” Mal told her. “And thought that was the best way to get them?” Inara asked in disbelief. “Worked last time, at Ariel,” Mal pointed out. “Mal, what will Jayne have to do, to convince you he’s not the same man he was then?” Inara asked quietly. “If not for him, after Miranda, we’d have been in a world of difficulty.” “Men like Jayne don’t change,” Mal objected. “I’d say he has,” Zoe retorted, suddenly very tired. “He didn’t kill you.”

----------------------- “A vampire?” Simon almost dropped his scalpel. “Mei mei, are feeling okay?” “Yes, boob!” River shot back. “Ask the others. I am not the only one who saw. And I didn’t say he was a vampire, I said he looked like one.” Simon looked to Kaylee, who was sitting opposite of them, stroking Jayne’s forehead. “It’s true,” Kaylee shrugged helplessly. “I seen it, Simon. I wouldn’a believed it neither, I hadn’t seen it myself. But I did. So did ever’body else.” “I’m sorry, I just. . .” Simon shook his head. “Vampire? They’re a myth! A legend from Earth-that-was! There’s never been any proof that such things actually exist!” “I. . .” Simon finally broke off, and resumed his work. “Three shots to the chest, at point blank range, and he walked to the infirmary?” “Yep,” Kaylee nodded, a slight smile playing across her face. “He did.” River felt a twinge of sadness at that smile, knowing that Kaylee was Jayne’s for the taking. Strangely, the fact that Jayne was. . .whatever he was, seemed to have no effect on Kaylee. River, though afraid in the bay, was no less enamored of Jayne than she had been before. In fact, she was intrigued by the fact that Jayne had been able to hide such a thing, especially from her. At least now I know what the darkness was, the ancient black that surrounded him. “That’s the last one,” Simon said, dropping another bullet into a tray next to him. “I can repair the damage, but if what you say is true. . .” “It is, but you should do what you can,” River ordered. “The faster he wakes, the quicker we can get some answers.” “True,” Simon nodded. “I’ll need some help. Mei-mei, can you hand me. . .” --------------------

The Last Spartan – Chapter Nine Author owns no rights to the Firefly universe. He makes no money from his work. ---------------------- The crew were assembled in the galley, for the most part. River was standing guard in the infirmary, and flatly refused to leave. Kaylee was still sitting beside Jayne, who remained unconscious, and likewise would not budge. Mal looked around the table. Zoe and Inara still looked at him like they would cheerfully hurt him. Simon just looked shocked. “I can’t explain it,” Simon was shaking his head. “He should be dead. But when I went in after the bullets, his body was already healing. It’s. . .medically it’s incredible.” “I’d say it’s more like supernatural,” Zoe snorted. “I’ve always heard and read tales of vampires and such. Can’t say it ever occurred to me to believe them until today.” “Myths and legends of such creatures abound all through recorded history. The most famous, of course, is Vlad Tepish. Bram Stoker immortalized him as Dracula, the king of the vampires. But stories of vampirism existed long before the Impaler was born.” “Impaler?” Zoe asked. “Vlad Tepish was a count,” Simon offered. “His way of dealing with enemies of the state was to impale them on stakes along the road to his castle. Alive,” he added with a shudder. “River knew about this,” Inara said with certainty. “At least some of it. It’s the only way to explain why she didn’t panic along with the rest of us.” “She’s the one who sent me to get Kaylee,” Zoe nodded. “Said she was the only chance we had to stop Jayne.” “I don’t care about all that,” Mal declared, anger evident in his voice. “Right now I got some kinda. . .thing, in my infirmary, and two o’ my crew standing guard over him!” Mal was still smarting from the episode in the cargo bay. Having River inform him that any attempt to do harm to Jayne before he was awake would result in violence, and Kaylee supporting her, had stung him. “Well,” Inara sighed, “Jayne has obviously been this way all along. Seems to me you have no one to blame but yourself for bringing out the. . .beast, I guess, within. You handled this very poorly, Mal.” “This ain’t a discussion about my Captainy abilities,” Mal shot back angrily. Inara scowled. “No, it’s more about your stupidity,” she replied flatly. “This is your doing, start to finish. You launched into a tirade against Jayne this morning, and haven’t let up since. And he’d done nothing to deserve it, Mal.” “I don’t like the idea of his being. . .whatever he is, anymore than you do,” she continued. “But that doesn’t change the fact that you’re at fault in this.” “Whatever the case may be,” Zoe put in, trying to get the talk back on track, “the fact remains that we seem to have a problem.” Simon snorted at her understatement. “I have a headache,” he said, massaging his temples. “I can’t do anything more to Jayne until he wakes,” he added. “River made it clear, and so did Kaylee, that he isn’t to be touched. There’s nothing to do but wait.” “I’m ‘sposed to be the one what gives the orders on this ship!” Mal said to no one in particular. “Well, help yourself,” Zoe drawled. “I have no intention of trying to face River over this. And I like the idea of facing Jayne even less, should he wake up while you’re trying to take her out.” “And if you were to harm Kaylee?” Inara added, eyebrows raised. “Jayne would likely tear you apart. Literally. “ She shuddered at the memory of the airlock door being thrown off the bulkhead. The power it would take to do such a thing. . . “When he’s awake, I’ll try and see what I can find,” Simon offered. “Maybe he’ll even be willing to talk. Until then, I need a smoother. Or a drink.” He stood. Zoe stood as well. “Mind if I join you?” she asked. Her own calm had been damaged quite badly, and a good, stiff drink sounded very good about now. “Be glad for the company,” Simon answered, and the two left. Inara watched them go, then turned to Mal. “I need to re-think some things,” she said, and rose from her chair. “What things?” Mal asked, his face showing alarm. “Mal, this is. . .I can’t be here with you like this,” Inara explained. “I can’t go through this with you, the way you’ve behaved today. Jayne may be some kind of mythical monster, I don’t know. But I do know that you promised me you’d make things right with him when he returned to the ship.” “How well do you think you did on that?” she asked pointedly, and Mal’s face flushed. “So this is all my fault,” he stated, rather than asked. Inara looked at him sadly. “What do you think?” --------------------------- River and Kaylee sat silently in the infirmary, River near the door, constantly scanning for signs that anyone was coming. Kaylee hadn’t moved from her seat beside Jayne, despite the headache that pounded her temples. “You should take a smoother,” River offered, without looking to her. “And drink some water. Jayne says that’s the only way to defeat the effects of a hangover.” “You and Jayne have gotten awful close, ain’t you, River?” Kaylee asked. “We are friends,” River replied flatly. “Nothing more.” “But you want it to be more,” Kaylee said softly, and didn’t miss the way the younger woman flinched. “He doesn’t want me,” was all River said. “He’s still your friend,” Kaylee told her, rising to get the smoother and some water. “Yes,” River agreed, her own voice barely above a whisper. “But that’s all we’ll ever be.” Kaylee felt sorry for River. She didn’t like to see her hurt. “Don’t,” River told her, still not looking around, less Kaylee see her tears. “It isn’t necessary. He will never love me, and that is all that need be said.” “River,” Kaylee tried, but River shook her head. “Don’t,” she repeated. “It will not change, and talking about it will not make it better.” Kaylee fell silent at that. Why did things always have to be so complicated? Why did someone always have to be hurt on this ship? “It is the way of things,” River replied, as if Kaylee had spoken aloud. “If it were not for pain, we would not know happiness. I will find happiness, one day. When I do, I will know it, because I know pain.” She hesitated, then added. “And so does he.” “Great pain, and loss. Tread softly, Kaylee, and give it time. He is both fragile, and indestructible at the same time. He . . . just be careful with him,” she finished, standing suddenly. “I will sit outside for a while,” she announced, walking out the door. “I will be nearby, should you need me.” Kaylee watched her go, hurting for her. -------------------- “So what do you think about all this?” Zoe asked Simon as the two sat in the cargo bay. They were nursing a bottle of brandy between them, and both had drank enough that their normally stoic and standoff manner had fallen away. “I think it’s a nightmare,” Simon said after some thought. “I keep expecting to wake up, and the biggest worry I have about Jayne is keeping my sister away from him.” “Jayne would never hurt that girl, Simon,” Zoe said firmly. “I’m not worried about him hurting her,” Simon looked at Zoe, a pained look on his face. “I’m fairly certain that River has a monumental size crush on him. And River is used to getting what she wants.” “Oh,” was all Zoe could think of to say. Had she been that out of it lately? “I hadn’t noticed that.” “No one has that I know of,” Simon replied. “Mal was mad, apparently, because Jayne and River were on the ship along last night, at least until Jayne came and kept from being robbed, and possibly killed.” “I caught part of that,” Zoe nodded. “Mal knows better. Jayne would never force a woman. He’s crude, I grant you, but he’s not like that.” “No,” Simon agreed. “I know that. I’ve never worried so much in that area, as I have his turning us in. But after what he did at Miranda, and . . . ” Simon trailed off as he realized Zoe might not want to remember that. “It’s okay, Simon,” Zoe assured him. “Jayne saved my life that day, you know,” she went on. “And do you know, I was so torn up about Wash, I don’t think I ever thanked him for it.” “No one ever thanked him for anything, so far as I know,” Simon muttered. “Me included. He didn’t have to go with us, you know. But he did. And no matter what he says about coin, there wasn’t any money involved.” “No,” Zoe agreed. “He went because he knew we needed him.” She poured another glass. “Hell of a thing for a mercenary to do.” “River says he wasn’t always a mercenary,” Simon told her, re-filling his own glass. “Called him Spartan, once. I. . .I can’t get my head around the fact that he might be. . .whatever he might be. But Spartan is a term only applied to soldiers of the city state of Sparta, in ancient Greece of Earth that was.” “What?” Zoe looked at Simon. “Are you telling me that Jayne. . .” Simon held a hand up. “I’m not telling you anything,” he stated firmly. “I’m just repeating what River called him.” “That would make him well over five hundred years old,” Zoe was shocked. Simon snorted. “You wish,” he grimaced. “Try twenty-five hundred.” The look on Zoe’s face made Simon giggle. “What’s so funny?” Zoe demanded, feeling the effects of the liquor. “Zoe, Sparta was ancient when the exodus from Earth began. Over two thousand years old.” “Wo de mah,” Zoe murmured. “Something like that,” Simon nodded. “Ish. . .it’s, a lot to process.” “To say the least,” Zoe agreed. The two of them sat silently for a while after that, each pondering on the possibilities of what Jayne was, and who he was. ------------------------- Unaware that he was the subject of so many discussions, Jayne was sleeping fitfully in the infirmary, lost in the time of his memories.

“What have you done to me, old one,” Janos demanded, waking to find his wounds healed. “I have given you a great, and terrible, gift, my young friend,” Neethos replied. “You will now have the chance to live those centuries, and see the things we discussed.” “Why am I still alive?” Janos demanded, fearing sorcery of the worst kind. “There is no witchcraft involved, young Spartan,” Neethos assured him. “Though I do not deny that the source of the gift is unknown, even to me.” “And this gift? This long life? What is the price for this treasure, Neethos?” Janos asked warily. Neethos regarded him with something skin to fondness. “Wise beyond your years, indeed, Janos, my son,” he murmured. “Yes, there is a price, a terrible price at times. And for that I am sorry.” He explained briefly, and by the end Janos had recoiled in horror. “I will never do this!” the warrior told him. “Such a thing is. . .” “Barbaric?” Neethos offered. “Yes, I fear that is so. But necessary none the less. You will find, as you mature in your new strength, that you will need less and less, until finally you need only a little, save when you are injured, such as when I found you.” “Why me?” Janos asked, stunned by what he had been told. “Why do this to me, Neethos?” “This world needs good men, Janos,” Neethos told him kindly. “There are more like me in this world than you can imagine. And not all of them are kind, or good. Someone must be able to stand against their evil, which no mere mortal can do.” “So I am to be your soldier, now?” Janos demanded. “Bear your standards, rather than those of Sparta?” “In a manner,” Neethos nodded. “I cannot make you, compel you to serve me, Janos. You are far too strong willed for that. Nor would I want to. An unwilling ally is no ally at all. You are free to do as you please.” “But I would have you know what lurks beyond the borders of that which you call home. Know that there is evil in the world that far outweighs the threat to one city, or one nation. Evil that cannot be fought on even ground, save by someone who is just as strong, just as powerful, as that evil.” “Some would call you. . .call me evil, after this,” Janos pointed out. “It is true that those who learn of your strength will accuse you of many things. Sorcery, witchcraft, conspiring with the lower gods. Of having sold your very essence in exchange for life. You must be ever on your guard, my young friend. Such will turn on you in an instant, acting in fear.” “But I will teach you, if you wish,” Neethos told him. “It will take many years to fully master your abilities. But,” the old man smiled, “time is the one thing we have plenty of.” ------------------ River stirred fitfully in the chair outside the infirmary. Jayne was dreaming again. Dreaming again of the time when he had become. . .whatever he’d become. Of the old man who had befriended him on the battlefield, and both blessed and cursed him with power most men would willingly sell their souls for. River tried to ignore the dream, but could not. She saw Jayne/Janos as he trained to use his new abilities. Then as he traveled the world, fighting in countless wars, or battling those like him who had turned to evil ways. Like a crusader, Janos had carried the Standards of Neethos against those who tried to use their age and strength against. . .mortals. The word rolled off the tongue. She saw the people he had fed upon. The few, so very few, that he had, himself, given his ‘gift’ too. People who had often disappointed him. Some who hadn’t. She saw a man, crippled by a falling horse, restored to his feet. She saw Janos kill that same man years later, when he had misused the gift given him. She felt the pain as he had left friends, lovers, homes, and moved on, because he never aged. Was never sick. Healed overnight. She felt his fear, when confronted by an old one, nearly as old as Neethos, and had fought against him for days. The two had battled endlessly, with Janos barely escaping with his life, and the old one left dead upon the ground. Most of all, she felt the loneliness. Janos had worn many names in his time, had seen most all of Earth that was, at one time or another. But he had always been a solitary figure. Alone, doomed to be apart from others. A curse, indeed, to have such a long life, and know no home, no family. To walk always alone. She fought against the tears that threatened to overwhelm her, and wished again that things could somehow be different. She finally managed to shut the images away, and resumed her watch. She had promised to guard over him. And she would. For as long as he wanted.