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BADKARMA00

Inferno – Chapter Thirteen
Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Looking for the Mann's


CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 2090    RATING: 9    SERIES: FIREFLY

Inferno – Chapter Thirteen I do not own Firefly, nor any rights to it, at all. I write only for fun, and not money. ------------- Jayne and Liam worked their way through the rubble to a spot mere feet from the slaver shuttle. Even as they watched, two men emerged, dragging a struggling woman between them. Jayne glanced at Liam, and was surprised to see a look of fury on his face. He reached over to touch his arm lightly, and Liam jerked at the touch. Jayne placed his finger to his lips, then held up the same finger. Be quiet, wait. Liam nodded. Kid musta had a run-in with slavers, somewhere, Jayne decided. He turned back to the shuttle. Presently the two men emerged again, going straight back into the building. Jayne looked at Laim. “No telling how many are on that shuttle,” he whispered. “Those look like the same two we saw earlier to you?” Liam nodded. “Okay then,” Jayne decided, “let’s introduce ourselves.” The two men erupted from their hiding spot, covering the distance between them and the shuttle in seconds. Jayne looked at Liam, nodded, and turned the corner, heading straight into the shuttle. “Who the hell are. . .” a man standing in the entrance demanded, but cut off abruptly as Jayne introduced him to Vera’s stock. “Harry, what’s got you. . .” another man started, walking into the entrance, only to meet Liam Greggs’ hard fist. The younger man caught his victim as he folded up, lowering him to the ground without noise. Jayne nodded in approval. They quickly bound and gagged the two men, depositing them in a small storage compartment. They might run out of air, but Jayne wouldn’t waste much time crying over slavers. He motioned to the passageway, and he and Liam started up. A quick search of the bridge proved the ship to be otherwise unmanned. Satisfied, they moved to the shuttle’s cargo bay. Jayne was appalled by what he found. Women, children, and a few men, were all crammed into the small hold, often piled atop one another. He heard Liam growl softly, and turned to him. “Keep a lid on that, for now, kid,” he warned. “We gotta job to do. I’m gonna see about releasing these folks. You keep watch for our friends to get back.” Greggs nodded, and went back down the passageway. Jayne steeled himself, and walked into the bay. Several people looked up at him, but no one offered to speak. Pro’ly figure I’m a slaver, he decided. “Look, people, I ain’t a slaver,” he said quietly. “I’m gonna try and get you outta here. Did one of them guys in the shuttle have the key?” “Yes,” a woman near him replied. “Not the two men who caught us, but the one who waits, in the doorway.” Jayne nodded. “I’ll be back. I need to go check him for the keys.” He started out, then paused, turning back. “Is one of you Linda Mann? Or know where she is?” He looked around the room. Finally one woman, with two children huddled around her, lifted her arm. “I’m Linda Mann,” she croaked out, not bothering to raise her head. Jayne felt his heart swell. “You just sit tight, ma’am,” Jayne smiled. “Your brother named George Harwell?” he asked, suddenly aware there might be more than one Linda Mann. “Yes,” the woman’s head came up at that, and Jayne was relieved to see a light in her eyes. She was dirty, disheveled, but she was the woman from the capture. “He sent me to look in on you, ma’am,” he told her. “Let me just get those keys.” With that he hurried out of the room. Liam Greggs was standing near the door when Jayne got back to the entrance way. “I need a set of keys one of those hundans,” he pointed to the compartment where they had stashed the two men, “has. It’s the keys to set these folks loose.” He smiled when he added, “and Linda Mann is one of them.” “That’s good,” Liam nodded. “But we better hurry. Another shuttle, looking a powerful lot like this one, just flew overhead. Might be back any minute.” Jayne nodded, and opened the box. The two men were still out, and it was the work of only a minute to locate the keys. “Got’em,” Jayne called out. “You keep your watch, okay? Soon as I can release these folks, and grab the lady and her young’uns, we’re gone.” “We just gonna leave them to fend for themselves?” Liam asked. Jayne shrugged. “I don’t know what else we can do, Liam,” he replied. “We can’t take’em on the ship. Ain’t got the air for it. I don’t like leavin’em, either. But what else can we do?” Greggs shrugged helplessly. He didn’t know either. Jayne looked at him. “You think on it, kid,” he ordered him. “If you can figure something out, that won’t keep us from gettin’ back, then I’m for it.” Greggs nodded, and Jayne hurried back to the bay. Once there, the people in chains thronged to get his attention. “Calm down!” he roared, regretting it, but needing order. “I’m working on it.” He found the right key, and worked his way down the line quickly. When he reached Linda Mann, she grabbed his hands. “My daughter,” she cried. “They took my daughter away when they brought us in here.” Jayne bit back a curse. “We’ll find her,” he promised. “This ship ain’t that big. She’s gotta be here somewhere. I want you and your young’uns to wait here, with me. I’m gonna take you to your brother.” “Off world?” Linda Mann’s eyes widened. “You can get us off the planet?” Jayne shushed her. “Just don’t you worry, okay. Stay calm, and let me see to the rest of these folks. Then, we’ll get your daughter, and go.” ------------------ River was walking toward the bridge when she heard the whine of the shuttle. Racing back to the docking hatch, she felt for Jayne, but couldn’t find him, sensing only Goldie, and someone else. Someone strange. She eased her pistol from it’s holster, and waited. “That the shuttle?” Kaylee asked, running in. She saw the gun in River’s hand, and her eyes widened. “Strange mind on the shuttle,” River hissed. “And only Goldie. No Jayne, no Liam.” Kaylee ran back along the passageway, leaving River a clear area. Kaylee knew she wouldn’t be any help to the little assassin, and she probably didn’t need it anyway. The hatch spun, and the door flew open. Goldie found himself looking into the barrel of River’s pistol. “Easy now, little’un,” Goldie raised his hands. “I got Weldon Mann on here, that’s all. Jayne found him, told me to bring him back while he and Liam kept looking for the others. Mann’s in a bad way, and needs Simon.” “I’ll get him,” Kaylee yelled and ran off to get the doctor. River eyed Goldie for a moment. “Jayne ordered you to leave him?” she asked, eyebrows raised. “Just long enough to bring Mann in. He’s been gut shot,” Goldie added. “We patched him up best we could, but he needs Simon.” River nodded, satisfied. “Soon as we can get him off the shuttle, I gotta head back,” Goldie explained. “Jayne was hoping since we found Weldon there, maybe the rest were nearby. He should be done with his search, time I can get back. Be nice,” he commented, “if Mister Mann here could tell us anything, but I don’t think that’s gonna happen.” “Where is he?” Simon asked, following Kaylee onto the platform. Two of the Frye clan’s male members were following, with a stretcher. “In here, Doc,” Goldie stepped back to allow Simon on board. Simon knelt and quickly examined Weldon Mann. “Gunshot to the stomach,” Simon grimaced. “Okay, let’s get him to the infirmary. Look’s like there’s a lot of damage. Kaylee,” he looked up. “Get some help, and move Zoe’s bed to the side, bring the other one over where she is. And get the curtain raised. She can’t come out just yet, but this has to be dealt with now.” Kaylee nodded and ran off once more, while Simon helped the two men get Mann onto the stretcher. They lifted him gently, carrying him out of the shuttle, and headed to the infirmary. River looked at Goldie. “I’m gone,” Goldie winked. “Be back ‘fore you know it.” With that, he dogged the hatch once more, and seconds later, was back in the air. River listened to the sound of the departing shuttle, and sighed. Sure, he’ll run away, she groused. Fast as I can. She had sensed in Goldie’s mind the slaver shuttle, and Jayne’s intent to ‘have a look at it’. Turning, she trudged back to the bridge, feeling helpless. Jayne had promised he’d come back, though. And he always kept his promises. ----------------- “So what is this ‘very good news’?” Mal asked. “We caught a break in the Tito case,” Toby smiled. “Seems that I may have been less than right about the motive. It wasn’t someone wanting to move in on Tito’s business. It was another dealer, though,” he told Mal. “Three years ago, Tito and his friends killed a man named Manny Chin. Chin’s brother ran a good sized operation, and Tito apparently wanted to make sure that Chin didn’t get any ideas about expanding.” “There was a gun battle, and Manny caught one. Of course, with Grip in office, Tito didn’t see the inside of the jail. It just so happens that Hector Chin, Manny’s said brother, owns a really pretty green ground car. And he has a hulking ‘bodyguard’ that never leaves his side. And,” Toby was smiling, “said bodyguard carries a rather impressive looking machete.” Mal leaned back, absorbing all that. “So we think this Chin fella is the one who did for ole Tito?” he asked finally. “We do,” Toby nodded firmly. “Is there any sorta physical evidence to back that up?” Mal asked. “I ain’t much on such proceedings, as you’re certainly aware by now. But I do know that judges favor such things.” “Now that I know who we might be looking for,” Toby told him, “I’m going back over all the information from the crime scene, and I’m gonna have another look at the scene itself, this afternoon.” “Don’t go alone,” Mal said at once. “Take the Greggs boys with you. And if anyone asks why you’re there, tell them that I made you do it, cause I wanted folks to think we’re on the job. Let’s keep this little tidbit between you and me for now.” “You got it,” Toby Bontrager smiled. “I thought that might make you happy.” “You have no idea.” ----------------- Jayne finished opening the last of the locks just as gunshots rang out from the rear of the shuttle. Instantly panic flooded the bay. “Quiet, all o’ you!” Jayne shouted, and most of the noise died away. “Stay here and be quiet. I need to see what’s happening.” He turned to Linda Mann. “Ma’am, you stay put, no matter what the rest do. Soon as I check on this, we’ll find your daughter, and get outta here.” The woman nodded, seemingly unable to speak. Jayne left the bay in a hurry, advancing up the passage-way to where he’d left Liam Greggs. The younger man was down, hit in the leg. Jayne saw two still forms at the foot of the small ramp. “Our friends came back,” Greggs gasped out, working to tie a bandage around his bleeding leg. “Sorta killed’em, a little,” he added, grunting in pain. “Well, these things happen,” Jayne chuckled. “How bad you hit?” “Don’t know,” Liam grinned weakly. “Ain’t never been shot before I came to work for you all. Hurts like hell, I tell ya that.” “I ‘spect,” Jayne chuckled. “Think you can walk?” “Won’t be running, but I can manage, I think,” Greggs nodded, standing. “Went through the fleshy part of my leg. Ain’t bled that much, just hurts.” “You’re a good man to have around, Liam,” Jayne said seriously, and the young man’s face turned a bit red at the praise. “Thanks, Jayne,” he replied, just as serious. “What now?” “Gotta find the Mann daughter,” Jayne told him. “Hundans took her away when they got’em on board.” He left unsaid why that might have been, but Greggs nodded, knowing it without being told. “You still stand the watch?” “I’ll let you know if I can’t,” Liam promised. “Good man. I’ll start sending people forward. Let’em go where they will, I guess. Most of’em live here, nearby, anyway. They can make their way.” “You got it,” Greggs nodded, returning to his post at the door. Jayne ran back along the passageway, and into the bay. “Everything’s fine,” he assured them. “My partner just took down the other two slavers. Start making your way off the ship, and be careful. These weren’t the only thugs in the neighborhood. Good luck to you.” “That’s it?” one man asked, his face betraying his shock. “You just set us free and say good luck?” “All I can do for you, sir,” Jayne shrugged helplessly. “I got no way to get you off world, or even somewhere safe. But I couldn’t leave you to these animals.” “You’re taking her,” the man snarled, pointing to Linda Mann. Mann dropped her head guiltily. “Yes, sir, I am,” Jayne admitted neutrally. “Was sent to get her, in particular. But I don’t have the room for more. I’m sorry, but it’s a small ship, and overloaded as is.” “Oh, so the rich folks get help, and the rest of us do without!” the man shot back, and Jayne felt his temper flare. Just a little. “I don’t know how much money she has, mister,” Jayne said icily. “Or care. I came here because I owe her family. They ain’t paying me, I’m repaying them. So I suggest you stop wasting time, arguing with me, and start making your way. That goes for all of you.” The people starting making their way. Several shot rather hostile glances at Mann, but none at Jayne. Jayne reached for his comm. “Liam, some of these folks are worked up about not coming with us,” he warned. “Watch yourself.” “Got it. Boss,” Liam answered. Jayne replaced the com. “Ma’am,” he spoke to Mann, “let’s go see can we find your daughter.” --------------------

COMMENTS

Tuesday, January 1, 2008 5:17 AM

AMDOBELL


Okay, I'm confused. Given that there are a lot of women and children on that slaver's shuttle, once Jayne and Liam had knocked up and tied up the two slaver guards why in the nine hells didn't they just take off with them all aboard and go to Serenity? Or to some safer place to unload the people? Just sitting there waiting for the rest of the *hundan* to find them wasn't very bright. Ali D
You can't take the sky from me


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