“Thanks for the food,” Elphaba said, smiling that same sweet smile at River. It was the sad, mourning smile of a killer, River knew. River was going to keep it from Simon- he couldn’t know. Couldn’t know that their little sister had killed their father for sins you should burn in hell for even speaking of. “Wasn’t my fault, River,” Elphie lamented. “I lived all my life on Athena, and I went to him when he came to visit last….A few months ago. He told me what Lola’s mission was, told me that he had given them my older sister’s DNA…….He expected her to fail. He said that they would simply send more and more operatives until all of you were dead. I…..I felt all of you in me at one point or another. I didn’t know it at first, didn’t know whose grief would fill me like a lead balloon in my happiest moments. Didn’t know who it was getting shot in the stomach, all I knew was I could feel it. I felt Inara and Mal’s longing for each other, and then I felt Jayne and your longing for each other. Kaylee’s happiness and Simon’s ironic sense of humor. And now you are real, instead of shadows fading into daylight when the night is over.” “That’s ‘cuz it’s always night here,” growled Jayne. He was sitting at the other end of the table, cleaning his guns, candlelight flickering over his face. The room was dark and quiet- everyone else was asleep. “I seem to remember those being my words,” sniffed River. “Then maybe I stole ‘em,” said Jayne, smiling a little. “Ain’t that what we’re good at?” “I don’t mind being a criminal,” River said, tossing her head regally. “But if you can’t say something original-.” “How do the others stand you two?” Elphie teased. “It took awhile,” explained Simon, stumbling into the kitchen and grabbing a bottle of water, one of the last. They needed to refuel, and restock. Running low on moldy protein was a rarity. “Seeing my sister and the man-ape thing- no offense meant- was kind of disturbing at first.” “You and Kaylee are just as bad,” Elphie informed him. “Maybe even worse, cuz you two are all sickly sweet. Ain’t like Jayne and River are gonna make a person need insulin.” “What happened to your accent?” asked Simon incredulously. The young girl sounded all of the sudden like she had grown up on the same planet as Jayne, Athena. “I did. Sort of,” she said, and for a moment they wondered what she was talking about. “I didn’t say I was a terrible psychic.” “How did you grow up on Athena?” asked Simon, settling in the chair beside her. “You know all those business trips our father took? Yeah, he was coming to visit us,” said Elphie, not noticing the look on Simon’s face. “Our daddy was an evil man, though, I’ll tell you that much.” Simon eyed her for a moment more, then walked out of the room, not sure what to say to that. “He’s weak. He has to learn,” said Elphie, gazing at her potato flavored protein. “He still needs to learn how to fight, how to deal.” “It blows my mind how he could be related to the two of you,” Jayne snickered, leaning back. “Simon can be weak, yeah. How come your older sister here didn’t pick up on that?” “You’re all weak compared to Lola. She would kill you all and not lose any sleep over it. Here I am torn in the middle, don’t know which way to go. Toy boat caught in the whirlpool. Just a tiny, nearly helpless thing. So they think. Tugged one way then another,” Elphie murmured. She looked up at them sharply. “One life in exchange for all of yours…..” “Thought she wasn’t a crazy,” snarled Jayne, leaning back. “Be nice,” warned River. “Being around me increases her intuitiveness.” “Great- another little nutso,” Jayne said affectionately. “Soon to be three….,” mumbled Elphie. *~*

“Let’s go have a talk with….Lola,” said Mal distastefully, after a quick glance at Jayne, River, and Elphie all asleep at the table, heads slumped on their arms. River was half on Jayne’s lap, her small head burrowed in his elbow. “Be nice….,” Elphie burbled in her sleep, and Zoe glared blankly at the wall above her head. “Sir, why am I doing this? Why not Jayne?” she asked. “Well, Jayne’s asleep.” “Why can’t you wake him?” “’Cuz that girl is using him as a pillow, and her mad ain’t exactly a happy event.” Zoe sighed and Mal unlocked the door. The girl who looked exactly like River was cross legged on the floor, and she looked like she was meditating. “You found Elphie, I take it. I’m here to kill all of you.” “Nice way to hide your plan,” Mal said. “If the rest of the interrogatin’ goes this way, we may be done in time for breakfast.” “Well, only if Jayne can get River up without a bloodbath,” amended Zoe. “Did you just make a joke? A joke? Really, I thought you were gonna mope throughout this,” Mal said. “Sir, this spawn may know if my husband is alive. Wouldn’t miss this for the world,” Zoe growled, a spark returning to her eyes. “Hey- there’s a wave coming in for us,” Simon announced over the loudspeaker. Sighing, Mal and Zoe backed out of the room, leaving the girl bewildered. *~*

Once they were all gathered on the bridge, River still sleeping propped up against Jayne, Simon hit a small button and Wash’s beaten and bruised face filled the screen. “Hi, honey,” he said simply. “You’re supposed to be dead!” Jayne exclaimed. “Trust me, that might be an improvement,” Wash said, and launched into his story.