BLUE SUN ROOM FAN FICTION - GENERAL

BADKARMA00

Archangel Chapter Twenty
Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Jayne goes a tad medieval. Just a tad.


CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 2060    RATING:     SERIES: FIREFLY

Archangel Chapter Twenty Author owns no rights to Firefly, and no copyright infringement is intended. Fanfic only. --------------------------- “We ready?” Mal asked, as he descended into the bay. Jayne nodded. He had already lowered the mule, and loaded the cargo. He was standing by now, fully armed and ready to go. River was sitting on a crate, likewise prepared to go. “Well, let’s get this seen to, then,” Mal ordered. “Maybehaps we can get off this planet without having anymore difficulties.” “Don’t count on it,” Jayne muttered. River just snorted. “Mei mei, lock her up soon’s we leave,” Mal ordered Kaylee. The engineer nodded. She stood on her toes and kissed Jayne lightly. “Be careful, bao bei,” she said softly. “And take care o’ the Cap’n,” she added with a smile. “I will,” he winked. “You don’t open that door for no reason till we get back, dong ma?” She nodded. The three of them loaded onto the mule, and Mal set off into town. It should be an easy piece of work, he hoped. Just drop some dry goods at a store in town, and get paid. Easy peazy. But it ain’t never like that, he told himself. They were in town in only a couple minutes, and Mal drove to the rear of the store, rather than take the main road. No sense making things harder. He dismounted, Jayne and River following. Jayne took up a position where he could watch everything, and River stood close by Mal. Mal looked at them, fighting the urge to shake his head. Then he knocked on the door. “Who is it?” a voice asked from inside. “Name’s Reynolds,” Mal answered through the door. “Gotta delivery for ya from over Persephone way,” he added. “Dry goods and such not.” He heard the sound of a dead bolt sliding, and the door opened slowly to reveal an older man with a shotgun. “I’d as soon not get shot, you don’t mind,” Mal said calmly. The old man lowered the weapon, looking chagrined. “Sorry about that,” he murmured, setting the gun aside. “Had a mite o’ trouble last night, and we’re all a bit spooked.” “I can understand that,” Mal replied amiably. “Trouble has that effect on me. Wanna take a look at your goods?” “From Diebald?” the man asked. Mal nodded. “No, his word is good. If he sent it, it’s what I ordered. Can you bring it inside?” “Jayne,” Mal ordered, and Jayne started unloading, while River moved to take up his position. No word passed between them. Mal did shake his head at that, but was pleased to see how good they worked together. Whatever had happened between the two, it was for the best. “About our payment?” he said to the store owner. “I’ll get it,” the man nodded, and went back to the store front. He’d been gone only seconds when there was a clatter out in the store. “Wanna know what hap’ened ta my men!” Mal heard a new voice declare. “And if’n I don’t get some news, right soon, there’s gon’ be trouble!” “I don’t know what happened to your men,” he heard the old man say, frightened. “I told you that already.” “Somebody knows what did, and I aim to find out! If’n I have ta burn this whole place ta tha groun’!” Mal frowned. Suddenly Jayne was by his side. “Can’t let this keep goin’, Mal,” the big man said in a whisper. “I need to see to this.” “We’ll see to it,” Mal nodded. “Finished unloadin’?” he asked. Jayne nodded. “River, stay here, watch the mule, and the alley. Don’t let’em take us from behind,” Mal ordered. The girl nodded, and took up a post inside, but where she could still see. Mal looked at Jayne, and nodded. The big man stepped through the curtain without hesitation. “Hey, tough guy!” Jayne called, voice mocking. “I’m what happened to them hundans you call men!” Rye turned in a flash, caught by surprise. Mal winced at Jayne’s words, but acknowledged that it did get the greasy looking ‘tusker’s’ attention away from the store owner. Rye’s hand flashed to his gun, but he froze as he found himself looking down Vera’s barrel. He started to raise his hands, but Jayne smiled. “Too late for that. Say good night.” Jayne pulled the trigger, and Rye’s body flew out the door, sprawling in the street. Excited shouts were heard from up and down the street. The two men who had been with the lead tusker grabbed for their weapons, but Jayne killed both in a flash, before Mal could ever get a shot off. “Watch the old man,” Jayne ordered, and again there was no question it was an order. Jayne stalked outside, seeing the remaining tuskers headed in his direction. Jayne never paused. Five of the remaining wild men were on the ground, dead, before the rest realized what was happening. Four tried to shoot back, while five more decided to run. Jayne stood his ground, calmly shooting the four shooting at him first. A bullet burned across his arm, and another grazed his leg, but he ignored it, and finished the last one. Then, with a look at Mal, he started in pursuit of the runners. “Jayne!” Mal yelled, but the big man never slowed, following the departing tuskers on foot. Mal swore, and turned to the store owner. “Sorry ‘bout the mess,” he shrugged. “Take that money, now,” he added. He looked at River. “Best get the mule around front. Your ‘ge ge’ just took out after the rest o’ that bunch. Reckon we need to go get him.” River nodded, and hurried outside. Mal turned back to the store owner. “What was all that about, anyway?” he asked. “That bunch,” the oldster pointed at Rye and his companions, “show up here ‘bout three times a year, and terrorize the place. ‘Parently, someone took offense this time, kilt a buncha his men.” “Well, if I know my man, he’ll get the rest,” Mal sighed. “Sorry about the mess, but we wasn’t sure he wouldn’t burn you out.” “I’ll clean the mess,” the old man assured him. “That man o’ yours is right handy. Likely be a reward for what he’s done. Make sure he comes back.” “Oh, he’ll come back,” Mal assured him. “Ain’t no five men I know of can take him.” Mal heard the pride in his voice and wondered at it. River pulled to the front with the mule as Mal took the coin. “Reckon we’ll go fetch him,” Mal nodded. “Take care, now.” “Thanks, Reynolds,” the older man said. “Likely saved my store, and probably my life.” “We’re all just folks,” Mal replied. “Got to help a body in need out, s’all.” With that he headed out to the mule, climbing into the driver’s seat, as River moved over, and picked up her rifle. “Let’s go get him,” she ordered. Mal nodded, and took off, following Jayne’s path. ----------------------- He was a mile out of town when they caught him. They had passed four bodies along the way, all shot in the head. Jayne had the last one in his grip when they reached him. The man had been shot in the leg, and now Jayne was cutting him something terrible with his knife. “Think you’re something, don’t ya?” he snarled, slicing at the man’s face again. “Buncha ya attackin’ a woman like that.” The knife worked it’s way down the screaming tusker’s chest at that. “Five o’ you on one woman, ain’t that manly!” The knife trailed down and cut inside the tusker’s good leg. “Beatin’ up a woman don’t make you no man, you worthless. . . .” “Jayne!” Mal called, blanching at what Jayne had done. Jayne looked at him, and Mal paled at the red in Jayne’s eyes. River dismounted and started toward him. “River!” Mal called. “Don’t!” “Ge ge will not harm me,” she told him confidently. She walked to near arm’s length from Jayne, and stopped. “Must finish him, ge ge,” she ordered softly. “Much yet to do, and we need to go.” Jayne’s fire seemed to die out a little, and he turned back to the screaming struggling man in his grip. “For your sins,” he whispered, and plunged the blade straight into the man’s heart. The screaming and struggling stopped. Jayne tossed the body aside, and cleaned the blade on the grass nearby before sheathing it. “I’m ready,” he said calmly. River smiled up at him. “Did good,” she nodded firmly, and took his hand. The two came back to the mule, and got aboard without a word. “Jayne, that was. . .” Mal started. “He was the last o’ the ones who attacked Zoe,” Jayne told him, and Mal’s objection died on his lips. “Well, that’s. . .good, then. Let’s get back.” Mal piloted them back to town, where, sure enough, several citizens waited for him, the store owner at the ‘fore. “Welcome back!” the old man smiled. Jayne nodded, but didn’t speak. “We’re just on our way back to the ship,” Mal told him, as people gathered around the mule. “You got to stay the night!” one woman declared, eyeing Jayne appreciatively. “We need to show you our gratitude for what ya did!” “We’ll have a big dinner!” a man nearby said. “Ever’body’ll bring their best dish, and we’ll have a pot luck! Maybe a dance!” Mal was at a loss. River felt it, and leaned over to him. “Lived in fear of these men for a long time, Captain Daddy,” she whispered. “Many died, others brutalized. Raped. Stolen from. We have lifted the millstone from around their neck.” Mal looked at her, and nodded. He understood that. “Folks, ain’t no need. . . .” “We accept,” Jayne said over him. “What time?” Mal glared at Jayne, but the townspeople cheered. “How ‘bout seven tonight!” the store owner declared. “Give us time to get things done up proper!” “Seven all right with you, sir?,” Jayne asked Mal. Mal didn’t know what shocked him more. That Jayne had over ruled him, or called him sir. But he knew there was no graceful way to back out, now. “We’ll be here,” Mal nodded. “Meantime, we got work to do, so we’ll see you then.” Everyone nodded at that, and Mal eased the mule along as people parted to let them through. “Jayne, I am still in charge around here,” Mal growled. “I know that,” Jayne nodded. “But this is a big deal to them, Mal. They’d been hurt, we didn’t do it. And it’s a chance for us to have a decent time, ‘thout no worryin’ what’s waitin’ over the rise. Be good for ever’body, especially them folks,” he jabbed a thumb over his shoulder at the town. “And it’s the least we can do,” River smiled. “They are offering us a feast, Captain Daddy. Taken from their own mouths in gratitude. Repaying our deeds the only way they can.” “And, it’s Jayne’s home,” she added. “He deserves it as well, and it will be of great help to his people who still live here.” Mal thought on that, and finally nodded. “Okay, then,” he agreed. “But I still give the orders!” he demanded. “Wasn’t givin’ orders, Mal,” Jayne said calmly. “Just knew that they wasn’t gonna take no fer an answer. This way I ain’t explainin’ that to you in front o’ them, makin’ you look bad. You’re still the boss, and now, they know it.” Mal fought to keep his shock from showing at that, and River snickered at him. He frowned, but he didn’t mean it, and she knew it. “Well, it’ll be good break from protein,” Mal said. “Sure will,” Jayne agreed. “These folks can cook, and most grow their own. It’ll be real food, and likely be good, too. Might even be a keg o’ good home brewed beer. Two or three fellas, when I was a young’un, had home brewers. Sold their wares here and there. Good stuff.” “We ain’t needin’ to be drunk, Jayne,” Mal warned. River snickered again. “Kaylee will keep him in line,” she said, and Jayne scowled at her, but there was no heat in it. “I’ll drink if’n I wanna, and as much as I wanna,” he said, his tone defiant. ------------------------ Mal guided the mule gently into the cargo bay, and the three dismounted. Jayne attached the harness, and started raising the vehicle up on the winch. As he watched the mule ascend slowly, he felt a pair of arms circle him, and smiled. “Welcome home,” Kaylee said softly, her face pressed to his back. “Heard shootin’ in town,” she said mildly. “I heard it myself,” Jayne replied calmly. “Always somethin’ goin’ on in these little backwaters.” “Jayne,” Kaylee growled in warning. She pulled her arms around, and he heard her gasp. “Jayne! You’re bloody! Are you hurt, ai ren?” Jayne grimaced, looking down at his clothes. He turned so she could see his face. “No, Kaylee, I ain’t hurt,” he promised gently. “Ran into the rest o’ that bunch that attacked Zoe. They won’t do it again,” he added softly. She smiled weakly. “You got to quit scarin’ me like that, Jayne,” she scolded, slapping his chest playfully. “Didn’t mean to,” he admitted. “Forgot ‘bout it, thinkin’ ‘bout the party.” “Party?” Kaylee perked up at that. “What party?” “Seems the folks in town were some pleased that the tuskers got run off,” he shrugged. “Gonna throw us a party tonight. Dinner and dancin’.” “Dancin’?” Kaylee perked up more at that. “Oh, Jayne, that’s just shiny! I gotta go tell Inara!” “Might wanna wash that off, first,” he nodded to her arms. “And I’m sorry ‘bout that.” “It’ll wash off,” Kaylee grinned. “Long as it ain’t yours, it’s okay.” She stood on her toes, careful not to touch him, and kissed his lips lightly. “See you later.” Jayne watched as she bounded away to share the good news with Inara. When he turned, Mal was standing there, watching. “She really does have a magic touch with you, don’t she?” he asked. His tone was not the least bit sarcastic, but rather was deadly serious. “‘Spose so,” Jayne shrugged. “Jayne, how like is what happened today to happen again?” Mal asked, serious. “If you mean me takin’ up for the old man, I’d say it’ll happen pretty much ever time,” Jayne told him honestly. “If you mean what I did to the last one,” he shrugged. “He was the last of the five that hurt Zoe.” “You said that,” Mal nodded. “But Jayne that was, well, was that really needful?” “Why’nt you ask Zoe,” Jayne replied calmly. “Or River, since she could feel what they was plannin’ for Zoe.” Mal didn’t have an answer to that. “Well, I’d be appreciative, in the future, could you see your way to let me decide on how we handle things like that.” “I’ll think on it,” Jayne promised. Mal frowned as Jayne turned his attention back to the mule. ‘Think on it’ wasn’t the answer he’d been looking for. But it seemed as if it were all he was likely to get, so he dropped it. “Want us to go down to the party together,” he said finally. Jayne nodded. “Good idea.” “Reckon the ship’ll be safe, with no one on it?” Mal asked. “Should be, now,” Jayne nodded again. “Ain’t no one likely to bother your ship, anyway,” he grinned. Mal chuckled. “No, taken that way, I ‘spose not. Well,” he straightened. “I got Captainy things to see to. Make sure you wash that blood of’n you.” “Soon’s I get this done.” --------------------- “How are you feeling, Zoe?” River asked quietly, walking into the infirmary. Zoe smiled slightly. “I’ve felt better, little one,” she admitted. “Reckon I’ll live, though.” “You will,” River nodded. “I checked with Simon. You are to make a full recovery, though there will be some pain for a time. Rib fractures require some time to heal, and cartilage is. . . .” “River, spare me the details,” Zoe chuckled. “I already got’em from Simon, and I won’t understand’em no better from you than I did from him.” River smiled. “Sorry,” she giggled. “I thought you would want to know, however, that the last of the men who did this,” she waved at Zoe, lying abed, “has paid for his transgressions.” “He has, huh?” Zoe raised an eyebrow. “He felt much fear before the end,” River nodded. “Knew what it was to be the victim before he died.” “You?” Zoe asked. “Jayne,” River corrected. “Punished him for injuring you.” Zoe nodded at that, surprised. Jayne certainly hadn’t acted lately as if he’d. . . . “Would have done it for anyone on the ship,” River assured her. “No peekin’,” Zoe scolded playfully. “Not peeking,” River promised. “Can see it on your face. That’s all.” “Well, I’d thank him, if I thought he’d listen,” Zoe said quietly. River shrugged. “Expects no thanks. Won’t matter if you don’t.” “Does to me,” Zoe objected. “Then do so,” River shrugged again. “He can either accept, or not. Neither action on his part detracts from your gratitude.” With that the little reader spun and left the room. Zoe lay back, pondering.

COMMENTS

Friday, March 14, 2008 2:36 AM

DUN


Seems jaynes taken over and rivers zoe,starting too feel sorry for mal,good stuff .


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