Archangel Chapter Twenty Seven Author owns no rights to Firefly, and no copyright infringement is intended. Fanfic only. -------------------- Mal and Zoe followed Monty into the building that served as a headquarters for the ‘army’. Zoe was limping slightly, and holding herself stiffly erect. Her ribs still hurt. “Monty,” Mal asked as they walked. “What is all this?” “What’s it look like?” Monty smiled over his shoulder. “It’s our chance to make things right.” “Make things right?” Mal asked. “How’s that?” “Alliance is busy with all this reaver business,” Monty told him. “Now’s our chance. Won’t come again, I’m thinkin’. It’s now, or never.” “Monty, the war’s over,” Mal said quietly. “We lost.” “That war’s over,” Monty nodded. “This one ain’t started yet. This time, we’ll be a real rebel army. No gorram high command, giving senseless orders and gettin’ good men and women killed for nothin’. This time, we’re callin’ the shots.” “Who is ‘we’?” Mal demanded. “I mean, it’s right obvious that you’re in charge, or at least somewhat high up the chain.” “Got someone I want you to meet,” Monty smiled. “Been a right help to us, in fact. Come one into my office.” Monty led the two into a large room, filled with maps, and reports. Another man was standing in the office, looking out the window. When he turned, Mal bit off a curse, and Zoe’s hand dropped to her carbine. “Hello, Malcolm Reynolds,” the Operative said, smiling. --------------------- River suddenly stood bolt stiff, eyes glassy. Jayne looked at her closely. “River, sweetie, are you okay?” Kaylee asked. “Captain Daddy’s. . .angry. No, hurt. No. . .” River frowned in frustration. “He has been surprised by something, and his emotions are aflutter. Zoe is angry, more than anything, but both are shocked.” “Where are they?” Jayne asked, standing. “Inside,” River pointed to the building. “Monty is there, and. . . .” She turned to Jayne, eyes wide. “The Operative.” “Stay here,” Jayne ordered, and broke into a run before anyone could say anything else. -------------------- “Wang boa dahn!” Zoe snarled, drawing her carbine. “Yin hui gao yang jong duh goo yang!” Mal growled at the same time, and drew his pistol. “What are you doin’?” Monty declared, looking at Mal with astonishment. “This is the man I wanted you to meet!” “We already met,” Mal spat out. “He’s an Alliance Operative! Same one that nearly ended me, and did kill Wash and Book, and no tellin’ how many more!” Before Monty could reply, everyone’s attention was drawn to the window, and the sound of breaking glass. Jayne’s huge frame flew through the shower of glass, and tackled the Operative, both men rolling to the floor. When they came to a rest, Jayne had the Operative in an odd looking hold that brought one arm under his chin, and laid the other across the top of his head. “You even breathe hard, I’ll end you right here,” Jayne almost whispered, his eyes glowing with the faint red that was a danger signal to all who knew him. “Mal, get that ape off him!” Monty ordered, hand resting on his gun. “Or I’ll kill him.” Monty froze as he heard Mal’s pistol cock, and turned slowly to see the gun pointed right at his head. “Monty, you lift that gun at Jayne, and I’ll kill you where you stand,” Mal said grimly. “I’d hate to do it, mind. But don’t think for a moment that I won’t.” “Are you loco?” Monty demanded. “There’s ten thousand men in this camp, right now!” “Be one less, you draw that gun,” Zoe told him darkly. “If Mal don’t kill you, I will.” “Your friend, here,” Mal pointed at the almost choking Operative, “caused us a boat load of trouble, misfortune, and death. It saddens me no end to see you took up with him, Monty. Reckon our talkin’ is at an end. I’ll take my money, and me and mine will be on our merry.” “Mal, you got this all wrong,” Monty told him calmly. “I know who he is, what he was.” “That just makes it worse,” Mal growled. “Now get our pay, and we’ll be goin’. Jayne? Don’t be killin’ him. I know you want to, and I’d not mind myself. But I want us all outta here, and safe.” “Whatever you want, Mal,” Jayne growled, not loosening his hold on the Operative. Mal hid a sigh of relief at that. “Mal, let me explain what’s happened a’fore you go and do somethin’ you’re like to regret.” Monty hadn’t moved. “I already regret it,” Mal told him honestly. “And I’d soon not have anything else to regret, neither. Now, about our pay?” Monty shook his head sadly, and went to the desk, withdrawing a small bag, and tossing it too Mal. “I never thought you’d turn your back on me, Mal,” Monty told him. “You turned on me, Monty, takin’ up with this hundan,” Mal shot back. “After all the misery and death he brung on me and mine, you lead us right into the same room with him?” “I wanted him to tell you what’s happening, Mal,” Monty sighed. “Yes, I know he was an Operative, and he freely admitted what he did to you and your crew. But ‘thout him, we wouldn’t have the chance we have now.” “You ain’t got no chance,” Mal snarled. “Not with him around.” He looked at the Operative. “Swore I’d kill you, I saw you again,” he said flatly. “Gonna let this slide, on account o’ the company you keep. But this is it. See you again, I kill you.” “And you can bet that goes double for me,” Jayne hissed. “I told you this wasn’t wise,” the Operative choked out at Monty. The other man nodded, sadly. “So you did, Gerald. I just thought better o’ Mal than this.” “You thought better o’ me?” Mal screeched. “You know what this man did to us, and still you bring us in here with him? And you got the balls to say you thought better of me?!” Mal was angry, now. Really angry. “I thought you’d be able to set aside your personal feelin’s for the good o’ everyone else,” Monty nodded. “Was wrong to think it, I guess.” “Monty, I’m still sorely tempted to shoot you,” Zoe warned. “Don’t go addin’ to that with any more lip. Dong Ma?” “Zoe, try and look at what we’re doin’ here,” Monty pleaded. “With his help, we may can make things right. Get ours back, and then some! Get shut o’ the Alliance for good!” “Never happen,” Mal snorted. “They’re too strong, and you’re too weak. They’ll find you, and blow you ta atoms from space. Ain’t even got a navy, this go ‘round, Monty. You’re sittin’ ducks.” “We got more’n you think, Mal,” Monty told him. “See, lotta the Alliance folk, they ain’t happy ‘bout what’s happ’nin. Lotta ships and crews has done went over to us. Folks on them ships got family in harm’s way. Aim to fight the reavers, regardless o’ what the Alliance wants.” “But you ain’t plannin’ on fightin’ reavers, Monty,” Mal reminded him. “You’re aimin’ ta go to war with the Alliance, instead. How many o’ them folk you think’ll stick with ya, when they see you set to ignore the reavers, and go after the Alliance instead?” “We aim to bring everyone here,” Monty told him triumphantly. “Leave a force here strong enough to protect them.” “Put all your eggs in one basket, where the Alliance can just swoop in and scoop’em up,” Zoe snorted in derision. “That’s fine leadership.” Monty turned red at that. “It’s the best we can come up with for now!” he huffed. “We’re goin’, Monty,” Mal told him. “Don’t trick me into somethin’ like this again. Jayne,” Mal ordered. Jayne tightened his grip momentarily. When the Operative was out, Jayne rose, pulling the sword from the Operative’s sheath across his back as he did so. “Tell him he wants this back,” Jayne sneered at Monty, “he knows who took it.” “You put my crew in jeopardy, Monty,” Mal said to his friend. “Don’t think along them lines again.” “You were never in any danger, Mal,” Monty said earnestly. “Never.” “Can’t trust you, Monty,” Mal retorted. “Not after this. Shoulda warned me. We deserved that much. Especially Zoe,” he added. Monty looked contrite at that. “I. . .I didn’t think on that, Mal, I admit. I’m right sorry, Zoe,” he added to the warrior woman. “But please, at least think about what I said. We need folk like you, helping us lead these men.” “War’s over, Monty,” Mal hissed. “Don’t like how it ended any more than you, but can’t change it. We’ll be seein’ you.” With that Mal motioned for Jayne and Zoe to ease out, and backed slowly toward the door himself. Soon the three were on their way to the ship. -------------------- Kaylee and River were standing on the ramp when the three emerged from the building. They didn’t run to the ship exactly, but they didn’t dawdle along the way. “Get us in the air, ‘Tross,’ Mal ordered before he ever made the ramp. “Now.” “What happened?” Kaylee asked, seeing the tiny cuts on Jayne’s arms. “Are you okay?” “Ask him in a few minutes, Kaylee,” Mal said kindly. “We need to vamoose.” Kaylee nodded, and hurried to the engine room. Jayne handed the sword to River. “Brung ya somethin’,” he grinned. River took the sword, smiling. “Rather have his head,” she grinned. “So would I,” Mal nodded. “But that weren’t possible. Now get us in the air.” River nodded, and ran for the bridge, carrying the sword with her. Mal looked at Jayne. “Thanks, Jayne, for not killin’ him,” he said kindly. “You’re the boss,” Jayne said firmly. “I told you that. Whatever you say is how it is.” Mal nodded, and walked toward the bridge. Zoe hung back. “Thanks, Zoe,” Jayne told her. Zoe’s shock was evident. “For what?” she asked in surprise. “For stickin’ up for me,” Jayne replied. “Monty would probably o’ shot me.” “That’s what crew does for each other, Jayne,” Zoe told him, a hint of a smile touching her lips. “What friends do, maybe?” Jayne asked, not quite smiling himself. Zoe looked at him for a moment. “What friends do for each other,” Zoe nodded firmly. -------------------