Archangel-Chapter Twenty-Nine Author owns no rights to Firefly, and no copyright infringement is intended. Fanfic only. -------------------- Serenity made a stop on Ariel, of all places, to pick up eight transmitters for the Independent News Service. Mal had insisted that the buying be done by someone not connected with the ship, and then left for them at the docks. He didn’t want it so easy to trace back to them. “Where, exactly, you want these transmitters put, Jazz?” he asked, as River prepared to lift off. They had taken on fuel, and some supplies while there, and the ship was ready to go. “Here’s the list Hank sent me,” Jass handed over piece of paper. “There’s no particular order.” “Well, I’ll have River figure a path for us,” Mal nodded. “Try and work it so’s we’re back near Persephone when the blockade around Hera is lifted. That’s where our cargo is.” “I really appreciate this, Captain,” Jazz told him. “I mean, we’ll pay you for it, as well. But this way, we’ll be more secure. With things the way they are, people need someone to count on to get the news, the real news, out.” ----------------- Jayne and Kaylee had enjoyed putting the first two transmitters outside. It was a chance for the two of them to be totally alone. And the fact that neither minded EVA work was just icing. “It’s so peaceful out here,” Kaylee murmured dreamily, gazing out into the black. “Sure is,” Jayne agreed with an unseen nod. “Always did kinda like it.” “I wish. . . .” “Jayne, Kaylee, you need to get back on board,” River’s voice cut Kaylee’s wish off abruptly. “Right now!” “What’s wrong, mei mei?” Jayne asked, gathering his tools, and Kaylee doing the same. “Reavers.” ------------------------ “What?” Mal almost screeched, running to the bridge after River’s frantic call. “Reavers,” River whispered, pointing out the window. Mal looked, but saw nothing. “‘Tross, I don’t see nothin’,” he said quietly. “They’re there,” she told him. Suddenly the sensor alarm beeped, making Mal jump. After Miranda, they had upgraded the ship’s sensor array, and it was far longer ranged than the destroyed one had been. “Tamade,” Mal bit out. “There’s. . .nine, no, ten ships, out there. Just off the starboard bow, ‘bout 10,000 kilometers away.” “They do not see us,” River’s eyes were closed. “And I have eliminated the exterior lighting. Our electronic signal is all but mute. Even the warning to Jayne and Kaylee was done over the ship com.” “So we’re safe?” Mal asked. “For the moment.” --------------------- Jayne and Kaylee made their way back onto the ship much faster than they’d made it out. As soon as they hit the airlock, Simon was waiting to over ride the system locks, and let them in. “Jayne?” Kaylee spoke through the com, as she entered the bay. “Yeah, baby doll?” he answered, walking behind her. “I don’t wish that no more,” she told him, forgetting that she hadn’t finished her wish. “I don’t blame you, ai ren.” The two stripped out of their suits, with Simon and Jazz helping. As soon as his helmet was off, Jayne was asking questions. “Are they headin’ for us? Have they seen us?” “No, and we think no,” Simon told him. “River’s. . .watching them,” he hedged. Jazz wasn’t yet aware of River’s gifts. “Okay,” Jayne nodded, his look telling Simon he got it. “C’mon, Kaylee, let’s get to the engine room. Might need ya there.” The two ran off, hurrying to get into place. ------------------- “Sir?” Zoe asked. “What are we doin’?” “We’re hopin’ like hell they don’t see us, that’s what we’re doin’,” Mal told her. “We can’t run from that many, Zoe. They’ll get around us, and pull us apart.” “Ain’t arguin’, sir,” Zoe grinned. “Just wonderin’.” “We’ll sit tight, till they pass,” Mal informed her. “Then we’ll git the hell outta here.” “We have a problem, Captain,” River said quietly. “What?” Mal started. “What kind o’ problem? They see us?” “No,” River said tonelessly. “I believe I have worked out their destination.” Her voice was small. “And?” Mal asked, knowing he wouldn’t like it. “Sihnon.” ------------------- “What?” Inara gasped. “Sihnon? How. . .Mal we’ve got to do something! The House will be full of girls! Some of them aren’t even. . .” “Inara, calm down,” Mal soothed. “Soon as they’re past us, and it’s safe, we’ll send them a wave. Let them know what’s coming. They’ll have plenty of time to prepare.” “Captain,” River’s voice rolled across the comm. “They’ve gone. But we have another problem.” “Ai ya,” Mal muttered, hitting the com. “What is it now, ‘Tross?” “They’re jamming the cortex,” River said calmly. “Nothing can get through it. Not from this range. We cannot warn the planet.” “Time to their arrival?” Mal asked at once. “Eleven hours, twelve minutes at their current speed. I believe they are traveling at the top speed for their slowest vessel.” “And how long for us to get there?” he asked. “At full burn, and compensating for the time needed to avoid detection by the reaver vessels, ten hours, forty-five minutes.” “Take us there, fast as you can,” Mal ordered at once. “Aye, Captain,” River’s voice lost the toneless quality as she was presented with a challenge. “Thank you, Mal,” Inara was near tears. “Some of those girls. . .I taught. . .I mean they’re. . .” “I know, ai ren,” Mal took her in his arms. “‘Tross will get us there ahead of’em, and we’ll get’em off the planet. Easy Peasy,” he grinned, and she laughed just a little. “It’s a lot to ask, I know,” she said softly. “I’d do anything for you, Inara,” Mal told her earnestly. “Don’t have to ask.” -------------------- “We’re good to go, River!” Kaylee called over the comm. Seconds later, Serenity was hurling through space. Kaylee sighed, and sat down next to Jayne, leaning on his shoulder. He raised his arm, and she scooted under it, putting her arms around his middle. “And here we go, chasin’ off after reavers,” she said, her voice resigned. “Well, we ain’t chasin’ the reavers,” Jayne chuckled. “We’re just tryin’ to get ahead of’em. Warn folk on Sihnon.” “You know as well as I do, Jayne, we ain’t gonna be that lucky,” Kaylee frumped. “They’ll be a fight, and somebody’s liable to get killed. Maybe you,” she added, tears forming. “Ain’t no reaver can kill me,” Jayne told her, grinning. “I’m ten feet tall and reaver proof.” He was trying to lighten the mood a little, but it failed. “You ain’t that tall,” Kaylee snorted. “And near killed ya the last time!” “Kaylee, we ain’t goin’ to fight,” Jayne told her. “I bet we don’t even land, ‘cept if we go in to pick up ‘Nara’s people at the wh-temple,” he caught himself. “We’ll see,” Kaylee clung to her pessimism. “We’ll see.” --------------------- “We’re an hour out, Captain,” River called over the com. Mal hit the switch, acknowledging her call, and headed to the bridge. “Any sign of the reavers?” he asked as soon as he got to the bridge. “Faint, intermittent signals,” River nodded. “We have made good time, but they are not far behind.” “What are we doin’, sir?” Zoe asked, walking onto the bridge. “I ain’t rightly got that worked out, yet,” Mal admitted. “Now’d be the time to start,” Zoe told him. “Has Inara been able to get hold of the Training House?” “No,” Mal shook his head. “She’s still tryin’, though.” “Signals are still jammed,” River offered from the pilot’s seat. “Strong signal, Captain Daddy. Too strong for mere reavers. They do not employ such devices in any case.” “I know,” Mal nodded. “It’s got to be whoever’s behind them. This is all too. . .military, for reavers.” “Sihnon ain’t a military target, sir,” Zoe pointed out. “It’s a guerilla warfare target,” Jayne announced from the door. Everyone turned to look at him. “It is,” he insisted. “Shock value, weak defenses, and weak people. No one there’s a fighter, to amount to anything. System Patrol’s ‘bout the only thing they’ve got, and it’s geared toward smuggler’s, not reavers. And it’ll hurt the Alliance. Put fear in’em.” “Seems you know a good deal about that sorta thing, Jayne,” Mal said quietly. “He is an ape, after all,” River cackled. Jayne chuckled at that, but said nothing else. “Well, whatever the goal, or reason, I think it’s apparent that they aim to hit Sihnon. ‘Tross, any idea what size ship’s we’re talkin’? How many they can cram onboard?” “No,” River shook her head. “Not enough data. As I said, sensor contact is sporadic, at best.” She looked up. “But they are many.” “Well, if we can’t raise the trainin’ house, we’ll have to fly in and grab the girls, and get gone. Quick like,” he added. He glanced at Jayne. “I’ll be ready,” Jayne told him. Mal looked at him for a long moment, then nodded. “I’m sorry, Jayne,” he offered quietly. Jayne shrugged. “Life’s like that,” was all he said, and went to his bunk to get ready. --------------------- Inara almost cried in relief when Sheydra answered the Wave. “Inara?” Sheydra looked shocked. “What a pleasant surprise! How are you, dear?” “Sheydra thank Bhudda!” Inara exclaimed. “Listen, we don’t have long. There is a fleet of reavers headed for Sihnon. They’re only an hour or so away. You have to get the girls and get out!” “Reavers?” Sheydra smiled. “Come now, Inara,” she scolded playfully. “You know that reavers are nothing more than a figment of some campfire storyteller’s imagination!” “Sheydra haven’t you seen what’s happening?” Inara demanded. “Reavers even hit Beaumond! And Hera!” “Inara, the Alliance has said that it was nothing more than revolutionaries, trying to rouse sympathy for the new Independent movement!” “I was on Beaumond when the attack happened, Sheydra!” Inara snapped, and Sheydra blinked at that. “You were?” she asked, no longer so confident. “Sheydra I saw them with my own eyes!” Inara told her. “They almost killed me! Please believe me. If you don’t try waving someone off planet. I’ve tried for hours to reach you. They’re jamming the signals. . . .” The wave turned to static, and Inara hissed in frustration. “Don’t worry,” Mal said from behind her. “We’re almost there. River’s plotted a course straight in to the training house.” “I. . .I think she believed me, there at the last,” Inara said haltingly. “Maybe she did,” Mal nodded. “We’ll try her again in a few minutes. Meanwhile, try and stay calm. Gonna need you to fly us out, things go bad. Likely need River to shoot.” “All right,” Inara stood, smoothing her clothes from habit. “I’ll be fine, ai ren,” she promised. “I know that.” ------------------- “Jayne are you in he. . . .” Kaylee broke off as she saw Jayne in his bunk, looking at his armor. Her face clouded. “You promised me, Jayne,” she said firmly. “That I did,” he nodded. “But we ain’t got no choice, bao bei. We don’t land at the Training House, the reavers’ll get ever one o’ Inara’s student’s. And we’re cuttin’ it close. Mighty close. Even River can only do so much.” “Jayne,” Kaylee started, then stopped. She knew he was right. That didn’t mean she had to like it. “Wanna help me?” Jayne asked, smiling a little. Kaylee looked at him for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah,” she sighed. “I reckon I can do that.” --------------------- “We’re entering atmo,” River announced. “Captain, we’re being hailed,” she added. Inara stepped up to the screen. “Unidentified Firefly vessel, this is. . .Oh,” the controller broke off upon seeing Inara. “Hello, Miss Serra.” “Hello,” Inara’s smile was dazzling. “We’re on our way to the training house to visit. I hope there isn’t a problem.” “Not at all!” the controller gushed. “Welcome home. Are they aware you’re inbound?” “I spoke to Sheydra not an hour ago,” Inara replied carefully, smiling again. “Well, enjoy your stay, Miss Serra,” the controller smiled back. “I’ll just enter your ship’s code into the registry so that in the future you won’t be challenged.” “That won’t be necessary, but thank you,” Inara told him. “I don’t want any special treatment, and I wouldn’t want some security breach to occur because you were being nice to me.” “I wish more thought the way you do, ma’am,” the controller said earnestly. “Have a safe trip.” “Well, that was well done,” Mal smiled. Inara tried to smile back, but the effort seemed too much for her. “Ten minutes to the Training House,” River told them. “Is everyone prepared?” “Better be,” Mal nodded. He checked his pistol. ------------------ Jazz was hurrying toward the bridge. She had just hit the passageway when Cobb’s bunk opened, and a giant, gleaming figure emerged. She froze, a look of shock on her face. Jayne was wearing his armor. This time, the swords were sheathed, one over the other against his back. His mail was around his neck. Carter was dumbfounded. She’d seen the vid, of course, but real life was. . . . “Kinda overwhelmin’ ain’t it?” Kaylee smirked at the reporter, emerging from the bunk behind Jayne. “Kaylee, need you in the engine room!” Mal called. “Yes, Cap’n,” Kaylee sighed. She rose on her toes and kissed Jayne passionately, then departed without a word. Jayne turned to where Mal was standing. “Left Vera and Grace on the bunk, full loads o’ ammo. Tell River I left Lux for her, too.” “Thank you ge ge!” River called back, and Jayne smiled a little. “You let’n me use Vera?” Mal asked, shocked. “Hell no,” Jayne growled. “For Zoe,” he said gruffly. “You can use Gracie.” With that Jayne started for the bay. “What if I said please?” Mal called to his back. “No!” Jayne yelled again. “I’m the Captain?” Mal tried. Jayne just laughed. “Where are you goin’?” Mal demanded as Zoe edged past him. “To get Vera,” she grinned at him. “Ain’t gonna miss this chance. Might not come again.” “I don’t get no kinda respect on my own ship!” Mal whined. “I oughta get ta use Vera!” he demanded, stalking after Zoe. “Children,” River shook her head, and Inara erupted in laughter at her seriousness. “They take so much looking after.” --------------- River set the ship down without a bobble, and erupted from her chair immediately, leaving Inara to deal with the bridge. She raced to Jayne’s bunk and picked up the small weapon he called Lux, stroking her carefully. Then she threw the bandolier of magazines over her shoulder, and was running for the cargo bay. Jayne was already off the ship, standing near the ramp. Mal and Zoe went ahead of him, and in seconds they were at the rear entrance of the Training House. “Need to see Miss Sheydra,” Mal ordered when the servant answered the door. “Right now!” As it happened, Sheydra heard the noise, and was there in seconds. “Captain Reynolds?” she asked. “What is the meaning of. . . .” “We ain’t got time to chat,” Mal told her. “Inara managed to get hold of you, so you know why we’re here. We came to take you and your folks outta here. To safety. If there is such a thing anymore.” “We are perfectly safe right. . . .” Sheydra began, but was cut off by the sudden wail of a siren. “Miss, we ain’t got the time for this,” Mal told her. “You can gripe at me all you want once we’re in the black, but until then, get these people on the ship!” Sheydra turned and started snapping out orders, and moving at a run through the house. Mal breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, now that that’s over with, maybe we can. . . .” A shriek from the front of the house cut him off.