Hey all, it's my birthday (on the 20th of this month), so I thought I'd give you all a present. I figure I've kept you all waiting long enough...

Well I ran into a serious case of creator's block, but now I'm past it, so I'm getting back into a lot of things that I've been neglecting, like my writing, web/graphic design, etc.

I decided to make Bob's (don't worry, that won't be his name forever) power a mental one, that is, he alters other's perception of himself, and only himself. It makes sense, seeing as River's powers are of a similar (mental) nature, and that's what Blue Sun seems to have been the most interested in.

And yes, I don't mind resurrecting people, especially when they're awesome. I mean, I read fantasy for cryin' out loud. Resurrection is practically normal.

------------------

"They know all about you." River commented to Bob, who was standing behind her chair in the cockpit.

He only nodded.

"The little bird didn't tell them. The Samurai did."

River was looking at the controls, but she knew he was nodding again. She hadn't gotten to see him much at the Academy, but she knew that he wasn't a man of many words. He hadn't even made a sound the one time she fought him.

And he knew who she was talking about. He had been at the Academy longer, and they had pumped every scrap of information they had into his brain. They never knew what, or who, would eventually have to be destroyed.

"The little bird flew when she knew that her brother was near. She thought you were dead."

"She had every reason to think so." Bob finally responded.

Although his feelings were clearly readable, his thoughts were completely invisible, so River asked, "What happened?"

"They shot me, threw me onto a pile of garbage. I woke up. I worked in a scrap yard. Then I came."

River leaned back in her chair and sighed. Bob's feelings had been contradictory in the cargo bay. Strictly controlled rage for nearly everything that lived had coexisted side-by-side with unswerving devotion for herself. That was, ironically, Bob's entire emotional repertoire.

But here in the cockpit, she felt only that same devotion emanating from behind her. When they were alone, he had only one focus: her. She held complete power over him, and she didn't even know why.

It scared her more than anything.

While Bob was no reader, he was highly intuitive, and she knew that he understood her yet again when she said, "No one should have this power. Someday, you'll have to tell me how you gave it to me."

"You have only to ask."

"Someday."

River fell to looking through Saffron's mind. She knew what she had seen there the day before, but she wanted to make sure she hadn't missed anything. She hadn't. Saffron truly wanted to marry the Captain, and be good to him, and even befriend his crew, if she could. She would do whatever she thought would make him happy with her.

This completely boggled River's logical mind, but then, human emotions were rarely, if ever, logical.

********

The Captain looked over his crew and assorted uninvited guests. He cleared his throat to get their attention.

"Saffron, I just thought you should know that you're only in the strategy planning session because we can't afford to let you out of sight."

Wonder of wonders, Saffron only nodded, with little display of emotion.

Mal continued, "River, what the hell is Bob doing here?"

River only gave him one of her bratty looks.

"Very well then. The plan is simple. River has given this ship a temporary new identity. All's we need is someone to go out there and deal with Patience. Now she knows a few of us, namely Jayne, Zoe, and myself, so we need some volunteers."

Saffron piped in first, "I'll go."

Inara, annoyed to have been beaten to the punch by Saffron, made an offer as well. So did Simon and Bob.

Mal raised his hand before anyone else could say anything. "Saffron, hell no. Inara, you're to refined for Patience's taste. Simon, you're like to get yourself sold to Blue Sun. Bob, you're not crew."

Bob interrupted before Mal could go on, "I will not require payment."

Zoe raised an eyebrow, "Then why do it?"

"Paying my stay."

Jayne grunted, "Sounds good to me."

Simon looked at both River and Bob worriedly, "River, how do you feel about this?"

River rolled her eyes, "Worry about Patience."

Mal's interest was piqued, "How so?"

Bob responded, "I assume you're familiar with my background? Very well. I'll go alone to make the drop. If there is any trouble collecting, I'll simply kill them and return with both the cargo and the payoff."

Everyone else's eyes widened. Even though most of them now had some idea of who and what he was, and he had the scars to prove it, they hadn't thought a lot about what he could do. Mal had barely even thought about Bob's inherent aggression. He just seemed so... normal.

Zoe took charge. “Maybe you could simply incapacitate them, and leave them the cargo. We have a reputation to uphold.”

Again came the all-purpose nod.

Kaylee timidly asked, “Ummmm... I remember, back when you stopped those men who were trying to take River. You didn't look like, well, you know, you.”

Most everyone looked at her. Saffron added, “I remember that too. In fact, you looked like River. Could have been her twin sister.”

Jayne was confused, “Huh? Sister?”

Mal was equally confused. “I'd like an explanation of exactly how that works.”

Bob looked at River and she nodded. Then everyone excepting Bob and River gasped, shouted, or merely twitched in shock as Bob suddenly looked exactly like the Captain, Zoe, and the rest of the crew in rapid succession. Then he returned to the form that they were all familiar with.

Simon let out a low whistle. “That was *not* in the file.”

Zoe smirked, “Gotta say, Sir, he looks better in a dress than you do.”

Mal bit back with, “An' I thought there weren't no prettier face in the verse than my own.”

Bob didn't bother to explain.

Mal stood, “Well that settles it then. Bob goes. Who's going with'm?”

“I'll go alone.”

River looked at Bob steadily, “Just because you are to regard their safety as highly as my own, does not mean you will be able to prevent any of us from getting into dangerous situations. The Captain Daddy will decide who goes with you. Go get ready.”

Again came the signature nod, and with that, Bob left.

All the other women present gave River various gestures of approval, and Inara added, “You'll have to share your secret with us.”

All the men looked aghast, but River only shook her head. “I wish I could. It's not my secret, it's his.”

********

Agent Samurai did not have his portrait of Mistress Irony with him, but she was ever in his thoughts. Especially now, as he prowled the corridors of the Academy, she made him want to laugh. He couldn't though, not without announcing his presence the various employees, guards, and security systems in the compound. This time, Irony had not come to hurt him, but to help him to set things right. He was going to resurrect a man he had killed.

He made his way down the dimly lit passageways, until he heard footsteps. He slid into a shadow and waited.

********

Doctor Hage, known to many a student and employee at the Academy as “the Hag”, was the resident expert in reeducation. She had a reputation as the meanest bitch in the Academy, and she worked hard to maintain it. Her newest student had just completed his rehabilitational therapy regimen, which had included the martial arts, she noted, and was due for further training.

She didn't know what he was wanted for, or why they had chosen a student that was so old. But at least he was reported to be intelligent, if a wise-ass, and a genius pilot. She was so utterly focused on her mission that she never noticed her the man with the sword as he followed her.

She came to the cell that held Student 4592. There he was, working out by hanging upside down from the ceiling, repeatedly lifting his torso until his back was perpendicular t the floor. She could tell at once that he was thinner, and more sinewy than he had been before.

“Student 4592,” she began, “I am Doctor Hage.”

At this, the prisoner stopped, and lowered himself back onto the floor.

“The name's Wash,” he smirked, “but if you've come for playtime, I'm afraid that I'm a very married man. Besides, I don't do hags.”

The Doctor smiled coldly. “I see my reputation has preceded me. Well I don't know what this 'Project Recall' is about, but I assure you that you *will* perform to the utmost f your abilities.”

Wash smiled evilly, “Well Doc, I'm sure you'd just love to be able to evaluate all of my abilities, but I'm no easy lay.”

Hage just smiled back. “You will break, Student, and I will enjoy the process. But now, if you will...”

She never finished her sentence. She went stiff, and gasped for air, eyes searching in vain for the cause of her paralysis. The Cause himself walked in front of her, and positioned his sword with the hilt in the ground.

The Operative looked up at her.

“This is a good death.” he said gently as she fell on the sword.

“I'd have to agree.”, quipped Wash from his cell. “So is it my turn yet?”

“If you wish,” said the Operative with a hint of a chuckle, “but I think you'd rather leave this place.”

Agent Samurai fiddled with the lock, and the door slid open.

Wash was hesitant. “Ya know, before I died, my boss told me 'bout a guy with a sword...”

“I am indeed the very one.”

“Right, so you killed a Shepherd, a bunch of kids, and everyone who ever harbored us. Also, you got me killed. Now I'm supposed to just come with you?”

“We don't have time for this,” complained the Agent, “but you're right. For now, let us just say that I had the pleasure of seeing the message that your captain was so very determined to send (and it did get sent, by the way). Also, would you rather stay with the people who have very clearly expressed their intentions to reprogram you the way they did River?”

“......You know, I hate you serious, logical people. I never win.”

********

Jayne was elected to go with Bob for the drop-off. Although he had been involved in the previous two encounters, Patience had never actually seen him, and he had killed off those who had. Thus it was that Saffron was locked into an empty bunk, and he and Bob trudged their way to the meeting site, carrying a crate of Alliance issue tranquilizer darts.

At last, Jayne could no longer suppress his curiosity, “So what's with you an' the Moonbrain? It ain't nothin' kinky-like is it? Cause ya know, some guys get off on bein' told what ta do.” He spat. “'Tain't natural.”

For the first time since Bob had boarded Serenity, he laughed. And it was a deep, rolling laugh, not his own. Bob had assumed the appearance of an older man with an air of authority about him. He was still around six feet tall, but his eyes had changed from green to blue, and he had a few gray hairs. The scars on his face were gone, and in their place were the tell-tale beginnings of wrinkles.

He was the perfect former Alliance Officer turned freelance tradesman. He had even assumed that sort of personality.

“Hell no! Nothing like that. I just want her to be happy.”

“So you'll do whatever she wants?”

Bob didn't respond, as they had just come in sight of the meeting point, and Patience was waiting, with about five other men on horseback.

They lugged the crate on over to where the welcoming party was.

Bob spoke up, “The name's Henderson. And you are Miss...”

“Folk just call me Patience.” said the woman. “Your Firefly seems awful familiar.”

“A Firefly's a Firefly. They are generally fairly similar.”

“That's as may be. I suppose you'll be wanting payment, now.”

Bob nodded, “It would be greatly appreciated.”

“No doubt,” replied Patience slowly, “but seeing as I've got the upper hand in the way of men and guns, I see no compelling reason why I should hand it over.”

At that, Patience and their men began to haul out their pieces.

Bob and Jayne weren't worried, though. Patience, not knowing exactly who she was dealing with, had used her standard tactics and sent snipers into the hills surrounding the meet. Mal, Zoe, and River had gone to take care of those. While Kaylee, Simon, and Inara stayed to keep the ship prepped.

Bob and Jayne steeled themselves for the inevitable conflict when a roaring sound filled the air.

A rather large Alliance personnel carrier came hurtling through the atmosphere, and crashed into the surface, not more than three-hundred yards from two parties. The impact threw everyone, men and horses alike, into the dust.

When the air cleared, everyone picked themselves up, wondering what to do about this unusual intrusion. Several scarred figures running towards them gave them their answer.

“Reavers!” yelled Jayne as he hefted Vera into position.