Disclaimer: I don’t own this. It would be cool if I did but I don’t. Therefore I don’t get any credit for people and places and stuff.

(Other doo dads go here)

S.T. Phone home – Episode II Unwelcome visitors

________________________________________________________________________

Mr. and Mrs. Tam watched in horror as they saw footage of their 17 year old daughter killed a boatful of Reavers. The image had been retrieved from Mr. Universes’ security camera feed in his hanger’s anti-room. That first image faded away to show many different captures of river in her many moods. Finally one last image came up. An image that was taken in a hospital on Ariel, it showed what had been done to River’s brain. To this Mr. Tam who was also a doctor recognized what had been done to his only daughters brain. Simon’s voice could be heard but Mr. Tam wasn’t listening. He was lost trying to think of a reason for the government to do this to his daughter.

The Tam’s would later show their friends this message and they would gather all the records of all the horrible things that the government had done… But that is a different tale.

Simons plan didn’t exactly work; he did get a private link to his parents. But he didn’t heed the words of Mr. Universe about everything going somewhere. The government had sensors that monitored every transmission into the Tam’s household. Even the covert ones that were heavily encrypted thanks to Rivers ability to do practically everything as easy as a normal person breathes.

* * *

(2 weeks later)

River was sitting on the bridge debating with herself about “which came first the chicken or the egg?” She had just pointed out to herself that what would incubate the egg if there was no chicken when she looked at the screen that came online. Knowing it was Badger the so-called businessman she put on her mocking English tone and said “Hullo Gov’ner.” “Why hello, if it isn’t my favorite person on that flying tub you call home” Badger replied. “Home is where the heart is Badger. But seeing that you don’t have one would be why you didn’t know that.” Said Mal as he entered and stood behind River. “I take it that this isn’t a social call so what’s the job… It better not be one where I get stabbed just for defending a ladies honor.” “Well you’re in for a real treat.” Badger said. “So what’s the cargo” inquired Mal. “Oh right, well no so much cargo but more passengers” Explained Badger. “Wow badger I didn’t know you were offering your services as a travel agent, so how many people, where are they going, how much cargo are they bringing, and do they know that we are criminals?” Mal asked. “Steady on there mate. Its just these two geezers an’ they are going to Azeal, and by the looks of ‘em they’re criminals themselves.” Badger replied “Criminals aye… that means guns, guns are a bad thing especially round little one here” Mal thought out loud. (To Mal’s remark she whispered Hun Dan). “Azeal’s pretty close to the core y’know Badger and after the Arial job, we’ve been staying away from there.” “There criminals but at least they got it where it counts, (Mal’s eyebrow lifted at the notion of money.) Its 2000 platinum to get them there, and another 15000 when they arrive at Azeal. Does that change your mind?” “Fifteen thousand! Ok we’ll do it but their weapons have to stay in a sealed container at all times.” “Then it is settled meet me when you arrive.”

Badger’s image fades to black. Mal looks at River and asks “So little one, firstly set a course to... “We’re already on our way, and I’m sitting in your chair because the medicine Simon gave me made me throw up on my chair. I knew you wouldn’t mind ‘cause this gives you a reason to spend more time with ‘Nara.” Mal gave her a funny look and thought to himself, “Wow she’s almost sane now” as he walked away from the cockpit. “I heard that” River yelled from behind him “Ai ya”

* * *

Serenity touched down in its usual spot, not too close to Badger’s but close enough for a quick getaway just in case. Jayne came down the ramp expecting a fight with Vera in hand. “What no feds didn’t you almost kill a guy last time we were here Mal?” “Yeah, he must have gotten over it.” “Well either that or he doesn’t know we are here” Kaylee chirped in.

They all descended the ramp and went their different ways. Kaylee and Simon went into town to do the shopping. They were off spending the credits that they were about to get. Zoe stayed with the ship now that she is almost 5 months pregnant. Inara went to go and meet an old Companion friend. So that left Mal, Jayne (still armed with ‘Vera) and River to go and meet the passengers.

Badger was waiting for them. “You’re late” he said. “We are not late as we specified no time of arrival” Mal responded. “Well forgive me because I have a business to run but I must get this show on the sky. Mal this is your passengers John and Thomas (Pointing to each of the men respectively). John and Thomas this is your captain Malcolm Reynolds. And these are some of his crew. Thomas’ eyes lit up when he saw River he was going to step towards her when John gave him a stern look. River took a step closer to Jayne and took his big brutish hand in her slender hand.

Apart from that the meeting was uneventful. Soon enough everyone was onboard Serenity and they were taking off.

* * *

Simon was bored… There hadn’t been any shooting/stabbing or wounding of any kind lately and there was nothing to do. So he decided that he could help Kaylee out in the Engine Room. Not only would he have something to do but he would be with the woman he loves. As he entered the Engine room he saw Kaylee was done installing the new primary buffer that they had bought while they were planet side. She looked up at him from her hammock. Then asked hopefully “have you come to give me an examination Dr. Tam”? “I actually did come to give you a hand because I had nothing to do but seeing that you have nothing to do as well I figure we …” Kaylee cut him off “So you prefer to do your doctorly stuff instead of spending time with me?” “Kaylee, I didn’t mean it like that…” But she had already left. “I better go get those strawberries that I was saving for her birthday.” He said to himself as he left to go and smooth it over with Kaylee. * * *

River was piloting the ship and Jayne was polishing ‘Vera in the Dinning room. Mal seeing now that River had completely taken control of flying the ship. He had lots of time on his hands. He was given some bottles of wine from the nice guys that came onto the ship. And Mal had had about 3 to himself when he decided that Inara might want some, and then hopefully that would lead to sex. So being the man of deep thought that he is he decided that he would show Inara his intentions better if he were naked already. So he stripped off and went to Inara’s shuttle. He thought about knocking and then he thought screw it… so he walked in and said “knochk knooooochk” Inara was washing herself at the time. She looked at him and said “Mal are you drunk (then seeing the bottle in his hand and the fact that he was standing naked in her room she said) don’t worry about that last one” Before Mal could come any further into her room he started to loose his balance he stumbled backwards down the flights of stairs. He found himself in the main floor of the cargo bay. He looked at his bottle, not remembering his decent down the stairs he said “she mushtn’t have wanted any”. He took a swig of the liquid, licked his lips and then said “hwoon dan” as he fell over into a deep sleep.

Jayne later walked by the naked sleeping body of Mal. Then seeing the bottle and saying “I wont say no to free grog.” He picked it up skulled most of it. Said “hey funny aftertaste” then he also fell into a deep sleep.

Mal woke with a massive headache, he sat up onto one elbow and opened his eyes fully to see that he was looking down the barrel of John’s gun.

To be continued….

(The suspense is killing aye?)

Translations

Hun dan- Jerk Ai ya- damn Hwoon dan- Son of a bitch

Feedback would be great. Don’t worry the next one won’t leave you in suspense…. Or will it?