Not my ‘verse, I stole it. Not my story, I stole it to. Just wanted to tweak things my way for fun. I believe the only original line is “Simon says”.

You can take the boy out of Hera…

By: Jailbird

Chapter Eleven: “Just get your Stuff”

After breakfast River enters Inara’s shuttle.

Inara is surprised she came to her. “River, dear I have been meaning to talk to you.”

“Yes, I know.” Says the physic as she looks around shuttle. “Not right…without décor.”

“What ‘s not right, dear?” Inara ask inquisitively.

“The shuttle needs to be decorated, again.” River says while picking the satin sheet off the bed and holding it up like a tapestry.

“That’s not why you here is it?” Inara’s companion train is almost as good as reading minds.

River is all business now. “No, you want a favor and I want a favor too.” She says as she stands in front of the older woman with her hands held behind her back.

“Now what could I possible want from you?” Inara asks trying to act innocent.

River states coldly. “You want to know what I’ve told the Captain.”

“Well then straight to the point, then what could I do for you.” Inara couldn’t think of a thing.

With a low tone River replies. “Same as you want. I’ll keep your secret, if you help me and keep mine.”

Inara was surprised that the girl could be even spookier sane. ***

Mal and Inara are talking on the landing in the cargo bay. “If your not going to leave then, exactly why do ya need to go to the training house, again?” Mal just could not understand the needs of the fairer sex.

Inara replies. “Like I said, I need some things, they’re personal, Mal.”

“O.K. then just in and out, any thing don’t look quite right. Don’t land. When your down and see some thing out of the ordinary just run. Call me, we’ll get to you, understand take no chances, dong ma.” Mal was sure this wasn’t the best idea ever. ”And you’re taking Zoë.”

“No, Mal really I’ll be just fine.” Inara wasn’t sure why she had to go alone it was only six small boxes but River had insisted.

***

River is seating in the co-pilots chair on the left side of the bridge. Her chair, it was hers now. When she begins the sequence for reentry. Mal walks up behind her and says. “This is not a good ideal, Albatross. She shouldn’t go alone.”

River ominously says. “Friar Tuck has sent someone to see Marion but he will not come if she’s not alone.”

Mal just stairs at the girl hoping this time she really did know everything.

“No, not everything.” Rivers reply to the Captains thoughts makes him feel unsettled.

Mal decides this is as good a time as any to have that little talk. “Why do we need a new computer?”

“Old computer was inadequate.” River says dryly.

“It seems to be working just fine.” Mal a little rattled about the insult to his ship.

“No, not for what we need.” River says looking over her shoulder at the Capitan. “It had to link up to the cortex for NavSat. New computer is independent, untraceable.”

Mal was shocked. “You are flying without NavSat trajectory!”

“Yep.” Was Rivers casual reply. “Just like an Alliance cruiser.” She continues as she holds out her arms and pretends to soar. Then she reaches out and flips the comm. “Shuttle one clear for departure.”

Inaras reply comes from the comm. “Right I’ll see you two in just a bit.” *** Just then shuttle two lifts off the port side of the ship and begins its descent.

*** “I didn’t think a ship this size could fly without NavSat.” Mal still shock but they did make it here.

River replies with a wide grin. “It’s not the size of the ship Captain but the size of the computer. We have a really big one now.”

The Captain is ever so confused. “Where is this big computer?”

River just shrugs and says. “The spare crew birth.”

The Captain looks down the hall and back to River before storming off the bridge. He opens the ladder and climbs down into the bunk.

“Tah mah de!” Is all River hears as she starts to giggle.

***

TBC