Missing Persons Report #12/?

[garnigal]

Fandom: Firefly
Prompt: Vigilance
Warnings: None
Rating: G (so far)
Word Count:
Summary: The crew is making new friends and taking new jobs.

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Mal felt the ship shifting as soon as the bay doors closed, and braced for the shudder as River took them out of Cadence’s atmosphere. As soon as Serenity hit the Black and smoothed out, he hoisted Dr. Leri back on his shoulder and headed down to the infirmary.

“Doc,” he barked out. “Got another one for you.” He dropped Leri onto the deck. “I smacked her with my rifle. Make sure I didn’t do any permanent damage, then you tie her up someplace she can’t get to anything or anyone. And do the same with Isaac Norton. We need to keep both eyes on these two.”

“Agreed, Captain. You can trust that she’ll be bound as tightly as I can manage.”

“How’s Jayne doing? We’re gonna need him to keep watch on these folks. Be vigilant and all that.”

“I gave him oxygen and a shot of stims. He’s doing fine, and with the stims, he’ll be able to keep watch. In fact he probably won’t be able to sleep for about 18 hours. River’s doing fine too – didn’t even have to give her oxygen.”

“Figured she must be doing well, given the smoothness of the takeoff. Zoe can pilot if she has to, but it tends to be a bit of a bumpy ride.”

Mal went to leave, but turned back at the doorway. “River wasn’t... confused at all? When you got back to the ship, I mean?”

“Not that I noticed, but I was quite focused on Isaac. Was there something that worried you?”

“Not to fret, Simon. I’ll just check on her my own self.”

And Mal slipped away, leaving Simon surrounded by unconscious and bound people, with a vaguely concerned look on his face. That always made Mal’s step a little sprightlier.

He was still in a fine mood when he got to the bridge. But finding the pilot’s chair empty killed his mood right quick. He spun around a few times, as if he was hoping she was just standing behind him, but the room was empty.

Seemed empty.

Scanning the space more slowly, he finally saw her, head buried in her arms and dark hair disguising pale skin, backed into a corner and crying.

He hurried to her side, but knelt a few inches away and said her name quietly. Just like Jayne and Zoe, it didn’t do to sneak up on River.

He could hear her talking, but couldn’t make out the words. It did nothing to soothe his concern for her. Carefully he edged towards her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder and muttering meaningless but soothing nonsense words.

“What is it River? You were trying to tell me something, back in town. Think you can spit it out for me to understand now?”

More muttering, but nothing understandable.

“You’ve got me right worried, Albatross. I know you’ve had a hard few days, and you saved Isaac from that fire, and you got us up and in the air. You’re probably due a little recreational nervous breakdown. But we don’t have time yet. Think you can hold it together long enough to get us someplace safe and get this sorted with Norton? Then I promise, 48 straight hours of indulging your inner crazy person.”

A tiny laugh. He had her.

“Tell me about Babylon.”

Her head shot up, eyes wide. He jumped back, but she wasn’t out of control. She just had a lot to tell him.

“Trapped, inside his mind, inside his head. Can’t speak the same language as everyone else, can’t make himself understood. Screaming, so loud screaming. Doctor Leri holds the key, but doesn’t know it. Wouldn’t save him if she knew. Must be subtle. Tricksy.”

She jumped up, and headed for the door.

“Hey, where you off too?”

“You’ll have to fly. Think I have a plan. Need ‘Nara.”

And she was out the door, leaving Mal aware that kneeling on the steel floor was hell on his knees.

‘I should probably find out what’s going on,’ he thought. But the pilot’s chair was awfully comfortable, and he didn’t have any bright ideas for getting information out of Doctor Leri, other than letting Jayne loose with a big knife. Probably not the kind of subtle River was looking for.