Serenity's Flight

Chapter Three

Simon Tam was sitting in the kitchen area , contemplating his next move. He knew that the Captain wasn’t going to let them stay on this ship much longer. He’d actually stayed on Serenity a lot longer then he’d planned on. River seemed to be doing a lot better then she had been, with the trick she’d played on Jubal. That man absolutely terrified Simon. What he’d done to Kaylee and would have done to him if it hadn’t been for his sister. The fact that Mr. Early had already caught up with them again, was just something Simon wasn’t ready to deal with. He was so lost in though, that it took Kaylee speaking to him, for him to hear her.

“ Whatcha doin, Simon? You don’t have a happy face on.” Simon smiled up at Kaylee. He wished that things could be different between the two of them, because he really did like her. She wasn’t one to hide her feelings, so he knew she liked him too.

“ I’m just thinking of where River and I can go next. Mal isn’t going to let us stay here much longer, and I’m sure you know that.” Kaylee frowned at him, and sat down next to him.

“ We don’t know what the Cap’n is going to do, Simon. He hasn’t said anything about kicking you guys off, has he? He’s not that kind of person, and you know it. He did save you and River that one time, when he could have just left you alone. Don’t go reading into his bad moods, because they come pretty frequently.” Someone chuckled behind them, and they turned to see Wash there.

“ Kaylee, I wouldn’t let Mal hear you say that. His temper is worse then anything, but you do have a point. He wouldn’t have saved you two if he didn’t want you to stay on this boat. Anyway, I just came down here to see whose turn it is to fix supper....and it would be mine. I hope you guys aren’t hungry.” Kaylee grimaced at Wash and walked over to the cupboard, and started rifling through to find snack foods. Simon didn’t understand what she was doing, because he could have sworn that Wash said he was cooking. Jayne walked into the kitchen area, and looked at the same list. Once he saw the name who was to do the cooking, he too starting looking for something to eat. Simon just watched, not really understanding what they were doing. Zoe walked in next, and started chuckling.

“ It must be Wash’s turn to cook dinner tonight, huh?” Simon nodded at her, and gave her a questioning look. She shrugged before answering.

“ My husband is no the best of cooks, but what he lacks in the kitchen he makes up for in...other areas.” Simon looked away quickly and once he heard Wash swearing at the stove, he understood. He knew absolutely nothing about cooking. He looked at the list, and saw that River’s and his name weren’t on it. They must rotate days since they didn’t have a cook on board. Simon walked over to where Wash stood and took the ingredients for the pot pie out of his hands. He grinned at Wash and started preparing the meal. Kaylee stopped rifling through the cupboard, when she saw Simon chopping up carrots.

After what seemed like forever, and the smell starting wafting through the whole ship, Mal walked in to the dining area. He looked at everyone at the table, waiting to be fed. He saw Wash sitting in his normal seat, not doing what he was supposed to be doing.

“ Wash, why is the doctor doing your work?” Wash was about to say something smart aleck like, but Zoe spoke instead.

“ Well, it would appear that Simon knows how to cook. You and I both know that Wash would poison us before he made a good meal. It’s not his fault, really...he just sucks in the kitchen.” Wash looked over at his wife with a mock scowl. He looked back over at Mal and shrugged.

“ You do want something edible, don’t you, Sir?” Malcolm grinned, because he wasn’t really upset. He didn’t care who did the cooking as long as it was something he could actually eat and keep down. Wash was notorious for burning everything in sight.

*(*(*(*(* 00oo0oo00oo0oo *(*(*(*(*


Everyone was almost finished with their dinner, when they felt a big blast. Everything on the table shifted and a couple of plates clattered to the ground. Wash, Zoe, and Mal took off for the bridge, while Kaylee went to the engine room. River noticed her brother’s eyes fall the pretty red head. River wanted to tell the captain, that it was Jubal Early, but it was as if she couldn’t talk. She knew something bad was about to happen. Jubal Early scared River, but she refused to tell anyone that, though. Simon was still looking at the place where Kaylee had disappeared, and she knew he wanted to go to her. Why he didn’t, River didn’t understand. She knew why, sure, but it was a silly reason. He was afraid to get attached to someone in case they had to escape again, or something bad happened to her. River just wished that she could feel that way about someone and someone for her. She silently got up, and went down the corridor to her chambers. Simon didn’t move at first, but when a second blast knocked the ship, it sent him crashing to the ground. Shepard Book helped him up, and they strapped themselves into the chairs in the dining area. Inara came running over after she placed some of the breakable items in the sink, and strapped herself in next to Shepard.

Mal was cursing very loudly, causing Zoe to wince. It’s not that she was easily offended or anything like that, it’s just Mal tended to yell really loud. She both cared and respected the Captain, but he could sometimes be a grouch. It appeared that Jubal Early had once again found them, and was shooting at them. Wash then looked over at Mal, and spoke.

“ Someone is trying to Hail us again, Captain.” Mal stopped cursing long enough to tell Wash to play the message. Instantly, Jubal’s face appeared on the screens.

“ Captain, I told you that I would find you again. Now, that I have River Tam with me, I don’t want you following me. If I so much as feel you behind me, Captain, I will kill this girl. I’ll trust you to tell her reckless brother to stay away too. Good day, Captain.” After he made his statement, the screen turned black.

Mal didn’t know what to do. Had he said that he had River in his custody? That didn’t make any sense at all, because she was down in her sleeping chambers. Not wanting to take a chance, Mal grabbed his speaker to request some assistance.

“ Inara, if you could please go and check on River, make sure she’s okay. Simon, Stay right where the hell you are, okay?”

Zoe was more then a little disturbed at Early’s statement. If he did in fact have River, how in the hell did he get on this ship? This was like that old show, Star Trek, there was no beaming of any kind. So, there really was no way he could have gotten on the ship. Inara came running onto the bridge after a few minutes.

“ Mal, I’ve looked everywhere, and she’s gone. Do you suppose she could be hiding somewhere, and why did you want me to check on her?” Mal slumped down into the co-pilots chair. He didn’t much like the risk that came with harboring the Tam’s, but she was just a child. She shouldn’t be left to that kind of treatment, and he meant to get her back. Inara was trying to say something to him, but he ignored her. Instead, he got back on the microphone, and spoke to the entire ship.

“ Attention Crew, will everyone please report outside the bridge door, we have a situation.”
After a few minutes, Jayne, Book, Kaylee, and Simon gathered outside of the bridge, waiting for Mal to address them. Wash, Zoe, and Inara went outside the room too, waiting to hear what he had to say. Three people on the ship knew that River Tam was missing, but noone knew what Mal was going to do about it. He took a deep breath, and began to speak.

“ Okay listen up, people. River has been taken from us right from under our noses. I have no idea how he got to her, but–“ Mal was unable to finish his sentence, because Simon interrupted him.

“ What do you mean that River is missing? She was just here, and she went to her room!” Mal didn’t like to be interrupted, but given the circumstances, he tried to roll it off.

“ Simon, be quiet, okay? Jubal Early told us to stay away or he’d kill her, but I don’t believe that to be true. I plan on going after River, because she shouldn’t be left to that torture. If you don’t want to go with me, I suggest you tell me now.”