BLUE SUN ROOM FAN FICTION - GENERAL

RONINWRITER

Finding Emma – Ch 19 The Battle for Shadow Part V
Sunday, January 13, 2008

This is the final part of The Battle for Shadow. Just when everyone is ready to celebrate their victory, the Alliance reinforcements arrive to ruin the party. Serenity joins the fight and even more thrilling heroics ensue during the battle. This arc of the story finally comes to a conclusion with a series of scenes that give a little more in depth look at some of the characters and how they have been changed by recent events.


CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 1523    RATING: 0    SERIES: FIREFLY

Once the camp was secure, Linda looked over the wounded and administered what first aid she was capable of giving. She even patched Jason’s shoulder as best she could, though without a bullet extractor, she was unable to remove the projectile.

"Great, so I get to die of lead poisoning,” cracked Jason with a weak smile.

“Bullet’s copper jacketed,” replied Linda.

Their banter was interrupted when Sergeant Christine Wilkins came over to report that the last of the Alliance soldiers were rounded up and shacked into their own detention area.

“We’ve got to get everyone out of here,” said Jason. “Get the wounded rounded up and moved onto my ship first. Have that hotshot pilot of yours fly them back to the base as fast as he can and come back for the rest of us.”

“Bloody ell,” replied Christine. “We wiped the dirt wit thar asses. Sno time ta turn tails and run.”

“Oh, yes it is,” replied Jason, “As I guarantee you that they’ve got reinforcements headed to this camp right as we speak.” Christine nodded at the instructions and hurried off. Ten minutes later the sound of the Shire’s engines could be heard firing up as the ship took off.

Half an hour later they were waiting for the Shire to return. Rick had wandered over and was standing nearby with a wry grin painted across his face. Sarah was standing next to him, her expression looking decidedly impish as well. “Jay, you mind explaining to us how all the sudden you got to be a Browncoat Lieutenant?” asked the big man.

“Since it was necessary to save your pi gu,” replied Jason dryly. “It’s only temporary.”

“And for that we are grateful,” said Linda. “But why didn’t we leave soon as you got us free? Seems that could’ve been us taking off a while ago.”

“A man’s got responsibilities to finish a job he starts. Soon as these people are back at their base, we are off this planet, and this uniform is off me,” said Jason referring to the Independent uniform he had changed into so as not to be shot by friendly fire.

“I don’t know sir,” said Linda, eyeing him mischievously. “I think brown looks rather good on you.”

“The uniform does make you look rather suai Jason,” added Sarah, as she looked him up and down.

“I. Am. Not. A. Browncoat,” said Jason, carefully emphasizing each word to his snickering crew. Then looking down at his dress he added, “Not permanently anyway.” At least he wasn’t wearing one of their characteristic coats, the weather being too warm for that.

Jason allowed his crew to enjoy a laugh at his expense before changing his subject. “More importantly, make sure you don’t get any of your faces seen by that reporter and her camera man. She seems a nice sort, but we’ve still gotta be able to get onto the core worlds. Seems that’s where my sister is. And Sarah, why ain’t you with the ship?”

“They needed every bit of room for the wounded,” replied the girl. “And that reporter’s been interviewing the other Browncoats to get their side of the story as to why they’re fighting again. Pretty interesting actually, as it seems it has to do with a Blue Sun subsidiary what’s been muscling in on the local farms and ranches. Most of em don’t seem to have a problem with Alliance rule otherwise.”

Their conversation was interrupted as they heard the whine of engines approach from beyond the trees. “Looks like our ride’s here,” said Jason, anxious to get off New Shadow.

“Um, Jason,” said Sarah, “I don’t think that’s the Shire. Engines sound different and they ain’t due back for another half hour.”

Jason turned to the girl just as the menacing form of an Alliance troop transport appeared over the trees. Jason sprung to his feet and began shouting for the soldiers to assemble and grab what weapons they could. He just barely managed to get most of the men organized and entrenched on hillside to the side of the camp when the ship set down. The first wave of Alliance soldiers bounded out and began laying down cover fire. Several Browncoat stragglers were caught in the open and quickly cut down.

"Ai ya. Women wanle!" Exclaimed Jason as two more troop carriers appeared over the trees and began to settle to the ground. “Tell everyone to fall back into the forest before they grow some brains and realize they can surround us with those ships,” he shouted to the nearest soldier.

The Independents were in utter disarray and it took an agonizingly long time for word to spread. Luckily, the Alliance did not seem to have a green thumb when it came to cultivating gray matter as they simply set their ships down in the dead center of the camp.

“Christine,” called Jason to the Sergeant when he noticed her near by. “Take a dozen men and circle to the West side of the camp, I’ll take the East side. Everyone else is to dig in here. Have someone contact the base and see what they can do about immediate extraction.” The young woman nodded and hurried off.

Jason quickly selected a dozen men from among the nearby soldiers to form his squad before turning to his crew. “I want all of you to stay here, and keep down; that includes you Linda. Not losing any of my crew today.” Jason pulled out his 9mm and led his group of soldiers off to the East side of the camp.

As soon as Jason was out of earshot, Rick turned to the other two. “Either of you reckon that order falls under the heading of stupid things we’re allowed to disregard?” The two women nodded and the three of them quickly ran to pursue Jason’s squad.

The battle was not going well. The Alliance Marines were extremely well armored and one would only fall when a lucky shot hit a neck or other exposed body region. Eventually, someone on the Alliance side did realize the strategic disadvantage of their position, as a number of the soldiers began falling back to their transports. Jason watched in dismay as two of the three ships took off. One began moving in his direction to encircle his small force. The other headed in the direction of Christine’s squad. Just then, Jason heard the worst possible sound he could think of as the engines of yet another ship could be heard approaching from over the hill.

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Malcolm Reynolds surveyed the scene as Serenity came over the low hill and he was able to see the embattled camp below him. There was an Alliance troop transport in the center of the camp. From what he could see, a platoon of Alliance soldiers was engaged in a firefight with a large number of Independent soldiers that were rather haphazardly entrenched on the nearby hill sides. By itself, it was a bad position for the Alliance, but two other troop transports were moving to flank the Independents on opposite sides of the camp. By the scale of things Mal had scene back during the Unification War, it was a small battle, but bloody nonetheless.

“Albatross, set us down behind that transport in the center of the camp.”

“Prevent them from dividing the Browncoat’s forces,” said River, reading the battle tactic from Mal’s brain.

“Reckon if this lot can take out that force in the center of the camp,” agreed Mal, “then those in the hills’ll have the better chance of routing the other two forces.”

Mal turned and strode back to the cargo bay and from the catwalk looked down at the men below. Despite Anastasia’s promise of only carrying one platoon, they had managed to pack over seventy men into the hold of Serenity. There was barely room to stand, but it was only for the short ride from orbit to the surface of New Shadow.

Mal soon found most of his crew standing next to him. Kaylee stood next to Inara, both women looking a little scared as they stood next to Simon who was holding his medical bag. Zoe had her mare’s leg in hand and Jayne was holding Vera while several grenades hung from a bandolier across his chest.

“’Nara, take Kaylee and lock yourselves into your shuttle,” said Mal. Turning to the others he added, “I want all of you to stay on the ship. Don’t want none of you getting involved.”

“Sir,” replied Zoe as she raised an eyebrow.

“Ain’t our fight this time,” said Mal. As he looked down at the men below, he even tried to believe it himself.

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Jason watched as the new ship came into view. To his surprise it was not another troop transport, but rather, a very familiar looking old Firefly. If he wasn’t mistaken, it was Serenity. He had little time to consider the matter however, as the troop transport had passed over him and was now settling to the ground on the opposite side of his small force from the center of the camp.

“Everyone take cover. It’s about to get ugly,” he ordered his men. Not two minutes later, Alliance soldiers began pouring from the troop transport. At the closer range, several of the Purplebellies were cut down, as the Browncoats were now able to more accurately target the weak spots in their body armor such as their necks and underarms. Their numbers however, were still far greater than that of Jason’s squad.

Jason swore vehemently in Chinese as the soldier next to him was shot in the head. He was dead before he hit the ground.

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Mal descended the metal steps to the floor of his cargo bay. Taking a heavy metal panel that normally covered one of the smuggling compartments to use as a shield, he took up a position by the cargo bay door. As he did so he tried not to meet the gaze of the men as they watched him. Despite telling his crew to keep quite, word had gotten out that he was Malcolm Reynolds of Serenity Valley, veteran and war hero of the Unification War.

“You ready, he called to the Lieutenant in charge of the soldiers.”

“Yes sir,” swallowed the Lieutenant nervously. Mal looked over the young officer. If Mal had to guess, it would be his first time leading men into battle. As he pushed the button to open the heaven metal door, Mal hoped that it would not be the man’s last. It was a hope that was to prove in vain however. As soon as the door was down, the Lieutenant was on his feet attempting to wave his men out of the ship, forgetting to first set up cover fire. Mal winced as the man was shot dead in the first few seconds of the firefight.

Mal watched as the other soldiers quickly fell into disarray. He felt a sick sensation in his stomach as several of the disorganized men and women were cut down.

“Everyone take cover,” bellowed Mal as he raised the cargo bay door half way to afford some degree of cover. “Who’s next in command?”

“O’mally’s our Sergeant,” yelled a private while pointing to another man lying on his cargo bay floor. Mal looked down at the indicated soldier. He was still breathing, but was in no state to lead a fight.

“Jayne,” Mal yelled up at the big mercenary. “Grenade.” He held out his hand as the requested item was tossed down to him. “You five,” he pointed at several other men, “lay down cover fire on my command.” They nodded in understanding. “The rest of you, charge when I tell you.” The men looked somewhat awestruck at who was going to be leading them into battle.

Mal pulled the pin and tossed the grenade at the Alliance soldiers. At the same time, he gave the order for cover fire as he lowered the cargo bay door. The Alliance soldiers were taken by surprise and quickly ducked back under the sudden explosion and onslaught of gunfire. Mal seized the opportunity and led the charge against them. As they approached the Alliance position, a Purplebelly jumped unexpectedly out of the transport and leveled his rifle on Mal, thinking he could take out the Browncoat’s new leader. He fell to the earth, a bullet in his neck before he could pull the trigger. Mal turned to see Zoe running next to him holding her small carbine. Jayne was close behind her, a gleeful expression on his face as the mercenary fired Vera into the Alliance ranks.

The Browncoats, now organized and having superior numbers to the Alliance soldiers, quickly overwhelmed their foes entrenched around their troop transport. “Thought I told you to stay on the ship,” said Mal to Zoe and Jayne.

“Guess that makes us insubordinate,” replied Zoe.

“That it does,” replied Mal. “Just soes you know.”

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The battle was not going well for Jason. He had lost four of his twelve men and the Alliance force was slowly advancing on his position. About the only good thing was that the Alliance force in the center of the camp had been overwhelmed by the soldiers that had spilled out of Serenity. This had allowed him to get his men entrenched behind a fallen tree with their backs to the center of the camp. He regretted ordering the rest of the soldiers to stay put on the hillside North of the camp as he could really use reinforcements about now.

From where he was, Jason could see that he was visible to the other Browncoats who where now watching the fight. He quickly began waving for some of them to come and assist, now that the center of the camp was secure. Jason saw a group of men break away and head in his direction, but he was not sure they would make it to him in time. Risking another look over the log, Jason could see two squads of Alliance soldiers leapfrogging each other to gain ground on his position. There was barely any time for his own men to fire back as the two groups of Purplebellies took turns rushing forward and laying down cover fire. It was a bold maneuver that cost them several men during each surge forward, but with their superior numbers, they would soon overwhelm Jason’s position.

The Alliance were now so close that Jason’s force would be done for as soon as the rear squad of Alliance soldiers rushed forward to inevitably overwhelm their position. Jason watched as the Purplebellies began running forward yet again. Jason was just about to accept his fate when about half of the onrushing men were cut down by cross fire from their left flank. As their body armor was weakest on their sides, the men did not get back up and their remaining comrades were forced to fall back. Jason looked over to see Linda and Rick hosing the Alliance down with automatic rifles. Rick actually had two rifles and was holding one in each hand and looking more than a little like a gorram comic book hero. Jason could even see a tuft of reddish brown hair at their feet where Sarah was lying prone with a rifle. The trio was quickly forced to duck behind some tree trunks as the Alliance realized the source of the crossfire. Their efforts had not been in vain though, as it had bought enough time for the other Browncoats to arrive and back up Jason’s small squad.

Jason waved for the reinforcements to circle around the backside of the troop carrier where the Purplebellies would be most vulnerable. The tactic worked and Jason watched in amazement as the Browncoat soldiers haphazardly rushed the Alliance soldiers who where now caught relatively in the open. Jason quickly rallied his remaining eight men to take the offensive. Jason was not entirely certain, but he was pretty sure he had just inadvertently executed a Pincer Movement. Whatever it was called, it worked and the Alliance soldiers, despite having superior numbers, soon dropped their weapons in surrender.

Jason made sure that the area was clear, before ordering a corporal to take charge of securing the prisoners and headed over to scold his disobedient crewmembers. As he approached his crew, it was Rick who spoke first. “Recall you said something about intervening if you were to do something stupid, Jay.”

Jason closed his mount and bit off what he was about to say. “Yeah, suppose I did. Thanks. I estimate you just saved my pi gu.”

“Guess that makes us even,” said Linda.

“I also said we don’t keep score on that,” replied Jason, as he surveyed the battle scene. “Shit! Christine’s squad is still pinned down.”

Jason quickly turned back to the soldiers. “Save for those who need to stay and baby sit,” said Jason indicating the prisoners. “I need all of you with me to back up Sergeant Wilkins’ squad.”

The minutes seemed like hours as Jason led his men in a dead heat across the camp to Christine’s position. When he arrived it was not as bad as he had feared, but it was close. The heavy brush had given Christine’s squad a better advantage and as a result she had had better luck holding off the Alliance onslaught. Without reinforcements however, the Alliance had managed to leapfrog their way to her position and Jason was just leading his men to within sight as the Purplebellies overwhelmed her squad. Half her men were cut down instantly.

The sudden appearance of Jason’s force took the Alliance soldiers by surprise however, and they were forced to turn their attention from the slaughter of Christine’s decimated squad. As the Pincer movement had already worked once, Jason had decided to try it again and he ordered Linda to take half the men and head to the left while he took the remaining men to the right. The brush and undergrowth was thick in the forest on this side of the camp and things quickly became confusing. Purple and brown uniformed men were fighting all around Jason and it was difficult to tell which side was winning.

An Alliance soldier suddenly jumped out from a bramble thicket and cracked Jason across the face with the barrel of his rifle. “You’re the ruttin’ tactical genius that’s been giving us all the trouble,” said the soldier in surprised recognition.

Jason recognized him as one of the men he had originally captured when he had first taken the camp. The man leveled his rifle and shot Jason in square in the chest. Pain raided throughout Jason’s body and he saw stars as he was knocked flat on his back. Jason pulled a ragged breath and felt the deep dent in the metal plate covering his chest. Thank god for body armor being a standard part of military uniforms, he thought.

Jason looked up at his enemy. The man was not about to make the same mistake twice, as he leveled his rifle at Jason’s head. There was a small pop, and the man lurched to the side. Looking down in surprise, the man touched his hand to the blood that was welling from the bullet wound in the unarmored side of his abdomen. He and Jason both looked over to see Sarah holding a smoking Pipsqueak. Here eyes were wide and she seemed unable to believe that she had just shot a man.

Though critically wounded, the small bullet had lacked the power to knock the Purplebelly down. The man winced in pain as he quickly raised his rifle once again, this time turning it on Sarah. The girl let loose the second shot from her tiny gun, though this one simply bounced off the body armor on the man’s chest. The girl froze in fear as the man grinned and brought his weapon to bear. He never got the chance to fire it, however, as Jason already pulled his 9mm and shot him in the back of the head.

When the man’s body hit the ground, Sarah snapped out of her trance and quickly went to Jason’s side. “Ya killed ‘em!”

“Stopped him from killing you, didn’t I?” replied Jason. “What kinda hu dan would go try and kill a pretty girl like you anyway?”

“You think I’m pretty,” asked Sarah, as she helped him to his feet.

“Yes, Sarah. I think you’re pretty,” replied Jason as he looked into her green eyes. Jason suddenly pulled Sarah to the ground behind a boulder, as two more Alliance soldiers appeared from the brush. “But I think we should have this discussion some other time,” he concluded.

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Jayne Cobb had watched several Browncoat solders rush by, heading toward the sound of gunfire on the opposite hillside. Jayne would not have thought much of it until he saw Jason leading them. At the sight of other man, Jayne quickly looked around to see if his daughter was with him. When he caught sight of the girl following close behind, he swore under his breath. “I’ll kill that sum bitch if he gets her killed,” he muttered under his breath.

“Jayne!” yelled Mal. “Get back here!”

“Sorry Mal,” yelled Jayne in reply. “You can’t pay me enough to obey you this time.”

The soldiers had a good head start and it took Jayne a while to catch up to them. When they disappeared into the scrub at the far side of the camp, he lost sight of Sarah and Jason. As he muscled his way through the think underbrush, he took out more than one Purplebelly with his big gun and Jayne was forced to smile. The great thing about Vera was that body armor was no match for her. Even if the bullets didn’t penetrate, the force of the slug’s impact was enough to crush a man’s chest cavity.

Off to his right he heard the chart eristic pop of a .32 handgun. Sarah was the only person he knew who had a gun in that odd little caliber. Jayne quickly moved in that direction. Jayne doubled his effort as he heard the second pop of the little gun. The girl would be out of ammunition now. A third and much louder shot rang from the same location and Jayne’s blood ran cold at the thought of it being directed at his daughter.

Thorns tore at his bare arms, but Jayne ignored the pain as he burst from the undergrowth in time to see Jason pulling Sarah to the ground as two Alliance soldiers charged at their position. Jayne quickly dropped the Purplebellies with two shots from Vera as another group of four Alliance soldiers charged out of the brush. Jayne tossed a grenade into their midst and ended their days as the fireball engulfed them.

“Thanks,” said Jason, as he and Sarah got to their feet. The next and last thing Jason remembered seeing was Jayne’s fist swing at his face.

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When Jason finally came to, the battle was over. He imagined things could not have gone too badly, as Rick and Linda were standing over him while his head was cradled in Sarah’s lap. “What happened?” asked Jason as he tried to sit up. He quickly winced at the pain in his skull. “What the hell hit me?”

“Angry father-in-law,” replied Rick who always liked teasing his friend. Sarah blushed so deeply that it even showed through her freckles. Linda hit the big man on the arm for the remark, and he decided not to pursue the joke.

“Right,” said Jason. He began to recall several still hazy events that culminated in being rescued by Sarah’s father.

Linda explained the events as they had transpired. Though he had not been conscious to witness it, his Pincer Movement had worked and the Browncoats had prevailed in saving Christine’s remaining squad. All the Purplebellies were now either dead or captured. Furthermore, there would be no more of them coming as the blockade had been broken and the fleet driven off. Generals Kurvis and Ellis had also arrived and were now surveying the site of their battle before heading out to Fort Halamo.

There had been over fifty skirmishes across the mountain range that afternoon, all of which, by the way, had gone to the Browncoats. The one they had fought in had been the second largest by far. It was surpassed only by a massive and brutal battle for control of Fort Halamo, which was considered to have significant symbolic value, though what value Linda could not rightly say. Linda finished her report by letting Jason know that the ever-persistent Sherry Fong was dying for an interview with him as many of the soldiers were now painting him a some sort of hero of the hour. Thus far though, they had thwarted her attempts to get near him.

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Simon was exhausted as he washed off from his last surgery. Back at Osirus General he had frequently pulled eighteen-hour shifts during his residency, but at least then he had been able to catch some sleep between calls. For the last twenty hours he had done nothing but sew up bullet wound after bullet wound with the occasional laceration thrown in for good measure. The number of people he had saved had unfortunately only been exceeded by the number of people that he could not. He was thankful that Linda had been there to do pre-op and triage. He didn’t think he could handle the task of choosing those to save and those not.

As he walked out of the infirmary, he found Jason waiting for him. At first, he thought that the other man was there for medical attention, as his arm was in a sling. “You need that looked at?” asked Simon.

“It’s alright, Linda extracted the bullet and bandaged it. I’m sure it will be fine,” replied Jason. “I want to know about this Academy your sister spoke of.”

At the mention of the Academy, Simon paused in toweling off his hands. “Ah. River mentioned that you might ask about that,” said Simon. “You best sit down.”

Over the next half hour Simon explained to an ever more horrified Jason exactly what the Academy was, and what had been done to River while she was there. Jason finally held up his hand when the young doctor began to explain about how one of the more experimental procedures involved lobotomizing a portion of his sister’s brain that regulated emotion.

“Ta me da,” exclaimed Jason. “Where is this place? I need to get her out.”

“We tried to find the dove,” said River, materializing out of the shadows where both men had failed to notice her hiding. “But the masters have moved the gilded cage.”

“What she means is that I contacted some old friends,” Simon explained. “They helped me find River. But apparently the former location of the Academy was closed down. They’ve been looking for it’s new location for some time, but to no avail.”

“So I may never see my sister again?” asked Jason, his voice now rising. “And if I do, she may have had her brain butchered?” He quickly calmed himself. The doctor had tried to help. It wasn’t him that deserved Jason’s wrath.

“Luckily, I have reason to believe that the lobotomy procedure was not wide spread, but rather somewhat experimental. They may or may not have used it on your sister, especially if she was already a strong psychic. River, for example, never displayed any blatant psychic capability before she was taken away.”

They sat in silence for several minutes. Then something occurred to Jason. “You said that they trained River for military purposes?”

“I’m fairly certain they intended her for combat,” replied Simon. “Being able to kill a roomful of Reavers single handedly strongly suggests that.”

Jason raised an eyebrow at this revelation. He would have loved to hear that story, but he had more pressing matters at the moment. Something was niggling at the back of his mind.

River looked at Jason. “The dream is the key. The last piece of the puzzle makes the whole fit together.”

“River,” asked Simon gently to his sister.

“No, it’s alright,” said Jason, something the young psychic said clicked into place. “She is correct. I think I know the new location of the Academy.”

It was Simon’s turn to be surprised. He knew his acquaintances in the underground had been searching for the new location of the Academy for near on two years now. That the man across from him would simply know its location seemed unlikely.

“My sister and I, we could sometimes share thoughts, dreams. Not often, but sometimes,” said Jason. He felt foolish saying it, as it would sound madness to most people. “I had one of those dreams about a month back. I thought it was my imagination at the time. It requires a certain proximity, and we were not near any inhabited worlds. There was, however, an Alliance cruiser in the area.”

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Jason and Simon found Generals Ellis and Kurvis talking to Captain Reynolds about the details of the battle while the Companion Inara listened intently nearby.

“Excuse me gentlemen,” said Jason, interrupting them as politely as he could. “Was wondering if you could help me with something.”

“Anything we can boy,” said General Ellis. “Your actions today have certainly earned you the right to ask.”

“I’m looking for any intelligence you might have on the AIV Nietzsche,” asked Jason. The odd request caused the two generals exchanged a look.

“I think I should explain,” said Simon. “Mal, you remember what was done to River.” Another several minutes passed as Simon once again explained to the Generals what he knew of the Academy where his sister had been sent. At one point, General Kurvis turned to a subordinate and asked him to retrieve any intelligence they had on the Alliance cruiser Nietzsche. The young man returned just as Simon was finishing his story.

“We received a full report from Anastasia on current Alliance military deployment a few hours after the blockade was lifted,” reported the Private. “The Nietzsche is currently on other side of the system. Interestingly, it recently changed course and appears to be on its way to New Shadow. It will arrive here in two weeks if this is in fact its destination.”

"You don't suppose they would use the Academy students here do you," asks Inara, speaking for the first time. "They're children, like River."

"Sweetheart, they would sell their own children to the Devil himself," replies Mal.

"He is right," says River startling the Generals. No one had seen her approach "This is what we were created for. Covert operations, assassination, and counter insurgency. I could kill an entire platoon if need be."

General Ellis chuckled. "Don't be ridiculous. These men are trained soldiers."

"I think you need a demonstration," replied River. Then she turned to loudly address several soldiers that were lounging about. "Any of you strapping young men feel up for a fight."

Simon quickly moved to protest, but she silenced him by placing a finger to his lips and giving him a very dark look.

Several of the men laughed out loud at the ridiculous request. "I'll grapple with you sweetheart, if that's what you mean," said one bold young man. His comment elicited several catcalls and whistles.

"I'll give a kiss to any man that can take me down," said River walking out into a clear area off to the side of the camp. The she added to Mal, "I promise I will try not to harm anyone."

"Honey, you are on!" Several men cheered as a handful of Browncoats jumped up from where they were lounging to walk over to River. To everyone's surprise, the first man to reach her was lying on the ground before anyone could even see River make a move.

Over the next few minutes, River demonstrates her fighting skills as an ever-increasing number of soldiers decided that it was some sort of affront to their dignity that their brethren were being taken down so easily by the lithe girl. As she defeated them time and again, they became more and more serious in their attempt to take her down. Some even begin using weapons; small ones at first, but then large knives and even one or two guns came out. Finally River called a stop to it by jumping out of their ranks and leaping into the arms of a startled Jayne who had been watching near by.

In actuality she had been approaching the point were she would no longer be able to control the killer instincts that had been programmed into her. Then, if for not other reason than to torment her brother, she made good on her promise and give Jayne a chaste kiss on the cheek.

Next, she addressed the Browncoat brass. "Imagine over 200 students like me, but not holding back. That is what is headed your way."

"Dear God," declared General Kurvis to General Ellis. "We'll have to destroy that ship or we're done for."

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An hour later an unofficial meeting was called to discuss the threat posed by the Nietzsche and the Academy that was housed on board. The crews of both the Shire and Serenity were present, as well as many Browncoat underlings that would not normally have been allowed to attend such a meeting.

"I'm afraid we’ll have to destroy it, at all costs." declared General Kurvis. "Unless anyone can offer an alternative?” He unconsciously looked at Jason. They boy had come up with an unlikely plan before.

"I can get a small force onto that ship," offered Jason.

"How do you plan to do that," asked General Kurvis.

"My ship, the Shire, is still registered as an Alliance logistics contractor," said Jason. "I can get on board. In fact, I've already looked into it. Sarah?" Jason turned to his resident computer expert.

"A shipment of weapons is to be delivered in ten day from the Ezra Skyplex to the IAV Nietzsche," said Sarah. "I've already registered the Shire as the selected transport contractor."

"Your ship is too small for such an assault. It can barely fit forty men in its cargo hold," replied General Ellis. "There's no way that many men can take an Alliance cruise."

"We won't need that many, in fact, the fewer the better. We'll let an advanced computer virus do the work. With those stolen plans of yours, we can modify one to target the ships systems. All that's needed is to get it into the ships central computer. Once their weapons systems are down, as many ships as you like will be able to dock and board her."

"Well gentlemen," added Jason. "Would you like to take possession of an Alliance Tohoku cruiser with enough firepower to slag a planet?"

"If you free them, the Academy students will be very grateful to you as well,” added River. She fought to repress a shudder as memories of the horrors to which she had been subjected during her time there suddenly came back. “They could serve you well as strong allies."

"You can always destroy the ship," pleaded Jason. “Give us a chance.”

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That evening Jason sat with his crew and several soldiers around a campfire. The Shire was leaving the next morning for the Ezra Skyplex and they had decided to stay the night to recover from the events of the previous few days. One of the soldiers had brought out a guitar and was strumming various ballads while a few others that knew the words sang along. Off to the side, and out of earshot of the others, Sarah stood next to her father. Jayne was leaning against a tree with a toothpick in his mouth as he watched the flickering firelight play across his daughter’s impassive face.

“Still angry with you,” she said to him, after a long silence. “Don’t imagine I’ll ever not be.”

“Expect as much,” said Jayne. ”You got a right to be, Sarah. I wont even try to apologize. What I done to you ‘n your mother’s pretty much beyond what a man can ask forgiveness for.”

“Don’t bring her up,” said Sarah. “Got no right to even mention her name.”

Jayne sighed. He knew the girl was right. “She’d a forgiven you though,” added Sarah. “Even said once that you coulda never of known the consequences of that night in that bar. I guess I’ll compromise on not hating you so much.”

Jayne looked at his daughter in mild surprise. “You sure.”

“Saved my life, and Jason’s. Guess I owe you that.”

Jayne’s temper rose at the sound of Jason’s name. “I been meaning to ask,” said Jayne hotly. “What the ruttin hell was that some bitch doing dragging you into a firefight like that anyway? No weapon, not to speak of anyway, and no body armor?”

“He didn’t drag me anywhere Pa,” replied Sarah equally hotly. “I disobeyed his direct order to stay out of it, if you must know. And you didn’t need to hit him for it.”

“Oh,” said Jayne quieting down somewhat. “Guess he ain’t that bad then.”

“Oh, what is your problem?” asked Sarah sarcastically. “Now your gonna go all protective of me? What right do you have to even question any part of my life?”

Jayne fell silent a moment as he looked down at his hands. “None, I guess. Suppose I don’t even have the right to call myself your father. I would like to change though. The crew I’m with now’ve showed me there’s more to life than sex, money and thuggery. Like to maybe find out what that more is.”

“Well,” said Sarah. “Won’t promise anything, but suppose we could write. Maybe catch up now and again for a beer if’n we find ourselves in the same port.”

“I reckon that would be nice,” replied Jayne.

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

Closer to the fire, a bottle of Shadow Rye Whiskey was being passed around and even Jason was partaking when it came around to him. The stuff was damn smooth and after the day he had had, he needed it. Rick had just handed him the bottle when Christine addressed him.

“Been mean’n ta ask ya Jason. Er, sir,” she was a bit tipsy. “Why’s you always saying ya ain’t a Browncoat. Sure fought like one today.”

Jason was surprised at the question. It hadn’t come up before as a serious topic. “Suppose it’s because I don’t have a problem with Unification. It was always pretty inevitable, actually.”

“Ya support Unification,” said Matt Perkins who was lying next to Christine and heavily bandaged. Several other people also turned to look at Jason in surprise.

“Now hold on. Never said that,” replied Jason. “Nor do I support the way the Alliance went about it.” As the expressions regarding him turned to ones of confusion he went on. “Unification is inevitable because of economics. The Core needs the Rim for cheap manufacturing and agriculture. The Rim needs the Core as a marketplace to sell their goods. The two are inherently interdependent. No need for a war for the two to eventually unify.”

“Then why’d they go an start one ten years back?” asked Rick.

“The 1st unification war was really been waged after the Core ran up such a massive trade deficit that they were at risk of a major economic depression and hyperinflation. Was a convenient way to wipe the balance sheets clean.”

“It was short sighted though,” continued Jason. “The same economics applied after just as they did before. Unified or not, a Core world can only consume more than it produces for so long. “So the Core just wants us as slaves then,” summarized another soldier.

“Not necessarily,” replied Jason. “The Core’s gotten better at exporting technology and such. Look at how quickly they were able to reterraform this world. Things are a bit more in balance now. Doubt it would even be an issue if the Alliance had just lifted martial law and allowed Shadow a duly elected government. One that answers to its people, and would never have allowed some of the crooked taxing practices that’ve been enacted.” Man was the booze making him talkative.

“So why’re you fight’n so hard,” asked Christine. “Ya still havn’t answered.”

“I only want to get my sister back, she’s the only family I have left, and keep my crew alive, who are just as close,” replied Jason. “Not my fault that the Alliance keeps putting themselves between me an those two simple goals.”

“Don’t sound too much different than us,” said Christine. “We just wanna keep our homes so’s we can raise our families.”

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

Malcolm Reynolds was deep in thought as he stood on the edge of the camp looking out on the mountain range of central Shadow. He heard footsteps behind him and he turned, expecting it to be Inara. Instead he found the woman named Linda from Jason’s crew. “Nice evening,” commented Linda.

“Yeah, cool, but not cold,” replied Mal. “Reminds me of growing up. A little anyway.”

“Me too,” replied Linda.

“Where you from exactly,” asked Mal. “Heard you’re also a Shadow native.”

“Town called Rawlings, bout two hundred miles West of here,” answered Linda. “It’s gone now. Was a nurse at a clinic.”

“Used to be a rancher myself,” said Mal. “Different life, now home is my ship.”

“Yeah, different life,” agreed Linda. “These days I’ll call home anywhere I can find a way to look after my son. So far, Jason’s done right by me.” After a pause Linda decided to change the subject. “It used to be hardwood all throughout this forest, now it’s mostly pine and scrub. Seems amiss somehow.”

“I said the same thing earlier,” replied Mal. “River, that’s my pilot and resident crazy genius, said it’s due to the reterraforming. Said the hardwoods take a century to grow, pines only a decade. Said the planet will eventually heal and the hardwood forests will return, but just in the same lifetime.”

“Kinda like us, then,” said Linda.

“Yeah,” said Mal. “Kinda like us.”

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

The Shire left New Shadow the following morning. Jason was alone in the cockpit of his ship and once they were out of atmosphere he set their course for the Ezra Skyplex into the autopilot and sat back in his chair. For several minutes he gazed out at the starts.

Young Matt Hawkins was back on board, and Jason could already smell something pleasant being cooked back in the kitchen. He could also hear Rick regaling the boy with stories of the thrilling heroics that had gone on since last they had met. Jason knew Sarah was busy in her bunk trying to modify a computer virus with the stolen tactical data to have maximum effect against the AIV Nietzsche. Therefore, when he heard someone step onto the bridge behind him, Jason knew the unseen person must be Linda.

"Exciting couple of days," said Jason. "You must be glad to see your son again. I'm surprised you're leaving him to Rick."

"More than you can imagine,” replied Linda. “But he also needs a positive male role model and Rick seems to really get along with him. Besides, I came to give this back to you.”

Jason swiveled around in his seat to se Linda holding out Jason's old Browncoat.

“What’s this?” asked Jason. "I told you I had no place wearing one of those."

“You’ve earned it," said Linda. "You should wear it proudly."

“How many times to I have to say it, I’m not a gorram Browncoat,” argued Jason.

Linda sighed. “Remember that standing order to let you know when you're being stupid,” she said.

“Yeah,” replied Jason.

“Now would be one of those times. Bi zhu(shut up) Jason, and take the gorram coat.”

TO BE CONTINUED

Authors Notes: Interestingly, I never intended Jason to perform half the thrilling heroics that he did in the chapter. It just sort of worked out that way. Feedback’s been pretty quit. Dunno if it’s because of the holidays or because my writing sucks. Let me know if you find the time. I can handle criticism.

As usual: It ain’t mine, I just like playing with it. (Does that sound right to you?)

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