“Think ya oughtta slow down a mite?” The skinny, old bartender suggested, dropping another smudged glass of blended liquor onto the bar before the patron. Non-responsive, the young man took a long pull on the drink and glanced around the seedy dive. The man went by Gabriel, he was twenty one years old, and he had issues. He was well-muscled for his age, but his grimace and mannerisms were characteristic of a more seasoned man. Right now, he was just pissed-off and waiting. It had been two weeks since he’d escaped, and it was still a point of curiosity to him that the Feds weren’t looking for him any harder than what they were. *‘Course, what with this new Miranda situation, I’m sure they got all manner of other unpleasantries to deal with...* It had been all over the Cortex when Gabriel escaped the facility with stolen clothing and medicine which he’d since pawned off for cash. *So the Alliance has a few dirty little secrets.* He took another drink, wincing at the familiar, comforting burn in his throat. *Big surprise.* Two hairy ape-things that called themselves human sauntered into the bar and sat a few stools down from Gabriel. The bartender moved to assist them. “Ale, two rounds,” the larger of the two ordered, and the frothy beverages were procured. Normally, two complete strangers would hold no interest whatsoever with Gabriel, but there was something about it... The situation, in general, had a peculiar aura to it that grabbed his attention. Studying his drink with his eyes and the newcomers with his ears, the man eavesdropped for several moments. “An’ speakin’ on Reavers, you heard the talk? Folk’re sayin’ the gorram Independents might be tryin’ for a comeback, what with all this ruckus over the Miranda deal.” At this, Gabriel was all ears. “Ruttin’ Browncoats better stay the hell outta my galaxy,” the other responded. “Had enough of the whole lot of ‘em there towards the end of the war.”

“So when’s this fella gonna show?” Jayne muttered, looking toward the door for the ump-teenth time that hour. “We sit here long enough and I’m liable to start gettin’ sloppy.” Malcolm Reynolds brushed two fingers across an itch on his jaw. “Jayne, you’re permanently sloppy,” he stabbed, “but if our seller doesn’t show up in the next thirty minutes, I’m all for expandin’ our options. We can...” He trailed off as a crude comment from across the room floated to his ears. “Nothin’ I’m too worried about,” a large man at the bar growled to his companion. “We didn’t have much trouble with the pigs in the last war. They’ll prob’ly lie down even easier the second time around...” Mal tapped Jayne’s arm with the back of his hand and gestured. “Well, ain’t this about to get interesting.” Before he could even think about his next move, however, another drinker several stools down from the loud men grabbed the first by his shoulders and slammed his head into his friend’s. Both men toppled to the floor, and the attacker loomed over them menacingly. “You killed me!” he screamed, and Mal’s observation was that the man was more than just a bit unbalanced, judging by his voice and the look in his eyes. “You killed me!” The two men on the floor stood, and suddenly there was a knife. “Not yet, I ain’t!” the tough guy growled. “I aim to change that!” He lunged with the knife, and the young man twisted, turning the killer blow into a rib-glancing wound. The young man slammed the big man’s face into the bar, decommissioning him, and then his eyes locked with Mal’s, and instant recognition flashed across both faces. “Sarge?” Gabriel Davin whispered in shock. He had completely forgotten the second man, who was going for his fallen comrade’s knife. Stepping quickly across the room, Mal planted his boot in the man’s gut and kicked the knife away. He returned his attention to the old acquaintance. “Good to see you again, little Gab.” Jayne sidled up beside him, a confused look on his face. “So, uh... we know him?”

Simon Tam was sterilizing some syringes when the captain’s voice called for him over the intercom. Grabbing his carry bag as instructed, he moved with haste to the cargo bay, where Mal and Jayne were boarding with a third man. The newcomer was wearing black trousers and a black sleeveless shirt, which is why Simon didn’t immediately recognize that he was wounded. “Doctor,” Mal introduced, “I’d like you to meet Gabriel, an old ‘quaintance of mine from the war. Appears Gab here don’t much like sharp objects.” “I can see that...” Simon began, but trailed off, a queer expression crossing his face as he noticed that Gabriel wasn’t even aware of his presence. The young man was staring intently at the upper catwalk, and as the doctor followed his gaze, he saw River standing above them, staring at Gabriel as if he had sprouted wings. Her expression lightened, and she cocked her head, her gaze never leaving the man. Sighing heavily, Mal nudged Gabriel, and not quite gently. “That’s the doc’s crazy sister. Long story, but not quite as long as how I met you, so we’re going to skip backgrounds and go straight to the part where the doc stitches you up.” “Oh, right,” Simon replied, and Gabriel finally looked at him. “The infirmary’s this way.” Blinking curiously and following the doctor, Gabriel mumbled, “Don’t make no sense.” Simon frowned at him again. *A very strange fellow. And quiet.*

Walking up beside River, Kaylee watched the new guy leave with Simon and the captain, while Jayne disappeared down the loading ramp. “Who’s the new guy?” she asked light-heartedly. “He’s kinda cute.” River didn’t look Kaylee’s way. “Sadness...” she spoke softly and distantly, the way she did when she was ‘zoning out’. “He’s full of sadness. More than I’ve felt in a long time. He’s still trying, though. It’s good. Good to question. He’s stronger than he looks, but weaker than he thinks.” Ignoring the fact that she had no idea what the girl was talking about, and unsure as to how to respond, Kaylee playfully observed, “Well, that’s quite an analysis. Ya must’ve put a lot of thought behind that one.” River finally looked at her. “He’s fascinating,” she said matter-of-factly, as if everyone should have already come to the same conclusion. “I’ll bet he is,” Kaylee agreed sarcastically, moving for the stairs.

Mal looked up from the doctor-patient exchange when Zoe entered the infirmary. “I was in the head. Jayne says we got ourselves a visitor.” She stopped when she recognized the man. “Why, Gabriel Davin!” She actually smiled a little, the sight of which made Mal feel better. Zoe smiled a lot less now. Gabriel returned the small smile. “Good to see ya, Zoe.” Zoe shook his hand. “Haven’t seen you since... Wow, you were just a young, stubborn rut of fourteen.” “Killed just fine, though,” Mal explained for the doctor’s benefit. “Again, long story. Dinner conversation. Point is, you know I ain’t likely to invite strangers off the street into my boat without a business mind.” “I gathered as much,” Simon said absently, finishing his work with a snip of loose stitching. “That ought to do it. Let me just get a bandage for that, and you’ll be all set.” “Shiny,” Gabriel muttered, his eyes wandering around the infirmary. “Place gives me the creeps. It’s too... clean. Rest of the ship’s a mite more invitin’.” It was the most he’d spoken since boarding the ship, although his eyes suddenly seemed to focus on a spot beyond the walls. Thousand-mile-stare, they called it. Mal and Zoe had been seen to get it, too. Another casualty of war. Sadly enough, however, so did River... “So...” Mal started, trying to press the confusing youth for more conversation. Gabriel didn’t seem at all like the hard-headed yet highly-intelligent youth he’d met during the war. He had trouble believing it was the same person. “What you been up to, the past seven years?” Gabriel’s eyes got wide, and he stared at Mal with intensity, the way River sometimes tended to do. “Kidnapped,” he replied, and his tone sent a chill down Mal’s spine. “Two years ago. Shanghaied. I got away coupla weeks ago, but they haven’t come after me yet.” Mal was taken aback, unsure of what to say. “I’m... sorry to hear that. Slavers? Pirates?” Gabriel’s response made everyone in the room freeze in shock. “Alliance.” He continued in vague description. “Did things to me... Made quite a mess of me. Kinda hard to tell, ain’t it?” At the last part, he twisted his mouth into a half-smile, trying to lighten the mood a bit. It didn’t work. “Wait, wait!” Simon sputtered. “What sort of things? Where were you?” Gabriel fixed his gaze on the floor. “Physical stuff, mostly, like surgeries. Lockdown facility. Not like your sister, though. I ain’t psychic.” Another shock. “I never told you she was,” Mal said, a dangerous edge creeping into his tone. “And if you ain’t psychic, how do you know she is?” Gabriel looked up at the captain. “I’m an empath, Sarge,” he explained. “Can’t read, but can feel. I feel people’s emotions, their moods. I can also tell when someone’s reading my mind.” He nodded to the door, even though Mal didn’t think that River was there. “Like she did.” “And...” Simon cut in, “...they took you for their experiments because you are empathic?” Looking at the floor again, Gabriel shook his head solemnly. “They never even knew. To be all truthful, I don’t know why they picked me. You’re welcome to look me over, though. Weren’t the same experiments, but maybe you can find something that will help you out with your sister.” Simon nodded. “I would greatly appreciate that.” He looked up at Mal hopefully. “If that’s all right with the captain, of course.” Mal shrugged. “Don’t make no mind to me none, but we’re leaving this rock as soon as possible. Job fell through and we can’t wait around to starve.” He turned and moved toward the door. “You’re welcome to stay on the ship for a spell. Zoe will get you set up with a room, and from the look of things, our good doctor’s little sister would be more than willin’ to give you a tour of the ship.” This incited a glare from the doctor, which Mal ignored. “I got things that need lookin’ to, but we’ll get all this sorted out over chow.” With that, he left the infirmary.

Somehow, he noticed that she was watching him. Most people never noticed when River watched them, but the new soul always seemed to know exactly where she was. He tried not to let her see him take notice, but of course, she knew. His head was flooded with jumbled, incoherent thoughts that even she had trouble sorting. It was any wonder that he could operate in society at all. There was so much sadness there, too. Sadness and confusion, and an unfocused determination that made little sense. He was, indeed, an interesting paradigm. *Hello. My name is Gabriel*. River was so surprised that she actually blinked. No one had ever purposely projected a thought toward her before. She was rather pleased, and his small smile told her that he was aware of her pleasure. Dropping silently from the ceiling panel where she had been perched, River moved gracefully toward him. Gabriel was sitting at the edge of a catwalk, his legs dangling over the edge and his arms draped across the lower railing. She folded her bare legs and sat beside him, still staring. “Where are you?” she asked quizzically. Staring at some imaginary point across the cargo bay, he whispered, “Nowhere.” River stuck her tongue out at him. “Don’t be silly,” she teased. “Take me with you.” Gabriel finally looked at her, and her breath was nearly taken away by the wave of raw emotion radiating from his tortured soul. Staring intently into her eyes, tunneling deep into her soul, he whispered, “I don’t go anywhere. I just zone everything out. Makes it easier to not feel.” He stared back across the bay. “It’s a nice break, sometimes.” River felt like she wanted to cry, but she didn’t move away from him. At the same time, though, she couldn’t help thinking it odd that he knew what she was talking about. Most people found it hard to understand her at times, but Gabriel just seemed to know. “Hello. My name is River,” she said, forcing a smile. The smile he returned was a real one, and that, in turn, made hers a real one. “Well,” he said at last, “it’s very nice meeting you, River.”

“Alliance soldiers killed his folks on Hera,” Mal explained, sitting his glass back down on the table. Everyone was present with exceptions to Gabriel and River. This was cause for much distress with Simon. ‘Hey, I told him to let her give him a tour,’ Mal had told him jokingly. The doctor’s silent but sour response was found quite amusing by Jayne. “He started tagging along with our unit right after that,” Zoe added, “and he just sorta fit in.” “Of course,” Mal continued, “we were all against it at first, him bein’ young and all. Soon as we saw him handle a rifle, though, we minded a bit less. Kid must’ve done a lot of hunting or somethin’.” “He disappeared a few days into the Battle at Serenity,” Zoe interjected. “We just figured he’d gotten lost or killed.” “And so you run into him in a bar and decide to give him a lift?” Inara questioned. Mal didn’t think she was trying to be snide, but that’s how it came across. He and the doctor exchanged glances. “We...” Simon began, “...have reason to believe that he may be able to help me with understanding River’s condition a bit better.” “Seems like she’s all for that one,” Jayne commented around a mouthful. “We’re not going there today, Jayne,” Mal warned. “And the kid prob’ly ain’t gonna be with us long anyhow.” “Does he have anywhere else he can go?” Kaylee inquired. “Does it matter?” Jayne muttered. “Jayne!” Mal growled. “Fact bein’ that he was real young during the war don’t change the fact that Zoe and I got history with the kid. I would tread a bit more lightly if I were you.” Jayne shot him a quizzical look. “Okay, sorry Mal. Didn’t think you were gonna go gettin’ all snippy on me.” “How can he help with River?” Kaylee asked, changing the subject. Mal and Simon exchanged another glance, and Simon gave a little nod. “Well,” Mal said, “It looks like the same people, or similar people, who played with little River’s head also got hold of Gab for the past couple of years. Don’t know if you noticed, but the boy don’t seem to be all there no more.” “We don’t believe that the experiments were like what River went through,” Simon elaborated, “and as far as we know, he doesn’t have the same psychosis that River has had trouble with in the past, but I am hopeful that further study of Gabriel could give me a little more insight into not only what they did to her, but also with whom, exactly, we are dealing.” “He’ll be staying in Sheppard’s old room,” Mal informed the crew, “and I believe he and I have an understandin’ as to him causin’ trouble on the ship. I’m expectin’ he’ll be keepin’ mostly to himself.” It was a little funny, though, how even though they were all guest quarters, everyone still referred to that room as ‘Sheppard’s old room’ after he’d left for Haven. Mal suspected they’d still be calling it that even if Sheppard Book hadn’t passed on. “Well, I, for one, am excited to have another newcomer on the ship,” Kaylee stated, taking the conversation in a lighter direction as she always did. “A little change now and again is always good.” She stood. “I haven’t really talked to him yet, so I think I’ll go take him and River some food.” After Kaylee’s departure, Mal changed the subject. “I got a call over the grid earlier. Looks like we got ourselves a job lined up back on Persephone.” Jayne groaned. “Tell me it ain’t that Badger clown.” “Nope, not this time. New face; name of Sinclair. Wants to talk to us about shippin’ some supplies he’s got. This one actually sounds legal, and the pay shouldn’t be too bad. Keep us in the sky just a little longer.” He finished his drink and stood. “I’ll see to the bridge.”

Kaylee found their new guest in the cargo bay doing pushups. He stood when she approached and watched her, saying nothing. “Where’s River?” she asked. Gabriel shrugged. “She left to go do her thing. Still a little shaky on what that is, exactly.” Kaylee smiled. “So’re the rest of us.” She extended her hand, and Gabriel shook it. “Hi, I’m Kaylee. Nice to meet you.” “Yeah, a pleasure.” Gabriel’s eyes wandered around the cargo bay. “Get many passengers, or are you usually just crew?” Kaylee shrugged. “Meh, we get a few every once in a while. I’m the mechanic. I keep the girl in the air as long as I can.” Gabriel nodded. “Hell of a ship you got here.” Kaylee grinned at the complement. “Why, thank you! She don’t get a lot of compliments, but she’ll love ya, if you’ll let her.” Gabriel’s gaze snapped back to her, and he actually looked flustered. “Wh-what was that? OH, the ship, yeah.” He shook his head and glanced at the floor. “Yeah, sorry. Got confused for a moment there.” Kaylee frowned, unsure as to what, exactly, he meant, so she shifted subjects. “So... What d’ya think of River?” Gabriel looked confused for a moment by her question, then met her gaze. “She’s fascinating,” he said pointedly. Kaylee grinned. “Funny, she said the exact same thing about you. I think you two are gonna get along handsomely.” Gabriel shrugged. “Yeah, now to see if the rest of the crew will be the same story.” “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that,” she said dismissively. “Jayne’s pretty rough around the edges, but ya can’t let him get to ya. I’m more worried about ya drawin’ all of Simon’s attention away from me.” Gabriel laughed. “Yeah, I saw that relationship easy enough. It’s good; he’s a good guy.” Kaylee handed him his food. “Yes, he is.”