Disclaimer: Sadly I do not own any of these wonderful characters, or even the setting and world of Firefly. They all belong to Fox/Universal and Joss Whedon.

James Norrington and related belongs to Disney, Gore and Ted and Terry.

Setting: Takes place right after Down the Aisle

Pairings: Kaylee/Simon, Mal/Inara

Can’t Stop the Music

Chapter 19:

-

Cyn wished she could thank Captain Reynolds even further, except she knew her words would have fallen on deaf ears. The Captain and his odd crew had left minutes ago.

“Cynthia,” Apollo murmured her name into her ear. “I miss you, but you have become quite strong.”

“Am I squeezing you too hard?” Cyn unlocked her arms from around her brother. How long had she been hugging him? She had lost count of the seconds and minutes. The patrons of the bar, or club had lost their interest in them. Only a few had remained to watch, to see what their next action would be.

“A little,” Apollo smiled. He was older than she remembered, but he still had a few freckles near his eyes and the small gap between his two front teeth, and there was the scar on his left eyebrow from when he tripped and fell on the runner of a sliding door at the age of four.

“I am sorry about that,” she noticed the knew scars on his shoulder caused by the lash and a crescent shape on the back of his right hand. “You have become a bit taller.”

“I think you grew a little taller yourself,” Apollo nodded and touched her hair. “This is different, but pretty. I have thought you hated having short hair.”

“It can be a pain on stage. The lights can get pretty hot and you dance a lot.” She turned back to Amistance. “I don’t know how she can manage.”

“Practice and herbal shampoo and conditioner,” Amistance explained.

“How many of you came?”

“Just Alfie and I,” Amistance pointed at the sax player. “Ray and Dustin stayed behind to talk with some interviewers and possible agents. That was what Dustin said. I am still not certain about the agents, but the interviewers were there.”

Cyn nodded. “Amistance Woolong. Alfie, I want you to meet my brother.” She stepped away from her younger sibling. “This Apollo Driscoll.” She smiled at her brother. “Apollo this is Amistance Woolong, our keyboardist, and Alfie, our saxophonist.”

“Hello,” Apollo smiled and held out a hand. “It is nice to meet my sister’s friends.”

“Hey,” Alfie accepted his shake. “We all have been trying to get the word out. I wrote to my friends I grew up with and my family.”

“Thank you.”

“I hope you don’t think this is odd,” Amistance embraced him. “After what happened, after all you have been through, I just had too.”

“It isn’t odd.”

“We still have to find Sally, and mom,” Cyn said. She couldn’t believer he luck she had come across her brother and thanked every deity she knew that Captain Reynolds and his crew were able to come across her brother.

“I haven’t seen them in five years,” Apollo’s face fell. “They were together when they sold me and several other children to a different trader. I have been with that group until I was sold to a man named Setzer.”

“Where were they? Do you know the name of the planet or the system?”

“I don’t remember the planet. They did not take us to another planet. We lived in a large ship for months, we were taken there a few days after you escaped and then to a moon.” He stared at his hands. “We had to work the land for them. They removed mom’s tongue, and the tongues of the other adults.”

“Oh god,” Cyn pulled her brother into another embrace. “Apollo, I am sorry this happened.”

“You couldn’t have done anything.”

“I have tried, been trying and now I am getting through.”

“We are all trying to get through,” Alfie pointed at those who were listening. “We go back to the building and we can speak with other people, the interviewers. You both can tell them what had happened, more people will listen.”

“Will they also listen to this?” Apollo held up a clear plastic case. “Captain Reynolds had wanted to make a copy.”

“Another message,” Cyn accepted it. “We can convince the network to play this, and all who are watching will see it, record it, and send it to others.”

“We just need to get back there,” Alfie smiled and waved at the crowd. “Sorry, but no autographs please.”

“One step closer.” Cyn stared at the message in her hand. They may not have come in first, but they had originally tied and they were popular. The universe may not have heard them before when they were nobodies, but now they will.

-

Malcolm tapped the navigational screen. “These are the coordinates Widow Orbin gave us.” He studied the section of space. “It is a big chunk of the verse to go looking around and trying to find anything.”

“It does seem quite vague,” James rubbed his chin. “She did mention a place called Triumph.” He pointed to where the planet was located. “It is right there.”

“That is where she is, and where we are headed. Zoë said she is sending out a few waves to friends of ours who might be within the vicinity, if this is where we are going to find Cyn’s little sis and others like her, then this would be the place.”

“Have you ever been to Triumph before?” James continued to read the different planets and stars.

“Once,” Mal raised a finger. “We did a little job involving us to round up a group of thieves. We sent them to the pokey and what did that township give us besides some food? They gave Jayne a rain stick and set me up with a wife.” Mal cringed at that memory. He didn’t mind the fact Saffron had made him look like a jerk in front of his crew. He knew he was a jerk at times. It was the lies and the fact she nearly got his crew killed was what pissed him off.

“If that is a form of payment then they are a bit primitive,” James frowned.

“This place is one of the more backwaters planets in the ‘verse.”

“Will we be arriving on the same part of the planet?”

“Nope, according to the widow, they are on the other side.” Mal pressed a button and tapped the screen. The small dot that had been Triumph enlarged till it had nearly filled the entire screen. “This was where we once were.” He pressed a few more buttons, causing Triumph to spin around. “We will be landing here.”

“How will we find the nearest group who would be involved with slave trade?” James asked and after a few seconds his eyes lit up. “We will be sending out waves.”

“Actually you will be sending out waves,” Mal pictured the former commodore standing next to Zoë and holding her hand. “And you and Zoë will be one team to speak with the slave traders. Jayne and I will be another team.”

“We are to act like business partners?”

Mal shook his head. “Actually, I want you to pose as something else.”

-

“Come on , honey,” Zoë pulled James by the hand to the single story building. “We need to get a new nurse made for the baby, and you want some nice strong ones to help with your ship yard.” Zoë didn’t mind the role-play; Mal wanted her and James to do. The former commodore was in a bit of a shock for a second, but accepted. It was either her play the spouse to James, or Mal or Jayne and while she didn’t mind pretending to be married to her captain, that would leave Jayne to be partnered up with James, and she likes James too much to punish him like that.

“We have to make certain they are nice and healthy,” James drawled in an accent mimicking the captains. He was taking the idea of role-play a little further than she was. It did sound odd to hear it come from his mouth, instead of that rich and polished accent of his.

“I know you,” Zoë continued when she caught the eye of a salesman. “They have to be nice and tall.”

“Don’t worry ma’am,” the salesman tipped back his large wide brimmed hat. “We got plenty of tall ones. You two are looking for tall slaves?”

“My husband needs some tall and strong men to help out in his shipyard,” Zoë pulled James close until his hip was against her and she gave him a slight squeeze. “And I could use someone to be a nursemaid.”

“They have to tall and strong,” James said once he overcame his blushing. “I conjure they should have good muscle tone.”

“We got plenty of what you folk are looking for,” the man clapped his hands and turned to the entrance. “Joey bring out the tallest and strongest. Also get the ones who are the most nurturing.”

“I think I might need some littleuns as well,” James added. “They can squeeze into some nice and tight spaces.”

The salesman nodded. “Joey, bring out the able bodied children.”

Several men were brought in first; all were of different ages and dressed in what resembled burlap sack with holes cut on for the head and arms. All of their ankles were confined to fetters and most had the same dead eyed expressions as the slaves Serenity had transported. Their arms were thick with muscle and most were as tall as James, if not taller.

“I better give them a good look over,” James approached the nearest one and ran his fingers over one arm.

“Now these are the type that would make good nursemaids,” the salesmen led out another group of people. They were mostly women with a few young men who were not nearly as tall or strong as the men, James was examining.

“Let me make sure they are clean,” Zoë gently grabbed the bottom jaw of one of them.

“Well they might not be the cleanest of the lot,” the salesman said. “But none of em got any diseases.”

“I will see for myself.” She said before she stared into they eyes of the woman. “Open your mouth.”

The female tongue opened her mouth, to reveal several decaying teeth. She had already lost a few, and she still had her tongue. The stench coming from the slave’s mouth caused Zoë’s eyes to water.

“Wow,” Zoë fanned the air in front of her once she released her hold on the woman. “Don’t you take care of their teeth?”

“Too pricey for that kind of upkeep.”

“Well you can at least do something about their breath.” She grabbed another head.

“We’ll keep that in mind.”

Zoë held her breath as she examined the inside of the second slave’s mouth, more rotting teeth, puffy gums and a tongue. The same went for the third, but the fourth had their tongue cut out.

“This one is missing their tongue,” Zoë pat the slave on the shoulder before she examined the fifth.

“That won’t be a problem will it?”

“It will be hard to sing to the baby and try to soothe it to sleep when she can’t talk.” She examined the sixth. There was still a tongue. “Who cut her tongue out?”

“We don’t know,” the assistant, Joey said as he brought out a group of children, all were between the ages of ten and thirteen. “Some of them came that way.”

“Where did you get them?” Zoë asked as she examined the last one. Only one of the slaves she examined had their tongues removed.

“Up on the mountains,” the salesman pointed to the rocky cliffs. “I think the people who sold them are still there.”

“I found two,” James pointed at two different men. “They are also missing their tongues.”

Zoë wanted to ask them if the people in the mountains wore Brown coats, but she chose not to, that was the place Mal and Jayne were going to investigate. Instead she turned to the children. “Does anyone know about the Eros colony? Do you remember when the Badcoats came? Do you know where they are?” She watched their expressions as she asked each one. Only one child had blinked when she mentioned the name of the colony and that child nodded when she had mentioned the Badcoats, but they shook their head when she asked about where they could be.

“Do you have a name?” James asked in a soft tone.

“None of them have names,” Joey said.

“I do,” the same child nodded. “Tobias.”

“This child came with those who had their tongues cut out,” Zoë stared into the salesman’s eyes. “Am I right?”

The man nodded. “All of them came from the mountains.”

“You might not be aware of this sir,” James shifted back into his natural accent. “But these slaves were once Alliance colonists. There have been waves seeking them out.”

“What?” the salesman blinked. “That can’t be true.” He turned to the slaves who were signaled out. “Is that true?”

“Yes,” Tobias said while the three adults nodded.

“River,” Zoë spoke into her transmitter. “We found for of them.”

“I am sending a response,” River’s voice carried through the speaker.

“Good,” now she knew where one of the sources was. She had hoped Mal and Jayne would find some way to free the others.

-

Once Mal had found out there was only one official place selling slaves within the area Belle had given him he sent both Zoë and James out there, on the mule, although he had heard a rumor there were slaves on the mountains. Serenity’s mule would not have been proper for traveling up that terrain, leaving Mal with a few options and walking would have been long and tedious. He rented a couple of actual mules for both he and Jayne to ride.

“Are you certain this is the right location?” Jayne asked once they had reached a flat surface.

“I am certain,” Mal tilted his head to the side when he heard a familiar lowing. “You hear that?”

“Yeah,” Jayne smiled sheepishly. “The chili is starting to catapult on me.”

“Not that,” Mal tried not to roll his eyes at his hired muscle. He tried to stay silent for a while until he heard the lowing once more. “That.”

“I don’t hear anything,” Jayne shook his head.

“I did,” Mal pointed in the direction he had heard. “It is coming that way.” He pressed his calf against the side of his mule, giving it the order to

“What is that way?” Jayne said as he followed. “Mal, what is it you hear?”

“Cows,” Mal answered. “I doubt the folk on the ground brought their cattle up here to graze.”

“So ya’s saying there are people living up here?”

“That is what I am saying,” Mal said. He could hear another low, this time it was louder. “Now, remember what we are.”

“We are brothers,” Jayne remembered the cover Mal had thought up for him. “You are my little brother.”

Mal was thankful Jayne did not make continuous commentary on their ride and where they were going. It was a little too quiet, and it did not set Mal at ease, not until they were able to see the cattle grazing.

“Looks like you were right,” Jayne said as he instructed his mule to increase speed.

“Jayne,” Mal ordered his mule to catch up. He noticed a few coils of smoke rising in the air and as they neared the cows he could see a few crude dwellings.

“Easy boy,” Jayne commanded. “A round the cattle.”

“Don’t want to spook them,” Mal said as he had his mule rode around the cattle. “Looks like we got company,” he pointed at the several people riding up to them.

“Whoa,” Jayne pulled at the reins.

Mal steadied his own mule and waited for their welcome wagon to arrive. Two of the riders had caught his attention; both were wearing their brown leather coats.

“We do not get visitors,” one of the riders said. His dark blond hair hung limply and appeared to be in great need of washing. The rest of the man’s face was covered in dirt and the state of his brown coat was despicable. The edges were tattered and there was mud splotches everywhere.

“Sorry sir,” Mal tried to hide his disgust. “My brother said this where we can find ourselves some nice slaves.”

“Some guy in a tavern had told us so,” Jayne said.

“You can’t buy em from us,” the other brown coat said. His midsection bulged and he had half a sleeve torn off. “We sell them down on the ground.”

“Ah Jayne,” Mal stared up at the mercenary. “You told us we were going to cut out the middle man this time.”

“That is what I promised lil bro,” Jayne glared at the men and horse back. “And we aint leaving till we get some slaves.”

Great, Mal closed his eyes. That was not what they wanted to hear. “Maybe you should ask them nicely.”

“I aint asking,” Jayne smacked the side of the head. “Now let me do the talking.”

Mal heard a ringing buzz from his transmitter. “That be mama. I’m going to tell her.” He brought the transmitter to his ear. “Hi mama.”

“Sir?” Zoe’s answered him.

“Hey mama, how are you?”

“I’m fine,” Zoë’s voice still had a tone of uncertainty to it. “We found four colonists. The local authorities have been called in.”

“Might wanna mention where we are,” he turned to Jayne. “Mama, Jayne hit me.”

“Let me talk to him.”

“She wants to talk to you,” Mal handed the transmitter over to Jayne.

“Are you certain you two are brothers?” One of the women asked. “You both don’t look anything alike.”

“Different dads,” Mal explained. “Mine was the pretty one.”

“Mama always liked you best,” Jayne pouted before he continued to listen to Zoë some more.

“Where did you get your coat?” The blond Browncoat said.

“I bought it, on sale.”

The blond man scowled. “Where did you buy it? Was it from some Alliance shop? Did you buy it from those bastards?”

“No,” Mal raised his hands when he saw the weapons removed from their holsters and pointed at him and Jayne.