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 22: Bluegrass

-

Mal bit down on his lower lip as he followed River to the bridge. The small residence set up for the chickens had been finished thanks to the ex-commodore, and both Kaylee and Simon had revealed the few waves they had received from Monty as well as the trio.

“It isn’t over,” River took her seat in the pilot’s chair. “Even if we found her it still wouldn’t be over.”

“Nope,” Mal sat down next to her. “We have to see who is in charge of this operation.” He wanted to stare into the face of the bastard who decided to ruin several people’s lives.

“Ceres was the roman goddess of the earth, of the harvest, of things that grow, sister to Jupiter. Her daughter was taken to the underworld to be the queen.”

“I know that,” he had forgotten how many stories about the pagan gods from Earth that Was he had heard from the several ranch hands. “They had different names. Ceres was called Demeter.”

“That was the Greek name,” River reminded him. “Ceres was roman, the name of an asteroid between the planets of Mars and Jupiter in the old system, where we received cereal.”

“I’m kind of surprised we didn’t use that name before.” It would have made sense, to have a planet to be named after an Earth goddess, considering they had turned all the new planets they had colonized into new and different Earths.

“New wave is coming in,” River pointed to the screen.

“You concentrate on what is ahead. I’ll take the message.”

The burly image of Monty appeared on the screen. “Got some news from that terrible trio and their crew.” Monty would have done quotation marks at the mention of crew since he thought those three would never have a successful shipping corporation, or smuggling operation, such as he and Mal had, but not this time.

“Good or bad?”

“Depends,” Monty shrugged. “The mystery planet is not far from Rochester, might be half a day’s travel at most. Serenity is closer to it than Impression. The trio’s ship is even closer, although their ship is not quite as fast as ours.”

“What about the others?”

“Haven’t heard from Katy in several hours. Carlburt is within the vicinity of Roddenberry, so it might be a few hours before he catches up, and Daisy is an hour behind us, and The Alliance hasn’t even spoken with me yet.”

“Thank you,” Mal mulled over the news. Both Daisy and Carlburt were both Independent fighters. Daisy was a former Spacer commander and smuggler like Mal and Monty. Carlburt was a former corporal, received several burns in Serenity Valley and ran a legit transport service. “I’ll try and see if I can get contact with Katy and the Alliance.”

“Just don’t tell em each other is helping.”

“You know I wasn’t born yesterday,” Mal smiled before he turned the message off. “Got the coordinates memorized darlin’?” It was a stupid question to ask, but it was captain duties nonetheless.

“Steady as she goes,” River smiled. “Smooth sailing all the way.”

“Well when we do reach rough waters I’ll give you a hand”

-

Simon knew he wasn’t the only one who had seen that look in the Captain’s eyes. It wasn’t just anger, as he had so been accustomed to that look over the past few years. When he first joined the crew he had though it was Malcolm’s standard look, but he learned over time there was actual anger, usual non-plussed, brooding, stoic, merely pissed off, and frustration. The look he had seen in Malcolm’s eyes was not just usual anger, but determination and whenever Simon recognized that look he knew it meant one thing, there was going to be a fight and he had to have his medical bay ready.

“Doctor Tam?” James Norrington greeted him. “I have a small injury.”

“What kind of injury?” He looked up from organizing his medical supplies. He still had to get the tools sterilized.

“I believe one of the chicken’s does not care for me.” James stared down at the bleeding would on his hand. “The other two simply ignore me.”

“Let me see that,” Simon gingerly took James’s wounded hand into his own. The bleeding wound was a jagged puncture surrounded by a developing bruise. “I have only treated one of these types of injuries before.” He directed his patient to a stool in the corner of the room.

“Really?” James raised his eyebrows. “This ship has traveled with fowl before?”

“The only animal we had to ship were cattle and the everyone knew well enough to stay out of their way.” He removed the cap to the brush on antibiotics.

“I have already cleaned it.”

“I know,” Simon brushed on the medicine. “Jayne was the one I have to remind, and he was the one I had to treat. It was aboard the Haven between the ports of Tortuga and Port Royal. He went to get some eggs himself and he received a few bites. I was able to apply medicine, but I didn’t have any ice for the wound.” He placed an adhesive bandage over the wound. “We are going to have to go to the kitchen for the ice.”

“Galley,” James corrected.

Simon chuckled. “Of course. I can’t forget where you come from and how this change has hurt you.”

“There isn’t any pain,” James said. “There was at first, but there isn’t, not any more and I have to thank everyone here, except for Mr. Cobb.”

“River has gone out of her way to help you in your adjustment.”

James smiled. “She is a wonderful woman and a good friend.”

“A very good friend to those who take their time to understand her.”

“I know you are quite protective of her.”

“You are the same,” Simon was curious about this conversation and where it was possibly headed and why he was steering it in that direction. “I also know you would be honest with her about your feelings.” Now he had stepped over the line and why would he want James to acknowledge River’s crush, why would he want anyone? Maybe it was because he remembered Inara’s words. He was always going to think of River as his baby sister and no one would be good enough for her, but he at least could find a prince, as James may not be an actual prince he was close enough.

“I never lie to her,” James said. “And I never will.”

“I know. We better get that ice.”

-

Mal felt prickles form on his skin as he stepped out onto the rocky hard surface of Eros/Ceres, and it wasn’t because the planet was cold. It was comfortable, perfect weather. It felt like the start of autumn back on Shadow, when the humidity became weak and the temperature rose to the mid 80’s. He knew it was a bit due to fear and that fear was generalized in the uncertainty category.

“There doesn’t seem to be anything out here,” Zoë gently kicked a stone with the tip of her toe.

“No it doesn’t,” Mal stared around. He could see hills, the edge of a forest, shrubbery, rocks and a lot of dirt.

“Why the hell did we land here?” Jayne asked. “There aint nothing but nothing.”

“They are here,” River said. She was the one who said they had to land where they were.

“Are you certain?” Mal asked. Once they broke through the atmosphere and skimmed several feet above the ground he saw what as the remains of a settlement that hadn’t been entirely burned down to gravel. There were several charred houses, and a few that were barely damaged at all. The girl had insisted they keep on going. There was nothing left.

River stared around at each and every direction. “They are here.”

“Nobody’s here,” Jayne scowled. “I say we go back to the ashes and start sniffing around.”

“They are here,” River kept turning her head. “Can’t see them, can’t hear them, but they are here.”

“Well where are they?” Jayne crossed his arms.

“The volume isn’t high enough.”

“Why the hell did you bring her out?” Jayne pointed at her. “She don’t make any sense, she can’t navigate. She’s useless out here.”

“And you have proven to be exceptionally useful,” James rolled his eyes.

“Watch it,” Jayne pointed at it. “Just because you got your sword as well as your guns don’t mean I can’t get close enough to hurt you.”

“Quiet,” Mal raised a hand. “I’m getting an odd feeling, haven’t felt since the war.” Like River he was also staring around. He heard a distant thud and turned sharply in time to see a cloud of dust form around a large rock. “The girl is right.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “We are not alone.”

“Do you think we are about to be ambushed?” Zoë whispered as the five of them closed in on each other.

“I am pretty sure we are surrounded,” he tried to see who was lurking around in the shrubs.

“They are here,” River said, also keeping her voice low. “They are beneath us and all around, hiding, waiting, and watching.”

“Somebody get her to shut up,” Jayne glared toward her direction. “If y’all is antsy then why aren’t you talking to the others?”

“I don’t really want them out here,” Mal explained. The others have fired a weapon before, but they were the last ones he would want involved in a battle. The doctor was more equipped for treating bullet wounds and not causing them, Kaylee still had a few qualms about getting involved in fights with guns and Inara might be skilled with a blade and a bow and arrow, but she was not skilled when it comes to guns.

“Ya want em for back up?”

Mal fought back an urge to snap at him, but kept his tongue still.

“Captain,” James tapped the toe of his shoe against a flat rock. “This sounds hollow.”

Now the pieces were fitting in together. “They are still on this planet. James I want you and the girl to lift that rock on three. Zoë, you and Jayne point your guns.” He didn’t need to have to tell them where.

“I am ready,” Jayne smiled.

“Three,” Mal said without shouting.

The rock was lifted, but Mal didn’t see. He had turned at the quick rustling sound from behind him and fired. He heard two more shots, one coming from Zoë’s direction and one from Jayne’s.

A startled yelp came from the shrubs and a young man jumped back, took one look at tried to hide again.

“I don’t think so,” Mal pointed his weapon at him. “Drop your weapon and step out to where I can see you.”

“There is only five of you,” the youth did not drop his gun. “There is a hundred of us.”

“I don’t see a hundred,” Jayne said. “I only see you.”

“That is because we are hidden,” the youth said

“Really?” Mal scuffed out an arrow shaped mark with his heel. “That isn’t just talking now?”

“Sir,” Zoë’s tried to get his attention.

“Because I have seen that tactic done before,” Mal continued, ignoring his second in command.

“Captain, I think-“ James started but was ignored.

“Heck. I have even tried that before and I can say that I had my ass nearly handed to me.”

“We aint alone now.” Jayne chimed it.

“Cause if you are lying, then you are going to be in a world of hurt.”

“I am not lying,” the youth smiled. Two more men is age stepped out from the sides of the shrubs and three more, older and wearing the uniform of a brown coat appeared behind the youth.

“Well you do have friends,” Mal heard the shuffling behind him and turned around to see the others with their hands in the air. Several more folk, both in the official uniform and with out it were aiming their guns at his crew. They’re even a few in the pit next to the flat rock, also aiming their guns at him.

“As you can see I am not lying.”

“Clearly not,” Mal dropped his own gun and raised his hands.

-

Mal did not stare at his captors as they had used their cuffs on him, nor did he look anyone in they eye as he was led down the carved steps into their dwelling. He did try to guess where the rest of the Driscoll family was located. He had seen a few folk who were not armed, although he was certain they were family members of the bad coats, settlers similar to the ranchers and turnip farmers on the hillside.

“Why don’t you pull rank?” Jayne asked as they continued to march. “Tell them you were their sergeant once?”

“Jayne,” Zoë was right behind the hired gun.

“I’m just saying is that maybe we won’t be cuffed, might even be treated with some right dignity as well.”

“Jayne be quiet.”

“Let him rant,” Mal had decided to forgo the usual hushing of his mercenary. “He might get it out of his system.”

“Do you really want to hear what he has to say?” Zoë asked.

“Not particularly no,” Mal shook his head.

“Good,” Jayne continued. “I’m saying if you just tell them who you are then we would be treated better, now I’m not saying they would be carried around on those coaches where the people carry us and they serve us tea and dumplings, though that be shiny if they did, we wouldn’t have to be handcuffed.”

Mal did ignore most of what Jayne had to say. He glanced back of his shoulders at the others. James did shrug and roll his eyes at what Jayne had to say and River kept looking at the ground. Truth be told if the five of them did decided to fight they may have take out several of these bad coats. River alone could have defeated at least ten or twenty.

“Were you a sergeant?” the youth Mal had spoke too earlier had turned around and asked.

“Once,” Mal nodded towards Zoë with his head. “She also fought.”

“What about the others?”

“You already know the girl is too young and the fellow with the sword prefers the sea.”

“What about the big guy who won’t shut up?” The kid also rolled his eyes as Jayne continued to bitch.

“He didn’t like the money that was involved.”

“We know you are the same as us,” the kid brushed his fingers against the sleeve of Mal’s coat. “We all know, but we have to do this. It’s the major’s orders.”

“Was he a Spacer or a Groundling?”

“He said he fought on the planets.”

“Most likely a groundling,” Mal tried to remember any of the majors he served under that may have survived. “He has everyone imprisoned?”

“Everyone,” the young man said before he stopped. “We have to wait here.”

“Blood,” River said.

“Where?” One of the Bad coats asked and stared at the ground. “Are you bleeding, sweetie?”

“Not on me,” River shook her head. “Here, it was spilled here. They took them here, and cut them out, removed a piece. They beat with the lash. They shed it all, blood, sweat and tears.” Tears started to form at the corners of her eyes ands she shook.

“What is wrong with her?” The youth asked.

“The impact of what had happened had finally hit her,” Mal quickly thought of the cover.

“He is coming,” someone near the opposite entrance, shouted. “Major Baskin is here.”

“Major Baskin?” The name was quite fuzzy in Mal’s head. He didn’t remember any Major Baskin. His eyes widened when he did see who stepped out from the long hallway. “You.”