Buffy watched the Scythe slice through Caleb; the evil priest fell to the floor in two equal halves. Gazing at the mystical weapon in her hand, she couldn't keep the smile from bursting across her face at how right it felt.
"Pretty snazzy little doo-hicky ya got there, kiddo," a voice announced from behind her.
Closing her eyes, even using the dangerous w-word to make a certain person disappear before turning around, Buffy's shoulders slumped for an instant then stiffened with anger, already knowing that she wouldn't like what she was about to hear. Glaring at the badly dressed man in a green suit, crumpling a bowler hat in his hand, a low growl worked its way up from a slender golden throat. "What do you want, Whistler? Whom am I supposed to kill this time? In case you haven't noticed, there isn't anyone left. I'm alone. They don't want me anymore."
"Look kid, it's been rough on you. The cosmos gave you the short straw and I'm sorry. The Powers sent me to tell you that there's only one way to stop the First," Whistler said, his blue eyes showed the empathy he felt for the blonde Slayer.
"Then tell me," she snapped, her patience thin from the events already taken place tonight. The balance demon didn't say anything for a moment, and the air felt heavy in the Guardian Temple. "In case you've forgotten how this works, your mouth has to open for the words to come out. No cryptic crap, it's been a long night, and I've always wanted to see how'd I look in a ribcage hat; you know that; and if you don't start with the spillage, you're going to be the poster boy for Hats 'R Us, literally." Her face turned feral as she stepped toward him.
"Now kid! Kid? Gimme a break here - Slayer!" He panicked, scrambling backward. "Ole Whis is here to give you all the info, promise."
Buffy stopped. She kept her eyes glued to the Powers' messenger while casually twirling the Scythe in front of her in a deadly whirl of silver, red and black. Without saying a word, the meaning was clear - speak or suffer the consequences. Fashion was just waiting for its newest trend.
"The witch brought you back against your will, which gave the First a foothold in this world. You sacrificed yourself knowing the consequences. Kid, you were done, and should've been left to rest in peace. The only way to close the circle is for you to willingly leave."
Death is your gift. The First Slayer's words rang in Buffy's head. She had to die again. What number would this make - three, four, five?
"Kid, Slayer, Buffy!" Whistler screamed when he saw the blonde's eyes glaze over. "Not sure what's going on in that pretty head, not sure I want to know. I promised to give you info, but it won't help much if you don't listen," his harsh Bronx accent elongated the words, giving them a rougher sound than his appearance could support.
"Huh? What else are you going to tell me? How to die? I think I've shown how good I am at it." Buffy gave him a death glare. Unable to believe that she was calmly discussing her fourth death with Whistler. She had decided that this would be four, since she actually died from Warren's gunshot.
"Die? Who said anything about dying? Sheesh, kid, listen for a minute would ya! Powers need you to choose to leave. They don't want you dead. Fact is they need your help, real bad, somewhere else." He watched the life rush back into the small powerful body. That indomitable strength that had nothing to do with the Slayer, and everything to do with Buffy Summers shone from her eyes.
Remembering the scene at her house, not to mention the past two year since returning, Buffy couldn't stop the thrill that shot through her. She couldn't explain it. For so long she'd known that she didn't belong here that her time here was done. Buffy didn't see an escape other than death, but here was an opportunity for escape, maybe even a new life. "What do they want me to do?" Buffy tilted her head to listen to the proposal, the Scythe stilled, coming to lie comfortably across her chest.
Whisler's jaw dropped open in shock. He figured he would have to talk the Slayer around after she beat on him a while. Looking closer, the balance demon noticed the pain hidden deep in her eyes that made her look tired beyond her years. "Five hundred years in the future, the universe is vast. It doesn't have demons, not like the ones here. They fought a Universal War that made our Civil War look like child's play. Unfortunately, the people who wanted to control the universe won. The Alliance is like a futuristic Watchers Council, with the same rational used to justify what they do. They used the victory to justify their beliefs that they have the right to do whatever they want with anyone that lives in their universe. Problem was they weren't happy with that, so they decided to start tinkering with people's minds, only the best and brightest of course. Like the Initiative with their perfect soldiers, only on a grander scale. The Alliance wanted happy little people that would smile as they followed their orders." He paused allowing his words to sink in before continuing.
Whistler's words slammed into Buffy. Although, she wanted more information, she didn't need it to make her decision. "How would it work? Are you going to take me there and leave me to fend for myself?" Buffy moved around Whistler to sit on the floor. She leaned back against the temple wall, closing her eyes to listen to any more information the messenger planned to share with her.
"Wow, kid, knew you were more than just a pretty face. Powers plan to give you the whole package. You'll have everything you need waiting for you. All you have to do is step through." He waved a hand, causing a white portal to appear beside the blonde Slayer. "They wanted me to tell you that they're proud of you. They do need your help, but they hope that you'll find what you're looking for out in the black."
Buffy stood up, and started walking toward the portal then hesitated, staring back at kind blue eyes. "Will you tell them goodbye, and that I love them?" He nodded, watching her bravely walk through the portal without a backward glance.
Spike ran into the Temple in time to watch the woman he loved disappear. Crumpling to his knees, head bowed as tears streamed down his sculpted cheekbones. "Buffy, no, don't leave me, luv."
Whistler stepped forward taking pity on the newly ensouled vampire, and his newest charge. "She had to go lad. Buffy left to save you and the others."
"No," Spike moaned. His entire body shook with the realization that she was gone. Lifting azure eyes filled with tears, he begged Whistler to help him. Spike held onto his sanity by a thread.
"She asked me to tell you that she loved you. You helped her more than you know, and that she's proud of you." Whistler knew Buffy didn't say those words exactly, but he'd looked into her heart and read her feelings. "How about we go let some pushy friends know what's happened?" The two 'men' exchanged evil grins before leaving the temple.
Note: As much fun, as it would be to ream out the Scoobies, I'd rather spend time on the story. Let your mind go wild, picturing Spike and Whistler letting them know that they got what they asked for - Faith in charge, and Buffy gone.
Buffy walked through the portal with a head filled with knowledge. She couldn't believe the Powers sent her here. Craning her neck back to look at the velvet black night filled with a million twinkling stars. Three moons chased each other across the sky. Buffy hadn't ever seen so many stars before. She forgot the last time she took the time simply to enjoy the night. Night was for slaying, saving lives, and not dying.
"Okay Summers, time to start a new life," she whispered, although not a soul stirred for miles in any direction. Stepping into her new home, Buffy gazed at everything in wonder. Whistler hadn't lied about the Powers providing for her. Slender fingers trailed across cool metal surfaces, touched blinking lights, pressed against strong glass as large green eyes gazed out a large window. It boggled her mind that she was going to be living on a space ship, well, a long-range shuttle. Andrew would freak if saw this. A slight frown marred her forehead before melting away. The love she felt toward her family didn't negate the betrayal. Buffy knew forgiveness would take time, a good thing about this new life, she had nothing but time.
A feral, predatory smile crossed her face. With the Scythe held firmly in strong, powerful hands, Buffy knew that she had several targets to work out her aggression on, and planned to do just that. The idea that the Powers wanted her to kill men disturbed Buffy deeply as the information flooded into her mind. Once she stepped through the portal, it fell into place. A clear picture stood before her, painted on the night sky. Men hungry for power created the monsters in this verse. Not satisfied with crushing the people under their protection, and dominating them completely. The Alliance wanted them to like it. After finding that people maintained their free will, a yearning for freedom, and that an independent spark can create a brush fire that could encompass the verse the Alliance decided to find a way to control the monsters they created.
Buffy's mission was to stop the Alliance-controlled Reavers and keep them from creating more. A thrill ran through her as she sat in the shuttle's cockpit. Sitting down in the pilot's seat, she automatically started flipping switches before entering the destination - Haven. The sleek shuttle lifted off, tilted toward the sky before shooting off into the black.
"Tzao gao," Buffy exclaimed as her heart thumped in her chest. She was flying a rocket ship in space, and yesterday she couldn't drive a car. Throwing back a head full of blonde curls, laughter filled the air. "Take that Ms. Dusai. Don't need any luh-suh, French out here in the verse. Not only do I know another language, but Chinese no less. Said the only language I could learn was Pig Latin and even that you doubted I could learn. Well, chu ni duh!"
Buffy looked out over the destruction that surrounded her. Reaver bodies lay everywhere amongst the smoke and fire. She no longer smelled the blood, ash and burning flesh. The anger toward her friends burned out long ago, replaced by ice, not the cold, non-feeling variety but the glacial, inescapable forces seen in avalanches, ice burgs, winter storms and other unstoppable natural forces.
The Powers brought her to this world two years ago. Buffy had always known that horrors lay behind human faces the same as demons. She hadn't been prepared for the reality. The Initiative gave her a peek; it hadn't been quite enough proof. Closing her eyes, she remembered Haven, her first destination, the first step down a long road.
Haven was a small mining planet filled with families trying to create a life for themselves. Buffy arrived in time to stop the Reavers, but not before, they blasted straight through the town.
She blasted the Reavers' ship, taking their attention off Haven. Their cumbersome ship had more firepower then hers, but didn't have the speed and maneuverability. Buffy drew the Reavers out into a deserted area. Dodging the shots sent at her, she decided this was a good place to take out the trash. She twisted the steering controls, flipped a switch and sent the shuttle into a sharp dive with smoke streaming from the engine. The Reavers stayed on her tail when she banked to the right, pulling the shuttle into a complete spin before looping around behind the much larger ship. They couldn't pull up, but it wouldn't have mattered since Buffy shot straight into their engines, destroying the ship and its gruesome, deadly cargo.
She raced back to Haven, hoping that the Reavers hadn't launched any shuttles. Buffy landed, slapped the door open, grabbed the Scythe and ran into the night. Those ching-wah tsao duh liou mahng got a shuttle off, Ai Ya! it. She raced across the open area with the Scythe already moving through the air, slashing and hacking at the Reavers trying to gather people into a transpo.
"Hey, Pinhead wannabe," Buffy shouted, drawing the attention of an extremely large 'man' who had pierced every possible inch of his face. "You did a luh-suh job; your pins aren't even straight. How pathetic is that?"
The Reaver dropped the woman he was mauling to lunge at Buffy intent on destroying her. He lunged, she swung, head fell and that was that. Well, for that one. Buffy searched the area, allowing her senses to guide her. She ran toward a small house not far away. Muffled screams escaped a partially opened window where keen eyes watched the scene inside start to unfold.
A pretty woman in her mid-twenties lay naked on a bed. Reavers held her down, mauling tender skin while the woman struggled against her captors. What held Buffy in place was the room's last occupant. A man calmly sat in a chair watching the Reavers. That he didn't care about the woman showed on his emotionless face. Placing a hand in his pocket, the man pulled on blue gloves. Buffy watched the Reavers flinch and back away. He then proceeded to pull a slender cylinder from his front pocket and aimed it at the Reavers. They grabbed their heads and screamed in torment. Pointing the cylinder once more, the Reavers calmed taking a docile stance with their heads bowed.
Buffy had seen enough. She dove through the window, heading straight for the man. He was the most dangerous and she had to get to him fast. He pointed the cylinder at Buffy, expecting her to crumble in pain. She continued coming at him with one hand stretching out to snatch the cylinder while the other grabbed his neck. Buffy whirled them around, so their backs faced the wall.
"You are making a mistake, girl. I am a highly protected Alliance official," he spoke with no emotion, no deflection in his voice.
"Sorry, Alliance don't mean squat out here. Plus, you really think they know what you're doing, tah mah de"
He struggled trying to get away. "Let me go. You know nothing about the Alliance's true destiny."
Buffy barked out a harsh laugh. "That word is overused and so not what people think it is. Enough, sleaze boy. Take out your tiny little toy and give it a nice little squeeze," she purred into his ear. "You're going to turn the nasty Reavers off. Make them go buh-bye." The strong arm around his neck tightened. "Now!" Buffy growled menacingly.
He did what she asked, still confident that his position would protect him. The Reavers shrieked as blood dripped from their ears and fingers. Buffy tightened her grip, cracking his collarbone. The man adjusted the setting and the Reavers collapsed boneless to the ground.
"There, release me. I've done as you asked," the man demanded.
Leaning forward she whispered in his ear, "I never said that I'd release you." The man started to protest loudly. "Shush, now, I'm feeling generous, and you'll make me change my mind. Okay, I promise that you'll be released," a loud crack echoed in the room, "from this verse." Buffy moved over to the woman on the bed. "Nee how? They're gone and won't be back," Buffy's voice soothed the terrified woman, "Dong ma?"
The woman nodded, her eyes engulfed her face as they peeked around the room at the fallen bodies. "Who are you?"
"A friend." Buffy started toward the back door. "Go out the front, it's clear."
"Wait!" The woman scrambled off the bed, skirting around the Reavers to reach Buffy. "Please tell me your name."
"Slayer." Buffy paused then took the woman's hands. "Tell the others da-bian-hua is coming. Dong Ma? The Reavers won't hurt you anymore, because now they're the prey - my prey."
The woman stepped back suddenly frightened until she saw the determination in the dark green eyes. "Tzoo-foo-nee," she whispered.
"Go find your family. Spread the word that if you need me, you just have to send out a wave for the Slayer. I'll come as fast as I can, promise."
Hope surged in the woman's heart as she bowed her head, allowing the tears to flow freely. When she looked back up 'the Slayer' was gone.
Buffy stormed from the house quickly finding the other Reavers being led by their blue-handed master. The Scythe sang out with its own battle cry joined by a golden haired girl that destroyed this verses bogeyman.
She became a myth that night, alleged to be seven feet tall, and supposed to fly a destroyer that blocked out the sun. When asked at each place the Slayer appeared to kill Reavers and save people, no one could describe her. The only way to know she had truly been there was the numerous Reaver body and two set of blue gloves nailed on the town leader's roof. No one would touch the gloves; the townspeople felt they protected them from Reavers.
The further she went into the black, each new planet or moon she fought on tied her closer to this verse. She remembered Shadow with a smile. It was the last place where she made a real friend. A woman named Caroline Reynolds. Caroline owned a ranch that Buffy helped put back to rights after a Reaver attack. The two women took to each other from the moment they met.
Buffy knew that the time to find the way to stop the Alliance from continuing to create controllable Reavers had come. The Powers sent her Slayer dreams that led her to the Reavers' attacks. Her dream last night was different.
She floated in space, feeling a sense of peace and serenity that she couldn't remember feeling since Heaven. Looking around, Buffy found herself in a beautiful oasis with a beautiful blue river running through it. Flowers bloomed, birds sang, and there among them stood a fragile girl dancing. The girl floated across the air, even dancing on the water. She looked at Buffy and deep inside her eyes, the Slayer saw the verse explode into until nothing remained.
Buffy woke up gasping, realizing that the girl held the key to stopping the Alliance. Her head felt funny as she rubbed her brow. Getting up from the bed, she went to get something to drink when she noticed a picture that wasn't there before. She picked it up to touch her young face and that of her friend's. Buffy sat it back down and burst out laughing at the Powers' sense of humor. Now, she knew how Dawn felt.
Knowing that she wouldn't be able to get back to sleep, Buffy fired up the shuttle heading toward the space station. She hated the stupid things; with the people who had more money than sense running around, not to mention they were ran by them. The only good thing about them was that they carried top-notch mechanics.
The Serenity crew armed to the teeth silently locked onto the station's docking bay. As the mule sped off the cargo bay straight into the space station, guards started firing at it. Jayne, Zoë, and Wash rushed down the ramp shooting anything that moved. The others brought up the rear as soon Zoë gave them the all clear. They moved into position to keep the exit clear for the crews escape.
"Don't care what you got to do you hold this position. Dong Ma?" Zoë ordered, seeming to tower over the backup team. She resembled an Amazon warrior with a gun in her hand and the light of battle in her eyes.
"Go we'll hold it," Book answered her, shooting an advancing a guard without blinking an eye.
Zoë motioned for Wash and Jayne to follow her. They disappeared down a hallway, clearing any obstacles from their goal - Mal.
Niska continued torturing Mal, even resuscitating him to prolong the experience when his body couldn't withstand the torture. "I still think that you are hiding the real man inside, Malcolm Reynolds." The psychotic man pressed his fingers into a gaping wound.
Mal screamed, breathing heavily to catch his breath. "Nope, looks like you've got right close to my insides, clear as I can tell."
No one heard the door slide open as a sunny voice asked from the doorway, "Ooh, look at all the pretty toys. Can I play too?"
Niska and the Torturer looked up, startled to see a small blonde daintily walk down the steps into the office. Mal couldn't understand if he was seeing angels due to pain taking him or if what he was seeing was real.
Niska pasted a smile on his face, wiping his hands before properly greeting his unexpected guest. "My dear, you shouldn't worry your pretty head over this matter. A terrible man caught working against the Alliance." He reached for her elbow to escort her back up the stairs.
"That's awful. I hope that he learns his lesson." Buffy smiled at the evil snake, spinning on her heel before he could touch her. "Oh, Niska have you ever read the works of Shan Yu?" Niska's eyes grew wide as the small blonde pulled out a knife while grabbing him at the same time.
He tried to evade her strong grip. "What's the meaning of this? You will never get away. I will hunt you till I no longer draw breath."
Buffy watched Mal climb up from the table and attack the Torturer with a strange device. While she had no witnesses, she pulled Niska close. "Have a message from the Slayer." Buffy smiled when he trembled under her hand. "She's watching you. Reavers aren't all that she slays." Pushing him away from her, she spun around landing a roundhouse to his head, propelling Niska backward. Buffy rushed over to help Mal when she saw that the Torturer was strangling him with a rope.
"Do you mind if I cut in?" Buffy tapped on the Torturer's large shoulders.
Mal gasped, "No, no, please be my guest."
The Torturer saw his boss crumpled on the ground and flung Mal away like so much trash. "Would a bowed out, if you'd just asked." Mal grimaced, using the wall to crawl back to his feet. "Must have hit the gorram wall harder than I thought." Wiping the blood from his eyes, he turned back to watch a tiny blonde evade the Torturer's swings, while she proceeded to kick his ass. With one last mule kick, she sent the large man over the edge into the station's core unit. Mal rubbed his head, trying to clear his vision. The woman became more beautiful the closer she got. She wore tight black leather pants, a soft green shirt that matched her eyes, and had the prettiest golden hair he had ever seen. She was tiny, all fined-boned, but filled out with womanly curves.
Buffy put an arm around Mal's waist helping him toward the door. "Do you have a ship, something bigger than a long range shuttle?"
"Uh?" Mal shook his head, wondering if her lips tasted as pink as they looked. "Ship, oh, yeah. Firefly class, nothing in the sky's better than the Serenity." The proud smile changed Mal's face from attractive to strikingly handsome.
"Cool, should be able to tow my shuttle." She tried to focus getting them safely off this ship, and finding someone to tend to the man's injuries. Buffy kept her eyes focused straight ahead rather than let herself be distracted again by what a nice profile he had.
"If it'd get me off this shu ma nyaow station, I'd crawl." Mal's knees started to faltered, but Buffy steadied him.
"My, you do talk pretty. Let's hope it doesn't come to that." Buffy supported Mal's weight without letting him know she was doing so. They left Niska's office, slipping down the corridor as alarms went off and horns blared throughout the station.
Zoë burst through the door followed by Wash and Jayne. No one was there, but an unconscious Niska on the floor. "Jayne, wake him up. We need to know where Mal is," she ordered, leveling the carbine at Niska.
Jayne's face broke out into a happy smile. Pulling out a long knife, he ran his tongue down the sharp edge, swallowing the blood it drew. "Do I have time to do it right?"
"Get it done," Zoë growled, not sure who she wanted to shoot more the mercenary or psychotic.
Niska woke up to a large man with an equally large knife pressed into his throat. His pale blue eyes rose up to the speaker when he recognized Zoë's voice.
"You were right. They are worth more, more than you'll ever know. Where's Mal?"
"Gone." Niska answered with a satisfied smile.
Jayne sliced into Niska's throat purposefully missing the carotid artery. "Next time he goes deeper, answer the question."
"I did! Malcolm Reynolds died and is no longer on this station." Niska coughed as blood trickled down his throat. He watched the hope fade from Zoë's eyes before she shot him in the leg shattering his thigh. Niska screamed and desperately tried to staunch the blood flow.
She turned away without a word with Wash right on her heels. He didn't touch her or say a word. His presence gave Zoë the support she needed to take the news back to the others. Zoë couldn't even grasp the idea that Mal was gone, let alone that she wouldn't be there to give him a proper burial. She had no choice except to leave, knowing that she was the only person capable of stepping into Mal's large shoes.
Buffy settled Mal into the co-pilot seat before taking a seat herself. She quickly drove the shuttle through the station's large docking bay. Mal was starting to fade in and out until something caught his eye and he shot up in his seat with a shout.
"Stop!" The shuttle slowed, hovering near the station. "There, that's my shuttle. My crew's here." The words barely passed his lips before the small shuttle exploded. "Liou coe shway duh biao-tze huh hoe-tze fuh ur-tze!"
Carefully maneuvering around the debris, Buffy moved closer the now empty spot. "Can you see anyone?"
His blue eyes scanned the area, spotting Kaylee close to the docking bay opening. "Over there." Mal pointed with a relieved smile on his face to see his mechanic whole and unharmed.
"Can you make it back to the doors? Doubt you can fly or that she'd trust me," Buffy asked, slowly hovering close to where Kaylee hid from the guards. Mal grunted, stiffly getting up to stagger toward the back. "There are weapons by the door. Take what you need," she called out.
Leaning against the wall, Mal saw a tall cabinet. He pulled the door open. "Hwoon dahn," he whispered, grabbing a gun from the well-fortified cabinet. Guns in every size stood lined up, ready for action. On the top shelf, endless boxes of ammo waited to replace spent rounds. "If Jayne saw this he'd hump the cabinet. Have to admit gives me a little tingle my own self."
"Did you say something," Buffy asked, trying to keep the laughter from her voice. Slayer hearing had its benefits.
"Uh no, everything's fine here." Mal punched the shuttle's door. "Care for a lift, pretty lady?"
Kaylee peeked around from her hiding spot. "Cap'n, that you? We're here to rescue you and there you are all rescuing us. Ain't that something? Where'd you get that shuttle? Is Wash in there?"
"Think we might have more time for conversating once we get back to Serenity. Come on Kaylee-girl. Who else is out here with you?" Mal searched the area for the others, spotting Simon further ahead and River across from Kaylee.
"All've us, Cap'n." Kaylee scampered onto the shuttle with wide eyes. "Ooh, shiny."
"River, come here girl," Mal barked at the odd girl who stood still as a gazelle ready for flight. She turned those large eyes toward him, capturing him in their depths.
River seemed to look through him to some distant point until she found something that made her smile; a huge, bright, beautiful smile lit up her face. She came alive in that instance before Mal's ever watchful gaze. Her graceful body took flight across the distance. Before reaching the last few feet, River couldn't contain her joy and leapt into an elegant ballerina split mid-air, which propelled her the remaining distance. She landed on her toes with her arms above her head, worthy of a prima ballerina before an adoring audience.
"Cap'n, wasn't that the shiniest thing that you ever saw?" Kaylee clapped appreciatively, her earlier fear toward River's shooting abilities forgotten.
"Hey, we never got around to exchanging names, but if you got someone who can hold the shuttles. I can go get the others," Buffy's voice carried to the others.
Kaylee's eyes grew wide, then her smile grew knowing as she eyed Mal. "Cap'n, here we was all anxious worried bout you and you made a special friend."
Mal glared at Kaylee before ordering, "Go take the controls."
River folded herself onto a plush couch, watching the door for Simon. Buffy came over to Mal and she shifted her attention to their heated exchange.
"No, you are not," Buffy shouted.
"Ai-yah. Tyen-ah, woman that's my crew out there and I'll go for them if I want to," Mal shouted back at her.
"Oh, yeah." Buffy gently pushed the swaying man and he fell back against the wall. "Great help you'd be. Stay here or I put you out. Tell me their names and something that'll let them know you sent me."
"Tell them, Wash," he didn't notice Buffy's expression when he mentioned the name, "likes dinosaurs."
"Names and descriptions," Buffy ordered in a voice expecting obedience.
Mal bristled. He was the leader. He gave the orders, not a tiny woman, no matter how gorram beautiful she was.
"Simon looks like that." River pointed to where her brother hid by the main doorway.
Buffy looked out the door and took off without another word. Mal started to shout at her when he realized he didn't even know her name. "Damn fool woman's going to get herself shot."
"Won't die, won't die for long long time, much work to be done," River told him seriously.
Mal shook his head never understanding River's babble. He saw the woman say something to Simon and the young doctor use his hands while he talked. Simon could only be describing the crew. Mal growled as he watched her pull guns from holsters he never noticed, and start firing as Simon ran for the shuttle.
Buffy saw Simon safely onboard before entering the station. She ran across the shepherd first. What did the doctor say his name was? Oh yeah - Book. Silently moving behind him, she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't shoot. I'm a friend of your captain. Your shuttle blew up. The others are waiting on mine at the dock. He told me to tell you that Wash likes dinosaurs. Dong Ma?"
Book turned to peer into emerald eyes. His wise eyes saw more than the beautiful outside, he saw the protector beneath. "What about Zoë and the others?"
"I'll get them. Go on while the coast is clear. We'll be out fast as we can. Have the shuttle ready to take off as soon as the doors shut."
No sooner had Book cleared the hallway, Zoë, Wash, and Jayne came around the corner. They aimed their weapons at Buffy who did the same until she exchanged glances with a pair of blue eyes.
"Still playing with Rex, Ducky?" Sliding her guns away, with a saucy smile.
Wash's jaw dropped, looking at the beautiful woman unable to associate her with the pigtailed girl he knew. Buffy threw herself into Wash's arms, where he happily received her, unmindful of Zoë's glare.
"Ducky, I haven't seen you in so long. Oh, what am I thinking?"
"That's what I'd like to know," Zoë asked in a cold voice. "Seeing as you have your hands all over my husband."
"Well, he was my husband first," Buffy teased, unfazed by Zoë's cold eyes. Wash put her down quickly, turning to his wife. He tried to think what to say to head off a bloodbath.
"If Wash's already taken, can I have Zoë?" Jayne asked, happy at this turn around.
"No!" the married couple shouted in unison.
"Well, then can I have the other'n?" Jayne looked Buffy up and down, fairly drooling.
"As if; you couldn't handle me, boy. Sorry we got off the subject. Your captain sent me to get you. We need to hurry, I don't know how much longer the coast will be clear." Buffy turned ready to head back when Zoë grabbed her.
"Captain's dead. Don't know what you're trying to pull, but not going to let you use our dead against us." Zoë squeezed the slender arm, taking out her grief in the punishing hold.
"Ducky, tell your wife to let go if you like her parts where they are." Buffy didn't take her eyes off Zoë. "Niska didn't kill him. Well, he did I think, but he revived him. I heard the commotion and decided to check it out. Don't like torture much, never did. Took your captain to my shuttle when he saw yours blow up. Now, let go, or we can go at it right here. Or, you can come with me and see the others for yourself. We can still go at it then if you want, but I'd prefer a different setting. Dong Ma?" Buffy could have easily gotten free. She knew that Zoë was hurting. She also knew that Zoë needed to back off on her own.
"Fine, you go first. If this is a double-cross, I'll shoot you in the back." Zoë flung Buffy's arm away.
Buffy muttered before taking off down the hallway. "Won't be the first time."
The others followed not saying a word, except Jayne. "I like her."
Buffy hit the shuttle first, exchanged looks with Mal before moving toward the cockpit. She glanced over her shoulder to see the large eyes following her. Buffy sent a wink River's way before ducking into the pilot's seat where Kaylee handed over control.
Zoë followed by Wash and Jayne boarded happy to see Mal alive. "Captain," she smiled, "heard you died."
"Might have for a bit, don't think it took. Guess I had more things left to do out here in the verse." Mal returned the smile. "Wash, go and help our new friend pilot this boat to Serenity."
"You trust her, Captain?" Zoë's dark eyes swept across Mal's face reading every nuance.
"Spect I do, for now. Hasn't given me a reason not to. Done me the kindness of saving my life, twice, and that of my crew. Can't take that lightly."
"No, don't suppose we can, sir. Wash knows her," she admitted, trying to hide the jealousy in her voice.
"That adds another slice to the pie, don't it? Guess we'll have to ask Wash about her soon as I learn her name." Mal glanced toward the front where the mysterious blonde was piloting them home to Serenity.
Zoë's eyes followed Mal's. "Heard Wash call her Buffy, sir."
Mal's brow furrowed at the name's strangeness, he turned back to look at his second in command. "Buffy, what kinda gorram name is that?"
"Mine," an angry voice from the front stated. There stood Buffy leaning against the wall, arms crossed over her chest. "If you have questions, you could try asking me. Might not answer them, but you won't know till you ask."
"Are you Alliance?" Zoë asked, her face showing exactly what she thought.
"As if, I would have anything to do with them. Though my job does force me to play nice every so often." Buffy gave them a bright smile that in no way eased their minds.
Mal looked around the shuttle and jumped to the wrong conclusion. "Are you a whore?"
"No are you? If you so, what's the going rate? Haven't seen everything," she allowed her eyes to sweep over his injured, but bare chest then back to his handsome face, "But, what I see isn't half bad."
Jayne threw his arm in the air, almost dancing in place. "I'm a whore, and won't even charge."
"That makes you a slut, boy." Ignoring the mercenary as she held the captain's gaze. "To answer your question in a more polite way, no, I'm not a companion. Don't understand why anyone would want to be one. To each their own, I always say. I could never make it, though. They have too many rules. Rules and Buffy are unmixey things." She shrugged her shoulders not missing the tension in the air.
"What do you do then? Why associate with purple bellies if you aren't one of 'em?" Mal didn't care for this conversation. He wanted to trust Buffy, not understanding why. But, he hated the Alliance and until she settled the matter to his satisfaction, he couldn't trust her around his crew.
Simon watched his sister while the others worked out their problems. River couldn't take her eyes off the blonde woman. He hadn't seen River this calm in a long time. Simon leaned closer to hear what she was whispering to herself. "Peacemaker, protector, hope."
Buffy pulled an ident card from some hidden place on her body. "Ever seen one of those?" She tossed the small plastic badge at Mal.
He read the card in wonder. Mal had heard about them, but had never seen one before. He thought they were something the Alliance created to pacify people. "You're a gorram Peacemaker? Never seen one before, thought you were a myth."
Simon's head snapped up at the term then back to River. She gave him a beautiful smile. "Don't worry, Simon, she'll protect us, keep them away. Take all the spaghetti from my head and make a feast. You'll see." Simon shivered at his sister's words, somehow finding little comfort.
Buffy laughed. "We're out there. If you could spot us, then we wouldn't be much good now, would we?" She gave him a Spike-worthy smirk.
Book watched the by-play and finally decided to speak out. "I've met a Peacemaker before. They're working to change the Alliance, stop the corruption on the outer rim where the law's easily overlooked. I could contact my friend to see if he knows Miss?" The shepherd exchanged looks with the small blonde before turning to see if Mal agreed to his suggestion.
"Summers, Buffy Summers. You can use my com. It can't be traced on open wave. Prefer it if my name stays out of the black. Dong Ma?" Book nodded, moving over to the wall she pointed at. Buffy touched several buttons, causing a panel to slide down revealing a previously hidden com system.
"Wow, this place sure is shiny. How come you were at the station?" The mechanic itched to touch the shuttle's engines.
Buffy explained after putting in her handprint and stepping back to give Book privacy. "Long range nav took a hit, needed some work and the station was closest. Hope I can catch a ride on your Firefly to the next place with a decent mechanic. Doubt they had time to finish since I only pulled in last night."
"What's a Peacemaker?" Simon asked, wondering what it was and what it meant to River.
"We're kinda goodwill officers. We go to planets that are supposed to be receiving aid from the Alliance. You know money, medicine, food that type stuff. We go in and check places out to see what's really going on and take out the trash if Alliance are involved. If their not," Buffy gave them a naughty smile, "sometimes we call them in to clean up the towns and restore order."
"Why would the Alliance do that? Seems to me that don't help them none," Zoë challenged.
"There's a faction high up who doesn't agree with the status quo. Some untouchables if you will. The other Alliance big wigs thought that by creating Peacemakers they would satisfy their opposition, and could go on about their business." Buffy laughed, seeing everyone's confused faces. "My bosses are the Upper Council for lack of a better name. The Alliance members created Peacemakers to shut the Upper Council up; they couldn't' find away around not putting the Council charge since they wanted the changes in the first place. Boy, did they screw that up."
"Big minds aren't blind to the outside world. Big money doesn't make them greedy or hide their big hearts," River announced, clapping her hands.
"Very good," Buffy praised, taking a seat beside River on the couch. The young girl immediately snuggled up to her.
"River, come over here, mèimei," Simon called, holding out his hand.
"That's all right. She's not bothering me." Buffy absently brushed her fingers through River's hair, the way she would Dawn's. "Like, River said, the Upper Council weren't the clueless eggheads they thought they were. The Council set us up with every perk we needed to do the job right, even higher security clearance and authority, which can only be overwritten by them." Several crew members whistled at that connotation.
Book interrupted the break in the conversation. "Captain, she's a Peacemaker and has been for the last two years."
"Mal, we're safe for docking. The skies are clear." Wash's voice came over the com.
Buffy's eyebrow rose at Mal's crewman asking permission to dock her ship. She waited to see what he would do. True it was his crew, but her shuttle. The way she saw it they needed each other.
Mal bowed his head in Buffy's direction. "Would you care to join us, Buffy? We're heading for Ezra. We'd consider it a kindness returned to help you to your next destination."
Smooth, very smooth. "That would be greatly appreciated, Mal was it? Ducky, park my baby nice or I'll tell everyone about your eighth birthday," she shouted before Mal could give the order.
A loud 'eep' came from the cockpit. "You wouldn't." The shuttle glided up to the airlock, Mal put in the security override, and collapsed.
"Guess he's happy to be home," Jayne said, stepping over the unconscious man's body and making his way to his cabin.
Mal walked in bare-chested except for the bandages covering his ribs. "Doc, you sure this won't fall off?" He kept touching his re-attached ear.
"No, the transdermal bond works like glue and will help to regenerate new cells without leaving a scar."
"Who sent that fancy stuff anyways? Don't remember it from the list you gave us for Ariel. Know we didn't have that little machine." Mal pointed at a slender cylinder with a long tube attached to it.
"Buffy asked what I needed to fix your ear. She said that she had a friend that owed her a favor." Simon continued packing away the medical equipment.
"Ai ya!, now I'm beholden to her more than I already was."
"Sure are full of yourself aren't you," a soft voice startled them. "I helped the Ambassador with a personal problem. She wanted to pay me and I refused. I told her that maybe someday I'd need a favor, not from the Ambassador, but from her the woman. So, I called it in and made my friend feel good that she was able to help someone else. You know - Pay it forward." Seeing their confusion at her words. "Sorry, before your time," she muttered. "Don't know why I'm explaining anything to you, other than I didn't want you brooding over owing little ole me."
Simon watched the two snap at each other with no small amount of inner delight. The Captain was a good man. He knew that he and River wouldn't have made it this far if not for Mal and his crew. It still ruffled Simon's feathers to be commanded about like a lowly errand boy when he used to run a large ER.
Buffy stared at the handsome captain. He bugged her, more than that he made her sensed tingle and not in a bad way. She felt as if she knew him, but couldn't place from where. Buffy knew she'd remember eventually, she normally did. It just bothered her as it buzzed at the back of her mind, giving her no peace. Serenity, popped into her head. Buffy's jaw dropped as she gaped at Mal.
"Woman are you having a fit? Doc, you might ought to come see about, Buffy. She don't look right." Mal felt her head for a fever.
She pushed his hands away from her. "I'm fine you idiot. Just realized that I never asked your last name, and I kinda just figured it out."
"Sussed it out did you? Weren't a secret. Thought Niska told you when you came in all shiny, wanting to join the fun." Mal smirked; leaning back on his heals with his arms crossed over his bandaged chest.
Buffy pouted prettily at Mal. "Just wait here, you old grouch. I thought that you'd be taller and lot more fun." She walked outside to where Kaylee worked on repairing her shuttle.
"I'm not old," Mal grouched to himself as Wash walked by.
"Course you aren't, Captain." Mal grinned at the pilot. "You're younger than Shepherd Book." Wash gave him a big grin as he climbed the stairs back up to the cockpit.
"I'm fun. I'm lots of fun. Taller what's she mean taller. She ain't bigger than a…"
Buffy cleared her throat. "If you want this, I wouldn't finish that sentence." There in her small hand she waved a crumpled envelope.
Mal eyed it suspiciously before walking the short distance between them. Putting his hand out for the letter without saying a word.
"I know your mother taught you manners. What do you say?" She wiggled the envelope in front of his face.
"Please," he growled, snatching the letter from her fingers.
"Grump." Buffy pouted walking over to where River sat playing jacks. "Hey, River. Would you like to learn a new game?" Buffy gracefully sat down, placing her legs in the lotus position.
River nodded, scooting closer to Buffy. She mimicked the small blonde's pose. "Can you really make all the crazy in my head, the spaghetti, go away?"
Buffy brushed the long rich hair behind the young girl's ears. "Yep, no more spaghetti. We can't rush it or you'll get a tummy ache. Put your hands on mine, and stare into my eyes. No matter what you see, hear, or feel, stay with me and I'll guide you. Ready?"
Smiling, River matched her breathing to Buffy's, and stared into the mossy pools in front of her.
River stood surrounded by soft clouds. She turned around seeing nothing as far as the eye could see. Total silence met the young girl as she stepped forward and called out, "Buffy."
"I'm here, River." Buffy stepped through the clouds. "Don't worry you're not alone."
"Where are we? Why is it so quiet?" River tilted her head, waiting for an answer.
"In your mind." River's eyes grew wide with fear. "Calm down. The quiet comes from my mind. I will teach you how to close out the voices and use the pain. We'll lock them away, and you'll be the only one who can take them out." Buffy soothed the young girl's fears, brushing the hair away from her face. She gently intertwined the long slender fingers with her own. "Trust me, River," Buffy said softly before closing her eyes and sinking further into the beautiful, yet fragile, mind she prayed she wouldn't damage further.
When they opened their eyes, they were standing in a cold steel box. River started gasping for air and tried to pull away from Buffy. "Stop!" River froze in place. "What do you fear?" a harsh voice demanded. Long dark tresses flew from side to side as the frightened girl mumbled incoherently. "Say it out loud," the voice ordered.
"Two by two, hands of blue." River's head shook faster while she squeezed her eyes closed.
Buffy tightened the hold on the delicate hand. "Bao bei, open your eyes. I won't let them hurt you; nothing can hurt you here. Trust me, River, trust yourself and open your eyes."
Large doe eyes fluttered open, taking in the room. A soft sigh escaped rose petal lips. Buffy turned, forcing River to follow, until they faced the far wall. Scenes flashed across the cold metal. As each one changed, River flinched, but didn't turn away.
A soft voice asked, "Do you want them to stop?"
"Yes, make them stop. No more spaghetti."
"I can't make them stop, River." Buffy held on tightly, as the fragile girl's knees started to buckle. "You can. Think, River. Use that beautiful mind. Let everything else fall away. Focus, push out one single thought, give it shape, put everything they made you feel into it, then aim it at your target." Her voice was whisper soft as she showed River the way to step through the labyrinth the Alliance doctors had created in her mind.
River saw the blue hands flash across the screen. Her throat closed and her heart felt ready to burst from her chest. "Just close you eyes, don't look, and shoot."
"Open your eyes, River. Never look away from the enemy. Face the fear and you take away its power. They stole your power. Take it back. Take it back and use it against them," Buffy coached and prodded, giving River the push she needed to take the first step in healing her mind.
With a shrill scream, River threw a hand out toward the wall. Her focus never strayed from the ever-moving blue hands. She did exactly what Buffy said. River watched in wonder as the pictures stopped and the blue hands melted away. Relief rushed through her body.
"Good girl, bao bei," Buffy cooed proudly. "Now, you can close your eyes. Remember that feeling, put it in a safe place and lock it away. It's yours, River. You can use it whenever you need it. Be careful though, it's a weapon. Don't use it if there's another way." River smiled peacefully, understanding clear in her eyes. "We have to leave. The others are starting to worry. I have a present for you." Buffy took River's hands and closed them tightly around an object. "You can't show anyone."
River peeked inside her cupped hands with wonder. "I won't, not even Simon, or Kaylee."
Mal read his letter, cussing under his breath after every other sentence. His heart clenched in his still mending chest. Reavers, Reavers had been on Shadow. The Slayer showed up, saving his ma and the ranch. Buffy came a week later. She pitched in with the mending, healing, and rebuilding. Mal felt a fool for yelling at the woman who not only done kindness by him, his crew, but also his ma. He started toward the door to find Buffy and apologize when he saw Simon run by him. Following the doctor, he wanted to ensure none of his crew was in trouble.
"Wait, doc, she's not hurting River. She has her all calm and peaceful like. Truth is it's kinda nice. Let's just watch and see if anything happens. We can step in any time if need be." Mal wasn't sure why he was interfering between Simon and Buffy. He just didn't see that Buffy was doing anything to harm the girl.
Simon felt torn, unsure whether he should pull River away or wait. Mal was right. River did look peaceful and she was smiling. So, they watched and waited while the minutes ticked by. Soon, the other crew members joined them as the minutes turned into a half hour, and was getting close to an hour.
"Don't worry, Simon, at the monastery we would meditate for several hours every day," Book explained.
"You mean you'd just sit there doing nothing?" Jayne asked, scratching his head.
"Are we going to sit here all day watching them, sir?" Zoë couldn't hide the sarcasm in her voice.
"I don't mind." Jayne's eyes swept over Buffy's slight form, missing Mal's glare.
"They're waking up," Simon shouted, rushing over to River.
"Don't touch her till she's wakes on her own," Shepherd Book cautioned, stopping the young doctor in time.
Simon pulled his hand away anxiously watching his little sister's eyes flutter open. She turned to him with a bright, beautiful smile. "Hi, Simon." He pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her slight form.
Buffy kept her eyes closed, allowing the siblings to have their moment. Jayne couldn't stand it any longer. He tiptoed over to the small blonde, about to touch her when he found a gun aimed at his head. "Kinda picky about who touches me, Jayney. Like to do the choosing, dong ma?" She heard Zoë reaching for her gun. "No need to interfere, Mrs. Ducky. This is between Jayney and me. Ain't that right, Jayney?"
Mal held Zoë back when she stepped forward ready to tear out some blonde hair. "Jayne knows better than to put his hands where they don't belong. Jayne!"
"Sorry, Captain." Jayne apologized, nodding his head. "My apologies, Buffy. Didn't mean no harm. Never seen nobody be still like that, that weren't dead or asleep."
Buffy laughed, standing in one graceful movement. Holstering the gun, she said over her shoulder as she looked down at River. "No harm. Just don't do it again. She's okay, Simon. River doesn't need medicine. She needs to sort the pieces in her mind. Drugs won't help her do that they'll just slow down the process, and may do more harm than good." She could tell that he didn't like thinking that he might have done anything that wasn't helping his sister heal.
"Blue hands are gone, Simon. I made them go away. Buffy showed me how." She gave her brother a proud smile before glancing up at Buffy worried that she had said too much. They exchanged looks that said a million words.
"I better go see how Kaylee's doing. Should be out of your hair soon."
Several pairs of eyes watched the slender leather clad figure as it walked out Serenity's doors. Those same eyes, except Zoë's, turned back to Mal with an expectant look.