The Rising, Chapter Eleven
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firefly_fanfic
Title: The Rising
Author: Sarah-Beth (memorysdaughter)
Email: memorysdaughter@gmail.com
Summary: After the events in “Radio Nowhere,” Serenity’s family must go to great lengths to save a stranger.
Series: Chapter 11
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Post-BDM, with two very important changes. And also post-“Radio Nowhere,” which you can read HERE
Disclaimer: Not mine, never have been, never will be. The title comes from a Bruce Springsteen song.
Author's Note: Thank you for being patient with me! I recently moved out of my dorm and back home for a few weeks before I go off to work at a camp in June, and since I got home, all of my free time has been devoted to doing the type of chores my parents don't want to do and so therefore save especially for me. I finally snuck a few minutes to write!
Chapters 1-10
The Rising
“Thank you so much for taking our cargo,” Mother Wolcheski said. “The sisters and I are so grateful.”
“It’s what we do, ma’am,” Mal said. It was the kind of statement that nearly required the tipping of a hat, but he wasn’t wearing one.
“In fact, we decided to give you something else in addition to your pay,” Mother Wolcheski said. She handed him a gold envelope.
Mal opened it. It contained a map and a brochure. “This is fer… a hotel,” he said.
“Yes,” Mother Wolcheski said. “One of the sisters here accidentally received this from her uncle, and since none of us can leave the convent, we decided to give it to whoever came to take our baskets to Clearwater. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Hell, no,” Mal said before he could stop himself. “I mean, uh…”
“I quite understand, Captain Reynolds,” Mother Wolcheski said. “This hotel is one of the fanciest in Clearwater, or so the brochure claims. People like us, we don’t usually get to stay in places like that.”
Zoë came up behind Mal. “Cargo’s all loaded, sir.”
“Good,” Mal said.
“Lieutenant Moriarty will pay you in Clearwater,” Mother Wolcheski said. “And thank you again for taking our cargo. Please feel free to stay here on Odessa as long as you’d like to rest.”
Zoë took the envelope from Mal. “This place looks more expensive than a tooth replacement done by th’ Prime Minister’s dentist.”
“An’ it’s free,” Mal said.
“Holy… moly,” Zoë said, looking up at Mother Wolcheski.
“Yours, free,” Mother Wolcheski confirmed, smiling. “Hard workers like you deserve such a wonderful retreat.”
“I don’t think half our crew’s ever seen a hotel this fancy,” Zoë said in wonder. “An’ I know Kaylee’s never stayed in a hotel, and neither of the girls have either.”
“Says here there’s a pool,” Mal said, flipping through the glossy brochure. “An’ shoppin’, an’ a chocolate factory, an’…”
“It will be an experience to remember,” Mother Wolcheski said. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to the convent. Thank you again for taking our cargo. Bless you both, and your family.”
She turned and began to walk back up the hill towards the convent.
“C’mon,” Mal said to Zoë. “We’ve got a vacation t’ plan.”
Simon was glad to see the captain. He hurried towards him with a printout from the Cortex. “Look at this,” he said quietly.
Mal handed the folder containing the hotel information to Zoë and took the printout from Simon. “What’s this?”
“Wash found it,” Simon said. “He was going through the news records from Hale’s Landing and he came up on a report of some children being kidnapped from a cult outpost outside the city.”
Mal scanned the sheet. “What’s this got t’ do with th’ price of gelato in Roma?”
“The Hale’s Landing’s Prime Minister was visiting the outpost when the police made a raid,” Simon said. “It says here that his family was visiting with him, and his escort group was attacked when the raid occurred.”
“And y’ think we picked up the Prime Minister’s daughter?” Mal asked, looking up from the sheet. “No, no way. Somebody would have been lookin’ fer her.”
“But it fits!” Simon protested. “That’s why she’s so healthy, that’s why her tracheostomy and her feeding tube were so well-done. If she’s the Prime Minister’s daughter…”
“An’ what, they just gave up on findin’ her? ‘Cause the children’s home should have been the first place they’d look.”
“Maybe they were trying to get rid of her,” Simon said.
“What?” Mal asked.
“Well, you have to admit, a twelve-year-old child with one of the Kirschweil Syndromes is rare,” Simon said. “And her care is costly. And she takes a lot of effort to keep alive. And maybe the Prime Minister just… got tired of it.”
“Don’t make much sense, Doc,” Mal said. “The Prime Minister’s got t’ be th’ only one on Hale’s Landing who could finance that sort o’ care. He’s prob’ly the richest guy there.”
“That’s true,” Simon said, “but Wash and I checked the medical records from the Hale’s Landing hospital. There’s no birth certificate for Linnea, and no record of her having surgery there. And when we looked at the various press releases done by the Prime Minister’s office, there’s no mention of a child with one of the Kirschweil Syndromes.”
“I’m lost,” Mal said.
“I think Linnea is the Prime Minister’s daughter, but I think she was his daughter in secret.”
“So… she belongs t’ th’ Prime Minister, but he ain’t gonna admit it? Then we’re home free.”
“I think he isn’t going to admit it in public,” Simon said. “I think someone is still looking for Linnea, and I think they’re going to track us down.”
“How?”
“Well, if she did in fact have the surgeries at the hospital in Hale’s Landing, at the Prime Minister’s compound, then they have a record of all medical equipment that she has, that was put into her or sent home with her. Some of that’s got to have a tracking number on it.”
“So we take it out of her,” Mal said. “We ditch everythin’ that’s got a number on it, replace it with our stuff.”
Simon nodded. “We could do that. I’ve got spare tubes and equipment from Beck.”
“Good,” Mal said. He turned to head up the stairs.
“Captain,” Simon said, “if she does belong to the Prime Minister… it’s not the kind of thing they’re going to give up on. They won’t publicize it, but they’ll still be looking for her. And eventually they’ll find us.”
Mal turned back towards the doctor. “I don’t know much ‘bout searchin’ fer somebody,” he said, “but I know that when Linnea came t’ live with us, I saw yer sister connect with that girl, an’ it was the first time I saw her do somethin’ like that since Beck… since Beck died. An’ I don’t want t’ force her t’ give it up.”
“I don’t think anyone could force River to do anything she didn’t want to,” Simon said.
“That’s true, Doc,” Mal said. “An’ I don’t want t’ be th’ one standin’ in her way if somebody tries t’ stop her.”
He clanged up the stairs away from Simon. The doctor stood in the cargo bay, looking out at the lush fields and scattered woods of Odessa’s rural docks. It was a beautiful place, and for a moment Simon wished that they could stay in Odessa. No one would look for them in Odessa. It belonged to the sacred virgins, and they would protect Serenity’s family. The convent could probably use a doctor, and everyone else could learn to farm, and they could live peacefully.
“Y’ waitin’ fer a train?” Kaylee’s bright voice bubbled up towards him.
“No,” Simon said, clearing his head of all thoughts relating to farming and nuns. “No, just waiting for you. How was your picnic?”
“Delicious!” Daisy cried from her wheelchair, where she sat beaming. Her face was covered in jam.
“Hey there, sweetheart,” Simon said, and gave her a hug.
“It was great,” Kaylee said. “We got t’ see some beautiful birds, and spend some time in a pretty little grove.”
“Where’s River?” Simon asked.
“She an’ Linnea were walkin’ a little behind us,” Kaylee said. “I wanted t’ get back so Daisy could wash her face. Why? Somethin’ wrong?”
“No,” Simon said. “No, things are just fine.”
“Good,” Kaylee said cheerfully, and kissed him on the cheek. “I’m gonna take Daisy up and wash her up an’ then I thought we’d do some readin’.”
“Sounds good,” Simon said. “I’ll be right there.”
He stood in the cargo bay until he saw River and Linnea coming down the hill from the convent. River was chattering away animatedly, leaving pauses in the conversation where Simon knew Linnea was answering, and it broke his heart that he could possibly be the one to take such happiness away from both of them.
Author: Sarah-Beth (memorysdaughter)
Email: memorysdaughter@gmail.com
Summary: After the events in “Radio Nowhere,” Serenity’s family must go to great lengths to save a stranger.
Series: Chapter 11
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Post-BDM, with two very important changes. And also post-“Radio Nowhere,” which you can read HERE
Disclaimer: Not mine, never have been, never will be. The title comes from a Bruce Springsteen song.
Author's Note: Thank you for being patient with me! I recently moved out of my dorm and back home for a few weeks before I go off to work at a camp in June, and since I got home, all of my free time has been devoted to doing the type of chores my parents don't want to do and so therefore save especially for me. I finally snuck a few minutes to write!
Chapters 1-10
The Rising
“Thank you so much for taking our cargo,” Mother Wolcheski said. “The sisters and I are so grateful.”
“It’s what we do, ma’am,” Mal said. It was the kind of statement that nearly required the tipping of a hat, but he wasn’t wearing one.
“In fact, we decided to give you something else in addition to your pay,” Mother Wolcheski said. She handed him a gold envelope.
Mal opened it. It contained a map and a brochure. “This is fer… a hotel,” he said.
“Yes,” Mother Wolcheski said. “One of the sisters here accidentally received this from her uncle, and since none of us can leave the convent, we decided to give it to whoever came to take our baskets to Clearwater. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Hell, no,” Mal said before he could stop himself. “I mean, uh…”
“I quite understand, Captain Reynolds,” Mother Wolcheski said. “This hotel is one of the fanciest in Clearwater, or so the brochure claims. People like us, we don’t usually get to stay in places like that.”
Zoë came up behind Mal. “Cargo’s all loaded, sir.”
“Good,” Mal said.
“Lieutenant Moriarty will pay you in Clearwater,” Mother Wolcheski said. “And thank you again for taking our cargo. Please feel free to stay here on Odessa as long as you’d like to rest.”
Zoë took the envelope from Mal. “This place looks more expensive than a tooth replacement done by th’ Prime Minister’s dentist.”
“An’ it’s free,” Mal said.
“Holy… moly,” Zoë said, looking up at Mother Wolcheski.
“Yours, free,” Mother Wolcheski confirmed, smiling. “Hard workers like you deserve such a wonderful retreat.”
“I don’t think half our crew’s ever seen a hotel this fancy,” Zoë said in wonder. “An’ I know Kaylee’s never stayed in a hotel, and neither of the girls have either.”
“Says here there’s a pool,” Mal said, flipping through the glossy brochure. “An’ shoppin’, an’ a chocolate factory, an’…”
“It will be an experience to remember,” Mother Wolcheski said. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to the convent. Thank you again for taking our cargo. Bless you both, and your family.”
She turned and began to walk back up the hill towards the convent.
“C’mon,” Mal said to Zoë. “We’ve got a vacation t’ plan.”
Simon was glad to see the captain. He hurried towards him with a printout from the Cortex. “Look at this,” he said quietly.
Mal handed the folder containing the hotel information to Zoë and took the printout from Simon. “What’s this?”
“Wash found it,” Simon said. “He was going through the news records from Hale’s Landing and he came up on a report of some children being kidnapped from a cult outpost outside the city.”
Mal scanned the sheet. “What’s this got t’ do with th’ price of gelato in Roma?”
“The Hale’s Landing’s Prime Minister was visiting the outpost when the police made a raid,” Simon said. “It says here that his family was visiting with him, and his escort group was attacked when the raid occurred.”
“And y’ think we picked up the Prime Minister’s daughter?” Mal asked, looking up from the sheet. “No, no way. Somebody would have been lookin’ fer her.”
“But it fits!” Simon protested. “That’s why she’s so healthy, that’s why her tracheostomy and her feeding tube were so well-done. If she’s the Prime Minister’s daughter…”
“An’ what, they just gave up on findin’ her? ‘Cause the children’s home should have been the first place they’d look.”
“Maybe they were trying to get rid of her,” Simon said.
“What?” Mal asked.
“Well, you have to admit, a twelve-year-old child with one of the Kirschweil Syndromes is rare,” Simon said. “And her care is costly. And she takes a lot of effort to keep alive. And maybe the Prime Minister just… got tired of it.”
“Don’t make much sense, Doc,” Mal said. “The Prime Minister’s got t’ be th’ only one on Hale’s Landing who could finance that sort o’ care. He’s prob’ly the richest guy there.”
“That’s true,” Simon said, “but Wash and I checked the medical records from the Hale’s Landing hospital. There’s no birth certificate for Linnea, and no record of her having surgery there. And when we looked at the various press releases done by the Prime Minister’s office, there’s no mention of a child with one of the Kirschweil Syndromes.”
“I’m lost,” Mal said.
“I think Linnea is the Prime Minister’s daughter, but I think she was his daughter in secret.”
“So… she belongs t’ th’ Prime Minister, but he ain’t gonna admit it? Then we’re home free.”
“I think he isn’t going to admit it in public,” Simon said. “I think someone is still looking for Linnea, and I think they’re going to track us down.”
“How?”
“Well, if she did in fact have the surgeries at the hospital in Hale’s Landing, at the Prime Minister’s compound, then they have a record of all medical equipment that she has, that was put into her or sent home with her. Some of that’s got to have a tracking number on it.”
“So we take it out of her,” Mal said. “We ditch everythin’ that’s got a number on it, replace it with our stuff.”
Simon nodded. “We could do that. I’ve got spare tubes and equipment from Beck.”
“Good,” Mal said. He turned to head up the stairs.
“Captain,” Simon said, “if she does belong to the Prime Minister… it’s not the kind of thing they’re going to give up on. They won’t publicize it, but they’ll still be looking for her. And eventually they’ll find us.”
Mal turned back towards the doctor. “I don’t know much ‘bout searchin’ fer somebody,” he said, “but I know that when Linnea came t’ live with us, I saw yer sister connect with that girl, an’ it was the first time I saw her do somethin’ like that since Beck… since Beck died. An’ I don’t want t’ force her t’ give it up.”
“I don’t think anyone could force River to do anything she didn’t want to,” Simon said.
“That’s true, Doc,” Mal said. “An’ I don’t want t’ be th’ one standin’ in her way if somebody tries t’ stop her.”
He clanged up the stairs away from Simon. The doctor stood in the cargo bay, looking out at the lush fields and scattered woods of Odessa’s rural docks. It was a beautiful place, and for a moment Simon wished that they could stay in Odessa. No one would look for them in Odessa. It belonged to the sacred virgins, and they would protect Serenity’s family. The convent could probably use a doctor, and everyone else could learn to farm, and they could live peacefully.
“Y’ waitin’ fer a train?” Kaylee’s bright voice bubbled up towards him.
“No,” Simon said, clearing his head of all thoughts relating to farming and nuns. “No, just waiting for you. How was your picnic?”
“Delicious!” Daisy cried from her wheelchair, where she sat beaming. Her face was covered in jam.
“Hey there, sweetheart,” Simon said, and gave her a hug.
“It was great,” Kaylee said. “We got t’ see some beautiful birds, and spend some time in a pretty little grove.”
“Where’s River?” Simon asked.
“She an’ Linnea were walkin’ a little behind us,” Kaylee said. “I wanted t’ get back so Daisy could wash her face. Why? Somethin’ wrong?”
“No,” Simon said. “No, things are just fine.”
“Good,” Kaylee said cheerfully, and kissed him on the cheek. “I’m gonna take Daisy up and wash her up an’ then I thought we’d do some readin’.”
“Sounds good,” Simon said. “I’ll be right there.”
He stood in the cargo bay until he saw River and Linnea coming down the hill from the convent. River was chattering away animatedly, leaving pauses in the conversation where Simon knew Linnea was answering, and it broke his heart that he could possibly be the one to take such happiness away from both of them.