Chapter 3: Getting to know you
Zoe took charge. She managed to get Mal to calm down, and to arrange for the crew and the visitors to sit around the galley table “like adults” she’d said, with a meaningful glare at Mal. The other crew members were rounded up, along with, to Buffy and Spike’s surprise, Willow.
“Will? What are you doing here?” Buffy asked, as the red headed witch was ushered in by a dark haired woman. Willow shrugged, a rueful smile on her face.
“Don’t ask me. It’s like Spike always says, there’s always consequences.” Willow sat down next to Buffy. Spike was seated the other side of the Slayer. The table was barely large enough to accommodate them all, and Buffy found that her leg was pressed against Spike’s under the table. Strangely, she found that she didn’t mind at all. In fact, she found it oddly comforting. Feeling as though she were being watched, Buffy turned to see the crazy girl she had seen earlier staring at her intently. The dark haired man with her noticed, and put his hand on the girl’s arm.
“River, it’s not polite to stare!” he admonished.
“I am she and she is me,” the girl said in a sing song voice, “Two by two hands of blue….”
“River, hush,” the man said gently, stroking her arm. She left off staring at Buffy and looked down at his hand on her arm, as if it were some strange exotic creature crawling there.
Meanwhile, Spike’s attention was absorbed by the dark haired woman who had brought Willow in. She hesitated as if unsure whether to withdraw gracefully or remain. He could tell she would do whatever she decided to do gracefully, there was something marked about her poise which suggested strict training. Spike was reminded of the girls he had known in his youth, those he had composed endless sonnets to. Elegant and unattainable. Not at all like Buffy. Who was inelegant, but just as unattainable, he sighed inwardly at the thought of Buffy. Silly, really, when every other thought was her. Was always her.
The captain’s sharp voice quickly drew Spike’s attention back to the dark haired woman.
“Inara, ‘f you’re waiting on an invitation, you’re going to be waiting a long time,” Malcolm Reynolds said harshly. Spike’s keen observation noticed the flare of pain in her dark eyes before her countenance assumed its former serene expression.
“I hardly think I need to wait for an invitation from you, Mal,” she said frostily and oh so calmly, before sitting herself next to a girl in dungarees who budged up to make space for her.
“Right,” Mal began, “Since we’re all here, and you’re here, we ought to at least get ourselves acquainted. I’m Captain Malcolm Reynolds, as you know, this here is my ship Serenity, and these here are my crew.” He stood and pointed them out in turn. “Zoe, my second in command” indicating the slim, dark woman on his left, “Her husband, Wash, our pilot,” indicating the blonde man in the Hawaiian shirt.
“Hi,” he grinned at Buffy, Spike and Willow, “Pleased to meet you.”
“This here is Jayne,” Mal indicated the burly man who had escorted Buffy from her cell.
“Jayne!” Spike snorted, “bit of a poncey name, isn’t it, mate?”
“Hey! I resent that,” Jayne protested, “I’d also like to point out that I have no qualms whatsoever in handing any of you over to the alliance if it turns out you’re worth any money.”
“A man after my own heart,” Spike said, remembering his former soulless days with just a touch of wistfulness. It would be a lot easier if he only cared about money, instead of caring about Buffy, her sister and her annoying friends. But despite what he said, he knew he would die before he let Jayne hand over Buffy or Willow.
“This is Kaylee, our mechanic,” Mal continued.
“Howdy,” Kaylee waved at them and smiled. Buffy smiled back, Kaylee reminded her a lot of Willow.
“Inara,” Mal said indicating the mysterious dark haired woman, dressed in a beautiful, if slightly revealing, dress. There was just the slightest hesitation after Mal said her name, as if he was unsure what to add. “She…rents a shuttle on board the ship,”
“Welcome to Serenity,” Inara said smoothly. She looked at the visitors in turn.
“This is Simon Tam, ship’s doctor,” Mal indicated the handsome, nervous man Buffy had seen earlier, “and his sister, River.”
“And finally, this is Shepherd Book.” The last of Serenity’s crew was an aging man, in what might have been a variation of a preacher’s outfit. White and grey curls of hair were tamed in a ponytail. He inclined his head politely as he was introduced. Mal continued, “Now, why don’t you all tell me who you are and what you’re doing here.”
Buffy rose to her feet.
“I’m Buffy Summers. This is my friend Willow,” she indicated the red head who waved nervously, earning a reassuring grin from Kaylee. “This is my…this is Spike,” Buffy said, indicating the vampire who remained expressionless. “We don’t really know why we’re here. I stepped through some kind of portal, which ended up here in space. Spike…must have followed me in…” she paused. He had followed her. He hadn’t even been there when they’d opened the portal. She’d stepped through without a second thought, but he’d found out where she’d gone and followed her blindly. She wasn’t sure whether it was incredibly stupid or incredibly brave. “Willow…”
“I blacked out, the next thing I knew I woke up here. Sorry I can’t be any clearer.”
“Why exactly did you step through this portal?” Zoe wanted to know.
“There was a box,” Buffy tried to explain, “The portal was supposed to show the way to something we were looking for.”
“Want to be a little more specific?” Mal questioned.
“A…power source. I don’t know exactly. Something I need. Something to help. There’s…bad things happening back where we’ve come from. We need this to help defeat…something bad.”
“Is it a weapon?” Jayne asked hopefully.
“Not exactly. The truth is, I’m not sure what it is, but I know that we’ll know when we find it,” Buffy said, with more confidence than she felt.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re not telling us everything?” Mal demanded. “Like how come you were able to overpower me earlier. You’re just a little girl.” Buffy licked her lips, nervously. She turned to Willow, who shrugged. She turned to Spike.
“Can’t hurt to tell them, pet,” he said, hoping he was right.
“Ok,” Buffy said, “See, the thing is…we have…special abilities. We can do things that some people can’t. Spike and I are both…stronger than most people and Willow…can do some things that….”
“I’m a witch,” Willow said, “Let’s just come out and say it. Now if you’re going to burn us at the stake would you at least get it over with?”
“Now, we’re not much for the burning,” Mal said carefully, “Don’t see that it rightly matters if you do have special abilities…” he glanced over at River. “I just got to look out for my crew, you know?”
“We won’t hurt anyone on board,” Buffy said promptly. “Will we, Spike?” she added with a meaningful glance at the de-chipped vamp.
“Er, no, we won’t,” he agreed.
“We need your help. To find what we’re looking for.”
“Well perhaps we can come to some sort of arrangement,” Mal said. “It might be that I could use people with…special abilities for a job. Do you think we could deal?”
“Deal,” Buffy said firmly, although she knew that both Willow and Spike were opening their mouths to protest. She thrust out her hand to the Captain, and Mal shook it.
“Deal it is. But remember if you hurt any of my people…”
“It will be nothing to what I will do to you if you hurt any of my people,” Buffy said smoothly, glaring at Jayne.
“Right,” said Mal. “That’s settled.” The two eyed each other in mutual respect. The deal was done.
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