Jayne wasn't particularly surprised at how hard the kid was taking his old man's death. He dimly remembered being inconsolable when his own father passed. Though in his own defense he had only been a child at the time.
He was however, a bit surprised at how hard Kaylee was taking it. She'd barely known the old geezer. He didn't remember one word that had passed between the two, but there she was, sitting with her arm around Luke's shoulders like it was her pop that'd kicked it too.
Maybe that was it. She must be sweet on the farm boy, so she was getting all sympathetic. He'd decided early on that she'd fallen so hard for the Doc because Wash was married, Mal reminded her of her daddy, and he himself had been too intimidating for her. It was just as well. She reminded him of his baby sister so even if she had looked at him that way, it would have felt almost too weird to pursue.
So there had come the Doc, all clean an' fancy talkin' and harmless. At least now she was fallin' for someone more along her type. He was green, sure, but Jayne saw potential in the kid. One day he just might be somethin'. If he didn't get himself killed first.
Jayne himself, was not sorry the old man was dead. It seemed just to him. Kenobi had gotten them into this mess, only right that he should pay the biggest price for getting them out. And besides it wasn't like he hadn't had a good run of it. He was old, he'd had his time. And really as deaths go, if you had to? That was wasn't the worst. It had obviously been quick, and he'd accomplished something going.
Jayne snickered to himself when Leia brought a blanket for Luke, and she and Kaylee gave each other a neutral, measuring look. Then he sobered. How come the kid got two girls maybe fightin' over him while Jayne just got shot at?
-----
“You know they ain't just gonna let us go right Sir?” Zoe asked, as Mal headed for where they'd left the others.
“Well I'd hoped.” he scowled. But there were the sentry ships. “We really need to get some weapons on this tub.”
“We got a plan?” Zoe watched the ships approaching.
“I got one. Dunno if it's a good one.” He hailed the shuttle, hiding just inside the asteroid field. “Wash?”
“Cap! You made it!”
“Don't break out the drinks yet Wash, we've still got some trouble. Tie fighters, we need to out fly 'em.”
“...That'd be a lot easier with me there.”
“Exactly. Work on that.”
“Okay, get as close to the field as you dare, we'll come alongside.”
-----
Zoe came down into the lounge where Leia was now comforting Luke, while Kaylee made sure Artoo hadn't sustained any damage.
“We're not out of this yet.” she told them. “We're comin' up on their sentry ships. We're gonna have to do some fancy flyin'. Might wanna hold onto something.”
Only Kaylee was able to pick out the worry in her voice. “I'd better get to the engine room. Any extra juice should help.”
Zoe nodded. “The rest of you, hang tight. We'll let you know when we're clear.”
Leia moved to follow Zoe as she headed back to the bridge, but the tall woman stopped her.
“Stay here. Might take some hits and we can't have people wandering around while she's shaking.”
The Princess was reluctant to stay and hide in the lounge, but saw the wisdom in Zoe's words. Besides, Luke needed her.
-----
“Here they come.” Mal muttered to himself. “Wash can you dock in a moving target?”
“Any move you can make I can match cap'n.” Wash said. “Just please keep those fighters between you and us. If you can get enough distance so you can hold still for the actual docking, that'd be shiny.”
Mal scowled. He doubted that would be possible. The ship shook as one of the fighters took a shot at them.
-----
Inara clutched the armrests of the co-pilot's seat with a white knuckle grip, as Wash stared intently at the instruments on the control panel. She knew he was a masterful pilot, but could even he pull this off?
“You've done this before right?” Shepherd book asked from the back.
Wash deftly maneuvered the shuttle alongside Serenity. He winced as he saw a fighter score a hit. So far they didn't seem to have noticed them. Mal was doing a remarkable job of keeping their attention.
“Nope.” Wash said tensely. “No one has.”
Inara closed her eyes, Simon swallowed hard, Book began to pray. And River grinned. “First time for everything.”
Wash couldn't help a grin himself. What they were doing was theoretically possible as long as he kept his speed even with Serenity and-
The shuttle rocked as a blast hit a wing.
Wash swore and stabilized, but their perfect syncronicity with their target was thrown off, and now the TIE's were coming for them as well.
“Wash?!” Mal's voice from the comm shouted.
“We're shiny captain but it's getting a mite crowded here.”
Simon had hardly seemed to notice River clutching his hand anymore. The whole time they'd been hiding in the asteroid field she'd not let go. He'd gotten used to it in that time, but now suddenly, her hand relaxed. He looked at her worriedly. Her face had gone blank, her eyes distant.
Out in space, one of the TIE Fighters suddenly jerked off course, as if something had struck it, causing it to veer into the path of it's wingman. The ships collided in a quickly extinguished ball of fire.
“Try it now.” River said softly.
Everyone was staring at her, but Mal snapped Wash out of it at least.
“I don't know what just happened but I think we've got time now.”
The two ships kept moving in an escape course, but they no longer had to hurry as much, as the second patrol had not yet circled round to come at them yet. Wash still got to make history, by docking while moving.
There wasn't much time to celebrate though. No sooner were they docked, then Wash was dashing up to the bridge. They still had two ships to deal with, as was evidenced by the ship reeling from another blast from their pursuers.
Wash keyed the intercom to inform Kaylee, “I've lost lateral control.”
“Don't sorry,” Kaylee said. “She'll hold together.” She bustled through the engine room, and murmured; “You hear me baby? Hold together.”
“What's going on?” Leia demanded. She'd been unable to stand just waiting in the passenger area and come up to the bridge, Luke close behind.
Wash started at the unfamiliar voice and risked a glance behind. “Who are you?”
Mal scowled. “Out! It's too crowded in here.”
Wash sometimes felt that way when it was just the captain on the bridge with him. Mal occasionally liked to back-seat fly.
Leia stalked off the bridge. Whether she ever would admit it or not, she was a bit spoiled. She'd gotten rather used to people treating her like a Princess, or a Senator. Even the Imperials had treated her a certain way in keeping with her station.
She was not used to being treated with such...scorn. It bothered her, the lack of respect that this Captain Reynolds seemed to have for her. Her thoughts were so troubled that she did not see the the man in her path until she'd almost run him down.
“Your Highness?” the man said, in a soft, surprised tone.
Her angry retort died in her throat. What had at first seemed like a good outlet for her frustration, had instead turned out to be...
“Senator Book?” He'd aged, and his hair was wildly different, but Leia would have recognized the man anywhere.
He smiled benignly. “It's Shepherd Book now actually.” he told her. “I haven't been a Senator for quite some time now.”
“Shepherd?” she almost laughed. “I'd heard you'd retired but...”
She was cut off as the ship lurched again.
“We're okay!” Wash called out from the bridge.
“Why don't we take this conversation to somewhere we can sit down.” Book suggested. He led the way to the mess, then held out a chair for her. “What are you doing here?” he asked. “What happened to Alderaan?
Leia hesitated. At that moment, Artoo trundled in, whistling worriedly.
Shepherd Book saw her gaze fall on Artoo. “It has to do with our little friend here doesn't it. The Empire seems to be going to a lot of trouble to find him and his companion. Why's he so important?”
Leia sighed. “He's carrying the plans for that battle station. That's what destroyed Alderaan. The Empire has created a doomsday weapon. I only hope that when the plans are analyzed a weakness can be found. It's not over yet.”
“It is for us.” Mal said. He'd come in at the end of her speech. “Wash needs to know where we're goin'.”
“Yavin 4.” she told him. She started to say more, but he nodded abruptly.
“Good. Hope you or your friends can pay the fare.”
“What?” she asked incredulously.
“Let's get one thing straight Princess, I ain't part of your revolution and we ain't looking for glory or adventure. We do a job, we get paid.”
Leia's eyes narrowed dangerously. “Well you needn't worry about your reward.” she sniffed. “If money's all that you love, then that's what you'll receive.” She whirled around to find Luke, Jayne, and some others that she hadn't met yet standing there, watching with various expressions of interest, and alarm.
“Your friend is quite the mercenary.” she snapped at Book. “I wonder if he cares about anything. Or anybody.”
Suddenly her head snapped back, her cheek burning from a stinging blow. Even Mal was looking in shock.
Inara was just as surprised at everyone else at her behavior. The slap had been almost a reflex. “You don't know anything about this man or his crew.” she said calmly, and so quietly only Leia heard her. Then, with great dignity she left the room, headed for her shuttle.
“I did not see that comin'.” Jayne said.