The Last Spartan – Chapter Twelve

Author owns no rights to Firefly or it’s associated characters. He just really enjoys playing with them, even though he ain’t gettin’ paid.

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The days turned to weeks, and the weeks to months. Three of them, in fact. Three months in which Serenity returned to almost normal, and business was being conducted.

Mal and Inara were no longer keeping it a secret that they were an ‘item’, much to the relief of the crew. And Inara was using her contacts to keep the ship very busy. Money was good, and even more so since there was an extra ten percent floating around. Not everyone was happy with that, but Jayne was, and that was really all that mattered.

“Jayne, I don’t understand why you always made such a big deal over the money, if you’re so rich,” Zoe said one afternoon as the two were walking through town. Serenity was docked on Persephone, and the two were on their way to meet Mal and Inara about a job.

“Would anyone believe a merc who didn’t bitch about money?” Jayne asked, eyebrow raised in amusement. Zoe had the grace to look embarrassed.

“Hadn’t thought o’ that,” she admitted.

“You’ve never had to, Zoe, because you’ve always been yourself,” Jayne pointed out. “I’ve lived this way for a long time. It’s second nature to me.”

“So how long have you been Jayne Cobb, then?” Zoe asked him.

“Oh, ‘bout a hundred years or so, I guess,” was the calm reply. “I used it for the first time that long ago, roughly. And again about sixty years ago.”

“So you just keep a drawer full o’ characters, and trot one out new ever now and then?” Zoe looked at him in wonder.

“No, not always,” Jayne answered after a moment. “Sometimes, I live as the same person for a long time. I color my hair to make it gray, retire from a real job, things like that. Then, once everything is settled, and most people are ignoring me, I pretend to move away, and just disappear.”

“That’s sneaky,” Zoe accused, eyes laughing. “I like it.”

“Well, it beats the alternative,” Jayne gri