"Reavers?" repeated Jason. "As in chew your face off and rape you till you’re dead Reavers?"

"Only kind I know of sir," replied Linda as Sarah stepped backwards a few steps from the hideous corpse.

"Think there's any still around," asked Rick.

"Dunno, don’t wanna know. Linda, Sarah, get back here, we're leaving," ordered Jason with and uncharacteristic tone of authority. Sarah wasted no time in complying with this. When Linda hesitated, Jason reasserted himself. “Now!”

"What about survivors, or the bodies," asked Rick.

"We do have salvage rights, sir," added Linda.

Jason looked from one to the other.

"Reavers don’t leave survivors, as I understand.” Jason bristled slightly at having to explain himself under the current circumstances. “As to salvage, I don’t give a rat's pi gu if that freighter is loaded with solid platinum bars. Closest thing we got to a soldier on this boat right now is Linda, and she was a medic, not a gorram marine. Now unless Miss Cobb here has any new surprises regarding her past, there ain't a one among us fit for a tussle with their sort. We are leaving. Now move."

"Yes, sir,"

"But"

Jason very much did not feel like arguing the point any further. He knew both Linda and Rick probably had a valid point of view. As such, it would be very difficult to argue his instincts against their logic, and his instincts were very much telling him something was very wrong. Therefore, the next thing Jason said was very uncharacteristic and unlike his usual laid back demeanor as he turned to Rick.

"If you don't like it, you can take it up with the chain of command. The one I beat you with until you understand who owns this boat."

Rick stared open mouthed at the harsh words from his old friend. For her part, Linda simply walked back into the cargo bay of the Shire, the discussion over. She hit the button to close the cargo bay door and adjoining air lock. Jason turned and walked up the metal steps as he headed toward the cockpit. Linda, her son, and Sa