Archangel – Chapter Six

Author owns no rights to Firefly, and intends no copyright infringement.

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Zoe watched as Jayne pummeled the heavy bag hanging in the cargo bay. She’d never paid him much mind, but now, as she studied his movements, she realized with a start just how formidable Jayne really was.

The bag was filled with junk engine parts, and odd hunks of metal, surrounded by sand he’d picked up from some world they’d visited. It weighed well over one hundred pounds. And yet, as Jayne landed blow after blow onto it, it moved like a sheet on a stiff breeze. That took power, she knew. Raw power, the likes of which few men possessed.

The Captain had already told her that Jayne was leaving. She had been stunned by the news at first. But as Mal had gone over his conversation with Jayne, Zoe began to realize the right of it. They had wronged him. She moved down the steps, stopping nearby.

“You got a minute, Jayne?” she asked, when he made to move to halt his workout. He stopped at once, and looked at her. The bag swung back into him, hitting him solidly. She noted that he didn’t budge.

“What you need, Zoe?” Jayne asked. Not in anger, she noted, but not friendly either.

“I wanted to talk to you a minute,” Zoe replied.

“‘Bout?”

“Well, I wanted to apologize for the other day. I kinda. . .”

“You can save it,” Jayne told her shortly, turning back to the bag. “It’s worthless, anyway, cause you meant ever bit of it.” He started swinging again. The message was clear. Conversation over.

“Jayne, I’m still talkin’,” Zoe told him.

“You can keep talkin’,” Jayne told her, never slowing as he worked the bag back up to a swift moving swing. “Can’t stop you, being first mate and all.”

“It’d help if you listened while I was doin’ it,” Zoe almost growled.

“Same way you listened to me?” he asked, never looking at her. “Same way you listened to me when I told you I hadn’t done nothin’? I can do that,” he nodded, continuing to swing. “Am I doin’ it right?” he asked after a few seconds. “