THE TWO COMPANIONS

PART III

(In which River presses her attentions on the new Companion and winds up on her backside)

Inara and Jorge came down the steps into Serenity’s cargo bay to face the scrutiny of the crew assembled in a rough semicircle to gawk at the new arrival. Zoë, Simon and Kaylee were there in friendly curiosity while Jane stood with his arms crossed in annoyance that the companion was a male while Mal was just plain annoyed that here was another non-paying mouth to fill with food and air.

Mal opened with “Great, other useless, broke, fancy pants, core-worlder on the run; just what we need.”

Kaylee interrupted. “Now wait a minute Captain, I’m sure that he has his good qualities.” Less sure of herself, she added “You do, don’t cha? By the way, I’m Kaylee Frye, ships’ mechanic.”

“Hello, I’m Simon Tam, ships’ doctor. Are you from Shinon, like Inara?”

Jorge responded “My name is Jorge Mayweather. It’s true that I came from House Madrassa but I was born in space. My people were spacers since before we left Earth-That-Was. Mayweathers were ship’s crew on the colony ships. My family took our flight and settlement bonus and built and operated some of the first ‘verse’ transport ships.”

Jane was obviously not impressed. “Mayweather, eh; no wonder ya turned out sly.”

Jorge gave a small grin. “It’s Jane isn’t it? No, I am defiantly not sly. You of all people should know that what your name is or what you do as part of your job does not define who you are. But I am highly qualified in that aspect of my profession if that is what you are interested in.”

“Bull, Mayweather, sly is as sly does no matter what.” Jane responded with his hands tightening on the bulging biceps of his crossed arms.

“Jane, I can tell that you did time. Is what you did there define what you are now?”

Jane suddenly flushed in embarrassment. “Who told you about that?”

“You just did.” And the bay erupted in laughter. Jorge reached into his rucksack to produce a bunch of fresh plantains and a bottle of 60