Hershel Reynolds stared at his son in shock as Niska left to give orders for the ship’s course and his new plan. “Ezra…”

“He doesn’t want us Dad.” Ezra uttered curtly. “He doesn’t want to be kin, why should you have to choose between him and us?”

“He’s my son!” Hershel roared, surprising Virgil with the confession. Granted the choice would have been difficult, save Malcolm for Ezra and Pacey, but he thought of the woman Mal had been with, and the baby girl in her arms. They too would be caught in Niska’s wrath.

Pacey’s jaw dropped at the news, he had not known. “Ezra how’d…. did….”

“Just ‘cause a man who has your blood don’t mean he’s kin, that’s how he felt.”

“Ni bendan naodai quan, you had no right to do that.” The father snarled. “And how did you find out where he is?!”

Ezra was silent, his face dark and defiant. Years of piloting for pirate crews meant he had a questionable moral backbone to say the least.

“Answer me boy .”

Ezra’s head turned to address his father, and they locked eyes whilst hanging from their posts. “You know what a reader is?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*FLASHBACK*

Months.

She saw the slave girl again, more than once.

The meetings in her head were spotty at best. Sometimes none for months, sometimes twice a week, in reality it was only when they were both not conscious (naturally asleep or otherwise) that they were able to meet. Almost each time the slave girl looked different, a different stage of growth. In her head, away from Mithias, from other scientists, they existed together in a dreamlike way. There were never words, never sounds. Simply expressions and touch. The girl had something apart of her, and that was what drew River to enjoying their moments, what lulled her into a false sense of security. An odd sort of affection grew, the slave girl was always a little nervous, but more at ease when they were together, and River was eager to be near someone that was not cruel.

Their last meeting was the most at ease.

In the white