A Mercenary's Tale

A Firefly/X-Files/Chuck Joint

Prologue

2502 AD

"He's really a great little guy," The Chief of Security told the new Nanny, Ms. Georgia Hale.

Ms. Hale, petite, with brown hair and eyes, and beautiful porcelain skin, nodded as the man continued to speak.

"You'll have to watch out though," he said. "Johnny's a little charmer. If you're not careful, he'll wrap you around his little finger."

As they spoke, they walked through the complex that housed this most exceptional child. There was the Medical Wing, and, of course, Security. Then, there was the Education Wing, and, right next to that, a fully functional Gymnasium. This was clearly designed to take a special child all the way to adulthood.

Finally, they arrived in the child's personal living quarters, and there he was, playing happily under the watchful eye of one of the ever-present guards, toys strewn all over the floor.

"Johnny," the Chief of Security spoke softly, and the toddler looked up.

He was an attractive child with clear blue eyes, a typically Irish nose, and-even now, at the tender age of one-a pugnaciously stubborn-looking jaw line; and all of that topped by a mop of soft brown curls.

Those blue eyes went to Hale, and she knelt in front of him so she wouldn't tower over him.

"Hello, Johnny," she picked up one of the toys, a replica of an Alliance freighter, and held it out to him. Soon, he was happily playing with it, babbling as only a toddler can babble, as they bonded over that little toy.

Two months later

Georgia Hale was preparing Johnny for bed. He had been fed and bathed. Now, clad in his favorite jammies, he was snuggled in her arms as she sang an off-key lullaby

Jeremiah was a bullfrog, was a good friend of mine

I never understood a single word he said

But I helped him a-drink his wine

And he always had some mighty fine wine

Singing

Joy to the world

All the boys and girls now

Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea

Joy to you and me…

Hale