An. Sorry for the delay in posts. I had some technical difficulties for a while there.

Chapter 5: Worth

River ran her fingers through her tangled hair. She heard her brother’s voice, but it really didn’t mean what it should. He thought she didn’t know about the other one, but she did. She knew all about Thalia. The scientists had talked about her…compared them. They hadn’t made the mistakes with River that they had with Thalia. So many mistakes.

“Are you listening to me, mei mei?”

“She hears. She understands. The outcome is unsure,“ River murmured. Worth. What was it all worth? The outcome could be worth everything or cost everything. River’s head felt heavy. Like it was filled with lead.

“River, should we stay?” Simon was looking her straight in the eye.

She leaned her head against the bed. She could hear his thoughts all the way from the next hall. There were so many lies. They could all drown in those lies, but what about truth? One truth. Worth. What was it worth?

“Steps down the hall.”

Simon sighed. He was worried.

River opened the door to reveal Mal with his hand raised. “Expecting me, Albatross?”

She smiled. “You’ve come to see if I’m going to go crazy.”

Mal laughed. He was worried too. “Are you?”

“No.” She flopped back on her bed. “I want to stay.”

“What about our boss? Should we trust him?”

“It could be worth it.”

The robe. She wanted to wear it, and Mal wanted to see it. Without a care for propriety , River began stripping off her clothing. Purple silk and lace. She’d dance in it, and it would twirl around with her. Mal liked to see her dance. Hands caught her dress before it fell.

“Mei mei, you can try that on later.”

River stared at her brother for a moment. “He wants to see me dance, and I want to dance for him.”

Simon glared at the captain.

“Hey, I ain’t said nothing’ about dancin'." Mal held his hands up.

Not yet, little girl.

"Soon," River whispered

Mal grunted. "I'm gonna go find Zoë"

_________