Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust
CHAPTER SEVEN
The ship landed a few hours later back on Persephone. There was apparently a job that needed to be done, and the plan was to say good-bye to the passengers and get to the job as soon as possible. The remaining leg of their journey had been a pleasant one. Jack's crew were optimistic and seemed genuinely happy for the first time since landing in this strange universe. The past few weeks of not knowing what to expect had been hard on them.
Mal and his crew began to separate, but first he turned and said, "Best of luck. Can't say it's been easy, but it's sure been interestin'." He put his hand out.
Jack shook it and smiled. No, Malcolm Reynolds had not been the easiest man to live with. But it had definitely been interesting.
"See you around, maybe," Mal said, turning once more to follow Zoe and Jayne.
"See you," he said. Then he turned to Mickey. "Okay, box."
Mickey held the box out to him.
"I think Martha should do the honors, since she has the power to literally knock us out of here. But first, I just want to say --"
"Not so fast, Jack," came Talitia's voice from behind them.
Jack sighed. He heard the safety of the gun click off, and he turned around to face her.
"I believe that the box there is official UNIT property." With her free hand, she reached down into her pocket and pulled out a sheet of paper. "See? It moves through time and space. And by official Alliance decree, possession of the box belongs to UNIT in order to foster in good relations between alien and human life on all terraformed planets. You've got to surrender it to us."
Jack grabbed the piece of paper from her and read it. Somehow, he doubted that UNIT was going to foster good relations between anyone. The piece of paper seemed to be some sort of contract, signed by top government officials. "That's fine and good, but we've got to get home. I am not staying on this godforsaken set of planets any longer."
"I'm not saying you have to. Just give me the box. All will be fine."
Martha stepped in. "We can't give her the box. We have to have it, with us, back in Torchwood where we left it. Otherwise I think it wreaks havoc with the time-space continuum."
Talitia pointed the gun at Martha, who lifted her hands. She looked terrified, but took a deep breath and steadied herself. "Put your gun down and we'll negotiate."
Jack wondered, not for the first time, exactly what Martha had faced traveling with the Doctor, or during that erased year. She seemed remarkably calm.
Talitia shook her head, but lowered her gun. Then, without warning, she fired it right at Martha.
Gwen knelt down to the ground, putting her hand over Martha's wound.
"Is she all right?" Jack called, not daring to look away from Talitia. At this rate, he'd have to give her what she wanted. She was highly dangerous.
"She was shot in the shoulder, so she's okay for now. But she's losing a lot of blood. If we don't get help..." Gwen trailed off. There was so much blood spreading out all over Martha's shirt and on her hand.
A few seconds later, they heard Mal's voice boom out behind them. "Now, if you ain't the most nao huo person on the central planets, I don't know who is. I accidentally married a gal who fits that description, but you... you might actually beat her." He pulled out his gun and pointed it at her, while pulling out his radio. "We're bringin' an injured person back on board. We need a doctor."
Talitia pointed her weapon at him so that they were facing each other, ready to shoot at any moment. Zoe and Jayne rushed over to Martha, and slowly started to pick her up. Talitia only looked at them for a moment, but let them go back on board.
"Now, it's been pretty funny around here lately," Mal continued. "I keep seein' this one sign all over the place. It says Bad Wolf. Don't know what it means, don't care what it means necessarily, but I want it to stop. Been drivin' me nuts."
"You lan piece of go se," Talitia responded, hands trembling in anger. "You had the power of the bad wolf right on board with you the whole time. She isn't the bad wolf, but she's got almost as much power. But now she's down and hopefully dying, so..."
"We already knew all of that," Jack said.
"So, you can see why we're in no hurry to give this box up. Which rightfully belongs to us, by the way. By Alliance decree, this box belongs to UNIT so that they can foster --"
"Oh, shut up," Mal said. "I don't care about the Alliance. I just want them off my gorram ship."
"Got into a spot of trouble, Mal?" came a voice from behind them.
Jack recognized it as the bartender from the place where he'd first met Talitia. He held a gun parallel to Talitia's chest. If Talitia was at all nervous that so many people were holding guns in her direction, she didn't give any of it away.
"I'd say so, Louis," Mal said cheerfully.
"Just so happens I caught a wave from Zoe. I remember her from the war. Smart girl. Probably the only thing that kept you alive, you know. My point is, I don't like it when my planet is in turmoil. I'm here to keep the peace, whether that means helpin' the Independents or the Alliance, I don't care. All I care about is ending this. So what do I need to do?"