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walkwithheroesTitle: Volcano
Rated: PG or light T
Summary: He was her angel.
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: I own Rayne, the Reaver, etc. I don't own anything else.
Author’s Note: Written because I got this idea: What if Rayne knew the Reaver before Angel(the planet)? And because creepy!Rayne is always awesome.
December 30, 2548
Alliance Cruiser Jumex
They kept her drugged and asleep in a room with white walls and no windows. She didn’t mind that there were no windows, but she didn’t care for the white walls. White was clean and meant hospitals. White drove people crazy. She wasn’t up for going crazy, even if it meant she’d been clean.
“How are we feeling?” That was one of the nurses. They all spoke to her with that same tone, much too perky, but with a hint that they really weren’t interested in how she felt. Not that she would tell them. She couldn’t seem to get her mouth to form words anymore. “That’s nice, sweetheart. This will only hurt for a moment.” It really didn’t hurt anymore. A stick of a needle stops hurting if you get stuck with it every couple of hours.
She wondered when they would stop poking her with needles. Somehow she knew they’d never stop.
December 31, 2548
Alliance Cruiser Jumex
They hadn’t drugged her for ten hours, five minutes, three seconds; she had counted. She had slept for so long-since August 21-and now she was finally waking up. Her whole body was waking up and her brain was telling her to move and stretch, before she got stuck in the same position. She moved a finger.
“How are we feeling?” A new voice. She moved her eyes and stared up at the face. It was a man, a doctor. Her mind told her that he was a doctor Christopher York, twenty-six, he came from a family of doctors on Hera. Christopher York enjoyed reading, plays, and games. He was also deadly afraid of Reavers. Her mind told her he’d live on, long after the Reavers came.
“F-f-i-ine.” It felt strange to speak and she noticed that her voice was all dry and horse. She coughed and Dr. Christopher York quickly gave her some water. He smiled at her and she decided that she liked his smile. “I---I---”
“Shush.” Dr. York put a comforting hand on her forehead. “It’s going to be all right.” He smiled down at her. “I promise, I’ll make sure you’re all right. I‘ll protect you.”
Her mind told her that he would fail. Her heart told her that he would take care of her and protect her, long after he was dead.
“I…” Her eyes narrowed on his face. “Are you…you’re an angel?”
Dr. York smiled sadly. “No, sweetheart. I’m no angel. I’m one of your doctors.”
“No, you’re an angel. My angel. Forever and for always.”
January 2, 2549
Alliance Cruiser Jumex
She had grown fond of Dr. York, as he was the only one that actually spoke to her. He told her silly jokes and stories about was going on outside her room; apparently one of the nurses was having a major affair with the chief mechanic. In some ways, all his kindness just made her sad; he would be leaving her soon and even though he would return, he wouldn’t be himself.
“Now that we’re on Angel, I won’t be seeing you for a while.” Dr. York told her quietly. “I’m…I’m sorry for this, Rayne.”
Rayne never took her eyes off his. “I feel better when I talk to you. You make things quieter. I’ll miss you.” She reached out to touch him, but he moved away from her. Rayne looked away miserably. “You’ll always do that.”
January 2, 2549
Angel
They cuffed her hands behind her back and brought her to a room with a table and two chairs. Rayne was fairly certain that there was a camera hidden in the wall somewhere, she just couldn’t see it yet. She sat calmly, while the speakers above her head cracked and spring to life.
“R. Cobb, age fourteen, of the planet Shadow. Mother, River Tam. Father, Jayne Cobb.” The voice was male, mid-forties or so. It was the voice of the man that was to be her head doctor, Dr. Lemm. “Are you aware of why you are here?”
Rayne stared at the wall. “I suppose I’m here because I’m so intelligent, Dr. Lemm. I would think you had a difficult time deciding between my brothers and I.” She folded her hands neatly in her lap and sat up straighter. “Do you think they’ll come for me?”
There was a very long pause. “R. Cobb, no one is coming for you. As far as the rest of the universe is concerned, this planet does not exist.” Another pause. “R. Cobb, you were offered a position in the graduate program on Osiris, where you not?” Rayne stayed staring ahead. “And you did not take the position because you were merely ten and you wanted to…play?” There was a pause and a small chuckle. “Are you aware of just how brilliant and talented you could be?”
Rayne swallowed hard. “You see me as you wish to see me. You don’t see me as a person; you see me as a cause. A problem, something to fix. Are you aware of all the things I’ll be able to do?” Rayne sat herself up even straighter. “I was chosen because I have the highest IQ of my siblings. I was chosen because I would give you the least amount of trouble. I was…chosen.”
“You were.”
“I’ve never been like everyone else.” She tapped the side of her head. “There’s something missing. Shepherd Book told me that. No one believes me when I say it, though.” Rayne nodded to herself. “They will in a few years, though. You’ll see to that.”
“Are you aware of the program? Are you-”
“I’ve know what you plan on doing to me. I’ve known for hours. I really don’t mind.” Rayne closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them again, the tears were already slowly falling down her cheeks. “As long as you have me, you won’t hurt anyone else. As long as I’m here, it’ll be all right. I just…I just have one question-will I still be allowed to dance? Even if its just once and a while.” She tried to smile at the camera in the wall, but she failed.
March 16, 2549
Angel
Jonah sat in his regular chair, his eyes watching as Rayne paced the length of the room. She was nervously playing with her hands and mumbling to herself. Jonah took notes, writing down anything that might be of importance.
“Seventy-seven sessions. It’s too much.” She looked at Jonah out of the corner of her eye. “Can’t keep me here, I won’t stay.”
“Where do you want to go, Rayne?” He scribbled down a couple of notes. “Where?”
She whirled around to face him. “Not want, need. I need to go home now. Pretty girl makes all the boys sing.” She giggled softly, insanity to herself.
Jonah smiled awkwardly. “Do you mean your brothers?”
Rayne sniffed and smiled softly, fondly. “My brother is a doctor. My brother is a warrior. My brothers play in the yard with me.” She gave Jonah a look. “I need to go home now, please.”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible. You’re being taught here and if you leave, you may forget your lessons.” He scribbled something down in his pad. “Besides, as long as you are here, we won’t have to get anyone else.”
Rayne picked at the skin of the back of her left hand. “But I…I was only ever taught to dance. How will…I don’t want to be taught by you. You’re not holy or righteous and you’re…you’re…you’ll hurt me. It’ll hurt.”
Jonah smiled again, only this time it was wicked. “Oh Rayne, it’ll only hurt for a little while. And afterward, you’ll be a whole new you.”
April 22, 2549
Angel
R. Cobb was progressing nicely and Jonah was sure that once she had the first brain surgery, she’d be even better.
“I’m not progressing.” Jonah glanced up from his notes. For the past thirty minutes, Rayne had been sitting quietly in her chair, her hair covering her face and her eyes watching his hand write. Now, she was looking into his eyes, though he couldn’t tell what her expression was-too much hair. “I’m digressing. Going up the down slide. Haven’t even see what’s inside yet and all ready I’m going away.” Her voice was so soft and child-like, maybe even a bit creepy. “You’re burying Rayne. Bury Rayne so deep down, so she will not make a sound.”
“Rayne.” Jonah swallowed, honestly not sure what to say to her. “I’m…you’re progressing for us. You chose this, remember that.”
“I remember. I remember everything.” Rayne replied softly.
May 1, 2549
Angel
There was an odd sense of excitement in the air. Rayne could see the excitement crackle around everyone as they brought her to the medical area. It was the day of her first brain surgery. They had done things to her and now they were ready to ‘fix’ her, or rather take things out and move things around in her head. She wondered just what they were going to do.
Rayne was brought to the surgery suite, where she thought about the fact that it wasn’t so much a suite as a large white room. Rayne remembered she hated white rooms and began to try and move away from the tech workers that had brought her in.
“None of that, R. Cobb.” One of the techs told her firmly. “You be a good girl or else.”
Rayne wanted to ask: ‘Or else what?’, but she knew better then to talk back. They needed her, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t have a few bruises. Defeated, she allowed them to prep her for surgery. She began to cry when they shaved off some of her hair.
She knew what they were doing, even as they started to do it. Take away a few pieces, change the way her brain worked, hope not to lose her on the table. After all, they were doing such good work.
May 12, 2549
Angel
She was fifteen. It was the first thing she thought of when she awoke that morning. It was her birthday. She wanted someone-anyone-to tell her ‘happy birthday’, but no one would. Rayne wondered if they even knew, but then she remembered that they supposedly knew everything about everyone. She’d have to find a way for them to tell her ‘happy birthday’. She’s have to find a way to celebrate.
Rayne found her way to celebrate hours later. Someone, she didn’t know who and she didn’t bother trying to find out, brought her to the kitchen and left her by herself for a full thirty seconds; Rayne took that time to get herself a birthday present.
It was becoming painfully clear that these people simply weren’t as bright as she was.
She hid the knife under her shirt and when she returned to her room, she placed the knife in her right hand and lifted her shirt with her left hand. “Pretty girls deserve pretty scars.” Rayne closed her eye, then with a swift movement, she slashed across her stomach.
They found her two minutes later, crawled up on the floor and laughing softly to herself.
February 27, 2550
Angel
They had given her a mission, reason, and a Reaver. Yet, they had left her alone to figure out what to do with all three things. She was only fifteen and was sure that most fifteen year old girls weren’t forced to figure out what to do with what she had. Her Reaver was important, she knew that. He was…twenty-six, born on Hera, and had turned Reaver in order to not go mad from what he’d seen done on the Alliance cruiser Jumex. She had seen his name from before-Dr. Christopher York. But, she would keep quiet on that. No need to bring up bad memories. They both had enough of those.
In her mind-or was it his?-they sat together in the dusty cargo bay of Serenity. Rayne moved herself closer to the Reaver and placed her head on his shoulder. The Reaver made a noise, but didn’t attack her.
“Rayne’s birthday is soon.” She told him softly. “Sweet sixteen and all grown up. Pretty girl with scars on her heart.”
"My pretty girl." Her Reaver whispered in her head. "My little pretty girl. I take care of her. Protect her from the others like me." He awkwardly moved a hand to one of her hands. "Mine."
Rayne smiled and closed her eyes. “For today. You aren’t hurting her and we’re friends today. Without you, she would be dead. Thank you for looking after her.”
"Feel for you."
She sniffed. “Rayne Cobb loves Christopher York back.” Silently she hugged herself closer to him and let the tears fall.
May 12, 2550
Angel
It was her sixteenth birthday. Sweet sixteen and completely insane.
They strapped her to the chair in the lab and slowly, carefully, placed fifty needles into her eyes and forehead.
Dr. Lemm was smiling at her. “Now, tell us what you see.” Rayne didn’t respond. “I’m not going to say one word. Not one word. But, you will tell me what you see.”
“Men and women. Covered in blood. Screaming and running. Drowning in the blood that never truly touched them. It never touches them.” Rayne paused for a moment. “You’re doing such good work and they wished you would. The child is doing so well. Show her to them and make them see. She’ll show them and they will shake in terror.” Rayne let her lips curl into a small smile, before she began to laugh hysterically.
“They’ll all die. Everyone of them!”
Hours Later:
She had been bad or something during her time in the chair, so they hadn’t let her see the Reaver. It was her birthday and she wasn’t allowed to see anyone or anything she liked. Not even a mission to pass the time.
“Happy birthday, Rayne.” She glanced up to see Shepherd Book standing by the door. “Would you do me the honor of a dance?”
Rayne let out a small giggle. “Yes, please.” She jumped up and took his hand into hers. “Happy Deathday, Great-grandfather Shepherd Book.”
Rayne and the dead preacher danced together, though if anyone had looked in, they would see the girl dancing alone. She needed her solace, after all.
Rated: PG or light T
Summary: He was her angel.
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: I own Rayne, the Reaver, etc. I don't own anything else.
Author’s Note: Written because I got this idea: What if Rayne knew the Reaver before Angel(the planet)? And because creepy!Rayne is always awesome.
December 30, 2548
Alliance Cruiser Jumex
They kept her drugged and asleep in a room with white walls and no windows. She didn’t mind that there were no windows, but she didn’t care for the white walls. White was clean and meant hospitals. White drove people crazy. She wasn’t up for going crazy, even if it meant she’d been clean.
“How are we feeling?” That was one of the nurses. They all spoke to her with that same tone, much too perky, but with a hint that they really weren’t interested in how she felt. Not that she would tell them. She couldn’t seem to get her mouth to form words anymore. “That’s nice, sweetheart. This will only hurt for a moment.” It really didn’t hurt anymore. A stick of a needle stops hurting if you get stuck with it every couple of hours.
She wondered when they would stop poking her with needles. Somehow she knew they’d never stop.
December 31, 2548
Alliance Cruiser Jumex
They hadn’t drugged her for ten hours, five minutes, three seconds; she had counted. She had slept for so long-since August 21-and now she was finally waking up. Her whole body was waking up and her brain was telling her to move and stretch, before she got stuck in the same position. She moved a finger.
“How are we feeling?” A new voice. She moved her eyes and stared up at the face. It was a man, a doctor. Her mind told her that he was a doctor Christopher York, twenty-six, he came from a family of doctors on Hera. Christopher York enjoyed reading, plays, and games. He was also deadly afraid of Reavers. Her mind told her he’d live on, long after the Reavers came.
“F-f-i-ine.” It felt strange to speak and she noticed that her voice was all dry and horse. She coughed and Dr. Christopher York quickly gave her some water. He smiled at her and she decided that she liked his smile. “I---I---”
“Shush.” Dr. York put a comforting hand on her forehead. “It’s going to be all right.” He smiled down at her. “I promise, I’ll make sure you’re all right. I‘ll protect you.”
Her mind told her that he would fail. Her heart told her that he would take care of her and protect her, long after he was dead.
“I…” Her eyes narrowed on his face. “Are you…you’re an angel?”
Dr. York smiled sadly. “No, sweetheart. I’m no angel. I’m one of your doctors.”
“No, you’re an angel. My angel. Forever and for always.”
January 2, 2549
Alliance Cruiser Jumex
She had grown fond of Dr. York, as he was the only one that actually spoke to her. He told her silly jokes and stories about was going on outside her room; apparently one of the nurses was having a major affair with the chief mechanic. In some ways, all his kindness just made her sad; he would be leaving her soon and even though he would return, he wouldn’t be himself.
“Now that we’re on Angel, I won’t be seeing you for a while.” Dr. York told her quietly. “I’m…I’m sorry for this, Rayne.”
Rayne never took her eyes off his. “I feel better when I talk to you. You make things quieter. I’ll miss you.” She reached out to touch him, but he moved away from her. Rayne looked away miserably. “You’ll always do that.”
January 2, 2549
Angel
They cuffed her hands behind her back and brought her to a room with a table and two chairs. Rayne was fairly certain that there was a camera hidden in the wall somewhere, she just couldn’t see it yet. She sat calmly, while the speakers above her head cracked and spring to life.
“R. Cobb, age fourteen, of the planet Shadow. Mother, River Tam. Father, Jayne Cobb.” The voice was male, mid-forties or so. It was the voice of the man that was to be her head doctor, Dr. Lemm. “Are you aware of why you are here?”
Rayne stared at the wall. “I suppose I’m here because I’m so intelligent, Dr. Lemm. I would think you had a difficult time deciding between my brothers and I.” She folded her hands neatly in her lap and sat up straighter. “Do you think they’ll come for me?”
There was a very long pause. “R. Cobb, no one is coming for you. As far as the rest of the universe is concerned, this planet does not exist.” Another pause. “R. Cobb, you were offered a position in the graduate program on Osiris, where you not?” Rayne stayed staring ahead. “And you did not take the position because you were merely ten and you wanted to…play?” There was a pause and a small chuckle. “Are you aware of just how brilliant and talented you could be?”
Rayne swallowed hard. “You see me as you wish to see me. You don’t see me as a person; you see me as a cause. A problem, something to fix. Are you aware of all the things I’ll be able to do?” Rayne sat herself up even straighter. “I was chosen because I have the highest IQ of my siblings. I was chosen because I would give you the least amount of trouble. I was…chosen.”
“You were.”
“I’ve never been like everyone else.” She tapped the side of her head. “There’s something missing. Shepherd Book told me that. No one believes me when I say it, though.” Rayne nodded to herself. “They will in a few years, though. You’ll see to that.”
“Are you aware of the program? Are you-”
“I’ve know what you plan on doing to me. I’ve known for hours. I really don’t mind.” Rayne closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them again, the tears were already slowly falling down her cheeks. “As long as you have me, you won’t hurt anyone else. As long as I’m here, it’ll be all right. I just…I just have one question-will I still be allowed to dance? Even if its just once and a while.” She tried to smile at the camera in the wall, but she failed.
March 16, 2549
Angel
Jonah sat in his regular chair, his eyes watching as Rayne paced the length of the room. She was nervously playing with her hands and mumbling to herself. Jonah took notes, writing down anything that might be of importance.
“Seventy-seven sessions. It’s too much.” She looked at Jonah out of the corner of her eye. “Can’t keep me here, I won’t stay.”
“Where do you want to go, Rayne?” He scribbled down a couple of notes. “Where?”
She whirled around to face him. “Not want, need. I need to go home now. Pretty girl makes all the boys sing.” She giggled softly, insanity to herself.
Jonah smiled awkwardly. “Do you mean your brothers?”
Rayne sniffed and smiled softly, fondly. “My brother is a doctor. My brother is a warrior. My brothers play in the yard with me.” She gave Jonah a look. “I need to go home now, please.”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible. You’re being taught here and if you leave, you may forget your lessons.” He scribbled something down in his pad. “Besides, as long as you are here, we won’t have to get anyone else.”
Rayne picked at the skin of the back of her left hand. “But I…I was only ever taught to dance. How will…I don’t want to be taught by you. You’re not holy or righteous and you’re…you’re…you’ll hurt me. It’ll hurt.”
Jonah smiled again, only this time it was wicked. “Oh Rayne, it’ll only hurt for a little while. And afterward, you’ll be a whole new you.”
April 22, 2549
Angel
R. Cobb was progressing nicely and Jonah was sure that once she had the first brain surgery, she’d be even better.
“I’m not progressing.” Jonah glanced up from his notes. For the past thirty minutes, Rayne had been sitting quietly in her chair, her hair covering her face and her eyes watching his hand write. Now, she was looking into his eyes, though he couldn’t tell what her expression was-too much hair. “I’m digressing. Going up the down slide. Haven’t even see what’s inside yet and all ready I’m going away.” Her voice was so soft and child-like, maybe even a bit creepy. “You’re burying Rayne. Bury Rayne so deep down, so she will not make a sound.”
“Rayne.” Jonah swallowed, honestly not sure what to say to her. “I’m…you’re progressing for us. You chose this, remember that.”
“I remember. I remember everything.” Rayne replied softly.
May 1, 2549
Angel
There was an odd sense of excitement in the air. Rayne could see the excitement crackle around everyone as they brought her to the medical area. It was the day of her first brain surgery. They had done things to her and now they were ready to ‘fix’ her, or rather take things out and move things around in her head. She wondered just what they were going to do.
Rayne was brought to the surgery suite, where she thought about the fact that it wasn’t so much a suite as a large white room. Rayne remembered she hated white rooms and began to try and move away from the tech workers that had brought her in.
“None of that, R. Cobb.” One of the techs told her firmly. “You be a good girl or else.”
Rayne wanted to ask: ‘Or else what?’, but she knew better then to talk back. They needed her, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t have a few bruises. Defeated, she allowed them to prep her for surgery. She began to cry when they shaved off some of her hair.
She knew what they were doing, even as they started to do it. Take away a few pieces, change the way her brain worked, hope not to lose her on the table. After all, they were doing such good work.
May 12, 2549
Angel
She was fifteen. It was the first thing she thought of when she awoke that morning. It was her birthday. She wanted someone-anyone-to tell her ‘happy birthday’, but no one would. Rayne wondered if they even knew, but then she remembered that they supposedly knew everything about everyone. She’d have to find a way for them to tell her ‘happy birthday’. She’s have to find a way to celebrate.
Rayne found her way to celebrate hours later. Someone, she didn’t know who and she didn’t bother trying to find out, brought her to the kitchen and left her by herself for a full thirty seconds; Rayne took that time to get herself a birthday present.
It was becoming painfully clear that these people simply weren’t as bright as she was.
She hid the knife under her shirt and when she returned to her room, she placed the knife in her right hand and lifted her shirt with her left hand. “Pretty girls deserve pretty scars.” Rayne closed her eye, then with a swift movement, she slashed across her stomach.
They found her two minutes later, crawled up on the floor and laughing softly to herself.
February 27, 2550
Angel
They had given her a mission, reason, and a Reaver. Yet, they had left her alone to figure out what to do with all three things. She was only fifteen and was sure that most fifteen year old girls weren’t forced to figure out what to do with what she had. Her Reaver was important, she knew that. He was…twenty-six, born on Hera, and had turned Reaver in order to not go mad from what he’d seen done on the Alliance cruiser Jumex. She had seen his name from before-Dr. Christopher York. But, she would keep quiet on that. No need to bring up bad memories. They both had enough of those.
In her mind-or was it his?-they sat together in the dusty cargo bay of Serenity. Rayne moved herself closer to the Reaver and placed her head on his shoulder. The Reaver made a noise, but didn’t attack her.
“Rayne’s birthday is soon.” She told him softly. “Sweet sixteen and all grown up. Pretty girl with scars on her heart.”
"My pretty girl." Her Reaver whispered in her head. "My little pretty girl. I take care of her. Protect her from the others like me." He awkwardly moved a hand to one of her hands. "Mine."
Rayne smiled and closed her eyes. “For today. You aren’t hurting her and we’re friends today. Without you, she would be dead. Thank you for looking after her.”
"Feel for you."
She sniffed. “Rayne Cobb loves Christopher York back.” Silently she hugged herself closer to him and let the tears fall.
May 12, 2550
Angel
It was her sixteenth birthday. Sweet sixteen and completely insane.
They strapped her to the chair in the lab and slowly, carefully, placed fifty needles into her eyes and forehead.
Dr. Lemm was smiling at her. “Now, tell us what you see.” Rayne didn’t respond. “I’m not going to say one word. Not one word. But, you will tell me what you see.”
“Men and women. Covered in blood. Screaming and running. Drowning in the blood that never truly touched them. It never touches them.” Rayne paused for a moment. “You’re doing such good work and they wished you would. The child is doing so well. Show her to them and make them see. She’ll show them and they will shake in terror.” Rayne let her lips curl into a small smile, before she began to laugh hysterically.
“They’ll all die. Everyone of them!”
Hours Later:
She had been bad or something during her time in the chair, so they hadn’t let her see the Reaver. It was her birthday and she wasn’t allowed to see anyone or anything she liked. Not even a mission to pass the time.
“Happy birthday, Rayne.” She glanced up to see Shepherd Book standing by the door. “Would you do me the honor of a dance?”
Rayne let out a small giggle. “Yes, please.” She jumped up and took his hand into hers. “Happy Deathday, Great-grandfather Shepherd Book.”
Rayne and the dead preacher danced together, though if anyone had looked in, they would see the girl dancing alone. She needed her solace, after all.
