The plan has to work, Simon thought, it was simple really Mal got his loot and he got his sister into the hospital to run some tests, test that desperately needed to be run. It could work, it had to work.

River woke in an unfamiliar place, it looked like a hospital but how did she get here? Her mind remembered Simon speaking and then darkness. "River" Simon's voice cut through her trail of thought. She looked at him questioningly. "Lie back I need to run some test but don't be afraid" lights started going off on top of River but she tried to ignore the oncoming fear and instinct to break free. She held herself still escaping into her mind the place she went to ignore the harshness of the world. There was her old room filled with music, she started to dance…

"RIVER"

"what" river felt annoyed her favourite part of her happy place was left before she could revisit it.

"We have to go to the roof to be picked up"

"two by two hands of blue"

"not now River we have to go".

They made it to the roof and quickly saw the rest of the crew waiting impatiently outside of the hospital transportation craft. They ran to the others, smiling at having completed a job well done.

"stop" a voice interrupted their departure.

"you have something that doesn't belong to you return it and you may be on your way"

"it's impossible" River whispered, she knew that voice, could recognize it anywhere but it was impossible.

"please hand over River Tam and we will leave you to your escape" the strange voice said.

"No" Simon shouted "you won't take her not again"

"Take her no no silly boy you're the one who stole her from me in the first place".

"What are you talking about?" Simon asked confusion written all over his face. River stepped forward the voices had gone quite, she final had a moments reprieve.

"There is no need to do this return to where you came from, you don't need to hurt these people." The whole crew stared at River is shook, River crazy River was talking in full sentences and trying to protect them! Something weird was definitely going on.

River slowly stepped closer to the mysterious figure. "you don't want to hurt me do you?" she questioned, trying to lock eyes with the stranger, but the helmet they wore was making it difficult.

"I have been ordered to retrieve River Tam and eliminate any obstacles in my way. The survival of Simon Tam is no longer required" the voice stated, sounding as if it was a machine recording

"NO" River yelled "you're not going to hurt my brother"

"come with me and no one will be harmed"

"you think me abandoning him would be harmless? Do you know what that would do to the both of us?"

The figure stilled, appearing as if the they had stopped moving, breathing and talking all at once.

"you dare"

River flinched "I'm so sorry" she cried stepping forward to touch the black helmet

"I was delusional I didn't know what was going on you can't blame me for that"

"he asked if you were leaving anyone behind. You had a few moments and you . there. "

"no" River cried "you couldn't have heard that"

"I hear everything"

Mal had had enough. He crept around the figure avidly conversing with River. Whatever was going on between the two of them would have to wait. He needed to rescue his crew before this situation turned ugly. Mal drew his gun and aimed it at the person talking to River,

"Alright that's enough…" before he even finished his sentence he was being thrown through the air before slamming into the transport carrier. He slowly shook himself out of the shock and looked to River. She was standing in front of Mal protecting him from the alliance operative.

"he didn't mean anything by it he is no threat to you"

"I know he is no threat but he tried to attack and must learn his place"

"please don't do this" River said stepping forward and placing her hand on the mysterious persons chest halting the forward progress. They jumped back as if stung

"don't ever touch me again, are we clear?" River stared at her hand.

"I knew it was you" she said with a smile. "come on take off your helmet"

The doors to the roof opened and a dozen troops filed in. "Sir Do you require assistance?" the leader asked.

"no leave"

"I'm afraid we cannot do that sir" with that the troops stepped forward with their weapons drawn. "arrest them all" the leader ordered. The figure made no move to stop them only remained rooted to the spot as Mal and his crew were handcuffed. They were handcuffed lined against the hull of the ship watching as the troops approached River and grabbed her hands and yanked them behind her back. River flinched in pain and time seemed to stop. River saw moment and the two men were thrown off of her. River saw her rescuer turn and kick the others, whipping off the helmet and throwing it at one of the soldiers trying to load his weapon. Twelve shots were fired from the alliance operative's gun. Utter silence following the ringing of the shots as twelve bodies slumped to the ground, all of them dead.

"holy shit Mal that's a girl!" Jane yelped in surprise. The mysterious figure stood, tossing her flowing brown hair back, glancing at Jane before moving towards River.

"are you alright?" she asked, tentatively hovering over River.

River looked up, a smile breaking out across her face, she leaned up to touch her face, "I missed you" she whispered. "Don't ever leave me alone again"

"I won't" was the quiet reply she received, as the two of them stood on the roof, surrounded by bodies, completely oblivious to anything else except each other.