"The future looks remarkably like the past," said Beckett, as she and Mal walked along the dirt road that comprised Main Street.

Beckett had noticed neighbouring farmland and numerous wind turbines as they'd approached the town in the shuttle. Here on the ground, she could see that the buildings were low and simple, fashioned from wood, stone and concrete. Here and there stalls displayed locally crafted goods and trinkets.

"Technology's expensive in the outer rim," Mal said. "On the core planets, folk are pretty well off by comparison. That's where you'll find all sorts of shiny technology."

"Why do people settle here, then?" Beckett asked.

"Same reason as always," Mal said. "Out here, there's no one telling folk what to think."

"Freedom always comes with a price," Beckett commented.

"That's the truth of it. When we started to get too independent, that's when the war started. The Alliance doesn't pay attention until they think we're becoming a threat. Soon as they come to that way of thinking, we get lots of attention, and not the good kind."

"Well, just as well Castle's not here," said Beckett. "He'd have been expecting gleaming skyscrapers and flying cars."

"Ow!"

Castle, eyes wide with surprise, looked at his stinging hand. River was seated at Serenity's pilot's station, focussed on the instruments in front of her. Castle had been hovering about, eyes gleaming with delight, gazing one minute at the view of Lilac below, the next at the instrument panel. Then River had abruptly slapped his hand.

She'd seemed such a sweet girl.

"What was that for?" Castle asked.

"Don't touch it," River answered without looking at him.

"I didn't touch anything."

"You were going to," said River.

Shaking his head, Castle continued to devour the instrument panel with his eyes.

Lifting up her hand, River warned, "Don't touch that, either."

Mal paused and stared at the building beside them.

"What is it?" Beckett asked.

Drawing in a deep breath, he said, "Last time we were here, place was attacked by Reavers."

Castle felt light-headed for a moment and had to steady himself. River looked at him, puzzled.

"I'm OK. I think I'm going to go back to the galley for a bit," Castle said. "At least I'll be out of your hair."

Turning to him, River said, "You're not. And don't worry. You're here for a reason. You just have to find out what that is."

Castle stared at her. He was starting to think she could read his mind.

Beckett gulped. "Reavers. Those are the cannibals that River spoke of."

Mal nodded. "There's not as many as there used to be, but they're still out there."

"Well, that's comforting," Beckett said, as they continued to walk.

"I told you you didn't have to come," said Mal.

"And I told you that I did. This concerns me and Castle as much as you. Probably more. And I can take care of myself."

"Of that I have no doubt," said Mal with a smile. "Thanks for helping me persuade Richard that it was best he stayed behind."

"I could see that it'd be a problem if two of you show up at this guy's doorstep. So could Castle. He just had to show that he was prepared to come. That he wanted to."

Continuing to walk, Mal pointed up ahead. "It's just there. We turn right and its the third building to the left."

When they reached the building, Mal said, "Remember, something goes wrong, we're on our own. Zoe's going to take Serenity and get out of here."

"How's she going to know?" Beckett asked.

"We worked out a signal," Mal said simply.

Castle entered the galley and saw Inara standing at the counter, lost in thought.

She smiled when she noticed him. "Castle," she said. "I was just making some tea. Would you care for some?"

Sitting at the table, he said, "That would be great, actually."

"I must apologize again for before. That was quite inexcusable."

"Not to worry," said Castle with a wry smile. "I've given women plenty of reason to slap me in the past."

Pausing, Castle regarded Inara. "You and Mal must be particularly close."

"Why do you say that?" Inara asked, colouring slightly.

"Mal said that his crew were all upset with him. But you were the only one who actually expressed it," Castle pointed out.

As Inara poured the tea, she said, "Mal and I have a complicated relationship."

Sitting at the table across from Mal, she pass him a mug and took a sip from her own.

"I'll say one thing," said Inara. "If Mal had half of your insight, he'd be a much better man."

"He's a good man," said Mal. "He just keeps too much bottled up. I know something about loving someone who has trouble letting you in."

Inara said nothing, focussing intently on the mug of tea.

"You have to understand how disconcerting it is," Inara said finally, "to hear words like that spoken by that voice."

"Mal was in the Military," said Castle. "He commanded a lot of men. And he couldn't show weakness, not to anybody. That sort of thing doesn't come naturally, you have to learn it. And sometimes, it's harder to unlearn something than it is to learn it in the first place."

Inara said nothing, so Castle continued.

"Beckett's mother was killed-murdered-when she was still young. Solving that murder became her obsession. Everything she did, everyone she consorted with, was, at some level or another, a means to an end. It took years and a near-death experience for her to finally admit that she loved me back."

"And how did you deal with that?" Inara asked. "The waiting."

"I decided that I'd be there for her, simple as that. It was frustrating and difficult. Sometimes I gave up for a while and spent time with other women. But I could never kid myself. Not for long. I always knew that it was Beckett."

Inara sipped her tea in silence.

"Tell me about yourself," said Castle. "You said your relationship with Mal was complicated. Is that because you're a Companion?"

Eyes, wide, Inara nearly dropped her mug onto the table. When her eyes started to tear up, Castle moved to the chair next to her and put a hand tentatively on her shoulder.

Inara looked at Castle's face, then put her head on his shoulder and began to sob.

When she pulled herself together, Inara said, "You must truly think I'm a fool."

Castle shook his head. "I think nothing of the sort."

"Do you know what a Companion is?"

"No," said Castle. "I asked, but Mal said it was best if you explained."

Inara barked a short laugh. "I'm almost surprised. Mal never seemed to hold my profession in particularly high regard."

Collecting herself, Inara explained: "A Companion is licensed and trained by the Companion Guild from a young age, sometimes as young as twelve years old. You learn psychology, music, some of the combat arts. You learn society's protocols, religions, techniques for massage relaxation, and you learn how to satisfy a client's sexual needs.

"Companions are held in the highest regard throughout the verse. To be accompanied by a Companion is considered a great honour. A Companion chooses her clients. We help our clients psychologically, spiritually, and sexually.

"Mal and I had a business arrangement. I paid rent for the use of his shuttle. I visited clients in the outer-rim. This was advantageous to Mal in that the presence of a Companion could open doors that would otherwise be closed. One of the conditions of our relationship was that I would never service him or any of his crew."

"Ah," said Castle. "I think I see the 'complicated' now."

"But now…" Inara began, and paused.

Castle said nothing. He simply looked at her, a measure of understanding on his face.

Inara shook her head. How could this man share Mal's DNA?

"After the events concerning Miranda," Inara said, "I was summoned to a meeting with the Companion Guild. While this was unusual, it wasn't unheard of, and I thought little of it. Imagine my surprise, then, when I arrived only to face a tribunal. In light of my involvement in what the Guild determined was an unacceptable act of political interference, my membership was stripped from me. I'm not a Companion any more."

She looked at Castle and added, "I don't know what I am. I haven't even told the others yet. But somehow I feel comfortable disclosing this to you."

"I can only imagine what this means to you," Castle said. "If someone told me that I couldn't be a writer any more, I'd be devastated. Lost. Having said that, I know that we've just met, but I can tell that you're an accomplished, intelligent, beautiful woman. You'll find your way. You just need some time."

Inara smiled and wiped her eyes. "I'm so selfish," she said. "You've been taken across time and space, away from everyone you've ever known, and here you are consoling me."

"Well," said Castle, "I haven't lost everyone. I still have Beckett."

Travis Maize, alone in the nearly empty outer room, roused himself from a doze. He'd put his head down on the table for just a moment, or so he thought. Quickly looking around, he breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn't exactly supposed to be napping on the job. Lucky none of the others had spotted him.

As his head cleared, he realized that it was a pounding at the door that had wakened him. "Keep your gorram shirt on," he yelled. He was in a foul mood for having fallen asleep in the first place, and, having fallen asleep, being awakened.

Yanking open the door, he said in his best gruff voice, "What?"

The beautiful woman in front of him wasn't what he was expecting.

"Please!" she shrieked. "My husband. I don't know what's wrong with him, someone has to help!"

Travis looked up and down the lane, saw Mal laying face first on the ground, and shrugged. "You can't be here," he said, more softly than before. "You need to go."

"But my husband!" wailed Beckett, her eyes pleading. "What am I going to do?"

"Oh all right. Let's have a look."

He approached Mal and knelt down beside him. Beckett withdrew the pistol she'd tucked into her sash and clubbed him on the back of the head. Travis sprawled onto the ground next to Mal.

Turning over, Mal said, "I didn't know you cared."

Beckett shook her head. "I can so believe that you and Castle are brothers."

Castle stood and withdrew his pistol. "You get a look inside?"

"Small room, just him," Beckett said. "A door inside led to another room. That's where they'll be."

Approaching the building, Mal said, "There shouldn't be many and we have the element of surprise. I'll go in first and to the right. You take the left."

"Wait a minute," Beckett said.

Mal stopped.

"Is that even a real gun?" Beckett asked.

Chuckling, Mal said, "Don't start." Then he grimaced and clutched his head with his free hand.

"What is it?" Beckett asked.

Looking at her with surprise on his face, Mal said, "It just came to me. The reason Inara's so worked up. Well, reasons."

"And that is?"

"It'll keep for now. Let's go."

Mal entered the building, then kicked in the door to the inner room. Beckett followed immediately.

There were six men huddled around a table that was covered several inches deep in maps and documents.

"Freeze!" said Beckett. "Back up to the wall. All of you! Now, on your knees. Hands behind your head. Do it!"

The men, stunned, did as they were told. "It's him," one of them said. "It's really him."

"Gao gan," said another with wide eyes.

"Weasel," said Mal. "Why, you look like you've seen a ghost."

Weasel, Jordan Pinsent, was shorter than Mal, about 5 foot 9 inches, and older, with greying, closely cropped hair and a short ponytail.

"Weasel?" Beckett asked.

"Nickname he got in the war," Mal explained. "Managed to weasel out of all sorts of Alliance traps."

"Look, I'm just surprised is all," Weasel said. "What's this all about, Mal? You get the supplies like we talked about?"

"Funny about that," said Mal, pacing about the room while Beckett covered the men. "Surprise number one: there were no supplies."

"What?" said Weasel, in an almost believable expression of outrage.

"Shut up and listen," said Beckett.

"Surprise number two: the only thing in that vault was my friend here. Someone locked her inside. You know anything about that?"

"No, Mal, 'course not. I ain't never seen her before."

"And surprise number three," Mal concluded, "who should we meet up with but a whole platoon of Alliance soldiers. Now, how do you reckon they knew we were there?"

As he spoke, Mal had been examining the documents strewn over the desk.

"Gorram Alliance," Weasel spat out. "It's gettin' so's a man in these parts can't bend over with them comin' up and sniffin' your behind."

"I'm going to try to forget you said that," muttered Beckett.

"So it was just coincidence they were there, that what you're sayin'? Mal asked.

"Well, what do you think, Mal? After all we been through, in the war and all, think I'd just turn you in?"

"Not sure what to think just now," said Mal. "There's too many unanswered questions, and I'm not hearin' any answers. Why do you have maps of Beaumonde here? What does this have to do with the job?"

"Listen, Mal," Weasel said, "We gotta talk. But not here. Not like this. Let's go, you and me. We'll straighten this out."

While Weasel was speaking, Mal explored a supply cabinet and pulled out a length of rope.

"Couldn't agree more. Tell you what we're going to do," Mal said. "I'm going to gag and tie up your friends here, then you, me and Kate will go somewhere to have a nice talk."

Then, with his back to the men, Mal approached Beckett and whispered, "We'll take him with us to Serenity. River can see the truth of things."

A few minutes later, Mal and Weasel were walking side by side along Main Street with Beckett taking up the rear, her right hand near the pistol tucked into her sash.

"See, it's like this Mal," began Weasel. "Folk expected that after Miranda, things would get better. The Alliance would loosen their grip. 'Xcept that ain't what happened, and right now their grip is firmer than ever. Makes it even harder for independent minded folk like us to make a livin'. So I figure, it's gettin' time to resist. To take the fight to them."

Mal looked at Weasel. "War's over. We lost."

"I'm talkin' 'bout a different kind of war. Not head-on fightin' but more discrete like. Alliance folk've never been touched by war. They've no idea what it means to lose loved ones right before your eyes. Maybe it's time they found out."

"Just what're you suggesting?" Mal asked.

"We send small teams to the core planets. Let them feel the pain we've all felt, seein' places we love burn, seein' folk we love die."

Mal stopped. "You want to kill innocents? That's your plan?"

"It's war, Mal."

"That ain't war, it's murder."

"Come on Mal, think about it. Afore long the Alliance folk will demand peace, get their government to leave us alone so's they can get on with their lives. You should join us. Hell, you should lead us. Folk look up you. Since the war, lots think of you as a hero. Look at the way my men back there reacted when you came in."

Mal was silent a moment. "So you did send the Alliance after us. Figured I likely wouldn't join you, and if Alliance soldiers killed me, not only would I not get in the way, I'd become a martyr for your cause."

Grinning, Weasel said, "See, I knew you was smart. But look, here we are now, together. I've said my piece. What do you say? You with us?"

Beckett, horrified by what this man had said, was shaking her head. Mal nodded to her slightly.

"I don't think so," Mal said quietly but firmly. "And I'm going to do everything I can to stop you."

Weasel shook his head. "Was afraid you'd say that," he said, and then let out a loud whistle.

Simon, having found Castle in the galley, invited him to the medical bay for some tests.

Once they arrived, he said, "Take your shirt off, and have a seat over here."

As he did so, Castle commented, "I imagine medical science has made some amazing advances over the years."

Simon, as he checked Castle's eyes, ears and throat, answered, "To be sure. But we can't cure everything. And out here, we haven't access to the latest equipment. You have to make do as best as you can."

After checking Castle's heart and measuring his blood pressure, Simon commented, "Well, you certainly seem healthy enough. And your body hasn't faced nearly the abuse your brother's has. I'd like to take a blood sample next."

"Fine," said Castle, still looking around. "Your sister certainly is interesting."

Smiling, Simon said, "She's truly one of a kind. You'll never meet anyone more intelligent."

"She's very perceptive," Castle said. "There were times I was sure she was reading my mind."

Simon paused for a moment, then continued withdrawing blood from Castle's arm.

Castle looked at his face, but could read nothing. Which told him something.

"You must love her very much," Castle commented. "You took a big risk rescuing her. Gave up a career with the best hospitals, I'm guessing."

"We were always very close," said Simon. "But I'm sure I didn't do anything that you wouldn't have done."

Castle nodded. "My daughter was kidnapped once. I broke a few rules to get her back. I guess there aren't many rules that matter when it comes to protecting your loved ones."

Simon smiled.

"What?" Castle asked.

"You sounded remarkably like Mal when you said that," said Simon.

Simon told Castle that he could dress himself and that the results of the DNA comparison would be available in a couple of minutes.

As Castle got to his feet, a puzzled expression appeared on his face, and he said, "Something's wrong." Then he collapsed in a heap.

When he came to, Castle found himself lying on the infirmary bed with Simon and Zoe looking down at him.

"What happened?" Castle asked.

But before they could answer, an alarm sounded, and River's voice came on the PA system.

"The captain's activated the emergency autopilot protocol," she announced. "The shuttle's on it's way back."

Zoe dashed out of medical towards the cockpit. Castle grabbed his shirt and followed, ignoring Simon's pleas to stay where he was.

"Captain on board the shuttle?" Zoe asked River.

"Unknown," River said.

Calling the engine room, Zoe said, "Kaylee, get the engines ready. Soon as the shuttle docks we're gettin' out of here."

"What?" Castle said. "We can't leave them there."

"Captain's orders," Zoe said. "If Weasel's turned against us, he'll have the Alliance on us just like Newhall. We can't be here when they arrive. If we're captured, we can't help the captain."

"But… Beckett's with him," Castle said, shock on his face.

"You should go back to your bunk," said Zoe. "Once we're clear, we'll have a briefing."

Stunned, Castle staggered out of the cockpit, down the corridor, and met Inara coming towards him.

"What's happened," she asked.

"Trouble," said Castle. But…"

"But what?" Inara asked, her eyes wide.

Castle's eyes narrowed, his forehead furrowed, and then he grinned. "I think I just realized why I'm here."