Overlanders 2517... Endgame... Can Penny save Sheldon... A little thank you to Jislane and everyone who has reviewed

To the casual observer Sheldon's demeanour may at first seem a little odd. Here he was facing one of the most ruthless men in the sector, but then again to anyone who knew Sheldon the blank facial expression, the total absence of emotion said only one thing, someone was about to die.

Sheldon now knew that Adelei Niska wasn't the great criminal kingpin; he was merely a frightened little man.

"So the great Sheldon Cooper, the most feared man in the sector walk's into my little trap. I'm sure you're wondering why I've gone to so much trouble…"

Sheldon was so disappointed he'd expected more from a man like Niska. Only so called super-villains in old movies told the hero their plans. If you wanted a man dead you killed him simple, no one ever talked anyone to death before.

"… During the war you, how can I best put this? Yes! You made enemies of a lot of people, important people, who now want you, dead," He said smiling.

While Niska talked Sheldon took the opportunity to glance around the room, his first impression that they were alone was wrong, he could now make out 5 men standing around the walls. He would need to take them out first. He also realized ironically that he had broken his own golden rule: 'never walk into a room without back-up'.

Working solely on instinct Sheldon quickly crouched down before taking out Niska five bodyguards. The report of the six shots was deafening in the confines of the room. Six shots? Sheldon felt the searing pain in his back as he slumped to his knees; the sixth bodyguard had been standing behind him. He again cursed his luck for sending Penny away.

Niska walked over to him pushing Sheldon over on to his back with his boot. The look of triumph on his face, "Ah' it seems even the great Cooper is not as invincible as we thought," He was laughing.

Sheldon knew he could control the pain, but the blood loss was a worry he could feel the dampness of it on his back, and who knew when this floor was last cleaned? He realized Niska was still talking; looking up at him Sheldon drew his gun and smiled, "You sir talk too much!" With that he rolled to one side shooting the last remaining bodyguard, before turning his gun on Niska.

Following Sheldon's directions, Penny soon found herself in an older part of the stronghold. She started to pass small cell type doors the air was stale and dank. As she looked around Penny thought 'yeah it sure looks and smalls like I'm heading the right way.

She was about to start calling out for her friends when she came to a door which had clearly just been installed, Penny banged on it with the butt of her gun as she called out, "Mal, Zoe you in there?"

"Yes, that you Penny, who's with you?" Came an answering yell.

"Yeah it's me Zoe, I'm on my lonesome everyone else is kinda busy. Is Mal with you?"

"Yes, but he's banged up pretty bad, took a bad knock to the head,"

"Ok, stand away from the door."

Raj watched as the last of his men formed up to move out to where Serenity would be landing. Wash had just called in that they were close. Raj waved his friend over to him, "Howard I'll take four men with me, you take the rest over to the landing site. I'm going back to check on Penny,"

Howard gave Raj a puzzled look, before turning to follow the men. Glancing back over his shoulder at a retreating shape of Raj he called out, "And, Sheldon right, you'll check on Sheldon?"

Raj shook his head without turning he said aloud, "Since when have we ever needed to check on Sheldon."

Penny's little group were trying to move as quickly as possible, but with having to half carry, half drag the injured Captain Reynolds the going was slow.

She was worried he was still losing blood from his head wound; it looked to be a bad concussion. She thought it strange calling him 'Captain Reynolds' back in the day when they were all fighting for their very lives in Serenity Valley and well over a dozen other battles in the bloody Unification War his only name had been 'Sargent'. She tried to laugh at the thought of people calling him Captain but the effort of running with her injured friend and the fact of not knowing how Sheldon was doing, was quickly becoming a drain on her strength.

Once she had blown the cell door it had been fairly easy to escape the stronghold. Now however the confusion from Leonard's diversion was passing. Even as Penny looked over her shoulder she could see men running after them.

"Zoe we just need to make that next ridge. My ships close by," But now Penny could hear the men behind them, "Zoe you take him on, I'll stop and…" Penny never finished.

Somewhere up ahead someone yelled, "PENNY! Down now," Instinctively Penny threw herself and her two friends to the ground as the hillside in front of them erupted in gunfire, instantly cutting down the following men.

As Penny stood up wiping the dirt from her eyes, she saw the smiling figure of Raj walking toward her, "Penny I can't leave you for five minutes," he waved to his men, calling over to them, "Bring the truck over," looking back at Penny, "We need to find help for Captain Reynolds. We also need to get ourselves out of here Serenity just called in seems to be all kinds of ships in-bound. Looks to be Alliance and the others!"

Penny didn't need to ask what Raj meant by 'others' it could only be Reaver's.

"Ok, Raj you take the group on. I need to go back for something."

Raj nodded knowing the something was really someone, "I'll see them all safe Penny, and you go find your man."