Dear Mother and Daddy,

Well we finally made it to Athens, and what a trip it's been! But at least we made a profit. Captain's looking to buy a cargo here, something we can peddle to the outer worlds. Margot's left, but not for good. She's going to help us find a buyer for the Lassiter so we'll be hearing from her.

In the meantime Simon and I have to be careful and stay in Serenity because Athens is an Alliance world, practically a Core planet even if it is out on the rim. Which is a pity because I'd love to see the Athenaeum museum and library. Oh well, at least I can access the cortex site. Margot gave me her passwords.

Margot's contracted Companion came to collect her and Wow - just Wow! He didn't give me the hot, shivery feeling Jayne does but he sure did make me feel like a girl! Kaylee too. And Zoe wasn't immune either!

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Something awful has happened.

We've lost Serenity - and I've lost Simon!

Oh, Mother and Daddy I'm so scared, so scared. What if we can't find them? What if we can never go home? What will happen to me without Simon, AND WHAT'S HAPPENING TO HIM???????

I mustn't panic, mustn't panic... Simon is a skilled surgeon, he's very valuable. Niska has no reason to hurt him and every reason to take good care of him until he finds a buyer. Yes, I said buyer. They SELL people out here!!!!

He could end up ANYWHERE.

I must stay calm. I must stay calm or I won't be any help at all.

But Captain and Zoe are gone too and Niska does want to hurt them! Oh God.

Calm, be calm.

It happened like this. Margot had left for home. Inara'd taken her shuttle to meet a client, dropping Shepherd Book off at a retreat house of his order on her way. And Wash, Kaylee and Jayne had gone out together to buy real food.

I was in my room playing with Simon's sourcebox (1) and I know he was in the infirmary - I mean he practically lives there! I think Captain and Zoe were upstairs in the galley doing the book-keeping but I'm not sure.

I felt them come aboard. It was awful. Cold, creepy, EVIL little minds. I hid. But they weren't after me, they were after Captain!

I didn't know they were from Niska until I overheard them talking - after they'd knocked the others out and locked them up in the small bunk nobody uses. Niska is a horrible, evil man Captain crossed a time back. It was his men I shot a couple of letters ago, and now he's caught up with us again!

I had to keep the others from walking into a trap so I wriggled out an intake vent and started towards the food market to find them - then Serenity took off behind me! Just took off and vanished into the blue! I never thought they'd fly away without the rest of us!

Luckily Jayne and the others were right there, on their way back, or I don't know what I'd have done. Wash and Kaylee were as panicky as me but Jayne knew what to do. He hustled us into a bar to get us off the street and used Simon's sourcebox - which I'd hung on to - to message Margot. I made him give it right back. Holding something of Simon's made me feel like I was still connected to him. Like nothing could happen to him without me knowing...

We're at Margot's house now, and she and her partner D'Jango are planning to go after Serenity just as soon as they locate her. We're assuming Simon and the others will still be in her, or at least nearby. How I hope that's true!

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Merciful God, I thank you from my heart.

Simon is safe. Captain and Zoe are safe. We got them back, Niska never touched them. But we still don't have Serenity!

This is a problem.

Niska knows we'll come for her. He must be counting on it and preparing a trap. We have to plan very, very carefully. Now that I have Simon back I can think clearly again. This is good because I'm the brains around here. Captain's a clever tactician but he's got the most awful luck. This job MUST go smooth!

If it doesn't - and judging by past experience it won't - we've got Jayne. He is AMAZING in a fight. I haven't had a chance to see it with my own eyes but both Kaylee and Simon say so - and I've seen through theirs that it is true. And we'll have Margot's partner, D'Jango, who is SCARY!!!

It's not that I think he'll hurt me, I know he won't. He's not dangerous to people like us. He's not a bad man, but he is scary. Like Shepherd Book, who would never hurt me either but still frightens me a little. All that raw power seething and minds full of awful memories....

Some of us want to be sure and kill Niska as well as get Serenity back. Others don't like that idea at all - including Simon - and I see their point. Deliberately setting out to kill somebody isn't like shooting them in a fight. It's premeditated murder. Not just against the law but immoral.

On the other hand:

Niska is our declared enemy. This is the second time he's come after us and we just escaped by the skins of our teeth. Leave him alive and he'll come after us again and again until he kills us. It is self-defense - of a kind.

It's a moral dilemma, Mother and Daddy. I know which side Simon will come down on, he's a doctor he's sworn to 'do no harm'. He's given up everything else for me, I won't have him give up who and what he is as well. It's different for me, I haven't taken any oaths.

I'm going to have a gun, because Captain won't have anybody on his crew going into Niska's skyplex without somewhat to defend themselves. The way we've got it planned I should never have to use it. But if I get the chance I will shoot Niska.

I have to, Mother and Daddy, for Simon and Serenity. I'm not happy about it. It makes me a little sick to even think about it. I know I killed those men but I wasn't me then, I was the girl. She's a killer. But it's not her fault, Dr. Matthias made her one. She is not morally responsible for her actions.

I am.

Niska would have sold Simon and I'd never have seen my brother again. He'd have tortured Captain and Zoe to death. He's sold and tortured hundreds of thousands of others and the law can't touch him. He needs killing.

I just hope it isn't me who pulls the trigger.

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It's done. We have Serenity back and we're all safe. Well, safer.

Niska's dead. I didn't have to do it. Neither did Captain or Margot, who wanted to. Or Jayne or D'Jango, who'd have considered it a day's work. You might say he killed himself. I'll spare you the hideous details but it was VERY karmic.

We've one less problem and that's all to the good, as Captain says. Pity there are so many more left....

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You didn't do what I told you, Mother and Daddy. You didn't lie low and not make trouble.

I AM SO PROUD!!!

Thank you! Thank you for saving my friends and the other kids too. Now I don't have to feel guilty about being free and safe while they suffer. The academy thrived in darkness, it could not live when exposed to the light. And I hope something really nasty happens to Dr. Matthias. I think it will, he's an embarrassment to Them now.

I should have known you'd be too smart for Them. Where did Simon and I get our brains from after all? I'm not going to worry about you any more - well, not as much - now that I know how clever and cunning you are.

And careful. Continue to be careful, please.

Margot is going to make sure you get this letter, and send your answer back. I am so excited! I can't wait to hear from you - Simon too.

All the love in the 'Verse - River.

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Dear Mother and Dad,

I'm sorry we didn't understand each other better. I see now that I was as much at fault as you were. Interpersonal communication is not one of my skills - as you well know. I should have been more patient, tried to see you point of view. My fears must have seemed hysterical and irrational - and I was very wrong to think you didn't care what was happening to River. I'm sorry.

I am very, very proud of you both for closing that place down. And very relieved that you are safe. River's mental condition has improved immensely over these last weeks - as I'm sure you can tell from her letters.

I agree with her that we have fallen into good hands. We are as safe as we can hope to be in this crazy 'Verse. I know that life will never be the same for any of us. I doubt River and I will ever be able to go home, but I hope very much that we will someday see you both again.

Until that time - all my love, Simon.

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Notes:

1. The 'Verse's version of a laptop.