Chapter: 4
The breaking thrusters fire in repeated bursts from the Serenity's bow as the engine nacelles grow dark and all that is powering the boat is it's momentum as Wash maneuvers the craft alongside the adrift Rising Star and docks with the ship in one fluid maneuver.
"Hey, got it on the first try!" Wash remarked as he powered the engine systems down and reached for the hand that was on his shoulder.
"Proud of you, Dear," Zoe announced as she patted his shoulder gently, and followed Mal off the bridge towards the cargo bay.
Once they reached the hatch into the bay, they began walking down the steps to see Simon, Zoe, Shepherd, Jayne, and Kaylee already waiting before the airlock.
The airlock opens as Mal and Zoe take position, and enters a man who walks towards the group.
"Permission to come aboard?"
"Granted," Mal responded as a smile broke out and he reached for the man's hand. "Damn good to see you again."
"It's been to long, Mal. Far to long." He pause for a minute, as Chambers looks around the area and Mal's assembled crew. "So, how is business going?"
"Going," Mal nodded. "I never through I'd see the day when you turned in running guns to running colonists. A babysitting job of all things."
"Running colonists isn't a lot different than running guns. Only good thing about guns, is that they're more quiet. Hell, I go where the business takes me. How's your boat held up? I heard you got an old FireFly from Old Man Dunchess."
"She gets us there and back. What's wrong with your boat?"
"We've got power fluctuations in our engine drive. If the fluxes keep going, it'll burn out our drive and we'll be stuck. In the middle of nowhere."
"I know the feeling. We'll get our engineer to see what she can do."
"Afraid there's not much you can do about it. The best engineers I have, and they can't do anything about it."
Mal was surprised to hear defeat coming from Chamber's mouth. Seems that Mal was right, things do change.
"You'll be surprised what Kaylee can do. She can work miracles sometimes."
"Sometimes?" Kaylee jested.
"All the time," Mal smiled.
"What's this? Malcolm Reynolds talking about miracles? Your not going to introduce me, buddy?"
"Where are my manners. This here is Zoe, my exec'."
"Heard a lot about you," e said as he walked forward and firmly shook her hand.
"Really?" Zoe asked, the expression of shock hard to miss.
"Nothing but good things, I assure you. Don't worry much about it."
"This is our ship doctor, Simon Tam. And this here is our---what are you, exactly?"
The crew being introduced was Jayne, who had his paranoid, suspect anything, trust no one expression on his face. "The man with the big gun."
"This here is Jayne. He's really all warm and fuzzy once you get to know him."
"No I'm not."
"Kaylee here is our engineer I told you about. And this is our residential shepherd, Book.
"Nice meeting you," Kaylee said.
"A pleasure to meet you, a frontiers captain such as yourself."
The sight of Shepherd stirred emotions and feelings inside Chambers. The expression was kept unknown, but Mal having known him for so long knew that there was something by looking in his eyes.
"Well, I'll get my exec over here, and he'll show your engineer the drives."
"Ah, Captain, Captains, I know the way, if you don't mind."
"Be my guest," Chambers announced as he gestured towards the airlock.
"Go with her, Simon."
"Afraid I can't go out without getting in trouble, Captain."
"Nothing of the sort. They may need a doctor."
"We did have a conduit explode during the first power spike. Mild burns. We've done what we could for them."
"I'll get my kit."
"I'll see you over there," Kaylee announced as she reached the airlock and entered the Rising Star as Simon reached the steps and climbed up them heading towards infirmary.
There was a brief moment of silence until Mal clapped his hands. "Okay people, snap to it."
The group breaks up, heading towards the airlock as that left Mal and Chambers alone facing one another.
"So, been up to much?" Mal inquired as Chambers stepped back, signaling his intention to return to his ship.
"Same old dung, just different day. You?"
"Things have been quiet recently. That's always scary."
"The calm before the storm."
"Expecting a storm?"
"There's always a storm on the horizon. Always," Chambers announced as they entered the airlock and stepped forward through the hatch leading to the Rising Star.
"I see you still have her," Chambers said as he pointed to his sidearm. "You ever name her?"
"Precious," Mal answered as he patted his gun.
"I told you she'd be with you."
'She's never left my side," Mal said as in his mind he saw Chambers giving him Precious before he left to fight the war.
Before they reached the Rising Star, Mal stops in his tracks and Chambers senses it. "What's with the look?"
"What look?"
"What look? That look?" Mal pointed to Chambers face. "I didn't notice it until you looked at Shepherd."
Chambers was quiet. Just long enough for Mal to know that he was onto something as he stood, with his hands crossed over his chest. "I know that look. I never liked that look. Whenever you had that there look," Mal paused for a heartbeat. "There was always trouble. What kind of trouble have you gotten into now?"
"None unfortunately. I seem to have lost my touch."
"It's running those colonists that's softened you. Now, back to the look. Do you know, Book?"
"I know of his kind."
"His, kind?" Mal smiled as he placed his hands on his hips on his holster where is gun, Precious sat silent and ready. "You make him sound like he's an alien or something."
"Something, yes," Chambers nodded as he looked through his ship's hatch and examined for anyone that could eavesdrop. As soon as he was satisfied, he stepped closer to Mal.
"What kind of something?" Mal said who at this point was totally interested in what Chambers had to say. Over the two years, not much had been disclosed about their resident Shepherd, other than he was a member of the Shepherd Foundation, and had some sort of ties with the Alliance.
Book had been wounded critically after a cattle run had gone wrong with the unexpected arrival of the local authorities and Book took a round in his chest. If he did not wave the Alliance cruiser commander's ident- card, he would had died before their eyes. He would had died, as the Alliance would had done nothing but to watch. And to this day, no one ever got a clear answer of why Book was admitted.
"What do you know of your, Shepherd, Mal?"
"Don't know much about him. He's a mystery. Like everyone else on this boat. We all have our pasts we're not proud of. Hell, I'm surprised we have one onboard. But he's come in use these two years. Why?"
"I'd keep a close eye on this Shepherd of yours, Mal. I don't trust 'em as far as I can throw 'em. And I grew up on a high grav world, and I've got a pretty good arm. If ya' know what I mean."
"Book's harmless. Well, almost harmless."
"Almost harmless?"
"Well, there was that time that we sieged a station and he took up arms to help me get off. The entire crew came together for me on that one."
"Shows that you have a loyal crew. And those are a rarity these days. But even those that you trust, have agendas."
"Who doesn't much have agendas, these days? What is this all about? And I'm not getting any answers. Only more questions. The same question asked multiple times."
"When was the last time you were on shore?"
"It's been a few months. What? Why?"
"Everyday, there are more shepherds gathering on the fringe. Catching rides on transports."
"May be their heading towards the fringe to bring their religionist views with 'em. Can't say they're in for an easy journey though." Mal paused, considering the next statement he was going to make. "Hell, maybe even the Reavers are their next targets for salvation.
"Reavers," Chambers breathed with disgust and discomfort. "The word makes my blood cold. You've run into 'em?"
"More than enough unfortunately. Other than the fact that there are shepherds coming out to the fringe, why worry about 'em?"
"Something's about to happen, Mal. I don't really know what it is. But it's going to change the 'verse forever. And the Shepherds are going to be involved."
"What?"
"I can't explain it. I wish I could. But keep an eye on him. Don't let him out of your sight. Trust him, but don't show him you don't."
"Where's your proof?"
"That's the problem. Nothing concrete enough to do anything. Nothing but warnings. Tread gently, Mal." Chambers said as he placed his hand on his shoulder. "We've been through a lot. We've seen a lot. But nothing will compare to what's about to happen."
"What's about to happen?"
"Night fall is the only word that I've heard to describe what's about to happen. Night fall."
Chapter: 5
The short range shuttle belonging to the Serenity, and owned by Inara, the ship's Companion glided through the ocean of vacuum as the engine drives glowed bright blue as the shuttle's wing stabilizers were extended as they journeyed home from Delphi 3.
Sitting in the cramped confines of the shuttle's living area, Inara glided her hands gracefully over the instruments as she checked on her shuttle's course. Graceful hands, for a graceful beauty, she had been told many a times before by both clients and people she passed along streets.
Being a Personal Companion was one of the highest levels in today's society. Even though not everyone thought highly of the Companion society other than being a club of prostitutes.
But the Companions were so much more than that. They hired their company, amongst the brightest and most powerful members of today's society. Even though as of recent, Inara's client list was scarce and none due to their depth in the fringe.
Laying on her silk sheet bed, River slept quietly and calm. It was so good for Inara to finally see River sleeping. From the River that first came onboard Serenity, to the River that was sleeping quietly in her bed, the two were two different people.
Even though the original River was hidden underneath the medicines that her brother were giving her to help sedate her while he tried to find out what the Academy had done to her.
A soft yawn passed Inara as she looked at the ETA to the Serenity. Silence and tranquility filled the cabin as Inara set the shuttle on auto-pilot and leaned back in her seat as she closed her dark and lovely eyes. Enjoying the tranquility compared to the chaos at the marketplace on Delphi 9.
"Why can't I come with you?" River had asked as they touched down in the Delphi space port.
"This is not a safe place for a youngster like you, River. We may be deep in the fringe, but there are still some pockets that uphold the Law of the Alliance. It'd be safer for you here. I'll return shortly."
"I miss, Simon."
"You'll see him again, dear. I'll return soon. I promise."
Inara left the shuttle to return two hours later with a hauler full of supplies. Supplies that would get the Serenity another two months as they looked for jobs.
"No!" Came a voice from behind Inara that startled her in a split second which forced her to be up and alert. Before she could conclude that it was a dream her thoughts went to, "River!"
Inara leaped from her seat and forward to her bed where River was struggling. It looked as if she was attacking an attacker who was trying to rob her.
"River, what's wrong. Sweetheart, calm yourself. We're almost back to Serenity."
"It comes! It comes!" River shouted as Inara reached for her bedside table and removed a injector of a tranquilizer serum Simon had given her before they had left Serenity five hours prior.
"What comes, River?" Inara said as she placed the injector against River's neck and interject the serum into her neck. But that did not ease River's struggles. "Calm yourself, River. Your going to hurt you or me both!" Inara cried as she used al her strength to pen River against the bed.
"The night comes. The light goes. Soon, all will die. We're all gonna die."
Inara's eyes opened wide as she looked deep in River's eyes as she spoke the words: "We're all gonna die." Her heart stopped and she felt as if the temperature in the cabin dropped below freezing.
"Hang on, sweetheart. Serenity's not that far away. Darling, please hang in there." Inara pleaded as she leaned forward and kissed River on her fore-head before she returned to her controls.
Her hands glided over the communication terminal and she was immediately on the communication band. "Serenity, this is Inara. Come in, Serenity. Wash, Zoe, Mal, someone respond!"
Inara grew desperate as he hit the repeat key that automatically repeated her last hail. She did so three times before she decided to broadcast a new hail. But she didn't get that chance for the comm band became distorted before a voice sounded.
"Who, what's the problem?" The voice belonging to Wash asked as he sat in his seat with his feet propped up on the console. "Run into any trouble? You women just can't stay out of trouble can you?"
"Can it, Wash. Tell Simon to meet us in the bay, and ready the infirmary."
As soon as the request came over Wash's comm, he feet lifted and were planted solidly on the deck as he stood up and leaned over his terminal. "River?"
"She's getting worse. Where the huj en zey are you? Your not at the rendezvous point."
"Little detour. I'm on it." Wash said as he entered new calculations in her terminal. "I've got our ETA at fifteen minutes. We're on our way. I'll get back to you as soon as we launch."
"Make if fast, Wash," Inara said as she looked over her shoulder at the still girl in her bed. "I don't think River's going to make it anything longer than fifteen minutes."
Wash stepped away from the terminal and broke out in a dead run to find Mal. Off course by time he reached the mess hall he stopped, and instead decided to reach for a comm link.
"Mal, come in. Mal, answer me now!"
Onboard the Rising Star, Chambers who was giving Mal a tour of his vessel heard the voice and desperation coming from Wash on Mal's comm.
"What's the matter, Wash?"
"We have to disengage! Now!"
"Alliance?" Mal asked.
"Worse," Wash responded.
"Reavers?" Chambers asked.
"It's River. Inara says she's getting worse."
"Damn," Mal cursed in the comm in his grip.
"River?" Chambers asked dumbfounded.
"Wash, get me Simon and tell him to meet us on the boat in three minutes. Tell everyone else we'll come back for 'em."
"Aye," Wash responded as he ran out of the mess hall and forwards to the cockpit where in one swift motion he sat in his chair and reached the comm array.
In three minutes the airlock hatch sealed itself and cycled lock, as the maneuvering thrusters ignited along the Serenity's bow that pushed the FireFly away from the Rising Star just far enough for the engine nacelles to glow bright blue as the boat pitched and yawed to a intercept course with Inara's shuttle.
By time the Serenity went to full burn, Simon had reached the central corridor. "Why the rush to get off? Why'd we leave the others?" Simon inquired by time he reached the steps and stepped onto the bridge, where Mal and Wash were both looking at him over their shoulders with concern on their faces.
"River?" Simon questioned. A question that he did not need an answer for. Oh Me'Meh, he thought as he stood silent, watching the stars pass the cockpit as he took a rear seat and waited.
The breaking thrusters fire in repeated bursts from the Serenity's bow as the engine nacelles grow dark and all that is powering the boat is it's momentum as Wash maneuvers the craft alongside the adrift Rising Star and docks with the ship in one fluid maneuver.
"Hey, got it on the first try!" Wash remarked as he powered the engine systems down and reached for the hand that was on his shoulder.
"Proud of you, Dear," Zoe announced as she patted his shoulder gently, and followed Mal off the bridge towards the cargo bay.
Once they reached the hatch into the bay, they began walking down the steps to see Simon, Zoe, Shepherd, Jayne, and Kaylee already waiting before the airlock.
The airlock opens as Mal and Zoe take position, and enters a man who walks towards the group.
"Permission to come aboard?"
"Granted," Mal responded as a smile broke out and he reached for the man's hand. "Damn good to see you again."
"It's been to long, Mal. Far to long." He pause for a minute, as Chambers looks around the area and Mal's assembled crew. "So, how is business going?"
"Going," Mal nodded. "I never through I'd see the day when you turned in running guns to running colonists. A babysitting job of all things."
"Running colonists isn't a lot different than running guns. Only good thing about guns, is that they're more quiet. Hell, I go where the business takes me. How's your boat held up? I heard you got an old FireFly from Old Man Dunchess."
"She gets us there and back. What's wrong with your boat?"
"We've got power fluctuations in our engine drive. If the fluxes keep going, it'll burn out our drive and we'll be stuck. In the middle of nowhere."
"I know the feeling. We'll get our engineer to see what she can do."
"Afraid there's not much you can do about it. The best engineers I have, and they can't do anything about it."
Mal was surprised to hear defeat coming from Chamber's mouth. Seems that Mal was right, things do change.
"You'll be surprised what Kaylee can do. She can work miracles sometimes."
"Sometimes?" Kaylee jested.
"All the time," Mal smiled.
"What's this? Malcolm Reynolds talking about miracles? Your not going to introduce me, buddy?"
"Where are my manners. This here is Zoe, my exec'."
"Heard a lot about you," e said as he walked forward and firmly shook her hand.
"Really?" Zoe asked, the expression of shock hard to miss.
"Nothing but good things, I assure you. Don't worry much about it."
"This is our ship doctor, Simon Tam. And this here is our---what are you, exactly?"
The crew being introduced was Jayne, who had his paranoid, suspect anything, trust no one expression on his face. "The man with the big gun."
"This here is Jayne. He's really all warm and fuzzy once you get to know him."
"No I'm not."
"Kaylee here is our engineer I told you about. And this is our residential shepherd, Book.
"Nice meeting you," Kaylee said.
"A pleasure to meet you, a frontiers captain such as yourself."
The sight of Shepherd stirred emotions and feelings inside Chambers. The expression was kept unknown, but Mal having known him for so long knew that there was something by looking in his eyes.
"Well, I'll get my exec over here, and he'll show your engineer the drives."
"Ah, Captain, Captains, I know the way, if you don't mind."
"Be my guest," Chambers announced as he gestured towards the airlock.
"Go with her, Simon."
"Afraid I can't go out without getting in trouble, Captain."
"Nothing of the sort. They may need a doctor."
"We did have a conduit explode during the first power spike. Mild burns. We've done what we could for them."
"I'll get my kit."
"I'll see you over there," Kaylee announced as she reached the airlock and entered the Rising Star as Simon reached the steps and climbed up them heading towards infirmary.
There was a brief moment of silence until Mal clapped his hands. "Okay people, snap to it."
The group breaks up, heading towards the airlock as that left Mal and Chambers alone facing one another.
"So, been up to much?" Mal inquired as Chambers stepped back, signaling his intention to return to his ship.
"Same old dung, just different day. You?"
"Things have been quiet recently. That's always scary."
"The calm before the storm."
"Expecting a storm?"
"There's always a storm on the horizon. Always," Chambers announced as they entered the airlock and stepped forward through the hatch leading to the Rising Star.
"I see you still have her," Chambers said as he pointed to his sidearm. "You ever name her?"
"Precious," Mal answered as he patted his gun.
"I told you she'd be with you."
'She's never left my side," Mal said as in his mind he saw Chambers giving him Precious before he left to fight the war.
Before they reached the Rising Star, Mal stops in his tracks and Chambers senses it. "What's with the look?"
"What look?"
"What look? That look?" Mal pointed to Chambers face. "I didn't notice it until you looked at Shepherd."
Chambers was quiet. Just long enough for Mal to know that he was onto something as he stood, with his hands crossed over his chest. "I know that look. I never liked that look. Whenever you had that there look," Mal paused for a heartbeat. "There was always trouble. What kind of trouble have you gotten into now?"
"None unfortunately. I seem to have lost my touch."
"It's running those colonists that's softened you. Now, back to the look. Do you know, Book?"
"I know of his kind."
"His, kind?" Mal smiled as he placed his hands on his hips on his holster where is gun, Precious sat silent and ready. "You make him sound like he's an alien or something."
"Something, yes," Chambers nodded as he looked through his ship's hatch and examined for anyone that could eavesdrop. As soon as he was satisfied, he stepped closer to Mal.
"What kind of something?" Mal said who at this point was totally interested in what Chambers had to say. Over the two years, not much had been disclosed about their resident Shepherd, other than he was a member of the Shepherd Foundation, and had some sort of ties with the Alliance.
Book had been wounded critically after a cattle run had gone wrong with the unexpected arrival of the local authorities and Book took a round in his chest. If he did not wave the Alliance cruiser commander's ident- card, he would had died before their eyes. He would had died, as the Alliance would had done nothing but to watch. And to this day, no one ever got a clear answer of why Book was admitted.
"What do you know of your, Shepherd, Mal?"
"Don't know much about him. He's a mystery. Like everyone else on this boat. We all have our pasts we're not proud of. Hell, I'm surprised we have one onboard. But he's come in use these two years. Why?"
"I'd keep a close eye on this Shepherd of yours, Mal. I don't trust 'em as far as I can throw 'em. And I grew up on a high grav world, and I've got a pretty good arm. If ya' know what I mean."
"Book's harmless. Well, almost harmless."
"Almost harmless?"
"Well, there was that time that we sieged a station and he took up arms to help me get off. The entire crew came together for me on that one."
"Shows that you have a loyal crew. And those are a rarity these days. But even those that you trust, have agendas."
"Who doesn't much have agendas, these days? What is this all about? And I'm not getting any answers. Only more questions. The same question asked multiple times."
"When was the last time you were on shore?"
"It's been a few months. What? Why?"
"Everyday, there are more shepherds gathering on the fringe. Catching rides on transports."
"May be their heading towards the fringe to bring their religionist views with 'em. Can't say they're in for an easy journey though." Mal paused, considering the next statement he was going to make. "Hell, maybe even the Reavers are their next targets for salvation.
"Reavers," Chambers breathed with disgust and discomfort. "The word makes my blood cold. You've run into 'em?"
"More than enough unfortunately. Other than the fact that there are shepherds coming out to the fringe, why worry about 'em?"
"Something's about to happen, Mal. I don't really know what it is. But it's going to change the 'verse forever. And the Shepherds are going to be involved."
"What?"
"I can't explain it. I wish I could. But keep an eye on him. Don't let him out of your sight. Trust him, but don't show him you don't."
"Where's your proof?"
"That's the problem. Nothing concrete enough to do anything. Nothing but warnings. Tread gently, Mal." Chambers said as he placed his hand on his shoulder. "We've been through a lot. We've seen a lot. But nothing will compare to what's about to happen."
"What's about to happen?"
"Night fall is the only word that I've heard to describe what's about to happen. Night fall."
Chapter: 5
The short range shuttle belonging to the Serenity, and owned by Inara, the ship's Companion glided through the ocean of vacuum as the engine drives glowed bright blue as the shuttle's wing stabilizers were extended as they journeyed home from Delphi 3.
Sitting in the cramped confines of the shuttle's living area, Inara glided her hands gracefully over the instruments as she checked on her shuttle's course. Graceful hands, for a graceful beauty, she had been told many a times before by both clients and people she passed along streets.
Being a Personal Companion was one of the highest levels in today's society. Even though not everyone thought highly of the Companion society other than being a club of prostitutes.
But the Companions were so much more than that. They hired their company, amongst the brightest and most powerful members of today's society. Even though as of recent, Inara's client list was scarce and none due to their depth in the fringe.
Laying on her silk sheet bed, River slept quietly and calm. It was so good for Inara to finally see River sleeping. From the River that first came onboard Serenity, to the River that was sleeping quietly in her bed, the two were two different people.
Even though the original River was hidden underneath the medicines that her brother were giving her to help sedate her while he tried to find out what the Academy had done to her.
A soft yawn passed Inara as she looked at the ETA to the Serenity. Silence and tranquility filled the cabin as Inara set the shuttle on auto-pilot and leaned back in her seat as she closed her dark and lovely eyes. Enjoying the tranquility compared to the chaos at the marketplace on Delphi 9.
"Why can't I come with you?" River had asked as they touched down in the Delphi space port.
"This is not a safe place for a youngster like you, River. We may be deep in the fringe, but there are still some pockets that uphold the Law of the Alliance. It'd be safer for you here. I'll return shortly."
"I miss, Simon."
"You'll see him again, dear. I'll return soon. I promise."
Inara left the shuttle to return two hours later with a hauler full of supplies. Supplies that would get the Serenity another two months as they looked for jobs.
"No!" Came a voice from behind Inara that startled her in a split second which forced her to be up and alert. Before she could conclude that it was a dream her thoughts went to, "River!"
Inara leaped from her seat and forward to her bed where River was struggling. It looked as if she was attacking an attacker who was trying to rob her.
"River, what's wrong. Sweetheart, calm yourself. We're almost back to Serenity."
"It comes! It comes!" River shouted as Inara reached for her bedside table and removed a injector of a tranquilizer serum Simon had given her before they had left Serenity five hours prior.
"What comes, River?" Inara said as she placed the injector against River's neck and interject the serum into her neck. But that did not ease River's struggles. "Calm yourself, River. Your going to hurt you or me both!" Inara cried as she used al her strength to pen River against the bed.
"The night comes. The light goes. Soon, all will die. We're all gonna die."
Inara's eyes opened wide as she looked deep in River's eyes as she spoke the words: "We're all gonna die." Her heart stopped and she felt as if the temperature in the cabin dropped below freezing.
"Hang on, sweetheart. Serenity's not that far away. Darling, please hang in there." Inara pleaded as she leaned forward and kissed River on her fore-head before she returned to her controls.
Her hands glided over the communication terminal and she was immediately on the communication band. "Serenity, this is Inara. Come in, Serenity. Wash, Zoe, Mal, someone respond!"
Inara grew desperate as he hit the repeat key that automatically repeated her last hail. She did so three times before she decided to broadcast a new hail. But she didn't get that chance for the comm band became distorted before a voice sounded.
"Who, what's the problem?" The voice belonging to Wash asked as he sat in his seat with his feet propped up on the console. "Run into any trouble? You women just can't stay out of trouble can you?"
"Can it, Wash. Tell Simon to meet us in the bay, and ready the infirmary."
As soon as the request came over Wash's comm, he feet lifted and were planted solidly on the deck as he stood up and leaned over his terminal. "River?"
"She's getting worse. Where the huj en zey are you? Your not at the rendezvous point."
"Little detour. I'm on it." Wash said as he entered new calculations in her terminal. "I've got our ETA at fifteen minutes. We're on our way. I'll get back to you as soon as we launch."
"Make if fast, Wash," Inara said as she looked over her shoulder at the still girl in her bed. "I don't think River's going to make it anything longer than fifteen minutes."
Wash stepped away from the terminal and broke out in a dead run to find Mal. Off course by time he reached the mess hall he stopped, and instead decided to reach for a comm link.
"Mal, come in. Mal, answer me now!"
Onboard the Rising Star, Chambers who was giving Mal a tour of his vessel heard the voice and desperation coming from Wash on Mal's comm.
"What's the matter, Wash?"
"We have to disengage! Now!"
"Alliance?" Mal asked.
"Worse," Wash responded.
"Reavers?" Chambers asked.
"It's River. Inara says she's getting worse."
"Damn," Mal cursed in the comm in his grip.
"River?" Chambers asked dumbfounded.
"Wash, get me Simon and tell him to meet us on the boat in three minutes. Tell everyone else we'll come back for 'em."
"Aye," Wash responded as he ran out of the mess hall and forwards to the cockpit where in one swift motion he sat in his chair and reached the comm array.
In three minutes the airlock hatch sealed itself and cycled lock, as the maneuvering thrusters ignited along the Serenity's bow that pushed the FireFly away from the Rising Star just far enough for the engine nacelles to glow bright blue as the boat pitched and yawed to a intercept course with Inara's shuttle.
By time the Serenity went to full burn, Simon had reached the central corridor. "Why the rush to get off? Why'd we leave the others?" Simon inquired by time he reached the steps and stepped onto the bridge, where Mal and Wash were both looking at him over their shoulders with concern on their faces.
"River?" Simon questioned. A question that he did not need an answer for. Oh Me'Meh, he thought as he stood silent, watching the stars pass the cockpit as he took a rear seat and waited.