-
Serenity glided through space, the inhabitants unaware of the Alliance vessel that was getting increasingly nearer to their position.
After Ida's announcement and Mal's welcome for her to stay on board, the crew disbanded and went about their business.
Kay Lee and Ida went back to the Black Bird to work on the engine and the ships computer, whilst Simon took River back her quarters to rest. Wash and Zoe went to the Cockpit and Jayne stayed at the table and filled his stomach with food.
-
On board the scout ship Olisas, Commander Rhodes of the Alliance sat perched on the edge of his seat, a control station was to his left and he was using it to go over the data that he had been sent by the Iranite. The Iranite was a large ship with five scout ships; the Olisas was one of its best with a crew nearing one hundred. The Iranite would send out the five scout ships in different directions, the main reason being that a scout ship being a smaller vessel could go undetected for longer and detect any problems or rewards that where lying ahead.
After Commander Rhodes had decided to go in pursuit of the Firefly class vessel he had contacted the Iranite to inform his superiors of his actions. They had answered back on a coded frequency for his eyes-only; it seemed that who ever wanted these fugitives were eager to get them because the Iranite had changed course and was making its way toward the Olisas. Commander Rhodes was told to detain the ship and it's crew, he had also been told that the fugitives he was after were brother and sister. If he found the siblings on board he had been ordered to take them captive at once and to hold the crew of the Firefly vessel for interrogation - whether the fugitives were found on board or not.
As the Commander sat had looked through the descriptions of the brother and sister his communications officer spoke up.
"Commander you have a private message from the Iranite, I'm sending it to your terminal now."
There were a few beeps and then a red square appeared on his terminal screen with Encoded Message For: Commander P. Rhodes written inside of it. He entered his password and then pressed his thumb against the screen for verification. When he was cleared for access his computer screen changed to show the standard black background with white writing. The message was from his friend Commander Kit Lang, Rhodes eyebrows shot up in surprise, what did old Lang want with him?
The Commander read the message:
"Rhodes...heard your following a Firefly vessel, thought I better warn you to keep your wits about you. I've heard that the people interested in the fugitives are not to be messed with OR let down, remember Edward Tate he lost pursuit of the fugitives and since reporting back at Headquarters he hasn't been seen since. Happy hunting,
Kit"
Commander Rhodes erased the message after he finished reading it for the second time and then sat back in his seat, the thought of being rewarded with a commission on his return began to fade in his mind.
"What's our ETA on reaching the Firefly vessel?" He asked.
"At our present heading we should reach Outpost 9 in one hour" His second in command answered.
"Increase speed"
"Sir?" The officer hesitated; the Olisas was already traveling at the maximum recommended speed.
"I said increase speed"
The other officer nodded at the Commander and then relayed the order to the pilot.
-
In just over an hour the Alliance ship would be upon Serenity but they had no idea and were moving at a slow rate with there ship still attached to the Blackbird.
On board the Black Bird Kay Lee and Ida had gotten primary functions online, which meant they had lights, control of terminals and computer interfaces. They still needed to work on the engine, flight control, navigation, defensives and weapons.
Kay Lee was at the back of the ship, she had pulled up the compartments that hid the engine and had already started working on it. Ida meanwhile was at the main computer terminal trying to route command functions back to the helm so she could then work on reinstating the flight controls and navigation.
"That should just about do it" Ida said, a moment later several lights on the helm terminal came on and Ida went and sat down at the pilot's seat.
"Just need the engine fixed and I can fly by baby outta here, no offence." Ida said turning in her seat to look back at Kay Lee.
"None taken, I should have it fixed soon enough" the younger woman replied.
"After I'm finished with the pilot controls I'll work on getting my defenses and weapons up and running". Ida said turning back round to the terminal and punching buttons on the panel.
-
Fifteen minutes later back on Serenity Wash sat looking out the window into space every now and again he would scan the area for any ships, he was still worried incase Reavers where in the neighborhood.
He leaned over to his left and began to repeat the same scan that he had done about twenty times since Ida came aboard. This time instead of finding nothing the scan picked up a tiny bleep that had just moved into range.
Wash hit more buttons and was able to increase his scan of the vessel; enough to find out it was an Alliance Scout Ship.
"Wash to Mal, Capt you better get yourself up here quick 'cause we've got company" Wash said into the ship's intercom.
Less then a minute later Mal and Zoe where standing by the terminal looking over the specs of the Alliance vessel.
"What do you think, friends of Ida's?" Zoe asked Looking over at Mal.
"Maybe, though I doubt it. Probably after her or us, either way we've gotta get moving out of here on the double."
"What's going on?" Ida said stepping into the Cockpit and eyeing the three with an expressionless face.
"It's an Alliance ship heading our way" Mal told Ida calmly.
"What's the plan?" Ida asked, showing no signs of any heighten emotions.
"Your ship ready to fly yet?" Mal asked her.
"No I have flight control and defenses but for anything else I'll need the engine and it's still not running...why?" A faint trace of a frown played on the edge of her mouth.
"Cause the Alliance ship is a Scout Ship, which means its parent vessel is heading this way as we speak. Our only way out of this is to run and the only way we can manage to out run the Scout ship is by detaching from your ship. Even then it'd it be tight sailing."
"I'm not leaving my ship."
"I understand but I'm not about to put my ship and crew in danger when we can avoid it" Mal told her firmly.
"Maybe you won't have to" Ida said after a slight pause.
"I don't rightly like that gleam in your eye girl" Mal said knowing full well that Ida had just planned something that would probably risk all their lives.
"Trust me Mal" Ida said smiling slyly.
"I don't trust anyone," Mal said standing tall and folding his arms across his chest.
Before the silent tension had even the chance of building up Wash said, "Well Mal, you trust Zoe." He turned his chair around looking from Mal then to Zoe, struggling to keep a straight face.
"Well yes, I trust no one except for Zoe" Mal said and then he opened his mouth to speak.
"And me" Wash again interrupted, Mal snapped his mouth shut and looked annoyed. Wash was straight-faced but that made Zoe want to smile even more, Mal looked exacerbated.
"Yes Wash I trust only you and Zoe" Mal again went to speak but Wash won him to it.
"And Kay Lee and Inara" Wash said grinning foolishly now from Mal to Zoe.
"Okay" Said Mal holding his hands palm up and using the kind of voice tired parents use when dealing with children "we've established that I trust a hell of a lot of people, can we move on with the conversation before we can wave at the Alliance crew through our cockpit window" Mal said shoving his hands into his pockets.
Wash and Zoe straighten their faces and Ida who had watched the other three found herself wishing she had that many people she could trust.
"So Ida what's your plan?" Mal asked as the three turned their gazes to her.
She gave a smile before she began that made the other three glad they where on her side "Well it's like this..."
-
"Commander Rhodes, Sir"
"What is it man" The Commander replied looking over at the young man in front of him.
"Where nearing the Firefly vessel but we might have a problem Sir" The young officer tried to stand even straighter, he was anxious about giving the news to his Commander.
"What kind of problem" Commander Rhodes demanded leaning forward to the edge of his seat.
"Sir, the vessel is floating with its engine off and at this range we're not picking up any heat signatures. Also Sir we've found trace amounts of Radiation, I think Reavers have been in the area Sir".
"Recently?"
"It's only a minute amount Sir but it does match up with the Radiation level we have on record. If it was Reavers they where here in the last few days." The young officer said.
"Remain on course, if there are any Reavers our scans should pick them up" The Commander said leaning back in his chair again.
"Yes Sir" The young officer saluted and the Commander returned the gesture half-heartedly, turning the salute into a flick of his hand dismissing the young man.
The Commander sat staring out into space, he was thinking about what would happen if the firefly had been boarded by Reavers, whether it was the right ship or not they would be nobody left alive aboard. The Commander frowned, this day was turning out to be more stressful then he had first planned and he felt that the reward of being promoted was slipping from his grasp.
-
"This is one crazy ass plan," Jayne barked as the group sat in the darken kitchen.
It was dark because as soon as Ida told them her idea Mal had jumped into action and order Wash to power down Serenity. He had then told everyone to meet in the kitchen; Mal had then filled everyone in on Ida's plan.
"Crazy assed but I like it" Finished Jayne grinning, with a wild gleam in his eye.
"Crazy ass's aside will it work?" Asked a nervous Simon knowing that if it didn't the chance of him and River escaping from the Alliance would be non-existence.
"It'll work, I think" Mal said, at the 'I think' part everyone looked at him with slightly worried expressions.
"No it'll work" Mal said nodding his head and sounding only half sure himself.
"Your enthusiasm is overwhelming Mal" Inara said levelly.
"Can I just say that as the person who has to do most of the work here, what the hell!" Kay Lee said her voice going shrill at the end and looking more then a little scared.
"Kay Lee is there something you wish to impart with the rest of the group?" Mal asked her calmly.
"Just that if I don't fix Ida's ship in time then the plan falls through and we're all done for" She said pacing a little and opening and closing her hands into fists.
"There's no pressure" Mal said knowing that everyone knew that Kay Lee was right but trying to make it all seem like it was just everyday stuff, which to them it was.
"Mal's right...apart from the impending death part, no pressure" Wash said in a happy-go-lucky voice.
"Dear, you're not helping" Zoe told her husband in a firm but singsong voice.
"Look we don't have time to out run them. We don't have time to come up with another plan and we don't have time to sit around here yapping. We have to move and move now". Mal told them, looking from face to face and trying to read how each one was coping.
"Then we better move it" Jayne said bluntly as ever.
-
"No pressure, I'll give them no pressure". Muttered Kay Lee as she worked on Ida's engine.
Ida who was sat at the front of the ship smiled at Kay Lee's mutterings. She had come across many mechanics over the years and out of the bunch Kay Lee was the best, that was why she could stay calm as danger approached. All they really needed to win was for the Blackbird to get operational and with Kay Lee working her magic Ida was confidante Blackbird and Serenity would be flying on their way soon enough.
"This is Black Bird calling, I'm okay for departure" Ida said speaking into the coms whilst preparing to disembark from Serenity.
"Ida this is Serenity, your clear for launch, good luck" Floated Wash's voice from the speaker.
"Good Luck to you too" Ida said taking the controls and flying Black Bird loose of the Serenity. As she was hitting switches and moving the ship off the front of Serenity, she waited and then powered down all major systems so the Alliance vessel would have trouble telling them apart from Serenity.
"I hope this plan of yours works Ida" Kay Lee said from back near the engine.
"Me too" Ida said staring at Serenity as they drifted away.
-
Jayne joined Mal, Wash and Zoe in the cockpit.
"Are the others ready?" Mal asked Jayne.
"Yep, all safe away in Inara's shuttle. You know that they won't manage to out run anything in that thing."
"Look, if things don't go to plan and the Alliance dock with us, maybe the others can get away in a shuttle – they might not get followed. It's just an extra precaution." Mal said knowing that Jayne was right, the shuttle wouldn't get far from Alliance vessel.
"So what now?" Jayne asked hugging his gun 'Vera' to his side, the muzzle pointing at the ceiling.
"We wait for the Alliance to get close and then it's up to Ida and Kay Lee" Mal said.
-
"Commander we've performed more detail scans and we found that although the Firefly's engine is powered down there are human heat signatures on the ship. We can't tell how many individuals but there in two medium size groups, gathered into different parts of the ship" The Second office stood to attention waiting for his Commander to process the new information.
The Commander sat in his chair and stared out of the main window into space. The other ship was in view and he watched it, seeing all his future hopes and maybe even his life pinned to what laid inside.
"Send them a message, tell them that we shall be docking with them to offer assistance. Be ready if they try and run" Commander Rhodes told his second in command.
"Yes Sir" The officer saluted Commander Rhodes and hurriedly walked off to follow his orders.
Maybe the crew of the ship was incapacitated in some way thought Commander Rhodes, all his men would need to do would be to walk in and grab the fugitives and hold the others for questioning. He sat up straighter his chair, his imagination fired up the imaged of himself capturing and delivering the brother and sister were others had failed, the newfound respect that it would bring as well as a promotion.
-
"Mal were receiving a message over the air waves. They said their gonna be docking with us to offer us help" Wash said reading the message and glancing over his left shoulder at the Captain.
"Everything's going as planned just sit tight and this should all be over soon" Mal addressed the other three. "We better sit on the floor so they can't see us" Mal added lowering himself on the floor, the others following. Wash sat with his side to the terminals so he could still see and more importantly reach any vital buttons or switches.
"I hate all this waiting crap," Jayne said chewing on an unlit cigar.
"Jayne the next place we come across you and Vera can blow something up but for now just say calm". Mal told him a hint of mocking entering his firm voice.
-
"Sir we sent the message and we've had no reply. Either they can't or they won't reply" The second in command told Rhodes.
"Fine, dock with the ship. Get a team of our best men to meet me there" He hesitated and almost as an after though he added "Also you better include a medic team just incase." The other man saluted and went to a nearby intercom to follow the Commanders orders. Rhodes stood and smarted his person before striding out of the room and to the docking bay. He wanted this to go smoothly.
-
The Alliance scout ship Olisas grew dangerously near Serenity. Aboard the ship in Inara's shuttle the group sat, Book in pray, Inara sat at the helm ready to fly the small shuttle out of there and Simon and River sat on a luscious sofa. River stood and all the other's eyes went to her. She stood dancing from one foot to the next, her eyes closed and her head tilted back as if listening to music only she could hear.
"Boom" She said her eyes flying opened; as she finished the word there was an explosion.
-
"You did it" Kay Lee shouted happily.
"No we did it" Ida said smiling broadly for what Kay Lee thought was the first time.
The plan had been dicey from the beginning, whilst the powered down Serenity drew the Alliance scout ship closer the powered down Blackbird drifted away from Serenity. Whilst it drifted and got father away from the Alliance ship radar Kay Lee and Ida worked on getting the ship's defensives up and running, without them the whole plan would have fallen apart. Once the defensives were operational The Blackbird powered up her engines and circled the Alliance ship, all without being spotted by the Alliance visually or by scans. Then while Kay Lee got the last kinks out of the weapons grid they had to simply wait for the scout ship to dock with Serenity, because as it did so it had to drop his defenses making it easy prey.
Ida had fired at the Alliance's weapons destroying them, without the ship having a clue. Then she targeted the message beacon attached to the outer hull of the ship, with that down they wouldn't be able to contact the Iranite or any other ship in the area for help. Ida fired once more at were she knew the engine was, just a small blast that would leave them helpless and stranded until the larger Iranite vessel showed up. Kay Lee was relieved and tired; she stood behind Ida and gave a deep sigh of release.
As agreed as soon as Ida fired on the Alliance ship Wash started up Serenity and flew her out of the area as fast as the ship would allow. "Let's catch them up!" Kay Lee said smiling and feeling better now the pressure was off her and proud at her and Ida's joint effort.
"Not just yet" Ida said. She sat transfixed by the Olisas, her eyes harden and her mouth was set in a grim line. "One last thing to do" she said. It sounded to Kay Lee that Ida was speaking more to herself then to her.
"Ida, are you alright...what's going on?" Kay Lee asked quietly putting a hand on the back of Ida's chair, she felt suddenly nervous.
"Don't worry they can't get at us. I'm going to fire one last shot and then we can go" Ida looked passive but her voice sounded tight.
What really was happening dawned on Kay Lee "You're going to kill them!" She exclaimed horrified. "That wasn't part of the plan!" She screamed not knowing what to do, her hand gripping the back of the chair tightly.
"They would do the same to us, Alliance killed my parents and now when ever I get the chance I repay the favor" Her hand reached out for a red switch but before she could reach it Kay Lee stepped in. The mechanic turned the swivel chair round and knelt in front of Ida; Kay Lee rested her right hand on Ida's knee.
"Don't do this Ida. Killing them is wrong...especially like this. The people on that ship aren't the ones who killed your parents and most of them over there are probably just following orders anyway." Ida blinked and looked at Kay Lee, she looked a lot younger then she did before realized Kay Lee as she gently stroked the other Ida's knee and tired to keep her rambling voice calm.
"How many men and women over there are mothers and fathers Ida? Don't do to some kid what some one once did to you" Kay Lee said and slowly she reached over with her free left hand and took Ida's right hand in hers. The pair stayed that way for a while and then taking a deep breath Ida spoke.
"We better get going," She said softly, giving a small careful smile to Kay Lee before pulling her hands free. Kay Lee held her breath until she saw Ida ignore the red button and turn the ship in the direction Serenity had headed.
"You know as a hired killer I've killed a lot of people, all bad but people none the less." Ida said her eye catching Kay Lee's who had sat on the floor by Ida's feet, her back resting against the terminal so she could face Ida.
"If the people have done something so bad that it means your gunning for them then maybe they deserve it". Kay Lee pondered looking up at Ida.
"Trust me, the men I've killed were murders, rapists and child molesters" Ida informed Kay Lee as she watched Serenity grow closer in size as they caught up to them.
"In that case you have my blessing, kill them types slow and painful but let the defenseless ships of people be," Kay Lee said seriously.
"That I can do" Ida said. She flicked a switch over head and spoke loudly in its direction.
"Hey Wash, Ida and Kay Lee here – we alright to come aboard."
"Welcome back guys, ready when you are" Wash's disembodied voice answered back.
After the ships became joined she powered down major functions to save juice. The two women stood and walked to the exit, Ida paused and Kay Lee turned to her.
"I just wanted to say thanks for getting the ship together and everything...the everything part being you stopping me kill a ship load of people back there." Ida said not sure if she was saying thanks the right way, it had been a while since she last had a reason to. "I don't let my emotions show, because of my line of work and being alone out here in space. So I just wanted to say thanks and bye now, away from the others." She gave a small warm smile.
"Your welcome Ida" Kay Lee being the affectionate person she was went and hugged Ida. "Bye and you take care of yourself" she said letting go before Ida could feel uncomfortable. Ida gave Kay Lee a big wide smile this time and followed the other girl on to Serenity.
-
A little while later standing in the cargo bay the crew of Serenity gathered to say goodbye to Ida, she opened the doors and peered into her ship the Blackbird. Turning she looked over the faces of the men and women who had helped her and who she in turn had helped. She removed something from her jacket pocket, a small drawstring bag.
"Here" Ida said throwing the bag to Mal, who stood a few paces away with the others.
"What's this?" He asked as he opened the bag and looked inside, on seeing the gold coins within his eyebrows raised, he and his crew had to work pretty hard to come up with this amount of cash but his pride took over "we can't take your money" he told her.
"Look I've made a lot of money off a couple of jobs I pulled, I have enough to keep me going until my next deal. Plus no offence but you and your ship look like you could do with a little pick me up" Mal went to speak but Ida spoke again "If it helps think of it as payment for fixing' me and my ship up" she said.
Before Mal could bicker any further Kay Lee snatched the coins from Mal's hands and beamed at Ida.
"Thank you, we accept." She told Ida ignoring Mal who rolled his eyes and flung his arms up in an act of mock defeat.
"And as for you" Ida said smiling slyly at Jayne "I hope we can..." She paused to look from his eyes to his lips, unconsciously running her tongue slowly over her own top lip "...bump into each other again sometime" She finished smiling seductively then she turned around and boarded her ship.
As the Blackbird disengaged from Serenity and departed Jayne rested his hands on the back of his head and stared at the now closed doors.
"Now that was my kind of woman," Jayne announced.
More like a lost child thought Book sadly to himself.
The others began to climb the stairs up to the walkway; Wash and Mal went up with Jayne last behind them. Wash and Mal stepped on to the first step at the same time and turned to each other.
"After you..." Said Wash, holding back and motioning Mal forward with a wave of his arm.
"Why Sir your too kind" said Mal placing a hand to his chest as if he was deeply touched.
"...After all I wouldn't want to bump into you". Wash said emphasizing the word bump, the others in front of them shared smiles with one another.
"Shut up" Jayne growled in his deep bear like voice, as he followed the two men up the stairs. This caused Wash and Mal to bump into each other's sides again, Zoe and Kay Lee copying them.
"Your all so damn funny, my side just split" Jayne boomed at them as they walked towards the kitchen, Kay Lee's laughter filling the ship as it hurtled through space.
- The End -