Jayne looked out of the shuttle window at the looming monolith that now rose up before them. Finally, they had arrived.

Alliance HQ.

His eyes peered closer at the station'shundreds of glowing windows, that were as tiny glowing spots against its grey-black surface. He was already wondering which of them sheltered the woman who had so trapped him with her ways and charms. The girl, whose every detail of her physical form, was etched on his mind.

River.

Even now, at the thought of her, his heart had once again begun to beat in his ears. Like a animal on a scent, he could feel his senses grow increasingly alert, to match the low scale demand his body always carried for hers. It was sure he could already feel her presence, nearby. She was in there. Waiting.

Jayne had flown as close as he dared to the towering space station. He was, he knew, just out of sensor range. Although not, he now thought nervously, out of reach of their weapons. Of course, he knew that it was very rare for the Alliance to fire on a ship without at least checking first who was onboard.

Rare, of course. But not impossible.

But now they were close, he knew what he had to do.

He looked down at his jacket, and began to pull it off his shoulders.

Simon, meanwhile, was sitting at the back of his shuttle, his eyes closed. The close atmosphere of the tiny shuttle had begun to overpower him over the preceding hour. But at he sensed movement from the big man, who was standing but a few metres from him, his eyes opened.

"So," he now muttered, his brow furrowing with curiosity as he watched the merc's muscular shoulders rotate as he shook off his coat. "What now?"

For a moment, Jayne said nothing. His thoughts were still wrapped in visions of her. He could swear he could almost feel her mind in his. She had to be there. A film of sweat had appeared on his brow. He needed her.

Presently, however, Simon's words filtered into his conciousness.

"We follow my chain of command," he growled in reply, as he also reached down to pull off his boots. "In that, you do whatever the hell I say."

Simon pressed his lips together. He had been uncomfortable from the very beginning about following Jayne. He was even more uncomfortable about trusting him. "Okay. But just tell me. Are we going somewhere? You see, I'm not sure I feel totally happy…."

"I don't care," muttered Jayne. As he spoke, he pressed a bundle of material into Simon's chest. "But put that on."

Simon looked at the merc. He could see from the bigger man's face, his mind was far from here. There was a grim determination – no, concentration on his face. But also – Simon could also see, ever so slightly – fear.

For a moment, the Doctor opened his mouth to speak again. To ask, what they were about to do. Or at least, what Jayne was about to do. But as he did so, he considered what on earth he could really say to improve his situation. He knew that he was, at this point, without ideas. He was also out of his depth.

For all of his medical training, he had no idea how they were going to get into that huge monolith without being killed.

He hated this man, this unsubtle,murderous brute. But at the same time, he knew in that moment that he had to follow him. For Jayne, he hated to admit, was in this instance, the man with the superior skill. No one could doubt Jayne's ability, afterall - to survive.

Furthermore, he also sensed that at the moment, that last thing Jayne needed were questions. For Simon had noticed how his big hands were ever so slightly shaking as he zipped up his new attire, and reached for his headgear.

So, despite his million questions and fears, Simon simply bit his lip, duly turned, and started to pull on his own suit. Within a few minutes, both were dressed.

At which point, Jayne suddenly turned to the smaller man, with a surprising look of vulnerability on his normally mean, dark face.

"Now," he said, in his trademark gravelly tone, "I think we already figured we don't like each other too much. However, when it comes t'playin' the hero, you best leave it to me. So when I tell you to say nuthin', do it. And when I tell you to move, do it. If you don't, could be the death of us both. Understood?"

Simon nodded, slowly. He could feel the tension in the air. It was filling the small shuttle, making him feel the initial panic of claustrophobia.

"For just a little while," Jayne was continuing, his voice trembling, "We gotta trust each other some. Jus' a bit. Now I don't like the gorram thought o' that, considering you're pretty much close to useless, unless some sommbitch got themselves shot, but it's the truth. The breakin' and enterin' is my gorram smarts, 'kay?"

Simon's mind started to race. Breaking and entering? But, he thought, we're nowhere near close enough to -

But even before he could form the thought, Jayne slammed his hand down on the shuttle's thrusters, propelling both them and the small shuttle directly towards the Alliance monolith.

Simon had vowed to remain quiet. But the shock was too much. "Jayne – "he started, but his voice was interrupted by the immediate crackling of the shuttle's comm.

"Unidentified C-class shuttle, please report…."

Simon glanced down at the helm, his eyes like saucers. "Jayne," he again blurted. "They've seen us! This is...stupid! What are you…?"

But the shuttle was still careering towards the station exterior. They were but a few hundred metres now form its shadowy hull. And, undoubtedly, its immense arsenal.

The doctor's eyes rose back up from the helm to his hulking shipmate. At which instant, Jayne grabbed him roughly around the neck, and lifted him off his feet. He then stepped towards his own comm, slammed it into life, and pressed Simon's face into the viewer.

Simon spluttered: "Let go -!"

But it was too late. Already he saw two grey-suited men peering back through the viewer at him, their eyes on stalks.

"Hey, you Feds," barked Jayne. "Jayne Cobb, here, with my good friend Simon Tam. Sister of River, you know, you're favourite freakin' moonbrain? Anyway, I've got this baby ship of mine aimed right at your life support hub."

Jayne roared his final words. "So you'd best start talkin' - or shoot us down."


From outside the ship, there was silence. The blackness, as ever, enveloped every sound. So not even a tiny whisper accompanied the view of the tiny shuttle, as it careered ever closer to the Alliance station.

The tiny shuttle, one moment flying, was suddenly met with a flash. A glowing line, pulsing from the looming towers, hit its underside. For a split second, there was nothing.

Then, a white explosion.


River Tam sat inside her cell, her eyes open, yet unseeing.

She opened her mouth, and screamed.