Chapter 3

The man that entered the office had been handpicked by Niska for his professional demeanor as well as the fact that this man's reputation put him as one of the best bodyguards not working outside of the Alliance.

Niska, being a man of respect, liked the give every guest his undivided attention, and put away the reciepts he was milling over to smile and welcome Harstrom.

"Sir, we've picked up a wake trail of a ship on the far side of the planet." Harstom was nervous. Harstrom was never nervous. This made Niska nervous. Niska hated to be nervous.

"And...?" he pressed.

"It's the wake trail of a Firefly class ship, sir. It matches one we have on records." Harstrom managed to compose himself after having finally given the news. Niska was one of unpredictable reactions, he's killed people for more pleasing information than what this inferred.

Niska stood at that moment. The anger radiating off of him more than ever. Harstrom couldn't help but wonder if maybe it wasn't anger, maybe it was fear.

Harstrom watched as Niska walked over to the large window overlooking the power generator to the complex. Niska was gripping the railing so tightly his knuckles were blanching. Without turning back he spoke.

His manner in which he spoke was halted. "Wait until they land. At which time, destroy their ship. No games this time. Kill them."

Serenity was a hundred kilometers off from touching down when River looked over to the pilot's seat. In Wash's old seat sat Mal. He'd been scared of when she'd look at him. For a moment he thought he was reading minds before he allowed himself to accept the severity of that look.

"Gorram son of a motherless," He trailed off and reached for the intercom. "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is going to be the fastest job we ever pulled, get into your stations, now!"

The bridge was too quiet in those moments.

Like we're Gorram waiting to die.

River looked back towards the cockpit window and applied more thrust. "Can't outrun a bullet, Captain."

Mal shot a look at the displays and saw nothing. "What are you bout, Alba-"

"We're here." Mal just looked at her. "Go! Now, we haven't much time." He jumped from the seat and ran to the cargo bay. From there he met up with Zoe and Jayne. Jayne looped both small crates over Mal's shoulder and Zoe opened the lock. Before Serenity had even set down Mal was taking taking the Mule out the lock. The hover vehicle roared across the field. Just 300 yards to the drop. He'd already been paid half, he just had to get to the meeting place and pick up the rest.

They had grappled with the idea of Jayne or Zoe, or even both, coming with him. He'd said no, they could stay at the ship and keep a watch on him. Their guns would do him better from there. As he also stated, he wasn't expecting any trouble from the drop and pickup. The trouble he expected was going to be coming from a completely different direction.

The computer registered that Mal was one hundred yards from Serenity when River's voice came over the intercom.

"Close the lock!" was all she said, and as she said it Serenity lurched upward, almost losing Jayne and Zoe out the back.

Zoe grabbed for the intercom, "What? Go back!"

"Gorramit Zoe! Look!" Jayne was pointing out the hatch as he lunged for the lock controls. Zoe dropped her hand from the comm when she saw the fast moving line of smoke. "That's no ship!"

The hatch closing, Zoe started running against inertia towards the stairs it was slow going and only the leaping of Serenity as she was hit by the missle stopped her from sliding back out the closing hatch.When the hatch closed she ran to Jayne who was lying on the ground bleeding. She checked his vitals and, when she was sure he was still alive, sprinted for the bridge.

"What the hel-"

"Been hit, port thruster, left atmo 3.4 seconds ago. In 6.7 seconds will have to conduct a hard burn to survive. Second missile incoming."

Zoe strapped herself in to the pilot's seat. Ignoring the fact that she had left the Captain behind. She did her duty and helped prep for the hard burn..