The yellow sliding door slid open easily allowing Mal admittance to the room that had once been the home of Dobson the Alliance mole, a year or so back. Now it held the healing form of Inara Serra, who was bathed in the pale light coming from the still open door.
Mal did want to wake her, so he didn't risk turning on an overhead light. He trusted that his eyes would soon adjust, but he was unsure if he really wanted them to. 'Cause seein' her back at the Training House had been bad enough. He was almost ready to believe that he was only here at the assistance of his first mate, but deep down he knew different. Mal let out a soft sigh as he moved towards the small bunk in which she lay.
He had always felt protective towards women, not because he saw women as weak; his own ma had certainly proved time and time again that women were far from weak. He felt protective towards women 'cause he couldn't stand to see them hurtin'. Didn't matter if his protectiveness brought a whole heap of trouble, or a good argument, or sisterly affection, or even a real good steely glare. He just didn't have the power to stop himself from being who he was, as much as he may try.
With these thoughts in mind Mal reached over and carefully placed a strand of Inara's thick hair behind her ear. Noticing as he did that the bruises on her face really were starting to fade, as Zoë had said earlier.
"I'm goin' on a job bao bei." He whispered softly, as his hand cupped her cheek. He had to admit that he was glad she was asleep so as to not hear the term of endearment. "Would do me a world 'a good to have you up and about when I get back."
Mal kneeled down beside the bed and took one of her small delicate hands in both of his rough ones. He couldn't help but believe that this would have never happened had he been able to keep her on Serenity instead of dropping her off at that Training House. A whole lot of good that little move had brought everyone. Inara had been beaten by savages then practically abandoned by her Guild. Kaylee had taken her departure hard takin' a while to become like her old self again. The rest of the crew had to deal with him, and as Mal looked back on the whole affair he had been none to pleasant.
He had never known how much the Companion had meant to him, till she was no longer there. No longer there to twist him about, or to make him angry over the stupidest things, nor to prevail to his conscience, it was like a small part of him had left when she did. He didn't know if it was a good part or not but it was still a part. A part he hoped would soon be getting back.
Mal didn't know how long he had knelt there studying her, looking so peaceful in her sleep. He knelt there long past the time when his knees went numb, stroking his thumb over her knuckles. Taking comfort in the soft sound of her breathing, and the feel of her pulse against his fingertips. He was so involved in his thoughts that he didn't hear his first mate come to stand just outside the door way.
Zoë knew that she was many things, but one of those things definitely wasn't stupid. Knowing this she stood off to the side of the door, not wanting to block the light flowing into the room just yet. She watched silently as her best friend and Captain knelt, head bowed as if in prayer, holding Inara's hand in his own. Zoë also knew that even though Mal certainly wasn't praying to any God he was praying just the same. Praying to the altar that was Inara, placing his faith in her. She just hoped that Mal wouldn't lose that belief as he had lost so many others.
Zoë stepped into the light, startling Mal out of his trance. "Hittin' atmo in less than ten minutes, sir." Her voice was hushed not wanting to wake Inara any more than Mal. "Everyone's assembled in the cargo bay." He only nodded in response.
Mal turned from Zoë's silhouetted form, back to Inara before releasing her hand and rising shakily to his feet, wincing as his legs protested the action. Almost with out thinking about it he placed a kiss to her forehead.
Zoë watched on silently, knowing that was the second time she had seen Mal kiss Inara's forehead in four hours he had been awake to do so. He may kiss Kaylee in the same way occasionally but never with the same tenderness he used with Inara. Ai ya, he's got it bad. Then the moment was over and he was striding over to the doorway shooing her out of the way so that he could slide the door closed.
"You might be needin' this, sir." Zoë said with something akin to a smile, tossing him his gun holster, which he caught one handed.
"Always seem to, no matter what plans I may have up my sleeve." He said with a grin, but his eyes weren't grinning, they were far from grinning. He silently strapped the holster around his hips, feeling the weight of the gun pressed securely to his thigh.
A blue-gloved hand reached out to adjust a dial on a screen thousand of kilometers away from Serenity. Turning over his shoulder he looked to his partner. "Even asleep she is of use."
"She is Malcolm Reynolds's greatest weakness. Inara Serra will crush the Rebels before a shot is fired."
"So y'all clear on what's to transpire?" Mal asked his crew gathered around him smiling when he saw nothing but nods of agreement. "Be back before nightfall dong ma? I don't particularly fancy coming to get ya."
At the press of a button sunlight streamed in through the slowly opening cargo doors, welcoming the crew of Serenity to the dust heap that was Lilac. Mal stepped out flanked on either side by Jayne and Zoë, with Book trailing behind. Wash drove the charred mule down the ramp with Kaylee sitting on the back, trying to keep her sundress from blowing around too much.
To the untrained observer it may have just been a rag tag transport crew headed into town for some much needed supplies but it was much more then that. The unsuspecting townsfolk of Lilac had a new breed of transport crew to contend with, the breed which acted as spies for the Independent high command.
Shepherd Book broke off from the group heading for the local church, the mule and her occupants headed to the general store, as the others continued towards the only bar in sight. There was work to be done.
Book let out a soft sigh as he stepped into the welcome peace that could only be brought on by a true place of worship. The peace that seemed to seep out of the walls to fill a person up with its goodness. A peace that Book planed on enjoying for a while before he got down to the work that the Captain had given him.
It wasn't that Book didn't believe in the Independent's cause, because he did. No one who had seen what he had could not believe. He had kept his past secret from the crew of Serenity not seeing the need to sully them with his burden, when they already were the bearers of so many. And this philosophy was not going to change anytime soon, if he could help it.
Book had been aware the second that the preacher had entered the room, but he did not look up from his prayer. A prayer that asked the Almighty one to watch over his friends. A prayer that begged for Inara to heal quickly from all her wounds not just the ones that marred her perfect skin. But above all it was a prayer for forgiveness for what he was about to do.
"I hope I am not disturbing you my friend." Book said rising from his kneeling position.
"Not at all, it is a pleasure to see another man of the cloth." The other man said coming to stand beside Book. "What brings you to such an out of the way moon as Lilac?"
"Just stopping through. Looking for peace, been on the run for a while." Book kept his voice even but allowed a bit of weariness slip into it. It was time to go to work. Book was testing the waters, without being too forward.
"I understand. Peace can be hard to find especially now a days." The local man seemed to understand the exactly what Book was up to. "Why don't you join me for a cup of tea in my study and we can discuss things further." He continued leading Book into a room off to the side of the church, shutting the door behind him.
"Please sit." The minister continued, himself taking a seat behind a wobbly looking desk. A simple nameplate declared that Rev. Michael Fin was the Pastor of this simple church.
"Thank you for the kind offer." Book said sitting down himself. Letting the silence lay, as Rev. Fin used a small hot plate to heat water for tea. There was no need to rush things. No need at all.
"Let us dispense with the pleasantries. What else brings you here?" Fin said pouring tea into two cups. "I want no trouble, I have done nothing to anger the Alliance."
Book took a sip of his tea thinking over how he wanted to continue this conversation. Deciding that he might as well take a little risk. "I have come to ask if you would be willing to do just that."
"Willing to do what?" Fin asked taking a sip of his own tea, his eyes widening slightly.
"Willing to anger the Alliance." Book sat his teacup down on the desk, wanting to have his hands free. "I did not lie when I said I was here to find peace. I am. But I am also here to see if you being a figurehead of this community would be willing to act as a contact for a local Independence cell."
To say that the other man was shocked by Book's admission would be an understatement. "I knew that people were not too content about the Alliance's recent actions but I was unaware that things had progressed so far." Book only nodded letting silence fill the room once more. Watching as the man across from him bowed his head in prayer.
After what seemed an eternity the man known as Michael Fin raised his head. "I will do what I must. I have no love for the Alliance and neither do the people of this moon."
Book nodded again reaching over to fill his cup with more tea. "We have much to discuss."
Wash parked the mule in front of the building that served as both general store, bank and security outpost. Not Alliance security not really, instead the were the Alliance hired local boys, but they were still posed a danger. Wash silently counted the security men, keeping a tally in his head. This was his part of the mission, well that and getting the supplies, and he didn't plan on failing at either part.
Kaylee jumped off the back of the mule with a big smile that was in no way an act. She was here to help with the supply getting but her smiling manner and pretty sundress were also going to be used to put people at ease and get some much-needed information. No one would ever suspect Kaylee of anything devious, nor would they suspect that she had a pistol hidden in a holster underneath her skirt. That was why she was perfect.
Stepping into the store both she and Wash looked around in wonder. It wasn't a wonder born of the fact that this store had anything special, it was more like a wonder that it looked exactly like all the other general stores in the 'verse, right down to the wood carved swans in the corner.
"I'm going to go look at the food." Kaylee said once she spotted the pears sparkling from the sunlight streaming through the windows.
"Sure thing, just remember to get everything on the list." Wash said doing his best to be cryptic, before he headed to look over fuel cells, silently adding another person to the tally going on in his head.
Kaylee was thoroughly enjoying a little time off Serenity. She loved the ship dearly but there was somethin' to be said about having real sunshine, and real fruit. She loaded nine pears into the whicker basket she carried, thankful that the small paycheck from the Browncoats allowed them the indulgence. Heading over to the protein packs she smiled at the woman looking them over.
"Hey, beautiful day ain't it?"
The woman looked up and she didn't look too pleased. "That may be the case but I don't see why you're so happy." She grumbled.
"Why not be happy?" Kaylee asked adding some of the protein packs to her basket.
"Look at the price of this go se. Alliance don't got no right to raise the prices again." The other woman continued angrily. Kaylee's smile disappeared, seeing that the price was in fact much higher than the last time they had picked up supplies.
"I see you're point. I don't think that they got any right to be messin' with people's lives like they do." Kaylee hoped that the other woman would take her bait, saving her from having to think up another way of getting the information she wanted.
"That's right, glad to see that outsiders are startin' to agree with us. People round here been tryin' to get rid of the no good meddlers ever since the war." Now it was time for Kaylee to be bold.
"Many round these parts support the Alliance?" She asked as innocently as she could, adding a small smile.
"Nah, only the rich landlords, and the families of them that works in security but not even them sometimes." Kaylee's smile deepened. She looked around the store to ensure that no one had overheard the conversation, seeing that Wash was already at the counter paying for the fuel cells.
She picked up a few more protein packs before nodding to the woman. "It's been nice talkin' to ya but I gotta head out. Bye!" If the woman thought much of Kaylee's sudden departure she said nothing. Only returned to grumbling about the rising prices of things that were necessary for living.
Kaylee met up with Wash at the counter, looking over the things that he had picked up making sure that they were what Serenity needed. "Get everything?" Wash asked as she placed her own items next to his.
"Yup, even got us something special." She continued unloading the pears.
"Are those real pears?" Wash asked with what could only be called excitement.
"Yup, one for each of us." Kaylee smiled as she handed the clerk the money to cover the goods, sighing a bit as she noticed how little money was left over. The clerk placed the fuel cells in a box, and Kaylee returned the food to her basket. "We best get back to the ship 'fore the Captain does."
Mal surveyed the bar quickly. Noticing that it was the perfect place for a meeting you wanted no one to notice. It was dark, dirty and had the capacity to drown out all conversation that wasn't going on at your particular table. He also noticed a man matching the description of their contact lounging at a table in the back of the room.
"Look's like he's our guy." Mal said softly. "Jayne, I want you to stay put by the door. Zoë you're with me." At his words he and Zoë walked further into the darkness.
Mal took a seat at the table stopping a barmaid to order a glass of whisky. Zoë took up a watch stand at his back, keeping a careful eye on the other bar patrons.
"You be Malcolm Reynolds?" The scruffy man across the table from Mal asked.
"That all depends on who's askin'." Mal looked warily at the man across from him, not liking the fact that the man's hands were not on the table. He didn't like not being able to see what the other man's hands were doing, but two could pay at that game. Mal fingered the gun in his holster.
"Name's Bob. Bob Mitchell. I'm lookin' to do some business. If you be Malcolm Reynolds that is?"
"I'm him. What can I do for you?" Mal asked Bob, taking his glass of whisky from the barmaid, but keeping his eyes on the man sitting across from him.
"Good, good. Didn't want to end up killin' the wrong man." Bob, if that was his real name, said as a shot rang out through the bar. Mal started to draw his pistol only to stop when pain flared in his stomach. Gut shot, why am I always gut shot? He silently asked himself as he heard the shot from Zoë's sawed off shotgun.
Mal noticed with some satisfaction that the man was dead instantly a big bloody hole in his chest. "I think that we best be going." Mal said to Zoë as he let her help him out of the chair, his hand trying rather uselessly to stop the bleeding from the belly wound.
"Life's never dull with you is it, sir." Zoë said motioning for Jayne to support Mal's other side as they half carried him out of the bar, past the many shocked customers.
Mal closed his eyes once they reached the outside, weather it was from the sun hitting his eyes or the wave of pain that washed over his body he didn't know. Didn't particularly care either.
Zoë noticed that Wash and Kaylee were just leaving the general store up the road. "Wash, bring the mule." She yelled her voice leaving no room for question.
"Coming honey." Was his only reply. He didn't want to know why Zoë and Jayne seemed to be supporting Mal. He hadn't heard any gunshots but then again the store was far enough from the bar that they wouldn't have heard them anyway. "Hop on Kaylee. Looks like we're needed."
"Somethin' happen?" Kaylee's earlier smile was gone to be replaced with a worried frown. The mule took no time at all to reach the front of the bar. "Cap'n you ok?" Kaylee asked worriedly.
"Right as rain, lil' Kaylee." Mal answered planting a fake smile on his face and trying his best to keep the pain out of his voice. Wash shared a glance with Zoë her eyes telling him everything that he needed to know. It was bad.
"Best pick up the preacher and get off this gorram moon." Jayne said speaking for the first time, as he helped Mal lay down on the back of the mule.
"Hope I'm not going to be needin' a preacher, Jayne." Mal said not even bothering to try and keep the pain out of his voice this time. He blinked his eyes as the mule started into motion trying to stop the dizziness that was taking over. Zoë who was trying to stop the blood that was flowing over her hands and the cloth that she held pressed to the Captain's stomach, felt him still. She looked up into his face just in time to see Mal's eyes roll back into his head.
