Chapter 6

Agent Hob stood at the bridge of the Alliance ship IAV Star Destroyer. It was the same type of ship the Operative had commanded, an Alliance frigate. An ensign in a gray Alliance uniform approached Hob.

"Sir, we lost contact with the drone," the ensign reported. Hob looked at him.

"Do we still have a lock on him?" Hob demanded.

"Yes, sir," the ensign replied.

"Take us there," Hob commanded.

"Yes, sir," the ensign echoed.

The door to Serenity's infirmary opened and, Kaylee and Mike, who had removed his vest, carried Simon to the table in the middle of the infirmary. Simon seemed unconscious but was moaning. Mal and Zoë followed, carrying Jayne to the counter table at the right side of the room. Jayne was conscious and screaming loudly. Inara followed them into the room. River stayed outside but looked into the room. Kaylee and Mike stood around Simon.

"Simon, can you hear me?" Kaylee asked, almost on the verge of tears.

"I can help. I have some medical training," Mike stated calmly. "Simon, listen to me." Simon's eyes opened slightly. "I need you to tell me what to do." His eyes started to close again. Mike forced them open with his fingers. "Don't go to sleep, okay." Simon's eyes closed anyway. Jayne was sitting up on the side table.

"Hey, what about me?" Jayne complained. "I got cut up."

"Quiet!" Mike yelled very loudly. There was silence. "Do you know what happens when you're stabbed in the stomach?" Jayne remained quiet. "His condition is serious. Just disinfect your wounds, bandage them up, and you'll be fine." Mal and Zoë walked over to Jayne to attend to him so he would not interrupt further. Mike tried to think. What did they tell me in emergency field surgery training? Mike thought. Mike grabbed Simon's shirt and ripped it open. The wound continued to bleed profusely. Mike thought for a while. He remembered, "Pressure. Kaylee, get a towel and some rubber gloves." Kaylee ran to a cabinet and removed a towel along with a pair of rubber gloves. She handed them to Mike. Mike put on the gloves and applied the towel to Simon's wound. "Get me some alcohol."

"You need something to drink," Jayne interrupted as Mal and Zoë wrapped his leg cuts.

"Rubbing alcohol," Mike restated angrily. "I don't drink anyway." Kaylee ran to a cabinet, pulled out a large bottle, and handed it to Mike. Mike looked at it. "This is a bottle of cognac." Jayne laughed.

"We couldn't find rubbing alcohol," Kaylee explained. Mike poured some cognac on the towel.

"Get a bandage and some surgical tape," Mike ordered. Kaylee went to another cabinet and got out the bandages and tape. She handed them to Mike. He removed the towel. He pressed the bandage onto Simon's wound and placed the tape over it. "Get a blanket." Kaylee got a blanket from one of the cabinets. Mike covered Simon with it. "He should be fine," Mike declared. Kaylee held Simon's hand. Mal faced Mike.

"Where did you learn to do that?" Mal demanded.

"In the Swiss Guard," Mike answered.

"That where you learned to shoot?" Mal requested.

"Pretty much," Mike answered casually.

"You never told me you had guns." Mike thought for a second.

"Well," Mike began, "A guy needs to protect himself, especially from murderous…." He looked for the right word. "Knife-wielding mutants. You guys have guns, too. Why can't I have any?"

"You can," Mal retorted. "It's just good to know if you do."

"Well, now you know," Mike stated.

The proximity alarm began to ring. Everyone appeared shocked.

"I'll take care of it," Mike stated. Mike began to exit the infirmary. Mal looked at him.

"We'll take care of it," Mall added. Mike faced Mal as he stood in the doorway.

"Okay then," Mike replied. He turned to Kaylee, "Oh, and Kaylee." Kaylee faced him. "Zip up Simon's fly." Mal followed Mike as he continued out of the infirmary.

Mal and Mike arrived at the bridge. Mike sat in his chair and activated the communications system to receive an incoming message. The video screen turned on. The image of Agent Hob appeared on it.

"Firefly transport Serenity," Hob stated calmly onscreen. "We know there is fugitives onboard your ship. Prepare to relinquish them."

"Sheng tyen," Mike expressed. Mal appeared worried.

"Where is it coming from?" Mal demanded while looking at the video screen. Mike had no need to check the console. He simply looked out the viewing screen.

"Right there, sir," Mike stated as he pointed through the viewing screen. Mal looked. The Alliance ship was right before them. "It's an Alliance frigate." Mal remained calm and then looked back at the video screen.

"I have no idea what you're talking about Mr.…," Mal told Hob.

"My name is not important. I'm not in the mood for mind games, Captain Reynolds," Hob stated still calm, unnaturally calm. "You have been transporting River Tam for more than eight months. I know of your exploits. You served in the Independent army in the war. You released the secret wave about Miranda. I met the Operative. I even killed him myself for his failure."

"And I guess you thought that gwai dan you sent would be more successful," Mal answered back.

"You're referring to the drone," Hob spoke. "He is not a 'freak' as you called him. He is the future. He will initiate a better world. All of them."

"Was," Mal added.

"I beg your pardon."

"He was the future," Mal explained. "We killed him." A look of realization appeared on Hob's face.

"That would explain the loss of contact. I never said he was perfect. He will need improvement," Hob added. "I must say, I've found this witty banter most entertaining, but we unfortunately have to end it. Prepare for docking and transfer of the fugitive." Mike looked at Mal.

"What do we do now?" Mike requested. Mal thought hard.

"Run," Mal ordered. Mike looked at him with uncertainty.

"You sure?" Mike asked fearfully. Mal looked at him with certainty.

"Yes, go!" Mal commanded. Mike shut off the video screen. He activated Serenity's controls and powered up her engines to full burn. He grabbed the radio.

"Hold on tight everyone. We're running," Mike warned.

In the black, Serenity floated before the sleek Alliance frigate. Serenity turned 90 degrees and shot away at full burn.

Gwai dan: Chinese "Freak"

Author's Notes: But what will happen next?