Wash and Zoe were lying down on a cot. Zoe was on top of her husband staring into his eyes but Wash's thoughts were elsewhere.
"So that was Mal's Mom?"
"She gave birth to him if that's what you mean. Been by Captain's side for years now not once did he mention his family. They do seem alike though."
"I just can't picture him coming out of the womb so much as shooting his way out."
"Way I see it is we all start out the same, living changes us."
"You mean the war changed him."
"A lot of things changed after that."
"Where do you think he is?"
"Dead or being tortured. Probably the same thing that will happen to us."
"Before that happens may I kiss upon my autumn flower?" Wash said as Zoe came down for a few kisses.
Wash then pushed her away and looked across the room. He motioned with his eyes and Zoe turned to see Jayne staring at them. They had forgotten in the midst of their conversation how small their prison cell was.
"Jayne do you mind?" Zoe asked.
"Just act like I ain't here." Jayne said with hopeful enthusiasm.
"Well that severely killed my mood." Wash said looking at his wife.
"Guys Please! Niska has Mal; don't you think we should be coming up with an escape plan?" Inara asked pacing across the room.
"They took our guns what do you want us to do?" Jayne yelled.
"And no Jayne nobody is going to get naked!" Wash said crushing Jayne's hopes.
Two guards came down the hall and stopped at the cell doors. One of the guards was carrying Jayne's Gun, Vera. He pointed his newly acquired gun at the prisoners.
"Niska wants to see the companion." One of them said.
The guards escorted Inara out with a great deal of force, locked the cell back up and began walking away.
"If you hurt her I'll kill you!" Jayne yelled to the guards.
"That was rather pleasant of you." Wash was surprised.
"I was talking about my gun." Jayne said with a tear forming in his eye.
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Inara was taken to a small room with a table and two chairs facing each other. Niska sat in one the other was for her. As Inara set down Niska stood and bowed in respect.
"I wouldn't take you for having manners, Mr. Niska." She said trying not to show any fear.
"You know me by reputation alone not fact. I have many layers, Ms.?"
"Just Inara. I can think of another way to describe you."
"Not good words you have, I think."
Inara rubbed her arm where a guard had grabbed her.
"Are you hurt?"
"Your guards were anything but gentle."
"I fix that. Toth can you come in here for a moment." Niska talked into an intercom.
One of his guards came into the room; Niska pulled out a gun and shot the man in the gut. He fell to the ground and backed his way to the wall. Niska stood and walked over to his guard. He shot him in the head.
"As you can see I tolerate very little from my guards."
"I assume you know the punishment for killing or abusing a registered companion."
"I do. There are other forms of torture, you know this yes? I could make you my personal companion."
"Where's Mal?"
"Ohhh I sense something in your voice. Could it be love? Don't worry they are being transported to my ship as we speak."
"What do you want from me?"
"I'm looking for something, maybe you have seen them? A pair of red jewels, the eyes of a cat."
"I don't have a clue of what you are talking about."
"Your friends will tell me soon enough."
Inara prayed that Mal was faring better than her.
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Malcolm Reynolds and his mother were being flown to Niska's spaceship. The guards had handcuffed them together and were guarding them rather closely.
"Is this really necessary?"
"We have to make sure you two won't escape."
"We're thousands of feet in the air." Mal said with no response from his captor.
"I can't believe you got us into this!" Lo said with anger.
"Me? You're the one that took a job from Niska full well knowing the kinda man he is." Mal yelled.
"Do you have a plan to get us out of this mess?" Lo wondered.
"Don't need one." Mal said as he waited for the guard to turn his back.
Right then Mal swung his handcuffed wrist, pulling his mother's wrist also, around the man's neck. As they strangled him to death their victim fired off numerous shots killing the pilot and wounding the other guard. The ship suddenly went in to a dive knocking Malcolm and his mother off their feet. They both muttered a few swear words in Chinese as they looked out the front window. The ground was coming up fast and they had no time to find parachutes. Mal turned to lead his mother back to the middle of the plane when the wounded guard pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the gut. Mal pulled the knife from his body and punched out the guard. He looked down at his hand, it was covered in blood. The ship then crashed to the ground.