Serenity: Icarus Orbit

The shuttle detached from Serenity's hull and arced around the moon toward the planet below. The shuttle met the atmosphere and fire exploded around it, lapping at the metal. Head resting on his umbrella, the Doctor watched the fire lick harmlessly at the window. The harsh orange light played across his face, and for a moment he seemed somehow inhuman. He didn't look different, but he felt older, dangerous. Jayne didn't have the words to describe it, but he clutched Vera a little tighter.

"Quite a weapon," the Doctor said, eyes still on the fire. "Looks like a Callahan full-bore auto lock, with a customized trigger and double-cartridge thorough-gage.

Jayne looked up surprised. "I call her Vera."

"You named your gun…how interesting."

"You got a problem with that?"

"No," the Doctor smiled. "I named my telephone box."

"Huh," Jayne said.

"Never mind."

In the cockpit, Mal turned and looked over at Zoe. "Telephone box," he mouthed. Zoe just shrugged, as if to say-"no idea, sir." Then with a shudder, the shuttle cleared the atmosphere. Icarus was a barren world, barely above a rock. No plants or animals, the terraformers hadn't made it out this far. Mal landed the shuttle about five miles away from Sefton's base.

"Right," said Mal after they'd all stepped out. "Let's do us some crime."

"Just don't forget where we parked," the Doctor said smiling, and then he was off, walking faster than he had any right to. The other three had to hurry to catch up. In the distance there was a clap of thunder.

Icarus Station

Sefton sat at his desk, huddled over the printouts. There had to be another way. The Doctor had sealed the box up tight, damn him! Almost twenty years of research made useless. He banged his hand on the table making it jump. He took a deep breath. There had to be some calculation he hadn't tried, some substitute. He went over to the cabinet and poured himself a drink. His mind was lost in the numbers.

"Excuse me, sir." The voice was hesitant. "Sir?" Sefton turned and regarded the technician coldly.

"Yes?"

"The box is open, sir."

"What," Sefton asked shocked. "When?"

"We just noticed it now. Mr. Hayes thought you'd want to know in person."

"More like he didn't want to explain in person, why I'm only finding out now. Begin preparations, plug the box in, and bring Ms. Ace. We need a new biological element. She'll do nicely.

The Doctor wasn't even sweating. A five-mile walk and he wasn't the least bit out of breath. Even Zoe had sweat on her brow.

"Where about's them ground defenses Doc?"

"I told you I'd take care of them." The Doctor reached into his pocket and pulled out a little black device. It was blinking green. "This creates a stasis field around us, his scanners pass right around us. With a casual flick of the wrist he tossed it to Jayne. "Don't drop it," the Doctor grinned.

"So, that's the state of the art base, huh?" Mal pointed at the horizon. There sat four small buildings. They looked like a slight breeze would nock them over.

"No, it's underneath." The Doctor stopped suddenly. "See," he said pointing. The air duct sat inconspicuously among the dust and rocks. The Doctor poked the griddle experimentally. "Yes," he muttered. "this will do." A high-pitched whine rang out as he set to work with the sonic screwdriver. After a few seconds he signaled and Zoe leaned over. Together they pulled the griddle lose. It was pitch black; no way of knowing how far down it went.

"I ain't going down that," Jayne said.

"No? But we're already late for a very important date." He tossed them each a tiny little device. "Attach it to your boots and you'll float all the way down. I think." Then with a tip of the hat, the Doctor jumped and vanished into the blackness.

"I ain't never floating again,' Jayne said. Mal waved him quiet. They moved cautiously through the sterile white halls. Zoe was in the lead. It was a maze; none of the doors had signs. Zoe thought they were heading in the general direction. She'd studied the Doctor's schematics before they left. Still, all the hall looked the same. Then the alarms began to sound.

"Just once I'd like for a job to go right." Mal sighed. "Doc," he turned. The Doctor was gone. Mal cursed. The alarms blared.

"What the hell is going on," Sefton roared. The control center was filled to capacity. His gaze fell upon the security chief.

"Sorry sir, but my men just reported in. The prisoner has escaped."

"Are you telling me that Ms. Ace is gone?"

"Yes sir," the man said nervously.

"What's your name," Sefton asked softly.

"Um, Jason, sir. Jason Gardner."

"Thank you Jason," Sefton pulled out a gun and fired a single shot. Jason fell to the ground dead. Sefton smiled cruelly. "That is how incompetence is rewarded. Mr. Hayes find that girl and plug her into the machine. Anyone have anything else to report?"

"There's a storm coming top-side," someone piped up.

"I don't want a gorram weather report. I want the machine up and ready by…storm, huh?" Sefton paused. "Scan the base, I think we might have guests."

"Her cell is this way, sir" Zoe pointed to the right.

"We're humped Mal, we got to fly."

"We do the job first. Cover me." They burst into the cell guns drawn. Sefton smiled at them. "Hello Captain," he said. "I'm afraid the little birdie flew away Captain, maybe you should have told her you were coming." Malcolm looked around. There were about twelve guns on him.

"Huh," he said.