The lowering ramp gradually revealed a busy, brightly lit hangar deck and a foursome of brown uniforms, armed but not aiming, standing there waiting.
"Malcolm Reynolds?" said one.
Mal blinked at the sound of his name. "That'd be me." he answered warily.
The man nodded. "Commodore wants to talk to you."
"Right." things were happening awfully fast and not according to expectation. "Mind if I bring my second?"
"Zoe Alleyne? By all means."
Now it was Zoe's turn to blink, she shot an uncertain glance at Mal who gave her a microscopic shrug in return.
"It's Washburn now." Wash said pointedly.
Man looked at him expressionlessly. "My husband." Zoe explained, a little too quickly. As off balance and nervy as Mal himself.
"This way." was all the man had to say.
"Stay here. Don't do anything stupid." Mal prison-yard mumbled to the rest, then followed with Zoe.
"We supposed to just stand here waiting?" Jayne demanded.
"That's what the man said." said Shepard.
"If they're Browncoats they're bound to be friendly to the Captain and Zoe," Kaylee said hopefully, then uncertainly; "aren't they?"
"Sounded like they were expecting him." Margot observed.
"They were." said River, eyes slightly unfocused. "They want him - Zoe too - not the rest of us."
"That's real encouraging." Jayne muttered.
"Captain'll take care of us." Kaylee said with conviction.
Jayne snorted.
Shepard Book eyed the goings on beyond in the hanger, watchful and wary.
Simon watched too, edgy and scared.
Inara sat down on a crate, folding her hands in her lap, prepared to wait. River folded down to sit cross-legged at her feet.
Kaylee wandered over to the hatch control, started stroking it as if for comfort.
Margot went back to her horses.
Wash stood in the hatchway staring after his wife, a worried look creasing his face.
And Jayne prowled around, muttering to himself and working his fists.
Nobody did anything stupid.
...
Mal and Zoe found themselves walking through spit-and-polish corridors not unlike those of an Alliance cruiser 'cept for the brown uniforms everywhere. Independent insignia showed on jackets and walls, Mal knew he should feel right at home - so why didn't he? looked at Zoe, she wasn't easy either. What was wrong here?
They came to a big office with a heavy-set, white haired man sitting behind a big desk looking at a screen. He glanced up and clicked it off as they entered. Mal and Zoe stood stiffly in front of him while their escort fanned out to stand easy on either side of the door.
The Commodore gave each of them a considering once over, then smiled in a wintry sort of way. "Malcolm Reynolds, formerly sergeant first class 57th Overlanders. A man of some ability according to your record, would have gone higher except for 'displine' issues."
"Never did learn not to talk back." Mal said, guarded.
"But with a rare knack for inspiring loyalty," the Commodore glanced at Zoe, "and a gift for strategy that was little short of genius." he smiled some more. "You've developed into quite a ship-handler too. If it's any comfort your tactic would have worked, Captain, we wouldn't have bothered to go back for a minor freighter if we hadn't been so interested in you."
"Me?"
The old man nodded. "You're one of us, Reynolds, one of the ones who didn't surrender. You and your corporal here. Time you got back into the fight."
Mal didn't like the glitter in the man's eyes, t'was too close to madness for comfort. "War's over, sir. We lost."
The Commodore shook his head. "Wrong, sergeant. The bastard politicos caved, betrayed us. You know, they left you to rot in Serenity Valley while they made deals to cover their asses."
Mal swallowed an old anger. It was Zoe who answered. "Yes, sir, they did."
"This combat group did not surrender, and over the years we've been joined by others like yourself, Reynolds. Our war goes on." Mal opened his mouth and the Commodore held up a hand. "Yes, sergeant, I know what you're going to say. No we can't win," his smile turned ugly, "but we can hurt the enemy and go on hurting him until we die. Don't tell me that doesn't appeal to you, Reynolds."
Mal took a deep breath. "It does a bit." he said cautiously. "We've been living on the raggedy edge these last years, haven't we, Zoe?"
"Yes, sir we have." she answered obediently, getting the message.
The Commodor thumbed a control, looking sane again. "Let's see. You have a pilot - Corporal Alleyne's husband I see - and a damn good one too."
"Thank you, sir." said Zoe.
He nodded graciously and continued: "A Kaywinnit Lee Frye as mechanic...she doesn't seem to have any kind of accreditation - "
"Natural talent, sir." Mal said quickly. "Couldn't keep Serenity in the air without her."
"Mmm...and what exactly does this Jayne Cobb do?"
"Muscle, sir." that was Zoe. "Comes in handy from time to time."
"I see." the Commodore clicked off the screen. "Welcome to the Diehard fleet, Captain Reynolds, Officer Alleyne. You may return to your boat and await orders."
Mal drew on old memories and snapped a salute, Zoe following suit. "Yes, sir! Thank you, sir!"
"Show the Captain to the hanger, Saidi." said the Commodore eyes back on his screen.
A Browncoat stepped forward from the row flanking the door. "This way, sir."
A fivesome of Browncoats came marching purposefully across the hangar towards Serenity.
"I think we're about to have company." said Shepard.
Simon swallowed nervously and moved back close to his sister. Inara stood up, Jayne stopped pacing and Margot came out from her horses.
The soldier boys marched aboard and one, in officer's pips, gave them an indifferent once over then glanced at a palm padd. "Washburn, Frye, Cobb."
"Yeah?" said Jayne warily.
He nodded. "Over there."
Jayne wasn't one for taking orders - 'specially from strangers - but this crew was armed. Besides Mal'd said to do nothing 'stupid' and for once Jayne was in full agreement with his judgment. He took a hold of Kaylee with one big hand, and Wash with another and moved them with him off to the side.
Indifference turned to cold distaste as the officer turned his attention to the passengers. "Shepard Derrial Book; Registered Companion Inara Serra; Dr. Margot Reyer -" his eye hit Simon. "Who's this?"
Simon opened his mouth but nothing came out.
"Our medic." Jayne said from his place across the hold. "The girl's his sister."
The officer glanced back at his padd. "Not on the manifest."
Jayne shrugged. "Yeah, well, Cap'n isn't much for paper work."
Officer's eyes narrowed. "Center folk?"
Simon managed to scrape up some words. "We're from Osiris, if that's what you mean."
The man sneered. "And loyal citizens of the Alliance no doubt." he made some entries. "Right. We've got use for a Medic - and maybe a Shepard. As for the women." he looked them over. "The Companion should bring a good price, the girl too, the old one isn't worth selling, put her in the brothel."
Margot swelled with indignation. "I beg your pardon!"
Book put a quick hand on her arm. "Quiet, woman."
Soldiers stepped forward, cutting Inara from the group. River clung to her brother in fright.
"You can't do this," Simon babbled, "she's just a kid, she's sick -"
"Looks okay to me." the officer said, indifferent as ever. "Get over with the Shepard and the old woman."
If looks could kill the young man would have dropped dead at that moment, but Margot managed to restrain her tongue - barely.
"Don't leave me, Simon!" River cried, clinging and beginning to panic.
"I won't, I won't." Simon promised, every bit as frantic. "Don't you understand, she's my sister -" and one of the guards clubbed him to the deck with the butt of his rifle.
River screamed. So did Kaylee; "Simon!"
Jayne blocked her forward charge with an outflung arm. "Nothing we can do, lil' girl."
"But -"
Wash put a pair of comforting hands on her shoulders. "Jayne's right, honeychile." blinked. "Did I just say that?"
"Cap'n said to do nothing stupid." Jayne finished grimly but his gaze resting on the soldier boys wasn't friendly at all.
Inara gathered in the sobbing River as a pair of 'em started herding her and the girl out the hatch. "Shhhh...it's all right...I'll take care of you sweetheart."
Shepard and Margot bent over Simon. He stared glassily up at them, stunned but not out.
"Can you walk, son?"
"Better, I'm not carrying him." Margot muttered. "Not worth selling!"
"Margot, please!" Shepard helped Simon sit up. "That's right son, on your feet."
"River..."
"Inara is with her. She'll be all right."
"For the moment." said Margot.