"Let him go!" she cried as she struggled against the man restraining her.

The other man, the one restraining Mal, laughed and held the barrel of his gun flush against Mal's head. Mal was close to passing out. She could see it on his handsome face. The muscular arm across his throat was blocking his airflow. He tried to fight back, but each attempt got exponentially weaker and weaker…

"Say goodbye," the man cackled.

He cocked the hammer, his finger poised on the trigger.

"I…love…you…" Mal choked out.

-Bang- the shot rang out in the dry air. His body fell onto the floor in a puddle of scarlet blood and all of the light drained from his eyes.

River sat up with a jolt. Her eyes darted around the bunk. It felt like her heart was beating eight hundred times faster than it should, although she knew that would be medically impossible because she would be dead. She was literally trembling from the disturbing nightmare.

Mal felt her sit up suddenly. Even in the darkness he could see that she was shaking. He sat up and cautiously put his arm around her. She turned towards him and then frantically reached out for him. He put his arms around her and brought her onto his lap. She clung to him and buried her face in his chest. He felt her ragged breathing.

"Nightmare I take it," he whispered soothingly.

She nodded and then put her hands on either side of his face. She looked at him carefully to assure that it was just a dream before going back to holding onto him. He ran his hand up and down her back tenderly in an attempt to bring some sort of comfort to her. She had only had a few nightmares in all of the time that they were together, but they were never like this.

"Just a dream, darlin'…just a dream…"

She seemed to relax a little bit. He could feel her tears running down his chest. He was trying to figure out what to say to make things better.

"It doesn't matter," she whispered. "I just like hearing your voice."

He smiled and kissed the top of her head.

"Did I ever tell you about the time I was dared to ride a bull in a dress?"

"No," she said with a faint smile.

"Well, it all started back on Shadow…"

He continued to go through the story. He was able to get her laughing. He settled back down with her still pressed perfectly to his chest while finishing the story. She snuggled closer to him and then shut her eyes. He kept quietly talking until she fell back asleep. He joined her just shortly thereafter.

They stayed in bed until the alarm went off and then they got ready for the day together. Sharing a bunk felt right. It was almost natural, like they had always been.

"I hope there are some good insects on this planet," River sighed as she checked on Daisy.

"There will be. This place is similar to Greenleaf, and they have critters all over. Speakin' of critters, make sure Daisy eats them. I don't want the little things all in our bunk."

"Maybe I could get a pet cricket! They're good luck," she said mischievously.

"An albatross is a ship's good luck, and we already have one. We don't need any more good luck…" he smiled at her. She got still got butterflies every time he did.

They went up and joined everyone for breakfast. They landed on Cholris just an hour later outside of Karpos.

"I'm going to go wander around to get a feel for the area. Besides, Daisy needs some more insects to eat."

"Not alone you ain't," Mal replied. River gave him a classic River look. "I'm gonna go with you."

"I can handle myself, Mal."

"I know that. I'd feel more comfortable if I went with you is all."

"Okay. You can help me bug hunt."

His mouth opened to protest, but then snapped shut. He shook his head and followed her out into the crisp morning air.

"Consider this recon," River muttered as they walked through the town.

It was a mix of old town charm and modern technology. There were trees everywhere and all sorts of plant life. People walked around, some of them carried baskets of food with children in tow and others looked more like businessmen.

They blended into the crowd and used the business as a cover while they approached the warehouse/sawmill. They stopped at a fence. They were close enough to see everyone going in and out but far enough away to remain unknown.

"See that white card sticking out of his pocket?" River asked. Mal squinted, but made out the tiny white card in the man's pocket.

"Yeah."

"Everyone that has come through that entrance has one. They're the workers. Do you see the men going around the other side of the building?"

Mal watched as a few large men carrying logs walking around and then vanishing behind the building.

"Sure do."

"They don't have the cards, but they're being let in. I picked up on a stray thought. The man in the dark red shirt is an independent contractor with Strong-arm's lumber company. I think that an independent contractor will be the perfect cover."

"I take it you already have the beginnings of a plan?"

"I'm starting to, yes."

"Let's go back to the ship to work out the details."

They got up after River snatched a black bug and put it in a tiny box she brought along. She got a few more insects on the way back.

"Independent contractor?" Jayne asked.

"Yes. They sell their wood to Strong-arm's company, but don't work for exclusively. If they want to, they can sell their logs to anyone."

"How can we use this to our advantage? Shouldn't we get a little more information?" Zoe asked.

"I have a plan for that. There's a bar we passed. I picked up a few thoughts and most of them were from lumberjacks. We go in, pose as newcomers to the planet looking for work as a lumberjack. We'll see what we can find out."

"What makes you think they's gonna talk?" Jayne asked.

"If they don't, I could still pick it up from their minds. Either way, we'll get what we need."

"Sounds good," Zoe sighed.

"Yeah I guess," Jayne grunted.

"Let's get movin' then. We have crime to do," Mal said happily.

The bar was small, dirty, and shady to say the least. It was full of men, most of which were already totally drunk despite the fact that it wasn't even noon yet. River thought that it would best if they split up and went in at different times. Jayne and Mal went in first to make sure it was okay for River and Zoe to come in. Then Zoe went in followed by River.

The men all watched River gracefully float up to the bar alone. She sat next to a big man that was slightly inebriated. His thoughts were loud and he'd talk easily thanks to the liquor.

He watched her as she swung one leg over the other.

"Eddie, give the lady a drink on me. Wha…what would ya like?" the man asked with a bit of a slur.

"One of whatever you're drinking."

The man smiled lopsidedly. "I'm Charlie. Who might youuu beeee?"

"Roxy."

"Hi Roxy. What brings a lady like you intoo a place like this?"

"I just moved her from Greenleaf with my brother. He's trying to find work. I just felt like a drink."

"I always feel like a drink. I like a woman that drinksss."

"So tell me, Charlie, what do you do?"

"Women…what about you?"

"No, what do you for work."

"Oh, oh. Right. Work. I contract with lumber companies all 'round."

"Do you know anything about Strong-arm Lumber? My brother looked into work there, but he isn't sure about it."

"Yeah, yeah. I contract with 'em. The employees are treated like sh-shit. The private contractin's the way ta go."

"What can you tell me about it? I'd really like to stay on this planet…" she asked with a sweet smile.

"Well, you call 'em up and say, 'hey I gots lumber' and they say, 'how much' and all that shit. If they like what you've got, they set up a time fer ya ta come on by and drop of the goods. They look at 'em and ya negotiate on a price. Ya get paid, and that's that."

"So you set it up ahead of time? No walk ins?"

"Nope. It's all set up. Strong-arm is a pain in my ass. I hate dealin' with him. I'd suggest Carol Brothers 'cross the way. They's good people."

"Thanks for the help," she picked up her drink and drank it all down in one gulp. "And the drink, Charlie."

Mal had been watching River. He wasn't happy that she was flirting with another man. It was getting under his skin.

"Let me buy ya another," Charlie said.

"I better not."

"Na, na, naaaa stay awhile. I need a drinkin' buddy. 'Specially one that looks like you."

"Thank you, but I have to go."

He watched as she walked away. He shook his head and ordered another drink. River motioned towards Mal who in turn motioned towards Zoe who motioned towards Jayne.

"He says that private contractors with Strong-arm need appointments," River began.

"So we'll set one up," Mal shrugged.

"We'll need logs," Zoe continued.

"I think Jayne and I can manage."

"Contractors mostly work alone. You can't go in together. It'll look suspicious," River warned.

"Jayne looks the part. Do you think you can handle it?" Mal asked.

"Yeah. Maybehaps I could sell the logs and we could get somethin' outta this other than Badger…"

"We'll talk about that later. Go get some axes and I'll meet you back here with the mule," Mal ordered.

Jayne walked away into town for the axes and they headed back to the ship.

"So what was his name?" Mal asked.

"Whose?"

"The guy you were chattin' up at the bar."

River laughed and put her arms around him. "Somebody's jealous."

"Don't turn this around! You were chattin' him up too!"

"For information, information."

"How would you like it if I flirted with another woman?"

"See? You're jealous."

"I have trees to chop, darlin'. I have to go."

He climbed into the mule. River pulled him down and kissed him.

"I love you."

"I love you more, sweetheart. No flirtin' while I'm gone."

She smirked and he went off to chop down some trees. They were out all morning cutting down the trees and loading the logs up on the mule. They came back exhausted, sweaty, and dirty but with the logs. They set up the appointment for that night. The rest of the plan was worked out and then they waited for nightfall. River got a bad feeling. Her nightmare replayed in her head as the job came closer and closer. A sense of fear and dread pooled in her gut as they started the walk to Strong-arm's warehouse and sawmill. It was time for action.