Serenity had visited many planets in the Verse, from the core to the outermost, but Persephone was the most frequented. It had a nearly 'Earth-that-was' like gravity and a climate much like its northern central plains. But it was Persephone's location at the juncture of the resource rich rim and the populous core that made it so appealing.
Many planets claimed to be like in make-up and climate to Earth-that-was. Some even claimed that they were the fabled planet. Of those the nearest to truth was beautiful, lush green and highly technological Harvest, Kaylee's home. The size, density, water content, land characteristics, pretty much everything was spot on. Persephone by contrast was mostly high desert and ranch land, much like Mal's home planet Shadow had been.
Truth be told, it was not hard to find Earth-that-was. Its location was well documented if you took the time and trouble. It was not the finding that was difficult; it was the believing once you saw it that you hadn't made some sort of navigation mistake. Seeing the complete devastation of a planet that was akin to Eden in legend sent most explorers into denial.
Persephone was a far cry from Earth-that-was, or even from Harvest for that matter, but it was the place where fortunes were being made, where the adventurous were becoming rich and where rogues could become respectable. It was the perfect mix of civilized and wild. It also was the home to Eavesdown spaceport, a near perfect way station for a freighter like Mal's Serenity.
Perhaps it was its similarity to Shadow that drew Mal back to Persephone, or perhaps it was the wild nature and promise of better that attracted him. Persephone may not have been home, but it was one of the few places left where he felt at home. That was surely now in jeopardy.
The captain now stood in Serenity's galley over his trembling engineer, a hand on each of her shoulders to calm her, his attention focused on her rambling. Kaylee sat at the table stammering as she recited her story, the spare Asperator still held in one hand while a beautiful evening dress adorned the other. She tried to explain what had happened and why they were late, still a bit flustered by the whole ordeal.
"Slow down Kaylee, tell me again. Why did these guys jump you?"
"They wanted our blue dragons." River answered from across the room, spinning in her new dress.
"The store owner thought they wanted to rob us." Kaylee continued. "But don't they usually ask 'for they try and stick you, Cap'n?"
"They do, if that is what they're after. No need for killin."
"But River put a stop to them real quick like."
"Good girl." Mal nodded.
"You think they just wanted to kill us, Cap'n?"
"I surely do, but I don't know why." He said looking down at the deck. "Badger seems to think we witnessed something we shouldn't have seen."
"The sad atoms." River stated assuredly, waving her hand to the air around then. "They were running away."
"No River, no." Zoe said, still trying to raise Jayne on the Com. "Something to do with the Parliament and the Reavers. Badger wasn't too specific."
"You think maybe it was that Minister that got killed yesterday?" Kaylee said innocently.
River was nodding emphatically. "The atoms."
"Minister? What Minister?" Mal looked confused.
"Gee Cap'n, it's been all over the cortex. All they been talking about all day. At Gunter's, at the dress shop, even the fuelin station. Supposed to be comin in at Landsdown, you know, like all the important folks. But he didn't show. Ambushed by pirates or some such."
"Landsdown you say?"
"Yes Cap'n."
"We weren't nowhere near the Landsdown entry?" Mal pondered this information while River wandered away toward the bridge.
"Think they was maybe the same pirates that attacked us, Cap'n?"
"Not sure Kaylee." Mal had too many things on his mind right now, but chief on his mind now was the welfare of his crew, mainly Inara. Attacking him he halfway understood, plenty of folk might do that, but they attacked Kaylee and River. It couldn't be a coincidence. "But you're both Ok? Neither of you hurt?"
"Right as rain, Cap'n." River said, mimicking Kaylee and spinning into a curtsey.
"Why do we bother giving them the Com units?" Zoe complained.
"Nothing from Jayne?" Mal asked.
"Or the Doctor." Zoe added.
"Simon and Jayne are fine," River laughed. "They're playing games."
Mal wasn't worried much about Jayne or the doctor for that matter. They could take care of themselves, but Inara's safety was nagging at his mind. Being out of contact with her was expected. She always turned off her Com unit when she was on the job. Still he didn't like it. Half his crew had been attacked since landing and the other half was out of contact. Right now, all he wanted was to gather his crew and leave.
"Zoe. Sent a wave to Inara's shuttle. We can meet her in orbit."
"Hide and seek." River giggled.
"And get me a fix on Jayne and the Doctor."
"Yes Captain."
"Turn about is fare play." She added.
"What is she talking about?" Mal looked from Zoe to Kaylee. "What is she talking about?"
"I think it means they're fine, sir." Zoe reassured.
"How can she know that?"
"I just don't question it anymore, sir. Been right too many times."
"Ok then. Get me a fix on where Inara's shuttle is instead and Kaylee make sure…"
"Yes Cap'n. We'll be ready as soon as you get back."
"Good. I don't like idea of Inara being out on her own." The captain mumbled.
River stopped dancing abruptly and stared with a concerned look off into space. Wash stood by the door to the bridge, beckoning River to follow. She drifted slowly out of the room toward the bridge.
"Does anyone else hate when she does that?" Mal asked.
They all followed River to the Bridge. As they entered a wave came it and the Vidcast lit up across the monitors.
"Firefly Serenity. You are bound by law and on port lockdown. Captain Reynolds. Please stand ready for a commerce department review. The Port Authority will be expecting you at Ridley Office building, suite 853 promptly at 26:16 uts. This channel will be left open for your reply. Press Vidcom 'exp' for details. Thank you for listening. This has been message 2939."
Mal gazed at the now blank screen. With every fiber of his being Mal wanted to be off of this planet. It was now the source of all that was wrong in the Verse, its wild nature turned dangerous and promise of better unfulfilled. Serenity was trapped.
"Inara should come home now." River said flatly.
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