Cass dashed into the locker room and grabbed his rucksack. He was pulling it over his shoulders as Fleur ran in behind him.

"Wait up," she ran to her locker and began pulling out her gear. "Her pod won't be in the atmosphere yet."

"Did Tipper say where she was coming down?" Cass asked.

"Not yet. I think they're going to scan the debris field," Fleur paused. "Cass, you know this is a long shot?"

Cass stared at her. "She's alive."

"Cass…"

"You coming, or what?" he asked, an edge to his voice.

"Let's go to the hill," Fleur sighed. "We can see more from there. I'll radio Jack, get him to send us some officers and a medic."

"Thank you," Cass ran his hand over his face. "I know what you're thinking."

"I'm thinking that it's nice to see you this rattled over someone," Fleur smiled. "It doesn't happen often for you, does it?"

Cass smiled grimly. "That's why she has to be alive."

"Then let's go find her, lover boy," Fleur teased, as she turned to leave.

"Alright," Cass followed behind. "But you ever call me that again and I'll kick your arse."

"You'll have to go through Jack first."

"So much the better."

The first of the morning sun was fighting against the last of the chill night air, as Cass and Fleur made their way to the top of the hill. Waiting for them were three XPs and three PAS Officers. Cass was relieved to note that Jack had sent his best tracker as part of the XP contingency.

"We're waiting on a medic," one of the XPs explained. "One of the shuttles lost its landing thrusters, and several of the passengers were injured."

"Are they seriously hurt?" Fleur asked.

"No. Broken bones, cuts and bruises, that kind of thing," the XP replied. "But they've got their hands full dealing with it."

They looked around. The landscape was now littered with pods, partially buried into the sand where they had impacted the ground. A seemingly endless stream of disoriented people were slowly making their way towards the Forthaven gates, shepherded by PAS and XPs alike.

"I don't envy them," Cass mused. "The first few years were the worst."

"It's exciting," Fleur smiled. "New people, new opportunities. It's going to change the dynamics with all these new faces around the place."

"The ship's all but burned out now," one of the PAS Officers said as he stared at the sky, his hand shielding his eyes from the sun. "If that shuttle's coming, we should know about it in the next few minutes."

"We might not see it," Cass interjected. "It might come down on the opposite side of the planet."

"They're scanning the atmosphere," Fleur soothed. "If… when, it comes down, we'll know."

"Stella, any news?" Cass spoke into his radio.

"We're doing another sweep now, sit tight," came the response.

"Tipper, any word on possible co-ordinates?" Cass persisted.

"Hard to tell," Tipper's voice was distracted. "I'm trying to calculate it now, but without knowing the precise angle of entry, it's almost impossible."

"Cass, we've got something," Stella interrupted. "Large object, moving faster than the other debris. Three minutes to impact. I'm sending the co-ordinates over now."

"Got it," the Tracker studied the readout on his radio. "Three klicks North-East of here. This way." He strode off quickly, the rest of the team following close behind.

Fleur stole a glance at Cass while they walked. As always, when Cass was determined, his jaw was set and his eyes focused. She had no idea what had passed between him and the Captain during their late night conversations, but whatever it was it had made an obvious impact. Not that anyone else would necessarily pick up on it, but she knew that this was the closest Cass would get to wearing his heart on his sleeve. Fleur had struggled with her feelings for Cass for several years, before finally accepting that he would never be partner-material and was definitely better kept in the 'just good friends' category. Not that she particularly considered Jack to be partner-material either, but things were swiftly moving in that direction anyway, regardless.

"Base to search team," Stella's voice came over the radio again.

"We read you," Cass responded.

"It's definitely the shuttle, we're picking up an energy trace from the thrusters," Stella sounded tense. "But we're also seeing an abnormally high temperature signal. It's burning up."

Cass shrugged off his rucksack and broke into a run. Fleur followed suit, as did the Tracker.

"You should be able to see it over the next hill," the Tracker called as they ran.

Fleur felt Cass accelerate as they pelted up the hill. He pulled ahead of them, his long legs easily negotiating the rocky terrain. Suddenly he came to an abrupt stop.

"Shit!"

Fleur pulled up next to him and followed his gaze. Ahead of them was the shuttle, partially embedded into the sand. It was engulfed in flames.

"I'm sorry," Fleur began.

"No," Cass muttered. "No!" He yelled and took off at a sprint towards the stricken pod.

"Cass, no!" Fleur ran after him. "It's too dangerous."

The heat from the blaze was incredible as Fleur neared the shuttle. She could see no way to get close without being beaten back by the flames, which were now licking several feet into the sky. They veered to the left, running around the side of the pod, Cass's eyes desperately searching for the hatch. Then they reached the front of the shuttle and stopped dead once more.

Rudi was bent double, coughing, his clothes and face blackened with soot. Next to him, motionless on the ground, lay Jayne.

"Rudi," yelled Fleur.

At once he spun round. His eyes travelled behind Fleur, to the approaching team of PAS and XPs.

"Go back," Fleur called to them. They paused, unsure.

"That's an order," Cass shouted, his eyes not leaving the stricken Captain. "Go back over the hill. Now!"

Reluctantly the team backed away.

"Rudi," Fleur stepped forward slowly. "May we see her?"

Rudi regarded Cass through narrowed eyes. "Is this your woman?"

"No," Cass replied quickly. "She's just arrived."

"You haven't taken your eyes from her since you got here," Rudi observed. Cass stared back at him, lost for words.

"She risked her life to save her crew," Fleur interjected. "A thousand people. Please, give her to us."

"She needs your doctors," Rudi stepped back.

Fleur rushed to Jayne and checked her over, while Cass remained at a distance, wary of doing anything to provoke him.

"She's breathing," Fleur confirmed. "Her pulse is erratic. Head wound, she's lost some blood. We need to get her to the infirmary."

"I would not have risked my life if I meant to harm her," Rudi spoke evenly.

"Are you alright?" Fleur asked. "I can have a medic check you."

"There is no need," He turned and began to walk away. "Now take your woman and leave here."

"Thank you," Cass said.

Rudi paused for a moment, and turned back. The two men regarded each other.

"Do not come out here again," Rudi warned. He turned and walked away and soon disappeared behind a crop of rocks.

Cass ran to Jayne. Fleur was speaking urgently into her radio.

"Where are the medics?" he demanded.

"Still at least four kilometres away," she frowned.

"Take this." He pulled off his gun belt and handed it to Fleur. Then he scooped Jayne into his arms and began to run in the direction of Forthaven, leaving Fleur to radio the infirmary with news of their incoming patient.